UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
FORM 10-Q
For the quarterly period ended March 31, 2014.
or
For the transition period from to
Commission File Number 1-475
A. O. Smith Corporation
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
(State or other jurisdiction of
incorporation or organization)
(I.R.S. Employer
Identification No.)
(414)359-4000
(Registrants telephone number, including area code)
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. x Yes ¨ 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). x Yes ¨ No
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.
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Act.) ¨ Yes x No
Class A Common Stock Outstanding as of April 30, 2014 13,167,192 shares
Common Stock Outstanding as of April 30, 2014 77,439,970 shares
Index
Page
Part I.
2
PART I - FINANCIAL INFORMATION
ITEM 1 - FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
A. O. SMITH CORPORATION
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF EARNINGS
(dollars in millions, except for per share data)
(unaudited)
Net sales
Cost of products sold
Gross profit
Selling, general and administrative expenses
Restructuring, impairment and settlement expensesnet
Interest expense
Other income
Earnings before provision for income taxes
Provision for income taxes
Net Earnings
Net Earnings Per Share of Common Stock
Diluted Net Earnings Per Share of Common Stock
Dividends Per Share of Common Stock
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF COMPREHENSIVE EARNINGS
(dollars in millions)
Net earnings
Other comprehensive (loss) earnings
Foreign currency translation adjustments
Unrealized net gain on cash flow derivative instruments, less related income tax provision of $(0.5) in 2014 and $(0.4) in 2013
Adjustment to pension liability, less related income tax provision of $(3.3) in 2014 and $(3.9) in 2013
Comprehensive Earnings
See accompanying notes to unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements.
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CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
Assets
Current Assets
Cash and cash equivalents
Marketable securities
Receivables
Inventories
Deferred income taxes
Other current assets
Total Current Assets
Property, plant and equipment
Less accumulated depreciation
Net property, plant and equipment
Goodwill
Other intangibles
Other assets
Total Assets
Liabilities
Current Liabilities
Trade payables
Accrued payroll and benefits
Accrued liabilities
Product warranties
Long-term debt due within one year
Total Current Liabilities
Long-term debt
Pension liabilities
Other liabilities
Total Liabilities
Stockholders Equity
Class A Common Stock, $5 par value: authorized 14,000,000 shares; issued 13,232,412 and 13,288,516
Common Stock, $1 par value: authorized 120,000,000 shares; issued 82,121,384 and 82,065,280
Capital in excess of par value
Retained earnings
Accumulated other comprehensive loss
Treasury stock at cost
Total Stockholders Equity
Total Liabilities and Stockholders Equity
See accompanying notes to unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements
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CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
Operating Activities
Adjustments to reconcile net earnings to cash provided by (used in) operating activities:
Depreciation and amortization
Pension expense
Loss on disposal of assets
Net changes in operating assets and liabilities, net of acquisition:
Current assets and liabilities
Noncurrent assets and liabilities
Cash Provided by Operating Activitiescontinuing operations
Cash Used in Operating Activitiesdiscontinued operations
Cash Provided by Operating Activities
Investing Activities
Capital expenditures
Acquisition of business
Investment in marketable securities
Net proceeds from sale of marketable securities
Cash (Used in) Provided by Investing Activities
Financing Activities
Long-term debt incurred (retired)
Common stock repurchases
Net proceeds from stock option activity
Dividends paid
Cash Provided by (Used in) Financing Activities
Net (decrease) increase in cash and cash equivalents
Cash and cash equivalentsbeginning of period
Cash and Cash EquivalentsEnd of Period
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NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
March 31, 2014
The accompanying unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements have been prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States (GAAP) for interim financial information and pursuant to the rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). Accordingly, they do not include all of the information and footnotes required for complete financial statements. In the opinion of management, all adjustments (consisting of normal recurring accruals) considered necessary for a fair presentation have been included. Operating results for the three month period ended March 31, 2014 are not necessarily indicative of the results expected for the full year. It is suggested that the accompanying condensed consolidated financial statements be read in conjunction with the audited consolidated financial statements and the notes thereto included in the companys latest Annual Report on Form 10-K filed with the SEC on February 20, 2014.
On April 15, 2013, the companys stockholders approved a proposal to increase the companys authorized shares of Common Stock and the companys board of directors declared a two-for-one stock split of the companys Class A Common Stock and Common Stock (including treasury shares) in the form of a 100 percent stock dividend to stockholders of record on April 30, 2013 and payable on May 15, 2013. All references in the financial statements and footnotes to the number of shares outstanding, price per share, per share amounts and stock based compensation data have been recast to reflect the split for all periods presented.
