EX-13 4 c90312exv13.htm ANNUAL REPORT TO SHAREHOLDERS exv13
 

Exhibit 13

Woodward Governor Company

Annual Report

(WOODWARD LOGO)

Woodward Governor Company
5001 North Second Street, P.O. Box 7001
Rockford, Illinois 61125-7001 USA
815-877-7441

www.woodward.com

STRONG AND FOCUSED

Our strengths lie within our people, our technologies, and our customer relationships. We apply our broad portfolio of technologies to solve complex fuel and combustion control applications.

Engine and turbine original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) depend on Woodward to address their market needs for lower emissions, higher reliability, and lower costs.

Today and in the future, Woodward will continue to develop and deliver systems, components, and services to meet unique aerospace, power generation, process industries, and transportation needs.

Business Description

Woodward designs, manufactures, and services energy control systems and components for aircraft and industrial engines and turbines. Leading OEMs throughout the world use our products and services in the power generation, process industries, transportation, and aerospace markets.

Contents

     
4
  Financial Highlights
5-8
  Dear Shareholders
8-12
  Strong and Focused
13-57
  Financial Review
62
  Officer and Investor Information
IBC
  Board of Directors

We use our energy control technologies to develop and produce components that we integrate into systems. Our systems and components help our customers satisfy their needs for reliable and cost effective power equipment that meets strict air quality standards.

 


 

WHAT DRIVES OUR BUSINESS

EMISSIONS

Achieving environmental standards. Global emissions regulations demand cleaner air now and in the future, while world economic factors necessitate improved fuel economy and use of alternative fuel sources. Woodward’s systems and component solutions help our power equipment customers meet environmental standards with improved reliability and efficiency.

GLOBALIZATION

Conducting global business locally. Business is changing as economies around the world become more connected. Woodward knows that doing business in a customer’s language and time zone enables us to better understand and serve them. With locations in China, India, and around the world, we are positioned to serve rapidly growing markets as well as other established economies.

SYSTEM SOLUTIONS

Solving challenges with innovation and integration. Customers demand technical solutions that meet their needs for efficiency, reliability, and cost. Our market strategy helps us deliver integrated systems and advanced components that meet stringent aerospace and industrial requirements. With experience in fuel and combustion control systems for engines and turbines of every size and application, Woodward is ready to solve tomorrow’s challenges.

MARKET STRATEGY

Technologies:

Technologies and components are integrated into energy control systems specifically designed for power equipment, focusing on emissions, reliability, cost, and service.

    Fuel systems
 
    Combustion control systems
 
    Electronic controls and software
 
    Systems integration
 
    Services

Components:

    Turbine valves and actuators
 
    Engine valves and actuators
 
    Diesel fuel Injection equipment
 
    Fuel metering units
 
    Engine and turbine electronic controls
 
    Genset and switchgear controls
 
    Gas turbine fuel nozzles
 
    Ignition systems

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    Fuel pumps
 
    Servovalves
 
    Governors

Integrated Systems:

    Total system solutions for power equipment applications

Power equipment:

Woodward systems and components are used in equipment that powers the world’s infrastructure. Original equipment manufacturers rely on Woodward as a single-source supplier for their critical fuel and combustion control needs.

    Industrial diesel and gas engines
 
    Industrial gas turbines
 
    Steam turbines
 
    Compressors
 
    Gensets and switchgear
 
    Aircraft gas turbines
 
    Fuel cells

Our customers Include:

    Caterpillar
 
    Cummins
 
    Kubota
 
    Yanmar
 
    Mitsubishi
 
    Man
 
    GE
 
    Siemens
 
    Dresser-Rand
 
    Ingersoll-Rand
 
    Daewoo
 
    Hyundai
 
    Rolls-Royce
 
    Pratt & Whitney
 
    US Government
 
    Major airlines worldwide
 
    Wärtsilä
 
    DaimlerChrysler

Market applications:

By delivering integrated control solutions, Woodward is a global leader in the aerospace, process industries, transportation, and power generation markets.

    Power generation
 
    Transportation
 
    Process industries
 
    Aerospace

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FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS

                         
    Fiscal year ended September 30,
(In thousands except per share amounts and other year-end data)
  2004
  2003
  2002
Operating Results
                       
Net sales
  $ 709,805     $ 586,682     $ 679,991  
Earnings before cumulative effect of accounting change
    31,382       12,346       45,170  
Basic per share amount
    2.78       1.10       3.99  
Diluted per share amount
    2.71       1.08       3.90  
Cash Dividends per Share
    0.96       0.9525       0.93  
Year-end Financial Position
                       
Working capital
    197,524       151,262       155,440  
Total assets
    654,294       615,999       582,395  
Long-term debt, less current portion
    88,452       89,970       78,192  
Shareholders’ equity
    385,861       360,804       354,901  
Other Year-end Data
                       
Shareholders’ equity per diluted share
    33.36       31.68       30.66  
Worker members
    3,287       3,273       3,337  
Registered shareholder members
    1,529       1,576       1,592  

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DEAR SHAREHOLDERS

“We have strong, solid relationships with our foundation customers, who are the world’s major engine and turbine manufacturers.”

2004 was a turnaround year for Woodward. We experienced solid growth in most of our markets, after two consecutive years of decline. However, the strength of the markets has not returned to the vigorous levels of 2000. The prospects of demand returning to 2000 levels within the next two years, assuming the economy cooperates, are reasonably good with the exception of large industrial gas turbines, which we believe will continue to strengthen, but most likely not return to the boom years of 2000 and 2001.

We converted this market growth into much improved operating margins for 2004. Our aircraft segment showed significant improvement year-over-year as a result of a higher mix of aftermarket business as well as efficiency improvements from the 2003 closure and integration of our Buffalo, New York servovalve operation into our Rockford, Illinois plant.

While we made improvements in our industrial business, we were not able to convert the additional sales into targeted operating margins. Supply chain problems, acquisition integration issues, and inefficiencies caused by the fast ramp-up in orders prevented the expected operating leverage from flowing through to the bottom line. Correcting these problems has been and will continue to be a primary focus in 2005.

In addition to these efforts, we recently announced our intention to consolidate our European businesses to eliminate two manufacturing operations and to integrate the work into other Woodward facilities.

We will also reduce our sales and service resources in Europe. This will improve our margins and allow us to reallocate our resources from Europe, where engine manufacturing is declining, so we can focus more resources in Asia, where engine manufacturers are moving and markets are growing.

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Along with our facility in Tomisato, Japan and sales offices located throughout Asia, we have two wholly-owned operations in China, located in Tianjin and Suzhou. Through these facilities, we support our western original equipment manufacturers (OEM) activities in China, develop relationships with Chinese OEMs, and establish sourcing in the region.

We believe these actions and locations will best serve our customers and investors as we continue to integrate our recent acquisitions and expand our global presence for end markets and sourcing of components.

Our Strategy

Reducing emissions, improving operating efficiencies, and lowering costs remain the dominant drivers in our markets. To that end, through acquisitions, our own product development, and licensing agreements, we have put together a technology portfolio that gives us critical mass to meet these market challenges. Most recently, through the acquisition of Adrenaline Research, which had developed proprietary combustion sensing expertise, we added crucial technology to remain a leader in energy control solutions.

To leverage this knowledge, we have also committed to investing in a new combustion test facility at our Zeeland, Michigan location. We believe combustion control is key to achieving emission regulations in 2010 and beyond. Coupled with our existing strengths, the world-class test facility will support future systems development that focuses on the components necessary for aircraft and industrial combustion control. Building construction has begun, and we expect the facility to be completed by April 2005.

Helping Customers Meet Demands

We have strong, solid relationships with our foundation customers, who are the world’s major engine and turbine manufacturers. Our customers face many issues-emissions regulations, the need for high fuel efficiency, the drive for lower cost products, and the ability to respond quickly to the global market. We work closely with our customers early in the development and design stages, which enables us to anticipate their needs and deliver products to meet their specifications. In fiscal year 2004, we invested approximately $40 million, or about 6 percent of sales, in developing systems and products that will secure our future.

For example, we recently announced our role as fuel systems integrator with GE Transportation-Aircraft Engines for the new GEnx turbofan engine for the Boeing 7E7 Dreamliner. The Boeing 7E7, scheduled for entry into service in 2008, is expected to revolutionize widebody aircraft travel.

The GEnx contract win solidifies our role as a systems integrator, demonstrates the value of our new product development efforts, and continues our strong position with GE on their aircraft engine product lines. Industry analysts estimate the potential for our total fuel system program will exceed $400 million over the life of the program.

We engineer systems that enhance the competitiveness of our customers’ products by meeting stringent emissions regulations. For instance, we

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are developing the next generation of an engine control system for compressed natural gas (CNG) vehicles, the OH-2. Primarily for Asian markets, this system reduces emissions and increases fuel efficiency on urban bus and commercial truck engines without sacrificing driveability.

Similarly, we developed the MI-04 engine control system to meet 2004 emissions requirements for the mobile industrial engine market, and we are currently developing the MI-07 to meet more stringent 2007 emission standards. These systems use proven products that reduce emissions, increase engine performance, and offer ease of maintainability. By investing in the small engine market, we now can offer our customers total system solutions for their engines that power forklifts and other off-road vehicles.

Looking at 2004 and Beyond

Total company sales for 2004 were $709,805,000 and earnings were $31,382,000 or $2.71 per diluted share. The 2004 results included pretax workforce management costs of $12,868,000 related primarily to the consolidation of two manufacturing operations in Europe into existing operations. From our current vantage point, we believe our markets will continue to show growth over the next year and into 2006, and we are dedicated and positioned to capture the revenue and earnings growth opportunities.

The Sarbanes-Oxley Act has raised the visibility of corporate governance, which holds a place of high importance to our shareholders and has always been an area of focus for Woodward. We are actively working on requirements related to internal controls over financial reporting for Section 404 of the Act, and we are on target to meet the 2005 deadline.

This year brought a couple of changes to our Board of Directors. First, Rodney O’Neal resigned from our Board in March 2004 because he was unable to commit the time he felt was appropriate. We will miss his valuable participation in our strategic and operational deliberations.

Second, Larry E. Rittenberg, Ph.D., CIA, CPA, was elected as a director of the company, effective September 1, 2004. Professor Rittenberg is recognized for his knowledge and insight regarding corporate governance and internal auditing, areas that are a major focus in today’s business environment.

On November 18, 2004, Woodward announced plans for the transition of our chief financial officer role. Executive Vice President, CFO and Treasurer Stephen P. Carter has decided to retire from Woodward following the appointment and transition of his successor. During his 18-year tenure, Steve’s achievements and contributions were exemplary, including helping to manage our transformation to full public company status. Steve has been an outstanding colleague and advisor, and we will miss his strategic vision, broad range of capabilities, and professionalism.

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I want to thank our Board of Directors for their guidance and our leaders and members for their hard work this year. They are the reason we had a successful year in building on our strengths and strategies for growth.

Woodward sets the standard for energy control system solutions for aerospace, industrial power systems, power generation, transportation, and process industries. We will continue to work within our strategies and structure to build a strong future.

(JOHN A. HALBROOK SIGNATURE)

John A. Halbrook

Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer

December 8, 2004

STRONG IN OUR TECHNOLOGIES

Our core technologies focus on fuel delivery and combustion control for aircraft and industrial engines and turbines. Our engineers translate their knowledge and expertise into systems and components that help our customers provide reliable, low-cost, and low-emission energy control equipment.

In cooperation with Pratt & Whitney Canada (P&WC), an aircraft turbine manufacturer, Woodward evaluated and developed a technology concept for an engine fuel delivery system for the general aviation market. As the engine went from thought to creation, it became the P&WC PW600 engine family program.

We leveraged technologies from our small industrial turbine and engine applications and extended those technologies into aircraft engine control. Ultimately, we simplified the control system, which reduced component count, weight, and cost while enhancing engine performance.

As the system integrator, Woodward is responsible to provide the fuel pump, metering unit, sensors, harness, actuator, and ignition system for the PW610F, which will power the twin-engine Eclipse 500 business jet. Eclipse Aviation Corporation has experienced a strong demand for the entry-level jet for the general aviation and new “air taxi” marketplaces.

As engines and aircraft become more sophisticated, their systems require more information sharing and greater heat management capability. By developing, acquiring, and applying our technologies, we are finding solutions and contributing to the industry’s efforts to offer aircraft that are safer, easier, and less expensive to operate.

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As the first new power generation concept in more than a decade, GE’s 100-megawatt LMS100? is a simple-cycle, high efficiency gas turbine. It is designed to provide fast starts, high availability and reliability, and low emissions.

The LMS100 represents a significant change in power generation technology. When developing the turbine, GE used technologies from its aeroderivative and industrial gas turbine experience.

Likewise, Woodward drew upon technologies from its aircraft and industrial business segments to provide the gas and liquid fuel metering system, water metering valves, liquid fuel pumps, variable-geometry servovalve actuators, and fuel nozzle premixers.

GE required a supplier with systems engineering expertise, the ability to meet its technical requirements, and the talent to design and manufacture reliable systems and components.

To meet GE’s requirements, Woodward tapped into expertise from operations that spanned the company, including technologies associated with pumps, pre-mixers, and valves. We also developed new digital driver and electric actuation technologies that are leveraged across the fuel metering system on the LMS100.

Through our advanced technologies, Woodward is able to meet GE’s fuel and actuation system needs for the world’s most efficient simple-cycle gas turbine.

Page 6 (left-right): Woodward technicians Jason Jerome, Terry Roby, and Ronda Hermann study results of a development test for fuel control system components for the Pratt & Whitney Canada PW610F engine. Page 7 (left-right): At a flow test stand, Woodward technician Tom Collard and engineer George Sanchez examine a prototype gas valve assembly for GE’s new LMS100™ gas turbine.

FOCUSED on SYSTEM SOLUTIONS

Woodward offers single-source system solutions to original equipment manufacturers for their fuel and combustion control needs, increasing our content per engine while lowering their costs.

STRONG IN OUR MARKETS

Serving leading engine and turbine original equipment manufacturers, Woodward solves key issues that drive their businesses-emissions, globalization, reliability, and cost.

The need for clean air and energy independence has resulted in new government requirements worldwide that expand the use of low-emission natural gas vehicles.

Particularly in China and other parts of Asia, governments are requiring urban bus and vehicle fleets to use compressed natural gas (CNG) or propane-fueled engines to increase reliance on locally available energy supplies and to reduce emissions.

In the last decade, Woodward developed and successfully marketed three generations of the OH-1 engine control system for heavy-duty CNG engines.

To meet the next round of engine emissions requirements and to serve the escalating Asian market, Woodward is introducing the next generation control system, the OH-2. With upgraded features, it will provide improved fuel, air, and combustion control for lower emissions, better fuel efficiency, and enhanced system performance.

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Page 8: The OH-2 engine control system, being tested in Woodward’s dynamometer lab, will help customers meet upcoming emissions requirements. Inset: We will provide a suite of components for the GP7200 engine for the Airbus A380 jet, part of the widebody commercial aircraft market. Page 9: The commercial and military aircraft aftermarkets remained strong for Woodward in 2004. Test Stand Operator Pam Lindsey inspects a combustion control component for the US Air Force.

In the aerospace market, Woodward is represented on military engines that will power the frontline fighters of the future. We supply an augmentor spraybar for the F119 engine on the F/A-22 Raptor, and we are developing combustion components for the main and augmentor portions of the Pratt & Whitney F135 engine for the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter.

In recent years, we have been expanding our presence in the widebody aircraft market. We produce a hydromechanical unit for the GE90-115B, the exclusive engine on the Boeing 777-300ER and -200LR, and we developed a suite of components for the GP7200 engine for the Airbus A380 superjumbo jet.

We manufacture fuel nozzles, fuel metering units, and air modulating valves for the IAE V2500 engine used on the popular narrow body Airbus A319/320/321 family of aircraft.

We are gaining market share in the commercial and military aftermarkets by focusing on repair, overhaul, and replacement of both Woodward and non-Woodward components.

For example, we are repairing Woodward components and replacing competitors’ components for the IAE V2500 engine. Also, the US Air Force is updating the engine configurations for F15 and F16 fighter jets, and we are supplying combustion control components.

Additionally, we developed a repair and overhaul process for an engine combustion system component for the KC-135 fuel delivery tanker and B52 long-range bomber.

Our strength in vital global markets positions us to offer solutions to issues that drive our customers’ businesses.

LEADER in VITAL GLOBAL MARKETS

Woodward’s advanced systems and component solutions address key drivers in the aerospace, power generation, transportation, and process industries markets. We continue to gain market share by providing solutions for our customers.

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STRONG IN OUR RELATIONSHIPS

Strong customer relationships are a Woodward hallmark. As a supplier, we cultivate our relationships by listening to the needs of our engine and turbine customers and by offering solutions that benefit them and their end users.

For decades, Woodward and our customers have worked together to provide fuel control system solutions for the industrial and aircraft markets. We support GE with on-site representatives at their aircraft engine facility, and our industrial combustion system operation is located near one of their plants.

Woodward’s on-site representatives focus on current and future development efforts, ensuring the voice of the customer is heard. Our engineers have earned increasing levels of responsibility in the joint development of Woodward components for both GE Transportation and GE Energy.

Our relationship with GE Transportation-Aircraft Engines contributed to our successful bid to be the fuel system integrator for the new GEnx turbofan engine for the widebody Boeing 7E7 Dreamliner.

As system integrator, Woodward is responsible for the specifications, development, certification, production and support of the fuel system, which manages fuel pumping and metering, engine actuation and control, heat management, and fuel filtration.

In building strong relationships, we have worked with Daewoo Heavy Industries and Machinery and NGVI, an engine packager, for almost a decade. By coupling technical expertise with our team approach, we have helped Daewoo and NGVI solve many complex challenges in the heavy-duty industrial engine market.

Woodward teamed with Daewoo and NGVI to develop the MI-04 engine control system for the small mobile industrial engine market. The system helps engine and equipment manufacturers reduce emissions and increase engine performance.

With the MI-04 system, Woodward extended the relationship beyond our system and component development scope to support Daewoo and NGVI in the field.

