Item 1. Business
Overview
Park-Ohio Holdings Corp. (“Holdings” or “ParkOhio”), incorporated in Ohio since 1998, is a diversified international company providing world-class customers with a supply chain management outsourcing service, capital equipment used on their production lines, and manufactured components used to assemble their products.
References herein to “we” or “the Company” include, where applicable, Holdings and Park-Ohio Industries, Inc. and Holdings’ other direct and indirect subsidiaries.
The Company operates through three reportable segments: Supply Technologies, Assembly Components and Engineered Products. As of December 31, 2020, we employed approximately 6,500 people.
The following table summarizes the key attributes of each of our business segments:
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Supply Technologies
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Assembly Components
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Engineered Products
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NET SALES FOR 2020
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$510.1 million
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$441.5 million
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$343.6 million
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SELECTED PRODUCTS
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Sourcing, planning and procurement of over 240,000 production components, including:
• Fasteners
• Pins
• Valves
• Hoses
• Wire harnesses
• Clamps and fittings
• Rubber and plastic components
• Other Class C and MRO products
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• Extruded and molded rubber and thermoplastic products
• Fuel filler assemblies
• Gasoline direct injection systems
• Control arms
• Knuckles
• Engine cradles and brackets
• Oil pans
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• Induction heating and melting systems
• Pipe threading systems
• Industrial oven systems
• Forging presses
• Forged steel and machined products
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SELECTED INDUSTRIES SERVED
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• Heavy-duty truck
• Power sports and recreational equipment
• Aerospace and defense
• Semiconductor equipment
• Electrical distribution and controls
• Consumer electronics
• Bus and coaches
• Automotive
• Agricultural and construction equipment
• HVAC
• Lawn and garden
• Plumbing
• Medical devices
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• Automotive and light vehicle
• Agricultural equipment
• Construction equipment
• Heavy-duty truck
• Marine equipment
• Bus
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• Ferrous and non-ferrous metals
• Coatings
• Forging
• Foundry
• Heavy-duty truck
• Construction equipment
• Automotive
• Oil and gas
• Rail
• Aerospace and defense
• Power generation
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The Company consists of the following segments:
Supply Technologies
Our Supply Technologies business provides our customers with Total Supply Management™, a proactive solutions approach that manages the efficiencies of every aspect of supplying production parts and materials to our customers’ manufacturing floor, from strategic planning to program implementation. Total Supply Management™ includes engineering and design support, part usage and cost analysis, supplier selection, quality assurance, bar coding, product packaging and tracking, just-in-time and point-of-use delivery, electronic billing services and ongoing technical support. We operate more than 60 logistics service centers in the United States, Mexico, Canada, Czech Republic, Puerto Rico, Scotland, Hungary, China, Taiwan, Singapore, India, England, France, Spain, Poland, Malaysia, Northern Ireland and Ireland, as well as production sourcing and support centers in the United States and Asia. Through our supply chain management programs, we supply more than 240,000 globally-sourced production components, many of which are specialized and customized to meet individual customers’ needs.
Total Supply Management™ provides our customers with an expert partner in strategic planning, global sourcing, technical services, parts and materials, logistics, distribution and inventory management of production components. Some production components are characterized by low per unit supplier prices relative to the indirect costs of supplier management, quality assurance, inventory management and delivery to the production line. In addition, Supply Technologies delivers an increasingly broad range of higher-value production components including valves, fuel hose assemblies, electro-mechanical hardware, labels, fittings, steering components and many others. Applications engineering specialists and the direct sales force work closely with the engineering staff of OEM customers to recommend the appropriate production components for a new product or to suggest alternative components that reduce overall production costs, streamline assembly or enhance the appearance or performance of the end product. Supply Technologies also provides spare parts and aftermarket products to end users of its customers’ products.
Total Supply Management™ is typically provided to customers pursuant to sole-source arrangements. We believe our approach distinguishes us from traditional buy/sell distributors, as well as manufacturers who supply products directly to customers, because we provide the supply chain management of our customers’ high-volume production components. We administer the processes customized to each customer’s needs by replacing numerous current suppliers with a sole-source relationship with Supply Technologies. Our highly-developed, customized information systems provide global transparency and flexibility through the complete supply chain. This enables our customers to: (1) significantly reduce the direct and indirect cost of production component processes by outsourcing internal purchasing, quality assurance and inventory fulfillment responsibilities; (2) reduce the amount of working capital invested in inventory and floor space; (3) reduce component costs through purchasing efficiencies, including bulk buying and supplier consolidation; and (4) receive technical expertise in production component selection, design and engineering. Our sole-source arrangements foster long-term, entrenched supply relationships with our customers and, as a result, the average tenure of service for our top 50 Supply Technologies clients exceeds ten years. Supply Technologies also supplies wholesale industrial products to other manufacturers and distributors pursuant to master or authorized distributor relationships.
The Supply Technologies segment also engineers and manufactures precision cold-formed and cold-extruded fasteners and other products, including locknuts, SPAC® nuts, SPAC® bolts and wheel hardware, which are principally used in applications where controlled tightening is required due to high vibration. Supply Technologies produces both standard items and specialty products to customer specifications, which are used in large volumes by customers in the automotive, heavy-duty truck and rail industries.
Markets and Customers. For the year ended December 31, 2020, approximately 62% of Supply Technologies’ net sales were to domestic customers. Remaining sales were primarily to manufacturing facilities of large, multinational customers located in Europe, Mexico, Asia and Canada. Total Supply Management™ is used extensively in a variety of industries, and demand is generally related to the state of the economy and to the overall level of manufacturing activity.
