ITEM 1. BUSINESS
Overview
Plexus Corp. and its subsidiaries (together "Plexus," the "Company," or "we") participate in the Electronic Manufacturing Services ("EMS") industry. We partner with our customers to create the products that build a better world. Since 1979, Plexus has been a dedicated partner to companies by providing global Design and Development, Supply Chain Solutions, New Product Introduction, Manufacturing and Aftermarket Services. We offer advanced design and production capabilities, allowing our customers to concentrate on their core competencies. Plexus helps accelerate our customers' time to market, reduce their investment in engineering and manufacturing capacity, and optimize total product cost. Plexus is a global leader that specializes in serving customers in industries with highly complex products and demanding regulatory environments. Plexus delivers comprehensive end-to-end solutions in the Americas ("AMER"), Europe, Middle East, and Africa ("EMEA") and Asia-Pacific ("APAC") regions for our customers. Our strategy remains consistent and can be summarized in four words: focus, execution, passion and discipline. We engineer innovative solutions for customers in growth markets and focus on partnering with leading global companies in the Healthcare/Life Sciences, Industrial/Commercial, Aerospace/Defense and Communications sectors. In fiscal year 2021, we intend to consolidate the Industrial/Commercial and Communications market sectors to form an Industrial market sector. Superior execution is foundational to our differentiation. We are dedicated partners to our customers, committed to achieving zero defects and perfect delivery through Operational Excellence. We accomplish Operational Excellence by being united as a team and guided by our values and leadership behaviors. We do the right thing to support our team members, communities and customers. Through our collective passion, we drive purpose to our actions and decisions. Finally, we are committed to delivering shareholder value through a consistent and disciplined financial model.
Plexus has partnerships with approximately 135 customers whose products are highly complex and operate within demanding regulatory environments. We leverage our expertise to understand the unique needs of our customers' markets and have aligned our processes to provide flexibility, create efficiency and deliver superior quality. Our customers have stringent quality, reliability and regulatory requirements, requiring exceptional production and supply chain agility. Their products require complex configuration management, direct order fulfillment (to end customers), global logistics management and aftermarket services. In order to service the complexities that our customers' products demand, we utilize our full suite of solution offerings to support our customers’ products from concept to end of life.
Plexus is passionate about being a global leader at serving markets consisting of highly complex products and demanding regulatory environments. Our customers look to us to fulfill programs characterized by unique flexibility, technology, quality and regulatory requirements. To deliver on our strategy, we align our operations, processes, workforce and financial metrics to create:
•A high performance, accountable organization with a talented and engaged workforce that is deeply passionate about driving growth through customer service excellence;
•Strategic growth by using customer driven, sector based go-to-market strategies; and
•Execution driven by a collaborative, customer-centric culture that continuously evaluates and optimizes our business processes to strive to create shareholder value.
We operate flexible manufacturing facilities and design our processes to accommodate customers with multiple product lines and configurations. One or more uniquely configured "focus factories," supported by tailored supply chain and logistics solutions, are designed to meet the flexibility and responsiveness needed to support customer fulfillment requirements.
We accomplish our go-to-market strategy through the four market sectors we serve. Each sector has a market sector vice president, as well as business development and customer management leaders who together oversee and provide leadership to teams that include business development directors, customer directors or managers, supply chain, engineering and manufacturing subject matter experts, and market sector analysts. These teams maintain expertise related to each market sector and execute sector strategies aligned to that market’s unique quality and regulatory requirements.
Our market sector teams help define Plexus' strategy for growth with a particular emphasis on expanding the value-add solutions we offer customers. Our sales and marketing efforts focus on targeting new customers and expanding business with existing customers. We believe our ability to provide a full range of services that complement the entire product lifecycle gives us a business advantage.
Our financial model aligns with our business strategy. Our primary focus is to earn a return on invested capital ("ROIC") 500 basis points above our weighted average cost of capital ("WACC"), which we refer to as "economic return." We review our internal calculation of WACC annually; for fiscal 2020, our WACC was 8.8%. We believe economic profit is a fundamental driver of shareholder value. Plexus measures economic profit by taking the difference between ROIC and WACC and multiplying it by invested capital. By exercising discipline to generate a ROIC in excess of our WACC, with focus on economic profit, our goal is to ensure that we create value for our shareholders. For more information regarding ROIC and economic return, which are non-GAAP financial measures, refer to "Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition - Results of Operations - Return on Invested Capital ("ROIC") and economic return" in Part II, Item 7. For a reconciliation of ROIC and economic return to our financial statements that were prepared using generally accepted accounting principles in the U.S. ("U.S. GAAP" or "GAAP"), see Exhibit 99.1 to this annual report on Form 10-K, which exhibit is incorporated herein by reference.
Relative to our competition, overriding factors such as lower manufacturing volumes, flexibility and fulfillment requirements, and complex regulatory requirements typically result in higher investments in inventory and selling and administrative costs for us. The cost variance from our competitors is especially evident relative to those that provide EMS services for high-volume, less complex products, with less stringent requirements (e.g., consumer electronics).
Plexus serves a diverse customer landscape that includes industry-leading, branded product companies, along with other technology pioneering start-ups and emerging companies that may or may not maintain manufacturing capabilities. In addition to prime technology advancements, key government and policy trends impact our business, including the U.S. Food and Drug Administration’s ("FDA") approval of new medical devices, defense procurement practices, and other government and regulatory processes. Plexus may benefit from increasing outsourcing trends.
We provide most of our optimized solutions on a turnkey basis, and we typically procure all materials required for product assembly. We provide select services on a consignment basis, meaning the customer supplies the necessary materials and Plexus provides the labor and other services required for product assembly. In addition to manufacturing, turnkey service requires material procurement and warehousing and involves greater resource investments than consignment services. Other than certain test equipment, manufacturing equipment, and software used for internal operations, we do not design or manufacture our own proprietary products.
Established in 1979 as a Wisconsin corporation, we have over 19,500 employees, including over 4,200 engineers and technologists dedicated to product development and design, test equipment development and design, and manufacturing process development and control, all of whom operate from 26 active facilities, totaling approximately 4.5 million square feet. Plexus' facilities are strategically located to support the global supply chain, engineering, manufacturing, and aftermarket service needs of customers in our targeted market sectors.
Plexus maintains a website at www.plexus.com. As soon as is reasonably practical, after we electronically file or furnish all reports to the Securities and Exchange Commission ("SEC"), we provide online copies of such reports, free of charge. These reports include: Proxy Statements, Annual Reports on Form 10-K, Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q, Current Reports on Form 8-K, Specialized Disclosure Reports on Form SD, and amendments to those reports. These reports are also accessible at the SEC's website at www.sec.gov. Our Code of Conduct and Business Ethics is also posted on our website. You may access these SEC reports and the Code of Conduct and Business Ethics by following the links under "Investors" at our website.
Solutions
With integrated Design and Development, Supply Chain Solutions, New Product Introduction, Manufacturing and Aftermarket Services, we proactively tackle tough challenges throughout the product lifecycle. It is how our teams strive to create innovative and efficient paths to get products to market.
Design and Development - Plexus was established with engineering as a core competency and has built a reputation for success. Our customers are able to partner with a collaborative team of approximately 600 development engineers to create new products. Using the same tools and processes throughout our seven Design Centers worldwide, we leverage the latest technology and state-of-the-art design automation methodologies to provide comprehensive new product development and value engineering solutions.
Supply Chain Solutions - Delivering an optimal supply chain solution is more than simply getting a product where it needs to be on time. We take a unique approach. Our supply chain experts engage in all of Plexus’ integrated solutions, working closely with our engineers to identify opportunities for supply chain optimization early in the design stage. At Plexus, we take pride in managing the full supply chain to minimize cost, mitigate risk and provide a flexible, scalable solution for our customers.
New Product Introduction - When introducing a new product, customers need to move quickly. Plexus offers a dedicated team focused on decreasing time to market with a full suite of integrated new product introduction services. Through early integration and collaboration, customers can take advantage of Plexus’ capabilities, such as design for excellence (DFX), specialized design of test solutions and rapid prototyping, while the project is advanced by a dedicated Plexus transition management team.
Manufacturing - Our approach to manufacturing focuses on innovation, continuous improvement and superior quality and delivery. With a global footprint and scalable operations, we aim to tailor our manufacturing environment to meet each customer’s needs worldwide. As we strive for zero defects, we endeavor to empower all employees with the knowledge that exceptional quality begins with each individual member of our team. As a result, we believe Plexus is positioned to support the complex technology and regulatory needs of the industries we serve and to provide customers with innovative and dependable manufacturing services.
Aftermarket Services - From product deployment all the way through a product’s end of life, Plexus offers a full range of aftermarket services. We help our customers manage and extend the lifecycle of their products through an optimized level of service. With services such as depot repair, service parts logistics management, order management, distribution and warehousing, and recycling, we are committed to protecting the success of each customer's product.
Regulatory Requirements
All Plexus manufacturing and engineering facilities are certified to a baseline Quality Management System standard per ISO9001:2015. We have capabilities to assemble finished medical devices meeting FDA Quality Systems Regulation requirements and similar regulatory requirements in other countries.
We have additional certifications and/or registrations held by certain facilities in the following regions:
Customers and Market Sectors Served
Our customers range from large multinational companies to smaller emerging technology companies. During fiscal 2020, we served approximately 135 customers. Also during the fiscal year, we experienced strength in critical care healthcare products due to the COVID-19 landscape and engaged in new product development and manufacturing opportunities that helped support our frontline workers and the fight against the pandemic. These unique opportunities were realized due to Plexus’ qualifications and expertise that support highly complex and highly regulated medical products such as point-of-care testers and ventilators.
General Electric Company ("GE") accounted for 11.7%, 12.4% and 12.3% of our net sales during fiscal 2020, 2019 and 2018, respectively. No other customer accounted for 10.0% or more of our net sales in any of the last three fiscal years. Net sales to
our largest customers may vary from time to time depending on the size and timing of customer program commencements, terminations, delays, modifications and transitions. We generally do not obtain firm, long-term purchase commitments from our customers. Customers' forecasts can and do change as a result of changes in their end-market demand and other factors, including global economic conditions. Any material change in forecasts or orders from these major accounts, or other customers, could materially affect our results of operations. The loss of any major customer could have a significant negative impact on our financial results. In addition, as our percentage of net sales to customers in a specific sector becomes larger relative to other sectors, we will become increasingly dependent upon the economic and business conditions affecting that sector. Many of our large customers contract with us through multiple independent divisions, subsidiaries, production facilities or locations. We believe that in most cases our sales to any one such division, subsidiary, facility or location are independent of sales to others.
The distribution of our net sales by market sectors for the indicated fiscal years is shown in the following table:
Although our current business development focus is based on our targeted market sectors of Healthcare/Life Sciences, Industrial/Commercial, Aerospace/Defense and Communications, we evaluate our financial performance and allocate our resources geographically (see Note 11 "Reportable Segments, Geographic Information and Major Customers" in Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements regarding our reportable segments). Plexus offers a uniform array of services for customers in each market sector and, aside from the specific go-to-market teams, we do not dedicate operational equipment, personnel, facilities or other resources to particular market sectors, nor internally track our costs and resources per market sector.
Materials and Suppliers
We typically purchase raw materials, including PCBs and electronic components, from manufacturers and distributors. Under
certain circumstances, we will purchase components from brokers, customers, or competitors. The key electronic components we purchase include: specialized components, semiconductors, interconnect products, electronic subassemblies (including memory modules, power supply modules and cable and wire harnesses), inductors, resistors, and capacitors.
We also purchase non-electronic, typically custom engineered, components used in manufacturing and higher-level assembly. These components include molded/formed plastics, sheet metal fabrications, aluminum extrusions, robotics, motors, vision sensors, motion/actuation, fluidics, displays, die castings and various other hardware and fastener components. These components are sourced from both Plexus preferred suppliers and customer directed suppliers. Components range from standard to highly customized and vary widely in terms of market availability and price.
Component shortages and subsequent allocations by our suppliers are an inherent risk to the electronics industry, and have particularly been an issue for us and the industry from time to time. We discuss the causes of these shortages more fully in "Risk Factors" in Part I, Item 1A
ITEM 1A. RISK FACTORS
Material risk factors to our business and financial performance are those that may impact our strategy, which is centered around four strategic pillars: Market Focus, Superior Execution, Passion Meets Purpose and Discipline by Design . This section lays out a number of material risks that may impact those strategic pillars. Other sections of this report also include risks that may impact our strategic business objectives and affect our financial performance. The risks included herein and elsewhere in this report are not exhaustive. In addition, due to the dynamic nature of our business, new risks may emerge from time to time and it is not possible for management to predict or assess the impact of all such risks on our business.
Risks impacting our MARKET FOCUS - We engineer innovative solutions for customers in growth markets with highly complex products and demanding regulatory environments.
The end markets we serve require technologically advanced products and such markets may be impacted by a number of factors that could adversely impact our customers’ demand.
Factors affecting the technology-dependent end markets that we serve could adversely affect our customers and, as a result, Plexus. These factors include:
•customers’ ability or inability to adapt to rapidly changing technologies and evolving industry standards that can result in short product life-cycles or product obsolescence,
•customers’ ability or inability to develop and market their products, some of which are new and untested, and
•the potential failure of our customers’ products to gain widespread commercial acceptance.
Even if our customers successfully respond to these market challenges, their responses, including any consequential changes we must make in our business relationships, services offered, or to our operations, can affect our production cycles, inventory management and results of operations.
Our customers do not make long-term commitments to us and may cancel or change their production requirements.
We generally do not obtain firm, long-term purchase commitments from our customers, and frequently do not have visibility as to their future demand for our services. Customers also cancel, change or delay design, production or aftermarket service quantities and schedules, or fail to meet their forecasts for a number of reasons beyond our control. Customer expectations can change rapidly, requiring us to take on additional commitments or risks. In addition, customers may fail to meet their commitments to us or our expectations. Cancellations, reductions or delays by a significant customer, or by a group of customers, could seriously harm our operating results and negatively affect our working capital levels. Such cancellations, reductions or delays have occurred from time to time and may continue to occur in the future. This risk is heightened by a potential decrease in customer demand for their products or our services as a result of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.
In addition, we make significant decisions based on our estimates of customers’ demand, including determining the levels of business that we will seek and accept, production schedules, component procurement commitments, working capital (including inventory) management, facility and capacity requirements, personnel needs and other resource requirements. The short-term nature of our customers’ commitments and the possibility of rapid changes in demand for their products affect our ability to accurately estimate their future requirements. Because certain of our operating expenses are fixed, a reduction in customer demand can harm our operating results. The need for us to correctly anticipate component needs is amplified in times of shortages. The current environment of tight component supply, which might be further impacted by global pandemic-related interruptions, can increase the difficulties and cost of anticipating changing demand. Moreover, because our margins vary across customers and specific programs, a reduction in demand with higher margin customers or programs will have a more significant adverse effect on our operating results.
Rapid increases in customer demand may stress personnel and other capacity resources. We may not have sufficient resources, including personnel and components, at any given time to meet all of our customers’ demands or to meet the requirements of a specific program, which could result in a loss of business from such customers.
The majority of our net sales come from a relatively small number of customers and a limited number of market sectors; if we lose a major customer or program or if there are challenges in those market sectors, then our net sales and operating results could decline significantly.
Net sales to our 10 largest customers have represented a majority of our net sales in recent periods. Our 10 largest customers accounted for 55.2% of our net sales for the fiscal year ended October 3, 2020, and 54.6% of our net sales for the fiscal year ended September 28, 2019. During each of these periods there was one customer that represented 10.0% or more of our net sales.
Our major customers may vary from period to period, and our major customers may not continue to purchase services from us at current levels, or at all, particularly given the volatile or temporary nature of certain programs. In any given period, a higher portion of our sales may be concentrated with customers or projects with relatively lower margins, which could adversely affect our results. We have experienced from time to time, and in the future may experience, significant disengagements with customers or of programs, adverse changes in customer supply chain strategies and the end of life of significant programs. Especially given our discrete number of customers, the loss of, or significant reductions in net sales to any of our major customers or our failure to make appropriate choices as to the customers we serve could seriously harm our business and results of operations.
In addition, we focus our sales efforts on customers in only a few market sectors, as identified in Part I, Item 1, herein. Each of these sectors is subject to macroeconomic conditions, as well as trends and conditions that are sector specific. Any weakness in our customers’ end markets could affect our business and results of operations. Economic, business or regulatory conditions that affect the sector, or our failure to choose to do business in appropriate sectors, can particularly impact Plexus. For instance, sales in the Healthcare/Life Sciences sector are substantially affected by trends in the healthcare industry, such as government reimbursement rates and uncertainties relating to the U.S. healthcare sector, generally. In addition, the Healthcare/Life Sciences sector is affected by global health pandemics, such as COVID-19, which has created both opportunities and challenges for the Company. For example, the pandemic caused an increase in sales specific to products supporting pandemic relief efforts and critical care products while weakening sales related to elective procedures or other non-critical care products. Similarly, commercial aerospace was impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic due to restrictions on airline travel, resulting in decreased demand from our commercial aerospace customers. Additionally, the semiconductor industry has historically been subject to significant cyclicality and volatility. Further, potential reductions in U.S. government agency spending, including those due to budget cuts or other political developments or issues, could affect opportunities in all of our market sectors.
We rely on timely and regular payments from our customers, and the inability or failure of our major customers to meet their obligations to us or their bankruptcy, insolvency or liquidation may adversely affect our business, financial condition and results of operations. We also have receivables factoring agreements in place; therefore, deterioration in the payment experience with or credit quality of our major customers, or issues with the banking counterparties to our factoring agreements, could have a material adverse effect on our financial condition and results of operations due to our inability to factor such receivables.
From time to time, our customers, including former major customers, have been affected by merger, acquisition, divestiture and spin-off activity. While these transactions may present us with opportunities to capture new business, they also create the risk that these customers will partially reduce their purchases or completely disengage from us as a result of transitioning such business to our competitors or their internal operations.
We and our customers are subject to increasingly extensive government regulations, industry standards, and other stakeholder expectations; a failure to comply with current and future regulations, standards and expectations could have an adverse effect on our business, customer relationships, reputation and profitability.
We are subject to extensive government regulation, industry standards (as well as customer-specific standards), and other stakeholder expectations relating to the products we design, manufacture and service as well as how we conduct our business, including regulations and standards relating to labor and employment practices, workplace health and safety, the environment, sourcing and import/export practices, the market sectors we support and many other facets of our operations. The regulatory climate in the U.S. and other countries has become increasingly complex and fragmented, and regulatory enforcement activity has increased in recent periods. A failure to comply with such laws, regulations or standards can result in, among other consequences, fines, injunctions, civil penalties, criminal prosecution, recall or seizure of devices, total or partial suspension of production, including debarment, and could have an adverse effect on our reputation, customer relationships, profitability and results of operations. Further, customer, investor, and employee expectations in areas such as environmental, social matters and corporate governance (ESG) have been rapidly evolving and increasing. The enhanced stakeholder focus on ESG issues related to Plexus requires the continuous monitoring of various and evolving standards and expectations and the associated reporting
requirements. A failure to adequately meet stakeholder expectations may result in the loss of business, diluted market valuation, an inability to attract customers and an inability to attract and retain top talent.
Our Healthcare/Life Sciences sector is subject to statutes and regulations covering the design, development, testing, manufacturing and labeling of medical devices and the reporting of certain information regarding their safety, including Food and Drug Administration regulations and similar regulations in other countries. We also design, manufacture and service products for certain industries, including certain applications where the U.S. government is the end customer, that face significant regulation by the Department of Defense, Department of State, Department of Commerce, Federal Aviation Authority, and other governmental agencies in the U.S. as well as in other countries, and also under the Federal Acquisition Regulation. In addition, whenever we pursue business in new sectors and subsectors, or our customers pursue new technologies or markets, we need to navigate the potentially heavy regulatory and legislative burdens of such sectors, as well as standards of quality systems, technologies or markets.
The regulatory climate can itself affect the demand for our services. For example, government reimbursement rates and other regulations, as well as the financial health of healthcare providers, and changes in how healthcare in the U.S. is structured, and how medical devices are taxed, could affect the willingness and ability of end customers to purchase the products of our customers in the Healthcare/Life Sciences sector as well as impact our margins.
Our customers are also required to comply with various government regulations, legal requirements and industry standards, including many of the industry-specific regulations discussed above. Our customers’ failure to comply could affect their businesses, which in turn would affect our sales to them. In addition, if our customers are required by regulation or other requirements to make changes in their product lines, these changes could significantly disrupt particular programs we have in place for these customers and create inefficiencies in our business.
Increased competition may result in reduced demand or reduced prices for our services.
Our industry is highly competitive. We compete against numerous providers with global operations, as well as those which operate on only a local or regional basis. In addition, current and prospective customers continually evaluate the merits of designing, manufacturing and servicing products internally and may choose to design, manufacture or service products (including products or product types that we currently design, manufacture or service for them) themselves rather than outsource such activities. Consolidations and other changes in our industry may result in a changing competitive landscape.
Our competitors may:
•respond more quickly than us to new or emerging technologies
•have greater name recognition, critical mass and geographic and market presence
•be better able to take advantage of acquisition opportunities
•adapt more quickly to changes in customer requirements
•have lower internal cost structures
•have greater direct buying power with component suppliers, distributors and raw material suppliers
•devote greater resources to the development, promotion and sale of their services and execution of their strategy, and
•be better positioned to compete on price for their services.
