UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
FORM 10-K
x | ANNUAL REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934 |
For the fiscal year ended December 31, 2015
¨ | 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 1-4801
BARNES GROUP INC.
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
Delaware |  | 06-0247840 | ||
(State of incorporation) | (I.R.S. Employer Identification No.) | |||
123 Main Street, Bristol, Connecticut | 06010 | |||
(Address of Principal Executive Office) | (Zip Code) | |||
(860) 583-7070
Registrant’s telephone number, including area code
Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:
Title of each class | Name of each exchange on which registered | |
Common Stock, $0.01 Par Value | 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 x 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 x
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 x 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 x No ¨
Indicate by check mark if disclosure of delinquent filers pursuant to Item 405 of Regulation S-K 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 definitions of “large accelerated filer,” “accelerated filer,” and “smaller reporting company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act. (Check one):
Large accelerated filer x | Accelerated filer o | |
Non-accelerated filer o | Smaller reporting company o | |
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Act). Yes ¨ No x
The aggregate market value of the voting stock (Common Stock) held by non-affiliates of the registrant as of the close of business on June 30, 2015 was approximately $2,009,804,702 based on the closing price of the Common Stock on the New York Stock Exchange on that date. The registrant does not have any non-voting common equity.
The registrant had outstanding 53,900,397 shares of common stock as of February 18, 2016.
Documents Incorporated by Reference
Portions of the registrant’s definitive proxy statement to be delivered to stockholders in connection with the Annual Meeting of Stockholders to be held May 6, 2016 are incorporated by reference into Part III.
Barnes Group Inc.
Index to Form 10-K
Year Ended December 31, 2015
Page | ||
Part I | ||
Item 1. | ||
Item 1A. | ||
Item 1B. | ||
Item 2. | ||
Item 3. | ||
Item 4. | ||
Part II | ||
Item 5. | ||
Item 6. | ||
Item 7. | ||
Item 7A. | ||
Item 8. | ||
Item 9. | ||
Item 9A. | ||
Item 9B. | ||
Part III | ||
Item 10. | ||
Item 11. | ||
Item 12. | ||
Item 13. | ||
Item 14. | ||
Part IV | ||
Item 15. | ||
FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS
This Annual Report may contain forward-looking statements as defined in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking statements often address our expected future operating and financial performance and financial condition, and often contain words such as "anticipate," "believe," "expect," "plan," "estimate," "project," and similar terms. These forward-looking statements do not constitute guarantees of future performance and are subject to a variety of risks and uncertainties that may cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed in the forward-looking statements. These include, among others: difficulty maintaining relationships with employees, including unionized employees, customers, distributors, suppliers, business partners or governmental entities; failure to successfully negotiate collective bargaining agreements or potential strikes, work stoppages or other similar events; difficulties leveraging market opportunities; changes in market demand for our products and services; rapid technological and market change; the ability to protect intellectual property rights; introduction or development of new products or transfer of work; higher risks in international operations and markets; the impact of intense competition; acts of terrorism, cybersecurity attacks or intrusions that could adversely impact our businesses; uncertainties relating to conditions in financial markets; currency fluctuations and foreign currency exposure; future financial performance of the industries or customers that we serve; our dependence upon revenues and earnings from a small number of significant customers; a major loss of customers; inability to realize expected sales or profits from existing backlog due to a range of factors, including changes in customer sourcing decisions, material changes, production schedules and
volumes of specific programs; the impact of government budget and funding decisions; changes in raw material or product prices and availability; integration of acquired businesses; restructuring costs or savings; the continuing impact of prior acquisitions and divestitures; and any other future strategic actions, including acquisitions, divestitures, restructurings, or strategic business realignments, and our ability to achieve the financial and operational targets set in connection with any such actions; the outcome of pending and future legal, governmental, or regulatory proceedings and contingencies and uninsured claims; future repurchases of common stock; future levels of indebtedness; and numerous other matters of a global, regional or national scale, including those of a political, economic, business, competitive, environmental, regulatory and public health nature; and other risks and uncertainties described in this Annual Report. The Company assumes no obligation to update its forward-looking statements.
PART I
Item 1. Business
BARNES GROUP INC. (1)
Founded in 1857, Barnes Group Inc. (the “Company”) is an international industrial and aerospace manufacturer and service provider, serving a wide range of end markets and customers. The highly engineered products, differentiated industrial technologies, and innovative solutions delivered by Barnes Group are used in far-reaching applications that provide transportation, manufacturing, healthcare products, and technology to the world. Barnes Group’s approximately 4,700 skilled and dedicated employees around the globe are committed to achieving consistent and sustainable profitable growth.
Structure
The Company operates under two global business segments: Industrial and Aerospace. The Industrial segment includes the the Molding Solutions, Engineered Components and Nitrogen Gas Products business units. The Aerospace segment includes the original equipment manufacturer (“OEM”) business and the aftermarket business, which includes maintenance overhaul and repair (“MRO”) services and the manufacture and delivery of aerospace aftermarket spare parts.
In the fourth quarter of 2015, the Company completed the acquisition of privately held Priamus System Technologies AG and two of its subsidiaries (collectively, "Priamus") from Growth Finance AG. Priamus, which has approximately 40 employees, is headquartered in Schaffhausen, Switzerland and has direct sales and service offices in the U.S. and Germany. Priamus is a technology leader in the development of advanced process control systems for the plastic injection molding industry and services many of the world's highest quality plastic injection molders in the medical, automotive, consumer goods, electronics and packaging markets. Priamus is being integrated into the Industrial Segment, within our Molding Solutions business unit. See Note 2 of the Consolidated Financial Statements.
In the third quarter of 2015, the Company completed the acquisition of the Thermoplay business ("Thermoplay") by acquiring all of the capital stock of privately held HPE S.p.A., the parent company through which Thermoplay operates. Thermoplay’s headquarters and manufacturing facility are located in Pont-Saint-Martin in Aosta, Italy, with technical service capabilities in China, India, France, Germany, United Kingdom, Portugal, and Brazil. Thermoplay specializes in the design, development, and manufacturing of hot runner systems for plastic injection molding, primarily in the packaging, automotive, and medical end markets. Thermoplay is being integrated into the Industrial Segment, within our Molding Solutions business unit. See Note 2 of the Consolidated Financial Statements.
In the fourth quarter of 2013, the Company and two of its subsidiaries (collectively with the Company, the "Purchaser") completed the acquisition of Otto Männer Gmbh (the "Männer Business"). The Männer Business serves as a leader in the development and manufacture of high precision and high cavitation molds, valve gate hot runner systems, and system solutions for the medical/ pharmaceutical, packaging, and personal care/health care industries. The Männer Business includes manufacturing locations in Germany, Switzerland and the United States, and sales and service offices in Europe, the United States, Hong Kong/China and Japan. See Note 2 of the Consolidated Financial Statements.
INDUSTRIAL
Industrial is a global manufacturer of highly-engineered, high-quality precision parts, products and systems for critical applications serving a diverse customer base in end-markets such as transportation, industrial equipment, consumer products, packaging, electronics, medical devices, and energy. Focused on innovative custom solutions, Industrial participates in the design phase of components and assemblies whereby customers receive the benefits of application and systems engineering, new product development, testing and evaluation, and the manufacturing of final products. Products are sold primarily through its direct sales force and global distribution channels. Industrial’s Molding Solutions businesses design and manufacture customized hot runner systems, advanced mold cavity sensors and process control systems, and precision high cavitation mold assemblies - collectively, the enabling technologies for many complex plastic injection molding applications. Industrial’s Engineered Components businesses manufacture and supply precision mechanical products used in transportation and industrial applications, including mechanical springs, high-precision punched and fine-blanked components, and retaining
_________
(1) | As used in this annual report, “Company,” “Barnes Group,” “we” and “ours” refer to the registrant and its consolidated subsidiaries except where the context requires otherwise, and “Industrial” and “Aerospace” refer to the registrant’s segments, not to separate corporate entities |
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rings. Engineered Components is equipped to produce virtually every type of highly engineered precision spring, from fine hairsprings for electronics and instruments to large heavy-duty springs for machinery. Industrial’s Nitrogen Gas Products business manufactures nitrogen gas springs and manifold systems used to precisely control stamping presses.
Industrial competes with a broad base of large and small companies engaged in the manufacture and sale of engineered products, precision molds, hot runner systems and precision components. Industrial competes on the basis of quality, service, reliability of supply, engineering and technical capability, geographic reach, product breadth, innovation, design, and price. Industrial has manufacturing, distribution and assembly operations in the United States, Brazil, China, Germany, Italy, Mexico, Singapore, Sweden and Switzerland. Industrial also has sales and service operations in the United States, Brazil, Canada, China/Hong Kong, France, Germany, India, Italy, Japan, Mexico, the Netherlands, Portugal, Singapore, Slovakia, South Korea, Spain, Switzerland, Thailand and the United Kingdom. Sales by Industrial to its three largest customers accounted for approximately 10% of its sales in 2015.
AEROSPACE
Aerospace is a global provider of complex fabricated and precision machined components and assemblies for original equipment manufacturer (“OEM”) turbine engine, airframe and industrial gas turbine builders, and the military. The Aerospace aftermarket business provides jet engine component maintenance overhaul and repair (“MRO”) services, including services performed under our Component Repair Programs (“CRPs”), for many of the world’s major turbine engine manufacturers, commercial airlines and the military. The Aerospace aftermarket activities also include the manufacture and delivery of aerospace aftermarket spare parts, including the revenue sharing programs (“RSPs”) under which the Company receives an exclusive right to supply designated aftermarket parts over the life of the related aircraft engine programs.
Aerospace’s OEM business supplements the leading jet engine OEM capabilities and competes with a large number of fabrication and machining companies. Competition is based mainly on quality, engineering and technical capability, product breadth, new product introduction, timeliness, service and price. Aerospace’s fabrication and machining operations, with facilities in Arizona, Connecticut, Michigan, Ohio, Utah and Singapore, produce critical engine and airframe components through technically advanced manufacturing processes.
The Aerospace aftermarket business supplements jet engine OEMs’ maintenance, repair and overhaul capabilities, and competes with the service centers of major commercial airlines and other independent service companies for the repair and overhaul of turbine engine components. The manufacture and supply of aerospace aftermarket spare parts, including those related to the RSPs, are dependent upon the reliable and timely delivery of high-quality components. Aerospace’s aftermarket facilities, located in Connecticut, Ohio and Singapore, specialize in the repair and refurbishment of highly engineered components and assemblies such as cases, rotating life limited parts, rotating air seals, turbine shrouds, vanes and honeycomb air seals. Sales by Aerospace to its two largest customers, General Electric and Roll-Royce, accounted for approximately 51% and 11% of its sales in 2015, respectively. Sales to its next two largest customers in 2015 collectively accounted for approximately 13% of its total sales.
FINANCIAL INFORMATION
The backlog of the Company’s orders believed to be firm at the end of 2015 was $764 million as compared with $729 million at the end of 2014. Of the 2015 year-end backlog, $571 million was attributable to Aerospace and $193 million was attributable to Industrial. Approximately 52% of the Company's year-end backlog is scheduled to be shipped during 2016. The remainder of the Company’s backlog is scheduled to be shipped after 2016.
We have a global manufacturing footprint and a technical service network to service our worldwide customer base. The global economies have a significant impact on the financial results of the business as we have significant operations outside of the United States. For an analysis of our revenue from sales to external customers, operating profit and assets by business segment, as well as revenues from sales to external customers and long-lived assets by geographic area, see Note 20 of the Consolidated Financial Statements. For a discussion of risks attendant to the global nature of our operations and assets, see Item 1A. Risk Factors.
RAW MATERIALS
The principal raw materials used to manufacture our products are various grades and forms of steel, from rolled steel bars, plates and sheets, to high-grade valve steel wires and sheets, various grades and forms (bars, sheets, forgings, castings and powders) of stainless steels, aluminum alloys, titanium alloys, copper alloys, graphite, and iron-based, nickel-based (Inconels) and cobalt-based (Hastelloys) superalloys for complex aerospace applications. Prices for steel, titanium, Inconel, Hastelloys, as
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well as other specialty materials, have periodically increased due to higher demand and, in some cases, reduction of the availability of materials. If this occurs, the availability of certain raw materials used by us or in products sold by us may be negatively impacted.
RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT
We conduct research and development activities in our effort to provide a continuous flow of innovative new products, processes and services to our customers. We also focus on continuing efforts aimed at discovering and implementing new knowledge that significantly improves existing products and services, and developing new applications for existing products and services. Our product development strategy is driven by product design teams and collaboration with our customers, particularly within Industrial’s Molding Solutions businesses, as well as within our Aerospace and our other Industrial businesses. Many of the products manufactured by us are custom parts made to customers’ specifications. Investments in research and development are important to our long-term growth, enabling us to stay ahead of changing customer and marketplace needs. We spent approximately $13 million, $16 million and $15 million in 2015, 2014 and 2013, respectively, on research and development activities.
PATENTS AND TRADEMARKS
Patents and other proprietary rights are critical to certain of our business units, however the Company also holds certain trade secrets and unpatented know-how. We are party to certain licenses of intellectual property and hold numerous patents, trademarks, and trade names that enhance our competitive position. The Company does not believe, however, that any of these licenses, patents, trademarks or trade names is individually significant to the Company or either of our segments. We maintain procedures to protect our intellectual property (including patents and trademarks) both domestically and internationally. Risk factors associated with our intellectual property are discussed in Item 1A. Risk Factors.
EXECUTIVE OFFICERS OF THE COMPANY
For information regarding the Executive Officers of the Company, see Part III, Item 10 of this Annual Report.
ENVIRONMENTAL
Compliance with federal, state, and local laws, as well as those of other countries, which have been enacted or adopted regulating the discharge of materials into the environment or otherwise relating to the protection of the environment has not had a material effect, and is not expected to have a material effect, upon our capital expenditures, earnings, or competitive position.
AVAILABLE INFORMATION
Our Internet address is www.BGInc.com. Our annual report on Form 10-K, quarterly reports on Form 10-Q, current reports on Form 8-K, and amendments to those reports are available without charge on our website as soon as reasonably practicable after they are filed with, or furnished to, the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission ("SEC"). In addition, we have posted on our website, and will make available in print to any stockholder who makes a request, our Corporate Governance Guidelines, our Code of Business Ethics and Conduct, and the charters of the Audit Committee, Compensation and Management Development Committee and Corporate Governance Committee (the responsibilities of which include serving as the nominating committee) of the Company’s Board of Directors. References to our website addressed in this Annual Report are provided as a convenience and do not constitute, and should not be viewed as, an incorporation by reference of the information contained on, or available through, the website. Therefore, such information should not be considered part of this Annual Report.
Item 1A. Risk Factors
Our business, financial condition or results of operations could be materially adversely affected by any of the following risks. Please note that additional risks not presently known to us may also materially impact our business and operations.
RISKS RELATED TO OUR BUSINESS
We depend on revenues and earnings from a small number of significant customers. Any bankruptcy of or loss of or, cancellation, reduction or delay in purchases by these customers could harm our business. In 2015, our net sales to General Electric and its subsidiaries accounted for 18% of our total sales and approximately 51% of Aerospace's net sales. Aerospace's second largest customer, Rolls-Royce, accounted for 11% of total Aerospace net sales in 2015. Approximately 13%
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of Aerospace's sales in 2015 were to its next two largest customers. Approximately 10% of Industrial's sales in 2015 were to its three largest customers. Some of our success will depend on the business strength and viability of those customers. We cannot assure you that we will be able to retain our largest customers. Some of our customers may in the future reduce their purchases due to economic conditions or shift their purchases from us to our competitors, in-house or to other sources. Some of our long-term sales agreements provide that until a firm order is placed by a customer for a particular product, the customer may unilaterally reduce or discontinue its projected purchases without penalty, or terminate for convenience. The loss of one or more of our largest customers, any reduction, cancellation or delay in sales to these customers (including a reduction in aftermarket volume in our RSPs), our inability to successfully develop relationships with new customers, or future price concessions we make to retain customers could significantly reduce our sales and profitability.
The global nature of our business exposes us to foreign currency fluctuations that may affect our future revenues, debt levels and profitability. We have manufacturing facilities and technical service, sales and distribution centers around the world, and the majority of our foreign operations use the local currency as their functional currency. These include, among others, the Brazilian real, British pound sterling, Canadian dollar, Chinese renminbi, Euro, Japanese yen, Korean won, Mexican peso, Singapore dollar, Swedish krona, Swiss franc and Thai baht. Since our financial statements are denominated in U.S. dollars, changes in currency exchange rates between the U.S. dollar and other currencies expose us to translation risk when the local currency financial statements are translated to U.S. dollars. Changes in currency exchange rates may also expose us to transaction risk. We may buy hedges in certain currencies to reduce or offset our exposure to currency exchange fluctuations; however, these transactions may not be adequate or effective to protect us from the exposure for which they are purchased. We have not engaged in any speculative hedging activities. Currency fluctuations may adversely impact our revenues and profitability in the future.
Our operations depend on our manufacturing, sales, and service facilities and information systems in various parts of the world which are subject to physical, financial, regulatory, environmental, operational and other risks that could disrupt our operations. We have a significant number of manufacturing facilities and technical service, and sales centers both within and outside the U.S. The international scope of our business subjects us to increased risks and uncertainties such as threats of war, terrorism and instability of governments; and economic, regulatory and legal systems in countries in which we or our customers conduct business.
Some of our facilities are located in areas that may be affected by natural disasters, including earthquakes or tsunamis, which could cause significant damage and disruption to the operations of those facilities and, in turn, could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition, results of operations and cash flows. Additionally, some of our manufacturing equipment and tooling is custom-made and is not readily replaceable. Loss of such equipment or tooling could have a negative impact on our manufacturing business, financial condition, results of operations and cash flows.
Although we have obtained property damage and business interruption insurance, a major catastrophe such as an earthquake, hurricane, flood, tsunami or other natural disaster at any of our sites, or significant labor strikes, work stoppages, political unrest, or any of the events described above, in any of the areas where we conduct operations could result in a prolonged interruption of our business. Any disruption resulting from these events could cause significant delays in the manufacture or shipment of products or the provision of repair and other services that may result in our loss of sales and customers. Our insurance will not cover all potential risks, and we cannot assure you that we will have adequate insurance to compensate us for all losses that result from any insured risks. Any material loss not covered by insurance could have a material adverse effect on our financial condition, results of operations and cash flows. We cannot assure you that insurance will be available in the future at a cost acceptable to us or at a cost that will not have a material adverse effect on our profitability, net income and cash flows.
