The Company’s record backlog, the full year impact of the 2019 acquisitions and continued focus on and implementation of Operational Excellence initiatives are expected to have a positive impact on the Company’s 2020 results.
Net sales for 2019 were $5,158.6 million, an increase of $312.7 million or 6.5%, compared with net sales of $4,845.9 million in 2018. The increase in net sales for 2019 was due to 2% organic sales growth, a 5% increase from acquisitions, partially offset by unfavorable foreign currency translation. EIG net sales were $3,322.9 million in 2019, an increase of 9.7%, compared with $3,029.0 million in 2018. EMG net sales were $1,835.7 million in 2019, an increase of 1.0%, compared with $1,816.9 million in 2018.
Total international sales for 2019 were $2,474.9 million or 48.0% of net sales, an increase of $26.4 million or 1.1%, compared with international sales of $2,448.5 million or 50.5% of net sales in 2018. The increase in international sales was primarily driven by recent acquisitions. Export shipments from the United States, which are included in total international sales, were $1,306.2 million in 2019, an increase of $36.8 million or 2.9%, compared with $1,269.4 million in 2018.
Orders for 2019 were $5,274.3 million, an increase of $222.5 million or 4.4%, compared with $5,051.8 million in 2018. The increase in orders for 2019 was driven by the 2018 and 2019 acquisitions. The Company’s backlog of unfilled orders at December 31, 2019 was $1,717.9 million, an increase of $115.8 million or 7.2%, compared with $1,602.1 million at December 31, 2018.
Segment operating income for 2019 was $1,253.2 million, an increase of $107.3 million or 9.4%, compared with segment operating income of $1,145.9 million in 2018. Segment operating income, as a percentage of net sales, increased to 24.3% in 2019, compared with 23.6% in 2018. The increase in segment operating income and segment operating margins for 2019 resulted primarily from the increase in net sales, as well as the benefits of the Company’s Operational Excellence initiatives.
Cost of sales for 2019 was $3,370.9 million or 65.3% of net sales, an increase of $184.6 million or 5.8%, compared with $3,186.3 million or 65.8% of net sales for 2018. Cost of sales increased primarily due to the increase in net sales noted above.
Selling, general and administrative expenses for 2019 were $610.3 million or 11.8% of net sales, an increase of $26.3 million or 4.5%, compared with $584.0 million or 12.1% of net sales in 2018. Selling, general and administrative expenses increased primarily due to the increase in net sales noted above.
Consolidated operating income was $1,177.4 million or 22.8% of net sales for 2019, an increase of $101.9 million or 9.5%, compared with $1,075.5 million or 22.2% of net sales in 2018.
Interest expense was $88.5 million for 2019, an increase of $6.3 million or 7.7%, compared with $82.2 million in 2018. The interest expense increase for 2019 was primarily driven by the 2018 private placement senior notes issued in December 2018 ($475 million and 75 million Euros) and January 2019 ($100 million), partially offset by a decrease related to the repayment in full, at maturity, of $80 million in aggregate principal amount of 6.35% private placement senior notes and $160 million in aggregate principal amount of 7.08% private placement senior notes in the third quarter of 2018, $65 million in aggregate principal amount of 7.18% private placement senior notes in the fourth quarter of 2018, and $100 million in aggregate principal amount of 6.03% private placement senior notes in the fourth quarter of 2019.
Other expense, net was $19.2 million for 2019, an increase of $13.6 million, compared with $5.6 million in 2018. The Other expense, net increase for 2019 was primarily due to lower defined benefit pension income included in Other expenses.
The effective tax rate for 2019 was 19.5%, compared with 21.2% in 2018. The lower rate for 2019 mainly reflects higher year over year tax benefits related to share-based payment transactions as well as lower tax cost on foreign source income. The 2019 and 2018 effective tax rates also reflect the release of uncertain tax position liabilities primarily relating to statute expirations for U.S. Federal and State jurisdictions totaling $23.3 million and $11.4 million, respectively. See Note 9 to the Consolidated Financial Statements included in Part II, Item 8 of this Annual Report on Form
10-K
for further details.