Our manufacturing processes are generally not subject to significant proprietary protection, and companies with greater resources or a greater market presence may enter our market or otherwise become increasingly competitive. Increased competition could result in significant price reductions, reduced sales and margins, or loss of market share.
We may fail to successfully complete future acquisitions or strategic arrangements, and may not successfully integrate acquired operations or recognize the anticipated benefits, which could adversely affect our operating results.
While we have primarily chosen an organic growth strategy in recent years, if we were to pursue future growth through acquisitions, including the acquisition of operations divested by our customers, or similar transactions, this would involve significant risks that could have a material adverse effect on us. These include operating risks such as the inability to successfully integrate businesses, systems and personnel, impacts on customer programs and relationships; and an inability to realize anticipated synergies or economies of scale. They also include financial risks such as the use of cash or incurrence of additional debt and interest expense, the potential volatility or weakness in our stock price as a result of the announcement of such transactions, the incurrence of large write-offs or write-downs, and other potential financial impacts.
Risks impacting our SUPERIOR EXECUTION - We are dedicated partners to our customers, committed to achieving zero defects and perfect delivery through operational excellence.
We have a complex business model, and our failure to properly manage or execute on that model could adversely affect our operations, financial results and reputation.
Our business model focuses on products and services that are highly complex and subject to demanding regulatory requirements. Our customers’ products typically require significant production and supply-chain flexibility necessitating optimized manufacturing and supply chain solutions across an integrated global platform. The products we design, manufacture, and service are also typically complex, heavily regulated, and require complicated configuration management and direct order fulfillment capabilities to global end customers. In addition, we offer Aftermarket Services to our customers, which add to the complexity of our business model.
Our business model requires a great degree of attention, flexibility and resources. These resources include working capital, management and technical personnel, and the development and maintenance of systems and procedures to manage diverse manufacturing, regulatory and service requirements for multiple programs of varying sizes simultaneously, including in multiple locations and geographies. We also depend on securing and ramping new customers and programs and on transitioning production for new customers and programs, which creates added complexities related to managing the start-up risks of such projects, especially for companies that did not previously outsource such activities.
The complexity of our service model, which encompasses a broad range of services in the product realization process including Design and Development, Supply Chain Solutions, New Product Introduction, Manufacturing and Aftermarket Services, often results in complex and challenging contractual obligations and unique customer requirements. In addition, program complexity and associated customer expectations have increased in recent years with respect to certain capabilities, commitments, allocation of risk and compliance with third party standards, requiring extraordinary measures to ensure operational execution and compliance within unique, non-standard engagements. If we fail to meet those obligations, or are otherwise unable to execute on our commitments or unsuccessfully mitigate such risks, then it could result in claims against us, regulatory violations, or adversely affect our reputation and our ability to obtain future business, as well as impair our ability to enforce our rights (including those related to payment) under those contracts. A failure to adequately understand unique customer requirements may also impact our ability to estimate and ultimately recover associated costs, adversely affecting our financial results.
Many of the markets for our manufacturing, engineering, aftermarket and other services are characterized by rapidly changing technology and evolving process developments. Our internal processes are also subject to these factors. The continued success of our business will depend upon our continued ability to:
•retain our qualified engineering and technical personnel, and attract additional qualified personnel, especially in times of tight labor markets
•choose, maintain, and enhance appropriate technological and service capabilities
•successfully manage the implementation and execution of information systems
•develop and market services that meet changing customer needs
•effectively execute our services and perform to our customers’ expectations, and
•successfully anticipate, or respond to, technological changes on a cost-effective and timely basis.
Although we believe that our operations utilize the technologies, equipment and processes that are currently required by our customers, we cannot be certain that we will maintain or develop the capabilities required by our customers in the future. The emergence of new technologies, industry standards or customer requirements may render our technical personnel, equipment, inventory or processes obsolete or noncompetitive. In addition, we may have to acquire new skills, technologies and equipment to remain competitive, as well as offer new or additional services, all of which may require significant expense or capital investment that could reduce our liquidity and negatively affect our operating results. Our failure to anticipate and adapt to our customers’ changing technological needs and requirements, or to perform to their expectations or standards, as well as our need to maintain our personnel and other resources during times of fluctuating demand, could have an adverse effect on our business.
There may be problems with the products we design, manufacture or service that could result in liability claims against us, reduced demand for our services and damage to our reputation.
We design, manufacture and service products to our customers’ specifications, many of which are highly complex, for industries, such as healthcare, aerospace and defense, that have higher risk profiles. Despite our quality control and quality assurance efforts, problems may occur, or may be alleged, in the design, manufacturing or servicing of these products, including as a result of business continuity issues. Whether or not we are responsible, problems in the products we manufacture, whether real or alleged, whether caused by faulty customer specifications, the design or manufacturing processes, servicing, or a component defect, may result in delayed shipments to customers or reduced or canceled customer orders. If these problems were to occur in large quantities or too frequently, our business reputation may also be tarnished. In addition, such problems may result in liability claims against us, whether or not we are responsible. These potential claims may include damages for the recall of a product or injury to person or property.
Even if customers or third parties, such as component suppliers, are responsible for defects, they may not, or may not be able to, assume responsibility for any such costs or required payments to us. While we seek to secure contractual protection and/or to insure against many of these risks, we may not have practical recourse against certain suppliers, and contractual protections, insurance coverage or supplier warranties, as well as our other risk mitigation efforts, may be inadequate, not cost effective or unavailable, either in general or for particular types of products or issues. We occasionally incur costs defending claims, and any such disputes could adversely affect our business relationships.
We experience raw material and component shortages, price fluctuations, and supplier quality concerns.
We generally do not have long-term supply agreements. We experience, and in the future will likely continue to experience, raw material and component shortages due to supplier capacity constraints, or their failure to deliver. We also experience increased lead times to procure certain types of components from time to time, including during fiscal 2020 as a result of the global pandemic and other factors. Such constraints can also be caused by world events, such as government policies, tariffs, trade wars, trade disputes and trade protection measures, terrorism, armed conflict, natural disasters, economic recession, increased demand due to economic growth, preferential allocations and other localized events. We currently rely on a limited number of suppliers for many of the raw materials and components used in the assembly process and, in some cases, may be required to use suppliers that are the sole provider of a particular raw material or component. Such suppliers may encounter quality problems, labor disputes, financial difficulties or business continuity issues that could preclude them from delivering raw materials or components timely or at all. Supply shortages and delays in deliveries of raw materials or components have in some cases resulted in delayed production of assemblies, which have increased our inventory levels and adversely affected our operating results in certain periods. Additionally, a delay in obtaining a particular component may result in other components for the related project being held for longer periods of time, increasing working capital and risking inventory obsolescence. An inability to obtain sufficient inventory on a timely basis or successfully execute on our business continuity processes, could also harm relationships with our customers.
In addition, raw materials and components that are delivered to us may not meet our specifications or other quality criteria. Certain materials provided to us may be counterfeit or violate the intellectual property rights of others. The need to obtain replacement materials and parts may negatively affect our manufacturing operations. The inadvertent use of any such parts or products may also give rise to liability claims. Further, the commitments made to us by our suppliers, and the terms applicable to such relationships, may not match all the commitments we make to, and the terms of our arrangements with, our customers, and such variations may lead us to incur additional expense or liability and/or cause other disruptions to our business.
Raw material and component supply shortages and delays in deliveries, along with other factors such as tariffs and trade disputes, can also result in increased pricing. While many of our customers permit quarterly or other periodic adjustments to pricing based on changes in raw material or component prices and other factors, we may bear the risk of price increases that occur between any such repricing or, if such repricing is not permitted, during the balance of the term of the particular customer contract. Conversely, as a result of our pricing strategies and practices, raw material and component price reductions have contributed positively to our operating results in the past. Our inability to continue to benefit from such reductions in the future could adversely affect our operating results.
Our services involve other inventory risk.
Most of our services are provided on a turnkey basis, under which we purchase some, or all, of the required materials and components based on customer forecasts or orders. Although, in general, our commercial contracts with our customers obligate
our customers to ultimately purchase inventory ordered to support their forecasts or orders, Plexus generally finances these purchases initially. In addition, suppliers may require us to purchase materials and components in minimum order quantities that may exceed customer requirements. A customer’s cancellation, delay or reduction of forecasts or orders can also result in excess inventory or additional expense to us. Engineering changes by a customer may result in obsolete materials or components. While we attempt to cancel, return or otherwise mitigate excess and obsolete inventory, require customers to reimburse us for these items and/or price our services to address related risks, we may not actually be reimbursed timely or in full, be able to collect on these obligations or adequately reflect such risks in our pricing. In addition to increasing inventory in certain instances to support new program ramps, we may also increase inventory if we experience component shortages or longer lead times for certain components in order to maintain a high level of customer service. In such situations, we may procure components earlier, which has led to an increase in inventory in the short term and may lead to increased, excess, or obsolete inventory in the future. Excess or obsolete inventory, the need to acquire increasing amounts of inventory due to shortages, customer demand or otherwise, or other failures to manage our working capital, could adversely affect our operating results, including our return on invested capital.
In addition, we provide managed inventory programs for some of our customers under which we hold and manage finished goods or work-in-process inventories. These managed inventory programs result in higher inventory levels, further reduce our inventory turns and increase our financial exposure with such customers. In addition, our inventory may be held at a customer’s facility or warehouse, or elsewhere in a location outside of our control, which may increase the risk of loss. Even though our customers generally have contractual obligations to purchase such inventories from us, we remain subject to customers’ credit risks as well as the risk of potential customer default and the need to enforce those obligations.
An inability to successfully manage the procurement, development, implementation or execution of information systems, or to adequately maintain these systems and their security, as well as to protect data and other confidential information, may adversely affect our business and reputation.
As a global company with a complex business model, we are heavily dependent on our information systems to support our customers’ requirements and to successfully manage our business. Any inability to successfully manage the procurement, development, implementation, execution or maintenance of our information systems, including matters related to system and data security, cybersecurity, privacy, reliability, compliance, performance and access, as well as any inability of these systems to fulfill their intended purpose within our business, could have an adverse effect on our business.
In the ordinary course of business, we collect and store sensitive data and information, including our proprietary and regulated business information and that of our customers, suppliers and business partners, as well as personally identifiable information about our employees. Our information systems, like those of other companies, are susceptible to malicious damage, intrusions and outages due to, among other events, viruses, cyber threats, industrial espionage (internal or external), hacking, break-ins and similar events, other breaches of security, natural disasters, power loss or telecommunications failures. Due to the intellectual property we maintain on our systems related to high technology components, sub-components, manufacturing processes, and our customers’ products, we are a likely target from various external and internal cyber threats, such as lone attackers, competitors, our customers’ competitors, and nation states seeking to gain access to such intellectual property, as well as both unintentional and malicious internal threats. In addition, lone and organized crime elements have been known to extort money by encrypting their victims’ data (ransomware) and utilize their victims’ resources for unauthorized mining of cryptocurrency.
The increasing sophistication of cyberattacks requires us to continually evaluate the threat landscape and new technologies and processes intended to detect and prevent these attacks. There can be no assurance that the security measures and systems configurations we choose to implement will be sufficient to protect the data we manage. Any theft or misuse of information resulting from a security breach could result in, among other things, loss of significant and/or sensitive information, litigation by affected parties, financial obligations resulting from such theft or misuse, higher insurance premiums, governmental investigations, fines and penalties, negative reactions from current and potential future customers, and reputational damage, any of which could adversely affect our financial results. Also, the time and funds spent on monitoring and mitigating our exposure and responding to breaches, including the training of employees, the purchase of protective technologies and the hiring of additional employees and consultants to assist in these efforts could adversely affect our financial results. This risk is enhanced as a result of the number of employees currently working remotely due to the global pandemic, for example by reason of utilizing home networks that may lack encryption or secure password protection, virtual meeting/conference security concerns and increase of phishing/cyber-attacks around COVID-19 digital resources.
Moreover, we are subject to increasing expectations and data security requirements from our customers, including those related to the Federal Acquisition Regulation, Defense Federal Acquisition Regulation Supplement, and Cybersecurity Maturity Model
Certification. Any operational failure or breach of security from increasingly sophisticated cyber threats could lead to the loss or disclosure of our or our customers’ financial, product or other confidential information, result in adverse regulatory or other legal actions and have a material adverse effect on our business and reputation. In addition, we must comply with increasingly complex and rigorous regulatory standards enacted to protect business and personal data in the U.S. and elsewhere. For example, the European Union’s General Data Protection Regulation (the “GDPR”) and similar legislation in jurisdictions in which we operate impose additional obligations on companies regarding the handling of personal data and provides certain individual privacy rights to persons whose data is stored. Compliance with existing, proposed and recently enacted laws and regulations can be costly. Failure to comply with these regulatory standards could subject us to legal and reputational risks. Misuse of or failure to secure personal information could also result in violation of data privacy laws and regulations, proceedings against us by governmental entities or others, fines and penalties, damage to our reputation and credibility and could have a negative impact on our business and results of operations.
Plexus is a multinational corporation and operating in multiple countries exposes us to increased risks, including adverse local developments and currency risks.
We have operations in many countries; operations outside of the U.S. in the aggregate represent a majority of our net sales and operating income, with a particular concentration in Malaysia. In addition, although we have repatriated a substantial amount of cash since the enactment of the U.S. Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (“U.S. Tax Reform”), a significant amount of our cash balances remain held outside of the U.S., with a particular concentration in Malaysia and China. We purchase a significant number of components manufactured in various countries. These international aspects of our operations, which are likely to increase over time, subject us to the following risks that could materially impact our operations and operating results:
•economic, political or civil instability
•transportation delays or interruptions
•exchange rate fluctuations
•potential disruptions or restrictions on our ability to access cash amounts held outside of the U.S.
•changes in labor markets, such as government-mandated wage increases, increases to minimum wage requirements, changes in union-related laws and regulations, limitations on immigration or the free movement of labor or restrictions on the use of migrant workers, and difficulties in appropriately staffing and managing personnel in diverse cultures
•compliance with laws, such as the U.S. Foreign Corrupt Practices Act, the U.K. Bribery Act and the E.U. General Data Protection Regulation, applicable to companies with global operations
•changes in the taxation of earnings both in the U.S. and in other countries
•reputational risks related to, among other factors, varying standards and practices among countries
•changes in duty rates
•significant natural disasters and other events or factors impacting local infrastructure
•the impact of the United Kingdom’s exit from the European Union (“Brexit”)
•the effects of other international political developments, such as tariffs, embargoes, sanctions, boycotts, trade wars, energy disruptions, trade agreements and changes in trade policies, including those which may be effected by the U.S. and other countries’ political reactions to those actions, and
•regulatory requirements and potential changes to those requirements.
As our international operations continue to expand, our failure to appropriately address foreign currency transactions or the currency exposures associated with assets and liabilities denominated in non-functional currencies could adversely affect our consolidated financial condition, results of operations and cash flows. In addition, developments affecting particular countries can adversely affect our ability to access cash or other assets held in such countries.
A significant portion of our operations currently occurs in the APAC region, particularly in Malaysia. The concentration of our operations, assets and profitability in that region exposes us to adverse developments, economic, political or otherwise, in those countries.
Changes in policies by or changes in elected officials of the U.S. or other governments could negatively affect our operating results due to trade wars, changes in duties, tariffs or taxes, currency exchange rate fluctuations, or limitations on currency or fund transfers, as well as government-imposed restrictions on producing certain products in, or shipping them to, specific countries. The United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (the "USMCA"), negotiated by Canada, Mexico and the U.S. to update and replace the North America Free Trade Agreement ("NAFTA"), became effective July 1, 2020. The USMCA is similar to NAFTA; however, it contains several new compliance obligations addressing such issues as rules of origin, labor standard, certificate of origin documentation and de minimis thresholds, as well as new policies on labor and environmental standards, intellectual property protections and some digital trade provisions. While certain aspects of the USMCA may be
positive, others, including potentially higher regulatory compliance costs, may have a negative impact on our business and adversely affect our operations in Mexico. Also, our current facilities in Mexico operate under the Mexican Maquiladora (“IMMEX”) program. This program provides for reduced tariffs and eased import regulations. We could be adversely affected by changes in the IMMEX program or our failure to comply with its requirements. Additionally, increasing tariffs and other trade protection measures between the U.S. and China may affect the cost of our products originating in China as well as the demand for our products manufactured in China in the event our customers reduce operations in China as a result of such tariffs or trade protection measures. These actions could also affect the cost and/or availability of components that we procure from suppliers in China. Government-imposed restrictions on where we can produce certain types of products or source components, such as the potential ratification of the 2021 National Defense Authorization Act, could limit our ability to manufacture products in, or source components from, certain geographies, thereby negatively affecting cost and profitability by having to shift such production or the sourcing of components to the U.S. or other higher-cost locations.
The United Kingdom (“UK”) formally left the European Union (“EU”) on January 31, 2020 and entered into a transition period that is expected to conclude on December 31, 2020 during which the UK and the EU are seeking to establish the terms of their future relationship. This exit has resulted in currency exchange rate fluctuations and volatility. The final terms of Brexit are not yet known as negotiations continue between the UK and the EU. Given the lack of comparable precedent, the implications of Brexit, or how such implications might affect us (as we also have operations in Scotland), remain unclear at this time. Brexit could, among other impacts, disrupt trade and the movement of goods, services and people between the UK and the EU or other countries, disrupt the stability of the EU generally, and lead to a downturn in consumer sentiment. This could result in overall negative economic growth, as well as create legal, political, regulatory and global economic uncertainty. These and other potential implications could adversely affect our business and financial results.
A failure to comply with customer-driven policies and standards, and third-party certification requirements or standards, including those related to social responsibility, could adversely affect our business and reputation.
In addition to government regulations and industry standards, our customers may require us to comply with their own or third-party quality standards, commercial terms, social responsibility standards, or other business policies or standards, which may be more restrictive than current laws and regulations as well as our pre-existing policies and/or terms with our suppliers, before they commence, or continue, doing business with us. Such policies or standards may be customer-driven, established by the industry sectors in which we operate or imposed by third party organizations.
Our compliance with these heightened and/or additional policies, standards and third-party certification requirements, and managing a supply chain in accordance therewith, could be costly, and our failure to comply could adversely affect our operations, customer relationships, reputation and profitability. In addition, our adoption of these standards could adversely affect our cost competiveness, ability to provide customers with required service levels and ability to attract and retain employees in jurisdictions where these standards vary from prevailing local customs and practices. In certain circumstances, to meet the requirements or standards of our customers we may be obligated to select certain suppliers or make other sourcing choices, and we may bear responsibility for adverse outcomes even if these matters are as the result of third-party actions or outside of our control.
Intellectual property infringement claims against our customers or us could harm our business.
Although our manufacturing processes are generally not subject to significant proprietary protection, our services may and the products offered by our customers do involve the creation and use of intellectual property rights, which subject us and our customers to the risk of claims of intellectual property infringement from third parties. In addition, our customers may require that we indemnify them against the risk of intellectual property infringement. If any claims are brought against us or our customers for infringement, whether or not these have merit, then we could be required to expend significant resources in defense of those claims. In the event of an infringement claim, we may be required to spend a significant amount of money to develop non-infringing alternatives or obtain licenses. We may not be successful in developing alternatives or obtaining licenses on reasonable terms or at all. Infringement by our customers could cause them to discontinue production of some of their products, potentially with little or no notice, which may reduce our net sales to them and disrupt our production.
Additionally, if third parties on whom we rely for products or services, such as component suppliers, are responsible for an infringement (including through the supply of counterfeit parts), we may or may not be able to hold them responsible and we may incur costs in defending claims or providing remedies. Such infringements may also cause our customers to abruptly discontinue selling the impacted products, which would adversely affect our net sales of those products, and could affect our
customer relationships more broadly. Similarly, claims affecting our suppliers could cause those suppliers to discontinue selling materials and components upon which we rely.
Natural disasters, breaches of security and other events outside our control, and the ineffective management of such events, may harm our business.
Some of our facilities are located in areas that may be impacted by natural disasters, including tornadoes, hurricanes, earthquakes, water shortages, tsunamis and floods. All facilities are subject to other natural or man-made disasters such as those related to weather events or global climate change, fires, acts of terrorism or war, breaches of security, theft or espionage, workplace violence and failures of utilities. If such an event was to occur and we did not have an effective business continuity plan in place, our business could be harmed due to the event itself or due to our inability to effectively manage the effects of the particular event, with the impact of the event potentially magnified in areas where we have multiple facilities in close proximity. For example, we maintain significant production capacity in Penang, Malaysia, and an isolated event in that geography could materially hinder our production capabilities. Potential harms include the loss of business continuity, the loss of business data and damage to infrastructure.
In addition, some of our facilities possess certifications necessary to work on specialized products that our other locations lack. If work is disrupted at one of these facilities, it may be impractical or we may be unable to transfer such specialized work to another facility without significant costs and delays. Thus, any disruption in operations at a facility possessing specialized certifications could adversely affect our ability to provide products and services to our customers, and potentially have a negative affect our relationships and financial results.
Although we have implemented policies and procedures with respect to physical security, we remain at risk of unauthorized access to our facilities and the possible unauthorized use or theft of inventory, information or other physical assets. If unauthorized persons gain physical access to our facilities, or our physical assets or information are stolen, damaged or used in an unauthorized manner (whether through outside theft or industrial espionage), we could be subject to, among other consequences, negative publicity, governmental inquiry and oversight, loss of government contracts, litigation by affected parties or other future financial obligations related to the loss, misuse or theft of our or our customers’ data, inventory or physical assets, any of which could have a material adverse effect on our reputation and results of operations.
