UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
FORM 10-K
ANNUAL REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF
THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
For the fiscal year ended December 27, 2014
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Commission file number 1–6770
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MUELLER INDUSTRIES, INC.
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
Delaware
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25-0790410
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(State or other jurisdiction
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(I.R.S. Employer
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of incorporation or organization)
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Identification No.)
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8285 Tournament Drive, Suite 150
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Memphis, Tennessee
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38125
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(Address of principal executive offices)
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(Zip Code)
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Registrant’s telephone number, including area code: (901) 753-3200
Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:
Title of each class
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Name of each exchange on which registered
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Common Stock, $0.01 Par Value
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New York Stock Exchange
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Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(g) of the Act: None
Indicate by check mark whether the Registrant is a well-known seasoned issuer, as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act. Yes S No £
Indicate by check mark if the Registrant is not required to file reports pursuant to Section 13 or Section 15(d) of the Act. Yes £ No S
Indicate by a 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 SNo £
Indicate by check mark whether the Registrant has submitted electronically and posted on its corporate Website, if any, every Interactive Data File required to be submitted and posted pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulation S-T (§232.405 of this chapter) during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the Registrant was required to submit and post such files). Yes SNo £
Indicate by check mark if disclosure of delinquent filers pursuant to Item 405 of Regulation S-K (Section 229.405 of this chapter) is not contained herein, and will not be contained, to the best of Registrant’s knowledge, in definitive proxy or information statements incorporated by reference in Part III of this Form 10-K or any amendment to this Form 10-K. S
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.
Large accelerated filer S
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Accelerated filer £
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Non-accelerated filer £
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Smaller reporting company £
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Indicate by check mark whether the Registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Act). Yes £ No S
The aggregate market value of the voting and non-voting common equity held by non-affiliates computed by reference to the price at which the common equity was last sold, or the average bid and asked price of such common equity, as of the last business day of the Registrant’s most recently completed second fiscal quarter was $1,619,095,888.
The number of shares of the Registrant’s common stock outstanding as of February 20, 2015 was 56,924,463 excluding 23,258,541 treasury shares.
DOCUMENTS INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE
Portions of the following document are incorporated by reference into this Report: Registrant’s Definitive Proxy Statement for the 2015 Annual Meeting of Stockholders, scheduled to be mailed on or about March 25, 2015 (Part III).
MUELLER INDUSTRIES, INC.
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As used in this report, the terms “we,” “us,” “our,” “Company,” “Mueller,” and “Registrant” mean Mueller Industries, Inc. and its consolidated subsidiaries taken as a whole, unless the context indicates otherwise.
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F-1
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Introduction
Mueller Industries, Inc. (the Company) is a leading manufacturer of plumbing, heating, ventilation, and air-conditioning (HVAC), refrigeration, and industrial products. The range of these products is broad: copper tube and fittings; brass and copper alloy rod, bar, and shapes; aluminum and brass forgings; aluminum and copper impact extrusions; plastic fittings and valves; refrigeration valves and fittings; fabricated tubular products; and steel nipples. The Company also resells imported brass and plastic plumbing valves, malleable iron fittings, faucets and plumbing specialty products. Mueller’s operations are located throughout the United States and in Canada, Mexico, Great Britain, and China.
The Company’s businesses are aggregated into two reportable segments:
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Plumbing & Refrigeration: The Plumbing & Refrigeration segment is composed of Standard Products (SPD), European Operations, and Mexican Operations. SPD manufactures and sells copper tube, copper and plastic fittings, line sets, and valves in North America and sources products for import distribution in North America. European Operations manufacture copper tube in the United Kingdom, which is sold throughout Europe. Mexican Operations consist of pipe nipple manufacturing and import distribution businesses including product lines of malleable iron fittings and other plumbing specialties. The Plumbing & Refrigeration segment sells products to wholesalers in the HVAC, plumbing, and refrigeration markets, to distributors to the manufactured housing and recreational vehicle industries, and to building material retailers.
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·
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Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEM): The OEM segment is composed of Industrial Products (IPD), Engineered Products (EPD), and Jiangsu Mueller–Xingrong Copper Industries Limited (Mueller-Xingrong), the Company’s Chinese joint venture. The OEM segment manufactures and sells brass and copper alloy rod, bar, and shapes; aluminum and brass forgings; aluminum and copper impact extrusions; refrigeration valves, fittings, and components; fabricated tubular products; and gas valves and assemblies. Mueller-Xingrong manufactures engineered copper tube primarily for air-conditioning applications; these products are sold primarily to OEMs located in China. The OEM segment sells its products primarily to original equipment manufacturers, many of which are in the HVAC, plumbing, and refrigeration markets.
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Certain administrative expenses and expenses related primarily to retiree benefits at inactive operations are combined into the Corporate and Eliminations classification.
Financial information concerning segments and geographic information appears under “Note 15 - Industry Segments” in the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements, which is incorporated herein by reference.
New housing starts and commercial construction are important determinants of the Company’s sales to the HVAC, refrigeration, and plumbing markets because the principal end use of a significant portion of our products is in the construction of single and multi-family housing and commercial buildings. Repairs and remodeling projects are also important drivers of underlying demand for these products.
Mueller was incorporated in Delaware on October 3, 1990.
Plumbing & Refrigeration Segment
The Plumbing & Refrigeration segment includes SPD, which manufactures a broad line of copper tube in sizes ranging from 1/8 inch to 8 inch diameter that is sold in various straight lengths and coils. We are a market leader in the air-conditioning and refrigeration service tube markets. Additionally, we supply a variety of water tube in straight lengths and coils used for plumbing applications in virtually every type of construction project. Lastly, SPD manufactures copper and plastic fittings, line sets, and related components for the plumbing and heating industry that are used in water distribution systems, heating systems, air-conditioning, and refrigeration applications, and drainage, waste, and vent systems. A major portion of SPD’s products are ultimately used in the domestic residential and commercial construction markets.
This segment also fabricates steel pipe nipples and resells imported brass and plastic plumbing valves, malleable iron fittings, faucets, and plumbing specialty products to plumbing wholesalers, distributors to the manufactured housing and recreational vehicle industries and building materials retailers.
On August 6, 2010, we expanded our existing line sets business by purchasing certain assets from Linesets, Inc., a manufacturer of assembled line sets with operations in Phoenix, Arizona and Atlanta, Georgia.
We acquired Howell Metal Company (Howell) on October 17, 2013 and Yorkshire Copper Tube (Yorkshire) on February 28, 2014. Howell manufactures copper tube and line sets for U.S. distribution while Yorkshire produces European standard copper distribution tubes. These acquisitions complement our existing copper tube businesses in the Plumbing & Refrigeration segment.
We disposed of Mueller Primaflow Limited (Primaflow), our U.K. based plumbing and heating systems import distribution business, on November 21, 2014. This business was part of the European Operations in the Plumbing & Refrigeration segment.
This segment markets primarily through its own sales and distribution organization, which maintains sales offices and distribution centers throughout the United States and in Canada, Mexico, and Europe. Additionally, products are sold and marketed through a complement of agents, which, when combined with our sales organization, provide the Company broad geographic market representation.
The total amount of order backlog for the Plumbing & Refrigeration segment as of December 27, 2014 was not significant.
We compete with various companies, depending on the product line. In the U.S. copper tube business, domestic competition includes Cerro Flow Products LLC, Cambridge-Lee Industries LLC (a subsidiary of Industrias Unidas S.A. de C.V.), and KobeWieland Copper Products LLC, as well as many actual and potential foreign competitors. In the European copper tube business, we compete with several European-based manufacturers of copper tube as well as other foreign-based manufacturers. In the copper fittings market, domestic competitors include Elkhart Products Company (a subsidiary of Aalberts Industries N.V.) and NIBCO, Inc., as well as several foreign manufacturers. Additionally, our copper tube and fittings businesses compete with a large number of manufacturers of substitute products made from other metals and plastic. The plastic fittings competitors include NIBCO, Inc., Charlotte Pipe & Foundry, and other companies. Management believes that no single competitor offers such a wide-ranging product line as Mueller and that this is a competitive advantage in some markets.
OEM Segment
The OEM segment includes IPD, which manufactures brass rod, nonferrous forgings, and impact extrusions that are sold primarily to OEMs in the plumbing, refrigeration, fluid power, and automotive industries, as well as to other manufacturers and distributors. We extrude brass, bronze, and copper alloy rod in sizes ranging from 3/8 inches to 4 inches in diameter. These alloys are used in applications that require a high degree of machinability, wear and corrosion resistance, as well as electrical conductivity. IPD also manufactures brass and aluminum forgings, which are used in a wide variety of products, including automotive components, brass fittings, industrial machinery, valve bodies, gear blanks, and computer hardware. Lastly, IPD serves the automotive, military ordnance, aerospace, and general manufacturing industries with cold-formed aluminum and copper impact extrusions. Typical applications for impacts are high strength ordnance, high-conductivity electrical components, builders’ hardware, hydraulic systems, automotive parts, and other uses where toughness must be combined with varying complexities of design and finish.
This segment also includes EPD, which manufactures and fabricates valves and custom OEM products for refrigeration and air-conditioning, gas appliance, and barbecue grill applications. Additionally, EPD manufactures shaped and formed tube produced to tight tolerances for baseboard heating, appliances, and medical instruments. The total amount of order backlog for the OEM segment as of December 27, 2014 was not significant.
On December 28, 2010, we purchased certain assets from Tube Forming, L.P. (TFI). TFI had operations in Carrolton, Texas, and Guadalupe, Mexico, where it produced precision copper return bends and crossovers, and custom-made tube components and brazed assemblies, including manifolds and headers.
On August 16, 2012, we acquired 100 percent of the outstanding stock of Westermeyer Industries, Inc. (Westermeyer), located in Bluffs, Illinois. Westermeyer designs, manufactures, and distributes high-pressure components and accessories for the air-conditioning and refrigeration markets. The acquisition of Westermeyer complements the Company’s existing refrigeration business.
IPD and EPD primarily sell directly to OEM customers. Competitors, primarily in the brass rod market, include Chase Brass and Copper Company, a subsidiary of Global Brass and Copper Holdings, Inc., and others, both domestic and foreign. Outside of North America, IPD and EPD sell products through various channels.
Labor Relations
At December 27, 2014, the Company employed approximately 3,850 employees, of which approximately 2,020 were represented by various unions. Those union contracts will expire as follows:
Location
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Expiration Date
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Port Huron, Michigan (Local 218 IAM)
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May 1, 2016
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Port Huron, Michigan (Local 44 UAW)
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July 20, 2016
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Port Huron, Michigan (Local 119 SPFPA)
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April 1, 2016
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Belding, Michigan
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September 12, 2015
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Brighton, Michigan
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July 31, 2015
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Wynne, Arkansas
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June 28, 2015
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Fulton, Mississippi
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October 31, 2017
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North Wales, Pennsylvania
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July 31, 2015
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Waynesboro, Tennessee
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November 7, 2015
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The union agreements at the Company’s U.K. and Mexico operations are renewed annually. The Company expects to renew its union contracts without material disruption of its operations.
Raw Material and Energy Availability
A substantial portion of our base metal requirements (primarily copper) is normally obtained through short-term supply contracts with competitive pricing provisions (for cathode) and the open market (for scrap). Other raw materials used in the production of brass, including brass scrap, zinc, tin, and lead are obtained from zinc and lead producers, open-market dealers, and customers with brass process scrap. Raw materials used in the fabrication of aluminum and plastic products are purchased in the open market from major producers.
Adequate supplies of raw material have historically been available to us from primary producers, metal brokers, and scrap dealers. Sufficient energy in the form of natural gas, fuel oils, and electricity is available to operate our production facilities. While temporary shortages of raw material and fuels may occur occasionally, to date they have not materially hampered our operations.