Net income for 2019 was $861.3 million, an increase of $83.4 million or 10.7%, compared with $777.9 million in 2018. Diluted earnings per share for 2019 were $3.75, an increase of $0.41 or 12.3%, compared with $3.34 per diluted share in 2018.
net
sales totaled $3,322.9 million for 2019, an increase of $293.9 million or 9.7%, compared with $3,029.0 million in 2018. The net sales increase was due to 3% organic sales growth, an 8% increase from the 2019 acquisition of Gatan and the 2018 acquisitions of Spectro Scientific, Telular, Forza, Motec and SoundCom, partially offset by an unfavorable 1% effect of foreign currency translation.
EIG’s operating income was $865.3 million for 2019, an increase of $83.2 million or 10.6%, compared with $782.1 million in 2018. EIG’s operating margins were 26.0% of net sales for 2019, compared with 25.8% of net sales in 2018. The increase in EIG’s operating income and operating margins for 2019 resulted primarily from the increase in net sales noted above, as well as the benefits of the Group’s Operational Excellence initiatives.
net sales totaled $1,835.7 million for 2019, an increase of $18.8 million or 1.0%, compared with $1,816.9 million in 2018. The net sales increase was due to 2% organic sales growth, a 1% increase from the 2019 acquisition of PDT and the 2018 acquisition of FMH, partially offset by unfavorable 2% foreign currency translation.
EMG’s operating income was $387.9 million for 2019, an increase of $24.1 million or 6.6%, compared with $363.8 million in 2018. EMG’s operating margins were 21.1% of net sales for 2019, compared with 20.0% of net sales in 2018. The increase in EMG’s operating income in 2019 resulted primarily from the increase in net sales noted above, as well as the benefits of the Group’s Operational Excellence initiatives.
Liquidity and Capital Resources
Cash provided by operating activities totaled $1,114.4 million in 2019, an increase of $188.9 million or 20.4%, compared with $925.5 million in 2018. The increase in cash provided by operating activities for 2019 was primarily due to higher net income of $83.4 million and lower deferred income taxes.
Free cash flow (cash flow provided by operating activities less capital expenditures) was $1,012.1 million in 2019, compared with $843.4 million in 2018. EBITDA (earnings before interest, income taxes, depreciation and amortization) was $1,388.3 million in 2019, compared with $1,267.7 million in 2018. Free cash flow and EBITDA are presented because the Company is aware that they are measures used by third parties in evaluating the Company. (See the “Notes to Selected Financial Data” included in Item 6 in this Annual Report on Form
10-K
for a reconciliation of U.S. GAAP measures to comparable
non-GAAP
measures).
Cash used for investing activities totaled $1,150.9 million in 2019, compared with $1,210.0 million in 2018. In 2019, the Company paid $1,061.9, net of cash acquired, to acquire PDT in September 2019 and Gatan in October 2019. In 2018, the Company paid $1,129.3 million, net of cash acquired, to acquire Spectro Scientific in November 2018, Telular and Forza in October 2018, Motec in June 2018, SoundCom in April 2018 and FMH in January 2018. Additions to property, plant and equipment totaled $102.3 million in 2019, compared with $82.1 million in 2018.
Cash provided by financing activities totaled $72.9 million in 2019, compared with $13.0 million of cash provided by financing activities in 2018. At December 31, 2019, total debt, net was $2,768.7 million, compared with $2,632.7 million at December 31, 2018. In 2019, short-term borrowings increased $130.7 million, compared with an increase of $258.3 million in 2018. There was no net change in long-term borrowings in 2019, compared with an increase of $255.1 million in 2018.
In October 2018, the Company along with certain of its foreign subsidiaries amended and restated its Credit Agreement. The Credit Agreement amends and restates the Company’s existing $850 million revolving credit facility, which was due to expire in March 2021. The amended Credit Agreement consists of a five-year revolving credit facility in an aggregate principal amount of $1.5 billion with a final maturity date in October 2023. The revolving credit facility total borrowing capacity excludes an accordion feature that permits the Company to request up to an additional $500 million in revolving credit commitments at any time during the life of the Credit Agreement under certain conditions. The revolving credit facility provides the Company with additional financial flexibility to support its growth plans, including its acquisition strategy. At December 31, 2019, the Company had available borrowing capacity of $1,580.5 million under its revolving credit facility, including the $500 million accordion feature.
