From 10-K
Table of Contents

 

 

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

 

FORM 10-K

(Mark One)

 

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

For the fiscal year ended December 31, 2015

OR

 

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

For the transition period from                     to                    

Commission File Number 1-12981

 

 

AMETEK, Inc.

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

 

Delaware   14-1682544
(State or other jurisdiction of incorporation or organization)   (I.R.S. Employer Identification No.)

1100 Cassatt Road

Berwyn, Pennsylvania

  19312-1177
(Address of principal executive offices)   (Zip Code)

Registrant’s telephone number, including area code: (610) 647-2121

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

 

Title of each class

 

Name of each exchange on which registered

Common Stock, $0.01 Par Value (voting)

  New York Stock Exchange

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

None

(Title of Class)

Indicate by check mark if the registrant is a well-known seasoned issuer, as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act.    Yes  þ        No  ¨

Indicate by check mark if the registrant is not required to file reports pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Act.    Yes  ¨        No  þ

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days.    Yes  þ        No  ¨

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has submitted electronically and posted on its corporate Web site, if any, every Interactive Data File required to be submitted and posted pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulation S-T (§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  þ        No  ¨

Indicate by check mark if disclosure of delinquent filers pursuant to Item 405 of Regulation S-K (§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.    þ

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

 

Large accelerated filer  þ

  

Accelerated filer  ¨

   Non-accelerated filer  ¨   

Smaller reporting company  ¨

      (Do not check if a smaller reporting company)   

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

The aggregate market value of the voting stock held by non-affiliates of the registrant was approximately $13.3 billion as of June 30, 2015, the last business day of the registrant’s most recently completed second fiscal quarter.

The number of shares of the registrant’s Common Stock outstanding as of January 29, 2016 was 235,538,207.

Documents Incorporated by Reference

Part III incorporates information by reference from the Proxy Statement for the Annual Meeting of Stockholders on May 4, 2016.

 

 


Table of Contents

AMETEK, Inc.

2015 Form 10-K Annual Report

Table of Contents

 

          Page  
PART I   

Item 1.

   Business      2   

Item 1A.

   Risk Factors      11   

Item 1B.

   Unresolved Staff Comments      16   

Item 2.

   Properties      16   

Item 3.

   Legal Proceedings      16   
PART II   
Item 5.    Market for Registrant’s Common Equity, Related Stockholder Matters and Issuer Purchases of Equity Securities      17   
Item 6.    Selected Financial Data      20   
Item 7.    Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations      22   
Item 7A.    Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk      40   
Item 8.    Financial Statements and Supplementary Data      41   
Item 9.    Changes in and Disagreements With Accountants on Accounting and Financial Disclosure      86   
Item 9A.    Controls and Procedures      86   
Item 9B.    Other Information      86   
PART III   
Item 10.    Directors, Executive Officers and Corporate Governance      86   
Item 11.    Executive Compensation      87   
Item 12.    Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and Management and Related Stockholder Matters      87   
Item 13.    Certain Relationships and Related Transactions, and Director Independence      87   
Item 14.    Principal Accounting Fees and Services      87   
PART IV   
Item 15.    Exhibits and Financial Statement Schedules      88   

SIGNATURES

     89   

Index to Exhibits

     90   

 

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Table of Contents

PART I

 

Item 1. Business

General Development of Business

AMETEK, Inc. (“AMETEK” or the “Company”) is incorporated in Delaware. Its predecessor was originally incorporated in Delaware in 1930 under the name American Machine and Metals, Inc. AMETEK is a leading global manufacturer of electronic instruments and electromechanical devices with operations in North America, Europe, Asia and South America. AMETEK maintains its principal executive offices in suburban Philadelphia at 1100 Cassatt Road, Berwyn, Pennsylvania, 19312. Listed on the New York Stock Exchange (symbol: AME), the common stock of AMETEK is a component of the Standard and Poor’s 500 and the Russell 1000 Indices.

Website Access to Information

AMETEK’s annual report on Form 10-K, quarterly reports on Form 10-Q, current reports on Form 8-K and all amendments to those reports filed or furnished pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 are made available free of charge on the Company’s website at www.ametek.com in the “Investors — Financial News and Information” section as soon as reasonably practicable after such material is electronically filed with, or furnished to, the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. AMETEK has posted free of charge on the investor information portion of its website its corporate governance guidelines, Board committee charters and codes of ethics. Those documents also are available in published form free of charge to any stockholder who requests them by writing to the Investor Relations Department at AMETEK, Inc., 1100 Cassatt Road, Berwyn, Pennsylvania, 19312.

Products and Services

AMETEK’s products are marketed and sold worldwide through two operating groups: Electronic Instruments (“EIG”) and Electromechanical (“EMG”). Electronic Instruments is a leader in the design and manufacture of advanced instruments for the process, aerospace, power and industrial markets. Electromechanical is a differentiated supplier of electrical interconnects, precision motion control solutions, specialty metals, thermal management systems, and floor care and specialty motors. Its end markets include aerospace and defense, medical, factory automation, mass transit, petrochemical and other industrial markets.

Competitive Strengths

Management believes AMETEK has significant competitive advantages that help strengthen and sustain its market positions. Those advantages include:

Significant Market Share.    AMETEK maintains significant market shares in a number of targeted niche markets through its ability to produce and deliver high-quality products at competitive prices. EIG has significant market positions in niche segments of the process, aerospace, power and industrial instrument markets. EMG holds significant positions in niche segments of the aerospace and defense, precision motion control, factory automation, robotics, medical and mass transit markets.

Technological and Development Capabilities.    AMETEK believes it has certain technological advantages over its competitors that allow it to maintain its leading market positions. Historically, it has demonstrated an ability to develop innovative new products that anticipate customer needs and to bring them to market successfully. It has consistently added to its investment in research, development and engineering and improved its new product development efforts with the adoption of Design for Six Sigma and Value Analysis/Value Engineering methodologies. These have improved the pace and quality of product innovation and resulted in the introduction of a steady stream of new products across all of AMETEK’s lines of business.

 

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Efficient and Low-Cost Manufacturing Operations.    Through its Operational Excellence initiatives, AMETEK has established a lean manufacturing platform for its businesses. In its effort to achieve best-cost manufacturing, AMETEK has relocated manufacturing and expanded plants in Brazil, China, the Czech Republic, Malaysia, Mexico, and Serbia. These plants offer proximity to customers and provide opportunities for increasing international sales. Acquisitions also have allowed AMETEK to reduce costs and achieve operating synergies by consolidating operations, product lines and distribution channels, benefitting both of AMETEK’s operating groups.

Experienced Management Team.    Another component of AMETEK’s success is the strength of its management team and that team’s commitment to improving Company performance. AMETEK senior management has extensive industry experience and an average of approximately 24 years of AMETEK service. The management team is focused on achieving results, building stockholder value and continually growing AMETEK. Individual performance is tied to financial results through Company-established stock ownership guidelines and equity incentive programs.

Business Strategy

AMETEK is committed to achieving earnings growth through the successful implementation of a Corporate Growth Plan. The goal of that plan is double-digit annual percentage growth in earnings per share over the business cycle and a superior return on total capital. In addition, other financial initiatives have been or may be undertaken, including public and private debt or equity issuance, bank debt refinancing, local financing in certain foreign countries and share repurchases.

AMETEK’s Corporate Growth Plan consists of four key strategies:

Operational Excellence.    Operational Excellence is AMETEK’s cornerstone strategy for improving profit margins and strengthening its competitive position across its businesses. Operational Excellence focuses on cost reductions, improvements in operating efficiencies and sustainable practices. It emphasizes team building and a participative management culture. AMETEK’s Operational Excellence strategies include lean manufacturing, global sourcing, Design for Six Sigma and Value Engineering/Value Analysis. Each plays an important role in improving efficiency, enhancing the pace and quality of innovation and cost reduction. Operational Excellence initiatives have yielded lower operating and administrative costs, shortened manufacturing cycle times, higher cash flow from operations and increased customer satisfaction. They also have played a key role in achieving synergies from newly acquired companies.

Strategic Acquisitions.    Acquisitions are a key to achieving the goals of AMETEK’s Corporate Growth Plan. Since the beginning of 2011 through December 31, 2015, AMETEK has completed 22 acquisitions with annualized sales totaling approximately $1.3 billion, including two acquisitions in 2015 (see “Recent Acquisitions”). AMETEK targets companies that offer the right strategic, technical and cultural fit. It seeks to acquire businesses in adjacent markets with complementary products and technologies. It also looks for businesses that provide attractive growth opportunities, often in new and emerging markets. Through these and prior acquisitions, AMETEK’s management team has developed considerable skill in identifying, acquiring and integrating new businesses. As it has executed its acquisition strategy, AMETEK’s mix of businesses has shifted toward those that are more highly differentiated and, therefore, offer better opportunities for growth and profitability.

Global & Market Expansion.    AMETEK has experienced dramatic growth outside the United States, reflecting an expanding international customer base and the attractive growth potential of its businesses in overseas markets. Its largest presence outside the United States is in Europe, where it has operations in the United Kingdom, Germany, France, Denmark, Italy, the Czech Republic, Serbia, Romania, Austria, Switzerland and the Netherlands. While Europe remains its largest overseas market, AMETEK has pursued growth opportunities worldwide, especially in key emerging markets. It has grown sales in Latin America

 

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and Asia by building, acquiring and expanding manufacturing facilities in Reynosa, Mexico; Sao Paulo, Brazil; Shanghai, China; and Penang, Malaysia. AMETEK also has expanded its sales and service capabilities in China and enhanced its sales presence and engineering capabilities in India. Elsewhere in Asia and in the Middle East, it has expanded sales, service and technical support. Recently acquired businesses have further added to AMETEK’s international presence. In recent years, AMETEK has acquired businesses with plants in Germany, Switzerland, the United Kingdom, Serbia and China, as well as acquired domestically located businesses that derive a substantial portion of their revenues from global markets.

New Products.    New products are essential to AMETEK’s long-term growth. As a result, AMETEK has maintained a consistent investment in new product development and engineering. In 2015, AMETEK added to its highly differentiated product portfolio with a range of new products across many of its businesses. They included:

 

   

Reichert Technologies’ Phoropoter VRx digital refraction system was designed to provide eye care professionals with the most-advanced, user friendly vision diagnosis instrument on the market;

 

   

ScanMaster turnkey 3-D scanning solution for automated quality control incorporates Creaform’s MetraSCAN 3D optical scanning system with advanced robotic tools from AGT Robotics;

 

   

Rotron’s lightweight, liquid-cooling heat exchanger is designed for extreme environments and customizable for a wide range of airborne and military applications;

 

   

Crystal Engineering’s HPC40 handheld pressure calibrator offers laboratory accuracy to an onsite, field usable calibration instrument;

 

   

Vision Research’s Miro LAB Series high-speed digital camera was designed specifically for use in industrial and laboratory applications;

 

   

Dunkermotoren’s BG95 brushless DC power package provides 1100 watts of continuous power to such demanding applications as battery-powered autonomous vehicles;

 

   

TMC’s STACIS III vibration cancellation systems designed to meet the needs of manufacturers and researchers working with highly vibration-sensitive instruments and devices;

 

   

Teseq’s NSG4060 testing system allows electrical and electronic device manufacturers to meet the latest electromagnetic immunity testing requirements;

 

   

Haydon Kerk’s Micro Series lead screws are customized for specialized medical applications such as insulin pumps;

 

   

Terra SAS™ standalone solar array simulator allows users to test the performance of photovoltaic micro-grid, energy storage and inverter applications;

 

   

Subsea Interconnect’s Elite Series high-pressure, high-temperature connectors are designed to operate reliably in the harsh environments found in deep water and downhole oil and gas applications;

 

   

Solidstate Controls’ DSE uninterruptible power supply system provides continuous, clean, regulated power for critical power and energy production; and

 

   

Zygo’s Nomad™ portable optical profiler employs advanced non-contact metrology technology to inspect large-scale optics and quality control for precision manufactured components.

 

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2015 OVERVIEW

Operating Performance

In 2015, AMETEK achieved sales of $3,974.3 million, a decrease of 1.2% from 2014 and established records for operating income, operating income margins, net income and diluted earnings per share.

Financing

In August 2015, the Company obtained the third funding of $150 million under the third quarter of 2014 private placement agreement (the “2014 Private Placement”), consisting of $100 million in aggregate principal amount of 3.96% senior notes due August 2025 and $50 million in aggregate principal amount of 4.45% senior notes due August 2035. In June 2015, the Company obtained the second funding of $50 million in aggregate principal amount of 3.91% senior notes due June 2025 under the 2014 Private Placement. The first funding under the 2014 Private Placement occurred in September 2014 for $500 million, consisting of $300 million in aggregate principal amount of 3.73% senior notes due September 2024, $100 million in aggregate principal amount of 3.83% senior notes due September 2026 and $100 million in aggregate principal amount of 3.98% senior notes due September 2029. The 2014 Private Placement senior notes carry a weighted average interest rate of 3.88% and are subject to certain customary covenants, including financial covenants that, among other things, require the Company to maintain certain debt-to-EBITDA (earnings before interest, income taxes, depreciation and amortization) and interest coverage ratios. The proceeds from the third funding of the 2014 Private Placement were used to pay down senior notes that matured in the third quarter of 2015 described further below. The proceeds from the second funding of the 2014 Private Placement were used to pay down domestic borrowings under the Company’s revolving credit facility.

In the third quarter of 2015, the Company paid in full, at maturity, $90 million in aggregate principal amount of 6.59% private placement senior notes and a 50 million Euro ($56.4 million) 3.94% senior note.

In the fourth quarter of 2015, the Company paid in full, at maturity, $35 million in aggregate principal amount of 6.69% private placement senior notes.

Recent Acquisitions

AMETEK spent $356.5 million in cash, net of cash acquired, to acquire two businesses in 2015.

In May 2015, AMETEK acquired Global Tubes, a manufacturer of high-precision, small-diameter metal tubing. Global Tubes is part of EMG.

In July 2015, AMETEK acquired Surface Vision, formerly referred to as the Surface Inspection Systems Division of Cognex Corporation. Surface Vision develops and manufactures software-enabled vision systems used to inspect surfaces of continuously processed materials for flaws and defects. Surface Vision is part of EIG.

Financial Information About Reportable Segments, Foreign Operations and Export Sales

Information with respect to reportable segments and geographic areas is set forth in Note 15 to the Consolidated Financial Statements included in Part II, Item 8 of this Annual Report on Form 10-K.

AMETEK’s international sales decreased 6.4% to $2,054.7 million in 2015. International sales represented 51.7% of consolidated net sales in 2015 compared with 54.6% in 2014. The decrease in international sales was primarily driven by foreign currency translation headwinds and the competitive impacts of a stronger U.S. dollar.

 

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Description of Business

Described below are the products and markets of each reportable segment:

EIG

EIG is a leader in the design and manufacture of advanced instruments for the process, aerospace, power and industrial markets. Its growth is based on the four strategies outlined in AMETEK’s Corporate Growth Plan. In many instances, its products differ from or are technologically superior to its competitors’ products. It has achieved competitive advantage through continued investment in research, development and engineering to develop market-leading products that serve niche markets. It also has expanded its sales and service capabilities globally to serve its customers.

EIG is a leader in many of the specialized markets it serves. Products supplied to these markets include process control instruments for the oil and gas, petrochemical, pharmaceutical, semiconductor and factory automation industries. It provides a growing range of instruments to the laboratory equipment, ultraprecision manufacturing, medical, and test and measurement markets. It supplies the aerospace industry with aircraft and engine sensors, monitoring systems, power supplies, fuel and fluid measurement systems, and data acquisition systems. It is a leader in power quality monitoring and metering, uninterruptible power systems, programmable power equipment, electromagnetic compatibility (“EMC”) test equipment, sensors for gas turbines, and dashboard instruments for heavy trucks and other vehicles.

In 2015, 53% of EIG’s net sales was to customers outside the United States. At December 31, 2015, EIG employed approximately 8,100 people, of whom approximately 1,400 were covered by collective bargaining agreements. At December 31, 2015, EIG had 85 operating facilities: 52 in the United States, eight each in the United Kingdom and Germany, four in Canada, two each in China, France and Switzerland and one each in Argentina, Austria, Denmark, India, Japan, Mexico and Taiwan. EIG also shares operating facilities with EMG in Brazil, China and Mexico.

Process and Analytical Instrumentation Markets and Products

Process and analytical instrumentation sales represented 67% of EIG’s 2015 net sales. These sales include process analyzers, emission monitors, spectrometers, elemental and surface analysis instruments, level, pressure and temperature sensors and transmitters, radiation measurement devices, level measurement devices, precision pumping systems, materials- and force-testing instruments, and contact and non-contact metrology products. Among the industries it serves are oil, gas and petrochemical refining, power generation, pharmaceutical manufacturing, specialty gas production, water and waste treatment, natural gas distribution, and semiconductor manufacturing. Its instruments are used for precision measurement in a number of applications, including radiation detection, trace element and materials analysis, nanotechnology research, ultraprecise manufacturing, and test and measurement.

Acquired in July 2015, Surface Vision is a global leader in non-destructive process inspection. Surface Vision’s in-line image processing technology detects, classifies, filters and accurately maps specific defects over an entire surface area. End markets served include metals, paper, nonwovens, plastics and glass.

Acquired in August 2014, Amptek, Inc. provides x-ray detectors used in portable and laboratory instruments, electronics for nuclear and spaceflight instruments, and gamma-ray detectors for Homeland Security and nuclear emissions monitoring. It is a leader in x-ray fluorescence technology used to identify material composition in metal processing, environmental monitoring, petrochemical production, semiconductor manufacture, and research and development.

Acquired in June 2014, Zygo Corporation is a leader in non-contact metrology solutions, high-precision optics and optical assemblies used in a wide range of scientific, industrial, medical and bio-medical applications.

 

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Its products include high-precision topography and surface measurement instruments used in the manufacture of optical devices, medical implants, semiconductor wafers and precision machined components.

Acquired in May 2014, Luphos GmbH provides AMETEK with key non-contact metrology technology used to measure complex aspherical lenses and optical surfaces utilizing multi-wavelength laser interferometry metrology technology.

Power and Industrial Instrumentation Markets and Products

Power and industrial instrumentation sales represented 24% of EIG’s 2015 net sales. This business provides power monitoring and metering instruments, uninterruptible power supply systems and programmable power supplies used in a wide range of industrial settings. It is a leader in the design and manufacture of power measurement, quality monitoring and event recorders for use in power generation, transmission and distribution. It provides uninterruptible power supply systems, multifunction electric meters, annunciators, alarm monitoring systems and highly specialized communications equipment for smart grid applications. It also offers precision power supplies and power conditioning products and electrical immunity and EMC test equipment.

Acquired in February 2014, VTI Instruments (“VTI”) manufactures high-precision test and measurement instruments. It is a leader in highly engineered products used to deliver integrated solutions for critical test and measurement applications. VTI’s products include a wide range of signal conditioning and switching instruments, data acquisition solutions, and integrated test systems used in electrical and structural testing applications.

Acquired in January 2014, Teseq Group is a leader in test and measurement instruments used in EMC testing. It manufactures a broad line of conducted and radiated EMC compliance testing systems and radio-frequency amplifiers for a range of industries, including aerospace, automotive, consumer electronics, medical equipment, telecommunications and transportation.

Aerospace Instrumentation Markets and Products

Aerospace instrumentation sales represented 9% of EIG’s 2015 net sales. AMETEK’s aerospace products are designed to customer specifications and manufactured to stringent operational and reliability requirements. These products include airborne data systems, turbine engine temperature measurement products, vibration-monitoring systems, cockpit instruments and displays, fuel and fluid measurement products, sensors and switches. It serves all segments of the commercial and military aerospace market, including commercial airliners, business jets, regional aircraft and helicopters.

AMETEK operates in highly specialized aerospace market segments in which it has proven technological or manufacturing advantages versus its competition. Among its more significant competitive advantages is its 50-plus years’ experience as an aerospace supplier. It has long-standing relationships with the world’s leading commercial and military aircraft, jet engine and original equipment manufacturers (“OEMs”) and aerospace system integrators. AMETEK also provides the commercial aerospace aftermarket with spare part sales and repair and overhaul services.

Customers

EIG is not dependent on any single customer such that the loss of that customer would have a material adverse effect on EIG’s operations. Approximately 7% of EIG’s 2015 net sales was made to its five largest customers.

 

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EMG

EMG is a differentiated supplier of electrical interconnects, precision motion control solutions, specialty metals, thermal management systems, and floor care and technical motors. Differentiated businesses, those that compete on performance rather than price, account for an increasing proportion of EMG’s overall sales base. These businesses, which include EMG’s electrical interconnects, precision motion controls, technical motors and specialty metals, represented 87% of EMG’s net sales in 2015.

EMG is a leader in many of the niche markets in which it competes. Products supplied to these markets include its highly engineered electrical connectors and electronics packaging used in aerospace and defense, medical, and industrial applications, as well as its advanced technical motor and motion control products, which are used in a wide range of medical devices, office and business equipment, factory automation, robotics and other applications.

EMG supplies high-purity powdered metals, strip and foil, specialty clad metals and metal matrix composites. Its blowers and heat exchangers provide electronic cooling and environmental control for the aerospace and defense industries. Its motors are widely used in commercial appliances, fitness equipment, food and beverage machines, hydraulic pumps, industrial blowers and vacuum cleaners. Additionally, it operates a global network of aviation maintenance, repair and overhaul (“MRO”) facilities.

EMG designs and manufactures products that, in many instances, are significantly different from or technologically superior to competitors’ products. It has achieved competitive advantage through continued investment in research, development and engineering, cost reductions from operational improvements, acquisition synergies, improved supply chain management and production relocations to lower-cost locales.

In 2015, 50% of EMG’s net sales was to customers outside the United States. At December 31, 2015, EMG employed approximately 7,100 people, of whom approximately 2,100 were covered by collective bargaining agreements. At December 31, 2015, EMG had 63 operating facilities: 36 in the United States, nine in the United Kingdom, three each in China and France, two each in the Czech Republic, Germany, Italy and Mexico and one each in Brazil, Malaysia, Serbia and Taiwan.

Technical Motors and Systems Markets and Products

Technical motors and systems sales represented 52% of EMG’s 2015 net sales. Technical motors and systems consist of precision motion control solutions, brushless motors, blowers and pumps, heat exchangers and other electromechanical systems. These products are used in aerospace and defense, semiconductor equipment, computer equipment, mass transit, medical equipment and power industries among others.

EMG produces motor-blower systems and heat exchangers used in thermal management and other applications on a variety of military and commercial aircraft and military ground vehicles. In addition, EMG provides the commercial and military aerospace industry with third-party MRO services on a global basis with facilities in the United States, Europe and Asia.

Engineered Materials, Interconnects and Packaging Markets and Products

Engineered materials, interconnects and packaging sales represented 35% of EMG’s 2015 net sales. AMETEK is a leader in highly engineered electrical connectors and electronics packaging used to protect sensitive devices and mission-critical electronics. Its electrical connectors, terminals, headers and packaging are designed specifically for harsh environments and highly customized applications. In addition, AMETEK is an innovator and market leader in specialized metal powder, strip, wire and bonded products used in medical, aerospace and defense, telecommunications, automotive and general industrial applications.

 

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Acquired in May 2015, Global Tubes manufactures highly customized metal tubing from a wide variety of metals and alloys, including stainless steel, nickel, zirconium and titanium. Its products are used in highly engineered applications serving the aerospace, energy, power generation and medical markets.

