Part I
Item 1. Business
General
Belden Inc. (the Company, us, we, or our) is a global supplierconnects and protects the world with the industry’s most complete suite of end-to-end specialty networking solutions built around two global business platforms - Enterprise Solutions and Industrial Solutions.solutions. Our comprehensive portfolio of solutions enables customers to transmit and secure data, sound, and video for mission critical applications across complex enterprise and industrial environments. Our business is organized around two global businesses, Enterprise Solutions and Industrial Solutions, both of which benefit from favorable secular trends which we expect to drive future growth. Each business platform represents a reportable segment. Financial information about our segments appears in Note 6 to the Consolidated Financial Statements.
Our comprehensive portfolio of specialty networking solutions provides industry leading secure and reliable transmission of data, sound, and video for mission critical applications. We sell our products to distributors, end-users, installers, and directly to original equipment manufacturers (OEMs). Belden Inc. is a Delaware corporation incorporated in 1988, but the Company’s roots date back to its founding by Joseph Belden in 1902.
As used herein, unless an operating segment is identified or the context otherwise requires, “Belden,” the “Company”, and “we” refer to Belden Inc. and its subsidiaries as a whole.
Strategy and Business Model
Our portfolio and strategic priorities align with attractive end markets with favorable secular trends. Within Industrial Solutions, the growing demand for automated production drives demand for our solutions. Enterprise Solutions benefits from increasing consumer demand for more internet bandwidth and faster speeds, investment in 5G technology, and trends requiring integrated networks in smart buildings. We are well positioned to benefit from these secular trends in the form of improved revenue growth which in turn will drive Adjusted EBITDA (as defined in Part II, Item 7) growth in the future.
Our business model is designed to generate shareholder value:
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• | Operational Excellence—The core of our business model is operational excellence and the execution of our Belden Business System. The Belden Business System has three areas of focus. First, we demonstrate a commitment to Lean enterprise initiatives, which improve not only the quality and efficiency of the manufacturing environment, but our business processes on a company-wide basis. Second, we utilize our Market Delivery System (MDS), a go-to-market model that provides the foundation for organic growth. We believe that organic growth, resulting from both market growth and share capture, is essential to our success. Finally, our Talent Management System supports the development of our associates at all levels, which preserves the culture necessary to operate our business consistently and sustainably.
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• | Cash Generation—Our pursuit of operational excellence results in the generation of cash flow. We generated cash flows from operating activities of $276.9 million, $289.2 million, and $255.3 million in 2019, 2018, and 2017, respectively.
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• | Portfolio Improvement—We utilize the cash flow•Operational Excellence—The core of our business model is operational excellence and the execution of our Belden Business System. The Belden Business System has three areas of focus. First, we demonstrate a commitment to Lean enterprise initiatives, which improve not only the quality and efficiency of the manufacturing environment, but our business processes on a company-wide basis. Second, we utilize our Market Delivery System (MDS), a go-to-market model that provides the foundation for organic growth. We believe that organic growth, resulting from both market growth and share capture, is essential to our success. Finally, our Talent Management System supports the development of our associates at all levels, which preserves the culture necessary to operate our business consistently and sustainably. •Cash Generation—Our pursuit of operational excellence results in the generation of cash flow. We generated cash flows from operating activities of $272.1 million, $173.4 million, and $276.9 million in 2021, 2020, and 2019, respectively. •Portfolio Improvement—We utilize the cash flow generated by our business to fuel our continued transformation and generate shareholder value. We continuously improve our portfolio to ensure we provide the most complete, end-to-end solutions to our customers. Our portfolio is designed with balance across end markets and geographies to ensure we can meet our goals in most economic environments. We have a disciplined acquisition cultivation, execution, and integration system that allows us to invest in outstanding companies that strengthen our capabilities and enhance our ability to serve our customers. |
Segments
We operate our business under the two segments – Enterprise Solutions and Industrial Solutions. A synopsis of the segments is included below:
Enterprise Solutions
The Enterprise Solutions (Enterprise) segment is a leading provider in network infrastructure and broadband solutions, as well as cabling and connectivity solutions for commercial audio/video and security applications. We serve customers in markets such as commercial real estate, hospitality, healthcare, education, financial, government, and corporate enterprises,broadband and wireless service providers, as well as end-markets, including sport venues, stadiums, data centers, military installations, and academia. Enterprise product lines include copper cable and connectivity solutions, fiber cable and connectivity solutions, andinterconnect panels, racks and enclosures. Our productsenclosures, and secure, high performance signal extension and matrix switching systems.
Enterprise provides true end-to-end copper and fiber network systems, which are used in applications such as local area networks, data centers, access control, 5G, Fiber to the Home and building automation. Enterprise provides true end-to-end copper and fiber network systems to include cable, assemblies, interconnect panels, and enclosures. Our high-performance solutions support all networking protocols up to and including 100G+ Ethernet technologies. Enterprise’s innovative products can deliver data in addition to power over Ethernet, which meets the higher performance requirements driven by the increasing number of connections in smart buildings. Enterprise products also include intelligent power, cooling, and airflow management for mission-critical data center operations. The Enterprise product portfolio is designed to support
Internet Protocol convergence, the increased use of wireless communications, and cloud-based data centers by our customers. Our systems are installed through a network of highly trained system integrators and are supplied through authorized distributors.
Industrial Solutions
The Industrial Solutions (Industrial) segment is a leading provider of high performance networking components and machine connectivity products. Industrial products include physical network and fieldbus infrastructure components and on-machine connectivity systems customized to meet end user and OEM needs. Products are designed to provide reliability and confidence of performance for a wide range of industrial automation applications. OurThe products are used in applications such asmarkets that include discrete automation, process automation, energy and mass transit.Applications include network and fieldbus infrastructure; sensor and actuator connectivity; and power, control, and data transmission. Industrial products include solutions such as industrial andEthernet switches, network management software, routers, firewalls, gateways, input/output (I/O) connectors,connectors/systems, industrial Ethernet cables, optical fiber industrial Ethernet cables, Fieldbus cables, IP and networking cables, I/O modules, distribution boxes, ruggedized controls and sensors, and customer specific wiring solutions.
Our industrial cable products are used in discrete manufacturing and process operations involving the connection of computers, programmable controllers, robots, operator interfaces, motor drives, sensors, printers, and other devices. Many industrial environments, such as petrochemical and other harsh-environment operations, require cables with exterior armor or jacketing that can endure physical abuse and exposure to chemicals, extreme temperatures, and outside elements. Other applications require conductors, insulation, and jacketing materials that can withstand repeated flexing. In addition to cable product configurations for these applications, we supply heat-shrinkable tubing and wire management products to protect and organize wire and cable assemblies. Our industrial connector products are primarily used as sensor and actuator connections in factory automation supporting various fieldbus protocols as well as power connections in building automation. These products are used both as components of manufacturing equipment and in the installation and networking of such equipment.
Industrial Solutions products are sold directly to industrial equipment OEMs and through a network of industrial distributors, value-added resellers, and system integrators.
See Note 56 to the Consolidated Financial StatementsStatements for additional information regarding our segments.
Acquisitions
A key part of our business strategy includes acquiring companies to support our growth and enhance our product portfolio. Our acquisition strategy is based upon targeting leading companies that offer innovative products and strong brands. We utilize a disciplined approach to acquisitions based on product and market opportunities. When we identify acquisition candidates, we conduct rigorous financial and cultural analyses to make certain that they meet both our strategic plan targets and our goal for return on invested capital of 13-15%.capital.
We have completed a number of acquisitions in recent years as part of this strategy. Most recently, in January 2022, we acquired macmon secure GmbH (Macmon), a leading provider of products and services that secure network infrastructures in a variety of mission critical industries - refer to Note 26, Subsequent Events, for further discussion. In January 2021, we acquired OTN Systems N.V. (OTN Systems), a leading provider of automation networking infrastructure solutions. In December 2019, we acquired substantially all of the assets of Special Product Company (SPC), a leading designer, manufacturer, and seller of outdoor cabinet products for optical fiber cable installations. In April 2019, we acquired the FutureLink business from Suttle Inc. as well as Opterna International Corp. (Opterna), which designs and manufactures complementary fiber connectivity, cabinet, and enclosure products used in optical networks.Thenetworks. The results of OTN Systems have been included in our Consolidated Financial Statements as of its acquisition date and are reported within the Industrial Solutions segment. The results of SPC, FutureLink, and Opterna have been included in our Consolidated Financial Statements as of their respective acquisition dates and are reported within the Enterprise Solutions segment.
In 2018, we acquired Net-Tech Technology, Inc. (NT2), an integrator of optical passive components and network optimization products used within broadband network applications where optical backhaul is used. The results of NT2 have been included in our Consolidated Financial Statements from the acquisition date, and are reported within the Enterprise Solutions segment.
In 2017, we completed the acquisition of Thinklogical Holdings, LLC (Thinklogical), a leading provider of secure, centralized KVM video switches to the command and control market. The results of Thinklogical have been included in our Consolidated Financial Statements from the acquisition date and are reported in the Enterprise Solutions segment.
For more information regarding these transactions, see Note 4 to the Consolidated Financial Statements.
Customers
We sell to distributors, OEMs, installers, and end-users. SalesFor the year ended December 31, 2021, sales to theour largest distributor Anixter International Inc. (Anixter) represented approximately 13%16% of our consolidated revenues in 2019. On January 10, 2020, Anixter entered into a definitive agreement with WESCO International, Inc (WESCO) by which Anixter will be acquired WESCO. Sales to both Anixter and WESCO combined,
represented approximately 15% of our consolidated revenues in 2019.revenues. No other customer accounted for more than 10% of our revenues in 2019.2021.
We have supply agreements with distributors and OEM customers. In general, our customers are not contractually obligated to buy our products exclusively, in minimum amounts, or for a significant period of time. We believe that our relationships with our customers and distributors are good and that they are loyal to Belden products as a result of our reputation, the breadth of our product portfolio, the quality and performance characteristics of our products, and our customer service and technical support, among other reasons.
International Operations
In addition to manufacturing facilities in the United States (U.S.), we have manufacturing and other operating facilities in Brazil, Canada, China, India, Japan, Mexico, and St. Kitts, as well as in various countries in Europe.Europe. During 2019,2021, approximately 44%47% of Belden’s sales were to customers outside the U.S. Our primary channels to international markets include both distributors and direct sales to end users and OEMs.
Financial information for Belden by country is shown in Note 6 to the ConsolidatedConsolidated Financial Statements.
Competition
We face substantial competition in our major markets. The number and size of our competitors vary depending on the product line and segment. Some multinational competitors have greater financial, engineering, manufacturing, and marketing resources than we have. There are also many regional competitors that have more limited product offerings.
The markets in which we operate can be generally categorized as highly competitive with many players. In order to maximize our competitive advantages, we manage our product portfolio to capitalize on secular trends and high-growth applications in those markets. Based on available data for our served markets, we estimate that our market share across our segments is significant, ranging from approximately 5% – 20%. A substantial acquisition in one of our served markets would be necessary to meaningfully change our estimated market share percentage.
The principal competitive factors in all our product markets are technical features, quality, availability, price, customer support, and distribution coverage. The relative importance of each of these factors varies depending on the customer. Some products are manufactured to meet published industry specifications and are less differentiated on the basis of product characteristics. We believe that Belden stands out in many of our markets on the basis of the breadth of our product portfolio, the quality and performance characteristics of our products, our customer service, and our technical support.
Research and Development
We conduct research and development on an ongoing basis, including new and existing hardware and software product development, testing and analysis, and process and equipment development and testing. See the Consolidated Statements of Operations for amounts incurred for research and development. Many of the markets we serve are characterized by advances in information processing and communications capabilities, including advances driven by the expansion of digital technology, which require increased transmission speeds and greater bandwidth. Our markets are also subject to increasing requirements for mobility, information security, and transmission reliability. Some of our markets are using workflows and resources in public and private cloud and showing preference for software products delivered as services. We believe that our future success will depend in part upon our ability to enhance existing products and to develop, manufacture and deliver new products that meet or anticipate such changes in our served markets.
In our EnterpriseIndustrial Solutions segment, customers are rapidly adopting new technology to enable digital transformations and improve their Environmental, Social & Governance (ESG) impact. This includes deploying Industry 4.0 to increase visibility of their digitized assets and adopting Artificial Intelligence (AI) to increase analytics and autonomous decision-making in ordertheir systems. These approaches need users to refine workflows by collecting data from disparate sources, transmitting it to points of consolidation and decision making, and converting it to standard formats that application software can use. This overall process can be referred to as "digitization" and a key part of our research and development is focused on supporting these customer journeys with technology that add value at multiple steps in the digitization process, during data acquisition, data transmission, and data orchestration and management. Our research and development enables customized enhanced solutions to support customers' innovative methods surrounding the demand for additional bandwidthcollection, analysis, and to improve service integrity, broadband service providers are investingtransmission of data.
Additionally, in their networks to enhance delivery capabilities to customers for the foreseeable future. Additional bandwidth requirements resulting from increased traffic expose weak points in the network, which are often connectivity related, causing broadband service operators to improve and upgrade residential networks with higher performing connectivity products.
In our Industrial Solutions segment, there is a compelling need among global enterprises, service providers and government agenciescustomers to detect, prevent and respond to cyber security threats. This is a long-standing need within corporate networks, but we believe the rapid proliferation of new devices in the “internet of things” will continue to cause this need to broaden and accelerate. Additionally, cyber-attacks are moving beyond traditional targets into critical infrastructure, which will further amplify the importance of our
workaccelerate in network security.manufacturing settings. Furthermore, there is a growing trend toward adoption of Industrial Ethernet technology, bringing to the critical infrastructure the advantages of digital communication and the ability to network devices made by different manufacturers and integrate them with enterprise systems. While the adoption of this technology is at a more advanced stage in certain regions of the world, we believe that the trend will globalize. This trend will also lead to a rising need for wireless systems for some applications and for cybersecurity to protect this critical infrastructure. Part of our research and development is focused on creating scalable, efficient technologies to provide real-time instrumentation and analytics across entire networks. This includes delivering high-fidelityhigh-
fidelity visibility and deep intelligence about networked systems, their vulnerabilities, and providing actionable information about how to effectively secure them. Additionally, we have highly-skilled and active research teams who analyze current and anticipated threats, and provide offerings
Enterprise Solutions R&D efforts are aligned to the marketsecular trends in our markets for increased communication at faster speeds of transmission. This phenomenon is visible across all of our markets. We continue to enableinvest in R&D to support the continuing growth in capacity and bandwidth between the data center and the consumer to enhance their experience in their living, work and play interactions.
To support the demand for additional bandwidth and to improve service integrity, broadband service providers will continue to invest in their networks to enhance delivery capabilities to customers for the foreseeable future. The growing bandwidth demand exposes bottlenecks in the network and leads broadband service operators to quickly detectimprove and resolve cybersecurity threats.upgrade residential networks with higher performance connectivity products. Broadband service providers are also investing in the deployment of 5G technology. Our R&D efforts are focused on the development of fiber connectivity and 5G solutions that support the investment plans of the broadband service providers.
The ability to integrate across the multitude of applications within service providers and on-premise networks requires a deep understanding of the unique challenges posed by heavier and faster transmission of data. Common across the Enterprise Solutions segment, our R&D efforts are focused on ensuring continuously evolving solutions, be it copper and coax cable or fiber optic cable and connectivity as it becomes more pervasive across all networks including wireless. We anticipate the need to develop the ability to customize networks in the various systems in close collaboration with our partners to advise our mutual end customers.
Our research and development efforts are also focusedhas a strong focus on improving the performance of fiber optic technology, which presents a potential substitutemaking it easier to handle and install, more robust for certain oftechnicians and end users, leading to networks that can be deployed more quickly, with higher performance and reliability. Even with the copper-based products that comprise a portion of our revenues. Fiber optic cables have certain advantages over copper-based cablesexplosive growth in applications where large amounts of information must travel significant distances and where high levels of information security are required. While the cost to interface electronic and optical light signals and to terminate and connect optical fiber, remains comparatively high, we expect that in future years the cost difference versus traditional copper networks will diminish. We sell fiber optic infrastructure, and many customers specify these products in combination with copper-based infrastructure. The final stage of most networks remains almost exclusively copper-based, and we expect that it will continue to be copper for the foreseeable future. However, if a significant decrease in the cost of fiber optic systems relativeconnections to the costend devices that consumers utilize to live, work and play, be it wireless access points or IoT devices, are still going to strongly benefit from the remaining advantages of copper-based systems were to occur, such systems could become superior onconnectivity, with a price/performance basis to copper-based systems. Part of our research and development effortsheavy focus on expandingpowering the ever-increasing collection of data consuming and generating devices connected to our fiber-optic based product portfolio.increasingly digitized world. Building automation and the rapid rise of IoT has catalyzed the need to add more devices on the network. This is turn necessitates the distribution of power across the network. There will be a need for solutions offering power to these distributed devices and the Enterprise Solutions segment continues to innovate in this area in preparation for a world with a need to upgrade legacy systems as we build greenfield installations.
Patents and Trademarks
We have a policy of seeking patents when appropriate on inventions concerning new products, product improvements, and advances in equipment and processes as part of our ongoing research, development, and manufacturing activities. We own many patents and registered trademarks worldwide that are used by our operating segments, with pending applications for numerous others. We consider our patents and trademarks to be valuable assets. Our most prominent trademarks are: Belden®, Alpha Wire™, GarrettCom®, Hirschmann®, Lumberg Automation™, Mohawk®, Poliron™OTN Systems™, PPC®, ProSoft Technology®, Thinklogical®, Tofino®, Tripwire® and West Penn Wire™. The Tripwire® trademark will be sold as part of the Tripwire divestiture in the first quarter of 2022 - see Note 26.
Raw Materials
The principal raw material used in many of our cable products is copper. Other materials we purchase in large quantities include fluorinated ethylene-propylene (FEP), polyvinyl chloride (PVC), polyethylene, aluminum-clad steel and copper-clad steel conductors, aluminum, brass, other metals, optical fiber, printed circuit boards, and electronic components. With respect to all major raw materials used by us, we generally have either alternative sources of supply or access to alternative materials. Supplies of these materials are generally adequate and are expected to remain so for the foreseeable future.
Over the past three years, the prices of metals, particularly copper, have been highly volatile. The chart below illustrates the high and low spot prices per pound of copper over the last three years.
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| 2021 | | 2020 | | 2019 |
Copper spot prices per pound | | | | | |
High | $ | 4.78 | | | $ | 3.63 | | | $ | 2.98 | |
Low | $ | 3.54 | | | $ | 2.12 | | | $ | 2.51 | |
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| 2019 | | 2018 | | 2017 |
Copper spot prices per pound | | | | | |
High | $ | 2.98 |
| | $ | 3.29 |
| | $ | 3.29 |
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Low | $ | 2.51 |
| | $ | 2.56 |
| | $ | 2.48 |
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Prices for materials such as PVC and other plastics derived from petrochemical feedstocks have also fluctuated. Since Belden utilizes the first in, first out (FIFO) inventory costing methodology, the impact of copper and other raw material cost changes on our cost of goods sold is delayed by approximately two months based on our rate of inventory turnover.
While we generally are able to adjust our pricing for fluctuations in commodity prices, we can experience short-term favorable or unfavorable variances. When the cost of raw materials increases, we are generally able to recover these costs through higher pricing of our finished products. The majority of our products are sold through distribution, and we manage the pricing of these products through published price lists, which we update from time to time, with new prices typically taking effect a few weeks after they are announced. Some OEM customer contracts have provisions for passing through raw material cost changes, generally with a lag of a few weeks to three months.
Backlog
Our business is characterized generally by short-term order and shipment schedules. Our backlog consists of product orders for which we have received a customer purchase order or purchase commitment and which have not yet been shipped. Orders are generally subject to cancellation or rescheduling by the customer. As of December 31, 2019,2021 and 2020, our backlog of orders believed to be firm was $161.9 million. Nearly allwas $705.7 million and $223.0 million, respectively. The majority of the backlog at December 31, 20192021 is scheduled to be shippedship in 2020.2022.
Environmental Matters
We are subject to numerous federal, state, provincial, local, and foreign laws and regulations relating to the storage, handling, emission, and discharge of materials into the environment, including the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act; the Clean Water Act; the Clean Air Act; the Emergency Planning and Community Right-To-Know Act; the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act; and similar laws in the other countries in which we operate. WeWhile we believe that our existing environmental control procedures and accrued liabilities are adequate, we will continue to evaluate and update our procedures as needed to address new or changing aspects of environmental matters.
Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) at Belden
At Belden, we believe that we have a responsibility to make a positive impact in our industry, in the communities in which we operate, and to all affected by our business operations. Our ESG journey is guided by our shared values, and we are dedicated to continuously improving our impact through establishing visible and measurable progress.
We acknowledge our role in protecting the environment and are currently assessing our impacts. Our strong desire is to identify and prioritize areas of improvement and we are committed to doing our part for future generations and for the planet. In 2021, under the oversight of our ESG Steering Committee, we engaged a third party to conduct our first materiality assessment to identify the ESG topics that are most relevant to our stakeholders and to our business. By engaging both internal and external stakeholders, we have nodeveloped a framework for our management of the identified material priority topics and to guide our strategy in making measurable progress. To put our ambitions into action, we have established goals for our material topics, including carbon reduction goals for 2025, and look forward to communicating our continuous improvements. Upholding transparency and open communication, we launched our dedicated ESG website on Earth Day 2021, which includes key data across a range of current plansESG initiatives. Our ESG website includes our first formal greenhouse gas inventory for substantial capital expendituresdirect emissions (Scope 1 and 2). We are working to validate further historical information to serve as a verified baseline for improvements to our carbon footprint.
