================================================================================ UNITED STATES SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549 ------------------- FORM 10-K [X] ANNUAL REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934 FOR THE FISCAL YEAR ENDED SEPTEMBER 30, 2000 [ ] 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 0-2382 MTS SYSTEMS CORPORATION (EXACT NAME OF REGISTRANT AS SPECIFIED IN ITS CHARTER) MINNESOTA 952-937-4000 41-0908057 (STATE OR OTHER JURISDICTION OF (TELEPHONE NUMBER (I.R.S. EMPLOYER INCORPORATION OR ORGANIZATION) OF REGISTRANT IDENTIFICATION NO.) INCLUDING AREA CODE) 14000 TECHNOLOGY DRIVE, EDEN PRAIRIE, MINNESOTA 55344-9763 (ADDRESS OF PRINCIPAL EXECUTIVE OFFICES) (ZIP CODE) ------------------- SECURITIES REGISTERED PURSUANT TO SECTION 12(g) OF THE ACT: COMMON STOCK (PAR VALUE OF 25(CENTS) PER SHARE) INDICATE BY CHECK MARK WHETHER 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 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. __X__YES _____ NO INDICATE BY CHECK MARK IF DISCLOSURE OF DELINQUENT FILERS PURSUANT TO ITEM 405 OF REGULATION S-K IS NOT CONTAINED HEREIN, AND WILL NOT BE CONTAINED, TO THE BEST OF REGISTRANT'S KNOWLEDGE, IN DEFINITIVE PROXY OR INFORMATION STATEMENTS INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE IN PART III OF THIS FORM 10-K OR ANY AMENDMENT TO THIS FORM 10-K. ( ) AS OF DECEMBER 4, 2000, 20,722,568 SHARES OF THE REGISTRANT'S COMMON STOCK WERE OUTSTANDING AND THE AGGREGATE MARKET VALUE OF SUCH COMMON STOCK (BASED UPON THE AVERAGE OF THE HIGH AND LOW PRICES) HELD BY NON-AFFILIATES WAS $81,271,700. ------------------- DOCUMENTS INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE ANNUAL REPORT TO SHAREHOLDERS FOR FISCAL YEAR ENDED SEPTEMBER 30, 2000 - PARTS I, II AND IV. PROXY STATEMENT FOR ANNUAL MEETING OF SHAREHOLDERS, STATEMENT DATED PRIOR TO JANUARY 30, 2001 - PART III. ================================================================================ MTS SYSTEMS CORPORATION ANNUAL REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15 (d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934 PART I ITEM 1. BUSINESS MTS Systems Corporation (hereafter called "MTS", or "the Company" or "the Registrant") is a technology-based, market-driven company providing hardware, software, and engineering services to researchers, designers and manufacturers. MTS bases its business on a set of building-block technologies and business processes. Technologies include sensors for measuring machine and process parameters, control technologies for test and process automation, hydraulic and electric servodrives for precise actuation, and application software to tailor a test or automation system to the customer's needs and to analyze results. Business processes include project and product styles of operations on a worldwide basis. In combination, they offer solutions to customers in a variety of markets. In the Mechanical Testing and Simulation segment, customers use the Company's products and services in research, product development and quality control to determine the mechanical properties and performance of materials, products and structures. Many of the Company's products and services support the customers' mechanical design automation processes. In the Factory Automation segment, customers use the Company's measurement and control instrumentation to measure process variables and to automate production processes. CUSTOMERS AND PRODUCTS BY BUSINESS SEGMENT The Company's operations are organized into two reportable business segments: 1) Mechanical Testing and Simulation (MT&S), and 2) Factory Automation (FA). The operational alignment of the segments allows the Company to maintain a strategic focus on markets with different applications of the Company's technologies and with different competitors. Mechanical Testing and Simulation Reportable Segment: Customers in this segment use MTS's systems and software for research, product development and quality control in the design and manufacture of materials, products and structures. Customer industries in this segment include: AIRCRAFT AND AEROSPACE VEHICLE MANUFACTURERS AND THEIR SUPPLIERS: These customers use the Company's systems and software for full-scale structural tests on complete vehicles and principal subsystems such as landing gear. 1 In the aircraft industry, the Company's customers include manufacturers of commercial, military and general aviation planes and their suppliers, such as engine manufacturers. The space vehicle industry utilizes the Company's systems and software for such applications as solid fuel development and heat shield studies. Both aircraft and space vehicle manufacturers and their suppliers use the Company's systems and software to perform research on new materials and to control quality in the manufacturing of materials. CIVIL ENGINEERING: This market is comprised of university and government laboratories, and construction and mineral/petroleum production companies. Systems sold in this market include seismic (earthquake) simulators, civil construction component (e.g., beam) testing systems, pavement material testing systems, and specialized systems for rock and soil studies in construction and mineral/petroleum production. CONSUMER AND BIOMECHANICAL PRODUCTS/MATERIAL PRODUCERS: Customers use the Company's electromechanical and servohydraulic material testing systems in research, product development and extensively for quality control during production. In addition, customers use the Company's nanoindentation systems to test and measure mechanical properties of products where microscopic precision is required. Typical consumer products are made of textiles, paper products and plastic films of many types. Biomechanical products include implants, prostheses and other medical and dental devices and materials. Material producers include metal, ceramic, composite, paper and plastic manufacturers. GROUND VEHICLE INDUSTRY: This market consists of automobile, truck, motorcycle and off-road vehicle manufacturers and their suppliers. This market is the largest within the MT&S sector. Applications of the Company's systems and software include the design and production testing of engines and drivetrains, suspension and steering components, body and chassis, tires and wheels, and fuel storage and exhaust components. Vehicle manufacturers strive to improve performance, durability and safety while eliminating noise and vibration from their products. Customers also integrate MTS modeling software and physical testing systems to accelerate prototype design and decrease manufacturing costs of their products and components. ADVANCED SYSTEMS: The Company also offers highly customized systems for simulation and testing through its Advanced Engineering Solutions Division 2 (AESD). These systems frequently embody technology, which is new to the application. Customers of AESD come from all industries served by the MT&S sector - aerospace and advanced materials, civil engineering, and ground vehicles - as well as customers from other industries interested in the development of new manufacturing technologies and systems such as welding and material processing. MT&S