LEG 12.31.2012 10K
UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
FORM 10-K
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(Mark One) | |
ý | ANNUAL REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934 |
For the fiscal year ended December 31, 2012
OR
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¨ | 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 001-07845
LEGGETT & PLATT, INCORPORATED
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
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Missouri | | 44-0324630 |
(State or other jurisdiction of incorporation or organization) | | (I.R.S. Employer Identification No.) |
No. 1 Leggett Road Carthage, Missouri | | 64836 |
(Address of principal executive offices) | | (Zip code) |
Registrant’s telephone number, including area code: (417) 358-8131
SECURITIES REGISTERED PURSUANT TO SECTION 12(b) OF THE ACT:
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Title of Each Class | | Name of each exchange on which registered |
Common Stock, $.01 par value | | New York Stock Exchange |
Indicate by check mark if the registrant is a well-known seasoned issuer, as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act. Yes ý No ¨
Indicate by check mark if the registrant is not required to file reports pursuant to Section 13 or Section 15(d) of the Act. Yes ¨ No ý
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 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 ý No ¨
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has submitted electronically and posted on its corporate Web site, if any, every Interactive Data File required to be submitted and posted 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 and post such files). Yes ý No ¨
Indicate by check mark if disclosure of delinquent filers pursuant to Item 405 of Regulation S-K (§229.405 of this chapter) 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. ý
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, or a smaller reporting company. See the definitions of “large accelerated filer,” “accelerated filer” and “smaller reporting company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act.
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Large accelerated filer | x | | Accelerated filer ¨ |
Non-accelerated filer | ¨ | (Do not check if a smaller reporting company) | Smaller reporting company ¨ |
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Act). Yes ¨ No ý
The aggregate market value of the voting stock held by non-affiliates of the registrant (based on the closing price of our common stock on the New York Stock Exchange) on June 29, 2012 was $2,843,057,686.
There were 142,770,077 shares of the registrant’s common stock outstanding as of February 22, 2013.
DOCUMENTS INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE
Part of Item 10, and all of Items 11, 12, 13 and 14 of Part III are incorporated by reference from the Company’s definitive Proxy Statement for the Annual Meeting of Shareholders to be held on May 9, 2013.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
LEGGETT & PLATT, INCORPORATED—FORM 10-K
FOR THE YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2012
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PART I |
Item 1. | | 2 |
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Item 1A. | | 16 |
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Item 1B. | | 19 |
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Item 2. | | 19 |
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Item 3. | | 19 |
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Item 4. | | 19 |
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Supp. Item. | | 20 |
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PART II |
Item 5. | | 22 |
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Item 6. | | 24 |
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Item 7. | | 25 |
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Item 7A. | | 56 |
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Item 8. | | 57 |
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Item 9. | | 57 |
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Item 9A. | | 57 |
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Item 9B. | | 58 |
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PART III |
Item 10. | | 59 |
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Item 11. | | 62 |
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Item 12. | | 62 |
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Item 13. | | 62 |
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Item 14. | | 62 |
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PART IV |
Item 15. | | 63 |
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| 114 |
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| 116 |
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Forward-Looking Statements
This Annual Report on Form 10-K and our other public disclosures, whether written or oral, may contain “forward-looking” statements including, but not limited to: projections of revenue, income, earnings, capital expenditures, dividends, capital structure, cash flows or other financial items; possible plans, goals, objectives, prospects, strategies or trends concerning future operations; statements concerning future economic performance; and the underlying assumptions relating to the forward-looking statements. These statements are identified either by the context in which they appear or by use of words such as “anticipate,” “believe,” “estimate,” “expect,” “intend,” “may,” “plan,” “project,” “should” or the like. All such forward-looking statements, whether written or oral, and whether made by us or on our behalf, are expressly qualified by the cautionary statements described in this provision.
Any forward-looking statement reflects only the beliefs of the Company or its management at the time the statement is made. Because all forward-looking statements deal with the future, they are subject to risks, uncertainties and developments which might cause actual events or results to differ materially from those envisioned or reflected in any forward-looking statement. Moreover, we do not have, and do not undertake, any duty to update or revise any forward-looking statement to reflect events or circumstances after the date on which the statement was made. For all of these reasons, forward-looking statements should not be relied upon as a prediction of actual future events, objectives, strategies, trends or results.
Readers should review Item 1A Risk Factors in this Form 10-K for a description of important factors that could cause actual events or results to differ materially from forward-looking statements. It is not possible to anticipate and list all risks, uncertainties and developments which may affect the future operations or performance of the Company, or which otherwise may cause actual events or results to differ materially from forward-looking statements. However, the known, material risks and uncertainties include the following:
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• | factors that could affect the industries or markets in which we participate, such as growth rates and opportunities in those industries; |
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• | adverse changes in inflation, currency, political risk, U.S. or foreign laws or regulations (including tax law changes), consumer sentiment, housing turnover, employment levels, interest rates, trends in capital spending and the like; |
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• | factors that could impact raw materials and other costs, including the availability and pricing of steel scrap and rod and other raw materials, the availability of labor, wage rates and energy costs; |
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• | our ability to pass along raw material cost increases through increased selling prices; |
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• | price and product competition from foreign (particularly Asian and European) and domestic competitors; |
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• | our ability to improve operations and realize cost savings (including our ability to fix under-performing operations and to generate future earnings from restructuring-related activities); |
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• | our ability to maintain profit margins if our customers change the quantity and mix of our components in their finished goods; |
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• | our ability to achieve expected levels of cash flow; |
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• | our ability to maintain and grow the profitability of acquired companies; |
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• | our ability to maintain the proper functioning of our internal business processes and information systems and avoid modification or interruption of such systems, through cyber-security breaches or otherwise; |
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• | a decline in the long-term outlook for any of our reporting units that could result in asset impairment; |
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• | our ability to control expenses related to "conflict mineral" regulations and to effectively manage our supply chains to avoid loss of customers; and |
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• | litigation including product liability and warranty, taxation, environmental, intellectual property, anti-trust, option backdating and workers’ compensation expense. |
PART I
Item 1. Business.
Summary
Leggett & Platt, Incorporated was founded as a partnership in Carthage, Missouri in 1883 and was incorporated in 1901. The Company, a pioneer of the steel coil bedspring, has become an international diversified manufacturer that conceives, designs and produces a wide range of engineered components and products found in many homes, offices, retail stores, automobiles and commercial aircraft. As discussed below, our operations are organized into 20 business units, which are divided into 10 groups under our four segments: Residential Furnishings; Commercial Fixturing & Components; Industrial Materials; and Specialized Products.
Overview of Our Segments
Residential Furnishings Segment
Our Residential Furnishings segment began in 1883 with the manufacture of steel coiled bedsprings. Today, we supply a variety of components used by bedding and upholstered furniture manufacturers in the assembly of their finished products. Our range of products offers our customers a single source for many of their component needs.
Efficient manufacturing methods, internal production of key raw materials, and numerous manufacturing and assembly locations allow us to supply many customers with components at a lower cost than they can produce themselves. In addition to cost savings, sourcing components from us allows our customers to focus on designing, merchandising and marketing their products.
Products
Products manufactured or distributed by our Residential Furnishings groups include:
Bedding Group
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• | Innersprings (sets of steel coils, bound together, that form the core of a mattress) |
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• | Wire forms for mattress foundations |
Furniture Group
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• | Steel mechanisms and hardware (enabling furniture to recline, tilt, swivel, rock and elevate) for reclining chairs and sleeper sofas |
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• | Springs and seat suspensions for chairs, sofas and love seats |
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• | Steel tubular seat frames |
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• | Bed frames, ornamental beds, and “top-of-bed” accessories |
Fabric & Carpet Underlay Group
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• | Structural fabrics for mattresses, residential furniture and industrial uses |
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• | Carpet underlay materials (bonded scrap foam, felt, rubber and prime foam) |
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• | Geo components (synthetic fabrics and various other products used in ground stabilization, drainage protection, erosion and weed control, as well as silt fencing) |
Customers
Most of our Residential Furnishings customers are manufacturers of finished bedding products (mattresses and foundations) or upholstered furniture for residential use. We also sell many products, including ornamental beds, bed frames, adjustable beds, carpet underlay, and top-of-bed accessories, directly to retailers and distributors. We sell Geo Components products primarily to dealers, contractors, landscapers, road construction companies and government agencies.
Commercial Fixturing & Components Segment
Our Store Fixtures group designs, produces, installs and manages our customers’ store fixtures projects. Our Office Furniture Components group designs, manufactures, and distributes a wide range of engineered components targeted for the office seating market.
Products
Products manufactured or distributed by our Commercial Fixturing & Components groups include:
Store Fixtures Group
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• | Custom-designed, full store fixture packages for retailers, including shelving, counters, showcases and garment racks |
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• | Standardized shelving used by large retailers, grocery stores and discount chains |
Office Furniture Components Group
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• | Bases, columns, back rests, casters and frames for office chairs, and control devices that allow office chairs to tilt, swivel and elevate |
Customers
Customers of the Commercial Fixturing & Components segment include:
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• | Retail chains and specialty shops |
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• | Office, institutional and commercial furniture manufacturers |
Industrial Materials Segment
We believe that the quality of our products and services, together with low cost, have made us the leading U.S. supplier of drawn steel wire and a major producer of welded steel tubing. Our Wire group operates a steel rod mill with an annual output of approximately 500,000 tons, of which a substantial majority is used by our own wire mills. We have four wire mills that supply virtually all the wire consumed by our other domestic businesses. Our Steel Tubing business unit also supplies nearly all of our internal needs for welded steel tubing. In addition to supporting our internal requirements, we supply many external customers with wire and steel tubing products.
On January 12, 2012, we completed the acquisition of Western Pneumatic Tube Holding, LLC (Western). Western is a leading provider of integral components for critical aircraft systems, and forms the Aerospace Products business unit within the Tubing Group. Western specializes in fabricating thin-walled, large diameter, welded tubing and specialty formed products from titanium, nickel and other specialty materials for leading aerospace suppliers and OEMs. For further information about acquisitions, see Note R on page 104 of the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.
Products
Products manufactured or distributed by our Industrial Materials groups include:
Wire Group
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• | Fabricated wire products |
Tubing Group
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• | Fabricated tube components |
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• | Titanium and nickel tubing for the aerospace industry |
Customers
We use about half of our wire output and about one-quarter of our steel tubing output to manufacture our own products. For example, we use our wire and steel tubing to make:
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• | Bedding and furniture components |
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• | Motion furniture mechanisms |
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• | Commercial fixtures and shelving |
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• | Automotive seat components and frames |
The Industrial Materials segment also has a diverse group of external customers, including:
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• | Bedding and furniture makers |
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• | Automotive seating manufacturers |
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• | Aerospace suppliers and OEMs |
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• | Lawn and garden equipment manufacturers |
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• | Mechanical spring makers |
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• | Waste recyclers and waste removal businesses |
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• | Medical supply businesses |
Specialized Products Segment
Our Specialized Products segment designs, produces and sells components for automotive seating, specialized machinery and equipment, and service van interiors. Our established design capability and focus on product
development have made us a leader in innovation. We also benefit from our broad geographic presence and our internal production of key raw materials and components.
Products
Products manufactured or distributed by our Specialized Products groups include:
Automotive Group
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• | Manual and power lumbar support and massage systems for automotive seating |
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• | Automotive control cables |
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• | Low voltage motors and motion assemblies |
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• | Formed metal and wire components for seat frames |
Machinery Group
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• | Full range of quilting machines for mattress covers |
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• | Machines used to shape wire into various types of springs |
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• | Industrial sewing/finishing machines |
Commercial Vehicle Products Group
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• | Van interiors (the racks, shelving and cabinets installed in service vans) |
Customers
Our primary customers for the Specialized Products segment include:
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• | Automobile seating manufacturers |
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• | Telecommunication, cable, home service and delivery companies |
Strategic Direction
Key Financial Metric
Total Shareholder Return (TSR), relative to peer companies, is the key financial measure that we use to assess long-term performance. TSR = (Change in Stock Price + Dividends)/Beginning Stock Price). Our goal is to achieve TSR in the top 1/3 of the S&P 500 over the long term through a balanced approach that employs all four TSR sources: revenue growth, margin expansion, dividends, and share repurchases.
We monitor our TSR performance (relative to the S&P 500) on a rolling three-year basis. For the three-year measurement period that ended December 31, 2012 we generated TSR of 16% per year, on average, which places us in the top 37% of the S&P 500. In addition, our TSR has exceeded that of the S&P 500 index for five consecutive years.
Our incentive programs reward return generation. Senior executives participate in a TSR-based incentive program (based on our performance compared to a group of approximately 320 peers). Business unit bonuses emphasize the achievement of higher returns on the assets under the unit’s direct control.
Returning Cash to Shareholders
During the past three years, we generated $1.14 billion of operating cash, and we returned much of this cash to shareholders in the form of dividends and share repurchases. Dividends and share repurchases are expected to remain significant contributors to long-term TSR.
Since late 2007, we have raised quarterly dividends by 61%, from $.18 per share to $.29 per share currently. Our dividend payout target is 50-60% of earnings; however we have been above that target in recent years. Our dividend payout ratio (dividends declared per share/earnings per share) was 92%,106% and 67% in 2010, 2011 and 2012, respectively. As our markets recover, we expect to move back into our target payout range. In the meantime, we expect to generate enough cash to continue to pay and modestly grow the dividend. The Company has consistently (for over 20 years) generated operating cash in excess of our annual requirement for capital expenditures and dividends.
We expect to use cash (after funding capital expenditures, dividends, and growth opportunities) for share repurchases. During the past three years, we have repurchased 18.3 million shares of our stock (and issued 11.6 million shares through employee benefit plans), which reduced the net outstanding shares by 4.5%. In 2012, we repurchased 2.0 million shares (which includes shares withheld for taxes in option exercises and stock unit conversions; and forfeited stock units) at an average per share price of $25.35 (and issued 4.7 million shares through employee benefit plans). As discussed in more detail below under “Acquisitions,” we completed the acquisition of Western Pneumatic Tube for a cash purchase price of $188 million in January 2012. As such, the level of share repurchases was lower in 2012 than in recent years and our shares outstanding rose by 2% to roughly 142 million at year-end.
Portfolio Management
We utilize a rigorous strategic planning process to help guide future decisions regarding business unit roles, capital allocation priorities, and new areas in which to grow. We review the portfolio classification of each unit on an annual basis to determine its appropriate role (Grow, Core, Fix, or Divest). This review includes criteria such as competitive position, market attractiveness, business unit size, and fit within our overall objectives, as well as financial indicators such as growth of earnings before interest and taxes (EBIT) and earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization (EBITDA), operating cash flows, and return on assets. Business units in the Grow category should provide avenues for profitable growth from competitively advantaged positions in attractive markets. Core business units are expected to enhance productivity, maintain market share, and generate cash flow from operations while using minimal capital. To remain in the portfolio, business units are expected to consistently generate after-tax returns in excess of our cost of capital. Business units that fail to consistently attain minimum return goals will be moved to the Fix or Divest categories.
Disciplined Growth
Long-term, we aim to eventually achieve consistent, profitable growth of 4-5% annually. To attain this goal, we will need to supplement the approximate 2-3% growth that our markets typically produce (in normal economic times) with two additional areas of opportunity. First, we must enhance our success rate at developing and commercializing innovative new products within markets in which we already enjoy strong competitive positions. Second, we need to uncover new growth platforms; opportunities in markets new to us containing margins and growth higher than the Company's average, and in which we would possess a competitive advantage.
Our long-term, 4-5% annual growth objective envisions periodic acquisitions. We seek acquisitions within our growth businesses, and look for opportunities to enter new, higher growth markets (carefully screened for sustainable competitive advantage). We expect all acquisitions to (a) have a clear strategic rationale, a sustainable
competitive advantage, and a strong fit with the Company; (b) create value by enhancing Total Shareholder Return and have an internal rate of return in excess of 10%; (c) for stand-alone companies: generally, revenue in excess of $50 million, strong management and future growth opportunity with a strong market position in a market growing faster than GDP; and (d) for add-on companies: generally, revenue in excess of $15 million, significant synergies, and a strategic fit with an existing business unit.