We are committed to building a workforce centered on our values and promoting the well-being of people across our entire value chain—employees, customers, partners and suppliers. We believe in the potential of our workforce and the importance of providing career development for those who want to learn and grow with us. We celebrate diversity and embrace differences to broaden our perspectives and strengthen the work we do. Our focus is to foster a culture of teamwork that is diverse and inclusive, and we are dedicated to creating an equitable environment for our employees. Under the leadership of our director of Inclusive Culture, we are building out a diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) strategy and look forward to sharing our progress with this area.initiative.
EmployeesFor further details on our ESG program and progress, please visit https://www.belden.com/resources/sustainability.
Human Capital Resources
During 2021, our employees continued to experience disruptions and challenges stemming from the continuing COVID-19 pandemic. Across our locations, we have also experienced changes in working practices as well as health and safety protocols as we work together to keep each other safe and our customers supplied. Throughout 2021, many of our employees continued to work remotely as they navigated through varying degrees of the crisis. We have implemented improved technologies that better enable collaboration, connection and teamwork wherever team members are based. Some employees work with equipment and machinery that are fixed at locations, and thus were unable to work remotely. However, mask protocols, hygiene guidelines and social distancing kept people safe.
The engagement of our team members, as measured in our twice-a-year employee survey, remained high at 89%. We were also very pleased to once again be recognized as a Great Place to Work® in Germany and India, with our facilities in Denmark and Netherlands also receiving Great Place to Work® recognition. Voluntary turnover of management and professional staff remained low at 8% worldwide, in line with the historically low turnover in prior years. We continue to live our value of We Invest in Talent with 70% of vacancies in our top 165 positions being filled with people that have been promoted from within, continuing our strong balance of external hiring to introduce new ideas and perspectives with career development practices that enable internal promotions.
As part of December 31, 2019,our work on Inclusive Culture, we launched our new AVID council (Authentic Voices for Inclusion and Diversity). Its purpose is to advise, guide and support our continuing operations,colleagues around the world as we had approximately 7,000 employees worldwide.seek to become an even more diverse and inclusive organization. The council is made up of team members from a wide variety of backgrounds across the company. We also utilized approximately 200 workers under contract manufacturing arrangements. Approximately 1,800 employees are covered by collective bargaining agreements at various locations around the world. We believe our relationshipcompleted a worldwide Workplace Inclusion survey with our employeesDEI partners at Kaleidescope Group. The survey had a response rate of 75% and highlighted areas of strength and opportunities as we continue to evolve our culture. We learned that our team members have strong feelings of belonging and mutual respect in a culture which is generally positive,honest and authentic. However, we measurealso identified opportunities to improve equity and monitoremployee “voice” in certain locations. We have incorporated this feedback into our DEI action plans. While our senior leadership reflects both ethnic and gender diversity, we remain committed to further increasing diversity throughout all levels of the workforce's sustainable engagement, among other metrics,organization, including our Board of Directors.
We launched our Be Well program in the USA and have commenced plans to ensureexpand this remains the case.internationally. The program supports our team members as they strive to achieve their own physical, financial, social and emotional well-being. The program consists of events, challenges, active learning and incentives that help our team members reflect upon and improve their overall well-being.
Available Information
We file annual, quarterly, and current reports, proxy statements, and other information with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). These reports, proxy statements, and other information contain additional information about us. These electronic SEC filings are available on the SEC's web site at www.sec.gov. Belden maintains an Internet web site at www.belden.com where our Annual Report on Form 10-K, Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q, Current Reports on Form 8-K, proxy statements, and all amendments to those reports and statements are available without charge, as soon as reasonably practicable following the time they are filed with or furnished to the SEC.
We will provide upon written request and without charge a printed copy of our Annual Report on Form 10-K. To obtain such a copy, please write to the Corporate Secretary, Belden Inc., 1 North Brentwood Boulevard, 15th Floor, St. Louis, MO 63105.
Information about our Executive Officers
The following table sets forth certain information with respect to the persons who were Belden executive officers as of February 10, 2020.15, 2022. All executive officers are elected to terms that expire at the organizational meeting of the Board of Directors following the Annual Meeting of Shareholders.
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Name | | Age | | Position |
John StroupRoel Vestjens | | 5347 | | President and Chief Executive Officer and Chairman |
Brian Anderson | | 4547 | | Senior Vice President, Legal, General Counsel and Corporate Secretary |
Ashish Chand | | 4547 | | Executive Vice President, Industrial Automation |
Henk DerksenDean McKenna | | 5153 | | Senior Vice President, Human Resources |
Anshu Mehrotra | | 51 | | Senior Vice President, Sales and Marketing |
Jeremy Parks | | 46 | | Senior Vice President, Finance, and Chief Financial Officer |
Leo Kulmaczewski | | 54 | | Senior Vice President, Operations and Lean Enterprise |
Dean McKenna | | 51 | | Senior Vice President, Human Resources |
Paul Turner | | 56 | | Senior Vice President, Sales |
Roel Vestjens | | 45 | | Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer |
Doug Zink | | 4446 | | Vice President and Chief Accounting Officer |
John Stroup has beenRoel Vestjens was appointed President and Chief Executive Officer and a member of the Board since October 2005. He was elected as Chairman of the Board on November 30, 2016. From 2000 to the date of his appointment with the Company, he was employed by Danaher Corporation, a manufacturer of professional instrumentation, industrial technologies, and tools and components. At Danaher, he initially served as Vice President, Business Development. He was promoted to President of a division of Danaher’s Motion Group and later to Group Executive of the Motion Group. Earlier, he was Vice President of Marketing and General Manager with Scientific Technologies Inc. He has a B.S. in Mechanical Engineering from Northwestern University and an M.B.A. from the University of California at Berkeley Haas School of Business.
Brian Anderson has been Senior Vice President, Legal, General Counsel and Corporate Secretary since April 2015.May 21, 2020. Prior to that, he served as Corporate Attorney forwas the Company from May 2008 through March 2015. Prior to joining Belden, Mr. Anderson was in private practice at the law firm Lewis Rice. Mr. Anderson has a B.S.B. in Accounting and an M.B.A. from Eastern Illinois University and holds a J.D. from Washington University in St. Louis.
Ashish Chand was appointed Executive Vice President, Industrial Automation in July 2019. Prior to that, he served as Managing Director, Industrial Solutions, for the Company’s APAC division from August 2017 to June 2019. Mr. Chand joined the Company in 2002 and has assumed positions of increasing responsibility in sales and marketing, operations, business development and general management since that time. Prior to joining Belden, Mr. Chand had experience in the oil and gas and non-ferrous metals segments. Mr. Chand holds a doctoral degree in Business from the City University of Hong Kong, an M.B.A. from XLRI Jamshedpur, India and a B.A. from Loyola College Chennai, India.
Henk Derksen has been Senior Vice President, Finance, and Chief FinancialOperating Officer since January 2012. Prior to that, he served as Vice President, Corporate Finance from July 2011 to December 2011 and Treasurer and Vice President, Financial Planning and Analysis of the Company from January 2010 to July 2011. In August of 2003, he became Vice President, Finance for the Company’s EMEA division, after joining the Company at the end of 2000. Prior to joining the Company, he was Vice President and Controller of Plukon Poultry, a food processing company from 1998 to 2000, and has 5 years’ experience in public accounting with Price Waterhouse and Baker Tilly. Mr. Derksen has a M.A. in Accounting from the University of Arnhem in the Netherlands and holds a doctoral degree in Business Economics in addition to an Executive Master of Finance & Control from Tias Business School in the Netherlands.
Leo Kulmaczewski was appointed Senior Vice President, Operations and Lean Enterprise in October 2018. Prior to joining Belden, Mr. Kulmaczewski was employed by Leica Biosystems, a division of Danaher Corporation, in various operations roles in the medical devices industry, the most recent of which was Vice President, Operations, Global Supply Chain and Danaher Business System. Prior to joining Leica in 2014, he worked for Thermo Fisher Scientific, Honeywell and Motorola, among other companies. Mr. Kulmaczewski has a B.S. in Industrial Engineering from the University of Wisconsin and an M.B.A. from DePaul University.
Dean McKenna has been Senior Vice President, Human Resources since May 2015. Prior to joining Belden, he was Vice President of Human Resources for the international business of SC Johnson. Prior to SC Johnson, he worked in various senior international human resource, organizational development and talent positions at Ingredion, Akzo Nobel and ICI Group PLC. He received his degree in Strategic Human Resource Management at the Nottingham Business School in the United Kingdom.
Paul Turner has been Senior Vice President, Sales since February 2017. Mr. Turner joined Belden in 2006, and has held a variety of roles of increasing responsibility within Belden’s sales organization since that time. Before joining Belden, Mr. Turner spent five years in the private sector in a subcontract manufacturing company based in the United Kingdom, ultimately serving in the post of Managing Director. Prior to that experience, Mr. Turner spent 13 years with the 3M Company in the United Kingdom, holding roles of increasing responsibility within 3M’s commercial organization across the EMEA region.
Roel Vestjens has been2019; Executive Vice President, Industrial Solutions sincefrom February 2018 and was appointed as Chief Operating Officer into July 2019. Prior to that, he was the2019; Executive Vice President, Industrial Solutions and Broadcast IT Solutions from January 2017 to February 20182018; and the Executive Vice President, Broadcast Solutions from March 2014 to January 2017. Mr. Vestjens joined Belden in 2006 as Director of Marketing for the EMEA region. In April 2008, Mr. Vestjens was promoted to Director of Sales and Marketing for the Industrial Solutions business, and in January 2009, he was appointed General Manager of Belden’s Wire and Cable Systems business in EMEA. Mr. Vestjens relocated to Asia in November 2010, and became President of the APAC OEM business, followed by President of all APAC Operations in May 2012. Mr. Vestjens joined Belden from Royal Philips Electronics where he held various European sales and marketing positions. Mr. Vestjens holds a bachelor degree in Electrical Engineering and a Master of Science and Management degree from Nyenrode Business University in the Netherlands.
Brian Anderson has been Senior Vice President, Legal, General Counsel and Corporate Secretary since April 2015. Prior to that, he served as Corporate Attorney for the Company from May 2008 through March 2015. Prior to joining Belden, Mr. Anderson was in private practice at the law firm Lewis Rice. Mr. Anderson has a B.S.B. in Accounting and an M.B.A. from Eastern Illinois University and holds a J.D. from Washington University in St. Louis.
Ashish Chand was appointed Executive Vice President, Industrial Automation in July 2019. Prior to that, he served as Managing Director, Industrial Solutions, for the Company’s APAC division from August 2017 to June 2019. Mr. Chand joined the Company in 2002 and has assumed positions of increasing responsibility in sales and marketing, operations, business development and general management since that time. Prior to joining Belden, Mr. Chand had experience in the oil and gas and non-ferrous metals segments. Mr. Chand holds a doctoral degree in Business from the City University of Hong Kong, an M.B.A. from XLRI Jamshedpur, India and a B.A. from Loyola College Chennai, India.
Dean McKenna has been Senior Vice President, Human Resources since May 2015. Prior to joining Belden, he was Vice President of Human Resources for the international business of SC Johnson. Prior to SC Johnson, he worked in various senior international human resource, organizational development and talent positions at Ingredion, Akzo Nobel and ICI Group PLC. He received his degree in Strategic Human Resource Management at the Nottingham Business School in the United Kingdom.
Anshu Mehrotra was appointed Senior Vice President, Sales and Marketing in January 2021. Prior to joining Belden, he was Group President for Welding at Illinois Tool Works (ITW), leading the global Industrial Welding platform. Prior to ITW, he has had a number of leadership roles in general management and sales at Ingersoll Rand, Allegion and Johnson Controls. He has a B.S. in Electronics Engineering from Delhi University, an M.S. in Industrial Engineering from Northern Illinois University and an M.B.A. from Northwestern University at Kellogg School of Management.
Jeremy Parks was appointed Senior Vice President, Finance, and Chief Financial Officer on February 16, 2021. Prior to re-joining Belden in 2021, Mr. Parks worked as the Chief Financial Officer of International Wire Corp. From 2008 through August of 2020, Mr. Parks worked for the Company in various financial roles, most recently as Vice President of Finance of the Company’s Industrial Solutions segment. Mr. Parks has a B.A. and M.A. in economics from State University of New York – Buffalo, and an M.B.A from Xavier University.
Doug Zink has been Vice President and Chief Accounting Officer since September 2013. Prior to that, he has served as the Company’s Vice President, Internal Audit; Corporate Controller; and Director of Financial Reporting, after joining Belden in May 2007. Prior to joining the Company, he was a Financial Reporting Manager at TLC Vision Corporation, an eye care service company, from 2004 to 2007, and has five years of experience in public accounting with KPMG LLP and Arthur Andersen LLP. He holds Bachelor’s and Master’s Degrees in Accounting from Texas Christian University and is a Certified Public Accountant.
Cautionary Information Regarding Forward-Looking Statements
We make forward-looking statements in this Annual Report on Form 10-K, in other materials we file with the SEC or otherwise release to the public, and on our website. In addition, our senior management might make forward-looking statements orally to investors, analysts, the media, and others. Statements concerning our future operations, prospects, strategies, financial condition, future economic performance (including growth and earnings) and demand for our products and services, and other statements of our plans, beliefs, or expectations, including the statements contained in Item 7, “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations,” that are not historical facts, are forward-looking statements. In some cases these statements are identifiable through the use of words such as “anticipate,” “believe,” “estimate,” “forecast,” “guide,” “expect,” “intend,” “plan,” “project,” “target,” “can,” “could,” “may,” “should,” “will,” “would,” and similar expressions. The forward-looking statements we make are not guarantees of future performance and are subject to various assumptions, risks, and other factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those suggested by these forward-looking statements. These factors include, among others, those set forth in the following section and in the other documents that we file with the SEC.
We expressly disclaim any obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required by law.
Item 1A. Risk Factors
Following is a discussion of some of the more significant risks that could materially impact our business. There may be additional risks that impact our business that we currently do not recognize as, or that are not currently, material to our business.
Supply chain issues, including scarcity of raw materials or other components necessary to produce the products we manufacture, could increase costs or cause a delay in our ability to fulfill orders, and could adversely affect our future results of operations and our overall financial performance.
The presenceCompany relies on an extended supply chain and the availability of substitutecertain raw materials, including but not limited to copper, to produce a significant amount of our products. A reduction or interruption in supply, including interruptions due to COVID-19 or geopolitical unrest beyond the Company’s control, an inability to procure quality raw materials in a cost effective manner and constrain volatile materials costs, a failure to monitor contract compliance to ensure and sustain sourcing savings, a failure to procure adequate inventory or raw materials from our suppliers, or regulatory changes may lead to delays inmanufacturing and increases in costs.
Many components, including those that are available from multiple sources, are at times subject to industry-wide shortages that could materially adversely affect the Company’s financial condition and operating results. While the Company has entered into agreements for the supply of many components, there can be no assurance that the Company will be able to extend or renew these agreements on similar terms, or at all. Component suppliers may suffer from poor financial conditions, which can lead to business failure for the supplier or consolidation within a particular industry, further limiting the Company’s ability to obtain sufficient quantities of components on commercially reasonable terms. Health crises, like the Covid-19 pandemic, could lead to quarantines or labor shortages, thus impacting the output of key suppliers. If the Company’s supply of components for a new or existing product were delayed or constrained, or if an outsourcing partner delayed shipments of completed products to the Company, the Company’s financial condition and operating results could be materially adversely affected. The Company’s business and financial performance could also be materially adversely affected depending on the time required to obtain sufficient quantities from the original source, or to identify and obtain sufficient quantities from an alternative source. Similarly, if the Company’s customers experience production challenges due to the inability to obtain certain components, this may negatively impact the customers’ ordering patterns from the Company.
The effects of the COVID-19 pandemic continued to materially affect how we and our customers operated our businesses in 2021, and the marketplaceduration and extent to which this or future epidemics, pandemics or other major disasters will impact our future results of operations and overall financial performance remains uncertain.
In December 2019, a novel coronavirus disease (“COVID-19”) was first reported and on March 11, 2020, the World Health Organization characterized COVID-19 as a pandemic that has yet to fully recede. The widespread health crisis is adversely affecting the broader economies, financial markets and may reduceadversely affect the overall demand environment for many of our productsproducts.
Our operations and the operations of our suppliers, channel partners and customers were and continue to be disrupted to varying degrees by a range of external factors related to the COVID-19 pandemic, some of which are not within our control. Many governments imposed, and may yet impose or may re-impose, a wide range of restrictions on the physical movement or congregation of people in order to limit the spread of COVID-19. The COVID-19 pandemic has had, and likely will continue to have, an impact on the attendance and productivity of our employees, and those of our channel partners or customers, resulting in negative impacts to our results of operations and overall financial performance. Additionally, COVID-19 has resulted, and may result in future periods, in delays in non-residential construction, non-crisis-related IT purchases and project completion schedules in general, all of which can negatively impact our business.results in both current and future periods.
Fiber optic systems are increasingly substitutable for copper based cable systems. Customers may shift demand to fiber optic systems with greater capabilities than copper based cable systems, leading to a reduction in demand for copper based cable. We may not
The duration and extent of the impact from the COVID-19 pandemic or any future epidemic, pandemic or major disaster depends on future developments that cannot be able to offsetaccurately predicted at this time, such as the severity and transmission rate of the virus (including variant mutations of the virus), the extent and effectiveness of containment actions, treatments and vaccinations, the effects of a reduction in demand for our copper-based cable systems with an increase in demand for our existing fiber optic systems. Further,measures enacted by policy makers and central banks around the supply chain in the fiber market is highly constrained, with a small number of vertically integrated firms controlling critical inputsglobe, and the related intellectual property. Similarly, in our non-cable businesses, customers could rapidly shift the methods by which they captureimpact of these and transmit signals in ways that could lead to decreased demand for our current or future products. Theseother factors either together or in isolation, may negatively impact revenue and profitability.
Our future success depends in part on our ability to developemployees, customers, channel partners and introduce new products and respond to changes in customer preferences.
Our markets are characterized by the introduction of products with increasing technological capabilities. Our success depends in part on our ability to anticipate and offer products that appeal to the changing needs and preferences of our customers in the various markets we serve. Developing new products and adapting existing products to meet evolving customer expectations requires high levels of innovation, and the development process may be lengthy and costly.suppliers. If we are not able to timely anticipate, identify, develop and market products that respond to rapidly changing customer preferences,and manage the impact of such events effectively, our business will be affected.
Our results of operations are subject to foreign and domestic political, social, economic, and other uncertainties and are affected by changes in currency exchange rates.
In addition to manufacturing and other operating facilities in the U.S., we have manufacturing and other operating facilities in Canada, China, India, Mexico, St. Kitts, and several European countries. We rely on suppliers in many countries, including China. Our foreign operations are subject to economic, social, and political risks inherent in maintaining operations abroad such as economic and political destabilization, land use risks, international conflicts, pandemics and other health-related crises, restrictive actions by foreign governments, and adverse foreign tax laws. In addition to economic and political risk, a risk associated with our European manufacturing operations is the higher relative expense and length of time required to adjust manufacturing employment capacity. We also face political risks in the U.S., including tax or regulatory risks or potential adverse impacts from legislative impasses over, or significant legislative, regulatory or executive changes in fiscal or monetary policy and other foreign and domestic government policies, including, but not limited to, trade policies and import/export policies.
Approximately 47% of our sales are outside the U.S. Other than the U.S. dollar, the principal currencies to which we are exposed through our manufacturing operations, sales, and related cash holdings are the euro, the Canadian dollar, the Hong Kong dollar, the Chinese yuan, the Mexican peso, the Australian dollar, the British pound and Indian rupee. Generally, we have revenues and costs in the same currency, thereby reducing our overall currency risk, although any realignment of our manufacturing capacity among our global facilities could alter this balance. When the U.S. dollar strengthens against other currencies, the results of our non-U.S. operations are translated at a lower exchange rate and thus into lower reported revenues and earnings.
A challenging global economic environment or a downturn in the markets we serve could adversely affect our operating results and stock price in a material manner.
A challenging global economic environment could cause substantial reductions in our revenue and results of operations as a result of weaker demand by the end users of our products and price erosion. Price erosion may occur through competitors becoming more aggressive in pricing practices. A challenging global economy could also make it difficult for our customers, our vendors, and us to accurately forecast and plan future business activities. Our customers could also face issues gaining timely access to sufficient credit, which could have an adverse effect on our results if such events cause reductions in revenues, delays in collection, or write-offs of receivables. Further, the demand for many of our products is economically sensitive and will vary with general economic activity, trends in nonresidential construction, investment in manufacturing facilities and automation, demand for information technology equipment, and other economic factors.
Global economic uncertainty could result in a significant decline in the value of foreign currencies relative to the U.S. dollar, which could result in a significant adverse effect on our revenues and results of operations; could make it difficult for our customers and us to accurately forecast and plan future business activities; and could cause our customers to slow or reduce spending on our products and services. Economic uncertainty could also arise from fiscal policy changes in the countries in which we operate.
Changes in foreign currency rates and commodity prices can impact the buying power of our customers. For example, a strengthened U.S. dollar can result in relative price increases for our products could decline.for customers outside of the U.S., which can have a negative impact on our revenues and results of operations. Furthermore, customers’ ability to invest in capital expenditures, such as our products, can depend upon proceeds from commodities, such as oil and gas markets. A decline in energy prices, therefore, can have a negative impact on our revenues and results of operations.
The relative costs
We may have difficulty integrating the operations of acquired businesses, which could negatively affect our results of operations, profitability, and meritsachievement of our solutionsstrategic plan.