On February 14, 2013, the company acquired 100 percent of the shares of MiM Isitma Sogutma Havalandirma ve Aritma Sistemleri San. Tic. A.S. (MiM), a privately-held Turkish water treatment company. The addition of MiM expanded the companys product offerings and gave the company access to the Eastern Europe and Black Sea region water treatment markets. MiM is included in the Rest of World segment.
The company paid an aggregate cash purchase price of $3.6 million, net of cash received of $1.9 million in the first quarter of 2013 for MiM. In addition the company assumed debt of $1.7 million and recorded contingent consideration of $1.1 million, the fair value of the contingent payment due to the former owners of MiM if certain targets are met for growth in sales, gross profits and operating profits through 2017.
The fair value of the purchase price resulted in an allocation to acquired intangible assets totaling $4.3 million of which $2.4 million was assigned to customer lists which are being amortized over ten years.
MiMs results of operations have been included in the companys financial statements from February 14, 2013, the date of acquisition. Revenues and pre-tax results associated with MiM included in results of operations in the three months ended March 31, 2013 were not material to the companys net sales or pre-tax earnings.
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In the first quarter of 2013, the company announced a move of manufacturing operations from its Fergus, Ontario facility to other North American facilities and recognized $12.7 million of restructuring and impairment expenses, comprised of $5.2 million of severance costs and impairment charges related to long-lived assets totaling $7.5 million, and a corresponding $3.2 million tax benefit related to the charges. The majority of the consolidation of operations occurred in the second quarter of 2013.
On March 11, 2013, the company entered into a settlement agreement with a former supplier regarding previous overcharges and warranty costs. The terms of the settlement agreement resulted in an $11.0 million cash payment to the company, a pre-tax gain of $11.0 million and $4.2 million of income tax expense.
The following table presents an analysis of the companys restructuring, impairment and settlement reserve as of and for three months ended March 31, 2014:
Balance at December 31, 2013
Cash payments/disposals
Balance at March 31, 2014
Finished products
Work in process
Raw materials
Inventories, at FIFO cost
LIFO reserve
Net inventory
The company has a $400 million multi-currency revolving credit agreement with a group of eight banks, which expires on December 12, 2017. The facility has an accordion provision which allows it to be increased up to $500 million if certain conditions (including lender approval) are satisfied. Borrowings under bank credit lines and commercial paper borrowings are supported by the $400 million revolving credit agreement. As a result of the long-term nature of this facility, the companys commercial paper and credit line borrowings are classified as long-term debt at March 31, 2014.
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The company offers warranties on the sales of certain of its products and records an accrual for the estimated future claims. The following table presents the companys warranty liability activity.
Balance at January 1
Expense
Claims settled
Balance at March 31
The numerator for the calculation of basic and diluted earnings per share is net earnings. The following table sets forth the computation of basic and diluted weighted-average shares used in the earnings per share calculations:
Denominator for basic earnings per share - weighted average shares
Effect of dilutive stock options, restricted stock and share units
Denominator for diluted earnings per share
The company adopted the A. O. Smith Combined Incentive Compensation Plan (the plan) effective January 1, 2007. The plan was reapproved on April 16, 2012. The plan is a continuation of the A. O. Smith Combined Executive Incentive Compensation Plan which was originally approved by stockholders in 2002. The number of shares available for granting of options or share units at March 31, 2014 was 2,340,137. Upon stock option exercise or share unit vesting, shares are issued from treasury stock.
Total stock based compensation expense recognized in the three months ended March 31, 2014 and 2013 was $5.8 million and $4.0 million, respectively.
Stock Options
The stock options granted in the three months ended March 31, 2014 and 2013, have three year pro-rata vesting from the date of grant. Stock options are issued at exercise prices equal to the fair value of Common Stock on the date of grant. For active employees, all options granted in 2014 and 2013 expire ten years after date of grant. The companys stock options are expensed ratably over the three year vesting period, however included in stock option expense for the three months ended March 31, 2014 and 2013 is expense associated with the accelerated vesting of stock option awards for certain employees who either are retirement eligible or become retirement eligible during the vesting period. Stock based compensation cost attributable to stock options in the three months ended March 31, 2014 and 2013 was $2.8 million and $1.8 million, respectively.