The global nature of our operations and assets subject us to additional financial and regulatory risks. We have operations and assets in various parts of the world. In addition, we sell or may in the future sell our products and services to the U.S. and foreign governments and in foreign countries. As a global business, we are subject to complex laws and regulations in the U.S. and other countries in which we operate, and associated risks, including: U.S. imposed embargoes of sales to specific countries; foreign import controls (which may be arbitrarily imposed or enforced); import regulations and duties; export regulations (which require us to comply with stringent licensing regimes); reporting requirements regarding the use of "conflict" minerals mined from certain countries; anti-dumping regulations; price and currency controls; exchange rate fluctuations; dividend remittance restrictions; expropriation of assets; war, civil uprisings and riots; government instability; government contracting requirements including cost accounting standards, including various procurement, security, and audit requirements, as well as requirements to certify to the government compliance with these requirements; the necessity of obtaining governmental approval for new and continuing products and operations; and legal systems or decrees, laws, taxes, regulations, interpretations and court decisions that are not always fully developed and that may be retroactively or arbitrarily applied. We have experienced inadvertent violations of some of these regulations, including export regulations, safety and
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environmental regulations, regulations prohibiting sales of certain products and product labeling regulations, in the past, none of which has had or, we believe, will have a material adverse effect on our business. However, any significant violations of these or other regulations in the future could result in civil or criminal sanctions, and the loss of export or other licenses which could have a material adverse effect on our business. We are subject to federal and state unclaimed property laws in the ordinary course of business, and are currently undergoing a multi-state unclaimed property audit, the timing and outcome of which cannot be predicted, and we may incur significant professional fees in conjunction with the audit. We may also be subject to unanticipated income taxes, excise duties, import taxes, export taxes, value added taxes, or other governmental assessments, and taxes may be impacted by changes in legislation in the tax jurisdictions in which we operate. In addition, our organizational and capital structure may limit our ability to transfer funds between countries, particularly into the U.S., without incurring adverse tax consequences. Any of these events could result in a loss of business or other unexpected costs that could reduce sales or profits and have a material adverse effect on our financial condition, results of operations and cash flows.
Any disruption or failure in the operation of our information systems, including from conversions or integrations of information technology or reporting systems, could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition, results of operations and cash flows. Our information technology (IT) systems are an integral part of our business. We depend upon our IT systems to help process orders, manage inventory and collect accounts receivable. Our IT systems also allow us to purchase, sell and ship products efficiently and on a timely basis, to maintain cost-effective operations, and to help provide superior service to our customers. We are currently in the process of implementing enterprise resource planning (ERP) platforms across certain of our businesses, and we expect that we will need to continue to improve and further integrate our IT systems, on an ongoing basis in order to effectively run our business. If we fail to successfully manage and integrate our IT systems, including these ERP platforms, it could adversely affect our business or operating results.
Further, in the ordinary course of our business, we store sensitive data, including intellectual property, our proprietary business information and that of our customers, suppliers and business partners, and personally identifiable information of our employees, in our data centers and on our networks. The secure maintenance and transmission of this information is critical to our business operations. Despite our security measures, our information technology and infrastructure may be vulnerable to attacks by hackers or breached due to employee error, malfeasance or other disruptions. Any such breach could compromise our networks and the information stored there could be accessed, publicly disclosed, lost or stolen. Any such access, disclosure or other loss of information could result in legal claims or proceedings, liability under laws that protect the privacy of personal information, and regulatory penalties, disrupt our operations, and damage our reputation, which could adversely affect our business, revenues and competitive position.
We have significant indebtedness that could affect our operations and financial condition, and our failure to meet certain financial covenants required by our debt agreements may materially and adversely affect our assets, financial position and cash flows. At December 31, 2015, we had consolidated debt obligations of $509.9 million, representing approximately 31% of our total capital (indebtedness plus stockholders’ equity) as of that date. Our level of indebtedness, proportion of variable rate debt obligations and the significant debt servicing costs associated with that indebtedness may adversely affect our operations and financial condition. For example, our indebtedness could require us to dedicate a substantial portion of our cash flows from operations to payments on our debt, thereby reducing the amount of our cash flows available for working capital, capital expenditures, investments in technology and research and development, acquisitions, dividends and other general corporate purposes; limit our flexibility in planning for, or reacting to, changes in the industries in which we compete; place us at a competitive disadvantage compared to our competitors, some of whom have lower debt service obligations and greater financial resources than we do; limit our ability to borrow additional funds; or increase our vulnerability to general adverse economic and industry conditions. In addition, a majority of our debt arrangements require us to maintain certain debt and interest coverage ratios and limit our ability to incur debt, make investments or undertake certain other business activities. These requirements could limit our ability to obtain future financing and may prevent us from taking advantage of attractive business opportunities. Our ability to meet the financial covenants or requirements in our debt arrangements may be affected by events beyond our control, and we cannot assure you that we will satisfy such covenants and requirements. A breach of these covenants or our inability to comply with the restrictions could result in an event of default under our debt arrangements which, in turn, could result in an event of default under the terms of our other indebtedness. Upon the occurrence of an event of default under our debt arrangements, after the expiration of any grace periods, our lenders could elect to declare all amounts outstanding under our debt arrangements, together with accrued interest, to be immediately due and payable. If this were to happen, we cannot assure you that our assets would be sufficient to repay in full the payments due under those arrangements or our other indebtedness or that we could find alternative financing to replace that indebtedness.
Conditions in the worldwide credit markets may limit our ability to expand our credit lines beyond current bank commitments. In addition, our profitability may be adversely affected as a result of increases in interest rates. At December 31, 2015, we and our subsidiaries had approximately $509.9 million aggregate principal amount of consolidated debt obligations outstanding, of which approximately 59% had interest rates that float with the market (not hedged against interest rate
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fluctuations). A 100 basis point increase in the interest rate on the floating rate debt in effect at December 31, 2015 would result in an approximate $3.0 million annualized increase in interest expense.
Changes in the availability or price of materials, products and energy resources could adversely affect our costs and profitability. We may be adversely affected by the availability or price of raw materials, products and energy resources, particularly related to certain manufacturing operations that utilize steel, stainless steel, titanium, Inconel, Hastelloys and other specialty materials. The availability and price of raw materials and energy resources may be subject to curtailment or change due to, among other things, new laws or regulations, global economic or political events including strikes, terrorist attacks and war, suppliers’ allocations to other purchasers, interruptions in production by suppliers, changes in exchange rates and prevailing price levels. In some instances there are limited sources for raw materials and a limited number of primary suppliers for some of our products for resale. Although we are not dependent upon any single source for any of our principal raw materials or products for resale, and such materials and products have, historically, been readily available, we cannot assure you that such raw materials and products will continue to be readily available. Disruption in the supply of raw materials, products or energy resources or our inability to come to favorable agreements with our suppliers could impair our ability to manufacture, sell and deliver our products and require us to pay higher prices. Any increase in prices for such raw materials, products or energy resources could materially adversely affect our costs and our profitability.
We maintain pension and other postretirement benefit plans in the U.S. and certain international locations. Our costs of providing defined benefit plans are dependent upon a number of factors, such as the rates of return on the plans’ assets, exchange rate fluctuations, future governmental regulation, global fixed income and equity prices, and our required and/or voluntary contributions to the plans. Declines in the stock market, prevailing interest rates, declines in discount rates, improvements in mortality rates and rising medical costs may cause an increase in our pension and other postretirement benefit expenses in the future and result in reductions in our pension fund asset values and increases in our pension and other postretirement benefit obligations. These changes have caused and may continue to cause a significant reduction in our net worth and without sustained growth in the pension investments over time to increase the value of the plans’ assets, and depending upon the other factors listed above, we could be required to increase funding for some or all of these pension and postretirement plans.
We carry significant inventories and a loss in net realizable value could cause a decline in our net worth. At December 31, 2015, our inventories totaled $208.6 million. Inventories are valued at the lower of cost or market based on management's judgments and estimates concerning future sales levels, quantities and prices at which such inventories will be sold in the normal course of business. Accelerating the disposal process or incorrect estimates of future sales potential may necessitate future reduction to inventory values. The Company's inventories include certain parts related to specific engines within the aftermarket repair and overhaul business. The demand for these parts and our ability to utilize these parts depends on the frequency and scope of repair and maintenance of aircraft engines and our ability to effectively access that market, and a decline in demand could require us to write off a portion of our inventory. See “Part II - Item 7 - Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations - Critical Accounting Policies”.
We have significant goodwill and an impairment of our goodwill could cause a decline in our net worth. Our total assets include substantial goodwill. At December 31, 2015, our goodwill totaled $588.0 million. The goodwill results from our prior acquisitions, representing the excess of the purchase price we paid over the net assets of the companies acquired. We assess whether there has been an impairment in the value of our goodwill during each calendar year or sooner if triggering events warrant. If future operating performance at one or more of our reporting units does not meet expectations or fair values fall due to significant stock market declines, we may be required to reflect a non-cash charge to operating results for goodwill impairment. The recognition of an impairment of a significant portion of goodwill would negatively affect our results of operations and total capitalization, the effect of which could be material. See “Part II - Item 7 - Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations - Critical Accounting Policies”.
We may not realize all of the sales expected from our existing backlog or anticipated orders. At December 31, 2015, we had $763.8 million of order backlog, the majority of which related to aerospace OEM customers. There can be no assurances that the revenues projected in our backlog will be realized or, if realized, will result in profits. We consider backlog to be firm customer orders for future delivery. OEM customers may provide projections of components and assemblies that they anticipate purchasing in the future under new and existing programs. Such projections are included in our backlog when they are supported by a contract. Our customers may have the right under certain circumstances or with certain penalties or consequences to terminate, reduce or defer firm orders that we have in backlog. If our customers terminate, reduce or defer firm orders, we may be protected from certain costs and losses, but our sales will nevertheless be adversely affected. Although we strive to maintain ongoing relationships with our customers, there is an ongoing risk that orders may be cancelled or rescheduled due to fluctuations in our customers’ business needs or purchasing budgets.
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Also, our realization of sales from new and existing programs is inherently subject to a number of important risks and uncertainties, including whether our customers execute the launch of product programs on time, or at all, the number of units that our customers actually produce, the timing of production and manufacturing insourcing decisions made by our customers. In addition, until firm orders are placed, our customers generally have the right to discontinue a program or replace us with another supplier at any time without penalty. Our failure to realize sales from new and existing programs could have a material adverse effect on our net sales, results of operations and cash flows.
We may not recover all of our up-front costs related to new or existing programs. New programs may require significant up-front investments for capital equipment, engineering, inventory, design and tooling. As OEMs in the transportation and aerospace industries have looked to suppliers to bear increasing responsibility for the design, engineering and manufacture of systems and components, they have increasingly shifted the financial risk associated with those responsibilities to the suppliers as well. This trend may continue and is most evident in the area of engineering cost reimbursement. We cannot assure you that we will have adequate funds to make such up-front investments or to recover such costs from our customers as part of our product pricing. In the event that we are unable to make such investments, or to recover them through sales or direct reimbursement from our customers, our profitability, liquidity and cash flows may be adversely affected. In addition, we incur costs and make capital expenditures for new program awards based upon certain estimates of production volumes and production complexity. While we attempt to recover such costs and capital expenditures by appropriately pricing our products, the prices of our products are based in part upon planned production volumes. If the actual production is significantly less than planned or significantly more complex than anticipated, we may be unable to recover such costs. In addition, because a significant portion of our overall costs is fixed, declines in our customers’ production levels can adversely affect the level of our reported profits even if our up-front investments are recovered.
We may not realize all of the intangible assets related to the Aerospace aftermarket businesses. We participate in aftermarket RSPs under which we receive an exclusive right to supply designated aftermarket parts over the life of the related aircraft engine program to our customer, General Electric. As consideration, we pay participation fees, which are recorded as intangible assets and are recognized as a reduction of sales over the estimated useful life of the related engine programs which range up to 30 years. Our total investments in participation fees under our Revenue Sharing Programs (RSPs) as of December 31, 2015 equaled $293.7 million, all of which have been paid. At December 31, 2015, the remaining unamortized balance of these participation fees was $209.1 million.
We entered into Component Repair Programs ("CRPs"), also with General Electric, during the fourth quarter of 2013 ("CRP 1"), the second quarter of 2014 ("CRP 2") and the fourth quarter of 2015 ("CRP 3" and, collectively with CRP 1 and CRP 2, the "CRPs"). The CRPs provide for, among other items, the right to sell certain aftermarket component repair services for CFM56, CF6, CF34 and LM engines directly to other customers as one of a few GE licensed suppliers. In addition, the CRPs extend certain existing contracts under which the Company currently provides these services directly to GE.
We agreed to pay $26.6 million as consideration for the rights related to CRP 1. Of this balance, we paid $16.6 million in the fourth quarter of 2013 and $9.1 million in the fourth quarter of 2014. The remaining payment of $0.9 million has been included within accrued liabilities in the Consolidated Financial Statements. We agreed to pay $80.0 million as consideration for the rights related to CRP 2. We paid $41.0 million in the second quarter of 2014, $20.0 million in the fourth quarter of 2014 and $19.0 million in the second quarter of 2015. We agreed to pay $5.2 million as consideration for the rights related to CRP 3. Of this balance, we paid $2.0 million in the fourth quarter of 2015. The remaining payment of $3.2 million is due by December 31, 2016 and has also been included within accrued liabilities in the Consolidated Financial Statements. We recorded the CRP payments as an intangible asset which is recognized as a reduction of sales over the remaining useful life of these engine programs.
The realizability of each asset is dependent upon future revenues related to the programs' aftermarket parts and services and is subject to impairment testing if circumstances indicate that its carrying amount may not be recoverable. The potential exists that actual revenues will not meet expectations due to a change in market conditions, including, for example, the replacement of older engines with new, more fuel-efficient engines or our ability to capture additional market share within the aftermarket business. A shortfall in future revenues may result in the failure to realize the net amount of the investments, which could adversely affect our financial condition and results of operations. In addition, future growth and profitability could be impacted by the amortization of the participation fees and licenses, and the expiration of the international tax incentives on these programs.
We face risks of cost overruns and losses on fixed-price contracts. We sell certain of our products under firm, fixed-price contracts providing for a fixed price for the products regardless of the production or purchase costs incurred by us. The cost of producing products may be adversely affected by increases in the cost of labor, materials, fuel, outside processing,
7
overhead and other factors, including manufacturing inefficiencies. Increased production costs may result in cost overruns and losses on contracts.
The departure of existing management and key personnel, a shortage of skilled employees or a lack of qualified sales professionals could materially affect our business, operations and prospects. Our executive officers are important to the management and direction of our business. Our future success depends, in large part, on our ability to retain or replace these officers and other capable management personnel. Although we believe we will be able to attract and retain talented personnel and replace key personnel should the need arise, our inability to do so could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition, results of operations or cash flows. Because of the complex nature of many of our products and services, we are generally dependent on an educated and highly skilled workforce, including, for example, our engineering talent. In addition, there are significant costs associated with the hiring and training of sales professionals. We could be adversely affected by a shortage of available skilled employees or the loss of a significant number of our sales professionals.
If we are unable to protect our intellectual property rights effectively, our financial condition and results of operations could be adversely affected. We own or are licensed under various intellectual property rights, including patents, trademarks and trade secrets. Our intellectual property rights may not be sufficiently broad or otherwise may not provide us a significant competitive advantage, and patents may not be issued for pending or future patent applications owned by or licensed to us. In addition, the steps that we have taken to maintain and protect our intellectual property may not prevent it from being challenged, invalidated, circumvented or designed-around, particularly in countries where intellectual property rights are not highly developed or protected. In some circumstances, enforcement may not be available to us because an infringer has a dominant intellectual property position or for other business reasons, or countries may require compulsory licensing of our intellectual property. We also rely on nondisclosure and noncompetition agreements with employees, consultants and other parties to protect, in part, confidential information, trade secrets and other proprietary rights. There can be no assurance that these agreements will adequately protect these intangible assets and will not be breached, that we will have adequate remedies for any breach, or that others will not independently develop substantially equivalent proprietary information. Our failure to obtain or maintain intellectual property rights that convey competitive advantage, adequately protect our intellectual property or detect or prevent circumvention or unauthorized use of such property and the cost of enforcing our intellectual property rights could adversely impact our competitive position, financial condition and results of operations.
Any product liability, warranty, contractual or other claims in excess of insurance may adversely affect our financial condition. Our operations expose us to potential product liability risks that are inherent in the design, manufacture and sale of our products and the products we buy from third parties and sell to our customers, or to potential warranty, contractual or other claims. For example, we may be exposed to potential liability for personal injury, property damage or death as a result of the failure of an aircraft component designed, manufactured or sold by us, or the failure of an aircraft component that has been serviced by us or of the components themselves. While we have liability insurance for certain risks, our insurance may not cover all liabilities. Additionally, insurance coverage may not be available in the future at a cost acceptable to us. Any material liability not covered by insurance or for which third-party indemnification is not available for the full amount of the loss could have a material adverse effect on our financial condition, results of operations and cash flows.
From time to time, we receive product warranty claims, under which we may be required to bear costs of repair or replacement of certain of our products. Warranty claims may range from individual customer claims to full recalls of all products in the field. We vigorously defend ourselves in connection with these matters. We cannot, however, assure you that the costs, charges and liabilities associated with these matters will not be material, or that those costs, charges and liabilities will not exceed any amounts reserved for them in our consolidated financial statements.
Our business, financial condition, results of operations and cash flows could be adversely impacted by strikes or work stoppages. Approximately 15% of our U.S. employees are covered by collective bargaining agreements and more than 36% of our non-U.S. employees are covered by collective bargaining agreements or statutory trade union agreements. The Company is currently in the process of negotiating a collective bargaining agreement (“CBA”) with certain unionized employees at the Bristol, Connecticut and Corry, Pennsylvania facilities, which are part of the Associated Spring business unit, and which covers approximately 240 employees. The current CBA expired on November 30, 2014, and we continue to negotiate a successor agreement. In addition, we have annual negotiations in Brazil and Mexico and, collectively, these negotiations cover approximately 300 employees in those two countries. We also completed negotiations in 2015 resulting in wage increases with two of our German locations, a Singapore location, and our Sweden location, which collectively cover approximately 676 employees. Although we believe that our relations with our employees are good, we cannot assure you that we will be successful in negotiating new collective bargaining agreements or that such negotiations will not result in significant increases in the cost of labor, including healthcare, pensions or other benefits. Any potential strikes or work stoppages, and the resulting adverse impact on our relationships with customers, could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial
8
condition, results of operations or cash flows. Similarly, a protracted strike or work stoppage at any of our major customers, suppliers or other vendors could materially adversely affect our business.