Supply Technologies markets and sells its approach to over 7,500 customers domestically and internationally. The five largest customers, to which Supply Technologies sells through sole-source contracts to multiple operating divisions or
locations, accounted for approximately 31% and 32% of the sales of Supply Technologies in 2020 and 2019, respectively. The loss of any two or more of its top five customers could have a material adverse effect on the results of operations and financial condition of this segment.
Competition. A limited number of companies compete with Supply Technologies to provide supply management services for production parts and materials. Supply Technologies competes primarily on the basis of its Total Supply Management™ approach, including engineering and design support, part usage and cost analysis, supplier selection, quality assurance, bar coding, product packaging and tracking, just-in-time and point-of-use delivery, electronic billing services and ongoing technical support, and its geographic reach, extensive product selection, price and reputation for high service levels. Numerous U.S. and foreign companies compete with Supply Technologies in manufacturing cold-formed and cold-extruded products.
Assembly Components
Assembly Components manufactures products oriented towards fuel efficiency, reduced emission standards and vehicle electrification. Assembly Components designs, develops and manufactures: aluminum products; highly efficient, high pressure direct fuel injection fuel rails and pipes; fuel filler pipes that route fuel from the gas cap to the gas tank; and flexible multi-layer plastic and rubber assemblies used to transport fuel from the vehicle's gas tank and then, at extreme high pressure, to the engine's fuel injector nozzles. These advanced products, coupled with Turbo Enabled engines, make up large and growing engine architecture for all worldwide car manufacturers. Assembly Components also designs and manufactures Turbo Charging hoses along with Turbo Coolant hoses that will be required as engines get downsized to 3 or 4 cylinders from 6 or 8 cylinders. This engine downsizing increases efficiency, while dramatically decreasing pollution levels. In addition, our Assembly Components segment operates what we believe is one of the few aluminum component suppliers that have the capability to provide a wide range of high-volume, high-quality products utilizing a broad range of processes including gravity and low pressure permanent mold, die-cast and lost-foam, as well as emerging alternative casting technologies. We also provide machining to our aluminum products customers.
Assembly Components operates 19 manufacturing facilities and four technical offices in the United States, Mexico, China, England and the Czech Republic. In addition, we also provide value-added services such as design engineering, machining and parts assembly.
Markets and Customers. For the year ended December 31, 2020, approximately 68% of Assembly Components’ net sales were to domestic customers. The five largest customers of Assembly Components accounted for approximately 45% and 47% of segment sales for 2020 and 2019, respectively. These sales, across multiple operating divisions, are through sole-source contracts. The loss of any one of these customers could have a material adverse effect on the results of operations and financial condition of this segment.
Competition. Assembly Components competes principally on the basis of its ability to: (1) engineer and manufacture high-quality, cost-effective assemblies utilizing multiple technologies in large volumes; (2) provide timely delivery; and (3) retain the manufacturing flexibility necessary to quickly adjust to the needs of its customers. There are few domestic companies with the capabilities to meet customers’ stringent quality and service standards and lean manufacturing techniques. As one of these suppliers, Assembly Components is well-positioned to benefit as customers continue to consolidate their supplier base.
Engineered Products
Our Engineered Products segment operates a diverse group of niche manufacturing businesses that design and manufacture a broad range of highly-engineered products, including induction heating and melting systems, pipe threading systems and forged and machined products. We manufacture these products in 16 domestic facilities throughout the United States and 20 international facilities in Canada, Mexico, the United Kingdom, Belgium, Germany, China, Italy, India, Japan, Spain and Brazil.
Our induction heating and melting business utilizes proprietary technology and specializes in the engineering, construction, service and repair of induction heating and melting systems, primarily for the ferrous and non-ferrous metals, silicon, coatings, forging, foundry, automotive and construction equipment industries. Our induction heating and melting
systems are engineered and built to customer specifications and are used primarily for melting, heating, and surface hardening of metals and curing of coatings. Approximately 44% of our induction heating and melting systems’ revenues are derived from the sale of replacement parts and provision of field service, primarily for the installed base of our own products. Our pipe threading business serves the oil and gas industry. We also engineer and install mechanical forging presses, sell spare parts and provide field service for the large existing base of mechanical forging presses and hammers in North America. We machine, induction harden and surface finish crankshafts and camshafts, used primarily in locomotives. We forge aerospace and defense structural components such as landing gears and struts, as well as rail products such as railcar center plates and draft lugs.
Markets and Customers. For the year ended December 31, 2020, approximately 52% of Engineered Products’ net sales were to domestic customers. We sell induction heating and other capital equipment to component manufacturers and OEMs in the ferrous and non-ferrous metals, silicon, coatings, forging, foundry, automotive, truck, construction equipment and oil and gas industries. We sell forged and machined products to locomotive manufacturers, machining companies and sub-assemblers who finish aerospace and defense products for OEMs, and railcar builders and maintenance providers.
Competition. We compete with small-to medium-sized domestic and international equipment manufacturers on the basis of service capability, ability to meet customer specifications, delivery performance and engineering expertise. We compete domestically and internationally with small-to medium-sized forging and machining businesses on the basis of product quality and precision.
Sales and Marketing
Supply Technologies markets its products and services in the United States, Mexico, Canada, Europe and Asia primarily through its direct sales force, which is assisted by applications engineers who provide the technical expertise necessary to assist the engineering staff of OEM customers in designing new products and improving existing products. Assembly Components primarily markets and sells its products in North America through internal sales personnel and independent sales representatives. Engineered Products primarily markets and sells its products in North America through both internal sales personnel and independent sales representatives. Induction heating and pipe threading equipment is also marketed and sold in Europe, Asia, Latin America and Africa through both internal sales personnel and independent sales representatives. In some instances, the internal engineering staff assists in the sales and marketing effort through joint design and applications-engineering efforts with major customers.
