Introductory Note
In this Annual Report on Form 10-K (“annual report”Annual Report”), (1) the “Company,” “we,” “us” or “our” refer to Mueller Water Products, Inc. and its subsidiariessubsidiaries; (2) “Infrastructure”“Water Flow Solutions” refers to our Infrastructure segmentWater Flow Solutions segment; (3) “Technologies”“Water Management Solutions” refers to our Technologies segmentWater Management Solutions segment; (4) “Anvil” refers to our former Anvil segment, which we sold on January 6, 2017; and (5) “U.S. Pipe” refers to our former U.S. Pipe segment, which we sold on April 1, 2012. With regard to the Company’s segments, “we,” “us” or “our” may also refer to the segment being discussed.
Certain of the titles and logos of our products referenced in this annual reportAnnual Report are part of our intellectual property. Each trade name, trademark or service mark of any other company appearing in this annual reportAnnual Report is the property of its owner.
Unless the context indicates otherwise, whenever we refer in this annual reportAnnual Report to a particular year, we mean our fiscal year ended or ending September 30 in that particular calendar year. We manage our business and report operations through two business segments, InfrastructureWater Flow Solutions and Technologies,Water Management Solutions, based largely on the products they sell and the customers they serve.
Industry and Market Data
In this annual report,Annual Report, we rely on and refer to information and statistics from third-party sources regarding economic conditions and trends, the demand for our water infrastructure, flow control, andtechnology products, other products and services and the competitive conditions we face in serving our customers and end users. We believe these sources of information and statistics are reasonably accurate, but we have not independently verified them.
Most of our primary competitors are not publicly traded companies. Only limited current public information is available with respect to the size of our end markets and our relative competitive position. Our statements in this annual report aboutAnnual Report regarding our end markets and competitive positions are based on our beliefs, studies and judgments concerning industry trends.
Forward-Looking Statements
This annual report contains certain statements that may be deemed “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995.federal securities laws. All statements that address activities, events or developments that we intend, expect, plan, project, design, believethe Company intends, expects, plans, projects, believes or anticipateanticipates will or may occur in the future are forward-looking statements. Examplesstatements including, without limitation, statements regarding outlooks, projections, forecasts, expectations, commitments, trend descriptions and the ability to capitalize on trends, value creation, Board and committee composition plans, long-term strategies and the execution or acceleration thereof, operational improvements and excellence, the benefits of forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, statements we make regarding our business strategy,capital investments, financial or operating performance including improving sales growth and driving increased margins, capital allocation and growth strategy plans, and expectations for net sales and operating income margins,positioning the Company’s product portfolio and the outlookdemand for general economic conditions, spending by municipalities and the residential and non-residential construction markets and the impacts of these factors on our business and our expected financial performance.Company’s products. Forward-looking statements are based on certain assumptions and assessments made by usthe Company in light of ourthe Company’s experience and perception of historical trends, current conditions and expected future developments.
Actual results and the timing of events may differ materially from those contemplated by the forward-looking statements due to a number of factors, including regional, nationalthe future impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the Company’s operations and results, including effects on the financial health of customers (including the collection of receivables); logistical challenges and supply chain disruptions, geopolitical conditions, or global political, economic, business, competitive, marketother events; an inability to realize the anticipated benefits from our operational initiatives, including our large capital investments in Chattanooga and Kimball, Tennessee and Decatur, Illinois, plant closures, and our reorganization and related strategic realignment activities; an inability to attract or retain a skilled and diverse workforce, increased competition related to the workforce and labor markets; an inability to protect the Company’s information systems against service interruption, misappropriation of data or breaches of security; failure to comply with personal data protection and privacy laws; cyclical and changing demand in core markets such as municipal spending, residential construction, and natural gas distribution; government monetary or fiscal policies; the impact of adverse weather conditions; the impact of manufacturing and product performance; the impact of wage, commodity and materials price inflation; the impact of warranty claims; an inability to successfully resolve significant legal proceedings or government investigations; compliance with environmental, trade and anti-corruption laws and regulations; climate change and legal or regulatory conditionsresponses thereto; changing regulatory, trade and tariff conditions; the failure to integrate and/or realize any of the anticipated benefits of recent acquisitions or divestitures; an inability to achieve some or all of our Environmental, Social and Governance goals; and other factors that are described underin the section entitled “RISK FACTORS” in Item 1A of Part Ithis Annual Report.
Forward-looking statements do not guarantee future performance and are only as of this annual report.
the date they are made. The Company undertakes no duty to update its forward-looking statements except as required by law. Undue reliance should not be placed on
any forward-looking statements. We do not haveYou are advised to review any intention or obligation to update forward-looking statements, except as required by law.further disclosures the Company makes on related subjects in subsequent Forms 10-K, 10-Q, 8-K and other reports filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission.
| TABLE OF CONTENTS | |||||||||
| Page | |||||||||
| Item 1. | |||||||||
| Backlog | |||||||||
Regulatory and Environmental Matters | |||||||||
| Securities Exchange Act Reports | |||||||||
| Item 1A. | |||||||||
| Item 2. | |||||||||
| Item 3. | |||||||||
| Item | |||||||||
| Item 6. | |||||||||
| Item 7. | |||||||||
| Seasonality | |||||||||
| Item 8. | |||||||||
| Item 9A. | |||||||||
| Item 9B. | |||||||||
| Item 9C. | |||||||||
| Item 10* | |||||||||
| Item 11* | |||||||||
| Item 12* | |||||||||
| Item 13* | |||||||||
| Item 14* | |||||||||
| Item 15 | |||||||||
| * | All or a portion of the referenced section is incorporated by reference from our definitive proxy statement that will be issued in connection with the upcoming | ||||||||
PART I
Our Company
Mueller Water Products, Inc. (“Mueller,” “we” or the “Company”) is a Delaware corporation that was incorporated on September 22, 2005 under the name Mueller Holding Company, Inc. On June 1, 2006, we completed an initial public offering of 28,750,000 shares of our common stock, and on December 14, 2006, Walter Industries, Inc., our parent company at that time, distributed to its shareholders 85,844,920 shares of our common stock to complete a spin-off of the Company.
We operate our business through two segments, Infrastructure, formerly referred to as Mueller Co.,Water Flow Solutions and Technologies, formerly referred to as Mueller Technologies.Water Management Solutions. Segment sales, operating results and additional financial data and commentary are provided in the Segment Analysis section in Part II, Item 7. “MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS” and in Note 16. of the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements in Part II, Item 8. “FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND SUPPLEMENTARY DATA” of this annual report.Annual Report.
On June 14, 2021, we acquired all the outstanding capital stock of i2O Water Ltd (“i2O’), a provider of pressure management solutions to more than 100 water companies in 45 countries. i2O is organized under the laws of the United Kingdom.
Effective October 1, 2021, we implemented a new management structure designed to increase revenue growth, drive operational excellence, accelerate new product development and gas systems, includingenhance profitability. We believe the reorganization has and will continue to strengthen the alignment of products, solutions and services with customer needs, accelerate new product introductions and improve product life cycle management. Our two operating segments, Water Flow Solutions and Water Management Solutions, align with this new management structure.
Water Flow Solutions
The Water Flow Solutions product portfolio includes iron gate butterfly, tapping, check, knife, plug, automaticvalves, specialty valves and service brass products. Net sales of products in the Water Flow Solutions business unit were approximately 57% of fiscal 2022 consolidated net sales.
Water Management Solutions
The Water Management Solutions product and service portfolio includes fire hydrants, repair and installation, natural gas, metering, leak detection, pressure control and ball valves, as well as dry-barrel and wet-barrel fire hydrants and a broad linesoftware products. Net sales of pipe repair products, such as clamps and couplings used to repair leaks. Infrastructure’s net sales were $871.0 million in 2019. Sales of Infrastructure products are driven principally by spending on water and wastewater infrastructure upgrade, repair and replacement, and by construction of new water and wastewater infrastructure, which is typically associated with construction of new residential communities. Infrastructure sells its products primarily through waterworks distributors. We believe a majority of Infrastructure’s 2019 net sales were for infrastructure upgrade, repair and replacement. Infrastructure also sells products for pipe repair to natural gas utilities.
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Business Strategy
Our business strategy is to capitalize on the large, attractive and growing water infrastructure markets worldwide. Key elements of this strategy are as follows:
Accelerate development of new products.
We plan to continue to increase investmentsinvest in our product development capabilities, including expanding our engineeringresearch and development staff, to develop and market new products and services. We expect to add new products to our portfolio and offer new products into different end markets. We expect this expansion to come through internal investments as well as acquisitions.
Develop and implement a fully-integrated intelligent technology platform for infrastructure monitoring.testing, monitoring and control.
We have introducedcreated a new software platform, Sentryx™Sentryx™, that provides data intelligence to help water utilities make strategic and operational decisions. As our customers seek to use real-time data and analytics to manage and repair their aging infrastructures more efficiently, we believe we are uniquely positioned to help solve their problemsprovide solutions given our expertise and the large installed base of our products. This data includes leak detection, pressure monitoring, advanced metering and water quality, which are aggregated and consolidated within the Sentryx™Sentryx™ platform, providing utilities with critical information regarding their distribution systems.
Drive operational excellence.
We are bringingseek to bring best practices focused on Lean manufacturing and Six Sigma business process improvement methodologies, with an investment mindset to deliver manufacturing productivity improvements. We expect these efforts will facilitate innovation and new product development, helping us drive sales growth and improve product margins. Productivity improvements at our facilities should allow us to drive downlower costs, which can fund additional manufacturing initiatives and continued investment in product development.
Modernize manufacturing facilities.
We are prioritizing capital investments through 2022through 2023 to modernize our manufacturing facilities and processes. We believe this modernization will improve product quality, drive non-pricenon-price margin expansion and expand our product portfolio. We expect ourOur large valve manufacturing expansion in Chattanooga, will beginTennessee entered near full-scale production in 2020, and atduring the endfiscal year 2022. We have completed the build out of 2019 we acquired a propertyour new facility in Kimball, Tennessee to further expandsupport our machining and assembly capabilities in the Chattanooga areaarea. During the fiscal year ended September 30, 2022, we completed the consolidation of our facilities in Aurora, Illinois and allow us to insource more products and operations.Surrey, British Columbia into the Kimball, Tennessee facility. We expect these investments will allow us to capitalize on the growing need for large valves due tobecause of the migration to more densely populated, urban areas and an increased focus by customers on products made in America. In addition, we have begun construction ofare building a new brass foundry in Decatur, Illinois.Illinois, scheduled to start-up initial production in 2023, although we do not expect full production until 2024 when it replaces our nearby, existing brass foundry.
Continue to seek, to acquire, and invest in businesses and technologies that expand our existing portfolio of businesses or allow us to enter new markets.
We will continue to evaluate the acquisition of strategic businesses, technologies and product lines that have the potential to strengthen our competitive positions,position, enhance or expand our existing product and service offerings, expand our technological capabilities, leverage our manufacturing capabilities, provide synergistic opportunities, enhance our customer relationships or allow us to enter new markets. As part of this strategy, we may pursue international opportunities, including acquisitions, joint ventures and partnerships, that allow us to expand product or service offerings or enter new markets.partnerships.
Description of Products and Services
We offer a broad line of water infrastructure, flow control, metrologymetering and leak detection products and services primarily in the United States and Canada. InfrastructureWater Flow Solutions sells wateriron gate and specialty valves, and service brass products. Water Management Solutions sells hydrants, repair and installation, natural gas, valves, fire hydrants and pipe repair products. Technologies sells water metering, products and systems and leak detection and pipe condition assessmentpressure control products and services. solutions. Our products are designed, manufactured and tested in compliance with relevant industry standards, where applicable.
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61 for potable water conveyance. In addition, Underwriters Laboratory (“UL”) and FM Approvals (“FM”) have approved many of these products. TheseAdditionally, our products are typically specified by a water utility for use in its infrastructure system., leak detection and pressure control products
Water and Gas Valves and Related Products. InfrastructureWater Flow Solutions manufactures valves for water and gas systems, including iron gate, butterfly, tapping, check, knife, plug, automatic control and ball valves, and sells these products under a variety of brand names, including Mueller®, Pratt®, and U.S. Pipe Valve and Hydrant, and Singer Valve. Water and gas valves and related products, generally made of iron or brass, accounted for $576.4 million, $569.1 million and $516.9 million of our gross sales in 2019, 2018 and 2017, respectively.Hydrant. These valve products are used to control distribution and transmission of potable water and non-potable water or gas.water. Water valve products typically range in size from ¾ inch to 36 inches in diameter. InfrastructureWater Flow Solutions also manufactures significantly larger valves as custom order workorders through some of its Henry Pratt product line.lines. Most of these valves are used in water transmission or distribution, water treatment facilities or industrial applications.
Water Management Solutions’ product and toolsservice portfolio includes fire hydrants, repair and installation, natural gas, metering, leak detection, pressure control and software products. We recognized $533.3 million, $493.2 million and $431.9 million of net sales in our 2022, 2021, and 2020 fiscal years respectively, for tapping, drilling, extracting, installing and stopping-off, which are designed to work with its water and gas fittings and valves as an integrated system.Water Management Solutions products.
Fire Hydrants. InfrastructureWater Management Solutions manufactures dry-barrel and wet-barrel fire hydrants. Sales of fire hydrants and fire hydrant parts accounted for $199.7 million, $204.3 million and $186.5 million of our gross sales in 2019, 2018 and 2017, respectively. InfrastructureWater Management Solutions sells fire hydrants for new water infrastructure development, fire protection systems and water infrastructure repair and replacement projects.
Most municipalities have approved a limited number of fire hydrant brands for installation withinas a result of their systems due to their desiresdesire to use the same tools and operating instructions across their systems and to minimize inventories of spare parts. We believe Infrastructure’sthe large installed base of Mueller fire hydrants throughout the United States and Canada, reputation for superior quality and performance and incumbentas well as specification positions have contributed to the leading market position of its fire hydrants. This large installed base also leads to recurring sales of replacement hydrants and hydrant parts.
Water Metering Products and Systems. Mueller SystemsWater Management Solutions manufactures and sources a variety of water technology products under the Mueller Systems and Hersey® brand namesname that are designed to help water providers accurately measure and control water usage. Mueller SystemsWater Management Solutions offers a complete lineline of residential, fire line and commercial metering solutions. Residential and commercial water meters are generally classified as either manually read meters or remotely read meters via radio technology. A manually read meter consists of a water meter and a register that gives a visual meter reading display. Meters equipped with radio transmitters (endpoints) use encoder registers to convert the measurement data from the meter (mechanical or static) into an encrypted digital format which is then transmitted via radio frequency to a receiver that collects and formats the data appropriately for water utility billing systems. These remotely or electronically read systems are either automatic meter reading (“AMR”) systems or fixed network advanced metering infrastructure (“AMI”) systems. With an AMR system, utility personnel with mobile equipment, including a radio receiver, computer and reading software, collect the data from utilities’ meters. With an AMI system, a network of permanent data collectors or gateway receivers that are always active or listening for the radio transmission from the utilities’ meters gather the data. AMI systems eliminate the need for utility personnel to travel through service territories to collect meter reading data. These systems provide the utilities with more frequent and diverse data at specified intervals from the utilities’ meters and allow for two-way communication. Mueller SystemsWater Management Solutions sells both AMR and AMI systems and related products. Mueller Systems’Our remote disconnect water meter enables the water flow to be stopped and started remotely via handheld devices or from a central operating facility.
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Water Leak Detection and Pipe Condition Assessment Products and Services. EchologicsWater Management Solutions develops technologies and offers products and services under the Echologics® brand name that can non-invasively (without(i.e., without disrupting service or introducing a foreign object into the water system) detect underground leaks and assess the condition of water mains comprised of a variety of materials. Echologics leverages itsWe leverage our proprietary acoustic technology to offer leak detection and condition assessment surveys. EchologicsWe also offersoffer fixed leak detection systems that allow customers to continuously monitor and detect leaks on water distribution and transmission mains. We believe Echologics’Water Management Solutions’ ability to offer non-invasive leak detection and pipe condition assessment services non-invasively is a key competitive advantage.
Additionally, Water Management Solutions produces machines and tools for tapping, drilling, extracting, installing and stopping-off, which are designed to work with its water and gas fittings and valves as an integrated system. We also provide gas valve products primarily for use in gas distribution systems. With our Singer valve and i2O products, we provide a range of intelligent water solutions including pressure control valves, advanced pressure management, network analytics, event management and date logging.
Manufacturing
See “Item 2. PROPERTIES” for a description of our principal manufacturing facilities.
We will continue to expand the use of Lean manufacturing and Six Sigma business process improvement methodologies where appropriate to safely capture higher levels of quality, service and operational efficiency in our manufacturing facilities in both segments.
Purchased Components and Raw Materials
Our products are made using various purchased components and severalseveral basic raw materials, including brass ingot, scrap steel, sand and resin. Purchased parts and raw materials represented approximately 38%34% and 10%18%, respectively,respectively, of costCost of sales in 2019.2022.
Patents, Licenses and Trademarks
We have active patents relating to the design of our products and trademarks for our brands and products. We have filed and continue to file when appropriate, patent applications used in connection with our business and products. Many of the patents for technology underlying the majority of our products have been in the public domain for many years, and we do not believe third-party patents individually or in the aggregate are material to our business. However, we consider the pool of proprietary information, consisting of expertise and trade secrets relating to the design, manufacture and operation of our products to be particularly important and valuable. We generally own the rights to the products that we manufacture and sell, and we are not dependent in any material way upon any license or franchise to operate. See “Item 1A. RISK FACTORS-Any
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inability to protect our intellectual property or our failure to effectively defend against intellectual property infringement claims could adversely affect our competitive position.”
include:
Canada Valve™ | Echologics® | |||||||
Centurion® | Echoshore® | |||||||
Ez-Max® | ePulse® | |||||||
Hydro Gate® | Hersey™ | |||||||
Hydro-Guard® | ||||||||
LeakFinderRT® | ||||||||
HYMAX VERSA® | LeakFinderST™ | |||||||
Jones® | LeakListener® | |||||||
Krausz® | LeakTuner® | |||||||
Milliken™ | Mi.Echo® | |||||||
Mueller® | Mi.Data® | |||||||
Pratt® | Mi.Hydrant™ | |||||||
Pratt Industrial® | Mi.Net® | |||||||
Repamax® | Mueller | |||||||
Repaflex® | Sentryx | |||||||
Singer™ | U.S. Pipe Valve and Hydrant, LLC | |||||||
Seasonality
Parts of our business depends upon construction activity, which is seasonal in many areas as a result of the impact of cold weather conditions on construction. Net sales and operating income have historically been lowest in the quarters ending December 31 and March 31 when the northern United States and all of Canada generally face weather conditions that restrict significant construction and other field crew activity. See “Item 1A. RISK FACTORS-Seasonal demand for certain of our products and services may adversely affect our financial results.” and “Item 7. MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS-Seasonality.”
Sales, Marketing and Distribution
We sell primarily to distributors.national and regional waterworks distributors in the U.S. and Canada. Our distributor relationships are generally non-exclusive, but we attempt to align ourselves with key distributors in the principal markets we serve. We believe “Mueller” is the most recognized brand in the U.S.United States water infrastructure industry.
Water Flow Solutions
Water Flow Solutions sells its products primarily through waterworks distributors to a wide variety of end user customers, including water and wastewater utilities, and fire protection and construction contractors. Sales of the products are heavily influenced by the specifications for the underlying projects. Approximately 8% of Water Flow Solutions’ net sales were to Canadian customers in our fiscal year 2022, and approximately 7% in fiscal years 2021 and 2020.
Water Management Solutions
Water Management Solutions sells its products primarily through waterworks distributors to a wide variety of end user customers, including water and wastewater utilities, gas utilities, integrated suppliers, as well as fire protection and construction contractors.Sales of our products are heavily influenced by the specifications for the underlying projects.Approximately 7% of Water Management Solutions’ net sales were to Canadian customers in fiscal year 2022, and 8% in fiscal years 2021 and 2020.
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Water Management Solutions also sells its water metering systems, products and services directly to municipalities and to waterworks distributors, and sells water leak detection, pressure monitoring, and pipe condition assessment products and services, and intelligent water network solutions primarily to municipalities and utility companies.
Backlog
We consider backlog to represent orders placed by customers for which goods or services have yet to be delivered.shipped. Backlog is a meaningful indicator for the Prattmany of our product line of Infrastructure and the Mueller Systems business unit of Technologies. Pratt products consist of valves and other parts for large projects that typically require design and build specifications.lines. The delivery lead time for parts used for these projectscertain product lines can be as long as nine months,longer than one year, and we expect approximately 15% 7% of Pratt’sWater Flow Solutions’ backlog at the end of 20192022 will not be shipped until beyond 2020. Mueller Systems2023. Water Management Solutions manufactures or sources water meter systems that are sometimes ordered in large quantities with delivery dates over several years, and weyears. We expect approximately 2%approximately 1% of Mueller Systems’Water Management Solutions’ backlog will not be shipped until beyond 2020. Backlogs2023. Due to demand levels in our end markets, we have experienced record levels of short-cycle backlog, primarily for Prattour iron gate, service brass and Mueller Systemshydrant products. Backlog for Water Management Solutions and Water Flow Solutions are presented below.as follows:
| September 30, | |||||||
| 2019 | 2018 | ||||||
| (in millions) | |||||||
| Pratt | $ | 81.6 | $ | 71.9 | |||
| Mueller Systems | 8.9 | 20.6 | |||||
| September 30, | |||||||||||
| 2022 | 2021 | ||||||||||
| (in millions) | |||||||||||
| Water Flow Solutions | $ | 419.1 | $ | 287.9 | |||||||
| Water Management Solutions | 309.8 | 152.3 | |||||||||
| Total backlog | $ | 728.9 | $ | 440.2 | |||||||
Sales cycles for metering systems can span several years, and it is common for customers to place orders throughout the contract period. Although we believe we have a common understanding with our customer as to the total value of a contract when it is awarded, we do not recognizeinclude customer orders in our backlog until the customer orders areorder is received.
Competition
The U.S.United States and Canadian markets for water infrastructure and flow control products are very competitive. See “Item 1A. RISK FACTORS-Strong competition could adversely affect prices and demand for our products and services, which would adversely affect our operating results.” There are only a few competitors for most of our product and service offerings. Many of our competitors are well-established companies with products that have strong brand recognition. We consider our installed base, product quality, customer service level, brand recognition, innovation, distribution and technical support to be competitive strengths.
The competitive environment for most of Infrastructure’sWater Flow Solutions’ valve and hydrant products is mature and many end users are slow to transition to brands other than their historically preferred brand. It isbrands making it difficult to increase market share in this environment. We believe our fire hydrants and valves enjoy strong competitive positions based primarily on the extent of their installed base, product quality, specified position and brand recognition. Our principal competitors for fire hydrants and iron gate valves are McWane, Inc. and American Cast Iron Pipe Company. The primary competitors for our service brass products are The Ford Meter Box Company, Inc. and A.Y. McDonald Mfg. Co. Many service brass valves are interchangeable among different manufacturers. With respect toFor our specialty valve products such as butterfly, plug, and check valves, our principal competitors are mainly DeZURIK, Val-Matic and McWane, Inc.
The markets for products and services sold by TechnologiesWater Management Solutions are very competitive. Mueller Systems sellscompetitive, with some mature products, and many end users are slow to transition to brands other than their historically preferred brands. We believe that our hydrants enjoy a strong competitive position based primarily on the extent of their installed base, product quality, specified position and brand recognition. Our principal competitors for hydrants are McWane, Inc. and American Cast Iron Pipe Company. We believe the markets for many of our repair products are open to product innovation. For our pipe repair products, we believe our brand names, including Krausz®, are generally associated with premium products as a result of our patented technology and superior features. Our current marketing strategy is primarily focused on repair, joining and restraining of water infrastructure piping systems. The majority of this infrastructure consists of cast iron, ductile iron and plastic pipe. Our repair solutions work well with all of these. Our primary competitors in the repair market are: Romac Industries, Smith Blair, Viking Johnson, AVK Group, JCM Industries, and Georg Fisher Ltd.
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Within Water Management Solutions, we also sell water metering products and systems, primarily in the United States. We believe a substantial portion of this market is in the process of transitioning from manually read meters to automaticallyelectronically read meters, butmeters; however, we also expect this transition to be relatively slow and that many end users will be reluctant to adopt brands other than their historically preferred brand. Although Mueller Systems’Water Management Solutions’ market position is relatively small, we believe our automaticallyelectronically read meters and associated technology are well positioned to gain a greater share of these markets. Our principal competitors are Sensus, Itron, Inc., Neptune Technology Group Inc., Badger Meter, Inc., Itron, Inc., and Master Meter, Inc. EchologicsWe also sell pressure control valves and pressure loggers through our Singer Valve and i2O products. The primary competitors for these products are Cla-Val, Watts, OCV, Ross Valve, Bermad and Halma. Water Management Solutions also sells water leak detection and pipe condition assessment products and services in North America, the United Kingdom and select countries in Europe, Asia and the Middle East, with our primary markets being the United States and Canada. The worldwide market for leak detection and pipe condition assessment is highly fragmented with numerous competitors. Our more significant competitors are Pure Technologies Ltd., Gutermann AG and Syrinix Ltd. Additionally, we sell gas repair products which are primarily used on distribution lines. Our primary competitors for these products are Smith Blair, T.D. Williamson, and A.Y. McDonald.
Research and Development
Our primary research and development (“R&D”) facilities are located in Chattanooga, TennesseeTennessee; Ariel, Israel; Atlanta, Georgia; Toronto, Ontario; and Tel Aviv, Israel for Infrastructure and in Atlanta, Georgia and Toronto, Ontario for Technologies.Southampton, United Kingdom. The primary focus of these operations is to develop new products, improve and refine existing products and obtain and assure compliance with industry approval certifications or standards, (suchsuch as AWWA, UL, FM, NSF and The Public Health and Safety Company). At September 30, 2019, we employed 84 people dedicated to R&D activities.Company. R&D expenses were $14.3$24.5 million, $11.6$17.1 million and $12.1$15.0 million during 2019, 20182022, 2021 and 2017,2020, respectively.