sector accounted for 77% of revenue in 2000, 80% of revenue in 1999, and 79% of revenue in 1998. It represents the oldest and is the principal market for the Company's technology. Factory Automation Reportable Segment: FA customers use MTS products in discrete part manufacturing and chemical process industries. Products in this segment include: DISPLACEMENT POSITION AND LIQUID-LEVEL SENSORS BASED ON MAGNETOSTRICTIVE TECHNOLOGY. Displacement sensors accurately measure position up to 25 feet. They are used where accurate positioning and continuous control are critical, such as in discrete (piece part) manufacturing machinery, mobile equipment, process control elements and continuous measurement devices. Major applications include injection molding machines, servo-hydraulic cylinders, and presses of all types, sawmills, logging and other mobile machinery and valve or flow control. Displacement sensors are also used in high volume applications requiring low cost position feedback. MTS builds a version of its technology in various lengths and configurations, but at very high rates affording on-board low cost solutions to industries such as automotive, appliance, medical, agricultural, marine, aeronautic and other non-manufacturing markets. Liquid level sensors accurately measure the level of liquids in tanks and other vessels up to 60 feet. These sensors are marketed to control continuous processes in chemical, pharmaceutical, bio-technology and other related markets. The need for highly reliable accurate measurement of one or more fluid levels is common in most of these applications. MTS markets liquid level sensors to both end users, such as chemical producing companies, and to original equipment manufacturers and private label companies who build level measurement or leak detection into their control systems or as accessories for remote indication and control devices. SERVO MOTORS, AMPLIFIERS AND CONTROLLERS: Customers use high-performance brushless servo motors and amplifiers for challenging factory automation applications in a wide range of industries, including machine tools, fabrication and packaging. Specialized plug-in amplifiers are used in light duty applications such as the semiconductor and textile industries. The Company's controllers are used for precise control of a wide variety of applications ranging from simple applications requiring only one axis of control to high-speed, complex operations requiring up to 28 axes of control. These combined product lines address the need for high performance systems and are used primarily by original equipment manufacturers and large end users. 3 TITANIUM PRODUCTS: The Company, through its wholly owned subsidiary, AeroMet Corporation has developed an innovative laser direct metal deposition process for manufacturing titanium parts. The process uses a laser to fuse titanium powder, layer upon layer, into solid structures. This computer driven process significantly reduces the time required to produce large complex parts. The FA sector accounted for 23% of revenue in 2000, 20% of revenue in 1999, and 21% of revenue in 1998. COMMON TECHNOLOGIES MTS' systems and products in all segments are constructed using employees' application engineering know-how with common technology building block components generally composed of measuring and actuation devices, electronic controls and application software. Many of these components are proprietary and are developed and manufactured within the Company. MTS employees engineer or configure the components into products and systems to match the application called for in the customer's order. Frequently, special-purpose software is developed to meet a customer's unique requirements. Such software often represents a significant part of the value added by the Company. Services offered to system customers include on-site installation, training of customer personnel, technical manuals and continuing maintenance. Such services are often included in the contract amount charged for completed systems, but these services may be purchased separately, during and after the system warranty period. Certain proprietary products, such as sensors, process controls, motors, actuators and process software and firmware are sold as products to end users and to other companies for incorporation into their systems, machines or processes. All products and most systems are sold on fixed-price contracts. Complex systems and applied research in the MT&S sector are in some cases undertaken on "cost-plus-fixed-fee" contract basis. 2000 PRODUCT DEVELOPMENT HIGHLIGHTS The Company funds new application and product development within its market sectors. Highlights of product development undertaken or completed in 2000 include: Mechanical Testing and Simulation Reportable Segment o The Company introduced the FlexTest GT and TestStar IIm control products. These controllers employ distributed processors and digital transducer conditioners and are configurable for multiple channels and stations. The vehicle, material, & aerospace markets all take advantage of its flexibility to perform multiple types of tests required for product development. 4 o The Company introduced AeroPro for Data Acquisition. The software is to be used by Aerospace Structural Test laboratories and other customers with large channel count needs. The software incorporates a modern explorer-like user interface, has an open architecture and has the capability to integrate data from our load controllers. The software supports multiple hardware platforms and is designed to greatly improve data display and data handling capabilities. o The Company introduced the SWIFT Ultra product. This is a new, smaller configuration of the SWIFT wheel force transducer originally introduced in 1998. The SWIFT Ultra product is designed for lighter weight vehicles and complements our existing Passenger Car SWIFT and Light Truck SWIFT versions. The system's primary purpose is to collect force and moment data in vehicle data acquisitions, and develop simulations in the laboratory. This technology greatly simplifies and compresses development cycles for new vehicles and associated products. o The Company introduced the Jury Evaluation software product. This software is used to evaluate product sound quality based on human responses and is key to our customers' strategy to "listen as their customers listen" to engineer their products to be best in class. o The Company introduced a new long stoke passenger car road simulator to simulate both rough road durability and maneuvering events to help develop new body structures. This simulator makes use of MTS's newly developed Six Degree of Freedom technology. Factory Automation Reportable Segment o The Company introduced a new family of intelligent digital servo amplifiers for use in both the general factory automation and semi conductor industries. o The company introduced a high current (700 volt) amplifier to the Magnetic Resonance Imaging market. This product facilitates enhanced imaging resolution or increased imaging speed. o The Company developed very long sensors, in excess of 60 feet active length, with multiple measurement points (up to 30) for monitoring soil