Floor care and Specialty Motor Markets and Products

Floor care and specialty motor sales represented 13% of EMG’s 2015 net sales. Its motors and motor-blowers are used in a wide range of products, such as household, commercial and personal care appliances, fitness equipment, food and beverage machines, lawn and garden equipment, material handling equipment, hydraulic pumps, industrial blowers, vacuum cleaners, and other household and commercial floor care products.

Customers

EMG is not dependent on any single customer such that the loss of that customer would have a material adverse effect on EMG’s operations. Approximately 10% of EMG’s 2015 net sales was made to its five largest customers.

Marketing

AMETEK’s marketing efforts generally are organized and carried out at the business unit level. EIG makes use of distributors and sales representatives to market its products along with a direct sales force for its more technically sophisticated products. Within aerospace, the specialized customer base of aircraft and jet engine manufacturers is served primarily by direct sales engineers. Given the technical nature of many of its products, as well as its significant worldwide market share, EMG conducts much of its domestic and international marketing activities through a direct sales force and makes some use of sales representatives and distributors, both in the United States and in other countries.

Competition

In general, most of AMETEK’s markets are highly competitive with competition based on technology, performance, quality, service and price.

In EIG’s markets, AMETEK believes it ranks as a leader in certain analytical measuring and control instruments and in the U.S. heavy-vehicle and power instruments markets. It also is a major instrument and sensor supplier to commercial aviation. Competition is strong and may become intense for certain EIG products. In process and analytical instruments, numerous companies compete in each market on the basis of product quality, performance and innovation. In aerospace and power instruments, AMETEK competes with a number of diversified companies depending on the specific market segment.

EMG’s differentiated businesses compete with a limited number of companies in each of its markets. Competition is generally based on product innovation, performance and price. There also is competition from alternative materials and processes.

Availability of Raw Materials

AMETEK’s reportable segments obtain raw materials and supplies from a variety of sources and generally from more than one supplier. For EMG, however, certain items, including various base metals and certain steel components, are available from only a limited number of suppliers. AMETEK believes its sources and supplies of raw materials are adequate for its needs.

 

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Backlog and Seasonal Variations of Business

AMETEK’s backlog of unfilled orders by reportable segment was as follows at December 31:

 

     2015      2014      2013  
     (In millions)  

Electronic Instruments

   $ 581.4       $ 623.2       $ 550.6   

Electromechanical

     566.4         574.1         589.4   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total

   $ 1,147.8       $ 1,197.3       $ 1,140.0   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Of the total backlog of unfilled orders at December 31, 2015, approximately 88% is expected to be shipped by December 31, 2016. The Company believes that neither its business as a whole, nor either of its reportable segments, is subject to significant seasonal variations, although certain individual operations experience some seasonal variability.

Research, Development and Engineering

AMETEK is committed to, and has consistently invested in, research, development and engineering activities to design and develop new and improved products. Research, development and engineering costs before customer reimbursement were $200.8 million, $208.3 million and $178.7 million in 2015, 2014 and 2013, respectively. Customer reimbursements in 2015, 2014 and 2013 were $6.9 million, $8.9 million and $9.2 million, respectively. These amounts included net Company-funded research and development expenses of $116.3 million, $119.3 million and $93.9 million in 2015, 2014 and 2013, respectively. All such expenditures were directed toward the development of new products and processes and the improvement of existing products and processes.

Environmental Matters

Information with respect to environmental matters is set forth in the section of Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations entitled “Environmental Matters” and in Note 13 to the Consolidated Financial Statements included in Part II, Item 8 of this Annual Report on Form 10-K.

Patents, Licenses and Trademarks

AMETEK owns numerous unexpired U.S. and foreign patents, including counterparts of its more important U.S. patents, in the major industrial countries of the world. It is a licensor or licensee under patent agreements of various types, and its products are marketed under various registered and unregistered U.S. and foreign trademarks and trade names. AMETEK, however, does not consider any single patent or trademark, or any group of them, essential either to its business as a whole or to either one of its reportable segments. The annual royalties received or paid under license agreements are not significant to either of its reportable segments or to AMETEK’s overall operations.

Employees

At December 31, 2015, AMETEK employed approximately 15,400 people at its EIG, EMG and corporate operations, of whom approximately 3,500 employees were covered by collective bargaining agreements. AMETEK has four collective bargaining agreements that expire in 2016 that covers fewer than 400 employees. It expects no material adverse effects from the pending labor contract negotiations.

Working Capital Practices

AMETEK does not have extraordinary working capital requirements in either of its reportable segments. Its customers generally are billed at normal trade terms that may include extended payment provisions. Inventories are closely controlled and maintained at levels related to production cycles and normal delivery requirements of customers.

 

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Item 1A. Risk Factors

You should consider carefully the following risk factors and all other information contained in this Annual Report on Form 10-K and the documents we incorporate by reference in this Annual Report on Form 10-K. Any of the following risks could materially and adversely affect our business, financial condition, results of operations and cash flows.

A downturn in the economy generally or in the markets we serve could adversely affect our business.

Several of the industries in which we operate are cyclical in nature and therefore are affected by factors beyond our control. A downturn in the U.S. or global economy, and, in particular, in the aerospace and defense, oil and gas, process instrumentation or power markets could have an adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations.

Our growth strategy includes strategic acquisitions. We may not be able to consummate future acquisitions or successfully integrate recent and future acquisitions.

A portion of our growth has been attributed to acquisitions of strategic businesses. Since the beginning of 2011, through December 31, 2015, we have completed 22 acquisitions. We plan to continue making strategic acquisitions to enhance our global market position and broaden our product offerings. Although we have been successful with our acquisition strategy in the past, our ability to successfully effectuate acquisitions will be dependent upon a number of factors, including:

 

   

Our ability to identify acceptable acquisition candidates;

 

   

The impact of increased competition for acquisitions, which may increase acquisition costs and affect our ability to consummate acquisitions on favorable terms and may result in us assuming a greater portion of the seller’s liabilities;

 

   

Successfully integrating acquired businesses, including integrating the financial, technological and management processes, procedures and controls of the acquired businesses with those of our existing operations;

 

   

Adequate financing for acquisitions being available on terms acceptable to us;

 

   

U.S. and foreign competition laws and regulations affecting our ability to make certain acquisitions;

 

   

Unexpected losses of key employees, customers and suppliers of acquired businesses;

 

   

Mitigating assumed, contingent and unknown liabilities; and

 

   

Challenges in managing the increased scope, geographic diversity and complexity of our operations.

The process of integrating acquired businesses into our existing operations may result in unforeseen operating difficulties and may require additional financial resources and attention from management that would otherwise be available for the ongoing development or expansion of our existing operations. Furthermore, even if successfully integrated, the acquired business may not achieve the results we expected or produce expected benefits in the time frame planned. Failure to continue with our acquisition strategy and the successful integration of acquired businesses could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition, results of operations and cash flows.

 

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We may not properly execute, or realize anticipated cost savings or benefits from, our cost reduction initiatives.

Our success is partly dependent upon properly executing and realizing cost savings or other benefits from our ongoing production and procurement initiatives, including the relocation of manufacturing operations to low-cost locales. These initiatives are primarily designed to make the company more efficient, which is necessary in the company’s highly competitive industry. These initiatives are often complex, and a failure to implement them properly may, in addition to not meeting projected cost savings or benefits, adversely affect our business and operations.

Our substantial international sales and operations are subject to customary risks associated with international operations.

International sales for 2015 and 2014 represented 51.7% and 54.6% of our consolidated net sales, respectively. As a result of our growth strategy, we anticipate that the percentage of sales outside the United States will increase in the future. Approximately half of our international sales are of products manufactured outside the United States. We have manufacturing operations in 18 countries outside the United States, with significant operations in China, the Czech Republic and Mexico. A prolonged disruption of our ability to obtain a supply of goods from these countries could have a material adverse effect on our operations. International operations are subject to the customary risks of operating in an international environment, including:

 

   

Potential imposition of trade or foreign exchange restrictions;

 

   

Overlap of different tax structures;

 

   

Unexpected changes in regulatory requirements;

 

   

Changes in tariffs and trade barriers;

 

   

The difficulty and/or costs of designing and implementing an effective control environment across diverse regions and employee bases;

 

   

Restrictions on currency repatriation;

 

   

General economic conditions;

 

   

Unstable political situations;

 

   

Nationalization of assets; and

 

   

Compliance with a wide variety of international and U.S. laws and regulatory requirements.

Furthermore, fluctuations in foreign currency exchange rates, including changes in the relative value of currencies in the countries where we operate, subject us to exchange rate exposure and may adversely affect our financial statements. For example, increased strength in the U.S. dollar will increase the effective price of our products sold overseas, which may adversely affect sales or require us to lower our prices. In addition, our consolidated financial statements are presented in U.S. dollars, and we must translate our assets, liabilities, sales and expenses into U.S. dollars for external reporting purposes. As a result, changes in the value of the U.S. dollar due to fluctuations in currency exchange rates or currency exchange controls may materially and negatively affect the value of these items in our consolidated financial statements, even if their value has not changed in their local currency.

 

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Our international sales and operations may be adversely impacted by compliance with export laws.

We are required to comply with various import, export, export control and economic sanctions laws, which may affect our transactions with certain customers, business partners and other persons, including in certain cases dealings with or between our employees and subsidiaries. In certain circumstances, export control and economic sanctions regulations may prohibit the export of certain products, services and technologies and in other circumstances, we may be required to obtain an export license before exporting a controlled item. In addition, failure to comply with any of these regulations could result in civil and criminal, monetary and non-monetary penalties, disruptions to our business, limitations on our ability to import and export products and services and damage to our reputation.

Any inability to hire, train and retain a sufficient number of skilled officers and other employees could impede our ability to compete successfully.

If we cannot hire, train and retain a sufficient number of qualified employees, we may not be able to effectively integrate acquired businesses and realize anticipated results from those businesses, manage our expanding international operations and otherwise profitably grow our business. Even if we do hire and retain a sufficient number of employees, the expense necessary to attract and motivate these officers and employees may adversely affect our results of operations.

If we are unable to develop new products on a timely basis, it could adversely affect our business and prospects.

We believe that our future success depends, in part, on our ability to develop, on a timely basis, technologically advanced products that meet or exceed appropriate industry standards. Although we believe we have certain technological and other advantages over our competitors, maintaining such advantages will require us to continue investing in research and development and sales and marketing. There can be no assurance that we will have sufficient resources to make such investments, that we will be able to make the technological advances necessary to maintain such competitive advantages or that we can recover major research and development expenses. We are not currently aware of any emerging standards or new products which could render our existing products obsolete, although there can be no assurance that this will not occur or that we will be able to develop and successfully market new products.

Our technology is important to our success and our failure to protect this technology could put us at a competitive disadvantage.

Many of our products rely on proprietary technology; therefore we endeavor to protect our intellectual property rights through patents, copyrights, trade secrets, trademarks, confidentiality agreements and other contractual provisions. Despite our efforts to protect proprietary rights, unauthorized parties or competitors may copy or otherwise obtain and use our products or technology. In addition, our ability to protect and enforce our intellectual property rights may be limited in certain countries outside the U.S. Actions to enforce our rights may result in substantial costs and diversion of resources and we make no assurances that any such actions will be successful.

A shortage of, or price increases for, our raw materials could increase our operating costs.

While we manufacture certain parts and components used in our products, we require substantial amounts of raw materials and purchase some parts and components from suppliers. The availability and prices for raw materials, parts and components may be subject to curtailment or change due to, among other things, supplier’s allocation to other purchasers, interruptions in production by suppliers, changes in exchange rates and prevailing price levels. In addition, certain items, including base metals and certain steel components, are available only from a limited number of suppliers and are subject to commodity market fluctuations. Shortages in raw materials

 

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or price increases therefore could affect the prices we charge, our operating costs and our competitive position, which could adversely affect our business, financial condition, results of operations and cash flows.

Certain environmental risks may cause us to be liable for costs associated with hazardous or toxic substance clean-up which may adversely affect our financial condition.

Our businesses, operations and facilities are subject to a number of federal, state, local and foreign environmental and occupational health and safety laws and regulations concerning, among other things, air emissions, discharges to waters and the use, manufacturing, generation, handling, storage, transportation and disposal of hazardous substances and wastes. Environmental risks are inherent in many of our manufacturing operations. Certain laws provide that a current or previous owner or operator of property may be liable for the costs of investigating, removing and remediating hazardous materials at such property, regardless of whether the owner or operator knew of, or was responsible for, the presence of such hazardous materials. In addition, the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation and Liability Act generally imposes joint and several liability for clean-up costs, without regard to fault, on parties contributing hazardous substances to sites designated for clean-up under the Act. We have been named a potentially responsible party at several sites, which are the subject of government-mandated clean-ups. As the result of our ownership and operation of facilities that use, manufacture, store, handle and dispose of various hazardous materials, we may incur substantial costs for investigation, removal, remediation and capital expenditures related to compliance with environmental laws. While it is not possible to precisely quantify the potential financial impact of pending environmental matters, based on our experience to date, we believe that the outcome of these matters is not likely to have a material adverse effect on our financial position or future results of operations. In addition, new laws and regulations, new classification of hazardous materials, stricter enforcement of existing laws and regulations, the discovery of previously unknown contamination or the imposition of new clean-up requirements could require us to incur costs or become the basis for new or increased liabilities that could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations. There can be no assurance that future environmental liabilities will not occur or that environmental damages due to prior or present practices will not result in future liabilities.

We are subject to numerous governmental regulations, which may be burdensome or lead to significant costs.

Our operations are subject to numerous federal, state, local and foreign governmental laws and regulations. In addition, existing laws and regulations may be revised or reinterpreted and new laws and regulations, including with respect to climate change, may be adopted or become applicable to us or customers for our products. We cannot predict the form any such new laws or regulations will take or the impact any of these laws and regulations will have on our business or operations.

We may be required to defend lawsuits or pay damages in connection with alleged or actual harm caused by our products.

We face an inherent business risk of exposure to product liability claims in the event that the use of our products is alleged to have resulted in harm to others or to property. For example, our operations expose us to potential liabilities for personal injury or death as a result of the failure of, for instance, an aircraft component that has been designed, manufactured or serviced by us. We may incur a significant liability if product liability lawsuits against us are successful. While we believe our current general liability and product liability insurance is adequate to protect us from future claims, we cannot assure that coverage will be adequate to cover all claims that may arise. Additionally, we may not be able to maintain insurance coverage in the future at an acceptable cost. Any liability not covered by insurance or for which third-party indemnification is not available could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations.

 

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We operate in highly competitive industries, which may adversely affect our results of operations or ability to expand our business.

Our markets are highly competitive. We compete, domestically and internationally, with individual producers, as well as with vertically integrated manufacturers, some of which have resources greater than we do. The principal elements of competition for our products are product technology, quality, service, distribution and price. EMG’s competition in specialty metal products stems from alternative materials and processes. In the markets served by EIG, although we believe EIG is a market leader, competition is strong and could intensify. In the aerospace and heavy-vehicle markets served by EIG, a limited number of companies compete on the basis of product quality, performance and innovation. Our competitors may develop new or improve existing products that are superior to our products or may adapt more readily to new technologies or changing requirements of our customers. There can be no assurance that our business will not be adversely affected by increased competition in the markets in which it operates or that our products will be able to compete successfully with those of our competitors.

Restrictions contained in our revolving credit facility and other debt agreements may limit our ability to incur additional indebtedness.

Our existing revolving credit facility and other debt agreements contain restrictive covenants, including restrictions on our ability to incur indebtedness. These restrictions could limit our ability to effectuate future acquisitions, limit our ability to pay dividends, limit our ability to make capital expenditures or restrict our financial flexibility. Our credit facility contains covenants requiring us to achieve certain financial and operating results and maintain compliance with specified financial ratios. Our ability to meet the financial covenants or requirements in our credit facility may be affected by events beyond our control, and we may not be able to satisfy such covenants and requirements. A breach of these covenants or our inability to comply with the financial ratios, tests or other restrictions contained in our facility could result in an event of default under this facility. Upon the occurrence of an event of default under our credit facility, and the expiration of any grace periods, the lenders could elect to declare all amounts outstanding under the facility, together with accrued interest, to be immediately due and payable. If this were to occur, our assets may not be sufficient to fully repay the amounts due under this facility or our other indebtedness.

Our business and financial performance may be adversely affected by information technology and other business disruptions.

Our facilities, supply chains, distribution systems and information technology systems may be impacted by natural or man-made disruptions, including information technology attacks or failures, threats to physical security, armed conflict, as well as damaging weather or other acts of nature, pandemics or other public health crises. For example, our information technology systems may be damaged, disrupted or shut down due to attacks by computer hackers, computer viruses, employee error or malfeasance, power outages, hardware failures, telecommunications or utility failures, or other unforeseen events, and in any such circumstances our disaster recovery planning may be ineffective or inadequate. A shutdown of, or inability to utilize, one or more of our facilities, our supply chain, our distribution system, or our information technology, telecommunications or other systems, could significantly disrupt our operations, delay production and shipments, damage customer relationships and our reputation, result in lost sales, result in the misappropriation or corruption of data, or result in legal exposure and large repair and replacement expenses.

Our goodwill and other intangible assets represent a substantial amount of our total assets and the impairment of such substantial goodwill and intangible assets could have a negative impact on our financial condition and results of operations.

Our total assets include substantial amounts of intangible assets, primarily goodwill. At December 31, 2015, goodwill and other intangible assets, net of accumulated amortization, totaled $4,379.6 million or 66% of our total assets. The goodwill results from our acquisitions, representing the excess of cost over the fair value of the

 

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net tangible and other identifiable intangible assets we have acquired. At a minimum, we assess annually whether there has been impairment in the value of our intangible assets. If future operating performance at one or more of our reporting units were to fall significantly below current levels, we could record, under current applicable accounting rules, a non-cash charge to operating income for goodwill or other intangible asset impairment. Any determination requiring the impairment of a significant portion of goodwill or other intangible assets would negatively affect our financial condition and results of operations.

 

Item 1B. Unresolved Staff Comments

None.

 

Item 2. Properties

At December 31, 2015, the Company had 148 operating facilities in 25 states and 18 foreign countries. Of these facilities, 59 are owned by the Company and 89 are leased. The properties owned by the Company consist of approximately 740 acres, of which approximately 5.2 million square feet are under roof. Under lease is a total of approximately 3.0 million square feet. The leases expire over a range of years from 2016 to 2082, with renewal options for varying terms contained in many of the leases. The Company’s executive offices in Berwyn, Pennsylvania, occupy approximately 43,000 square feet under a lease that expires in September 2023.

The Company’s machinery and equipment, plants and offices are in satisfactory operating condition and are adequate for the uses to which they are put. The operating facilities of the Company by reportable segment were as follows at December 31, 2015:

 

     Number of
Operating
Facilities
     Square Feet Under Roof  
     Owned      Leased      Owned      Leased  

Electronic Instruments

     28         57         2,244,000         2,019,000   

Electromechanical

     31         32         2,989,000         961,000   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total

     59         89         5,233,000         2,980,000   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

 

Item 3. Legal Proceedings

Please refer to “Environmental Matters” in Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations and Note 13 to the Consolidated Financial Statements in this Annual Report on Form 10-K for information regarding certain litigation matters.

The Company is, from time to time, subject to a variety of litigation and similar proceedings incidental to its business. These lawsuits may involve claims for damages arising out of the use of the Company’s products and services, personal injury, employment matters, tax matters, commercial disputes and intellectual property matters. The Company may also become subject to lawsuits as a result of past or future acquisitions. Based upon the Company’s experience, the Company does not believe that these proceedings and claims will have a material adverse effect on its results of operations, financial position or cash flows.

 

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PART II

 

Item 5. Market for Registrant’s Common Equity, Related Stockholder Matters and Issuer Purchases of Equity Securities

The principal market on which the Company’s common stock is traded is the New York Stock Exchange and it is traded under the symbol “AME.” On January 29, 2016, there were approximately 2,100 holders of record of the Company’s common stock.

Market price and dividend information with respect to the Company’s common stock is set forth below. Future dividend payments by the Company will be dependent on future earnings, financial requirements, contractual provisions of debt agreements and other relevant factors.

Under its share repurchase program, the Company repurchased approximately 7,978,000 shares of common stock for $435.4 million in 2015 and approximately 4,755,000 shares of common stock for $245.3 million in 2014.

The high and low sales prices of the Company’s common stock on the New York Stock Exchange composite tape and the quarterly dividends per share paid on the common stock were:

 

     First
Quarter
     Second
Quarter
     Third
Quarter
     Fourth
Quarter
 

2015

           

Dividends paid per share

   $ 0.09       $ 0.09       $ 0.09       $ 0.09   

Common stock trading range:

           

High

   $ 54.00       $ 55.56       $ 57.67       $ 57.00   

Low

   $ 47.85       $ 51.23       $ 50.55       $ 50.97   

2014

           

Dividends paid per share

   $ 0.06       $ 0.09       $ 0.09       $ 0.09   

Common stock trading range:

           

High

   $ 54.40       $ 54.50       $ 53.49       $ 54.25   

Low

   $ 47.39       $ 49.50       $ 47.95       $ 45.12   

 

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Issuer Purchases of Equity Securities

The following table reflects purchases of AMETEK, Inc. common stock by the Company during the three months ended December 31, 2015:

 

Period

  

Total Number
of Shares
Purchased
(1)(2)

     Average Price
Paid per  Share
     Total Number of
Shares Purchased as

Part of Publicly
Announced Plan
(2)
     Approximate
Dollar Value of
Shares that May
Yet Be
Purchased Under
the Plan
 

October 1, 2015 to October 31, 2015

           $               $ 90,609,705   

November 1, 2015 to November 30, 2015

     82         56.48         82         440,605,074   

December 1, 2015 to December 31, 2015

     2,401,811         53.66         2,401,811         311,734,430   
  

 

 

       

 

 

    

Total

     2,401,893         53.66         2,401,893      
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

(1)

Includes 1,893 shares surrendered to the Company to satisfy tax withholding obligations in connection with employees’ share-based compensation awards.

 

(2)

Consists of the number of shares purchased pursuant to the Company’s Board of Directors $350 million authorization for the repurchase of its common stock announced both in April and November 2015. Such purchases may be effected from time to time in the open market or in private transactions, subject to market conditions and at management’s discretion.

Securities Authorized for Issuance Under Equity Compensation Plan Information

The following table sets forth information as of December 31, 2015 regarding all of the Company’s existing compensation plans pursuant to which equity securities are authorized for issuance to employees and nonemployee directors:

 

Plan category

   Number of securities
to be issued
upon exercise of
outstanding options,
warrants and rights
(a)
     Weighted average
exercise price of
outstanding options,
warrants
and rights
(b)
     Number of securities
remaining available
for future issuance
under equity
compensation plans
(excluding securities
reflected in column (a))
(c)
 

Equity compensation plans approved by security holders

     5,659,557       $ 39.49         9,308,860   

Equity compensation plans not approved by security holders

                       
  

 

 

       

 

 

 

Total

     5,659,557         39.49         9,308,860   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

 

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Stock Performance Graph

The following graph and accompanying table compare the cumulative total stockholder return for AMETEK over the last five years ended December 31, 2015 with total returns for the same period for the Standard and Poor’s (“S&P”) 500 Index and Russell 1000 Index. AMETEK’s stock price is a component of both indices. The performance graph and table assume a $100 investment made on December 31, 2010 and reinvestment of all dividends. The stock performance shown on the graph below is based on historical data and is not necessarily indicative of future stock price performance.