Regulatory and Environmental Matters
Our operations are subject to numerous federal, state and local laws and regulations, both within and outside the United States, in areas such as: competition, government contracts, international trade, labor and employment, tax, licensing, consumer protection, environmental protection, workplace health and safety, and others. These and other laws and regulations impact the manner in which we conduct our business, and changes in legislation or government policies can affect our operations, both favorably and unfavorably. For example, the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation and Liability Act (“CERCLA”) and similar state laws affect our operations by, among other things, imposing investigation and cleanup requirements for threatened or actual releases of hazardous substances. Under CERCLA, joint and several liability may be imposed on operators, generators, site owners, lessees and others regardless of fault or the legality of the original activity that caused or resulted in the release of the hazardous substances. Thus, we may be subject to liability under CERCLA and similar state laws for properties thatthat: (1) we currently own, lease or operate,operate; (2) we, our predecessors, or former subsidiaries previously owned, leased or operated,operated; (3) sites to which we, our predecessors or former subsidiaries sent waste materials,materials; and (4) sites at which hazardous substances from our facilities’ operations have otherwise come to be located. The purchaser of U.S. Pipe has been identified as a “potentially responsible party” (“PRP”) under CERCLA in connection with a former manufacturing facility operated by U.S. Pipe that was in the vicinity of a Superfund site located in North Birmingham, Alabama. Under the terms of the acquisition agreement relating to our sale of U.S. Pipe, we agreed to indemnify the purchaser for certain environmental liabilities, including those arising out of the former manufacturing site in North Birmingham. Accordingly, the purchaser tendered the matter to us for indemnification, which we accepted. Ultimate liability for the site will depend on many factors that have not yet been determined, including the determination of EPA’sthe Environmental Protection Agency’s (“EPA”) remediation costs, the number and financial viability of the other PRPs (there are fourthree other PRPs currently) and the determination of the final allocation of the costs among the PRPs. For more information regarding this matter as well as others that may affect our business, including our capital expenditures, earnings and competitive position, see “Item 1A. RISK FACTORS,” “Item 3. LEGAL PROCEEDINGS - Environmental,” “Item 7. MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS - Contingencies” and Note 17. of the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.
Our operations are subject to federal, state and local laws, regulations and ordinances relating to various environmental, health and safety matters. We believe our operations are in compliance with, or we are taking actions designed to ensure compliance with, these laws, regulations and ordinances. However, the nature of our operations exposes us to the risk of claims concerning non-compliance with environmental, health and safety laws or standards, and there can be no assurance that material costs or liabilities will not be incurred in connection with those claims. Except for certain orders issued by environmental, health and safety regulatory agencies, with which we believe we are in compliance and which we believe are immaterial to our financial condition, results of operations and liquidity, we are not currently named as a party in any judicial or administrative proceeding relating to environmental, health and safety matters.
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Greenhouse gas ("GHG") emissions have increasingly become the subject of political and regulatory focus. Concern over potential climate change, including global warming, has led to legislative and regulatory initiatives directed at limiting GHG emissions. In addition to certain federal proposals in the United States to regulate GHG emissions, many states and countries are considering and are enacting GHG legislation, regulations or international accords, either individually and/or as part of regional initiatives. It is likely that additional climate change related mandates will be forthcoming, and it is expected that they may adversely impact our costs by increasing energy costs and raw material prices, requiring operational or equipment modifications to reduce emissions and creating costs to comply with regulations or to mitigate the financial consequences of such compliance.
Our environmental strategy focuses on responsible sourcing and manufacturing sustainable products that address numerous water infrastructure challenges. We have established reduction targets for key environmental performance indicators such as GHG emissions, internal water withdrawal intensity and waste to landfill, as well as targets for increased use of recycled materials in our products. In connection with these efforts, we work to minimize the amount of water we use at our manufacturing facilities and maintain stringent water quality standards. Our processes are designed to return the water used in manufacturing at a quality level that does not negatively impact the receiving environment.
Future events, such as changes in existing laws and regulations, new legislation to limit GHG emissions or contamination of sites owned, operated or used for waste disposal by us, including currently unknown contamination and contamination caused by prior owners and operators of such sites or other waste generators, may give rise to additional costs which could have a material effect on our financial condition, results of operations or liquidity.
Our anticipated capital expenditures for environmental projects are not expected to have a material effect on our financial condition, results of operations or liquidity.
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Human Capital
We believe our employees are our greatest asset and we strive to provide a safe, inclusive, high-performance culture where our people can thrive. We strive to recruit, develop, engage, train and protect our workforce. The following are key human capital measures and objectives on which the Company currently focuses.
Core Values. Our core values of respect, integrity, trust, safety and inclusion shape our culture and define who we are. We are committed to upholding fundamental human rights and believe that all human beings should be treated with dignity, fairness, and respect.
Employee Total Compensation and Benefits Philosophy. We pay at or above a living wage at each of our locations. Living wage is defined as the minimum necessary income for a worker to meet the worker’s basic needs, which can fluctuate based on physical location and other local factors. We base our calculations on a single worker with no children. We are dedicated to our employees’ health and well-being. We provide access to benefits and offer programs that support work-life balance and overall well-being, including financial, physical and mental health resources, such as those listed below.
| Financial | Health and Wellness | Work-Life Balance | ||||||||||||
| Competitive Base Pay | Medical, Dental and Vision Benefits (including telemedicine) | Paid time off, paid holidays and jury duty pay | ||||||||||||
| Employee Incentive Plan (Annual Bonus) | Flexible Spending Accounts and Health Savings Accounts | Paid Parental Leave (maternity, paternity, adoption) | ||||||||||||
| Supplemental Pay (Overtime) | Supplemental Health Benefits | Elder Care and Childcare Assistance | ||||||||||||
| Employee Stock Purchase Plan | Wellness Rewards Program | Employee Assistance Program (mental health, legal, financial services) | ||||||||||||
| Recognition Pay and Service Awards | Health Plan Incentives | Associate Discount Programs and Services | ||||||||||||
| 401(k) Retirement Savings Plan with Company Match (Traditional and Roth) | On-site and complimentary Vaccinations | Flexible Work Arrangements | ||||||||||||
| Life Insurance (employee and dependents) | ||||||||||||||
| Short-term and Long-term Disability Insurance | ||||||||||||||
Commitment to Diversity and Inclusion. We strive to promote inclusion in the workplace, to build on our understanding of potential human rights issues by engaging with appropriate communities, and to interact with our employees and all communities in a manner that respects human rights. We encourage our suppliers to follow these practices as well. As of November 18, 2022, women represented 27% and minorities represented 36% of our Board of Directors.
We condemn human rights abuses and do not condone the use of slave or forced labor, human trafficking, child labor, the degrading treatment of individuals, physical punishment, or unsafe working conditions.
All employees are required to understand and obey local laws, to report any suspected violations, and to act in accordance with our Core Values and Code of Conduct.
Recently, we completed a pay equity study for all employees and job grades based on gender and race, and believe we addressed identified anomalies with appropriate pay adjustments. We also strive to ensure all offers to new employees or to employees being promoted internally are aligned with the market and equitable on an internal basis.
In addition, we expanded our Diversity and Inclusion (“D&I”) Council framework during our 2022 fiscal year. The framework is now comprised of a series of councils including an executive council, a company-wide employee council and local employee councils at each plant as well as a corporate and sales team council.
Talent Acquisition and Retention. We strive to attract, develop and retain high-performing talent, and we support and reward employee performance. Programs to strengthen our talent include an employee referral program, tuition reimbursement, continued training and development and succession planning. We also have partnerships with local and national educational institutions for our recruiting efforts. We prioritize employee engagement and transparency by implementing programs and processes to ensure our employees have opportunities to ask questions, voice concerns, and share feedback. This is accomplished in part by conducting an annual employee satisfaction survey, and quarterly town hall meetings. Our fiscal year 2022 employee turnover rate was approximately 28%.
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Leadership and Culture Development. As new generations enter the workforce, their passions and commitments to sustainability are fundamental to our future success. The Mueller Development Program (“MDP”) is designed to provide a pipeline for future talent. During 2022, we continued our Frontline Leader training program to offer tools in time management, communication, and team building, along with personal coaching.
At September 30, 2019,2022, we employed approximately 3,1003,600 people, of whom 81%82% work in the United States. At September 30, 2019, 65%2022, 64% of our hourly workforce was represented by collective bargaining agreements. Additionally, certain foreign countries where we have employees, such as China, provide by law for employee rights which include requirements similar to collective bargaining agreements. We believe we have good relations with our employees, including those represented by collective bargaining agreements.
We have successfully negotiated and extended several of our collective bargaining agreements in the past. Our locations with employees covered by such agreements are presented below.
| Location | Expiration of current agreement(s) | |||||||
| Chattanooga, TN | ||||||||
Securities Exchange Act Reports
We file annual and quarterly reports, proxy statements and other information with the U.S.United States Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”). as required. You may read and print materials that we have filed with the SEC from its website at www.sec.gov. Our SEC filings may also be viewed and copied at the SEC public reference room located at 100 F Street, N.E., Washington, D.C. 20549. You may call the SEC at 1-800-SEC-0330 for further information on the public reference room.
In addition, certain of our SEC filings, including our annual reports on Form 10-K, our quarterly reports on Form 10-Q, our current reports on Form 8-K, our proxy statements and any amendments to themthereto can be viewed and printed free of charge from the investor information section of our website at www.muellerwaterproducts.com. Copies of our filings, specified exhibits and corporate governance materials are also available free of charge by writing us using the address on the cover of this annual report.Annual Report. We are not including the information on our website as a part of, or incorporating it by reference into, this annual report.Annual Report.
Our principal executive offices areoffice is located at 1200 Abernathy Road N.E., Suite 1200, Atlanta, Georgia 30328, and our main telephone number at that address is (770) 206-4200.
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Item 1A. RISK FACTORS
A significant portion of our business depends on spending for water and conditions, which affect demand for our products and services and may adversely affect our financial results.wastewater infrastructure construction activity.
Our primary end markets are repair and replacement of water infrastructure, driven by municipal spending and new water infrastructure installation driven by new residential construction. Sustained uncertainty about any of these end markets could cause our distributors and end use customers to delay purchasing, or determine not to purchase, our products or services. General economic and other factors, including interest rates, inflation, unemployment levels, energy costs, the state of the credit markets (including municipal bonds, mortgages, home equity loans and consumer credit) and other factors beyond our control, could adversely affect our sales, profitability and cash flows. For example, increases in interest rates can significantly increase the costs of the projects in which our products are utilized — such as water and wastewater infrastructure upgrade, repair and replacement projects — and lead to such projects being reduced, delayed and/or rescheduled, which couldAs a result, in a decrease in our revenues and earnings and adversely affect our financial condition. In addition, higher interest rates are often accompanied by inflation. In an inflationary environment, we may be unable to raise the prices of our products sufficiently to keep up with the rate of inflation, which would reduce our profit margins.
Governments and private water entities may have limited abilities to increase taxes, water fees or water rates, as applicable. It is not unusual for water and wastewater projects to be delayed and rescheduled for a number of reasons, including changes in project priorities, increasing interest rates, and inflation (as discussed above) and difficulties in complying with environmental and other governmental regulations. In addition, reductions or delaysFor example, changes in federal spending related tointerest rates and credit markets, including municipal bonds, mortgages, home equity loans and consumer credit, have in the past and may in the future significantly increase the costs of the projects in which our products are utilized, such as in new residential construction and water orand wastewater infrastructure could adversely affect state or localupgrade, repair and replacement projects, and maylead to such projects being reduced, delayed and/or rescheduled, which could result in a decrease in our revenues and earnings and adversely affect our financial results.condition. In addition, higher interest rates are often accompanied by inflation. We have in the past and may in the future be unable to raise the prices of our products sufficiently to keep up with the rate of inflation, which would reduce our profit margins and cash flows.
Some state and local governments have placed or may place significant restrictions on the use of water by their constituents.constituents and/or increase their water conservation efforts. These types of water use restrictions and water conservation efforts may lead to reduced water revenues by private water entities, municipalities or other governmental agencies, which could similarly affect funding decisions for water-related projects.
Poor economic conditions may cause states, municipalities or private water entities to receive lower than anticipated revenues, which may lead to reduced or delayed funding for water infrastructure projects. Even if favorable economic conditions exist, water infrastructure owners may choose not to address deferred infrastructure needs due toas a result of a variety of political factors or competing spending priorities.
Low levels of spending for water and wastewater infrastructure construction activity could adversely affect our sales, profitability and cash flows.
Residential construction activity is important to our business and adverse conditions or sustained uncertainty regardingwithin this market could adversely affect our financial results.
New water and wastewater infrastructure spending is heavily dependent upon residential construction. As a result, our financial performance depends significantly on the stability and growth of the residential construction market. This market depends on a variety of factors beyond our control, including household formation, consumer confidence, interest rates, inflation and the availability of mortgage financing, as well as the mix between single and multifamily construction, availability of construction labor and ultimately the extent to which new construction leads to the development of raw land. Adverse conditions or sustained uncertainty regarding the residential construction market could adversely affecthave had and may in the future have an adverse effect on our sales, profitability and cash flows.flows, including the risk that one or more of our distributors and/or end use customers decide to delay purchasing, or determine not to purchase, our products or services.
Our business depends on a small group of key customers for a significant portion of our sales.
Distributors in our industry have experienced consolidation in recent years. If such consolidation continues, our distributors could be acquired by other distributors who have better relationships with our competitors, and consequently,
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pricing and profit margin pressure may intensify. Pricing and profit margin pressure or the loss of any one of our key distributors in any market could adversely affect our operating results.
Strong competition could adversely affect prices and demand for our products and services, which would adversely affect our operating results.
The U.S.United States and Canadian markets for water infrastructure and flow control products are very competitive. While there are only a few competitors for most of our product and service offerings, many of our competitors are well-established companies with strong brand recognition. We compete on the basis of a variety of factors, including the quality, price and innovation of our products, services and service levels. Our ability to retain our customers in the face of competition depends on our ability to market our products and services to our customers and end users effectively.
The U.S.United States markets for water metering products and systems are highly competitive. Our primary competitors benefit from strong market positions and many end users are slow to transition to new products or new brands. Our ability to gainattract new customers depends on our technological advancements and ability to market our products and services to our customers and end users effectively.
In addition to competition from North American companies, we face the threat of competition from outside of North America. The intensity of competition from these companies is affected by fluctuations in the value of the U.S.United States dollar against theirforeign local currencies, the cost to ship competitive products into North America and the availability of trade remedies, if any. Competition may also increase as a result of U.S. competitors located in the United States shifting their operations to lower-cost countries or otherwise reducing their costs.
Our competitors may reduce the prices of their products or services, improve their quality, improve their functionality or enhance their marketing or sales activities. Any of these potential developments could adversely affect our prices and demand for our products and services.
The long-term success of our newer systems and solutions, including the related products, software and services, such as smart metering, leak detection, pressure monitoring and pipe condition assessment, depends on market acceptance.
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We may not be able to adequately manage the risks associated with the introduction and deployment of new products and systems, including increased warranty costs.
The success of our new products and systems, such as our recently launched smart hydrant and Sentryx™ Sentryx™ software platform, will depend on our ability to manage the risks associated with their introduction, including the risk that new products and systems may have quality or other defects or deficiencies in their early stages that result in their failure to satisfy performance or reliability requirements. Our success will depend in part on our ability to manage these risks, including costs associated with manufacturing, installation, maintenance and warranties. These challenges can be costly and technologically challenging, and we cannot determine in advance the ultimate effect they may have. For example, during the quarters ended March 30, 2017 and June 30, 2018, we recorded discrete warranty expenses of $9.8 million and $14.1 million, respectively, associated with certain products that Technologies produced prior to 2017, as described more fully in Note 17. to the Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements. Warranty liabilities and the related reserve estimation process is highly judgmental due toas a result of the complex nature of these exposures and the unique circumstances of each claim. Furthermore, once claims are asserted for an alleged product defect by municipalities or other customers, it can be difficult to determine the level of potential exposure or liability related to such allegation to which the assertion of these claims will expand geographically. Although we have obtained insurance for product liability claims, such policies may not be available or adequate to cover the liability for damages, the cost of repairs and/or the expense of litigation. Current and future claims may arise out of events or circumstances not covered by insurance and not subject to effective indemnification agreements with our subcontractors. Failure to successfully manage these challenges could result in lost revenue, significant expenses,expense, and harm to our reputation.
Inefficient or ineffective allocation of capital, along with increased capital expenditure levels to modernize our aging facilities and expand our capabilities, could adversely affect our operating results and/or shareholderstockholder value, including negatively impacting our available cash reserves and prevent acquisition or other cash-intensive opportunities.
Our goal is to invest capital to generate long-term value for our shareholders.stockholders. This includes spending on capital projects, such as developing or acquiring strategic businesses, technologies and product lines with the potential to strengthen our industry position, enhancing our existing set of product and service offerings, or entering into new markets, as well as periodically returning value to our stockholders through share repurchases and dividends. For example, we are nearing completionhave completed the construction of our large valve manufacturing expansion in Chattanooga, Tennessee and recently made an additional investment in a facility in Kimball, Tennessee to further expand our capabilities in the area and allow us to insource more products and operations. We also expect to makemade significant progress in fiscal 20202022 on the construction of our new brass manufacturing facility in Decatur, Illinois, which we expect to be completedsubstantially complete in 2022.2023. To a large degree, capital efficiency reflects how well we manage key risks. The actions taken to address specific risks may affect how well we manage the more general risk of capital efficiency. If we do not allocate properly allocate and manage our capital, we may fail to produce optimalexpected financial results, and we may experience a reduction in stockholder value, including increased volatility in our stock price.
We may not realize the expected benefits from our strategic reorganization plans.
Our business strategy includes developing, acquiring and investing in companies and technologies that broaden our product portfolio or complement our existing business, which could be unsuccessful or consume significant resources and adversely affect our operating results.
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Acquisitions and technology investments may involve significant cash expenditures, the incurrence of debt, incurrence, operating losses and expenses that could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition, results of operations and cash flows. These types of transactions involve numerous other risks, including:including but not limited to:
•Diversion of management time and attention from existing operations;operations,
•Difficulties in integrating acquired businesses, technologies and personnel into our business or into our compliance and control programs, particularly those that involveinclude international operations;operations,
•Working with partners or other ownership structures with shared decision-making authority (our interests and other ownership interests may be inconsistent);,
•Difficulties in obtaining and verifying relevant information regarding a business or technology prior to the consummation of the transaction, including the identification and assessment of liabilities, claims or other circumstances, including those relating to intellectual property claims, that could result in litigation or regulatory exposure;exposure,
•Assumptions of liabilities that exceed our estimated amounts;amounts,
•Verifying the financial statements and other business information of an acquired business;business,
•Inability to obtain required regulatory approvals and/or required financing on favorable terms;terms,
•Potential loss of key employees, contractual relationships or customers;customers of the acquired company,
•Increased operating expenses related to the acquired businesses or technologies;technologies,
•The failure of new technologies, products or services to gain market acceptance with acceptable profit margins;margins,
•Entering new markets in which we have little or no experience or in which competitors may have stronger market positions;positions,
•Dilution of interests of holders of our common sharesstockholder value through the issuance of equity securities or equity-linked securities;securities, and
•Inability to achieve expected synergies.synergies or the achievement of such synergies taking longer than expected to realize, including increases in revenue, enhanced efficiencies, or increased market share, or the benefits ultimately may be smaller than we expected.
Any acquisitions or investments may ultimately harm our business or financial condition, as they may not be successful and may ultimately have an adverse effect on our operating results or financial condition and/or result in impairment charges.
Potential international business opportunities may expose us to additional risks, including currency exchange fluctuations.
A part of our growth strategy depends on us expanding internationally. Although net sales outside of the United States and Canada account for a relatively small percentage of our total net sales, we expect to increase our level of business activity outside of the United States and Canada, as illustrated by our December 2018 acquisition of Krausz Industries, whichthat is based in Tel Aviv, Israel, and our acquisition in December 2018.June 2021 of i2O Water Ltd, that is based in Southampton, United Kingdom. Some countries that present potential good business opportunities also face political and economic instability and vulnerability to infrastructure and other disruptions. Seeking to expand our business internationally exposes us to additional risks, which include foreign exchange risks and currency fluctuations, (asas discussed more fully below),below, political and economic uncertainties, changes in local business conditions and national and international conflicts. A primary risk we face in connection with our export shipments relates to our ability to collect amounts due from customers. We also face the potential risks arising from staffing, monitoring and managing international operations, including the risk such activities may divert our resources and management time.
In addition, compliance with the laws, regulations and regulationstaxes of multiple international jurisdictions increases our cost of doing business. International operations are subject to anti-corruption laws and anti-competition regulations, among others. For example, the U.S.United States Foreign Corrupt Practices Act and similar non-U.S. anti-corruption laws outside of the United States generally prohibit companies and
their intermediaries from making improper payments or providing anything of value to improperly influence foreign government officials and certain others for the purpose of obtaining or retaining business, or obtaining an unfair advantage. Violations of these laws and regulations could result in criminal and civil sanctions, disrupt our business and adversely affect our brands, international expansion efforts, business and operating results.
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We earn revenues and incur expenses in foreign currencies as part of our operations outside of the United States. Accordingly, fluctuations in currency exchange rates may significantly increase the amount of U.S.United States dollars required for foreign currency expenses or significantly decrease the U.S.United States dollars we receive from revenues denominated in a foreign currency revenues. Ascurrency. Changes between a result, changes between the foreign exchange ratesrate and the U.S.United States dollar affect the amounts we record for our foreign assets, liabilities, revenues and expenses, and could have a negative effect on our financial results. We expect that our exposure to foreign currency exchange rate fluctuations will grow as the relative contribution of our non-U.S. operations outside the United States increases through both organic and inorganic growth.
Risks related to be placed on foreign imports by the United States and related counter-measures are taken by impacted foreign countries, our revenue and results of operations may be harmed.
Our reliance on vendors for certain products, some of which are single-source or limited source suppliers, could harm our business by adversely affecting product availability, reliability or cost.
We maintain several single-source or limited-source supplier relationships with manufacturers, including some outside of the United States. If the supply of a critical single- or limited-source product is delayed or curtailed, we may not be able to ship the related products in desired quantities or in a timely manner. Even where multiple sources of supply are available, qualification of the alternative suppliers and establishment of reliable supplies could result in delays and a possible loss of sales,profits, which could harm our operating results.
These relationships reduce our direct control over production. Our reliance on these vendors subjects us to a greater risk of shortages, and reduced control over delivery schedules of products, as well as a greater risk of increases in product costs. In instances where we stock lower levels of product inventories, a disruption in product availability could harm our financial performance and our ability to satisfy customer needs. In addition, defective products from these manufacturers could reduce product reliability and harm our reputation.
A disruption in our supply chain or other factors impacting the distribution of our products could adversely affect our business.
A disruption within our logistics or supply chain network at any of the freight companies that deliver us components for our manufacturing operations in the United States or ship our fully-assembled products to our customers could adversely affect our business and result in lost sales and increased expenses or harm to our reputation. Our supply chain is dependent on third party ocean-going container ships, rail, barge and trucking systems and, therefore, disruption in these logistics services because of weather-related problems, strikes, bankruptcies or other events could adversely affect our financial performance and financial condition, negatively impacting sales, profitability and cash flows.
Seasonal demand for certain of our products and services may adversely affect our financial results.
Sales of some of our products, including iron gate valves and fire hydrants, are seasonal, with lower sales in our first and second fiscal quarters when weather conditions throughout most of North America tend to be cold resulting in lower levels of construction activity. This seasonality in demand has resulted in fluctuations in our sales and operating results. To satisfy demand during expected peak periods, we may incur costs associated with building inventory in off-peak periods, and our projections as to future needs may not be accurate. Because many of our expenses are fixed, seasonal trends can cause reductions in our profitability and profit margins and deterioration of our financial condition during periods affected by lower production or sales activity.
Transportation costs are relatively high for most of our products.
Transportation costs can be an important factor in a customer’s purchasing decision. Many of our products are big, bulky and heavy, which tend to increase transportation costs. We also have relatively few manufacturing sites, which tends to increase transportation distances to our customers and consequently increases our transportation costs. High transportation costs could make our products less competitive compared to similar or alternative products offered by competitors.
Our business, financial condition and results of operations may be adversely impacted by the effects of inflation.
Inflation has the potential to adversely affect our business, financial condition and results of operations by increasing our overall cost structure, including purchased parts, commodity and raw material costs. In an inflationary environment, we may be unable to raise the prices of our products sufficiently to keep up with the rate of inflation, which would reduce our profit margins and cash flows. Other inflationary pressures could affect wages, the cost and availability of components and raw materials and other inputs and our ability to meet customer demand. Inflation may further exacerbate other risk factors, including supply chain disruptions, risks related to international operations and the recruitment and retention of qualified employees.
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Our high fixed costs may make it more difficult for us to respond to economic cycles.
A significant portion of our cost structure is fixed, including manufacturing overhead, capital equipment and research and development costs. In a prolonged economic downturn, these fixed costs may cause our gross margins to erode and our earnings to decline.
We may experience difficulties implementing upgrades to our enterprise resource planning system.software systems.
We continue to be engagedengage in a multi-year implementation ofimplementations and upgrades to our enterprise resource planning system (ERP) and other systems.software systems, including to our Enterprise Resource Planning (“ERP”) system. The ERP is designed to accurately maintain the company’s books and records and provide information important to the operation of the business to the company’sCompany’s management team. These upgrades will requireAny software implementation or upgrade requires significant investment of human and financial resources. In implementing the ERP upgrade,resources and we may experience significant delays, increased costs and other difficulties. Any significant disruption or deficiency in the design and implementation of theour software systems, including our ERP, upgrades could adversely affect our ability to process orders, ship product, send invoices and track payments, fulfill contractual obligations or otherwise operate our business. While we have investedinvest significant resources in planning and project management, significant implementation issues may arise.
Normal operations at our key manufacturing facilities may be interrupted.
Some of our key products, including fire hydrants, and iron gate valves, service brass products, and repair products are manufactured at a single facility or few manufacturing facilities, that depend on critical pieces of heavy equipment that cannot be moved economically moved to other locations. We are therefore limited in our ability to shift production among locations. The operations at our manufacturing facilities may be interrupted or impaired by various operating risks, including, but not limited to:
•Catastrophic events, such as fires, floods, explosions, natural disasters, severe weather or other similar occurrences;occurrences,
•Terrorist attacks, war, mass shootings or other acts of violence;violence,
•Interruptions in the delivery of raw materials, shortages of equipment or spare parts, or other manufacturing inputs;inputs,
•Adverse government regulations;regulations,
•Equipment or information systems breakdowns or failures;failures,
•Violations of our permit requirements or revocation of permits;permits,
•Releases of pollutants and hazardous substances to air, soil, surface water or ground water;water,
•Labor disputes, and
The occurrence of any of these events may impair our production capabilities and adversely affect our sales, profitability and cash flows.
Any inability to protect our intellectual property or our failure to effectively defend against intellectual property infringement claims could adversely affect our competitive position.