As part of our strategic plan initiatives, we periodically execute acquisitions and divestitures. The extent to which appropriate acquisitions are made will affect our overall growth, operating results, financial condition, and cash flows. Our ability to acquire businesses successfully will decline if we are unable to identify appropriate acquisition targets, competition among potential buyers increases, the cost of acquiring suitable businesses becomes too expensive, or we lack sufficient sources of capital. As a result, we may be unable to make acquisitions or be forced to pay more or agree to less advantageous acquisition terms for companies we would like to acquire.
We may also have difficulty integrating acquired businesses or future acquisitions may be unable to meet our performance expectations. Some of the integration challenges we might face include differences in corporate culture and management styles, additional or conflicting governmental regulations, compliance with the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, financial reporting that is not in compliance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles, disparate company policies and practices, customer relationship issues, and retention of key personnel. Furthermore, we may be unable to integrate operations successfully or cost-effectively, which could changehave an adverse impact on our results of operations or our profitability.
Our revenue for any particular period can be difficult to forecast.
Our revenue for any particular period can be difficult to forecast, especially in light of the challenging and inconsistent global macroeconomic environment and related market uncertainty. Our revenue may grow at a slower rate than in past periods or even decline on a year-over-year basis. Changes in market growth rates can have a significant effect on our operating results.
The timing of orders for customer projects can also have a significant effect on our operating results in the period in which the products are shipped and recognized as revenue. The timing of such projects is difficult to predict, and the timing of revenue recognition from such projects may affect period to period changes in revenue. As a result, our operating results could vary materially from quarter to quarter based on the receipt of such orders and their ultimate recognition as revenue. Similarly, we are often informed by our customers well in advance that such customer intends to place an order related to a specific project in a given quarter. Such a customer’s timeline for execution of the project, and the resulting purchase order, may be unexpectedly delayed to a future quarter, or cancelled. The frequency of such delays can be difficult to predict. As a result, it is difficult to precisely forecast revenue and operating results for future quarters.
In addition, our revenue can be difficult to forecast due to unexpected changes in the level of our products held as various competing technologies addressinventory by our channel partners and customers. Our channel partners and customers purchase and hold our products in their inventory in order to meet the market opportunities. We believe thatservice and on-time delivery requirements of their customers. As our future success will dependchannel partners and customers change the level of Belden products owned and held in parttheir inventory, our revenue is impacted. As we are dependent upon our abilitychannel partners and customers to enhance existing products and to develop and manufacture newprovide us with information regarding the amount of our products that meet or anticipate technologicalthey own and hold in their inventory, unexpected changes which will require continued investmentcan occur and impact our revenue forecast.
Inflation and changes in engineering, researchthe price and development, capital equipment, marketing, customer service,availability of raw materials may lead to higher input and technical support. We have long been successfullabor costs in introducing successive generations of more capable products, but if we werea way that could be detrimental to fail to keep pace with technology or with the products of competitors, we might lose market share and harm our reputation and position as a technology leader in our markets. See the discussion above in Part I, Item 1, under Research and Development.profitability.
The increased influence of chief information officers and similar high-level executives may negatively impact demand for our products.
As a result, of increased inflation, costs of raw materials and labor may increase in a way that we are unable to offset in a timely manner through higher prices for finished goods.
Copper is a significant component of the increasing interconnectivitycost of a wide variety of systems, chief information officers and similar executives are more heavily involved in operation areas that have not historically been associated with information technology. As a result, CIOs and IT departments are exercising influence over the procurement and purchasing process at the expense of engineers, plant managers and operation personnel that have historically driven demand for manymost of our cable products. When making purchasing decisions, CIO’s often value interoperability, standardization, cloud-readinessOver the past few years, and security over domain expertisein particular in 2021, the prices of metals, particularly copper, have been volatile. Prices of other materials we use, such as PVC and niche application knowledge. As a resultother plastics derived from petrochemical feedstocks, have also been volatile. Generally, we have recovered much of the influenceshigher cost of CIOs and IT departments, we may face increased competition from IT-industry companies that have not traditionally had major presences in the markets in which we operate. Further, the variance in considerations that drive purchasing decisions between CIOs and those with niche application expertise may result in increased competition based on price and a reduction in demand for our products.
Alterations to our product mix and go-to-market strategies designed to respond to the changes in the marketplace presented by cloud computing may be disruptive to our business and lead to increase expenses, which may result in lower revenues and profitability. Further, if a competitor is able to more quickly or efficiently adapt, or if cloud computing results in significantly lower barriers to entry and new competitors enter our markets, demand for our products may be reduced.
The increased prevalence of cloud computing and other disruptive business models may negatively impact certain aspectsraw materials through higher pricing of our business.
finished products. The nature in which manymajority of our products are purchasedsold through distribution, and we manage the pricing of these products through published price lists which we update from time to time, with new prices typically taking effect a few weeks after they are announced. Some OEM contracts have provisions for passing through raw material cost changes, generally with a lag of a few weeks to three months. Especially during periods of inflation, if we are unable to raise prices timely and sufficiently to recover our material costs or used is evolving withincreases in the increasing prevalencecost of cloud computinginternal or external labor, our earnings and margins could decline. If we raise our prices but competitors raise their prices less, we may lose sales, and our earnings could decline. If the price of copper were to decline, we may be compelled to reduce prices to remain competitive, which could have a negative effect on revenues. While we generally believe the supply of raw materials (copper, plastics, and other methodsmaterials) is adequate, we have experienced instances of off-premises computinglimited supply of certain raw materials, resulting in extended lead times and data storage. This may negatively impact onehigher prices. If a supply interruption or moreshortage of our businessesmaterials were to occur (including due to labor or political disputes), this could have a negative effect on revenues and earnings.
Similarly, if we raise employee wages in a number of ways, including:manner sufficient to offset inflation, it may erode our profitability. Conversely, if we fail to raise employee wages in a manner sufficient to offset inflation, associates could leave the Company resulting in capacity constraints which could have a negative effect on revenues and earnings.
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Consolidation of procurement power leading to the commoditization of IT products;
•Reduction in the demand for infrastructure products previously used to support on-site data centers;
•Lowering barriers to entry for certain markets, leading to new market entrants and enhanced competition; and
Preferences for software as a service billing and pricing models may reduce demand for non-cloud “packaged” software.
We may be unable to achieve our goals related to growth.
In order to meet the goals in our strategic plan, we must execute our Market Delivery System ("MDS") and grow our business, both organically and through acquisitions. Our goal is to generate total revenue growth of 5-7% per year in constant currency. We may be unable to achieve this desired growthour goals due to a failure to identify growth opportunities, such as trends and technological changes in our end markets. We may ineffectively execute our Market Delivery System (“MDS”), which is designed to identify and capture growth opportunities. The enterprise and industrial end markets we serve may not experience the growth we expect. Further, those markets may be unable to sustain growth on a long-term basis, particularly in emerging markets. If we are unable to achieve our goals related to growth, it could have a material adverse effect on our results of operations, financial position, and cash flows.
We may be unable to implement our strategic plan successfully.
Our strategic plan is designed to continually enhance shareholder value by improving revenues and profitability, reducing costs, and improving working capital management. To achieve these goals, our strategic priorities are reliant on our Belden Business System, which includes continuing deployment of our MDS to capture market share through end-user engagement, channel management, outbound marketing, and careful vertical market selection; improving our recruitment and development of talented associates; developing strong global business platforms; acquiring businesses that fit our strategic plan; and continuing to be a leading Lean company. We have a disciplined process for deploying this strategic plan through our associates. There is a risk that we may not be successful in developing or executing these measures to achieve the expected results for a variety of reasons, including market developments, economic conditions, shortcomings in establishing appropriate action plans, or challenges with executing multiple initiatives simultaneously. For example, our MDS initiative may not succeed or we may lose market share due to challenges in choosing the right products to market or the right customers for these products, integrating products of acquired companies into our sales and marketing strategy, or strategically bidding against OEM partners. We may fail to identify growth opportunities. We may not be able to acquire businesses that fit our strategic plan on acceptable business terms, and we may not achieve our other strategic priorities.
If we are unable to retain key employees, our business operations could be adversely affected.
The loss of key employees could have an adverse effect on us. We may not be able to find qualified replacements for these individuals and the integration of potential replacements may be disruptive to our business. More broadly, a key determinant of our success is our ability to attract, develop, and retain talented associates. While this is one of our strategic priorities, we may not be able to succeed in this regard.
The increased influence of chief information officers and similar high-level executives may negatively impact demand for our products.
As a result of the increasing interconnectivity of a wide variety of systems, chief information officers and similar executives are more heavily involved in operation areas that have not historically been associated with information technology. As a result, CIOs and IT departments are exercising influence over the procurement and purchasing process at the expense of engineers, plant managers and operation personnel that have historically driven demand for many of our products. When making purchasing decisions, CIO’s often value interoperability, standardization, cloud-readiness and security over domain expertise and niche application knowledge. As a result of the influences of CIOs and IT departments, we may face increased competition from IT-industry companies that have not traditionally had major presences in the markets in which we operate. Further, the variance in considerations that drive purchasing decisions between CIOs and those with niche application expertise may result in increased competition based on price and a reduction in demand for our products.
Alterations to our product mix and go-to-market strategies designed to respond to the changes in the marketplace presented by cloud computing may be disruptive to our business and lead to increase expenses, which may result in lower revenues and profitability. Further, if a competitor is able to more quickly or efficiently adapt, or if cloud computing results in significantly lower barriers to entry and new competitors enter our markets, demand for our products may be reduced.
Cyber security incidents have and could in the future interfere with our business and operations.
Computer hacking, malware, phishing, and spamming attacks against online networking platforms have become more prevalent. Though it is difficult to determine what, if any, harm may directly result from any specific attack or interruption, such events could also be expensive to remedy, harm our reputation or brands, and/or lead users to lose trust and confidence in our business. We, and others on our behalf, also store “personally identifiable information” (“PII”) with respect to employees, vendors, customers, and others. While we have implemented safeguards to protect the privacy of this information, it is possible that hackers or others might obtain this information in the future, as occurred in 2020. Based on this occurrence or any future occurrence, in addition to having to take potentially costly remedial action, we may also be subject to fines, penalties, lawsuits, and reputational damage.
Furthermore, we rely on our information systems and those of third parties for storing proprietary company information about our products and intellectual property, as well as for processing customer orders, manufacturing and shipping products, billing our customers, tracking inventory, supporting accounting functions and financial statement preparation, paying our employees, and otherwise running our business. In addition, we may need to enhance our information systems to provide additional capabilities and functionality. The implementation of new information systems and enhancements is frequently disruptive to the underlying business of an enterprise. Any disruptions affecting our ability to accurately report our financial performance on a timely basis could adversely affect our business in a number of respects. If we are unable to successfully implement potential future information systems enhancements, our financial position, results of operations, and cash flows could be negatively impacted.
Changes in tax laws may adversely affect our financial position.
We are a U.S.-based multinational company subject to tax in multiple U.S. and foreign tax jurisdictions. Significant judgment is required in determining our global provision for income taxes, deferred tax assets or liabilities and in evaluating our tax positions on a worldwide basis. While we believe our tax positions are consistent with the tax laws in the jurisdictions in which we conduct our business, it is possible that these positions may be contested or overturned by jurisdictional tax authorities, which may have a significant impact on our global provision for income taxes.
Tax laws are dynamic and subject to change as new laws are passed and new interpretations of the law are issued or applied. Governmental tax authorities are increasingly scrutinizing the tax positions of companies. The U.S. federal and state governments, countries in the European Union, as well as a number of other countries and organizations such as the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development, are actively considering changes to existing tax laws. If tax laws and related regulations change, our financial results could be materially impacted. Given the unpredictability of these possible changes and their potential interdependency, it is possible such changes could adversely impact our financial results.
We may experience significant variability in our quarterly and annual effective tax rate which would affect our reported net income.
We have a complex tax profile due to the global nature of our operations, which encompass multiple taxing jurisdictions. Variability in the mix and profitability of domestic and international activities, identification and resolution of various tax uncertainties, changes in tax laws and rates, and the extent to which we are able to realize net operating loss and other carryforwards included in deferred tax assets and avoid potential adverse outcomes included in deferred tax liabilities, among other matters, may significantly affect our effective income tax rate in the future.
Our effective income tax rate is the result of the income tax rates in the various countries in which we do business. Our mix of income and losses in these jurisdictions affects our effective tax rate. For example, relatively more income in higher tax rate jurisdictions would increase our effective tax rate and thus lower our net income. Similarly, if we generate losses in tax jurisdictions for which no benefits are available; our effective income tax rate will increase. Our effective income tax rate may also be impacted by the recognition of discrete income tax items, such as required adjustments to our liabilities for uncertain tax positions or our deferred tax asset valuation allowance. A significant increase in our effective income tax rate could have a material adverse impact on our earnings.
The global markets in which we operate are highly competitive.
We face competition from other manufacturers for each of our global business platforms and in each of our geographic regions. These companies compete on technical features, quality, availability, price, customer support, and distribution coverage. Some multinational competitors have greater engineering, financial, manufacturing, and marketing resources than we have. Actions that may be taken by competitors, including pricing, business alliances, new product introductions, intellectual property advantages, market penetration, and other actions, could have a negative effect on our revenues and profitability. Moreover, some competitors that are highly leveraged both financially and operationally could become more aggressive in their pricing of products.
The presence of substitute products in the marketplace may reduce demand for our products and negatively impact our business.
Fiber optic systems are increasingly substitutable for copper based cable systems. Customers may shift demand to fiber optic systems with greater capabilities than copper based cable systems, leading to a reduction in demand for copper based cable. We may not be able to offset the effects of a reduction in demand for our copper-based cable systems with an increase in demand for our existing fiber optic systems. Further, the supply chain in the fiber market is highly constrained, with a small number of vertically integrated firms controlling critical inputs and the related intellectual property. Similarly, in our non-cable businesses, customers could rapidly shift the methods by which they capture and transmit signals in ways that could lead to decreased demand for our current or future products. These factors, either together or in isolation, may negatively impact revenue and profitability.
The increased prevalence of cloud computing and other disruptive business models may negatively impact certain aspects of our business.
The nature in which many of our products are purchased or used is evolving with the increasing prevalence of cloud computing and other methods of off-premises computing and data storage. This may negatively impact one or more of our businesses in a number of ways, including:
•Consolidation of procurement power leading to the commoditization of IT products;
•Reduction in the demand for infrastructure products previously used to support on-site data centers;
•Lowering barriers to entry for certain markets, leading to new market entrants and enhanced competition; and
•Preferences for software as a service billing and pricing models may reduce demand for non-cloud “packaged” software.
Our future success depends in part on our ability to develop and introduce new products and respond to changes in customer preferences.
Our markets are characterized by the introduction of products with increasing technological capabilities. Our success depends in part on our ability to anticipate and offer products that appeal to the changing needs and preferences of our customers in the various markets we serve. Developing new products and adapting existing products to meet evolving customer expectations requires high levels of innovation, and the development process may be lengthy and costly. If we are not able to timely anticipate, identify, develop and market products that respond to rapidly changing customer preferences, demand for our products could decline.
The relative costs and merits of our solutions could change in the future as various competing technologies address the market opportunities. We believe that our future success will depend in part upon our ability to enhance existing products and to develop and manufacture new products that meet or anticipate technological changes, which will require continued investment in engineering, research and development, capital equipment, marketing, customer service, and technical support. We have long been successful in introducing successive generations of more capable products, but if we were to fail to keep pace with technology or with the products of competitors, we might lose market share and harm our reputation and position as a technology leader in our markets. See the discussion above in Part I, Item 1, under Research and Development.
We may be unable to achieve our strategic priorities in emerging markets.
Emerging markets are a significant focus of our strategic plan. The developing nature of these markets presents a number of risks. We may be unable to attract, develop, and retain appropriate talent to manage our businesses in emerging markets. Deterioration of social, political, labor, or economic conditions in a specific country or region may adversely affect our operations or financial results. Emerging markets may not meet our growth expectations, and we may be unable to maintain such growth or to balance such growth with financial goals and compliance requirements. Among the risks in emerging market countries are bureaucratic intrusions and delays, contract compliance failures, engrained business partners that do not comply with local or U.S. law, such as the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act, fluctuating currencies and interest rates, limitations on the amount and nature of investments, restrictions on permissible forms and structures of investment, unreliable legal and financial infrastructure, regime disruption and political unrest, uncontrolled inflation and commodity prices, fierce local competition by companies with better political connections, and corruption. In addition, the costs of compliance with local laws and regulations in emerging markets may negatively impact our competitive position as compared to locally owned manufacturers.
We must complete acquisitions and divestitures in order to achieve our strategic plan.
In order to meet the goals in our strategic plan, we must complete acquisitions and divestitures. The extent to which appropriate acquisitions are made will affect our overall growth, operating results, financial condition, and cash flows. Our ability to acquire businesses successfully will decline if we are unable to identify appropriate acquisition targets consistent with our strategic plan, the competition among potential buyers increases, the cost of acquiring suitable businesses becomes too expensive, or we lack sufficient sources of capital. As a result, we may be unable to make acquisitions or be forced to pay more or agree to less advantageous acquisition terms for the companies that we would like to acquire.
Additionally, our strategic plan includes the divestiture of our Grass Valley disposal group (as discussed in Note 5) and the planned divestiture of certain low-margin cable businesses representing up to $250 million in annual revenues. As discussed in Note 28, we entered into a definitive agreement to sell the Grass Valley disposal group on February 4, 2020, which is subject to closing conditions. If we are unable to close the divestiture of Grass Valley per the terms of the definitive agreement or are unable to find an alternative buyer for the business with similar terms, it could have a material adverse effect on our operating results, financial condition, and cash flow. We may also be unable to find a suitable buyer(s) for certain low-margin cable assets with acceptable terms.
We may have difficulty integrating the operations of acquired businesses, which could negatively affect our results of operations and profitability.
We may have difficulty integrating acquired businesses and future acquisitions might not meet our performance expectations. Some of the integration challenges we might face include differences in corporate culture and management styles, additional or conflicting governmental regulations, compliance with the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, financial reporting that is not in compliance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles, disparate company policies and practices, customer relationship issues, and retention of key personnel. In addition, management may be required to devote a considerable amount of time to the integration process, which could decrease the amount of time we have to manage the other businesses. We may not be able to integrate operations successfully or cost-effectively, which could have a negative impact on our results of operations or our profitability. The process of integrating operations could also cause some interruption of, or the loss of momentum in, the activities of acquired businesses.
Our results of operations are subject to foreign and domestic political, social, economic, and other uncertainties and are affected by changes in currency exchange rates.
In addition to manufacturing and other operating facilities in the U.S., we have manufacturing and other operating facilities in Brazil, Canada, China, India, Japan, Mexico, St. Kitts, and several European countries. We rely on suppliers in many countries, including China. Our foreign operations are subject to economic, social, and political risks inherent in maintaining operations abroad such as economic and political destabilization, land use risks, international conflicts, pandemics and other health-related crises, restrictive actions by foreign governments, and adverse foreign tax laws. In addition to economic and political risk, a risk associated with our European manufacturing operations is the higher relative expense and length of time required to adjust manufacturing employment capacity. We also face political risks in the U.S., including tax or regulatory risks or potential adverse impacts from legislative impasses over, or significant legislative, regulatory or executive changes in fiscal or monetary policy and other foreign and domestic government policies, including, but not limited to, trade policies and import/export policies.
Approximately 40% of our sales are outside the U.S. Other than the U.S. dollar, the principal currencies to which we are exposed through our manufacturing operations, sales, and related cash holdings are the euro, the Canadian dollar, the Hong Kong dollar, the Chinese yuan, the Japanese yen, the Mexican peso, the Australian dollar, the British pound, and the Brazilian real. Generally, we have revenues and costs in the same currency, thereby reducing our overall currency risk, although any realignment of our manufacturing capacity among our global facilities could alter this balance. When the U.S. dollar strengthens against other currencies, the results of our non-U.S. operations are translated at a lower exchange rate and thus into lower reported revenues and earnings.
Changes in tax laws may adversely affect our financial position.
We are a U.S.-based multinational company subject to tax in multiple U.S. and foreign tax jurisdictions. Significant judgment is required in determining our global provision for income taxes, deferred tax assets or liabilities and in evaluating our tax positions on a worldwide basis. While we believe our tax positions are consistent with the tax laws in the jurisdictions in which we conduct our business, it is possible that these positions may be contested or overturned by jurisdictional tax authorities, which may have a significant impact on our global provision for income taxes.
Tax laws are dynamic and subject to change as new laws are passed and new interpretations of the law are issued or applied. The U.S. recently enacted significant tax reform, and certain provisions of the new law may adversely affect us. In addition, governmental tax authorities are increasingly scrutinizing the tax positions of companies. Many countries in the European Union, as well as a number of other countries and organizations such as the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development, are actively considering changes to existing tax laws. If tax laws and related regulations change, our financial results could be materially impacted. Given the unpredictability of these possible changes and their potential interdependency, it is possible such changes could adversely impact our financial results.
We may experience significant variability in our quarterly and annual effective tax rate which would affect our reported net income.
We have a complex tax profile due to the global nature of our operations, which encompass multiple taxing jurisdictions. Variability in the mix and profitability of domestic and international activities, identification and resolution of various tax uncertainties, changes in tax laws and rates, and the extent to which we are able to realize net operating loss and other carryforwards included in deferred tax assets and avoid potential adverse outcomes included in deferred tax liabilities, among other matters, may significantly affect our effective income tax rate in the future.
