On April 9, 2021, we acquired certain assets and assumed certain liabilities comprising the HVAC distribution business of Temperature Equipment Corporation, an HVAC distributor operating from 32 locations in Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri and Wisconsin. We formed a new, stand-alone joint venture with Carrier, TEC, that will operate this business. We have an 80% controlling interest in TEC, and Carrier has a 20%
non-controlling
interest. Consideration for the purchase was paid in cash, consisting of $105.2 million paid to Temperature Equipment Corporation (Carrier contributed $21.0 million and we contributed $84.2 million) and $1.5 million for repayment of indebtedness.
We continually evaluate potential acquisitions and/or joint ventures and investments in unconsolidated entities. We routinely hold discussions with several acquisition candidates. Should suitable acquisition opportunities arise that would require additional financing, we believe our financial position and earnings history provide a sufficient basis for us to either obtain additional debt financing at competitive rates and on reasonable terms or raise capital through the issuance of equity securities.
We paid cash dividends of $1.775 and $1.60 per share of Common stock and Class B common stock during the quarters ended March 31, 2021 and 2020, respectively. On April 1, 2021, our Board of Directors declared a regular quarterly cash dividend of $1.95 per share of both Common and Class B common stock that was paid on April 30, 2021 to shareholders of record as of April 15, 2021. Future dividends and/or changes in dividend rates are at the sole discretion of the Board of Directors and depend upon factors including, but not limited to, cash flow generated by operations, profitability, financial condition, cash requirements, and future prospects.
Company Share Repurchase Program
In September 1999, our Board of Directors authorized the repurchase, at management’s discretion, of up to 7,500,000 shares of common stock in the open market or via private transactions. Shares repurchased under the program are accounted for using the cost method and result in a reduction of shareholders’ equity. We last repurchased shares under this plan in 2008. In aggregate, 6,370,913 shares of Common and Class B common stock have been repurchased at a cost of $114.4 million since the inception of the program. At March 31, 2021, there were 1,129,087 shares remaining authorized for repurchase under the program.
ITEM 3. QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURES ABOUT MARKET RISK
There have been no material changes to the information regarding market risk provided in Item 7A, Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures about Market Risk, of our Annual Report on Form
10-K
for the year ended December 31, 2020.
ITEM 4. CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES
Evaluation of Disclosure Controls and Procedures
We maintain disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Rule
13a-15(e)
under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”)) that are, among other things, designed to ensure that information required to be disclosed by us under the Exchange Act is accumulated and communicated to management, including our Chief Executive Officer (“CEO”), Executive Vice President (“EVP”) and Chief Financial Officer (“CFO”), to allow for timely decisions regarding required disclosure and appropriate SEC filings.
Our management, with the participation of our CEO, EVP and CFO, evaluated the effectiveness of our disclosure controls and procedures as of the end of the period covered by this report, and, based on that evaluation, our CEO, EVP and CFO concluded that our disclosure controls and procedures were effective, at a reasonable assurance level, at and as of such date.
Changes in Internal Control over Financial Reporting
We are continuously seeking to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of our operations and of our internal controls. This results in refinements to processes throughout the Company. However, there were no changes in internal controls over financial reporting (as such term is defined in Rules
13a-15(f)
and
15d-15(f)
under the Exchange Act) during the quarter ended March 31, 2021, that have materially affected, or are reasonably likely to materially affect, our internal control over financial reporting.