 

COMPARISON OF FIVE-YEAR CUMULATIVE TOTAL RETURN

 

LOGO

 

     December 31,  
     2010      2011      2012      2013      2014      2015  

AMETEK, Inc.

   $ 100.00       $ 107.89       $ 145.34       $ 204.85       $ 205.98       $ 211.15   

S&P 500 Index

     100.00         102.11         118.45         156.82         178.29         180.75   

Russell 1000 Index

     100.00         101.50         118.17         157.30         178.12         179.75   

 

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Item 6. Selected Financial Data

The following financial information for the five years ended December 31, 2015, has been derived from the Company’s consolidated financial statements. This information should be read in conjunction with Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations and the consolidated financial statements and related notes thereto included elsewhere in this Annual Report on Form 10-K.

 

     2015     2014     2013     2012     2011  
     (In millions, except per share amounts)  

Consolidated Operating Results (Year Ended December  31):

          

Net sales

   $ 3,974.3      $ 4,022.0      $ 3,594.1      $ 3,334.2      $ 2,989.9   

Operating income

   $ 907.7      $ 898.6      $ 815.1      $ 745.9      $ 635.9   

Interest expense

   $ 91.8      $ 79.9      $ 73.6      $ 75.5      $ 69.7   

Net income

   $ 590.9      $ 584.5      $ 517.0      $ 459.1      $ 384.5   

Earnings per share:

          

Basic

   $ 2.46      $ 2.39      $ 2.12      $ 1.90      $ 1.60   

Diluted

   $ 2.45      $ 2.37      $ 2.10      $ 1.88      $ 1.58   

Dividends declared and paid per share

   $ 0.36      $ 0.33      $ 0.24      $ 0.22      $ 0.16   

Weighted average common shares outstanding:

          

Basic

     239.9        244.9        243.9        241.5        240.4   

Diluted

     241.6        247.1        246.1        244.0        243.2   

Performance Measures and Other Data:

          

Operating income — Return on net sales

     22.8     22.3     22.7     22.4     21.3

                                 — Return on average total assets

     13.9     14.6     14.7     15.7     15.6

Net income — Return on average total capital

     11.6     12.3     12.1     12.6     12.3

                     — Return on average stockholders’ equity

     18.2     18.3     18.2     20.0     20.1

EBITDA(1)

   $ 1,046.9      $ 1,022.6      $ 916.3      $ 842.7      $ 712.2   

Ratio of EBITDA to interest expense(1)

     11.4     12.8     12.4     11.2     10.2

Depreciation and amortization

   $ 149.5      $ 138.6      $ 118.7      $ 105.5      $ 86.5   

Capital expenditures

   $ 69.1      $ 71.3      $ 63.3      $ 57.4      $ 50.8   

Cash provided by operating activities

   $ 672.5      $ 726.0      $ 660.7      $ 612.5      $ 508.6   

Free cash flow(2)

   $ 603.4      $ 654.7      $ 597.4      $ 555.1      $ 457.8   

Consolidated Financial Position (At December 31):

          

Current assets

   $ 1,619.6      $ 1,578.6      $ 1,369.1      $ 1,164.7      $ 1,059.1   

Current liabilities

   $ 1,025.2      $ 936.1      $ 874.5      $ 880.0      $ 628.9   

Property, plant and equipment, net

   $ 484.5      $ 448.4      $ 402.8      $ 383.5      $ 325.3   

Total assets

   $ 6,664.5      $ 6,421.0      $ 5,877.9      $ 5,190.1      $ 4,319.5   

Long-term debt

   $ 1,556.0      $ 1,427.8      $ 1,141.8      $ 1,133.1      $ 1,123.4   

Total debt

   $ 1,942.1      $ 1,714.0      $ 1,415.1      $ 1,453.8      $ 1,263.9   

Stockholders’ equity

   $ 3,254.6      $ 3,239.6      $ 3,136.1      $ 2,535.2      $ 2,052.8   

Stockholders’ equity per share

   $ 13.82      $ 13.42      $ 12.80      $ 10.42      $ 8.53   

Total debt as a percentage of capitalization

     37.4     34.6     31.1     36.4     38.1

Net debt as a percentage of capitalization(3)

     32.4     29.2     26.3     33.8     34.8

See Notes to Selected Financial Data on the following page.

 

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Notes to Selected Financial Data

 

 

(1)

EBITDA represents earnings before interest, income taxes, depreciation and amortization. EBITDA is presented because the Company is aware that it is used by rating agencies, securities analysts, investors and other parties in evaluating the Company. It should not be considered, however, as an alternative to operating income as an indicator of the Company’s operating performance or as an alternative to cash flows as a measure of the Company’s overall liquidity as presented in the Company’s consolidated financial statements. Furthermore, EBITDA measures shown for the Company may not be comparable to similarly titled measures used by other companies. The following table presents the reconciliation of net income reported in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles (“GAAP”) to EBITDA:

 

     Year Ended December 31,  
     2015      2014      2013      2012      2011  
     (In millions)  

Net income

   $ 590.9       $ 584.5       $ 517.0       $ 459.1       $ 384.5   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Add (deduct):

           

Interest expense

     91.8         79.9         73.6         75.5         69.7   

Interest income

     (0.8      (0.8      (0.8      (0.7      (0.7

Income taxes

     215.5         220.4         207.8         203.3         172.2   

Depreciation

     68.7         63.7         57.2         53.7         48.9   

Amortization

     80.8         74.9         61.5         51.8         37.6   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total adjustments

     456.0         438.1         399.3         383.6         327.7   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

EBITDA

   $ 1,046.9       $ 1,022.6       $ 916.3       $ 842.7       $ 712.2   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

 

(2)

Free cash flow represents cash flow from operating activities less capital expenditures. Free cash flow is presented because the Company is aware that it is used by rating agencies, securities analysts, investors and other parties in evaluating the Company. (Also see note 1 above). The following table presents the reconciliation of cash flow from operating activities reported in accordance with U.S. GAAP to free cash flow:

 

     Year Ended December 31,  
     2015      2014      2013      2012      2011  
     (In millions)  

Cash provided by operating activities

   $ 672.5       $ 726.0       $ 660.7       $ 612.5       $ 508.6   

Deduct: Capital expenditures

     (69.1      (71.3      (63.3      (57.4      (50.8
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Free cash flow

   $ 603.4       $ 654.7       $ 597.4       $ 555.1       $ 457.8   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

 

(3)

Net debt represents total debt minus cash and cash equivalents. Net debt is presented because the Company is aware that it is used by rating agencies, securities analysts, investors and other parties in evaluating the Company. (Also see note 1 above). The following table presents the reconciliation of total debt reported in accordance with U.S. GAAP to net debt:

 

     December 31,  
     2015     2014     2013     2012     2011  
     (In millions)  

Total debt

   $ 1,942.1      $ 1,714.0      $ 1,415.1      $ 1,453.8      $ 1,263.9   

Less: Cash and cash equivalents

     (381.0     (377.6     (295.2     (158.0     (170.4
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net debt

     1,561.1        1,336.4        1,119.9        1,295.8        1,093.5   

Stockholders’ equity

     3,254.6        3,239.6        3,136.1        2,535.2        2,052.8   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Capitalization (net debt plus stockholders’ equity)

   $ 4,815.7      $ 4,576.0      $ 4,256.0      $ 3,831.0      $ 3,146.3   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net debt as a percentage of capitalization

     32.4     29.2     26.3     33.8     34.8
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

 

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

This report includes forward-looking statements based on the Company’s current assumptions, expectations and projections about future events. When used in this report, the words “believes,” “anticipates,” “may,” “expect,” “intend,” “estimate,” “project” and similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements, although not all forward-looking statements contain such words. In this report, the Company discloses important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from management’s expectations. For more information on these and other factors, see “Forward-Looking Information” herein.

The following Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations should be read in conjunction with “Item 1A. Risk Factors,” “Item 6. Selected Financial Data” and the consolidated financial statements and related notes included elsewhere in this Annual Report on Form 10-K.

Business Overview

AMETEK’s operations are affected by global, regional and industry economic factors. However, the Company’s strategic geographic and industry diversification, and its mix of products and services, have helped to limit the potential adverse impact of any unfavorable developments in any one industry or the economy of any single country on its consolidated operating results. In 2015, the Company established records for operating income, operating income margins, net income and diluted earnings per share. Contributions from recent acquisitions, combined with successful Operational Excellence initiatives, had a positive impact on 2015 results. The Company also benefited from its strategic initiatives under AMETEK’s four key strategies: Operational Excellence, Strategic Acquisitions, Global & Market Expansion and New Products. Highlights of 2015 were:

 

   

Operating income was $907.7 million or 22.8% of net sales for 2015, an increase of $9.1 million or 1.0%, compared with $898.6 million or 22.3% of net sales in 2014.

 

   

Net income for 2015 was $590.9 million, an increase of $6.4 million or 1.1%, compared with $584.5 million in 2014.

 

   

Diluted earnings per share for 2015 were $2.45, an increase of $0.08 or 3.4%, compared with $2.37 per diluted share in 2014.

 

   

During 2015, the Company recorded pre-tax realignment costs totaling $36.6 million. The realignment costs had the effect of reducing net income for 2015 by $24.7 million ($0.10 per diluted share). See below for further discussion.

 

   

During 2015, the Company spent $356.5 million in cash, net of cash acquired, to acquire two businesses:

 

   

In May 2015, AMETEK acquired Global Tubes, a manufacturer of high-precision, small-diameter metal tubing; and

 

   

In July 2015, AMETEK acquired Surface Vision, formerly referred to as the Surface Inspection Systems Division of Cognex Corporation. Surface Vision develops and manufactures software-enabled vision systems used to inspect surfaces of continuously processed materials for flaws and defects.

 

   

The Company continued its emphasis on investment in research, development and engineering, spending $200.8 million in 2015 before customer reimbursement of $6.9 million. Sales from products introduced in the past three years were $952.6 million or 24.0% of net sales.

 

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In August 2015, the Company obtained the third funding of $150 million under the third quarter of 2014 private placement agreement (the “2014 Private Placement”), consisting of $100 million in aggregate principal amount of 3.96% senior notes due August 2025 and $50 million in aggregate principal amount of 4.45% senior notes due August 2035. In June 2015, the Company obtained the second funding of $50 million in aggregate principal amount of 3.91% senior notes due June 2025 under the 2014 Private Placement. The first funding under the 2014 Private Placement occurred in September 2014 for $500 million, consisting of $300 million in aggregate principal amount of 3.73% senior notes due September 2024, $100 million in aggregate principal amount of 3.83% senior notes due September 2026 and $100 million in aggregate principal amount of 3.98% senior notes due September 2029. The 2014 Private Placement senior notes carry a weighted average interest rate of 3.88% and are subject to certain customary covenants, including financial covenants that, among other things, require the Company to maintain certain debt-to-EBITDA (earnings before interest, income taxes, depreciation and amortization) and interest coverage ratios. The proceeds from the third funding of the 2014 Private Placement were used to pay down senior notes that matured in the third quarter of 2015 described further below. The proceeds from the second funding of the 2014 Private Placement were used to pay down domestic borrowings under the Company’s revolving credit facility.

 

   

In the third quarter of 2015, the Company paid in full, at maturity, $90 million in aggregate principal amount of 6.59% private placement senior notes and a 50 million Euro ($56.4 million) 3.94% senior note.

 

   

In the fourth quarter of 2015, the Company paid in full, at maturity, $35 million in aggregate principal amount of 6.69% private placement senior notes.

Results of Operations

The following table sets forth net sales and income by reportable segment and on a consolidated basis:

 

     Year Ended December 31,  
     2015     2014     2013  
     (In thousands)  

Net sales(1):

      

Electronic Instruments

   $ 2,417,192      $ 2,421,638      $ 2,034,594   

Electromechanical

     1,557,103        1,600,326        1,559,542   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Consolidated net sales

   $ 3,974,295      $ 4,021,964      $ 3,594,136   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Operating income and income before income taxes:

      

Segment operating income(2):

      

Electronic Instruments

   $ 639,399      $ 612,992      $ 552,110   

Electromechanical

     318,098        335,046        309,402   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total segment operating income

     957,497        948,038        861,512   

Corporate administrative and other expenses

     (49,781     (49,452     (46,433
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Consolidated operating income

     907,716        898,586        815,079   

Interest and other expenses, net

     (101,336     (93,754     (90,284
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Consolidated income before income taxes

   $ 806,380      $ 804,832      $ 724,795   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

 

 

(1)

After elimination of intra- and intersegment sales, which are not significant in amount.

 

(2)

Segment operating income represents net sales less all direct costs and expenses (including certain administrative and other expenses) applicable to each segment, but does not include interest expense.

 

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Results of Operations for the year ended December 31, 2015 compared with the year ended December 31, 2014

In 2015, the Company established records for operating income, operating income margins, net income and diluted earnings per share. Contributions from the acquisitions completed in 2015 and the acquisitions of Amptek, Inc. in August 2014 and Zygo Corporation in June 2014, as well as the Company’s Operational Excellence initiatives had a positive impact on 2015 results. The full year impact of the 2015 acquisitions and continued focus on and implementation of Operational Excellence initiatives, including the 2015 realignment actions (described further throughout the results of operations for the fourth quarter and year ended December 31, 2015), are expected to have a positive impact on the Company’s 2016 results. The Company expects the challenging global economic environment across many of its markets and geographies to continue in 2016.

Net sales for 2015 were $3,974.3 million, a decrease of $47.7 million or 1.2%, compared with net sales of $4,022.0 million in 2014. Electronic Instruments Group (“EIG”) net sales were $2,417.2 million in 2015 or essentially flat on a percentage basis, compared with $2,421.6 million in 2014. Electromechanical Group (“EMG”) net sales were $1,557.1 million in 2015, a decrease of 2.7%, compared with $1,600.3 million in 2014. The decrease in net sales for 2015 was due to an unfavorable 4% effect of foreign currency translation and 1% internal sales decline, partially offset by a 4% increase from acquisitions.

Total international sales for 2015 were $2,054.7 million or 51.7% of net sales, a decrease of $141.5 million or 6.4%, compared with international sales of $2,196.2 million or 54.6% of net sales in 2014. The $141.5 million decrease in international sales was primarily driven by the weak global economy, as well as the foreign currency translation headwind noted above. Both reportable segments of the Company maintain strong international sales presences in Europe and Asia. Export shipments from the United States, which are included in total international sales, were $1,090.7 million in 2015, a decrease of $57.4 million or 5.0%, compared with $1,148.1 million in 2014. Export shipments decreased primarily due to the weak global economy, as well as the competitive impacts of a strong U.S. dollar.

New orders for 2015 were $3,924.7 million, a decrease of $154.6 million or 3.8%, compared with $4,079.3 million in 2014. The decrease in orders for 2015 was due to an unfavorable 4% effect of foreign currency translation and internal order decline of approximately 3% resulting from the weak global economy, partially offset by a 3% increase from acquisitions. As a result, the Company’s backlog of unfilled orders at December 31, 2015 was $1,147.8 million, a decrease of $49.5 million or 4.1%, compared with $1,197.3 million at December 31, 2014.

The Company recorded 2015 realignment costs totaling $36.6 million, with $15.9 million recorded in the first quarter of 2015 and $20.7 million recorded in the fourth quarter of 2015 (the “2015 realignment costs”). The 2015 realignment costs primarily related to reductions in workforce in response to the impact of the weak global economy on certain of the Company’s businesses, as well as the effects of a continued strong U.S. dollar. See Note 18 to the Consolidated Financial Statements included in Part II, Item 8 of this Annual Report on Form 10-K for further details.

The 2015 realignment costs were reported in the consolidated statement of income as follows:

 

   

$35.8 million in Cost of sales, excluding depreciation, with $15.8 million recorded in the first quarter of 2015 and $20.0 million recorded in the fourth quarter of 2015; and

   

$0.8 million in Selling, general and administrative expenses, with $0.1 million recorded in the first quarter of 2015 and $0.7 million recorded in the fourth quarter of 2015.

 

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Total segment operating income for 2015 included pre-tax realignment costs totaling $35.8 million, with $15.8 million recorded in the first quarter of 2015 and $20.0 million recorded in the fourth quarter of 2015. The 2015 realignment costs were reported as follows:

 

   

$18.5 million in EIG operating income, with $9.3 million recorded in both the first and fourth quarters of 2015; and

   

$17.3 million in EMG operating income, with $6.5 million recorded in the first quarter of 2015 and $10.8 million recorded in the fourth quarter of 2015.

Total segment operating margins for 2015 were negatively impacted by approximately 90 basis points due to the 2015 realignment costs, with approximately 40 basis points due to the first quarter of 2015 realignment costs and approximately 50 basis points due to the fourth quarter of 2015 realignment costs. The 2015 realignment costs impacted segment operating margins as follows:

 

   

Approximate 70 basis point negative impact on EIG’s 2015 operating margins, with approximately 35 basis points in each of the first and fourth quarters of 2015; and

   

Approximate 110 basis point negative impact on EMG’s 2015 operating margins, with approximately 40 basis points in the first quarter of 2015 and approximately 70 basis points in the fourth quarter of 2015.

The expected annualized cash savings from the 2015 realignment costs is expected to be approximately $90 million, with $40 million realized in 2015 and approximately $75 million expected to be realized in 2016.

Segment operating income for 2015 was $957.5 million, an increase of $9.5 million or 1.0%, compared with segment operating income of $948.0 million in 2014. The increase in segment operating income resulted primarily from the acquisitions noted above, as well as the benefits of the Company’s Operational Excellence initiatives, partially offset by the 2015 realignment costs described above. Segment operating income for 2014 included $18.9 million in “Zygo integration costs,” comprised of $10.4 million in severance charges ($9.1 million recorded in the third quarter of 2014 and $1.3 million recorded in the fourth quarter of 2014), a $4.5 million fair value inventory adjustment recorded in the third quarter of 2014 and $4.0 million in other charges recorded in the fourth quarter of 2014, related to the Zygo acquisition. Segment operating income, as a percentage of net sales, increased to 24.1% in 2015, compared with 23.6% in 2014. The increase in segment operating margins resulted primarily from the benefits of the Company’s Operational Excellence initiatives, partially offset by the impact of the 2015 realignment costs noted above. Segment operating margins for 2014 were negatively impacted by approximately 40 basis points due to the Zygo integration costs noted above.

Cost of sales, excluding depreciation expense for 2015 was $2,549.3 million or 64.1% of net sales, a decrease of $47.7 million or 1.8%, compared with $2,597.0 million or 64.6% of net sales for 2014. The cost of sales, excluding depreciation expense decrease and the corresponding decrease in cost of sales, excluding depreciation expense as a percentage of sales were primarily due to the net sales decrease noted above, the impact of foreign currency translation, as well as cost containment initiatives, which offset the 2015 realignment costs described above. Cost of sales, excluding depreciation expense for 2014 included $18.9 million of Zygo integration costs described above.

Selling, general and administrative (“SG&A”) expenses for 2015 were $448.6 million, a decrease of $14.0 million or 3.0%, compared with $462.6 million in 2014. As a percentage of net sales, SG&A expenses were 11.3% for 2015, compared with 11.5% in 2014. Selling expenses for 2015 were $399.5 million, a decrease of $14.3 million or 3.5%, compared with $413.8 million in 2014. Selling expenses, as a percentage of net sales, decreased to 10.1% for 2015, compared with 10.3% in 2014. The selling expenses decrease and the corresponding decrease in selling expenses as a percentage of sales were primarily due to cost containment initiatives and the impact of foreign currency translation.

Corporate administrative expenses for 2015 were $49.1 million or essentially flat, compared with $48.8 million in 2014. As a percentage of net sales, corporate administrative expenses were 1.2% for both 2015 and 2014.

 

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Consolidated operating income was $907.7 million or 22.8% of net sales for 2015, an increase of $9.1 million or 1.0%, compared with $898.6 million or 22.3% of net sales in 2014.

Interest expense was $91.8 million for 2015, an increase of $11.9 million or 14.9%, compared with $79.9 million in 2014. The increase was due to the impact of private placement senior notes funded in the second and third quarters of 2015 and the third quarter of 2014.

Other expenses, net were $9.5 million for 2015, a decrease of $4.3 million, compared with $13.8 million in 2014. Other expenses, net for 2015 benefited by lower acquisition-related expenses and the favorable impact from foreign currency translation. Other expenses, net for 2014 included an $8.0 million insurance policy gain in the fourth quarter of 2014 and a $5.5 million reversal of an insurance policy receivable related to a specific uncertain tax position liability of an acquired entity in the third quarter of 2014.

The effective tax rate for 2015 was 26.7%, compared with 27.4% in 2014. The effective tax rates for 2015 and 2014 reflect the impact of foreign earnings, which are taxed at lower rates. The 2015 effective tax rate reflects the first quarter of 2015 release of uncertain tax position liabilities related to the conclusion of an advance thin capitalization agreement in the European Union, the second quarter of 2015 effective settlement of the U.S. research and development tax credit from the completion of an Internal Revenue Service examination for 2010 and 2011, and the third quarter of 2015 $7.5 million of tax benefits related to the closure of an international subsidiary. The 2014 effective tax rate reflects a release of $12.9 million of uncertain tax position liabilities related to an acquired entity due to the final closure of a tax year and foreign tax credit benefit on amounts repatriated during the year. See Note 8 to the Consolidated Financial Statements included in Part II, Item 8 of this Annual Report on Form 10-K for further details.

Net income for 2015 was $590.9 million, an increase of $6.4 million or 1.1%, compared with $584.5 million in 2014. The 2015 realignment costs reduced 2015 net income by $24.7 million. The Zygo integration costs reduced 2014 net income by $13.9 million.

Diluted earnings per share for 2015 were $2.45, an increase of $0.08 or 3.4%, compared with $2.37 per diluted share in 2014. The 2015 realignment costs had the effect of reducing 2015 diluted earnings per share by $0.10. The Zygo integration costs had the effect of reducing 2014 diluted earnings per share by $0.05.

Segment Results

EIG’s net sales totaled $2,417.2 million for 2015, a decrease of $4.4 million or essentially flat on a percentage basis, compared with $2,421.6 million in 2014. The net sales decrease was due to an unfavorable 3% effect of foreign currency translation and 1% internal sales decline, offset by a 4% increase from the 2015 acquisition of Surface Vision and the 2014 acquisitions of Amptek and Zygo.

EIG’s operating income was $639.4 million for 2015, an increase of $26.4 million or 4.3%, compared with $613.0 million in 2014. EIG’s increase in operating income was primarily due to the Group’s Operational Excellence initiatives, partially offset by the 2015 realignment costs. EIG’s 2014 operating income included $18.9 million of Zygo integration costs. EIG’s operating margins were 26.5% of net sales for 2015, compared with 25.3% of net sales in 2014. EIG’s increase in operating margins resulted primarily from the benefits of the Group’s Operational Excellence initiatives, partially offset by the impact of the 2015 realignment costs noted above. EIG’s 2014 operating margins were negatively impacted by approximately 80 basis points due to the Zygo integration costs noted above.

EMG’s net sales totaled $1,557.1 million for 2015, a decrease of $43.2 million or 2.7%, compared with $1,600.3 million in 2014. The net sales decrease was due to an unfavorable 4% effect of foreign currency translation and 2% internal sales decline, partially offset by a 4% increase from the 2015 acquisition of Global Tubes.