Raw Materials and Suppliers
Supply Technologies purchases substantially all of its production components from third-party suppliers. Supply Technologies has multiple sources of supply for its components. An increasing portion of Supply Technologies’ production components are purchased from suppliers in foreign countries, primarily Canada, Taiwan, China, South Korea, Singapore, India and multiple European countries. Supply Technologies is dependent upon the ability of such suppliers to meet stringent quality and performance standards and to conform to delivery schedules. Assembly Components and Engineered Products purchase substantially all of their raw materials, principally metals and certain component parts incorporated into their products, from third-party suppliers and manufacturers. Most raw materials required by Assembly Components and Engineered Products are commodity products available from several domestic suppliers. Management believes that raw materials and component parts other than certain specialty products are available from alternative sources.
Our suppliers of raw materials and component parts may significantly and quickly increase their prices in response to increases in costs of the raw materials, such as steel, that they use to manufacture our raw materials and component parts. While we generally attempt to pass along increased raw material prices to our customers in the form of price increases, there may be a time delay between the increased raw material prices and our ability to increase the price of our products, or we may be unable to increase the prices of our products due to various factors. See the discussion of risks associated with raw material supply and costs in Item 1A "Risk Factors".
Backlog
Management believes that backlog is not a meaningful measure for Supply Technologies, as a majority of Supply Technologies’ customers require just-in-time delivery of production components. Management believes that Assembly Components’ backlog is not a meaningful measure, as a significant portion of sales are on a release or firm order basis. The
backlog of Engineered Products’ orders believed to be firm as of December 31, 2020 was $135.9 million, compared with $220.5 million as of December 31, 2019. Nearly all of Engineered Products’ backlog as of December 31, 2020 is scheduled to be shipped in 2021.
Compliance with Government Regulations
We are subject to numerous federal, state and local laws and regulations designed to protect public health and the environment, particularly with regard to discharges and emissions, as well as handling, storage, treatment and disposal of various substances and wastes. Failure to comply with applicable environmental laws and regulations and permit requirements could result in civil and criminal fines or penalties or enforcement actions, including regulatory or judicial orders enjoining or curtailing operations or requiring corrective measures. Pursuant to certain environmental laws, owners or operators of facilities may be liable for the costs of response or other corrective actions for contamination identified at or emanating from current or former locations, without regard to whether the owner or operator knew of, or was responsible for, the presence of any such contamination, and for related damages to natural resources. Additionally, persons who arrange for the disposal or treatment of hazardous substances or materials may be liable for costs of response at sites where they are located, whether or not the site is owned or operated by such person.
From time to time, we have incurred, and are presently incurring, costs and obligations for correcting environmental noncompliance and remediating environmental conditions at certain of our properties. In general, we have not experienced difficulty in complying with environmental laws in the past, and compliance with environmental laws has not had a material adverse effect on our financial condition, liquidity and results of operations. Our capital expenditures on environmental control facilities were not material during the past five years and such expenditures are not expected to be material to us in the foreseeable future.
We are currently, and may in the future be, required to incur costs relating to the investigation or remediation of property, including property where we have disposed of our waste, and for addressing environmental conditions. For instance, we have been identified as a potentially responsible party at third-party sites under the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation and Liability Act of 1980, as amended, or comparable state laws, which provide for strict and, under certain circumstances, joint and several liability. We are participating in the cost of certain clean-up efforts at several of these sites. The availability of third-party payments or insurance for environmental remediation activities is subject to risks associated with the willingness and ability of the third party to make payments. However, our share of such costs has not been material and, based on available information, we do not expect our exposure at any of these locations to have a material adverse effect on our results of operations, liquidity or financial condition.
In addition to environmental laws and regulations, our operations are governed by a variety of laws and regulations, including those relating to workplace safety and worker health, principally the Occupational Safety and Health Act and regulations thereunder. We believe that we are in material compliance with these laws and regulations and do not believe that future compliance with such laws and regulations will have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition, results of operations and cash flows.
Human Capital Resources
As of December 31, 2020, we employed approximately 6,500 employees in our operations around the world. Approximately 3,800 of these employees are in the United States, while the remaining 2,700 are employed in other countries. Approximately 10% of our employees are covered by a collective bargaining agreement.
The attraction, retention and development of employees is critical to the successful execution of the Company’s strategy. The Company works diligently to attract the best talent from a diverse range of resources to meet current and future demands of our businesses. Hiring the right people for the long-term and developing them for future roles is an important process across the overall organization. To support these objectives, the Company’s human resource programs are designed to develop, reward and support employees through competitive compensation, internal advancement, comprehensive flexible benefit programs and a safe and healthy work environment.
Key areas of focus include:
Health & Safety: The success of our business is fundamentally connected to the well-being of our employees; accordingly, we are committed to their health, safety, and wellness. Our global health and safety programs are designed around dedicated environmental, health and safety standards and procedures specifically tailored at the facility level to address different jurisdiction and regulations, specific operating hazards, and unique working environments. The Company’s objectives include a focus on regulatory compliance and protection of people and the environment. Our safety focus is evident in our response to the COVID-19 Pandemic, which included some of the initiatives listed below:
•Increasing cleaning protocols across all locations
•Communicating regularly regarding impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic, including health and safety protocols and procedures
•Implementing temperature screening of employees at our facilities
•Establishing new physical distancing procedures
•Providing personal protective equipment
•Modifying workspaces with plexiglass dividers
•Establishing protocols to address actual and suspected COVID-19 cases and potential contact exposure
•Prohibiting non-essential travel for all employees
•Requiring mask wearing in locations
Most of our businesses manufacture products deemed essential to the critical infrastructure, and as a result, most of our production sites have continued to operate during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Ethics & Compliance: Our Company is committed to values of honesty, integrity, respect and responsibility that foster high ethical standards in our relationships with each other, our customers and suppliers, and all those we do business with. Our Code of Business Conduct and Ethics (the “Code”), along with the policies and procedures referenced in the Code, provide guidance for all employees on topics such as anti-corruption and bribery, anti-trust and competition law, discrimination including our policy on harassment and retaliation, privacy, appropriate use of company assets, protection of confidential information and reporting concerns and violations. Should potential violations of the Code, our policies and procedures, or the law occur, employees are encouraged to notify our Chief Compliance Officer through our Ethics Hotline. We do not tolerate retaliation against anyone who reports a potential violation in good faith. The Chief Compliance Officer reports matters related to the Code to the Audit Committee of the Board of Directors on a quarterly basis.