Risks impacting our PASSION MEETS PURPOSE - We are united as a team. We are guided by our values and leadership behaviors. We do the right thing to support our team members, communities and customers.
We depend on our workforce, including certain key personnel, and the loss of key personnel or other personnel disruptions, including the inability to hire, develop and retain sufficient personnel, may harm our business.
Our success depends in large part on the continued services of our key management and technical personnel, and on our ability to attract, develop and retain qualified employees, particularly those to fill key leadership positions and the highly skilled technical personnel involved in the development of new products and processes and the manufacture of products. The competition for these individuals is significant, especially in tight labor markets, and the loss of key employees could harm our business.
From time to time, there are changes and developments, such as retirements, promotions, transitions, disability, death and other terminations of service that affect our executive officers and other key employees, including those that are unexpected. Transitions or other changes in responsibilities among officers and key employees without having identified and ready successors for such these critical roles, particularly when such changes are unanticipated, unplanned or not executed effectively, inherently can cause disruptions to our business and operations, as well as harm our reputation, which could have an effect on our results. Further, as we grow in size and complexity, a failure to continuously focus on the development of personnel and plan for the succession of critical roles may result in shortfalls in the talent required to execute effectively and affect our operations and financial results.
We also depend on good relationships with our workforce generally. Any disruption in our relationships with our personnel, including as a result of union organizing activities, work actions, tightening labor markets or other labor issues, could substantially affect our operations and results.
In addition, when we expand operations in either existing areas or new locations, including internationally, we need to attract and retain the services of sufficient qualified personnel to conduct those operations. If we fail to attract and retain sufficient qualified personnel, the operations at those locations, and consequently our financial results, could be adversely affected. In new or existing facilities, we may be subject to local labor practices or union activities, wage pressure and changing wage requirements, increasing healthcare costs, differing employment laws and regulations in various countries, local competition for employees, restrictions on immigration, labor mobility, as well as high turnover, and other issues affecting our workforce, all of which could affect operations at particular locations, which also could have adverse effects on our operational results. Our adoption of certain third-party health, safety and other employment-related regulatory standards could adversely affect our ability to attract and retain employees in jurisdictions where these standards vary from prevailing local customs and practices.
Risks impacting our DISCIPLINE BY DESIGN - We hold ourselves accountable to delivering shareholder value through consistent application of a disciplined financial model.
Challenges associated with the engagement of new customers or programs, the provision of new services, or start-up costs and inefficiencies related to new, recent or transferred programs could affect our operations and financial results.
Our engagement with new customers, as well as the addition of new programs or types of services for existing customers, can present challenges in addition to opportunities. We must initially determine whether it would be in our interests from a business perspective to pursue a particular potential new customer, program or service, including evaluating whether the customer, program or service fits with our value proposition as well as its potential end-market success. If we make the decision to proceed, we need to ensure that our terms of engagement, including our pricing and other contractual provisions, appropriately reflect the strategic nature of the customer, anticipated costs, risks and rewards. The failure to make prudent engagement decisions or to establish appropriate terms of engagement could adversely affect our profitability and margins.
Also, there are inherent risks associated with the timing and ultimate realization of anticipated revenue from a new program or service; these factors can sometimes extend for a significant period. Some new programs or services require us to devote significant capital and personnel resources to new technologies and competencies. We may not meet customer expectations, which could damage our relationships with the affected customers and impact our ability to deliver conforming product or services on a timely basis. Further, the success of new programs may depend heavily on factors such as product reliability, market acceptance, regulatory approvals or economic conditions. The failure of a new program to meet expectations on these factors, or our inability to effectively execute on a new program’s or service’s requirements, could result in lost financial opportunities and adversely affect our results of operations.
In recent years, ramping new programs has been a key contributor to our revenue growth. The management of resources in connection with the establishment of new or recent programs and customer relationships, as well as program transfers between facilities and geographies, and the need to estimate required resources in advance of production can adversely affect our gross and operating margins and level of working capital. These factors are particularly evident in the early stages of the life-cycle of new programs, which typically lack a track record of order volume and timing as well as production efficiencies in the early stages. We typically manage multiple new programs at any given time; therefore, we are exposed to these factors in varying magnitudes.
The effects of these start-up costs and inefficiencies can also occur when we transfer programs between locations and geographies. We conduct these transfers on a regular basis to meet customer needs, seek long-term efficiencies or respond to market conditions, as well as due to facility openings and closures. We may also be required to transfer projects between facilities due to tariffs and other trade measures impacting particular countries such as China. Although we try to recover costs from our customers and minimize the potential losses arising from transitioning customer programs between our facilities and geographies, we may not be successful and there are inherent risks that such transitions can result in operational inefficiencies and the disruption of programs and customer relationships.
While these factors tend to affect new, recent or transferred programs, they can also impact more mature or maturing programs and customer relationships, especially programs where end-market demand can be somewhat volatile.
Failure to manage periods of growth or contraction may seriously harm our business.
Our industry frequently sees periods of expansion and contraction. We regularly contend with these issues and must carefully manage our business to meet changing customer and market requirements. If we fail to manage these growth and contraction
decisions effectively, as well as fail to realize the anticipated benefits of these decisions, we can find ourselves with either excess or insufficient resources and our business, as well as our profitability, may suffer. Expansion and consolidation, including the transfer of operations to new or other facilities or due to acquisitions, can inherently include additional costs and start-up inefficiencies. For example, we recently announced our intent to expand our geographic locations and construct a new manufacturing facility in Bangkok, Thailand, to supplement our footprint the Asia-Pacific region. In addition, we may expand our operations in new geographical areas where currently we do not operate. If we are unable to effectively manage this or other expansions or consolidations, or related anticipated net sales are not realized, our operating results could be adversely affected. Other risks of current or future expansions, acquisitions and consolidations include:
•the inability to successfully integrate additional facilities or incremental capacity and to realize anticipated efficiencies, economies of scale or other value
•challenges faced as a result of transitioning programs
•incurrence of restructuring costs or other charges that may be insufficient or may not have their intended effects
•additional fixed or other costs, or selling and administrative expenses, which may not be fully absorbed by new business
•a reduction of our return on invested capital, including as a result of excess inventory or excess capacity at new facilities, as well as the increased costs associated with opening new facilities
•difficulties in the timing of expansions, including delays in the implementation of construction and manufacturing plans
•diversion of management's attention from other business areas during the planning and implementation of expansions
•strain placed on our operational, financial and other systems and resources, and
•inability to locate sufficient customers, employees or management talent to support the expansion.
Periods of contraction or reduced net sales, or other factors affecting particular sites, create other challenges. We must determine whether facilities remain viable, whether staffing levels need to be reduced, and how to respond to changing levels of customer demand. While maintaining excess capacity or higher levels of employment entail short-term costs, reductions in capacity or employment could impair our ability to respond to new opportunities and programs, market improvements or to maintain customer relationships. Our decisions to reduce costs and capacity can affect our short-term and long-term results. When we make decisions to reduce capacity or to close facilities, we frequently incur restructuring costs.
In addition, to meet our customers' needs, particularly when the production requirements of certain products are site-specific, to achieve increased efficiencies, or to address factors affecting specific locations, such as tariffs and trade disputes, we sometimes require additional capacity in one location while reducing capacity in another. Since customers’ needs and market conditions can vary and change rapidly, we may find ourselves in a situation where we simultaneously experience the effects of contraction in one location and expansion in another location. We may also encounter situations where our lack of a physical presence in certain locations may limit or foreclose opportunities.
Changes in tax laws, potential tax disputes, negative or unforeseen tax consequences or further developments affecting our deferred tax assets could adversely affect our results.
Our effective tax rate is highly dependent upon the geographic mix of earnings across the jurisdictions where we operate. Changes in tax laws or tax rates in those jurisdictions, including, but not limited to, as a result of actions by the U.S. (including additional guidance and interpretations related to U.S. Tax Reform) or other countries or Brexit, could continue to have a material impact on our operating results. Among other things, we have been, and are expected to continue to be, affected by the global intangible low-taxed income provisions added by U.S. Tax Reform and related new tax legislation, interpretations and guidance. Our effective tax rate may also be impacted by tax holidays and other various tax credits granted by local taxing authorities. In addition, the implementation of U.S. Tax Reform has required the use of estimates, which may be refined in future periods. All incentives, including a tax holiday granted to our Malaysian subsidiary, are subject to certain terms and conditions. While we expect to comply with these conditions, we would experience adverse tax consequences if we are found to not be in compliance or if the terms and conditions of the tax holiday are unfavorably altered by the local taxing authorities.
Our taxable income in any jurisdiction is dependent upon the local taxing authority’s acceptance of our operational and intercompany transfer pricing practices as being at “arm’s length.” Due to inconsistencies among jurisdictions in the application of the arm’s length standard, our transfer pricing methods may be challenged and, if not upheld, could increase our income tax expense. Risks associated with transfer pricing adjustments are further highlighted by the global initiative from the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development called the Base Erosion and Profit Shifting (“BEPS’) project. The BEPS project is challenging longstanding international tax norms regarding the taxation of profits from cross-border business. Given the scope of our international operations and the fluid and uncertain nature of how the BEPS project might ultimately lead to future legislation, it is difficult to assess how any changes in tax laws would impact our income tax expense.
We review the probability of the realization of our net deferred tax assets each period based on forecasts of taxable income by jurisdiction. This review uses historical results, projected future operating results based upon approved business plans, eligible carryforward periods, tax planning opportunities and other relevant considerations. Adverse changes in the profitability and financial outlook in each of our jurisdictions may require the creation of an additional valuation allowance to reduce our net deferred tax assets. Such changes could result in material non-cash expenses in the period in which the changes are made.
We may fail to secure or maintain necessary additional financing or capital.
Although we have credit facilities, we cannot be certain that our existing credit arrangements will provide all of the financing capacity that we will need in the future or that we will be able to change the credit facilities or revise covenants, if necessary, to accommodate changes or developments in our business and operations and/or increased working capital needs. In addition, if we do not comply with the covenants under our credit agreement, our ability to borrow under that facility would be adversely affected. In addition, it is possible that counterparties to our financial agreements, including our credit agreement and receivables factoring programs, may not be willing or able to meet their obligations, either due to instability in the global financial markets or otherwise, which could, among other impacts, increase the duration of our cash collection cycle. While we currently believe we have ample liquidity to manage the financial impact of COVID-19, we can give no assurance that this will continue to be the case if the impact of COVID-19 is prolonged or if there is an extended impact on us or the economy in general.
Our future success may depend on our ability to obtain additional financing and capital to support possible future growth and future initiatives. During fiscal 2020, we successfully refinanced our credit facility to, among other changes, secure a 364 day delayed draw term loans for $138 million, in addition to the revolving credit facility of $350 million. After maturity of the term loans on April 28, 2021, we also have the potential to increase capacity under our revolving credit facility from $350 million to $600 million with the approval of the lenders. In addition, we also have receivables factoring programs. Many of our borrowings are at variable interest rates and therefore our interest expense is subject to increase if rates, including the London Interbank Offering Rate ("LIBOR"), increase.
We may seek to raise capital by issuing additional common stock, other equity securities or debt securities, modifying our existing credit facilities or obtaining new facilities, or through a combination of these methods. We may not be able to obtain capital when we want or need it, and capital may not be available on satisfactory terms. If we issue additional equity securities or convertible securities to raise capital, it may be dilutive to shareholders’ ownership interests; we may not be able to offer our securities on attractive or acceptable terms in the event of volatility or weakness in our stock price. Furthermore, any additional financing may have terms and conditions that adversely affect our business, such as restrictive financial or operating covenants, and our ability to meet any current or future financing covenants will largely depend on our financial performance, which in turn will be subject to general economic conditions and financial, business and other factors.
The elimination of LIBOR could adversely affect our business, results of operations or financial condition.
Borrowings under our credit facilities use LIBOR as a benchmark for establishing the applicable interest rate. The UK’s Financial Conduct Authority announced that after 2021 it would no longer persuade or compel panel banks to submit the rates required to calculate LIBOR. The consequences of these developments with respect to LIBOR cannot be entirely predicted but could result in an increase in the cost of our variable rate indebtedness causing a negative impact on our financial position, liquidity and results of operations. Specifically, the use of an alternative reference rate could result in increased costs, including increased interest expense on our borrowings, and increased borrowing costs in the future. Management continues to evaluate the LIBOR exposure risks.
Our financial condition and results of operations may be materially adversely affected by the ongoing coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak.
The full extent to which the COVID-19 outbreak will impact our business and operating results will depend on future developments that are highly uncertain and cannot be accurately predicted, including new medical and other information that may emerge concerning COVID-19 and the actions by governmental entities or others to contain it or treat its impact.
The COVID-19 outbreak poses the risk that we or our employees, suppliers, customers and others may be restricted or prevented from conducting business activities for indefinite or intermittent periods of time, including as a result of employee
health and safety concerns, shutdowns, shelter in place orders, travel restrictions and other actions and restrictions that may be prudent or required by governmental authorities. For example, in China, at the onset of the COVID-19 outbreak in that country during our second quarter of fiscal 2020, our operations were impacted for several weeks due to quarantines, travel restrictions, and other factors affecting us and our suppliers. In addition, we experienced a temporary reduction of our operating capacity in Malaysia during our second quarter of fiscal 2020 as a result of government-mandated actions to control the spread of COVID-19. Finally, while our facilities, and those of some of our suppliers, have been classified as essential or otherwise permitted to operate in jurisdictions in which facility closures have been mandated, we can give no assurance that this will not change in the future or that we or our suppliers will continue to be permitted to conduct business in each of the jurisdictions in which we operate.
Additionally, we have modified our business practices for the continued health and safety of our employees. We may take further actions, or be required to take further actions, that are in the best interests of our employees. Our suppliers and customers have also implemented such measures, which has resulted in, and we expect it will continue to result in, disruptions or delays and higher costs. The implementation of health and safety practices by us, our suppliers, or our customers could impact customer demand, supplier deliveries, our productivity, and costs, which could have a material adverse impact on our business, financial condition, or results of operations.
While we currently believe we have ample liquidity to manage the financial impact of COVID-19, we can give no assurance that this will continue to be the case if the impact of COVID-19 is prolonged or if there is an extended impact on us or the economy generally. Further, the impacts of COVID-19 have caused significant uncertainty and volatility in the credit markets. If our liquidity or access to capital becomes significantly constrained, or if costs of capital increase significantly due to the impact of COVID-19 as result of volatility in the capital markets, a reduction in our creditworthiness or other factors, then our financial condition, results of operations and cash flows could be materially adversely affected.
Our management of the impact of COVID-19 has and will continue to require significant investment of time from our management and employees, as well as resources across our enterprise. The focus on managing and mitigating the impacts of COVID-19 on our business may cause us to divert or delay the application of our resources toward existing or new initiatives or investments, which could have a material adverse impact on our results of operations.
The foregoing and other continued disruptions to our business as a result of COVID-19 has had and could continue to have a material adverse effect on our business, results of operations, financial condition.
Changes to financial accounting rules or standards, or challenges to our interpretation or application of the rules by regulators, may have a material adverse effect on our reported financial results or on the way we conduct business.
We prepare our financial statements in conformity with U.S. GAAP. These principles are subject to interpretation by the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”), the SEC and various bodies formed to interpret and create accounting policies. From time to time, we are required to adopt new or revised accounting standards issued by recognized authoritative bodies, including the FASB and the SEC. For example, new FASB guidance that impacts revenue recognition criteria was effective for us beginning in the first quarter of fiscal year 2019, which resulted in costs of compliance for additional processes, systems and enhanced controls. A change in these principles or the interpretation or implementation of them may have a significant effect on our reported results, forecasted financial results or the way we conduct business.
ITEM 1B.
ITEM 1B. UNRESOLVED SEC STAFF COMMENTS
None.
ITEM 2.
ITEM 2. PROPERTIES
Our facilities comprise an integrated network of manufacturing and engineering centers with our corporate headquarters located in Neenah, Wisconsin. We own or lease facilities with approximately 4.5 million square feet of capacity. This includes approximately 2.1 million square feet in AMER, approximately 2.0 million square feet in APAC and approximately 0.4 million square feet in EMEA. Our active facilities as of October 3, 2020, are described in the following table:
(1)The facilities in Guadalajara, Mexico, Buffalo Grove, Illinois, Penang, Malaysia, Hangzhou, China, and Xiamen, China include more than one building.
ITEM 3.
ITEM 3. LEGAL PROCEEDINGS
We are party to certain lawsuits and legal proceedings in the ordinary course of business. Management does not believe that these proceedings, individually or in the aggregate, will have a material adverse effect on our consolidated financial position, results of operations or cash flows.
ITEM 4.
ITEM 4. MINE SAFETY DISCLOSURES
Not applicable.
PART II
ITEM 5.
ITEM 5. MARKET FOR REGISTRANT’S COMMON EQUITY, RELATED STOCKHOLDER MATTERS AND ISSUER PURCHASES OF EQUITY SECURITIES
Performance Graph
Our common stock trades on the Nasdaq Stock Market in the Nasdaq Global Select Market tier (symbol: PLXS).
The following graph compares the cumulative total return on Plexus common stock with the Nasdaq Stock Market Index for U.S. Companies and the Nasdaq Stock Market Index for Electronic Components Companies, both of which include Plexus. The values on the graph show the relative performance of an investment of $100 made on October 2, 2015, in Plexus common stock and in each of the indices as of the last business day of the respective fiscal year.
Comparison of Cumulative Total Return
Shareholders of Record
As of November 16, 2020, we had 398 shareholders of record.
Dividends
We have not paid any cash dividends in the past. We currently anticipate that in the foreseeable future the majority of earnings will be retained to finance the development of our business and our authorized share repurchases. However, we evaluate from time to time potential uses of excess cash, which in the future may include additional share repurchases, a special dividend or recurring dividends. See also Part II, Item 7, "Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations - Liquidity and Capital Resources," for a discussion of our intentions regarding dividends and loan covenants that could restrict dividend payments.
Issuer Purchases of Equity Securities
The following table provides the specified information about the repurchases of shares by us during the three months ended October 3, 2020:
(1) On August 20, 2019, the Board of Directors approved a new stock repurchase plan under which we are authorized to repurchase up to $50.0 million of our common stock (the "2019 Program"). As of October 3, 2020, $5.3 million of authority remained under the 2019 Program. On August 13, 2020, the Board of Directors approved a new stock repurchase plan under which we are authorized to repurchase up to $50.0 million of our common stock (the "2021 Program"). The 2021 Program commenced on October 19, 2020, upon completion of the 2019 Program. The table above reflects the maximum dollar amount available for purchase under the 2019 and 2021 Programs as of October 3, 2020. On November 18, 2020, the Board of Directors approved an additional $50.0 million in share repurchase authority under the existing 2021 Program such that there now exists a total of $100.0 million in share repurchase authority under the program.
ITEM 6.
ITEM 6. SELECTED FINANCIAL DATA
Financial Highlights (dollars in thousands, except per share amounts)
(1)Fiscal 2020 included 53 weeks. All other periods presented included 52 weeks.
(2)During fiscal 2020, we recorded $6.0 million, or $5.4 million net of taxes, in restructuring and impairment charges in the AMER operating segment due to the closure of the Boulder Design Center, which are included in operating income.
(3)During fiscal 2020, we recorded $1.9 million in tax benefits related to U.S. foreign tax credit regulations issued, partially offset by $1.1 million of tax expense as a result of special tax items.
(4)During fiscal 2019, we reasserted that certain historical undistributed earnings of two foreign subsidiaries are permanently reinvested, resulting in a $10.5 million benefit, and recorded $7.0 million of special tax expense in accordance with regulations under U.S. Tax Reform.
(5)During fiscal 2019, we recorded $1.7 million, or $1.5 million net of taxes, in restructuring and impairment charges in the AMER operating segment, which are included in operating income.
(6)During fiscal 2018, we recorded $85.9 million of non-recurring income tax expense due to the enactment of U.S. Tax Reform and paid a $13.5 million one-time non-executive employee bonus.
(7)During fiscal 2016, we recorded $7.0 million in restructuring charges primarily related to the closure of our manufacturing facility in Fremont, California, and the partial closure of our Livingston, Scotland facility. We also recorded $5.2 million in accelerated share-based compensation expense due to the retirement agreement with our former Chief Executive Officer.
(8)We define return on invested capital ("ROIC"), a non-GAAP financial measure, as tax-effected operating income before restructuring and other special items divided by average invested capital over a rolling five-quarter period. Invested capital is defined as equity plus debt and operating lease liabilities, less cash and cash equivalents, as discussed in Part II, Item 7, "Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations - Return on Invested Capital ("ROIC") and economic return." For a reconciliation of ROIC and economic return to our financial statements that were prepared in accordance with GAAP, see Exhibit 99.1 to this annual report on Form 10-K.
ITEM 7.
ITEM 7. MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS
OVERVIEW
Plexus Corp. and its subsidiaries (together "Plexus," the "Company," or "we") participate in the Electronic Manufacturing Services ("EMS") industry. Since 1979, Plexus has been partnering with companies to create the products that build a better world. We are a team of over 19,500 employees, providing global support for all facets of the product realization process - Design and Development, Supply Chain Solutions, New Product Introduction, Manufacturing, and Aftermarket Services - to companies in the Healthcare/Life Sciences, Industrial/Commercial, Aerospace/Defense and Communications market sectors. In fiscal year 2021, Plexus intends to consolidate the Industrial/Commercial and Communications market sectors to form an Industrial market sector. Plexus is an industry leader that specializes in serving customers with highly complex products used in demanding regulatory environments. Plexus delivers comprehensive end-to-end solutions in the Americas ("AMER"), Asia-Pacific ("APAC") and Europe, Middle East, and Africa ("EMEA") regions.
