UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549 

FORM 10-Q
 
QUARTERLY REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE
SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
 
For the quarterly period ended September 30, 20192020
 
OR

TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF
THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
 
For the transition period from           to         
 
Commission File Number: 1-7665 
LYDALL INC /DE/
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
Delaware06-0865505
(State or Other Jurisdiction of Incorporation or Organization)(I.R.S. Employer Identification No.)
One Colonial Road,Manchester,Connecticut06042
(Address of principal executive offices)(zip code)
 
(860) (860) 646-1233
(Registrant’s telephone number, including area code) 
None
(Former name, former address and former fiscal year, if changed since last report)

Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:
Title of each classTrading Symbol(s)Name of each exchange on which registered
Common Stock, $0.01 par valueLDLNew York Stock Exchange


Indicate by check mark whether the registrant (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such a shorter period that the registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days. Yes No
 
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has submitted electronically every Interactive Data File required to be submitted pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulation S-T (§232.405 of this chapter) during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to submit such files). Yes No
 
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, a smaller reporting company or an emerging growth company. See the definitions of “large accelerated filer”,filer,” “accelerated filer”,filer,” “smaller reporting company”,company,” and "emerging growth company" in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act.
 
Large accelerated filer Accelerated filer Non-accelerated filer Smaller reporting company Emerging growth company

If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Exchange Act.
 
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act). Yes No
 
Indicate the number of shares outstanding of each of the issuer’s classes of common stock, as of the latest practicable date.
Common Stock $ .01 par value per share.

Total Shares outstanding October 15, 2019202017,522,79717,733,429






LYDALL, INC.
INDEX
 
Page
Number
Part I.Financial Information
Item 1.
Page
Number
Cautionary Note Concerning Forward – Looking Statements
Part I.Financial Information
Item 1.
Item 2.
Item 3.
Item 4.
Part II.Other Information
Item 1.
Item 1A.
Item 2.
Item 6.
Signature


2




Lydall, Inc. and its subsidiaries are hereafter collectively referred to as “Lydall,” the “Company” or the “Registrant.” Lydall and its subsidiaries’ names, abbreviations thereof, logos, and product and service designators are all either the registered or unregistered trademarks or trade names of Lydall, Inc. and its subsidiaries.

CAUTIONARY NOTE CONCERNING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

This Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q contains “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”). Any statements contained in this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q that are not statements of historical fact may be deemed to be forward-looking statements. All such forward-looking statements are intended to provide management’s current expectations for the future operating and financial performance of the Company based on current assumptions relating to the Company’s business, the economy and future conditions. Forward-looking statements generally can be identified through the use of words such as “believes,” “anticipates,” “may,” “should,” “will,” “plans,” “projects,” “expects,” “expectations,” “estimates,” “forecasts,” “predicts,” “targets,” “prospects,” “strategy,” “signs” and other words of similar meaning in connection with the discussion of future operating or financial performance. Forward-looking statements may include, among other things, statements relating to future sales, earnings, cash flow, results of operations, uses of cash and other measures of financial performance. Because forward-looking statements relate to the future, they are subject to inherent risks, uncertainties and changes in circumstances that are difficult to predict. Accordingly, the Company’s actual results may differ materially from those contemplated by the forward-looking statements. Investors, therefore, are cautioned against relying on any of these forward-looking statements. They are neither statements of historical fact nor guarantees or assurances of future performance. Forward-looking statements in this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q include, among others, statements relating to:
The impact of the coronavirus pandemic ("COVID-19") on the Company's businesses;
Overall economic and business conditions and the effects on the Company’s markets;
Ability to meet financial covenants in the Company's credit agreement;
Outlook for the fourth quarter and full year 2019;2020;
Ability to improve operational effectiveness in the Thermal Acoustical Solutions segment;effectiveness;
Expected vehicle production in the North American, European or Asian markets;
Growth opportunities in markets served by the Company;
Integration and financial performance of the Interface Performance Materials business, which was acquired in the third quarter of 2018;
Expected costs and future savings associated with restructuring, reduction-in-force, or other cost savings programs;
Expected gross margin, operating margin and working capital improvements from cost control and other improvement programs;
Future impact of raw material commodity costs;
Product development and new business opportunities;
Future strategic transactions, including but not limited to: acquisitions, joint ventures, alliances, licensing agreements and divestitures;
Pension plan funding;
Future cash flow and uses of cash;
Future amounts of stock-based compensation expense;
Future earnings and other measurements of financial performance;
Ability to meet cash operating requirements;
Future levels of indebtedness and capital spending;
Ability to meet financial covenants in the Company's amended revolving credit facility;
Future impact of the variability of interest rates and foreign currency exchange rates;rates and impacts of hedging instruments;
Expected future impact of recently issued accounting pronouncements upon adoption;
Future effective income tax rates and realization of deferred tax assets;
Estimates of fair values of reporting units and long-lived assets used in assessing goodwill and long-lived assets for possible impairment; and
The expected outcomes of legal proceedings and other contingencies, including environmental matters.
3



All forward-looking statements are inherently subject to a number of risks and uncertainties that could cause the actual results of the Company to differ materially from those reflected in forward-looking statements made in this Quarterly Report on Form 10-



Q,10-Q, as well as in press releases and other statements made from time to time by the Company’s authorized officers. Such risks and uncertainties include, among others, the duration, severity, and impact of COVID-19 or other new pandemics and the measures taken in response thereto, in particular the impact the virus has on the Company's operations and ability to meet customer demands; worldwide economic cycles and political changes and uncertainties that affect the markets which the Company’s businesses serve, which could have an effect on demand for the Company’s products and impact the Company’s profitability; challenges encountered by the Company in the execution of restructuring programs; challenges encountered in the integration and financial performance of the acquired Interface Performance Materials business; disruptions in the global credit and financial markets, including diminished liquidity and credit availability; changes in international trade agreements and policies, including tariff regulation and trade restrictions; swings in consumer confidence and spending; unstable economic growth; volatility in foreign currency exchange rates; raw material pricing and supply issues; fluctuations in unemployment rates; retention of key employees and successful execution of recently announced CEO transition;employees; increases in fuel prices; and outcomes of legal proceedings, claims and investigations, as well as other risks and uncertainties identified in Part II, Item 1A - Risk Factors of this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q, and Part I, Item 1A - Risk Factors of Lydall’sthe Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2018.2019. The Company does not assume any obligation to update any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.
4





PART I. FINANCIAL INFORMATION
 
Item 1. Financial Statements
 
LYDALL, INC.
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS
(In Thousands Except Per Share Data)Amounts)
 
Quarter Ended  
September 30,
Three Months Ended  
September 30,
Nine Months Ended  
September 30,
2019 20182020201920202019
(Unaudited)(Unaudited)(Unaudited)
Net sales$205,274
 $197,886
Net sales$207,085 $205,274 $553,772 $644,110 
Cost of sales168,918
 162,747
Cost of sales169,155 168,918 448,856 520,423 
Gross profit36,356
 35,139
Gross profit37,930 36,356 104,916 123,687 
Selling, product development and administrative expenses28,909
 25,406
Selling, product development and administrative expenses32,227 28,909 95,418 94,011 
Operating income7,447
 9,733
Pension plan settlement expense186
 
Impairment of goodwill and other long-lived assetsImpairment of goodwill and other long-lived assets61,109 
Restructuring expensesRestructuring expenses14,984 14,984 
Operating (loss) incomeOperating (loss) income(9,281)7,447 (66,595)29,676 
Employee benefit plans settlement expensesEmployee benefit plans settlement expenses186 385 25,701 
Interest expense3,666
 1,505
Interest expense4,537 3,666 11,870 11,025 
Other income, net(885) (40)
Income before income taxes4,480
 8,268
Income tax expense1,574
 2,076
Other expense (income), netOther expense (income), net276 (885)106 (1,359)
(Loss) income before income taxes(Loss) income before income taxes(14,094)4,480 (78,956)(5,691)
Income tax (benefit) expenseIncome tax (benefit) expense(2,334)1,574 (4,944)(5,519)
Income from equity method investment(98) (64)Income from equity method investment(50)(98)(24)(120)
Net income$3,004
 $6,256
Earnings per share:   
Net (loss) incomeNet (loss) income$(11,710)$3,004 $(73,988)$(52)
(Loss) earnings per share:(Loss) earnings per share:
Basic$0.17
 $0.36
Basic$(0.67)$0.17 $(4.26)$0.00 
Diluted$0.17
 $0.36
Diluted$(0.67)$0.17 $(4.26)$0.00 
Weighted average number of common shares outstanding:   Weighted average number of common shares outstanding:
Basic17,270
 17,216
Basic17,384 17,270 17,364 17,264 
Diluted17,330
 17,349
Diluted17,384 17,330 17,364 17,264 
 
See accompanying Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements.























5



LYDALL, INC.
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS
(In Thousands Except Per Share Data)

 Nine Months Ended  
September 30,
 2019 2018
 (Unaudited)
Net sales$644,110
 $575,959
Cost of sales520,423
 465,186
Gross profit123,687
 110,773
Selling, product development and administrative expenses94,011
 74,755
Operating income29,676
 36,018
Pension plan settlement expense25,701
 
Interest expense11,025
 2,617
Other income, net(1,359) (93)
(Loss) income before income taxes(5,691) 33,494
Income tax (benefit) expense(5,519) 5,854
Income from equity method investment(120) (120)
Net (loss) income$(52) $27,760
Earnings per share:   
Basic$0.00
 $1.61
Diluted$0.00
 $1.60
Weighted average number of common shares outstanding:   
Basic17,264
 17,189
Diluted17,264
 17,339

See accompanying Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements.




LYDALL, INC. 
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF COMPREHENSIVE (LOSS) INCOME
(In Thousands)
 
 Quarter Ended  
September 30,
 Nine Months Ended  
September 30,
 2019 2018 2019 2018
 (Unaudited) (Unaudited)
Net income (loss)$3,004
 $6,256
 $(52) $27,760
Other comprehensive loss:       
Foreign currency translation adjustments(8,726) (658) (6,396) (9,262)
Pension liability adjustment, net of tax21
 198
 379
 595
Unrealized (loss) gain on hedging activities, net of tax(148) 14
 (2,174) 89
Comprehensive (loss) income$(5,849) $5,810
 $(8,243) $19,182
Three Months Ended  
September 30,
Nine Months Ended  
September 30,
2020201920202019
(Unaudited)(Unaudited)
Net (loss) income$(11,710)$3,004 $(73,988)$(52)
Other comprehensive income (loss):
Foreign currency translation8,245 (8,726)3,434 (6,396)
Pension and other postretirement benefit plans, net of tax(49)21 282 19,395 
Unrealized gain/(loss) on derivative instruments, net of tax(1,963)(148)(2,202)(2,174)
Comprehensive (loss) income$(5,477)$(5,849)$(72,474)$10,773 
 

See accompanying Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements.
 

6




LYDALL, INC.
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
(In Thousands)
September 30,
2020
December 31,
2019
(Unaudited)
ASSETS
Current assets:
Cash and cash equivalents$122,043 $51,331 
Accounts receivable, net of allowance for doubtful accounts of $2,465 and $1,842, respectively113,258 107,786 
Contract assets27,186 28,245 
Inventories71,167 80,544 
Taxes receivable6,636 3,427 
Prepaid expenses6,117 3,814 
Other current assets8,516 8,450 
Total current assets354,923 283,597 
Property, plant and equipment, at cost491,291 487,371 
Accumulated depreciation(286,713)(265,729)
Property, plant and equipment, net204,578 221,642 
Operating lease right-of-use assets21,522 23,116 
Goodwill85,385 133,912 
Other intangible assets, net99,445 115,577 
Other assets, net7,785 8,093 
Total assets$773,638 $785,937 
LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY
Current liabilities:
Current portion of long-term debt$9,844 $9,928 
Accounts payable101,785 73,426 
Accrued payroll and other compensation24,806 17,198 
Accrued taxes10,125 5,638 
Other accrued liabilities39,214 23,668 
Total current liabilities185,774 129,858 
Long-term debt273,195 262,713 
Long-term operating lease liabilities17,369 18,424 
Deferred tax liabilities27,016 34,561 
Benefit plan liabilities18,770 18,957 
Other long-term liabilities3,201 3,004 
Commitments and Contingencies (Note 16)
Stockholders' equity:
Preferred stock
Common stock255 253 
Capital in excess of par value96,536 94,140 
Retained earnings266,641 340,629 
Accumulated other comprehensive loss(24,465)(25,979)
Treasury stock, at cost(90,654)(90,623)
Total stockholders’ equity248,313 318,420 
Total liabilities and stockholders’ equity$773,638 $785,937 
 September 30,
2019
 December 31,
2018
 (Unaudited)  
ASSETS   
Current assets:   
Cash and cash equivalents$48,919
 $49,237
Accounts receivable, less allowances (2019 - $1,850; 2018 - $1,440)133,821
 144,938
Contract assets26,804
 23,040
Inventories88,189
 84,465
Taxes receivable2,354
 2,912
Prepaid expenses4,987
 4,707
Other current assets7,743
 7,779
Total current assets312,817
 317,078
Property, plant and equipment, at cost475,395
 458,075
Accumulated depreciation(258,733) (244,706)
Net, property, plant and equipment216,662
 213,369
Operating lease right-of-use assets24,148
 
Goodwill195,613
 196,963
Other intangible assets, net120,644
 136,604
Other assets, net9,003
 8,672
Total assets$878,887
 $872,686
LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY   
Current liabilities:   
Current portion of long-term debt$9,981
 $10,172
Accounts payable84,506
 73,265
Accrued payroll and other compensation17,605
 16,621
Deferred revenue2,630
 6,990
Other accrued liabilities26,072
 14,298
Total current liabilities140,794
 121,346
Long-term debt276,689
 314,641
Long-term operating lease liabilities19,241
 
Deferred tax liabilities36,125
 39,265
Benefit plan liabilities19,827
 22,795
Other long-term liabilities4,540
 5,364
    
Commitments and Contingencies (Note 16)

 

Stockholders’ equity:   
Preferred stock
 
Common stock252
 253
Capital in excess of par value92,720
 90,851
Retained earnings411,090
 411,325
Accumulated other comprehensive loss(31,860) (42,685)
Treasury stock, at cost(90,531) (90,469)
Total stockholders’ equity381,671
 369,275
Total liabilities and stockholders’ equity$878,887
 $872,686

See accompanying Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements.


7




LYDALL, INC.
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
(In Thousands)
 
For the Nine Months Ended September 30,For the Nine Months Ended September 30,
2019 2018 20202019
(Unaudited) (Unaudited)
Cash flows from operating activities:   Cash flows from operating activities:
Net (loss) income$(52) $27,760
Adjustments to reconcile net (loss) income to net cash provided by operating activities:   
Net lossNet loss$(73,988)$(52)
Adjustments to reconcile net loss to net cash provided by operating activities:Adjustments to reconcile net loss to net cash provided by operating activities:
Gain on divestiture(1,459) 
Gain on divestiture(1,459)
Depreciation and amortization36,682
 22,442
Depreciation and amortization42,349 36,682 
Impairment of goodwill and long-lived assetsImpairment of goodwill and long-lived assets61,109 
Deferred income taxes(12,849) 340
Deferred income taxes(6,911)(12,849)
Pension plan settlement expense25,701
 
Employee benefit plans settlement expensesEmployee benefit plans settlement expenses385 25,701 
Stock-based compensation2,073
 3,187
Stock-based compensation2,508 2,073 
Inventory step-up amortization
 1,390
(Gain) loss on disposition of property, plant and equipment(43) 100
Other, netOther, net47 
Loss (gain) on disposition of property, plant and equipmentLoss (gain) on disposition of property, plant and equipment164 (43)
Income from equity method investment(120) (120)Income from equity method investment(24)(120)
Changes in operating assets and liabilities:   Changes in operating assets and liabilities:
Accounts receivable10,528
 (25,407)Accounts receivable(8,288)10,528 
Contract assets(4,330) (5,443)Contract assets1,269 (4,330)
Inventories(6,206) (12,160)Inventories10,117 (6,206)
Accounts payable13,427
 8,296
Accounts payable28,391 13,427 
Accrued payroll and other compensation4,935
 (1,406)Accrued payroll and other compensation7,192 4,935 
Accrued taxes1,810
 981
Accrued taxes4,558 1,810 
Other, net(7,133) (5,462)Other, net5,735 (7,133)
Net cash provided by operating activities62,964
 14,498
Net cash provided by operating activities74,613 62,964 
Cash flows from investing activities:   Cash flows from investing activities:
Capital expenditures(27,236) (20,091)Capital expenditures(20,540)(27,236)
Collections of finance receivablesCollections of finance receivables4,257 
Proceeds from divestiture2,298
 
Proceeds from divestiture2,298 
Proceeds from the sale of property, plant and equipment297
 282
Proceeds from the sale of property, plant and equipment14 297 
Business acquisitions, net of cash acquired869
 (269,972)Business acquisitions, net of cash acquired869 
Net cash used for investing activities(23,772) (289,781)Net cash used for investing activities(16,269)(23,772)
Cash flows from financing activities:   Cash flows from financing activities:
Proceeds from borrowings
 338,000
Proceeds from borrowings20,000 
Debt repayments(38,185) (76,794)Debt repayments(9,500)(38,185)
Debt issuance cost repayments
 (538)
Proceeds from servicing receivablesProceeds from servicing receivables207 
Common stock issued5
 846
Common stock issued32 
Common stock repurchased(50) (956)Common stock repurchased(31)(50)
Net cash (used for) provided by financing activities(38,230) 260,558
Net cash provided by (used for) financing activitiesNet cash provided by (used for) financing activities10,708 (38,230)
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash(1,280) (1,076)Effect of exchange rate changes on cash1,660 (1,280)
Decrease in cash and cash equivalents(318) (15,801)
Increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalentsIncrease (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents70,712 (318)
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period49,237
 59,875
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period51,331 49,237 
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period$48,919
 $44,074
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period$122,043 $48,919 
 
Non-cash capital expenditures of $3.8$4.8 million and $6.1$3.8 million were included in accounts payable at September 30, 20192020 and 2018,2019, respectively.

See accompanying Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements.


8


LYDALL, INC.
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CHANGES IN STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY
(Unaudited)


In thousands of dollars and sharesCommon Stock Shares Common Stock Amount Capital in Excess of Par Value Retained Earnings Accumulated Other Comprehensive Loss Treasury Stock Total Stockholders' Equity
Balance at June 30, 201925,235
 253
 92,297
 408,086
 (23,007) (90,524) 387,105
Net income 
  
  
 3,004
  
  
 3,004
Other comprehensive loss, net of tax 
  
  
  
 (8,853)  
 (8,853)
Stock repurchased 
  
  
  
  
 (7) (7)
Stock issued (canceled) under employee plans(12) (1) 6
  
  
  
 5
Stock-based compensation expense 
  
 417
  
  
  
 417
Balance at September 30, 201925,223
 252
 92,720
 411,090
 (31,860) (90,531) 381,671

In thousands of dollars and sharesCommon Stock Shares Common Stock Amount Capital in Excess of Par Value Retained Earnings Accumulated Other Comprehensive Loss Treasury Stock Total Stockholders' Equity
Balance at December 31, 201825,254
 253
 90,851
 411,325
 (42,685) (90,469) 369,275
Net loss      (52)     (52)
Other comprehensive income, net of tax        10,825
   10,825
Stock repurchased          (62) (62)
Stock issued (canceled) under employee plans(43) (1) 6
       5
Stock-based compensation expense    1,611
       1,611
Stock issued to directors12
   252
       252
Adoption of ASC 606 (1)      (183)     (183)
Balance at September 30, 201925,223
 252
 92,720
 411,090
 (31,860) (90,531) 381,671

(1) During the quarter ended March 31, 2019, the Company recorded an adjustment reducing retained earnings and contract assets by $0.2 million to correct an error in the adoption of ASC 606.

















LYDALL, INC.
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CHANGES IN STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY (CONT'D)
(Unaudited)

In thousands of dollars and sharesCommon Stock Shares Common Stock Amount Capital in Excess of Par Value Retained Earnings Accumulated Other Comprehensive Loss Treasury Stock Total Stockholders' Equity
Balance at June 30, 201825,070
 251
 91,177
 397,885
 (28,280) (90,318) 370,715
Net income      6,256
     6,256
Other comprehensive loss, net of tax        (446)   (446)
Stock repurchased          (133) (133)
Stock issued under employee plans31
   181
       181
Stock-based compensation expense    476
       476
Stock issued to directors3
           
Balance at September 30, 201825,104
 251
 91,834
 404,141
 (28,726) (90,451) 377,049


In thousands of dollars and sharesCommon Stock Shares Common Stock Amount Capital in Excess of Par Value Retained Earnings Accumulated Other Comprehensive Loss Treasury Stock Total Stockholders' Equity
Balance at December 31, 201725,018
 250
 88,006
 374,783
 (20,148) (89,495) 353,396
Net Income      27,760
     27,760
Other comprehensive loss, net of tax        (8,578)   (8,578)
Stock repurchased          (956) (956)
Stock issued under employee plans83
 1
 847
       848
Stock-based compensation expense    2,847
       2,847
Stock issued to directors3
   134
       134
Adoption of ASC 606      1,598
     1,598
Balance at September 30, 201825,104
 251
 91,834
 404,141
 (28,726) (90,451) 377,049

See accompanying Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements.




LYDALL, INC.
NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(Unaudited)
 
1. Basis of Financial Statement Presentation
 
Description of Business

Lydall, Inc. and its subsidiaries (the(collectively, the “Company” or “Lydall”) design and manufacture specialty engineered nonwoven filtration media, industrial thermal insulating solutions, and thermal and acoustical barriers for filtration/separation and heat abatement and sound dampening applications.

On August 31, 2018,Recent Developments: COVID-19

The impact of the novel strain of the coronavirus (“COVID-19”) has grown throughout the world, including in all global and regional markets served by the Company. During 2020, governmental authorities implemented numerous measures attempting to contain and mitigate the effects of COVID-19, including travel bans and restrictions, quarantines, social distancing orders, shelter in place orders, and shutdowns of non-essential activities. The Company’s manufacturing facilities are located in areas that have been affected by the pandemic and shutdowns. Certain Company facilities in the United States, Europe, and Asia carried out shutdowns as a result of government-imposed restrictions or in conjunction with customer plant closures during the first quarter. The Company’s Asia facilities resumed operations in late February and other facilities ramped back up moderately, in line with customer demand, during the second quarter. In the third quarter, the Company acquired an engineered sealing materials business operating under Interfacehas seen a stronger recovery in the Performance Materials ("Interface"), based in Lancaster, Pennsylvania for $267.0 million, net of cash acquired of $5.2 million. A globally-recognized leadersegment, specifically in the delivery of engineered sealing solutions, the Interface operations manufacture wet-laid gasketFiltration business, and specialty materials primarily serving OEM and Tier I manufacturers in the agriculture, construction, earthmoving, industrial,Thermal Acoustical Solutions and automotive segments. The acquired business is includedTechnical Nonwovens segments as discussed below.

Performance Materials (“PM”) Developments

Performance Materials sales were down 4.6% in the first half of 2020 from the comparative period in 2019 with incremental demand for specialty filtration media products more than offset by softer demand in the Sealing and Advanced Solutions business.PM’s Filtration sales continued to be very strong in the third quarter, up approximately 37.8% from the comparative period in the prior year, led by continued demand for fine fiber meltblown media used in personal protective equipment such as N95 respirators and surgical and medical masks. This demand is expected to moderate into the fourth quarter and expected to be down slightly on a sequential basis due to normal seasonality. Weaker demand in automotive, agricultural, and construction equipment markets resulted in a sales decline of approximately 1.7% in the Sealing and Advanced Solutions business in the third quarter of 2020 from the comparative period in 2019.

As a result of continued strong demand for filtration products, the Company approved investments to add 2 production lines in Performance Materials’ Rochester facility for the production of fine fiber meltblown filtration media used in the N95 respirator and surgical and medical masks.In addition, the Company has an agreement with the U.S. Government that provides partial funding of the investments in the production lines and funding for other technical resources.

In the third quarter of 2020, the Company announced an investment in a new fine fiber meltblown production line in its French facility to support the European Union face mask production and air filter production in the fight against COVID-19. The Company has a tentative agreement with the French Government to partially fund a portion of this investment.

In the third quarter, the Company initiated actions to close underperforming operating locations in Europe and discontinue production of a lower efficiency air filtration media product and, in turn, fully depreciated the supporting machinery and equipment in North America. These actions are part of the Company's Performanceongoing assessment of underperforming assets and focus of resources on the significant investments to expand fine fiber meltblown production.These actions are expected to be completed in 2021 and projected to improve overall segment margin performance beginning in 2021. For additional information, see Note 12, "Restructuring".

Technical Nonwovens (“TNW”) Developments

During the first half of 2020, TNW experienced slowdowns in all geographic locations; predominantly in its facilities in South Carolina, the United Kingdom, and China. TNW’s Texel business in Canada, however, is a leading supplier of nonwoven products used in the production of healthcare applications including medical wipes, pads, and gowns. In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Company re-prioritized its manufacturing capabilities in North America and Europe to focus on serving customers for these products.

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TNW’s sales in the first half of 2020 declined 18.8% from the comparable period in 2019 on generally slower demand in industrial end markets globally. In the third quarter of 2020, sales increased 12.5% on a sequential basis from the previous quarter but decreased 8.5% compared to the prior year quarter. Softer industrial end markets and lower sales into automotive applications resulted in the year-over-year sales declines in the quarter. Third quarter 2020 sales were down 10.0% in Industrial Filtration and 6.8% in Advanced Materials businesses from the same period in the previous year.

Thermal Acoustical Solutions (“TAS”) Developments

As previously disclosed, the Company ramped-down its TAS operations in North Carolina in the United States, as well as in France and Germany, coinciding with the shutdown of its major automotive customers' facilities in those regions beginning in late March 2020. During the first half of 2020, TAS sales decreased 35.4% from prior year, heavily impacted by customer shutdowns during March, April, and May. TAS began to ramp-up production in mid-second quarter of 2020 in North America and Europe as customers began to re-open their plants in these regions. During the third quarter 2020, part sales were down 0.8% from the previous year as TAS continued to see stronger demand in North America and Europe with sales increasing significantly compared to second quarter 2020.

As customer demand increased in North America, the Company began to experience an increase of COVID-19 cases, particularly at its North American operation, resulting in workforce shortages and other operational inefficiencies causing higher overtime, outsourcing costs, and logistics costs. In addition, recent recoveries in the manufacturing industries are causing higher commodity pricing in North America. In late third quarter 2020, as a result of labor shortages and operational inefficiencies directly related to COVID-19, TAS was unable to manufacture parts timely, resulting in customer production line stoppages. In early October 2020, due to the unforeseen and unforeseeable nature of the COVID-19 pandemic, which is out of the Company’s control, the Company invoked force majeure or commercial impracticability as legal excuse for delayed performance of contracts and defense to any claim that may be asserted by customers.A recent resurgence of cases in that same facility has caused the Company to expand its declaration of force majeure or commercial impracticability to other impacted customers. The Company has taken various actions to resolve these issues and expects TAS to continue to incur incremental costs in the fourth quarter of 2020.

Liquidity and Cash Preservation

The Company continued to experience working capital cash flow improvements through September 30, 2020, generating $74.6 million in cash from operating segment.activities. As the Company continues to ramp-up production and invest in new fine fiber meltblown production equipment to meet customer demand, the Company expects cash outflows to support working capital requirements and capital projects.

During the first nine months of 2020, the Company took significant measures to reduce its overall cash expenditures, including the furlough or lay-off of hourly/salary plant workers and select furloughs of corporate and other salaried employees, deferred company contributions to its pension plans and matching contributions under the Company's 401(k) defined contribution plan, reduction of purchase obligations for raw materials, and reduction/delay of non-critical capital spending. As a result, the Company reduced its monthly cash expenditures. The Company may elect to continue certain actions if the COVID-19 pandemic continues.

In addition, the Company has taken advantage of specific benefits, including wage recovery provided by social programs in Europe and China and deferred domestic employer tax in the U.S. through the Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security (“CARES”) Act. Through September 30, 2020, the Company benefited from $2.0 million in social cost reimbursements predominately in Europe and China. The Company may pursue, wherever it qualifies, governmental assistance and take advantage of governmental programs. The Company cannot guarantee, however, that it will qualify for, or receive, any additional assistance that it pursues.

As noted above, the Company reached an agreement with the U.S. Government in June 2020 that provides funding to cover a portion of the cost to install 2 new production lines for the production of meltblown material for N95 respirators, surgical and medical masks, and for other technical resources. The Company will receive monthly payments in accordance with the agreement to fund up to $13.5 million. Additionally, the Company has a tentative agreement with the French Government to fund up to 30% of the Company’s investment in its facility in France supporting the European Union face mask production and air filter production.

In addition to the significant measures taken to reduce and contain costs, the Company took actions in March 2020 to provide additional liquidity, primarily including a $20.0 million draw down on its amended credit facility.On May 11, 2020, the Company entered into an amended credit agreement (see Note 6, "Long-term Debt and Financing Arrangements" for the key amended terms and conditions) to modify certain financial maintenance covenants, at least one of which the Company expected to fail during the second quarter of 2020 as a result of the impact of COVID-19.On October 14, 2020, the Company amended
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its 2018 Credit Agreement to allow certain restructuring and other charges, as defined by the amendment, to be excluded from EBITDA in the calculation of the Company's financial covenants. The Company was in compliance with those modified financial covenants as of and for the three-month period ended September 30, 2020, and management does not anticipate noncompliance in the foreseeable future.

