UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
FORM 10-Q
(Mark One)
x | QUARTERLY REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934 |
For the quarterly period ended November 30, 2004
OR
¨ | 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 001-16583
ACUITY BRANDS, INC.
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
Delaware | 58-2632672 | |
(State or other jurisdiction of incorporation or organization) |
(I.R.S. Employer Identification Number) | |
1170 Peachtree Street, N.E., Suite 2400, Atlanta, Georgia | 30309 | |
(Address of principal executive offices) | (Zip Code) |
(404) 853-1400
(Registrants telephone number, including area code)
None
(Former Name, Former Address and Former Fiscal Year, if Changed Since Last Report)
Indicate by check mark x 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 x whether the registrant is an accelerated filer (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act). Yes x No ¨
Indicate the number of shares outstanding of each of the issuers classes of common stock, as of the latest practicable date.
Common Stock - $0.01 Par Value 43,322,621 shares as of December 31, 2004.
INDEX
Page No. | ||||
PART I. FINANCIAL INFORMATION | 3 | |||
ITEM 1. |
3 | |||
CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS (Unaudited) NOVEMBER 30, 2004 AND AUGUST 31, 2004 |
3 | |||
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME (Unaudited) THREE MONTHS ENDED NOVEMBER 30, 2004 AND 2003 |
4 | |||
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS (Unaudited) THREE MONTHS ENDED NOVEMBER 30, 2004 AND 2003 |
5 | |||
6 | ||||
ITEM 2. |
MANAGEMENTS DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS |
15 | ||
ITEM 3. |
19 | |||
ITEM 4. |
19 | |||
PART II. OTHER INFORMATION | 20 | |||
ITEM 1. |
20 | |||
ITEM 6. |
20 | |||
SIGNATURES | 21 |
CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS (Unaudited)
(In thousands, except share and per-share data)
NOVEMBER 30, 2004 |
AUGUST 31, 2004 |
|||||||
ASSETS |
||||||||
Current Assets: |
||||||||
Cash and cash equivalents |
$ | 3,803 | $ | 14,135 | ||||
Receivables, less reserve for doubtful accounts of $9,011 at November 30, 2004 and $8,285 at August 31, 2004 |
336,286 | 331,157 | ||||||
Inventories |
230,849 | 222,260 | ||||||
Deferred income taxes |
31,708 | 29,500 | ||||||
Prepayments and other current assets |
38,684 | 36,534 | ||||||
Total Current Assets |
641,330 | 633,586 | ||||||
Property, Plant, and Equipment, at cost: |
||||||||
Land |
12,143 | 13,037 | ||||||
Buildings and leasehold improvements |
165,331 | 167,707 | ||||||
Machinery and equipment |
386,007 | 375,750 | ||||||
Total Property, Plant, and Equipment |
563,481 | 556,494 | ||||||
Less - Accumulated depreciation and amortization |
337,516 | 330,195 | ||||||
Property, Plant, and Equipment, net |
225,965 | 226,299 | ||||||
Other Assets: |
||||||||
Goodwill |
345,739 | 343,595 | ||||||
Intangible assets |
125,861 | 126,658 | ||||||
Other long-term assets |
37,520 | 34,391 | ||||||
Total Other Assets |
509,120 | 504,644 | ||||||
Total Assets |
$ | 1,376,415 | $ | 1,364,529 | ||||
LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS EQUITY |
||||||||
Current Liabilities: |
||||||||
Current maturities of long-term debt |
$ | 771 | $ | 1,511 | ||||
Short-term secured borrowings |
13,400 | | ||||||
Revolving credit facility |
8,800 | 4,000 | ||||||
Term loan |
18,548 | | ||||||
Accounts payable |
181,287 | 206,064 | ||||||
Accrued salaries, commissions, and bonuses |
37,240 | 45,335 | ||||||
Other accrued liabilities |
105,419 | 105,325 | ||||||
Total Current Liabilities |
365,465 | 362,235 | ||||||
Long-Term Debt, less current maturities |
372,371 | 390,210 | ||||||
Deferred Income Taxes |
24,937 | 24,844 | ||||||
Self-Insurance Reserves, less current portion |
17,602 | 17,484 | ||||||
Other Long-Term Liabilities |
95,392 | 91,779 | ||||||
Commitments and Contingencies (see Note 10) |
||||||||
Stockholders Equity: |
||||||||
Preferred stock, $0.01 par value, 50,000,000 shares authorized, none issued |
| | ||||||
Common stock, $0.01 par value, 500,000,000 shares authorized, 43,147,877 and 42,596,015 shares issued and outstanding at November 30, 2004 and August 31, 2004 |
431 | 426 | ||||||
Paid-in capital |
437,242 | 425,807 | ||||||
Retained earnings |
93,281 | 86,560 | ||||||
Unearned compensation on restricted stock |
(6,996 | ) | (5,609 | ) | ||||
Accumulated other comprehensive loss items |
(23,310 | ) | (29,207 | ) | ||||
Total Stockholders Equity |
500,648 | 477,977 | ||||||
Total Liabilities and Stockholders Equity |
$ | 1,376,415 | $ | 1,364,529 | ||||
The accompanying Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements are an integral part of these statements.
3
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME (Unaudited)
(In thousands, except per-share data)
THREE MONTHS ENDED NOVEMBER 30, |
||||||||
2004 |
2003 |
|||||||
Net Sales |
$ | 525,202 | $ | 517,538 | ||||
Cost of Products Sold |
306,423 | 302,831 | ||||||
Gross Profit |
218,779 | 214,707 | ||||||
Selling, Distribution, and Administrative Expenses |
187,828 | 184,716 | ||||||
Impairment, Restructuring, and Other Charges |
| 579 | ||||||
Stock Compensation Expense |
2,736 | 1,393 | ||||||
Operating Profit |
28,215 | 28,019 | ||||||
Other Expense (Income): |
||||||||
Interest expense, net |
8,944 | 8,717 | ||||||
Gain on sale of businesses |
(538 | ) | (722 | ) | ||||
Miscellaneous income, net |
(476 | ) | (159 | ) | ||||
Total Other Expense |
7,930 | 7,836 | ||||||
Income before Provision for Income Taxes |
20,285 | 20,183 | ||||||
Provision for Income Taxes |
7,120 | 7,266 | ||||||
Net Income |
$ | 13,165 | $ | 12,917 | ||||
Earnings Per Share: |
||||||||
Basic Earnings per Share |
$ | 0.31 | $ | 0.31 | ||||
Basic Weighted Average Number of Shares Outstanding |
42,462 | 41,581 | ||||||
Diluted Earnings per Share |
$ | 0.30 | $ | 0.30 | ||||
Diluted Weighted Average Number of Shares Outstanding |
43,946 | 42,594 | ||||||
Dividends Declared per Share |
$ | 0.15 | $ | 0.15 | ||||
The accompanying Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements are an integral part of these statements.