COVID-19 Update
We continue to monitor the global outbreak and spread of COVID-19 and take steps to mitigate the potential risks to us posed by its spread and related circumstances and impacts.
Workplace Safety
The health and safety of our employees is a top priority for us. Our goal is that our facilities should be the safest place our team members can be outside their homes. We have progressively implemented measures to safeguard our employees from the COVID-19 infection and exposure, in alignment with guidelines established by the Centers for Disease Control, the World Health Organization, governmental requirements, and our own safety standards. They consist of policies, procedures, protocols, and guidance related to, among other things, COVID-19 symptom awareness, effective hygiene practices, travel restrictions, visitor restrictions, social distancing, face covering expectations, temperature and health screening, work-from-home requirements, employee infection assessments, close contact tracing, enhanced workplace cleaning, and large-scale decontamination. In addition, in all geographies in which we operate, regulatory authorities at some point have imposed restrictions regarding the conduct of business and people movement to safeguard its citizens.
We have made significant efforts to mitigate the effects of these measures and impacts on our operations through a combination of adjustments in our shift patterns, flexible work arrangements, productivity improvements, facility enhancements to support social distancing and optimizing employee capability to work from home. These efforts will continue as requirements change, new risks are identified, and infections impact us. While we have been successful in largely mitigating the effects of the pandemic on our productivity and are currently operating at pre-COVID-19 production capacity globally, the continued spread and resurgence of the COVID-19 virus may make our ability to mitigate the impacts more challenging.
Supply Chain
Our suppliers may face challenges in maintaining an adequate workforce or securing materials from their own suppliers as a result of COVID-19. As such, we may experience an inability to procure certain components and materials on a timely basis as a result of the COVID-19 outbreak. We continue to take steps to validate our suppliers’ ability to deliver to us on time, which may also be affected by the impact of COVID-19 on their own financial condition.
Customers
Likewise, we remain in close contact with our customers to understand the impact of COVID-19 on their businesses and the resulting potential impact on our business. COVID-19 has introduced volatility and uncertainty to all of our customers, which has resulted in the need for us to react and respond. While COVID-19 has negatively impacted some of our customers and, therefore, our business with them, we have experienced opportunities with new and existing customers, particularly in our Healthcare/Life Sciences Sector, to manufacture products in high demand to combat the effects of COVID-19.
Liquidity
We believe we are positioned with a strong balance sheet as we face the future challenges presented by COVID-19. As of the end of fiscal year 2020, cash and cash equivalents and restricted cash was $388 million, while debt, finance lease obligations and other financing was $335 million. This included a $138 million unsecured delayed draw term loans ("term loans") facility secured on April 29, 2020 in response to the uncertainties created by the COVID-19 outbreak, on which we have drawn the full amount. The full amount of our revolving commitment of $350 million remained available for use as of October 3, 2020. Refer
to Note 4, "Debt, Finance Lease Obligations and Other Financing," in Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements and “Management’s Discussion and Analysis Liquidity and Capital Resources” in Part II, Item 7 for further information.
A discussion regarding our financial condition and results of operations for fiscal 2020 compared to fiscal 2019 is presented below. A discussion regarding our financial condition and results of operations for fiscal 2019 compared to fiscal 2018 can be found under Part II, Item 7, "Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations," in our Annual Report on the Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended September 28, 2019, which was filed with the SEC on November 15, 2019, and is available on the SEC’s website at www.sec.gov as well as our Inventor Relations website at www.plexus.com.
The following information should be read in conjunction with our consolidated financial statements included herein and "Risk Factors" included in Part I, Item 1A herein.
RESULTS OF OPERATIONS
Consolidated Performance Summary. The following table presents selected consolidated financial data for the indicated fiscal years (dollars in millions, except per share data):
Net sales. Fiscal 2020 net sales increased $226.0 million, or 7.1%, as compared to fiscal 2019.
Net sales are analyzed by management by geographic segment, which reflects our reportable segments, and by market sector. Management measures operational performance and allocates resources on a geographic segment basis. Our global business development strategy is based on our targeted market sectors.
As a percentage of consolidated net sales, net sales attributable to customers representing 10% or more of consolidated net sales as well as the percentage of net sales attributable to our ten largest customers for the indicated fiscal years were as follows:
A discussion of net sales by reportable segment is presented below for the indicated fiscal years (in millions):
AMER. Net sales for fiscal 2020 in the AMER segment decreased $101.5 million, or 7.1%, as compared to fiscal 2019. The decrease in net sales was driven by overall net decreased customer end-market demand, primarily in the Healthcare/Life Sciences and Communications sectors. The decrease was also driven by a reduction in net sales of $46.3 million due to manufacturing transfers to our APAC segment and $23.6 million due to disengagements with customers. These decreases were partially offset by a $111.3 million increase in production ramps of new products for existing customers, inclusive of increased demand due to COVID-19, and a $27.8 million increase in production ramps for new customers.
APAC. Net sales for fiscal 2020 in the APAC segment increased $267.6 million, or 17.2%, as compared to fiscal 2019. The increase in net sales was driven by a $80.1 million increase in production ramps of new products for existing customers, a $46.3 million increase due to manufacturing transfers from our AMER segment and a $19.8 million increase in production ramps for a new customer. In addition, there was an overall net increased customer end-market demand primarily in the Industrial/Commercial sector, partially offset by decreased demand due to COVID-19 in the Aerospace/Defense sector. The overall increase was partially offset by a $36.0 million decrease for end-of-life products.
EMEA. Net sales for fiscal 2020 in the EMEA segment increased $39.2 million, or 12.6%, as compared to fiscal 2019. The increase in net sales was the result of a $17.1 million increase in production ramps for new customers as a result of COVID-19, a $15.5 million increase in production ramps of new products for existing customers and overall net increased customer end-market demand, inclusive of increased demand driven by COVID-19.
Our net sales by market sector for the indicated fiscal years were as follows (in millions):
Healthcare/Life Sciences. Net sales for fiscal 2020 in the Healthcare/Life Sciences sector increased $38.4 million, or 3.1%, as compared to fiscal 2019. The increase in net sales was driven by a $65.7 million increase in production ramps of new products for existing customers and a $17.1 million increase in production ramps for new customers, both inclusive of customer ramps for critical care products as a result of COVID-19. The increase was partially offset by overall net decreased customer end-market demand inclusive of decreased demand for products associated with elective procedures as a result of COVID-19 and $5.0 million in end-of-life programs.
Industrial/Commercial. Net sales for fiscal 2020 in the Industrial/Commercial sector increased $273.3 million, or 27.9%, as compared to fiscal 2019. The increase was driven by a significant overall net increased customer end-market demand and $81.9 million increase in production ramps of new products for existing customers. The increase was partially offset by a decrease of $19.9 million due to a disengagement with a customer.
Aerospace/Defense. Net sales for fiscal 2020 in the Aerospace/Defense sector increased $23.0 million, or 3.9%, as compared to fiscal 2019. The increase was driven by a $27.8 million increase in production ramps for new customers and a $24.5 million increase in production ramps of new products for existing customers. The increase was partially offset by overall net decreased customer end-market demand inclusive of decreased demand driven by COVID-19.
Communications. Net sales for fiscal 2020 in the Communications sector decreased $108.7 million, or 29.0%, as compared to fiscal 2019. The decrease was driven by significant overall net decreased customer end-market demand. The decrease was partially offset by an increase of $19.8 million due to production ramps for a new customer.
Cost of sales. Cost of sales for fiscal 2020 increased $205.1 million, or 7.1%, as compared to fiscal 2019. Cost of sales is comprised primarily of material and component costs, labor costs and overhead. In fiscal 2020 and 2019, approximately 89% of the total cost of sales was variable in nature and fluctuated with sales volumes. Of these amounts, approximately 87% of these costs in both fiscal 2020 and 2019 were related to material and component costs.
As compared to fiscal 2019, the increase in cost of sales in fiscal 2020 was primarily driven by the increase in net sales, fixed costs to support new program ramps, and $9.4 million related to employee compensation and supplies costs associated with COVID-19.
Gross profit. Gross profit for fiscal 2020 increased $20.9 million, or 7.2%, as compared to fiscal 2019. Gross margin of 9.2% remained flat compared to fiscal 2019. The primary driver of the increase in gross profit as compared to fiscal 2019 was the increase in net sales, partially offset by increased fixed costs due to the ramp of new programs and increased employee compensation and supplies costs related to COVID-19.
Operating income. Operating income for fiscal 2020 increased $11.3 million, or 8.0%, as compared to fiscal 2019 as a result of the increase in gross profit, partially offset by the $9.6 million increase in selling and administrative expenses ("S&A"). The increase in S&A was primarily due to a $7.7 million increase in compensation expense, mostly due to incentive based compensation as a result of improved financial performance. A $4.3 million increase in restructuring and impairment charges due to the closure of our Boulder Design Center also contributed to the S&A increase, which was partially offset by decreased sales expense. Operating margin of 4.5% remained flat compared to fiscal 2019, in line with flat gross margin as a result of the factors previously discussed.
A discussion of operating income by reportable segment is presented below (in millions):
AMER. Operating income decreased $19.7 million in fiscal 2020 as compared to fiscal 2019, primarily as a result of the decrease in net sales and increased fixed costs to support new production ramps, as well as employee compensation and supplies costs associated with COVID-19. In addition, there was an increase in S&A primarily due to an increase in bad debt expense, which was partially offset by a positive shift in customer mix.
APAC. Operating income increased $38.4 million in fiscal 2020 as compared to fiscal 2019, primarily as a result of the increase in net sales, partially offset by a negative shift in customer mix and employee compensation and supplies costs associated with COVID-19.
EMEA. Operating income decreased $3.0 million in fiscal 2020 as compared to fiscal 2019 primarily as a result of the increase in fixed costs to support new production ramps.
Other expense. Other expense for fiscal 2020 increased $1.9 million as compared to fiscal 2019. The increase in other expense for fiscal 2020 was primarily due to an increase of $3.3 million in interest expense due to borrowings on the term loans and $0.9 million decrease in foreign currency exchange losses, partially offset by a decrease of $2.5 million in factoring fees.
Income taxes. Income tax expense and effective annual income tax rates for fiscal 2020 and 2019 were as follows (dollars in millions):
(1) We believe the non-GAAP presentation of income tax expense and the effective annual tax rate excluding special tax items, guidance issued by the U.S. Department of the Treasury and restructuring charges provides additional insight over the change from the comparative reporting periods by isolating the impact of these significant, special items. In addition, we believes that our income tax expense, as adjusted, and effective tax rate, as adjusted, enhance the ability of investors to analyze our operating performance and supplement, but do not replace, our income tax expense and effective tax rate calculated in accordance with U.S. GAAP
Income tax expense for fiscal 2020 was $17.9 million compared to $17.3 million for fiscal 2019. The increase is primarily due to the geographic distribution of worldwide earnings.
Our annual effective tax rate varies from the U.S. statutory rate of 21.0% primarily due to the geographic distribution of worldwide earnings as well as a tax holiday granted to a subsidiary located in the APAC segment where we derive a significant portion of our earnings. Our effective tax rate also may be impacted by disputes with taxing authorities, tax planning activities, adjustments to uncertain tax positions and changes in valuation allowances.
We have been granted a tax holiday for a foreign subsidiary operating in the APAC segment. This tax holiday will expire on December 31, 2034, and is subject to certain conditions with which we expect to continue to comply. In fiscal 2020 and 2019, the holiday resulted in tax reductions of approximately $28.3 million net of the impact of the global intangible low-taxed income ("GILTI") provisions of U.S. Tax Reform ($0.97 per basic share, $0.95 per diluted share) and $23.9 million ($0.79 per basic share, $0.77 per diluted share), respectively.
See also Note 6, "Income Taxes," in Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements for additional information regarding our tax rate.
The annual effective tax rate for fiscal 2021 is expected to be approximately 13.0% to 15.0%.
Net Income. Net income for fiscal 2020 increased $8.9 million, or 8.2%, from fiscal 2019 to $117.5 million. Net income increased primarily as a result of the increase in operating income, partially offset by an increase in other expense as previously discussed.
Diluted earnings per share. Diluted earnings per share for fiscal 2020 and 2019, as well as information as to the effects of special events that occurred in the indicated periods, as previously discussed and detailed below, were as follows:
(1) We believe the non-GAAP presentation of diluted earnings per share excluding special tax items, consisting of those related to restructuring costs, U.S. Tax Reform and a change in our permanent reinvestment assertions related to undistributed earnings of two foreign subsidiaries provide additional insight over the change from the comparative reporting periods by eliminating the effects of special or unusual items. In addition, we believe that diluted earnings per share, as adjusted, enhances the ability of investors to analyze our operating performance and supplements, but does not replace, its diluted earnings per share calculated in accordance with U.S. GAAP.
Diluted earnings per share increased to $3.93 in fiscal 2020 from $3.50 in fiscal 2019 primarily as a result of increased net income due to the factors discussed above and a reduction in diluted shares outstanding due to repurchase activity under our stock repurchase plans.
Return on Invested Capital ("ROIC") and economic return. We use a financial model that is aligned with our business strategy and includes a ROIC goal of 500 basis points over our weighted average cost of capital ("WACC"), which we refer to as "economic return."
Non-GAAP financial measures, including ROIC and economic return, are used for internal management goals and decision making because such measures provide management and investors additional insight into financial performance. In particular, we provide ROIC and economic return because we believe they offer insight into the metrics that are driving management decisions because we view ROIC and economic return as important measures in evaluating the efficiency and effectiveness of our long-term capital requirements. We also use a derivative measure of ROIC as a performance criteria in determining certain elements of compensation, and certain compensation incentives are based on economic return performance.
We define ROIC as tax-effected operating income before restructuring and other special items divided by average invested capital over a rolling five-quarter period for the fiscal year. Invested capital is defined as equity plus debt and operating lease liabilities, less cash and cash equivalents. Other companies may not define or calculate ROIC in the same way. ROIC and other non-GAAP financial measures should be considered in addition to, not as a substitute for, measures of our financial performance prepared in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles ("GAAP").
We review our internal calculation of WACC annually. Our WACC was 8.8% for fiscal year 2020 and 9.0% for fiscal year 2019. By exercising discipline to generate ROIC in excess of our WACC, our goal is to create value for our shareholders. Fiscal 2020 ROIC of 14.0% reflects an economic return of 5.2%, based on our weighted average cost of capital of 8.8%, and fiscal 2019 ROIC of 13.1% reflects an economic return of 4.1%, based on our weighted average cost of capital of 9.0% for that fiscal year.
For a reconciliation of ROIC, economic return and adjusted operating income (tax effected) to our financial statements that were prepared using GAAP, see Exhibit 99.1 to this annual report on Form 10-K, which exhibit is incorporated herein by reference.
Refer to the table below, which includes the calculation of ROIC and economic return (dollars in millions) for the indicated periods:
LIQUIDITY AND CAPITAL RESOURCES
Cash and cash equivalents and restricted cash were $387.9 million as of October 3, 2020, as compared to $226.3 million as of September 28, 2019.
As of October 3, 2020, 76% of our cash and cash equivalents balance was held outside of the U.S. by our foreign subsidiaries. With the enactment of U.S. Tax Reform, we believe that our offshore cash can be accessed in a more tax efficient manner than before U.S. Tax Reform. Currently, we believe that our cash balance, together with cash available under our Credit Facility, will be sufficient to meet our liquidity needs and potential share repurchases, if any, for the next twelve months and for the foreseeable future.
Our future cash flows from operating activities will be reduced by $59.6 million due to cash payments for U.S. federal taxes on the deemed repatriation of undistributed foreign earnings that are payable over an eight year period that began in fiscal 2019 with the first payment. The table below provides the expected timing of these future cash outflows, in accordance with the following installment schedule for the remaining six years (in millions):
Cash Flows. The following table provides a summary of cash flows for fiscal 2020 and 2019 (in millions):
Operating Activities. Cash flows provided by operating activities were $210.4 million for fiscal 2020, as compared to $115.3 million for fiscal 2019. The increase was primarily due to cash flow improvements (reductions) of:
•$121.8 million in accounts payables cash flows driven by increased purchasing activity to support ramp of customer programs and longer lead times for certain components heightened by the COVID-19 outbreak.
•$105.5 million in accounts receivable cash flows, which resulted from the timing of payments and shipments, as well as mix of customer payment terms.
•$(75.2) million in inventory cash flows driven by increased inventory levels to support the ramp of customer programs and longer lead times for certain components heightened by the COVID-19 outbreak.
•$(40.7) million in other current and noncurrent liabilities cash flows driven by decreases in advance payments from customers, partially offset by an increase in accrued salaries and wages due to timing of the quarter-end.
•$(30.8) million in customer deposit cash flows driven by significant deposits received from two customers in the prior year, partially offset by a significant deposit received from one customer in the current year.
The following table provides a summary of cash cycle days for the periods indicated (in days):
We calculate days in accounts receivable and contract assets as each balance sheet item for the respective quarter divided by annualized sales for the respective quarter by day. We calculate days in inventory, accounts payable, and cash deposits as each balance sheet line item for the respective quarter divided by annualized cost of sales for the respective quarter by day. We calculate annualized cash cycle as the sum of days in accounts receivable, days in contract assets and days in inventory, less days in accounts payable and days in cash deposits.
As of October 3, 2020, annualized cash cycle days decreased eleven days compared to September 28, 2019 due to the following factors:
Days in accounts receivable for the three months ended October 3, 2020 decreased seven days compared to the three months ended September 28, 2019. The decrease is primarily attributable to the timing of customer shipments and payments and mix of customer payment terms, partially offset by a decrease in accounts receivable sold under factoring programs.
Days in contract assets for the three months ended October 3, 2020 increased one day compared to the three months ended September 28, 2019. The increase is due to increased demand from customers with arrangements requiring revenue to be recognized over time as products are produced.
Days in inventory for the three months ended October 3, 2020 decreased two days compared to the three months ended September 28, 2019. The decrease is primarily attributable to inventory management efforts, partially offset by increasing inventory levels to support the ramp of customer programs and longer lead times for certain components due to the COVID-19 outbreak.
Days in accounts payable for the three months ended October 3, 2020 increased two days compared to the three months ended September 28, 2019. The increase is primarily attributable to increased purchasing activity to support the ramp of customer programs and longer lead times for certain components heightened by the COVID-19 outbreak.
Days in cash deposits for the three months ended October 3, 2020 increased one day compared to the three months ended September 28, 2019. The increase was primarily attributable to significant deposits received from 2 customers to cover higher inventory balances.
Free Cash Flow. We define free cash flow ("FCF"), a non-GAAP financial measure, as cash flow provided by operations less capital expenditures. FCF was $160.3 million for fiscal 2020 compared to $24.7 million for fiscal 2019, an increase of $135.6 million.
Non-GAAP financial measures, including FCF, are used for internal management assessments because such measures provide additional insight to investors into ongoing financial performance. In particular, we provide FCF because we believe it offers insight into the metrics that are driving management decisions. We view FCF as an important financial metric as it demonstrates our ability to generate cash and can allow us to pursue opportunities that enhance shareholder value. FCF is a non-GAAP financial measure that should be considered in addition to, not as a substitute for, measures of our financial performance prepared in accordance with GAAP.
A reconciliation of FCF to our financial statements that were prepared using GAAP follows (in millions):
Investing Activities. Cash flows used in investing activities were $49.9 million for fiscal 2020 compared to $89.4 million for fiscal 2019. The decrease in cash used in investing activities was due to a $40.5 million decrease in capital expenditures, primarily due to the construction of a second manufacturing facility in Guadalajara, Mexico which was completed in the first quarter of fiscal 2020.
We utilized available cash and operating cash flows as the sources for funding our operating requirements during fiscal 2020. We currently estimate capital expenditures for fiscal 2021 will be approximately $70.0 million to $90.0 million.
Financing Activities. Cash flows used in financing activities were $1.5 million for fiscal 2020 compared to $97.2 million for fiscal 2019. The decrease was primarily attributable to a $140.7 million decrease in cash used to repurchase our common stock, drawing $138.0 million on the unsecured term loans, and a $10.2 million increase in proceeds from the exercise of stock options. This change was partially offset by a $190.0 million decrease in borrowing and increase in repayments on our revolving commitment.
On June 6, 2016, the Board of Directors authorized a multi-year stock repurchase program under which we were authorized to repurchase up to $150.0 million of our common stock beginning in fiscal 2017 (the "2016 Program"). During fiscal 2018, we completed the 2016 Program by repurchasing 1,914,596 shares for $115.9 million, at an average price of $60.52 per share.
On February 14, 2018, the Board of Directors approved a share repurchase plan under which we were authorized to repurchase $200.0 million of our common stock (the "2018 Program"). During fiscal 2020 and 2019, we completed the 2018 Program by repurchasing 3,129,059 and 343,642 shares under this program for $178.8 million and $21.2 million, at an average price of $57.15 and $61.61 per share, respectively.
On August 20, 2019, the Board of Directors approved a share repurchase plan under which we were authorized to repurchase $50.0 million of our common stock (the "2019 Program"). The 2019 Program commenced upon completion of the 2018 Program, as defined below. During fiscal 2020 and 2019, we repurchased 609,935 and 54,965 shares under this program for $41.4 million and $3.3 million at an average price of $67.86 and 59.66 per share, respectively. As of October 3, 2020, $5.3 million of authority remained under the 2019 Program.
