Form 10-K
Table of Contents

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

 


 

FORM 10-K

 


 

x ANNUAL REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

 

For the fiscal year ended December 31, 2008

 

¨ TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

 

For the transition period from              to             

 

Commission file number 1-4801

 


 

BARNES GROUP INC.

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

 


 

Delaware   06-0247840
(State of incorporation)   (I.R.S. Employer Identification No.)
123 Main Street, Bristol, Connecticut   06011-0489
(Address of Principal Executive Office)   (Zip Code)

 

(860) 583-7070

Registrant’s telephone number, including area code

 


 

Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:

 

Title of each class


 

Name of each exchange on which registered


Common Stock, $0.01 Par Value   New York Stock Exchange

 

Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(g) of the Act:

None

 


 

Indicate by check mark if the registrant is a well-known seasoned issuer, as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act.    Yes  x    No  ¨

 

Indicate by check mark if the registrant is not required to file reports pursuant to Section 13 or Section 15(d) of the Act.    Yes  ¨    No  x

 

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant: (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to file such reports); and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days.    Yes  x    No  ¨

 

Indicate by check mark if disclosure of delinquent filers pursuant to Item 405 of Regulation S-K is not contained herein, and will not be contained, to the best of registrant’s knowledge, in definitive proxy or information statements incorporated by reference in Part III of this Form 10-K or any amendment to this Form 10-K.  ¨

 

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, or a smaller reporting company. See definitions of “large accelerated filer,” “accelerated filer,” and “smaller reporting company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act. (Check one):

 

Large accelerated filer  x

  Accelerated filer  ¨

Non-accelerated filer  ¨

  Smaller reporting company  ¨

 

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Act).    Yes  ¨    No  x

 

The aggregate market value of the voting stock (Common Stock) held by non-affiliates of the registrant as of the close of business on June 30, 2008 was approximately $1,134,913,192 based on the closing price of the Common Stock on the New York Stock Exchange on that date. The registrant does not have any non-voting common equity.

 

The registrant had outstanding 52,311,809 shares of common stock as of February 19, 2009.

 

Documents Incorporated by Reference

 

Portions of the registrant’s definitive proxy statement to be delivered to stockholders in connection with the Annual Meeting of Stockholders to be held May 7, 2009 are incorporated by reference into Part III.

 



Table of Contents

Barnes Group Inc.

Index to Form 10-K

Year Ended December 31, 2008

 

          Page

Part I

         

Item 1.

  

Business

   1

Item 1A.

  

Risk Factors

   4

Item 1B.

  

Unresolved Staff Comments

   12

Item 2.

  

Properties

   12

Item 3.

  

Legal Proceedings

   12

Item 4.

  

Submission of Matters to a Vote of Security Holders

   12

Part II

         

Item 5.

   Market for Registrant’s Common Equity, Related Stockholder Matters and Issuer Purchases of Equity Securities    13

Item 6.

  

Selected Financial Data

   15

Item 7.

  

Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations

   16

Item 7A.

  

Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk

   32

Item 8.

  

Financial Statements and Supplementary Data

   33

Item 9.

  

Changes in and Disagreements with Accountants on Accounting and Financial Disclosure

   66

Item 9A.

  

Controls and Procedures

   67

Item 9B.

  

Other Information

   67

Part III

         

Item 10.

  

Directors, Executive Officers and Corporate Governance

   68

Item 11.

  

Executive Compensation

   70

Item 12.

   Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and Management and Related Stockholder Matters    70

Item 13.

  

Certain Relationships and Related Transactions, and Director Independence

   70

Item 14.

  

Principal Accounting Fees and Services

   70

Part IV

         

Item 15.

  

Exhibits, Financial Statement Schedules

   71


Table of Contents

PART I

 

Item 1. Business

 

BARNES GROUP INC.(1)

 

Barnes Group Inc. is an international aerospace and industrial components manufacturer and logistical services company serving a wide range of end markets and customers. The products and services provided by Barnes Group are critical components for far-reaching applications that provide transportation, communication, manufacturing and technology to the world. These vital needs are met by our skilled workforce, a critical resource of Barnes Group. Founded in 1857 and headquartered in Bristol, Connecticut, Barnes Group was organized as a Delaware corporation in 1925. We have paid cash dividends to stockholders on a continuous basis since 1934. As of December 31, 2008, we had over 5,600 employees at over 70 locations worldwide. We operate under two global business segments: Logistics and Manufacturing Services, and Precision Components.

 

LOGISTICS AND MANUFACTURING SERVICES

 

Logistics and Manufacturing Services provides value-added logistical support and repair services. Value-added logistical support services include inventory management, technical sales, and supply chain solutions for maintenance, repair, operating, and production supplies and services. Repair services provided include the manufacturing of spare parts for the refurbishment and repair of highly engineered components and assemblies for commercial and military aviation.

 

Logistics and Manufacturing Services has sales, distribution, and manufacturing operations in the United States, Belgium, Brazil, Canada, China, France, Germany, Italy, Mexico, Singapore, Spain and the United Kingdom. Products and services are available in more than 40 countries.

 

The global operations are engaged in supplying, servicing, and manufacturing of maintenance, repair, and operating components. Activities include logistical support through vendor-managed inventory and technical sales for stocked replacement parts and other products, worldwide catalog supplies and custom solutions, and the manufacture and delivery of aerospace aftermarket spare parts, including the Revenue Sharing Programs (“RSPs”), and component repairs. Key business drivers include a value proposition centered on customer service, delivery, multiple sales channels, procurement systems, and strong customer relationships. In addition, the manufacturing and supplying of aerospace aftermarket spare parts, including the RSPs, are dependent upon the reliable and timely delivery of high-quality components.

 

Logistics and Manufacturing Services faces active competition throughout the world. The products and services offered are not unique, and its competitors provide substantially similar products and services. Competition comes from local, regional, and national, maintenance and repair supply distributors and specialty manufacturers of springs, gas struts and engineered hardware. The aerospace aftermarket business competes with aerospace original equipment manufacturers (“OEMs”), service centers of major commercial airlines and other independent service companies for the repair and overhaul of turbine engine components. Service alternatives, timeliness and reliability of supply, price, technical capability, product breadth, quality and overall customer service are important competitive factors. In 2008 sales by Logistics and Manufacturing Services to its largest customer, General Electric Company (“General Electric”), accounted for approximately 15% of its total sales and sales to its next two largest customers accounted for approximately 8% of its total sales.

 

PRECISION COMPONENTS

 

Precision Components is a global supplier of engineered components for critical applications focused on providing solutions for a diverse industrial, transportation and aerospace customer base. It is equipped to produce

 

(1) As used in this annual report, “Company,” “Barnes Group,” “we” and “ours” refer to the registrant and its consolidated subsidiaries except where the context requires otherwise, and “Logistics and Manufacturing Services” and “Precision Components” refer to the registrant’s segments, not to separate corporate entities.

 

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virtually every type of precision spring, from fine hairsprings for electronics and instruments to large heavy-duty springs for machinery as well as precision-machined and fabricated components and assemblies for OEM turbine engine, airframe and industrial gas turbine builders throughout the world, and the military. It is also the largest manufacturer and supplier of precision mechanical springs, compressor reed valves and nitrogen gas products based in North America and among the world’s largest manufacturers of precision mechanical products and nitrogen gas products. Precision Components also manufactures high-precision punched and fine-blanked components used in transportation and industrial applications, nitrogen gas springs and manifold systems used to precisely control stamping presses, and retention rings that position parts on a shaft or other axis.

 

Precision Components has a diverse customer base with products purchased by durable goods manufacturers located around the world in industries including transportation, consumer products, farm equipment, telecommunications, medical devices, home appliances and electronics and airframe and gas turbine engine manufacturers for commercial and military jets, business jets, and land-based industrial gas turbines. Long-standing customer relationships enable Precision Components to participate in the design phase of components and assemblies through which customers receive the benefits of manufacturing research, testing and evaluation. Products are sold primarily through Precision Components’ direct sales force and a global distribution channel.

 

Precision Components competes with a broad base of large and small companies engaged in the manufacture and sale of custom metal components and assemblies while the aerospace manufacturing business competes with both the leading jet engine OEMs and a large number of machining and fabrication companies. Precision Components competes on the basis of quality, service, reliability of supply, engineering and technical capability, product breadth, innovation, design, and price.

 

Precision Components has manufacturing, sales and distribution operations in the United States, Brazil, Canada, China, Germany, Korea, Mexico, Singapore, Sweden, Switzerland, Thailand and the United Kingdom. Sales by Precision Components to its largest customer, General Electric, accounted for approximately 22% of its sales in 2008. Sales to its next three largest customers in 2008 accounted for approximately 14% of its total sales.

 

FINANCIAL INFORMATION

 

The backlog of the Company’s orders believed to be firm at the end of 2008 was $454 million as compared with $580 million at the end of 2007. Of the 2008 year-end backlog, $444 million was attributable to the Precision Components segment and the balance was attributable to the Logistics and Manufacturing Services segment. Precision Components’ backlog included $147 million which is scheduled to be shipped after 2009. Substantially all of the remainder of the Company’s backlog is scheduled to be shipped during 2009. General Electric and its affiliates accounted for 18% of the Company’s total sales in 2008.

 

We continue to have a global manufacturing footprint to service our worldwide customer base. The global economies have a significant impact on the financial results of the business as we have significant operations outside of the United States. Logistics and Manufacturing Services has significant manufacturing locations in Singapore and has distribution centers and sales offices as well as a significant amount of business in Europe, Canada and Asia. Precision Components has manufacturing operations in Europe, Canada, Asia, Mexico and South America. For an analysis of our revenue from sales to external customers, and operating profit and assets by business segment as well as revenues from sales to external customers and long-lived assets by geographic area, see Note 20 of the Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements of this Annual Report on Form 10-K (“Annual Report”). During 2008, the Company realigned its reportable business segments as described in Part II, Item 7 of this Annual Report.

 

RAW MATERIALS

 

The principal raw materials used to manufacture our products are high-grade steel spring wire and flat rolled steel, titanium and inconel as well as special materials such as cobalt and other complex aerospace alloys. Many of the products distributed by our business are made of steel, copper or brass. Prices for steel, titanium and

 

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inconel, as well as other specialty materials, have periodically increased due to higher demand and, in some cases, reduction of the availability of materials. If this combination of events occurs, the availability of certain raw materials used by us or products sold by us may be negatively impacted.

 

RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT

 

Although most of the products manufactured by us are custom parts made to customers’ specifications, we are engaged in continuing efforts aimed at discovering and implementing new knowledge that is useful in developing new products or services and significantly improving existing products or services. We spent approximately $6 million in each of 2008, 2007 and 2006 on research and development activities.

 

PATENTS AND TRADEMARKS

 

Patents, trademarks, licenses, franchises and concessions are not significant to any of our businesses.

 

EXECUTIVE OFFICERS OF THE COMPANY

 

For information regarding the Executive Officers of the Company, see Part III, Item 10 of this Annual Report.

 

ENVIRONMENTAL

 

Compliance with federal, state, and local laws, as well as those of other countries, which have been enacted or adopted regulating the discharge of materials into the environment or otherwise relating to the protection of the environment has not had a material effect, and is not expected to have a material effect, upon our capital expenditures, earnings, or competitive position.

 

AVAILABLE INFORMATION

 

Our Internet address for our website is www.BGInc.com. Our annual report on Form 10-K, quarterly reports on Form 10-Q, current reports on Form 8-K, and amendments to those reports are available without charge on our website as soon as reasonably practicable after they are filed with, or furnished to, the Securities and Exchange Commission. In addition, we have posted on our website, and will make available in print to any stockholder who makes a request, our corporate governance guidelines, our code of business ethics and conduct and the charters of the Audit Committee, Compensation and Management Development Committee and Corporate Governance Committee (the responsibilities of which include serving as the nominating committee) of the Company’s Board of Directors.

 

FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

 

Certain of the statements in this Annual Report may contain forward-looking statements as defined in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking statements are made based upon management’s good faith expectations and beliefs concerning future developments and their potential effect upon the Company and can be identified by the use of words such as “anticipated,” “believe,” “expect,” “plans,” “strategy,” “estimate,” “project,” and other words of similar meaning in connection with a discussion of future operating or financial performance. These forward-looking statements are subject to risks and uncertainties that may cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed in the forward-looking statements. The risks and uncertainties, which are described in this Annual Report, include, among others, uncertainties arising from the behavior of financial markets; future financial performance of the industries or customers that we serve; changes in market demand for our products and services; integration of acquired businesses; changes in raw material prices and availability; our dependence upon revenues and earnings from a small number of significant customers; uninsured claims; and numerous other matters of global, regional or national scale, including those of a political, economic, business, competitive, regulatory and public health nature. The Company assumes no obligation to update our forward-looking statements.

 

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Item 1A. Risk Factors

 

Our business, financial condition or results of operations could be materially adversely affected by any of these risks. Please note that additional risks not presently known to us may also materially impact our business and operations.

 

RISKS RELATED TO OUR BUSINESS

 

We depend on revenues and earnings from a small number of significant customers. Any bankruptcy of or loss, cancellation, reduction or delay in purchases by these customers could harm our business. In 2008, our net sales to General Electric and its subsidiaries accounted for 18% of our total sales and approximately 15% and 22% of sales at Logistics and Manufacturing Services and Precision Components, respectively. Additionally, approximately 14% of Precision Components’ sales in 2008 were to its next three largest customers. Some of our success will depend on the economic viability of those customers. We cannot assure you that we will be able to retain our largest customers. There has been tightening in the credit markets which may affect our customers’ ability to raise debt or equity capital. This may reduce the amount of liquidity available to our customers which may limit their ability to purchase products. Some of our customers may in the future reduce their purchases due to economic conditions or shift their purchases from us to our competitors, in-house or to other sources. Our long-term sales agreements provide that until a firm order is placed by a customer for a particular product, the customer may unilaterally reduce or discontinue its projected purchases without penalty. The loss of one or more of our largest customers, any reduction or delay in sales to these customers, our inability to successfully develop relationships with new customers, or future price concessions we make to retain customers could significantly reduce our sales and profitability. The potential bankruptcy of our largest customers in the automotive industry could result in our inability to recover our investments in certain accounts receivable and inventory.

 

We have significant indebtedness that could affect our operations and financial condition. At December 31, 2008, we had consolidated debt and capitalized lease obligations of $493.4 million, representing approximately 46% of our total capital (indebtedness plus stockholders’ equity) as of that date. Our level of indebtedness and the significant debt servicing costs associated with that indebtedness could have important effects on our operations and financial condition and may adversely affect the value or trading price of our outstanding equity securities and debt securities. For example, our indebtedness could require us to dedicate a substantial portion of our cash flows from operations to payments on our debt, thereby reducing the amount of our cash flows available for working capital, capital expenditures, investments in technology and research and development, acquisitions, dividends and other general corporate purposes; limit our flexibility in planning for, or reacting to, changes in the industries in which we compete; place us at a competitive disadvantage compared to our competitors, some of whom have lower debt service obligations and greater financial resources than we do; limit our ability to borrow additional funds; or increase our vulnerability to general adverse economic and industry conditions. In addition, current conditions in the worldwide credit markets place significant limitations on our ability to expand our credit lines beyond current bank commitments. Also, the fragile nature of the worldwide banking industry raises concerns that even current bank commitments may be at risk.

 

Our failure to meet certain financial covenants required by our debt agreements may materially and adversely affect our assets, financial position and cash flows. Some of our debt arrangements require us to maintain certain interest coverage and leverage ratios and a minimum net worth and limit our ability to incur debt, make investments or undertake certain other business activities. These requirements could limit our ability to obtain future financing and may prevent us from taking advantage of attractive business opportunities. Our ability to meet the financial covenants or requirements in our debt arrangements may be affected by events beyond our control, and we cannot assure you that we will satisfy such covenants and requirements. A breach of these covenants or our inability to comply with the restrictions could result in an event of default under our debt arrangements which, in turn, could result in an event of default under the terms of our other indebtedness. Upon the occurrence of an event of default under our debt arrangements, after the expiration of any grace periods, our

 

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lenders could elect to declare all amounts outstanding under our debt arrangements, together with accrued interest, to be immediately due and payable. If this were to happen, we cannot assure you that our assets would be sufficient to repay in full the payments due under those arrangements or our other indebtedness.

 

Our operations depend on our manufacturing, distribution, sales and service facilities in various parts of the world which are subject to physical, financial, regulatory and other risks that could disrupt our operations. During 2008, approximately 42% of our sales were from facilities outside of the United States. Also, we have a number of manufacturing facilities and distribution/sales centers outside the United States. The international scope of our business subjects us to risks such as threats of war, terrorism and instability of governments, and economic and legal systems in countries in which we or our customers conduct business. In addition, because we depend upon our information systems to help process orders, to manage inventory and accounts receivable collections, to purchase, sell and ship products efficiently and on a timely basis, to maintain cost-effective operations, and to help provide superior service to our customers, any disruption in the operation of our information systems, including widespread power outages, could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition, results of operations and cash flows. Some of our facilities are located in areas that may be affected by natural disasters, including earthquakes or tsunamis, which could cause significant damage and disruption to the operations of those facilities and, in turn, could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition, results of operations and cash flows. Additionally, some of our manufacturing equipment and tooling is custom-made and is not readily replaceable. Loss of such equipment or tooling could have a negative impact on our manufacturing business, financial condition, results of operations and cash flows.

 

Although we have obtained property damage and business interruption insurance, a major catastrophe such as an earthquake, hurricane, flood, tsunami or other natural disaster at any of our sites, or significant labor strikes, work stoppages, political unrest, or any of the events described above, some of which may not be covered by our insurance, in any of the areas where we conduct operations could result in a prolonged interruption of our business. Any disruption resulting from these events could cause significant delays in the manufacture or shipment of products or the provision of repair and other services that may result in our loss of sales and customers. Our insurance will not cover all potential risks, and we cannot assure you that we will have adequate insurance to compensate us for all losses that result from any insured risks. Any material loss not covered by insurance could have a material adverse effect on our financial condition, results of operations and cash flows. We cannot assure you that insurance will be available in the future at a cost acceptable to us or at a cost that will not have a material adverse effect on our profitability, net income and cash flows.

 

The global nature of our business exposes us to foreign currency fluctuations that may affect our future revenues and profitability. We have manufacturing, sales and distribution facilities around the world, and the majority of our foreign operations use the local currency as their functional currency. These include, among others, the Brazilian real, British pound sterling, Canadian dollar, Chinese yuan, Euro, Korean won, Mexican peso, Singapore dollar, Swedish krona, Swiss franc and Thai baht. Since our financial statements are denominated in U.S. dollars, changes in currency exchange rates between the U.S. dollar and other currencies expose us to translation risk when the local currency financial statements are translated to U.S. dollars. Changes in currency exchange rates may also expose us to transaction risk. We may buy protecting or offsetting positions or hedges in certain currencies to reduce our exposure to currency exchange fluctuations; however, these transactions may not be adequate or effective to protect us from the exposure for which they are purchased. We have not engaged in any speculative hedging activities. Currency fluctuations may impact our revenues and profitability in the future.

 

Our operations and assets subject us to additional financial and regulatory risks. We have operations and assets in various parts of the world. In addition, we sell our products and services to the U.S. government and in foreign countries. Accordingly, we are subject to various risks, including: U.S.-imposed embargoes of sales to specific countries; foreign import controls (which may be arbitrarily imposed or enforced); import regulations and duties; export regulations (which require us to comply with stringent licensing regimes); anti-dumping regulations; price and currency controls; exchange rate fluctuations; dividend remittance restrictions;

 

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expropriation of assets; war, civil uprisings and riots; government instability; requirements to provide certifications to the government with respect to compliance with government requirements; the necessity of obtaining governmental approval for new and continuing products and operations; legal systems or decrees, laws, taxes, regulations, interpretations and court decisions that are not always fully developed and that may be retroactively or arbitrarily applied; and difficulties in managing a global enterprise. We have experienced inadvertent violations of some of these regulations, including export regulations and regulations prohibiting air transport of aerosol products, in the past, none of which has had or, we believe, will have a material adverse effect on our business. However, any significant violations of these regulations in the future could result in civil or criminal sanctions, and the loss of export or other licenses which could have a material adverse effect on our business. We may also be subject to unanticipated income taxes, excise duties, import taxes, export taxes or other governmental assessments. In addition, our organizational structure may limit our ability to transfer funds between countries, particularly into and out of the United States, without incurring adverse tax consequences. Any of these events could result in a loss of business or other unexpected costs that could reduce sales or profits and have a material adverse effect on our financial condition, results of operations and cash flows.

 

Our ability to recover our significant deferred tax assets related to tax operating loss carryforwards depends on future income. We have significant deferred tax assets related to operating loss carryforwards. The realization of these assets is dependent on our ability to generate future taxable income during the operating loss carryforward period. Failure to realize this tax benefit could have a material adverse effect on our financial condition and results of operations.

 

Changes in the availability or price of materials, products and energy resources could adversely affect our costs and profitability. We may be adversely affected by the availability or price of raw materials, products and energy resources, particularly related to certain manufacturing operations that utilize high-grade steel spring wire and titanium. The availability and price of raw materials and energy resources may be subject to curtailment or change due to, among other things, new laws or regulations, global economic or political events including strikes, terrorist attacks and war, suppliers’ allocations to other purchasers, interruptions in production by suppliers, changes in exchange rates and prevailing price levels. In some instances there are limited sources for raw materials and a limited number of primary suppliers for some of our products for resale. Although we are not dependent upon any single source for any of our principal raw materials or products for resale, and such materials and products have, historically, been readily available, we cannot assure you that such raw materials and products will continue to be readily available. Disruption in the supply of raw materials, products or energy resources or our inability to come to favorable agreements with our suppliers could impair our ability to manufacture, sell and deliver our products and require us to pay higher prices. Any increase in prices for such raw materials, products or energy resources could materially adversely affect our costs and our profitability.

 

We maintain pension and other postretirement benefit plans in the U.S. and certain international locations. Declines in the stock market, prevailing interest rates and rising medical costs may cause an increase in our pension and other postretirement benefit expenses in the future and result in reductions in our pension fund asset values and increases in our pension and other postretirement benefit obligations. These changes have caused and may continue to cause a significant reduction in our net worth and may require us to make higher cash contributions to our pension and postretirement plans in the future.

 

We have significant goodwill and an impairment of our goodwill could cause a decline in our net worth. Our total assets include substantial goodwill. At December 31, 2008, our goodwill totaled $361.9 million. The goodwill results from our acquisitions, representing the excess of the purchase price we paid over the net assets of the companies acquired. We assess whether there has been an impairment in the value of our goodwill during each calendar year or sooner if triggering events warrant. If future operating performance at one or more of our businesses does not meet expectations or fair values fall due to significant stock market declines, we may be required to reflect a non-cash charge to operating results for goodwill impairment. The recognition of an impairment of a significant portion of goodwill would negatively affect our results of operations and total capitalization, the effect of which could be material.

 

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We could be adversely affected by changes in interest rates. Our profitability may be adversely affected as a result of increases in interest rates. At December 31, 2008, we and our subsidiaries had approximately $493.4 million aggregate principal amount of consolidated debt and capitalized lease obligations outstanding, of which approximately 53% had interest rates that float with the market. A 100 basis point increase in the interest rate on the floating rate debt in effect at December 31, 2008 would have resulted in an approximate $2.6 million annualized increase in interest expense.

 

We may not realize all of the sales expected from our existing backlog or anticipated orders. At December 31, 2008, we had $454 million of order backlog. There can be no assurances that the revenues projected in our backlog will be realized or, if realized, will result in profits. We consider backlog to be firm customer orders for future delivery. From time to time, OEM customers of Precision Components provide projections of components and assemblies that they anticipate purchasing in the future under new and existing programs. Such projections are not included in our backlog unless we have received a firm release from our customers. Our customers may have the right under certain circumstances and with certain penalties or consequences to terminate, reduce or defer firm orders that we have in backlog. If our customers terminate, reduce or defer firm orders, we may be protected from certain costs and losses, but our sales will nevertheless be adversely affected. Although we strive to maintain ongoing relationships with our customers, there is an ongoing risk that orders may be cancelled or rescheduled due to fluctuations in our customers’ business needs or purchasing budgets.

 

Also, our realization of sales from new and existing programs is inherently subject to a number of important risks and uncertainties, including whether our customers will execute the launch of product programs on time, or at all, the number of units that our customers will actually produce and the timing of production. In addition, until firm orders are placed, our customers generally have the right to discontinue a program or replace us with another supplier at any time without penalty. Our failure to realize sales from new and existing programs could have a material adverse effect on our net sales, results of operations and cash flows.

 

We may not recover all of our up-front costs related to new or existing programs. New programs require significant up-front investments and capital expenditures for engineering, design and tooling. As OEMs in the transportation and aerospace industries have looked to suppliers to bear increasing responsibility for the design, engineering and manufacture of systems and components, they have increasingly shifted the financial risk associated with those responsibilities to the suppliers as well. This trend is likely to continue and is most evident in the area of engineering cost reimbursement. Historically, these investments have been fully reimbursed by OEMs, but in the future there may be other mechanisms established by OEMs that could result in less than full reimbursement or no reimbursement. We cannot assure you that we will have adequate funds to make such up-front investments and capital expenditures. In the event that we are unable to make such investments and expenditures, or to recover them through sales or direct reimbursement of our engineering expenses from our customers, our profitability, liquidity and cash flows may be adversely affected. In addition, we incur costs and make capital expenditures for new program awards based upon certain estimates of production volumes. While we attempt to recover such costs and capital expenditures by appropriately pricing our products, the prices of our products are based in part upon planned production volumes. If the actual production is significantly less than planned, we may be unable to recover such costs. In addition, because a significant portion of our overall costs is fixed, declines in our customers’ production levels can adversely affect the level of our reported results even if our up-front investments and capital expenditures are recovered.

 

We may not recover all of our up-front costs related to RSPs. Our total commitments in RSP participation fees as of December 31, 2008 equaled $293.7 million, all of which had been paid at such time. We participate in aftermarket RSPs under which we receive an exclusive right to supply designated aftermarket parts to a large aerospace manufacturer over the life of an aircraft engine program. As consideration, we pay participation fees, which are recorded as long-lived intangible assets and are recognized as a reduction to sales over the life of the program. The recoverability of the asset is dependent upon future revenues related to the program’s aftermarket parts. The potential exists that actual revenues will not meet expectations. A shortfall in

 

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future revenues may result in the failure to recover the total amount of the investments, which could adversely affect our financial condition and results of operations and cash flows.

 

We face risks of cost overruns and losses on fixed-price contracts. We sell certain of our products under firm, fixed-price contracts providing for a fixed price for the products regardless of the production or purchase costs incurred by us. The cost of producing products may be adversely affected by increases in the cost of labor, materials, fuel, outside processing, overhead and other factors, including manufacturing inefficiencies. Increased production costs may result in cost overruns and losses on contracts.