Acquisitions
In January 2012, we acquired for a cash purchase price of $188 million, Western Pneumatic Tube, which produces thin-walled, large diameter, welded tubing and specialty formed products for aerospace applications. Western fabricates products from specialty materials, such as titanium, nickel, stainless steel, and other high strength metals for use in aircraft systems and aircraft engine systems, including fuel, hydraulic, pneumatic, environmental, life support, stability, and cooling systems. Western operates two facilities, one in Kirkland, Washington, and another in Poway, California, and is part of our Industrial Materials segment. For further information about acquisitions, see Note R on page 104 of the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.
We had no significant acquisitions in 2010 and 2011.
Divestitures
There were no significant divestitures in 2011 or 2012.
We divested the Storage Products business unit (previously in the Commercial Fixturing & Components segment) in the third quarter of 2010. No significant gains or losses were realized on the sale of this business unit. Storage Products is reflected as a discontinued operation with 2010 revenue of approximately $37 million. This unit sold storage racks and carts used in the food service and health care industries.
For further information about divestitures and discontinued operations, see Note B on page 75 of the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.
Segment Financial Information
For information about sales to external customers, sales by product line, EBIT, and total assets of each of our segments, refer to Note F on page 80 of the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.
Foreign Operations
The percentages of our external sales related to products manufactured outside the United States for the previous three years are shown below.
Our international operations are principally located in China, Europe, Canada and Mexico. The products we make in these countries primarily consist of:
China
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• | Innersprings for mattresses |
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• | Recliner mechanisms and bases for upholstered furniture |
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• | Formed wire for upholstered furniture |
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• | Retail store fixtures and gondola shelving |
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• | Office furniture components, including chair bases and casters |
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• | Formed metal products, lumbar and seat suspension systems for automotive seating |
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• | Cables and small electric motors used in lumbar systems for automotive seating |
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• | Machinery and replacement parts for machines used in the bedding industry |
Europe
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• | Innersprings for mattresses |
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• | Lumbar and seat suspension systems for automotive seating |
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• | Machinery and equipment designed to manufacture innersprings for mattresses and other bedding-related components |
Canada
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• | Fabricated wire for the furniture and automotive industries |
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• | Chair bases, table bases and office chair controls |
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• | Lumbar supports for automotive seats |
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• | Wire and steel storage systems and racks for the interior of service vans and utility vehicles |
Mexico
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• | Innersprings and fabricated wire for the bedding industry |
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• | Retail point-of-purchase displays |
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• | Automotive control cable systems and seating components |
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• | Shafts for the appliance industry |
Our international expansion strategy is to locate our operations where we believe we would possess a competitive advantage and where demand for components is growing. Also, in instances where our customers move the production of their finished products overseas, we have located facilities nearby to supply them more efficiently.
Our international operations face the risks associated with any operation in a foreign country. These risks include:
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• | Foreign currency fluctuation |
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• | Foreign legal systems that make it difficult to protect intellectual property and enforce contract rights |
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• | Increased costs due to tariffs, customs and shipping rates |
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• | Potential problems obtaining raw materials, and disruptions related to the availability of electricity and transportation during times of crisis or war |
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• | Inconsistent interpretation and enforcement, at times, of foreign tax schemes |
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• | Political instability in certain countries |
Our Specialized Products segment, which derives roughly 75% of its trade sales from foreign operations, is particularly subject to the above risks. These and other foreign-related risks could result in cost increases, reduced profits, the inability to carry on our foreign operations and other adverse effects on our business.
Geographic Areas of Operation
We have manufacturing facilities in countries around the world, as shown below.
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| Residential Furnishings | | Commercial Fixturing & Components | | Industrial Materials | | Specialized Products |
North America | | | | | | | |
Canada | n | | n | | | | n |
Mexico | n | | | | n | | n |
United States | n | | n | | n | | n |
Europe | | | | | | | |
Austria | | | | | | | n |
Belgium | | | | | | | n |
Croatia | n | | | | | | n |
Denmark | n | | | | | | |
Germany | | | | | | | n |
Hungary | | | | | | | n |
Italy | | | n | | | | n |
Switzerland | | | | | | | n |
United Kingdom | n | | | | | | n |
South America | | | | | | | |
Brazil | n | | | | | | |
Asia / Pacific | | | | | | | |
China | n | | n | | | | n |
India | | | | | | | n |
South Korea | | | | | | | n |
Africa | | | | | | | |
South Africa | n | | | | | | |
For further information concerning our external sales related to products manufactured outside the United States and our tangible long-lived assets outside the United States, refer to Note F on page 80 of the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.
Sales by Product Line
The following table shows our approximate percentage of external sales by classes of similar products for the last three years:
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Product Line | 2012 | 2011 | | 2010 | |
Bedding Group | 18% | 18% | | 19% | |
Furniture Group | 18 | 17 | | 18 | |
Fabric & Carpet Underlay Group | 15 | 15 | | 15 | |
Wire Group | 13 | 15 | | 13 | |
Automotive Group | 12 | 12 | | 11 | |
Store Fixtures Group | 8 | 9 | | 11 | |
Office Furniture Components Group | 5 | 5 | | 5 | |
Commercial Vehicle Products Group | 4 | 4 | | 3 | |
Tubing Group | 4 | 2 | | 2 | |
Machinery Group | 3 | 3 | | 3 | |
Distribution of Products
In each of our segments, we sell and distribute our products primarily through our own personnel. However, many of our businesses have relationships and agreements with outside sales representatives and distributors. We do not believe any of these agreements or relationships would, if terminated, have a material adverse effect on the consolidated financial condition, operating cash flows or results of operations of the Company.
Raw Materials
The products we manufacture require a variety of raw materials. We believe that worldwide supply sources are readily available for all the raw materials we use. Among the most important are:
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• | Various types of steel, including scrap, rod, wire, coil, sheet, stainless and angle iron |
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• | Woven and non-woven fabrics |
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• | Titanium and nickel-based alloys and other high strength metals |
We supply our own raw materials for many of the products we make. For example, we produce steel rod that we make into steel wire, which we then use to manufacture:
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• | Innersprings and foundations for mattresses |
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• | Springs and seat suspensions for chairs and sofas |
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• | Automotive seating components |
We supply the majority of our domestic steel rod requirements through our own rod mill. Our wire drawing mills supply nearly all of our U.S. requirements for steel wire. We also produce welded steel tubing, both for our own consumption and for sale to external customers.
Customer Concentration
We serve thousands of customers worldwide, sustaining many long-term business relationships. In 2012, our largest customer accounted for approximately 6% of our consolidated revenues. Our top 10 customers accounted for approximately 24% of these consolidated revenues. The loss of one or more of these customers could have a material adverse effect on the Company, as a whole, or on the respective segment in which the customer’s sales are reported, including our Residential Furnishings, Commercial Fixturing & Components and Specialized Products segments.
Patents and Trademarks
The chart below shows the approximate number of patents issued, patents in process, trademarks registered and trademarks in process held by our operations as of December 31, 2012. No single patent or group of patents, or trademark or group of trademarks, is material to our operations, as a whole. Most of our patents relate to products sold in the Specialized Products segment, while a substantial majority of our trademarks relate to products sold in the Residential Furnishings and Specialized Products segments.
Some of our most significant trademarks include:
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• | Semi-Flex® (box spring components and foundations) |
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• | Mira-Coil®, VertiCoil®, Lura-Flex®, Superlastic® and Comfort Core® (mattress innersprings) |
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• | Active Support Technology® (power foundations and mattress innersprings) |
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• | Wall Hugger® (recliner chair mechanisms) |
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• | Super Sagless® (motion and sofa sleeper mechanisms) |
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• | No-Sag® (wire forms used in seating) |
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• | Tack & Jump® and Pattern Link® (quilting machines) |
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• | Hanes® (fiber materials) |
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• | Schukra®, Pullmaflex® and Flex-O-Lator® (automotive seating products) |
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• | Spuhl® (mattress innerspring manufacturing machines) |
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• | Gribetz® and Porter® (quilting and sewing machines) |
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• | Quietflex® and Masterack® (equipment and accessories for vans and trucks) |
Research and Development
We maintain research, engineering and testing centers in Carthage, Missouri and do additional research and development work at many of our other facilities. We are unable to calculate precisely the cost of research and development because the personnel involved in product and machinery development also spend portions of their time in other areas. However, we estimate the cost of research and development to be approximately $20 million per year in each of the last three years.
Employees
As of December 31, 2012, we had approximately 18,300 employees, of which roughly 12,900 were engaged in production. Of the 18,300, approximately 8,600 were international employees (5,000 in China). Labor unions represented roughly 14% of our employees. We did not experience any material work stoppage related to contract negotiations with labor unions during 2012. Management is not aware of any circumstances likely to result in a material work stoppage related to contract negotiations with labor unions during 2013. The chart below shows the approximate number of employees by segment.
As of December 31, 2011, we had approximately 18,300 employees.
Competition
Many companies offer products that compete with those we manufacture and sell. The number of competing companies varies by product line, but many of the markets for our products are highly competitive. We tend to attract and retain customers through product quality, innovation, competitive pricing and customer service. Many of our competitors try to win business primarily on price but, depending upon the particular product, we experience competition based on quality, performance and availability as well.
We believe we are the largest U.S. manufacturer, in terms of revenue, of the following:
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• | Components for residential furniture and bedding |
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• | Components for office furniture |
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• | Automotive seat support and lumbar systems |
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• | Bedding industry machinery for wire forming, sewing and quilting |
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• | Thin-walled, titanium, nickel and other specialty tubing for the aerospace industry |
We continue to face pressure from foreign competitors as some of our customers source a portion of their components and finished products offshore. In addition to lower labor rates, foreign competitors benefit (at times) from lower raw material costs. They may also benefit from currency factors and more lenient regulatory climates. We typically remain price competitive, even versus many foreign manufacturers, as a result of our efficient operations, low labor content, vertical integration in steel and wire, and large scale purchasing of raw materials and commodities. However, we have also reacted to foreign competition in certain cases, by selectively adjusting prices, and by developing new proprietary products that help our customers reduce total costs.
Premium non-innerspring mattresses (those that have either a foam or air core) have experienced rapid growth in the U.S. bedding market in recent years. While still a relatively small portion of the total market in units (approximately 10%-15%), these products represent a much larger portion of the total market in dollars (approximately 25%-30%) due to their higher average selling prices. We expect these products to continue to grow. Some of our traditional bedding customers are now offering mattresses that combine an innerspring core with top layers comprised of specialty foam and gel. These hybrid products, which allow our bedding customers to address a consumer preference for the feel of a specialty mattress and the characteristics of an innerspring, are being well received by consumers.
Since early 2009, there have been antidumping duty rates on innerspring imports from China, South Africa and Vietnam, ranging from 116% to 234%. These rates are expected to remain in effect at least until early 2014. Imported innersprings from these countries are now supposed to be sold at fair prices, however the duties on certain innersprings are being evaded by various means including shipping the goods through a third country and falsely identifying the country of origin. Leggett, along with several U.S. manufacturers of products with active antidumping or antidumping/countervailing duty orders, formed a coalition and are working with Members of Congress, the U.S. Department of Commerce, and U.S. Customs and Border Protection to seek stronger enforcement of existing antidumping and/or countervailing duty orders.
Seasonality
As a diversified manufacturer, we generally have not experienced significant seasonality. The timing of acquisitions, dispositions, and economic factors in any year can distort the underlying seasonality in certain of our businesses. Historically, for the Company as a whole, the second and third quarters typically have proportionately greater sales, while the first and fourth quarters are generally lower.
| |
• | Residential Furnishings: typically does not exhibit any significant seasonality, except for a reduction in fourth quarter sales. |
| |
• | Commercial Fixturing & Components: generally has modestly stronger third quarter sales of its store fixture products, with the fourth quarter significantly lower. This aligns with the retail industry’s normal construction cycle—the opening of new stores and completion of remodeling projects in advance of the holiday season. |
| |
• | Industrial Materials: minimal variation in sales throughout the year. |
| |
• | Specialized Products: relatively little quarter-to-quarter variation in sales, although the automotive business is typically somewhat heavier in the second and fourth quarters of the year and lower in the third quarter due to model changeovers and plant shutdowns in the automobile industry during the summer. |
Backlog
Our customer relationships and our manufacturing and inventory practices do not create a material amount of backlog orders for any of our segments. Production and inventory levels are geared primarily to the level of incoming orders and projected demand based on customer relationships.
Working Capital Items
For information regarding working capital items, see the discussion of “Cash from Operations” in Item 7, Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations on page 39.
Government Contracts
The Company does not have a material amount of sales derived from Government contracts subject to renegotiation of profits or termination at the election of any Government.
Environmental Regulation
Our operations are subject to federal, state, and local laws and regulations related to the protection of the environment. We have policies intended to ensure that our operations are conducted in compliance with applicable laws. While we cannot predict policy changes by various regulatory agencies, management expects that compliance with these laws and regulations will not have a material adverse effect on our competitive position, capital expenditures, financial condition, liquidity or results of operations.
Internet Access to Information
We routinely post information for investors to our website (www.leggett.com) under the Investor Relations section. Our annual reports on Form 10-K, quarterly reports on Form 10-Q, current reports on Form 8-K, and all amendments to those reports are made available, free of charge, on our website as soon as reasonably practicable after electronically filed with, or furnished to, the SEC. In addition to these reports, the Company’s Financial Code of Ethics, Code of Business Conduct and Ethics, and Corporate Governance Guidelines, as well as charters for the Audit, Compensation, and Nominating & Corporate Governance Committees of our Board of Directors, can be found on our website under the Corporate Governance section. Information contained on our website does not constitute part of this Annual Report on Form 10-K.
Discontinued Operations
Two of our prior businesses (the Storage Products business unit, which was previously reported in the Commercial Fixturing & Components segment and the Prime Foam Products business unit, which was previously reported in the Residential Furnishing segment) are disclosed in our annual financial statements as discontinued operations since (i) the operations and cash flows of the businesses were clearly distinguished and have been eliminated from our ongoing operations; (ii) the businesses have been disposed of; and (iii) we do not have any significant continuing involvement in the operations of the businesses.
We divested the Storage Products business unit in the third quarter of 2010. No significant gains or losses were realized on the sale of this business unit. Storage Products is reflected as a discontinued operation with 2010 revenue of approximately $37 million. This unit sold storage racks and carts used in the food service and health care industries.
During the second quarter of 2012, we received a cash litigation settlement of $3.9 million related to our former Prime Foam Products unit, which was sold in March 2007. This business unit produced foam primarily used for cushioning by upholstered furniture and bedding manufacturers.
For further information on these discontinued operations, see Note B on page 75 of the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.
Item 1A. Risk Factors.
Investing in our securities involves risk. Set forth below and elsewhere in this report are risk factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from the results contemplated by the forward-looking statements contained in this report. We may amend or supplement these risk factors from time to time by other reports we file with the SEC.
We have exposure to economic and other factors that affect market demand for our products which may negatively impact our sales, operating cash flow and earnings.
As a supplier of products to a variety of industries, we are adversely affected by general economic downturns. Our operating performance is heavily influenced by market demand for our components and products. Market demand for the majority of our products is most heavily influenced by consumer confidence. To a lesser extent, market demand is impacted by other broad economic factors, including disposable income levels, employment levels, housing turnover, energy costs and interest rates. All of these factors influence consumer spending on durable goods, and drive demand for our products. Some of these factors also influence business spending on facilities and equipment, which impacts approximately one-quarter of our sales.