On August 13, 2020, the Board of Directors approved a new share repurchase program that authorizes us to repurchase up to $50.0 million of our common stock (the "2021 Program"). The 2021 Program commenced on October 19, 2020, upon completion of the 2019 Program. The 2021 Program has no expiration.
On November 18, 2020, the Board of Directors approved an additional $50.0 million in share repurchase authority under the existing 2021 Program such that there now exists a total of $100.0 million in share repurchase authority under the program.
All shares repurchased under the aforementioned programs were recorded as treasury stock.
On June 15, 2018, we entered into a Note Purchase Agreement (the “2018 NPA”) pursuant to which it issued an aggregate of $150.0 million in principal amount of unsecured senior notes, consisting of $100.0 million in principal amount of 4.05% Series A Senior Notes, due on June 15, 2025, and $50.0 million in principal amount of 4.22% Series B Senior Notes, due on June 15, 2028 (collectively, the “2018 Notes”), in a private placement. The 2018 NPA includes customary operational and financial covenants with which we are required to comply, including, among others, maintenance of certain financial ratios such as a total leverage ratio and a minimum interest coverage ratio. The 2018 Notes may be prepaid in whole or in part at any time, subject to payment of a make-whole amount; interest on the 2018 Notes is payable semiannually. As of October 3, 2020, we were in compliance with the covenants under the 2018 NPA.
On May 15, 2019, we refinanced our then-existing senior unsecured revolving credit facility by entering into a new five-year senior unsecured revolving credit facility (referred to as the "Credit Facility"), which expanded the maximum commitment from $300.0 million to $350.0 million and extended the maturity from July 5, 2021 to May 15, 2024. The maximum commitment under the Credit Facility may be further increased to $600.0 million, generally by mutual agreement of the lenders and us, subject to certain customary conditions. The increase of the maximum facility is not able to be exercised until after the maturity date of the 364 day delayed draw term loans ("term loans") on April 28, 2021, as outlined in Amendment No. 1 to the Credit Agreement (the "Amendment") subsequently discussed. During fiscal 2020, the highest daily borrowing was $164.5 million; the average daily borrowings were $78.5 million. We borrowed $538.7 million and repaid $633.7 million of revolving borrowings under the Credit Facility during fiscal 2020. As of October 3, 2020, we were in compliance with all financial covenants relating to the Credit Agreement, which are generally consistent with those in the 2018 NPA discussed above. We are required to pay a commitment fee on the daily unused revolver credit commitment based on our leverage ratio; the fee was 0.125% as of October 3, 2020.
To further ensure our ability to meet our working capital and fixed capital requirements, on April 29, 2020, we entered into the Amendment in response to the COVID-19 outbreak, which amends the Credit Agreement, dated as of May 15, 2019. The Amendment amends certain provisions of the Credit Facility to, among other things, provide for a $138.0 million unsecured delayed draw term loans facility. Term loans borrowed under the new facility were funded in a single draw on May 4, 2020 and will mature on April 28, 2021. Outstanding term loans will bear interest, at our option, at a eurocurrency rate (subject to a floor of 1.0%) plus a margin of 1.75% per annum or at a base rate (subject to a floor of 2.0%) plus a margin of 0.75% per annum. The proceeds of the term loans were used to prepay outstanding revolving and swing line loans under the Credit Facility and for the general corporate purposes of ourselves and our subsidiaries. The $138.0 million of outstanding term loans as of October 3, 2020 was subject to a 2.75% per annum interest rate.
The Credit Agreement and the 2018 NPA allow for the future payment of cash dividends or the repurchase of shares provided that no event of default (including any failure to comply with a financial covenant) exists at the time of, or would be caused by, the dividend payment or the share repurchases. We have not paid cash dividends in the past. However, we evaluate from time to time potential uses of excess cash, which in the future may include share repurchases above those already authorized, a special dividend or recurring dividends.
We have Master Accounts Receivable Purchase Agreements with MUFG Bank, New York Branch (formerly known as The Bank of Tokyo-Mitsubishi UFJ, Ltd.) (the "MUFG RPA"), and HSBC Bank (China) Company Limited, Xiamen branch (the "HSBC RPA"), under which we may elect to sell receivables, at a discount, on an ongoing basis. These facilities are uncommitted facilities. The maximum facility amount under the MUFG RPA as of October 3, 2020 is $340.0 million. On September 17, 2020, we entered into Amendment 11 under the MUFG RPA to change the allocation of factoring for certain customers and add LIBOR replacement language. The maximum facility amount under the HSBC RPA as of October 3, 2020 is $60.0 million. The MUFG RPA will be automatically extended each year unless any party gives no less than 10 days prior notice that the agreement should not be extended. The terms of the HSBC RPA are generally consistent with the terms of the MUFG RPA discussed above.
We sold $834.4 million and $919.3 million of trade accounts receivable under these programs during fiscal years 2020 and 2019, respectively, in exchange for cash proceeds of $831.2 million and $913.6 million, respectively.
In all cases, the sale discount was recorded within "Miscellaneous, net" in the Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income in the period of the sale. For further information regarding the receivable sale programs, see Note 14, "Trade Accounts Receivable Sale Programs," in Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.
Based on current expectations, we believe that our projected cash flows provided by operations, available cash and cash equivalents, potential borrowings under the Credit Facility and our leasing capabilities should be sufficient to meet our working capital and fixed capital requirements for the next twelve months. We believe we are positioned with a strong balance sheet as we face the future challenges presented by COVID-19. As of the end of the fourth quarter of fiscal 2020, cash and cash equivalents and restricted cash were $388 million, while debt, finance lease obligations and other financing were $335 million. In addition to our strong balance sheet, we have significant funding availability through our Credit Facility, should future needs arise. In addition, to further ensure our ability to meet our working capital and fixed capital requirements, we drew the full amount of the unsecured delayed draw term loans facility previously discussed in response to the COVID-19 outbreak. If our future financing needs increase, then we may need to arrange additional debt or equity financing. Accordingly, we evaluate and consider from time to time various financing alternatives to supplement our financial resources. However, we cannot be assured that we will be able to make any such arrangements on acceptable terms.
CONTRACTUAL OBLIGATIONS, COMMITMENTS AND OFF-BALANCE SHEET OBLIGATIONS
Our disclosures regarding contractual obligations and commercial commitments are located in various parts of our regulatory filings. Information in the following table provides a summary of our contractual obligations and commercial commitments as of October 3, 2020 (dollars in millions):
1)As of October 3, 2020, debt obligations includes $150.0 million in principal amount of 2018 Notes and $138.0 million in term loans borrowed under the credit facility, as well as interest.
2)As of October 3, 2020, purchase obligations consist primarily of purchases of inventory and equipment in the ordinary course of business.
3)As of October 3, 2020, repatriation tax on undistributed foreign earnings consists of U.S. federal income taxes on the deemed repatriation of undistributed foreign earnings due to U.S. Tax Reform. Refer to "Liquidity and Capital Resources" above for further detail.
4)As of October 3, 2020, other obligations on the balance sheet included deferred compensation obligations to certain of our former and current executive officers, as well as other key employees, other financing obligations arising from information technology maintenance agreements, and asset retirement obligations related to our buildings. We have excluded from the above table the impact of approximately $2.1 million, as of October 3, 2020, related to unrecognized income tax benefits. We cannot make reliable estimates of the future cash flows by period related to these obligations.
5)As of October 3, 2020, other obligations not on the balance sheet consist of guarantees and a commitment for salary continuation and certain benefits in the event employment of one executive officer is terminated without cause. Excluded from the amounts disclosed are certain bonus and incentive compensation amounts, which would be paid on a prorated basis in the year of termination.
DISCLOSURE ABOUT CRITICAL ACCOUNTING ESTIMATES
Our accounting policies are disclosed in Note 1 "Description of Business and Significant Accounting Policies" of Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements. During fiscal 2020 there were no material changes to these policies. Our more critical accounting estimates are described below:
Revenue Recognition: Revenue is recognized over time for arrangements with customers for which: (i) our performance does not create an asset with an alternative use to us, and (ii) we have an enforceable right to payment, including reasonable profit margin, for performance completed to date. Revenue recognized over time is estimated based on costs incurred to date plus a reasonable profit margin. If either of the two conditions noted above are not met to recognize revenue over time, revenue is recognized following the transfer of control of such products to the customer, which typically occurs upon shipment or delivery depending on the terms of the underlying arrangement.
We recognize revenue when a contract exists and when, or as, it satisfies a performance obligation by transferring control of a product or service to a customer. Contracts are accounted for when they have approval and commitment from both parties, the rights of the parties are identified, payment terms are identified, the contract has commercial substance and collectability of consideration is probable. A performance obligation is a promise in a contract to transfer a distinct good or service to the customer.
We generally enter into a master services arrangement that establishes the framework under which business will be conducted. These arrangements represent the master terms and conditions of our services that apply to individual orders, but they do not commit the customer to work with, or to continue to work with, us nor do they obligate the customer to any specific volume or pricing of purchases. Moreover, these terms can be amended in appropriate situations. Customer purchase orders are received for specific quantities with predominantly fixed pricing and delivery requirements. Thus, for the majority of our contracts, there is no guarantee of any revenue to us until a customer submits a purchase order. As a result, we generally consider our arrangement with a customer to be the combination of the master services arrangement and the purchase order. Most of our arrangements with customers create a single performance obligation as the promise to transfer the individual manufactured product or service is capable of being distinct.
Our performance obligations are satisfied over time as work progresses or at a point in time. A performance obligation is satisfied over time if we have an enforceable right to payment, including a reasonable profit margin. Determining if an enforceable right to payment includes a reasonable profit margin requires judgment and is assessed on a contract by contract basis.
If an enforceable right to payment for work-in-process does not exist, revenue is recognized following the transfer of control of such products to the customer, which typically occurs upon shipment or delivery depending on the terms of the underlying contract.
For contracts requiring over time revenue recognition, the selection of the method to measure progress towards completion requires judgment and is based on the nature of the products or services to be provided. We use a cost-based input measurement of progress because it best depicts the transfer of assets to the customer, which occurs as costs are incurred during the manufacturing process or as services are rendered. Under the cost-based measure of progress, the extent of progress towards completion is measured based on the costs incurred to date.
Generally, there are no subjective customer acceptance requirements or further obligations related to goods or services provided; if such requirements or obligations exist, then a sale is recognized at the time when such requirements are completed and such obligations are fulfilled.
We do not allow for a general right of return. Net sales include amounts billed to customers for shipping and handling and out-of-pocket expenses. The corresponding shipping and handling costs and out-of-pocket expenses are included in cost of sales. Taxes assessed by a governmental authority that are both imposed on and concurrent with a specific revenue-producing transaction, that are collected by us from a customer, are excluded from net sales.
Net sales from engineering design and development services, which are generally performed under contracts with a duration of twelve months or less, are typically recognized as program costs are incurred by utilizing the proportional performance model. The completed performance model is used if certain customer acceptance criteria exist. Any losses are recognized when anticipated.
Income Taxes: Deferred tax assets and liabilities are recognized for the future tax consequences attributable to differences between the financial statement carrying amounts of existing assets and liabilities and their respective tax bases and operating loss and tax credit carryforwards. Deferred tax assets and liabilities are measured using enacted tax rates expected to apply to taxable income in the years in which those temporary differences are expected to be recovered or settled. We maintain valuation allowances when it is more likely than not that all or a portion of a deferred tax asset will not be realized. In determining
whether a valuation allowance is required, we take into account such factors as prior earnings history, expected future earnings, carryback and carryforward periods, and tax strategies that could potentially enhance the likelihood of the realization of a deferred tax asset.
Share-Based Compensation: Generally accepted accounting principles require all grants of share-based compensation to employees to be measured at fair value and expensed in the Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income over the service period (generally the vesting period) of the grant. We use the Black-Scholes valuation model to value stock options, the Monte Carlo valuation model to value performance stock units with market conditions and the share price on the date of grant for performance stock units that vest based on other non-market-based performance conditions.
Inventories: Inventories are valued at the lower of cost or market. Cost is determined by the first-in, first-out ("FIFO") method. Valuing inventories at the lower of cost or market requires the use of estimates and judgment. Customers may cancel their orders, change production quantities or delay production for a number of reasons that are beyond our control. Any of these, or certain additional actions, could impact the valuation of inventory. Any actions taken by our customers that could impact the value of our inventory are considered when determining the lower of cost or market valuations.
Impairment of Long-Lived Assets: Long-lived assets, including property, plant and equipment, operating lease right-of-use assets and intangible assets with finite lives are reviewed for impairment and written down to fair value when facts and circumstances indicate that the carrying value of long-lived assets or asset groups may not be recoverable through estimated future undiscounted cash flows. If an impairment has occurred, a write-down to estimated fair value is made and the impairment loss is recognized as a charge against current operations. The impairment analysis is based on management’s assumptions, including future revenue and cash flow projections. Circumstances that may lead to impairment of property, plant and equipment, operating lease right-of-use assets and intangible assets with finite lives include reduced expectations for future performance or industry demand and possible further restructurings, among others.
NEW ACCOUNTING PRONOUNCEMENTS
See Note 1, "Description of Business and Significant Accounting Policies," in Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements regarding recent accounting pronouncements.
ITEM 7A.
ITEM 7A. QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURES ABOUT MARKET RISK
We are exposed to market risk from changes in foreign exchange and interest rates. We selectively use financial instruments to reduce such risks. We do not use derivative financial instruments for speculative purposes.
Foreign Currency Risk
Our international operations create potential foreign exchange risk. Our policy is to selectively hedge our foreign currency denominated transactions in a manner that partially offsets the effects of changes in foreign currency exchange rates. We typically use foreign currency contracts to hedge only those currency exposures associated with certain assets and liabilities denominated in non-functional currencies. Corresponding gains and losses on the underlying transaction generally offset the gains and losses on these foreign currency hedges. We cannot predict changes in currency rates, nor the degree to which we will be able to manage the impacts of currency exchange rate changes, including the impacts on currency exchange rates related to the COVID-19 outbreak. Such changes could have a material effect on our business, results of operations and financial condition.
Our percentages of transactions denominated in currencies other than the U.S. dollar for the indicated fiscal years were as follows:
We have evaluated the potential foreign currency exchange rate risk on transactions denominated in currencies other than the U.S. dollar for the periods presented above. Based on our overall currency exposure, as of October 3, 2020, a 10.0% change in the value of the U.S. dollar relative to our other transactional currencies would not have a material effect on our financial position, results of operations, or cash flows.
Interest Rate Risk
We have financial instruments, including cash equivalents and debt, which are sensitive to changes in interest rates. The primary objective of our investment activities is to preserve principal, while maximizing yields without significantly increasing market risk. To achieve this, we maintain our portfolio of cash equivalents in a variety of money market demand accounts and certificates of deposit, and limit the amount of principal exposure to any one issuer. We cannot predict changes in interest rates, including the impacts on interest rates related to the COVID-19 outbreak. Such changes could have a material effect on our business, results of operations and financial condition.
As of October 3, 2020, our only material interest rate risk is associated with our Credit Facility. Revolving commitments under the Credit Facility bear interest, at our option, at a eurocurrency or base rate plus, in each case, an applicable interest rate margin based on our then-current leverage ratio (as defined in the Credit Agreement). As of October 3, 2020, the borrowing rate under the Credit Agreement was LIBOR plus 1.10%. In addition, the outstanding term loans will bear interest, at our option, at a eurocurrency rate (subject to a floor of 1.0%) plus a margin of 1.75% per annum or at a base rate plus (subject to a floor of 2.0%) a margin of 0.75% per annum. As of October 3, 2020 the term loans were subject to a 2.75% per annum interest rate. We are monitoring developments related to LIBOR; see also Part I, Item 1A "Risk Factors" for more information. Borrowings under the 2018 NPA are based on a fixed interest rate, thus mitigating much of our interest rate risk. Based on our overall interest rate exposure, as of October 3, 2020, a 10.0% change in interest rates would not have a material effect on our financial position, results of operations, or cash flows.
ITEM 8.
ITEM 8. FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND SUPPLEMENTARY DATA
PLEXUS CORP.
List of Financial Statements and Financial Statement Schedule
October 3, 2020
NOTE: All other financial statement schedules are omitted because they are not applicable or the required information is included in the Consolidated Financial Statements or notes thereto.
Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm
To the Board of Directors and Shareholders of Plexus Corp.
Opinions on the Financial Statements and Internal Control over Financial Reporting
We have audited the accompanying consolidated balance sheets of Plexus Corp. and its subsidiaries (the “Company”) as of October 3, 2020 and September 28, 2019, and the related consolidated statements of comprehensive income, of shareholders' equity and of cash flows for each of the three years in the period ended October 3, 2020, including the related notes and financial statement schedule listed in the accompanying index (collectively referred to as the “consolidated financial statements”). We also have audited the Company's internal control over financial reporting as of October 3, 2020, based on criteria established in Internal Control - Integrated Framework (2013) issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission (COSO).
In our opinion, the consolidated financial statements referred to above present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of the Company as of October 3, 2020 and September 28, 2019, and the results of its operations and its cash flows for each of the three years in the period ended October 3, 2020 in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America. Also in our opinion, the Company maintained, in all material respects, effective internal control over financial reporting as of October 3, 2020, based on criteria established in Internal Control - Integrated Framework (2013) issued by the COSO.
Changes in Accounting Principles
As discussed in Note 1 to the consolidated financial statements, the Company changed the manner in which it accounts for leases in 2020 and the manner in which it accounts for revenue from contracts with customers in 2019.
Basis for Opinions
The Company's management is responsible for these consolidated financial statements, for maintaining effective internal control over financial reporting, and for its assessment of the effectiveness of internal control over financial reporting, included in Management’s Annual Report on Internal Control over Financial Reporting appearing under Item 9A. Our responsibility is to express opinions on the Company’s consolidated financial statements and on the Company's internal control over financial reporting based on our audits. We are a public accounting firm registered with the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States) (PCAOB) and are required to be independent with respect to the Company in accordance with the U.S. federal securities laws and the applicable rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission and the PCAOB.
We conducted our audits in accordance with the standards of the PCAOB. Those standards require that we plan and perform the audits to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the consolidated financial statements are free of material misstatement, whether due to error or fraud, and whether effective internal control over financial reporting was maintained in all material respects.
Our audits of the consolidated financial statements included performing procedures to assess the risks of material misstatement of the consolidated financial statements, whether due to error or fraud, and performing procedures that respond to those risks. Such procedures included examining, on a test basis, evidence regarding the amounts and disclosures in the consolidated financial statements. Our audits also included evaluating the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, as well as evaluating the overall presentation of the consolidated financial statements. Our audit of internal control over financial reporting included obtaining an understanding of internal control over financial reporting, assessing the risk that a material weakness exists, and testing and evaluating the design and operating effectiveness of internal control based on the assessed risk. Our audits also included performing such other procedures as we considered necessary in the circumstances. We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinions.
Definition and Limitations of Internal Control over Financial Reporting
A company’s internal control over financial reporting is a process designed to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles. A company’s internal control over financial reporting includes those policies and procedures that (i) pertain to the maintenance of records that, in reasonable detail, accurately and fairly reflect the transactions and dispositions of the assets of the company; (ii) provide reasonable assurance that transactions are recorded as necessary to permit preparation of financial statements in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles, and that receipts and expenditures of the company are being made only in accordance with authorizations of management and directors of the
company; and (iii) provide reasonable assurance regarding prevention or timely detection of unauthorized acquisition, use, or disposition of the company’s assets that could have a material effect on the financial statements.
Because of its inherent limitations, internal control over financial reporting may not prevent or detect misstatements. Also, projections of any evaluation of effectiveness to future periods are subject to the risk that controls may become inadequate because of changes in conditions, or that the degree of compliance with the policies or procedures may deteriorate.
Critical Audit Matters
The critical audit matter communicated below is a matter arising from the current period audit of the consolidated financial statements that was communicated or required to be communicated to the audit committee and that (i) relates to accounts or disclosures that are material to the consolidated financial statements and (ii) involved our especially challenging, subjective, or complex judgments. The communication of critical audit matters does not alter in any way our opinion on the consolidated financial statements, taken as a whole, and we are not, by communicating the critical audit matter below, providing a separate opinion on the critical audit matter or on the accounts or disclosures to which it relates.
Arrangements with customers for which revenue is recognized over time
As described in Note 15 to the consolidated financial statements, approximately 91% of the Company’s revenue for the year ended October 3, 2020 was recognized as products were produced or services were rendered over time. Revenue is recognized over time for arrangements with customers for which (i) the Company’s performance does not create an asset with an alternative use to the Company and (ii) the Company has an enforceable right to payment, including a reasonable profit margin, for performance completed to date. Determining if an enforceable right to payment includes a reasonable profit margin requires judgment and is assessed on a contract by contract basis. If either of these two conditions are not met to recognize revenue over time, revenue is recognized following the transfer of control of such products to the customer, which typically occurs upon shipment or delivery depending on the terms of the underlying arrangement. Management recognizes revenue over time using a cost-based input measurement of progress. Under this method, the extent of progress towards completion is measured based on the costs incurred to date. Revenue recognized over time is estimated based on costs incurred to date plus a reasonable profit margin.