Compensation & Benefits: Our policy is to competitively compensate our employees. The compensation philosophy is to align both short-term and long-term incentives with our strategic objectives and to consider market forces and the performance of our Company and the employee. We offer comprehensive employee benefits that vary by country and are competitive in the marketplace. Examples of benefits offered in the U.S. include a 401(k) plan, defined benefit - cash balance plan, comprehensive health benefits, employee assistance programs, business travel, life/disability insurance and supplemental voluntary insurance.
Training & Talent Development: The Company is committed to continued development of our workforce. Training is provided in several formats to accommodate workforce diversity and business focus. In addition, various internship programs and informal mentoring demonstrate the Company’s ongoing commitment and initiatives toward accelerating our future leaders.
Available Information
We file Annual Reports on Form 10-K, Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q, Current Reports on Form 8-K, Proxy Statements and other information with the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”). The public can obtain copies of these materials by accessing the SEC’s website at http://www.sec.gov. In addition, as soon as reasonably practicable after such materials are filed with or furnished to the SEC, we make such materials available on our website free of charge at http://www.pkoh.com. The information on our website is not a part of this Annual Report on Form 10-K.
Information About our Executive Officers
Information with respect to our executive officers as of March 5, 2021, is as follows:
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Name
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Age
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Position
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Matthew V. Crawford
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51
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Chairman of the Board, Chief Executive Officer and President
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Patrick W. Fogarty
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59
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Vice President and Chief Financial Officer
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Robert D. Vilsack
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60
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Secretary and Chief Legal Officer
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Mr. Crawford was elected President in 2019 and Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer in 2018. Prior to that, he served as President and Chief Operating Officer since 2003. Mr. Crawford became one of our directors in August 1997 and has served as President of Crawford Group, Inc. since 1995.
Mr. Fogarty has been Vice President and Chief Financial Officer since 2015. Prior to that, Mr. Fogarty was Director of Corporate Development since 1997 and served as Director of Finance from 1995 to 1997.
Mr. Vilsack has been Secretary and Chief Legal Officer since joining us in 2002.
Item 1A. Risk Factors
The following are certain risk factors that could affect our business, results of operations and financial condition. These risks are not the only ones we face. If any of the following risks occur, our business, results of operations or financial condition could be adversely affected.
Risks Relating to the COVID-19 Pandemic
Our business, results of operations and cash flows have been and are expected to continue to be adversely affected by COVID-19.
The novel strain of the coronavirus identified in China in late 2019 and now affecting the global community has impacted and is expected to continue to impact our operations, and the full nature and extent of the impact is highly uncertain and may be beyond our control. Among other things, uncertainties relating to the COVID-19 pandemic include the duration of the outbreak, the severity of the virus, and the actions, or perception of actions that may be taken, to contain or treat its impact, by governments and others, including declarations of states of emergency, business closures, manufacturing restrictions and a prolonged period of travel, commercial and/or other similar restrictions and limitations.
As a result of COVID-19 and the measures implemented that are designed to contain its spread, our customers have been and could continue to be negatively impacted as a result of disruption in demand, which has negatively impacted our sales and had a material adverse effect on our business, results of operations and financial condition. Similarly, as a result of COVID-19 and measures implemented that are designed to contain its spread, our suppliers may not have the materials, capacity, or capability to enable the manufacture of our products according to our schedule and specifications. Because of impacts to suppliers' operations, we may need to seek alternate suppliers, which may be more expensive, may not be available or may result in delays in shipments to us and subsequently to our customers, each of which would affect our results of operations.
The COVID-19 pandemic has also disrupted our internal operations, including by heightening the risk that a significant portion of our workforce will suffer illness or otherwise not be permitted or be unable to work and exposing us to cyber and other risks associated with a large number of our employees working remotely. Certain of our facilities have experienced temporary work disruptions as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, and we cannot predict whether these will continue or our facilities will experience more significant or frequent disruptions in the future. Furthermore, we may need to reduce our workforce as a result of declines in our business caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, and any such reduction would cause us to incur costs. Moreover, there can be no assurance that we would be able to rehire our workforce in the event our business experiences a subsequent recovery.
The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic continues to evolve and its duration and ultimate disruption to our customers and to our supply chain, and related financial impact to us, cannot be estimated at this time. Should such disruption continue for an extended period of time, the impact could have a more severe adverse effect on our business, results of operations and financial
condition. Additionally, weaker economic conditions generally could result in impairment in value of our tangible or intangible assets, or our ability to raise additional capital, if needed.
Risks Relating to Economic Conditions
The industries in which we operate are cyclical and are affected by the economy in general.
We sell products to customers in industries that experience cyclicality (expectancy of recurring periods of economic growth and slowdown) in demand for products and may experience substantial increases and decreases in business volume throughout economic cycles. Industries we serve, including the automotive and vehicle parts, heavy-duty truck, industrial equipment, steel, rail, oil and gas, electrical distribution and controls, aerospace and defense, recreational equipment, HVAC, electrical components, appliance and semiconductor equipment industries, are affected by consumer spending, general economic conditions and the impact of international trade. A downturn in any of the industries we serve could have a material adverse effect on our financial condition, liquidity and results of operations.
Adverse credit market conditions may significantly affect our access to capital, cost of capital and ability to meet liquidity needs.
Disruptions, uncertainty or volatility in the credit markets may adversely impact our ability to access credit already arranged and the availability and cost of credit to us in the future. These market conditions may limit our ability to replace, in a timely manner, maturing liabilities and access the capital necessary to grow and maintain our business. Accordingly, we may be forced to delay raising capital or pay unattractive interest rates, which could increase our interest expense, decrease our profitability and significantly reduce our financial flexibility. Longer-term disruptions in the capital and credit markets as a result of uncertainty, changing or increased regulation, reduced alternatives or failures of significant financial institutions could adversely affect our access to liquidity needed for our business. Any disruption could require us to take measures to conserve cash until the markets stabilize or until alternative credit arrangements or other funding for our business needs can be arranged. Such measures could include deferring capital expenditures and reducing or eliminating future share repurchases or other discretionary uses of cash. Overall, our results of operations, financial condition and cash flows could be materially adversely affected by disruptions in the credit markets.
Adverse global economic conditions may have significant effects on our customers and suppliers that could result in material adverse effects on our business and operating results.
Significant reductions in available capital and liquidity from banks and other providers of credit, substantial reductions and fluctuations in equity and currency values worldwide, volatility in commodity prices for such items as crude oil, and concerns that the worldwide economy may enter into a prolonged recessionary period, may materially adversely affect our customers’ access to capital or willingness to spend capital on our products or their ability to pay for products that they will order or have already ordered from us. In addition, unfavorable global economic conditions may materially adversely affect our suppliers’ access to capital and liquidity with which they maintain their inventories, production levels and product quality, which could cause them to raise prices or lower production levels.
These potential effects of adverse global economic conditions are difficult to forecast and mitigate. As a consequence, our operating results for a particular period are difficult to predict, and, therefore, prior results are not necessarily indicative of results to be expected in future periods. Any of the foregoing effects could have a material adverse effect on our business, results of operations and financial condition.
Risks Relating to Our Business and Operations
Because a significant portion of our sales is to the automotive and heavy-duty truck industries, a decrease in the demand of these industries or the loss of any of our major customers in these industries could adversely affect our financial health.
Demand for certain of our products is affected by, among other things, the relative strength or weakness of the automotive and heavy-duty truck industries. The domestic automotive and heavy-duty truck industries are highly cyclical and may be adversely affected by international competition. In addition, the automotive and heavy-duty truck industries are
significantly unionized and subject to work slowdowns and stoppages resulting from labor disputes. We derived 30% and 6% of our net sales during the year ended December 31, 2020 from the automotive and heavy-duty truck industries, respectively.
The loss of a portion of business to any of our major automotive or heavy-duty truck customers could have a material adverse effect on our financial condition, cash flow and results of operations. We cannot assure you that we will maintain or improve our relationships in these industries or that we will continue to supply these customers at current levels.
Our Supply Technologies customers are generally not contractually obligated to purchase products and services from us.
We supply products and services to our Supply Technologies customers generally under purchase orders as opposed to long-term contracts. When we do enter into long-term contracts with our Supply Technologies customers, many of them only establish pricing terms and do not obligate our customers to buy required minimum amounts from us or to buy from us exclusively. Accordingly, many of our Supply Technologies customers may decrease the number of products and services that they purchase from us or even stop purchasing from us altogether, either of which could have a material adverse effect on our net sales and profitability.
We are dependent on key customers.
We rely on several key customers. For the year ended December 31, 2020, our ten largest customers accounted for approximately 30% of our net sales. Many of our customers place orders for products on an as-needed basis and operate in cyclical industries and, as a result, their order levels have varied from period to period in the past and may vary significantly in the future. Due to competitive issues, we have lost key customers in the past and may again in the future. Customer orders are dependent upon their markets and may be subject to delays or cancellations. As a result of dependence on our key customers, we could experience a material adverse effect on our business and results of operations if any of the following were to occur:
•the loss of any key customer, in whole or in part;
•the insolvency or bankruptcy of any key customer;
•a declining market in which customers reduce orders or demand reduced prices; or
•a strike or work stoppage at a key customer facility, which could affect both their suppliers and customers.
If any of our key customers become insolvent or file for bankruptcy, our ability to recover accounts receivable from that customer would be adversely affected and any payments we received in the preference period prior to a bankruptcy filing may be potentially forfeitable, which could adversely impact our results of operations.
We operate in highly competitive industries.
The markets in which all three of our segments sell their products are highly competitive. Some of our competitors are large companies that have greater financial resources than we have. We believe that the principal competitive factors for our Supply Technologies segment are an approach reflecting long-term business partnership and reliability, sourced product quality and conformity to customer specifications, timeliness of delivery, price and design and engineering capabilities. We believe that the principal competitive factors for our Assembly Components and Engineered Products segments are product quality and conformity to customer specifications, design and engineering capabilities, product development, timeliness of delivery and price. The rapidly evolving nature of the markets in which we compete may attract new entrants as they perceive opportunities, and our competitors may foresee the course of market development more accurately than we do. In addition, our competitors may develop products that are superior to our products or may adapt more quickly than we do to new technologies or evolving customer requirements.