Changes in accounting guidance and taxation requirements could affect our financial results. New accounting guidance that may become applicable to us from time to time, or changes in the interpretations of existing guidance, could have a significant effect on our reported results for the affected periods. For example, the Financial Accounting Standards Board issued a new accounting standard for revenue recognition in May 2014 - Accounting Standards Update (ASU) 2014-09, "Revenue from Contracts with Customers (Topic 606)". Although we are currently in the process of evaluating the impact of ASU 2014-09 on our consolidated financial statements, it will likely change the way we account for certain of our sales transactions. Adoption of the standard could have a significant impact on our financial statements and may retroactively affect the accounting treatment of transactions completed before adoption. In addition, our products are subject to import and excise duties and/or sales or value-added taxes in many jurisdictions in which we operate. Increases in indirect taxes could affect our products’ affordability and therefore reduce our sales. We are also subject to income tax in numerous jurisdictions in which we generate revenues. Changes in tax laws, tax rates or tax rulings may have a significant adverse impact on our effective tax rate. Among other things, our tax liabilities are affected by the mix of pretax income or loss among the tax jurisdictions in which we operate and the repatriation of foreign earnings to the U.S. Further, during the ordinary course of business, we are subject to examination by the various tax authorities of the jurisdictions in which we operate which could result in an unanticipated increase in taxes. Accordingly, we must exercise judgment in determining our worldwide provision for income taxes, interest and penalties-while noting that, future events could change management’s assessment of these amounts.
RISKS RELATED TO THE INDUSTRIES IN WHICH WE OPERATE
We operate in highly competitive markets. We may not be able to compete effectively with our competitors, and competitive pressures could adversely affect our business, financial condition and results of operations. Our two global business segments compete with a number of larger and smaller companies in the markets we serve. Some of our competitors have greater financial, production, research and development, or other resources than we do. Within Aerospace, certain of our OEM customers compete with our repair and overhaul business. Some of our OEM customers in the aerospace industry also compete with us where they have the ability to manufacture the components and assemblies that we supply to them but have chosen, for capacity limitations, cost considerations or other reasons, to outsource the manufacturing to us. Our customers award business based on, among other things, price, quality, reliability of supply, service, technology and design. Our competitors’ efforts to grow market share could exert downward pressure on our product pricing and margins. Our competitors may also develop products or services, or methods of delivering those products or services that are superior to our products, services or methods. Our competitors may adapt more quickly than us to new technologies or evolving customer requirements. We cannot assure you that we will be able to compete successfully with our existing or future competitors. Our ability to compete successfully will depend, in part, on our ability to continue make investments to innovate and manufacture the types of products demanded by our customers, and to reduce costs by such means as reducing excess capacity, leveraging global purchasing, improving productivity, eliminating redundancies and increasing production in low-cost countries. We have invested, and expect to continue to invest, in increasing our manufacturing footprint in low-cost countries. We cannot assure you that we will have sufficient resources to continue to make such investments or that we will be successful in maintaining our competitive position. If we are unable to differentiate our products or maintain a low-cost footprint, we may lose market share or be forced to reduce prices, thereby lowering our margins. Any such occurrences could adversely affect our financial condition, results of operations and cash flows.
The industries in which we operate have been experiencing consolidation, both in our suppliers and the customers we serve. Supplier consolidation is in part attributable to OEMs more frequently awarding long-term sole source or preferred supplier contracts to the most capable suppliers in an effort to reduce the total number of suppliers from whom components and systems are purchased. If consolidation of our existing competitors occurs, we would expect the competitive pressures we face to increase, and we cannot assure you that our business, financial condition, results of operations or cash flows will not be adversely impacted as a result of consolidation by our competitors or customers.
Original equipment manufacturers in the aerospace and transportation industries have significant pricing leverage over suppliers and may be able to achieve price reductions over time. Additionally, we may not be successful in our efforts to raise prices on our customers. There is substantial and continuing pressure from OEMs in the transportation industries, including automotive and aerospace, to reduce the prices they pay to suppliers. We attempt to manage such downward pricing pressure, while trying to preserve our business relationships with our customers, by seeking to reduce our production costs through various measures, including purchasing raw materials and components at lower prices and implementing cost-effective process improvements. Our suppliers have periodically resisted, and in the future may resist, pressure to lower their prices and may seek to impose price increases. If we are unable to offset OEM price reductions, our profitability and cash flows could be adversely affected. In addition, OEMs have substantial leverage in setting purchasing and
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payment terms, including the terms of accelerated payment programs under which payments are made prior to the account due date in return for an early payment discount. OEMs can unexpectedly change their purchasing policies or payment practices, which could have a negative impact on our short-term working capital.
Demand for our defense-related products depends on government spending. A portion of Aerospace's sales is derived from the military market, including single-sourced and dual-sourced sales. The military market is largely dependent upon government budgets and is subject to governmental appropriations. Although multi-year contracts may be authorized in connection with major procurements, funds are generally appropriated on a fiscal year basis even though a program may be expected to continue for several years. Consequently, programs are often only partially funded and additional funds are committed only as further appropriations are made. We cannot assure you that maintenance of or increases in defense spending will be allocated to programs that would benefit our business. Moreover, we cannot assure you that new military aircraft programs in which we participate will enter full-scale production as expected. A decrease in levels of defense spending or the government’s termination of, or failure to fully fund, one or more of the contracts for the programs in which we participate could have a material adverse effect on our financial position and results of operations.
The aerospace industry is highly regulated. Complications related to aerospace regulations may adversely affect the Company. A substantial portion of our income is derived from our aerospace businesses. The aerospace industry is highly regulated in the U.S. by the Federal Aviation Administration, or FAA, and in other countries by similar regulatory agencies. We must be certified by these agencies and, in some cases, by individual OEMs in order to engineer and service systems and components used in specific aircraft models. If material authorizations or approvals were delayed, revoked or suspended, our business could be adversely affected. New or more stringent governmental regulations may be adopted, or industry oversight heightened, in the future, and we may incur significant expenses to comply with any new regulations or any heightened industry oversight.
Environmental regulations impose costs and regulatory requirements on our operations. Environmental compliance may be more costly than we expect, and we may be subject to material environmental-based claims in the future. Our past and present business operations and past and present ownership and operations of real property and the use, sale, storage and handling of chemicals and hazardous products subject us to extensive and changing U.S. federal, state and local environmental laws and regulations, as well as those of other countries, pertaining to the discharge of materials into the environment, enforcement, disposition of wastes (including hazardous wastes), the use, shipping, labeling, and storage of chemicals and hazardous materials, building requirements, or otherwise relating to protection of the environment. We have experienced, and expect to continue to experience, costs to comply with environmental laws and regulations. In addition, new laws and regulations, stricter enforcement of existing laws and regulations, the discovery of previously unknown contamination or the imposition of new clean-up requirements could require us to incur costs or become subject to new or increased liabilities that could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition, results of operations and cash flows.
We use and generate hazardous substances and wastes in our operations. In addition, many of our current and former properties are or have been used for industrial purposes. Accordingly, we monitor hazardous waste management and applicable environmental permitting and reporting for compliance with applicable laws at our locations in the ordinary course of our business. We may be subject to potential material liabilities relating to any investigation and clean-up of our locations or properties where we delivered hazardous waste for handling or disposal that may be contaminated or which may have been contaminated prior to our purchase, and to claims alleging personal injury.
Fluctuations in jet fuel and other energy prices may impact our operating results. Fuel costs constitute a significant portion of operating expenses for companies in the aerospace industry. Fluctuations in fuel costs could impact levels and frequency of aircraft maintenance and overhaul activities, and airlines' decisions on maintaining, deferring or canceling new aircraft purchases, in part based on the value associated with new fuel efficient technologies. Widespread disruption to oil production, refinery operations and pipeline capacity in certain areas of the U.S. can impact the price of jet fuel significantly. Conflicts in the Middle East, an important source of oil for the U.S. and other countries where we do business, cause prices for fuel to be volatile. Because we and many of our customers are in the aerospace industry, these fluctuations could have a material adverse effect on our financial condition or results of operations.
Our products and services may be rendered obsolete by new products, technologies and processes. Our manufacturing operations focus on highly engineered components which require extensive engineering and research and development time. Our competitive advantage may be adversely impacted if we cannot continue to introduce new products ahead of our competition, or if our products are rendered obsolete by other products or by new, different technologies and processes. The success of our new products will depend on a number of factors, including innovation, customer acceptance, the efficiency of our suppliers in providing materials and component parts, and the performance and quality of our products relative to those of our competitors. We cannot predict the level of market acceptance or the amount of market share our new products
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will achieve. Additionally, we may face increased or unexpected costs associated with new product introduction including the use of additional resources such as personnel. We cannot assure that we will not experience new product introduction delays in the future.
RISKS RELATED TO RESTRUCTURING, ACQUISITIONS, JOINT VENTURES AND DIVESTITURES
Our restructuring actions could have long-term adverse effects on our business. From time to time, we have implemented restructuring activities across our businesses to adjust our cost structure, and we may engage in similar restructuring activities in the future. We may not achieve expected cost savings from workforce reductions or restructuring activities and actual charges, costs and adjustments due to these actions may vary materially from our estimates. Our ability to realize anticipated cost savings, synergies and revenue enhancements may be affected by a number of factors, including the following: our ability to effectively eliminate duplicative back office overhead and overlapping sales personnel, rationalize manufacturing capacity, synchronize information technology systems, consolidate warehousing and other facilities and shift production to more economical facilities; significant cash and non-cash integration and implementation costs or charges in order to achieve those cost savings, which could offset any such savings and other synergies resulting from our acquisitions or divestitures; and our ability to avoid labor disruption in connection with these activities. In addition, delays in implementing planned restructuring activities or other productivity improvements may diminish the expected operational or financial benefits.
Our acquisition and other strategic initiatives may not be successful. We have made a number of acquisitions in the past, including most recently the acquisitions of the Thermoplay and Priamus businesses, and we anticipate that we may, from time to time, acquire additional businesses, assets or securities of companies, and enter into joint ventures and other strategic relationships that we believe would provide a strategic fit with our businesses. These activities expose the Company to a number of risks and uncertainties, the occurrence of any of which could materially adversely affect our business, cash flows, financial condition and results of operations. A portion of the industries that we serve are mature industries. As a result, our future growth may depend in part on the successful acquisition and integration of acquired businesses into our existing operations. We may not be able to identify and successfully negotiate suitable acquisitions, obtain financing for future acquisitions on satisfactory terms, obtain regulatory approvals or otherwise complete acquisitions in the future.
We could have difficulties integrating acquired businesses with our existing operations. Difficulties of integration can include coordinating and consolidating separate systems, integrating the management of the acquired business, retaining market acceptance of acquired products and services, maintaining employee morale and retaining key employees, and implementing our enterprise resource planning systems and operational procedures and disciplines. Any such difficulties may make it more difficult to maintain relationships with employees, customers, business partners and suppliers. In addition, even if integration is successful, the financial performance of acquired business may not be as expected and there can be no assurance we will realize anticipated benefits from our acquisitions. We cannot assure you that we will effectively assimilate the business or product offerings of acquired companies into our business or product offerings or realize anticipated operational synergies. In connection with the integration of acquired operations or the conduct of our overall business strategies, we may periodically restructure our businesses and/or sell assets or portions of our business. Integrating the operations and personnel of acquired companies into our existing operations may result in difficulties, significant expense and accounting charges, disrupt our business or divert management’s time and attention.
Acquisitions involve numerous other risks, including potential exposure to unknown liabilities of acquired companies and the possible loss of key employees and customers of the acquired business. Certain of the acquisition agreements by which we have acquired businesses require the former owners to indemnify us against certain liabilities related to the business operations before we acquired it. However, the liability of the former owners is limited and certain former owners may be unable to meet their indemnification responsibilities. We cannot assure you that these indemnification provisions will protect us fully or at all, and as a result we may face unexpected liabilities that adversely affect our financial condition. In connection with acquisitions or joint venture investments outside the U.S., we may enter into derivative contracts to purchase foreign currency in order to hedge against the risk of foreign currency fluctuations in connection with such acquisitions or joint venture investments, which subjects us to the risk of foreign currency fluctuations associated with such derivative contracts. Additionally, our final determinations and appraisals of the fair value of assets acquired and liabilities assumed in our acquisitions may vary materially from earlier estimates. We cannot assure you that the fair value of acquired businesses will remain constant.
We continually assess the strategic fit of our existing businesses and may divest or otherwise dispose of businesses that are deemed not to fit with our strategic plan or are not achieving the desired return on investment, and we cannot be certain that our business, operating results and financial condition will not be materially and adversely affected. A successful divestiture depends on various factors, including our ability to effectively transfer liabilities, contracts, facilities and employees to any purchaser, identify and separate the intellectual property to be divested from the intellectual property that we wish to retain, reduce fixed costs previously associated with the divested assets or business, and collect the proceeds from any divestitures. In addition, if customers of the divested business do not receive the same level of service from the new owners,
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this may adversely affect our other businesses to the extent that these customers also purchase other products offered by us. All of these efforts require varying levels of management resources, which may divert our attention from other business operations. If we do not realize the expected benefits or synergies of any divestiture transaction, our consolidated financial position, results of operations and cash flows could be negatively impacted. In addition, divestitures of businesses involve a number of risks, including significant costs and expenses, the loss of customer relationships, and a decrease in revenues and earnings associated with the divested business. Furthermore, divestitures potentially involve significant post-closing separation activities, which could involve the expenditure of material financial resources and significant employee resources. Any divestiture may result in a dilutive impact to our future earnings if we are unable to offset the dilutive impact from the loss of revenue associated with the divestiture, as well as significant write-offs, including those related to goodwill and other intangible assets, which could have a material adverse effect on our results of operations and financial condition.
Item 1B. Unresolved Staff Comments
None.
Item 2. Properties
Number of Facilities - Owned | ||||||||
Location | Industrial | Aerospace | Other | Total | ||||
Manufacturing: | ||||||||
North America | 6 | 5 | 0 | 11 | ||||
Europe | 8 | 0 | 0 | 8 | ||||
Asia | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | ||||
Central and Latin America | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | ||||
17 | 5 | 0 | 22 | |||||
Non-Manufacturing: | ||||||||
North America | 0 | 0 | 1* | 1 | ||||
Europe | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | ||||
2 | 0 | 1 | 3 | |||||
* The Company's Corporate office
Number of Facilities - Leased | ||||||||
Location | Industrial | Aerospace | Other | Total | ||||
Manufacturing: | ||||||||
North America | 2 | 2 | 0 | 4 | ||||
Europe | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | ||||
Asia | 3 | 4 | 0 | 7 | ||||
7 | 6 | 0 | 13 | |||||
Non-Manufacturing: | ||||||||
North America | 8 | 2 | 1** | 11 | ||||
Europe | 13 | 1 | 0 | 14 | ||||
Asia | 21 | 0 | 0 | 21 | ||||
Central and Latin America | 4 | 0 | 0 | 4 | ||||
46 | 3 | 1 | 50 | |||||
** Industrial segment headquarters and certain Shared Services groups.
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Item 3. Legal Proceedings
On April 16, 2013, the United States Tax Court rendered an unfavorable decision in the matter Barnes Group Inc. and Subsidiaries v. Commissioner of Internal Revenue (“Tax Court Decision”). The Tax Court rejected the Company's objections and imposed penalties. The case involved IRS proposed adjustments of approximately $16.5 million, plus a 20% penalty and interest for the tax years 1998, 2000 and 2001.
The case arose out of an Internal Revenue Service (“IRS”) audit for the tax years 2000 through 2002. The adjustment relates to the federal taxation of foreign income of certain foreign subsidiaries. The Company filed an administrative protest of these adjustments. In the third quarter of 2009, the Company was informed that its protest was denied and a tax assessment was received from the Appeals Office of the IRS. Subsequently, in November 2009, the Company filed a petition against the IRS in the United States Tax Court, contesting the tax assessment. A trial was held and all briefs were filed in 2012. In April 2013 the Tax Court Decision was then issued rendering an unfavorable decision against the Company and imposing penalties. As a result of the unfavorable Tax Court Decision, the Company recorded an additional tax charge during 2013 for $16.4 million.
In November 2013, the Company made a cash payment of approximately $12.7 million related to tax, interest and penalties and utilized a portion of its net operating losses. The Company also submitted a notice of appeal of the Tax Court Decision to the United States Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit. The Company filed its opening brief with the United States Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit on February 13, 2014 and presented its oral arguments on October 1, 2014.
On November 5, 2014, the Second Circuit upheld the Tax Court Decision. Following the decision by the Second Circuit Court of Appeals, the Company had 60 days in which to file with U.S. Supreme court a petition for review. The Company has not filed a petition for review and therefore the judgment of the Second Circuit Court of Appeals is final.
In connection with the IRS audit, the Company filed protective claims related to the withholding taxes paid as a component of the transaction with certain subsidiaries. These filings allowed the Company to preserve the right to claim certain protection should the IRS prevail in its assessment. Upon expiration of the period to file a petition for review to the U.S. Supreme Court, the Company acted on protective claims and filed for the refund of the withholding taxes. In the third quarter of 2015, the Company received refunds of $3.0 million related to the withholding taxes and recorded a corresponding tax benefit.
During the third quarter of 2015 the Company recorded a $2.8 million charge related to a contract termination dispute following the decision of a customer, Triumph Actuation Systems - Yakima, LLC ("Triumph"), to re-source work. The Company has approximately $8.0 million of net assets, in connection with this dispute, recorded on the Consolidated Balance Sheet as of December 31, 2015. The Company has assessed recoverability of costs and damages provided by the relevant contracts and, during the fourth quarter of 2015, filed an arbitration demand before the American Arbitration Association for recovery of these costs and damages for approximately $15.0 million. Also during the fourth quarter, Triumph responded with a counterclaim of a similar amount, alleging various breaches and seeking damages, which the Company views as unsubstantiated. An arbitrator has been appointed and a hearing is currently scheduled for May 2016. While it is currently not possible to determine the ultimate outcome of this matter, the Company intends to vigorously defend its position and believes that the ultimate resolution will not have a material adverse effect on the Company’s consolidated financial position or liquidity, but could be material to the consolidated results of operations of any one period.