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Changes in option awards, all of which relate to Common Stock, were as follows for the three months ended March 31, 2014:
Outstanding at January 1, 2014
Granted
Exercised
Outstanding at March 31, 2014
Exercisable at March 31, 2014
The weighted-average fair value per option at the date of grant during the three months ended March 31, 2014 and 2013 using the Black-Scholes option-pricing model was $16.55 and $12.45, respectively. Assumptions were as follows:
Expected life (years)
Risk-free interest rate
Dividend yield
Expected volatility
The expected life is based on historical exercise behavior and the projected exercises of unexercised stock options. The risk-free interest rate is based on the U.S. Treasury yield curve in effect on the date of grant for the respective expected life of the option. The expected dividend yield is based on the expected annual dividends divided by the grant date market value of the companys common stock. The expected volatility is based on the historical volatility of the companys common stock.
Restricted Stock and Share Units
Participants may also be awarded shares of restricted stock or share units under the plan. The company granted 110,310 and 141,200 share units under the plan in the three months ended March 31, 2014 and 2013, respectively. The share units were valued at $5.1 million and $4.9 million at the date of issuance in 2014 and 2013, respectively, based on the companys stock price at the date of grant. The companys share units are recognized as compensation expense ratably over the three-year vesting period, however included in share unit expense in the three months ended March 31, 2014 and 2013 is expense associated with accelerated vesting of share unit awards for certain employees who either are retirement eligible or will become retirement eligible during the vesting period. Share based compensation expense attributable to share units of $3.0 million and $2.2 million was recognized in the three months ended March 31, 2014 and 2013, respectively.
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A summary of share unit activity under the plan is as follows for the three months ended March 31, 2014:
Issued and unvested at January 1, 2014
Vested
Issued and unvested at March 31, 2014
The following table presents the components of the companys net pension expense.
Service cost
Interest cost
Expected return on plan assets
Amortization of unrecognized loss
Amortization of prior service cost
Defined benefit plan expense
The company did not make a contribution to its U.S. pension plan in 2013 and does not anticipate making a contribution in 2014.
The company is comprised of two reporting segments: North America and Rest of World. Both segments manufacture and market comprehensive lines of residential and commercial gas, gas tankless and electric water heaters. Both segments primarily manufacture and market in their respective regions of the world. The Rest of World segment is primarily comprised of China, Europe and India. The North America segment also manufactures and globally markets specialty commercial water heating equipment, condensing and non-condensing boilers and water system tanks. The Rest of World segment also manufactures and markets water treatment products, primarily in Asia.
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North America
Rest of World
Inter-segment sales
Operating earnings
North America (1) (3) (4)
Corporate expenses (2)
Earnings before income taxes
(1) Includes non-operating pension costs of:
(2) Includes non-operating pension costs of:
(3) Includes restructuring and impairment expenses of:
(4) Includes settlement income of:
ASC 820, Fair Value Measurements, among other things, defines fair value, establishes a consistent framework for measuring fair value and expands disclosure for each major asset and liability category measured at fair value on either a recurring basis or nonrecurring basis. ASC 820 clarifies that fair value is an exit price, representing the amount that would be received to sell an asset or paid to transfer a liability in an orderly transaction between market participants. As such, fair value is a market-based measurement that should be determined based on assumptions that market participants would use in pricing an asset or liability. As a basis for considering such assumptions, ASC 820 establishes a three-tier fair value hierarchy, which prioritizes the inputs used in measuring fair value as follows: (Level 1) observable inputs such as quoted prices in active markets; (Level 2) inputs, other than the quoted prices in active markets, that are observable either directly or indirectly; and (Level 3) unobservable inputs in which there is little or no market data, which require the reporting entity to develop its own assumptions.
Assets and liabilities measured at fair value are based on the market approach which are prices and other relevant information generated by market transactions involving identical or comparable assets or liabilities.
Assets measured at fair value on a recurring basis are as follows (dollars in millions):
Fair Value Measurement Using
Quoted prices in active markets for identical assets (Level 1)
Significant other observable inputs (Level 2)
Total assets measured at fair value
There were no changes in our valuation techniques used to measure fair values on a recurring basis during the three months ended March 31, 2014.
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ASC 815 Derivatives and Hedging, as amended, requires that all derivative instruments be recorded on the balance sheet at fair value and establishes criteria for designation and effectiveness of the hedging relationships. The accounting for changes in the fair value of a derivative instrument depends on whether it has been designated and qualifies as a part of a hedging relationship and, further, on the type of hedging relationship. For those derivative instruments that are designated and qualify as hedging instruments, the company must designate the hedging instrument, based upon the exposure hedged, as a fair value hedge, a cash flow hedge, or a hedge of a net investment in a foreign operation.