Our effective income tax rate is the result of the income tax rates in the various countries in which we do business. Our mix of income and losses in these jurisdictions affects our effective tax rate. For example, relatively more income in higher tax rate jurisdictions would increase our effective tax rate and thus lower our net income. Similarly, if we generate losses in tax jurisdictions for which no benefits are available; our effective income tax rate will increase. Our effective income tax rate may also be impacted by the recognition of discrete income tax items, such as required adjustments to our liabilities for uncertain tax positions or our deferred tax asset valuation allowance. A significant increase in our effective income tax rate could have a material adverse impact on our earnings.
Of our $407.5 million cash and cash equivalents balance as of December 31, 2019, $210.2 million was held outside of the U.S. in our foreign operations. The Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017 included a one-time transition tax of unremitted foreign earnings, and accordingly, in the fourth quarter of 2018 we recorded a final adjustment to the tax expense related to the transition tax on the one-time mandatory deemed repatriation of all our foreign earnings as of December 31, 2017. See Note 17 Income Taxes in the accompanying notes to our consolidated financial statements.
Changes in global tariffs and trade agreements may have a negative impact on global economic conditions, markets and our business.
Like most multinational companies, we have supply chains and sales channels that extend beyond national borders. Purchasing and production decisions in some cases are largely influenced by the trade agreements and the tax and tariff structures in place. Disruption in those structures can create significant market uncertainty. While the impact of Brexit and the U.S. and Chinese tariff actions are not currently material to us, unanticipated complications in the free movement of goods in Europe, an escalation of tariff activity anywhere in the world or changes to existing free trade agreements could materially impact our financial results. In addition to the potential direct impacts of free trade restrictions, longer term macroeconomic consequences could result, including slower growth, inflation, higher interest rates and unfavorable impacts to currency exchange rates. Any of these factors could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations.
Our revenue for any particular period can be difficult to forecast.
Our revenue for any particular period can be difficult to forecast, especially in light of the challenging and inconsistent global macroeconomic environment and related market uncertainty. Our revenue may grow at a slower rate than in past periods or even decline on a year-over-year basis. Changes in market growth rates can have a significant effect on our operating results.
The timing of orders for customer projects can also have a significant effect on our operating results in the period in which the products are shipped and recognized as revenue. The timing of such projects is difficult to predict, and the timing of revenue recognition from such projects may affect period to period changes in revenue. As a result, our operating results could vary materially from quarter to quarter based on the receipt of such orders and their ultimate recognition as revenue. Similarly, we are often informed by our customers well in advance that such customer intends to place an order related to a specific project in a given quarter. Such a customer’s timeline for execution of the project, and the resulting purchase order, may be unexpectedly delayed to a future quarter, or cancelled. The frequency of such delays can be difficult to predict. As a result, it is difficult to precisely forecast revenue and operating results for future quarters.
In addition, our revenue can be difficult to forecast due to unexpected changes in the level of our products held as inventory by our channel partners and customers. Our channel partners and customers purchase and hold our products in their inventory in order to meet the service and on-time delivery requirements of their customers. As our channel partners and customers change the level of Belden products owned and held in their inventory, our revenue is impacted. As we are dependent upon our channel partners and customers to provide us with information regarding the amount of our products that they own and hold in their inventory, unexpected changes can occur and impact our revenue forecast.
A challenging global economic environment or a downturn in the markets we serve could adversely affect our operating results and stock price in a material manner.
A challenging global economic environment could cause substantial reductions in our revenue and results of operations as a result of weaker demand by the end users of our products and price erosion. Price erosion may occur through competitors becoming more aggressive in pricing practices. A challenging global economy could also make it difficult for our customers, our vendors, and us to accurately forecast and plan future business activities. Our customers could also face issues gaining timely access to sufficient credit, which could have an adverse effect on our results if such events cause reductions in revenues, delays in collection, or write-offs of receivables. Further, the demand for many of our products is economically sensitive and will vary with general economic activity, trends in nonresidential construction, investment in manufacturing facilities and automation, demand for information technology equipment, and other economic factors.
Global economic uncertainty could result in a significant decline in the value of foreign currencies relative to the U.S. dollar, which could result in a significant adverse effect on our revenues and results of operations; could make it difficult for our customers and us to accurately forecast and plan future business activities; and could cause our customers to slow or reduce spending on our products and services. Economic uncertainty could also arise from fiscal policy changes in the countries in which we operate.
Changes in foreign currency rates and commodity prices can impact the buying power of our customers. For example, a strengthened U.S. dollar can result in relative price increases for our products for customers outside of the U.S., which can have a negative impact on our revenues and results of operations. Furthermore, customers’ ability to invest in capital expenditures, such as our products, can depend upon proceeds from commodities, such as oil and gas markets. A decline in energy prices, therefore, can have a negative impact on our revenues and results of operations.
The global markets in which we operate are highly competitive.
We face competition from other manufacturers for each of our global business platforms and in each of our geographic regions. These companies compete on price, reputation and quality, product technology and characteristics, and terms. Some multinational competitors have greater engineering, financial, manufacturing, and marketing resources than we have. Actions that may be taken by competitors, including pricing, business alliances, new product introductions, market penetration, and other actions, could have a negative effect on our revenues and profitability. Moreover, some competitors that are highly leveraged both financially and operationally could become more aggressive in their pricing of products.
Volatility of credit markets could adversely affect our business.
Uncertainty in U.S. and global financial and equity markets could make it more expensive for us to conduct our operations and more difficult for our customers to buy our products. Additionally, market volatility or uncertainty may cause us to be unable to pursue or complete acquisitions. Our ability to implement our business strategy and grow our business, particularly through acquisitions, may depend on our ability to raise capital by selling equity or debt securities or obtaining additional debt financing. Market conditions may prevent us from obtaining financing when we need it or on terms acceptable to us.
Changes in the price
Actions of activists could cause us to incur substantial costs, divert management’s attention and availability of raw materials we use could be detrimental toresources, and have an adverse effect on our profitability.business.
Copper is a significant component of the cost of most of our cable products. Over the past few years, the prices of metals, particularly copper, have been volatile. Prices of other materials we use, such as polyvinylchloride (PVC) and other plastics derived from petrochemical feedstocks, have also been volatile. Generally, we have recovered much of the higher cost of raw materials through higher pricing of our finished products. The majority of our products are sold through distribution, and we manage the pricing of these products through published price lists which we update from
From time to time, with new prices typically taking effect a few weeks after they are announced. Some OEM contracts have provisions for passing through raw material cost changes, generally with a lag of a few weeks to three months. If we are unable to raise prices sufficiently to recover our material costs, our earnings could decline. If we raise our prices but competitors raise their prices less, we may lose sales, and our earnings could decline. If the price of copper were to decline, we may be compelled to reduce prices to remain competitive, which could have a negative effect on revenues. While we generally believe the supply of raw materials (copper, plastics, and other materials) is adequate, we have experienced instances of limited supply of certain raw materials, resulting in extended lead times and higher prices. If a supply interruption or shortage of materials were to occur (including due to labor or political disputes), this could have a negative effect on revenues and earnings.
Future operating results depend upon the Company’s ability to obtain components in sufficient quantities on commercially reasonable terms.
Because the Company currently obtains certain components from single or limited sources, the Company is subject to significant supply and pricing risks. Many components, including those that are available from multiple sources, are at times subject to industry-wide shortages that could materially adversely affect the Company’s financial condition and operating results. While the Company has entered into agreements for the supply of many components, there can be no assurance that the Company will be able to extend or renew these agreements on similar terms, or at all. Component suppliers may suffer from poor financial conditions, which can lead to business failure for the supplier or consolidation within a particular industry, further limiting the Company’s ability to obtain sufficient quantities of components on commercially reasonable terms. A regional health crises, like the Coronavirus, could lead to quarantines or labor shortages, thus impacting the output of key suppliers. If the Company’s supply of components for a new or existing product were delayed or constrained, or if an outsourcing partner delayed shipments of completed products to the Company, the Company’s financial condition and operating results could be materially adversely affected. The Company’s business and financial performance could also be materially adversely affected depending on the time required to obtain sufficient quantities from the original source, or to identify and obtain sufficient quantities from an alternative source.
Potential problems with our information systems could interfere with our business and operations.
We rely on our information systems and those of third parties for storing proprietary company information about our products and intellectual property, as well as for processing customer orders, manufacturing and shipping products, billing our customers, tracking inventory, supporting accounting functions and financial statement preparation, paying our employees, and otherwise running our business. Any disruption, whether from hackers or other sources, in our information systems or those of the third parties upon whom we rely could have a significant impact on our business. In addition, we may need to enhance our information systems to provide additional capabilities and functionality. The implementation of new information systems and enhancements is frequently disruptive to the underlying business of an enterprise. Any disruptions affecting our ability to accurately report our financial performance on a timely basis could adversely affect our business in a number of respects. If we are unable to successfully implement potential future information systems enhancements, our financial position, results of operations, and cash flows could be negatively impacted.
We, and others on our behalf, store “personally identifiable information” (“PII”) with respect to employees, vendors, customers, and others. While we have implemented safeguards to protect the privacy of this information, it is possible that hackers or others might obtain this information. If that occurs, in addition to having to take potentially costly remedial action, we also may be subject to fines, penalties, lawsuits,proposals by activists urging us to take certain actions.If activist activities ensue, our business could be adversely affected because responding and reputational damage.reacting to actions by activists can be costly and time-consuming, disrupt our operations and divert the attention of management and our employees.For example, we may be required to retain the services of various professionals to advise us on activist matters, including legal, financial and communications advisors, the costs of which may negatively impact our future financial results.In addition, perceived uncertainties as to our future direction, strategy or leadership created as a consequence of activist initiatives may result in the loss of potential business opportunities, harm our ability to attract new investors, customers, employees, and joint venture partners, and cause our stock price to experience periods of volatility.
Perceived failure of our signal transmission solutions to provide expected results may result in negative publicity and harm our business and operating results.
Our customers use our signal transmission solutions in a wide variety of IT systems and application environments in order to help reduce security vulnerabilities and demonstrate compliance. Despite our efforts to make clear in our marketing materials and customer agreements the capabilities and limitations of these products, some customers may incorrectly view the deployment of such products in their IT infrastructure as a guarantee that there will be no security breachincident or policy non-compliance event. As a result, the occurrence of a high profile security breach,incident, or a failure by one of our customers to pass a regulatory compliance IT audit, could result in public and customer perception that our solutions are not effective and harm our business and operating results, even if the occurrence is unrelated to the use of such products or if the failure is the result of actions or inactions on the part of the customer.
Our use of open source software could negatively impact our ability to sell our products and may subject us to unanticipated obligations.
The products, services, or technologies we acquire, license, provide, or develop may incorporate or use open source software. We monitor and restrict our use of open source software in an effort to avoid unintended consequences, such as reciprocal license grants, patent retaliation clauses, and the requirement to license our products at no cost. Nevertheless, we may be subject to unanticipated obligations regarding our products which incorporate or use open source software.
Our revenue and profits would likely decline, at least temporarily, if we were to lose a key distributor.
We rely on several key distributors in marketing our products. Distributors purchase the products of our competitors along with our products. Our largest distributor, Anixter International Inc.,WESCO, accounted for 13%approximately 16% of our revenue in 20192021 and our top sixseven distributors, including Anixter,WESCO, accounted for a total of 26%31% of our revenuerevenue in 2019. On a combined basis, Anixter and WESCO accounted for approximately 15% of our revenues in 2019.2021. If we were to lose one of these key distributors, our revenue and profits would likely decline, at least temporarily. Changes in the inventory levels of our products owned and held by our distributors can result in significant variability in our revenues. Further, certain distributors are allowed to return certain inventory in exchange for an order of equal or greater value. We have recorded reserves for the estimated impact of these inventory policies.
Consolidation of our distributors like the proposed acquisition of Anixter by Wesco International, Inc., could adversely impact our revenues and earnings. It could also result in consolidation of distributor inventory, which would temporarily depress our revenues. We have also experienced financial failure of distributors from time to time, resulting in our inability to collect accounts receivable in full. A global economic downturn could cause financial difficulties (including bankruptcy) for our distributors and other customers, which would adversely affect our results of operations.
If we are unable to retain senior management and key employees, our business operations could be adversely affected.
Our success has been largely dependent on the skills, experience, and efforts of our senior management and key employees. The loss of any of our senior management or other key employees, for example sales and product development employees, could have an adverse effect on us. We may not be able to find qualified replacements for these individuals and the integration of potential replacements may be disruptive to our business. More broadly, a key determinant of our success is our ability to attract, develop, and retain talented associates. While this is one of our strategic priorities, we may not be able to succeed in this regard.
We might have difficulty protecting our intellectual property from use by competitors, or competitors might accuse us of violating their intellectual property rights.
Disagreements about patents and other intellectual property rights occur in the markets we serve. Third parties have asserted and may in the future assert claims of infringement of intellectual property rights against us or against our customers or channel partners for which we may be liable. Furthermore, a successful claimant could secure a judgment that requires us to pay substantial damages or prevents us from distributing certain products or performing certain services. We may encounter difficulty enforcing our own intellectual property rights against third parties, which could result in price erosion or loss of market share.
We are subject to laws and regulations worldwide, changes to which could increase our costs and individually or in the aggregate adversely affect our business.
We are subject to laws and regulations affecting our domestic and international operations in a number of areas. These U.S. and foreign laws and regulations affect our activities including, but not limited to, in areas of labor, advertising, real estate, billing, e-commerce, promotions, quality of services, property ownership and infringement, tax, import and export requirements, anti-corruption, foreign exchange controls and cash repatriation restrictions, data privacy requirements, anti-competition, environmental, health and safety.
Compliance with these laws, regulations and similar requirements may be onerous and expensive, and they may be inconsistent from jurisdiction to jurisdiction, further increasing the cost of compliance and doing business. Any such costs, which may rise in the future as a result of changes in these laws and regulations or in their interpretation, could individually or in the aggregate make our products and services less attractive to our customers, delay the introduction of new products in one or more regions, or cause us to change or limit our business practices. We have implemented policies and procedures designed to ensure compliance with applicable laws and regulations, but there can be no assurance that our employees, contractors, or agents will not violate such laws and regulations or our policies and procedures.
Specifically with respect to data privacy, new and evolving data protection regulations have been adopted or are being considered or refined for most of the developed world. Most notable are the European Commission’s adoptionmany of the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), which became effective in May 2018 and the California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA), which became law on January 1, 2020. The GDPR and CCPA includethese data privacy regulations contain operational requirements for companies that receive or process personal data of residents of their respective jurisdictions and include significant penalties for non-compliance. In addition, some countries are considering or have passed legislation implementing data protection requirements or requiring local storage and processing of data or similar requirements that could increase the cost and complexity of delivering our services.
If our goodwill or other intangible assets become further impaired, we would be required to recognize charges that would reduce our income.
Under accounting principles generally accepted in the U.S., goodwill and certain other intangible assets are not amortized but must be reviewed for possible impairment annually or more often in certain circumstances if events indicate that the asset values may not be recoverable. We have incurred significant charges in 2021 for the impairment of goodwill and other intangible, assets in the past, and we may be required to do so again in future periods if the underlying value of our business declines.periods. Such a charge would reduce our income without any change to our underlying cash flows.
Some of our employees are members of collective bargaining groups, and we might be subject to labor actions that would interrupt our business.
Some of our employees, primarily outside the U.S., are members of collective bargaining groups. We believe that our relations with employees are generally good. However, if there were a dispute with one of these bargaining groups, the affected operations could be interrupted, resulting in lost revenues, lost profit contribution, and customer dissatisfaction.
Item 1B. Unresolved Staff Comments
None.
Item 2. Properties
Belden owns and leases manufacturing, warehousing, sales, and administrative space in locations around the world. We also have a corporate office that we lease in St. Louis, Missouri. The leases are of varying terms, expiring from 20202022 through 2035.
The table below summarizes the geographic locations of our manufacturing and other operating facilities utilized by our segments as of December 31, 2019.2021.
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Enterprise Solutions | | Industrial Solutions | | Both Segments | | Total |
Belgium | — | | | 1 | | | — | | | 1 | |
Canada | — | | | 1 | | | — | | | 1 | |
China | 2 | | | — | | | 1 | | | 3 | |
Czech Republic | — | | | 1 | | | — | | | 1 | |
Denmark | 2 | | | — | | | — | | | 2 | |
Germany | 1 | | | 1 | | | — | | | 2 | |
Hungary | — | | | — | | | 1 | | | 1 | |
India | 1 | | | — | | | 1 | | | 2 | |
Italy | — | | | — | | | 1 | | | 1 | |
Mexico | — | | | — | | | 3 | | | 3 | |
Netherlands | — | | | — | | | 1 | | | 1 | |
St. Kitts | 1 | | | — | | | — | | | 1 | |
United Kingdom | 1 | | | — | | | — | | | 1 | |
United States | 4 | | | 3 | | | 1 | | | 8 | |
Total | 12 | | | 7 | | | 9 | | | 28 | |
|
| | | | | | | | | | | |
| Enterprise Solutions | | Industrial Solutions | | Both Segments | | Total |
Brazil | — |
| | 1 |
| | — |
| | 1 |
|
Canada | — |
| | 1 |
| | — |
| | 1 |
|
China | 2 |
| | — |
| | 1 |
| | 3 |
|
Czech Republic | — |
| | 1 |
| | — |
| | 1 |
|
Denmark | 1 |
| | — |
| | — |
| | 1 |
|
Germany | 1 |
| | 1 |
| | — |
| | 2 |
|
Hungary | — |
| | — |
| | 1 |
| | 1 |
|
India | 1 |
| | — |
| | 1 |
| | 2 |
|
Italy | — |
| | — |
| | 1 |
| | 1 |
|
Mexico | — |
| | — |
| | 3 |
| | 3 |
|
Netherlands | — |
| | — |
| | 1 |
| | 1 |
|
St. Kitts | 1 |
| | — |
| | — |
| | 1 |
|
United States | 4 |
| | 3 |
| | 1 |
| | 8 |
|
Total | 10 |
| | 7 |
| | 9 |
| | 26 |
|
In addition to the manufacturing and other operating facilities summarized above, our business included in continuing operations also utilize approximately 127 warehouses worldwide. As of December 31, 2019,2021, we owned or leased a total of approximately 6 million square feet of facility space worldwide. We believe that our production facilities are suitable for their present and intended purposes and adequate for our current level of operations.
Item 3. Legal Proceedings
As disclosed on our Current Report on Form 8-KOn November 24, 2020, the Company announced a data incident involving unauthorized access and copying of some current and former employee data, as well as limited company information regarding some business partners. In January 2021, Anand Edke filed a putative class action lawsuit against the Company in the Circuit Court of Cook County, Illinois, Case No. 2021 CH 47. In February 2021, Kia Mackey filed a separate putative class action lawsuit against the Company in the U.S District Court for the Eastern District of Missouri, Case No. 4:21-CV-00149. The Edke case was transferred to the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Missouri and subsequently stayed pursuant to the joint request of the parties due to the similarity to the Mackey case. In the Mackey case, the plaintiff has asked for injunctive relief, unspecified damages, and unspecified legal fees. It is premature to estimate the potential exposure to the Company associated with the SEC on December 3, 2018, we are fully cooperating with an SEC investigation relatedlitigation. The Company intends to vigorously defend the material weakness in internal controls over financial reporting as of December 31, 2017 disclosed in our 2017 Form 10-K. We continue to believe that the outcome of the investigation will not have a material adverse effect on the Company.lawsuit.
We are also a party to various legal proceedings and administrative actions that are incidental to our operations. In our opinion, the proceedings and actions in which we are involved should not, individually or in the aggregate, have a material adverse effect on our financial condition, operating results, or cash flows. However, since the trends and outcome of this litigation are inherently uncertain, we cannot give absolute assurance regarding the future resolution of such litigation, or that such litigation may not become material in the future.
Item 4. Mine Safety Disclosures
Not applicable.
PART II
Item 5. Market for Registrant’s Common Equity, Related Shareholder Matters and Issuer Purchases of Equity Securities
Our common stock is traded on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol “BDC.” As of February 6, 2020,9, 2022, there were 246 record221 record holders of common stock of Belden Inc.
On November 29, 2018, our Board of Directors authorized a share repurchase program, which allowed us to purchase up to $300.0 million of our common stock through open market repurchases, negotiated transactions, or other means, in accordance with applicable securities laws and other restrictions. This program was funded with cash on hand and cash flows from operating activities. During the fourth quarter of 2019, we did not repurchase any shares of our common stock under the program. During the year ended December 31, 2019 and since the inception of this program, we have repurchased a total of 0.9 million shares of our common stock under the program for an aggregate cost of $50.0 million and an average price per share of $56.19.
Stock Performance Graph
The following graph compares the cumulative total shareholder return on Belden’s common stock over the five-year period ended December 31, 2019,2021, with the cumulative total return during such period of the Standard and Poor’s 500 Stock Index and the Standard and Poor’s 1500 Industrials Index. The comparison assumes $100 was invested on December 31, 2014,2016, in Belden’s common stock and in each of the foregoing indices and assumes reinvestment of dividends. The stock performance shown on the graph below represents historical stock performance and is not necessarily indicative of future stock price performance.
| |
(1) | The chart above and the accompanying data are “furnished,” not “filed,” with the SEC. |
(1)The chart above and the accompanying data are “furnished,” not “filed,” with the SEC.