We expect competitive pressures in our markets to remain strong. These pressures arise from existing competitors, other companies that may enter our existing or future markets and, in some cases, our customers, which may decide to internally produce items we sell. We cannot assure you that we will be able to compete successfully with our competitors. Failure to compete successfully could have a material adverse effect on our financial condition, liquidity and results of operations.
Our Supply Technologies business depends upon third parties for substantially all of our component parts.
Our Supply Technologies business purchases substantially all of its component parts from third-party suppliers and manufacturers. As such, it is subject to the risk of price fluctuations and periodic delays in the delivery of component parts. Failure by suppliers to continue to supply us with these component parts on commercially reasonable terms, or at all, could have a material adverse effect on us. We depend upon the ability of these suppliers, among other things, to meet stringent performance and quality specifications and to conform to delivery schedules. Failure by third-party suppliers to comply with these and other requirements could have a material adverse effect on our financial condition, liquidity and results of operations.
The raw materials used in our production processes and by our suppliers of component parts are subject to price and supply fluctuations that could increase our costs of production and adversely affect our results of operations.
Our supply of raw materials for our Assembly Components and Engineered Products businesses could be interrupted for a variety of reasons, including availability and pricing. Prices for raw materials necessary for production have fluctuated significantly in the past and significant increases could adversely affect our results of operations and profit margins. While we generally attempt to pass along increased raw materials prices to our customers in the form of price increases, there may be a time delay between the increased raw materials prices and our ability to increase the price of our products, or we may be unable to increase the prices of our products due various factors.
Our suppliers of component parts, particularly in our Supply Technologies business, may significantly and quickly increase their prices in response to increases in costs of the raw materials, such as steel, that they use to manufacture our component parts. We may not be able to increase our prices commensurate with our increased costs. Consequently, our results of operations and financial condition may be materially adversely affected.
The energy costs involved in our production processes and transportation are subject to fluctuations that are beyond our control and could significantly increase our costs of production.
Our manufacturing process and the transportation of raw materials, components and finished goods are energy intensive. Our manufacturing processes are dependent on adequate supplies of electricity and natural gas. A substantial increase in the cost of transportation fuel, natural gas or electricity could have a material adverse effect on our margins. We may experience higher than anticipated gas costs in the future, which could adversely affect our results of operations. In addition, a disruption or curtailment in supply could have a material adverse effect on our production and sales levels.
We may experience breaches of, or disruptions to, our information technology systems, or other compromises of our data, including the improper disclosure of personal or confidential data, which may adversely affect our operations and reputation.
We utilize information technology systems in connection with our business operations, including processing orders, managing inventory and accounts receivable collections, purchasing products, maintaining cost-effective operations, routing and re-routing orders. We also depend on our information technology systems to maintain confidential, proprietary and personal information relating to our current, former and prospective employees, customers and other third parties in these systems and in systems of third-party providers who we engage in connection with the processing and storage of certain information. Our information technology systems and those of our third-party providers are subject to disruptions or damage, which may be caused by a wide array of causes, including telecommunications failures, computer failures, power outages, computer viruses, cybersecurity breaches and other intrusions, which could result in the disruption of our operations, or information misappropriation, such as theft of intellectual property or inappropriate disclosure of personal and confidential information. In addition, we could also experience data or cybersecurity breaches stemming from the intentional or negligent acts of our employees or other third parties. To the extent our information technology systems are disabled for a long period of time, key business processes could be interrupted. Any such operational disruptions and/or misappropriation of information, whether in systems we maintain or are maintained by others, could have a material adverse effect on our business. In addition, any such damage, compromise or breach to our systems or those of our vendors, could result in a violation of privacy and other laws, and expose us to significant legal and financial liability.
Operating problems in our business may materially adversely affect our financial condition and results of operations.
We are subject to the usual hazards associated with manufacturing and the related storage and transportation of raw materials, products and waste, including explosions, fires, leaks, discharges, inclement weather, natural disasters, mechanical failure, unscheduled downtime and transportation interruption or calamities. The occurrence of material operating problems at
our facilities may have a material adverse effect on our operations as a whole, both during and after the period of operational difficulties.
We have a significant amount of goodwill, and any future goodwill impairment charges could adversely impact our results of operations.
As of December 31, 2020, we had goodwill of $110.9 million. The future occurrence of a potential indicator of impairment, such as a significant adverse change in legal factors or business climate, unanticipated competition, a material negative change in relationships with significant customers, strategic decisions made in response to economic or competitive conditions, loss of key personnel or a more-likely-than-not expectation that a reporting unit or a significant portion of a reporting unit will be sold or disposed of, could result in goodwill impairment charges, which could adversely impact our results of operations. We have recorded goodwill impairment charges in the past, and such charges materially impacted our historical results of operations. Based on our 2020 annual impairment test, we determined that the fair value of our Forged and Machined Products Group (“FMPG”) reporting unit, which is included in our Engineered Products segment, exceeded its carrying value by 10% as of the October 1, 2020 testing date. As such, we concluded that the goodwill of this reporting unit of $8.7 million was not impaired as of that date. This reporting unit was negatively impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic throughout 2020, and while we believe that the current assumptions and estimates used in our goodwill testing are reasonable, supportable and appropriate, there can be no assurance that such assumptions and estimates will prove to be accurate predictions of future performance. For additional information, see Note 6, Goodwill, to the consolidated financial statements included elsewhere herein.
Our business and operating results may be adversely affected by natural disasters, other catastrophic events or public health issues, all of which are beyond our control.
While we have taken precautions to prevent production and service interruptions at our global facilities, severe weather conditions such as hurricanes, tornadoes, and earthquakes; other natural disasters; or public health issues in areas in which we have manufacturing facilities or from which we obtain products may cause physical damage to our properties, closure of one or more of our business facilities, lack of adequate work force in a market, temporary disruption in the supply of inventory, disruption in the transport of products and utilities, or delays in the delivery of products to our customers. Any of these factors may disrupt our operations and adversely affect our financial condition and results of operations.