The company designates that all of its hedging instruments are cash flow hedges. For derivative instruments that are designated and qualify as a cash flow hedge (i.e., hedging the exposure to variability in expected future cash flows that is attributable to a particular risk), the effective portion of the gain or loss on the derivative instrument is reported as a component of other comprehensive loss, net of tax, and is reclassified into earnings in the same line item associated with the forecasted transaction and in the same period or periods during which the hedged transaction affects earnings. The amount by which the cumulative change in the value of the hedge more than offsets the cumulative change in the value of the hedged item (i.e., the ineffective portion) is recorded in earnings, net of tax, in the period the ineffectiveness occurs.
The company utilizes certain derivative instruments to enhance its ability to manage currency as well as raw materials price risk. Derivative instruments are entered into for periods consistent with the related underlying exposures and do not constitute positions independent of those exposures. The company does not enter into contracts for speculative purposes. The contracts are executed with major financial institutions with no credit loss anticipated for failure of the counterparties to perform.
Foreign Currency Forward Contracts
The company is exposed to foreign currency exchange risk as a result of transactions in currencies other than the functional currency of certain subsidiaries. The company utilizes foreign currency forward purchase and sale contracts to manage the volatility associated with foreign currency purchases, sales and certain intercompany transactions in the normal course of business. Currencies for which the company utilizes foreign currency forward contracts include the British pound, Canadian dollar, Euro and Mexican peso.
Gains and losses on these instruments are recorded in accumulated other comprehensive loss, net of tax, until the underlying transaction is recorded in earnings. When the hedged item is realized, gains or losses are reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive loss to the statement of earnings. The assessment of effectiveness for forward contracts is based on changes in the forward rates. These hedges have been determined to be effective.
The majority of the amounts in accumulated other comprehensive loss for cash flow hedges is expected to be reclassified into earnings within one year and all of the hedges will be reclassified into earnings no later than December 31, 2015.
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The following table summarizes, by currency, the contractual amounts of the companys foreign currency forward contracts.
British pound
Canadian dollar
Euro
Mexican peso
Total
Commodity Futures Contracts
In addition to entering into supply arrangements in the normal course of business, the company also entered into futures contracts to fix the cost of certain raw material purchases, principally copper and aluminum, with the objective of minimizing changes in cost due to market price fluctuations. The hedging strategy for achieving this objective is to purchase commodities futures contracts on the open market of the London Metals Exchange (LME) or over the counter contracts based on the LME.
The minimal after-tax loss of the effective portion of the contracts as of March 31, 2014 was recorded in accumulated other comprehensive loss and will be reclassified into cost of products sold in the period in which the underlying transaction is recorded in earnings. The effective portion of the contracts will be reclassified within one year. Commodity hedges outstanding at March 31, 2014 involve a total of approximately 1.2 million pounds of copper.
The impact of derivative contracts on the companys financial statements is as follows:
Fair value of derivatives designated as hedging instruments under ASC 815:
Foreign currency contracts
Total derivatives designated as hedging instruments
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The effect of derivatives instruments on the Consolidated Statement of Earnings:
Three Months Ended March 31 (dollars in millions):
Derivatives in ASC
815 cash flow
hedging
relationships
Commodities contracts
The effective income tax rate for the three months ended March 31, 2014 was 28.0 percent compared to 31.7 percent for the first three months of 2013. The company estimates that its annual effective income tax rate for the full year of 2014 will be between 28.0 and 29.0 percent. The full year effective income tax rate in 2013 was 28.2 percent.
As of March 31, 2014, the company had $1.3 million of unrecognized tax benefits of which $0.9 million would affect its effective income tax rate if recognized. The company recognizes potential interest and penalties related to unrecognized tax benefits as a component of income tax expense.
The companys U.S. federal income tax returns for 20092013 are subject to audit. The company is subject to state and local income tax audits for tax years 20002013. The company is subject to non-U.S. income tax examinations for years 20062013.
