AIMC-12.31.14-10K
UNITED STATES SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
Form 10-K
(Mark One)
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| þ | ANNUAL REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) |
| | OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934 |
| | For the fiscal year ended December 31, 2014 |
OR
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| ¨ | 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: 001-33209
ALTRA INDUSTRIAL MOTION CORP.
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
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| Delaware | | 61-1478870 | |
| (State or other jurisdiction of incorporation or organization) | | (I.R.S. Employer Identification No.) | |
| 300 Granite Street, Suite 201 Braintree, MA | | 02184 | |
| (Address of principal executive offices) | | (Zip Code) | |
Registrant’s telephone number, including area code:
(781) 917-0600
Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:
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| Title of Each Class | | Name of Each Exchange on Which Registered | |
| Common Stock, $0.001 par value | | NASDAQ Global Market | |
Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(g) of the Act:
NONE
Indicate by check mark if the registrant is a well-known seasoned issuer, as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act. Yes ¨ No þ
Indicate by check mark if the registrant is not required to file reports pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Act. Yes ¨ No þ
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant: (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days. Yes þ No ¨
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has submitted electronically and posted on its corporate Web site, if any, every Interactive Data File required to be submitted and posted pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulation S-T during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to submit and post such files). Yes þ No ¨
Indicate by check mark if disclosure of delinquent filers pursuant to Item 405 of Regulation S-K is not contained herein, and will not be contained, to the best of the registrant’s knowledge, in definitive proxy or information statements incorporated by reference in Part III of this Form 10-K or any amendment to this Form 10-K. þ
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, or a smaller reporting company. See the definitions of “large accelerated filer,” “accelerated filer” and “smaller reporting company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act. (Check one):
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Large accelerated filer þ | | Accelerated filer ¨ | | Non-accelerated filer ¨ | | Smaller reporting company ¨ |
| | (Do not check if a smaller reporting company) |
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act). Yes ¨ No þ
The aggregate market value of the voting and non-voting common stock held by non-affiliates of the registrant based on the closing price (as reported by the NASDAQ Global Market) of such common stock on the last business day of the registrant’s most recently completed second fiscal quarter (June 30, 2014) was approximately $950.0 million.
As of February 23, 2015, there were 26,419,588 shares of Common Stock, $0.001 par value per share, outstanding.
DOCUMENTS INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE:
Portions of the following document are incorporated herein by reference into the Part of the Form 10-K indicated.
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Document | | Part of Form 10-K into which Incorporated |
Altra Industrial Motion Corp. Proxy Statement for the 2015 Annual Meeting of Stockholders | | Part III |
TABLE OF CONTENTS
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PART I | | |
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Item 1A. | | |
Item 1B. | | |
Item 2. | | |
Item 3. | | |
Item 4. | | |
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PART II | | |
Item 5. | | |
Item 6. | | |
Item 7. | | |
Item 7A. | | |
Item 8. | | |
Item 9 | | |
Item 9A. | | |
Item 9B. | | |
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PART III | | |
Item 10. | | |
Item 11. | | |
Item 12. | | |
Item 13. | | |
Item 14. | | |
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PART IV | | |
Item 15. | | |
Our Company
Altra Industrial Motion Corp. (“Altra” or the “Company”) (formerly Altra Holdings, Inc.) is a leading global designer, producer and marketer of a wide range of mechanical power transmission, or MPT components. Our products are used to control and transmit power and torque in virtually any industrial application involving movement. With our global footprint, we sell our products in over 70 countries and serve customers in a diverse group of industries, including energy, general industrial, material handling, metals, mining, special machinery, transportation, and turf and garden. Our product portfolio includes clutches and brakes, couplings and gearing and power transmission components. Our products are used in a wide variety of high-volume manufacturing processes, where the reliability and accuracy of our products are critical in both avoiding costly down time and enhancing the overall efficiency of manufacturing operations. Our products are also used in non-manufacturing applications where product quality and reliability are especially critical, such as clutches and brakes for elevators and residential and commercial lawnmowers. Altra was incorporated in 2004 in the State of Delaware and became a publicly traded company in 2006. Altra is headquartered in Braintree, Massachusetts.
We market our products under well recognized and established brands, many of which have been in existence for over 50 years. We believe many of our brands, when taken together with our brands in the same product category, have achieved the number one or number two position in terms of consolidated market share and brand awareness in their respective product categories. Our products are either incorporated into products sold by original equipment manufacturers, (“OEMs”), sold to end users directly, or sold through industrial distributors.
The following table shows the percentage of total revenue and segment earnings generated by each of our three segments for the years ended December 31, 2014, 2013 and 2012:
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| Net Sales | | Operating Income |
| 2014 | | 2013 | | 2012 | | 2014 | | 2013 | | 2012 |
Clutches and Brakes | 52 | % | | 46 | % | | 45 | % | | 57 | % | | 56 | % | | 55 | % |
Couplings | 16 | % | | 17 | % | | 18 | % | | 17 | % | | 17 | % | | 20 | % |
Gearing and Power Transmission Components | 32 | % | | 37 | % | | 37 | % | | 26 | % | | 27 | % | | 25 | % |
See Note 15 to the consolidated financial statements for more financial information about our segments.
In this Annual Report on Form 10-K, the terms “Altra”, “Altra Industrial Motion,” “the Company,” “we,” “us” and “our” refer to Altra Industrial Motion Corp. and its subsidiaries, except where the context otherwise requires or indicates.
We file reports and other documents with the Securities and Exchange Commission. You may read and copy documents we file at the SEC’s Public Reference Room at 100 F Street, NE, Washington, D.C. 20549. You should call 1-800-SEC-0330 for more information on the public reference room. Our SEC Filings are also available to you on the SEC’s internet site at http://www.sec.gov.
Our internet address is www.altramotion.com. By following the link “Investor Relations” and then “SEC filings” on our internet website, we make available, free of charge, our Annual Report on Form 10-K, our Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q, our Current Reports on Form 8-K, and amendments to those reports filed or furnished pursuant to Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (the “Exchange Act”) as soon as reasonably practicable after such forms are filed with or furnished to the SEC. We are not including information contained on or available through our website as a part of, or incorporating such information by reference into, this Annual Report on Form 10-K.
History and Acquisitions
Formation of Altra
Although Altra was incorporated in Delaware in 2004, much of our current business has its roots with the prior acquisition by Colfax Corporation, or Colfax, of the MPT (mechanical power transmission) group of Zurn Technologies, Inc. in December 1996. Colfax subsequently acquired Industrial Clutch Corp. in May 1997, Nuttall Gear Corp. in July 1997 and the Boston Gear and Delroyd Worm Gear brands in August 1997 as part of Colfax’s acquisition of Imo Industries, Inc. In February 2000, Colfax acquired Warner Electric, Inc., which sold products under the Warner Electric, Formsprag Clutch, Stieber, and Wichita Clutch brands. Colfax formed Power Transmission Holding, LLC or “PTH” in June 2004 to serve as a holding company for all of these power transmission businesses. Boston Gear was established in 1877, Warner Electric, Inc. in 1927, and Wichita Clutch in 1949.
On November 30, 2004, we acquired our original core business through the acquisition of PTH from Colfax. We refer to this transaction as the PTH Acquisition.
On October 22, 2004, The Kilian Company, or Kilian, a company formed at the direction of Genstar Capital, then the largest stockholder of Altra, acquired Kilian Manufacturing Corporation from Timken U.S. Corporation. At the completion of the PTH Acquisition, (i) all of the outstanding shares of Kilian capital stock were exchanged for shares of our capital stock and (ii) Kilian and its subsidiaries were transferred to our former wholly owned subsidiary Altra Power Transmission, Inc.
Recent Acquisitions and Transactions
On May 29, 2011, we acquired substantially all of the assets and liabilities of Danfoss Bauer GmbH relating to its gear motor business, or Bauer. We refer to this transaction as the Bauer Acquisition. Bauer is a European manufacturer of high-quality gear motors, offering engineered solutions to a variety of industries, including material handling, metals, food processing, and energy.
On July 11, 2012, we acquired 85% of privately held Lamiflex do Brasil Equipamentos Industriais Ltda., now known as Lamiflex Do Brasil Equipamentos Industriais S.A., or Lamiflex. Lamiflex is a premier Brazilian manufacturer of high-speed disc couplings, providing engineered solutions to a variety of industries, including oil and gas, power generation, metals and mining.
On November 22, 2013, we changed our legal corporate name from Altra Holdings, Inc. to Altra Industrial Motion Corp.
On December 17, 2013, we acquired all the issued and outstanding shares of Svendborg Brakes A/S and S.B. Patent Holding ApS (together “Svendborg”). Svendborg is a leading global manufacturer of premium quality caliper brakes.
On July 1, 2014, we acquired all of the issued and outstanding shares of Guardian Ind., Inc. (“Guardian Couplings”). Guardian Couplings is a manufacturer and supplier of flywheel, motion control and general industrial couplings.
On December 31, 2014, Altra Power Transmission, Inc. was merged into Altra Industrial Motion Corp.
Our Industry
Based on industry data supplied by the Power Transmission Distributors Association in collaboration with Industrial Market Information, we estimate that industrial power transmission products generated sales in the United States of approximately $37.7 billion in 2014. These products are used to generate, transmit, control and transform mechanical energy. The industrial power transmission industry can be divided into three areas: MPT products; motors and generators; and adjustable speed drives. We compete primarily in the MPT area which, based on industry data, we estimate was a $22.5 billion market in the United States in 2014.
The global MPT market is highly fragmented, with over 1,000 small manufacturers. While smaller companies tend to focus on regional niche markets with narrow product lines, larger companies that generate annual sales of over $100 million generally offer a much broader range of products and have global capabilities. Buyers of MPT products are broadly diversified across many sectors of the economy and typically place a premium on factors such as quality, reliability, availability, and design and application engineering support. We believe the most successful industry participants are those that leverage their distribution network, their products’ reputations for quality and reliability and their service and technical support capabilities to maintain attractive margins on products and gain market share.
Company Goals and Operational Excellence
Operational Excellence is our comprehensive business management system designed to achieve world class performance. It reflects our quest to improve the flow of value to our customers with the goal of securing long-term growth and prosperity for our company, our employees and our partners. Operational Excellence applies to every function and every aspect of how we do business.
We are committed to driving shareholder return by leveraging Operational Excellence to achieve superior organic growth and operating margins, creating a market-focused culture that drives growth through innovation and maintaining a disciplined approach to acquisitions.
Our Business Strategy
With a strong long-term focus on Operational Excellence, organic growth and strategic acquisitions, we strive to create superior value for our customers, shareholders and associates. We seek to achieve this vision through the following strategies:
Capitalize on Operational Excellence to Drive Margin Expansion and Organic Growth. We believe we can continue to improve profitability through cost control, overhead rationalization, global process optimization, continued implementation of lean manufacturing techniques and strategic pricing initiatives. Our operating plan, based on manufacturing centers of excellence, provides additional opportunities to consolidate purchasing processes and reduce costs by sharing best practices across geographies and business lines.
Collaborate with Customers to Create New Opportunities. We focus on aggressively developing new products across our business in response to customer needs in various markets. Our extensive application-engineering know-how drives both new and repeat sales and we have an established history of innovation with over 200 granted patents and pending patent applications worldwide. In total, new products developed by us during the past three years generated approximately $68 million in revenues during 2014.
Capturing the Benefits of Common Ownership. We foster the sharing of best practices throughout the organization. We challenge our businesses to work together to identify cross-selling opportunities to increase customer and distributor penetration as well as to expand into new markets and geographic regions. Leveraging our global buying power, we expect our businesses to work together to identify cost saving opportunities and to improve supply chain management. Utilizing our common ERP system, we are working to implement a shared services structure that supports all of our business units in the United States. This will allow our businesses to receive the benefits of expanded customer service, cohesive marketing services and consolidated accounting functions which will increase efficiency and help to reduce cost.
Selectively Pursue Strategic Acquisitions that Complement Our Strong Platform. We have a successful track record of identifying, acquiring and integrating acquisitions. We believe that in the future there may be a number of attractive potential acquisition candidates, in part due to the fragmented nature of the industry. We plan to continue our disciplined pursuit of strategic acquisitions to strengthen our product portfolio, enhance our industry leadership, leverage fixed costs, expand our global footprint, and create value in products and markets that we know and understand.
Focus on Key Niche End Markets to Increase Organic Growth. We emphasize strategic marketing to focus on new growth opportunities in key end-user and OEM markets. Through a systematic process that leverages our core brands and products, we seek to identify attractive markets and product niches, collect customer and market data, identify market drivers, tailor product and service solutions to specific market and customer requirements, and deploy resources to gain market share and drive future sales growth.
Disciplined Capital Allocation. We expect that our businesses will typically generate annual free cash flow. We are focused on the most efficient allocation of our capital to maximize investment returns. To do this, we grow and support our existing businesses, with annual investment in capital spending with a focus on internal projects to expand markets, develop products, and boost productivity. We continue to evaluate our portfolio for strategic fit and intend to make additional strategic
acquisitions focused on our key markets. We have consistently provided shareholder returns by paying regular dividends, which have increased by 50% since being introduced during the quarter ended March 31, 2012. During the quarter ended June 30, 2014, we initiated purchases under our $50 million share repurchase program. Through December 31, 2014, we have repurchased approximately $17.6 million of Altra stock under the program.
Our Strengths
Operational Excellence. We benefit from an established culture of lean management emphasizing quality, delivery and cost control through our Operational Excellence program. Operational Excellence is at the core of our performance-driven culture and drives both our strategic development and operational improvements. We continually evaluate every aspect of our business to identify possible productivity improvements and cost savings.
Leading Market Shares and Brand Names. We believe we hold the number one or number two market position in key products across many of our core platforms. In addition, we believe we have recently captured additional market share in several product lines due to our innovative product development efforts and exceptional customer service and product delivery.
Customized, Engineered Products Serving Niche Markets. We employ approximately 300 non-manufacturing engineers involved with product design, research and development, testing and technical customer support, and we often participate in lengthy design and qualification processes with our customers. Many of our product lines involve a large number of unique parts, are delivered in small order quantities with short lead times, and require varying levels of technical support and responsive customer service. As a result of these characteristics, as well as the essential nature of our products to the efficient operations of our customers, we generate a significant amount of recurring sales with repeat customers.
Aftermarket Sales Supported by Large Installed Base. With a history dating back to 1857 with the formation of TB Wood’s, we believe we benefit from one of the largest installed customer bases in the industry. The moving, wearing nature of our products necessitates regular replacement and our large installed base of products generates significant aftermarket replacement demand. This has created a recurring revenue stream from a diversified group of end-user customers. For 2014, we estimate that approximately 39% of our revenues were derived from aftermarket sales.
Diversified End Markets. Our revenue base has a balanced exposure across a diverse mix of end-user industries, including energy, food processing, general industrial, material handling, mining, transportation, and turf and garden. We believe our diversified end markets insulate us from volatility in any single industry or type of end-user. In 2014, no single industry represented more than 17% of our total sales. In addition, we are geographically diversified with approximately 42% of our sales coming from outside North America during 2014.
Strong Relationships with Distributors and OEMs. We have over 1,000 direct OEM customers and enjoy established, long-term relationships with the leading industrial MPT distributors, critical factors that contribute to our high base of recurring aftermarket revenues. We sell our products through more than 3,000 distributor outlets worldwide. We believe our scale, expansive product lines and end-user preference for our products make our product portfolio attractive to both large and multi-branch distributors, as well as regional and independent distributors in our industry.
Experienced, High-Caliber Management Team. We are led by a highly experienced management team with over 250 years of cumulative industrial business experience and an average of 15 years with our companies. Our CEO, Carl Christenson, has over 30 years of experience in the MPT industry, while our CFO, Christian Storch, has approximately 25 years of experience. Our management team has established a proven track record of execution, successfully completing and integrating major strategic acquisitions and delivering significant growth and profitability.
Business Segments
We operate three business segments that are aligned by our product offerings: couplings, clutches and brakes, and gearing and power transmission components.
Couplings. Couplings are the interface between two shafts, which enable power to be transmitted from one shaft to the other. Because shafts are often misaligned, we design our couplings with a measure of flexibility that accommodates various degrees of misalignment. Altra manufacturers a diverse variety of couplings suitable for many industrial and specialty applications. Our various coupling products include: gear couplings, high performance diaphragm and disc couplings, elastomeric couplings, miniature and precision couplings, as well as universal joints, mill spindles and shaft locking devices. These products are sold into many different markets, including: food processing, oil and gas, power generation, material handling, medical, metals, mining, and mobile off-highway. Our couplings are primarily manufactured under the Ameridrives, Ameridrives Power Transmission, Bibby, Lamiflex, TB Wood's, Huco Dynatork, and Guardian brands in our facilities in Pennsylvania, Indiana, Texas, China, Wisconsin, Brazil and the United Kingdom.
Clutches and Brakes. Clutches are devices which use mechanical, magnetic, hydraulic, pneumatic, or friction type connections to facilitate engaging or disengaging two rotating members. Brakes are combinations of interacting parts that work to slow or stop machinery. We manufacture a variety of clutches and brakes in three main product categories: electromagnetic, overrunning and heavy duty. Our core clutch and brake manufacturing facilities are located in Connecticut, Indiana, Illinois, Michigan, Texas, the United Kingdom, Germany, France, Denmark and China.
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• | Electromagnetic Clutches and Brakes. Our industrial products include clutches and brakes with specially designed controls for material handling, forklift, elevator, medical mobility, mobile off-highway, baggage handling and plant productivity applications. We also offer a line of clutch and brake products for walk-behind mowers, residential lawn tractors and commercial mowers. While industrial applications are predominant, we also manufacture products for several niche vehicular applications including on-road refrigeration compressor clutches and agricultural equipment clutches. We market our electromagnetic products under the Warner Electric, Inertia Dynamics and Matrix brand names. |
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• | Overrunning Clutches. Products include overrunning, indexing and backstopping clutches which are generally used as a mechanical means of prohibiting a shaft’s rotation in one direction while enabling its rotation in the opposite direction. Primary industrial applications include conveyors, gear reducers, hoists and cranes, mining machinery, machine tools, paper machinery, and other specialty machinery. We also sell our overrunning clutch products into the aerospace and defense market for fixed and rotary wing aircraft. We market and sell these products under the Formsprag, Marland, and Stieber brand names. |
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• | Heavy Duty Clutches and Brakes. Our heavy duty clutch and brake product lines serve various markets including metal forming, off-shore and land-based oil and gas drilling platforms, mining, material handling, marine, wind turbine applications and various off-highway and construction equipment segments. Our line of heavy duty pneumatic, hydraulic and caliper clutches and brakes are marketed under the Wichita Clutch, Twiflex, Industrial Clutch and Svendborg Brakes brand names. |
Gearing and Power Transmission Components
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• | Gearing. Gears reduce the output speed and increase the torque of an electric motor or engine to the level required to drive a particular piece of equipment. These products are used in various industrial, material handling, mixing, transportation and food processing applications. Specific product lines include vertical and horizontal gear drives, speed reducers and increasers, high-speed compressor drives, enclosed custom gear drives, various enclosed gear drive and gear motor configurations and open gearing products such as spur, helical, worm and miter/bevel gears. We design and manufacture a broad range of gearing and gear motor products under the Boston Gear, Nuttall Gear, Delroyd, and Bauer Gear Motor brand names. We manufacture our gearing products at our facilities in New York, North Carolina, Germany, Slovakia, and China, and sell to a variety of end markets. |
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• | Engineered Bearing Assemblies. Bearings are components that support, guide and reduce friction of motion between fixed and moving machine parts. Our engineered bearing assembly product line includes ball bearings, roller bearings, thrust bearings, track rollers, stainless steel bearings, polymer assemblies, housed units and custom assemblies. We manufacture a broad range of engineered bearing products under the Kilian brand name. We sell bearing products to a wide range of end markets, including the general industrial and automotive markets, with a particularly strong OEM customer focus. We manufacture our bearing products at our facilities in New York, Canada and China. |
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• | Engineered Belted Drives. Belted drives incorporate both a rubber-based belt and at least two sheaves or sprockets. Belted drives typically change the speed of an electric motor or engine to the level required for a particular piece of equipment. Our belted drive line includes three types of v-belts, three types of synchronous belts, standard and made-to-order sheaves and sprockets, and split taper bushings. We sell belted drives to a wide range of end markets, including aggregate, energy, chemical and material handling. Our engineered belted drives are primarily manufactured under the TB Wood’s brand in our facilities in Pennsylvania and Mexico. |
Research and Development and Product Engineering
We closely integrate new product development with marketing, manufacturing and product engineering in meeting the needs of our customers. We have product engineering teams that work to enhance our existing products and develop new product applications for our growing base of customers that require custom solutions. We believe these capabilities provide a significant competitive advantage in the development of high quality industrial power transmission products. Our product engineering teams focus on:
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• | lowering the cost of manufacturing our existing products; |
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• | redesigning existing product lines to increase their efficiency or enhance their performance; and |
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• | developing new product applications. |
Our continued investment in new product development is intended to help drive customer growth as we address key customer needs.