Through September of 2020, the Company generated $74.6 million of net cash provided by operations and had cash on hand of $122.0 million as of September 30, 2020. The Company continues to maintain the necessary capital to meet its debt obligations and interest payments. As previously disclosed in late 2019, the Company entered into arrangements with a banking institution to sell trade accounts receivable balances for selected customers. The Company continues to sell trade accounts receivable balances under these arrangements. See Transfer of Financial Assets in this Note 1, “Basis of Financial Statement Presentation” for more information.

The spread of COVID-19 and the measures taken to constrain the spread of the virus have had, and will continue to have, a material negative impact on the Company’s financial results, and such negative impact may continue well beyond the containment of such outbreak. There is inherent uncertainty in the assumptions the Company uses to estimate its future liquidity due to the impact of the COVID-19 outbreak. In addition, the magnitude, duration, and speed of the global pandemic is uncertain. Consequently, the impact on the Company's business, financial condition or longer-term financial or operational results is uncertain. However, management believes, based on the actions taken to reduce cash expenditures and the Company’s financial position, that net cash provided by operations combined with its cash and cash equivalents and borrowing availability under its Credit Facility will be sufficient to fund its current obligations, capital spending, debt service requirements, and working capital needs over at least the next twelve months.

Steps Taken to Protect Employees

The Company continues to monitor the global outbreak and spread of COVID-19 and take steps to mitigate the potential risks to the Company and its employees posed by the spread, related circumstances, and economic impacts of COVID-19. As the Company brings employees back to work, it has implemented changes to help ensure the safety and health of all its employees and continues to assess and update its business continuity plans in the context of this pandemic. The Company established the Lydall Emergency Preparedness Team (“LEPT”), implementing strict travel restrictions, enforcing rigorous hygiene protocols, increasing sanitization efforts at all facilities and implementing remote working arrangements for the majority of its employees who work outside the plants. The Company will continue its work to ensure it maintains a safe and healthy work environment and continue to allow remote working arrangements as long as necessary, where appropriate.

Basis of Presentation

The accompanying Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements include the accounts of Lydall, Inc. and its subsidiaries. All financial information is unaudited for the interim periods reported. All significant intercompany transactions have been eliminated in the Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements. The Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements have been prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (“U.S. GAAP”). The operating results of Interface have been included in the Consolidated Statements of Operations beginning on the date of acquisition. The year-end Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheet was derived from the audited financial statements for the year ended December 31, 2018,2019, but does not include all disclosures required by U.S. GAAP. Management believes thatIn the opinion of management, the condensed consolidated financial information reflects all adjustments, which include only normal recurring adjustments necessary for a fair statement of the Company’s condensed consolidated financial position, results of operations, and cash flows for the interim periods reported, but do not include all the disclosures required by U.S. GAAP. All such adjustments are of a normal recurring nature, unless otherwise disclosed in this report. Certain amounts in prior year financial statements and notes thereto have been included. For further information, referreclassified to conform to current year presentation. The statements should be read in conjunction with the audited consolidated financial statements and accompanying notes included in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2018.2019.

Use of Estimates

The preparation of condensed consolidated financial statements in conformity with U.S. GAAP requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and the disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the condensed consolidated financial statements and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting period. The full extent to which the COVID-19 pandemic will directly or indirectly impact the Company’s business, results of operations, and financial condition, including sales, expenses, reserves and allowances, manufacturing, research and development costs and employee-related amounts, will depend on future developments that are highly uncertain, including the result of new information that may emerge concerning COVID-19 and the actions taken to contain or treat it. The Company has made estimates of the impact of COVID-19 within its financial statements and there may be changes to those estimates in future periods. Actual results could differ from those estimates.


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Recent Accounting Pronouncements Adopted

In July 2019,Effective January 1, 2020, the Company adopted the Financial Accounting Standards Board ("FASB") issued Accounting Standards Update ("ASU") No. 2019-07, “Codification Updates to SEC Sections — Amendments to SEC Paragraphs Pursuant to SEC Final Rule Releases No. 33-10532, Disclosure Update and Simplification, and Nos. 33-10231 and 33-10442, Investment Company Reporting Modernization and Miscellaneous Updates (SEC Update)”2016-13, "Financial Instruments - Credit Losses (Topic 326). ASU 2019-07 aligns the" The new standard amends guidance in various SEC sections of the Codification with the requirements of certain SEC final rules. ASU 2019-07 was effective immediately. The adoption of this ASU did not have any impact on the Company's consolidated financial statements and disclosures.

Effective January 1, 2019, the Company adopted the FASB issued ASU No. 2016-02, "Leases (Topic 842)", along with several additional clarification ASU's issued during 2018, collectively, "New Lease Standard". The New Lease Standard requires entities that leasereporting credit losses for assets with lease terms of more than 12 months to recognize right-of-use assets and lease liabilities created by those leases on their balance sheets. This New Lease Standard also requires new qualitative and quantitative disclosures to help investors and other financial statement users better understand the amount, timing, and uncertainty of cash flows arising from leases. The Company's adoption of the New Lease Standard was on a modified retrospective basis and did not have any impact on the Company's 2018 financial statements and disclosures. As part of the adoption of the New Lease Standard, the Company elected the package of practical expedients which allowed the Company to not re-assess 1) if any existing arrangements contained a lease, 2) the lease classification of any existing leases and 3) initial direct costs for any existing lease.held at amortized cost basis. The Company also electedhas determined the practical expedient which allows use of hindsight in determiningonly financial assets subject to the lease term for leases in existence at the date of adoption. Effective January 1, 2019, the Company reported lease right-of-use assetsnew standard are its trade receivables and lease liabilities on the Company's Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets. Adoption of the New Lease Standard did not change the balances reported in the Company's 2019 Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations, Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows, or Condensed Statements of Comprehensive Income. See Footnote 8 "Leases" for additional information required as part of the adoption of the New Lease Standard.

Effective January 1, 2019, the Company adopted the FASB issued ASU No. 2017-12, "Derivatives and Hedging (Topic 815): Targeted Improvements to Account for Hedging Activities". This ASU provides various improvements revolving around the financial reporting of hedging relationships that requires an entity to amend the presentation and disclosure of hedging activities



to better portray the economic results of an entity's risk management activities in its financial statements. The adoption of this ASU did not have any impact on the Company’s consolidated financial statements and disclosures.

Effective January 1, 2019, the Company adopted the FASB issued ASU No. 2018-02, "Income Statement - Reporting Comprehensive Income (Topic 220): Reclassification of Certain Tax Effects from Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income". This ASU allows for reclassification of stranded tax effects resulting from the 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act from accumulated other comprehensive income to retained earnings, but does not require the reclassification. The Company elected not to reclassify the income tax effects of the 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act from accumulated other comprehensive income to retained earnings.

Effective January 1, 2019, the Company adopted the FASB issued ASU No. 2018-07, "Compensation - Stock Compensation (Topic 718): Improvements to Nonemployee Share-Based Payment Accounting". This ASU expands the guidance for stock-based compensation to include share-based payment transactions for acquiring goods and services from nonemployees. contract assets. The adoption of this ASU did not have any impact on the Company’s consolidated financial statements and disclosures.

In June 2016,Effective January 1, 2020, the FASB issuedCompany adopted ASU 2016-13, "Financial Instruments - Credit Losses (Topic 326)". The new standard amends guidance on reporting credit losses for assets held at amortized cost basis. This ASU is effective for financial statements issued for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2019, including interim periods within those fiscal years. The impact on the Company's consolidated financial statements and disclosures is not expected to be material.

In August 2018, the FASB issued ASU 2018-13, Fair"Fair Value Measurement (Topic 820): Disclosure Framework-Changes to the Disclosure Requirements for Fair Value Measurement",Measurement," which adds, amends, and removes certain disclosure requirements related to fair value measurements.  Among other changes, this standard requires certain additional disclosure surrounding Level 3 assets, including changes in unrealized gains or losses in other comprehensive income and certain inputs in those measurements.  Please refer to Note 5, “Impairments of Goodwill and Other Long-Lived Assets”, for discussion of the inputs used in the quantitative impairment assessments for the three-month period ended March 31, 2020.

Effective January 1, 2020, the Company adopted FASB issued ASU2018-15, "Intangibles - Goodwill and Other - Internal-Use Software (Subtopic 350-40); Customer’s Accounting for Implementation Costs Incurred in a Cloud Computing Arrangement That Is a Service Contract."The amendments in this update require implementation costs incurred by customers in cloud computing arrangements (i.e., hosting arrangements) to be capitalized under the same premises of authoritative guidance for internal-use software, and deferred over the noncancellable term of the cloud computing arrangement plus any option renewal periods that are reasonably certain to be exercised by the customer or for which the exercise is controlled by the service provider.  The adoption of this ASU did not have a material impact on the Company’s consolidated financial statements and disclosures.

In March 2020, the FASB issued ASU 2020-04, "Reference Rate Reform (Topic 848); Facilitation of the Effects of Reference Rate Reform on Financial Reporting." The amendments in this update are elective, and provide optional expedients and exceptions in accounting for contracts, hedging relationships, and other transactions that reference LIBOR or another reference rate expected to be discontinued because of reference rate reform. The guidance in this update is effective for transactions entered into between March 12, 2020 and December 31, 2022. The Company adopted this ASU upon issuance and notes no impact to the Company's consolidated financial statements and disclosures as of September 30, 2020.

Recent Accounting Pronouncements Not Yet Adopted

In August 2020, the FASB issued ASU 2020-06, "Debt-Debt with Conversion and Other Options (Subtopic 470-20) and Derivatives and Hedging-Contracts in Entity’s Own Equity (Subtopic 815-40)." The amendments in this update are intended to simplify the accounting for convertible debt instruments and convertible preferred stock. This ASU is effective for fiscal years and interim periods within those fiscal years, beginning after December 15, 2019.  Certain amended or eliminated disclosures2021 with early adoption permitted. The Company does not expect the adoption of this update to have a material impact on its consolidated financial statements and related disclosures.

In January 2020, the FASB issued ASU 2020-01, "Investments—Equity Securities (Topic 321), Investments—Equity Method and Joint Ventures (Topic 323), and Derivatives and Hedging (Topic 815)." The amendments in this standard may be adoptedupdate are intended to reduce diversity in practice and increase comparability of the accounting for interaction of equity securities, investments accounted for under the equity method of accounting, and the accounting for certain forward contracts and purchased options accounted for under Topic 815. This ASU is effective for fiscal years and interim periods beginning after December 15, 2020 with early while certain additional disclosure requirements in this standard can be adopted on its effective date.  In addition, certain changes in the standard require retrospective adoption while other changes must be adopted prospectively.  permitted. The Company is currently evaluating the impact of this update on its consolidated financial statements and related disclosures.

In December 2019, the FASB issued ASU 2019-12, "Income Taxes (Topic 740): Simplifying the Accounting for Income Taxes". The new standard is intended to simplify accounting for income taxes by removing certain exceptions to the general principles in Topic 740, and by clarifying and amending existing guidance in other areas of the same topic. This ASU is effective for fiscal years and interim periods beginning after December 15, 2020 with early adoption permitted. The Company is currently evaluating the impact of this update on its consolidated financial statements and related disclosures.

In August 2018, the FASB issued ASU No. 2018-14, "Compensation - Retirement Benefits - Defined Benefit Plans - General (Subtopic 715-20): Disclosure Framework - Changes to the Disclosure Requirements for Defined Benefit Plans." This ASU requires entities to disclose the weighted-average interest crediting rates for cash balance plans and other plans with promised interest crediting rates. This ASU also requires entities to disclose an explanation for significant gains and losses related to changes in the benefit obligation for the period. This ASU is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2020
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with early adoption permitted.  The Company is currently evaluating the method and impact the adoption of this ASU will have on its consolidated financial statements and disclosures.

In August 2018, the FASB issued ASU2018-15, Intangibles - Goodwill and Other - Internal-Use Software (Subtopic 350-40); Customer’s Accounting for Implementation Costs Incurred in a Cloud Computing Arrangement That Is a Service Contract.The amendments in this update require implementation costs incurred by customers in cloud computing arrangements (i.e., hosting arrangements) to be capitalized under the same premises of authoritative guidance for internal-use software, and deferred over the noncancellable term of the cloud computing arrangement plus any option renewal periods that are reasonably certain to be exercised by the customer or for which the exercise is controlled by the service provider.  The Company is required to adopt this new guidance in the first quarter of 2020.  Early adoption is permitted.  The Company is currently evaluating the impact of this update on its consolidated financial statements and related disclosures.

Significant Accounting Policies

The Company’s significant accounting policies are detailed in Note 1, “Significant Accounting Policies” within Part IV, Item 15 of the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2018. Significant2019.

Risks and Uncertainties

Worldwide economic cycles, political changes, and the COVID-19 pandemic affect the markets that the Company’s businesses serve and affect demand for the Company's products and could impact profitability. Among other factors, disruptions in the global credit and financial markets, including diminished liquidity and credit availability, changes in international trade agreements, swings in consumer confidence and spending, and unstable economic growth and fluctuations in unemployment rates has caused economic instability and can have a negative impact on the Company’s results of operations, financial condition, and liquidity.

Transfers of Financial Assets 

In December 2019, the Company entered into 2 arrangements with a banking institution to these accounting policies assell trade accounts receivable balances for select customers. Under the programs, the Company has no risk of loss due to credit default and is charged a fee based on the nominal value of receivables sold and the time between the sale of the trade accounts receivables to banking institutions and collection from the customer.  Under one of the programs, the Company services the trade receivables after sale and receives 90.0% of the trade receivables in cash at the time of sale and the remaining 10.0% in cash, net of fees, at the earlier of customer payment or 150 days.  In the three-month and nine-month periods ended September 30, 2020, under both programs, the Company sold $21.3 million and $64.3 million, respectively, in trade receivable balances, received $59.1 million in total cash under the programs, and incurred $0.2 million in fees.  The Company expects to receive the remainder, net of fees, in the fourth quarter of 2020.

Condensed Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income

In connection with the preparation of its 2019 audited financial statements, the Company identified that in its previously filed unaudited interim financial statements for the three-month and six-month periods ended June 30, 2019 and the nine-month period ended September 30, 2019, the Company had incorrectly excluded, from its Condensed Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income, the impact to comprehensive income resulting from the settlement of its U.S. Lydall Pension Plan (see Note 11, "Employer Sponsored Benefit Plans"). As a result, unaudited comprehensive income for such periods was understated by approximately $19.0 million. This error did not have any impact on the Company’s corresponding previously filed Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets, Condensed Consolidated Statements of adoptingOperations or Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows. Management has concluded that such errors did not result in the New Lease Standard are discussed within Note 8, “Leases”.previously issued unaudited financial statements being materially misstated. In connection with the filing of this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q, the Company has revised the Condensed Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income for the nine-month period ended September 30, 2019 as follows:

Nine Months Ended September 30, 2019
In thousandsAs reportedAs revised
Pension liability adjustment, net of tax$379 $19,395 
Comprehensive (loss) income$(8,243)$10,773 

2. Revenue from Contracts with Customers

The Company accounts for revenue in accordance with ASC 606, Revenue"Revenue from Contracts from Customers. These revenueswith Customers". Revenues are generated from the design and manufacture of specialty engineered filtration media, industrial thermal insulating solutions, automotive thermal and acoustical barriers for filtration/separation and thermal/acoustical applications. The Company’s revenue recognition policies require the Company to make significant judgments and estimates. In applying the Company’s revenue recognition policy, determinations must be made as to when control of products passes to the Company’s customers which can be either at a point in time or over time. Revenue is generally recognized at a point in time when control passes to customers upon shipment of the Company’s products and revenue is generally recognized over time when control of the Company’s products



transfers to customers during the manufacturing process. The Company analyzes several factors, including but not limited to, the nature of the products being sold and contractual terms and conditions in contracts with customers to help the
13



Company make such judgments about revenue recognition.
Unfulfilled performance obligations are generally expected to be satisfied within one year.
Contract Assets and Liabilities

The Company’s contract assets primarily include unbilled amounts typically resulting from sales under contracts when the over time method of revenue recognition is utilized and revenue recognized exceeds the amount billed to the customer. These unbilled accounts receivable in contract assets are transferred to accounts receivable upon invoicing, typically when the right to payment becomes unconditional in which case payment is due based only upon the passage of time.


The Company’s contract liabilities primarily relate to billings and advance payments received from customers and deferred revenue. These contract liabilities represent the Company’s obligation to transfer its products to its customers for which the Company has received, or is owed consideration from its customers. Contract liabilities are included in deferred revenueOther long-term liabilities on the Company’s Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets.

Contract assets and liabilities consisted of the following:

In thousandsSeptember 30, 2020December 31, 2019Dollar Change
Contract assets$27,186 $28,245 $(1,059)
Contract liabilities$3,414 $1,441 $1,973 
In thousandsSeptember 30, 2019 December 31, 2018 Dollar Change
Contract assets$26,804
 $23,040
 $3,764
Contract liabilities$2,001
 $4,537
 $(2,536)


The $3.8$1.1 million increasedecrease in contractcontact assets from December 31, 20182019 to September 30, 20192020 was primarily due to timing of billings to customers.

The $2.5$2.0 million decreaseincrease in contract liabilities from December 31, 20182019 to September 30, 20192020 was primarily due to $4.5an increase in customer deposits, offset by $1.1 million of revenue recognized in the first nine months of 20192020 related to contract liabilities at December 31, 2018, offset by an increase in customer deposits.2019.

Disaggregated Revenue

The Company disaggregates revenue from customers by geographic region, as it believes this disclosure best depicts how the nature, amount, timing, and uncertainty of the Company's revenuerevenues and cash flows are affected by economic factors. Disaggregated revenue by geographical region for the quartersthree-month and nine monthsnine-month periods ended September 30, 2019 and2020 2018and 2019 were as follows:

  Quarter Ended September 30, 2019
In thousands Performance Materials Technical Nonwovens Thermal Acoustical Solutions Eliminations and Other Consolidated Net Sales
           
North America $42,693
 $42,128
 $61,315
 $(6,405) $139,731
Europe 15,203
 16,544
 22,208
 (159) 53,796
Asia 2,104
 5,240
 4,403
 
 11,747
Total Net Sales $60,000
 $63,912
 $87,926
 $(6,564) $205,274
For the Three Months Ended September 30, 2020For the Three Months Ended September 30, 2019
In thousandsNorth AmericaEuropeAsiaTotal Net SalesNorth AmericaEuropeAsiaTotal Net Sales
Performance Materials$45,759 $18,776 $3,282 $67,817 $42,693 $15,203 $2,104 $60,000 
Technical Nonwovens34,727 17,318 6,464 58,509 42,128 16,544 5,240 63,912 
Thermal Acoustical Solutions57,841 22,861 4,821 85,523 61,315 22,208 4,403 87,926 
Eliminations and Other(4,569)(195)(4,764)(6,405)(159)(6,564)
Total Net Sales$133,758 $58,760 $14,567 $207,085 $139,731 $53,796 $11,747 $205,274 

  Quarter Ended September 30, 2018
In thousands Performance Materials Technical Nonwovens Thermal Acoustical Solutions Eliminations and Other Consolidated Net Sales
           
North America $29,048
 $44,092
 $58,484
 $(4,891) $126,733
Europe 12,120
 18,757
 24,183
 (225) 54,835
Asia 552
 10,222
 5,544
 
 16,318
Total Net Sales $41,720
 $73,071
 $88,211
 $(5,116) $197,886



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  Nine Months Ended September 30, 2019
In thousands Performance Materials Technical Nonwovens Thermal Acoustical Solutions Eliminations and Other Consolidated Net Sales
           
North America $136,892
 $121,984
 $189,152
 $(19,139) $428,889
Europe 47,589
 53,384
 73,853
 (540) 174,286
Asia 5,201
 23,228
 12,506
 
 40,935
Total Net Sales $189,682
 $198,596
 $275,511
 $(19,679) $644,110

  Nine Months Ended September 30, 2018
In thousands Performance Materials Technical Nonwovens Thermal Acoustical Solutions Eliminations and Other Consolidated Net Sales
           
North America $69,088
 $128,788
 $190,385
 $(19,249) $369,012
Europe 34,007
 56,197
 76,753
 (580) 166,377
Asia 552
 27,339
 12,679
 
 40,570
Total Net Sales $103,647
 $212,324
 $279,817
 $(19,829) $575,959


3.Acquisitions and Divestiture

Acquisitions

On August 31, 2018, the Company completed the acquisition of Interface Performance Materials ("Interface"), based in Lancaster, Pennsylvania. A globally-recognized leader in the delivery of engineered sealing solutions, the Interface operations manufacture wet-laid gasket and specialty materials primarily serving OEM and Tier I manufacturers in the Agriculture, Construction, Earthmoving, Industrial, and Automotive segments. The transaction strengthens the Company's position as an industry-leading global provider of filtration and engineered materials and expands the Company's end markets into attractive adjacencies. The Company acquired 100 percent of Interface for an initial price of $268.4 million, net of cash acquired of $5.2 million. In the second quarter of 2019, the Company finalized the post closing adjustment resulting in a decrease in purchase price of $1.4 million resulting in a final purchase price of $267.0 million. The purchase price was financed with a combination of cash on hand and $261.4 million of borrowings from the Company's amended $450 million credit facility. The operating results of the Interface businesses have been included in the Consolidated Statements of Operations since August 31, 2018, the date of acquisition, and are reported within the Performance Materials reporting segment.

For the quarter ended September 30, 2019, Interface reported net sales and operating loss of $30.4 million and $1.3 million, respectively. Interface's operating loss for the quarter ended September 30, 2019 included $4.0 million of intangible assets amortization expense in selling, product development and administrative expenses. For the quarter ended September 30, 2018, the results of operations of Interface were included in the Company's results from the date of the acquisition and Interface reported net sales and operating loss of $11.8 million and $0.3 million, respectively. Interface's operating loss for the quarter ended September 30, 2018 included $1.4 million of purchase accounting inventory fair value step-up adjustments in cost of sales upon the sale of inventory and $0.9 million of intangible amortization expense in selling, product development and administrative expenses.

For the nine months ended September 30, 2019, Interface reported net sales and operating loss of $96.0 million and $2.1 million, respectively. Interface's operating loss for the nine months ended September 30, 2019 included $12.1 million of intangible assets amortization expense in selling, product development and administrative expenses. For the nine months ended September 30, 2018, the results of operations of Interface were included in the Company's results from the date of the acquisition and Interface reported net sales and operating loss of $11.8 million and $0.3 million, respectively. Interface's operating loss for the nine months ended September 30, 2018 included $1.4 million of purchase accounting inventory fair value step-up adjustments in cost of sales upon the sale of inventory and $0.9 million of intangible amortization expense in selling, product development and administrative expenses.





For the Nine Months Ended September 30, 2020For the Nine Months Ended September 30, 2019
In thousandsNorth AmericaEuropeAsiaTotal Net SalesNorth AmericaEuropeAsiaTotal Net Sales
Performance Materials$131,866 $52,552 $7,092 $191,510 $136,892 $47,589 $5,201 $189,682 
Technical Nonwovens101,694 49,674 16,551 167,919 121,984 53,384 23,228 198,596 
Thermal Acoustical Solutions137,517 57,825 11,390 206,732 189,152 73,853 12,506 275,511 
Eliminations and Other(11,914)(475)(12,389)(19,139)(540)(19,679)
Total Net Sales$359,163 $159,576 $35,033 $553,772 $428,889 $174,286 $40,935 $644,110 
The following table summarizes the fair values of identifiable assets acquired and liabilities assumed at the date of the acquisition:
In thousands  
Accounts receivable $25,182
Inventories 17,013
Prepaid expenses and other current assets 2,382
Property, plant and equipment 40,902
Goodwill (Note 5) 129,749
Other intangible assets (Note 5) 106,900
Other assets 308
   Total assets acquired, net of cash acquired $322,436
   
Current liabilities $(11,319)
Deferred tax liabilities (24,081)
Benefit plan liabilities (Note 12) (19,002)
Other long-term liabilities (1,031)
   Total liabilities assumed (55,433)
   Total purchase price, net of cash acquired $267,003


The final purchase price allocation reflects post-closing adjustments pursuant to the terms of the Stock Purchase Agreement.

The following table reflects the unaudited actual results of the Company for the quarter and nine months ended September 30, 2019 and the pro forma operating results of the Company for the quarter and nine months ended September 30, 2018, which gives effect to the acquisition of Interface as if it had occurred on January 1, 2017. The pro forma information includes the historical financial results of the Company and Interface. The pro forma results are not necessarily indicative of the operating results that would have occurred had the acquisition been effective January 1, 2017, nor are they intended to be indicative of results that may occur in the future. The pro forma information does not include the effects of any synergies related to the acquisition.

  Quarter Ended  
September 30,
 Nine Months Ended  
September 30,
  (Actual) (Pro Forma) (Actual) (Pro Forma)
In thousands 2019 2018 2019 2018
Net sales $205,274
 $220,937
 $644,110
 $678,418
Net income (loss) $3,004
 $6,452
 $(52) $29,303

        
Earnings per share:        
  Basic $0.17
 $0.37
 $
 $1.70
  Diluted $0.17
 $0.37
 $
 $1.69

        
Basic 17,270
 17,216
 17,264
 17,189
Diluted 17,330
 17,349
 17,264
 17,339


Included in net income during the quarter ended September 30, 2019 was $3.1 million of intangible assets amortization expense related to acquired Interface intangible assets and $2.5 million of interest expense primarily to finance the Interface acquisition.

Pro forma adjustments during the quarter ended September 30, 2018 increased net income by $7.8 million. Included in net income for the quarter ended September 30, 2018 was $3.0 million of intangible assets amortization expense and $1.1 million of interest expense associated with borrowings under the Company's Amended Credit Facility. Net income was adjusted to exclude items such as corporate strategic initiatives expenses, Interface management fee expenses and tax valuation allowance expenses.

Included in net income during the nine months ended September 30, 2019 was $9.2 million of intangible assets amortization expense related to acquired Interface intangible assets and $7.7 million of interest expense to finance the Interface acquisition.




Pro forma adjustments during the nine months ended September 30, 2018 increased net income by $6.1 million. Included in net income for the nine months ended September 30, 2018 was $9.1 million of intangible assets amortization expense and $4.8 million of interest expense associated with borrowings under the Company's Amended Credit Facility. Net income was adjusted to exclude items such as corporate strategic initiatives expenses, Interface management fee expenses and tax valuation allowance expenses.

On July 12, 2018, the Company acquired certain assets and assumed certain liabilities of the Precision Filtration division of Precision Custom Coatings ("PCC") based in Totowa, NJ. Precision Filtration is a producer of high-quality, air filtration media principally serving the commercial and residential HVAC markets with a range of low efficiency through high-performing air filtration media. The Company acquired the assets and liabilities of PCC for $1.6 million in cash with additional cash payments of up to $2.0 million to be made based on the achievement of certain future financial targets through 2022. PCC had a minimal impact on the Company's sales and operating income for the quarter ended September 30, 2019.

Divestiture

On May 9, 2019, the Company sold its Texel Geosol, Inc. ("Geosol") business, a subsidiary of the Company's Texel Technical Materials, Inc. ("Texel") business, for a cash purchase price of $3.0 million. Under the terms of the arrangement, $0.4 million of the total purchase price will be withheld and paid to the Company in 3 annual payments of approximately $0.1 million. The disposition was completed pursuant to a Sale Agreement, dated May 9, 2019, by and between the Company, and the third-party buyer. The Company recognized a pre-tax gain on the sale of $1.5 million, reported as non-operating income in the second quarter of 2019. Net of income taxes, the Company reported a gain on sale of $1.3 million in the second quarter of 2019.

The Company did not report Geosol as a discontinued operation as it would not be considered a strategic shift in Lydall's business. Accordingly, the operating results of Geosol are included in the operating results of the Company through the sale date and in comparable periods.

4.3. Inventories
 
Inventories as of September 30, 20192020 and December 31, 20182019 were as follows:
In thousands September 30,
2019
 December 31,
2018
Raw materials $43,279
 $37,731
Work in process 17,308
 18,296
Finished goods 27,602
 28,438
Total inventories $88,189
 $84,465


In thousandsSeptember 30,
2020
December 31,
2019
Raw materials$31,442 $36,322 
Work in process14,228 14,873 
Finished goods25,497 29,349 
Total inventories$71,167 $80,544 
Included in work in process is grossnet tooling inventory of $3.3$2.0 million and $4.3$1.8 million at September 30, 20192020 and December 31, 2018,2019, respectively.
 
5.4. Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets
 
Goodwill:Goodwill

The Company testsperforms an assessment of its goodwill for impairment at least annually in the fourth quarter, and whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying value may exceed its fair value. There were no such events or changes in circumstances during the three-month period ended September 30, 2020. See Note 5, "Impairments of Goodwill and Other Long-Lived Assets", for discussion of the goodwill impairment recorded during the three-month period ended March 31, 2020.

The changes in the carrying amount of goodwill by segment as of and for the nine monthsnine-month period ended September 30, 20192020 were as follows:
In thousandsDecember 31,
2019
Currency translation adjustmentsImpairmentSeptember 30,
2020
Performance Materials$80,658 $(22)$(48,671)$31,965 
Technical Nonwovens53,254 166 53,420 
Total goodwill$133,912 $144 $(48,671)$85,385 
 In thousands December 31,
2018
 Currency translation adjustments Reductions September 30,
2019
 
 Performance Materials $144,626
 $(485) $(662) $143,479
 Technical Nonwovens 52,337
 (203) 
 52,134
 Total goodwill $196,963
 $(688) $(662) $195,613


Goodwill Impairment
Goodwill Associated with Acquisitions

The netDuring the three-month period ended March 31, 2020, the Company performed a goodwill reduction of $0.7 million withinimpairment analysis in the Performance Materials segment was due toand Technical Nonwovens reporting units and recorded a goodwill reductionimpairment charge of $1.3$48.7 million as a result of post-closing purchase price adjustments in the second and third quarters of 2019 related to the acquisition of



Interface Performance Materials on August 31, 2018, partially offset by acquisition activity inreporting unit. See Note 5, "Impairments of Goodwill and Other Long-Lived Assets", for further discussion of the second quarter of 2019 resulting in a goodwill addition of $0.6 million.impairment.


15



Other Intangible Assets:Assets
 
The table below presents the gross carrying amount and, as applicable, the accumulated amortization of the Company’s acquired intangible assets other than goodwill included in “Other intangible assets, net” in the Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets as of September 30, 20192020 and December 31, 2018:2019:
 September 30, 2020December 31, 2019
In thousandsGross Carrying AmountAccumulated AmortizationGross Carrying AmountAccumulated Amortization
Amortized intangible assets    
Customer Relationships$141,784 $(44,636)$142,400 $(30,648)
Patents791 (670)759 (607)
Technology2,500 (1,102)2,500 (977)
Trade Names7,322 (6,544)7,293 (5,143)
License Agreements629 (629)610 (610)
Other570 (570)551 (551)
Total other intangible assets$153,596 $(54,151)$154,113 $(38,536)
  September 30, 2019 December 31, 2018
In thousands Gross Carrying Amount Accumulated Amortization Gross Carrying Amount Accumulated Amortization
Amortized intangible assets  
  
  
  
Customer Relationships $141,537
 $(25,625) $141,455
 $(11,453)
Patents 4,215
 (3,731) 4,333
 (3,816)
Technology 2,500
 (935) 2,500
 (810)
Trade Names 7,203
 (4,520) 7,235
 (2,840)
License Agreements 598
 (598) 619
 (619)
Other 539
 (539) 561
 (561)
Total amortized intangible assets $156,592
 $(35,948) $156,703
 $(20,099)


5. Impairments of Goodwill and Other Long-Lived Assets

During the three-month period ended March 31, 2020, the Company experienced disruptions in some operations from lower customer demand directly attributable to the COVID-19 pandemic. Many of the Company's automotive customers temporarily ceased operations due to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the global economy resulting in the following:

The Company’s China facilities carried out a planned shutdown in conjunction with the lunar New Year in late January, which was extended to late February as a result of government imposed restrictions.  The facilities did not resume operations until late February and ramped back up moderately in line with customer demand. Currently, all of the Company’s plants in China are operating and all of its automotive customer plants in China have re-opened.  The Company has not experienced any significant disruption it its supply chains in China since resuming operations;

On March 20, 2020, the Company announced ramp-downs at its Thermal Acoustical Solutions ("TAS") operations in North America and Europe as a direct result of customer stoppages. The Company's facilities in North America and Europe have since resumed operations;

Leading economic indicators began to signal a broad economic recession and a future decline in automotive sales;

Certain of the Company’s Performance Materials ("PM") and Technical Nonwovens ("TNW") operations with exposure to automotive end markets also experienced reductions in sales, which, in some cases, have been partially offset by increases in sales of other products. These operations also have exposure to various industrial end markets. Leading economic indicators for certain of these markets also signaled a downturn in demand; and

The Company's share price and market capitalization experienced a significant decline.

During the three-month period ended March 31, 2020, the Company considered the combination of the above to be triggering events that required an impairment analysis for the goodwill held at the PM and TNW reporting units, and for certain long-lived assets. Therefore, during the three-month period ended March 31, 2020, in accordance with both ASC 350 Intangibles - Goodwill and Other, and with ASC 360 Property, Plant & Equipment, the Company performed an impairment analysis of its goodwill held by the PM and TNW reporting units, and on certain of its long-lived assets (principally land, machinery and equipment, customer relationships, and buildings and improvements).








16


As a result of these impairment tests, the Company recorded the following impairment charges during the three-month period ended March 31, 2020:
In thousandsPerformance MaterialsTechnical NonwovensThermal Acoustical SolutionsTotals
Impairment of goodwill$48,671 $$$48,671 
Impairment of other long-lived assets12,438 12,438 
Total impairments$61,109 $$$61,109 
Goodwill

During the three-month period ended March 31, 2020, the Company performed a quantitative goodwill impairment assessment for both the PM and TNW reporting units. In the quantitative impairment assessment, the Company weighted equally both an income approach (discounted cash flow model) and a market approach to determine the fair value of the reporting units. The Company’s significant assumptions in the discounted cash flow model included, but were not limited to, future cash flow projections, the weighted average cost of capital, the terminal growth rate, and the tax rate.

Lower expected demand in automotive and other end markets due to the COVID-19 pandemic resulted in a reduction in sales and cash generation projections as compared to prior projections for the reporting units. Projected future cash flows includes management estimates and assumptions that are based on the best available information as of the date of the assessment.  Future cash flows can be affected by numerous factors including changes in economic, industry or market conditions, changes in the underlying business or products of the reporting unit, changes in competition, and changes in technology. The cash flows of the Company's reporting units can be significantly affected by the depth of the estimated decline in automotive and other end markets and the Company's estimates of the pace and level of their recovery as well as the ability of the Company to increase production in response to the recovery.

The weighted average cost of capital for the PM reporting unit increased from 9.2 percent in the three-month period ended December 31, 2019 to 11.5 percent in the three-month period ended March 31, 2020. The weighted average cost of capital for the TNW reporting unit increased from 9.2 percent in the three-month period ended December 31, 2019 to 10.8 percent in the three-month period ended March 31, 2020. There are inherent uncertainties and management judgment required in an analysis of goodwill impairment. The Company believes the income approach was appropriate because it provided a fair value estimate based upon the reporting unit's expected long-term operations and cash flow performance.

The Company also used a form of the market approach, which was derived from metrics of publicly traded companies or historically completed transactions of comparable businesses. The selection of comparable businesses is based on the markets in which the reporting unit operates giving consideration to risk profiles, size, geography, and diversity of products and services. The EBITDA multiples used in the market approach for both reporting units declined from the three-month period ended December 31, 2019 to the three-month period ended March 31, 2020 due to market-related changes in the industries in which these reporting units operate as a result of COVID-19.

Other assumptions included adding an implied control premium to the valuation based on estimating the fair value on a controlling basis, which was derived from research on control premiums observed in recent mergers and acquisitions in the industries in which the Company operates. The control premium for both reporting units increased by 5 percent from the three-month period ended December 31, 2019 to the three-month period ended March 31, 2020. Control premiums can be higher in periods of depressed stock prices. The Company believes the market approach was appropriate because it provided a fair value using multiples from companies with operations and economic characteristics similar to the PM reporting unit.

The Company also performed an overall reconciliation to corroborate the fair value derived from the income and market approaches to the Company's overall market capitalization. The revised projections, together with a deterioration in the inputs described above, drove a reduction in the fair value of both reporting units. As a result, the carrying value of the PM reporting unit was determined to exceed its fair value by $48.7 million, resulting in the impairment charge. After recording the impairment charge during the three-month period ended March 31, 2020, the remaining goodwill associated with the PM reporting unit was $31.9 million. The fair value of the TNW reporting unit exceeded its carrying value and, therefore, no impairment was required. Any declines in financial projections, including changes to key assumptions, could have a material adverse impact on the fair value of the reporting units, and therefore could result in further impairment charges.

In the three-month period ended December 31, 2019, as part of its annual impairment assessment, the Company determined that the fair value of the PM reporting unit was less than its carrying value and recorded a goodwill impairment of $63.0 million.

17


Other Long-Lived Assets

During the three-month period ended March 31, 2020, the Company performed the following impairment assessments for long-lived assets in accordance with ASC 360:

As a result of the COVID-19 pandemic and the Company's action plan to address the risks associated with it, the Company accelerated certain actions. One such action was a review of an underperforming European plant within the PM segment. As a result of a strategic shift regarding this plant, the Company performed an impairment assessment on the long-lived assets of the plant. To determine the recoverability of this asset group, the Company completed an undiscounted cash flow analysis (income approach) and compared it to the asset group carrying value. The impairment test concluded that the assets were not recoverable because the undiscounted cash flows were less than the carrying amount. The Company determined that the carrying value of the assets exceeded the fair value and recorded a long-lived asset impairment charge of $12.4 million.

As a result of the temporary plant closures announced on March 20, 2020 in response to the COVID-19 pandemic's effects on the automotive sector, the Company performed impairment assessments on the long-lived assets for its TAS plants. The Company considered each operating plant's asset group, primarily consisting of machinery and equipment, and buildings and improvements. To determine the recoverability of each asset group, the Company completed an undiscounted cash flow analysis (income approach) and compared it to each asset groups' carrying value. For two of the asset groups, the undiscounted cash flows exceeded the carrying value of the asset group so no further assessment of impairment was necessary. For two of the European plants, the undiscounted cash flows did not exceed the plants' carrying values. As part of step two of the impairment assessment, the Company used the market approach to determine fair value based on independent appraisals of the long-lived assets. The Company determined that impairment was not necessary since the fair value of the long-lived asset groups for each operating plant exceeded their carrying amounts.

There were no events or circumstances during the three-month period ended September 30, 2020 that indicated any further triggering events under ASC 360 were present. Changes in future operating results could result in a future non-cash impairment charge.

During the three-month period ended December 31, 2019, the Company determined that fair value of a certain asset group in the PM segment exceeded its carrying value and recorded a long-lived asset impairment charge of $1.2 million.

6. Long-term Debt and Financing Arrangements

On August 31, 2018, the Company amended and restated its $175 million senior secured revolving credit agreement ("Amended2018 Credit Agreement") that, which increased the available borrowing from $175 million to $450 million, added three3 additional lenders, and extended the maturity date from July 7, 2021 to August 31, 2023. On May 11, 2020, the Company amended its 2018 Credit Agreement ("2020 Amendment") which, among other changes, decreased borrowings from $450 million to $314 million and modified certain financial covenants contained in the 2018 Credit Agreement.

2018 Credit Agreement

Under the terms of the Amended2018 Credit Agreement, the lenders are providingprovided up to a $450 million credit facility (the “Facility”) to the Company, under which the lenders providedincluding a term loan commitment of $200 million and revolving loans to or for the benefit of the Company and its subsidiaries of up to $250 million. The Facility may be increased by an aggregate amount not to exceed $150 million through an accordion feature, subject to specified conditions. The Facility iswas secured by substantially all of the assets of the Company.

Interest iswas charged on borrowings at the Company’s option of either: (i) Base Rate plus the Applicable Rate, or (ii) the Eurodollar Rate plus the Applicable Rate. The Base Rate is a fluctuating rate equal to the highest of (a) the federal funds rate plus 0.50%, (b) the prime rate as set by Bank of America, and (c) the Eurocurrency Rate plus 1.00%. The Eurocurrency Rate means (i) if denominated in LIBOR quoted currency, a fluctuating LIBOR per annum rate equal to the London Interbank Offered Rate; (ii) if denominated in Canadian Dollars, the rate per annum equal to the Canadian Dollar Offered Rate; or (iii) the rate per annum as designated with respect to such alternative currency at the time such alternative currency is approved by the Lenders. The Applicable Rate is determined based on the Company’s Consolidated Leverage Ratio (as defined in the Amended2018 Credit Agreement). The Applicable Rate added to the Base Rate Committed Loans rangesranged from 0.00% to 1.25%, and the Applicable Rate added to Eurocurrency Rate Committed Loans and Letters of Credit rangesranged from 0.75% to 2.00%. The Company payspaid a quarterly fee ranging from 0.15% to 0.275% on the unused portion of the revolving commitment.

The Company has entered into multiplean interest rate swapsswap in place to convert a portion of the Company's one-month LIBOR-based borrowings from a variable rate to a fixed rate.See Note 7.7, "Derivatives" for additional information.
18



The Company is permitted to prepay term and revolving borrowings in whole or in part at any time without premium or penalty, subject to certain minimum payment requirements, and the Company iswas generally permitted to irrevocably cancel unutilized portions of the revolving commitments under the Amended2018 Credit Agreement. The Company is required to repay the term commitment in an amount of $2.5 million per quarter beginning with the quarter ending December 31, 2018 through the quarter ending June 30, 2023.

The Amended2018 Credit Agreement containscontained covenants required of the Company and its subsidiaries, including various affirmative and negative financial and operational covenants. The Company iswas required to meet certain quarterly financial covenants calculated from the four fiscal quarters most recently ended, including: (i) a minimum consolidated fixed charge coverage ratio,Consolidated Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio, which requires that at the end of each fiscal quarter the ratio of (a) consolidated EBITDA to (b) the sum of consolidated interest charges, redemptions, non-financed maintenance capital expenditures, restricted payments and taxes paid, each as defined in the Amended2018 Credit Agreement, may not be lower than 1.25 to 1.0; and (ii) a consolidated net leverage ratio,Consolidated Net Leverage Ratio, which requiresrequired that at the end of each fiscal quarter the ratio of consolidated funded indebtedness minus consolidated domestic cash to consolidated EBITDA, as defined



in the Amended2018 Credit Agreement, maycould not be greater than 3.5 to 1.0.

2020 Amendments to the 2018 Credit Agreement

On May 11, 2020, the Company amended its $450 million senior secured revolving 2018 Credit Agreement. The principal purpose of the Amendment was to modify certain financial covenants contained in the 2018 Credit Agreement, at least one of which the Company expected to fail as early as the second quarter of 2020 as a result of the impact of COVID-19. The amended terms and conditions included the following:

Modified the financial covenants as follows:

Consolidated Net Leverage Ratio, which requires that on the last day of each fiscal quarter the ratio not be greater than 6.5:1 through the period ending March 31, 2021, 4.50:1 for the period ending June 30, 2021 through the period ending March 31, 2022, and 3.50:1 for the periods ending June 30, 2022 and thereafter;

The minimum Consolidated Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio, which requires that on the last day of each fiscal quarter the ratio not be lower than 1.10:1 calculated on a trailing twelve month basis through the period ending June 30, 2020, 1.25:1 calculated on a distinct quarterly basis for the periods ended September 30, 2020 through June 30, 2021, and 1.25:1 calculated on a trailing twelve month basis beginning with the period ending September 30, 2021 and thereafter;

Required the Company maintain a minimum cash and cash equivalents balance of $40 million, excluding deposit accounts in China;

Decreased the term loan facility from $200 million to $144 million and decreased the revolving credit facility from $250 million to $170 million for a total overall facility of $314 million; and eliminated the accordion feature;

Established a floor on the Base and Eurocurrrency Rate of 1%;

Modified the definition of the Applicable Rate, as determined based on the Company’s Consolidated Net Leverage Ratio, by increasing the range for the Base Rate for Committed Loans to 2.00% to 3.25% and increasing the range for the Eurocurrency Rate Committed Loans and Letters of Credit to 3.00% to 4.25%;

Increased the quarterly commitment fee to 0.375% on the unused portion of the revolving commitment; and

Required the Company to pay an amendment fee to the Lenders based on their commitment levels.

There was no modification to the maturity date of the facility.

On October 14, 2020, the Company further amended its 2018 Credit Agreement to allow certain restructuring and other charges, as defined by the amendment, to be excluded from EBITDA in the calculation of the Company's financial covenants. The Company believes that its liquidity resources, including the Facility, are sufficient to meet its working capital needs and other cash requirements. The Company was in compliance with allthose modified financial covenants at September 30, 2019.2020, and management does not anticipate noncompliance in the foreseeable future.

At September 30, 2019,2020, the Company had borrowing availability of $110.1 million under the Facility, net of $287.0$283.5 million of borrowings outstanding and standby letters of credit outstanding of $1.9$1.8 million. The borrowings outstanding included a $149.0$138.5 million term loan, net of $0.4$0.5 million in debt issuance costs being
19



amortized to interest expense over the debt maturity period. The Company had available borrowings of $23.7 million and $121.6 million at September 30, 2020 and December 31, 2019, respectively.

In addition to the amounts outstanding under the Facility, the Company has various foreign credit facilities totaling approximately $6.8$9.4 million. At September 30, 2019,2020, the Company's foreign subsidiaries had $0.1$0.2 million in borrowings outstanding as well as $2.3$1.3 million in standby letters of credit outstanding.

The Company also has a finance lease agreementsagreement for machinery and equipment at multiple operationsa North America operation requiring monthly principal and interest payments through October 31, 2020.

Total outstanding debt consists of:
In thousands Effective Rate Maturity September 30, 2019 December 31, 2018
Revolver loan 4.04% 8/31/2023 $138,000
 $138,000
Term loan, net of debt issuance costs 4.04% 8/31/2023 148,578
 186,498
Finance leases  0.00% - 2.09%
 2019 - 2020 92
 315
   
   286,670
 324,813
Less portion due within one year  
   (9,981) (10,172)
Total long-term debt, net of debt issuance costs  
   $276,689
 $314,641

The carrying value of the Company’s debt outstanding on its Facility approximates fair value given the variable rate nature of the debt. The fair values of the Company’s long-term debt are determined using discounted cash flows based upon the Company’s estimated current interest cost for similar type borrowings or current market value, which falls under Level 2 of the fair value hierarchy.
In thousandsEffective RateMaturitySeptember 30, 2020December 31, 2019
Revolver loan5.25 %8/31/2023$144,500 $126,500 
Term loan, net of debt issuance costs5.25 %8/31/2023138,536 146,106 
Finance leases1.60 %10/31/202035 
   283,039 272,641 
Less portion due within one year  (9,844)(9,928)
Total long-term debt, net of debt issuance costs  $273,195 $262,713 
 
The weighted average interest rate on long-term debt was 5.2% for the nine-month period ended September 30, 2020 and 4.3% for the nine months ended September 30, 2019 and 3.4% for the year endedyear-ended December 31, 2018.2019.

7. Derivatives

The Company selectively uses financial instruments to manage market risk associated with exposure to fluctuations in interest rates and foreign currency rates. These financial exposures are monitored and managed by the Company as an integral part of its risk management program.

Interest Rate Hedging

The Company’s interest rate exposure is most sensitive to fluctuations in interest rates in the United States and Europe, which impactimpacts interest paid on its debt. The Company has debt with variable rates of interest based generally on LIBOR. From time to time, the Company enters into interest rate swap agreements to manage interest rate risk. These instruments are designated as cash flow hedges and are recorded at fair value (see Note 8, "Fair Value Measurements" for additional information).

In November 2018, the Company entered into a five-year interest rate swap agreement with a bank to convert the interest on a notional $139.0 million of the Company's borrowings under its 2018 Credit Agreement from a variable rate, plus the borrowing spread, to a fixed rate of 3.09% plus the borrowing spread. The notional amount reduces quarterly by fluctuating amounts through August 2023. In April 2017, the Company entered into a three-year interest rate swap agreement with a bank to convert the interest on a notional $60.0 million of the Company's borrowings from a variable rate, plus the borrowing spread, to a fixed rate of 1.58% plus the borrowing spread. The notional amount reduced quarterly by $5.0 million through March 31, 2020 and is now settled. Prior to May 11, 2020, these interest rate swap agreements were accounted for as cash flow hedges. Effectiveness of the remaining derivative agreement was assessed quarterly, or more frequently, if necessary, by ensuring that the critical terms of the swap continued to match the critical terms of the hedged debt in order to report gains or losses on the derivative instrument in other comprehensive income.

On May 11, 2020, the Company amended its 2018 Credit Agreement, see Note 6, "Long-term Debt and Financing Arrangements". The amendment included, among other modifications, the establishment of a floor on the base and Eurocurrency rate of 1%. As a result, the Company determined that the critical terms of the swap no longer matched the critical terms of the hedged debt and performed an assessment of the effectiveness of the interest rate swap agreement. The Company concluded the interest rate swap agreement is no longer effective. The Company also concluded that the hedged forecasted transaction (the occurrence of variable interest rate payments on the hedged debt) continues to be probable of occurring. Therefore, as of May 11, 2020, the Company discontinued hedge accounting. After May 11, 2020, any fair value gains or losses on the derivative agreement are recorded as interest expense in the Company's Consolidated Statement of Operations. The cumulative loss on the discontinued hedge relationship through May 11, 2020, which was recorded in Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income, will be amortized into earnings / (losses) through August 31, 2023, the maturity date of the hedged debt. The loss included in Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income related to the discontinued hedging relationship at
20


September 30, 2020 was $4.5 million, net of tax. The amount reclassified out of other comprehensive income into interest expense on the Company's Condensed Consolidated Statement of Operations for the three and nine-months ended September 30, 2020 was $0.9 million and $1.4 million, respectively. The Company expects $3.1 million to be reclassified from Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income over the next twelve months.

Net Investment Hedges

The Company’s operations are subject to certain risks, including foreign currency exchange rate fluctuations. From time to time, the Company enters into cross-currency swaps designated as hedges, recorded at fair value (see Note 8, "Fair Value Measurements"), to protect the Company's net investments in subsidiaries denominated in currencies other than the US dollar.

In November 2019, the Company entered into 3 fixed-to-fixed cross-currency swaps with banking institutions with aggregate notional amounts totaling €67.8 million ($75 million U.S. dollar equivalent). These swaps hedge a portion of the Company's net investment in a Euro functional currency denominated subsidiary against the variability of exchange rate translation impacts between the U.S. dollar and Euro. These contracts require monthly cash interest exchanges over the life of the contracts with the Company recognizing a reduction to interest expense due to the favorable interest rate differential between the U.S. dollar and Euro. Also, settlement of the notional €22.6 million ($25 million U.S. dollar equivalent) cross-currency swaps occur at maturity dates of August 2021, August 2022 and August 2023. The Company assesses hedge effectiveness of the cross-currency swaps quarterly by ensuring the critical terms of the swaps continue to match the critical terms of the designated net investment. The Company elected to assess effectiveness using Level 2 observable market inputs.the spot method, and as a result, records the interest rate differential monthly in the Company's Statement of Operations.

Derivative instruments are recognized as either assets or liabilities on the balance sheet in either current or non-current other assets or other accrued liabilities or other long-term liabilities depending upon maturity and commitment. For derivative instruments that are designated and qualify as a cash flow hedge, the effective portion of the gain or loss on the derivative is reported as a component of other comprehensive income and reclassified into earnings in the same period or periods in which the hedge transaction affects earnings. Any ineffective portion, or amounts related to contracts that are not designated as hedges, are recorded directly to earnings. The Company's policy for classifying cash flows from derivatives is to report the cash flows consistent with the underlying hedged item. The Company does not use derivatives for speculative or trading purposes.

In November 2018, the Company entered into a five-year interest rate swap agreement with a bank which converts the interest on a notional $139.0 million of the Company's one-month LIBOR-based borrowings under its Amended Credit Agreement from a variable rate, plus the borrowing spread, to a fixed rate of 3.09% plus the borrowing spread. The notional amount reduces quarterly by fluctuating amounts through August 2023. In April 2017, the Company entered into a three-year interest rate swap agreement with a bank which converts the interest on a notional $60.0 million of the Company's one-month LIBOR-based borrowings under its Amended Credit Agreement from a variable rate, plus the borrowing spread, to a fixed rate of 1.58% plus the borrowing spread. The notional amount reduces quarterly by $5.0 million through March 31, 2020. These interest rate swap agreements were accounted for as cash flow hedges. Effectiveness of these derivative agreements are assessed quarterly by ensuring that the critical terms of the swaps continue to match the critical terms of the hedged debt.

The following table sets forth the fair value amounts of derivative instruments held by the Company:Company presented in the Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets as Other current assets and Other accrued liabilities:
 September 30, 2019 December 31, 2018
In thousandsAsset Derivatives Liability Derivatives Asset Derivatives Liability Derivatives
Derivatives designated as hedging instruments:       
Interest rate contracts$10
 $5,433
 $179
 $2,738
Total derivatives$10
 $5,433
 $179
 $2,738

September 30, 2020December 31, 2019
In thousandsAsset DerivativesLiability DerivativesAsset DerivativesLiability Derivatives
Interest rate contracts$$5,967 $$4,538 
Cross-currency swaps3,310 1,817 
Total derivatives$$9,277 $$6,355 

The following table sets forth the (loss) income recorded in accumulated other comprehensive (loss) income, net of tax, for the quartersthree and nine monthsnine-month periods ended September 30, 20192020 and 20182019 for derivatives held by the Company and designated as hedging instruments:
 Quarters Ended September 30, Nine Months Ended September 30,
In thousands2019 2018 2019 2018
Cash flow hedges:       
Interest rate contracts$(148) $14
 $(2,174) $89
 $(148) $14
 $(2,174) $89


For the Three Months Ended  
September 30,
For the Nine Months Ended  
September 30,
In thousands2020201920202019
Cash flow hedges:
Interest rate contracts$706 $(148)$(1,059)$(2,174)
Cross-currency swaps(2,669)(1,143)
Total derivatives$(1,963)$(148)$(2,202)$(2,174)


8. LeasesFair Value Measurements

From timeFair value is defined as the exchange price that would be received for an asset or paid to time,transfer a liability (an exit price) in the principal or most advantageous market for the asset or liability in an orderly transaction between market participants at the measurement date.
21


The Company uses a three-level fair value hierarchy that prioritizes the inputs used to measure fair value. This hierarchy requires the Company enters into arrangements with vendors to provide certain tangiblemaximize the use of observable inputs and minimize the use of unobservable inputs. The three levels of inputs used to measure fair value are as follows:

Level 1 - Quoted prices in active markets for identical assets usedor liabilities.

Level 2 - Observable inputs other than quoted prices included in Level 1, such as quoted prices in markets that are not active or other inputs that are observable or can be corroborated by observable market data.

Level 3 - Unobservable inputs that are supported by little or no market activity and are significant to the Company's operations which qualify as a lease pursuant to ASC Topic 842, Leases. The tangible assets leased include Buildings, Office Equipment, Machinery and Vehicles. The Company's leases have remaining terms of a few months to 14 years, some of which have options to extend for a period of up to 7 years and some of which have options to terminate within 1 year.

At inceptionfair value of the arrangement,assets or liabilities. This includes certain pricing models, discounted cash flow methodologies and similar techniques that use significant unobservable inputs.

The following table presents the Company determines if an arrangement is a leasecarrying value and fair value of financial instruments that are not carried at fair value:

September 30, 2020December 31, 2019
In thousandsCarrying ValueFair ValueCarrying ValueFair Value
Debt$283,500 $288,891 $273,000 $269,434 

The fair values of the Company’s long-term debt outstanding were computed based on assessmentdiscounted future cash flows (observable inputs), as applicable, which falls under Level 2 of the termsfair value hierarchy. Differences from carrying values are attributable to interest rate changes subsequent to when the transactions occurred.

The fair values of cash and conditionscash equivalents, accounts receivable, net and accounts payable approximate their carrying amounts due to the short-term maturities of these instruments.

Recurring Fair Value Measures

The Company holds derivative instruments for interest rate swap contracts and cross-currency swaps that are measured using observable market inputs such as forward rates and its counterparties' credit risks. Based on these inputs, the derivative instruments are classified within Level 2 of the contract. Operating leases arevaluation hierarchy. At September 30, 2020 and December 31, 2019, these derivative instruments were included in Operating lease right-of-use (“ROU”)other current assets and other accrued liabilities and Long-term operating lease liabilities inon the Consolidated Balance Sheet. Based on the Company's condensed consolidated balance sheets. Finance leases are included in property, plantcontinued ability to trade and equipment, Current portionenter into interest rate swaps and cross-currency swaps, the Company considers the markets for their fair value instruments to be open.

Nonrecurring Fair Value Measurements

During the three-month period ended March 31, 2020, the Company incurred a $48.7 million impairment charge for goodwill at its Performance Materials segment and a $12.4 million impairment charge for a certain asset group at one of long-term debt,the Performance Materials' European businesses. See Note 5, "Impairment of Goodwill and long-term debt in the Company's condensed consolidated balance sheets. ROU assets represent the Company's right to use an underlying assetOther Long-Lived Assets" for the lease term and lease liabilities represent the Company's obligation to make lease payments arising from the lease. Operating lease ROU assets and liabilities are recognized at commencement date based on the present value of lease payments over the lease term.

While the overwhelming majority of leases have fixed payments schedules, some leases have variable lease schedules based on market indices such as LIBOR or include additional payments based on excess consumption of services. For leases on a variable schedule based on a market index, the current lease payment amount is used ininformation regarding the calculation of the lease liability and corresponding asset included on the balance sheet. For leases with additional payments based on excess consumption of services, no amount is included in the calculation of the lease liability or corresponding asset as it is not probable excess consumption will continue in the future.fair value.

As most leases do not provide an implicit rate, the Company uses its incremental borrowing rate based on the information available at commencement date in determining the present value of lease payments. At September 30, 2019, the weighted average discount rate used for operating and finance leases is 4.39% and 1.79%, respectively. The implicit rate is used when readily determinable from a lease.

The operating lease ROU asset also includes any lease payments made in advance of the assets use and excludes lease incentives received. The Company's lease terms may include options to extend or terminate the lease when it is reasonably certain that the Company will exercise that option. Lease expense for lease payments is recognized on a straight-line basis over the lease term. The Company has lease agreements with lease and non-lease components, which are generally accounted for as one component as permitted by ASC 842.