Before production release of the system, we worked together to develop a training program for Daewoo’s distributors and sales and service managers. The training program also educates service managers on use and maintenance of the advanced MI-04 system.

With a thorough knowledge of Woodward’s engine control features and benefits, Daewoo’s sales and service organization can address questions about the mobile equipment more effectively.

Currently, we are developing the MI-07 engine control system to meet more stringent 2007 emission standards. The close relationship forged between Woodward, Daewoo, and NGVI has been instrumental to our mutual success.

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DEDICATED to our CUSTOMER BASE

Our customer relationships are built on trust because we first listen, then analyze, suggest, develop, and manufacture advanced engine fuel control systems and components.

Page 10 and center: Our customer-focused activities range from concurrent design engineering to proactive production meetings. Page 11: Building on our close relationship with Daewoo, we solve many complex challenges in the small mobile industrial engine market.

STRONG FINANCIALLY

A strong financial base affords a company the resources to invest in its future. At Woodward, it allows us the flexibility to fund new product development, to execute our acquisition strategy, and to attract and retain talented employees who are recognized as a competitive advantage in the industry.

As a financially secure company, we can concentrate on key initiatives that will help us continue to address our customers’ needs now and in the future. One of many plans in progress is establishing a common set of product design tools and processes that incorporate Six Sigma and lean approaches across our aircraft and industrial businesses.

This type of standardization and discipline leads to ongoing improvements in our product development efforts, which enables us to offer our customers market-leading solutions.

Sound investments lay the groundwork for future opportunities with our customers. To support the growth of our systems capabilities, test facilities are under construction for both combustion and fuel systems. When completed in fiscal year 2005, we will use these facilities to test innovative products and control solutions that will lead to improved efficiencies and reduced emissions.

With a strategic partner mindset and continued investments in technologies, products, and people, we set the global standard for energy control system solutions.

FOCUSED on the FUTURE

As we successfully leverage our investments across our core markets, we bring added value to our customers and shareholders.

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WOODWARD

2004 ANNUAL REPORT

14 — Management’s Discussion and Analysis
34 — Consolidated Financial Statements
58 — Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm
59 — Selected Quarterly Financial Data
60 — Selected Financial Data

FINANCIAL REVIEW

Management’s Responsibility for Financial Statements

Management is responsible for the accompanying financial statements and believes that the financial statements accurately and consistently present the financial position, results of operations, and cash flows of the company in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States.

Management makes what it believes to be reasonable and prudent judgments and estimates where necessary, and has a system of internal accounting controls designed to provide reasonable assurance that its financial records are accurate, assets are safeguarded, and transactions are executed in accordance with management’s authorizations. Self-monitoring of the internal accounting control system, along with selective testing, is a part of our control environment. Corrective actions are taken whenever deficiencies in our internal accounting control system are identified.

PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP, the company’s independent registered public accounting firm, audit the company’s financial statements in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States). Their report on these financial statements follows the notes to consolidated financial statements.

The audit committee of the company’s Board of Directors, which consists of directors who are not officers or employees of the company, meets with management and PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP to review and discuss the audited financial statements, along with other matters.

John A. Halbrook
Chairman and
Chief Executive Officer


Stephen P. Carter
Executive Vice President,
Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer

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MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS

We prepared the following discussion and analysis to help you better understand our financial condition, changes in our financial condition, and results of operations. This discussion should be read with the consolidated financial statements.

Overview

Our business is focused on the design, manufacture, and servicing of energy control systems and components for aircraft and industrial engines, turbines, and other power equipment. We use technologies in the areas of fuel systems, combustion control, electronic controls and software, and systems integration to develop components and integrated systems that we sell to OEMs (original equipment manufacturers) for use in power equipment for the power generation, process industries, transportation, and aerospace markets.

We have two operating segments-Industrial Controls and Aircraft Engine Systems. Industrial Controls provides energy control systems and components primarily to OEMs of industrial engines, turbines, and other power equipment. Aircraft Engine Systems provides energy control systems and components primarily to OEMs of aircraft turbines. We use segment information internally to assess the performance of each segment and to make decisions on the allocation of resources.

There has been a lot of volatility in the markets we serve in recent years, and our sales and earnings reflect the results of that volatility. Virtually all of our OEM customers had lower shipment volumes in 2003 as compared to 2002. These decreases were most evident among customers shipping large gas turbines used in power generation, which experienced decreases of over 40%. Our markets were affected by bankruptcies and financial difficulties of certain large utility companies, the aftermath of the events of September 2001, and uncertainty about the economy in general. As a result, purchases of discretionary capital equipment decreased.

While we saw improved market conditions in 2004, they were still not at the levels they were before the declines began.

With our fixed cost base and our decision to maintain our research and development activities at similar levels, the effect of sales changes on our earnings in 2004 and 2003 was significant. As sales decreased in 2003, the ratio of fixed costs to variable costs increased and reduced earnings. As sales returned in 2004, the ratio of fixed costs to variable costs decreased, increasing earnings.

The changes in our markets have also affected our decisions in managing our workforce. Over the last three years, we have taken actions to better align staffing levels with expected demand and to consolidate manufacturing operations to streamline our organization and gain production cost efficiencies. The most recent actions will be implemented in 2005 and the first half of 2006, and primarily involve the consolidation of certain manufacturing operations in The Netherlands, United Kingdom, and Japan with existing operations in the United States, Germany, and China. Once fully implemented, we expect the most recent actions will generate annual savings of $9 million to

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$11 million on a pretax basis. The related cost for the actions is estimated at $17 million, of which $14 million was recognized in 2004.

In the sections that follow, we are providing information to help you better understand factors that may affect our future results, our critical accounting policies and market risks, our results of operations and financial condition, and the effects of recent accounting pronouncements.

Factors That May Affect Future Results

This annual report contains forward-looking statements, including:

  Projections of sales, earnings, cash flows, or other financial items;
 
  Descriptions of our plans and objectives for future operations;
 
  Forecasts of future economic performance; and
 
  Descriptions of assumptions underlying the above items.

Forward-looking statements do not reflect historical facts. Rather, they are statements about future events and conditions and often include words such as “anticipate,” “believe,” “estimate,” “expect,” “intend,” “plan,” “project,” “target,” “can,” “could,” “may,” “should,” “will,” “would” or similar expressions. Such statements reflect our expectations about the future only as of the date they are made. We are not obligated to, and we might not, update our forward-looking statements to reflect changes that occur after the date they are made. Furthermore, actual results could differ materially from projections or any other forward-looking statement regardless of when they are made.

Important factors that could individually, or together with one or more other factors, affect our business, results of operations and/or financial condition include, but are not limited to, the following:

•     General business and economic conditions, including the strength of the global economy (particularly the economies of the United States, Europe, and Asia), fluctuations in exchange rates of foreign currencies against the United States dollar (primarily currencies of European and Asian countries), and fluctuations in interest rates (primarily LIBOR), which affect our cost of borrowings;

•     Industry-specific business and economic conditions, including the strength of manufacturers of industrial engines, turbines and other power equipment for power generation, transportation, and process industries markets, manufacturers of aircraft turbines for commercial and military markets, commercial airlines, and generators of electric power;

•     Significant geopolitical events and actions that impact business and economic conditions, including acts or threats of terrorism, actions taken by the United States or other governments in response to acts or threats of terrorism, and trade embargoes;

•     Changes in the legal environment of the United States and other countries in which we operate, including changes in the areas of taxation, business acquisitions, and environmental matters;

•     Changes in competitive conditions, including the availability of new products and services, the introduction of new channels of distribution, and changes in OEM and aftermarket pricing;

•     Reliability of customer and third-party forecasts of sales volumes and purchase requirements in our markets, including aircraft engines (OEM and aftermarket), power generation, transportation, and process industries markets;

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•     Our ability to continue to develop innovative new products and product enhancements that are accepted by our customers and markets in accordance with our project schedules and resource plans;

•     Our ability to consolidate manufacturing operations in The Netherlands, United Kingdom, and Japan with existing operations in the United States, Germany, and China in accordance with the timeframes, cost estimates, and annual savings estimates anticipated;

•     Effects of business acquisitions and/or divestitures, including the incremental effects of the business acquired or divested, the completion of integration activities within planned timeframes and at planned cost levels, and the achievement of planned operating efficiencies;

•     Effects of quality and productivity initiatives, including achievement of expected results from Six Sigma and other ongoing improvement programs and maintenance of supplier designation levels with key customers;

•     Effects of changes in accounting policies resulting from new accounting pronouncements and/or changes in the selection and application of accounting methods necessary to implement accounting policies;

•     Effects of unusual or extraordinary events, or of other events and unforeseen developments involving litigation or other contingencies.

Critical Accounting Policies

We consider the accounting policies used in preparing our financial statements to be critical accounting policies when they are both important to the portrayal of our financial condition and results of operations, and require us to make difficult, subjective, or complex judgments. Critical accounting policies normally result from the need to make estimates about the effect of matters that are inherently uncertain. Management has discussed the development and selection of our critical accounting policies with the audit committee of the company’s Board of Directors, and the audit committee has reviewed the disclosures that follow.

In each of the following areas, our judgments, estimates, and assumptions are impacted by conditions that change over time. As a result, in the future there could be changes in our assets and liabilities, increases or decreases in our expenses, and additional losses or gains that are material to our financial condition and results of operations.

Goodwill

Goodwill, which is included in the segment assets of both Industrial Controls and Aircraft Engine Systems, totaled $131.6 million at September 30, 2004, representing 20% of total assets. We began testing goodwill for impairment on an annual basis in 2002 and we test goodwill for impairment more often if circumstances require. As a result of adopting new accounting standards on October 1, 2001, we recognized a pretax impairment loss of $4.0 million to reduce goodwill of an Industrial Controls reporting unit to its implied fair value. Subsequent annual impairment tests in 2002, 2003, and 2004 did not result in any impairment losses.

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Estimates and assumptions, the most important of which are used to estimate the fair value of reporting units within the company, impact the results of our goodwill impairment tests. To estimate the fair value of reporting units, we estimate future cash flows, discount rates, and transaction multiples that we believe a marketplace participant would use in an arm’s length transaction.

To assess the effect on our annual impairment tests in 2004 if different assumptions had been used, we separately measured the effects of a hypothetical 20% reduction in estimated cash flows, a 20% increase in the discount rates used, and a 20% reduction in the transaction multiples used. While each of these changes would have reduced the estimated fair value of reporting units within the company, none of them individually would have resulted in an impairment loss in 2004.

Other long-lived assets

As discussed here, our other long-lived assets consist of property, plant, and equipment, and other intangibles, which are included in the segment assets of both Industrial Controls and Aircraft Engine Systems. Long-lived assets totaled $203.0 million at September 30, 2004, and represented 31% of total assets. To the extent a long-lived asset was acquired in a business acquisition, its initial cost is equal to its estimated fair value. In 2004, the total amount of long-lived assets acquired in business acquisitions totaled $6.0 million. We depreciate or amortize long-lived assets over their estimated useful lives. Depreciation expense and amortization expense associated with these assets totaled $32.8 million in 2004, $32.4 million in 2003, and $32.1 million in 2002. We also test long-lived assets for recoverability whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying values may not be recoverable. We recognized an impairment loss of $3.0 million in 2002.

Judgment is required to determine the fair value of long-lived assets acquired in business acquisitions. The valuation of land and buildings and improvements considers factors such as the size, condition, and utility of the property and sales prices of similar property in the approximate vicinity of the acquired property. The valuation of machinery and equipment considers factors such as the estimated replacement cost of the equipment less deductions for loss of value arising from condition, utility, and age of the equipment.

The valuation of identifiable intangible assets is based on techniques that are dependent upon factors such as expected future cash flows, estimated fair value royalty rates, and discount rates. For our 2004 acquisition, we determined the fair value of tangible and identifiable intangible assets acquired were approximately equal to our cost of the acquisition and we did not record any goodwill. While we believe our valuations of long-lived assets is appropriate, we also believe the valuations of long-lived assets acquired in our 2004 business acquisition could reasonably have been up to 20% higher or lower-or $1.2 million-than the actual amounts determined. If our fair value determinations had been lower, we would have recorded goodwill. However, there would not have been a significant change had our fair value determinations been higher.

The selection of useful lives for depreciation and amortization purposes requires judgment. If we had increased the remaining useful life of all assets being depreciated and amortized by one year,

17


 

depreciation and amortization expense would have decreased, and the year-end carrying value of long-lived assets would have increased, by approximately $4.2 million in 2004. Similarly, if we had decreased the remaining useful lives by one year, depreciation and amortization expense would have increased, and the year-end carrying value of long-lived assets would have decreased, by approximately $5.7 million in 2004. (The results of this sensitivity analysis ignore the impact of individual assets that might have become fully depreciated or amortized during 2004 had these hypothetical changes been made.)

The carrying value of a long-lived asset, or related group of assets, is reduced to its fair value whenever estimates of future cash flows are insufficient to indicate the carrying value is recoverable. We form judgments as to whether recoverability should be assessed, we estimate future cash flows and, if necessary, we estimate fair value. Fair value estimates are most often based on estimated future cash flows and assumed discount rates.

Deferred income tax asset valuation allowances

Valuation allowances for deferred income tax assets totaled $18.6 million at September 30, 2004, representing 26% of deferred income tax assets before the allowances. The net changes in the valuation allowances increased income tax expense by $2.1 million in 2004 and $4.5 million in 2003.

We establish valuation allowances to reflect the estimated amount of deferred tax assets that might not be realized. Both positive and negative evidence are considered in forming our judgment as to whether a valuation allowance is appropriate. Our current valuation allowances are primarily for deferred tax assets associated with foreign net operating loss carryforwards. Remaining deferred tax assets are expected to be realized through future earnings. If we had made different judgments regarding the realizability of deferred tax assets associated with foreign net operating loss carryforwards, our valuation allowance and income tax expense would have decreased. If we had made different judgments regarding the realizability of other deferred tax assets, our valuation allowance and income tax expense would have increased.

Retirement healthcare benefits

The cost of retirement healthcare benefits is recognized over employee service periods using an actuarial-based attribution approach. Our liability at September 30, 2004, consisted of a benefit obligation of $82.7 million, unamortized prior service cost of $8.4 million, and unrecognized net losses of $36.3 million, resulting in a recorded net accrued benefit of $54.8 million, representing 20% of total liabilities. Our expense in 2004 consisted of service and interest costs totaling $6.4 million and other costs netting to an increase of $0.8 million, resulting in a net periodic benefit cost of $7.2 million.

To determine our net accrued benefit and net periodic benefit cost, we form judgments about the best estimate for each assumption used in the actuarial computation.

The two most important assumptions that impact the computation are the healthcare cost trend rate and the discount rate.

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We assumed net healthcare cost trend rates of 10.00% in 2005, decreasing gradually to 5.00% in 2010, and remaining at 5.00% thereafter. A 1.00% increase in assumed healthcare cost trend rates would have increased the benefit obligation at the end of 2004 by $15.7 million and the total of the service and interest costs by $1.3 million in 2004. Likewise, a 1.00% decrease in the assumed healthcare cost trend rates would have decreased the benefit obligation by $12.1 million and the total of service and interest costs by $1.0 million in 2004.

We assumed discount rates of 5.79% to determine our benefit obligation at September 30, 2004, and 6.00% to determine our service and interest costs in 2004. A 1.00% increase in these discount rates would have decreased the benefit obligation at the end of 2004 by $12.8 million and the total of service and interest costs by $0.7 million in 2004. Likewise, a 1.00% decrease in these discount rates would have increased the benefit obligation by $16.9 million and the total of service and interest costs by $0.8 million in 2004.

Market Risks

Our long-term debt and interest rate swap agreements are sensitive to changes in interest rates. We monitor trends in interest rates as a basis for determining whether to enter into fixed rate or variable rate debt agreements, the duration of such agreements, and whether to use hedging strategies. Our primary objective is to minimize our long-term costs of borrowing. At September 30, 2004, our long-term debt was denominated principally in United States dollars and consisted of fixed rate agreements. However, to effectively offset our exposure to changes in the fair value of a portion of our long-term debt, we have entered into interest rate swap agreements.

Under these agreements, we are swapping fixed rate interest payments for interest payments at rates that vary with LIBOR. As measured at September 30, 2004, a hypothetical 1% immediate increase in interest rates would adversely affect our 2005 net earnings and cash flows by approximately $0.3 million and reduce the combined fair value of our long-term debt and interest rate swap agreements by approximately $1.8 million. Last year, a hypothetical 1% immediate increase in interest rates would have adversely affected our 2004 net earnings and cash flows by approximately $0.4 million and reduced the fair value of our long-term debt and interest rate swap agreements by approximately $2.8 million.

Assets, liabilities, and commitments that are to be settled in cash and are denominated in foreign currencies for transaction purposes are sensitive to changes in currency exchange rates. We monitor trends in foreign currency exchange rates and our exposure to changes in those rates as a basis for determining whether to use hedging strategies. Our primary exposures are to the European Monetary Union euro and the Japanese yen. We do not have any derivative instruments associated with foreign currency exchange rates. A hypothetical 10% immediate increase in the value of the United States dollar relative to all other currencies, when applied to September 30, 2004, balances, would adversely affect our 2005 net earnings and cash flows by approximately $0.7 million. Last year, a hypothetical 10% immediate increase in the value of the United States dollar relative to all other currencies would have adversely affected our 2004 net earnings and cash flows by $0.5 million.

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Results of Operations

Sales

                         
In thousands for the year            
ended September 30,
  2004
  2003
  2002
External net sales:
                       
Industrial Controls
  $ 439,801     $ 332,755     $ 408,665  
Aircraft Engine Systems
    270,004       253,927       271,326  
Consolidated net sales
  $ 709,805     $ 586,682     $ 679,991  
 
 
   
   
 

2004 Compared to 2003

Consolidated net sales increased 21% in 2004 compared to 2003, attributable to the following (in millions):

           
Industrial Controls’ sales volume changes   $ 53  
Incremental sales from business acquisitions     41  
Foreign currency translation rate changes     16  
Aircraft Engine Systems’ sales volume changes     14  
Price changes     (1 )

Industrial Controls’ sales volume changes: Incremental sales associated with the manufacture of diesel fuel injectors and pumps for one of our major customers accounted for approximately $42 million of the increase in Industrial Controls’ sales volume. We believe our acquisition of the Bryce diesel fuel injection business of Delphi Automotive Systems in June 2001 provided us with the capabilities that ultimately allowed us to pursue this opportunity. Sales of the injectors and pumps began in late 2003. The remaining $11 million increase in Industrial Controls’ sales volume, as measured before the effects of business acquisitions, resulted from increased demand across many product lines in Asia and North America.