Our business depends on our technology and expertise, which were largely developed internally and are not subject to statutory protection. We rely on a combination of patent protection, copyright and trademark laws, trade secrets protection, employee and third-party confidentiality agreements andas well as technical measures to protect our intellectual property rights. The measures thatmethods we takeemploy to protect our intellectual property rights may not adequately deter infringement, misappropriation or independent development of our technology, and they may not prevent an unauthorized party from obtaining or using information or intellectual property that we regard as proprietary or keep others from using brand names similar to our own. The disclosure, misappropriation or infringement of our intellectual property could harm our competitive position. In addition, our actions to enforce our rights may result in substantial costs and the diversion of management time and other resources. We may also be subject to intellectual property infringement claims from time to time, which may result in additional expenses and divertingthe diversion of resources to respond to these claims. Finally, for those products in our portfolio that rely on patent protection, once a patent has expired the product is more subjectfurther subjected to competition. Products under patent protection potentially generate significantly higher revenue and earnings than those not protected by patents. If we fail to successfully enforce our intellectual
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property rights or register new patents, our competitive position could suffer, which could adversely affect our business, financial condition, results of operations and cash flows.
If we do not successfully maintain our information and technology networks, including the security of those networks, our operations could be disrupted and unanticipated increases in costs and/or decreases in revenues could result.
We rely on various information technology systems, some of which are controlled by outside service providers, to manage key aspects of our operations. The proper functioning of our information technology systems is important to the successful operation of our business. If critical information technology systems fail, or are otherwise unavailable, our ability to manufacture products, process orders, track credit risk, identify business opportunities, maintain proper levels of inventories, collect accounts receivable, pay expenses and otherwise manage our business would be adversely affected.
We depend on the Internet and our information technology infrastructure for electronic communications among our locations around the world and among our personnel and suppliers and customers. Cyber and other data security breaches of this infrastructure can create system disruptions, shutdowns or unauthorized disclosure of confidential information. If we or our service providers are unable to prevent these breaches, our operations could be disrupted or we may suffer financial, reputational or other harm because of lost or misappropriated information.
We may fail to effectively manage confidential data, which could harm our reputation, result in substantial additional costs and subject us to litigation.
As we grow our Technologies businesses,technology-enabled products, services and solutions, we continue to accumulate increasing volumes of customer data. In addition, we store personal information in connection with our human resources operations. Our efforts to protect this information may be unsuccessful due toas a result of employee errors or malfeasance, technical malfunctions, the actions of third parties (suchsuch as cyber attack)a cyberattack or other factors. If our cyber defenses and other countermeasures we deploy are unable to protect personal data, it could be accessed or disclosed improperly, which could expose us to liability, harm our reputation and deter current and potential users from using our products and services. The regulatory environment related to cyber and information security, data collection and privacy is increasingly rigorous, with new and constantly changing requirements applicable to our business, and compliance with those requirements could result in additional costs.
Cyberattacks and security vulnerabilities could lead to reduced revenue, increased costs, liability claims, unauthorized access to customer data, or harm to our reputation.
We may have no current capability to detect certain vulnerabilities, which may allow them to persist in the environment over long periods of time. CyberthreatsCybersecurity threats can have cascading impacts that unfold with increasing speed across our internal networks and systems and those of our partners and customers. Breaches of our facilities, network, or data security could disrupt the security of our systems and business applications, impair our ability to provide services to our customers and protect the privacy of their data, result in product development delays, compromise confidential or technical business information harming our reputation, result in theft or misuse of our intellectual property or other assets, require us to allocate more resources to improved technologies, or otherwise adversely affect our business.
Misuse of our technology-enabled products, services and solutions could lead to reduced revenue, increased costs, liability claims, or harm to our reputation.
As we continue to design and develop products, services and solutions that leverage our hosted or cloud-based resources, the internet-of-things and other wireless/remote technologies and include networks of distributed and interconnected devices that contain sensors, data transfers and other computing capabilities, our customers’ data and systems may be subjected to harmful or illegal content or attacks, including potential cybersecurity threats. Additionally, we may not have adequately anticipated or precluded such cybersecurity threats through our product design or development. These products, services and
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solutions inevitably contain vulnerabilities or critical security defects which may not been remedied and cannot be disclosed without compromising security. We may also make prioritization decisions in determining which vulnerabilities or security defects to fix, and the timing of these fixes, which could result in compromised security. These vulnerabilities and security defects could expose us or our customers to a risk of loss, disclosure, or misuse of information/data; adversely affect our operating results; result in litigation, liability, or regulatory action (including under laws related to privacy, data protection, data security, network security, and consumer protection); deter customers or sellers from using our products, services and solutions; and otherwise harm our business and reputation.
We are subject to a variety of claims, investigations and litigation that could adversely affect our results of operations and harm our reputation.
In the normal course of our business, we are subject to claims and lawsuits, including from time to time claims for damages related to product liability and warranties, investigations by governmental agencies, litigation alleging the infringement of intellectual property rights and litigation related to employee matters and commercial disputes. We may also be subject to investigations, claims, litigation and other proceedings outside the ordinary course of business, such as the February 2019June 2021 mass shooting event we experienced in our Aurora, IllinoisAlbertville, Alabama facility. Defending these lawsuits and becoming involved in these investigations may divert our management’s attention, and may cause us to incur significant expenses, even if there is no evidence that our systems or componentspractices were the cause of the claim. In addition, we may be required to pay damage awards, penalties or settlements, or become subject to injunctions or other equitable remedies, that could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition, results of operations and cash flows. Moreover, any insurance or indemnification rights that we have may be insufficient or unavailable to protect us against potential loss exposures. See “Item 1. BUSINESS - Regulatory and Environmental Matters,” “Item 3. LEGAL PROCEEDINGS - Environmental,” “Item 7. MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS - Contingencies” and Note 17. of the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.
We are subject to stringent environmental, health and safety laws and regulations that impose significant compliance costs. Any failure to satisfy these laws and regulations may adversely affect us.
We are subject to stringent laws and regulations relating to the protection of the environment, health and safety and incur significant capital and other expenditures to comply with these requirements. Failure to comply with any environmental, health or safety requirements could result in the assessment of damages, the imposition of penalties, suspension of production, changes to equipment or processes or a cessation of operations at our facilities, any of which could have a material adverse effect on our business. Because these laws are complex, subject to change and may be applied retroactively, we cannot predict with certainty the extent of our future liabilities with respect to environmental, health and safety matters and whether they will be material.
In addition, certain statutes such as CERCLA may impose joint and several liability for the costs of remedial investigations and actions on entities that generated waste, arranged for disposal of waste, transported to or selected the disposal sites and the past and present owners and operators of such sites. All such “potentially responsible parties” (“PRP”) (or, or any one of them, including us)us, may be required to bear all of such costs regardless of fault, the legality of the original disposal or ownership of the disposal site. As a result, we may be required to conduct investigations and perform remedial activities at current and former operating and manufacturing sites where we have been deemed, or in the future could be, named a PRP with respect to such environmental liabilities, any of which could require us to incur material costs. The final remediation costs of these environmental sites may exceed current estimated costs, and additional sites in the future may require material remediation expenses. If actual expenditures exceed our estimates, our results of operations and financial position could be materially and adversely affected. See “Item 1. BUSINESS - Regulatory and Environmental Matters,” “Item 3. LEGAL PROCEEDINGS - Environmental,” “Item 7. MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS - Contingencies” and Note 17. of the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.
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We rely on successors to Tyco to indemnify us for certain liabilities and they may become financially unable or fail to comply with the terms of the indemnity.
Under the terms of the acquisition agreement relating to the August 1999 sale by Tyco of our businesses to a previous ownerwhich make up certain of these businesses,the companies within Mueller Water Products, Inc., we are indemnified by certain Tyco entities (“Tyco Indemnitors”) for all liabilities arising in connection with the operation of these businesses prior to their sale by Tyco, including with respect to products manufactured or sold prior to the closing of that transaction, as well as certain environmental liabilities. These indemnities survive indefinitely and are not subject to any dollar limits. In the past, Tyco Indemnitors have made substantial payments and assumed defense of claims in connection with these indemnification obligations. Tyco’s indemnity does not cover liabilities to the extent caused by us or the operation of our businesses after August 1999, nor does it cover liabilities arising with respect to businesses or sites acquired after August 1999. Since 2007, Tyco has engaged in multiple corporate restructurings, split-offs and divestitures. The result of these transactions is that the assets of, and control over, Tyco Indemnitors has changed. Should any Tyco Indemnitor become financially unable or fail to comply with the terms of the indemnity, we may be responsible for such obligations or liabilities.
Risks related to our human capital
We depend on qualified personnel and, if we are unable to retain or hire executive officers, key employees and
skilled personnel, we may not be able to achieve our strategic objectives and our business may be adversely
affected.
Our ability to expand or maintain our business depends on our ability to hire, train and retain employees with the skills necessary to understand and adapt to the continuously developing needs of our customers. The increasing demand for qualified personnel makes it more difficult for us to attract and retain employees with requisite skill sets, particularly employees with specialized technical and trade experience. Changing demographics and labor work force trends also may result in a loss of knowledge and skills as experienced workers retire. If we fail to attract, motivate, train and retain qualified personnel, or if we experience excessive turnover, we may experience declining sales, manufacturing delays or other inefficiencies, increased recruiting, training and relocation costs and other difficulties, and our business, financial condition, results of operations and cash flows could be materially and adversely affected. Competition for qualified personnel is intense and we may not be successful in attracting or retaining qualified personnel, which could negatively impact our business.
If we are unable to negotiate collective bargaining agreements on satisfactory terms or we experience strikes, work stoppages, labor unrest or higher than normal absenteeism, our business could suffer.
Many of our employees at our manufacturing locations are covered by collective bargaining agreements. While we generally have been able to renegotiate collective bargaining agreements on generally satisfactory terms, negotiations may be challenging as the Company must have a competitive cost structure in each market while meeting the compensation and benefits needs of our employees. If we are unable to renew collective bargaining agreements on satisfactory terms, our labor costs could increase, which could impact our financial position and results of operations. Strikes, work stoppages or other forms of labor unrest at any of our plants could impair our ability to supply products to our distributors and customers, which could reduce our revenues, increase our expenses and expose us to customer claims.
Furthermore, our ability to meet product delivery commitments and labor needs while controlling labor costs is subject to numerous external factors, including, but not limited to:
•Market pressures with respect to prevailing wage rates,
•Unemployment levels,
•Health and other insurance costs,
•The impact of legislation or regulations governing labor relations, immigration, minimum wage, and healthcare benefits,
•Changing demographics, and
•Our reputation within the labor market.
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We also compete with many other industries and businesses for most of our hourly production employees. An inability to provide wages and/or benefits that are competitive could adversely impact our ability to attract and retain employees. Further, changes in market compensation rates may adversely affect our labor costs.
Our expenditures for pension obligations could be materially higher than we have predicted.
We provide pension benefits to certain current and former employees. To determine our future payment obligations under the plans, certain rates of return on the plans’ assets, growth rates of certain costs and participant longevity have been estimated. The proportion of the assets held by our U.S.United States pension plan invested in fixed income securities, instead of equity securities, has increaseddecreased over historical levels. This shift in asset allocation has not resulted in a decrease in thematerial change to our estimated rate of return on plan assets for this plan. Assumed discount rates, expected return on plan assets and participant longevity have significant effects on the amounts reported for the pension obligations and pension expense.
The funded status of our pension plans canmay also be influenced by regulatory requirements, which can change unexpectedly and impose higher costs if funding levels are below certain thresholds. We may increase contributions to our pension plans to avoid or reduce these higher costs.
Significant adverse changes in credit and capital markets or changes in investments could result in discount rates or actual rates of return on plan assets being materially lower than projected and require us to increase pension contributions in future years to meet funding level requirements. Increasing life spans for plan participants may increase the estimated benefit payments and increase the amounts reported for pension obligations, pension contributions and pension expense. If increased funding requirements are particularly significant and sustained, our overall liquidity could be materially reduced, which could cause us among other things, to reduce investments and capital expenditures, or restructure or refinance our debt.debt, among other things.
Risks related to our international operations
Any failure to satisfy international trade laws and regulations or to otherwise comply with changes or other trade developments may adversely affect us.
Our operations require importing and exporting goods and technology among countries on a regular basis. Thus, the sale and shipment of our products and services across international borders, as well as the purchase of components and products from international sources, subject us to extensive trade laws and regulations. Trade laws and regulations are complex, differ by country, and are enforced by a variety of government agencies. Because we are subject to extensive trade laws and regulations in the countries in which we operate, we are subject to the risk that laws and regulations could change in a waymanner that would expose us to additional costs, penalties or liabilities, and our policies and procedures may not always protect us from actions that would violate international trade laws and regulations. For example, certain federal legislation requires the use of American iron and steel products in certain water projects receiving certain federal appropriations. We have incurred costs in connection with ensuring our ability to certify to these requirements, including those associated with enhancing our assembly operations and sourcing practices. As a result of the varying legal and regulatory requirements to which our cross-border activities are subject, we may not always be in compliance with the trade laws and regulations in all respects. Any improper actions could subject us to civil or criminal penalties, including material monetary fines, or other adverse actions, including denial of import or export privileges, and could harm our reputation and our business prospects.
If significant tariffs or other restrictions continue to be placed on foreign imports by the United States and related countermeasures are taken by impacted foreign countries, our revenue and results of operations may be harmed. For example, trade tensions between the United States and China have led to series of significant tariffs on the importation of certain product categories over recent years. The materials subject to these tariffs could impact our raw material costs as well. However, if further tariffs are imposed on a broader range of imports, or if further retaliatory trade measures are taken by China or other countries in response to additional tariffs, we may make it more difficult for usbe required to respond to economic cycles.
The prices of our purchased components and raw materials can be volatile.
Our operations require substantial amounts of purchased components and raw materials, such as scrap steel, sand, resin, brass ingot and steel pipe. We generally purchase components and raw materials at current market prices. The cost and availability of these materials are subject to economic forces largely beyond our control, including North American and international demand, inflation, foreign currency exchange rates, freight costs, tariffs, commodity speculation and commodity speculation.other external factors beyond our control, such as the COVID-19 pandemic or other supply chain
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challenges. Inflation in raw material costs has occurred in fiscal 2022, which has led to increased raw material price volatility and costs, which we expect to continue into fiscal 2023.
We may not be able to pass on the entire cost of price increases, or at all, for purchased components and raw materials to our customers or offset fully the effects of these higher costs through productivity improvements. In particular, when purchased component or raw material prices increase rapidly or to significantly higher than normal levels, we may not be able to pass cost increases through to our customers on a timely basis, if at all, which would reduce our profitability and cash flows. In addition, if purchased components or raw materials wereare not available or not available on commercially reasonable terms, our sales, profitability and cash flows would be reduced. Our competitors may secure more reliable sources of purchased components and raw materials or they may obtain these supplies on more favorable terms than we do, which could give them a cost advantage.
The negative impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on our productsoperations may increase.
The COVID-19 pandemic has had, and services may adversely affect our financial results.
operations as discussed in PART II, “Item 7. MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS.” We may be affected by new governmental legislation and regulations relating to carbon dioxide emissions.
We may not be ablehave incurred additional costs to efficiently integrate future acquisitions.
address the pandemic as discussed in PART II, “Item 7. MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS”, including costs associated with unfavorable volume variances, voluntary emergency paid leave, incentive payments for vaccinations, additional cleaning, disinfectants and sanitation materials for our employees and at our facilities. We expect to continue making acquisitionsto incur such costs, which may be significant, as partwe continue to implement operational changes in response to the pandemic. The pandemic is causing disruptions in our supply chain that have caused and could result in further higher costs in the manufacture and delivery of our long-term business strategy. These acquisitionsproducts. We expect these conditions to persist for the near term and may worsen until the pandemic abates. Further, we expect additional costs, added administrative burdens and other transactionsnegative cost and arrangements involve significant challengesoperational impacts as a result of the United States’ Occupational Safety and risks, including that they do not advanceHealth Administration (“OSHA”) emergency temporary standard (the “Vaccine/Test Mandate”) related to COVID-19 vaccination and testing requirements.
Continued disruptions in our markets and the global economy may cause us to have to assess impairments of our assets and cause us to incur and record non-cash impairment charges.
Management is focused on mitigating the impact of the pandemic on our operations, which has required, and will continue to require, a large investment of time and resources across our business strategy,and may delay other strategic initiatives and large capital projects that we get an unsatisfactory return onare important to the business. Additionally, many of our investment, that we have difficulty integratingemployees are working remotely. An extended period of remote work arrangements could strain our business continuity plans, introduce operational risk, including but not limited to cybersecurity risks, and retaining new employees, business systems, and technology, or that they distract management from our other businesses. The success of these transactions and arrangements will depend in part onconsequently impair our ability to leverage themmanage our business.
The extent to enhancewhich the pandemic and the evolving regulatory environment impacts us will depend on a number of factors and developments that we are not able to predict or control, including, among others: the severity of the virus; the duration of the outbreak; governmental, business and other actions which could include limits on funding for our existing products or services; the health of and services or develop compelling new ones. It may take longer than expected to realize the full benefits from these transactionseffect on our workforce; and arrangements,the potential effects on our internal controls including those over financial reporting and information technology as a result of changes in working environments such as increased revenue, enhanced efficiencies,shelter-in-place and similar orders that are applicable to our employees, including management. In addition, if the pandemic continues to create disruptions or increased market share,turmoil in the credit or the benefits may ultimately be smaller than we expected. These eventsfinancial markets, it could adversely affect our operatingability to access capital on favorable terms, it at all, and continue to meet our liquidity needs, all of which are highly uncertain and cannot be predicted.
The pandemic may also impact third parties with which we do business, and each of their financial conditions, including their viability and ability to pay for our products and services, which could adversely impact us. The extent of the impact of the pandemic on our operations and financial results or financial condition.
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changing and future impacts may materialize that are not yet known.
Item 2.PROPERTIES
Our principal properties are listed below.
| Location | Activity | Owned or leased | ||||||||||||||||||
| Manufacturing | 422,000 | Owned | ||||||||||||||||||
| Manufacturing | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Leased | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Distribution | Leased | |||||||||||||||||||
| 50,000 | Leased | |||||||||||||||||||
| Leased | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Chattanooga, TN | ||||||||||||||||||||
| General and administration | 17,000 | Leased | ||||||||||||||||||
| Chattanooga, TN | Research and development | 22,000 | Leased | |||||||||||||||||
| Cleveland, | Manufacturing | Owned | ||||||||||||||||||
| Manufacturing | Owned | |||||||||||||||||||
| Manufacturing | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Leased | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Leased | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Leased | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Sharjah, United Arab Emirates | Distribution | 10,000 | Leased | |||||||||||||||||
| Research and development | Leased | |||||||||||||||||||
| Toronto, Ontario | Research and development | 18,000 | Leased | |||||||||||||||||
We consider our facilities to be well maintained and believe we have sufficient capacity to meet our anticipated needs through 2020.2023. Our leased properties have terms expiring at various dates through 2028.
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Item 3.LEGAL PROCEEDINGS
We are involved in various legal proceedings that have arisen in the normal course of operations, including the proceedings summarized below.operations. The effect of the outcome of these matters on our financial statements cannot be predicted with certainty as any such effect depends on the amount and timing of the resolution of such matters. Other than the litigation described below,elsewhere in this Annual Report, we do not believe that any of our outstanding litigation would have a material adverse effect on our business or prospects.
See “Item 1. BUSINESS - Regulatory and Environmental Matters,” “Item 1A. RISK FACTORS - We are subject to increasingly stringent environmental, health and safety laws and regulations that impose significant compliance costs. Any failure to satisfy these laws and regulations may adversely affect us,” “Item 7. MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS - Contingencies” and Note 17. of the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.
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PART II
Item 5.MARKET FOR REGISTRANT’S COMMON EQUITY, RELATED STOCKHOLDER MATTERS AND ISSUER PURCHASES OF EQUITY SECURITIES
Our common stock is listed on the New York Stock Exchange under the trading symbol MWA.
Covenants contained in certain of the debt instruments described in Note 7.8. of the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements restrict the amount we canour ability to declare and pay in cash dividends. Future dividends will be declared at the discretion of our boardBoard of directorsDirectors and will depend on our future earnings, financial condition and other factors.
At September 30, 2022, there w2019ere 97 s, there were 102 stockholderstockholders of record for our common stock. This figure does not include stockholders whose shares are held in street namethe account of a stockbroker, bank or custodian on behalf of a stockholder or shares which are otherwise beneficially held.
Equity Compensation Plan Information
Sale of Unregistered Securities
We did not issue any unregistered securities within the past three years.
Issuer Purchases of Equity Securities
During the three months ended September 30, 2022, we repurchased 830,842 shares of our common stock in the quarter endedfor$10.0 million under our share repurchase authorization, and we had $100.0 million remaining under this authorization as of September 30, 2019.2022.
| Period | Total number of shares purchased | Average price paid per share | Total number of shares purchased as part of publicly announced plans or programs | Maximum dollar value of shares that may yet be purchased under the plans or programs (in millions) | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| July 1-31, 2022 | 200 | $ | 11.74 | — | $ | 110.0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
| August 1-31, 2022 | 830,842 | $ | 12.02 | 830,842 | $ | 100.0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
| September 1-30, 2022 | 3,681 | $ | 10.53 | — | $ | 100.0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Total | 834,723 | $ | 12.01 | 830,842 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
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Stock Price Performance Graph
The following graph compares the Company’s cumulative quarterly stock market performance of our common stock price performance with the Russell 2000 Stock Index (“Russell 2000”) and the Dow Jones U.S. Building Materials & Fixtures Index (“DJ U.S. Building Materials & Fixtures”) since September 30, 2014.2017. Total return values were calculated based on cumulative total return assuming (i) the investment of $100 in our common stock, the Russell 2000 and the DJ U.S. Building Materials & Fixtures on the dates indicated and (ii) reinvestment of all dividends.
Item 6. [Reserved]
Not applicable.
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| 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 | ||||||||||||||||
| (in millions, except per share data) | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Statement of operations data: | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Net sales | $ | 968.0 | $ | 916.0 | $ | 826.0 | $ | 800.6 | $ | 793.4 | ||||||||||
| Cost of sales | 647.1 | 626.1 | 558.1 | 531.7 | 547.5 | |||||||||||||||
| Gross profit | 320.9 | 289.9 | 267.9 | 268.9 | 245.9 | |||||||||||||||
| Selling, general and administrative expenses | 182.7 | 166.7 | 155.4 | 149.5 | 147.6 | |||||||||||||||
| Loss on Walter receivable | — | — | — | — | 11.6 | |||||||||||||||
| Gain on sale of idle property | (2.4 | ) | (9.0 | ) | — | — | — | |||||||||||||
| Other charges | 16.3 | 10.5 | 10.4 | 7.2 | 7.9 | |||||||||||||||
| Interest expense, net | 19.8 | 20.9 | 22.2 | 23.6 | 27.5 | |||||||||||||||
| Loss on early extinguishment of debt | — | 6.5 | — | — | 31.3 | |||||||||||||||
| Walter Energy Accrual | 22.0 | — | — | — | — | |||||||||||||||
| Pension costs other than service | 0.4 | 1.0 | 1.4 | 19.3 | (0.8 | ) | ||||||||||||||
| Gain on settlement of interest rate swap contracts | — | (2.4 | ) | — | — | — | ||||||||||||||
| Income before income taxes | 82.1 | 95.7 | 78.5 | 69.3 | 20.8 | |||||||||||||||
| Income tax (benefit) expense | 18.3 | (9.9 | ) | 24.2 | 24.2 | 8.3 | ||||||||||||||
| Income from continuing operations | 63.8 | 105.6 | 54.3 | 45.1 | 12.5 | |||||||||||||||
Discontinued operations(1) | — | — | 69.0 | 18.8 | 18.4 | |||||||||||||||
| Net income | $ | 63.8 | $ | 105.6 | $ | 123.3 | $ | 63.9 | $ | 30.9 | ||||||||||
| Earnings per basic share: | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Continuing operations | $ | 0.40 | $ | 0.67 | $ | 0.34 | $ | 0.28 | $ | 0.08 | ||||||||||
Discontinued operations(1) | — | — | 0.43 | 0.12 | 0.11 | |||||||||||||||
| Net income | $ | 0.40 | $ | 0.67 | $ | 0.77 | $ | 0.40 | $ | 0.19 | ||||||||||
| Earnings per diluted share: | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Continuing operations | $ | 0.40 | $ | 0.66 | $ | 0.34 | $ | 0.28 | $ | 0.08 | ||||||||||
Discontinued operations(1) | — | — | 0.42 | 0.11 | 0.11 | |||||||||||||||
| Net income | $ | 0.40 | $ | 0.66 | $ | 0.76 | $ | 0.39 | $ | 0.19 | ||||||||||
| Weighted average shares outstanding: | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Basic | 157.8 | 158.2 | 160.1 | 161.3 | 160.5 | |||||||||||||||
| Diluted | 159.0 | 159.7 | 161.8 | 163.4 | 163.2 | |||||||||||||||
| Balance sheet data (at September 30): | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Cash and cash equivalents | $ | 176.7 | $ | 347.1 | $ | 361.7 | $ | 195.0 | $ | 113.1 | ||||||||||
| Working capital | 388.4 | 518.4 | 528.7 | 426.5 | 381.5 | |||||||||||||||
| Property, plant and equipment, net | 217.1 | 150.9 | 122.3 | 108.4 | 100.0 | |||||||||||||||
| Total assets | 1,337.3 | 1,291.9 | 1,258.3 | 1,280.6 | 1,229.8 | |||||||||||||||
| Total debt | 446.3 | 445.0 | 480.6 | 484.4 | 488.3 | |||||||||||||||
| Long-term liabilities | 566.5 | 560.0 | 627.2 | 675.3 | 694.0 | |||||||||||||||
| Total liabilities | 745.0 | 727.1 | 768.8 | 861.1 | 862.0 | |||||||||||||||
| Total equity | 592.3 | 564.8 | 489.5 | 419.5 | 367.8 | |||||||||||||||
| Other data (year ended September 30): | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Depreciation and amortization | 53.0 | 43.7 | 41.9 | 39.5 | 43.4 | |||||||||||||||
| Capital expenditures | 86.6 | 55.7 | 40.6 | 31.5 | 27.2 | |||||||||||||||
| Cash dividends declared per share | 0.2025 | 0.190 | 0.150 | 0.100 | 0.075 | |||||||||||||||
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 related notes theretoincluded in Item 8. “Financial Statements and Supplementary Data” of this Annual Report. This discussion and analysis contains forward-looking statements that appear elsewhereinvolve risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause actual results to differ materially from those projected in this annual report.any forward-looking statements, as discussed in “Disclosure Regarding Forward-Looking Statements.” These risks and uncertainties include but are not limited to those set forth in “Item 1A. RISK FACTORS”.
Overview
Business
We adopted a new management structure effective October 1, 2021 which resulted in a change to our reportable segments. Under this new structure, we operate our business through two segments, InfrastructureWater Flow Solutions and Technologies.Water Management Solutions.