After consideration of any options to terminate early which are reasonably certain to be executed or any options to extend which are not reasonably certain to be executed, any lease with a term of 12 months or less is considered short-term. As permitted by ASC 842, short-term leases are excluded from the ROU Asset and Lease Liability accounts on the condensed consolidated balance sheets. Consistent with all other operating leases, short-term lease expense is recorded on a straight-line basis over the lease term.
The components of lease expense are as follows:

In thousandsQuarter Ended  
September 30, 2019
 Nine Months Ended  
September 30, 2019
Finance lease expense:   
Amortization of right-of-use assets$16
 $65
Interest on lease liabilities
 1
Operating lease expense1,657
 4,906
Short-term lease expense183
 651
Variable lease expense72
 126
Total lease expense$1,928
 $5,749


Supplemental balance sheet information related to leases are as follows:

In thousands, except lease termSeptember 30, 2019
Operating leases: 
Operating lease right-of-use assets$24,148
  
Short-term lease liabilities, included in "Other accrued liabilities"$4,973
Long-term lease liabilities19,241
Total operating lease liabilities$24,214
  
Finance leases: 
Property, plant and equipment$719
Accumulated depreciation(207)
Property, plant and equipment, net$512
  
Short-term lease liabilities, included in debt$89
Long-term lease liabilities, included in debt3
Total finance lease liabilities$92
  
Weighted average remaining lease term: 
Operating leases7.4 years
Finance leases12.6 years













Supplemental cash flow information related to leases are as follows:

 Nine Months Ended September 30,
In thousands2019
Cash paid for amounts included in the measurement of lease liabilities: 
Operating cash flows from operating leases$4,785
Operating cash flows from finance leases1
Financing cash flows from finance leases186
  
Right-of-use assets obtained in exchange for lease obligations: 
Operating leases1,721
Finance leases


As of September 30, 2019, future lease payments maturities were as follows:

In thousands   
Years Ending December 31,Operating Leases Finance Leases
2019 (excluding the nine months ended September 30, 2019)$1,516

$58
20205,557

35
20214,267


20223,510


20232,619


20241,996
 
Thereafter9,167


Total lease payments28,632

93
Less imputed interest(4,418)
(1)
Total discounted future lease payments$24,214

$92

As of December 31, 2018, future lease payment maturities were as follows:

In thousands   
Years Ending December 31,Operating Leases Finance Leases
2019$6,004

$279
20204,871

35
20213,877


20223,226


20232,617


Thereafter11,111


Total lease payments$31,706

$314


9. Equity Compensation Plans
 
As of September 30, 2019,2020, the Company’s equity compensation plans consisted of the 2003 Stock Incentive Compensation Plan (the “2003 Plan”), and the Amended and Restated 2012 Stock Incentive Plan, (the “2012 Plan” and together with the 2003 Plan, the “Plans”) under which incentive and non-qualified stock options and time and performance based restricted shares have been granted to employees and directors from authorized but unissued shares of common stock or treasury shares. The 2003 Plan is not active, but continues to govern all outstanding awards granted under the plan until the awards themselves are exercised or terminate in accordance with their terms. The 2012 Plan, amended and approved by shareholdersstockholders on April 27, 2012,24, 2020, authorizes 1.753.0 million shares of common stock for



awards. The 2012 Plan also authorizesauthorized an additional 1.2 million19,720 shares of common stock to the extent awards granted under prior stock plans that were outstanding as of April 27, 201224, 2020 are forfeited. The 2012 Plan provides for the following types of awards: options, restricted stock, restricted stock units and other stock-based awards. During the fourth quarter of 2019, additional shares of common stock were issued pursuant to separate inducement share agreements with 2 individuals as material inducement to their employment with the Company (the "Inducement Grants"). The Inducement Grants awarded stock options and restricted stock to the 2 individuals. Amounts shown below are inclusive of the Plans and the Inducement Grants.

The Company accounts for the expense of all share-based compensation by measuring the awards at fair value on the date of grant. The Company recognizes expense on a straight-line basis over the vesting period of the entire award. Options issued by
22



the Company under its stock option plans have a term of ten years and generally vest ratably over a period of three to four years. Time-based and performance-based restricted stock grants are expensed over the vesting period of the award, which is typically two to four years. The number of performance basedperformance-based restricted shares that ultimately vest or forfeit dependdepends upon achievement of certain targets duringrelative performance metrics as measured against the performance of the S&P 600 industrial index during a three-year performance period. The Company estimates the grant date value of performance awards using a Monte Carlo simulation model on the date of grant. The Company accounts for forfeitures as they occur. Compensation expense for performance based awards granted prior to December 2018, is recorded based upon the service period and management’s assessment of the probability of achieving the performance goals and will be adjusted based upon actual achievement. In December 2018, the performance metric changed to a 3-year relative Total Shareholder Return (TSR) compared to S&P 600 industrial index instead of a pre-established earnings-per-share target to better align compensation to the long-term interests of shareholders. Stock options issued under the current plan must have an exercise price that may not be less than the fair market value of the Company’s Common Stockcommon stock on the date of grant. The Plans provide for automatic acceleration of vesting in the event of a change in control of the Company. Upon the exercise of a stock option under the Plans, shares are issued from authorized shares or treasury shares held by the Company.

The Company incurred equity compensation expense of $0.6$0.7 million and $0.6 million for the quartersthree-month periods ended September 30, 2020 and 2019, respectively, and September 30, 2018, respectively,$2.5 million and $2.1 million and $3.2 million for the nine monthsnine-month periods ended September 30, 20192020 and September 30, 2018,2019, respectively, for the Plans, including restricted stock awards. The Company also incurred equity compensation expense of $0.2 million and $0.2 million for the three-month periods ended September 30, 2020 and 2019, respectively, and $0.5 million and $0.5 million for the nine-month periods ended September 30, 2020 and 2019, respectively, for stock awards granted to Directors. No equity compensation costs were capitalized as part of inventory.
 
Stock Options
 
The following table is a summary of outstanding and exercisable options as offor the three and nine-month periods ended September 30, 2019:2020:
In thousands except per share
amounts
 Shares 
Weighted-
Average
Exercise Price
 
Aggregate
Intrinsic Value
Outstanding at September 30, 2019 680
 $28.58
 $2,507
Exercisable at September 30, 2019 256
 $29.98
 $989
Unvested at September 30, 2019 424
 $27.73
 $1,518

For the Three Months Ended September 30, 2020For the Nine Months Ended September 30, 2020
In thousands except per share
amounts
SharesWeighted-
Average
Exercise Price
SharesWeighted-
Average
Exercise Price
Stock Options outstanding at the beginning of the period748 $25.36 683 $27.15 
  Granted11 $16.27 180 $17.37 
  Exercised$(4)$8.67 
  Forfeited or Expired(71)$26.25 (171)$25.46 
Stock Options outstanding at September 30, 2020688 $25.11 688 $25.11 
Exercisable at September 30, 2020305 $32.54 305 $32.54 
Unvested at September 30, 2020383 $19.20 383 $19.20 
 
There were 108,380was 0 cash received from exercise of stock options granted and 1,000 stock options exercised during the quarterthree-month period ended September 30, 2019. There were 108,380 stock options granted and 4,325 stock options exercised during the nine months ended September 30, 2019.2020. The amount of cash received from the exercise of stock options was less than $0.1 million during the quarter and nine monthsnine-month period ended September 30, 2019.2020. The intrinsic value of stock options exercised was less than $0.1 million with a tax benefit of less than $0.1 million during the quarter and nine monthsnine-month period ended September 30, 2019.2020.

There were 0 stock options granted and 19,250 stock options exercised during the quarter ended September 30, 2018. There were 11,180 stock options granted and 46,291 stock options exercised during the nine months ended September 30, 2018. The amount of cash received from the exercise of stock options was $0.2 million during the quarter ended September 30, 2018. The amount of cash received from the exercise of stock options was $0.8 million during the nine months ended September 30, 2018. The intrinsic value of stock options exercised was $0.6 million with a tax benefit of $0.1 million during the quarter ended September 30, 2018. The intrinsic value of stock options exercised was $1.3 million with a tax benefit of $0.3 million during the nine months ended September 30, 2018.

At September 30, 2019,2020, the total unrecognized compensation cost related to non-vested stock option awards was approximately $3.2$2.1 million, with a weighted average expected amortization period of 2.82.7 years.

Restricted Stock
 
Restricted stock includes both performance-based and time-based awards. There were 7,480The following is a summary of the Company's unvested time-based restricted stock shares granted duringfor the quarterthree and nine-month periods ended September 30, 20192020:

For the Three Months Ended September 30, 2020For the Nine Months Ended September 30, 2020
In thousandsSharesShares
Unvested at the beginning of the period220 159 
  Granted77 
  Vested(5)(8)
  Forfeited or Expired(12)(25)
Unvested at September 30, 2020203 203 
23



The following is a summary of the Company's unvested performance-based restricted shares for the three and 41,412 time-based restricted stock shares granted during the nine monthsnine-month periods ended September 30, 2019. There were 0 performance-based restricted shares granted during the quarter and nine months ended September 30, 2019. There were 0 performance-based restricted shares that vested during the quarter and nine months ended September 30, 2019. There were 1,230 time-based restricted shares that vested during the quarter ended September 30, 2019 and 6,698 time-based restricted shares that vested during the nine months ended September 30, 2019.2020:


For the Three Months Ended September 30, 2020For the Nine Months Ended September 30, 2020
In thousandsSharesShares
Unvested at the beginning of the period161 129 
  Granted71 
  Vested
  Forfeited or Expired(18)(52)
Unvested at September 30, 2020148 148 


There were 10,790 time-based restricted stock shares granted during the quarter ended September 30, 2018 and 18,896 time-based restricted stock shares granted during the nine months ended September 30, 2018. There were 0 performance-based restricted stock shares granted during the quarter ended September 30, 2018 and 15,190 performance-based restricted shares granted during the nine months ended September 30, 2018. There were 0 performance-based restricted stock shares that vested during the quarter ended September 30, 2018 and 48,035 performance-based restricted shares that vested during the nine months ended September 30, 2018. There were 14,570 time-based restricted stock shares that vested during the quarter ended September 30, 2018 and 19,734 time-based restricted shares that vested during the nine months ended September 30, 2018.

At September 30, 2019,2020, there were 244,196350,348 total unvested restricted stock awards with total unrecognized compensation cost related to these awards of $3.3$4.4 million with a weighted average expected amortization period of 1.82.1 years. Compensation expense for performance based awards is recorded based on the service period and management’s assessment of the probability of achieving the performance goals.

10. Stock Repurchases
 
During the nine monthsnine-month period ended September 30, 2019,2020, the Company purchased 2,4782,340 shares of common stock valued at less than $0.1 million, through tax withholding, pursuant to provisions in agreements with recipients of restricted stock granted under the Company’s equity compensation plans, in which the Company withholds that number of shares having fair value equal to each recipient’s minimum tax withholding due.

11. Restructuring

In 2017, the Company commenced a restructuring plan in the Technical Nonwovens segment which includes plant consolidations and transfer of equipment to other facilities within the segment's Europe and China operations. The consolidation of certain plants, which will conclude in 2019, is expected to reduce operating costs, increase efficiency and enhance the Company’s flexibility by better aligning its manufacturing footprint with the segment's customer base. Accordingly, the Company expects to record pre-tax expenses of approximately $3.7 million, in connection with this restructuring plan, of which approximately $3.3 million is expected to result in cash expenditures over the period of consolidation. The Company also expects to incur cash expenditures of approximately $4.2 million for capital expenditures associated with this plan.

During the quarter and nine months ended September 30, 2019, the Company recorded pre-tax restructuring expenses of $0.1 million and $0.6 million, respectively, primarily related to equipment move costs in cost of sales. The Company expects to record approximately $0.2 million of restructuring expenses for the remainder of 2019.

Actual pre-tax expenses incurred and total estimated pre-tax expenses for the restructuring program by type are as follows:

In thousandsSeverance and Related ExpensesContract Termination ExpensesFacility Exit, Move and Set-up ExpensesTotal
Total estimated expenses1,000
290
2,450
3,740
Expenses incurred through December 31, 2018787
290
1,882
2,959
Estimated remaining expense at December 31, 2018213

568
781
Expense incurred during quarter ended:    
March 31, 201916

360
376
June 30, 201953

44
97
September 30, 201950

67
117
Total pre-tax expense incurred906
290
2,353
3,549
Estimated remaining expense at September 30, 201994

97
191


There were cash outflows of $0.1 million and $0.7 million for the restructuring program for the quarter and nine months ended September 30, 2019, respectively.







Accrued restructuring costs were as follows at September 30, 2019:

In thousandsTotal
Balance as of December 31, 2018$147
Pre-tax restructuring expenses, excluding depreciation591
Cash paid(661)
Balance as of September 30, 2019$77


12.11. Employer Sponsored Benefit Plans
 
Prior to the quarter ended June 30, 2019, theThe Company maintained a defined benefit pension plan ("U.S. Lydall Pension Plan") and twomaintains one domestic pension plans acquired inplan: the Retirement Income Plan for Employees of Interface acquisitionPerformance Materials, Inc. ("InterfaceIPM Pension Plans"), (collectively the "domestic defined benefit pension plans"Plan"). During the three-month period ended March 31, 2020, the Company settled the pension obligation of the Interface Sealing Solutions, Inc. Pension Plan ("ISS Pension Plan") through lump sum distributions to participants or by irrevocably transferring pension liabilities to an insurance company through the purchase of a group annuity contract. This purchase, funded with pension assets, resulted in a pre-tax settlement loss of $0.4 million in the three-month period ended March 31, 2020, related to the recognition of accumulated deferred actuarial losses. The settlement loss and expenses were included as non-operating expense in the condensed consolidated statements of operations.

The IPM Pension Plan covers a portion of Interface's union and non-union employees. The plan is closed to new employees and benefits are no longer accruing for the majority of participants. The Company expects to make required contributions of approximately $1.2 million to the IPM Pension Plan during 2020. There were 0 contributions made during the three-month period ended September 30, 2020, as the Company took advantage of the delay in minimum funding contribution due dates as allowed under the CARES Act, and is delaying payment of the minimum funding contributions of $0.3 million originally due during April 2020, and $0.3 million originally due during July 2020. These and other required minimum funding contributions for the remainder of 2020 will be made later in 2020. Contributions of $0.4 million were made during the nine-month period ended September 30, 2020. Contributions of $0.3 million and $1.1 million were made during the three-month and nine-month periods ended September 30, 2019, respectively, inclusive of contributions made to the ISS Pension Plan.

Prior to 2020, the Company also maintained the U.S. Lydall Pension Plan. During the second quarter ended June 30,of 2019, the Company settled the pension obligation of the U.S. Lydall Pension Plan through lump sum distributions to participants or by irrevocably transferring pension liabilities to two insurance companies through the purchase of group annuity contracts. These purchases, funded with pension assets, resulted in a pre-tax settlement loss of $25.5 million in the quarter ended June 30, 2019, related to the recognition of accumulated deferred actuarial losses. During the quarter ended September 30, 2019, additional expenses of $0.2 million were incurred related to the settlement of the U.S. Lydall Pension Plan. The settlement loss and expenses were included as non-operating expense in the condensed consolidated statements of operations. NaN contributions were made to the U.S. Lydall Pension Plan during the quarter and nine months ended September 30, 2019 and contributions of $3.0 million and $7.2 million were made during the quarter and nine months ended September 30, 2018, respectively.

The Interface Pension Plans cover Interface's union and non-union employees. The plans are closed to new employees and benefits are no longer accruing for the majority of participants. The Company expects to make a required contribution of approximately $1.5 million to the Interface Pension Plans during 2019. Contributions of $0.3 million and $1.1 million were made during the quarter and nine months ended September 30, 2019, respectively.












24


The following is a summary of the components of net periodic benefit cost for the domestic defined benefit pension plans for
the quartersthree-month and nine monthsnine-month periods ended September 30, 20192020 and 2018:2019:

For the Three Months Ended  
September 30,
For the Nine Months Ended  
September 30,
In thousands2020201920202019
Components of employer benefit cost  
Service cost$40 $30 $120 $90 
Interest cost428 530 1,285 2,356 
Expected return on assets(532)(488)(1,597)(2,105)
Amortization of actuarial loss464 
Net periodic benefit cost$(64)$72 $(190)$805 
Settlement loss186 385 25,701 
Total employer benefit plan cost$(64)$258 $195 $26,506 
  Quarters Ended September 30, Nine Months Ended September 30,
In thousands 2019 2018 2019 2018
Components of employer benefit cost  
  
    
Service cost $30
 $12
 $90
 $12
Interest cost 530
 640
 2,356
 1,579
Expected return on assets (488) (893) (2,105) (2,193)
Amortization of actuarial loss 
 256
 464
 768
Net periodic benefit cost $72
 $15
 $805
 $166
Settlement loss 186
 
 25,701
 
Total employer benefit plan cost $258
 $15
 $26,506
 $166


The Company reports the service cost component of net periodic benefit cost in the same line item as other compensation costs in operating expenses and the non-service cost components of net periodic benefit cost in other income.

12. Restructuring

During the third quarter of 2020, the Company’s Performance Materials segment undertook actions to discontinue production of a lower efficiency air filtration media product and, in turn, fully depreciated the supporting machinery and equipment in North America and consolidated certain product lines and began exiting underperforming facilities in Europe. These restructuring activities, which are projected to conclude in the first half of 2021, are expected to reduce operating costs, increase production efficiency, and enhance the Company’s flexibility by better aligning its manufacturing operations with the segment's customer base. Accordingly, the Company expects to record total pre-tax expenses of approximately $17.0 to $20.0 million, primarily related to severance and employee retention expenses, in connection with these restructuring activities, of which approximately $11.5 to $14.5 million are expected to result in cash expenditures. The Company incurred non-cash expenditures of approximately $5.5 million, which consisted of fully depreciating and/or amortizing long-lived assets and, to a lesser extent, writing-off inventory.

In North America, the Company decided to shut down 2 underperforming nonwoven manufacturing carded lines and ancillary equipment, originally acquired in 2018, that served commercial and residential HVAC markets with low to medium efficiency air filtration media. The Company experienced lower demand as a result of COVID-19, which accelerated a market shift from lower efficiency air filtration media to higher performance rated air filtration media. As a result, the Company recorded a pre-tax restructuring charge of $5.4 million, primarily due to accelerated depreciation of property, plant and equipment and other intangible assets. The Company does not anticipate incurring additional restructuring expenses related to the closure of these manufacturing Carded lines.

The Company undertook actions to consolidate global production facilities in the Sealing & Advanced Solutions business from 5 facilities to 4, resulting in the closure of an underperforming facility in Germany. In the first quarter of 2020, the Company performed an impairment analysis of the long-lived assets and determined that the carrying value of the assets did not exceed their fair value and recorded an impairment charge of $12.4 million (see Note 5, “Impairments of Goodwill and Other Long-Lived Assets” for additional information). The closure is expected to be completed in the first quarter of 2021. In addition, the Company decided to close a small volume membrane filtration production facility in the Netherlands. In the fourth quarter of 2019, the Company performed an impairment of the long-lived assets for this facility and recorded an impairment charge of $1.2 million. The assets have been fully depreciated through September 30, 2020. The closure is expected to be completed in the second quarter of 2021.

As a result of the 2 facility closures in Europe, the Company recorded pre-tax restructuring charges of $9.6 million consisting of severance costs, legal expenses, and inventory write-offs and anticipates it could incur an additional $2.0 million to $5.0 million in restructuring expenses, primarily related to severance costs from these facility closures.








25


The following table summarizes the total restructuring charges by cost type:

In ThousandsSeverance and Related ExpensesFacility Exit and Asset Write-Off ExpensesTotal
Expense incurred during quarter ended:
September 30, 2020$9,484 $5,500 $14,984 
Total pre-tax expense incurred$9,484 $5,500 $14,984 

For the three and nine-month periods ended September 30, 2020, $15.0 million was included in restructuring expenses on the Company’s Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations with $14.8 million recorded in the Performance Materials segment and $0.2 million recorded within Corporate Office expenses.

There were cash outflows of $0.2 million for the restructuring program for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2020.

The following table summarizes the accrued liability balance by cost type for the restructuring actions:

In ThousandsTotal
Balance as of December 31, 2019$
Pre-tax restructuring expenses, excluding asset write-off expenses9,485 
Cash paid(203)
Currency translation adjustments(119)
Balance as of September 30, 2020$9,163 

The above accrued liability balances were included in Other accrued liabilities on the Company’s Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets.

13. Income Taxes
 
TheFor the three-month period ended September 30, 2020, the Company's effective tax rate was 16.6% compared to an effective tax rate of 35.1% and 25.1% for the quartersthree-month period ended September 30, 2019 and 2018, respectively. The Company's2019. For the three months ended September 30, 2020, the rate was negatively impacted by valuation allowance activity of $2.0 million, offset by a state tax benefit of $0.8 million. resulting in a lower effective tax rate forwhen in a pre-tax loss position. For the three months ended September 30, 2019, the effective tax rate was negatively impacted by losses in jurisdictions in which no tax benefit can be recognized.

For the nine-month period ended September 30, 2020, the Company's effective tax rate was 6.3% compared to an effective tax rate of 97.0% for the nine-month period ended September 30, 2019. For the nine months ended September 30, 2020, the Company had a pre-tax loss primarily resulting from impairment charges of $61.1 million. The impairment charges significantly impacted the Company's effective tax rate because $48.7 million of the impairment charges related to non-deductible goodwill, resulting in a low effective tax rate for the quarternine months ended September 30, 20182020 when in a pre-tax loss position. Additionally, the effective rate was primarilynegatively impacted by the provisional one-time mandatory repatriation of foreign earnings tax and non-deductible transaction costs as a result of the Interface Performance Materials acquisition, partially offset by a tax benefit from a valuation allowance release.

activity of $2.7 million. For the nine monthsnine-month period ended September 30, 2019, the Company recorded a tax benefit of $5.5 million compared to tax expense of $5.9 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2018. The tax benefit wasprimarily driven by $10.5 million of tax benefit related to the pension plan settlement and resulted in an effective tax rate for the nine months ended September 30, 2019 of 97.0%. This is



compared to an effective tax rate of 17.5% for the nine months ended September 30, 2018.settlement. Excluding the tax benefit of the pension plan settlement, the Company's effective tax rate for the nine months ended September 30, 2019 was 25.2%. This rate was negatively impacted by $1.8 million from losses in jurisdictions in which no tax benefit can be recognized, partially offset by the Company's geographical mix of earnings.

The Company and its subsidiaries file a consolidated federal income tax return, as well as returns required by various state and foreign jurisdictions. In the normal course of business, the Company is subject to examination by taxing authorities, including such major jurisdictions as the United States, Canada, China, France, Germany, China,Hong Kong, India, the Netherlands, and the United Kingdom, Canada and the Netherlands.Kingdom. With few exceptions, the Company is no longer subject to U.S. federal examinations for years before 2015,2016, state and local examinations for years before 2013,2015, and non-U.S. income tax examinations for years before 2003.2013.

The Company’s effective tax rates in future periods could be affected by an increase or decrease in earnings in countries where tax rates differ from the United States federal tax rate, the relative impact of permanent tax adjustments on earnings from domestic operations, changes in net deferred tax asset valuation allowances, including valuation allowances on loss
26



carryforwards in which no tax benefit can be recognized, stock vesting, pension plan terminations, the completion of acquisitions or divestitures, changes in tax rates or tax laws and the completion of ongoing tax planning strategies and audits.

On July 20, 2020, the U.S. Treasury Department and IRS released T.D. 9902 final regulations for publication in the Federal Register related to the global intangible low-taxed income (“GILTI”) high-tax exception. The final regulations largely adopt the framework of the 2019 proposed regulations, with certain key departures. The most significant departures are that an election to apply the GILTI high-tax exception may be made annually instead of once every five years, and that the calculation is made with respect to each “tested unit” of a controlled foreign corporation, rather than on a qualified business unit by qualified business unit basis. The company has evaluated the final regulations and included the impacts of these changes in the Company’s third quarter financial statements.

14. (Loss) Earnings (Loss) Per Share
 
For the quartersthree-month and nine monthsnine-month periods ended September 30, 20192020 and 2018,2019, basic earnings per share were computed by dividing net (loss) income (loss) by the weighted average number of shares of common stock outstanding during the period. Unexercised stock options and unvested restricted shares are excluded from this calculation but are included in the diluted earnings per share calculation using the treasury stock method as long as their effect is not antidilutive.

The following table provides a reconciliation of weighted-average shares used to determine basic and diluted earnings per share:
  Quarter Ended  
September 30,
 Nine Months Ended  
September 30,
In thousands 2019 2018 2019 2018
Basic average common shares outstanding 17,270
 17,216
 17,264
 17,189
Effect of dilutive options and restricted stock awards 60
 133
 
 150
Diluted average common shares outstanding 17,330
 17,349
 17,264
 17,339

For the Three Months Ended  
September 30,
For the Nine Months Ended  
September 30,
In thousands2020201920202019
Basic weighted-average common shares outstanding17,384 17,270 17,364 17,264 
Effect of dilutive options and restricted stock awards60 
Diluted weighted-average common shares outstanding17,384 17,330 17,364 17,264 
 
Dilutive stock awards totaling 77,707 and 28,085 shares of Common Stock were excluded from the diluted per share computation for the three-month and nine-month periods ended September 30, 2020, as the Company reported a net loss during those periods and, therefore, the effect of including these options would be antidilutive. Dilutive stock options totaling 53,892 shares of Common Stock were excluded from the diluted per share computation for the nine monthsnine-month period ended September 30, 2019, as the Company reported a net loss during that period and, therefore, the effect of including these options would be antidilutive.

For each of the quartersthree-month periods ended September 30, 20192020 and 2018,2019, stock options for 584,725658,654 shares and 162,830584,725 shares of Common Stock were not considered in computing diluted earnings per common share because they were antidilutive.

For each of the nine monthsnine-month periods ended September 30, 20192020 and 2018,2019, stock options for 542,669722,006 shares and 150,005542,669 shares of Common Stock were not considered in computing diluted earnings per common share because they were antidilutive.

15. Segment Information

As of September 30, 2019,2020, the Company’s reportable segments were Performance Materials, Technical Nonwovens, and Thermal Acoustical Solutions.

Performance Materials Segment
 
The Performance Materials segment includes filtration media solutions primarily for air, fluid power, life science and industrial applications (“Filtration”), and sealing and gasket solutions, thermal insulation, energy storage, and other engineered products (“Sealing and Advanced Solutions”).

Filtration products include LydAir® MG (Micro-Glass) Air Filtration Media, LydAir® MB (Melt Blown) Air Filtration Media, LydAir® SC (Synthetic Composite) Air Filtration Media, and Arioso® Membrane Composite Media. These high efficiency specialty filtration products constitute the critical filtration media component of clean-air systems for applications in clean-space, commercial, industrialIndoor Air Quality (commercial, residential, and residentialspecialized HVAC applications such as cleanrooms and hospital environments), respiratory Personal Protective Equipment (N95 respirators and surgical masks), power generation, respiratory protection, and specialty industrial processes.process applications. Lydall has leveraged its extensive technical expertise and applications knowledge into a suite of media products covering the vast liquid filtration landscape across the transportation and industrial fields. The LyPore® Liquid Filtration Media series address a variety of application needs in fluid power including



hydraulic filters, air-water and air-oil
27



coalescing, industrial fluid processes and diesel fuel filtration. LyPore® media and Solupor® ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene membranes also serve critical liquid filtration/separation applications such as biopharmaceutical pre-filtration and clarification, lateral flow diagnostic and analytical testing, potable water filtration and high purity process filtration such as those found in food and beverage and medical applications.

Sealing and Advanced Solutions products include nonwoven specialty engineered materials for a multitude of applications. Interface fiber-reinforced gasket materials serve the heavy-duty diesel, automobile, small engine, transmission and compressor markets. These products handle demanding sealing challenges with a diverse range of metallic, non-metallic, rubber-coated and laminate materials that comprise the extensive Sealing materials portfolio. Interface Engineered Components are ready to useready-to-use soft and hard gasket parts sold directly to OEMs and aftermarket applications. An example is Select-a-Seal® rubber-edged composite (REC) technology that provides robust sealing, compression, adhesion, and shear strength for driveline applications. Advanced Solutions’ nonwoven veils, papers, and specialty composites for the building products, appliance, energy, and industrial markets include Manniglas® Thermal Insulation Papers, and Lytherm® Insulation Media for high temperature technology applications. Lydall’sThe Company's Cryotherm® Super-Insulating Media, CRS-Wrap® Super-Insulating Media and Cryo-Lite® Cryogenic Insulation products are industry standards for state-of-the-art cryogenic insulation designs used by manufacturers of cryogenic equipment for liquid gas storage, piping, and transportation. Additional specialty composite materials include specialty fiber calendar bowl products to service the printing and textile industries and press pad materials for industrial lamination processes.

Technical Nonwovens Segment

The Technical Nonwovens segment primarily produces needle punch nonwoven solutions for a multitude of industries and applications. Products are manufactured and sold globally under the leading brands of Lydall Industrial Filtration, Southern Felt, Gutsche, and Texel. Industrial Filtration products include nonwoven rolled-good felt media and filter bags used primarily in industrial air and liquid filtration applications. Nonwoven filter media is an effective solution to satisfy increasing emission control regulations in a wide range of industries, including power, cement, steel, asphalt, incineration, mining, food, and pharmaceutical. Advanced Materials products include nonwoven rolled-good media used in commercial applications and predominantly serves the geosynthetics, automotive, industrial, medical, and safety apparel markets. Automotive media is provided to Tier I/II suppliers as well as the Company's Thermal Acoustical Solutions segment.

Technical Nonwovens segment products include air and liquid filtration media sold under the brand names Fiberlox® high performance filtration felts, Checkstatic™ conductive filtration felts, Microfelt® high efficiency filtration felts, Pleatlox® pleatable filtration felts, Ultratech™ PTFE filtration felts, Powertech® and Powerlox® power generation filtration felts, Microcap® high efficiency liquid filtration felts, Duotech membrane composite filtration felts, along with ourthe porotex® family of high temperature filtration felts including microvel® and optivel® products. Technical Nonwovens Advanced Materials products are sold under the brand names Thermofit® thermo-formable products, Ecoduo® recycled content materials, Duotex® floor protection products, and Versaflex® composite molding materials. Technical Nonwovens also offers extensive finishing and coating capabilities which provide custom engineered properties tailored to meet the most demanding applications. The business leverages a wide range of fiber types and extensive technical capabilities to provide products that meet our customers’ needs across a variety of applications providing both high performance and durability.