In December 2018, the Company completed the 2018 private placement agreement to sell $575 million and 75 million Euros in senior notes to a group of institutional investors utilizing two funding dates. The first funding occurred in December 2018 for $475 million and 75 million Euros ($85.1 million). The second funding occurred in January 2019 for $100 million. The 2018 Private Placement senior notes carry a weighted average interest rate of 3.93% and are subject to certain customary covenants, including financial covenants that, among other things, require the Company to maintain certain
debt-to-EBITDA
and interest coverage ratios. The proceeds from the 2018 Private Placement fundings were used to pay down domestic borrowings under the Company’s revolving credit facility.
In the fourth quarter of 2019, $100 million of 6.30% senior notes matured and were paid. In the third quarter of 2018, $80 million of 6.35% senior notes and $160 million of 7.08% senior notes matured and were paid. In the fourth quarter of 2018, $65 million of 7.18% senior notes matured and were paid. The
debt-to-capital
ratio was 35.1% at December 31, 2019, compared with 38.3% at December 31, 2018. The net
debt-to-capital
ratio (total debt, net less cash and cash equivalents divided by the sum of net debt and stockholders’ equity) was 31.7% at December 31, 2019, compared with 34.9% at December 31, 2018. The net
debt-to-capital
ratio is presented because the Company is aware that this measure is used by third parties in evaluating the Company. (See the “Notes to Selected Financial Data” included in Item 6 in this Annual Report on Form
10-K
for a reconciliation of U.S. GAAP measures to comparable
non-GAAP
measures).
In 2019, the Company repurchased approximately 133,000 shares of its common stock for $11.9 million, compared with $367.7 million used for repurchases of approximately 5,079,000 shares in 2018. At December 31, 2019, $489.1 million was available under the Company’s Board of Directors authorization for future share repurchases. On February 12, 2019, the Company’s Board of Directors approved an increase of $500 million in the authorization for the repurchase of the Company’s common stock.
Additional financing activities for 2019 included cash dividends paid of $127.5 million, compared with $128.9 million in 2018. Proceeds from the exercise of employee stock options were $90.4 million in 2019, compared with $30.0 million in 2018. In the fourth quarter of 2018, the Company made a $30.0 million contingent payment related to the Rauland acquisition. Cash provided by financing activities includes $25.5 million related to the acquisition date estimated fair value of the contingent payment liability, which was based on a probabilistic approach using level 3 inputs. See Note 6 to the Consolidated Financial Statements included in Part II, Item 8 of this Annual Report on Form
10-K
for further details.
As a result of all of the Company’s cash flow activities in 2019, cash and cash equivalents at December 31, 2019 totaled $393.0 million, compared with $354.0 million at December 31, 2018. At December 31, 2019, the
Company had $357.9 million in cash outside the United States, compared with $311.2 million at December 31, 2018. The Company utilizes this cash to fund its international operations, as well as to acquire international businesses. The Company is in compliance with all covenants, including financial covenants, for all of its debt agreements. The Company believes it has sufficient cash-generating capabilities from domestic and unrestricted foreign sources, available credit facilities and access to long-term capital funds to enable it to meet its operating needs and contractual obligations in the foreseeable future.
Effective February 12, 2020, the Company’s Board of Directors approved a 29% increase in the quarterly cash dividend on the Company’s common stock to $0.18 per common share from $0.14 per common share.
The following table summarizes AMETEK’s contractual cash obligations and the effect such obligations are expected to have on the Company’s liquidity and cash flows in future years at December 31, 2019.