and rock movement in slide prone areas of Japan. o The Company developed an integrated electronics, environmental housing and sensor product that is the first to use an overmolding process. This sensor is designed to address high volume commercial applications. It uses an automatically produced sensor cartridge and is targeted for Commercial customers in the medical, HVAC, off-road machinery, and appliance markets. o The Company developed a modular Liquid Level Product line, the M-Series, to replace existing models and provide common design elements across the 5 line. The M-Series reduces time to market for new models by eliminating redesign and reduces costs across the line by increasing common module production volumes. o The Company developed enhanced Profibus models to address a much broader range of challenging applications. This revamped software is housed within the sensor, manages large numbers of magnets, and provides robust measurement as well as extensive diagnostic functionality during the measurement cycle. The plastics injection molding market is the first target for this enhanced product. o The Company developed a new E-Series product line for machine control that provides the features of Magnetostrictive measurement at the lower end of the pricing spectrum. CHARACTERISTICS OF SALES The Company's systems and products are sold and delivered throughout the world, and its customer base covers a broad spectrum of industries, government agencies, institutions, applications and geographic locations. As such, MTS is not dependent upon any single customer for its business. MT&S systems range in price from less than $20,000 to over $30 million. Large, individual, fixed-price orders, generally considered to be over $10 million, although important to the Company's image and technical advancement, can produce volatility in both backlog and quarterly operating results. The majority of the orders received in any one year are based on fixed-price quotations and some require extensive technical communication with potential customers prior to receipt of an order. The current typical delivery time for a system ranges from one to twelve months, depending upon the complexity of the system and the availability of components in the Company's or suppliers' inventories. Larger system contracts can run as long as three years and cost-plus-fixed-fee contracts have run longer. FA products are sold in quantity at unit prices ranging from $500 to $10,000. Delivery varies from several days to several months. Approximately 50% of revenue in fiscal 2000, 51% of revenue in fiscal 1999, and 55% of revenue in fiscal 1998 was from domestic customers. The balance of the revenue, some of which was sold in currencies other than the U.S. dollar, was to customers located outside the United States--mainly in Europe, Asia-Pacific, Latin America and Canada. The Company's foreign operations and foreign revenues may be affected by local political conditions, export licensing problems and/or currency restrictions. Sales Channels: MTS markets its products using a number of sales channels. The Company sells its MT&S equipment through an employee sales network, independent sales representatives and a direct mail (catalog) operation. Sales 6 personnel are generally graduate engineers or highly skilled technicians and are specially trained to sell MT&S products and services. Employee salespersons are compensated with salary and sales incentives, and independent representatives are paid a commission. A list of major domestic and international offices for the Company's MT&S reportable segment follows: Domestic offices: Akron Dayton Pittsburgh Austin Denver Raleigh Baltimore Detroit Rockford Boston Los Angeles San Francisco Charlotte Minneapolis Seattle Chicago Milwaukee Washington, D.C Cincinnati Newark Dallas Philadelphia International offices: Beijing and other cities, Paris, France Peoples Republic of China Seoul, South Korea Berlin and other cities, Singapore Germany Tokyo and other cities, Japan Gloucester, United Kingdom Torino, Italy Gothenburg, Sweden In addition, MT&S works with sales and service representative organizations in nearly all industrialized countries of the world and in the developing countries of Latin America, Asia, Africa and the Middle East. The Company offers a mail-order catalog of material testing components, accessories and products. The catalog includes products of complementary vendors and aims to reach a broad range of customers involved in mechanical testing and simulation. The FA segment sells its products through sales channels separate from the MT&S segment. A network of employees, direct sales, external domestic distributors, representatives and system houses market the products of these divisions. International revenue currently accounts for 44% of this segment's volume. Efforts continue to expand sales channels in international markets. International Operations and Export Sales: The sections entitled Geographic Analysis of New Orders and Business Segment Information on pages 15 and 26 of the Company's 2000 Annual Report to Shareholders, which sections are incorporated by reference herein, contain information regarding the Company's operations by geographic area. 7 Export Licensing: The Company's foreign shipments in fiscal 2000, 1999, and 1998 included sales to Asia-Pacific, Europe and other regions that may require the Company to obtain export permission from the U.S. government. The Company does not undertake manufacturing on custom systems or projects until it is assured that permission will be granted. However, due to the extended time to process and receive a license, design work is performed on some systems during the licensing period. Changes in political relations between the U.S. and countries requiring import licenses, as well as other factors, can adversely affect the Company's ability to complete a sale should a previously issued license be withdrawn. While political reform occurring internationally may relax export controls, the U.S. government still maintains multilateral controls in agreement with allies and unilateral controls based on U.S. initiatives and foreign policy that could cause delays for certain shipments or the rejection of orders by the Company. BACKLOG The Company's backlog, which it defines as firm orders remaining unfilled, totaled $163.0 million at September 30, 2000, $146.8 million at September 30, 1999, and $187.2 million at September 30, 1998. The Company believes that approximately $155.0 million of the backlog at September 30, 2000 will become revenue during fiscal 2001. Delays may occur due to technical difficulties, export licensing approval or the customer's preparation of the installation site. Any such delay can affect the period when backlog is recognized as revenue. COMPETITION In the MT&S segment, customers may choose to buy equipment from the Company or from competitors, principally: Instron (U.S.