Sales and Marketing
We sell our products in over 70 countries to over 1,000 direct OEM customers and over 3,000 distributor outlets. We offer our products through our direct sales force comprised of 183 company-employed sales associates as well as independent sales representatives. Our worldwide sales and distribution presence enables us to provide timely and responsive support and service to our customers, many of which operate globally, and to capitalize on growth opportunities in both developed and emerging markets around the world.
We employ an integrated sales and marketing strategy concentrated on both key industries and individual product lines. We believe this dual vertical market and horizontal product approach distinguishes us in the marketplace allowing us to quickly identify trends and customer growth opportunities and deploy resources accordingly. Within our key industries, we market to OEMs, encouraging them to incorporate our products into their equipment designs, to distributors and to end-users, helping to foster brand preference. With this strategy, we are able to leverage our industry experience and product breadth to sell MPT and motion control solutions for a host of industrial applications.
Distribution
Our MPT components are either incorporated into end products sold by OEMs or sold through industrial distributors as aftermarket products to end users and smaller OEMs. We operate a geographically diversified business. For the year ended December 31, 2014, we derived approximately 58% of our net sales from customers in North America, 28% from customers in Europe and 14% from customers in Asia and the rest of the world. Our global customer base is served by an extensive global sales network comprised of our sales staff as well as our network of over 3,000 distributor outlets.
Rather than serving as passive conduits for delivery of product, our industrial distributors are active participants in influencing product purchasing decisions in the MPT industry. In addition, distributors play a critical role through stocking inventory of our products, which amplifies the accessibility of our products to aftermarket buyers. It is for this reason that distributor partner relationships are so critical to the success of the business. We enjoy strong established relationships with the leading distributors as well as a broad, diversified base of specialty and regional distributors.
Competition
We operate in highly fragmented and very competitive markets within the MPT market. Some of our competitors have achieved substantially more market penetration in certain of the markets in which we operate, such as helical gear drives, and some of our competitors are larger than us and have greater financial and other resources. In particular, we compete with Rexnord Corporation and Regal-Beloit Corporation. In addition, with respect to certain of our products, we compete with divisions of our OEM customers. Competition in our business lines is based on a number of considerations including quality, reliability, pricing, availability and design and application engineering support. Our customers increasingly demand a broad product range and we must continue to develop our expertise in order to manufacture and market these products successfully. To remain competitive, regular investment in manufacturing, customer service, and support, marketing, sales, research and development and intellectual property protection is required. We may have to adjust the prices of some of our products to stay competitive. In addition, some of our larger, more sophisticated customers are attempting to reduce the number of vendors from which they purchase in order to increase their efficiency. There is substantial and continuing pressure on major OEMs and larger distributors to reduce costs, including the cost of products purchased from outside suppliers such as us. As a result of cost pressures from our customers, our ability to compete depends in part on our ability to generate production cost savings and, in turn, find reliable, cost-effective outside component suppliers or manufacturers for our products. See “ Risk Factors — Risks Related to our Business — We operate in the highly competitive mechanical power transmission industry and if we are not able to compete successfully our business may be significantly harmed.”
Intellectual Property
We rely on a combination of patents, trademarks, copyright, and trade secret laws in the United States and other jurisdictions, as well as employee and third-party non-disclosure agreements, license arrangements, and domain name registrations to protect our intellectual property. We sell our products under a number of registered and unregistered trademarks, which we believe are widely recognized in the MPT industry. With the exception of Boston Gear, Warner Electric, TB Wood’s, Svendborg and Bauer we do not believe any single patent, trademark or trade name is material to our business as a whole. Any issued patents that cover our proprietary technology and any of our other intellectual property rights may not provide us with
adequate protection or be commercially beneficial to us and, patents applied for, may not be issued. The issuance of a patent is not conclusive as to its validity or its enforceability. Competitors may also be able to design around our patents. If we are unable to protect our patented technologies, our competitors could commercialize technologies or products which are substantially similar to ours.
With respect to proprietary know-how, we rely on trade secret laws in the United States and other jurisdictions and on confidentiality agreements. Monitoring the unauthorized use of our technology is difficult and the steps we have taken may not prevent unauthorized use of our technology. The disclosure or misappropriation of our intellectual property could harm our ability to protect our rights and our competitive position.
Some of our registered and unregistered trademarks include: Warner Electric, Boston Gear, TB Wood’s, Kilian, Nuttall Gear, Ameridrives, Wichita Clutch, Formsprag, Bibby Transmissions, Stieber, Matrix, Inertia Dynamics, Twiflex, Industrial Clutch, Huco Dynatork, Marland, Delroyd, Warner Linear, Bauer Gear Motor, PowerFlex, Svendborg Brakes and Guardian Couplings.
Employees
As of December 31, 2014, we had 3,957 full-time employees, of whom approximately 51% were located in North America (primarily U.S.), 33% in Europe, and 16% in Asia and the rest of the world. Approximately 15% of our full-time factory U.S. employees are represented by labor unions. In addition, approximately 733 employees or 56% of our European employees are represented by labor unions or works councils. Approximately 60 employees in the Kilian production facilities in Toronto, Canada are unionized under a collective bargaining agreement. Approximately 55 employees in the Lamiflex production facilities in Brazil are represented by a works council. Additionally, approximately 45 employees in the TB Wood’s production facilities in Mexico are unionized under collective bargaining agreements that are subject to annual renewals.
We are a party to four U.S. collective bargaining agreements. The agreements will expire in July 2015, October 2016, June 2017 and February 2018.
We are also party to a collective bargaining agreement with union employees at our Toronto, Canada manufacturing facility. That agreement will expire in July 2015.
One of the four U.S. collective bargaining agreements contains provisions for additional, potentially significant, lump-sum severance payments to all employees covered by that agreement who are terminated as the result of a plant closing and one of our collective bargaining agreements contains provisions restricting our ability to terminate or relocate operations. See “Risk Factors — Risks Related to Our Business — We may be subject to work stoppages at our facilities, or our customers may be subjected to work stoppages, which could seriously impact our operations and the profitability of our business.”
Our facilities in Europe and Brazil have employees who are generally represented by local or national social works councils. Social works councils meet with employer industry associations periodically to discuss employee wages and working conditions. Our facilities in Denmark, France, Germany, Slovakia, and Brazil often participate in such discussions and adhere to any agreements reached.
Suppliers and Raw Materials
We obtain raw materials, component parts and supplies from a variety of sources, generally from more than one supplier. Our suppliers and sources of raw materials are based in both the United States and other countries and we believe that our sources of raw materials are adequate for our needs for the foreseeable future. We do not believe the loss of any one supplier would have a material adverse effect on our business or results of operations. Our principal raw materials are steel and copper. We generally purchase our materials on the open market, where certain commodities such as steel and copper have fluctuated in price significantly in recent years. We have not experienced any significant shortage of our key materials and have not historically engaged in hedging transactions for commodity suppliers.
Our ability, including manufacturing or distribution capabilities, and that of our suppliers, business partners and contract manufacturers, to make, move and sell products is critical to our success. Damage or disruption to our or their manufacturing or distribution capabilities due to weather, natural disaster, fire or explosion, terrorism, pandemics, strikes, repairs or enhancements at our facilities, excessive demand, raw material shortages, or other reasons, could impair our ability, and that of our suppliers, to manufacture or sell our products. Failure to take adequate steps to mitigate the likelihood or potential impact of such events, or to effectively manage such events if they occur, could adversely affect our business, financial condition and results of operations, as well as require additional resources to restore our supply chain.
Seasonality
We experience seasonality in our turf and garden business, which represented approximately 6.5% of our net sales in 2014. As our large OEM customers prepare for the spring season, our shipments generally start increasing in December, peak in February and March, and begin to decline in April and May. This allows our customers to have inventory in place for the peak
consumer purchasing periods for turf and garden products. The June-through-November period is typically the low season for us and our customers in the turf and garden market. Seasonality can also be affected by weather and the level of housing starts.
Regulation
We are subject to a variety of government laws and regulations that apply to companies engaged in international operations. These include compliance with the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act, U.S. Department of Commerce export controls, local government regulations and procurement policies and practices (including regulations relating to import-export control, investments, exchange controls and repatriation of earnings). We maintain controls and procedures to comply with laws and regulations associated with our international operations. In the event we are unable to remain compliant with such laws and regulations, our business may be adversely affected.
Environmental and Health and Safety Matters
We are subject to a variety of federal, state, local, foreign and provincial environmental laws and regulations, including those governing health and safety requirements, the discharge of pollutants into the air or water, the management and disposal of hazardous substances and wastes and the responsibility to investigate and cleanup contaminated sites that are or were owned, leased, operated or used by us or our predecessors. Some of these laws and regulations require us to obtain permits, which contain terms and conditions that impose limitations on our ability to emit and discharge hazardous materials into the environment and periodically may be subject to modification, renewal and revocation by issuing authorities. Fines and penalties may be imposed for non-compliance with applicable environmental laws and regulations and the failure to have or to comply with the terms and conditions of required permits. From time to time, our operations may not be in full compliance with the terms and conditions of our permits. We periodically review our procedures and policies for compliance with environmental laws and requirements. We believe that our operations generally are in material compliance with applicable environmental laws and requirements and that any non-compliance would not be expected to result in us incurring material liability or cost to achieve compliance. Historically, the costs of achieving and maintaining compliance with environmental laws and requirements have not been material.
Certain environmental laws in the United States, such as the federal Superfund law and similar state laws, impose liability for the cost of investigation or remediation of contaminated sites upon the current or, in some cases, the former site owners or operators and upon parties who arranged for the disposal of wastes or transported or sent those wastes to an off-site facility for treatment or disposal, regardless of when the release of hazardous substances occurred or the lawfulness of the activities giving rise to the release. Such liability can be imposed without regard to fault and, under certain circumstances, can be joint and several, resulting in one party being held responsible for the entire obligation. As a practical matter, however, the costs of investigation and remediation generally are allocated among the viable responsible parties on some form of equitable basis. Liability also may include damages to natural resources. In addition, from time to time, we are notified that we are a potentially responsible party and may have liability in connection with off-site disposal facilities. To date, we have generally resolved matters involving off-site disposal facilities for a nominal sum although there can be no assurance that we will be able to resolve pending and future matters in a similar fashion.
Executive Officers of Registrant
The following sets forth certain information with regard to our executive officers as of February 26, 2015 (ages are as of December 31, 2014):
Carl R. Christenson (age 55) has been our Chief Executive Officer since January 2009 and a director since July 2007. Prior to his current position, Mr. Christenson served as our President and Chief Operating Officer from January 2005 to December 2008. From 2001 to 2005, Mr. Christenson was the President of Kaydon Bearings, a manufacturer of custom-engineered bearings and a division of Kaydon Corporation. Prior to joining Kaydon, Mr. Christenson held a number of management positions at TB Wood’s Incorporated and several positions at the Torrington Company. Mr. Christenson holds a M.S. and B.S. degree in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Massachusetts and an M.B.A. from Rensselaer Polytechnic.
Christian Storch (age 55) has been our Chief Financial Officer since December 2007. From 2001 to 2007, Mr. Storch was the Vice President and Chief Financial Officer at Standex International Corporation. Mr. Storch also served on the Board of Directors of Standex International from October 2004 to December 2007. Mr. Storch also served as Standex International’s Treasurer from 2003 to April 2006 and Manager of Corporate Audit and Assurance Services from July 1999 to 2001. Prior to Standex International, Mr. Storch was a Divisional Financial Director and Corporate Controller at Vossloh AG, a publicly held German transport technology company. Mr. Storch has also previously served as an Audit Manager with Deloitte & Touche, LLP. Mr. Storch holds a degree in business administration from the University of Passau, Germany.
Glenn Deegan (age 48) has been our Vice President, Legal and Human Resources, General Counsel and Secretary since June 2009. Prior to his current position, Mr. Deegan served as our General Counsel and Secretary since September 2008. From March 2007 to August 2008, Mr. Deegan served as Vice President, General Counsel and Secretary of Averion International Corp., a publicly held global provider of clinical research services. Prior to Averion, from June 2001 to March 2007, Mr. Deegan served as Director of Legal Affairs and then as Vice President, General Counsel and Secretary of MacroChem Corporation, a publicly held specialty pharmaceutical company. From 1999 to 2001, Mr. Deegan served as Assistant General Counsel of Summit Technology, Inc., a publicly held manufacturer of ophthalmic laser systems. Mr. Deegan previously spent over six years engaged in the private practice of law and also served as law clerk to the Honorable Francis J. Boyle in the United States District Court for the District of Rhode Island. Mr. Deegan holds a B.S. from Providence College and a J.D. from Boston College.
Gerald Ferris (age 65) has been our Vice President of Global Sales since May 2007 and held the same position with Power Transmission Holdings, LLC, our predecessor, since March 2002. He is responsible for the worldwide sales of our broad product platform. Mr. Ferris joined our predecessor in 1978 and since joining has held various positions. He became the Vice President of Sales for Boston Gear in 1991. Mr. Ferris holds a B.A. degree in Political Science from Stonehill College.
Todd B. Patriacca (age 45) has been our Vice President of Finance, Corporate Controller and Treasurer since February 2010. Prior to his current position, Mr. Patriacca served as our Vice President of Finance, Corporate Controller and Assistant Treasurer since October 2008 and previous to that, as Vice President of Finance and Corporate Controller since May 2007 and as Corporate Controller since May 2005. Prior to joining us, Mr. Patriacca was Corporate Finance Manager at MKS Instrument Inc., a publicly held semi-conductor equipment manufacturer since March 2002. Prior to MKS, Mr. Patriacca spent over ten years at Arthur Andersen LLP in the Assurance Advisory practice. Mr. Patriacca is a Certified Public Accountant and holds a B.A. in History from Colby College and an M.B.A. and an M.S. in Accounting from Northeastern University.
Craig Schuele (age 51) has been our Vice President of Marketing and Business Development since May 2007 and held the same position with our predecessor since July 2004. He is responsible for global marketing as well as coordinating Altra's merger and acquisition activity. Prior to his current position, Mr. Schuele has been Vice President of Marketing since March 2002, and previous to that he was a Director of Marketing. Mr. Schuele joined our predecessor in 1986 and holds a B.S. degree in Management from Rhode Island College.
Risks Related to Our Business
We operate in the highly competitive mechanical power transmission industry and if we are not able to compete successfully our business may be significantly harmed.
We operate in highly fragmented and very competitive markets in the MPT industry. Some of our competitors have achieved substantially more market penetration in certain of the markets in which we operate, such as helical gear drives, and some of our competitors are larger than us and have greater financial and other resources. With respect to certain of our products, we compete with divisions of our OEM customers. Competition in our business lines is based on a number of considerations, including quality, reliability, pricing, availability, and design and application engineering support. Our customers increasingly demand a broad product range and we must continue to develop our expertise in order to manufacture and market these products successfully. To remain competitive, regular investment in manufacturing, customer service, and support, marketing, sales, research and development and intellectual property protection is required. In the future we may not have sufficient resources to continue to make such investments and may not be able to maintain our competitive position within each of the markets we serve. We may have to adjust the prices of some of our products to stay competitive.
Additionally, some of our larger, more sophisticated customers are attempting to reduce the number of vendors from which they purchase in order to increase their efficiency. If we are not selected to become one of these preferred providers, we may lose market share in some of the markets in which we compete.
There is substantial and continuing pressure on major OEMs and larger distributors to reduce costs, including the cost of products purchased from outside suppliers. As a result of cost pressures from our customers, our ability to compete depends in part on our ability to generate production cost savings and, in turn, to find reliable, cost effective outside suppliers to source components or manufacture our products. If we are unable to generate sufficient cost savings in the future to offset price reductions, then our gross margin could be materially adversely affected.
Changes in or the cyclical nature of our markets could harm our operations and financial performance.
Our financial performance depends, in large part, on conditions in the markets that we serve and on the U.S. and global economies in general. Some of the markets we serve are highly cyclical, such as the metals, mining, industrial equipment and energy markets, including oil and gas. In such an environment, expected cyclical activity or sales may not occur or may be delayed and may result in significant quarter-to-quarter variability in our performance. Any sustained weakness in demand, downturn or uncertainty in cyclical markets may reduce our sales and profitability.
We rely on independent distributors and the loss of these distributors could adversely affect our business.
In addition to our direct sales force and manufacturer sales representatives, we depend on the services of independent distributors to sell our products and provide service and aftermarket support to our customers. We support an extensive distribution network, with over 3,000 distributor locations worldwide. Rather than serving as passive conduits for delivery of product, our independent distributors are active participants in the overall competitive dynamics in the MPT industry. During the year ended December 31, 2014, approximately 31% of our net sales from continuing operations were generated through independent distributors. In particular, sales through our largest distributor accounted for approximately 7% of our net sales for the year ended December 31, 2014. Almost all of the distributors with whom we transact business offer competitive products and services to our customers. In addition, the distribution agreements we have are typically non-exclusive and cancelable by the distributor after a short notice period. The loss of any major distributor or a substantial number of smaller distributors or an increase in the distributors’ sales of our competitors’ products to our customers could materially reduce our sales and profits.
We must continue to invest in new technologies and manufacturing techniques; however, our ability to develop or adapt to changing technology and manufacturing techniques is uncertain and our failure to do so could place us at a competitive disadvantage.