Demand weakness in our markets can lead to lower unit orders, sales and earnings in our businesses. Several factors, including a weak global economy, a depressed housing market, or low consumer confidence could contribute to conservative spending habits by consumers around the world. Short lead times in most of our markets allow for limited visibility into demand trends. Many consumers continue to postpone spending on larger ticket items such as bedding and furniture. If economic and market conditions deteriorate, we may experience material negative impacts on our business, financial condition, operating cash flows and results of operations.
Costs of raw materials could negatively affect our profit margins and earnings.
Raw material cost increases (and our ability to respond to cost increases through selling price increases) can significantly impact our earnings. We typically have short-term commitments from our suppliers; therefore, our raw material costs move with the market. When we experience significant increases in raw material costs, we typically implement price increases to recover the higher costs. Inability to recover cost increases (or a delay in the recovery time) can negatively impact our earnings. Conversely, if raw material costs decrease, we generally pass through reduced selling prices to our customers. Reduced selling prices combined with higher cost inventory can reduce our segment margins and earnings.
Steel is our principal raw material. The global steel markets are cyclical in nature and have been volatile in recent years. This volatility can result in large swings in pricing and margins from year to year. Our operations can also be impacted by changes in the cost of fabrics and foam scrap. We experienced significant fluctuations in the cost of these commodities in recent years.
As a producer of steel rod, we are also impacted by volatility in metal margins (the difference in the cost of steel scrap and the market price for steel rod). If scrap costs raise more rapidly than the price of steel rod, the metal margins within our rod producing operation will be compressed. Compressed metal margins could negatively impact our result of operations.
Higher raw material costs in recent years led some of our customers to modify their product designs, changing the quantity and mix of our components in their finished goods. In some cases, higher cost components were replaced with lower cost components. This primarily impacted our Residential Furnishings and Industrial Materials product mix and decreased profit margins. This trend could further negatively impact our results of operations.
Competition could adversely affect our market share, sales, profit margins and earnings.
We operate in markets that are highly competitive. We believe that most companies in our lines of business compete primarily on price, but, depending upon the particular product, we experience competition based on quality, performance and availability as well. We face ongoing pressure from foreign competitors as some of our customers source a portion of their components and finished products from Asia and Europe. In addition to lower labor rates, foreign competitors benefit (at times) from lower raw material costs. They may also benefit from currency factors and more lenient regulatory climates. If we are unable to purchase key raw materials, such as steel, at prices competitive with those of foreign suppliers, our ability to maintain market share and profit margins could be harmed by foreign competitors.
Premium non-innerspring mattresses (those that have either a foam or air core) have experienced rapid growth in the U.S. bedding market in recent years. While still a relatively small portion of the total market in units (approximately 10%-15%), these products represent a much larger portion of the total market in dollars (approximately 25%-30%) due to their higher average selling prices. If sales of foam or air core mattresses continue to grow appreciably, it could reduce our market share in the U.S. bedding market, and negatively impact our sales and earnings.
Our goodwill and other long-lived assets are subject to potential impairment which could negatively impact our earnings.
A significant portion of our assets consists of goodwill and other long-lived assets, the carrying value of which may be reduced if we determine that those assets are impaired. At December 31, 2012, goodwill and other intangible assets represented approximately $1.2 billion, or approximately 37% of our total assets. In addition, net property, plant and equipment and sundry assets totaled approximately $718 million, or approximately 22% of total assets.
We review our ten reporting units for potential goodwill impairment in June as part of our annual goodwill impairment testing, and more often if an event or circumstance occurs making it likely that impairment exists. In addition, we test for the recoverability of long-lived assets at year end, and more often if an event or circumstance indicates the carrying value may not be recoverable. We conduct impairment testing based on our current business strategy in light of present industry and economic conditions, as well as future expectations. The annual goodwill impairment review performed in June 2012 indicated no goodwill impairments, but fair market value for one of our ten reporting units (Store Fixtures) only exceeded book value by approximately 10%. The fair market values of all other reporting units exceeded book value by more than 35%. The goodwill associated with the Store Fixtures reporting unit was $111 million at December 31, 2012. The unit is dependent upon capital spending by retailers on both new stores and remodeling of existing stores. Although recent performance has met expectations, the predictability of future results is less certain than that of our other reporting units due to the project nature of this business. If we are not able to maintain current performance levels, future impairments could be possible.
If actual results differ from the assumptions and estimates used in the goodwill and long-lived asset calculations, we could incur impairment charges, which could negatively impact our earnings.
We are exposed to foreign currency risk which may negatively impact our competitiveness, profit margins and earnings.
We expect that international sales will continue to represent a significant percentage of our total sales, which exposes us to currency exchange rate fluctuations. In 2012, 27% of our sales were generated by international operations. The revenues and expenses of our foreign operations are generally denominated in local currencies; however, certain of our operations experience currency-related gains and losses where sales or purchases are denominated in currencies other than their local currency. Further, our competitive position may be affected by the relative strength of the currencies in countries where our products are sold. Foreign currency exchange risks inherent in doing business in foreign countries may have a material adverse effect on our future operations and financial results.
Technology failures or cyber security breaches could have a material adverse effect on our operations.
We rely on information systems to obtain, process, analyze and manage data, as well as to facilitate the manufacture and distribution of inventory to and from our facilities. We receive, process and ship orders, manage the billing of, and collections from, our customers, and manage the accounting for, and payment to, our vendors. Security breaches of this infrastructure can create system disruptions or unauthorized disclosure of confidential information. If this occurs, our operations could be disrupted, or we may suffer financial loss because of lost or misappropriated information. We cannot be certain that advances in criminal capabilities or new discoveries in the field of cryptography will not compromise our technology protecting information systems. If these systems are interrupted or damaged by these events or fail for any extended period of time, then our results of operations could be adversely affected.
New “conflict minerals” regulations may adversely affect the sourcing, availability and pricing of conflict minerals or components which contain conflict minerals, and may result in loss of sales, additional expenses and reduced profitability.
On August 22, 2012, as mandated by the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act of 2010, the SEC adopted new disclosure regulations for public companies that manufacture products that contain certain minerals and their derivatives, namely tin, tantalum, tungsten or gold, known as conflict minerals, if these minerals are necessary to the functionality or production of the company's products. These regulations require such issuers to report annually whether or not such minerals originate from the Democratic Republic of Congo and adjoining countries and in some cases to perform extensive due diligence on their supply chains for such minerals. The implementation of these new requirements could adversely affect the sourcing, availability and pricing of conflict minerals used in the manufacture of certain electronic components, including those assembled into our products.
In addition, we may incur additional costs to comply with the disclosure requirements, including costs related to determining the source of any of the relevant minerals used in our products. Since our supply chain is complex, the due diligence procedures that we implement may not enable us to ascertain the origins for these minerals or determine that these minerals are DRC conflict-free, which may harm our reputation. We may also face difficulties in satisfying customers who may require that our products be certified as DRC conflict-free, which could harm our relationships with these customers and lead to a loss of sales. These new requirements also could have the effect of limiting the pool of suppliers from which we source these minerals, and we may be unable to obtain conflict-free minerals at competitive prices, which could increase our costs and adversely affect our manufacturing operations and our profitability.
Deteriorating financial condition of our customers could negatively affect our sales, earnings, cash flows and liquidity.
We serve customers in a variety of industries, some of which have and are continuing to experience low levels of demand. A sustained economic downturn increases the possibility that one or more of our significant customers, or a group of less significant customers, could become insolvent, which could adversely impact our sales, earnings, cash flow and liquidity.
We may not be able to realize deferred tax assets on our balance sheet depending upon the amount and source of future taxable income.
Our ability to realize deferred tax assets on our balance sheet is dependent upon the amount and source of future taxable income. Economic uncertainty or tax law changes could change our underlying assumptions on which valuation reserves are established and negatively affect future period earnings and balance sheets.
Item 1B. Unresolved Staff Comments.
None.
Item 2. Properties.
The Company’s corporate office is located in Carthage, Missouri. We currently have 135 manufacturing locations, of which 91 are located across the United States and 44 are located in 16 foreign countries. We also have various sales, warehouse and administrative facilities. However, our manufacturing plants are our most important properties.
Manufacturing Locations by Segment
|
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Company- Wide | | Subtotals by Segment |
Manufacturing Locations | | Residential Furnishings | | Commercial Fixturing & Components | | Industrial Materials | | Specialized Products |
United States | | 91 |
| | 52 |
| | 10 |
| | 16 |
| | 13 |
|
Asia | | 15 |
| | 5 |
| | 2 |
| | — |
| | 8 |
|
Europe | | 13 |
| | 3 |
| | 1 |
| | — |
| | 9 |
|
Canada | | 9 |
| | 2 |
| | 2 |
| | — |
| | 5 |
|
Mexico | | 5 |
| | 2 |
| | — |
| | 1 |
| | 2 |
|
Other | | 2 |
| | 2 |
| | — |
| | — |
| | — |
|
Total | | 135 |
| | 66 |
| | 15 |
| | 17 |
| | 37 |
|
__________________________________________________________
Manufacturing locations that we own produced approximately 70% of our sales in 2012. We also lease many of our manufacturing, warehouse and other facilities on terms that vary by lease (including purchase options, renewals and maintenance costs). For additional information regarding lease obligations, see Note K on page 88 of the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.
In the opinion of management the Company’s owned and leased facilities are suitable and adequate for the manufacture, assembly and distribution of our products. Our properties are located to allow quick and efficient delivery of products and services to our diverse customer base. Our productive capacity, in general, continues to exceed current operating levels. With our current utilization levels, we should be able to readily accommodate over $4 billion in revenue (assuming current sales mix).
To trim unproductive capacity and reduce overhead costs, management, in December 2011, approved a restructuring plan which included the closure of four underperforming branches. Of the closed branches, one was in the Residential Furnishings segment, one was in Commercial Fixturing & Components and two were in the Industrial Materials segment.
Item 3. Legal Proceedings.
The information in Note T on page 108 of the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements is incorporated into this section by reference.
Item 4. Mine Safety Disclosures.
Not applicable.
Supplemental Item. Executive Officers of the Registrant.
The following information is included in accordance with the provisions of Part III, Item 10 of Form 10-K and Item 401(b) of Regulation S-K.
The table below sets forth the names, ages and positions of all executive officers of the Company. Executive officers are normally appointed annually by the Board of Directors.
|
| | | | |
Name | | Age | | Position |
David S. Haffner | | 60 | | President and Chief Executive Officer |
Karl G. Glassman | | 54 | | Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer |
Jack D. Crusa | | 58 | | Senior Vice President, Specialized Products |
Perry E. Davis | | 53 | | Senior Vice President, Residential Furnishings |
David M. DeSonier | | 54 | | Senior Vice President, Strategy & Investor Relations |
Scott S. Douglas | | 53 | | Senior Vice President, General Counsel |
Joseph D. Downes, Jr. | | 68 | | Senior Vice President, Industrial Materials |
Matthew C. Flanigan | | 51 | | Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer |
John G. Moore | | 52 | | Senior Vice President, Chief Legal & HR Officer and Secretary |
Dennis S. Park | | 58 | | Senior Vice President, Commercial Fixturing & Components |
William S. Weil | | 54 | | Vice President, Corporate Controller and Chief Accounting Officer |
______________________________
Subject to the employment and severance benefit agreements with Mr. Haffner and Mr. Glassman, and the employment agreement with Mr. Flanigan, listed as exhibits to this Report, the executive officers generally serve at the pleasure of the Board of Directors. Our employment agreements with Mr. Haffner and Mr. Glassman provide that they may terminate the agreements if not re-elected as a director of the Company. See Exhibit Index on page 117 for reference to the agreements.
David S. Haffner was appointed Chief Executive Officer in 2006 and has served as President of the Company since 2002. He served as Chief Operating Officer from 1999 to 2006 and as the Company’s Executive Vice President from 1995 to 2002. He has served the Company in various capacities since 1983.
Karl G. Glassman was appointed Chief Operating Officer in 2006 and has served as Executive Vice President of the Company since 2002. He served as President of the Residential Furnishings Segment from 1999 to 2006, as Senior Vice President of the Company from 1999 to 2002 and as President of Bedding Components from 1996 to 1998. He has served the Company in various capacities since 1982.
Jack D. Crusa has served the Company as Senior Vice President since 1999 and President of Specialized Products since 2003. He previously served as President of the Industrial Materials Segment from 1999 through 2004, as President of the Automotive Group from 1996 through 1999 and in various capacities since 1986.
Perry E. Davis was appointed Senior Vice President and President of the Residential Furnishings Segment in February 2012. He previously served as Vice President of the Company, President—Bedding Group beginning in 2006, as Vice President of the Company, Executive VP of the Bedding Group and President—U.S. Spring beginning in 2005. He also served as Executive VP of the Bedding Group and President—U.S. Spring from 2004 to 2005, President—Central Division Bedding Group from 2000 to 2004, and in various capacities since 1981.
David M. DeSonier was named Senior Vice President—Strategy & Investor Relations in 2011. He was appointed Vice President—Strategy & Investor Relations in 2007 and served as Vice President—Investor Relations and Assistant Treasurer from 2002 to 2007. He joined the Company as Vice President—Investor Relations in 2000.
Scott S. Douglas was named Senior Vice President—General Counsel in 2011. He served the Company as Vice President beginning in 2008, and General Counsel beginning in 2010. He previously served as Vice President—Law and Deputy General Counsel from 2008 to 2010, Associate General Counsel—Mergers & Acquisitions from 2001 to 2007, and Assistant General Counsel from 1991 to 2001. He has served the Company in various legal capacities since 1987.
Joseph D. Downes, Jr. was appointed Senior Vice President of the Company in 2005 and President of the Industrial Materials Segment in 2004. He previously served the Company as President of the Wire Group from 1999 to 2004 and in various capacities since 1976.
Matthew C. Flanigan has served the Company as Senior Vice President since 2005 and as Chief Financial Officer since 2003. Mr. Flanigan previously served the Company as Vice President from 2003 to 2005, as Vice President and President of the Office Furniture Components Group from 1999 to 2003 and as Staff Vice President of Operations from 1997 to 1999.
John G. Moore was named Senior Vice President, Chief Legal and HR Officer and Secretary in 2011. He was previously appointed Secretary in January 2010, Chief Legal and HR Officer in 2009 and Vice President—Corporate Affairs & Human Resources in 2008. He served as Vice President—Corporate Governance from 2006 to 2008, as Vice President and Associate General Counsel from 2001 to 2006, and as Managing Counsel and Assistant General Counsel from 1998 to 2001. He has served the Company in various legal capacities since 1993.
Dennis S. Park became Senior Vice President and President of the Commercial Fixturing & Components Segment in 2006. In 2004, he was named President of the Home Furniture and Consumer Products Group and became Vice President of the Company and President of Home Furniture Components in 1996. He has served the Company in various capacities since 1977.
William S. Weil has served the Company as Chief Accounting Officer since 2004. He became Vice President in 2000 and has served the Company as Corporate Controller since 1991. He previously served the Company in various other accounting capacities since 1983.
PART II
Item 5. Market for Registrant’s Common Equity, Related Stockholder Matters and Issuer Purchases of Equity Securities.
Our common stock is traded on the New York Stock Exchange (symbol LEG). The table below highlights quarterly and annual stock market information for the last two years.
|
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Price Range | | Volume of Shares Traded (in Millions) | | Dividend Declared |
| High | | Low | |
2012 | | | | | | | |
First Quarter | $ | 23.73 |
| | $ | 21.26 |
| | 119.0 |
| | $ | 0.28 |
|
Second Quarter | 23.98 |
| | 19.26 |
| | 129.9 |
| | 0.28 |
|
Third Quarter | 25.24 |
| | 20.50 |
| | 107.9 |
| | 0.29 |
|
Fourth Quarter | 27.89 |
| | 24.35 |
| | 84.8 |
| | 0.29 |
|
For the Year | $ | 27.89 |
| | $ | 19.26 |
| | 441.6 |
| | $ | 1.14 |
|
2011 | | | | | | | |
First Quarter | $ | 24.68 |
| | $ | 22.16 |
| | 82.9 |
| | $ | 0.27 |
|
Second Quarter | 26.95 |
| | 22.56 |
| | 99.2 |
| | 0.27 |
|
Third Quarter | 24.99 |
| | 17.80 |
| | 129.5 |
| | 0.28 |
|
Fourth Quarter | 24.84 |
| | 18.37 |
| | 107.5 |
| | 0.28 |
|
For the Year | $ | 26.95 |
| | $ | 17.80 |
| | 419.1 |
| | $ | 1.10 |
|
______________________________
Price and volume data reflect composite transactions; price range reflects intra-day prices; data source is Bloomberg.