-based), Interlachen (U.S.), AVL (Austria), Zwick (Germany), Saganomiya and Shimadzu (Japan). There are also smaller local competitors in most major countries. In lieu of buying equipment from the Company or its competitors, customers may contract with testing laboratories such as EG&G, Peabody, Wyle, or with universities. Government laboratories also market testing services to the public. Finally, customers may choose to construct their own testing equipment from commercially available components. Customers in the aerospace and automotive industries and universities sometimes choose this approach, purchasing equipment from companies such as Parker Hannifin, Moog and Mannesman (Germany). In the FA segment, the Company competes directly with small to medium-sized specialty suppliers and also with divisions of the large control system companies such as Kollmorgen, Emerson Electric, Indramat (Germany) and Fanuc (Japan). MANUFACTURING AND ENGINEERING The Company conducted a significant portion of its fiscal 2000 MT&S manufacturing and engineering activities in Minneapolis. Certain engineering, project management, final system assembly and quality testing may be done in Berlin, Germany, and Tokyo, Japan. Electromechanical material testing systems 8 are assembled in the Raleigh, NC, facility. The Company's MTS-Powertrain Division engineers and assembles dynamometer control systems and provides related services from Ann Arbor, MI. Manufacturing and engineering activities for the FA reportable segment occur in Raleigh, NC, New Ulm, MN, Horsham, PA, Ludenscheid, Freiburg, and Stralsund, Germany, and at the Company's majority-owned subsidiary in Nagoya, Japan. PATENTS AND TRADEMARKS The Company holds a number of patents, patent applications, licenses, trademarks and copyrights that it considers, in the aggregate, to constitute a valuable asset. The Company's system business is not dependent upon any single patent, license, trademark or copyright. RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT The Company does not do basic research, but does fund significant product, system and application developments. Costs of these development programs are expensed as incurred, and amounted to $24.6, $27.0, and $24.3 million for fiscal years 2000, 1999, and 1998, respectively. Additionally, the Company also undertakes "first of their kind" high-technology, customer-funded contracts which contain considerable technical pioneering. The combination of internally sponsored product development and system or application innovation on customer contracts approaches 10% of annual sales volume. EMPLOYEES MTS employed 2,350 persons as of September 30, 2000, including 446 employees in Europe, 61 in Japan, 8 in China, 4 in Canada, 12 in Korea, and 3 in Singapore. None of the Company's U.S. employees are covered by a collective bargaining agreement, and MTS has experienced no work stoppages at any location. SOURCES AND AVAILABILITY OF RAW MATERIALS AND COMPONENTS A major portion of products and systems delivered to a customer may consist of equipment and component parts purchased from vendors. The relationship which the Company promotes with its vendors is partnership based with an emphasis on continuous improvement. The Company is dependent upon certain computing hardware and software devices and certain raw materials which have limited sources. However, the Company has not experienced significant problems in procurement or delivery of any essential materials, parts or components in the last several years. Due to the manner in which the Company sells the majority of its products, on a fixed-price contract agreed upon at the time the order is obtained, wide fluctuations up or down in cost of materials and components from order date to delivery date, if not accurately forecast by the Company at an early date, can change the expected profitability of any sale. The Company believes that such 9 fluctuations have not had a material effect on reported earnings, except as affected by changes in foreign currency rates, which have been reported. ENVIRONMENTAL MATTERS Management believes the Company's operations are in compliance with federal, state and local provisions relating to the protection of the environment. BUSINESS SYSTEMS DEVELOPMENT The Company undertook the development and deployment of an enterprise-wide financial and business operations software system in 1997. The company completed the first phase of implementation in early 1999, with subsequent phases to follow. This system is expected to improve business processing and to provide software processing capability beyond the end of the century. ITEM 2. PROPERTIES Domestic Facilities: The Company's corporate headquarters and main MT&S plant, occupying 420,000 square feet, are located on 56 acres of land in Eden Prairie, Minnesota, a suburb of Minneapolis. The original plant was completed in 1967. Six additions, the most recent completed in 1997, have expanded the plant to its present size. Approximately 50% of the Eden Prairie facility is used for manufacturing and assembly while the balance of the facility is used for office space. In 1998, 17,000 square feet of manufacturing space was leased in Chanhassen, Minnesota under a five year operating lease expiring in 2003. The Chanhassen site was sublet during fiscal 2000 through the duration of the lease. Electronic design and component assembly is conducted in a 57,000 square foot facility in Chaska, Minnesota, approximately 10 miles west of the headquarters in Eden Prairie. The building was completed in 1996. MTS has a five-year operating lease with provisions to extend, purchase or terminate at the end of the lease period. The terms of the lease agreement do not require capitalization of the asset and the related obligation. MTS Automation occupies a 30,000 square foot plant in New Ulm, Minnesota (65 miles southwest of Minneapolis). The plant provides assembly operations and office space. The facility was constructed in 1993 by the New Ulm Economic Development Corporation and expanded in 1995. MTS has a seven-year operating lease for the facility with provisions to extend the lease, purchase the property, or terminate the lease. The terms of the lease agreement do not require capitalization of the asset and the related obligation. 10 In addition, MTS Automation occupies 30,000 square feet in Horsham, Pennsylvania, a suburb of Philadelphia. Plant and office space in two buildings is leased under conventional operating lease terms, expiring in 2001. During fiscal 2000, a 90,000 square foot building was leased in another suburban location, which will house this enterprise beginning in 2001. Approximately, one-third of the space will be sublet until needed. The new lease term is five years. MTS Sensors Division is located near the Research Triangle Park in Cary, North Carolina, a suburb of Raleigh. A 40,000 square foot plant constructed in 1988 provides manufacturing and office space. In 1992, 25,000 square feet was added to the plant. MTD Raleigh is located adjacent to the MTS Sensors Division site in Cary, North Carolina. A 25,000 square foot plant, constructed in 1991, provides manufacturing and office space. In 2000, an additional 10,000 square was leased in nearby Morrisville for quality assurance, warehousing and office space. This lease expires in 2003. MTS Noise and Vibration Division operates in two facilities. A 16,000 square foot facility in Madison Heights, Michigan and a 13,000 