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Changes to accumulated other comprehensive loss by component are as follows:
Cumulative Foreign Currency Translation
Balance at beginning of period
Other comprehensive loss before reclassifications
Balance at end of period
Unrealized Net Gain on Cash Flow Derivatives
Other comprehensive earnings before reclassifications
Realized gains on derivatives reclassified to cost of products sold (net of tax provision of $0.4 and $0.2 in 2014 and 2013, respectively)
Pension Liability
Amounts reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive loss: (1)
Accumulated other comprehensive loss, end of period
(1) Amortization of pension items:
Actuarial losses
Prior year service cost
Tax benefit
Reclassification net of tax
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PART I FINANCIAL INFORMATION
OVERVIEW
We are a leading manufacturer of water heaters and boilers, serving a diverse mix of residential and commercial end markets principally in the U.S. with a strong and growing international presence. Our company is comprised of two reporting segments: North America and Rest of World. Both segments manufacture and market comprehensive lines of residential and commercial gas, gas tankless and electric water heaters. Both segments primarily manufacture and market in their respective region of the world. Our Rest of World segment is primarily comprised of China, Europe and India. The North America segment also manufactures and globally markets specialty commercial water heating equipment, condensing and non-condensing boilers and water systems tanks. The Rest of World segment also manufactures and markets water treatment products, primarily for Asia.
Sales in our North America segment grew approximately three percent in the first quarter of 2014 as a result of the recovery in the U.S. construction market which positively impacted our residential and commercial water heater volumes. As a result, we expect the residential water heater industrys unit shipments to grow approximately four percent in 2014. We expect the commercial water heater industrys annual growth in units shipped to be approximately three percent. Driven by a transition in the boiler industry from non-condensing boilers to condensing boilers, we expect sales of Lochinvar branded products to grow approximately ten percent in 2014.
Sales in our Rest of World segment grew approximately 25 percent in the first quarter of 2014, primarily as a result of 25 percent growth in sales in China. We expect sales in China to grow at a rate of approximately two times the growth in Chinas gross domestic product (GDP) as consumer demand for water heaters and water treatment products, market acceptance of our newer, higher-value water heater products and distribution expansion contribute to our growth.
RESULTS OF OPERATIONS
FIRST THREE MONTHS OF 2014 COMPARED TO 2013
Sales for the first quarter of 2014 were $552.2 million or approximately eight percent higher than sales of $509.6 million in the first quarter of 2013 primarily due to higher sales in China. Sales in China grew approximately 25 percent in the first quarter of 2014 compared to the first quarter of 2013.
First quarter gross profit margin of 35.5 percent in 2014 was essentially flat compared to 35.2 percent in 2013. The favorable impact from higher volumes in China and in the U.S. in the first quarter of 2014 was offset by the impacts of higher steel prices in North America and lower volumes in Canada. In addition, in 2013 the company ceased manufacturing in Canada and a weaker Canadian dollar in 2014 impacted our gross profit margins on purchases from the U.S.
Selling, general and administrative (SG&A) expenses for the first quarter of 2014 were $130.9 million or $10.9 million higher than the first quarter of 2013. The increase in SG&A expenses in 2014 was primarily due to higher selling and advertising costs in support of increased volumes in China.
On March 28, 2013, our board of directors approved a plan to transfer residential water heater production from our Fergus, Ontario plant to our other North American facilities. The majority of our production was consolidated in the second quarter of 2013. As a result of the capacity reduction, we incurred pre-tax restructuring and impairment expenses of $12.7 million in the first quarter of 2013 related to employee severance costs and impairment of long-lived assets.
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In addition, included in operating earnings in the first quarter of 2013 is a pre-tax gain of $11.0 million from a settlement with a former supplier regarding previous overcharges and warranty costs.
Interest expense in the first quarter of 2014 was $1.4 million compared to $1.5 million in the same period last year.
Other income was $1.3 million in the first quarter of 2014, up from $1.0 million in the same period last year.
Our pension costs and credits are developed from actuarial valuations. The valuations reflect key assumptions regarding, among other things, discount rates, expected return on assets, retirement ages, and years of service. We consider current market conditions including changes in interest rates in making these assumptions. Our assumption for the expected rate of return on plan assets is 7.75 percent in 2014 compared to 8.00 percent in 2013. The discount rate used to determine net periodic pension costs increased from 4.05 percent in 2013 to 4.85 percent in 2014. Pension expense for the first quarter of 2014 was $6.6 million or $0.3 million lower than the first quarter of 2013. Our pension costs are reflected in cost of products sold and SG&A expense.
Our effective income tax rate for the first quarter of 2014 was 28.0 percent compared to 31.7 percent in the same period last year. Our adjusted effective income tax rate for the first quarter of 2014 was 28.8 percent compared to an adjusted effective income tax rate of 29.7 percent in the same period last year. Included in our effective income tax rate in 2013 was an income tax benefit related to restructuring and impairment expenses which were taxed at a relatively lower income tax rate and an income tax expense associated with a settlement gain with a former supplier which was taxed at a relatively higher income tax rate. Both of these items were excluded from our adjusted effective income tax rate in 2013.