The successful implementation of our business strategy requires us to continuously invest in new technologies and manufacturing techniques to evolve our existing products and introduce new products to meet our customers’ needs in the industries we serve and want to serve. For example, motion control products offer more precise positioning and control compared to industrial clutches and brakes. If manufacturing processes are developed to make motion control products more price competitive and less complicated to operate, our customers may decrease their purchases of MPT products.
Our products are characterized by performance and specification requirements that mandate a high degree of manufacturing and engineering expertise. We believe that our customers rigorously evaluate their suppliers on the basis of a number of factors, including:
•product quality and availability;
•price competitiveness;
•technical expertise and development capability;
•reliability and timeliness of delivery;
•product design capability;
•manufacturing expertise; and
•sales support and customer service.
Our success depends on our ability to invest in new technologies and manufacturing techniques to continue to meet our customers’ changing demands with respect to the above factors. We may not be able to make required capital expenditures and, even if we do so, we may be unsuccessful in addressing technological advances or introducing new products necessary to remain competitive within our markets. Furthermore, our own technological developments may not be able to produce a sustainable competitive advantage. If we fail to invest successfully in improvements to our technology and manufacturing techniques, our business may be materially adversely affected.
Our operations are subject to international risks that could affect our operating results.
Our net sales outside North America represented approximately 40% of our total net sales for the year ended December 31, 2014. In addition, we sell products to domestic customers for use in their products sold overseas. We also source a significant portion of our products and materials from overseas, a practice which is increasing. Our business is subject to risks associated with doing business internationally, and our future results could be materially adversely affected by a variety of factors, including:
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• | fluctuations in currency exchange rates; |
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• | tariffs or other trade protection measures and import or export licensing requirements; |
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• | potentially negative consequences from changes in tax laws; |
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• | unexpected changes in regulatory requirements; |
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• | changes in foreign intellectual property law; |
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• | differing labor regulations; |
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• | requirements relating to withholding taxes on remittances and other payments by subsidiaries; |
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• | restrictions on our ability to own or operate subsidiaries, make investments or acquire new businesses in various jurisdictions; |
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• | potential political instability and the actions of foreign governments; and |
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• | restrictions on our ability to repatriate dividends from our subsidiaries. |
As we continue to expand our business globally, our success will depend, in large part, on our ability to anticipate and effectively manage these and other risks associated with our international operations. However, any of these factors could materially adversely affect our international operations and, consequently, our operating results.
Our operations depend on commercial activities and production facilities throughout the world, many of which may be located in jurisdictions that are subject to increased risks of disrupted production or commercial activities causing delays in shipments and loss of customers and revenue.
We operate businesses with manufacturing facilities worldwide, many of which are located outside the United States including in Brazil, Canada, China, Denmark, France, Germany, Mexico, Russia, Slovakia, and the United Kingdom. Serving a global customer base requires that we place production in emerging markets to capitalize on market opportunities and cost efficiencies. Our international production facilities and operations and commercial activities could be disrupted by currency fluctuations and devaluation, capital and currency exchange controls, low or negative economic growth rates, natural disaster, labor strike, military activity or war, political unrest, terrorist activity or public health concerns, particularly in emerging countries that are not well-equipped to handle such occurrences. Any such disruptions could materially adversely affect our business.
We rely on estimated forecasts of our OEM customers’ needs, and inaccuracies in such forecasts could materially adversely affect our business.
We generally sell our products pursuant to individual purchase orders instead of under long-term purchase commitments. Therefore, we rely on estimated demand forecasts, based upon input from our customers, to determine how much material to purchase and product to manufacture. Because our sales are based on purchase orders, our customers may cancel, delay or otherwise modify their purchase commitments with little or no consequence to them and with little or no notice to us. For these reasons, we generally have limited visibility regarding our customers’ actual product needs. The quantities or timing required by our customers for our products could vary significantly. Whether in response to changes affecting the industry or a customer’s specific business pressures, any cancellation, delay or other modification in our customers’ orders could significantly reduce our revenue, impact our working capital, cause our operating results to fluctuate from period to period and make it more difficult for us to predict our revenue. In the event of a cancellation or reduction of an order, we may not have enough time to reduce operating expenses to minimize the effect of the lost revenue on our business and we may purchase too much inventory and spend more capital than expected, which may materially adversely affect our business.
From time to time, our customers may experience deterioration of their businesses. In addition, during periods of economic difficulty, our customers may not be able to accurately estimate demand forecasts and may scale back orders in an abundance of caution. As a result, existing or potential customers may delay or cancel plans to purchase our products and may not be able to fulfill their obligations to us in a timely fashion. Such cancellations, reductions or inability to fulfill obligations could significantly reduce our revenue, impact our working capital, cause our operating results to fluctuate adversely from period to period and make it more difficult for us to predict our revenue.
Our inability to efficiently utilize or re-negotiate minimum purchase requirements in certain supply agreements could decrease our profitability.
Our ability to maintain and expand our business depends, in part, on our ability to continue to obtain raw materials and component parts on favorable terms from various suppliers. Agreements with some of our suppliers contain minimum
purchase requirements. We can give no assurance that we will be able to utilize the minimum amount of raw materials or component parts that we are required to purchase under certain supply agreements which contain minimum purchase requirements. If we are required to purchase more raw materials or component parts than we are able to utilize in the operation of our business, the costs of providing our products would likely increase, which could decrease our profitability and have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations.
Disruption of our supply chain could have an adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations.
Our ability, including manufacturing or distribution capabilities, and that of our suppliers, business partners and contract manufacturers, to make, move and sell products is critical to our success. Damage or disruption to our or their manufacturing or distribution capabilities due to weather, natural disaster, fire or explosion, terrorism, pandemics, strikes, repairs or enhancements at our facilities, excessive demand, raw material shortages, or other reasons, could impair our ability, and that of our suppliers, to manufacture or sell our products. Failure to take adequate steps to mitigate the likelihood or potential impact of such events, or to effectively manage such events if they occur, could adversely affect our business, financial condition and results of operations, as well as require additional resources to restore our supply chain.
The materials used to produce our products are subject to price fluctuations that could increase costs of production and adversely affect our profitability.
The materials used to produce our products, especially copper and steel, are sourced on a global or regional basis and the prices of those materials are susceptible to price fluctuations due to supply and demand trends, transportation costs, government regulations and tariffs, changes in currency exchange rates, price controls, the economic climate and other unforeseen circumstances. From the first quarter of 2004 to the fourth quarter of 2014, the average price of copper and steel has increased approximately 109% and 77%, respectively. If we are unable to continue to pass a substantial portion of such price increases on to our customers on a timely basis, our future profitability may be materially adversely affected. In addition, passing through these costs to our customers may also limit our ability to increase our prices in the future.
We face potential product liability claims relating to products we manufacture or distribute, which could result in our having to expend significant time and expense to defend these claims and to pay material damages or settlement amounts.
We face a business risk of exposure to product liability claims in the event that the use of our products is alleged to have resulted in injury or other adverse effects. We currently have several product liability claims against us with respect to our products. Although we currently maintain product liability insurance coverage, we may not be able to obtain such insurance on acceptable terms in the future, if at all, or obtain insurance that will provide adequate coverage against potential claims. Product liability claims can be expensive to defend and can divert the attention of management and other personnel for long periods of time, regardless of the ultimate outcome. An unsuccessful product liability defense could exceed any insurance that we maintain and could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition, results of operations or our ability to make payments under our debt obligations when due. In addition, we believe our business depends on the strong brand reputation we have developed. In the event that our reputation is damaged, we may face difficulty in maintaining our pricing positions with respect to some of our products, which would reduce our sales and profitability.
We also risk exposure to product liability claims in connection with products sold by businesses that we acquire. Although in some cases third parties have retained responsibility for product liabilities relating to products manufactured or sold prior to our acquisition of the relevant business and in other cases the persons from whom we have acquired a business may be required to indemnify us for certain product liability claims subject to certain caps or limitations on indemnification, we cannot assure you that those third parties will in fact satisfy their obligations to us with respect to liabilities retained by them or their indemnification obligations. If those third parties become unable to or otherwise do not comply with their respective obligations including indemnity obligations, or if certain product liability claims for which we are obligated were not retained by third parties or are not subject to these indemnities, we could become subject to significant liabilities or other adverse consequences. Moreover, even in cases where third parties retain responsibility for product liabilities or are required to indemnify us, significant claims arising from products that we have acquired could have a material adverse effect on our ability to realize the benefits from an acquisition, could result in our reducing the value of goodwill that we have recorded in connection with an acquisition, or could otherwise have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition, or operations.
We may be subject to work stoppages at our facilities, or our customers may be subjected to work stoppages, which could seriously impact our operations and the profitability of our business.
As of December 31, 2014, we had 3,957 full-time employees, of whom approximately 51% were located in North America (primarily U.S.), 33% in Europe, and 16% in Asia and the rest of the world. Approximately 15% of our full-time factory U.S. employees are represented by labor unions. In addition, approximately 733 employees or 56% of our European employees are represented by labor unions or works councils. Approximately 60 employees in the Kilian production facilities
in Toronto, Canada are unionized under a collective bargaining agreement. Approximately 55 employees in the Lamiflex production facilities in Brazil are represented by a works council. Additionally, approximately 45 employees in the TB Wood’s production facilities in Mexico are unionized under collective bargaining agreements that are subject to annual renewals.
We are a party to four U.S. collective bargaining agreements. The agreements will expire in July 2015, October 2016, June 2017 and February 2018.
We are also party to a collective bargaining agreement with union employees at our Toronto, Canada manufacturing facility. That agreement will expire in July 2015. We may be unable to renew these agreements on terms that are satisfactory to us, if at all.
One of the four U.S. collective bargaining agreements contains provisions for additional, potentially significant, lump-sum severance payments to all employees covered by that agreement who are terminated as the result of a plant closing and one of our collective bargaining agreements contains provisions restricting our ability to terminate or relocate operations.
Our facilities in Europe and Brazil have employees who are generally represented by local or national social works councils. Social works councils meet with employer industry associations periodically to discuss employee wages and working conditions. Our facilities in Denmark, France, Germany, Slovakia, and Brazil often participate in such discussions and adhere to any agreements reached.
If our unionized workers or those represented by a works council were to engage in a strike, work stoppage or other slowdown in the future, we could experience a significant disruption of our operations. Such disruption could interfere with our ability to deliver products on a timely basis and could have other negative effects, including decreased productivity and increased labor costs. In addition, if a greater percentage of our work force becomes unionized, our business and financial results could be materially adversely affected. Many of our direct and indirect customers have unionized work forces. Strikes, work stoppages or slowdowns experienced by these customers or their suppliers could result in slowdowns or closures of assembly plants where our products are used and could cause cancellation of purchase orders with us or otherwise result in reduced revenues from these customers.
Changes in employment laws could increase our costs and may adversely affect our business.
Various federal, state and international labor laws govern our relationship with employees and affect operating costs. These laws include minimum wage requirements, overtime, unemployment tax rates, workers’ compensation rates paid, leaves of absence, mandated health and other benefits, and citizenship requirements. Significant additional government-imposed increases or new requirements in these areas could materially affect our business, financial condition, operating results or cash flow.
In the event our employee-related costs rise significantly, we may have to curtail the number of our employees or shut down certain manufacturing facilities. Any such actions would not only be costly but could also materially adversely affect our business.
We depend on the services of key executives, the loss of whom could materially harm our business.
Our senior executives are important to our success because they are instrumental in setting our strategic direction, operating our business, maintaining and expanding relationships with distributors, identifying, recruiting and training key personnel, identifying expansion opportunities and arranging necessary financing. Losing the services of any of these individuals could adversely affect our business until a suitable replacement could be found. We believe that our senior executives could not easily be replaced with executives of equal experience and capabilities. Although we have entered into employment agreements with certain of our key domestic executives, we cannot prevent our key executives from terminating their employment with us. We do not maintain key person life insurance policies on any of our executives.
If we lose certain of our key sales, marketing or engineering personnel, our business may be adversely affected.
Our success depends on our ability to recruit, retain and motivate highly skilled sales, marketing and engineering personnel. Competition for these persons in our industry is intense and we may not be able to successfully recruit, train or retain qualified personnel. If we fail to retain and recruit the necessary personnel, our business and our ability to obtain new customers, develop new products and provide acceptable levels of customer service could suffer. If certain of these key personnel were to terminate their employment with us, we may experience difficulty replacing them, and our business could be harmed.
We are subject to environmental laws that could impose significant costs on us and the failure to comply with such laws could subject us to sanctions and material fines and expenses.
We are subject to a variety of federal, state, local, foreign and provincial environmental laws and regulations, including those governing the discharge of pollutants into the air or water, the management and disposal of hazardous
substances and wastes and the responsibility to investigate and cleanup contaminated sites that are or were owned, leased, operated or used by us or our predecessors. Some of these laws and regulations require us to obtain permits, which contain terms and conditions that impose limitations on our ability to emit and discharge hazardous materials into the environment and periodically may be subject to modification, renewal and revocation by issuing authorities. Fines and penalties may be imposed for non-compliance with applicable environmental laws and regulations and the failure to have or to comply with the terms and conditions of required permits. From time to time, our operations may not be in full compliance with the terms and conditions of our permits. We periodically review our procedures and policies for compliance with environmental laws and requirements. We believe that our operations generally are in material compliance with applicable environmental laws, requirements and permits and that any lapses in compliance would not be expected to result in us incurring material liability or cost to achieve compliance. Historically, the costs of achieving and maintaining compliance with environmental laws, and requirements and permits have not been material; however, the operation of manufacturing plants entails risks in these areas, and a failure by us to comply with applicable environmental laws, regulations, or permits could result in civil or criminal fines, penalties, enforcement actions, third party claims for property damage and personal injury, requirements to clean up property or to pay for the costs of cleanup, or regulatory or judicial orders enjoining or curtailing operations or requiring corrective measures, including the installation of pollution control equipment or remedial actions. Moreover, if applicable environmental laws and regulations, or the interpretation or enforcement thereof, become more stringent in the future, we could incur capital or operating costs beyond those currently anticipated.
Certain environmental laws in the United States, such as the federal Superfund law and similar state laws, impose liability for the cost of investigation or remediation of contaminated sites upon the current or, in some cases, the former site owners or operators and upon parties who arranged for the disposal of wastes or transported or sent those wastes to an off-site facility for treatment or disposal, regardless of when the release of hazardous substances occurred or the lawfulness of the activities giving rise to the release. Such liability can be imposed without regard to fault and, under certain circumstances, can be joint and several, resulting in one party being held responsible for the entire obligation. As a practical matter, however, the costs of investigation and remediation generally are allocated among the viable responsible parties on some form of equitable basis. Liability also may include damages to natural resources. In addition, from time to time, we are notified that we are a potentially responsible party and may have liability in connection with off-site disposal facilities. To date, we have generally resolved matters involving off-site disposal facilities for a nominal sum although there can be no assurance that we will be able to resolve pending and future matters in a similar fashion.
However, there is contamination at some of our current facilities, primarily related to historical operations at those sites, for which we could be liable for the investigation and remediation under certain environmental laws. The potential for contamination also exists at other of our current or former sites, based on historical uses of those sites. We currently are not undertaking any remediation or investigations and our costs or liability in connection with potential contamination conditions at our facilities cannot be predicted at this time because the potential existence of contamination has not been investigated or not enough is known about the environmental conditions or likely remedial requirements. Currently, other parties with contractual liability are addressing or have plans or obligations to address those contamination conditions that may pose a material risk to human health, safety or the environment. In addition, while we attempt to evaluate the risk of liability associated with our facilities at the time we acquire them, there may be environmental conditions currently unknown to us relating to our prior, existing or future sites or operations or those of predecessor companies whose liabilities we may have assumed or acquired which could have a material adverse effect on our business.
We are being indemnified, or expect to be indemnified by third parties subject to certain caps or limitations on the indemnification, for certain environmental costs and liabilities associated with certain owned or operated sites. Accordingly, based on the indemnification and the experience with similar sites of the environmental consultants who we have hired, we do not expect such costs and liabilities to have a material adverse effect on our business, operations or earnings. We cannot assure you, however, that those third parties will in fact satisfy their indemnification obligations. If those third parties become unable to, or otherwise do not, comply with their respective indemnity obligations, or if certain contamination or other liability for which we are obligated is not subject to these indemnities, we could become subject to significant liabilities.
Our future success depends on our ability to integrate acquired companies and manage our growth effectively.
Our growth through acquisitions has placed, and will continue to place, significant demands on our management, operational and financial resources. Realization of the benefits of acquisitions often requires integration of some or all of the acquired companies’ sales and marketing, distribution, manufacturing, engineering, finance and administrative organizations. Integration of companies demands substantial attention from senior management and the management of the acquired companies. In addition, we will continue to pursue new acquisitions, some of which could be material to our business if completed. We may not be able to integrate successfully our recent acquisitions, or any future acquisitions, operate these acquired companies profitably, or realize the potential benefits from these acquisitions.
The market price of our common stock may decline as a result of acquisitions if, among other things, we are unable to achieve the expected growth in earnings, or if the operational cost savings estimates in connection with the integration of the acquired businesses are not realized, or if the transaction costs related to the acquisitions are greater than expected. The market price of our common stock also may decline if we do not achieve the perceived benefits of the acquisitions as rapidly or to the extent anticipated by financial or industry analysts or if the effect of the acquisitions on our financial results is not consistent with the expectations of financial or industry analysts.
We may not be able to protect our intellectual property rights, brands or technology effectively, which could allow competitors to duplicate or replicate our technology and could adversely affect our ability to compete.
We rely on a combination of patent, trademark, copyright, and trade secret laws in the United States and other jurisdictions, as well as on license, non-disclosure, employee and consultant assignment and other agreements and domain names registrations in order to protect our proprietary technology and rights. Applications for protection of our intellectual property rights may not be allowed, and the rights, if granted, may not be maintained. In addition, third parties may infringe or challenge our intellectual property rights. In some cases, we rely on unpatented proprietary technology. It is possible that others will independently develop the same or similar technology or otherwise obtain access to our unpatented technology. In addition, in the ordinary course of our operations, we pursue potential claims from time to time relating to the protection of certain products and intellectual property rights, including with respect to some of our more profitable products. Such claims could be time consuming, expensive and divert resources. If we are unable to maintain the proprietary nature of our technologies or proprietary protection of our brands, our ability to market or be competitive with respect to some or all of our products may be affected, which could reduce our sales and profitability.
Goodwill and indefinite-lived intangibles comprises a significant portion of our total assets, and if we determine that goodwill or indefinite-lived intangibles become impaired in the future, net income in such years may be materially and adversely affected.
Goodwill represents the excess of cost over the fair market value of net assets acquired in business combinations. Due to the acquisitions we have completed historically, goodwill comprises a significant portion of our total assets. We review goodwill and indefinite-lived intangibles annually for impairment and any excess in carrying value over the estimated fair value is charged to the results of operations. Our review of goodwill and indefinite-lived intangibles at December 2014 resulted in no reduction to the value of such assets in our financial statements. Future reviews of goodwill and indefinite-lived intangibles could result in reductions. Any reduction in net income resulting from the write down or impairment of goodwill and indefinite-lived intangibles could adversely affect our financial results. If economic conditions deteriorate we may be required to impair goodwill and indefinite-lived intangibles in future periods.