square foot facility in Milford, Ohio. Plant and office space in both facilities is leased under conventional operating lease terms. MTS-DSP Technology occupies a 57,200 square foot facility in Ann Arbor, Michigan. The property and building carry a mortgage until 2015. Other facilities include leased space of 13,000 square feet in Ann Arbor and 16,000 square feet in Fremont, California. Both locations are covered by conventional operating lease terms. The Company leases space in other U.S. cities for sales and service offices. Neither the space nor the rental obligations is significant. International Facilities: MTS Systems GmbH is located in an 80,000 square foot facility in Berlin, Germany. As of September 30, 2000--6,500 square feet has been leased to other companies. The building is situated on land leased by MTS from the city government. The lease expires in 2052. MTS Systems (France) operates in a leased facility in Paris, France, of approximately 38,000 square feet. Approximately, 40% of this space is used for warehousing and service with the remainder used for offices. The current lease expires at the end of calendar 2000. MTS Sensors Technologie operates in a leased facility in Ludenscheid, Germany on approximately six acres of land. The manufacturing and office facilities were expanded in 1999 and now occupy 35,000 square feet at this location. 11 Custom Servo Motors Antriebstechnik GmbH & Co. KG operates in two leased facilities in Germany, one in Freiburg, and a new facility in Stralsund. The Freiburg facility totals about 7,000 square feet and the Stralsund location is about 16,000 square feet. All of the Freiburg facility is used for offices while 70% of the Stralsund facility is used for assembly with the remainder used as office space. The Company also leases office and general purpose space for its sales and service subsidiaries in Gloucester, United Kingdom; Torino, Italy; Seoul, South Korea; Tokyo and other cities, Japan; Gothenburg, Sweden; Beijing and other cities, Peoples Republic of China; and Singapore. No manufacturing is conducted at these locations. Expansion Opportunities: Capacity remains in Eden Prairie for limited facility expansion. Also, the sites in Cary, North Carolina can be expanded. Other suitable commercial real property is available for purchase or lease in metropolitan areas where the Company is presently located. The Company considers its current facilities adequate to support its operations in 2001. ITEM 3. LEGAL PROCEEDINGS The Company is a party to various claims, legal actions and complaints arising in the ordinary course of business. Management believes that the final resolution of these matters will not have a material adverse effect on the financial position or results of operation of the Company. ITEM 4. SUBMISSION OF MATTERS TO A VOTE OF SECURITY HOLDERS No matters were submitted during the fourth quarter of the year ended September 30, 2000, for a vote by the shareholders. 12 PART II ITEM 5. MARKET FOR THE REGISTRANT'S COMMON STOCK AND RELATED STOCKHOLDER MATTERS The Company's stock is traded on The Nasdaq Stock Market's National Market (Nasdaq) under the symbol MTSC. The following table shows the Company's low and high closing sale transactions as reported by Nasdaq. Quarter Ended Low * High * ------------- ----- ------ December 31, 1998 $ 10.88 $ 15.44 March 31, 1999 $ 9.63 $ 14.38 June 30, 1999 $ 9.81 $ 13.25 September 30, 1999 $ 10.00 $ 14.63 December 31, 1999 $ 7.50 $ 10.63 March 31, 2000 $ 5.38 $ 9.59 June 30, 2000 $ 6.19 $ 7.88 September 30, 2000 $ 6.00 $ 7.50 * Source: The Nasdaq Stock Market, Inc. Summary of Activity Report At December 4, 2000 there were 2,229 holders of record of the Company's $.25 par value common stock. The Company estimates that there are an additional 3,000 beneficial shareholders whose stock is held by nominees or broker dealers. The Company has a history of paying quarterly dividends and expects to continue such payments in the future. During 2000, 1999, and 1998, the Company paid dividends totaling $.24 per share, per year to holders of its common stock. Under the terms of the Company's credit agreements, certain covenants require that tangible net worth, as defined, must exceed a defined minimum amount and limit repurchases of its common stock to a defined maximum amount. As of September 30, 2000, tangible net worth exceeded the minimum by $29.9 million and the Company had $17.9 million available for repurchases of its common stock. The Company has flexibility to declare and pay dividends in the future similar to recent dividends. 13 ITEM 6. SELECTED FINANCIAL DATA A comprehensive summary of selected financial information is presented in the "Six Year Financial Summary" on page 14 of the Company's 2000 Annual Report to Shareholders. Data included in the summary is incorporated herein by reference. ITEM 7. MANAGEMENT'S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations on pages 15 through 19 of the Company's 2000 Annual Report to Shareholders is incorporated herein by reference. ITEM 7A. QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURES ABOUT MARKET RISK Disclosures are included in Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations on page 17 and in Note 1 to the Consolidated Financial Statements included in the Company's 2000 Annual Report to Shareholders. This information is incorporated herein by reference. MARKET RISK ON CHANGES IN FOREIGN CURRENCY EXCHANGE RATES Market risk from changes in foreign currency exchange rates may cause fluctuations on the translation of orders, net revenue and net income. Currency gains and losses from the settlement of foreign currency denominated transactions are reported in the Consolidated Statements of Income as "Other expense (income), net". The following table illustrates the impact of such market risk on the above financial items for the respective years: (expressed in thousands) - ---------------------------------------------------------- ------------- ------------- -------------- 2000 1999 1998 - ---------------------------------------------------------- ------------- ------------- -------------- Increase (Decrease) from translation: - ---------------------------------------------------------- ------------- ------------- -------------- New orders $(2,324) $4,961 $(10,838) - ---------------------------------------------------------- ------------- ------------- -------------- Net revenue (3,924) 3,313 (6,704) - ---------------------------------------------------------- ------------- ------------- -------------- Net income (111) 60 (236) - ---------------------------------------------------------- ------------- ------------- -------------- - ---------------------------------------------------------- ------------- ------------- -------------- Transaction Gain (Loss) in - ---------------------------------------------------------- ------------- ------------- -------------- "Other expense (income), net" $ (538) $ (375) $ 2,340 - ---------------------------------------------------------- ------------- ------------- -------------- The Company regularly assesses risks from foreign currency exchange rates and has practices to protect against the adverse effects of