Total Return To Shareholders
(Includes reinvestment of dividends)
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | ANNUAL RETURN PERCENTAGE Years Ended December 31, |
Company Name / Index | | | | 2017 | | 2018 | | 2019 | | 2020 | | 2021 |
Belden Inc. | | | | 3.5 | % | | (45.7) | % | | 32.1 | % | | (23.4) | % | | 57.5 | % |
S&P 500 Index | | | | 21.8 | % | | (4.4) | % | | 31.5 | % | | 18.4 | % | | 28.7 | % |
S&P 1500 Industrials Index | | | | 21.1 | % | | (13.4) | % | | 29.8 | % | | 11.7 | % | | 22.2 | % |
| | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | INDEXED RETURNS |
| | | | Years Ended December 31, |
Company Name / Index | | Base Period 2016 | | 2017 | | 2018 | | 2019 | | 2020 | | 2021 |
Belden Inc. | | $ | 100.00 | | | $ | 103.48 | | | $ | 56.19 | | | $ | 74.26 | | | $ | 56.88 | | | $ | 89.57 | |
S&P 500 Index | | 100.00 | | | 121.83 | | | 116.49 | | | 153.17 | | | 181.35 | | | 233.41 | |
S&P 1500 Industrials Index | | 100.00 | | | 121.06 | | | 104.87 | | | 136.12 | | | 152.03 | | | 185.75 | |
|
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | ANNUAL RETURN PERCENTAGE Years Ended December 31, |
Company Name / Index | | | | 2015 | | 2016 | | 2017 | | 2018 | | 2019 |
Belden Inc. | | | | (39.3 | )% | | 57.3 | % | | 3.5 | % | | (45.7 | )% | | 32.1 | % |
S&P 500 Index | | | | 1.4 | % | | 12.0 | % | | 21.8 | % | | (4.4 | )% | | 31.5 | % |
S&P 1500 Industrials Index | | | | (2.7 | )% | | 20.4 | % | | 21.1 | % | | (13.4 | )% | | 29.8 | % |
| | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | INDEXED RETURNS |
| | | | Years Ended December 31, |
Company Name / Index | | Base Period 2014 | | 2015 | | 2016 | | 2017 | | 2018 | | 2019 |
Belden Inc. | | $ | 100.00 |
| | $ | 60.69 |
| | $ | 95.47 |
| | $ | 98.79 |
| | $ | 53.65 |
| | $ | 70.89 |
|
S&P 500 Index | | 100.00 |
| | 101.38 |
| | 113.51 |
| | 138.29 |
| | 132.23 |
| | 173.86 |
|
S&P 1500 Industrials Index | | 100.00 |
| | 97.29 |
| | 117.14 |
| | 141.81 |
| | 122.84 |
| | 159.45 |
|
Item 6. Selected Financial Data
Not applicable.
|
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | Years Ended December 31, | | |
| 2019 | | 2018 | | 2017 | | 2016 | | 2015 |
| (In thousands, except per share amounts and percentages) |
Balance sheet data: | | | | | | | | | |
Total assets | $ | 3,406,759 |
| | $ | 3,779,321 |
| | $ | 3,840,613 |
| | $ | 3,806,803 |
| | $ | 3,290,602 |
|
Long-term debt | 1,439,484 |
| | 1,463,200 |
| | 1,560,748 |
| | 1,620,161 |
| | 1,725,282 |
|
Total stockholders’ equity | 965,819 |
| | 1,387,588 |
| | 1,434,866 |
| | 1,461,317 |
| | 825,523 |
|
Statement of operations data: | | | | | | | | | |
Revenues | 2,131,278 |
| | 2,165,702 |
| | 2,087,185 |
| | 1,988,664 |
| | 1,940,904 |
|
Operating income | 207,207 |
| | 314,008 |
| | 233,641 |
| | 201,537 |
| | 170,435 |
|
Operating income margin | 9.7 | % | | 14.5 | % | | 11.2 | % | | 10.1 | % | | 8.8 | % |
Income from continuing operations | 109,891 |
| | 167,144 |
| | 102,607 |
| | 106,192 |
| | 105,845 |
|
Basic income per share from continuing operations attributable to Belden common stockholders | 2.16 |
| | 3.25 |
| | 1.61 |
| | 2.52 |
| | 2.50 |
|
Diluted income per share from continuing operations attributable to Belden common stockholders | 2.15 |
| | 3.23 |
| | 1.60 |
| | 2.49 |
| | 2.46 |
|
Other data: | | | | | | | | | |
Basic weighted average common shares outstanding | 42,203 |
| | 40,675 |
| | 42,220 |
| | 42,093 |
| | 42,390 |
|
Diluted weighted average common shares outstanding | 42,416 |
| | 40,956 |
| | 42,643 |
| | 42,557 |
| | 42,953 |
|
Dividends per common share | $ | 0.20 |
| | $ | 0.20 |
| | $ | 0.20 |
| | $ | 0.20 |
| | $ | 0.20 |
|
Statement of cash flow data: | | | | | | | | | |
Net cash provided by operating activities | 276,893 |
| | 289,220 |
| | 255,300 |
| | 314,794 |
| | 241,460 |
|
|
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Years ended December 31, |
| 2019 | | 2018 | | 2017 | | 2016 | | 2015 |
| | | (In thousands) | | |
Net cash provided by operating activities | $ | 276,893 |
| | $ | 289,220 |
| | $ | 255,300 |
| | $ | 314,794 |
| | $ | 241,460 |
|
Capital expenditures, net of proceeds from the disposal of tangible assets | (109,977 | ) | | (96,267 | ) | | (63,222 | ) | | (53,582 | ) | | (54,436 | ) |
Free cash flow (1) | $ | 166,916 |
| | $ | 192,953 |
| | $ | 192,078 |
| | $ | 261,212 |
| | $ | 187,024 |
|
| |
(1) | We define free cash flow, which is a non-GAAP financial measure, as net cash from operating activities adjusted for capital expenditures net of the proceeds from the disposal of tangible assets. We believe free cash flow provides useful information to investors regarding our ability to generate cash from business operations that is available for acquisitions and other investments, service of debt principal, dividends and share repurchases. We use free cash flow, as defined, as one financial measure to monitor and evaluate performance and liquidity. Non-GAAP financial measures should be considered only in conjunction with financial measures reported according to accounting principles generally accepted in the United States. Our definition of free cash flow may differ from definitions used by other companies. |
Item 7. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations
Overview
We are a global supplier of specialty networking solutions built around two global business platformsbusinesses – Enterprise Solutions and Industrial Solutions. Our comprehensive portfolio of signal transmission solutions provides industry leading secure and reliable transmission of data, sound, and video for mission critical applications.
We strive to create shareholder value by:
•Delivering highly engineered signal transmission solutions for mission-critical applications in a diverse set of global markets;
•Maintaining a balanced product portfolio across end markets, applications, and geographies that allows for a disciplined approach to growth;
•Capturing additional market share by using our Market Delivery System to improve channel and end-user relationships and to concentrate sales efforts on customers in higher growth geographies and vertical end-markets;
•Managing our product portfolio to provide innovative and complete end-to-end solutions for our customers in applications for which we have operational expertise and can drive customer loyalty;
•Acquiring leading companies with innovative product portfolios and opportunities for synergies which fit within our strategic framework;
•Continuously improving our processes and systems through scalable, flexible, and sustainable business systems for talent management, Lean enterprise, and acquisition cultivation and integration; and
•Protecting and enhancing the value of the Belden brands.
We believe our business system, balance across markets and geographies, systematic go-to-market approach, extensive portfolio of innovative solutions, commitment to Lean principles, and improving margin profile present a unique value proposition for our shareholders.
We consider adjusted revenue growth on a constant currency basis, adjusted EBITDA margin, free cash flow, and return on invested capital to be our key operating performance indicators. Our current business goals are to:
•Grow adjusted revenues on a constant currency basis by 5-7% per year, from a combination of end market growth, market share capture, and contributions from acquisitions;
•Achieve adjusted EBITDA margins in the range of 20-22%;
•Achieve free cash flow growth in the range of 13-15%; and
•Realize return on invested capital of 13-15%.
Significant Trends and Events in 20192021
The following trends and events during 20192021 had varying effects on our financial condition, results of operations, and cash flows.
Pandemic
On March 11, 2020, the World Health Organization (WHO) declared the outbreak of the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) a pandemic. Since the beginning of the pandemic, our foremost focus has been on the health and safety of our employees and customers. In response to the outbreak, to protect the health and safety of our employees, we modified practices at our manufacturing locations and offices to adhere to guidance from the WHO, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and other local health and governmental authorities with respect to social distancing, physical separation, personal protective equipment and sanitization. In light of variant mutations of the virus, even as vaccinations become more prevalent and more employees return to our offices, many of these safeguards will continue.
Our suppliers, distributors, and other partners have similarly had their operations disrupted, and in regions of the world where infection rates have remained high, human suffering and market disruptions have persisted. We will continue to actively monitor the situation and may take further actions that alter our business operations as may be required by local or foreign governmental authorities, or that we determine are in the best interests of our employees and customers.
Foreign currency
Our exposure to currency rate fluctuations primarily relates to exchange rate movements between the U.S. dollar and the euro, Canadian dollar, Hong Kong dollar, Chinese yuan, Japanese yen, Mexican peso, Australian dollar, British pound, and Indian rupee, and Brazilian real.rupee. Generally, as the U.S. dollar strengthens against these foreign currencies, our revenues and earnings are negatively impacted as our foreign denominated revenues and earnings are translated into U.S. dollars at a lower rate. Conversely, as the U.S. dollar weakens against foreign currencies, our revenues and earnings are positively impacted. Because all of our senior subordinated notes are denominated in euros, interest expense on the notes is affected by exchange rate movements between the U.S. dollar and the euro.
In addition to the translation impact described above, currency rate fluctuations have an economic impact on our financial results. As the U.S. dollar strengthens or weakens against foreign currencies, it results in a relative price increase or decrease for certain of our products that are priced in U.S. dollars in a foreign location.
Commodity Prices
Our operating results can be affected by changes in prices of commodities, primarily copper and compounds, which are components in some of the products we sell. Generally, as the costs of inventory purchases increase due to higher commodity prices, we raise selling prices to customers to cover the increase in costs, resulting in higher sales revenue but a lower gross profit percentage. Conversely, a decrease in commodity prices would result in lower sales revenue but a higher gross profit percentage. Selling prices of our products are affected by many factors, including end market demand, capacity utilization, overall economic conditions, and commodity prices. Importantly, however, there is no exact measure of the effect of changing commodity prices, as there are thousands of transactions in any given quarter, each of which has various factors involved in the individual pricing decisions. Therefore, all references to the effect of copper prices or other commodity prices are estimates.
Channel Inventory
Our operating results also can be affected by the levels of Belden products purchased and held as inventory by our channel partners and customers. Our channel partners and customers purchase and hold our products in their inventory in order to meet the service and on-time delivery requirements of their customers. Generally, as our channel partners and customers change the level of Belden products owned and held in their inventory, it impacts our revenues. Comparisons of our results between periods can be impacted by changes in the levels of channel inventory. We are dependent upon our channel partners to provide us with information regarding the amount of our products that they own and hold in their inventory. As such, all references to the effect of channel inventory changes are estimates.
Market Growth and Market Share
The markets in which we operate can generally be characterized as highly competitive and highly fragmented, with many players. Based on available data for our served markets, we estimate that our market share across our segments is significant, ranging from approximately 5% - 20%. A substantial acquisition in one of our served markets would be necessary to meaningfully change our estimated market share percentage. We monitor available data regarding market growth, including independent market research reports, publicly available indices, and the financial results of our direct and indirect peer companies, in order to estimate the extent to which our served markets grew or contracted during a particular period. We generally expect that our unit sales volume will increase or decrease consistently with the market growth rate. Our strategic goal is to utilize our Market Delivery System to target faster growing geographies, applications, and trends within our end markets, in order to achieve growth that is higher than the general market growth rate. To the extent that we exceed the market growth rates, we consider it to be the result of capturing market share.
Discontinued Operations Treatment
Amended Revolving Credit Agreement
During the second quarter of 2021, we entered into an amended and restated Revolving Credit Agreement that provides a $300.0 million multi-currency asset-based revolving credit facility (the Revolver). The maturity date of the Revolver is June 2, 2026. The borrowing base under the Revolver includes eligible accounts receivable; inventory; and property, plant and equipment of certain of our subsidiaries in the United States, Canada, Germany, the United Kingdom and the Netherlands. Interest on outstanding borrowings is variable, based upon LIBOR or other similar indices in foreign jurisdictions, plus a spread that ranges from 1.25% - 1.75%, depending upon our leverage position. We paid approximately $2.3 million of fees associated with the amended Revolver, which are being amortized over its term using the effective interest method. As of December 31, 2021, we had no borrowings outstanding on the Revolver, and our available borrowing capacity was $$274.2 million. See Note 16.
Debt Refinancing
During the third quarter of 2021, we completed an offering for €300.0 million aggregate principal amount of 3.375% senior subordinated notes due 2031. With the proceeds from this offering and cash on hand, we repurchased all of the €300.0 million aggregate principal amount of 2.875% senior subordinated notes previously due 2025. We recognized a $5.7 million loss on debt extinguishment for the premiums paid to the bond holders to retire the 2025 Notes and for the unamortized debt issuance costs on the 2025 Notes that we were required to write-off. See Note 16.
OTN Systems Acquisition
We acquired 100% of the shares of OTN Systems on January 29, 2021 for a purchase price, net of cash acquired, of $73.3 million. OTN Systems, based in Olen, Belgium, is a leading provider of easy to use and highly-reliable network solutions tailored for specific applications in harsh, mission-critical environments. The acquisition of OTN Systems supports one of our key strategic priorities related to the growing demand for industrial automation by adding proprietary technology and mission-critical hardware and software products for more complete end-to-end solutions. The results of OTN Systems have been included in our Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements from January 29, 2021, and are reported within the Industrial Solutions segment. See Note 4.
Opterna Earn-Out
Our acquisition of Opterna in 2019 included potential earn-out consideration, which as of the acquisition date, had an estimated fair value of $5.8 million. As the financial targets tied to the earn-out were not achieved within the contractual timeframe, we reduced the earn-out liability to zero and recognized a $5.8 million benefit in Selling, General and Administrative Expenses during 2021. This benefit was excluded from Segment EBITDA of our Enterprise Solutions segment. See Note 4.
Sale of Note Receivable
During 2021, we sold the seller's note associated with the 2020 Grass Valley Disposal Groupdisposal for $62.0 million and recognized a gain on sale of approximately $27.0 million. See Note 5.
Sale-Leaseback
During the fourth quarter of 2019,2021, we sold certain real estate in Germany as part of a sale and leaseback transaction for €24.5 million (approximately $27.8 million) and recognized a $0.6 million loss on the sale. The lease is for a term of 10 years and as of December 31, 2021, had a total right-of-use asset balance of $25.3 million. When the assets met the held for sale criteria during the third quarter of 2021, we performed a recoverability test and determined that the carrying values of the assets were not recoverable and as a result, recognized a $2.3 million impairment charge to write them down to fair value. The impairment charge was excluded from Segment EBITDA of our Industrial Solutions segment. See Note 11.
Definitive Agreement to Divest Tripwire
On February 7, 2022, we signed a definitive agreement to divest Tripwire for $350 million in cash. The transaction is expected to close in the first quarter of 2022. During the fourth quarter of 2021, we recognized a goodwill impairment charge for the Tripwire reporting unit of $131.2 million, representing the reporting unit's excess carrying value over its present value of estimated future cash flows, which was based in part on the assumed proceeds from the divestiture.
Divestiture of Oil and Gas Cable Business in Brazil
During the second quarter of 2021, we completed the sale of our oil and gas cable business in Brazil for $10.9 million, net of cash delivered with the business. During the first quarter of 2021, we committed to a plan to sell Grass Valley,the business and at such time,determined that we met all of the criteria to classify the assets and liabilities of this business as held for sale. Furthermore, we determined a divestiture of Grass Valley represents a strategic shift that is expected to have a major impact on our operations and financial results. As a result, the Grass Valley disposal group, which was included in our Enterprise Solutions segment, is now reported within discontinued operations. AsAt such comparable prior period information has been recast to exclude the Grass Valley disposal group from continuing operations, with the exception of the Consolidated Cash Flow Statements. The Grass Valley disposal group excludes certain Grass Valley pension plans that we will retain. In 2019, we wrote downtime, the carrying value of Grass Valley andthe disposal group exceeded the fair value less costs to sell, which we determined based upon the expected sale price, by $3.4 million. Therefore, we recognized asset impairments totaling $521.4 million.an impairment charge equal to this amount in the first quarter of 2021. The impairment charge was excluded from Segment EBITDA of our Industrial Solutions segment. See Note 5.
AcquisitionsLong-Lived Asset Impairment
We completed the acquisitions of SPC, Opterna,During 2021, we performed a recoverability test on certain held and FutureLink on December 6, 2019, April 15, 2019, and April 5, 2019, respectively. The results of SPC, Opterna, and FutureLink have been includedused long-lived assets in our Consolidated Financial Statements asIndustrial Solutions segment. We determined that the carrying values of their acquisition datesthe assets were not recoverable and are reported within the Enterpriserecognized a $3.6 million impairment charge to write them down to fair value. This impairment charge was excluded from Segment EBITDA of our Industrial Solutions segment. See Note 4.
11.
Cost Reduction Program: 2019Program
During the fourth quarter of 2019, we beganWe have executed a cost reduction program to improve performance and enhance margins by streamliningstreamline the organizational structure and investinginvest in technology to drive productivity. We recognized approximately $19.6$5.8 million of severance and other restructuring costs for this program during 2019. The2021. These costs were incurred by both of our segments, as well as our corporate office.the Enterprise Solutions and Industrial Solutions segments. The cost reduction program is expected to deliver an estimated $40.0 millionsubstantially complete and has delivered a reduction in selling, general, and administrative expenses of approximately $60 million on an annual basis, with some benefit in 2020, and the full benefit realized in 2021.basis. We expect to incurrecognize costs of approximately $10.0$3 million for this program in 2020.2022. See Note 14.15.
Acquisition Integration Program
Opterna, FutureLink, and SPC Integration Program: 2019
In 2019, we began a restructuring program to integrate theWe are integrating our recent acquisitions ofsuch as OTN Systems, SPC, and Opterna FutureLink, and SPC with our existing businesses. The restructuring and integration activities wereare focused on achieving desired cost savings by consolidating existing and acquired facilities and other support functions. We recognized $6.1$12.6 million of severance and other restructuring costs for this program during 2019. The2021. These costs were incurred by both the Enterprise Solutions segment.and Industrial Solutions segments. We do not expect to incur an additional $5.0 millionsignificant incremental costs for this program in 2020.2022. See Note 14.15.
Preferred Stock Conversion
On July 15, 2019, all outstanding Preferred Stock was automatically converted into shares
Results of Operations
Consolidated Income from Continuing Operations before Taxes
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Years Ended December 31, | Percentage Change |
| 2021 | | 2020 | | 2019 | | 2021 vs. 2020 | | 2020 vs. 2019 |
| | | (In thousands, except percentages) |
Revenues | $ | 2,408,100 | | | $ | 1,862,716 | | | $ | 2,131,278 | | | 29.3 | % | | (12.6) | % |
Gross profit | 854,362 | | | 663,289 | | | 793,505 | | | 28.8 | % | | (16.4) | % |
Selling, general and administrative expenses | 426,335 | | | 366,188 | | | 417,329 | | | 16.4 | % | | (12.3) | % |
Research and development expenses | 124,660 | | | 107,296 | | | 94,360 | | | 16.2 | % | | 13.7 | % |
Amortization of intangibles | 38,346 | | | 64,395 | | | 74,609 | | | (40.5) | % | | (13.7) | % |
Goodwill and other asset impairment | 140,461 | | | — | | | — | | | n/a | | n/a |
Operating income | 124,560 | | | 125,410 | | | 207,207 | | | (0.7) | % | | (39.5) | % |
Interest expense, net | 62,695 | | | 58,888 | | | 55,814 | | | 6.5 | % | | 5.5 | % |
Non-operating pension benefit (cost) | 4,476 | | | (395) | | | 1,017 | | | 1,233.2 | % | | (138.8) | % |
Gain on sale of note receivable | 27,036 | | | — | | | — | | | n/a | | n/a |
Loss on debt extinguishment | 5,715 | | | — | | | — | | | n/a | | n/a |
Income from continuing operations before taxes | 87,662 | | | 66,127 | | | 152,410 | | | 32.6 | % | | (56.6) | % |
|
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Years Ended December 31, | | Percentage Change |
| 2019 | | 2018 | | 2017 | | 2019 vs. 2018 | | 2018 vs. 2017 |
| (In thousands, except percentages) |
Revenues | $ | 2,131,278 |
| | $ | 2,165,702 |
| | $ | 2,087,185 |
| | (1.6 | )% | | 3.8 | % |
Gross profit | 793,505 |
| | 829,911 |
| | 802,320 |
| | (4.4 | )% | | 3.4 | % |
Selling, general and administrative expenses | 417,329 |
| | 411,352 |
| | 389,743 |
| | 1.5 | % | | 5.5 | % |
Research and development expenses | 94,360 |
| | 91,552 |
| | 88,748 |
| | 3.1 | % | | 3.2 | % |
Amortization of intangibles | 74,609 |
| | 75,140 |
| | 90,188 |
| | (0.7 | )% | | (16.7 | )% |
Gain from patent litigation | — |
| | 62,141 |
| | — |
| | (100.0 | )% | | n/a |
|
Operating income | 207,207 |
| | 314,008 |
| | 233,641 |
| | (34.0 | )% | | 34.4 | % |
Interest expense, net | 55,814 |
| | 60,839 |
| | 82,651 |
| | (8.3 | )% | | (26.4 | )% |
Non-operating pension benefit (cost) | 1,017 |
| | (99 | ) | | (561 | ) | | (1,127.3 | )% | | (82.4 | )% |
Loss on debt extinguishment | — |
| | 22,990 |
| | 52,441 |
| | (100.0 | )% | | (56.2 | )% |
Income from continuing operations before taxes | 152,410 |
| | 230,080 |
| | 97,988 |
| | (33.8 | )% | | 134.8 | % |
20192021 Compared to 20182020
Revenues decreased $34.4increased $545.4 million from 20182020 to 20192021 due to the following factors:
Acquisitions contributed $32.4•Higher sales volume from industrial automation, smart buildings, and broadband & 5G products resulted in a $373.1 million to the increase in revenues.