4
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS (Unaudited)
(In thousands)
THREE MONTHS ENDED NOVEMBER 30, |
||||||||
2004 |
2003 |
|||||||
Cash Provided by (Used for) Operating Activities: |
||||||||
Net income |
$ | 13,165 | $ | 12,917 | ||||
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by (used for) operating activities: |
||||||||
Depreciation and amortization |
10,092 | 11,373 | ||||||
Gain on the sale of property, plant, and equipment |
(135 | ) | (102 | ) | ||||
Gain on sale of businesses |
(538 | ) | (722 | ) | ||||
Provision for losses on accounts receivable |
1,194 | 1,118 | ||||||
Other non-cash charges |
1,318 | 1,056 | ||||||
Change in assets and liabilities, net of effect of acquisitions and divestitures- |
||||||||
Receivables |
(3,921 | ) | (9,400 | ) | ||||
Inventories |
(8,590 | ) | (14,232 | ) | ||||
Deferred income taxes |
474 | (2,239 | ) | |||||
Prepayments and other current assets |
(2,147 | ) | (26 | ) | ||||
Accounts payable |
(27,539 | ) | (12,094 | ) | ||||
Other current liabilities |
(4,638 | ) | 11,625 | |||||
Other |
3,405 | 5,122 | ||||||
Net Cash (Used for) Provided by Operating Activities |
(17,860 | ) | 4,396 | |||||
Cash Provided by (Used for) Investing Activities: |
||||||||
Purchases of property, plant, and equipment |
(11,641 | ) | (9,881 | ) | ||||
Proceeds from sale of property, plant, and equipment |
179 | 1,238 | ||||||
Sale of businesses |
88 | 2,200 | ||||||
Net Cash Used for Investing Activities |
(11,374 | ) | (6,443 | ) | ||||
Cash Provided by (Used for) Financing Activities: |
||||||||
Proceeds (repayments) from revolving credit facility, net |
4,800 | (5,000 | ) | |||||
Proceeds from short-term secured borrowings, net |
13,400 | 9,000 | ||||||
Repayments of long-term debt |
(49 | ) | (70 | ) | ||||
Employee stock purchase plan issuances |
397 | 356 | ||||||
Stock options exercised |
6,493 | 608 | ||||||
Dividends |
(6,444 | ) | (6,265 | ) | ||||
Net Cash Provided by (Used for) Financing Activities |
18,597 | (1,371 | ) | |||||
Effect of Exchange Rate Changes on Cash |
305 | 421 | ||||||
Net Change in Cash and Cash Equivalents |
(10,332 | ) | (2,997 | ) | ||||
Cash and Cash Equivalents at Beginning of Period |
14,135 | 16,053 | ||||||
Cash and Cash Equivalents at End of Period |
$ | 3,803 | $ | 13,056 | ||||
Supplemental Cash Flow Information: |
||||||||
Income taxes paid during the period |
$ | 8,074 | $ | 7,645 | ||||
Interest paid during the period |
$ | 10,756 | $ | 10,759 |
The accompanying Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements are an integral part of these statements.
5
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Unaudited)
(Amounts in thousands, except share and per-share data and as indicated)
1. DESCRIPTION OF BUSINESS AND BASIS OF PRESENTATION
Acuity Brands, Inc. (Acuity Brands or the Company) is a holding company that owns and manages two businesses that serve distinctive markets lighting equipment and specialty products. The lighting equipment segment designs, produces, and distributes a broad array of indoor and outdoor lighting fixtures for commercial and institutional, industrial, infrastructure, and residential applications for various markets throughout North America and select international markets. The specialty products segment formulates, produces, and distributes specialty chemical products including cleaners, deodorizers, sanitizers, and pesticides for industrial and institutional, commercial, and residential applications, primarily for various markets throughout North America and Europe.
The unaudited interim consolidated financial statements included herein have been prepared by the Company in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles and present the financial position, results of operations, and cash flows of Acuity Brands and its wholly-owned subsidiaries, including Acuity Lighting Group, Inc. (Acuity Brands Lighting or ABL) and Acuity Specialty Products Group, Inc. (Acuity Specialty Products or ASP). These interim consolidated financial statements reflect all normal and recurring adjustments which are, in the opinion of management, necessary to present fairly the consolidated financial position as of November 30, 2004 and August 31, 2004, the consolidated results of operations for the three months ended November 30, 2004 and 2003, and the consolidated cash flows for the three months ended November 30, 2004 and 2003. Certain reclassifications have been made to the prior-year financial statements to conform to the current-year presentation. Certain information and footnote disclosures normally included in the Companys annual financial statements prepared in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles have been condensed or omitted. The Company believes that the disclosures are adequate to make the information presented not misleading. These financial statements should be read in conjunction with the consolidated financial statements of Acuity Brands as of and for the three years ended August 31, 2004 and notes thereto included in the Companys Annual Report on Form 10-K filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on October 29, 2004 (File No. 001-16583).
The results of operations for the three months ended November 30, 2004 are not necessarily indicative of the results to be expected for the full fiscal year because the net sales and net income of the Company are generally higher in the second half of its fiscal year and because of the continued uncertainty of general economic conditions impacting the key end markets of the Company.
2. ACCOUNTING STANDARDS YET TO BE ADOPTED
In December 2004, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) issued Statement of Financial Accounting Standards (SFAS) No. 123 (Revised 2004), Share-Based Payment. The Statement requires that compensation cost relating to share-based payment transactions be recognized in financial statements and that this cost be measured based on the fair value of the equity or liability instruments issued. It does not specify a preference for a type of valuation model to be used to measure fair value. SFAS No. 123 (Revised 2004) covers a wide range of share-based compensation arrangements including share options, restricted share plans, performance-based awards, share appreciation rights, and employee share purchase plans. The Company will adopt SFAS No. 123 (Revised 2004) on September 1, 2005 and continues to evaluate the impact the adoption of the final standard will have on the Companys results of operations. See Note 11 for further information.
In November 2004, the FASB issued SFAS No. 151, Inventory Costs, an amendment of ARB No. 43, Chapter 4 as a result of its project to reduce differences between U.S. and international accounting standards. SFAS No. 151 requires that items such as idle facility expense, excessive spoilage, double freight, and rehandling costs be recognized as current-period charges regardless of whether or not they meet the criteria currently dictated by ARB No. 43. Additionally, SFAS No. 151 requires that fixed overhead be allocated based on the normal capacity of the production capabilities. The Company will adopt SFAS No. 151 on September 1, 2005 and continues to evaluate the impact the adoption will have on the Companys results of operations, if any.
6
ACUITY BRANDS, INC.
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Unaudited)
(Amounts in thousands, except share and per-share data and as indicated)
3. GOODWILL AND INTANGIBLE ASSETS
Summarized information for the Companys acquired intangible assets is as follows:
November 30, 2004 |
August 31, 2004 |
|||||||||||||
Gross Carrying Amount |
Accumulated Amortization |
Gross Carrying Amount |
Accumulated Amortization |
|||||||||||
Amortized intangible assets: |
||||||||||||||
Trade names and trademarks |
$ | 13,030 | $ | (2,326 | ) | $ | 13,030 | $ | (2,217 | ) | ||||
Distribution network |
53,000 | (9,423 | ) | 53,000 | (8,981 | ) | ||||||||
Other |
11,857 | (5,291 | ) | 11,857 | (5,045 | ) | ||||||||
Total |
$ | 77,887 | $ | (17,040 | ) | $ | 77,887 | $ | (16,243 | ) | ||||
Unamortized intangible assets: |
||||||||||||||
Trade names |
$ | 65,014 | $ | 65,014 | ||||||||||
The Company amortizes trademarks associated with specific products with finite lives and the distribution network over their estimated useful lives of 30 years. Other amortized intangible assets consist primarily of patented technology that is amortized over its estimated useful life of 12 years. Unamortized intangible assets consist of trade names that are expected to generate cash flows indefinitely. The Company tests unamortized intangible assets for impairment on an annual basis, as required by SFAS No 142. This analysis has not resulted in the recognition of an impairment charge in the current or prior periods. The Company recorded amortization expense of $0.8 million related to intangible assets with finite lives during the three months ended November 30, 2004 and 2003. Amortization expense is projected to be approximately $3.2 million in each of the next five years.
The changes in the carrying amount of goodwill since August 31, 2004 are summarized as follows:
ABL |
ASP |
Total | |||||||
Balance as of August 31, 2004 |
$ | 312,703 | $ | 30,892 | $ | 343,595 | |||
Currency translation adjustments |
1,636 | 508 | 2,144 | ||||||
Balance as of November 30, 2004 |
$ | 314,339 | $ | 31,400 | $ | 345,739 | |||
The Company tests goodwill for impairment at the reporting unit level on an annual basis in the fourth quarter or sooner if events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying amount of goodwill may exceed its fair value. The Companys reporting units are ABL and ASP. The goodwill impairment test has two steps. The first step identifies potential impairments by comparing the fair value of a reporting unit with its carrying value, including goodwill. The fair value of ABL and ASP are determined based on a combination of valuation techniques including the expected present value of future cash flows, a market multiple approach, and a comparable transaction approach. If the fair value of a reporting unit exceeds the carrying value, goodwill is not impaired and the second step is not necessary. If the carrying value of a reporting unit exceeds the fair value, the second step calculates the possible impairment loss by comparing the implied fair value of goodwill with the carrying value. If the implied fair value of the goodwill is less than the carrying value, an impairment charge is recorded. This analysis has not resulted in the recognition of an impairment charge in the current or prior periods.