these and other potential exposures. To manage such risk, the Company, when deemed appropriate, enters into forward contracts. The Company is principally exposed to foreign currency movements related to non-U.S. dollar denominated assets and uncertainty related 14 to future revenues that are denominated in foreign currencies. The Company's most significant foreign currency exposures relate to contracts in backlog and unbilled receivables in the Japanese yen, the Euro, and the German mark, which are undelivered or outstanding at the end of fiscal 2000. A hypothetical 10 percent increase in the levels of foreign currency exchange rates against the U.S. dollar with all other variables held constant would result in a decrease in future revenues and asset balances of approximately $ 1.5 million. Conversely, a hypothetical 10 percent decrease in the levels of foreign currency exchange rates against the U.S. dollar with all other variables held constant would result in an increase to future revenues and asset balances of approximately $ 1.6 million. MARKET RISK ON CHANGES IN INTEREST RATES The Company also experiences interest rate risk on its fixed and variable indebtedness. MTS manages such risk by balancing the amount of fixed and variable rate debt. For fixed rate debt, interest rate changes affect the fair market value of such debt but do not impact earnings. In contrast, interest rate risk on variable rate debt generally does not affect the fair market value of such debt but does impact future earnings and cash flows, assuming other factors are held constant. At September 30, 2000 the Company had fixed rate debt of $58.4 million and variable rate debt of $17.5 million. Holding other variables constant (such as foreign exchange rates and debt levels), a one percentage point increase in interest rates would have decreased the unrealized fair market value of fixed rate debt at September 30, 2000 by approximately $800 thousand. The impact on variable rate debt would decrease income before income taxes and increase cash outflows for the next year by approximately $200 thousand. FORWARD LOOKING STATEMENTS Statements included or incorporated by reference in this Form 10-K (including the 2000 Annual Report to Shareholders) and in the Company's press releases and in oral statements made with the approval of an authorized executive officer, which are not historical or current facts are "forward-looking statements" made pursuant to the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 and are subject to certain risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from historical results and those presently anticipated or projected. The following important facts, among others, could affect the Company's actual results in the future and could cause the Company's actual financial performance to differ materially from that expressed in any forward-looking statement: (i) With regard to the Company's 2000 product developments, there may be uncertainties unknown to the Company concerning the expected results. 15 (ii) Possible significant volatility in both backlog and quarterly operating results may result from large, individual, fixed price orders, generally over $10 million, in connection with sales of MT&S systems. (iii) Export controls based on U.S. initiatives and foreign policy, as well as import controls imposed by foreign governments, may cause delays for certain shipments or the rejection of orders by the Company. Such delays could create material fluctuations in quarterly results and could have a material adverse effect on results of operations. Foreign revenues may also be affected by local political conditions and/or currency restrictions. (iv) Delays in realization of $163.0 million in backlog orders as of September 30, 2000 (approximately $155.0 million of which are anticipated to be recognized during fiscal 2001) may occur due to technical difficulties, export licensing approval or the customer's preparation of the installation site, any of which can affect the quarterly or annual period when backlog is recognized as revenue and could materially affect the results of any such period. (v) The Company experiences competition on a worldwide basis. Customers may choose to purchase equipment from the Company or from its competitors. For the MT&S reportable segment, customers may also contract with testing laboratories or construct their own testing equipment, purchasing commercially available components. Factors which influence the customer's decision include price, service and required level of technology. (vi) The Company's short-term borrowings carry interest rate risk that is generally related to either LIBOR or the prime rate. The Company has minimal earnings and cash flow exposure due to market risks on its long-term debt obligations as a result of the primarily fixed-rate nature of the debt. The foregoing list is not exhaustive, and the Company disclaims any obligation subsequently to revise any forward-looking statements to reflect events or circumstances after the date of such statements or to reflect the occurrence of anticipated or unanticipated events. ITEM 8. FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND SUPPLEMENTARY DATA The Consolidated Financial Statements, Report of Independent Public Accountants, Quarterly Financial Information (unaudited), and Six Year Financial 16 Summary (unaudited) included in the Company's 2000 Annual Report to Shareholders are incorporated herein by reference. ITEM 9. CHANGES IN AND DISAGREEMENTS WITH ACCOUNTANTS ON ACCOUNTING AND FINANCIAL DISCLOSURES None. 17 PART III ITEM 10. DIRECTORS AND EXECUTIVE OFFICERS OF REGISTRANT The Corporate Executive Officers of the Registrant on the date of this report are: Name and Age Position Officer Since - ------------ -------- ------------- S. W. Emery, Jr. (54) Chairman, President and 1998 Chief Executive Officer K. D. Zell (58) Executive Vice President 1979 D. E. Hoffman (53) Vice President and CFO 1999 W. G. Anderson (44) Vice President 1998 S. M. Cohoon (46) Vice President 1996 K.D. Donaldson, Jr. (48) Vice President 2000 J. M. Egerdal (49) Vice President 1996 L.B. Hamilton (39) Vice President 2000 D.G. Krantz (45) Vice President 2000 K.M. Staby (54) Vice President 2000 M. G. Togneri (63) Vice President 1991 Officers serve at the discretion of and are elected annually by the board of directors and serve until their successors are elected. Business experience of the Executive Officers for at least the last 5 years (consisting of positions with the Company unless otherwise indicated) is as follows: Officer Business Experience ------- ------------------- S. W. Emery, Jr. Chairman since January 1999. President and Chief Executive Officer since March 17, 1998. Management and executive positions with Honeywell, Inc. from 1985 to 1997. (Area Vice President Western and Southern Europe from 1994 to 1997; Group Vice President, Military Avionics Systems from 1989 to 1994; Vice President and General Manager, Space Systems Division from 1988 to 1989; Vice President Operations, Process Controls Division from 1985 to 1988. K. D. Zell Executive Vice President since 1993. Vice President of Materials Testing Division from 1988 to 