 

The departure of existing management and key personnel, a shortage of skilled employees or a lack of qualified sales professionals could materially affect our business, operations and prospects. Our executive officers are important to the management and direction of our business. Our future success depends, in large part, on our ability to retain these officers and other capable management personnel. Although we believe we will be able to attract and retain talented personnel and replace key personnel should the need arise, our inability to do so could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition, results of operations or cash flows. Because of the complex nature of many of our products and services, we are generally dependent on an educated and highly skilled workforce. In addition, there are significant costs associated with the hiring and training of sales professionals. We could be adversely affected by a shortage of available skilled employees or the loss of a significant number of our sales professionals.

 

Any product liability claims in excess of insurance may adversely affect our financial condition. Our operations expose us to potential product liability risks that are inherent in the design, manufacture and sale of our products and the products we buy from third parties and sell to our customers. For example, we may be exposed to potential liability for personal injury or death as a result of the failure of a spring or other part in a vehicle or an aircraft component designed, manufactured or sold by us, or the failure of an aircraft component that has been serviced by us or of the components, including potentially hazardous substances, in a product purchased by us and sold by us to one of our customers. While we believe that our liability insurance is adequate to protect us from these liabilities, our insurance may not cover all liabilities. Additionally, insurance coverage may not be available in the future at a cost acceptable to us. Any material liability not covered by insurance or for which third-party indemnification is not available could have a material adverse effect on our financial condition, results of operations and cash flows.

 

Our business, financial condition, results of operations and cash flows could be adversely impacted by strikes or work stoppages. Approximately 13% of our U.S. employees are covered by collective bargaining agreements and 45% of our non-U.S. employees are covered by collective bargaining agreements or statutory trade union agreements. In 2009 we will be negotiating collective bargaining agreements with unionized employees at our Burlington, Canada; Bristol, Connecticut; Corry, Pennsylvania; and Saline, Michigan facilities, representing approximately 300 employees for the National Healthcare and Pension Agreement. Although we believe that our relations with our employees are good, we cannot assure you that we will be successful in negotiating new collective bargaining agreements, or that such negotiations will not result in significant increases in the cost of labor, including healthcare, pensions or other benefits. Any potential strikes or work stoppages, and the resulting adverse impact on our relationships with customers, could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition, results of operations or cash flows. Similarly, a protracted strike or work stoppage at any of our major customers, suppliers or other vendors could materially adversely affect our business.

 

RISKS RELATED TO THE INDUSTRIES IN WHICH WE OPERATE

 

A general economic downturn could adversely affect our business and financial results. All of our businesses are impacted by the health of the economies in which they operate. A decline in economies in which we operate could reduce demand for our products and services or increase pricing pressures, thereby having an adverse impact on our business, financial condition, results of operations and cash flows. We derive a large portion of our sales from the transportation industry. Recently, that industry and, in particular, U.S. automakers have suffered from financial pressures which have had negative consequences for companies in, and companies with customers in, the transportation industry. The transportation industry has generally suffered from

 

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unfavorable pricing pressures in North America and other regions. The operation of our business within that industry subjects us to the pressures applicable to all companies operating in it. While the precise effects of such instability on the transportation industry are difficult to determine, they may negatively impact our business, financial condition, results of operations and cash flows.

 

We operate in very competitive markets. We may not be able to compete effectively with our competitors, and competitive pressures could adversely affect our business, financial condition and results of operations. Our two global business segments compete with a number of larger and smaller companies in the markets we serve. Some of our competitors have greater financial, production, research and development, or other resources than we do. Within the aerospace aftermarket business unit, certain of our OEM customers compete with our repair and overhaul business. Some of our OEM customers in the aerospace industry also compete with us where they have the ability to manufacture the components and assemblies that we supply to them but have chosen, for capacity limitations, cost considerations or other reasons, to outsource the manufacturing to us. Our two business segments compete on the basis of price, service, quality, reliability of supply, technology, innovation and design. The products sold by Logistics and Manufacturing Services are not unique, and its competitors carry substantially similar products. We must continue to make investments to maintain and improve our competitive position. We cannot assure you that we will have sufficient resources to continue to make such investments or that we will be successful in maintaining our competitive position. Our competitors may develop products or services, or methods of delivering those products or services, that are superior to our products, services or methods. Our competitors may also adapt more quickly than we to new technologies or evolving customer requirements. Pricing pressures could cause us to adjust the prices of certain of our products to stay competitive. We cannot assure you that we will be able to compete successfully with our existing or future competitors. Also, if consolidation of our existing competitors occurs, we expect the competitive pressures we face to increase. Our failure to compete successfully could adversely affect our business, financial condition, results of operations and cash flows.

 

Our customers’ businesses are generally cyclical. Weaknesses in the industries in which our customers operate could impact our revenues and profitability. The industries to which we sell tend to decline in response to overall declines in industrial production. The OEM aerospace unit of Precision Components and the aftermarket aerospace unit of Logistics and Manufacturing Services are heavily dependent on the commercial aerospace industry, which is cyclical. In addition, parts of Precision Components are dependent on the transportation industry, general industrial and tooling markets, all of which are also cyclical. Many of our customers have historically experienced periodic downturns, which often have had a negative effect on demand for our products.

 

Original equipment manufacturers in the transportation and aerospace industries have significant pricing leverage over suppliers and may be able to achieve price reductions over time. There is substantial and continuing pressure from OEMs in the transportation, including automotive and aerospace, industries to reduce the prices they pay to suppliers. We attempt to manage such downward pricing pressure, while trying to preserve our business relationships with our customers, by seeking to reduce our production costs through various measures, including purchasing raw materials and components at lower prices and implementing cost-effective process improvements. Our suppliers have periodically resisted, and in the future may resist, pressure to lower their prices and may seek to impose price increases. In the past, our efforts to convince our key transportation OEM customers to share in raw material price increases were met with limited success. If we are unable to offset OEM price reductions through these measures, our profitability and cash flows could be adversely affected. In addition, OEMs have substantial leverage in setting purchasing and payment terms, including the terms of accelerated payment programs under which payments are made prior to the account due date in return for an early payment discount. OEMs can unexpectedly change their purchasing policies or payment practices, which could have a negative impact on our short-term working capital.

 

Demand for our defense-related products depends on government spending. A portion of the Precision Components aerospace units’ sales are derived from the military market. The military market is largely dependent upon government budgets and is subject to governmental appropriations. Although multi-year

 

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contracts may be authorized in connection with major procurements, funds are generally appropriated on a fiscal year basis even though a program may be expected to continue for several years. Consequently, programs are often only partially funded and additional funds are committed only as further appropriations are made. We cannot assure you that an increase in defense spending will be allocated to programs that would benefit our business. Moreover, we cannot assure you that new military aircraft programs in which we participate will enter full-scale production as expected. A decrease in levels of defense spending or the government’s termination of, or failure to fully fund, one or more of the contracts for the programs in which we participate could have a material adverse effect on our financial position and results of operations.

 

The consolidation occurring in the industries in which we operate could adversely affect our business and financial results. The industries in which we operate have been experiencing consolidation. There has been consolidation of both suppliers and the customers we serve. Supplier consolidation is in part attributable to OEMs more frequently awarding long-term sole source or preferred supplier contracts to the most capable suppliers in an effort to reduce the total number of suppliers from whom components and systems are purchased. We cannot assure you that our business, financial condition, results of operations or cash flows will not be adversely impacted as a result of consolidation by our competitors or customers.

 

The aerospace industry is highly regulated. Complications related to aerospace regulations may adversely affect the Company. A substantial portion of our income is derived from our aerospace businesses. The aerospace industry is highly regulated in the United States by the Federal Aviation Administration, or FAA, and in other countries by similar regulatory agencies. We must be certified by these agencies and, in some cases, by individual OEMs in order to engineer and service systems and components used in specific aircraft models. If material authorizations or approvals were delayed, revoked or suspended, our business could be adversely affected. New or more stringent governmental regulations may be adopted, or industry oversight heightened, in the future, and we may incur significant expenses to comply with any new regulations or any heightened industry oversight.

 

Environmental regulations impose costs and regulatory requirements on our operations. Environmental compliance may be more costly than we expect, and we may be subject to material environmental-based claims in the future. Our past and present business operations and past and present ownership and operations of real property and the use, sale, storage and handling of chemicals and hazardous products subject us to extensive and changing U.S. federal, state and local environmental laws and regulations, as well as those of other countries, pertaining to the discharge of materials into the environment, enforcement, disposition of wastes (including hazardous wastes), the use, shipping, labeling, and storage of chemicals and hazardous materials, or otherwise relating to protection of the environment. We have experienced, and expect to continue to experience, costs to comply with environmental laws and regulations. In addition, new laws and regulations, stricter enforcement of existing laws and regulations, the discovery of previously unknown contamination or the imposition of new clean-up requirements could require us to incur costs or become subject to new or increased liabilities that could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition, results of operations and cash flows.

 

We use and generate hazardous substances and wastes in our operations. In addition, many of our current and former properties are or have been used for industrial purposes. Accordingly, we monitor hazardous waste management and applicable environmental permitting and reporting for compliance with applicable laws at our locations in the ordinary course of our business. We may be subject to potential material liabilities relating to any investigation and clean-up of our locations or properties where we delivered hazardous waste for handling or disposal that may be contaminated, and to claims alleging personal injury.

 

High fuel prices may impact our operating results. Fuel costs constitute a significant portion of operating expenses for companies in the aerospace industry. Widespread disruption to oil production, refinery operations and pipeline capacity in certain areas of the United States can increase the price of jet fuel significantly. Conflicts in the Middle East, an important source of oil for the U.S. and other countries where we do business, cause prices

 

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for fuel to be volatile and often significantly higher than historic levels. Because many of our customers and we are in the aerospace industry, increased fuel costs could have a material adverse effect on our financial condition or results of operations. The price of fuel generally impacts the cost of operating our manufacturing and distribution operations. Additionally, higher fuel costs may increase our freight expenses.

 

Products and services of the mature industries in which we operate may be rendered obsolete by new products, technologies and processes. Our manufacturing operations focus on highly engineered components which require extensive engineering and research and development time. Our competitive advantage may be adversely impacted if we cannot continue to introduce new products ahead of our competition, or if our products are rendered obsolete by other products or by new, different technologies and processes.

 

RISKS RELATED TO ACQUISITIONS

 

We may not be able to effectively integrate acquired companies into our operations. We have completed 15 acquisitions since 1999. We seek acquisition opportunities that complement and expand our operations and that will help create stockholder value over the long term. We cannot assure you that we will be able to effectively integrate our acquisitions into our operations. We may not be able to do so successfully without substantial costs, delays or other difficulties. We could face significant challenges in consolidating functions and integrating procedures, information technology systems, personnel, product lines and operations in a timely and efficient manner. We may encounter difficulties in training our sales forces to work with new products and customers.

 

The integration process is complex and time-consuming, may be disruptive to our businesses, and may cause an interruption of, or a loss of momentum in, our businesses as a result of a number of obstacles, such as: the loss of significant customers; the need to retrain skilled engineering, sales and other personnel resulting from the loss of key employees; the failure to maintain the quality of customer service that each business has historically provided; the need to coordinate geographically diverse organizations; retooling and reprogramming of equipment and information technology systems; and the resulting diversion of management’s attention from our day-to-day business and the need to hire additional management personnel to address integration obstacles.

 

If we are not successful in integrating our acquisitions into our operations, if the integration takes longer than anticipated, if the companies or assets we acquire do not perform as we anticipate, or if the integrated product and service offerings fail to achieve market acceptance, our business, financial position, results of operations and cash flows could be adversely affected.

 

We may not be able to realize the anticipated cost savings, synergies or revenue enhancements from acquisitions, and we may incur significant costs to achieve these savings. Even if we are able to integrate successfully our operations and the operations of our acquisitions, we may not be able to realize the cost savings, synergies or revenue enhancements that we anticipate from these acquisitions, either as to amount or in the time frame that we expect. Our ability to realize anticipated cost savings, synergies and revenue enhancements may be affected by a number of factors, including the following: our ability to effectively eliminate duplicative back office overhead and overlapping sales personnel, rationalize manufacturing capacity, synchronize information technology systems, consolidate warehousing and distribution facilities and shift production to more economical facilities; significant cash and non-cash integration and implementation costs or charges in order to achieve those cost savings, which could offset any such savings and other synergies resulting from our acquisitions; and our ability to avoid labor disruption in connection with integration efforts. In addition, our growth to date has placed, and future acquisitions could continue to place, significant demand on our administrative, operational and financial resources.

 

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Future acquisitions and strategic alliances are a key component of our anticipated growth. We may not be able to identify or complete future acquisitions or strategic alliances. Turmoil in the equity and credit markets may limit our ability to undertake acquisitions. A significant portion of the industries that we serve are mature industries. As a result, our growth has resulted in large part from, and our future growth may depend in part on, the successful acquisition and integration of businesses into our existing operations. While we are focused on adding strategic pieces to our operations by acquiring companies, manufacturing and service assets and technologies that complement our existing businesses, we may not be able to identify and successfully negotiate suitable acquisitions, obtain financing for future acquisitions on satisfactory terms, obtain regulatory approval or otherwise complete acquisitions in the future. In addition, opportunities to enter into additional aftermarket RSPs or alliances may be limited. Aftermarket RSPs will have an impact on the rate of future growth and profitability as a result of the business mix, the number of new RSPs entered into, the level of aftermarket volume, increasing management fees, the amortization of the participation fees, and the expiration of the Singapore Pioneer tax incentives on these programs.

 

Item 1B. Unresolved Staff Comments

 

None.

 

Item 2. Properties

 

We operate 28 manufacturing facilities throughout the world, 23 of which are part of the Precision Components segment, the balance are part of Logistics and Manufacturing Services. Sixteen of the facilities are in the United States, the balance are located in Europe, Asia, Mexico, Brazil and Canada. Nineteen of the facilities are owned; the balance are leased.

 

In addition to its manufacturing facilities, Precision Components has 10 facilities engaged in activities related to its manufacturing, including sales, assembly, development and distribution.

 

Logistics and Manufacturing Services operates 17 distribution centers; nine in the United States; and the balance in Europe and Canada. Five of the distribution centers are owned; the balance are leased. Logistics and Manufacturing Services also has 18 sales and support facilities, 16 of which are leased. Three of the facilities are in the United States; the balance are located in Europe, Canada, Mexico, Brazil and China. Logistics and Manufacturing Services also has two global sourcing offices in Asia.

 

The Company’s corporate office in Bristol, Connecticut is owned.

 

Item 3. Legal Proceedings

 

We are subject to litigation from time to time in the ordinary course of business. There are no material pending legal proceedings to which we or any of our subsidiaries is a party, or of which any of our or their property is the subject.

 

Item 4. Submission of Matters to a Vote of Security Holders

 

No matters were submitted to a vote of security holders during the fourth quarter of 2008.

 

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PART II

 

Item 5. Market for Registrant’s Common Equity, Related Stockholder Matters and Issuer Purchases of Equity Securities

 

(a) Market Information

 

The Company’s common stock is traded on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol “B”. The following table sets forth, for the periods indicated, the low and high sales price per share, as reported by the New York Stock Exchange.

 

     2008
     Low    High    Dividends

Quarter ended March 31

   $ 20.39    $ 34.15    $ 0.140

Quarter ended June 30

     22.77      32.33      0.160

Quarter ended September 30

     18.56      25.35      0.160

Quarter ended December 31

     8.51      20.25      0.160

 

     2007
     Low    High    Dividends

Quarter ended March 31

   $ 19.76    $ 23.71    $ 0.125

Quarter ended June 30

     22.62      34.61      0.140

Quarter ended September 30

     26.00      34.22      0.140

Quarter ended December 31

     28.53      36.86      0.140

 

Stockholders

 

As of February 10, 2009, there were 6,444 holders of record of the Company’s common stock. A significant number of the outstanding shares of common stock which are beneficially owned by individuals or entities are registered in the name of a nominee of The Depository Trust Company, a securities depository for banks and brokerage firms. The Company believes that there are 15,476 beneficial owners of its common stock as of February 10, 2009.

 

Dividends

 

Payment of future dividends will depend upon the Company’s financial condition, results of operations and other factors deemed relevant by the Company’s Board of Directors, as well as any limitations resulting from financial covenants on net worth under the Company’s credit facilities. See the table above for dividend information for 2008 and 2007.

 

Securities Authorized for Issuance Under Equity Compensation Plans

 

For information regarding Securities Authorized for Issuance Under Equity Compensation Plans, see Part III, Item 12 of this Annual Report.

 

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Performance Graph

 

A stock performance graph based on cumulative total returns (price change plus reinvested dividends) for $100 invested on December 31, 2003 is set forth below.

 

LOGO

 

     

2003

   2004    2005    2006    2007    2008

BGI

   $ 100.0    $ 82.0    $ 102.1    $ 134.6    $ 206.7    $ 89.8

S&P 600

   $ 100.0    $ 122.6    $ 132.1    $ 152.0    $ 151.6    $ 104.5

Russell 2000

   $ 100.0    $ 118.3    $ 123.7    $ 146.4    $ 144.1    $ 95.4

 

The performance graph does not include a published industry or line-of-business index or peer group of similar issuers because the Company is in multiple lines of business and does not believe a meaningful published index or peer group can be reasonably identified. Accordingly, as permitted by Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) rules, the graph includes the S&P 600 Small Cap Index and the Russell 2000 Index, which are comprised of issuers with generally similar market capitalizations to that of the Company.

 

(c) Issuer Purchases of Equity Securities

 

Period

   (a) Total Number
of Shares (or Units)
Purchased
    (b) Average Price
Paid Per Share
(or Unit)
   (c) Total Number of
Shares (or Units)
Purchased as Part of
Publicly Announced
Plans or Programs
   (d) Maximum Number
(or Approximate Dollar
Value) of Shares (or
Units) that May Yet Be
Purchased Under the
Plans or Programs (2)

October 1-31, 2008

   1,100,320     $ 13.03    1,100,000    3,837,974

November 1-30, 2008

   1,325,240     $ 13.66    1,324,500    2,513,474

December 1-31, 2008

   —         —      —      2,513,474
                

Total

   2,425,560  (1)   $ 13.37    2,424,500   
                

 

(1) Other than 2,424,500 shares purchased in the fourth quarter of 2008 which were purchased as part of the Company’s publicly announced plans, all acquisitions of equity securities during the fourth quarter of 2008 were the result of the operation of the terms of the Company’s stockholder-approved equity compensation plans and the terms of the equity rights granted pursuant to those plans to pay for the related income tax upon issuance of shares. The purchase price of a share of stock used for tax withholding is the market price on the date of issuance.
(2) The program was publicly announced on May 8, 2008 authorizing repurchase of up to 5.0 million shares of the Company’s common stock. This program replaced a previous authorization for the repurchase of up to 1.0 million shares of the Company’s common stock that was approved on April 12, 2001.

 

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Item 6. Selected Financial Data

 

     2008     2007 (5)     2006 (4)(5)     2005 (3)(4)(5)     2004 (4)(5)  

Per common share (1)

          

Income from continuing operations

          

Basic

   $ 1.80     $ 1.94     $ 1.48     $ 1.17     $ 0.67  

Diluted

     1.74       1.80       1.41       1.13       0.65  

Net income

          

Basic

     1.61       1.90       1.46       1.15       0.65  

Diluted

     1.56       1.76       1.39       1.10       0.63  

Dividends declared and paid

     0.62       0.545       0.485       0.42       0.40  

Stockholders’ equity (at year-end)

     11.17       12.09       9.92       8.36       7.67  

Stock price (at year-end)

     14.50       33.39       21.75       16.50       13.26  

For the year (in thousands)

          

Net sales

   $ 1,362,091     $ 1,418,151     $ 1,239,395     $ 1,081,455     $ 975,444  

Operating income

     147,940       155,163       118,121       77,028       51,674  

As a percent of net sales

     10.9 %     10.9 %     9.5 %     7.1 %     5.3 %

Income from continuing operations

     97,082       103,642       74,844       55,161       31,034  

As a percent of net sales

     7.1 %     7.3 %     6.0 %     5.1 %     3.2 %

Net income

   $ 86,979     $ 101,337     $ 73,845     $ 54,151     $ 30,026  

As a percent of net sales

     6.4 %     7.1 %     6.0 %     5.0 %     3.1 %

As a percent of average stockholders’ equity

     12.5 %     17.5 %     15.7 %     14.3 %     8.7 %

Depreciation and amortization

   $ 52,403     $ 50,607     $ 42,226     $ 34,858     $ 34,177  

Capital expenditures

     51,869       50,197       41,712       26,097       28,509  

Average common shares outstanding – basic

     53,989       53,295       50,703       47,198       46,212  

Average common shares outstanding – diluted

     55,813       57,526       52,943       49,018       47,935  

Year-end financial position (in thousands)

          

Working capital

   $ 288,351     $ 177,047     $ 166,154     $ 120,808     $ 126,663  

Goodwill

     361,930       380,486       358,600       235,299       221,856  

Other intangible assets, net

     316,817       330,458       236,561       163,849       125,447  

Property, plant and equipment

     235,035       230,545       209,645       157,056       166,284  

Total assets

     1,447,634       1,539,335       1,336,451       1,005,860       942,814  

Long-term debt and notes payable

     493,404       434,464       427,082       286,025       268,045  

Stockholders’ equity

     583,411       653,947       519,795       401,157       356,376  

Debt as a percent of total capitalization (2)

     45.8 %     39.9 %     45.1 %     41.6 %     42.9 %

Statistics

          

Employees at year-end

     5,643       6,375       6,522       6,057       5,830  

Sales per average number of employees

   $ 223,982     $ 221,908     $ 200,212     $ 184,844     $ 172,052  

 

(1) Net income per common share is based on the weighted average common shares outstanding during each year. Stockholders’ equity per common share is calculated based on actual common shares outstanding at the end of each year.
(2) Debt includes all interest-bearing debt and total capitalization includes interest-bearing debt and stockholders’ equity.
(3) The 2005 results include $391, or $0.01 per share, of charges related to the cumulative effect of a change in accounting principle, net of taxes. These charges resulted from the adoption of Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) Interpretation (“FIN”) No. 47, “Accounting for Conditional Asset Retirement Obligations.”
(4) Effective December 31, 2006, the Company adopted Statement of Financial Accounting Standards (“SFAS”) No. 158, “Employers’ Accounting for Defined Benefit Pension and Other Postretirement Plans” which required the Company to recognize the overfunded or underfunded status of its defined benefit postretirement plans as an asset or liability in the statement of financial position and to recognize changes in the funded status in comprehensive income in the year in which the changes occur.
(5) During 2008, the Company exited certain non-core businesses within its Logistics and Manufacturing Services segment in the United Kingdom. These actions included selling certain assets of the operation and exiting the businesses. The results of these businesses have been segregated and treated as discontinued operations. All previously reported financial information has been adjusted on a retrospective basis to reflect the discontinued operations.

 

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Item 7. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations

 

OVERVIEW

 

During the fourth quarter of 2008, the Company changed its organizational structure by aligning its strategic business units with a focus on core functional and delivery capabilities. This realignment resulted in two new reportable business segments: Logistics and Manufacturing Services, and Precision Components.

 

Additionally, in the fourth quarter of 2008 the Company exited certain non-core businesses within its Logistics and Manufacturing Services segment in the United Kingdom. These actions included selling certain assets of the operation and exiting the businesses. The results of these businesses have been segregated and treated as discontinued operations.

 

All previously reported financial information has been adjusted on a retrospective basis to reflect the segment realignment and the discontinued operations for all years presented.

 

2008 Highlights

 

In 2008, deteriorating worldwide economic conditions caused significant volatility in many markets which adversely impacted our business. The distribution business of the Logistics and Manufacturing Services segment was negatively affected by weakening demand across many of its end-markets while the aerospace aftermarket business continued to be negatively impacted by deferred airline maintenance and lower capacity usage. The domestic industrial manufacturing businesses of the Precision Components segment were impacted most significantly by the severe declines in the transportation end-market and its aerospace OEM business was impacted by the Boeing labor strike and the production slide in a major engine program. As a result of this volatility, sales decreased in both business segments and were down 4.0% to $1,362.1 million Company-wide.

 

The Company took a number of actions within each of the businesses primarily in the fourth quarter of 2008 to reduce overhead costs as the Company aggressively addressed current and expected future economic conditions, the state of end-markets served and structural complexities within certain geographies. The cost of these discrete fourth quarter actions totaled $19.6 million after-tax. These actions, which include workforce reductions, transfer of work, exiting certain non-core activities and the valuation and write-off of certain deferred tax assets, are expected to improve the Company’s cost structure and its manufacturing footprint, and strengthen its global competitive position.

 

Management Objectives

 

Management is focused on three areas of development: employees, processes and strategy which, in combination, are expected to generate long-term value for its stockholders. The Company’s strategies for growth include both organic growth from new products, services, markets and customers, and growth from acquisitions. The Company’s strategies for profitability include productivity and process initiatives, such as production realignment, and efficiency and cost-saving measures.

 

Our Business

 

Barnes Group consists of two operating segments: Logistics and Manufacturing Services, and Precision Components. In both of these businesses, Barnes Group is among the leaders in the market niches served, and has highly recognized brands for many of the products it sells or manufactures.

 

The Logistics and Manufacturing Services segment provides value-added logistical support and repair services. Value-added logistical support services include inventory management, technical sales, and supply chain solutions for maintenance, repair, operating, and production supplies and services. Repair services provided include the manufacturing of spare parts for the refurbishment and repair of highly engineered components and assemblies for commercial and military aviation.

 

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Precision Components is a global supplier of engineered components for critical applications focused on providing solutions for a diverse industrial, transportation and aerospace customer base. It is equipped to produce virtually every type of precision spring, from fine hairsprings for electronics and instruments to large heavy-duty springs for machinery as well as precision-machined and fabricated components and assemblies for OEM turbine engine, airframe and industrial gas turbine builders throughout the world, and the military. It is also the largest manufacturer and supplier of precision mechanical springs, compressor reed valves and nitrogen gas products based in North America and among the world’s largest manufacturers of precision mechanical products and nitrogen gas products. Precision Components also manufactures high-precision punched and fine-blanked components used in transportation and industrial applications, nitrogen gas springs and manifold systems used to precisely control stamping presses, and retention rings that position parts on a shaft or other axis.

