Cash Flow and Capital Allocation
● | For 2021, operating cash flow approximated $181 million and net capital expenditures approximated $22 million, resulting in free cash flow of approximately $159 million. In 2020, operating cash flow was $229 million, net capital expenditures were $42 million and free cash flow was $187 million. Operating cash flow and free cash flow decreased primarily due to a proactive decision to increase inventories in response to strong market demand and amid continued supply chain disruptions. The free cash flow decrease was partially offset by lower capital expenditures year-over-year. |
● | During the fourth quarter, the Company repurchased approximately $4.2 million of Class A common stock, or approximately 23,000 shares and for 2021, the Company repurchased approximately $16.0 million of Class A common stock, or approximately 110,000 shares, which more than offset dilution from our stock compensation programs. Approximately $97.4 million remains available for stock repurchases under the current authorization, which has no expiration date. |
For a reconciliation of GAAP to non-GAAP items and a statement regarding the usefulness of these measures to investors and management in evaluating our operating performance, please see the tables attached to this press release.
Management and Board Transitions
On February 4, 2022, Munish Nanda, President of Americas and Europe, informed us of his intention to retire from the Company. Mr. Nanda has agreed to continue in his current role as leader of the Company’s Americas and Europe businesses until a successor has been identified and is in place. Thereafter, Mr. Nanda has agreed to remain employed by the Company until May 2023 to assist with the transition and provide advisory services. Commenting on Mr. Nanda’s retirement announcement, Mr. Pagano said “I want to thank Munish for his leadership over the past seven years and his valuable contributions to Watts. I also greatly appreciate Munish’s willingness to stay on with us for an extended period of time to make this transition as seamless as possible. We intend to launch a comprehensive search to find the most capable successor for Munish as soon as possible. We also look forward to celebrating Munish’s retirement with him following the appointment of his successor.”
At a meeting held on February 7, 2022, the Board of Directors voted unanimously to name Robert J. Pagano, Jr., the Company’s Chief Executive Officer, as the new Chairperson of the Board effective immediately. The Board also voted unanimously to name the former Chairperson of the Board, W. Craig Kissel, as Lead Independent Director. The Company’s Corporate Governance Guidelines prevent any Board member from being renominated for election to the Board after their 72nd birthday, and as such Mr. Kissel will not be eligible to stand for reelection at the 2023 Annual Meeting of Stockholders. The Board decided to make this change now in order to have an orderly transition of responsibilities. “I am very pleased to hand over the responsibilities of Chairperson to Bob,” said Mr. Kissel. “Bob’s long track record of strong leadership, coupled with his extensive board experience makes him an ideal person for this role.” Mr. Pagano remarked “I feel very privileged to take on this role at such an important and exciting time for Watts. I would like to thank Craig for his leadership of our Board for so many years and I look forward to partnering with him over the coming year in his new role as Lead Independent Director.”
Watts Water Technologies, Inc. will hold a live webcast of its conference call to discuss fourth quarter and full year 2021 results on Thursday, February 10, 2022, at 9:00 a.m. EST. This press release and the live webcast can be accessed by visiting the Investor Relations section of the Company's website at www.wattswater.com. Following the webcast, the call recording will be available at the same address until February 10, 2023.
The Company's 2022 Annual Meeting of Stockholders will be held at 9:00 a.m. EDT on Wednesday, May 11, 2022 at the Company’s executive offices located at 815 Chestnut Street, North Andover, Massachusetts.
Watts Water Technologies, Inc., through its subsidiaries, is a world leader in the manufacture of innovative products to control the efficiency, safety, and quality of water within residential, commercial, and institutional applications. Watts’ expertise in a wide variety of water technologies enables us to be a comprehensive supplier to the water industry.
This Press Release includes “forward-looking statements” as defined in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, including statements relating to expected revenue and EPS growth in 2022 results. These forward-looking statements reflect our current views about future events. You should not rely on forward-looking statements because our actual results may differ materially from those predicted as a result of a number of potential risks and uncertainties. These potential risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to: the effects of the 2017 Tax Act; the effectiveness, the timing and the expected savings associated with our cost-cutting actions, restructuring and transformation programs and initiatives; current economic and financial conditions, which can affect the housing and construction markets where our products are sold, manufactured and marketed; shortages in and pricing of raw materials and supplies; our ability to compete effectively; changes in variable interest rates on our borrowings; inflation; failure to expand our markets through acquisitions; failure to successfully develop and introduce new product offerings or enhancements to existing products; failure to