•Copper prices had a $117.2 million favorable impact on revenues.
•Currency translation had a $28.0$26.7 million favorable impact on revenues.
•Acquisitions contributed an estimated $37.7 million in revenues.
•Divestitures had a $9.3 million unfavorable impact on revenues.
Lower sales volume, including the impact of changes in channel inventory and weaker industrial markets, resulted in a $21.6 million decrease in revenues.
Lower copper costs resulted in a $17.2 million decrease in revenues.
Gross profit decreased $36.4increased $191.1 million from 20182020 to 2019. The decrease in gross profit is primarily attributable2021 due to the decreaseincreases in revenues discussed above as well as unfavorable product mix andwhile gross profit margins remained relatively flat. Excluding the impact of lower production volumes. Grosshigher copper pass through pricing and changes in foreign currency rates, gross profit for 2019 included $3.4 million of severance, restructuring, and acquisition integration costs; $0.6 million of cost of sales arising from the adjustment of inventory to fair value related to acquisitions; and $0.5 million for the amortization of software development intangible assets. Gross profit for 2018 included $18.0 million of severance, restructuring, and acquisition integration costs and $0.1 million for the amortization of software development intangible assets.margins increased more than 200 basis points.
Selling, general and administrative expenses increased $6.0$60.1 million from 20182020 to 2019 primarily due2021. Strategic investments to an $18.5enhance our solution selling capabilities, including customer innovation centers; higher incentive compensation; acquisitions; and increases in restructuring and integration costs contributed $27.1 million, $22.5 million, $10.8 million, and $1.0 million to the increase in severance, restructuring,selling, general and acquisition integration costs and acquisitions and a $5.4 million increase from acquisitions.administrative expenses, respectively. These increases were partially offset by the impact of productivity improvement initiatives, currency translation, decrease in costs related to patent litigation, and purchase accounting effects of acquisitions,divestitures which attributed tocontributed a $1.3 million decline in selling, general and administrative expenses of $9.5 million, $4.1 million, $2.6 million, and $1.7 million, respectively.year over year.
Research and development expenses increased $2.8$17.4 million from 20182020 to 20192021 primarily due to increased investments in research and developmentR&D projects as well as acquisitions, which contributed $3.9 million and $0.3 million, respectively. These increases were partially offset by currency translation of $1.4 million.we continue our commitment to growth initiatives.
Amortization of intangibles decreased $0.5$26.0 million from 20182020 to 20192021 primarily due to certaina significant technology intangible assetsasset becoming fully amortized,amortized.
Asset impairments increased $140.5 million from 2020 to 2021 as a result of the Tripwire carrying value exceeding its fair value by $131.2 million in our annual impairment test, impairment charges of $3.6 million to write down certain held and used long-lived assets in our Industrial Solutions segment to fair value, impairment charges of $3.4 million for our former oil and gas business in Brazil sold during 2021, and impairment charges of $2.3 million to write down certain real estate in Neckartenzlingen, Germany sold as part of a sale and leaseback transaction during 2021 to its fair value. See Notes 13, 11 and 5, respectively.
Operating income remained relatively flat year over year primarily as a result of the increase in gross profit and decrease in amortization expense, partially offset by the amortization expense for intangible assets from the acquisitions of SPCincrease in selling, general and Opterna. See Note 4.
The $62.1 million gain from patent litigation in 2018 is for judgments received in 2018 from the patent infringement case filed in 2011 by our wholly-owned subsidiary, PPC, against Corning alleging they willfully infringed upon two patents. After years of post-trial motionsadministrative expenses; research and appeals, the District Court ruled in favor of PPCdevelopment expenses; and required Corning to pay judgments of $62.1 million in 2018 to PPC. See Note 2.
Operating income decreased $106.8 million from 2018 to 2019 primarily due to the gain from the patent litigation in 2018, decrease in gross profit discussed above, and changes in operating expensesasset impairments discussed above.
Net interest expense decreased $5.0increased $3.8 million from 20182020 to 20192021 primarily due to currency translation. See Note 16.
Gain on sale of note receivable increased $27.0 million from 2020 to 2021 as a result of our the sale of the Seller’s Note in 2021 related to the 2020 divestiture of Grass Valley.
Loss on debt extinguishment increased $5.7 million from 2020 to 2021 due to the debt refinancing that took place during 2018. In March 2018, we issued €350.02021. The $5.7 million aggregate principal amount of new senior subordinated notes due 2028 at an interest rate of 3.875%, and used the net proceeds of this offering and cash on hand to repurchase all of our outstanding €200.0 million 5.5% senior subordinated notes due 2023 as well as all of our outstanding $200.0 million 5.25% senior subordinated notes due 2024.
The loss on debt extinguishment recognized in 2018 represents the premium paid to the bond holders to retire the 20232025 Notes and 2024 notes as well as for the unamortized debt issuance costs on the 2025 Notes that we were written-off. The loss on debt extinguishment recognized in 2017 represents the premium paidrequired to write-off. See Note 16.
Income from continuing operations before taxes increased $116.0 million from 2020 to 2021 primarily due to the bond holdersincrease in operating income discussed above.
2020 Compared to retire2019
Revenues decreased $268.6 million from 2019 to 2020 due to the 2022following factors:
•Lower sales volume, including the impact of COVID-19 and changes in channel inventory, contributed $302.7 million to the decrease in revenues.
•Currency translation had a portion of$1.9 million unfavorable impact on revenues.
•Acquisitions increased revenues by $34.3 million.
•Copper prices had a $1.7 million favorable impact on revenues.
Gross profit decreased $130.2 million from 2019 to 2020 due to the 2023 notesdecreases in revenues discussed above as well as unfavorable mix; partially offset by the unamortized debt issuance costs thatimpact of acquisitions.
Selling, general and administrative expenses decreased $51.1 million from 2019 to 2020. Benefits realized from our Cost Reduction Program coupled with productivity improvement initiatives contributed an estimated $43.1 million decline in selling, general and administrative expenses. A decrease in severance, restructuring and acquisition integration costs; decreases in commission costs; and currency translation contributed an estimated $11.6 million; $3.5 million; and $0.5 million decline in selling, general and administrative expenses, respectively. These decreases were written-offpartially offset by a $7.6 million increase from acquisitions.
Research and development expenses increased $12.9 million from 2019 to 2020 primarily due to increased investments in R&D projects as we continue our commitment to growth initiatives.
Amortization of intangibles decreased $10.2 million from 2019 to 2020 primarily due to certain intangible assets becoming fully amortized.
Operating income decreased $81.8 million from 2019 to 2020 primarily as a result of the unamortized debt issuance costs relateddecline in gross profit discussed above.
Net interest expense increased $3.1 million from 2019 to creditors no longer participating in2020. The increase is primarily the Amended and Restated Credit Agreement (the Revolver),result of interest accrued on the Revolver borrowings during 2020 coupled with currency translation. During 2020, we borrowed $190.0 million on our Revolver, which we amended in May 2017.fully repaid by December 31, 2020. See Note 15.16.
Income from continuing operations before taxes decreased $77.7$86.3 million from 20182019 to 20192020 primarily due to the decreasedecline in operating income partially offset by the decrease in interest expense and loss on debt extinguishment discussed above.
2018 Compared to 2017
Revenues increased $78.5
Income Taxes
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | Percentage Change |
| 2021 | | 2020 | | 2019 | | 2021 vs. 2020 | | 2020 vs. 2019 |
| (In thousands, except percentages) |
Income from continuing operations before taxes | $ | 87,662 | | | $ | 66,127 | | | $ | 152,410 | | | 32.6 | % | | (56.6) | % |
Income tax expense | (25,205) | | | (11,724) | | | (42,519) | | | 115.0 | % | | (72.4) | % |
Effective tax rate | 28.8 | % | | 17.7 | % | | 27.9 | % | | | | |
2021
We recognized income tax expense of $25.2 million from 2017 to 2018in 2021, representing an effective tax rate of 28.8%. The effective tax rate was primarily impacted by a change in the deferred tax asset valuation allowance due to the following factors:release of a valuation allowance against the foreign tax credits in the U.S. and a pension deferred tax asset in a foreign jurisdiction. In addition, we recognized a total income tax expense from domestic permanent differences and tax credits of $39.8 million in 2021 primarily associated with a goodwill impairment in the U.S. and our foreign income inclusions. See Note 18.
Higher sales volume, including changes
2020
We recognized income tax expense of $11.7 million in channel inventory,2020, representing an effective tax rate of 17.7%. The effective tax rate was impacted by foreign tax rate differences, which resulted in a $53.8an income tax benefit of $25.3 million increase in revenues.
Acquisitions contributed $29.72020. Additionally, in 2020, our income tax expense was reduced by $4.0 million to the increase in revenues.
Currency translation had a $12.0 million favorable impact on revenues.
Higher copper costs contributed $10.7 million to the increase in revenues.
The divestiture of our MCS business resulted in a $27.7 million decrease in revenues.
Gross profit increased $27.6 million from 2017 to 2018 while gross profit margin remained relatively flat year-over-year. The increase in gross profit is primarily attributable to the increase in revenues discussed above, and the impact on margins is due to copper prices, which resulta tax holiday for our operations in higher revenues as discussed above, but as they have minimal impactSt. Kitts. The tax holiday in St. Kitts is scheduled to gross profit dollars, resultexpire in lower gross profit margins. Gross profit for 2018 included $18.0 million2023. Partially offsetting these benefits, we recognized income tax expense of severance, restructuring, and acquisition integration costs and $0.1 million for the amortization of software development intangible assets. Gross profit for 2017 included $32.5 million of severance, restructuring, and acquisition integration costs; $6.1 million of cost of sales arising from the adjustment of inventory to fair value related to an acquisition; and $0.8 million of accelerated depreciation in our Enterprise Solutions segment.
Selling, general and administrative expenses increased $21.6 million from 2017 to 2018 primarily due to increases in manufacturing constraints, acquisitions, an increase in costs related to patent litigation, and currency translation of $14.5 million, $5.7 million, $2.6 million, and $2.5 million, respectively; partially offset by the MCS divestiture in 2017, which contributed to a decline of approximately $3.7 million over the year ago period.
Research and development expenses increased $2.8 million from 2017 to 2018 primarily due to investments in research and development, acquisitions, and currency translation of $2.8 million, $0.9 million, and $0.8 million, respectively. These increases were partially offset by the MCS divestiture in 2017, which contributed to a $1.7 million decline in research and development expenses over the year ago period.
Amortization of intangibles decreased $15.0 million from 2017 to 2018 primarily due to certain intangible assets becoming fully amortized, partially offset by an increase in amortization expense for intangible assets from the acquisition of NT2. See Note 12.
The $62.1 million gain from patent litigation in 2018 is for judgments received in 2018 from the patent infringement case filed in 2011 by our wholly-owned subsidiary, PPC, against Corning alleging they willfully infringed upon two patents. After years of post-trial motions and appeals, the District Court ruled in favor of PPC and required Corning to pay judgments of $62.1$22.4 million in 2018 to PPC. See Note 2.2020 from domestic permanent differences and tax credits primarily associated with our foreign income inclusions.
Operating income increased $80.4 million from 2017 to 2018 primarily due to the gain from patent litigation and increases in gross profit discussed above, partially offset by the changes in operating expenses discussed above.
Net interest expense decreased $21.8 million from 2017 to 2018 as a result of our debt transactions during 2017 and 2018. In July 2017, we issued €450.0 million aggregate principal amount of new senior subordinated notes due 2027 at an interest rate of 3.375%, and used the net proceeds of this offering and cash on hand to repurchase all of our outstanding $700.0 million 5.5% senior
subordinated notes due 2022. In September 2017, we issued €300.0 million aggregate principal amount of new senior subordinated notes due 2025 at an interest rate of 2.875%, and used the net proceeds of this offering to repurchase €300.0 million of our outstanding €500.0 million 5.5% senior subordinated notes due 2023. In March 2018, we issued €350.0 million aggregate principal amount of new senior subordinated notes due 2028 at an interest rate of 3.875%, and used the net proceeds of this offering and cash on hand to repurchase all of our outstanding €200.0 million 5.5% senior subordinated notes due 2023 as well as all of our outstanding $200.0 million 5.25% senior subordinated notes due 2024. See Note 15.
The loss on debt extinguishment recognized in 2018 represents the premium paid to the bond holders to retire the 2023 and 2024 notes as well as the unamortized debt issuance costs that were written-off. The loss on debt extinguishment recognized in 2017 represents the premium paid to the bond holders to retire the 2022 and a portion of the 2023 notes as well as the unamortized debt issuance costs that were written-off and the unamortized debt issuance costs related to creditors no longer participating in the Amended and Restated Credit Agreement (the Revolver), which we amended in May 2017. See Note 15.
Income from continuing operations before taxes increased by $132.1 million from 2017 to 2018 primarily due to the increase in operating income, decrease in interest expense, and decrease in the loss on debt extinguishment discussed above.
Income Taxes
|
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | Percentage Change |
| 2019 | | 2018 | | 2017 | | 2019 vs. 2018 | | 2018 vs. 2017 |
| (In thousands, except percentages) |
Income from continuing operations before taxes | $ | 152,410 |
| | $ | 230,080 |
| | $ | 97,988 |
| | (33.8 | )% | | 134.8 | % |
Income tax benefit (expense) | (42,519 | ) | | (62,936 | ) | | 4,619 |
| | (32.4 | )% | | (1,462.5 | )% |
Effective tax rate | 27.9 | % | | 27.4 | % | | (4.7 | )% | | | | |
2019 Compared to 2018
We recognized income tax expense of $42.5 million in 2019, representing an effective tax rate of 27.9%. The effective tax rate was primarily impacted by a change in valuation allowance on certain deferred tax assets and foreign tax rate differences.
During the fourth quarter of 2019, the United States Treasury issued final and proposed regulations with respect to certain aspects related to the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017 (the “Act”). Additional guidance provided in these regulations resulted in a tax adjustment in the fourth quarter of 2019.
Our income tax expense was also impacted by foreign tax rate differences. Foreign tax rate differences, which reduced our income tax expense by approximately $13.1 million and $2.4 million in 2019 and 2018, respectively.
Our income tax expense and effective tax rate in future periods may be impacted by many factors, including our geographic mix of income and changes in tax laws.2019.
As of December 31, 2019, we maintained a valuation allowance on our deferred tax assets of $50.4 million. Of this amount, approximately $43.0 million relates to deferred tax assets for certain U.S foreign tax credits and U.S. state net operating losses and tax credits. The $33.9 million valuation allowance on the foreign tax credits is a direct result of the regulations issued by the United States Treasury in the fourth quarter of 2019, the Act and the impact of classifying a business as discontinued operations. The remaining $9.1 million valuation allowance primarily relates to state net operating losses and tax credits. While we have positive evidence in the form of projected sources of income, we determined that these state carryforward assets were not realizable as of December 31, 2019 due to a history of net operating losses and tax credits expiring without being utilized in certain states and because the current forecast of income is not sufficient to utilize all of these state net operating losses and tax credits prior to expiration.
2018 Compared to 2017
We recognized income tax expense of $62.9 million in 2018, representing an effective tax rate of 27.4%. The effective tax rate was impacted by the Act and foreign tax rate differences.
On December 22, 2017, the Act was signed into law, making significant changes to the U.S. Internal Revenue Code. In accordance with the Act, we recorded $24.5 million as additional income tax expense in the fourth quarter of 2017, the period in which the legislation was enacted. The total income tax expense included a $41.6 million tax benefit for the remeasurement of deferred tax
assets and liabilities to the 21% rate at which they are expected to reverse, offset with a one-time tax expense on deemed repatriation of $30.8 million and a valuation allowance of $35.3 million recorded against foreign tax credit carryovers that we no longer expect to be able to realize based upon the new tax law. Additionally, Staff Accounting Bulletin No. 118 (“SAB 118”) was issued to address the application of U.S. GAAP in situations when a registrant does not have the necessary information available, prepared, or analyzed (including computations) in reasonable detail to complete the accounting for certain income tax effects of the Act. December 22, 2018 marked the end of the measurement period for purposes of SAB 118. As such, we have completed our analysis based on legislative updates relating to the Act currently available, which resulted in additional SAB 118 tax expense of $10.0 million for the year ended December 31, 2018. The total tax expense included an $8.0 million tax expense associated with an increase to the valuation allowance against foreign tax credit carryovers that we no longer expect to be able to realize based upon the new tax law, a $1.3 million tax expense adjustment to the transition tax on the deemed repatriation of cumulative foreign earnings, a $1.1 million tax expense resulting from a valuation allowance established on the deferred tax assets associated with stock options of covered employees, and a $0.4 million income tax benefit associated with an adjustment to the remeasurement of certain deferred tax assets and liabilities.
Our income tax expense was also impacted by foreign tax rate differences. Foreign tax rate differences impacted our income tax expense by approximately $(2.4) million and $14.7 million in 2018 and 2017, respectively.
Our income tax expense and effective tax rate in future periods may be impacted by many factors, including our geographic mix of income and changes in tax laws.
As
Consolidated Adjusted EBITDA
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Years Ended December 31, |
| 2021 | | 2020 | | 2019 |
| (In thousands, except percentages) |
GAAP and adjusted revenues | $ | 2,408,100 | | | $ | 1,862,716 | | | $ | 2,131,278 | |
| | | | | |
GAAP income from continuing operations | $ | 62,457 | | | $ | 54,403 | | | $ | 109,891 | |
Income tax expense | 25,205 | | | 11,724 | | | 42,519 | |
Loss on debt extinguishment | 5,715 | | | — | | | — | |
Gain on note receivable | (27,036) | | | — | | | — | |
Non-operating pension settlement loss | — | | | 3,153 | | | — | |
Interest expense, net | 62,695 | | | 58,888 | | | 55,814 | |
Goodwill and other asset impairment | 140,461 | | | — | | | — | |
Amortization of intangible assets | 38,346 | | | 64,395 | | | 74,609 | |
Amortization of software development intangible assets | 2,900 | | | 1,821 | | | 525 | |
Depreciation expense | 45,940 | | | 42,470 | | | 40,409 | |
Severance, restructuring, and acquisition integration costs (1) | 23,892 | | | 12,258 | | | 26,544 | |
Adjustments related to acquisitions and divestitures (2) | (5,036) | | | 125 | | | 592 | |
Adjusted EBITDA | $ | 375,539 | | | $ | 249,237 | | | $ | 350,903 | |
| | | | | |
GAAP income from continuing operations margin | 2.6 | % | | 2.9 | % | | 5.2 | % |
Adjusted EBITDA margin | 15.6 | % | | 13.4 | % | | 16.5 | % |
|
| | | | | | | | | | | |
| Years Ended December 31, |
| 2019 | | 2018 | | 2017 |
| (In thousands, except percentages) |
GAAP and adjusted revenues | $ | 2,131,278 |
| | $ | 2,165,702 |
| | $ | 2,087,185 |
|
| | | | | |
GAAP net income (loss) | $ | (376,776 | ) | | $ | 160,711 |
| | $ | 92,853 |
|
Amortization of intangible assets | 74,609 |
| | 75,140 |
| | 90,188 |
|
Severance, restructuring, and acquisition integration costs (1) | 26,544 |
| | 22,625 |
| | 41,893 |
|
Interest expense, net | 55,814 |
| | 60,839 |
| | 82,651 |
|
Income tax expense (benefit) | 42,519 |
| | 62,936 |
| | (4,619 | ) |
Depreciation expense | 40,409 |
| | 38,309 |
| | 38,624 |
|
Loss on debt extinguishment | — |
| | 22,990 |
| | 52,441 |
|
Purchase accounting effects related to acquisitions (2) | 592 |
| | 1,690 |
| | 6,133 |
|
Costs related to patent litigation | — |
| | 2,634 |
| | — |
|
Amortization of software development intangible assets | 525 |
| | 79 |
| | — |
|
Non-operating pension settlement loss | — |
| | 1,342 |
| | — |
|
Loss on sale of assets (3) | — |
| | 94 |
| | 1,013 |
|
Gain from patent litigation | — |
| | (62,141 | ) | | — |
|
Loss from discontinued operations | 486,667 |
| | 6,433 |
| | 9,754 |
|
Adjusted EBITDA | $ | 350,903 |
| | $ | 393,681 |
| | $ | 410,931 |
|
| | | | | |
GAAP net income (loss) margin | (17.7 | )% | | 7.4 | % | | 4.4 | % |
Adjusted EBITDA margin | 16.5 | % | | 18.2 | % | | 19.7 | % |
(1)See Note 15, Severance, Restructuring, and Acquisition Integration Activities, for details.
| |
(1) | See Note 14, Severance, Restructuring, and Acquisition Integration Activities, for details.(2)In 2021, we collected $2.2 million of receivables associated with the sale of Grass Valley and acquisition of SPC that were previously written off, reduced the Opterna earn-out liability by $5.8 million, recognized cost of sales of $2.3 million related to purchase accounting adjustments of acquired inventory to fair value for the OTN Systems acquisition, and recognized a $0.6 million loss on the sale of tangible assets. In 2020 and 2019, we collectively recognized $0.1 million and $0.6 million, respectively, of cost of sales related to acquisition accounting adjustments of acquired inventory to fair value for both our SPC and Opterna acquisitions.
|
| |
(2) | In 2019, we collectively recognized $0.6 million of cost of sales related to purchase accounting adjustments of acquired inventory to fair value for both our SPC and Opterna acquisitions. In 2018, we made a $1.7 million adjustment to increase the earn-out liability associated with an acquisition. In 2017, we recognized $6.1 million of cost of sales related to the adjustment of acquired inventory to fair value for our Thinklogical acquisition. |
| |
(3) | In 2018 and 2017, we recognized a $0.1 million and $1.0 million loss on sale of assets, respectively, for the sale of our MCS business and Hirschmann JV. See Note 2. |
Use of Non-GAAP Financial Information
Adjusted Revenues, Adjusted EBITDA, Adjusted EBITDA margin, and free cash flow are non-GAAP financial measures. In addition to reporting financial results in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States, we provide non-GAAP operating results adjusted for certain items, including: asset impairments; accelerated depreciation expense due to plant consolidation activities; purchase accounting effects related to acquisitions, such as the adjustment of acquired inventory and deferred revenue to fair value, and transaction costs; severance, restructuring, and acquisition integration costs; gains (losses) recognized on the disposal of businesses and tangible assets; amortization of intangible assets; gains (losses) on debt extinguishment; certain revenues and gains (losses) from patent settlements; discontinued operations; and other costs. We adjust for the items listed above in all periods presented, unless the impact is clearly immaterial to our financial statements. When we calculate the tax effect of the adjustments, we include all current and deferred income tax expense commensurate with the adjusted measure of pre-tax profitability.