The principal considerations for our determination that performing procedures relating to arrangements with customers for which revenue is recognized over time is a critical audit matter are the significant judgment by management in (i) determining which arrangements with customers meet the criteria for revenue to be recognized over time and (ii) estimating a reasonable profit margin related to the amount of revenue to be recognized for in-progress performance obligations. This in turn led to significant auditor judgment, subjectivity, and effort in performing procedures to evaluate which arrangements meet the criteria for revenue to be recognized over time, management’s estimate of reasonable profit margins, and management’s determination of costs incurred to date.
Addressing the matter involved performing procedures and evaluating audit evidence in connection with forming our overall opinion on the consolidated financial statements. These procedures included testing the effectiveness of controls relating to the revenue recognition process, including controls relating to management’s determination of which arrangements with customers met the criteria for revenue to be recognized over time and estimating the amount of revenue recognized for these arrangements. These procedures also included, among others, (i) testing management’s process for determining which arrangements with customers met the criteria for revenue to be recognized over time, (ii) testing the accuracy and completeness of costs incurred to date for selected arrangements, (iii) evaluating the reasonableness of management’s estimate of profit margins, and (iv) testing the appropriateness of the timing and amount of revenue recognized based on the underlying inputs and estimates for selected arrangements.
/s/PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP
Milwaukee, Wisconsin
November 20, 2020
We have served as the Company’s auditor since at least 1985. We have not been able to determine the specific year we began serving as auditor of the Company.
PLEXUS CORP. AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF COMPREHENSIVE INCOME
for the fiscal years ended October 3, 2020, September 28, 2019 and September 29, 2018
(in thousands, except per share data)
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.
PLEXUS CORP. AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
as of October 3, 2020 and September 28, 2019
(in thousands, except per share data)
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.
PLEXUS CORP. AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF SHAREHOLDERS’ EQUITY
for the fiscal years ended October 3, 2020, September 28, 2019 and September 29, 2018
(in thousands)
(1) See Note 1, "Description of Business and Significant Accounting Policies," for a discussion of recently adopted accounting pronouncements.
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.
PLEXUS CORP. AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
for the fiscal years ended October 3, 2020, September 28, 2019 and September 29, 2018
(in thousands)
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.
Plexus Corp.
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
1. Description of Business and Significant Accounting Policies
Description of Business: Plexus Corp. and its subsidiaries (together "Plexus," the "Company," or "we") participate in the Electronic Manufacturing Services ("EMS") industry. We partner with our customers to create the products that build a better world. Plexus has been partnering with companies to transform concepts into branded products and deliver them to customers in the Healthcare/Life Sciences, Industrial/Commercial, Aerospace/Defense and Communications market sectors. Plexus is headquartered in Neenah, Wisconsin and has operations in the Americas ("AMER"), Europe, Middle East, and Africa ("EMEA") and Asia-Pacific ("APAC") regions.
Significant Accounting Policies
Consolidation Principles and Basis of Presentation: The consolidated financial statements have been prepared in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles in the United States of America ("GAAP") and include the accounts of Plexus Corp. and its subsidiaries. All intercompany transactions have been eliminated. Certain prior period amounts have been reclassified to conform to the current period presentation.
The Company’s fiscal year ends on the Saturday closest to September 30. The Company also uses a "4-4-5" weekly accounting system for the interim periods in each quarter. Each quarter, therefore, ends on a Saturday at the end of the 4-4-5 period. Periodically, an additional week must be added to the fiscal year to re-align with the Saturday closest to September 30. Fiscal 2020 includes 53 weeks; therefore the first quarter of fiscal 2020 included 14 weeks while all other fiscal quarters presented herein included 13 weeks. Fiscal 2019 and fiscal 2018 each included 52 weeks.
The preparation of financial statements requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the amounts reported in the Consolidated Financial Statements and notes thereto. The full extent to which the COVID-19 outbreak will impact the Company's business and operating results will depend on future developments that are highly uncertain and cannot be accurately predicted. The Company has considered information available as of the date of issuance of these financial statements and is not aware of any specific events or circumstances that would require an update to its estimates or judgments, or a revision of the carrying value of its assets or liabilities. These estimates may change as new events occur and additional information becomes available. Actual results could differ materially from these estimates.
Cash and Cash Equivalents and Restricted Cash: Cash equivalents include short-term highly liquid investments and are classified as Level 1 in the fair value hierarchy described below. Restricted cash represents cash received from customers to settle invoices sold under accounts receivable purchase agreements that is contractually required to be set aside. The restrictions will lapse when the cash is remitted to the purchaser of the receivables. Restricted cash is also classified as Level 1 in the fair value hierarchy described below.
As of October 3, 2020 and September 28, 2019, cash and cash equivalents and restricted cash consisted of the following (in thousands):
Inventories: Inventories are valued at the lower of cost or market. Cost is determined by the first-in, first-out ("FIFO") method. Valuing inventories at the lower of cost or market requires the use of estimates and judgment. Customers may cancel their orders, change production quantities or delay production for a number of reasons that are beyond the Company’s control. Any of these, or certain additional actions, could impact the valuation of inventory. Any actions taken by the Company’s customers that could impact the value of its inventory are considered when determining the lower of cost or market valuations.
In certain instances, in accordance with contractual terms, the Company receives customer deposits to offset obsolete and excess inventory risks.
Plexus Corp.
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
Property, Plant and Equipment and Depreciation: Property, plant and equipment is stated at cost and depreciated using the straight-line method over the estimated useful lives of the respective assets. Estimated useful lives for major classes of depreciable assets are generally as follows:
Certain facilities and equipment held under finance leases are classified as property, plant and equipment and amortized using the straight-line method over the term of the lease and the related obligations are recorded as liabilities. Amortization of assets held under finance leases is included in depreciation expense (see Note 3, "Property, Plant and Equipment") and the financing component of the lease payments is classified as interest expense. Maintenance and repairs are expensed as incurred.
The Company capitalizes significant costs incurred in the acquisition or development of software for internal use. This includes costs of the software, consulting services and compensation costs for employees directly involved in developing internal use computer software.
Impairment of Long-Lived Assets: Long-lived assets, including property, plant and equipment, operating lease right-of-use assets and intangible assets with finite lives are reviewed for impairment and written down to fair value when facts and circumstances indicate that the carrying value of long-lived assets or asset groups may not be recoverable through estimated future undiscounted cash flows. If an impairment has occurred, a write-down to estimated fair value is made and the impairment loss is recognized as a charge against current operations. The impairment analysis is based on management’s assumptions, including future revenue and cash flow projections. Circumstances that may lead to impairment of property, plant and equipment and intangible assets with finite lives include reduced expectations for future performance or industry demand and possible further restructurings, among others.
Revenue Recognition: Revenue is recognized over time for arrangements with customers for which: (i) the Company's performance does not create an asset with an alternative use to the Company, and (ii) the Company has an enforceable right to payment, including reasonable profit margin, for performance completed to date. Revenue recognized over time is estimated based on costs incurred to date plus a reasonable profit margin. If either of the two conditions noted above are not met to recognize revenue over time, revenue is recognized following the transfer of control of such products to the customer, which typically occurs upon shipment or delivery depending on the terms of the underlying arrangement.
The Company recognizes revenue when a contract exists and when, or as, it satisfies a performance obligation by transferring control of a product or service to a customer. Contracts are accounted for when they have approval and commitment from both parties, the rights of the parties are identified, payment terms are identified, the contract has commercial substance and collectability of consideration is probable. A performance obligation is a promise in a contract to transfer a distinct good or service to the customer.
The Company generally enters into a master services arrangement that establishes the framework under which business will be conducted. These arrangements represent the master terms and conditions of the Company's services that apply to individual orders, but they do not commit the customer to work with, or to continue to work with, the Company nor do they obligate the customer to any specific volume or pricing of purchases. Moreover, these terms can be amended in appropriate situations. Customer purchase orders are received for specific quantities with predominantly fixed pricing and delivery requirements. Thus, for the majority of our contracts, there is no guarantee of any revenue to the Company until a customer submits a purchase order. As a result, the Company generally considers its arrangement with a customer to be the combination of the master services arrangement and the purchase order. Most of the Company's arrangements with customers create a single performance obligation as the promise to transfer the individual manufactured product or service is capable of being distinct.
The Company’s performance obligations are satisfied over time as work progresses or at a point in time. A performance obligation is satisfied over time if the Company has an enforceable right to payment, including a reasonable profit margin. Determining if an enforceable right to payment includes a reasonable profit margin requires judgment and is assessed on a contract by contract basis.
If an enforceable right to payment for work-in-process does not exist, revenue is recognized following the transfer of control of such products to the customer, which typically occurs upon shipment or delivery depending on the terms of the underlying contract.
Plexus Corp.
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
For contracts requiring over time revenue recognition, the selection of the method to measure progress towards completion requires judgment and is based on the nature of the products or services to be provided. The Company uses a cost-based input measurement of progress because it best depicts the transfer of assets to the customer, which occurs as costs are incurred during the manufacturing process or as services are rendered. Under the cost-based measure of progress, the extent of progress towards completion is measured based on the costs incurred to date.
Generally, there are no subjective customer acceptance requirements or further obligations related to goods or services provided; if such requirements or obligations exist, then a sale is recognized at the time when such requirements are completed and such obligations are fulfilled.
The Company does not allow for a general right of return. Net sales include amounts billed to customers for shipping and handling and out-of-pocket expenses. The corresponding shipping and handling costs and out-of-pocket expenses are included in cost of sales. Taxes assessed by a governmental authority that are both imposed on and concurrent with a specific revenue-producing transaction, that are collected by the Company from a customer, are excluded from net sales.
Net sales from engineering design and development services, which are generally performed under contracts with a duration of twelve months or less, are typically recognized as program costs are incurred by utilizing the proportional performance model. The completed performance model is used if certain customer acceptance criteria exist. Any losses are recognized when anticipated. Net sales from engineering design and development services were less than 5.0% of consolidated net sales for each of fiscal 2020, 2019 and 2018.
Income Taxes: Deferred tax assets and liabilities are recognized for the future tax consequences attributable to differences between the financial statement carrying amounts of existing assets and liabilities and their respective tax bases and operating loss and tax credit carryforwards. Deferred tax assets and liabilities are measured using enacted tax rates expected to apply to taxable income in the years in which those temporary differences are expected to be recovered or settled. The Company maintains valuation allowances when it is more likely than not that all or a portion of a deferred tax asset will not be realized. In determining whether a valuation allowance is required, the Company takes into account such factors as prior earnings history, expected future earnings, carryback and carryforward periods, and tax strategies that could potentially enhance the likelihood of the realization of a deferred tax asset.
Foreign Currency Translation & Transactions: The Company translates assets and liabilities of subsidiaries operating outside of the U.S. with a functional currency other than the U.S. dollar into U.S. dollars using exchange rates in effect at the relevant balance sheet date and net sales, expenses and cash flows at the average exchange rates during the respective periods. Adjustments resulting from translation of the financial statements are recorded as a component of "Accumulated other comprehensive loss." Exchange gains and losses arising from transactions denominated in a currency other than the functional currency of the entity involved and remeasurement adjustments for foreign operations where the U.S. dollar is the functional currency are included in the Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income as a component of "Miscellaneous, net." Exchange (losses) gains on foreign currency transactions were $(0.4) million, $0.5 million and $1.2 million for fiscal 2020, 2019 and 2018, respectively. These amounts include the amount of gain recognized in income during each fiscal year due to forward currency exchange contracts entered into to hedge recognized assets or liabilities ("non-designated hedges") the Company entered into during each respective year. Refer to Note 5, "Derivatives and Fair Value Measurements," for further details on derivatives.
Derivatives: All derivatives are recognized on the balance sheets at fair value. The Company periodically enters into forward currency exchange contracts and interest rate swaps. On the date a derivative contract is entered into, the Company designates the derivative as a non-designated hedge or a hedge of a forecasted transaction or of the variability of cash flows to be received or paid related to a recognized asset or liability (a "cash flow" hedge). The Company does not enter into derivatives for speculative purposes. Changes in the fair value of non-designated derivatives are recorded in earnings as are the gains or losses related to the hedged asset or liability. Changes in the fair value of a derivative that qualifies as a cash flow hedge are recorded in "Accumulated other comprehensive loss" within shareholders' equity, until earnings are affected by the variability of cash flows. Certain forward currency exchange contracts are treated as cash flow hedges and, therefore, $1.8 million, $1.1 million and $(3.9) million was recorded in "Accumulated other comprehensive loss" for fiscal 2020, 2019 and 2018, respectively. See Note 5, "Derivatives and Fair Value Measurements," for further information.
Earnings Per Share: The computation of basic earnings per common share is based upon the weighted average number of common shares outstanding and net income. The computation of diluted earnings per common share reflects additional dilution from share-based awards, excluding any with an antidilutive effect. See Note 7, "Earnings Per Share," for further information.
Plexus Corp.
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
Share-based Compensation: The Company measures all grants of share-based payments to employees, including grants of employee stock options, at fair value and expenses them in the Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income over the service period (generally the vesting period) of the grant. See Note 9, "Benefit Plans," for further information.
Comprehensive Income (Loss): The Company follows the established standards for reporting comprehensive income (loss), which is defined as the changes in equity of an enterprise except those resulting from shareholder transactions.
Accumulated other comprehensive loss consists of the following as of October 3, 2020 and September 28, 2019 (in thousands):
Refer to Note 5, "Derivatives and Fair Value Measurements," for further explanation regarding the change in fair value of derivative instruments that is recorded to "Accumulated other comprehensive loss."
Use of Estimates: The preparation of financial statements in conformity with GAAP requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the amounts reported in the financial statements and accompanying notes. Actual results could differ from those estimates.
Fair Value of Financial Instruments: The Company holds financial instruments consisting of cash and cash equivalents, restricted cash, accounts receivable, certain deferred compensation assets held under trust arrangements, accounts payable, debt, derivatives, and finance and operating lease obligations. The carrying values of cash and cash equivalents, restricted cash, accounts receivable, accounts payable, and finance and operating lease obligations as reported in the consolidated financial statements approximate fair value. Derivatives and certain deferred compensation assets held under trust arrangements are recorded at fair value. Accounts receivable are reflected at net realizable value based on anticipated losses due to potentially uncollectible balances. Anticipated losses are based on management’s analysis of historical losses and changes in customers’ credit status. The fair value of the Company’s debt was $299.3 million and $252.3 million as of October 3, 2020 and September 28, 2019, respectively. The carrying value of the Company's debt was $288.0 million and $245.0 million as of October 3, 2020 and September 28, 2019, respectively. The Company uses quoted market prices when available or discounted cash flows to calculate fair value. If measured at fair value in the financial statements, long-term debt (including the current portion) would be classified as Level 2 in the fair value hierarchy described below. The fair values of the Company’s derivatives are disclosed in Note 5, "Derivatives and Fair Value Measurements." The fair values of the deferred compensation assets held under trust arrangements are discussed in Note 9, "Benefit Plans."
Fair value is defined as the exchange price that would be received for an asset or paid to transfer a liability (or exit price) in the principal or most advantageous market for the asset or liability in an orderly transaction between market participants on the measurement date. Valuation techniques used to measure fair value must maximize the use of observable inputs and minimize the use of unobservable inputs. The accounting guidance establishes a fair value hierarchy based on three levels of inputs that may be used to measure fair value. The input levels are:
Level 1: Quoted (observable) market prices in active markets for identical assets or liabilities.
Level 2: Inputs other than Level 1 that are observable, such as quoted prices for similar assets or liabilities; quoted prices in markets that are not active; or other inputs that are observable or can be corroborated by observable market data for substantially the full term of the asset or liability.
Level 3: Unobservable inputs that are supported by little or no market activity and that are significant to the fair value of the asset or liability.
Business and Credit Concentrations: Financial instruments that potentially subject the Company to concentrations of credit risk consist of cash, cash equivalents, trade accounts receivable and derivative instruments, specifically related to counterparties. In accordance with the Company’s investment policy, the Company’s cash, cash equivalents and derivative instruments were placed with recognized financial institutions. The Company’s investment policy limits the amount of credit exposure in any one issue and the maturity date of the investment securities that typically comprise investment grade short-term debt instruments. Concentrations of credit risk in accounts receivable resulting from sales to major customers are discussed in Note 11, "Reportable Segments, Geographic Information and Major Customers". The Company, at times, requires cash deposits for services performed. The Company also closely monitors extensions of credit.
Plexus Corp.
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
Recently Adopted Accounting Pronouncements:
In May 2014, the FASB issued ASU 2014-09, which requires an entity to recognize revenue relating to contracts with customers that depicts the transfer of promised goods or services to customers in an amount reflecting the consideration to which the entity expects to be entitled in exchange for such goods or services ("Topic 606"). On September 30, 2018, the Company adopted and applied Topic 606 to all contracts using the modified retrospective method of adoption. Upon adoption, the Company recognized an increase to its fiscal 2019 beginning Retained Earnings balance of $7.8 million.
In February 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-02 (“Topic 842”), which is intended to improve financial reporting of lease transactions by requiring lessees to recognize most leases as a right-of-use (“ROU”) asset and lease liability on their balance sheets for the rights and obligations created by leases, but record expenses on their income statements in a similar manner. For lessors, the guidance modifies the classification criteria and the accounting for sales-type and direct financing leases. ASU 2016-02 also requires disclosures regarding the amount, timing and judgments related to accounting for an entity’s leases and related cash flows.
On September 29, 2019, the Company adopted Topic 842 using the modified retrospective method of adoption, which allows financial information for comparative periods prior to adoption not to be updated. The Company recognized right-of-use assets and operating lease liabilities on its Consolidated Balance Sheets, but the standard did not have a material impact on its Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income or Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows.
Topic 842 provides optional practical expedients to assist with transition to the new standard. Management elected the package of practical expedients offered, which allows entities to not reassess: (i) whether any contracts prior to the adoption date are or contain leases, (ii) lease classification, and (iii) whether capitalized initial direct costs continue to meet the definition of initial direct costs under the new guidance. For all new and modified leases after adoption, management elected the short-term lease recognition exemption for all of the Company’s leases that qualify, in addition to the practical expedient to not separate lease and nonlease components. Refer to Note 8, "Leases," for further information.
In August 2017, the FASB issued ASU 2017-12 related to the accounting for hedging activities. The pronouncement expands and refines hedge accounting, aligns the recognition and presentation of the effects of hedging instruments and hedge items in the financial statements, and includes certain targeted improvements to ease the application of current guidance related to the assessment of hedge effectiveness. The Company adopted this guidance during the first quarter of fiscal 2020 with no material impact to the Company's Consolidated Financial Statements; however, the impact of the new standard on future periods will depend on the facts and circumstances of future transactions.
Recently Issued Accounting Pronouncements Not Yet Adopted:
In June 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-13, which replaces the current incurred loss impairment methodology with a methodology that reflects expected credit losses and required consideration of a broader range of reasonable and supportable information to inform credit loss estimates. This guidance is effective for the Company beginning in the first quarter of fiscal year 2021. Early adoption is permitted. The Company plans to adopt this methodology the first quarter of fiscal 2021 and does not expect a material impact on its Consolidated Financial Statements.
In March 2020, the FASB issued ASU 2020-04, which provides guidance in accounting for contracts, hedging relationships, and other transactions that are affected by reference rate reform. The amendments in this update are elective and were effective immediately upon issuance. The Company is currently in the process of assessing the impacts of reference rate reform but does not expect this standard to have a material impact on its Consolidated Financial Statements.
The Company believes that no other recently issued accounting standards will have a material impact on its Consolidated Financial Statements, or apply to its operations.
Plexus Corp.
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
2. Inventories
Inventories as of October 3, 2020 and September 28, 2019 consisted of the following (in thousands):
In certain circumstances, per contractual terms, customer deposits are received by the Company to offset obsolete and excess inventory risks. The total amount of customer deposits related to inventory and included within current liabilities on the accompanying Consolidated Balance Sheets as of October 3, 2020 and September 28, 2019 was $154.6 million and $136.5 million, respectively.
3. Property, Plant and Equipment
Property, plant and equipment as of October 3, 2020 and September 28, 2019 consisted of the following (in thousands):
Assets held under finance leases and included in property, plant and equipment as of October 3, 2020 and September 28, 2019 consisted of the following (in thousands):
As of October 3, 2020, September 28, 2019 and September 29, 2018, accounts payable included approximately $6.7 million, $10.0 million and $11.2 million, respectively, related to the purchase of property, plant and equipment, which have been treated as non-cash transactions for purposes of the Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows.
Plexus Corp.
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
4. Debt, Finance Lease Obligations and Other Financing
Debt and finance lease obligations as of October 3, 2020 and September 28, 2019, consisted of the following (in thousands):
On June 15, 2018, the Company entered into a Note Purchase Agreement (the “2018 NPA”) pursuant to which it issued an aggregate of $150.0 million in principal amount of unsecured senior notes, consisting of $100.0 million in principal amount of 4.05% Series A Senior Notes, due on June 15, 2025, and $50.0 million in principal amount of 4.22% Series B Senior Notes, due on June 15, 2028 (collectively, the “2018 Notes”), in a private placement. The 2018 NPA includes customary operational and financial covenants with which the Company is required to comply, including, among others, maintenance of certain financial ratios such as a total leverage ratio and a minimum interest coverage ratio. The 2018 Notes may be prepaid in whole or in part at any time, subject to payment of a make-whole amount; interest on the 2018 Notes is payable semiannually. As of October 3, 2020, the Company was in compliance with the covenants under the 2018 NPA.