Thermal Acoustical Solutions Segment 

The Thermal Acoustical Solutions segment offers a full range of innovative engineered products tailored for the transportation and industrial sectors to thermally shield sensitive components from high heat, improve exhaust gas treatment and lower harmful emissions as well as assist in the reduction of noise, vibration, and harshness (NVH). Within the transportation sector, Lydall’sthe Company’s products are found in the interior (dash insulators, cabin flooring), underbody (wheel well, aerodynamic belly pan, fuel tank, exhaust, tunnel, spare tire) and under hood (engine compartment, outer dash, powertrain, catalytic converter, turbo charger, manifolds) of cars, trucks, SUVs, heavy duty trucks, and recreational vehicles.

Thermal Acoustical Solutions segment products offer thermal and acoustical insulating solutions comprised of organic and inorganic fiber composites that provide weight reduction, superior noise suppression and increased durability over conventional designs, as well as products that efficiently combine multiple layers of metal and thermal - acoustical insulation media to provide an engineered shielding solution for an array of application areas. Lydall’s dBCore® is a lightweight acoustical composite that emphasizes absorption principles over heavy-mass type systems. Lydall’s dBLyte® is a high-performance acoustical barrier with sound absorption and blocking properties and can be used throughout a vehicle’s interior to minimize intrusive noise from an engine compartment and road. Lydall’s ZeroClearance® is an innovative thermal solution that utilizes an adhesive backing for attachment and is used to protect vehicle components from excessive heat. Lydall’s flux® product family includes several patented or IP-rich products that address applications which include: Direct Exhaust Mount heat shields, which are assembled to high temperature components like catalytic converters, turbochargers or exhaust manifolds using
28



aluminized and stainless steel and high performance and high temperature heat insulating materials; Powertrain heat shields that absorb noise at the source and do not contribute to the



engine's noise budget; and durable, thermally robust solutions for temperature sensitive plastic components such as fuel tanks that are in proximity to high temperature heat sources.

The tables below present net sales and operating income by segment for the quartersthree-month and nine monthsnine-month periods ended September 30, 20192020 and 2018,2019, and also a reconciliation of total segment net sales and operating income to total consolidated net sales and operating income.

Consolidated net sales by segment:
For the Three Months Ended  
September 30,
For the Nine Months Ended  
September 30,
In thousands2020201920202019
Performance Materials Segment:
Filtration$30,899 $22,427 $86,422 $71,093 
Sealing and Advanced Solutions36,918 37,573 105,088 118,589 
Performance Materials Segment net sales67,817 60,000 191,510 189,682 
Technical Nonwovens Segment (1):
Industrial Filtration29,643 32,935 90,425 114,005 
Advanced Materials (2)28,866 30,977 77,494 84,591 
Technical Nonwovens Segment net sales58,509 63,912 167,919 198,596 
Thermal Acoustical Solutions Segment:
Parts79,687 80,309 189,456 250,591 
Tooling5,836 7,617 17,276 24,920 
Thermal Acoustical Solutions Segment net sales85,523 87,926 206,732 275,511 
     Eliminations and Other (2)(4,764)(6,564)(12,389)(19,679)
Consolidated Net Sales$207,085 $205,274 $553,772 $644,110 
  Quarters Ended  
September 30,
 Nine Months Ended September 30,
In thousands 2019 2018 2019 2018
Performance Materials Segment (1):        
Filtration $22,427
 $22,643
 $71,093
 $68,846
Sealing and Advanced Solutions 37,573
 19,077
 118,589
 34,801
Performance Materials Segment net sales 60,000
 41,720
 189,682
 103,647
         
Technical Nonwovens Segment (2):        
Industrial Filtration 32,935
 40,945
 114,005
 120,346
Advanced Materials (3) 30,977
 32,126
 84,591
 91,978
Technical Nonwovens Segment net sales 63,912
 73,071
 198,596
 212,324
         
Thermal Acoustical Solutions Segment:        
Parts 80,309
 77,723
 250,591
 248,764
Tooling 7,617
 10,488
 24,920
 31,053
Thermal Acoustical Solutions Segment net sales 87,926
 88,211
 275,511
 279,817
         
     Eliminations and Other (3) (6,564) (5,116) (19,679) (19,829)
Consolidated Net Sales $205,274
 $197,886
 $644,110
 $575,959


Operating income (loss) by segment:
  Quarters Ended  
September 30,
 Nine Months Ended September 30,
In thousands 2019 2018 2019 2018
Performance Materials (1) $712
 $1,753
 $5,474
 $8,043
Technical Nonwovens (2) 7,165
 6,271
 19,743
 17,395
Thermal Acoustical Solutions 5,022
 7,923
 21,870
 29,357
Corporate Office Expenses (5,452) (6,214) (17,411) (18,777)
Consolidated Operating Income $7,447
 $9,733
 $29,676
 $36,018


For the Three Months Ended  
September 30,
For the Nine Months Ended  
September 30,
In thousands2020201920202019
Performance Materials (3)$(6,759)$712 $(58,257)$5,474 
Technical Nonwovens (1),(2),(4)5,061 7,165 15,558 19,743 
Thermal Acoustical Solutions1,174 5,022 517 21,870 
Corporate Office Expenses(8,757)(5,452)(24,413)(17,411)
Consolidated Operating Income$(9,281)$7,447 $(66,595)$29,676 
(1) The Performance Materials segment reports the results of Interface and PCC for the period following the date of acquisitions of August 31, 2018 and July 12, 2018, respectively, and included $3.1 million and $11.2 million of incremental intangible assets amortization for the quarter and nine months ended September 30, 2019, respectively.
(2) The Technical Nonwovens segment reportsincludes the results of Geosol through the date of disposition of May 9, 2019.
(3) (2)Included in the Technical Nonwovens segment and Eliminations and Other is the following:
$3.9 million and $4.3 million inof intercompany sales to the Thermal Acoustical Solutions segment for the quartersthree-month periods ended September 30, 2020 and 2019, and 2018,respectively.
$10.2 million and $13.6 million and $17.2 millionof intercompany sales to the Thermal Acoustical Solutions segment for the nine monthsnine-month periods ended September 30, 2020 and 2019, respectively.
(3)Included in the Performance Materials segment is the following:
$61.1 million of impairment charges related to goodwill and 2018,other long-lived assets for the nine-month period ended September 30, 2020.
$14.8 million restructuring charges for the three and nine-month periods ending September 30, 2020.
$4.0 million and $4.1 million of intangible assets amortization for the three-month periods ended September 30, 2020 and 2019, respectively.

$11.9 million and $12.2 million of intangible assets amortization for the nine-month periods ended September 30, 2020 and 2019, respectively.

29



(4)Included in the Technical Nonwovens segment is the following:
$1.2 million and $1.3 million of intangible assets amortization for the three-month periods ended September 30, 2020 and 2019, respectively.
$3.5 million and $3.8 million of intangible assets amortization for the nine-month periods ended September 30, 2020 and 2019, respectively.

16. Commitments and Contingencies
 
Environmental Remediation

In the fourth quarter of 2016, as part of a groundwater discharging permitting process, water samples collected from wells and process water basins at the Company’s Rochester New Hampshire manufacturing facility, within the Performance Materials segment, showed concentrations of Per and Polyfluorinated Substances (“PFAS”) in excess of state ambient groundwater quality standards. In January 2017, the Company received a notification from the State of New Hampshire Department of Environmental



Services (“NHDES”) naming Lydall Performance Materials, Inc. a responsible party with respect to the discharge of regulated contaminants and, as such, is required to take action to investigate and remediate the impacts in accordance with standards established by the NHDES. The Company conducted a site investigation, the scope of which was reviewed by the NHDES, in order to assess the extent of potential soil and groundwater contamination and develop a remedial action. Based on input received from NHDES in March 2017 with regard to the scope of the site investigation, the Company recorded $0.2 million of expense. In 2018, the Company received a response from the NHDES to the site investigation report outlining proposed remedial actions. The Company recorded an additional $0.1 million of expense in 2018 associated with the expected costs to remediate the impacts of the discharge of regulated contaminants in accordance with standards established by the NHDES. During 2018 the environmental liability was fully reduced reflecting payments made to vendors, resulting in 0 balance at December 31, 2018. Additionally, the Company incurred $0.2 million of capital expenditures in 2018, in relation to the lining of the Company's fresh water lagoons. The site investigation isand remedial action plan are ongoing. The Company cannot be sure that costs will not exceed the current estimates until this matter is closed with the NHDES, nor that any future corrective action at this location would not have a material effect on the Company’s financial condition, results of operations or liquidity.cash flows.

In December 2018, the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (“NYDEC”) informed the Company that the newly acquired Interface site located at Hoosick Falls, NY will be the subject of an investigation in to the possibility of it being an inactive hazardous disposable waste site.  The letter specifically references PFAS that have been detected in a nearby water supply, soil and/or surface water.  Notably, the PFAS contamination has been identified in the Hoosick Falls area for some time and other large manufacturers in the area have previously been identified as a source.  The NYDEC approved a site characterization plan in December 2019. The Company recorded expense of $0.3 million in the fourth quarter of 2019 as a result of the site characterization plan preparation and site characterization activities. Additional site characterization activities are planned for the fourth quarter of 2020. The Company does not know the scope or extent of its future obligations, if any, that may arise from the site investigation and therefore is unable to estimate the cost of any corrective action. Accordingly, the Company cannot assure that the costs of any future corrective at this location would not have a material effect on the Company's financial condition, results of operations or cash flows.

Provisions for such matters are charged to expense when it is probable that a liability has been incurred and reasonable estimates of the liability can be made. Estimates of environmental liabilities are based on a variety of matters, including, but not limited to, the stage of investigation, the stage of the remedial design, evaluation of existing remediation technologies, and presently enacted laws and regulations. In future periods, a number of factors could significantly impact any estimates of environmental remediation costs.















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17. Changes inStockholders' Equity and Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss)

Changes in stockholders' equity for the three and nine-month periods ended September 30, 2020 were as follows:

For the Three Months Ended September 30,For the Nine Months Ended  
September 30,
In thousands2020201920202019
Beginning Balance$253,262 $387,105 $318,420 $369,275 
Comprehensive (loss) income, net of tax(5,477)(5,849)(72,474)10,773 
Stock repurchased(23)(7)(31)(62)
Stock issued under employee plans
Stock-based compensation expense551 417 2,006 1,611 
Stock issued to directors388 252 
Adoption of ASC 606 (1)
(183)
Ending Balance$248,313 $381,671 $248,313 $381,671 

The following table discloses the changes by classification withincomponents of accumulated other comprehensive (loss) income (loss) forare shown below:

For the Three Months Ended  
September 30,
For the Nine Months Ended  
September 30,
In Thousands2020201920202019
Foreign currency translation:
Beginning balance$(22,833)$(16,128)$(18,022)$(18,458)
Net gain (loss) on foreign currency translation8,245 (8,726)3,434 (6,396)
Other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax8,245 (8,726)3,434 (6,396)
Ending balance(14,588)(24,854)(14,588)(24,854)
Pension and other postretirement benefit plans:
Beginning balance(2,749)(2,879)(3,080)(22,253)
Amounts reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive (loss) income (2)(49)21 282 19,395 
Other comprehensive (loss) income, net of tax(49)21 282 19,395 
Ending balance(2,798)(2,858)(2,798)(2,858)
Unrealized gain/(loss) on derivative instruments:
Beginning balance(5,116)(4,000)(4,877)(1,974)
Net loss on derivative instruments (3)(2,669)(148)(3,306)(2,174)
Amounts reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive income (4)706 1,104 
Other comprehensive loss, net of tax(1,963)(148)(2,202)(2,174)
Ending balance(7,079)(4,148)(7,079)(4,148)
Total accumulated other comprehensive loss$(24,465)$(31,860)$(24,465)$(31,860)

(1) During the nine monthsthree-month period ended March 31, 2019, the Company recorded an adjustment reducing retained earnings and contract assets by $0.2 million to correct an error in the adoption of ASC 606.

31



(2) For the three-months ended September 30, 2020 and 2019, amount represents routine amortization of actuarial gains and losses in net periodic benefit cost and other activity of less than $0.1 million, net of less than $0.1 million tax benefit. For the nine-months ended September 30, 2020, amount represents the settlement of the ISS Pension Plan in the first quarter of 2020 of $0.4 million, net of $0.1 million tax benefit, and routine amortization of actuarial gains and losses in net periodic benefit cost and other activity of less than $0.1 million, net of less than $0.1 million tax benefit. For the nine-months ended September 30, 2019, and 2018:
In thousands 
Foreign Currency
Translation
Adjustment
 
Defined Benefit
Pension
Adjustment
 
Gains and Losses
on Cash Flow Hedges
 
Total
Accumulated
Other
Comprehensive
(Loss) Income
Balance at December 31, 2017 $(2,221) $(18,049)  $122
  $(20,148)
Other comprehensive (loss) income (9,262) 
  89
(c) (9,173)
Amounts reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive loss 
 595
(a) 
  595
Balance at September 30, 2018 (11,483) (17,454)  211
  (28,726)
Balance at December 31, 2018 (18,458) (22,253)  (1,974)  (42,685)
Other comprehensive loss (6,396) 
  (2,174)(c) (8,570)
Amounts reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive loss 
 19,395
(b) 
  19,395
Balance at September 30, 2019 $(24,854) $(2,858)  $(4,148)  $(31,860)

(a)Amount represents amortization of actuarial losses, a component of net periodic benefit cost. This amount was $0.6 million, net of $0.2 million tax benefit, for the nine months ended September 30, 2018.
(b) Amount represents the settlement of the Lydall Pension Plan in the second quarter of 2019. This amount was2019 of $19.0 million, net of $11.5 million tax benefit. Amount also representsbenefit, and routine amortization of actuarial losses a component ofin net periodic benefit cost during the first five months of fiscal year 2019 prior to the plan termination. This amount wastermination of $0.4 million, net of $0.1 million tax benefit.
(c)Amount represents unrealized gains (losses) on the fair value of hedging activities, net of taxes, for the nine months ended September 30, 2019 and 2018.

(3) Amount represents unrealized losses on the fair value of hedging activities, net of tax benefits of $0.8 million and less than $0.1 million for the three-month periods ended September 30, 2020 and 2019, respectively, and $1.0 million and $0.7 million for the nine-month periods ended September 30, 2020 and 2019, respectively.

(4) Amounts represents the impact of de-designation of the interest rate swap agreement, net of tax expenses of $0.2 million and $0.3 million, for the three-month and nine-month periods ended September 30, 2020, respectively.

18. Subsequent Events

On October 14, 2020, the Company amended its 2018 Credit Agreement to allow certain restructuring and other charges, as defined by the amendment, to be excluded from EBITDA in the calculation of the Company's modified financial covenants.

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Item 2.MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS
 
OVERVIEW AND OUTLOOKOverview and Outlook

Business
 
Lydall, Inc. and its subsidiaries (collectively, the “Company” or “Lydall”) design and manufacture specialty engineered nonwoven filtration media, industrial thermal insulating solutions, and thermal and acoustical barriers for filtration/separation and heat abatement and sound dampening applications. LydallThe Company principally conducts its business through three reportable segments: Performance Materials, Technical Nonwovens and Thermal Acoustical Solutions, with sales globally. The Performance Materials ("PM") segment includes filtration media solutions primarily for air, fluid power, life science and industrial applications (“Filtration”), and gasket and sealing solutions, thermal insulation, energy storage, and other engineered products (“Sealing and Advanced Solutions”). The Technical Nonwovens ("TNW") segment consists of Industrial Filtration products that include nonwoven rolled-goods felt media and filter bags used primarily in industrial air and liquid filtration applications as well as Advanced Materials products that include nonwoven rolled-good media that is used in other commercial applications and predominantly serves the geosynthetics, automotive, industrial, and medical markets. Advanced Materials products also include automotive rolled-good material for use in the Thermal Acoustical Solutions segment manufacturing process. Nonwoven filter media is used to satisfy increasing emission control regulations in a wide range of industries, including power, cement, steel, asphalt, incineration, food, and pharmaceutical. The Thermal Acoustical Solutions ("TAS") segment offers innovative engineered products to assist in noise and heat abatement within the transportation and industrial sectors.

Recent Developments - COVID-19

The impact of the novel strain of the coronavirus (“COVID-19”) has grown throughout the world, including in all global and regional markets served by the Company. During 2020, governmental authorities implemented numerous measures attempting to contain and mitigate the effects of COVID-19, including travel bans and restrictions, quarantines, social distancing orders, shelter in place orders and shutdowns of non-essential activities. The Company’s manufacturing facilities are located in areas that have been affected by the pandemic and shutdowns. Certain Company facilities in the United States, Europe and Asia carried out shutdowns as a result of government-imposed restrictions or in conjunction with customer plant closures during the first quarter. The Company’s Asia facilities resumed operations in late February and other facilities ramped back up moderately, in line with customer demand, during the second quarter. In the third quarter, the Company has seen a stronger recovery in its Performance Materials segment, specifically in its Filtration business, and in the Thermal Acoustical Solutions and Technical Nonwovens segments as discussed below.

Performance Materials (“PM”) Developments

Performance Materials sales were down 4.6% in the first half of 2020 from the comparative period in 2019 with incremental demand for specialty filtration media products more than offset by softer demand in the Sealing and Advanced Solutions business.PM’s Filtration sales continued to be very strong in the third quarter, up approximately 37.8% from the comparative period in the prior year, led by continued demand for fine fiber meltblown media used in personal protective equipment such as N95 respirators and surgical and medical masks. This demand is expected to moderate into the fourth quarter and expected to be down slightly on a sequential basis due to normal seasonality. Weaker demand in automotive, agricultural, and construction equipment markets resulted in a sales decline of approximately 1.7% in the Sealing and Advanced Solutions business in the third quarter of 2020 from the comparative period in 2019.

As a result of continued strong demand for filtration products, the Company approved investments to add two production lines in Performance Materials’ Rochester facility for the production of fine fiber meltblown filtration media used in the N95 respirator and surgical and medical masks.In addition, the Company reached an agreement with the U.S. Government that provides partial funding of the investments in the production lines in addition to funding for other technical resources.

In the third quarter of 2020, the Company announced an investment in a new fine fiber meltblown production line in its French facility to support the European Union face mask production and air filter production in the fight against COVID-19. This investment is being partially funded by the French Government.

In the third quarter, the Company initiated actions to close underperforming operating locations in Europe and discontinue production of a lower efficiency air filtration media product and, in turn, fully depreciated the supporting machinery and equipment in North America. These actions are part of the Company's ongoing assessment of underperforming assets and focus
33



of resources on the significant investments to expand fine fiber meltblown production.These actions are expected to be completed in 2021 and projected to improve overall segment margin performance beginning in 2021. For additional information, see Note 12, "Restructuring".

Technical Nonwovens (“TNW”) Developments

During the first half of 2020, TNW experienced slowdowns in all geographic locations; predominantly in its facilities in South Carolina, the United Kingdom, and China. TNW’s Texel business in Canada, however, is a leading supplier of nonwoven products used in the production of healthcare applications including medical wipes, pads, and gowns. In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Company re-prioritized its manufacturing capabilities in North America and Europe to focus on serving customers for these products.

TNW’s sales in the first half of 2020 declined 18.8% from the comparable period in 2019 on generally slower demand in industrial end markets globally. In the third quarter of 2020, sales increased 12.5% on a sequential basis from the previous quarter but decreased 8.5% compared to the prior year quarter. Softer industrial end markets and lower sales into automotive applications resulted in the year-over-year sales declines in the quarter. Third quarter 2020 sales were down 10.0% in Industrial Filtration and 6.8% in Advanced Materials businesses from the same period in the previous year.

Thermal Acoustical Solutions (“TAS”) Developments

As previously disclosed, the Company ramped-down its TAS operations in North Carolina in the United States, as well as in France and Germany, coinciding with the shutdown of its major automotive customers' facilities in those regions beginning in late March 2020. During the first half of 2020, TAS sales decreased 35.4% from prior year, heavily impacted by customer shutdowns during March, April, and May. TAS began to ramp-up production in mid-second quarter of 2020 in North America and Europe as customers began to re-open their plants in these regions. During the third quarter 2020, part sales were down 0.8% from the previous year as TAS continued to see stronger demand in North America and Europe with sales increasing significantly compared to second quarter 2020.

As customer demand increased in North America, the Company began to experience an increase of COVID-19 cases, particularly at its North American operation, resulting in workforce shortages and other operational inefficiencies causing higher overtime, outsourcing costs, and logistics costs. In addition, recent recoveries in the manufacturing industries are causing higher commodity pricing in North America. In late third quarter 2020, as a result of labor shortages and operational inefficiencies directly related to COVID-19, TAS was unable to manufacture parts timely, resulting in customer production line stoppages. In early October 2020, due to the unforeseen and unforeseeable nature of the COVID-19 pandemic, which is out of the Company’s control, the Company invoked force majeure or commercial impracticability as legal excuse for delayed performance of contracts and defense to any claim that may be asserted by customers.A recent resurgence of cases in that same facility has caused the Company to expand its declaration of force majeure or commercial impracticability to other impacted customers. The Company has taken various actions to resolve these issues and expects TAS to continue to incur incremental costs in the fourth quarter of 2020.

Looking Forward

The continuation of the ramp-up of production is dependent on customer demand and no additional outbreaks of COVID-19 that could cause a major slowdown in demand impacting the Company’s ability to operate because of government mandates, employee illnesses or other related unforeseen events. The Company anticipates the global automotive industry will continue to stabilize in the fourth quarter, but fourth quarter volumes are expected to be lower than the comparative 2019 period as a result of the global economic slowdown caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. New vehicle sales are highly dependent on the strength of the consumer. If unemployment remains at higher levels, new vehicle sales could be significantly lower than historical and previously projected sales levels. The Company expects workforce shortages directly driven by COVID-19 to continue into the fourth quarter for the TAS segment. The Company also expects to face continued headwinds in PM’s sealing businesses but stronger demand for filtration products is expected to offset this decline. Additionally, the Company expects seasonally strong construction activity, which drives demand for geosynthetic products, to decline as winter approaches and continued softness in industrial end markets in its Technical Nonwovens segment in the fourth quarter of 2020.

Liquidity and Cash Preservation

The Company continued to experience working capital cash flow improvements through September 30, 2020 generating $74.6 million in cash from operating activities. As the Company continues to ramp up production and invest in new fine fiber meltblown production equipment to meet customer demand, the Company expects cash outflows to support working capital requirements and capital projects.

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During the nine months of 2020, the Company took significant measures to reduce its overall cash expenditures, including the furlough or lay-off of hourly/salary plant workers and select furloughs of corporate and other salaried employees, deferred company contributions to its pension plans and matching contributions under the Company's 401(k) defined contribution plan, reduction of purchase obligations for raw materials and reduction/delay of non-critical capital spending. As a result, the Company reduced its monthly cash expenditures. The Company may elect to continue certain actions if the COVID-19 pandemic continues.

In addition, the Company has taken advantage of specific benefits, including wage recovery provided by social programs in Europe and China and deferred domestic employer tax in the U.S. through the Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security (“CARES”) Act. Through September 30, 2020, the Company benefited from $2.0 million in social cost reimbursements predominately in Europe and China. The Company may pursue, wherever it qualifies, governmental assistance and take advantage of governmental programs. The Company cannot guarantee, however, that it will qualify for, or receive, any additional assistance that it pursues.

As noted above, the Company reached an agreement with the U.S. Government in June 2020 that provides funding to cover a portion of the cost to install two new production lines for the production of meltblown material for N95 respirator, surgical and medical masks and for other technical resources. The Company will receive monthly payments in accordance with the agreement to fund up to $13.5 million. Additionally, the Company has a tentative agreement with the French Government to fund up to 30% of the Company’s investment in its facility in France supporting the European Union face mask production and air filter production.

In addition to the significant measures taken to reduce and contain costs, the Company took actions in March 2020 to provide additional liquidity, primarily including a $20.0 million draw down on its amended credit facility.On May 11, 2020, the Company entered into an amended credit agreement (see Note 6, "Long-term Debt and Financing Arrangements" for the key amended terms and conditions) to modify certain financial maintenance covenants, at least one of which the Company expected to fail during the second quarter of 2020 as a result of the impact of COVID-19.On October 14, 2020, the Company amended its 2018 Credit Agreement to allow certain restructuring and other charges, as defined by the amendment, to be excluded from EBITDA in the calculation of the Company's financial covenants. The Company was in compliance with those modified financial covenants as of and for the three-month period ended September 30, 2020, and management does not anticipate noncompliance in the foreseeable future.

Through September of 2020, the Company generated $74.6 million of net cash provided by operations and had cash on hand of $122.0 million as of September 30, 2020. The Company continues to maintain the necessary capital to meet its debt obligations and interest payments. As previously disclosed in late 2019, the Company entered into arrangements with a banking institution to sell trade accounts receivable balances for selected customers. The Company continues to sell trade accounts receivable balances under these arrangements. See Transfer of Financial Assets under Note 1, “Basis of Financial Statement Presentation” for more information.

The spread of COVID-19 and the measures taken to constrain the spread of the virus have had, and will continue to have, a material negative impact on the Company’s financial results, and such negative impact may continue well beyond the containment of such outbreak. There is inherent uncertainty in the assumptions the Company uses to estimate its future liquidity due to the impact of the COVID-19 outbreak. In addition, the magnitude, duration, and speed of the global pandemic is uncertain. Consequently, the impact on the Company's business, financial condition or longer-term financial or operational results is uncertain. However, management believes, based on the actions taken to reduce cash expenditures and the Company’s financial position, that net cash provided by operations combined with its cash and cash equivalents and borrowing availability under its Credit Facility will be sufficient to fund its current obligations, capital spending, debt service requirements and working capital needs over at least the next twelve months.

Steps Taken to Protect Employees

The Company continues to monitor the global outbreak and spread of COVID-19 and take steps to mitigate the potential risks to the Company and its employees posed by the spread, related circumstances, and economic impacts of COVID-19. As the Company brings employees back to work, it has implemented changes to help ensure the safety and health of all its employees and continues to assess and update its business continuity plans in the context of this pandemic. The Company established the Lydall Emergency Preparedness Team (“LEPT”), implementing strict travel restrictions, enforcing rigorous hygiene protocols, increasing sanitization efforts at all facilities and implementing remote working arrangements for the majority of its employees who work outside the plants. The Company will continue its work to ensure it maintains a safe and healthy work environment and continue to allow remote working arrangements as long as necessary where appropriate.


35



Third Quarter 20192020 Highlights
 
Below are financial performance highlights comparing Lydall’s quarterfor the three-month period ended September 30, 2019 (“Q3 2019”) results2020 compared to its quarterthe three-month period ended September 30, 2018 (“Q3 2018”) results:2019:
 
Net sales were $207.1 million in the third quarter of 2020, compared to $205.3 million in Q3the third quarter of 2019, compared to $197.9 million in Q3 2018, an increase of $7.4$1.8 million, or 3.7%.0.9%, driven by $7.8 million in higher sales in the Company's Performance Materials segment, resulting from higher demand in filtration products for face mask media in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, partially offset by lower sales in the Company's Technical Nonwovens and Thermal Acoustical Solutions segments. The change in consolidated net sales is summarized in the following table:
Components (in thousands)Change in Net SalesPercent Change
   Parts volume and pricing change$648 0.3 %
   Change in tooling sales(1,827)(0.9)%
   Foreign currency translation2,990 1.5 %
      Total$1,811 0.9 %
Components (in thousands)
 Change in Net Sales Percent Change
   Acquisitions and divestitures $17,526
 8.9 %
   Parts volume and pricing change (4,343) (2.2)%
   Change in tooling sales (2,720) (1.4)%
   Foreign currency translation (3,075) (1.6)%
      Total $7,388
 3.7 %


Gross margin wasincreased to 18.3% for the three-month period ended September 30, 2020 as compared to 17.7% in the third quarter of 2019, compared to 17.8%corresponding period in the third quarter of 2018.2019. The PMPerformance Materials segment favorably impacted consolidated gross margin by approximately 210330 basis points, primarily due to favorable product mix, driven by increased demand for face mask media in response to the COVID-19 pandemic and higher gross margin sealing product sales.liquid filtration sales, combined with favorable raw material commodity and production costs, and lower overhead costs. Gross margin from the TASThermal Acoustical Solutions segment loweredadversely impacted consolidated gross margin by approximately 180160 basis points primarily due to increased labor costs, coupled with increased outsourcingshortages and expeditedoperating inefficiencies directly related to an increase in COVID-19 cases in its North American facility, resulting in higher freight expenses.and temporary labor expenses in order to meet larger OEM customers' demands. The TNWTechnical Nonwovens segment reported improved gross margin but, based on segment mix, was negative toadversely impacted consolidated gross margin by approximately 110 basis points due to unfavorable overhead absorption on lower segment net sales combined with unfavorable product mix.

Operating loss was $(9.3) million for the three-month period ended September 30, 2020 compared to operating income of $7.4 million in the quartercorresponding period in 2019. The operating loss was driven by approximately 30 basis points.

Operating income was $7.4restructuring charges of $15.0 million or 3.6% of net sales,primarily in Q3 2019, compared to $9.7 million, or 4.9% of net sales,the Performance Materials segment and significant operating inefficiencies in Q3 2018. Operating margin declined 130 basis points primarily due to increased selling, product development and administrative expenses of $3.5 million, or 130 basis pointsthe Company's Thermal Acoustical Solutions segment as a percentage of net sales, primarily related to incremental intangible assets amortization of 150 basis points.











noted above. The following components are included inexpenses adversely impacted operating income for Q3 2019the third quarters of 2020 and Q3 2018 and impact2019:
For the Three Months Ended September 30, 2020
Components
(in thousands except per share amounts)
Operating Income ImpactPre-tax
EPS Impact
Tax Effect
EPS Impact (1)
Net
EPS Impact
   PM restructuring expenses$(14,984)$(0.86)$0.21 $(0.65)

For the Three Months Ended September 30, 2019
Components
(in thousands except per share amounts)
Operating Income ImpactPre-tax
EPS Impact
Tax Effect
EPS Impact (1)
Net
EPS Impact
  TNW restructuring expenses$(117)$(0.01)$0.00 $(0.01)

(1) Tax expense represents the comparabilitystatutory tax rate in the jurisdiction in which the expense was incurred.

