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UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

WASHINGTON, DC 20549

FORM 10-K

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

For the fiscal year ended September 30, 20202022

OR

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

For the transition period from _____ to_____to

Commission file number: 1-10596

ESCO Technologies Inc.

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

Missouri

    

43-1554045

(State or other jurisdiction

 

(I.R.S. Employer

of incorporation or organization)

 

Identification No.)

 

 

 

9900A Clayton Road

 

 

St. Louis, Missouri

 

63124-1186

(Address of principal executive offices)

 

(Zip Code)

Registrant’s telephone number, including area code:

(314) 213-7200

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

 

Name of each exchange

Title of each class

Trading Symbol(s)

    

on which registered

Common Stock, par value $0.01 per share

ESE

New York Stock Exchange

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

None

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

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

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

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has submitted electronically every Interactive Data File required to be submitted pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulation S-T during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to submit such files).  Yes    No

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

Large accelerated filer

Accelerated filer

Non-accelerated filer

Smaller reporting company

 

Emerging growth company

If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Exchange Act.

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has filed a report on and attestation to its management'smanagement’s assessment of the effectiveness of its internal control over financial reporting under Section 404(b) of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act (15 U.S.C. 7262(b)) by the registered public accounting firm that prepared or issued its audit report.

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

Aggregate market value of the Common Stock held by non-affiliates of the registrant as of the close of trading on March 31, 2020,2022, the last business day of the registrant’s most recently completed second fiscal quarter, based on the New York Stock Exchange closing price on March 31, 2020:2022: approximately $1,926,000,000.$1,784,000,000.*

*For purpose of this calculation only, without determining whether the following are affiliates of the registrant, the registrant has assumed that (i) its directors and executive officers are affiliates, and (ii) no party who has filed a Schedule 13D or 13G is an affiliate.

Number of shares of Common Stock outstanding at November 20,2020: 26,037,71413, 2022: 25,885,528

DOCUMENTS INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE:

Part III of this Report incorporates by reference certain portions of the registrant’s definitive Proxy Statement for its 20212023 Annual Meeting of Shareholders, which the registrant currently anticipates first sending to shareholders on or about December 16, 202014, 2022 (hereinafter, the “2020“2022 Proxy Statement”).

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INDEX TO ANNUAL REPORT ON FORM 10-K

Page

FORWARD-LOOKING INFORMATION

ii

PART I

1.

Business

1

The Company

1

Products

2

Marketing and Sales

3

Government Contracts

3

Intellectual Property

3

Backlog

4

Purchased Components and Raw Materials

4

Competition

4

Research and Development

5

Environmental Matters and Government Regulation

5

Human Capital

5

Financing

6

Additional Information

6

Information about our Executive Officers

6

1A.

Risk Factors

6

1B.

Unresolved Staff Comments

12

2.

Properties

12

3.

Legal Proceedings

13

4.

Mine Safety Disclosures

13

PART II

5.

Market for Registrants Common Equity, Related Stockholder Matters and Issuer Purchases of Equity Securities

14

6.

Selected Financial Data

16

7.

Managements Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations

16

7A.

Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures about Market Risk

28

8.

Financial Statements and Supplementary Data

28

9.

Changes in and Disagreements with Accountants on Accounting and Financial Disclosure

28

9A.

Controls and Procedures

28

9B.

Other Information

28

PART III

10.

Directors, Executive Officers and Corporate Governance

29

11.

Executive Compensation

29

12.

Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and Management and Related Stockholder Matters

30

13.

Certain Relationships and Related Transactions, and Director Independence

30

14.

Principal Accountant Fees and Services

30

PART IV

15.

Exhibits, Financial Statement Schedules

31

SIGNATURES

35

FINANCIAL INFORMATION

F-1

EXHIBITS

i

Table of Contents

Page

FORWARD-LOOKING INFORMATION

Statements contained in this Form 10-K regarding future events and the Company’s future results that are based on current expectations, estimates, forecasts and projections about the Company’s performance and the industries in which the Company operates are considered “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of the safe harbor provisions of the Federal securities laws. These include, without limitation, statements about: the effects of the continuing COVID-19 pandemic on the Company’s business and results of operations; the adequacy of the Company’s buildings, machinery and equipment; the adequacy of the Company’s credit facilities and future cash flows; the outcome of litigation, claims and charges; future costs relating to environmental matters; repayment of debt within the next twelve months; the outlook for all or any part of 2021 and beyond, including amounts, timing and sources of 2021 sales, revenues, sales growth, Adjusted EBIT, EBITDA, Adjusted EBITDA and Adjusted EPS and comparisons with 2020; interest on Company debt obligations; the ability of expected hedging gains or losses to be offset by losses or gains on related underlying exposures; the Company’s ability to increase shareholder value; acquisitions; income tax expense and the Company’s expected effective tax rate; Management’s assumptions about future liability under the Company’s postretirement benefit plans; the recognition of unrecognized compensation costs related to share-based compensation arrangements; the Company’s exposure to market risk related to interest rates and to foreign currency exchange risk; the likelihood of future variations in the Company’s assumptions or estimates used in recording contracts and expected costs at completion under the percentage of completion method; the Company’s estimates and assumptions used in the preparation of its financial statements; costs and estimated earnings from long-term contracts; valuation of inventories; estimates of uncollectible accounts receivable; the risk of goodwill impairment; the Company’s estimates utilized in software revenue recognition, non-cash depreciation and the amortization of intangible assets; the valuation of deferred tax assets; estimates of future cash flows and fair values in connection with the risk of goodwill impairment; amounts of NOL not realizable and the timing and amount of the reduction of unrecognized tax benefits; the effects of implementing recently issued accounting pronouncements; and any other statements contained herein which are not strictly historical. Words such as expects, anticipates, targets, goals, projects, intends, plans, believes, estimates, variations of such words, and similar expressions are intended to identify such forward-looking statements.ii

Investors are cautioned that such statements are only predictions and speak only as of the date of this Form 10-K, and the Company undertakes no duty to update the information in this Form 10-K except as may be required by applicable laws or regulations. The Company’s actual results in the future may differ materially from those projected in the forward-looking statements due to risks and uncertainties that exist in the Company’s operations and business environment, including but not limited to those described herein under “Item 1A, Risk Factors,” and the following: the duration, scope and effects of the COVID-19 pandemic; the availability of viable COVID-19 vaccines; the impacts of labor disputes, civil disorder, wars, elections, political changes, tariffs and trade disputes, terrorist activities or natural disasters on the Company’s operations and those of the Company’s customers and suppliers; inability to access work sites; the timing and content of future customer orders; the appropriation and allocation of Government funds; the termination for convenience of Government and other customer contracts or orders; the timing and magnitude of future contract awards; weakening of economic conditions in served markets; the success of the Company’s competitors; changes in customer demands or customer insolvencies; competition; intellectual property rights; technical difficulties; the availability of selected acquisitions; delivery delays or defaults by customers; performance issues with key customers, suppliers and subcontractors; material changes in the costs and availability of certain raw materials; material changes in the cost of credit; changes in laws and regulations including but not limited to changes in accounting standards and taxation requirements; costs relating to environmental matters; litigation uncertainty; the Company’s inability to successfully execute internal restructuring and other plans; and the integration of recently acquired businesses.PART I

1.

Business

1

ii

TableThe Company

1

Products

2

Marketing and Sales

3

Government Contracts

3

Intellectual Property

3

Backlog

4

Purchased Components and Raw Materials

4

Competition

5

Research and Development

5

Environmental Matters and Government Regulation

5

Human Capital Management

5

Financing

6

Additional Information

7

Information about our Executive Officers

7

1A.

Risk Factors

7

1B.

Unresolved Staff Comments

14

2.

Properties

14

3.

Legal Proceedings

15

4.

Mine Safety Disclosures

15

PART II

5.

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

16

6.

[Reserved]

17

7.

Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations

17

7A.

Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures about Market Risk

25

8.

Financial Statements and Supplementary Data

25

9.

Changes in and Disagreements with Accountants on Accounting and Financial Disclosure

25

9A.

Controls and Procedures

26

9B.

Other Information

26

9C.

Disclosure Regarding Foreign Jurisdictions that Prevent Inspections

26

PART IIII

10.

Directors, Executive Officers and Corporate Governance

27

11.

Executive Compensation

27

12.

Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and Management and Related Stockholder Matters

27

13.

Certain Relationships and Related Transactions, and Director Independence

27

14.

Principal Accountant Fees and Services

27

Item 1. BusinessPART IV

15.

Exhibits, Financial Statement Schedules

28

16.

Form 10-K Summary

30

The CompanySIGNATURES

The Registrant, ESCO Technologies Inc. (ESCO), is a31

FINANCIAL INFORMATION

F-1

EXHIBITS

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FORWARD-LOOKING INFORMATION

Statements contained in this Form 10-K regarding future events and the Company’s future results that are based on current expectations, estimates, forecasts and projections about the Company’s performance and the industries in which the Company operates are considered “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of the safe harbor provisions of the Federal securities laws. These include, without limitation, statements about: the effects of the continuing COVID-19 pandemic and its known or unknown variants on the Company’s business and results of operations; the adequacy of the Company’s buildings, machinery and equipment; the adequacy of the Company’s credit facilities and future cash flows; the outcome of litigation, claims and charges; future costs relating to environmental matters; repayment of debt within the next twelve months; the outlook for all or any part of the Company’s business, including amounts, timing and sources of future sales, revenues, sales growth, and comparisons with the current year; interest on Company debt obligations; the ability of expected hedging gains or losses to be offset by losses or gains on related underlying exposures; the Company’s ability to increase shareholder value; acquisitions; income tax expense and the Company’s expected effective tax rate; the recognition of unrecognized compensation costs related to share-based compensation arrangements; the Company’s exposure to market risk related to interest rates and to foreign currency exchange risk; the likelihood of future variations in the Company’s assumptions or estimates used in recording contracts and expected costs at completion under the percentage of completion method; the Company’s estimates and assumptions used in the preparation of its financial statements; costs and estimated earnings from long-term contracts; valuation of inventories; estimates of uncollectible accounts receivable; the risk of goodwill impairment; the Company’s estimates utilized in software revenue recognition, non-cash depreciation and the amortization of intangible assets; the valuation of deferred tax assets; estimates of future cash flows and fair values in connection with the risk of goodwill impairment; amounts of NOL not realizable and the timing and amount of the reduction of unrecognized tax benefits; the effects of implementing recently issued accounting pronouncements; and any other statements contained herein which are not strictly historical. Words such as expects, anticipates, targets, goals, projects, intends, plans, believes, estimates, variations of such words, and similar expressions are intended to identify such forward-looking statements.

Investors are cautioned that such statements are only predictions and speak only as of the date of this Form 10-K, and the Company undertakes no duty to update the information in this Form 10-K except as may be required by applicable laws or regulations. The Company’s actual results in the future may differ materially from those projected in the forward-looking statements due to risks and uncertainties that exist in the Company’s operations and business environment, including but not limited to those described herein under “Item 1A, Risk Factors,” and the following: the duration, scope and effects of the COVID-19 pandemic and its variants, including the impact of mandates or other restrictive protocols on our business and workforce and the availability and acceptance of effective vaccines by enough of the U.S. and the world’s population to curtail or alleviate the seriousness of the pandemic; the impacts of climate change and related regulation of greenhouse gases, the impacts of labor disputes, civil disorder, wars, elections, political changes, tariffs and trade disputes, terrorist activities, cyberattacks or natural disasters on the Company’s operations and those of the Company’s customers and suppliers; disruptions in manufacturing or delivery arrangements due to shortages or unavailability of materials or components or supply chain disruptions; inability to access work sites; the timing and content of future customer orders; the appropriation and allocation of Government funds; the termination for convenience of Government and other customer contracts or orders; the timing and magnitude of future contract awards; weakening of economic conditions in served markets; the success of the Company’s competitors; changes in customer demands or customer insolvencies; competition; intellectual property rights; technical difficulties or data breaches; the availability of selected acquisitions; defaults by customers; performance issues with key customers, suppliers and subcontractors; material changes in the costs and availability of certain raw materials; material changes in the cost of credit; changes in laws and regulations including but not limited to changes in accounting standards and taxation requirements; costs relating to environmental matters; litigation uncertainty; the Company’s inability to successfully execute internal restructuring and other plans; and the integration and performance of recently acquired businesses.

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PART I

Item 1. Business

The Company

The Registrant is ESCO Technologies Inc., sometimes referred to in this report as ESCO. Except where the context indicates otherwise, the terms “Company”, “we”, “our” and “us” are used in this report to refer to ESCO together with its subsidiaries through which its businesses are conducted. We are:

A global provider of highly engineered filtration and fluid control products and integrated propulsion systems for the aviation, navy, space and process markets worldwide, as well as composite-based products and solutions for navy, defense and industrial customers; is an
An industry leader in RFradio frequency (RF) shielding and EMCelectromagnetic compatibility (EMC) test products; and provides
A provider of diagnostic instruments, software and services for the benefit of industrial power users and the electric utility and renewable energy industries. ESCO is focused on generating predictable and profitable long-term growth through continued innovation and expansion of its product offerings across each of its business segments. ESCO conducts its business through a number of wholly-owned direct and indirect subsidiaries. ESCO and its subsidiaries are referred to in this Report as “the Company.” ESCO’s corporate strategy is centered on a multi-segment approach designed to enhance the strength and sustainability of sales and earnings growth by providing lower risk through diversification. Its

Our business is focused on generating predictable and profitable long-term growth through continued innovation and expansion of our product offerings across each of our business segments. We conduct our business through a number of wholly-owned direct and indirect subsidiaries. Our corporate strategy is centered on a multi-segment approach designed to enhance the strength and sustainability of sales and earnings growth by providing lower risk through diversification. Our stock is listed on the New York Stock Exchange, where its ticker symbol is “ESE”.

The Company’s fiscal year ends September 30. Throughout this Annual Report, unless the context indicates otherwise, references to a year (for example 2020) refer to the Company’s fiscal year ending on September 30 of that year, and references to the “Consolidated Financial Statements” refer to the Consolidated Financial statements included in the Financial Information section of this Annual Report beginning on page F-1, an Index to which is provided on page F-1.

The Company classifies its business operations in segments for financial reporting purposes. The Company’s three reportable segments during 2020, together with the significant domestic and foreign operating subsidiaries within each segment, are as follows:

Aerospace & Defense (formerly called Filtration/Fluid Flow):

PTI Technologies Inc. (PTI)

VACCO Industries (VACCO)

Crissair, Inc. (Crissair)

Westland Technologies, Inc. (Westland)

Mayday Manufacturing Co. (Mayday)

Hi-Tech Metals, Inc. (Hi-Tech)

Globe Composite Solutions, LLC (Globe)

Utility Solutions Group (USG):

Doble Engineering Company

Morgan Schaffer Ltd. (Morgan Schaffer)

NRG Systems, Inc. (NRG)

Except as the context otherwise indicates, the term “Doble” as used herein includes Doble Engineering Company, Morgan Schaffer and the Company’s other USG subsidiaries except NRG.

RF Shielding and Test (Test):

ETS-Lindgren Inc.

Except as the context otherwise indicates, the term “ETS-Lindgren” as used herein includes ETS-Lindgren Inc. and the Company’s other Test segment subsidiaries.

The Company’s operating subsidiaries are engaged primarily in the research, development, manufacture, sale and support of the products and systems described below. Their respective businesses are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties, including without limitation those discussed in Item 1A, “Risk Factors.” See also Item 7, “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations,” and “Forward-Looking Information.”

ESCO is continually seeking ways to reduce overall operating costs, streamline business processes and enhance the branding of its products and services. During 2018, the Company undertook several restructuring actions involving the closure of Doble’s sales offices in Norway, China, Mexico and Dubai as part of its consolidation of the global distribution channels of Doble and Morgan Schaffer. During 2019, Doble sold its headquarters facility in Watertown, Massachusetts, and during 2020, it consolidated its headquarters operations into a single, more cost-efficient facility in Marlborough, Massachusetts. Doble has also announced its intention to close its facility in Toronto, Ontario by early in the second quarter of 2021 and to consolidate the production of its Manta product line with existing Doble instruments.

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ESCO is also continually seeking opportunities to supplement its growth by making strategic acquisitions. In March 2018, the Company acquired the assets of Manta Test Systems Ltd. (Manta); and in July 2019 the Company acquired Globe. More information about these acquired businesses is provided in the following section, “Products,” and in Note 2 to the Consolidated Financial Statements.

In December 2019, the Company sold the businesses comprising its former Technical Packaging segment and used the proceeds from the sale to pay down debt and for other corporate purposes, including the termination of the Company’s defined benefit pension plan. The Technical Packaging segment was reported as Discontinued Operations in 2020, and is presented as such for all periods in this report. See Note 2 to the Consolidated Financial Statements.

Products

The Company’s principal products are described below. See Note 14 to the Consolidated Financial Statements for financial information regarding business segments and 10% customers.

Aerospace & Defense

Beginning in the first quarter of 2020, Management renamed the Filtration/Fluid Flow (Filtration) segment as Aerospace & Defense to better reflect the composition of the segment’s products, end markets and customer characteristics. The Aerospace & Defense segment’s individual legal and operating entities, historical financial results, and management structure are unchanged from what was formerly presented as Filtration.

The Aerospace & Defense segment accounted for approximately 48%, 45% and 42% of the Company’s total revenue in 2020, 2019 and 2018, respectively.

The companies within this segment primarily design and manufacture specialty filtration, fluid control and naval products, including hydraulic filter elements and fluid control devices used in aerospace and defense applications, unique filter mechanisms used in micro-propulsion devices for satellites and custom designed filters for manned aircraft and submarines, products and systems to reduce vibration and/or acoustic signatures and otherwise reduce or obscure a vessel’s signature, and other communications, sealing, surface control and hydrodynamic related applications to enhance U.S. Navy maritime survivability; precision-tolerance machined components for the aerospace and defense industry; and metal processing services.

USG

The USG segment accounted for approximately 26%, 29% and 31% of the Company’s total revenue in 2020, 2019 and 2018, respectively.

Doble is an industry leader in the development, manufacture and delivery of diagnostic testing solutions that enable electric power grid operators to assess the integrity of high-voltage power delivery equipment. It combines three core elements for customers – diagnostic test and condition monitoring instruments, expert consulting, and testing services – and provides access to its large reserve of related empirical knowledge.

Doble has six offices in the United States and five international offices, one of which Doble intends to close in 2021 as mentioned above.

Our fiscal year ends September 30. Throughout this Annual Report, unless the context indicates otherwise, references to a year (for example 2022) refer to our fiscal year ending on September 30 of that year, and references to the “Consolidated Financial Statements” refer to our Consolidated Financial statements included in the Financial Information section of this Annual Report beginning on page F-1, an Index to which is provided on page F-1.

We classify our business operations into three segments for financial reporting purposes, although for reporting certain financial information we treat Corporate activities as a separate segment. Our three operating segments during 2022, together with the significant domestic and foreign operating subsidiaries within each segment, are as follows:

Aerospace & Defense (A&D):

VACCO Industries (VACCO)

PTI Technologies Inc. (PTI)

Crissair, Inc. (Crissair)

Globe Composite Solutions, LLC (Globe)

Mayday Manufacturing Co. (Mayday) (includes former subsidiary Hi-Tech Metals, Inc., which was merged into Mayday effective December 31, 2021)

Networks Electronic Co. (NEco)

Westland Technologies, Inc. (Westland)

Utility Solutions Group (USG):

Doble Engineering Company

I.S.A. – Altanova Group S.r.l. and affiliates (Altanova)

Morgan Schaffer Ltd. (Morgan Schaffer)

NRG Systems, Inc. (NRG)

Except as the context otherwise indicates, the term “Doble” as used herein includes Doble Engineering Company and ESCO’s other USG subsidiaries except NRG.

RF Shielding and Test (Test):

ETS-Lindgren Inc.

Except as the context otherwise indicates, the term “ETS-Lindgren” as used herein includes ETS-Lindgren Inc. and ESCO’s other Test segment subsidiaries.

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Our operating subsidiaries are engaged primarily in the research, development, manufacture, sale and support of the products and systems described below. Their respective businesses are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties, including without limitation those discussed in Item 1A, “Risk Factors.” See also Item 7, “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations,” and “Forward-Looking Information.”

We are continually seeking ways to reduce our overall operating costs, streamline business processes and enhance the branding of our products and services. For example, during 2020 Doble consolidated its headquarters operations into a single, more cost-efficient facility in Marlborough, Massachusetts, and in 2021 it closed its facility in Toronto, Ontario and consolidated its Manta product line into its existing production capacity for Doble instruments.

We are also continually seeking opportunities to supplement our growth by making strategic acquisitions. In October 2020 we acquired Advanced Technology Machining, Inc. (ATM) and its sister company TECC Grinding, Inc.; in July 2021 we acquired I.S.A Altanova Group S.r.l. and its affiliated companies (Altanova); in August 2021 we acquired the assets of Phenix Technologies Inc. (Phenix); and in November 2021 we acquired Networks Electronic Company, LLC (NEco), a provider of miniature electro-explosive components and subsystems supporting mission, flight, and life-critical applications to the aerospace and defense end-markets. Information about these acquired businesses is provided in the following section, “Products,” and in Note 2 to the Consolidated Financial Statements.

In December 2019, we sold the businesses comprising our former Technical Packaging segment and used the proceeds from the sale to pay down debt and for other corporate purposes. The Technical Packaging segment was reported as Discontinued Operations in 2020. See Note 3 to the Consolidated Financial Statements.

Products

Our principal products are described below. See Note 12 to the Consolidated Financial Statements for financial information regarding business segments and 10% customers.

A&D

Beginning in the first quarter of 2020, we renamed our Filtration/Fluid Flow segment as Aerospace & Defense to better reflect the composition of the segment’s products, end markets and customer characteristics. The A&D segment’s individual legal and operating entities and historical financial results are unchanged from what was formerly presented as Filtration/Fluid Flow.

The A&D segment accounted for approximately 41%, 44% and 48% of our total revenue in 2022, 2021 and 2020, respectively. This segment has seven facilities in the United States and one in Mexico.

Our companies within this segment primarily design and manufacture specialty filtration, fluid control and naval products, including hydraulic filter elements, fluid control devices, and precision-tolerance machined components used in aerospace and defense applications, unique filter mechanisms used in micro-propulsion devices for satellites, custom designed filters for manned aircraft and submarines, products and systems to reduce vibration and/or acoustic signatures and otherwise reduce or obscure a vessel’s signature, and other communications, sealing, surface control and hydrodynamic related applications to enhance U.S. Navy maritime survivability; and miniature electro-explosive devices for military aircraft ejection seats and missile arming devices.

USG

Our USG segment accounted for approximately 32%, 28% and 26% of our total revenue in 2022, 2021 and 2020, respectively. This segment has seven facilities in the United States, one in Canada, and eight outside North America.

Doble is an industry leader in the development, manufacture and delivery of diagnostic testing and data management solutions that enable electric power grid operators to assess the integrity of high-voltage power delivery equipment. It combines three core elements for customers – diagnostic test instruments and condition monitoring systems, expert consulting, and testing services. The acquisition of Phenix’s assets has enhanced Doble’s high voltage, high current, high power test systems, components and solutions. NRG is a global market leader in the design and manufacture of decision support tools for the renewable energy industry, primarily wind and solar.

Test

The Test segment accounted for approximately 26%, 26% and 27% of the Company’s total revenue in 2020, 2019 and 2018, respectively.

ETS-Lindgren is an industry leader in designing and manufacturing products which provide its customers with the ability to measure and contain magnetic, electromagnetic and acoustic energy. It supplies its customers with a broad range of isolated environments and turnkey systems, including RF test facilities, acoustic test enclosures, RF and magnetically shielded rooms, secure communication facilities, RF measurement systems and broadcast and recording studios. Many of these facilities include proprietary features such as

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Altanova, headquartered in Taino, Italy, provides products and services in more than 100 countries. Its strong market share in Europe and Asia creates a significant international platform for our USG segment and fills important product gaps and geographies not previously served by our existing products and solutions. Doble’s offices outside North America have been consolidated with Altanova’s, and going forward we expect that Altanova will represent their combined businesses in markets outside the U.S. and Canada.

Test

Our Test segment accounted for approximately 27%, 28% and 26% of our total revenue in 2022, 2021 and 2020, respectively. This segment has four facilities in the United States and six outside the United States.

ETS-Lindgren is an industry leader in designing and manufacturing products which provide its customers with the ability to measure and contain magnetic, electromagnetic and acoustic energy. It supplies its customers with a broad range of isolated environments and turnkey systems, including RF test facilities, acoustic test enclosures, RF and magnetically shielded rooms, secure communication facilities, RF measurement systems and broadcast and recording studios. Many of these facilities include proprietary features such as shielded doors and windows. ETS-Lindgren also provides the design, program management, installation and integration services required to successfully complete these types of facilities.

ETS-Lindgren also supplies customers with a broad range of components including RF absorptive materials, RF filters, active compensation systems, antennas, antenna masts, turntables and electric and magnetic probes, RF test cells, proprietary measurement software and other test accessories required to perform a variety of tests. ETS-Lindgren offers a variety of services including calibration for antennas and field probes, chamber certification, field surveys, customer training and a variety of product tests. ETS-Lindgren’s test labs are accredited by the following organizations: American Association for Laboratory Accreditation, National Voluntary Laboratory Accreditation Program and CTIA-The Wireless Association Accredited Test Lab. ETS-Lindgren serves the acoustics, medical, health and safety, electronics, wireless communications, automotive and defense markets. ETS-Lindgren has four offices in the United States and nine international offices.

Marketing and Sales

The Company’sOur products generally are distributed to customers through a domestic and foreign network of distributors, sales representatives, direct sales teams and in-house sales personnel.

The Company’sOur sales to international customers accounted for approximately 27%30%, 26%28% and 27% of the Company’sour total revenue in 2020, 20192022, 2021 and 2018,2020, respectively. See Note 1412 to the Consolidated Financial Statements for financial information by geographic area. See also Item 1A, “Risk Factors,” for a discussion of risks of the Company’srelated to our international operations.

Government Contracts

Some of the Company’sour products are sold directly or indirectly to the U.S. Government either directly under contracts with the Army, Navy and Air Force andas well as other Government agencies or indirectly under subcontracts with their prime contractors of such entities.contractors. Direct and indirect sales to the U.S. Government, primarily related to the Aerospace & DefenseA&D segment, accounted for approximately 28%27%, 21%,26% and 23%28% of the Company’sour total revenue in 2022, 2021 and 2020, 2019 and 2018, respectively. See also “Government Contracts,” below, and see Item 1A, “Risk Factors,” and related risks for a discussion of risks of the Company’s government business.

Government Contracts

The Company contracts with the U.S. Government and subcontracts with prime contractors of the U.S. Government. Although VACCO and Westland have a number of “cost-plus”Our Government contracts the Company’s Government contracts alsoprimarily include firm fixed-price contracts under which work is performed and paid for at a fixed amount without adjustment for the actual costs experienced in connection with the contracts. All Government prime contracts and virtually all of the Company’sour Government subcontracts provide that they may be terminated at the convenience of the Government or the customer. Upon sucha termination the Company isfor convenience, we are entitled to receive equitable compensation from the customer for the work we completed prior to termination. See “Marketing

All of our facilities are in material compliance with appliable COVID-related Government regulations and Sales,” above, and seeexecutive orders.

See Item 1A, “Risk Factors,” for additional information regardinga discussion of risks related to our Government contracts and related risks.business.

Intellectual Property

The Company ownsWe own or hashave other rights in various forms of intellectual property (i.e., patents, trademarks, service marks, copyrights, mask works, trade secrets and other items). As a major supplier of engineered products to industrial and commercial markets, the Company emphasizeswe emphasize developing intellectual property and protecting itsour rights therein. However, the scope oflegal protection afforded by intellectual property rights including those of the Company, is often uncertain and involvescan involve complex legal and factual issues. Some intellectual property rights, such as patents, have only a

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limited term. Also,term, and there can be no assurance that third parties will not infringe or design around the Company’sour intellectual property. Policing the unauthorized use of intellectual property is difficult, and infringement and misappropriation are persistent problems for many companies, particularly in some international markets. In addition, the Companymarkets, and in some cases, we may elect not elect to pursue an unauthorized user due to the high costs and uncertainties associated with litigation. Further, there can be no assurance that courts will ultimately hold issued patents or other intellectual property valid and enforceable. See Item 1A, “Risk Factors.”

A number of products in the Aerospace & Defense segment are based on patented or otherwise proprietary technology that sets them apart from the competition, such as VACCO’s proprietary quieting technology and Westland’s signature reduction solutions. In addition, Globe has developed significant manufacturing and logistics capability useful for special hull treatments for submarines. Globe has also obtained patent protection in the U.S. and Europe for a novel shielding curtain to be used with electromagnetic radiation scanning systems.

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In the USG segment, the segmentour policy is to seek patent and/or other forms of intellectual property protection on new and improved products, components of products, and methods of operation for itsour businesses, as such developments are made. Doble has obtained and is pursuing additional patent protection on improvements to its line of diagnostic equipment and NERC CIP compliance tools.tools and its newly-introduced Calisto R9 dissolved gas analyzer. Doble also holds an extensive library of apparatus performance information useful to entities that generate, distribute or consume electric energy. Dobleenergy, and it makes part of this library available to registered users via an Internet portal. NRGAltonova has obtained and is pursuing additional patent protection on instruments and methods for detecting partial discharges in electrical apparatus. NRG has intellectual property related to certain LIDAR technology and applications, and has obtained and is pursuing additional patent protection on its line of bat deterrent systems, which are designed to significantly reduce bat mortality at windfarms and in other applications where bat conservation is a concern.

In the Test segment, we have sought patent protection has been sought for significant inventions. Examples of such inventions include novel designs for window and door assemblies used in shielded enclosures and anechoic chambers, improved acoustic techniques for sound isolation and a variety of unique antennas. In addition, the Test segment holds a number of patents, and has patents pending, on products used to perform wireless device testing.

The Company considers itsWe consider our patents and other intellectual property to be of significant value into each of itsour segments.

Backlog

Total Company backlog of firm orders at September 30, 20202022 was $517.4$695.0 million, representing an increase of $65.8$103.0 million (15%(17.4%) from the backlog of $451.6$592.0 million at September 30, 2019.2021. By segment, the backlog at September 30, 20202022 and September 30, 2019,2021, respectively, was $344.7$408.3 million and $276.3$367.2 million for Aerospace & Defense; $50.7A&D; $128.1 million and $41.7$91.6 million for USG; and $122.0$158.6 million and $133.6$133.2. million for Test. The Company estimatesWe estimate that as of September 30, 20202022 domestic customers accounted for approximately 78%70% of the Company’sour total firm orders and international customers accounted for approximately 22%30%. Of theour total Company backlog at September 30, 2020,2022, approximately 73%80% is expected to be completed in the fiscal year ending September 30, 2021.2023.

Purchased Components and Raw Materials

The Company’sOur products require a wide variety of components and materials. Although the Company haswe have multiple sources of supply for most of itsour materials requirements, certain components and raw materials are supplied by sole source vendors, and the Company’sour ability to perform certain contracts depends on their timely performance. In the past, these required raw materials and various purchased components generally have been available in sufficient quantities. However, the Company doeswe do have some risk of shortages of materials or components due to reliance on sole or limited sources of supply; and supplies of components and materials may also beare periodically impacted by supply chain disruptions, due to COVID-19 as well as complications due to current or future trade policies. Where feasible, we engineer and qualify substitute products to avoid short-term supply issues; however, we are subject to the same supply chain risks as other electronics manufacturers. An unanticipated delay in delivery by our suppliers could result in the inability to deliver our products on-time and to meet the expectations of our customers. Additionally, we have experienced, and could continue to experience, an increase in the costs of doing business, including increasing raw material prices and transportation costs, which have and could continue to have an adverse impact on our business, results of operations, financial condition and cash flows. See also Item 1A, “Risk Factors.”

The Aerospace & DefenseOur A&D segment purchases supplies from a wide array of vendors. In most instances, multiple vendors of raw materials are screened during a qualification process to ensure that there will not be an interruption of supply should one of them underperform or discontinue operations. Nonetheless, in some situations, there is a risk of shortages due to reliance on a limited number of suppliers or because of price fluctuations due to the nature of the raw materials. For example, aerospace-grade titanium and gaseous helium, important raw materials for our Aerospace & DefenseA&D segment subsidiaries, may at times be in short supply.

TheOur USG segment manufactures electronic instrumentation through a network of regional contract manufacturers under long-term contracts. In general, USG purchases the same kinds of component parts as do other electronic products manufacturers, and itthese

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electronic components can be subject to supply chain constraints. USG purchases only a limited amount of raw materials.materials, although some USG products require helium, which may at times be in short supply.

TheOur Test segment is a vertically integrated supplier of electro-magnetic (EM) shielding and RF absorbing products, producing most of its critical RF components.components itself. This segment purchases significant quantities of raw materials such as polyurethane foam, polystyrene beads, steel, aluminum, copper, nickel and wood. Accordingly, it is subject to price fluctuations in the worldwide raw materials markets. While ETS-Lindgren has long-term contracts with a number of its suppliers, performance of these contracts is vulnerable to the risks described above and in Item 1A.

Competition

Competition in the Company’sour major markets is broadly based and global in scope. CompetitionThis competition can be particularly intense during periods of economic slowdown, and we have experienced this has been experienced in some of the Company’sour markets. Although the Company iswe are a leading supplier in several of the markets it serves, it maintainswe serve, we maintain a relatively small share of the business in many of theour other markets it serves.markets. Individual competitors range in size from annual revenues of less than $1 million to billion-dollar enterprises. Because of the specialized nature of the Company’sour products, itsour competitive position with respect to itsour products cannot be precisely stated. In the

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Company’sour major served markets, competition is driven primarily by quality, technology, price and delivery performance. See also Item 1A, “Risk Factors.”

Primary competitors of the Aerospace & Defenseour A&D segment include Pall Corporation, Moog, Inc., Safran (Sofrance), CLARCOR Inc., TransDigm (PneuDraulics), Marotta Controls, and Parker Hannifin.

Significant competitors of theour USG segment include OMICRON electronics Corp., Megger Group Limited, Vaisala, and Qualitrol Company LLC (a subsidiary of Fortive Corporation).

TheOur Test segment is a global leader in EM shielding. Significant competitors in this market include Rohde & Schwarz GMBH, Microwave Vision SA (MVG), TDK RF Solutions Inc., Albatross GmbH, IMEDCO AG, and Universal Shielding Corp.

Research and Development

Research and development and the Company’sour technological expertise are important factors in the Company’sour business. ResearchOur research and development programs are designed to develop technology for new products or to extend or upgrade the capability of existing products, and to enhance their commercial potential. The Company performsWe perform research and development at itsour own expense, and also engagesengage in research and development funded by our customers. See Note 1 to the Consolidated Financial Statements for financial information about the Company’sour research and development expenditures.

Environmental Matters and Government Regulation

The Company isWe are involved in various stages of investigation and cleanup relating to environmental matters. It is difficult to estimate the potential costs of suchthese matters and the possible impact of these costs on the Company at this time due in part to: the uncertainty regarding the extent of pollution; the complexity and changing nature of Government laws and regulations and their interpretations; the varying costs and effectiveness of alternative cleanup technologies and methods; the uncertain level of insurance or other types of cost recovery; the uncertain level of the Company’sour responsibility for any contamination; the possibility of joint and several liability with other contributors under applicable law; and the ability of other contributors to make required contributions toward cleanup costs. Based on information currently available, the Company doeswe do not believe that the aggregate costs involved in the resolution of any of its environmental matters or compliance with Governmental regulations will have a material adverse effect on the Company’sour financial condition or results of operations.

Human Capital Management

As of September 30, 2020,2022, we employed 2,8442,922 persons, including 2,7132,894 full time employees. Of our full-time employees 2,28918% of whom were located in the United States and 424 were located in 1517 foreign countries.

We strive to be a responsible member of the communities in which we operate, and we are dedicated to preserving operational excellence and remaining an employer of choice. We provide and maintain a work environment that is designed to attract, developattracts, develops and retainretains top talent throughby offering our employees an engaging work experience that contributes to their career development. Through the ESCO Technologies Foundation, our charitable arm,Foundation and Company-sponsored wellness activities we provide opportunities for meaningful civic involvement that not only support our communities but also provide experiences forand provides our employees towith meaningful experiences that promote a collaborative and rewarding work environment.environments. We strive to maintain a culture that enables all employees to be treated with dignity and respect while devoting their best efforts to performing their jobs to the best of their respective abilities. We

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operate in a supportive culture that incorporates highlystrong ethical behavior and reinforces our human rights commitment.commitment through annual training on ethics, human rights, anti-human trafficking and anti-harassment.

Our subsidiaries enjoy modest turnover at less thanabout half the national average for our industry. Fewer than 6% of our peer groups in U.S. industries. Of our workforce of more than 2,800 employees, fewer than 5% are contingent workers. We invest in creating a diverse, inclusive and safe work environment wherewhich will inspire our employees can deliverto give their workplace best efforts every day. In fact, more than 60%nearly half of our U.S. employees comeemployee base comes from diverse backgrounds.

We devote resourcesgenerally conduct formal compensation benchmarking reviews every 1-2 years to trainingensure wages are competitive in local markets and development, including educational assistance for career-enhancing academicsupport our retention and professional programs. We alsorecruiting efforts. Additionally, we invest time and resources in reviewing pay equity within our workforce. The majority of full-time domestic and international employees are eligible for bonus or commission plans, most of which are designed to incentivize and reward performance based on results such as EPS, EBIT, cash flow, quality and backlog reduction, or other measures.

We recognize that our success is based on the talents and dedication of those we employ, and we are invested in their success. Significant investments are made in the areas of talent development, technical skills and compliance training in areas such as supervisor training, employee coaching, ethics, safety, hazmat, ITAR, etc. For succession planning purposes, we focus on identifying high-potential future leaders and working with them on individual development plans. We recognize that our successplans and executive coaching.

Attracting and retaining a talented workforce is based onof utmost importance. Given the collective talents and dedication of those we employ, and we are highly invested in their success.

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Manufacture of our products and performance of our services requires the use of a variety of tools, equipment, materials and supplies. As a part of our commitment to the safety of our employees, customers and third parties,ever-changing talent market, we have established safety programs, policieslooked to broaden the ways in which we can recognize and procedures and training requirements for our employees. We also welcome employee involvement in local safety committees.

During 2020, we focused significant attention on the effective handling of the COVID-19 pandemic. Our response has included a re-layout of many of our factory floors and other personnel areas to ensure sufficient distancing in high density areas of our facilities. We also installed Plexiglas shields, modified training programs to comply with distancing requirements, limited visitor entry and increased virtual meetings, and adjusted shifts to aid in physical distancing. Additionally, we implemented the use of flexible and remote work arrangementsreward performance, including more frequent merit increases, market adjustments, spot bonuses, and other creative solutions. Where applicable, weways to recognize and reward employees. While utilizing these and other measures, at the end of our fiscal year the average tenure of our workforce was nine years. One third of employees have also provided additional support through daily symptom checksbeen with us for 10 or more years and self-assessments. more than 50% of employees have been with us for five or more years.

We have identified and/or developed resourcesare committed to supportthe health and wellbeing of our employees and their families with additional time off, flexible schedules, employer paid benefits,by encouraging participation in wellness programs. Generally, all our full-time employees, both domestic and international, are offered health and welfare benefits. We remain committed to our communities through financial support from our employees and the identificationESCO Foundation, and through personal participation of community resources.

our employees with a variety of local organizations, such as food banks, blood drives, the Boys & Girls Club, and Habitat for Humanity. We believe strong human capital acts asis a competitive differentiator. We strive to ensure thatdifferentiator, and we focus on ensuring we have the right leadersdomestic and international talent in place to drive our strategic initiatives not only today but alsowell into the future. We

Workforce Composition

(As of September 30, 2022)

By Gender

    

By Race

 

Male

    

71

%

Minorities

    

48

%

Female

 

24

%

White

 

40

%

Unknown*

 

5

%

Unknown*

 

12

%

*Some countries do not permit the collection or reporting of some or all of the above types of data.

By Generation

Gen Z (1996-2015)

8

%

Millennials (1977-1995)

39

%

Gen X (1965-1976)

28

%

Boomers (1946-1964)

25

%

Silent (1945 & before)

<1

%

Minorities are committeddefined to a safe workplaceinclude individuals of Native American or Alaskan Native, Asian, Black or
African American, Hispanic or Latino, Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islander,
and an ethical environment in which employees are respected in a culture of belonging and dignity and in which they can continually develop their skills and expertiseTwo or More Races.

The above is based on employees’ self-identification or other information believed by the Company to advance their careers.be reliable.

Financing

For information about the Company’sour credit facility, see Note 98 to the Consolidated Financial Statements, which is incorporated into this Item by reference.

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Additional Information

The information set forth in Item 1A, “Risk Factors,” is incorporated in this Item by reference.

The Company makesWe make available free of charge on or through itsour website, www.escotechnologies.com, itsour annual report on Form 10-K, quarterly reports on Form 10-Q, current reports on Form 8-K, and amendments to those reports filed or furnished pursuant to Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, as well as our recent Proxy Statements for meetings of our shareholders, as soon as reasonably practicable after suchwe file or furnish this material is electronically filed with or furnished to the Securities and Exchange Commission. Information contained on the Company’sour website is not incorporated into this Report.

Information about our Executive Officers

The following sets forth certain information as of November 1, 2020the date of this report with respect to the Company’spersons who are, or who have been selected to become, our executive officers. These officers are elected annually to terms which expire at the first meeting of the Board of Directors held after the next Annual Meeting of Stockholders.

Name

    

Age

    

Position(s) and Business Experience

Victor L. Richey

 

6365

 

Mr. Richey has been Chairman of the Board of Directors and Chief Executive Officer since April 2003;2003, and President since October 2006 *

Gary E. Muenster

60

Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer since February 2008; Director since February 2011

Alyson S. Barclay

61

Senior Vice President, Secretary and General Counsel since November 2008

*Mr. Richey2006. He also serves as Chairman of the Executive Committee of the Board of Directors. Mr. Richey will retire as Chief Executive Officer and President on December 31, 2022 but will continue as an employee and Chairman of the Board for a transition period.

Bryan H. Sayler

56

Mr. Sayler will become the Company’s Chief Executive Officer and President on January 1, 2023. Mr. Sayler has led our Utility Solutions Group since 2016, where he played a key role in strategically building out the group, including leading our entry into the renewables business and overseeing six successful acquisitions that have more than doubled the size of the segment. From 1995 to 2016, he held senior positions with ETS-Lindgren.

Christopher L. Tucker

51

Mr. Tucker has been Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer since April 2021. Prior to joining ESCO, Mr. Tucker worked at Emerson Electric Co (NYSE:EMR) for 24 years, where he held a series of financial and administrative positions, most recently as Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of Emerson’s Commercial and Residential Solutions business, consisting of 11 business units generating approximately $6 billion in annual revenue.

David M. Schatz

59

Mr. Schatz has been Senior Vice President, General Counsel and Secretary since April 2021.He has worked at ESCO since 1998 in various positions with increasing responsibility, including serving as Vice President, IP Counsel and Assistant Secretary from 2015 until April 2021; he has extensive knowledge of ESCO’s operations, technologies, intellectual property, regulatory matters, M&A and other complex legal matters.

There are no family relationships among any of theour executive officers and directors.

Item 1A. Risk Factors

This Form 10-K, including Item 1, “Business,” Item 2, “Properties,” Item 3, “Legal Proceedings,” Item 7, “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations,” and Item 7A, “Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk,” contains “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of the safe harbor provisions of the federal securities laws, as described under “Forward-Looking Statements” above.

In addition to the risks and uncertainties discussed in that sectionthose Items and elsewhere in this Form 10-K, and risks and uncertainties that apply to businesses or public companies generally, the following important risk factors which are particularly applicable to the

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Company’sour business could cause actual results and events to differ materially from those contained in any forward-looking statements, or could otherwise materially adversely affect the Company’sour business, operating results or financial condition:

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COVID-19 Related Risks

The continuation of the COVID-19 pandemic and its widespread effects on the United States and global economiesimpacts of known or unknown COVID-19 variants may have a material adverse effect on our business which could continue for an unknown period of time.

The effects of the COVID-19 global pandemic has significantly increased ourcontinue to create or increase the economic, demand and operational uncertainty. The rapid worldwide spreaduncertainties of the COVID-19 virus, as well as the measures governments and private organizations have implemented in order to stem the spread of this pandemic, is resulting in significant worldwide disruptions and contractions in economic activity, including those resulting from “shelter in place” and similar orders, restrictions on non-essential business operations and travel, and increased unemployment.our business. We have global operations, customers and suppliers, including in countries most impacted by COVID-19, and both the disease itself and the actions taken around the world to slow the spread of COVID-19 and its variants have impacted our customers and suppliers; and future developments could cause further disruptions to the Company due to the interconnected nature of our business relationships.

We have been and may continue to be subject to postponement or cancellation of certain contracts to which we are a party. We have also suffered a significant reduction in our commercial aircraft business due to slowdowns in OEM production and reduced flights, and this business is unlikely to return to pre-COVID levels for an unknown but possibly significant period of time. Current restrictions and conditions have and may continue to prevent or delay us in accessing customer facilities to deliver products and provide services, and may disrupt or delay our supply chain. Even though our businesses have been classified as essential businesses and allowed to remain in operation in jurisdictions in which facility closures have been mandated, we can give no assurance that this will not change in the future or that our businesses will be classified as essential in each of the jurisdictions in which we operate. Further, although we have implemented prevention measures at our own facilities, including enhanced cleaning procedures, social distancing efforts and working from home where feasible, and substantially all of our facilities have so far remained in business, we have occasionally incurred short-term disruptions in some facility operations, and due to the nature of the COVID-19 pandemic there can be no assurance that we will not suffer facility closures or other adverse effects on our business operations in the future.

The facilities of our suppliers and customers have experienced, and may continue to experience, disruptions in manufacturing and supply arrangements due to the loss or disruption of critical manufacturing and supply elements, such as raw materials or other finished product components, transportation, workforce or other manufacturing and distribution capability. We may also experience failure of third parties on which we rely, including our suppliers, distributors and contractors, to meet their obligations to us, or significant restrictions in their ability to do so.

These facts and circumstances may have a material adverse effect on our business, results of operations, financial condition and cash flows. The extent to which the COVID-19 pandemic will impact our business, results of operations, financial condition and cash flows in the future, and the length of time these impacts may continue, will depend on future developments that are highly uncertain and cannot be predicted at this time, including new information that may emerge concerning the severity of COVID-19 and its variants, the longevity of COVID-19 and its variants, and the actions taken to contain its impact.their impacts.