We estimate approximately 60% to 65% of the Company’s 20192022 net sales were associated with repair and replacement directly related to municipal water infrastructure spending, approximately 25% to 30% were related to residential construction activity and less than 10% were related to natural gas utilities.
Consolidated
26
Results of Operations
Year Ended September 30, 20192022 Compared to Year Ended September 30, 20182021
| Year ended September 30, 2022 | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Water Flow Solutions | Water Management Solutions | Corporate | Consolidated | ||||||||||||||||||||
| (in millions) | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Net sales | $ | 714.1 | $ | 533.3 | $ | — | $ | 1,247.4 | |||||||||||||||
| Gross profit | 212.4 | 151.9 | — | $ | 364.3 | ||||||||||||||||||
| Operating expenses: | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Selling, general and administrative | 87.1 | 102.8 | 48.8 | 238.7 | |||||||||||||||||||
| Strategic reorganization and other charges | 0.2 | 0.4 | 6.6 | 7.2 | |||||||||||||||||||
| Goodwill impairment | 6.8 | — | — | 6.8 | |||||||||||||||||||
| Total operating expenses | 94.1 | 103.2 | 55.4 | 252.7 | |||||||||||||||||||
| Operating income (loss) | $ | 118.3 | $ | 48.7 | $ | (55.4) | 111.6 | ||||||||||||||||
| Pension benefit other than service | (3.9) | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Interest expense, net | 16.9 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Income before income taxes | 98.6 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Income tax expense | 22.0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Net income | $ | 76.6 | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Year ended September 30, 2021 | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Water Flow Solutions | Water Management Solutions | Corporate | Consolidated | ||||||||||||||||||||
| (in millions) | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Net sales | $ | 617.8 | $ | 493.2 | $ | — | $ | 1,111.0 | |||||||||||||||
| Gross profit | $ | 202.8 | $ | 155.7 | $ | — | $ | 358.5 | |||||||||||||||
| Operating expenses: | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Selling, general and administrative | 81.8 | 85.8 | 51.2 | 218.8 | |||||||||||||||||||
| Strategic reorganization and other charges (benefits) | 0.1 | (0.4) | 8.3 | 8.0 | |||||||||||||||||||
| Total operating expenses | 81.9 | 85.4 | 59.5 | 226.8 | |||||||||||||||||||
| Operating income (loss) | $ | 120.9 | $ | 70.3 | $ | (59.5) | 131.7 | ||||||||||||||||
| Pension benefit other than service | (3.3) | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Interest expense, net | 23.4 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Loss on early extinguishment of debt | 16.7 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Income before income taxes | 94.9 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Income tax expense | 24.5 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Net income | $ | 70.4 | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Year ended September 30, 2019 | |||||||||||||||
| Infrastructure | Technologies | Corporate | Total | ||||||||||||
| (in millions) | |||||||||||||||
| Net sales | $ | 871.0 | $ | 97.0 | $ | — | $ | 968.0 | |||||||
| Gross profit | 302.9 | 18.0 | — | $ | 320.9 | ||||||||||
| Operating expenses: | |||||||||||||||
| Selling, general and administrative | 121.3 | 26.7 | 34.7 | 182.7 | |||||||||||
| Gain on sale of idle property | (2.4 | ) | — | — | (2.4 | ) | |||||||||
| Strategic reorganization and other charges | 1.7 | — | 14.6 | 16.3 | |||||||||||
| 120.6 | 26.7 | 49.3 | 196.6 | ||||||||||||
| Operating income (loss) | $ | 182.3 | $ | (8.7 | ) | $ | (49.3 | ) | 124.3 | ||||||
| Pension costs other than service | 0.4 | ||||||||||||||
| Interest expense, net | 19.8 | ||||||||||||||
| Walter Energy Accrual | 22.0 | ||||||||||||||
| Income before income taxes | 82.1 | ||||||||||||||
| Income tax expense | 18.3 | ||||||||||||||
| Net income | $ | 63.8 | |||||||||||||
| Year ended September 30, 2018 | |||||||||||||||
| Infrastructure | Technologies | Corporate | Total | ||||||||||||
| (in millions) | |||||||||||||||
| Net sales | $ | 818.8 | $ | 97.2 | $ | — | $ | 916.0 | |||||||
| Gross profit | $ | 284.7 | $ | 5.2 | $ | — | $ | 289.9 | |||||||
| Operating expenses: | |||||||||||||||
| Selling, general and administrative | 104.5 | 29.5 | 32.7 | 166.7 | |||||||||||
| Gain on sale of idle property | — | — | (9.0 | ) | (9.0 | ) | |||||||||
| Other charges | 0.1 | 0.1 | 10.3 | 10.5 | |||||||||||
| 104.6 | 29.6 | 34.0 | 168.2 | ||||||||||||
| Operating income (loss) | $ | 180.1 | $ | (24.4 | ) | $ | (34.0 | ) | 121.7 | ||||||
| Pension costs other than service | 1.0 | ||||||||||||||
| Interest expense, net | 20.9 | ||||||||||||||
| Loss on early extinguishment of debt | 6.5 | ||||||||||||||
| Gain on settlement of interest rate swap contracts | (2.4 | ) | |||||||||||||
| Income before income taxes | 95.7 | ||||||||||||||
| Income tax benefit | (9.9 | ) | |||||||||||||
| Net income | $ | 105.6 | |||||||||||||
Consolidated Analysis
Net sales for 20192022 increased 5.7%$136.4 million, or 12.3%, to $968.0$1,247.4 million from $916.0$1,111.0 million in the prior year due primarily to Krausz net sales and $34.6 millionas a result of higher pricing across both segments,most of our product lines in addition to increased volumes.
Gross profit increased $5.8 million, or 1.6%, to $364.3 million for 2022 compared with $358.5 million in the prior year. This increase was primarily a result of higher pricing and increased volumes which were partially offset lower organic volume at Infrastructure.by higher cost of sales
27
associated with inflation, unfavorable manufacturing performance, including labor challenges, and supply chain disruptions. Gross profit was $320.9 million for 2019 and $289.9 millionmargin decreased to 29.2% in 2022 as compared with 32.3% in the prior year, and gross margin increased to 33.2% in 2019 from 31.6% in the prior year. These increases were primarily due to effects of $14.1 million warranty expense in 2018, Krausz gross profit, which was negatively affected by $6.8 million of Krausz inventory fair value step up, and higher pricing exceeding cost inflation in the current year.
Selling, general and administrative expenses (“SG&A”) increased 9.6%9.1% to $182.7$238.7 million for 20192022 from $166.7$218.8 million in the prior year. The increase in SG&A was primarily a result of higher travel and trade show expenditures, higher costs associated with inflation, investments in research and development as well as information technology, and the inclusion of i2O Water, partially offset by lower incentive compensation in personnel-related expenses and foreign exchange gains. As a percentage of net sales, SG&A decreased 60 basis points to 19.1% of net sales from 19.7% in the prior year.
Strategic reorganization and other charges for 2022 of $7.2 million primarily consisted of certain transaction-related costs, expenses associated with our ongoing restructuring activities, and the Albertville tragedy. For the fiscal year 2021, Strategic reorganization and other charges of $8.0 million primarily relate to termination benefits associated with our plant closures in Aurora, Illinois and Surrey, British Columbia, Canada, the Albertville tragedy, and certain transaction-related costs, partially offset by a one-time settlement gain in connection with an indemnification of a previously owned property.
During the year ended September 30, 2022, we incurred a non-cash impairment charge on our goodwill of $6.8 million within the Water Flow Solutions segment.
Interest expense, net declined $6.5 million in 2022 from the prior year primarily as a result of the retirement of our 5.5% Senior Unsecured Notes (“5.5% Senior Notes”), which were replaced with 4.0% Senior Unsecured Notes (“4.0% Senior Notes”) as well as an increase in capitalized interest on our large capital projects, and higher interest income.
| 2022 | 2021 | ||||||||||
| (in millions) | |||||||||||
| 5.5% Senior Notes | $ | — | $ | 17.6 | |||||||
| 4.0% Senior Notes | 18.0 | 6.2 | |||||||||
| Deferred financing costs amortization | 1.0 | 1.1 | |||||||||
| ABL Agreement | 0.9 | 0.9 | |||||||||
| Capitalized interest | (2.6) | (2.3) | |||||||||
| Other interest expense | 0.3 | 0.3 | |||||||||
| Total interest expense | 17.6 | 23.8 | |||||||||
| Interest income | (0.7) | (0.4) | |||||||||
| Total interest expense, net | $ | 16.9 | $ | 23.4 | |||||||
Income tax expense of $22.0 million in 2022 resulted in an effective income tax rate of 22.3%, which was lower than the 25.8% rate in the prior year reflecting benefits from research and development tax credits and lower foreign tax rates.
Segment Analysis
Water Flow Solutions
Net sales for 2022 increased $96.3 million, or 15.6%, to $714.1 million from $617.8 million in the prior year. Net sales increased primarily as a result of higher pricing and increased volumes across most of the Water Flow Solutions segment’s product lines.
Gross profit for 2022 increased $9.6 million, or 4.7%, to $212.4 million from $202.8 million in the prior year primarily as a result of higher pricing and increased 70volumes across most product lines except for service brass products, partially offset by higher cost of sales associated with inflation and unfavorable manufacturing performance, primarily at our brass foundry. Gross margin was 29.7% in 2022, as compared with 32.8% in the prior year.
SG&A in 2022 increased 6.5% to $87.1 million from $81.8 million in the prior year primarily as a result of increased travel and trade show expenditures, higher costs associated with inflation, and investments in research and development and information technology. SG&A as a percentage of net sales was 12.2% and 13.2% for 2022 and 2021, respectively.
During the year ended September 30, 2022, Water Flow Solutions incurred a non-cash goodwill impairment charge of $6.8 million.
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Water Management Solutions
Net sales in 2022 increased 8.1% to $533.3 million from $493.2 million in the prior year primarily as a result of higher pricing across most of the Water Management Solutions segment’s product lines and increased volumes for fire hydrants, natural gas, and repair and installation product lines.
Gross profit in 2022 decreased $3.8 million to $151.9 million from $155.7 million in the prior year. Gross margin decreased to 28.5% in 2022 from 31.6% in the prior year primarily as a result of higher cost of sales associated with inflation, and unfavorable manufacturing performance, partially offset by higher pricing and increased volumes.
SG&A increased 19.8% to $102.8 million in 2022 from $85.8 million in the prior year primarily as a result of investments in research and development, the inclusion of i2O Water, increased travel and trade show expenditures, and higher costs associated with inflation, partially offset by foreign exchange gains. SG&A as a percentage of net sales was 19.3% for 2022 and 17.4% in the prior year.
Corporate
SG&A decreased by $2.4 million from $51.2 million in 2021 to $48.8 million in 2022 as a result of lower personnel-related expenses partially offset by higher costs associated with inflation.
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Year Ended September 30, 2021 Compared to Year Ended September 30, 2020
| Year ended September 30, 2021 | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Water Flow Solutions | Water Management Solutions | Corporate | Consolidated | ||||||||||||||||||||
| (in millions) | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Net sales | $ | 617.8 | $ | 493.2 | $ | — | $ | 1,111.0 | |||||||||||||||
| Gross profit | $ | 202.8 | $ | 155.7 | $ | — | $ | 358.5 | |||||||||||||||
| Operating expenses: | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Selling, general and administrative | 81.8 | 85.8 | 51.2 | 218.8 | |||||||||||||||||||
| Strategic reorganization and other (benefits) charges | 0.1 | (0.4) | 8.3 | 8.0 | |||||||||||||||||||
| Total operating expenses | 81.9 | 85.4 | 59.5 | 226.8 | |||||||||||||||||||
| Operating income (loss) | $ | 120.9 | $ | 70.3 | $ | (59.5) | 131.7 | ||||||||||||||||
| Pension benefit other than service | (3.3) | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Interest expense, net | 23.4 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Loss on early extinguishment of debt | 16.7 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Income before income taxes | 94.9 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Income tax expense | 24.5 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Net income | $ | 70.4 | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Year ended September 30, 2020 | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Water Flow Solutions | Water Management Solutions | Corporate | Consolidated | ||||||||||||||||||||
| (in millions) | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Net sales | $ | 532.2 | $ | 431.9 | $ | — | $ | 964.1 | |||||||||||||||
| Gross profit | $ | 180.0 | $ | 148.2 | $ | — | $ | 328.2 | |||||||||||||||
| Operating expenses: | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Selling, general and administrative | 75.1 | 78.8 | 44.5 | 198.4 | |||||||||||||||||||
| Strategic reorganization and other charges | — | 0.7 | 12.3 | 13.0 | |||||||||||||||||||
| Total operating expenses | 75.1 | 79.5 | 56.8 | 211.4 | |||||||||||||||||||
| Operating income (loss) | $ | 104.9 | $ | 68.7 | $ | (56.8) | 116.8 | ||||||||||||||||
| Pension benefit other than service | (3.0) | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Interest expense, net | 25.5 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Walter Energy accrual | 0.2 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Income before income taxes | 94.1 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Income tax expense | 22.1 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Net income | $ | 72.0 | |||||||||||||||||||||
Consolidated Analysis
Net sales for 2021 increased 15.2% to $1,111.0 million from $964.1 million in the prior year primarily as a result of higher volume across most of our product lines and higher pricing. Additionally, net sales benefited as a result of $6.0 million of Krausz sales from the elimination of the one-month reporting lag.
Gross profit increased $30.3 million to $358.5 million for 2021 compared with $328.2 million in the prior year. This increase was primarily a result of increased volume and higher pricing, partially offset by higher manufacturing costs as a result of inflation, higher labor costs, and a $2.4 million inventory write-off associated with the announcement of our plant closures in
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Aurora, Illinois and Surrey, British Columbia, Canada. Gross margin decreased to 32.3% in 2021 as compared with 34.0% in the prior year.
SG&A increased 10.3% to $218.8 million for 2021 from $198.4 million in the prior year. As a percentage of net sales, SG&A decreased 90 basis points to 18.9%19.7% of net sales from 18.2% of net sales20.6% in the prior year. The increase in SG&A was primarily duea result of increased personnel-related expenses, including incentive compensation, sales commissions associated with higher net sales and orders, and stock-based compensation. Additional SG&A increases were a result of inflation, new product development and information technology spending. Fiscal year 2020 SG&A included pandemic-driven benefits from temporarily reduced travel, trade show and event spending as well as temporary employee furloughs and temporary salary reductions.
Strategic reorganization and other charges of $8.0 million for 2021 primarily related to inclusion of Krausz’s SG&Atermination benefits associated with our plant closures in Aurora, Illinois and additional investment in engineering resources,Surrey, British Columbia, Canada, the Albertville tragedy, and certain transaction-related costs, partially offset by lower personnel-related expenses.
Interest expense, net declined $1.1$2.1 million in 20192021 from the prior year primarily as a result of an increase in capitalized interest associatedon our large capital projects and the retirement of our 5.5% Senior Unsecured Notes (“5.5% Senior Notes”), which were replaced with major capital expenditure projects,4.0% Senior Unsecured Notes (“4.0% Senior Notes”), partially offset by higherlower interest expense associated with the 5.5% Senior Notes, which replaced the Term Loan in June 2018. The components of interest expense, net are provided below.income.
| 2021 | 2020 | |||||||||||||||||
| 2019 | 2018 | (in millions) | ||||||||||||||||
| (in millions) | ||||||||||||||||||
| Term Loan | $ | — | $ | 14.4 | ||||||||||||||
| 5.5% Senior Notes | 24.8 | 7.5 | 5.5% Senior Notes | $ | 17.6 | $ | 24.8 | |||||||||||
| Interest rate swap contracts | — | 0.6 | ||||||||||||||||
| 4.0% Senior Notes | 4.0% Senior Notes | 6.2 | — | |||||||||||||||
| Deferred financing costs amortization | 1.2 | 1.6 | Deferred financing costs amortization | 1.1 | 1.2 | |||||||||||||
| ABL Agreement | 0.6 | 0.6 | ABL Agreement | 0.9 | 0.6 | |||||||||||||
| Capitalized interest | (3.0 | ) | — | Capitalized interest | (2.3) | (0.3) | ||||||||||||
| Other interest expense | (0.2 | ) | 0.6 | Other interest expense | 0.3 | 0.3 | ||||||||||||
| 23.3 | 25.3 | |||||||||||||||||
| Total interest expense | Total interest expense | 23.8 | 26.6 | |||||||||||||||
| Interest income | (3.5 | ) | (4.4 | ) | Interest income | (0.4) | (1.1) | |||||||||||
| $ | 19.8 | $ | 20.9 | |||||||||||||||
| Total interest expense, net | Total interest expense, net | $ | 23.4 | $ | 25.5 | |||||||||||||
Income tax was an expense of $18.3$24.5 million and ourin 2021 yielded an effective income tax rate was 22.3% in 2019. Excluding the one-time impacts from tax legislation, the effective income tax rate was 23.0%of 25.8%, which was lowerhigher than the 26.2%23.5% rate in the prior year primarily due to the change in federal statutory rates described above.year.
Segment Analysis
Net sales for 20192021 increased 6.4%$85.6 million, or 16.1%, to $871.0$617.8 million from $818.8$532.2 million in the prior year. Net sales increased primarily due to Krausz net sales as well asa result of increased volume, and favorable pricingpricing. The increased volume was a result of $33.7 million, which offset lower organic volume.strong demand driven by both residential construction and municipal repair and replacement activity.
Gross profit for 20192021 increased 6.4%$22.8 million, or 12.7%, to $302.9$202.8 million from $284.7$180.0 million in the prior year primarily dueas a result of increased volume. These increases were partially offset by higher material and other costs associated with inflation, specifically related to Krausz gross profit, which was negatively affected by $6.8brass ingot, scrap steel and purchased parts, a $2.4 million inventory write-off associated with the announcement of Krausz inventory fair value step up,the closure of our Aurora, Illinois and favorable sales pricing. Surrey, British Columbia, Canada facilities and certain expenses related to the pandemic, including voluntary emergency paid leave and other employee costs as well as additional sanitation and cleaning expenses. Gross margin was flat at 34.8% for both 2019 and32.8% in 2021, a 100 basis point decrease compared with 33.8% in the prior year.
SG&A in 20192021 increased 16.1%$6.7 million, or 8.9% to $121.3$81.8 million from $104.5$75.1 million in the prior year primarily due to the inclusionas a result of Krausz’sincreased personnel-related costs including higher sales commissions associated with higher net sales and orders, inflation, information technology spending, and new product development. Fiscal year 2020 SG&A included pandemic-driven benefits resulting from temporarily reduced travel, trade show and additional investments in engineering resources.event spending as well as temporary employee furloughs and temporary salary reductions. SG&A was 13.9%13.2% and 12.8%14.1% of net sales for 20192021 and 2018,2020, respectively.
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Net sales in 2019 decreased2021 increased 14.2% to $97.0$493.2 million from $97.2$431.9 million in the prior year primarily due to $1.0as a result of higher volumes, $6.0 million in Krausz net sales as a result of lower shipment volumes.the elimination of the one-month reporting lag, and the acquisition of i2O.
Gross profit in 20192021 increased $12.8$7.5 million to $18.0$155.7 million from $5.2$148.2 million in the prior year.year as a result of higher volumes partially offset by higher inflation. Gross margin increaseddecreased to 18.6%31.6% in 20192021 from 5.3%34.3% in the prior year. The increase in gross margin in 2019 as compared with 2018 was primarily due to the $14.1 million warranty charge in 2018.
SG&A decreasedincreased to $26.7$85.8 million in 20192021 from $29.5$78.8 million in the prior year primarily due toas a result of personnel-related expenses and information technology spending. Fiscal year 2020 SG&A included pandemic-driven benefits resulting from temporarily reduced personnel costs.travel, trade show and event spending as well as temporary employee furloughs and temporary salary reductions. SG&A as a percentage of net sales improved to 27.5%was 17.4% for 2019 from 30.3%2021 and 18.2% in the prior year.
Corporate
SG&A was $34.7increased by $6.7 million from $44.5 million in 20192020 to $51.2 million in 2021 as a result of increased personnel-related expenses and $32.7 million 2018.inflation. Fiscal year 2020 SG&A was higherincluded pandemic-driven benefits resulting from temporary reductions in 2019 due to higher investments in engineering resources, offset by lower personnel-related expenses.travel, trade show and event spending as well as temporary employee furloughs and temporary salary reductions.
Financial Condition
Cash and cash equivalents were $176.7$146.5 million at September 30, 20192022 and $347.1$227.5 million at September 30, 2018. 2021. Cash and cash equivalents decreased during 2019 due to the purchase2022 as a result of Krausz of $140.7 million, which was comprised of $127.5 million paid to the seller and the assumption of $13.2 million in debt which was immediately repaid, along with other investing activities, primarily capital expenditures of $86.6$54.7 million, and cash used in financing activities of $50.9 million, primarily dividend payments andof $36.5 million, $35.0 million in share repurchases, which wereand $6.4 million in effect of currency exchange rate changes on cash, partially offset by$52.3 million in cash provided by operating activities of $92.5 million. Cash and cash equivalents also decreased by $0.2 million during 2019 due to changes in currency exchange rates.activities.
Receivables, net were $172.8$228.0 million at September 30, 20192022 and $164.3$212.2 million at September 30, 2018. Receivables at September 30, 2019 and September 30, 2018 represented approximately 63 and 65 days2021. This increase was primarily a result of the increase in net sales respectively.year over year.
Inventories, net were $191.4$278.7 million at September 30, 20192022 and $156.6$184.7 million at September 30, 2018.2021. Inventories increased during 20192022 as a result of increased volume, inflationary costs, and inventory management due primarily to inflation in raw material and purchased parts costs, higher inventory levels at Infrastructure as well as the purchase of Krausz’s inventory.supply chain issues.
Property, plant and equipment, net was $217.1$301.6 million at September 30, 20192022 and $150.9$283.4 million at September 30, 2018, and depreciation expense was $26.0 million in 2019 compared to $20.9 million in 2018.2021. Property, plant and equipment increased due toprimarily as a result of our previously-announced capital expansion projects in Kimball, Tennessee and Decatur, Illinois. Capital expenditures were $54.7 million in 2022. Depreciation expense was $32.0 million in 2022 compared with $31.4 million in 2021 as a result of generally higher level of capital expenditures as well asover the purchase of Krausz’s property, plant and equipment . Capital expenditures, including software development costs capitalized and capitalized interest, were $86.6 million in 2019.last three years.
Intangible assets were $433.7$361.2 million at September 30, 20192022 and $408.1$392.5 million at September 30, 2018.2021. Finite-lived intangible assets, $162.3net totaling $88.5 million of net book value at September 30, 2019,2022, are amortized over their estimated useful lives. ThisAmortization expense was $28.5 million in 2022 and $28.2 million in 2021. We expect amortization expense was $27.0 million during 2019 compared to $22.8 million in 2018 and is expectedfor these assets to be approximately $25$28 million to $29and $27 million in each of the next five years.two years with a decrease to approximately $8 million in fiscal 2025, approximately $6 million in fiscal 2026 and approximately $5 million in fiscal 2027. Indefinite-lived intangible assets, $271.4$272.7 million at September 30, 2019,2022, are not amortized but are tested for possible impairment at least annually for possible impairment. We recognized $47.7 million in identifiable intangible assets in connection with the acquisition of Krausz.annually.
Accounts payable and other current liabilities were $177.6$240.2 million at September 30, 20192022 and $166.4$219.1 million at September 30, 2018. Payables2021. Accounts payable increased during 2019 due primarily to2022 as a result of increased production volume and the impact of the Walter Tax Accrualhigher inventory costs. Other current liabilities decreased during 2022 primarily as a result of lower personnel-related expenses, including incentive compensation and the assumption of Krausz’s payables , partially offset by the timing of payments.sales commissions, as well as customer rebates and income taxes.
Deferred income taxes were net liabilities of $87.9$86.3 million at September 30, 2022 and $94.8 million at September 30, 2019 and $79.22021, primarily related to intangible assets. The $8.5 million at September 30, 2018. The $8.7 million increasedecrease in the net liability was primarily due to the acquisitiona result of Krausz. Deferred tax liabilities are primarily related toreductions in intangible assets.
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Liquidity and Capital Resources
We had cash and cash equivalents of $176.7$146.5 million at September 30, 20192022 and approximately $140$160.7 million of additional borrowing capacity under our ABL Agreementasset-based lending arrangement (the “ABL”) based on September 30, 20192022 data. Undistributed earnings from our subsidiaries in Israel, Canada and China are considered to be permanently invested outside of the United States. At September 30, 2019,2022, cash and cash equivalents included $13.5$40.5 million, $8.8$18.9 million, and $4.7$5.2 million in Israel, Canada and China, respectively.
| 2019 | 2018 | ||||||
| (in millions) | |||||||
| Collections from customers | $ | 966.6 | $ | 895.5 | |||
| Disbursements, other than interest and income taxes | (821.4 | ) | (742.8 | ) | |||
| Interest payments, net | (23.6 | ) | (8.9 | ) | |||
| Income tax payments, net | (29.1 | ) | (10.7 | ) | |||
| Cash provided by operating activities | $ | 92.5 | $ | 133.1 | |||
We collected $71.1repurchased $35.0 million more cashof our outstanding common stock during the fiscal year ended September 30, 2022 and had $100.0 million remaining under our share repurchase authorization as of September 30, 2022.
The ABL and 4.0% Senior Notes contain customary representations and warranties, covenants and provisions governing an event of default. The covenants restrict our ability to engage in certain specified activities including, but not limited to, the payment of dividends and the redemption of our common stock.
Collections from customers in 2019 than in 2018, which is relatively consistentwere higher during the fiscal year ended September 30, 2022 as compared with the $52.0 million increase inprior year period primarily as a result of net sales in 2019growth. Inventory purchases increased during the fiscal year ended September 30, 2022 as compared with 2018,the fiscal year ended September 30, 2021 as a result of inflation, increased sales, and which includes collections from Krausz customers.
Capital expenditures were $86.6$54.7 million during 2019 and $55.7for 2022 compared with $62.7 million during 2018.for 2021. Capital expenditures decreased primarily as a result of lower expenditures associated with the new Decatur foundry as compared with the prior year period. We estimate 20202023 capital expenditures will be $80between $70.0 million to $90and $80.0 million. We expect our capital expenditures will be higher over the next several years as we invest more in our machinery, equipment and facilities for product introductions, enhanced productivity and maintenance. At September 30, 2019, we had nearly completed our our large casting foundry in Chattanooga, Tennessee, had announced the construction of a new brass foundry in Decatur, Illinois which will replace our existing foundry in Decatur, and had acquired a facility in Kimball, Tennessee which will support our large casting foundry and allow us to insource other parts and components which are currently being outsourced.
Income tax payments were higher during 20192022 compared towith the prior year primarily due toas a result of the timing of tax payments in 2019 relative to 2018.certain federal and state extension payments. We expect the effective tax rate in 20202023 to be between 24%23% and 26%25%.