We utilize the adjusted results to review our ongoing operations without the effect of these adjustments and for comparison to budgeted operating results. We believe the adjusted results are useful to investors because they help them compare our results to previous periods and provide important insights into underlying trends in the business and how management oversees our business operations on a day-to-day basis. As an example, we adjust for the purchase accounting effect of recording deferred revenue at fair value in order to reflect the revenues that would have otherwise been recorded by acquired businesses had they remained as independent entities. We believe this presentation is useful in evaluating the underlying performance of acquired companies. Similarly, we adjust for other acquisition-related expenses, such as amortization of intangibles and other impacts of fair value adjustments because they generally are not related to the acquired businesses' core business performance. As an additional example, we exclude the costs of restructuring programs, which can occur from time to time for our current businesses and/or recently acquired businesses. We exclude the costs in calculating adjusted results to allow us and investors to evaluate the performance of the business based upon its expected ongoing operating structure. We believe the adjusted measures, accompanied by the disclosure of the costs of these programs, provides valuable insight. Adjusted results should be considered only in conjunction with results reported according to accounting principles generally accepted in the United States.
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | Percentage Change |
| | | | | | | Percentage Change | | 2021 | | 2020 | | 2019 | | 2021 vs. 2020 | | 2020 vs. 2019 |
| 2019 | | 2018 | | 2017 | | 2019 vs. 2018 | | 2018 vs. 2017 | | (In thousands, except percentages) |
| (In thousands, except percentages) | |
Adjusted Revenues | $ | 2,131,278 |
| | $ | 2,165,702 |
| | $ | 2,087,185 |
| | (1.6 | )% | | 3.8 | % | |
GAAP and adjusted revenues | | GAAP and adjusted revenues | $ | 2,408,100 | | | $ | 1,862,716 | | | $ | 2,131,278 | | | 29.3 | % | | (12.6) | % |
Adjusted EBITDA | 350,903 |
| | 393,681 |
| | 410,944 |
| | (10.9 | )% | | (4.2 | )% | Adjusted EBITDA | 375,539 | | | 249,237 | | | 350,903 | | | 50.7 | % | | (29.0) | % |
as a percent of adjusted revenues | 16.5 | % | | 18.2 | % | | 19.7 | % | | | | | as a percent of adjusted revenues | 15.6 | % | | 13.4 | % | | 16.5 | % | |
20192021 Compared to 2018
2020
Revenues decreased $34.4increased $545.4 million from 20182020 to 20192021 due to the following factors:
Acquisitions contributed $32.4•Higher sales volume from industrial automation, smart buildings, and broadband & 5G products resulted in a $373.1 million to the increase in revenues.
•Copper prices had a $117.2 million favorable impact on revenues.
•Currency translation had a $28.0$26.7 million favorable impact on revenues.
•Acquisitions contributed an estimated $37.7 million in revenues.
•Divestitures had a $9.3 million unfavorable impact on revenues.
Adjusted EBITDA increased $126.3 million in 2021 from 2020 primarily due to the leverage on higher sales volume, as discussed above. Accordingly, Adjusted EBITDA margins expanded to 15.6% from 13.4% in the year ago period.
2020 Compared to 2019
Revenues decreased $268.6 million from 2019 to 2020 due to the following factors:
•Lower sales volume, including the impact of COVID-19 and changes in channel inventory, and weaker industrial markets, resulted in a $21.6contributed $302.7 million to the decrease in revenues.
Lower copper costs resulted in•Currency translation had a $17.2$1.9 million decrease inunfavorable impact on revenues.
•Acquisitions increased revenues by $34.3 million.
•Copper prices had a $1.7 million favorable impact on revenues.
Adjusted EBITDA decreased $42.8$101.7 million in 20192020 from 20182019 primarily due to the decrease in revenues discussed above, as well as unfavorable product mix and the impact of lower production volumes.
2018 Compared to 2017
Revenues increased $78.5 million from 2017 to 2018 due to the following factors:
Higher sales volume, including changes in channel inventory, resulted in a $53.8 million increase in revenues.
Acquisitions contributed $29.7 million to the increase in revenues.
Currency translation had a $12.0 million favorable impact on revenues.
Higher copper costs contributed $10.7 million to the increase in revenues.
The divestiture of our MCS business resulted in a $27.7 million decrease in revenues.
Adjusted EBITDA decreased $17.3 million in 2018 from 2017 primarily due to unfavorable product mix and investments in organic growth initiatives, partially offset by the increase in revenues.benefits realized from our Cost Reduction Program.
Segment Results of Operations
For additional information regarding our segment measures, see Note 56 to the Consolidated Financial Statements.
Enterprise Solutions
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | Percentage Change |
| 2021 | | 2020 | | 2019 | | 2021 vs. 2020 | | 2020 vs. 2019 |
| (In thousands, except percentages) |
Segment Revenues | $ | 1,074,426 | | | $ | 872,415 | | | $ | 946,041 | | | 23.2 | % | | (7.8) | % |
Segment EBITDA | 143,236 | | | 99,333 | | | 126,925 | | | 44.2 | % | | (21.7) | % |
as a percent of segment revenues | 13.3 | % | | 11.4 | % | | 13.4 | % | | | | |
|
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | Percentage Change |
| 2019 | | 2018 | | 2017 | | 2019 vs. 2018 | | 2018 vs. 2017 |
| (In thousands, except percentages) |
Segment Revenues | $ | 1,081,232 |
| | $ | 1,095,900 |
| | $ | 1,054,847 |
| | (1.3 | )% | | 3.9 | % |
Segment EBITDA | 162,276 |
| | 190,910 |
| | 196,554 |
| | (15.0 | )% | | (2.9 | )% |
as a percent of segment revenues | 15.0 | % | | 17.4 | % | | 18.6 | % | | | | |
20192021 Compared to 20182020
Enterprise revenues increased $202.0 million in 2021 as compared to 2020. Increases in volume, higher copper prices, and favorable currency translation contributed $143.6 million, $50.4 million, and $8.0 million, respectively, to the increase in revenues year over year.
Enterprise EBITDA increased $43.9 million in 2021 as compared to 2020 primarily due to the leverage on higher sales volume, as discussed above. Accordingly, Adjusted EBITDA margins expanded to 13.3% from 11.4% in the year ago period.
2020 Compared to 2019
Enterprise revenues decreased $14.7$73.6 million in 20192020 as compared to 2018 primarily due to decreases2019. Decreases in volume, including the impact of COVID-19 and changes in channel inventory; lower copper prices;inventory, and unfavorable currency translation which contributed $31.9 million, $7.8$108.1 million and $7.4$0.3 million, respectively, to the decreasedecline in revenues over the year ago period;revenues; partially offset by the impact of acquisitions and higher copper prices which grew revenues $32.4 million.by $34.3 million and $0.5 million, respectively.
Enterprise EBITDA decreased $28.6$27.6 million in 20192020 as compared to 20182019 primarily due to the decreases in revenues discussed above, as well aspartially offset by the impact of lower production volumes.benefits realized from our Cost Reduction Program.
2018Industrial Solutions
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | Percentage Change |
| 2021 | | 2020 | | 2019 | | 2021 vs. 2020 | | 2020 vs. 2019 |
| (In thousands, except percentages) |
Segment Revenues | $ | 1,333,674 | | | $ | 990,301 | | | $ | 1,185,237 | | | 34.7 | % | | (16.4) | % |
Segment EBITDA | 227,946 | | | 147,626 | | | 226,110 | | | 54.4 | % | | (34.7) | % |
as a percent of segment revenues | 17.1 | % | | 14.9 | % | | 19.1 | % | | | | |
2021 Compared to 20172020
EnterpriseIndustrial revenues increased $41.1$343.4 million in 20182021 as compared to 20172020 primarily due to acquisitions,increases in volume; higher copper prices, increases in volume,prices; acquisitions, net of disposals; and favorable currency translation which contributed $29.7of $229.5 million, $4.3$66.8 million, $4.1$28.4 million, and $3.0$18.7 million, respectively,respectively.
Industrial EBITDA increased $80.3 million in 2021 as compared to 2020 primarily as a result of the increase in revenues overdiscussed above, partially offset by an increase in incentive compensation and investments in R&D projects as we continue our commitment to growth initiatives. Accordingly, Adjusted EBITDA margins expanded to 17.1% from 14.9% in the year ago period.
Enterprise EBITDA
2020 Compared to 2019
Industrial revenues decreased $5.6$194.9 million in 20182020 as compared to 20172019 primarily due to manufacturing constraints.
Industrial Solutions
|
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | Percentage Change |
| 2019 | | 2018 | | 2017 | | 2019 vs. 2018 | | 2018 vs. 2017 |
| (In thousands, except percentages) |
Segment Revenues | $ | 1,050,046 |
| | $ | 1,069,802 |
| | $ | 1,032,338 |
| | (1.8 | )% | | 3.6 | % |
Segment EBITDA | 188,947 |
| | 203,746 |
| | 208,875 |
| | (7.3 | )% | | -2.5 | % |
as a percent of segment revenues | 18.0 | % | | 19.0 | % | | 20.2 | % | | | | |
2019 Compared to 2018
Industrial Solutions revenues decreased $19.8 milliondecreases in 2019 as compared to 2018 primarily due tovolume, including the impact of COVID-19 and changes in channel inventory, and unfavorable currency translation, and lower copper prices, which contributed $20.6$194.5 million and $9.4$1.6 million, respectively, to the decrease in revenues over the year ago period;revenues; partially offset by increases in volume,copper prices, which grew revenues $10.2 million year-over-year.$1.2 million.
Industrial EBITDA decreased $14.8$78.5 million in 20192020 as compared to 20182019 primarily due toas a result of the decline in revenues discussed above and the impact of lower production volumes.
2018 Comparedincreased investments in R&D projects as we continue our commitment to 2017
Industrial Solutions revenues increased $37.5 million in 2018 as compared to 2017 primarily due to volume growth including changes in channel inventory; favorable currency translation; and higher copper costs, which contributed $50.5 million, $9.0 million, and $5.7 million, respectively, to the increase in revenues year over year;initiatives, partially offset by $27.7 millionthe benefits realized from the MCS divestiture in 2017.our Cost Reduction Program.
Industrial EBITDA decreased $5.1 million in 2018 as compared to 2017. The revenue growth discussed above was offset by unfavorable product mix and temporary inefficiencies related to extended lead times throughout the supply chain experienced in 2018.
Liquidity and Capital Resources
Significant factors affecting our cash liquidity include (1) cash provided by operating activities, (2) disposals of businesses and tangible assets, (3) cash used for acquisitions, restructuring actions, capital expenditures, share repurchases, dividends, and senior subordinated note repurchases, and (4) our available credit facilities and other borrowing arrangements. We expect our operating activities to generate cash in 20202022 and believe our sources of liquidity are sufficient to fund current working capital requirements, capital expenditures, contributions to our retirement plans, share repurchases, senior subordinated note repurchases, quarterly dividend payments, and our short-term operating strategies. However, we may require external financing were we to complete a significant acquisition. Our ability to continue to fund our future needs from business operations could be affected by many factors, including, but not limited to: economic conditions worldwide, customer demand, competitive market forces, customer acceptance of our product offerings, and commodities pricing.
The following table is derived from our Consolidated Cash Flow Statements and summarizesincludes the results and cash flows fromflow activity of discontinued operations including discontinued operations:up to the July 2, 2020 disposal date consistent with the Consolidated Cash Flow Statements:
| | | | | | | | | | | |
| Years Ended December 31, |
| 2021 | | 2020 |
| (In thousands) |
Net cash provided by (used for): | | | |
Operating activities | $ | 272,055 | | | $ | 173,364 | |
Investing activities | (92,003) | | | (31,643) | |
Financing activities | (32,926) | | | (74,911) | |
Effects of currency exchange rate changes on cash and cash equivalents | (5,363) | | | 9,299 | |
Increase in cash and cash equivalents | 141,763 | | | 76,109 | |
Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of year | 501,994 | | | 425,885 | |
Cash and cash equivalents, end of year | $ | 643,757 | | | $ | 501,994 | |
|
| | | | | | | |
| Years Ended December 31, |
| 2019 | | 2018 |
| (In thousands) |
Net cash provided by (used for): | | | |
Operating activities | $ | 276,893 |
| | $ | 289,220 |
|
Investing activities | (184,369 | ) | | (140,676 | ) |
Financing activities | (86,948 | ) | | (281,770 | ) |
Effects of currency exchange rate changes on cash and cash equivalents | (301 | ) | | (7,272 | ) |
Increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents | 5,275 |
| | (140,498 | ) |
Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of year | 420,610 |
| | 561,108 |
|
Cash and cash equivalents, end of year | $ | 425,885 |
| | $ | 420,610 |
|
Net cash provided by operating activities totaled $276.9$272.1 million for 20192021 compared to $289.2$173.4 million for 2018. Operating cash flows declined $12.3 million, or 4.3%, compared to the prior year 2020. The increase is primarily due to the $62 million pre-tax cash proceeds from the Corning patent litigation receivedincrease in 2018. Excluding the patent litigation proceeds,earnings. In 2021, changes in operating cash flows increased year-over-year due in part to favorableassets and liabilities included unfavorable changes in receivables and inventory.inventories partially offset by favorable changes in accounts payable and accrued liabilities. Receivables were a use of cash of $119.0 million compared to a source of cash of $22.9$70.7 million compared toin the prior year. Inventories were a use of cash of $21.7$93.0 million compared to $8.5 million in the prior year. Inventory was a sourceReceivables and inventories increased in 2021 due to the increase in revenues. Operating working capital turns improved to 11.2x at the end of cash of $44.5 million2021 compared to a use10.3x at the end of cash of $14.8 million in the prior year. The improvements in receivables and inventory are attributable to effective working capital management.
2020.
Net cash used for investing activities totaled $184.4$92.0 million for 20192021 compared to $140.7$31.6 million for 2018.2020. Investing activities for 20192021 included capital expenditures of $110.0$91.0 million, payments primarily for the acquisition of OTN Systems of $73.3 million, purchases of intangible assets of $3.6 million, cash receipts for the carrying value of the seller's note and sale of the oil and gas cable business in Brazil of $45.7 million, and payments, netcash receipts for the sale of cash acquired, for acquisitionsreal estate in Germany of $74.4$30.2 million. Investing activities for 20182020 included capital expenditures of $97.8 million; payments, net$90.2 million and proceeds of cash acquired, for acquisitions of $84.6 million; net proceeds$54.8 million, $3.2 million, and $0.6 million from the sale of an operating facility of $1.5 million; and net cash received forthe Grass Valley disposal group, the sale of tangible property, and a working capital adjustment related to the MCS business and Hirschmann JV which closed on December 31, 2017 of $40.2 million. Capital expenditures increased $12.2 million year-over-year due in part to investments in fiber capacity and software development.SPC acquisition, respectively.
Net cash flows fromused for financing activities was a $86.9totaled $32.9 million use of cash for 20192021 compared to $281.8$74.9 million for 2018.2020. Financing activities for 20192021 included payments under our share repurchase programrepayments of $50.0 million;debt obligations of $360.3 million, cash dividend payments of $34.4$9.0 million, debt issuance costs of $8.2 million, net payments related to share based compensation activities of $2.1 million;$5.6 million, financing lease payments of $3.1 million, payments to noncontrolling interests of $2.7 million, and interest payments on our financing leasesborrowings under credit arrangements of $0.4$356.0 million. During 2021, we completed an offering for €300.0 million aggregate principal amount of 3.375% senior subordinated notes due 2031, repurchased the €300.0 million 2025 Notes, and refinanced the Revolver - see Note 16. Financing activities for 20182020 included payments under borrowing arrangements of $484.8 million, payments under our share repurchase program of $175.0$35.0 million, acquisition earnout consideration payments of $29.3 million, cash dividend payments of $43.2$9.0 million, debt issuance costs of $7.6 million,and net payments related to share based compensation activities of $2.1 million, payments for the redemption of our stockholders' rights agreement of $0.4 million, and cash proceeds from the issuance of the €350.0 million 3.875% Notes due 2028 of $431.3$1.4 million.
Our cash and cash equivalents balance including discontinued operations, was $425.9$643.8 million as of December 31, 2019.2021. Of this amount, $228.4$233.9 million was held outside of the U.S. in our foreign operations. Substantially all of the foreign cash and cash equivalents are readily convertible into U.S. dollars or other foreign currencies. Our strategic plan does not require the repatriation of foreign cash in order to fund our operations in the U.S., and it is our current intention to permanently reinvest the foreign cash and cash equivalents outside of the U.S. If we were to repatriate the foreign cash to the U.S., we may be required to accrue and pay U.S. taxes in accordance with applicable U.S. tax rules and regulations as a result of the repatriation. See Note 17,18, Income Taxes in the accompanying notes to our consolidated financial statements.
Our outstanding debt obligations as of December 31, 20192021 consisted of $1.5 billion of senior subordinated notes. As of December 31, 2019,2021, we had no borrowings outstanding on the Revolver, and our available borrowing capacity including the assets of the Grass Valley disposal group, was $310.6$274.2 million. Additional discussion regarding our various borrowing arrangements is included in Note 1516 to the Consolidated Financial Statements.
Contractual obligations outstanding at
At December 31, 2019, have 2021, the following scheduled maturities:
|
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Total | | Less than 1 Year | | 1-3 Years | | 4-5 Years | | More than 5 Years |
| (In thousands) |
Long-term debt payment obligations (1)(2) | 1,459,380 |
| | $ | — |
| | $ | — |
| | $ | — |
| | $ | 1,459,380 |
|
Interest payments on long-term debt obligations | 396,348 |
| | 51,219 |
| | 102,437 |
| | 102,437 |
| | 140,255 |
|
Operating lease obligations (3) | 87,092 |
| | 18,899 |
| | 30,953 |
| | 20,585 |
| | 16,655 |
|
Purchase obligations (4) | 31,163 |
| | 30,507 |
| | 656 |
| | — |
| | — |
|
Other commitments (5) | 6,779 |
| | 426 |
| | 5,478 |
| | 875 |
| | — |
|
Pension and other postemployment obligations | 54,026 |
| | 5,191 |
| | 11,169 |
| | 10,364 |
| | 27,302 |
|
Total | $ | 2,034,788 |
| | $ | 106,242 |
| | $ | 150,693 |
| | $ | 134,261 |
| | $ | 1,643,592 |
|
| |
(1) | As described in Note 15 to the Consolidated Financial Statements. |
| |
(2) | Amounts do not include accruedcontractual obligations and unpaid interest. Accrued and unpaid interest related to long-term debt obligations is reflected on the line entitled, "Interest payments on long-term debt obligations" in the table. |
| |
(3) | As described in Note 11 to the Consolidated Financial Statements. |
| |
(4) | Includes agreements to purchase goods or services that are enforceable and legally binding on us and that specify all significant terms, including fixed or minimum quantities to be purchased; fixed, minimum, or variable price provisions; and the approximate timing of the transaction. |
| |
(5) | Does not include accounts payable reflected in the financial statements. Includes obligations for uncertain tax positions and legal settlement obligations (see Notes 17 and 28 to the Consolidated Financial Statements). |
Our commercial commitments expirewere outstanding:
a.Principal payments on long-term debt of $1.5 billion, none of which is due in 2022 (see Note 16). Depending on the conditions in the credit markets, we may refinance this debt, or mature as follows:we may use cash from operations, including temporarily accessing our Revolving Credit Agreement, to repay this debt.
b.Interest payments on long-term debt of $353.7 million, of which $53.5 million is due in 2022.
c.Operating lease obligations of $99.9 million, of which $22.8 million is due in 2022 (see Note 12). |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Total | | Less than 1 Year | | 1-3 Years | | 3-5 Years | | More than 5 Years |
| (In thousands) |
Standby financial letters of credit | $ | 11,227 |
| | $ | 9,177 |
| | $ | 2,050 |
| | $ | — |
| | $ | — |
|
Bank guarantees | 4,451 |
| | 1,934 |
| | 2,517 |
| | — |
| | — |
|
Surety bonds | 3,311 |
| | 3,311 |
| | — |
| | — |
| | — |
|
Total | $ | 18,989 |
| | $ | 14,422 |
| | $ | 4,567 |
| | $ | — |
| | $ | — |
|
d.Pension and other postemployment obligations of $87.7 million, of which $13.6 million is due in 2022 (see Note 19).e.Obligations of $5.8 million to purchase goods or services that are enforceable and legally binding on us. All of these obligations are due in 2022.
f.Standby financial letters of credit, bank guarantees, and surety bonds totaling $28.1 million, of which $25.1 million are scheduled to expire or mature in 2022. These commitments are generally issued to secure obligations we have for a variety of commercial reasons such as workers compensation self-insurance programs in several states and the importation and exportation of product. We expect to replace most of these when they expire or mature.