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Long-term debt borrowings (2) | | $ | | | | $ | | | | $ | | | | $ | | | | $ | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Revolving credit loans (3) | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Interest on long-term fixed-rate debt | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Noncancellable operating leases (5) | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | $ | | | | $ | | | | $ | | | | $ | | | | $ | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
(1) | The liability for uncertain tax positions was not included in the table of contractual obligations as of December 31, 2019 because the timing of the settlements of these uncertain tax positions cannot be reasonably estimated at this time. See Note 9 to the Consolidated Financial Statements included in Part II, Item 8 of this Annual Report on Form 10-K for further details. |
(2) | See Note 10 to the Consolidated Financial Statements included in Part II, Item 8 of this Annual Report on Form 10-K for further details. |
(3) | Although not contractually obligated, the Company expects to have the capability to repay the revolving credit loan within one year as permitted in the Credit Agreement. Accordingly, $384.8 million was classified as short-term debt at December 31, 2019. |
(4) | Excludes debt issuance costs of $7.4 million, of which $2.7 million is classified as current and $4.7 million is classified as long-term. See Note 10 to the Consolidated Financial Statements included in Part II, Item 8 of this Annual Report on Form 10-K for further details. |
(5) | The leases expire over a range of years from 2020 to 2034, except for a single land lease with 64 years remaining. Most of the leases contain renewal or purchase options, subject to various terms and conditions. |
(6) | Purchase obligations primarily consist of contractual commitments to purchase certain inventories at fixed prices. |
The Company has standby letters of credit and surety bonds of $63.8 million related to performance and payment guarantees at December 31, 2019. Based on experience with these arrangements, the Company believes that any obligations that may arise will not be material to its financial position.
Capital expenditures were $102.3 million or 2.0% of net sales in 2019, compared with $82.1 million or 1.7% of net sales in 2018. In 2019, approximately 66% of capital expenditures were for improvements to existing equipment or additional equipment to increase productivity and expand capacity. Capital expenditures in 2020 are expected to be approximately 2% of net sales, with a continued emphasis on spending to improve productivity.
Research, Development and Engineering
The Company is committed to, and has consistently invested in, research, development and engineering activities to design and develop new and improved products and solutions. Research, development and engineering costs before customer reimbursement were $260.3 million in 2019, $230.2 million in 2018 and $221.2 million in 2017. Customer reimbursements in 2019, 2018 and 2017 were $3.2 million, $5.2 million and $5.4 million, respectively. These amounts included research and development expenses of $161.9 million, $141.0 million and $130.4 million in 2019, 2018 and 2017, respectively. All such expenditures were directed toward the development of new products and solutions and the improvement of existing products and solutions.
Certain historic processes in the manufacture of products have resulted in environmentally hazardous waste
by-products
as defined by federal and state laws and regulations. The Company believes these waste products were handled in compliance with regulations existing at that time. At December 31, 2019, the Company is named a Potentially Responsible Party (“PRP”) at 13
non-AMETEK-owned
former waste disposal or treatment sites (the
“non-owned”
sites). The Company is identified as a “de minimis” party in 12 of these sites based on the low volume of waste attributed to the Company relative to the amounts attributed to other named PRPs. In eight of these sites, the Company has reached a tentative agreement on the cost of the de minimis settlement to satisfy its obligation and is awaiting executed agreements. The tentatively
agreed-to
settlement amounts are fully reserved. In the other four sites, the Company is continuing to investigate the accuracy of the alleged volume attributed to the Company as estimated by the parties primarily responsible for remedial activity at the sites to establish an appropriate settlement amount. At the remaining site where the Company is a
non-de
minimis PRP, the Company is participating in the investigation and/or related required remediation as part of a PRP Group and reserves have been established sufficient to satisfy the Company’s expected obligations. The Company historically has resolved these issues within established reserve levels and reasonably expects this result will continue. In addition to these
non-owned
sites, the Company has an ongoing practice of providing reserves for probable remediation activities at certain of its current or previously owned manufacturing locations (the “owned” sites). For claims and proceedings against the Company with respect to other environmental matters, reserves are established once the Company has determined that a loss is probable and estimable. This estimate is refined as the Company moves through the various stages of investigation, risk assessment, feasibility study and corrective action processes. In certain instances, the Company has developed a range of estimates for such costs and has recorded a liability based on the best estimate. It is reasonably possible that the actual cost of remediation of the individual sites could vary from the current estimates and the amounts accrued in the consolidated financial statements; however, the amounts of such variances are not expected to result in a material change to the consolidated financial statements. In estimating the Company’s liability for remediation, the Company also considers the likely proportionate share of the anticipated remediation expense and the ability of the other PRPs to fulfill their obligations.
Total environmental reserves at December 31, 2019 and 2018 were $28.9 million and $27.8 million, respectively, for both
non-owned
and owned sites. In 2019, the Company recorded $7.0 million in reserves. Additionally, in 2019 the Company spent $6.0 million on environmental matters and the reserve increased