 

Key Performance Indicators

 

Management evaluates the performance of its reportable segments based on the operating profit of the respective businesses, which includes net sales, cost of sales, selling and administrative expenses and certain components of other income and other expenses, as well as the allocation of corporate overhead expenses. Management also uses an internal measurement tool called PPAT, or Performance Profit After Tax. PPAT is an economic value added (“EVA®”) -like metric that calculates operating profit after tax, less a charge for the capital employed by the business. Management utilizes PPAT in economic decision making, such as capital expenditures, investments in growth initiatives, customer pricing decisions, and evaluation of acquisitions. The goal of utilizing PPAT is to create a mindset among all employees to use capital in the most efficient way possible and to link decisions to stockholder value creation.

 

In addition to PPAT, which is a measurement tool common in each operating unit, both segments have their own key performance indicators (“KPIs”), a number of which are focused on customer satisfaction.

 

Within the Logistics and Manufacturing Services segment, KPIs are primarily focused on customer service and quality. The distribution business focuses on fill rate, which is the percentage of order lines filled on the first pass from the distribution center assigned to the customer; daily sales average; and average order size. The aerospace aftermarket operations measure quality and turnaround time of overhauled or repaired parts to the customers.

 

At Precision Components, the industrial manufacturing operations focus on sales and orders per day, which together provide visibility on sales in the next 60 days. Management tracks inventory turns and sales per employee to gauge efficiency, and measures on-time delivery and the number of defective parts per million as means of evaluating quality and customer fulfillment. The important KPIs at the aerospace OEM operations are customer orders and backlog, which are utilized to forecast how sales will develop over the next 12 months and beyond. Precision Components’ management closely tracks quality measurements and on-time delivery to its customers.

 

Key Industry Data

 

In each segment, management also tracks a variety of economic and industry data as indicators of the health of a particular sector.

 

At Logistics and Manufacturing Services, the distribution business reviews data supplied by the Institute for Supply Management’s PMI Composite Index (the “PMI”) and the Federal Reserve’s Industrial Production Index (the “IPI”), which are monthly indicators of the health of U.S. manufacturing activity. Management tracks similar indices in Canada and for the European-based businesses. Management of the aftermarket aerospace operations monitors the number of aircraft in the active fleet, the number of planes temporarily or permanently taken out of service, aircraft utilization rates for the major airlines, shop visits, and traffic growth.

 

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At Precision Components, key data for the industrial manufacturing operations include the IPI; durable goods orders; tooling build schedules; compressor build forecasts; the production of light vehicles, both in the U.S. and globally; and capital investments in the telecommunications and electronics industries. The aerospace OEM business regularly tracks orders and deliveries for each of the major aircraft manufacturers, as well as engine purchases made for new aircraft. Management also monitors annual appropriations for the U.S. military related to new aircraft purchases and maintenance.

 

Acquisitions and Strategic Relationships

 

Acquisitions and strategic relationships have been a key growth driver for the Company in both of its business segments. The Company has acquired a number of businesses in the past, the most recent of which are described more fully below. The Company continues to evaluate potential acquisitions that will broaden product line offerings and expand geographic reach, and that provide synergistic opportunities. The recent turmoil in the credit markets placed a temporary hold on a number of potential acquisitions. Management expects to continue pursuing acquisitions when credit markets improve. The Company also continues to seek business alliances which foster long-term business relationships, such as the aftermarket RSP agreements and strategic supply agreements.

 

In November 2006, the Company acquired the assets of the Nitropush product line of nitrogen gas springs from Orflam Industries of France for 1.4 million euros ($1.8 million). The Nitropush product line was integrated into the Precision Components business segment.

 

The Company acquired the KENT Division of Premier Farnell (“KENT”), a distributor of adhesives, sealants, specialty cleaning chemicals, abrasives, tools and other consumables to the European transportation aftermarket and industrial maintenance market, in July 2006. KENT was integrated into the Logistics and Manufacturing Services segment. The purchase price of 24.0 million pounds sterling ($44.9 million) was paid in cash.

 

In May 2006, the Company acquired Heinz Hänggi GmbH, Stanztechnik (“Hänggi”), a developer and manufacturer of high-precision punched and fine-blanked components, and a producer of orifice plates used in fuel injectors throughout the world. Its range of manufacturing solutions allows Hänggi to serve diversified industries, including high-precision components for transportation suppliers, the power tools sector, the watch industry, consumer electronics, telecommunications, medical devices, and textile machinery sectors. A majority of Hänggi’s sales are in Europe. Hänggi was integrated into the Precision Components segment. The purchase price to the seller of 162.0 million Swiss francs ($132.0 million) was paid through a combination of 122.0 million Swiss francs ($101.3 million) in cash and 1,628,676 shares of Barnes Group common stock ($30.7 million based upon a market value determined at the time of the purchase agreement).

 

For a further description of these acquisitions, refer to Notes 3 and 8 of the Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements.

 

RESULTS OF OPERATIONS

 

Sales

 

($ in millions)    2008     2007     $ Change     % Change     2006  

Logistics and Manufacturing Services

   $ 691.8     $ 703.0     $ (11.2 )   (1.6 )%   $ 602.3  

Precision Components

     683.0       728.5       (45.5 )   (6.2 )%     650.2  

Intersegment sales

     (12.7 )     (13.3 )     0.6     5.0 %     (13.1 )
                                  

Total

   $ 1,362.1     $ 1,418.2     $ (56.1 )   (4.0 )%   $ 1,239.4  
                                  

 

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Barnes Group reported net sales of $1,362.1 million in 2008, a decrease of $56.1 million, or 4.0%, from 2007. The sales decrease reflected $67.8 million of organic sales declines, $18.9 million at Logistics and Manufacturing Services and $49.5 million at Precision Components. Additionally, the sale of Spectrum Plastics Molding Resources, Inc. (“Spectrum Plastics”) resulted in a reduction in sales of $11.7 million as compared to 2007. These declines were offset by the favorable impact on sales of foreign currency translation of $23.4 million in 2008 as foreign currencies strengthened against the U.S. dollar, primarily in Europe. Geographically, the Company’s international sales increased 2.7% year-over-year, but domestic sales decreased 7.6%. Excluding the positive impact of foreign currency translation on sales, the Company’s international sales decreased 1.5% in 2008 from 2007.

 

In 2007, the Company reported net sales of $1,418.2 million, an increase of $178.8 million, or 14.4%, over 2006 net sales of $1,239.4 million. The sales increase reflected $90.6 million of organic sales growth, primarily within the aerospace aftermarket RSP business of Logistics and Manufacturing Services and the aerospace OEM business of Precision Components, and $64.6 million from acquisitions: $51.7 million at Logistics and Manufacturing Services as a result of the KENT acquisition and $12.9 million at Precision Components as a result of the Hänggi acquisition. The strengthening of foreign currencies against the U.S. dollar, primarily in Europe, increased net sales approximately $23.6 million during 2007. Geographically, the Company’s international sales increased 31.8% year-over-year and domestic sales increased 5.4%. Excluding the positive impact of foreign currency translation on sales, the Company’s international sales increased 26.2% in 2007 over 2006.

 

Expenses and Operating Income

 

($ in millions)    2008     2007     $ Change     % Change     2006  

Cost of sales

   $ 847.6     $ 881.0     $ (33.4 )   (3.8 )%   $ 786.7  

% sales

     62.2 %     62.1 %         63.5 %

Gross profit (1)

   $ 514.5     $ 537.2     $ (22.7 )   (4.2 )%   $ 452.7  

% sales

     37.8 %     37.9 %         36.5 %

Selling and administrative expenses

   $ 366.5     $ 382.0     $ (15.5 )   (4.1 )%   $ 334.5  

% sales

     26.9 %     26.9 %         27.0 %

Operating income

   $ 147.9     $ 155.2     $ (7.3 )   (4.7 )%   $ 118.1  

% sales

     10.9 %     10.9 %         9.5 %

 

(1) Sales less cost of sales

 

The Company took a number of actions within each of the businesses primarily in the fourth quarter of 2008 to reduce overhead costs as the Company aggressively addressed current and expected future economic conditions, the state of end markets served and structural complexities within certain geographies. The cost of these discrete actions totaled $19.6 million after-tax in 2008 including $5.4 million included in loss from discontinued operations. The Company expects to incur additional costs of $2.0 million to $3.0 million in 2009 related to these actions. These actions, which include workforce reductions, transfer of work, exiting certain non-core activities and the valuation and write-off of certain deferred tax assets, are expected to improve the Company’s cost structure and its manufacturing footprint, and strengthen its global competitive position.

 

The pre-tax charges in 2008 totaled $15.5 million and included a charge of $7.5 million at Precision Components and $8.0 million at Logistics and Manufacturing Services, of which $5.3 million related to continuing operations and $2.7 million related to discontinued operations. The charges include $10.9 million of severance and related employee termination costs, a $1.4 million loss on sale of assets related to discontinued businesses and $3.2 million of other costs including contract terminations, asset impairment charges and other associated costs. Of the charges, $0.4 million were recorded in cost of sales, $12.4 million were recorded in selling and administrative expenses and $2.7 million were recorded in discontinued operations. The $4.1 million tax expense includes the valuation and write-off of certain deferred tax assets.

 

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These actions will result in workforce reductions and the exiting of several facilities, and are expected to generate substantial costs savings in 2009. Approximately $12.3 million of the charges will require cash payments and are expected to be funded from cash from operations.

 

Operating income in 2008 decreased 4.7% from 2007 to $147.9 million and operating margin remained at 10.9%. The decrease in operating income was due primarily to lower profitability at Precision Components and the impact on both segments of the costs associated with the discrete fourth quarter 2008 charges. Cost of sales decreased 3.8% in 2008 primarily as a result of lower sales. The decrease in cost of sales was in line with the decrease in sales, resulting in a gross profit margin at 37.8% which approximated the 2007 margin. Selling and administrative expenses as a percentage of sales remained flat at 26.9% in 2008 and 2007. The discrete costs of the fourth quarter 2008 actions included in selling and administrative expenses were partially offset by lower incentive compensation and the positive impacts of expense reduction and lean initiatives.

 

Operating income in 2007 increased 31.4% from 2006 to $155.2 million and operating margin improved to 10.9% in 2007 compared to 9.5% in 2006. Precision Components was the primary contributor to the increase in operating income and improvement in operating margin. Cost of sales increased 12.0% in 2007 as a result of higher sales. The increase in cost of sales was lower than the increase in sales, resulting in a 1.4 percentage point improvement in gross profit margin. Gross profit margins improved at Precision Components and were driven primarily by the increased sales in the aerospace manufacturing business and in the higher margin European manufacturing business as well as operational efficiencies. To a lesser extent, gross profit margins also improved at Logistics and Manufacturing Services as a result of increased sales in both the higher margin aerospace aftermarket RSPs offset by the costs associated with a number of profitability and integration initiatives at the distribution businesses. The increase in selling and administrative expenses was driven by the higher sales volume and the costs associated with the initiatives to address the under-performance of the distribution business of $8.7 million as well as $2.6 million of severance charges recorded in the fourth quarter at Precision Components.

 

Other Income/Expense

 

Other expenses, net of other income, in 2008 were $2.3 million and included the $1.2 million loss on the sale of Spectrum Plastics. Interest expense decreased $5.6 million in 2008 as a result of lower interest rates.

 

Interest expense increased in 2007 as compared to 2006 as a result of higher average borrowings during 2007 offset by a shift from higher variable-rate debt to lower fixed-rate debt in 2007 primarily as a result of the 3.375% Convertible Notes issued in the first quarter of 2007.

 

Income Taxes

 

The Company’s effective tax rate from continuing operations was 23.0% in 2008, compared with 20.3% in 2007 and 20.8% in 2006. The 2008 effective tax rate includes additional deferred tax expense of $4.1 million for the provision for the valuation of certain deferred tax assets in France and the United Kingdom. These discrete items in 2008 increased the 2008 effective tax rate 3.3 percentage points.

 

The 2007 effective tax rate includes certain discrete items including approximately $2.5 million of additional deferred tax expense as a result of tax law changes primarily in Mexico and Germany. These discrete items in 2007 effectively increased the 2007 effective tax rate 2.0 percentage points. The decrease in the 2007 effective tax rate from 2006 was primarily driven by additional earnings from RSPs in Singapore, a lower-taxing jurisdiction.

 

See Note 14 of the Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements for a reconciliation of the U.S. federal statutory income tax rate to the consolidated effective income tax rate. Among other items which could impact the future tax rate is the mix of income between taxing jurisdictions where the Company operates.

 

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In connection with an Internal Revenue Service (“IRS”) audit for the tax years 2000 through 2002, the IRS proposed adjustments to these tax years of approximately $16.5 million, plus a potential penalty of 20% of the tax assessment plus interest. The adjustment relates to the federal taxation of foreign income of certain foreign subsidiaries. The Company filed an administrative protest of these adjustments and is currently engaged with the Appeals Office of the IRS. The Company believes its tax position on the issues raised by the IRS is correct and, therefore, the Company will continue to vigorously defend its position. The Company believes it will prevail on this issue. Any additional impact on the Company’s liability for income taxes cannot presently be determined, but the Company believes it is adequately provided for and the outcome will not have a material impact on its results of operations, financial position or cash flows.

 

Discontinued Operations

 

In the fourth quarter of 2008, the Company exited certain non-core businesses within its Logistics and Manufacturing Services segment in the United Kingdom. These exit activities included the sale of certain assets and transfer of related employees, liquidation of assets, termination of related contracts, and severing of employees. The results of these businesses have been segregated and treated as discontinued operations for all years reported. In 2008, the $10.1 million loss includes a $2.7 million loss related to the exit activities. Of this amount approximately $1.4 million reflects the loss on the sales of assets, approximately $0.6 million are employee-related costs, including severance and other termination benefits and approximately $0.7 million relates to other costs including contract termination charges. In addition, a tax expense of approximately $2.7 million included in discontinued operations related to the write-off of certain deferred tax assets. The results for 2007 and 2006 represent the current year operating loss on the discontinued operations. The losses for all years are reported net of tax. See Note 5 of the Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements.

 

Income and Income Per Share

 

(in millions, except per share)    2008     2007     $ Change     % Change     2006  

Income from continuing operations

   $ 97.1     $ 103.6     $ (6.5 )   (6.3 )%   $ 74.8  

Net income

     87.0       101.3       (14.3 )   (14.2 )%     73.8  

Per common share:

          

Basic:

          

Income from continuing operations

   $ 1.80     $ 1.94     $ (0.14 )   (7.2 )%   $ 1.48  

Loss from discontinued operations, net of tax

     (0.19 )     (0.04 )     (0.15 )   NM       (0.02 )
                                  

Net income

   $ 1.61     $ 1.90     $ (0.29 )   (15.3 )%   $ 1.46  
                                  

Diluted:

          

Income from continuing operations

   $ 1.74     $ 1.80     $ (0.06 )   (3.3 )%   $ 1.41  

Loss from discontinued operations, net of tax

     (0.18 )     (0.04 )     (0.14 )   NM       (0.02 )
                                  

Net income

   $ 1.56     $ 1.76     $ (0.20 )   (11.4 )%   $ 1.39  
                                  

Average common shares outstanding:

          

Basic

     54.0       53.3       1.3 %     50.7  

Diluted

     55.8       57.5       (3.0 )%     52.9  

 

Basic and diluted income from continuing operations per share decreased 7.2% and 3.3%, respectively, in 2008 as compared to 2007. The increase in basic average shares outstanding increased the percentage decrease in income from continuing operations per basic share as compared to the percentage decrease in income from continuing operations. Basic average shares outstanding increased primarily as a result of shares issued for employee stock plans offset in part by the impact of stock repurchases. The decrease in diluted average shares outstanding reduced the percentage decrease in income from continuing operations per diluted share as compared to the percentage decrease in income from continuing operations. Diluted average shares outstanding decreased

 

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primarily as a result of the decrease in the dilutive effect of potentially issuable shares under the employee stock plans and the convertible notes which were driven by the decline in the Company’s stock price offset in part by the increase in basic average shares outstanding.

 

Net income in 2008 includes $19.6 million ($0.35 per diluted share) related to the costs associated with the discrete fourth quarter 2008 charges.

 

Financial Performance by Business Segment

 

Logistics and Manufacturing Services

 

($ in millions)    2008     2007     $ Change     % Change     2006  

Sales

   $ 691.8     $ 703.0     $ (11.2 )   (1.6 )%   $ 602.3  

Operating profit

     79.1       70.5       8.6     12.3 %     56.8  

Operating margin

     11.4 %     10.0 %         9.4 %

 

The Logistics and Manufacturing Services business segment reported sales of $691.8 million in 2008, a 1.6% decrease from 2007. The decrease was primarily the result of a reduction in organic sales of $18.9 million. Lower organic sales were recorded by the distribution businesses in North America and in Europe due to softness in the transportation-related and certain manufacturing markets combined with the impact of initiatives which created sales force disruption primarily in North America. Partially offsetting these declines was an increase in aerospace aftermarket sales resulting from growth in aftermarket RSP sales. Additionally, foreign currency translation had a favorable impact of $7.7 million as foreign currencies strengthened against the U.S. dollar, primarily in Europe.

 

Operating profit at Logistics and Manufacturing Services in 2008 increased 12.3% from 2007 to $79.1 million. Operating profit in 2008 was positively impacted by operational and productivity improvements in the North American distribution business realized from the 2007 initiatives focused on improving the profitability of the business. Discrete costs incurred in 2007 related to these initiatives in North America and Europe were $8.7 million. Additionally, operating profit in 2008 included the positive impact of the profit contribution from the highly profitable aerospace aftermarket RSPs. Partially offsetting these improvements was the profit impact of the lower sales volumes in the North American distribution business, primarily a result of sales force attrition and the impact of the current economic conditions on the end-markets served by this business. Additionally, in 2008 the Logistics and Manufacturing Services segment recorded discrete fourth quarter charges including employee terminations, to address deteriorating market conditions and complexities within certain geographies. Costs associated with these actions were $5.3 million.

 

Outlook: Organic sales levels in the distribution businesses of the Logistics and Manufacturing Services segment are largely dependent upon the retention of its customers and of its sales force worldwide, and are expected to continue to be negatively impacted by the challenging global economic conditions. Sales growth should result from future improvements in economic and end-market conditions, further market penetration through its targeted market segmentation and sales force productivity initiatives, or adding new customers. Management believes it is favorably positioned in the aerospace aftermarket business based on strong customer relationships including long-term maintenance and repair contracts, and expected demand in the spare parts manufacturing business. Sales growth in the aerospace aftermarket business has been and is expected to continue to be impacted by the industry dynamics related to fuel costs and airline mergers, which have resulted in deferred maintenance activities and lower capacity usage. Operating profit is expected to be negatively impacted by volume declines and positively impacted by the benefits of the recent discrete profitability actions taken and structural changes made in the distribution businesses. As part of the aftermarket RSP programs, the management fees payable to its customer generally increase in the fourth or later years of each program. These and other similar fees are deducted from sales and temper aftermarket RSP sales growth and operating margin.

 

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Sales in the Logistics and Manufacturing Services segment were $703.0 million in 2007, a 16.7% increase over 2006 primarily as a result of $51.7 million of incremental sales from the 2006 acquisition of KENT. Organic sales grew $39.4 million mainly as a result of aerospace aftermarket sales growth driven primarily by growth in RSP sales, due to additional RSP agreements and increased volume on existing RSPs, and an increase in overhaul and repair sales. The translation of foreign currency sales favorably impacted 2007 reported sales by approximately $9.7 million as the Euro and Canadian dollar strengthened against the U.S. dollar.

 

Operating profit at Logistics and Manufacturing Services increased 24.1% over 2006. The increase was primarily driven by the profit contribution from the highly profitable aftermarket RSPs as well as the higher sales volume increases in the overhaul and repair business which were offset, in part, by increased expenditures in the overhaul and repair business to increase production capacity in order to capitalize on the strength of current and expected future demand. In the distribution business, operating profit in 2007 included costs of approximately $8.7 million related to initiatives to address the under-performance of the distribution business, particularly in the U.S. and Canada, and the integration of the KENT business into the European distribution business. Additionally, in late 2007, certain right-sizing actions, including employee terminations, were implemented as a result of a comprehensive review of the operations of the distribution businesses. Operating profit was negatively impacted by higher product costs and selling expenses as a result of an investment in a larger fixed cost sales force as compared to 2006. Operating profit in 2006 included the cost of a reduction in force in France of $1.7 million and a $1.5 million gain on the sale of a facility in Canada.

 

Precision Components

 

($ in millions)    2008     2007     $ Change     % Change     2006  

Sales

   $ 683.0     $ 728.5     $ (45.5 )   (6.2 )%   $ 650.2  

Operating profit

     68.5       84.9       (16.4 )   (19.4 )%     61.4  

Operating margin

     10.0 %     11.7 %         9.4 %

 

Sales at Precision Components in 2008 were $683.0 million, a 6.2% decrease from 2007. Organic sales were down $49.5 million and were significantly impacted by weaker global economic conditions. The most significant organic sales declines were in the North American industrial manufacturing businesses, primarily related to the transportation and consumer product end-markets. These declines were offset in part by year-over-year growth in the aerospace OEM business on the strength of its sales order backlog which was $460.6 million at January 1, 2008. Impacting the year-over-year growth rate in Precision Components’ aerospace OEM business was the impact of the Boeing labor strike and order pushouts on the Boeing 787 program. The sale of Spectrum Plastics in 2008 resulted in a reduction in sales of $11.7 million. The favorable impact on sales of foreign currency translation increased sales by approximately $15.7 million as foreign currencies strengthened against the U.S. dollar, primarily in Europe.

 

Operating profit in 2008 at Precision Components was $68.5 million, a decrease of 19.4% from 2007. Operating profit in 2008 was negatively impacted by lower sales levels and higher material costs. Additionally, in the fourth quarter of 2008 certain businesses within the Precision Components segment took cost reduction actions, including employee terminations and plant consolidations, to address deteriorating market conditions. Costs associated with these actions were $7.5 million. Partially offsetting these decreases was the favorable impact of the 2007 right-sizing actions primarily in the domestic industrial manufacturing businesses, lower incentive compensation and other cost saving initiatives.

 

Outlook: To drive organic sales growth at Precision Components, management is focused on leveraging the benefits of the diversified products and industrial end markets in which its industrial manufacturing businesses have a global presence and a competitive advantage. However, near-term economic conditions are negatively impacting sales growth across the global markets served by these businesses. Sales in the aerospace OEM business are driven by the commercial engine order backlog through its participation in certain strategic engine programs and may be impacted by the production schedule delay of specific engine programs as well as the

 

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general softness in the aerospace market driven by the current worldwide economic recession. Backlog in this business was $377.3 million at December 31, 2008, of which approximately 61% is expected to be shipped in 2009. Long-term, management believes that strong aerospace industry fundamentals remain and, together with new programs, will drive sales growth in this business. In the industrial manufacturing businesses, management continues to focus on improving profitability through organic sales growth, pricing initiatives and productivity and process improvements. In the aerospace manufacturing business, management is concentrating on meeting long-term demand through manufacturing and operational improvements. Future operating profit is expected to be positively impacted by the benefits of the recent discrete cost actions taken in these businesses.

 

Sales at Precision Components in 2007 were $728.5 million, a 12.0% increase over 2006. The sales increase was driven by organic growth of $51.5 million, primarily a result of increased sales in the aerospace OEM business on the strength of its backlog and growth in the European industrial manufacturing business. Backlog in the aerospace OEM business was $393.1 million at January 1, 2007. These increases were offset in part by sales declines in the industrial manufacturing business due to softness in the transportation and compressor markets. The increase in 2007 also resulted from a $13.9 million favorable impact of the translation of foreign currency sales as foreign currencies strengthened against the U.S. dollar, primarily in Europe. Additionally, 2007 sales included incremental sales of $12.9 million from the Hänggi acquisition.

 

Operating profit at Precision Components in 2007 was $84.9 million, a 38.3% increase from 2006. Operating profit was positively impacted by the higher sales volume, primarily in the aerospace manufacturing and European manufacturing businesses, and productivity improvements, most significantly at the North American industrial manufacturing business. Additionally, the 2007 operating profit includes the profit contribution from the Hänggi acquisition. These profit improvements were partially offset by higher incentive compensation and higher reorganization costs, including approximately $2.6 million associated with a reduction-in-force at certain North American locations. The operating profit in 2006 included $1.4 million of costs for the reorganization related to a plant closure and for the transfer of certain production to lower-cost facilities.

 

LIQUIDITY AND CAPITAL RESOURCES

 

Management assesses the Company’s liquidity in terms of its overall ability to generate cash to fund its operating and investing activities. Of particular importance in the management of liquidity are cash flows generated from operating activities, capital expenditure levels, dividends, capital stock transactions, effective utilization of surplus cash positions overseas and adequate lines of credit.

 

The Company’s ability to generate cash from operations in excess of its internal operating needs is one of its financial strengths. Management continues to focus on cash flow and working capital management, and anticipates that operating activities in 2009 will generate adequate cash. In light of current economic events, the Company is closely monitoring its cash generation and usage with particular emphasis placed on reducing working capital to generate cash.

 

Management expects lower levels of cash usage in 2009 particularly with respect to capital expenditures, RSP payments and debt payments. Management has been very selective when approving capital expenditures and expects discretionary capital spending to be in the range of $30 - $40 million in 2009, down from $51.9 million in 2008. Participation fee payments related to the RSPs were $57.5 million in 2008; however, no further payments are required as of December 31, 2008. Additionally, of the Company’s long-term debt portfolio, only $15.2 million is due and payable in each of the next two years.

 

Recent distress in the financial markets has had an adverse impact on, among other things, security prices, investment valuations, liquidity and credit availability. The Company has assessed the implications of these factors on its business and has determined that there has not been a significant impact to its current financial position or liquidity. The Company’s pension plans have been impacted by the recent distress in the financial

 

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markets. As a result of recent losses in the global equity markets, the Company’s pension plans experienced a negative return in 2008, which will increase 2009 funding requirements by approximately $7.3 million and pension expense by approximately $0.9 million in 2009. In addition, the Company’s 2008 year-end balance sheet was impacted due to the recognition of the underfunded status of the plans.

 

Operating cash flow may be supplemented with external borrowings to meet near-term organic business expansion and the Company’s current financial commitments. Available credit is closely monitored to ensure debt covenant compliance. The credit markets are presenting companies with significant challenges in maintaining or expanding credit facilities. The Company has assessed its credit facilities and currently expects that its bank syndicate, comprised of 15 banks, will continue to support these facilities. At December 31, 2008 the Company has $148.6 million in borrowing availability under its committed credit facilities which mature in September 2012. The Company believes its credit facilities, coupled with cash generated from operations, are adequate for its anticipated future requirements.

 

Any future acquisitions are expected to be financed through internal cash, borrowings and equity, or a combination thereof. Additionally, we may from time to time seek to retire or repurchase our outstanding debt through cash purchases and / or exchanges for equity securities, in open market purchases, privately negotiated transactions or otherwise. Such repurchases or exchanges, if any, will depend on prevailing market conditions, our liquidity requirements, contractual restrictions and other factors.