RisksPART II

5.

Market for Registrant’s Common Equity, Related to our GovernmentalStockholder Matters and Aerospace Business

Our salesIssuer Purchases of products to the Government depend upon continued Government funding.Equity Securities

Sales to the U.S. Government and its prime contractors and subcontractors represent a significant portion of our business. Over the past three fiscal years, from 21% to 28% of our revenues have been generated from sales to the U.S. Government or its contractors, primarily within our Aerospace & Defense segment. These sales are dependent on government funding of the underlying programs, which is generally subject to annual Congressional appropriations. There could be reductions or terminations of, or delays in, the government funding on programs which apply to us or our customers. These funding effects could adversely affect our sales and profit, and could bring about a restructuring of our operations, which could result in an adverse effect on our financial condition or results of operations. A significant portion of VACCO’s, Westland’s and Globe’s sales involve major U.S. Government programs such as NASA’s Space Launch System (SLS) and U.S. Navy submarines. A reduction or delay in Government spending on these programs could have a significant adverse impact on our financial results which could extend for more than a single year.16

Our Government business increases the risk that we may not realize the full amount of our backlog.

As of September 30, 2020, our twelve-month backlog was approximately $375 million, which represents confirmed orders we believe will be recognized as revenue within the next twelve months. There can be no assurance that our customers will purchase all the orders represented in our backlog, particularly as to contracts which are subject to the U.S. Government’s and its subcontractors’ ability to modify or terminate major programs or contracts, and if and to the extent that this occurs, our future revenues could be materially reduced.

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[Reserved]

17

7.

Management’s Discussion and Analysis of ContentsFinancial Condition and Results of Operations

The end of customer product life cycles could negatively affect our Aerospace & Defense segment’s results.17

Many of our Aerospace & Defense segment products are sold to be components in our customers’ end-products. If a customer discontinues a certain end-product line, our ability to continue to sell those components will be reduced or eliminated. The result could be a significant decrease in our sales. For example, a substantial portion of PTI’s revenue is generated from commercial aviation aftermarket sales. As certain aircraft are retired and replaced by newer aircraft, there could be a corresponding decrease in sales associated with our current products. Such a decrease could adversely affect our operating results.

Risks Related to our International Business

Negative worldwide economic conditions and related credit shortages could result in a decrease in our sales and an increase in our operating costs, which could adversely affect our business and operating results.

If there is a worsening of global and U.S. economic and financial market conditions and additional tightening of global credit markets, many of our customers may further delay or reduce their purchases of our products. Uncertainties in the global economy may cause the utility industry and commercial market customers to experience shortages in available credit, which could limit capital spending. To the extent this problem affects our customers, our sales and profits could be adversely affected. Likewise, if our suppliers face challenges in obtaining credit, they may have to increase their prices or become unable to continue to offer the products and services we use to manufacture our products, which could have an adverse effect on our business, results of operations and financial condition.

Increases in tariffs or other changes in trade policies could adversely affect our ability to compete.

In addition to the effects of increases in market prices, increases in domestic import tariffs could increase the prices to us of our foreign-sourced raw materials and product components and thereby require us to either increase our selling prices or accept reduced margins. In the case of ETS-Lindgren, for example, tariffs on imports of Chinese goods have raised the costs of components purchased by it either from its China facility or from other Chinese suppliers, and its margins in China have been impacted by the increased costs of its products made in the U.S. and sold through its Chinese business.

In addition, increases in foreign-country tariffs applicable to our exported products could increase the effective prices of our products to our customers in those countries unless we are able to offset the tariffs by reducing our selling prices. Any or all of these factors could decrease the demand for our products, reduce our profitability, and/or make our products less competitive than those of other manufacturers that are not subject to the same tariffs. For example, during 2019 and 2020 increased tariffs imposed by China on US origin goods have adversely affected sales of NRG’s products in China by increasing their prices to Chinese customers.

In addition, trade restrictions against certain foreign-made products or entities may adversely affect our business and our ability to compete in certain markets. Our business may also be impacted by the ongoing trade tensions between the US and China which are causing US goods to be viewed in a less favorable light by Chinese customers.

Our international operations expose us to fluctuations in currency exchange rates that could adversely affect our results of operations and cash flows.

We have significant manufacturing and sales activities in foreign countries, and our domestic operations have sales to foreign customers. Our financial results may be affected by fluctuations in foreign currencies and by the translation of the financial statements of our foreign subsidiaries from local currencies into U.S. dollars, and we may not be able to adequately or successfully hedge against these risks. In addition, a rise in the dollar against foreign currencies could make our products more expensive for foreign customers and cause them to reduce the volume of their purchases.

Economic, political and other risks of our international operations, including terrorist activities, could adversely affect our business.

In 2020, approximately 27% of our net sales were to customers outside the United States. Increases in international tariffs resulting from changes in domestic or foreign trade policies could increase the costs of the raw materials used in our products and/or the costs of our products. In addition, an economic downturn or an adverse change in the political situation in certain foreign countries in which we do business could cause a decline in revenues and adversely affect our financial condition. For example, our Test segment does significant business in Asia, and changes in the Asian political climate or political changes in specific Asian countries could

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negatively affect our business; several of our subsidiaries are basedQuantitative and Qualitative Disclosures about Market Risk

25

8.

Financial Statements and Supplementary Data

25

9.

Changes in Europe and could be negatively impacted by weakness in the European economy; Doble’s UK-based business could be adversely affected by Brexit;Disagreements with Accountants on Accounting and Doble’s future business in the Middle East could be adversely affected by continuing political unrest, wars and terrorism in the region.Financial Disclosure

Our international sales are also subject to other risks inherent in foreign commerce, including currency fluctuations and devaluations, differences in foreign laws, uncertainties as to enforcement of contract or intellectual property rights, and difficulties in negotiating and resolving disputes with our foreign customers.25

Our governmental sales and our international and export operations are subject to special U.S. and foreign government laws and regulations which may impose significant compliance costs, create reputational and legal risk, and impair our ability to compete in international markets.

The international scope of our operations subjects us to a complex system of commercial and trade regulations around the world, and our foreign operations are governed by laws and business practices that often differ from those of the U.S. In addition, laws such as the U.S. Foreign Corrupt Practices Act and similar laws in other countries increase the need for us to manage the risks of improper conduct not only by our own employees but by distributors and contractors who may not be within our direct control. Many of our exports are of products which are subject to U.S. Government regulations and controls such as the U.S. International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR), which impose certain restrictions on the U.S. export of defense articles and services, and these restrictions are subject to change from time to time, including changes in the countries into which our products may lawfully be sold.

If we were to fail to comply with these laws and regulations, we could be subject to significant fines, penalties and other sanctions including the inability to continue to export our products or to sell our products to the U.S. Government or to certain other customers. In addition, some of these regulations may be viewed as too restrictive by our international customers, who may elect to develop their own domestic products or procure products from other international suppliers which are not subject to comparable export restrictions; and the laws, regulations or policies of certain other countries may also favor their own domestic suppliers over foreign suppliers such as the Company.

Risks Related to our Manufacturing and Sales Operations and Technology

A significant part of our manufacturing operations depends on a small number of third-party suppliers.

A significant part of our manufacturing operations relies on a small number of third-party manufacturers to supply component parts or products. For example, Doble has arrangements with six manufacturers which produce and supply a substantial portion of its end-products, and one of these suppliers produces approximately 35% of Doble’s products from a single location within the United States. As another example, PTI has a single supplier of critical electronic components for a significant aircraft production program, and if this supplier were to discontinue producing these components the need to secure another source could pose a risk to the production program. A significant disruption in the supply of those products or others provided by a small number of suppliers could negatively affect the timely delivery of products to customers as well as future sales, which could increase costs and reduce margins.

Certain of our other businesses are dependent upon sole source or a limited number of third-party manufacturers of parts and components. Many of these suppliers are small businesses. Since alternative supply sources are limited, there is an increased risk of adverse impacts on our production schedules and profits if our suppliers were to default in fulfilling their price, quality or delivery obligations. In addition, some of our customers or potential customers may prefer to purchase from a supplier which does not have such a limited number of sources of supply.

Increases in prices of raw material and components, and decreased availability of such items, could adversely affect our business.

The cost of raw materials and product components is a major element of the total cost of many of our products. For example, our Test segment’s critical components rely on purchases of raw materials from third parties. Increases in the prices of raw materials (such as steel, copper, nickel, zinc, wood and petrochemical products) could have an adverse impact on our business by, among other things, increasing costs and reducing margins. Aerospace-grade titanium and gaseous helium, important raw materials for our Aerospace & Defense segment, may at times be in short supply. Further, some of Doble’s items of equipment which are provided to its customers for their use are in the maturity of their life cycles, which creates the risk that replacement components may be unavailable or available only at increased costs.

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In addition, our reliance on sole or limited sources of supply of raw materialsControls and components in each of our segments could adversely affect our business, as described in the preceding Risk Factor. Weather-created disruptions in supply, in addition to affecting costs, could impact our ability to procure an adequate supply of these raw materials and components, and delay or prevent deliveries of products to our customers.Procedures

Our inability to timely develop new products could reduce our future sales.26

Much of our business is dependent on the continuous development of new products and technologies to meet the changing needs of our markets on a cost-effective basis. Many of these markets are highly technical from an engineering standpoint, and the relevant technologies are subject to rapid change. If we fail to timely enhance existing products or develop new products as needed to meet market or competitive demands, we could lose sales opportunities, which would adversely affect our business. In addition, in some existing contracts with customers, we have made commitments to develop and deliver new products. If we fail to meet these commitments, the default could result in the imposition on us of contractual penalties including termination. Our inability to enhance existing products in a timely manner could make our products less competitive, while our inability to successfully develop new products may limit our growth opportunities. Development of new products and product enhancements may also require us to make greater investments in research and development than we now do, and the increased costs associated with new product development and product enhancements could adversely affect our operating results. In addition, our costs of new product development may not be recoverable if demand for our products is not as great as we anticipate it to be.

Product defects could result in costly fixes, litigation and damages.

Our business exposes us to potential product liability risks that are inherent in the design, manufacture and sale of our products and the products of third-party vendors which we use or resell, many of which are mission-critical to our customers. If there are claims related to defective products (under warranty or otherwise), particularly in a product recall situation, we could be faced with significant expenses in replacing or repairing the product. For example, the Aerospace & Defense segment obtains raw materials, machined parts and other product components from suppliers who provide certifications of quality which we rely on. Should these product components be defective and pass undetected into finished products, or should a finished product contain a defect, we could incur significant costs for repairs, re-work and/or removal and replacement of the defective product. In addition, if a dispute over product claims cannot be settled, arbitration or litigation may result, requiring us to incur attorneys’ fees and exposing us to the potential of damage awards against us.

Despite our efforts, we may be unable to adequately protect our intellectual property.

Much of our business success depends on our ability to protect and freely utilize our various intellectual properties, including both patents and trade secrets. Despite our efforts to protect our intellectual property, unauthorized parties or competitors may copy or otherwise obtain and use our products and technology, particularly in foreign countries such as China where the laws may not protect our proprietary rights as fully as in the United States. Our current and future actions to enforce our proprietary rights may ultimately not be successful; or in some cases we may not elect to pursue an unauthorized user due to the high costs and uncertainties associated with litigation. We may also face exposure to claims by others challenging our intellectual property rights. Any or all of these actions may divert our resources and cause us to incur substantial costs.

Disputes with contractors could adversely affect our Test segment’s results.

A major portion of our Test segment’s business involves working in conjunction with general contractors to produce complex building components constructed on-site, such as electronic test chambers, secure communication rooms and MRI facilities. If there are performance problems caused by either us or a contractor, they could result in cost overruns and may lead to a dispute as to which party is responsible. The resolution of such disputes can involve arbitration or litigation, and can cause us to incur significant expense including attorneys’ fees. In addition, these disputes could result in a reduction in revenue, a loss on a particular project, or even a significant damages award against us.

Environmental or regulatory requirements could increase our expenses and adversely affect our profitability.

Our operations and properties are subject to U.S. and foreign environmental laws and regulations governing, among other things, the generation, storage, emission, discharge, transportation, treatment and disposal of hazardous materials and the clean-up of contaminated properties. These regulations, and changes to them, could increase our cost of compliance, and our failure to comply

10

Table of Contents9B.

could result in the imposition of significant fines, suspension of production, alteration of product processes, cessation of operations or other actions which could materially and adversely affect our business, financial condition and results of operations.Other Information

We are currently involved as a responsible party in several ongoing investigations and remediations of contaminated third-party owned properties. In addition, environmental contamination may be discovered in the future on properties which we formerly owned or operated and for which we could be legally responsible. Future costs associated with these situations, including ones which may be currently unknown to us, are difficult to quantify but could have a significant effect on our financial condition. See Item 1, “Business – Environmental Matters” for a discussion of these factors.26

9C.

Disclosure Regarding Foreign Jurisdictions that Prevent Inspections

26

Risks Related to Our Business StrategyPART III

10.

Directors, Executive Officers and Corporate StructureGovernance

27

Changes in testing standards could adversely impact our Test11.

Executive Compensation

27

12.

Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and USG segments’ sales.

A significant portion of the business of our USGManagement and Test segments involves sales to technology customers who need to have a third party verify that their products meet specific internationalRelated Stockholder Matters

27

13.

Certain Relationships and domestic test standards. If regulatory agencies were to eliminate or reduce certain domestic or international test standards, or if demand for product testing from these customers were to decrease for some other reason, our sales could be adversely affected. For example, if a regulatory authority were to relax the test standards for certain electronic devices because they were determined not to interfere with the broadcast spectrum, or if new wireless communication technologies were developed that required less testing or different types of testing, our sales of certain testing products could be significantly reduced.

We may not be able to identify suitable acquisition candidates or complete acquisitions successfully, which may inhibit our rate of growth.

As part of our growth strategy, we plan to continue to pursue acquisitions of other companies, assetsRelated Transactions, and product lines that either complement or expand our existing business. However, we may be unable to implement this strategy if we are unable to identify suitable acquisition candidates or consummate future acquisitions at acceptable pricesDirector Independence

27

14.

Principal Accountant Fees and terms. We expect to face competition for acquisition candidates which may limit the number of acquisition opportunities available to us and may result in higher acquisition prices. As a result, we may be limited in the number of acquisitions which we are able to complete and we may face difficulties in achieving the profitability or cash flows needed to justify our investment in them.

Our acquisitions of other companies carry risk.

Acquisitions of other companies involve numerous risks, including difficulties in the integration of the operations, technologies and products of the acquired companies, the potential exposure to unanticipated and undisclosed liabilities, the potential that expected benefits or synergies are not realized and that operating costs increase, the potential loss of key personnel, suppliers or customers of acquired businesses and the diversion of Management’s time and attention from other business concerns. Although we attempt to identify and evaluate the risks inherent in any acquisition, we may not properly ascertain or mitigate all such risks, and our failure to do so could have a material adverse effect on our business.

We may incur significant costs, experience short-term inefficiencies, or be unable to realize expected long-term savings from facility consolidations and other business reorganizations.

We periodically assess the cost and operational structure of our facilities in order to manufacture and sell our products in the most efficient manner, and based on these assessments, we may from time to time reorganize, relocate or consolidate certain of our facilities. These actions may require us to incur significant costs and may result in short term business inefficiencies as we consolidate and close facilities and transition our employees; and in addition, we may not achieve the expected long-term benefits. Any or all of these factors could result in an adverse impact on our operating results, cash flows and financial condition.

The loss of specialized key employees could affect our performance and revenues.

There is a risk of our losing key employees having engineering and technical expertise. For example, our USG segment relies heavily on engineers with significant experience and reputation in the utility industry to furnish expert consulting services and support to customers. Despite our active recruitment efforts, there remains a shortage of these qualified engineers because of hiring competition

11

Table of ContentsServices

from other companies in the industry. Loss of these employees to other employers or for other reasons could reduce the segment’s ability to provide services and negatively affect our revenues.27

Our decentralized organizational structure presents certain risks.PART IV

We are a relatively decentralized company in comparison with some of our peers. This decentralization necessarily places significant control and decision-making powers in the hands of local management, which present various risks, including the risk that we may be slower or less able to identify or react to problems affecting a key business than we would in a more centralized management environment. We may also be slower to detect or react to compliance related problems (such as an employee undertaking activities prohibited by applicable law or by our internal policies), and Company-wide business initiatives may be more challenging and costly to implement, and the risks of noncompliance or failures higher, than they would be under a more centralized management structure. Depending on the nature of the problem or initiative in question, such noncompliance or failure could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition or result of operations.

Provisions in our articles of incorporation, bylaws and Missouri law could make it more difficult for a third party to acquire us and could discourage acquisition bids or a change of control, and could adversely affect the market price of our common stock.

Our articles of incorporation and bylaws contain certain provisions which could discourage potential hostile takeover attempts, including: a limitation on the shareholders’ ability to call special meetings of shareholders; advance notice requirements to nominate candidates for election as directors or to propose matters for action at a meeting of shareholders; a classified board of directors, which means that approximately one-third of our directors are elected each year; and the authority of our board of directors to issue, without shareholder approval, preferred stock with such terms as the board may determine. In addition, the laws of Missouri, in which we are incorporated, require a two-thirds vote of outstanding shares to approve mergers or certain other major corporate transactions, rather than a simple majority as in some other states such as Delaware. These provisions could impede a merger or other change of control not approved by our board of directors, which could discourage takeover attempts and in some circumstances reduce the market price of our common stock.

15.

Item 1B. Unresolved Staff Comments

None

Item 2. Properties

The Company believes its buildings, machinery and equipment have been generally well maintained, are in good operating condition and are adequate for the Company’s current production requirements and other needs.

At September 30, 2020, the Company’s physical properties, including those described in the table below, comprised approximately 1,504,000 square feet of floor space, of which approximately 614,000 square feet were owned and approximately 890,000 square feet were leased. The table below includes the Company’s principal physical properties. The Company does not believe any of the omitted properties, consisting primarily of office and/or warehouse space, are individually or collectively material to its operations or business. See also Notes 15 and 16 to the ConsolidatedExhibits, Financial Statements.Statement Schedules

28

[Table is on following page]

12

Table of Contents16.

Form 10-K Summary

Principal Use(s)

30

SIGNATURES

31

FINANCIAL INFORMATION

F-1

EXHIBITS

i

(M=Manufacturing,

Approx. 

Owned / Leased (with

 E=Engineering, O=Office,

Operating 

Location

Sq. Ft.

Expiration Date)

W=Warehouse)

Segment 

Modesto, CA

181,500

Leased (9/30/2023)

M, E, O,W

Aerospace & Defense

Denton, TX

145,000

Leased (9/30/2029, plus options)

M, E, O, W

Aerospace & Defense

Cedar Park, TX

130,000

Owned

M, E, O, W

Test

Oxnard, CA

127,400

Owned

M, E, O, W

Aerospace & Defense

South El Monte, CA

100,100

Owned

M, E, O, W

Aerospace & Defense

Durant, OK

100,000

Owned

M, O, W

Test

Valencia, CA

79,300

Owned

M, E, O

Aerospace & Defense

Marlborough, MA

79,100

Leased (2/28/2037)

M, E, O, W

USG

Hinesburg, VT

77,000

Leased (4/30/2029)

M, E, O, W

USG

Stoughton, MA

71,400

Leased (1/31/2029)

M, E, O, W

Aerospace & Defense

South El Monte, CA

63,300

Leased (various term ends)

M, O, W

Aerospace & Defense

Eura, Finland

41,500

Owned

M, E, O, W

Test

Tianjin, China

38,100

Leased (11/19/2027)

M, E, O

Test

Minocqua, WI

35,400

Owned

M, O, W

Test

LaSalle (Montreal), Québec

35,200

Leased (8/31/21) *

M, E, O

USG

Beijing, China

33,300

Leased (12/21/2024)

M, E, O

Test

Avon, MA

30,000

Leased (5/31/2022)

W

Aerospace & Defense

Ontario, CA

26,900

Leased (8/31/2025)

M, E, O, W

USG

St. Louis, MO

21,500

Leased (8/31/2025)

ESCO Corporate Office

Corporate

Mississauga, Ontario

15,600

Leased (11/30/2023)

M, E, O, W

USG

Morrisville, NC

11,600

Leased (1/31/2027)

O

USG

Wood Dale, IL

10,700

Leased (6/30/2024)

E, O

Test

*The Company intends not to renew this lease and to move these operations to 38,400 square feet of leased space in a nearby facility with a lease term beginning 6/1/2021 and expiring 8/31/2036 (plus options).

FORWARD-LOOKING INFORMATION

Statements contained in this Form 10-K regarding future events and the Company’s future results that are based on current expectations, estimates, forecasts and projections about the Company’s performance and the industries in which the Company operates are considered “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of the safe harbor provisions of the Federal securities laws. These include, without limitation, statements about: the effects of the continuing COVID-19 pandemic and its known or unknown variants on the Company’s business and results of operations; the adequacy of the Company’s buildings, machinery and equipment; the adequacy of the Company’s credit facilities and future cash flows; the outcome of litigation, claims and charges; future costs relating to environmental matters; repayment of debt within the next twelve months; the outlook for all or any part of the Company’s business, including amounts, timing and sources of future sales, revenues, sales growth, and comparisons with the current year; interest on Company debt obligations; the ability of expected hedging gains or losses to be offset by losses or gains on related underlying exposures; the Company’s ability to increase shareholder value; acquisitions; income tax expense and the Company’s expected effective tax rate; the recognition of unrecognized compensation costs related to share-based compensation arrangements; the Company’s exposure to market risk related to interest rates and to foreign currency exchange risk; the likelihood of future variations in the Company’s assumptions or estimates used in recording contracts and expected costs at completion under the percentage of completion method; the Company’s estimates and assumptions used in the preparation of its financial statements; costs and estimated earnings from long-term contracts; valuation of inventories; estimates of uncollectible accounts receivable; the risk of goodwill impairment; the Company’s estimates utilized in software revenue recognition, non-cash depreciation and the amortization of intangible assets; the valuation of deferred tax assets; estimates of future cash flows and fair values in connection with the risk of goodwill impairment; amounts of NOL not realizable and the timing and amount of the reduction of unrecognized tax benefits; the effects of implementing recently issued accounting pronouncements; and any other statements contained herein which are not strictly historical. Words such as expects, anticipates, targets, goals, projects, intends, plans, believes, estimates, variations of such words, and similar expressions are intended to identify such forward-looking statements.

Investors are cautioned that such statements are only predictions and speak only as of the date of this Form 10-K, and the Company undertakes no duty to update the information in this Form 10-K except as may be required by applicable laws or regulations. The Company’s actual results in the future may differ materially from those projected in the forward-looking statements due to risks and uncertainties that exist in the Company’s operations and business environment, including but not limited to those described herein under “Item 1A, Risk Factors,” and the following: the duration, scope and effects of the COVID-19 pandemic and its variants, including the impact of mandates or other restrictive protocols on our business and workforce and the availability and acceptance of effective vaccines by enough of the U.S. and the world’s population to curtail or alleviate the seriousness of the pandemic; the impacts of climate change and related regulation of greenhouse gases, the impacts of labor disputes, civil disorder, wars, elections, political changes, tariffs and trade disputes, terrorist activities, cyberattacks or natural disasters on the Company’s operations and those of the Company’s customers and suppliers; disruptions in manufacturing or delivery arrangements due to shortages or unavailability of materials or components or supply chain disruptions; inability to access work sites; the timing and content of future customer orders; the appropriation and allocation of Government funds; the termination for convenience of Government and other customer contracts or orders; the timing and magnitude of future contract awards; weakening of economic conditions in served markets; the success of the Company’s competitors; changes in customer demands or customer insolvencies; competition; intellectual property rights; technical difficulties or data breaches; the availability of selected acquisitions; defaults by customers; performance issues with key customers, suppliers and subcontractors; material changes in the costs and availability of certain raw materials; material changes in the cost of credit; changes in laws and regulations including but not limited to changes in accounting standards and taxation requirements; costs relating to environmental matters; litigation uncertainty; the Company’s inability to successfully execute internal restructuring and other plans; and the integration and performance of recently acquired businesses.

ii

PART I

Item 1. Business

The Company

The Registrant is ESCO Technologies Inc., sometimes referred to in this report as ESCO. Except where the context indicates otherwise, the terms “Company”, “we”, “our” and “us” are used in this report to refer to ESCO together with its subsidiaries through which its businesses are conducted. We are:

A global provider of highly engineered filtration and fluid control products and integrated propulsion systems for the aviation, navy, space and process markets worldwide, as well as composite-based products and solutions for navy, defense and industrial customers;

An industry leader in radio frequency (RF) shielding and electromagnetic compatibility (EMC) test products; and

Item 3. Legal Proceedings

As a normal incident

A provider of diagnostic instruments, software and services for the benefit of industrial power users and the electric utility and renewable energy industries.

Our business is focused on generating predictable and profitable long-term growth through continued innovation and expansion of our product offerings across each of our business segments. We conduct our business through a number of wholly-owned direct and indirect subsidiaries. Our corporate strategy is centered on a multi-segment approach designed to enhance the strength and sustainability of sales and earnings growth by providing lower risk through diversification. Our stock is listed on the New York Stock Exchange, where its ticker symbol is “ESE”.

Our fiscal year ends September 30. Throughout this Annual Report, unless the context indicates otherwise, references to a year (for example 2022) refer to our fiscal year ending on September 30 of that year, and references to the “Consolidated Financial Statements” refer to our Consolidated Financial statements included in the Financial Information section of this Annual Report beginning on page F-1, an Index to which is provided on page F-1.

We classify our business operations into three segments for financial reporting purposes, although for reporting certain financial information we treat Corporate activities as a separate segment. Our three operating segments during 2022, together with the significant domestic and foreign operating subsidiaries within each segment, are as follows:

Aerospace & Defense (A&D):

VACCO Industries (VACCO)

PTI Technologies Inc. (PTI)

Crissair, Inc. (Crissair)

Globe Composite Solutions, LLC (Globe)

Mayday Manufacturing Co. (Mayday) (includes former subsidiary Hi-Tech Metals, Inc., which was merged into Mayday effective December 31, 2021)

Networks Electronic Co. (NEco)

Westland Technologies, Inc. (Westland)

Utility Solutions Group (USG):

Doble Engineering Company

I.S.A. – Altanova Group S.r.l. and affiliates (Altanova)

Morgan Schaffer Ltd. (Morgan Schaffer)

NRG Systems, Inc. (NRG)

Except as the context otherwise indicates, the term “Doble” as used herein includes Doble Engineering Company and ESCO’s other USG subsidiaries except NRG.

RF Shielding and Test (Test):

ETS-Lindgren Inc.

Except as the context otherwise indicates, the term “ETS-Lindgren” as used herein includes ETS-Lindgren Inc. and ESCO’s other Test segment subsidiaries.

Our operating subsidiaries are engaged primarily in the research, development, manufacture, sale and support of the products and systems described below. Their respective businesses are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties, including without limitation those discussed in which the Company is engaged, various claims, charges and litigation are asserted or commenced from time to time against the Company. With respect to claims and litigation currently asserted or commenced against the Company, it is the opinion of Management that final judgments, if any, which might be rendered against the Company are adequately reserved for, are covered by insurance, or are not likely to have a material adverse effect on the Company’s financial condition or results of operations. Nevertheless, given the uncertainties of litigation, it is possible that certain types of claims, charges and litigation could have a material adverse impact on the Company; see Item 1A, “Risk Factors.” See also Item 7, “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations,” and “Forward-Looking Information.”

We are continually seeking ways to reduce our overall operating costs, streamline business processes and enhance the branding of our products and services. For example, during 2020 Doble consolidated its headquarters operations into a single, more cost-efficient facility in Marlborough, Massachusetts, and in 2021 it closed its facility in Toronto, Ontario and consolidated its Manta product line into its existing production capacity for Doble instruments.

We are also continually seeking opportunities to supplement our growth by making strategic acquisitions. In October 2020 we acquired Advanced Technology Machining, Inc. (ATM) and its sister company TECC Grinding, Inc.; in July 2021 we acquired I.S.A Altanova Group S.r.l. and its affiliated companies (Altanova); in August 2021 we acquired the assets of Phenix Technologies Inc. (Phenix); and in November 2021 we acquired Networks Electronic Company, LLC (NEco), a provider of miniature electro-explosive components and subsystems supporting mission, flight, and life-critical applications to the aerospace and defense end-markets. Information about these acquired businesses is provided in the following section, “Products,” and in Note 2 to the Consolidated Financial Statements.

In December 2019, we sold the businesses comprising our former Technical Packaging segment and used the proceeds from the sale to pay down debt and for other corporate purposes. The Technical Packaging segment was reported as Discontinued Operations in 2020. See Note 3 to the Consolidated Financial Statements.

Products

Our principal products are described below. See Note 12 to the Consolidated Financial Statements for financial information regarding business segments and 10% customers.

A&D

Beginning in the first quarter of 2020, we renamed our Filtration/Fluid Flow segment as Aerospace & Defense to better reflect the composition of the segment’s products, end markets and customer characteristics. The A&D segment’s individual legal and operating entities and historical financial results are unchanged from what was formerly presented as Filtration/Fluid Flow.

The A&D segment accounted for approximately 41%, 44% and 48% of our total revenue in 2022, 2021 and 2020, respectively. This segment has seven facilities in the United States and one in Mexico.

Our companies within this segment primarily design and manufacture specialty filtration, fluid control and naval products, including hydraulic filter elements, fluid control devices, and precision-tolerance machined components used in aerospace and defense applications, unique filter mechanisms used in micro-propulsion devices for satellites, custom designed filters for manned aircraft and submarines, products and systems to reduce vibration and/or acoustic signatures and otherwise reduce or obscure a vessel’s signature, and other communications, sealing, surface control and hydrodynamic related applications to enhance U.S. Navy maritime survivability; and miniature electro-explosive devices for military aircraft ejection seats and missile arming devices.

USG

Our USG segment accounted for approximately 32%, 28% and 26% of our total revenue in 2022, 2021 and 2020, respectively. This segment has seven facilities in the United States, one in Canada, and eight outside North America.

Doble is an industry leader in the development, manufacture and delivery of diagnostic testing and data management solutions that enable electric power grid operators to assess the integrity of high-voltage power delivery equipment. It combines three core elements for customers – diagnostic test instruments and condition monitoring systems, expert consulting, and testing services. The acquisition of Phenix’s assets has enhanced Doble’s high voltage, high current, high power test systems, components and solutions. NRG is a global market leader in the design and manufacture of decision support tools for the renewable energy industry, primarily wind and solar.

2

Altanova, headquartered in Taino, Italy, provides products and services in more than 100 countries. Its strong market share in Europe and Asia creates a significant international platform for our USG segment and fills important product gaps and geographies not previously served by our existing products and solutions. Doble’s offices outside North America have been consolidated with Altanova’s, and going forward we expect that Altanova will represent their combined businesses in markets outside the U.S. and Canada.

Test

Our Test segment accounted for approximately 27%, 28% and 26% of our total revenue in 2022, 2021 and 2020, respectively. This segment has four facilities in the United States and six outside the United States.

ETS-Lindgren is an industry leader in designing and manufacturing products which provide its customers with the ability to measure and contain magnetic, electromagnetic and acoustic energy. It supplies its customers with a broad range of isolated environments and turnkey systems, including RF test facilities, acoustic test enclosures, RF and magnetically shielded rooms, secure communication facilities, RF measurement systems and broadcast and recording studios. Many of these facilities include proprietary features such as shielded doors and windows. ETS-Lindgren also provides the design, program management, installation and integration services required to successfully complete these types of facilities.

ETS-Lindgren also supplies customers with a broad range of components including RF absorptive materials, RF filters, active compensation systems, antennas, antenna masts, turntables and electric and magnetic probes, RF test cells, proprietary measurement software and other test accessories required to perform a variety of tests. ETS-Lindgren offers a variety of services including calibration for antennas and field probes, chamber certification, field surveys, customer training and a variety of product tests. ETS-Lindgren’s test labs are accredited by the following organizations: American Association for Laboratory Accreditation, National Voluntary Laboratory Accreditation Program and CTIA-The Wireless Association Accredited Test Lab. ETS-Lindgren serves the acoustics, medical, health and safety, electronics, wireless communications, automotive and defense markets.

Marketing and Sales

Our products generally are distributed to customers through a domestic and foreign network of distributors, sales representatives, direct sales teams and in-house sales personnel.

Our sales to international customers accounted for approximately 30%, 28% and 27% of our total revenue in 2022, 2021 and 2020, respectively. See Note 12 to the Consolidated Financial Statements for financial information by geographic area. See Item 1A, “Risk Factors,” for a discussion of risks related to our international operations.

Government Contracts

Some of our products are sold to the U.S. Government either directly under contracts with the Army, Navy and Air Force as well as other Government agencies or indirectly under subcontracts with their prime contractors. Direct and indirect sales to the U.S. Government, primarily related to the A&D segment, accounted for approximately 27%, 26% and 28% of our total revenue in 2022, 2021 and 2020, respectively.

Our Government contracts primarily include firm fixed-price contracts under which work is performed and paid for at a fixed amount without adjustment for the actual costs experienced in connection with the contracts. All Government prime contracts and virtually all of our Government subcontracts provide that they may be terminated at the convenience of the Government or the customer. Upon a termination for convenience, we are entitled to receive equitable compensation from the customer for the work we completed prior to termination.

All of our facilities are in material compliance with appliable COVID-related Government regulations and executive orders.

See Item 1A, “Risk Factors,” for a discussion of risks related to our Government business.

Intellectual Property

We own or have other rights in various forms of intellectual property (i.e., patents, trademarks, service marks, copyrights, mask works, trade secrets and other items). As a major supplier of engineered products to industrial and commercial markets, we emphasize developing intellectual property and protecting our rights therein. However, the legal protection afforded by intellectual property rights is often uncertain and can involve complex legal and factual issues. Some intellectual property rights, such as patents, have a

3

limited term, and there can be no assurance that third parties will not infringe or design around our intellectual property. Policing the unauthorized use of intellectual property is difficult, and infringement and misappropriation are persistent problems for many companies, particularly in some international markets, and in some cases, we may elect not to pursue an unauthorized user due to the high costs and uncertainties associated with litigation. Further, there can be no assurance that courts will ultimately hold issued patents or other intellectual property valid and enforceable. See Item 1A, “Risk Factors.”

A number of products in the Aerospace & Defense segment are based on patented or otherwise proprietary technology that sets them apart from the competition, such as VACCO’s proprietary quieting technology and Westland’s signature reduction solutions. In addition, Globe has developed significant manufacturing and logistics capability useful for special hull treatments for submarines.

In the USG segment, our policy is to seek patent and/or other forms of intellectual property protection on new and improved products, components of products, and methods of operation for our businesses, as such developments are made. Doble has obtained and is pursuing additional patent protection on improvements to its line of diagnostic equipment and NERC CIP compliance tools and its newly-introduced Calisto R9 dissolved gas analyzer. Doble also holds an extensive library of apparatus performance information useful to entities that generate, distribute or consume electric energy, and it makes part of this library available to registered users via an Internet portal. Altonova has obtained and is pursuing additional patent protection on instruments and methods for detecting partial discharges in electrical apparatus. NRG has intellectual property related to certain LIDAR technology and applications, and has obtained and is pursuing additional patent protection on its line of bat deterrent systems, which are designed to significantly reduce bat mortality at windfarms and in other applications where bat conservation is a concern.

In the Test segment, we have sought patent protection for significant inventions. Examples of such inventions include novel designs for window and door assemblies used in shielded enclosures and anechoic chambers, improved acoustic techniques for sound isolation and a variety of unique antennas. In addition, the Test segment holds a number of patents, and has patents pending, on products used to perform wireless device testing.

We consider our patents and other intellectual property to be of significant value to each of our segments.

Backlog

Total Company backlog of firm orders at September 30, 2022 was $695.0 million, representing an increase of $103.0 million (17.4%) from the backlog of $592.0 million at September 30, 2021. By segment, the backlog at September 30, 2022 and September 30, 2021, respectively, was $408.3 million and $367.2 million for A&D; $128.1 million and $91.6 million for USG; and $158.6 million and $133.2. million for Test. We estimate that as of September 30, 2022 domestic customers accounted for approximately 70% of our total firm orders and international customers accounted for approximately 30%. Of our total backlog at September 30, 2022, approximately 80% is expected to be completed in the fiscal year ending September 30, 2023.

Purchased Components and Raw Materials

Our products require a wide variety of components and materials. Although we have multiple sources of supply for most of our materials requirements, certain components and raw materials are supplied by sole source vendors, and our ability to perform certain contracts depends on their timely performance. In the past, these required raw materials and various purchased components generally have been available in sufficient quantities. However, we do have some risk of shortages of materials or components due to reliance on sole or limited sources of supply; and supplies of components and materials are periodically impacted by supply chain disruptions, as well as complications due to current or future trade policies. Where feasible, we engineer and qualify substitute products to avoid short-term supply issues; however, we are subject to the same supply chain risks as other electronics manufacturers. An unanticipated delay in delivery by our suppliers could result in the inability to deliver our products on-time and to meet the expectations of our customers. Additionally, we have experienced, and could continue to experience, an increase in the costs of doing business, including increasing raw material prices and transportation costs, which have and could continue to have an adverse impact on our business, results of operations, financial condition and cash flows. See also Item 1A, “Risk Factors.”

Our A&D segment purchases supplies from a wide array of vendors. In most instances, multiple vendors of raw materials are screened during a qualification process to ensure that there will not be an interruption of supply should one of them underperform or discontinue operations. Nonetheless, in some situations, there is a risk of shortages due to reliance on a limited number of suppliers or because of price fluctuations due to the nature of the raw materials. For example, aerospace-grade titanium and gaseous helium, important raw materials for our A&D segment subsidiaries, may at times be in short supply.

Our USG segment manufactures electronic instrumentation through a network of regional contract manufacturers under long-term contracts. In general, USG purchases the same kinds of component parts as do other electronic products manufacturers, and these

4

electronic components can be subject to supply chain constraints. USG purchases only a limited amount of raw materials, although some USG products require helium, which may at times be in short supply.

Our Test segment is a vertically integrated supplier of electro-magnetic (EM) shielding and RF absorbing products, producing most of its critical RF components itself. This segment purchases significant quantities of raw materials such as polyurethane foam, polystyrene beads, steel, aluminum, copper, nickel and wood. Accordingly, it is subject to price fluctuations in the worldwide raw materials markets. While ETS-Lindgren has long-term contracts with a number of its suppliers, performance of these contracts is vulnerable to the risks described in Item 1A.

Competition

Competition in our major markets is broadly based and global in scope. This competition can be particularly intense during periods of economic slowdown, and we have experienced this in some of our markets. Although we are a leading supplier in several of the markets we serve, we maintain a relatively small share of the business in many of our other markets. Individual competitors range in size from annual revenues of less than $1 million to billion-dollar enterprises. Because of the specialized nature of our products, our competitive position with respect to our products cannot be precisely stated. In our major served markets, competition is driven primarily by quality, technology, price and delivery performance. See also Item 1A, “Risk Factors.”

Primary competitors of our A&D segment include Pall Corporation, Moog, Inc., Safran (Sofrance), CLARCOR Inc., TransDigm (PneuDraulics), Marotta Controls, and Parker Hannifin.

Significant competitors of our USG segment include OMICRON electronics Corp., Megger Group Limited, Vaisala, and Qualitrol Company LLC (a subsidiary of Fortive Corporation).

Our Test segment is a global leader in EM shielding. Significant competitors in this market include Rohde & Schwarz GMBH, Microwave Vision SA (MVG), TDK RF Solutions Inc., Albatross GmbH, IMEDCO AG, and Universal Shielding Corp.

Research and Development

Research and development and our technological expertise are important factors in our business. Our research and development programs are designed to develop technology for new products or to extend or upgrade the capability of existing products, and to enhance their commercial potential. We perform research and development at our own expense, and also engage in research and development funded by our customers. See Note 1 to the Consolidated Financial Statements for financial information about our research and development expenditures.

Environmental Matters and Government Regulation

We are involved in various stages of investigation and cleanup relating to environmental matters. It is difficult to estimate the potential costs of these matters and the possible impact of these costs on the Company at this time due in part to: the uncertainty regarding the extent of pollution; the complexity and changing nature of Government laws and regulations and their interpretations; the varying costs and effectiveness of alternative cleanup technologies and methods; the uncertain level of insurance or other types of cost recovery; the uncertain level of our responsibility for any contamination; the possibility of joint and several liability with other contributors under applicable law; and the ability of other contributors to make required contributions toward cleanup costs. Based on information currently available, we do not believe that the aggregate costs involved in the resolution of environmental matters or compliance with Governmental regulations will have a material adverse effect on our financial condition or results of operations.

Human Capital Management

As of September 30, 2022, we employed 2,922 persons, including 2,894 full time employees 18% of whom were located in 17 foreign countries.

We strive to be a responsible member of the communities in which we operate, and we are dedicated to preserving operational excellence and remaining an employer of choice. We provide and maintain a work environment that attracts, develops and retains top talent by offering our employees an engaging work experience that contributes to their career development. Through our charitable Foundation and wellness activities we provide opportunities for civic involvement that not only support our communities and provides our employees with meaningful experiences that promote collaborative and rewarding work environments. We strive to maintain a culture that enables all employees to be treated with dignity and respect while performing their jobs to the best of their abilities. We

5

operate in a supportive culture that incorporates strong ethical behavior and reinforces our human rights commitment through annual training on ethics, human rights, anti-human trafficking and anti-harassment.

Our subsidiaries enjoy modest turnover at about half the national average for our industry. Fewer than 6% of our workforce are contingent workers. We invest in creating a diverse, inclusive and safe work environment which will inspire our employees to give their best efforts every day. In fact, nearly half of our employee base comes from diverse backgrounds.

We generally conduct formal compensation benchmarking reviews every 1-2 years to ensure wages are competitive in local markets and support our retention and recruiting efforts. Additionally, we invest time and resources in reviewing pay equity within our workforce. The majority of full-time domestic and international employees are eligible for bonus or commission plans, most of which are designed to incentivize and reward performance based on results such as EPS, EBIT, cash flow, quality and backlog reduction, or other measures.

We recognize that our success is based on the talents and dedication of those we employ, and we are invested in their success. Significant investments are made in the areas of talent development, technical skills and compliance training in areas such as supervisor training, employee coaching, ethics, safety, hazmat, ITAR, etc. For succession planning purposes, we focus on identifying high-potential future leaders and working with them on individual development plans and executive coaching.

Attracting and retaining a talented workforce is of utmost importance. Given the ever-changing talent market, we have looked to broaden the ways in which we can recognize and reward performance, including more frequent merit increases, market adjustments, spot bonuses, and other creative ways to recognize and reward employees. While utilizing these and other measures, at the end of our fiscal year the average tenure of our workforce was nine years. One third of employees have been with us for 10 or more years and more than 50% of employees have been with us for five or more years.

We are committed to the health and wellbeing of our employees and their families by encouraging participation in wellness programs. Generally, all our full-time employees, both domestic and international, are offered health and welfare benefits. We remain committed to our communities through financial support from our employees and the ESCO Foundation, and through personal participation of our employees with a variety of local organizations, such as food banks, blood drives, the Boys & Girls Club, and Habitat for Humanity. We believe strong human capital is a competitive differentiator, and we focus on ensuring we have the right domestic and international talent in place to drive our strategic initiatives not only today but well into the future.

Workforce Composition

(As of September 30, 2022)

By Gender

    

By Race

 

Male

    

71

%

Minorities

    

48

%

Female

 

24

%

White

 

40

%

Unknown*

 

5

%

Unknown*

 

12

%

*Some countries do not permit the collection or reporting of some or all of the above types of data.

Item 4. Mine Safety Disclosures

Not applicable.

13

By Generation

Gen Z (1996-2015)

8

%

Millennials (1977-1995)

39

%

Gen X (1965-1976)

28

%

Boomers (1946-1964)

25

%

Silent (1945 & before)

<1

%

Minorities are defined to include individuals of Native American or Alaskan Native, Asian, Black or
African American, Hispanic or Latino, Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islander, and Two or More Races.

The above is based on employees’ self-identification or other information believed by the Company to be reliable.

Financing

For information about our credit facility, see Note 8 to the Consolidated Financial Statements, which is incorporated into this Item by reference.

6

Additional Information

The information set forth in Item 1A, “Risk Factors,” is incorporated in this Item by reference.

We make available free of charge on or through our website, www.escotechnologies.com, our annual report on Form 10-K, quarterly reports on Form 10-Q, current reports on Form 8-K, and amendments to those reports filed or furnished pursuant to Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, as well as our recent Proxy Statements for meetings of our shareholders, as soon as reasonably practicable after we file or furnish this material to the Securities and Exchange Commission. Information contained on our website is not incorporated into this Report.

Information about our Executive Officers

The following sets forth certain information as of the date of this report with respect to the persons who are, or who have been selected to become, our executive officers. These officers are elected annually to terms which expire at the first meeting of the Board of Directors held after the Annual Meeting of Stockholders.

Name

Age

Position(s) and Business Experience

Victor L. Richey

65

Mr. Richey has been Chairman of the Board of Directors and Chief Executive Officer since April 2003, and President since October 2006. He also serves as Chairman of the Executive Committee of the Board of Directors. Mr. Richey will retire as Chief Executive Officer and President on December 31, 2022 but will continue as an employee and Chairman of the Board for a transition period.

Bryan H. Sayler

56

Mr. Sayler will become the Company’s Chief Executive Officer and President on January 1, 2023. Mr. Sayler has led our Utility Solutions Group since 2016, where he played a key role in strategically building out the group, including leading our entry into the renewables business and overseeing six successful acquisitions that have more than doubled the size of the segment. From 1995 to 2016, he held senior positions with ETS-Lindgren.

Christopher L. Tucker

51

Mr. Tucker has been Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer since April 2021. Prior to joining ESCO, Mr. Tucker worked at Emerson Electric Co (NYSE:EMR) for 24 years, where he held a series of financial and administrative positions, most recently as Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of Emerson’s Commercial and Residential Solutions business, consisting of 11 business units generating approximately $6 billion in annual revenue.

David M. Schatz

59

Mr. Schatz has been Senior Vice President, General Counsel and Secretary since April 2021.He has worked at ESCO since 1998 in various positions with increasing responsibility, including serving as Vice President, IP Counsel and Assistant Secretary from 2015 until April 2021; he has extensive knowledge of ESCO’s operations, technologies, intellectual property, regulatory matters, M&A and other complex legal matters.

There are no family relationships among any of our executive officers and directors.