In addition, we are subject to litigation from time to time in the ordinary course of business and various other suits, proceedings and claims are pending against us and our subsidiaries. While it is not possible to determine the ultimate disposition of each of these proceedings and whether they will be resolved consistent with our beliefs, we expect that the outcome of such proceedings, individually or in the aggregate, will not have a material adverse effect on our financial condition or results of operations.
Item 4. Mine Safety Disclosures
Not applicable.
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PART II
Item 5. Market for Registrant’s Common Equity, Related Stockholder Matters and Issuer Purchases of Equity Securities
(a) | Market Information |
The Company’s common stock is traded on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol “B”. The following table sets forth, for the periods indicated, the low and high sales intra-day trading price per share, as reported by the New York Stock Exchange, and dividends declared and paid.
2015 | ||||||||||||
Low | High | Dividends | ||||||||||
Quarter ended March 31 | $ | 33.75 | $ | 41.00 | $ | 0.12 | ||||||
Quarter ended June 30 | 38.75 | 41.74 | 0.12 | |||||||||
Quarter ended September 30 | 35.33 | 41.78 | 0.12 | |||||||||
Quarter ended December 31 | 33.00 | 39.74 | 0.12 | |||||||||
2014 | ||||||||||||
Low | High | Dividends | ||||||||||
Quarter ended March 31 | $ | 35.34 | $ | 40.92 | $ | 0.11 | ||||||
Quarter ended June 30 | 36.27 | 40.01 | 0.11 | |||||||||
Quarter ended September 30 | 30.35 | 39.07 | 0.11 | |||||||||
Quarter ended December 31 | 29.47 | 37.88 | 0.12 | |||||||||
Stockholders
As of February 12, 2016, there were approximately 3,457 holders of record of the Company’s common stock. A significant number of the outstanding shares of common stock which are beneficially owned by individuals or entities are registered in the name of a nominee of The Depository Trust Company, a securities depository for banks and brokerage firms. The Company believes that there are approximately 11,766 beneficial owners of its common stock.
Dividends
Payment of future dividends will depend upon the Company’s financial condition, results of operations and other factors deemed relevant by the Company’s Board of Directors, as well as any limitations resulting from financial covenants under the Company’s credit facilities or debt indentures. See the table above for dividend information for 2015 and 2014.
Securities Authorized for Issuance Under Equity Compensation Plans
For information regarding Securities Authorized for Issuance Under Equity Compensation Plans, see Part III, Item 12 of this Annual Report.
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Performance Graph
A stock performance graph based on cumulative total returns (price change plus reinvested dividends) for $100 invested in Barnes Group, Inc. ("BGI") on December 31, 2010 is set forth below.
2010 | 2011 | 2012 | 2013 | 2014 | 2015 | |||||||
BGI | $100.00 | $118.35 | $112.12 | $193.86 | $189.60 | $183.52 | ||||||
S&P 600 | $100.00 | $100.99 | $117.46 | $165.96 | $175.47 | $171.96 | ||||||
Russell 2000 | $100.00 | $95.81 | $111.49 | $154.76 | $162.33 | $155.17 | ||||||
The performance graph does not include a published industry or line-of-business index or peer group of similar issuers because the Company is in multiple lines of business and does not believe a meaningful published index or peer group can be reasonably identified. Accordingly, as permitted by SEC rules, the graph includes the S&P 600 Small Cap Index and the Russell 2000 Index, which are comprised of issuers with generally similar market capitalizations to that of the Company.
(c) | Issuer Purchases of Equity Securities |
Period | Total Number of Shares (or Units) Purchased | Average Price Paid Per Share (or Unit) | Total Number of Shares (or Units) Purchased as Part of Publicly Announced Plans or Programs | Maximum Number of Shares (or Units) that May Yet Be Purchased Under the Plans or Programs(2) | |||||||||
October 1-31, 2015 | 67,771 | $ | 35.36 | 67,668 | 2,058,285 | ||||||||
November 1-30, 2015 | 982,372 | $ | 38.30 | 982,372 | 1,075,913 | ||||||||
December 1-31, 2015 | 284 | $ | 38.07 | — | 1,075,913 | ||||||||
Total | 1,050,427 | (1) | $ | 38.11 | 1,050,040 | ||||||||
(1) | Other than 1,050,040 shares purchased in the fourth quarter of 2015, which were purchased as part of the Company's 2011 Program (defined below), all acquisitions of equity securities during the fourth quarter of 2015 were the result of the operation of the terms of the Company's stockholder-approved equity compensation plans and the terms of the equity rights granted pursuant to those plans to pay for the related income tax upon issuance of shares. The purchase price of a share of stock used for tax withholding is the market price on the date of issuance. |
(2) | The program was publicly announced on October 20, 2011 (the "2011 Program") authorizing repurchase of up to 5.0 million shares of common stock. At December 31, 2015, 1.1 million shares of common stock had not been purchased under the 2011 Program. On February 10, 2016, the Board of Directors of the Company increased the number of shares authorized for repurchase under the 2011 Program by 3.9 million shares of common stock (5.0 million authorized, in total). The 2011 Program permits open market purchases, purchases under a Rule 10b5-1 trading plan and privately negotiated transactions. |
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Item 6. Selected Financial Data
2015 (5) | 2014 | 2013 (6)(8) | 2012 (7) (8) | 2011 (8) | |||||||||||||||
Per common share (1) | |||||||||||||||||||
Income from continuing operations | |||||||||||||||||||
Basic | $ | 2.21 | $ | 2.20 | $ | 1.34 | $ | 1.46 | $ | 1.36 | |||||||||
Diluted | 2.19 | 2.16 | 1.31 | 1.44 | 1.34 | ||||||||||||||
Net income | |||||||||||||||||||
Basic | 2.21 | 2.16 | 5.02 | 1.74 | 1.17 | ||||||||||||||
Diluted | 2.19 | 2.12 | 4.92 | 1.72 | 1.16 | ||||||||||||||
Dividends declared and paid | 0.48 | 0.45 | 0.42 | 0.40 | 0.34 | ||||||||||||||
Stockholders’ equity (at year-end) | 20.94 | 20.40 | 21.17 | 14.76 | 13.29 | ||||||||||||||
Stock price (at year-end) | 35.39 | 37.01 | 38.31 | 22.46 | 24.11 | ||||||||||||||
For the year (in thousands) | |||||||||||||||||||
Net sales | $ | 1,193,975 | $ | 1,262,006 | $ | 1,091,566 | $ | 928,780 | $ | 865,078 | |||||||||
Operating income | 168,396 | 179,974 | 123,201 | 107,131 | 101,579 | ||||||||||||||
As a percent of net sales | 14.1 | % | 14.3 | % | 11.3 | % | 11.5 | % | 11.7 | % | |||||||||
Income from continuing operations | $ | 121,380 | $ | 120,541 | $ | 72,321 | $ | 79,830 | $ | 74,955 | |||||||||
As a percent of net sales | 10.2 | % | 9.6 | % | 6.6 | % | 8.6 | % | 8.7 | % | |||||||||
Net income | $ | 121,380 | $ | 118,370 | $ | 270,527 | $ | 95,249 | $ | 64,715 | |||||||||
As a percent of net sales | 10.2 | % | 9.4 | % | 24.8 | % | 10.3 | % | 7.5 | % | |||||||||
As a percent of average stockholders’ equity (2) | 10.7 | % | 10.3 | % | 28.3 | % | 12.6 | % | 8.4 | % | |||||||||
Depreciation and amortization | $ | 78,242 | $ | 81,395 | $ | 65,052 | $ | 57,360 | $ | 58,904 | |||||||||
Capital expenditures | 45,982 | 57,365 | 57,304 | 37,787 | 37,082 | ||||||||||||||
Weighted average common shares outstanding – basic | 55,028 | 54,791 | 53,860 | 54,626 | 55,215 | ||||||||||||||
Weighted average common shares outstanding – diluted | 55,513 | 55,723 | 54,973 | 55,224 | 55,932 | ||||||||||||||
Year-end financial position (in thousands) | |||||||||||||||||||
Working capital | $ | 359,038 | $ | 323,306 | $ | 276,878 | $ | 418,645 | $ | 332,316 | |||||||||
Goodwill | 587,992 | 594,949 | 649,697 | 579,905 | 366,104 | ||||||||||||||
Other intangible assets, net | 528,322 | 554,694 | 534,293 | 383,972 | 272,092 | ||||||||||||||
Property, plant and equipment, net | 308,856 | 299,435 | 302,558 | 233,097 | 210,784 | ||||||||||||||
Total assets | 2,061,866 | 2,073,885 | 2,123,673 | 1,868,596 | 1,440,365 | ||||||||||||||
Long-term debt and notes payable | 509,906 | 504,734 | 547,424 | 646,613 | 346,052 | ||||||||||||||
Stockholders’ equity | 1,127,753 | 1,111,793 | 1,141,414 | 800,118 | 722,400 | ||||||||||||||
Debt as a percent of total capitalization (3) | 31.1 | % | 31.2 | % | 32.4 | % | 44.7 | % | 32.4 | % | |||||||||
Statistics | |||||||||||||||||||
Employees at year-end (4) | 4,735 | 4,515 | 4,331 | 3,795 | 3,019 | ||||||||||||||
(1) | Income from continuing operations and net income per common share are based on the weighted average common shares outstanding during each year. Stockholders’ equity per common share is calculated based on actual common shares outstanding at the end of each year. |
(2) | Average stockholders' equity is calculated based on the month-end stockholders equity balances between December 31, 2014 and December 31, 2015 (13-month average). |
(3) | Debt includes all interest-bearing debt and total capitalization includes interest-bearing debt and stockholders’ equity. |
(4) | The number of employees at each year-end includes employees of continuing operations and excludes prior employees of discontinued operations. |
(5) | During 2015, the Company completed the acquisitions of Thermoplay and Priamus. The results of Thermoplay and Priamus, from their acquisitions on August 7, 2015 and October 1, 2015, respectively, have been included within the Company's Consolidated Financial Statements for the period ended December 31, 2015. |
(6) | During 2013, the Company completed the acquisition of the Männer Business. The results of the Männer Business, from the acquisition on October 31, 2013, have been included within the Company's Consolidated Financial Statements for the period ended December 31, 2013. |
(7) | During 2012, the Company completed the acquisition of Synventive. The results of Synventive, from the acquisition on August 27, 2012, have been included within the Company's Consolidated Financial Statements for the period ended December 31, 2012. |
(8) | During 2013, the Company sold the BDNA business within the segment formerly referred to as Distribution. During 2011, the Company sold the Barnes Distribution Europe ("BDE") business within the segment formerly referred to as Logistics and Manufacturing Services. The results of the BDNA and the BDE businesses, including any (loss) gain on the sale of businesses, have been reported through discontinued operations during the respective periods. |
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Item 7. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations
You should read the following discussion in conjunction with our consolidated financial statements and related notes in this Annual Report on Form 10-K. In addition to historical information, this discussion contains forward-looking statements that involve risks, uncertainties, and assumptions that could cause actual results to differ materially from our expectations. Factors that could cause such differences include those described in the section titled “Risk Factors” and elsewhere in this report. We undertake no obligation to update any of the forward-looking statements.
OVERVIEW
2015 Highlights
Barnes Group Inc. (the "Company") achieved sales of $1,194.0 million in 2015, a decrease of $68.0 million, or 5.4%, from 2014. In Industrial, the acquisitions of Thermoplay on August 7, 2015 and Priamus on October 1, 2015 provided sales of $13.6 million and $2.0 million, respectively, during 2015. Organic sales (net sales excluding both foreign currency and acquisition impacts) decreased by $14.8 million, or 1.2%, with a decline of 6.4% within the Aerospace segment being partially offset by an increase of 1.6% within the Industrial segment. Sales in the Industrial segment were impacted by changes in foreign currency which decreased sales by approximately $68.8 million as the U.S. dollar strengthened against foreign currencies.
Operating income decreased 6.4% from $180.0 million in 2014 to $168.4 million in 2015 and operating margin declined from 14.3% in 2014 to 14.1% in 2015. Operating income was impacted by decreased organic sales in the Aerospace OEM manufacturing business, $2.2 million of short-term purchase accounting adjustments and transaction costs resulting from the acquisitions of Thermoplay and Priamus, a $2.8 million charge related to a contract termination dispute following an Aerospace OEM customer's decision to re-source work, a $9.9 million lump-sum pension settlement charge, $4.2 million of charges related to certain workforce reductions and restructuring charges, lower productivity and the unfavorable impact of foreign exchange within the Industrial segment. Operating profit benefited from increased organic sales at Industrial and within the spare parts business at Aerospace, and lower employee related costs, primarily incentive compensation, partially offset by higher pension costs. Operating income during 2015 and 2014 included $1.5 million and $8.5 million of short-term purchase accounting adjustments, respectively, related to the acquisition of the Männer business. Charges of $6.0 million during the 2014 period related to the closure of production operations at the Associated Spring facility located in Saline, Michigan (the "Closure").
The Company focused on profitable sales growth both organically and through acquisition, in addition to productivity improvements, as key strategic objectives in 2015. Management continued its focus on cash flow and working capital management in 2015 and generated $209.9 million in cash flow from operations.
Business Transformation
Acquisitions and strategic relationships with our customers have been a key growth driver for the Company, and we continue to seek alliances which foster long-term business relationships. These acquisitions have allowed us to extend into new or adjacent markets, expand our geographic reach, and commercialize new products, processes and services. The Company continually evaluates its business portfolio to optimize product offerings and maximize value. We have significantly transformed our business over the past few years with our entrance into the plastic injection molding market.
In the fourth quarter of 2015, the Company, itself and through two of its subsidiaries, completed the acquisition of privately held Priamus System Technologies AG and two of its subsidiaries (collectively, "Priamus") from Growth Finance AG. Priamus, which has approximately 40 employees, is headquartered in Schaffhausen, Switzerland and has direct sales and service offices in the U.S. and Germany. Priamus is a technology leader in the development of advanced process control systems for the plastic injection molding industry and services many of the world's highest quality plastic injection molders in the medical, automotive, consumer goods, electronics and packaging markets. Priamus is being integrated into our Industrial segment. The Company acquired Priamus for an aggregate cash purchase price of CHF 9.8 million ($10.1 million) which was financed using cash on hand and borrowings under the Company's revolving credit facility. The purchase price includes adjustments under the terms of the Share Purchase Agreement, including CHF 1.6 million ($1.6 million) related to cash acquired, and is subject to post closing adjustments under the terms of the Share Purchase Agreement. See Note 2 of the Consolidated Financial Statements.
In the third quarter of 2015, the Company, through one of its subsidiaries, completed the acquisition of the Thermoplay business ("Thermoplay") by acquiring all of the capital stock of privately held HPE S.p.A., the parent company through which
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Thermoplay operates ("HPE"). Thermoplay’s headquarters and manufacturing facility are located in Pont-Saint-Martin in Aosta, Italy, with technical service capabilities in China, India, France, Germany, United Kingdom, Portugal, and Brazil. Thermoplay, which is being integrated into our Industrial segment, specializes in the design, development, and manufacturing of hot runner solutions for plastic injection molding, primarily in the packaging, automotive, and medical end markets. The Company acquired Thermoplay for an aggregate cash purchase price of €58.1 million ($63.7 million), pursuant to the terms of the Sale and Purchase Agreement ("SPA"). The Company paid €56.7 million ($62.2 million) in cash, using cash on hand and borrowings under the Company's revolving credit facility and recorded a liability of €1.4 million ($1.5 million) related to the estimated post closing adjustments. The purchase price includes adjustments under the terms of the SPA, including €17.1 million ($18.7 million) related to cash acquired. See Note 2 of the Consolidated Financial Statements.
In the fourth quarter of 2013, the Company and two of its subsidiaries (collectively with the Company, the "Purchaser") completed the acquisition of the Männer Business (defined below) pursuant to the terms of the Share Purchase and Assignment Agreement dated September 30, 2013 ("Share Purchase Agreement") among the Purchaser, Otto Männer Holding AG, a German company based in Bahlingen, Germany (the "Seller"), and the three shareholders of the Seller (the "Männer Business"). The Männer Business is a leader in the development and manufacture of high precision molds, valve gate hot runner systems, and system solutions for the medical/pharmaceutical, packaging, and personal care/health care industries. The Männer Business includes manufacturing locations in Germany, Switzerland and the United States, and sales and service offices in Europe, the United States, Hong Kong/China and Japan. Pursuant to the terms of the Share Purchase Agreement, the Company acquired all the shares of capital stock of the Männer Business for an aggregate purchase price of €280.7 million ($380.7 million). The acquisition has been integrated into the Industrial segment. See Note 2 of the Consolidated Financial Statements.
In the second quarter of 2013, the Company completed the sale of its Barnes Distribution North America business ("BDNA") to MSC Industrial Direct Co., Inc. ("MSC") pursuant to the terms of the Asset Purchase Agreement dated February 22, 2013 (the "APA") between the Company and MSC. The total cash consideration received for BDNA was $537.8 million, net of transaction costs and closing adjustments paid. See Note 3 of the Consolidated Financial Statements.
Management Objectives
Management focused on three key initiatives during 2015: productivity, innovation and global talent management, which, in combination, are expected to generate long-term value for the Company's stockholders and our customers. The Company's strategies for growth include both organic growth from new products, processes, services, markets and customers, and growth from acquisitions. The Company's strategies for profitability include employee engagement and empowerment to drive productivity and process initiatives, such as the application of new technologies, automation and innovation, intensified focus on intellectual property as a core differentiator. A key component of the Company's culture is the Barnes Enterprise System (BES), the Company's operating system which drives alignment and fosters continuous improvement, collaboration and innovation throughout the global organization.
Our Business
The Company consists of two operating segments: Industrial and Aerospace. In both of these businesses, the Company is among the leaders in the market niches served.