Incremental sales from business acquisitions: We completed two acquisitions in 2003 that, on an incremental basis, increased sales by approximately $41 million in 2004 over 2003. Both acquisitions were accounted for in Industrial Controls.

Our acquisitions in 2003 expanded our position in the small, high-speed diesel engine market. Synchro-Start Products, Inc., acquired in May 2003, designed and manufactured actuators, solenoids, and controls for industrial engines and equipment. Barber-Colman Dyna Products, acquired in August 2003, manufactured and distributed controls for off-highway diesel and gas engines and mobile industrial equipment.

We also completed an acquisition of Adrenaline Research, Inc. in June 2004 to enhance our capabilities in advanced combustion electronics. We immediately integrated this acquisition into existing operations and did not separately measure the effect on sales, although we considered the effect insignificant.

Aircraft Engine Systems’ sales volume changes: External net sales of Aircraft Engine Systems increased 6% in 2004 from 2003. We attribute most of the increase to higher revenue passenger miles experienced by airlines, which has driven greater utilization of aircraft and higher aftermarket sales for us. Even at the increased levels, however, we believe commercial aircraft production and commercial airline traffic

20


 

were both low in 2004 relative to recent periods-in particular, periods immediately preceding the events of September 2001. We estimate approximately half of our total sales were aftermarket sales in 2004 and 2003.

2003 Compared to 2002

Consolidated net sales decreased 14% in 2003 compared to 2002, attributable to the following (in millions):

           
Industrial Controls’ sales volume changes   $ (104 )
Incremental sales from business acquisitions     19  
Aircraft Engine Systems’ sales volume changes     (18 )
Foreign currency translation rate changes     15  
Price changes     (5 )

Industrial Controls’ sales volume changes: Virtually all of our OEM customers had lower shipment volumes in 2003 as compared to 2002. These decreases were most evident among customers shipping large gas turbines used in power generation. The decrease in our large gas turbine combustion product sales was in excess of 40%. Utility companies in the United States were investing in new power generation equipment at increasing levels in the few years preceding 2002 and began decreasing their investments in 2002. Our largest customer referred to this dynamic as the “U.S. power bubble,” which peaked in 2002. They also reported that their sales of large gas turbines were 43% lower in calendar year 2003 than in 2002. We believe the rapid decrease in demand from the peak sales was influenced by bankruptcies and financial difficulties of certain large utility companies, which impacted the investment plans of many utility companies. Not only were utility companies placing orders for power equipment at lower rates, but they were canceling orders already placed and paying cancellation fees to power equipment manufacturers.

Industrial Controls’ sales of products other than large gas turbine combustion products decreased an average of 20%. Companies have considerable discretion over the timing of capital equipment purchases and, as a result of general economic conditions and uncertainty about the future, were making fewer investments in 2003 than in 2002. Decreased demand for capital equipment in numerous areas-such as marine, locomotive, off-highway equipment, alternative-fuel trucks and buses, oil and gas processing, petrochemical processing, paper processing, and sugar processing-all affected our sales.

Incremental sales from business acquisitions: We completed four acquisitions in 2003 and 2002 that increased sales by $19 million in 2003 over 2002. All four acquisitions were made by Industrial Controls.

Our acquisitions in 2003 expanded our position in the small, high-speed diesel engine market. Synchro-Start Products, Inc., acquired in May 2003, designed and manufactured actuators, solenoids, and controls for industrial engines and equipment. Barber-Colman Dyna Products, acquired in August 2003, manufactured and distributed controls for off-highway diesel and gas engines and mobile industrial equipment.

Our acquisitions in 2002 enhanced our capabilities using technologies that can be leveraged to existing systems, power equipment, and market applications. Leonhard-Reglerbau Dr.-Ing. Adolf Leonhard GmbH, acquired in January 2002, specialized in the design, manufacture, and sales of

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control, protection, and monitoring devices for power generation equipment. Nolff’s Carburetion, Inc., acquired in March 2002, manufactured and sold natural gas and propane fuel systems for small industrial engines.

Aircraft Engine Systems’ sales volume changes: External net sales of Aircraft Engine Systems decreased 6% in 2003 from 2002. The low levels of commercial aircraft production and low levels of commercial airline traffic relative to recent periods-in particular, periods immediately preceding the events of September 2001-affected the demand for our products, reducing our sales volume. The most notable decrease in sales volumes began in the second fiscal quarter of 2002. Generally, commercial aftermarket sales held up better than OEM sales in 2003. We estimate about 51% of our total sales were aftermarket sales in 2003, compared to 46% in 2002.

Costs and Expenses

                         
In thousands for the year            
ended September 30,
  2004
  2003
  2002
Cost of goods sold
  $ 542,240     $ 450,676     $ 502,396  
Selling, general, and administrative expenses
    70,949       67,310       61,857  
Research and development costs
    40,057       41,565       36,734  
All other expense items
    12,942       13,536       12,582  
Interest and other income
    (5,675 )     (6,344 )     (4,258 )
Consolidated costs and expenses
  $ 660,513     $ 566,743     $ 609,311  
 
 
   
   
 

2004 Compared to 2003

Cost of goods sold increased 20% in 2004 as compared to 2003, attributable to the following (in millions):

           
Increase in net sales   $ 95  
Cost effects associated primarily with the lower ratio of fixed costs to variable costs     (15 )
Changes in segment sales mix
    4  
Higher performance-based variable compensation     6  
Other factors, net     2  

Cost of goods sold would have increased $95 million in 2004 over 2003 had the increase been proportional to the 21% increase in net sales. However, cost of sales includes both variable and fixed cost components. The most significant reason cost of goods sold did not increase by $95 million was due to the operating leverage effect of the increased sales versus fixed costs.

The percent increase in Industrial Controls sales was greater than the percent increase in Aircraft Engine Systems sales. However, Industrial Controls’ average margins are not as high as those of Aircraft Engine Systems. As a result, the relative change in the sales mix from one segment to the other increased our cost of goods sold by approximately $4 million in 2004 as compared to 2003.

Among the other factors affecting cost of goods sold were workforce management costs totaling $12.4 million in 2004 and workforce management costs and related facility consolidation costs totaling $10.1 million in 2003.

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Selling, general, and administrative expenses increased 5% in 2004 as compared to 2003, attributable to the following (in millions):

           
Incremental expenses of businesses acquired   $ 3.7  
Higher performance-based variable compensation     3.5  
Other factors, net     (3.6 )

Among the other factors affecting selling, general, and administrative expenses were workforce management costs totaling $0.5 million in 2004 and $1.8 million in 2003.

Research and development costs decreased 4% in 2004 from 2003 due to normal variations in the timing of project expenditures.

2003 Compared to 2002

Cost of goods sold decreased 10% in 2003 as compared to 2002, attributable to the following (in millions):

           
Reduction in net sales   $ (69 )
Cost effects associated primarily with the higher ratio of fixed costs to variable costs     18  
Other factors, net     (1 )

Cost of goods sold would have decreased $69 million in 2003 from 2002 had the decrease been proportional to the 14% decrease in net sales. However, cost of sales includes both variable and fixed cost components. The most significant reason cost of goods sold did not decrease by $69 million was due to the reverse operating leverage effect of the reduced sales versus fixed costs.

Among the other factors affecting cost of goods sold were workforce management costs and related facility consolidation costs totaling $10.1 million in 2003 and workforce management costs totaling $6.9 million in 2002.

Selling, general, and administrative expenses increased 9% in 2003 as compared to 2002, attributable to the following (in millions):

           
Incremental expenses of businesses acquired   $ 3.6  
Other factors, net     1.9  

Among the other factors affecting selling, general, and administrative expenses were workforce management costs totaling $1.8 million in 2003 and $1.2 million in 2002.

Research and development costs increased 13% in 2003 over 2002 primarily due to increased expenditure levels for the further development of combustion control technologies and electronic controls and software technologies, including activities related to businesses acquired in 2001 and 2002.

Interest and other income increased by $2.1 million in 2003 over 2002 primarily due to gains realized in 2003 on the sale of certain product line rights ($1.2 million) and on the sale of marketable securities ($0.8 million).

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Workforce Management Actions

                         
In thousands for the year            
ended September 30,
  2004
  2003
  2002
Member termination benefits:
                       
Industrial Controls
  $ 12,151     $ 5,092     $ 4,032  
Aircraft Engine Systems
          3,956       4,013  
Nonsegment
          343        
 
    12,151       9,391       8,045  
Contractual pension termination benefits — Industrial Controls
    1,800              
Related costs of facility consolidation — Aircraft Engine Systems
          2,560        
Member termination benefits adjustments — Industrial Controls
    (1,083 )            
Total costs of workforce management actions
  $ 12,868     $ 11,951     $ 8,045  
 
 
   
   
 

2004 Actions

The actions in 2004 are primarily related to the consolidation of manufacturing operations in The Netherlands and United Kingdom with existing operations in the United States and Germany. We are also consolidating a small manufacturing operation in Japan with an existing operation in China and are making sales force reductions in The Netherlands. These actions are being taken to streamline the organization by eliminating redundant manufacturing operations and to adjust the sales force in response to recent market shifts from Europe to Asia and North America. In total, approximately 250 positions will be eliminated from the three locations. We expect to substantially complete these actions by March 31, 2006.

The total expense for the 2004 actions is estimated to be approximately $17.0 million, of which $13.8 million was recognized in 2004. In addition, we reduced accrued member termination benefits from the previous year’s actions by $0.7 million as a direct result of decisions to discontinue the remaining actions from the previous year given the newly-formed consolidation plans in 2004. The termination benefits that have been expensed in 2004 are related to ongoing termination benefit plans that we provide to our members and reflect expense for member service through September 30, 2004. The contractual pension termination benefits in 2004 are related to provisions of one of our retirement pension benefit plans that provide for early retirement benefits for certain plan participants in the event of a workforce management action. The remaining estimated amount of $3.2 million is for termination benefits that will be earned by members over their remaining service period and for other costs primarily associated with moving equipment and inventory to other locations. We expect to expense the $3.2 million in 2005 and 2006.

Our cash expenses for the 2004 actions are expected to total $15.2 million, and will be paid from available cash balances in 2005 and 2006 without the need for additional borrowings. The contractual pension termination benefits are non-cash expenses.

Once fully implemented, annual savings are expected to range from $9.0 million to $11.0 million. These savings are primarily related to reduced personnel costs, although we anticipate some savings in travel and other costs due to the reduced headcount. Of the total savings, approximately 90% is expected to affect cost of goods sold and 10% selling, general, and administrative expenses. We currently expect to

24


 

realize about half of the estimated savings level in the third quarter of 2005, increasing gradually thereafter through the second quarter of 2006 when virtually all of the savings is expected to be realized.

We currently plan to continue to use the facilities and equipment located in The Netherlands, United Kingdom, and Japan after the actions are completed. We own all three facilities, and each of them will have ongoing sales and service activities. In addition, the facility in the United Kingdom will remain a key development site for diesel fuel injection products. We expect to move manufacturing equipment used by the three locations to other facilities.

2003 Actions

Industrial Controls’ actions in 2003 were made to align staffing levels with expected demand and involved plans to eliminate 172 positions in various manufacturing, selling, and administrative functions worldwide. Payments associated with these actions totaled $3.1 million in 2003 and $1.1 million in 2004. In addition, the ending accrual for 2003 was reduced in 2004 by $1.1 million. We attributed $0.4 million of the accrual reduction to increased production levels and the decision to retain certain members to meet the increased demand. The remaining accrual adjustment of $0.7 million was related to members of the European operations affected by the 2004 actions and reflects the decision to discontinue the remaining 2003 actions given the newly-formed consolidation plans.

Aircraft Engine Systems’ actions in 2003 were primarily associated with the consolidation of our servovalve operations into our Rockford, Illinois, manufacturing facility to achieve production cost efficiencies. In total, 165 positions were eliminated, predominately involving direct and indirect manufacturing positions in Buffalo, New York. Payments associated with these actions totaled $3.9 million in 2003 and $0.1 million in 2004. Other costs directly associated with the consolidation of our servovalve operations totaled $2.6 million and were expensed and paid in 2003.

The benefits of the 2003 actions have been reflected in our 2004 results.

2002 Actions

Actions taken in 2002 were made to align staffing levels with expected demand and involved the elimination of 233 positions in Industrial Controls and 202 positions in Aircraft Engine Systems. The eliminated positions were predominately involved with direct and indirect manufacturing functions, although some selling and administrative functions were affected as well. Payments associated with these actions totaled $6.6 million in 2002 and $1.4 million in 2003. The benefits of these actions have been reflected in our 2004 results.

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Earnings

                         
In thousands for the year            
ended September 30,
  2004
  2003
  2002
Segment earnings (loss):
                       
Industrial Controls
  $ 6,437     $ (11,588 )   $ 33,294  
Aircraft Engine Systems
    59,192       47,615       57,226  
Total segment earnings
    65,629       36,027       90,520  
Nonsegment expenses
    (12,100 )     (12,323 )     (15,366 )
Interest expense and income
    (4,237 )     (3,765 )     (4,474 )
Consolidated earnings before income taxes and cumulative effect of accounting change
    49,292       19,939       70,680  
Income taxes
    17,910       7,593       25,510  
Cumulative effect of accounting change
                (2,489 )
Consolidated net earnings
  $ 31,382     $ 12,346     $ 42,681  
 
 
   
   
 

2004 Compared to 2003

Industrial Controls’ segment earnings were $6.4 million in 2004 compared to a segment loss of $11.6 million in 2003. The change was attributable to the following (in millions):

           
Increase in net sales   $ 20  
Cost effects associated primarily with the lower ratio of fixed costs to variable costs     8  
Workforce management actions, net     (8 )
Incremental expenses of businesses acquired     (6 )
Lower research and development costs     5  
Higher performance-based variable
compensation
    (4 )
Other factors, net     3  

Industrial Controls’ segment earnings would have increased by approximately $20 million in 2004 over 2003 if the change in gross margin (measured as external net sales less external cost of goods sold) had been proportional to the 32% increase in net sales. However, cost of goods sold includes both variable and fixed cost components and other expenses affecting segment earnings are relatively fixed. As a result, segment earnings benefited from the operating leverage effect of the increased sales versus fixed costs.

Industrial Controls’ workforce management actions resulted in the recognition of $12.9 million of expense in 2004 and $5.1 million in 2003, netting to a $7.8 million increase in 2004 over 2003.

Our business acquisitions in 2003 and 2004 resulted in increases in selling, general, and administrative expenses of approximately $3.7 million and in amortization expense of approximately $2.0 million in 2004 over 2003.

Industrial Controls’ research and development costs decreased in 2004 from 2003 due to variations in the timing of project expenditures, particularly for combustion control technologies that had relatively high expenditure levels in 2003.

Variable compensation was primarily driven by consolidated results in 2004 and 2003.

Among the other factors affecting the comparison of Industrial Controls’ segment earnings between 2004 and 2003 were the following items recognized in 2003: $1.1 million for the write-off of certain advance license fees, $1.0 million for lease termination expenses, and $0.7 million of expense for the transfer of an overseas pension to a different plan.

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Aircraft Engine Systems’ segment earnings increased

24% in 2004 as compared to 2003, attributable to the following (in millions):

           
Increase in net sales   $ 4.7  
Cost effects associated primarily with the lower ratio of fixed costs to variable costs     4.8  
Workforce management actions, net     6.5  
Higher performance-based variable compensation     (4.4 )

Aircraft Engine Systems’ segment earnings would have increased by approximately $4.7 million in 2004 over 2003 if the change in gross margin had been proportional to the 6% increase in net sales. However, cost of goods sold includes both variable and fixed cost components and other expenses affecting segment earnings are relatively fixed. As a result, segment earnings benefited from the operating leverage effect of the increased sales versus fixed costs.

Aircraft Engine Systems’ workforce management actions resulted in the recognition of $6.5 million of expense in 2003. There were no actions or expense in 2004.

Variable compensation was primarily driven by consolidated results in 2004 and 2003.

Income taxes were provided at an effective rate on earnings before income taxes of 36.3% in 2004 compared to 38.1% in 2003. The effective rate change is primarily due to changes in the distribution of taxable earnings and losses by country.

2003 Compared to 2002

Industrial Controls’ segment loss was $11.6 million in 2003 compared to segment earnings of $33.3 million in 2002. This change was attributable to the following (in millions):

           
Decrease in net sales   $ (17 )
Effects associated primarily with the higher ratio of fixed costs to variable costs     (11 )
Changes in selling prices     (5 )
Increases in research and development costs     (5 )
Incremental expenses of businesses acquired     (5 )
Other factors, net     (2 )

Industrial Controls’ segment earnings would have decreased by approximately $17 million in 2003 from 2002 if the change in gross margin had been proportional to the 19% decrease in net sales. However, cost of goods sold includes both variable and fixed cost components and other expenses affecting segment earnings are relatively fixed. As a result, the reverse operating leverage effect of the decreased sales versus fixed costs negatively affected segment earnings.

Industrial Controls’ research and development costs increased in 2003 over 2002 primarily due to increased expenditure levels for the further development of combustion control technologies and electronic controls and software technologies.

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Our business acquisitions in 2002 and 2003 resulted in increases in selling, general, and administrative expenses of approximately $3.6 million and in amortization expense of approximately $1.1 million in 2003 over 2002.

Among the other factors affecting the comparison of Industrial Controls’ segment earnings between 2003 and 2002 were the following: $5.1 million for workforce management actions, $1.1 million for the write-off of certain advance license fees, $1.0 million for lease termination expenses, and $0.7 million for the transfer of an overseas pension to a different plan in 2003; and $4.0 million for workforce management actions and $3.0 million for an impairment loss on equipment in 2002.