The net loss was $(11.7) million, or $(0.67) per diluted share, for the three-month period ended September 30, 2020 compared to net income of each quarter:
  Q3 2019 Q3 2018
Components (in thousands except per share amounts)
 Operating income effect EPS impact Operating income effect EPS impact
   TNW restructuring expenses (117) $(0.01) (519) $(0.03)
   Strategic initiatives expenses 
 $
 (1,514) $(0.09)
   Inventory step-up purchase accounting adjustments 
 $
 (1,390) $(0.06)
   Intangible assets amortization expenses (5,368) $(0.24) (2,344) $(0.10)

Net income was $3.0 million, or $0.17 per diluted share, in Q3 2019 compared to net income of $6.3 million, or $0.36 per diluted share,the corresponding period in Q3 2018.2019.

Liquidity

Cash was $48.9$122.0 million at September 30, 2019,2020, compared to $49.2$51.3 million at December 31, 2018.2019. Net cash provided by operations was $26.7$74.6 million infor the third quarter of 2019 andnine-month period ended September 30, 2020 compared to $63.0 million in the nine months ended September 30,corresponding period in 2019, comparedwith the improvement primarily driven by increases in payable days across the Company's operations. On October 14, 2020, the Company amended its 2018 Credit Agreement to $6.5 millionallow certain restructuring and other charges, as defined by the amendment, to be excluded from EBITDA in the third quartercalculation of 2018the
36



Company's modified financial covenants. See Note 6. "Long-term Debt and $14.5 million inFinancing Arrangements" to the nine months ended September 30, 2018. Improved cash flow, principally through working capital management, has allowedCondensed Consolidated Financial Statements for highlights of the Company to repay outstanding borrowings of approximately $38.0 million in 2019key amended terms and fund capital expenditures. As of September 30, 2019, there was approximately $110 million of availability under the Company's credit facility.conditions.

Outlook

The Company believes the weakness seen in both the Technical Nonwovens and Performance Materials segments is not expected to improve in the fourth quarter and may further deteriorate. As a result, the Company is aggressively adjusting its cost structure, and will record one-time severance related expenses of $2.0 million to $2.5 million in the fourth quarter, with savings of $4.0 million to $5.0 million anticipated in 2020. Further, the Company will be negatively impacted by the General Motors strike in the fourth quarter, and continues to focuss on reducing manufacturing costs in the Thermal Acoustical Solutions segment. As 2019 closes out, the Company expects strong cash generations that will allow the Company to continue to reduce its outstanding debt.

Other

On October 15, 2019, the Company announced that Sara A. Greenstein has been appointed President and Chief Executive Officer of Lydall, Inc., effective upon the commencement of her employment with Lydall, which will be on or before November 18, 2019. Ms. Greenstein will succeed Dale G. Barnhart, who will be retiring. In connection with these actions, the Company expects to incur one-time expense in the fourth quarter of 2019 of approximately $1.8 million.

Results of Operations
 
All of the following tabular comparisons unless otherwise indicated, are for the quartersthree-month and nine-month periods ended September 30, 2020 and 2019, (Q3-19) and September 30, 2018 (Q3-18) and the nine months ended September 30, 2019 (YTD-19) and September 30, 2018 (YTD-18).unless otherwise indicated.

Net Sales
 For the Three Months Ended  
September 30,
For the Nine Months Ended  
September 30,
In thousands20202019Percent Change20202019Percent Change
Net sales$207,085 $205,274 0.9 %$553,772 $644,110 (14.0)%
  Quarter Ended Nine Months Ended
In thousands Q3-19 Q3-18 Percent Change YTD-19 YTD-18 Percent Change
Net sales $205,274
 $197,886
 3.7% $644,110
 $575,959
 11.8%

Net sales for the third quarter of 2019three-month period ended September 30, 2020 increased by $7.4$1.8 million, or 3.7%0.9%, compared to the third quarter of 2018.2019. This increase was primarily driven by an increase in Performance Materials segment sales of $7.8 million, or 3.8% of consolidated net sales, related to incrementalhigher net sales of $18.6filtration products on higher demand in the air filtration market in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. This increase was partially offset by lower sealing and advanced solutions sales as large OEM customers continued to ramped-up production. The increase in Performance Materials segment sales was partially offset by a $5.4 million fromdecrease, or 2.6% of consolidated sales, in the acquisition of Interface, which led to increased Performance MaterialsTechnical Nonwovens segment, driven primarily by softness in industrial end markets, primarily air filtration, in North American and Europe. Additionally, the Thermal Acoustical Solutions segment reported a decrease in net sales of $18.3$2.4 million, or 9.2%1.2% of consolidated net sales, primarily due to lower tooling sales of $1.8 million and lower net parts sales of $0.6 million, as the Company continues to ramp-up production in line with it's large OEM customers. Foreign currency translation favorably impacted net sales by $3.0 million, or 1.5% of consolidated net sales.

Net sales for the nine-month period ended September 30, 2020 decreased by $90.3 million, or 14.0%, compared to the corresponding period in 2019. This decrease was primarily due to lower net parts sales of $61.1 million, or 9.5% of consolidated net sales, in the Thermal Acoustical Solutions segment, driven by temporary plant ramp downs across all of its operations in the first half of 2020 due to large OEM customer shutdowns resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic, and lower net tooling sales of $7.6 million. The Technical Nonwovens segment reported a decrease in net sales of $9.2$30.7 million, or 4.6%4.8% of consolidated net sales, driven primarily by the global softness in industrial end markets, primarily air filtration. The Performance Materials segment reported an increase in net sales of $1.8 million, or 0.3% of consolidated net sales, driven by a significant declineincreased net sales in filtration as demand increased in the industrialair filtration market primarilyfor face mask media in China and to a lesser extent, Europe. Additionally, the divestiture of the Geosol business in the second quarter of 2019 reduced net sales by $2.9 million in the third quarter of 2019 comparedresponse to the third quarter of 2018. Net sales decreased in



the Thermal Acoustical Solutions segment by $0.3 million, as decreased tooling sales in Europe and Asia were mostlyCOVID-19 pandemic, partially offset by increased partsdecreased sealing and advanced solutions sales related to large OEM customer shutdowns beginning in Europe and North America.mid-March due to COVID-19. Foreign currency translation had a negative impact on net sales of $3.1$1.2 million, or 1.6%0.2% of consolidated net sales.

Cost of Sales
 For the Three Months Ended  
September 30,
For the Nine Months Ended  
September 30,
In thousands20202019Percent Change20202019Percent Change
Cost of sales$169,155 $168,918 0.1 %$448,856 $520,423 (13.8)%

Cost of sales primarily impactingfor the Technical Nonwovens segmentthree-month period ended September 30, 2020 increased by $1.3$0.2 million, or 0.7% of consolidated net sales, and0.1%, compared to the corresponding period in 2019. The increase was primarily driven by a significant increase in variable overhead costs, principally in the Thermal Acoustical Solutions segment related to higher costs associated with COVID-19, primarily in the Company's North American plant, and, to a lesser extent, in the Technical Nonwovens segment related to unfavorable overhead costs on lower volume. Additionally, higher net sales in the Performance Materials segment due to higher demand for face mask media in response to COVID-19 contributed to the higher cost of sales. The increase in cost of sales was partially offset by $1.2lower net sales in the Technical Nonwovens and Thermal Acoustical Solutions segments and lower raw material commodity and production costs across all segments, coupled with favorable product mix in the Performance Materials and Thermal Acoustical Solutions segments. Foreign currency translation increased cost of sales by $2.5 million, or 0.6%1.5%, in the third quarter of consolidated2020 compared to the third quarter of 2019.

Cost of sales for the nine-month period ended September 30, 2020 decreased by $71.6 million, or 13.8%, compared to of the corresponding period in 2019. The decrease was driven by lower net sales.sales across all segments, primarily due to plant ramp
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Net
downs in the Thermal Acoustical Solutions segment as noted above and, to a lesser extent, the Technical Nonwovens segment due to the COVID-19 pandemic. In addition, lower raw material commodity and production costs across all segments contributed to lower cost of sales. These decreases to cost of sales forwere partially offset by higher overhead costs in the Thermal Acoustical Solutions and Technical Nonwovens segments due to the drivers noted above, combined with unfavorable product mix, primarily in the Thermal Acoustical Solutions segment resulting from lower fibers sales related to the sunsetting of major platforms in the second half of 2019 with select OEM manufacturers. Foreign currency translation decreased cost of sales by $1.1 million, or 0.2%, in the first nine months of 2019 increased by $68.2 million, or 11.8%,2020 compared to the first nine months of 2018. This increase was related to incremental net sales of $84.2 million from the acquisition of Interface, which led to increased Performance Materials net sales of $86.0 million, or 14.9% of consolidated net sales. Net sales decreased in the Technical Nonwovens segment by $10.2 million, net of intercompany sales, driven by a significant decline in demand in the industrial filtration market, primarily in China and Europe. Additionally, the divestiture of the Geosol business in the second quarter of 2019 reduced net sales by $4.9 million in the first nine months of 2019 compared to the first nine months of 2018. Net sales decreased by $4.3 million in the Thermal Acoustical Solutions segment, as decreased tooling net sales of $6.1 million were partially offset by increased parts sales of $1.8 million, primarily in North America. Foreign currency translation had a negative impact on net sales of $14.5 million, or 2.5% of consolidated net sales, primarily impacting the Technical Nonwovens segment by $6.8 million, or 1.2% of consolidated net sales, and the Thermal Acoustical Solutions segment by $5.5 million, or 1.0% of consolidated net sales.2019.

Cost of Sales
  Quarter Ended Nine Months Ended
In thousands Q3-19 Q3-18 Percent Change YTD-19 YTD-18 Percent Change
Cost of sales $168,918
 $162,747
 3.8% $520,423
 $465,186
 11.9%

Cost of sales for the third quarter of 2019 increased by $6.2 million, or 3.8%, compared to the third quarter of 2018. The increase was primarily related to increased net sales of $7.4 million, due to increased sales of sealing and advanced solutions products from the Interface acquisition. Additionally, the Thermal Acoustical Solutions segment contributed increased cost of sales of $2.9 million on stagnant sales levels in the third quarter of 2019 compared to the third quarter of 2018, primarily due to operating inefficiencies in its North America and Europe facilities. This increase was partially offset by foreign currency translation decreasing cost of sales by $2.7 million, or 1.6%, in the third quarter of 2019 compared to the third quarter of 2018.

Cost of sales for the first nine months of 2019 increased by $55.2 million, or 11.9%, compared to the first nine months of 2018. The increase was primarily related to increased net sales of $68.2 million, primarily due to increased sales of sealing and advanced solutions products from the Interface acquisition. Additionally, the Thermal Acoustical Solutions segment contributed increased cost of sales of $3.6 million on reduced sales levels in the first nine months of 2019 compared to the first nine months of 2018, primarily due to operating inefficiencies in its North America and Europe facilities. This increase was partially offset by foreign currency translation decreasing cost of sales by $12.6 million, or 2.7%, in the first nine months of 2019 compared to the first nine months of 2018.

Gross Profit
 For the Three Months Ended  
September 30,
For the Nine Months Ended  
September 30,
In thousands20202019Percent Change20202019Percent Change
Gross profit$37,930 $36,356 4.3 %$104,916 $123,687 (15.2)%
Gross margin18.3 %17.7 %18.9 %19.2 %
  Quarter Ended Nine Months Ended
In thousands Q3-19 Q3-18 Percent Change YTD-19 YTD-18 Percent Change
Gross profit $36,356
 $35,139
 3.5% $123,687
 $110,773
 11.7%
Gross margin 17.7% 17.8%   19.2% 19.2%  

Gross margin for the third quarter of 2019 decreased 10three-month period ended September 30, 2020 increased 60 basis points compared to the third quarter of 2018.corresponding period in 2019. The Performance Materials segment favorably impacted consolidated gross margin by approximately 210330 basis points, primarily due to favorable product mix, driven by higher demand for face mask media in response to the COVID-19 pandemic and increased liquid filtration sales, combined with favorable customer pricing, and raw material commodity and production costs. The Thermal Acoustical Solutions segment adversely impacted consolidated gross margin by approximately 160 basis points driven by the inclusion of higher COVID-19-related costs as noted above. The Technical Nonwovens segment negatively impacted consolidated gross margin Interface sealing and advanced solutions products sales and the absence of a $1.4 million, or 70by approximately 110 basis points purchase accounting adjustmentdue to cost ofunfavorable overhead absorption on reduced segment net sales related to inventory step-upcombined with unfavorable product mix in the third quarter of 20192020 compared to the third quarter of 2018.2019.

Gross margin for the for the nine-month period ended September 30, 2020 decreased 30 basis points compared to the corresponding period in 2019. The Thermal Acoustical Solutions segment negatively impacted consolidated gross margin by approximately 180300 basis points primarilydriven by the significant reduction in segment net sales due to increased labor, outsourcingthe COVID-19 pandemic and logisticshigher COVID-19-related costs primarily related to increased headcount, temporary labor and equipment inefficiencies, particularly in North America and Europe. The Technical Nonwovens segment reported improved segment gross margin due to favorable pricing and product mix in the third quarter of 2019 compared to the third quarter of 2018, but negatively impacted consolidated gross margin by approximately 30 basis points due to consolidated segment mix.

Gross margin for the first nine months of 2019 was flat with the first nine months of 2018.2020. The Performance Materials segment favorably impacted consolidated gross margin by approximately 280290 basis points primarily driven bydue to the inclusion of higher margin Interface sealing and advanced solutions products sales. The Thermal Acoustical Solutionsdrivers noted above while the Technical Nonwovens segment negatively impacted



had a minimal impact on consolidated gross margin by approximately 210 basis points primarily due to higher labor, outsourcing and logistics costs associated with increased headcount, temporary labor and equipment inefficiencies, particularly in North America and Europe, to meet customer demand. Additionally, unfavorable product mix and lower customer pricing drove further gross margin reduction in the first nine months of 20192020 compared to the first nine months of 2018. The Technical Nonwovens segment reported improved segment gross margin due to lower segment restructuring charges of $1.2 million, favorable absorption of fixed costs related to cost savings from segment restructuring activities and increased pricingcorresponding period in the first nine months of 2019 compared to the first nine months of 2018. This favorability was partially offset by increased raw material commodity costs in the Technical Nonwovens segment and negatively impacted consolidated gross margin by approximately 70 basis points due to consolidated segment mix.2019.

Selling, Product Development and Administrative Expenses
 For the Three Months Ended  
September 30,
For the Nine Months Ended  
September 30,
In thousands20202019Percent Change20202019Percent Change
Selling, product development and administrative expenses$32,227 $28,909 11.5 %$95,418 $94,011 1.5 %
Percentage of sales15.6 %14.1 %17.2 %14.6 %
  Quarter Ended Nine Months Ended
In thousands Q3-19 Q3-18 Percent Change YTD-19 YTD-18 Percent Change
Selling, product development and administrative expenses $28,909
 $25,406
 13.8% $94,011
 $74,755
 25.8%
Percentage of sales 14.1% 12.8%   14.6% 13.0%  

Selling, product development and administrative expenses for the third quarter of 2019three-month period ended September 30, 2020 increased by $3.5$3.3 million, or 130150 basis points as a percentage of net sales, compared to the third quarter of 2018. Thiscorresponding period in 2019. The increase was primarily related to the Performance Materials segment acquisition of Interface on August 31, 2018, contributing $5.9 million of incremental expense, including $3.1 million, or 150 basis points, of increased intangible asset amortization as a percentage of consolidated net sales. There were no Interface selling, product development and administrative expenses included in the Performance Materials segment in the first two months of the third quarter of 2018. Remaining selling, product development and administrative expenses were lowerdriven by $2.4 million, or 40 basis points, primarily due to decreased corporate strategic initiativeshigher compensation-related expenses of $1.5$2.6 million, primarily associated with the Interface acquisition, lower salaries and benefitshigher consulting costs of $0.5 million, decreased severance expense of $0.3$0.6 million, and an increase in other general administrative costs of $0.9 million. These increases were partially offset by lower stock compensation expensetravel expenses of $0.1$0.8 million.

Selling, product development and administrative expenses for the first nine months of 2019nine-month period ended September 30, 2020 increased by $19.3$1.4 million, or 160260 basis points compared to the first nine months of 2018. This increase was primarily related to the Performance Materials segment acquisition of Interface on August 31, 2018, contributing $25.0 million of incremental expense, including $11.2 million, or 170 basis points, of increased intangible asset amortization as a percentage of consolidated net sales. There were no Interface selling, product development and administrative expenses includedsales, compared to the corresponding period in the Performance Materials segment2019. The increase in the first eight months of 2018. Remaining selling, product development and administrative expenses were lowerdriven by $5.8higher compensation-related expenses of $3.7 million or 60 basis points, due to lower salaries, benefits and sales commissions of $2.0 million, decreased corporatehigher strategic initiatives expenses of $1.6 million, primarily associated with the Interface acquisition, lower stock compensation expense of $1.3 million and other professional service costs of $1.4$1.9 million. These decreasesincreases were partially offset by increased severancelower salaries expenses of $0.6$1.7 million, primarilylower travel expenses of $1.2 million, lower consulting expenses of $0.5 million, and a decrease in other general administrative costs of $0.8 million.



38



Impairment of Goodwill and Other Long-Lived Assets
 For the Three Months Ended  
September 30,
For the Nine Months Ended  
September 30,
In thousands20202019Dollar Change20202019Dollar Change
Impairment of goodwill and other long-lived assets$— $— $— $61,109 $— $61,109 

As previously reported, the Company recorded a goodwill impairment charge of $48.7 million in the Thermal Acoustical SolutionsPerformance Materials segment during the three-month period ended March 30, 2020. Lower expected demand in automotive and other end markets due to the COVID-19 pandemic resulted in a reduction in sales and cash generation projections as compared to prior projections for the reporting units. As a result of these revised projections and changes in other Company and market-based inputs to the determination of fair value, the carrying value of the Performance Materials reporting unit exceeded its fair value by $48.7 million, resulting in the impairment charge.

As a result of the COVID 19 pandemic and the Company's action plan to address the risks associated with it, the Company accelerated certain strategic actions. One such action was a review of an underperforming European plant within the Performance Materials segment. As a result of a strategic shift regarding this plant, the Company performed an impairment assessment on the long-lived assets of the plant. The impairment test concluded that the asset group was not recoverable, and the Company then determined that carrying value of the asset group exceeded its fair value and recorded a long-lived asset impairment charge of $12.4 million.

Restructuring Expenses
 For the Three Months Ended  
September 30,
For the Nine Months Ended  
September 30,
In thousands20202019Dollar Change20202019Dollar Change
Restructuring expenses$14,984 $— $14,984 $14,984 $— $14,984 

During the third quarter of 2020, the Company’s Performance Materials segment undertook actions to discontinue production of a lower efficiency air filtration media product and, in turn, fully depreciated the supporting machinery and equipment in North America and consolidated certain product lines and began exiting underperforming facilities in Europe. These restructuring activities, which are projected to conclude in the first nine monthshalf of 2019 compared2021, are expected to reduce operating costs, increase production efficiency and enhance the Company’s flexibility by better aligning its manufacturing operations with the segment's customer base. Accordingly, the Company expects to record pre-tax expenses of approximately $17.0 to $20.0 million, primarily related to severance and employee retention expenses, in connection with these restructuring activities, of which approximately $11.5 to $14.5 million are expected to result in cash expenditures. The Company incurred non-cash expenditures of approximately $5.5 million which consisted of fully depreciating and/or amortizing long-lived assets and, to a lesser extent, writing-off inventory.

In North America, the Company decided to shut down two underperforming nonwoven manufacturing carded lines and ancillary equipment, originally acquired in 2018, that served commercial and residential HVAC markets with low to medium efficiency air filtration media. The Company experienced lower demand as a result of COVID-19, which accelerated a market shift from lower efficiency air filtration media to higher performance rated air filtration media. As a result, the Company recorded a pre-tax restructuring charge of $5.4 million, primarily due to accelerated depreciation of property, plant and equipment and other intangible assets.

The Company undertook actions to consolidate global production facilities in the Sealing and Advanced Solutions business from five facilities to four, resulting in the closure of an underperforming facility in Germany. In addition, the Company decided to close a small volume membrane filtration production facility in the Netherlands. As a result of the two facility closures in Europe, the Company recorded pre-tax restructuring charges of $9.6 million consisting of severance costs, legal expenses and inventory write-offs. The Company expects to generate annualized savings of $5.0 million to $6.0 million. See Note 12, "Restructuring" for additional information.



39



Employee Benefit Plans Settlement Expenses
 For the Three Months Ended  
September 30,
For the Nine Months Ended  
September 30,
In thousands20202019Dollar Change20202019Dollar Change
Employee benefit plans settlement expenses$— $186 $(186)$385 $25,701 $(25,316)

In the first quarter of 2020, the Company settled the pension obligation of the Interface Sealing Solutions, Inc. Pension Plan through lump sum distributions to participants or by irrevocably transferring pension liabilities to an insurance company through the purchase of a group annuity contract. The settlement, funded with pension plan assets, resulted in a non-cash settlement expense of $0.4 million in the first quarter of 2020 related to the first nine monthsrecognition of 2018.accumulated deferred actuarial losses.
Pension Plan Settlement Expense
  Quarter Ended Nine Months Ended
In thousands Q3-19 Q3-18 Dollar Change YTD-19 YTD-18 Dollar Change
Pension plan settlement expense $186
 $
 $186
 $25,701
 $
 $25,701

In the second quarter of 2019, the Company settled the pension obligation of the U.S. Lydall Pension Plan ("pension settlement") through lump sum distributions to participants or by irrevocably transferring pension liabilities to two insurance companies through the purchase of group annuity contracts. The settlement, funded with Pension Plan assets, resulted in a non-cash settlement expense of $25.5 million in the second quarter of 2019 related to the recognition of accumulated deferred actuarial losses and an additional $0.2 million in the third quarter of 2019 to complete the termination of the pension plan.

Interest Expense
 Quarter Ended Nine Months Ended For the Three Months Ended  
September 30,
For the Nine Months Ended  
September 30,
In thousands Q3-19 Q3-18 Percent Change YTD-19 YTD-18 Percent ChangeIn thousands20202019Percent Change20202019Percent Change
Interest expense $3,666
 $1,505
 143.6% $11,025
 $2,617
 321.3%Interest expense$4,537 $3,666 23.8 %$11,870 $11,025 7.7 %
Weighted average interest rate 4.4% 3.3%   4.3% 2.9%  Weighted average interest rate6.2 %4.4 %5.2 %4.3 %
 



The increase in interest expense for the quarterthree and nine monthsnine-month periods ended September 30, 20192020 compared to the quarter and nine months ended September 30, 2018corresponding period in 2019 was due to higher borrowings incurredinterest rates related to finance the Interface acquisitionamendment of the Company's Facility in the second quarter of 2020, partially offset by reduction to interest expense due to the favorable interest rate differential between the U.S. dollar and increased interest rates.Euro related to the net investment hedge the company entered into in the fourth quarter of 2019.

Other Income/(Income) Expense, net
For the Three Months Ended  
September 30,
For the Nine Months Ended  
September 30,
In thousands20202019Dollar Change20202019Dollar Change
Other expense (income), net$276 $(885)$1,161 $106 $(1,359)$1,465 
  Quarter Ended Nine Months Ended
In thousands Q3-19 Q3-18 Dollar Change YTD-19 YTD-18 Dollar Change
Other income, net $(885) $(40) $(845) $(1,359) $(93) $(1,266)

The increase in other income,Other expense (income), net, was unfavorable for the quarterthree-month period ended September 30, 20192020 compared to the quarter ended September 30, 2018 wascorresponding 2019 period primarily relateddue to the absence of a gain of $0.6 million recognized for a change in estimate of the contingent purchase price of the 2018 PCC acquisition and foreign currency gains recognized on the revaluation of cash, trade payables and receivables and intercompany loans denominated in currencies other than the functional currencies of the Company's subsidiaries, partially offset by incremental pension expense from the Interface pension plan.

The increase in other income, net, for the nine months ended September 30, 2019 compared to the nine months ended September 30, 2018 was primarily related to the gain on sale from a divestiture of $1.5 million and a gain recognized for a change in estimate of the contingent purchase price of the PCC acquisition of $0.7 million, partially offset by incremental pension expense from the Interface pension plans andhigher foreign currency losses recognized on the revaluation of cash, trade payables and receivables and intercompany loans denominated in currencies other than the functional currencies of the Company's subsidiaries.
Other expense (income), net, was unfavorable for the nine-month period ended September 30, 2020 compared to the corresponding 2019 period primarily due to the absence of the $1.5 million gain on the sale of a business that occurred in the second quarter of 2019 and a gain of $0.7 million recognized for a change in estimate of the contingent purchase price of the PCC acquisition in the first nine months of 2019. Additionally, 2020 included higher foreign currency losses recognized on the revaluation of cash, trade payables and receivables and intercompany loans denominated in currencies other than the functional currencies of the Company's subsidiaries.





40



Income Taxes

TheFor the three-month period ended September 30, 2020, the Company's effective tax rate was 16.6% compared to an effective tax rate of 35.1% and 25.1% for the quartersthree-month period ended September 30, 2019 and 2018, respectively. The Company's2019. For the three months ended September 30, 2020, the rate was negatively impacted by valuation allowance activity of $2.0 million, offset by a state tax benefit of $0.8 million. resulting in a lower effective tax rate forwhen in a pre-tax loss position. For the three months ended September 30, 2019, the effective tax rate was negatively impacted by losses atin jurisdictions in which no tax benefit can be recognized.

For the nine-month period ended September 30, 2020, the Company's effective tax rate was 6.3% compared to an effective tax rate of 97.0% for the nine-month period ended September 30, 2019. For the nine months ended September 30, 2020, the Company had a pre-tax loss primarily resulting from impairment charges of $61.1 million. The impairment charges significantly impacted the Company's effective tax rate because $48.7 million of the impairment charges related to non-deductible goodwill, resulting in a low effective tax rate for the quarternine months ended September 30, 20182020 when in a pre-tax loss position. Additionally, the effective rate was primarilynegatively impacted by the provisional one-time mandatory repatriation of foreign earnings tax and non-deductible transaction costs as a result of the Interface Performance Materials acquisition, partially offset by a tax benefit from valuation allowance release.

activity of $2.7 million. For the nine monthsnine-month period ended September 30, 2019, the Company recorded a tax benefit of $5.5 million compared to tax expense of $5.9 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2018. The tax benefit wasprimarily driven by $10.5 million of tax benefit related to the pension plan settlement and resulted in an effective tax rate for the nine months ended September 30, 2019 of 97.0%. This is compared to an effective tax rate of 17.5% for the nine months ended September 30, 2018.settlement. Excluding the tax benefit of the pension plan settlement, the Company's effective tax rate for the nine months ended September 30, 2019 was 25.2%. This rate was negatively impacted by $1.8 million from losses atin jurisdictions in which no tax benefit can be recognized, partially offset by the Company's geographical mix of earnings.

The Company and its subsidiaries file a consolidated federal income tax return, as well as returns required by various state and foreign jurisdictions. In the normal course of business, the Company is subject to examination by taxing authorities, including such major jurisdictions as the United States, Canada, China, France, Germany, China,Hong Kong, India, the Netherlands, and the United Kingdom, Canada and the Netherlands.Kingdom. With few exceptions, the Company is no longer subject to U.S. federal examinations for years before 2015,2016, state and local examinations for years before 2013,2015, and non-U.S. income tax examinations for years before 2003.2013.

The Company’s effective tax rates in future periods could be affected by an increase or decrease in earnings in countries where tax rates differ from the United States federal tax rate, the relative impact of permanent tax adjustments on earnings from domestic operations, changes in net deferred tax asset valuation allowances, including valuation allowances on loss carryforwards in which no tax benefit can be recognized, stock vesting, pension plan terminations, the completion of acquisitions or divestitures, changes in tax rates or tax laws and the completion of ongoing tax planning strategies and audits.


On July 20, 2020, the U.S. Treasury Department and IRS released T.D. 9902 final regulations for publication in the Federal Register related to the global intangible low-taxed income (“GILTI”) high-tax exception. The final regulations largely adopt the framework of the 2019 proposed regulations, with certain key departures. The most significant departures are that an election to apply the GILTI high-tax exception may be made annually instead of once every five years, and that the calculation is made with respect to each “tested unit” of a controlled foreign corporation, rather than on a qualified business unit by qualified business unit basis. The company has evaluated the final regulations and included the impacts of these changes in the Company’s third quarter financial statements.






















41




Segment Results
 
The following tables present segment net sales informationand operating income for the keyprimary product and service groups included within each operating segment as well as other products and services and operating income by segment,categories for the quarterthree-month and nine-month periods ended September 30, 2019 compared with the quarter ended September 30, 20182020 and the nine months ended September 30, 2019, compared with the nine months ended September 30, 2018:respectively.