We use letters of credit and surety bonds in the ordinary course of business to ensure the performance of contractual obligations. As of September 30, 2019,2022, we had remaining authorization$14.1 million of $150.0letters of credit and $31.1 million to repurchase shares of our common stock.surety bonds outstanding.
We anticipate our existing cash, cash equivalents and borrowing capacity combined with our expected operating cash flows will be sufficient to meet our anticipated operating expenses, acquisitionneeds, income tax payments, capital expenditures and debt service obligations as they become due through September 30, 2020.2023. However, our ability to make these payments will depend partly uponlargely on our future operating performance, which willmay be affected by general economic, financial, competitive, legislative, regulatory, business and other factors beyond our control.
ABL Agreement
Borrowings under the ABL Agreement bear interest at a floating rate equal to LIBORthe London Inter Bank Offered Rate (“LIBOR”) plus aan applicable margin ranging from 125range of 200 to 150225 basis points, or a base rate, as defined in the ABL, Agreement, plus aan applicable margin ranging from 25of 100 to 50125 basis points. At September 30, 2019,2022, the applicable LIBOR-based margin was 125 basis points. We pay a commitment fee for any unused borrowing capacity under the ABL Agreement of 25200 basis points per annum.
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The ABL Agreement terminates on July 13, 2021.
Substantially all of our U.S.United States subsidiaries are borrowers under the ABL Agreement and are jointly and severally liable for any outstanding borrowings. Our obligations under the ABL Agreement are secured by a first-priority perfected lien on all of our U.S.United States inventory, accounts receivable, certain cash balances and other supporting obligations.
The ABL includes a commitment fee for any unused borrowing capacity of 37.5 basis points per annum. Borrowings are not subject to any financial maintenance covenants unless excess availability is less than the greater of $17.5 million and 10% of the Loan Cap as defined in the ABL Agreement. The ABL AgreementABL. Excess availability based on September 30, 2022 data was $160.7 million, as reduced by $14.1 million of outstanding letters of credit and $0.2 million of accrued fees and expenses.
4.0% Senior Unsecured Notes
On May 28, 2021, we privately issued $450.0 million of 4.0% Senior Unsecured Notes (“4.0% Senior Notes”), which mature on June 15, 2029 and bear interest at 4.0%, paid semi-annually in June and December. We capitalized $5.5 million of financing costs, which are being amortized over the term of the 4.0% Senior Notes using the effective interest method. Proceeds from the 4.0% Senior Notes, along with cash on hand were used to redeem previously existing 5.5% Senior Notes. Substantially all of our U.S. subsidiaries guarantee the 4.0% Senior Notes, which are subordinate to borrowings under our ABL. Based on quoted market prices the outstanding 4.0% Senior Notes had a fair value of $382.1 million at September 30, 2022.
An indenture securing the 4.0% Senior Notes (“Indenture”) contains customary negative covenants and restrictions onevents of default, including covenants that limit our ability to engageincur certain debt and liens. We believe we were in compliance with these covenants at September 30, 2022. There are no financial maintenance covenants associated with the Indenture.
As set forth in the Indenture, we may redeem some or all of the 4.0% Senior Notes at any time prior to June 15, 2024, at certain “make-whole” redemption prices and on or after June 15, 2024 at specified activities, such as:
5.5% Senior Unsecured Notes
On June 12, 2018, we privately issued $450.0 million of 5.5% Senior Unsecured Notes (“5.5% Senior Notes”), which were set to mature in June 2026 and bearbore interest at 5.5%, paid semi-annually. Substantially all of our U.S. Subsidiaries guaranteeWe called the 5.5% Senior Notes which are subordinate to borrowings under the ABL. Based on quoted market prices, the outstanding Notes had a fair value of $470.3 million at September 30, 2019.
Credit Ratings
Our corporate credit rating and the credit ratingratings for our debt and outlook are presented below.
| Moody’s | Standard & Poor’s | ||||||
| September 30, | September 30, | ||||||
| 2019 | 2018 | 2019 | 2018 | ||||
| Corporate credit rating | Ba2 | Ba2 | BB | BB | |||
| ABL Agreement | Not rated | Not rated | Not rated | Not rated | |||
| Notes | Ba3 | Ba3 | BB | BB | |||
| Outlook | Stable | Stable | Stable | Stable | |||
| Moody’s | Standard & Poor’s | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| September 30, | September 30, | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2022 | 2021 | 2022 | 2021 | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Corporate credit rating | Ba1 | Ba1 | BB | BB | |||||||||||||||||||
| ABL Agreement | Not rated | Not rated | Not rated | Not rated | |||||||||||||||||||
| 4.0% Senior Notes | Ba1 | Ba1 | BB | BB | |||||||||||||||||||
| Outlook | Stable | Stable | Stable | Stable | |||||||||||||||||||
| 2020 | 2021-2022 | 2023-2024 | After 2024 | Total | |||||||||||||||
| (in millions) | |||||||||||||||||||
| Debt principal payments | $ | 0.9 | $ | 1.1 | $ | 0.1 | $ | 450.0 | $ | 452.1 | |||||||||
| Debt interest payments | 24.9 | 49.7 | 49.6 | 37.1 | 161.3 | ||||||||||||||
| Operating leases | 6.1 | 9.3 | 7.5 | 15.8 | 38.7 | ||||||||||||||
Unconditional purchase obligations(1) | 115.4 | 0.8 | — | — | 116.2 | ||||||||||||||
Other current liabilities(2) | — | — | — | — | — | ||||||||||||||
| $ | 147.3 | $ | 60.9 | $ | 57.2 | $ | 502.9 | $ | 768.3 | ||||||||||
Effect of Inflation
We experience changing price levels primarily related to purchased components and raw materials. InfrastructureDuring the fiscal year 2022, we experienced a 2% decrease40% increase in the average cost per ton of scrap steel and a 2% decrease20% increase in the average cost of brass ingot in 2019as compared to 2018. Technologies was also favorably affected by2021. We anticipate inflation in raw and other material costs in 2023, which may have an adverse effect on our margins to the 2% decreaseextent we are unable to pass on such higher costs to our customers.
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Material Cash Requirements
We enter into a variety of contractual obligations as part of our normal operations in the average costaddition to capital expenditures. As of brass ingot.September 30, 2022, we have (i) debt obligations related to our $450.0 million 4.0% Senior Notes which mature in 2029 and include cash interest payments of $18.0 million in 2023 annually through 2029; (ii) cumulative cash obligations of $32.6 million for operating leases through 2033 and $1.7 million for finance leases through 2026; and (iii) purchase obligations for raw materials and other purchased parts of approximately $155.1 million which we will incur during 2023. We expect to fund these cash requirements from cash on hand and cash generated from operations.
Seasonality
Our water infrastructure business depends on construction activity, which is seasonal in many areas due toas a result of the impact of cold weather conditions on construction.conditions. Net sales and operating income historically have historically been lowest in the quartersthree month periods ending December 31 and March 31 when the northern United States and all of Canada generally face weather conditions that restrict significant construction and other field crew activity. For Infrastructure, approximately 45% of a fiscal year’s net sales occurs in the first half of the fiscal year with 55% occurring in the second half of the fiscal year. See “Item 1A. RISK FACTORS-Seasonal demand for certain of our products and services may adversely affect our financial results.”
Critical Accounting Policies and Estimates
The preparation of financial statements in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States (“GAAP”) requires us to make estimates and judgments that affect the reported amounts of assets, liabilities, revenues, expenses and related disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities. These estimates are based upon experience and on various other assumptions we believe to be reasonable under the circumstances. Actual results may differ from these estimates. We consider an accounting estimate to be critical if changes in the estimate that are reasonably likely to occur over time or the use of reasonably different estimates could have a material impact on our financial condition or results of operations. We consider the accounting topics presented below to include ourOur critical accounting estimates.
Revenue Recognition
We recognize revenue when control of promised products or services is transferred to our customers, in amounts that reflect the consideration to which we expect to be entitled in exchange for those products or services. We account for a contract when it has approval and commitment from both parties, the rights of the parties are identified, the payment terms are identified, the contract has commercial substance and collectability of consideration is probable. We determine the appropriate revenue recognition for our contracts with customers by analyzing the type, terms and conditions of each contract or arrangement with a customer. See Note 3. for more information regarding our revenues.
Inventories, net
We record inventories at the lower of first-in, first-out method cost or estimated net realizable value. Inventory cost includes an overhead component that can be affected by levels of production and actual costs incurred. We evaluate the need to record adjustments for impairment of inventory at least quarterly. This evaluation includes such factors as anticipated usage, inventory levels and ultimate product sales value. If in our judgment persuasive evidence exists that the net realizable value of inventory is lower than its cost, the inventory value is written-down to its estimated net realizable value. Significant judgments regarding future events and market conditions must be made when estimating net realizable value.
Income Taxes
We recognize deferred tax liabilities and deferred tax assets for the expected future tax consequences of events that have been included in the financial statements or tax returns. Deferred tax liabilities and assets are determined based on the differences between the financial statements and the tax basis of assets and liabilities, using enacted tax rates in effect for the years in which the differences are expected to reverse. A valuation allowance is provided to offset any net deferred tax assets when, based upon the available evidence, it is more likely than not that some or all of the deferred tax assets will not be realized. Our deferred tax balancesliabilities and assets are based on our expectations of future operating performance, reversal of taxable temporary differences, tax planning strategies, interpretation of the tax regulations currently enacted and rulings in numerous tax jurisdictions.
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We only record tax benefits for positions that we believe are more likely than not of being sustained under audit examination based solely on the technical merits of the associated tax position. The amount of tax benefit recognized for any position that meets the more likely than notmore-likely-than-not threshold is the largest amount of the tax benefit that we believe is greater than 50% likely of being realized.
Accounting for the Impairment of Long-Lived Assets Including Goodwill and OtherIndefinite-lived Intangible Assets
We test goodwill and indefinite-lived intangible assets and goodwill for impairment annually (oror more frequently if events or circumstances indicate possible impairment).impairment. We testedperformed this annual impairment testing at September 1, 2022, using standard valuation methodologies and rates that we considered reasonable and appropriate.
We evaluate goodwill for impairment using a quantitative analysis. The carrying value of the reporting unit, including goodwill, is compared with the estimated fair value of the reporting unit utilizing a combination of the income and market approaches. The income approach, which is a level 3 fair value measurement, is based on projected debt-free cash flow which is discounted to the present value using discount rates that consider the timing and risk of the cash flows. The market approach is based on the guideline public company method, which uses market multiples to value our reporting units. We weight the income and market approaches in a manner considering the risks of the underlying cash flows.
This income approach is dependent on management’s best estimates of future operating results, including forecasted revenues, earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization (“EBITDA”) margins and the selection of discount rates. There are inherent uncertainties related to the assumptions used and to management's application of these assumptions.
We test our trade name indefinite-lived intangible assets for impairment using a “royalty savings method,” which is a variation of the discounted cash flow method.This method estimates a fair value by calculating an estimated discounted future cash flow stream from the hypothetical licensing of the indefinite-lived intangible assets.If this estimated fair value exceeds the carrying value, no impairment is indicated.This analysis is dependent on management’s best estimates of future operating results and the selection of reasonable discount rates and hypothetical royalty rates. Significantly different projected operating results could result in a different conclusion regarding impairment. Standard valuation methodologies using rates considered reasonable by management have not indicated an impairment. We evaluated goodwill for impairment using a qualitative analysis.
We performed thisour annual impairment testing at September 1, 2022.As a result of this quantitative testing, we recognized a $6.8 million goodwill impairment charge for a reporting unit within our Water Flow Solutions segment as the carrying value exceeded its fair value.Our determination of the estimated fair value was based on a combination of the discounted cash flow method and concluded that our indefinite-lived intangible assets and goodwill were not impaired.the guideline public company method. Our testing indicated no other impairment.
Warranty CostsCost
We accrue for warranty expenses that can include customer costs of repair and/or replacement, including labor, materials, equipment, freight and reasonable overhead costs. We accrue for the estimated cost of product warranties at the time of sale if such costs are determined to be reasonably estimable at that time. Warranty cost estimates are revised throughout applicable warranty periods as better information regarding warranty costs becomes available. Critical factors in our analyses include warranty terms, specific claim situations, general incurred and projected failure rates, the nature of product failures, product and labor costs, and general business conditions. These estimates are inherently uncertain as they are based on historical data. If warranty claims are made in the current period for issues that have not historically been the subject of warranty claims and were not taken into consideration in establishing the accrual or if claims for issues already considered in establishing the accrual exceed expectations, warranty expense may exceed the accrual for that particular product. Additionally, a significant increase in costs of repair or replacement could require additional warranty expense. We monitor and analyze our warranty experience and costs periodically and may revise our warranty accrual as necessary. However, as we cannot predict actual future claims, the potential exists for the difference in any one reporting period to be material.
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Contingencies
We are involved in litigation, investigations and claims arising out ofin the normal conductcourse of our business. We estimate and accrue liabilities resulting from such matters based on a variety of factors, including outstanding legal claims and proposed settlements; assessments by counsel of pending or threatened litigation; and assessments of potential environmental liabilities and remediation costs. We believe we have adequately accrued for these potential liabilities; however, facts and circumstances may change and could cause the actual liability to exceed the estimates, or may require adjustments to the recorded liability balances in the future. As we learn new facts concerning contingencies, we reassess our position both with respect to accrued liabilities and other potential exposures. Estimates particularly sensitive to future changes include liabilities recorded for environmental remediation, tax and legal matters. Estimated future environmental remediation costs are subject to change due toas a result of such factors as the uncertain magnitude of cleanup costs, the unknown time and extent of such remedial actions that may be required, and the determination of our liability in proportion to that of other responsible parties. Estimated future costs related to tax and legal matters are subject to change as events evolve and as additional information becomes available during the administrative and litigation processes. For more information on these and other contingencies, see Note 17. of the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements. See also ��Item“Item 1. BUSINESS - Regulatory and Environmental Matters,” “Item 1A. RISK FACTORS” and “Item 3. LEGAL PROCEEDINGS”.
We are obligated for various liabilities that ultimately will ultimately be determined over what could be very long future time periods. We established the recorded liabilities for such items at September 30, 20192022 using estimates for when such amounts will be paid and what the amounts of such payments will be. These estimates are subject to change based on numerous factors including, among others, regulatory changes, technology changes, the investment performance of related assets, longevity of participants, the discount rate used and changes to plan designs.
Business Combinations
We recognize assets acquired and liabilities assumed at their estimated acquisition date fair values, with the excess of purchase price over the estimated fair values of identifiable net assets recorded as goodwill. Assigning fair values requires us to make significant estimates and assumptions regarding the fair value of identifiable intangible assets. We may refine these estimates if necessary over a period not to exceed one year by taking into consideration new information that, if known at the acquisition date, would have affected the fair values recognized for assets acquired and liabilities assumed.
Significant estimates and assumptions are used in estimating the value of acquired identifiable intangible assets, including estimating future cash flows based on forecasted revenues and EBITDA margins that we expect to generate following the acquisition, selecting an applicable royalty rate where needed, applying an appropriate discount rate to estimate a present value of those cash flows and determining their useful lives. These assumptions are forward-looking and could be affected by future economic and market conditions.
Item 7A.QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURE ABOUT MARKET RISK
We are exposed to various market risks, including potential losses arising from adverse changes in market prices and rates, such as various commodity prices interest rates and foreign exchange rates. We do not enter into derivatives or other financial instruments for trading or speculative purposes.
Our primary financial instruments are cash and cash equivalents. This includes cash in banks and highly rated, liquid money market investments. We believe thosethese instruments are not subject to material potential near-term losses in future earnings from reasonably possible near-term changes in market rates or prices.
Commodity Price Risk
Our products are made using various purchased components and several basic raw materials, including brass ingot, scrap steel, sand and resin. We expect prices for these items to fluctuate based on marketplace demand and ourdemand. Our product margins and level of profitability may fluctuate whether or not we sufficiently pass changesincreases in purchased component and raw material costs on to our customers.
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Currency Risk
Our principal assets, liabilities and operations outside the U.S.United States are in Israel, Canada and China. These assetsForeign reporting entities are remeasured into local currencies with the effect reflected in the consolidated statements of operations. Assets and liabilities are translated into U.S.United States dollars at currency exchange rates in effect at the end of each period, with the effect of such translation reflected in other comprehensive loss.income (loss). Our stockholders’ equity will fluctuate depending upon the weakening or strengthening of the U.S.United States dollar against these non-U.S.non-United States currencies. Net sales and expenses of these subsidiaries are translated into U.S.United States dollars at the average currency exchange rate during the period. At
Item 8.FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND SUPPLEMENTARY DATA
The Reports of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm, Consolidated Financial Statements and the accompanying Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements that are filed as part of this annual reportAnnual Report are listed under “Item 15. EXHIBITS AND FINANCIAL STATEMENT SCHEDULES” and are set forth beginning on page F-1.
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Item 9A.CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES
Evaluation of Disclosure Controls and Procedures
We maintain disclosure controls and procedures that are designed to ensure that information required to be disclosed in the reports we file or submit under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”) is recorded, processed, summarized and reported within the time periods specified in the rules and forms of the Securities and Exchange Commission and that such information is accumulated and communicated to our management, including the Chief Executive Officer and the Chief Financial Officer as appropriate, to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosure.
Our Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer evaluated the effectiveness of the design and operation of our disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e) of the Exchange Act) as of the end of the period covered by this annual report.Annual Report. Based on this evaluation, those officers have concluded that, at September 30, 2019,2022, our disclosure controls and procedures were effective.
Changes in Internal Control over Financial Reporting
There werehave been no changes in internal control over financial reporting during the quarter ended September 30, 20192022 that have materially affected, or are reasonably likely to materially affect, our internal control over financial reporting.
Management’s Report on Internal Control over Financial Reporting
Management is responsible for establishing and maintaining adequate internal control over financial reporting (as defined in Rule 13a-15(f) of the Exchange Act). 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. A company’s internal control over financial reporting includes those policies and procedures that (i) pertain to the maintenance of records that, in reasonable detail, accurately and fairly reflect the transactions and dispositions of the assets of the company; (ii) provide reasonable assurance that transactions are recorded as necessary to permit preparation of financial statements in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles, and that receipts and expenditures of the company are being made only in accordance with authorizations of management and directors of the company; and (iii) provide reasonable assurance regarding prevention or timely detection of unauthorized acquisition, use, or disposition of the company’s assets that could have a material effect on the financial statements.
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. We did not include in our assessment the internal controls of Krausz, which we acquired in fiscal 2019 and included in the our results for the year ended September 30, 2019. At September 30, 2019, Krausz total assets represented 12.5% of our total assets and Krausz represented 3.9% of our net sales for the year ended September 30, 2019.
We assessed the effectiveness of our internal control over financial reporting at September 30, 2019.2022. In making this assessment, we used the criteria set forth by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission in Internal Control - Integrated Framework (2013 framework). After doing so, management concluded that, at September 30, 2019,2022, our internal control over financial reporting was effective.
The effectiveness of our internal control over financial reporting at September 30, 20192022 has been audited by Ernst & Young LLP, an independent registered public accounting firm, as stated in their report which is included in this annual report.Annual Report.
Item 9B. OTHER INFORMATION
Not applicable.
Item 9C. DISCLOSURE REGARDING FOREIGN JURISDICTIONS THAT PREVENT INSPECTIONS
Not applicable.
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PART III
Item 10. DIRECTORS, EXECUTIVE OFFICERS AND CORPORATE GOVERNANCE
The name ageand position at November 15, 201918, 2022 and positionage of each of our executive officers and directors at September 30, 20192022 are presented below.
| Name | Age | Position | ||||||||||||
| Scott Hall | President and Chief Executive Officer | |||||||||||||
| Steven S. Heinrichs | Executive Vice President, Chief Legal and Compliance Officer and Secretary | |||||||||||||
| Executive Vice President and Chief | ||||||||||||||
| William A. Cofield | Senior Vice President, Operations & Supply Chain | |||||||||||||
| Senior Vice President, Water Flow Solutions | ||||||||||||||
| Todd P. Helms | 55 | Senior Vice President and Chief Human Resources Officer | ||||||||||||
| Chad D. Mize | 46 | Senior Vice President, Sales and Marketing | ||||||||||||
| Kenji Takeuchi | 50 | Senior Vice President, Water Management Solutions | ||||||||||||
| Richelle R. Feyerherm | 51 | Vice President, Operations Controller | ||||||||||||
| Vice President | ||||||||||||||
| Mark J. O’Brien | 79 | Non-Executive Chairman of the Board of Directors | ||||||||||||
| Shirley C. Franklin | Director | |||||||||||||
| Thomas J. Hansen | Director | |||||||||||||
| Director | ||||||||||||||
| Bernard G. Rethore | Director | |||||||||||||
| Jeffery S. Sharritts | 54 | Director | ||||||||||||
| Brian L. Slobodow | 54 | Director | ||||||||||||
| Lydia W. Thomas | Director | |||||||||||||
| Michael T. Tokarz | Director | |||||||||||||
| Stephen C. Van Arsdell | Director | |||||||||||||
Scott Hall has served as our President and Chief Executive Officer since January 2017. He served as President and CEO of Textron’s Industrial segment from December 2009 until January 2017. Mr. Hall joined Textron in 2001 as president of Tempo, a multi-facility roll-up of communication test equipment. He was named president of Greenlee, a manufacturer of tools used in installing wire and cable, in 2003 when Tempo became part of Textron’s Greenlee business unit. Prior to joining Textron, Mr. Hall had several leadership roles at General Cable, a leading manufacturer of wire and cable. Mr. Hall ran General Cable’s Canadian businesses before taking over responsibility for General Cable’s global Communications business. Mr. Hall earned his Bachelor of Commerce degree from Memorial University of Newfoundland and his MBAa Master of Business Administration from the University of Western Ontario Ivey School of Business.
Steven S. Heinrichs has served as our Executive Vice President, Chief Legal and Compliance Officer and Secretary since August 2018. He served as Senior Vice President, General Counsel and Secretary of Neenah, Inc. (f/k/a Neenah Paper, Inc.), which spun off from Kimberly-Clark Corporation in December 2004, from June 2004 to July 2018. Mr. Heinrichs joined Kimberly-Clark as Chief Counsel, Pulp and Paper and General Counsel for Neenah, Inc. Prior to his employment with Kimberly-Clark, Mr. Heinrichs served as Associate General Counsel and Assistant Secretary for Mariner Health Care, Inc., a nursing home and long-term acute care hospital company. Before joining Mariner Health Care in 2003, Mr. Heinrichs served as Associate General Counsel and Assistant Secretary for American Commercial Lines LLC, a leading inland barge and shipbuilding company from 1998 through 2003. Mr. Heinrichs engaged in the private practice of law with Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher and Flom LLP and Shuttleworth, Smith, McNabb and Williams PLLC from 1994 through 1998. Mr. Heinrichs earned his MBAa Master of Business Administration from the Kellogg School of Management at Northwestern University in 2008, his law degree from Tulane University in 1994, and his Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Virginia.
Marietta Edmunds Zakas has served as our Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer since January 2018. She served as Senior Vice President, Strategy, Corporate Development and Communications from November 2006 to December 2017. She was also the interim head of Human Resources from January 2016 to December 2017. Previously, Ms. Zakas held various positions at Russell Corporation, an athletic apparel, footwear and equipment company, culminating in her role as Corporate Vice President, Chief of Staff, Business Development since October 2017. Mr Rogowski also served as our Executive Vice President, Sales and Marketing from October 2017 to September 2019, and was President of Infrastructure from May 2009 to October 2017. Previously, Mr. Rogowski was President and/or Chief Executive Officer of Performance Fibers, Inc., a polyester industrial fibers business from 2004 to 2009. HeTreasurer. She earned a Bachelor of ScienceArts degree with honors from Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, a Master of Science degree from the University of Akron andRandolph-Macon Woman’s College (now known as Randolph College), a Master of Business Administration degree from the University of Richmond.Virginia Darden School of Business and a Juris Doctor from the University of Virginia School of Law. Ms. Zakas is a director of BlueLinx Holdings Inc. and is a former director of Atlantic Capital Bank and Atlantic Capital Bancshares.
William A. Cofield has served as our Senior Vice President, Operations & Supply Chain since January 2018. Previously, Mr. Cofield served as Vice President of Operations and Supply Chain for MGA Entertainment from May 2014 to December 2018 and Vice President of Operations for the Rubbermaid business within Newell Brands, Inc. (formerly Newell Rubbermaid, Inc.) from January 2009 to May 2014. Mr. Cofield earned his Bachelor of Science degree from the United States Military Academy. Upon graduation, he was commissioned as an officer in the United States Army where he served for 10 years. Mr. Cofield achieved the rank of Major before resigning his commission.
Todd P. Helms has served as our Senior Vice President and Chief Human Resources Officer since February 2020. Previously, Mr. Helms held the position of Executive Vice President and Chief Human Resource Officer at Synovus Financial Corporation and as Senior Vice President, Human Resources at Genuine Parts Company. Mr. Helms earned a Bachelor of Science degree from King College, a Bachelor of Mechanical Engineering from Georgia Institute of Technology and a Master of Business Administration from Ohio University.
Chad D. Mize has served as our Senior Vice President, Sales and Marketing since October 2019. He served as Vice President and General Manager of the Brass, Gas and Repair Value Stream from October 2017 to September 2019; Chief Financial Officer and Vice President of Mueller Co. LLC from March 2010 to September 2017; Corporate Controller from January 2007 to February 2010; and Manager of Financial Reporting and Analysis from October 2004 to December 2006. Previously, Mr. Mize worked in accounting and finance for Archer Daniels Midland from May 1998 to September 2004. Mr. Mize earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Accounting from Illinois State University and a Master of Business Administration from Millikin University.
Kenji Takeuchi has served as our Senior Vice President, Water Management Solutions since October 2021. He served as Senior Vice President, Technology Solutions from October 2019 to September 2021. Previously, Mr. Takeuchi served as a Startup Catalyst at the Advanced Technology Development Center at Georgia Tech, Georgia’s technology incubator. Prior to that, he served as Chief Technology Officer and Vice President of Engineering of Honeywell International Inc. and held various executive-level positions at Flextronics, culminating in his role as Vice President, Products and Technology. Mr. Takeuchi earned a Bachelor of Mechanical Engineering from Georgia Institute of Technology and a Master of Engineering from the University of California at Berkeley and completed the Executive Education Program at Stanford University’s Graduate School of Business.
Richelle R. Feyerherm has served as our Vice President, Operations Controller since November 2019. Previously, Ms. Feyerherm served as a Financial Officer of the Water Products division of Lonza Group, Ltd. from October 2011 to February 2019. Ms. Feyerherm earned her Bachelor of Science degree from the State University of New York and is a certified public accountant.