Our copper tube facilities can accommodate both refined copper and certain grades of copper scrap as the primary feedstock. The Company has commitments from refined copper producers for a portion of its metal requirements for 2015. Adequate quantities of copper are currently available. While we will continue to react to market developments, resulting pricing volatility or supply disruptions, if any, could nonetheless adversely affect the Company.
Environmental Proceedings
Compliance with environmental laws and regulations is a matter of high priority for the Company. Mueller’s provision for environmental matters related to all properties was $1.2 million for 2014, $1.0 million for 2013, and $3.1 million for 2012. The reserve for environmental matters was $22.7 million at December 27, 2014 and $23.6 million at December 28, 2013. Environmental costs related to non-operating properties are classified as a component of other income, net and costs related to operating properties are included in cost of goods sold. We do not anticipate that we will need to make material expenditures for compliance activities related to existing environmental matters during the 2015 fiscal year, or for the next two fiscal years.
For a description of material pending environmental proceedings, see “Note 8 – Commitments and Contingencies” in the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements, which is incorporated herein by reference.
Other Business Factors
Our business is not materially dependent on patents, trademarks, licenses, franchises, or concessions held. In addition, expenditures for company-sponsored research and development activities were not material during 2014, 2013, or 2012. No material portion of our business involves governmental contracts. Seasonality of the Company’s sales is not significant.
SEC Filings
We make available through our internet website our Annual Report on Form 10-K, Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q, Current Reports on Form 8-K, and amendments to those reports filed or furnished pursuant to Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Exchange Act as soon as reasonably practicable after we electronically file such material with, or furnish it to, the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). To retrieve any of this information, you may access our internet home page at www.muellerindustries.com, select Investors, and then select SEC Filings.
Reports filed with the SEC may also be viewed or obtained at the SEC Public Reference Room at 100 F Street, N.E., Washington, D.C. 20549. Information on the operation of the SEC Public Reference Room may be obtained by calling the SEC at 1-800-SEC-0330. The SEC maintains a website that contains reports, proxy and information statements, and other information regarding issuers that file electronically with the SEC; the website address is www.sec.gov.
The Company is exposed to risk as it operates its businesses. To provide a framework to understand our operating environment, we are providing a brief explanation of the more significant risks associated with our businesses. Although we have tried to identify and discuss key risk factors, others could emerge in the future. These risk factors should be considered carefully when evaluating the Company and its businesses.
Increases in costs and the availability of energy and raw materials used in our products could impact our cost of goods sold and our distribution expenses, which could have a material adverse impact on our operating margins.
Both the costs of raw materials used in our manufactured products (copper, brass, zinc, aluminum, and PVC and ABS resins) and energy costs (electricity, natural gas and fuel) have been volatile during the last several years, which has resulted in changes in production and distribution costs. For example, recent and pending climate change regulation and initiatives on the state, regional, federal, and international levels that have focused on reducing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from the energy and utility sectors may affect energy availability and costs in the near future. While we typically attempt to pass costs through to our customers or to modify or adapt our activities to mitigate the impact of increases, we may not be able to do so successfully. Failure to fully pass increases to our customers or to modify or adapt our activities to mitigate the impact could have a material adverse impact on our operating margins. Additionally, if we are for any reason unable to obtain raw materials or energy, our ability to manufacture our products would be impacted, which could have a material adverse impact on our operating margins.
The unplanned departure of key personnel could disrupt our business.
We depend on the continued efforts of our senior management. The unplanned loss of key personnel, or the inability to hire and retain qualified executives, could negatively impact our ability to manage our business.
Economic conditions in the housing and commercial construction industries, as well as changes in interest rates, could have a material adverse impact on our business, financial condition, and results of operations.
Our business is sensitive to changes in general economic conditions, particularly in the housing and commercial construction industries. Prices for our products are affected by overall supply and demand in the market for our products and for our competitors’ products. In particular, market prices of building products historically have been volatile and cyclical, and we may be unable to control the timing and extent of pricing changes for our products. Prolonged periods of weak demand or excess supply in any of our businesses could negatively affect our revenues and margins and could result in a material adverse impact on our business, financial condition, and results of operations.
The markets that we serve, including, in particular, the housing and commercial construction industries, are significantly affected by movements in interest rates and the availability of credit. Significantly higher interest rates could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition, and results of operations. Our businesses are also affected by a variety of other factors beyond our control, including, but not limited to, employment levels, foreign currency exchange rates, unforeseen inflationary pressures, and consumer confidence. Since we operate in a variety of geographic areas, our businesses are subject to the economic conditions in each such area. General economic downturns or localized downturns in the regions where we have operations could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition, and results of operations.
Although conditions improved in 2012 and continued to improve in 2013 and 2014, the deterioration of the general economic environment has had a significant negative impact on businesses and consumers around the world since the crisis began in 2008. In addition, the impact of the economy on the operations or liquidity of any party with which we conduct our business, including our suppliers and customers, may adversely impact our business.
Competitive conditions, including the impact of imports and substitute products and technologies, could have a material adverse effect on the demand for our products as well as our margins and profitability.
The markets we serve are competitive across all product lines. Some consolidation of customers has occurred and may continue, which could shift buying power to customers. In some cases, customers have moved production to low-cost countries such as China, or sourced components from there, which has reduced demand in North America for some of the products we manufacture. These conditions could have a material adverse impact on our ability to maintain margins and profitability. The potential threat of imports and substitute products is based upon many factors, including raw material prices, distribution costs, foreign exchange rates, production costs, and the development of emerging technologies and applications. The end use of alternative import and/or substitute products could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition, and results of operations. Likewise, the development of new technologies and applications could result in lower demand for our products and have a material adverse effect on our business.
Our exposure to exchange rate fluctuations on cross border transactions and the translation of local currency results into U.S. dollars could have an adverse impact on our results of operations or financial position.
We conduct our business through subsidiaries in several different countries and export our products to many countries. Fluctuations in currency exchange rates could have a significant impact on the competitiveness of our products as well as the reported results of our operations, which are presented in U.S. dollars. A significant and growing portion of our products are manufactured in or acquired from suppliers located in lower cost regions. Cross border transactions, both with external parties and intercompany relationships, result in increased exposure to foreign exchange fluctuations. The strengthening of the U.S. dollar could expose our U.S. based businesses to competitive threats from lower cost producers in other countries such as China. Lastly, our sales are translated into U.S. dollars for reporting purposes. The strengthening of the U.S. dollar could result in unfavorable translation effects when the results of foreign operations are translated into U.S. dollars. Accordingly, significant changes in exchange rates, particularly the British pound sterling, Mexican peso, and the Chinese renminbi, could have an adverse impact on our results of operations or financial position.
We are subject to claims, litigation, and regulatory proceedings that could have a material adverse effect on us.
We are, from time-to-time, involved in various claims, litigation matters, and regulatory proceedings. These matters may include contract disputes, personal injury claims, environmental claims, OSHA inspections or proceedings, other tort claims, employment and tax matters and other litigation including class actions that arise in the ordinary course of our business. Although we intend to defend these matters vigorously, we cannot predict with certainty the outcome or effect of any claim or other litigation matter, and there can be no assurance as to the ultimate outcome of any litigation or regulatory proceeding. Litigation and regulatory proceedings may have a material adverse effect on us because of potential adverse outcomes, defense costs, the diversion of our management’s resources, availability of insurance coverage and other factors.
A strike, other work stoppage or business interruption, or our inability to renew collective bargaining agreements on favorable terms, could impact our cost structure and our ability to operate our facilities and produce our products, which could have an adverse effect on our results of operations.
As of December 27, 2014, approximately 2,020 of our 3,850 employees were covered by collective bargaining or similar agreements. If we are unable to negotiate acceptable new agreements with the unions representing our employees upon expiration of existing contracts, we could experience strikes or other work stoppages. Strikes or other work stoppages could cause a significant disruption of operations at our facilities, which could have an adverse impact on us. New or renewal agreements with unions representing our employees could call for higher wages or benefits paid to union members, which would increase our operating costs and could adversely affect our profitability. Higher costs and/or limitations on our ability to operate our facilities and manufacture our products resulting from increased labor costs, strikes or other work stoppages could have a material adverse effect on our results of operations.
In addition, unexpected interruptions in our operations or those of our customers or suppliers due to such causes as weather-related events or acts of God, such as earthquakes, could have an adverse effect on our results of operations. For example, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has found that global climate change would be expected to increase the severity and possibly the frequency of severe weather patterns such as hurricanes. Although the financial impact of such future events is not reasonably estimable at this time, should they occur, our operations in certain coastal and flood-prone areas or operations of our customers and suppliers could be adversely affected. As a result of a fire at our Wynne, Arkansas, location, our copper tube casting operations were destroyed and consequently a significant portion of our redundant casting capacity is no longer available. If our remaining copper tube casting operations were to become inoperable, for any reason, our domestic copper tube production could be significantly impaired and have a material adverse effect on our results of operations.
We are subject to environmental, health, and safety laws and regulations and future compliance may have a material adverse effect on our results of operations, financial position, or cash flows.
The nature of our operations exposes us to the risk of liabilities and claims with respect to environmental, health, and safety matters. While we have established accruals intended to cover the cost of environmental remediation at contaminated sites, the actual cost is difficult to determine and may exceed our estimated reserves. Further, changes to, or more rigorous enforcement or stringent interpretation of environmental or health and safety laws could require significant incremental costs to maintain compliance. Recent and pending climate change regulation and initiatives on the state, regional, federal, and international levels may require certain of our facilities to reduce GHG emissions. While not reasonably estimable at this time, this could require capital expenditures for environmental control facilities and/or the purchase of GHG emissions credits in the coming years. In addition, with respect to environmental matters, future claims may be asserted against us for, among other things, past acts or omissions at locations operated by predecessor entities, or alleging damage or injury or seeking other relief in connection with environmental matters associated with our operations. Future liabilities, claims, and compliance costs may have a material adverse effect on us because of potential adverse outcomes, defense costs, diversion of our resources, availability of insurance coverage, and other factors. The overall impact of these requirements on our operations could increase our costs and diminish our ability to compete with products that are produced in countries without such rigorous standards; the long run impact could negatively impact our results and have a material adverse effect on our business.
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UNRESOLVED STAFF COMMENTS
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None.
Information pertaining to our major operating facilities is included below. Except as noted, we own all of the principal properties. Our plants are in satisfactory condition and are suitable for the purpose for which they were designed and are now being used.
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Location
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Approximate Property Size
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Description
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Plumbing & Refrigeration Segment
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Fulton, MS
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418,000 sq. ft.
52.37 acres
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Copper tube mill. Facility includes extruding and finishing equipment to produce copper tube, including tube feedstock for the Company’s copper fittings plants, line sets, and Precision Tube factory.
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Fulton, MS
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103,000 sq. ft.
11.9 acres
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Casting facility. Facility includes casting equipment to produce copper billets used in the adjoining copper tube mill.
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Wynne, AR
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400,000 sq. ft.
39.2 acres
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(1)
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Copper tube mill. Facility includes extrusion and finishing equipment to produce copper tube and line sets.
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Fulton, MS
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58,500 sq. ft.
15.53 acres
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Packaging and bar coding facility for retail channel sales.
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Fulton, MS
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70,000 sq. ft.
7.68 acres
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(2)
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Copper fittings plant. High-volume facility that produces copper fittings using tube feedstock from the Company’s adjacent copper tube mill.
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Covington, TN
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159,500 sq. ft.
40.88 acres
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Copper fittings plant. Facility produces copper fittings using tube feedstock from the Company’s copper tube mills.
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Ontario, CA
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211,000 sq. ft.
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(3)
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Plastics manufacturing plant and distribution center. Produces DWV fittings using injection molding equipment.
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Monterrey, Mexico
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152,000 sq. ft.
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(3)
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Pipe nipples plant. Produces pipe nipples, cut pipe and merchant couplings.
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Bilston, England, United Kingdom
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402,500 sq. ft.
14.95 acres
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Copper tube mill. Facility includes casting, extruding, and finishing equipment to produce copper tube.