Key Performance Indicators
Management evaluates the performance of its reportable segments based on the sales, operating profit and operating margins of the respective businesses, which includes net sales, cost of sales, selling and administrative expenses and certain components of other income and other expenses, as well as the allocation of corporate overhead expenses. Each segment has standard key performance indicators (“KPIs”), a number of which are focused on customer metrics (on-time-delivery and quality), internal effectiveness and efficiency metrics (sales per employee, productivity, cost of quality, days working capital and controllable expenses), employee safety-related metrics (total recordable incident rate and lost time incident rate), and specific KPIs on profitable growth.
Key Industry Data
In both segments, management tracks a variety of economic and industry data as indicators of the health of a particular sector.
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At Industrial, key data for the manufacturing operations include the Institute for Supply Management’s manufacturing PMI Composite Index (and similar indices for European and Asian-based businesses); the Federal Reserve’s Industrial Production Index ("the IPI"); the Global Insight global medical and measuring equipment index; the production of light vehicles, both in the U.S. and globally; worldwide light vehicle new model introductions and existing model refreshes; North American medium and heavy duty vehicle production; and global GDP growth forecasts.
At Aerospace, management of the aftermarket business monitors the number of aircraft in the active fleet, the number of planes temporarily or permanently taken out of service, aircraft utilization rates for the major airlines, engine shop visits, airline profitability, aircraft fuel costs and traffic growth. The Aerospace OEM business regularly tracks orders and deliveries for each of the major aircraft manufacturers, as well as engine purchases made for new aircraft. Management also monitors annual appropriations for the U.S. military related to purchases of new or used aircraft and engine components.
RESULTS OF OPERATIONS
Sales
($ in millions) | 2015 | 2014 | $ Change | % Change | 2013 | ||||||||||||||
Industrial | $ | 782.3 | $ | 822.1 | $ | (39.8 | ) | (4.8 | )% | $ | 687.6 | ||||||||
Aerospace | 411.7 | 440.0 | (28.3 | ) | (6.4 | )% | 404.0 | ||||||||||||
Total | $ | 1,194.0 | $ | 1,262.0 | $ | (68.0 | ) | (5.4 | )% | $ | 1,091.6 | ||||||||
2015 vs. 2014:
The Company reported net sales of $1,194.0 million in 2015, a decrease of $68.0 million, or 5.4%, from 2014. The acquisitions of Thermoplay on August 7, 2015 and Priamus on October 1, 2015 provided sales of $13.6 million and $2.0 million, respectively, during the 2015 period. Organic sales within Industrial increased by $13.5 million, or 1.6%, during 2015, primarily due to favorable end-markets served by our tool and die and plastics businesses during the first half of 2015. A softening within our transportation and general industrial end-markets during the second half of 2015 tempered a substantial portion of the organic growth in the first half of the year. Aerospace recorded sales of $411.7 million in 2015, a $28.3 million, or 6.4% decrease from 2014. Lower sales within the OEM and MRO businesses were partially offset by increased sales within the spare parts business. The spare parts business benefited from increased demand as a result of higher aircraft utilization and customer restocking of inventory, whereas the MRO business continued to be impacted by deferred maintenance on certain platforms. The timing of customer deliveries and execution, which was partially impacted by new product introduction challenges, in addition to the the impact of a contract termination dispute, directly impacted lower sales within the OEM business during the second half of 2015. The impact of foreign currency translation decreased sales within Industrial by approximately $68.8 million as the U.S. dollar strengthened against foreign currencies. Sales within Aerospace were not impacted by changes in foreign currency as these are largely denominated in U.S. dollars. The Company’s international sales decreased 2.4% year-over-year, while domestic sales decreased 4.7%. Excluding the impact of foreign currency translation on sales, however, the Company's international sales in 2015 increased 7.8%, inclusive of sales through acquisition, from 2014.
2014 vs. 2013:
The Company reported net sales of $1,262.0 million in 2014, an increase of $170.4 million, or 15.6%, from 2013. The Männer Business, acquired on October 31, 2013, provided sales of $113.7 million during the January through October 2014 period. In Aerospace, sales increased as a result of growth in the OEM manufacturing and the aftermarket MRO business, partially offset by declines within the aftermarket spare parts business. Organic sales increased by $64.1 million, or 5.9%. Organic growth within the Industrial segment benefited from favorable light vehicle and tool and die end-markets, whereas Aerospace growth within the OEM business resulted from continued strength in demand for new engines, driven by increased commercial aircraft production. The strengthening of the U.S. dollar against foreign currencies as compared to 2013 decreased net sales by $7.3 million in 2014. The Company’s international sales increased 29.3% year-over-year, primarily due to the acquisition of the Männer Business, while domestic sales increased 4.3%. Excluding the impact of foreign currency translation on sales, the Company's international sales in 2014 increased 30.7% from 2013.
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Expenses and Operating Income
($ in millions) | 2015 | 2014 | $ Change | % Change | 2013 | ||||||||||||||
Cost of sales | $ | 782.8 | $ | 829.6 | $ | (46.8 | ) | (5.6 | )% | $ | 738.2 | ||||||||
% sales | 65.6 | % | 65.7 | % | 67.6 | % | |||||||||||||
Gross profit (1) | $ | 411.2 | $ | 432.4 | $ | (21.2 | ) | (4.9 | )% | $ | 353.4 | ||||||||
% sales | 34.4 | % | 34.3 | % | 32.4 | % | |||||||||||||
Selling and administrative expenses | $ | 242.8 | $ | 252.4 | $ | (9.6 | ) | (3.8 | )% | $ | 230.2 | ||||||||
% sales | 20.3 | % | 20.0 | % | 21.1 | % | |||||||||||||
Operating income | $ | 168.4 | $ | 180.0 | $ | (11.6 | ) | (6.4 | )% | $ | 123.2 | ||||||||
% sales | 14.1 | % | 14.3 | % | 11.3 | % | |||||||||||||
(1) | Sales less cost of sales |
2015 vs. 2014:
Cost of sales in 2015 decreased 5.6% from 2014, while gross profit margin increased slightly from 34.3% in 2014 to 34.4% in 2015. Gross margins remained flat at Industrial and improved slightly at Aerospace, however a higher percentage of sales were driven by the Industrial segment in 2015. The gross profit decrease during 2015 includes a charge of $6.4 million related to a lump-sum pension settlement (see Note 12 of the Consolidated Financial Statements). At Industrial, gross profit during 2014 was partially offset by $4.5 million of short-term purchase accounting adjustments related to the acquisition of the Männer business and restructuring charges of $5.4 million related to the closure of the Saline facility, which was completed in 2014. During 2015, short term purchase accounting adjustments of $0.9 million and $0.9 million were related to the acquisitions of the Männer business and Thermoplay, respectively. Within Aerospace, gross profit declined as a result lower sales within OEM, partially offset by increased profits within the spare parts business, and a $2.8 million charge related to a contract termination dispute following a customer decision to re-source. Selling and administrative expenses decreased 3.8% from 2014 due primarily to foreign exchange translation and a $3.4 million reduction in the short-term purchase accounting adjustments related to the acquisition of the Männer business. Lower employee related expenses, primarily from incentive compensation, reduced selling and administrative expenses during the 2015 period. The 2014 period also included $0.6 million of charges related to the Closure of the Saline facility. These expense reductions during 2015 were partially offset by $4.2 million of charges related to workforce reductions and severance, $3.5 million of lump-sum pension settlement charges and $0.3 million of short-term purchase accounting adjustments related to the acquisition of Thermoplay. As a percentage of sales, selling and administrative costs increased from 20.0% in 2014 to 20.3% in 2015. Operating margin was 14.1% in 2015 compared to 14.3% in 2014.
2014 vs. 2013:
Cost of sales in 2014 increased 12.4% from 2013, while gross profit margin increased from 32.4% in 2013 to 34.3% in 2014. Gross margins improved at Industrial and at Aerospace. Cost of sales in 2013 included a third quarter $8.6 million pre-tax inventory valuation charge related to a specific family of spare parts within the repair and overhaul business at Aerospace. The acquisition of the Männer Business also resulted in a higher percentage of sales being driven by Industrial during 2014. Gross profit benefits from the Männer Business in 2014 were partially offset by $4.5 million of short-term purchase accounting adjustments related to the acquisition of the Männer Business and charges of $5.4 million related to the Closure of the Saline operations. During 2013, gross profit was partially offset by $3.6 million in short-term purchase accounting adjustments related the Männer Business. Selling and administrative expenses increased 9.6% from 2013 due primarily to the incremental operations of the Männer business, $4.0 million of short-term purchase accounting adjustments related to the acquisition of the Männer Business and $0.6 million of charges related to the closure of the Saline operations. During 2013, selling and administrative expenses also included $3.7 million in short-term purchase accounting adjustments and transaction costs related to the Männer Business and CEO transition costs of $10.5 million. As a percentage of sales, selling and administrative costs decreased from 21.1% in 2013 to 20.0% in 2014. Operating margin was 14.3% in 2014 compared to 11.3% in 2013.
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Interest expense
2015 vs. 2014:
Interest expense in 2015 decreased $0.7 million to $10.7 million from 2014, primarily as a result of lower average borrowings, partially offset by higher average borrowing rates resulting from the 3.97% Senior Notes that were issued under the Note Purchase Agreement executed on October 15, 2014. See Liquidity and Capital Resources within Item 7.
2014 vs. 2013:
Interest expense in 2014 decreased $1.7 million to $11.4 million from 2013, primarily a result of lower average borrowing rates, partially offset by higher average borrowings under the Amended Credit Facility, as defined below.
Other (income) expense, net
2015 vs. 2014:
Other (income) expense, net in 2015 was $(0.2) million compared to $2.1 million in 2014. Foreign currency gains of $0.5 million in the 2015 period compared with foreign currency losses of $1.5 million in the 2014 period.
2014 vs. 2013:
Other expense (income), net in 2014 was $2.1 million compared to $2.5 million in 2013.
Income Taxes
2015 vs. 2014:
The Company’s effective tax rate from continuing operations was 23.2% in 2015 compared with 27.6% in 2014. The decrease in 2015 is primarily due to a tax refund of withholding taxes, the granting of an extended tax holiday in China as well as a change in the mix of earnings in lower tax jurisdictions offset by an increase in the repatriation of a portion of current year foreign earnings to the U.S. During 2015, the Company repatriated a dividend from a portion of the current year foreign earnings to the U.S. in the amount of $19.5 million compared to $12.5 million in 2014. The increase in the dividend increased tax expense by $2.4 million and increased the annual effective tax rate by 1.5 percentage points compared to 2014.
In 2016, the Company expects the effective tax rate from continuing operations to increase to between 27% and 29% in part due to the expiration of certain foreign tax holidays as well as the absence of a tax benefit for withholding tax refunds recognized in 2015.
2014 vs. 2013:
The Company’s effective tax rate from continuing operations was 27.6% in 2014 compared with 32.8% in 2013 which includes the impact of $16.4 million of tax expense related to the April 16, 2013 U.S. Court Decision (Note 14 of the Consolidated Financial Statements and below). Excluding the impact of the U.S. Tax Court Decision, the Company's effective tax rate from continuing operations for 2013 was 17.5%. The remaining increase in the 2014 effective tax rate from continuing operations is primarily due to a change in the mix of earnings attributable to higher-taxing jurisdictions (principally in the U.S. and Germany) or jurisdictions where losses cannot be benefited in 2014, the expiration of certain international tax holidays and the increase in the repatriation of a portion of current year foreign earnings to the U.S. During 2014, the Company repatriated a dividend from a portion of the current year foreign earnings to the U.S. in the amount of $12.5 million compared to $5.0 million in 2013. This increase in the dividend increased tax expense by $3.2 million and increased the annual effective tax rate by 1.9 percentage points compared to 2013.
See Note 14 of the Consolidated Financial Statements for a reconciliation of the U.S. federal statutory income tax rate to the consolidated effective income tax rate.
On April 16, 2013, the United States Tax Court rendered an unfavorable decision in the matter Barnes Group Inc. and Subsidiaries v. Commissioner of Internal Revenue (“Tax Court Decision”). The Tax Court rejected the Company's objections and imposed penalties. The case involved IRS proposed adjustments of approximately $16.5 million, plus a 20% penalty and interest for the tax years 1998, 2000 and 2001.
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The case arose out of an Internal Revenue Service (“IRS”) audit for the tax years 2000 through 2002 (the "IRS Audit"). The adjustment relates to the federal taxation of foreign income of certain foreign subsidiaries. The Company filed an administrative protest of these adjustments. In the third quarter of 2009, the Company was informed that its protest was denied and a tax assessment was received from the Appeals Office of the IRS. Subsequently, in November 2009, the Company filed a petition against the IRS in the United States Tax Court, contesting the tax assessment. A trial was held and all briefs were filed in 2012. In April 2013 the Tax Court Decision was then issued rendering an unfavorable decision against the Company and imposing penalties. As a result of the unfavorable Tax Court Decision, the Company recorded an additional tax charge during 2013 for $16.4 million.
In November 2013, the Company made a cash payment of approximately $12.7 million related to tax, interest and penalties and utilized a portion of its net operating losses. The Company also submitted a notice of appeal of the Tax Court Decision to the United States Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit. The Company filed its opening brief with the United States Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit on February 13, 2014 and presented its oral arguments on October 1, 2014.
On November 5, 2014, the Second Circuit Court of Appeals upheld the Tax Court decision. Following the decision by the Second Circuit Court of Appeals, the Company had 60 days in which to file with the U.S. Supreme Court a petition for review. The Company has not filed a petition for review and therefore the judgment of the Second Circuit Court of Appeals is final.
In connection with the IRS Audit, the Company filed protective claims related to withholding taxes paid as a component of the transactions with certain subsidiaries. These filings allowed the Company to preserve the right to claim certain protection should the IRS prevail in its assessment. Upon the expiration of the period to file a petition for review to the U.S. Supreme Court, the Company acted on the protective claims and filed for the refund of the withholding taxes. In the third quarter of 2015, the Company received refunds of $3.0 million related to the withholding taxes and recorded a corresponding tax benefit.
Discontinued Operations
In April 2013, the Company completed the sale of BDNA to MSC pursuant to the terms of the APA between the Company and MSC. The total cash consideration received for BDNA was $537.8 million, net of transaction costs and closing adjustments paid. The net after-tax proceeds were $419.1 million after consideration of certain post closing adjustments, transaction costs and income taxes. In 2013, the Company recorded a net after-tax gain of $195.3 million on the sale of BDNA, net of transaction-related costs of $9.7 million, whereas pre-tax income from the discontinued operations at BDNA was $6.3 million.
The results of BDNA have been segregated and presented as discontinued operations. See Note 3 of the Consolidated Financial Statements.
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Income and Income Per Share
(in millions, except per share) | 2015 | 2014 | Change | % Change | 2013 | ||||||||||||||
Income from continuing operations | $ | 121.4 | $ | 120.5 | $ | 0.8 | 0.7 | % | $ | 72.3 | |||||||||
(Loss) income from discontinued operations, net of income taxes | — | (2.2 | ) | 2.2 | NM | 198.2 | |||||||||||||
Net income | $ | 121.4 | $ | 118.4 | $ | 3.0 | 2.5 | % | $ | 270.5 | |||||||||
Per common share: | |||||||||||||||||||
Basic: | |||||||||||||||||||
Income from continuing operations | $ | 2.21 | $ | 2.20 | $ | 0.01 | 0.5 | % | $ | 1.34 | |||||||||
(Loss) income from discontinued operations, net of income taxes | — | (0.04 | ) | 0.04 | NM | 3.68 | |||||||||||||
Net income | $ | 2.21 | $ | 2.16 | $ | 0.05 | 2.3 | % | $ | 5.02 | |||||||||
Diluted: | |||||||||||||||||||
Income from continuing operations | $ | 2.19 | $ | 2.16 | $ | 0.03 | 1.4 | % | $ | 1.31 | |||||||||
(Loss) income from discontinued operations, net of income taxes | — | (0.04 | ) | 0.04 | NM | 3.61 | |||||||||||||
Net income | $ | 2.19 | $ | 2.12 | $ | 0.07 | 3.3 | % | $ | 4.92 | |||||||||
Weighted average common shares outstanding: | |||||||||||||||||||
Basic | 55.0 | 54.8 | 0.2 | 0.4 | % | 53.9 | |||||||||||||
Diluted | 55.5 | 55.7 | (0.2 | ) | (0.4 | )% | 55.0 | ||||||||||||
__________________
NM - Not Meaningful
In 2015, basic and diluted income from continuing operations per common share increased 0.5% and 1.4%, respectively. The increases were directly attributable to the increase in income from continuing operations year over year. Basic weighted average common shares outstanding increased due to the issuance of additional shares for employee stock plans. The impact of these issuances was partially offset by the repurchase of 1,352,596 shares during 2015 as part of the Company's repurchase program. Diluted weighted average common shares outstanding decreased slightly due to a decrease in potentially issuable shares, driven by the redemption of the 3.375% Convertible Notes during 2014 partially offset by the increase in basic weighted average common shares outstanding.
Financial Performance by Business Segment
Industrial
($ in millions) | 2015 | 2014 | $ Change | % Change | 2013 | ||||||||||||||
Sales | $ | 782.3 | $ | 822.1 | $ | (39.8 | ) | (4.8 | )% | $ | 687.6 | ||||||||
Operating profit | 103.0 | 108.4 | (5.4 | ) | (5.0 | )% | 71.9 | ||||||||||||
Operating margin | 13.2 | % | 13.2 | % | 10.5 | % | |||||||||||||
2015 vs. 2014:
Sales at Industrial were $782.3 million in 2015, a decrease of $39.8 million, or 4.8%, from 2014. The acquisitions of Thermoplay on August 7, 2015 and Priamus on October 1, 2015 provided sales of $13.6 million and $2.0 million, respectively, during the 2015 period. Organic sales increased by $13.5 million, or 1.6%, during 2015, primarily due to favorable end-markets served by our tool and die and plastics businesses during the first half of 2015. A softening within our transportation and general industrial end-markets during the second half of 2015 tempered a substantial portion of organic growth in the first half. The impact of foreign currency translation decreased sales by approximately $68.8 million as the U.S. dollar strengthened against foreign currencies.