Shareholders and Dividends
As of February 11, 2013, we had 9,533 shareholders of record.
We expect to continue to pay dividends on our common stock and we are targeting a dividend payout ratio (dividends declared per share/earnings per share) of 50-60%, though it has been and will likely be higher for the near term. Our dividend payout ratio was 92%, 106% and 67% in 2010, 2011 and 2012, respectively. See the discussion of the Company’s targeted dividend payout under “Pay Dividends” in Item 7, Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations on page 38.
During 2012, the Company declared four quarterly dividends, but paid five of them, given its decision to accelerate the first quarter 2013 dividend payment into December 2012. For 2013, the Company expects to return to its typical dividend schedule, which is to declare four dividend payments. However, during 2013, we expect to pay only three dividends with the fourth payment to be made in January 2014. The five dividend payments in 2012 utilized approximately $200 million of cash while the three expected payments in 2013 are anticipated to utilize roughly $125 million of cash.
Issuer Purchases of Equity Securities
The table below is a listing of our purchases of the Company’s common stock during each calendar month of the fourth quarter of 2012.
|
| | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Period | | Total Number of Shares Purchased(1) | | Average Price Paid per Share | | Total Number of Shares Purchased as Part of Publicly Announced Plans or Programs(2) | | Maximum Number of Shares that May Yet Be Purchased Under the Plans or Programs(2) |
October 2012 | | 716 |
| | $ | 26.12 |
| | — |
| | 9,656,449 |
|
November 2012 | | 715,959 |
| | $ | 27.09 |
| | 267,920 |
| | 9,388,529 |
|
December 2012 | | 202,847 |
| | $ | 27.76 |
| | 140,983 |
| | 9,247,546 |
|
Total | | 919,522 |
| | $ | 27.24 |
| | 408,903 |
| | |
______________________________
| |
(1) | This number includes 510,619 shares which were not repurchased as part of a publicly announced plan or program, all of which were shares surrendered in transactions permitted under the Company’s benefit plans. It does not include shares withheld for taxes in option exercises and stock unit conversions; or forfeited stock units during the quarter. |
| |
(2) | On August 4, 2004, the Board authorized management to repurchase up to 10 million shares each calendar year beginning January 1, 2005. This standing authorization was first reported in the quarterly report on Form 10-Q for the period ended June 30, 2004, filed August 5, 2004, and will remain in force until repealed by the Board of Directors. As such, effective January 1, 2013, the Company was authorized by the Board of Directors to repurchase up to 10 million shares in 2013. No specific repurchase schedule has been established. |
Item 6. Selected Financial Data.
|
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
(Unaudited) | 2012 1 | | 2011 2 | | 2010 | | 2009 | | 2008 3,4 |
|
(Dollar amounts in millions, except per share data) | | | | | | | | | |
Summary of Operations | | | | | | | | | |
Net Sales from Continuing Operations | $ | 3,721 |
| | $ | 3,636 |
| | $ | 3,359 |
| | $ | 3,055 |
| | $ | 4,076 |
|
Earnings from Continuing Operations | 248 |
| | 156 |
| | 184 |
| | 121 |
| | 128 |
|
(Earnings) Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest, net of tax | (2 | ) | | (3 | ) | | (6 | ) | | (3 | ) | | (5 | ) |
Earnings (loss) from Discontinued Operations, net of tax | 2 |
| | — |
| | (1 | ) | | (6 | ) | | (19 | ) |
Net Earnings | 248 |
| | 153 |
| | 177 |
| | 112 |
| | 104 |
|
Earnings per share from Continuing Operations | | | | | | | | | |
Basic | 1.70 |
| | 1.05 |
| | 1.17 |
| | .74 |
| | .73 |
|
Diluted | 1.68 |
| | 1.04 |
| | 1.16 |
| | .74 |
| | .73 |
|
Earnings (Loss) per share from Discontinued Operations | | | | | | | | | |
Basic | .02 |
| | — |
| | — |
| | (.04 | ) | | (.11 | ) |
Diluted | .02 |
| | — |
| | (.01 | ) | | (.04 | ) | | (.11 | ) |
Net Earnings (Loss) per share | | | | | | | | | |
Basic | 1.72 |
| | 1.05 |
| | 1.17 |
| | .70 |
| | .62 |
|
Diluted | 1.70 |
| | 1.04 |
| | 1.15 |
| | .70 |
| | .62 |
|
Cash Dividends declared per share | 1.14 |
| | 1.10 |
| | 1.06 |
| | 1.02 |
| | 1.00 |
|
Summary of Financial Position | | | | | | | | | |
Total Assets | $ | 3,255 |
| | $ | 2,915 |
| | $ | 3,001 |
| | $ | 3,061 |
| | $ | 3,162 |
|
Long-term Debt, including capital leases | $ | 854 |
| | $ | 833 |
| | $ | 762 |
| | $ | 789 |
| | $ | 851 |
|
______________________________
| |
1. | Net earnings for 2012 include a $33 million net tax benefit primarily related to the release of valuation allowances on certain Canadian deferred tax assets, partially offset by deferred withholding taxes on earnings in China. |
| |
2. | The Company incurred asset impairment charges and restructuring-related charges totaling $44 million in 2011. All of these charges were recognized in continuing operations. |
| |
3. | The Company incurred asset impairment and restructuring-related charges totaling $84 million in 2008. Of these charges, approximately $33 million were associated with continuing operations and $51 million related to discontinued operations. |
| |
4. | Amounts for 2008 were retrospectively adjusted to reflect the reclassification of noncontrolling interests from “Other expense (income), net” to “(Earnings) attributable to noncontrolling interest, net of tax” in the Consolidated Statement of Operations. |
Item 7. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations.
2012 HIGHLIGHTS
Demand continued to improve in several of our markets during 2012. Sales grew in Automotive, U.S. Spring, Adjustable Bed, Geo Components, Carpet Underlay, and parts of our home furniture components business. Growth in unit volumes was partially offset by lower trade sales at our steel mill and changes in currency rates.
Higher unit volumes led to improved earnings and record earnings per share from continuing operations. Earnings also benefited from cost improvements and the Western Pneumatic Tube acquisition.
In January 2012 we purchased Western Pneumatic Tube, a leading provider to the aerospace industry of integral components for critical aircraft systems. This was our first significant acquisition since 2007, and established for us a strong competitive position in a higher return, higher growth market.
Operating cash for the full year increased significantly on stronger earnings and improvements in working capital levels. We again generated more than enough cash from operations to comfortably fund dividends and capital expenditures, something we've accomplished for over 20 years.
2012 marked the 41st consecutive annual dividend increase for the company, with a compound annual growth rate of 13% over that time period. Only two other S&P 500 companies can claim as high a rate of dividend growth for as many years.
Our financial profile remains strong. We ended 2012 with net debt to net capital slightly below the conservative end of our long-term targeted range. In August we issued $300 million of 10-year senior notes and used the proceeds to pay down commercial paper. We ended the year with the entire $600 million available under our existing commercial paper program and revolver facility.
We assess our overall performance by comparing our Total Shareholder Return (TSR) to that of peer companies on a rolling three-year basis. We target TSR in the top one-third of the S&P 500 over the long term. For the three years ended December 31, 2012, we generated TSR of 16% per year on average. That places us in the top 37% of the S&P 500, just shy of our top one-third goal.
These topics are discussed in more detail in the sections that follow.
INTRODUCTION
Total Shareholder Return
Total Shareholder Return (TSR), relative to peer companies, is the key financial measure that we use to assess long-term performance. TSR is driven by the change in our share price and the dividends we pay [TSR = (Change in Stock Price + Dividends) / Beginning Stock Price]. We seek to achieve TSR in the top one-third of the S&P 500 over the long-term through a balanced approach that employs all four TSR sources: revenue growth, margin expansion, dividends, and share repurchases.
We monitor our TSR performance (relative to the S&P 500) on a rolling three-year basis. For the three-year measurement period that ended December 31, 2012, we generated TSR of 16% per year on average, compared to 11% for the S&P 500 index. That places us in the top 37% of the S&P 500, just shy of our top one-third goal.
Our incentive programs reward improved return on investment. Senior executives participate in a TSR-based incentive program (based on our performance compared to the performance of a group of approximately 320 peers). Business unit bonuses emphasize the achievement of higher returns on the assets under the unit’s direct control.
Customers
We serve a broad suite of customers, with our largest customer representing approximately 6% of our sales. Many are companies whose names are widely recognized; they include most manufacturers of furniture and bedding, a variety of other manufacturers, and many major retailers.
Major Factors That Impact Our Business
Many factors impact our business, but those that generally have the greatest impact are market demand, raw material cost trends, and competition.
Market Demand
Market demand (including product mix) is impacted by several economic factors, with consumer confidence being most significant. Other important factors include disposable income levels, employment levels, housing turnover, and interest rates. All these factors influence consumer spending on durable goods, and therefore affect demand for our components and products. Some of these factors also influence business spending on facilities and equipment, which impacts approximately one-quarter of our sales.
Demand improved in several of our markets during 2012. As expected, we realized significant earnings leverage as unit volumes grew, and this led to improved margins.
Over the last few years we have significantly reduced our fixed cost structure, but purposely retained spare production capacity. Accordingly, unit sales can increase appreciably without the need for large capital investment. We have meaningful operating leverage that should further benefit earnings as market demand continues to improve. With our current utilization levels, we should be able to readily accommodate over $4 billion in revenue (assuming current sales mix). Until our spare capacity is fully utilized, each additional $100 million of sales from incremental unit volume is expected to generate approximately $25 million to $35 million of additional pre-tax earnings.
Raw Material Costs
In many of our businesses, we enjoy a cost advantage from buying large quantities of raw materials. This purchasing leverage is a benefit that many of our competitors generally do not have. Still, our costs can vary significantly as market prices for raw materials (many of which are commodities) fluctuate.
We typically have short-term commitments from our suppliers; accordingly, our raw material costs generally move with the market. Our ability to recover higher costs (through selling price increases) is crucial. When we experience significant increases in raw material costs, we typically implement price increases to recover the higher costs. Conversely, when costs decrease significantly, we generally pass those lower costs through to our customers. The timing of our price increases or decreases is important; we typically experience a lag in recovering higher costs, so we also expect to realize a lag as costs decline.
Steel is our principal raw material and at various times in past years we have experienced extreme cost fluctuations in this commodity. In most cases, the major changes (both increases and decreases) were passed through to customers with selling price adjustments. In late 2010, steel costs began increasing, and we raised our selling prices in early 2011 to recover the majority of the higher costs. By mid-year 2011, market prices for certain types of steel had begun to decrease. The margin pressure we experienced in the last half of 2011 resulted in part from lowering our selling prices (selectively) in advance of our average cost of steel declining, in order to maintain market share and minimize deterioration in product mix. The alignment of costs and pricing improved in 2012. During the year, we experienced month-to-month variability in steel costs, but overall for 2012, costs decreased slightly.
As a producer of steel rod, we are also impacted by volatility in metal margins (the difference in the cost of steel scrap and the market price for steel rod). Steel scrap costs (and metal margins) were relatively stable for the majority of 2011. As mentioned above, in 2012 we experienced month-to-month variability in steel scrap costs and steel rod pricing, however for the full year, metal margins were comparable to 2011.
Our other raw materials include woven and non-woven fabrics, foam scrap, and chemicals. We have experienced changes in the cost of these materials in recent years, and in most years, have been able to pass them through to our customers.
When we raise our prices to recover higher raw material costs, this sometimes causes customers to modify their product designs and replace higher cost components with lower cost components. We experienced this de-contenting effect in our Residential Furnishings segment in the back half of 2011 (however selective selling price reductions helped contain this activity). As our customers changed the quantity and mix of components in their finished goods to address commodity inflation, our profit margins were negatively impacted. We must continue to find ways to assist our customers in improving the functionality and reducing the cost of their products, while providing higher margin and profit contribution for our operations.
Competition
Many of our markets are highly competitive with the number of competitors varying by product line. In general, our competitors tend to be smaller, private companies. Many of our competitors, both domestic and foreign, compete primarily on the basis of price. Our success has stemmed from the ability to remain price competitive, while delivering better product quality, innovation, and customer service.
We continue to face pressure from foreign competitors as some of our customers source a portion of their components and finished products offshore. In addition to lower labor rates, foreign competitors benefit (at times) from lower raw material costs. They may also benefit from currency factors and more lenient regulatory climates. We typically remain price competitive, even versus many foreign manufacturers, as a result of our highly efficient operations, low labor content, vertical integration in steel and wire, and large scale purchasing of raw materials and commodities. However, we have also reacted to foreign competition in certain cases by selectively adjusting prices, and by developing new proprietary products that help our customers reduce total costs. The margin pressure we experienced in the last half of 2011 resulted in part from price competition in certain of our businesses as we reduced prices (selectively) to maintain market share in light of depressed industry volume.
Premium non-innerspring mattresses (those that have either a foam or air core) have experienced rapid growth in the U.S. bedding market in recent years. While still a relatively small portion of the total market in units (approximately 10%-15%), these products represent a much larger portion of the total market in dollars (approximately 25%-30%) due to their higher average selling prices. We expect these products to continue to grow. Some of our traditional bedding customers are now offering mattresses that combine an innerspring core with top layers comprised of specialty foam and gel. These hybrid products, which allow our bedding customers to address a consumer preference for the feel of a specialty mattress and the characteristics of an innerspring, are being well received by consumers.
We filed an antidumping suit related to innerspring imports from China, South Africa and Vietnam which was brought to a favorable conclusion in early 2009. The current antidumping duty rates on innersprings from these countries are significant, ranging from 116% to 234%, and should remain in effect at least until early 2014. Imported innersprings from these countries are now supposed to be sold at fair prices, however the duties on certain innersprings are being evaded by various means including shipping the goods through a third country and falsely identifying the country of origin. In 2009, Leggett, along with several U.S. manufacturers of products with active antidumping or antidumping/countervailing duty orders, formed a coalition and are working with Members of Congress, the U.S. Department of Commerce, and U.S. Customs and Border Protection to seek stronger enforcement of existing antidumping and/or countervailing duty orders.
2011 Restructuring Plan
In December 2011, we approved a restructuring plan to reduce our overhead costs and improve ongoing profitability. The activities primarily entailed the closure of four underperforming facilities. We incurred a $37 million pre-tax (largely non-cash) charge in the 4th quarter of 2011 primarily related to this plan, which included $31 million of long-lived asset impairments and $6 million of other restructuring-related costs. During 2012, we incurred an additional $2 million of restructuring-related costs and $1 million of long-lived asset impairments related to this plan. These activities were substantially complete by the end of 2012 and no significant additional costs related to the plan are expected.
RESULTS OF OPERATIONS—2012 vs. 2011
Demand improved in many of our markets during 2012. Growth in unit volumes was partially offset by lower trade sales at our steel mill (sales shifted from trade to intra-segment) and changes in currency rates.
Earnings increased significantly, from $153 million in 2011 to $248 million in 2012. This improvement reflects several factors, including lower restructuring-related costs, higher unit volumes, benefits from special tax items, cost improvements, and earnings from the Western Pneumatic Tube acquisition.
Further details about our consolidated and segment results are discussed below.