4. BUSINESS SEGMENT INFORMATION
Three Months Ended November 30, 2004 |
Net Sales |
Operating Profit (Loss) |
Depreciation |
Amortization |
Capital Expenditures | |||||||||||
ABL |
$ | 398,048 | $ | 29,369 | $ | 6,967 | $ | 790 | $ | 7,825 | ||||||
ASP |
127,154 | 7,230 | 2,240 | 7 | 3,611 | |||||||||||
Corporate |
| (8,384 | ) | 88 | | 205 | ||||||||||
Total |
$ | 525,202 | $ | 28,215 | $ | 9,295 | $ | 797 | $ | 11,641 | ||||||
Three Months Ended November 30, 2003 |
Net Sales |
Operating Profit |
Depreciation |
Amortization |
Capital Expenditures | |||||||||||
ABL |
$ | 391,027 | $ | 27,332 | $ | 8,476 | $ | 790 | $ | 7,356 | ||||||
ASP |
126,511 | 7,409 | 1,913 | 6 | 2,525 | |||||||||||
Corporate |
| (6,722 | ) | 188 | | | ||||||||||
Total |
$ | 517,538 | $ | 28,019 | $ | 10,577 | $ | 796 | $ | 9,881 | ||||||
7
ACUITY BRANDS, INC.
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Unaudited)
(Amounts in thousands, except share and per-share data and as indicated)
Total Assets | ||||||
November 30, 2004 |
August 31, 2004 | |||||
ABL |
$ | 1,104,899 | $ | 1,094,762 | ||
ASP |
229,552 | 222,940 | ||||
Corporate |
41,964 | 46,827 | ||||
Total |
$ | 1,376,415 | $ | 1,364,529 | ||
5. INVENTORIES
Inventories are valued at the lower of cost (on a first-in, first-out or average cost basis) or market and consist of the following:
November 30, 2004 |
August 31, 2004 |
|||||||
Raw materials and supplies |
$ | 85,716 | $ | 86,027 | ||||
Work in process |
20,138 | 19,623 | ||||||
Finished goods |
136,562 | 126,255 | ||||||
242,416 | 231,905 | |||||||
Less: reserves |
(11,567 | ) | (9,645 | ) | ||||
$ | 230,849 | $ | 222,260 | |||||
6. EARNINGS PER SHARE
The Company computes earnings per share in accordance with SFAS No. 128, Earnings per Share. Under this statement, basic earnings per share is computed by dividing net earnings available to common stockholders by the weighted average number of common shares outstanding during the period. Diluted earnings per share is computed similarly but reflects the potential dilution that would occur if dilutive options were exercised and restricted stock awards were vested. The following table calculates basic and diluted earnings per common share for the three months ended November 30, 2004 and 2003:
Three Months Ended November 30, | ||||||
2004 |
2003 | |||||
Basic earnings per share: |
||||||
Net income |
$ | 13,165 | $ | 12,917 | ||
Basic weighted average number of shares outstanding |
42,462 | 41,581 | ||||
Basic earnings per share |
$ | 0.31 | $ | 0.31 | ||
Diluted earnings per share: |
||||||
Net income |
$ | 13,165 | $ | 12,917 | ||
Basic weighted average number of shares outstanding |
42,462 | 41,581 | ||||
Add Shares of common stock issuable upon assumed exercise of dilutive options |
1,348 | 957 | ||||
Add Unvested restricted stock |
136 | 56 | ||||
Diluted weighted average shares outstanding |
43,946 | 42,594 | ||||
Diluted earnings per common share |
$ | 0.30 | $ | 0.30 | ||
7. DERIVATIVE FINANCIAL INSTRUMENTS
During 2004, the Company entered into certain foreign currency contracts to hedge its exposure to variability in exchange rates on certain anticipated intercompany transactions with a Canadian business unit. At November 30, 2004, the Company had foreign currency contracts outstanding with an aggregate notional amount of $27.0 million. These contracts mature monthly in $3.0 million increments. The fair value of these contracts represented an unrealized pre-tax loss of approximately $2.7 million at November 30, 2004.
The Company accounts for these contracts in accordance with SFAS No. 133, Accounting for Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities, as amended by SFAS No. 137, SFAS No. 138, and SFAS No. 149. The Companys foreign currency contracts have been designated as foreign currency cash flow hedges and, accordingly, gains or losses resulting from changes in the fair value of these contracts are included in Accumulated other comprehensive loss items until the hedged transaction occurs, at which time the
8
ACUITY BRANDS, INC.
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Unaudited)
(Amounts in thousands, except share and per-share data and as indicated)
related gains or losses are recognized. Amounts included in future earnings related to these contracts may differ from amounts currently recorded in Accumulated other comprehensive loss items.
8. COMPREHENSIVE INCOME
The Company accounts for comprehensive income as prescribed by SFAS No. 130, Reporting Comprehensive Income. SFAS No. 130 requires the reporting of a measure of all changes in equity that result from recognized transactions and other economic events other than transactions with owners in their capacity as owners. Other comprehensive income includes foreign currency translation adjustments and unrealized gains (losses) on foreign currency contracts. The calculation of comprehensive income is as follows:
Three Months Ended November 30, |
||||||||
2004 |
2003 |
|||||||
Net income |
$ | 13,165 | $ | 12,917 | ||||
Unrealized loss on foreign currency contracts, net of tax of $951 and $45 |
(1,751 | ) | (80 | ) | ||||
Foreign currency translation adjustments, net of tax of $851 and $0 |
7,648 | 5,140 | ||||||
Comprehensive Income |
$ | 19,062 | $ | 17,977 | ||||
Foreign currency translation adjustments for the three months ended November 30, 2004 resulted primarily from the weakening of the U.S. dollar against certain currencies, particularly the Euro, the British Pound, and the Canadian Dollar. The unrealized loss on foreign currency contracts for the three months ended November 30, 2004 resulted from a decrease in the fair value of the foreign currency contracts discussed in Note 7 above.
9. SECURED BORROWINGS AND LONG-TERM DEBT
The Company maintains an agreement (Receivables Facility) to borrow, on an ongoing basis, funds secured by undivided interests in a defined pool of trade accounts receivable of the lighting equipment and specialty products segments. Effective September 30, 2004, the Company renewed the Receivables Facility for a one-year period and reduced the facility size to $100.0 million from $150.0 million. Net trade accounts receivable pledged as security for borrowings under the Receivables Facility totaled $285.6 million at November 30, 2004. Borrowings at November 30, 2004 under the Receivables Facility totaled $13.4 million. Interest rates under the Receivables Facility vary with commercial paper rates plus an applicable margin. The interest rate, excluding the commitment and usage fee, was approximately 2.1% at November 30, 2004.
On April 2, 2004, the Company executed a $200.0 million revolving credit facility (Revolving Credit Facility) maturing in January 2009. This facility replaced the Companys $92.5 million, 364-day committed credit facility scheduled to mature in April 2004 and the Companys $105.0 million, three-year credit facility scheduled to mature in April 2005. The Revolving Credit Facility contains financial covenants including a leverage ratio (Maximum Leverage Ratio) of total indebtedness to EBITDA (earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization expense), as such terms are defined in the Revolving Credit Facility agreement, and a minimum interest coverage ratio. These ratios are computed at the end of each fiscal quarter for the most recent 12-month period. The Revolving Credit Facility provides for a Maximum Leverage Ratio of 3.50, subject to certain conditions set forth in the agreement. The Company was in compliance with all financial covenants and had $8.8 million in outstanding borrowings under the Revolving Credit Facility at November 30, 2004. At November 30, 2004, the Company had additional borrowing capacity under the Revolving Credit Facility, under the most restrictive covenant in effect at the time, of $172.4 million, which represents the full amount of the Revolving Credit Facility less outstanding borrowings of $8.8 million and outstanding letters of credit under the Revolving Credit Facility of $18.8 million discussed below.
The Companys Receivables Facility and Revolving Credit Facility each contain Material Adverse Effect provisions. Generally, if the Company were to experience an event causing a Material Adverse Effect on the Companys financial condition, operations, or properties, as defined in the agreements, additional future borrowings under either facility could be denied and payments on outstanding borrowings could be accelerated. None of the Companys existing debt instruments include provisions that would require an acceleration of repayments based solely on changes in the Companys credit ratings.