 

Cash Flow

 

($ in millions)    2008     2007     $ Change     % Change     2006  

Operating activities

   $ 111.8     $ 120.3     $ (8.5 )   (7.1 )%   $ 114.3  

Investing activities

     (106.7 )     (128.1 )     21.4     16.7 %     (247.3 )

Financing activities

     (1.8 )     (5.6 )     3.8     68.5 %     140.9  

Exchange rate effect

     (3.0 )     (1.4 )     (1.6 )   NM       (0.7 )
                                  

Increase (decrease) in cash

   $ 0.4     $ (14.8 )   $ 15.1     102.4     $ 7.2  
                                  

 

NM – Not meaningful

 

Operating activities are the principal source of cash flow for the Company, generating $111.8 million in cash during 2008 compared to $120.3 million in 2007. The decrease in operating cash flow in 2008 was impacted primarily by lower operating performance partially offset by working capital changes. Working capital included higher investments in inventory in 2007 at the aerospace aftermarket business of Logistics and Manufacturing Services which were paid for primarily in 2008. Accounts receivable balances in 2008 decreased as a result of lower revenues at businesses throughout each segment. Additionally, there were no non-cash contributions to the retirement savings plan in 2008 as compared to $7.5 million in 2007.

 

Cash used by investing activities includes participation fee payments related to the aftermarket RSPs of $57.5 million, $73.2 million and $56.8 million in 2008, 2007 and 2006, respectively. See Note 8 of the Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements for further discussion of the aftermarket RSPs. Capital expenditures in 2008 were $51.9 million compared to $50.2 million in 2007 and $41.7 million in 2006. Investing activities in 2008 include the net proceeds of $5.1 million from the sale of Spectrum Plastics and in 2006 include the use of $96.3 million and $45.9 million, respectively, for the Hänggi and KENT acquisitions, net of cash acquired.

 

Cash from financing activities in 2008 included a net increase in borrowings of $59.5 million compared to $6.0 million in 2007. Proceeds in both years were used to partially finance working capital requirements, capital expenditures, RSP payments and dividends. The proceeds from the sale of the convertible subordinated debt issuance in 2007 were used to repay borrowings under the revolving credit facility. In 2006, the proceeds from borrowings along with cash generated from operating activities were used primarily to fund acquisitions, repay

 

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borrowings, and to fund working capital requirements, capital expenditures and dividends. Proceeds from the issuance of common stock decreased $10.0 million to $5.2 million as a result of lower stock option exercises in the 2008 period. Total cash used to pay dividends increased in 2008 by $4.2 million to $33.3 million due to an increase in the number of shares outstanding and an increase in cash dividends from $0.545 per share in 2007 to $0.62 per share in 2008. During 2008, the Company repurchased 2.5 million shares at an average cost of $13.76 per share under the terms of its publicly announced repurchase program. Consideration of further repurchases has been deferred until economic conditions improve.

 

At December 31, 2008, the Company held $21.0 million in cash and cash equivalents, the majority of which are held outside the U.S. In general, the repatriation of this cash to the U.S. would have adverse tax consequences and the balances remain outside the U.S. to fund future international investments.

 

The Company maintains borrowing facilities with banks to supplement internal cash generation. At December 31, 2008, $251.4 million was borrowed at an average interest rate of 1.61% under the Company’s $400.0 million borrowing facility which matures in September 2012. Additionally, the Company had $8.0 million in borrowings under short-term bank credit lines at an interest rate of 2.18% at December 31, 2008. At December 31, 2008, the Company’s total borrowings are comprised of approximately 47% fixed rate debt and approximately 53% variable rate debt. The interest payments on approximately 38% of the variable rate interest debt have been converted into payment of fixed interest plus the borrowing spread under the terms of the interest rate swap agreement described in Note 11 of the Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements.

 

Borrowing capacity is limited by various debt covenants in the Company’s debt agreements. The most restrictive borrowing capacity covenant in any agreement requires the Company to maintain a ratio of Consolidated Total Debt to Adjusted Earnings before interest expense, income taxes, depreciation and amortization (“EBITDA”), as defined in the amended and restated revolving credit agreement, of not more that 4.00 times at December 31, 2008 and 2007. The ratio requirement will decrease to 3.75 times for fiscal quarters ending after September 30, 2009. Following is a reconciliation of Adjusted EBITDA, as defined, to the Company’s net income (in millions):

 

     2008

Net income

   $ 87.0

Add back:

  

Interest expense

     19.5

Income taxes

     29.0

Depreciation and amortization

     52.4

Other adjustments

     10.8
      

Adjusted EBITDA, as defined

   $ 198.7
      

Consolidated Total Debt

   $ 493.4

Ratio of Consolidated Total Debt to Adjusted EBITDA

     2.48

 

Other adjustments in 2008 primarily relate to the loss from discontinued operations. The Company’s level of compliance with such ratio determines the level of additional borrowings available. Additional borrowings of $301.4 million would have been allowed under the covenants at December 31, 2008, well in excess of the Company’s unused credit facilities.

 

The funded status of the Company’s pension plans is dependent upon many factors, including returns on invested assets, the level of market interest rates and benefit obligations. The funded status of the pension plans declined in 2008 primarily as a result of the decline in the fair value of the Company’s pension plan assets due mainly to the losses in the global equity markets. This decline was partially offset by a decline in the projected benefit obligations of the plans. The Company’s other postretirement benefit plans also recorded a decline in the projected benefit obligation in 2008 due primarily to a plan amendment. As a result, the Company recorded a $62.3 million non-cash after-tax decrease in stockholders’ equity (through other non-owner changes to equity) to

 

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record the current year adjustment for changes in the funded status of its pension and postretirement benefit plans as required under SFAS No. 158, “Employers’ Accounting for Defined Benefit Pension and Other Postretirement Plans.” From a cash perspective, approximately $8.7 million in cash contributions were made by the Company to its various pension plans in 2008 including the required minimum contributions to its qualified U.S. pension plans. The Company expects to contribute approximately $16.0 million to its various plans in 2009.

 

Contractual Obligations and Commitments

 

At December 31, 2008, the Company had the following contractual obligations and commitments:

 

($ in millions)    Total    Less Than
1 Year
   1-3 Years    3-5 Years    More than
5 Years

Long-term debt obligations

   $ 490.6    $ 24.0    $ 115.2    $ 251.4    $ 100.0

Estimated interest payments under long-term obligations (1)

     45.0      13.7      20.6      9.9      0.8

Capital lease obligations

     2.8      0.2      0.7      0.5      1.4

Operating lease obligations

     51.5      13.4      17.8      9.9      10.4

Purchase obligations (2)

     116.4      107.4      8.6      0.1      0.3

Expected pension contributions (3)

     16.0      16.0      —        —        —  

Expected benefit payments –
other postretirement benefit plans
(4)

     52.1      5.3      11.5      11.0      24.3
                                  

Total

   $ 774.4    $ 180.0    $ 174.4    $ 282.8    $ 137.2
                                  

 

(1) Interest payments under long-term debt obligations have been estimated based on the borrowings outstanding and market interest rates as of December 31, 2008.
(2) The amounts do not include purchase obligations already reflected as current liabilities on the consolidated balance sheet. The purchase obligation amount includes all outstanding purchase orders as of the balance sheet date as well as the minimum contractual obligation or termination penalty under other contracts.
(3) The amount included in “Less Than 1 Year” reflects anticipated contributions to the Company’s various pension plans. Anticipated contributions beyond one year are not determinable.
(4) The amounts reflect anticipated future benefit payments under the Company’s various other postretirement benefit plans based on current actuarial assumptions. Expected benefit payments do not extend beyond 2017. See Note 13 of the Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements.

 

The above table does not reflect unrecognized tax benefits as the timing of the potential payments of these amounts cannot be determined. See Note 14 of the Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements.

 

OTHER MATTERS

 

Inflation

 

Inflation generally affects the Company through its costs of labor, equipment and raw materials. Increases in the costs of these items have historically been offset by price increases, operating improvements, and other cost-saving initiatives. The Company has periodically experienced inflation in raw material prices.

 

Critical Accounting Policies

 

The preparation of financial statements requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting period. Significant accounting policies are disclosed in Note 1 of the Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements. The most significant areas involving management judgments and estimates are described below. Actual results could differ from such estimates.

 

Inventory Valuation: Inventories are valued at the lower of cost, determined on a first-in, first-out basis, or market. Provisions are made to reduce excess or obsolete inventories to their estimated net realizable value. Loss provisions, if any, on aerospace contracts are established when estimable. Loss provisions are based on the projected excess of manufacturing costs over the net revenues of the products or group of related products under contract. The process for evaluating the value of excess and obsolete inventory often requires the Company to

 

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make subjective judgments and estimates concerning future sales levels, quantities and prices at which such inventory will be sold in the normal course of business. Accelerating the disposal process or incorrect estimates of future sales potential may necessitate future adjustments to these provisions.

 

Business Acquisitions and Goodwill: Assets and liabilities acquired in a business combination are recorded at their estimated fair values at the acquisition date. At December 31, 2008, the Company had $361.9 million of goodwill, representing the cost of acquisitions in excess of fair values assigned to the underlying net assets of acquired companies. In accordance with SFAS No. 142, “Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets,” goodwill and intangible assets deemed to have indefinite lives are not amortized but are subject to impairment testing annually or earlier testing if an event or change in circumstances indicates that the fair value of a reporting unit has been reduced below its carrying value. The assessment of goodwill involves the estimation of the fair value of “reporting units,” as defined by SFAS No. 142. Management completed this annual assessment during the second quarter of 2008 based on the best information available as of the date of the assessment, which incorporated management assumptions about expected future cash flows. Based on this assessment, there was no goodwill impairment in 2008. In the fourth quarter of 2008, further analysis was done to ensure that the recent economic downturn had not triggered the need to perform an additional goodwill impairment assessment. Management concluded that a triggering event had not occurred and thus, no further impairment assessment was performed. Future cash flows, and the related fair value of the Company’s reporting units, can be affected by changes in the global economy and local economies, industries and markets in which the Company sells products or services, and the execution of management’s plans, including integrating acquired companies. There can be no assurance that future events will not result in impairment of goodwill or other intangible assets.

 

Revenue Sharing Programs: The Company participates in aftermarket RSPs under which the Company receives an exclusive right to supply designated aftermarket parts over the life of the related aircraft engine program. As consideration, the Company pays participation fees, which are recorded as long-lived intangible assets, and are recognized as a reduction to sales over the life of the program. The recoverability of the intangible asset is subject to significant estimates about future revenues related to the program’s aftermarket parts. Management updates revenue projections periodically, which includes comparing actual experience against projected revenue and obtaining industry projections. The potential exists that actual revenues will not meet expectations due to a change in market conditions. A shortfall in future revenues may indicate an impairment of the intangible asset. The Company evaluates the remaining useful life of this asset to determine whether events and circumstances warrant a revision to the remaining period of amortization. The intangible asset is reviewed for impairment whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that its carrying amount may not be recoverable. The Company has not identified any impairment of these intangible assets. See Note 8 of the Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements.

 

Reorganization of Businesses: For non-acquisition related reorganizations, the Company records the cost of reorganization initiatives at the time the liability is incurred. For reorganization initiatives in connection with acquisitions, the Company records liabilities at the time that management has approved and committed to a reorganization plan. Such a plan identifies all significant actions to be taken and specifies an expected completion date that is within a reasonable period of time. The liability includes those costs that can be reasonably estimated. These estimates are subject to adjustments based upon actual costs incurred.

 

Pension and Other Postretirement Benefits: Accounting policies and significant assumptions related to pension and other postretirement benefits are disclosed in Note 13 of the Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements.

 

The following table provides a breakout of the current targeted mix of investments, by asset classification, along with the historical rates of return for each asset class and the long-term projected rates of return for the U.S. plans.

 

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     Target
Asset
Mix %
   Annual Return %
        Historical(1)    Long-Term
Projection

Asset class

        

Large cap growth

   17    9.2    8.7

Large cap value

   17    11.5    11.0

Mid cap equity

   12    12.0    11.5

Small cap growth

   7    6.9    6.9

Small cap value

   7    12.4    11.9

Non-U.S. equity

   10    9.0    8.5

Real estate-related

   5    11.3    10.3

Fixed income

   20    8.9    6.9

Cash

   5    6.2    4.2

Weighted average

      9.9    9.0

 

(1) Historical returns based on the life of the respective index, approximately 28 years.

 

The historical rates of return were calculated based upon compounded average rates of return of published indices. The 25% aggregate target for fixed income and cash investments is lower than the fixed income and cash component of a typical pension trust. The fixed income investments include a higher-than-average component of yield-aggressive investments, including high-yield corporate bonds. Based on the overall historical and projected rates of return, management is using the long-term rate of return on its U.S. pension assets of 9.0%. The long-term rates of return for non-U.S. plans were selected based on actual historical rates of return of published indices that were used to measure the plans’ target asset allocations. Historical rates were then discounted to consider fluctuations in the historical rates as well as potential changes in the investment environment.

 

The discount rate used for the Company’s U.S. pension plans is selected based on highly rated long-term corporate bond indices and yield curves that match the duration of the plans’ benefit obligations. The selected rate reflects the rate at which the pension benefits could be effectively settled. At December 31, 2008, the Company selected a discount rate of 6.50% based on a bond matching model for its U.S. pension plans. The discount rates for non-U.S. plans were selected based on indices of high-quality bonds using criteria applicable to the respective countries.

 

A one-quarter percentage point change in the assumed long-term rate of return on the Company’s U.S. pension plans would impact the Company’s pretax income by approximately $0.8 million annually. A one-quarter percentage point decrease in the discount rate would decrease the Company’s pretax income by approximately $0.2 million annually. The Company reviews these and other assumptions at least annually.

 

During 2008, the fair value of the Company’s pension plan assets decreased by $130.5 million and the projected benefit obligation decreased $16.5 million. The Company’s pension expense for 2008 was $2.6 million. Pension expense for 2009 is expected to increase by approximately $0.9 million from the 2008 expense, due in part to lower asset performance of the plans’ assets in 2008. The 2009 expense estimate does not include potential future settlement costs.

 

Income Taxes: As of December 31, 2008, the Company had recognized $68.4 million of deferred tax assets, net of valuation reserves. The realization of these benefits is dependent in part on future taxable income. For those jurisdictions where the expiration date of tax loss carry forwards or the projected operating results indicate that realization is not likely, a valuation allowance is provided. Management believes that sufficient income will be earned in the future to realize deferred income tax assets, net of valuation allowances recorded. The recognized net deferred tax asset is based on the Company’s estimates of future taxable income. The realization of these deferred tax assets can be impacted by changes to tax codes, statutory tax rates and future taxable income levels. Additionally, the Company is exposed to certain tax contingencies in the ordinary course of business and, accordingly, records those tax liabilities in accordance with FIN No. 48. For those tax positions where it is more

 

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likely than not that a tax benefit will be sustained, the Company has recorded the largest amount of tax benefit with a greater than 50% likelihood of being realized. For those income tax positions where it is more likely than not that a tax benefit will not be sustained, no tax benefit has been recognized in the financial statements.

 

Stock-Based Compensation: The Company accounts for its stock-based employee compensation plans at fair value on the grant date and recognizes the related cost in its consolidated statement of income in accordance with SFAS No. 123R, “Share-Based Payment,” which the Company adopted effective January 1, 2006 utilizing the modified retrospective method. The fair values of stock options are estimated using the Black-Scholes option-pricing model based on certain assumptions. The fair values of other stock awards are estimated based on the fair market value of the Company’s stock price on the grant date. See Note 2 of the Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements.

 

Recent Accounting Changes

 

In September 2006, the FASB issued SFAS No. 157, “Fair Value Measurements.” This Statement defines fair value, establishes a framework for measuring fair value under generally accepted accounting principles and expands disclosures about fair value measurements. This Statement was to be effective for the Company in 2008. However, in February 2008 the FASB issued Financial Statement of Position (“FSP”) No. 157-1, which amends SFAS No. 157 to exclude SFAS No. 13, “Accounting for Leases,” and other accounting pronouncements that address fair value measurements for lease transactions, and FSP No. 157-2, which delayed the effective date of SFAS No. 157 as it relates to nonfinancial assets and nonfinancial liabilities until 2009 for the Company except for items that are recognized or disclosed at fair value in the Company’s financial statements on a recurring basis. Additionally in October 2008, the FASB issued FSP No. 157-3 which clarifies the application of SFAS No. 157 for financial assets in markets that are not active. This FSP was effective immediately and included those periods for which financial statements had not been issued. The Company does not currently have any financial assets that are valued using inactive markets and as such was not impacted by the issuance of this FSP. Effective January 1, 2008, the Company adopted the provisions of this Statement except as it relates to those nonfinancial assets and nonfinancial liabilities excluded under FSP No. 157-2. The nonfinancial assets and nonfinancial liabilities as defined by FSP No. 157-2 for which the Company has not applied the fair value provisions of SFAS No. 157 include those related to: goodwill, intangible and other long-lived asset impairment testing; asset retirement obligations; liabilities for exit or disposal activities; and business combinations. The Company is currently evaluating the impact this Statement will have on the Company’s financial position, results of operations and cash flows as it relates to nonfinancial assets and nonfinancial liabilities. For the impact of adoption of this Statement on financial assets and financial liabilities, see Note 12 of the Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements.

 

In December 2007, the FASB issued SFAS No. 141R, “Business Combinations.” The provisions of SFAS No. 141R change how business acquisitions are accounted for and will impact financial statements both on the acquisition date and in subsequent periods. This Statement will be effective prospectively for acquisitions made by the Company after December 31, 2008. The impact of this Statement on the Company’s financial position, results of operations and cash flows will be dependent on the terms, conditions and details of such acquisitions.

 

In December 2007, the FASB issued SFAS No. 160, “Noncontrolling Interests in Consolidated Financial Statements, an amendment of ARB No. 51.” The provisions of SFAS No. 160 will change the accounting and reporting for minority interests, which will be recharacterized as noncontrolling interests and classified as a component of equity. This Statement will be effective for the Company in 2009. Since the Company currently does not have any minority interest investments, it does not expect this Statement will have an impact on the Company’s financial position, results of operations and cash flows.

 

In March 2008, the FASB issued SFAS No. 161, “Disclosures about Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities.” The provisions of SFAS No. 161 which will change the required interim and annual disclosures for derivative instruments and hedging activities will be required for the Company beginning in 2009.

 

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In May 2008, the FASB issued FSP No. APB 14-1, “Accounting for Convertible Debt Instruments That May Be Settled in Cash upon Conversion (Including Partial Cash Settlement).” The provisions of this FSP require an entity to separately account for the liability and equity components of the convertible debt in a manner that reflects the entity’s nonconvertible debt borrowing rate. The FSP will be effective for the Company beginning in 2009 and the provisions will be required to be applied retroactively to all periods presented. Management currently estimates that the impact of adoption of this FSP will result in a reduction to diluted earnings per share of $0.01, $0.03, $0.06 and $0.08 in 2005, 2006, 2007 and 2008, respectively.

 

In June 2008, the FASB issued FSP EITF 03-6-1, “Determining Whether Instruments Granted in Share-Based Payment Transactions Are Participating Securities.” The provisions of this FSP define non-forfeitable dividends or dividend equivalents distributed on unvested share-based payment transactions as participating securities. As participating securities, these instruments are required to be included in the calculation of basic earnings per share. The FSP will be effective for the Company beginning in 2009 and the provisions will be required to be applied retroactively to all periods presented. The Company currently estimates that the impact this FSP will have on the Company’s calculation of basic and diluted earnings per share will not be significant.

 

In December 2008, the FASB issued FSP No. 132R-1, “Employers’ Disclosure about Postretirement Benefit Plan Assets.” The provisions of this FSP provide guidance on employers’ disclosures about plan assets of a defined benefit pension or other postretirement benefit plan and will be required beginning in 2009.

 

EBITDA

 

EBITDA for 2008 was $189.0 million compared to $202.8 million in 2007. EBITDA is a measurement not in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles (“GAAP”). The Company defines EBITDA as net income plus interest expense, income taxes, and depreciation and amortization which the Company incurs in the normal course of business. The Company does not intend EBITDA to represent cash flows from operations as defined by GAAP, and the reader should not consider it as an alternative to net income, net cash provided by operating activities or any other items calculated in accordance with GAAP, or as an indicator of the Company’s operating performance. The Company’s definition of EBITDA may not be comparable with EBITDA as defined by other companies. The Company believes EBITDA is commonly used by financial analysts and others in the industries in which the Company operates and, thus, provides useful information to investors. Accordingly, the calculation has limitations depending on its use.

 

Following is a reconciliation of EBITDA to the Company’s net income (in millions):

 

     2008    2007

Net income

   $ 87.0    $ 101.3

Add back:

     

Interest expense

     19.5      25.1

Income taxes

     30.1      25.8

Depreciation and amortization

     52.4      50.6
             

EBITDA

   $ 189.0    $ 202.8
             

 

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Item 7A. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk

 

Market risk is the potential economic loss that may result from adverse changes in the fair value of financial instruments. The Company’s financial results could be impacted by changes in interest rates and foreign currency exchange rates, and commodity price changes. The Company uses financial instruments to hedge its exposure to fluctuations in interest rates and foreign currency exchange rates. The Company does not use derivatives for speculative or trading purposes.

 

The Company’s long-term debt portfolio consists of fixed-rate and variable-rate instruments and is managed to reduce the overall cost of borrowing while also minimizing the effect of changes in interest rates on near-term earnings. The Company’s primary interest rate risk is derived from its outstanding variable-rate debt obligations. In 2008, the Company entered into two, three-year interest rate swap agreements which together converted the interest on the first $100.0 million of the Company’s LIBOR-based borrowings from a variable rate plus the borrowing spread to a fixed rate of 2.947% plus the borrowing spread for the purpose of mitigating its exposure to variable interest rates. At December 31, 2008, the result of a hypothetical 100 basis point increase in the average cost of the Company’s variable-rate debt would have reduced annual pretax profit by $2.6 million.

 

At December 31, 2008, the fair value of the Company’s fixed-rate debt was $186.8 million, compared with its carrying amount of $233.1 million. The Company estimates that a 100 basis point decrease in market interest rates at December 31, 2008 would have increased the fair value of the Company’s fixed-rate debt to $197.5 million.

 

The Company has manufacturing, sales and distribution facilities around the world and thus makes investments and conducts business transactions denominated in various currencies. The currencies of the locations where the Company’s business operations are conducted include the U.S. dollar, Brazilian real, British pound sterling, Canadian dollar, Chinese yuan, Euro, Korean won, Mexican peso, Singapore dollar, Swedish krona, Swiss franc and Thai baht. The Company is exposed primarily to financial instruments denominated in currencies other than the functional currency at its international locations. A 10% adverse change in all currencies at December 31, 2008 would have resulted in a $0.3 million loss in the fair value of those financial instruments.

 

Foreign currency commitments and transaction exposures are managed at the operating units as an integral part of their businesses in accordance with a corporate policy that addresses acceptable levels of foreign currency exposures. At December 31, 2008, the Company did not hedge its foreign currency net investment exposures. Prior to December 31, 2008, the Company had entered into a series of forward currency contracts to hedge a portion of its foreign currency net investment exposure in Barnes Group Canada Corp. for the purpose of mitigating exposure to foreign currency volatility on its future return on capital. In 2008, the Company terminated this hedge and received a payment of $1.9 million at termination.

 

Additionally, to reduce foreign currency exposure, management maintains the majority of foreign cash and short-term investments in local currency and uses forward currency contracts for non-functional currency denominated monetary assets and liabilities in an effort to reduce the effect of the volatility of changes in foreign exchange rates on the income statement. In historically weaker currency countries, such as Brazil and Mexico, management assesses the strength of these currencies relative to the U.S. dollar and may elect during periods of local currency weakness to invest excess cash in U.S. dollar-denominated instruments.

 

The Company’s exposure to commodity price changes relates to certain manufacturing operations that utilize high-grade steel spring wire, titanium and other specialty metals. The Company attempts to manage its exposure to increases in those prices through its procurement and sales practices.

 

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Item 8. Financial Statements and Supplementary Data

 

BARNES GROUP INC.

 

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME

(Dollars in thousands, except per share data)

 

     Years Ended December 31,  
     2008     2007     2006  

Net sales

   $ 1,362,091     $ 1,418,151     $ 1,239,395  

Cost of sales

     847,641       880,983       786,740  

Selling and administrative expenses

     366,510       382,005       334,534  
                        
     1,214,151       1,262,988       1,121,274  
                        

Operating income

     147,940       155,163       118,121  

Other income

     602       1,115       1,172  

Interest expense

     19,517       25,095       23,634  

Other expenses

     2,929       1,156       1,112  
                        

Income from continuing operations before income taxes

     126,096       130,027       94,547  

Income taxes

     29,014       26,385       19,703  
                        

Income from continuing operations

     97,082       103,642       74,844  

Loss from discontinued operations, net of income taxes (benefits) of $1,103, $(566) and $(306), respectively (Note 5)

     (10,103 )     (2,305 )     (999 )
                        

Net income

   $ 86,979     $ 101,337     $ 73,845  
                        

Per common share:

      

Basic:

      

Income from continuing operations

   $ 1.80     $ 1.94     $ 1.48  

Loss from discontinued operations, net of income taxes

     (.19 )     (.04 )     (.02 )
                        

Net income

   $ 1.61     $ 1.90     $ 1.46  
                        

Diluted:

      

Income from continuing operations

   $ 1.74     $ 1.80     $ 1.41  

Loss from discontinued operations, net of income taxes

     (.18 )     (.04 )     (.02 )
                        

Net income

   $ 1.56     $ 1.76     $ 1.39  
                        

Dividends

   $ 0.62     $ 0.545     $ 0.485  

Average common shares outstanding:

      

Basic

     53,989,034       53,295,275       50,702,992  

Diluted

     55,812,666       57,525,832       52,943,494  

 

See accompanying notes.

 

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BARNES GROUP INC.