On May 15, 2019, the Company refinanced its then-existing senior unsecured revolving credit facility by entering into a new 5-year senior unsecured revolving credit facility (referred to as the "Credit Facility"), which expanded the maximum commitment from $300.0 million to $350.0 million and extended the maturity from July 5, 2021 to May 15, 2024. The maximum commitment under the Credit Facility may be further increased to $600.0 million, generally by mutual agreement of the Company and the lenders, subject to certain customary conditions. The increase of the maximum facility is not able to be exercised until after the maturity date of the 364 day delayed draw term loans ("term loans") on April 28, 2021, as outlined in Amendment No. 1 to the Credit Agreement (the "Amendment") subsequently discussed. During fiscal 2020, the highest daily borrowing was $164.5 million; the average daily borrowings were $78.5 million. The Company borrowed $538.7 million and repaid $633.7 million of revolving borrowings under the Credit Facility during fiscal 2020. As of October 3, 2020, the Company was in compliance with all financial covenants relating to the Credit Agreement, which are generally consistent with those in the 2018 NPA discussed above. The Company is required to pay a commitment fee on the daily unused revolver credit commitment based on the Company's leverage ratio; the fee was 0.125% as of October 3, 2020.
To further ensure our ability to meet our working capital and fixed capital requirements, on April 29, 2020, the Company entered into the Amendment in response to the COVID-19 outbreak, which amends the Credit Agreement, dated as of May 15, 2019. The Amendment amends certain provisions of the Credit Facility to, among other things, provide for a $138.0 million unsecured delayed draw term loans facility. Term loans borrowed under the new facility were funded in a single draw on May 4, 2020 and will mature on April 28, 2021. Outstanding term loans will bear interest, at the Company’s option, at a eurocurrency rate (subject to a floor of 1.0%) plus a margin of 1.75% per annum or at a base rate (subject to a floor of 2.0%) plus a margin of 0.75% per annum. The proceeds of the term loans were used to prepay outstanding revolving and swing line loans under the Credit Facility and for the general corporate purposes of the Company and its subsidiaries. The $138.0 million of outstanding term loans as of October 3, 2020 was subject to a 2.75% per annum interest rate.
Plexus Corp.
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
The aggregate scheduled maturities of the Company’s debt obligations as of October 3, 2020, are as follows (in thousands):
The aggregate scheduled maturities of the Company’s finance leases and other financing obligations as of October 3, 2020, are as follows (in thousands):
The Company's weighted average interest rate on finance lease obligations was 17.7% and 4.8% as of October 3, 2020 and September 28, 2019, respectively. Upon adoption of ASU 2016-02, two existing build-to-suit arrangements for the facilities in Guadalajara, Mexico were reassessed to be finance leases. These leases were included in the weighted average interest rate on finance lease obligations for the fiscal year 2020. Weighted average interest rate calculations on operating and finance lease obligations according to Topic 842 are disclosed in Note 8, "Leases".
5. Derivatives and Fair Value Measurements
All derivatives are recognized in the accompanying Consolidated Balance Sheets at their estimated fair value. The Company uses derivatives to manage the variability of foreign currency obligations. The Company has cash flow hedges related to forecasted foreign currency obligations, in addition to non-designated hedges to manage foreign currency exposures associated with certain foreign currency denominated assets and liabilities. The Company does not enter into derivatives for speculative purposes.
The Company designates some foreign currency exchange contracts as cash flow hedges of forecasted foreign currency expenses. Changes in the fair value of the derivatives that qualify as cash flow hedges are recorded in "Accumulated other comprehensive loss" in the accompanying Consolidated Balance Sheets until earnings are affected by the variability of the cash flows. In the next twelve months, the Company estimates that $1.2 million of unrealized gains, net of tax, related to cash flow hedges will be reclassified from other comprehensive income (loss) into earnings. Changes in the fair value of the non-designated derivatives related to recognized foreign currency denominated assets and liabilities are recorded in "Miscellaneous, net" in the accompanying Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income.
The Company enters into forward currency exchange contracts for its operations in Malaysia and Mexico on a rolling basis. The Company had cash flow hedges outstanding with a notional value of $96.8 million as of October 3, 2020, and a notional value of $80.0 million as of September 28, 2019. These forward currency contracts fix the exchange rates for the settlement of future foreign currency obligations that have yet to be realized. The total fair value of the forward currency exchange contracts was a $1.2 million asset as of October 3, 2020, and a $0.6 million liability as of September 28, 2019.
The Company had additional forward currency exchange contracts outstanding as of October 3, 2020, with a notional value of $15.8 million; there were $34.4 million such contracts outstanding as of September 28, 2019. The Company did not designate these derivative instruments as hedging instruments. The net settlement amount (fair value) related to these contracts is recorded on the Consolidated Balance Sheets as either a current or long-term asset or liability, depending on the term, and as an element of "Miscellaneous, net." The total fair value of these derivatives was a less than $0.1 million asset as of October 3, 2020, and a $0.9 million asset as of September 28, 2019.
Plexus Corp.
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
The tables below present information regarding the fair values of derivative instruments (as defined in Note 1, "Description of Business and Significant Accounting Policies") and the effects of derivative instruments on the Company’s Consolidated Financial Statements:
Fair Value Measurements:
Fair value is defined as the exchange price that would be received for an asset or paid to transfer a liability (or exit price) in the principal or most advantageous market for the asset or liability in an orderly transaction between market participants on the measurement date. Valuation techniques used to measure fair value must maximize the use of observable inputs and minimize the use of unobservable inputs. The Company uses quoted market prices when available or discounted cash flows to calculate fair value. The accounting guidance establishes a fair value hierarchy based on three levels of inputs that may be used to measure fair value. The input levels are:
Level 1: Quoted (observable) market prices in active markets for identical assets or liabilities.
Level 2: Inputs other than Level 1 that are observable, such as quoted prices for similar assets or liabilities; quoted prices in markets that are not active; or other inputs that are observable or can be corroborated by observable market data for substantially the full term of the asset or liability.
Plexus Corp.
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
Level 3: Unobservable inputs that are supported by little or no market activity and that are significant to the fair value of the asset or liability.
The following table lists the fair values of assets of the Company’s derivatives as of October 3, 2020 and September 28, 2019, by input level:
The fair value of foreign currency forward contracts is determined using a market approach, which includes obtaining directly or indirectly observable values from third parties active in the relevant markets. Inputs in the fair value of the foreign currency forward contracts include prevailing forward and spot prices for currency.
6. Income Taxes
The domestic and foreign components of income (loss) before income tax expense for fiscal 2020, 2019 and 2018 were as follows (in thousands):
(1) The U.S. and Foreign components of income (loss) before income tax expense include the elimination of intercompany foreign dividends paid to the Company's U.S. operations.
Income tax expense (benefit) for fiscal 2020, 2019 and 2018 were as follows (in thousands):
Plexus Corp.
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
The following is a reconciliation of the federal statutory income tax rate to the effective income tax rates reflected in the Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income for fiscal 2020, 2019 and 2018:
The effective tax rate for fiscal 2020 was lower than the effective tax rate for fiscal 2019 primarily due to the geographic distribution of worldwide earnings. During fiscal 2019, the Company reasserted that certain historical undistributed earnings of two foreign subsidiaries will be permanently reinvested which provided a $10.5 million benefit to the effective tax rate. The impact of the changes in the Company's assertion has been included in "Withholding tax on dividends" in the effective income tax reconciliation above. The reduction to the effective tax rate compared to fiscal 2018 was offset by an increase due to the GILTI provisions of U.S. Tax Reform in fiscal 2019. The GILTI impact in the table above includes the deduction allowed by the regulations as well as the foreign tax credits attributed to GILTI. The Company has elected to treat the income tax effects of GILTI as a period cost.
During fiscal 2020, the Company recorded a $4.8 million increase to its valuation allowance due to continuing losses in certain jurisdictions within the AMER and EMEA segments, partially offset by an expiration of net operating losses that had a valuation allowance recorded.
During fiscal 2019, the Company recorded a $1.9 million increase to its valuation allowance due to continuing losses in certain jurisdictions within the AMER and EMEA segments, partially offset by an expiration of net operating losses that had a valuation allowance recorded.
During fiscal 2018, the Company recorded a reduction to its valuation allowance which includes $9.7 million related to the U.S. federal tax rate change as part of U.S. Tax Reform from 35% to 21%, $21.0 million of carryforward credits and net operating losses utilized against the deemed repatriation of undistributed foreign earnings and $3.6 million for the release of the U.S. valuation allowance due to the expected future U.S. taxable income related to the GILTI provisions of U.S. Tax Reform. These benefits were partially offset by a $1.4 million increase in foreign valuation allowances in the EMEA segment.
Plexus Corp.
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
The components of the net deferred income tax assets as of October 3, 2020 and September 28, 2019, were as follows (in thousands):
During fiscal 2020, the Company’s valuation allowance increased by $5.8 million. This increase is the result of increases to the valuation allowances against the net deferred tax assets in the AMER region of $2.8 million and an increase in net deferred tax assets in the EMEA region of $3.0 million.
As of October 3, 2020, the Company had approximately $201.7 million of pre-tax state net operating loss carryforwards that expire between fiscal 2021 and 2041. Certain state net operating losses have a full valuation allowance against them. The Company also had approximately $89.4 million of pre-tax foreign net operating loss carryforwards that expire between fiscal 2020 and 2026 or are indefinitely carried forward. These foreign net operating losses have a full valuation allowance against them.
During fiscal 2020, proposed and final regulations were issued and tax legislation was adopted in various jurisdictions. The impacts of these regulations and legislation on the Company’s consolidated financial condition, results of operations and cash flows are included above.
The Company has been granted a tax holiday for a foreign subsidiary in the APAC segment. This tax holiday will expire on December 31, 2034, and is subject to certain conditions with which the Company expects to continue to comply. During fiscal 2020, 2019 and 2018, the tax holiday resulted in tax reductions of approximately $28.3 million net of the impact of the GILTI provisions of U.S. Tax Reform ($0.97 per basic share, $0.95 per diluted share), $23.9 million ($0.79 per basic share, $0.77 per diluted share) and $39.1 million ($1.19 per basic share, $1.15 per diluted share), respectively.
The Company does not provide for taxes that would be payable if certain undistributed earnings of foreign subsidiaries were remitted because the Company considers these earnings to be permanently reinvested. The deferred tax liability that has not been recorded for these earnings was approximately $12.0 million as of October 3, 2020.
The Company has approximately $2.1 million of uncertain tax benefits as of October 3, 2020. The Company has classified these amounts in the Consolidated Balance Sheets as "Other liabilities" (noncurrent) in the amount of $1.3 million and an offset to "Deferred income taxes" (noncurrent asset) in the amount of $0.8 million. The Company has classified these amounts as "Other liabilities" (noncurrent) and "Deferred income taxes" (noncurrent asset) to the extent that payment is not anticipated within one year.
Plexus Corp.
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
The following is a reconciliation of the beginning and ending amounts of unrecognized income tax benefits (in thousands):
The amount of unrecognized tax benefits that, if recognized, would impact the effective tax rate is $1.3 million and $1.5 million for the fiscal years ended October 3, 2020 and September 28, 2019, respectively.
The Company recognizes accrued interest and penalties related to unrecognized tax benefits in income tax expense. The total accrued penalties and net accrued interest with respect to income taxes was approximately $0.1 million for the fiscal year ended October 3, 2020, and approximately $0.2 million for each of the fiscal years ended September 28, 2019 and September 29, 2018. The Company recognized less than $0.1 million of expense for accrued penalties and net accrued interest in the Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income for each of the fiscal years ended October 3, 2020, September 28, 2019 and September 29, 2018.
It is possible that a number of uncertain tax positions may be settled within the next 12 months. Settlement of these matters is not expected to have a material effect on the Company’s consolidated results of operations, financial position and cash flows.
The Company files income tax returns, including returns for its subsidiaries, with federal, state, local and foreign taxing jurisdictions. The following tax years remain subject to examination by the respective major tax jurisdictions:
7. Earnings Per Share
The following is a reconciliation of the amounts utilized in the computation of basic and diluted earnings per share for fiscal 2020, 2019 and 2018 (in thousands, except per share amounts):
In each of the fiscal years 2020, 2019 and 2018, share-based awards for approximately 0.1 million shares were not included in the computation of diluted earnings per share as they were antidilutive.
Plexus Corp.
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
8. Leases
The Company’s lease portfolio includes both real estate and non-real estate type leases which are accounted for as either finance or operating leases. Real estate leases generally include office, warehouse and manufacturing facilities and non-real estate leases generally include office equipment and vehicles. The Company determines if a contract is or contains a lease at inception. The Company’s leases have remaining lease terms of less than 1 year to 40 years. Renewal options that are deemed reasonably certain are included as part of the lease term for purposes of calculating the right-of-use (“ROU”) asset and lease liability. Variable lease payments are generally expensed as incurred and include certain index-based changes in rent, certain nonlease components, such as maintenance and other services provided by the lessor, and other charges included in the lease. The Company elected the practical expedient to not separate lease and nonlease components, as such nonlease components are included in the calculation of the ROU asset and lease liability and included in the lease expense over the term of the lease. The Company uses a discount rate to calculate the ROU asset and lease liability. When the implicit rate is known or provided in the lease documents, the Company is required to use this rate. In cases in which the implicit rate is not known, the Company uses an estimated incremental borrowing rate.
Operating lease ROU assets and lease liabilities are recorded on the date the Company takes possession of the leased assets with expense recognized on a straight-line basis over the lease term. Leases with an estimated total term of 12 months or less are not recorded on the balance sheet and the lease expense is recognized on a straight-line basis over the lease term. Generally, the Company's lease agreements do not contain material residual value guarantees or material restrictive covenants.
Upon adoption of ASU 2016-02, the Company recorded $45.5 million of ROU assets and lease liabilities, related to its existing operating lease portfolio. The Company also reclassified amounts previously held on the balance sheet to operating right-of-use assets and operating lease liabilities upon adoption due to existing arrangements subject to the new standard, including $30.2 million of prepaid leases in other non-current assets. The accounting for the Company’s finance leases remained substantially unchanged. In addition, the company recognized a $1.1 million reduction to retained earnings as a result of two existing build-to-suit arrangements for the facilities in Guadalajara, Mexico that were reassessed to be finance leases under the new standard. The adoption of this new standard did not have a material impact on the Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows or Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income.
As a result of the adoption, the following adjustments were made to the opening balances of the Company's Consolidated Balance Sheets (in thousands):
Plexus Corp.
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
The components of lease expense for fiscal year 2020 were as follows (in thousands):
Based on the nature of the ROU asset, amortization of finance right-of-use assets, operating lease expense and other lease expense are recorded within either cost of goods sold or selling and administrative expenses and interest on finance lease liabilities is recorded within interest expense on the Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income. Other lease expense includes lease expense for leases with an estimated total term of twelve months or less and variable lease expense related to variations in lease payments as a result of a change in factors or circumstances occurring after the lease possession date.
Amortization of assets held under capital leases totaled $3.8 million and $3.4 million for fiscal years 2019 and 2018, respectively. Capital lease additions totaled $6.7 million, and $11.8 million for fiscal years 2019 and 2018, respectively.
Rent expense under all operating leases for fiscal years 2019 and 2018 was approximately $12.9 million and $12.0 million, respectively.
The following tables sets forth the amount of lease assets and lease liabilities included in the Company’s Consolidated Balance Sheets (in thousands):
Other information related to the Company’s leases was as follows:
Plexus Corp.
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
Future minimum lease payments required under finance and operating leases as of October 3, 2020, were as follows (in thousands):
As of October 3, 2020, the Company’s future operating leases that have not yet commenced are immaterial.
Future minimum lease payments required under long-term operating and capital leases as of September 28, 2019, were as follows (in thousands):
9. Benefit Plans
Share-based Compensation Plans: The Plexus Corp. 2016 Omnibus Incentive Plan (the "2016 Plan"), which was approved by shareholders, is a stock and cash-based incentive plan, and includes provisions by which the Company may grant executive officers, employees and directors stock options, stock appreciation rights ("SARs"), restricted stock (including restricted stock units ("RSUs"), performance stock awards (including performance stock units ("PSUs"), other stock awards and cash incentive awards. Similar awards were offered under its predecessor, the 2008 Long-Term Incentive Plan (the "2008 Plan"), which is no longer being used for grants; however, outstanding awards granted under the 2008 Plan and its predecessors continue in accordance with their terms.
The maximum number of shares of Plexus common stock that may be issued pursuant to the 2016 Plan is 3.2 million shares; in addition, cash incentive awards of up to $4.0 million per employee may be granted annually. The exercise price of each stock option and SAR granted must not be less than the fair market value on the date of grant. The Compensation and Leadership Development Committee (the "Committee") of the Board of Directors may establish a term and vesting period for awards under
Plexus Corp.
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
the 2016 Plan as well as accelerate the vesting of such awards. Generally, stock options vest in two annual installments and have a term of ten years. SARs vest in two annual installments and have a term of seven years. RSUs granted to executive officers, other officers and key employees generally vest on the 3 year anniversary of the grant date (assuming continued employment), which is also the date as of which the underlying shares will be issued. Beginning for fiscal 2017 grants, 50% of PSUs vest based on the relative total shareholder return ("TSR") of the Company's common stock as compared to the companies in the Russell 3000 Index, a market condition, and the remaining 50% vest based upon a three-point annual average of the Company's absolute economic return, a performance condition, each during a performance period of three years performance period. The PSUs granted in fiscal 2016 and prior years vested based solely on the relative TSR of the Company's common stock as compared to companies in the Russell 3000 Index during a performance period of three years. The vesting and payout of awards will range between 0% and 200% of the shares granted based upon performance on the metrics during a performance period. Payout at target, 100% of the shares granted, will occur if the TSR of Plexus stock is at the 50th percentile of companies in the Russell 3000 Index during the performance period and if a 2.5% average economic return is achieved over the performance period of three years. The number of shares that may be issued pursuant to PSUs ranges from zero to 0.5 million. The Committee also grants RSUs to non-employee directors, which generally fully vest on the first anniversary of the grant date, which is also the date the underlying shares are issued (unless further deferred).
The Company recognized $24.3 million, $21.3 million and $18.0 million of compensation expense associated with share-based awards in fiscal 2020, 2019 and 2018, respectively. Deferred tax benefits related to equity awards of $8.2 million, $9.2 million and $8.2 million were recognized in fiscal 2020, 2019 and 2018, respectively.
A summary of the Company’s stock option and SAR activity follows:
Plexus Corp.
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
The following table summarizes outstanding stock option and SAR information as of October 3, 2020 (Options/SARs in thousands):
The Company uses the Black-Scholes valuation model to value options and SARs. The Company used its historical stock prices as the basis for its volatility assumptions. The assumed risk-free rates were based on U.S. Treasury rates in effect at the time of grant with a term consistent with the expected option and SAR lives. The expected options and SARs lives represent the period of time that the options and SARs granted are expected to be outstanding and were based on historical experience.
There were no options or SARs granted for fiscal 2020, 2019 or 2018.
There were no options and SARs vested for fiscal 2020. The fair value of options and SARs vested for fiscal 2019 and 2018 $0.3 million and $1.3 million, respectively.
For fiscal 2020, 2019 and 2018, the total intrinsic value of options and SARs exercised was $10.9 million, $2.4 million and $10.9 million, respectively.
As of October 3, 2020, all previously granted options and SARS have vested.
A summary of the Company’s PSU and RSU activity follows:
The Company uses the fair value at the date of grant to value RSUs. As of October 3, 2020, there was $17.0 million of unrecognized compensation expense related to RSUs that is expected to be recognized over a weighted average period of 1.3 years.
The Company recognizes share-based compensation expense over the vesting period of PSUs. During the fiscal year ended October 3, 2020, the 0.1 million PSUs granted in fiscal 2017 vested at a 148.4% payout based upon the TSR performance achieved during the performance period. There were 0.1 million PSUs granted during each of fiscal years 2020, 2019 and 2018.
Plexus Corp.
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
As of October 3, 2020, at the target achievement level, there was $8.8 million of unrecognized compensation expense related to PSUs that is expected to be recognized over a weighted average period of 1.8 years.
401(k) Savings Plan: The Company’s 401(k) Retirement Plan covers all eligible U.S. employees. The Company matches employee contributions up to 4.0% of eligible earnings. The Company’s contributions for fiscal 2020, 2019 and 2018 totaled $9.8 million, $9.3 million and $8.1 million, respectively.
Deferred Compensation Arrangements: The Company has agreements with certain former executive officers to provide nonqualified deferred compensation. Under these agreements, the Company agrees to pay these former executives, or their designated beneficiaries upon such executives’ deaths, certain amounts annually for the first 15 years subsequent to their retirement. As of October 3, 2020 and September 28, 2019, the related deferred compensation liability associated with these arrangements totaled $0.1 million and $0.2 million, respectively.
The Company maintains investments in a trust account to fund required payments under these deferred compensation arrangements. As of October 3, 2020 and September 28, 2019, the total value of the assets held by the trust totaled $10.8 million and $10.4 million, respectively, and was recorded at fair value on a recurring basis. These assets were classified as Level 2 in the fair value hierarchy discussed in Note 1, "Description of Business and Significant Accounting Policies." During each of the fiscal years 2020, 2019 and 2018, the Company made payments to the participants in the amount of $0.1 million.
Supplemental Executive Retirement Plan: The Company also maintains a supplemental executive retirement plan (the "SERP") as an additional deferred compensation plan for executive officers. Under the SERP, a covered executive may elect to defer some or all of the participant’s compensation into the plan, and the Company may credit the participant’s account with a discretionary employer contribution. Participants are entitled to payment of deferred amounts and any related earnings upon termination or retirement from Plexus.