Consolidated Results
The following table shows the changes in sales and earnings during 2012, and identifies the major factors contributing to the changes.
|
| | | | | | |
(Dollar amounts in millions, except per share data) | Amount | | % |
Net sales: | | | |
Year ended December 31, 2011 | $ | 3,636 |
| | |
Same location sales increase: | |
| | |
|
Lower steel mill trade sales and currency | (70 | ) | | (1.9 | )% |
Approximate unit volume increase | 106 |
| | 2.9 | % |
Same location sales increase | 36 |
| | 1.0 | % |
Acquisition sales growth | 75 |
| | 2.1 | % |
Divestitures | (26 | ) | | (0.7 | )% |
Year ended December 31, 2012 | $ | 3,721 |
| | 2.4 | % |
Net earnings attributable to Leggett & Platt: | | | |
(Dollar amounts, net of tax) | | | |
Year ended December 31, 2011 | $ | 153 |
| | |
Non-recurrence of restructuring-related costs (from December 2011) | 23 |
| | |
Non-recurrence of building gains | (6 | ) | | |
Special net tax benefits | 33 |
| | |
Higher effective tax rate | (7 | ) | | |
Higher interest expense | (4 | ) | | |
Other factors, including higher unit volumes, cost improvements, and acquisition earnings | 56 |
| | |
Year ended December 31, 2012 | $ | 248 |
| | |
Earnings Per Share—2011 | $ | 1.04 |
| | |
Earnings Per Share—2012 | $ | 1.70 |
| | |
Improved demand in several of our markets led to higher sales in 2012. Same location sales increased 1%, with 3% unit volume growth partially offset by a 2% revenue decline from lower trade sales at our steel mill and changes in currency rates. Unit volumes grew during the year in Automotive, U.S. Spring, Adjustable Bed, Geo Components, Carpet Underlay, and certain parts of our home furniture components business. The decrease in trade sales of steel rod during 2012 was largely offset by an increase in intra-segment rod sales, so total rod production for the year was roughly flat with 2011.
Earnings increased significantly in 2012 due to several factors. Operationally, these included higher unit volumes, cost improvements, and earnings from the Western Pneumatic Tube acquisition. The other items detailed in the table above also collectively contributed to the earnings increase. In 2011, earnings were reduced by restructuring-related costs primarily associated with the December 2011 Plan discussed on page 28. In 2012, earnings benefited from special tax items, which included the elimination of a valuation allowance on Canadian deferred tax assets.
LIFO Impact
All of our segments use the first-in, first-out (FIFO) method for valuing inventory. In our consolidated financials, an adjustment is made at the corporate level (i.e. outside the segments) to convert about 60% of our inventories to the last-in, first-out (LIFO) method. These are primarily our domestic, steel-related inventories. Moderate inflation resulted in LIFO expense of $14 million in 2011. In 2012, lower commodity costs led to a LIFO benefit of $15 million.
For further discussion of inventories, see Note A to the Consolidated Financial Statements on page 71.
Interest and Income Taxes
Net interest expense in 2012 was $5 million higher than in 2011, primarily due to the issuance in August 2012 of $300 million of long-term notes.
The 2012 effective income tax rate of 18.5% on continuing operations was lower than the 24.2% incurred in 2011. The 2012 tax rate benefited from the fourth quarter release of a $38 million valuation allowance on certain Canadian deferred tax assets (primarily tax loss carryforwards). As a result of an increase in operating earnings in Canada, the amalgamation of two Canadian subsidiaries, and the restructuring of intercompany debt attributable in part to a change in Canadian tax law, we now expect those carryforwards and other deferred tax assets to be utilized in future years. The 2012 tax rate also benefited from the second quarter recording of a $6 million deferred tax asset for the tax basis of a subsidiary which is likely to be realized in 2013. These benefits were partially offset by the fourth quarter accrual of $11 million of withholding taxes on earnings in China, which was required since we no longer have specific plans to reinvest all these earnings within China. We also experienced other, less significant, discrete tax items (both favorable and unfavorable) that substantially offset for the year. Excluding the net impact of all these items, our 2012 effective tax rate would have been approximately 30%. We expect an ongoing cash flow benefit of $3 million to $4 million per year for the next 10 to 15 years as the Canadian tax loss carryforwards are utilized.
The 2011 tax rate benefited from changes in our mix of earnings among taxing jurisdictions, one-time tax planning strategies, and the settlement of our 2004 through 2008 IRS examination. As a result of the tax planning strategies and tax audit, we recognized tax benefits of $5 million in 2011.
On January 2, 2013, President Obama signed the American Taxpayer Relief Act of 2012, which retroactively extended certain corporate tax provisions. Although several of these provisions will benefit our 2013 tax rate, we do not expect a material impact as a result of this legislation.
Segment Results
In the following section we discuss 2012 sales and earnings before interest and taxes (EBIT) for each of our segments. We provide additional detail about segment results and a reconciliation of segment EBIT to consolidated EBIT in Note F to the Consolidated Financial Statements on page 80.
|
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
(Dollar amounts in millions) | 2012 | | 2011 | | Change in Sales | | % Change Same Location Sales (1) | | |
$ | | % | |
Sales | | | | | | | | | | | |
Residential Furnishings | $ | 1,904 |
| | $ | 1,837 |
| | $ | 67 |
| | 4 | % | | 3 | % | | |
Commercial Fixturing & Components | 483 |
| | 507 |
| | (24 | ) | | (5 | )% | | — | % | | |
Industrial Materials | 881 |
| | 857 |
| | 24 |
| | 3 | % | | (5 | )% | | |
Specialized Products | 760 |
| | 736 |
| | 24 |
| | 3 | % | | 3 | % | | |
Total | 4,028 |
| | 3,937 |
| | 91 |
| | | | | | |
Intersegment sales elimination | (307 | ) | | (301 | ) | | (6 | ) | | | | | | |
External sales | $ | 3,721 |
| | $ | 3,636 |
| | $ | 85 |
| | 2 | % | | 1 | % | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | |
| 2012 | | 2011 | | Change in EBIT | | EBIT Margins (2) |
$ | | % | | 2012 | | 2011 |
EBIT | | | | | | | | | | | |
Residential Furnishings | $ | 154 |
| | $ | 138 |
| | $ | 16 |
| | 12 | % | | 8.1 | % | | 7.5 | % |
Commercial Fixturing & Components | 30 |
| | 16 |
| | 14 |
| | 88 | % | | 6.3 | % | | 3.1 | % |
Industrial Materials | 65 |
| | 28 |
| | 37 |
| | 132 | % | | 7.3 | % | | 3.3 | % |
Specialized Products | 86 |
| | 77 |
| | 9 |
| | 12 | % | | 11.3 | % | | 10.5 | % |
Intersegment eliminations & other | (9 | ) | | (7 | ) | | (2 | ) | | | | | | |
Change in LIFO reserve | 15 |
| | (14 | ) | | 29 |
| | | | | | |
Total | $ | 341 |
| | $ | 238 |
| | $ | 103 |
| | 43 | % | | 9.2 | % | | 6.5 | % |
______________________________
| |
(1) | This is the change in sales not attributable to acquisitions or divestitures. These are sales that come from the same plants and facilities that we owned one year earlier. |
| |
(2) | Segment margins are calculated on total sales. Overall company margin is calculated on external sales. |
Residential Furnishings
Residential Furnishings sales increased 4% in 2012, entirely from higher unit volumes. Demand improved in several of our residential markets during the year. In our U.S. Spring business, innerspring unit volumes increased 4%, in large part from growth of Comfort Core®, which is our pocketed coil product offering. Strong market reception of hybrid mattresses is helping to drive growth in this category. We again had significant growth in adjustable beds, with unit volumes up 27% in 2012. Sales also grew in geo components, carpet underlay, seating components, and sofa sleepers. These improvements were partially offset by a 4% decrease in furniture hardware unit volumes and declines in our International Spring business.
EBIT and EBIT margins increased in 2012, primarily due to higher sales and the absence of the December 2011 restructuring-related costs (of $7 million).
Commercial Fixturing & Components
Sales in Commercial Fixturing & Components decreased 5% in 2012, due to the divestiture of our U.K.-based point-of-purchase display operation in January 2012. Apart from the divestiture, sales in the segment were flat with 2011. Volumes in the Store Fixtures business were roughly flat for the year, with significantly lower spending by certain retailers offset by large programs (in the third quarter) associated with a major customer's re-branding initiative. Sales in our Office Furniture Components business were also essentially unchanged, which we believe was consistent with 2012 demand trends in the office seating market.
EBIT and EBIT margins increased in 2012, primarily benefiting from prior cost improvement initiatives and the absence of the December 2011 restructuring-related costs (of $3 million).
Industrial Materials
Sales in the segment increased 3% in 2012, with revenue from acquisitions partially offset by lower trade sales from our steel mill. The decrease in trade sales of steel rod during 2012 was largely offset by an increase in intra-segment rod sales, so total rod production for the year was roughly flat with 2011. The rod mill continues to operate at full capacity. Despite the negative sales comparisons they create, lower trade sales of rod are generally neutral to earnings if production levels are stable and we're consuming the rod in our own wire mills.
EBIT and EBIT margins increased versus 2011, primarily due to the absence of the December 2011 restructuring-related costs (of $22 million), cost improvements, and earnings from acquisitions. EBIT margins also increased during the year as a result of the change in sales from trade to intra-segment at our steel rod mill. This sales shift is beneficial to margins since it decreases our reported sales while preserving comparable EBIT levels.
Segment sales and EBIT benefited from the acquisition (in January 2012) of Western Pneumatic Tube. That business, which resides in the Industrial Materials segment, exceeded our initial first year forecast, and as expected, generated EBIT margins greater than the company average.
Specialized Products
In Specialized Products, sales increased 3% in 2012, with growth in Automotive partially offset by changes in currency exchange rates. Sales also increased slightly in Commercial Vehicle Products, but Machinery volumes were down versus the prior year. Our Automotive business continued to experience strong growth during 2012 in North America and Asia, but sales declined in Europe from currency impacts and ongoing economic weakness.
EBIT and EBIT margins increased in 2012 primarily from higher sales and the absence of the December 2011 restructuring-related costs (of $5 million).
Results from Discontinued Operations
Full year earnings from discontinued operations, net of tax, was not material in either year (2011 or 2012).
RESULTS OF OPERATIONS—2011 vs. 2010
Sales growth in 2011 was driven primarily by factors that bring little incremental earnings. The main revenue catalyst was raw material-related price inflation, but currency and a change in sales at our steel mill (from intra-segment to trade) also contributed to the year-over-year increase. Across the remainder of the company as a whole, unit volume was up slightly. Full-year earnings decreased, from $177 million in 2010 to $153 million in 2011 primarily from higher restructuring-related costs.
Further details about our consolidated and segment results are discussed below.
Consolidated Results
The following table shows the changes in sales and earnings during 2011, and identifies the major factors contributing to the changes.
|
| | | | | | |
(Dollar amounts in millions, except per share data) | Amount | | % |
Net sales: | | | |
Year ended December 31, 2010 | $ | 3,359 |
| | |
Same location sales increase: | | | |
Approximate inflation and currency | 159 |
| | 4.7 | % |
Approximate unit volume increase | 116 |
| | 3.5 | % |
Same location sales increase | 275 |
| | 8.2 | % |
Acquisition sales growth | 3 |
| | — |
|
Small divestitures | (1 | ) | | — |
|
Year ended December 31, 2011 | $ | 3,636 |
| | 8.2 | % |
Net earnings attributable to Leggett & Platt: | | | |
(Dollar amounts, net of tax) | | | |
Year ended December 31, 2010 | $ | 177 |
| | |
Higher restructuring-related costs | (23 | ) | | |
Lower effective tax rate | 6 |
| | |
Other factors, including slightly higher unit volume offset by higher selling and administrative, and other costs | (7 | ) | | |
Year ended December 31, 2011 | $ | 153 |
| | |
Earnings Per Share—2010 | $ | 1.15 |
| | |
Earnings Per Share—2011 | $ | 1.04 |
| | |
Sales grew 8% in 2011, largely from inflation and currency rate changes. Unit volumes grew 3% primarily due to a shift in the mix of sales at our steel mill (from intra-segment to trade). Across the bulk of our businesses, in aggregate, market demand increased slightly.
Demand improved in certain of our markets during 2011, with automotive and office furniture leading the way. In contrast, stagnant demand negatively impacted our major residential markets. Many consumers continued to postpone spending on larger-ticket items such as bedding and furniture in the face of ongoing economic weakness.
Earnings decreased in 2011, largely due to restructuring-related costs associated with the decision (in the fourth quarter) to close certain manufacturing facilities. Other factors, including slightly higher unit volume, a lower effective tax rate, and higher selling, administrative, and other costs essentially offset during the year.
LIFO Impact
All of our segments use the first-in, first-out (FIFO) method for valuing inventory. In our consolidated financials, an adjustment is made at the corporate level (i.e. outside the segments) to convert about 60% of our inventories to the last-in, first-out (LIFO) method. These are primarily our domestic, steel-related inventories. In both 2011 and 2010, moderate inflation led to full-year LIFO expense ($14 million in 2011 and $15 million in 2010).
For further discussion of inventories, see Note A to the Consolidated Financial Statements on page 71.
Interest and Income Taxes
Net interest expense in 2011 was roughly flat with 2010.
The 2011 consolidated worldwide effective income tax rate of 24.2% was lower than the 28.1% incurred in 2010. Several factors contributed to the reduction, including changes in our mix of earnings among taxing jurisdictions, one-time benefits from tax planning strategies, and tentative agreement reached with the IRS regarding the examination of our 2004 through 2008 tax years. As a result of the tax planning strategies and audit, we recognized tax benefits of $5 million in 2011. This was comparable to a tax benefit realized in 2010 related to the IRS examination in that year of certain tax credit claims, which was substantially offset by incremental taxes from the repatriation of certain foreign earnings in that year. We also experienced other less significant, discrete tax items (both favorable and unfavorable) that substantially offset for the year.
Segment Results
In the following section we discuss 2011 sales and EBIT for each of our segments. We provide additional detail about segment results and a reconciliation of segment EBIT to consolidated EBIT in Note F to the Consolidated Financial Statements on page 80.
|
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
(Dollar amounts in millions) | 2011 | | 2010 | | Change in Sales | | % Change Same Location Sales (1) | | |
$ | | % | |
Sales | | | | | | | | | | | |
Residential Furnishings | $ | 1,837 |
| | $ | 1,747 |
| | $ | 90 |
| | 5 | % | | 5 | % | | |
Commercial Fixturing & Components | 507 |
| | 535 |
| | (28 | ) | | (5 | )% | | (5 | )% | | |
Industrial Materials | 857 |
| | 725 |
| | 132 |
| | 18 | % | | 18 | % | | |
Specialized Products | 736 |
| | 629 |
| | 107 |
| | 17 | % | | 17 | % | | |
Total | 3,937 |
| | 3,636 |
| | 301 |
| | | | | | |
Intersegment sales elimination | (301 | ) | | (277 | ) | | (24 | ) | | | | | | |
External sales | $ | 3,636 |
| | $ | 3,359 |
| | $ | 277 |
| | 8 | % | | 8 | % | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | |
| 2011 | | 2010 | | Change in EBIT | | EBIT Margins (2) |
$ | | % | | 2011 | | 2010 |
EBIT | | | | | | | | | | | |
Residential Furnishings | $ | 138 |
| | $ | 160 |
| | $ | (22 | ) | | (14 | )% | | 7.5 | % | | 9.1 | % |
Commercial Fixturing & Components | 16 |
| | 23 |
| | (7 | ) | | (30 | )% | | 3.1 | % | | 4.3 | % |
Industrial Materials | 28 |
| | 55 |
| | (27 | ) | | (49 | )% | | 3.3 | % | | 7.6 | % |
Specialized Products | 77 |
| | 66 |
| | 11 |
| | 17 | % | | 10.5 | % | | 10.5 | % |
Intersegment eliminations & other | (7 | ) | | (1 | ) | | (6 | ) | | | | | | |
Change in LIFO reserve | (14 | ) | | (15 | ) | | 1 |
| | | | | | |
Total | $ | 238 |
| | $ | 288 |
| | $ | (50 | ) | | (17 | )% | | 6.5 | % | | 8.6 | % |
______________________________
| |
(1) | This is the change in sales not attributable to acquisitions or divestitures. These are sales that come from the same plants and facilities that we owned one year earlier. |
| |
(2) | Segment margins are calculated on total sales. Overall company margin is calculated on external sales. |
Residential Furnishings
Residential Furnishings sales increased in 2011, primarily from inflation and currency, which generated little profit. Unit volume in the segment was flat. Demand in most of our residential markets continued to be soft as consumers postponed spending on larger-ticket items such as bedding and furniture. Full-year 2011 unit volumes were essentially flat in our U.S. Spring business but declined in International Spring and Furniture Hardware (from pronounced market weakness mid-year). The only business in the segment that posted meaningful unit growth in 2011 was our Adjustable Bed business, where unit volumes grew 44% for the full year.