 

CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS

(Dollars in thousands)

 

     December 31,  
     2008     2007  

Assets

    

Current assets

    

Cash and cash equivalents

   $ 20,958     $ 20,600  

Accounts receivable, less allowances (2008 – $6,174; 2007 – $5,452)

     173,215       211,346  

Inventories

     240,805       246,836  

Deferred income taxes

     27,650       29,087  

Prepaid expenses

     14,881       13,498  
                

Total current assets

     477,509       521,367  

Deferred income taxes

     40,731       14,085  

Property, plant and equipment, net

     235,035       230,545  

Goodwill

     361,930       380,486  

Other intangible assets, net

     316,817       330,458  

Other assets

     15,612       62,394  
                

Total assets

   $ 1,447,634     $ 1,539,335  
                

Liabilities and Stockholders’ Equity

    

Current liabilities

    

Notes and overdrafts payable

   $ 8,905     $ 7,322  

Accounts payable

     80,495       187,136  

Accrued liabilities

     84,372       107,202  

Long-term debt – current

     15,386       42,660  
                

Total current liabilities

     189,158       344,320  

Long-term debt

     469,113       384,482  

Accrued retirement benefits

     164,796       109,502  

Other liabilities

     41,156       47,084  

Commitments and contingencies (Note 21)

    

Stockholders’ equity

    

Common stock – par value $0.01 per share

    

Authorized: 150,000,000 shares

    

Issued: at par value
(2008 – 55,229,926 shares; 2007 – 54,521,320 shares)

     552       545  

Additional paid-in capital

     243,463       230,721  

Treasury stock, at cost (2008 – 3,006,379 shares; 2007 – 452,469 shares)

     (46,705 )     (10,583 )

Retained earnings

     476,017       422,790  

Accumulated other non-owner changes to equity

     (89,916 )     10,474  
                

Total stockholders’ equity

     583,411       653,947  
                

Total liabilities and stockholders’ equity

   $ 1,447,634     $ 1,539,335  
                

 

See accompanying notes.

 

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BARNES GROUP INC.

 

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS

(Dollars in thousands)

 

     Years Ended December 31,  
     2008     2007     2006  

Operating activities:

      

Net income

   $ 86,979     $ 101,337     $ 73,845  

Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash from operating activities:

      

Depreciation and amortization

     52,403       50,607       42,226  

Loss (gain) on disposition of property, plant and equipment

     1,069       413       (986 )

Non-cash stock compensation expense

     5,841       7,566       7,929  

Non-cash retirement savings plan contributions

     —         7,462       6,223  

Withholding taxes paid on stock issuances

     (2,580 )     (5,921 )     (4,564 )

Loss on the sale of businesses

     2,197       —         —    

Changes in assets and liabilities, net of the effects of acquisitions:

      

Accounts receivable

     26,329       (12,836 )     (7,942 )

Inventories

     (2,725 )     (41,775 )     (24,658 )

Prepaid expenses

     (3,235 )     (968 )     1,127  

Accounts payable

     (44,475 )     14,683       14,407  

Accrued liabilities

     (16,054 )     (5,775 )     (1,275 )

Deferred income taxes

     15,697       4,707       2,763  

Long-term retirement benefits

     (7,581 )     596       4,263  

Other

     (2,057 )     222       963  
                        

Net cash provided by operating activities

     111,808       120,318       114,321  

Investing activities:

      

Proceeds from disposition of property, plant and equipment

     784       1,563       4,975  

Proceeds from the sale of businesses, net

     5,400       —         —    

Capital expenditures

     (51,869 )     (50,197 )     (41,712 )

Business acquisitions, net of cash acquired

     47       (2,991 )     (147,896 )

Revenue sharing program payments

     (57,500 )     (73,150 )     (56,800 )

Other

     (3,535 )     (3,286 )     (5,912 )
                        

Net cash used by investing activities

     (106,673 )     (128,061 )     (247,345 )

Financing activities:

      

Net change in other borrowings

     1,756       (235 )     3,815  

Payments on long-term debt

     (260,335 )     (278,210 )     (156,181 )

Proceeds from the issuance of long-term debt

     318,100       284,422       291,852  

Proceeds from the issuance of common stock

     5,171       15,176       28,193  

Common stock repurchases

     (34,209 )     (54 )     (712 )

Dividends paid

     (33,345 )     (29,111 )     (24,803 )

Excess tax benefit on stock awards

     1,531       6,614       —    

Other

     (430 )     (4,189 )     (1,252 )
                        

Net cash (used) provided by financing activities

     (1,761 )     (5,587 )     140,912  

Effect of exchange rate changes on cash flows

     (3,016 )     (1,430 )     (640 )
                        

Increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents

     358       (14,760 )     7,248  

Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of year

     20,600       35,360       28,112  
                        

Cash and cash equivalents at end of year

   $ 20,958     $ 20,600     $ 35,360  
                        

 

Supplemental Disclosure of Cash Flow Information:

 

Non-cash financing and investing activities in 2007 and 2006 include the acquisition of $57.5 million and $27.2 million, respectively, of intangible assets and the recognition of the corresponding liabilities in connection with the aftermarket RSPs. In 2006, non-cash investing and financing activities include the issuance of $30.7 million of common stock in connection with the acquisition of Hänggi.

 

See accompanying notes.

 

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BARNES GROUP INC.

 

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CHANGES IN STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY

(Dollars and shares in thousands)

 

    Common
Stock
(Number
of
Shares)
  Common
Stock
(Amount)
  Additional
Paid-In
Capital
    Treasury
Stock
(Number
of
Shares)
    Treasury
Stock
    Retained
Earnings
    Accumulated
Other
Non-Owner
Changes to
Equity
    Total
Stockholders’
Equity
 

January 1, 2006

  48,839   $ 488   $ 136,962     832     $ (14,590 )   $ 304,274     $ (25,977 )   $ 401,157  

Comprehensive income:

               

Net income

              73,845         73,845  

Foreign currency translation adjustments, net of tax of $(2,816)

                19,323       19,323  

Unrealized gains on hedging activities

                42       42  

Minimum pension liability adjustment, net of tax of $5,401

                9,791       9,791  
                                 

Comprehensive income

              73,845       29,156       103,001  

Adjustment to initially apply SFAS No. 158, net of tax of $13,174

                (26,335 )     (26,335 )

Dividends paid

              (24,803 )       (24,803 )

Common stock repurchases

        34       (712 )         (712 )

Stock issued for the purchase of Hänggi

  1,629     16     30,666               30,682  

Employee stock plans

  2,172     22     26,582     (635 )     10,694       (493 )       36,805  
                                                       

December 31, 2006

  52,640     526     194,210     231       (4,608 )     352,823       (23,156 )     519,795  

Comprehensive income:

               

Net income

              101,337         101,337  

Foreign currency translation adjustments, net of tax of $5,584

                24,287       24,287  

Unrealized gains on hedging activities

                522       522  

Pension and postretirement benefits adjustments, net of tax of $6,684

                8,821       8,821  
                                 

Comprehensive income

              101,337       33,630       134,967  

Dividends paid

              (29,111 )       (29,111 )

Common stock repurchases

        2       (54 )         (54 )

Adjustment to initially apply FIN No. 48

              (1,688 )       (1,688 )

Employee stock plans

  1,881     19     36,511     219       (5,921 )     (571 )       30,038  
                                                       

December 31, 2007

  54,521     545     230,721     452       (10,583 )     422,790       10,474       653,947  

Comprehensive income:

               

Net income

              86,979         86,979  

Foreign currency translation adjustments, net of tax of $(2,968)

                (35,628 )     (35,628 )

Unrealized losses on hedging activities, net of tax of $1,342

                (2,464 )     (2,464 )

Pension and postretirement benefits adjustments, net of tax of $38,860

                (62,298 )     (62,298 )
                                 

Comprehensive loss

              86,979       (100,390 )     (13,411 )

Dividends paid

              (33,345 )       (33,345 )

Contribution to Barnes Group Foundation

        (173 )   (38 )     667           494  

Common stock repurchases

        2,487       (34,209 )         (34,209 )

Employee stock plans

  709     7     12,915     105       (2,580 )     (407 )       9,935  
                                                       

December 31, 2008

  55,230   $ 552   $ 243,463     3,006     $ (46,705 )   $ 476,017     $ (89,916 )   $ 583,411  
                                                       

 

See accompanying notes.

 

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BARNES GROUP INC.

 

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

(All dollar amounts included in the notes are stated in thousands except per share data

and the tables in Note 20.)

 

1. Summary of Significant Accounting Policies

 

General: The preparation of consolidated financial statements requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting period. Actual results could differ from those estimates. Certain reclassifications have been made to prior year amounts to conform to the current year presentation.

 

During the fourth quarter of 2008, the Company changed its organizational structure by aligning its strategic business units with a focus on core functional and delivery capabilities. This realignment resulted in two new reportable business segments: Logistics and Manufacturing Services, and Precision Components.

 

Additionally, in the fourth quarter of 2008 the Company exited certain non-core businesses within its Logistics and Manufacturing Services segment in the United Kingdom. These actions included selling certain assets of the operation and exiting the businesses. The results of these businesses have been segregated and treated as discontinued operations. See Note 5.

 

All previously reported financial information has been adjusted on a retrospective basis to reflect the segment realignment and the discontinued operations.

 

Consolidation: The accompanying consolidated financial statements include the accounts of the Company and all of its subsidiaries. Intercompany transactions and account balances have been eliminated.

 

Revenue recognition: Sales and related cost of sales are recognized when products are shipped or delivered to customers depending upon when title and risk of loss have passed. In the aerospace manufacturing businesses, the Company recognizes revenue based on the units-of-delivery method in accordance with Statement of Position No. 81-1, “Accounting for Performance of Construction-Type and Certain Production-Type Contracts.”

 

Operating expenses: The Company includes manufacturing labor, material, manufacturing overhead and costs of its distribution network within cost of sales. Other costs, including selling personnel costs and commissions, and other general and administrative costs of the Company are included within selling and administrative expenses. Depreciation and amortization expense is allocated between cost of sales and selling and administrative expenses.

 

Cash and cash equivalents: Cash in excess of operating requirements is invested in short-term, highly liquid, income-producing investments. All highly liquid investments purchased with an original maturity of three months or less are considered cash equivalents. Cash equivalents are carried at cost which approximates fair value.

 

Inventories: Inventories are valued at the lower of cost, determined on a first-in, first-out basis, or market. Loss provisions, if any, on aerospace contracts are established when estimable. Loss provisions are based on the projected excess of manufacturing costs over the net revenues of the products or group of related products under contract.

 

Property, plant and equipment: Property, plant and equipment is stated at cost. Depreciation is recorded over estimated useful lives, ranging from 20 to 50 years for buildings, three to five years for computer equipment, four to 12 years for machinery and equipment and 12 to 17 years for furnaces and boilers. The straight-line method of depreciation was adopted for all property, plant and equipment placed in service after March 31, 1999. For property, plant and equipment placed into service prior to April 1, 1999, depreciation is calculated using accelerated methods.

 

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BARNES GROUP INC.

 

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS—(Continued)

 

Goodwill: Goodwill represents the excess purchase cost over the fair value of net assets of companies acquired in business combinations. Goodwill lives are considered indefinite. Goodwill is subject to impairment testing in accordance with SFAS No. 142 on an annual basis or more frequently if an event or change in circumstances indicates that the fair value of a reporting unit has been reduced below its carrying value. Based on this assessment, there was no goodwill impairment in 2008, 2007 or 2006.

 

Revenue Sharing Programs: The Company, through its aerospace aftermarket business, participates in aftermarket RSPs under which the Company receives an exclusive right to supply designated aftermarket parts over the life of the related aircraft engine program. As consideration, the Company pays participation fees, which are recorded as long-lived intangible assets, and are recognized as a reduction to sales over the life of the program. The recoverability of the intangible asset is subject to significant estimates about future revenues related to the program’s aftermarket parts. Management updates revenue projections periodically, which includes comparing actual experience against projected revenue and obtaining industry projections. The potential exists that actual revenues will not meet expectations due to a change in market conditions. A shortfall in future revenues may indicate an impairment of an intangible asset. The Company evaluates the remaining useful life of this asset to determine whether events and circumstances warrant a revision to the remaining period of amortization. The intangible asset is reviewed for impairment whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that its carrying amount may not be recoverable. The Company has not identified any impairment of these intangible assets. See Note 8.

 

Derivatives: The Company has manufacturing, sales and distribution facilities around the world and thus makes investments and conducts business transactions denominated in various currencies. The Company is also exposed to fluctuations in interest rates and commodity price changes. These financial exposures are monitored and managed by the Company as an integral part of its risk management program. The Company uses financial instruments to hedge its exposure to fluctuations in interest rates and foreign currency exchange rates, and to hedge its foreign currency net investment exposure, but does not use derivatives for speculative or trading purposes or to manage commodity exposures.

 

SFAS No. 133, “Accounting for Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities,” as amended, requires that all derivative instruments be recorded on the balance sheet at fair value. Foreign currency contracts may qualify as fair value hedges of unrecognized firm commitments, cash flow hedges of recognized assets and liabilities or anticipated transactions, or a hedge of a net investment. Changes in the fair market value of derivatives that qualify as fair value hedges or cash flow hedges are recorded directly to earnings or accumulated other non-owner changes to equity, depending on the designation. Amounts recorded to accumulated other non-owner changes to equity are reclassified to earnings in a manner that matches the earnings impact of the hedged transaction. Any ineffective portion, or amounts related to contracts that are not designated as hedges, are recorded directly to earnings. For a derivative used as a hedge of a net investment in a foreign operation, the changes in the derivative’s fair value, to the extent that the derivative is effective as a hedge, are recorded in the foreign currency translation component of accumulated other non-owner changes to equity. The Company’s policy for classifying cash flows from derivatives is to report the cash flows consistent with the underlying hedged item.

 

In 2008, the Company entered into two, three-year interest rate swap agreements which together converted the interest on the first $100,000 of the Company’s one-month London Interbank Offered Rate (“LIBOR”)-based borrowings from a variable rate plus the borrowing spread to a fixed rate of 2.947% plus the borrowing spread for the purpose of mitigating its exposure to variable interest rates. Additionally, during 2008 the Company terminated its net investment hedge and received a payment of $1,869 upon termination. At December 31, 2008 and 2007, the fair value of derivatives held by the Company was a net liability of $626 and $6,106, respectively. Amounts reclassified to earnings from accumulated other non-owner changes to equity in 2008, 2007 or 2006

 

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BARNES GROUP INC.

 

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS—(Continued)

 

were not material. Amounts in accumulated other non-owner changes to equity expected to be reclassified to earnings within the next year are not material. During 2008, gains or losses related to hedge ineffectiveness were immaterial. Net foreign currency transaction (losses) gains of $(641), $96 and $(295) were included in income in 2008, 2007 and 2006, respectively.

 

Foreign currency translation: The majority of the Company’s international operations use the local currency as the functional currency. Assets and liabilities of international operations are translated at year-end rates of exchange; revenues and expenses are translated at average annual rates of exchange. The resulting translation gains or losses are reflected in accumulated other non-owner changes to equity within stockholders’ equity.

 

2. Stock-Based Compensation

 

SFAS No. 123R “Share-Based Payment” requires the cost of all share-based payments, including stock options, to be measured at fair value on the grant date and recognized in the results of operations. The fair values of stock options are estimated using the Black-Scholes option-pricing model based on certain assumptions. The fair values of other stock awards are estimated based on the fair market value of the Company’s stock price on the grant date. Estimated forfeiture rates are applied to outstanding awards. In accordance with SFAS No. 123R, the Company records the cash flows resulting from tax deductions in excess of compensation for those options and other stock awards, if any, as financing cash flows. The Company has elected the shortcut method as described in FASB Staff Position No. 123(R)-3 for determining the available pool of windfall tax benefits upon adoption. The Company accounts for the utilization of windfall tax benefits using the tax law ordering approach.

 

Please refer to Note 18 for a description of the Company’s stock incentive award plans and their general terms. As of December 31, 2008, incentives had been awarded in the form of performance share unit awards and restricted stock unit awards (collectively, “Rights”) and stock options. The Company has elected to use the straight-line method to recognize compensation costs. Stock option awards vest over a period ranging from six months to five years. The maximum term of stock option awards is 10 years. Upon exercise of a stock option or upon vesting of Rights, shares are issued from treasury shares held by the Company or from authorized shares.

 

During 2008, 2007 and 2006, the Company recognized $5,841, $7,566 and $7,929, respectively, of stock-based compensation cost and $2,215, $2,894 and $3,033, respectively, of related tax benefits in the accompanying consolidated statements of income. In addition, the Company has recorded $1,531, $6,614 and $0 of excess tax benefits in additional paid-in capital in 2008, 2007 and 2006, respectively. The Company has not realized all available tax benefits for tax deductions from awards exercised or issued in these periods because these items did not reduce current taxes payable in the period. At December 31, 2008, the Company had $8,788 of unrecognized compensation costs related to unvested awards which are expected to be recognized over a weighted average period of 2.4 years.

 

The following table summarizes information about the Company’s stock option awards during 2008:

 

     Number of
Shares
    Weighted-Average
Exercise
Price

Outstanding, January 1, 2008

   4,588,654     $ 16.36

Granted

   391,886       25.55

Exercised

   (295,455 )     14.23

Forfeited

   (172,411 )     20.47
        

Outstanding, December 31, 2008

   4,512,674       17.14
        

 

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Table of Contents

BARNES GROUP INC.

 

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS—(Continued)

 

The following table summarizes information about stock options outstanding at December 31, 2008:

 

     Options Outstanding    Options Exercisable

Range of
Exercise
Prices

   Number
Of Shares
   Average
Remaining
Life (Years)
   Average
Exercise
Price
   Number
Of Shares
   Average
Exercise
Price

$8.47 to $13.76

   1,241,973    3.10    $ 11.84    1,193,510    $ 11.81

$13.77 to $17.09

   1,173,197    2.73      15.78    1,171,947      15.77

$17.10 to $20.35

   1,153,675    4.04      18.29    890,855      17.90

$20.36 to $32.92

   943,829    8.47      24.42    135,496      23.12

 

The Company received cash proceeds from the exercise of stock options of $4,204, $14,112 and $27,039 in 2008, 2007 and 2006, respectively. The total intrinsic value (the amount by which the stock price exceeds the exercise price of the option on the date of exercise) of the stock options exercised during 2008, 2007 and 2006 was $3,947, $14,260 and $14,982, respectively.

 

The weighted average fair value of stock options granted in 2008, 2007 and 2006 was $6.34, $6.04 and $4.80, respectively. The fair value of each stock option grant on the date of grant was estimated using the Black-Scholes option-pricing model based on the following weighted average assumptions:

 

     2008     2007     2006  

Risk-free interest rate

   2.72 %   4.66 %   4.55 %

Expected life (years)

   5.3     5.2     5.1  

Expected volatility

   32.9 %   31.6 %   30.0 %

Expected dividend yield

   2.97 %   3.09 %   3.16 %

 

The risk-free interest rate is based on the term structure of interest rates at the time of the option grant. The expected life represents an estimate of the period of time that options are expected to remain outstanding. Assumptions of expected volatility of the Company’s common stock and expected dividend yield are estimates of future volatility and dividend yields based on historical trends.

 

The following table summarizes information about stock options outstanding that are expected to vest and stock options outstanding that are exercisable at December 31, 2008:

 

Options Outstanding, Expected to Vest

   Options Outstanding, Exercisable

Shares

   Weighted-
Average
Exercise
Price
   Aggregate
Intrinsic
Value
   Weighted-
Average
Remaining
Term
   Shares    Weighted-
Average
Exercise
Price
   Aggregate
Intrinsic
Value
   Weighted-
Average
Remaining
Term

4,426,234

   $ 17.14    $ 3,244    4.37 years    3,391,808    $ 15.23    $ 3,217    3.07 years

 

The following table summarizes information about the Company’s Rights during 2008.

 

     Number of
Units
    Weighted-
Average

Fair
Value

Outstanding, January 1, 2008

   851,909     $ 16.46

Granted

   149,529       25.95

Forfeited

   (77,575 )     22.13

Vested / Issued

   (360,477 )     24.60
        

Outstanding, December, 31, 2008

   563,386       19.09
        

 

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Table of Contents

BARNES GROUP INC.

 

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS—(Continued)

 

As of December 31, 2008, there were 563,386 non-vested Rights outstanding, of which 477,407 Rights vest upon meeting certain service conditions and 85,979 Rights vest upon satisfying established performance goals. Of the 477,407 Rights that vest upon meeting service conditions, 9,477 Rights have accelerated vesting provisions based upon meeting established performance conditions. During the second quarter of 2007, the vesting acceleration conditions of 186,000 Rights were satisfied. Fifty percent of these Rights (93,000 Rights) vested on June 20, 2007 and the remaining 50% (88,000 Rights net of forfeitures) vested on June 20, 2008.

 

3. Acquisitions

 

The Company acquired three businesses in 2006. The results of operations of these acquired businesses have been included in the consolidated results from their respective acquisition dates. The purchase prices for these acquisitions have been allocated to tangible and intangible assets and liabilities of the businesses based upon estimates of their respective fair values.

 

In May 2006, the Company acquired Heinz Hänggi GmbH, Stanztechnik, a developer and manufacturer of high-precision punched and fine-blanked components, and a producer of orifice plates, used in fuel injectors throughout the world. Its range of manufacturing solutions allows Hänggi to serve diversified industries, including high-precision components for transportation suppliers, the power tools sector, the watch industry, consumer electronics, telecommunications, medical devices, and textile machinery sectors. A majority of Hänggi’s sales are in Europe. Hänggi has been integrated into the Precision Components segment. The Company reported $19,453 in sales from Hänggi for the period from the acquisition date through December 31, 2006. The purchase price of 162.0 million Swiss francs ($132,013) was paid through a combination of cash of 122.0 million Swiss francs ($101,337) and 1,628,676 shares of Barnes Group Inc. common stock ($30,682 based upon a market value determined at the time of the purchase agreement). The purchase cost, consisting of the purchase price of $132,013 plus transaction costs of $2,614, net of cash acquired of $7,672, was $126,955.

 

In July 2006, the Company acquired the KENT Division of Premier Farnell, a distributor of adhesives, sealants, specialty cleaning chemicals, abrasives, tools and other consumables to the European transportation aftermarket and industrial maintenance market. KENT has been integrated into the Logistics and Manufacturing Services segment. The Company reported $33,498 in sales from KENT for the period from the acquisition date through December 31, 2006. The purchase price of 24.0 million pounds sterling ($44,856) was paid in cash. The purchase cost, consisting of the purchase price of $44,856 plus transaction costs of $2,710, net of cash acquired of $1,506, was $46,060.

 

In November 2006, the Company acquired the assets of the Nitropush product line of nitrogen gas springs from Orflam Industries of France for 1.4 million euros ($1,843). The total purchase cost was $1,997. The Nitropush product line has been integrated into the Precision Components business segment.

 

The following table summarizes the estimates of fair values of the assets acquired and liabilities assumed in connection with the Hänggi, KENT and Nitropush acquisitions.

 

Current assets

   $ 34,717  

Property, plant and equipment

     44,361  

Intangible and other assets

     24,235  

Goodwill

     109,549  
        

Total assets acquired

     212,862  
        

Current liabilities

     (21,392 )

Other liabilities

     (16,458 )
        

Total liabilities assumed

     (37,850 )
        

Net assets acquired

   $ 175,012  
        

 

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Table of Contents

BARNES GROUP INC.

 

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS—(Continued)

 

The following table reflects the unaudited pro forma operating results of the Company for 2006 which give effect to the acquisitions of Hänggi, KENT and Nitropush as if they had occurred on January 1, 2006. The pro forma results are based on assumptions that the Company believes are reasonable under the circumstances. The pro forma results are not necessarily indicative of the operating results that would have occurred if the acquisitions had been effective January 1, 2006, nor are they intended to be indicative of results that may occur in the future. The underlying pro forma information includes the historical financial results of the Company, Hänggi, KENT and Nitropush adjusted for certain items including depreciation and amortization expense associated with the assets acquired and the Company’s financing arrangements. The pro forma information does not include the effects of any synergies and cost reduction initiatives related to the acquisitions.

 

     2006

Net sales

   $ 1,299,598

Income from continuing operations before income taxes

     101,291

Income from continuing operations

     79,714

Net income

     78,715

Income from continuing operations per share:

  

Basic

   $ 1.55

Diluted

     1.49

Net income per share:

  

Basic

   $ 1.53

Diluted

     1.46

 

4. Business Divestiture

 

In February 2008, the Company sold the net assets of Spectrum Plastics for $6,350 resulting in an after-tax transaction loss of $844. The pre-tax loss of $1,238 and related tax benefit of $394 are reflected in other expenses and income taxes, respectively, in the accompanying consolidated statements of income in 2008. The Company did not report Spectrum as a discontinued operation as it was not significant to any year presented. Accordingly, the operating results of Spectrum Plastics are included in the operating results of the Company in the accompanying consolidated statements of income in 2008 (through the sale date), 2007 and 2006.

 

5. Discontinued Operations

 

In the fourth quarter of 2008, the Company exited certain non-core businesses within its Logistics and Manufacturing Services segment in the United Kingdom. These exit activities included the sale of certain assets and transfer of related employees to the buyer, liquidation of assets, termination of related contracts and severing of employees. The results of these operations are segregated and treated as discontinued operations in the accompanying consolidated statements of income for all years presented as follows:

 

     2008     2007     2006  

Net sales

   $ 13,610     $ 21,351     $ 20,260  

Loss before income taxes

     (9,000 )     (2,871 )     (1,305 )

Income taxes (benefit)

     1,103       (566 )     (306 )
                        

Loss from discontinued operations, net of income taxes

   $ (10,103 )   $ (2,305 )   $ (999 )
                        

 

Included in the 2008 loss from discontinued operations is a $2,667 loss related to the exit activities. Of this amount, $1,354 reflects the loss on the sales of assets, $627 are employee-related costs, including severance and other termination benefits, and $686 are other costs including contract termination charges. In addition, a tax expense of $2,697 related to the write-off of certain deferred taxes is included in discontinued operations.

 

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BARNES GROUP INC.

 

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS—(Continued)

 

6. Inventories

 

Inventories at December 31 consisted of:

 

     2008    2007

Finished goods

   $ 141,573    $ 145,896

Work-in-process

     55,220      61,027

Raw materials and supplies

     44,012      39,913
             
   $ 240,805    $ 246,836
             

 

7. Property, Plant and Equipment

 

Property, plant and equipment at December 31 consisted of:

 

     2008     2007  

Land

   $ 15,059     $ 15,395  

Buildings

     117,793       117,892  

Machinery and equipment

     493,145       489,441  
                
     625,997       622,728  

Less accumulated depreciation

     (390,962 )     (392,183 )
                
   $ 235,035     $ 230,545  
                

 

Depreciation expense was $35,434, $36,348 and $31,834 during 2008, 2007 and 2006, respectively.