Item 1A. Risk Factors

This Form 10-K, including Item 1, “Business,” Item 2, “Properties,” Item 3, “Legal Proceedings,” Item 7, “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations,” and Item 7A, “Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk,” contains “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of the safe harbor provisions of the federal securities laws, as described under “Forward-Looking Statements” above.

In addition to the risks and uncertainties discussed in those Items and elsewhere in this Form 10-K, and risks and uncertainties that apply to businesses or public companies generally, the following important risk factors which are particularly applicable to our business could cause actual results and events to differ materially from those contained in any forward-looking statements, or could otherwise materially adversely affect our business, operating results or financial condition:

7

COVID-19 Related Risks

The continuation of the COVID-19 pandemic and the impacts of known or unknown COVID-19 variants may have a material adverse effect on our business which could continue for an unknown period of time.

The effects of the COVID-19 global pandemic continue to create or increase the economic, demand and operational uncertainties of our business. We have global operations, customers and suppliers, including in countries most impacted by COVID-19, and both the disease itself and the actions taken around the world to slow the spread of COVID-19 and its variants have impacted our customers and suppliers; and future developments could cause further disruptions to the Company due to the interconnected nature of our business relationships.

We have been and may continue to be subject to postponement or cancellation of certain contracts to which we are a party. Current restrictions and conditions have and may continue to prevent or delay us in accessing customer facilities to deliver products and provide services, and disrupt or delay our supply chain. Further, we have occasionally incurred short-term disruptions in some facility operations, and due to the nature of the COVID-19 pandemic there can be no assurance that we will not suffer facility closures or other adverse effects on our business operations in the future.

The facilities of our suppliers and customers have experienced, and may continue to experience, disruptions in manufacturing and supply arrangements due to the loss or disruption of critical manufacturing and supply elements, such as raw materials or other finished product components, transportation, workforce or other manufacturing and distribution capability. We may also experience failure of third parties on which we rely, including our suppliers, distributors and contractors, to meet their obligations to us, or significant restrictions in their ability to do so.

These facts and circumstances may have a material adverse effect on our business, results of operations, financial condition and cash flows. The extent to which the COVID-19 pandemic will impact our business, results of operations, financial condition and cash flows in the future, and the length of time these impacts may continue, will depend on future developments that are highly uncertain and cannot be predicted at this time, including new information that may emerge concerning the severity of COVID-19 and its variants, the longevity of COVID-19 and its variants, and the actions taken to contain their impacts.

PART II

5.

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

Holders of Record. As of November 20, 2020, there were approximately 1,800 holders of record of the Companys common stock.16

Price Range of Common Stock and Dividends. The Companys common stock is listed on the New York Stock Exchange; its trading symbol is ESE. For information about the price range of the common stock and dividends paid on the common stock in the last two fiscal years, please refer to Note 18 to the Companys Consolidated Financial Statements.

Company Purchases of Equity Securities. The Company did not repurchase any shares of its common stock during the fourth quarter of fiscal 2020.

Securities Authorized for Issuance Under Equity Compensation Plans. For information about securities authorized for issuance under the Companys equity compensation plans, please refer to Item 12 of this Form 10-K and to Note 11 to the Companys Consolidated Financial Statements.

Performance Graph. The graph and table on the following page present a comparison of the cumulative total shareholder return on the Companys common stock as measured against the cumulative total returns of the Russell 2000 index and two customized peer groups. Because the Company changed the composition of the peer group for 2020, as described below, the peer group used for the corresponding disclosures in 2019 is shown for comparison. The Company is not a component of either the 2020 peer group or the 2019 peer group, but it is a component of the Russell 2000 Index. The measurement period begins on September 30, 2015 and measures at each September 30 thereafter. These figures assume that all dividends, if any, paid over the measurement period were reinvested, and that the starting values of each index and the investments in the Companys common stock were $100 at the close of trading on September 30, 2015.

14

Table of Contents6.

COMPARISON OF 5 YEAR CUMULATIVE TOTAL RETURN

Among ESCO Technologies Inc., the Russell 2000 Index,

and the 2020 and 2019 Peer Groups

Graphic

Copyright© 2020 Russell Investment Group. All rights reserved.

    

9/30/15

    

9/30/16

    

9/30/17

    

9/30/18

    

9/30/19

    

9/30/20

ESCO Technologies Inc.

$

100.00

$

130.34

$

169.02

$

192.90

$

226.57

$

230.57

Russell 2000

 

100.00

 

115.47

 

139.42

 

160.66

 

146.38

 

146.95

2020 Peer Group

 

100.00

 

116.43

 

136.53

 

176.71

 

155.14

 

149.13

2019 Peer Group

 

100.00

 

117.39

 

137.86

 

174.26

 

154.65

 

150.96

The stock price performance included in this graph is not necessarily indicative of future stock price performance.

The 2020 peer group was composed of eight companies that corresponded to the Company’s three industry segments used for financial reporting purposes during 2020, as follows: Aerospace & Defense segment (48% of the Company’s 2020 total revenue): CIRCOR International, Inc., Donaldson Company, Inc. and Moog Inc.; USG segment (26% of the Company’s 2020 total revenue): Aegion Corporation, Ameresco, Inc. and Thermon Group Holdings, Inc.; Test segment (26% of the Company’s 2020 total revenue): EXFO Inc. and FARO Technologies, Inc.

The 2019 peer group was composed of ten companies that corresponded to the Company’s four industry segments used for financial reporting purposes during 2019, as follows: Aerospace & Defense segment (40% of the Company’s 2019 total revenue): CIRCOR International, Inc., Donaldson Company, Inc. and Moog Inc.; USG segment (26% of the Company’s 2019 total revenue): Aegion Corporation, Ameresco, Inc. and Thermon Group Holdings, Inc.; Test segment (23% of the Company’s 2019 total revenue): EXFO Inc. and FARO Technologies, Inc.; and Technical Packaging segment (11% of the Company’s 2019 total revenue): AptarGroup, Inc. and Berry Global Group, Inc.

In calculating the composite return of the 2020 and 2019 peer groups, the return of each company comprising the peer group was weighted by (a) its market capitalization in relation to the other companies in its corresponding Company industry segment, and (b) the percentage of the Company’s total revenue from continuing operations represented by its corresponding Company industry segment.

15

Table of Contents[Reserved]

17

7.

Item 6. Selected Financial Data

The following selected consolidated financial data of the Company and its subsidiaries should be read in conjunction with the Company’s Consolidated Financial Statements, the Notes thereto, and Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations as of the respective dates indicated

17

7A.

Quantitative and for the respective periods ended thereon.Qualitative Disclosures about Market Risk

25

8.

(Dollars in millions, except per share amounts)

    

2020

    

2019

    

2018

    

2017

    

2016

For years ended September 30:

 

  

 

  

 

  

 

  

 

  

Net sales

$

732.9

 

726.0

 

683.7

 

602.8

 

497.0

Net earnings from continuing operations

 

25.5

 

77.5

 

86.3

 

48.6

 

40.0

Net earnings from discontinued operations

 

76.5

 

3.5

 

5.8

 

5.1

 

5.9

Net earnings

$

102.0

 

81.0

 

92.1

 

53.7

 

45.9

Earnings per share:

 

 

 

 

 

Basic:

 

 

 

 

 

Continuing operations

$

0.98

 

2.99

 

3.33

 

1.88

 

1.55

Discontinued operations

 

2.94

 

0.13

 

0.23

 

0.20

 

0.23

Net earnings

$

3.92

 

3.12

 

3.56

 

2.08

 

1.78

Diluted:

 

 

 

 

 

Continuing operations

$

0.97

 

2.97

 

3.31

 

1.87

 

1.54

Discontinued operations

 

2.93

 

0.13

 

0.23

 

0.20

 

0.23

Net earnings

$

3.90

 

3.10

 

3.54

 

2.07

 

1.77

As of September 30:

 

 

 

 

 

Working capital from continuing operations

$

190.6

 

229.8

 

183.8

 

186.9

 

154.4

Total assets

 

1,373.5

 

1,466.7

 

1,265.1

 

1,260.4

 

978.4

Total debt

 

62.4

 

285.0

 

220.0

 

275.0

 

110.0

Shareholders’ equity

$

961.6

 

826.2

 

759.4

 

671.9

 

615.1

Cash dividends declared per common share

$

0.32

 

0.32

 

0.32

 

0.32

 

0.32

See also Note 1.E to the Consolidated Financial Statements for discussion of the Company’s adoption of ASU 2014-09, Revenue from Contracts with Customers (ASC 606), and Notes 2 and 3 to the Consolidated Financial Statements for divestiture and acquisition activity, which affect comparability between years.

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

The following discussion should be read in conjunction with the Consolidated Financial Statements and Notes theretoSupplementary Data

25

9.

Changes in and refers to the Company’s results from continuing operations except where noted.Disagreements with Accountants on Accounting and Financial Disclosure

In December 2019, the Company sold the businesses comprising its former Technical Packaging segment. The Company received net proceeds from the sale25

9A.

Controls and Procedures

26

9B.

Other Information

26

9C.

Disclosure Regarding Foreign Jurisdictions that Prevent Inspections

26

PART III

10.

Directors, Executive Officers and Corporate Governance

27

11.

Executive Compensation

27

12.

Security Ownership of approximately $184 millionCertain Beneficial Owners and recorded a $76.5 million after-tax gain on the sale in 2020. The Company used the proceeds from the sale to pay down debtManagement and for other corporate purposes including the termination of the Company’s defined benefit pension plan. The Technical Packaging segment is reflected as discontinued operations in the ConsolidatedRelated Stockholder Matters

27

13.

Certain Relationships and Related Transactions, and Director Independence

27

14.

Principal Accountant Fees and Services

27

PART IV

15.

Exhibits, Financial Statements and related notes for all periods presented, in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (GAAP). See Note 2 to the Consolidated Financial Statements for further discussion.Statement Schedules

Selected financial information for each of the Company’s business segments is provided in the discussion below and in Note 14 to the Company’s Consolidated Financial Statements.28

This section includes comparisons of certain 2020 financial information to the same information for 2019. Year-to-year comparisons of the 2019 financial information to the same information for 2018 are contained in Item 7 of the Company’s 16.

Form 10-K for 2019 filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on November 29, 2019 and available through the SEC’s website at https://www.sec.gov/edgar/searchedgar/companysearch.html.

30

IntroductionSIGNATURES

ESCO Technologies Inc. and its wholly owned subsidiaries (the Company) are organized into three reportable operating segments for financial reporting purposes: Aerospace & Defense (formerly Filtration/Fluid Flow), Utility Solutions Group (USG), RF Shielding and Test (Test). The Company’s business segments are comprised of the following primary operating entities:31

Aerospace & Defense: PTI Technologies Inc. (PTI); VACCO Industries (VACCO); Crissair, Inc. (Crissair); Westland Technologies, Inc. (Westland); Mayday Manufacturing Co. (Mayday), Hi-Tech Metals, Inc. (Hi-Tech); and Globe Composite Solutions, LLC (Globe).

FINANCIAL INFORMATION

F-1

EXHIBITS

USG: Doble Engineering Company and Morgan Schaffer (together, Doble); and NRG Systems, Inc. (NRG).

Test: ETS-Lindgren Inc. (ETS-Lindgren).

Aerospace & Defense. PTI, VACCO and Crissair primarily design and manufacture specialty filtration products, including hydraulic filter elements and fluid control devices used in commercial aerospace applications, unique filter mechanisms used in micro-propulsion devices for satellites and custom designed filters for manned aircraft and submarines. Westland designs, develops and manufactures elastomeric-based signature reduction solutions for U.S. naval vessels. Mayday designs and manufactures mission-critical bushings, pins, sleeves and precision-tolerance machined components for landing gear, rotor heads, engine mounts, flight controls, and actuation systems for the aerospace and defense industries. Hi-Tech is a full-service metal processor serving aerospace suppliers. Globe is a vertically integrated supplier of composite-based products and solutions for acoustic, signature-reduction, communications, sealing, vibration-reducing, surface control, and hydrodynamic-related applications.

USG. Doble develops, manufactures and delivers diagnostic testing solutions that enable electric power grid operators to assess the integrity of high-voltage power delivery equipment. NRG designs and manufactures decision support tools for the renewable energy industry, primarily wind and solar.

Test. ETS-Lindgren is an industry leader in providing its customers with the ability to identify, measure and contain magnetic, electromagnetic and acoustic energy.

The Company continues to operate with meaningful growth prospects in its primary served markets and with considerable financial flexibility. The Company continues to focus on new products that incorporate proprietary design and process technologies. Management is committed to delivering shareholder value through organic growth, ongoing performance improvement initiatives, and acquisitions.

COVID-19 Trends and Uncertainties

The COVID-19 global pandemic has created significant and unprecedented challenges, and during these highly uncertain times, our top priority remains the health and safety of our employees, customers and suppliers, thereby securing the financial well-being of the Company and supporting business continuity. Our businesses have been deemed essential and are currently operational, supplying our customers with vital and necessary products. To date, our global supply chains have not been materially affected by the pandemic. Given our diverse portfolio of strong, durable businesses serving non-discretionary end-markets, the strength and resilience of our business model positions us to continue to support our long-term outlook.

Recognizing the uncertainty presented by this global pandemic, we are suspending our practice of providing full-year financial guidance. Our businesses are facing varying levels of pressure depending on the markets they serve as outlined below and the impact on our business cannot be reasonably estimated at this time. In response to COVID-19, we have taken actions to enhance our financial condition, while continuing to execute our long-term strategy for profitable growth. Some of the actions we have taken include: reducing a portion of executive compensation, reducing discretionary spending, minimizing capital spending, implementing hiring and salary freezes, and increasing our focus on optimizing free cash flow. These operational measures are prudent steps to maintain our liquidity and will increase our financial flexibility as we work through near-term volatility. As of September 30, 2020, we had approximately $725 million of liquidity (amount available to borrow under credit facility plus $250 million increase option and $52.6 million in cash) and net debt (debt outstanding less cash on hand) of approximately $9.8 million. Additionally, we have no debt maturities nor repayment obligations due and payable until September 2024 on our revolving credit facility. The Company has made no changes to its dividend plan. We are also monitoring the impacts of COVID-19 on the fair value of assets. We do not currently

17

anticipate any material impairments on assets as a result of COVID-19. A portion of our workforce has worked from home at times due to COVID-19, however we have not had to redesign or design new internal controls over financial reporting at this time. Depending on the duration of COVID-19, it may become necessary for us to redesign or design new internal controls over financial reporting in a future period. We do not believe such an event will have a material impact on our business. Further details by operating segment are outlined below.

In our Aerospace & Defense segment, our fiscal 2020 revenues were negatively impacted by a decrease of approximately $20 million related to the COVID-19 pandemic and we anticipate the slowdown in commercial aerospace deliveries and revenues continuing into fiscal 2021. For the year ended September 30, 2020, the economic uncertainty, changes in the propensity for the general public to travel by air, and reductions in demand for commercial aircraft as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic have adversely impacted net sales and operating results in certain of our Aerospace & Defense reporting units and was determined to be an event and change in circumstances that required a quantitative review of our intangible assets, long-lived assets and goodwill for impairment. We determined that there was no impairment as of and for the year ended September 30, 2020 and the fair value of each reporting unit reviewed substantially exceeded carrying value, with the exception of Mayday where fair value exceeded carrying value by 10%. At September 30, 2020, we had $30 million of goodwill recorded for Mayday. The valuation methodology we use involves estimates of discounted cash flows, which are subject to change, and if they change negatively it could result in the need to write down those assets to fair value. We will continue to monitor the impacts of COVID-19 on the fair value of assets. The defense portion of Aerospace & Defense, both military aerospace and navy products, is expected to remain at approximately historical business levels given its backlog coupled with the timing of expected platform deliveries.

In our Test segment, our fiscal 2020 revenues were negatively impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic due to the China facility’s three-week shutdown in February and delayed timing of installation projects caused by access limitations to customer sites. We expect the Test segment to remain at relatively normal business levels into fiscal 2021 given the strength of its backlog and its served markets, primarily related to new communications technologies such as 5G.

In our USG segment, our fiscal 2020 revenues were negatively impacted by approximately $20 million related to the COVID-19 pandemic as several utility customers deferred purchase orders and maintenance-related project deliveries so they could divert resources to other issues such as critical power delivery given their concerns around COVID-19. Additionally, Doble’s service business was largely on hold during the pandemic. We expect USG’s customer spending softness to continue for the next few quarters before returning to normal levels. Goodwill for Doble and NRG was $246 million and $8 million, respectively, as of September 30, 2020. We reviewed the intangible assets, long-lived assets and goodwill of our Doble and NRG businesses for impairment. The quantitative reviews determined that there was no impairment as of September 30, 2020 as the fair value of Doble substantially exceeded carrying value and the fair value of NRG exceeded carrying value by 15%. The valuation methodology we use involves estimates of discounted cash flows, which are subject to change, and if they change negatively it could result in the need to write down those assets to fair value. We will continue to monitor the impacts of COVID-19 on the fair value of assets.

See also Item 1A, “Risk Factors” in Part I above, and “Outlook” below for additional information.

Highlights of 2020

Diluted EPS – GAAP for 2020 was $3.90, consisting of $0.97 per share from continuing operations and $2.93 from discontinued operations as compared to Diluted EPS – GAAP for 2019 of $3.10, consisting of $2.97 per share from continuing operations and $0.13 per share from discontinued operations.
Sales, net earnings and diluted earnings per share from continuing operations in 2020 were $732.9 million, $25.5 million and $0.97 per share, respectively, compared to sales, net earnings and diluted earnings per share from continuing operations in 2019 of $726.0 million, $77.5 million and $2.97 per share, respectively.
Diluted EPS – Continuing Operations As Adjusted for 2020 was $2.76 and excludes the pension plan termination charge of $40.6 million (or $1.55 per share after tax) and $8.3 million of pretax charges (or $0.24 per share after tax) consisting primarily of facility consolidation charges for the Doble Manta facility (including employee severance and compensation benefits), asset impairment charges and the incremental costs associated with the COVID-19 pandemic. Diluted EPS – Continuing Operations As Adjusted for 2019 was $2.95 and excludes $0.4 million of income (or $0.02 per share after tax) consisting primarily of the gain on the Doble Watertown building sale partially offset by purchase accounting charges related

18

i

to the Globe acquisition and certain restructuring charges related to facility consolidations at Doble, PTI and VACCO. See “Non-GAAP Financial Measures” below.

FORWARD-LOOKING INFORMATION

Statements contained in this Form 10-K regarding future events and the Company’s future results that are based on current expectations, estimates, forecasts and projections about the Company’s performance and the industries in which the Company operates are considered “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of the safe harbor provisions of the Federal securities laws. These include, without limitation, statements about: the effects of the continuing COVID-19 pandemic and its known or unknown variants on the Company’s business and results of operations; the adequacy of the Company’s buildings, machinery and equipment; the adequacy of the Company’s credit facilities and future cash flows; the outcome of litigation, claims and charges; future costs relating to environmental matters; repayment of debt within the next twelve months; the outlook for all or any part of the Company’s business, including amounts, timing and sources of future sales, revenues, sales growth, and comparisons with the current year; interest on Company debt obligations; the ability of expected hedging gains or losses to be offset by losses or gains on related underlying exposures; the Company’s ability to increase shareholder value; acquisitions; income tax expense and the Company’s expected effective tax rate; the recognition of unrecognized compensation costs related to share-based compensation arrangements; the Company’s exposure to market risk related to interest rates and to foreign currency exchange risk; the likelihood of future variations in the Company’s assumptions or estimates used in recording contracts and expected costs at completion under the percentage of completion method; the Company’s estimates and assumptions used in the preparation of its financial statements; costs and estimated earnings from long-term contracts; valuation of inventories; estimates of uncollectible accounts receivable; the risk of goodwill impairment; the Company’s estimates utilized in software revenue recognition, non-cash depreciation and the amortization of intangible assets; the valuation of deferred tax assets; estimates of future cash flows and fair values in connection with the risk of goodwill impairment; amounts of NOL not realizable and the timing and amount of the reduction of unrecognized tax benefits; the effects of implementing recently issued accounting pronouncements; and any other statements contained herein which are not strictly historical. Words such as expects, anticipates, targets, goals, projects, intends, plans, believes, estimates, variations of such words, and similar expressions are intended to identify such forward-looking statements.

Investors are cautioned that such statements are only predictions and speak only as of the date of this Form 10-K, and the Company undertakes no duty to update the information in this Form 10-K except as may be required by applicable laws or regulations. The Company’s actual results in the future may differ materially from those projected in the forward-looking statements due to risks and uncertainties that exist in the Company’s operations and business environment, including but not limited to those described herein under “Item 1A, Risk Factors,” and the following: the duration, scope and effects of the COVID-19 pandemic and its variants, including the impact of mandates or other restrictive protocols on our business and workforce and the availability and acceptance of effective vaccines by enough of the U.S. and the world’s population to curtail or alleviate the seriousness of the pandemic; the impacts of climate change and related regulation of greenhouse gases, the impacts of labor disputes, civil disorder, wars, elections, political changes, tariffs and trade disputes, terrorist activities, cyberattacks or natural disasters on the Company’s operations and those of the Company’s customers and suppliers; disruptions in manufacturing or delivery arrangements due to shortages or unavailability of materials or components or supply chain disruptions; inability to access work sites; the timing and content of future customer orders; the appropriation and allocation of Government funds; the termination for convenience of Government and other customer contracts or orders; the timing and magnitude of future contract awards; weakening of economic conditions in served markets; the success of the Company’s competitors; changes in customer demands or customer insolvencies; competition; intellectual property rights; technical difficulties or data breaches; the availability of selected acquisitions; defaults by customers; performance issues with key customers, suppliers and subcontractors; material changes in the costs and availability of certain raw materials; material changes in the cost of credit; changes in laws and regulations including but not limited to changes in accounting standards and taxation requirements; costs relating to environmental matters; litigation uncertainty; the Company’s inability to successfully execute internal restructuring and other plans; and the integration and performance of recently acquired businesses.

    

Fiscal year ended

(Dollars in millions)

 

2020

    

2019

Diluted EPS – Continuing Operations GAAP

$

0.97

 

2.97

Pension termination adjustment

 

1.55

 

Restructuring adjustments

 

0.24

 

(0.02)

Diluted EPS – Continuing Operations As Adjusted

$

2.76

 

2.95

Net cash provided by operating activities from continuing operations was approximately $108.5 million in 2020 compared to $100.6 million in 2019.

ii

PART I

Item 1. Business

The Company

The Registrant is ESCO Technologies Inc., sometimes referred to in this report as ESCO. Except where the context indicates otherwise, the terms “Company”, “we”, “our” and “us” are used in this report to refer to ESCO together with its subsidiaries through which its businesses are conducted. We are:

A global provider of highly engineered filtration and fluid control products and integrated propulsion systems for the aviation, navy, space and process markets worldwide, as well as composite-based products and solutions for navy, defense and industrial customers;
An industry leader in radio frequency (RF) shielding and electromagnetic compatibility (EMC) test products; and
A provider of diagnostic instruments, software and services for the benefit of industrial power users and the electric utility and renewable energy industries.
At September 30, 2020, cash on hand was $52.6 million and outstanding debt was $62.4 million, for a net debt position (total debt less cash on hand) of approximately $9.8 million.
Entered orders for 2020 from continuing operations were $798.7 million resulting in a book-to-bill ratio of 1.09x. Backlog at September 30, 2020 was $517.4 million compared to $451.6 million at September 30, 2019.
The Company declared dividends of $0.32 per share during 2020, totaling $8.3 million in dividend payments.

Results of Continuing Operations

Net Sales

Change

 

Fiscal year ended

2020

 

(Dollars in millions)

    

2020

    

2019

    

vs. 2019

 

Aerospace & Defense

$

354.3

 

325.7

 

8.8

%

USG

 

191.7

 

211.9

 

(9.5)

%

Test

 

186.9

 

188.4

 

(0.8)

%

Total

$

732.9

 

726.0

 

1.0

%

Net sales increased $6.9 million, or 1.0%, to $732.9 million in 2020 from $726.0 million in 2019. The increase in net sales in 2020 as compared to 2019 was due to a $28.6 million increase in the Aerospace & Defense segment, partially offset by a $20.2 million decrease in the USG segment and a $1.5 million decrease in the Test segment.

Aerospace & Defense.

The $28.6 million, or 8.8%, increase in net sales in 2020 as compared to 2019 was mainly due to a $27.6 million increase in net sales from Globe (acquired in July 2019), a $13.5 million increase in net sales at VACCO due to higher shipments of space products, partially offset by a $6.1 million decrease in net sales at Mayday, a $3.7 million decrease in net sales at Crissair and a $3.0 million decrease in net sales at PTI all driven by the COVID-19 pandemic in the current year.

USG.

The $20.2 million, or 9.5%, decrease in net sales in 2020 as compared to 2019 was mainly due to a $19.1 million decrease in net sales at Doble and a $1.1 million decrease in net sales at NRG, both mainly driven by the COVID-19 pandemic in the current year as customers delayed orders and on-site testing.

Test.

The $1.5 million, or 0.8%, decrease in net sales in 2020 as compared to 2019 was mainly due to a $16.0 million decrease in net sales from the segment’s U.S. operations due to timing of test and measurement chamber projects and the COVID-19 pandemic, partially

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offset by a $7.5 million increase in net sales from the segment’s European operations and a $7.0 million increase in net sales from the segment’s Asian operations due to timing of projects.

Orders and Backlog

New orders received in 2020 from continuing operations were $798.7 million as compared to $822.5 million in 2019. Order backlog was $517.4 million at September 30, 2020, compared to order backlog of $451.6 million at September 30, 2019. Orders are entered into backlog as firm purchase order commitments are received.

In 2020, the Company recorded orders of $422.7 million related to Aerospace & Defense products, $200.7 million related to USG products, and $175.3 million related to Test products. In 2019, the Company recorded orders of $409.9 million related to Aerospace & Defense products, $212.9 million related to USG products, and $199.6 million related to Test products.

Selling, General and Administrative Expenses

Selling, general and administrative (SG&A) expenses were $159.5 million, or 21.8% of net sales, in 2020, and $162.7 million, or 22.4% of net sales, in 2019.

The decrease in SG&A expenses in 2020 as compared to 2019 was mainly due to lower discretionary spending related to travel and other discretionary expenses due to the COVID-19 pandemic, partially offset by the addition of Globe.

Amortization of Intangible Assets

Amortization of intangible assets was $21.8 million in 2020 and $18.5 million in 2019. Amortization of intangible assets included $13.0 million and $10.8 million of amortization of acquired intangible assets in 2020 and 2019, respectively, related to the Company’s acquisitions. The amortization of acquired intangible assets related to the Company’s acquisitions is included in the Corporate operating segment’s results. The remaining amortization expenses relate to other identifiable intangible assets (primarily software, patents and licenses), which are included in the respective segment’s operating results. The increase in amortization expense in 2020 as compared to 2019 was mainly due to the acquisition of Globe in 2019.

Other Expenses or Income, Net

Other expenses, net, were $7.1 million in 2020, compared to other expenses, net, of $0.9 million in 2019. The principal components of other expenses, net, in 2020 included approximately $8 million of pretax charges consisting primarily of facility consolidation charges for the Doble Manta facility, including employee severance and compensation benefits, and asset impairment charges. The principal components of other expenses, net, in 2019 included $3 million of purchase accounting charges related to the Globe acquisition; $0.9 million of restructuring charges related to the consolidation of VACCO’s aircraft/aerospace business into PTI’s aerospace facility in Oxnard, California; approximately $1 million of charges at Doble related to facility consolidations begun in 2018; and approximately $3 million of losses on derivative instruments; partially offset by a net gain of approximately $8 million on the sale of the Doble Watertown, MA building and land. There were no other individually significant items included in other expenses, net, in 2020 or 2019.

Non-GAAP Financial Measures

The information reported herein includes the financial measures Diluted EPS – Continuing Operations As Adjusted, which the Company defines as EPS excluding the per-share net impact of the pension plan termination charge and restructuring charges related to the Company’s facility consolidation restructuring plans in 2020 and the gain on the Doble Watertown property sale in 2019 partially offset by purchase accounting charges related to the Globe acquisition and the restructuring charges incurred at Doble, PTI and VACCO during 2019; EBIT, which the Company defines as earnings before interest and taxes; and EBIT margin, which the Company defines as EBIT expressed as a percentage of net sales. Diluted EPS – Continuing Operations As Adjusted, EBIT on a consolidated basis, and EBIT margin on a consolidated basis are not recognized in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP). However, the Company believes that EBIT and EBIT margin provide investors and Management with valuable information for assessing the Company’s operating results. Management evaluates the performance of its operating segments based on EBIT and believes that EBIT is useful to investors to demonstrate the operational profitability of the Company’s business segments by excluding interest and taxes, which are generally accounted for across the entire company on a consolidated basis. EBIT

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is also one of the measures Management uses to determine resource allocations and incentive compensation. The Company believes that the presentation of EBIT, EBIT margin and Diluted EPS – Continuing Operations As Adjusted provides important supplemental information to investors by facilitating comparisons with other companies, many of which use similar non-GAAP financial measures to supplement their GAAP results. The use of non-GAAP financial measures is not intended to replace any measures of performance determined in accordance with GAAP.

EBIT

The reconciliation of EBIT to a GAAP financial measure is as follows:

(Dollars in millions)

    

2020

    

2019

EBIT

$

46.5

 

106.0

Less: Income tax expense

 

14.3

 

20.4

Less: Interest expense

 

6.7

 

8.1

Net earnings from continuing operations

$

25.5

 

77.5

EBIT by business segment is as follows:

Change

 

Fiscal year ended

2020

 

(Dollars in millions)

    

2020

    

2019

    

vs. 2019

 

Aerospace & Defense

$

73.2

 

70.1

 

4.4

%

% of net sales

 

20.7

%  

21.5

%  

USG

 

24.4

 

52.2

 

(53.3)

%

% of net sales

 

12.7

%  

24.6

%  

Test

 

27.2

 

25.6

 

6.2

%

% of net sales

 

14.6

%  

13.6

%  

Corporate

 

(78.3)

 

(41.9)

 

(86.9)

%

Total

$

46.5

 

106.0

 

(56.1)

%

% of net sales

 

6.3

%  

14.6

%  

  

Aerospace & Defense

The $3.1 million increase in EBIT in 2020 as compared to 2019 was primarily due to the $7.3 million EBIT contribution from Globe; partially offset by a $2.9 million decrease at Crissair and a $1.6 million decrease at Mayday both driven by the lower sales volumes in the current year. In addition, EBIT in 2020 was negatively impacted by $0.5 million of restructuring charges related to the consolidation of VACCO’s aircraft/aerospace business into PTI’s aerospace facility in Oxnard, California and severance charges at Crissair and $0.9 million of incremental costs associated with the COVID-19 pandemic.

USG

The $27.8 million decrease in EBIT in 2020 as compared to 2019 was mainly due to a decrease in EBIT from Doble due to the lower sales volumes in 2020 and the gain on the sale of the Doble Watertown facility of approximately $8 million in 2019. In addition, EBIT in 2020 was negatively impacted by approximately $6.6 million of restructuring charges consisting primarily of facility consolidation charges related to the Manta facility including severance and compensation benefits and asset impairment charges.

Test

The $1.6 million increase in EBIT in 2020 as compared to 2019 was primarily due to the increased sales volumes from the segment’s Asian operations partially offset by the decrease in sales volumes from the segment’s U.S. operations.

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Corporate

Corporate operating charges included in 2020 consolidated EBIT increased to $78.3 million as compared to $41.9 million in 2019 mainly due to a $40.6 million pension plan termination charge as a result of the decision to terminate and annuitize the Company’s defined benefit pension plan in 2020. See Note 12 to the Consolidated Financial Statements for further discussion.

The “Reconciliation to Consolidated Totals (Corporate)” in Note 14 to the Consolidated Financial Statements represents Corporate office operating charges.

Interest Expense, Net

Interest expense was $6.7 million in 2020 compared to $8.1 million in 2019, primarily due to lower average outstanding borrowings ($175.6 million compared to $236.4 million) at relatively consistent average interest rates of 3.2%.

Income Tax Expense

The effective tax rates from continuing operations for 2020, 2019 and 2018 were 35.9%, 20.8% and (6.4%), respectively. The 2020 effective tax rate was unfavorably impacted by a pension plan termination charge of $40.6 million which is not deductible for tax purposes increasing the effective tax rate by 21.4%. The 2020 effective tax rate was favorably impacted by the following: (1) an increase in the available 2019 foreign tax credit which was attributable to new information and tax planning strategies reducing the 2020 effective tax rate by 1.8%; (2) the release of a valuation allowance of $2.8 million for foreign net operating losses decreasing the effective tax rate by 7.2%; and (3) favorable 2019 state tax return to provision true-ups decreasing the effective tax rate by 1.6%.

The 2019 effective tax rate was favorably impacted by tax planning strategies to increase foreign tax credits claimed retrospectively. The Company reduced the valuation allowance for excess foreign tax credits by $2.4 million and recorded an amended return benefit of $0.3 million, which favorably impacted the 2019 effective tax rate by 3.0%.

The 2017 Tax Cut and Jobs Act (TCJA) made comprehensive changes to U.S. federal income tax laws by moving from a global to a modified territorial tax regime. As a result, cash repatriated to the U.S. is generally no longer subject to U.S. federal income tax. No provision is made for foreign withholding any applicable U.S. income taxes on the undistributed earnings of non-U.S. subsidiaries where these earnings are considered indefinitely invested or otherwise retained for continuing international operations. Determination of the amount of taxes that might be paid on these undistributed earnings if eventually remitted is not practicable.

Divestiture and Acquisitions

Information regarding the Company’s divestiture and acquisitions during 2020, 2019 and 2018 is set forth in Notes 2 and 3 to the Company’s Consolidated Financial Statements, which Notes are incorporated by reference herein.

All of the Company’s acquisitions have been accounted for using the purchase method of accounting, and accordingly, the respective purchase prices were allocated to the assets (including intangible assets) acquired and liabilities assumed based on estimated fair values at the date of acquisition. The financial results from these acquisitions have been included in the Company’s financial statements from the date of acquisition.

Pension Plan Termination

On November 14, 2019, the Company’s Board of Directors approved a resolution to terminate the Company’s defined benefit pension plan (the Plan), effective as of February 29, 2020. In connection with the termination, the Company contributed $25.7 million to the Plan during the fourth quarter of 2020, settled approximately $32.4 million of Plan liabilities during the fourth quarter of 2020 through lump-sum payments from existing plan assets to eligible participants who elected to receive them; and recorded approximately $40.6 million of non-cash charges associated with these settlements. During 2020, the Company settled approximately $69.1 million of Plan liabilities by entering into an agreement to purchase annuities from Massachusetts Mutual Life Insurance Company (MassMutual). This agreement covered approximately 825 active and former employees and their beneficiaries, with MassMutual assuming the future annuity payments for these individuals. Additionally, the Company settled approximately $0.1 million of Plan liabilities through a combination of annuities and direct funding to the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation for the remaining approximately 14 former employees and their beneficiaries. Refer to Note 12 of the Consolidated Financial Statements for more information.

22

Our business is focused on generating predictable and profitable long-term growth through continued innovation and expansion of our product offerings across each of our business segments. We conduct our business through a number of wholly-owned direct and indirect subsidiaries. Our corporate strategy is centered on a multi-segment approach designed to enhance the strength and sustainability of sales and earnings growth by providing lower risk through diversification. Our stock is listed on the New York Stock Exchange, where its ticker symbol is “ESE”.

Our fiscal year ends September 30. Throughout this Annual Report, unless the context indicates otherwise, references to a year (for example 2022) refer to our fiscal year ending on September 30 of that year, and references to the “Consolidated Financial Statements” refer to our Consolidated Financial statements included in the Financial Information section of this Annual Report beginning on page F-1, an Index to which is provided on page F-1.

We classify our business operations into three segments for financial reporting purposes, although for reporting certain financial information we treat Corporate activities as a separate segment. Our three operating segments during 2022, together with the significant domestic and foreign operating subsidiaries within each segment, are as follows:

Aerospace & Defense (A&D):

VACCO Industries (VACCO)

PTI Technologies Inc. (PTI)

Crissair, Inc. (Crissair)

Globe Composite Solutions, LLC (Globe)

Mayday Manufacturing Co. (Mayday) (includes former subsidiary Hi-Tech Metals, Inc., which was merged into Mayday effective December 31, 2021)

Networks Electronic Co. (NEco)

Westland Technologies, Inc. (Westland)

Utility Solutions Group (USG):

Doble Engineering Company

I.S.A. – Altanova Group S.r.l. and affiliates (Altanova)

Morgan Schaffer Ltd. (Morgan Schaffer)

NRG Systems, Inc. (NRG)

Except as the context otherwise indicates, the term “Doble” as used herein includes Doble Engineering Company and ESCO’s other USG subsidiaries except NRG.

RF Shielding and Test (Test):

ETS-Lindgren Inc.

Except as the context otherwise indicates, the term “ETS-Lindgren” as used herein includes ETS-Lindgren Inc. and ESCO’s other Test segment subsidiaries.

Our operating subsidiaries are engaged primarily in the research, development, manufacture, sale and support of the products and systems described below. Their respective businesses are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties, including without limitation those discussed in Item 1A, “Risk Factors.” See also Item 7, “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations,” and “Forward-Looking Information.”

We are continually seeking ways to reduce our overall operating costs, streamline business processes and enhance the branding of our products and services. For example, during 2020 Doble consolidated its headquarters operations into a single, more cost-efficient facility in Marlborough, Massachusetts, and in 2021 it closed its facility in Toronto, Ontario and consolidated its Manta product line into its existing production capacity for Doble instruments.

We are also continually seeking opportunities to supplement our growth by making strategic acquisitions. In October 2020 we acquired Advanced Technology Machining, Inc. (ATM) and its sister company TECC Grinding, Inc.; in July 2021 we acquired I.S.A Altanova Group S.r.l. and its affiliated companies (Altanova); in August 2021 we acquired the assets of Phenix Technologies Inc. (Phenix); and in November 2021 we acquired Networks Electronic Company, LLC (NEco), a provider of miniature electro-explosive components and subsystems supporting mission, flight, and life-critical applications to the aerospace and defense end-markets. Information about these acquired businesses is provided in the following section, “Products,” and in Note 2 to the Consolidated Financial Statements.

In December 2019, we sold the businesses comprising our former Technical Packaging segment and used the proceeds from the sale to pay down debt and for other corporate purposes. The Technical Packaging segment was reported as Discontinued Operations in 2020. See Note 3 to the Consolidated Financial Statements.

Products

Our principal products are described below. See Note 12 to the Consolidated Financial Statements for financial information regarding business segments and 10% customers.

A&D

Beginning in the first quarter of 2020, we renamed our Filtration/Fluid Flow segment as Aerospace & Defense to better reflect the composition of the segment’s products, end markets and customer characteristics. The A&D segment’s individual legal and operating entities and historical financial results are unchanged from what was formerly presented as Filtration/Fluid Flow.

The A&D segment accounted for approximately 41%, 44% and 48% of our total revenue in 2022, 2021 and 2020, respectively. This segment has seven facilities in the United States and one in Mexico.

Our companies within this segment primarily design and manufacture specialty filtration, fluid control and naval products, including hydraulic filter elements, fluid control devices, and precision-tolerance machined components used in aerospace and defense applications, unique filter mechanisms used in micro-propulsion devices for satellites, custom designed filters for manned aircraft and submarines, products and systems to reduce vibration and/or acoustic signatures and otherwise reduce or obscure a vessel’s signature, and other communications, sealing, surface control and hydrodynamic related applications to enhance U.S. Navy maritime survivability; and miniature electro-explosive devices for military aircraft ejection seats and missile arming devices.

USG

Our USG segment accounted for approximately 32%, 28% and 26% of our total revenue in 2022, 2021 and 2020, respectively. This segment has seven facilities in the United States, one in Canada, and eight outside North America.

Doble is an industry leader in the development, manufacture and delivery of diagnostic testing and data management solutions that enable electric power grid operators to assess the integrity of high-voltage power delivery equipment. It combines three core elements for customers – diagnostic test instruments and condition monitoring systems, expert consulting, and testing services. The acquisition of Phenix’s assets has enhanced Doble’s high voltage, high current, high power test systems, components and solutions. NRG is a global market leader in the design and manufacture of decision support tools for the renewable energy industry, primarily wind and solar.

2

Altanova, headquartered in Taino, Italy, provides products and services in more than 100 countries. Its strong market share in Europe and Asia creates a significant international platform for our USG segment and fills important product gaps and geographies not previously served by our existing products and solutions. Doble’s offices outside North America have been consolidated with Altanova’s, and going forward we expect that Altanova will represent their combined businesses in markets outside the U.S. and Canada.

Test

Our Test segment accounted for approximately 27%, 28% and 26% of our total revenue in 2022, 2021 and 2020, respectively. This segment has four facilities in the United States and six outside the United States.

ETS-Lindgren is an industry leader in designing and manufacturing products which provide its customers with the ability to measure and contain magnetic, electromagnetic and acoustic energy. It supplies its customers with a broad range of isolated environments and turnkey systems, including RF test facilities, acoustic test enclosures, RF and magnetically shielded rooms, secure communication facilities, RF measurement systems and broadcast and recording studios. Many of these facilities include proprietary features such as shielded doors and windows. ETS-Lindgren also provides the design, program management, installation and integration services required to successfully complete these types of facilities.

ETS-Lindgren also supplies customers with a broad range of components including RF absorptive materials, RF filters, active compensation systems, antennas, antenna masts, turntables and electric and magnetic probes, RF test cells, proprietary measurement software and other test accessories required to perform a variety of tests. ETS-Lindgren offers a variety of services including calibration for antennas and field probes, chamber certification, field surveys, customer training and a variety of product tests. ETS-Lindgren’s test labs are accredited by the following organizations: American Association for Laboratory Accreditation, National Voluntary Laboratory Accreditation Program and CTIA-The Wireless Association Accredited Test Lab. ETS-Lindgren serves the acoustics, medical, health and safety, electronics, wireless communications, automotive and defense markets.

Marketing and Sales

Our products generally are distributed to customers through a domestic and foreign network of distributors, sales representatives, direct sales teams and in-house sales personnel.

Our sales to international customers accounted for approximately 30%, 28% and 27% of our total revenue in 2022, 2021 and 2020, respectively. See Note 12 to the Consolidated Financial Statements for financial information by geographic area. See Item 1A, “Risk Factors,” for a discussion of risks related to our international operations.

Government Contracts

Some of our products are sold to the U.S. Government either directly under contracts with the Army, Navy and Air Force as well as other Government agencies or indirectly under subcontracts with their prime contractors. Direct and indirect sales to the U.S. Government, primarily related to the A&D segment, accounted for approximately 27%, 26% and 28% of our total revenue in 2022, 2021 and 2020, respectively.

Our Government contracts primarily include firm fixed-price contracts under which work is performed and paid for at a fixed amount without adjustment for the actual costs experienced in connection with the contracts. All Government prime contracts and virtually all of our Government subcontracts provide that they may be terminated at the convenience of the Government or the customer. Upon a termination for convenience, we are entitled to receive equitable compensation from the customer for the work we completed prior to termination.

All of our facilities are in material compliance with appliable COVID-related Government regulations and executive orders.

See Item 1A, “Risk Factors,” for a discussion of risks related to our Government business.

Intellectual Property

We own or have other rights in various forms of intellectual property (i.e., patents, trademarks, service marks, copyrights, mask works, trade secrets and other items). As a major supplier of engineered products to industrial and commercial markets, we emphasize developing intellectual property and protecting our rights therein. However, the legal protection afforded by intellectual property rights is often uncertain and can involve complex legal and factual issues. Some intellectual property rights, such as patents, have a

3

limited term, and there can be no assurance that third parties will not infringe or design around our intellectual property. Policing the unauthorized use of intellectual property is difficult, and infringement and misappropriation are persistent problems for many companies, particularly in some international markets, and in some cases, we may elect not to pursue an unauthorized user due to the high costs and uncertainties associated with litigation. Further, there can be no assurance that courts will ultimately hold issued patents or other intellectual property valid and enforceable. See Item 1A, “Risk Factors.”

A number of products in the Aerospace & Defense segment are based on patented or otherwise proprietary technology that sets them apart from the competition, such as VACCO’s proprietary quieting technology and Westland’s signature reduction solutions. In addition, Globe has developed significant manufacturing and logistics capability useful for special hull treatments for submarines.

In the USG segment, our policy is to seek patent and/or other forms of intellectual property protection on new and improved products, components of products, and methods of operation for our businesses, as such developments are made. Doble has obtained and is pursuing additional patent protection on improvements to its line of diagnostic equipment and NERC CIP compliance tools and its newly-introduced Calisto R9 dissolved gas analyzer. Doble also holds an extensive library of apparatus performance information useful to entities that generate, distribute or consume electric energy, and it makes part of this library available to registered users via an Internet portal. Altonova has obtained and is pursuing additional patent protection on instruments and methods for detecting partial discharges in electrical apparatus. NRG has intellectual property related to certain LIDAR technology and applications, and has obtained and is pursuing additional patent protection on its line of bat deterrent systems, which are designed to significantly reduce bat mortality at windfarms and in other applications where bat conservation is a concern.

In the Test segment, we have sought patent protection for significant inventions. Examples of such inventions include novel designs for window and door assemblies used in shielded enclosures and anechoic chambers, improved acoustic techniques for sound isolation and a variety of unique antennas. In addition, the Test segment holds a number of patents, and has patents pending, on products used to perform wireless device testing.

We consider our patents and other intellectual property to be of significant value to each of our segments.

Backlog

Total Company backlog of firm orders at September 30, 2022 was $695.0 million, representing an increase of $103.0 million (17.4%) from the backlog of $592.0 million at September 30, 2021. By segment, the backlog at September 30, 2022 and September 30, 2021, respectively, was $408.3 million and $367.2 million for A&D; $128.1 million and $91.6 million for USG; and $158.6 million and $133.2. million for Test. We estimate that as of September 30, 2022 domestic customers accounted for approximately 70% of our total firm orders and international customers accounted for approximately 30%. Of our total backlog at September 30, 2022, approximately 80% is expected to be completed in the fiscal year ending September 30, 2023.