We are providing non-GAAP measures (adjusted earnings, adjusted earnings per share, adjusted segment operating earnings and adjusted segment operating margins) that exclude certain items as well as non-operating pension costs consisting of interest cost, expected return on plan assets, amortization of actuarial gains (losses) and curtailments. Prior year results are provided on a comparable basis. Reconciliations to measures on a GAAP basis are provided later in this section.
Sales for the North America segment were $388.5 million in the first quarter of 2014 or $9.8 million higher than sales of $378.7 million in the first quarter of 2013. Higher sales of residential and commercial water heaters in the U.S. were partially offset by lower sales in Canada and the impact of a weaker Canadian dollar.
North America operating earnings were $55.3 million in the first quarter of 2014 which were slightly higher than operating earnings of $54.1 million in the same period of 2013. Adjusted segment operating earnings were $59.1 million in the first quarter of 2014 compared to $59.4 million in the first quarter of 2013. The operating margin in the first quarter of 2014 of 14.2 percent was essentially equal to the operating margin of 14.3 percent in the same period last year. The adjusted operating margin in the first quarter of 2014 of 15.2 percent was lower than the adjusted operating margin of 15.7 percent in the same period last year. The lower adjusted operating earnings in 2014 were caused by higher steel prices and lower sales volumes in Canada and a weaker Canadian dollar which impacted purchases from the U.S. These items more than offset higher sales volumes in the U.S. and savings associated with rationalization of our manufacturing footprint.
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Adjusted segment operating earnings exclude non-operating pension costs in both periods presented. Adjusted segment operating earnings in the first quarter of 2013 also exclude the $12.7 million pre-tax restructuring and impairment expenses associated with the transfer of production from Fergus, Ontario and the $11.0 million pre-tax gain on the settlement with a former supplier.
Sales for the Rest of World segment were $172.8 million in the first quarter of 2014 or $34.5 million higher than sales of $138.3 million in the first quarter of 2013. The increase in sales was due to an approximately 25 percent increase in sales of water heaters and water treatment products in China and we believe included a change in inventory levels at our customers which favorably impacted sales by approximately $10 million quarter over quarter.
Operating earnings for the Rest of World segment were $25.1 million in the first quarter of 2014 or 38 percent higher than $18.2 million in the first quarter of 2013. The improved earnings in the first quarter of 2014 were due to higher sales and an improved mix of products in China, which were partially offset by sales-related increases in selling and advertising costs and higher operating expenses resulting from the opening of a second water heater plant in China in late 2013. The 2014 first quarter operating margin of 14.4 percent was higher than our operating margin of 13.1 percent in the same period last year primarily due to improvements in the profitability associated with the water treatment products in China.
Outlook
The company believes residential construction appears to be improving modestly in the U.S. Any increase in housing construction should complement our strong replacement water heater business. As a result of escalating costs on various components including, among other things, steel, packaging and freight, we announced a mid-single digit percentage price increase in North America which will be effective May 1, 2014. This is our first price increase in almost two years. Our international business, especially China, has continued to grow as a result of consumer demand for products with more robust features and benefits. Our investment in product development continues to play a key role in our success in China. As a result of an improvement in our full year expectations from China and strength in the U.S. water heater industry we decided to increase our EPS guidance for 2014. We believe A. O. Smith Corporation will achieve full-year GAAP earnings of between $2.06 and $2.21 per share and full-year adjusted earnings of between $2.20 and $2.35 per share, neither of which includes the potential impact from future acquisitions.
Liquidity & Capital Resources
Working capital of $661.7 million at March 31, 2014 was $47.0 million higher than at December 31, 2013. Lower accounts payable balances in China account for the majority of the increase. As of March 31, 2014, all of the $472.5 million of cash, cash equivalents and marketable securities was held by our foreign subsidiaries. We would incur a cost to repatriate these funds to the U.S. and have accrued $56.4 million for the repatriation of a portion of these funds.
Cash provided by continuing operating activities in the first quarter of 2014 was $12.3 million compared with $34.1 million during the same period last year. The reduced operating cash flows were primarily related to larger working capital requirements, which were partially offset by higher earnings. For the full year 2014, we expect total cash provided by continuing operating activities to be $240 to $250 million.
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Capital expenditures totaled $25.3 million in the first quarter of 2014, compared with $18.4 million spent in the year ago period. We are projecting 2014 capital expenditures to be $75 to $85 million, including approximately $20 million to support our enterprise resource planning software implementation. Full year depreciation and amortization is expected to be approximately $65 million.