 

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EMG’s operating income was $318.1 million for 2015, a decrease of $16.9 million or 5.0%, compared with $335.0 million in 2014. EMG’s decrease in operating income was primarily due to the lower sales noted above and the 2015 realignment costs, partially offset by the benefits of the Group’s Operational Excellence initiatives. EMG’s operating margins were 20.4% of net sales for 2015, compared with 20.9% of net sales in 2014. EMG’s decrease in operating margins resulted primarily from the impact of the 2015 realignment costs noted above, partially offset by the benefits of the Group’s Operational Excellence initiatives.

Results of operations for the fourth quarter of 2015 compared with the fourth quarter of 2014

Net sales for the fourth quarter of 2015 were $988.0 million, a decrease of $36.1 million or 3.5%, compared with net sales of $1,024.1 million for the fourth quarter of 2014. The decrease in net sales for the fourth quarter of 2015 was due to a 4% internal sales decline and an unfavorable 3% effect of foreign currency translation, partially offset by a 3% increase from acquisitions.

Segment operating income for the fourth quarter of 2015 was $221.8 million, a decrease of $18.1 million or 7.5%, compared with segment operating income of $239.9 million for the fourth quarter of 2014. The decrease in segment operating income was primarily due to the lower sales noted above and included $20.0 million of fourth quarter of 2015 realignment costs, partially offset by the acquisitions noted above, as well as the benefits of the Group’s Operational Excellence initiatives. Segment operating income for the fourth quarter of 2014 included $5.2 million in “Zygo integration costs,” comprised of $1.3 million in severance charges and $4.0 million in other charges, related to the Zygo acquisition. Segment operating income, as a percentage of net sales, decreased to 22.5% for the fourth quarter of 2015, compared with 23.4% for the fourth quarter of 2014. In the fourth quarter of 2015, the benefits of the Group’s Operational Excellence initiatives, partially offset the approximate 200 basis point negative impact from the fourth quarter of 2015 realignment costs noted above. Segment operating margins for the fourth quarter of 2014 were negatively impacted by approximately 50 basis points due to the fourth quarter of 2014 Zygo integration costs noted above.

Cost of sales, excluding depreciation expense for the fourth quarter of 2015 was $647.6 million or 65.5% of net sales, a decrease of $15.9 million or 2.4%, compared with $663.5 million or 64.8% of net sales for the fourth quarter of 2014. The cost of sales, excluding depreciation expense decrease was primarily due to the net sales decrease noted above, the impact of foreign currency translation, as well as cost containment initiatives, which offset the fourth quarter of 2015 realignment costs described above. Cost of sales, excluding depreciation expense for the fourth quarter of 2014 included $5.2 million of Zygo integration costs described above.

Net income for the fourth quarter of 2015 was $136.8 million, a decrease of $15.2 million or 10.0%, compared with $152.0 million for the fourth quarter of 2014. The fourth quarter of 2015 realignment costs reduced the fourth quarter of 2015 net income by $13.9 million. The fourth quarter of 2014 Zygo integration costs reduced the fourth quarter of 2014 net income by $3.2 million.

Diluted earnings per share for the fourth quarter of 2015 were $0.57, a decrease of $0.05 or 8.1%, compared with $0.62 per diluted share for the fourth quarter of 2014. The fourth quarter of 2015 realignment costs had the effect of reducing the fourth quarter of 2015 diluted earnings per share by $0.06. The fourth quarter of 2014 Zygo integration costs had the effect of reducing the fourth quarter of 2014 diluted earnings per share by $0.01.

Segment Results

EIG’s net sales totaled $628.4 million for the fourth quarter of 2015, a decrease of $16.0 million or 2.5%, compared with $644.4 million for the fourth quarter of 2014. The net sales decrease was due to an unfavorable 3% effect of foreign currency translation and 2% internal sales decline, partially offset by a 2% increase from the 2015 acquisition of Surface Vision.

EIG’s operating income was $161.7 million for the fourth quarter of 2015, a decrease of $1.2 million or 0.7%, compared with $162.9 million for the fourth quarter of 2014. EIG’s decrease in operating income was

 

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primarily due to the lower sales noted above and included $9.3 million of fourth quarter of 2015 realignment costs, partially offset by the benefits of the Group’s Operational Excellence initiatives. EIG’s fourth quarter of 2014 operating income included $5.2 million of Zygo integration costs. EIG’s operating margins were 25.7% of net sales for the fourth quarter of 2015, compared with 25.3% of net sales for the fourth quarter of 2014. EIG’s increase in operating margins resulted primarily from the benefits of the Group’s Operational Excellence initiatives, partially offset by the approximate 150 basis point negative impact from the fourth quarter of 2015 realignment costs noted above. EIG’s fourth quarter of 2014 operating margins were negatively impacted by approximately 80 basis points due to the fourth quarter of 2014 Zygo integration costs noted above.

EMG’s net sales totaled $359.6 million for the fourth quarter of 2015, a decrease of $20.2 million or 5.3%, compared with $379.8 million for the fourth quarter of 2014. The net sales decrease was due to an 8% internal sales decline and an unfavorable 3% effect of foreign currency translation, partially offset by a 5% increase from the 2015 acquisition of Global Tubes.

EMG’s operating income was $60.2 million for the fourth quarter of 2015, a decrease of $16.8 million or 21.8%, compared with $77.0 million for the fourth quarter of 2014. EMG’s decrease in operating income was primarily due to the lower sales noted above and included $10.8 million of fourth quarter of 2015 realignment costs, partially offset by the benefits of the Group’s Operational Excellence initiatives. EMG’s operating margins were 16.7% of net sales for the fourth quarter of 2015, compared with 20.3% of net sales for the fourth quarter of 2014. EMG’s fourth quarter of 2015 operating margins were negatively impacted by approximately 300 basis points due to the fourth quarter of 2015 realignment costs noted above.

Results of Operations for the year ended December 31, 2014 compared with the year ended December 31, 2013

In 2014, the Company established records for orders, sales, operating income, net income, diluted earnings per share and operating cash flow. The Company achieved these results from contributions from the acquisitions completed in 2014 and the acquisitions of Powervar, Inc. in December 2013, Creaform, Inc. in October 2013 and Controls Southeast (“CSI”) in August 2013, internal sales growth in both EIG and EMG, as well as the Company’s Operational Excellence initiatives.

Net sales for 2014 were $4,022.0 million, an increase of $427.9 million or 11.9%, compared with net sales of $3,594.1 million in 2013. EIG net sales were $2,421.6 million in 2014, an increase of 19.0% from $2,034.6 million in 2013. EMG net sales were $1,600.3 million in 2014, an increase of 2.6% from $1,559.5 million in 2013. The increase in net sales for 2014 was attributable to higher order rates which drove internal sales growth of approximately 3% and acquisition growth of 9%.

Total international sales for 2014 were $2,196.2 million or 54.6% of net sales, an increase of $211.7 million or 10.7%, compared with international sales of $1,984.5 million or 55.2% of net sales in 2013. The $211.7 million increase in international sales resulted from the acquisitions noted above and higher sales growth, and includes the effect of foreign currency translation. Both reportable segments of the Company maintain strong international sales presences in Europe and Asia. Export shipments from the United States, which are included in total international sales, were $1,148.1 million in 2014, an increase of $111.1 million or 10.7%, compared with $1,037.0 million in 2013. Export shipments improved due to increased exports from the 2014 and 2013 acquisitions noted above, excluding Teseq and Creaform.

New orders for 2014 were a record at $4,079.3 million, an increase of $457.4 million or 12.6%, compared with $3,621.9 million in 2013. The increase in orders for 2014 was due to internal order growth of approximately 4%, acquisitions added 10% and foreign currency translation was an unfavorable 1% effect. As a result, the Company’s backlog of unfilled orders at December 31, 2014 was $1,197.3 million, an increase of $57.3 million or 5.0%, compared with $1,140.0 million at December 31, 2013.

Segment operating income for 2014 was $948.0 million, an increase of $86.5 million or 10.0%, compared with segment operating income of $861.5 million in 2013. The increase in segment operating income resulted

 

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primarily from the acquisitions and internal sales growth noted above, as well as the benefits of the Company’s Operational Excellence initiatives, partially offset by $18.9 million in “Zygo integration costs,” comprised of $10.4 million in severance charges, a $4.5 million fair value inventory adjustment and $4.0 million in other charges, related to the Zygo acquisition. Segment operating income, as a percentage of net sales, decreased to 23.6% in 2014, compared with 24.0% in 2013. The decrease in segment operating margins resulted primarily from the Zygo integration costs described above, partially offset by the benefits of the Company’s Operational Excellence initiatives.

Cost of sales, excluding depreciation expense for 2014 was $2,597.0 million or 64.6% of net sales, an increase of $273.4 million or 11.8%, compared with $2,323.6 million or 64.7% of net sales for 2013. The cost of sales, excluding depreciation expense increase was primarily due to the net sales increase noted above. Cost of sales, excluding depreciation expense for 2014 included $18.9 million of Zygo integration costs described above.

SG&A expenses for 2014 were $462.6 million, an increase of $64.4 million or 16.2%, compared with $398.2 million in 2013. As a percentage of net sales, SG&A expenses were 11.5% for 2014, compared with 11.1% in 2013. Selling expenses for 2014 were $413.8 million, an increase of $61.6 million or 17.5%, compared with $352.2 million in 2013. Selling expenses, as a percentage of net sales, increased to 10.3% for 2014, compared with 9.8% in 2013. The selling expenses increase and the corresponding increase in selling expenses as a percentage of sales were due primarily to business acquisitions. The Company’s acquisition strategy generally is to acquire differentiated businesses, which, because of their distribution channels and higher marketing costs, tend to have a higher rate of selling expenses. Base business selling expenses increased approximately 4% for 2014 compared with 2013, which was in line with internal sales growth.

Corporate administrative expenses for 2014 were $48.8 million, an increase of $2.8 million or 6.1%, compared with $46.0 million in 2013. As a percentage of net sales, corporate administrative expenses were 1.2% for 2014, compared with 1.3% in 2013.

Consolidated operating income was $898.6 million or 22.3% of net sales for 2014, an increase of $83.5 million or 10.2%, compared with $815.1 million or 22.7% of net sales in 2013.

Interest expense was $79.9 million for 2014, an increase of $6.3 million or 8.6%, compared with $73.6 million in 2013. The increase was due to the impact of the initial funding of the private placement senior notes in the third quarter of 2014 and higher borrowings under the revolving credit facility to help fund the recent acquisitions.

Other expenses, net were $13.8 million for 2014, a decrease of $2.9 million, compared with $16.7 million in 2013. The decrease was driven by an $8.0 million insurance policy gain in the fourth quarter of 2014, partially offset by a $5.5 million reversal of an insurance policy receivable related to a specific uncertain tax position liability of an acquired entity in the third quarter of 2014.

The effective tax rate for 2014 was 27.4%, compared with 28.7% in 2013. Both years’ effective tax rates reflect the improving mix of foreign earnings subject to tax at lower rates and a continued trend in lower state tax rates. The 2014 effective tax rate reflects a release of $12.9 million of uncertain tax position liabilities related to an acquired entity due to the final closure of a tax year and foreign tax credit benefit on amounts repatriated during the year. On a comparative basis, the 2013 effective tax rate reflected the retroactive extension of the U.S. research and development tax credit. See Note 8 to the Consolidated Financial Statements included in Part II, Item 8 of this Annual Report on Form 10-K for further details.

Net income for 2014 was $584.5 million, an increase of $67.5 million or 13.1%, compared with $517.0 million in 2013. The Zygo integration costs reduced 2014 net income by $13.9 million. Diluted earnings per share for 2014 were $2.37, an increase of $0.27 or 12.9%, compared with $2.10 per diluted share in 2013. The Zygo integration costs had the effect of reducing 2014 diluted earnings per share by $0.05 per diluted share.

 

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Segment Results

EIG’s net sales totaled $2,421.6 million for 2014, an increase of $387.0 million or 19.0%, compared with $2,034.6 million in 2013. The net sales increase included internal sales growth of approximately 4%, primarily driven by increases in EIG’s process instruments businesses, and the 2014 acquisitions and 2013 acquisitions of Powervar and Creaform added 15%.

EIG’s operating income was $613.0 million for 2014, an increase of $60.9 million or 11.0%, compared with $552.1 million in 2013. EIG’s increase in operating income was primarily due to the higher sales noted above, partially offset by the Zygo integration costs described above. EIG’s operating margins were 25.3% of net sales for 2014, compared with 27.1% of net sales in 2013. EIG’s decrease in operating margins resulted primarily from the Zygo integration costs described above, partially offset by the benefits of the Group’s Operational Excellence initiatives. EIG’s 2013 operating margins included a $11.6 million gain on the sale of a facility recorded in third quarter, which was partially offset by incremental growth investments in the businesses recorded in the third and fourth quarters.

EMG’s net sales totaled $1,600.3 million for 2014, an increase of $40.8 million or 2.6%, compared with $1,559.5 million in 2013. The net sales increase was attributable to internal sales growth, driven by increases in EMG’s differentiated businesses.

EMG’s operating income was $335.0 million for 2014, an increase of $25.6 million or 8.3%, compared with $309.4 million in 2013. EMG’s operating margins were 20.9% of net sales for 2014, compared with 19.8% of net sales in 2013. EMG’s increase in operating income and operating margins was driven by the stronger performance in its differentiated businesses, which have higher operating margins than the Group’s floor care and specialty motors businesses.

Liquidity and Capital Resources

Cash provided by operating activities totaled $672.5 million in 2015, a decrease of $53.5 million or 7.4%, compared with $726.0 million in 2014. The decrease in cash provided by operating activities was primarily due to the $49.5 million increase in defined benefit pension plan contributions, driven by a $50.0 million contribution to the Company’s U.S. defined benefit pension plans in the first quarter of 2015. Free cash flow (cash flow provided by operating activities less capital expenditures) was $603.5 million in 2015, compared with $654.6 million in 2014. EBITDA (earnings before interest, income taxes, depreciation and amortization) was $1,046.9 million in 2015, compared with $1,022.6 million in 2014. Free cash flow and EBITDA are presented because the Company is aware that they are measures used by third parties in evaluating the Company. (See the “Notes to Selected Financial Data” included in Item 6 in this Annual Report on Form 10-K for a reconciliation of U.S. generally accepted accounting principles (“GAAP”) measures to comparable non-GAAP measures).

Cash used for investing activities totaled $425.6 million in 2015, compared with $641.6 million in 2014. In 2015, the Company paid $356.5 million, net of cash acquired, to acquire Global Tubes in May 2015 and Surface Vision in July 2015. In 2014, the Company paid $573.6 million, net of cash acquired, to acquire Teseq in January 2014, VTI Instruments in February 2014, Luphos in May 2014, Zygo in June 2014 and Amptek in August 2014. Additions to property, plant and equipment totaled $69.1 million in 2015, compared with $71.3 million in 2014.

Cash used for financing activities totaled $217.0 million in 2015, compared with $24.1 million of cash provided by financing activities in 2014. In 2015, the Company repurchased approximately 7,978,000 shares of its common stock for $435.4 million, compared with $245.3 million used for repurchases of approximately 4,755,000 shares in 2014. On both April 1 and November 4, 2015, the Company’s Board of Directors approved an increase of $350 million in the authorization for the repurchase of the Company’s common stock. At December 31, 2015, $311.7 million was available under the Company’s Board of Directors authorization for future share repurchases.

 

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Additional financing activities for 2015 include cash dividends paid of $86.0 million, compared with $80.6 million in 2014. Proceeds from the exercise of employee stock options were $39.2 million in 2015, compared with $17.8 million in 2014.

In 2015, short-term borrowings increased $226.8 million, compared with a decrease of $172.5 million in 2014. In 2015, long-term borrowings increased $18.0 million, compared with an increase of $499.1 million in 2014.

In August 2015, the Company obtained the third funding of $150 million under the third quarter of 2014 private placement agreement (the “2014 Private Placement”), consisting of $100 million in aggregate principal amount of 3.96% senior notes due August 2025 and $50 million in aggregate principal amount of 4.45% senior notes due August 2035. In June 2015, the Company obtained the second funding of $50 million in aggregate principal amount of 3.91% senior notes due June 2025 under the 2014 Private Placement. The first funding under the 2014 Private Placement occurred in September 2014 for $500 million, consisting of $300 million in aggregate principal amount of 3.73% senior notes due September 2024, $100 million in aggregate principal amount of 3.83% senior notes due September 2026 and $100 million in aggregate principal amount of 3.98% senior notes due September 2029. The 2014 Private Placement senior notes carry a weighted average interest rate of 3.88% and are subject to certain customary covenants, including financial covenants that, among other things, require the Company to maintain certain debt-to-EBITDA (earnings before interest, income taxes, depreciation and amortization) and interest coverage ratios. The proceeds from the third funding of the 2014 Private Placement were used to pay down senior notes that matured in the third quarter of 2015 described further below. The proceeds from the second funding of the 2014 Private Placement were used to pay down domestic borrowings under the Company’s revolving credit facility.

In the third quarter of 2015, the Company paid in full, at maturity, $90 million in aggregate principal amount of 6.59% private placement senior notes and a 50 million Euro ($56.4 million) 3.94% senior note.

In the fourth quarter of 2015, the Company paid in full, at maturity, $35 million in aggregate principal amount of 6.69% private placement senior notes.

The Company has a revolving credit facility with a total borrowing capacity of $700 million, which excludes an accordion feature that permits the Company to request up to an additional $200 million in revolving credit commitments at any time during the life of the revolving credit agreement under certain conditions. The revolving credit facility expires in December 2018. Interest rates on outstanding loans under the revolving credit facility are at the applicable benchmark rate plus a negotiated spread or at the U.S. prime rate. The revolving credit facility provides the Company with additional financial flexibility to support its growth plans, including its successful acquisition strategy. At December 31, 2015, the Company had available borrowing capacity of $550.3 million under its revolving credit facility, including the $200 million accordion feature.

In January 2016, the Company acquired Brookfield Engineering Laboratories for approximately $167 million and ESP/SurgeX for approximately $130 million using borrowings under its revolving credit facility.

At December 31, 2015, total debt outstanding was $1,942.1 million, compared with $1,714.0 million at December 31, 2014. In the fourth quarter of 2016, 40 million British pound ($59.0 million at December 31, 2015) of debt will mature and become payable. The debt-to-capital ratio was 37.4% at December 31, 2015, compared with 34.6% at December 31, 2014. The net debt-to-capital ratio (total debt less cash and cash equivalents divided by the sum of net debt and stockholders’ equity) was 32.4% at December 31, 2015, compared with 29.2% at December 31, 2014. The net debt-to-capital ratio is presented because the Company is aware that this measure is used by third parties in evaluating the Company. (See the “Notes to Selected Financial Data” included in Item 6 in this Annual Report on Form 10-K for a reconciliation of U.S. GAAP measures to comparable non-GAAP measures).

 

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As a result of all of the Company’s cash flow activities in 2015, cash and cash equivalents at December 31, 2015 totaled $381.0 million, compared with $377.6 million at December 31, 2014. At December 31, 2015, the Company had $357.2 million in cash outside the United States, compared with $352.8 million at December 31, 2014. The Company utilizes this cash to fund its international operations, as well as to acquire international businesses. In May 2015, the Company acquired Global Tubes for $198.8 million utilizing cash outside the United States. The Company is in compliance with all covenants, including financial covenants, for all of its debt agreements. The Company believes it has sufficient cash-generating capabilities from domestic and unrestricted foreign sources, available credit facilities and access to long-term capital funds to enable it to meet its operating needs and contractual obligations in the foreseeable future.

The following table summarizes AMETEK’s contractual cash obligations and the effect such obligations are expected to have on the Company’s liquidity and cash flows in future years at December 31, 2015.

 

     Payments Due  

Contractual Obligations(1)

   Total      Less
Than
One Year
     One to
Three

Years
     Four to
Five

Years
     After
Five
Years
 
     (In millions)  

Long-term debt(2)

   $ 1,607.2       $ 59.1       $ 575.0       $ 218.1       $ 755.0   

Revolving credit loans(3)

     314.1         314.1                           

Capital lease(4)

     5.7         0.9         4.8                   

Other indebtedness

     15.1         11.9         1.8         1.4           
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total debt

     1,942.1         386.0         581.6         219.5         755.0   

Interest on long-term fixed-rate debt

     445.8         81.9         133.7         72.4         157.8   

Noncancellable operating leases(5)

     137.3         34.2         39.4         22.9         40.8   

Purchase obligations(6)

     321.7         294.8         12.3         14.6           

Restructuring and other

     29.2         23.9         5.3                   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total

   $ 2,876.1       $ 820.8       $ 772.3       $ 329.4       $ 953.6   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

 

(1)

The liability for uncertain tax positions was not included in the table of contractual obligations as of December 31, 2015 because the timing of the settlements of these uncertain tax positions cannot be reasonably estimated at this time. See Note 8 to the Consolidated Financial Statements included in Part II, Item 8 of this Annual Report on Form 10-K for further details.

 

(2)

See Note 9 to the Consolidated Financial Statements included in Part II, Item 8 of this Annual Report on Form 10-K for further long-term debt details.

 

(3)

Although not contractually obligated, the Company expects to have the capability to repay the revolving credit loan within one year as permitted in the credit agreement. Accordingly, $314.1 million was classified as short-term debt at December 31, 2015.

 

(4)

Represents a capital lease for a building and land associated with the Cameca SAS acquisition. The lease has a term of 12 years, which began in July 2006, and is payable quarterly.

 

(5)

The leases expire over a range of years from 2016 to 2082 with renewal or purchase options, subject to various terms and conditions, contained in most of the leases.

 

(6)

Purchase obligations primarily consist of contractual commitments to purchase certain inventories at fixed prices.

Other Commitments

The Company has standby letters of credit and surety bonds of $40.2 million related to performance and payment guarantees at December 31, 2015. Based on experience with these arrangements, the Company believes that any obligations that may arise will not be material to its financial position.

 

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Critical Accounting Policies

The Company has identified its critical accounting policies as those accounting policies that can have a significant impact on the presentation of the Company’s financial condition and results of operations and that require the use of complex and subjective estimates based upon past experience and management’s judgment. Because of the uncertainty inherent in such estimates, actual results may differ materially from the estimates used. The consolidated financial statements and related notes contain information that is pertinent to the Company’s accounting policies and to Management’s Discussion and Analysis. The information that follows represents additional specific disclosures about the Company’s accounting policies regarding risks, estimates, subjective decisions or assessments whereby materially different financial condition and results of operations could have been reported had different assumptions been used or different conditions existed. Primary disclosure of the Company’s significant accounting policies is in Note 1 to the Consolidated Financial Statements included in Part II, Item 8 of this Annual Report on Form 10-K.

 

   

Revenue Recognition.    The Company recognizes revenue on product sales in the period when the sales process is complete. This generally occurs when products are shipped to the customer in accordance with terms of an agreement of sale, under which title and risk of loss have been transferred, collectability is reasonably assured and pricing is fixed or determinable. For a small percentage of sales where title and risk of loss passes at point of delivery, the Company recognizes revenue upon delivery to the customer, assuming all other criteria for revenue recognition are met. The Company’s policy with respect to sales returns and allowances generally provides that the customer may not return products or be given allowances, except at the Company’s option. The Company has agreements with distributors that do not provide expanded rights of return for unsold products. The distributor purchases the product from the Company, at which time title and risk of loss transfers to the distributor. The Company does not offer substantial sales incentives and credits to its distributors other than volume discounts. The Company accounts for the sales incentive as a reduction of revenues when the sale is recognized. Accruals for sales returns, other allowances and estimated warranty costs are provided at the time revenue is recognized based upon past experience. At December 31, 2015 and 2014, the accrual for future warranty obligations was $22.8 million and $29.8 million, respectively. The Company’s expense for warranty obligations was $14.8 million, $16.5 million and $15.1 million in 2015, 2014 and 2013, respectively. The warranty periods for products sold vary widely among the Company’s operations, but for the most part do not exceed one year. The Company calculates its warranty expense provision based on past warranty experience and adjustments are made periodically to reflect actual warranty expenses. If actual future sales returns and allowances and warranty amounts are higher than past experience, additional accruals may be required.