Net sales by segment:

 Quarter EndedFor the Three Months Ended  
September 30,
For the Nine Months Ended  
September 30,
In thousands Q3-19 Q3-18 Dollar ChangeIn thousands2020201920202019
Performance Materials Segment (1):      
Performance Materials Segment:Performance Materials Segment:
Filtration $22,427
 $22,643
 $(216)Filtration$30,899 $22,427 $86,422 $71,093 
Sealing and Advanced Solutions 37,573
 19,077
 18,496
Sealing and Advanced Solutions36,918 37,573 105,088 118,589 
Performance Materials Segment net sales 60,000
 41,720
 18,280
Performance Materials Segment net sales67,817 60,000 191,510 189,682 
      
Technical Nonwovens Segment (2):      
Technical Nonwovens Segment (1):Technical Nonwovens Segment (1):
Industrial Filtration 32,935
 40,945
 (8,010)Industrial Filtration29,643 32,935 90,425 114,005 
Advanced Materials (3) 30,977
 32,126
 (1,149)
Advanced Materials (2)Advanced Materials (2)28,866 30,977 77,494 84,591 
Technical Nonwovens Segment net sales 63,912
 73,071
 (9,159)Technical Nonwovens Segment net sales58,509 63,912 167,919 198,596 
      
Thermal Acoustical Solutions Segment:      Thermal Acoustical Solutions Segment:
Parts 80,309
 77,723
 2,586
Parts79,687 80,309 189,456 250,591 
Tooling 7,617
 10,488
 (2,871)Tooling5,836 7,617 17,276 24,920 
Thermal Acoustical Solutions Segment net sales 87,926
 88,211
 (285)Thermal Acoustical Solutions Segment net sales85,523 87,926 206,732 275,511 
Eliminations and Other (3) (6,564) (5,116) (1,448)
Eliminations and Other (2) Eliminations and Other (2)(4,764)(6,564)(12,389)(19,679)
Consolidated Net Sales $205,274
 $197,886
 $7,388
Consolidated Net Sales$207,085 $205,274 $553,772 $644,110 
  Nine Months Ended
In thousands YTD-19 YTD-18 Dollar Change
Performance Materials Segment (1):      
Filtration $71,093
 $68,846
 $2,247
Sealing and Advanced Solutions 118,589
 34,801
 83,788
Performance Materials Segment net sales 189,682
 103,647
 86,035
       
Technical Nonwovens Segment (2):      
Industrial Filtration 114,005
 120,346
 (6,341)
Advanced Materials (3) 84,591
 91,978
 (7,387)
Technical Nonwovens Segment net sales 198,596
 212,324
 (13,728)
       
Thermal Acoustical Solutions Segment:      
Parts 250,591
 248,764
 1,827
Tooling 24,920
 31,053
 (6,133)
Thermal Acoustical Solutions Segment net sales 275,511
 279,817
 (4,306)
     Eliminations and Other (3) (19,679) (19,829) 150
Consolidated Net Sales $644,110
 $575,959
 $68,151









Operating income (loss) by segment:

For the Three Months Ended  
September 30,
For the Nine Months Ended  
September 30,
In thousands2020201920202019
Performance Materials (3)$(6,759)$712 $(58,257)$5,474 
Technical Nonwovens (1),(2),(4)5,061 7,165 15,558 19,743 
Thermal Acoustical Solutions1,174 5,022 517 21,870 
Corporate Office Expenses(8,757)(5,452)(24,413)(17,411)
Consolidated Operating Income$(9,281)$7,447 $(66,595)$29,676 

(1)The Technical Nonwovens segment includes the results of Geosol through the date of disposition of May 9, 2019.
(2)Included in the Technical Nonwovens segment and Eliminations and Other is the following:
$3.9 million and $4.3 million of intercompany sales to the Thermal Acoustical Solutions segment for the three-month periods ended September 30, 2020 and 2019, respectively.
$10.2 million and $13.6 million of intercompany sales to the Thermal Acoustical Solutions segment for the nine-month periods ended September 30, 2020 and 2019, respectively.
(3)Included in the Performance Materials segment is the following:
$61.1 million of impairment charges related to goodwill and other long-lived assets for the nine-month period ended September 30, 2020.
$14.8 million restructuring charges for the three and nine-month periods ending September 30, 2020.
$4.0 million and $4.1 million of intangible assets amortization for the three-month periods ended September 30, 2020 and 2019, respectively.
$11.9 million and $12.2 million of intangible assets amortization for the nine-month periods ended September 30, 2020 and 2019, respectively.

42



  Quarter Ended
  Q3-19 Q3-18  
In thousands Operating Income Operating Margin % Operating Income Operating Margin % Dollar Change
Performance Materials (1) $712
 1.2% $1,753
 4.2% $(1,041)
Technical Nonwovens (2) 7,165
 11.2% 6,271
 8.6% 894
Thermal Acoustical Solutions 5,022
 5.7% 7,923
 9.0% (2,901)
Corporate Office Expenses (5,452)   (6,214)   762
Consolidated Operating Income $7,447
 3.6% $9,733
 4.9% $(2,286)
(4)Included in the Technical Nonwovens segment is the following:
$1.2 million and $1.3 million of intangible assets amortization for the three-month periods ended September 30, 2020 and 2019, respectively.
  Nine Months Ended
  YTD-19 YTD-18  
In thousands Operating Income Operating Margin % Operating Income Operating Margin % Dollar Change
Performance Materials (1) $5,474
 2.9% $8,043
 7.8% $(2,569)
Technical Nonwovens (2) 19,743
 9.9% 17,395
 8.2% 2,348
Thermal Acoustical Solutions 21,870
 7.9% 29,357
 10.5% (7,487)
Corporate Office Expenses (17,411)   (18,777)   1,366
Consolidated Operating Income $29,676
 4.6% $36,018
 6.3% $(6,342)
$3.5 million and $3.8 million of intangible assets amortization for the nine-month periods ended September 30, 2020 and 2019, respectively.

(1)The Performance Materials segment reports results of Interface and PCC for the period following the date of acquisitions of August 31, 2018 and July 12, 2018, respectively, and included $3.1 million and $11.2 million of incremental intangible assets amortization for the quarter and nine months ended September 30, 2019, respectively.
(2)The Technical Nonwovens segment reports the results of Geosol through the date of disposition of May 9, 2019.
(3)Included in the Technical Nonwovens segment and Eliminations and Other is $4.3 million in intercompany sales to the Thermal Acoustical Solutions segment for the quarters ended September 30, 2019 and 2018, and $13.6 million and $17.2 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2019 and 2018, respectively.

Performance Materials

Segment net sales increased $18.3$7.8 million in the third quarter of 20192020 compared to the third quarter of 2018.2019. The increase was dueprimarily driven by higher net sales in filtration of $8.5 million as demand increased in the air filtration market for face mask media in response to the Interface acquisition which contributed incrementalCOVID-19 pandemic. This increase was partially offset by lower sealing and advanced solutions net sales of $18.6$0.7 million as these products partially serve the automotive industry and were impacted by lower demand as automotive customers continued to ramp-up production following shutdowns in the first half of 2020 related to COVID-19. Foreign currency translation positively impacted segment net sales by $0.9 million, or 1.6%.

The Performance Materials segment reported an operating loss of ($6.8) million in the third quarter of 2020, compared to operating income of $0.7 million in the third quarter of 2019. The decrease in operating income of $7.5 million was primarily driven by segment restructuring charges of $14.8 million in the third quarter of 2020. This decrease was partially offset by an improvement in segment gross margin of 780 basis points, primarily related to favorable product mix from increased demand for face mask media, combined with lower material commodity and production costs. Additionally, selling, product development and general administrative expenses decreased $0.3 million, or 280 basis points as a percent of segment net sales, primarily driven by lower travel expenses of $0.4 million, lower salaries of $0.2 million, lower bad debt expense of $0.2 million, and reduced other general administrative costs of $0.1 million. These decreases were partially offset by increased accrued cash incentive compensation of $0.6 million.

Segment net sales increased $1.8 million for the nine-month period ended September 30, 2020 compared to the corresponding period in 2019. The increase was driven by the drivers noted above. Foreign currency translation had a negativemarginal impact on segment net sales in the first nine months of $0.62020 compared to the first nine months of 2019.

The Performance Materials segment reported an operating loss of ($58.3) million for the nine-month period ended September 30, 2020, compared to operating income of $5.5 million for the corresponding 2019 period. The decrease in operating income of $63.7 million was primarily driven by goodwill and other long-lived asset impairment charges of $61.1 million in the first quarter of 2020 and segment restructuring charges of $14.8 million in the third quarter of 2020. This decrease was partially offset by an improvement in segment gross margin of 460 basis points, primarily due to favorable product mix driven by increased demand for face mask media, lower material commodity and production costs, lower fixed overhead costs from savings driven by the fourth quarter 2019 reduction-in-force program, and lower depreciation expense related to the asset-write off in one of the segment's European plants in the first quarter of 2020. Additionally, selling, product development and general administrative expenses decreased $2.9 million, or 1.4%170 basis points as a percent of segment net sales, primarily driven by decreased travel, consulting, and salaries expenses, partially offset by increased accrued cash incentive compensation.

Technical Nonwovens

Segment net sales decreased $5.4 million, or 8.5%, in the third quarter of 20192020 compared to the third quarter of 2018. Remaining Performance Materials2019. Industrial filtration net sales decreased $0.3$3.3 million, as decreasedor 10.0%, driven by soft industrial end markets, primarily air filtration, sales in North America were partially offsetand Europe, as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. Advanced materials net sales decreased $2.1 million, or 6.8%, in the third quarter of 2020 compared to the third quarter of 2019, driven primarily by increasedlower geosynthetic product demand in Europe.Canada. Foreign currency translation positively impacted segment net sales by $0.8 million, or 1.2%.

The Performance MaterialsTechnical Nonwovens segment reported operating income of $0.7$5.1 million, or 1.2%8.6% of segment net sales, in the third quarter of 2019,2020, compared to operating income of $1.8$7.2 million, or 4.2%11.2% of net segment sales, in the third quarter of 2018. In the third quarter2019. The decrease in operating income of 2019, increased intangible asset amortization of $3.1$2.1 million from the Interface acquisition negatively impactedwas primarily driven by lower sales adversely impacting operating margin by 520260 basis points while the absence of a $1.4 million purchase accounting adjustment to cost of sales related to inventory step-uppoints. The decrease in the third quarter of 2018 positively impacted operating margin was primarily driven by 230 basis points. Remaining Performance Materials businesses reported relatively flat operating margina decrease in the third quarter of 2019 compared to the third quarter of 2018 as lower selling, product development and administrative expenses of 50 basis points as a percentage of net sales was almost entirely offset by lower gross margin of 40 basis points. Reduced gross margin included 50180 basis points, of start-up costs associated with a newprimarily related to reduced customer pricing, unfavorable product linemix, and increasedunfavorable absorption on overhead costs, partially offset by lower material commodity and productivity costs. Selling, product development and general administrative expenses as a percentage of net sales were flat with prior year with an increase in compensation costs offset by lower due to decreased severance costs and accrued cash incentive compensation expense in the third quarter of 2019 compared to the third quarter of 2018.travel costs.

Segment net sales increased $86.0decreased $30.7 million, or 15.4%, in the first nine months of 20192020 compared to the first nine months of 2018. The increase was primarily due to the Interface acquisition which contributed incremental net sales of $84.2 million in the first nine months of 2019. Foreign currency translation had a negative impact on segment net sales of $2.2$1.3 million, or 2.1%0.7%, in the first nine months of 20192020 compared to the first nine months of 2018. Remaining Performance Materials net sales increased $1.8 million, primarily related to increased air filtration salescorresponding period in North America, and to a lesser extent in Europe.




The Performance Materials segment reported operating income of $5.5 million, or 2.9% of net sales, in the first nine months of 2019, compared to operating income of $8.0 million, or 7.8% of net sales, in the first nine months of 2018. Increased intangible asset amortization of $11.2 million from the Interface acquisition resulted in a reduction of 590 basis points of operating margin in the first nine months of 2019, but was partially offset by the absence of a $1.4 million, or 70 basis points, purchase accounting adjustment to cost of sales related to inventory step-up in the third quarter of 2018. Remaining Performance Materials businesses reported a reduction in operating margin of 100 basis points, primarily due to lower gross margin of 270 basis points. Lower gross margin was driven by 90 basis points of start-up costs associated with a new product line, under absorption of fixed costs, labor inefficiencies and unfavorable product mix, which was partially offset by a decrease in selling, product development and administrative expenses of 180 basis points as a percentage of net sales, primarily related to decreased accrued cash incentive compensation expense and reduced severance and travel costs.

Technical Nonwovens

Segment net sales decreased $9.2 million, or 12.5%, in the third quarter of 2019 compared to the third quarter of 2018. Foreign currency translation had a negative impact on segment net sales of $1.3 million, or 1.8%, in the third quarter of 2019 compared to the third quarter of 2018.2019. Industrial filtration net sales decreased $8.0$23.6 million, or 19.6%20.7%, primarily driven by decreased demand in China and tosoft global industrial end markets across all regions as a lesser extent, Europe,result of the COVID-19 pandemic, coupled with the negative impact
43



of foreign currency. Advanced materials net sales decreased $1.1$7.1 million, or 3.6%8.4%, driven by $2.9$3.4 million less in lower sales of automotive rolled-good material due to the divestiture of the Geosol businessplant ramp-downs in the second quarterfirst half of 2019, partially offset2020 caused by increasedCOVID-19, coupled with lower geosynthetic product salesdemand in Canada.

The Technical Nonwovens segment reported operating income of $7.2$15.6 million, or 11.2%9.3% of net sales, in the third quarter of 2019, compared to $6.3 million, or 8.6% of net sales, in the third quarter of 2018. The increase in operating income of $0.9 million and operating margin of 260 basis points was primarily attributable to higher gross margin of 240 basis points. Gross margin was favorably impacted by reduced restructuring costs of $0.3 million, or 50 basis points, in the third quarter of 2019 compared to the third quarter of 2018. Also, increased pricing, favorable automotive product mix and favorable absorption of fixed costs, primarily related to cost savings from segment restructuring activities, contributed to increased gross margin. Additionally contributing to increased operating margin was a reduction in selling, product development and administrative expenses of $1.0 million, or 20 basis points as a percentage of net sales, in the third quarter of 2019 compared to the third quarter of 2018. The decrease was primarily related to lower salaries and benefits expense of $0.5 million, coupled with reduced restructuring costs and lower intangibles amortization expense in the third quarter of 2019 compared to the third quarter of 2018.

Segment net sales decreased $13.7 million, or 6.5%, in the first nine months of 2019 compared to the first nine months of 2018. Foreign currency translation had a negative impact on segment net sales of $6.8 million, or 3.2%, in the first nine months of 2019 compared to the first nine months of 2018. Advanced materials sales decreased $7.4 million, or 8.0%, primarily driven by $3.5 million less sales of automotive rolled-good material for use in the Thermal Acoustical Solutions segment manufacturing process and $4.9 million less of sales due to the divestiture of the Geosol business in the second quarter of 2019. Additionally, industrial filtration net sales decreased $6.3 million, or 5.3%, primarily driven by the negative impact of foreign currency translation of $4.5 million and additionally, weakness in the Asia markets that are being impacted by uncertainties around trade regulations in the first nine months of 2019 compared to the first nine months of 2018. This decrease in industrial filtration net sales was partially offset by increased demand in North America.

The Technical Nonwovens segment reported operating income of $19.7 million, or 9.9% of net sales, in the first nine months of 2019,2020, compared to $17.4$19.7 million, or 8.2%9.9% of segment net sales, in the first nine months of 2018.2019. The increasedecrease in operating income of $2.3$4.2 million andwas driven by lower sales volume due to the COVID-19 pandemic, resulting in operating margin erosion of 17060 basis pointspoints. The decrease in operating margin was attributable to improved gross margin of 120 basis points and a reduction inprimarily driven by higher selling, product development and general administrative expenses of $2.4 million, or 5070 basis points, as a percentage of segment net sales, partially offset by improved gross margin of 10 basis points, as a percentage of segment sales. GrossThe gross margin improvement was favorably impactedprimarily driven by reduced restructuringlower raw material commodity costs of $1.2 million, or 60 basis points. Favorable absorption of fixed costs, primarilyand favorable product mix in North America related to cost savings from segment restructuring activities, additionally contributed to increased gross margin. Also, increased customer pricing,personal protective equipment, partially offset by higher aramid raw material costs, led to improved gross margin in the first nine months of 2019 compared to the first nine months of 2018.labor and variable overhead costs. The decreaseincrease in selling, product development and general administrative expenses, as a percentage of segment net sales, was primarily relateddue to decreased salaries and benefits of $1.1the $30.7 million coupled with lower amortization of intangibles expense and reduced stock compensation expense,reduction in sales, but was partially offset by high accrued cash incentive compensationdecreased expenses of $1.9 million, primarily driven by lower salaries expenses of $0.8 million, a decrease in travel expenses of $0.6 million, lower intangible amortization expense in the first nine months of 2019 compared to the first nine months$0.3 million, and lower other general administrative costs of 2018.$0.2 million.

Thermal Acoustical Solutions
 
Segment net sales decreased $0.3$2.4 million, or 0.3%2.7%, in the third quarter of 20192020 compared to the third quarter of 2018. The2019. This decrease was relatedprimarily due to decreasedlower tooling sales of $2.9$1.8 million and, to a lesser extent, lower net parts sales of $0.6 million, as the Company continues to ramp-up production in line with it's large OEM customers ramp-up after plant closures in the first half of 2020 due to the timing of new platform launches, primarily in Europe and China, coupled with the negative impact of foreignCOVID-19 pandemic. Foreign currency translation of $1.2 million, or 1.4%, on totalfavorably impacted segment net sales in the third quarter of 2019 compared to the third quarter of 2018. This decrease was partially offset by increased parts sales of $2.6 million,



or 3.3%, or, when excluding foreign currency translation, $3.7$1.3 million, or 4.8%1.5%. Parts sales increased across all regions in the segment, but were primarily led by Europe and North America.

The Thermal Acoustical Solutions segment reported operating income of $5.0$1.2 million, or 5.7%1.4% of segment net sales, in the third quarter of 2019,2020, compared to operating income of $7.9$5.0 million, or 9.0%5.7% of segment net sales, in the third quarter of 2018.2019. The decrease in operating income of $2.9 million and operating margin of 330 basis points was due to lower gross margin of 360 basis points, partially offset by lower selling, product development and administrative expenses. Labor and variable overhead costs increased by approximately 420 basis points, primarily related to increased headcount and temporary labor, particularly in North America and Europe, coupled with increased outsourcing and expedited freight expenses caused by equipment inefficiencies. This decrease to gross margin was partially offset by favorable raw material commodity costs in the third quarter of 2019 compared to the third quarter of 2018, nearly offset by lower customer pricing. Selling, product development and administrative expenses decreased $0.3$3.8 million, or 30430 basis points, as a percentage of net sales. This decreasesales, was primarily due to the degradation of gross margin of 350 basis points driven by operating inefficiencies due to work force shortages directly related to decreased stockan increase in COVID-19 cases, resulting in higher expedited freight and temporary labor costs as the Company continued to ramp-up production at its facility in North America to meet its large OEM customers' demand. Operating income was further impacted by an increase in selling, product development and administrative expenses of $0.5 million for higher compensation expense of $0.4 million,and consulting expenses, partially offset by increased accrued cash incentive compensation expense of $0.2 million in the third quarter of 2019 compared to the third quarter of 2018.lower other general administrative costs.

Segment net sales decreased $4.3$68.8 million, or 1.5%25.0%, for the nine-month period ended September 30, 2020 compared to the corresponding 2019 period. This decrease was primarily due to lower net parts sales of $61.1 million, driven by temporary plant ramp-downs across all of its operations in the first nine monthshalf of 20192020 as the Company's large OEM customers closed plants due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Additionally, net tooling sales decreased $7.6 million compared to the first nine months of 2018. The decrease was related to decreased tooling sales of $6.1 million, or 19.7%, due to the timing of new platform launches, in North America and Europe, coupled with the negative impact of foreigncorresponding 2019 period. Foreign currency translation of $5.5 million, or 2.0%,had a marginal impact on total segment net sales. Parts net sales increased $1.8 million, or 0.7%, or when excluding foreign currency translation, $6.6 million, or 2.6%, primarily due to improved demand in North America and relatively stable demand in Europe and Asia.

The Thermal Acoustical Solutions segment reported operating income of $0.5 million, or 0.3% of segment net sales, for the nine-month period ended September 30, 2020 compared to operating income of $21.9 million, or 7.9% of segment net sales, infor the first nine months ofcorresponding 2019 compared to operating income of $29.4 million, or 10.5% of net sales, in the first nine months of 2018.period. The decrease in operating income of $7.5$21.4 million and operating margin of 260 basis points was primarily due to lowerthe degradation of gross margin of 260 basis points. Labor costs increaseddriven by approximately 120 basis points, primarily relatedthe significant reduction in segment net sales due to increased headcount and temporary labor, particularlythe COVID-19 pandemic in addition to the operating inefficiencies in North America and Europe to meet customer demand. Additionally, gross margin was reduced by approximately 130 basis points related to overhead costs, primarily due to increased outsourcing and expedited freight expenses caused by equipment and other inefficienciesthat occurred in Europe and North America to meet customer delivery requirements. Finally, unfavorable pricing of approximately 60 basis points and increased raw material costs of approximately 50 basis points, primarily due to less scrap recovery from reduced aluminum index pricing, was partially offset by favorable raw material commodity costs of approximately 70 basis points.the third quarter as discussed above. Selling, product development and administrative expenses decreased $0.5 million, primarily related to lower stock compensation expense, but were relatively flat$0.7 million; however, as a percentage of net sales, in the first nine months of 2019 comparedincreased due to the first nine monthssignificant sales volume reduction. The reduction in selling, product development and administrative costs was driven by lower employee-related costs and travel expenses, partially offset by an increase in bad debt expense of 2018.$0.3 million and higher consulting expenses of $0.2 million.

Corporate Office Expenses
 
Corporate office expenses for the third quarter of 2019three-month period ended September 30, 2020 were $5.5$8.8 million, compared to $6.2$5.5 million in the corresponding period in 2019. The increase of $3.3 million was primarily due to an increase in compensation-related costs of $1.9 million, higher consulting costs of $0.5 million and an increase in other general administrative expenses of $0.9 million in the third quarter of 2018. The decrease of $0.7 million was primarily due to decreased strategic initiatives expenses of $1.5 million primarily related to the Interface acquisition, partially offset by higher accrued cash incentive compensation and stock compensation expense of $0.7 million in the third quarter of 20192020 compared to the third quarter of 2018.2019.

Corporate office expenses for the first nine months of 2019nine-month period ended September 30, 2020 were $17.4$24.4 million, compared to $18.8$17.4 million in the first nine monthscorresponding period in 2019. The increase of 2018. The decrease of $1.4$7.0 million was primarily due to decreasedan increase in corporate strategic
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initiatives expenses of $1.6$1.9 million, primarily related to the Interface acquisition and lower salaries and benefits of $0.6 million, partially offset by increased professional serviceshigher compensation-related costs of $0.7$2.9 million, an increase in the first nine monthsstock compensation expense of 2019 compared to the first nine months$0.5 million and higher other general administrative expenses of 2018.$1.7.

Liquidity and Capital Resources
 
The Company assesses its liquidity in terms of its ability to generate cash to fund operating, investing and financing activities. The principal source of liquidity is operating cash flows.flows and borrowings under the Credit Facility. In addition to operating cash flows, other significant factors that affect the overall management of liquidity include capital expenditures, investments in businesses, strategic transactions, income tax payments, debt service payments, outcomes of contingencies, foreign currency exchange rates and employee benefit plan funding. The Company manages worldwide cash requirements by considering available funds among domestic and foreign subsidiaries. The Company expects to finance its 20192020 operating cashactivities and capital spending requirements from existing cash balances, cash provided by operating activities and through borrowings under the Amended Credit Facility, as needed.

In December 2019, the Company entered into two arrangements with a banking institution to sell trade accounts receivable balances for select customers. In the three-month and nine-month periods ended September 30, 2020, under both programs, the Company sold $21.3 million and $64.3 million, respectively, in trade receivable balances, received $59.1 million in total cash under the programs.  The Company expects to receive the remainder, net of fees, in the fourth quarter of 2020. See “Transfer of Financial Assets” in Note 1, “Basis of Financial Statement Presentation” for additional information.

In June 2020, the Company reached an agreement with the U.S. Government that provides funding to cover a portion of the cost to install two new production lines for the production of meltblown material for N95 respirator, surgical and medical masks and for other technical resources. The Company will receive monthly payments in accordance with the agreement to fund up to $13.5 million. Additionally, the Company has a tentative agreement with the French Government to fund up to 30% of the Company’s investment in its facility in France supporting the European Union face mask production and air filter production.
 
At September 30, 2019,2020, the Company held $48.9$122.0 million in cash and cash equivalents, including $12.8$62.8 million in the U.S. with the remaining held by foreign subsidiaries.subsidiaries and $283.5 million of borrowings outstanding and standby letters of credit outstanding of $1.8 million.

The Company’s continued access to sources of liquidity depends on multiple factors, including global economic conditions, the COVID-19 pandemic’s effects on its customers and their production rates, the condition of global financial markets, the availability of sufficient amounts of financing, its operating performance and its credit ratings. The Company borrowed $20 million under the revolver portion of its Facility during the first quarter of 2020, in order to increase its cash position and preserve financial flexibility in light of the impact of the COVID-19 outbreak on its results of operations and liquidity. The Company is taking further actions to improve its liquidity, including capital expenditure and operating expense reductions and increased management and oversight of its working capital.

Interest rates on amounts outstanding under the Credit Agreement are variable based on LIBOR. The LIBOR benchmark has been the subject of national, international, and other regulatory guidance and proposals for reform. In July 2017, the U.K. Financial Conduct Authority announced that it intends to stop persuading or compelling banks to submit rates for calculation of LIBOR after 2021. These reforms may cause LIBOR to perform differently than in the past, and LIBOR may ultimately cease to exist after 2021. Alternative, benchmark rate(s) may replace LIBOR and could affect the Company's debt securities, derivative instruments, receivables, debt payments and receipts. At this time, it is not possible to predict the effect of any changes to LIBOR, any phase out of LIBOR or any establishment of alternative benchmark rates. Any new benchmark rate will likely not replicate LIBOR exactly, which could impact the Company's contracts that terminate after 2021. There is uncertainty about how applicable law, the courts or the Company will address the replacement of LIBOR with alternative rates on variable rate retail loan contracts and other contracts that do not include alternative rate fallback provisions. In addition, any changes to benchmark rates may have an uncertain impact on the Company's cost of funds and access to the capital markets, which could impact liquidity, financial position or results of operations.

The Company continues to assess strategic initiatives that could result in costs being incurred in future quarters related to restructuring activities.








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Financing Arrangements

2020 Amendment to the 2018 Credit Agreement

On August 31, 2018, the Company amended and restated its $175 million senior secured revolving credit agreement ("Amended2018 Credit Agreement") thatwhich increased the available borrowing from $175 million to $450 million, added three additional lenders and extended the maturity date from July 7, 2021 to August 31, 2023.

UnderOn May 11, 2020, the termsCompany amended its 2018 Credit Agreement ("2020 Amendment") which, among other changes, modified certain financial covenants contained in the 2018 Credit Agreement, decreased the term loan facility from $200 million to $144 million and reduced the revolving credit facility from $250 million to $170 million. On October 14, 2020, the Company amended its 2018 Credit Agreement to allow certain restructuring and other charges, as defined by the amendment, to be excluded from EBITDA in the calculation of the Amended Credit Agreement, the lenders are providing up to a $450 million credit facility (the “Facility”) to the Company, under which the lenders provided a term loan commitment of $200 millionCompany's financial covenants. See Note 6, “Long-term Debt and revolving loans to orFinancing Arrangements” for the benefit of the Company and its subsidiaries of up to $250 million. The Facility may be increased by an aggregate amount not to exceed $150 million through an accordion feature, subject to specified conditions. The Facility is secured by substantially all of the assets of the Company.additional information.

Interest is charged on borrowings at the Company’s option of either: (i) Base Rate plus the Applicable Rate, or (ii) the Eurodollar Rate plus the Applicable Rate. The Base Rate is a fluctuating rate equal to the highest of (a) the federal funds rate plus 0.50%, (b) the prime rate as set by Bank of America, and (c) the Eurocurrency Rate plus 1.00%. The Eurocurrency Rate means (i) if denominated in LIBOR quoted currency, a fluctuating LIBOR per annum rate equal to the London Interbank Offered Rate; (ii) if denominated in Canadian Dollars, the rate per annum equal to the Canadian Dollar Offered Rate; or (iii) the rate per annum as designated with respect to such alternative currency at the time such alternative currency is approved by the Lenders. The Applicable Rate is determined based on the Company’s Consolidated Leverage Ratio (as defined in the Amended Credit Agreement). The Applicable Rate added to the Base Rate Committed Loans ranges from 0.00% to 1.25%, and the Applicable Rate added to Eurocurrency Rate Committed Loans and Letters of Credit ranges from 0.75% to 2.00%. The Company pays a quarterly fee ranging from 0.15% to 0.275% on the unused portion of the revolving commitment. The Company has entered into multiplean interest rate swapsswap in place to convert a portion of the Company's one-month LIBOR-based borrowings from a variable rate to a fixed rate.See Note 7.7, "Derivatives" for additional information.

The Company is permitted to prepay termDiscussion and revolving borrowings in whole or in part at any time without premium or penalty, subject to certain minimum payment requirements, and the Company is generally permitted to irrevocably cancel unutilized portionsAnalysis of the revolving commitments under the Amended Credit Agreement. The Company is required to repay the term commitment in an amount of $2.5 million per quarter beginning with the quarter ending December 31, 2018 through the quarter ending June 30, 2023.Cash Flows

The Amended Credit Agreement contains covenants required of the Company and its subsidiaries, including various affirmative and negative financial and operational covenants. The Company is required to meet certain quarterly financial covenants calculated from the four fiscal quarters most recently ended, including: (i) a minimum consolidated fixed charge coverage ratio, which requires that at the end of each fiscal quarter the ratio of (a) consolidated EBITDA to (b) the sum of consolidated interest charges, redemptions, non-financed maintenance capital expenditures, restricted payments and taxes paid, each as defined in the Amended Credit Agreement, may not be lower than 1.25 to 1.0; and (ii) a consolidated net leverage ratio, which requires that at the end of each fiscal quarter the ratio of consolidated funded indebtedness minus consolidated domestic cash to consolidated EBITDA, as defined in the Amended Credit Agreement, may not be greater than 3.5 to 1.0. The Company was in compliance with all covenants at September 30, 2019.