At November 30, 2004, the Company had outstanding letters of credit totaling $30.5 million primarily for the purpose of securing collateral requirements under the casualty insurance programs for Acuity Brands and certain programs of NSI (see Note 10 for further information) and for providing credit support for the Companys industrial revenue bonds. At November 30, 2004, a total of $18.8 million of the letters of credit were outstanding under the Revolving Credit Facility, thereby reducing the total availability under the line by such amount.
9
ACUITY BRANDS, INC.
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Unaudited)
(Amounts in thousands, except share and per-share data and as indicated)
In October 2002, Acuity Brands entered into a three-year loan agreement (Term Loan) secured by certain land and buildings of the Company. During the first quarter of 2005, the Term Loan was reclassified from Long-Term Debt, less current maturities to Term loan, which is included in Current Liabilities. At November 30, 2004, borrowings outstanding under the Term Loan were $18.5 million.
10. COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES
Litigation
Acuity Brands is subject to various legal claims arising in the normal course of business, including patent infringement and product liability claims. Based on information currently available, it is the opinion of management that the ultimate resolution of pending and threatened legal proceedings will not have a material adverse effect on the financial condition or results of operations of Acuity Brands. However, in the event of unexpected future developments, it is possible that the ultimate resolution of such matters, if unfavorable, could have a material adverse effect on the results of operations of Acuity Brands in future periods. Acuity Brands establishes reserves for legal claims when the costs associated with the claims become probable and can be reasonably estimated. The actual costs of resolving legal claims may be substantially higher or lower than the amounts reserved for such claims.
Environmental Matters
The operations of the Company are subject to numerous comprehensive laws and regulations relating to the generation, storage, handling, transportation, and disposal of hazardous substances as well as solid and hazardous wastes and to the remediation of contaminated sites. In addition, permits and environmental controls are required for certain of the Companys operations to limit air and water pollution, and these permits are subject to modification, renewal, and revocation by issuing authorities. On an ongoing basis, Acuity Brands invests capital and incurs operating costs relating to environmental compliance. Environmental laws and regulations have generally become stricter in recent years. The cost of responding to future changes may be substantial. Acuity Brands establishes reserves for known environmental claims when the costs associated with the claims become probable and can be reasonably estimated. The actual cost of environmental issues may be higher than that reserved due to difficulty in estimating such costs and potential changes in the status of government regulations.
Certain environmental laws can impose liability regardless of fault. The federal Superfund law is an example of such an environmental law. However, management believes that the Companys potential liability under Superfund is mitigated by the presence of other parties who will share in the costs associated with the clean up of sites. The extent of liability is determined on a case-by-case basis taking into account many factors, including the number of other parties whose status or activities also subjects them to liability regardless of fault.
Acuity Brands is currently a party to, or otherwise involved in, legal proceedings in connection with state and federal Superfund sites. With respect to each of the currently active sites which it does not own and where it has been named as a responsible party or a potentially responsible party (PRP), the Company believes its liability is immaterial, based on information currently available, due to its limited involvement at the site and/or the number of viable PRPs. For example, the preliminary allocation among 48 PRPs at the Crymes Landfill site in Georgia indicates that Acuity Brands liability is not significant, and there are more than 1,000 PRPs at the M&J Solvents site in Georgia, which has included Acuity Brands as a PRP.
With respect to the only active site which Acuity Brands does own, property on Seaboard Industrial Boulevard in Atlanta, Georgia, the Company, together with current and former owners of adjoining properties (the Site Group), has conducted an investigation on its property and adjoining properties (the Site) and submitted a Compliance Status Report (CSR) and a proposed Corrective Action Plan (CAP) to the State of Georgia Environmental Protection Division (EPD) pursuant to the Georgia Hazardous Site Response Act. The EPD approved the CAP in May 2004, and the Company has reached tentative agreement with the other members of the Site Group to share the costs and responsibilities of implementing the CAP. The CAP requires the Site Group to periodically monitor the Site for a period of five years to confirm the Site Groups model predicting that the site is not expected to violate applicable regulatory standards. Results from the first two required quarterly sampling events have confirmed the Site Groups model, but adverse future sampling results could cause the Company to record additional charges to earnings in future periods. However, based on information currently available, the Company believes that its liability is immaterial in connection with the Site.
In August 2003, ASP received a grand jury subpoena from the United States Attorney for the Northern District of Georgia concerning the operation of ASPs wastewater pretreatment plant and ASPs management of hazardous waste at a facility in Atlanta, Georgia. The grand jury investigation appears to relate to the discharge of wastewater from the facility to the City of Atlantas sanitary
10
ACUITY BRANDS, INC.
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Unaudited)
(Amounts in thousands, except share and per-share data and as indicated)
sewer system and ASPs practices in connection with the sampling of the facilitys wastewater discharges for permitting purposes. ASP is cooperating with the investigation by the U.S. Attorneys Office and has completed the production of the required documents. The U.S. Attorneys Office investigation follows an inquiry by the City of Atlanta, which regulates the wastewater discharge at the facility. The Company has settled with the City of Atlanta all issues arising from the inquiry. As of November 30, 2004, the Company had reserved approximately $2.0 million to cover various costs including off-site disposal, the estimated costs of resolution of proceedings with the U.S. Attorneys Office, and the estimated legal expenses to be incurred by the Company for these matters. The proceedings with the U.S. Attorney are at a preliminary stage, and developments in the investigation and the terms of any final settlement or adjudication of these matters could result in actual costs substantially higher or lower than the amounts reserved.
For property that the Company owns on Academy Drive in Northbrook, Illinois, ABL has completed its investigation to determine whether acids, caustics, or other chemical constituents associated with the former anodizing process or wastewater pre-treatment system at the facility impacted soil or groundwater under the building. The investigation indicated that no such materials have impacted the property above regulatory limits and that remediation is not required. As of November 30, 2004, the Company had reserved $0.1 million to cover anticipated costs of investigating such impacts and restoring those areas to facilitate the sale of the property to a third party.
Guarantees and Indemnities
The Company is a party to contracts entered into in the normal course of business in which it is common for the Company to agree to indemnify third parties for certain liabilities that may arise out of or relate to the subject matter of the contract. In some cases, the Company cannot estimate the potential amount of future payments under these indemnities until events arise that would result in a liability under the indemnities.
In connection with the sale of assets and the divestiture of businesses, the Company has from time to time agreed to indemnify the purchaser from liabilities relating to events occurring prior to the sale and conditions existing at the time of the sale. These indemnities generally include potential environmental liabilities, general representations and warranties concerning the asset or business, and certain other liabilities not assumed by the purchaser. Indemnities associated with the divestiture of businesses are generally limited in amount to the sales price of the specific business or are based on a lower negotiated amount and expire at various times, depending on the nature of the indemnified matter, but in some cases do not expire until the applicable statute of limitations expires. The Company does not believe that any amounts that it may be required to pay under these indemnities will be material to the Companys results of operations, financial position, or liquidity.
Prior to November 30, 2001, Acuity Brands was a wholly-owned subsidiary of National Service Industries, Inc. (NSI) owning and operating the lighting equipment and specialty products businesses. Acuity Brands was spun off from NSI into a separate publicly traded company with its own management and Board of Directors through a tax-free distribution (Distribution) of 100% of the outstanding shares of common stock of Acuity Brands on November 30, 2001. In conjunction with the separation of their businesses, Acuity Brands and NSI entered into various agreements that addressed the allocation of assets and liabilities and defined the Companys relationship with NSI after the Distribution, including a distribution agreement, a transition services agreement, and a tax disaffiliation agreement:
Distribution Agreement-
The distribution agreement provides that Acuity Brands will indemnify NSI for pre-Distribution liabilities related to the businesses that comprise Acuity Brands and previously owned businesses in the lighting equipment and specialty products segments. This indemnity does not expire and there is no stated maximum potential liability. To satisfy its obligations under the distribution agreement, Acuity Brands provides letters of credit on behalf of NSI for collateral requirements under NSIs casualty programs for incurred and projected losses resulting from those segments prior to the Distribution which are covered by NSI casualty programs. This collateral requirement is $1.2 million for 2005, down from $2.4 million for 2004.