In December 2012, we completed a $400 million multi-currency credit facility with a group of eight banks which expires in December 2017. The facility has an accordion provision which allows it to be increased up to $500 million if certain conditions (including lender approval) are satisfied. Borrowing rates under the facility are determined by our leverage ratio. The facility requires us to maintain two financial covenants, a leverage ratio test and an interest coverage test, and we were in compliance with the covenants as of March 31, 2014.
The facility backs up commercial paper and credit line borrowings. As a result of the long-term nature of this facility, our commercial paper and credit line borrowings, as well as drawings under the facility, are classified as long-term debt. At March 31, 2014, we had available borrowing capacity of $164.7 million under this facility. We believe the combination of available borrowing capacity and operating cash flow will provide sufficient funds to finance our existing operations for the foreseeable future.
Our total debt increased $35.1 million from $191.9 million at December 31, 2013 to $227.0 million at March 31, 2014. Our leverage, as measured by the ratio of total debt to total capitalization, was 14.5 percent at the end of the first quarter in 2014, compared with 12.6 percent at the end of last year.
Our pension plan continues to meet all funding requirements under ERISA regulations. We do not expect to make contributions to the plan in 2014.
In July 2013, our board of directors approved a stock repurchase program authorizing the purchase of 2,000,000 shares of our common stock. During the first quarter 2014, we repurchased 445,792 shares at a total cost of $21.3 million. A total of approximately 707,000 shares remained of the existing repurchase authority at March 31, 2014. On April 7, 2014 our board of directors approved adding an additional 1,500,000 shares of common stock to the existing discretionary share repurchase authority. Depending on factors such as stock price, working capital requirements and alternative investment opportunities, we expect to repurchase a significant portion of the authorized shares in 2014.
On April 7, 2014, our board of directors declared a regular cash dividend of $.15 per share on our common stock and Class A common stock. The dividend is payable on May 15, 2014 to shareholders of record on April 30, 2014.
Non-GAAP Financial Information
We provide non-GAAP measures (adjusted earnings, adjusted earnings per share (EPS) and adjusted segment operating earnings) that exclude certain items as well as non-operating pension costs consisting of interest cost, expected returns on assets, amortization of actuarial gains (losses) and curtailments.
We believe that the measures of adjusted earnings, adjusted EPS and adjusted segment operating earnings provide useful information to investors about our operating performance and allow management and our investors to compare our performance period over period.
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Adjusted Earnings and Adjusted EPS
(dollars in millions, except per share data)
The following is a reconciliation of net earnings and diluted EPS to adjusted earnings (non-GAAP) and adjusted EPS (non-GAAP):
Net Earnings (GAAP)
Non-operating pension costs, before tax
Tax effect of non-operating pension costs
Restructuring and impairment expenses, before tax
Tax effect of restructuring and impairment expenses
Settlement income, before tax
Tax effect of settlement income
Adjusted Earnings
Diluted EPS (GAAP)
Non-operating pension costs per diluted share, before tax
Tax effect of non-operating pension costs per diluted share
Restructuring and impairment expenses per diluted share, before tax
Tax effect of restructuring and impairment expenses per diluted share
Settlement income per diluted share, before tax
Tax effect of settlement income per diluted share
Adjusted EPS
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Adjusted Segment Operating Earnings
The following is a reconciliation of reported segment operating earnings to adjusted segment operating earnings (non-GAAP):
Segment Operating Earnings (GAAP)
Total Segment Operating Earnings (GAAP)
Adjustments
Total Adjustments
Total Adjusted Segment Operating Earnings
Additional information:
Adjustments: North America Segment
Non-operating pension costs
Restructuring and impairment expenses
Settlement income
Total North America Segment Adjustments
Adjusted 2013 EPS and Adjusted 2014 Guidance
The following is a reconciliation of diluted EPS to adjusted EPS (non-GAAP):
Non-operating pension costs per diluted share, net of tax
Restructuring and impairment expenses per diluted share, net of tax
Settlement income per diluted share, net of tax
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Critical Accounting Policies
Our consolidated financial statements are prepared in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the U.S. which requires the use of estimates and assumptions about future events that affect the amounts reported in the financial statements and accompanying notes. Future events and their effects cannot be determined with absolute certainty. Therefore, the determination of estimates requires the exercise of judgment. Actual results inevitably will differ from those estimates, and such differences may be material to the financial statements. The critical accounting policies that we believe could have the most significant effect on our reported results or require complex judgment by management are contained in Item 7, Managements Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations, of our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2013. We believe that at March 31, 2014, there has been no material change to this information.