Purchased Components and Raw Materials

Our products require a wide variety of components and materials. Although we have multiple sources of supply for most of our materials requirements, certain components and raw materials are supplied by sole source vendors, and our ability to perform certain contracts depends on their timely performance. In the past, these required raw materials and various purchased components generally have been available in sufficient quantities. However, we do have some risk of shortages of materials or components due to reliance on sole or limited sources of supply; and supplies of components and materials are periodically impacted by supply chain disruptions, as well as complications due to current or future trade policies. Where feasible, we engineer and qualify substitute products to avoid short-term supply issues; however, we are subject to the same supply chain risks as other electronics manufacturers. An unanticipated delay in delivery by our suppliers could result in the inability to deliver our products on-time and to meet the expectations of our customers. Additionally, we have experienced, and could continue to experience, an increase in the costs of doing business, including increasing raw material prices and transportation costs, which have and could continue to have an adverse impact on our business, results of operations, financial condition and cash flows. See also Item 1A, “Risk Factors.”

Our A&D segment purchases supplies from a wide array of vendors. In most instances, multiple vendors of raw materials are screened during a qualification process to ensure that there will not be an interruption of supply should one of them underperform or discontinue operations. Nonetheless, in some situations, there is a risk of shortages due to reliance on a limited number of suppliers or because of price fluctuations due to the nature of the raw materials. For example, aerospace-grade titanium and gaseous helium, important raw materials for our A&D segment subsidiaries, may at times be in short supply.

Our USG segment manufactures electronic instrumentation through a network of regional contract manufacturers under long-term contracts. In general, USG purchases the same kinds of component parts as do other electronic products manufacturers, and these

4

electronic components can be subject to supply chain constraints. USG purchases only a limited amount of raw materials, although some USG products require helium, which may at times be in short supply.

Our Test segment is a vertically integrated supplier of electro-magnetic (EM) shielding and RF absorbing products, producing most of its critical RF components itself. This segment purchases significant quantities of raw materials such as polyurethane foam, polystyrene beads, steel, aluminum, copper, nickel and wood. Accordingly, it is subject to price fluctuations in the worldwide raw materials markets. While ETS-Lindgren has long-term contracts with a number of its suppliers, performance of these contracts is vulnerable to the risks described in Item 1A.

Competition

Competition in our major markets is broadly based and global in scope. This competition can be particularly intense during periods of economic slowdown, and we have experienced this in some of our markets. Although we are a leading supplier in several of the markets we serve, we maintain a relatively small share of the business in many of our other markets. Individual competitors range in size from annual revenues of less than $1 million to billion-dollar enterprises. Because of the specialized nature of our products, our competitive position with respect to our products cannot be precisely stated. In our major served markets, competition is driven primarily by quality, technology, price and delivery performance. See also Item 1A, “Risk Factors.”

Primary competitors of our A&D segment include Pall Corporation, Moog, Inc., Safran (Sofrance), CLARCOR Inc., TransDigm (PneuDraulics), Marotta Controls, and Parker Hannifin.

Significant competitors of our USG segment include OMICRON electronics Corp., Megger Group Limited, Vaisala, and Qualitrol Company LLC (a subsidiary of Fortive Corporation).

Our Test segment is a global leader in EM shielding. Significant competitors in this market include Rohde & Schwarz GMBH, Microwave Vision SA (MVG), TDK RF Solutions Inc., Albatross GmbH, IMEDCO AG, and Universal Shielding Corp.

Research and Development

Research and development and our technological expertise are important factors in our business. Our research and development programs are designed to develop technology for new products or to extend or upgrade the capability of existing products, and to enhance their commercial potential. We perform research and development at our own expense, and also engage in research and development funded by our customers. See Note 1 to the Consolidated Financial Statements for financial information about our research and development expenditures.

Environmental Matters and Government Regulation

We are involved in various stages of investigation and cleanup relating to environmental matters. It is difficult to estimate the potential costs of these matters and the possible impact of these costs on the Company at this time due in part to: the uncertainty regarding the extent of pollution; the complexity and changing nature of Government laws and regulations and their interpretations; the varying costs and effectiveness of alternative cleanup technologies and methods; the uncertain level of insurance or other types of cost recovery; the uncertain level of our responsibility for any contamination; the possibility of joint and several liability with other contributors under applicable law; and the ability of other contributors to make required contributions toward cleanup costs. Based on information currently available, we do not believe that the aggregate costs involved in the resolution of environmental matters or compliance with Governmental regulations will have a material adverse effect on our financial condition or results of operations.

Human Capital Management

As of September 30, 2022, we employed 2,922 persons, including 2,894 full time employees 18% of whom were located in 17 foreign countries.

We strive to be a responsible member of the communities in which we operate, and we are dedicated to preserving operational excellence and remaining an employer of choice. We provide and maintain a work environment that attracts, develops and retains top talent by offering our employees an engaging work experience that contributes to their career development. Through our charitable Foundation and wellness activities we provide opportunities for civic involvement that not only support our communities and provides our employees with meaningful experiences that promote collaborative and rewarding work environments. We strive to maintain a culture that enables all employees to be treated with dignity and respect while performing their jobs to the best of their abilities. We

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operate in a supportive culture that incorporates strong ethical behavior and reinforces our human rights commitment through annual training on ethics, human rights, anti-human trafficking and anti-harassment.

Our subsidiaries enjoy modest turnover at about half the national average for our industry. Fewer than 6% of our workforce are contingent workers. We invest in creating a diverse, inclusive and safe work environment which will inspire our employees to give their best efforts every day. In fact, nearly half of our employee base comes from diverse backgrounds.

We generally conduct formal compensation benchmarking reviews every 1-2 years to ensure wages are competitive in local markets and support our retention and recruiting efforts. Additionally, we invest time and resources in reviewing pay equity within our workforce. The majority of full-time domestic and international employees are eligible for bonus or commission plans, most of which are designed to incentivize and reward performance based on results such as EPS, EBIT, cash flow, quality and backlog reduction, or other measures.

We recognize that our success is based on the talents and dedication of those we employ, and we are invested in their success. Significant investments are made in the areas of talent development, technical skills and compliance training in areas such as supervisor training, employee coaching, ethics, safety, hazmat, ITAR, etc. For succession planning purposes, we focus on identifying high-potential future leaders and working with them on individual development plans and executive coaching.

Attracting and retaining a talented workforce is of utmost importance. Given the ever-changing talent market, we have looked to broaden the ways in which we can recognize and reward performance, including more frequent merit increases, market adjustments, spot bonuses, and other creative ways to recognize and reward employees. While utilizing these and other measures, at the end of our fiscal year the average tenure of our workforce was nine years. One third of employees have been with us for 10 or more years and more than 50% of employees have been with us for five or more years.

We are committed to the health and wellbeing of our employees and their families by encouraging participation in wellness programs. Generally, all our full-time employees, both domestic and international, are offered health and welfare benefits. We remain committed to our communities through financial support from our employees and the ESCO Foundation, and through personal participation of our employees with a variety of local organizations, such as food banks, blood drives, the Boys & Girls Club, and Habitat for Humanity. We believe strong human capital is a competitive differentiator, and we focus on ensuring we have the right domestic and international talent in place to drive our strategic initiatives not only today but well into the future.

Workforce Composition

(As of September 30, 2022)

By Gender

    

By Race

 

Male

    

71

%

Minorities

    

48

%

Female

 

24

%

White

 

40

%

Unknown*

 

5

%

Unknown*

 

12

%

*Some countries do not permit the collection or reporting of some or all of the above types of data.

By Generation

Gen Z (1996-2015)

8

%

Millennials (1977-1995)

39

%

Gen X (1965-1976)

28

%

Boomers (1946-1964)

25

%

Silent (1945 & before)

<1

%

Minorities are defined to include individuals of Native American or Alaskan Native, Asian, Black or
African American, Hispanic or Latino, Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islander, and Two or More Races.

The above is based on employees’ self-identification or other information believed by the Company to be reliable.

Financing

For information about our credit facility, see Note 8 to the Consolidated Financial Statements, which is incorporated into this Item by reference.

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Additional Information

The information set forth in Item 1A, “Risk Factors,” is incorporated in this Item by reference.

We make available free of charge on or through our website, www.escotechnologies.com, our annual report on Form 10-K, quarterly reports on Form 10-Q, current reports on Form 8-K, and amendments to those reports filed or furnished pursuant to Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, as well as our recent Proxy Statements for meetings of our shareholders, as soon as reasonably practicable after we file or furnish this material to the Securities and Exchange Commission. Information contained on our website is not incorporated into this Report.

Information about our Executive Officers

The following sets forth certain information as of the date of this report with respect to the persons who are, or who have been selected to become, our executive officers. These officers are elected annually to terms which expire at the first meeting of the Board of Directors held after the Annual Meeting of Stockholders.

Name

Age

Position(s) and Business Experience

Victor L. Richey

65

Mr. Richey has been Chairman of the Board of Directors and Chief Executive Officer since April 2003, and President since October 2006. He also serves as Chairman of the Executive Committee of the Board of Directors. Mr. Richey will retire as Chief Executive Officer and President on December 31, 2022 but will continue as an employee and Chairman of the Board for a transition period.

Bryan H. Sayler

56

Mr. Sayler will become the Company’s Chief Executive Officer and President on January 1, 2023. Mr. Sayler has led our Utility Solutions Group since 2016, where he played a key role in strategically building out the group, including leading our entry into the renewables business and overseeing six successful acquisitions that have more than doubled the size of the segment. From 1995 to 2016, he held senior positions with ETS-Lindgren.

Christopher L. Tucker

51

Mr. Tucker has been Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer since April 2021. Prior to joining ESCO, Mr. Tucker worked at Emerson Electric Co (NYSE:EMR) for 24 years, where he held a series of financial and administrative positions, most recently as Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of Emerson’s Commercial and Residential Solutions business, consisting of 11 business units generating approximately $6 billion in annual revenue.

David M. Schatz

59

Mr. Schatz has been Senior Vice President, General Counsel and Secretary since April 2021.He has worked at ESCO since 1998 in various positions with increasing responsibility, including serving as Vice President, IP Counsel and Assistant Secretary from 2015 until April 2021; he has extensive knowledge of ESCO’s operations, technologies, intellectual property, regulatory matters, M&A and other complex legal matters.

There are no family relationships among any of our executive officers and directors.

Item 1A. Risk Factors

This Form 10-K, including Item 1, “Business,” Item 2, “Properties,” Item 3, “Legal Proceedings,” Item 7, “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations,” and Item 7A, “Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk,” contains “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of the safe harbor provisions of the federal securities laws, as described under “Forward-Looking Statements” above.

In addition to the risks and uncertainties discussed in those Items and elsewhere in this Form 10-K, and risks and uncertainties that apply to businesses or public companies generally, the following important risk factors which are particularly applicable to our business could cause actual results and events to differ materially from those contained in any forward-looking statements, or could otherwise materially adversely affect our business, operating results or financial condition:

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COVID-19 Related Risks

The continuation of the COVID-19 pandemic and the impacts of known or unknown COVID-19 variants may have a material adverse effect on our business which could continue for an unknown period of time.

The effects of the COVID-19 global pandemic continue to create or increase the economic, demand and operational uncertainties of our business. We have global operations, customers and suppliers, including in countries most impacted by COVID-19, and both the disease itself and the actions taken around the world to slow the spread of COVID-19 and its variants have impacted our customers and suppliers; and future developments could cause further disruptions to the Company due to the interconnected nature of our business relationships.

We have been and may continue to be subject to postponement or cancellation of certain contracts to which we are a party. Current restrictions and conditions have and may continue to prevent or delay us in accessing customer facilities to deliver products and provide services, and disrupt or delay our supply chain. Further, we have occasionally incurred short-term disruptions in some facility operations, and due to the nature of the COVID-19 pandemic there can be no assurance that we will not suffer facility closures or other adverse effects on our business operations in the future.

The facilities of our suppliers and customers have experienced, and may continue to experience, disruptions in manufacturing and supply arrangements due to the loss or disruption of critical manufacturing and supply elements, such as raw materials or other finished product components, transportation, workforce or other manufacturing and distribution capability. We may also experience failure of third parties on which we rely, including our suppliers, distributors and contractors, to meet their obligations to us, or significant restrictions in their ability to do so.

These facts and circumstances may have a material adverse effect on our business, results of operations, financial condition and cash flows. The extent to which the COVID-19 pandemic will impact our business, results of operations, financial condition and cash flows in the future, and the length of time these impacts may continue, will depend on future developments that are highly uncertain and cannot be predicted at this time, including new information that may emerge concerning the severity of COVID-19 and its variants, the longevity of COVID-19 and its variants, and the actions taken to contain their impacts.

Risks Related to our Governmental and Aerospace Business

Our sales of products to the Government depend upon continued Government funding.

Sales to the U.S. Government and its prime contractors and subcontractors represent a significant portion of our business. Over the past three fiscal years, from 26% to 28% of our revenues have been generated from sales to the U.S. Government or its contractors, primarily within our A&D segment. These sales are dependent on government funding of the underlying programs, which is generally subject to annual Congressional appropriations. There could be reductions or terminations of, or delays in, the government funding on programs which apply to us or our customers. These funding effects could adversely affect our sales and profit, and could bring about a restructuring of our operations, which could result in an adverse effect on our financial condition or results of operations. A significant portion of VACCO’s, Westland’s and Globe’s sales involve major U.S. Government programs such as NASA’s Space Launch System (SLS) and U.S. Navy submarines. A reduction or delay in Government spending on these programs could have a significant adverse impact on our financial results which could extend for more than a single year.

Our Government business increases the risk that we may not realize the full amount of our backlog.

As of September 30, 2022, our twelve-month backlog was approximately $556.2 million, which represents confirmed orders we believe will be recognized as revenue within the next twelve months. There can be no assurance that our customers will purchase all the orders represented in our backlog, particularly as to contracts which are subject to the U.S. Government’s and its subcontractors’ ability to modify or terminate major programs or contracts, and if and to the extent that this occurs, our future revenues could be materially reduced.

The end of customer product life cycles could negatively affect our A&D segment’s results.

Many of our A&D segment products are sold to be components in our customers’ end-products. If a customer discontinues a certain end-product line, our ability to continue to sell those components will be reduced or eliminated. The result could be a significant

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decrease in our sales. For example, a substantial portion of PTI’s revenue is generated from commercial aviation aftermarket sales. As certain aircraft are retired and replaced by newer aircraft, there could be a corresponding decrease in sales associated with our current products. Such a decrease could adversely affect our operating results.

Risks Related to our International Business

Negative worldwide economic conditions and related inflation, rising interest rates and a potential economic slowdown could result in a decrease in our sales and an increase in our operating costs, which could adversely affect our business and operating results.

If there is a worsening of global and U.S. economic and financial market conditions and additional tightening of global credit markets, many of our customers may further delay or reduce their purchases of our products. Uncertainties in the global economy may cause the utility industry and commercial market customers to experience increases in cost of capital, which could limit spending. To the extent this problem affects our customers, our sales and profits could be adversely affected. Likewise, if our suppliers face challenges in obtaining credit, they may have to increase their prices or become unable to continue to offer the products and services we use to manufacture our products, which could have an adverse effect on our business, results of operations and financial condition.

Increases in tariffs or other changes in trade policies could adversely affect our ability to compete.

In addition to the effects of increases in market prices, increases in domestic import tariffs could increase the prices to us of our foreign-sourced raw materials and product components and thereby require us to either increase our selling prices or accept reduced margins. In the case of ETS-Lindgren, for example, tariffs on imports of Chinese goods have raised the costs of components purchased by it either from its China facility or from other Chinese suppliers, and its margins in China have been impacted by the increased costs of its products made in the U.S. and sold through its Chinese business.

In addition, increases in foreign-country tariffs applicable to our exported products could increase the effective prices of our products to our customers in those countries unless we are able to offset the tariffs by reducing our selling prices. Any or all of these factors could decrease the demand for our products, reduce our profitability, and/or make our products less competitive than those of other manufacturers that are not subject to the same tariffs. For example, since 2019 increased tariffs imposed by China on U.S. origin goods have adversely affected sales of NRG’s products in China by increasing their prices to Chinese customers.

In addition, trade restrictions against certain foreign-made products or entities may adversely affect our business and our ability to compete in certain markets. Our business may also be impacted by the ongoing trade tensions between the U.S. and China which are causing U.S. goods to be viewed in a less favorable light by Chinese customers.

Our international operations expose us to fluctuations in currency exchange rates that could adversely affect our results of operations and cash flows.

We have significant manufacturing and sales activities in foreign countries, and our domestic operations have sales to foreign customers. Our financial results may be affected by fluctuations in foreign currencies and by the translation of the financial statements of our foreign subsidiaries from local currencies into U.S. dollars, and we may not be able to adequately or successfully hedge against these risks. In addition, a rise in the dollar against foreign currencies could make our products more expensive for foreign customers and cause them to reduce the volume of their purchases.

Economic, political and other risks of our international operations, including terrorist activities or armed conflict, could adversely affect our business.

In 2022, approximately 30% of our net sales were to customers outside the United States. Adverse changes in the political situation in certain foreign countries in which we do business could cause a decline in revenues and adversely affect our financial condition. For example, our Test segment does significant business in Asia, and changes in the Asian political climate or political changes in specific Asian countries could negatively affect our business. Several of our subsidiaries are based in Europe and could be negatively impacted by the ongoing conflict between Russia and Ukraine. If this conflict were to spread beyond these two countries, we would expect an increasingly unfavorable impact on our global business environment.

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Our international sales are also subject to other risks inherent in foreign commerce, including currency fluctuations and devaluations, differences in foreign laws, uncertainties as to enforcement of contract or intellectual property rights, and difficulties in negotiating and resolving disputes with our foreign customers.

Our governmental sales and our international and export operations are subject to special U.S. and foreign government laws and regulations which may impose significant compliance costs, create reputational and legal risk, and impair our ability to compete in international markets.

The international scope of our operations subjects us to a complex system of commercial and trade regulations around the world, and our foreign operations are governed by laws and business practices that often differ from those of the U.S. In addition, laws such as the U.S. Foreign Corrupt Practices Act and similar laws in other countries increase the need for us to manage the risks of improper conduct not only by our own employees but by distributors and contractors who may not be within our direct control. Many of our exports are of products which are subject to U.S. Government regulations and controls such as the U.S. International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR), which impose certain restrictions on the U.S. export of defense articles and services, and these restrictions are subject to change from time to time, including changes in the countries into which our products may lawfully be sold.

If we were to fail to comply with these laws and regulations, we could be subject to significant fines, penalties and other sanctions including the inability to continue to export our products or to sell our products to the U.S. Government or to certain other customers. In addition, some of these regulations may be viewed as too restrictive by our international customers, who may elect to develop their own domestic products or procure products from other international suppliers which are not subject to comparable export restrictions; and the laws, regulations or policies of certain other countries may also favor their own domestic suppliers over foreign suppliers such as the Company.

Risks Related to our Manufacturing and Sales Operations and Technology

Disruptions of Our Information Technology Systems, or Information Security and/or Data Privacy Breaches, Could Adversely Affect Our Business.

We have many information technology systems that are important to the operation of our businesses, some of which are managed by third parties. These systems are used to obtain, process, transmit and store electronic information and to manage or support a variety of integral business processes and activities. Our primary and backup computer systems are vulnerable to damage, disruptions or shutdowns during the process of upgrading or replacing software, databases or components and from power outages, computer and telecommunication failures, security breaches, natural disasters and errors by employees. Any failure in the operation of our information technology systems could adversely affect our businesses or operating results. Although losses arising from some of these issues may be covered by information security insurance, we cannot guarantee that our coverage will be adequate for all costs or losses incurred.

Global information technology security threats and targeted computer crime are increasing in frequency and sophistication and pose a risk to the security of our systems and networks and the confidentiality, availability and integrity of our data and communications. We attempt to mitigate these risks through numerous measures, including implementation of standard cybersecurity controls, employee training and testing, comprehensive monitoring of our networks and systems, and maintenance of backup and protective systems. Although we do not believe we have experienced a material information security breach in the last three years, and we have incurred no fines, settlement costs or other material expenses related to information security breaches, if we were to experience such a breach it could adversely affect our reputation and result in litigation, regulatory action, liability for fines, penalties and related expenses, and costs of implementing additional data protection procedures. In addition, even though we generally do not conduct business directly with retail or individual customers or consumers we must comply with increasingly complex and rigorous regulatory standards enacted to protect business and personal data in the U.S. and elsewhere. Compliance with data privacy laws and regulations increases operational complexity, and failure to comply with legal or regulatory standards could subject us to fines and penalties, as well as legal and reputational risks, including proceedings against us by governmental entities or others. Although we maintain insurance coverage for data privacy risks, we cannot guarantee that our coverage will be adequate for all costs or losses incurred.

A significant part of our manufacturing operations depends on a small number of third-party suppliers.

A significant part of our manufacturing operations relies on a small number of third-party manufacturers to supply component parts or products. For example, Doble has arrangements with six manufacturers which produce and supply a substantial portion of its end-products, and one of these suppliers produces approximately 23% of Doble’s products from a single location within the United States.

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As another example, PTI has a single supplier of critical electronic components for a significant aircraft production program, and if this supplier were to discontinue producing these components the need to secure another source could pose a risk to the production program. A significant disruption in the supply of those products or others provided by a small number of suppliers could negatively affect the timely delivery of products to customers as well as future sales, which could increase costs and reduce margins.

Certain of our other businesses are dependent upon sole source or a limited number of third-party manufacturers of parts and components. Many of these suppliers are small businesses. Since alternative supply sources are limited, there is an increased risk of adverse impacts on our production schedules and profits if our suppliers were to default in fulfilling their price, quality or delivery obligations. In addition, some of our customers or potential customers may prefer to purchase from a supplier which does not have such a limited number of sources of supply.

Increases in prices of raw material and components, and decreased availability of such items, could adversely affect our business.

The cost of raw materials and product components is a major element of the total cost of many of our products. For example, our Test segment’s critical components rely on purchases of raw materials from third parties. Increases in the prices of raw materials (such as steel, copper, nickel, zinc, wood and petrochemical products) could have an adverse impact on our business by, among other things, increasing costs and reducing margins. Aerospace-grade titanium and gaseous helium, important raw materials for our A&D segment, may at times be in short supply; in addition, although we try to tie our supplier pricing to long-term contracts this is not always possible, and we are experiencing price inflation on a number of products. Further, some of Doble’s items of equipment which are provided to its customers for their use are in the maturity of their life cycles, which creates the risk that replacement components may be unavailable or available only at increased costs. We have experienced COVID-related short term disruptions in the supply chain which have periodically resulted in extended lead times and cost increases, and the long term impacts of these disruptions are uncertain. See also “COVID-19 Related Risks” above.

In addition, our reliance on sole or limited sources of supply of raw materials and components in each of our segments could adversely affect our business, as described in the preceding Risk Factor. The potential physical impacts of climate change, such as increased frequency and severity of storms, floods and other climatic events, could disrupt our supply chain, and cause our suppliers to incur significant costs in preparing for or responding to these effects. These and other weather-created disruptions in supply, in addition to affecting costs, could impact our ability to procure an adequate supply of these raw materials and components, and delay or prevent deliveries of products to our customers. The entire electronics industry is currently disrupted due to limited sources of supply, and we are subject to the same supply chain risks as other manufacturers of products containing electronic components.

Our inability to timely develop new products could reduce our future sales.

Much of our business is dependent on the continuous development of new products and technologies to meet the changing needs of our markets on a cost-effective basis. Many of these markets are highly technical from an engineering standpoint, and the relevant technologies are subject to rapid change. If we fail to timely enhance existing products or develop new products as needed to meet market or competitive demands, we could lose sales opportunities, which would adversely affect our business. In addition, in some existing contracts with customers, we have made commitments to develop and deliver new products. If we fail to meet these commitments, the default could result in the imposition on us of contractual penalties including termination. Our inability to enhance existing products in a timely manner could make our products less competitive, while our inability to successfully develop new products may limit our growth opportunities. Development of new products and product enhancements may also require us to make greater investments in research and development than we now do, and the increased costs associated with new product development and product enhancements could adversely affect our operating results. In addition, our costs of new product development may not be recoverable if demand for our products is not as great as we anticipate it to be.

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Product defects or customer claims could result in costly fixes, litigation and damages.

Our business exposes us to potential product liability risks that are inherent in the design, manufacture and sale of our products and the products of third-party vendors which we use or resell, many of which are mission-critical to our customers. If there are claims related to defective products (under warranty or otherwise), particularly in a product recall situation, we could be faced with significant expenses in replacing or repairing the product. For example, the A&D segment obtains raw materials, machined parts and other product components from suppliers who provide certifications of quality which we rely on. Should these product components be defective and pass undetected into finished products, or should a finished product contain a defect, we could incur significant costs for repairs, re-work and/or removal and replacement of the defective product. In addition, if a dispute over product claims cannot be settled, arbitration or litigation may result, requiring us to incur attorneys’ fees and exposing us to the potential of damage awards against us.

A major portion of our Test segment’s business involves working in conjunction with general contractors to produce complex building components constructed on-site, such as electronic test chambers, secure communication rooms and MRI facilities. If there are performance problems caused by either us or a contractor, they could result in cost overruns and may lead to a dispute as to which party is responsible. The resolution of such disputes can involve arbitration or litigation, and can cause us to incur significant expense including attorneys’ fees. In addition, these disputes could result in a reduction in revenue, a loss on a particular project, or even a significant damages award against us.

Despite our efforts, we may be unable to adequately protect our intellectual property.

Much of our business success depends on our ability to protect and freely utilize our various intellectual properties, including both patents and trade secrets. Despite our efforts to protect our intellectual property, unauthorized parties or competitors may copy or otherwise obtain and use our products and technology, particularly in foreign countries such as China where the laws may not protect our proprietary rights as fully as in the United States. Our current and future actions to enforce our proprietary rights may ultimately not be successful; or in some cases we may not elect to pursue an unauthorized user due to the high costs and uncertainties associated with litigation. We may also face exposure to claims by others challenging our intellectual property rights. Any or all of these actions may divert our resources and cause us to incur substantial costs.

Environmental laws and regulations or environmental contamination could increase our expenses and adversely affect our profitability.

Our operations and properties are subject to U.S. and foreign environmental laws and regulations governing, among other things, the generation, storage, emission, discharge, transportation, treatment and disposal of hazardous materials and the clean-up of contaminated properties. In addition, governments around the world are increasingly focused on enacting laws and regulations regarding climate change and regulation of greenhouse gases. These regulations, and changes to them, could increase our cost of compliance, and our failure to comply could result in the imposition of significant fines, suspension of production, alteration of product processes, cessation of operations or other actions which could materially and adversely affect our business, financial condition and results of operations.

We are currently involved as a responsible party in several ongoing investigations and remediations of contaminated third-party owned properties. In addition, environmental contamination may be discovered in the future on properties which we formerly owned or operated and for which we could be legally responsible. Future costs associated with these situations, including ones which may be currently unknown to us, are difficult to quantify but could have a significant effect on our financial condition. See Item 1, “Business – Environmental Matters” for a discussion of these factors.

Risks Related to Our Business Strategy and Corporate Structure

Changes in testing standards could adversely impact our Test and USG segments’ sales.

A significant portion of the business of our USG and Test segments involves sales to technology customers who need to have a third party verify that their products meet specific international and domestic test standards. If regulatory agencies were to eliminate or reduce certain domestic or international test standards, or if demand for product testing from these customers were to decrease for some other reason, our sales could be adversely affected. For example, if a regulatory authority were to relax the test standards for certain electronic devices because they were determined not to interfere with the broadcast spectrum, or if new wireless

12

communication technologies were developed that required less testing or different types of testing, our sales of certain testing products could be significantly reduced.

We may not be able to identify suitable acquisition candidates or complete acquisitions successfully, which may inhibit our rate of growth.

As part of our growth strategy, we plan to continue to pursue acquisitions of other companies, assets and product lines that either complement or expand our existing business. However, we may be unable to implement this strategy if we are unable to identify suitable acquisition candidates or consummate future acquisitions at acceptable prices and terms. We expect to face competition for acquisition candidates which may limit the number of acquisition opportunities available to us and may result in higher acquisition prices. As a result, we may be limited in the number of acquisitions which we are able to complete and we may face difficulties in achieving the profitability or cash flows needed to justify our investment in them.

Our acquisitions of other companies carry risk.

Acquisitions of other companies involve numerous risks, including difficulties in the integration of the operations, technologies and products of the acquired companies, the potential exposure to unanticipated and undisclosed liabilities, the potential that expected benefits or synergies are not realized and that operating costs increase, the potential loss of key personnel, suppliers or customers of acquired businesses and the diversion of Management’s time and attention from other business concerns. Although we attempt to identify and evaluate the risks inherent in any acquisition, we may not properly ascertain or mitigate all such risks, and our failure to do so could have a material adverse effect on our business.

We may incur significant costs, experience short-term inefficiencies, or be unable to realize expected long-term savings from facility consolidations and other business reorganizations.

We periodically assess the cost and operational structure of our facilities in order to manufacture and sell our products in the most efficient manner, and based on these assessments, we may from time to time reorganize, relocate or consolidate certain of our facilities. These actions may require us to incur significant costs and may result in short term business inefficiencies as we consolidate and close facilities and transition our employees; and in addition, we may not achieve the expected long-term benefits. Any or all of these factors could result in an adverse impact on our operating results, cash flows and financial condition.

Our inability to hire or retain qualified key employees could affect our performance and revenues.

There is a risk of our losing key employees having engineering and technical expertise. For example, our USG segment relies heavily on engineers with significant experience and reputation in the utility industry to furnish expert consulting services and support to customers, and our other segments similarly rely on qualified and experienced employees to carry on their businesses. Despite our active recruitment efforts, there remains a shortage of these qualified engineers and other employees because of hiring competition from other companies in the industry and a generally tight labor market, possibly exacerbated by COVID-related retirements or career changes. Losing current employees or qualified candidates to other employers or for other reasons could reduce our ability to provide services and negatively affect our revenues.

Our decentralized organizational structure presents certain risks.

We are a relatively decentralized company in comparison with some of our peers. This decentralization necessarily places significant control and decision-making powers in the hands of local management, which present various risks, including the risk that we may be slower or less able to identify or react to problems affecting a key business than we would in a more centralized management environment. We may also be slower to detect or react to compliance related problems (such as an employee undertaking activities prohibited by applicable law or by our internal policies), and Company-wide business initiatives may be more challenging and costly to implement, and the risks of noncompliance or failures higher, than they would be under a more centralized management structure. Depending on the nature of the problem or initiative in question, such noncompliance or failure could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition or result of operations.

13

Provisions in our articles of incorporation, bylaws and Missouri law could make it more difficult for a third party to acquire us and could discourage acquisition bids or a change of control, and could adversely affect the market price of our common stock.

Our articles of incorporation and bylaws contain certain provisions which could discourage potential hostile takeover attempts, including: a limitation on the shareholders’ ability to call special meetings of shareholders; advance notice requirements to nominate candidates for election as directors or to propose matters for action at a meeting of shareholders; a classified board of directors, which means that approximately one-third of our directors are elected each year; and the authority of our board of directors to issue, without shareholder approval, preferred stock with such terms as the board may determine. In addition, the laws of Missouri, in which we are incorporated, require a two-thirds vote of outstanding shares to approve mergers or certain other major corporate transactions, rather than a simple majority as in some other states such as Delaware. These provisions could impede a merger or other change of control not approved by our board of directors, which could discourage takeover attempts and in some circumstances reduce the market price of our common stock.

Item 1B. Unresolved Staff Comments

None

Item 2. Properties

We believe our buildings, machinery and equipment have been generally well maintained, are in good operating condition and are adequate for our current production requirements and other needs.

At September 30, 2022, our physical properties, including those described in the table below, comprised approximately 1,618,000 square feet of floor space, of which approximately 757,500 square feet were owned and approximately 860,500 square feet were leased. The table below includes our principal physical properties. We do not believe any of the omitted properties, consisting primarily of office and/or warehouse space, are individually or collectively material to our operations or business. See also Note 14 to the Consolidated Financial Statements.

Principal Use(s)

(M=Manufacturing,

Approx. 

Owned / Leased (with

 E=Engineering, O=Office,

Operating 

Location

Sq. Ft.

Expiration Date)

W=Warehouse)

Segment 

Modesto, CA

181,500

Leased (9/30/2033)

M, E, O,W

A&D

Denton, TX

145,000

Leased (9/30/2029, plus options)

M, E, O, W

A&D

Cedar Park, TX

130,000

Owned

M, E, O, W

Test

Oxnard, CA

127,400

Owned

M, E, O, W

A&D

South El Monte, CA

100,100

Owned

M, E, O, W

A&D

Durant, OK

100,000

Owned

M, O, W

Test

Valencia, CA

79,300

Owned

M, E, O

A&D

Marlborough, MA

79,100

Leased (2/28/2037)

M, E, O, W

USG

Hinesburg, VT

77,000

Owned

M, E, O, W

USG

Stoughton, MA

71,400

Leased (1/31/2029)

M, E, O, W

A&D

Accident, MD

66,800

Owned

M, E, O, W

USG

South El Monte, CA

63,300

Leased (6/30/2024)

M, O, W

A&D

Brockton, MA

47,300

Leased (7/31/2023)

W

A&D

Eura, Finland

41,500

Owned

M, E, O, W

Test

Montreal, Québec

38,400

Leased (8/31/2041)

M, E, O, W

USG

Tianjin, China

38,100

Leased (11/19/2027)

M, E, O

Test

Minocqua, WI

35,400

Owned

M, O, W

Test

Bologna, Italy

28,200

Leased (8/13/2028)

M, E, O, W

USG

Ontario, CA

26,900

Leased (8/31/2025)

M, E, O, W

USG

Chatsworth, CA

24,800

Leased (12/31/2023)

M, E, O, W

A&D

St. Louis, MO

21,500

Leased (8/31/2025)

ESCO Corporate Office

Corporate

Taino, Italy

18,000

Leased (various term ends)

M, E, O, W

USG

Zola Predosa, Italy

12,900

Leased (1/31/2029)

M, E, O, W

USG

Morrisville, NC

11,600

Leased (1/31/2027), plus options

O

USG

Wood Dale, IL

10,700

Leased (6/30/2024)

E, O

Test

14

Item 3. Legal Proceedings

As a normal incident of the businesses in which we are engaged, various claims, charges and litigation are asserted or commenced from time to time against us. With respect to claims and litigation currently asserted or commenced against us, it is the opinion of our Management that final judgments, if any, which might be rendered against us are adequately reserved for, are covered by insurance, or are not likely to have a material adverse effect on our financial condition or results of operations. Nevertheless, given the uncertainties of litigation, it is possible that certain types of claims, charges and litigation could have a material adverse impact on us; see Item 1A, “Risk Factors.”

Item 4. Mine Safety Disclosures

Not applicable.

15

PART II

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

Holders of Record.As of November 7, 2022, there were approximately 1,808 holders of record of our common stock.

Price Range of Common Stock and Dividends. Our common stock is listed on the New York Stock Exchange; its trading symbol is ESE.

Company Purchases of Equity Securities. For information about our common stock repurchase programs, please refer to Note 9 to the Consolidated Financial Statements. We did not repurchase any shares of our common stock during the fourth quarter of fiscal 2022.

Securities Authorized for Issuance Under Equity Compensation Plans. For information about securities authorized for issuance under our equity compensation plans, please refer to Item 12 of this Form 10-K and to Note 10 to the Consolidated Financial Statements.

Performance Graph.The graph and table on the following page present a comparison of the cumulative total shareholder return on our common stock as measured against the cumulative total returns of the Russell 2000 index, which is a broad equity market index, and the S&P SmallCap 600 Industrials index, which is a published industry index designed to measure the performance of small-cap companies that are classified as members of the GICS Industrials sector. The Company is a component of both the Russell 2000 index and the S&P SmallCap 600 Industrials index.

The measurement period begins on September 30, 2017 and measures at each September 30 thereafter. These figures assume that all dividends, if any, paid over the measurement period were reinvested, and that the starting values of each index and the investments in our common stock were $100 at the close of trading on September 30, 2017.

16

COMPARISON OF 5 YEAR CUMULATIVE TOTAL RETURN

Among ESCO Technologies Inc., the Russell 2000 Index,

and the S&P SmallCap 600 Industrials Index

Graphic

    

9/30/17

    

9/30/18

    

9/30/19

    

9/30/20

    

9/30/21

    

9/30/22

ESCO Technologies Inc.

$

100.00

$

114.13

$

134.04

$

136.42

$

130.83

$

125.19

Russell 2000 Index

 

100.00

 

115.24

 

104.99

 

105.40

 

155.66

 

119.08

S&P Small Cap 600 Industrials Index

 

100.00

 

121.53

 

112.63

 

105.97

 

155.41

 

134.57

The stock price performance included in this graph is not necessarily indicative of future stock price performance.

Item 6. [Reserved]

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

The following discussion should be read in conjunction with the Consolidated Financial Statements and Notes thereto and refers to our results from continuing operations except where noted.

Selected financial information for each of our business segments is provided in the discussion below and in Note 12 to the Company’s Consolidated Financial Statements.

This section includes comparisons of certain 2022 financial information to the same information for 2021. Year-to-year comparisons of the 2021 financial information to the same information for 2020 are contained in Item 7 of our Form 10-K for 2021 filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on November 29, 2021 and available through the SEC’s website at https://www.sec.gov/edgar/searchedgar/companysearch.html.

17

Introduction

We classify our business operations into three segments for financial reporting purposes, although for reporting certain financial information we treat Corporate activities as a separate segment. Our three operating segments during 2022 were Aerospace & Defense (A&D), Utility Solutions Group (USG), and RF Shielding and Test (Test). Our operating segments are comprised of the following primary operating subsidiaries:

A&D: PTI Technologies Inc. (PTI); VACCO Industries (VACCO); Crissair, Inc. (Crissair); Westland Technologies, Inc. (Westland); Mayday Manufacturing Co. (Mayday); Globe Composite Solutions, LLC (Globe); and Networks Electronic Co. (NEco).
USG: Doble Engineering Company, I.S.A. – Altanova Group S.r.l. and affiliates (Altanova) and Morgan Schaffer Ltd. (collectively, Doble); and NRG Systems, Inc. (NRG).
Test: ETS-Lindgren Inc. (ETS-Lindgren).

A&D. PTI, VACCO and Crissair primarily design and manufacture specialty filtration products, including hydraulic filter elements and fluid control devices used in commercial aerospace applications, unique filter mechanisms used in micro-propulsion devices for satellites and custom designed filters for manned aircraft and submarines. Westland and Globe design, develop and manufacture elastomeric-based signature reduction solutions for U.S. naval vessels. Mayday designs and manufactures mission-critical bushings, pins, sleeves and precision-tolerance machined components for landing gear, rotor heads, engine mounts, flight controls, and actuation systems for the aerospace and defense industries.

USG. Doble develops, manufactures and delivers diagnostic testing solutions that enable electric power grid operators to assess the integrity of high-voltage power delivery equipment. NRG designs and manufactures decision support tools for the renewable energy industry, primarily wind and solar.

Test. ETS-Lindgren is an industry leader in providing its customers with the ability to identify, measure and contain magnetic, electromagnetic and acoustic energy.

We continue to operate with meaningful growth prospects in our primary served markets and with considerable financial flexibility. We continue to focus on new products that incorporate proprietary design and process technologies. Our Management is committed to delivering shareholder value through organic growth, ongoing performance improvement initiatives, and acquisitions.

In December 2019, we sold the businesses comprising our former Technical Packaging segment. We received net proceeds from the sale of approximately $184 million and recorded $76.5 million of after-tax net earnings on the sale in 2020. The Technical Packaging segment is reflected as discontinued operations in the Consolidated Financial Statements and related notes for all periods presented, in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (GAAP). See Note 3 to the Consolidated Financial Statements for further discussion.

Highlights of 2022

Sales, net earnings and diluted earnings per share in 2022 were $857.5 million, $82.3 million and $3.16 per share, respectively, compared to sales, net earnings and diluted earnings per share in 2021 of $715.4 million, $63.5 million and $2.42 per share, respectively.
Diluted EPS – GAAP for 2022 was $3.16, compared to Diluted EPS – GAAP for 2021 of $2.42.

18

Diluted EPS – As Adjusted for 2022 was $3.21 excluding $1.3 million of pretax charges (or $0.05 per shares after tax), consisting of Altanova and NEco purchase accounting adjustments, severance charges primarily at VACCO and NRG, and acquisition and management transition costs at Corporate. Diluted EPS – As Adjusted for 2021 was $2.59 excluding $6.0 million of pretax charges (or $0.17 per share after tax) consisting of one-time compensation and acquisition related costs at Corporate; restructuring costs within the USG segment, primarily facility consolidation charges; purchase accounting adjustments related to the Phenix and Altanova acquisitions, primarily inventory step-up charges; partially offset by the final settlement from the sale of the Doble Watertown facility. See “Non-GAAP Financial Measures” below.

Fiscal year ended

(Dollars in millions)

    

2022

    

2021

Diluted EPS – GAAP

$

3.16

 

2.42

One time compensation & acquisition related costs

 

0.02

 

0.12

Restructuring adjustments

 

0.01

 

0.08

Purchase accounting adjustments

0.02

 

0.03

Gain on building sale

(0.06)

Diluted EPS – As Adjusted

$

3.21

2.59

Net cash provided by operating activities was $135.3 million in 2022 compared to $123.1 million in 2021.
At September 30, 2022, cash on hand was $97.7 million and outstanding debt was $153.0 million, for a net debt position (total debt less cash on hand) of approximately $55.3 million.
Entered orders for 2022 were $960.5 million resulting in a book-to-bill ratio of 1.12x. Backlog at September 30, 2022 was $695.0 million compared to $592.0 million at September 30, 2021.
The Company declared dividends of $0.32 per share during 2022, totaling $8.3 million in dividend payments.

Results of Operations

Net Sales

Change

 

Fiscal year ended

2022

 

(Dollars in millions)

    

2022

    

2021

    

vs. 2021

 

A&D

$

351.4

 

314.8

 

11.6

%

USG

 

278.4

 

202.9

 

37.2

%

Test

 

227.7

 

197.7

 

15.2

%

Total

$

857.5

 

715.4

 

19.9

%

Net sales increased $142.1 million, or 19.9%, to $857.5 million in 2022 from $715.4 million in 2021. The increase in net sales in 2022 as compared to 2021 was mainly due to a $75.5 million increase in the USG segment, a $36.6 million increase in the A&D segment, and a $30.0 million increase in the Test segment. Organic sales increased $90 million and recent acquisitions added approximately $52 million of revenue growth in 2022 as compared to 2021.

A&D.

The $36.6 million, or 11.6%, increase in net sales in 2022 as compared to 2021 was mainly due to a $16.4 million increase in net sales at PTI (including $5.2 million from NEco), a $14.1 million increase in net sales at Mayday, both primarily due to an increase in commercial aerospace sales driven by the rebound from the COVID-19 pandemic; a $3.0 million increase in net sales at Westland driven by timing of navy defense projects, a $1.5 million increase in net sales at VACCO, a $0.9 million increase in net sales at Crissair and a $0.7 million increase in net sales at Globe.

19

USG.

The $75.5 million, or 37.2%, increase in net sales in 2022 as compared to 2021 was mainly due to a $46.9 million increase in net sales from the 2021 acquisitions of Altanova and Phenix, a $20 million increase in core Doble products and services; and a $8.2 million increase in net sales at NRG driven by renewable energy products.

Test.

The $30.0 million, or 15.2%, increase in net sales in 2022 as compared to 2021 was mainly due to a $22.3 million increase in net sales from the Company’s U.S. operations, $11.5 million increase in net sales from the Company’s Asian operations both driven by increased medical and industrial shielding and power filter demand, partially offset by a $3.8 million decrease in net sales from the Company’s European operations, primarily driven by the timing of test and measurement chamber projects.

Orders and Backlog

New orders received were $960.5 million in 2022 and $796.3 million in 2021. Order backlog was $695.0 million at September 30, 2022, compared to order backlog of $592.0 million at September 30, 2021. Orders are entered into backlog as firm purchase order commitments are received.

By operating segment, 2022 orders were $392.5 million related to A&D products, $314.9 million related to USG products, and $253.1 million related to Test products; and 2021 orders were $337.4 million related to A&D products, $243.9 million related to USG products (including $29 million of acquired backlog), and $215.0 million related to Test products.

Selling, General and Administrative Expenses

Selling, general and administrative (SG&A) expenses were $195.1 million, or 22.7% of net sales, in 2022, and $167.5 million, or 23.4% of net sales, in 2021. The increase in SG&A expenses in 2022 as compared to 2021 was mainly due to higher expenses at Doble as a result of the SG&A expenses from the Altanova and Phenix acquisitions and the return of discretionary spending to more normal levels (travel, events, etc.) as COVID-19 pandemic related restrictions eased.

Amortization of Intangible Assets

Amortization of intangible assets was $25.9 million in 2022 and $20.8 million in 2021, including $19.3 million and $14.3 million of amortization of acquired intangible assets in 2022 and 2021, respectively, related to our acquisitions. The amortization of acquired intangible assets related to acquisitions is included in the Corporate segment’s results. The remaining amortization expenses relate to other identifiable intangible assets (primarily software, patents and licenses), which are included in the respective segment’s operating results. The increase in amortization expense in 2022 as compared to 2021 was mainly due to the Company’s recent acquisitions of Phenix, Altanova and NEco.

Other Income or Expenses, Net

Other income, net, was $0.3 million in 2022, compared to other income, net, of $0.9 million in 2021. There were no individually significant items in other income, net in 2022. The principal components of other income, net, in 2021 included a gain of approximately $2 million for the final settlement on the sale of the Doble Watertown, MA property, partially offset by facility consolidation charges within the USG segment (Doble Manta, Morgan Schaffer and Altanova facilities).

Non-GAAP Financial Measures

The information reported herein includes the financial measures Diluted EPS As Adjusted, which we define as Diluted EPS excluding the per-share impact of discrete compensation and acquisition related costs, severance charges primarily within the A&D segment, and purchase accounting charges related to the Company’s recent acquisitions (Altanova and NEco) in 2022; the per-share net impact of discrete compensation and acquisition related costs, facility consolidation charges within the USG segment, and purchase accounting charges related to the Company’s recent acquisitions in 2021, partially offset by a gain on the final installment of the Doble Watertown, MA property sale; and pension plan termination charge and restructuring charges related to our facility consolidation restructuring plans in 2020; EBIT, which we define as earnings before interest and taxes; and EBIT margin, which we define as EBIT

20

expressed as a percentage of net sales. Diluted EPS – Continuing Operations As Adjusted, EBIT on a consolidated basis, and EBIT margin on a consolidated basis are not recognized in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP). However, we believe that EBIT and EBIT margin provide investors and Management with valuable information for assessing our operating results. Management evaluates the performance of our operating segments based on EBIT and believes that EBIT is useful to investors to demonstrate the operational profitability of our business segments by excluding interest and taxes, which are generally accounted for across the entire company on a consolidated basis. EBIT is also one of the measures Management uses to determine resource allocations and incentive compensation. We believe that the presentation of EBIT, EBIT margin and Diluted EPS – Continuing Operations As Adjusted provides important supplemental information to investors by facilitating comparisons with other companies, many of which use similar non-GAAP financial measures to supplement their GAAP results. The use of non-GAAP financial measures is not intended to replace any measures of performance determined in accordance with GAAP.