The insurance that we maintain may not fully cover all potential expenses.
We maintain property, business interruption and casualty insurance, but such insurance may not cover all risks associated with the hazards of our business and is subject to limitation, including deductible and maximum liabilities covered. We are potentially at risk if one or more of our insurance carriers fail. Additionally, severe disruptions in the domestic and global financial markets could adversely impact the ratings and survival of some insurers. In the future, we may not be able to obtain coverage at current levels, and our premiums may increase significantly on coverage that we maintain.
Risks Relating to Human Capital
Some of our employees belong to labor unions, and strikes or work stoppages could adversely affect our operations.
As of December 31, 2020, we were a party to seven collective bargaining agreements with various labor unions that covered approximately 750 full-time employees. Our inability to negotiate acceptable contracts with these unions could result in, among other things, strikes, work stoppages or other slowdowns by the affected workers and increased operating costs as a result of higher wages or benefits paid to union members. If the unionized workers were to engage in a strike, work stoppage or other slowdown, or other employees were to become unionized, we could experience a significant disruption of our operations and higher ongoing labor costs, which could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations.
The loss of key executives could adversely impact us.
Our success depends upon the efforts, abilities and expertise of our executive officers and other senior managers, including Matthew Crawford, our Chairman, Chief Executive Officer and President, as well as the president of each of our operating units. Additionally, an event of default occurs under our revolving credit facility if Messrs. M. Crawford and Edward Crawford, our former President, or certain of their related parties own in the aggregate less than 15% of Holdings’ outstanding common stock and, if at such time, neither Mr. M. Crawford nor Mr. E. Crawford holds the office of chairman, chief executive officer or president. The loss of the services of Mr. M. Crawford, senior and executive officers, and/or other key individuals could have a material adverse effect on our financial condition, liquidity and results of operations.
Risks Relating to Legal, Compliance and Regulatory Matters
Potential product liability risks exist from the products that we sell.
Our businesses expose us to potential product liability risks that are inherent in the design, manufacture and sale of our products and products of third-party vendors that we use or resell. While we currently maintain what we believe to be suitable and adequate product liability insurance, we cannot assure you that we will be able to maintain our insurance on acceptable terms or that our insurance will provide adequate protection against potential liabilities. In the event of a claim against us, a lack of sufficient insurance coverage could have a material adverse effect on our financial condition, liquidity and results of operations. Moreover, even if we maintain adequate insurance, any successful claim could have a material adverse effect on our financial condition, liquidity and results of operations.
We operate and source internationally, which exposes us to the risks of doing business abroad.
Our operations are subject to the risks of doing business abroad, including the following:
•fluctuations in currency exchange rates;
•limitations on ownership and on repatriation of earnings;
•transportation delays and interruptions;
•political, social and economic instability and disruptions;
•potential disruption that could be caused by the partial or complete reconfiguration of the European Union;
•government embargoes or foreign trade restrictions;
•the imposition of duties and tariffs and other trade barriers;
•import and export controls;
•labor unrest and current and changing regulatory environments;
•the potential for nationalization of enterprises;
•disadvantages of competing against companies from countries that are not subject to U.S. laws and regulations, including the U.S. Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (“FCPA”);
•increasingly complex laws and regulations concerning privacy and data security, including the European Union's General Data Protection Regulation;
•difficulties in staffing and managing multinational operations;
•limitations on our ability to enforce legal rights and remedies; and
•potentially adverse tax consequences.
On January 31, 2020, the United Kingdom (“UK”) exited the European Union (“EU”). The long-term effects of Brexit will depend on any agreements the UK makes to retain access to EU markets. Given the lack of comparable precedent, it is unclear what financial, trade and legal implications the withdrawal of the UK from the EU will have and how such withdrawal will affect us. It is possible that the withdrawal could, among other things, affect the legal and regulatory environments to which our businesses are subject, impact trade between the UK and the EU through potential restrictions on the free movement of goods and labor between the UK and the EU, create economic and political uncertainty in the region, and create other impediments to our ability to transact within and between the UK and EU.
We are also exposed to risks relating to U.S. policy with respect to companies doing business in foreign jurisdictions. Changes in tax policy, trade regulations or trade agreements, such as the disallowance of tax deductions on imported merchandise or the imposition of new tariffs on imported products, could have a material adverse effect on our business and results of operations.
In addition, we could be adversely affected by violations of the FCPA and similar worldwide anti-bribery laws. The FCPA and similar anti-bribery laws in other jurisdictions generally prohibit companies and their intermediaries from making improper payments to non-U.S. officials for the purpose of obtaining or retaining business. Our policies mandate compliance with these anti-bribery laws. We operate in many parts of the world that have experienced governmental corruption to some degree and, in certain circumstances, strict compliance with anti-bribery laws may conflict with local customs and practices. We cannot assure you that our internal controls and procedures always will protect us from the reckless or criminal acts committed by our employees or agents. For example, in connection with responding to a subpoena from the staff of the SEC, regarding a third party, we disclosed to the staff that the third party participated in a payment on our behalf to a foreign tax official that implicates the FCPA. If we are found to be liable for FCPA violations (either due to our own acts or our inadvertence or due to the acts or inadvertence of others), we could suffer from criminal or civil penalties or other sanctions, which could have a material adverse effect on our business.
Any of the events enumerated above could have an adverse effect on our operations in the future by reducing the demand for our products and services, decreasing the prices at which we can sell our products or otherwise having an adverse effect on our business, financial condition or results of operations. We cannot assure you that we will continue to operate in compliance with applicable customs, currency exchange control regulations, transfer pricing regulations or any other laws or regulations to which we may be subject. We also cannot assure you that these laws will not be modified.