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(continued)
(continued)
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Location
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Approximate Property Size
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Description
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Phoenix, AZ
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61,000 sq. ft.
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(3)
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Line sets plant. Produces standard and custom-made line sets for HVAC markets.
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Atlanta, GA
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56,000 sq. ft.
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(3)
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Line sets plant. Produces standard and custom-made line sets for HVAC markets.
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New Market, VA
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413,120 sq. ft.
36.15 acres
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Copper Tube Mill. Facility includes casting, extruding, and finishing equipment to produce copper tube and line sets.
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OEM Segment
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Port Huron, MI
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322,500 sq. ft.
71.5 acres
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Brass rod mill. Facility includes casting, extruding, and finishing equipment to produce brass rods and bars, in various shapes and sizes.
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Belding, MI
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293,068 sq. ft.
17.64 acres
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Brass rod and copper busbar mill. Facility includes casting, extruding, and finishing equipment to produce brass rods and bars, in various shapes and sizes.
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Port Huron, MI
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127,500 sq. ft.
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Forgings plant. Produces brass and aluminum forgings.
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Marysville, MI
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81,500 sq. ft.
6.72 acres
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Aluminum and copper impacts plant. Produces made-to-order parts using cold impact processes.
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Hartsville, TN
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78,000 sq. ft.
4.51 acres
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Refrigeration products plant. Produces products used in refrigeration applications such as ball valves, line valves, and compressor valves.
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Carthage, TN
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67,520 sq. ft.
10.98 acres
|
|
Fabrication facility. Produces precision tubular components and assemblies.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Gordonsville, TN
|
|
54,000 sq. ft.
|
(3)
|
Fabrication facility. Produces precision tubular components and assemblies.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Waynesboro, TN
|
|
57,000 sq. ft.
5.0 acres
|
(4)
|
Gas valve plant. Facility produces brass and aluminum valves and assemblies for the gas appliance industry.
|
|
|
|
|
|
North Wales, PA
|
|
174,000 sq. ft.
18.9 acres
|
|
Precision Tube factory. Facility fabricates copper tube, copper alloy tube, aluminum tube, and fabricated tubular products.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Brighton, MI
|
|
65,000 sq. ft.
|
(3)
|
Machining operation. Facility machines component parts for supply to automotive industry.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Middletown, OH
|
|
55,000 sq. ft.
2.0 acres
|
|
Fabricating facility. Produces burner systems and manifolds for the gas appliance industry.
|
(continued)
(continued)
|
|
|
|
|
Location
|
|
Approximate Property Size
|
|
Description
|
|
|
|
|
|
Jintan City, Jiangsu Province, China
|
|
322,580 sq. ft.
33.0 acres
|
(5)
|
Copper tube mill. Facility includes casting, and finishing equipment to produce engineered copper tube primarily for OEMs.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Xinbei District, Changzhou, China
|
|
33,940 sq. ft.
|
(3)
|
Refrigeration products plant. Produces products used in refrigeration applications such as ball valves, line valves, and compressor valves.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Bluffs, IL
|
|
70,000 sq. ft.
10 acres
|
|
Fabrication facility. Produces products used in refrigeration applications such as oil separators, accumulators, and heat exchangers.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Guadalupe, MX
|
|
70,782 sq. ft.
|
(3)
|
Fabrication facility. Produces tubular components, assemblies, and return bends for refrigeration and HVAC markets.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Guadalupe, MX
|
|
59,331 sq. ft.
|
(3)
|
Gas valve plant. Facility produces brass and aluminum valves and assemblies for the gas appliance industry.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Farmers Branch, TX
|
|
54,000 sq. ft.
|
(3)
|
Fabrication facility. Produces tubular components, assemblies, and return bends for refrigeration and HVAC markets.
|
|
|
|
|
|
In addition, we own and/or lease other properties used as distribution centers and corporate offices.
|
(1) Facility, or some portion thereof, is located on land leased from a local municipality, with an option to purchase at nominal
cost.
|
|
(2) Facility is leased under a long-term lease agreement, with an option to purchase at nominal cost.
|
|
(3) Facility is leased under an operating lease.
|
|
(4) Facility is leased from a local municipality for a nominal amount.
|
|
(5) Facility is located on land that is under a long-term land use rights agreement.
|
The Company is involved in certain litigation as a result of claims that arose in the ordinary course of business. Additionally, the Company may realize the benefit of certain legal claims and litigation in the future; these gain contingencies are not recognized in the Consolidated Financial Statements.
For a description of material pending legal proceedings, see “Note 8 – Commitments and Contingencies” in the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements, which is incorporated herein by reference.
Not applicable.
PART II
|
MARKET FOR REGISTRANT’S COMMON EQUITY, RELATED STOCKHOLDER MATTERS AND ISSUER PURCHASES OF EQUITY SECURITIES
|
Our common stock is listed on the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) under the symbol “MLI.” As of February 20, 2015, the number of holders of record of Mueller’s common stock was approximately 855. The following table sets forth, for the periods indicated, the high and low sales prices as reported by the NYSE and the cash dividends paid per share of common stock.
On February 21, 2014, the Company effected a two-for-one stock split to shareholders of record as of March 14, 2014. All share and per share information has been retroactively adjusted to reflect the stock split.
|
|
Sales Prices
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
High
|
|
|
Low
|
|
|
Dividend
|
|
2014
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Fourth quarter
|
|
$
|
34.39
|
|
|
$
|
27.10
|
|
|
$
|
0.0750
|
|
Third quarter
|
|
|
30.35
|
|
|
|
27.71
|
|
|
|
0.0750
|
|
Second quarter
|
|
|
30.99
|
|
|
|
27.47
|
|
|
|
0.0750
|
|
First quarter
|
|
|
32.13
|
|
|
|
27.38
|
|
|
|
0.0750
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
2013
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Fourth quarter
|
|
$
|
31.64
|
|
|
$
|
26.98
|
|
|
$
|
0.0625
|
|
Third quarter
|
|
|
29.08
|
|
|
|
25.17
|
|
|
|
0.0625
|
|
Second quarter
|
|
|
27.50
|
|
|
|
24.05
|
|
|
|
0.0625
|
|
First quarter
|
|
|
27.77
|
|
|
|
24.48
|
|
|
|
0.0625
|
|
Payment of dividends in the future is dependent upon the Company’s financial condition, cash flows, capital requirements, earnings, and other factors.
Issuer Purchases of Equity Securities
The Company’s Board of Directors has extended, until October 2015, the authorization to repurchase up to 20 million shares of the Company’s common stock through open market transactions or through privately negotiated transactions. The Company has no obligation to purchase any shares and may cancel, suspend, or extend the time period for the purchase of shares at any time. Any purchases will be funded primarily through existing cash and cash from operations. The Company may hold any shares purchased in treasury or use a portion of the repurchased shares for its stock-based compensation plans, as well as for other corporate purposes. From its initial authorization in 1999 through December 27, 2014, the Company had repurchased approximately 4.7 million shares under this authorization. Below is a summary of the Company’s stock repurchases for the quarter ended December 27, 2014.
|
|
|
(a)
|
|
(b)
|
|
(c)
|
|
(d)
|
|
|
|
|
Total Number of Shares Purchased
|
|
Average Price Paid per Share
|
|
Total Number of Shares Purchased as Part of Publicly Announced Plans or Programs
|
|
Maximum Number of Shares That May Yet Be Purchased Under the Plans or Programs
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
15,287,060
|
(1)
|
September 28 – October 25, 2014
|
|
359
|
(2)
|
$
|
29.45
|
|
—
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
October 26 – November 22, 2014
|
|
2,384
|
(2)
|
|
32.05
|
|
—
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
November 23 – December 27, 2014
|
|
579
|
(2)
|
|
32.92
|
|
—
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(1)
|
Shares available to be purchased under the Company’s 20 million share repurchase authorization until October 2015. The extension of the authorization was announced on October 24, 2014.
|
(2)
|
Shares tendered to the Company by holders of stock based awards in payment of purchase price and/or withholding taxes upon exercise. In addition, includes restricted stock forfeitures.
|
Company Stock Performance
The following graph compares total stockholder return since December 26, 2009 to the Dow Jones U.S. Total Market Index (Total Market Index) and the Dow Jones U.S. Building Materials & Fixtures Index (Building Materials Index). Total return values for the Total Market Index, the Building Materials Index and the Company were calculated based on cumulative total return values assuming reinvestment of dividends.
|
|
2009
|
|
|
2010
|
|
|
2011
|
|
|
2012
|
|
|
2013
|
|
|
2014
|
|
Mueller Industries, Inc.
|
|
|
100.00
|
|
|
|
131.64
|
|
|
|
154.72
|
|
|
|
200.26
|
|
|
|
257.35
|
|
|
|
283.15
|
|
Dow Jones U.S. Total Return Index
|
|
|
100.00
|
|
|
|
116.65
|
|
|
|
118.22
|
|
|
|
137.52
|
|
|
|
182.86
|
|
|
|
206.53
|
|
Dow Jones U.S. Building Materials & Fixtures Index
|
|
|
100.00
|
|
|
|
116.70
|
|
|
|
120.39
|
|
|
|
183.24
|
|
|
|
234.92
|
|
|
|
259.74
|
|
(In thousands, except per share data)
|
2014
|
|
2013
|
|
2012
|
|
2011
|
|
2010
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
For the fiscal year: (1)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Net sales
|
$
|
2,364,227
|
|
$
|
2,158,541
|
|
$
|
2,189,938
|
|
$
|
2,417,797
|
|
$
|
2,059,797
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Operating income
|
|
153,996
|
|
|
270,937
|
(3)
|
|
126,705
|
(4)
|
|
139,802
|
(5)
|
|
136,147
|
(6)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Net income attributable to Mueller Industries, Inc.
|
|
101,560
|
(2)
|
|
172,600
|
|
|
82,395
|
|
|
86,321
|
|
|
86,171
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Diluted earnings per share (8)
|
|
1.79
|
|
|
3.06
|
|
|
1.16
|
(7)
|
|
1.13
|
|
|
1.14
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Cash dividends per share (8)
|
|
0.30
|
|
|
0.25
|
|
|
0.2125
|
|
|
0.20
|
|
|
0.20
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
At year-end:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total assets
|
|
1,328,096
|
|
|
1,247,767
|
|
|
1,104,155
|
|
|
1,347,604
|
|
|
1,258,996
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Long-term debt
|
|
205,250
|
|
|
206,250
|
|
|
207,300
|
|
|
156,476
|
|
|
158,226
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(1)
|
|
Includes activity of acquired businesses from the following purchase dates: Yorkshire Copper Tube, February 28, 2014, Howell Metal Company, October 17, 2013, Westermeyer Industries, Inc., August 16, 2012, Tube Forming L.P., December 28, 2010, and Linesets, Inc., August 6, 2010.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(2)
|
|
Includes $6.3 million pre-tax gain on sale of assets, reversal of valuation allowance of $5.7 million, and $7.3 million of pre-tax charges related to severance.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(3)
|
|
Includes $106.3 million pre-tax gain from settlement of insurance claims, $39.8 million pre-tax gain from the sale of the Company’s Schedule 40 pressure plastic fittings business along with the sale of certain other plastic fittings manufacturing assets, and pre-tax impairment charges of $4.3 million primarily related to real property associated with the aforementioned plastics sale transaction.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(4)
|
|
Includes deferred recognition of $8.0 million gain from liquidation of LIFO inventory layers, $4.1 million net gain from settlement of litigation, $1.5 million gain from settlement of insurance claims, and severance charges of $3.4 million.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(5)
|
|
Includes $10.5 million gain from settlement of litigation.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(6)
|
|
Includes $22.7 million gain from settlement of insurance claims.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(7)
|
|
Includes the impact of 10.4 million shares repurchased from Leucadia National Corporation in September 2012.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(8)
|
|
Adjusted retroactively to reflect the two-for-one stock split that occurred on March 14, 2014.
|
|
|
MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS
|
Management’s discussion and analysis of financial condition and results of operations is contained under the caption “Financial Review” submitted as a separate section of this Annual Report on Form 10-K commencing on page F-2.
|
QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURES ABOUT MARKET RISK
|
Quantitative and qualitative disclosures about market risk are contained under the caption “Financial Review” submitted as a separate section of this Annual Report on Form 10-K commencing on page F-2.
|
FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND SUPPLEMENTARY DATA
|
Financial Statements required by this item are contained in a separate section of this Annual Report on Form 10-K commencing on page F-15.
|
CHANGES IN AND DISAGREEMENTS WITH ACCOUNTANTS ON ACCOUNTING AND FINANCIAL DISCLOSURE
|
None.