 

   

Accounts Receivable.    The Company maintains allowances for estimated losses resulting from the inability of specific customers to meet their financial obligations to the Company. A specific reserve for bad debts is recorded against the amount due from these customers. For all other customers, the Company recognizes reserves for bad debts based on the length of time specific receivables are past due based on its historical experience. If the financial condition of the Company’s customers were to deteriorate, resulting in their inability to make payments, additional allowances may be required. The allowance for possible losses on receivables was $8.6 million and $10.4 million at December 31, 2015 and 2014, respectively.

 

   

Inventories.    The Company uses the first-in, first-out (“FIFO”) method of accounting, which approximates current replacement cost, for approximately 82% of its inventories at December 31, 2015. The last-in, first-out (“LIFO”) method of accounting is used to determine cost for the remaining 18% of its inventory at December 31, 2015. For inventories where cost is determined by the LIFO method, the FIFO value would have been $19.4 million and $24.4 million higher than the LIFO value reported in the consolidated balance sheet at December 31, 2015 and 2014, respectively. The Company provides estimated inventory reserves for slow-moving and obsolete inventory based on current assessments about future demand, market conditions, customers who may be experiencing financial difficulties and related management initiatives. If these factors are less favorable than those projected by management, additional inventory reserves may be required.

 

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Business Combinations.    The Company allocates the purchase price of an acquired company, including when applicable, the fair value of contingent consideration between tangible and intangible assets acquired and liabilities assumed from the acquired businesses based on estimated fair values, with any residual of the purchase price recorded as goodwill. Third party appraisal firms and other consultants are engaged to assist management in determining the fair values of certain assets acquired and liabilities assumed. Estimating fair values requires significant judgments, estimates and assumptions, including but not limited to: discount rates, future cash flows and the economic lives of trade names, technology, customer relationships, property, plant and equipment, as well as income taxes. These estimates are based on historical experience and information obtained from the management of the acquired companies, and are inherently uncertain.

 

   

Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets.    Goodwill and other intangible assets with indefinite lives, primarily trademarks and trade names, are not amortized; rather, they are tested for impairment at least annually. For the purpose of the goodwill impairment test, the Company can elect to perform a qualitative analysis to determine if it is more likely than not that the fair values of its reporting units are less than the respective carrying values of those reporting units. The Company elected to bypass performing the qualitative screen and performed the first step quantitative analysis of the goodwill impairment test in the current year. The Company may elect to perform the qualitative analysis in future periods. The first step in the quantitative process is to compare the carrying amount of the reporting unit’s net assets to the fair value of the reporting unit. If the fair value exceeds the carrying value, no further evaluation is required and no impairment loss is recognized. If the carrying amount exceeds the fair value, then the second step must be completed, which involves allocating the fair value of the reporting unit to each asset and liability, with the excess being implied goodwill. An impairment loss occurs and would be required to be recorded if the amount of the recorded goodwill exceeds the implied goodwill.

The Company identifies its reporting units at the component level, which is one level below its operating segments. Generally, goodwill arises from acquisitions of specific operating companies and is assigned to the reporting unit in which a particular operating company resides. The Company’s reporting units are composed of the divisions one level below its operating segments at which discrete financial information is prepared and regularly reviewed by segment management.

The Company principally relies on a discounted cash flow analysis to determine the fair value of each reporting unit, which considers forecasted cash flows discounted at an appropriate discount rate. The Company believes that market participants would use a discounted cash flow analysis to determine the fair value of its reporting units in a sale transaction. The annual goodwill impairment test requires the Company to make a number of assumptions and estimates concerning future levels of revenue growth, operating margins, depreciation, amortization and working capital requirements, which are based upon the Company’s long-range plan. The Company’s long-range plan is updated as part of its annual planning process and is reviewed and approved by management. The discount rate is an estimate of the overall after-tax rate of return required by a market participant whose weighted average cost of capital includes both equity and debt, including a risk premium. While the Company uses the best available information to prepare its cash flow and discount rate assumptions, actual future cash flows or market conditions could differ significantly resulting in future impairment charges related to recorded goodwill balances. While there are always changes in assumptions to reflect changing business and market conditions, the Company’s overall methodology and the population of assumptions used have remained unchanged. In order to evaluate the sensitivity of the goodwill impairment test to changes in the fair value calculations, the Company applied a hypothetical 10% decrease in fair values of each reporting unit. The 2015 results (expressed as a percentage of carrying value for the respective reporting unit) showed that, despite the hypothetical 10% decrease in fair value, the fair values of the Company’s reporting units still exceeded their respective carrying values by 20% to 717% for each of the Company’s reporting units.

 

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The impairment test for indefinite-lived intangibles other than goodwill (primarily trademarks and trade names) consists of a comparison of the fair value of the indefinite-lived intangible asset to the carrying value of the asset as of the impairment testing date. The Company can elect to perform a qualitative analysis to determine if it is more likely than not that the fair values of its indefinite-lived intangible assets are less than the respective carrying values of those assets. The Company elected to bypass performing the qualitative screen. The Company may elect to perform the qualitative analysis in future periods. The Company estimates the fair value of its indefinite-lived intangibles using the relief from royalty method. The Company believes the relief from royalty method is a widely used valuation technique for such assets. The fair value derived from the relief from royalty method is measured as the discounted cash flow savings realized from owning such trademarks and trade names and not having to pay a royalty for their use.

The Company’s acquisitions have generally included a significant goodwill component and the Company expects to continue to make acquisitions. At December 31, 2015, goodwill and other indefinite-lived intangible assets totaled $3,219.3 million or 48.3% of the Company’s total assets. The Company performed its required annual impairment tests in the fourth quarter of 2015 and determined that the Company’s goodwill and indefinite-lived intangibles were not impaired. There can be no assurance that goodwill or indefinite-lived intangibles impairment will not occur in the future.

Other intangible assets with finite lives are evaluated for impairment when events or changes in circumstances indicate the carrying value may not be recoverable. The carrying value of other intangible assets with finite lives is considered impaired when the total projected undiscounted cash flows from those assets are less than the carrying value. In that event, a loss is recognized based on the amount by which the carrying value exceeds the fair market value of those assets. Fair market value is determined primarily using present value techniques based on projected cash flows from the asset group.

 

   

Pensions.    The Company has U.S. and foreign defined benefit and defined contribution pension plans. The most significant elements in determining the Company’s pension income or expense are the assumed pension liability discount rate and the expected return on plan assets. The pension discount rate reflects the current interest rate at which the pension liabilities could be settled at the valuation date. At the end of each year, the Company determines the assumed discount rate to be used to discount plan liabilities. In estimating this rate for 2015, the Company considered rates of return on high-quality, fixed-income investments that have maturities consistent with the anticipated funding requirements of the plan. The discount rate used in determining the 2015 pension cost was 4.20% for U.S. defined benefit pension plans and 3.44% for foreign plans. The discount rate used for determining the funded status of the plans at December 31, 2015 and determining the 2016 defined benefit pension cost was 4.80% for U.S. plans and 3.62% for foreign plans. In estimating the U.S. and foreign discount rates, the Company’s actuaries developed a customized discount rate appropriate to the plans’ projected benefit cash flow based on yields derived from a database of long-term bonds at consistent maturity dates. The Company used an expected long-term rate of return on plan assets for 2015 of 7.75% for U.S. defined benefit pension plans and 6.92% for foreign plans. In 2016, the Company will use 7.75% for the U.S. plans and 6.95% for the foreign plans. The Company determines the expected long-term rate of return based primarily on its expectation of future returns for the pension plans’ investments. Additionally, the Company considers historical returns on comparable fixed-income and equity investments, and adjusts its estimate as deemed appropriate. The rate of compensation increase used in determining the 2015 pension income for the U.S. plans was 3.75% and was 2.88% for the foreign plans. The U.S. and foreign plans’ rates of compensation increase will remain unchanged in 2016. In 2015, the Company recognized consolidated pre-tax pension income of $9.8 million from its U.S. and foreign defined benefit pension plans, compared with pre-tax pension income of $10.7 million recognized for these plans in 2014. The Company estimates its 2016 U.S. and foreign defined benefit pension pre-tax income to be approximately $5.0 million.

 

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All unrecognized prior service costs, remaining transition obligations or assets and actuarial gains and losses have been recognized, net of tax effects, as a charge to accumulated other comprehensive income in stockholders’ equity and will be amortized as a component of net periodic pension cost. The Company uses a December 31 measurement date (the date at which plan assets and benefit obligations are measured) for its U.S. and foreign defined benefit plans.

To fund the plans, the Company made cash contributions to its defined benefit pension plans in 2015, which totaled $55.2 million, compared with $5.7 million in 2014. The Company anticipates making approximately $4 million to $7 million in cash contributions to its defined benefit pension plans in 2016.

 

   

Income Taxes.    The process of providing for income taxes and determining the related balance sheet accounts requires management to assess uncertainties, make judgments regarding outcomes and utilize estimates. The Company conducts a broad range of operations around the world and is therefore subject to complex tax regulations in numerous international taxing jurisdictions, resulting at times in tax audits, disputes and potential litigation, the outcome of which is uncertain. Management must make judgments currently about such uncertainties and determine estimates of the Company’s tax assets and liabilities. To the extent the final outcome differs, future adjustments to the Company’s tax assets and liabilities may be necessary.

The Company assesses the realizability of its deferred tax assets, taking into consideration the Company’s forecast of future taxable income, available net operating loss carryforwards and available tax planning strategies that could be implemented to realize the deferred tax assets. Based on this assessment, management must evaluate the need for, and the amount of, valuation allowances against the Company’s deferred tax assets. To the extent facts and circumstances change in the future, adjustments to the valuation allowances may be required.

The Company assesses the uncertainty in its tax positions, by applying a minimum recognition threshold which a tax position is required to meet before a tax benefit is recognized in the financial statements. Once the minimum threshold is met, using a more likely than not standard, a series of probability estimates is made for each item to properly measure and record a tax benefit. The tax benefit recorded is generally equal to the highest probable outcome that is more than 50% likely to be realized after full disclosure and resolution of a tax examination. The underlying probabilities are determined based on the best available objective evidence such as recent tax audit outcomes, published guidance, external expert opinion, or by analogy to the outcome of similar issues in the past. There can be no assurance that these estimates will ultimately be realized given continuous changes in tax policy, legislation and audit practice. The Company recognizes interest and penalties accrued related to uncertain tax positions in income tax expense.

Recent Accounting Pronouncements

In April 2014, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) issued Accounting Standards Update (“ASU”) No. 2014-08, Reporting Discontinued Operations and Disclosures of Disposals of Components of an Entity (“ASU 2014-08”). ASU 2014-08 revised guidance to only allow disposals of components of an entity that represent a strategic shift (e.g., disposal of a major geographical area, a major line of business, a major equity method investment, or other major parts of an entity) and that have a major effect on a reporting entity’s operations and financial results to be reported as discontinued operations. The revised guidance also requires expanded disclosure in the financial statements for discontinued operations as well as for disposals of significant components of an entity that do not qualify for discontinued operations presentation. The Company adopted ASU 2013-08 effective January 1, 2015 and the adoption did not have an impact on the Company’s consolidated results of operations, financial position or cash flows.

In May 2014, the FASB issued ASU No. 2014-09, Revenue from Contracts with Customers (“ASU 2014-09”). The objective of ASU 2014-09 is to establish a single comprehensive model for entities to use in

 

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accounting for revenue arising from contracts with customers and will supersede most of the existing revenue recognition guidance. The core principle of ASU 2014-09 is that an entity recognizes revenue at the transfer of promised goods or services to customers in an amount that reflects the consideration to which the entity expects to be entitled in exchange for those goods or services. In applying the new guidance, the Company must (1) identify the contract(s) with a customer; (2) identify the performance obligations in the contract; (3) determine the transaction price; (4) allocate the transaction price to the contract’s performance obligations; and (5) recognize revenue when the Company satisfies a performance obligation. ASU 2014-09 applies to all contracts with customers except those that are within the scope of other topics in the FASB Accounting Standards Codification. ASU 2014-09 is effective for interim and annual reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2017 and can be adopted by the Company using either a full retrospective or modified retrospective approach. ASU 2014-09 may be early adopted for interim and annual reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2016. The Company has developed and begun work on an implementation plan for ASU 2014-09. The Company is in the process of determining the impact ASU 2014-09 may have on the Company’s consolidated results of operations, financial position, cash flows and financial statement disclosures, and has not decided upon the method of adoption.

In February 2015, the FASB issued ASU No. 2015-02, Amendments to the Consolidation Analysis (“ASU 2015-02”). ASU 2015-02 is intended to improve targeted areas of consolidation guidance for legal entities such as limited partnerships, limited liability corporations, and securitization structures (collateralized debt obligations, collateralized loan obligations, and mortgage-backed security transactions). ASU 2015-02 makes specific amendments to the current consolidation guidance and ends the deferral granted to investment companies from applying the variable interest entities guidance. ASU 2014-02 is effective for interim and annual reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2015. The Company does not expect the adoption of ASU 2015-02 to have a significant impact on the Company’s consolidated results of operations, financial position or cash flows.

In April 2015, the FASB issued ASU No. 2015-03, Simplifying the Presentation of Debt Issuance Costs (“ASU 2015-03”). ASU 2015-03 requires debt issuance costs to be presented in the balance sheet as a direct deduction from the associated debt liability. ASU 2015-03 is effective for interim and annual reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2015. The new guidance will be applied on a retrospective basis and early adoption is permitted. The Company does not expect the adoption of ASU 2015-03 to have a significant impact on the Company’s consolidated results of operations, financial position or cash flows.

In April 2015, the FASB issued ASU No. 2015-05, Customer’s Accounting for Fees Paid in a Cloud Computing Arrangement (“ASU 2015-05”). ASU 2015-05 is intended to help entities evaluate the accounting for fees paid by a customer in a cloud computing arrangement. The guidance clarifies that customers should determine whether a cloud computing arrangement includes the license of software by applying the same guidance cloud service providers use to make this determination. For public business entities, the amendments will be effective for annual periods, including interim periods within those annual periods, beginning after December 15, 2015. The Company does not expect the adoption of ASU 2015-05 to have a significant impact on the Company’s consolidated results of operations, financial position or cash flows.

In July 2015, the FASB issued ASU No. 2015-11, Simplifying the Measurement of Inventory (“ASU 2015-11”), which applies to inventory that is measured using FIFO or average cost. As proscribed in this update, an entity should measure inventory that is within scope at the lower of cost and net realizable value, which is the estimated selling prices in the ordinary course of business, less reasonably predictable costs of completion, disposal and transportation. Subsequent measurement is unchanged for inventory that is measured using LIFO. ASU 2015-11 is effective for interim and annual periods beginning after December 15, 2016, and should be applied prospectively with early adoption permitted at the beginning of an interim or annual reporting period. The Company has not determined the impact ASU 2015-11 may have on the Company’s consolidated results of operations, financial position or cash flows.

 

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In September 2015, the FASB issued ASU No. 2015-16, Simplifying the Accounting for Measurement-Period Adjustments (“ASU 2015-16”). ASU 2015-16 eliminates the requirement for an acquirer in a business combination to account for measurement-period adjustments retrospectively. Instead, acquirers must recognize measurement-period adjustments during the period in which they determine the amounts, including the effect on earnings of any amounts they would have recorded in previous periods if the accounting had been completed at the acquisition date. ASU 2015-16 is effective for interim and annual reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2016, with early adoption permitted. The Company adopted ASU 2015-16 effective October 1, 2015 and the adoption did not have a significant impact on the Company’s consolidated results of operations, financial position or cash flows.

In November 2015, the FASB issued ASU No. 2015-17, Balance Sheet Classification of Deferred Taxes (“ASU 2015-17”). ASU 2015-17 simplifies the presentation of deferred taxes by requiring deferred tax assets and liabilities be classified as noncurrent on the consolidated balance sheet. ASU 2015-17 is effective for interim and annual reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2016. ASU 2015-17 may be adopted prospectively or retrospectively and early adoption is permitted. The Company has not determined the impact ASU 2015-17 may have on the Company’s consolidated results of operations, financial position or cash flows and has not decided upon the method of adoption.

Internal Reinvestment

Capital Expenditures

Capital expenditures were $69.1 million or 1.7% of net sales in 2015, compared with $71.3 million or 1.8% of net sales in 2014. In 2015, 53% of capital expenditures were for improvements to existing equipment or additional equipment to increase productivity and expand capacity. Capital expenditures in 2016 are expected to approximate 1.8% of net sales, with a continued emphasis on spending to improve productivity.

Development and Engineering

The Company is committed to, and has consistently invested in, research, development and engineering activities to design and develop new and improved products. Research, development and engineering costs before customer reimbursement were $200.8 million, $208.3 million and $178.7 million in 2015, 2014 and 2013, respectively. Customer reimbursements in 2015, 2014 and 2013 were $6.9 million, $8.9 million and $9.2 million, respectively. These amounts included net Company-funded research and development expenses of $116.3 million, $119.3 million and $93.9 million in 2015, 2014 and 2013, respectively. All such expenditures were directed toward the development of new products and processes and the improvement of existing products and processes.

Environmental Matters

Certain historic processes in the manufacture of products have resulted in environmentally hazardous waste by-products as defined by federal and state laws and regulations. The Company believes these waste products were handled in compliance with regulations existing at that time. At December 31, 2015, the Company is named a Potentially Responsible Party (“PRP”) at 14 non-AMETEK-owned former waste disposal or treatment sites (the “non-owned” sites). The Company is identified as a “de minimis” party in 13 of these sites based on the low volume of waste attributed to the Company relative to the amounts attributed to other named PRPs. In nine of these sites, the Company has reached a tentative agreement on the cost of the de minimis settlement to satisfy its obligation and is awaiting executed agreements. The tentatively agreed-to settlement amounts are fully reserved. In the other four sites, the Company is continuing to investigate the accuracy of the alleged volume attributed to the Company as estimated by the parties primarily responsible for remedial activity at the sites to establish an appropriate settlement amount. At the remaining site where the Company is a non-de minimis PRP, the Company is participating in the investigation and/or related required remediation as part of a PRP Group and reserves have

 

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been established sufficient to satisfy the Company’s expected obligations. The Company historically has resolved these issues within established reserve levels and reasonably expects this result will continue. In addition to these non-owned sites, the Company has an ongoing practice of providing reserves for probable remediation activities at certain of its current or previously owned manufacturing locations (the “owned” sites). For claims and proceedings against the Company with respect to other environmental matters, reserves are established once the Company has determined that a loss is probable and estimable. This estimate is refined as the Company moves through the various stages of investigation, risk assessment, feasibility study and corrective action processes. In certain instances, the Company has developed a range of estimates for such costs and has recorded a liability based on the low end of the range. It is reasonably possible that the actual cost of remediation of the individual sites could vary from the current estimates and the amounts accrued in the consolidated financial statements; however, the amounts of such variances are not expected to result in a material change to the consolidated financial statements. In estimating the Company’s liability for remediation, the Company also considers the likely proportionate share of the anticipated remediation expense and the ability of the other PRPs to fulfill their obligations.

Total environmental reserves at December 31, 2015 and 2014 were $30.5 million and $26.6 million, respectively, for both non-owned and owned sites. In 2015, the Company recorded $9.2 million in reserves, of which $8.4 million was related to a 2015 business acquisition. These reserves relate to the estimated costs to remediate known environmental issues associated with the acquired business. Additionally, the Company spent $5.1 million on environmental matters in 2015. The Company’s reserves for environmental liabilities at December 31, 2015 and 2014 include reserves of $11.5 million and $11.7 million, respectively, for an owned site acquired in connection with the 2005 acquisition of HCC Industries (“HCC”). The Company is the designated performing party for the performance of remedial activities for one of several operating units making up a Superfund site in the San Gabriel Valley of California. The Company has obtained indemnifications and other financial assurances from the former owners of HCC related to the costs of the required remedial activities. At December 31, 2015, the Company had $10.0 million in receivables related to HCC for probable recoveries from third-party escrow funds and other committed third-party funds to support the required remediation. Also, the Company is indemnified by HCC’s former owners for approximately $19 million of additional costs.

The Company has agreements with other former owners of certain of its acquired businesses, as well as new owners of previously owned businesses. Under certain of the agreements, the former or new owners retained, or assumed and agreed to indemnify the Company against, certain environmental and other liabilities under certain circumstances. The Company and some of these other parties also carry insurance coverage for some environmental matters. To date, these parties have met their obligations in all material respects.

The Company believes it has established reserves which are sufficient to perform all known responsibilities under existing claims and consent orders. The Company has no reason to believe that other third parties would fail to perform their obligations in the future. In the opinion of management, based upon presently available information and past experience related to such matters, an adequate provision for probable costs has been made and the ultimate cost resulting from these actions is not expected to materially affect the consolidated results of operations, financial position or cash flows of the Company.

Market Risk

The Company’s primary exposures to market risk are fluctuations in interest rates, foreign currency exchange rates and commodity prices, which could impact its financial condition and results of operations. The Company addresses its exposure to these risks through its normal operating and financing activities. The Company’s differentiated and global business activities help to reduce the impact that any particular market risk may have on its operating income as a whole.

The Company’s short-term debt carries variable interest rates and generally its long-term debt carries fixed rates. These financial instruments are more fully described in the Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements included in Part II, Item 8 of this Annual Report on Form 10-K.

 

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The foreign currencies to which the Company has the most significant exchange rate exposure are the Euro, the British pound, the Japanese yen, the Chinese renminbi, the Canadian dollar, the Mexican peso and the Swiss franc. Exposure to foreign currency rate fluctuation is modest, monitored, and when possible, mitigated through the use of local borrowings and occasional derivative financial instruments in the foreign currency affected. The effect of translating foreign subsidiaries’ balance sheets into U.S. dollars is included in other comprehensive income within stockholders’ equity. Foreign currency transactions have not had a significant effect on the operating results reported by the Company because revenues and costs associated with the revenues are generally transacted in the same foreign currencies.

The primary commodities to which the Company has market exposure are raw material purchases of nickel, aluminum, copper, steel, titanium and gold. Exposure to price changes in these commodities are generally mitigated through adjustments in selling prices of the ultimate product and purchase order pricing arrangements, although forward contracts are sometimes used to manage some of those exposures.

Based on a hypothetical ten percent adverse movement in interest rates, commodity prices or foreign currency exchange rates, the Company’s best estimate is that the potential losses in future earnings, fair value of risk-sensitive financial instruments and cash flows are not material, although the actual effects may differ materially from the hypothetical analysis.

Forward-Looking Information

Certain matters discussed in this Form 10-K are “forward-looking statements” as defined in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 (“PSLRA”), which involve risk and uncertainties that exist in the Company’s operations and business environment and can be affected by inaccurate assumptions, or by known or unknown risks and uncertainties. Many such factors will be important in determining the Company’s actual future results. The Company wishes to take advantage of the “safe harbor” provisions of the PSLRA by cautioning readers that numerous important factors, in some cases have caused, and in the future could cause, the Company’s actual results to differ materially from those expressed in any forward-looking statements made by, or on behalf of, the Company. Some, but not all, of the factors or uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ from present expectations are set forth above and under Item 1A. Risk Factors. The Company undertakes no obligation to publicly update any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, subsequent events or otherwise, unless required by the securities laws to do so.