We are subject to significant environmental, health and safety laws and regulations and related compliance expenditures and liabilities.
Our businesses are subject to many foreign, federal, state and local environmental, health and safety laws and regulations, particularly with respect to the use, handling, treatment, storage, discharge and disposal of substances and hazardous wastes used or generated in our manufacturing processes. Compliance with these laws and regulations is a significant factor in our business. We have incurred and expect to continue to incur significant expenditures to comply with applicable environmental laws and regulations. Our failure to comply with applicable environmental laws and regulations and permit requirements could result in civil or criminal fines or penalties or enforcement actions, including regulatory or judicial orders enjoining or curtailing operations or requiring corrective measures, installation of pollution control equipment or remedial actions.
We are currently, and may in the future be, required to incur costs relating to the investigation or remediation of property, including property where we have disposed of our waste, and for addressing environmental conditions. Some environmental laws and regulations impose liability and responsibility on present and former owners, operators or users of facilities and sites for contamination at such facilities and sites without regard to causation or knowledge of contamination. In addition, we occasionally evaluate various alternatives with respect to our facilities, including possible dispositions or closures. Investigations undertaken in connection with these activities may lead to discoveries of contamination that must be remediated, and closures of facilities may trigger compliance requirements that are not applicable to operating facilities. Consequently, we cannot assure you that existing or future circumstances, the development of new facts or the failure of third parties to address contamination at current or former facilities or properties will not require significant expenditures by us.
We expect to continue to be subject to increasingly stringent environmental and health and safety laws and regulations. It is difficult to predict the future interpretation and development of environmental and health and safety laws and regulations or their impact on our future earnings and operations. We anticipate that compliance will continue to require increased capital expenditures and operating costs. Any increase in these costs, or unanticipated liabilities arising from, among other things, discovery of previously unknown conditions or more aggressive enforcement actions, could adversely affect our results of operations, and there is no assurance that they will not exceed our reserves or have a material adverse effect on our financial condition.
Risks Relating to Our Debt
Adverse global economic conditions may have significant effects on our customers that would result in our inability to borrow or to meet our debt service coverage ratio in our revolving credit facility.
As of December 31, 2020, we were in compliance with our debt service coverage ratio covenant and other covenants contained in our revolving credit facility. While we expect to remain in compliance throughout 2021, declines in demand in the
automotive industry and in sales volumes could adversely impact our ability to remain in compliance with certain of these financial covenants. Additionally, to the extent our customers are adversely affected by a decline in the economy in general, they may not be able to pay their accounts payable to us on a timely basis or at all, which would make the accounts receivable ineligible for purposes of the revolving credit facility and could reduce our borrowing base and our ability to borrow.
Uncertainty relating to the calculation of London Interbank Offered Rate (“LIBOR”) and other reference rates and their potential discontinuance may adversely affect interest expense related to our outstanding debt, including amounts borrowed under our revolving credit facility.
National and international regulators and law enforcement agencies have conducted investigations into a number of rates or indices, which are deemed to be “reference rates.” Actions by such regulators and law enforcement agencies may result in changes to the manner in which certain reference rates are determined, their discontinuance, or the establishment of alternative reference rates. In particular, on July 27, 2017, the Chief Executive of the U.K. Financial Conduct Authority, which regulates LIBOR, announced that it will no longer persuade or compel banks to submit rates for the calculation of LIBOR after 2021. Such announcement indicates that the continuation of LIBOR on the current basis cannot and will not be guaranteed after 2021. As such, it appears highly likely that LIBOR will be discontinued or modified by the end of 2021.
At this time, it is not possible to predict the effect that these developments, any discontinuance, modification or other reforms to LIBOR or any other reference rate, or the establishment of alternative reference rates, may have on LIBOR or other benchmarks, including LIBOR-based borrowings under our revolving credit facility. Furthermore, the use of alternative reference rates or other reforms could cause the market value of, the applicable interest rate on and the amount of interest paid on our benchmark-based borrowings to be materially different than expected and could materially adversely impact our ability to refinance such borrowings or raise future indebtedness on a cost effective basis.
Risks Relating to the Execution of our Strategy
We may encounter difficulty in expanding our business through targeted acquisitions.
We have pursued, and may continue to pursue, targeted acquisition opportunities that we believe would complement our business. We cannot assure you that we will be successful in consummating any acquisitions.
Any targeted acquisitions will be accompanied by the risks commonly encountered in acquisitions of businesses. We may not successfully overcome these risks or any other problems encountered in connection with any of our acquisitions, including the possible inability to integrate an acquired business’ operations, information technology, services and products into our business; diversion of management’s attention; the assumption of unknown liabilities; increases in our indebtedness; the failure to achieve the strategic objectives of those acquisitions; and other unanticipated problems, some or all of which could materially and adversely affect us. The process of integrating operations could cause an interruption of, or loss of momentum in, our activities. Any delays or difficulties encountered in connection with any acquisition and the integration of our operations could have a material adverse effect on our business, results of operations, financial condition or prospects of our business.
Risks Relating to Our Common Stock
Our Chairman of the Board, Chief Executive Officer and President and former President collectively beneficially own a significant portion of Holdings’ outstanding common stock and their interests may conflict with yours.
As of December 31, 2020, Matthew Crawford, our Chairman of the Board, Chief Executive Officer and President, and Edward Crawford, our former President, collectively beneficially owned approximately 30% of Holdings’ outstanding common stock. Mr. M. Crawford is Mr. E. Crawford’s son. Their interests could conflict with your interests.
Item 1B. Unresolved Staff Comments
None.