Operating profit in 2015 at Industrial was $103.0 million, a decrease of 5.0% from 2014. Operating profit benefited primarily from the profit contribution of increased organic sales within our end markets during the first half of 2015, more than
23
offset by lower productivity and the unfavorable impact of foreign exchange during the full year. The 2015 period also included lump-sum pension settlement charges of $7.5 million that were allocated to the segment, short-term purchase adjustments and transaction costs resulting from the acquisitions of Thermoplay and Priamus of $1.9 million and $0.2 million, respectively, and $3.4 million of charges related to certain workforce reductions and restructuring. Lower sales volumes during the second half of 2015 tapered the benefit of growth in organic sales during the first half of the year. The 2014 period included $8.5 million of short-term purchase accounting adjustments related to the acquisition of the Männer Business, whereas the 2015 period included $1.5 million of such adjustments. The 2014 period also included $6.0 million of pre-tax restructuring charges related to the closure of production operations at the facility in Saline, Michigan.
Outlook:
In the Industrial manufacturing businesses, management is focused on generating organic sales growth through the introduction of new products and by leveraging the benefits of the diversified products and industrial end-markets in which its businesses have a global presence. Our ability to generate sales growth is subject to economic conditions in the global markets served by all of our businesses. The Company is continuing to see softness in certain global industrial markets as indicated by declining Purchasing Managers Indexes (PMIs) in North America and China. In our light vehicle markets, production levels in North America and Europe are growing, while China's automotive build forecast, while growing, is decelerating. As noted above, our sales were negatively impacted by fluctuations in foreign currencies during 2015 of $68.8 million. A significant portion of businesses within the Industrial segment are domiciled in Europe. To the extent that the U.S. dollar strengthens as compared with the Euro and other foreign currencies, our sales may continue to be unfavorably impacted by foreign currency relative to the prior year periods. The relative impact on operating profit is not expected to be as significant as the impact on sales as the European businesses have expenses primarily denominated in local currencies, where their revenues reside. The Company also remains focused on sales growth through acquisition and expanding geographic reach. Strategic investments in new technologies, manufacturing processes and product development are expected to provide incremental benefits over the long term. The Company is currently in the process of negotiating a collective bargaining agreement (“CBA”) with certain unionized employees at the Bristol, CT and Corry, PA facilities, which are located within the Associated Spring business unit. The current CBA expired on November 30, 2014, and we continue to negotiate to reach a successor agreement.
Operating profit is largely dependent on the sales volumes and mix of the businesses in the segment. Management continues to focus on improving profitability and expanding margins through leveraging organic sales growth, acquisitions, pricing initiatives, and productivity and process improvements. The Company continues to actively manage costs during these periods of market softening. Workforce reductions and facility consolidations, combined with other productivity initiatives, are expected to contribute favorably in 2016. We continue to evaluate market conditions and remain pro-active in managing costs if markets further soften. Costs associated with new product and process introductions, plant consolidations, strategic investments and the integration of acquisitions may negatively impact operating profit.
2014 vs. 2013:
Sales at Industrial were $822.1 million in 2014, an increase of 19.6% from 2013. The Männer Business, acquired on October 31, 2013, provided sales of $113.7 million during the January through October 2014 period, and segment organic sales increased by $28.1 million, or 4.1%, during 2014. Organic growth resulted from favorable light vehicle and tool and die end-markets and strengthening within the geographic markets into which the Company sells. The impact of foreign currency translation decreased sales by approximately $7.3 million as the U.S. dollar strengthened against foreign currencies.
Operating profit in 2014 at Industrial was $ 108.4 million, an increase of 50.7% from 2013. Operating profit benefited from the profit contributions of the acquired Männer Business and increased organic sales, and was partially offset by charges of $6.0 million related to the closure of the Saline operations and $8.5 million of short-term purchase accounting adjustments related to the acquisition of the Männer Business. During 2013, operating profits were partially offset by $7.3 million in short-term purchase accounting adjustments and transaction costs related the Männer Business and CEO transition costs of $6.6 million that were allocated to the segment during the year.
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Aerospace
($ in millions) | 2015 | 2014 | $ Change | % Change | 2013 | ||||||||||||||
Sales | $ | 411.7 | $ | 440.0 | $ | (28.3 | ) | (6.4 | )% | $ | 404.0 | ||||||||
Operating profit | 65.4 | 71.6 | (6.2 | ) | (8.6 | )% | 51.3 | ||||||||||||
Operating margin | 15.9 | % | 16.3 | % | 12.7 | % | |||||||||||||
2015 vs. 2014:
Aerospace recorded sales of $411.7 million in 2015, a 6.4% decrease from 2014. Lower sales within the OEM and MRO businesses were partially offset by increased sales within the spare parts business. The spare parts business benefited from increased demand as a result of higher aircraft utilization and customer restocking of inventory, whereas the MRO business continued to be impacted by deferred maintenance on certain platforms. The timing of customer deliveries and execution, which was partially impacted by new product introduction challenges, in addition to the impact of a contract termination dispute, directly impacted lower sales within the OEM business during the second half of 2015. Sales were not impacted by changes in foreign currency as sales within the segment are largely denominated in U.S. dollars.
Operating profit at Aerospace decreased 8.6% from 2014 to $65.4 million. The operating profit decrease was primarily due to the profit impact of lower sales within the OEM and MRO businesses, lump-sum pension settlement charges of $2.4 million that were allocated to the segment, $0.8 million in workforce reduction and restructuring charges, a $2.8 million charge that resulted from a contract termination dispute following a customer decision to re-source work and lower productivity. Partially offsetting these items were the higher profit impact of increased sales within the spare parts business and lower employee related costs, primarily incentive compensation, partially offset by higher pension costs.
Outlook:
Sales in the Aerospace OEM business are based on the general state of the aerospace market driven by the worldwide economy and are supported by its order backlog through participation in certain strategic commercial and military engine and airframe programs. Over the next several years, the Company expects continued strength in demand for new engines, driven by increased commercial aircraft production. Backlog at OEM was $563.9 million at December 31, 2015, an increase of 8.7% since December 31, 2014, at which time backlog was $518.6 million. Approximately 50% of this backlog at December 31, 2015 is expected to be shipped over the next 12 months, with a greater mix of our backlog reflecting new engine programs. The Aerospace OEM business may be impacted by changes in the content levels on certain platforms, changes in customer sourcing decisions, adjustments to customer inventory levels, commodity availability and pricing, our ability to expand operations within lower cost regions, changes in production schedules of specific engine and airframe programs, as well as the pursuit of new programs. Sales levels in the Aerospace aftermarket business may be impacted by fluctuations in end-market demand, inventory management and changes in customer sourcing, deferred or limited maintenance activity during engine shop visits and the use of surplus (used) material during the engine repair and overhaul process. End markets are expected to grow based on the long term underlying fundamentals of the aerospace industry. Management continues to believe its Aerospace aftermarket business is competitively positioned based on well-established long-term customer relationships, including maintenance and repair contracts in the MRO business and long-term Revenue Sharing Programs ("RSPs") and Component Repair Programs ("CRPs"), expanded capabilities and current capacity levels. Fluctuations in fuel costs and their impact on airline profitability and behaviors within the aerospace industry could impact levels and frequency of aircraft maintenance and overhaul activities, and airlines' decisions on maintaining, deferring or canceling new aircraft purchases, in part based on the value associated with new fuel efficient technologies. The Company does not expect that fluctuations in fuel costs will have a significant impact in the near term on the OEM business, however may impact the MRO business.
Management is focused on growing operating profit at Aerospace primarily through leveraging organic sales growth, strategic investments, productivity initiatives, new product and process introductions and continued cost management. Operating profit is expected to be affected by the impact of changes in sales volume, mix and pricing, particularly as they relate to the highly profitable aftermarket RSP spare parts business, and investments made in each of its businesses. During the fourth quarter of 2015, the Company has responded to the challenging economic environment affecting certain of our Aerospace businesses. As noted above, workforce reductions and restructure charges primarily related to a plant consolidation were recorded following reduced aftermarket volumes and the impact of the OEM customers re-sourcing decision. These actions supporting our productivity initiatives are expected to favorably impact 2016. We continue to evaluate market conditions and remain pro-active in managing costs if markets further soften. Costs associated with new product and process introductions, the physical transfer of work to lower cost manufacturing regions and additional restructuring activities may negatively impact operating profit.
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2014 vs. 2013:
Aerospace recorded sales of $440.0 million in 2014, a 8.9% increase from 2013. A sales increase in the OEM business and the aftermarket MRO business was partially offset by slightly lower sales in the aftermarket spare parts business. Increased sales within the OEM business reflected continued strength in demand for new engines, driven by increased aircraft production. Sales in the MRO business benefited primarily from the CRPs that were executed in December 2013 and June 2014.
Operating profit at Aerospace increased 39.6% from 2013 to $71.6 million. Operating profit benefited from increased sales in the OEM business and increased sales in the MRO business, primarily due to the profit impact of the CRPs. These benefits were partially offset by an increase in employee related costs, primarily due to incentive compensation. Operating profit in 2013 also included a $8.6 million pre-tax inventory valuation charge related to a specific family of spare parts within the MRO business and CEO transition costs of $3.9 million allocated to the segment.
LIQUIDITY AND CAPITAL RESOURCES
Management assesses the Company's liquidity in terms of its overall ability to generate cash to fund its operating and investing activities. Of particular importance in the management of liquidity are cash flows generated from operating activities, capital expenditure levels, dividends, capital stock transactions, effective utilization of surplus cash positions overseas and adequate lines of credit.
The Company's ability to generate cash from operations in excess of its internal operating needs is one of its financial strengths. Management continues to focus on cash flow and working capital management, and anticipates that operating activities in 2016 will generate sufficient cash to fund operations. The Company closely monitors its cash generation, usage and preservation including the management of working capital to generate cash.
On October 15, 2014, the Company entered into a Note Purchase Agreement (“Note Purchase Agreement”), among the Company and New York Life Insurance Company, New York Life Insurance and Annuity Corporation and New York Life Insurance and Annuity Corporation Institutionally Owned Life Insurance Separate Account (BOLI 30C), as purchasers, for the issuance of $100.0 million aggregate principal amount of 3.97% senior notes due October 17, 2024 (the “3.97% Senior Notes”). The Company completed funding of the transaction and issued the 3.97% Senior Notes on October 17, 2014. The 3.97% Senior Notes are senior unsecured obligations of the Company and will pay interest semi-annually on April 17 and October 17 of each year at an annual rate of 3.97%. The 3.97% Senior Notes will mature on October 17, 2024 unless earlier prepaid in accordance with their terms. Subject to certain conditions, the Company may, at its option, prepay all or any part of the 3.97% Senior Notes in an amount equal to 100% of the principal amount of the 3.97% Senior Notes so prepaid, plus any accrued and unpaid interest to the date of prepayment, plus the Make-Whole Amount, as defined in the Note Purchase Agreement, with respect to such principal amount being prepaid. The Note Purchase Agreement contains customary affirmative and negative covenants that are similar to the covenants required under the Amended Credit Agreement, as discussed below. At December 31, 2015, the Company was in compliance with all covenants under the Note Purchase Agreement.
During the second quarter of 2014, the 3.375% Convertible Notes (the "3.375% Notes") were eligible for conversion due to meeting their conversion price eligibility requirement. On June 16, 2014, $0.2 million of the 3.375% Notes (par value) were surrendered for conversion. On June 24, 2014, the Company exercised its right to redeem the remaining $55.4 million principal amount of the 3.375% Notes, effective July 31, 2014. The Company elected to pay cash to holders of the 3.375% Notes surrendered for conversion, including the value of any residual shares of common stock that might be payable to the holders electing to convert their 3.375% Notes into an equivalent share value. Under the terms of the indenture, the conversion value was measured based upon a 20-day valuation period of the Company's stock price. The Company used borrowings under its Amended Credit Facility to finance the redemption and conversion of the 3.375% Notes. The remaining 3.375% Notes were rendered for conversion during the third quarter of 2014 and the Company paid $70.5 million in cash to the holders, which included a premium of $14.9 million.
In September 2013, the Company entered into a second amendment to its fifth amended and restated revolving credit agreement (the "Amended Credit Agreement”) and retained Bank of America, N.A. as the administrative agent for the lenders. The $750.0 million Amended Credit Agreement matures in September 2018 with an option to extend the maturity date for an additional year, subject to certain conditions. The Amended Credit Agreement adds a new foreign subsidiary borrower in Germany, Barnes Group Acquisition GmbH, and includes an accordion feature to increase the borrowing availability of the Company to $1,000.0 million. The Company may exercise the accordion feature upon request to the Administrative Agent as long as an event of default has not occurred or is continuing. The borrowing availability of $750.0 million, pursuant to the terms of the Amended Credit Agreement, allows for Euro-denominated borrowings equivalent to $500.0 million. Borrowings
26
under the Amended Credit Agreement bear interest at LIBOR plus a spread ranging from 1.10% to 1.70% depending on the Company's leverage ratio at prior quarter end.
The Company's borrowing capacity may be limited by various debt covenants in the Amended Credit Agreement and the Note Purchase Agreement (the "Agreements"). The Agreements require the Company to maintain a ratio of Consolidated Senior Debt, as defined in the Agreements, to Consolidated EBITDA, as defined, of not more than 3.25 times at the end of each fiscal quarter ("Senior Debt Ratio"), a ratio of Consolidated Total Debt, as defined, to Consolidated EBITDA of not more than 4.00 times at the end of each fiscal quarter, and a ratio of Consolidated EBITDA to Consolidated Cash Interest Expense, as defined, of not less than 4.25 times at the end of each fiscal quarter. The Agreements also provide that in connection with certain permitted acquisitions with aggregate consideration in excess of $150.0 million, the Consolidated Senior Debt to EBITDA ratio and the Consolidated Total Debt to EBITDA ratio are permitted to increase to 3.50 times and 4.25 times, respectively, for a period of the four fiscal quarters ending after the closing of the acquisition. At December 31, 2015, the Company was in compliance with all covenants under the Agreements. The Company's most restrictive financial covenant is the Senior Debt Ratio which requires the Company to maintain a ratio of Consolidated Senior Debt to Consolidated EBITDA of not more than 3.25 times at December 31, 2015. The actual ratio at December 31, 2015 was 1.85 times.
In 2015, 2014 and 2013, the Company acquired 1.4 million shares, 0.2 million shares and 2.4 million shares of the Company's common stock, respectively, at a cost of $52.1 million, $8.4 million and $68.6 million, respectively.
In August 2015, the Company completed the acquisition of Thermoplay, a permitted transaction pursuant to the terms of the Amended Credit Agreement. The Company acquired all of the capital stock of HPE for an aggregate purchase price of €58.1 million ($63.7 million), consisting of €56.7 million ($62.2 million) in cash, which was paid using cash on hand of €28.7 million ($31.5 million) and borrowings of €28.0 million ($30.7 million) under the Company's revolving credit facility, and a €1.4 million ($1.5 million) estimated liability to the seller. At December 31, 2015, the Company had repaid all €28.0 million of the borrowings under the revolving credit facility.
Operating cash flow may be supplemented with external borrowings to meet near-term business expansion needs and the Company's current financial commitments. The Company has assessed its credit facilities in conjunction with the Amended Credit Facility and currently expects that its bank syndicate, comprised of 17 banks, will continue to support its Amended Credit Agreement which matures in September 2018. At December 31, 2015, the Company had $370.3 million unused and available for borrowings under its $750.0 million Amended Credit Facility, subject to covenants in the Company's debt agreements. At December 31, 2015, additional borrowings of $595.0 million of Total Debt and $387.8 million of Senior Debt would have been allowed under the financial covenants. The Company intends to use borrowings under its Amended Credit Facility to support the Company's ongoing growth initiatives. The Company believes its credit facilities and access to capital markets, coupled with cash generated from operations, are adequate for its anticipated future requirements.
The Company had $22.5 million in borrowings under short-term bank credit lines at December 31, 2015.
In 2012, the Company entered into five-year interest rate swap agreements transacted with three banks which together convert the interest on the first $100.0 million of borrowings under the Company’s Credit Agreement from a variable rate plus the borrowing spread to a fixed rate of 1.03% plus the borrowing spread for the purpose of mitigating its exposure to variable interest rates. At December 31, 2015, the Company's total borrowings were comprised of approximately 41% fixed rate debt and 59% variable rate debt compared to 40% fixed rate debt and 60% variable rate debt as of December 31, 2014.
The funded status of the Company's pension plans is dependent upon many factors, including actual rates of return that impact the fair value of pension assets and changes in discount rates that impact projected benefit obligations. The unfunded status of the pension plans increased from $60.7 million at December 31, 2014 to $65.7 million at December 31, 2015 as the reduction in the fair value of the pension plan assets exceeded the decrease in the projected benefit obligations ("PBOs"), following an update of certain actuarial assumptions. The Company recorded a $9.6 million non-cash after-tax increase in stockholders' equity (through other non-owner changes to equity) during 2015 that included the amortization of actuarial losses, including the accelerated amortization of actuarial losses related to the pre-tax $9.9 million lump sum pension settlement (described below), changes in actuarial assumptions and current year adjustments for changes in the funded status of its pension and postretirement benefit plans as required under the applicable accounting standards for defined benefit pension and other postretirement plans. In 2015, the Company made $4.5 million in contributions to its various defined benefit pension plans. The Company expects to contribute approximately $19.4 million to its various defined benefit pension plans in 2016, including $15.0 million of discretionary contributions to the U.S. Qualified pension plans. See Note 12 of the Consolidated Financial Statements.
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In September 2015, the Company announced a limited-time program offering (the "Program") to certain eligible, vested, terminated participants ("eligible participants") for a voluntary lump-sum pension payout or reduced annuity option (the "payout") that, if accepted, would settle the Company's pension obligation to them. The Program provides the eligible participants with a limited time opportunity of electing to receive a lump-sum settlement of their remaining pension benefit, or reduced annuity. The eligible participants notified the Company by November 20, 2015, the required deadline, to confirm whether they would opt for a lump-sum payout or reduced annuity. The scheduled payments of $28.0 million were made in December 2015. The payouts were funded by the assets of the Company's pension plan and therefore the Program did not require significant cash outflows by the Company. The resultant pre-tax settlement charge of $9.9 million reflects the accelerated amortization of actuarial losses and was recorded within costs of sales and selling and administrative expenses within the Consolidated Statements of Income.
At December 31, 2015, the Company held $83.9 million in cash and cash equivalents, the majority of which was held by foreign subsidiaries. These amounts have no material regulatory or contractual restrictions and are expected to primarily fund international investments. The Company repatriated $19.5 million of current year foreign earnings to the U.S. during 2015.