 

Item 7A. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk

Information concerning market risk is set forth under the heading “Market Risk” in Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations herein.

 

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Item 8. Financial Statements and Supplementary Data

 

     Page  

Index to Financial Statements (Item 15(a) 1)

  

Reports of Management

     42   

Reports of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm

     43   

Consolidated Statement of Income for the years ended December 31, 2015, 2014 and 2013

     45   

Consolidated Statement of Comprehensive Income for the years ended December 31, 2015, 2014 and 2013

     46   

Consolidated Balance Sheet at December 31, 2015 and 2014

     47   

Consolidated Statement of Stockholders’ Equity for the years ended December  31, 2015, 2014 and 2013

     48   

Consolidated Statement of Cash Flows for the years ended December 31, 2015, 2014 and 2013

     49   

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

     50   

Financial Statement Schedules (Item 15(a) 2)

Financial statement schedules have been omitted because either they are not applicable or the required information is included in the financial statements or the notes thereto.

 

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Management’s Responsibility for Financial Statements

Management has prepared and is responsible for the integrity of the consolidated financial statements and related information. The statements are prepared in conformity with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles consistently applied and include certain amounts based on management’s best estimates and judgments. Historical financial information elsewhere in this report is consistent with that in the financial statements.

In meeting its responsibility for the reliability of the financial information, management maintains a system of internal accounting and disclosure controls, including an internal audit program. The system of controls provides for appropriate division of responsibility and the application of written policies and procedures. That system, which undergoes continual reevaluation, is designed to provide reasonable assurance that assets are safeguarded and records are adequate for the preparation of reliable financial data.

Management is responsible for establishing and maintaining adequate internal control over financial reporting. AMETEK, Inc. maintains a system of internal controls that is designed to provide reasonable assurance as to the fair and reliable preparation and presentation of the consolidated financial statements; however, there are inherent limitations in the effectiveness of any system of internal controls.

Management recognizes its responsibility for conducting the Company’s activities according to the highest standards of personal and corporate conduct. That responsibility is characterized and reflected in a code of business conduct for all employees and in a financial code of ethics for the Chief Executive Officer and Senior Financial Officers, as well as in other key policy statements publicized throughout the Company.

The Audit Committee of the Board of Directors, which is composed solely of independent directors who are not employees of the Company, meets with the independent registered public accounting firm, the internal auditors and management to satisfy itself that each is properly discharging its responsibilities. The report of the Audit Committee is included in the Company’s Proxy Statement for the 2016 Annual Meeting of Stockholders. Both the independent registered public accounting firm and the internal auditors have direct access to the Audit Committee.

The Company’s independent registered public accounting firm, Ernst & Young LLP, is engaged to render an opinion as to whether management’s financial statements present fairly, in all material respects, the Company’s financial position and operating results. This report is included herein.

Management’s Report on Internal Control over Financial Reporting

Management of the Company is responsible for establishing and maintaining adequate internal control over financial reporting, as such term is defined in the Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(f) and 15d-15(f). Under the supervision and with the participation of our management, including our Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, AMETEK, Inc. conducted an evaluation of the effectiveness of the Company’s internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2015 based on criteria established in Internal Control — Integrated Framework issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission (2013 framework). Based on that evaluation, our management concluded that the Company’s internal control over financial reporting was effective as of December 31, 2015.

In May 2015 and July 2015, the Company acquired Global Tubes and Surface Vision, formerly referred to as the Surface Inspection Systems Division of Cognex Corporation, respectively. As permitted by related U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission staff interpretative guidance for newly acquired businesses, the Company excluded Global Tubes and Surface Vision from management’s assessment of the effectiveness of the Company’s internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2015. In the aggregate, Global Tubes and Surface Vision constituted 6.4% of total assets as of December 31, 2015 and 2.2% of net sales for the year then ended.

The Company’s internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2015 has been audited by Ernst & Young LLP, an independent registered public accounting firm, as stated in their report, which is included herein.

 

/s/ Frank S. Hermance

  

/s/ Robert R. Mandos, Jr.

Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer

  

Executive Vice President — Chief Financial Officer

February 25, 2016

 

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REPORT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM

ON INTERNAL CONTROL OVER FINANCIAL REPORTING

To the Board of Directors and Stockholders of AMETEK, Inc.:

We have audited AMETEK, Inc.’s internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2015, based on criteria established in Internal Control — Integrated Framework issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission (2013 framework) (the COSO criteria). AMETEK, 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 Global Tubes and Surface Vision, formerly referred to as the Surface Inspection Systems Division of Cognex Corporation, which are included in the 2015 consolidated financial statements of AMETEK, Inc. and constituted 6.4% of total assets as of December 31, 2015 and 2.2% of net sales for the year then ended. Our audit of internal control over financial reporting of AMETEK, Inc. also did not include an evaluation of the internal control over financial reporting of Global Tubes and Surface Vision.

In our opinion, AMETEK, Inc. maintained, in all material respects, effective internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2015, 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 AMETEK, Inc. as of December 31, 2015 and 2014, and the related consolidated statements of income, comprehensive income, stockholders’ equity and cash flows for each of the three years in the period ended December 31, 2015, and our report dated February 25, 2016 expressed an unqualified opinion thereon.

/s/ ERNST & YOUNG LLP

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

February 25, 2016

 

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REPORT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM

ON FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

To the Board of Directors and Stockholders of AMETEK, Inc.:

We have audited the accompanying consolidated balance sheets of AMETEK, Inc. as of December 31, 2015 and 2014, and the related consolidated statements of income, comprehensive income, stockholders’ equity and cash flows for each of the three years in the period ended December 31, 2015. These financial statements are the responsibility of the Company’s management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on these financial statements based on our audits.

We conducted our audits in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States). Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements are free of material misstatement. An audit includes examining, on a test basis, evidence supporting the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements. An audit also includes assessing the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, as well as evaluating the overall financial statement presentation. We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinion.

In our opinion, the financial statements referred to above present fairly, in all material respects, the consolidated financial position of AMETEK, Inc. at December 31, 2015 and 2014, and the consolidated results of its operations and its cash flows for each of the three years in the period ended December 31, 2015, in conformity with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles.

We also have audited, in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States), AMETEK, Inc.’s internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2015, based on criteria established in Internal Control — Integrated Framework issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission (2013 framework) and our report dated February 25, 2016 expressed an unqualified opinion thereon.

/s/ ERNST & YOUNG LLP

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

February 25, 2016

 

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AMETEK, Inc.

Consolidated Statement of Income

(In thousands, except per share amounts)

 

     Year Ended December 31,  
     2015     2014     2013  

Net sales

   $ 3,974,295      $ 4,021,964      $ 3,594,136   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Operating expenses:

      

Cost of sales, excluding depreciation

     2,549,280        2,597,017        2,323,642   

Selling, general and administrative

     448,592        462,637        398,177   

Depreciation

     68,707        63,724        57,238   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total operating expenses

     3,066,579        3,123,378        2,779,057   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Operating income

     907,716        898,586        815,079   

Other expenses:

      

Interest expense

     (91,795     (79,928     (73,572

Other, net

     (9,541     (13,826     (16,712
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Income before income taxes

     806,380        804,832        724,795   

Provision for income taxes

     215,521        220,372        207,796   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net income

   $ 590,859      $ 584,460      $ 516,999   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Basic earnings per share

   $ 2.46      $ 2.39      $ 2.12   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Diluted earnings per share

   $ 2.45      $ 2.37      $ 2.10   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Weighted average common shares outstanding:

      

Basic shares

     239,906        244,885        243,915   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Diluted shares

     241,586        247,102        246,065   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

See accompanying notes.

 

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AMETEK, Inc.

Consolidated Statement of Comprehensive Income

(In thousands)

 

     Year Ended December 31,  
     2015     2014     2013  

Net income

   $ 590,859      $ 584,460      $ 516,999   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Other comprehensive (loss) income:

      

Amounts arising during the period — gains (losses), net of tax (expense) benefit:

      

Foreign currency translation:

      

Translation adjustments

     (67,245     (59,712     2,550   

Change in long-term intercompany notes

     (51,235     (54,906     25,047   

Net investment hedges, net of tax of $3,432, $4,961 and ($1,587) in 2015, 2014 and 2013, respectively

     (6,374     (9,213     2,938   

Defined benefit pension plans:

      

Net actuarial (loss) gain, net of tax of $12,870, $42,755 and ($28,884) in 2015, 2014 and 2013, respectively

     (21,002     (83,040     47,498   

Amortization of net actuarial loss, net of tax of ($3,247), ($1,650) and ($5,038) in 2015, 2014 and 2013, respectively

     6,137        2,834        8,446   

Amortization of prior service costs, net of tax of ($564), ($753) and $66 in 2015, 2014 and 2013, respectively

     1,809        2,292        (174

Unrealized holding (loss) gain on available-for-sale securities:

      

Unrealized (loss) gain, net of tax of $445, ($48) and $114 in 2015, 2014 and 2013, respectively

     (827     90        (214
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Other comprehensive (loss) income

     (138,737     (201,655     86,091   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total comprehensive income

   $ 452,122      $ 382,805      $ 603,090   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

See accompanying notes.

 

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AMETEK, Inc.

Consolidated Balance Sheet

(In thousands, except share amounts)

 

     December 31,  
     2015     2014  

ASSETS

    

Current assets:

    

Cash and cash equivalents

   $ 381,005      $ 377,615   

Receivables, net

     603,295        585,462   

Inventories, net

     514,451        495,896   

Deferred income taxes

     46,724        45,053   

Other current assets

     74,138        74,578   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total current assets

     1,619,613        1,578,604   

Property, plant and equipment, net

     484,548        448,446   

Goodwill

     2,706,633        2,614,030   

Other intangibles, net

     1,672,961        1,625,561   

Investments and other assets

     180,775        154,322   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total assets

   $ 6,664,530      $ 6,420,963   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY

    

Current liabilities:

    

Short-term borrowings and current portion of long-term debt

   $ 386,075      $ 286,201   

Accounts payable

     365,355        386,207   

Income taxes payable

     32,738        27,157   

Accrued liabilities

     241,004        236,579   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total current liabilities

     1,025,172        936,144   

Long-term debt

     1,556,045        1,427,825   

Deferred income taxes

     624,046        618,385   

Other long-term liabilities

     204,641        199,048   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total liabilities

     3,409,904        3,181,402   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Stockholders’ equity:

    

Preferred stock, $0.01 par value; authorized 5,000,000 shares; none issued

              

Common stock, $0.01 par value; authorized 800,000,000 shares;
issued: 2015 — 260,718,769 shares; 2014 — 258,830,858 shares

     2,608        2,589   

Capital in excess of par value

     568,286        491,750   

Retained earnings

     3,974,793        3,469,923   

Accumulated other comprehensive loss

     (405,631     (266,894

Treasury stock: 2015 — 25,203,699 shares; 2014 — 17,495,583 shares

     (885,430     (457,807
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total stockholders’ equity

     3,254,626        3,239,561   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total liabilities and stockholders’ equity

   $ 6,664,530      $ 6,420,963   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

See accompanying notes.

 

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AMETEK, Inc.

Consolidated Statement of Stockholders’ Equity

(In thousands)

 

    Year Ended December 31,  
    2015     2014     2013  

Capital Stock

     

Preferred stock, $0.01 par value

  $      $      $   
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Common stock, $0.01 par value

     

Balance at the beginning of the year

    2,589        2,581        2,565   

Shares issued

    19        8        16   
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Balance at the end of the year

    2,608        2,589        2,581   
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Capital in Excess of Par Value

     

Balance at the beginning of the year

    491,750        448,700        387,871   

Issuance of common stock under employee stock plans

    32,296        15,290        23,053   

Share-based compensation costs

    23,762        19,871        21,591   

Excess tax benefits from exercise of stock options

    20,478        7,889        16,185   
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Balance at the end of the year

    568,286        491,750        448,700   
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Retained Earnings

     

Balance at the beginning of the year

    3,469,923        2,966,015        2,507,419   

Net income

    590,859        584,460        516,999   

Cash dividends paid

    (85,988     (80,551     (58,405

Other

    (1     (1     2   
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Balance at the end of the year

    3,974,793        3,469,923        2,966,015   
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Accumulated Other Comprehensive (Loss) Income

     

Foreign currency translation:

     

Balance at the beginning of the year

    (124,920     (1,089     (31,624

Translation adjustments

    (67,245     (59,712     2,550   

Change in long-term intercompany notes

    (51,235     (54,906     25,047   

Net investment hedges, net of tax of $3,432, $4,961 and ($1,587) in 2015, 2014 and 2013, respectively

    (6,374     (9,213     2,938   
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Balance at the end of the year

    (249,774     (124,920     (1,089
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Defined benefit pension plans:

     

Balance at the beginning of the year

    (141,982     (64,068     (119,838

Net actuarial (loss) gain, net of tax of $12,870, $42,755 and ($28,884) in 2015, 2014 and 2013, respectively

    (21,002     (83,040     47,498   

Amortization of net actuarial loss, net of tax of ($3,247), ($1,650) and ($5,038) in 2015, 2014 and 2013, respectively

    6,137        2,834        8,446   

Amortization of prior service costs, net of tax of ($564), ($753) and $66 in 2015, 2014 and 2013, respectively

    1,809        2,292        (174
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Balance at the end of the year

    (155,038     (141,982     (64,068
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Unrealized holding gain (loss) on available-for-sale securities:

     

Balance at the beginning of the year

    8        (82     132   

(Decrease) increase during the year, net of tax

    (827     90        (214
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Balance at the end of the year

    (819     8        (82
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Accumulated other comprehensive loss at the end of the year

    (405,631     (266,894     (65,239
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Treasury Stock

     

Balance at the beginning of the year

    (457,807     (215,936     (211,374

Issuance of common stock under employee stock plans

    7,777        3,412        3,905   

Purchase of treasury stock

    (435,400     (245,283     (8,467
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Balance at the end of the year

    (885,430     (457,807     (215,936
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total Stockholders’ Equity

  $ 3,254,626      $ 3,239,561      $ 3,136,121   
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

See accompanying notes.

 

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AMETEK, Inc.

Consolidated Statement of Cash Flows

(In thousands)

 

     Year Ended December 31,  
     2015     2014     2013  

Cash provided by (used for):

      

Operating activities:

      

Net income

   $ 590,859      $ 584,460      $ 516,999   

Adjustments to reconcile net income to total operating activities:

      

Depreciation and amortization

     149,460        138,584        118,657   

Deferred income taxes

     6,458        20,579        1,414   

Share-based compensation expense

     23,762        19,871        21,591   

Gain on sale of facilities

            (869     (11,590

Changes in assets and liabilities, net of acquisitions:

      

(Increase) decrease in receivables

     (6,995     (35,258     5,247   

(Increase) decrease in inventories and other current assets

     (12,007     11,626        (1,790

(Decrease) increase in payables, accruals and income taxes

     (20,049     (18,653     7,951   

Increase in other long-term liabilities

     255        8,867        9,702   

Pension contribution

     (55,215     (5,729     (5,856

Other

     (3,988     2,484        (1,666
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total operating activities

     672,540        725,962        660,659   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Investing activities:

      

Additions to property, plant and equipment

     (69,083     (71,327     (63,314

Purchases of businesses, net of cash acquired

     (356,466     (573,647     (414,315

Proceeds from sale of facilities

     421        950        12,799   

Other

     (429     2,391        4,497   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total investing activities

     (425,557     (641,633     (460,333
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Financing activities:

      

Net change in short-term borrowings

     226,761        (172,495     (45,186

Additional long-term borrowings

     200,000        500,000        872   

Reduction in long-term borrowings

     (182,007     (914     (617

Repurchases of common stock

     (435,400     (245,283     (8,467

Cash dividends paid

     (85,988     (80,551     (58,405

Excess tax benefits from share-based payments

     20,478        7,889        16,185   

Proceeds from employee stock plans and other

     39,192        15,493        25,334   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total financing activities

     (216,964     24,139        (70,284
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Effect of exchange rate changes on cash and cash equivalents

     (26,629     (26,056     7,177   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Increase in cash and cash equivalents

     3,390        82,412        137,219   

Cash and cash equivalents:

      

Beginning of year

     377,615        295,203        157,984   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

End of year

   $ 381,005      $ 377,615      $ 295,203   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

See accompanying notes.

 

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AMETEK, Inc.

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

 

1.

Significant Accounting Policies

Basis of Consolidation

The accompanying consolidated financial statements reflect the results of operations, financial position and cash flows of AMETEK, Inc. (the “Company”), and include the accounts of the Company and subsidiaries, after elimination of all intercompany transactions in the consolidation.

Use of Estimates

The preparation of financial statements in conformity with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles (“GAAP”) requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect amounts reported in the financial statements and accompanying notes. Actual results could differ from those estimates and assumptions.

Cash Equivalents, Securities and Other Investments

All highly liquid investments with maturities of three months or less when purchased are considered cash equivalents. At December 31, 2015 and 2014, the Company’s investment in a fixed-income mutual fund (held by its captive insurance subsidiary) is classified as “available-for-sale.” The aggregate market value of the fixed-income mutual fund at December 31, 2015 and 2014 was $8.5 million ($9.9 million cost basis) and $9.2 million ($9.9 million cost basis), respectively. The temporary unrealized gain or loss on the fixed-income mutual fund is recorded as a separate component of accumulated other comprehensive income (in stockholders’ equity), and is not significant. Certain of the Company’s other investments, which are not significant, are also accounted for by the equity method of accounting.

Accounts Receivable

The Company maintains allowances for estimated losses resulting from the inability of specific customers to meet their financial obligations to the Company. A specific reserve for doubtful receivables is recorded against the amount due from these customers. For all other customers, the Company recognizes reserves for doubtful receivables based on the length of time specific receivables are past due based on past experience. The allowance for possible losses on receivables was $8.6 million and $10.4 million at December 31, 2015 and 2014, respectively. See Note 7.

Inventories

The Company uses the first-in, first-out (“FIFO”) method of accounting, which approximates current replacement cost, for 82% of its inventories at December 31, 2015. The last-in, first-out (“LIFO”) method of accounting is used to determine cost for the remaining 18% of the Company’s inventory at December 31, 2015. For inventories where cost is determined by the LIFO method, the excess of the FIFO value over the LIFO value was $19.4 million and $24.4 million at December 31, 2015 and 2014, respectively. The Company provides estimated inventory reserves for slow-moving and obsolete inventory based on current assessments about future demand, market conditions, customers who may be experiencing financial difficulties and related management initiatives.

Business Combinations

The Company allocates the purchase price of an acquired company, including when applicable, the fair value of contingent consideration between tangible and intangible assets acquired and liabilities assumed from the acquired business based on their estimated fair values, with the residual of the purchase price recorded as goodwill. The results of operations of the acquired business are included in the Company’s operating results from the date of acquisition. See Note 5.

 

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AMETEK, Inc.

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS — (Continued)

 

Property, Plant and Equipment

Property, plant and equipment are stated at cost. Expenditures for additions to plant facilities, or that extend their useful lives, are capitalized. The cost of minor tools, jigs and dies, and maintenance and repairs is charged to expense as incurred. Depreciation of plant and equipment is calculated principally on a straight-line basis over the estimated useful lives of the related assets. The range of lives for depreciable assets is generally three to ten years for machinery and equipment, five to 27 years for leasehold improvements and 25 to 50 years for buildings.

Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets

Goodwill and other intangible assets with indefinite lives, primarily trademarks and trade names, are not amortized; rather, they are tested for impairment at least annually.

The Company identifies its reporting units at the component level, which is one level below its operating segments. Generally, goodwill arises from acquisitions of specific operating companies and is assigned to the reporting unit in which a particular operating company resides. The Company’s reporting units are composed of divisions and are one level below its operating segments and for which discrete financial information is prepared and regularly reviewed by segment management.

The Company principally relies on a discounted cash flow analysis to determine the fair value of each reporting unit, which considers forecasted cash flows discounted at an appropriate discount rate. The Company believes that market participants would use a discounted cash flow analysis to determine the fair value of its reporting units in a sales transaction. The annual goodwill impairment test requires the Company to make a number of assumptions and estimates concerning future levels of revenue growth, operating margins, depreciation, amortization and working capital requirements, which are based upon the Company’s long-range plan. The Company’s long-range plan is updated as part of its annual planning process and is reviewed and approved by management. The discount rate is an estimate of the overall after-tax rate of return required by a market participant whose weighted average cost of capital includes both equity and debt, including a risk premium. While the Company uses the best available information to prepare its cash flow and discount rate assumptions, actual future cash flows or market conditions could differ significantly resulting in future impairment charges related to recorded goodwill balances.

The impairment test for indefinite-lived intangibles other than goodwill (primarily trademarks and trade names) consists of a comparison of the fair value of the indefinite-lived intangible asset to the carrying value of the asset as of the impairment testing date. The Company estimates the fair value of its indefinite-lived intangibles using the relief from royalty method. The fair value derived from the relief from royalty method is measured as the discounted cash flow savings realized from owning such trademarks and trade names and not having to pay a royalty for their use.

The Company completed its required annual impairment tests in the fourth quarter of 2015, 2014 and 2013 and determined that the carrying values of goodwill and other intangible assets with indefinite lives were not impaired.

The Company evaluates impairment of its long-lived assets, other than goodwill and indefinite-lived intangible assets when events or changes in circumstances indicate the carrying value may not be recoverable. The carrying value of a long-lived asset group is considered impaired when the total projected undiscounted cash flows from such asset group are separately identifiable and are less than the carrying value. In that event, a loss is

 

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AMETEK, Inc.

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS — (Continued)

 

recognized based on the amount by which the carrying value exceeds the fair market value of the long-lived asset group. Fair market value is determined primarily using present value techniques based on projected cash flows from the asset group. Losses on long-lived assets held for sale, other than goodwill and indefinite-lived intangible assets, are determined in a similar manner, except that fair market values are reduced for disposal costs.

Intangible assets, other than goodwill, with definite lives are amortized over their estimated useful lives. Patents and technology are being amortized over useful lives of five to 20 years, with a weighted average life of 16 years. Customer relationships are being amortized over a period of five to 20 years, with a weighted average life of 19 years. Miscellaneous other intangible assets are being amortized over a period of two to 20 years. The Company periodically evaluates the reasonableness of the estimated useful lives of these intangible assets.

Financial Instruments and Foreign Currency Translation

Assets and liabilities of foreign operations are translated using exchange rates in effect at the balance sheet date and their results of operations are translated using average exchange rates for the year. Certain transactions of the Company and its subsidiaries are made in currencies other than their functional currency. Exchange gains and losses from those transactions are included in operating results for the year.

The Company makes infrequent use of derivative financial instruments. Forward contracts are entered into from time to time to hedge specific firm commitments for certain inventory purchases, export sales, debt or foreign currency transactions, thereby minimizing the Company’s exposure to raw material commodity price or foreign currency fluctuation.

In instances where transactions are designated as hedges of an underlying item, the gains and losses on those transactions are included in accumulated other comprehensive income within stockholders’ equity to the extent they are effective as hedges. An evaluation of hedge effectiveness is performed by the Company on an ongoing basis and any changes in the hedge are made as appropriate. See Note 4.