 

8. Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets

 

Goodwill: The following table sets forth the change in the carrying amount of goodwill for each reportable segment and the Company:

 

     Logistics and
Manufacturing
Services
    Precision
Components
    Total
Company
 

January 1, 2007

   $ 159,936     $ 198,664     $ 358,600  

Goodwill acquired, net of adjustments

     6,560       (753 )     5,807  

Foreign currency translation

     6,109       9,970       16,079  
                        

December 31, 2007

     172,605       207,881       380,486  

Goodwill adjustments

     (2,400 )     (296 )     (2,696 )

Foreign currency translation

     (6,909 )     (8,951 )     (15,860 )
                        

December 31, 2008

   $ 163,296     $ 198,634     $ 361,930  
                        

 

In 2007, the purchase price allocation of the KENT acquisition was finalized and resulted in an increase in the goodwill recorded at Logistics and Manufacturing Services of $3,847 primarily as a result of the recognition of assumed liabilities. Logistics and Manufacturing Services goodwill also increased as a result of the contingent purchase price adjustment of 1.3 million pounds sterling ($2,713) for the occurrence of certain events and the achievement of certain performance targets related to the 2005 Toolcom Supplies Ltd. acquisition. Additionally, the purchase price allocation of the Hänggi acquisition was finalized in 2007 and resulted in a decrease in Precision Components’ goodwill primarily as a result of adjustments to the valuation of certain assets and liabilities acquired.

 

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BARNES GROUP INC.

 

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS—(Continued)

 

In 2008, the goodwill recorded at Logistics and Manufacturing Services for the KENT acquisition was reduced to appropriately recognize deferred tax benefits related to certain assumed liabilities and was reduced for costs expended which were less than the amounts recorded as an assumed liability in the acquisition. As discussed in Note 4, during the first quarter of 2008 the Company sold the net assets of Spectrum Plastics Molding Resources, Inc. and the goodwill recorded at Precisions Components was reduced primarily for this sale.

 

Of the $361,930 of goodwill at December 31, 2008, $143,669 represents the original tax deductible basis.

 

Other Intangible Assets: Other intangible assets at December 31 consisted of:

 

          2008     2007  
     Range of
Life-
Years
   Gross
Amount
   Accumulated
Amortization
    Gross
Amount
   Accumulated
Amortization
 

Amortized intangible assets:

             

Revenue Sharing Programs

   Up to 30    $ 293,700    $ (20,296 )   $ 293,700    $ (11,785 )

Customer lists/relationships

   10      28,578      (12,142 )     28,578      (9,150 )

Patents, trademarks/trade names

   5-30      22,896      (8,118 )     25,196      (6,457 )

Other

   Up to 15      10,405      (1,744 )     8,262      (2,068 )
                                 
        355,579      (42,300 )     355,736      (29,460 )

Foreign currency translation

        3,538      —         4,182      —    
                                 

Other intangible assets

      $ 359,117    $ (42,300 )   $ 359,918    $ (29,460 )
                                 

 

Amortization of intangible assets for the years ended December 31, 2008, 2007 and 2006 was $14,099, $12,118 and $8,237, respectively. Over the next five years, the estimated aggregate amortization is expected to increase from approximately $14,600 in 2009 to $16,300 in 2013.

 

The sale of Spectrum Plastics resulted in a reduction of $1,898 to intangible assets, net of accumulated amortization, in 2008.

 

The Company has entered into a number of aftermarket RSP agreements each of which is with a major aerospace customer, General Electric, and under which the Company is the sole supplier of certain aftermarket parts to this customer. As consideration for these agreements, the Company agreed to pay participation fees to General Electric. The Company has recorded the participation fees as long-lived intangible assets which will be recognized as a reduction to sales over the life of the related aircraft engine program. As of December 31, 2008, the Company has made all required participation fee payments under the aftermarket RSP agreements.

 

9. Accrued Liabilities

 

Accrued liabilities at December 31 consisted of:

 

     2008    2007

Payroll and other compensation

   $ 25,630    $ 36,085

Business reorganizations

     10,627      8,407

Pension and other postretirement benefits

     8,686      11,081

Income taxes currently payable

     3,865      8,569

Other

     35,564      43,060
             
   $ 84,372    $ 107,202
             

 

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BARNES GROUP INC.

 

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS—(Continued)

 

10. Business Reorganizations

 

In 2008, the Company implemented certain right-sizing actions, including workforce reductions and plant consolidations at Logistics and Manufacturing Services and Precision Components and recorded restructuring and related costs of $7,725 and $7,288, respectively of which $1,312 is included in the loss from discontinued operations. In addition, Precision Components recorded asset write-downs of $1,468. As a result of these actions, Precision Components expects to incur an additional $2,000 to $3,000 of costs in 2009 related to transfer of work and facility exits. Costs for these actions are primarily recorded in selling and administrative expenses in the accompanying consolidated statements of income.

 

The following table sets forth the change in the liability for 2008 employee termination actions:

 

     Logistics and
Manufacturing
Services
    Precision
Components
 

January 1, 2008

   $ —       $ —    

Severance expense, net

     6,440       6,443  

Payments

     (1,237 )     (2,086 )

Foreign currency translation

     (13 )     —    
                

December 31, 2008

   $ 5,190     $ 4,357  
                

 

The remaining balances of the Logistics and Manufacturing Services and Precision Components liabilities are expected to be paid primarily in 2009.

 

In connection with the acquisition of KENT and as part of the Barnes Distribution North America realignment, Logistics and Manufacturing Services implemented certain right-sizing actions which included employee terminations. As a result of these actions, the Company incurred total costs of $7,451 of which $2,339 was recorded as assumed liabilities in the allocation of the purchase price to net assets acquired and $5,112 was recorded as an expense. During the fourth quarter of 2007, the Company also implemented within the Precision Components Associated Spring business a reduction-in-force, and production realignment and product rationalization activities. The Company has incurred costs of $2,056 related to these actions and expects to incur pension settlement costs of approximately $2,000 in 2009 or later. Costs for these actions are recorded in selling and administrative expenses in the accompanying consolidated statements of income.

 

The following table sets forth the change in the carrying amount of the liability for these employee termination actions:

 

     Logistics and
Manufacturing
Services
    Precision
Components
 

January 1, 2008

   $ 6,662     $ 1,745  

Severance expense, net

     (595 )     (526 )

Adjustments recorded to assumed liabilities (goodwill)

     (1,500 )     —    

Payments

     (3,869 )     (812 )

Foreign currency translation

     (25 )     —    
                

December 31, 2008

   $ 673     $ 407  
                

 

The remaining balances of the Logistics and Manufacturing Services and Precision Components liabilities are expected to be paid in 2009.

 

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BARNES GROUP INC.

 

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS—(Continued)

 

11. Debt and Commitments

 

Long-term debt and notes and overdrafts payable at December 31 consisted of:

 

     2008     2007  
     Carrying
Amount
    Fair
Value
    Carrying
Amount
    Fair
Value
 

7.80% Notes

   $ 30,333     $ 31,904     $ 45,500     $ 48,718  

9.34% Notes, including deferred gain

     —         —         20,275       20,939  

3.75% Convertible Notes

     100,000       87,650       100,000       167,330  

3.375% Convertible Notes

     100,000       64,525       100,000       131,651  

Revolving credit agreement

     251,400       251,400       151,250       151,250  

Industrial revenue bonds

     —         —         7,000       7,000  

Borrowings under lines of credit

     8,000       8,000       6,000       6,000  

Foreign bank overdrafts

     905       905       1,322       1,322  

Capital leases

     2,766       2,766       3,117       3,117  
                                
     493,404       447,150       434,464       537,327  

Less current maturities

     (24,291 )     (24,291 )     (49,982 )     (49,982 )
                                

Long-term debt

   $ 469,113     $ 422,859     $ 384,482     $ 487,345  
                                

 

The Company’s long-term debt portfolio consists of fixed-rate and variable-rate instruments and is managed to reduce the overall cost of borrowing and to mitigate fluctuations in interest rates. Among other things, interest rate fluctuations impact the market value of the Company’s fixed-rate debt and fluctuations in the Company’s stock price impact the market value of its convertible notes. The fair values of the Company’s Notes are determined using discounted cash flows based upon the Company’s estimated current interest cost for similar types of borrowings or current market value. The carrying values of other long-term debt and notes payable approximate their fair market values.

 

The 7.80% Notes are payable in three equal annual installments which began in 2008. The 9.34% Notes were payable in three equal annual installments, the last installment of which was paid in 2008.

 

In 2005, the Company sold $100,000 of 3.75% Senior Subordinated Convertible Notes (the “3.75% Convertible Notes”) due in August 2025 with interest payable semi-annually on February 1 and August 1 of each year commencing on February 1, 2006. The 3.75% Convertible Notes are general unsecured obligations of the Company and are subordinated in right of payment to all existing and future senior debt of the Company. These notes are subject to redemption at their par value at any time, at the option of the Company, on or after February 1, 2011. These notes may be converted, under certain circumstances, into a combination of cash and common stock of the Company at a conversion value equal to 48.1232 shares per note, equivalent to a conversion price of approximately $20.78 per share of common stock. The first $1 of the conversion value of each note would be paid in cash and the additional conversion value, if any, would be paid in cash or common stock, at the option of the Company.

 

In March 2007, the Company sold $100,000 of 3.375% Senior Subordinated Convertible Notes (the “3.375% Convertible Notes”) due in March 2027 with interest payable semi-annually on March 1 and September 1 of each year commencing on September 1, 2007. The 3.375% Convertible Notes are general unsecured obligations of the Company and are subordinated in right of payment to all existing and future senior debt of the Company. These notes are subject to redemption at their par value at any time, at the option of the Company, on or after March 20, 2014. These notes may be converted, under certain circumstances, into a combination of cash and common stock of the Company at a conversion value equal to 35.1247 shares per note, equivalent to a conversion price of

 

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BARNES GROUP INC.

 

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS—(Continued)

 

approximately $28.47 per share of common stock. The first $1 of the conversion value of each note would be paid in cash and the additional conversion value, if any, would be paid in cash or common stock, at the option of the Company.

 

The 3.75% Convertible Notes and the 3.375% Convertible Notes are eligible for conversion upon meeting certain conditions as provided in the respective indenture agreements. During 2008, none of the 3.75% Convertible Notes or the 3.375% Convertible Notes was converted. Additionally, neither the 3.75% Convertible Notes nor the 3.375% Convertible Notes are eligible for conversion from January 1, 2009 through March 31, 2009.

 

At December 31, 2008, the Company had a $400,000 amended and restated revolving credit agreement which matures in September 2012 with certain participating banks and financial institutions of which the Company had borrowed $251,400. Borrowings under this agreement bear interest at LIBOR plus a spread ranging from 0.30% to 1.15%, depending on the Company’s debt ratio at the time of the borrowing. The average interest rate on these borrowings was 1.61% and 5.62% on December 31, 2008 and 2007, respectively. Additionally, this agreement allows borrowings by the Company and by Barnes Group Switzerland GmbH and contains various financial and restrictive covenants. In 2008, the Company entered into two, three-year interest rate swap agreements which together converted the interest on the first $100,000 of the Company’s one-month LIBOR-based borrowings from a variable rate plus the borrowing spread to a fixed rate of 2.947% plus the borrowing spread for the purpose of mitigating its exposure to variable interest rates.

 

In addition, the Company has available approximately $15,000 in uncommitted short-term bank credit lines of which $8,000 and $6,000 was borrowed at December 31, 2008 and 2007, respectively. The interest rates on the December 31, 2008 and 2007 borrowings were 2.18% and 6.51%, respectively. The Company had also borrowed $905 at December 31, 2008 under its foreign bank overdraft facilities.

 

The Industrial Revenue Bonds were paid in 2008. The bonds had a variable interest rate which was 3.53% at December 31, 2007.

 

Long-term debt and notes payable are payable as follows: $24,072 in 2009, $15,167 in 2010, $100,000 in 2011, $251,400 in 2012, $0 in 2013 and $100,000 thereafter.

 

In addition, the Company had outstanding letters of credit totaling $468 at December 31, 2008.

 

The Company’s debt agreements contain financial covenants that require the maintenance of interest coverage and leverage ratios, and minimum levels of net worth. The agreements also place certain restrictions on indebtedness and investments by the Company and its subsidiaries. The most restrictive borrowing capacity covenant in any agreement required the Company to maintain a ratio of Consolidated Total Debt to EBITDA, as defined in the Amended Credit Agreement, of not more than 4.00 times at December 31, 2008.

 

Interest paid was $20,732, $30,001 and $26,270 in 2008, 2007 and 2006, respectively. The interest paid in 2007 includes $3,636 of capitalized debt issuance costs related to the 3.375% Convertible Notes which are being amortized over 240 months and $438 related to the amended credit agreement which are being amortized over the remaining term of the agreement. The interest paid in 2006 includes $1,212 of capitalized debt issuance costs related to the amended credit agreement which are being amortized over the remaining term of the agreement. Interest capitalized was $683, $654 and $714 in 2008, 2007 and 2006, respectively, and is being depreciated over the lives of the related fixed assets.

 

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BARNES GROUP INC.

 

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS—(Continued)

 

12. Fair Value Measurements

 

In 2006, the FASB issued SFAS No. 157, “Fair Value Measurements.” This Statement defines fair value, establishes a framework for measuring fair value under GAAP and expands disclosures about fair value measurements. On January 1, 2008, the provisions of this Statement became effective for financial assets and financial liabilities of the Company.

 

SFAS No. 157 defines fair value as the price that would be received to sell an asset or paid to transfer a liability in an orderly transaction between market participants at the measurement date. This Statement classifies the inputs used to measure fair value into the following hierarchy:

 

  Level 1 Unadjusted quoted prices in active markets for identical assets or liabilities

 

  Level 2 Unadjusted quoted prices in active markets for similar assets or liabilities, or unadjusted quoted prices for identical or similar assets or liabilities in markets that are not active, or inputs other than quoted prices that are observable for the asset or liability

 

  Level 3 Unobservable inputs for the asset or liability

 

The following table provides the assets and liabilities reported at fair value and measured on a recurring basis as of December 31, 2008:

 

           Fair Value Measurements Using
     Total     Quoted Prices in
Active Markets for
Identical Assets

(Level 1)
   Significant Other
Observable Inputs

(Level 2)
    Significant
Unobservable
Inputs

(Level 3)

Description

         

Derivatives, net

   $ (626 )   $ —      $ (626 )   $   —  

Rabbi trust assets

     1,381       1,381      —         —  
                             
   $ 755     $ 1,381    $ (626 )   $ —  
                             

 

The fair values for the derivative contracts are valued using observable current market information as of the reporting date such as the prevailing LIBOR-based and U.S. treasury interest rates and forward currency spot and forward rates. The fair values of rabbi trust assets are based on quoted market prices from various financial exchanges.

 

13. Pension and Other Postretirement Benefits

 

SFAS No. 158, “Employers’ Accounting for Defined Benefit Pension and Other Postretirement Plans,” requires the Company to recognize the overfunded or underfunded status of its defined benefit postretirement plans as assets or liabilities in the accompanying consolidated balance sheets and to recognize changes in the funded status of the plans in comprehensive income. The Company adopted SFAS No. 158 as of December 31, 2006. Based on the funded status of the Company’s plans, the adoption of this Statement resulted in a reduction to stockholders’ equity of $26,335, net of taxes.

 

The Company has various defined contribution plans the largest of which is its Retirement Savings Plan. Most U.S. salaried and non-union hourly employees are eligible to participate in this plan. See Note 18 for further discussion of the Retirement Savings Plan. The Company also maintains various other defined contribution plans which cover certain employees not eligible for the Retirement Savings Plan. Company contributions under these plans are based primarily on the performance of the business units and employee compensation. Contribution expense under these defined contribution plans was $3,936, $4,590 and $3,070 in 2008, 2007 and 2006, respectively.

 

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BARNES GROUP INC.

 

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS—(Continued)

 

Defined benefit pension plans cover a majority of the Company’s worldwide employees at the Associated Spring business of Precision Components and the Company’s Corporate Office and a substantial portion of the U.S. employees at the distribution business of Logistics and Manufacturing Services. Plan benefits for salaried and non-union hourly employees are based on years of service and average salary. Plans covering union hourly employees provide benefits based on years of service. The Company funds U.S. pension costs in accordance with the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended (“ERISA”).

 

The Company provides certain other medical, dental and life insurance postretirement benefits for a majority of its retired employees in the U.S. and Canada. It is the Company’s practice to fund these benefits as incurred.

 

The accompanying balance sheets reflect the funded status of the plans at December 31, 2008 and 2007. Reconciliations of the obligations and funded status of the plans follow:

 

     Pensions     Other
Postretirement Benefits
 
     2008     2007     2008     2007  

Benefit obligation, January 1

   $ 382,535     $ 378,031     $ 74,612     $ 80,226  

Service cost

     7,683       8,309       736       1,074  

Interest cost

     22,961       21,880       4,407       4,347  

Amendments

     113       257       (9,943 )     —    

Actuarial (gain) loss

     (8,725 )     (12,140 )     (3,087 )     (5,575 )

Benefits paid

     (27,369 )     (24,526 )     (8,501 )     (8,320 )

Acquisitions

     999       5,878       —         —    

Curtailment gain

     —         (727 )     —         (505 )

Participant contributions

     278       214       1,835       2,727  

Foreign exchange rate changes

     (12,401 )     5,359       (397 )     638  
                                

Benefit obligation, December 31

     366,074       382,535       59,662       74,612  
                                

Fair value of plan assets, January 1

     387,661       373,220       —         —    

Actual return on plan assets

     (102,104 )     24,519       —         —    

Company contributions

     8,710       5,259       6,666       5,593  

Participant contributions

     278       214       1,835       2,727  

Benefits paid

     (27,369 )     (24,526 )     (8,501 )     (8,320 )

Acquisitions / divestitures

     999       4,661       —         —    

Foreign exchange rate changes

     (11,046 )     4,314       —         —    
                                

Fair value of plan assets, December 31

     257,129       387,661       —         —    
                                

Funded status, December 31

   $ (108,945 )   $ 5,126     $ (59,662 )   $ (74,612 )
                                

 

During 2009, the Company amended its other postretirement benefit plan in the U.S. to reduce retiree life insurance benefits for plan participants.

 

Projected benefit obligations related to plans with benefit obligations in excess of plan assets follow:

 

     Pensions
     2008    2007

Projected benefit obligation

   $ 332,550    $ 77,422

Fair value of plan assets

     220,093      32,847

 

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BARNES GROUP INC.

 

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS—(Continued)

 

Information related to plans with accumulated benefit obligations in excess of plan assets follows:

 

     Pensions
     2008    2007

Projected benefit obligation

   $ 330,892    $ 77,422

Accumulated benefit obligation

     316,441      75,985

Fair value of plan assets

     218,435      32,847

 

The accumulated benefit obligation for all defined benefit pension plans was $350,978 and $367,038 at December 31, 2008 and 2007, respectively.

 

Amounts recognized in the accompanying balance sheets consist of:

 

     Pensions     Other
Postretirement Benefits
 
     2008     2007     2008     2007  

Other assets

   $ 3,512     $ 49,701     $ —       $ —    

Accrued liabilities

     3,032       2,898       5,654       8,183  

Accrued retirement benefits

     109,425       41,677       54,008       66,429  

Accumulated other non-owner changes to equity, net

     (94,903 )     (23,574 )     (626 )     (9,657 )

 

Amounts recognized in accumulated other non-owner changes to equity, net of tax, at December 31, 2008 and 2007 consist of:

 

     Pensions     Other
Postretirement Benefits
 
     2008     2007     2008     2007  

Net actuarial loss

   $ (91,858 )   $ (19,804 )   $ (5,611 )   $ (7,889 )

Prior service (costs) credits

     (3,045 )     (3,770 )     4,985       (1,768 )
                                
   $ (94,903 )   $ (23,574 )   $ (626 )   $ (9,657 )
                                

 

The sources of changes in accumulated other comprehensive income, net, during 2008 were:

 

     Pension     Other
Postretirement
Benefits

Prior service cost

   $ (70 )   $ 6,172

Net gain (loss)

     (78,715 )     2,013

Amortization of prior service cost

     786       600

Amortization of actuarial loss

     1,567       179

Foreign exchange rate changes

     5,103       67
              
   $ (71,329 )   $ 9,031
              

 

Weighted-average assumptions used to determine benefit obligations at December 31, are:

 

     2008     2007  

Discount rate

   6.43 %   6.22 %

Increase in compensation

   3.64 %   3.62 %

 

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Table of Contents

BARNES GROUP INC.

 

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS—(Continued)

 

The weighted-average asset allocations for all pension plan assets at December 31, 2008 and 2007 by asset category are as follows:

 

Asset Category

   Target     2008     2007  

Equity securities

   70 %   65 %   72 %

Fixed income securities

   20 %   26 %   23 %

Real estate

   5 %   4 %   4 %

Other, including cash

   5 %   5 %   1 %
                  

Total

   100 %   100 %   100 %
                  

 

The investment strategy of the plans is to generate a consistent total investment return sufficient to pay present and future plan benefits to retirees, while minimizing the long-term cost to the Company. Target allocations for asset categories are used to earn a reasonable rate of return, provide required liquidity and minimize the risk of large losses. Targets are adjusted, as necessary within certain guidelines, to reflect trends and developments within the overall investment environment.

 

The Company expects to contribute approximately $16,000 to the pension plans in 2009.

 

The following are the estimated future net benefit payments, which include future service, over the next 10 years:

 

     Pensions    Other
Postretirement
Benefits

2009

   $ 24,213    $ 5,307

2010

     24,609      5,830

2011

     25,210      5,688

2012

     26,001      5,610

2013

     26,586      5,376

Years 2014-2018

     144,188      24,270
             

Total

   $ 270,807    $ 52,081
             

 

Pension and other postretirement benefit expenses consist of the following:

 

     Pensions     Other
Postretirement Benefits
     2008     2007     2006     2008    2007    2006

Service cost

   $ 7,683     $ 8,309     $ 9,954     $ 736    $ 1,074    $ 1,743

Interest cost

     22,961       21,880       20,007       4,407      4,347      4,384

Expected return on plan assets

     (31,780 )     (30,920 )     (29,706 )     —        —        —  

Amortization of transition assets

     —         —         (1 )     —        —        —  

Amortization of prior service cost

     1,245       1,508       1,687       966      1,134      1,165

Recognized losses

     2,108       2,539       2,227       276      699      920

Settlement loss

     —         —         372       —        —        —  

Curtailment (gain) loss

     420       739       (33 )     —        —        —  

Special termination benefits

     —         —         53       —        —        —  
                                            

Net periodic benefit cost

   $ 2,637     $ 4,055     $ 4,560     $ 6,385    $ 7,254    $ 8,212
                                            

 

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BARNES GROUP INC.

 

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS—(Continued)

 

The estimated net actuarial loss and prior service cost for the defined benefit pension plans that will be amortized from accumulated other non-owner changes to equity into net periodic benefit cost in 2009 are $1,689 and $949, respectively. The estimated net actuarial loss and prior service credit for other defined benefit postretirement plans that will be amortized from accumulated other non-owner changes to equity into net periodic benefit cost in 2009 are $285 and $(745), respectively.

 

Weighted-average assumptions used to determine net benefit expense for years ended December 31, are:

 

     2008     2007     2006  

Discount rate

   6.22 %   5.72 %   5.46 %

Long-term rate of return

   8.62 %   8.62 %   8.34 %

Increase in compensation

   3.68 %   3.68 %   3.95 %

 

The expected long-term rate of return is based on the actual historical rates of return of published indices that are used to measure the plans’ target asset allocation. The historical rates are then discounted to consider fluctuations in the historical rates as well as potential changes in the investment environment.

 

The Company’s accumulated postretirement benefit obligations, exclusive of pensions, take into account certain cost-sharing provisions. The annual rate of increase in the cost of covered benefits (i.e., health care cost trend rate) is assumed to be 8.8% and 9.5% at December 31, 2008 and 2007, respectively, decreasing gradually to a rate of 5% by December 31, 2014. A one percentage point change in the assumed health care cost trend rate would have the following effects:

 

     One Percentage
Point Increase
   One Percentage
Point Decrease
 

Effect on postretirement benefit obligation

   $ 1,100    $ (983 )

Effect on postretirement benefit cost

     75      (66 )

 

14. Income Taxes

 

The components of income from continuing operations before income taxes and the income tax provision follow:

 

     2008    2007    2006  

Income from continuing operations before income taxes:

        

U.S.

   $ 26,753    $ 25,542    $ 13,566  

International

     99,343      104,485      80,981  
                      

Income from continuing operations before income taxes

   $ 126,096    $ 130,027    $ 94,547  
                      

Income tax provision:

        

Current:

        

U.S. – federal

   $ 2,034    $ 5,642    $ 819  

U.S. – state

     52      1,189      40  

International

     12,334      14,149      14,128  
                      
     14,420      20,980      14,987  
                      

Deferred:

        

U.S. – federal

     7,384      2,346      5,496  

U.S. – state

     1,876      139      1,073  

International

     5,334      2,920      (1,853 )
                      
     14,594      5,405      4,716  
                      

Income tax provision

   $ 29,014    $ 26,385    $ 19,703  
                      

 

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BARNES GROUP INC.

 

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS—(Continued)

 

Deferred income tax assets and liabilities at December 31 consist of the tax effects of temporary differences related to the following:

 

     Assets     Liabilities
     2008     2007     2008     2007

Allowance for doubtful accounts

   $ 989     $ 1,158     $ 50     $ 44

Depreciation and amortization

     (481 )     (3,027 )     14,548       15,409

Inventory valuation

     10,462       8,565       1,749       1,444

Other postretirement/postemployment costs

     21,584       27,578       (314 )     —  

Tax loss carryforwards

     30,598       33,267       —         —  

Pension

     42,171       (1,851 )     (4 )     203

Accrued compensation

     7,619       11,600       —         —  

Goodwill

     (21,410 )     (19,327 )     6       —  

Swedish tax incentive

     —         —         4,185       7,881

Contingent convertible debt interest

     (13,630 )     (7,851 )     —         —  

Unrealized foreign currency (loss) gain

     (26 )     —         3,016       3,595

Other

     13,149       9,152       4,303       531
                              
     91,025       59,264       27,539       29,107

Valuation allowance

     (22,644 )     (16,092 )     —         —  
                              
   $ 68,381     $ 43,172     $ 27,539     $ 29,107
                              

Current deferred income taxes

   $ 27,650     $ 29,087     $ 2,555     $ 2,106

Non-current deferred income taxes

     40,731       14,085       24,984       27,001
                              
   $ 68,381     $ 43,172     $ 27,539     $ 29,107
                              

 

SFAS No. 109, “Accounting for Income Taxes,” requires that deferred tax assets be reduced by a valuation allowance if, based on all available evidence, it is more likely than not that the deferred tax asset will not be realized. Available evidence includes the reversal of existing taxable temporary differences, future taxable income exclusive of temporary differences, taxable income in carryback years and tax planning strategies. The valuation allowance increased $6,552 in 2008 primarily as a result of the uncertainty regarding the realization of foreign and state net operating losses due to the uncertainty of future profitability of operations in foreign jurisdictions and brief carryforward periods. Management believes that sufficient income will be earned in the future to realize the remaining net deferred tax assets. The Company has tax loss carryforwards of $93,671; $37,456 which relates to U.S. tax loss carryforwards which have carryforward periods ranging from 13 to 20 years for federal purposes and one to 20 years for state purposes; $19,809 which relates to international tax loss carryforwards with unlimited carry forward periods; $27,863 which relates to international tax loss carryforwards with carryforward periods ranging from five to 7 years; and $8,543 which relates to windfall tax benefits which will be recorded to additional paid-in capital when realized. In addition, the Company has tax credit carryforwards of $3,330 with remaining carryforward periods ranging from one year to unlimited.