Aircraft Engine Systems’ segment earnings decreased 17% in 2003 from 2002 attributable to the following

(in millions):

           
Decrease in net sales   $ (5.4 )
Effects associated primarily with the higher ratio of fixed costs to variable costs     (4.6 )
Lower performance-based variable compensation     2.9  
Workforce management actions, net     (2.5 )

Aircraft Engine Systems’ segment earnings would have decreased by approximately $5.4 million in 2003 from 2002 if the change in gross margin had been proportional to the 6% decrease in net sales. However, cost of goods sold includes both variable and fixed cost components and other expenses affecting segment earnings are relatively fixed. As a result, the reverse operating leverage effect of the decreased sales versus fixed costs negatively affected segment earnings.

Aircraft Engine Systems’ variable compensation was primarily driven by consolidated results in 2003 and segment results in 2002.

Aircraft Engine Systems’ workforce management actions and related costs of facility consolidation resulted in the recognition of $6.5 million of expense in 2003 and $4.0 million in 2002, netting to a $2.5 million increase in 2003 over 2002.

Nonsegment expenses decreased in 2003 from 2002 primarily due to changes in deferred compensation expense. Certain key management members have elected to defer the payment of a portion of their compensation to future periods. Individual unfunded deferred compensation obligations that are payable in cash have been accounted for on an accrual basis by increasing or decreasing the amount of the obligation, as necessary, to reflect our actual obligation at each balance sheet date in accordance with the terms of the underlying contract. The decrease in deferred compensation expense was related to changes in these obligations, which were reflected as accrued liabilities in our consolidated balance sheets.

Income taxes were provided at an effective rate on earnings before income taxes of 38.1% in 2003 compared to 36.1% in 2002. The most significant reason for the lower rate in 2002 was related to a sale of our interest in a joint venture, which allowed us to reduce valuation allowances provided on deferred tax assets associated with a capital loss carryback.

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The tax basis of the joint venture investment that was sold in 2002 exceeded its carrying value for financial reporting purposes by $3 million. Prior to the quarter of the sale, we recognized a deferred tax asset for this basis difference and, at the same time, reduced the deferred tax asset by a valuation allowance because it was more likely than not that the deferred tax asset would not be realized.

The sale of our investment in the second quarter of 2002 resulted in a slight gain for financial reporting purposes and a taxable loss of approximately $3 million. Given that we had sufficient capital gain income in the carryback period to offset the realized capital loss, we reversed the valuation allowance that same quarter.

The cumulative effect of accounting change is related to our October 1, 2001, adoption of Financial Accounting Standards No. 142, “Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets.” We completed the transitional goodwill impairment reviews required by the new standard and determined that one of our Industrial Controls reporting units had a goodwill carrying value that exceeded its estimated implied fair value. The cumulative effect of accounting change reflects the write-down of the goodwill, net of income taxes, to its implied fair value. In performing our impairment reviews, we estimated the fair value of the various reporting units using a present value method that discounted future cash flows as we expect marketplace participants would, and we further assessed the reasonableness of the estimates by using valuation methods based on market multiples.

Outlook

Sales and earnings are expected to increase in 2005 as compared to 2004. In particular, we anticipate higher sales volume as a result of improved market conditions for capital equipment purchases in power generation, transportation, and process industries. These higher sales are expected to result in improved segment earnings for Industrial Controls and improved consolidated earnings.

For Aircraft Engine Systems, we currently anticipate sales volume to be approximately the same in 2005 as compared to 2004. At this level, our earnings could be lower in 2005 than in 2004 as a result of changes in sales mix and development expenditures for future OEM programs. However, any decrease in earnings is expected to be more than offset by increased earnings in Industrial Controls.

While the consolidation of manufacturing operations in Europe and Asia will result in additional costs in 2005, we expect these costs will be offset by savings related to the consolidations and have minimal impact on 2005 earnings.

Financial Condition
Assets

                         
In thousands at September 30,
  2004
  2003
  2002
Industrial Controls
  $ 364,584     $ 336,654     $ 286,302  
Aircraft Engine Systems
    205,580       217,685       219,480  
Nonsegment assets
    84,130       61,660       76,613  
Consolidated total assets
  $ 654,294     $ 615,999     $ 582,395  
 
 
   
   
 

29


 

2004 Compared to 2003

Industrial Controls’ segment assets at September 30, 2004, increased over the prior year, driven by higher levels of business activity near the end of 2004 as compared to 2003, which resulted in higher accounts receivable and inventories.

Aircraft Engine Systems’ segment assets at September 30, 2004, decreased from the prior year. Accounts receivable and inventories both decreased, despite higher levels of business activity in 2004 as compared to 2003, which we attribute to normal variability in the timing of customer payments and to actions taken to improve inventory turnover. In addition, depreciation of property, plant, and equipment exceeded the level of capital expenditures in 2004.

Nonsegment assets at September 30, 2004, increased from the prior year primarily because of increases in cash and cash equivalents. Net cash flows provided by operating activities exceeded net cash flows used in investing and financing activities in 2004.

2003 Compared to 2002

Industrial Controls’ segment assets at September 30, 2003, increased from the prior year due to assets acquired in business acquisitions. The resulting increases, which totaled $63.1 million in 2003, were partially offset by decreases among other assets. Lower levels of business activity near the end of 2003 as compared to 2002 resulted in lower accounts receivable and inventories. Also, depreciation of property, plant, and equipment exceeded the level of capital expenditures in 2003.

Aircraft Engine Systems’ segment assets at September 30, 2003, were near the prior year’s levels. Higher accounts receivable, attributed to higher sales near the end of 2003 as compared to 2002, were offset by reductions in inventories, and property, plant, and equipment. Normal variability of inventory balances accounted for the reductions in inventories and depreciation of property, plant, and equipment exceeded the level of capital expenditures in 2003.

Nonsegment assets at September 30, 2003, decreased from the prior year primarily because of reductions in net deferred income tax assets.

Other Balance Sheet Measures

                 
In thousands at September 30,
  2004
  2003
Working capital
  $ 197,524     $ 151,262  
Long-term debt, less current portion
    88,452       89,970  
Other liabilities
    68,709       57,215  
Commitments and contingencies
               
Shareholders’ equity
    385,861       360,804  
 
 
   
 

Working capital (total current assets less total current liabilities) at September 30, 2004, increased over the previous year primarily as a result of increases in cash and cash equivalents and reductions in the current portion of long-term debt. Our cash and debt positions at September 30, 2004, reflect the results of cash flows during the year and the fact that most of our debt is represented by senior notes payable in 2006 through 2012.

Long-term debt at September 30, 2004, was near the prior year’s level. Required future payments for long-term debt principal and operating lease commitments at September 30, 2004, were as follows:

30


 

                                 
In thousands for the year(s)   2006/   2008/    
ended September 30,
  2005
  2007
  2009
  Thereafter
Long-term debt
  $ 956     $ 29,072     $ 25,251     $ 32,143  
Operating leases
    3,600       6,000       3,400       6,900  
 
 
   
   
   

We currently have a revolving line of credit facility with a syndicate of U.S. banks totaling $100 million, with an option to increase the amount of the line to $175 million if we desire. The line of credit facility expires on March 14, 2006. In addition, we have other line of credit facilities, which totaled $26.4 million at September 30, 2004, that are generally reviewed annually for renewal. The total amount of borrowing under all facilities was $5.8 million at September 30, 2004.

Provisions of debt agreements include covenants customary to such agreements that require us to maintain specified minimum or maximum financial measures and place limitations on various investing and financing activities. The agreements also permit the lenders to accelerate repayment requirements in the event of a material adverse event. Our most restrictive covenants require us to maintain a minimum consolidated net worth, a maximum consolidated debt to consolidated operating cash flow, a maximum consolidated debt to EBITDA, and a minimum EBIT to consolidated interest expense ratio, as defined in the agreements. We were in compliance with all covenants at September 30, 2004.

Other liabilities at September 30, 2004, increased over the previous year primarily as a result of changes in net accrued retirement healthcare benefits and retirement pension benefits. Our expenses associated with these plans totaled $11.9 million and our contributions totaled $5.6 million in 2004. In addition, changes in foreign currency translation rates increased these liabilities by $1.1 million.

Commitments and contingencies at September 30, 2004, include various matters arising from the normal course of business. We are currently involved in pending or threatened litigation or other legal proceedings regarding employment, product liability, and contractual matters. We accrued for individual matters that we believe are likely to result in a loss when ultimately resolved using estimates of the most likely amount of loss. There are also individual matters that we believe the likelihood of a loss when ultimately resolved is less than likely but more than remote, which were not accrued. While it is possible that there could be additional losses that have not been accrued, we currently believe the possible additional loss in the event of an unfavorable resolution of each matter is less than $5 million in the aggregate.

We file income tax returns in various jurisdictions worldwide, which are subject to audit. We have accrued for our estimate of the most likely amount of expenses that we believe will result from income tax audit adjustments.

In the event of a change in control of the company, we may be required to pay termination benefits to certain executive officers.

Shareholders’ equity at September 30, 2004, increased 7% over the previous year. Increases due to net earnings, sales of treasury stock, and favorable foreign currency translation adjustments were partially offset by cash dividend payments and purchases of treasury stock. We

31


 

purchased $1.5 million of our common stock in 2004 and $9.5 million in 2003 under a November 20, 2002, Board of Directors’ authorization to repurchase up to $20 million of our common stock in open market and private transactions. The authorization period ended November 20, 2004.

Cash Flows

                         
In thousands for the year            
ended September 30,
  2004
  2003
  2002
Net cash provided by operating activities
  $ 85,215     $ 60,775     $ 91,394  
Net cash used in investing activities
    (20,272 )     (75,701 )     (48,211 )
Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities
    (39,895 )     8,325       (24,514 )
 
 
   
   
 

2004 Compared to 2003

Net cash flows provided by operating activities increased 40% in 2004 over 2003. Both operating cash receipts and disbursements increased in 2004 over 2003 due to higher sales volume. However, cash collected from customers increased at a greater rate than cash paid to employees and other suppliers, reflecting increased earnings and normal variations in collection and payment patterns.

Net cash flows used in investing activities decreased by $55.4 million in 2004 as compared to 2003. This change primarily resulted from Industrial Controls’ business acquisitions, for which payments totaling $2.3 million were made in 2004 compared to $57.7 million in 2003.

Net cash flows for financing activities changed by $48.2 million between 2003 and 2004. Our net repayment of borrowings totaled $30.4 million in 2004 compared to increased net borrowings totaling $27.5 million in 2003. The higher borrowings in 2003 were primarily related to the use of cash for business acquisitions in 2003. In addition, we used $1.5 million of cash to acquire treasury stock in 2004, down from $9.5 million in 2003. These stock purchases were made in connection with a November 20, 2002, authorization by the Board of Directors to repurchase up to $20 million of our common stock from time to time in open market and private transactions over the two years following the authorization. Dividends were approximately the same in both years.

2003 Compared to 2002

Net cash flows provided by operating activities decreased by 34% in 2003 from 2002. Both operating cash receipts and disbursements decreased in 2003 from 2002 due to lower sales volume. However, cash collections from customers decreased at a greater rate than cash paid to employees and other suppliers, reflecting decreased earnings and normal variations in collection and payment patterns. Lower income tax payments in 2003 as compared to 2002 offset approximately half of the decrease.

Net cash flows used in investing activities increased by $27.5 million in 2003 as compared to 2002. This change primarily resulted from Industrial Controls’ business acquisitions, for which payments totaling $57.7 million were made in 2003 compared to $25.8 million in 2002. We also reduced our capital expenditures in Industrial Controls by $3.0 million and in Aircraft Engine Systems by $1.3 million.

32


 

Net cash flows for financing activities changed by $32.8 million between 2002 and 2003. Our net borrowings increased in 2003 by $27.5 million, compared to a reduction of $13.9 million in 2002. The higher borrowings are primarily related to the increase in cash used for business acquisitions in 2003 as compared to 2002. In addition, we acquired $9.5 million of treasury stock in 2003. These stock purchases were made in connection with a November 20, 2002, authorization by the Board of Directors to repurchase up to $20 million of our common stock from time to time in open market and private transactions over the two years following the authorization. Dividends were approximately the same in both years.

Outlook

Future cash flows from operations and available revolving lines of credit are expected to be adequate to meet our cash requirements over the next twelve months.

Payments of our $75 million of senior notes are not due until the 2006-2012 timeframe. Also, we have a $100 million line of credit facility that includes an option to increase the amount of the line up to $175 million that does not expire until March 14, 2006. Despite these factors, it is possible business acquisitions could be made in the future that would require amendments to existing debt agreements and the need to obtain additional financing.

Recent Accounting Pronouncements

In December 2003, the Financial Accounting Standards Board issued a revised Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 132, “Employers’ Disclosures about Pensions and Other Postretirement Benefits.” The revised Statement requires additional disclosures about the assets, obligations, cash flows, and net periodic benefit cost of defined benefit pension plans and other defined benefit postretirement plans that were not required by the original Statement. The revised Statement became effective in our first quarter 2004. Our disclosures may be found in Note 13 to the consolidated financial statements.

In May 2004, the Financial Accounting Standards Board issued FASB Staff Position 106-2, “Accounting and Disclosure Requirements Related to the Medicare Prescription Drug, Improvement and Modernization Act of 2003.” The Staff Position provides guidance on accounting for the effects of the Act, which introduced a federal subsidy to sponsors of retiree healthcare benefit plans that provide a prescription drug benefit that is at least actuarially equivalent to Medicare Part D, among other provisions. For all public companies, the guidance of the Staff Position became effective for the first interim or annual period beginning after June 15, 2004, with earlier adoption encouraged. We adopted the guidance of the Staff Position in our quarter ended June 30, 2004. Disclosures about the effects of the subsidy on our benefit obligation and net periodic benefit cost are included in Note 13 to the consolidated financial statements.

33


 

STATEMENTS OF CONSOLIDATED EARNINGS

                         
    Year Ended September 30,
(In thousands except per share amounts)
  2004
  2003
  2002
Net sales
  $ 709,805     $ 586,682     $ 679,991  
   
 
 
Costs and expenses:
                       
Cost of goods sold
    542,240       450,676       502,396  
Selling, general, and administrative expenses
    70,949       67,310       61,857  
Research and development costs
    40,057       41,565       36,734  
Amortization of intangible assets
    6,905       4,870       3,748  
Interest expense
    5,332       4,635       5,109  
Interest income
    (1,095 )     (870 )     (635 )
Other income
    (4,580 )     (5,474 )     (3,623 )
Other expense
    705       4,031       3,725  
   
 
 
Total costs and expenses
    660,513       566,743       609,311  
   
 
 
Earnings before income taxes and cumulative effect of accounting change
    49,292       19,939       70,680  
Income taxes
    17,910       7,593       25,510  
   
 
 
Earnings before cumulative effect of accounting change
    31,382       12,346       45,170  
Cumulative effect of accounting change, net of income taxes
                (2,489 )
   
 
 
Net earnings
  $ 31,382     $ 12,346     $ 42,681  
   
 
 
Basic per share amounts:
                       
Earnings before cumulative effect of accounting change
  $ 2.78     $ 1.10     $ 3.99  
Cumulative effect of accounting change, net of income taxes
                (0.22 )
   
 
 
Net earnings
  $ 2.78     $ 1.10     $ 3.77  
   
 
 
Diluted per share amounts:
                       
Earnings before cumulative effect of accounting change
  $ 2.71     $ 1.08     $ 3.90  
Cumulative effect of accounting change, net of income taxes
                (0.21 )
   
 
 
Net earnings
  $ 2.71     $ 1.08     $ 3.69  
   
 
 
Weighted-average number of basic shares outstanding
    11,286       11,246       11,325  
Weighted-average number of diluted shares outstanding
    11,565       11,389       11,577  
   
 
 

See accompanying Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.

34


 

Consolidated Balance Sheets

                 
    At September 30,
(In thousands except per share amounts)
  2004
  2003
Assets
               
Current assets:
               
Cash and cash equivalents
  $ 48,895     $ 24,058  
Accounts receivable, less allowance for losses of $2,836 for 2004 and $2,601 for 2003
    99,277       87,807  
Inventories
    138,708       126,289  
Income taxes receivable
          1,782  
Deferred income taxes
    16,852       14,179  
Other current assets
    5,064       5,157  
 
   
 
     
 
 
Total current assets
    308,796       259,272  
 
   
 
     
 
 
Property, plant, and equipment-net
    117,310       124,144  
Goodwill
    131,542       133,620  
Other intangibles-net
    85,711       85,291  
Deferred income taxes
    4,318       6,429  
Other assets
    6,617       7,243  
 
   
 
     
 
 
Total assets
  $ 654,294     $ 615,999  
 
   
 
     
 
 
Liabilities and shareholders’ equity Current liabilities:
               
Short-term borrowings
  $ 5,833     $ 5,774  
Current portion of long-term debt
    956       30,000  
Accounts payable
    35,207       26,703  
Accrued liabilities
    65,573       45,533  
Income taxes payable
    3,703        
 
   
 
     
 
 
Total current liabilities
    111,272       108,010  
 
   
 
     
 
 
Long-term debt, less current portion
    88,452       89,970  
Other liabilities
    68,709       57,215  
Commitments and contingencies
               
 
   
 
     
 
 
Shareholders’ equity represented by:
               
Preferred stock, par value $.003 per share, authorized 10,000 shares, no shares issued
           
Common stock, par value $.00875 per share, authorized 50,000 shares, issued 12,160 shares
    106       106  
Additional paid-in capital
    15,878       14,234  
Accumulated other comprehensive earnings
    12,038       9,625  
Deferred compensation
    4,461       4,377  
Retained earnings
    381,458       360,908  
 
   
 
     
 
 
 
    413,941       389,250  
Less: Treasury stock, at cost
    23,619       24,069  
Treasury stock held for deferred compensation
    4,461       4,377  
 
   
 
     
 
 
Total shareholders’ equity
    385,861       360,804  
 
   
 
     
 
 
Total liabilities and shareholders’ equity
  $ 654,294     $ 615,999  
 
   
 
     
 
 

See accompanying Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.

35


 

Statements of Consolidated Cash Flows

                         
    Year Ended September 30,
(In thousands)
  2004
  2003
  2002
Cash flows from operating activities:
                       
Net earnings
  $ 31,382     $ 12,346     $ 42,681  
 
   
 
     
 
     
 
 
Adjustments to reconcile net earnings to net cash provided by operating activities:
                       
Cumulative effect of accounting change, net of income taxes
                2,489  
Depreciation and amortization
    32,761       32,418       32,088  
Contractual pension termination benefits
    1,800              
Impairment loss on equipment
                3,000  
Net loss on sale of property, plant, and equipment
    319       1,613       354  
ESOP compensation expense
          1,418       1,879  
Deferred income taxes
    (1,988 )     8,540       1,243  
Reclassification of unrealized losses on derivatives to earnings
    300       279       154  
Changes in operating assets and liabilities, net of business acquisitions:
                       
Accounts receivable
    (9,639 )     (1,759 )     29,287  
Inventories
    (10,592 )     13,725       9,028  
Accounts payable and accrued liabilities
    26,751       (6,031 )     (20,635 )
Income taxes payable
    6,298       (4,695 )     (14,563 )
Other—net
    7,823       2,921       4,389  
 
   
 
     
 
     
 
 
Total adjustments
    53,833       48,429       48,713  
 
   
 
     
 
     
 
 
Net cash provided by operating activities
    85,215       60,775       91,394  
 
   
 
     
 
     
 
 
Cash flows from investing activities:
                       
Payments for purchase of property, plant, and equipment
    (18,698 )     (18,802 )     (22,898 )
Proceeds from sale of property, plant, and equipment
    367       770       439  
Receipts associated with business acquisition
    395              
Business acquisitions, net of cash acquired
    (2,336 )     (57,669 )     (25,752 )
 
   
 
     
 
     
 
 
Net cash used in investing activities
    (20,272 )     (75,701 )     (48,211 )
 
   
 
     
 
     
 
 
Cash flows from financing activities:
                       
Cash dividends paid
    (10,832 )     (10,707 )     (10,731 )
Proceeds from sales of treasury stock
    2,875       1,043       389  
Purchases of treasury stock
    (1,547 )     (9,503 )     (286 )
Net proceeds (payments) from borrowings under revolving lines
    (30,391 )     24,393       (25,149 )
Proceeds from long-term debt
          5,099       75,000  
Payments of long-term debt
          (2,000 )     (63,737 )
 
   
 
     
 
     
 
 
Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities
    (39,895 )     8,325       (24,514 )
 
   
 
     
 
     
 
 
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash
    (211 )     831       617  
 
   
 
     
 
     
 
 
Net change in cash and cash equivalents
    24,837       (5,770 )     19,286  
Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of year
    24,058       29,828       10,542  
 
   
 
     
 
     
 
 
Cash and cash equivalents, end of year
  $ 48,895     $ 24,058     $ 29,828  
 
   
 
     
 
     
 
 
Supplemental cash flow information:
                       
Interest expense paid
  $ 5,696     $ 4,884     $ 2,982  
Income taxes paid
    9,919       3,399       38,140  
Noncash investing activities:
                       
Liabilities assumed in business acquisitions
    505       5,832       5,040  
 
   
 
     
 
     
 
 

See accompanying Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.

36


 

STATEMENTS OF CONSOLIDATED SHAREHOLDERS’ EQUITY

                         
    Year Ended September 30,
(In thousands except per share amounts)
  2004
  2003
  2002
Common stock
                       
Beginning and ending balance
  $ 106     $ 106     $ 106  
 
 
   
   
 
Additional paid-in capital
           
Beginning balance
  $ 14,234     $ 13,850     $ 13,586  
Sales of treasury stock
    878       (117 )     102  
Deferred compensation transfer
          335        
Tax benefit applicable to stock options
    766       166       162  
 
 
   
   
 
Ending balance
  $ 15,878     $ 14,234     $ 13,850  
 
 
   
   
 
Unearned ESOP compensation
                       
Beginning balance
  $     $ 1,418     $ 3,297  
ESOP compensation expense
          (1,418 )     (1,879 )
 
 
   
   
 
Ending balance
  $     $     $ 1,418  
 
 
   
   
 
Accumulated other comprehensive earnings
                       
Beginning balance
  $ 9,625     $ 2,823     $ 1,046  
Foreign currency translation adjustments, net of reclassification to earnings
    2,628       6,368       2,823  
Reclassification of unrealized losses on derivatives to earnings
    186       173       154  
Minimum pension liability adjustment
    (401 )     261       (1,200 )
 
 
   
   
 
Ending balance
  $ 12,038     $ 9,625     $ 2,823  
 
 
   
   
 
Deferred compensation
                       
Beginning balance
  $ 4,377     $     $  
Deferred compensation invested in the company’s common stock
    120       4,377        
Deferred compensation settled with the company’s common stock
    (36 )            
 
 
   
   
 
Ending balance
  $ 4,461     $ 4,377     $  
 
 
   
   
 
Retained earnings
                       
Beginning balance
  $ 360,908     $ 359,248     $ 327,130  
Net earnings
    31,382       12,346       42,681  
Cash dividends—$.96 per common share in 2004, $.9525 per common share in 2003, and $.93 in 2002
    (10,832 )     (10,707 )     (10,533 )
Cash dividend paid by subsidiary to minority shareholder
                (198 )
Tax benefit applicable to ESOP dividend
          21       168  
 
 
   
   
 
Ending balance
  $ 381,458     $ 360,908     $ 359,248  
 
 
   
   
 
Treasury stock, at cost
                       
Beginning balance
  $ 24,069     $ 19,708     $ 19,709  
Purchases of treasury stock
    1,547       9,503       286  
Sales of treasury stock
    (1,997 )     (1,160 )     (287 )
Deferred compensation transfer
          (3,982 )      
 
 
   
   
 
Ending balance
  $ 23,619     $ 24,069     $ 19,708  
 
 
   
   
 

Statements of Consolidated Shareholders’ Equity continued on next page

36


 

                         
    Year Ended September 30,
(In thousands except per share amounts)
  2004
  2003
  2002
Treasury stock held for deferred compensation
                       
Beginning balance
  $ 4,377     $     $  
Deferred compensation transfer
          4,317        
Share distributions
    (36 )            
Automatic dividend reinvestment
    120       60        
   
 
 
Ending balance
  $ 4,461     $ 4,377     $  
   
 
 
Total shareholders’ equity
                       
Beginning balance
  $ 360,804     $ 354,901     $ 318,862  
   
 
 
Effect of changes among components of shareholders’ equity:
                       
Additional paid-in capital
    1,644       384       264  
Unearned ESOP compensation
          1,418       1,879  
Accumulated other comprehensive earnings
    2,413       6,802       1,777  
Deferred compensation
    84       4,377        
Retained earnings
    20,550       1,660       32,118  
Treasury stock, at cost
    450       (4,361 )     1  
Treasury stock held for deferred compensation
    (84 )     (4,377 )      
   
 
 
Total effect of changes among components of shareholders’ equity
    25,057       5,903       36,039  
   
 
 
Ending balance
  $ $385,861     $ 360,804     $ 354,901  
   
 
 
Total comprehensive earnings
                       
Net earnings
  $ 31,382     $ 12,346     $ 42,681  
   
 
 
Other comprehensive earnings:
                       
Foreign currency translation adjustments, net of reclassification to earnings
    2,628       6,368       2,823  
Reclassification of unrealized losses on derivatives to earnings
    186       173       154  
Minimum pension liability adjustment
    (401 )     261       (1,200 )
   
 
 
Total other comprehensive earnings
    2,413       6,802       1,777  
   
 
 
Total comprehensive earnings
  $ 33,795     $ 19,148     $ 44,458  
   
 
 
Common stock, number of shares
                 
Beginning and ending balance
    12,160       12,160       12,160  
   
 
 
Treasury stock, number of shares
                 
Beginning balance
    901       832       838  
Purchases of treasury stock
    24       229       4  
Sales of treasury stock
    (81 )     (37 )     (10 )
Deferred compensation transfer
          (123 )      
   
 
 
Ending balance
    844       901       832  
   
 
 
Treasury stock held for deferred compensation, number of shares
                 
Beginning balance
    124              
Deferred compensation transfer
          123        
Share distributions
    (1 )            
Automatic dividend reinvestment
    2       1        
   
 
 
Ending balance
    125       124        
   
 
 

See accompanying Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.

37


 

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(In thousands of dollars except per share amounts)

Note 1. Significant accounting policies:

Principles of consolidation: The consolidated financial statements include the accounts of the company and its majority-owned subsidiaries. Transactions within and between these companies are eliminated. Results of joint ventures in which the company does not have a controlling financial interest are included in the financial statements using the equity method of accounting.

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Use of estimates: Financial statements prepared in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States require the use of estimates and assumptions that affect amounts reported. Actual results could differ materially from our estimates.

Foreign currency translation: The assets and liabilities of substantially all subsidiaries outside the United States are generally translated at year-end rates of exchange, and earnings and cash flow statements are translated at weighted-average rates of exchange. Translation adjustments are accumulated with other comprehensive earnings as a separate component of shareholders’ equity and are presented net of tax effects in the statements of consolidated shareholders’ equity. The effect of changes in exchange rates on loans between consolidated subsidiaries that are not expected to be repaid in the foreseeable future are also accumulated with other comprehensive earnings.

Revenue recognition: We recognize sales when delivery of product has occurred or services have been rendered and there is persuasive evidence of a sales arrangement, selling prices are fixed or determinable, and collectibility from the customer is reasonably assured. We consider product delivery to have occurred when the customer has taken title and assumed the risks and rewards of ownership of the products. Most of our sales are made directly to customers that use our products, although we also sell products to distributors, dealers, and independent service facilities. Sales terms for distributors, dealers, and independent service facilities are identical to our sales terms for direct customers.

Stock-based compensation: We use the intrinsic value method to account for stock-based employee compensation under Accounting Principles Board Opinion No. 25, “Accounting for Stock Issued to Employees,” and therefore we do not recognize compensation expense in association with options granted at or above the market price of our common stock at the date of grant. The following table presents a reconciliation of reported net earnings and per share information to pro forma net earnings and per share information that would have been reported if the fair value method had been used to account for stock-based employee compensation:

                         
Year ended September 30,
  2004
  2003
  2002
Reported net earnings
  $ 31,382     $ 12,346     $ 42,681  
Compensation expense using the fair value method, net of income tax benefits
    1,400       1,025       910  
 
   
 
     
 
     
 
 
Pro forma net earnings
  $ 29,982     $ 11,321     $ 41,771  
 
   
 
     
 
     
 
 
Reported net earnings per share amounts:
                       
Basic
  $ 2.78     $ 1.10     $ 3.77  
Diluted
    2.71       1.08       3.69  
Pro forma net earnings per share amounts:
                       
Basic
  $ 2.66     $ 1.01     $ 3.69  
Diluted
    2.60       0.99       3.61  
 
   
 
     
 
     
 
 

Research and development costs: Expenditures related to new product development activities are expensed when incurred and are separately reported in the statements of consolidated earnings.

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Income taxes: Deferred income taxes are provided for the temporary differences between the financial reporting basis and the tax basis of the company’s assets and liabilities. We provide for taxes that may be payable if undistributed earnings of overseas subsidiaries were to be remitted to the United States, except for those earnings that we consider to be permanently reinvested.

Cash equivalents: Highly liquid investments purchased with an original maturity of three months or less are considered to be cash equivalents.

Accounts receivable: Virtually all our sales are made on credit and result in accounts receivable, which are recorded at the amount invoiced. In the normal course of business, not all accounts receivable are collected and, therefore, we provide an allowance for losses of accounts receivable equal to the amount that we believe ultimately will not be collected. We consider customer-specific information related to delinquent accounts, past loss experience, and current economic conditions in establishing the amount of our allowance. Accounts receivable losses are deducted from the allowance and the related accounts receivable balances are written off when the receivables are deemed uncollectible. Recoveries of accounts receivable previously written off are recognized when received.

Inventories: Inventories are valued at the lower of cost or market, with cost being determined on a first-in, first-out basis.

Property, plant, and equipment: Property, plant, and equipment are recorded at cost and are depreciated over the estimated useful lives of the assets, ranging from 5 to 45 years for buildings and improvements and 3 to 15 years for machinery and equipment. Assets placed in service after September 30, 1998, are depreciated using the straight-line method and assets placed in service as of and prior to September 30, 1998, are depreciated principally using accelerated methods. Assets are tested for recoverability whenever events or circumstances occur that indicate the carrying value is not recoverable.

Goodwill: Goodwill represents the excess of the cost of an acquired entity over the net amount assigned to assets acquired and liabilities assumed. Goodwill is tested for impairment on an annual basis (as of April 1) and more often if an event occurs or circumstances change that would more likely than not reduce the fair value of a reporting unit below its carrying amount.

The goodwill impairment test is a two-step process. The first step compares the fair value of a reporting unit with its carrying amount, including goodwill. If the carrying amount exceeds the fair value, the goodwill of the reporting unit is considered potentially impaired and the second step of the impairment test must be performed. The second step of the goodwill impairment test compares the implied fair value of the goodwill of the reporting unit to the carrying amount of that goodwill. If the carrying amount of goodwill exceeds the implied fair value of goodwill, an impairment loss is recognized to reduce the carrying amount to its implied fair value. In performing this step, the implied fair value is determined in the same manner as the amount of goodwill recognized when a business combination is determined.

A reporting unit is the level at which goodwill is tested for impairment. A reporting unit is an operating segment or a component one

40


 

level below an operating segment if the component constitutes a business for which discrete financial information is available and segment management regularly reviews the operating results of that component. Furthermore, two or more components would be aggregated and considered a single reporting unit if the components have similar economic conditions. In our most recent impairment test, we determined our operating segments were our reporting units for purposes of our impairment tests.

Other intangibles: Other intangibles are recognized apart from goodwill whenever an acquired intangible asset arises from contractual or other legal rights, or whenever it is capable of being separated or divided from the acquired entity and sold, transferred, licensed, rented, or exchanged, either individually or in combination with a related contract, asset, or liability. An intangible other than goodwill is amortized over its estimated useful life unless that life is determined to be indefinite. Currently, all of our intangibles have an estimated useful life and are being amortized. Impairment losses are recognized if the carrying amount of an intangible subject to amortization exceeds its fair value.

Deferred compensation: Deferred compensation obligations will be settled either by delivery of a fixed number of shares of the company’s common stock (in accordance with certain eligible members’ irrevocable elections) or in cash. We have contributed shares of common stock of the company into a trust established for the future settlement of deferred compensation obligations that are payable in shares of the company’s common stock. Common stock held by the trust is reflected in the consolidated balance sheet as treasury stock held for deferred compensation, and the related deferred compensation obligation is reflected as a separate component of equity in amounts equal to the fair value of the common stock at the dates of contribution. These accounts are not adjusted for subsequent changes in fair value of the common stock. Deferred compensation obligations that will be settled in cash are accounted for on an accrual basis in accordance with the terms of the underlying contract and are reflected in the consolidated balance sheet as an accrued expense.

Derivatives: We recognize derivatives, which are used to hedge risks associated with interest rates, as assets or liabilities at fair value. These derivatives are designated as hedges of our exposure to changes in the fair value of long-term debt or as hedges of our exposure to variable cash flows of future interest payments. The gain or loss in the value of a derivative designated as a fair value hedge is recognized in earnings in the period of change together with an offsetting loss or gain on long-term debt. The effective portion of a gain or loss in the value of a derivative designated as a cash flow hedge is initially reported as a component of other comprehensive earnings and is subsequently reclassified into earnings when the future interest payments affect earnings. The ineffective portion of the gain or loss in the value of a derivative designated as a cash flow hedge is reported in earnings immediately.

ESOP debt guarantee: We guaranteed the payment of a loan obtained by the company’s Member Investment and Stock Ownership Plan, a qualified employee stock ownership plan (ESOP), in June 1992. The proceeds of the loan were used by the plan to buy 1,027,224 shares of the company’s common stock. The original amount of the ESOP debt was included in the

41


 

company’s consolidated balance sheet as long-term debt and unearned ESOP compensation, a component of shareholders’ equity. Long-term debt was reduced as loan payments were made. Unearned ESOP compensation was reduced as shares were allocated to plan participants using the shares-allocated method. At September 30, 2003, all debt had been repaid and all shares had been allocated.

Reclassifications: Certain reclassifications have been made in the 2003 and 2002 consolidated financial statements to conform to the 2004 presentation. Most significantly, research and development costs are now presented separately from cost of goods sold.

Cumulative effect of accounting change: We adopted Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 142, “Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets,” and the transition provisions of Statement No. 141, “Business Combinations,” both issued by the Financial Accounting Standards Board, on October 1, 2001. As a result of adopting these new standards, we completed the transitional goodwill impairment reviews required by the new standards and recognized an aftertax loss of $2,489 as a cumulative effect of an accounting change in 2002. In performing our impairment reviews, we estimated the fair values of the various reporting units using a present value method that discounted future cash flows as we expect marketplace participants would, and we further assessed the reasonableness of the estimates by using valuation methods based on market multiples. The resulting loss, which was related to an Industrial Controls reporting unit, was incurred to reduce goodwill to its implied fair value.

Adoption of these standards also resulted in the reclassification of $4,426 from other intangibles to goodwill on October 1, 2001. This amount was related to an assembled workforce. Based on goodwill that existed at September 30, 2001, these standards reduced amortization expense in 2002, 2003, and 2004 by approximately $4,900 per year.

New accounting standards: In December 2003, the Financial Accounting Standards Board issued a revised Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 132, “Employers’ Disclosures about Pensions and Other Postretirement Benefits.” The revised Statement requires additional disclosures about the assets, obligations, cash flows, and net periodic benefit cost of defined benefit pension plans and other defined benefit postretirement plans that were not required by the original statement. The revised Statement became effective in our first quarter 2004. Our disclosures may be found in Note 13.

In May 2004, the Financial Accounting Standards Board issued FASB Staff Position 106-2, “Accounting and Disclosure Requirements Related to the Medicare Prescription Drug, Improvement and Modernization Act of 2003.” The Staff Position provides guidance on accounting for the effects of the Act, which introduced a federal subsidy to sponsors of retiree healthcare benefit plans that provide a prescription drug benefit that is at least actuarially equivalent to Medicare Part D, among other provisions. For all public companies, the guidance of the Staff Position became effective for the first interim or annual period beginning after June 15, 2004, with earlier adoption encouraged. We adopted the guidance of the Staff Position in our quarter ended June 30, 2004. Disclosures about the effects of the subsidy on our benefit obligation and net periodic benefit cost are included in Note 13.

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Note 2. Business acquisitions:

In June 2004, we acquired assets and assumed certain liabilities of Adrenaline Research, Inc., specialists in advanced combustion electronics. Our cost for this acquisition totaled $2,896, and we recognized $3,139 as other intangibles in the Industrial Controls segment. We are using an amortization period of seventeen years for these intangibles. If we had completed this acquisition on October 1, 2001, net sales and net earnings for 2004, 2003, and 2002 would not have been materially different from amounts reported in the statements of consolidated earnings.

In May 2003, we acquired 100 percent of the common stock of Synchro-Start Products, Inc., and in August 2003, we acquired assets and assumed certain liabilities of Barber-Colman Dyna Products, a division of Invensys Building Systems, Inc. Synchro-Start Products, Inc. specializes in the design and manufacture of actuators, solenoids, and controls for industrial engines and equipment. Barber-Colman Dyna Products manufactures and distributes controls for off-highway diesel and gas engines and mobile industrial equipment. Our cost for these acquisitions totaled $58,084, of which $12,329 was recognized as goodwill, $20,607 was recognized as customer relationships, and $5,940 was recognized as other intangibles, all in the Industrial Controls segment. We are using weighted-average amortization periods of eleven years for customer relationships, nine years for other intangibles, and eleven years in the aggregate. The total amount of goodwill is expected to be fully deductible for income tax purposes. If we had completed these acquisitions on October 1, 2001, net sales and net earnings for 2003 and 2002 would not have been materially different from amounts reported in the statements of consolidated earnings.

In January 2002, we acquired the capital stock of Leonhard-Reglerbau Dr.-Ing. Adolf Leonhard GmbH, and in March 2002, we acquired certain assets and assumed certain liabilities of Nolff’s Carburetion, Inc. Leonhard-Reglerbau specializes in the design, manufacture, and sale of control, protection, and monitoring devices for power generation equipment. Nolff’s manufactures and sells natural gas and propane fuel systems for small industrial engines. Our cost for these acquisitions totaled $25,313, of which $17,484 was recognized as goodwill, $1,000 was recognized as customer relationships, and $4,227 was recognized as other intangibles, all in the Industrial Controls segment. We are using weighted-average amortization periods of five years for customer relationships, six years for other intangibles, and six years in the aggregate. The amount of goodwill expected to be fully deductible for income tax purposes is $11,391. If we had completed the acquisitions on October 1, 2001, net sales and net earnings for 2002 would not have been materially different from amounts reported in the statements of consolidated earnings.

Note 3. Impairment loss on equipment:

In 2002, we reduced the carrying value of certain Industrial Controls manufacturing equipment to its estimated fair value, which was based on a present value technique involving multiple cash flow scenarios. The resulting loss totaled $3,000 and was recognized as other expense in the statement of consolidated earnings. We sold this manufacturing equipment in 2003.

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Note 4. Income taxes:

Income taxes consisted of the following:

                         
Year ended September 30,
  2004
  2003
  2002
Current:
                       
Federal
  $ 12,400     $ 606     $ 16,784  
State
    2,481       292       2,288  
Foreign
    6,148       2,294       5,125  
Deferred
    (3,119 )     4,401       1,313  
 
   
 
     
 
     
 
 
 
  $ 17,910     $ 7,593     $ 25,510  
 
   
 
     
 
     
 
 

Earnings before income taxes and cumulative effect of accounting change by geographical area consisted of the following:

                         
Year ended September 30,
  2004
  2003
  2002
United States
  $ 39,054     $ 22,279     $ 65,463  
Other countries
    10,238       (2,340 )     5,217  
 
   
 
     
 
     
 
 
 
  $ 49,292     $ 19,939     $ 70,680  
 
   
 
     
 
     
 
 

Deferred income taxes presented in the consolidated balance sheets are related to the following:

                 
At September 30,
  2004
  2003
Deferred tax assets:
               
Postretirement and early retirement benefits
  $ 20,304     $ 18,579  
Foreign net operating loss carryforward
    18,629       16,528  
Inventory
    8,531       7,490  
Other
    23,623       20,077  
Valuation allowance
    (18,629 )     (16,528 )
 
   
 
     
 
 
Total deferred tax assets, net of valuation allowance
    52,458       46,146  
 
   
 
     
 
 
Deferred tax liabilities:
               
Intangibles-net
    (19,190 )     (15,185 )
Other
    (12,098 )     (10,353 )
 
   
 
     
 
 
Total deferred tax liabilities
    (31,288 )     (25,538 )
 
   
 
     
 
 
Net deferred tax assets
  $ 21,170     $ 20,608  
 
   
 
     
 
 

We are currently studying the impact of the one-time favorable foreign dividend provisions recently enacted as part of the American Jobs Creation Act of 2004. However, at September 30, 2004, based on the tax laws in effect at that time, it was our intention to continue to indefinitely reinvest $20,503 of our undistributed foreign earnings. We have not provided for taxes on these undistributed foreign earnings, which could become subject to income taxes if they are remitted as dividends, are loaned to the company, or if we sell our stock in the subsidiaries. However, we believe that foreign tax credits would largely offset any income tax that might otherwise be due.

We recorded a valuation allowance to reflect the estimated amount of deferred tax assets that may not be realized due to foreign net operating loss carryforwards. Under existing laws, these net operating losses may be carried forward indefinitely. However, we are uncertain whether we will generate taxable earnings in the particular tax jurisdictions necessary to benefit from these carryforwards. All other deferred tax assets are expected to be realized through future earnings. The changes in the valuation allowance were as follows:

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Year ended September 30,
  2004
  2003
Beginning balance
  $ (16,528 )   $ (12,033 )
Foreign net operating loss carryforward
    (2,101 )     (4,999 )
State net operating loss carryforward
          414  
State capital loss utilization
          90  
 
   
 
     
 
 
Ending balance
  $ (18,629 )   $ (16,528 )
 
   
 
     
 
 

The reasons for the differences between our effective income tax rate and the United States statutory federal income tax rate were as follows:

                         
Percent of pretax earnings,            
year ended September 30,
  2004
  2003
  2002
Statutory rate
    35.0       35.0       35.0  
State income taxes, net of federal tax benefit
    3.6       3.0       2.6  
Foreign loss effect
    2.1       9.7       2.2  
Foreign tax rate differences
          (3.3 )     (1.1 )
Foreign sales benefits
    (3.4 )     (3.9 )     (1.6 )
ESOP dividends on allocated shares
    (1.1 )     (2.7 )      
Capital loss utilization
                (1.5 )
Other items, net
    0.1       0.3       0.5  
 
   
 
     
 
     
 
 
Effective rate
    36.3       38.1       36.1  
 
   
 
     
 
     
 
 

Note 5. Earnings per share:

                         
Year ended September 30,
  2004
  2003
  2002
Earnings before cumulative effect of accounting change (A)
  $ 31,382     $ 12,346     $ 45,170  
 
   
 
     
 
     
 
 
Determination of shares, in thousands:
                       
Weighted-average shares of common stock outstanding (B)
    11,286       11,246       11,325  
Assumed exercise of stock options
    279       143       252  
 
   
 
     
 
     
 
 
Weighted-average shares of common stock outstanding assuming dilution (C)
    11,565       11,389       11,577  
 
   
 
     
 
     
 
 
Earnings before cumulative effect of accounting change:
                       
Basic per share amount (A/B)
  $ 2.78     $ 1.10     $ 3.99  
Diluted per share amount (A/C)
    2.71       1.08       3.90  
 
   
 
     
 
     
 
 

In 2004, the weighted-average shares of common stock outstanding includes 124,965 shares for deferred compensation obligations that are payable in actual shares of our common stock.

The following stock options were outstanding during 2004, 2003, and 2002 but were not included in the computation of diluted earnings per share because the options’ exercise prices were greater than the average market price of the common shares during the respective periods:

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Year ended September 30,
  2004
  2003
  2002
Options
    11,648       435,230       12,543  
Weighted-average exercise price
  $ 70.37     $ 47.12     $ 70.28  
 
   
 
     
 
     
 
 

Note 6. Inventories:

                 
At September 30,
  2004
  2003
Raw materials
  $ 3,304     $ 6,017  
Component parts
    88,760       76,151  
Work in process
    30,237       27,237  
Finished goods
    16,407       16,884  
 
   
 
     
 
 
 
  $ 138,708     $ 126,289  
 
   
 
     
 
 

Note 7. Property, plant, and equipment:

                 
At September 30,
  2004
  2003
Land
  $ 10,380     $ 10,049  
Buildings and improvements
    149,361       145,779  
Machinery and equipment
    237,677       247,767  
Construction in progress
    2,044       2,239  
 
   
 
     
 
 
 
    399,462       405,834  
Less accumulated depreciation
    282,152       281,690  
 
   
 
     
 
 
Property, plant, and equipment-net
  $ 117,310     $ 124,144  
 
   
 
     
 
 

Depreciation expense totaled $25,856 in 2004, $27,548 in 2003, and $28,340 in 2002.

Note 8. Goodwill:

                 
Year ended September 30,
  2004
  2003
Industrial Controls:
               
Beginning balance
  $ 71,498     $ 53,143  
Goodwill acquired
          16,496  
Reclassification
    (3,491 )      
Foreign currency exchange rate changes
    1,413       1,859  
 
   
 
     
 
 
Ending balance
  $ 69,420     $ 71,498  
 
   
 
     
 
 
Aircraft Engine Systems:
               
Beginning and ending balance
  $ 62,122     $ 62,122  
 
   
 
     
 
 
Consolidated:
               
Beginning balance
  $ 133,620     $ 115,265  
Goodwill acquired
          16,496  
Reclassification
    (3,491 )      
Foreign currency exchange rate changes
    1,413       1,859  
 
   
 
     
 
 
Ending balance
  $ 131,542     $ 133,620  
 
   
 
     
 
 

We finalized accounting for an August 2003 business acquisition in 2004, which resulted in a reclassification of amounts from goodwill primarily to other intangibles.

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Note 9. Other intangibles-net:

                 
At September 30,
  2004
  2003
Industrial Controls:
               
Customer relationships:
               
Amount acquired
  $ 37,387     $ 33,610  
Accumulated amortization
    (6,215 )     (3,615 )
 
   
 
     
 
 
 
    31,172       29,995  
 
   
 
     
 
 
Other:
               
Amount acquired
    31,502       27,815  
Accumulated amortization
    (7,490 )     (4,594 )
 
   
 
     
 
 
 
    24,012       23,221  
 
   
 
     
 
 
Total
  $ 55,184     $ 53,216  
 
   
 
     
 
 
Aircraft Engine Systems:
               
Customer relationships:
               
Amount acquired
  $ 28,547     $ 28,547  
Accumulated amortization
    (6,027 )     (5,075 )
 
   
 
     
 
 
 
    22,520       23,472  
Other:
               
Amount acquired
    11,785       11,785  
Accumulated amortization
    (3,778 )     (3,182 )
 
   
 
     
 
 
 
    8,007       8,603  
 
   
 
     
 
 
Total
  $ 30,527     $ 32,075  
 
   
 
     
 
 
Consolidated:
               
Customer relationships:
               
Amount acquired
  $ 65,934     $ 62,157  
Accumulated amortization
    (12,242 )     (8,690 )
 
   
 
     
 
 
 
    53,692       53,467  
 
   
 
     
 
 
Other:
               
Amount acquired
    43,287       39,600  
Accumulated amortization
    (11,268 )     (7,776 )
 
   
 
     
 
 
 
    32,019       31,824  
 
   
 
     
 
 
Total
  $ 85,711     $ 85,291  
 
   
 
     
 
 

Amortization expense associated with current intangibles is expected to be approximately $7,100 for 2005, $7,000 for 2006, $6,600 for 2007, $5,900 for 2008, and $5,500 for 2009.

Note 10. Short-term borrowings:

Short-term borrowings reflect borrowings under certain bank lines of credit. The total amount available under these lines of credit, including outstanding borrowings, totaled $26,426 at September 30, 2004, and $30,608 at September 30, 2003. Interest on borrowings under the lines of credit is based on various short-term rates. Several of the lines assess commitment fees. The lines, generally reviewed annually for renewal, are subject to the usual terms and conditions applied by the banks. The weighted-average interest rate for outstanding borrowings was 2.8% at September 30, 2004, 3.2% at September 30, 2003, and 4.1% at September 30, 2002.

Note 11. Long-term debt:

                 
At September 30,
  2004
  2003
Senior notes—6.39%
  $ 75,000     $ 75,000  
Term note—5.75%
    12,422       11,655  
Revolving line of credit facility
          30,000  
Fair value hedge adjustments:
               
Interest rate swap agreements
    (895 )     (256 )
Unrecognized discontinued hedge gains
    2,881       3,571  
 
   
 
     
 
 
 
    89,408       119,970  
Less current portion
    956       30,000  
 
   
 
     
 
 
 
  $ 88,452     $ 89,970  
 
   
 
     
 
 

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The senior notes, which are held by multiple institutions, and the term note, which is held by a bank in Germany, are uncollateralized. Required future principal payments of the senior notes and the term note at September 30, 2004, are $956 in 2005, $14,536 in 2006, $14,536 in 2007, $14,537 in 2008, $10,714 in 2009, and $32,143 thereafter.

The revolving line of credit facility involves uncollateralized financing arrangements with a syndicate of U.S. banks. We have $100,000 available under the revolving line of credit facility and an option to increase the amount of the line to $175,000. This line of credit expires March 14, 2006. Interest rates on borrowings under the line vary with LIBOR, the money market rate, or the prime rate. At September 30, 2004, there were no outstanding borrowings against the line.

We have effectively offset our exposure to changes in the fair value of a portion of the senior notes by entering into interest rate swap agreements. Under these agreements, we are swapping interest payments related to a notional amount of $40,000 at a fixed rate of 6.39% for rates that vary with LIBOR. The timing of these payments corresponds directly with interest payments due under the senior notes and we have assessed the swaps as having no hedge ineffectiveness. As a result, the fair value of these swap agreements is shown as an adjustment of long-term debt.

We also discontinued certain interest rate swaps that were previously designated as fair value hedges of long-term debt. These actions resulted in gains that are recognized as a reduction of interest expense over the term of the associated hedged debt using the effective interest method. The unrecognized portion of the gain is presented as an adjustment to long-term debt.

Provisions of the debt agreements include covenants customary to such agreements that require us to maintain specified minimum or maximum financial measures and place limitations on various investing and financing activities. The agreements also permit the lenders to accelerate repayment requirements in the event of a material adverse event. Our most restrictive covenants require us to maintain a minimum consolidated net worth, a maximum consolidated debt to consolidated operating cash flow, a maximum consolidated debt to EBITDA, and a minimum EBIT to consolidated interest expense ratio, as defined in the agreements.

Note 12. Accrued liabilities:

                 
At September 30,
  2004
  2003
Salaries and other member benefits
  $ 41,236     $ 19,066  
Warranties
    6,401       6,113  
Taxes, other than on income
    4,214       3,591  
Deferred compensation
    2,278       2,328  
Other items—net
    11,444       14,435  
 
   
 
     
 
 
 
  $ 65,573     $ 45,533  
 
   
 
     
 
 

Salaries and other member benefits include accrued termination benefits totaling $12,000 at September 30, 2004, and $2,199 at September 30, 2003. Changes in accrued termination benefits were as follows:

48


 

                 
Year ended September 30,
  2004
  2003
Industrial Controls:
               
Beginning balance
  $ 2,037     $ 1,349  
Expense:
               
Cost of goods sold
    11,611       3,832  
Selling, general, and administrative expenses
    540       1,260  
Accrual adjustments
    (1,083 )      
Foreign currency exchange rate changes
    170        
Payments
    (1,275 )     (4,404 )
 
   
 
     
 
 
Ending balance
  $ 12,000     $ 2,037  
 
   
 
     
 
 
Aircraft Engine Systems:
               
Beginning balance
  $ 104     $ 40  
Expense:
               
Cost of goods sold
          3,682  
Selling, general, and administrative expenses
          274  
Payments
    (104 )     (3,892 )
 
   
 
     
 
 
Ending balance
  $     $ 104  
 
   
 
     
 
 
Nonsegment:
               
Beginning balance
  $ 58     $  
Expense:
               
Selling, general, and administrative expenses
          343  
Payments
    (58 )     (285 )
 
   
 
     
 
 
Ending balance
  $     $ 58  
 
   
 
     
 
 
Consolidated:
               
Beginning balance
  $ 2,199     $ 1,389  
Expense:
               
Cost of goods sold
    11,611       7,514  
Selling, general, and administrative expenses
    540       1,877  
Accrual adjustments
    (1,083 )      
Foreign currency exchange rate changes
    170        
Payments
    (1,437 )     (8,581 )
 
   
 
     
 
 
Ending balance
  $ 12,000     $ 2,199  
 
   
 
     
 
 

Accrued termination benefits that were expensed in 2004 were primarily related to the consolidation of two European manufacturing operations with existing operations. This action is being taken to streamline the organization by eliminating redundant manufacturing operations and is expected to be substantially complete by March 31, 2006. The total expense for this action is estimated to be approximately $17,000, of which $13,800 was recognized in 2004. In addition to the $12,000 reflected in the preceding table, we recognized contractual pension termination benefits of $1,800 in 2004. The remaining estimated amount of $3,200 is for termination benefits that will be earned by members over their remaining service period and for other costs primarily associated with moving equipment and inventory to other locations.

Accrued termination benefits that were expensed in 2003 were related to actions to better align staffing levels with expected demand in Industrial Controls and to consolidate our servovalve manufacturing operations in Buffalo, New York, with existing manufacturing operations

49


 

in Rockford, Illinois, to achieve cost efficiencies. The accrual for the actions in Industrial Controls was adjusted in 2004 by $1,083 and both actions are now complete. We attributed $431 of the accrual reduction to increased production levels and the decision to retain certain members to meet the increased demand. The remaining accrual adjustment of $652 was related to members of the European operations now being consolidated and reflects the decision to discontinue the remaining 2003 actions given the newly-formed consolidation plans.

Provisions of our sales agreements include product warranties customary to such agreements. We establish accruals for specifically identified warranty issues that are probable to result in future costs. We also accrue for warranty costs on a non-specific basis whenever past experience indicates a normal and predictable pattern exists. Changes in accrued product warranties were as follows:

                 
Year ended September 30,
  2004
  2003
Beginning balance
  $ 6,113     $ 6,356  
Accruals related to warranties issued during the period
    6,913       5,747  
Accruals related to pre-existing warranties
    (1,998 )     (949 )
Settlements of amounts accrued
    (4,798 )     (5,315 )
Foreign currency exchange rate changes
    171       274  
 
   
 
     
 
 
Ending balance
  $ 6,401     $ 6,113  
 
   
 
     
 
 

Note 13. Retirement benefits:

We provide various benefits to eligible members of our company, including contributions to various defined contribution plans, pension benefits associated with defined benefit plans, and retirement healthcare benefits. The amount of expense associated with defined contribution plans totaled $11,623 in 2004, $11,010 in 2003, and $11,927 in 2002. Information regarding our retirement pension benefits and retirement healthcare benefits, using a September 30 measurement date, is provided in the tables that follow.

Policies have been established for the investment of plan assets for retirement pension benefits. In the United States, our strategy is to balance the rewards of long-term growth with the risks of adverse, short-term market behavior. Our investments are broadly diversified so as to limit the impact on the total portfolio of losses in individual securities. Target ranges for our assets are 40%-50% for United States equity investments, 12%-18% for foreign equity investments, and 35%-45% for fixed income investments. In other countries, we adhere to investment strategies which are consistent with the practices of similar pension plans. Formal investment policies in other countries are being considered. The assumptions we used for the expected long-term rate of return on plan assets was based on historical performance and adjusted to estimate the potential range of returns for the current asset allocations. The actual percentage of the fair value of total plan assets for retirement pension benefits were as follows:

50


 

                                 
    United States
  Other Countries
At September 30,
  2004
  2003
  2004
  2003
Equity securities
    60.1 %     58.8 %     71.6 %     67.8 %
Fixed income securities
    39.4 %     39.7 %     12.0 %     13.6 %
Insurance contracts
                12.7 %     15.4 %
Other
    0.5 %     1.5 %     3.7 %     3.2 %
 
   
 
     
 
     
 
     
 
 
Total
    100.0 %     100.0 %     100.0 %     100.0 %
 
   
 
     
 
     
 
     
 
 

Estimated benefit payments to be made over the next ten years, with retirement healthcare benefit payments presented net of estimated participant contributions, are as follows:

                         
    Retirement Pension Benefits
  Retirement
    United   Other   Healthcare
Year ending September 30,
  States
  Countries
  Benefits
2005
  $ 400     $ 818     $ 3,329  
2006
    420       889       3,564  
2007
    451       1,120       3,286  
2008
    487       1,220       3,412  
2009
    519       1,291       3,583  
2010-2014
    3,805       9,260       24,251  
 
   
 
     
 
     
 
 

We expect contributions by the company for retirement pension benefits will be $0 in the United States and $1,909 in other countries in 2005. We also expect contributions by the company for retirement healthcare benefits will be $2,594 in 2005.

We recognized contractual pension termination benefits of $1,800 in 2004 as a result of workforce reductions that are probable during 2005 and 2006.

As part of our retirement healthcare benefits, we provide a prescription drug benefit that is at least actuarially equivalent to Medicare Part D. As a result, we are entitled to a federal subsidy that was introduced by the Medicare Prescription Drug, Improvement and Modernization Act of 2003. The effect of the subsidy reduced our accumulated postretirement benefit obligation by $7,934 at January 1, 2004, the date the Act became effective. It also reduced our net periodic postretirement benefit cost for 2004 by $843, which consisted of $189 for service cost, $356 for interest cost, and $298 for recognized actuarial gains.

For retirement healthcare benefits, we assumed net healthcare cost trend rates of 10.00% in 2005, decreasing gradually to 5.00% in 2010, and remaining at 5.00% thereafter. A 1.00% increase in assumed healthcare cost trend rates would have increased the total of the service and interest cost components by $1,262 and increased the benefit obligation at the end of the year by $15,726 in 2004. Likewise, a 1.00% decrease in the assumed rates would have decreased the total of service and interest cost components by $973 and decreased the benefit obligation by $12,149 in 2004.

51


 

                                                 
    Retirement Pension Benefits
  Retirement
    United States
  Other Countries
  Healthcare Benefits
At or for the year ended September 30,
  2004
  2003
  2004
  2003
  2004
  2003
Changes in benefit obligation:
                                               
Benefit obligation at beginning of year
  $ 17,994     $ 17,215     $ 39,787     $ 35,545     $ 70,349     $ 58,550  
Service cost
                1,694       1,590       2,206       1,717  
Interest cost
    1,070       1,110       1,835       1,600       4,204       3,863  
Contribution by plan participants
                251       223       2,937       2,833  
Net actuarial losses (gains)
    180       39       2,312       (40 )     8,326       9,796  
Foreign currency exchange rate changes
                2,487       2,638       208       111  
Benefits paid
    (389 )     (370 )     (1,199 )     (1,769 )     (5,505 )     (6,521 )
Contractual termination benefits
                1,800                    
 
   
 
     
 
     
 
     
 
     
 
     
 
 
Benefit obligation at end of year
    18,855       17,994       48,967       39,787       82,725       70,349  
 
   
 
     
 
     
 
     
 
     
 
     
 
 
Changes in plan assets:
                                               
Fair value of plan assets at beginning of year
    11,587       9,052       27,689       23,484              
Actual return on plan assets
    1,228       1,439       2,780       2,525              
Foreign currency exchange rate changes
                1,614       1,868              
Contributions by the company
    1,400       1,466       1,681       1,358       2,568       3,688  
Contributions by plan participants
                251       223       2,937       2,833  
Benefits paid
    (389 )     (370 )     (1,199 )     (1,769 )     (5,505 )     (6,521 )
 
   
 
     
 
     
 
     
 
     
 
     
 
 
Fair value of plan assets at end of year
    13,826       11,587       32,816       27,689              
 
   
 
     
 
     
 
     
 
     
 
     
 
 
Funded status
    (5,029 )     (6,407 )     (16,151 )     (12,098 )     (82,725 )     (70,349 )
Unamortized prior service cost
    7       7       (84 )     (93 )     (8,380 )     (8,888 )
Unrecognized net losses
    4,040       4,317       11,124       9,701       36,286       29,247  
Unamortized transition obligation
                572       666              
Intangible asset
                (488 )                  
Accumulated other comprehensive income
    (1,513 )     (1,273 )     (682 )     (292 )            
 
   
 
     
 
     
 
     
 
     
 
     
 
 
Net accrued benefit
  $ (2,495 )   $ (3,356 )   $ (5,709 )   $ (2,116 )   $ (54,819 )   $ (49,990 )
 
   
 
     
 
     
 
     
 
     
 
     
 
 
Accumulated benefit obligation
  $ 16,321     $ 14,943     $ 36,309     $ 29,267                  
 
   
 
     
 
     
 
     
 
     
 
     
 
 

52


 

                                                                         
    Retirement Pension Benefits
  Retirement
    United States
  Other Countries
  Healthcare Benefits
    2004
  2003
  2002
  2004
  2003
  2002
  2004
  2003
  2002
Components of net periods:
                                                                       
Service cost
  $     $     $     $ 1,694     $ 1,590     $ 1,301     $ 2,206     $ 1,717     $ 1,208  
Interest cost
    1,070       1,110       1,035       1,835       1,600       1,378       4,204       3,863       3,443  
Expected return on plan assets
    (942 )     (741 )     (801 )     (1,641 )     (1,293 )     (1,318 )                  
Amortization of unrecognized obligation
                      98       89       85                    
Recognized losses
    170       235       1       533       593             1,343       767       22  
Recognized prior service costs
    1       1             (9 )     (8 )     (8 )     (508 )     (508 )      
Contractual termination benefits
                      1,800                                
Settlement or curtailment losses (gains)
                                  357                   (304 )
 
   
 
     
 
     
 
     
 
     
 
     
 
     
 
     
 
     
 
 
Net periodic benefit cost
  $ 299     $ 605     $ 235     $ 4,310     $ 2,571     $ 1,795     $ 7,245     $ 5,839     $ 4,369  
 
   
 
     
 
     
 
     
 
     
 
     
 
     
 
     
 
     
 
 
Increase (decrease) in minimum pension liability adjustment included in other comprehensive earnings
  $ 240     $ 185     $ 1,088     $ 390     $ (556 )   $ 848     $     $     $  
 
   
 
     
 
     
 
     
 
     
 
     
 
     
 
     
 
     
 
 
Weighted-average assumptions used to determine benefit obligation at September 30:
                                                                       
Discount rate
    5.80 %     6.00 %     6.50 %     4.36 %     4.06 %     4.29 %     5.79 %     6.00 %     6.75 %
Rate of compensation increase
    5.00 %     5.00 %     5.00 %     3.02 %     2.91 %     3.65 %                  
Weighted-average assumptions used to determine net periodic benefit cost for years ended September 30:
                                                                       
Discount rate
    6.00 %     6.50 %     7.25 %     4.06 %     4.29 %     2.50 %     6.00 %     6.75 %     7.25 %
Rate of compensation increase
    5.00 %     5.00 %     5.00 %     2.91 %     3.65 %     3.50 %                  
Expected long-term rate of return on plan assets
    8.25 %     8.25 %     8.25 %     5.44 %     5.36 %     2.50 %                  
 
   
 
     
 
     
 
     
 
     
 
     
 
     
 
     
 
     
 
 

Note 14. Stock option plan:

We have a stock option plan covering key management members and directors of the company. Options granted under the plan generally have a term of 10 years and vest evenly at the end of each year over four years from the date of grant. There were 2,100,000 shares of common stock authorized for issuance under the plan at September 30, 2004.

Changes in outstanding stock options were as follows:

                 
            Weighted-Average
    Number
  Exercise Price
Balance at September 30, 2001
    780,818     $ 28.96  
Options granted
    178,500       49.42  
Options exercised
    (9,100 )     29.50  
Options forfeited
    (13,000 )     41.40  
Options expired
    (1,000 )     69.00  
 
   
 
     
 
 
Balance at September 30, 2002
    936,218       32.64  
Options granted
    125,000       46.86  
Options exercised
    (34,706 )     27.31  
Options forfeited
    (21,750 )     44.96  
 
   
 
     
 
 
Balance at September 30, 2003
    1,004,762       34.33  
Options granted
    169,000       46.94  
Options exercised
    (81,248 )     35.01  
Options forfeited
    (5,250 )     49.25  
Options expired
    (3,000 )     55.74  
 
   
 
     
 
 
Balance at September 30, 2004
    1,084,264     $ 36.11  
 
   
 
     
 
 

53


 

The weighted-average estimated fair value of options granted during the year, as measured at their grant date, was $15.68 in 2004, $14.85 in 2003, and $16.03 in 2002. These estimates were determined using the Black-Scholes option-pricing model and the following weighted-average assumptions by grant year:

                         
Year ended September 30,
  2004
  2003
  2002
Risk-free interest rate
    3.7 %     3.4 %     4.5 %
Expected life
  7 years     7 years     7 years  
Expected volatility
    37.0 %     35.0 %     35.0 %
Expected dividend yield
    2.6 %     2.5 %     2.8 %
 
   
 
     
 
     
 
 

Information about outstanding stock options at September 30, 2004 is provided in the table below.

There were 681,937 stock options exercisable at September 30, 2003, with a weighted-average exercise price of $29.36, and 604,068 at September 30, 2002, with a weighted-average exercise price of $27.08.

                                         
            Options Outstanding   Options Exercisable
            at September 30, 2004
  at September 30, 2004
                    Weighted-Average            
            Weighted-Average   Remaining Life           Weighted-Average
Exercise Price Range
  Number
  Exercise Price
  in Years
  Number
  Exercise Price
$16.625- $24.750
    393,850       $ 22.34       3.3       393,850       $ 22.34  
$30.594- $41.813
    258,810       $ 36.28       4.6       231,935       $ 35.64  
$46.420- $59.000
    420,625       $ 48.01       8.1       110,249       $ 49.22  
$69.220- $73.700
    10,979       $ 70.44       6.6       10,979       $ 70.44  
 
   
 
   
 
     
 
     
 
   
 
 
 
    1,084,264       $ 36.11       5.5       747,013       $ 31.14  
 
   
 
   
 
     
 
     
 
   
 
 

Note 15. Shareholder rights plan:

We have a shareholder rights plan to protect shareholders against unsolicited attempts to acquire control of the company that do not offer what the Board of Directors believes to be an adequate price to all shareholders. In connection with this plan, a dividend of one preferred stock purchase right for each outstanding share of common stock was paid to shareholders in February 1996. Each right entitles its holder to purchase from the company one-four hundredth of a share of Series A Preferred Stock, par value $.003 per share, at a price of $75.00 (subject to adjustment, and restated for the January 1997 stock split). The rights may not be exercised or transferred apart from the company’s common stock until 10 days after it is announced that a person or group has acquired 15% or more of the outstanding common stock or 15 business days after it is announced that there is an offer (or an intent to make an offer) by a person or group to acquire 15% or more of the outstanding common stock. The Board of Directors may extend the 15 business day period referred to above and may redeem the rights

54


 

in whole (but not in part) at a redemption price of $.003 per right at any time prior to an acquisition of 15% or more of the outstanding common stock by a person or group. The rights expire on January 17, 2006.

Note 16. Accumulated other comprehensive earnings:

Accumulated other comprehensive earnings, which totaled $12,038 at September 30, 2004, and $9,625 at September 30, 2003, consisted of the following items:

                 
Year ended September 30,
  2004
  2003
Accumulated foreign currency translation adjustments:
               
Beginning balance
  $ 11,611     $ 5,243  
Translation adjustments
    4,237       10,271  
Taxes associated with translation adjustments
    (1,609 )     (3,903 )
 
   
 
     
 
 
Ending balance
  $ 14,239     $ 11,611  
 
   
 
     
 
 
Accumulated unrealized derivative losses:
               
Beginning balance
  $ (1,047 )   $ (1,220 )
Reclassification to interest expense
    300       279  
Taxes associated with interest reclassification
    (114 )     (106 )
 
   
 
     
 
 
Ending balance
  $ (861 )   $ (1,047 )
 
   
 
     
 
 
Accumulated minimum pension liability adjustments:
               
Beginning balance
  $ (939 )   $ (1,200 )
Minimum pension liability adjustment
    (680 )     421  
Taxes associated with minimum pension liability adjustments
    279       (160 )
 
   
 
     
 
 
Ending balance
  $ (1,340 )   $ (939 )
 
   
 
     
 
 

Note 17. Leases:

We have entered into operating leases for certain facilities and equipment with terms in excess of one year. Future minimum rental payments required under these leases are approximately $3,600 in 2005, $3,300 in 2006, $2,700 in 2007, $1,800 in 2008, $1,600 in 2009, and $6,900 thereafter. Rent expense for all operating leases totaled $4,239 in 2004, $4,125 in 2003, and $4,507 in 2002.

Note 18. Contingencies:

We are currently involved in pending or threatened litigation or other legal proceedings regarding employment, product liability, and contractual matters arising from the normal course of business. We accrued for individual matters that we believe are likely to result in a loss when ultimately resolved using estimates of the most likely amount of loss. There are also individual matters that we believe the likelihood of a loss when ultimately resolved is less than likely but

55


 

more than remote, which were not accrued. While it is possible that there could be additional losses that have not been accrued, we currently believe the possible additional loss in the event of an unfavorable resolution of each matter is less than $5,000 in the aggregate.

We file income tax returns in various jurisdictions worldwide, which are subject to audit. We have accrued for our estimate of the most likely amount of expenses that we believe will result from income tax audit adjustments.

In the event of a change in control of the company, we may be required to pay termination benefits to certain executive officers.

Note 19. Financial instruments:

The estimated fair values of our financial instruments were as follows:

                 
At September 30,
  2004
  2003
Cash and cash equivalents
  $ 48,895     $ 24,058  
Interest rate swap agreements
    (895 )     (256 )
Short-term borrowings
    (5,833 )     (5,774 )
Long-term debt, including current portion
    (93,947 )     (123,521 )
 
   
 
     
 
 

The fair values of cash and cash equivalents, short-term borrowings, and long-term debt at variable interest rates were assumed to be equal to their carrying amounts. Cash and cash equivalents have short-term maturities, short-term borrowings have short-term maturities and market interest rates, and long-term debt at variable interest rates is repriced frequently at market rates of interest. Interest rate swap agreements are carried at their fair value, which is estimated based on proprietary models used by financial institutions that rely on assumptions regarding past, present, and future market conditions. The fair value of long-term debt at fixed interest rates was estimated based on a model that discounted future principal and interest payments at interest rates available to the company at the end of the year for similar debt of the same maturity. The weighted-average interest rates used to estimate the fair value of long-term debt at fixed interest rates were 4.28% at September 30, 2004, and 4.62% at September 30, 2003.

Note 20. Segment information:

Our operations are organized based on the nature of products and related services provided and consist of two operating segments-Industrial Controls and Aircraft Engine Systems. Industrial Controls provides energy control systems and components primarily to OEMs of industrial engines, turbines, and other power equipment. Aircraft Engine Systems provides energy control systems and components primarily to OEMs of aircraft engines.

The accounting policies of the segments are the same as those described in Note 1. Intersegment sales and transfers are made at established intersegment selling prices generally intended to approximate selling prices to unrelated parties. Our determination of segment earnings does not reflect allocations of certain corporate expenses, which we designate as nonsegment expenses, and is before interest expense, interest income, income taxes, and the cumulative effect of accounting change.

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Segment assets consist of accounts receivable, inventories, property, plant, and equipment-net, goodwill, and other intangibles-net. Summarized financial information for our segments follows:

                         
At or for the year ended            
September 30,
  2004
  2003
  2002
Industrial Controls:
                       
External net sales
  $ 439,801     $ 332,755     $ 408,665  
Intersegment sales
    849       697       842  
Segment earnings (loss)
    6,437       (11,588 )     33,294  
Segment assets
    364,584       336,654       286,302  
Depreciation and amortization
    21,341       18,914       16,657  
Capital expenditures
    13,564       11,601       14,585  
 
   
 
     
 
     
 
 
Aircraft Engine Systems:
                       
External net sales
  $ 270,004     $ 253,927     $ 271,326  
Intersegment sales
    2,193       2,016       2,752  
Segment earnings
    59,192       47,615       57,226  
Segment assets
    205,580       217,685       219,480  
Depreciation and amortization
    10,276       11,464       13,076  
Capital expenditures
    4,281       5,775       7,038  
 
   
 
     
 
     
 
 

In addition, Industrial Controls recognized contractual pension termination benefits of $1,800 in 2004, which reduced segment earnings.

The differences between the total of segment amounts and the consolidated financial statements were as follows:

                         
Year ended September 30,
  2004
  2003
  2002
Total segment net sales and intersegment sales
  $ 712,847     $ 589,395     $ 683,585  
Elimination of intersegment sales
    (3,042 )     (2,713 )     (3,594 )
 
   
 
     
 
     
 
 
Consolidated net sales
  $ 709,805     $ 586,682     $ 679,991  
 
   
 
     
 
     
 
 
Total segment earnings
  $ 65,629     $ 36,027     $ 90,520  
Nonsegment expenses
    (12,100 )     (12,323 )     (15,366 )
Interest expense and income
    (4,237 )     (3,765 )     (4,474 )
 
   
 
     
 
     
 
 
Consolidated earnings before income taxes and cumulative effect of accounting change
  $ 49,292     $ 19,939     $ 70,680  
 
   
 
     
 
     
 
 
                         
At September 30,
  2004
  2003
  2002
Total segment assets
  $ 570,164     $ 554,339     $ 505,782  
Unallocated corporate property, plant, and equipment—net
    2,384       2,812       3,385  
Other unallocated assets
    81,746       58,848       73,228  
 
   
 
     
 
     
 
 
Consolidated total assets
  $ 654,294     $ 615,999     $ 582,395  
 
   
 
     
 
     
 
 

Differences between total depreciation and amortization and capital expenditures of our segments and the corresponding consolidated amounts reported in the statements of consolidated cash flows are due to unallocated corporate amounts.

One customer individually accounted for more than 10% of consolidated net sales in each of the years 2002 through 2004. These sales were made by both of our segments and totaled approximately $156,000 in 2004,

57


 

$151,000 in 2003, and $212,000 in 2002. In addition, a second customer individually accounted for more than 10% of consolidated net sales in 2004. These sales were made by Industrial Controls and totaled $83,000 in 2004.

External net sales by geographical area, as determined by the location of the customer invoiced, were as follows:

                         
Year ended September 30,
  2004
  2003
  2002
United States
  $ 413,901     $ 332,986     $ 403,864  
Other countries
    295,904       253,696       276,127  
 
   
 
     
 
     
 
 
 
  $ 709,805     $ 586,682     $ 679,991  
 
   
 
     
 
     
 
 

Property, plant, and equipment-net by geographical area, as determined by the physical location of the assets, were as follows:

                 
At September 30,
  2004
  2003
United States
  $ 84,091     $ 92,326  
Other countries
    33,219       31,818  
 
   
 
     
 
 
 
  $ 117,310     $ 124,144  
 
   
 
     
 
 

Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm

To the Board of Directors and Shareholders
Woodward Governor Company

In our opinion, the accompanying consolidated balance sheets and the related consolidated statements of earnings, cash flows and shareholders’ equity present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of Woodward Governor Company and its subsidiaries at September 30, 2004 and 2003, and the results of their operations and their cash flows for each of the three years in the period ended September 30, 2004 in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America. These financial statements are the responsibility of the Company’s management; our responsibility is to express an opinion on these financial statements based on our audits. We conducted our audits of these statements in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States). Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements are free of material misstatement. An audit includes examining, on a test basis, evidence supporting the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements, assessing the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, and evaluating the overall financial statement presentation. We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinion.

As discussed in Note 1 to the consolidated financial statements, effective October 1, 2001, the Company adopted Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 142, “Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets” (SFAS No. 142).

PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP

58


 

November 1, 2004

Selected Quarterly Financial Data (Unaudited)

                                                                 
  2004 Fiscal Quarters
  2003 Fiscal Quarters
(In thousands except per share amounts)
  First
  Second
  Third
  Fourth
  First
  Second
  Third
  Fourth
Net sales
  $ 158,973     $ 172,951     $ 180,496     $ 197,385     $ 144,825     $ 146,159     $ 141,637     $ 154,061  
Gross profit
    41,284       42,888       45,064       38,329       35,881       34,929       30,845       34,351  
Earnings (loss) before income tax
    12,021       14,589       13,218       9,464       10,104       7,418       (408 )     2,825  
Net earnings (loss)
    7,393       9,105       8,213       6,671       6,265       4,511       (165 )     1,735  
Net earnings (loss):
                                                               
Per basic share
    0.66       0.81       0.73       0.59       0.55       0.40       (0.01 )     0.15  
Per diluted share
    0.65       0.79       0.71       0.57       0.55       0.40       (0.01 )     0.15  
Cash dividends per share
    0.24       0.24       0.24       0.24       0.2325       0.24       0.24       0.24  
Common stock price per share:
                                                               
High
    57.65       65.00       73.72       72.69       49.45       44.68       44.43       50.30  
Low
    43.02       54.26       59.04       54.75       35.00       32.81       34.04       40.19  
Close
    56.83       63.74       72.11       67.49       43.50       34.83       43.01       43.39  
 
   
 
     
 
     
 
     
 
     
 
     
 
     
 
     
 
 

Notes:

1. Gross profit represents net sales less cost of goods sold. Certain reclassifications have been made to cost of goods sold on a quarterly basis to conform to the presentation in our statements of consolidated earnings for the year ended September 30, 2004.

2. Earnings (loss) before income taxes included the effects of workforce management actions in 2003 and 2004 to consolidate certain facilities and better align staffing levels with expected demand. Our workforce management costs consisted of the following:

                                                                 
    2004 Fiscal Quarters
  2003 Fiscal Quarters
(In thousands)
  First
  Second
  Third
  Fourth
  First
  Second
  Third
  Fourth
Member termination benefits
  $ 151     $     $     $ 12,000     $ 2,854     $ 2,200     $ 1,841     $ 2,496  
Contractual pension termination benefits
                      1,800                          
Related costs of facility consolidation
                                  500       1,500       560  
Member termination benefits adjustments
    (83 )     (348 )           (652 )                        
 
   
 
     
 
     
 
     
 
     
 
     
 
     
 
     
 
 
Total workforce management costs
  $ 68     $ (348 )   $     $ 13,148     $ 2,854     $ 2,700     $ 3,341     $ 3,056  
 
   
 
     
 
     
 
     
 
     
 
     
 
     
 
     
 
 
Amount of workforce management costs affecting gross profit
  $ 50     $ (288 )   $     $ 12,612     $ 2,742     $ 1,750     $ 2,905     $ 2,677  
 
   
 
     
 
     
 
     
 
     
 
     
 
     
 
     
 
 

59


 

Selected Financial Data

                 
(In thousands of dollars except per share amounts) for the year ended September 30,
  2004
  2003
Net sales
  $ 709,805     $ 586,682  
Earnings (loss) before cumulative effect of accounting change
    31,382       12,346  
Goodwill-related amortization, net of income taxes
           
 
 
 
   
 
 
Adjusted earnings (loss) before cumulative effect of accounting change
    31,382       12,346  
 
 
 
   
 
 
Basic per share amounts:
               
Earnings (loss) before cumulative effect of accounting change
    2.78       1.10  
Goodwill-related amortization, net of income taxes
           
 
 
 
   
 
 
Adjusted earnings (loss) before cumulative effect of accounting change
    2.78       1.10  
 
 
 
   
 
 
Diluted per share amounts:
               
Earnings (loss) before cumulative effect of accounting change
    2.71       1.08  
Goodwill-related amortization, net of income taxes
           
 
 
 
   
 
 
Adjusted earnings (loss) before cumulative effect of accounting change
    2.71       1.08  
 
 
 
   
 
 
Cash dividends per share
    0.96       0.9525  
Income taxes
    17,910       7,593  
Interest expense, net of interest income
    4,237       3,765  
Depreciation expense
    25,856       27,548  
Amortization expense
    6,905       4,870  
Capital expenditures
    18,698       18,802  
Effective income tax rate
    36.3 %     38.1 %
Adjusted earnings (loss) as percent of sales
    4.4 %     2.1 %
Adjusted earnings (loss) as percent of beginning shareholders’ equity
    8.7 %     3.5 %
Weighted-average basic shares outstanding in thousands
    11,286       11,246  
Weighted-average diluted shares outstanding in thousands
    11,565       11,389  
                 
at September 30,
               
Working capital
  $ 197,524     $ 151,262  
Total assets
    654,294       615,999  
Long-term debt, less current portion
    88,452       89,970  
Total debt
    95,241       125,744  
Shareholders’ equity
    385,861       360,804  
Shareholders’ equity per diluted share
    33.36       31.68  
Percent of debt to debt-equity
    19.8 %     25.8 %
Worker members
    3,287       3,273  
Registered shareholder members
    1,529       1,576  
 
 
 
   
 
 

* Earnings before cumulative effect of accounting change for 2000 include a gain from the sale of business of $25,500 before income taxes and $17,082 after income taxes, or $1.52 per basic share and $1.51 per diluted share.

60


 

                                                                         
for the year ended                                    
September 30,
  2002
  2001
  2000
  1999
  1998
  1997
  1996
  1995
  1994
Net sales
  $ 679,991     $ 678,791     $ 597,385     $ 596,904     $ 490,476     $ 442,216     $ 417,290     $ 379,736     $ 333,207  
Earnings (loss) before cumulative effect of accounting change
    45,170       53,068       46,976 *     30,829       21,592       18,140       22,178       11,936       (3,273 )
Goodwill-related amortization, net of income taxes
          2,875       2,660       2,770       1,293       578       346       245       307  
 
 
 
   
 
   
 
   
 
   
 
   
 
   
 
   
 
   
 
 
Adjusted earnings (loss) before cumulative effect of accounting change
    45,170       55,943       49,636       33,599       22,885       18,718       22,524       12,181       (2,966 )
 
 
 
   
 
   
 
   
 
   
 
   
 
   
 
   
 
   
 
 
Basic per share amounts:
                                                                       
Earnings (loss) before cumulative effect of accounting change
    3.99       4.69       4.17 *     2.74       1.90       1.58       1.92       1.03       (0.28 )
Goodwill-related amortization, net of income taxes
          0.25       0.24       0.24       0.12       0.05       0.03       0.02       0.03  
 
 
 
   
 
   
 
   
 
   
 
   
 
   
 
   
 
   
 
 
Adjusted earnings (loss) before cumulative effect of accounting change
    3.99       4.94       4.41       2.98       2.02       1.63       1.95       1.05       (0.25 )
 
 
 
   
 
   
 
   
 
   
 
   
 
   
 
   
 
   
 
 
Diluted per share amounts:
                                                                       
Earnings (loss) before cumulative effect of accounting change
    3.90       4.59       4.15 *     2.73       1.90       1.57       1.92       1.03       (0.28 )
Goodwill-related amortization, net of income taxes
          0.25       0.24       0.25       0.11       0.05       0.03       0.02       0.03  
 
 
 
   
 
   
 
   
 
   
 
   
 
   
 
   
 
   
 
 
Adjusted earnings (loss) before cumulative effect of accounting change
    3.90       4.84       4.39       2.98       2.01       1.62       1.95       1.05       (0.25 )
 
 
 
   
 
   
 
   
 
   
 
   
 
   
 
   
 
   
 
 
Cash dividends per share
    0.93       0.93       0.93       0.93       0.93       0.93       0.93       0.93       0.93  
Income taxes
    25,510       32,887       27,116       20,390       14,946       13,305       13,003       8,247       (1,922 )
Interest expense, net of interest income
    4,474       6,587       10,127       11,919       4,519       1,602       2,500       3,270       3,233  
Depreciation expense
    28,340       25,677       24,001       25,267       23,715       21,854       22,786       23,334       26,114  
Amortization expense
    3,748       7,055       6,418       6,769       2,927       983       608       452       500  
Capital expenditures
    22,898       26,903       27,416       22,789       20,862       21,152       21,163       18,988       16,515  
Effective income tax rate
    36.1 %     38.3 %     36.6 %     39.8 %     40.5 %     38.6 %     37.0 %     40.9 %     37.0 %
Adjusted earnings (loss) as percent of sales
    6.6 %     8.2 %     8.3 %     5.6 %     4.7 %     4.2 %     5.4 %     3.2 %     (0.9 )%
Adjusted earnings (loss) as percent of beginning shareholders’ equity
    14.2 %     20.3 %     20.5 %     15.3 %     10.9 %     9.0 %     11.4 %     6.3 %     (1.4 )%
Weighted-average basic shares outstanding in thousands
    11,325       11,318       11,263       11,272       11,340       11,482       11,570       11,623       11,765  
Weighted-average diluted shares outstanding in thousands
    11,577       11,561       11,318       11,292       11,379       11,525       11,570       11,623       11,765  
                                                                         
at September 30,
                                                                       
Working capital
  $ 155,440     $ 123,744     $ 100,836     $ 124,392     $ 119,506     $ 124,827     $ 121,103     $ 116,364     $ 113,751  
Total assets
    582,395       584,628       533,723       550,664       563,435       348,110       348,798       349,599       323,318  
Long-term debt, less current portion
    78,192       77,000       74,500       139,000       175,685       17,717       22,696       27,796       32,665  
Total debt
    96,377       105,061       118,284       180,953       213,645       30,604       42,868       62,960       61,591  
Shareholders’ equity
    354,901       318,862       275,624       241,992       220,102       210,614       207,995       197,903       193,846  
Shareholders’ equity per diluted share
    30.66       27.58       24.35       21.43       19.34       18.27       18.01       17.05       16.57  
Percent of debt to debt-equity
    21.4 %     24.8 %     30.0 %     42.8 %     49.3 %     12.7 %     17.1 %     24.1 %     24.1 %
Worker members
    3,337       3,709       3,302       3,791       3,994       3,246       3,211       3,071       3,439  
Registered shareholder members
    1,592       1,652       1,742       1,866       1,907       1,994       2,029       2,179       2,256  
 
 
 
   
 
   
 
   
 
   
 
   
 
   
 
   
 
   
 
 

61


 

OFFICER AND INVESTOR INFORMATION

Officers

John A. Halbrook
Chairman and Chief Executive Officer

Thomas A. Gendron
President and Chief Operating Officer

Stephen P. Carter
Executive Vice President,
Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer

Dennis M. Benning
Vice President, General Manager
Fluid Systems and Controls

Donald J. Bergholz
Vice President, General Manager
Turbine Combustion Systems

Martin V. Glass
Vice President, General Manager
Aircraft Engine Systems

Gerhard Lauffer
Vice President, General Manager Electronic Controls

Timothy Loyd
Vice President

Chad R. Preiss
Vice President, General Manager Industrial Controls

Gerard Willemsen
Vice President, General Manager
Diesel Fuel Systems and European Operations

Carol J. Manning
Corporate Secretary

Investor Information

Woodward Governor Company
Corporate Headquarters

 


 

5001 North Second Street
P.O. Box 7001
Rockford, IL 61125-7001
1-815-877-7441
www.woodward.com

Transfer Agent and Registrar
American Stock Transfer &
Trust Company
New York, NY
1-800-937-5449

Correspondence and transfer requests should be sent to the following:
American Stock Transfer & Trust Company
Shareholder Services
59 Maiden Lane
New York, NY 10038

Shareholder Account Assistance

Shareholders who wish to change the address or ownership of stock, report lost certificates, eliminate duplicate mailings or for other account registration procedures and assistance should contact the Transfer Agent at the address or phone number above.

Dividend Reinvestment Plan and Direct Deposit of Dividends

Woodward offers shareholders of record a convenient Dividend Reinvestment and Direct Stock Purchase and Sale Plan. Through this Plan, shareholders have options to purchase or sell shares of Woodward stock, have their dividends automatically reinvested in Woodward common stock, and to make periodic supplemental cash payments to purchase additional shares.

For further information and an authorization form, contact the Transfer Agent at the address or phone number on this page.

Annual Meeting
January 26, 2005, at 10:00 a.m.
NIU-Rockford
8500 E. State Street
Rockford, IL 61108

Annual Report on Form 10-K
Shareholders may obtain, without charge, a single copy of Woodward’s 2004
annual report on Securities and Exchange Commission Form 10-K upon written
request to the Corporate Secretary, Woodward Governor Company, Rockford, Illinois.

Stock Exchange
Nasdaq National Market
Ticker Symbol: WGOV
SEC filings are available on our website at www.woodward.com

 


 

An Equal Opportunity Employer

It is Woodward’s policy to provide equal employment opportunity for all qualified members and applicants without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability, veteran’s or marital status, and to base all employment decisions so as to further this principle of equal employment opportunity.

John A. Halbrook
Chairman and Chief Executive Officer,
Woodward Governor Company

DIRECTORS
John D. Cohn
Senior Vice President, Strategic Development and Communications, Rockwell
Automation, Inc.

Paul Donovan
Retired Executive Vice President
and Chief Financial Officer,
Wisconsin Energy Corporation

Michael H. Joyce
President and Chief Operating Officer, Twin Disc, Incorporated

Mary L. Petrovich
Chief Executive Officer,
AxleTech International

Larry E. Rittenberg
Ernst & Young Professor of
Accounting & Information Systems,
University of Wisconsin

James R. Rulseh
Group Vice President,
Modine Manufacturing Company

Michael T. Yonker
Retired President and
Chief Executive Officer, Portec, Inc.