EBIT

The reconciliation of EBIT to a GAAP financial measure is as follows:

(Dollars in millions)

    

2022

    

2021

EBIT

$

111.3

82.9

Less: Interest expense, net

 

(4.9)

 

(2.2)

Less: Income tax expense

 

(24.1)

 

(17.2)

Net earnings

$

82.3

63.5

EBIT by business segment is as follows:

Change

 

Fiscal year ended

2022

 

(Dollars in millions)

    

2022

    

2021

    

vs. 2021

 

A&D

$

68.4

 

56.5

 

21.1

%

% of net sales

 

19.5

%  

17.9

%  

USG

 

57.6

 

40.9

 

40.8

%

% of net sales

 

20.7

%  

20.2

%  

Test

 

32.6

 

27.6

 

18.1

%

% of net sales

 

14.3

%  

14.0

%  

Corporate

 

(47.3)

 

(42.1)

 

(12.4)

%

Total

$

111.3

 

82.9

 

34.3

%

% of net sales

 

13.0

%  

11.6

%  

  

A&D

The $11.9 million, or 21.1%, increase in EBIT in 2022 as compared to 2021 was primarily due to higher sales volumes, favorable product mix and price increases at Mayday, Westland, PTI and Globe partially offset by a decrease in EBIT at Crissair and VACCO due to product mix and inflationary pressures. EBIT in 2022 was negatively impacted by a $0.3 million inventory step-up charge related to the NEco acquisition and $0.4 million of severance charges primarily at VACCO.

USG

The $16.7 million, or 40.8%, increase in EBIT in 2022 as compared to 2021 was mainly due to higher sales volumes at Doble and NRG with a favorable product mix and price increases, partially offset by inflationary pressures and increased travel and event costs. EBIT in 2022 was negatively impacted by approximately $0.5 million of inventory step-up charges related to the Altanova acquisition.

Test

The $5.0 million, or 18.1%, increase in EBIT in 2022 as compared to 2021 was primarily due to leverage on higher sales volumes and price increases mainly from the segment’s Asian and U.S. operations partially offset by material cost and wage inflation.

21

Corporate

Corporate operating charges included in 2022 consolidated EBIT increased to $47.3 million as compared to $42.1 million in 2021 mainly due to an increase in amortization expense of acquired intangible assets related to the Company’s recent acquisitions of Phenix, Altanova and NEco.

The “Reconciliation to Consolidated Totals (Corporate)” in Note 12 to the Consolidated Financial Statements represents Corporate office operating charges.

Interest Expense, Net

Interest expense, net was $4.9 million and $2.3 million in 2022 and 2021, respectively. The increase in interest expense in 2022 was mainly due to higher average outstanding borrowings and higher average interest rates. Average outstanding borrowings were $190 million in 2022 compared to $71 million in 2021. The weighted average interest rates were 2.11% in 2022 compared to 1.20% in 2021.

Income Tax Expense

The effective tax rates from continuing operations for 2022, 2021 and 2020 were 22.7%, 21.3% and 37.1%, respectively. The increase in the 2022 effective tax rate as compared to 2021 was due an increase in state income tax expense and a reduction in research credit benefits, increasing the rate by 1.0% and 0.6%, respectively.

No provision has been made in 2022 for foreign withholding of any applicable U.S. income taxes on the undistributed earnings of non-U.S. subsidiaries where these earnings are considered indefinitely invested or otherwise retained for continuing international operations. Determination of the amount of taxes that might be paid on these undistributed earnings if eventually remitted is not practicable.

Acquisitions and Divestiture

Information regarding our acquisitions and divestiture during 2022, 2021 and 2020 is set forth in Notes 2 and 3 to the Consolidated Financial Statements, which Notes are incorporated by reference herein.

All of our acquisitions have been accounted for using the purchase method of accounting, and accordingly, the respective purchase prices were allocated to the assets (including intangible assets) acquired and liabilities assumed based on estimated fair values at the date of acquisition. The financial results from these acquisitions have been included in our financial statements from the date of acquisition.

Capital Resources and Liquidity

The Company’sOur overall financial position and liquidity are strong. Working capital from continuing operations (current assets less current liabilities) decreasedincreased to $190.6$254.5 million at September 30, 20202022 from $229.8$191.2 million at September 30, 2019.2021. Accounts receivable decreased $14.6increased by $18.3 million during 20202022 mainly due to a $12 million decrease within the USG segment and a $7.9 million decrease within the Aerospace & Defense segment, driven by timing and lower sales volumes in the current year; partially offset by an increase of approximately $4 million within the Test segment due to timing of projects. Inventories increased by $11.2 million during 2020 mainly due to a $5.4 million increase within the Aerospace & Defense segment, a $4.8$10.4 million increase within the USG segment, and a $1.0$4.7 million increase within the Test segment and a $3.2 million increase within the A&D segment, driven by timing and higher sales volumes in the current year. Inventories increased by $15.3 million during 2022 mainly due to a $7.9 million increase within the Test segment and an $8.7 million increase within the USG segment resulting primarily from the timing of receipt of raw materials to meet anticipated demand and work-in-progressan increase in work in process inventories due to timing of projects. The $13.3manufacturing existing orders. Accounts payable increased by $22.1 million decrease in accounts payable at September 30, 2020 wasduring 2022 mainly due to a $9.8$9.6 million decreaseincrease within the Test segment, a $7.1 million increase within the A&D segment and a $2.4$4.2 million decreaseincrease within the Aerospace & DefenseUSG segment, due to the timing of payments.

Net cash provided by operating activities from continuing operations was $108.5 million and $100.6$135.3 million in 20202022 and 2019, respectively.$123.1 million in 2021.

Net cash used in investing activities from continuing operations was $41.1 million and $111.2$55.9 million in 20202022 and 2019, respectively.$202.4 million in 2021. The decrease in net cash used in investing activities in 20202022 as compared to 2019 was due to the acquisition of Globe in 2019. Capital expenditures from continuing operations were $32.1 million and $24.2 million in 2020 and 2019, respectively. The increase in 2020 as compared to 20192021 was mainly due to a decrease in amounts spent on acquisitions in 2022. Capital expenditures were $32.1 million in 2022 and $26.7 million in 2021. The increase in 2022 as compared to 2021 was mainly due to the purchase of

22

the NRG building improvements atof approximately $10 million in the new Doble headquarters facilityfirst quarter of 2022. In addition, the Company incurred expenditures for capitalized software of $12.9 million in 2022 and an increase at VACCO primarily for construction of a new parking lot and certain machinery and equipment. $8.8 million in 2021.

There were no commitments outstanding that were considered material for capital expenditures at September 30, 2020. In addition, the Company incurred expenditures for capitalized software of $9.0 million and $8.4 million in 2020 and 2019, respectively.2022.

Net cash (used)used by financing activities was $32 million in 2022 compared to net cash provided by financing activities from continuing operations was $(234.1)of $81.5 million in 2020, compared to $52.3 million in 2019. The change in 2020 as compared to 2019 was2021, primarily due to the repayment of debtlower borrowings in the current year from the proceeds on the saleand repurchases of the Technical Packaging business.common stock into treasury.

Bank Credit Facility

A description of the Company’sour credit facility (the “Credit Facility”) is set forth in Note 98 to the Company’s Consolidated Financial Statements, which Note is incorporated by reference herein.

Cash flow from operations and borrowings under the Credit Facility is expected to provide adequate resources to meet the Company’sour capital requirements and operational needs both for the next 12 months and for the foreseeable future.

Dividends

Since 2010, the Company hasDuring both 2022 and 2021 we paid a regular quarterly cash dividend at an annual rate of $0.32 per share. The Company paid dividends ofshare, totaling $8.3 million in both 20202022 and 2019.2021.

Contractual ObligationsOff-Balance-Sheet Arrangements

The following table shows the Company’s contractual obligations as of September 30, 2020:

Payments due by period

Less than

1 to 3

3 to 5

More than

(Dollars in millions)

    

Total

    

1 year

    

years

    

years

    

5 years

Long-Term Debt Obligations

$

62.4

 

2.4

 

 

60.0

 

Estimated Interest Payments (1)

 

3.5

 

2.2

 

1.3

 

 

Operating Lease Obligations

 

24.0

 

5.6

 

9.0

 

2.4

 

7.0

Finance Lease Obligations

40.5

2.9

6.1

3.2

28.3

Purchase Obligations (2)

 

23.4

 

21.5

 

1.9

 

 

Total

$

153.8

 

34.6

 

18.3

 

65.6

 

35.3

23

(1)Estimated interest payments for the Companys debt obligations were calculated based on Managements determination of the estimated applicable interest rates and payment dates.
(2)A purchase obligation is defined as a legally binding and enforceable agreement to purchase goods and services that specifies all significant terms. Since the majority of the Companys purchase orders can be cancelled, they are not included in the table above.

The CompanyWe had no off-balance-sheet arrangements outstanding at September 30, 2020.2022.

Share Repurchases

Information about the Company’s common stock repurchases is provided in Note 10 to the Consolidated Financial Statements.

Subsequent Event

On October 22, 2020,During 2022, the Company acquired the equity of Advanced Technology Machining, Inc. and its affiliate TECC Grinding, Inc. (collectively TECC and ATM referred to as “ATM”), small privately held manufacturers of precision machined metal parts serving the aerospace, defense and space industries. Located in Valencia, California near Crissair’s facility, ATM has a solid customer base supplying custom-designed parts widely used on defense and commercial aircraft, as well as missile and tank programs. ATM will become part of Crissair in the Aerospace & Defense segment and has annual sales ofrepurchased approximately $7257,500 shares for approximately $20.0 million.

Outlook

In mid-year 2020, business disruptions related to the COVID-19 pandemic began to affect the Company’s operations and continued throughout the balance of the year. Entering 2021, the commercial aerospace and utility end-markets are seeing customer stabilization, as well as some notable pockets of recovery, but there is still some uncertainty as to the timing and pace of the recovery in these areas. The prospect of a viable COVID-19 vaccine will no doubt benefit and accelerate the anticipated recovery of commercial air travel and utility spending, with customers resuming normal testing protocols and equipment purchases, but Management has determined that it is advisable to wait at least another 90 days before resuming specific and finite guidance. Given this uncertainty, it is difficult to predict how 2021 will be affected using normal forecasting methodologies; therefore, the Company will continue its suspension of forward-looking guidance.

To assist shareholders and analysts, however, Management is offering “directional” guidance for 2021, seeing tangible signs of recovery in the second half of fiscal 2021 that point to a solid outlook for the back half of the year. Given the strength of the first half of 2020 pre-COVID, it is projected that the first half of 2021 will be slightly lower compared to 2020’s first half, but the outlook for the second half of 2021 is expected to compare favorably to the second half of 2020 given the anticipated elements of recovery. Management’s current expectations for 2021 are for growth in Sales, Adjusted EBITDA, and Adjusted EPS compared to 2020, with Adjusted EBITDA and Adjusted EPS reasonably consistent with 2019.

Market Risk Exposure

Market risks relating to the Company’s operations result primarily from changes in interest rates and changes in foreign currency exchange rates. The Company is exposed to market risk related to changes in interest rates and selectively uses derivative financial instruments, including forward contracts and swaps, to manage these risks. In 2018, the Company entered into three interest rate swaps with a notional amount of $150 million to hedge some of its exposure to variability interest payments on variable rate debt. The interest rate swaps entered into during 2018 were not designated as cash flow hedges and therefore the gain or loss on the derivative is reflected in earnings each period. The final interest rate swap was settled during September 2020, therefore, there are no outstanding interest rate swaps as of September 30, 2020.

The Company’s Canadian subsidiary Morgan Schaffer entered into foreign exchange contracts to manage foreign currency risk, as a portion of their revenue is denominated in U.S. dollars. All derivative instruments are reported on the balance sheet at fair value. For derivative instruments designated as cash flow hedges, the gain or loss on the derivative is deferred in accumulated other comprehensive income until recognized in earnings with the underlying hedged item.

24

The Company is also subject to foreign currency exchange rate risk inherent in its sales commitments, anticipated sales, anticipated purchases and assets and liabilities denominated in currencies other than the U.S. dollar. The foreign currencies most significant to the Company’s operations are the Canadian Dollar and the Euro. The Company occasionally hedges certain foreign currency commitments by purchasing foreign currency forward contracts. The Company does not have material foreign currency market risk; net foreign currency transaction gain/loss was less than 2% of net earnings for 2020 and 2019.

The Company has determined that the market risk related to interest rates with respect to its variable debt is not material. The Company estimates that if market interest rates averaged one percentage point higher, the effect would have been less than 2% of net earnings for the year ended September 30, 2020.

For more information about the Company’s derivative financial instruments, see Note 13 to the Company’s Consolidated Financial Statements included herein.

Critical Accounting Policies

The preparation of financial statements in conformity with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP) requires Management to make estimates and assumptions in certain circumstances that affect amounts reported in the Consolidated Financial Statements. In preparing these financial statements, Management has made its best estimates and judgments of certain amounts included in the Consolidated Financial Statements, giving due consideration to materiality. The Company doesWe do not believe there is a great likelihood that materially different amounts would be reported under different conditions or using different assumptions related to the accounting policies described below. However, application of these accounting policies involves the exercise of judgment and use of assumptions as to future uncertainties and, as a result, actual results could differ from these estimates. The Company’sOur senior Management discusses the critical accounting policies described below with the Audit and Finance Committee of the Company’sour Board of Directors on a periodic basis.

The following discussion of critical accounting policies is intended to bring to the attention of readers those accounting policies which Management believes are critical to the Consolidated Financial Statements and other financial disclosure. It is not intended to be a comprehensive list of all significant accounting policies that are more fully described in Note 1 to the Consolidated Financial Statements.

Revenue Recognition

The Company accountsWe account for revenue in accordance with ASC Topic 606, Revenue from Contracts with Customers. The unit of account in ASC Topic 606 is a performance obligation. The transaction price for our contracts represents our best estimate of the consideration we will receive and includes assumptions regarding variable consideration, as applicable, which are based on historical, current and forecasted information. The transaction price is allocated to each distinct performance obligation within the contract and recognized as revenue when, or as, the performance obligation is satisfied. Certain of our long-term contracts contain incentive fees that can increase the transaction price. These variable amounts generally are awarded upon achievement of certain performance metrics, program milestones or cost targets and can be based upon customer discretion. We include estimated amounts in the transaction price to the

23

extent it is probable that a significant reversal of cumulative revenue recognized will not occur. The estimated amounts are based on an assessment of our anticipated performance and all other information that is reasonably available to us.

Approximately 55%60% of the Company’s Aerospace & DefenseA&D segment’s revenue (26%(25% of consolidated revenue) is recognized over time as the products do not have an alternative use and the Company haseither we have an enforceable right to payment for costs incurred plus a reasonable margin or the inventory is owned by the customer. Selecting the method to measure progress towards completion for our contracts requires judgment and is based on the nature of the products or services to be provided.

The Aerospace & DefenseA&D segment generally uses the cost-to-cost method to measure progress on our contracts, as the rate at which costs are incurred to fulfill a contract best depicts the transfer of control to the customer. Under this method, we measure the extent of progress towards completion is measured based on the ratio of costs incurred to date to the estimated costs at completion of the performance obligation, and we record revenue is recorded proportionally as costs are incurred based on an estimated profit margin.

The Test segment generally useduses the milestone output method to measure progress on our contracts because it best depicts the transfer of control to the customer that occurs as we incur costs on our contracts. Under this method, the Company estimateswe estimate profit as the

25

difference between total revenue and total estimated costs at completion of a contract and recognizesrecognize these revenues and costs based on milestones achieved.

Total contract cost estimates are based on current contract specifications and expected engineering requirements and require us to make estimates on expected profit. The estimates on profit are based on judgments we make to project the outcome of future events, and can often span more than one year and include labor productivity and availability, the complexity of the work to be performed, change orders issued by our customers, and other specialized engineering and production related activities. Our cost estimation process is based on historical results of contracts and historical actuals to original estimates, and the application of professional knowledge and experience of engineers and program managers along with finance professionals to these historical results. We review and update our estimates of costs quarterly or more frequently when circumstances significantly change, which can affect the profitability of our contracts.

For contracts where revenue is recognized over time, we generally recognize changes in estimated contract revenues, costs and profits using the cumulative catch-up method of accounting. This method recognizes the cumulative effect of changes on current and prior periods with the impact of the change from inception-to-date recorded in the current period. We have net revenue recognized in the current year from performance obligations satisfied in the prior year due to changes in our estimated costs to complete the related performance obligations. AnticipatedWe recognize anticipated losses on contracts are recognized in full in the period in which the losses become probable and estimable.known.

The impact of adjustments in contract estimates on our operating earnings can be reflected in either revenue or operating costs and expenses. The aggregate impact of adjustments in contract estimates decreased our earnings before income tax and diluted earnings per share by $2.2$0.9 million and $0.06$0.03 per share, respectively, in the current year.2022.

Income Taxes

The Company operatesWe operate in numerous taxing jurisdictions and isare subject to examination by various U.S. Federal, state and foreign jurisdictions for various tax periods. The Company’sOur income tax positions are based on research and interpretations of the income tax laws and rulings in each of the jurisdictions in which the Company doeswe do business. Due to the subjectivity of interpretations of laws and rulings in each jurisdiction, the differences and interplay in tax laws between those jurisdictions, as well as the inherent uncertainty in estimating the final resolution of complex tax audit matters, Management’s estimates of income tax liabilities may differ from actual payments or assessments.

On December 22, 2017, the U.S. government enacted the TCJA, which, among other things, lowered the U.S. corporate statutoryWe account for income tax rate and established a modified territorial system requiring a mandatory deemed repatriation on undistributed earnings of foreign subsidiaries. The Company completed its analysis of the impact of the TCJA during the first quarter of 2019.

Income taxes are accounted for under the asset and liability method. DeferredWe recognize deferred tax assets and liabilities are recognized for the future tax consequences attributable to differences between the financial statement carrying amounts of existing assets and liabilities and their respective tax bases. DeferredWe measure deferred tax assets and liabilities are measured using enacted tax rates expected to apply to taxable income in the years in which those temporary differences are expected to be recovered or settled. DeferredWe may reduce deferred tax assets may be reduced by a valuation allowance if it is more likely than not that some portion of the deferred tax assets will not be realized. TheWe recognize the effect on deferred tax assets and liabilities of a change in tax rates is recognized in income in the period that includes the enactment date. The CompanyWe regularly reviews itsreview our deferred tax assets for recoverability and establishesestablish a valuation allowance when Management believes it is more likely than not such assets will not be recovered, taking into consideration historical operating results, expectations of future earnings, tax planning strategies, and the expected timing of the reversals of existing temporary differences.

The Company’s policy is to include interest related to unrecognized tax benefits in income tax expense and penalties in operating expense.24

Goodwill and Other Long-Lived Assets

Our Management annually reviews goodwill and other long-lived assets with indefinite useful lives for impairment or whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate the carrying amount may not be recoverable. If the Company determineswe determine that the carrying value of the goodwill and other long-lived assetassets may not be recoverable, we record a permanent impairment charge is recorded for the amount by which the carrying value of the goodwill and other long-lived assetassets exceeds its fair value. FairWe measure fair value is measured based on a discounted cash flow method using a discount rate

26

determined by Management to be commensurate with the risk inherent in each of our reporting units’ or asset groups’ current business models. TheOur estimates of cash flows and discount rate are subject to change due to the economic environment, including such factors as interest rates, expected market returns and volatility of markets served. Management believesWe believe that theManagement’s estimates of future cash flows and fair value are reasonable; however, changes in estimates could result in impairment charges. At September 30, 2020, the Company has2022 we have determined that no reporting units are at risk of goodwill impairment as the fair value of each reporting unit exceeded its carrying value.or other long-lived assets were impaired.

IntangibleWe amortize intangible assets with estimable useful lives are amortized over their respective estimated useful lives to their estimated residual values, and are reviewedreview them for impairment whenever events or changes in business circumstances indicate the carrying value of the assets may not be recoverable.

For the year ended September 30, 2020, the economic uncertainty, changes in the propensity for the general public to travel by air, and reductions in demand for commercial aircraft as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic have adversely impacted net sales and operating results in certain of our Aerospace & Defense reporting units and was determined to be an event and change in circumstances that required a quantitative review of our intangible assets, long-lived assets and goodwill for impairment. We determined that there was no impairment as of and for the year ended September 30, 2020 and the fair value of each reporting unit reviewed substantially exceeded carrying value, with the exception of Mayday where fair value exceeded carrying value by 10%. At September 30, 2020, we had $30 million of goodwill recorded for Mayday. The valuation methodology we use involves estimates of discounted cash flows, which are subject to change, and if they change negatively it could result in the need to write down those assets to fair value.

In our USG segment, our fiscal 2020 revenues were negatively impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic as several utility customers deferred purchase orders and maintenance-related project deliveries so they could divert resources to other issues such as critical power delivery given their concerns around COVID-19. Additionally, Doble’s service business was largely on hold during the pandemic. We expect USG’s customer spending softness to continue for the next few quarters before returning to normal levels. Goodwill for Doble and NRG were $246 million and $8 million, respectively, as of September 30, 2020. We reviewed the intangible assets, long-lived assets and goodwill, of our Doble and NRG businesses for impairment. The quantitative reviews determined that there was no impairment as of September 30, 2020 as the fair value of Doble substantially exceeded carrying value and the fair value of NRG exceeded carrying value by 15%. The valuation methodology we use involves estimates of discounted cash flows, which are subject to change, and if they change negatively it could result in the need to write down those assets to fair value.

Other Matters

Contingencies

As a normal incident of the businesses in which the Company is engaged, various claims, charges and litigation are asserted or commenced from time to time against the Company. Additionally, the Company is currently involved in various stages of investigation and remediation relating to environmental matters. It is the opinion of Management that the aggregate costs involved in the resolution of these matters, and final judgments, if any, which might be rendered against the Company are adequately reserved for, are covered by insurance or are not likely to have a material adverse effect on the Company’s results from continuing operations, capital expenditures, or competitive position.

Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures about Market Risk

Market risks relating to the Company’sour operations result primarily from changes in interest rates and changes in foreign currency exchange rates. The Company isWe are exposed to market risk related to changes in interest rates, and we selectively usesuse derivative financial instruments, including forward contracts and swaps, to manage these risks. In 2018, the Company entered into three interest rate swaps with a notional amount of $150 million to hedge some of its exposure to variability in future interest payments on variable rate debt. The final interest rate swap was settled during September 2020, therefore, there are no outstanding interest rate swaps as of September 30, 2020. In addition, the Company’sOur Canadian subsidiary Morgan Schaffer has entered into foreign exchange contracts to manage foreign currency risk, asbecause a portion of their revenue is denominated in U.S. dollars. AllWe report all derivative instruments are reported on theour balance sheet at fair value. For derivative instruments designated as cash flow hedges, we defer the gain or loss on the derivative is deferred in accumulated other comprehensive income until recognized in earnings with the underlying hedged item. See further discussion regarding the Company’s market risks in “Market Risk Analysis,” above.

27

Controls and Procedures

For a description of the Company’s evaluation of its disclosure controls and procedures, see Item 9A, “Controls and Procedures.”

New Accounting Pronouncements

Information regarding new and updated accounting standards which affect the content and/or presentation of the Company’s financial information is set forth in Note 1.U to the Consolidated Financial Statements.

Item 7A. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures about Market Risk

See “Market Risk Exposure” and “Other Matters – Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures about Market Risk” in Item 7, “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations,” which are incorporated into this Item by reference.Not Applicable.

Item 8. Financial Statements and Supplementary Data

The information required by this Item is incorporated by reference to the Consolidated Financial Statements of the Company, the Notes thereto, and the related “ReportReports of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm”Firm of Grant Thornton LLP and KPMG LLP, as set forth in the Financial Information section of this Annual Report;Report, an Index to which is provided on page F-1.

Item 9. Changes in and Disagreements with Accountants on Accounting and Financial Disclosure

Not Applicable.

25

Item 9A. Controls and Procedures

For 2020, the CompanyEvaluation of Disclosure Controls and Procedures

Our Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer (“Certifying Officers”) carried out an evaluation of the effectiveness of the design and operation of the Company’s disclosure controls and procedures, as defined in Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the Exchange Act). as of September 30, 2022. The evaluation was conducted under the supervision and with the participation of the Company’s Management, including the Company’s Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, using the Internal Control - Integrated Framework (2013) issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission (COSO). Disclosure controls and procedures are designed to ensure that information required to be disclosed by the Company in reports filed or submitted under the Exchange Act is recorded, processed, summarized and reported within the time periods specified in the Securities and Exchange Commission’s rules and forms. Based upon that evaluation, the Company’s Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer concluded that the Company’s disclosure controls and procedures were effective as of September 30, 2020.2022.

There haveManagement’s Report on Internal Control Over Financial Reporting

Management is responsible for establishing and maintaining adequate internal control over financial reporting, as defined in Rules 13a-15(f) and 15d-15(f) of the Exchange Act. The Company’s Management, with participation of the Certifying Officers, under the oversight of our Board of Directors, evaluated the effectiveness of the Company’s internal control over financial reporting as of September 30, 2022 using the framework in Internal Control – Integrated Framework (2013) issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission (COSO). Because of its inherent limitations, any system of internal control over financial reporting, no matter how well designed, may not prevent or detect misstatement due to the possibility that a control can be circumvented or overridden or that misstatements due to error or fraud may occur that are not detected. Also, because of changes in conditions, internal control effectiveness may vary over time.

Management assessed the effectiveness of the Company’s internal control over financial reporting as of September 30, 2022, using criteria established in Internal Control – Integrated Framework (2013) issued by COSO and concluded that the Company maintained effective internal control over financial reporting as of September 30, 2022, based on these criteria.

Our internal control over financial reporting as of September 30, 2022, has been noaudited by Grant Thornton, an independent registered public accounting firm, as stated in its report which is included herein.

Changes in Internal Control Over Financial Reporting

No changes in the Company’s internal control over financial reporting (as defined in Rule 13a-15(f) under the Exchange Act) occurred during the fiscal quarter ended September 30, 20202022, that have materially affected, or are reasonably likely to materially affect, the Company’s internal control over financial reporting. For the remainder of the information required by this item, see “Management’s Report on Internal Control over Financial Reporting” and the related “Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm” of KPMG LLP, in the Financial Information section beginning on page F-1 of this Annual Report, which are incorporated into this Item by reference.

Item 9B. Other Information

None.

Item 9C. Disclosure Regarding Foreign Jurisdictions that Prevent Inspection

Not applicable.

2826

PART III

Item 10. Directors, Executive Officers and Corporate Governance

Information regarding our directors, nominees and nominating procedures, the Company’s Code of Ethics, its Audit and Finance Committee, and non-compliance (if any) with Section 16(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 is hereby incorporated by reference to the sections captioned “Proposal 1: Election of Directors,” “BoardDirectors” and “Securities Ownership of Directors – Governance Policies and Management Oversight,” “Committees” and “Securities Ownership”Executive Officers” in the 20202022 Proxy Statement.

Information regarding the Company’sour executive officers is set forth in Item 1, “Business – Information about our Executive Officers,” above.

Item 11. Executive Compensation

Information regarding the Company’sour compensation committee and director and executive officer compensation is hereby incorporated by reference to the sections captioned “Committees – Compensation Committee Interlocks and Insider Participation,” “Director Compensation” and “Executive Compensation Information”“Proposal 3: Advisory Vote to Approve Executive Compensation” in the 20202022 Proxy Statement.

29

Item 12. Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and Management and Related Stockholder Matters

Information regarding the beneficial ownership of shares of the Company’sour common stock by nominees andour directors, by executive officers, by directorsdirector nominees and executive officers individually and as a group, and by any known holder of five percent stockholdersor more of the common stock, is hereby incorporated by reference to the sectionsections captioned “Securities Ownership”Ownership of Directors and Executive Officers” and “Securities Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners” in the 20202022 Proxy Statement.

Information regarding shares of the Company’sour common stock issued or issuable under the Company’sour equity compensation plans is hereby incorporated by reference to the section captioned “Proposal 2: Approval of Amendments to 2018 Omnibus Incentive Plan – Other“Other Equity Compensation Plan Information” in the 20202022 Proxy Statement.

Item 13. Certain Relationships and Related Transactions and Director Independence

Information regarding transactions with related parties and the independence of the Company’sour directors, nominees for directors and members of the committees of theour board of directors is hereby incorporated by reference to the sectionssection captioned “Board“Proposal 1: Election of Directors” and “Committees” in the 20202022 Proxy Statement.

Item 14. Principal Accountant Fees and Services

Information regarding the Company’sour independent registered public accounting firm, its fees and services, and the Company’sour Audit and Finance Committee’s pre-approval policies and procedures regarding such fees and services, is hereby incorporated by reference to the section captioned “Audit-Related Matters”“Proposal 5: Ratification of Appointment of Independent Registered Pubic Accounting Firm” in the 20202022 Proxy Statement.

3027

PART IV

Item 15. Exhibits, Financial Statement Schedules

(a)The following documents are filed as a part of this Report:
(1)Financial Statements. The Consolidated Financial Statements of the Company, and the Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm thereon of KPMG LLP, are included in this Report beginning on page F-1; an Index thereto is set forth on page F-1.
(2)Financial Statement Schedules. Financial Statement Schedules are omitted because either they are not applicable or the required information is included in the Consolidated Financial Statements or the Notes thereto.
(3)Exhibits. The following exhibits are filed with this Report or incorporated herein by reference to the document location indicated:

Exhibit No.

Description

    

Document Location

3.1(a)

Restated Articles of Incorporation

Exhibit 3(a) to the Companys Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended September 30, 1999

3.1(b)

Amended Certificate of Designation, Preferences and Rights of Series A Participating Cumulative Preferred Stock

Exhibit 4(e) to the Companys Form 10-Q for the fiscal quarter ended March 31, 2000

3.1(c)

Articles of Merger, effective July 10, 2000

Exhibit 3(c) to the Companys Form 10-Q for the fiscal quarter ended June 30, 2000

3.1(d)

Amendment to Articles of Incorporation, effective February 5, 2018

Exhibit 3.1 to the Companys Form 8-K filed February 7, 2018

3.2

Bylaws

Exhibit 3.1 to the Companys Form 8-K filed November 19, 2019

3.3

Bylaws, as amended and restated effective as of January 1, 2023

Exhibit 3.1 to the Company’s Form 8-K filed November 22, 2022

4.1(a)

Description of Common Stock

Exhibit 4.1(a) to the Company'sCompany’s Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended September 30, 2019

4.1(b)

Specimen revised Common Stock Certificate

Exhibit 4.1 to the Companys Form 10-Q for the fiscal quarter ended March 31, 2010

4.2

Credit Agreement dated September 27, 2019, incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.210.1 hereto

Exhibit 10.1 to the Companys Form 8-K filed September 30, 2019

10.1

Securities Purchase Agreement dated March 14, 2014 between ESCO Technologies Holding LLC and Meter Readings Holding LLC

Exhibit 10.1 to the Company’s Form 8-K filed March 28, 2014

10.2

Credit Agreement dated as of September 27, 2019 among the Registrant,ESCO Technologies Inc., the Foreign Subsidiary Borrowers party thereto, the Lenders party thereto, JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A. as Administrative Agent, BMO Harris Bank N.A. as Syndication Agent, and Bank of America, N.A., SunTrust Bank, U.S. Bank National Association and Wells Fargo Bank, National Association as Co-Documentation Agents

Exhibit 10.1 to the Company’s Form 8-K filed September 30, 2019

10.3

Equity Purchase Agreement dated November 15, 2019 by and among Sonoco Plastics, Inc., Sonoco Holdings, Inc., ESCO Technologies Holding LLC, ESCO UK Holding Company I LTD., Thermoform Engineered Quality LLC, and Plastique Holdings Ltd.

Exhibit 10.1 to the Companys Form 8-K filed January 7, 2020

10.410.2

Form of Indemnification Agreement with each of ESCO’s non-employee directors

Exhibit 10.1 to the Companys Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended September 30, 2012

10.5(a)10.3(a)

*

First Amendment to the ESCO Electronics Corporation Supplemental Executive Retirement Plan, effective August 2, 1993 (comprising restatement of entire Plan)

Exhibit 10.2(a) to the Company'sCompanys Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended September 30, 2012

3128

Exhibit No.

Description

    

Document Location

10.5(b)10.3(b)

*

Second Amendment to Supplemental Executive Retirement Plan, effective May 1, 2001

Exhibit 10.4 to the Company'sCompany’s Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended September 30, 2001

10.5(c)10.3(c)

*

Form of Supplemental Executive Retirement Plan Agreement

Exhibit 10.28 to the Companys Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended September 30, 2002

10.610.4

*

Directors Extended Compensation Plan, adopted effective October 11, 1993, restated to include all amendments through August 7, 2013 (current as of November 2019)2021)

Exhibit 10.5 to the Company'sCompany’s Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended September 30, 2019

10.710.5(a)

*

Compensation Plan For Non-Employee Directors, as amended and restated Novemberto reflect all amendments through December 8, 20172020

Exhibit10.3 10.1 to the Companys Form8-K filed November14, 2017December 9, 2020

10.8(a)10.5(b)

*

2013Sub-Plan for Compensation of Non-Employee Directors under 2018 Omnibus Incentive Compensation Plan

Appendix AExhibit 10.1 to the Companys Schedule 14A Proxy StatementCompany’s Form 10-Q filed December19, 2012May 10, 2022

10.8(b)10.5(c)

*

Formof Director Share Award Agreement under 2013 Incentive Compensation Plan, effective November
11, 2015(Non-Employee Director)

Exhibit10.1 to the Companys Form8-K filed November12, 2015

10.8(c)

*

Formof Amendment to 2012-2014 Awards under 2004 and 2013 Incentive Compensation Plans, effective November11, 2015

Exhibit10.2 to the Companys Form8-K 10-Q filed November12, 2015May 10, 2022

10.9(a)10.6(a)

*

2018 Omnibus Incentive Plan

Exhibit10.1 to the Companys Form8-K filed February6, 2018

10.9(b)10.6(b)

*

2018 Omnibus Incentive Plan as Amended and Restated November 17, 2020

Exhibit 10.3 to the Company'sCompanys Form 8-K filed November 19, 2020

10.9(c)10.7(a)

*

Form of Award Agreement for 2018 awards2020-21 Awards of Performance-Accelerated Restricted Shares under 2018 Omnibus Incentive Plan

Exhibit 10.6(f) to the Companys Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended September 30, 2018

(Note: Agreements executed with Victor L. Richey, Gary E. Muenster and Alyson S. Barclay are substantially identical to the referenced Exhibit and are therefore omitted as separate exhibits pursuant to Rule 12b-31)

10.9(d)

*

Form of Award Agreement for 2019 awards of Performance-Accelerated Restricted Shares under 2018 Omnibus Incentive Plan

Exhibit 10.1 to the Company's Form 8-K filed May 7, 2019

(Note: Agreements executed with Victor L. Richey, Gary E. Muenster and Alyson S. Barclay are substantially identical to the referenced Exhibit and are therefore omitted as separate exhibits pursuant to Rule 12b-31)

10.9(e)

*

Form of Amendment to 2018 and 2019 Award Agreements for Performance-Accelerated Restricted Shares under 2018 Omnibus Incentive Plan

Exhibit 10.1 to the Company’s Form 8-K10-Q filed November 19, 2020

(Note: Amendments executed with Victor L. Richey, Gary E. Muenster and Alyson S. Barclay are substantially identical to the referenced Exhibit and are therefore omitted as separate exhibits pursuant to Rule 12b-31)August 9, 2021

10.10(a)10.7(b)

*

Form of Restricted Share Unit Awards to Executive Officers under 2018 Omnibus Incentive Plan (2021)

Exhibit 10.2 to the Company’s Form 10-Q filed August 9,2021

10.7(c)

*

Form of Restricted Share Unit Awards to Executive Officers under 2018 Omnibus Incentive Plan (2022)

Exhibit 10.1 to the Company’s Form 10-Q filed August 9,2022

10.7(d)

*

Form of Performance Share Unit Awards to Executive Officers under 2018 Omnibus Incentive Plan

Exhibit 10.1 to the Company’s Form 10-Q filed February 7, 2022

10.8(a)

Eighth Amendment and Restatement of Employee Stock Purchase Plan, effective August 2, 2018

Exhibit 10.7 to the Company’s Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended September 30, 2018

10.10(b)10.8(b)

Ninth Amendment and Restatement of Employee Stock Purchase Plan, effective February5, 2019

Exhibit10.1 to the CompanysCompany’s Form8-K filed February7, 2019

10.1110.9

*

Performance Compensation Plan for Corporate, Subsidiary and Division Officers and Key Managers, adopted August2, 1993, as amended and restated through February4, 2019

Exhibit10.1 to the CompanysCompany’s Form8-K filed November19, 2019

10.10

*

Compensation Recovery Policy, adopted effective February 4, 2010

Exhibit 10.6 to the Company’s Form 8-K filed February 10, 2010

10.11

*

Fourth Amended and Restated Severance Plan dated November 17, 2020

Exhibit 10.2 to the Company’s Form 8-K filed November 19, 2020

10.12

*

Employment and Compensation Agreement with Victor L. Richey effective May 10, 2021

Exhibit 10.3 to the Company’s Form 10-Q filed August 9, 2021

10.13

*

Employment and Compensation Agreement with Christopher L. Tucker effective April 30, 2021

Exhibit 10.4 to the Company’s Form 10-Q filed August 9, 2021

10.14

*

Employment and Compensation Agreement with David M. Schatz effective April 30, 2021

Exhibit 10.5 to the Company’s Form 10-Q filed August 9, 2021

3229

Exhibit No.

Description

    

Document Location

10.12

*

Compensation Recovery Policy, adopted effective February4, 2010

Exhibit10.6 to the Companys Form8-K filed February10, 2010

10.13(a)

*

Severance Plan adopted as of August10, 1995, as Amended and Restated November11, 2015

Exhibit10.1 to the Companys Form8-K/A filed November30, 2015

10.13(b)

*

Fourth Amended and Restated Severance Plan

Exhibit 10.2 to the Company's Form 8-K filed November 19, 2020

10.14(a)

*

Employment Agreement with Victor L. Richey, effective November3, 1999

Exhibit10(bb) to the Companys Form10-K for the fiscalyear ended September30, 1999

(Note: Agreement with Victor L. Richey is substantially identical to the referenced Exhibitand is therefore omitted as a separate exhibit pursuant to Rule12b-31)

10.14(b)

*

Second Amendment to Employment Agreement with Victor L. Richey, effective May5, 2004

Exhibit10.1 to the Companys Form10-Q for the fiscal quarter ended June30, 2004

10.14(c)

*

Third Amendment to Employment Agreement with Victor L. Richey, effective December31, 2007

Exhibit10.1 to the Companys Form8-K filed January7, 2008

10.15(a)

*

Employment Agreement with Gary E. Muenster, effective November3, 1999

Exhibit10(bb) to the Companys Form10-K for the fiscalyear ended September30, 1999

(Note: Agreement with Gary E. Muenster is substantially identical to the referenced Exhibitexcept that it provides a minimum base salary of $108,000, and is therefore omitted as a separate exhibit pursuant to Rule12b-31)

10.15(b)

*

Second Amendment to Employment Agreement with Gary E. Muenster, effective May5, 2004

Exhibit10.2 to the Companys Form10-Q for the fiscal quarter ended June30, 2004

10.15(c)

*

Third Amendment to Employment Agreement with Gary E. Muenster, effective December31, 2007

Exhibit10.1 to the Companys Form8-K filed January7, 2008

(Note: Third Amendment with Gary E. Muenster is substantially identical to the referenced Exhibitexcept that (i)the termination amounts payable under Paragraph 9.a(1)are equal to base salary for 12months and (ii)under Paragraph 9.a(1)(B), such termination amounts may be paid in biweekly installments equal to 1/26th of such amounts, and is therefore omitted as a separate exhibit pursuant to Rule12b-31)

10.15(d)

*

Fourth Amendment to Employment Agreement with Gary E. Muenster, effective February6, 2008

Exhibit10.1 to the Companys Form8-K filed February12, 2008

10.16(a)

*

Employment Agreement with Alyson S. Barclay, effective November3, 1999

Exhibit10(bb) to the Companys Form10-K for the fiscalyear ended September30, 1999

(Note: Agreement with Alyson S. Barclay is substantially identical to the referenced Exhibitexcept that it provides a minimum base salary of $94,000, and is therefore omitted as a separate exhibit pursuant to Rule12b-31)

10.16(b)

*

Second Amendment to Employment Agreement with Alyson S. Barclay, effective May5, 2004

Exhibit10.2 to the Companys Form10-Q for the fiscal quarter ended June30, 2004

(Note: Second Amendment with Alyson S. Barclay is substantially identical to the referenced Exhibit, and is therefore omitted as a separate exhibit pursuant to Rule12b-31)

33

Exhibit No.

Description

Document Location

10.16(c)

*

Third Amendment to Employment Agreement with Alyson S. Barclay, effective December31, 2007

Exhibit10.1 to the Companys Form8-K filed January7, 2008

(Note: Third Amendment with Alyson S. Barclay is substantially identical to the referenced Exhibitexcept that (i)the termination amounts payable under Paragraph 9.a(1)are equal to base salary for 12months and (ii)under Paragraph 9.a(1)(B), such termination amounts may be paid in biweekly installments equal to 1/26th of such amounts, and is therefore omitted as a separate exhibit pursuant to Rule12b-31)

10.16(d)

*

Fourth Amendment to Employment Agreement with Alyson S. Barclay, effective July29, 2010

Exhibit10.1 to the Companys Form8-K filed August3, 2010

21

Subsidiaries of the Company

Filed herewith

2323.1

Consent of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm (Grant Thornton LLP)

Filed herewith

23.2

Consent of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm (KPMG LLP)

Filed herewith

31.1

Certification of Chief Executive Officer

Filed herewith

31.2

Certification of Chief Financial Officer

Filed herewith

32

**

Certification of Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer

FiledFurnished herewith

101.INS

***

Inline XBRL Instance Document

Submitted herewith

101.SCH

***

Inline XBRL Schema Document

Submitted herewith

101.CAL

***

Inline XBRL Calculation Linkbase Document

Submitted herewith

101.LAB

***

Inline XBRL Label Linkbase Document

Submitted herewith

101.PRE

***

Inline XBRL Presentation Linkbase Document

Submitted herewith

101.DEF

***

Inline XBRL Definition Linkbase Document

Submitted herewith

104

***

Cover Page Inline Interactive Data File (contained in Exhibit 101)

Submitted herewith

*       Indicates a management contract or compensatory plan or arrangement.

**     Furnished (and not filed) with the Commissionherewith pursuant to Item 601(b)(32)(ii) of Regulation S-K.

***   Exhibits 101 and 104 to this report consist of documents formatted in XBRL (Extensible Business Reporting Language) and filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission; they are not included in printed copies of this Report.

Item16.Form10-K Summary

Not applicable.

3430

SIGNATURES

Pursuant to the requirements of Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized.

ESCO TECHNOLOGIES INC.

By:

/s/ Victor L. Richey

Victor L. Richey

President and Chief Executive Officer

Date:

November 30, 202029, 2022

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, this report has been signed below by the following persons on behalf of the registrant and in the capacities and on the dates indicated.

Signature

    

Title

    

Date

/s/ Victor L. Richey

Chairman, President, Chief Executive Officer (Principal Executive Officer) and Director

November 30, 202029, 2022

Victor L. Richey

/s/ Gary E. MuensterChristopher L. Tucker

ExecutiveSenior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer (Principal Accounting Officer) and Director

November 30, 202029, 2022

Gary E. MuensterChristopher L. Tucker

/s/ Patrick M. Dewar

Director

November 30, 202029, 2022

Patrick M. Dewar

/s/ Janice L. Hess

Director

November 29, 2022

Janice L. Hess

/s/ Vinod M. Khilnani

Director

November 30, 202029, 2022

Vinod M. Khilnani

/s/ Leon J. Olivier

Director

November 30, 202029, 2022

Leon J. Olivier

/s/ Robert J. Phillippy

Director

November 30, 202029, 2022

Robert J. Phillippy

/s/ Larry W. Solley

Director

November 30, 2020

Larry W. Solley

/s/ James M. Stolze

Director

November 30, 202029, 2022

James M. Stolze

/s/ Gloria L. Valdez

Director

November 30, 202029, 2022

Gloria L. Valdez

[This page has been intentionally left blank]

3531

REPORTS OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM,

PCAOB ID NUMBER 248

Board of Directors and Shareholders

ESCO Technologies Inc.

Opinion on the financial statements

We have audited the accompanying consolidated balance sheet of ESCO Technologies Inc. (a Missouri corporation) and subsidiaries (the “Company”) as of September 30, 2022, and the related consolidated statements of operations, comprehensive income, shareholders’ equity, and cash flows for the fiscal year ended September 30, 2022, and the related notes (collectively referred to as the “financial statements”). In our opinion, the financial statements present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of the Company as of September 30, 2022, and the results of its operations and its cash flows for the fiscal year ended September 30, 2022, in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America.

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 September 30, 2022, based on criteria established in the 2013 Internal Control—Integrated Framework issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission (“COSO”), and our report dated November 29, 2022 expressed an unqualified opinion.

Basis for opinion

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 audit 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 audit provides a reasonable basis for our opinion.

Critical audit matter

The critical audit matter communicated below is a matter arising from the current period audit of the financial statements that was communicated or required to be communicated to the audit committee and that: (1) relates to accounts or disclosures that are material to the financial statements and (2) involved our especially challenging, subjective, or complex judgments. The communication of critical audit matters does not alter in any way our opinion on the financial statements, taken as a whole, and we are not, by communicating the critical audit matter below, providing a separate opinion on the critical audit matter or on the accounts or disclosures to which it relates.

Revenue Recognition – Estimate of contract costs expected at completion

As described further in Notes 1 and 15 to the financial statements, the Company’s Aerospace & Defense and Test segments enter into certain long-term fixed price contracts with their customers to produce certain products that do not have an alternative use to the Company and for which the Company has an enforceable right to payment for costs incurred to date plus a reasonable margin. For the Aerospace & Defense segment, the Company uses a cost-to-cost method to recognize the revenue for these contracts over time. Using the cost-to-cost method, the Company measures progress to contract completion using the ratio of contract costs incurred to date compared to estimated total contract costs at completion. Judgment is required in estimating the total contract costs at completion due to the unique specifications and requirements for each individual contract relating to the design, development, manufacturing, and installation of the built-to-spec products.