Unplanned repairs or equipment outages could interrupt production and reduce income or cash flow.
Unplanned repairs or equipment outages, including those due to natural disasters, could result in the disruption of our manufacturing processes. Any interruption in our manufacturing processes would interrupt our production of products, reduce our income and cash flow and could result in a material adverse effect on our business and financial condition.
Our operations are highly dependent on information technology infrastructure and failures could significantly affect our business.
We depend heavily on our information technology, or IT, infrastructure in order to achieve our business objectives. If we experience a problem that impairs this infrastructure, such as a computer virus, a problem with the functioning of an important IT application, or an intentional disruption of our IT systems by a third party, the resulting disruptions could impede our ability to record or process orders, manufacture and ship in a timely manner, or otherwise carry on our business in the ordinary course. Any such events could cause us to lose customers or revenue and could require us to incur significant expense to eliminate these problems and address related security concerns.
Computer viruses, malware, and other “hacking” programs and devices may cause significant damage, delays or interruptions to our systems and operations or to certain of the products that we sell resulting in damage to our reputation and brand names.
Computer viruses, malware, and other “hacking” programs and devices may attack our infrastructure, industrial machinery, software, or hardware causing significant damage, delays or other service interruptions to our systems and operations. “Hacking” involves efforts to gain unauthorized access to information or systems or to cause intentional malfunctions, loss or corruption of data, software, hardware, or other computer equipment. In addition, increasingly sophisticated malware may target real-world infrastructure or product components, including certain of the products that we currently or may in the future sell by attacking, disrupting, reconfiguring and/or reprogramming industrial control software. Hacking, computer viruses, and other malware could result in significant damage to our infrastructure, industrial machinery, systems, or databases. We may incur significant costs to protect our systems and equipment against the threat of, and to repair
any damage caused by, computer viruses and hacking. Moreover, if a computer virus or hacking affects our systems or products, our reputation and brand names could be materially damaged and use of our products may decrease.
If we are unable to successfully implement our new ERP system across the Company or such implementation is delayed, our operations may be disrupted or become less efficient.
We are in the process of implementing a new Enterprise Resource Planning system entitled “SAP” worldwide, with the aim of enabling management to achieve better control over the Company through: improved quality, reliability and timeliness of information; improved integration and visibility of information stemming from different management functions and countries; and optimization and global management of corporate processes. The adoption of the new SAP system, which replaces the existing accounting and management systems, poses several challenges relating to, among other things, training of personnel, communication of new rules and procedures, changes in corporate culture, migration of data, and the potential instability of the new system. In order to mitigate the impact of such critical issues, the Company decided to implement the new SAP system on a step-by-step basis, both geographically and in terms of processes. To date, we have completed implementation at 17 of our 26 business units. Currently, we do not have a time line to complete implementations at the remaining business units. If the remaining implementation of the SAP system is delayed, in whole or in part, we would continue to use our current systems which may not be sufficient to support our planned operations and significant upgrades to the current systems may be warranted or required to meet our business needs pending SAP implementation. In addition, we rely on third-party vendors to provide long-term software maintenance support and hosting services for our information systems. Software vendors may decide to discontinue further development, integration or long-term software maintenance support for our information systems, which may increase our operational expense as well as disrupt the management of our business operations. In addition, we do not control the operation of any third party hosting facilities. These facilities are vulnerable to damage or interruption from natural disasters, fires, power loss, telecommunications failures and similar events. They are also subject to break-ins, computer viruses, sabotage, intentional acts of vandalism and other misconduct. The occurrence of any of these disasters or other unanticipated problems with our third party hosting vendors could disrupt the management of, and have a material adverse effect on, our business operations. However, there can be no assurance that the new SAP system will be successfully implemented and failure to do so could have a material adverse effect on the Company’s operations.
Our leverage could adversely affect our financial health and make us vulnerable to adverse economic and industry conditions.
As of December 31, 2014, we had approximately $268.5 million of gross indebtedness outstanding including (i) a principal balance of $85.0 million outstanding under our Convertible Notes (as defined herein); (ii) $40.0 million outstanding and $149.0 million available under our Revolving Credit Facility (as defined herein); and (iii) $87.3 million and €38.2 million outstanding under our Term Loan Facility (as defined herein). Our indebtedness has important consequences; for example, it could:
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• | make it more challenging for us to obtain additional financing to fund our business strategy and acquisitions, debt service requirements, capital expenditures and working capital; |
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• | increase our vulnerability to interest rate changes and general adverse economic and industry conditions; |
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• | require us to dedicate a substantial portion of our cash flow from operations to service our indebtedness, thereby reducing the availability of our cash flow to finance acquisitions and to fund working capital, capital expenditures, research and development efforts and other general corporate activities; |
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• | make it difficult for us to fulfill our obligations under our credit and other debt agreements; |
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• | limit our flexibility in planning for, or reacting to, changes in our business and our markets; and |
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• | place us at a competitive disadvantage relative to our competitors that have less debt. |
Substantially all of the domestic personal property of the Company and its domestic subsidiaries and certain shares of certain non-domestic subsidiaries have been pledged as collateral against any outstanding borrowings under the Amended and Restated Credit Agreement dated December 6, 2013 (the “Credit Agreement”) governing our Revolving Credit Facility and Term Loan Facility. In addition, the Credit Agreement requires us to maintain specified financial ratios and satisfy certain financial condition tests, which may require that we take action to reduce our debt or to act in a manner contrary to our business objectives.
In the future, the then current economic and credit market conditions may limit our access to additional capital, to the extent that the Credit Agreement would otherwise permit additional financing, or may preclude our ability to refinance our existing indebtedness. There can be no assurance that there will not be a deterioration in the credit markets, a deterioration in the financial condition of our lenders or their ability to fund their commitments or, if necessary, that we will be able to find replacement financing, if need be, on similar or acceptable terms. An inability to access sufficient financing or capital could have an adverse impact on our operations and thus on our operating results and financial position.
Our Credit Agreement imposes significant operating and financial restrictions, which may prevent us from pursuing our business strategies or favorable business opportunities.
Subject to a number of important exceptions, the Credit Agreement may limit our ability to:
•incur more debt;
•pay dividends or make other distributions;
•redeem stock;
•issue stock of subsidiaries;
•make certain investments;
•create liens;
•reorganize our corporate structure;
•enter into transactions with affiliates;
•merge or consolidate; and
•transfer or sell assets.
The restrictions contained in the Credit Agreement may prevent us from taking actions that we believe would be in the best interest of our business, and may make it difficult for us to successfully execute our business strategy or effectively compete with companies that are not similarly restricted. A breach of any of these covenants or the inability to comply with the required financial ratios could result in a default under the Credit Agreement. If any such default occurs, the lenders under the Credit Agreement may elect to declare all of the outstanding debt, under the Credit Agreement together with accrued interest and other amounts payable thereunder, to be immediately due and payable. The lenders under the Credit Agreement also have the right in those circumstances to terminate any commitments they have to provide further borrowings. In addition, following an event of default under the Credit Agreement, the lenders under the Credit Agreement will have the right to proceed against the collateral described above that secures the debt. If the debt under the Credit Agreement were to be accelerated, we may not have the ability to refinance that debt, and if we can, the terms of such refinancing may be less favorable than the current financing terms under the Credit Agreement. In the event that the indebtedness is accelerated, our assets may not be sufficient to repay in full all of our debt.
We face risks associated with our exposure to variable interest rates and foreign currency exchange rates.
We are exposed to various types of market risk in the normal course of business, including the impact of interest rate changes and foreign currency exchange rate fluctuations. Some of our indebtedness bears interest at variable rates, generally linked to market benchmarks such as LIBOR. Any increase in interest rates would increase our finance expenses relating to our variable rate indebtedness and increase the costs of refinancing our existing indebtedness and issuing new debt. A portion of our indebtedness is also euro denominated. In addition, we conduct our business and incur costs in the local currency of the countries in which we operate. As we continue expanding our business into markets such as Europe, China, Australia and South America, we expect that an increasing percentage of our revenue and cost of sales will be denominated in currencies other than the U.S. Dollar, our reporting currency. As a result, we are subject to currency translation risk, whereby changes in exchange rates between the dollar and the other currencies in which we borrow and do business could result in foreign exchange losses and have a material adverse effect on our results of operations.
We are exposed to swap counterparty credit risk that could materially and adversely affect its business, operating results, and financial condition.
From time to time, we rely on interest rate swap contracts and hedging arrangements to effectively manage our interest rate risk. We entered into an interest rate swap in 2013 to hedge exposure to variable rate interest rates payable on $82.5 million of our outstanding borrowings under the Credit Agreement. Failure to perform under a derivatives contract by one or more of our counterparties could disrupt our hedging operations, particularly if we were entitled to a termination payment under the terms of the contract that we did not receive, if we had to make a termination payment upon default of the counterparty, or if we were unable to reposition the swap with a new counterparty.
Our stockholders may experience dilution upon the conversion of our Convertible Notes.
Our Convertible Notes are convertible into shares of our common stock beginning March 1, 2030 or, under certain circumstances including where our stock trades above 130% of the conversion price for a specified period of time as set forth in the Convertible Notes, earlier. Upon conversion, we must deliver shares of our common stock or cash. The conversion rate of our Convertible Notes was initially 36.0985 shares of our common stock per $1,000 principal amount of our convertible notes (equivalent to a conversion price of approximately $27.70 per share of common stock), and as of December 31, 2014 is 37.44
shares of our common stock per $1,000 principal amount of our convertible notes (equivalent to a conversion price of approximately $26.71 per share of common stock), subject to adjustment in certain circumstances. Based on the current conversion rate, the maximum number of shares of common stock that would be issued upon conversion of the $85.0 million convertible debt currently outstanding is 3,182,761. In addition, our stockholders will experience dilution in their ownership percentage of our common stock upon our issuance of common stock in connection with the conversion of our convertible notes and any dividends paid on our common stock will also be paid on shares issued in connection with such conversion after such issuance. In the event the average price of our stock exceeds the conversion price we will be required to include the maximum number of shares of common stock that would be issued upon conversion in our calculation of diluted weighted average shares outstanding which will have the effect of decreasing our earnings per share.
We are subject to tax laws and regulations in many jurisdictions and the inability to successfully defend claims from taxing authorities related to our current or acquired businesses could adversely affect our operating results and financial position.
We conduct business in many countries, which requires us to interpret the income tax laws and rulings in each of those taxing jurisdictions. Due to the subjectivity of tax laws between those jurisdictions as well as the subjectivity of factual interpretations, our estimates of income tax liabilities may differ from actual payments or assessments. Claims from taxing authorities related to these differences could have an adverse impact on our operating results and financial position.
Certain of our businesses are exposed to renewable energy markets which depend significantly on the availability and size of government subsidies and economic incentives.
Certain of our businesses sell product to customers within the renewable energy market, which among other energy sources includes wind energy and solar energy. At present, the cost of many forms of renewable energy exceeds the cost of conventional power generation in many locations around the world. Various governments have used different policy initiatives to encourage or accelerate the development and adoption of renewable energy sources such as wind energy and solar energy. Renewable energy policies are in place in the European Union, certain countries in Asia, including China, Japan and South Korea, and many of the states in Australia and the United States. Examples of government- sponsored financial incentives include capital cost rebates, feed-in tariffs, tax credits, net metering and other incentives to end-users, distributors, system integrators and manufacturers of renewable energy products to promote the use of renewable energy and to reduce dependency on other forms of energy. Governments may decide to reduce or eliminate these economic incentives for political, financial or other reasons. Reductions in, or eliminations of, government subsidies and economic incentives before renewable energy markets reach a sufficient scale to be cost-effective in a non-subsidized marketplace could reduce demand for our products and adversely affect our business prospects and results of operations.
New regulations related to conflict minerals could adversely impact our business
The Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act contains provisions to improve transparency and accountability concerning the supply of certain minerals, known as conflict minerals, originating from the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and adjoining countries. As a result, in August 2012 the SEC adopted annual disclosure and reporting requirements for those companies who use conflict minerals mined from the DRC and adjoining countries in their products. These new requirements required country of origin inquiries and potentially due diligence, with initial disclosure requirements beginning in May 2014 relating to activities in 2013. There have been and will continue to be costs associated with complying with these disclosure requirements, including for country of origin inquiries and due diligence to determine the sources of conflict minerals used in our products and other potential changes to products, processes or sources of supply as a consequence of such verification activities. These rules could adversely affect the sourcing, supply and pricing of materials used in our products. As there may be only a limited number of suppliers offering “conflict free” conflict minerals, we cannot be sure that we will be able to obtain necessary conflict minerals from such suppliers in sufficient quantities or at competitive prices. Also, we may face reputational challenges if we determine that certain of our products contain minerals not determined to be conflict free or if we are unable to sufficiently verify the origins for all conflict minerals used in our products through the procedures we may implement.
Continued volatility and disruption in global financial markets could significantly impact our customers, suppliers, weaken the markets we serve and harm our operations and financial performance.
Our financial performance depends, in large part, on conditions in the markets that we serve and on the U.S. and global economies in general. As widely reported, U.S. and global financial markets have been experiencing disruption in recent years. Further, economic conditions in the European Union have deteriorated and, with the Bauer Acquisition and the Svendborg Acquisition, our exposure to European markets has increased. Given the significance and widespread nature of these circumstances, the U.S., European, and global economies could remain significantly challenged for an indeterminate period of time. While currently these conditions have not impaired our ability to access credit markets and finance our operations, there can be no assurance that there will not be a further deterioration in financial markets and confidence in major economies. In
addition, a tight credit market may adversely affect the ability of our customers to obtain financing for significant purchases and operations and could result in a decrease in or cancellation of orders for our products and services as well as impact the ability of our customers to make payments. Similarly, a tight credit market may adversely affect our supplier base and increase the potential for one or more of our suppliers to experience financial distress or bankruptcy. These conditions would harm our business by adversely affecting our sales, results of operations, profitability, cash flows, financial condition and long-term anticipated growth rate, which could result in potential impairment of certain long-term assets including goodwill.
We may not realize the expected benefits of the Guardian Acquisition, the Svendborg Acquisition and the Lamiflex Acquisition because of integration difficulties and other challenges.
The success of the Guardian Acquisition, the Svendborg Acquisition and the Lamiflex Acquisition will depend, in part, on our ability to realize the anticipated benefits from integrating the Guardian, Svendborg, and Lamiflex businesses with our existing businesses. The integration process may be complex, costly and time-consuming. The difficulties of integrating the operations of the Guardian, Svendborg, and Lamiflex businesses include, among others:
| |
• | failure to implement our business plan for the combined business; |
| |
• | unanticipated issues in integrating manufacturing, logistics, information, communications and other systems; |
| |
• | possible inconsistencies in standards, controls, procedures and policies, and compensation structures; |
| |
• | unanticipated changes in applicable laws and regulations; |
| |
• | failure to retain key employees; |
| |
• | failure to retain key customers; |
| |
• | operating risks inherent in the Guardian business, the Svendborg business, the Lamiflex business, and our business; |
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• | the impact on our internal controls and compliance with the regulatory requirements under the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002; and |
| |
• | unanticipated issues, expenses and liabilities. |
We may not be able to maintain the levels of revenue, earnings or operating efficiency that each of Altra, Guardian, Svendborg and Lamiflex had achieved or might achieve separately. In addition, we may not accomplish the integration of the Guardian, Svendborg and Lamiflex’s businesses smoothly, successfully or within the anticipated costs or timeframe.
We face risks associated with the Purchase Agreement in connection with the Svendborg Acquisition.
In connection with the Svendborg Acquisition, we are subject to substantially all of the liabilities of Svendborg that were not satisfied on or prior to the closing date. There may be liabilities that we underestimated or did not discover in the course of performing our due diligence investigation of Svendborg. Under the Purchase Agreement, the seller agreed to provide us with a limited set of representations and warranties, including with respect to outstanding and potential liabilities. Claims for a breach of a representation or warranty are secured by a limited escrow and warranty and indemnity insurance. There can be no assurance, however, that this limited security will be adequate or available to satisfy potential claims. Damages resulting from a breach of a representation or warranty could have a material and adverse effect on our financial condition and results of operations, and there is no guarantee that we would actually be able to recover all or any portion of the sums payable to us in connection with such breach.
We may not realize the expected growth and production savings from our facility in Changzhou, China.
We have completed the construction of a new plant in Changzhou, China at the end of 2012. There are numerous risks and uncertainties that may prevent us from achieving the revenues necessary to sustain and grow this facility. Some of these risks and uncertainties relate to our ability to: offer new and innovative products to attract and retain a larger customer base; attract additional customers; undertake more contracted projects; maintain effective control of our costs and expenses; respond to evolving social, economic and political changes in China; respond to competitive market conditions; manage risks associated with intellectual property rights; and attract, retain and motivate qualified personnel. If we are unsuccessful in addressing any of these risks and uncertainties and such growth or production savings do not materialize, or should the timeline for full production at the facility be delayed, we may be unable to achieve our expected investment return, which could adversely affect our results of operations and financial condition.
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Item 1B. | Unresolved Staff Comments. |
None.
In addition to our leased headquarters in Braintree, Massachusetts, we maintain 32 production facilities, fourteen of which are located in the United States, one in Canada, eleven in Europe, two in Brazil, three in China, and one in Mexico. The following table lists all of our facilities, other than sales offices and distribution centers, as of December 31, 2014, indicating the location, principal use and whether the facilities are owned or leased.
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| | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Location | | Segments | Brand | | Major Products | | Sq. Ft. | | Type of Possession | | Expiration |
United States | | | | | | | | | | | |
Chambersburg, Pennsylvania | | Gearing and Power Transmission Components | TB Wood’s | | Belted Drives, Couplings, Castings | | 440,000 |
| | Owned | | N/A |
South Beloit, Illinois(1) | | Clutches and Brakes | Warner Electric | | Electromagnetic Clutches & Brakes | | 104,288 |
| | Owned | | N/A |
Syracuse, New York | | Gearing and Power Transmission Components | Kilian | | Engineered Bearing Assemblies | | 97,000 |
| | Owned | | N/A |
Wichita Falls, Texas | | Clutches and Brakes | Wichita Clutch | | Heavy Duty Clutches and Brakes | | 90,400 |
| | Owned | | N/A |
Warren, Michigan | | Clutches and Brakes | Formsprag, Marland | | Overrunning Clutches | | 79,000 |
| | Owned | | N/A |
Erie, Pennsylvania | | Couplings | Ameridrives | | Engineered Couplings | | 76,200 |
| | Owned | | N/A |
San Marcos, Texas | | Couplings | TB Wood’s | | Engineered Couplings | | 51,000 |
| | Owned | | N/A |
Columbia City, Indiana | | Clutches and Brakes | Warner Electric | | Electromagnetic Clutches & Brakes & Coils | | 96,000 |
| | Leased | | September 1, 2028 |
Charlotte, North Carolina | | Gearing and Power Transmission Components | Boston Gear | | Gearing & Power Transmission Components | | 193,000 |
| | Leased | | February 28, 2017 |
Niagara Falls, New York | | Gearing and Power Transmission Components | Nuttall Gear | | Gearing | | 155,509 |
| | Leased | | March 31, 2018 |
New Hartford, Connecticut | | Clutches and Brakes | Inertia Dynamics, Warner Electric | | Electromagnetic Clutches & Brakes | | 81,491 |
| | Leased | | July 30, 2024 |
Braintree, Massachusetts(2) | | Corporate | Altra | | — |
| | 13,804 |
| | Leased | | November 30, 2016 |
Belvidere, Illinois | | Clutches and Brakes | Warner Linear | | Linear Actuators | | 21,000 |
| | Leased | | June 30, 2015 |
Green Bay, Wisconsin | | Couplings | Ameridrives | | Engineered Couplings | | 85,250 |
| | Leased | | March 31, 2016 |
Michigan City, Indiana | | Couplings | Guardian | | Engineered Couplings | | 50,000 |
| | Leased | | June 30, 2019 |
International | | | | | | | | | | | |
Heidelberg, Germany | | Clutches and Brakes | Stieber | | Overrunning Clutches | | 57,609 |
| | Owned | | N/A |
Saint Barthelemy, France | | Clutches and Brakes | Warner Electric | | Electromagnetic Clutches & Brakes | | 50,129 |
| | Owned | | N/A |
Bedford, England | | Clutches and Brakes | Wichita Clutch, Twiflex | | Heavy Duty Clutches and Brakes | | 49,000 |
| | Owned | | N/A |
Allones, France | | Clutches and Brakes | Warner Electric | | Electromagnetic Clutches & Brakes | | 38,751 |
| | Owned | | N/A |
|
| | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Toronto, Canada | | Gearing and Power Transmission Components | Kilian | | Engineered Bearing Assemblies | | 29,000 |
| | Owned | | N/A |
Dewsbury, England | | Couplings | Bibby Transmissions | | Engineered Couplings Power Transmission Components | | 26,100 |
| | Owned | | N/A |
Shenzhen, China | | Clutches and Brakes, Gearing and Power Transmission Components | Warner Electric, Bauer Gear Motor | | Electromagnetic Clutches & Brakes Precision Components, Gear Motors | | 140,000 |
| | Leased | | April 30, 2017 |
San Luis Potosi, Mexico | | Couplings, Gearing and Power Transmission Components | TB Wood’s | | Couplings and Belted Drives | | 71,800 |
| | Leased | | June 8, 2014 |
Brechin, Scotland | | Clutches and Brakes, Couplings | Matrix | | Clutch Brakes, Couplings | | 27,889 |
| | Leased | | February 24, 2022 |
Garching, Germany | | Clutches and Brakes | Stieber | | Overrunning Clutches | | 32,292 |
| | Leased | | (3) |
Hertford, England | | Couplings | Huco Dynatork | | Couplings, Power Transmission Components | | 13,565 |
| | Leased | | December 19, 2017 |
Esslingen, Germany | | Gearing and Power Transmission Components | Bauer Gear Motor | | Gear motors | | 61,762 |
| | (6) | | (6) |
Zlate Moravce, Slovakia | | Gearing and Power Transmission Components | Bauer Gear Motor | | Gear motors | | 41,499 |
| | Leased | | (4) |
Changzhou, China | | Couplings | Ameridrives | | Engineered Couplings | | 107,348 |
| | Owned | | N/A |
Sao Paulo, Brazil | | Couplings | Lamiflex | | Engineered Couplings | | 10,764 |
| | Leased | | (5) |
Cotia, Brazil | | Couplings | Lamiflex | | Engineered Couplings | | 26,910 |
| | Owned | | N/A |
Vejstrup, Denmark | | Clutches and Brakes | Svendborg Brakes | | Heavy Duty Clutches and Brakes | | 18,525 |
| | Owned | | N/A |
Shanghai, China | | Clutches and Brakes | Svendborg Brakes | | Heavy Duty Clutches and Brakes | | 13,024 |
| | Leased | | November 14, 2015 |
| | | | | | | | | | | |
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(1) | Shared services center, selective engineering functions as well as limited production facility |
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(2) | Corporate headquarters and selective customer service functions. |
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(3) | Must give the lessor twelve months notice for termination. |
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(4) | Indefinite lease; lease cancelable with 2 year notice given. |
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(5) | Month to month lease. Must give lessor 30 days notice for termination. |
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(6) | Property consists of spaces that are owned and leased with various expiration dates. Owned facilities sq. ft. is 43,648. The leased property sq. ft. is 18,114. |
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Item 3. | Legal Proceedings. |
We are, from time to time, party to various legal proceedings arising out of our business. These proceedings primarily involve commercial claims, product liability claims, intellectual property claims, environmental claims, personal injury claims and workers’ compensation claims. We cannot predict the outcome of these lawsuits, legal proceedings and claims with certainty. Nevertheless, we believe that the outcome of any currently existing proceedings should not have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations.
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Item 4. | Mine Safety Disclosures. |
Not applicable
PART II
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Item 5. | Market for Registrant’s Common Equity and Related Stockholder Matters and Issuer Purchases of Equity Securities |
Market Information
Our common stock trades on the NASDAQ Global Market under the symbol “AIMC”. As of February 23, 2015, the number of holders of record of our common stock was approximately 75.
The following table sets forth, for the periods indicated, the high and low sales price for our common stock as reported on The NASDAQ Global Market. Our common stock commenced trading on the NASDAQ Global Market on December 15, 2006.
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| | | | | | | |
| U.S. Dollars |
| High | | Low |
Fiscal year ended December 31, 2014 | | | |
Fourth Quarter | $ | 32.31 |
| | $ | 26.52 |
|
Third Quarter | $ | 38.08 |
| | $ | 29.13 |
|
Second Quarter | $ | 37.42 |
| | $ | 32.78 |
|
First Quarter | $ | 39.60 |
| | $ | 30.53 |
|
Fiscal year ended December 31, 2013 | | | |
Fourth Quarter | $ | 34.54 |
| | $ | 25.70 |
|
Third Quarter | $ | 31.34 |
| | $ | 24.31 |
|
Second Quarter | $ | 30.10 |
| | $ | 24.59 |
|
First Quarter | $ | 28.13 |
| | $ | 21.89 |
|
Dividends
The Company declared and paid dividends of $0.46 per share of common stock for the year ended December 31, 2014. The Company declared dividends of $0.38 per share for the year ended December 31, 2013, of which $0.10 or $2.7 million was paid on January 3, 2014 and accrued for in the balance sheet at December 31, 2013.
On February 11, 2015, the Company declared a dividend of $0.12 per share for the quarter ended March 31, 2015, payable on April 2, 2015 to shareholders of record as of March 18, 2015. See note 17 to the consolidated financial statements.
Future declarations of quarterly cash dividends are subject to approval by the Board of Directors and to the Board’s continuing determination that the declaration of dividends are in the best interest of the Company’s stockholders and are in compliance with all laws and agreements of the Company applicable to the declaration and payment of cash dividends.
Securities Authorized for Issuance Under Equity Compensation Plans
The following table presents information concerning our equity compensation plans:
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| | | | | | |
Plan category | Number of Securities to be Issued Upon Exercise of Outstanding Options, Warrants and Rights | | Weighted-Average Exercise Price of Outstanding Options, Warrants and Rights | | Number of Securities Remaining Available for Future Issuance Under Equity Compensation Plans (Excluding Securities Reflected in Column (a) |
| (a) | | (b) | | (c) |
Equity compensation plans approved by security holders(1) | — |
| | $— | | 767,002 |
Equity compensation plans not approved by security holders | n/a |
| | n/a | | n/a |
Total | — |
| | $— | | 767,002 |
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(1) | The the 2014 Omnibus Incentive Plan was approved by the Company's shareholders at its 2014 annual meeting. |
Issuer Repurchases of Equity Securities
The following table summarizes our share repurchase activity by month for the quarter ended December 31, 2014.
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| | | | | | | | | |
Period | Total Number of Shares Purchased | | Average Price Paid per Share | | Total Number of Shares Purchased as Part of Publicly Announced Plans or Programs (1) | | Approximate Dollar Value of Shares That May Yet be Purchased Under The Plans or Programs |
October 1, 2014 to October 31, 2014 | 60,256 |
| | $28.65 | | 60,256 |
| | $35,458,110 |
November 1, 2014 to November 30, 2014 | 45,684 |
| | $31.18 | | 45,684 |
| | $34,033,672 |
December 1, 2014 to December 31, 2014 | 56,588 |
| | $29.19 | | 56,588 |
| | $32,382,087 |
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(1) | During the quarter ended December 31, 2014, the Company repurchased shares of common stock under its share repurchase program initiated in May 2014, which authorized the buy back of up to $50.0 million of the Company's common stock. Under the program, the Company is authorized to purchase shares on the open market, through block trades, in privately negotiated transactions, in compliance with SEC Rule 10b-18 (including through Rule 10b5-1 plans), or in any other appropriate manners. The Company has adopted a Rule 10b5-1 plan under which it is making purchases in compliance with the terms of such plan. The Company is also making open market share repurchases at the discretion of management. Shares acquired through the repurchase program will be retired. The share repurchase plan terminates on December 31, 2016. The Company retains the right to limit, terminate or extend the share repurchase program at any time without prior notice. |
Performance Graph
The following graph compares the cumulative total stockholder return on our common stock for the 5 year period from December 31, 2009, through December 31, 2014, with the cumulative total return on shares of companies comprising the S&P Small Cap 600 index and a special Peer Group Index, in each case assuming an initial investment of $100, assuming dividend reinvestment. The Peer Group Index consists of the following publicly traded companies: Franklin Electric Co. Inc., RBC Bearings, Inc., and Regal Beloit Corp.
Quarter Ended
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| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| 12/31/2009 |
| 3/31/2010 |
| 6/30/2010 |
| 9/30/2010 |
| 12/31/2010 |
| 3/31/2011 |
| 6/30/2011 |
| 9/30/2011 |
| 12/31/2011 |
|
Altra Industrial Motion Corp. | — | % | 11.17 | % | 5.43 | % | 19.27 | % | 60.81 | % | 91.26 | % | 94.25 | % | (6.32 | )% | 52.47 | % |
S&P Small Cap 600 | — | % | 8.33 | % | (1.39 | )% | 7.8 | % | 24.99 | % | 34.28 | % | 33.7 | % | 6.85 | % | 24.8 | % |
Peer Group | — | % | 13.51 | % | 7.64 | % | 17.76 | % | 35.13 | % | 48.29 | % | 40.12 | % | 4.24 | % | 21.6 | % |
| | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | |
| 3/31/2012 |
| 6/30/2012 |
| 9/30/2012 |
| 12/31/2012 |
| 3/31/2013 |
| 6/30/2013 |
| 9/30/2013 |
| 12/31/2013 |
| 3/31/2014 |
|
Altra Industrial Motion Corp. | 55.47 | % | 27.45 | % | 47.37 | % | 78.54 | % | 120.4 | % | 121.7 | % | 117.89 | % | 177.09 | % | 189.07 | % |
S&P Small Cap 600 | 39.34 | % | 33.93 | % | 40.71 | % | 43.29 | % | 59.77 | % | 65.52 | % | 82.73 | % | 100.1 | % | 101.78 | % |
Peer Group | 46.06 | % | 44.47 | % | 61.68 | % | 64.17 | % | 56.77 | % | 37.93 | % | 55.53 | % | 69.64 | % | 61.98 | % |
| | | | | | | | | |
| 6/30/2014 |
| 9/30/2014 |
| 12/31/2014 |
| | | | | | |
Altra Industrial Motion Corp. | 194.66 | % | 136.11 | % | 129.88 | % | | | | | | |
S&P Small Cap 600 | 105.31 | % | 90.92 | % | 108.98 | % | | | | | | |
Peer Group | 67.56 | % | 41.34 | % | 69.27 | % | | | | | | |
Item 6. Selected Financial Data.
The following table contains our selected historical financial data for the years ended December 31, 2014, 2013, 2012, 2011, and 2010. The following should be read in conjunction with “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” and the consolidated financial statements and notes included elsewhere in this Form 10-K.
|
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Altra Industrial Motion Corp. Amounts in thousands, except per share data |
| Year Ended December 31, |
| 2014 | | 2013 | | 2012 | | 2011 | | 2010 |
Net sales | $ | 819,817 |
| | $ | 722,218 |
| | $ | 731,990 |
| | $ | 674,812 |
| | $ | 520,162 |
|
Cost of sales | 570,948 |
| | 506,837 |
| | 513,442 |
| | 478,394 |
| | 366,151 |
|
Gross profit | 248,869 |
| | 215,381 |
| | 218,548 |
| | 196,418 |
| | 154,011 |
|
Operating expenses: | | | | | | | | | |
Selling, general and administrative expenses | 156,471 |
| | 130,155 |
| | 127,044 |
| | 113,375 |
| | 89,478 |
|
Research and development expenses | 15,522 |
| | 12,536 |
| | 11,457 |
| | 10,609 |
| | 6,731 |
|
Restructuring costs | 1,767 |
| | 1,111 |
| | 3,196 |
| | — |
| | 2,726 |
|
| 173,760 |
| | 143,802 |
| | 141,697 |
| | 123,984 |
| | 98,935 |
|
Income from operations | 75,109 |
| | 71,579 |
| | 76,851 |
| | 72,434 |
| | 55,076 |
|
Other non-operating income and expense: | | | | | | | | | |
Interest expense, net | 11,994 |
| | 10,586 |
| | 40,790 |
| | 24,035 |
| | 19,638 |
|
Other non-operating expense (income), net | (3 | ) | | 1,657 |
| | 1,702 |
| | (32 | ) | | 909 |
|
| 11,991 |
| | 12,243 |
| | 42,492 |
| | 24,003 |
| | 20,547 |
|
Income before income taxes | 63,118 |
| | 59,336 |
| | 34,359 |
| | 48,431 |
| | 34,529 |
|
Provision for income taxes | 22,936 |
| | 19,151 |
| | 10,154 |
| | 10,756 |
| | 10,004 |
|
Net income | 40,182 |
| | 40,185 |
| | 24,205 |
| | 37,675 |
| | 24,525 |
|
Net (income) loss attributable to non-controlling interest | (15 | ) | | 90 |
| | 88 |
| | — |
| | — |
|
Net income attributable to Altra Industrial Motion Corp. | $ | 40,167 |
| | $ | 40,275 |
| | $ | 24,293 |
| | $ | 37,675 |
| | $ | 24,525 |
|
Other Financial Data: | | |
| | | | | | |
Depreciation and amortization | $ | 32,137 |
| | $ | 27,924 |
| | $ | 27,376 |
| | $ | 24,683 |
| | $ | 20,036 |
|
Purchases of fixed assets | 28,050 |
| | 27,823 |
| | 31,346 |
| | 22,242 |
| | 17,295 |
|
Cash flow provided by (used in): | | | | | | | | | |
Operating activities | 84,499 |
| | 89,625 |
| | 59,918 |
| | 46,901 |
| | 42,764 |
|
Investing activities | (42,294 | ) | | (130,005 | ) | | (38,770 | ) | | (89,887 | ) | | (17,827 | ) |
Financing activities | (53,965 | ) | | 17,991 |
| | (29,880 | ) | | 64,765 |
| | (3,359 | ) |
Weighted average shares, basic | 26,713 |
| | 26,766 |
| | 26,656 |
| | 26,526 |
| | 26,399 |
|
Weighted average shares, diluted | 27,403 |
| | 26,841 |
| | 26,756 |
| | 26,689 |
| | 26,535 |
|
Earnings per share: | | | | | | | | | |
Net income attributable to Altra Industrial Motion Corp. | $ | 1.50 |
| | $ | 1.50 |
| | $ | 0.91 |
| | $ | 1.42 |
| | $ | 0.93 |
|
Diluted earnings per share: | | | | | | | | | |
Net income attributable to Altra Industrial Motion Corp. | $ | 1.47 |
| | $ | 1.50 |
| | $ | 0.91 |
| | $ | 1.41 |
| | $ | 0.92 |
|
Cash dividend declared | $ | 0.46 |
| | $ | 0.38 |
| | $ | 0.16 |
| | $ | — |
| | $ | — |
|
|
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Altra Industrial Motion Corp. December 31, |
| 2014 | | 2013 | | 2012 | | 2011 | | 2010 |
Balance Sheet Data: | | | | | | | | | |
Cash and cash equivalents | $ | 47,503 |
| | $ | 63,604 |
| | $ | 85,154 |
| | $ | 92,515 |
| | $ | 72,723 |
|
Total assets | 684,563 |
| | 735,676 |
| | 633,039 |
| | 629,985 |
| | 508,102 |
|
Total debt, net of unaccreted discount | 255,752 |
| | 278,272 |
| | 247,595 |
| | 264,049 |
| | 216,502 |
|
Long-term liabilities, excluding long-term debt | $ | 64,717 |
| | $ | 63,931 |
| | $ | 55,428 |
| | $ | 56,122 |
| | $ | 43,349 |
|
Comparability of the information included in the selected financial data has been impacted by the acquisitions of Bauer in 2011, Lamiflex in 2012, Svendborg in 2013 and Guardian in 2014.
|
| |
Item 7. | Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations. |
Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward-Looking Statements
This Annual Report on Form 10-K contains forward-looking statements, within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, which reflect the Company’s current estimates, expectations and projections about the Company’s future results, performance, prospects and opportunities. Forward-looking statements include, among other things, the information concerning the Company’s possible future results of operations including revenue, costs of goods sold, gross margin, future profitability, future economic improvement, business and growth strategies, financing plans, the Company’s competitive position and the effects of competition, the projected growth of the industries in which we operate, and the Company’s ability to consummate strategic acquisitions and other transactions. Forward-looking statements include statements that are not historical facts and can be identified by forward-looking words such as “anticipate,” “believe,” “could,” “estimate,” “expect,” “intend,” “plan,” “may,” “should,” “will,” “would,” “project,” and similar expressions. These forward-looking statements are based upon information currently available to the Company and are subject to a number of risks, uncertainties, and other factors that could cause the Company’s actual results, performance, prospects, or opportunities to differ materially from those expressed in, or implied by, these forward-looking statements. Important factors that could cause the Company’s actual results to differ materially from the results referred to in the forward-looking statements the Company makes in this report include:
| |
• | the effects of intense competition in the markets in which we operate; |
| |
• | the cyclical nature of the markets in which we operate; |
| |
• | changes in market conditions in which we operate that would influence the value of the Company’s stock; |
| |
• | the Company’s ability to achieve its business plans, including with respect to an uncertain economic environment; |
| |
• | the risks associated with international operations, including currency risks; |
| |
• | the Company’s ability to retain existing customers and our ability to attract new customers for growth of our business; |
| |
• | the effects of the loss or bankruptcy of or default by any significant customer, suppliers, or other entity relevant to the Company’s operations; |
| |
• | the Company’s ability to complete cost reduction actions and risks associated with such actions; |
| |
• | the Company’s ability to control costs; |
| |
• | political and economic conditions nationally, regionally, and in the markets in which we operate; |
| |
• | natural disasters, war, civil unrest, terrorism, fire, floods, tornadoes, earthquakes, hurricanes, or other matters beyond the Company’s control; |
| |
• | the Company’s risk of loss not covered by insurance; |
| |
• | the accuracy of estimated forecasts of OEM customers and the impact of the current global and European economic environment on our customers; |
| |
• | the risks associated with certain minimum purchase agreements we have with suppliers; |
| |
• | fluctuations in the costs of raw materials used in our products; |
| |
• | the outcome of litigation to which the Company is a party from time to time, including product liability claims; |
| |
• | work stoppages and other labor issues; |
| |
• | changes in employment, environmental, tax and other laws and changes in the enforcement of laws; |
| |
• | the Company’s ability to attract and retain key executives and other personnel; |
| |
• | the Company’s ability to successfully pursue the Company’s development activities and successfully integrate new operations and systems, including the realization of revenues, economies of scale, cost savings, and productivity gains associated with such operations; |
| |
• | the Company’s ability to obtain or protect intellectual property rights; |
| |
• | the risks associated with the portion of the Company’s total assets comprised of goodwill and indefinite lived intangibles; |
| |
• | changes in market conditions that would result in the impairment of goodwill or other assets of the Company; |
| |
• | changes in accounting rules and standards, audits, compliance with the Sarbanes-Oxley Act, and regulatory investigations; |
| |
• | the effects of changes to critical accounting estimates; changes in volatility of the Company’s stock price and the risk of litigation following a decline in the price of the Company’s stock; |
| |
• | failure of the Company’s operating equipment or information technology infrastructure; |
| |
• | the Company’s ability to implement our new ERP system; |
| |
• | the Company’s access to capital, credit ratings, indebtedness, and ability to raise additional capital and operate under the terms of the Company’s debt obligations; |
| |
• | the risks associated with our debt; |
| |
• | the risks associated with the Company’s exposure to variable interest rates and foreign currency exchange rates; |
| |
• | the risks associated with interest rate swap contracts; |
| |
• | the risks associated with the potential dilution of our common stock as a result of our convertible bonds; |
| |
• | the risks associated with the Company’s exposure to renewable energy markets; |
| |
• | the risks related to regulations regarding conflict minerals; |
| |
• | the risks associated with the global recession and European economic downturn and volatility and disruption in the global financial markets; |
| |
• | the Company’s ability to successfully execute, manage and integrate key acquisitions and mergers, including the Lamiflex Acquisition, the Svendborg Acquisition and the Guardian Acquisition; |
| |
• | the risks associated with the Company’s investment in its manufacturing facility in Changzhou, China; and |
| |
• | other factors, risks, and uncertainties referenced in the Company’s filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including the “Risk Factors” set forth in this document |
ALL FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS SPEAK ONLY AS OF THE DATE OF THIS REPORT. EXCEPT AS REQUIRED BY LAW, WE UNDERTAKE NO OBLIGATION TO PUBLICLY UPDATE OR RELEASE ANY REVISIONS TO THESE FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS TO REFLECT ANY EVENTS OR CIRCUMSTANCES AFTER THE DATE OF THIS REPORT OR TO REFLECT
THE OCCURRENCE OF UNANTICIPATED EVENTS. ALL SUBSEQUENT WRITTEN AND ORAL FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS ATTRIBUTABLE TO US OR ANY PERSON ACTING ON THE COMPANY’S BEHALF ARE EXPRESSLY QUALIFIED IN THEIR ENTIRETY BY THE CAUTIONARY STATEMENTS CONTAINED OR REFERRED TO IN THIS SECTION AND IN OUR RISK FACTORS SET FORTH IN PART I, ITEM 1A OF THIS FORM 10-K AND IN OTHER REPORTS FILED WITH THE SEC BY THE COMPANY.
The following discussion of the financial condition and results of operations of Altra Industrial Motion Corp. and its subsidiaries should be read together with the Selected Historical Financial Data, and the consolidated financial statements of Altra Industrial Motion Corp. and its subsidiaries and related notes included elsewhere in this Form 10-K. The following discussion includes forward-looking statements. For a discussion of important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from the results referred to in the forward-looking statements, see “Forward-Looking Statements” and “Risk
Factors”. Unless the context requires otherwise, the terms “Altra,” “Altra Industrial Motion Corp.,” “the Company,” “we,” “us” and “our” refer to Altra Industrial Motion Corp. and its subsidiaries.
General
We are a leading global designer, producer and marketer of a wide range of electromechanical power transmission products with a presence in over 70 countries. Our global sales and marketing network includes over 1,000 direct OEM customers and over 3,000 distributor outlets. Our product portfolio includes industrial clutches and brakes, enclosed gear drives, open gearing, couplings, engineered bearing assemblies, linear components, gear motors, and other related products. Our products serve a wide variety of end markets including energy, general industrial, material handling, mining, transportation and turf and garden. We primarily sell our products to a wide range of OEMs and through long-standing relationships with industrial distributors such as Motion Industries, Applied Industrial Technologies, Kaman Industrial Technologies and W.W. Grainger.
While the power transmission industry has undergone some consolidation, we estimate that in 2014 the top five broad-based electromechanical power transmission companies represented approximately 16% of the U.S. power transmission market. The remainder of the power transmission industry remains fragmented with many small and family-owned companies that cater to a specific market niche often due to their narrow product offerings. We believe that consolidation in our industry will continue because of the increasing demand for global distribution channels, broader product mixes and better brand recognition to compete in this industry.
Business Outlook
Our future financial performance depends, in large part, on conditions in the markets that we serve and on the U.S., European, and global economies in general. Currently, our financial performance is adversely impacted by foreign currency exchange rates, weakness in European and Russian economies, and challenging dynamics in several of our end markets including oil and gas, agriculture, and mining. As a result of these current conditions, in 2015 we will focus on driving cost management throughout our organization. We expect these initiatives to include among other things, discretionary expense reduction, supplier cost negotiations and other actions to bring SG&A expense in line with the expected decline in revenues. We expect that these efforts, if successful, will gradually contribute to our performance as we proceed throughout 2015.
Critical Accounting Policies
The methods, estimates and judgments we use in applying our critical accounting policies have a significant impact on the results we report in our financial statements. We evaluate our estimates and judgments on an on-going basis. Our estimates are based upon historical experience and assumptions that we believe are reasonable under the circumstances. Our experience and assumptions form the basis for our judgments about the carrying value of assets and liabilities that are not readily apparent from other sources. Actual results may vary from what our management anticipates and different assumptions or estimates about the future could change our reported results.
We believe the following accounting policies are the most critical in that they are important to the financial statements and they require the most difficult, subjective or complex judgments in the preparation of the financial statements.
Inventory. Inventories are stated at the lower of cost or market using the first-in, first-out (FIFO) method for all of our subsidiaries except TB Wood’s. TB Wood’s inventory is stated at the lower of current cost or market, principally using the last-in, first-out (LIFO) method. Inventory stated using the LIFO method approximates 7.0% of total inventory. The cost of inventory includes direct materials, direct labor, and production overhead. Market is defined as net realizable value. We state inventories acquired through acquisitions at their fair value at the date of acquisition as based on the replacement cost of raw materials, the sales price of the finished goods less an appropriate amount representing the expected profitability from selling efforts, and for work-in-process the sales price of the finished goods less an appropriate amount representing the expected profitability from selling efforts and costs to complete.
We periodically review our quantities of inventories on hand and compare these amounts to the historical and expected usage of each particular product or product line. We record as a charge to cost of sales any amounts required to reduce the carrying value of inventories to net realizable value.
Business Combinations. Business combinations are accounted for at fair value. Acquisition costs are generally expensed as incurred and recorded in selling, general and administrative expenses. The accounting for business combinations requires estimates and judgment as to expectations for future cash flows of the acquired business, and the allocation of those cash flows to identifiable intangible assets, in determining the estimated fair value for assets and liabilities acquired. The fair value assigned to tangible and intangible assets acquired and liabilities assumed are based on management’s estimates and assumptions, as well as other information compiled by management, including valuations that utilize customary valuation procedures and techniques. If the actual results differ from the estimates and judgments used in these estimates, the amounts
recorded in the financial statements could result in a possible impairment of the intangible assets and goodwill, or require acceleration of the amortization expense of finite-lived intangible assets
Goodwill, Intangibles and other long-lived assets. In connection with our acquisitions, goodwill and intangible assets were identified and recorded at fair value. We recorded intangible assets for customer relationships, trade names and trademarks, product technology, patents and goodwill. In valuing the customer relationships, trade names, and trademarks, we utilized variations of the income approach. The income approach was considered the most appropriate valuation technique because the inherent value of these assets is their ability to generate current and future income. The income approach relies on historical financial and qualitative information, as well as assumptions and estimates for projected financial information. Projected financial information is subject to risk if our estimates are incorrect. The most significant estimate relates to our projected revenues and profitability. If we do not meet the projected revenues and profitability used in the valuation calculations then the intangible assets could be impaired. In determining the value of customer relationships, we reviewed historical customer attrition rates which were determined to be approximately 5% per year. Most of our customers tend to be long-term customers with very little turnover. While we do not typically have long-term contracts with customers, we have established long-term relationships with customers which make it difficult for competitors to displace us. Additionally, we assessed historical revenue growth within our industry and customers’ industries in determining the value of customer relationships. The value of our customer relationships intangible asset could become impaired if future results differ significantly from any of the underlying assumptions. This could include a higher customer attrition rate or a change in industry trends such as the use of long-term contracts which we may not be able to obtain successfully. Customer relationships and product technology and patents are considered finite-lived assets, with estimated lives ranging from 8 years to 17 years. The estimated lives were determined by calculating the number of years necessary to obtain 95% of the value of the discounted cash flows of the respective intangible asset.
Goodwill and trade names and trademarks are considered indefinite lived assets. Other intangible assets include trade names and trademarks that identify us and differentiate us from competitors, and therefore competition does not limit the useful life of these assets. Additionally, we believe that our trade names and trademarks will continue to generate product sales for an indefinite period.
Accounting standards require that an annual goodwill impairment assessment be conducted at the reporting unit level using either a quantitative or qualitative approach. As part of the annual goodwill impairment assessment we performed a quantitative assessment and estimated the fair value of each of our five reporting units using an income approach. We forecasted future cash flows by reporting unit for each of the next five years and applied a long term growth rate to the final year of forecasted cash flows. The cash flows were then discounted using our estimated discount rate. The forecasts of revenue and profitability growth for use in the long-range plan and the discount rate were the key assumptions in our goodwill fair value analysis
We review the difference between the estimated fair value and net book value of each reporting unit. If the excess is less than $1.0 million, the reporting unit could be required to perform a step two goodwill impairment analysis in a future period, if the estimated profitability decreased by 10% when compared to our forecasts to determine what amount of goodwill is potentially impaired. As of December 31, 2014, each of our reporting units had estimated fair values that were at least $1.0 million greater than the net book value.
Management believes the preparation of revenue and profitability growth rates for use in the long-range plan and the discount rate requires significant use of judgment. If any of our operating segments do not meet our forecasted revenue and/or profitability estimates, we could be required to perform an interim goodwill impairment analysis in future periods. In addition, if our discount rate increases, we could be required to perform an interim goodwill impairment analysis. We performed a sensitivity analysis on the estimated fair value of our reporting units by decreasing profitability by 5% and 10% in each of the following 5 years leaving all other assumptions constant and increasing the discount rate by 5% and 10% leaving all other assumptions constant. We did not identify any reporting unit that would be required to perform a step 2 goodwill impairment analysis as the fair value of our reporting units are substantially in excess of their carrying value.
For our indefinite lived intangible assets, mainly trademarks, we estimated the fair value first by estimating the total revenue attributable to the trademarks for each of the reporting units. Second, we estimated an appropriate royalty rate using the return on assets method by estimating the required financial return on our assets, excluding trademarks, less the overall return generated by our total asset base. The return as a percentage of revenue provides an indication of our royalty rate (between 1.0% and 1.25%). We compared the estimated fair value of our trademarks with the carrying value of the trademarks and did not identify any impairment.
Long-lived assets, including definite-lived intangible assets, are reviewed for impairment when events or circumstances indicate that the carrying amount of a long-lived asset may not be recovered. Long-lived assets are considered to be impaired if the carrying amount of the asset exceeds the undiscounted future cash flows expected to be generated by the asset over its remaining useful life. If an asset is considered to be impaired, the impairment is measured by the amount by
which the carrying amount of the asset exceeds its fair value, and is charged to results of operations at that time. No impairment indicators were noted in periods presented in the Annual Report.
The Company did not identify any impairments related to goodwill, definite-lived intangible assets or indefinite lived intangible assets as the fair value of our reporting units and definite lived intangible assets were substantially in excess of their carrying value in the periods presented in the Annual Report.
Income Taxes.
Our business operations are global in nature, and we are subject to taxes in numerous jurisdictions. Tax laws and tax rates vary substantially in these jurisdictions, and are subject to change given the political and economic climate in those countries. We report and pay income tax based on operational results and applicable law. Our tax provision contemplates tax rates currently in effect to determine both our current and deferred tax provisions. Any significant fluctuation in rates or changes in tax laws could cause our estimates of taxes we anticipate either paying or recovering in the future to change. Such changes could lead to either increases or decreases in our effective tax rate.
Accounting for income taxes requires us to estimate the timing and impact of amounts recorded in our financial statements that may be recognized differently for tax purposes. To the extent that the timing of amounts recognized for financial reporting purposes differs from the timing of recognition for reporting purposes, deferred tax assets or liabilities are required to be recorded. Deferred tax assets and liabilities are measured based on the rate at which we expect these items to be reflected in our tax returns, which may differ from the current rate.
We periodically review our deferred tax assets, and we record a valuation allowance to reduce our net deferred tax asset to the amount that management believes is more likely than not to be realized. Valuation allowances may be reversed if related deferred tax assets are deemed realizable based on changes in facts and circumstances relevant to the assets’ recoverability.
We recognize the benefit of uncertain tax positions when, in management’s judgment, it is more likely than not that positions we have taken in our tax returns will be sustained upon examination, which are measured at the largest amount that is greater than 50% likely of being realized upon settlement. We adjust our tax liabilities when our judgment changes as a result of the evaluation of new information or information not previously available. Due to the complexity of some of these uncertainties, the ultimate resolution may result in a payment that is materially different from our current estimate of the tax liabilities. These differences will be reflected as increases or decreases to income tax expense in the period in which additional information is available or the position is ultimately settled under audit.
We consider the earnings of certain non-U.S. subsidiaries to be indefinitely invested outside the United States on the basis of estimates that future domestic cash generation will be sufficient to meet future domestic cash needs. Should we decide to repatriate the foreign earnings, we may have to adjust the income tax provision in the period we determined that the earnings will no longer be indefinitely invested outside of the United States.
Recent Accounting Standards
In May 2014, the FASB issued ASU 2014-09 that introduces a new five-step revenue recognition model in which an entity should recognize 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. This ASU also requires disclosures sufficient to enable users to understand the nature, amount, timing, and uncertainty of revenue and cash flows arising from contracts with customers, including qualitative and quantitative disclosures about contracts with customers, significant judgments and changes in judgments, and assets recognized from the costs to obtain or fulfill a contract. This standard is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2016, including interim periods within that reporting period. The Company is currently evaluating the new guidance to determine the impact it will have on its consolidated financial statements.
Results of Operations.
Amounts in thousands, except percentage data
|
| | | | | | | | | | | |
| Year ended December 31, 2014 | | Year ended December 31, 2013 | | Year ended December 31, 2012 |
Net sales | $ | 819,817 |
| | $ | 722,218 |
| | $ | 731,990 |
|
Cost of sales | 570,948 |
| | 506,837 |
| | 513,442 |
|
Gross profit | 248,869 |
| | 215,381 |
| | 218,548 |
|
Gross profit percentage | 30.36 | % | | 29.82 | % | | 29.86 | % |
Selling, general and administrative expenses | 156,471 |
| | 130,155 |
| | 127,044 |
|
Research and development expenses | 15,522 |
| | 12,536 |
| | 11,457 |
|
Restructuring costs | 1,767 |
| | 1,111 |
| | 3,196 |
|
Income from operations | 75,109 |
| | 71,579 |
| | 76,851 |
|
Interest expense, net | 11,994 |
| | 10,586 |
| | 40,790 |
|
Other non-operating (income) expense, net | (3 | ) | | 1,657 |
| | 1,702 |
|
Income before income taxes | 63,118 |
| | 59,336 |
| | 34,359 |
|
Provision for income taxes | 22,936 |
| | 19,151 |
| | 10,154 |
|
Net income | 40,182 |
| | 40,185 |
| | 24,205 |
|
Net (income) loss attributable to non-controlling interest | (15 | ) | | 90 |
| | 88 |
|
Net income attributable to Altra Industrial Motion Corp. | $ | 40,167 |
| | $ | 40,275 |
| | $ | 24,293 |
|
Segment Performance.
Amounts in thousands, except percentage data
|
| | | | | | | | | | | |
| Year ended December 31, 2014 | | Year ended December 31, 2013 | | Year ended December 31, 2012 |
Net Sales: | | | | | |
Clutches & Brakes | $ | 426,293 |
| | $ | 336,616 |
| | $ | 334,901 |
|
Couplings | 134,464 |
| | 125,169 |
| | 128,705 |
|
Gearings & Power Transmission Components | 264,514 |
| | 265,154 |
| | 274,004 |
|
Intra-segment eliminations | (5,454 | ) | | (4,721 | ) | | (5,620 | ) |
Net sales | $ | 819,817 |
| | $ | 722,218 |
| | $ | 731,990 |
|
| | | | | |
| | | | | |
Income from operations: | | | | | |
Segment earnings: | | | | | |
Clutches & Brakes | 53,386 |
| | 48,150 |
| | 50,570 |
|
Couplings | 16,091 |
| | 15,021 |
| | 18,146 |
|
Gearings & Power Transmission Components | 24,534 |
| | 23,881 |
| | 22,421 |
|
Restructuring | (1,767 | ) | | (1,111 | ) | | (3,196 | ) |
Corporate expenses | (17,135 | ) | | (14,362 | ) | | (11,090 | ) |
Income from operations | $ | 75,109 |
| | $ | 71,579 |
| | $ | 76,851 |
|
Year Ended December 31, 2014 Compared with Year Ended December 31, 2013
|
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Amounts in thousands, except percentage data | Year Ended |
| December 31, 2014 | | December 31, 2013 | | Change | | % |
Net sales | $ | 819,817 |
| | $ | 722,218 |
| | $ | 97,599 |
| | 13.5 | % |
Net Sales. The increase in sales during 2014 is due to the acquisition of Svendborg in our Clutches and Brakes business segment ($84.2 million) and Guardian in our Couplings business segment ($5.2 million), Sales volumes increased approximately $6.3 million largely due to increased oil and gas industry volumes primarily generated by our Clutches and Brakes business segment. We expect sales to decrease somewhat in 2015 primarily due to the impact of exchange rates and unfavorable indicators in the oil and gas market.
|
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Amounts in thousands, except percentage data | Year Ended |
| December 31, 2014 | | December 31, 2013 | | Change | | % |
Gross Profit | $ | 248,869 |
| | $ | 215,381 |
| | $ | 33,488 |
| | 15.5 | % |
Gross Profit as a percent of sales | 30.4 | % | | 29.8 | % | | | | |
Gross profit. Gross profit as a percentage of sales is approximately consistent with that of 2013.
|
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Amounts in thousands, except percentage data | Year Ended |
| December 31, 2014 | | December 31, 2013 | | Change | | % |
Selling, general and administrative expense (“SG&A”) | $ | 156,471 |
| | $ | 130,155 |
| | $ | 26,316 |
| | 20.2 | % |
SG&A as a percent of sales | 19.1 | % | | 18.0 | % | | | | |
Selling, general and administrative expenses.