EBIT and EBIT margins decreased versus 2010, primarily due to higher restructuring-related costs (of $9 million), less favorable sales mix, inflation, and other operating cost increases.
We initiated restructuring activities in the last half of 2011 in an effort to improve ongoing profitability, and part of that activity occurred in Residential Furnishings. We consolidated four operations in the segment, including two carpet underlay plants, a Canadian spring facility, and a fabric coating business.
Commercial Fixturing & Components
Sales decreased in 2011, largely from lower demand in our Store Fixtures business, as some of the large, value-oriented retailers significantly curtailed both new store construction and remodeling activity during the year. In contrast, market demand continued to improve in Office Furniture Components as that business posted strong growth in 2011. EBIT and EBIT margins in the segment decreased versus 2010, primarily due to lower sales in the Store Fixtures business.
Our efforts to improve ongoing profitability resulted in the decision late in 2011 to consolidate one of our six remaining store fixture locations.
Industrial Materials
2011 sales increased, reflecting steel-related price inflation and higher trade sales from our steel mill, both of which generated little incremental profit. Full-year unit volumes declined in both Wire Drawing and Steel Tubing, reflecting weak bedding, furniture, and store fixtures end markets.
EBIT and EBIT margins decreased versus 2010, mainly from higher restructuring-related costs (of $23 million). EBIT margins also decreased during 2011 as a result of a change in sales from intra-segment to trade at our steel rod mill. This sales shift is dilutive to margins since it results in a higher level of reported sales without increasing the level of reported EBIT. Reported earnings are roughly comparable despite whether rod is sold to our wire mills (intra-segment) or to trade customers.
Restructuring activities in late 2011 involved the closure of two facilities in the segment. We closed one of our six domestic wire drawing operations and consolidated that volume into two of the remaining plants. We also announced the closing of a wire forming operation that was a supplier of coated wire dishwasher racks into the domestic appliance industry.
Specialized Products
In Specialized Products, sales increased in 2011, primarily reflecting improved demand across the major businesses in the segment. Changes in currency exchange rates also added to year-over-year sales growth. Automotive growth continued to benefit from the recovery in global industry production.
EBIT increased versus the prior year with the impact of higher sales partially offset by higher restructuring-related costs (of $7 million), raw material cost inflation, and currency impacts. EBIT margins were flat.
Results from Discontinued Operations
Full year earnings from discontinued operations, net of tax, was not material in either year (2010 or 2011).
LIQUIDITY AND CAPITALIZATION
Our operations provide most of the cash we require. Debt may also be used to fund a portion of our needs. In 2012, cash from operations increased significantly from higher earnings and improvements in working capital levels. For over 20 years, our operations have provided more than enough cash to fund both capital expenditures and dividend payments. We expect this once again to be the case in 2013.
We ended 2012 with net debt to net capital at 29%, slightly below the conservative end of our long-term targeted range of 30-40%, and consistent with year-end 2011 levels. The calculation of net debt as a percent of net capital is presented on page 43.
In August 2012, we issued $300 million of 10-year notes. With the proceeds, we reduced our use of commercial paper and ended the year with our entire $600 million commercial paper program and revolving credit agreement fully available.
Uses of Cash
Finance Capital Requirements
Cash is readily available to fund growth, both internally (through capital expenditures) and externally (through acquisitions).
Capital expenditures include investments we make to maintain, modernize, and expand manufacturing capacity. As shown in the chart above, capital expenditures have been stable in recent years. In all of our businesses, we invest to maintain facilities and equipment. We also invest to support new product introductions and specific product categories that are rapidly growing. However, with excess productive capacity across our operations (from continued low demand levels), we have had relatively low spending on expansion projects. We expect capital expenditures of less than $100 million in 2013. The expected increase versus 2012 primarily relates to new programs that we have been awarded, and that should contribute to earnings and cash flow beginning in 2014.
Our strategic, long-term, 4-5% annual growth objective envisions periodic acquisitions. We are seeking acquisitions within our growth businesses, and are looking for opportunities to enter new, higher growth markets (carefully screened for sustainable competitive advantage). During 2008 through 2010, acquisitions were a lower priority as we primarily focused on improving margins and returns of our existing businesses. As a result, no significant acquisitions were completed in 2010 or 2011. In 2011, we again turned our focus to acquisitions and began actively soliciting opportunities while maintaining our screening discipline. In January 2012, we purchased Western Pneumatic Tube for $188 million. This acquisition aligns extremely well with our strategy to seek businesses with secure, leading positions in growing, profitable, attractive markets. Western established for us a strong competitive position in the higher return, higher growth aerospace market.
Additional details about acquisitions can be found in Note R to the Consolidated Financial Statements on page 104.
Pay Dividends
Dividends are the primary means by which we return cash to shareholders. During 2012, we declared four quarterly dividends, but paid five, given our decision to accelerate into December 2012 the dividend typically paid in January 2013 (of $41 million) in anticipation of individual tax rate increases. The chart above reflects that accelerated dividend payment. In 2013, we expect to return to our typical dividend schedule (and pay the fourth quarter dividend in 2014), therefore the cash requirement for dividends in 2013 will be lower, at approximately $125 million.
Maintaining and increasing the dividend remains a high priority. In 2012, we increased the quarterly dividend to $.29 per share and extended to 41 years our record of consecutive annual dividend increases, at an average compound growth rate of 13%. Our targeted dividend payout is approximately 50-60% of net earnings. Actual payout has been higher in recent years, but as earnings continue to grow, we expect to move into that target range.
Repurchase Stock
Stock repurchases are the other means by which we return cash to shareholders. During the past three years, we repurchased a total of 18 million shares of our stock and issued 12 million shares through employee benefit and stock purchase plans, reducing outstanding shares by 5%. Given the $188 million cash outlay to acquire Western Pneumatic Tube early in the year, our share repurchases in 2012 were below those of recent years. During 2012, we repurchased 2 million shares (at an average of $25.35) and issued 5 million shares (at an average of $18.30). Two-thirds of the issuances related to employee stock option exercises, which increased notably in 2012 with the significant share price appreciation during the year.
Consistent with our stated priorities, we expect to use remaining operating cash (after funding capital expenditures, dividends, and acquisitions) to prudently buy back our stock, subject to the outlook for the economy, our level of cash generation, and other potential opportunities to strategically grow the company. We have been authorized by the Board to repurchase up to 10 million shares each year, but we have established no specific repurchase commitment or timetable.
Cash from Operations
Cash from operations is our primary source of funds. Earnings and changes in working capital levels are the two broad factors that generally have the greatest impact on our cash from operations.
Cash from operations increased 37%, to $450 million during 2012, on stronger earnings and improvements in working capital levels (largely from reductions in accounts receivable). In 2011, cash from operations decreased primarily due to lower earnings.
We continue to closely monitor our working capital levels, and ended the year with adjusted working capital at 13.2% of annualized sales1, notably better than our 15% target. The table below shows this calculation. We eliminate cash and current debt maturities from working capital to monitor our operating efficiency and believe this provides a more useful measurement.
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| | | | | | | |
(Dollar amounts in millions) | 2012 | | 2011 |
Current assets | $ | 1,339 |
| | $ | 1,224 |
|
Current liabilities | (731 | ) | | (586 | ) |
Working capital | 608 |
| | 638 |
|
Cash and cash equivalents | (359 | ) | | (236 | ) |
Current debt maturities | 202 |
| | 3 |
|
Adjusted working capital 2 | $ | 451 |
| | $ | 405 |
|
Annualized sales 1 | $ | 3,412 |
| | $ | 3,416 |
|
Adjusted working capital as a percent of annualized sales | 13.2 | % | | 11.9 | % |
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1. | Annualized sales equal 4th quarter sales ($853 million in 2012 and $854 million in 2011) multiplied by 4. We believe measuring our working capital against this sales metric is more useful, since efficient management of working capital includes adjusting those net asset levels to reflect current business volume. |
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2. | The increase in adjusted working capital relates primarily to the accelerated payment of the fourth quarter 2012 dividend ($41 million). |
The following table presents dollar amounts related to key working capital components at the end of the past two years.
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| | | | | | | | | | | |
| Amount (in millions) |
| 2012 | | 2011 | | Change |
Trade Receivables, net | $ | 413 |
| | $ | 442 |
| | $ | (29 | ) |
Inventory, net | 489 |
| | 441 |
| | 48 |
|
Accounts Payable | 285 |
| | 257 |
| | 28 |
|
______________________________
Trade receivables decreased from year-end 2011 levels, primarily due to lower trade sales late in the year in certain businesses and improved credit terms with certain customers.
Inventory increased from year-end 2011, primarily due to: i) acquisitions; ii) decisions to take advantage of temporarily lower commodity costs near the end of 2012 in certain businesses, and iii) higher production in late 2012 for programs that ship in early 2013.
Accounts Payable also increased primarily due to the opportunistic purchases of raw materials and higher production in late 2012, both of which also impacted inventory levels.
The next chart shows recent trends in key working capital components (expressed in numbers of days at the end of the past five quarters).
Working Capital Trends
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1. | The trade receivables ratio represents the days of sales outstanding calculated as: ending net trade receivables ÷ (quarterly net sales ÷ number of days in the quarter). |
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2. | The inventory ratio represents days of inventory on hand calculated as: ending net inventory ÷ (quarterly cost of goods sold ÷ number of days in the quarter). |
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3. | The accounts payable ratio represents the days of payables outstanding calculated as: ending accounts payable ÷ (quarterly cost of goods sold ÷ number of days in the quarter). |
Changes in the quarterly Days Sales Outstanding (DSO) reflect normal seasonal fluctuations due to the timing of cash collection and other factors. The decrease in the fourth quarter DSO was driven by improved payment patterns with several large customers, and some customers taking advantage of cash discounts and other incentives for early payment. In 2012, we incurred $4 million of customer bad debt expense as compared to $6 million in 2011, which is largely a reflection of a modest improvement in the financial stability of customers in the majority of our markets. We expect DSO in 2013 to follow our normal seasonal pattern.
Our Days Inventory on Hand (DIO) increased compared to the prior year primarily due to decisions to take advantage of temporarily lower commodity costs near the end of 2012 in certain businesses and higher production in late 2012 for programs that ship in early 2013. We do not expect that either of these situations will increase our exposure to obsolete and slow moving inventory. During both 2012 and 2011, we recognized expense of $10 million associated with obsolete and slow moving inventories.
We actively strive to optimize payment terms with our vendors, and over the last few years, have increased our Days Payable Outstanding (DPO) by more than ten days. We expect that we will be able to continue this favorable trend going forward.
Working capital levels vary by segment. The Commercial Fixturing & Components segment typically has relatively higher accounts receivable balances due to the longer credit terms required to service certain customers of the Store Fixtures group. This business group also generally requires higher inventory investments due to the custom nature of its products, longer manufacturing lead times (in certain cases), and the needs of many customers to receive large volumes of product within short periods of time.
Capitalization
This table presents key debt and capitalization statistics at the end of the three most recent years.
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| | | | | | | | | | | |
(Dollar amounts in millions) | 2012 | | 2011 | | 2010 |
Long-term debt outstanding: | | | | | |
Scheduled maturities | $ | 854 |
| | $ | 763 |
| | $ | 762 |
|
Average interest rates (1) | 4.7 | % | | 4.6 | % | | 4.6 | % |
Average maturities in years (1) | 4.9 |
| | 3.8 |
| | 4.7 |
|
Revolving credit/commercial paper | — |
| | 70 |
| | — |
|
Total long-term debt | 854 |
| | 833 |
| | 762 |
|
Deferred income taxes and other liabilities | 228 |
| | 188 |
| | 192 |
|
Equity | 1,442 |
| | 1,308 |
| | 1,524 |
|
Total capitalization | $ | 2,524 |
| | $ | 2,329 |
| | $ | 2,478 |
|
Unused committed credit: | | | | | |
Long-term | $ | 600 |
| | $ | 530 |
| | $ | 522 |
|
Short-term | — |
| | — |
| | — |
|
Total unused committed credit | $ | 600 |
| | $ | 530 |
| | $ | 522 |
|
Current maturities of long-term debt | $ | 202 |
| | $ | 3 |
| | $ | 2 |
|
Cash and cash equivalents | $ | 359 |
| | $ | 236 |
| | $ | 244 |
|
Ratio of earnings to fixed charges (2) | 6.1 x |
| | 4.8 x |
| | 5.8 x |
|
___________________________________________
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(1) | These rates include current maturities, but exclude commercial paper to reflect the averages of outstanding debt with scheduled maturities. The rates also include amortization of interest rate swaps. |
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(2) | Fixed charges include interest expense, capitalized interest, plus implied interest included in operating leases. Earnings consist principally of income from continuing operations before income taxes, plus fixed charges. |
The next table shows the percent of long-term debt to total capitalization at December 31, 2012 and 2011, calculated in two ways:
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• | Long-term debt to total capitalization as reported in the previous table. |
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• | Long-term debt to total capitalization each reduced by total cash and increased by current maturities of long-term debt. |
We believe that adjusting this measure for cash and current maturities allows a more useful comparison to periods during which cash fluctuates significantly. We use these adjusted measures to monitor our financial leverage.
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| | | | | | | |
(Dollar amounts in millions) | 2012 | | 2011 |
Long-term debt | $ | 854 |
| | $ | 833 |
|
Current debt maturities | 202 |
| | 3 |
|
Cash and cash equivalents | (359 | ) | | (236 | ) |
Net debt | $ | 697 |
| | $ | 600 |
|
Total capitalization | $ | 2,524 |
| | $ | 2,329 |
|
Current debt maturities | 202 |
| | 3 |
|
Cash and cash equivalents | (359 | ) | | (236 | ) |
Net capitalization | $ | 2,367 |
| | $ | 2,096 |
|
Long-term debt to total capitalization | 33.8 | % | | 35.8 | % |
Net debt to net capitalization | 29.4 | % | | 28.6 | % |
Total debt (which includes long-term debt and current debt maturities) increased $220 million in 2012, in part from the $188 million cash outlay to acquire Western Pneumatic Tube.
In August 2012, we issued $300 million aggregate principal of notes that mature in 2022 unless redeemed earlier. The notes bear interest at a rate of 3.4% per year, with interest payable semi-annually beginning on February 15, 2013. The net proceeds of the notes were used to pay down commercial paper, which in turn provided borrowing capacity under our commercial paper program for general corporate purposes, the repayment of existing indebtedness, the funding of possible future acquisitions, and stock repurchases.
As a part of the above issuance, we also unwound the $200 million forward starting interest swaps we had entered into during 2010 and recognized a loss of approximately $43 million, which will be amortized over the life of the notes. This results in a fully weighted effective interest rate of 5.0% associated with the notes.