F-2

We identified the determination of the estimated total contract costs at completion for certain contracts in the Aerospace & Defense segment for which revenue is recognized over time using the cost-to-cost method as a critical audit matter.

The principal considerations for our determination that the estimated total contract costs at completion is a critical audit matter are that the estimated total contract costs at completion require complex judgment to evaluate the engineering and production requirements of the contract and the related labor and materials costs, which are assumptions with a high level of estimation uncertainty and susceptibility to potential management bias. Changes to the assumptions used in developing these estimates may significantly impact the net sales and earnings recorded during the fiscal year.

Our audit procedures related to the estimated total contract costs at completion include the following, among others. We evaluated the design and tested the operating effectiveness of certain internal controls related to the Company’s revenue recognition and job cost processes. This included controls over the accumulation and estimation of costs to complete the contracts. For a selection of completed contracts, we compared the Company’s historical estimated costs and profit margin to the actual costs and profit margin to assess the Company’s ability to accurately estimate costs. We also tested the Company’s assumptions for labor hours and materials to be incurred for a selection of in-process contracts by:

inspecting a sample of underlying contracts, including any applicable amendments, to obtain an understanding of the contractual requirements and deliverables and the nature of the costs necessary to fulfill those contracts
assessing the progress towards completion by obtaining customer validation of the achievement of milestones, if applicable, and performing inquiries of key financial and operations executives to evaluate the progress to date and factors impacting the estimated total contract costs expected at completion
comparing the actual costs incurred to date, as a percentage of the estimated total contract costs at completion, and comparing that to the revenue recognized to date
comparing the margins to date on selected contracts to similar products previously produced, if applicable
evaluating the estimates for indicators of management bias through the procedures described above.

/s/ GRANT THORNTON LLP

We have served as the Company’s auditor since 2021.

St. Louis, Missouri

November 29, 2022

F-3

Board of Directors and Shareholders

ESCO Technologies Inc.

Opinion on internal control over financial reporting

We have audited the internal control over financial reporting of ESCO Technologies Inc. (a Missouri corporation) and subsidiaries (the “Company”) as of September 30, 2022, based on criteria established in the 2013 Internal Control—Integrated Framework issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission (“COSO”). In our opinion, the Company maintained, in all material respects, effective internal control over financial reporting as of September 30, 2022, based on criteria established in the 2013 Internal Control—Integrated Framework issued by COSO.

We also have audited, in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States) (“PCAOB”), the consolidated financial statements of the Company as of and for the year ended September 30, 2022, and our report dated November 29, 2022 expressed an unqualified opinion on those financial statements.

Basis for opinion

The Company’s management is responsible for maintaining effective internal control over financial reporting and for its assessment of the effectiveness of internal control over financial reporting, included in the accompanying Management’s Report on Internal Control over Financial Reporting. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on the Company’s internal control over financial reporting based on our audit. We 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 audit in accordance with the standards of the PCAOB. Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether effective internal control over financial reporting was maintained in all material respects. Our audit included obtaining an understanding of internal control over financial reporting, assessing the risk that a material weakness exists, testing and evaluating the design and operating effectiveness of internal control based on the assessed risk, and performing such other procedures as we considered necessary in the circumstances. We believe that our audit provides a reasonable basis for our opinion.

Definition and limitations of internal control over financial reporting

A company’s internal control over financial reporting is a process designed to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles. A company’s internal control over financial reporting includes those policies and procedures that (1) pertain to the maintenance of records that, in reasonable detail, accurately and fairly reflect the transactions and dispositions of the assets of the company; (2) provide reasonable assurance that transactions are recorded as necessary to permit preparation of financial statements in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles, and that receipts and expenditures of the company are being made only in accordance with authorizations of management and directors of the company; and (3) provide reasonable assurance regarding prevention or timely detection of unauthorized acquisition, use, or disposition of the company’s assets that could have a material effect on the financial statements.

Because of its inherent limitations, internal control over financial reporting may not prevent or detect misstatements. Also, projections of any evaluation of effectiveness to future periods are subject to the risk that controls may become inadequate because of changes in conditions, or that the degree of compliance with the policies or procedures may deteriorate.

/s/ GRANT THORNTON LLP

St. Louis, Missouri

November 29, 2022

F-4

REPORT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM,
PCAOB ID NUMBER 185

To the Shareholders and Board of Directors

ESCO Technologies Inc.:

Opinion on the Consolidated Financial Statements

We have audited the accompanying consolidated balance sheets of ESCO Technologies Inc. and subsidiaries (the Company) as of September 30, 2020 and 2019,2021, the related consolidated statements of operations, comprehensive income, shareholders’ equity, and cash flows for each of the years in the three-yeartwo-year period ended September 30, 2020,2021 and the related notes (collectively, the consolidated financial statements). In our opinion, the consolidated financial statements present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of the Company as of September 30, 2020 and 2019,2021, and the results of its operations and its cash flows for each of the years in the three-yeartwo-year period ended September 30, 2020,2021, 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 September 30, 2020, based on criteria established in Internal Control – Integrated Framework (2013) issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission, and our report dated November 30, 2020 expressed an unqualified opinion on the effectiveness of the Company’s internal control over financial reporting.

Basis for Opinion

These consolidated financial statements are the responsibility of the Company’s management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on these consolidated financial statements based on our audits. We are a public accounting firm registered with the PCAOBPublic Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States) (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 consolidated 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 consolidated 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 consolidated 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 consolidated financial statements. We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinion.

Change in Accounting Principles

As discussed in Note 1 of the consolidated financial statements, the Company has changed its method of accounting for leases as of October 1, 2019 due to the adoption of ASU No. 2016-062, Leases (ASC Topic 842) and method of accounting for revenue contracts with customers as of October 1, 2018 due to the adoption of ASU No. 2014-09, Revenue with Contracts with Customers (ASC Topic 606).

Critical Audit Matters

The critical audit matters communicated below are matters arising from the current period audit of the consolidated financial statements that were communicated or required to be communicated to the audit committee and that: (1) relate to accounts or disclosures that are material to the consolidated financial statements and (2) involved our especially challenging, subjective, or complex judgments. The communication of critical audit matters does not alter in any way our opinion on the consolidated financial statements, taken as a whole, and we are not, by communicating the critical audit matters below, providing separate opinions on the critical audit matters or on the accounts or disclosures to which they relate.

Revenue recognition — Estimate of contract costs at completion

As discussed in Notes 1 and 17 to the consolidated financial statements, the Company’s Aerospace & Defense segment enters into certain long-term fixed price contracts with aerospace and defense customers to produce various products. These products do not have an alternative use and the Company has an enforceable right to payment for costs incurred plus a

F-2

reasonable margin. Revenue for these contracts is recognized over time generally using a cost-to-cost model. Under such model, the Company measures the extent of progress towards completion of these contracts based on the ratio of contract costs incurred to date to the estimate of total contract costs at completion. The estimation of these costs requires judgment by the Company given the unique product specifications and requirements for contracts related to the design, development, and manufacture of complex products./s/ KPMG LLP

We identified the assessment of the estimate of total contract costs at completion for certain contracts in the Aerospace & Defense segment for which revenue is recognized over time using a cost-to-cost model as a critical audit matter. Complex auditor judgment was required in evaluating expected engineering and production requirements of the contracts and the associated cost estimates for labor hours and materials, which represent assumptions with a high level of estimation uncertainty and that are also susceptible to potential management bias. Changes to these estimates may have a significant impact on the net sales and earnings recorded during the fiscal year.

The following are the primary procedures we performed to address this critical audit matter. We evaluated the design and tested the operating effectiveness of certain internal controls related to the Company’s revenue recognition process. This included controls over the accumulation and estimation of costs to complete for labor hours and materials for the contracts described above. For a selection of contracts, we compared the Company’s historical estimated costs and profit margin to the actual costs and profit margin for completed contracts to assess the Company’s ability to accurately estimate costs. We challenged the Company’s assumptions for labor hours and materials to be incurred for a selection of contracts by:

reading the underlying contract documents, including applicable amendments, to obtain an understanding of the contractual requirements and deliverables
inquiring of financial and operational personnel of the Company to identify factors that should be considered within the cost to complete estimates
comparing the costs incurred to date, as a percentage of the estimated costs at completion, to the Companys physical production to date under the contract, including consideration of remaining contract performance risks
comparing actual incurred and remaining estimated material costs to the original estimated amount of material costs at the beginning of the project plus incremental material costs due to contract modification
comparing actual incurred and remaining estimated labor hours to the original estimate of labor hours at the beginning of the project plus incremental labor hours due to contract modification
comparing the estimated costs at completion, which includes costs incurred to date plus estimated costs to complete, to actual costs incurred for similar products previously developed and produced, if applicable
inspecting correspondence, if applicable, between the Company and the customer regarding actual and expected contract performance to date and comparing to the estimate to complete
assessing the estimates for indicators of management bias by evaluating the audit evidence obtained through the procedures described above.

Sufficiency of audit evidence obtained over net sales

As discussed in Notes 1 and 17 to the consolidated financial statements, sales are recognized primarily from the sale of products across various industries and through multiple Company subsidiaries and locations around the world. The Company recorded $732.9 million of net sales for the year ended September 30, 2020.

We identified the evaluation of the sufficiency of audit evidence obtained over net sales as a critical audit matter. Evaluating the sufficiency of audit evidence obtained over net sales required especially subjective auditor judgment because of the disaggregated nature of the Company’s operations, including revenue recognition accounting policies and procedures that differ among the various subsidiaries and locations. This included determining the Company subsidiaries and locations at which procedures were performed.

The following are the primary procedures we performed to address this critical audit matter. We applied auditor judgment to determine the nature and extent of procedures to be performed over net sales, including the determination of the Company

F-3

subsidiaries and locations at which those procedures were to be performed. At each Company subsidiary and location where procedures were performed, we:

evaluated the design and tested the operating effectiveness of certain internal controls related to the Companys revenue recognition process at the applicable subsidiaries and locations; and
assessed the recorded net sales for a selection of transactions by comparing the amount recognized for consistency with underlying documentation, including contracts with customers and shipping documentation, if applicable, and the Companys revenue recognition policies.

We evaluated the sufficiency of audit evidence obtained by assessing the results of procedures performed.

Assessing the carrying value of goodwill and indefinite-lived intangible assets of certain reporting units in the Utility Solutions Group and Aerospace & Defense segments

As discussed in Notes 1 and 4 to the consolidated financial statements, the Company reviews goodwill and other – indefinite-lived intangible assets for impairment annually and whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate it is more likely than not that the fair value of a reporting unit or an indefinite-lived intangible asset is less than its carrying value. The Company uses a discounted cash flow method, using a discount rate determined to be commensurate with the risk inherent in each reporting unit’s business model when estimating fair value. The Company uses a relief from royalty method to estimate the fair value of indefinite-lived intangible assets.

We identified the assessment of the carrying value of goodwill and indefinite-lived intangible assets of certain reporting units in the Utility Solutions Group and Aerospace & Defense segments as a critical audit matter. The valuation of each reporting unit and the related indefinite-lived intangible assets involved estimation uncertainty in the projection of future cash flows, resulting in an increased level of subjective auditor judgment. Specifically, subjective and challenging auditor judgment was required to evaluate the forecasted revenue growth rates, gross margins, and discount rates used in the discounted cash flows to derive the fair value of the reporting unit. Additionally, subjective auditor judgment was required to assess the forecasted revenue growth rates, discount rate, and royalty rate assumptions used in the valuation of indefinite-lived intangible assets. Evaluation of the forecasted revenue growth rates and gross margins was challenging as they represented subjective determinations of future market and economic conditions that were sensitive to variation. Specialized skills and knowledge were required to evaluate the Company’s discount rate and royalty rate assumptions.

The following were the primary procedures we performed to address this critical audit matter. We evaluated the design and tested the operating effectiveness of certain internal controls over the Company’s goodwill and indefinite-lived intangible asset impairment assessment process. This included controls related to the determination of the fair value of the reporting units and indefinite-lived intangible assets and the development of forecasted revenue growth rates, gross margins, discount rates, and royalty rate assumptions. We evaluated the Company’s forecasted revenue growth rates by comparing to industry and peer company forecasted revenue growth rates. We also assessed the Company’s forecasted revenue growth rates and gross margins by comparing them to historical experience and to underlying business strategies and growth plans available for market participants for each reporting unit. We compared historical forecasted revenue growth rates and gross margins to actual results in order to assess the Company’s ability to forecast. We involved valuation professionals with specialized skills and knowledge, who assisted in:

evaluating the royalty rate assumptions by comparing them to royalty rate ranges developed using publicly available market data for comparable company intangible assets and affordability analyses based on profitability of the reporting unit to which the indefinite-lived intangible assets relate
evaluating the discount rates by comparing them to discount rate ranges that were independently developed using publicly available market data for comparable entities.

/s/ KPMG LLP

We have served as the Company’s auditor since 1990.from 1990 to 2021.

St. Louis, Missouri

November 30, 202029, 2021

F-4F-5

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS

(Dollars in thousands, except per share amounts)

Years ended September 30,

    

2020

    

2019

    

2018

Net sales

$

732,915

 

726,044

 

683,650

Costs and expenses:

 

 

 

Cost of sales

 

457,418

 

437,998

 

419,713

Selling, general and administrative expenses

 

159,490

 

162,734

 

153,065

Amortization of intangible assets

 

21,812

 

18,492

 

17,262

Interest expense, net

 

6,730

 

8,092

 

8,798

Pension plan termination charge

40,600

Other expenses, net

 

7,122

 

851

 

3,721

Total costs and expenses

 

693,172

 

628,167

 

602,559

Earnings before income tax

 

39,743

 

97,877

 

81,091

Income tax expense (benefit)

 

14,278

 

20,388

 

(5,170)

Net earnings from continuing operations

25,465

77,489

86,261

(Loss) earnings from discontinued operations, net of tax expense of $269, $789 and $1,060 in 2020, 2019 and 2018, respectively

(601)

3,550

5,875

Gain on sale from discontinued operations, net of tax expense of $23,232

77,116

Net earnings from discontinued operations

76,515

3,550

5,875

Net earnings

$

101,980

 

81,039

 

92,136

Earnings per share:

 

 

 

Basic:

Continuing operations

$

0.98

 

2.99

 

3.33

Discontinued operations

2.94

0.13

0.23

Net earnings

$

3.92

 

3.12

 

3.56

Diluted:

Continuing operations

$

0.97

 

2.97

 

3.31

Discontinued operations

2.93

0.13

0.23

Net earnings

$

3.90

 

3.10

 

3.54

Average common shares outstanding (in thousands):

 

 

 

Basic

 

26,010

 

25,946

 

25,874

Diluted

 

26,135

 

26,097

 

26,058

(Dollars in thousands, except per share amounts)

Years ended September 30,

    

2022

    

2021

    

2020

Net sales

$

857,502

 

715,440

 

730,471

Costs and expenses:

 

 

 

Cost of sales

 

525,457

 

445,045

 

458,311

Selling, general and administrative expenses

 

195,127

 

167,534

 

159,490

Amortization of intangible assets

 

25,936

 

20,829

 

21,812

Interest expense, net

 

4,851

 

2,255

 

6,730

Pension plan termination charge

40,600

Other (income) expenses, net

 

(304)

 

(894)

 

7,122

Total costs and expenses

 

751,067

 

634,769

 

694,065

Earnings before income tax

 

106,435

 

80,671

 

36,406

Income tax expense

 

24,115

 

17,175

 

13,510

Net earnings from continuing operations

82,320

63,496

22,896

Net gain on sale from discontinued operations, net of tax expense of $23,501

76,515

Net earnings from discontinued operations

76,515

Net earnings

$

82,320

 

63,496

 

99,411

Earnings per share:

 

 

 

Basic:

Continuing operations

$

3.17

 

2.44

 

0.88

Discontinued operations

2.94

Net earnings

$

3.17

 

2.44

 

3.82

Diluted:

Continuing operations

$

3.16

 

2.42

 

0.88

Discontinued operations

2.93

Net earnings

$

3.16

 

2.42

 

3.81

Average common shares outstanding (in thousands):

 

 

 

Basic

 

25,933

 

26,046

 

26,010

Diluted

 

26,067

 

26,225

 

26,135

See accompanying Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.

F-6

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF COMPREHENSIVE INCOME

(Dollars in thousands)

Years ended September 30,

    

2020

    

2019

    

2018

    

2022

    

2021

    

2020

Net earnings

 

$

101,980

 

81,039

 

92,136

$

82,320

 

63,496

 

99,411

Other comprehensive (loss) income, net of tax:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Foreign currency translation adjustments

 

 

3,172

 

(6,474)

 

(2,254)

 

(28,876)

 

1,496

 

3,172

Pension plan termination

40,600

40,600

Amortization of prior service costs and actuarial losses

 

 

(3,455)

 

(6,066)

 

(2,003)

Net unrealized gain on derivative instruments

 

 

 

94

 

37

Amortization of prior service costs, actuarial losses and other

 

(727)

 

 

(3,455)

Total other comprehensive (loss) income, net of tax

 

 

40,317

 

(12,446)

 

(4,220)

 

(29,603)

 

1,496

 

40,317

Comprehensive income

 

$

142,297

 

68,593

 

87,916

$

52,717

 

64,992

 

139,728

See accompanying Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.

F-5F-7

CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS

(Dollars in thousands)

As of September 30, 

    

2022

    

2021

ASSETS

 

  

 

  

 

  

 

  

Current assets:

 

  

 

  

Cash and cash equivalents

$

97,724

 

56,232

Accounts receivable, less allowance for credit losses of $2,612 and $1,949 in 2022 and 2021, respectively

 

164,645

 

146,341

Contract assets, net

 

125,154

 

93,771

Inventories, net

 

162,403

 

147,148

Other current assets

 

22,696

 

22,662

Total current assets

 

572,622

 

466,154

 

 

Property, plant and equipment:

 

 

Land and land improvements

 

12,126

 

10,547

Buildings and leasehold improvements

 

110,306

 

109,279

Machinery and equipment

 

187,287

 

176,447

Construction in progress

 

11,576

 

5,543

 

321,295

 

301,816

 

 

Less accumulated depreciation and amortization

 

(165,322)

 

(147,551)

Net property, plant and equipment

 

155,973

 

154,265

 

 

Intangible assets, net

 

394,464

 

409,250

Goodwill

 

492,709

 

504,853

Operating lease assets, net

29,150

31,846

Other assets

 

9,538

 

10,977

 

 

Total Assets

$

1,654,456

 

1,577,345

See accompanying Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.

F-8

CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS

(Dollars in thousands)

As of September 30, 

    

2020

    

2019

ASSETS

 

  

 

  

 

  

 

  

Current assets:

 

  

 

  

Cash and cash equivalents

$

52,560

 

61,808

Accounts receivable, less allowance for doubtful accounts of $1,995 and $1,505 in 2020 and 2019, respectively

 

144,082

 

158,715

Contract assets, net

 

96,746

 

110,211

Inventories, net

 

136,189

 

124,956

Other current assets

 

17,053

 

14,190

Assets of discontinued operations - current

25,314

Total current assets

 

446,630

 

495,194

 

 

Property, plant and equipment:

 

 

Land and land improvements

 

9,657

 

8,101

Buildings and leasehold improvements

 

98,636

 

83,255

Machinery and equipment

 

153,718

 

136,881

Construction in progress

 

8,393

 

9,983

 

270,404

 

238,220

 

 

Less accumulated depreciation and amortization

 

(130,534)

 

(110,377)

Net property, plant and equipment

 

139,870

 

127,843

 

 

Intangible assets, net

 

346,632

 

381,605

Goodwill

 

408,063

 

390,256

Operating lease assets

21,390

Other assets

 

10,938

 

4,445

Assets of discontinued operations - other

67,377

 

 

Total Assets

$

1,373,523

 

1,466,720

(Dollars in thousands)

As of September 30, 

    

2022

    

2021

LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS’ EQUITY

 

  

 

  

 

  

 

  

Current liabilities:

 

  

 

  

Current maturities of long-term debt and short-term borrowings

$

20,000

 

20,000

Accounts payable

 

78,746

 

56,669

Contract liabilities, net

 

125,009

 

106,045

Accrued salaries

 

40,572

 

39,768

Accrued other expenses

 

53,802

 

52,513

Total current liabilities

 

318,129

 

274,995

 

 

Deferred tax liabilities, net

 

82,023

 

73,560

Non-current operating lease liabilities

24,853

28,032

Other liabilities

 

48,294

 

47,062

Long-term debt

 

133,000

 

134,000

Total liabilities

 

606,299

 

557,649

 

 

Shareholders’ equity:

 

 

 

 

Preferred stock, par value $.01 per share, authorized 10,000,000 shares

 

 

Common stock, par value $.01 per share, authorized 50,000,000 shares; issued 30,707,748 and 30,666,173 shares in 2022 and 2021, respectively

 

307

 

307

Additional paid-in capital

 

301,553

 

297,644

Retained earnings

 

905,022

 

830,989

Accumulated other comprehensive loss, net of tax

 

(31,764)

 

(2,161)

 

1,175,118

 

1,126,779

 

 

Less treasury stock, at cost (4,854,997 and 4,604,741 common shares in 2022 and 2021, respectively)

 

(126,961)

 

(107,083)

Total shareholders’ equity

 

1,048,157

 

1,019,696

 

 

Total Liabilities and Shareholders’ Equity

$

1,654,456

 

1,577,345

See accompanying Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.

F-6F-9

CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS

(Dollars in thousands)

As of September 30, 

    

2020

    

2019

LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS’ EQUITY

 

  

 

  

 

  

 

  

Current liabilities:

 

  

 

  

Current maturities of long-term debt and short-term borrowings

$

22,368

 

20,000

Accounts payable

 

50,525

 

63,800

Contract liabilities, net

 

100,551

 

81,177

Accrued salaries

 

32,149

 

37,194

Accrued other expenses

 

50,436

 

37,947

Liabilities of discontinued operations - current

11,517

Total current liabilities

 

256,029

 

251,635

 

 

Pension obligations

 

2,481

 

22,682

Deferred tax liabilities

 

60,938

 

60,856

Other liabilities

 

52,480

 

36,326

Long-term debt

 

40,000

 

265,000

Liabilities of discontinued operations - other

3,999

Total liabilities

 

411,928

 

640,498

 

 

Shareholders’ equity:

 

 

 

 

Preferred stock, par value $.01 per share, authorized 10,000,000 shares

 

 

Common stock, par value $.01 per share, authorized 50,000,000 shares; issued 30,645,625 and 30,596,940 shares in 2020 and 2019, respectively

 

306

 

306

Additional paid-in capital

 

293,682

 

292,408

Retained earnings

 

778,398

 

684,741

Accumulated other comprehensive loss, net of tax

 

(3,657)

 

(43,974)

 

1,068,729

 

933,481

 

 

Less treasury stock, at cost (4,607,911 and 4,615,627 common shares in 2020 and 2019, respectively)

 

(107,134)

 

(107,259)

Total shareholders’ equity

 

961,595

 

826,222

 

 

Total Liabilities and Shareholders’ Equity

$

1,373,523

 

1,466,720

See accompanying Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.

F-7

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF SHAREHOLDERS’ EQUITY

Accumulated 

Accumulated 

 Additional

Other

 Additional

Other

Common Stock

Paid-In 

 Retained

Comprehensive

Treasury

Common Stock

Paid-In 

 Retained

Comprehensive

Treasury

(In thousands)

    

 Shares

     

Amount

     

Capital

     

Earnings

     

Income (Loss)

     

Stock

     

Total

    

 Shares

    

Amount

    

Capital

    

Earnings

    

Income (Loss)

    

Stock

    

Total

Balance, September 30, 2017

 

30,469

$

305

 

289,785

 

516,718

 

(27,308)

 

(107,582)

 

671,918

 

  

 

  

 

  

 

  

 

  

 

  

 

  

Comprehensive income (loss):

 

  

 

  

 

  

 

  

 

  

 

  

 

  

Net earnings

 

0

 

0

 

0

 

92,136

 

0

 

0

 

92,136

Translation adjustments, net of tax of $0

 

0

 

0

 

0

 

0

 

(2,254)

 

0

 

(2,254)

Net unrecognized actuarial loss, net of tax of $(1,326)

 

0

 

0

 

0

 

0

 

(2,003)

 

0

 

(2,003)

Forward exchange contracts, net of tax of $(41)

 

0

 

0

 

0

 

0

 

37

 

0

 

37

 

  

 

  

 

  

 

  

 

  

 

  

 

  

Cash dividends declared ($0.32 per share)

 

0

 

0

 

0

 

(8,278)

 

0

 

0

 

(8,278)

Reclassification from accumulated other comprehensive loss as a result of the adoption of new accounting standard ASU 2018-02

 

 

 

6,261

 

0

 

0

 

6,261

 

  

 

  

 

  

 

  

 

  

 

  

 

  

Stock options and stock compensation plans, net of tax of $0

 

66

 

0

 

1,405

 

0

 

0

 

188

 

1,593

 

  

 

  

 

  

 

  

 

  

 

  

 

  

Balance, September 30, 2018

 

30,535

$

305

 

291,190

 

606,837

 

(31,528)

 

(107,394)

 

759,410

 

  

 

  

 

  

 

  

 

  

 

  

 

  

Comprehensive income (loss):

 

  

 

  

 

  

 

  

 

  

 

  

 

  

Net earnings

 

0

 

0

 

0

 

81,039

 

0

 

0

 

81,039

Translation adjustments, net of tax of $0

 

0

 

0

 

0

 

0

 

(6,474)

 

0

 

(6,474)

Net unrecognized actuarial loss, net of tax of $1,817

 

0

 

0

 

0

 

0

 

(6,066)

 

0

 

(6,066)

Forward exchange contracts, net of tax of $(22)

 

0

 

0

 

0

 

0

 

94

 

0

 

94

 

  

 

  

 

  

 

  

 

  

 

  

 

  

Cash dividends declared ($0.32 per share)

 

0

 

0

 

0

 

(8,302)

 

0

 

0

 

(8,302)

 

  

 

  

 

  

 

  

 

  

 

  

 

  

Adoption of new accounting standard ASU 2014-09

 

0

 

0

 

0

 

5,167

 

0

 

0

 

5,167

Stock options and stock compensation plans, net of tax of $0

 

62

 

1

 

1,218

 

0

 

0

 

135

 

1,354

 

  

 

  

 

  

 

  

 

  

 

  

 

  

Balance, September 30, 2019

 

30,597

$

306

 

292,408

 

684,741

 

(43,974)

 

(107,259)

 

826,222

 

30,597

$

306

 

292,408

 

684,741

 

(43,974)

 

(107,259)

 

826,222

 

  

 

  

 

  

 

  

 

  

 

  

 

  

 

  

 

  

 

  

 

  

 

  

 

  

 

  

Comprehensive income (loss):

 

  

 

  

 

  

 

  

 

  

 

  

 

  

 

  

 

  

 

  

 

  

 

  

 

  

 

  

Net earnings

 

0

 

0

 

0

 

101,980

 

0

 

0

 

101,980

 

 

 

 

99,411

 

 

 

99,411

Translation adjustments, net of tax of $0

 

0

 

0

 

0

 

0

 

3,172

 

0

 

3,172

 

 

 

 

 

3,172

 

 

3,172

Pension termination and net unrecognized actuarial loss, net of tax of $(1,161)

 

0

 

0

 

0

 

0

 

37,145

 

0

 

37,145

 

 

 

 

37,145

 

 

37,145

 

  

 

  

 

  

 

  

 

  

 

  

 

  

 

  

 

  

 

  

 

  

 

  

 

  

 

  

Cash dividends declared ($0.32 per share)

 

0

 

0

 

0

 

(8,323)

 

0

 

0

 

(8,323)

 

 

 

 

(8,323)

 

 

 

(8,323)

 

  

 

  

 

  

 

  

 

  

 

  

 

  

Stock options and stock compensation plans, net of tax of $0

 

49

 

0

 

1,274

 

0

 

0

 

125

 

1,399

Stock compensation plans, net of tax of $0

 

49

 

 

1,274

 

 

 

125

 

1,399

 

  

 

  

 

  

 

  

 

  

 

  

 

  

 

  

 

  

 

  

 

  

 

  

 

  

 

  

Balance, September 30, 2020

 

30,646

$

306

 

293,682

 

778,398

 

(3,657)

 

(107,134)

 

961,595

 

30,646

$

306

 

293,682

 

775,829

 

(3,657)

 

(107,134)

 

959,026

 

  

 

  

 

  

 

  

 

  

 

  

 

  

Comprehensive income (loss):

 

  

 

  

 

  

 

  

 

  

 

  

 

  

Net earnings

 

 

 

 

63,496

 

 

 

63,496

Translation adjustments, net of tax of $0

 

 

 

 

 

1,496

 

 

1,496

Cash dividends declared ($0.32 per share)

 

 

 

 

(8,336)

 

 

 

(8,336)

 

  

 

  

 

  

 

  

 

  

 

  

 

  

Stock compensation plans, net of tax of $0

 

20

 

1

 

3,962

 

 

 

51

 

4,014

 

  

 

  

 

  

 

  

 

  

 

  

 

  

Balance, September 30, 2021

 

30,666

$

307

 

297,644

 

830,989

 

(2,161)

 

(107,083)

 

1,019,696

 

  

 

  

 

  

 

  

 

  

 

  

 

  

Comprehensive income (loss):

 

  

 

  

 

  

 

  

 

  

 

  

 

  

Net earnings

 

 

 

 

82,320

 

 

 

82,320

Net unrecognized actuarial loss – SERP

(727)

(727)

Translation adjustments, net of tax of $0

 

 

 

 

 

(28,876)

 

 

(28,876)

 

  

 

  

 

  

 

  

 

  

 

  

 

  

Cash dividends declared ($0.32 per share)

 

 

 

 

(8,287)

 

 

 

(8,287)

Purchases of common stock into treasury

(19,878)

(19,878)

 

  

 

  

 

  

 

  

 

  

 

  

 

  

Stock compensation plans, net of tax of $0

 

42

 

 

3,909

 

 

 

 

3,909

 

  

 

  

 

  

 

  

 

  

 

  

 

  

Balance, September 30, 2022

 

30,708

307

 

301,553

 

905,022

 

(31,764)

 

(126,961)

 

1,048,157

See accompanying Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.

F-8F-10

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS

(Dollars in thousands)

Years ended September 30,

    

2020

    

2019

    

2018

Cash flows from operating activities:

 

  

 

  

 

  

Net earnings

$

101,980

 

81,039

 

92,136

Adjustments to reconcile net earnings to net cash provided by operating activities:

 

 

 

Net earnings from discontinued operations, net of tax

(76,515)

(3,550)

(5,875)

Depreciation and amortization

 

41,338

 

35,995

 

33,690

Stock compensation expense

 

5,550

 

5,088

 

5,029

Changes in assets and liabilities

 

23,793

 

(6,649)

 

(9,552)

Change in property, plant and equipment from gain on building sale

(8,922)

Effect of deferred taxes on tax provision

 

(2,562)

 

61

 

(21,031)

Pension contributions

 

(25,650)

 

(2,500)

 

(9,951)

Pension plan termination charge

 

40,600

 

 

Net cash provided by operating activities – continuing operations

 

108,534

 

100,562

 

84,446

Net cash (used) provided by discontinued operations

(26,254)

4,575

8,813

Net cash provided by operating activities

82,280

105,137

93,259

Cash flows from investing activities:

 

 

 

Acquisition of businesses, net of cash acquired

 

 

(95,840)

 

(9,813)

Capital expenditures

 

(32,108)

 

(24,229)

 

(15,243)

Additions to capitalized software

 

(9,023)

 

(8,374)

 

(9,573)

Proceeds from sale of building and land

 

 

17,201

 

Net cash used by investing activities – continuing operations

(41,131)

(111,242)

(34,629)

Net cash provided (used) by investing activities – discontinued operations

 

182,084

 

(13,903)

 

(6,978)

Net cash provided (used) by investing activities

140,953

(125,145)

(41,607)

Cash flows from financing activities:

 

 

 

Proceeds from long-term debt

 

12,368

 

130,000

 

55,000

Principal payments on long-term debt

 

(235,000)

 

(65,000)

 

(110,000)

Dividends paid

 

(8,323)

 

(8,302)

 

(8,278)

Debt issuance costs

 

 

(1,071)

 

Other

 

(3,125)

 

(3,371)

 

(3,078)

Net cash provided (used) by financing activities – continuing operations

(234,080)

52,256

(66,356)

Net cash used by financing activities – discontinued operations

(2,140)

(2,472)

(1,922)

Net cash provided (used) by financing activities

(236,220)

49,784

(68,278)

Effect of exchange rate changes on cash and cash equivalents

 

3,739

 

1,555

 

1,587

Net (decrease) increase in cash and cash equivalents

 

(9,248)

 

31,331

 

(15,039)

Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of year

 

61,808

 

30,477

 

45,516

Cash and cash equivalents at end of year

$

52,560

 

61,808

 

30,477

 

 

 

Changes in assets and liabilities:

 

 

 

Accounts receivable, net

$

14,633

 

(8,722)

 

(340)

Contract assets

 

13,465

 

(57,177)

 

(5,748)

Inventories

 

(11,233)

 

7,109

 

(9,440)

Other assets and liabilities

 

(6,615)

 

7,708

 

1,334

Accounts payable

 

(13,275)

 

10,716

 

7,932

Contract liabilities

 

19,374

 

32,142

 

(1,999)

Accrued expenses

 

7,444

 

1,575

 

(1,291)

$

23,793

 

(6,649)

 

(9,552)

Supplemental cash flow information:

 

 

 

Interest paid

$

5,869

 

8,076

 

8,540

Income taxes paid (including state & foreign)

 

37,714

 

26,084

 

8,789

(Dollars in thousands)

Years ended September 30,

    

2022

    

2021

    

2020

Cash flows from operating activities:

 

  

 

  

 

  

Net earnings

$

82,320

 

63,496

 

99,411

Adjustments to reconcile net earnings to net cash provided by operating activities:

 

 

 

Net earnings from discontinued operations, net of tax

(76,515)

Depreciation and amortization

 

48,343

 

42,049

 

41,338

Stock compensation expense

 

7,320

 

6,914

 

5,550

Changes in assets and liabilities

 

(11,654)

 

15,671

 

26,585

Gain on sale of building and land

(1,950)

Effect of deferred taxes on tax provision

8,946

(3,041)

(2,785)

Pension contributions

 

 

 

(25,650)

Pension plan termination charge

 

 

 

40,600

Net cash provided by operating activities – continuing operations

135,275

123,139

108,534

Net cash (used) by discontinued operations

(26,254)

Net cash provided by operating activities

 

135,275

 

123,139

 

82,280

Cash flows from investing activities:

 

 

 

Acquisition of businesses, net of cash acquired

 

(10,906)

 

(168,903)

 

Capital expenditures

(32,101)

(26,705)

(32,108)

Additions to capitalized software

 

(12,912)

 

(8,783)

 

(9,023)

Proceeds from sale of building and land

 

 

1,950

 

Net cash used by investing activities – continuing operations

(55,919)

(202,441)

(41,131)

Net cash provided by investing activities – discontinued operations

182,084

Net cash (used) provided by investing activities

 

(55,919)

 

(202,441)

 

140,953

Cash flows from financing activities:

 

 

 

Proceeds from long-term debt

 

100,000

 

216,000

 

12,368

Principal payments on long-term debt

 

(101,000)

 

(124,368)

 

(235,000)

Dividends paid

(8,268)

(8,336)

(8,323)

Purchases of common stock into treasury

 

(19,878)

 

 

Other

 

(2,976)

 

(1,823)

 

(3,125)

Net cash (used) provided by financing activities – continuing operations

(32,122)

81,473

(234,080)

Net cash used by financing activities – discontinued operations

(2,140)

Net cash (used) provided by financing activities

 

(32,122)

 

81,473

 

(236,220)

Effect of exchange rate changes on cash and cash equivalents

(5,742)

1,501

3,739

Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents

41,492

3,672

(9,248)

Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of year

56,232

52,560

61,808

Cash and cash equivalents at end of year

$

97,724

56,232

52,560

 

 

 

Changes in assets and liabilities:

 

 

 

Accounts receivable, net

$

(17,676)

 

11,266

 

14,633

Contract assets and liabilities, net

(12,419)

 

8,974

 

35,283

Inventories

 

(13,788)

 

612

 

(10,340)

Other assets and liabilities

 

9,412

 

(477)

 

(8,609)

Accounts payable

21,985

 

(688)

 

(13,275)

Accrued expenses

 

832

 

(3,836)

 

8,893

$

(11,654)

 

15,671

 

26,585

Supplemental cash flow information:

 

 

 

Interest paid

$

2,835

 

590

 

5,869

Income taxes paid (including state & foreign)

 

9,856

 

26,054

 

37,714

See accompanying Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.

F-9F-11

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

1.      Summary of Significant Accounting Policies

A.      Principles of Consolidation

The Consolidated Financial Statements include the accounts of ESCO Technologies Inc. (ESCO) and its wholly owned subsidiaries. Except where the context indicates otherwise, the terms “Company”, “we”, “our” and “us” are used in this report to refer to ESCO together with its subsidiaries (the Company).through which its businesses are conducted. All significant intercompany transactions and accounts have been eliminated in consolidation.

B.      Basis of Presentation

The Company’sOur fiscal year ends on September 30. Throughout the Consolidated Financial Statements, unless the context indicates otherwise, references to a year (for example 2020)2022) refer to the Company’s fiscal year ending on September 30 of that year. Certain prior period amounts have been reclassified to conform to the current period presentation.

The Company'sOur former Technical Packaging segment is reflected as discontinued operations in the Consolidated Financial Statements and related notes for all periods presented, in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (GAAP). Prior period amounts have been reclassified to conform to the current period presentation. See Note 2.

The Company accounts for shipping and handling costs on a gross basis and they are included in net sales. The Company accounts for taxes collected from customers and remitted to governmental authorities on a net basis and they are excluded from net sales.

C.      Nature of Operations

The Company isWe are organized based on the products and services it offerswe offer and classifies itswe currently classify our business operations in segments for financial reporting purposes. Under the current organization structure, the Company has 3three segments for financial reporting purposes: Aerospace & Defense (A&D), Utility Solutions Group (USG), and RF Shielding and Test (Test).

Aerospace & Defense:A&D: The companies within this segment primarily design and manufacture specialty filtration products, including hydraulic filter elements and fluid control devices used in commercial aerospace applications; unique filter mechanisms used in micro-propulsion devices for satellites; custom designed filters for manned aircraft and submarines; products and systems to reduce vibration and/or acoustic signatures and otherwise reduce or obscure a vessel’s signature, and other communications, sealing, surface control and hydrodynamic related applications to enhance U.S. Navy maritime survivability; precision-tolerance machined components for the aerospace and defense industry; and metal processing services.services; and miniature electro-explosive devices for military aircraft ejection seats and missile arming devices.

USG: The companies within this segment provide diagnostic testing solutions that enable electric power grid operators to assess the integrity of high-voltage power delivery equipment, as well as decision support tools for the renewable energy industry, primarily wind and solar.

Test: ETS-Lindgren Inc. provides its The companies within this segment provide their customers with the ability to identify, measure and contain magnetic, electromagnetic and acoustic energy.

In addition, for reporting certain financial information we treat Corporate activities as a separate segment.

D.      Use of Estimates

The preparation of financial statements in conformity with GAAP requires Management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities. Actual results could differ from those estimates.

E.      Revenue Recognition

On October 1, 2018, we adopted ASU No. 2014-09, Revenue from Contracts with Customers (ASC 606). Significant changes to our policies resulting from the adoption are provided below. We adopted ASC 606 using the modified retrospective transition method applied to contracts that were not substantially complete at the end of fiscal year 2018. We recorded a $5.2 million adjustment to increase retained earnings to reflect the cumulative impact of adopting this standard at the beginning of fiscal year 2019, primarily related to certain long-term contracts in our Aerospace & Defense and Technical Packaging segments that converted to the cost-to-cost method forrecognize revenue recognition. The comparative information has not been restated and is reported under the accounting standards in effect for those periods.

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Revenue Recognition

Revenue is recognized when control of the goods or services promised under the contract is transferred to the customer either at a point in time (e.g., upon delivery) or over time (e.g., as we perform under the contract). We account for a contract when it has approval and commitment from both parties, the rights and payment terms of the parties are identified, the contract has commercial substance and collectability of consideration is probable. Contracts are reviewedWe review contracts to determine whether there isare one or multiple performance obligations. A performance obligation is a promise to transfer a distinct good or service to a customer and represents the unit of accounting for revenue recognition. For contracts with multiple performance obligations, we allocate the expected

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consideration, or the transaction price, is allocated to each performance obligation identified in the contract based on the relative standalone selling price of each performance obligation. Revenue isWe then recognizedrecognize revenue for the transaction price allocated to the performance obligation when control of the promised goods or services underlying the performance obligation is transferred.

Payment terms with our customers vary by the type and location of the customer and the products or services offered. The Company doesWe do not adjust the promised amount of consideration for the effects of significant financing components based on the expectation that the period between when the Company transferswe transfer a promised good or service to a customer and when the customer pays for that good or service will be one year or less. Arrangements with customers that include payment terms extending beyond one year are not significant. We account for shipping and handling costs on a gross basis and include them in net sales. We account for taxes collected from customers and remitted to governmental authorities on a net basis and exclude them from net sales.

Aerospace & Defense:A&D: Within the Aerospace & DefenseA&D segment, approximately 45%40% of revenues (approximately 22%17% of consolidated revenues) are recognized at a point in time when products are shipped (when control of the goods transfers) to unaffiliated customers. The related contracts are with commercial and military customers and have a single performance obligation as there is only one good promised or the promise to transfer the goods or services is not distinct or separately identifiable from other promises in the contract. The transaction price for these contracts reflects our estimate of returns rebates and discounts, which are based on historical, current and forecasted information to determine the expected amount to which the Companywe will be entitled in exchange for transferring the promised goods or services to the customer. The realization of variable consideration occurs within a short period of time from product delivery; therefore, the time value of money effect is not significant. Amounts billed to customers for shipping and handling are included in the transaction price as the related activities are performed prior to the customer obtaining control of the products. They generally are not treated as separate performance obligations as these costs fulfill a promise to transfer the product to the customer and are expensed in selling, general, and other costscost of goods sold in the period they are incurred. Taxes collected from customers and remitted to government authorities are recorded on a net basis. We primarily provide standard warranty programs for products in our commercial businesses for periods that typically range from one to two years. These assurance-type programs typically cannot be purchased separately and do not meet the criteria to be considered a performance obligation.

Approximately 55%60% of the segment’s revenues (approximately 26%25% of consolidated revenues) are accounted for over time as the product does not have an alternative use and the Company haswe have an enforceable right to payment for costs incurred plus a reasonable margin or the inventory is owned by the customer. The related contracts are primarily cost-plus or fixed price contracts related to the design, development and manufacture of complex fluid control products, quiet valves, manifolds, shock and vibration dampening, thermal insulation and systems primarily for the commercial aerospace and military (U.S. Government) markets. The contracts may contain multiple products, which are capable of being distinct as the customer could benefit from each product on its own or together with other readily available resources. Each product is separately identifiable from the other products in the contract. Therefore, each product is distinct in context of the contract and will be accounted for as a separate performance obligation. Our contracts are frequently modified for changes in contract specifications and requirements. Most of our contract modifications are for products that are not distinct from the existing contract and are accounted for as part of that existing contract.

Contracts with the U.S. Government generally contain clauses that provide lien rights to work-in-process along with clauses that allow the customer to unilaterally terminate the contract for convenience, pay us for costs incurred plus a reasonable profit and take control of any work-in-process. Due to the continuous transfer of control to the U.S. Government, we recognize revenue over the time that we perform under the contract.

Selecting the method to measure progress towards completion for the commercial and military contracts requires judgment and is based on the nature of the products or service to be provided. We generally use the cost-to-cost method to measure progress for our Aerospace & Defense segment contracts, as the rate at which costs are incurred to fulfill a contract best depicts the transfer of control to the customer. Under this method, we measure the extent of progress towards completion is measured based on the ratio of costs incurred to date to the estimated costs at completion of the performance obligation, and record revenue is recorded proportionally as costs are incurred based on an estimated profit margin.

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The transaction price for our contracts represents our best estimate of the consideration we will receive and includes assumptions regarding variable consideration as applicable. Certain of our long-term contracts contain incentive fees that can increase the transaction price. These variable amounts generally are awarded upon achievement of certain performance metrics, program milestones or cost targets and can be based upon customer discretion. We include estimated amounts in the transaction price to the extent it is probable that a significant reversal of cumulative revenue recognized will not occur when the uncertainty associated with the variable consideration is resolved. Our estimates of variable consideration and determination of whether to include estimated

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amounts in the transaction price are based largely on an assessment of our anticipated performance and all other information that is reasonably available to us.

Total contract cost is estimated utilizing current contract specifications and expected engineering requirements. Contract costs typically are incurred over a period of several months to one or more years, and the estimation of these costs requires judgment. Our cost estimation process is based on the professional knowledge and experience of engineers and program managers along with finance professionals. We review and update our projections of costs quarterly or more frequently when circumstances significantly change.

Under the typical payment terms of our long term fixed price contracts, the customer pays us either performance-based or progress payments. Performance-based payments represent interim payments based on quantifiable measures of performance or on the achievement of specified events or milestones. Progress payments are interim payments of costs incurred as the work progresses. Because of the timing difference of revenue recognition and customer billing, these contracts will often result in revenue recognized in excess of billings and billings in excess of costs incurred, which we present as contract assets and contract liabilities, respectively, in the Consolidated Balance Sheets. AmountsWe classify amounts billed and due from our customers are classified in Accounts receivable, net. For short term fixed price and cost-type contracts, we are generally paid within a short period of time.

For contracts where revenue is recognized over time, we generally recognize changes in estimated contract revenues, costs and profits using the cumulative catch-up method of accounting. This method recognizes the cumulative effect of changes on current and prior periods with the impact of the change from inception-to-date recorded in the current period. We have net revenue recognized in the current year from performance obligations satisfied in the prior year due to changes in our estimated costs to complete the related performance obligations. AnticipatedWe recognize anticipated losses on contracts are recognized in full in the period in which the losses become probable and estimable.known.