Revenue Recognition

The Company recognizes revenue on product sales in the period when the sales process is complete. This generally occurs when products are shipped to the customer in accordance with terms of an agreement of sale, under which title and risk of loss have been transferred, collectability is reasonably assured and pricing is fixed or determinable. For a small percentage of sales where title and risk of loss passes at point of delivery, the Company recognizes revenue upon delivery to the customer, assuming all other criteria for revenue recognition are met. The Company’s policy, with respect to sales returns and allowances, generally provides that the customer may not return products or be given allowances, except at the Company’s option. The Company has agreements with distributors that do not provide expanded rights of return for unsold products. The distributor purchases the product from the Company, at which time title and risk of loss transfers to the distributor. The Company does not offer substantial sales incentives and credits to its distributors other than volume discounts. The Company accounts for these sales incentives as a reduction of revenues when the sale is recognized in the consolidated statement of income. Accruals for sales returns, other allowances and estimated warranty costs are provided at the time revenue is recognized based upon past experience. At December 31, 2015 and 2014, the accrual for future warranty obligations was $22.8 million and $29.8 million, respectively. The Company’s expense for warranty obligations was $14.8 million in 2015, $16.5 million in 2014 and $15.1 million in 2013. The warranty periods for products sold vary widely among the Company’s operations, but for the most part do not exceed one year. The Company calculates its warranty expense provision based on past warranty experience and adjustments are made periodically to reflect actual warranty expenses.

 

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AMETEK, Inc.

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS — (Continued)

 

Research and Development

Company-funded research and development costs are included in Cost of sales, excluding depreciation as incurred and were $116.3 million in 2015, $119.3 million in 2014 and $93.9 million in 2013.

Shipping and Handling Costs

Shipping and handling costs are included in Cost of sales, excluding depreciation and were $50.5 million in 2015, $49.0 million in 2014 and $41.9 million in 2013.

Share-Based Compensation

The Company expenses the fair value of share-based awards made under its share-based plans in the consolidated financial statements over their requisite service period of the grants. See Note 10.

Income Taxes

The Company’s annual provision for income taxes and determination of the related balance sheet accounts requires management to assess uncertainties, make judgments regarding outcomes and utilize estimates. The Company conducts a broad range of operations around the world and is therefore subject to complex tax regulations in numerous international taxing jurisdictions, resulting at times in tax audits, disputes and potential litigation, the outcome of which is uncertain. Management must make judgments currently about such uncertainties and determine estimates of the Company’s tax assets and liabilities. To the extent the final outcome differs, future adjustments to the Company’s tax assets and liabilities may be necessary. The Company recognizes interest and penalties accrued related to uncertain tax positions in income tax expense.

The Company also is required to assess the realizability of its deferred tax assets, taking into consideration the Company’s forecast of future taxable income, the reversal of other existing temporary differences, available net operating loss carryforwards and available tax planning strategies that could be implemented to realize the deferred tax assets. Based on this assessment, management must evaluate the need for, and amount of, valuation allowances against the Company’s deferred tax assets. To the extent facts and circumstances change in the future, adjustments to the valuation allowances may be required.

Earnings Per Share

The calculation of basic earnings per share is based on the weighted average number of common shares considered outstanding during the periods. The calculation of diluted earnings per share reflects the effect of all potentially dilutive securities (principally outstanding stock options and restricted stock grants). The number of weighted average shares used in the calculation of basic earnings per share and diluted earnings per share was as follows for the years ended December 31:

 

     2015      2014      2013  
     (In thousands)  

Weighted average shares:

        

Basic shares

     239,906         244,885         243,915   

Equity-based compensation plans

     1,680         2,217         2,150   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Diluted shares

     241,586         247,102         246,065   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

 

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AMETEK, Inc.

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS — (Continued)

 

2.

Recent Accounting Pronouncements

In April 2014, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) issued Accounting Standards Update (“ASU”) No. 2014-08, Reporting Discontinued Operations and Disclosures of Disposals of Components of an Entity (“ASU 2014-08”). ASU 2014-08 revised guidance to only allow disposals of components of an entity that represent a strategic shift (e.g., disposal of a major geographical area, a major line of business, a major equity method investment, or other major parts of an entity) and that have a major effect on a reporting entity’s operations and financial results to be reported as discontinued operations. The revised guidance also requires expanded disclosure in the financial statements for discontinued operations as well as for disposals of significant components of an entity that do not qualify for discontinued operations presentation. The Company adopted ASU 2013-08 effective January 1, 2015 and the adoption did not have an impact on the Company’s consolidated results of operations, financial position or cash flows.

In May 2014, the FASB issued ASU No. 2014-09, Revenue from Contracts with Customers (“ASU 2014-09”). The objective of ASU 2014-09 is to establish a single comprehensive model for entities to use in accounting for revenue arising from contracts with customers and will supersede most of the existing revenue recognition guidance. The core principle of ASU 2014-09 is that an entity recognizes revenue at the transfer of promised goods or services to customers in an amount that reflects the consideration to which the entity expects to be entitled in exchange for those goods or services. In applying the new guidance, the Company must (1) identify the contract(s) with a customer; (2) identify the performance obligations in the contract; (3) determine the transaction price; (4) allocate the transaction price to the contract’s performance obligations; and (5) recognize revenue when the Company satisfies a performance obligation. ASU 2014-09 applies to all contracts with customers except those that are within the scope of other topics in the FASB Accounting Standards Codification. ASU 2014-09 is effective for interim and annual reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2017 and can be adopted by the Company using either a full retrospective or modified retrospective approach. ASU 2014-09 may be early adopted for interim and annual reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2016. The Company has developed and begun work on an implementation plan for ASU 2014-09. The Company is in the process of determining the impact ASU 2014-09 may have on the Company’s consolidated results of operations, financial position, cash flows and financial statement disclosures, and has not decided upon the method of adoption.

In February 2015, the FASB issued ASU No. 2015-02, Amendments to the Consolidation Analysis (“ASU 2015-02”). ASU 2015-02 is intended to improve targeted areas of consolidation guidance for legal entities such as limited partnerships, limited liability corporations, and securitization structures (collateralized debt obligations, collateralized loan obligations, and mortgage-backed security transactions). ASU 2015-02 makes specific amendments to the current consolidation guidance and ends the deferral granted to investment companies from applying the variable interest entities guidance. ASU 2014-02 is effective for interim and annual reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2015. The Company does not expect the adoption of ASU 2015-02 to have a significant impact on the Company’s consolidated results of operations, financial position or cash flows.

In April 2015, the FASB issued ASU No. 2015-03, Simplifying the Presentation of Debt Issuance Costs (“ASU 2015-03”). ASU 2015-03 requires debt issuance costs to be presented in the balance sheet as a direct deduction from the associated debt liability. ASU 2015-03 is effective for interim and annual reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2015. The new guidance will be applied on a retrospective basis and early adoption is permitted. The Company does not expect the adoption of ASU 2015-03 to have a significant impact on the Company’s consolidated results of operations, financial position or cash flows.

In April 2015, the FASB issued ASU No. 2015-05, Customer’s Accounting for Fees Paid in a Cloud Computing Arrangement (“ASU 2015-05”). ASU 2015-05 is intended to help entities evaluate the accounting for

 

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AMETEK, Inc.

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS — (Continued)

 

fees paid by a customer in a cloud computing arrangement. The guidance clarifies that customers should determine whether a cloud computing arrangement includes the license of software by applying the same guidance cloud service providers use to make this determination. For public business entities, the amendments will be effective for annual periods, including interim periods within those annual periods, beginning after December 15, 2015. The Company does not expect the adoption of ASU 2015-05 to have a significant impact on the Company’s consolidated results of operations, financial position or cash flows.

In July 2015, the FASB issued ASU No. 2015-11, Simplifying the Measurement of Inventory (“ASU 2015-11”), which applies to inventory that is measured using FIFO or average cost. As proscribed in this update, an entity should measure inventory that is within scope at the lower of cost and net realizable value, which is the estimated selling prices in the ordinary course of business, less reasonably predictable costs of completion, disposal and transportation. Subsequent measurement is unchanged for inventory that is measured using LIFO. ASU 2015-11 is effective for interim and annual periods beginning after December 15, 2016, and should be applied prospectively with early adoption permitted at the beginning of an interim or annual reporting period. The Company has not determined the impact ASU 2015-11 may have on the Company’s consolidated results of operations, financial position or cash flows.

In September 2015, the FASB issued ASU No. 2015-16, Simplifying the Accounting for Measurement-Period Adjustments (“ASU 2015-16”). ASU 2015-16 eliminates the requirement for an acquirer in a business combination to account for measurement-period adjustments retrospectively. Instead, acquirers must recognize measurement-period adjustments during the period in which they determine the amounts, including the effect on earnings of any amounts they would have recorded in previous periods if the accounting had been completed at the acquisition date. ASU 2015-16 is effective for interim and annual reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2016, with early adoption permitted. The Company adopted ASU 2015-16 effective October 1, 2015 and the adoption did not have a significant impact on the Company’s consolidated results of operations, financial position or cash flows.

In November 2015, the FASB issued ASU No. 2015-17, Balance Sheet Classification of Deferred Taxes (“ASU 2015-17”). ASU 2015-17 simplifies the presentation of deferred taxes by requiring deferred tax assets and liabilities be classified as noncurrent on the consolidated balance sheet. ASU 2015-17 is effective for interim and annual reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2016. ASU 2015-17 may be adopted prospectively or retrospectively and early adoption is permitted. The Company has not determined the impact ASU 2015-17 may have on the Company’s consolidated results of operations, financial position or cash flows and has not decided upon the method of adoption.

 

3.

Fair Value Measurements

Fair value is defined as the exchange price that would be received for an asset or paid to transfer a liability (an exit price) in the principal or most advantageous market for the asset or liability in an orderly transaction between market participants on the measurement date.

The Company utilizes a valuation hierarchy for disclosure of the inputs to the valuations used to measure fair value. This hierarchy prioritizes the inputs into three broad levels as follows. Level 1 inputs are quoted prices (unadjusted) in active markets for identical assets or liabilities. Level 2 inputs are quoted prices for similar assets and liabilities in active markets or inputs that are observable for the asset or liability, either directly or indirectly through market corroboration, for substantially the full term of the financial instrument. Level 3 inputs are unobservable inputs based on the Company’s own assumptions used to measure assets and liabilities at fair value. A financial asset or liability’s classification within the hierarchy is determined based on the lowest level input that is significant to the fair value measurement.

 

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AMETEK, Inc.

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS — (Continued)

 

The following table provides the Company’s assets that are measured at fair value on a recurring basis as of December 31, 2015 and 2014, consistent with the fair value hierarchy:

 

    December 31, 2015      December 31, 2014  
    Fair Value      Fair Value  
    (In thousands)  

Fixed-income investments

  $ 8,482       $ 9,219   

The fair value of fixed-income investments, which are valued as level 1 investments, was based on quoted market prices. The fixed-income investments are shown as a component of long-term assets on the consolidated balance sheet.

For the year ended December 31, 2015, gains and losses on the investments noted above were not significant. No transfers between level 1 and level 2 investments occurred during the year ended December 31, 2015.

Financial Instruments

Cash, cash equivalents and fixed-income investments are recorded at fair value at December 31, 2015 and 2014 in the accompanying consolidated balance sheet.

The following table provides the estimated fair values of the Company’s financial instrument liabilities, for which fair value is measured for disclosure purposes only, compared to the recorded amounts at December 31, 2015 and 2014:

 

     December 31, 2015     December 31, 2014  
     Recorded Amount     Fair Value     Recorded Amount     Fair Value  
     (In thousands)  

Short-term borrowings

   $ (314,100   $ (314,100   $ (88,100   $ (88,100

Long-term debt (including current portion)

     (1,628,020     (1,686,502     (1,625,926     (1,768,439

The fair value of short-term borrowings approximates the carrying value. Short-term borrowings are valued as level 2 investments as they are corroborated by observable market data. The Company’s long-term debt is all privately held with no public market for this debt, therefore, the fair value of long-term debt was computed based on comparable current market data for similar debt instruments and is considered to be a level 3 liability. See Note 9 for long-term debt principal amounts, interest rates and maturities.

 

4.

Hedging Activities

The Company has designated certain foreign-currency-denominated long-term borrowings as hedges of the net investment in certain foreign operations. As of December 31, 2015, these net investment hedges included British-pound-denominated long-term debt. As of December 31, 2014, these net investment hedges included British-pound-denominated long-term debt and Euro-denominated short-term debt. These borrowings were designed to create net investment hedges in each of the designated foreign subsidiaries. The Company designated the British-pound- and Euro-denominated loans referred to above as hedging instruments to offset translation gains or losses on the net investment due to changes in the British pound and Euro exchange rates. These net

 

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AMETEK, Inc.

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS — (Continued)

 

investment hedges are evidenced by management’s contemporaneous documentation supporting the hedge designation. Any gain or loss on the hedging instrument (the debt) following hedge designation is reported in accumulated other comprehensive income in the same manner as the translation adjustment on the investment based on changes in the spot rate, which is used to measure hedge effectiveness.

At December 31, 2015 and 2014, the Company had $177.1 million and $186.7 million, respectively, of British-pound-denominated loans, which were designated as a hedge against the net investment in British pound functional currency foreign subsidiaries. In the third quarter of 2015, the Company paid in full, at maturity, a 50 million Euro ($56.4 million) loan, which was designated as a hedge against the net investment in Euro functional currency foreign subsidiaries. See Note 9 for further details. At December 31, 2014, the Company had a $60.8 million Euro-denominated loan, which was designated as a hedge against the net investment in Euro functional currency foreign subsidiaries. As a result of these British-pound- and Euro-denominated loans being designated and 100% effective as net investment hedges, $14.4 million and $20.2 million of currency remeasurement gains have been included in the foreign currency translation component of other comprehensive income for the years ended December 31, 2015 and 2014, respectively.

 

5.

Acquisitions

The Company spent $356.5 million in cash, net of cash acquired, to acquire Global Tubes in May 2015 and Surface Vision, formerly referred to as the Surface Inspection Systems Division of Cognex Corporation, in July 2015. Global Tubes is a manufacturer of high-precision, small-diameter metal tubing. Surface Vision develops and manufactures software-enabled vision systems used to inspect surfaces of continuously processed materials for flaws and defects. Global Tubes is part of AMETEK’s Electromechanical Group (“EMG”) and Surface Vision is part of AMETEK’s Electronic Instruments Group (“EIG”).

The following table represents the preliminary allocation of the aggregate purchase price for the net assets of the above acquisitions based on their estimated fair values at acquisition (in millions):

 

Property, plant and equipment

   $ 53.4   

Goodwill

     153.5   

Other intangible assets

     161.0   

Deferred income taxes

     (24.4

Long-term liabilities

     (19.6

Net working capital and other*

     32.6   
  

 

 

 

Total purchase price

   $ 356.5   
  

 

 

 

 

*

Includes $28.7 million in accounts receivable, whose fair value, contractual cash flows and expected cash flows are approximately equal.

The amount allocated to goodwill is reflective of the benefits the Company expects to realize from the acquisitions as follows: Global Tubes’ metallurgical capabilities, processing capabilities and alloy ranges are complementary and expand the Company’s product offerings in highly engineered applications serving the aerospace, energy, power generation and medical markets. Surface Vision’s proprietary real-time image processing technology broadens the Company’s capabilities in the non-destructive process inspection market. The Company does not expect any of the goodwill recorded in connection with the Global Tubes acquisition to be tax deductible in future years. The Company expects approximately $64 million of the goodwill recorded in connection with the Surface Vision acquisition will be tax deductible in future years.

 

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AMETEK, Inc.

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS — (Continued)

 

At December 31, 2015, the purchase price allocated to other intangible assets of $161.0 million consists of $20.6 million of indefinite-lived intangible trademarks and trade names, which are not subject to amortization. The remaining $140.4 million of other intangible assets consists of $101.4 million of customer relationships, which are being amortized over a period of 18 to 20 years, $5.8 million of trade names, which are being amortized over a period of two to 20 years and $33.2 million of purchased technology, which is being amortized over a period of 15 to 20 years. Amortization expense for each of the next five years for the 2015 acquisitions listed above is expected to approximate $8 million per year.

The Company recognized $8.4 million in environmental liabilities related to the estimated costs to remediate known environmental issues at Global Tubes. The $8.4 million is included in long-term liabilities in the table above.

The Company is in the process of finalizing the measurement of certain tangible and intangible assets and liabilities for its 2015 acquisitions, including the environmental liabilities noted above, goodwill, customer relationships, trade names, purchased technology and the accounting for income taxes.

The 2015 acquisitions noted above had an immaterial impact on reported net sales, net income and diluted earnings per share for the year ended December 31, 2015. Had the 2015 acquisitions been made at the beginning of 2015 or 2014, unaudited pro forma net sales, net income and diluted earnings per share for the years ended December 31, 2015 and 2014, respectively, would not have been materially different than the amounts reported. Pro forma results are not necessarily indicative of the results that would have occurred if the acquisitions had been completed at the beginning of 2015 or 2014.

In 2014, the Company spent $573.6 million in cash, net of cash acquired, to acquire Teseq Group in January 2014, VTI Instruments (“VTI”) in February 2014, Luphos GmbH in May 2014, Zygo Corporation in June 2014 and Amptek, Inc. in August 2014. Teseq is a manufacturer of test and measurement instrumentation for electromagnetic compatibility testing. VTI is a manufacturer of high-precision test and measurement instrumentation. Luphos’ core technology is used in the measurement of complex aspheric optical surfaces and other surfaces through non-contact methods. Zygo is a provider of optical metrology solutions, high-precision optics and optical assemblies for use in a wide range of scientific, industrial and medical applications. Amptek is a manufacturer of instruments and detectors used to identify composition of materials using x-ray fluorescence technology. Teseq, VTI, Luphos, Zygo and Amptek are part of EIG.

In 2013, the Company spent $414.3 million in cash, net of cash acquired, to acquire Controls Southeast, Inc. (“CSI”) in August, Creaform, Inc. in October, and Powervar, Inc. in December. CSI is a leader in custom-engineered, thermal management solutions used to maintain temperature control of liquid and gas in a broad range of demanding industrial process applications. Creaform is a leading developer and manufacturer of innovative portable 3D measurement technologies and a provider of 3D engineering services. Powervar is a leading provider of power management systems and uninterruptible power supply systems. CSI, Creaform and Powervar are part of EIG.

Acquisitions Subsequent to December 31, 2015

In January 2016, the Company acquired Brookfield Engineering Laboratories (“Brookfield”). Brookfield was acquired for approximately $167 million and has estimated annual sales of approximately $55 million. Brookfield is a manufacturer of viscometers and rheometers, as well as instrumentation to analyze texture and powder flow. Brookfield will join EIG.

 

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NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS — (Continued)

 

In January 2016, the Company acquired ESP/SurgeX. ESP/SurgeX was acquired for approximately $130 million and has estimated annual sales of approximately $40 million. ESP/SurgeX is a manufacturer of energy intelligence and power protection, monitoring and diagnostic solutions. ESP/SurgeX will join EIG.

 

6.

Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets

The changes in the carrying amounts of goodwill by segment were as follows:

 

     EIG     EMG     Total  
     (In millions)  

Balance at December 31, 2013

   $ 1,410.8      $ 997.6      $ 2,408.4   

Goodwill acquired

     272.1               272.1   

Purchase price allocation adjustments and other

     (0.4            (0.4

Foreign currency translation adjustments

     (35.8     (30.3     (66.1
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Balance at December 31, 2014

     1,646.7        967.3        2,614.0   

Goodwill acquired

     64.0        89.5        153.5   

Purchase price allocation adjustments and other

     (2.3            (2.3

Foreign currency translation adjustments

     (30.2     (28.4     (58.6
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Balance at December 31, 2015

   $ 1,678.2      $ 1,028.4      $ 2,706.6   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Other intangible assets were as follows at December 31:

 

     2015     2014  
     (In thousands)  

Definite-lived intangible assets (subject to amortization):

    

Patents

   $ 51,059      $ 53,474   

Purchased technology

     266,644        239,775   

Customer lists

     1,256,379        1,182,152   

Other acquired intangibles

     26,142        20,270   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 
     1,600,224        1,495,671   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Accumulated amortization:

    

Patents

     (34,745     (35,004

Purchased technology

     (73,809     (63,078

Customer lists

     (306,558     (243,169

Other acquired intangibles

     (24,791     (26,349
  

 

 

   

 

 

 
     (439,903     (367,600
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net intangible assets subject to amortization

     1,160,321        1,128,071   

Indefinite-lived intangible assets (not subject to amortization):

    

Trademarks and trade names

     512,640        497,490   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 
   $ 1,672,961      $ 1,625,561   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Amortization expense was $80.8 million, $74.9 million and $61.5 million for the years ended December 31, 2015, 2014 and 2013, respectively. Amortization expense for each of the next five years is expected to approximate $87 million per year, not considering the impact of potential future acquisitions.

 

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NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS — (Continued)

 

7.

Other Consolidated Balance Sheet Information

 

     December 31,  
     2015     2014  
     (In thousands)  

INVENTORIES, NET

    

Finished goods and parts

   $ 83,229      $ 80,307   

Work in process

     105,259        94,298   

Raw materials and purchased parts

     325,963        321,291   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 
   $ 514,451      $ 495,896   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

PROPERTY, PLANT AND EQUIPMENT, NET

    

Land

   $ 41,951      $ 38,340   

Buildings

     293,002        281,336   

Machinery and equipment

     849,658        793,580   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 
     1,184,611        1,113,256   

Less: Accumulated depreciation

     (700,063     (664,810
  

 

 

   

 

 

 
   $ 484,548      $ 448,446   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

ACCRUED LIABILITIES

    

Employee compensation and benefits

   $ 93,232      $ 94,478   

Product warranty obligation

     22,761        29,764   

Restructuring

     29,203        14,864   

Other

     95,808        97,473   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 
   $ 241,004      $ 236,579   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 
    

 

     2015     2014     2013  
     (In thousands)  

ALLOWANCES FOR POSSIBLE LOSSES ON ACCOUNTS

      

Balance at the beginning of the year

   $ 10,446      $ 9,547      $ 10,754   

Additions charged to expense

     630        2,974        1,939   

Write-offs

     (1,872     (2,243     (3,503

Currency translation adjustments and other

     (649     168        357   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Balance at the end of the year

   $ 8,555      $ 10,446      $ 9,547   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

 

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NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS — (Continued)

 

8.