Any future acquisitions are expected to be financed through internal cash, borrowings and equity, or a combination thereof. Additionally, we may from time to time seek to retire or repurchase our outstanding debt through cash purchases and/or exchanges for equity securities, in open market purchases, under a Rule 10b5-1 trading plan, privately negotiated transactions or otherwise. Such repurchases or exchanges, if any, will depend on prevailing market conditions, our liquidity requirements, contractual restrictions and other factors.
Cash Flow
($ in millions) | 2015 | 2014 | $ Change | % Change | 2013 | ||||||||||||||
Operating activities | $ | 209.9 | $ | 186.9 | $ | 23.0 | 12.3 | % | $ | 10.1 | |||||||||
Investing activities | (115.5 | ) | (124.2 | ) | 8.8 | 7.0 | % | 157.4 | |||||||||||
Financing activities | (51.6 | ) | (83.5 | ) | 32.0 | 38.2 | % | (182.8 | ) | ||||||||||
Exchange rate effect | (4.9 | ) | (3.9 | ) | (1.0 | ) | (25.5 | )% | (0.2 | ) | |||||||||
Increase (decrease) in cash | $ | 37.9 | $ | (24.8 | ) | $ | 62.7 | NM | $ | (15.5 | ) | ||||||||
________________________
NM – Not meaningful
Operating activities provided $209.9 million in 2015 compared to $186.9 million in 2014. Operating cash flows in the 2015 period were positively impacted by improved operating performance and the absence of the use of cash for working capital seen in the 2014 period, which was driven by sales growth that resulted in an increase in receivables in 2014. The improvements in the 2015 period were partially offset by a reduction in accrued liabilities related primarily to employee incentive compensation.
Investing activities used $115.5 million in cash in 2015 and $124.2 million in 2014. Investing activities in 2015 include a cash outflow of $52.0 million required to fund the Thermoplay and Priamus acquisitions and capital expenditures of $46.0 million, compared to $57.4 million in 2014. Investing activities in 2015 and 2014 also include cash outflows of $21.0 million and $70.1 million, respectively, related to the Component Repair Programs ("CRPs"). See Note 6 of the Consolidated Financial Statements. The Company expects capital spending in 2016 to approximate $50 million. Capital expenditures relate to both maintenance needs and support of growth initiatives, which include the purchase of equipment and facilities to support new products and services, and will be funded primarily through cash flows from operations.
Cash used by financing activities in 2015 included a net increase in borrowings of $2.7 million compared to a net decrease of $32.0 million in 2014. Financing activities in the 2014 period include the redemption of the convertible debt which is reflected within payments on long-term debt ($55.6 million par value) and premium paid on convertible debt redemption ($14.9 million) which were financed through borrowings under the Amended Credit Facility. Financing activities in the 2014 period also include the payment of an assumed liability to the seller in connection with the acquisition of the Männer Business. Proceeds from the issuance of common stock remained flat at $11.4 million and $11.5 million in 2015 and 2014, respectively. Stock repurchases of 1.4 million shares during the 2015 period cost $52.1 million whereas 0.2 million shares were purchased in 2014 at a cost of $8.4 million. Total cash used to pay dividends increased to $26.2 million in 2015 compared to $24.5 million in 2014, primarily due to a dividend rate increase. Cash used by financing activities in the 2015 and 2014 periods was partially offset by $2.7 million and $4.9 million, respectively, in excess tax benefits recorded for current year tax deductions related to
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employee stock plan activity. Other financing cash flows during 2015 include $10.3 million of net cash proceeds from the settlement of foreign currency hedges related to intercompany financings.
Debt Covenants
Borrowing capacity is limited by various debt covenants in the Company's debt agreements. As of December 31, 2015, the most restrictive financial covenant is included within the Amended Credit Agreement and the Note Purchase Agreement and requires the Company to maintain a maximum ratio of Consolidated Senior Debt, as defined, to Consolidated EBITDA, as defined, of not more than 3.25 times for the four fiscal quarters then ending. The Agreements also contain other financial covenants that require the maintenance of a certain other debt ratio, Consolidated Total Debt, as defined, to Consolidated EBITDA of not more than 4.00 times and a certain interest coverage ratio, Consolidated EBITDA to Consolidated Cash Interest Expense, as defined, of at least 4.25 times, at December 31, 2015. The Agreements also provide that in connection with certain permitted acquisitions with aggregate consideration in excess of $150.0 million, the Consolidated Senior Debt to EBITDA ratio and the Consolidated Total Debt to EBITDA ratio are permitted to increase to 3.50 times and 4.25 times, respectively, for a period of the four fiscal quarters ending after the closing of the acquisition. Following is a reconciliation of Consolidated EBITDA to the Company's net income (in millions):
2015 | |||
Net income | $ | 121.4 | |
Add back: | |||
Interest expense | 10.7 | ||
Income taxes | 36.6 | ||
Depreciation and amortization | 78.2 | ||
Adjustment for non-cash stock based compensation | 9.1 | ||
Adjustment for acquired businesses | 4.6 | ||
Workforce reduction and restructuring charges | 4.5 | ||
Pension lump-sum settlement charge | 9.9 | ||
Other adjustments | 1.3 | ||
Consolidated EBITDA, as defined | $ | 276.2 | |
Consolidated Senior Debt, as defined, as of December 31, 2015 | $ | 509.9 | |
Ratio of Consolidated Senior Debt to Consolidated EBITDA | 1.85 | ||
Maximum | 3.25 | ||
Consolidated Total Debt, as defined, as of December 31, 2015 | $ | 509.9 | |
Ratio of Consolidated Total Debt to Consolidated EBITDA | 1.85 | ||
Maximum | 4.00 | ||
Consolidated Cash Interest Expense, as defined, as of December 31, 2015 | $ | 11.4 | |
Ratio of Consolidated EBITDA to Consolidated Cash Interest Expense | 24.31 | ||
Minimum | 4.25 | ||
The Amended Credit Agreement allows for certain adjustments within the calculation of the financial covenants. The adjustment for acquired businesses reflects the unaudited pre-acquisition operations of Thermoplay and Priamus for the periods from January 1, 2015 through August 6, 2015 and from January 1, 2015 through September 30, 2015, respectively. The workforce reduction and restructuring charges include charges recorded during 2015 related to workforce reductions and the closure of the Saline facility. The pension lump-sum settlement charge represents the accelerated amortization of actuarial pension losses. See Note 12 of the Consolidated Financial Statements. Other adjustments consist of net gains on the sale of assets, the amortization of the Thermoplay acquisition inventory step-up and due diligence and transaction expenses as permitted under the Amended Credit Agreement. The Company's financial covenants are measured as of the end of each fiscal quarter. At December 31, 2015, additional borrowings of $595.0 million of Total Debt and $387.8 million of Senior Debt would have been allowed under the covenants. Senior Debt includes primarily the borrowings under the Amended Credit Facility, the 3.97% Senior Notes and the borrowings under the lines of credit. The Company's unused committed credit facilities at December 31, 2015 were $370.3 million.
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Contractual Obligations and Commitments
At December 31, 2015, the Company had the following contractual obligations and commitments:
($ in millions) | Total | Less than 1 Year | 1-3 Years | 3-5 Years | More than 5 Years | |||||||||||||||
Long-term debt obligations (1) | $ | 509.9 | $ | 24.2 | $ | 382.1 | $ | 1.2 | $ | 102.4 | ||||||||||
Estimated interest payments under long-term obligations (2) | 51.9 | 10.0 | 18.3 | 8.2 | 15.3 | |||||||||||||||
Operating lease obligations | 29.5 | 7.6 | 7.9 | 4.5 | 9.5 | |||||||||||||||
Purchase obligations (3) | 122.6 | 113.3 | 6.3 | 2.5 | 0.6 | |||||||||||||||
Expected pension contributions (4) | 19.4 | 19.4 | — | — | — | |||||||||||||||
Expected benefit payments – other postretirement benefit plans (5) | 33.3 | 4.5 | 7.5 | 7.2 | 14.2 | |||||||||||||||
Total | $ | 766.7 | $ | 179.0 | $ | 422.0 | $ | 23.6 | $ | 142.0 | ||||||||||
(1) | Long-term debt obligations represent the required principal payments under such agreements. |
(2) | Interest payments under long-term debt obligations have been estimated based on the borrowings outstanding and market interest rates as of December 31, 2015. |
(3) | The amounts do not include purchase obligations reflected as current liabilities on the consolidated balance sheet. The purchase obligation amount includes all outstanding purchase orders as of the balance sheet date as well as the minimum contractual obligation or termination penalty under other contracts. |
(4) | The amount included in “Less Than 1 Year” reflects anticipated contributions to the Company’s various pension plans. Anticipated contributions beyond one year are not determinable. |
(5) | The amounts reflect anticipated future benefit payments under the Company’s various other postretirement benefit plans based on current actuarial assumptions. Expected benefit payments do not extend beyond 2025. See Note 12 of the Consolidated Financial Statements. |
The above table does not reflect unrecognized tax benefits as the timing of the potential payments of these amounts cannot be determined. See Note 14 of the Consolidated Financial Statements.
OTHER MATTERS
Inflation
Inflation generally affects the Company through its costs of labor, equipment and raw materials. Increases in the costs of these items have historically been offset by price increases, commodity price escalator provisions, operating improvements, and other cost-saving initiatives.
Critical Accounting Policies
The preparation of financial statements requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting period. Significant accounting policies are disclosed in Note 1 of the Consolidated Financial Statements. The most significant areas involving management judgments and estimates are described below. Actual results could differ from such estimates.
Inventory Valuation: Inventories are valued at the lower of cost, determined on a first-in, first-out basis, or market. Provisions are made to reduce excess or obsolete inventories to their estimated net realizable value. Loss provisions, if any, on aerospace contracts are established when estimable. Loss provisions are based on the projected excess of manufacturing costs over the net revenues of the products or group of related products under contract or purchase order. The Company carries a certain amount of inventory which includes certain parts related to specific engines within the Aftermarket MRO business. The process for evaluating the value of excess and obsolete inventory often requires the Company to make subjective judgments and estimates concerning future sales levels, access to applicable markets, quantities and prices at which such inventory will be sold in the normal course of business. Accelerating the disposal process or incorrect estimates of future sales potential may necessitate future adjustments to these provisions.
Business Acquisitions, Indefinite-Lived Intangible Assets and Goodwill: Assets and liabilities acquired in a business combination are recorded at their estimated fair values at the acquisition date. At December 31, 2015, the Company had $588.0 million and $38.4 million of goodwill and indefinite-lived intangible assets, respectively. Goodwill represents the cost of acquisitions in excess of fair values assigned to the underlying net assets of acquired companies. Goodwill and intangible assets deemed to have indefinite lives are not amortized but are subject to impairment testing annually or earlier if an event or change in circumstances indicates that the fair value of a reporting unit may have been reduced below its carrying value. Management
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completes its annual impairment assessments for goodwill and indefinite-lived intangible assets during the second quarter of each year. The Company uses the option to first assess qualitative factors to determine whether it is necessary to perform the two-step quantitative impairment tests in accordance with applicable accounting standards.
Under the qualitative goodwill assessment, management considers relevant events and circumstances including but not limited to macroeconomic conditions, industry and market considerations, overall unit performance and events directly affecting a unit. If the Company determines that the two-step quantitative impairment test is required, management estimates the fair value of the reporting unit primarily using the income approach, which reflects management’s cash flow projections, and also evaluates the fair value using the market approach. Inherent in management’s development of cash flow projections are assumptions and estimates, including those related to future earnings and growth and the weighted average cost of capital. Based on the second quarter 2015 assessment, the estimated fair value of all reporting units significantly exceeded their carrying values. There was no goodwill impairment at any reporting units through June 30, 2015. Many of the factors used in assessing fair value are outside the control of management, and these assumptions and estimates can change in future periods as a result of both Company-specific and overall economic conditions. Management’s quantitative assessment during the second quarter of 2015 included a review of the potential impacts of current and projected market conditions from a market participant’s perspective on reporting units’ projected cash flows, growth rates and cost of capital to assess the likelihood of whether the fair value would be less than the carrying value. While management expects future operating improvements at certain reporting units to result from improving end-market conditions, new product introductions and further market penetration, there can be no assurance that such expectations will be met or that the fair value of the reporting units will continue to exceed their carrying values. If the fair values were to fall below the carrying values, a non-cash impairment charge to income from operations could result. Management also performed its annual impairment testing of its trade names, indefinite-lived intangible assets, during the second quarter of 2015. Based on this assessment, there was no trade name impairment recognized.
Aerospace Aftermarket Programs: The Company participates in aftermarket RSPs under which the Company receives an exclusive right to supply designated aftermarket parts over the life of the related aircraft engine program. As consideration, the Company has paid participation fees, which are recorded as intangible assets. The carrying value of these intangible assets was $209.1 million at December 31, 2015. The Company records amortization of the related asset as sales dollars are being earned based on a proportional sales dollar method. Specifically, this method amortizes each asset as a reduction to revenue based on the proportion of sales under a program in a given period to the estimated aggregate sales dollars over the life of that program which reflects the pattern in which economic benefits are realized.
The Company entered into Component Repair Programs ("CRPs") with General Electric ("GE") during the fourth quarter of 2013 ("CRP 1"), the second quarter of 2014 ("CRP 2") and the fourth quarter of 2015 ("CRP 3"). The CRPs provide for, among other items, the right to sell certain aftermarket component repair services for CFM56, CF6, CF34 and LM engines directly to other customers as one of a few GE licensed suppliers. In addition, the CRPs extend certain existing contracts under which the Company currently provides these services directly to GE. The Company agreed to pay $26.6 million, $80.0 million and $5.2 million as consideration for the rights related CRP1, CRP 2 and CRP 3, respectively. The Company recorded the CRP payments as an intangible asset which is recognized as a reduction of sales over the remaining useful life of these engine programs. This method reflects the pattern in which the economic benefits of the CRPs are realized.
The recoverability of each asset is subject to significant estimates about future revenues related to the programs' aftermarket parts and services. The Company evaluates these intangible assets for recoverability and updates amortization rates on an agreement by agreement basis for the RSPs and on an individual asset basis for the CRPs. The assets are reviewed for recoverability periodically including whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that their carrying amount may not be recoverable. Annually, the Company evaluates the remaining useful life of these assets to determine whether events and circumstances warrant a revision to the remaining periods of amortization. Management updates revenue projections, which includes comparing actual experience against projected revenue and industry projections. The potential exists that actual revenues will not meet expectations due to a change in market conditions, including, for example, the replacement of older engines with new, more fuel-efficient engines or the Company's ability to capture additional market share within the aftermarket business. A shortfall in future revenues may indicate a triggering event requiring a write down or further evaluation of the recoverability of the assets or require the Company to accelerate amortization expense prospectively dependent on the level of the shortfall. The Company has not identified any impairment of these assets. See Note 6 of the Consolidated Financial Statements.
Pension and Other Postretirement Benefits: Accounting policies and significant assumptions related to pension and other postretirement benefits are disclosed in Note 12 of the Consolidated Financial Statements. As discussed further below, the significant assumptions that impact pension and other postretirement benefits include discount rates, mortality rates and expected long-term rates of return on invested pension assets.
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The following table provides a breakout of the current targeted mix of investments, by asset classification, along with the historical rates of return for each asset class and the long-term projected rates of return for the U.S. plans.
Target Asset Mix % | Annual Return % | |||||||
Historical (1) | Long- Term Projection | |||||||
Asset class | ||||||||
U.S. large cap growth equity | 6 | 9.9 | 8.2 | |||||
U.S. large cap value equity | 5 | 10.5 | 8.2 | |||||
U.S. mid cap equity | 4 | 11.9 | 8.5 | |||||
U.S. small cap - growth equity | 2 | 8.4 | 9.1 | |||||
U.S. small cap - value equity | 2 | 11.0 | 9.1 | |||||
Global equity | 13 | 7.5 | 9.3 | |||||
International Developed market equity | 20 | 5.3 | 9.7 | |||||
Emerging market equity | 13 | 10.3 | 12.4 | |||||
Fixed income - long government credit | 15 | 8.4 | 5.6 | |||||
Fixed income - long credit | 15 | 8.2 | 5.9 | |||||
Cash | 5 | 3.5 | 3.0 | |||||
Weighted average | 8.6 | 8.25 | ||||||
________________________
(1) | Historical returns based on the life of the respective index, or approximately 30 years. |
The historical rates of return for the Company's defined benefit plans were calculated based upon compounded average rates of return of published indices. In 2014, the Company approved a change in the targeted mix of assets. The revised target mix reflects a 65% equity investment target and a 35% target for fixed income and cash investments (in aggregate). This represents a strategic investment shift from a 75% equity investment target and 25% target for fixed income and cash investments (in aggregate). Within the equity investment of 65%, the Company shifted more heavily from U.S. equity investment targets to global equity investment targets. Based on the historical and projected rates of return of the revised target asset mix, management selected a long-term expected rate of return on its U.S. pension assets of 8.25%. The long-term rates of return for non-U.S. plans were selected based on actual historical rates of return of published indices that were used to measure the plans’ target asset allocations. Historical rates were then discounted to consider fluctuations in the historical rates as well as potential changes in the investment environment.
The discount rate used for the Company’s U.S. pension plans reflects the rate at which the pension benefits could be effectively settled. At December 31, 2015, the Company selected a discount rate of 4.65% based on a bond matching model for its U.S. pension plans. Market interest rates have increased in 2015 as compared with 2014 and, as a result, the discount rate used to measure pension liabilities increased from 4.25% at December 31, 2014. The discount rates for non-U.S. plans were selected based on highly rated long-term bond indices and yield curves that match the duration of the plan’s benefit obligations.
A one-quarter percentage point change in the assumed long-term rate of return on the Company’s U.S. pension plans as of December 31, 2015 would impact the Company’s 2016 pre-tax income by approximately $1.0 million. A one-quarter percentage point decrease in the discount rate on the Company's U.S. pension plans as of December 31, 2015 would decrease the Company’s 2016 pre-tax income by approximately $1.1 million. The Company reviews these and other assumptions at least annually.