Evaluation of Disclosure Controls and Procedures
The Company maintains disclosure controls and procedures designed to ensure information required to be disclosed in Company reports filed under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the Exchange Act), is recorded, processed, summarized, and reported within the time periods specified in the SEC’s rules and forms. Disclosure controls and procedures are designed to provide reasonable assurance that information required to be disclosed in Company reports filed under the Exchange Act is accumulated and communicated to management, including the Company’s Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, as appropriate, to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosure.
The Company’s management, with the participation of the Company’s Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, has evaluated the effectiveness of the Company’s disclosure controls and procedures pursuant to Rule 13a-15(e) of the Exchange Act as of December 27, 2014. Based on that evaluation, the Company’s Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer have concluded that the Company’s disclosure controls and procedures are effective as of December 27, 2014 to ensure that information required to be disclosed in Company reports filed under the Exchange Act is (i) recorded, processed, summarized and reported within the time periods specified in the SEC rules and forms and (ii) accumulated and communicated to management, including the Company’s principal executive officer and principal financial officer, as appropriate to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosure.
Management’s Report on Internal Control over Financial Reporting
The Company’s management is responsible for establishing and maintaining adequate internal control over financial reporting as defined in Rules 13a-15(f) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. Pursuant to the rules and regulations of the SEC, internal control over financial reporting is a process designed by, or under the supervision of, the Company’s principal executive and principal financial officers, and effected by the Company’s Board of Directors, management and other personnel, to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States and includes those policies and procedures that (i) pertain to the maintenance of records that in reasonable detail accurately and fairly reflect the transactions and dispositions of the Company’s assets; (ii) provide reasonable assurance that transactions are recorded as necessary to permit preparation of financial statements in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles, and that receipts and expenditures of the issuer are being made only in accordance with authorizations of the Company’s management and directors; and (iii) provide reasonable assurance regarding prevention or timely detection of unauthorized acquisition, use or disposition of the Company’s assets that could have a material effect on the financial statements. Due to inherent limitations, internal control over financial reporting may not prevent or detect misstatements. Further, because of changes in conditions, effectiveness of internal control over financial reporting may vary over time.
The Company acquired Yorkshire Copper Tube (Yorkshire) during February 2014, and has excluded that business from management’s assessment of internal controls. The total value of assets of Yorkshire at year-end was $41.4 million, which represents three percent of the Company’s consolidated total assets at December 27, 2014. Net sales of Yorkshire from the date of acquisition represent four percent of the consolidated net sales of the Company for 2014, and Yorkshire operated at a net loss for the year. Accordingly, this acquired business is not included in the scope of this report.
The Company’s management, with the participation of the Company’s Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, has evaluated the effectiveness of the Company’s internal control over financial reporting as of December 27, 2014 based on the control criteria established in a report entitled Internal Control—Integrated Framework, (1992 Framework) issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission (COSO). Based on such evaluation, management has concluded that our internal control over financial reporting was effective as of December 27, 2014.
Ernst & Young LLP, the independent registered public accounting firm that audited the Company’s financial statements included in this Annual Report on Form 10-K, has issued an attestation report on the Company’s internal control over financial reporting, which is included herein.
Changes in Internal Control Over Financial Reporting
There were no changes in the Company’s internal control over financial reporting during the Company’s fiscal quarter ended December 27, 2014, that have materially affected, or are reasonably likely to materially affect, the Company’s internal control over financial reporting.
Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm
The Board of Directors and Stockholders of Mueller Industries, Inc.
We have audited Mueller Industries, Inc.’s internal control over financial reporting as of December 27, 2014, based on criteria established in Internal Control—Integrated Framework issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission (1992 Framework) (the COSO criteria). Mueller Industries, Inc.’s management is responsible for maintaining effective internal control over financial reporting, and for its assessment of the effectiveness of internal control over financial reporting included in the accompanying Management’s Report on Internal Control over Financial Reporting. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on the company’s internal control over financial reporting based on our audit.
We conducted our audit 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 effective internal control over financial reporting was maintained in all material respects. Our audit included obtaining an understanding of internal control over financial reporting, assessing the risk that a material weakness exists, testing and evaluating the design and operating effectiveness of internal control based on the assessed risk, and performing such other procedures as we considered necessary in the circumstances. We believe that our audit provides a reasonable basis for our opinion.
A company’s internal control over financial reporting is a process designed to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles. A company’s internal control over financial reporting includes those policies and procedures that (1) pertain to the maintenance of records that, in reasonable detail, accurately and fairly reflect the transactions and dispositions of the assets of the company; (2) provide reasonable assurance that transactions are recorded as necessary to permit preparation of financial statements in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles, and that receipts and expenditures of the company are being made only in accordance with authorizations of management and directors of the company; and (3) provide reasonable assurance regarding prevention or timely detection of unauthorized acquisition, use, or disposition of the company’s assets that could have a material effect on the financial statements.
Because of its inherent limitations, internal control over financial reporting may not prevent or detect misstatements. Also, projections of any evaluation of effectiveness to future periods are subject to the risk that controls may become inadequate because of changes in conditions, or that the degree of compliance with the policies or procedures may deteriorate.
As indicated in the accompanying Management’s Report on Internal Control over Financial Reporting, management’s assessment of and conclusion on the effectiveness of internal control over financial reporting did not include the internal controls of Yorkshire Copper Tube, which is included in the 2014 consolidated financial statements of Mueller Industries, Inc. and constituted $41.4 million and $21.1 million of total and net assets, respectively, as of December 27, 2014, and $94.4 million and $5.9 million of net sales and net loss, respectively, for the year then ended. Our audit of internal control over financial reporting of Mueller Industries, Inc. also did not include an evaluation of the internal control over financial reporting of Yorkshire Copper Tube.
In our opinion, Mueller Industries, Inc. maintained, in all material respects, effective internal control over financial reporting as of December 27, 2014, based on the COSO criteria.
We also have audited, in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States), the consolidated balance sheets of Mueller Industries, Inc. as of December 27, 2014 and December 28, 2013, and the related consolidated statements of income, comprehensive income, changes in equity and cash flows for each of the three years in the period ended December 27, 2014 and our report dated February 24, 2015 expressed an unqualified opinion thereon.
/s/ Ernst & Young LLP
|
|
|
|
Memphis, Tennessee
|
|
|
February 24, 2015
|
|
None.
PART III
|
DIRECTORS, EXECUTIVE OFFICERS, AND CORPORATE GOVERNANCE
|
The information required by Item 10 is contained under the captions “Ownership of Common Stock by Directors and Executive Officers and Information about Director Nominees,” “Corporate Governance,” “Report of the Audit Committee of the Board of Directors,” and “Section 16(a) Beneficial Ownership Compliance Reporting” in the Company’s Proxy Statement for its 2015 Annual Meeting of Stockholders to be filed with the SEC on or about March 25, 2015, which is incorporated herein by reference.
The Company has adopted a Code of Business Conduct and Ethics that applies to its chief executive officer, chief financial officer, and other financial executives. We have also made the Code of Business Conduct and Ethics available on the Company’s website at www.muellerindustries.com.
The information required by Item 11 is contained under the caption “Compensation Discussion and Analysis,” “Summary Compensation Table for 2014,” “2014 Grants of Plan Based Awards Table,” “Outstanding Equity Awards at Fiscal 2014 Year-End,” “2014 Option Exercises and Stock Vested,” “Potential Payments Upon Termination of Employment or Change in Control as of the End of 2014,” “2014 Director Compensation,” “Report of the Compensation Committee of the Board of Directors on Executive Compensation” and “Corporate Governance” in the Company’s Proxy Statement for its 2015 Annual Meeting of Stockholders to be filed with the SEC on or about March 25, 2015, which is incorporated herein by reference.
|
SECURITY OWNERSHIP OF CERTAIN BENEFICIAL OWNERS AND MANAGEMENT AND RELATED STOCKHOLDER MATTERS
|
Equity Compensation Plan Information
The following table discloses information regarding the securities to be issued and the securities remaining available for issuance under the Registrant’s stock-based incentive plans as of December 27, 2014 (shares in thousands):
|
|
(a)
|
|
|
(b)
|
|
|
(c)
|
|
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))
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Equity compensation plans approved by security holders
|
|
|
1,127
|
|
|
$
|
17.38
|
|
|
|
1,558
|
(1)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Equity compensation plans not approved by security holders
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total
|
|
|
1,127
|
|
|
$
|
17.38
|
|
|
|
1,558
|
|
(1)
|
Of the 1.6 million securities remaining available for issuance under the equity compensation plans, 1.5 million are available under the Company’s 2009 and 2014 Stock Incentive Plans for issuance of restricted stock, stock appreciation rights, or stock options. The remaining securities are available for issuance of stock options to the Board of Directors only.
|
Other information required by Item 12 is contained under the captions “Principal Stockholders” and “Ownership of Common Stock by Directors and Executive Officers and Information about Director Nominees” in the Company’s Proxy Statement for its 2015 Annual Meeting of Stockholders to be filed with the SEC on or about March 25, 2015, which is incorporated herein by reference.
|
CERTAIN RELATIONSHIPS AND RELATED TRANSACTIONS, AND DIRECTOR INDEPENDENCE
|
The information required by Item 13 is contained under the caption “Corporate Governance” in the Company’s Proxy Statement for its 2015 Annual Meeting of Stockholders to be filed with the SEC on or about March 25, 2015, which is incorporated herein by reference.
|
PRINCIPAL ACCOUNTING FEES AND SERVICES
|
The information required by Item 14 is contained under the caption “Appointment of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm” in the Company’s Proxy Statement for its 2015 Annual Meeting of Stockholders to be filed with the SEC on or about March 25, 2015, which is incorporated herein by reference.
PART IV
|
EXHIBITS, FINANCIAL STATEMENT SCHEDULES
|
(a)
|
The following documents are filed as part of this report:
|
|
|
|
|
1.
|
Financial Statements: the financial statements, notes, and report of independent registered public accounting firm described in Item 8 of this Annual Report on Form 10-K are contained in a separate section of this Annual Report on Form 10-K commencing on page F-1.
|
|
|
|
|
2.
|
Financial Statement Schedule: the financial statement schedule described in Item 8 of this report is contained in a separate section of this Annual Report on Form 10-K commencing on page F-1.
|
|
|
|
|
3.
|
Exhibits:
|
|
|
|
3.1
|
Restated Certificate of Incorporation of the Registrant dated February 8, 2007 (Incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 3.1 of the Registrant’s Annual Report on Form 10-K, dated February 28, 2007, for the fiscal year ended December 30, 2006).
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
3.2
|
Amended and Restated By-laws of the Registrant, effective as of November 8, 2013 (Incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 3.1 of the Registrant’s Current Report on Form 8-K, dated November 8, 2013).
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
4.1
|
Certain instruments with respect to long-term debt of the Registrant have not been filed as Exhibits to this Report since the total amount of securities authorized under any such instruments does not exceed 10 percent of the total assets of the Registrant and its subsidiaries on a consolidated basis. The Registrant agrees to furnish a copy of each such instrument upon request of the SEC.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
10.1
|
Amended and Restated Consulting Agreement, dated October 25, 2007, by and between the Registrant and Harvey Karp (Incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 10.2 of the Registrant’s Current Report on Form 8-K, dated October 25, 2007).