Short Term Borrowings
We can raise cash by issuing up to $600 million in commercial paper through a program that is backed by a $600 million revolving credit agreement with a syndicate of 13 lenders. This agreement was renewed in 2011, with a five-year term ending in 2016. The credit agreement allows us to issue letters of credit up to $250 million. When we issue letters of credit in this manner, our capacity under the agreement, and consequently, our ability to issue commercial paper, is reduced by a corresponding amount. Amounts outstanding related to our commercial paper program were:
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| | | | | | | | | | | |
(Dollar amounts in millions) | 2012 | | 2011 | | 2010 |
Total program authorized | $ | 600 |
| | $ | 600 |
| | $ | 600 |
|
Commercial paper outstanding (classified as long-term debt) | — |
| | (70 | ) | | — |
|
Letters of credit issued under the credit agreement | — |
| | — |
| | (78 | ) |
Total program usage | — |
| | (70 | ) | | (78 | ) |
Total program available | $ | 600 |
| | $ | 530 |
| | $ | 522 |
|
The average and maximum amount of commercial paper outstanding during 2012 was $200 million and $382 million, respectively. During the fourth quarter, the average and maximum amounts outstanding were $4 million and $27 million respectively. Commercial paper amounts increased in January 2012 from the $188 million cash outlay to acquire Western Pneumatic Tube. Subsequently, borrowing levels fluctuated due to normal changes in working capital funding requirements. As discussed on the prior page, we used the proceeds from the notes we issued in August to pay down commercial paper, and ended the year with the entire $600 million program available. At year end, we had no letters of credit outstanding under the credit agreement, but we had $68 million of stand-by letters of credit outside the agreement to take advantage of more attractive fee pricing.
On April 1, 2013, we have $200 million of 4.7% notes that mature. With anticipated operating cash flows, our commercial paper program, and our expected ability to issue debt in the capital markets, we believe we have more than sufficient funds available to repay this maturing debt, as well as support our ongoing operations, pay dividends, fund future growth, and repurchase stock.
Accessibility of Cash
At December 31, 2012, we had cash and cash equivalents of $359 million primarily invested in interest-bearing bank accounts and in bank time deposits with original maturities of three months or less.
A substantial portion of these funds are held in the international accounts of our foreign operations. Though we do not rely on this foreign cash as a source of funds to support our ongoing domestic liquidity needs, we believe we could bring most of this cash back to the U.S. over a period of two to three years without material cost. However, if we had to bring all the foreign cash back immediately, we would incur incremental tax expense of up to $42 million. In 2011 we brought back $89 million of cash, and in 2012 we brought back $50 million, in each case at no added tax cost.
CONTRACTUAL OBLIGATIONS
The following table summarizes our future contractual cash obligations and commitments at December 31, 2012:
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| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | Payments Due by Period |
Contractual Obligations | Total | | Less Than 1 Year | | 1-3 Years | | 3-5 Years | | More Than 5 Years |
(Dollar amounts in millions) | | | |
Long-term debt ¹ | $ | 1,049 |
| | $ | 200 |
| | $ | 380 |
| | $ | 4 |
| | $ | 465 |
|
Capitalized leases | 6 |
| | 1 |
| | 3 |
| | 1 |
| | 1 |
|
Operating leases | 110 |
| | 31 |
| | 46 |
| | 20 |
| | 13 |
|
Purchase obligations ² | 275 |
| | 275 |
| | — |
| | — |
| | — |
|
Interest payments ³ | 190 |
| | 38 |
| | 62 |
| | 34 |
| | 56 |
|
Deferred income taxes | 70 |
| | — |
| | — |
| | — |
| | 70 |
|
Other obligations (including acquisitions, pensions, and reserves for tax contingencies) | 165 |
| | 3 |
| | 22 |
| | 12 |
| | 128 |
|
Total contractual cash obligations | $ | 1,865 |
| | $ | 548 |
| | $ | 513 |
| | $ | 71 |
| | $ | 733 |
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_______________________________________________________________________________
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1. | The long-term debt payment schedule presented above could be accelerated if we were not able to make the principal and interest payments when due. |
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2. | Purchase obligations primarily include open short-term (30-120 days) purchase orders that arise in the normal course of operating our facilities. |
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3. | Interest payments are calculated on debt outstanding at December 31, 2012 at rates in effect at the end of the year. |
CRITICAL ACCOUNTING POLICIES AND ESTIMATES
We prepare our consolidated financial statements in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America. To do so, we must make estimates and judgments that affect the reported amounts of assets, liabilities, revenues, expenses, and disclosures. If we used different estimates or judgments our financial statements would change, and some of those changes could be significant. Our estimates are frequently based upon historical experience and are considered by management, at the time they are made, to be reasonable and appropriate. Estimates are adjusted for actual events, as they occur.
“Critical accounting estimates” are those that are: a) subject to uncertainty and change, and b) of material impact to our financial statements. Listed below are the estimates and judgments which we believe could have the most significant effect on our financial statements.
We provide additional details regarding our significant accounting policies in Note A to the Consolidated Financial Statements on page 71.
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| | | | |
Description | | Judgments and Uncertainties | | Effect if Actual Results Differ From Assumptions |
Goodwill | | | | |
Goodwill is assessed for impairment annually as of June 30 and as triggering events occur. In the past three years, no impairments have been recorded as a result of the annual impairment reviews. | | In order to assess goodwill for potential impairment, judgment is required to estimate the fair market value of each reporting unit (which is one level below reportable segments) using the combination of a discounted cash flow model and a market approach using price to earnings ratios for comparable publicly traded companies with characteristics similar to the reporting unit. The cash flow model contains uncertainties related to the forecast of future results as many outside economic and competitive factors can influence future performance. Margins, sales growth, and discount rates are the most critical estimates in determining enterprise values using the cash flow model. | | Fair market value for one of the 10 reporting units (Store Fixtures) exceeded book value by approximately 10%. The goodwill associated with this reporting unit is $111 million, and is dependent on capital spending by retailers on both new stores and remodeling of existing stores. Retailer activity was roughly flat in 2012, and the Store Fixtures reporting unit met full-year expectations. However, due to the project nature of this business, the predictability of future results is less certain than that of other reporting units. If we are not able to maintain current performance levels, future impairments could be possible. The remaining reporting units have fair market values that exceed carrying value by more than 35%, and have goodwill of $880 million. |
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| | | | |
Description | | Judgments and Uncertainties | | Effect if Actual Results Differ From Assumptions |
Goodwill (cont.) | | | | |
| | The market approach requires judgment to determine the appropriate price to earnings ratio. Ratios are derived from comparable publicly-traded companies that operate in the same or similar industry as the reporting unit. | | Information regarding material assumptions used to determine if a goodwill impairment exists can be found in Note C on page 75. |
Other Long-lived Assets | | | | |
Other long-lived assets are tested for recoverability at year-end and whenever events or circumstances indicate the carrying value may not be recoverable. For other long-lived assets we estimate fair value at the lowest level where cash flows can be measured (usually at a branch level). | | Impairments of other long-lived assets usually occur when major restructuring activities take place, or we decide to discontinue product lines completely. Our impairment assessments have uncertainties because they require estimates of future cash flows to determine if undiscounted cash flows are sufficient to recover carrying values of these assets. For assets where future cash flows are not expected to recover carrying value, fair value is estimated which requires an estimate of market value based upon asset appraisals for like assets. | | These impairments are unpredictable. Impairments were $2 million in 2012, $35 million in 2011, and $2 million in 2010. The 2011 impairments were largely the result of lowered future business expectations at several underperforming locations that resulted in the decision to exit some unprofitable lines of business. Prior forecasts assumed a recovery in business levels (primarily housing related industries) that had not materialized by late 2011. |
Inventory Reserves | | | | |
We reduce the carrying value of inventories to reflect an estimate of net realizable value for obsolete and slow-moving inventory. | | Our inventory reserve contains uncertainties because the calculation requires management to make assumptions about the value of products that are obsolete or slow-moving (i.e. not selling very quickly). | | At December 31, 2012, the reserve for obsolete and slow-moving inventory was $36 million (approximately 6% of FIFO inventories). |
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| | | | |
Description | | Judgments and Uncertainties | | Effect if Actual Results Differ From Assumptions |
Inventory Reserves (cont.) | | | | |
If we have had no sales of a given product for 12 months, those items are generally deemed to have no value and are written down completely. If we have more than a one-year’s supply of a product, we value that inventory at net realizable value (what we think we will recover). | | Changes in customer behavior and requirements can cause inventory to quickly become obsolete or slow moving. The calculation also uses an estimate of the ultimate recoverability of items identified as slow moving based upon historical experience (65% on average). | | Additions to inventory reserves in 2012 were $10 million, which were comparable to the previous year. We do not expect obsolescence to change from current levels. |
Workers’ Compensation | | | | |
We are substantially self-insured for costs related to workers’ compensation, and this requires us to estimate the liability associated with this obligation. | | Our estimates of self-insured reserves contain uncertainties regarding the potential amounts we might have to pay (since we are self-insured). We consider a number of factors, including historical claim experience, demographic factors, and potential recoveries from third party insurance carriers. | | Over the past five years, we have incurred, on average, $10 million annually for costs associated with workers’ compensation. Average year-to-year variation over the past five years has been approximately $1 million. At December 31, 2012, we had accrued $33 million to cover future self-insurance liabilities. Internal safety statistics and cost trends have improved in the last several years. We expect worker compensation costs to remain at current lower levels for the foreseeable future. |
Credit Losses | | | | |
For accounts and notes receivable, we estimate a bad debt reserve for the amount that will ultimately be uncollectible. When we become aware of a specific customer’s potential inability to pay, we record a bad debt reserve for the amount we believe may not be collectible. | | Our bad debt reserve contains uncertainties because it requires management to estimate the amount uncollectible based upon an evaluation of several factors such as the length of time that receivables are past due, the financial health of the customer, industry and macroeconomic considerations, and historical loss experience. | | A significant change in the financial status of a large customer could impact our estimates. The average annual amount of customer-related credit losses was $6 million (less than 1% of annual net sales) over the last three years. At December 31, 2012, our reserves for doubtful accounts totaled $20 million (about 5% of our accounts and customer-related notes receivable of $434 million). |
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| | | | |
Description | | Judgments and Uncertainties | | Effect if Actual Results Differ From Assumptions |
Credit Losses (cont.) | | | | |
| | Our customers are diverse and many are small-to-medium sized companies, with some being highly leveraged. Bankruptcy can occur with some of these customers relatively quickly and with little warning. | | In 2012 and 2011, bad debt expense averaged $7 million. We have not experienced any significant individual customer bankruptcies in the past two years. We believe the financial health of our major customers has modestly improved, but some are highly leveraged, and this could cause circumstances to change in the future. At December 31, 2012, we had $11 million of non-customer notes receivable, primarily related to divested businesses, and have recorded reserves of $1 million for these notes. Most of these notes are to be paid by highly leveraged entities, which could result in the need for additional reserves in the future. |
Pension Accounting | | | | |
For our pension plans, we must estimate the cost of benefits to be provided (well into the future) and the current value of those benefit obligations. | | The pension liability calculation contains uncertainties because it requires management to estimate an appropriate discount rate to calculate the present value of future benefits paid, which also impacts current year pension expense. Determination of pension expense requires an estimate of expected return on pension assets based upon the mix of investments held (bonds and equities). | | The discount rates used to calculate the pension liability for our most significant plans decreased approximately 50 basis points in 2012 due to lower corporate bond yields. Each 25 basis point decrease in the discount rate increases pension expense by $.5 million and increases the plans’ benefit obligation by $9.6 million. |
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| | | | |
Description | | Judgments and Uncertainties | | Effect if Actual Results Differ From Assumptions |
Pension Accounting (cont.) | | | | |
| | Other assumptions include rates of compensation increases, withdrawal and mortality rates, and retirement ages. These estimates impact the pension expense or income we recognize and our reported benefit obligations. | | The expected return on assets in 2012 decreased to 6.6%, compared to 6.7% in 2011 and 6.8% in 2010. A 25 basis point reduction in the expected return on assets would increase pension expense by $.5 million, but have no effect on the plans’ funded status. Assuming a long-term investment horizon, we do not expect a material change to the return on asset assumption. |
Income Taxes | | | | |
In the ordinary course of business, we must make estimates of the tax treatment of many transactions, even though the ultimate tax outcome may remain uncertain for some time. These estimates become part of the annual income tax expense reported in our financial statements. Subsequent to year end, we finalize our tax analysis and file income tax returns. Tax authorities periodically audit these income tax returns and examine our tax filing positions, including (among other things) the timing and amounts of deductions, and the allocation of income among tax jurisdictions. We adjust income tax expense in our financial statements in the periods in which the actual outcome becomes more certain. | | Our tax liability for unrecognized tax benefits contains uncertainties because management is required to make assumptions and to apply judgment to estimate the exposures related to our various filing positions. Our effective tax rate is also impacted by changes in tax laws, the current mix of earnings by taxing jurisdiction, and the results of current tax audits and assessments. | | Potential changes in tax laws could impact assumptions related to the non-repatriation of certain foreign earnings. In 2012, we accrued $11 million for taxes on earnings that are no longer indefinitely reinvested in China. If all non-repatriated earnings were taxed, we would incur additional taxes of approximately $42 million. Tax audits by various taxing authorities are expected to increase as governments continue to look for ways to raise additional revenue. Based upon past experience, we do not expect any material changes to our tax liability as a result of this increased audit activity; however, we could incur additional tax expense if we have audit adjustments higher than recent historical experience. |
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| | | | |
Description | | Judgments and Uncertainties | | Effect if Actual Results Differ From Assumptions |
Income Taxes (cont.) | | | | |
| | At December 31, 2012 and 2011, we had $39 million and $14 million, respectively, of net deferred tax assets on our balance sheet related to operating loss and tax credit carryforwards. The ultimate realization of these deferred tax assets is dependent upon the amount, source, and timing of future taxable income. Valuation allowances are established against future potential tax benefits to reflect the amounts we believe have no more than a 50% probability of being realized. In addition, assumptions have been made regarding the non-repatriation of earnings from certain subsidiaries. Those assumptions may change in the future, thereby affecting future period results for the tax impact of possible repatriation. | | The recovery of net operating losses (NOL’s) has been closely evaluated for the likelihood of recovery based upon factors such as the age of losses, viable tax planning strategies, and future taxable earnings expectations. We believe that appropriate valuation allowances have been recorded as necessary. However, if earnings expectations or other assumptions change such that additional valuation allowances are required, we could incur additional tax expense.
We assessed our ability to recover Canadian NOL's and other deferred tax assets, and determined that previously recorded valuation allowances were no longer necessary. Therefore, we recorded income of $38 million in the fourth quarter of 2012 related to this reversal. |
Contingencies | | | | |
We evaluate various legal, environmental, and other potential claims against us to determine if an accrual or disclosure of the contingency is appropriate. If it is probable that an ultimate loss will be incurred, we accrue a liability for the reasonable estimate of the ultimate loss. | | Our disclosure and accrual of loss contingencies (i.e., losses that may or may not occur) contain uncertainties because they are based on our assessment of the likelihood that the expenses will actually occur, and our estimate of the likely cost. Our estimates and judgments are subjective and can involve matters in litigation, the results of which are generally very unpredictable. | | We have several environmental clean-up activities related to current and closed facilities that mostly involve soil and groundwater contamination. Based upon facts available at this time, we believe reserves are adequate, however cost estimates could change as we determine more about the severity and cost of remediation. Legal contingencies are related to numerous lawsuits and claims described beginning on page 52. Over the past five years, the largest annual cost for litigation claims was $6 million (excluding legal fees). |
CONTINGENCIES
Our disclosure and accrual of loss contingencies (i.e., losses that may or may not occur) are based on our assessment of the probability that the expenses will actually occur, and our reasonable estimate of the likely cost. Our estimates and judgments are subjective and can involve matters in litigation, the results of which are generally very unpredictable.