Transition Services Agreement-
In addition to other services described in the agreement (all of which are complete), the transition services agreement provides that Acuity Brands will, for a fee, provide letters of credit to secure NSIs obligations under various casualty insurance programs of NSI not to exceed the following amounts:
Period |
||||
Beginning |
Ending |
Letters of Credit | ||
November 1, 2003 |
October 31, 2004 | $ 5.0 million | ||
November 1, 2004 |
October 31, 2005 | $ 2.0 million |
11
ACUITY BRANDS, INC.
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Unaudited)
(Amounts in thousands, except share and per-share data and as indicated)
The letters of credit are issued in favor of the surety company that provides collateral to the states where NSI may have obligations under its various casualty insurance programs. Under this provision, at November 30, 2004, Acuity Brands had $2.0 million of outstanding letters of credit that were issued for the benefit of NSI.
In addition, Acuity Brands currently provides letters of credit of approximately $0.8 million on behalf of NSI in connection with a surety company that has not been released by states to which the surety company provided collateral. NSI has provided back-up letters of credit for the benefit of Acuity Brands in such amount.
In the event NSI is unable to fulfill its obligations under certain of its casualty insurance programs, the standby letters of credit could be drawn upon and Acuity Brands would be required to fund the drawn amount. In such event, NSI would be obligated to reimburse Acuity Brands for such amounts. The management of Acuity Brands currently believes NSI will be able to fulfill its obligations with respect to these standby letters of credit.
Tax Disaffiliation Agreement-
The tax disaffiliation agreement provides that Acuity Brands will indemnify NSI for certain taxes and liabilities that may arise related to the Distribution and, generally, for deficiencies, if any, with respect to federal, state, local, or foreign taxes of NSI for periods before the Distribution. Liabilities determined under the tax disaffiliation agreement terminate upon the expiration of the applicable statutes of limitation for such liabilities. There is no stated maximum potential liability included in the tax disaffiliation agreement.
The Company does not believe that any amounts it is likely to be required to pay under these indemnities will be material to the Companys results of operations, financial position, or liquidity. The Company cannot estimate the potential amount of future payments under these indemnities until events arise that would result in a liability under the indemnities.
Product Warranty
Acuity Brands records an allowance for the estimated amount of future warranty claims when the related revenue is recognized, primarily based on historical experience. Excluding costs related to faulty components provided by third parties, warranty costs as a percentage of net sales have generally been consistent for the last several years. However, there can be no assurance that future warranty costs will not exceed historical experience. If actual future warranty costs exceed historical amounts, additional allowances may be required, which could have a material adverse impact on the Companys results of operations in future periods.
The Company expects to begin notifying agents, distributors, and customers in early January 2005 of the expansion of a voluntary product recall that was initiated with the United States Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) and originally commenced March 10, 2004. The product recall will now involve approximately 70,000 lighting fixtures manufactured by ABL at one of its facilities from April 2002 through October 2003 that may have incorporated faulty capacitors produced by one of ABLs suppliers. The recalled fixtures are certain models of indoor high intensity discharge (HID) lighting fixtures with at least one acrylic component (reflector or lens). The fixtures are used primarily in industrial and commercial locations such as retail spaces, warehouses, and gymnasiums.
The capacitor used in the recalled fixtures can leak polypropylene glycol (PPG) fluid onto the acrylic lens and/or reflector of the fixture, causing the acrylic component(s) to degrade. In several reported instances, this has resulted in lenses or reflectors cracking and pieces of acrylic falling from the fixtures. To date, there have been only limited reports of personal injury and property damage. ABL is providing a replacement fixture or capacitor for every fixture that meets the product recall criteria.
In addition to the expenses associated with this product recall, ABL expects to incur higher-than-normal warranty expenses in connection with certain other types of indoor and outdoor HID fixtures that may incorporate the faulty capacitor but exhibit a less serious failure mode. In the case of these fixtures, the PPG fluid may accumulate in or drip from the fixture. ABL will repair or replace these fixtures upon failure.
The Company accrued a liability of $5.7 million for the estimated product recall expenses and additional related warranty expenses. The Company also recorded a receivable equal to the liability accrued because the supplier of the faulty capacitors entered into a reimbursement agreement pursuant to which it has committed to reimburse the Company on a monthly basis for product recall
12
ACUITY BRANDS, INC.
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Unaudited)
(Amounts in thousands, except share and per-share data and as indicated)
and warranty expenses up to the amount of the liability the Company accrued. As of November 30, 2004, the Company had paid $0.8 million related to the product recall expenses and additional related warranty expenses and had been reimbursed approximately $0.5 million. The Company expects to be reimbursed for substantially all amounts paid. The actual product recall and warranty expenses could be substantially different than the liability recorded by the Company. In the event the actual expenses incurred by the Company exceed $5.7 million, the Company and the supplier have committed in good faith to agree upon the additional amount to be reimbursed to the Company by the supplier.
The Company also expects to commence in early January 2005 an additional voluntary product recall of certain indoor HID lighting fixtures in accordance with its notification to the CPSC on September 27, 2004. This additional product recall involves approximately 120,000 lighting fixtures that incorporate acrylic reflectors and that utilize cords manufactured by one of ABLs suppliers. The cords used in the fixtures may emit a plasticizer fluid that can potentially drip onto the exterior of the acrylic reflectors, which could cause them to degrade, crack, and fall. To date, there have been no reports of personal injury or significant property damage in connection with this issue. The manufacturer and the distributors of the cords are cooperating in this matter. The product recall will involve the replacement of the cord and reflector for each fixture subject to the recall. At November 30, 2004, the Company had accrued a liability of $1.6 million for the estimated expenses of this product recall, down from $2.5 million at August 31, 2004. The estimate of cost was revised during the first quarter, as the current projected time frame covered by the product recall is different than the time frame used in the original estimate. The Company intends to pursue vigorously recovery of all costs associated with this product recall, but there can be no assurance that it will be able to recover any portion of the costs.
On October 21, 2004, the Company received a document and information request from the CPSC in connection with an investigation by the CPSC as to whether the Company had complied with the reporting requirements of section 15(b) of the Consumer Product Safety Act with respect to this product recall of HID fixtures. On November 4, 2004, the Company received a document and information request from the CPSC in connection with a similar investigation with respect to the April 2001 product recall of certain of ABLs emergency lighting fixtures. The Company has complied with these requests. In the event the CPSC determines that there was a violation of reporting requirements, proposed penalties could be significant based on past settlements with other companies announced by the CPSC.
The changes in the product warranty reserve during the three months ended November 30, 2004 are summarized as follows:
Balance as of August 31, 2004 |
$ | 11,694 | ||
Warranty and product recall expense during the period |
721 | |||
Payments made during the period |
(1,460 | ) | ||
Balance as of November 30, 2004 |
$ | 10,955 | ||
11. STOCK-BASED COMPENSATION
The Company issues stock options to employees and directors under certain of its benefit plans. Under all stock option plans, the options expire no later than 10 years from the date of grant and have an exercise price no less than the fair market value of the Companys stock on the date of grant. The Company accounts for the employee and director plans under the Accounting Principles Board Opinion No. 25, Accounting for Stock Issued to Employees and related interpretations. Additionally, Acuity Brands has adopted the disclosure provisions portion only of SFAS No. 148, Accounting for Stock-Based Compensation Transition and Disclosure an Amendment to FASB Statement No. 123. Accordingly, no compensation expense has been recognized for these stock option plans in the Consolidated Financial Statements. Had compensation cost for the Companys stock option plans been determined based on the fair value at the grant date for awards subsequent to the Distribution, consistent with the recognition provisions of SFAS No. 123, the Companys net income and earnings per share would have been impacted as follows:
13
ACUITY BRANDS, INC.
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Unaudited)
(Amounts in thousands, except share and per-share data and as indicated)
Three Months Ended November 30, | ||||||
2004 |
2003 | |||||
Net income, as reported |
$ | 13,165 | $ | 12,917 | ||
Less: Compensation expense related to the Employee Stock Purchase Plan, net of tax |
76 | 65 | ||||
Less: Stock-based compensation determined under fair value based method for stock option awards, net of tax |
1,136 | 610 | ||||
Pro forma net income |
$ | 11,953 | $ | 12,242 | ||
Earnings per share: |
||||||
Basic earnings per share as reported |
$ | 0.31 | $ | 0.31 | ||
Basic earnings per share pro forma |
$ | 0.28 | $ | 0.29 | ||
Diluted earnings per share as reported |
$ | 0.30 | $ | 0.30 | ||
Diluted earnings per share pro forma |
$ | 0.27 | $ | 0.29 |
The above pro forma calculations only include the effects of options granted subsequent to the Distribution. The pro forma effect of applying SFAS No. 123 may not be representative of the effect on reported net income in future years because options vest over several years and varying amounts of awards are generally made each year.