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
10.2
|
Amendment No. 1, dated December 2, 2008, to the Amended and Restated Consulting Agreement, dated October 25, 2007, by and between the Registrant and Harvey Karp (Incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 10.7 of the Registrant’s Annual Report on Form 10-K, dated February 24, 2009, for the fiscal year ended December 27, 2008).
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
10.3
|
Letter Agreement with Harvey Karp, dated as of May 11, 2011 (Incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 10.1 of the Registrant’s Current Report on Form 8-K, dated May 16, 2011).
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
10.4
|
Amended and Restated Employment Agreement, effective October 30, 2008, by and between the Registrant and Gregory L. Christopher (Incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 10.1 of the Registrant’s Current Report on Form 8-K, dated December 26, 2008).
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
10.5
|
Amendment No. 1 to Amended and Restated Employment Agreement by and between the Registrant and Gregory L. Christopher, dated February 14, 2013 (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 of the Registrant’s Current Report on Form 8-K, dated February 14, 2013).
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
10.6
|
Mueller Industries, Inc. 1994 Non-Employee Director Stock Option Plan, as amended (Incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 10.12 of the Registrant’s Annual Report on Form 10-K, dated March 24, 2003, for the fiscal year ended December 28, 2002 and Exhibit 99.6 of the Registrant’s Current Report on Form 8-K, dated August 31, 2004).
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
10.7
|
Mueller Industries, Inc. 2002 Stock Option Plan Amended and Restated as of February 16, 2006 (Incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 10.20 of the Registrant’s Annual Report on Form 10-K, dated February 28, 2007, for the fiscal year ended December 30, 2006).
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
10.8
|
Mueller Industries, Inc. 2009 Stock Incentive Plan (Incorporated by reference from Appendix I to the Company’s 2009 Definitive Proxy Statement with respect to the Company’s 2009 Annual Meeting of Stockholders, as filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on March 26, 2009).
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
10.9
|
Mueller Industries, Inc. 2014 Stock Incentive Plan (Incorporated by reference from Appendix I to the Company’s 2014 Definitive Proxy Statement with respect to the Company’s 2014 Annual Meeting of Stockholders, as filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on March 19, 2014).
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
10.10
|
Amendment to the Mueller Industries, Inc. 2002 Stock Option Plan, dated July 11, 2011 (Incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 10.16 of the Registrant’s Annual Report on Form 10-K, dated February 28, 2012, for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2011).
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
10.11
|
Amendment to the Mueller Industries, Inc. 2009 Stock Incentive Plan, dated July 11, 2011 (Incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 10.17 of the Registrant’s Annual Report on Form 10-K, dated February 28, 2012, for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2011).
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
10.12
|
Mueller Industries, Inc. 2011 Annual Bonus Plan (Incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 10.18 of the Registrant’s Annual Report on Form 10-K, dated February 28, 2012, for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2011).
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
10.13
|
Summary description of the Registrant’s 2015 incentive plan for certain key employees.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
10.14
|
Amended Credit Agreement, dated as of March 7, 2011, among the Registrant (as Borrower) and Bank of America, N.A. (as agent), and certain lenders named therein, following adoption of Amendment No. 2 dated December 11, 2012 (Incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 10.20 of the Registrant’s Annual Report on Form 10-K, dated February 27, 2013, for the fiscal year ended December 29, 2012).
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
10.15
|
Amendment No. 1 to Credit Agreement among the Registrant (as borrower), Bank of America, N.A. (as agent), and certain lenders named therein dated August 12, 2011 (Incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 10.1 of the Registrant’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q, for the Quarterly period ended October 1, 2011, dated October 27, 2011).
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
10.16
|
Amendment No. 2 to Credit Agreement among the Registrant (as borrower), Bank of America, N.A. (as agent), and certain lenders named therein dated December 11, 2012 (Incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 10.22 of the Registrant’s Annual Report on Form 10-K, dated February 27, 2013, for the fiscal year ended December 29, 2012).
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
10.17
|
Share Purchase Agreement by and among Mueller Europe Limited and Travis Perkins PLC, dated November 21, 2014 (Incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 10.1 of the Registrant’s Current Report on Form 8-K, dated November 24, 2014).
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
21.0
|
Subsidiaries of the Registrant.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
23.0
|
Consent of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
31.1
|
Certification of Chief Executive Officer pursuant to Rule 13a-14(a) and Rule 15d-14(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
31.2
|
Certification of Chief Financial Officer pursuant to Rule 13a-14(a) and Rule 15d-14(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.
|
|
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, this report has been signed below by the following persons on behalf of the Registrant and in the capacities and on the date indicated.
|
Signature and Title
|
Date
|
|
|
|
|
/s/ Jeffrey A. Martin
|
February 24, 2015
|
|
Jeffrey A. Martin
|
|
|
Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer
|
|
|
(Principal Financial and Accounting Officer)
|
|
|
|
|
|
/s/ Richard W. Corman
|
February 24, 2015
|
|
Richard W. Corman
|
|
|
Vice President – Controller
|
|
MUELLER INDUSTRIES, INC.
INDEX TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
|
|
|
F- 2
|
|
|
|
|
for the years ended December 27, 2014, December 28, 2013, and December 29, 2012
|
F- 15
|
|
|
|
|
for the years ended December 27, 2014, December 28, 2013, and December 29, 2012
|
F- 16
|
|
|
|
|
as of December 27, 2014 and December 28, 2013
|
F- 17
|
|
|
|
|
for the years ended December 27, 2014, December 28, 2013, and December 29, 2012
|
F- 18
|
|
|
|
|
for the years ended December 27, 2014, December 28, 2013, and December 29, 2012
|
F- 19
|
|
|
|
F- 21
|
|
|
|
F- 55
|
|
|
FINANCIAL STATEMENT SCHEDULE
|
Schedule for the years ended December 27, 2014, December 28, 2013, and December 29, 2012
|
|
|
|
F- 56
|
|
|
The Financial Review section of our Annual Report on Form 10-K consists of the following: Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Results of Operations and Financial Condition (MD&A), the Consolidated Financial Statements, and Other Financial Information, all of which include information about our significant accounting policies, practices, and the transactions that impact our financial results. The following MD&A describes the principal factors affecting the results of operations, liquidity and capital resources, contractual cash obligations and the critical accounting estimates of the Company. The discussion in the Financial Review section should be read in conjunction with the other sections of this Annual Report, particularly “Item 1: Business” and our other detailed discussion of risk factors included in this MD&A.
Overview
We are a leading manufacturer of plumbing, HVAC, refrigeration, and industrial products. The range of these products is broad: copper tube and fittings; brass and copper alloy rod, bar, and shapes; aluminum and brass forgings; aluminum and copper impact extrusions; plastic fittings and valves; refrigeration valves and fittings; fabricated tubular products; and steel nipples. We also resell imported brass and plastic plumbing valves, malleable iron fittings, faucets and plumbing specialty products. Mueller’s operations are located throughout the United States and in Canada, Mexico, Great Britain, and China.
The Company’s businesses are aggregated into two reportable segments:
●
|
Plumbing & Refrigeration: The Plumbing & Refrigeration segment is composed of SPD, European Operations, and Mexican Operations. SPD manufactures and sells copper tube, copper and plastic fittings, line sets, and valves in North America and sources products for import distribution in North America. European Operations manufacture copper tube in the United Kingdom, which is sold throughout Europe. Mexican Operations consist of pipe nipple manufacturing and import distribution businesses including product lines of malleable iron fittings and other plumbing specialties. The Plumbing & Refrigeration segment sells products to wholesalers in the HVAC, plumbing, and refrigeration markets, to distributors to the manufactured housing and recreational vehicle industries, and to building material retailers.
|
|
OEM: The OEM segment is composed of IPD, EPD, and Mueller-Xingrong, the Company’s Chinese joint venture. The OEM segment manufactures and sells brass and copper alloy rod, bar, and shapes; aluminum and brass forgings; aluminum and copper impact extrusions; refrigeration valves and fittings; fabricated tubular products; and gas valves and assemblies. Mueller-Xingrong manufactures engineered copper tube primarily for air-conditioning applications; these products are sold primarily to OEMs located in China. The OEM segment sells its products primarily to original equipment manufacturers, many of which are in the HVAC, plumbing, and refrigeration markets.
|
New housing starts and commercial construction are important determinants of the Company’s sales to the HVAC, refrigeration, and plumbing markets because the principal end use of a significant portion of our products is in the construction of single and multi-family housing and commercial buildings. Repairs and remodeling projects are also important drivers of underlying demand for these products.
Residential construction in 2014 and 2013 has shown improvement, but remains at levels below historical averages. Continued improvement is expected, but may be tempered by continuing low labor participation rates, the pace of household formations, higher interest rates, and tighter lending standards. Per the U.S. Census Bureau, actual housing starts in the U.S. were 1.0 million in 2014, which compares to 925 thousand in 2013 and 781 thousand in 2012. While mortgage rates have risen in 2014 and 2013, they remain at historically low levels, as the average 30-year fixed mortgage rate was approximately 4.17 percent in 2014 and 3.98 percent in 2013.
The private nonresidential construction sector, which includes offices, industrial, health care and retail projects, began showing modest improvement in 2014, 2013, and 2012 after declines in previous years. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, at December 2014, the seasonally adjusted annual rate of private nonresidential value of construction put in place was $349.0 billion compared to $331.4 billion at December 2013. The actual private nonresidential value of construction put in place was $337.0 billion in 2014, $304.9 billion in 2013, and $301.4 billion in 2012. The Company expects that most of these conditions will continue to gradually improve.
Profitability of certain of the Company’s product lines depends upon the “spreads” between the cost of raw material and the selling prices of its products. The open market prices for copper cathode and scrap, for example, influence the selling price of copper tube, a principal product manufactured by the Company. The Company attempts to minimize the effects on profitability from fluctuations in material costs by passing through these costs to its customers. The Company’s earnings and cash flow are dependent upon these spreads that fluctuate based upon market conditions.
Earnings and profitability are also impacted by unit volumes that are subject to market trends, such as substitute products, imports, technologies, and market share. In its core product lines, the Company intensively manages its pricing structure while attempting to maximize its profitability. From time-to-time, this practice results in lost sales opportunities and lower volume. For plumbing systems, plastics are the primary substitute product; these products represent an increasing share of consumption. U.S. consumption of copper tube is still predominantly supplied by U.S. manufacturers. For certain air-conditioning and refrigeration applications, aluminum based systems are the primary substitution threat. The Company cannot predict the acceptance or the rate of switching that may occur. In recent years, brass rod consumption in the U.S. has declined due to the outsourcing of many manufactured products from offshore regions.
Results of Operations
Consolidated Results
The following table compares summary operating results for 2014, 2013, and 2012:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Percent Change
|
|
|
(In thousands)
|
|
2014
|
|
|
2013
|
|
|
2012
|
|
|
2014 vs. 2013
|
|
|
2013 vs. 2012
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Net sales
|
|
$
|
2,364,227
|
|
|
$
|
2,158,541
|
|
|
$
|
2,189,938
|
|
|
|
9.5
|
%
|
|
|
(1.4
|
)%
|
|
Operating income
|
|
|
153,996
|
|
|
|
270,937
|
|
|
|
126,705
|
|
|
|
(43.2
|
)
|
|
|
113.8
|
|
|
Net income
|
|
|
101,560
|
|
|
|
172,600
|
|
|
|
82,395
|
|
|
|
(41.2
|
)
|
|
|
109.5
|
|
|
The increase in net sales in 2014 was primarily due to (i) incremental sales of $91.7 million contributed by Yorkshire, acquired in February 2014, (ii) $109.1 million of sales contributed by Howell, acquired in October 2013, (iii) an increase in unit sales in the Company’s other core product lines of $49.9 million, and (iv) an increase in net sales of $20.3 million from the Company’s non-core product lines. These increases were offset by lower selling prices of $65.4 million in the Company’s core products.