 

The Company has not recognized deferred income taxes on $481,765 of undistributed earnings of its international subsidiaries, since such earnings are considered to be reinvested indefinitely. If the earnings were distributed in the form of dividends, the Company would be subject, in certain cases, to both U.S. income taxes and foreign withholding taxes. Determination of the amount of this unrecognized deferred income tax liability is not practicable.

 

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BARNES GROUP INC.

 

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS—(Continued)

 

A reconciliation of the U.S. federal statutory income tax rate to the consolidated effective income tax rate from continuing operations follows:

 

         2008         2007     2006  

U.S. federal statutory income tax rate

   35.0 %   35.0 %   35.0 %

State taxes (net of federal benefit)

   0.6     0.6     0.6  

Foreign losses without tax benefit

   3.9     0.1     0.2  

Foreign operations taxed at lower rate

   (20.8 )   (16.8 )   (16.7 )

Singapore Pioneer tax status – retroactive impact

   —       —       (0.6 )

Export sales benefit

   —       —       (0.4 )

ESOP dividend

   (0.7 )   (0.7 )   (0.9 )

International tax law changes

   —       1.7     —    

European deferred tax asset valuation

   3.3     —       —    

Other

   1.7     0.4     3.6  
                  

Consolidated effective income tax rate from continuing operations

   23.0 %   20.3 %   20.8 %
                  

 

The Company has been awarded multi-year Pioneer tax status by the Ministry of Trade and Industry in Singapore for the production of certain engine components by the aerospace aftermarket business of Logistics and Manufacturing Services, the earliest of which was granted in August 2005 retroactive to October 2003. Tax benefits of $9,790 ($0.18 per diluted share), $9,892 ($0.17 per diluted share) and $5,238 ($0.10 per diluted share) were recorded in 2008, 2007 and 2006, respectively. The Pioneer tax status is awarded for periods of six to seven years from the effective date and will begin to expire in 2010.

 

Income taxes paid globally, net of refunds, were $18,836, $20,085 and $18,811 in 2008, 2007 and 2006, respectively.

 

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BARNES GROUP INC.

 

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS—(Continued)

 

The Company adopted the provisions of FIN No. 48, “Accounting for Uncertainty in Income Taxes,” on January 1, 2007. As a result of the implementation of FIN No. 48, the Company recorded an adjustment of $1,688 for unrecognized tax benefits which was accounted for as a reduction to the January 1, 2007 retained earnings balance. As of January 1, 2007, the total amount of unrecognized tax benefits recorded in the consolidated balance sheet in accordance with this Intepretation was $9,399, of which $8,219, if recognized, would have reduced the effective tax rate. As of December 31, 2007, the total amount of unrecognized tax benefits recorded in the consolidated balance sheet was $7,964, which, if recognized, would have reduced the effective tax rate. As of December 31, 2008, the total amount of unrecognized tax benefits recorded in the consolidated balance sheet was $7,611, which, if recognized, would have reduced the effective tax rate. A reconciliation of the unrecognized tax benefits for 2008 and 2007 is as follows:

 

Balance at January 1, 2007

   $ 9,399  

Increase (decrease) in unrecognized tax benefits due to:

  

Tax positions taken during prior periods

     530  

Tax positions taken during the current period

     76  

Settlements with taxing authorities

     (1,637 )

Lapse of the applicable statute of limitations

     (404 )
        

Balance at December 31, 2007

     7,964  

Increase (decrease) in unrecognized tax benefits due to:

  

Tax positions taken during prior periods

     (30 )

Tax positions taken during the current period

     (209 )

Settlements with taxing authorities

     (70 )

Lapse of the applicable statute of limitations

     (44 )
        

Balance at December 31, 2008

   $ 7,611  
        

 

The Company recognizes interest and penalties, if any, related to unrecognized tax benefits in income tax expense. The liability for unrecognized tax benefits included accrued interest of $119 and $165 at December 31, 2008 and 2007, respectively.

 

The Company or its subsidiaries file income tax returns in the U.S. federal jurisdiction, and various state and foreign jurisdictions. In the normal course of business, the Company is subject to examination by various taxing authorities, including the IRS in the U.S. and the taxing authorities in other major jurisdictions such as Brazil, Canada, France, Germany, Mexico, Singapore, Sweden, Switzerland and the United Kingdom. With few exceptions, the Company is no longer subject to U.S. federal, state and local, or non-U.S. income tax examinations by tax authorities for years before 2003. Refer to Note 21 for a discussion of current IRS matters.

 

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BARNES GROUP INC.

 

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS—(Continued)

 

15. Comprehensive Income

 

Comprehensive income includes all changes in equity during a period except those resulting from investments by, and distributions to, stockholders. For the Company, comprehensive income includes net income and other non-owner changes to equity, net of taxes. The components of accumulated other non-owner changes to equity, net of taxes, follow:

 

     Foreign
Currency
Translation
Adjustments
    Unrealized
Gains/(Losses)
On Hedging
Activities
    Postretirement
Plans
    Total  

Balance, January 1, 2006

   $ (470 )   $ 1     $ (25,508 )   $ (25,977 )

2006 change

     19,323       42       9,791       29,156  

Adjustment to initially apply SFAS No. 158

     —         —         (26,335 )     (26,335 )
                                

December 31, 2006

     18,853       43       (42,052 )     (23,156 )

2007 change

     24,287       522       8,821       33,630  
                                

December 31, 2007

     43,140       565       (33,231 )     10,474  

2008 change

     (35,628 )     (2,464 )     (62,298 )     (100,390 )
                                

December 31, 2008

   $ 7,512     $ (1,899 )   $ (95,529 )   $ (89,916 )
                                

 

Included in the 2008 and 2007 changes in foreign currency translation adjustments are $7,691 and $(6,836), respectively, of net gains (losses) that are related to financial instruments that qualify as hedges of the foreign currency exposure of a net investment hedge in a foreign operation. In 2008, the Company terminated this hedge and received a payment of $1,869 at termination.

 

16. Common Stock

 

In 2008, 38,000 shares of common stock were issued from treasury for contributions to the Barnes Group Foundation, a non-profit tax-exempt organization. In 2006, 722,596 shares of common stock were issued from treasury for the exercise of stock options, various other incentive awards, purchases by the Employee Stock Purchase Plan and matching contributions to the Retirement Savings Plan. No common stock was issued from treasury in 2007. In 2008, 2007 and 2006, the Company acquired 2,486,526 shares, 1,725 shares and 33,680 shares, respectively, of the Company’s common stock at a cost of $34,209, $54 and $712, respectively. These amounts exclude shares reacquired to pay for the related income tax upon issuance of shares in accordance with the terms of the Company’s stockholder-approved equity compensation plans and the equity rights granted pursuant to those plans. These reacquired shares were placed in treasury.

 

In 2008, 2007 and 2006, 708,606 shares, 1,881,726 shares and 2,171,530 shares of common stock, respectively, were issued from authorized shares for the exercise of stock options, various other incentive awards, purchases by the Employee Stock Purchase Plan and matching contributions to the Retirement Savings Plan.

 

On May 17, 2006, the Company issued 1,628,676 shares of its common stock in connection with the acquisition of Hänggi.

 

17. Preferred Stock

 

At December 31, 2008 and 2007, the Company had 3,000,000 shares of preferred stock authorized, none of which were outstanding.

 

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BARNES GROUP INC.

 

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS—(Continued)

 

18. Stock Plans

 

Most U.S. salaried and non-union hourly employees are eligible to participate in the Company’s 401(k) plan, the Retirement Savings Plan. The Retirement Savings Plan provides for the investment of employer and employee contributions in the Company’s common stock and also provides other investment alternatives for employee contributions. The Company match may be invested in any of the Plan’s investment alternatives. The Company contributes an amount equal to 50% of employee contributions up to 6% of eligible compensation. The Company expenses all contributions made to the Retirement Savings Plan. The Company recognized expense of $4,013, $4,250 and $4,005 in 2008, 2007 and 2006, respectively. As of December 31, 2008, the Retirement Savings Plan held 4,447,637 shares of the Company’s common stock.

 

The Company has an Employee Stock Purchase Plan (“ESPP”) under which eligible employees may elect to have up to the lesser of $21 or 10% of base compensation deducted from their payroll checks for the purchase of the Company’s common stock at 95% of the average market value on the date of purchase. The maximum number of shares which may be purchased under the ESPP is 4,050,000. The number of shares purchased under the ESPP was 52,674, 37,902 and 61,484 in 2008, 2007 and 2006, respectively. In May 2008, 500,000 additional shares were registered for issuance under the ESPP. As of December 31, 2008, 502,212 additional shares may be purchased.

 

The 1991 Barnes Group Stock Incentive Plan (the “1991 Plan”) authorized the granting of incentives to executive officers, directors and key employees in the form of stock options, stock appreciation rights, incentive stock rights and performance unit awards. Options granted under the 1991 Plan that terminated without being exercised become available for future grants under the 2004 Plan. A maximum of 238,374 common shares are subject to issuance under this plan after December 31, 2008.

 

The Barnes Group Inc. Employee Stock and Ownership Program (the “2000 Plan”) was approved on April 12, 2000, and subsequently amended on April 10, 2002 by the Company’s stockholders. The 2000 Plan permitted the granting of incentive stock options, nonqualified stock options, restricted stock awards, performance share or cash unit awards and stock appreciation rights, or any combination of the foregoing, to eligible employees to purchase up to 6,900,000 shares of the Company’s common stock. Such shares were authorized and reserved. Options granted under the 2000 Plan that terminate without being exercised become available for future grants under the 2004 Plan. A maximum of 685,564 common shares are subject to issuance under the 2000 Plan after December 31, 2008.

 

The Barnes Group Stock and Incentive Award Plan (the “2004 Plan”) was approved on April 14, 2004 by the Company’s stockholders. The 2004 Plan permits the issuance of incentive awards, stock option grants and stock appreciation rights to eligible participants to purchase up to 3,800,000 shares of common stock. A maximum of 5,804,587 common shares are subject to issuance under the 2004 Plan after December 31, 2008. As of December 31, 2008 and 2007, there were 1,748,465 and 1,934,510 shares, respectively, available for future grants under the 2004 Plan. Also available for grants under the Plan are the number of shares of common stock reserved for grants of awards under the 1991 and 2000 Plans but not used as of April 14, 2004 and the number of shares of common stock that become available under the terms of the 1991, 2000 and 2004 Plans, including shares subject to awards which are forfeited, settled for cash, expire or otherwise terminate without issuance of the shares.

 

Incentive stock rights under the 1991 Plan, restricted stock unit awards under the 2000 Plan and restricted stock unit awards under the 2004 Plan (collectively, “Stock Rights”) entitle the holder to receive, without payment, one share of the Company’s common stock after the expiration of the vesting period. Certain Stock Rights are also subject to the satisfaction of established performance goals. Additionally, certain holders of Stock

 

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BARNES GROUP INC.

 

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS—(Continued)

 

Rights are credited with dividend equivalents, which are converted into additional Stock Rights, and certain holders of restricted stock units are paid dividend equivalents in cash when dividends are paid to other stockholders. All Stock Rights have a vesting period of up to five years

 

Under the Non-Employee Director Deferred Stock Plan, as further amended, each non-employee director who joined the Board of Directors prior to December 15, 2005 was granted the right to receive 12,000 shares of the Company’s common stock upon retirement. In 2008 and 2007, $60 and $52, respectively, of dividend equivalents were paid in cash. Compensation cost related to this plan was $31, $62 and $98 in 2008, 2007 and 2006, respectively. There are 96,000 shares reserved for issuance under this plan. Each non-employee director who joins the Board of Directors subsequent to December 15, 2005 will receive restricted stock units under the Barnes Group Inc. Stock and Incentive Award Plan having a value of $50 that vest three years after the date of grant.

 

Total shares reserved for issuance under all stock plans aggregated 7,326,737 at December 31, 2008.

 

19. Average Shares Outstanding

 

Income from continuing operations and net income per common share is computed in accordance with SFAS No. 128, “Earnings per Share.” Basic earnings per share is calculated using the weighted-average number of common shares outstanding during the year. Diluted earnings per share reflects the assumed exercise and conversion of all dilutive securities. Shares held by the Retirement Savings Plan are considered outstanding for both basic and diluted earnings per share. There are no adjustments to income from continuing operations and net income for purposes of computing income available to common stockholders for the years ended December 31, 2008, 2007 and 2006. A reconciliation of the average number of common shares outstanding used in the calculation of basic and diluted earnings per share follows:

 

     Average Common Shares Outstanding
     2008    2007    2006

Basic

   53,989,034    53,295,275    50,702,992

Dilutive effect of:

        

Stock options

   957,608    2,003,811    1,268,863

Stock incentive units

   —      14,367    139,162

Restricted stock units

   295,156    645,488    741,635

Convertible senior subordinated debt

   503,808    1,479,728    7,269

Non-Employee Director Deferred Stock Plan

   67,060    87,163    83,573
              

Diluted

   55,812,666    57,525,832    52,943,494
              

 

The calculation of weighted-average diluted shares outstanding excludes all anti-dilutive shares. During 2008, 2007 and 2006, the Company excluded 1,485,639, 306,868 and 561,070 stock options, respectively, from the calculation of diluted weighted-average shares outstanding as the stock options were considered anti-dilutive.

 

The 3.75% Convertible Notes are convertible, under certain circumstances, into a combination of cash and common stock of the Company. The conversion price is approximately $20.78 per share of common stock. The dilutive effect of the notes is determined based on the average closing price of the Company’s stock for the last 30 trading days of each quarter as compared to the conversion price. Under the net share settlement method, there were 503,808 and 1,251,799 potential shares issuable under the notes that were considered dilutive in 2008 and 2007, respectively.

 

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BARNES GROUP INC.

 

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS—(Continued)

 

The 3.375% Convertible Notes are convertible, under certain circumstances, into a combination of cash and common stock of the Company. The conversion price is approximately $28.47 per share of common stock. The dilutive effect of the notes is determined based on the average closing price of the Company’s stock for the last 30 trading days of each quarter as compared to the conversion price. Under the net share settlement method, there were no potential shares issuable under the notes that were considered dilutive in 2008 and 227,929 potential shares issuable under the notes that were considered dilutive in 2007.

 

The number of contingently issuable shares included in diluted average shares outstanding was calculated using the conversion formulas as stated in the respective convertible note agreements.

 

20. Information on Business Segments

 

The Company’s reportable segments offer different products and services. Each segment is managed separately because each business has different core functional and delivery capabilities. Specifically, the Company operates two reportable business segments, as follows:

 

Logistics and Manufacturing Services provides value-added logistical support and repair services. Value-added logistical support services include inventory management, technical sales, and supply chain solutions for maintenance, repair, operating, and production supplies and services. Repair services provided include the manufacturing of spare parts for the refurbishment and repair of highly engineered components and assemblies for commercial and military aviation.

 

Logistics and Manufacturing Services has sales, distribution, and manufacturing operations in the United States, Belgium, Brazil, Canada, China, France, Germany, Italy, Mexico, Singapore, Spain and the United Kingdom. Products and services are available in more than 40 countries.

 

The global operations are engaged in supplying, servicing, and manufacturing of maintenance, repair, and operating components. Activities include logistical support through vendor-managed inventory and technical sales for stocked replacement parts and other products, worldwide catalog supplies and custom solutions, and the manufacture and delivery of aerospace aftermarket spare parts, including the RSPs, and component repairs. Key business drivers include a value proposition centered on customer service, delivery, multiple sales channels, procurement systems, and strong customer relationships. In addition, the manufacturing and supplying of aerospace aftermarket spare parts, including the RSPs, are dependent upon the reliable and timely delivery of high-quality components.

 

Logistics and Manufacturing Services faces active competition throughout the world. The products and services offered are not unique, and its competitors provide substantially similar products and services. Competition comes from local, regional, and national, maintenance and repair supply distributors and specialty manufacturers of springs, gas struts and engineered hardware. The aerospace aftermarket business competes with aerospace original equipment manufacturers, service centers of major commercial airlines and other independent service companies for the repair and overhaul of turbine engine components. Service alternatives, timeliness and reliability of supply, price, technical capability, product breadth, quality and overall customer service are important competitive factors.

 

Precision Components is a global supplier of engineered components for critical applications focused on providing solutions for a diverse industrial, transportation and aerospace customer base. It is equipped to produce virtually every type of precision spring, from fine hairsprings for electronics and instruments to large heavy-duty springs for machinery as well as precision-machined and fabricated components and assemblies for OEM turbine engine, airframe and industrial gas turbine builders throughout the world, and the military. It is also the largest

 

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BARNES GROUP INC.

 

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS—(Continued)

 

manufacturer and supplier of precision mechanical springs, compressor reed valves and nitrogen gas products based in North America and among the world’s largest manufacturers of precision mechanical products and nitrogen gas products. Precision Components also manufactures high-precision punched and fine-blanked components used in transportation and industrial applications, nitrogen gas springs and manifold systems used to precisely control stamping presses, and retention rings that position parts on a shaft or other axis.

 

Precision Components has a diverse customer base with products purchased by durable goods manufacturers located around the world in industries including transportation, consumer products, farm equipment, telecommunications, medical devices, home appliances and electronics and airframe and gas turbine engine manufacturers for commercial and military jets, business jets, and land-based industrial gas turbines. Long-standing customer relationships enable Precision Components to participate in the design phase of components and assemblies through which customers receive the benefits of manufacturing research, testing and evaluation. Products are sold primarily through Precision Components’ direct sales force and a global distribution channel.

 

Precision Components competes with a broad base of large and small companies engaged in the manufacture and sale of custom metal components and assemblies while the aerospace manufacturing business competes with both the leading jet engine OEMs and a large number of machining and fabrication companies. Precision Components competes on the basis of quality, service, reliability of supply, engineering and technical capability, product breadth, innovation, design, and price.

 

Precision Components has manufacturing, sales and distribution operations in the United States, Brazil, Canada, China, Germany, Korea, Mexico, Singapore, Sweden, Switzerland, Thailand and the United Kingdom.

 

The Company evaluates the performance of its reportable segments based on the operating profit of the respective businesses, which includes net sales, cost of sales, selling and administrative expenses and certain components of other income and other expenses, as well as the allocation of corporate overhead expenses.

 

Sales between the business segments and between the geographic areas in which the businesses operate are accounted for on the same basis as sales to unaffiliated customers. Additionally, revenues are attributed to countries based on the location of manufacturing or distribution facilities.

 

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BARNES GROUP INC.

 

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS—(Continued)

 

The following tables (dollars shown in millions) set forth information about the Company’s operations by its reportable business segments and by geographic area.

 

Operations by Reportable Business Segment

 

     Logistics and
Manufacturing
Services
  
Precision
Components
   Other     Total
Company

Revenues

          

2008

   $ 691.8    $ 683.0    $ (12.7 )   $ 1,362.1

2007

     703.0      728.5      (13.3 )     1,418.2

2006

     602.3      650.2      (13.1 )     1,239.4

Operating profit

          

2008

   $ 79.1    $ 68.5    $ —       $ 147.6

2007

     70.5      84.9      —         155.4

2006

     56.8      61.4      —         118.2

Assets

          

2008

   $ 575.4    $ 756.3    $ 115.9     $ 1,447.6

2007

     644.5      813.0      81.8       1,539.3

2006

     598.4      641.5      96.6       1,336.5

Depreciation and amortization

          

2008

   $ 25.1    $ 25.0    $ 2.3     $ 52.4

2007

     22.5      26.1      2.0       50.6

2006

     16.9      23.9      1.4       42.2

Capital expenditures

          

2008

   $ 14.0    $ 33.3    $ 4.6     $ 51.9

2007

     26.4      21.8      2.0       50.2

2006

     19.1      21.8      0.8       41.7

 

Notes:

One customer, General Electric, accounted for 18%, 18% and 14% of the Company’s total revenue in 2008, 2007 and 2006, respectively.

“Other” revenues represent the elimination of intersegment sales.

“Other” assets include corporate-controlled assets, the majority of which are cash and deferred tax assets.

 

A reconciliation of the total reportable segments’ operating profit to income from continuing operations before income taxes follows:

 

     2008     2007     2006  

Operating profit

   $ 147.6     $ 155.4     $ 118.2  

Interest income

     0.6       0.7       1.1  

Interest expense

     (19.5 )     (25.1 )     (23.6 )

Other (expense) income

     (2.6 )     (1.0 )     (1.2 )
                        

Income from continuing operations before income taxes

   $ 126.1     $ 130.0     $ 94.5  
                        

 

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BARNES GROUP INC.

 

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS—(Continued)

 

Operations by Geographic Area

 

     Domestic    International    Other     Total
Company

Revenues

          

2008

   $ 835.1    $ 572.9    $ (45.9 )   $ 1,362.1

2007

     903.8      558.1      (43.7 )     1,418.2

2006

     857.6      423.6      (41.8 )     1,239.4

Long-lived assets

          

2008

   $ 308.9    $ 620.5    $ —       $ 929.4

2007

     338.7      665.2      —         1,003.9

2006

     317.0      534.7      —         851.7

 

Notes:

International sales derived from any one country did not exceed 10% of the Company’s total revenues.

“Other” revenues represent the elimination of intercompany sales between geographic locations, of which approximately 43% were sales from international locations to domestic locations.

Long-lived assets located in any one country that exceeded 10% of the Company’s total long-lived assets as of December 31, 2008 were $273.4 million of intangible assets related to the RSPs recorded in Singapore and $135.4 million primarily related to goodwill and property, plant and equipment at the Hänggi division located in Switzerland.

 

21. Commitments and Contingencies

 

Leases

 

The Company has various noncancellable operating leases for buildings, office space and equipment. Rent expense was $20,117, $18,692 and $14,971 for 2008, 2007 and 2006, respectively. Minimum rental commitments under noncancellable leases in years 2009 through 2013 are $13,444, $10,553, $7,210, $5,306 and $4,565, respectively, and $10,421 thereafter. The rental expense and minimum rental commitments of leases with step rent provisions are recognized on a straight-line basis over the lease term.

 

Product Warranties

 

The Company provides product warranties in connection with the sale of products. From time to time, the Company is subject to customer claims with respect to product warranties. Product warranty liabilities were not significant as of December 31, 2008 or 2007.

 

Contingent Payments

 

In connection with the Service Plus Distributors, Inc. acquisition in September 2005, $3,700 of the purchase price could be earned within three years of the closing date, contingent upon the occurrence of certain events or the achievement of certain performance targets. In 2006, $1,500 was earned and paid. The remaining balance of $2,200 was not earned within three years of the closing date and thus no further contingent payments have been or will be made relative to this acquisition.

 

Income Taxes

 

In connection with an IRS audit for the tax years 2000 through 2002, the IRS proposed adjustments to these tax years of approximately $16,500, plus a potential penalty of 20% of the tax assessment plus interest. The adjustment relates to the federal taxation of foreign income of certain foreign subsidiaries. The Company filed an administrative protest of these adjustments and is currently engaged with the Appeals Office of the IRS. The

 

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BARNES GROUP INC.

 

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS—(Continued)

 

Company believes its tax position on the issues raised by the IRS is correct and, therefore, the Company will continue to vigorously defend its position. The Company believes it will prevail on this issue. Any additional impact on the Company’s liability for income taxes cannot presently be determined, but the Company believes it is adequately provided for and the outcome will not have a material impact on its results of operations, financial position or cash flows.

 

22. Accounting Changes

 

As discussed in Note 13, the Company adopted SFAS No. 158, “Employers’ Accounting for Defined Benefit Pension and Other Postretirement Plans,” effective December 31, 2006.

 

As discussed in Note 14, the Company adopted FIN No. 48, “Accounting for Uncertainty in Income Taxes – an interpretation of FASB Statement No. 109,” effective January 1, 2007.

 

In September 2006, the FASB issued SFAS No. 157, “Fair Value Measurements.” This Statement defines fair value, establishes a framework for measuring fair value under GAAP and expands disclosures about fair value measurements. This Statement was to be effective for the Company in 2008. However, in February 2008 the FASB issued Financial Statement of Position No. 157-1, which amends SFAS No. 157 to exclude SFAS No. 13, “Accounting for Leases,” and other accounting pronouncements that address fair value measurements for lease transactions, and FSP No. 157-2, which delayed the effective date of SFAS No. 157 as it relates to nonfinancial assets and nonfinancial liabilities until 2009 for the Company except for items that are recognized or disclosed at fair value in the Company’s financial statements on a recurring basis. Additionally in October 2008, the FASB issued FSP No. 157-3 which clarifies the application of SFAS No. 157 for financial assets in markets that are not active. This FSP was effective immediately and included those periods for which financial statements had not been issued. The Company does not currently have any financial assets that are valued using inactive markets and as such was not impacted by the issuance of this FSP. Effective January 1, 2008, the Company adopted the provisions of this Statement except as it relates to those nonfinancial assets and nonfinancial liabilities excluded under FSP No. 157-2. The nonfinancial assets and nonfinancial liabilities as defined by FSP No. 157-2 for which the Company has not applied the fair value provisions of SFAS No. 157 include those related to: goodwill, intangible and other long-lived asset impairment testing; asset retirement obligations; liabilities for exit or disposal activities; and business combinations. The Company is currently evaluating the impact this Statement will have on the Company’s financial position, results of operations and cash flows as it relates to nonfinancial assets and nonfinancial liabilities. For the impact of adoption of SFAS No. 157 on financial assets and financial liabilities, see Note 12.

 

In February 2007, the FASB issued SFAS No. 159, “The Fair Value Option for Financial Assets and Financial Liabilities.” This Statement permits the measurement of certain financial instruments at fair value with subsequent unrealized gains and losses recorded in earnings. This Statement was effective for the Company on January 1, 2008. Adoption of this Statement did not have an impact on the Company’s financial position, results of operations and cash flows as the Company did not elect the fair value option.