12. PENSION PLANS
Acuity Brands has several pension plans covering certain hourly and salaried employees. Benefits paid under these plans are based generally on employees years of service and/or compensation during the final years of employment. Acuity Brands makes annual contributions to the plans to the extent indicated by actuarial valuations. Plan assets are invested primarily in equity and fixed income securities.
Net periodic pension cost for the Companys pension plans during the three months ended November 30, 2004 and 2003 included the following components:
Three Months Ended November 30, |
||||||||
2004 |
2003 |
|||||||
Service cost |
$ | 904 | $ | 1,133 | ||||
Interest cost |
1,907 | 1,781 | ||||||
Expected return on plan assets |
(1,809 | ) | (1,593 | ) | ||||
Amortization of prior service cost |
22 | 25 | ||||||
Amortization of transitional asset |
(33 | ) | (33 | ) | ||||
Recognized actuarial loss |
434 | 658 | ||||||
Net periodic pension cost |
$ | 1,425 | $ | 1,971 | ||||
14
Item 2. Managements Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations
The following discussion should be read in conjunction with the Consolidated Financial Statements and related notes. References made to years are for fiscal year periods.
The purpose of this discussion and analysis is to enhance the understanding and evaluation of the results of operations, financial position, cash flows, indebtedness, and other key financial information of Acuity Brands and its subsidiaries for the periods ended November 30, 2004 and 2003. For a more complete understanding of this discussion, please read the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements included in this report. Also, please refer to the Companys Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended August 31, 2004, filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on October 29, 2004, for additional information regarding the Company.
Overview
Company
Acuity Brands, Inc. (Acuity Brands or the Company) is a holding company that owns and manages two businesses that serve distinctive markets lighting equipment and specialty products. The lighting equipment segment of the Company (Acuity Brands Lighting or ABL) designs, produces, and distributes a broad array of indoor and outdoor lighting fixtures for commercial and institutional, industrial, infrastructure, and residential applications for various markets throughout North America and select international markets. The specialty products segment of Acuity Brands (Acuity Specialty Products or ASP) formulates, produces, and distributes specialty chemical products including cleaners, deodorizers, sanitizers, and pesticides for industrial and institutional, commercial, and residential applications primarily for various markets throughout North America and Europe. Acuity Brands, with its principal office in Atlanta, Georgia, has approximately 11,000 employees worldwide. While Acuity Brands has been publicly held as a stand-alone company for approximately three years, the two segments that make up the Company are comprised of organizations with long histories and well-known brands.
ABL produces a broad array of indoor and outdoor lighting fixtures for commercial and institutional, industrial, infrastructure, and residential applications for various markets throughout North America and select international markets. ABL is one of the worlds leading producers and distributors of lighting fixtures, with a broad, highly configurable product offering, consisting of roughly 500,000 active products as part of over 2,000 product groups that are sold to approximately 5,000 customers. ABL operates 26 factories and distribution facilities to serve its extensive customer base.
ASP is a leading producer of specialty chemical products including cleaners, deodorizers, sanitizers, and pesticides for industrial and institutional, commercial, and residential applications primarily for various markets throughout North America and Europe. ASP sells over 9,000 different products through its salaried and commissioned direct sales force, operates six plants, and serves over 300,000 customers through a network of distribution centers and warehouses.
Liquidity and Capital Resources
Principal sources of liquidity for the Company are operating cash flows generated primarily from its business segments and various sources of borrowings, primarily from banks. The ability of the Company to generate sufficient cash flow from operations and to be able to access certain capital markets, including banks, is necessary for the Company to meet its obligations as they become due and maintain compliance with covenants contained in its financing agreements. The Companys ongoing liquidity will depend on a number of factors, including available cash resources, cash flows from operations, and the Companys ability to comply with covenants contained in certain of its financing agreements.
Based on current earnings projections and prevailing market conditions, both for customer demand and various capital markets, the Company believes that during the remainder of 2005 it will have sufficient liquidity and availability under its financing arrangements to fund its operations as currently planned and its anticipated capital investment and profit improvement initiatives, to repay borrowings as currently scheduled, to pay the same quarterly stockholder dividend per share in 2005 as was paid in 2004, and to make required contributions into the Companys defined benefit plans. The Company expects to invest between $50.0 million and $55.0 million for new plant and equipment and enhanced information technology capabilities at both businesses during 2005, consistent with spending in 2004.
15
Cash Flow
Acuity Brands used available cash, cash flow, and borrowings in the three months ended November 30, 2004 to fund operations and capital expenditures and to pay dividends. Available cash was benefited by $6.5 million in cash received from the exercise of stock options during the first quarter of 2005.
The Company used $17.9 million of net cash from operations during the first three months of 2005 compared to $4.4 million generated in the prior year period. Cash flow from operations declined $22.3 million due primarily to an increase in cash used by accounts payable and accrued liabilities, partially offset by improvement in cash flow from accounts receivable and inventory. Operating working capital (calculated by adding accounts receivables, net, plus inventory, and subtracting accounts payable) increased by approximately $38.5 million to $385.9 million at November 30, 2004 from $347.4 million at August 31, 2004. The increase in operating working capital was due primarily to a $24.8 million decrease in accounts payable since the prior year-end. Pension contributions of approximately $3.1 million in the first quarter of 2005 were approximately $2.1 million greater than contributions in the year-ago period. This represents a significant portion of the total pension funding requirements for the Company in 2005.
Capital expenditures were $11.6 million in the first quarter of 2005, an increase of approximately $1.8 million from the same period in the prior year. The Company continues to invest in new tooling and equipment primarily to improve productivity and product quality, increase manufacturing efficiencies, and enhance customer service capabilities in each segment. The increase in capital expenditures from the prior year was due primarily to higher investments at ASP in an effort to improve information technology capabilities.
Capitalization
The capital structure of the Company is comprised principally of an asset-backed securitization program, borrowings from banks, senior notes, and the equity of its stockholders. Total debt outstanding increased to $413.9 million at November 30, 2004 from $395.7 million at August 31, 2004.
Borrowings under the Companys primary bank financing agreement (Revolving Credit Facility) are limited by financial covenants, the most restrictive of which is a leverage ratio calculated at the end of each fiscal quarter. The leverage ratio is calculated by dividing total indebtedness at the end of the quarter by EBITDA (earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization expense), as such terms are defined in the Revolving Credit Facility, for the trailing four quarters. The financial covenants included in the Companys other financing agreements are similar to the financial covenants contained in the Revolving Credit Facility. The Company was in compliance with all financial covenants contained in its financing agreements at November 30, 2004.
During the first quarter of 2005, the Companys consolidated stockholders equity increased $22.6 million to $500.6 million at November 30, 2004. The increase was due primarily to net income earned during the period, the issuance of shares under the Companys compensation programs, and the favorable impact of foreign currency translation adjustments, partially offset by the payment of dividends. The Companys debt to total capital ratio was 45.3% at both November 30, 2004 and August 31, 2004.
Dividends
The Company paid cash dividends on common stock during the first three months of 2005 of $6.4 million ($0.15 per share). The Company expects to pay annual stockholder dividends of $0.60 per share during 2005, consistent with 2004, subject to quarterly approval by the Board of Directors.