Income Taxes

The components of income before income taxes and the details of the provision for income taxes were as follows for the years ended December 31:

 

     2015     2014     2013  
     (In thousands)  

Income before income taxes:

      

Domestic

   $ 502,292      $ 495,516      $ 443,278   

Foreign

     304,088        309,316        281,517   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total

   $ 806,380      $ 804,832      $ 724,795   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Provision for income taxes:

      

Current:

      

Federal

   $ 130,996      $ 128,635      $ 133,574   

Foreign

     66,691        60,606        64,077   

State

     11,376        12,461        13,083   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total current

     209,063        201,702        210,734   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Deferred:

      

Federal

     1,711        19,870        7,899   

Foreign

     (3,611     1,552        (3,592

State

     8,358        (2,752     (7,245
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total deferred

     6,458        18,670        (2,938
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total provision

   $ 215,521      $ 220,372      $ 207,796   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

 

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NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS — (Continued)

 

Significant components of the deferred tax (asset) liability were as follows at December 31:

 

     2015     2014  
     (In thousands)  

Current deferred tax (asset) liability:

  

Reserves not currently deductible

   $ (37,771   $ (32,552

Share-based compensation

     (7,218     (6,871

Net operating loss carryforwards

     (368     (3,570

Foreign tax credit carryforwards

            (42

Other

     353        (467
  

 

 

   

 

 

 
     (45,004     (43,502

Portion included in other current liabilities

     (1,720     (1,551
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Gross current deferred tax asset

     (46,724     (45,053
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Noncurrent deferred tax (asset) liability:

    

Differences in basis of property and accelerated depreciation

     57,581        47,345   

Reserves not currently deductible

     (28,809     (29,514

Pensions

     6,736        16,025   

Differences in basis of intangible assets and accelerated amortization

     597,266        586,960   

Net operating loss carryforwards

     (5,722     (7,200

Share-based compensation

     (11,607     (10,858

Foreign tax credit carryforwards

            (2,157

Other

     1,411        546   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 
     616,856        601,147   

Less: Valuation allowance

     2,840        7,708   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 
     619,696        608,855   

Portion included in noncurrent assets

     4,350        9,530   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Gross noncurrent deferred tax liability

     624,046        618,385   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net deferred tax liability

   $ 577,322      $ 573,332   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

The Company’s effective tax rate reconciles to the U.S. Federal statutory rate as follows for the years ended December 31:

 

         2015             2014             2013      

U.S. Federal statutory rate

     35.0     35.0     35.0

State income taxes, net of federal income tax benefit

     1.2        0.9        1.0   

Foreign operations, net

     (6.8     (6.1     (5.8

U.S. Manufacturing deduction and credits

     (2.4     (2.2     (1.8

Other

     (0.3     (0.2     0.3   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Consolidated effective tax rate

     26.7     27.4     28.7
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

 

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NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS — (Continued)

 

On December 18, 2015, the President of the United States of America signed the tax extenders bill that made the research and development tax credit permanent on a retroactive basis beginning January 1, 2015.

At December 31, 2015 and 2014, U.S. and foreign deferred income taxes totaling $6.9 million and $7.5 million were provided on undistributed earnings of certain non-U.S. subsidiaries that are not expected to be permanently reinvested in such companies. There has been no provision for U.S. deferred income taxes for the undistributed earnings of certain other subsidiaries, which total approximately $1,075.0 million and $993.2 million at December 31, 2015 and 2014, respectively, because the Company intends to reinvest these earnings indefinitely in operations outside the United States. Upon distribution of those earnings to the United States, the Company would be subject to U.S. income taxes and withholding taxes payable to the various foreign countries. Determination of the amount of the unrecognized deferred income tax liability on these undistributed earnings is not practicable.

At December 31, 2015, the Company had tax benefits of $6.1 million related to net operating loss carryforwards, which will be available to offset future income taxes payable, subject to certain annual or other limitations based on foreign and U.S. tax laws. This amount includes net operating loss carryforwards of $0.2 million for federal income tax purposes with a valuation allowance of $0.2 million, $3.7 million for state income tax purposes with no valuation allowance and $2.2 million for foreign income tax purposes with a valuation allowance of $1.5 million. These net operating loss carryforwards, if not used, will expire between 2016 and 2035.

At December 31, 2015, the Company had tax benefits of $8.3 million related to tax credit carryforwards, which will be available to offset future income taxes payable, subject to certain annual or other limitations based on foreign and U.S. tax laws. This amount includes tax credit carryforwards of $5.0 million for federal income tax purposes with a valuation allowance of $1.1 million, $3.2 million for state income tax purposes with no valuation allowance and $0.1 million for foreign income tax purposes with no valuation allowance. These tax credit carryforwards, if not used, will expire between 2016 and 2035.

The Company maintains a valuation allowance to reduce certain deferred tax assets to amounts that are more likely than not to be realized. This allowance primarily relates to the deferred tax assets established for foreign and certain state net operating loss carryforwards and tax credits. In 2015, the Company recorded a decrease of $4.9 million in the valuation allowance primarily related to foreign net operating losses and tax credits that are not expected to be utilized.

At December 31, 2015, the Company had gross unrecognized tax benefits of $63.8 million, of which $52.9 million, if recognized, would impact the effective tax rate. At December 31, 2014, the Company had gross unrecognized tax benefits of $71.7 million, of which $61.1 million, if recognized, would impact the effective tax rate.

At December 31, 2015 and 2014, the Company reported $10.7 million and $11.1 million, respectively, related to interest and penalty exposure as accrued income tax expense in the consolidated balance sheet. During 2015, the Company recognized a net benefit of $0.4 million, and during 2014 and 2013, the Company recognized a net expense of $2.5 million and $0.4 million, respectively, for interest and penalties related to uncertain tax positions in the consolidated statement of income as a component of income tax expense.

The most significant tax jurisdiction for the Company is the United States. The Company files income tax returns in various other state and foreign tax jurisdictions, in some cases for multiple legal entities per jurisdiction. Generally, the Company has open tax years subject to tax audit on average of between three and six

 

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NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS — (Continued)

 

years in these jurisdictions. At December 31, 2015, there were no tax years currently under examination by the Internal Revenue Service (“IRS”). The IRS previously completed the examination of the Company’s consolidated U.S. income tax returns for the years 2010 and 2011 and certain non-consolidated U.S. income tax returns including certain pre-acquisition filings. The Company has not materially extended any other statutes of limitation for any significant location and has reviewed and accrued for, where necessary, tax liabilities for open periods including state and foreign jurisdictions that remain subject to examination. There have been no penalties asserted or imposed by the IRS related to substantial understatement of income, gross valuation misstatement or failure to disclose a listed or reportable transaction.

During 2015, the Company added $12.0 million of tax, interest and penalties to identified uncertain tax positions and reversed $20.3 million of tax and interest related to statute expirations and settlement of prior uncertain positions. During 2014, the Company added $35.0 million of tax, interest and penalties related to identified uncertain tax positions and reversed $16.0 million of tax and interest related to statute expirations and settlement of prior uncertain positions.

The following is a reconciliation of the liability for uncertain tax positions at December 31:

 

     2015     2014     2013  
     (In millions)  

Balance at the beginning of the year

   $ 71.7      $ 55.2      $ 36.2   

Additions for tax positions related to the current year

     8.8        10.7        11.7   

Additions for tax positions of prior years

     1.3        16.8        15.1   

Reductions for tax positions of prior years

     (7.1     (1.7     (1.8

Reductions related to settlements with taxing authorities

     (8.3     (0.4     (2.5

Reductions due to statute expirations

     (2.6     (8.9     (3.5
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Balance at the end of the year

   $ 63.8      $ 71.7      $ 55.2   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

In 2015, the additions above primarily reflect the increase in tax liabilities for uncertain tax positions related to certain domestic and foreign issues, while the reductions above primarily relate to statute expirations, settlement of domestic and foreign issues, as well as updates to prior year tax positions. At December 31, 2015, tax, interest and penalties of $69.6 million were classified as a noncurrent liability. The net change in uncertain tax positions for the year ended December 31, 2015 resulted in a decrease to income tax expense of $6.1 million.

 

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NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS — (Continued)

 

9.

Debt

Long-term debt consisted of the following at December 31:

 

     2015     2014  
     (In thousands)  

U.S. dollar 6.59% senior notes due September 2015

   $      $ 90,000   

U.S. dollar 6.69% senior notes due December 2015

            35,000   

U.S. dollar 6.20% senior notes due December 2017

     270,000        270,000   

U.S. dollar 6.35% senior notes due July 2018

     80,000        80,000   

U.S. dollar 7.08% senior notes due September 2018

     160,000        160,000   

U.S. dollar 7.18% senior notes due December 2018

     65,000        65,000   

U.S. dollar 6.30% senior notes due December 2019

     100,000        100,000   

U.S. dollar 3.73% senior notes due September 2024

     300,000        300,000   

U.S. dollar 3.91% senior notes due June 2025

     50,000          

U.S. dollar 3.96% senior notes due August 2025

     100,000          

U.S. dollar 3.83% senior notes due September 2026

     100,000        100,000   

U.S. dollar 3.98% senior notes due September 2029

     100,000        100,000   

U.S. dollar 4.45% senior notes due August 2035

     50,000          

British pound 5.99% senior note due November 2016

     59,049        62,249   

British pound 4.68% senior note due September 2020

     118,098        124,494   

Euro 3.94% senior note due August 2015

            60,790   

Swiss franc 2.44% senior note due December 2021

     55,024        55,600   

Revolving credit loan

     314,100        88,100   

Other, principally foreign

     20,849        22,793   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total debt

     1,942,120        1,714,026   

Less: Current portion

     (386,075     (286,201
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total long-term debt

   $ 1,556,045      $ 1,427,825   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Maturities of long-term debt outstanding at December 31, 2015 were as follows: $271.5 million in 2017; $310.1 million in 2018; $101.0 million in 2019; $118.5 million in 2020; $55.0 million in 2021; and $700.0 million in 2022 and thereafter.

In August 2015, the Company obtained the third funding of $150 million under the third quarter of 2014 private placement agreement (the “2014 Private Placement”), consisting of $100 million in aggregate principal amount of 3.96% senior notes due August 2025 and $50 million in aggregate principal amount of 4.45% senior notes due August 2035. In June 2015, the Company obtained the second funding of $50 million in aggregate principal amount of 3.91% senior notes due June 2025 under the 2014 Private Placement. The first funding under the 2014 Private Placement occurred in September 2014 for $500 million, consisting of $300 million in aggregate principal amount of 3.73% senior notes due September 2024, $100 million in aggregate principal amount of 3.83% senior notes due September 2026 and $100 million in aggregate principal amount of 3.98% senior notes due September 2029. The 2014 Private Placement senior notes carry a weighted average interest rate of 3.88% and are subject to certain customary covenants, including financial covenants that, among other things, require the Company to maintain certain debt-to-EBITDA (earnings before interest, income taxes, depreciation and amortization) and interest coverage ratios. The proceeds from the third funding of the 2014 Private

 

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NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS — (Continued)

 

Placement were used to pay down senior notes that matured in the third quarter of 2015 described further below. The proceeds from the second funding of the 2014 Private Placement were used to pay down domestic borrowings under the Company’s revolving credit facility.

In the third quarter of 2015, the Company paid in full, at maturity, $90 million in aggregate principal amount of 6.59% private placement senior notes and a 50 million Euro ($56.4 million) 3.94% senior note.

In the fourth quarter of 2015, the Company paid in full, at maturity, $35 million in aggregate principal amount of 6.69% private placement senior notes.

In December 2007, the Company issued $270 million in aggregate principal amount of 6.20% private placement senior notes due December 2017 and $100 million in aggregate principal amount of 6.30% private placement senior notes due December 2019. In July 2008, the Company issued $80 million in aggregate principal amount of 6.35% private placement senior notes due July 2018. In September 2008, the Company issued $90 million in aggregate principal amount of 6.59% private placement senior notes due September 2015 (paid in full, at maturity, as previously noted) and $160 million in aggregate principal amount of 7.08% private placement senior notes due September 2018. In December 2008, the Company issued $35 million in aggregate principal amount of 6.69% private placement senior notes due December 2015 (paid in full, at maturity, as previously noted) and $65 million in aggregate principal amount of 7.18% private placement senior notes due December 2018.

In September 2005, the Company issued a 50 million Euro 3.94% senior note due August 2015 (paid in full, at maturity, as previously noted). In November 2004, the Company issued a 40 million British pound ($59.0 million at December 31, 2015) 5.99% senior note due November 2016. In September 2010, the Company issued an 80 million British pound ($118.1 million at December 31, 2015) 4.68% senior note due September 2020. In December 2011, the Company issued a 55 million Swiss franc ($55.0 million at December 31, 2015) 2.44% senior note due December 2021.

The Company has a revolving credit facility with a total borrowing capacity of $700 million, which excludes an accordion feature that permits the Company to request up to an additional $200 million in revolving credit commitments at any time during the life of the revolving credit agreement under certain conditions. The revolving credit facility expires in December 2018. The revolving credit facility places certain restrictions on allowable additional indebtedness. At December 31, 2015, the Company had available borrowing capacity of $550.3 million under its revolving credit facility, including the $200 million accordion feature.

Interest rates on outstanding loans under the revolving credit facility are at the applicable benchmark rate plus a negotiated spread or at the U.S. prime rate. At December 31, 2015 and 2014 the Company had $314.1 million and $88.1 million, respectively, of borrowings outstanding under the revolving credit facility. The weighted average interest rate on the revolving credit facility for the years ended December 31, 2015 and 2014 was 1.37% and 1.36%, respectively. The Company had outstanding letters of credit totaling $36.9 million and $40.8 million at December 31, 2015 and 2014, respectively.

The private placements, the senior notes and the revolving credit facility are subject to certain customary covenants, including financial covenants that, among other things, require the Company to maintain certain debt-to-EBITDA and interest coverage ratios. The Company was in compliance with all provisions of the debt arrangements at December 31, 2015.

Foreign subsidiaries of the Company had available credit facilities with local foreign lenders of $37.5 million at December 31, 2015. Foreign subsidiaries had debt outstanding at December 31, 2015 totaling $20.9 million, including $7.9 million reported in long-term debt.

 

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NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS — (Continued)

 

The weighted average interest rate on total debt outstanding at December 31, 2015 and 2014 was 5.2% and 5.1%, respectively.

 

10.

Share-Based Compensation

Under the terms of the Company’s stockholder-approved share-based plans, incentive and non-qualified stock options and restricted stock have been, and may be, issued to the Company’s officers, management-level employees and members of its Board of Directors. Employee and non-employee director stock options generally vest at a rate of 25% per year, beginning one year from the date of the grant, and restricted stock generally has a four-year cliff vesting. Stock options generally have a maximum contractual term of seven years. At December 31, 2015, 15.0 million shares of Company common stock were reserved for issuance under the Company’s share-based plans, including 5.7 million shares for stock options outstanding.

The Company issues previously unissued shares when stock options are exercised and shares are issued from treasury stock upon the award of restricted stock.

The Company measures and records compensation expense related to all stock awards by recognizing the grant date fair value of the awards over their requisite service periods in the financial statements. For grants under any of the Company’s plans that are subject to graded vesting over a service period, the Company recognizes expense on a straight-line basis over the requisite service period for the entire award.

The fair value of each stock option grant is estimated on the date of grant using a Black-Scholes-Merton option pricing model. The following weighted average assumptions were used in the Black-Scholes-Merton model to estimate the fair values of stock options granted during the years indicated:

 

     2015     2014     2013  

Expected volatility

     22.3     23.9     28.1

Expected term (years)

     5.0        5.0        5.0   

Risk-free interest rate

     1.58     1.63     0.75

Expected dividend yield

     0.69     0.45     0.57

Black-Scholes-Merton fair value per stock option granted

   $ 10.89      $ 12.21      $ 10.17   

Expected volatility is based on the historical volatility of the Company’s stock. The Company used historical exercise data to estimate the stock options’ expected term, which represents the period of time that the stock options granted are expected to be outstanding. Management anticipates that the future stock option holding periods will be similar to the historical stock option holding periods. The risk-free interest rate for periods within the contractual life of the stock option is based on the U.S. Treasury yield curve at the time of grant. Compensation expense recognized for all share-based awards is net of estimated forfeitures. The Company’s estimated forfeiture rates are based on its historical experience.

Total share-based compensation expense was as follows for the years ended December 31:

 

     2015     2014     2013  
     (In thousands)  

Stock option expense

   $ 10,955      $ 9,130      $ 10,776   

Restricted stock expense

     12,807        10,741        10,815   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total pre-tax expense

     23,762        19,871        21,591   

Related tax benefit

     (7,623     (6,154     (6,964
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Reduction of net income

   $ 16,139      $ 13,717      $ 14,627   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

 

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AMETEK, Inc.

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS — (Continued)

 

Pre-tax share-based compensation expense is included in the consolidated statement of income in either Cost of sales, excluding depreciation or Selling, general and administrative expenses, depending on where the recipient’s cash compensation is reported.

The following is a summary of the Company’s stock option activity and related information for the year ended December 31, 2015:

 

     Shares     Weighted
Average
Exercise

Price
     Weighted
Average
Remaining
Contractual

Life
     Aggregate
Intrinsic

Value
 
     (In thousands)            (Years)      (In millions)  

Outstanding at the beginning of the year

     6,362      $ 31.47         

Granted

     1,326        52.30         

Exercised

     (1,889     20.91         

Forfeited

     (135     46.91         

Expired

     (5     49.54         
  

 

 

         

Outstanding at the end of the year

     5,659      $ 39.49         4.0       $ 79.8   
  

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Exercisable at the end of the year

     2,942      $ 30.94         2.7       $ 66.6   
  

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

The aggregate intrinsic value of stock options exercised during 2015, 2014 and 2013 was $62.3 million, $25.7 million and $41.6 million, respectively. The total fair value of stock options vested during 2015, 2014 and 2013 was $10.3 million, $8.9 million and $8.2 million, respectively.

The following is a summary of the Company’s nonvested stock option activity and related information for the year ended December 31, 2015:

 

     Shares     Weighted
Average
Grant  Date

Fair Value
 
     (In thousands)        

Nonvested stock options outstanding at the beginning of the year

     2,535      $ 10.38   

Granted

     1,326        10.89   

Vested

     (1,009     10.16   

Forfeited

     (135     10.83   
  

 

 

   

Nonvested stock options outstanding at the end of the year

     2,717      $ 10.85   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

As of December 31, 2015, there was approximately $18 million of expected future pre-tax compensation expense related to the 2.7 million nonvested stock options outstanding, which is expected to be recognized over a weighted average period of approximately two years.

The fair value of restricted shares under the Company’s restricted stock arrangement is determined by the product of the number of shares granted and the grant date market price of the Company’s common stock. Upon the grant of restricted stock, the fair value of the restricted shares (unearned compensation) at the date of grant is charged as a reduction of capital in excess of par value in the Company’s consolidated balance sheet and is amortized to expense on a straight-line basis over the vesting period, which is the same as the calculated derived service period as determined on the grant date.

 

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AMETEK, Inc.

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS — (Continued)

 

Restricted stock grants are subject to accelerated vesting due to certain events, including doubling of the grant price of the Company’s common stock as of the close of business during any five consecutive trading days. On January 25, 2013, 488,235 shares of restricted stock, which were granted on April 29, 2010, and 26,298 shares of restricted stock, which were granted on July 29, 2010, vested under this accelerated vesting provision. The pre-tax charge to income due to the accelerated vesting of these shares was $2.7 million ($1.9 million net after-tax charge) for the year ended December 31, 2013.

The following is a summary of the Company’s nonvested restricted stock activity and related information for the year ended December 31, 2015:

 

     Shares     Weighted
Average
Grant  Date

Fair Value
 
     (In thousands)        

Nonvested restricted stock outstanding at the beginning of the year

     1,105      $ 41.08   

Granted

     336        52.31   

Vested

     (311     34.18   

Forfeited

     (69     44.89   
  

 

 

   

Nonvested restricted stock outstanding at the end of the year

     1,061      $ 46.32   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

The total fair value of restricted stock vested was $10.6 million, $3.6 million and $12.1 million in 2015, 2014 and 2013, respectively. The weighted average fair value of restricted stock granted per share during 2015 and 2014 was $52.31 and $52.79, respectively. As of December 31, 2015, there was approximately $28 million of expected future pre-tax compensation expense related to the 1.1 million nonvested restricted shares outstanding, which is expected to be recognized over a weighted average period of less than two years.

Under a Supplemental Executive Retirement Plan (“SERP”) in 2015, the Company reserved 32,363 shares of common stock. The net increase for retirements, terminations and dividends was 6,807 shares in 2015. The total number of shares of common stock reserved under the SERP was 644,529 as of December 31, 2015. Charges to expense under the SERP are not significant in amount and are considered pension expense with the offsetting credit reflected in capital in excess of par value.

 

11.

Retirement Plans and Other Postretirement Benefits

Retirement and Pension Plans

The Company sponsors several retirement and pension plans covering eligible salaried and hourly employees. The plans generally provide benefits based on participants’ years of service and/or compensation. The following is a brief description of the Company’s retirement and pension plans.

The Company maintains contributory and noncontributory defined benefit pension plans. Benefits for eligible salaried and hourly employees under all defined benefit plans are funded through trusts established in conjunction with the plans. The Company’s funding policy with respect to its defined benefit plans is to contribute amounts that provide for benefits based on actuarial calculations and the applicable requirements of U.S. federal and local foreign laws. The Company estimates that it will make both required and discretionary cash contributions of approximately $4 million to $7 million to its worldwide defined benefit pension plans in 2016.

 

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AMETEK, Inc.

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS — (Continued)

 

The Company uses a measurement date of December 31 (its fiscal year end) for its U.S. and foreign defined benefit pension plans.

The Company sponsors a 401(k) retirement and savings plan for eligible U.S. employees. Participants in the retirement and savings plan may contribute a specified portion of their compensation on a pre-tax basis, which varies by location. The Company matches employee contributions ranging from 20% to 100%, up to a maximum percentage ranging from 1% to 8% of eligible compensation or up to a maximum of $1,200 per participant in some locations.

The Company’s retirement and savings plan has a defined contribution retirement feature principally to cover U.S. salaried employees joining the Company after December 31, 1996. Under the retirement feature, the Company makes contributions for eligible employees based on a pre-established percentage of the covered employee’s salary subject to pre-established vesting. Employees of certain of the Company’s foreign operations participate in various local defined contribution plans.

The Company has nonqualified unfunded retirement plans for its Directors and certain retired employees. It also provides supplemental retirement benefits, through contractual arrangements and/or a SERP covering certain current and former executives of the Company. These supplemental benefits are designed to compensate the executive for retirement benefits that would have been provided under the Company’s primary retirement plan, except for statutory limitations on compensation that must be taken into account under those plans. The projected benefit obligations of the SERP and the contracts will primarily be funded by a grant of shares of the Company’s common stock upon retirement or termination of the executive. The Company is providing for these obligations by charges to earnings over the applicable periods.

The following tables set forth the changes in net projected benefit obligation and the fair value of plan assets for the funded and unfunded defined benefit plans for the years ended December 31:

U.S. Defined Benefit Pension Plans:

 

     2015     2014  
     (In thousands)  

Change in projected benefit obligation:

  

Net projected benefit obligation at the beginning of the year

   $ 491,373      $ 428,675   

Service cost

     3,924        3,208   

Interest cost

     20,761        21,000   

Actuarial (gains) losses

     (27,605     65,417   

Gross benefits paid

     (27,930     (26,927

Acquisition

     11,954          
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net projected benefit obligation at the end of the year

   $ 472,477      $ 491,373   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Change in plan assets:

  

Fair value of plan assets at the beginning of the year

   $ 498,923      $ 518,388   

Actual return on plan assets

     (21,020     7,094   

Employer contributions

     50,726        368   

Gross benefits paid

     (27,930     (26,927

Acquisition

     8,076          
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Fair value of plan assets at the end of the year

   $ 508,775      $ 498,923   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

 

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AMETEK, Inc.

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS — (Continued)

 

Foreign Defined Benefit Pension Plans:

 

     2015     2014  
     (In thousands)  

Change in projected benefit obligation:

    

Net projected benefit obligation at the beginning of the year

   $ 197,671      $ 185,178   

Service cost

     3,076        2,945   

Interest cost

     7,910        7,931   

Foreign currency translation adjustment

     (14,337     (15,961

Employee contributions

     303        339   

Actuarial (gains) losses

  </