USG: Within the USG segment, approximately 75%80% of revenues (approximately 20%25% of consolidated revenues) are recognized at a point in time when products are shipped (when control of the goods transfers) to unaffiliated customers. The related contracts are with commercial customers. The contracts may contain multiple products which are capable of being distinct as the customer could benefit from each product on its own or together with other readily available resources. Each product is separately identifiable from the other products in the contract. Therefore, each product is distinct in context of the contract and is accounted for as a separate performance obligation. The transaction price for these contracts reflects our estimate of variable consideration in the form of returns, rebates and discounts, which are based on historical, current and forecasted information to determine the expected amount to which we will be entitled in exchange for transferring the Companypromised goods or services to the customer. The realization of variable consideration occurs within a short period of time from product delivery; therefore, the time value of money effect is not significant. Amounts billed to customers for shipping and handling are included in the transaction price as the related activities are performed prior to customer obtaining control of the products. We generally do not treat them as separate performance obligations as these costs fulfill a promise to transfer the product to the customer and are expensed in selling, general and administrative costs in the period they are incurred. We record taxes collected from customers and remitted to government authorities on a net basis. We primarily provide standard warranty programs for products in our commercial businesses for periods that typically range from one to two years. These assurance-type programs typically cannot be purchased separately and do not meet the criteria to be considered a performance obligation.

Approximately 20% of the segment’s revenues (approximately 6% of consolidated revenues) are recognized over time as services are performed. The services accounted for under this method include an obligation to provide testing services using hardware and embedded software, software maintenance, training, lab testing, and consulting services. Typically, the related contracts contain a bundle of goods and services that are integrated in the context of the contract. Therefore, the goods and services are not distinct and we have a single performance obligation. Selecting the method to measure progress towards completion for these contracts requires judgment and is based on the nature of the products and service to be provided. We will recognize revenue as a series of distinct services based on each day of providing services (straight-line over the contract term) for our USG segment contracts. The transaction price for our contracts represents our best estimate of the consideration we will receive and includes assumptions regarding variable consideration as applicable. Under the typical payment terms of our service contracts, the customer pays us in advance of when services are performed. Because of the timing difference of revenue recognition and customer payment, which is typically received upon commencement of the contract, these contracts result in deferred revenue, which we present as contract liabilities, in the Consolidated Balance Sheets.

Included in this category, approximately 6% of the segment’s revenues (approximately 2% of consolidated revenues) are recognized based on the terms of the software contract. For contracts that transfer a software license to the customer, revenue will be recognized at a point in time. These type of software contracts represent a right to use the software, or a functional license, in which revenue should be recognized upon transfer of the license. For contracts in software as a service (SaaS) arrangements, revenue will be

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recognized over time. The customer receives and consumes the benefits of the SaaS arrangement through access to the system which is for a stated period. We will recognize revenue based on each day of providing access (straight-line over the contract term). The transaction price for our contracts represents our best estimate of the consideration we will receive and includes assumptions regarding variable consideration as applicable. Under the typical payment terms of our software contracts, the customer pays us in advance of when services are performed. Because of the timing difference of revenue recognition and customer payment, these contracts result in deferred revenue, which we present as contract liabilities, in the Consolidated Balance Sheets.

Test: Within the Test segment, approximately 25% of revenues (approximately 7% of consolidated revenues) are recognized at a point in time when products such as, antennas and probes are shipped (when control of the goods transfers) to unaffiliated customers. The related contracts are with commercial customers. The contracts may contain multiple products which are capable of being distinct because the customer could benefit from each product on its own or together with other readily available resources. Each product is separately identifiable from the other products in the contract. Therefore, each product is distinct in the context of the contract and will be accounted for as a separate performance obligation. The transaction price for these contracts reflects our estimate of variable consideration in the form of returns, rebates and discounts, which are based on historical, current and forecasted information to determine the expected amount to which we will be entitled in exchange for transferring the promised goods or services to the customer. The realization of variable consideration occurs within a short period of time from product delivery; therefore, the time value of money effect is not significant. Amounts billed to customers for shipping and handling are included in the transaction price as the related activities are performed prior to customer obtaining control of the products. They generally are not treated as separate performance obligations as these costs fulfill a promise to transfer the product to the customer and are expensed in selling, general, and other costs in the period they are incurred. Taxes collected from customers and remitted to government authorities are recorded on a net basis. We primarily provide standard warranty programs for products in our commercial businesses for periods that typically range from one to two years. These assurance-type programs typically cannot be purchased separately and do not meet the criteria to be considered a performance obligation.

Approximately 25% of the segment’s revenues (approximately 7% of consolidated revenues) are recognized over time as services are performed. The services accounted for under this method include an obligation to provide testing services using hardware and embedded software, software maintenance, training, lab testing, and consulting services. The related contracts contain a bundle of goods and services that are integrated in the context of the contract. Therefore, the goods and services are not distinct and the Company has a single performance obligation. Selecting the method to measure progress towards completion for these contracts requires judgment and is based on the nature of the products and service to be provided. We will recognize revenue as a series of distinct services based on each day of providing services (straight-line over the contract term) for our USG segment contracts. The transaction price for our contracts represents our best estimate of the consideration we will receive and includes assumptions regarding variable consideration as applicable. Under the typical payment terms of our service contracts, the customer pays us in advance of when services are performed. Because of the timing difference of revenue recognition and customer payment, which is typically

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received upon commencement of the contract, these contracts result in deferred revenue, which we present as contract liabilities, in the Consolidated Balance Sheets.

Included in this category, approximately 10% of the segment’s revenues (approximately 2% of consolidated revenues) are recognized based on the terms of the software contract. For contracts that transfer a software license to the customer, revenue will be recognized at a point in time. These type of software contracts represent a right to use the software, or a functional license, in which revenue should be recognized upon transfer of the license. For contracts in software as a service (SaaS) arrangements, revenue will be recognized over time. The customer receives and consumes the benefits of the SaaS arrangement through access to the system which is for a stated period. We will recognize revenue based on each day of providing access (straight-line over the contract term). The transaction price for our contracts represents our best estimate of the consideration we will receive and includes assumptions regarding variable consideration as applicable. Under the typical payment terms of our software contracts, the customer pays us in advance of when services are performed. Because of the timing difference of revenue recognition and customer payment, these contracts result in deferred revenue, which we present as contract liabilities, in the Consolidated Balance Sheets.

Test: Within the Test segment, approximately 18% of revenues (approximately 5% of consolidated revenues) are recognized at a point in time when products such as, antennas and probes are shipped (when control of the goods transfers) to unaffiliated customers. The related contracts are with commercial customers. The contracts may contain multiple products which are capable of being distinct as the customer could benefit from each product on its own or together with other readily available resources. Each product is separately identifiable from the other products in the contract. Therefore, each product is distinct in context of the contract and will be accounted for as a separate performance obligation. The transaction price for these contracts reflects our estimate of variable consideration in the form of returns, rebates and discounts, which are based on historical, current and forecasted information to determine the expected amount to which the Company will be entitled in exchange for transferring the promised goods or services to the customer. The realization of variable consideration occurs within a short period of time from product delivery; therefore, the time value of money effect is not significant. Amounts billed to customers for shipping and handling are included in the transaction price as the related activities are performed prior to customer obtaining control of the products. They generally are not treated as separate performance obligations as these costs fulfill a promise to transfer the product to the customer and are expensed in selling, general, and other costs in the period they are incurred. Taxes collected from customers and remitted to government authorities are recorded on a net basis. We primarily provide standard warranty programs for products in our commercial businesses for periods that typically range from one to two years. These assurance-type programs typically cannot be purchased separately and do not meet the criteria to be considered a performance obligation.

Approximately 82%75% of the segment’s revenues (approximately 20% of consolidated revenues) are recorded over time as the product does not have an alternative use and the Company haswe have an enforceable right to payment for costs incurred plus a reasonable margin. Products accounted for under this guidance include the construction and installation of test chambers to a buyer’s specifications that provide its customers with the ability to measure and contain magnetic, electromagnetic and acoustic energy. The goods and services related to each installed test chamber are not distinct due to the significant amount of integration provided and each installed chamber is accounted for as a single performance obligation. Selecting the method to measure progress towards completion for these contracts requires judgment and is based on the nature of the products and service to be provided. We use milestones to measure progress for our Test segment contracts because it best depicts the transfer of control to the customer that occurs as we incur costs on our contracts. For arrangements that are accounted for under this guidance, the Company estimateswe estimate profit as the difference between total revenue and total estimated cost of a contract and recognizesrecognize these revenues and costs based primarily on contract milestones. The transaction price for our contracts is typically fixed price and represents our best estimate of the consideration we will receive and includes assumptions regarding variable consideration as applicable.receive.

TotalWe estimate total contract cost is estimated utilizing current contract specifications and expected engineering requirements. Contract costs typically are incurred over a period of several months to a year, and the estimation of these costs requires judgment. Our cost estimation process is based on the professional knowledge and experience of engineers and program managers along with finance professionals. We review and update our projections of costs quarterly or more frequently when circumstances significantly change.

Under the typical payment terms of our fixed price contracts, the customer pays us either performance-basedbased on progress or progress payments.based on a fixed billing schedule within the contract. Performance-based payments represent interim payments based on quantifiable measures of performance or on the achievement of specified events or milestones. Progress payments are interim payments of costs incurrednoted progress points as the work progresses. Because of the timing difference of revenue recognition and customer billing, these contracts result in revenue recognized in excess of billings and billings in excess of costs incurred,revenue recognized, which we present as contract assets and contract liabilities, respectively, in the Consolidated Balance Sheets. Amounts billed and due from our customers are classified in Accounts receivable, net.

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For contracts where revenue is recognized over time, we generally recognize changes in estimated contract revenues, costs and profits using the cumulative catch-up method of accounting. This method recognizes the cumulative effect of changes on current and prior periods with the impact of the change from inception-to-date recorded in the current period. We have net revenue recognized in the current year from performance obligations satisfied in the prior year due to changes in our estimated costs to complete the related performance obligations. AnticipatedWe recognize anticipated losses on contracts are recognized in full in the period in which the losses become probable and estimable.

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Contract Assets and Liabilities

Contract assets arise from contracts when revenue is recognized over time and the amount of revenue recognized, including our estimate of variable consideration that has been included in the transaction price, exceeds the amount billed to the customer. These amounts are included in contract assets until the right to payment is no longer conditional on events other than the passage of time. These contract assets are reclassified to receivables when the right to consideration becomes unconditional. Contract liabilities include deposits, deferred revenue, upfront payments and billings in excess of revenue recognized. LiabilitiesWe include liabilities for customer rebates and discounts are included in other current liabilities in the accompanying balance sheet.Consolidated Balance Sheets.

See the further discussion of the Company’sour revenue recognition in Note 1715 below.

Prior to Adoption of ASC 606

Prior to October 1, 2018, Management recognized revenue consistent with ASC 605. The Aerospace & Defense segment was most impacted by the change in the timing of revenue recognition. Under ASC 605, in 2018 the Aerospace & Defense segment recognized 85% of revenues upon delivery of products (when title and risk of ownership transfers) and when the other general conditions to revenue recognition (collectability of revenues is probable, there is evidence of an arrangement, fees are fixed and determinable) were met, and 15% of revenues under percentage-of-completion. The change to recording more revenue over time as costs are incurred at the Aerospace & Defense segment is the result of the products not having an alternative use and the Company having an enforceable right to payment for costs incurred plus a reasonable margin or the inventory is owned by the customer.

The timing of revenue recognition under ASC 605 and ASC 606 was similar for the USG and Test segments. In 2018, the USG segment recognized 25% of revenues under percentage-of-completion and 75% of revenues when products were delivered or services performed (when title and risk of ownership transfers) and when the other general conditions to revenue recognition (collectability of revenues is probable, there is evidence of an arrangement, fees are fixed and determinable) were met. In 2018, the Test segment recognized 75% of revenues under percentage-of-completion and 25% of revenues when products were delivered or services performed (when title and risk of ownership transfers).

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F.      Cash and Cash Equivalents

Cash equivalents include temporary investments that are readily convertible into cash, such as money market funds, with original maturities of three months or less.

G.      Accounts Receivable

AccountsWe reduce accounts receivable have been reduced by an allowance for amounts that the Company estimateswe estimate are uncollectible in the future. This estimated allowance is based on Management’s evaluation of the financial condition of the customer and historical write-off experience.

H.      Inventories

Inventories are valuedWe value inventories at the lower of cost (first-in, first-out) or marketnet realizable value. Inventories areWe regularly reviewedreview inventories for excess quantities and obsolescence based upon historical experience, specific identification of discontinued items, future demand, and market conditions. Inventories under long-term contracts reflect accumulated production costs, factory overhead, initial tooling and other related costs less the portion of such costs charged to cost of sales.

I.      Property, Plant and Equipment

Property, plant and equipment are recorded at cost. Depreciation and amortization are computed primarily on a straight-line basis over the estimated useful lives of the assets: buildings, 10-4010-40 years; machinery and equipment, 3-10 3-10 years; and office furniture and equipment, 3-103-10 years. Leasehold improvements are amortized over the remaining term of the applicable lease or their estimated useful lives, whichever is shorter. Long-lived tangible assets are reviewed for impairment whenever events or changes in business circumstances indicate the carrying value of the assets may not be recoverable. Impairment losses are recognized based on fair value.

J.      Leases

The Company’sOur lease agreements primarily relate to office space, manufacturing facilities, and machinery and equipment. The Company determinesWe determine at lease inception whether an arrangement that provides control over the use of an asset is a lease. The Company recognizesWe recognize at lease commencement a right-of-use (ROU) asset and lease liability based on the present value of the future lease payments over the lease term. The Company hasWe have elected not to recognize a ROU asset and lease liability for leases with terms of 12 months or less. Certain of the Company’sour leases include options to extend the term of the lease for up to 20 years. When it is reasonably certain that the Companywe will exercise the option, Management includes the impact of the option in the lease term for purposes of determining total future lease payments. As most of the Company’sour lease agreements do not explicitly state the discount rate implicit in the lease, Management uses the Company’sour incremental borrowing rate on the commencement date to calculate the present value of future payments based on the tenor of each arrangement.

K.      Goodwill and Other Long-Lived Intangible Assets

Goodwill represents the excess of purchase price over the fair value of net identifiable assets acquired in business acquisitions. Management annually reviews goodwill and other long-lived assets with indefinite useful lives for impairment or whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate the carrying amount may be less than fair value. If the Company determineswe determine that the carrying value of the long-lived asset or reporting unit is less than fair value, we record a permanent impairment charge is recorded for the amount by which the carrying value of the long-lived asset exceeds its fair value. FairWe measure the fair value of the Company’sour reporting units is measured based on a discounted cash flow method using a discount rate determined by Management to be commensurate with the risk inherent in each of our reporting units’

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current business models. FairWe determine the fair value forof trade names is determined using a generally accepted valuation method based on an income approach called the relief from royalty method. During 2020, the revenue softness in the Company’s Aerospace & Defense segment as well as its USG segment due to the COVID-19 pandemic led management to perform2022, Management performed a quantitative impairment analysis, which included a detailed calculation of the fair value of itsour trade names and reporting units related to certain reporting units within these segments. A step 0 analysis was performed on the other reporting units for which a quantitative analysis was not performed. The results of these impairment analyses indicated that the fair values of the trade names and reporting units are not less than their carrying values. The Company’sOur estimates of discounted cash flows to derive the fair value were measured in accordance with ASC 350, Intangibles – Goodwill and Other. The Company isWe are using estimates of discounted cash flows that may change, and if they change negatively it could result in the need to write down those assets to fair value.

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Other intangible assets represent costs allocated to identifiable intangible assets, principally customer relationships, capitalized software, patents, trademarks, and technology rights. IntangibleWe amortize intangible assets with estimable useful lives are amortized over their respective estimated useful lives to their estimated residual values, and are reviewedreview them for impairment whenever events or changes in business circumstances indicate the carrying value of the assets may not be recoverable.

See Note 4 regarding goodwill and other intangible assets activity.

L.      Capitalized Software

The costsCosts incurred for the development of computer software that will be sold, leased, or otherwise marketed are charged to research and development expense when incurred, as research and development until technological feasibility has been established for the product. Technological feasibility is typically established upon completion of a detailed program design. Costs incurred after this point are capitalized on a project-by-project basis. Capitalized costs consist of internal and external development costs. Upon general release of the product to customers, the Company ceaseswe cease capitalization and beginsbegin amortization, which is calculated on a project-by-project basis as the greater of (1) the ratio of current gross revenues for a product to the total of current and anticipated future gross revenues for the product or (2) the straight-line method over the estimated economic life of the product. The CompanyWe generally amortizes theamortize software development costs over a three-to-seven year period based upon the estimated future economic life of the product. Factors consideredwe consider in determining the estimated future economic life of the product include anticipated future revenues, and changes in software and hardware technologies. Management annually reviews the carrying values of capitalized costs for impairment or whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate the carrying amount may not be recoverable. If expected cash flows are insufficient to recover the carrying amount of the asset, then we recognize an impairment loss is recognized to state the asset at its net realizable value.

M.      Income Taxes

IncomeWe account for income taxes are accounted for under the asset and liability method. DeferredWe recognize deferred tax assets and liabilities are recognized for the future tax consequences attributable to differences between the financial statement carrying amounts of existing assets and liabilities and their respective tax bases. DeferredWe measure deferred tax assets and liabilities are measured using enacted tax rates expected to apply to taxable income in the years in which those temporary differences are expected to be recovered or settled. DeferredWe may reduce deferred tax assets may be reduced by a valuation allowance if it is more likely than not that some portion or all of the deferred tax assets will not be realized. TheWe recognize the effect on deferred tax assets and liabilities of a change in tax rates is recognized in income in the period that includes the enactment date. The CompanyWe regularly reviews itsreview our deferred tax assets for recoverability and establishesestablish a valuation allowance when Management believes it is more likely than not such assets will not be recovered, taking into consideration historical operating results, expectations of future earnings, tax planning strategies, and the expected timing of the reversals of existing temporary differences. Our policy is to include interest related to unrecognized tax benefits in income tax expense and penalties in operating expense.

N.      Research and Development Costs

Company-sponsored research and development costs include research and development and bid and proposal efforts related to the Company’sour products and services. We charge Company-sponsored product development costs are charged to expense when incurred. Customer-sponsored research and development costs incurred pursuant to contracts are accounted for similarly to other program costs. Customer-sponsored research and development costs refer to certain situations whereby customers provide funding to support specific contractually defined research and development costs. We account for customer-sponsored research and development costs incurred pursuant to contracts similarly to other program costs. Total Company and customer-sponsored research and development expenses were approximately $12.3 million, $15.4 million and $13.3 million $12.1 millionfor 2022, 2021 and $10.9 million for 2020, 2019 and 2018, respectively. These expense amounts exclude certain engineering costs primarily associated with product line extensions, modifications and maintenance, which amounted to approximately $16.1 million, $15.8 million and $13.1 million for 2020, 2019 and 2018, respectively.

O.Foreign Currency Translation

The financial statements of the Company’s foreign operations are translated into U.S. dollars in accordance with FASB ASC Topic 830, Foreign Currency Matters. The resulting translation adjustments are recorded as a separate component of accumulated other comprehensive income.

P.Earnings Per Share

Basic earnings per share is calculated using the weighted average number of common shares outstanding during the period. Diluted earnings per share is calculated using the weighted average number of common shares outstanding during the period plus shares

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O.Foreign Currency Translation

We translate the financial statements of our foreign operations into U.S. dollars in accordance with FASB ASC Topic 830, Foreign Currency Matters. We record the resulting translation adjustments as a separate component of accumulated other comprehensive income.

P.Earnings Per Share

We calculate basic earnings per share using the weighted average number of common shares outstanding during the period. We calculate diluted earnings per share using the weighted average number of common shares outstanding during the period plus shares issuable upon the assumed exercise of dilutive common share options and vesting of performance-acceleratedunvested restricted sharesunits (restricted shares) using the treasury stock method. There are no anti-dilutive shares.

The number of shares used in the calculation of earnings per share for each year presented is as follows:

(in thousands)

    

2020

    

2019

    

2018

Weighted Average Shares Outstanding - Basic

 

26,010

 

25,946

 

25,874

Performance-Accelerated Restricted Stock

 

125

 

151

 

184

Shares - Diluted

 

26,135

 

26,097

 

26,058

(in thousands)

    

2022

    

2021

    

2020

Weighted Average Shares Outstanding Basic

 

25,933

 

26,046

 

26,010

Dilutive Restricted Shares

134

179

125

Shares Diluted

 

26,067

 

26,225

 

26,135

Q.      Share-Based Compensation

The Company providesWe provide compensation benefits to certain key employees under several share-based plans providing for employeeperformance-accelerated, performance-based and/or time-vested restricted stock options and/or performance-accelerated restricted shares (restricted shares),unit awards, and to non-employee directors under a separate compensation plan for non-employee directors compensation plan. Share-baseddirectors. We measure share-based payment expense is measured at the grant date based on the fair value of the award and is recognizedrecognize it on a straight-line basis over the requisite service period (generally the vesting period of the award). and/or if the performance criteria are deemed probable.

R.      Accumulated Other Comprehensive Loss

Accumulated other comprehensive loss of $(3.7)$(31.8) million at September 30, 20202022 consisted primarily of currency translation adjustments. Accumulated other comprehensive loss of $(44.0) million at September 30, 2019 consisted of $(37.0) million related to the pension net actuarial loss; and $(7.0) million related to currency translation adjustments.

S.Derivative Financial Instruments

All derivative financial instruments are reported on the balance sheet at fair value. The accounting for changes in fair value of a derivative instrument depends on whether it has been designated and qualifies as a hedge and on the type of hedge. For each derivative instrument designated as a cash flow hedge, the effective portion of the gain or loss on the derivative is deferred in accumulated other comprehensive income until recognized in earnings with the underlying hedged item. For each derivative instrument designated as a fair value hedge, the gain or loss on the derivative and the offsetting gain or loss on the hedged item are recognized immediately in earnings. Regardless of type, a fully effective hedge will result in no net earnings impact while the derivative is outstanding. To the extent that any hedge is ineffective at offsetting cash flow or fair value changes in the underlying hedged item, there could be a net earnings impact.

T.      Fair Value Measurements

Fair value is defined as the price at which an asset could be exchanged in a current transaction between knowledgeable, willing parties or the amount that would be paid to transfer a liability to a new obligor, not the amount that would be paid to settle the liability with the creditor. Where available, we base fair value is based on observable market prices or parameters or derived from such prices or parameters. Where observable prices or inputs are not available, we apply valuation models are applied.models. These valuation techniques involve some level of Management estimation and judgment, the degree of which is dependent on the price transparency for the instruments or market and the instruments’ complexity.

The accounting guidance establishes a three-level hierarchy for disclosure of fair value measurements, based upon the transparency of inputs to the valuation of an asset or liability as of the measurement date, as follows:

Level 1 – Inputs to the valuation methodology are quoted prices (unadjusted) for identical assets or liabilities in active markets.

Level 2 –Inputs– Inputs to the valuation methodology include quoted prices for similar assets and liabilities in active markets, and inputs that are observable for the asset or liability, either directly or indirectly, for substantially the full term of the financial instrument.

Level 3 – Inputs to the valuation methodology are unobservable and significant to the fair value measurement.

F-17F-18

Financial Assets and Liabilities

The Company hasWe have estimated the fair value of itsour financial instruments as of September 30, 20202022 using available market information or other appropriate valuation methodologies. The carrying amounts of cash and cash equivalents, receivables, inventories, payables and other current assets and liabilities approximate fair value because of the short maturity of those instruments. The carrying amounts due under the revolving credit facility approximate fair value as the interest on outstanding borrowings is calculated at a spread over the London Interbank Offered Rate (LIBOR) or based on the prime rate, at the Company’sour election.

Nonfinancial Assets and Liabilities

The Company’sOur nonfinancial assets such as property, plant and equipment, inventories, and other intangible assets are not measured at fair value on a recurring basis; however they are subject to fair value adjustments in certain circumstances, such as when there is evidence that an impairment may exist. NaNNo impairments were recorded during 2020.2022.

U.New Accounting Standards

2.    Acquisitions

In February 2016, the FASB issued ASU No. 2016-062, “Leases” (ASU 2016-02) which supersedes ASC 840, “Leases2022

On November 4, 2021, we acquired Networks Electronic Company, LLC (NEco) for a purchase price of approximately $15.4 million, net of cash acquired. NEco, based in Chatsworth, California, provides miniature electro-explosive devices utilized in mission-critical defense and creates a new topic, ASC 842, “Leases.” Subsequent to the issuance of ASU 2016-02, ASC 842 was amended by various updates that amend and clarify the impact and implementation of the aforementioned update. Effective October 1, 2019, the Company adopted these updates using the optional transition method. These updates require lessees to recognize a lease liability and a lease asset for all leases, including operating leases, with a term greater than 12 months on its balance sheet. Upon initial application, the provisions of these updates are required to be applied using the modified retrospective method which requires retrospective adoption to each prior reporting period presented with the cumulative effect of adoption recorded to the earliest reporting period presented. An optional transition method can be utilized which requires retrospective adoption beginning onaerospace applications. Since the date of adoptionacquisition, the operating results for the NEco business have been included as part of PTI in the A&D segment. The acquisition date fair value of the assets acquired and liabilities assumed primarily were as follows: approximately $0.6 million of accounts receivable, $1.5 million of inventory, $0.2 million of property, plant and equipment, $0.7 million of accounts payable and accrued expenses, $8.1 million of identifiable intangible assets, mainly consisting of customer relationships totaling $6.3 million. The acquired goodwill of $5.7 million related to excess value associated with opportunities to expand the cumulative effectservices and products that the Company can offer to its customers. We anticipate that the goodwill will be deductible for tax purposes.

2021

On August 9, 2021 we acquired the assets of initially applyingPhenix Technologies, Inc. (Phenix), for a purchase price of approximately $47.2 million in cash. Phenix, based in Accident, Maryland, is a leading designer and manufacturer of high voltage, high current, high power test systems and components and solutions supporting the electric utility industry, high voltage test laboratories, and field service organizations worldwide. Since the date of acquisition, the operating results for the Phenix business have been included as part of the USG segment. The acquisition date fair value of the assets acquired and liabilities assumed were as follows: approximately $2.6 million of accounts receivable, $5.8 million of inventory, $8.0 million of property, plant and equipment, $6.2 million of accounts payable and accrued expenses, $3.7 million for tradenames, $9.6 million of customer relationships and $0.5 million of miscellaneous items. The tradename was determined to have an indefinite useful life and the customer relationships were determined to have a useful life of 13 years. The acquired goodwill of $18.7 million relates to excess value associated with opportunities to expand the services and products that the Company can offer to its customers, with approximately $15 million of goodwill deductible for tax purposes. During the fourth quarter of 2022, the Company received $4.6 million upon finalization of the working capital adjustment.

On July 29, 2021 we acquired I.S.A. – Altanova Group S.r.l., (Altanova), headquartered in Taino, Italy, for a purchase price of approximately $115 million, net of cash acquired. Altanova is a supplier of diagnostic products, monitoring systems and services related to power generation, transmission and distribution networks, renewable energy and storage, and process industries to customers in more than 100 countries. Since the date of acquisition, the operating results for the Altanova business have been included as part of the USG segment. The acquisition date fair value of the assets acquired and liabilities assumed were as follows: $9.7 million of accounts receivable, $5.6 million of inventory, $1.2 million of property, plant and equipment, $9.0 million of other assets, $12.8 million of accounts payable and accrued expenses, $6.9 million of other liabilities, $16.7 million of deferred tax liabilities, $50.5 million of customer relationships and $4.3 million of tradenames. The tradename was determined to have a useful life of ten years and the customer relationships were determined to have a useful life of twenty years. The acquired goodwill of $71.1 million relates to the excess value associated with opportunities to expand the services and products that the Company can offer to its customers, access to new markets, and synergies anticipated by combining Altanova with existing USG businesses. The goodwill is not deductible for tax purposes.

F-19

We accounted for these updates recognizedacquisitions using the purchase method of accounting, and accordingly, we allocated the respective purchase prices to the assets (including intangible assets) acquired and liabilities assumed based on estimated fair values at the date of initial adoption. The standard also provided several optional practical expedients for useacquisition. We have included the financial results from these acquisitions in transition. The Company elected to use whatour financial statements from the FASB has deemed the “packagedate of practical expedients,” which allowed the Company not to reassess previous conclusions regarding lease identification, lease classification and the accounting treatment for initial direct costs. These updates also expand the required quantitative and qualitative disclosures surrounding leases. The adoption resulted in the addition of “right of use” assets of approximately $20 million and lease liabilities of approximately acquisition.

$23 million in the Consolidated Balance Sheet, with no significant change to the Consolidated Statements of Operations or Cash Flows. Refer to Note 16 for further discussion.

2.3.      Technical Packaging Divestiture

OnIn December 31, 2019, pursuant to an Equity Purchase Agreement entered into on November 15, 2019, the Companywe completed the sale of itsour Technical Packaging business segment, consisting of the Company'sour wholly-owned subsidiaries Thermoform Engineered Quality LLC, Plastique Ltd. and Plastique sp. z o.o. (the "Technical“Technical Packaging Business"Business”), to Sonoco Plastics, Inc. and Sonoco Holdings, Inc. ("Buyers"(“Buyers”), 2two wholly-owned subsidiaries of Sonoco Products Company (NYSE:SON). The companies within this segment provide innovative solutions to the medical and commercial markets for thermoformed packages and specialty products using a wide variety of thin gauge plastics and pulp. Results of operations, financial position and cash flows for the Technical Packaging business are reflected as discontinued operations in the Consolidated Financial Statements and related notes for all periods presented.

Net sales and pretax (loss) from the Technical Packaging business were $16.5 million $86.9 million and $87.9 million in 2020, 2019 and 2018, respectively. Pretax (loss) earnings from the Technical Packaging business was $(0.3) million, $4.3 million and $6.9 millionrespectively, in 2020, 2019 and 2018, respectively. The Company2020. We received net proceeds from the sale of approximately $184 million and recorded a $76.5 million after-tax gain net earnings on the sale in 2020. The CompanyWe finalized thea contractual working capital adjustment and paid $0.2 million to the buyer during the third quarter of 2020.

F-18

The major classes of assets and liabilities of the Technical Packaging business included in the Consolidated Balance Sheet at September 30, 2019 are shown below (in millions).

    

September 30, 2019

Assets:

 

  

Accounts receivable, net

 

$

15.7

Contract assets, net

 

5.1

Inventories

 

3.9

Other current assets

 

0.6

Current assets

 

25.3

Property, plant & equipment, net

 

33.6

Intangible assets, net

 

11.4

Goodwill

 

19.0

Other assets

 

3.4

Total assets

 

$

92.7

Liabilities:

 

Accounts payable

 

$

7.6

Accrued expenses and other current liabilities

 

3.9

Current liabilities

 

11.5

Other liabilities

 

4.0

Total liabilities

 

$

15.5

3.Acquisitions

2019

On July 2, 2019 the Company acquired Globe Composite Solutions, LLC, for a purchase price of approximately $95 million, net of cash acquired. Globe, based in Stoughton, Massachusetts, is a well-established, vertically integrated supplier of mission-critical composite-based products and solutions for navy, defense, and industrial customers, Globe has annualized sales of approximately $37 million. Since the date of acquisition, the operating results for Globe have been included in the Company’s Aerospace & Defense segment. Based on the purchase price allocation, the Company recorded approximately $3.5 million of accounts receivable, $3.5 million of inventory, $6.3 million of property, plant and equipment, $10.5 million of accounts payable, accrued expenses and advance payments, $28.5 million of goodwill, $3.7 million of tradenames and $59.7 million of amortizable intangible assets consisting mainly of $56.7 million of customer relationships with a weighted average life of 20 years and $2.8 million of customer contract assets. The acquired goodwill relates to excess value associated with the opportunities to expand the services and markets that the Company can offer to its customers. The Company estimates approximately $25 million of the goodwill will be deductible for tax purposes.

2018

On March 14, 2018, the Company acquired the assets of Manta Test Systems Inc. (Manta), a North American utility solutions provider located in Mississauga, Ontario, Canada, for a purchase price of $9.5 million in cash. Since the date of acquisition, the operating results for Manta have been included as a product line of Doble within the Company’s USG segment. Based on the purchase price allocation, the Company recorded approximately $0.4 million of accounts receivable, $1.1 million of inventory, $0.2 million of property, plant and equipment, $0.4 million of accounts payable and accrued expenses, $3.5 million of goodwill, $1.2 million of tradenames and $3.5 million of amortizable intangible assets consisting of customer relationships with a weighted average life of 13 years.

All of the Company’s acquisitions have been accounted for using the purchase method of accounting, and accordingly, the respective purchase prices were allocated to the assets (including intangible assets) acquired and liabilities assumed based on estimated fair values at the date of acquisition. The financial results from these acquisitions have been included in the Company’s financial statements from the date of acquisition.

The goodwill recorded for the Globe acquisition mentioned above is deductible for U.S. Federal and state income tax purposes. The goodwill recorded for the Manta acquisition is deductible for Canadian income tax purposes.

F-19

4.      Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets

Included on the Company’s Consolidated Balance Sheets at September 30, 20202022 and 20192021 are the following intangible assets gross carrying amounts and accumulated amortization:

(Dollars in thousands)

    

2020

    

2019

    

2022

    

2021

Goodwill

$

408,063

    

390,256

$

492,709

504,853

 

 

Intangible assets with determinable lives:

 

 

Patents

 

 

Gross carrying amount

$

2,092

1,945

$

2,353

2,131

Less: accumulated amortization

 

858

748

 

1,091

972

Net

$

1,234

1,197

$

1,262

1,159

 

 

Capitalized software

 

 

Gross carrying amount

$

84,888

78,962

$

106,583

93,671

Less: accumulated amortization

 

57,302

48,530

 

70,476

63,740

Net

$

27,586

30,432

$

36,107

29,931

 

 

Customer Relationships

 

 

Gross carrying amount

$

227,178

227,225

$

287,447

288,530

Less: accumulated amortization

 

67,643

55,326

 

96,921

80,882

Net

$

159,535

171,899

$

190,526

207,648

 

 

Other

 

 

Gross carrying amount

$

5,156

5,441

$

13,985

13,177

Less: accumulated amortization

 

3,260

2,645

 

7,440

4,398

Net

$

1,896

2,796

$

6,545

8,779

Intangible assets with indefinite lives:

 

 

Trade names

$

156,381

175,281

$

160,024

161,733

The CompanyWe performed itsour annual evaluation of goodwill and intangible assets for impairment during the fourth quarter of 20202022 and concluded 0that no impairment existed at September 30, 2020 and there are 02022. There were no accumulated impairment losses as of September 30, 2020.2022.

F-20

The changes in the carrying amount of goodwill attributable to each business segment for 20202022 and 20192021 are as follows:

Aerospace &

(Dollars in millions)

    

Defense

    

Test

    

USG

    

Total

    

A&D

    

Test

    

USG

    

Total

Balance as of September 30, 2018

73.7

 

34.1

 

254.1

 

361.9

Acquisition activity and other

 

28.5

 

0

 

(0.1)

 

28.4

Balance as of September 30, 2019

102.2

 

34.1

 

254.0

 

390.3

Out-of-period adjustment

0

18.0

18.0

Balance as of September 30, 2020

$

102.1

 

34.1

 

271.9

 

408.1

Acquisition activity

2.2

95.2

97.4

Foreign currency translation and other

(0.1)

0

(0.1)

(0.2)

(0.6)

(0.6)

Balance as of September 30, 2020

$

102.1

34.1

271.9

408.1

Balance as of September 30, 2021

$

104.3

34.1

366.5

504.9

Acquisition activity

5.7

(4.7)

1.0

Foreign currency translation and other

(0.1)

(13.1)

(13.2)

Balance as of September 30, 2022

$

110.0

34.0

348.7

492.7

As of September 30, 2020, the Company reclassified $18.0 million from Morgan Schaffer’s tradename to goodwill to correct a misclassification that originated in the original accounting for the acquisition in fiscal 2017. Management has determined that the effect of this misclassification was not material to the current or any prior periods and it had no impact on the Company’s total assets, results of operations or cash flows for any period.

Amortization expense related to intangible assets with determinable lives was $25.9 million, $20.8 million and $21.8 million $18.5 millionin 2022, 2021 and $17.3 million in 2020, 2019 and 2018, respectively. Patents are amortized over the life of the patents, generally 17ten to twenty years. Capitalized software is amortized over the estimated useful life of the software, generally three to seven years. Customer relationships are generally amortized over

F-20

fifteenthirteen to twenty years. Intangible asset amortization for fiscal years 20212023 through2025 2027 is estimated at $18.5 million in 2023, and approximately $21$17 million per year.in years 2024 through 2027.

5.      Accounts Receivable

Accounts receivable, net of the allowance for doubtful accounts, from continuing operations consistcredit losses, consisted of the following at September 30, 20202022 and 2019:2021:

(Dollars in thousands)

    

2020

    

2019

    

2022

    

2021

Commercial

$

121,924

 

137,553

$

151,565

 

128,952

U.S. Government and prime contractors

 

22,158

 

21,162

 

13,080

 

17,389

Total

$

144,082

 

158,715

$

164,645

 

146,341

6.      Inventories, Net

Inventories, net, from continuing operations consistconsisted of the following at September 30, 20202022 and 2019:2021:

(Dollars in thousands)

    

2020

    

2019

    

2022

    

2021

Finished goods

$

28,471

 

23,550

$

32,471

 

32,998

Work in process

 

30,183

 

26,407

 

38,492

 

34,201

Raw materials

 

77,535

 

74,999

 

91,440

 

79,949

Total

$

136,189

 

124,956

$

162,403

 

147,148

7.Related Parties

One of the Company’s directors is a former officer at a customer of the Company’s subsidiary Doble. Doble sells products, rents equipment and provides testing services to the customer in the ordinary course of Doble’s business. The total amount of these sales were approximately $2.8 million, $3.3 million and $2.1 million during fiscal 2020, 2019 and 2018, respectively. All transactions between Doble and the customer are intended to be and have been consistent with Doble’s normal commercial terms offered to its customers, and the Company’s Board of Directors has determined that the relationship between the Company and the customer is not material and did not impair either the Company’s or the director’s independence.

8.7.      Income Tax Expense

TotalWe allocated total income tax expense (benefit) for the years ended September 30, 2020, 20192022, 2021 and 2018 was allocated2020 to income tax expense as follows:

(Dollars in thousands)

    

2020

    

2019

    

2018

    

2022

    

2021

    

2020

Income tax expense (benefit) from continuing operations

$

14,278

 

20,388

 

(5,170)

Income tax expense from continuing operations

$

24,115

 

17,175

 

13,510

Income tax expense from discontinued operations

 

23,501

 

789

 

1,060

 

 

 

23,501

Total income tax expense (benefit)

$

37,779

 

21,177

 

(4,110)

$

24,115

 

17,175

 

37,011

The components of income from continuing operations before income taxes for 2020, 20192022, 2021 and 20182020 consisted of the following:

(Dollars in thousands)

    

2020

    

2019

    

2018

    

2022

    

2021

    

2020

United States

$

27,288

 

87,150

 

74,028

$

90,674

 

70,214

 

23,951

Foreign

 

12,455

 

10,727

 

7,063

 

15,761

 

10,457

 

12,455

Total income before income taxes

$

39,743

 

97,877

 

81,091

$

106,435

 

80,671

 

36,406

F-21

The principal components of income tax expense (benefit) from continuing operations for 2020, 20192022, 2021 and 20182020 consist of:

(Dollars in thousands)

    

2020

    

2019

    

2018

    

2022

    

2021

    

2020

Federal:

 

  

 

  

 

  

 

  

 

  

 

  

Current

$

10,982

 

13,888

 

7,663

$

7,248

 

14,807

 

10,495

Deferred

 

1,507

 

250

 

(22,329)

 

9,752

 

(1,598)

 

1,311

State and local:

 

 

 

 

 

 

Current

 

2,042

 

3,039

 

1,885

 

1,635

 

2,257

 

1,984

Deferred

 

(905)

 

98

 

2,899

 

1,774

 

(786)

 

(932)

Foreign:

 

 

 

 

 

 

Current

 

2,875

 

2,439

 

2,208

 

4,645

 

2,922

 

2,875

Deferred

 

(2,223)

 

674

 

2,504

 

(939)

 

(427)

 

(2,223)

Total

$

14,278

 

20,388

 

(5,170)

$

24,115

 

17,175

 

13,510

The actual income tax expense (benefit) from continuing operations for 2020, 20192022, 2021 and 20182020 differs from the expected tax expense for those years (computed by applying the U.S. Federal corporate statutory rate) as follows:

    

2020

    

2019

    

2018

 

    

2022

    

2021

    

2020

 

Federal corporate statutory rate

    

21.0

%  

21.0

%  

24.5

%

    

21.0

%  

21.0

%  

21.0

%

State and local, net of Federal benefits

2.3

 

3.2

 

2.9

2.9

 

1.9

 

2.3

Foreign

(1.1)

 

0.6

 

0.8

Research credit

(3.4)

 

(0.8)

 

(1.6)

Domestic production deduction

0

 

0

 

(1.1)

Change in uncertain tax positions

0

 

(0.1)

 

(0.1)

Impact of foreign operations

(0.3)

(0.4)

1.3

Federal research credit

(0.3)

(0.9)

(3.7)

Executive compensation

1.5

 

0.3

 

(0.1)

0.5

 

0.9

 

1.6

Valuation allowance

(6.3)

 

(2.4)

 

3.0

(0.3)

 

 

(6.8)

GILTI and FDII

0.4

(0.6)

0

Tax reform – impact on U.S. deferred tax assets and liabilities

0

 

(0.3)

 

(39.3)

Tax reform – transition tax

0

 

(0.1)

 

1.6

Tax reform – taxes related to foreign unremitted earnings

0

 

0

 

3.0

U.S. tax on GILTI

1.8

1.0

3.2

GILTI foreign tax credits

(1.5)

(0.6)

(2.7)

FDII deduction

(0.9)

(1.7)

(2.6)

Pension plan termination charge

21.4

0

0

23.4

Other, net

0.1

 

0

 

0

(0.2)

 

0.1

 

0.1

Effective income tax rate

35.9

%  

20.8

%  

(6.4)

%

22.7

%  

21.3

%  

37.1

%

F-22

The tax effects of temporary differences that give rise to significant portions of the deferred tax assets and liabilities at September 30, 20202022 and 20192021 are presented below:

(Dollars in thousands)

    

2020

    

2019

    

2022

    

2021

Deferred tax assets:

 

  

 

  

 

  

 

  

Inventories

$

4,998

 

4,800

$

4,990

 

4,267

Pension and other postretirement benefits

 

842

 

5,533

 

664

 

859

Timing differences related to revenue recognition

4,722

0

61

9,365

Lease liabilities

5,220

0

7,073

7,614

Net operating and capital loss carryforwards — domestic

 

563

 

602

 

575

 

542

Net operating loss carryforward — foreign

 

3,678

 

3,766

 

3,396

 

4,279

Other compensation-related costs and other cost accruals

 

8,953

 

7,764

 

9,032

 

8,174

State credit carryforward

 

2,366

 

1,914

 

1,676

 

2,639

Foreign credit carryforward

203

192

Total deferred tax assets

 

31,342

 

24,379

 

27,670

 

37,931

 

 

 

 

Deferred tax liabilities:

 

 

 

 

Timing differences related to revenue recognition

0

(1,805)

ROU assets

(5,220)

0

(7,073)

(7,614)

Goodwill

 

(7,878)

 

(1,450)

 

(11,691)

 

(13,746)

Acquisition assets

 

(52,682)

 

(58,547)

Acquisition intangible assets

 

(62,051)

 

(62,052)

Depreciation, software amortization

 

(21,283)

 

(18,288)

 

(24,503)

 

(22,418)

Net deferred tax liabilities before valuation allowance

 

(55,721)

 

(55,711)

 

(77,648)

 

(67,899)

Less valuation allowance

 

(1,932)

 

(4,504)

 

(1,208)

 

(2,011)

Net deferred tax liabilities

$

(57,653)

 

(60,215)

$

(78,856)

 

(69,910)

The Company hasWe had a foreign net operating loss (NOL) carryforward of $14.0$12.1 million at September 30, 2020,2022, which reflects tax loss carryforwards in Germany, South Africa, Canada, IndiaJapan and the United Kingdom. Approximately $13.8$10.4 million of the tax loss carryforwards have no expiration date while the remaining $0.2$1.7 million will expire between 20282031 and 2038. The Company has2041. We had net foreign credit carryforwards of $0.2 million, that will expire between 2041 and 2042.We had deferred tax assets related to state NOL carryforwards of $0.6 million at September 30, 20202022 which expire between 2025 and 2040. The Company2042. We also hashad net state research and other credit carryforwards of $2.4$1.7 million of which $1.7$0.9 million expires between 20232024 and 2035.2037. The remaining $0.7$0.8 million does not have an expiration date.

The valuation allowance for deferred tax assets as of September 30, 20202022 and 20192021 was $1.9$1.2 million and $4.5$2.0 million, respectively. The net change in the total valuation allowance for each of the years ended September 30, 20202022 and 20192021 was a decrease of $2.6$0.8 million and a decreasean increase of $2.6$0.1 million, respectively.The Company hasrespectively.We established a valuation allowance against state credit carryforwards of $0.6 million and $0.4 million at September 30, 2020 and 2019, respectively.2021. This balance was released as of September 30, 2022. In addition, the Company has establishedwe maintained a valuation allowance against state NOL carryforwards that are not expected to be realized in future periods of $0.5 million and $0.6 million at September 30 2020of both 2022 and 2019, respectively.2021. Lastly, the Company haswe established a valuation allowance against certain NOL carryforwards in foreign jurisdictions which may not be realized in future periods of $0.8$0.7 million and $3.6$0.9 million at September 30, 20202022 and 2019,2021, respectively.

On December 22, 2017, the U.S. government enacted the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, which made comprehensive changes to U.S. federal income tax laws by moving from a global to a modified territorial tax regime. As a result, cash repatriated to the U.S. is generally no longer subject to U.S. federal income tax. NaN provision is made for foreign withholding or any applicable U.S. income taxes on the undistributed earnings of non-U.S. subsidiaries where these earnings are considered indefinitely invested or otherwise retained for continuing international operations. Determination of the amount of taxes that might be paid on these undistributed earnings if eventually remitted is not practicable.