The decrease in net sales in 2013 was primarily due to lower net selling prices in the Company’s core product lines of $58.6 million and lower unit sales volume in the OEM segment of $12.7 million. This was partially offset by an increase in unit sales volume due to $14.3 million of sales recorded by Howell, and $11.1 million of sales recorded by Westermeyer, acquired in August 2012.
Net selling prices generally fluctuate with changes in raw material costs. Changes in raw material costs are generally passed through to customers by adjustments to selling prices. The following graph shows the Comex average copper price per pound by quarter for the most recent three-year period:
The following tables compare operating expenses as dollar amounts and as a percent of net sales for 2014, 2013, and 2012:
(In thousands)
|
|
2014
|
|
|
2013
|
|
|
2012
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Cost of goods sold
|
|
$
|
2,043,719
|
|
|
$
|
1,862,089
|
|
|
$
|
1,904,463
|
|
Depreciation and amortization
|
|
|
33,735
|
|
|
|
32,394
|
|
|
|
31,495
|
|
Selling, general, and administrative expense
|
|
|
131,740
|
|
|
|
134,914
|
|
|
|
129,456
|
|
Insurance settlements
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
|
(106,332
|
)
|
|
|
(1,500
|
)
|
Gain on sale of assets
|
|
|
(6,259
|
)
|
|
|
(39,765
|
)
|
|
|
—
|
|
Impairment charges
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
|
4,304
|
|
|
|
—
|
|
Litigation settlements
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
|
(4,050
|
)
|
Severance
|
|
|
7,296
|
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
|
3,369
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Operating expenses
|
|
$
|
2,210,231
|
|
|
$
|
1,887,604
|
|
|
$
|
2,063,233
|
|
|
|
Percent of Net Sales
|
|
|
|
2014
|
|
|
2013
|
|
|
2012
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Cost of goods sold
|
|
|
86.4
|
%
|
|
|
86.3
|
%
|
|
|
87.0
|
%
|
Depreciation and amortization
|
|
|
1.4
|
|
|
|
1.5
|
|
|
|
1.4
|
|
Selling, general, and administrative expense
|
|
|
5.6
|
|
|
|
6.3
|
|
|
|
5.9
|
|
Insurance settlements
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
|
(4.9
|
)
|
|
|
(0.1
|
)
|
Gain on sale of assets
|
|
|
(0.3
|
)
|
|
|
(1.8
|
)
|
|
|
—
|
|
Impairment charges
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
|
0.2
|
|
|
|
—
|
|
Litigation settlements
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
|
(0.2
|
)
|
Severance
|
|
|
0.3
|
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
|
0.2
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Operating expenses
|
|
|
93.4
|
%
|
|
|
87.6
|
%
|
|
|
94.2
|
%
|
The increase in cost of goods sold in 2014 was primarily due to the increase in sales volume. The decrease in 2013 as compared to 2012 was largely related to the decrease in the price of copper, the Company’s principal raw material. This was offset by the recognition of a gain from LIFO liquidation that resulted in a reduction of approximately $8.0 million to cost of sales in 2012. Depreciation and amortization increased in 2014 as a result of depreciation and amortization of businesses acquired. The increase in 2013 was related to an increase in capital spending in 2012 and 2013. Selling, general, and administrative expenses decreased in 2014 primarily as a result of a decrease in legal fees of $4.8 million and lower net periodic pension costs of $5.0 million, offset by incremental costs associated with Howell and Yorkshire. The increase in 2013 was related to increased legal fees of $3.0 million, increased bad debt expense of $1.0 million, and increased software purchases of $0.7 million.
During 2014, our operating results were positively impacted by a net gain of $6.3 million recorded for the sale of our plastic pipe manufacturing assets, the land and building in Portage, Michigan, and our United Kingdom based import distribution business. This was offset by $7.3 million in severance charges related to the reorganization of Yorkshire.
Operating income increased in 2013 primarily as a result of the $106.3 million gain recognized in the settlement of our insurance claim related to the September 2011 fire at the Wynne, Arkansas manufacturing operation. In addition, we sold certain of our plastic fittings manufacturing assets and recognized a pre-tax gain of $39.8 million, or 41 cents per diluted share after tax, and recognized fixed asset impairment charges of $4.3 million.
During 2012, our operating results were positively impacted by a net gain of $4.1 million recorded upon receipt of payment related to the October 2012 settlement of a lawsuit against Xiamen Lota International Co., Ltd. We also settled the business interruption portion of our insurance claim related to the July 2009 explosion at the copper tube facility in Fulton, Mississippi and recorded a $1.5 million gain. The gain was offset by $3.4 million in severance charges.
Interest expense increased $1.8 million in 2014 due to increased borrowings by MEL and higher borrowing costs at Mueller-Xingrong to fund working capital. The decrease of $2.9 million in 2013 was related to the redemption of the 6% Subordinated Debentures during the second quarter of 2012. In addition, during 2013 the Company capitalized interest expense related to certain capital projects. Other expense, net, was $0.2 million in 2014 and other income, net, was $4.5 million in 2013. The income in 2013 resulted primarily from a $3.0 million gain on the sale of a non-operating property.
Income tax expense was $45.5 million in 2014, for an effective tax rate of 31 percent. This rate was lower than what would be computed using the U.S. statutory federal rate primarily due to decreases in valuation allowances of $5.7 million; the U.S. production activities deduction benefit of $4.0 million; and the effect of lower foreign tax rates and other foreign adjustments of $1.1 million. These decreases were partially offset by state tax expense (net of federal benefit) of $3.3 million and $1.2 million of other adjustments.
Income tax expense was $98.1 million in 2013, for an effective rate of 36 percent. This rate was higher than what would be computed using the U.S. statutory federal rate primarily due to state tax expense, net of federal benefit, of $6.4 million, and the impact of goodwill disposition of $1.8 million. These increases were partially offset by the U.S. production activities deduction benefit of $4.4 million and the effect of lower foreign tax rates and other foreign adjustments of $1.0 million.
Income tax expense was $36.7 million in 2012, for an effective rate of 30 percent. This rate was lower than what would be computed using the U.S. statutory federal rate primarily due to the U.S. production activities deduction benefit of $3.0 million, effect of lower foreign tax rates and other foreign adjustments of $2.6 million, and reductions in tax contingencies of $3.2 million. These decreases were partially offset by state tax expense, net of federal benefit, of $3.2 million.
Plumbing & Refrigeration Segment
The following table compares summary operating results for 2014, 2013, and 2012 for the businesses comprising our Plumbing & Refrigeration segment:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Percent Change
|
|
|
(In thousands)
|
|
2014
|
|
|
2013
|
|
|
2012
|
|
|
2014 vs. 2013
|
|
|
2013 vs. 2012
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Net sales
|
|
$
|
1,416,701
|
|
|
$
|
1,225,306
|
|
|
$
|
1,238,230
|
|
|
|
15.6
|
%
|
|
|
(1.0
|
)%
|
|
Operating income
|
|
|
93,230
|
|
|
|
219,146
|
|
|
|
87,014
|
|
|
|
(57.5
|
)
|
|
|
151.9
|
|
|
The increase in net sales in 2014 was primarily due to (i) incremental sales of $91.7 million contributed by Yorkshire, (ii) $109.1 million of sales contributed by Howell, and (iii) an increase in net sales of $23.2 million from the segment’s non-core product lines. The decrease in net sales in 2013 was primarily due to lower net selling prices in the segment’s core product lines of $38.7 million. This was partially offset by an increase in unit sales volume due to $14.3 million of sales recorded by Howell and $12.4 million in the segment’s other core product lines.
The following tables compare operating expenses as dollar amounts and as a percent of net sales for 2014, 2013, and 2012:
(In thousands)
|
|
2014
|
|
|
2013
|
|
|
2012
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Cost of goods sold
|
|
$
|
1,215,282
|
|
|
$
|
1,043,059
|
|
|
$
|
1,060,755
|
|
Depreciation and amortization
|
|
|
19,613
|
|
|
|
17,117
|
|
|
|
16,513
|
|
Selling, general, and administrative expense
|
|
|
87,539
|
|
|
|
85,471
|
|
|
|
75,448
|
|
Insurance settlements
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
|
(103,895
|
)
|
|
|
(1,500
|
)
|
Gain on sale of assets
|
|
|
(6,259
|
)
|
|
|
(39,765
|
)
|
|
|
—
|
|
Impairment charges
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
|
4,173
|
|
|
|
—
|
|
Severance
|
|
|
7,296
|
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Operating expenses
|
|
$
|
1,323,471
|
|
|
$
|
1,006,160
|
|
|
$
|
1,151,216
|
|
|
|
Percent of Net Sales
|
|
|
|
2014
|
|
|
2013
|
|
|
2012
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Cost of goods sold
|
|
|
85.8
|
%
|
|
|
85.1
|
%
|
|
|
85.7
|
%
|
Depreciation and amortization
|
|
|
1.4
|
|
|
|
1.4
|
|
|
|
1.3
|
|
Selling, general, and administrative expense
|
|
|
6.2
|
|
|
|
7.0
|
|
|
|
6.1
|
|
Insurance settlements
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
|
(8.5
|
)
|
|
|
(0.1
|
)
|
Gain on sale of assets
|
|
|
(0.4
|
)
|
|
|
(3.2
|
)
|
|
|
—
|
|
Impairment charges
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
|
0.3
|
|
|
|
—
|
|
Severance
|
|
|
0.5
|
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Operating expenses
|
|
|
93.5
|
%
|
|
|
82.1
|
%
|
|
|
93.0
|
%
|
The increase in cost of goods sold in 2014 was primarily due to the increase in net sales, while the decrease in 2013 was largely related to the decrease in the price of copper, the Company’s principal raw material. The decrease in 2013 was offset by the recognition of a gain from LIFO liquidation that resulted in a reduction of approximately $8.0 million to cost of sales in 2012. Depreciation and amortization increased in 2014 as a result of depreciation and amortization of businesses acquired. The increase in 2013 was related to an increase in capital spending in 2012 and 2013. Selling, general, and administrative expenses increased in 2014 primarily as a result of higher employment costs, including incentive compensation, of $2.8 million and incremental costs associated with Howell and Yorkshire. This was offset by a reduction in expense related to legal matters of $3.0 million. The increase in 2013 was due to higher employment costs, including incentive compensation, of $5.4 million, an increase in legal fees of $1.3 million, and an increase in bad debt expense of $1.0 million.
During 2014, operating results were positively impacted by a net gain of $6.3 million recorded for the sale of our plastic pipe manufacturing assets, the land and building in Portage, Michigan, and our United Kingdom based import distribution business. This was offset by $7.3 million in severance charges related to the reorganization of Yorkshire.
Operating income increased in 2013 primarily as a result of the $103.9 million gain recognized in the settlement of our insurance claim related to the September 2011 fire at the Wynne, Arkansas manufacturing operation. In addition, we sold certain of our plastic fittings manufacturing assets and recognized a pre-tax gain of $39.8 million and recognized fixed asset impairment charges of $4.2 million.
In 2012, we settled the business interruption portion of our insurance claim related to the July 2009 explosion at our copper tube facility in Fulton, Mississippi and recorded a $1.5 million gain.