The Company recorded a $9.6 million non-cash after-tax increase in stockholders equity (through other non-owner changes to equity) to record the current year adjustments for changes in the funded status of its pension and postretirement benefit plans as required under accounting for defined benefit and other postretirement plans. This increase in stockholders equity resulted primarily from the amortization of actuarial losses, including the accelerated amortization of actuarial losses related to the lump sum pension settlement and changes in actuarial assumptions, combined with unfavorable variances between expected and actual returns on pension plan assets. During 2015, the fair value of the Company’s pension plan assets decreased by $57.3 million and the projected benefit obligation decreased $52.3 million. The change in the projected benefit obligation included a $18.9 million (pre-tax) decrease due to actuarial gains resulting primarily from a change in the discount rates used to measure pension liabilities and $56.7 million in benefits paid, partially offset by annual interest cost of $20.0 million. Benefit payments of $28.0 million were made under the Program (as discussed above), driving the increase in payments from $27.4 million in 2014 to $56.7 million in 2015. Changes to other actuarial assumptions in 2015 did not have a material impact on our stockholders equity or projected benefit obligation. Actual pre-tax losses on total pension plan assets were $3.8 million compared with an expected pre-tax return on pension assets of $32.4 million. Pension expense for 2016 is
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expected to decrease from $18.4 million in 2015, of which $9.9 million relates to settlements, to $4.9 million in 2016, due in part to higher discount rates.
Income Taxes: As of December 31, 2015, the Company had recognized $26.0 million of deferred tax assets, net of valuation reserves. The realization of these benefits is dependent in part on the amount and timing of future taxable income in the jurisdictions where deferred tax assets reside. For those jurisdictions where the expiration date of tax loss carryforwards or the proposed operating results indicate that realization is not likely, a valuation allowance is provided. Management believes that sufficient taxable income should be earned in the future to realize deferred income tax assets, net of valuation allowances recorded.
The valuation of deferred tax assets requires significant judgment. Management’s assessment that the deferred tax assets will be realized represents its estimate of future results; however, there can be no assurance that such expectations will be met. Changes in management’s assessment of achieving sufficient future taxable income could materially increase the Company’s tax expense and could have a material adverse impact on the Company’s financial condition and results of operations.
Additionally, the Company is exposed to certain tax contingencies in the ordinary course of business and records those tax liabilities in accordance with the guidance for accounting for uncertain tax positions. For tax positions where the Company believes it is more likely than not that a tax benefit will be sustained, the Company has recorded the largest amount of tax benefit with a greater than 50% likelihood of being realized. For those income tax positions where it is more likely than not that a tax benefit will not be sustained, no tax benefit has been recognized in the financial statements. See Note 14 of the Consolidated Financial Statements.
Stock-Based Compensation: The Company accounts for its stock-based employee compensation plans at fair value on the grant date and recognizes the related cost in its consolidated statement of income in accordance with accounting standards related to share-based payments. The fair values of stock options are estimated using the Black-Scholes option-pricing model based on certain assumptions. The fair values of service and performance based share awards are estimated based on the fair market value of the Company’s stock price on the grant date. The fair value of market based performance share awards are estimated using the Monte Carlo valuation method. See Note 13 of the Consolidated Financial Statements.
Recent Accounting Changes
In May 2014, the Financial Accounting Standards Board ("FASB") amended its guidance related to revenue recognition. The amended guidance establishes a single comprehensive model for companies to use in accounting for revenue arising from contracts with customers and will supersede most of the existing revenue recognition guidance, including industry-specific guidance. The amended guidance clarifies that an entity recognizes revenue to depict the transfer of promised goods or services to customers in an amount that reflects the consideration to which the entity expects to be entitled in exchange for those goods or services. In applying the amended guidance, an entity will (1) identify the contract(s) with a customer; (2) identify the performance obligations in the contract; (3) determine the transaction price; (4) allocate the transaction price to the contract’s performance obligations; and (5) recognize revenue when (or as) the entity satisfies a performance obligation. The amended guidance applies to all contracts with customers except those that are within the scope of other topics in the FASB Accounting Standards Codification. The amended guidance was initially effective for annual reporting periods (including interim periods within those periods) beginning after December 15, 2016 for public companies. Early adoption is not permitted. On July 9, 2015, the FASB approved a deferral of the effective date by one year to December 15, 2017 for annual reporting periods beginning after that date. The FASB also proposed permitting early adoption of the standard, but not before the original effective date of December 15, 2016. Entities have the option of using either a full retrospective or modified retrospective approach to the amended guidance. The Company is evaluating this guidance and has not determined the impact that it may have on its financial statements nor decided upon the method of adoption.
In April 2015, the FASB amended its guidance related to the presentation of debt issuance costs. The amended guidance specifies that debt issuance costs related to notes shall be reported in the balance sheet as a direct deduction from the face amount of that note and that amortization of debt issuance costs shall be reported as interest expense. The amended guidance is effective for fiscal years, and interim periods within those fiscal years, beginning after December 15, 2015 and should be applied retrospectively. The Company has evaluated the guidance and believes it will not have a material impact on its Consolidated Financial Statements.
In July 2015, the FASB amended its guidance related to the measurement of inventory. The amended guidance requires inventory to be measured at the lower of cost or net realizable value and thereby simplifies the current guidance of measuring inventory at the lower of cost or market. The amended guidance is effective prospectively for fiscal years, and interim periods
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within those fiscal years, beginning after December 15, 2016. The Company is currently evaluating the guidance and does not anticipate a material impact on its Consolidated Financial Statements.
In November 2015, the FASB amended its guidance related to the balance sheet classification of deferred income taxes. The amended guidance removes the requirement to separate and classify deferred income tax liabilities and assets into current and non-current amounts and requires an entity to now classify all deferred tax liabilities and assets as non-current. The amended guidance can be adopted either on a prospective or retrospective basis and is effective for interim and annual periods beginning after December 15, 2016. Early adoption is permitted. The Company plans to classify its non-current deferred income tax assets and liabilities to current deferred income tax assets and liabilities on the Consolidated Statement Balance Sheets at the date of adoption.
EBITDA
Earnings before interest expense, income taxes, and depreciation and amortization (“EBITDA”) for 2015 was $246.9 million compared to $257.4 million in 2014. EBITDA is a measurement not in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles (“GAAP”). The Company defines EBITDA as net income plus interest expense, income taxes, and depreciation and amortization which the Company incurs in the normal course of business. The Company does not intend EBITDA to represent cash flows from operations as defined by GAAP, and the reader should not consider it as an alternative to net income, net cash provided by operating activities or any other items calculated in accordance with GAAP, or as an indicator of the Company’s operating performance. The Company’s definition of EBITDA may not be comparable with EBITDA as defined by other companies. The Company believes EBITDA is commonly used by financial analysts and others in the industries in which the Company operates and, thus, provides useful information to investors. Accordingly, the calculation has limitations depending on its use.
Following is a reconciliation of EBITDA to the Company’s net income (in millions):
2015 | 2014 | |||||||
Net income | $ | 121.4 | $ | 118.4 | ||||
Add back: | ||||||||
Interest expense | 10.7 | 11.4 | ||||||
Income taxes | 36.6 | 46.3 | ||||||
Depreciation and amortization | 78.2 | 81.4 | ||||||
EBITDA | $ | 246.9 | $ | 257.4 | ||||
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Item 7A. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk
Market risk is the potential economic loss that may result from adverse changes in the fair value of financial instruments. The Company’s financial results could be impacted by changes in interest rates and foreign currency exchange rates, and commodity price changes. The Company uses financial instruments to hedge its exposure to fluctuations in interest rates and foreign currency exchange rates. The Company does not use derivatives for speculative or trading purposes.
The Company’s long-term debt portfolio consists of fixed-rate and variable-rate instruments and is managed to reduce the overall cost of borrowing while also minimizing the effect of changes in interest rates on near-term earnings. The Company’s primary interest rate risk is derived from its outstanding variable-rate debt obligations. Financial instruments have been used by the Company to hedge its exposures to fluctuations in interest rates. In April 2012, the Company entered into five-year interest rate swap agreements transacted with three banks which together convert the interest on the first $100.0 million of borrowings under the Company’s Amended Credit Agreement from a variable rate plus the borrowing spread to a fixed rate of 1.03% plus the borrowing spread for the purpose of mitigating its exposure to variable interest rates. At December 31, 2015, the result of a hypothetical 100 basis point increase in the average cost of the Company’s variable-rate debt would have reduced annual pretax profit by $2.9 million.
At December 31, 2015, the fair value of the Company’s fixed-rate debt was $110.4 million, compared with its carrying amount of $107.5 million. The Company estimates that a 100 basis point decrease in market interest rates at December 31, 2015 would have increased the fair value of the Company's fixed rate debt to $118.1 million.
The Company has manufacturing, sales and distribution facilities around the world and thus makes investments and conducts business transactions denominated in various currencies. The Company is exposed primarily to financial instruments denominated in currencies other than the functional currency at its international locations. A 10% adverse change in foreign currencies relative to the U.S dollar at December 31, 2015 would have resulted in a $2.4 million loss in the fair value of those financial instruments. At December 31, 2015, the Company held $83.9 million of cash and cash equivalents, the majority of which is held by foreign subsidiaries.
Foreign currency commitments and transaction exposures are managed at the operating units as an integral part of their businesses in accordance with a corporate policy that addresses acceptable levels of foreign currency exposures. At December 31, 2015, the Company did not hedge its foreign currency net investment exposures.
Additionally, to reduce foreign currency exposure, management generally maintains the majority of foreign cash and short-term investments in functional currency and uses forward currency contracts for non-functional currency denominated monetary assets and liabilities and anticipated transactions in an effort to reduce the effect of the volatility of changes in foreign exchange rates on the income statement. In historically weaker currency countries, such as Brazil and Mexico, management assesses the strength of these currencies relative to the U.S. dollar and may elect during periods of local currency weakness to invest excess cash in U.S. dollar-denominated instruments.
The Company’s exposure to commodity price changes relates to certain manufacturing operations that utilize high-grade steel spring wire, stainless steel, titanium, Inconel, Hastelloys and other specialty metals. The Company attempts to manage its exposure to price increases through its procurement and sales practices.
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Item 8. Financial Statements and Supplementary Data
BARNES GROUP INC.
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME
(Dollars in thousands, except per share data)
Years Ended December 31, | ||||||||||||
2015 | 2014 | 2013 | ||||||||||
Net sales | $ | 1,193,975 | $ | 1,262,006 | $ | 1,091,566 | ||||||
Cost of sales | 782,817 | 829,648 | 738,170 | |||||||||
Selling and administrative expenses | 242,762 | 252,384 | 230,195 | |||||||||
1,025,579 | 1,082,032 | 968,365 | ||||||||||
Operating income | 168,396 | 179,974 | 123,201 | |||||||||
Interest expense | 10,698 | 11,392 | 13,090 | |||||||||
Other (income) expense, net | (248 | ) | 2,082 | 2,537 | ||||||||
Income from continuing operations before income taxes | 157,946 | 166,500 | 107,574 | |||||||||
Income taxes | 36,566 | 45,959 | 35,253 | |||||||||
Income from continuing operations | 121,380 | 120,541 | 72,321 | |||||||||
(Loss) income from discontinued operations, net of income taxes of $0, $315 and $120,750, respectively (Note 3) | — | (2,171 | ) | 198,206 | ||||||||
Net income | $ | 121,380 | $ | 118,370 | $ | 270,527 | ||||||
Per common share: | ||||||||||||
Basic: | ||||||||||||
Income from continuing operations | $ | 2.21 | $ | 2.20 | $ | 1.34 | ||||||
(Loss) income from discontinued operations, net of income taxes | — | (0.04 | ) | 3.68 | ||||||||
Net income | $ | 2.21 | $ | 2.16 | $ | 5.02 | ||||||
Diluted: | ||||||||||||
Income from continuing operations | $ | 2.19 | $ | 2.16 | $ | 1.31 | ||||||
(Loss) income from discontinued operations, net of income taxes | — | (0.04 | ) | 3.61 | ||||||||
Net income | $ | 2.19 | $ | 2.12 | $ | 4.92 | ||||||
Dividends | $ | 0.48 | $ | 0.45 | $ | 0.42 | ||||||
Weighted average common shares outstanding: | ||||||||||||
Basic | 55,028,063 | 54,791,030 | 53,860,308 | |||||||||
Diluted | 55,513,219 | 55,723,267 | 54,973,344 | |||||||||
See accompanying notes.
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BARNES GROUP INC.
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF COMPREHENSIVE INCOME
(Dollars in thousands)
Years Ended December 31, | |||||||||||
2015 | 2014 | 2013 | |||||||||
Net income | $ | 121,380 | $ | 118,370 | $ | 270,527 | |||||
Other comprehensive (loss) income, net of tax | |||||||||||
Unrealized gain (loss) on hedging activities, net of tax (1) | 847 | (213 | ) | (87 | ) | ||||||
Foreign currency translation adjustments, net of tax (2) | (54,232 | ) | (83,168 | ) | 19,615 | ||||||
Defined benefit pension and other postretirement benefits, net of tax (3) | 9,586 | (42,016 | ) | 73,168 | |||||||
Total other comprehensive (loss) income, net of tax | (43,799 | ) | (125,397 | ) | 92,696 | ||||||
Total comprehensive income (loss) | $ | 77,581 | $ | (7,027 | ) | $ | 363,223 | ||||
(1) Net of tax of $227, $(45) and $272 for the years ended December 31, 2015, 2014 and 2013, respectively.
(2) Net of tax of $(1,777), $(3,292) and $439 for the years ended December 31, 2015, 2014 and 2013, respectively.
(3) Net of tax of $3,916, $(24,799) and $43,109 for the years ended December 31, 2015, 2014 and 2013, respectively.
See accompanying notes.
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BARNES GROUP INC.
CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
(Dollars in thousands)
December 31, | ||||||||
2015 | 2014 | |||||||
Assets | ||||||||
Current assets | ||||||||
Cash and cash equivalents | $ | 83,926 | $ | 46,039 | ||||
Accounts receivable, less allowances (2015 – $4,085; 2014 – $3,873) | 261,757 | 275,890 | ||||||
Inventories | 208,611 | 212,044 | ||||||
Deferred income taxes | 24,825 | 31,849 | ||||||
Prepaid expenses and other current assets | 32,469 | 22,574 | ||||||
Total current assets | 611,588 | 588,396 | ||||||
Deferred income taxes | 1,139 | 10,061 | ||||||
Property, plant and equipment, net | 308,856 | 299,435 | ||||||
Goodwill | 587,992 | 594,949 | ||||||
Other intangible assets, net | 528,322 | 554,694 | ||||||
Other assets | 23,969 | 26,350 | ||||||
Total assets | $ | 2,061,866 | $ | 2,073,885 | ||||
Liabilities and Stockholders’ Equity | ||||||||
Current liabilities | ||||||||
Notes and overdrafts payable | $ | 22,680 | $ | 8,028 | ||||
Accounts payable | 97,035 | 94,803 | ||||||
Accrued liabilities | 131,320 | 161,397 | ||||||
Long-term debt – current | 1,515 | 862 | ||||||
Total current liabilities | 252,550 | 265,090 | ||||||
Long-term debt | 485,711 | 495,844 | ||||||
Accrued retirement benefits | 112,888 | 115,057 | ||||||
Deferred income taxes | 62,364 | 70,147 | ||||||
Other liabilities | 20,600 | 15,954 | ||||||
Commitments and contingencies (Note 21) | ||||||||
Stockholders’ equity | ||||||||
Common stock – par value $0.01 per share | ||||||||
Authorized: 150,000,000 shares | ||||||||
Issued: at par value (2015 – 62,071,144 shares; 2014 – 61,229,980 shares) | 621 | 612 | ||||||
Additional paid-in capital | 427,558 | 405,525 | ||||||
Treasury stock, at cost (2015 – 8,206,683 shares; 2014 – 6,729,438 shares) | (226,421 | ) | (169,405 | ) | ||||
Retained earnings | 1,069,247 | 974,514 | ||||||
Accumulated other non-owner changes to equity | (143,252 | ) | (99,453 | ) | ||||
Total stockholders’ equity | 1,127,753 | 1,111,793 | ||||||
Total liabilities and stockholders’ equity | $ | 2,061,866 | $ | 2,073,885 | ||||
See accompanying notes.
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BARNES GROUP INC.
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
(Dollars in thousands)
Years Ended December 31, | ||||||||||||
2015 | 2014 | 2013 | ||||||||||
Operating activities: | ||||||||||||
Net income | $ | 121,380 | $ | 118,370 | $ | 270,527 | ||||||
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities: | ||||||||||||
Depreciation and amortization | 78,242 | 81,395 | 65,052 | |||||||||
Amortization of convertible debt discount | — | 731 | 2,391 | |||||||||
(Gain) loss on disposition of property, plant and equipment | (1,128 | ) | 143 | (887 | ) | |||||||
Stock compensation expense | 9,258 | 7,603 | 18,128 | |||||||||
Withholding taxes paid on stock issuances | (4,913 | ) | (4,367 | ) | (2,090 | ) | ||||||
Loss (gain) on the sale of businesses | — | 1,586 | (313,708 | ) | ||||||||
Pension lump-sum settlement charge | 9,856 | — | — | |||||||||
Changes in assets and liabilities, net of the effects of acquisitions/divestitures: | ||||||||||||
Accounts receivable | 14,027 | (21,367 | ) | (23,764 | ) | |||||||
Inventories | (1,190 | ) | (10,092 | ) | 2,079 | |||||||
Prepaid expenses and other current assets | (2,645 | ) | (7,137 | ) | (2,172 | ) | ||||||
Accounts payable | (2,936 | ) | 8,123 | 2,384 | ||||||||
Accrued liabilities | (16,833 | ) | 24,402 | (9,891 | ) | |||||||
Deferred income taxes | 3,121 | (9,841 | ) | 3,412 | ||||||||
Long-term retirement benefits | 1,081 | (7,584 | ) | (642 | ) | |||||||
Other | 2,575 | 4,933 | (729 | ) | ||||||||
Net cash provided by operating activities | 209,895 | 186,898 | 10,090 | |||||||||
Investing activities: | ||||||||||||
Proceeds from disposition of property, plant and equipment | 3,442 | 849 | 1,767 | |||||||||
(Payments for) proceeds from the sale of businesses | — | (1,181 | ) | 538,942 | ||||||||
Change in restricted cash | — | 4,886 | — | |||||||||
Capital expenditures | (45,982 | ) | (57,365 | |||||||||