Recent Accounting Pronouncements
None.
ITEM 3 - QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURES ABOUT MARKET RISK
As is more fully described in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2013, we are exposed to various types of market risks, including currency and certain commodity risks. Our quantitative and qualitative disclosures about market risk have not materially changed since that report was filed. We monitor our currency and commodity risks on a continuous basis and generally enter into forward and futures contracts to minimize these exposures. The majority of the contracts are for periods of less than one year. Our company does not engage in speculation in our derivative strategies. It is important to note that gains and losses from our forward and futures contract activities are offset by changes in the underlying costs of the transactions being hedged.
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ITEM 4 CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES
Evaluation of disclosure controls and procedures
Under the supervision and with the participation of our management, including our principal executive officer and principal financial officer, we conducted an evaluation of our disclosure controls and procedures, as such term is defined under Rule 13a-15(e) promulgated under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (Exchange Act). Based upon their evaluation of these disclosure controls and procedures, our principal executive officer and principal financial officer concluded that the disclosure controls and procedures were effective as of March 31, 2014 to ensure that information required to be disclosed by us in the reports we file or submit under the Exchange Act is recorded, processed, summarized and reported, within the time period specified in the SEC rules and forms, and to ensure that information required to be disclosed by us in the reports we file or submit under the Exchange Act is accumulated and communicated to our management, including our principal executive and principal financial officers, as appropriate, to allow timely decisions regarding disclosure.
Changes in internal control over financial reporting
There have been no significant changes in our internal control over financial reporting during the quarter ended March 31, 2014 that have materially affected, or are reasonably likely to materially affect, our internal control over financial reporting.
Forward Looking Statements
This filing contains statements that the company believes are forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking statements generally can be identified by the use of words such as may, will, expect, intend, estimate, anticipate, believe, forecast, guidance or words of similar meaning. All statements regarding our 2014 outlook are forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements are subject to risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those anticipated as of the date of this filing. Important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from these expectations include, among other things, the following: uncertain costs, savings and timeframes associated with the implementation of the new enterprises resources planning system; potential weakening in the high efficiency boiler industry in the U.S.; the ability to execute our acquisition strategy; significant volatility in raw material prices; competitive pressures on the companys businesses; inability to implement pricing actions; instability in the companys replacement markets; strength or duration of any recoveries in U.S. residential or commercial construction; a further slowdown in the growth of the Chinese economy; foreign currency fluctuations; and adverse general economic conditions and capital market deterioration.
Forward-looking statements included in this filing are made only as of the date of this filing, and the company is under no obligation to update these statements to reflect subsequent events or circumstances. All subsequent written and oral forward-looking statements attributed to the company, or persons acting on its behalf, are qualified entirely by these cautionary statements.
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PART II - OTHER INFORMATION
ITEM 1 - LEGAL PROCEEDINGS
There have been no material changes in the legal and environmental matters discussed in Part 1, Item 3 and Note 15 of the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2013.
ITEM 2 - UNREGISTERED SALES OF EQUITY SECURITIES AND USE OF PROCEEDS
On July 8, 2013, our board of directors approved a stock repurchase program authorizing the purchase of 2,000,000 shares of our common stock. On April 7, 2014, our board of directors approved adding 1,500,000 shares of common stock to the existing discretionary share repurchase authority. Under the share repurchase program, the companys common stock may be purchased through a combination of Rule 10b5-1 automatic trading plan and discretionary purchases in accordance with applicable securities laws. The number of shares purchased and the timing of the purchase will depend on a number of factors, including share price, trading volume and general market conditions, as well as working capital requirements, general business conditions and other factors, including alternative investment opportunities. The stock repurchase authorization remains effective until terminated by our board of directors which may occur at any time, subject to the parameters of any Rule 10b5-1 automatic trading plan that we may then have in effect. In the first quarter of 2014, we repurchased 445,792 shares at an average price of $47.75 per share and at a total cost of $21.3 million. As of March 31, 2014, there were 706,984 shares remaining on the repurchase authorization that existed at that time.
ISSUER PURCHASES OF EQUITY SECURITIES
Period
January 1 January 31, 2014
February 1 February 28, 2014
March 1 March 31, 2014
ITEM 5 - OTHER INFORMATION
ITEM 6 - EXHIBITS
Refer to the Exhibit Index on page 26 of this report.
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SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has authorized this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned.
/s/ Daniel L. Kempken
/s/ John J. Kita
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INDEX TO EXHIBITS
ExhibitNumber
Description
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