Of the increase in SG&A, $23.0 million is due to the inclusion of expenses related to the acquisition of Svendborg and Guardian. The remainder of the difference relates to $3.1 million in increased costs associated with the Company's employer sponsored health care plan in the United States, offset by approximately $1.7 in general cost savings.
|
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Amounts in thousands, except percentage data | Year Ended |
| December 31, 2014 | | December 31, 2013 | | Change | | % |
Research and development expenses (“R&D”) | $ | 15,522 |
| | $ | 12,536 |
| | $ | 2,986 |
| | 23.8 | % |
Research and development expenses. Of the increase in R&D, approximately $1.8 million relates to the inclusion of R&D related to the acquisition of Svendborg for the year. R&D expenses as a percentage of sales excluding the impact of Svendborg increased somewhat from 1.7% to 1.9% of sales, within our expectations of 1.8% - 2.0% of sales.
|
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Amounts in thousands, except percentage data | Year Ended |
| December 31, 2014 | | December 31, 2013 | | Change | | % |
Restructuring Costs | $ | 1,767 |
| | $ | 1,111 |
| | $ | 656 |
| | 59.0 | % |
Restructuring costs. The Company adopted a restructuring plan (the "2014 Altra Plan”) in the quarter ended September 30, 2014 as a result of weak demand in Europe and to make certain adjustments to its existing sales force to reflect the Company's expanding global footprint. The actions taken pursuant to the 2014 Altra Plan included reducing headcount and limiting discretionary spending to improve profitability. The Company does not expect to incur additional expenses during 2015 associated with the 2014 Altra Plan.
The Company adopted a restructuring plan in the quarter ended December 31, 2012 the ("2012 Plan") to improve profitability in Europe. These actions included reducing headcount, moving and relocating equipment and limiting discretionary spending. Restructuring expense in 2013 relates to the remaining expenses under the 2012 Plan.
|
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Amounts in thousands, except percentage data | Year Ended |
| December 31, 2014 | | December 31, 2013 | | Change | | % |
Interest Expense, net | $ | 11,994 |
| | $ | 10,586 |
| | $ | 1,408 |
| | 13.3 | % |
Interest expense. Net interest expense increased during 2014 compared to 2013, primarily due to the borrowing of approximately $84.3 million for the acquisition of Svendborg during December 2013.
|
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Amounts in thousands, except percentage data | Year Ended |
| December 31, 2014 | | December 31, 2013 | | Change | | % |
Other non-operating (income) expense, net | $ | (3 | ) | | $ | 1,657 |
| | $ | (1,660 | ) | | (100.2 | )% |
Other non-operating (income) expense. Other non-operating expense in each period relates to changes in foreign currency, primarily the changes in the British Pound Sterling and Euro.
|
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Amounts in thousands, except percentage data | Year Ended |
| December 31, 2014 | | December 31, 2013 | | Change | | % |
Provision for income taxes | $ | 22,936 |
| | $ | 19,151 |
| | $ | 3,785 |
| | 19.8 | % |
Provision for income taxes as a % of income before taxes | 36.3 | % | | 32.3 | % | | | | |
Provision for income taxes. The 2014 provision for income taxes, as a percentage of income before taxes, was higher than that of 2013. This increase was primarily relating to the discrete tax impact of a one time charge of $3.8 million recorded during 2014 relating to the restructuring of certain of our foreign subsidiaries which resulted in additional taxable income in the United States during the year ended 2014. We expect that this restructuring will result in a lower tax rate in future years. This increase was partially offset by the favorable impact of statutory tax rate reductions in the United Kingdom along with the lower statutory tax rates in jurisdictions in which the Svendborg business operates.
We expect our tax rate for the year ended December 31, 2015 to be between approximately 30% to 32%, before discrete items.
Segment Performance
Clutches and Brakes.
Net sales in the Clutches and Brakes business segment were $426.3 in 2014, an increase of approximately $89.7 million or 26.6%, from 2013. The increase was primarily the result of the impact of additional sales from the Svendborg Acquisition. Segment operating income grew $5.2 million primarily as a result of the Svendborg Acquisition.
Couplings.
Net sales in the Couplings business segment were $134.5 million in 2014, an increase of approximately $9.3 million, or 7.4%, from 2013. The increase was primarily the result of the impact of additional sales from the Guardian acquisition, growth from gas turbine machinery for the oil & gas and power generation markets and projects related to steel mill repairs in the metals market. These factors were partially offset by economic weakness in Brazil. Segment operating income increased $1.1 million.
Gearing and Power Transmission
Net sales in the Gearing and Power Transmission Components business segment were $264.5 in 2014, compared with $265.1 million in 2013, a decrease of $0.6 million. The decline was primarily the result of economic weakness in Russia and Europe. Segment operating income declined $0.6 million, primarily as a result of decreased volumes.
Year Ended December 31, 2013 Compared with Year Ended December 31, 2012
|
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Amounts in thousands, except percentage data | Year Ended |
| December 31, 2013 | | December 31, 2012 | | Change | | % |
Net sales | $ | 722,218 |
| | $ | 731,990 |
| | $ | (9,772 | ) | | (1.3 | )% |
Net Sales. Sales decreased in 2013 primarily due to lower sales levels across all operating segments due to weak demand in all geographies as well as a decline in the mining, energy and metals industries. The decrease was offset by the positive impact of foreign exchange rate changes in the amount of $2.5 million primarily related to changes in Euro and British Pound Sterling exchange rates compared to 2012.
|
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Amounts in thousands, except percentage data | Year Ended |
| December 31, 2013 | | December 31, 2012 | | Change | | % |
Gross Profit | $ | 215,381 |
| | $ | 218,548 |
| | $ | (3,167 | ) | | (1.4 | )% |
Gross Profit as a percent of sales | 29.8 | % | | 29.9 | % | | | | |
Gross profit. Gross profit decreased in 2013 primarily due to the decrease in sales volume. The decrease was offset by the positive impact of foreign exchange rate changes in the amount of $0.7 million.
|
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Amounts in thousands, except percentage data | Year Ended |
| December 31, 2013 | | December 31, 2012 | | Change | | % |
Selling, general and administrative expense (“SG&A”) | $ | 130,155 |
| | $ | 127,044 |
| | $ | 3,111 |
| | 2.4 | % |
SG&A as a percent of sales | 18.0 | % | | 17.4 | % | | | | |
Selling, general and administrative expenses. The vast majority of the increase in SG&A, approximately $3.1 million, was due to the acquisition cost related to the Svendborg acquisition. Acquisition costs for the year were $2.5 million. Increased acquisition costs were offset by the favorable effect of foreign exchange rates in the amount of $0.8 million. |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Amounts in thousands, except percentage data | Year Ended |
| December 31, 2013 | | December 31, 2012 | | Change | | % |
Research and development expenses (“R&D”) | $ | 12,536 |
| | $ | 11,457 |
| | $ | 1,079 |
| | 9.4 | % |
Research and development expenses. R&D expenses increased due to increased R&D efforts as well as headcount additions.
|
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Amounts in thousands, except percentage data | Year Ended |
| December 31, 2013 | | December 31, 2012 | | Change | | % |
Restructuring Costs | $ | 1,111 |
| | $ | 3,196 |
| | $ | (2,085 | ) | | (65.2 | )% |
Restructuring costs. In the quarter ended December 31, 2012, we adopted a restructuring plan (the “2012 Altra Plan”) to improve profitability in Europe. These actions included reducing headcount, moving and relocating equipment and limiting discretionary spending.
|
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Amounts in thousands, except percentage data | Year Ended |
| December 31, 2013 | | December 31, 2012 | | Change | | % |
Interest Expense, net | $ | 10,586 |
| | $ | 40,790 |
| | $ | (30,204 | ) | | (74.0 | )% |
Interest expense. Net interest expense decreased due to our debt refinancing in November 2012 and lower average outstanding balances in 2013. The Company refinanced its debt at much lower rates than were in effect during 2012. In 2012, we paid additional premium related to the redemption of our Senior Secured Notes of $11.4 million, and wrote off the unamortized costs associated with the issuance of the Senior Secured Notes, in the amount of $4.4 million. In conjunction with the 2012 refinancing, we wrote off the deferred financing costs associated with the prior 2009 revolving credit agreement in the amount of $3.0 million, which appears as interest expense in our Consolidated Statements of Income.
|
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Amounts in thousands, except percentage data | Year Ended |
| December 31, 2013 | | December 31, 2012 | | Change | | % |
Other non-operating (income) expense, net | $ | 1,657 |
| | $ | 1,702 |
| | $ | (45 | ) | | (2.6 | )% |
Other non-operating (income) expense. Other non-operating expense in each period relates to changes in foreign currency, primarily the changes in the British Pound Sterling and Euro.
|
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Amounts in thousands, except percentage data | Year Ended |
| December 31, 2013 | | December 31, 2012 | | Change | | % |
Provision for income taxes | $ | 19,151 |
| | $ | 10,154 |
| | $ | 8,997 |
| | 88.6 | % |
Provision for income taxes as a % of income before taxes | 32.3 | % | | 29.6 | % | | | | |
Provision for income taxes. The 2013 provision for income taxes, as a percentage of income before taxes, was higher than that of 2012. This increase was primarily due to certain favorable discrete items in 2012 including the settlement of a tax matter with the State of New York for which the company was fully indemnified. Domestic income as a percentage of total income increased 10% from 2012 to 2013. Income is taxed at a higher rate domestically as compared to internationally.
On January 2, 2013, the President signed into law The American Taxpayer Relief Act of 2012. Under prior law, a taxpayer was entitled to a research tax credit for qualifying amounts paid or incurred on or before December 31, 2011. The 2012 Taxpayer Relief Act extends the research credit for two years to December 31, 2013. The extension of the research credit is retroactive and includes amounts paid or incurred after December 31, 2011. As a result of the retroactive extension, we recognized a benefit of approximately $0.3 million for qualifying amounts incurred in 2012. This benefit was recognized as a discrete item in the period of enactment, the first quarter of 2013.
During 2012, the Company settled a tax matter with the State of New York for which the Company was fully indemnified. Upon completion of the settlement, the Company released its reserve for $3.1 million of tax, interest and penalties combined, related to the unrecognized tax benefit. In addition, the Company recognized a benefit of $0.4 million related to the completion of the 2010 limited scope audit, and the completion of the 2007 audit by the Internal Revenue Service.
Segment Performance
Clutches and Brakes.
Net sales in the Clutches and Brakes business segment were $336.6 million in 2013, an increase of approximately $1.7 million or 0.5% compared to 2012. Excluding the impact on sales from the Svendborg acquisition during December 2013, sales levels were flat in 2013 as compared to 2012. Segment operating income decreased $2.4 or 4.8% during 2013 as compared to 2012 primarily due to unfavorable product mix.
Couplings.
Net sales in the Couplings business segment were $125.2 million in 2013, a decrease of $3.5 million 2.7% from 2012. This decrease was primarily due to a decrease in volume in the mining and metals market. Operating income was negatively impacted by $3.1 primarily as a result of the decreased volumes experienced in the mining market and an additional start up costs of approximately $0.8 million at our Changzhou, China facility.
Gearing and Power Transmission
Net sales in the Gearing and Power Transmission Components business segment were $265.2 million in 2013, a decrease of $8.8 or approximately 3.2% from 2012. The decline was primarily the result of economic weakness in the segment's European operations. Despite the decline in sales, operating income increased approximately $1.5 million, or 6.5%, primarily as a result of restructuring activities initiated as part of the 2012 Altra Plan to improve profitability in Europe.
Liquidity and Capital Resources
Overview
We finance our capital and working capital requirements through a combination of cash flows from operating activities and borrowings under our Revolving Credit Facility. We expect that our primary ongoing requirements for cash will be for working capital, debt service, capital expenditures, acquisitions, pensions and dividends. In the event additional funds are needed for operations, we could borrow additional funds available under our existing Revolving Credit Facility, request an expansion by up to $150,000,000 of the amount available to be borrowed under the Credit Agreement, attempt to secure new debt, attempt to refinance our loans under the Credit Agreement, or attempt to raise capital in the equity markets. Presently, we have the ability under our Revolving Credit Facility to borrow an additional $149.0 million, based on current availability calculations. There can be no assurance however that additional debt financing will be available on commercially acceptable terms, if at all. Similarly, there can be no assurance that equity financing will be available on commercially acceptable terms, if at all.
Credit Agreement
On December 6, 2013, we entered into an Amended and Restated Credit Agreement (the "Credit Agreement") between certain of our domestic subsidiaries, including Altra Power Transmission, Inc. (“APT”), and Altra Industrial Motion Netherlands, B.V. (“Altra Netherlands”), one of our foreign subsidiaries, (collectively, the “Borrowers”), the lenders party to the Credit Agreement from time to time (collectively, the “Lenders”), J.P. Morgan Securities LLC, Wells Fargo Securities, LLC, and KeyBanc Capital Markets, Inc., as joint lead arrangers and joint bookrunners, and JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., as administrative agent (the “Administrative Agent”), to be guaranteed through a Guarantee Agreement by certain domestic subsidiaries (each a “Guarantor” and collectively the “Guarantors”; the Guarantors collectively with the Borrowers, the “Loan Parties”), and which may be amended from time to time. The Credit Agreement amends and restates our former Credit Agreement, dated as of November 20, 2012, as amended (the “Former Credit Agreement”), between the Company, certain of our domestic subsidiaries, the lenders party to the Amended and Restated Credit Agreement from time to time (the “Former Lenders”), J.P. Morgan Securities LLC, Wells Fargo Securities, LLC, and KeyBanc Capital Markets, Inc., as joint lead arrangers and joint bookrunners, and the Administrative Agent, guaranteed by certain domestic subsidiaries, pursuant to which the Former Lenders made available to the Borrowers an initial term loan facility of $100,000,000 and an initial Revolving Credit Facility, as defined below, of $200,000,000.
Pursuant to the Credit Agreement, the Lenders made an additional term loan of €50,000,000 (the “Additional Term Loan”) to Altra Netherlands. The Credit Agreement keeps in effect the balance (approximately $94,375,000) of the existing term loan facility (the “Initial Term Loan”) made to the domestic Borrowers under the Former Credit Agreement (collectively, the two term loans are referred to as the “Term Loan Facility”), as well as the Revolving Credit Facility of $200,000,000 made under the Former Credit Agreement (the “Revolving Credit Facility”). The Credit Agreement continues, even after the making of the Additional Term Loan, to provide for a possible expansion of the credit facilities by an additional $150,000,000, which can be allocated as additional term loans and/or additional revolving credit loans. The amounts available under the Term Loan Facility were used, and amounts available under the Revolving Credit Facility can be used, for general corporate purposes, including acquisitions, and to repay existing indebtedness. The stated maturity of these credit facilities is December 6, 2018, and there are scheduled quarterly principal payments due on the outstanding amount of the Term Loan Facility. With respect to the Initial Term Loan, the scheduled quarterly principal payments due on the outstanding amount have been reamortized in accordance with the new December 6, 2018 maturity date. The previous maturity of the Revolving Credit Facility and the Initial Term Loan had been November 20, 2017.
The amounts available under the Revolving Credit Facility may be drawn upon in accordance with the terms of the Credit Agreement. All amounts outstanding under the credit facilities are due on the stated maturity or such earlier time, if any, required under the Credit Agreement. The amounts owed under either of the credit facilities may be prepaid at any time, subject to usual notification and breakage payment provisions. Interest on the amounts outstanding under the credit facilities is calculated using either an ABR Rate or Eurodollar Rate, plus the applicable margin. The applicable margins for Eurodollar Loans are between 1.375% to 1.875%, and for ABR Loans are between 0.375% and 0.875%. The amounts of the margins are calculated based on either a consolidated total net leverage ratio (as defined in the Credit Agreement), or the then applicable rating(s) of the Company’s debt if and then to the extent as provided in the Credit Agreement. A portion of the Revolving Credit Facility may also be used for the issuance of letters of credit, and a portion of the amount of the Revolving Credit Facility is available for borrowings in certain agreed upon foreign currencies.
The Credit Agreement contains various affirmative and negative covenants and restrictions, which among other things, will require the Borrowers to provide certain financial reports to the Lenders, require the Company to maintain certain financial covenants relating to consolidated leverage and interest coverage, limit maximum annual capital expenditures, and limit the ability of the Company and its subsidiaries to incur or guarantee additional indebtedness, pay dividends or make other equity distributions, purchase or redeem capital stock or debt, make certain investments, sell assets, engage in certain transactions, and effect a consolidation or merger. The Credit Agreement also contains customary events of default.
As of December 31, 2014, we had $40.0 million outstanding on our Revolving Credit Facility, $133.7 million outstanding under our Term Loan Facility and $11.0 million in letters of credit outstanding.
Pledge and Security Agreement; Trademark Security Agreement; Patent Security Agreement.
Pursuant to an Omnibus Reaffirmation and Ratification of Collateral Documents entered into on December 6, 2013 in connection with the Credit Agreement by and among the Company, the Loan Parties and the Administrative Agent (the “Ratification Agreement”), the Loan Parties (exclusive of the foreign subsidiary Borrower) have reaffirmed their obligations to the Lenders under the Pledge and Security Agreement dated November 20, 2012 (the “Pledge and Security Agreement”), pursuant to which each Loan Party pledges, assigns and grants to the Administrative Agent, on behalf of and for the ratable benefit of the Lenders, a security interest in all of its right, title and interest in, to and under all personal property, whether now owned by or owing to, or after acquired by or arising in favor of such Loan Party (including under any trade name or derivations), and whether owned or consigned by or to, or leased from or to, such Loan Party, and regardless of where located, except for specific excluded personal property identified in the Pledge and Security Agreement (collectively, the “Collateral”). Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Collateral does not include, among other items, more than 65% of the capital stock of the first tier foreign subsidiaries of the Company. The Pledge and Security Agreement contains other customary representations, warranties and covenants of the parties. The Credit Agreement provides that the obligation to grant the security interest can cease upon the obtaining of certain corporate family credit ratings for the Company, but the obligation to grant a security interest is subject to subsequent reinstatement if the ratings are not maintained as provided in the Credit Agreement.
Pursuant to the Ratification Agreement, the Loan Parties (other than the foregoing subsidiary Borrower) have also reaffirmed their obligations under each of the Patent Security Agreement and a Trademark Security Agreement in favor of the Administrative Agent dated November 20, 2012 pursuant to which each of the Loan Parties signatory thereto pledges, assigns and grants to the Administrative Agent, on behalf of and for the ratable benefit of the Lenders, a security interest in all of its right, title and interest in, to and under all registered patents, patent applications, registered trademarks and trademark applications owned by such Loan Parties.
On November 20, 2012, the Loan Parties and the Administrative Agent entered into a Pledge and Security Agreement (the “Pledge and Security Agreement”), pursuant to which each Loan Party pledges, assigns and grants to the Administrative Agent, on behalf of and for the ratable benefit of the Lenders, a security interest in all of its right, title and interest in, to and under all personal property, whether now owned by or owing to, or after acquired by or arising in favor of such Loan Party (including under any trade name or derivations), and whether owned or consigned by or to, or leased from or to, such Loan Party, and regardless of where located, except for specific excluded personal property identified in the Pledge and Security Agreement (collectively, the “Collateral”). Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Collateral does not include, among other items, more than 65% of the capital stock of the first tier foreign subsidiaries of the Company. The Pledge and Security Agreement contains other customary representations, warranties, and covenants of the parties. The Credit Agreement provides that the obligation to grant the security interest can cease upon the obtaining of certain corporate family ratings for the Company, but the obligation to grant a security interest is subject to subsequent reinstatement if the ratings are not maintained as provided in the Credit Agreement.
In connection with the Pledge and Security Agreement, certain of the Loan Parties delivered a Patent Security Agreement and a Trademark Security Agreement in favor of the Administrative Agent pursuant to which each of the Loan Parties' signatory thereto pledges, assigns and grants to the Administrative Agent, on behalf of and for the ratable benefit of the Lenders, a security interest in all of its right, title and interest in, to and under all registered patents, patent applications, registered trademarks and trademark applications owned by such Loan Parties.
We were in compliance in all material respects with all covenants of the indenture governing the Credit Agreement at December 31, 2014.
Convertible Senior Notes
In March 2011, the Company issued Convertible Senior Notes (the “Convertible Notes”) due March 1, 2031. The Convertible Notes are guaranteed by the Company’s U.S. domestic subsidiaries. Interest on the Convertible Notes is payable semi-annually in arrears, on March 1 and September 1 of each year, commencing on September 1, 2011 at an annual rate of 2.75%. Proceeds from the offering were $81.3 million, net of fees and expenses that were capitalized.
We were in compliance in all material respects with all covenants of the indenture governing the Convertible Notes at December 31, 2014.
Borrowings
|
| | | | | | | |
| Amounts in millions |
| December 31, 2014 | | December 31, 2013 |
Debt: | | | |
Revolving Credit Facility | $ | 40.0 |
| | $ | 41.2 |
|
Convertible Notes | 85.0 |
| | 85.0 |
|
Term Loan Facility | 133.7 |
| | 163.2 |
|
Equipment Loan | 5.4 |
| | 4.1 |
|
Bauer Mortgage | 3.6 |
| | — |
|
Other Mortgages | 0.3 |
| | 0.7 |
|
Capital leases | 0.5 |
| | 0.2 |
|
Total Debt | $ | 268.5 |
| | $ | 294.4 |
|
Cash and Cash Equivalents
The following is a summary of our cash balances and cash flows (in thousands) as of and for the year to date periods ended December 31, 2014 and December 31, 2013, respectively.
|
| | | | | | | | | | | |
Amounts in thousands, except percentage data | | | | | |
| 2014 | | 2013 | | Change |
Cash and cash equivalents at the beginning of the period | 63,604 |
| | 85,154 |
| | (21,550 | ) |
Cash flows from operating activities | 84,499 |
| | 89,625 |
| | (5,126 | ) |
Cash flows from investing activities | (42,294 | ) | | (130,005 | ) | | 87,711 |
|
Cash flows from financing activities | (53,965 | ) | | 17,991 |
| | (71,956 | ) |
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash and cash equivalents | (4,341 | ) | | 839 |
| | (5,180 | ) |
Cash and cash equivalents at the end of the period | $ | 47,503 |
| | $ | 63,604 |
| | $ | (16,101 | ) |
Cash Flows for 2014
Funds provided by operating activities totaled approximately $84.5 million for fiscal 2014, a significant portion of which resulted from cash provided by net income of $40.2 million. In addition, net impact of the add-back of certain items including non-cash depreciation, amortization, stock-based compensation, accretion of debt discount, gain on disposal of fixed assets, amortization of inventory fair value adjustment, deferred financing costs, provision for deferred taxes, and non-cash gain on foreign currency was approximately $44.4 million. This is offset by a net increase in current assets and liabilities of approximately $0.1 million.
The change in cash flows from operating activities in 2014 as compared to 2013 related primarily to a decrease in inventory due to planned inventory management efforts that have positively impacted our inventory levels. Accounts Receivable balances have also decreased due to more timely collections and the impact of changes in foreign exchange rates. While a variety of factors can influence our ability to project future cash flow, we expect to see positive cash flows from operating activities during 2015 due to income from operations, the add-back of non-cash expenses and a continued decrease in working capital.
The change in net cash used in investing activities was primarily due to less acquisition activity ($79.5 million), partially offset by a $0.2 million increase in purchases of property, plant and equipment. 2013 acquisitions included the acquisition of Svendborg for $94.6 million, while 2014 included the Guardian acquisition for $15.1 million. The Company also received approximately $0.3 million more in proceeds from the sale of land during 2014 compared to 2013.
The decrease in net cash from financing activities was primarily due to an additional $25.1 million being returned to shareholders through increased dividends and the introduction of the Company's share repurchase program, a decrease of $31.0 million in payments on the Company's debt, and a decrease of $77.9 million in net proceeds from issuance of indebtedness during 2014.
We intend to use our remaining cash and cash equivalents and cash flow from operations to provide for our working capital needs, to fund potential future acquisitions, to service our debt, including principal payments, and for capital expenditures, for pension funding, and to pay dividends to our stockholders. As of December 31, 2014, we have approximately $42.7 million of cash and cash equivalents held by foreign subsidiaries that are generally subject to U.S. income taxation on
repatriation to the U.S. We believe our future operating cash flows will be sufficient to meet our future operating and investing cash needs. Furthermore, the existing cash balances and the availability of additional borrowings under our Revolving Credit Facility provide additional potential sources of liquidity should they be required.
Cash Flows for 2013
Amounts in thousands, except percentage data
|
| | | | | | | | | | | |
| 2013 | | 2012 | | Change |
Cash and cash equivalents at the beginning of the period | $ | 85,154 |
| | $ | 92,515 |
| | $ | (7,361 | ) |
Cash flows from operating activities | 89,625 |
| | 59,918 |
| | 29,707 |
|
Cash flows from investing activities | (130,005 | ) | | (38,770 | ) | | (91,235 | ) |
Cash flows from financing activities | 17,991 |
| | (29,880 | ) | | 47,871 |
|
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash and cash equivalents | 839 |
| | 1,371 |
| | (532 | ) |
Cash and cash equivalents at the end of the period | $ | 63,604 |
| | $ | 85,154 |
| | $ | (21,550 | ) |
Funds provided by operating activities totaled approximately $89.6 million for fiscal 2013, a significant portion of which resulted from cash provided by net income of $40.2 million. In addition, net impact of the add-back of certain items including non-cash depreciation, amortization, stock-based compensation, accretion of debt discount, deferred financing costs, provision for deferred taxes, and non-cash loss on foreign currency was approximately $39.5 million. Also included in the cash flows provided by operating activities is a net decrease in current assets and liabilities of approximately $10.0 million.
The change in cash flows from operating activities in 2013 as compared to 2012 related to an increase in cash provided by net income of $16.0 million as well as a decrease in accounts receivable and inventory. Accounts Receivable balances have decreased due to more timely collections. Inventory balances have decreased due to planned inventory management efforts that have positively impacted our inventory levels.
The change in net cash used in investing activities was primarily due to the acquisition of Svendborg in December 2013 for $94.6 million.
The change in net cash from financing activities was primarily due to additional borrowing in the form of a €50.0 million term loan as well as additional borrowings under our Revolving Credit Facility offset by payments on the Credit Facility.
Capital Expenditures
We made capital expenditures of approximately $28.0 million and $27.8 million in the years ended December 31, 2014 and 2013, respectively. These capital expenditures will support on-going business needs. During 2013, we purchased a portion of the land and building in Esslingen, Germany in which our Bauer business operates. During 2014 we began construction on a new building in Esslingen, Germany. In 2015, we forecast capital expenditures to be in the range of $24.0 million to $26.0 million.
Off-Balance Sheet Arrangements
We do not have any off-balance sheet arrangements that provide liquidity, capital resources, market or credit risk support that expose us to any liability that is not reflected in our consolidated financial statements.
Contractual Obligations
The following table is a summary of our contractual cash obligations as of December 31, 2014 (in thousands):
|
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Payments Due by Period |
| 2015 | | 2016 | | 2017 | | 2018 | | 2019 | | Thereafter | | Total |
Term Loan Facility(1) | $ | 9,481 |
| | $ | 14,159 |
| | $ | 18,038 |
| | $ | 92,019 |
| | $ | — |
| | $ | — |
| | $ | 133,697 |
|
Convertible Notes(2) | — |
| | — |
| | — |
| | — |
| | — |
| | 85,000 |
| | 85,000 |
|
Operating leases | 6,891 |
| | 5,816 |
| | 4,546 |
| | 2,538 |
| | 1,873 |
| | 6,951 |
| | 28,615 |
|
Capital leases | 115 |
| | 115 |
| | 115 |
| | 115 |
| | 38 |
| | — |
| | 498 |
|
Mortgage(3) | 258 |
| | — |
| | — |
| | — |
| | — |
| | — |
| | 258 |
|
Bauer Mortgage(4) | — |
| | — |
| | — |
| | — |
| | 3,647 |
| | — |
| | 3,647 |
|
Revolving Credit Facility(5) | — |
| | — |
| | — |
| | 40,000 |
| | — |
| | — |
| | 40,000 |
|
Equipment loan(6) | 5,430 |
| | — |
| | — |
| | — |
| | — |
| | — |
| | 5,430 |
|
Minimum Purchase Contracts(7) | 4,374 |
| | — |
| | — |
| | — |
| | — |
| | — |
| | 4,374 |
|
Total contractual cash obligations | $ | 26,549 |
| | $ | 20,090 |
| | $ | 22,699 |
| | $ | 134,672 |
| | $ | 5,558 |
| | $ | 91,951 |
| | $ | 301,519 |
|
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(1) | We have monthly and/or quarterly cash interest requirements due on the Term Loan Facility payable at variable rates which are not included in the above table. |
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(2) | We have semi-annual cash interest requirements due on the Convertible Notes with $2.3 million payable in 2015 through 2017, and $0.4 million due in 2018 which are not included in the above table. |
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(3) | In June, 2006, our German subsidiary entered into a mortgage on its building in Heidelberg, Germany, with a local bank. The mortgage has an outstanding principal balance of €0.2 million ($0.3 million) as of December 31, 2014, an interest rate of 5.75% and is payable in monthly installments over the next 2 years. |
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(4) | In August 2014, the Company entered an agreement with a bank to borrow €6.0 million or $7.9 million for the construction of its new facility in Esslingen, Germany during with an interest rate of 2.5% per year which is payable in annual interest payments of €0.2 million or $0.3 million to be paid in monthly installments which are not included in the table above. The principal portion of the mortgage will be due in a lump-sum payment in May 2019. |
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(5) | We have up to $200.0 million of total borrowing capacity, through December 6, 2018, under our Revolving Credit Facility of which $149.0 million is currently available. As of December 31, 2014, there were $11.0 million of outstanding letters of credit under our Revolving Credit Facility. We have variable monthly and/or quarterly cash interest requirements due on the Revolving Credit Facility through 2018, which are not included in the above table. |
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(6) | The Company has up to a 38.5 million RMB ($6.3 million) Equipment Loan with a Chinese bank to furnish its facility in Changzhou, China with equipment. The loan had a principal balance of 33.3 million RMB ($5.4 million) at December 31, 2014. Interest is payable monthly at interest rates between 5.40% and 8.00%. |
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(7) | The Company has minimum purchase contracts for inventory of €3.6 million ($4.4 million) for 2015. |
From time to time, we may have cash funding requirements associated with our pension plans. As of December 31, 2014, there were no requirements for 2015 to 2019 which are not included in the above table. These amounts are based on actuarial assumptions and actual amounts could be materially different.
We may be required to make cash outlays related to our unrecognized tax benefits. However, due to the uncertainty of the timing of future cash flows associated with our unrecognized tax benefits, we are unable to make reasonably reliable estimates of the period of cash settlement, if any, with the respective taxing authorities. Accordingly, unrecognized tax benefits of $0.4 million as of December 31, 2014, have been excluded from the contractual obligations table above. For further information on unrecognized tax benefits, see Note 7 to the consolidated financial statements.
Stock-based Compensation
The Company's 2004 Equity Incentive Plan (the “2004 Plan”) permitted the grant of various forms of stock based compensation to our officers and senior level employees. The 2004 Plan expired in 2014 and, upon expiration, there were 750,576 shares subject to outstanding awards under the 2004 Plan. The 2014 Omnibus Incentive Plan (the “2014 Plan”) was approved by the Company's shareholders at its 2014 annual meeting. The 2014 Plan provides for various forms of stock based compensation to our directors, executive personnel and other key employees and consultants. Under the 2014 Plan, the total number of shares of common stock available for delivery pursuant to the grant of awards (“Awards”) was originally 750,000. Shares of our common stock subject to Awards or awarded under the 2004 Plan and outstanding as of the effective date of the
2014 Plan (except for substitute awards) that terminate without being exercised, expire, are forfeited or canceled, are exchanged for Awards that did not involve shares of common stock, are not issued on the stock settlement of a stock appreciation right, are withheld by the Company or tendered by a participant (either actually or by attestation) to pay an option exercise price or to pay the withholding tax on any Award, or are settled in cash in lieu of shares will again be available for Awards under the 2014 Plan.
As of December 31, 2014, there were 159,178 shares of unvested restricted stock outstanding under the 2004 Plan and the 2014 Plan. The remaining compensation cost to be recognized through 2017 is $3.7 million. Based on the stock price at December 31, 2014, of $28.39 per share, the intrinsic value of these awards as of December 31, 2014, was $4.5 million.
Income Taxes
We are subject to taxation in multiple jurisdictions throughout the world. Our effective tax rate and tax liability will be affected by a number of factors, such as the amount of taxable income in particular jurisdictions, the tax rates in such jurisdictions, tax treaties between jurisdictions, the extent to which we transfer funds between jurisdictions and repatriate income, and changes in law. Generally, the tax liability for each legal entity is determined either (a) on a non-consolidated and non-combined basis or (b) on a consolidated and combined basis only with other eligible entities subject to tax in the same jurisdiction, in either case without regard to the taxable losses of non-consolidated and non-combined affiliated entities. As a result, we may pay income taxes to some jurisdictions even though on an overall basis we incur a net loss for the period.
Seasonality
We experience seasonality in our turf and garden business, which represented approximately 6.5% of our net sales. As our large OEM customers prepare for the spring season, our shipments generally start increasing in December, peak in February and March, and begin to decline in April and May. This allows our customers to have inventory in place for the peak consumer purchasing periods for turf and garden products. The June-through-November period is typically the low season for us and our customers in the turf and garden market. Seasonality is also affected by weather and the level of housing starts.
Inflation
Inflation can affect the costs of goods and services we use. The majority of the countries that are of significance to us, from either a manufacturing or sales viewpoint, have in recent years enjoyed relatively low inflation. The competitive environment in which we operate inevitably creates pressure on us to provide our customers with cost-effective products and services.
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Item 7A. | Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk |
We are exposed to various market risk factors such as fluctuating interest rates, changes in foreign currency rates and changes in commodity prices. At present, with the exception of the interest rate swap described below, we do not utilize any other derivative instruments to manage these risks.
Currency translation. We are exposed to market risk from changes in foreign currency exchange rates primarily in connection with our foreign subsidiaries. The results of operations of our foreign subsidiaries are translated into U.S. Dollars at the average exchange rates for each period concerned. The balance sheets of foreign subsidiaries are translated into U.S. Dollars at the exchange rates in effect at the end of each period. Any adjustments resulting from the translation are recorded as other comprehensive income. For the year ended December 31, 2014, approximately 39% of our revenues and approximately 18% of our total operating income were denominated in foreign currencies.
We have performed a sensitivity analysis assuming a hypothetical 10% adverse movement in foreign currency exchange rates from the quoted foreign currency exchange rates at December 31, 2014. As of December 31, 2014, the analysis indicated that such an adverse movement would cause our revenues and operating income to fluctuate by approximately 4% and 3%, respectively.
Currency transaction exposure. Currency transaction exposure arises where actual sales, purchases and financing transactions are made by a business or company in a currency other than its own functional currency. Any transactional differences at an international location are recorded in net income on a monthly basis.
Interest rate risk. We are subject to market exposure to changes in interest rates on some of our financing activities. This exposure relates to borrowings under our Term Loan Facility and our Revolving Credit Facility that are subject to variable interest rates. Interest on the amounts outstanding under the credit facilities is calculated using either an ABR Rate or Eurodollar rate, plus the applicable margin. As of December 31, 2014, we had $40.0 million in borrowings under our
Revolving Credit Facility and $133.7 million under our Term Loan Facility.. A hypothetical change in interest rates of 1% on our outstanding variable rate debt would increase our annual interest expense by approximately $1.0 million.
We rely on interest rate swap contracts and hedging arrangements to effectively manage our interest rate risk. We entered into an interest rate swap in 2013 to hedge exposure to variable rate interest rate payable on a portion of our outstanding borrowings, currently $82.5 million, under the Credit Facility. We are exposed to credit loss in the event of non-performance by the swap counterparty. With other variables held constant, a hypothetical 50 basis point decrease in the LIBOR yield curve would have resulted in a decrease of approximately $0.5 million in the fair value of the interest rate swap.
Commodity price exposure. We have exposure to changes in commodity prices principally related to metals including steel, copper and aluminum. From the first quarter of 2004 to the fourth quarter of 2014, the average price of copper and steel has increased approximately 109% and 77%, respectively. We primarily manage our risk associated with such increases through the use of surcharges or general pricing increases for the related products. We do not engage in the use of financial instruments to hedge our commodities price exposure.
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Item 8. | Financial Statements and Supplementary Data |
REPORT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM
To the Board of Directors and Stockholders of:
Altra Industrial Motion Corp.
Braintree, Massachusetts
We have audited the accompanying consolidated balance sheets of Altra Industrial Motion Corp. and subsidiaries (the “Company”), as of December 31, 2014 and 2013, and the related consolidated statements of income, comprehensive income, stockholders’ equity, and cash flows for each of the three years in the period ended December 31, 2014. Our audits also included the financial statement schedule listed in the Index at Item 15. These financial statements and financial statement schedule are the responsibility of the Company’s management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on these financial statements and financial statement schedule based on our audits.
We conducted our audits in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States). Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements are free of material misstatement. An audit includes examining, on a test basis, evidence supporting the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements. An audit also includes assessing the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, as well as evaluating the overall financial statement presentation. We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinion.
In our opinion, such consolidated financial statements present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of Altra Industrial Motion Corp. and subsidiaries at December 31, 2014 and 2013, and the results of their operations and their cash flows for each of the three years in the period ended December 31, 2014, in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America. Also, in our opinion, such financial statement schedule, when considered in relation to the basic consolidated financial statements taken as a whole, presents fairly, in all material respects, the information set forth therein.
We have also audited, in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States), the Company’s internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2014, based on the criteria established in Internal Control — Integrated Framework (2013) issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission and our report dated February 26, 2015 expressed an unqualified opinion on the Company’s internal control over financial reporting.
/s/ Deloitte & Touche LLP
Boston, Massachusetts
February 26, 2015