OEM Segment
The following table compares summary operating results for 2014, 2013, and 2012 for the businesses comprising our OEM segment:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Percent Change
|
|
|
(In thousands)
|
|
2014
|
|
|
2013
|
|
|
2012
|
|
|
2014 vs. 2013
|
|
|
2013 vs. 2012
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Net sales
|
|
$
|
959,914
|
|
|
$
|
947,784
|
|
|
$
|
974,606
|
|
|
|
1.3
|
%
|
|
|
(2.8
|
)%
|
|
Operating income
|
|
|
85,714
|
|
|
|
76,631
|
|
|
|
67,087
|
|
|
|
11.9
|
|
|
|
14.2
|
|
|
The increase in net sales in 2014 was primarily due to an increase in unit sales volume of $46.2 million, offset by a decrease of $31.4 million due to lower net selling prices in the segment’s core product lines of brass rod, forgings, and commercial tube. The decrease in net sales in 2013 was primarily due to lower net selling prices of $18.6 million and a decrease in unit sales volume of $12.7 million in the segment’s core product lines. This was partially offset by an increase in unit sales volume due to $11.1 million of sales recorded by Westermeyer.
The following tables compare operating expenses as dollar amounts and as a percent of net sales for 2014, 2013, and 2012:
(In thousands)
|
|
2014
|
|
|
2013
|
|
|
2012
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Cost of goods sold
|
|
$
|
840,823
|
|
|
$
|
833,518
|
|
|
$
|
866,404
|
|
Depreciation and amortization
|
|
|
11,919
|
|
|
|
13,025
|
|
|
|
13,435
|
|
Selling, general, and administrative expense
|
|
|
21,458
|
|
|
|
24,479
|
|
|
|
27,680
|
|
Impairment charges
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
|
131
|
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Operating expenses
|
|
$
|
874,200
|
|
|
$
|
871,153
|
|
|
$
|
907,519
|
|
|
|
Percent of Net Sales
|
|
|
|
2014
|
|
|
2013
|
|
|
2012
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Cost of goods sold
|
|
|
87.6
|
%
|
|
|
87.9
|
%
|
|
|
88.9
|
%
|
Depreciation and amortization
|
|
|
1.2
|
|
|
|
1.4
|
|
|
|
1.4
|
|
Selling, general, and administrative expense
|
|
|
2.2
|
|
|
|
2.6
|
|
|
|
2.8
|
|
Impairment charges
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Operating expenses
|
|
|
91.0
|
%
|
|
|
91.9
|
%
|
|
|
93.1
|
%
|
The increase in cost of goods sold in 2014 and the decrease in 2013 were related to factors consistent with those noted regarding changes in net sales. Depreciation and amortization decreased in 2014 and 2013 as a result of several fixed assets becoming fully depreciated. Selling, general, and administrative expenses decreased in 2014 primarily as a result of lower net periodic pension costs of $3.5 million. The decrease in 2013 was due to lower employment costs, including incentive compensation, of $1.0 million and losses on fixed asset impairments recorded in 2012.
Liquidity and Capital Resources
The following table presents selected financial information and statistics for 2014, 2013, and 2012:
(In thousands)
|
|
2014
|
|
|
2013
|
|
|
2012
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Cash and cash equivalents
|
|
$
|
352,134
|
|
|
$
|
311,800
|
|
|
$
|
198,934
|
|
Property, plant, and equipment, net
|
|
|
245,910
|
|
|
|
244,457
|
|
|
|
233,263
|
|
Total debt
|
|
|
241,444
|
|
|
|
235,333
|
|
|
|
234,870
|
|
Working capital, net of cash and current debt
|
|
|
387,204
|
|
|
|
372,744
|
|
|
|
317,134
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Cash provided by operating activities
|
|
|
90,605
|
|
|
|
128,513
|
|
|
|
108,297
|
|
Cash used in investing activities
|
|
|
(38,424
|
)
|
|
|
(2,985
|
)
|
|
|
(16,376
|
)
|
Cash used in financing activities
|
|
|
(10,551
|
)
|
|
|
(13,643
|
)
|
|
|
(408,648
|
)
|
Management believes that cash provided by operations, funds available under the credit agreement, and cash on hand of $352.1 million will be adequate to meet the Company’s normal future capital expenditure and operational needs. Our current ratio (current assets divided by current liabilities) was 4.0 to 1 as of December 27, 2014.
As of December 27, 2014, $91.6 million of our cash and cash equivalents were held by foreign subsidiaries. The Company expects to repatriate $2.2 million of this cash and has accrued deferred tax on these earnings. All other earnings of the foreign subsidiaries are considered to be permanently reinvested, and it is not practicable to compute the potential deferred tax liability associated with these undistributed foreign earnings. The Company believes that cash held domestically, funds available through the credit agreement, and cash generated from U.S. based operations will be adequate to meet the future needs of the U.S. based operations.
The Company has significant environmental remediation obligations expected to occur over future years. Approximately $2.2 million was spent during 2014 for environmental matters. As of December 27, 2014, the Company expects to spend $0.7 million in 2015, $0.8 million in 2016, $0.7 million in 2017, $0.7 million in 2018, $0.8 million in 2019, and $9.4 million thereafter for ongoing projects. The timing of a potential payment for a $9.5 million settlement offer related to the Southeast Kansas Sites has not yet been determined.
Cash used to fund pension and other postretirement benefit obligations was $4.4 million in 2014 and $2.8 million in 2013.
Our Board of Directors declared a regular quarterly dividend of 7.5 cents per share for each quarter of fiscal 2014 and 6.25 cents per share on our common stock for each fiscal quarter of 2013. Payment of dividends in the future is dependent upon the Company’s financial condition, cash flows, capital requirements, and other factors.
Fluctuations in the cost of copper and other raw materials affect the Company’s liquidity. Changes in material costs directly impact components of working capital, primarily inventories and accounts receivable. The price of copper has fluctuated significantly and averaged approximately $3.12 in 2014, $3.34 in 2013, and $3.61 in 2012.
Cash Provided by Operating Activities
During 2014, cash provided by operating activities was primarily attributable to consolidated net income of $102.5 million and depreciation and amortization of $34.1 million. These cash increases were offset by increased receivables of $21.4 million, an increase in other assets of $23.7 million, and a decrease in other liabilities of $2.2 million. These changes were primarily due to increased sales volume in certain businesses and additional working capital needs of acquired businesses.
During 2013, the primary components of cash provided by operating activities were consolidated net income of $173.3 million, partially offset by the gain related to the settlement of the insurance claim for the September 2011 fire in Wynne, Arkansas of $106.3 million and the $39.8 million gain on the sale of the plastic fittings manufacturing assets. There were also increases due to the non-capital related insurance proceeds of $32.4 million, changes in working capital, and non-cash adjustments primarily consisting of depreciation and amortization of $30.9 million and deferred income taxes of $19.2 million. Major changes in working capital included a $19.4 million decrease in trade accounts receivable and a $14.1 million decrease in current liabilities. Changes in the components of working capital are heavily driven by the changes in raw material prices, primarily copper.
Cash Used in Investing Activities
The major components of net cash used in investing activities in 2014 included $30.1 million for the acquisition of Yorkshire, capital expenditures of $39.2 million, and deposits into restricted cash of $2.9 million. These decreases were partially offset by $33.8 million proceeds from the sales of assets.
The major components of net cash used in investing activities in 2013 included $55.3 million for the acquisition of Howell and $41.3 million used for capital expenditures. These decreases were partially offset by $65.1 million for proceeds from the sale of assets, including certain plastic fittings manufacturing assets, and $29.9 million for insurance proceeds for property and equipment related to the fire at our Wynne, Arkansas manufacturing operation.
Cash Used in Financing Activities
For 2014, net cash used in financing activities consisted primarily of $16.8 million for payment of regular quarterly dividends to stockholders of the Company, offset by $7.3 million received for the issuance of debt by Mueller-Xingrong.
For 2013, net cash used in financing activities totaled $13.6 million, which consisted primarily of $13.9 million for payment of regular quarterly dividends to stockholders of the Company.
Property, Plant, and Equipment, net
The Company’s capital expenditures were $39.2 million during 2014 and related primarily to upgrading equipment and implementing new manufacturing technologies in our copper tube and brass rod mills. We anticipate investing approximately $35 million to $40 million for capital expenditures during 2015.
Long-Term Debt
Effective May 29, 2014, the Company elected to modify its credit agreement (the Credit Agreement) entered into on March 7, 2011 to reduce the unsecured $350.0 million revolving credit facility (the Revolving Credit Facility) to $200.0 million. The Credit Agreement also provides for a $200.0 million Term Loan Facility, which, together with the Revolving Credit Facility, both mature on December 11, 2017. The Revolving Credit Facility backed approximately $10.5 million in letters of credit at the end of 2014.
Additionally, MEL’s credit agreement (the Invoice Facility, described in Note 7 of the Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements) has a total borrowing capacity of £40.0 million, or approximately $62.2 million. The Invoice Facility has an initial term of two years. Borrowings outstanding under the Invoice Facility are secured by MEL’s trade account receivables denominated in British pounds. MEL did not have any borrowings outstanding under the Invoice Facility at December 27, 2014.
On September 23, 2013, Mueller-Xingrong entered into a secured revolving credit facility (the JV Credit Agreement), which matured on September 24, 2014. At the maturity date, individual draws on the JV Credit Agreement had maturity dates ranging up to nine months. Borrowings under the JV Credit Agreement bear an interest rate at the latest base-lending rate published by the People’s Bank of China, which was 5.6 percent at December 27, 2014. On February 2, 2015, Mueller-Xingrong entered into a new secured revolving credit agreement with a total borrowing capacity of RMB 230 million (or approximately $37.1 million). In addition, Mueller-Xingrong occasionally finances working capital through various accounts receivable and bank draft discount arrangements. Total borrowings at Mueller-Xingrong were $35.2 million at December 27, 2014.
As of December 27, 2014, the Company’s total debt was $241.4 million or 23.3 percent of its total capitalization.
Covenants contained in the Company’s financing obligations require, among other things, the maintenance of minimum levels of tangible net worth and the satisfaction of certain minimum financial ratios. As of December 27, 2014, the Company was in compliance with all of its debt covenants.
Share Repurchase Program
The Company’s Board of Directors has extended, until October 2015, its authorization to repurchase up to 20 million shares of the Company’s common stock through open market transactions or through privately negotiated transactions. The Company has no obligation to repurchase any shares and may cancel, suspend, or extend the time period for the repurchase of shares at any time. Any repurchases will be funded primarily through existing cash and cash from operations. The Company may hold any shares repurchased in treasury or use a portion of the repurchased shares for stock-based compensation plans, as well as for other corporate purposes. From its initial authorization in 1999 through December 27, 2014, the Company had repurchased approximately 4.7 million shares under this authorization.
Contractual Cash Obligations
The following table presents payments due by the Company under contractual obligations with minimum firm commitments as of December 27, 2014:
|
|
|
|
|
Payments Due by Year
|
|
(In millions)
|
Total
|
|
|
2015
|
|
|
2016-2017
|
|
|
2018-2019
|
|
|
Thereafter
|
|
Deb
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total debt
|
$
|
241.4
|
|
|
$
|
36.2
|
|
|
$
|
202.0
|
|
|
$
|
2.0
|
|
|
$
|
1.2
|
|
Consulting agreement (1)
|
|
2.7
|
|
|
|
1.3
|
|
|
|
1.4
|
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
|
—
|
|
Operating leases
|
|
15.3
|
|
|
|
6.2
|
|
|
|
6.6
|
|
|
|
2.5
|
|
|
|
—
|
|
Heavy machinery and equipment commitments
|
|
1.5
|
|
|
|
1.5
|
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
|
—
|
|
Purchase commitments (2)
|
|
603.7
|
|
|
|
603.7
|
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
|
—
|
|
Interest payments (3)
|
|
16.6
|
|
|
|
5.5
|
|
|
|
11.0
|
|
|
|
0.1
|
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total contractual cash obligations
|
$
|
881.2
|
|
|
$
|
654.4
|
|
|
$
|
221.0
|
|
|
$
|
4.6
|
|
|
$
|
1.2
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(1)
|
See Note 8 to Consolidated Financial Statements.
|
|
|
|
|
(2)
|
The Company has contractual supply commitments for raw materials totaling $565.2 million at year-end prices; these contracts contain variable pricing based on Comex and the London Metals Exchange. These commitments are for purchases of raw materials that are expected to be consumed in the ordinary course of business.
|
|
|
|
|
(3)
|
These payments represent interest on variable rate debt based on rates in effect at December 27, 2014. The Company has entered into an interest rate swap, effective January 12, 2015, which will fix the interest rate associated with the majority of its variable rate debt.
|
|
The above obligations will be satisfied with existing cash, funds available under the credit agreement, and cash generated by operations. The Company has no off-balance sheet financing arrangements except for the operating leases identified above.
Market Risks
The Company is exposed to market risks from changes in raw material and energy costs, interest rates, and foreign currency exchange rates. To reduce such risks, the Company may periodically use financial instruments. Hedging transactions are authorized and executed pursuant to policies and procedures. Further, the Company does not buy or sell financial instruments for trading purposes. A discussion of the Company’s accounting for derivative instruments and hedging activities is included in “Note 1 - Summary of Significant Accounting Policies” in the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.
Cost and Availability of Raw Materials and Energy
Raw materials, primarily copper and brass, represent the largest component of the Company’s variable costs of production. The cost of these materials is subject to global market fluctuations caused by factors beyond our control. Significant increases in the cost of metal, to the extent not reflected in prices for our finished products, or the lack of availability could materially and adversely affect the Company’s business, results of operations and financial condition.
The Company occasionally enters into forward fixed-price arrangements with certain customers. We may utilize futures contracts to hedge risks associated with these forward fixed-price arrangements. We may also utilize futures contracts to manage price risk associated with inventory. Depending on the nature of the hedge, changes in the fair value of the futures contracts will either be offset against the change in fair value of the inventory through earnings or recognized as a component of accumulated other comprehensive income (AOCI) and reflected in earnings upon the sale of inventory. Periodic value fluctuations of the contracts generally offset the value fluctuations of the underlying fixed-price transactions or inventory. At year-end, the Company held open futures contracts to purchase approximately $23.7 million of copper over the next 12 months related to fixed-price sales orders and to sell approximately $1.6 million of copper over the next three months related to copper inventory.
We may enter into futures contracts or forward fixed-price arrangements with certain vendors to manage price risk associated with natural gas purchases. The effective portion of gains and losses with respect to futures positions are deferred in equity as a component of AOCI and reflected in earnings upon consumption of natural gas. Periodic value fluctuations of the futures contracts generally offset the value fluctuations of the underlying natural gas prices. There were no open futures contracts to purchase natural gas at December 27, 2014.
Interest Rates
The Company had variable-rate debt outstanding of $241.4 million at December 27, 2014 and $235.3 million at December 28, 2013. At these borrowing levels, a hypothetical 10 percent increase in interest rates would have had an insignificant unfavorable impact on the Company’s pre-tax earnings and cash flows. The primary interest rate exposures on floating-rate debt are based on LIBOR, the base-lending rate published by the People’s Bank of China, and the base-lending rate published by HSBC. There was no fixed-rate debt outstanding as of December 27, 2014 or December 28, 2013.
We have reduced our exposure to increases in LIBOR by entering into interest rate swap contracts. These contracts have been designated as cash flow hedges. The fair value of these contracts has been recorded in the Consolidated Balance Sheets, and the related gains and losses on the contracts are deferred in stockholders’ equity as a component of AOCI. Deferred gains or losses on the contracts will be recognized in interest expense in the period in which the related interest payment being hedged is expensed. The interest rate swap agreement has an effective date of January 12, 2015.
Foreign Currency Exchange Rates
Foreign currency exposures arising from transactions include firm commitments and anticipated transactions denominated in a currency other than an entity’s functional currency. The Company and its subsidiaries generally enter into transactions denominated in their respective functional currencies. We may utilize certain futures or forward contracts with financial institutions to hedge foreign currency transactional exposures. Gains and losses with respect to these positions are deferred in equity as a component of AOCI and reflected in earnings upon collection of receivables or payment of commitments. At December 27, 2014, the Company had open forward contracts with a financial institution to sell approximately 0.6 million Canadian dollars, 5.1 million euros, 25.8 million Swedish kronor, and 6.8 million Norwegian kroner through December 2015. It also held open futures contracts to buy approximately 1.5 million euros through March 2015.
The Company’s primary foreign currency exposure arises from foreign-denominated revenues and profits and their translation into U.S. dollars. The primary currencies to which we are exposed include the Canadian dollar, the British pound sterling, the euro, the Mexican peso, and the Chinese renminbi. The Company generally views as long-term its investments in foreign subsidiaries with a functional currency other than the U.S. dollar. As a result, we generally do not hedge these net investments. The net investment in foreign subsidiaries translated into U.S. dollars using the year-end exchange rates was $185.6 million at December 27, 2014 and $174.8 million at December 28, 2013. The potential loss in value of the Company’s net investment in foreign subsidiaries resulting from a hypothetical 10 percent adverse change in quoted foreign currency exchange rates at December 27, 2014 and December 28, 2013 amounted to $18.6 million and $17.5 million, respectively. This change would be reflected in the foreign currency translation component of AOCI in the equity section of our Consolidated Balance Sheets until the foreign subsidiaries are sold or otherwise disposed.
The Company has significant investments in foreign operations whose functional currency is the British pound sterling and the Mexican peso. During 2014, the value of the Mexican peso decreased approximately 11 percent and the British pound decreased approximately six percent relative to the U.S. dollar, respectively. The resulting foreign currency translation losses were recorded as a component of AOCI.
Critical Accounting Policies and Estimates
The Company’s Consolidated Financial Statements are prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States. Application of these principles requires the Company to make estimates, assumptions, and judgments that affect the amounts reported in the Consolidated Financial Statements. Management believes the most complex and sensitive judgments, because of their significance to the Consolidated Financial Statements, result primarily from the need to make estimates about the effects of matters which are inherently uncertain. The accounting policies and estimates that are most critical to aid in understanding and evaluating the results of operations and financial position of the Company include the following:
Inventory Valuation
The Company’s inventories are valued at the lower-of-cost-or-market. The material component of its U.S. copper tube and copper fittings inventories is valued on a last-in, first-out (LIFO) basis. Other manufactured inventories, including the non-material components of U.S. copper tube and copper fittings, are valued on a first-in, first-out (FIFO) basis. Certain inventories purchased for resale are valued on an average cost basis. Elements of cost in finished goods inventory in addition to the cost of material include depreciation, amortization, utilities, consumable production supplies, maintenance, production wages, and transportation costs.
The market price of copper cathode and scrap are subject to volatility. During periods when open market prices decline below net realizable value, the Company may need to provide an allowance to reduce the carrying value of its inventory. In addition, certain items in inventory may be considered obsolete and, as such, the Company may establish an allowance to reduce the carrying value of those items to their net realizable value. Changes in these estimates related to the value of inventory, if any, may result in a materially adverse impact on our reported financial position or results of operations. The Company recognizes the impact of any changes in estimates, assumptions, and judgments in income in the period in which it is determined.
Goodwill
Goodwill represents cost in excess of fair values assigned to the underlying net assets of acquired businesses. Goodwill is subject to impairment testing, which is performed by the Company as of the first day of the fourth quarter of each fiscal year, unless circumstances dictate more frequent testing. For testing purposes, the Company uses components of its operating segments; components of a segment having similar economic characteristics are combined. The annual impairment test is a two-step process. The first step is the estimation of fair value of reporting units that have goodwill. If this estimate indicates that impairment potentially exists, the second step is performed. Step two, used to measure the amount of goodwill impairment loss, compares the implied fair value of goodwill to the carrying value. In step two the Company is required to allocate the fair value of each reporting unit, as determined in step one, to the fair value of the reporting unit’s assets and liabilities, including unrecognized intangible assets and corporate allocation where applicable, in a hypothetical purchase price allocation as if the reporting unit had been purchased on that date. If the implied fair value of goodwill is less than the carrying value, an impairment charge is recorded. Inputs to that model include various estimates, including cash flow projections and assumptions. Some of the inputs are highly subjective and are affected by changes in business conditions and other factors. Changes in any of the inputs could have an effect on future tests and result in material impairment charges.
The Company has three reporting units with goodwill. Two of these reporting units are included in the Plumbing & Refrigeration segment, and one is included in the OEM segment.
Income Taxes
Deferred income tax assets and liabilities are recognized when differences arise between the treatment of certain items for financial statement and tax purposes. Realization of certain components of deferred tax assets is dependent upon the occurrence of future events. The Company records valuation allowances to reduce its deferred tax assets to the amount it believes is more likely than not to be realized. These valuation allowances can be impacted by changes in tax laws, changes to statutory tax rates, and future taxable income levels and are based on the Company’s judgment, estimates, and assumptions. In the event the Company were to determine that it would not be able to realize all or a portion of the net deferred tax assets in the future, the Company would increase the valuation allowance through a charge to income tax expense in the period that such determination is made. Conversely, if the Company were to determine that it would be able to realize its deferred tax assets in the future, in excess of the net carrying amounts, the Company would decrease the recorded valuation allowance through a decrease to income tax expense in the period that such determination is made.
The Company provides for uncertain tax positions and the related interest and penalties, if any, based upon management’s assessment of whether a tax benefit is more likely than not to be sustained upon examination by tax authorities. Tax benefits for uncertain tax positions that are recognized in the financial statements are measured as the largest amount of benefit, determined on a cumulative probability basis, that is more likely than not to be realized upon ultimate settlement. To the extent the Company prevails in matters for which a liability for an uncertain tax position is established or is required to pay amounts in excess of the liability, its effective tax rate in a given financial statement period may be affected.
Environmental Reserves
The Company recognizes an environmental liability when it is probable the liability exists and the amount is reasonably estimable. We estimate the duration and extent of our remediation obligations based upon reports of outside consultants; internal analyses of cleanup costs, and ongoing monitoring costs; communications with regulatory agencies; and changes in environmental law. If we were to determine that our estimates of the duration or extent of our environmental obligations were no longer accurate, we would adjust our environmental liabilities accordingly in the period that such determination is made. Estimated future expenditures for environmental remediation are not discounted to their present value. Accrued environmental liabilities are not reduced by potential insurance reimbursements.
Environmental expenses that relate to ongoing operations are included as a component of cost of goods sold. Environmental expenses related to non-operating properties are included in other income, net in the Consolidated Statements of Income.
Allowance for Doubtful Accounts
The Company provides an allowance for receivables that may not be fully collected. In circumstances where we are aware of a customer’s inability to meet their financial obligations (e.g., bankruptcy filings or substantial downgrading of credit ratings), we record an allowance for doubtful accounts against amounts due to reduce the net recognized receivable to the amount we believe most likely will be collected. For all other customers, we recognize an allowance for doubtful accounts based on our historical collection experience. If circumstances change (e.g., greater than expected defaults or an unexpected material change in a major customer’s ability to meet their financial obligations), our estimate of the recoverability of amounts due could be changed by a material amount.
Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward-Looking Information
This Annual Report contains various forward-looking statements and includes assumptions concerning the Company’s operations, future results, and prospects. These forward-looking statements are based on current expectations and are subject to risk and uncertainties. In connection with the “safe harbor” provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, the Company provides the following cautionary statement identifying important economic, political, and technological factors, among others, which could cause actual results or events to differ materially from those set forth in or implied by the forward-looking statements and related assumptions.
In addition to those factors discussed under “Risk Factors” in this Annual Report on Form 10-K, such factors include: (i) the current and projected future business environment, including interest rates and capital and consumer spending; (ii) the domestic housing and commercial construction industry environment; (iii) availability and price fluctuations in commodities (including copper, natural gas, and other raw materials, including crude oil that indirectly affects plastic resins); (iv) competitive factors and competitor responses to the Company’s initiatives; (v) stability of government laws and regulations, including taxes; (vi) availability of financing; and (vii) continuation of the environment to make acquisitions, domestic and foreign, including regulatory requirements and market values of candidates.