 

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Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm

 

To the Board of Directors and Stockholders

of Barnes Group Inc.:

 

In our opinion, the accompanying consolidated balance sheets and the related consolidated statements of income, of changes in stockholders’ equity and of cash flows present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of Barnes Group Inc. and its subsidiaries at December 31, 2008 and 2007, and the results of their operations and their cash flows for each of the three years in the period ended December 31, 2008 in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America. In addition, in our opinion, the financial statement schedule listed in the index appearing under item 15 (a)(2) presents fairly, in all material respects, the information set forth therein when read in conjunction with the related consolidated financial statements. Also in our opinion, the Company maintained, in all material respects, effective internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2008, based on criteria established in Internal Control—Integrated Framework issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission (COSO). The Company’s management is responsible for these financial statements and financial statement schedule, for maintaining effective internal control over financial reporting and for its assessment of the effectiveness of internal control over financial reporting, included in Management’s Report on Internal Control over Financial Reporting appearing under Item 9A. Our responsibility is to express opinions on these financial statements, on the financial statement schedule, and on the Company’s internal control over financial reporting based on our integrated audits. We conducted our audits in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States). Those standards require that we plan and perform the audits to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements are free of material misstatement and whether effective internal control over financial reporting was maintained in all material respects. Our audits of the financial statements included 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. Our audit of internal control over financial reporting included obtaining an understanding of internal control over financial reporting, assessing the risk that a material weakness exists, and testing and evaluating the design and operating effectiveness of internal control based on the assessed risk. Our audits also included performing such other procedures as we considered necessary in the circumstances. We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinions.

 

As discussed in Note 22 to the consolidated financial statements, the Company changed the manner in which it accounts for defined benefit pension and other postretirement plans in 2006, the manner in which it accounts for uncertain tax positions in 2007 and the manner in which it determines fair value for financial assets and liabilities in 2008.

 

A company’s internal control over financial reporting is a process designed to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles. A company’s internal control over financial reporting includes those policies and procedures that (i) pertain to the maintenance of records that, in reasonable detail, accurately and fairly reflect the transactions and dispositions of the assets of the company; (ii) provide reasonable assurance that transactions are recorded as necessary to permit preparation of financial statements in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles, and that receipts and expenditures of the company are being made only in accordance with authorizations of management and directors of the company; and (iii) provide reasonable assurance regarding prevention or timely detection of unauthorized acquisition, use, or disposition of the company’s assets that could have a material effect on the financial statements.

 

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Because of its inherent limitations, internal control over financial reporting may not prevent or detect misstatements. Also, projections of any evaluation of effectiveness to future periods are subject to the risk that controls may become inadequate because of changes in conditions, or that the degree of compliance with the policies or procedures may deteriorate.

 

/s/    PRICEWATERHOUSECOOPERS LLP 

PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP

Hartford, Connecticut

February 24, 2009

 

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QUARTERLY DATA (UNAUDITED)

 

(Dollars in millions, except per share data)

 

     First
Quarter (3)
   Second
Quarter (3)
   Third
Quarter (3)
   Fourth
Quarter (2)(3)
    Full
Year (3)

2008

             

Net sales

   $ 384.0    $ 378.9    $ 333.8    $ 265.4     $ 1,362.1

Gross profit (1)

     146.7      146.6      125.7      95.4       514.5

Operating income

     51.6      51.0      42.6      2.7       147.9

Income (loss) from continuing operations

     34.8      36.4      30.3      (4.4 )     97.1

Net income (loss)

     33.4      34.6      28.9      (10.0 )     87.0

Per common share:

             

Income (loss) from continuing operations:

             

Basic

   $ .64    $ .67    $ .56    $ (.08 )   $ 1.80

Diluted

     .62      .63      .54      (.08 )     1.74

Net income (loss):

             

Basic

     .62      .64      .53      (.19 )     1.61

Diluted

     .60      .60      .51      (.19 )     1.56

Dividends

     .14      .16      .16      .16       .62

Market prices (high - low)

   $ 34.15-20.39    $ 32.33-22.77    $ 25.35-18.56    $ 20.25-8.51     $ 34.15-8.51

2007

             

Net sales

   $ 354.8    $ 354.0    $ 355.1    $ 354.2     $ 1,418.2

Gross profit (1)

     137.0      137.1      131.8      131.2       537.2

Operating income

     43.4      40.5      40.7      30.5       155.2

Income from continuing operations

     27.8      28.6      28.2      19.0       103.6

Net income

     27.7      28.4      27.7      17.6       101.3

Per common share:

             

Income from continuing operations:

             

Basic

   $ .53    $ .54    $ .53    $ .35     $ 1.94

Diluted

     .50      .50      .48      .32       1.80

Net income:

             

Basic

     .53      .53      .52      .33       1.90

Diluted

     .50      .49      .47      .30       1.76

Dividends

     .125      .140      .140      .140       .545

Market prices (high - low)

   $ 23.71-19.76    $ 34.61-22.62    $ 34.22-26.00    $ 36.86-28.53     $ 36.86-19.76

 

(1) Sales less cost of sales.
(2) The Company took a number of actions within each of its businesses primarily in the fourth quarter of 2008. See Note 10.
(3) During 2008, the Company exited certain non-core businesses within its Logistics and Manufacturing Services segment in the United Kingdom. All previously reported financial information has been adjusted on a retrospective basis to reflect the discontinued operations. See Note 5.

 

Item 9. Changes in and Disagreements with Accountants on Accounting and Financial Disclosure

 

None.

 

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Item 9A. Controls and Procedures

 

Disclosure Controls and Procedures

 

Management, including the Company’s President and Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, has evaluated the effectiveness of the design and operation of the Company’s disclosure controls and procedures as of the end of the period covered by this report. Based upon, and as of the date of, that evaluation, the President and Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer concluded that the disclosure controls and procedures were effective, in all material respects, to ensure that information required to be disclosed in the reports the Company files and submits under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (the “Exchange Act”), as amended, is (i) recorded, processed, summarized and reported as and when required and (ii) is accumulated and communicated to the Company’s management, including our President and Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, as appropriate to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosure.

 

Management’s Report on Internal Control Over Financial Reporting

 

Management is responsible for establishing and maintaining adequate internal control over financial reporting, as such term is defined in Exchange Act Rule 13a-15(f). Under the supervision and with the participation of management, including the principal executive officer and principal financial officer, the Company conducted an assessment of the effectiveness of its internal control over financial reporting based on the framework in “Internal Control—Integrated Framework” issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission. Based on the assessment under this framework, management concluded that the Company’s internal control over financial reporting was effective as of December 31, 2008.

 

PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP, the independent registered public accounting firm that audited the financial statements included in this Annual Report, has issued an attestation report on the Company’s internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2008, which appears on page 64 of this Annual Report on Form 10-K.

 

Changes in Internal Control Over Financial Reporting

 

There has been no change in our internal control over financial reporting during the Company’s fourth fiscal quarter that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, our internal control over financial reporting.

 

Item 9B. Other Information

 

None.

 

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PART III

 

Item 10. Directors, Executive Officers and Corporate Governance

 

DIRECTORS

 

Information with respect to our directors and nominees may be found under the caption “Election of Directors” of the Company’s proxy statement to be delivered to stockholders in connection with the Annual Meeting of Stockholders to be held on May 7, 2009 (the “Proxy Statement”). Such information is incorporated herein by reference.

 

EXECUTIVE OFFICERS

 

The Company’s executive officers as of the date of this Annual Report are as follows:

 

Executive Officer

  

Position

   Age as of
  December 31, 2008  

Gregory F. Milzcik

  

President and Chief Executive Officer

   49

John R. Arrington

  

Senior Vice President, Human Resources

   62

Francis C. Boyle, Jr.

  

Vice President, Finance and Chief Accounting Officer

   58

Jerry W. Burris

  

Vice President, Barnes Group Inc., and President, Precision Components

   45

Scott M. Deakin

  

Senior Vice President, Corporate Development

   42

Joseph D. DeForte

  

Vice President, Tax

   66

Patrick J. Dempsey

  

Vice President, Barnes Group Inc., and President, Logistics and Manufacturing Services

   44

Signe S. Gates

  

Senior Vice President, General Counsel and Secretary

   59

Lawrence W. O’Brien

  

Vice President, Treasurer

   59

Christopher J. Stephens, Jr.

  

Senior Vice President, Finance and Chief Financial Officer

   44

 

Each officer holds office until his or her successor is chosen and qualified or otherwise as provided in the Company’s By-Laws, except Mr. Milzcik who holds office pursuant to an employment agreement with the Company. No family relationships exist among the executive officers of the Company. Except for Mr. Burris, Mr. Deakin and Mr. Stephens, each of the Company’s executive officers has been employed by the Company or its subsidiaries in an executive or managerial capacity for at least the past five years.

 

Mr. Arrington joined the Company as Senior Vice President, Human Resources in April 1998.

 

Mr. Boyle joined the Company in April 1978. Mr. Boyle was appointed Vice President, Finance and Chief Accounting Officer in January 2009. Prior to that appointment he had served as Vice President, Controller, and Acting Chief Financial Officer since June 2008 and prior to that as Vice President, Controller since 1997.

 

Mr. Burris joined the Company in July 2006 as Vice President, Barnes Group Inc. and President, Associated Spring. In October 2008, he was appointed President, Precision Components. In 2006, prior to joining the Company, he was the President and CEO of the General Electric Advanced Material Quartz and Ceramics group of General Electric Company. Prior to that he was the General Manager of various business teams of General Electric Company, including Global Healthcare Services from 2003 to 2006, Global Sourcing from 2001 to 2003, the Honeywell Integration in 2001, and the Dishwasher Business from 1998 to 2001.

 

Mr. Deakin joined the Company in May 2007 as Senior Vice President, Corporate Development. From 2004 to 2007, he was the General Manager of the Power Products Division, Hydraulics Operations of Eaton Corporation. From 2001 to 2004, he was the Director, Finance and Planning for the Hydraulics Operations of Eaton Corporation.

 

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Mr. DeForte joined the Company as Vice President, Tax in August 1999.

 

Mr. Dempsey joined the Company in October 2000. He has held a series of increasingly responsible roles since joining the Company. In November 2004, he was promoted to Vice President, Barnes Group Inc. and President, Barnes Aerospace. In October 2007, he was appointed President, Barnes Distribution. In October 2008, he was appointed President, Logistics and Manufacturing Services.

 

Ms. Gates joined the Company as Senior Vice President, General Counsel and Secretary in June 1999.

 

Mr. Milzcik joined the Company as Vice President, Barnes Group Inc. and President, Barnes Aerospace in June 1999. He was appointed President, Barnes Industrial (formerly Associated Spring) in November 2004. Effective February 1, 2006, he was appointed Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer of the Company. Effective October 19, 2006, he was appointed President and Chief Executive Officer.

 

Mr. O’Brien joined the Company as Vice President, Treasurer in August 2001.

 

Mr. Stephens joined the Company in January 2009 as Senior Vice President, Finance and Chief Financial Officer. From 2007 to 2008, he served as President of the Consumer Products Group of Honeywell International. From 2003 to 2007, he served as Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of Honeywell Transportation Systems Group. Prior to 2003, he held positions of increasing responsibility with The Boeing Company, Hughes Space and Communications, and Allied Signal.

 

AUDIT COMMITTEE

 

Ms. Mangum and Messrs. Benanav, Bristow, Griffin, Grzelecki and Morgan are the members of the Company’s audit committee which is a separately designated standing committee of the Board of Directors of the Company established in accordance with Section 3(a)(58)(A) of the Exchange Act.

 

The Company’s Board of Directors has determined that Ms. Mangum, who qualifies as an independent director under the New York Stock Exchange corporate governance listing standards and the Company’s Corporate Governance Guidelines, is an “audit committee financial expert,” as such term is defined by the Securities and Exchange Commission.

 

COMPLIANCE WITH SECTION 16(A) OF THE EXCHANGE ACT

 

The information in the Proxy Statement under the caption “Section 16(a) Beneficial Ownership Reporting Compliance” is incorporated herein by reference.

 

CODE OF ETHICS

 

We have adopted a Code of Ethics Applicable to Senior Executives (the “Executive Code of Ethics”) which is applicable to its Chief Executive Officer, Chief Financial Officer and Chief Accounting Officer. The Executive Code of Ethics is available on our website at www.BGInc.com. The Company will disclose any material amendments to or waivers of the Executive Code of Ethics on that website or in a report on Form 8-K.

 

ANNUAL CERTIFICATIONS REQUIRED BY THE NEW YORK STOCK EXCHANGE

 

In 2008, the Company’s Chief Executive Officer submitted to the New York Stock Exchange the required Annual CEO Certification certifying that he was not aware of any violation by the Company of the Exchange’s corporate governance listing standards. The Company also filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission the certifications required of the Company’s Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer under Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 as exhibits to the Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2007.

 

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Item 11. Executive Compensation

 

The information in the Proxy Statement under the caption “Executive and Director Compensation” is incorporated herein by reference.

 

Item 12. Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and Management and Related Stockholder

Matters

 

The information in the Proxy Statement under “Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and Management” and “Securities Authorized for Issuance Under Equity Compensation Plans” is incorporated herein by reference.

 

Item 13. Certain Relationships and Related Transactions, and Director Independence

 

The information in the Proxy Statement under “Related Person Transactions” and “Corporate Governance – Director Independence” is incorporated herein by reference.

 

Item 14. Principal Accounting Fees and Services

 

The information in the Proxy Statement under “Principal Accounting Fees and Services” is incorporated herein by reference.

 

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PART IV

 

Item 15. Exhibits, Financial Statement Schedules

 

(a)(1)    The Financial Statements of the Company are set forth under Item 8 of this Annual Report.
(a)(2)    See Financial Statement Schedule under Item 15(c).
(a)(3)    See Item 15(b) below.
(b)    The Exhibits required by Item 601 of Regulation S-K are filed as Exhibits to this Annual Report and indexed at pages 75 through 79 of this Annual Report.
(c)    Financial Statement Schedules.

 

Schedule II—Valuation and Qualifying Accounts

Years Ended December 31, 2008, 2007 and 2006

(In thousands)

 

 

Allowances for Doubtful Accounts:

  

Balance December 31, 2005

   $ 3,063  

Provision charged to income

     896  

Doubtful accounts written off (net)

     (1,271 )

Other adjustments (1)

     901  
        

Balance December 31, 2006

     3,589  

Provision charged to income (2)

     2,274  

Doubtful accounts written off (net)

     (756 )

Other adjustments (1)

     345  
        

Balance December 31, 2007

     5,452  

Provision charged to income (3)

     4,319  

Doubtful accounts written off (net)

     (3,226 )

Other adjustments (1)

     (371 )
        

Balance December 31, 2008

   $ 6,174  
        

 

(1) Opening balances of acquired businesses, foreign currency translation and other reclassifications.
(2) The increase in the provision charged to income in 2007 from 2006 was primarily related to increasing the allowance for delinquent customers at the distribution businesses of Logistics and Manufacturing Services.
(3) The increase in the provision charged to income and the amount written off for doubtful accounts in 2008 from 2007 is primarily related to the distribution businesses of Logistics and Manufacturing Services increasing the allowance for delinquent customers and writing off receivables for bankruptcies and other customers.

 

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Schedule II—Valuation and Qualifying Accounts

Years Ended December 31, 2008, 2007 and 2006

(In thousands)

 

 

Valuation Allowance on Deferred Tax Assets:

  

Balance December 31, 2005

   $ 10,621  

Additions charged to income tax expense

     1,885  

Additions charged to other comprehensive income

     1,044  

Additions charged to goodwill due to acquisitions

     824  

Reductions credited to income tax expense

     (1,690 )

Changes due to foreign currency translation

     426  
        

Balance December 31, 2006

     13,110  

Additions charged to income tax expense

     1,439  

Reductions charged to other comprehensive income

     (411 )

Reductions credited to income tax expense

     (1,219 )

Changes due to Mexican Tax Law

     1,970  

Changes due to foreign currency translation

     1,203  
        

Balance December 31, 2007

     16,092  

Additions charged to income tax expense

     9,463  

Additions charged to other comprehensive income

     346  

Reductions credited to income tax expense

     (510 )

Changes due to foreign currency translation

     (2,747 )
        

Balance December 31, 2008

   $ 22,644  
        

 

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SIGNATURES

 

Pursuant to the requirements of Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the Company has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized.

 

Date: February 24, 2009

BARNES GROUP INC.

By

 

/s/ GREGORY F. MILZCIK    

  Gregory F. Milzcik
  President and Chief Executive Officer

 

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, this report has been signed below as of the above date by the following persons on behalf of the Company in the capacities indicated.

 

/s/ GREGORY F. MILZCIK    

Gregory F. Milzcik
President and Chief Executive Officer
(Principal Executive Officer), and Director

/s/ CHRISTOPHER J. STEPHENS, JR.    

Christopher J. Stephens, Jr.
Senior Vice President, Finance
Chief Financial Officer
(Principal Financial Officer)

/s/ FRANCIS C. BOYLE, JR.    

Francis C. Boyle, Jr.
Vice President, Finance and Chief Accounting Officer
(Principal Accounting Officer)

/s/ THOMAS O. BARNES    

Thomas O. Barnes
Director

/s/ THOMAS J. ALBANI    

Thomas J. Albani
Director

/s/ JOHN W. ALDEN    

John W. Alden
Director

/s/ GARY G. BENANAV    

Gary G. Benanav
Director

/s/ WILLIAM S. BRISTOW, JR.    

William S. Bristow, Jr.
Director

 

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/s/ GEORGE T. CARPENTER    

George T. Carpenter
Director

/s/ DONALD W. GRIFFIN    

Donald W. Griffin
Director

/s/ FRANK E. GRZELECKI    

Frank E. Grzelecki
Director

/s/ MYLLE H. MANGUM    

Mylle H. Mangum
Director

/s/ WILLIAM J. MORGAN    

William J. Morgan
Director

 

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EXHIBIT INDEX

 

Barnes Group Inc.

 

Annual Report on Form 10-K

for the Year ended December 31, 2008

 

Exhibit No.

  

Description

  

Reference

2.1    Share Purchase Agreement between Mr. Eugen Hänggi and Barnes Group Inc., dated March 15, 2006.    Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to the Company’s report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended March 31, 2006.
3.1    Restated Certificate of Incorporation; Certificate of Designation; Preferences and Rights of Series A Junior Participating Preferred Stock; Certificate of Change of location of registered office and of registered agent, dated December 13, 2002; Certificate of Merger of domestic company, dated May 19, 2004; and Certificate of Amendment of Restated Certificate of Incorporation of Barnes Group Inc., dated April 20, 2006.    Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3 to the Company’s report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended March 31, 2006.
3.2    Amended and Restated By-Laws.    Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.2 to the Company’s report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 1998.
4.1    (i) Fourth Amended and Restated Revolving Credit Agreement, dated September 19, 2007, among the Company and several commercial banks.    Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.1(i) to the Company’s report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended September 30, 2007.
   (ii) Guaranty of the Company, dated as of September 19, 2007.    Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.1(ii) to the Company’s report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended September 30, 2007.
   (iii) Sharing Agreement, dated as of January 11, 2006.    Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.1(ii) to the Company’s report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2005.
4.2    (i) Note Agreement dated as of November 12, 1999, between 3031786 Nova Scotia Company, a wholly owned subsidiary of the Company, and several insurance companies.    Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.6 to the Company’s report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 1999.
   (ii) Amendment No. 1 to Note Agreement, dated as of February 5, 2003.    Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.4(ii) to the Company’s report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2002.
   (iii) Assumption and Amendment Agreement.    Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.3 (iii) to the Company’s report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2005.
   (iv) Amendment No. 3 to Note Agreement, dated as of January 11, 2006.    Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.3(iv) to the Company’s report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2005.

 

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Exhibit No.

  

Description

  

Reference

   (v) Amendment No. 4 to Note Agreement, dated as of February 23, 2006.    Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.4 to the Company’s report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended March 31, 2006.
   (vi) Letter Amendment dated February 12, 2007.    Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.2(vi) to the Company’s report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2006.
4.3    Purchase Agreement among the Company and several initial purchasers named therein, dated July 26, 2005, relating to the Company’s 3.75% Convertible Senior Subordinated Notes due 2025.    Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.1 to Form 8-K, filed by the Company on August 2, 2005.
4.4    Indenture between the Company and the Bank of New York Trust Company, N.A., as Trustee under the Indenture, dated as of August 1, 2005, relating to the Company’s 3.75% Convertible Senior Subordinated Notes due 2025.    Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.3 to Form 8-K, filed by the Company on August 2, 2005.
4.5    Resale Registration Rights Agreement between the Company and Banc of America Securities LLC, as Representative of the Initial Purchasers, dated August 1, 2005, relating to the Company’s 3.75% Convertible Senior Subordinated Notes due 2025.    Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.4 to Form 8-K, filed by the Company on August 2, 2005.
4.6    Purchase Agreement among the Company and several initial purchasers named therein, dated March 6, 2007, relating to the Company’s 3.375% Convertible Senior Subordinated Notes due 2027.    Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.1 to Form 8-K, filed by the Company on March 7, 2007.
4.7    Indenture between the Company and the Bank of New York Trust Company, N.A., as Trustee under the Indenture, dated as of March 12, 2007, relating to the Company’s 3.375% Convertible Senior Subordinated Notes due 2027.    Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.3 to Form 8-K, filed by the Company on March 12, 2007.
4.8    Resale Registration Rights Agreement between the Company and Banc of America Securities LLC, as Representative of the Initial Purchasers, dated March 12, 2007, relating to the Company’s 3.375% Convertible Senior Subordinated Notes due 2027.    Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.4 to Form 8-K, filed by the Company on March 12, 2007.
4.9    (i) ISDA Master Agreement, dated as of March 6, 2008.    Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.1(i) to the Company’s report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended June 30, 2008.
   (ii) Schedule to Wells Fargo Bank, N.A. ISDA Master Agreement.    Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.1(ii) to the Company’s report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended June 30, 2008.

 

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Description

  

Reference

   (iii) Schedule to JP Morgan Chase Bank, N.A. ISDA Master Agreement.    Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.2(i) to the Company’s report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended June 30, 2008.
10.1*    Barnes Group Inc. Management Incentive Compensation Plan, amended October 22, 2008.    Filed with this report.
10.2*    Barnes Group Inc. Retirement Benefit Equalization Plan, as amended and restated effective January 1, 2009.    Filed with this report.
10.3*    Barnes Group Inc. Supplemental Senior Officer Retirement Plan, as amended and restated effective January 1, 2009.    Filed with this report.
10.4*    1991 Barnes Group Stock Incentive Plan, as amended and restated as of December 31, 2008.    Filed with this report.
10.5*    Barnes Group Inc. Non-Employee Director Deferred Stock Plan, as amended and restated December 31, 2008.    Filed with this report.
10.6*    Barnes Group Inc. Directors’ Deferred Compensation Plan, as amended and restated December 31, 2008.    Filed with this report.
10.7*    Barnes Group Inc. Senior Executive Enhanced Life Insurance Program, as amended and restated effective December 31, 2008.    Filed with this report.
10.8*    Barnes Group Inc. Enhanced Life Insurance Program, as amended December 31, 2008.    Filed with this report.
10.9*    Barnes Group Inc. Supplemental Executive Retirement Plan, as amended and restated to February 3, 2009 effective January 1, 2009.    Filed with this report.
10.10*    Barnes Group Inc. Executive Officer Severance Agreement, as amended December 31, 2008.    Filed with this report.
10.11*    Barnes Group Inc. Amended Employee Stock and Ownership Program as further amended.    Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.2 to the Company’s report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended March 31, 2003.
10.12*    Barnes Group Inc. Executive Deferred Compensation Plan.    Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to the Company’s report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended September 30, 2001.
10.13*    Barnes Group Inc. Executive Separation Pay Plan, as amended and restated effective December 31, 2008.    Filed with this report.
10.14*    Barnes Group Inc. Performance Linked Bonus Plan for Selected Executive Officers, as amended October 22, 2008.    Filed with this report.

 

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Exhibit No.

  

Description

  

Reference

10.15*    Barnes Group Inc. Stock and Incentive Award Plan, as amended December 31, 2008.    Filed with this report.
10.16*    Executive Compensation.    Incorporated by reference to Item 5.02(e), on Form 8-K, filed by the Company on February 19, 2008.
10.17*    Director Compensation.    Incorporated by reference to Item 5.02(d), on Form 8-K, filed by the Company on October 28, 2008.
10.18*    Employment Agreement by and between the Company and Gregory F. Milzcik, as amended December 31, 2008.    Incorporate by reference to Exhibit 10.1, on Form 8-K/A, filed by the Company on January 20, 2009.
10.19*    Executive Compensation.    Incorporated by reference to Item 5.02(e), on Form 8-K filed by the Company July 30, 2008.
10.20*    Agreement between Francis C. Boyle, Jr. and Barnes Group Inc., dated January 12, 2009.   

Filed with this report.

10.21*    Agreement between William C. Denninger and Barnes Group Inc., dated May 30, 2008.    Filed with this report.
10.22*    Agreement between Christopher J. Stephens, Jr. and Barnes Group Inc., dated January 12, 2009.    Filed with this report.
10.23*    Form of Amended and Restated Restricted Stock Unit Award Agreement for Directors.    Filed with this report.
10.24*    Form of Non-Qualified Stock Option Agreement for CEO.    Filed with this report.
10.25*    Form of Non-Qualified Stock Option Agreement for employees grade 21 and up.    Filed with this report.
10.26*    Form of Amended and Restated Restricted Stock Unit Award Agreement for CEO.    Filed with this report.
10.27*    Form of Amended and Restated Restricted Stock Unit Award Agreement for employees grade 21 and up.    Filed with this report.
10.28*    Form of Amended and Restated Performance Share Award Agreement for Officers.    Filed with this report.
10.29*    Form of Amended and Restated Contingent Dividend Equivalent Rights Agreement for officers.    Filed with this report.
10.30*    Form of Amended and Restated Performance Share Award Agreement for CEO.    Filed with this report.
10.31*    Form of Amended and Restated Contingent Dividend Equivalent Rights Agreement for CEO.    Filed with this report.
10.32*    Form of Amended and Restated Restricted Stock Unit Award Agreement for T. Albani.    Filed with this report.

 

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Description

  

Reference

21    List of Subsidiaries.    Filed with this report.
23    Consent of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm.    Filed with this report.
31.1    Certificate pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.    Filed with this report.
31.2    Certificate pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.    Filed with this report.
32    Certificate pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350 as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.    Furnished with this report.

 

* Management contract or compensatory plan or arrangement.

 

The Company agrees to furnish to the Commission, upon request, a copy of each instrument with respect to which there are outstanding issues of unregistered long-term debt of the Company and its subsidiaries, the authorized principal amount of which does not exceed 10% of the total assets of the Company and its subsidiaries on a consolidated basis.

 

Except for Exhibits 21 and 23, which will be furnished free of charge, copies of exhibits referred to above will be furnished at a cost of twenty-five cents per page to stockholders who make a written request to the Secretary, Barnes Group Inc., 123 Main Street, Bristol, Connecticut 06010.

 

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