1993. Vice President, Sales and Service from 1984 18 Officer Business Experience ------- ------------------- to 1988. Vice President, Product Group from 1979 to 1984. D. E. Hoffman Vice President and CFO since July 1999. Prior to MTS, he was Vice President and CFO of MVE, Inc. from 1998 to 1999, CFO for the Harmon Limited Group of Apogee Enterprises, Inc. from 1994 to 1997, and he held various management positions with ABB Ltd. from 1983 to 1994. W. G. Anderson Vice President, MTS Automation Division, since 1998. President of Custom Servo Motors from 1992 to 1998. S. M. Cohoon Vice President of Vehicles Dynamics Division since 1996. Prior to his employment at MTS he held various engineering and management positions at General Motors Corporation. K.H. Donaldson, Jr. Vice President of Strategic Planning and Product Development since 2000. Sales engineer, Aerospace from 1995 to 2000. J. M. Egerdal Vice President, MTS Services and Support Division since 1997; Vice President, North American Sales from 1996 to 1997; Regional Sales and Service Management from 1988 to 1996. L.B. Hamilton Vice President of Material Testing and Aerospace Divisions since 2000. Director of Re-engineering from 1999 to 2000. Vice President, Anatomic Pathology Business, Quest Diagnostics from 1997 to 1999. Executive Director Revenue Services, Quest Diagnostics (Division of Corning, Inc.) from 1995 to 1997. D.G. Krantz Vice President of Advanced Engineering Solutions Division since 2000. Program 19 Officer Business Experience ------- ------------------- manager, Advanced Systems from 1995 to 2000. K. M. Staby Vice President of Human Resources since 2000. Various management positions at Medtronic, Inc. from 1974 to 1999--Vice President, Human Resources for Cardiac Rhythm Management 1991-1999 and for Worldwide Distribution 1989 to 1991). M.G. Togneri Vice President of Sensors Division since 1998. Vice President of Factory Automation sector from 1991 to 1997. Prior to his employment at MTS was Vice President at Square D Corporation and General Manager of Crisp Automation. Has extensive experience in the industrial instrumentation and control business in the U.S. and internationally. (a) Information concerning the Company's Directors, including business experience, can be found in the Company's Proxy Statement, a definitive copy of which will be filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission prior to January 30, 2001, and is incorporated herein by reference. (b) There are no family relationships between and among directors or officers. (c) Information regarding compliance with Section 16(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 is incorporated herein by reference from the Company's Proxy Statement, a definitive copy of which will be filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission prior to January 30, 2001, pursuant to Regulation 14A under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. ITEM 11. EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION See Item 12. 20 ITEM 12. SECURITY OWNERSHIP OF CERTAIN BENEFICIAL OWNERS AND MANAGEMENT The information required by Items 11 and 12 is incorporated herein by reference from the Company's Proxy Statement, a definitive copy of which will be filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission prior to January 30, 2001, pursuant to Regulation 14A under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. ITEM 13. CERTAIN RELATIONSHIPS AND RELATED TRANSACTIONS None. 21 PART IV ITEM 14. EXHIBITS, FINANCIAL STATEMENT SCHEDULES AND REPORTS ON FORM 8-K The following documents are filed as part of this report: (a) Financial Statements: See accompanying Index to Financial Statements on Page F-1. (b) Reports on Form 8-K: None. (c) Exhibits: 2.a Agreement and Plan of Merger among MTS Systems Corporation , Badger Merger Corp., and DSP Technology Inc., filed on Form S-4 (File No. 333-77277) on April 28, 1999, is incorporated by reference herein. 3.a Restated and amended Articles of Incorporation, adopted January 30, 1996, incorporated by reference from exhibit 3.a of Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended September 30, 1996. 3.b Restated Bylaws, reflecting amendments through May 26, 1998, incorporated by reference from exhibit 3.b. of Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended September 30, 1998. 10.a Management Variable Compensation Plan and Long Range Incentive Plan for fiscal 2000, dated November 30, 1999. 10.b 1985 Employee Stock Option Incentive Plan, incorporated by reference to exhibit 4(a) from Form S-8, File No. 2-99389. 10.c 1987 Stock Option Plan, as amended, incorporated by reference from exhibit 10.c of Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended September 30, 1996. 10.d 1990 Stock Option Plan, as amended, incorporated by reference from exhibit 10.d of Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended September 30, 1996. 10.e 1994 Stock Plan, as amended, incorporated by reference from exhibit 10.e of Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended September 30, 1996. 22 Exhibits: 10.f 1997 Stock Option Plan, as amended, incorporated by reference from exhibit 10.p of Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended September 30, 1999. 10.g Severance Agreement, dated December 3, 1990 between the Registrant and Kenneth E. Floren, incorporated by reference to exhibit 10.k of Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended September 30, 1990. 10.h Severance Agreement, dated May 1, 1990 between the Registrant and Werner Ongyert, incorporated by reference to exhibit 10.m of Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended September 30, 1990. 10.i Severance Agreement, dated July 28, 1999 between the Registrant and David E. Hoffman, incorporated by reference to exhibit 10.k of Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended September 30, 1999. 10.j Severance Agreement, dated March 27, 1998 between the Registrant and Keith D. Zell, as amended, incorporated by reference from exhibit 10.m of Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended September 30, 1998. 10.k Severance Agreement, dated March 24, 1998 between the Registrant and Mauro G. Togneri, as amended, incorporated by reference from exhibit 10.n of Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended September 30, 1998. 10.l 1992 Employee Stock Purchase Plan, incorporated by reference to exhibit 4(a) from Form S-8, File No. 33-45386. 10.m Severance Agreement, dated March 18, 1998 between the Registrant and Steven M. Cohoon as amended, incorporated by reference from exhibit 10.q of Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended September 30, 1998. 10.n Severance Agreement, dated March 16, 1998 between the Registrant and Sidney W. Emery, incorporated by reference from exhibit 10.r of Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended September 30, 1998. 10.o Change in Control Agreement, dated March 16, 1998 between the Registrant and Sidney W. Emery incorporated 23 Exhibits: by reference from exhibit 10.s of Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended September 30, 1998. 