Suzanne G. Smith has served as our Vice President and General Manager of our Brass, Gas and Repair Value StreamChief Accounting Officer since October 2019. Mr. SchrockJanuary 2021. Previously, Ms. Smith served as our Vice President, Operations Controller from January 2018 to September 2019, Vice President, Operations Controller of Mueller Co. LLC from October 2017 to January 2018, Senior Director of Finance, ControllerChief Accounting Officer for ModivCare Inc., from February 2016 to September 2017, Division Controller2019 through November 2020 and for Cumulus Media from May 2010 to January 20162017 through February 2019. Ms Smith is a certified public accountant, and Plant Controller from May 2005 to April 2010. Previously, Mr. Schrock served as Division Controller of the MasterBrand Cabinets division of Fortune Brands Home & Security, Inc. from January 2004 to April 2005 and was Division Accounting Manager from November 1995 to December 2003. Mr. Schrockshe earned hisa Bachelor of Science degree from The Ohio State University and his Executive MBAa Master of Business Administration from MillikinGeorgia State University.
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Mark J. O’Brien has been a member of our Board of Directors since April 2006 and has served as our Vice President, Human ResourcesNon-Executive Chairman since December 2017, and was Senior Director, Talent & Rewards/Human Resources from January 2016 to November 2017. Previously, Ms. O’Keefe2018. He served as our Director, TalentChairman of Walter Investment Management & Human Resources,Corp. (formerly Walter Industries’ Homes Business), a mortgage portfolio owner and mortgage originator and servicer, from February 20142009 through December 2015, and he served as its Chief Executive Officer from 2009 to December 2015; Senior Manager, TalentOctober 2015. Mr. O’Brien served as President and Chief Executive Officer of Brier Patch Capital and Management, Inc., a real estate management and Human Resourcesinvestment firm, from June 20112004 to January 2014; Employee Services Manager from February 2010 to June 2011;2009. He served in various executive capacities at Pulte Homes, Inc., a home building company, for 21 years, retiring as President and Manager, Health and Welfare Plans from February 2007 to February 2010. SheChief Executive Officer in 2003.Mr. O’Brien earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in history from Furman University.the University of Miami.
Shirley C. Franklin has been a member of our boardBoard of directorsDirectors since November 2010. Ms. Franklin serves as Executive Chairthe President of the board of directors of Purpose Built Communities,Clarke-Franklin & Associates, Inc., a national non-profit organization established to transform struggling neighborhoods into sustainable communities. She alsomanagement consulting firm, and is a co-founder of Authenticity Partners. In addition, Ms. Franklin serves as Co-Chair of the Atlanta Regional Commission on Homelessness and as Chair of the board of directors of the National Center for Civil and Human Rights.Rights and is a board member of the Paul Volcker Alliance, both non-profit organizations dedicated to public service missions. Ms. Franklin also serves as a board member on CDC Foundation and several other non-profit organizations including CF Foundation, Atlanta Regional Commission on Homelessness, National Alliance for Public Charter Schools, and Purpose Built Schools Atlanta. From 2002 to 2010, Ms. Franklin was mayor of Atlanta, Georgia. Ms. Franklin earned a Bachelor of ScienceArts degree in sociology from Howard University and a Master’sMaster of Arts degree in sociology from the University of Pennsylvania.
Thomas J. Hansen has been a member of our boardBoard of directorsDirectors since October 2011. Until 2012, Mr. Hansen served as the Executive Vice President and Vice Chairman of Illinois Tool Works Inc. (“ITW”), a manufacturer of fasteners and components, consumable systems and a variety of specialty products and equipment. He joined ITW in 1980 as sales and marketing manager of the Shakeproof Industrial Products businesses. From 1998 until May 2006, Mr. Hansen served as Executive Vice President of ITW. Mr. Hansen earned a Bachelor of Science degree in marketing from Northern Illinois University and a Master of Business Administration degree from Governors State University.
Christine Ortiz has been a member of our boardBoard of directorsDirectors since November 2018. Dr. Ortiz is the Morris Cohen Professor of Materials Science and Engineering at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. The author of more than 180200 scholarly publications, she has supervised research projects across multiple academic disciplines, received 30 national and international honors, including the Presidential Early Career Award in Science and Engineering awarded to her by President George W. Bush, and served as the Dean for Graduate Education at MITMassachusetts Institute of Technology from 2010 to 2016. She is also the founder of an innovative, nonprofit, post-secondaryhigher education educational institution, Station1. Dr. Ortiz has served as a director of Enovis Corporation since 2022. She earned a B.S.Bachelor of Science degree from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute and an M.S.a Master of Science degree and Ph.D.a Doctor of Philosophy degree from Cornell University, alleach in the field of materials science and engineering.
Bernard G. Rethore has been a member of our boardBoard of directorsDirectors since April 2006. Mr. Rethore has served as Chairman Emeritus of Flowserve Corporation, a manufacturer of pumps, valves, seals and components, since 2000. From January 2000 to April 2000, he served as Flowserve’s Chairman. Mr. Rethore hadChairman and previously served as its Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer. In 2008, Mr. Rethore was honored by the Outstanding Directors Exchange as an Outstanding Director of the Year, and in 2012, he was designated a Board Leadership Fellow by the National Association of Corporate Directors. Mr. Rethore earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Economics (Honors) from Yale University and a Master of Business Administration degree from the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania, where he was a Joseph P. Wharton Scholar and Fellow.
Jeffery S. Sharritts has been a member of our Board of Directors since March 2021. Mr. Sharritts is the Executive Vice President and Chief Customer and Partner Officer at Cisco. During his 22-year tenure at Cisco, Mr. Sharritts has held several executive sales roles, most recently Senior Vice President of the Americas from 2018 to 2022 and Senior Vice President, U.S. Commercial Sales from 2014 to 2018. Mr. Sharritts holds Advisory Board Member positions with the Georgia Chamber of Commerce and Metro Atlanta Chamber of Commerce. Mr. Sharritts earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration from The Ohio State University.
Brian L. Slobodow has been a member of our Board of Directors since October 2022. Mr. Slobodow is an Operating Partner of Operational Resource Group, LLC (“ORG”), whose clients include a leading middle-market private equity firm. From 2015 to 2020, he served as an Operating Executive at Golden Gate Capital, where, between 2007 and 2015, he also held senior leadership positions in multiple former portfolio companies. Prior to joining Golden Gate Capital, Mr. Slobodow held multiple leadership positions within Johnson & Johnson Consumer Products from 2003 to 2007 and was a Principal at A.T. Kearney from 2000 to 2003. Mr. Slobodow holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Industrial and Manufacturing Engineering and a Master of Business Administration degree from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology Sloan School of Management.
Lydia W. Thomas has been a member of our boardBoard of directorsDirectors since January 2008. Dr. Thomas served as President and Chief Executive Officer of Noblis, Inc., a public interest scientific research, technology and strategy company, from 1996 to 2007. She was previously with The MITRE Corporation, Center for Environment, Resources and Space, serving as Senior Vice
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President and General Manager from 1992 to 1996, Vice President from 1989 to 1992 and Technical Director from 1982 to 1989. In 2013, she was honored by the Outstanding Directors Exchange as an Outstanding Director of the Year. Dr. Thomas is also a member of the Council on Foreign Relations. She earned a Bachelor of Science degree in zoology from Howard University, a Master of Science degree in microbiology from American University and a Doctor of Philosophy degree in cytology from Howard University.
Michael T. Tokarz has been a member of our boardBoard of directorsDirectors since April 2006. Since 2002, Mr. Tokarz has served as a member of the Tokarz Group, LLC, an investment company. From 19961985 until 2002, Mr. Tokarz served as a member of the limited liability company that serves as the general partner of Kohlberg Kravis Roberts & Co. L.P., a private equity company. He served as non-executive Chairman of the Board of Walter Energy, Inc. until July 2016, and until May 2017, he served as a director of CNO Financial Group, Inc. (formerly Conseco, Inc.), an insurance provider, and as a director of Walter Investment Management Corp. Mr. Tokarz has served as the Chairman of the Board of the Tokarz Group, LLC, an investment company, since 2002 and the Chairman of MVC Capital, Inc., a registered investment company, since 2003. He assumed the role of vice chair of Shield T3, LLC in 2020. In 2007, he was honored by the Outstanding Directors Exchange as an Outstanding Director of the Year. Mr. Tokarz earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in economics with high distinction and a Master of Business Administration degree in finance from the University of Illinois.
Stephen C. Van Arsdellhas been a member of our boardBoard of directorsDirectors since July 2019. Mr. Van Arsdell is a former senior partner of Deloitte LLP, where he served as Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Deloitte & Touche LLP from 2010-2012 and as Deputy Chief Executive Officer from 2009-2010. He also served as a member of Deloitte’s Boardboard of directors from 2003-2009. During this2003-2009, during which time he held the position of Vice-Chairman of the Board andVice Chairman. Mr. Van Arsdell has served on and chaired various committees thereof, including the Audit and Finance Committee. He is currentlyas a member of the Dean’s Advisory Council for the Gies Collegeboard of Business at the Universitydirectors of IllinoisOld National Bancorp since February 2022 and has been a member of the Boardaudit committee of Directors andBrown Brothers Harriman since 2015. Mr. Van Arsdell previously served as a past Chairdirector of the University of Illinois Alumni Alliance. He also currently serves on the Board of Trustees of The Morton Arboretum, for which he is the Treasurer and Chair of the Finance Committee, and is a past chair of the Board of Trustees of The Conservation Foundation.First Midwest Bancorp, Inc. from 2017 to February 2022. Mr. Van Arsdell earned both a Bachelor of Science degree in Accounting and a MastersMaster of Accounting Science degree from the University of Illinois, where he was a James Scholar.Illinois. He is a certified public accountant.
Additional Information
Additional information required by this item will be contained in our definitive proxy statement issued in connection with the 20202023 Annual Meeting of Stockholders filed with the SEC within 120 days after September 30, 20192022 and is incorporated herein by reference.
Our website address is www.muellerwaterproducts.com. You may read and print our annual reports on Form 10-K, quarterly reports on Form 10-Q, current reports on Form 8-K, proxy statements and allany amendments to those reports from the investor relations section of our website free of charge. These reports are available on our website soon after we file them with or furnish them to the SEC. These reports should also be available through the SEC’s website at www.sec.gov.
We have adopted a written code of conduct that applies to all directors, officers and employees, including a separate code that applies only to our principal executive officer and senior financial officers in accordance with Section 406 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 and the rules of the SEC promulgated thereunder. Our Code of Business Conduct and Ethics is available in the corporate governance section of our website. In the event that we make changes in, or provide waivers from, the provisions of this Code of Business Conduct and Ethics that thefor which SEC requires us to disclose,disclosure is required, we will make such disclose these events in the corporate governance section of our website.
We have adopted corporate governance guidelines. The guidelines and the charters of our board committees are available in the corporate governance section of our website. Copies of the Code of Business Conduct and Ethics, corporate governance guidelines and board committee charters are also available in print upon written request to the Corporate Secretary, Mueller Water Products, Inc., 1200 Abernathy Road N.E., Suite 1200, Atlanta, GA 30328.
Item 11.EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION
The information required by this item will be contained in our definitive proxy statement issued in connection with the 20202023 Annual Meeting of Stockholders and is incorporated herein by reference.
43
Item 12.SECURITY OWNERSHIP OF CERTAIN BENEFICIAL OWNERS AND MANAGEMENT AND RELATED STOCKHOLDER MATTERS
Except for the information set forth below and the information set forth in “Part II, Item 5. MARKET FOR REGISTRANT’S COMMON EQUITY, RELATED STOCKHOLDER MATTERS AND ISSUER PURCHASES OF EQUITY SECURITIES,” the information required by this item will be contained in our definitive proxy statement issued in connection with the 20202023 Annual Meeting of Stockholders and is incorporated herein by reference.
Securities Authorized for Issuance under Equity Compensation Plans
We have two compensation plans under which our equity securities are authorized for issuance.issuance: (1) The Mueller Water Products, Inc. 2006 Employee Stock Purchase Plan (“ESPP”) was approved by our sole stockholder in May 2006, as amended; and amended by our stockholders in February 2016.(2) The Mueller Water Products, Inc. 2006 Stock Incentive Plan (“2006 Plan”) was approved by our sole stockholder in May 2006 and amended by our stockholders in January 2008, January 2009 and January 2012., as amended.
The following table sets forth certain information relating to these equity compensation plans at September 30, 20192022.
| Number of securities to be issued upon exercise of outstanding options, warrants and rights | Weighted average exercise price of outstanding options, warrants and rights | Number of securities remaining available for future issuance | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Equity compensation plans approved by stockholders: | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2006 Plan | 2,576,183 | (1) | $ | 12.19 | (2) | 5,083,831 | (3) | |||||||||||||||||||
| ESPP | 47,463 | — | 2,103,114 | (4) | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Total | 2,623,646 | 7,186,945 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
(1)Consists of the maximum number of shares that could be earned upon exercise or vesting of outstanding stock-based awards granted under the 2006 Plan. This includes 1,410,503 shares associated with share-settled performance units that may or may not be earned, depending on Company performance or stock market performance, as described in Note 12. of the Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements.
(2)Weighted-average exercise price of 1,013,293 options.
(3)The number of securities initially available for issuance under the 2006 Plan was 20,500,000 shares.
(4)The number of securities initially available for issuance under the ESPP Plan was 5,800,000 shares.
Number of securities to be issued upon exercise of outstanding options, warrants and rights | Weighted average exercise price of outstanding options, warrants and rights | Number of securities remaining available for future issuance | ||||||||||
| Equity compensation plans approved by stockholders: | ||||||||||||
| 2006 Plan | 2,089,205 | (1) | $ | 4.89 | (2) | 7,022,737 | (3) | |||||
| ESPP | 41,321 | — | 2,583,129 | (4) | ||||||||
| Total | 2,130,526 | 9,605,866 | ||||||||||
Item 13.CERTAIN RELATIONSHIPS AND RELATED TRANSACTIONS, AND DIRECTOR INDEPENDENCE
The information required by this item will be contained in our definitive proxy statement issued in connection with the 20202023 Annual Meeting of Stockholders and is incorporated herein by reference.
Item 14.PRINCIPAL ACCOUNTANT FEES AND SERVICES
The information required by this item will be contained in our definitive proxy statement issued in connection with the 20202023 Annual Meeting of Stockholders and is incorporated herein by reference.
44
PART IV
(a)Financial Statements
| Index to financial statements | Page number | |||||||
| Reports of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm (PCAOB ID: 42) | ||||||||
| Consolidated Balance Sheets at September 30, | ||||||||
| Consolidated Statements of Operations for the years ended September 30, | ||||||||
| Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income for the years ended September 30, | ||||||||
| Consolidated Statements of Stockholders’ Equity for the years ended September 30, | ||||||||
| Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows for the years ended September 30, | ||||||||
| Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements for the three years ended September 30, | ||||||||
(b)Financial Statement Schedules
The information required by Schedule II is included in the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements. All other schedules required by Item 15(b) are not applicable or not required.
(c)Exhibits
| 10.6.1* | ||||||||
| 10.7* | ||||||||
| 10.8* | ||||||||
45
| Document | ||||||||
| 10.9* | ||||||||
| 10.10* | ||||||||
| 10.11.2* | ||||||||
| 10.14 | ||||||||
| 10.17.1* | ||||||||
| 10.19 | ||||||||
| 10.19.1 | ||||||||
| 10.19.2 | ||||||||
| 10.19.3 | ||||||||
| 10.29* | ||||||||
| 10.30* | ||||||||
| 10.31* | ||||||||
| 10.34 * | ||||||||
46
| Exhibit no. | Document | |||||||
| 10.35 | ||||||||
| 14.1* | ||||||||
| 21.1** | ||||||||
| 23.1** | ||||||||
| 31.1** | ||||||||
| 31.2** | ||||||||
| 32.1** | ||||||||
| 32.2** | ||||||||
| 101** | The following financial information from the Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended September 30, | |||||||
| 104** | ||||||||
** Filed with this Annual Report
47
SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, the Registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized.
Date: November 19, 201918, 2022
| MUELLER WATER PRODUCTS, INC. | |||||||||||
| By: | /s/ Scott Hall | ||||||||||
| Name: Scott Hall | |||||||||||
Title: President and Chief Executive Officer | |||||||||||
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1934, as amended, this report has been signed by the following persons on behalf of the registrant and in the capacities and on the dates indicated.
| Signature | Title | Date | ||||||||||||
| /s/ Scott Hall | President and Chief Executive Officer | November | ||||||||||||
| Scott Hall | ||||||||||||||
| /s/ Marietta Edmunds Zakas | Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer (principal financial officer) | November | ||||||||||||
| Marietta Edmunds Zakas | ||||||||||||||
| /s/ | Vice President and Chief Accounting Officer (principal accounting officer) | November | ||||||||||||
| /s/ Mark J. O’Brien | Non-Executive Chairman of the Board of Directors | November 18, 2022 | ||||||||||||
| Mark J. O’Brien | ||||||||||||||
| /s/ Shirley C. Franklin | Director | November | ||||||||||||
| Shirley C. Franklin | ||||||||||||||
| /s/ Thomas J. Hansen | Director | November | ||||||||||||
| Thomas J. Hansen | ||||||||||||||
| /s/ Christine Ortiz | Director | November | ||||||||||||
| Christine Ortiz | ||||||||||||||
| /s/ Bernard G. Rethore | Director | November | ||||||||||||
| Bernard G. Rethore | ||||||||||||||
| /s/ Jeffery S. Sharritts | Director | November 18, 2022 | ||||||||||||
| Jeffery S. Sharritts | ||||||||||||||
| /s/ Brian L. Slobodow | Director | November 18, 2022 | ||||||||||||
| Brian L. Slobodow | ||||||||||||||
| /s/ Lydia W. Thomas | Director | November | ||||||||||||
| Lydia W. Thomas | ||||||||||||||
| /s/ Michael T. Tokarz | Director | November | ||||||||||||
| Michael T. Tokarz | ||||||||||||||
| /s/ Stephen C. Van Arsdell | Director | November | ||||||||||||
| Stephen C. Van Arsdell | ||||||||||||||
48
Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm
To the ShareholdersStockholders and the Board of Directors of Mueller Water Products, Inc.
Opinion on the Financial Statements
We have audited the accompanying consolidated balance sheets of Mueller Water Products, Inc. and subsidiaries(the Company) as of September 30, 20192022 and 2018,2021, the related consolidated statements of operations, comprehensive income, equity and cash flows for each of the three years in the period ended September 30, 2019,2022, and the related notes(collectively referred to as the “consolidated financial statements”). In our opinion, the consolidated financial statements present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of the Company at September 30, 20192022 and 2018,2021, and the results of its operations and its cash flows for each of the three years in the period ended September 30, 2019,2022, 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’sCompany's internal control over financial reporting as of September 30, 2019,2022, based on criteria established in Internal Control-Integrated Framework issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission (2013 framework), and our report dated November 19, 201918, 2022 expressed an unqualified opinion thereon.
Basis for Opinion
These financial statements are the responsibility of the Company’sCompany's management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on the Company’s financial statements based on our audits. We are a public accounting firm registered with the PCAOB and are required to be independent with respect to the Company in accordance with the U.S. federal securities laws and the applicable rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission and the PCAOB.
We conducted our audits in accordance with the standards of the PCAOB. Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements are free of material misstatement, whether due to error or fraud. Our audits included performing procedures to assess the risks of material misstatement of the financial statements, whether due to error or fraud, and performing procedures that respond to those risks. Such procedures included examining, on a test basis, evidence regarding the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements. Our audits also included evaluating the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, as well as evaluating the overall presentation of the financial statements. We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinion.
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 the critical audit matter 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 matter below, providing a separate opinion on the critical audit matter or on the account or disclosure to which it relates.
F- 1
| Valuation of | |||||
| Description of the Matter | At September 30, 2022, the Company’s goodwill was $98.6 million. As described in Note Auditing management’s estimates of reporting unit fair values using the discounted cash flow method involved especially subjective judgments due to the significant estimation uncertainty in | ||||
| How We Addressed the Matter in Our Audit | We obtained an understanding, evaluated the design and tested the operating effectiveness of the Company’s controls over review of the fair values of the To test the | ||||
/s/ Ernst & Young LLP
We have served as the Company’s auditor since 2007.
Atlanta, Georgia
November 19, 201918, 2022
F- 2
Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm
To the ShareholdersStockholders and the Board of Directors of Mueller Water Products, Inc.
Opinion on Internal Control over Financial Reporting
We have audited Mueller Water Products, Inc. and subsidiaries’ internal control over financial reporting as of September 30, 2019,2022, based on criteria established in Internal Control-IntegratedControl—Integrated Framework issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission (2013 framework) (the COSO criteria). In our opinion, Mueller Water Products, Inc. and subsidiaries (the Company) maintained, in all material respects, effective internal control over financial reporting as of September 30, 2019,2022, based on the COSO criteria.
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, 20192022 and 2018,2021, the related consolidated statements of operations, comprehensive income, equity and cash flows for each of the three years in the period ended September 30, 2019,2022, and the related notes and our report dated November 19, 201918, 2022 expressed an unqualified opinion thereon.
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/ Ernst & Young LLP
Atlanta, Georgia
November 19, 201918, 2022
F- 3
CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
MUELLER WATER PRODUCTS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS | |||||||
| September 30, | |||||||
| 2019 | 2018 | ||||||
| (in millions, except share amounts) | |||||||
| Assets: | |||||||
| Cash and cash equivalents | $ | 176.7 | $ | 347.1 | |||
| Receivables, net | 172.8 | 164.3 | |||||
| Inventories | 191.4 | 156.6 | |||||
| Other current assets | 26.0 | 17.5 | |||||
| Total current assets | 566.9 | 685.5 | |||||
| Property, plant and equipment, net | 217.1 | 150.9 | |||||
| Intangible assets | 433.7 | 408.1 | |||||
| Goodwill | 95.7 | 12.1 | |||||
| Other noncurrent assets | 23.9 | 35.3 | |||||
| Total assets | $ | 1,337.3 | $ | 1,291.9 | |||
| Liabilities and equity: | |||||||
| Current portion of long-term debt | $ | 0.9 | $ | 0.7 | |||
| Accounts payable | 84.6 | 90.0 | |||||
| Other current liabilities | 93.0 | 76.4 | |||||
| Total current liabilities | 178.5 | 167.1 | |||||
| Long-term debt | 445.4 | 444.3 | |||||
| Deferred income taxes | 87.9 | 79.2 | |||||
| Other noncurrent liabilities | 33.2 | 36.5 | |||||
| Total liabilities | 745.0 | 727.1 | |||||
| Commitments and contingencies (Note 17.) | |||||||
| Common stock: 600,000,000 shares authorized; 157,462,140 and 157,332,121 shares outstanding at September 30, 2019 and 2018, respectively | 1.6 | 1.6 | |||||
| Additional paid-in capital | 1,410.7 | 1,444.5 | |||||
| Accumulated deficit | (786.2 | ) | (850.0 | ) | |||
| Accumulated other comprehensive loss | (36.0 | ) | (32.8 | ) | |||
| Total Company stockholders’ equity | 590.1 | 563.3 | |||||
| Noncontrolling interest | 2.2 | 1.5 | |||||
| Total equity | 592.3 | 564.8 | |||||
| Total liabilities and equity | $ | 1,337.3 | $ | 1,291.9 | |||
| September 30, | |||||||||||
| 2022 | 2021 | ||||||||||
| (in millions, except share amounts) | |||||||||||
| Assets: | |||||||||||
| Cash and cash equivalents | $ | 146.5 | $ | 227.5 | |||||||
| Receivables, net of allowance for credit losses of $5.6 million and $3.5 million | 228.0 | 212.2 | |||||||||
| Inventories, net | 278.7 | 184.7 | |||||||||
| Other current assets | 26.8 | 29.3 | |||||||||
| Total current assets | 680.0 | 653.7 | |||||||||
| Property, plant and equipment, net | 301.6 | 283.4 | |||||||||
| Intangible assets, net | 361.2 | 392.5 | |||||||||
| Goodwill | 98.6 | 115.1 | |||||||||
| Other noncurrent assets | 56.7 | 73.3 | |||||||||
| Total assets | $ | 1,498.1 | $ | 1,518.0 | |||||||
| Liabilities and stockholders’ equity: | |||||||||||
| Current portion of long-term debt | $ | 0.8 | $ | 1.0 | |||||||
| Accounts payable | 122.8 | 92.0 | |||||||||
| Other current liabilities | 117.4 | 127.1 | |||||||||
| Total current liabilities | 241.0 | 220.1 | |||||||||
| Long-term debt | 446.1 | 445.9 | |||||||||
| Deferred income taxes | 86.3 | 95.1 | |||||||||
| Other noncurrent liabilities | 55.4 | 62.0 | |||||||||
| Total liabilities | 828.8 | 823.1 | |||||||||
| Commitments and contingencies (Note 17.) | |||||||||||
Common stock: 600,000,000 shares authorized; 155,844,138 and 157,955,433 shares outstanding at September 30, 2022 and 2021, respectively | 1.6 | 1.6 | |||||||||
| Additional paid-in capital | 1,279.6 | 1,342.2 | |||||||||
| Accumulated deficit | (567.3) | (643.9) | |||||||||
| Accumulated other comprehensive loss | (44.6) | (5.0) | |||||||||
| Total stockholders’ equity | 669.3 | 694.9 | |||||||||
| Total liabilities and stockholders’ equity | $ | 1,498.1 | $ | 1,518.0 | |||||||
The accompanying notes are an integral part of the consolidated financial statements.