F-23

9.8.      Debt

Debt consists of the following at September 30, 20202022 and 2019:2021:

(Dollars in thousands)

    

2020

    

2019

    

2022

    

2021

Revolving credit facility, including current portion

$

62,368

 

285,000

Total borrowings

$

153,000

 

154,000

Current portion of long-term debt and short-term borrowings

 

(22,368)

 

(20,000)

 

(20,000)

 

(20,000)

Total long-term debt, less current portion

$

40,000

 

265,000

$

133,000

 

134,000

The Credit Facility includes a $500 million revolving line of credit as well as provisions allowing for an increase of the credit facility commitment amount by an additional $250 million, if necessary, with the consent of the lenders. The bank syndication supporting the facility is comprised of a diverse group of eight banks led by JP Morgan Chase Bank, N.A., as Administrative Agent. The Credit Facility matures September 27, 2024.2024, with balance due by this date.

F-23

Interest on borrowings under the Credit Facility is calculated at a spread over either the London Interbank Offered Rate (LIBOR), the New York Federal Reserve Bank Rate, or the prime rate, or the London Interbank Offered Rate (LIBOR), depending on various factors. The Credit Facility also requires a facility fee ranging from 10 to 25 basis points per annum on the unused portion. The interest rate spreads and the facility fee are subject to increase or decrease depending on the Company'sCompany’s leverage ratio.

The Credit Facility is secured by the unlimited guaranty of the Company'sour direct and indirect material U.S. subsidiaries and the pledge of 100% of the equity interests of itsour direct and indirect material foreign subsidiaries. The financial covenants of the Credit Facility include a leverage ratio and an interest coverage ratio. As of September 30, 2020, the Company was2022, we were in compliance with all covenants.

At September 30, 2020, the Company2022, we had approximately $430$339 million available to borrow under the Credit Facility, plus the $250 million increase option subject to the lenders’ consent, in addition to $52.6$97.7 million cash on hand. The CompanyWe classified $20 million as the current portion of long-term debt as of September 30, 2020,2022, as the Company intendswe intend to repay this amount within the next twelve months; however, the Company haswe have no contractual obligation to repay such amount during the next twelve months. In addition, the Company had $2.4 million of short-term borrowings at its foreign locations outstanding as of September 30, 2020.

During 20202022 and 2019, the2021, our maximum aggregate short-term borrowings at any month-end were $281$208 million and $308$174 million, respectively, and the average aggregate short-term borrowings and outstanding based on month-end balances were $175.6$189.8 million and $236.4$71.3 million, respectively. The weighted average interest rates were 3.20%, 3.21%2.11% and 3.03%1.20% for 2020, 20192022 and 2018,2021, respectively. As of September 30, 2020,2022, the interest rate on the Company'sour debt was 1.09%4.12%. The letters of credit issued and outstanding under the Credit Facility totaled $9.9$8.0 million and $8.2$8.5 million at September 30, 20202022 and 2019,2021, respectively.

10.9.      Capital Stock

The 30,645,62530,707,748 and 30,596,94030,666,173 common shares as presented in the accompanying Consolidated Balance Sheets at September 30, 20202022 and 20192021 represent the actual number of shares issued at the respective dates. The CompanyWe held 4,607,9114,854,997 and 4,615,6274,604,741 common shares in treasury at September 30, 20202022 and 2019,2021, respectively.

In August 2012, the Company’s2021, our Board of Directors authorizedapproved a new common stock repurchase program under which the Company mayauthorizing us to repurchase shares of itsour stock from time to time in itsManagement’s discretion, in the open market or otherwise, up to a maximum total repurchase amount of $100$200 million (or such lesserthe maximum amount as may be permitted under the Company’sour bank credit agreements)agreements, if less). This program has been repeatedly extended by the Company’s Board of Directors and is currently scheduled to expire September 30, 2021. There were 0 share repurchases2024. We repurchased approximately 257,500 shares under this program in 2020, 20192022 at an aggregate cost of $20.0 million. We did not repurchase any shares in 2021 or 2018. At September 30, 2020, approximately $50.4 million remained available for repurchases under the program.2020.

11.10.      Share-Based Compensation

The Company providesWe provide compensation benefits to certain key employees under several share-based plans providing for performance-accelerated and/or time-vested restricted sharestock unit (PARS) awards, and to non-employee directors under a separate compensation plan for non-employee directors compensation plan. The Company has 0 stock options currently outstanding.directors. As of September 30, 2020, the Company's2022, our equity compensation plans had a total of 782,412580,437 shares authorized and available for future issuance.

F-24

Performance-Accelerated Restricted Stock Unit (PARS) Awards, Time-Vested Restricted Stock Unit (RSU) Awards, and Performance Share Unit (PARS)(PSU) Awards

A PARS award represents the right to receive a specified number of shares of Company common stock if and when the award vests. A PARS award is not stock and does not give the recipient any rights as a shareholder until it vests and is paid out in shares of stock. PARS awards currently outstanding have a five-year vesting period, with accelerated vesting if certain targets based on market conditions are achieved. In these cases, if it is probable that the performance condition will be met, the Company recognizes compensation cost on a straight-line basis over the shorter performance period; otherwise, it will recognize compensation cost over the longer service period. Compensation cost for the outstanding PARS awards is being recognized over the shorter performance period, as it is probable the performance condition will be met. The PARS award grants were valued at the stock price on the date of grant.

The terms of the RSU awards are similar to those of the PARS awards, but without any provision for acceleration of the vesting date. Each RSU represents the right to receive one share of Company common stock if the recipient remains continuously employed by the Company until the award vests, in this case 3 ½ years after the effective award date. The RSU award grants were valued at the stock price on the date of grant.

F-24

Beginning in fiscal year 2022, the Company granted PSU awards with a three-year vesting period, with each PSU representing the right to receive one share of Company common stock if certain performance targets are achieved. The targets are based on achieving certain EBITDA metrics and a Total Shareholder return (rTSR) metric over a three-year period.

Pretax compensation expense related to the PARSabove awards for continuing operations was $6.1 million, $5.6 million and $4.3 million $4.0 millionfor 2022, 2021 and $3.9 million for 2020, 2019 and 2018, respectively.

The following summary presents information regarding outstanding PARSshare-based compensation awards as of the specified dates, and changes during the specified periods:

FY 2020

FY 2019

FY 2018

FY 2022

FY 2021

FY 2020

    

    

Estimated

    

    

Estimated 

    

    

Estimated 

    

    

Estimated

    

    

Estimated 

    

    

Estimated 

Weighted

Weighted 

Weighted 

Weighted

Weighted 

Weighted 

Shares

Avg. Price

Shares

Avg. Price

Shares

Avg. Price

Shares

Avg. Price

Shares

Avg. Price

Shares

Avg. Price

Nonvested at October 1,

 

281,004

$

59.72

 

315,544

$

47.23

 

335,825

$

40.35

 

226,705

$

76.15

 

220,300

$

66.55

 

281,004

$

59.72

Granted

 

45,723

 

74.80

 

84,862

 

74.77

 

104,320

 

56.06

 

117,045

 

82.54

 

51,476

 

108.05

 

45,723

 

74.80

Vested

 

(89,822)

 

50.51

 

(113,402)

 

37.00

 

(121,301)

 

35.59

 

(75,327)

 

56.87

 

(35,753)

 

64.40

 

(89,822)

 

50.51

Cancelled

 

(16,605)

 

60.48

 

(6,000)

 

45.20

 

(3,300)

 

53.86

 

(3,056)

 

89.51

 

(9,318)

 

70.50

 

(16,605)

 

60.48

Nonvested at September 30,

 

220,300

$

66.55

 

281,004

$

59.72

 

315,544

$

47.23

 

265,367

$

84.29

 

226,705

$

76.15

 

220,300

$

66.55

Compensation Plan for Non-Employee Directors

Through the first quarter of 2018, the Company's Compensation Plan for Non-Employee Directors providedIn addition to an annual cash retainer, we provide each non-employee director a retainer of 900 common shares per quarter. Beginning in the second quarter of 2018, the quarterly retainer was replaced bywith an annual retainer of Company stockequity award having a grant date market value of $180,000. Non-employee director grants were valued at$180,000, based on the NYSE closing price of the Company’s stock on the date of grant and were issued fromgrant. For calendar years prior to 2021, the Company’s treasury stock.award consisted of actual shares of Company stock, but beginning in January 2021, the award has been in the form of Restricted Stock Units, each of which represents the right to receive one share of Company stock at the end of a one-year vesting period. At the end of the vesting period, each award will be converted into the right to receive the same number of actual shares of common stock, plus additional shares representing the value of the quarterly dividends which would have accrued on the underlying shares during the vesting period. Compensation expense related to the non-employee director grants was $1.2 million, $1.3 million $1.1 million and $1.1$1.3 million for 2022, 2021 and 2020, 2019 and 2018, respectively.

Total Share-Based Compensation

The total share-based compensation cost that has been recognized in results of operations and included within SG&A from continuing operations was $7.3 million, $6.9 million and $5.6 million $5.1 millionfor 2022, 2021 and $5.0 million for 2020, 2019 and 2018, respectively. The total income tax benefit recognized in results of operations for share-based compensation arrangements was $1.5 million, $1.4 million and $1.2 million $1.1 millionfor 2022, 2021 and $1.3 million for 2020, 2019 and 2018, respectively. As of September 30, 2020,2022, there was $8.2$11.2 million of total unrecognized compensation cost related to share-based compensation arrangements. That cost is expected to be recognized over a weighted-average period of 2.01.7 years.

12.11.      Retirement and Other Benefit Plans

Formerly, substantially all domestic employees were covered by a defined benefit pension plan (the Plan) maintained by the Company. The Plan was frozen in 2003 and no additional benefits have been accrued since that date. On November 14, 2019, the Company’sour Board of Directors approved a resolution to terminate the PlanCompany’s defined benefit pension plan (the Plan) effective as of February 29, 2020. In connection with the termination, the Companywe contributed $25.7 million of cash to the Plan during the fourth quarter of 2020, settled approximately $32.4 million of Plan liabilities during the fourth quarter of 2020 through lump-sum payments from existing plan assets to eligible participants who elected to receive them;them, and recorded approximately $40.6 million of charges associated with these settlements. During 2020, the Companywe settled approximately $69.1 million of Plan liabilities by entering into an agreement to purchase annuities from Massachusetts Mutual Life Insurance Company (MassMutual).a third-party insurance company. This agreement covered active and former employees and their beneficiaries, with MassMutualthe insurance company assuming the future annuity payments for these individuals.

F-25

Substantially all our domestic employees are covered by a defined contribution plan maintained by the Company. In addition, the Company offerswe offer unfunded post-retirement pre-Medicare health insurance benefits to a small number of eligible retirees and employees. The CompanyWe formerly provided unfunded post-retirement life insurance to qualifying retired employees who retired before 2005, but ceased providing this coverage on July 31, 2020. The Company currently provides unfunded Medicare supplement coverage to a small numberThere was no financial impact of retired employees, but will cease providing this coverage on December 31, 2020.

The Company used a measurement date of September 30 for its pension and other postretirement benefit plans. The Company had an accrued benefit liability of $0.2 million and $0.6 million at September 30, 2020 and 2019, respectively, related to its other postretirement benefit obligations. All other information related to its postretirement benefit plans is not considered material to the Company’s results of operations or financial condition.

The following tables provide a reconciliation of the changesplan in the pension plans and fair value of assets over the two-year period ended September 30, 2020, and a statement of the funded status as of September 30, 2020 and 2019:2022.

(Dollars in millions)

    

Reconciliation of benefit obligation

    

2020

    

2019

Net benefit obligation at beginning of year

$

100.1

 

89.8

Interest cost

 

3.0

 

3.7

Actuarial loss

 

6.9

 

11.3

Gross benefits paid

 

(4.8)

 

(4.7)

Settlements

 

(102.4)

 

0

Net benefit obligation at end of year

$

2.8

 

100.1

(Dollars in millions)

    

    

    

    

Reconciliation of fair value of plan assets

2020

2019

Fair value of plan assets at beginning of year

$

77.2

 

73.3

Actual return on plan assets

 

3.6

 

5.9

Employer contributions

 

26.4

 

2.7

Gross benefits paid

 

(4.8)

 

(4.7)

Settlements

 

(102.4)

 

0

Fair value of plan assets at end of year

$

0

 

77.2

(Dollars in millions)

    

    

    

    

Funded Status

2020

2019

Funded status at end of year

$

(2.8)

 

(22.9)

Accrued benefit cost

 

(2.8)

 

(22.9)

Amounts recognized in the Balance Sheet consist of:

 

 

Current liability

 

(0.3)

 

(0.2)

Noncurrent liability

 

(2.5)

 

(22.7)

Accumulated other comprehensive loss (before tax effect)

 

0.7

 

49.6

Amounts recognized in accumulated other comprehensive loss consist of:

 

 

Net actuarial loss

 

0.7

 

49.6

Accumulated other comprehensive loss (before tax effect)

$

0.7

 

49.6

F-26F-25

The following table provides the components of net periodic benefit cost for the plans for 2020, 2019 and 2018:

(Dollars in millions)

    

2020

    

2019

    

2018

Service cost

$

0

 

0

 

0

Interest cost

 

3.0

 

3.7

 

3.4

Expected return on plan assets

 

(4.2)

 

(4.4)

 

(3.8)

Settlements

53.6

0

0

Net actuarial loss

 

2.8

 

2.1

 

2.3

Net periodic benefit cost

 

55.2

 

1.4

 

1.9

Defined contribution plans

 

7.4

 

6.8

 

6.6

Total

$

62.6

 

8.2

 

8.5

The discount rate used in measuring the Company’s pension obligations was developed by matching yields of actual high-quality corporate bonds to expected future pension plan cash flows (benefit payments). Over 400 Aa-rated, non-callable bonds with a wide range of maturities were used in the analysis. After using the bond yields to determine the present value of the plan cash flows, a single representative rate that resulted in the same present value was developed. The expected long-term rate of return on plan assets assumption was determined by reviewing the actual investment return of the plans since inception and evaluating those returns in relation to expectations of various investment organizations to determine whether long-term future returns are expected to differ significantly from the past.

Expected Cash Flows

Information about the expected cash flows for the other postretirement benefit plans follows:

    

Other

(Dollars in millions)

Benefits

Expected Benefit Payments:

 

  

2021

$

0.2

2022

 

0.2

2023

 

0.3

2024

 

0.2

2025

0.2

2026‑2030

$

0.9

13.Derivative Financial Instruments

Market risks relating to the Company’s operations result primarily from changes in interest rates and changes in foreign currency exchange rates. The Company is exposed to market risk related to changes in interest rates and selectively uses derivative financial instruments, including forward contracts and swaps, to manage these risks. In 2018, the Company entered into 3 interest rate swaps with a notional amount of $150 million to hedge its exposure to variability in future LIBOR-based interest payments on variable rate debt. The interest rate swaps entered into during 2018 were not designated as cash flow hedges and therefore the gain or loss on the derivative is reflected in earnings each period. The final interest rate swap was settled during September 2020; therefore there are no outstanding interest rate swaps as of September 30, 2020.

The Company’s Canadian subsidiary Morgan Schaffer enters into foreign exchange contracts to manage foreign currency risk as a portion of their revenue is denominated in U.S. dollars. The Company expects hedging gains or losses to be essentially offset by losses or gains on the related underlying exposures. The amounts ultimately recognized may differ for open positions, which remain subject to ongoing market price fluctuations until settlement. All derivative instruments are reported in either accrued expenses or other assets on the balance sheet at fair value. For derivative instruments designated as cash flow hedges, the gain or loss on the derivative is deferred in accumulated other comprehensive income until recognized in earnings with the underlying hedged item.

F-27

The following is a summary of the notional transaction amounts and fair values for the Company’s outstanding derivative financial instruments as of September 30, 2020.

Notional Amount

Fair Value

(In thousands)

    

(Currency)

    

(US$)

 

Forward contracts

 

4,250

USD  

(6)

Fair Value of Financial Instruments

The Company’s forward contracts are classified within Level 2 of the valuation hierarchy in accordance with ASC 825, as presented below as of September 30, 2020:

(In thousands)

    

Level 1

    

Level 2

    

Level 3

    

Total

Asset:

Forward contracts

$

0

 

(6)

 

0

 

(6)

Valuation was based on third party evidence of similarly priced derivative instruments. There are no master netting arrangements with financial parties.

14.12.      Business Segment Information

The Company isWe are organized based on the products and services it offerswe offer, and classifies itswe classify our continuing business operations in 3three reportable segments for financial reporting purposes: Aerospace & Defense (formerly called Filtration/Fluid Flow)(A&D), Utility Solutions Group (USG) and RF Shielding and Test (Test). In addition, for reporting certain financial information we treat Corporate activities as a separate segment. The former Technical Packaging segment was divested in December 2019 and has beenis reflected as discontinued operations for 2020.

The Aerospace & DefenseA&D segment’s operations consist of PTI Technologies Inc. (PTI), VACCO Industries (VACCO), Crissair, Inc. (Crissair), Mayday Manufacturing Co. (Mayday), Hi-Tech Metals, Inc. (Hi-Tech), Westland Technologies, Inc. (Westland), and Globe Composite Solutions, LLC (Globe) and Networks Electronic Company, LLC (NEco).The companies within this segment primarily design and manufacture specialty filtration, fluid control and naval products, including hydraulic filter elements and fluid control devices used in aerospace and defense applications, unique filter mechanisms used in micro-propulsion devices for satellites, and custom designed filters for manned aircraft and submarines, products and systems to reduce vibration and/or acoustic signatures and otherwise reduce or obscure a vessel’s signature, and other communications, sealing, surface control and hydrodynamic related applications to enhance U.S. Navy maritime survivability; precision-tolerance machined components for the aerospace and defense industry; and metal processing services.services; and miniature electro-explosive devices utilized in mission-critical defense and aerospace applications.

The USG segment’s operations consist of Doble Engineering Company and related subsidiaries including Morgan Schaffer and Altanova (collectively, Doble), and NRG Systems, Inc. (NRG). Doble is an industry leader in the development, manufacture and delivery of diagnostic testing and data management solutions that enable electric power grid operators to assess the integrity of high-voltage power delivery equipment. It combines three core elements for customers – diagnostic test and condition monitoring instruments, expert consulting, and testing services – and provides access to its large reserve of related empirical knowledge. NRG designsis a global market leader in the design and manufacturesmanufacture of decision support tools for the renewable energy industry, primarily wind and solar. The recent acquisition of Altanova not only complements our existing products and services but its strong market share in Europe and Asia provides a significant international platform for our USG segment.

The Test segment'ssegment’s operations consist of ETS-Lindgren Inc. and related subsidiaries (ETS-Lindgren). ETS-Lindgren is an industry leader in providingdesigning and manufacturing products which provide its customers with the ability to identify, measure and contain magnetic, electromagnetic and acoustic energy. It supplies its customers with a broad range of isolated environments and turnkey systems, including RF test facilities, acoustic test enclosures, RF and magnetically shielded rooms, secure communication facilities, RF measurement systems and broadcast and recording studios. Many of these facilities include proprietary features such as shielded doors and windows. ETS-Lindgren also manufactures radio frequency shielding productsprovides the design, program management, installation and integration services required to successfully complete these types of facilities. ETS-Lindgren also supplies customers with a broad range of components used by manufacturersincluding RF absorptive materials, RF filters, active compensation systems, antennas, antenna masts, turntables and electric and magnetic probes, RF test cells, proprietary measurement software and other test accessories required to perform a variety of tests. ETS-Lindgren offers a variety of services including calibration for antennas and field probes, chamber certification, field surveys, customer training and a variety of product tests. ETS-Lindgren serves the acoustics, medical, equipment,health and safety, electronics, wireless communications, systems, electronic products,automotive and shielded rooms for high-security data processing and secure communication.defense markets.

Accounting policies of the segments are the same as those described in the summary of significant accounting policies in Note 1 to the Consolidated Financial Statements. The operating units within each reporting segment have been aggregated because of similar economic characteristics and meet the other aggregation criteria of FASB ASC 280.

The Company evaluates the performance of its operating units based on EBIT, which is defined as earnings before interest and taxes. EBIT on a consolidated basis is a non-GAAP financial measure; see “Non-GAAP Financial Measures” in Item 7, “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations.” Intersegment sales and transfers are not significant. Segment assets consist primarily of customer receivables, inventories, capitalized software and fixed assets directly associated with

F-28F-26

We evaluate the performance of our operating units based on EBIT, which is defined as earnings before interest and taxes. EBIT on a consolidated basis is a non-GAAP financial measure. Intersegment sales and transfers are not significant. Segment assets consist primarily of customer receivables, inventories, capitalized software and fixed assets directly associated with the production processes of the segment. Segment depreciation and amortization is based upon the direct assets listed above. The tables below are presented on the basis of continuing operations and exclude discontinued operations.

Net Sales

(Dollars in millions)

Year ended September 30,

    

2020

    

2019

    

2018

    

2022

    

2021

    

2020

Aerospace & Defense

$

354.3

 

325.7

 

286.8

A&D

$

351.4

 

314.8

 

351.9

USG

191.7

211.9

214.0

278.4

202.9

191.7

Test

 

186.9

 

188.4

 

182.9

 

227.7

 

197.7

 

186.9

Consolidated totals

$

732.9

 

726.0

 

683.7

$

857.5

 

715.4

 

730.5

NaNNo customer exceeded 10% of consolidated sales in 20202022 or 2021 and 0one customer exceeded 10% of consolidated sales in 2019.2020.

EBIT

(Dollars in millions)

Year ended September 30,

    

2020

    

2019

    

2018

    

2022

    

2021

    

2020

Aerospace & Defense

$

73.2

 

70.1

 

58.7

A&D

$

68.4

 

56.5

 

69.9

USG

24.4

52.2

43.2

57.6

40.9

24.4

Test

 

27.2

 

25.6

 

23.8

 

32.6

 

27.6

 

27.2

Reconciliation to consolidated totals (Corporate)

 

(78.3)

 

(41.9)

 

(35.8)

 

(47.3)

 

(42.1)

 

(78.4)

Consolidated EBIT

 

46.5

 

106.0

 

89.9

 

111.3

 

82.9

 

43.1

Less: interest expense

 

(6.7)

 

(8.1)

 

(8.8)

 

(4.9)

 

(2.2)

 

(6.7)

Earnings before income tax

$

39.8

 

97.9

 

81.1

$

106.4

 

80.7

 

36.4

Identifiable Assets

(Dollars in millions)

Year ended September 30,

    

2020

    

2019

    

2022

    

2021

Aerospace & Defense

$

279.5

 

260.3

A&D

$

295.2

 

270.0

USG

144.8

146.3

220.0

197.5

Test

 

153.0

 

154.2

 

174.6

 

153.6

Corporate – goodwill

 

408.1

 

390.3

Corporate – other assets

 

388.1

 

422.9

Assets from discontinued operations

92.7

Corporate

 

964.7

 

956.2

Consolidated totals

$

1,373.5

 

1,466.7

$

1,654.5

 

1,577.3

Corporate other assets consistconsists primarily of deferred taxes, acquired intangible assets including goodwill and cash balances.

Capital Expenditures

(Dollars in millions)

Year ended September 30,

    

2020

    

2019

    

2018

    

2022

    

2021

    

2020

Aerospace & Defense

$

15.9

 

11.7

 

7.0

A&D

$

9.4

 

10.4

 

15.9

USG

12.4

8.5

5.2

14.4

11.6

12.4

Test

 

3.6

 

4.0

 

3.0

 

8.3

 

4.7

 

3.6

Corporate

 

0.2

 

0

 

0

 

 

 

0.2

Consolidated totals

$

32.1

 

24.2

 

15.2

$

32.1

 

26.7

 

32.1

In addition to the above amounts, the Companywe incurred expenditures for capitalized software of $12.9 million, $8.8 million and $9.0 million $8.4 millionin 2022, 2021 and $9.5 million in 2020, 2019 and 2018, respectively.

F-29F-27

Depreciation and Amortization

(Dollars in millions)

Year ended September 30,

    

2020

    

2019

    

2018

    

2022

    

2021

    

2020

Aerospace & Defense

$

9.4

 

8.3

 

7.6

A&D

$

11.1

 

10.4

 

9.4

USG

14.4

11.3

11.0

12.6

13.5

14.4

Test

 

5.0

 

5.1

 

4.5

 

5.4

 

5.2

 

5.0

Corporate

 

12.5

 

11.3

 

10.6

 

19.2

 

12.9

 

12.5

Consolidated totals

$

41.3

 

36.0

 

33.7

$

48.3

 

42.0

 

41.3

Depreciation expense of property, plant and equipment was $22.4 million, $21.2 million and $19.5 million $16.5 millionfor 2022, 2021 and $15.4 million for 2020, 2019 and 2018, respectively.

Geographic Information

Net Sales

(Dollars in millions)

Year ended September 30,

    

2020

    

2019

    

2018

    

2022

    

2021

    

2020

United States

$

531.9

 

537.2

 

495.8

$

603.2

 

517.0

 

529.4

Asia

 

96.3

 

86.2

 

92.6

 

122.4

 

92.3

 

96.3

Europe

 

51.3

 

45.0

 

41.3

 

72.4

 

53.5

 

51.3

Canada

 

31.7

 

33.0

 

30.2

 

31.2

 

27.0

 

31.7

India

 

10.3

 

11.7

 

9.4

 

10.3

 

12.4

 

10.3

Other

 

11.4

 

12.9

 

14.4

 

18.0

 

13.2

 

11.5

Consolidated totals

$

732.9

 

726.0

 

683.7

$

857.5

 

715.4

 

730.5

Long-Lived Assets

(Dollars in millions)

Year ended September 30,

    

2020

    

2019

    

2022

    

2021

United States

$

131.5

 

120.7

$

141.5

 

141.0

Mexico

 

3.1

 

1.8

 

5.8

 

3.8

Other

 

5.3

 

5.3

 

8.7

 

9.5

Consolidated totals

$

139.9

 

127.8

$

156.0

 

154.3

NetWe attribute net sales are attributed to countries based on the location of the customer. Long-livedWe attribute long-lived assets are attributed to countries based on the location of the asset.

15.13.      Commitments and Contingencies

At September 30, 2020, the Company2022, we had $9.9$8.0 million in letters of credit outstanding as guarantees of contract performance.performance and cash amounts that exceeded federally insured amounts. As a normal incident of the businesses in which the Company iswe are engaged, various claims, charges and litigation are asserted or commenced from time to time against the Company.us. Additionally, the Company iswe are currently involved in various stages of investigation and remediation relating to environmental matters. It is the opinion of Management that the aggregate costs involved in the resolution of these matters, and final judgments, if any, which might be rendered against the Companyus are adequately accrued, are covered by insurance or are not likely to have a material adverse effect on our financial results as the Company’s results from continuing operations, capital expenditures or competitive position.estimated exposure to loss is not material.

16.14.      Leases

As described in Note 3, effectiveEffective October 1, 2019 the Companywe adopted ASC 842, Leases. The Company determinesWe determine at lease inception whether an arrangement that provides control over the use of an asset is a lease. The Company recognizesWe recognize at lease commencement a right-of-use (ROU) asset and lease liability based on the present value of the future lease payments over the lease term. The Company hasterm (including anticipated renewals). We have elected not to recognize a ROU asset and lease liability for leases with terms of 12 months or less. Certain of our leases include options to extend the term of the lease for up to 20 years. When it is reasonably certain that we will exercise the option, Management includes the impact of

F-30F-28

the Company’s leases include options to extend the term of the lease for up to 20 years. When it is reasonably certain that the Company will exercise the option, Management includes the impact of the option in the lease term for purposes of determining total future lease payments. As most of the Company’sour lease agreements do not explicitly state the discount rate implicit in the lease, Management uses the Company’sour incremental borrowing rate on the commencement date to calculate the present value of future payments based on the tenor of each arrangement.

The Company’sOur leases for real estate commonly include escalating payments. TheseWe include these variable lease payments are included in the calculation of theour ROU asset and lease liability. In addition to the present value of the future lease payments, the calculation of the ROU asset also includes any deferred rent, lease pre-payments and initial direct costs of obtaining the lease.

In addition to the base rent, real estate leases typically contain provisions for common-area maintenance and other similar services, which are considered non-lease components for accounting purposes. Non-lease components are excluded from our ROU assets and lease liabilities and expensed as incurred.

The Company’sOur leases are for office space, manufacturing facilities, and machinery and equipment.

The components of lease costs are shown below:

Year Ended 

 

Year Ended 

    

Year Ended 

September 30, 

September 30, 

(Dollars in thousands)

 September 30, 2020

    

2022

    

2021

Finance lease cost:

 

  

 

  

Amortization of right-of-use assets

$

2,056

Amortization

$

1,572

2,413

Interest on lease liabilities

 

971

 

973

1,235

Operating lease cost

 

5,284

 

6,347

5,879

Total lease cost

$

8,311

$

8,892

9,527

Additional information related to leases is shown below:

    

    

Year Ended

    

September 30,

(Dollars in thousands)

2020

Cash paid for amounts included in the measurement of lease liabilities:

 

  

 

Operating cash flows from operating leases

$

5,223

 

Operating cash flows from finance leases

 

971

 

Financing cash flows from finance leases

 

1,547

 

Right-of-use assets obtained in exchange for operating lease liabilities

$

26,244

 

Weighted-average remaining lease term:

 

  

 

Operating leases

 

6.00

years

Finance leases

 

12.53

years

Weighted-average discount rate:

 

  

 

Operating leases

 

3.09

%  

Finance leases

 

4.30

%  

F-31F-29

Additional information related to leases is shown below:

    

Year Ended

    

Year Ended

    

September 30, 

September 30, 

(Dollars in thousands)

2022

2021

Cash paid for amounts included in the measurement of lease liabilities:

 

  

 

Operating cash flows from operating leases

$

6,101

5,504

 

Operating cash flows from finance leases

973

1,228

 

Financing cash flows from finance leases

1,224

1,757

 

Right-of-use assets obtained in exchange for operating lease liabilities

$

4,160

15,609

 

Weighted-average remaining lease term:

 

 

Operating leases

9.3

yrs

 

10.3

yrs

Finance leases

12.0

yrs

 

11.7

yrs

Weighted-average discount rate:

 

 

Operating leases

3.2

%  

 

3.1

%  

Finance leases

4.6

%  

 

4.2

%  

The followingtable below is a reconciliation of future undiscounted cash flows to the operating and finance lease liabilities, and the related ROU assets, presented on our Consolidated Balance Sheet on September 30, 2020:2022:

(Dollars in thousands)

Operating

Finance

Operating

Finance

Years Ending September 30:

    

Leases

    

Leases

    

    

Leases

    

Leases

2021

$

5,614

2,930

2022

 

4,985

3,011

2023

 

3,984

3,094

$

5,953

2,256

2024

 

2,438

3,177

 

5,132

2,315

2025 and thereafter

 

6,984

28,323

2025

 

3,790

2,370

2026

 

2,881

2,434

2027 and thereafter

 

17,029

18,997

Total minimum lease payments

24,005

40,535

34,785

28,372

Less: amounts representing interest

 

2,211

10,270

 

4,760

7,189

Present value of net minimum lease payments

$

21,794

30,265

$

30,025

21,183

Less: current portion of lease obligations

 

5,009

1,937

 

5,172

1,331

Non-current portion of lease obligations

16,785

28,328

24,853

19,852

ROU assets

$

21,390

26,164

$

29,150

17,343

OperatingThe table below is a reconciliation of future undiscounted cash flows to the operating and finance lease liabilities, and the related ROU assets, presented on our Consolidated Balance Sheet on September 30, 2021:

(Dollars in thousands)

    

Operating

    

Finance

Years Ending September 30:

Leases

Leases

2022

$

5,448

 

3,153

2023

 

4,679

 

3,235

2024

 

4,032

 

3,319

2025

 

3,654

 

3,399

2026 and thereafter

 

20,453

 

25,516

Total minimum lease payments

38,266

 

38,622

Less: amounts representing interest

 

5,691

 

9,092

Present value of net minimum lease payments

$

32,575

 

29,530

Less: current portion of lease obligations

 

4,543

 

2,180

Non-current portion of lease obligations

 

28,032

 

27,350

ROU assets

$

31,846

24,964

are included

F-30

We include operating and finance lease liabilities in the Consolidated Balance Sheet in accrued other expenses (current portion) and other liabilities (long-term portion). OperatingWe include operating lease ROU assets are included as a caption on the Consolidated Balance Sheet and include finance lease ROU assets are included in Property, plant and equipment on the Consolidated Balance sheets.Sheet.

As the Company has not restated prior-year information for the adoption of ASC 842, the following presents the Company's future minimum lease payments for operating and capital leases under ASC 840 for continuing operations as of September 30, 2019:

(Dollars in thousands)

    

Operating

    

Finance

Years Ending September 30:

Leases

Leases

2020

$

5,574

 

2,518

2021

 

4,558

 

2,930

2022

 

3,950

 

3,012

2023

 

3,270

 

3,094

2024 and thereafter

 

8,443

 

31,499

Total minimum lease payments

$

25,795

 

43,053

Less: amounts representing interest

 

*

 

11,241

Present value of net minimum lease payments

 

*

 

31,812

Less: Current portion of lease obligations

 

*

 

1,832

Non-current portion of lease obligations

 

*

 

29,980

*    Not applicable for operating leases

F-32

17.15.     Revenues

(a)Disaggregation of Revenues

OurThe tables below present our revenues by customer type, geographic location, and revenue recognition method for the yearyears ended September 30, 2020 are presented in the table below2022 and 2021, as the Company deems itwe believe this presentation best depicts how the nature, amount, timing and uncertainty of net sales and cash flows are affected by economic factors. The table belowtables also includesinclude a reconciliation of the disaggregated revenue within our reportable segments.

Year Ended September 30, 2020

Aerospace

    

    

    

Year Ended September 30, 2022

(In thousands)

    

& Defense

    

USG

    

Test

    

Total

    

A&D

    

USG

    

Test

    

Total

Customer type:

 

  

 

  

 

  

 

  

 

Commercial

$

169,484

$

184,906

$

158,420

$

512,810

$

144,305

 

272,432

 

209,016

 

625,753

Government

 

184,836

 

6,797

 

28,472

 

220,105

207,108

5,935

18,706

231,749

Total revenues

$

354,320

$

191,703

$

186,892

$

732,915

$

351,413

278,367

227,722

857,502

 

 

 

 

Geographic location:

 

 

 

 

  

United States

$

305,155

$

134,601

$

92,105

$

531,861

$

299,158

 

180,586

 

123,428

 

603,172

International

 

49,165

 

57,102

 

94,787

 

201,054

52,255

97,781

104,294

254,330

Total revenues

$

354,320

$

191,703

$

186,892

$

732,915

$

351,413

278,367

227,722

857,502

 

 

 

 

Revenue recognition method:

 

 

 

 

  

Point in time

$

160,402

$

144,192

$

33,482

$

338,076

$

144,039

 

224,502

 

58,522

 

427,063

Over time

 

193,918

 

47,511

 

153,410

 

394,839

207,374

53,865

169,200

430,439

Total revenues

$

354,320

$

191,703

$

186,892

$

732,915

$

351,413

278,367

227,722

857,502

Year Ended September 30, 2021

(In thousands)

    

A&D

    

USG

    

Test

    

Total

Customer type:

 

  

 

  

 

  

 

  

Commercial

$

130,217

199,111

177,601

506,929

Government

 

184,607

 

3,797

 

20,107

 

208,511

Total revenues

$

314,824

202,908

197,708

715,440

Geographic location:

 

 

 

 

United States

$

275,976

140,545

100,438

516,959

International

 

38,848

 

62,363

 

97,270

 

198,481

Total revenues

$

314,824

202,908

197,708

715,440

Revenue recognition method:

 

 

 

 

Point in time

$

136,449

153,163

40,609

330,221

Over time

 

178,375

 

49,745

 

157,099

 

385,219

Total revenues

$

314,824

202,908

197,708

715,440

F-31

(b)Remaining Performance Obligations

Our remaining performance obligations, which is the equivalent of our backlog, represent the expected transaction price allocated to our contracts that we expect to recognize as revenue in future periods when we perform under the contracts. These remaining obligations include amounts that have been formally appropriated under contracts with the U.S. Government, and exclude unexercised contract options and potential orders under ordering-type contracts such as Indefinite Delivery, Indefinite Quantity contracts. At September 30, 2020,2022, we had $517.4$695.0 million in remaining performance obligations of which we expect to recognize revenues of 73%approximately 80% in the next twelve months.

(c)Contract assets and contract liabilities

AssetsWe report assets and liabilities related to our contracts with customers are reported on a contract-by-contract basis at the end of each reporting period. At September 30, 2020,2022, our contract assets and contract liabilities totaled $96.7$125.2 million and $100.6$137.6 million, respectively. Upon adoption of ASC 606 on October 1, 2018,At September 30, 2021, our contract assets and contract liabilities related to our contracts with customers were $87totaled $93.8 million and $51$108.8 million, respectively. During 2020,2022, we recognized approximately $54$83.8 million in revenues that were included in the contract liabilities balance at the adoption date.September 30, 2021.

F-33F-32

18.Quarterly Financial Information (Unaudited)

First

Second

Third

Fourth

(Dollars in thousands, except per share amounts)

    

Quarter

    

Quarter

    

Quarter

    

Quarter

2020

 

  

 

  

 

  

 

  

Net sales

$

171,728

 

180,492

 

172,665

 

208,030

Net earnings (loss) from continuing operations

10,764

17,822

18,687

(21,808)

Net earnings from discontinued operations

76,013

502

Net earnings (loss)

 

86,777

 

17,822

 

18,687

 

(21,306)

Basic earnings per share:

 

 

 

 

Net earnings (loss) from continuing operations

$

0.41

 

0.69

 

0.72

 

(0.84)

Net earnings from discontinued operations

2.93

0.02

Net earnings (loss)

 

3.34

 

0.69

 

0.72

 

(0.82)

Diluted earnings per share:

Net earnings (loss) from continuing operations

$

0.41

0.68

0.72

(0.83)

Net earnings from discontinued operations

2.91

0.02

Net earnings (loss)

$

3.32

0.68

0.72

(0.81)

Dividends declared per common share

$

0.08

 

0.08

 

0.08

 

0.08

Common stock price per share:

 

 

 

 

High

$

93.21

 

107.10

 

94.24

 

95.60

Low

 

74.16

 

62.64

 

68.09

 

78.30

2019

 

 

 

 

Net sales

$

163,365

 

171,243

 

178,259

 

213,177

Net earnings from continuing operations

17,350

17,822

19,045

23,272

Net (loss) earnings from discontinued operations

(33)

975

1,022

1,586

Net earnings

 

17,317

 

18,797

 

20,067

 

24,858

Basic earnings per share:

 

 

 

 

Net earnings from continuing operations

0.67

 

0.69

 

0.73

 

0.90

Net earnings from discontinued operations

0.04

0.04

0.06

Net earnings

$

0.67

 

0.73

 

0.77

 

0.96

Diluted earnings per share:

Net earnings from continuing operations

0.66

0.68

0.73

0.89

Net earnings from discontinued operations

0.04

0.04

0.06

Net earnings

$

0.66

0.72

0.77

0.95

Dividends declared per common share

$

0.08

 

0.08

 

0.08

 

0.08

Common stock price per share:

 

 

 

 

High

$

71.47

 

71.29

 

82.70

 

85.86

Low

 

59.00

 

62.91

 

67.43

 

73.04

See Note 2 for discussion of divestiture activity.

F-34

MANAGEMENT’S STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL RESPONSIBILITY

The Company’s Management is responsible for the fair presentation of the Company’s financial statements in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America, and for their integrity and accuracy. Management is confident that its financial and business processes provide accurate information on a timely basis.

Management, with the oversight of ESCO’s Board of Directors, has established and maintains a strong ethical climate in which the Company’s affairs are conducted. Management also has established an effective system of internal controls that provide reasonable assurance as to the integrity and accuracy of the financial statements, and responsibility for the Company’s assets. KPMGGrant Thornton LLP, the Company’s independent registered public accounting firm, reports directly to the Audit and Finance Committee of the Board of Directors. The Audit and Finance Committee has established policies consistent with corporate reform laws for auditor independence. In accordance with corporate governance listing requirements of the New York Stock Exchange:

A majority of Board members are independent of the Company and its Management.
All members of the key Board committees — the Audit and Finance, the Human Resources and Compensation and the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committees — are independent.
The independent members of the Board meet regularly without the presence of Management.
The Company has a clear code of ethics and a conflict of interest policy to ensure that key corporate decisions are made by individuals who do not have a financial interest in the outcome, separate from their interest as Company officials.
The charters of the Board committees clearly establish their respective roles and responsibilities.
The Company has a Corporate Ethics Committee, ethics officers at each operating location and an ombudsman hot line available to all domestic employees and all foreign employees have local ethics officers and access to the Company’s ombudsman.

The Company has a strong financial team, from its executive leadership to each of its individual contributors. Management monitors compliance with its financial policies and practices over critical areas including internal controls, financial accounting and reporting, accountability, and safeguarding of its corporate assets. The internal audit function maintains oversight over the key areas of the business and financial processes and controls, and reports directly to the Audit and Finance Committee. Additionally, all employees are required to adhere to the ESCO Code of Business Conduct and Ethics, which is monitored by the Corporate Ethics Committee.

Management is dedicated to ensuring that the standards of financial accounting and reporting that are established are maintained. The Company’s culture demands integrity and a commitment to strong internal practices and policies.

The Consolidated Financial Statements have been audited by Grant Thornton LLP and KPMG LLP, whose report isreports are included herein.

November 30, 202029, 2022

/s/Victor L. Richey

/s/Gary E. Muenster

Christopher L. Tucker

Victor L. Richey

Gary E. MuensterChristopher L. Tucker

Chairman, Chief Executive Officer

ExecutiveSenior Vice President

and President

and Chief Financial Officer

F-35F-33

MANAGEMENT’S REPORT ON INTERNAL CONTROL OVER FINANCIAL REPORTING

The Company’s Management is responsible for establishing and maintaining adequate internal control over financial reporting (as defined in Rule 13a-15(f) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934). Our internal control over financial reporting is designed to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles in the United States of America.

Because of its inherent limitations, any system of internal control over financial reporting, no matter how well designed, may not prevent or detect misstatements due to the possibility that a control can be circumvented or overridden or that misstatements due to error or fraud may occur that are not detected. Also, because of changes in conditions, internal control effectiveness may vary over time.

Management assessed the effectiveness of the Company’s internal control over financial reporting as of September 30, 2020, using criteria established in Internal Control – Integrated Framework (2013) issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission (COSO) and concluded that the Company maintained effective internal control over financial reporting as of September 30, 2020, based on these criteria.

Our internal control over financial reporting as of September 30, 2020, has been audited by KPMG LLP, an independent registered public accounting firm, as stated in its report which is included herein.

November 30, 2020

/s/Victor L. Richey

/s/Gary E. Muenster

Victor L. Richey

Gary E. Muenster

Chairman, Chief Executive Officer

Executive Vice President

and President

and Chief Financial Officer

F-36

REPORT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM

To the Shareholders and Board of Directors

ESCO Technologies Inc.:

Opinion on Internal Control Over Financial Reporting

We have audited ESCO Technologies Inc. and subsidiaries’ (the Company) internal control over financial reporting as of September 30, 2020, based on criteria established in Internal Control – Integrated Framework (2013) issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission. In our opinion, the Company maintained, in all material respects, effective internal control over financial reporting as of September 30, 2020, based on criteria established in Internal Control – Integrated Framework (2013) issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission.

We also have audited, in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States) (PCAOB), the consolidated balance sheets of the Company as of September 30, 2020 and 2019, the related consolidated statements of operations, comprehensive income, shareholders’ equity, and cash flows for each of the years in the three-year period ended September 30, 2020, and the related notes (collectively, the consolidated financial statements), and our report dated November 30, 2020 expressed an unqualified opinion on those consolidated financial statements.

Basis for Opinion

The Company’s management is responsible for maintaining effective internal control over financial reporting and for its assessment of the effectiveness of internal control over financial reporting, included in the accompanying Management’s Report on Internal Control over Financial Reporting. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on the Company’s internal control over financial reporting based on our audit. We 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 audit in accordance with the standards of the PCAOB. Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether effective internal control over financial reporting was maintained in all material respects. Our audit of internal control over financial reporting included obtaining an understanding of internal control over financial reporting, assessing the risk that a material weakness exists, and testing and evaluating the design and operating effectiveness of internal control based on the assessed risk. Our audit also included performing such other procedures as we considered necessary in the circumstances. We believe that our audit provides a reasonable basis for our opinion.

Definition and Limitations of Internal Control Over Financial Reporting

A company’s internal control over financial reporting is a process designed to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles. A company’s internal control over financial reporting includes those policies and procedures that (1) pertain to the maintenance of records that, in reasonable detail, accurately and fairly reflect the transactions and dispositions of the assets of the company; (2) provide reasonable assurance that transactions are recorded as necessary to permit preparation of financial statements in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles, and that receipts and expenditures of the company are being made only in accordance with authorizations of management and directors of the company; and (3) provide reasonable assurance regarding prevention or timely detection of unauthorized acquisition, use, or disposition of the company’s assets that could have a material effect on the financial statements.

Because of its inherent limitations, internal control over financial reporting may not prevent or detect misstatements. Also, projections of any evaluation of effectiveness to future periods are subject to the risk that controls may become inadequate because of changes in conditions, or that the degree of compliance with the policies or procedures may deteriorate.

/s/ KPMG LLP

St. Louis, Missouri

November 30, 2020

F-37

EXHIBITS

The following exhibits are submitted with and attached to this Form 10-K; exhibit numbers correspond to the exhibit table in Item 601 of Regulation S-K. For a complete list of exhibits including those incorporated by reference, see Item 15(a)(3) of this Form 10-K, above.

Exhibit No.

Exhibit

21

Subsidiaries of the Company

2323.1

Consent of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm (Grant Thornton LLP)

23.2

Consent of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm (KPMG LLP)

31.1

Certification of Chief Executive Officer

31.2

Certification of Chief Financial Officer

32

*

Certification of Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer

101.INS

**

Inline XBRL Instance Document

101.SCH

**

Inline XBRL Schema Document

101.CAL

**

Inline XBRL Calculation Linkbase Document

101.LAB

**

Inline XBRL Label Linkbase Document

101.PRE

**

Inline XBRL Presentation Linkbase Document

101.DEF

**

Inline XBRL Definition Linkbase Document

104

**

Cover Page Inline Interactive Data File (contained in Exhibit 101)

*     Furnished (and not filed) herewith pursuant to Item 601(b)(32)(ii) of Regulation S-K.

**   Exhibits 101 and 104 to this report consist of documents formatted in XBRL (Extensible Business Reporting Language); a and filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission; they are not included in printed copy is not included.copies of this Report.