Shareholder Derivative Lawsuit
On August 10, 2010, a shareholder derivative suit was filed by the New England Carpenters Pension Fund in the Circuit Court of Jasper County, Missouri as Case No. 10AO-CC284 (“2010 Suit”). The 2010 Suit was substantially similar to a prior suit filed by the same plaintiff, in the same court, on February 5, 2009 (“2009 Suit”). The 2009 Suit was dismissed without prejudice based on the plaintiff's failure to make demand on our Board and shareholders. As before, the plaintiff did not make such demand. On April 6, 2011, the 2010 Suit was dismissed without prejudice. On May 12, 2011, the plaintiff filed an appeal to the Missouri Court of Appeals. On November 28, 2012, the Missouri Court of Appeals reversed the trial court's dismissal, and remanded the case back to the trial court finding that plaintiff sufficiently pled demand on the Board and shareholders. We filed a request for transfer to the Missouri Supreme Court on December 12, 2012, which was denied by the Court of Appeals. On January 3, 2013, we filed a transfer petition to the Missouri Supreme Court. On February 26, 2013, the Missouri Supreme Court denied our request. The case will be sent back to Jasper County, Missouri for further proceedings. The 2010 Suit was purportedly brought on our behalf, naming us as a nominal defendant, and certain current and former officers and directors as individual defendants including David S. Haffner, Karl G. Glassman, Matthew C. Flanigan, Ernest C. Jett, Harry M. Cornell, Jr., Felix E. Wright, Robert Ted Enloe, III, Richard T. Fisher, Judy C. Odom, Maurice E. Purnell, Jr., Ralph W. Clark and Michael A. Glauber.
The plaintiff alleged, among other things, that the individual defendants: breached their fiduciary duties; backdated and received backdated stock options violating our stock plans; caused or allowed us to issue false and misleading financial statements and proxy statements; sold our stock while possessing material non-public information; committed gross mismanagement; wasted corporate assets; committed fraud; violated the Missouri Securities Act; and were unjustly enriched.
The plaintiff is seeking, among other things: unspecified monetary damages against the individual defendants; certain equitable and other relief relating to the profits from the alleged improper conduct; the adoption of certain corporate governance proposals; the imposition of a constructive trust over the defendants' stock options and proceeds; punitive damages; the rescission of certain unexercised options; and the reimbursement of litigation costs. The plaintiff is not seeking monetary relief from us. We have director and officer liability insurance in force subject to customary limits and exclusions.
We and the individual defendants filed motions to dismiss the 2010 Suit in late October 2010, asserting: the plaintiff failed to make demand on our Board and shareholders as required by Missouri law, and, consistent with the Court's ruling in the 2009 Suit, this failure to make demand should not be excused; the dismissal of the 2009 Suit precludes the 2010 Suit; the plaintiff is not a representative shareholder; the 2010 Suit was based on a statistical analysis of stock option grants and our stock prices that we believe was flawed; the plaintiff failed to state a substantive claim; the common law fraud claim was not pled with sufficient particularity; and the statute of limitations has expired on the fraud claim and all the alleged challenged grants except the December 30, 2005 grant. As to this grant, the motions to dismiss advised the Court that it was made under our Deferred Compensation Program, which (i) provided that options would be dated on the last business day of December, and (ii) was filed with the SEC on December 2, 2005 setting out the pricing mechanism well before the grant date.
We do not expect that the outcome of this matter will have a material adverse effect on our financial condition, operating cash flows or results of operations.
Antitrust Lawsuits
Beginning in August 2010, a series of civil lawsuits was initiated in several U.S. federal courts and in Canada against over 20 defendants alleging that competitors of our carpet underlay business unit and other manufacturers of polyurethane foam products had engaged in price fixing in violation of U.S. and Canadian antitrust laws.
A number of these lawsuits have been voluntarily dismissed, most without prejudice. Of the U.S. cases remaining, we have been named as a defendant in (a) three direct purchaser class action cases (the first on November 15, 2010) and a consolidated amended class action complaint filed on February 28, 2011 on behalf of a class of all direct purchasers of polyurethane foam products; (b) an indirect purchaser class consolidated amended complaint filed on March 21, 2011 (although the underlying lawsuits do not name us as a defendant); and an indirect purchaser class action case filed on May 23, 2011; (c) 36 individual direct purchaser cases, (i) one filed March 22, 2011, (ii) another amended August 24, 2011 to remove class allegations, (iii) one amended August 25, 2011 to name us as a defendant, (iv) three others filed October 31, 2011, (v) one filed November 4, 2011, (vi) three filed December 6, 19 and 30, 2011, respectively, (vii) one filed January 27, 2012, (viii) five filed March 19, 2012, (ix) one amended March 30, 2012 to name us as a defendant, (x) one filed April 27, 2012, (xi) two filed April 30, 2012, (xii) two filed May 11, 2012, (xiii) one filed May 17, 2012, (xiv) four filed May 25, 2012, (xv) one filed June 12, 2012, (xvi) four filed August 8, 2012, (xvii) one filed September 21, 2012, (xviii) one filed November 7, 2012 (which suit also makes indirect purchaser claims), and (xix) two filed January 9 and 15, 2013, respectively; and (d) a direct and indirect purchaser class action filed on November 29, 2012 asserting claims under the Kansas Restraint of Trade Act. All of the pending U.S. federal cases in which we have been named as a defendant, have been filed in or have been transferred to the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Ohio under the name In re: Polyurethane Foam Antitrust Litigation, Case No. 1:10-MD-2196.
In the U.S. actions, the plaintiffs, on behalf of themselves and/or a class of purchasers, seek three times the amount of unspecified damages allegedly suffered as a result of alleged overcharges in the price of polyurethane foam products from at least 1999 to the present. Each plaintiff also seeks attorney fees, pre-judgment and post-judgment interest, court costs, and injunctive relief against future violations. On April 15 and May 6, 2011, we filed motions to dismiss the U.S. direct purchaser and indirect purchaser class actions in the consolidated case in Ohio, for failure to state a legally valid claim. On July 19, 2011, the Ohio Court denied the motions to dismiss. Discovery is underway in the U.S. actions.
We have been named in two Canadian class action cases (for direct and indirect purchasers of polyurethane foam products), both under the name Hi Neighbor Floor Covering Co. Limited and Hickory Springs Manufacturing Company, et.al. in the Ontario Superior Court of Justice (Windsor), Court File Nos. CV-10-15164 (amended November 2, 2011) and CV-11-17279 (issued December 30, 2011). In each of the Canadian cases, the plaintiffs, on behalf of themselves and/or a class of purchasers, seek from over 15 defendants restitution of the amount allegedly overcharged, general and special damages in the amount of $100 million, punitive damages of $10 million, pre-judgment and post-judgment interest, and the costs of the investigation and the action. We are not yet required to file our defenses in the Canadian actions. In addition, on July 10, 2012, plaintiff in a class action case (for direct and indirect purchasers of polyurethane foam products) styled Option Consommateurs and Karine Robillard v. Produits Vitafoam Canada Limitée, et. al. in the Quebec Superior Court of Justice (Montréal), Court File No. 500-6-524-104, filed an amended motion for authorization seeking to add us and other manufacturers of polyurethane foam products as defendants in this case.
On June 22, 2012, we were also made party to a lawsuit brought in the 16th Judicial Circuit Court, Jackson County, Missouri, Case Number 1216-CV15179 under the caption “Dennis Baker, on Behalf of Himself and all Others Similarly Situated vs. Leggett & Platt, Incorporated - Polyurethane Foam Class Action.” The plaintiff, on behalf of himself and/or a class of indirect purchasers of polyurethane foam products in the State of Missouri, alleged that we violated the Missouri Merchandising Practices Act based upon our alleged illegal price inflation of flexible polyurethane foam products. The plaintiffs seek unspecified actual damages, punitive damages and the recovery of reasonable attorney fees. We filed a motion to dismiss this action, which was denied on November 5, 2012. Discovery has commenced.
We deny all of the allegations in all of the above actions and will vigorously defend ourselves. These contingencies are subject to many uncertainties. Therefore, based on the information available to date, we cannot estimate the amount or range of potential loss, if any, because, at this juncture of the proceedings, the damages sought by plaintiffs are unspecified, unsupported, and unexplained; discovery is incomplete (no depositions have been taken, class certification issues are not yet ripe, expert liability reports have not been exchanged); and because the litigation involves unsettled legal theories.
Brazilian Value-Added Tax Matters
On December 22, 2011, the Brazilian Finance Ministry, Federal Revenue Office issued a notice of violation against our wholly-owned subsidiary, Leggett & Platt do Brasil Ltda. (“L&P Brazil”) in the amount of approximately $4 million, under Case No. 10855.724660/2011-43. The Brazilian Revenue Office claimed that for the period beginning November 2006 and continuing through December 2007, L&P Brazil used an incorrect tariff code for the collection and payment of value-added tax primarily on the sale of mattress innerspring units in Brazil. L&P Brazil responded to the notice of violation on January 25, 2012 denying the violation. On December 17, 2012, the Brazilian Revenue Office issued an additional notice of violation in the amount of approximately $6.2 million under MPF Case No. 0811000.2011.00438 covering the period from January 1, 2008 through December 31, 2010 on the same subject matter. L&P Brazil responded to the notice of violation on January 17, 2013 denying the violation. It is possible that we may receive an additional notice of violation for years 2011 and 2012.
In addition, L&P Brazil received assessments on December 22, 2011, and June 26, July 2 and November 5, 2012 from the Brazilian Revenue Office where the Revenue Office challenged L&P Brazil's use of certain tax credits in the years 2006 through 2010. Such credits are generated based upon the tariff classification and rate used by L&P Brazil for value-added tax on the sale of mattress innersprings. Combined with prior assessments, L&P Brazil has received assessments totaling approximately $2.0 million on the same or similar denial of tax credit matters.
L&P Brazil is also party to a proceeding involving the State of Sao Paulo, Brazil where the State of Sao Paulo, on April 16, 2009, issued a Notice of Tax Assessment and Imposition of Fine to L&P Brazil seeking approximately $3.3 million for the tax years 2006 and 2007, under Case No. 3.111.006 (DRT n°.04-256.169/2009). The State of Sao Paulo argued that L&P Brazil was using an incorrect tariff code for the collection and payment of value-added tax on sales of mattress innerspring units in the State of Sao Paulo. On September 29, 2010, the Court of Tax and Fees of the State of Sao Paulo ruled in favor of L&P Brazil nullifying the tax assessment. The State filed a special appeal and the Special Appeals court remanded the case back to the Court of Tax and Fees for further findings. On November 9, 2012, the Court of Tax and Fees again ruled in favor of L&P Brazil and nullified the tax assessment. On November 28, 2012, the State filed another special appeal. The determination to accept the special appeal was made on December 26, 2012, and L&P responded to this special appeal on January 24, 2013.
We were also informed on October 4, 2012 that the State of Sao Paulo issued an Auto-Infringement and Imposition of a Fine dated May 29, 2012 under Procedure Number 4.003.484 against L&P Brazil in the amount of approximately $2.3 million for the tax years 2009 through 2011. Similar to the prior assessment, the State of Sao Paulo argues that L&P Brazil was using an incorrect tax rate for the collection and payment of value-added tax on sales of mattress innerspring units in the State of Sao Paulo.
On December 18, 2012, the State of Minas Gerais, Brazil issued a tax assessment to L&P Brazil relating to L&P Brazil's classifications of innersprings for the collection and payment of value-added tax on the sale of mattress innersprings in Minas Gerais from March 1, 2008 through August 31, 2012 in the amount of approximately $.7 million, under PTA Case No. 01.000.182756-62. L&P Brazil filed its response denying any violation on January 17, 2013.
We deny all of the allegations in these actions. We believe that we have valid bases upon which to contest such actions and will vigorously defend ourselves. However, these contingencies are subject to many uncertainties. At this time, we do not believe it is probable that this matter will have a material adverse effect on our financial condition, operating cash flows or results of operations.
Patent Infringement Claim
On January 24, 2012, in a case in the United States District Court for the Central District of California, the jury entered a verdict against us in the amount of $5 million based upon an allegation by plaintiff that we infringed three patents on an automatic stapling machine and on methods used to assemble box springs. This action was originally filed on October 4, 2010, as case number CV10-7416 RGK (SSx) under the caption Imaginal Systematic, LLC v. Leggett & Platt, Incorporated; Simmons Bedding Company; and Does 1 through 10, inclusive. Leggett is contractually obligated to defend and indemnify Simmons Bedding Company against a claim for infringement.
On summary judgment motions, we unsuccessfully disputed each patent's validity and denied that we infringed any patent. At the jury trial on damages issues, the plaintiff alleged damages of $16.2 million. The court denied plaintiff's attempt to win an attorney fee award and triple the pre-verdict damages.
On April 9, 2012 we appealed the case to the Federal Circuit Court of Appeals. Oral argument was held on February 6, 2013 before a three judge appeal panel in the Federal Circuit in Washington D.C. On February 14, 2013, the Court of Appeals issued a judgment affirming the $5 million verdict against us. We intend to request a rehearing of the Court of Appeals decision. If a rehearing is not granted, we have the right to request further review to the U.S. Supreme Court. However, this review is discretionary.
If the case is finally affirmed and remanded to the trial court, the plaintiff might also request royalties for post-verdict use of the machines. If so, we intend to object to such request. We also filed reexamination proceedings in the Patent Office (Case Nos. 95/001,543 filed February 11, 2011; 95/001,546 and 95/001,547 filed February 16, 2011), challenging the validity of each patent at issue. The Patent Office examiner ruled in our favor on the pertinent claims of one of the three patents. The Patent Office examiner initially ruled in our favor on the pertinent claims of the second patent, but subsequently reversed that decision. With respect to the third patent, the Patent Office examiner's decision upheld the validity of all claims. All three of these proceedings are currently on appeal before the Board of Patent Appeals. Due to a change made to all of the machines, we do not believe that the machines currently use the feature alleged to have infringed the third patent.
At this time, we do not believe it is probable that this matter will have a material adverse effect on our financial condition, operating cash flows or results of operations.
NEW ACCOUNTING STANDARDS
We adopted new accounting guidance in 2012, as discussed in Note A to the Consolidated Financial Statements on page 71, which did not have a material impact on our current financial statements. The Financial Accounting Standards Board has also issued accounting guidance effective for future periods, but we do not believe this new guidance will materially impact our future financial statements.
Item 7A. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk.
(Unaudited)
(Dollar amounts in millions)
Interest Rates
The table below provides information about the Company’s debt obligations sensitive to changes in interest rates. Substantially all of the debt shown in the table below is denominated in United States dollars. The fair value of fixed rate debt was greater than its $1,030 carrying value by $45.7 at December 31, 2012, and greater than its $730 carrying value by $29.2 at December 31, 2011. The increase in the fair market value of the Company’s debt is primarily due to the issuance of $300 of new notes in 2012, and the decrease in credit spreads as compared to the prior year end. The fair value of fixed rate debt was calculated using a Bloomberg secondary market rate, as of December 31, 2012 for similar remaining maturities, plus an estimated “spread” over such Treasury securities representing the Company’s interest costs for its medium-term notes. The fair value of variable rate debt is not significantly different from its recorded amount.
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| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Scheduled Maturity Date | | | | |
Long-term debt as of December 31, | 2013 | | 2014 | | 2015 | | 2016 | | 2017 | | Thereafter | | 2012 | | 2011 |
Principal fixed rate debt | $ | 200.0 |
| | $ | 180.0 |
| | $ | 200.0 |
| | $ | — |
| | $ | — |
| | $ | 450.0 |
| | $ | 1,030.0 |
| | $ | 730.0 |
|
Average interest rate 1 | 4.70 | % | | 4.65 | % | | 5.00 | % | | — |
| | — |
| | 3.73 | % | | 4.33 | % | | 4.71 | % |
Principal variable rate debt | — |
| | — |