F- 4
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS
MUELLER WATER PRODUCTS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS | |||||||||||
| Year ended September 30, | |||||||||||
| 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | |||||||||
| (in millions, except per share amounts) | |||||||||||
| Net sales | $ | 968.0 | $ | 916.0 | $ | 826.0 | |||||
| Cost of sales | 647.1 | 626.1 | 558.1 | ||||||||
| Gross profit | 320.9 | 289.9 | 267.9 | ||||||||
| Operating expenses: | |||||||||||
| Selling, general and administrative | 182.7 | 166.7 | 155.4 | ||||||||
| Gain on sale of idle property | (2.4 | ) | (9.0 | ) | — | ||||||
| Other charges | 16.3 | 10.5 | 10.4 | ||||||||
| Total operating expenses | 196.6 | 168.2 | 165.8 | ||||||||
| Operating income | 124.3 | 121.7 | 102.1 | ||||||||
| Pension costs other than service | 0.4 | 1.0 | 1.4 | ||||||||
| Interest expense, net | 19.8 | 20.9 | 22.2 | ||||||||
| Loss on early extinguishment of debt | — | 6.5 | — | ||||||||
| Gain on settlement of interest rate swap contracts | — | (2.4 | ) | — | |||||||
| Walter Energy Accrual | 22.0 | — | — | ||||||||
| Income before income taxes | 82.1 | 95.7 | 78.5 | ||||||||
| Income tax (benefit) expense | 18.3 | (9.9 | ) | 24.2 | |||||||
| Income from continuing operations | 63.8 | 105.6 | 54.3 | ||||||||
| Income from discontinued operations | — | — | 69.0 | ||||||||
| Net income | $ | 63.8 | $ | 105.6 | $ | 123.3 | |||||
| Earnings per basic share: | |||||||||||
| Continuing operations | $ | 0.40 | $ | 0.67 | $ | 0.34 | |||||
| Discontinued operations | — | — | 0.43 | ||||||||
| Net Income | $ | 0.40 | $ | 0.67 | $ | 0.77 | |||||
| Earnings per diluted share: | |||||||||||
| Continuing operations | $ | 0.40 | $ | 0.66 | $ | 0.34 | |||||
| Discontinued operations | — | — | 0.42 | ||||||||
| Net income | $ | 0.40 | $ | 0.66 | $ | 0.76 | |||||
| Weighted average shares outstanding: | |||||||||||
| Basic | 157.8 | 158.2 | 160.1 | ||||||||
| Diluted | 159.0 | 159.7 | 161.8 | ||||||||
| Dividends declared per share | $ | 0.2025 | $ | 0.190 | $ | 0.150 | |||||
| Year ended September 30, | |||||||||||||||||
| 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | |||||||||||||||
| (in millions, except per share amounts) | |||||||||||||||||
| Net sales | $ | 1,247.4 | $ | 1,111.0 | $ | 964.1 | |||||||||||
| Cost of sales | 883.1 | 752.5 | 635.9 | ||||||||||||||
| Gross profit | 364.3 | 358.5 | 328.2 | ||||||||||||||
| Operating expenses: | |||||||||||||||||
| Selling, general and administrative | 238.7 | 218.8 | 198.4 | ||||||||||||||
| Strategic reorganization and other charges | 7.2 | 8.0 | 13.0 | ||||||||||||||
| Goodwill impairment | 6.8 | — | — | ||||||||||||||
| Total operating expenses | 252.7 | 226.8 | 211.4 | ||||||||||||||
| Operating income | 111.6 | 131.7 | 116.8 | ||||||||||||||
| Pension benefit other than service | (3.9) | (3.3) | (3.0) | ||||||||||||||
| Interest expense, net | 16.9 | 23.4 | 25.5 | ||||||||||||||
| Loss on early extinguishment of debt | — | 16.7 | — | ||||||||||||||
| Walter Energy accrual | — | — | 0.2 | ||||||||||||||
| Income before income taxes | 98.6 | 94.9 | 94.1 | ||||||||||||||
| Income tax expense | 22.0 | 24.5 | 22.1 | ||||||||||||||
| Net income | $ | 76.6 | $ | 70.4 | $ | 72.0 | |||||||||||
| Net income per share: | |||||||||||||||||
| Basic | $ | 0.49 | $ | 0.44 | $ | 0.46 | |||||||||||
| Diluted | $ | 0.48 | $ | 0.44 | $ | 0.45 | |||||||||||
| Weighted average shares outstanding: | |||||||||||||||||
| Basic | 157.4 | 158.4 | 157.8 | ||||||||||||||
| Diluted | 158.0 | 159.2 | 158.6 | ||||||||||||||
| Dividends declared per share | $ | 0.232 | $ | 0.22 | $ | 0.21 | |||||||||||
The accompanying notes are an integral part of the consolidated financial statements.
F- 5
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF COMPREHENSIVE INCOME
MUELLER WATER PRODUCTS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF COMPREHENSIVE INCOME | |||||||||||
| Year ended September 30, | |||||||||||
| 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | |||||||||
| (in millions) | |||||||||||
| Net income | $ | 63.8 | $ | 105.6 | $ | 123.3 | |||||
| Other comprehensive income (loss): | |||||||||||
| Pension liability | (13.3 | ) | 27.4 | 17.4 | |||||||
| Income tax effects | 3.8 | (6.9 | ) | (6.7 | ) | ||||||
| Foreign currency translation | 6.3 | (3.0 | ) | 2.8 | |||||||
| Derivative instruments | — | 2.4 | 4.9 | ||||||||
| Income tax effects | — | (0.9 | ) | (1.9 | ) | ||||||
| (3.2 | ) | 19.0 | 16.5 | ||||||||
| Comprehensive income | $ | 60.6 | $ | 124.6 | $ | 139.8 | |||||
| Year ended September 30, | |||||||||||||||||
| 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | |||||||||||||||
| (in millions) | |||||||||||||||||
| Net income | $ | 76.6 | $ | 70.4 | $ | 72.0 | |||||||||||
| Other comprehensive (loss) income: | |||||||||||||||||
| Pension | (18.8) | 14.1 | 4.4 | ||||||||||||||
| Income tax effects | 4.7 | (3.6) | (1.1) | ||||||||||||||
| Foreign currency translation | (25.5) | 9.2 | 8.0 | ||||||||||||||
| Total other comprehensive (loss) income | (39.6) | 19.7 | 11.3 | ||||||||||||||
| Total comprehensive income | $ | 37.0 | $ | 90.1 | $ | 83.3 | |||||||||||
The accompanying notes are an integral part of the consolidated financial statements.
F- 6
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF EQUITY
MUELLER WATER PRODUCTS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF EQUITY FOR THE THREE YEARS ENDED SEPTEMBER 30, 2019 | |||||||||||||||||||||||
Common stock | Additional paid-in capital | Accumulated deficit | Accumulated other comprehensive loss | Non-controlling interest | Total | ||||||||||||||||||
| (in millions) | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Balance at September 30, 2016 | $ | 1.6 | $ | 1,563.9 | $ | (1,078.9 | ) | $ | (68.3 | ) | $ | 1.2 | $ | 419.5 | |||||||||
| Net income (loss) | — | — | 123.3 | — | (0.1 | ) | 123.2 | ||||||||||||||||
| Dividends declared | — | (24.0 | ) | — | — | — | (24.0 | ) | |||||||||||||||
| Stock-based compensation | — | 6.2 | — | — | — | 6.2 | |||||||||||||||||
| Shares retained for employee taxes | — | (2.7 | ) | — | — | — | (2.7 | ) | |||||||||||||||
| Common stock issued | — | 5.8 | — | — | — | 5.8 | |||||||||||||||||
| Stock repurchased under buyback program | — | (55.0 | ) | — | — | — | (55.0 | ) | |||||||||||||||
| Other comprehensive income, net of tax | — | — | — | 16.5 | — | 16.5 | |||||||||||||||||
| Balance at September 30, 2017 | 1.6 | 1,494.2 | (955.6 | ) | (51.8 | ) | 1.1 | 489.5 | |||||||||||||||
| Net income | — | — | 105.6 | — | 0.4 | 106.0 | |||||||||||||||||
| Dividends declared | — | (30.1 | ) | — | — | — | (30.1 | ) | |||||||||||||||
| Stock-based compensation | — | 5.2 | — | — | — | 5.2 | |||||||||||||||||
| Shares retained for employee taxes | — | (2.1 | ) | — | — | — | (2.1 | ) | |||||||||||||||
| Common stock issued | — | 7.3 | — | — | — | 7.3 | |||||||||||||||||
| Stock repurchased under buyback program | — | (30.0 | ) | — | — | — | (30.0 | ) | |||||||||||||||
| Other comprehensive income, net of tax | — | — | — | 19.0 | — | 19.0 | |||||||||||||||||
| Balance at September 30, 2018 | 1.6 | 1,444.5 | (850.0 | ) | (32.8 | ) | 1.5 | 564.8 | |||||||||||||||
| Net income | — | — | 63.8 | — | 0.7 | 64.5 | |||||||||||||||||
| Dividends declared | — | (32.0 | ) | — | — | — | (32.0 | ) | |||||||||||||||
| Stock-based compensation | — | 4.3 | — | — | — | 4.3 | |||||||||||||||||
| Shares retained for employee taxes | — | (1.3 | ) | — | — | — | (1.3 | ) | |||||||||||||||
| Common stock issued | — | 5.2 | — | — | — | 5.2 | |||||||||||||||||
| Stock repurchased under buyback program | — | (10.0 | ) | — | — | — | (10.0 | ) | |||||||||||||||
| Other comprehensive loss, net of tax | — | — | — | (3.2 | ) | — | (3.2 | ) | |||||||||||||||
| Balance at September 30, 2019 | $ | 1.6 | $ | 1,410.7 | $ | (786.2 | ) | $ | (36.0 | ) | $ | 2.2 | $ | 592.3 | |||||||||
| Common stock | Additional paid-in capital | Accumulated deficit | Accumulated other comprehensive (loss) income | Non-controlling interest | Total | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| (in millions) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Balance at September 30, 2019 | $ | 1.6 | $ | 1,410.7 | $ | (786.2) | $ | (36.0) | $ | 2.2 | $ | 592.3 | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Net income | — | — | 72.0 | — | — | 72.0 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Dividends declared | — | (33.1) | — | — | — | (33.1) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Stock-based compensation | — | 5.3 | — | — | — | 5.3 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Shares retained for employee taxes | — | (0.9) | — | — | — | (0.9) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Common stock issued | — | 3.5 | — | — | — | 3.5 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Stock repurchased under buyback program | — | (5.0) | — | — | — | (5.0) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Acquisition of joint venture partner’s interest | — | (2.5) | — | — | (2.2) | (4.7) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Other comprehensive loss, net of tax | — | — | — | 11.3 | — | 11.3 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Balance at September 30, 2020 | 1.6 | 1,378.0 | (714.2) | (24.7) | — | 640.7 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Net income | — | — | 70.4 | — | — | 70.4 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Dividends declared | — | (34.8) | — | — | — | (34.8) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Cumulative effect of accounting change (Note 2.) | — | — | (0.1) | — | — | (0.1) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Stock-based compensation | — | 8.1 | — | — | — | 8.1 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Shares retained for employee taxes | — | (1.0) | — | — | — | (1.0) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Common stock issued | — | 1.9 | — | — | — | 1.9 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Stock repurchased under buyback program | — | (10.0) | — | — | — | (10.0) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Other comprehensive income, net of tax | — | — | — | 19.7 | — | 19.7 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Balance at September 30, 2021 | 1.6 | 1,342.2 | (643.9) | (5.0) | — | 694.9 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Net income | — | — | 76.6 | — | — | 76.6 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Dividends declared | — | (36.5) | — | — | — | (36.5) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Stock-based compensation | — | 8.7 | — | — | — | 8.7 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Shares retained for employee taxes | — | (1.8) | — | — | — | (1.8) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Common stock issued | — | 2.0 | — | — | — | 2.0 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Stock repurchased under buyback program | — | (35.0) | — | — | — | (35.0) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Other comprehensive income, net of tax | — | — | — | (39.6) | — | (39.6) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Balance at September 30, 2022 | $ | 1.6 | $ | 1,279.6 | $ | (567.3) | $ | (44.6) | $ | — | $ | 669.3 | |||||||||||||||||||||||
The accompanying notes are an integral part of the consolidated financial statements.
F- 7
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
MUELLER WATER PRODUCTS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS | |||||||||||
| Year ended September 30, | |||||||||||
| 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | |||||||||
| (in millions) | |||||||||||
| Operating activities: | |||||||||||
| Net income | $ | 63.8 | $ | 105.6 | $ | 123.3 | |||||
| Less income from discontinued operations | — | — | 69.0 | ||||||||
| Income from continuing operations | 63.8 | 105.6 | 54.3 | ||||||||
| Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities: | |||||||||||
| Depreciation | 26.0 | 20.9 | 19.8 | ||||||||
| Amortization | 27.0 | 22.8 | 22.1 | ||||||||
| Retirement plans | 2.0 | 2.8 | 3.4 | ||||||||
| Deferred income taxes | 1.3 | (43.3 | ) | (5.7 | ) | ||||||
| Stock-based compensation | 4.3 | 5.2 | 6.0 | ||||||||
| Loss on early extinguishment of debt | — | 6.5 | — | ||||||||
| Gain on disposal of assets | (2.5 | ) | (9.0 | ) | — | ||||||
| Other, net | 2.4 | 3.4 | 1.1 | ||||||||
| Changes in assets and liabilities, net of acquisitions: | |||||||||||
| Receivables | (1.4 | ) | (18.9 | ) | (9.9 | ) | |||||
| Inventories | (17.4 | ) | (18.4 | ) | (1.9 | ) | |||||
| Other assets | (7.4 | ) | (2.0 | ) | (3.4 | ) | |||||
| Accounts payable | (11.0 | ) | 7.7 | 8.4 | |||||||
| Walter Energy Accrual | 22.0 | — | — | ||||||||
| Other current liabilities | (6.1 | ) | 32.7 | (6.3 | ) | ||||||
| Pension obligations, related to contributions | (0.7 | ) | — | (35.0 | ) | ||||||
| Long-term liabilities | (9.8 | ) | 17.1 | 6.5 | |||||||
| Net cash provided by operating activities | 92.5 | 133.1 | 59.4 | ||||||||
| Investing activities: | |||||||||||
| Capital expenditures | (86.6 | ) | (55.7 | ) | (40.6 | ) | |||||
| Business acquisitions, net of cash acquired | (127.5 | ) | — | (26.6 | ) | ||||||
| Proceeds from sales of assets | 2.3 | 7.8 | 0.9 | ||||||||
| Net cash used in investing activities | (211.8 | ) | (47.9 | ) | (66.3 | ) | |||||
| Financing activities: | |||||||||||
| Repayment of debt | — | (486.3 | ) | (4.9 | ) | ||||||
| Repayment of Krausz debt | (13.2 | ) | — | — | |||||||
| Issuance of debt | — | 450.0 | — | ||||||||
| Dividends paid | (32.0 | ) | (30.1 | ) | (24.0 | ) | |||||
| Stock repurchased under buyback program | (10.0 | ) | (30.0 | ) | (55.0 | ) | |||||
| Common stock issued | 5.2 | 7.3 | 5.8 | ||||||||
| Deferred financing costs paid | — | (6.9 | ) | (1.0 | ) | ||||||
| Employee taxes related to stock-based compensation | (1.3 | ) | (2.1 | ) | (2.7 | ) | |||||
| Other | 0.4 | (0.2 | ) | 0.4 | |||||||
| Net cash used in financing activities | (50.9 | ) | (98.3 | ) | (81.4 | ) | |||||
| Net cash flows from discontinued operations: | |||||||||||
| Operating activities | — | — | (43.3 | ) | |||||||
| Investing activities | — | — | 297.2 | ||||||||
| Financing activities | — | — | (0.1 | ) | |||||||
| Net cash provided by discontinued operations | — | — | 253.8 | ||||||||
| Effect of currency exchange rate changes on cash | (0.2 | ) | (1.5 | ) | 1.2 | ||||||
| Net change in cash and cash equivalents | (170.4 | ) | (14.6 | ) | 166.7 | ||||||
| Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of year | 347.1 | 361.7 | 195.0 | ||||||||
| Cash and cash equivalents at end of year | $ | 176.7 | $ | 347.1 | $ | 361.7 | |||||
| Year ended September 30, | |||||||||||||||||
| 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | |||||||||||||||
| (in millions) | |||||||||||||||||
| Operating activities: | |||||||||||||||||
| Net income | $ | 76.6 | $ | 70.4 | $ | 72.0 | |||||||||||
| Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities: | |||||||||||||||||
| Depreciation | 32.0 | 31.4 | 29.6 | ||||||||||||||
| Amortization | 28.5 | 28.2 | 28.2 | ||||||||||||||
| Goodwill impairment | 6.8 | — | — | ||||||||||||||
| Loss on early extinguishment of debt | — | 16.7 | — | ||||||||||||||
| Stock-based compensation | 8.7 | 8.1 | 5.3 | ||||||||||||||
| Pension (benefit) cost | (2.6) | (1.9) | 2.8 | ||||||||||||||
| Deferred income taxes | (3.5) | (5.3) | 7.2 | ||||||||||||||
| Inventory reserves provision | 1.6 | 3.1 | 4.3 | ||||||||||||||
| Other, net | 1.3 | 1.3 | 3.7 | ||||||||||||||
| Changes in assets and liabilities, net of acquisitions: | |||||||||||||||||
| Receivables, net | (17.8) | (29.9) | (7.5) | ||||||||||||||
| Inventories, net | (98.3) | (23.5) | 24.9 | ||||||||||||||
| Other assets | 1.3 | (4.9) | 0.9 | ||||||||||||||
| Accounts payable | 32.2 | 23.0 | (17.6) | ||||||||||||||
| Walter Energy accrual | — | — | (22.0) | ||||||||||||||
| Other current liabilities | (8.5) | 37.5 | 6.6 | ||||||||||||||
| Other noncurrent liabilities | (6.0) | 2.5 | 1.9 | ||||||||||||||
| Net cash provided by operating activities | 52.3 | 156.7 | 140.3 | ||||||||||||||
| Investing activities: | |||||||||||||||||
| Capital expenditures | (54.7) | (62.7) | (67.7) | ||||||||||||||
| Acquisitions, net of cash acquired | (0.2) | (19.7) | — | ||||||||||||||
| Proceeds from sales of assets | — | 0.7 | 0.2 | ||||||||||||||
| Net cash used in investing activities | (54.9) | (81.7) | (67.5) | ||||||||||||||
| Financing activities: | |||||||||||||||||
| Repayment of 5.5% Senior Notes | — | (462.4) | — | ||||||||||||||
| Issuance of 4.0% Senior Notes | — | 450.0 | — | ||||||||||||||
| Dividends paid | (36.5) | (34.8) | (33.1) | ||||||||||||||
| Deferred financing costs paid | — | (6.0) | (1.1) | ||||||||||||||
| Proceeds from financing transaction | — | 3.9 | — | ||||||||||||||
| Acquisition of joint venture partner’s interest | — | — | (5.2) | ||||||||||||||
| Employee taxes related to stock-based compensation | (1.8) | (1.0) | (0.9) | ||||||||||||||
| Common stock issued | 2.0 | 1.9 | 3.5 | ||||||||||||||
| Stock repurchased under buyback program | (35.0) | (10.0) | (5.0) | ||||||||||||||
| Financing leases | (0.7) | (0.4) | 0.4 | ||||||||||||||
| Net cash used in financing activities | (72.0) | (58.8) | (41.4) | ||||||||||||||
| Effect of currency exchange rate changes on cash | (6.4) | 2.4 | 0.8 | ||||||||||||||
| Net change in cash and cash equivalents | (81.0) | 18.6 | 32.2 | ||||||||||||||
| Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of year | 227.5 | 208.9 | 176.7 | ||||||||||||||
| Cash and cash equivalents at end of year | $ | 146.5 | $ | 227.5 | $ | 208.9 | |||||||||||
The accompanying notes are an integral part of the consolidated financial statements.
F- 8
| Supplemental cash flow information: | |||||||||||||||||
| Cash paid for interest | $ | 19.2 | $ | 25.3 | $ | 24.3 | |||||||||||
| Cash paid for income taxes | $ | 26.9 | $ | 16.8 | $ | 15.3 | |||||||||||
The accompanying notes are an integral part of the consolidated financial statements.
F- 9
MUELLER WATER PRODUCTS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
Mueller Water Products, Inc., a Delaware corporation, together with its consolidated subsidiaries, operates in 2two business segments: InfrastructureWater Flow Solutions and Technologies. Infrastructure (previously referredWater Management Solutions. These segments are based on a management reorganization that became effective October 1, 2021; prior period information has been recast to as “Mueller Co.”) manufactures valves for water and gas systems, including butterfly,conform to the current presentation. Water Flow Solutions’ product portfolio includes iron gate tapping, check, knife, plug, automaticvalves, specialty valves and service brass products. Water Management Solutions’ product and service portfolio includes fire hydrants, repair and installation, natural gas, metering, leak detection, pressure control and ball valves, as well as dry-barrel and wet-barrel fire hydrants and pipe repair products. Technologies (previously referred to as “Mueller Technologies”) offers metering systems, leak detection, pipe condition assessment and other products and services for the water infrastructure industry.monitoring services. The “Company,” “we,” “us” or “our” refer to Mueller Water Products, Inc. and its subsidiaries. With regard to the Company’s segments, “we,” “us” or “our” may also refer to the segment being discussed.
We have approximately 3,600 employees globally, of which 64% of our hourly workers are covered by collective bargaining agreements.
In July 2014, Infrastructurewe acquired a 49% ownership in an industrial valve joint-venture for $1.7 million. Due toAs a result of substantive control features in the joint-venture agreement, all of the joint venture’s assets, liabilities and results of operations arewere included in our consolidated financial statements. We included an adjustment for the income attributable toThe noncontrolling interest portion was included in selling, general and administrative expenses. Noncontrolling interest iswas recorded at its carrying value, which approximatesapproximated fair value. As described in Note 18., InfrastructureWe acquired the remaining 51% noncontrolling interest on October 3, 2019.
On December 3, 2018, we completed our acquisition of Krausz Industries Development Ltd. and subsidiaries (“Krausz”). We includeDuring our 2020 and 2019 fiscal years, we included the financial statements of Krausz on a one-month lag. During the three months ended March 31, 2021, we aligned the consolidation of the financial statements of Krausz in ourthe Company’s consolidated financial statements, oneliminating the previous inclusion of Krausz financial statements with a one-month reporting lag. In accordance with applicable accounting literature, the elimination of the one-month reporting lag is considered to be a change in accounting principle. We believe this change in accounting principle is preferable as the financial statements of all of our subsidiaries are now reported on the same basis, providing the most current information available. The effect of the elimination of the reporting lag during the year ended September 30, 2021 resulted in an increase of $6.0 million to net sales and an increase of $1.4 million to operating income. We concluded that the effect of this change is not material to the balance sheets, statements of operations, statements of cash flows, net income and earnings per share and therefore have not retrospectively applied this change.
On June 14, 2021, we acquired all the outstanding capital stock of i2O Water Ltd (“i2O”) a provider of pressure management solutions to more than 100 water companies in 45 countries. The consolidated balance sheet at September 30, 2021 includes the preliminary estimated fair values of the net assets of i2O. The accounting for this business combination became final during the three months ended March 31, 2022. The results of i2O’s operations and cash flows for the period subsequent to the acquisition are included in the consolidated statement of operations and consolidated statement of cash flows, respectively. Refer to Note 45. for additional disclosures related to the acquisition.
Our consolidated financial statements are prepared in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (“GAAP”), which require us to make certain estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets, liabilities, sales and expenses and the disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities for the reporting periods. Actual results could differ from those estimates. All significant intercompany balances and transactions have been eliminated. Certain reclassifications have been made to previously reported amounts to conform to the current presentation.
Unless the context indicates otherwise, whenever we refer to a particular year, we mean our fiscal year ended or ending September 30 in that particular calendar year.
New Markets Tax Credit Program On December 22, 2020, we entered into a financing transaction with Wells Fargo Community Investment Holdings, LLC (“Wells Fargo”) related to our brass foundry construction project in Decatur, Illinois under a qualified New Markets Tax Credit program (“NMTC”). The NMTC is a federal program intended to encourage capital investment in qualified lower income communities. Under the NMTC, investors claim federal income tax credits over a period of seven years in connection with qualified investments in the equity of community development entities (“CDE”s), which are privately managed investment institutions that are certified to make qualified low-income community investments, such as in our foundry project.
Under the NMTC, Wells Fargo contributed capital of $4.8 million to an investment fund and we loaned $12.2 million to the fund. Wells Fargo is entitled to the associated tax credits, which are subject to 100% recapture if we do not comply with various regulations and contractual provisions surrounding the foundry project. We have indemnified Wells Fargo for any loss
F- 10
Index to Financial Statements or recapture of tax credits related to the transaction until the seven-year period elapses. We do not anticipate any credit recaptures will be required in connection with this arrangement. The investment fund contributed $16.5 million cash for a 99.99% stake in a joint venture (“Sub-CDE”) with a CDE. The Sub-CDE then loaned $16.2 million to us, with the use of the loan proceeds restricted to foundry project expenditures. This transaction also includes a put/call provision under which we may be obligated or entitled to repurchase Wells Fargo’s interest in the investment fund. We believe that Wells Fargo will exercise its put option in December 2027 for nominal consideration, resulting in our becoming the sole owner of the investment fund, cancelling the related loans, and recognizing an estimated gain of $3.9 million. We determined that the investment fund and the Sub-CDE are variable interest entities (“VIEs”) and that we are the primary beneficiary of the VIEs. The ongoing activities of the VIEs, namely collecting and remitting interest and fees and administering NMTC compliance, were contemplated in the initial design of the transaction and are not expected to significantly affect economic performance throughout the life of the VIEs. Additionally, we are obligated to deliver tax benefits and provide various other guarantees to Wells Fargo and to absorb the losses of the VIEs. Wells Fargo does not have a material interest in the underling economics of the project. Consequently, we have included the financial statements of the VIEs in our consolidated financial statements. Intercompany transactions between us and the VIEs have been eliminated in consolidation. Wells Fargo’s contribution to the investment fund is consolidated in our financial statements as an Other noncurrent liability as a result of its redemption features. Direct costs associated with Wells Fargo’s capital contribution have been netted against the recorded proceeds, resulting in a net cash contribution of $3.9 million. Other direct costs associated with the transaction were capitalized and will be recognized as interest expense over the seven-year tax credit period. Incremental costs to maintain the structure during the compliance period are expensed as incurred. Note 2.Summary of Significant Accounting Policies |
Cash and Cash Equivalents-Equivalents. All highly liquid investments with remaining maturities of 90 days or less when purchased are classified as cash equivalents. Where there is no right of offset against cash balances, outstanding checks are included in accounts payable.
We present trade receivables net of customer discounts and an allowance for credit losses. Our consolidated statements of operations reflect the measurement of credit losses for newly recognized trade receivables, as well as the expected increases or decreases of expected credit losses that have taken place during the period. When we determine a specific trade receivable will not be collected, we charge off the uncollectible amount against the allowance. Our periodic evaluations of expected credit losses are based upon our judgments regarding prior collection experience, specific customer creditworthiness, other current conditions, and forecasts of current economic trends within the industries served that may affect the collectability of the reported amounts. Significantly weaker than anticipated industry or economic conditions could impact our customers’ ability to pay such that actual credit losses may be greater than the amounts provided for in this allowance.