Off-Balance Sheet Arrangements
We have no off-balance sheet arrangements that have or are reasonably likely to have a current or future effect on our financial condition, results of operations, or cash flows that are or would be considered material to investors.
Current-Year Adoption of Recent Accounting Pronouncements
Discussion regarding our adoption of accounting pronouncements is included in Note 2 to the Consolidated Financial Statements.
Critical Accounting Estimates
Our consolidated financial statements are prepared in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the U.S. (GAAP). In connection with the preparation of our financial statements, we are required to make assumptions and estimates about future events, and apply judgments that affect the reported amounts of assets, liabilities, revenues, expenses, and the related disclosures. We base our assumptions, estimates, and judgments on historical experience, current trends, and other factors that management believes to be relevant at the time our consolidated financial statements are prepared. On a regular basis, we review the accounting policies, assumptions, estimates, and judgments to ensure that our financial statements are presented fairly and in accordance with GAAP. However, because future events and their effects cannot be determined with certainty, actual results could differ from our assumptions and estimates, and such differences could be material.
Our significant accounting policies are discussed in Note 2 of our Consolidated Financial Statements. We believe that the following accounting estimates are the most critical to aid in fully understanding and evaluating our reported financial results, and they require our most difficult, subjective, or complex judgments, resulting from the need to make estimates about the effect of matters that are inherently uncertain.
Revenue Recognition
We recognize revenue consistent with the principles as outlined in the following five step model: (1) identify the contract with the customer, (2) identify the performance obligations in the contract, (3) determine the transaction price, (4) allocate the transaction price to the performance obligations in the contract, and (5) recognize revenue when (or as) each performance obligation is satisfied. See Note 3.
At the time of sale, we establish an estimated reserve for trade, promotion, and other special price reductions such as contract pricing, discounts to meet competitor pricing, and on-time payment discounts. We also reserve for, among other things, correction of billing errors, incorrect shipments, and settlement of customer disputes. Customers are allowed to return inventory if and when certain conditions regarding the functionality of the inventory and our approval of the return are met. Certain distribution customers are allowed to return inventory at original cost, in an amount not to exceed three percent of the prior year’s purchases, in exchange for an order of equal or greater value. Until we can process these reductions, corrections, and returns (together, the Changes) through individual customer records, we estimate the amount of outstanding Changes and recognize them by reducing revenues. We determine our estimate based on our historical Changes as a percentage of revenues and the average time period between the original sale and the issuance of the Changes. We adjust other current assets and cost of sales for the estimated level of returns.
We base these estimates on historical and anticipated sales demand, trends in product pricing, and historical and anticipated Changes patterns. We make revisions to these estimates in the period in which the facts that give rise to each revision become known. Future market conditions and product transitions might require us to take actions to further reduce prices and increase customer return authorizations. We do not believe there is a reasonable likelihood that there will be a material change in the future estimates or assumptions we use to measure the Changes. However, if actual results are not consistent with our estimates or assumptions, we may be exposed to losses or gains that could be material. A 10% change in our sales reserve for such Changes as of December 31, 20192021 would have affected net income by less than $1approximately $2 million in 2019.2021.
At times, we enter into arrangements that involve the delivery of multiple promised goods or services. For these arrangements, when the promised goods or services can be separated, the revenue is allocated to each distinct good or service based on that performance obligation’s relative standalone selling price and recognized based upon transfer of control for each performance obligation. Generally, we determine standalone selling price using the adjusted market assessment approach. For software licenses with highly variable standalone selling prices sold with either support or professional services, we generally determine the standalone selling price of the software license using the residual approach.
Revenue allocated to support services under our support contracts is typically recognized ratably over the term of the service. Revenue allocated to distinct professional services is recognized when (or as) the performance obligation is satisfied depending on the terms of the arrangement. When professional services are not distinct from goods, the professional services and goods are combined into one performance obligation, and revenue allocated to that performance obligation is recognized when (or as) the performance obligation is satisfied.
Income Taxes
We recognize deferred tax assets resulting from tax credit carryforwards, net operating loss carryforwards, and deductible temporary differences between taxable income on our income tax returns and income before taxes under GAAP. Deferred tax assets generally represent future tax benefits to be received when these carryforwards can be applied against future taxable income or when expenses previously reported in our Consolidated Financial Statements become deductible for income tax purposes. A deferred tax asset valuation allowance is required when some portion or all of the deferred tax assets may not be realized. We are required to estimate taxable income in future years or develop tax strategies that would enable tax asset realization in each taxing jurisdiction and use judgment to determine whether to record a deferred tax asset valuation allowance for part or all of a deferred tax asset.
We consider the weight of all available evidence, both positive and negative, in assessing the realizability of the deferred tax assets associated with net operating losses. We consider the reversals of existing taxable temporary differences as well as projections of future taxable income. We consider the future reversals of existing taxable temporary differences to the extent they were of the same character as the temporary differences giving rise to the deferred tax assets. We also consider whether the future reversals of existing taxable temporary differences will occur in the same period and jurisdiction as the temporary differences giving rise to the deferred tax assets. The assumptions utilized to estimate our future taxable income are consistent with those assumptions utilized for purposes of testing goodwill for impairment, as well as with our budgeting and strategic planning processes.
Significant judgment is required in evaluating our uncertain tax positions. We establish accruals for uncertain tax positions when we believe that the full amount of the associated tax benefit may not be realized. In the future, if we prevail in matters for which accruals have been established previously or pay amounts in excess of reserves, there could be a material effect on our income tax provisions in the period in which such determination is made.
We have significant
In December 2019, the FASB issued ASU 2019-12, Income Taxes (Topic 740) Simplifying the Accounting for Income Taxes (“ASU 2019-12”) which removes certain exceptions for investments, intra-period allocations and interim tax credit carryforwardscalculations, and adds guidance to reduce the complexity in accounting for income taxes. The Company adopted ASU 2019-12 in the U.S. for which we have recorded a partial valuation allowance as a result of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017 (the "Act"), regulations issued by the United States Treasury in the fourthfirst quarter of 2019,2021 and the classification of a business as discontinued operations. The utilization of these credits is dependent uponadoption had no material impact to the recognition of both U.S. taxable income as well as income characterized as foreign source under the U.S. tax laws. We do not expect to generate enough foreign source income in the future to utilize all of these tax credits due to law changes introduced by the Act.Company’s consolidated financial statements.
See Note 17,18, Income Taxes, to the consolidated financial statements for further information regarding income taxes.
Goodwill and Indefinite-Lived Intangible Assets
We test our goodwill and other indefinite-lived intangible assets not subject to amortization for impairment on an annual basis during the fourth quarter or when indicators of impairment exist. We base our estimates on assumptions we believe to be reasonable, but which are not predictable with precision and therefore are inherently uncertain. Actual future results could differ from these estimates.
We test goodwill annually for impairment at the reporting unit level. A reporting unit is an operating segment, or a business unit one level below an operating segment if discrete financial information for that business is prepared and regularly reviewed by segment management. However, components within an operating segment are aggregated as a single reporting unit if they have similar economic characteristics. We determined that each of our reportable segments (Enterprise Solutions and Industrial Solutions) represents an operating segment. Within those operating segments, we have identified reporting units based on whether there is discrete financial information prepared that is regularly reviewed by segment management. As a result of this evaluation, we have identified from our continuing operations, fourthree reporting units within Enterprise Solutions and sixthree reporting units within Industrial Solutions for purposes of goodwill impairment testing.
The accounting guidance related to goodwill impairment testing allows for the performance of an optional qualitative assessment of whether it is more likely than not that the fair value of a reporting unit is less than its carrying value. Such an evaluation is made based on the weight of all available evidence and the significance of all identified events and circumstances that may influence the fair value of a reporting unit. If it is more likely than not that the fair value is less than the carrying value, then a quantitative assessment is required for the reporting unit, as described in the paragraph below. In 2019,2021, we did not perform a qualitative assessment over any of our reporting units.
When we evaluate goodwill for impairment using a quantitative assessment, we compare the fair value of each reporting unit to its carrying value. We determine the fair value using an income approach. Under the income approach, we calculate the fair value of a reporting unit based on the present value of estimated future cash flows using growth rates and discount rates that are consistent with current market conditions in our industry. If the fair value of the reporting unit exceeds the carrying value of the net assets including goodwill assigned to that unit, goodwill is not impaired. If the carrying value of the reporting unit’s net assets including goodwill exceeds the fair value of the reporting unit, then we record an impairment charge based on that difference. In addition to the income approach, we calculate the fair value of our reporting units under a market approach. The market approach measures the fair value of a reporting unit through analysis of financial multiples of comparable businesses. Consideration is given to the financial conditions and operating performance of the reporting unit being valued relative to those publicly-traded companies operating in the same or similar lines of business.
For our annual impairment test in 2019,2021, we performed a quantitative assessment for all tensix of our reporting unitsunits. We recorded an impairment for one reporting unit included in continuing operations, none of which proved to be impaired during 2019. Based on our annual goodwill impairment test, the Industrial Solutions segment. See Note 13. The excess of the fair values over the carrying values of our tenfor the other five reporting units tested under a quantitative income approach ranged from 12%51% - 394%436%. The assumptions used to estimate fair values were based on the past performance of the reporting unit as well as the projections incorporated in our strategic plan. Significant assumptions included sales growth, profitability, and related cash flows, along with cash flows associated with taxes and capital spending. The discount rate used to estimate fair value was risk adjusted in consideration of the economic conditions in effect at the time of the impairment test. We also considered assumptions that market participants may use. In our quantitative assessments, the discount rates ranged from 9.0%11.3% to 17.0%13.7%, the 20202022 to 20292031 compounded annual revenue growth rates ranged from 1.9%3.8% to 7.6%9.7%, and the long-term revenue growth rates beyond 2031 ranged from 2.0% to 3.0%. By their nature, these assumptions involve risks and uncertainties,uncertainties. There is inherent risk associated with the primary factorusing an income approach to estimate fair values. If actual results are significantly different from our estimates or assumptions, we may have to recognize additional impairment charges that could have an adverse effect being our assumptions relating to growing revenues consistent with our strategic plan.be material.
We also test our indefinite-lived intangible assets, which consist primarily of trademarks,asset, a trademark, for impairment on an annual basis during the fourth quarter. The accounting guidance related to impairment testing for such intangible assets allows for the performance of an optional qualitative assessment, similar to that described above for goodwill. We did not perform any qualitative assessments as part of our indefinite-lived intangible asset impairment testing for 2019.2021. Rather, we performed a quantitative assessment for each of our indefinite-lived trademarkstrademark in 2019.2021. Under the quantitative assessments, we determined the fair value of eachthe trademark using a relief from royalty methodology and compared the fair value to the carrying value. We determined that none of our trademarks weretrademark was not impaired during 2019.2021. Significant assumptions to determine fair value included sales growth, royalty rates, and discount rates.
We do not believe there is a reasonable likelihood that there will be a material change in the future estimates or assumptions we used to test for impairment losses on goodwill and other intangible assets. However, if actual results are significantly different from our estimates or assumptions, we may have to recognize an impairment charge that could be material.
As noted above, we also test our goodwill and other indefinite-lived intangible assets not subject to amortization for impairment when indicators of impairment exist. During 2019, we committed to a plan to sell Grass Valley, and at such time, met all of the criteria to classify the assets and liabilities of this business as held for sale. Furthermore, we determined a divestiture of Grass Valley represents a strategic shift that is expected to have a major impact on our operations and financial results. We wrote down the carrying value of Grass Valley and recognized impairment charges to goodwill, customer relationships, trademarks, etc. See Note 5.
Pension and Other Postretirement Benefits
Our pension and other postretirement benefit costs and obligations are dependent on the various actuarial assumptions used in calculating such amounts. These assumptions relate to discount rates, salary growth, long-term return on plan assets, health care cost trend rates, mortality tables, and other factors. We base the discount rate assumptions on current investment yields on high-quality corporate long-term bonds. The salary growth assumptions reflect our long-term actual experience and future or near-term outlook. Long-term return on plan assets is determined based on historical portfolio results and management’s expectation of the future economic environment. Our health care cost trend assumptions are developed based on historical cost data, the near-term outlook, and an assessment of likely long-term trends. Our key assumptions are described in further detail in Note 18 to the Consolidated Financial Statements. Actual results that differ from our assumptions are accumulated and, if in excess of
the lesser of 10% of the projected benefit obligation or the fair market value of plan assets, amortized over the estimated future working life of the plan participants.
As a sensitivity measure, the effect of a 50 basis point decline in the assumed discount rate would have resulted in an increase in the 20192021 net periodic benefit cost and projected benefit obligations as of December 31, 20192021 of approximately $0.5$2.0 million and $28.3$38.0 million, respectively. A 50 basis point decline in the expected return on plan assets would have resulted in an increase in the 20192021 net periodic benefit cost of approximately $1.6$1.8 million.
Conversely, the effect of a 50 basis point increase in the assumed discount rate would have resulted in a decrease in the 2021 net periodic benefit cost of approximately $1.6 million and a decrease in the 2019 net periodic benefit cost and projected benefit obligationsobligation of approximately $34.2 million as of December 31, 2019 of approximately $0.4 million and $32.9 million, respectively.2021. A 50 basis point increase in the expected return on plan assets would have resulted in a decrease in the 20192021 net periodic benefit cost of approximately $1.6$1.8 million.
Business CombinationAcquisition Accounting
We allocate the consideration of an acquired business to its identifiable assets and liabilities based on estimated fair values. The excess of the consideration over the amount allocated to the assets and liabilities, if any, is recorded to goodwill. We use all available information to estimate fair values. We typically engage third party valuation specialists to assist in the fair value determination of inventories, tangible long-lived assets, and intangible assets other than goodwill. The carrying values of acquired receivables and accounts payable have historically approximated their fair values as of the business combinationacquisition date. As necessary, we may engage third party specialists to assist in the estimation of fair value for certain liabilities. We adjust the preliminary acquisition accounting, as necessary, typically up to one year after the acquisition closing date as we obtain more information regarding asset valuations and liabilities assumed.
Our acquisition accounting methodology contains uncertainties because it requires management to make assumptions and to apply judgment to estimate the fair value of acquired assets and liabilities. Management estimates the fair value of assets and liabilities based upon quoted market prices, the carrying value of the acquired assets and widely accepted valuation techniques, including discounted cash flows and market multiple analyses. Unanticipated events or circumstances may occur which could affect the accuracy of our fair value estimates, including assumptions regarding industry economic factors and business strategies.
If actual results are materially different than the assumptions we used to determine fair value of the assets and liabilities acquired through a business combination, it is possible that adjustments to the carrying values of such assets and liabilities will have an impact on our net earnings.
See Note 4 to the Consolidated Financial Statements for the acquisition-related information associated with significant acquisitions completed in the last three fiscal years.4.
Item 7A. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk
Market risks relating to our operations result primarily from currency exchange rates, certain commodity prices, interest rates, and credit extended to customers. Each of these risks is discussed below.
Currency Exchange Rate Risk
We are exposed to foreign currency risks that arise from normal business operations. These risks include the translation of local currency balances of foreign subsidiaries and transactions denominated in currencies other than a location’s functional currency.
Our investments in certain foreign subsidiaries are recorded in currencies other than the U.S. dollar. As these foreign currency denominated investments are translated at the end of each period during consolidation using period-end exchange rates, fluctuations of exchange rates between the foreign currency and the U.S. dollar increase or decrease the value of those investments. These fluctuations and the results of operations for foreign subsidiaries, where the functional currency is not the U.S. dollar, are translated
into U.S. dollars using the average exchange rates during the year, while the assets and liabilities are translated using period end exchange rates. The assets and liabilities-related translation adjustments are recorded as a separate component of accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) in our Consolidated Balance Sheets. We generally view our investments in international subsidiaries with functional currencies other than the U.S. dollar as long-term. As a result, we do not generally use derivatives to manage these net investments. However, we designated euro debt issued in 2018, 2017 and 2016 by Belden Inc., a USD functional currency entity, as a net investment hedge of certain international subsidiaries. See Note 1516 for further discussion.
Transactions denominated in currencies other than a location’s functional currency may produce receivables or payables that are fixed in terms of the amount of foreign currency that will be received or paid. A change in exchange rates between the functional currency and the currency in which a transaction is denominated increases or decreases the expected amount of functional currency cash flows upon settlement of the transaction. That increase or decrease in expected functional currency cash flows is a foreign exchange transaction gain or loss that is included in our operating income in the Consolidated Statements of Operations.Operations. In 2019,2021, we recorded approximately $1.5$1.7 million of net foreign currency transaction losses. In 2020, we recorded approximately $7.9 million of net foreign currency transaction gains.
Generally, the currency in which we sell our products is the same as the currency in which we incur the costs to manufacture our products, resulting in a natural hedge. Our currency exchange rate management strategy primarily involves the use of natural techniques, where possible, such as the offsetting or netting of like-currency cash flows. However, we re-evaluate our strategy as the foreign currency environment changes, and it is possible that we could utilize derivative financial instruments to manage this risk in the future. We did not have any foreign currency derivatives outstanding as of December 31, 2019.2021.
Our exposure to currency rate fluctuations primarily relates to exchange rate movements between the U.S. dollar and the euro, Canadian dollar, Hong Kong dollar, Chinese yuan, Japanese yen, Mexican peso, Australian dollar, British pound, and Indian rupee, and Brazilian real.rupee.
Commodity Price Risk
Certain raw materials used by us are subject to price volatility caused by supply conditions, political and economic variables, and other unpredictable factors. The primary purpose of our commodity price management activities is to manage the volatility associated with purchases of commodities in the normal course of business. We do not speculate on commodity prices.
We are exposed to price risk related to our purchase of copper used in our products, although we are generally able to raise selling prices to customers to cover the increase in copper costs. Our copper price management strategy involves the use of natural techniques, where possible, such as purchasing copper for future delivery at fixed prices. We do not generally use commodity price derivatives and did not have any outstanding at December 31, 20192021 or 2018.
2020. The following table presents unconditional commodity purchase obligations outstanding as of December 31, 2019.2021. The unconditional purchase obligations will settle during 2020.2022.
| | | Purchase Amount | | Fair Value | | Purchase Amount | | Fair Value |
| (In thousands, except average price) | | (In thousands, except average price) |
Unconditional copper purchase obligations: | | | | Unconditional copper purchase obligations: | |
Commitment volume in pounds | 1,625 |
| | | Commitment volume in pounds | 4,766 | | |
Weighted average price per pound | $ | 2.71 |
| | | Weighted average price per pound | $ | 4.38 | | |
Commitment amounts | $ | 4,403 |
| | $ | 4,541 |
| Commitment amounts | $ | 20,889 | | | $ | 21,234 | |
We are also exposed to price risk related to our purchase of selected commodities derived from petrochemical feedstocks used in our products. We generally purchase these commodities based upon market prices established with the vendors as part of the purchase process. Pricing of these commodities is volatile as they tend to fluctuate with the price of oil. Historically, we have not used commodity financial instruments to hedge prices for commodities derived from petrochemical feedstocks.
We have occasionally managed our debt portfolio by using interest rate derivative instruments, such as swap agreements, to achieve an overall desired position of fixed and floating rates. We were not a party to any interest rate derivative instruments as of or for the years ended December 31, 20192021 or 2018.
Item 8. Financial Statements and Supplementary Data
To the Stockholders and the Board of Directors of Belden Inc.
We have audited the accompanying consolidated balance sheets of Belden Inc. (the Company) as of December 31, 20192021 and 2018,2020, and the related consolidated statements of operations, comprehensive income, stockholders' equity and cash flows for each of the three years in the period ended December 31, 2019,2021, and the related notes and the financial statement schedule listed in the Index at Item 15(a) (collectively referred to as the “consolidated financial statements”). In our opinion, the consolidated financial statements present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of the Company at December 31, 20192021 and 2018,2020, and the results of its operations and its cash flows for each of the three years in the period ended December 31, 2019,2021, 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) (PCAOB), the Company's internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2019,2021, 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 11, 202015, 2022 expressed an unqualified opinion thereon.
These financial statements are the responsibility of the Company's management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on the Company’s financial statements based on our audits. We are a public accounting firm registered with the PCAOB and are required to be independent with respect to the Company in accordance with the U.S. federal securities laws and the applicable rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission and the PCAOB.
We conducted our audits in accordance with the standards of the PCAOB. Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements are free of material misstatement, whether due to error or fraud. Our audits included performing procedures to assess the risks of material misstatement of the financial statements, whether due to error or fraud, and performing procedures that respond to those risks. Such procedures included examining, on a test basis, evidence regarding the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements. Our audits also included evaluating the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, as well as evaluating the overall presentation of the financial statements. We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinion.