Mueller Industries - 10-Q quarterly report FY2016 Q3

MUELLER INDUSTRIES, INC.

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF COMPREHENSIVE INCOME

(Unaudited)

 

(1) Net of tax of $(119)

(2) Net of tax of $575

(3) Net of tax of $(606)

(4) Net of tax of $1,014

(5) Net of tax of $(255)

(6) Net of tax of $(429)

(7) Net of tax of $(1,175)

(8) Net of tax of $(715)

(9) Net of tax of $(2,888)

(10) Net of tax of $(3,700)

MUELLER INDUSTRIES, INC.

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS

(Unaudited)

MUELLER INDUSTRIES, INC.

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS

(Unaudited)

MUELLER INDUSTRIES, INC.

NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

(Unaudited)

Certain information and footnote disclosures normally included in annual financial statements prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States have been condensed or omitted.  Results of operations for the interim periods presented are not necessarily indicative of results which may be expected for any other interim period or for the year as a whole.  This Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q should be read in conjunction with the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K, including the annual financial statements incorporated therein.

The accompanying unaudited interim financial statements include all normal recurring adjustments which are, in the opinion of management, necessary for a fair presentation of the results for the interim periods presented herein.  The fiscal nine months and quarter ended October 1, 2016 contained 40 weeks and 13 weeks, respectively, while the fiscal nine months and quarter ended September 26, 2015 contained 39 weeks and 13 weeks, respectively.

Basic per share amounts have been computed based on the average number of common shares outstanding.  Diluted per share amounts reflect the increase in average common shares outstanding that would result from the assumed exercise of outstanding stock options and vesting of restricted stock awards, computed using the treasury stock method.  Approximately 218 thousand and 383 thousand stock-based awards were excluded from the computation of diluted earnings per share for the quarters ended October 1, 2016 and September 26, 2015, respectively, because they were antidilutive.

On April 26, 2016, the Company entered into an agreement providing for the purchase of a 60.0 percent equity interest in Jungwoo Metal Ind. Co., LTD (Jungwoo-Mueller) for approximately $20.5 million in cash.  Jungwoo-Mueller, which manufactures copper-based pipe joining products, is headquartered in Seoul, South Korea and serves markets worldwide.  It complements the Company's existing copper fittings businesses in the Piping Systems segment and is reported in the Company's Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements one month in arrears.

This acquisition was accounted for using the acquisition method of accounting whereby the total purchase price was allocated to tangible and intangible assets acquired and liabilities assumed based on respective fair values.

The fair value of the assets acquired totaled $48.8 million, consisting primarily of property, plant, and equipment of $25.9 million, inventories of $15.8 million, accounts receivable of $5.6 million, and other current assets of $1.5 million.  The fair value of the liabilities assumed totaled $17.3 million, consisting primarily of long-term debt of $8.7 million, accounts payable of $7.3 million, pension liabilities of $0.8 million, and other current liabilities of $0.5 million.  Of the remaining purchase price, $3.6 million was allocated to non-deductible goodwill.  The noncontrolling interest in Jungwoo-Mueller is $14.6 million.  The purchase price allocation is provisional as of October 1, 2016 and subject to change upon completion of the final valuation of the long-lived assets and noncontrolling interest during the measurement period.

 

On June 1, 2015, the Company sold certain assets.  Simultaneously, the Company entered into a lease agreement with the purchaser of the assets for their continued use for a period of approximately 22 months (Lease Period).

The total sales price was $20.2 million, of which $5.0 million was received on June 1, 2015; the Company will receive $5.0 million on December 30, 2016 and the remaining $10.2 million will be received at the end of the Lease Period, March 31, 2017.  This transaction resulted in a pre-tax gain of $15.4 million in the second quarter of 2015, or 17 cents per diluted share after tax.  This gain was recognized in the Piping Systems segment.

During the first quarter of 2016, the Company made changes to its management reporting structure as a result of a change in the way the Chief Executive Officer, who serves as the Chief Operating Decision Maker, manages and evaluates the business, makes key operating decisions, and allocates resources.  Previously, the Company had two reportable segments: Plumbing & Refrigeration and OEM.  During the first quarter, the Company realigned its operating segments into three reportable segments: Piping Systems, Industrial Metals, and Climate.  Management has recast certain prior period amounts to conform to the current period presentation. Each of the reportable segments is composed of certain operating segments that are aggregated primarily by the nature of products offered as follows:

Piping Systems is composed of the following operating segments: Domestic Piping Systems Group, Canadian Operations, European Operations, Trading Group, Mueller-Xingrong (the Company's Chinese joint venture), and Jungwoo-Mueller (the Company's South Korean joint venture).  The Domestic Piping Systems Group manufactures copper tube and fittings, plastic fittings, and line sets.  These products are manufactured in the U.S. and sold in North America.   Outside the U.S., the Canadian Operations manufacture copper tube and line sets and sell the products primarily in the U.S. and Canada, and the European Operations manufacture copper tube in the U.K. which is sold primarily in Europe.  The Trading Group manufactures pipe nipples and imports and resells brass and plastic plumbing valves, malleable iron fittings, faucets, and plumbing specialty products in the U.S. and Mexico.  Mueller-Xingrong manufactures engineered copper tube primarily for air-conditioning applications in China.  Jungwoo-Mueller manufactures copper-based joining products that are sold worldwide.  The Piping Systems segment's products are sold primarily to plumbing, refrigeration, and air-conditioning wholesalers, hardware wholesalers and co-ops, building product retailers, and air-conditioning original equipment manufacturers (OEMs).

 

During the third quarter of 2016, the segment recognized impairment charges of $3.0 million on fixed assets used for  product development.   During the second quarter of 2015, the segment recognized approximately $3.4 million of severance costs related to the reorganization of Yorkshire Copper Tube, acquired in 2014.

Industrial Metals is composed of the following operating segments: Brass Rod & Copper Bar Products, Impacts & Micro Gauge, and Brass Value-Added Products.  These businesses manufacture brass rod, impact extrusions, and forgings, as well as a wide variety of end products including plumbing brass, automotive components, valves, fittings, and gas assemblies.  These products are manufactured in the U.S. and sold primarily to OEMs in the U.S., many of which are in the industrial, construction, heating, ventilation, and air-conditioning, plumbing, and refrigeration markets.

Climate is composed of the following operating segments: Refrigeration Products, Fabricated Tube Products, Westermeyer, and Turbotec.  These domestic businesses manufacture and fabricate valves and assemblies primarily for the heating, ventilation, air-conditioning, and refrigeration markets in the U.S.

Summarized segment information is as follows:

 

The Company's earnings and cash flows are subject to fluctuations due to changes in commodity prices, foreign currency exchange rates, and interest rates.  The Company uses derivative instruments such as commodity futures contracts, foreign currency forward contracts, and interest rate swaps to manage these exposures.

All derivatives are recognized in the Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets at their fair value.  On the date the derivative contract is entered into, it is either a) designated as (i) a hedge of a forecasted transaction or the variability of cash flow to be paid (cash flow hedge) or (ii) a hedge of the fair value of a recognized asset or liability (fair value hedge), or b) not designated in a hedge accounting relationship, even though the derivative contract was executed to mitigate an economic exposure, as the Company does not enter into derivative contracts for trading purposes (economic hedge).  Changes in the fair value of a derivative instrument that is qualified, designated and highly effective as a cash flow hedge are recorded in accumulated other comprehensive income (AOCI), to the extent effective, until they are reclassified to earnings in the same period or periods during which the hedged transaction affects earnings.  Changes in the fair value of a derivative that is qualified, designated and highly effective as a fair value hedge, along with the gain or loss on the hedged recognized asset or liability that is attributable to the hedged risk, are recorded in current earnings.  Changes in the fair value of undesignated derivative instruments and the ineffective portion of designated derivative instruments are reported in current earnings.

The Company documents all relationships between derivative instruments and hedged items, as well as the risk-management objective and strategy for undertaking various hedge transactions.  This process includes linking all derivative instruments that are designated as fair value hedges to specific assets and liabilities in the Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets and linking cash flow hedges to specific forecasted transactions or variability of cash flow.

The Company also assesses, both at the hedge's inception and on an ongoing basis, whether the designated derivative instruments that are used in hedging transactions are highly effective in offsetting changes in cash flow or fair values of hedged items.  When a derivative instrument is determined not to be highly effective as a hedge or the underlying hedged transaction is no longer probable of occurring, hedge accounting is discontinued prospectively in accordance with the derecognition criteria for hedge accounting.

Copper and brass represent the largest component of the Company's variable costs of production.  The cost of these materials is subject to global market fluctuations caused by factors beyond the Company's control.  The Company occasionally enters into forward fixed-price arrangements with certain customers; the risk of these arrangements is generally managed with commodity futures contracts.   These futures contracts have been designated as cash flow hedges.  

 

At October 1, 2016, the Company held open futures contracts to purchase approximately $33.1 million of copper over the next 10 months related to fixed price sales orders.  The fair value of those futures contracts was a $1.6 million net gain position, which was determined by obtaining quoted market prices (level 1 within the fair value hierarchy).  In the next 12 months, the Company will reclassify into earnings realized gains or losses relating to cash flow hedges.  At October 1, 2016, this amount was approximately $350 thousand of deferred net gains, net of tax.

The Company may also enter into futures contracts to protect the value of inventory against market fluctuations.  At October 1, 2016, the Company held open futures contracts to sell approximately $6.1 million of copper over the next six months related to copper inventory.  The fair value of those futures contracts was a $129 thousand net loss position, which was determined by obtaining quoted market prices (level 1 within the fair value hierarchy).

On February 20, 2013, the Company entered into a two-year forward-starting interest rate swap agreement with an effective date of January 12, 2015, and an underlying notional amount of $200.0 million, pursuant to which the Company receives variable interest payments based on one-month LIBOR and pays fixed interest at a rate of 1.4 percent.   Based on the Company's current variable premium pricing on its Term Loan Facility, the all-in fixed rate on the effective date is 2.7 percent.  The interest rate swap will mature on December 11, 2017, and is structured to offset the interest rate risk associated with the Company's floating-rate, LIBOR-based Term Loan Facility Agreement.   The swap was designated and accounted for as a cash flow hedge from inception.

The fair value of the interest rate swap is estimated based on the present value of the difference between expected cash flows calculated at the contracted interest rate and the expected cash flows at the current market interest rate using observable benchmarks for LIBOR forward rates at the end of the period (level 2 within the fair value hierarchy).  Interest payable and receivable under the swap agreement is accrued and recorded as an adjustment to interest expense.  The fair value of the interest rate swap was a $1.6 million net loss position at October 1, 2016, and there was $1.0 million of deferred losses, net of tax, included in AOCI that are expected to be reclassified into interest expense over the term of the hedged item.

The Company presents its derivative assets and liabilities in the Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets on a net basis by counterparty.  The following table summarizes the location and fair value of the derivative instruments and disaggregates the net derivative assets and liabilities into gross components on a contract-by-contract basis:

The following tables summarize the effects of derivative instruments on the Company's Condensed Consolidated Statements of Income:

 

Derivative information (continued):

The Company enters into futures and forward contracts that closely match the terms of the underlying transactions.  As a result, the ineffective portion of the open hedge contracts through October 1, 2016 was not material to the Condensed Consolidated Statements of Income.

The Company primarily enters into International Swaps and Derivatives Association master netting agreements with major financial institutions that permit the net settlement of amounts owed under their respective derivative contracts.  Under these master netting agreements, net settlement generally permits the Company or the counterparty to determine the net amount payable for contracts due on the same date and in the same currency for similar types of derivative transactions.  The master netting agreements generally also provide for net settlement of all outstanding contracts with a counterparty in the case of an event of default or a termination event.  The Company does not offset fair value amounts for derivative instruments and fair value amounts recognized for the right to reclaim cash collateral.  At October 1, 2016 and December 26, 2015, the Company had recorded restricted cash in other current assets of $1.4 million and $2.6 million, respectively, as collateral related to open derivative contracts under the master netting arrangements.

The Company owns a 50 percent interest in Tecumseh Products Holdings LLC (Joint Venture), an unconsolidated affiliate that acquired Tecumseh Products Company (Tecumseh) during the third quarter of 2015.  The Company also owns a 50 percent interest in a second unconsolidated affiliate that provided financing to Tecumseh in conjunction with the acquisition.  These investments are recorded using the equity method of accounting, as the Company can exercise significant influence but does not own a majority equity interest or otherwise control the respective entities.  Under the equity method of accounting, these investments are stated at initial cost and are adjusted for subsequent additional investments and the Company's proportionate share of earnings or losses and distributions.

The Company records its proportionate share of the investees' net income or loss one quarter in arrears as income (loss) from unconsolidated affiliates, net of tax, in the Condensed Consolidated Statements of Income.   

The following tables present summarized financial information derived from the Company's equity method investees'  combined consolidated financial statements, which are prepared in accordance with U.S. GAAP.

Included in the equity method investees' net income for the nine months ended June 30, 2016 is a gain of $17.1 million that resulted from the allocation of the purchase price, which was finalized during the quarter ended December 31, 2015.  That gain was offset by restructuring and impairment charges of $5.3 million and net losses of $5.7 million.

The Company sponsors several qualified and nonqualified pension plans and other postretirement benefit plans for certain of its employees.  The components of net periodic benefit cost (income) are as follows:

The Company is involved in certain litigation as a result of claims that arose in the ordinary course of business, which management believes will not have a material adverse effect on the Company's financial position, results of operations, or cash flows.  The Company may also realize the benefit of certain legal claims and litigation in the future; these gain contingencies are not recognized in the Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements.

Guarantees, in the form of letters of credit, are issued by the Company generally to assure the payment of insurance deductibles and certain retiree health benefits.  The terms of the guarantees are generally one year but are renewable annually as required.  These letters are primarily backed by the Company's revolving credit facility.  The maximum payments that the Company could be required to make under its guarantees at October 1, 2016 were $7.0 million.

The Company's effective tax rate for the third quarter of 2016 was 30 percent compared with 20 percent for the same period last year.  The items impacting the effective tax rate for the third quarter of 2016 were primarily attributable to reductions for the U.S. production activities deduction of $0.6 million and the effect of foreign tax rates lower than statutory tax rates of $1.0 million.  These items were partially offset by the provision for state income taxes, net of the federal benefit, of $0.6 million.

For the third quarter of 2015, the difference between the effective tax rate and the amount computed using the U.S. federal statutory tax rate was primarily attributable to a permanent reduction to the Company's deferred tax liabilities of $4.2 million resulting from the acquisition of a foreign subsidiary and the U.S. production activities deduction of $0.8 million.

The Company's effective tax rate for the first nine months of 2016 was 33 percent compared with 32 percent for the same period last year.  The items impacting the effective tax rate for the first nine months of 2016 were primarily attributable to reductions for the U.S. production activities deduction of $2.5 million and the effect of foreign tax rates lower than statutory tax rates of $3.5 million.  These items were partially offset by the provision for state income taxes, net of the federal benefit, of $2.3 million.

For the first nine months of 2015, the difference between the effective tax rate and the amount computed using the U.S. federal statutory tax rate was primarily attributable to reductions to the Company's deferred tax liabilities of $4.2 million and the U.S. production activities deduction of $3.0 million.  These items were partially offset by the provision for state income taxes, net of federal benefit, of $2.1 million.

The Company files a consolidated U.S. federal income tax return and numerous consolidated and separate-company income tax returns in many state, local, and foreign jurisdictions.  The statute of limitations is open for the Company's federal tax return and most state income tax returns for 2013 and all subsequent years and is open for certain state and foreign returns for earlier tax years due to ongoing audits and differing statute periods.  While the Company believes that it is adequately reserved for possible future audit adjustments, the final resolution of these examinations cannot be determined with certainty and could result in final settlements that differ from current estimates.

AOCI includes certain foreign currency translation adjustments from those subsidiaries not using the U.S. dollar as their functional currency, net deferred gains and losses on certain derivative instruments accounted for as cash flow hedges, adjustments to pension and OPEB liabilities, unrealized gains and losses on marketable securities classified as available-for-sale, and other comprehensive income attributable to unconsolidated affiliates.

The following table provides changes in AOCI by component, net of taxes and noncontrolling interests (amounts in parentheses indicate debits to AOCI):