The following table summarizes information concerning our allowance for credit losses.
| 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | |||||||||||||||
| (in millions) | |||||||||||||||||
| Balance at beginning of year | $ | 3.5 | $ | 2.5 | $ | 1.5 | |||||||||||
| Provision charged to expense | 2.5 | 1.1 | 1.1 | ||||||||||||||
| Other | (0.4) | (0.1) | (0.1) | ||||||||||||||
| Balance at end of year | $ | 5.6 | $ | 3.5 | $ | 2.5 | |||||||||||
| 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | |||||||||
| (in millions) | |||||||||||
| Balance at beginning of year | $ | 4.0 | $ | 4.1 | $ | 4.5 | |||||
| Provision charged to expense | 0.3 | 0.5 | 0.3 | ||||||||
| Balances written off, net of recoveries | (0.2 | ) | (0.7 | ) | (0.8 | ) | |||||
| Reclassification under ASC 606 | (0.6 | ) | — | — | |||||||
| Other | — | 0.1 | 0.1 | ||||||||
| Balance at end of year | $ | 3.5 | $ | 4.0 | $ | 4.1 | |||||
F- 11
that is affected by levels of production and actual costs incurred. We periodically evaluate the effects of production levels and costs capitalized as part of inventory.
The following table summarizes information concerning our inventory valuation reserves.
| 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| (in millions) | (in millions) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Balance at beginning of year | $ | 5.1 | $ | 4.4 | $ | 4.6 | Balance at beginning of year | $ | 14.8 | $ | 11.7 | $ | 7.5 | |||||||||||||||
| Provision charged to expense | 3.4 | 2.2 | 2.0 | Provision charged to expense | 1.8 | 5.9 | 4.7 | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Inventory disposed | (1.2 | ) | (1.2 | ) | (2.1 | ) | Inventory disposed | (1.4) | (3.6) | (0.7) | ||||||||||||||||||
| Other | 0.2 | (0.3 | ) | (0.1 | ) | Other | 1.3 | 0.8 | 0.2 | |||||||||||||||||||
| Balance at end of year | $ | 7.5 | $ | 5.1 | $ | 4.4 | Balance at end of year | $ | 16.5 | $ | 14.8 | $ | 11.7 | |||||||||||||||
Property, Plant and Equipment-Equipment, net. Property, plant and equipment is recorded at cost, less accumulated depreciation. Depreciation is recorded using the straight-line method over the estimated useful lives of the assets. Estimated useful lives are 10 to 20 years for land improvements, 10 to 40 years for buildings and 3 to 15 years for machinery and equipment. Leasehold improvements and capitalized leases are depreciated using the straight-line method over the lesser of the useful life of the asset or the remaining lease term. Gains and losses upon disposition are reflected in operating results in the period of disposition.
Direct internal and external costs to implement computer systems and internal-use software are capitalized. Capitalized costs are depreciated over the estimated useful life of the system or software, generally 6six years, beginning when site installation or module developmentsoftware is complete and ready for its intended use.
Liabilities are recognized at fair value for asset retirement obligations related to plant and landfill closures in the period in which they are reasonably estimable and the carrying amounts of the related long-lived assets are correspondingly increased.adjusted. Over time, the liabilities are accreted to their estimated future values. At September 30, 20192022 and 2018,2021, asset retirement obligations were $4.5$3.6 million and $4.1$3.8 million, respectively.
Accounting for the Impairment of Long-Lived Assets-Assets. We test indefinite-lived intangible assets and goodwill for impairment annually (oror more frequently if events or circumstances indicate possible impairment.)impairment is possible. We perform our annual impairment testing at September 1. We amortize finite-lived intangible assets over their respective estimated useful lives and review for impairment if events or circumstances indicate possible impairment.impairment is possible. Refer to Note 6. for information regarding our goodwill impairment testing.
Warranty Costs-Costs. We accrue for warranty expenses, which can include costs of repair and/or replacement, including labor, materials, equipment, freight and reasonable overhead costs. We accrue for the estimated cost of product warranties at the time of sale if such costs are determined to be probable and reasonably estimable at that time. We monitor and analyze our warranty experience and costs periodically and may revise our warranty reservesaccruals as necessary. Critical factors in our reserveaccrual analyses include warranty terms, specific claim situations, general incurred and projected failure rates, the nature of product failures, product and labor costs, and general business conditions.
| 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | |||||||||
| (in millions) | |||||||||||
| Balance at beginning of year | $ | 20.0 | $ | 8.5 | $ | 2.0 | |||||
| Warranty accruals | 3.9 | 18.7 | 12.3 | ||||||||
| Warranty costs | (6.8 | ) | (7.2 | ) | (5.8 | ) | |||||
| Balance at end of year | $ | 17.1 | $ | 20.0 | $ | 8.5 | |||||
F- 12
| 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | |||||||||||||||
| (in millions) | |||||||||||||||||
| Balance at beginning of year | $ | 9.7 | $ | 14.4 | $ | 17.1 | |||||||||||
| Warranty accruals | 9.5 | 3.5 | 2.6 | ||||||||||||||
| Warranty costs | (8.5) | (8.2) | (5.3) | ||||||||||||||
| Balance at end of year | $ | 10.7 | $ | 9.7 | $ | 14.4 | |||||||||||
Deferred Financing Costs-Costs. Costs ofDebt issuance costs to obtain debt financing are deferred and charged to expense over the liveslife of the related financing agreements.underlying debt agreement. Remaining costs and the future period over which theyfinancing costs would be charged to expense are reassessed when amendments to the related financing agreements or prepayments occur.
Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities-Activities. We managed interestmanage U.S. dollar - Canadian dollar exchange rate risk related to some extent using derivative instruments. We had designated our interest rateintercompany loans with swap contracts from time to time without designating these swap contracts as cash flow hedges of interest payments.a hedge. As a result, the changes in the fair value of these contracts prior to settlement werehave been reported asin earnings. As of September 30, 2021, we had a component of accumulated other comprehensive loss and were reclassified into earnings$1.1 million liability in the periods during which the hedged transactions affected earnings. We recorded a cash gain of $2.4 millionOther current liabilities in the quarter ended June 30, 2018 upon termination of the interest rate swaps.
Income Taxes-Taxes. Deferred tax liabilities and deferred tax assets are recognized for the expected future tax consequences of events that have been included in the financial statements or tax returns. Such liabilitiesassets and assetsliabilities are determined based on the differences between the financial statement basis and the tax basis of assets and liabilities, using tax rates in effect for the years in which the differences are expected to reverse. A valuation allowance is provided when, based upon the available evidence, it is more likely than not that some or all of the deferred tax assets will not be realized.
We only record tax benefits for positions that management believes are more likely than not of being sustained under audit based solely on the technical merits of the associated tax position. The amount of tax benefit recognized for any position that meets the more likely than notmore-likely-than-not threshold is the largest amount of the tax benefit that we believe is greater than 50% likely of being realized.
Environmental Expenditures-Expenditures. We capitalize environmental expenditures that increase the life or efficiency of noncurrent assets or that reduce or prevent environmental contamination. We accrue for environmental expenses resulting from existing conditions that relate to past operations when the costs are probable and reasonably estimable. We are indemnified for certain environmental liabilities under an agreement with a predecessor to Tyco for certain environmental liabilities that existed at August 16, 1999. SeeRefer to Note 17. for additional disclosures regarding our environmental liabilities.
Revenue RecognitionRecognition. - SeeRefer to Note 3. for more informationdisclosures regarding our revenues.
Stock-based Compensation-Compensation. Compensation expense for stock-based awards granted to employees and directors is based on the fair value at the grant dates for our stock-settled share awards and is based on the fair value at each reporting date for our cash-settled share awards. SeeStock-based compensation expense is included within Selling, general and administrative expense within our consolidated statements of operations. Refer to Note 11.12. for more information regarding our stock-based compensation. Stock-based compensation expense is a component of selling, general and administrative expenses.
Research and Development-Development. Research and development costs are expensed as incurred.
Translation of Foreign Currency-Currency. Foreign reporting entities are remeasured into local currencies with the effect reflected in the consolidated statements of operations. Assets and liabilities of our businesses whose functional currencies are other thannot denominated in the U.S.United States dollar are translated into U.S.United States dollars using currency exchange rates at the balance
F- 13
sheet date. Revenues and expenses are translated at average currency exchange rates during the period. Foreign currency translation gains and losses are reported as a component of accumulated other comprehensive loss.income (loss). Gains and losses resulting from foreign currency transactions are included in earnings as incurred.
Recently Adopted Accounting Pronouncements
During 2016, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) issued standard Accounting Standard Codification (“ASC”) 326 - Current Expected Credit Losses (“ASC 326”) to replace the “incurred loss” impairment approach with an “expected loss” approach. This requires consideration of a broader range of reasonable and supportable information to estimate credit losses. We have completed historical and forward-looking analyses for receivables and adopted this guidance effective October 1, 2020. Upon adoption, there was no material impact to our financial statements.
In December 2019, the FASB issued Accounting Standards Update (“ASU”) No. 2019-12, "Income Taxes (Topic 740): Simplifying the Accounting for Income Taxes” (“ASU 2019-12”). ASU 2019-12 simplifies the accounting for income taxes by clarifying and amending existing guidance related to the recognition of franchise tax, the evaluation of a step up in the tax basis of goodwill, and the effects of enacted changes in tax laws or rates in the effective tax rate computation, among other clarifications. ASU 2019-12 is effective for public business entities for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2020, including interim periods within that fiscal year, with early adoption permitted. We adopted this standard on October 1, 2021 and there was no material impact to our financial statements.
In March 2020, the FASB issued ASU No. 2020-04, "Reference Rate Reform (Topic 848): Facilitation of the Effects of Reference Rate Reform on Financial Reporting" (“ASU 2020-04”). The new guidance provides optional expedients and exceptions for applying GAAP to contracts, hedging relationships and other transactions affected by reference rate reform if certain criteria are met. The amendments apply only to contracts and hedging relationships that reference the London Inter Bank Offered Rate (“LIBOR”) or another reference rate expected to be discontinued due to reference rate reform. ASU 2020-04 is effective from March 12, 2020; however, can be adopted prospectively from a date within an interim period subsequent to March 12, 2020. We adopted this standard on October 1, 2021, and there was no material impact to our financial statements.
Accounting Pronouncements Not Yet Adopted
ASU 2022-03 Fair Value Measurement (Topic 820): Fair Value Measurement of Equity Securities Subject to Contractual Sale Restrictions: The FASB issued this update in June 2022, to (1) clarify the guidance in Topic 820 on the fair value measurement of an equity security that is subject to a contractual sale restriction; and (2) to require specific disclosures related to such an equity security. This guidance is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2023, and interim periods within those fiscal years, with early adoption permitted. Management does not expect that changes required by the new standard will have a material impact on our financial statements and related disclosures.
Note 3.Revenue from Contracts with Customers
We recognize revenue when control of promised products or services is transferred to our customers, in amounts that
reflect the consideration to which we expect to be entitled in exchange for those products or services. We account for a
contract when it has approval and commitment from both parties, the rights of the parties are identified, the payment terms are
identified, the contract has commercial substance and collectability of consideration is probable. We determine the appropriate
revenue recognition for our contracts with customers by analyzing the type, terms and conditions of each contract or
arrangement with a customer.
Disaggregation of Revenue
Contract Asset and Liability Balances
Advance payments and billings in excess of revenue are recognized and recorded as deferred revenue, the majority of
which is classified as current based on the timing when we expect to recognize revenue. We include current deferred revenue
F- 14
within Other current liabilities in the accompanying consolidated balance sheets. Deferred revenues represent contract liabilities and are recorded when customers remit
liabilities are reversed when the performance obligation is satisfied and revenue is recognized.
The table below represents the balances of our customer receivables and deferred revenues.
| September 30, | ||||||||||||||
| 2022 | 2021 | |||||||||||||
| (in millions) | ||||||||||||||
| Billed receivables | $ | 230.5 | $ | 213.4 | ||||||||||
| Unbilled receivables | 3.1 | 2.3 | ||||||||||||
| Gross customer receivables | $ | 233.6 | $ | 215.7 | ||||||||||
| Allowance for credit losses | (5.6) | (3.5) | ||||||||||||
| Receivables, net | $ | 228.0 | $ | 212.2 | ||||||||||
| Deferred revenues | $ | 8.1 | $ | 5.4 | ||||||||||
| September 30, | |||||||
| 2019 | 2018 | ||||||
| (in millions) | |||||||
| Billed receivables | $ | 171.0 | $ | 165.3 | |||
| Unbilled receivables | 4.5 | 2.4 | |||||
| Total customer receivables, gross | $ | 175.5 | $ | 167.7 | |||
| Deferred revenues | $ | 4.7 | $ | 3.3 | |||
Performance Obligations
A performance obligation is a promise in a contract to transfer a distinct good or service to the customer. Our performance obligations are satisfied at a point in time as related to sales of equipment or over time as related to our software hosting and leak detection monitoring services. Performance obligations are supported by customer contracts, which provide frameworks for the nature of the distinct products or services. The transaction price is adjusted for our estimate of variable consideration which may include discounts, and rebates. To estimate variable consideration, we apply the expected value or the most likely amount method, based on whichever method most appropriately predicts the amount of consideration we expect to receive. The method applied is typically based on historical experience and known trends. We allocateconstrain the amounts of variable consideration that are included in the transaction price, of each contract to the performance obligations onextent that it is probable that a significant reversal in the basisamount of standalone selling price and recognizecumulative revenue recognized will not occur or when or as, controluncertainties around the variable consideration are resolved.
We exclude from the measurement of the performance obligation transfers to the customers.transaction price all taxes assessed by a governmental authority.
We have elected to use the practical expedient to not adjust the transaction price of a contract for the effects of a significant financing component if, at the inception of the contract, we expect that the period between when we transfer a product or service to a customer and when a customer remits payment will be one year or less.
Revenues from products and services transferred to customers at a point in time representedrepresented 98% in the fiscal years 2022 and 2021, and 99% of our revenues in the fiscal year ended September 30, 2019.2020. The revenues recognized at a point in time related to the sale of our products and wasare recognized when the obligations of the terms of our contract wereare satisfied, which is when the customer is able to direct the use of and obtain substantially all of the benefits from the product, which generally occurs upon shipment when control of the product transfers to the customer.
Revenues from products and services transferred to customers over time represented 2% of our revenues in the fiscal years 2022, and 2021, and 1% of our revenues in the fiscal year ended September 30, 2019.
We offer warranties to our customers in the form of assurance-type warranties, which provide assurance that the products provided will function as intended and comply with any agreed-upon specifications. These cannot be purchased separately. There was no change to our warranty accounting as a result of the implementation of the new revenue standard and we will continue to use our current cost accrual method in accordance with GAAP.
Costs to Obtain or Fulfill a Contract
Shipping and handling costs associated with freight activities after the customer has obtained control are accounted for as fulfillment costs and are expensed and accrued at the time revenue is recognized, as a component of cost of sales.
We incur certain incremental costs to obtain a contract, which primarily relate to incremental sales commissions. Our
commissions are paid based on shipment rather than on ordera combination of orders and shipments, and we reserve the right to claw back any commissions in case of
product returns or lost collections. As the expected benefit associated with these incremental costs is generally one year or less based on
the nature of the product sold and benefits received, we have applied a practical expedient and therefore do not capitalize the
related costs and expense them as incurred, consistent with our previous accounting treatment.incurred.
| Gross cash proceeds | $ | 305.7 | |
| Noncash proceeds | 1.9 | ||
| Total proceeds | 307.6 | ||
| Transaction expenses | (8.3 | ) | |
| Net proceeds | 299.3 | ||
| Assets and liabilities disposed | (189.8 | ) | |
| Gain on sale, pre-tax | 109.5 | ||
| Income tax | (41.6 | ) | |
| Gain on sale, net of tax | $ | 67.9 | |
| Net sales | $ | 83.1 | |
| Cost of sales | 62.8 | ||
| Gross profit | 20.3 | ||
| Operating expenses: | |||
| Selling, general and administrative | 17.2 | ||
| Other charges | 0.2 | ||
| Total operating expenses | 17.4 | ||
| Operating income | 2.9 | ||
| Interest expense, net | — | ||
| Income before income taxes | 2.9 | ||
| Income tax expense | 1.8 | ||
| 1.1 | |||
| Gain on sale, net of tax | 67.9 | ||
| Income from discontinued operations | $ | 69.0 | |
F- 1415
Note 4. Leases
On February 15, 2017,October 1, 2019, we acquired Singer Valve, a manufactureradopted ASC 842 - Leases utilizing the modified retrospective approach. Adoption of automatic control valves, and its affiliates for aggregate cash consideration of $26.6 million net of post-closing adjustments. Singer Valve had net sales of approximately $15 millionthe new standard resulted in calendar 2016 and is included in Infrastructure.
We elected three practical expedients for transition, which include the carry forward of our leases without reassessing whether any contracts are leases or contain leases, lease classification and initial direct costs as well as applying hindsight when determining the lease term and when assessing impairment of ROU assets at the adoption date. This allows us to update our assessments according to new information and changes in facts and circumstances that have occurred since lease inception.
Presentation of Leases
We lease certain office, warehouse, manufacturing, distribution, and research and development facilities and equipment under operating leases. Our leases have remaining lease terms of up to 12 years. The terms and conditions of our leases may include options to extend or terminate the lease which are considered and included in the lease term when these companies,options are reasonably certain of exercise.
We determine if a contract is, or contains, a lease at inception by evaluating whether the contract conveys the right to control the use of an identified asset. For all classes of leased assets, we have elected the practical expedient to account for any non-lease components in the contract together with the related lease component in the same unit of account.
ROU assets and lease liabilities are recognized in our consolidated balance sheets at the commencement date based on the present value of remaining lease payments over the lease term. Additionally, ROU assets include any lease payments made at or before the commencement date, as well as any initial direct costs incurred, and are reduced by any lease incentives received. As most of our operating leases do not provide an implicit rate, we apply our incremental borrowing rate to determine the present value of remaining lease payments. Our incremental borrowing rate is determined based on information available at the commencement date of the lease.
For all classes of leased assets, we have applied an accounting policy election to exclude short-term leases from recognition in our consolidated balance sheets. A short-term lease has a lease term of 12 months or less at the commencement date and does not include a purchase option that is reasonably certain of exercise. We recognize short-term lease expense in our condensed consolidated statements of operations on a straight-line basis over the lease term.
Our short-term lease expense for the years ended September 30, 2022 and 2021 and short-term lease commitments at September 30, 2022 are immaterial.
We have certain lease contracts with terms and conditions that provide for variability in the payment amount based on changes in facts or circumstances occurring after the commencement date. These variable lease payments are recognized in our consolidated statements of operations as the obligation is incurred.
F- 16
At September 30, 2022, any legally-binding minimum lease payments for operating leases signed but not yet commenced, subleases, leases that imposed significant restrictions or covenants, related party leases or sale-leaseback arrangements were immaterial.
The components of lease cost are presented below.
| Year ended September 30, | |||||||||||||||||
| 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | |||||||||||||||
| (in millions) | |||||||||||||||||
| Operating lease cost | $ | 5.8 | $ | 6.1 | $ | 6.3 | |||||||||||
| Finance lease cost | 1.3 | 1.2 | 1.3 | ||||||||||||||
| Total lease expense | $ | 7.1 | $ | 7.3 | $ | 7.6 | |||||||||||
Supplemental cash flow information related to leases are presented below, in millions.
| Year ended September 30, | |||||||||||
| 2022 | 2021 | ||||||||||
| Operating cash used for operating leases | $ | 5.8 | $ | 6.1 | |||||||
| Financing cash used for finance leases | $ | 1.3 | $ | 1.2 | |||||||
| Assets acquired, net of cash: | |||
| Receivables | $ | 3.0 | |
| Inventories | 5.8 | ||
| Other current assets | 0.2 | ||
| Property, plant and equipment | 1.0 | ||
| Intangible assets | 11.4 | ||
| Goodwill | 7.2 | ||
| Liabilities assumed: | |||
| Accounts payable | 0.7 | ||
| Other current liabilities | 0.4 | ||
| Current and long term debt | 0.1 | ||
| Deferred income tax liability | 0.8 | ||
| Consideration paid | $ | 26.6 | |
| September 30, | ||||||||||||||||||||
| 2022 | 2021 | |||||||||||||||||||
| (in millions) | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Right-of-use assets: | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Operating leases | Other noncurrent assets | $ | 26.0 | $ | 27.1 | |||||||||||||||
| Finance leases | Plant, property and equipment | 1.4 | 2.2 | |||||||||||||||||
| Total right-of-use assets | $ | 27.4 | $ | 29.3 | ||||||||||||||||
| Lease liabilities: | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Operating leases - current | Other current liabilities | $ | 4.4 | $ | 4.0 | |||||||||||||||
| Operating leases - noncurrent | Other noncurrent liabilities | 22.4 | 24.6 | |||||||||||||||||
| Finance leases - current | Current portion of long-term debt | 0.8 | 1.0 | |||||||||||||||||
| Finance leases - noncurrent | Long-term debt | 0.8 | 1.2 | |||||||||||||||||
| Total lease liabilities | $ | 28.4 | $ | 30.8 | ||||||||||||||||
Supplemental information related to lease terms and discount rates are presented below.
| Year ended September 30, | |||||||||||
| 2022 | 2021 | ||||||||||
| Weighted-average remaining lease term (years): | |||||||||||
| Operating leases | 6.67 | 7.82 | |||||||||
| Finance leases | 2.15 | 2.53 | |||||||||
| Weighted-average interest rate: | |||||||||||
| Operating leases | 5.48 | % | 5.36 | % | |||||||
| Finance leases | 3.64 | % | 4.24 | % | |||||||
Total lease liabilities at September 30, 2022 have scheduled maturities as follows:
F- 17
| Operating Leases | Finance Leases | ||||||||||
| (in millions) | |||||||||||
| 2023 | $ | 5.9 | $ | 0.9 | |||||||
| 2024 | 5.7 | 0.5 | |||||||||
| 2025 | 5.1 | 0.2 | |||||||||
| 2026 | 4.7 | 0.1 | |||||||||
| 2027 | 3.9 | — | |||||||||
| Thereafter | 7.3 | — | |||||||||
| Total lease payments | 32.6 | 1.7 | |||||||||
| Less: imputed interest | (5.8) | (0.1) | |||||||||
| Present value of lease liabilities | $ | 26.8 | $ | 1.6 | |||||||
Note 5. Acquisitions
Acquisition of Krauszi2O Water Ltd
On December 3, 2018,June 14, 2021, we completed our acquisitionacquired all of the outstanding equitycapital stock of Krausz, a manufacturer of pipe couplings, grips and clamps with operations in the United States and Israel,i2O Water Ltd for $140.7$19.7 million, net of cash acquired,acquired. The purchase agreement provided for customary final adjustments, including a net working capital adjustment that was completed during the assumption and simultaneous repaymentthree months ended December 31, 2021, resulting in a purchase price of certain debt of $13.2$19.5 million. The acquisition of Krausz was financed with cash on hand. We believe that the Krausz product line is complementary to our existing Infrastructure products and will improve our positioning in the pipe repair market.
We have recognized the assets acquired and liabilities assumed at their estimated acquisition date fair values, with the
excess of the purchase price over the estimated fair values of the identifiable net assets acquired recorded as goodwill. The
accounting for the business combination is based on currently available information and is considered preliminary. We are still gathering information about property, plant, and equipment, based on facts that existed as of the date of the acquisition. In addition, not all Israeli tax returns for the year ended December 31, 2018 have been completed, and completion of these returns may identify changes to tax-related amounts that existed at the acquisition date and require adjustment to the opening balance sheet. During 2019, we made adjustments to our initially-recorded estimates of the fair value of the assets acquired and liabilities assumed, which decreased net working capital by $2.0 million, increased non-current assets and non-current liabilities by $1.7 million each, increased deferred income taxes by $9.9 million and increased intangible assets by $37.8 million, and which resulted in a net decrease in goodwill of $21.4 million. The final accounting for the business combination may differ materially from that presented in these consolidated financial statements.
be final. The results of Krausz, including net sales of $37.2 million,i2O are included withinin our Infrastructure segment for all periods following the acquisition date.Water Management Solutions segment.
The preliminary estimated goodwill below is attributable to the strategic opportunities and synergies that we expect to arise
from the acquisition of Krauszi2O and the value of its workforce. The goodwillGoodwill is nondeductible for income tax purposes. Identified intangible assets consist of patents, customer relationships, non-compete agreements and favorable leasehold interestsdeveloped technology with an estimated weighted averageweighted-average useful life of approximately 12 years and tradenamestrade names with an indefinite life. Values of intangible assets were determined using a discounted cash flow method.
The following is a summary of the estimated fair values of the net assets acquired (in millions):
| Assets, net of cash: | |||
| Receivables | $ | 6.9 | |
| Inventories | 17.0 | ||
| Other current assets | 0.2 | ||
| Property, plant and equipment | 8.4 | ||
| Other non-current assets | 1.7 | ||
| Identified intangible assets: | |||
| Patents | 32.1 | ||
| Customer relationships | 8.7 | ||
| Tradenames | 4.6 | ||
| Favorable leasehold interests | 2.3 | ||
| Goodwill | 80.1 | ||
| Liabilities: | |||
| Accounts payable | (5.5 | ) | |
| Other current liabilities | (2.9 | ) | |
| Deferred income taxes | (11.2 | ) | |
| Other non-current liabilities | (1.7 | ) | |
| Consideration paid | 140.7 | ||
| Repayment of Krausz debt | (13.2 | ) | |
| Consideration paid included in net cash used in investing activities | $ | 127.5 | |
| $ | 0.5 | ||||
| Inventories | 0.6 | ||||
| Other current assets | 0.9 | ||||
| Identified intangible assets: | |||||
| Tradename | 1.8 | ||||
| Customer relationships | 2.1 | ||||
| Non-compete agreements | 0.1 | ||||
| Developed technology | 3.5 | ||||
| Goodwill | 12.1 | ||||
| Liabilities: | |||||
| Accounts payable | (0.8) | ||||
| Other current liabilities | (1.3) | ||||
| Fair value of net assets acquired, net of cash | $ | 19.5 | |||
F- 1618
| September 30, | |||||||
| 2019 | 2018 | ||||||
| (in millions) | |||||||
| Capitalized internal-use software: | |||||||
| Cost | $ | 30.2 | $ | 27.6 | |||
| Accumulated amortization | (17.5 | ) | (14.2 | ) | |||
| Net book value | 12.7 | 13.4 | |||||
| Business combination-related: | |||||||
| Cost: | |||||||
| Finite-lived intangible assets: | |||||||
| Technology | 116.6 | 82.6 | |||||
| Customer relationships and other | 370.0 | 358.8 | |||||
| Indefinite-lived intangible assets: | |||||||
| Trade names and trademarks | 271.4 | 266.6 | |||||
| 758.0 | 708.0 | ||||||
| Accumulated amortization: | |||||||
| Technology | (76.4 | ) | (72.9 | ) | |||
| Customer relationships and other | (260.6 | ) | (240.4 | ) | |||
| (337.0 | ) | (313.3 | ) | ||||
| Net book value | 421.0 | 394.7 | |||||
| Total intangible assets net book value | $ | 433.7 | $ | 408.1 | |||