Results of Operations
First Quarter of 2005 Compared to First Quarter of 2004
Consolidated Results
Net sales for the quarter ended November 30, 2004 were $525.2 million compared to $517.5 million reported in the year-ago period, an increase of $7.7 million, or 1.5%. The growth in net sales, which occurred in both of the Companys segments, was due primarily to favorable pricing and greater shipments within certain channels in the commercial and industrial portions of the lighting and chemical businesses, partially offset by lower shipments in the retail channel. Consolidated gross profit margins increased slightly to 41.7% of net sales in the first quarter of 2005 as compared to 41.5% of net sales reported in the year-ago period. The improvement in gross profit margins was due primarily to favorable pricing and product mix as well as benefits from previously initiated profit improvement programs, particularly at ABL. These benefits were partially offset by a dramatic rise in the cost of raw materials, particularly steel, and certain other components. For example, the Company estimates that steel and aluminum costs were more than $8.0 million higher in the first quarter of 2005 compared to the year-ago period. Consolidated operating expenses were $190.6 million (36.3% of net sales) in the first quarter of 2005 compared to $186.7 million (36.1% of net sales) in the year-ago period. The
16
increase in operating expenses was due primarily to higher expenses at ABL and Corporate. The increase at ABL was primarily the result of higher commissions, freight, and warranty expense partially offset by lower than expected costs for a product recall.
Consolidated operating profit of $28.2 million increased by $0.2 million, or 0.7%, in the first quarter of 2005 compared to the year-ago period. Consolidated operating profit margins of 5.4% of net sales in the first quarter of 2005 approximated such margins for the same period in 2004. The increase in operating profit was due primarily to the impact of favorable price and product mix changes, partially offset by higher raw material costs and greater expense for Company-wide long-term incentive programs. Net income for the first quarter of 2005 increased $0.3 million, or 2.3%, to $13.2 million from $12.9 million reported in the first quarter of 2004. The increase in net income resulted primarily from the increase in operating profit noted above. Diluted earnings per share in the first quarter of 2005 of $0.30 was flat compared to the first quarter of 2004.
Acuity Brands Lighting
Net sales at ABL in the first quarter of 2005 were $398.0 million compared to $391.0 million reported in the year-ago period, an increase of $7.0 million, or 1.8%. The increase was due primarily to improved pricing and greater shipments in the commercial and industrial channel. Those improvements were partially offset by a decline in shipments to a non-strategic customer in the home improvement channel and certain projects with two national accounts not repeated in the current year. The backlog at ABL increased approximately $6.5 million, or 4.3%, to $159.3 million at November 30, 2004 from $152.8 million at August 31, 2004.
Operating profit at ABL increased $2.1 million, or 7.7%, to $29.4 million in the first quarter of 2005 from $27.3 million reported in the prior year. Operating profit margins improved to 7.4% of net sales in the first quarter of 2005 from 7.0% of net sales reported in the same period a year ago. The increase in operating profit and margins was due primarily to benefits from pricing initiatives, favorable product mix changes, lower than anticipated product recall costs, and benefits from the manufacturing network transformation project. These benefits were partially offset by lower profit contribution from reduced shipments in certain channels noted above, higher costs for certain raw materials, higher warranty expenses, and increased rates for commission and freight.
Acuity Specialty Products
Net sales at ASP in the first quarter of 2005 were $127.2 million compared to $126.5 million reported in the year-ago period, representing an increase of $0.7 million. The increase in net sales was due primarily to higher shipments and improved pricing in the institutional and industrial (I&I) channel, partially offset by lower shipments in the retail channel and the absence of sales from a small product line divested during the first quarter of 2004.
Operating profit at ASP in the first quarter of 2005 decreased slightly to $7.2 million from $7.4 million reported in the year-ago period. Operating margins decreased to 5.7% of net sales from 5.9% of net sales a year ago. Additional contribution from the higher net sales noted above was more than offset by the impact of higher raw material costs and increased compliance costs, causing the decrease in operating profit and margins.
Corporate
Corporate expenses were $8.4 million in the first quarter of 2005 compared to $6.7 million in the year-ago period. The increase in corporate expenses was primarily the result of greater expense for Company-wide restricted stock incentives and other share-based programs, reflecting, in part, the effect of appreciation of the Companys stock price on these programs and an increase in awards outstanding.
Income Taxes
The effective tax rate for the first quarter of 2005 was 35.1%, compared to 36.0% in the first quarter of 2004. The Company will continue to evaluate its effective tax rate on a quarterly basis but, based on current facts and circumstances, expects the rate to remain approximately 35.0% for the remainder of the year. The Company is in the process of evaluating the effect of the American Jobs Creation Act of 2004 on its plans for reinvestment or repatriation of foreign earnings for purposes of applying Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 109, Accounting for Income Taxes. The evaluation of the impact on the financial statements will also depend on guidance expected to be provided by the IRS.
Other Expense (Income)
Other expense (income) for Acuity Brands consisted primarily of interest expense and other miscellaneous non-operating activity including gains or losses on the sale of assets and foreign currency transactions. Interest expense, net, was $8.9 million, an increase of $0.2 million, or 2.3%, from the year-ago period. This increase was due primarily to a higher weighted average interest rate in the first quarter of 2005 compared to the first quarter of 2004 and, to a lesser extent, higher debt balances over the course of the quarter in comparison to the year-ago period.
17
Outlook
Management continues to anticipate that fiscal year 2005 will be challenging, particularly in the first half. This caution is due to several factors: the potential for continued weakness in a key market, non-residential construction; the significant impact of rising costs, particularly for certain components and raw materials; the impact of growing government regulations; and the short-term negative impact of ongoing process improvement initiatives. In light of those factors, operating results for the first half of 2005 are expected to be relatively consistent with those reported in the first half of 2004. However, in spite of these challenges, the Company expects to make meaningful progress for the full year of 2005 towards its long-term goals of growing earnings per share in excess of 15% per annum, providing a return on stockholders equity of 15% or better, and reducing the Companys debt to total capitalization ratio to below 40%. Management expects to realize benefits from improved customer service capabilities, continuous improvement initiatives, and annual product and price review programs, particularly in the second half of 2005. Management anticipates that realization of these benefits in 2005 will result in improvement of consolidated operating profit margins by at least 70 basis points and in achievement of the Companys debt targets. Additionally, management sees indications of growing demand in key markets, including certain portions of non-residential construction, that could favorably impact results, particularly in the second half of the year.
Critical Accounting Policies
Managements Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations addresses the financial condition and results of operations as reflected in the Companys Consolidated Financial Statements, which have been prepared in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles. The preparation of financial statements in conformity with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements and reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting period. On an ongoing basis, management evaluates its estimates and judgments, including those related to: inventory valuation; depreciation, amortization and the recoverability of long-lived assets, including intangible assets; medical, product warranty, and other reserves; litigation; and environmental matters. Management bases its estimates and judgments on its substantial historical experience and other relevant factors, the results of which form the basis for making judgments about the carrying values of assets and liabilities that are not readily apparent from other sources. Actual results could differ from those estimates. Management discusses the development of accounting estimates with the Companys Audit Committee. For a detailed discussion of significant accounting policies that may involve a higher degree of judgment, please refer to the Companys Form 10-K for the year ended August 31, 2004.
Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward-Looking Information
This filing contains forward-looking statements, within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, that involve risks and uncertainties. Consequently, actual results may differ materially from those indicated by the forward-looking statements. Statements made herein that may be considered forward-looking include statements that relate to future performance or results of the Company, including without limitation: (a) the Companys expectations regarding liquidity and availability under its financing arrangements to fund its operations as currently planned and its anticipated capital investment and profit improvement initiatives, debt payments, dividend payments, and required contributions into its defined benefit plans; (b) the planned spending of approximately $50.0 to $55.0 million for new plant and equipment and enhanced information technology capabilities at both businesses during 2005; (c) the planned payment of annual stockholder dividends of $0.60 per share during 2005; (d) the Companys expectations regarding the effective tax rate for the remainder of the year; (e) 2005 operating results (and the timing of operating results within 2005); (f) expected progress towards the achievement of managements long-term financial goals regarding earnings per share, return on stockholders equity, and debt to total capitalization; (g) the expected realization of benefits from improved customer service capabilities, continuous improvement initiatives, and annual product and price review programs, the timing of such benefits, and the impact of these benefits on operating margins and the achievement of debt targets; and (h) the impact on results of growing demand in key markets and the timing of such impact. A variety of risks and uncertainties could cause the Companys actual results to differ materially from the anticipated results or other expectations expressed in the Companys forward-looking statements. The risks and uncertainties include without limitation the following: (a) the uncertainty of general business and economic conditions, including the potential for a more severe slowdown in non-residential construction and other industrial markets, changes in interest rates, and fluctuations in commodity and raw material prices or foreign currency rates; (b) the risk of economic, political, military, or other events in a country where the Company manufactures, procures, or sources a significant amount of raw materials, component parts, or finished goods; (c) the Companys ability to realize the anticipated benefits of initiatives expected to reduce costs, improve profits, enhance customer service, increase manufacturing efficiency, reduce debt, and expand product offerings and brands in the market through a variety of channels; (d) the risk that the Company will be unable to execute its various initiatives within expected timeframes; (e) unexpected developments in the Companys legal and environmental matters, including the matter related to the operation of ASPs wastewater pretreatment plant and ASPs management of hazardous waste at a facility in Atlanta, Georgia; (f) the risk that projected future cash flows from operations are not realized; (g) the impact of unforeseen factors on the Companys critical accounting estimates; (h) the impact of competition; and (i) unexpected changes in the Companys share price.