At September 30, 2019, the Company had borrowing availability of $110.1 million under the Facility, net of $287.0 million of borrowings outstanding and standby letters of credit outstanding of $1.9 million. The borrowings outstanding included a $149.0 million term loan, net of $0.4 million in debt issuance costs being amortized to interest expense over the debt maturity period.

In addition to the amounts outstanding under the Facility, the Company has various foreign credit facilities totaling approximately $6.8 million. At September 30, 2019, the Company's foreign subsidiaries had $0.1 million in borrowings outstanding as well as $2.3 million in standby letters of credit outstanding.

In November 2018, the Company entered into a five year interest rate swap agreement with a bank which converts the interest on a notional $139.0 million of the Company's one-month LIBOR-based borrowings under its Amended Credit Agreement from a variable rate, plus the borrowing spread, to a fixed rate of 3.09% plus the borrowing spread. The notional amount reduces quarterly by fluctuating amounts through August 2023. In April 2017, the Company entered into a three-year interest rate swap agreement with a bank which converts the interest on a notional $60.0 million of the Company's one-month LIBOR-based borrowings under its Amended Credit Agreement from a variable rate, plus the borrowing spread, to a fixed rate of 1.58% plus the borrowing spread. The notional amount reduces quarterly by $5.0 million through March 31, 2020. These interest rate swap agreements were accounted for as cash flow hedges. Effectiveness of these derivative agreements are assessed quarterly by ensuring that the critical terms of the swaps continue to match the critical terms of the hedged debt.






Operating Cash Flows
 
Net cash provided by operating activities for the nine-month period ended September 30, 2020 was $74.6 million compared with $63.0 million in the corresponding period in 2019. In the first nine months of 2019 was $63.02020, net loss and non-cash adjustments were $25.6 million compared with $14.5to $49.9 million in the first nine months of 2018. In the first nine months of 2019, net loss and non-cash adjustments were $49.9 million compared to net income and non-cash adjustments of $55.1 million in the first nine months of 2018.2019. Since December 31, 2018,2019, net operating assets and liabilities decreased by $13.0$49.0 million, compared to $13.0 million during the first nine months of 2018 when net operating assets and liabilities increased $40.6 million fromcomparative nine-month period beginning December 31, 2017.2018. The decrease in working capital since December 31, 20182019 was primarily due to an increase of $13.4$28.4 million in accounts payable, $7.2 million in accrued payroll and aother compensation and an decrease of $10.5 million$10.1 in accounts receivable. This wasinventory, partially offset by increasesan increase in accounts receivable of $6.2 million in inventories and $7.1 million in other, net.$8.3 million. The increase in accounts payable was primarily driven by the timing of vendor payments, including capital expenditures within all segments of the Thermal Acoustical Solutions and Technical Nonwovens segments.Company. The decreaseincrease in accounts receivable was primarily due to lowerhigher net sales in the third quarter of 20192020 compared to the fourth quarter of 2018, as well as improved tooling collections within the Thermal/Acoustical segment. The increase in inventory was principally due to strategic purchases within the Technical Nonwovens segment to ensure sufficient levels of inventory to meet seasonal demands. The increase in other, net, was primarily driven by lower deferred revenue from reduced cash deposits by customers.2019.
 
Investing Cash Flows
 
In the first nine months ofnine-month periods ended September 30, 2020 and 2019, net cash used for investing activities was $23.8 million compared to $289.8 million in the first nine months of 2018. In the first nine months of 2019 and 2018, net cash used for investing activities consisted of capital expenditures of $20.5 and $27.2 million, and $20.1respectively. In the first nine months of 2020 net cash used for investing activities was partially offset by $4.3 million respectively. Capital spendingin cash inflows for 2019 is expected to be approximately $35 million to $40 million.collections of finance receivables under the Company’s receivable financing arrangements. In the first nine months of 2019, net cash used for investing activities included cash proceeds of $1.4 million from a final purchase price adjustment for the Interface acquisition less cash outflows of $0.5 million to fund an acquisition. The Company also received proceeds of $2.3 million from the divestiture of the Geosol business during the first nine monthssecond quarter of 2019. Investing activities in the first nine months of 2018 consisted of cash outflows of $268.4 million to fund the Interface acquisition, net of cash acquired of $5.2 million and cash outflows of $1.6 million to fund the PCC acquisition.

Financing Cash Flows

In the first nine months of 2019,nine-month period ended September 30, 2020, net cash provided by financing activities was $10.7 million compared to net cash used for financing activities wasof $38.2 million compared to $260.6 million in the first nine months of 2018.corresponding period in 2019. The Company made debt repayments of $9.5 million and $38.2 million in the first nine months of 2019.2020 and 2019, respectively. In the first nine months of 2018,2020, the Company borrowed $338.0$20.0 million from its Amended Credit Facility as a precautionary measure in light of which the uncertainty caused by COVID-19. The Company repaid $76.6held $0.2 million in outstanding borrowings underproceeds from servicing receivables owed to the previous facility, and used the remaining proceeds to fund the purchase of the Interface acquisition. In addition, during the first nine months of 2018, the Company acquired $0.8 millionbanking institution which was paid in company stock through its equity compensation plans and received $1.0 million from the exercise of stock options.October.
 
Critical Accounting Estimates
 
The preparation of the Company’s consolidated financial statements in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities as of the date of the financial statements and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting periods. Note 1, "Significant Accounting Policies" of the “Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements” and Critical Accounting Estimates in Item 7 of the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2018,2019, and the “Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements” of this report describe the significant accounting policies and critical accounting estimates used in the preparation of the consolidated financial statements. The Company’s management is required to make judgments and estimates about the effect of matters that are inherently uncertain. Actual results could differ from management’s estimates.
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AsDuring the three-month period ended March 31, 2020, the Company recorded a resultgoodwill impairment charge of $48.7 million, and a long-lived asset impairment charge of $12.4 million, both in the Performance Materials reporting unit. See Note 5, "Impairments of Goodwill and Other Long-Lived Assets", to the “Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements” of this report for additional discussion of the market changes experienced withinfacts and circumstances surrounding and critical estimates made regarding the automotive sector during 2018 and the significant decrease in the Company's stock price such that the net book value of the Company exceeded total market capitalization for the Company, an impairment analysis was performed in the fourth quarter of 2018 for the long-lived assets within the Thermal Acoustical Solutions segment, which is the segment most impacted by the automotive sector market changes. As a result of this impairment analysis, the Company concluded the asset groups were not impaired. During 2019, thecharges. The Company continues to monitor the recoverability of the long-lived assets within the Thermal Acoustical Solutions segment taking into consideration the Company's stock price in relation to book value, on-going financial results and automotive market conditions.
During the fourth quarter of 2019, the Company will perform its annual goodwill impairment analysis of the $143.5 million of goodwill in the Performance Materials segment and $52.1 million of goodwill in the Technical Nonwovens segment. The Company will consider its market capitalization, economic conditions in its markets, current year and projected future year financial results and other factors to complete the quantitative assessment utilizing both income and market approach valuations. An impairment

loss would be recognized if the fair value of a reporting unit is below carrying value. There are inherent uncertainties and management judgment required in this analysis.

There have been no other significant changes in the Company’s critical accounting estimates during the nine monthsnine-month period ended September 30, 2019.



2020.

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Item 3.Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures about Market Risk
 
Lydall’sThe Company’s limited market risk exposures relate to changes in foreign currency exchange rates and interest rates.
 
Foreign Currency Risk
 
The Company has operations in France, Germany, China, the United Kingdom, Canada, India and the Netherlands, in addition to the United States. As a result of this, the Company’s financial results are affected by factors such as changes in foreign currency exchange rates or economic conditions in the foreign markets where the Company manufactures and distributes its products. The Company’s currency exposure is to the US Dollar,U.S. dollar, the Euro, the Chinese Yuan, the British Pound Sterling, the Canadian Dollar, the Japanese Yen, the Indian Rupee and the Hong Kong Dollar. The Company’s foreign and domestic operations attempt to limit foreign currency exchange transaction risk by completing transactions in local functional currencies, whenever practicable. The Company may periodically enter into foreign currency forward exchange contracts to mitigate exposure to foreign currency volatility. In addition, the Company utilizes bank loans and other debt instruments throughout its operations. To mitigate foreign currency risk, such debt is denominated primarily in the functional currency of the operation maintaining the debt.

The Company also has exposure to fluctuations in currency risk on intercompany loans that the Company makes to certain of its subsidiaries. The Company may periodically enter into foreign currency forward contracts which are intended to offset the impact of foreign currency movements on the underlying intercompany loan obligations.
 
Interest Rate Risk

The Company’s interest rate exposure is most sensitive to fluctuations in interest rates in the United States and Europe, which impact interest paid on its debt. The Company has borrowings outstanding of $287.0$283.5 million from its Amended Credit Facility at September 30, 2019,2020, with variable rates of interest based generally on LIBOR. Increases in interest rates could therefore significantly increase the associated interest payments that the Company is required to make on this debt. From time to time, the Company may enter into interest rate swapswaps or other hedging agreements to manage interest rate risk.

In November 2018, the Company entered into a five year interest rate swap agreement with a bank which converts the interest on a notional $139.0 million of the Company's one-month LIBOR-based borrowings under its Amended2018 Credit Agreement from a variable rate, plus the borrowing spread, to a fixed rate of 3.09% plus the borrowing spread. The notional amount reduces quarterly by fluctuating amounts through August 2023. In April 2017, the Company entered into a three-year interest rate swap agreement with a bank which converts the interest on a notional $60.0 million of the Company's one-month LIBOR-based borrowings under its Amended Credit Agreement from a variable rate, plus the borrowing spread, to a fixed rate of 1.58% plus the borrowing spread. The notional amount reducesreduced quarterly by $5.0 million through March 31, 2020. These interest rate swap agreements were accounted for as cash flow hedges.2020 and is now settled. Effectiveness of thesethe remaining derivative agreements areagreement was assessed quarterly, or more frequently, if necessary, by ensuring that the critical terms of the swaps continueswap continues to match the critical terms of the hedged debt.debt in order to report gains or losses on the derivative instrument in other comprehensive income.

On May 11, 2020, the Company amended its 2018 Credit Agreement, see Note 6, "Long-term Debt and Financing Arrangements". The amendment included, among other modifications, the establishment of a floor on the base and Eurocurrency rate of 1%. As a result, the Company performed an assessment of the effectiveness of the interest rate swap agreement to determine if the critical terms of the interest rate swap agreement continues to match the critical terms of the debt. The Company concluded the interest rate swap agreement is no longer effective. See Note 7. "Derivatives" for more information.

The Company has assessed its exposure to changes in interest rates by analyzing the sensitivity to Lydall’sthe Company's earnings assuming various changes in market interest rates. Assuming a hypothetical increase of one percentage point in interest rates on the variable portion of the $287.0$283.5 million outstanding borrowings as of September 30, 2019,2020, the Company’s net income would decrease by an estimated $1.1$1.4 million over a twelve-month period.

Item 4.Controls and Procedures
 
Evaluation of Disclosure Controls and Procedures
 
The Company’s management, including the Company’s President and Chief Executive Officer (the “CEO”) and the Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer (the "CFO"), conducted an evaluation of the effectiveness of the design and operation of the Company’s disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Rule 13a-15(e) and Rule 15d-15(e) under the
48


Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”)). There are inherent limitations to the effectiveness of any system of disclosure controls and procedures, including the possibility of human error and the circumvention or overriding of the controls and procedures. Accordingly, even effective disclosure controls and procedures can only provide reasonable assurance of achieving their control objectives. The Company’s disclosure controls and procedures are designed to ensure that information required to be disclosed by the Company in the reports that it files or submits under 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 (the "SEC"), and that such information is accumulated and communicated to management of the Company, with the participation of its CEO and CFO, as appropriate to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosure. Based on that evaluation, the CEO and CFO

have concluded that the Company’s disclosure controls and procedures were effective as of September 30, 20192020 at the reasonable assurance level.

Changes in Internal Control Over Financial Reporting

On August 31, 2018, the Company completed the acquisition of Interface Performance Materials ("Interface"). Management considers this transaction to be material to the Company’s consolidated financial statements. The Company is currently in the process of evaluating the existing controls and procedures of Interface and integrating the business into our Section 404 compliance program under the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 (the “Act”) and the applicable rules and regulations under such Act. The Company will report on its assessment of the effectiveness of internal control over financial reporting of its consolidated operations (including the Interface business) within the time period provided by the Act and the applicable SEC rules and regulations concerning business combinations.
Subject to the foregoing, thereThere have not been any changes in the Company’s internal control over financial reporting (as defined in Rule 13a-15(f) and Rule 15d-15(f) under the Exchange Act) during the quarterthree-month period ended September 30, 20192020 that materially affected, or are reasonably likely to materially affect, the Company’s internal control over financial reporting.

The Company has not experienced any material impact to its internal control over financial reporting during the COVID-19 pandemic. Most of the Company’s corporate and non-production employees worked remotely during the period in which these financial statements were prepared due to the impact of COVID-19. The Company enhanced its oversight and monitoring during the financial close and reporting process, including higher awareness and monitoring of cybersecurity threats. Other than enhancing its oversight and monitoring processes, the Company did not alter or compromise its disclosure controls and procedures. The Company continues to monitor and assess the need to modify or enhance its disclosure controls to ensure disclosure controls and procedures continue to be effective.
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PART II.      OTHER INFORMATION
Item 1.Legal Proceedings
 
The Company is subject to legal proceedings, claims, investigations and inquiries that arise in the ordinary course of business such as, but not limited to, actions with respect to commercial, intellectual property, employment, personal injury, and environmental matters. The Company believes that it has meritorious defenses against the claims currently asserted against it and intends to defend them vigorously. While the outcome of litigation is inherently uncertain and the Company cannot be sure that it will prevail in any of the cases, subject to the matter referenced below, the Company is not aware of any matters pending that are expected to have a material adverse effect on the Company’s business, financial position, results of operations or cash flows.

In the fourth quarter of 2016, as part of a groundwater discharging permitting process, water samples collected from wells and process water basins at the Company’s Rochester New Hampshire manufacturing facility, within the Performance Materials segment, showed concentrations of Per and Polyfluorinated Substances (“PFAS”) in excess of state ambient groundwater quality standards. In January 2017, the Company received a notification from the State of New Hampshire Department of Environmental Services (“NHDES”) naming Lydall Performance Materials, Inc. a responsible party with respect to the discharge of regulated contaminants and, as such, is required to take action to investigate and remediate the impacts in accordance with standards established by the NHDES. The Company conducted a site investigation, the scope of which was reviewed by the NHDES, in order to assess the extent of potential soil and groundwater contamination and develop a remedial action. Based on input received from NHDES in March 2017 with regard to the scope of the site investigation, the Company recorded $0.2 million of expense. In 2018, the Company received a response from the NHDES to the site investigation report outlining proposed remedial actions. The Company recorded an additional $0.1 million of expense in 2018 associated with the expected costs to remediate the impacts of the discharge of regulated contaminants in accordance with standards established by the NHDES. During 2018 the environmental liability was fully reduced reflecting payments made to vendors, resulting in no balance at December 31, 2018. Additionally, the Company incurred $0.2 million of capital expenditures in 2018, in relation to the lining of the Company's fresh water lagoons. The site investigation isand remedial action plan are ongoing. The Company cannot be sure that costs will not exceed the current estimates until this matter is closed with the NHDES, nor that any future corrective action at this location would not have a material effect on the Company’s financial condition, results of operations or liquidity.cash flow.

In December 2018, the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (“NYDEC”) informed the Company that the newly acquired Interface site located at Hoosick Falls, NY will be the subject of an investigation in to the possibility of it being an inactive hazardous disposable waste site.  The letter specifically references perflourinated compounds or per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (“PFAS”)PFAS that have been detected in a nearby water supply, soil and/or surface water.  TheNotably, the PFAS contamination has been identified in the Hoosick Falls area for some time and other large manufacturers in the area have previously been identified as a source.  The Company will conductNYDEC approved a site investigationcharacterization plan in December 2019. The Company recorded expense of $0.3 million in the fourth quarter of 2019 the scope of which has been agreed upon with the NYDEC, in order to assess the extentas a result of the potential contaminationsite characterization plan preparation and develop a remedial action, if necessary.site characterization activities. Additional site characterization activities are planned for the fourth quarter of 2020. The Company does not know the scope or extent of its future obligations, if any, that may arise from the site investigation and therefore is unable to estimate the cost of any corrective action. Accordingly, the Company cannot assure that the costs of any future corrective at this location would not have a material effect on the Company's financial condition, results of operations or liquidity.cash flows.

Provisions for such matters are charged to expense when it is probable that a liability has been incurred and reasonable estimates of the liability can be made. Estimates of environmental liabilities are based on a variety of matters, including, but not limited to, the stage of investigation, the stage of the remedial design, evaluation of existing remediation technologies, and presently enacted laws and regulations. In future periods, a number of factors could significantly impact any estimates of environmental remediation costs.

Some of the Company’s OEM contracts in the Thermal Acoustical Solutions (“TAS”) segment contain provisions that require the Company to pay expedited freight if it fails or threatens to fail to deliver product timely and/or damages if the Company is the cause of production disruptions at customer facilities. Historically, the Company has paid expedited freight costs as needed to meet delivery obligations. In late third quarter 2020, as a result of labor shortages and operational inefficiencies directly related to COVID-19, TAS was unable to manufacture parts timely, resulting in customer production disruptions. Because of the unforeseen and unforeseeable nature of the COVID-19 pandemic, which is out of the Company’s control, in early October the Company invoked force majeure or commercial impracticability to certain customers as a legal excuse for delayed performance of contract and defense to claims that may be asserted by customers. A recent resurgence of cases in that same facility has caused the Company to expand its declaration of force majeure or commercial impracticability to other impacted customers. Although the Company believes it has a strong legal basis for asserting force majeure or commercial impracticability as a result of COVID-19, it is reasonably possible customers may assert claims against the Company, and the
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Company could be subject to financial damages to customers, which could have a material effect on the Company’s consolidated results of operations and cash flows. The Company has not received any such claims and is unable to estimate the amount of any such future claims, if any, at this time

Item 1A.Risk Factors
 
See Part I, Item 1A of the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2018,2019, as updated by Part II, Item 1, Legal Proceedings, of this Report.Report and by the new risk factors added below. The COVID-19 pandemic has heightened, and in some cases manifested, certain of the risks the Company normally faces in operating the business, including those disclosed in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2019, and the risk factor disclosure in the Form 10-K is qualified by the information relating to COVID-19 that is described in this report, including the risk factors set forth below. The risks described in this report and in the Annual Report on Form 10-K, and the “Cautionary Note Concerning Forward-Looking Statements” in this report, are not the only risks faced by the Company. Additional risks and uncertainties not currently known or that are currently judged to be immaterial may also materially affect the Company’s business, financial position, results of operations or cash flows.


The Company’s financial condition and results of operations have been, and are expected to continue to be, adversely affected by the recent COVID-19 pandemic.


The global outbreak of COVID-19 has caused a material adverse effect on the level of economic activity around the world, including in all markets served by the Company. In response to this outbreak, the governments of many countries, states, cities and other geographic regions have taken preventative or protective actions, such as imposing restrictions on travel and business operations. The Company has implemented numerous measures attempting to manage and mitigate the effects of the virus. While the Company has implemented programs to mitigate the impact of these measures on its results of operations, there can be no assurance that these programs will be successful. The Company cannot predict the degree to, or the time period over, which its sales and operations will be affected by this outbreak and preventative measures, and the effects could be material.

The COVID-19 pandemic poses the risk that we or the Company’s affiliates, employees, suppliers, customers and others may be restricted or prevented from conducting business activities for indefinite or intermittent periods of time, including as a result of employee health and safety concerns, social distancing protocols, shutdowns, shelter in place orders, travel restrictions and other actions and restrictions that may be requested or mandated by governmental authorities. For example, the Company experienced a temporary reduction of its manufacturing and operating capacity in China as a result of government-mandated actions to control the spread of COVID-19. Additionally, beginning in March 2020, the Company experienced the ramp-down of its automotive manufacturing facilities in the Americas and European regions coinciding with the shutdown of its major automotive customer facilities in these regions. While many of the Company’s other facilities have been designated by its customers as essential business in jurisdictions in which facility closures have otherwise been mandated, the Company can give no assurance that this will not change in the future or that its businesses will continue to be classified as essential in each of the jurisdictions in which it operates.

Additionally, restrictions on the Company’s access to its manufacturing facilities or on its support operations or workforce, or similar limitations for its distributors and suppliers, could continue to limit customer demand and/or the Company’s capacity to meet customer demand and have a material adverse effect on its business, financial condition and results of operations. In addition, the Company has modified its business practices (including employee travel, employee work locations, limited/restricted third-party access to the Company's facilities, and cancellation of physical participation in meetings, events and conferences), and may take further actions as may be required by government authorities, for the continued health and safety of its employees, or that the Company otherwise determines are in the best interests of its employees, customers, partners, and suppliers. Further, the Company has experienced disruptions and operational inefficiencies from COVID-19-related illnesses and workforce shortages and may continue to experience such disruptions and operational inefficiencies in the future. The Company may experience delays in its supply chain, which is likely to result in higher supply chain costs to the Company in order to maintain the supply of materials and components for its products.

Managing the impact of COVID-19 on the Company has and will continue to require significant investment of time from its management and employees, as well as resources across its global enterprise. The focus on managing and mitigating the impacts of COVID-19 on the Company’s business may cause it to divert or delay the application of its resources toward other or new initiatives or investments, which may cause a material adverse impact on its results of operations.

The Company may also experience impacts from market downturns and changes in consumer behavior related to pandemic fears and impacts on its workforce as a result of COVID-19. The Company has experienced a significant decline in demand from certain customers as a result of COVID-19. In addition, the Company’s customers may choose to delay or abandon
51


projects for which the Company provides products and/or services in response to the adverse impact of COVID-19 and the measures to contain its spread have had on the global economy.

In late third quarter 2020, the Thermal Acoustical Solutions segment caused interruption of two customer production lines as a result of labor shortages and operational inefficiencies directly related to COVID-19 causing the Company to invoke force majeure (or excusable delay) with these two customers. A recent resurgence of cases in that same facility has caused the Company to expand its declaration of force majeure (or excusable delay) with most of its automotive customers. If the COVID-19 pandemic becomes more pronounced in the markets in which the Company or its automotive industry customers operate, or there is a resurgence in the virus in markets currently recovering from the spread of COVID-19, then its operations in areas impacted by such events could experience further materially adverse financial impacts due to market changes and other resulting events and circumstances. The extent to which the COVID-19 outbreak continues to impact the Company’s financial condition will depend on future developments that are highly uncertain and are difficult to predict, including new government actions or restrictions, new information that may emerge concerning the severity, the longevity and the impact of COVID-19 on economic activity. To the extent the COVID-19 pandemic materially adversely affects the Company’s business and financial results, it may also have the effect of significantly heightening many of the other risks associated with the Company's business and indebtedness, including those described in the most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2019.

The COVID-19 pandemic presents significant challenges to the Company’s liquidity and ability to comply with its financial covenants.

The Company’s continued access to sources of liquidity and ability to comply with its financial covenants depends on multiple factors, including global economic conditions, the COVID-19 pandemic’s effects on its customers and their production rates, the condition of global financial markets, the availability of sufficient amounts of financing, its operating performance and its credit worthiness. The Company relies on the credit markets to provide it with liquidity to operate and grow its businesses beyond the liquidity that operating cash flows provide. In March 2020, the Company drew down an incremental $20.0 million under its 2018 Credit Agreement to provide liquidity as it addresses critical issues that may arise. In addition, on May 11, 2020, the Company amended its 2018 Credit Agreement, which, among other changes, decreased available from $450 million to $314 million and modified financial covenants, at least one of which the Company expected to fail under the 2018 Credit Agreement as early as the second quarter of 2020. As a result of the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic, the Company's access to and cost of financing will depend on, among other things, global economic conditions, conditions in the global financing markets, the availability of sufficient amounts of financing, its prospects and its credit ratings. The Company believes that its liquidity resources, including the Facility, are sufficient to meet its working capital needs and other cash requirements. The Company was in compliance with the modified financial covenants as of and for the three-month period ended September 30, 2020, and management does not anticipate noncompliance in the foreseeable future.

The Company may not be able to collect amounts owed to it or sell its inventory due to customers becoming significantly impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic.

The Company may experience an increase in uncollectible receivables if customers are severely impacted by COVID-19 and are unable to pay. Additionally, the Company may experience an increase in inventory write-off charges for those inventory items that have no alternative use for customers that are severely impacted by COVID-19.

Increased cybersecurity vulnerabilities and threats and more sophisticated and targeted computer crime pose a risk to the Company’s systems, networks, and data.

Increased global cybersecurity vulnerabilities and threats and more sophisticated and targeted cyber-related attacks pose an ongoing risk to the security of the Company’s systems and networks and the confidentiality, availability and integrity of the Company’s data. While the Company has not to date suffered a material loss from cyber incidents, from time to time, the Company experiences attacks on its systems and networks, including attacks that introduce malicious software into the Company's systems and networks, or gain access to and manipulate information in order to perpetrate a fraud on the Company or customers. Cyber threats are constantly evolving, thereby increasing the efforts and controls required to prevent, detect and successfully defend against them. While the Company attempts to mitigate these risks by employing a number of measures, including employee training, monitoring and testing, and maintenance of protective systems and contingency plans, the Company remains vulnerable to additional known or unknown threats. Moreover, as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, a greater number of employees are working remotely, which further increases the Company's vulnerability to the cyber risks. The Company's systems and networks contain sensitive, confidential or personal data or information in certain of the Company’s businesses that is subject to foreign, federal, state and local privacy and security laws, regulations and customer-imposed controls.

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Despite efforts made by the Company to protect sensitive, confidential or personal data or information, the Company remains vulnerable to security breaches, ransomware, theft, misplaced or lost data, programming errors, employee errors and/or malfeasance and the compromising or loss of sensitive, confidential or personal data or information could adversely impact the Company's results of operations and cash flows. Although the Company carries cybersecurity insurance, in the event of a cyber incident, that insurance may not be extensive enough or adequate in scope of coverage or amount to cover damages the Company may incur. In addition, a cyber-related attack could result in other negative consequences, including loss of information, damage to the Company’s reputation or competitiveness, remediation or increased protection costs, litigation or regulatory action.

The General Data Protection Regulation ("GDPR"), which went into effect in the European Union ("EU") on May 25, 2018, among other things, mandates new requirements regarding the handling of personal data of employees and customers, including its use, protection and the ability of persons whose data is stored to correct or delete such data about themselves. If the Company fails to comply with these laws or regulations, we could be subject to significant litigation, monetary damages, regulatory enforcement actions or fines in one or more jurisdictions.
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Item 2.Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities and Use of Proceeds
 
During the three monthsthree-month period ended September 30, 2019,2020, the Company acquired 3541,424 shares of common stock through withholding, pursuant to provisions in agreements with recipients of restricted stock granted under the Company’s equity compensation plans, which allow the Company to withhold the number of shares having fair value equal to each recipient’s tax withholding due.

PeriodTotal Number
of Shares
Purchased
Average Price
Paid per Share
Total Number
of Shares
Purchased as
Part of
Publicly
Announced
Program
Maximum
Number of
Shares That
May Yet Be
Purchased
Under the
Program
July 1, 2020 - July 31, 20201,070 $15.86 — — 
August 1, 2020 - August 31, 2020— $— — — 
September 1, 2020 - September 30, 2020354 $18.84 — — 
 1,424 $16.60 — — 
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Period 
Total Number
of Shares
Purchased
 
Average Price
Paid per Share
 
Total Number
of Shares
Purchased as
Part of
Publicly
Announced
Program
 
Maximum
Number of
Shares That
May Yet Be
Purchased
Under the
Program
July 1, 2019 - July 31, 2019 
 $
 
 
August 1, 2019 - August 31, 2019 
 $
 
 
September 1, 2019 - September 30, 2019 354
 $19.85
 
 
  354
 $19.85
 
 




Item 5.Other Information
2020 Amendment to the 2018 Credit Agreement

On October 14, 2020, the Company amended its 2018 Credit Agreement to allow certain restructuring and other charges, as defined by the amendment, to be excluded from EBITDA in the calculation of the Company's financial covenants. See Note 6, "Long-term Debt and Financing Arrangements" and Part 1, Item 2 “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations-Liquidity and Capital Resources-Financing Arrangements” for additional information. A copy of the Amendment is filed herewith as Exhibit 10.2 and incorporated herein by reference. The above description of the Amendment is qualified in its entirety by reference to such exhibit.
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Item 6.Exhibits
ExhibitItem 6.
Exhibits
Number
Description
Exhibit
Number
Description
31.1
10.1 
10.2 
31.1 

31.2

32.1

101.INS
Inline XBRL Instance Document

101.SCH
Inline XBRL Taxonomy Extension Schema Document

101.CAL
Inline XBRL Taxonomy Extension Calculation Linkbase Document

101.DEF
Inline XBRL Taxonomy Extension Definition Linkbase Document

101.LAB
Inline XBRL Taxonomy Extension Label Linkbase Document
104
Cover Page Interactive Data File (formatted as Inline XBRL and contained in Exhibit 101)

56




SIGNATURE
 
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the Registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned thereunto duly authorized.

LYDALL, INC.
October 29, 201927, 2020By:/s/ Randall B. Gonzales
Randall B. Gonzales
Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer
(On behalf of the Registrant and as
Principal Financial Officer)

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