10.p Change in Control Agreement, dated March 27, 1998 between the Registrant and Keith D. Zell incorporated by reference from exhibit 10.t of Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended September 30, 1998. 10.q Change in Control Agreement, dated March 24, 1998 between the Registrant and Mauro G. Togneri incorporated by reference from exhibit 10.v of Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended September 30, 1998. 10.r Change in Control Agreement, dated July 28, 1999 between the Registrant and David E. Hoffman incorporated by reference from exhibit 10.y of Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended September 30, 1999. 10.s Change in Control Agreement, dated March 18, 1999 between the Registrant and Steven M. Cohoon incorporated by reference from exhibit 10.z of Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended September 30, 1999. 10.t Severance Agreement, dated March 13, 1998 between the Registrant and William G. Anderson incorporated by reference from exhibit 10.aa of Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended September 30, 1998. 10.u Severance Agreement, dated March 14, 1998 between the Registrant and James M. Egerdal incorporated by reference from exhibit 10.ab of Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended September 30, 1998. 10.v Change in Control Agreement, dated March 13, 1998 between the Registrant and William G. Anderson incorporated by reference from exhibit 10.ac of Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended September 30, 1998. 10.w Change in Control Agreement, dated March 14, 1998 between the Registrant and James M. Egerdal incorporated by reference from exhibit 10.ad of Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended September 30, 1998. 10.x Severance Agreement, dated January 3, 2000 between the Registrant and Kathleen M. Staby. 24 Exhibits: 10.y Change in Control Agreement, dated January 3, 2000 between the Registrant and Kathleen M. Staby. 13. Annual Report to Shareholders for the fiscal year ended September 30, 2000. 21. Subsidiaries of the Company. 23. Consent of Independent Public Accountants. 27. Financial Data Schedule. (d) Financial Statement Schedules: See accompanying Index to Financial Statements on page F-1. 25 SIGNATURES Pursuant to the requirement of Section 13 or 15(d) 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. MTS SYSTEMS CORPORATION By: /s/ Sidney W. Emery, Jr. ----------------------------------- Sidney W. Emery Jr. Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer By: /s/ David E. Hoffmann ----------------------------------- David E. Hoffman Vice President and Chief Financial Officer Date: December 21, 2000 26 Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, this report has been signed below by the following persons on behalf of the Registrant and in the capacities and on the dates indicated: By: /s/ Charles A. Brickman -------------------------------------------- Charles A. Brickman, December 21, 2000 Director By: /s/ Jean Lou Chameau ----------------------------------- Jean Lou Chameau, December 21, 2000 Director By: /s/ Bobby I. Griffin ----------------------------------- Bobby I. Griffin, December 21, 2000 Director By: /s/ Russell A. Gullotti -------------------------------------------- Russell A. Gullotti, December 21, 2000 Director By: /s/ Brendan Hegarty ----------------------------------- Brendan Hegarty, December 21, 2000 Director By: /s/ Linda Hall Whitman -------------------------------------------- Linda Hall Whitman, December 21, 2000 Director 27 MTS SYSTEMS CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES INDEX TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS A. CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS Reference is made to the consolidated financial statements in the Company's 2000 Annual Report to Shareholders, which are incorporated by reference in accordance with Rule 12b-23 under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and attached hereto. Annual Report 10-K Page Page Quarterly Financial Information (Unaudited) 19 --- Consolidated Balance Sheets - September 30, 2000 20 --- and 1999 Consolidated Statements of Income and Shareholders' Investment for the Years Ended September 30, 2000, 1999 and 1998 21 --- Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows for the Years Ended September 30, 2000, 1999 and 1998 22 --- Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements 23 --- Report of Independent Public Accountants 33 --- F-1 Annual Report 10-K Page Page B. REPORT OF INDEPENDENT PUBLIC ACCOUNTANTS ON SCHEDULE --- F-3 C. CONSOLIDATED SCHEDULE Schedule Description - -------- ----------- II Summary of Consolidated Allowances for Doubtful Accounts and Restructuring Reserves --- F-4 All schedules except the one listed above have been omitted as not required, not applicable, or the information required therein is contained in the financial statements or the footnotes thereto. F-2 REPORT OF INDEPENDENT PUBLIC ACCOUNTANTS ON SCHEDULE To MTS Systems Corporation: We have audited in accordance with auditing standards generally accepted in the United States, the consolidated financial statements included in MTS Systems Corporation's annual report to shareholders incorporated by reference in this Form 10-K, and have issued our report thereon dated November 28, 2000. Our audit was made for the purpose of forming an opinion on those statements taken as a whole. The schedule (page F-4) listed as a part of Item 14 in this Form 10-K is the responsibility of the Company's management and is presented for purposes of complying with the Securities and Exchange Commission's rules and is not part of the basic consolidated financial statements. This schedule has been subjected to the auditing procedures applied in the audit of the basic consolidated financial statements and, in our opinion, fairly states in all material respects the financial data required to be set forth therein in relation to the basic consolidated financial statements taken as a whole. Arthur Andersen LLP Minneapolis, Minnesota, November 28, 2000 F-3 MTS SYSTEMS CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES SCHEDULE II - SUMMARY OF CONSOLIDATED ALLOWANCES FOR DOUBTFUL ACCOUNTS AND RESTRUCTURING RESERVES FOR THE YEARS ENDED SEPTEMBER 30, 2000, 1999, AND 1998 Balance Amounts Balance Beginning Written-Off/ End of of Year Provisions Payments Year --------------- ---------- --------- -------- (expressed in thousands) Allowance for Doubtful Accounts: - -------------------------------- 2000 $2,232 $566 $(543) $2,255 1999 2,285 679 (732) 2,232 1998 2,160 344 (219) 2,285 Restructuring Reserves: - ----------------------- 2000 $3,101 $1,210 $(3,101) $1,210 1999 - 5,711 (2,610) 3,101 1998 - - - - F-4 EXHIBIT INDEX Exhibit No. Description --- ----------- 10.a Management Variable Compensation Plan and Long Range Incentive Plan for fiscal 2000 10.x Severance Agreement, dated January 3, 2000 between the Registrant and Kathleen M. Staby 10.y Change in Control Agreement, dated January 3, 2000 between the Registrant and Kathleen M. Staby 13. Annual Report to Shareholders for the fiscal year ended September 30, 2000 21. Subsidiaries of the Company 23. Consent of Independent Public Accountants 27. Financial Data Schedule