18
Item 3. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures about Market Risk
General. Acuity Brands is exposed to market risks that may impact the Consolidated Balance Sheets, Consolidated Statements of Income, and Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows due primarily to changing interest rates and foreign exchange rates. The following discussion provides additional information regarding the market risks of Acuity Brands.
Interest Rates. Interest rate fluctuations expose the variable-rate debt of Acuity Brands to changes in interest expense and cash flows. The variable-rate debt of Acuity Brands, primarily short-term secured borrowings and amounts outstanding under the Companys Revolving Credit Facility, Term Loan, and long-term industrial revenue bonds amounted to $54.0 million at November 30, 2004. Based on outstanding borrowings at quarter end, a 10% increase in market interest rates at November 30, 2004 would have resulted in additional annual after-tax interest expense of approximately $0.1 million. A fluctuation in interest rates would not affect interest expense or cash flows related to the $360.0 million publicly traded notes, Acuity Brands primary fixed-rate debt. A 10% increase in market interest rates at November 30, 2004 would have decreased the fair value of these notes by approximately $8.7 million. See Note 9 of the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements, contained in this Form 10-Q, for additional information regarding the Companys long-term debt.
Foreign Exchange Rates. The majority of the net sales, expense, and capital purchases of Acuity Brands are transacted in U.S. dollars. Acuity Brands does not believe a 10% fluctuation in average foreign currency rates would have a material effect on its consolidated financial position or results of operations. However, during 2004, the Company entered into certain foreign currency forward contracts to hedge its exposure to variability in exchange rates on certain anticipated intercompany transactions with a Canadian business unit. At November 30, 2004, the Company had foreign currency contracts outstanding with an aggregate notional amount of $27.0 million. These contracts mature monthly in $3.0 million increments. The fair value of these contracts represented an unrealized pre-tax loss of approximately $2.7 million at November 30, 2004.
Item 4. Controls and Procedures
Disclosure controls and procedures are controls and other procedures that are designed to reasonably ensure that information required to be disclosed in the reports filed or submitted by the Company under the Securities Exchange Act is recorded, processed, summarized, and reported within the time periods specified in the Securities and Exchange Commissions (Commission) rules and forms. Disclosure controls and procedures include, without limitation, controls and procedures designed to reasonably ensure that information required to be disclosed by the Company in the reports filed under the Securities Exchange Act is accumulated and communicated to management, including the principal executive officer and principal financial officer, as appropriate to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosure.
As required by Commission rules, the Company has evaluated the effectiveness of the design and operation of its disclosure controls and procedures as of November 30, 2004. This evaluation was carried out under the supervision and with the participation of management, including the principal executive officer and principal financial officer. Based on this evaluation, these officers have concluded that the design and operation of the Companys disclosure controls and procedures are effective at a reasonable assurance level. However, because all disclosure procedures must rely to some degree on actions or decisions made by employees throughout the organization, such as reporting of material events, the Company and its reporting officers believe that they cannot provide absolute assurance that all control issues and instances of fraud, if any, within the Company will be detected. Limitations within any control system, including the Companys control system, include faulty judgments in decision-making or simple errors or mistakes. In addition, controls can be circumvented by an individual, by collusion between two or more people, or by management override of the control. Because of these limitations, misstatements due to error or fraud may occur and may not be detected.
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 U.S. generally accepted accounting principles and includes those policies and procedures that: (a) pertain to the maintenance of records that in reasonable detail accurately and fairly reflect the transactions and dispositions of the assets of the issuer; (b) provide reasonable assurance that transactions are recorded as necessary to permit preparation of financial statements in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles, and that receipts and expenditures of the issuer are being made only in accordance with appropriate authorizations of management and directors of the issuer; and (c) provide reasonable assurance regarding prevention or timely detection of unauthorized acquisition, use, or disposition of the issuers assets that could have a material effect on the financial statements. There were no significant changes to the Companys internal control structure over financial reporting during the first quarter of 2005 that materially affected, or are reasonably likely to materially affect, the Companys internal control over financial reporting.
19
Acuity Brands is subject to various legal claims arising in the normal course of business, including patent infringement and product liability claims. Based on information currently available, and except as described below, it is the opinion of management that the ultimate resolution of pending and threatened legal proceedings will not have a material adverse effect on the financial condition or results of operations of Acuity Brands. However, in the event of unexpected future developments, it is possible that the ultimate resolution of such matters, if unfavorable, could have a material adverse effect on the results of operations of Acuity Brands in future periods. Acuity Brands establishes reserves for legal claims when the costs associated with the claims become probable and can be reasonably estimated. The actual costs of resolving legal claims may be substantially higher than the amounts reserved for such claims. See Item 3. Legal Proceedings in the Companys Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended August 31, 2004.
Exhibits are listed on the Index to Exhibits (page 22).
20
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned thereunto duly authorized.
ACUITY BRANDS, INC. REGISTRANT | ||
DATE: January 6, 2005 | /s/ Vernon J. Nagel | |
VERNON J. NAGEL CHAIRMAN AND CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER | ||
DATE: January 6, 2005 | /s/ Karen J. Holcom | |
KAREN J. HOLCOM VICE PRESIDENT, CONTROLLER, AND INTERIM CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER |
21
INDEX TO EXHIBITS
EXHIBIT 3 | (a) | Restated Certificate of Incorporation of Acuity Brands, Inc. | Reference is made to Exhibit 3.1 to the registrants Form 8-K as filed with the Commission on December 14, 2001, which is incorporated herein by reference. | |||
(b) | Amended and Restated By-Laws of Acuity Brands, Inc. | Reference is made to Exhibit 3(b) to the registrants Form 10-Q as filed with the Commission on July 6, 2004, which is incorporated herein by reference. | ||||
EXHIBIT 10(iii)A | (1) | Acuity Brands, Inc. Nonemployee Director Deferred Stock Unit Plan, amended and restated effective as of January 1, 2004. | Filed with the Commission as part of this Form 10-Q. | |||
(2) | Acuity Brands, Inc. Management Compensation and Incentive Plan Fiscal Year 2005 Plan Rules for Executive Officers. | Filed with the Commission as part of this Form 10-Q. | ||||
(3) | Form of Incentive Stock Option Agreement for Executive Officers. | Filed with the Commission as part of this Form 10-Q. | ||||
(4) | Form of Nonqualified Stock Option Agreement for Executive Officers. | Filed with the Commission as part of this Form 10-Q. | ||||
(5) | Premium-Priced Nonqualified Stock Option Agreement for Executive Officers between Acuity Brands, Inc. and Vernon J. Nagel. | Filed with the Commission as part of this Form 10-Q. | ||||
(6) | Form of Restricted Stock Award Agreement for Executive Officers. | Filed with the Commission as part of this Form 10-Q. | ||||
(7) | Acuity Brands, Inc. Long-Term Incentive Plan Fiscal Year 2005 Plan Rules for Executive Officers. | Filed with the Commission as part of this Form 10-Q. | ||||
EXHIBIT 31 | (a) | Certification of the Chief Executive Officer of the Company pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002. | Filed with the Commission as part of this Form 10-Q. | |||
(b) | Certification of the Chief Financial Officer of the Company pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002. | Filed with the Commission as part of this Form 10-Q. | ||||
EXHIBIT 32 | (a) | Certification of the Chief Executive Officer of the Company pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002. | Filed with the Commission as part of this Form 10-Q. | |||
(b) | Certification of the Chief Financial Officer of the Company pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002. | Filed with the Commission as part of this Form 10-Q. |
22