The SERP allows investment of deferred compensation into individual accounts and, within these accounts, into one or more designated investments. Investment choices do not include Plexus stock. During fiscal 2020, 2019 and 2018, the Company made contributions to the participants’ SERP accounts in the amount of $0.7 million, $0.6 million and $1.0 million, respectively.
As of October 3, 2020 and September 28, 2019, the SERP assets held in the trust totaled $12.6 million and $12.1 million, respectively, and the related liability to the participants totaled approximately $12.6 million and $12.1 million, respectively. As of October 3, 2020 and September 28, 2019, the SERP assets held in the trust were recorded at fair value on a recurring basis, and were classified as Level 2 in the fair value hierarchy discussed in Note 1, "Description of Business and Significant Accounting Policies."
The trust assets are subject to the claims of the Company’s creditors. The deferred compensation and trust assets and the related liabilities to the participants are included in non-current "Other assets" and non-current "Other liabilities," respectively, in the accompanying Consolidated Balance Sheets.
10. Litigation
The Company is party to lawsuits in the ordinary course of business. Management does not believe that these proceedings, individually or in the aggregate, will have a material positive or adverse effect on the Company’s consolidated financial position, results of operations or cash flows.
11. Reportable Segments, Geographic Information and Major Customers
Reportable segments are defined as components of an enterprise about which separate financial information is available that is evaluated regularly by the chief operating decision maker, or group, in assessing performance and allocating resources. The Company uses an internal management reporting system, which provides important financial data to evaluate performance and allocate the Company’s resources on a regional basis. Net sales for the segments are attributed to the region in which the product is manufactured or the service is performed. The services provided, manufacturing processes used, class of customers serviced and order fulfillment processes used are similar and generally interchangeable across the segments. A segment’s performance is evaluated based upon its operating income (loss). A segment’s operating income (loss) includes its net sales less cost of sales and selling and administrative expenses, but excludes corporate and other expenses. Corporate and other expenses primarily represent corporate selling and administrative expenses, and restructuring costs and other charges, if any, such as the
Plexus Corp.
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
$6.0 million and $1.7 million of restructuring and impairment costs in fiscal 2020 and 2019, respectively, and the $13.5 million one-time employee bonus paid to full-time, non-executive employees during fiscal 2018 due to the Company's ability to access overseas cash as a result of U.S. Tax Reform. These costs are not allocated to the segments, as management excludes such costs when assessing the performance of the segments. Inter-segment transactions are generally recorded at amounts that approximate arm’s length transactions. The accounting policies for the segments are the same as for the Company taken as a whole.
Information about the Company’s three reportable segments for fiscal 2020, 2019 and 2018 is as follows (in thousands):
Plexus Corp.
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
The following information is provided in accordance with the required segment disclosures for fiscal 2020, 2019 and 2018. Net sales were based on the Company’s location providing the product or service (in thousands):
Plexus Corp.
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
As the Company operates flexible manufacturing facilities and processes designed to accommodate customers with multiple product lines and configurations, it is impracticable to report net sales for individual products or services or groups of similar products and services.
Long-lived assets as of October 3, 2020 and September 28, 2019 exclude other long-term assets, operating lease right-of-use assets, deferred income tax assets and intangible assets, which totaled $127.0 million and $78.4 million, respectively.
As a percentage of consolidated net sales, net sales attributable to customers representing 10.0% or more of consolidated net sales for fiscal 2020, 2019 and 2018 were as follows:
During fiscal 2020, 2019 and 2018, net sales attributable to GE were reported in all three reportable segments.
As of October 3, 2020, GE represented 15.7% of total accounts receivable. As of September 28, 2019, GE represented 10.1% of total accounts receivable.
12. Guarantees
The Company offers certain indemnifications under its customer manufacturing agreements. In the normal course of business, the Company may from time to time be obligated to indemnify its customers or its customers’ customers against damages or liabilities arising out of the Company’s negligence, misconduct, breach of contract, or infringement of third-party intellectual property rights. Certain agreements have extended broader indemnification, and while most agreements have contractual limits, some do not. However, the Company generally does not provide for such indemnities and seeks indemnification from its customers for damages or liabilities arising out of the Company’s adherence to customers’ specifications or designs or use of materials furnished, or directed to be used, by its customers. The Company does not believe its obligations under such indemnities are material.
In the normal course of business, the Company also provides its customers a limited warranty covering workmanship, and in some cases materials, on products manufactured by the Company. Such warranty generally provides that products will be free from defects in the Company’s workmanship and meet mutually agreed-upon specifications for periods generally ranging from 12 months to 24 months. The Company’s obligation is generally limited to correcting, at its expense, any defect by repairing or replacing such defective product. The Company’s warranty generally excludes defects resulting from faulty customer-supplied components, design defects or damage caused by any party or cause other than the Company.
The Company provides for an estimate of costs that may be incurred under its limited warranty at the time product revenue is recognized and establishes additional reserves for specifically identified product issues. These costs primarily include labor and materials, as necessary, associated with repair or replacement and are included in the Company's accompanying Consolidated Balance Sheets in "other accrued liabilities." The primary factors that affect the Company’s warranty liability include the value and the number of shipped units and historical and anticipated rates of warranty claims. As these factors are impacted by actual
Plexus Corp.
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
experience and future expectations, the Company assesses the adequacy of its recorded warranty liabilities and adjusts the amounts as necessary.
Below is a table summarizing the activity related to the Company’s limited warranty liability for fiscal 2020, 2019 and 2018 (in thousands):
13. Shareholders' Equity
On June 6, 2016, the Board of Directors authorized a multi-year stock repurchase program under which the Company was authorized to repurchase up to $150.0 million of its common stock beginning in fiscal 2017 (the "2016 Program"). During fiscal 2018, the Company completed the 2016 Program by repurchasing 1,914,596 shares for $115.9 million, at an average price of $60.52 per share.
On February 14, 2018, the Board of Directors approved a share repurchase plan under which the Company was authorized to repurchase $200.0 million of its common stock (the "2018 Program"). During fiscal 2019 and 2018, the Company completed the 2018 Program by repurchasing 3,129,059 and 343,642 shares under this program for $178.8 million and $21.2 million, at an average price of $57.15 and $61.61 per share, respectively.
On August 20, 2019, the Board of Directors approved a share repurchase plan under which the Company is authorized to repurchase $50.0 million of its common stock (the "2019 Program"). The 2019 Program commenced upon completion of the 2018 Program, as defined below. During fiscal 2020 and 2019, the Company repurchased 609,935 and 54,965 shares under this program for $41.4 million and $3.3 million at an average price of $67.86 and $59.66 per share, respectively. As of October 3, 2020, $5.3 million of authority remained under the 2019 Program.
On August 13, 2020, the Board of Directors approved a new share repurchase program that authorizes the Company to repurchase up to $50.0 million of its common stock (the "2021 Program") beginning upon expiration of the Company’s 2019 Program.
Refer to Note 19, "Subsequent Event," for further information regarding an amendment to the 2021 Program approved by the Board of Directors on November 18, 2020.
All shares repurchased under the aforementioned programs were recorded as treasury stock.
14. Trade Accounts Receivable Sale Programs
The Company has Master Accounts Receivable Purchase Agreements with MUFG Bank, New York Branch (formerly known as The Bank of Tokyo-Mitsubishi UFJ, Ltd.) (the "MUFG RPA"), and HSBC Bank (China) Company Limited, Xiamen branch (the "HSBC RPA"), under which the Company may elect to sell receivables; at a discount. These facilities are uncommitted facilities. The maximum facility amount under the MUFG RPA as of October 3, 2020 is $340.0 million. On September 17, 2020, the Company entered into Amendment 11 the MUFG RPA to change the allocation of factoring for certain customers and add LIBOR replacement language. The maximum facility amount under the HSBC RPA as of October 3, 2020 is $60.0 million. The MUFG RPA will be automatically extended each year unless any party gives no less than 10 days prior notice that the
Plexus Corp.
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
agreement should not be extended. The terms of the HSBC RPA are generally consistent with the terms of the MUFG RPA previously discussed.
Transfers of receivables under the programs are accounted for as sales and, accordingly, receivables sold under the programs are excluded from accounts receivable on the Consolidated Balance Sheets and are reflected as cash provided by operating activities on the Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows. Proceeds from the transfer reflect the face value of the receivables less a discount. The sale discount is recorded within "Miscellaneous, net" in the Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income in the period of the sale.
The Company sold $834.4 million, $919.3 million and $712.9 million of trade accounts receivable under these programs, or their predecessors, during fiscal years 2020, 2019 and 2018, respectively, in exchange for cash proceeds of $831.2 million, $913.6 million and $708.6 million, respectively.
15. Revenue from Contracts with Customers
Significant Judgments
Revenue is recognized over time for arrangements with customers for which: (i) the Company's performance does not create an asset with an alternative use to the Company, and (ii) the Company has an enforceable right to payment, including reasonable profit margin, for performance completed to date. Revenue recognized over time is estimated based on costs incurred to date plus a reasonable profit margin. If either of the two conditions noted above are not met to recognize revenue over time, revenue is recognized following the transfer of control of such products to the customer, which typically occurs upon shipment or delivery depending on the terms of the underlying arrangement.
The Company recognizes revenue when a contract exists and when, or as, it satisfies a performance obligation by transferring control of a product or service to a customer. Contracts are accounted for when they have approval and commitment from both parties, the rights of the parties are identified, payment terms are identified, the contract has commercial substance and collectability of consideration is probable. A performance obligation is a promise in a contract to transfer a distinct good or service to the customer.
The Company generally enters into a master services arrangement that establishes the framework under which business will be conducted. These arrangements represent the master terms and conditions of the Company's services that apply to individual orders, but they do not commit the customer to work with, or to continue to work with, the Company nor do they obligate the customer to any specific volume or pricing of purchases. Moreover, these terms can be amended in appropriate situations.
Customer purchase orders are received for specific quantities with predominantly fixed pricing and delivery requirements. Thus, for the majority of our contracts, there is no guarantee of any revenue to the Company until a customer submits a purchase order. As a result, the Company generally considers its arrangement with a customer to be the combination of the master services arrangement and the purchase order. Most of the Company's arrangements with customers create a single performance obligation as the promise to transfer the individual manufactured product or service is capable of being distinct.
The Company’s performance obligations are satisfied over time as work progresses or at a point in time. A performance obligation is satisfied over time if the Company has an enforceable right to payment, including a reasonable profit margin. Determining if an enforceable right to payment includes a reasonable profit margin requires judgment and is assessed on a contract by contract basis.
Generally, there are no subjective customer acceptance requirements or further obligations related to goods or services provided; if such requirements or obligations exist, then a sale is recognized at the time when such requirements are completed and such obligations are fulfilled.
The Company does not allow for a general right of return. Net sales include amounts billed to customers for shipping and handling and out-of-pocket expenses. The corresponding shipping and handling costs and out-of-pocket expenses are included in cost of sales. Taxes assessed by a governmental authority that are both imposed on and concurrent with a specific revenue-producing transaction, that are collected by the Company from a customer, are excluded from net sales.
Contract Costs
For contracts requiring over time revenue recognition, the selection of the method to measure progress towards completion requires judgment and is based on the nature of the products or services to be provided. The Company uses a cost-based input
Plexus Corp.
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
measurement of progress because it best depicts the transfer of assets to the customer, which occurs as costs are incurred during the manufacturing process or as services are rendered. Under the cost-based measure of progress, the extent of progress towards completion is measured based on the costs incurred to date.
There were no other costs to obtain or fulfill customer contracts.
Disaggregated Revenue
The table below includes the Company’s revenue for the fiscal years ended October 3, 2020 and September 28, 2019 disaggregated by geographic reportable segment and market sector (in thousands):
For the fiscal years ended October 3, 2020 and September 28, 2019, approximately 91% and 90% respectively, of the Company's revenue was recognized as products and services were transferred over time, respectively.
Contract Balances
The timing of revenue recognition, billings and cash collections results in billed accounts receivable, contract assets, and deferred revenue on the Company’s accompanying Consolidated Balance Sheets.
Plexus Corp.
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
Contract Assets: For performance obligations satisfied at a point in time, billing occurs subsequent to revenue recognition, at which point the customer has been billed and the resulting asset is recorded within accounts receivable. For performance obligations satisfied over time as work progresses, the Company has an unconditional right to payment, which results in the recognition of contract assets. The following table summarizes the activity in the Company's contract assets during the fiscal years ended October 3, 2020 and September 28, 2019 (in thousands):
Deferred Revenue: Deferred revenue is recorded when consideration is received from a customer prior to transferring goods or services to the customer under the terms of the contract, which is included in other accrued liabilities. As of October 3, 2020 and September 28, 2019 the balance of advance payments from customers that remained in other accrued liabilities was $55.6 million and $67.9 million, respectively. The advance payment is not considered a significant financing component because it is used to meet working capital demands that can be higher in the early stages of a contract, offset obsolete and excess inventory risks and to protect the company from the other party failing to adequately complete some or all of its obligations under the contract. Deferred revenue is recognized into revenue when all revenue recognition criteria are met. For performance obligations satisfied over time, recognition will occur as work progresses; otherwise deferred revenue will be recognized based upon shipping terms.
16. Restructuring and Impairment Charges
During fiscal 2020, the Company recorded $6.0 million of restructuring and impairment charges in the Company's AMER segment primarily related to the closure of our Boulder Design Center. During fiscal 2019, the Company recorded $1.7 million of restructuring and impairment charges in the Company's AMER segment. These charges are recorded within restructuring and impairment charges on the Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income. Restructuring liabilities are recorded within other accrued liabilities on the Consolidated Balance Sheets. The Company incurred no restructuring and impairment charges during fiscal 2018.
The Company recognized a tax benefit of $0.6 million and $0.2 million related to restructuring and impairment charges in fiscal 2020 and fiscal 2019, respectively. No income tax benefit was recognized in fiscal 2018.
The Company's restructuring accrual activity for the years ended October 3, 2020 and September 28, 2019 is included in the table below (in thousands):
Plexus Corp.
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
17. Acquisition
On July 27, 2018, the Company purchased the assets of one of the business lines of Cascade Controls, Inc. ("Cascade"), a new product introduction company in Portland, Oregon, for $12.4 million in cash, subject to certain customary post-closing adjustments. In the three months ended December 29, 2018, the Company received a $1.2 million purchase price adjustment as a result of a post-closing adjustment. Plexus acquired substantially all of the inventory, equipment and other assets of the business line, hired a majority of its employees and sub-leased one of Cascade's facilities. This transaction has been accounted for as a business combination.
The acquisition resulted in a $12.4 million cash outflow in fiscal 2018 and a $1.2 million cash inflow in fiscal 2019 included in "Business acquisition" in the accompanying Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows. Additionally, $5.7 million, $6.9 million $8.2 million of intangible assets related to customer relationships is included in non-current "Other" assets in the accompanying Consolidated Balance Sheet for fiscal 2020, 2019 and 2018, respectively. The intangible assets are amortized on a straight-line basis and result in amortization expense of approximately $1.2 million per year. There were no other material impacts to the Company's Consolidated Financial Statements as a result of the acquisition.
18. Quarterly Financial Data (Unaudited)
The following is summarized quarterly financial data for fiscal 2020 and 2019 (in thousands, except per share amounts):
(1) The annual total amounts may not equal the sum of the quarterly amounts due to rounding. Earnings per share is computed independently for each quarter and annually.
(2) The first quarter of fiscal 2020 results included $1.9 million in tax benefits related to U.S. foreign tax credit regulations issued during the quarter, partially offset by $1.1 million of tax expense as a result of special tax items.
(3) The second quarter of fiscal 2020 results included restructuring and impairment charges of $6.0 million, or $5.4 million net of taxes, in the AMER operating segment due to the closure of the Boulder Design Center.
(4) The first quarter of fiscal 2019 results included $7.0 million of tax expense as a result of new regulations issued under U.S. Tax Reform. These regulations impacted the treatment of foreign taxes paid.
(5) The fourth quarter of fiscal 2019 results included restructuring charges of $1.7 million, or $1.5 million net of taxes, in the AMER operating segment.
(6) The fourth quarter of fiscal 2019 results included a benefit of $10.5 million due to the permanent reinvestment assertion of certain historical undistributed earnings of two foreign subsidiaries.
(7) The first quarter of fiscal 2020 included $0.03 per share tax benefit resulting from special tax items. The second quarter of fiscal 2020 included $0.18 per share of expense related to restructuring costs.
(8) The first quarter of fiscal 2019 included $0.23 per share of tax expense as a result of U.S. Tax Reform. The fourth quarter of fiscal 2019 included $0.05 per share of expense related to restructuring costs and $0.35 per share tax benefit resulting from the permanent reinvestment assertion of certain historical undistributed earnings of two foreign subsidiaries.
Plexus Corp.
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
19. Subsequent Event
On November 18, 2020, the Board of Directors approved an additional $50.0 million in share repurchase authority under its existing 2021 Program, which commenced on October 19, 2020, upon completion of the 2019 Program, to authorize a total of $100.0 million in share repurchase authority under the program. The 2021 Program has no expiration.
ITEM 9.
ITEM 9. CHANGES IN AND DISAGREEMENTS WITH ACCOUNTANTS ON ACCOUNTING AND FINANCIAL DISCLOSURE
None.
ITEM 9A.
ITEM 9A. CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES
Disclosure Controls and Procedures
The Company maintains disclosure controls and procedures designed to ensure that the information the Company must disclose in its filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission ("SEC") is recorded, processed, summarized and reported on a timely basis. The Company’s Chief Executive Officer ("CEO") and Chief Financial Officer ("CFO") have reviewed and evaluated, with the participation of the Company’s management, the Company’s disclosure controls and procedures as defined in Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the "Exchange Act") as of the end of the period covered by this report. Based on such evaluation, the CEO and CFO have concluded that, as of October 3, 2020, the Company’s disclosure controls and procedures are effective, at the reasonable assurance level, (a) in recording, processing, summarizing and reporting, on a timely basis, information required to be disclosed by the Company in the reports the Company files or submits under the Exchange Act, and (b) in assuring that information is accumulated and communicated to the Company’s management, including the CEO and CFO, as appropriate to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosure.
Management’s Annual Report on Internal Control Over Financial Reporting
Management of the Company is responsible for establishing and maintaining adequate internal control over financial reporting, as such term is defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(f) and 15d-15(f). Management of the Company, including its CEO and CFO, has assessed the effectiveness of its internal control over financial reporting as of October 3, 2020, based on the criteria established in "Internal Control - Integrated Framework" issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission ("COSO") (2013). Based on its assessment and those criteria, management has reached the conclusion that the Company's internal control over financial reporting was effective.
The independent registered public accounting firm of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP has audited the Company’s internal control over financial reporting as of October 3, 2020, as stated in its report included herein.
Changes in Internal Control Over Financial Reporting
There have been no changes in the Company’s internal control over financial reporting (as defined in Rules 13a-15(f) and 15d-15(f) under the Exchange Act) that occurred during the Company’s most recent fiscal quarter that have materially affected, or are reasonably likely to materially affect, the Company’s internal control over financial reporting.
Limitations on the Effectiveness of Controls
Our management, including our CEO and CFO, does not expect that our disclosure controls and internal controls will prevent all errors and all fraud. A control system, no matter how well conceived and operated, can provide only reasonable, not absolute, assurance that the objectives of the control system are met. Further, the design of a control system must reflect the fact that there are resource constraints, and the benefits of controls must be considered relative to their costs. Because of the inherent limitations in all control systems, no evaluation of controls can provide absolute assurance that all control issues and instances of fraud, if any, within the Company have been detected. These inherent limitations include the realities that judgments in decision-making can be faulty, and that breakdowns can occur because of simple errors or mistakes. Additionally, controls can be circumvented by the individual acts of some persons, by collusion of two or more people, or by management override of the control. The design of any system of controls also is based in part upon certain assumptions about the likelihood of future events, and there can be no assurance that any design will succeed in achieving its stated goals under all potential future conditions; over time, a control may become inadequate because of changes in conditions, or the degree of compliance with the policies or procedures may deteriorate. Because of the inherent limitations in a cost-effective control system, misstatements due to error or fraud may occur and not be detected. Notwithstanding the foregoing limitations on the effectiveness of controls, we have nonetheless reached the conclusion that the Company's disclosure controls and procedures and internal control over financial reporting are effective.
ITEM 9B.
ITEM 9B. OTHER INFORMATION
None.
PART III
ITEM 10.
ITEM 10. DIRECTORS, EXECUTIVE OFFICERS AND CORPORATE GOVERNANCE
Information in response to this item is incorporated herein by reference to "Election of Directors" and "Corporate Governance" in the Company’s Proxy Statement for its 2021 Annual Meeting of Shareholders ("2021 Proxy Statement").
Our Code of Conduct and Business Ethics is posted on our website at www.plexus.com. You may access the Code of Conduct and Business Ethics by following the links under "Investors" and then "Corporate Governance" at our website. Plexus’ Code of Conduct and Business Ethics applies to all members of the board of directors, officers and employees; and includes provisions related to accounting and financial matters that apply to the Principal Executive Officer, Principal Financial Officer, Principal Accounting Officer and Controller.
Information about our Executive Officers
The following table sets forth our executive officers, their ages and the positions currently held by each person:
Todd P. Kelsey joined Plexus in 1994 and has served as President and Chief Executive Officer since 2016; prior thereto, he served as Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer since 2013. Previously, Mr. Kelsey served as Executive Vice President - Global Customer Services since 2011 and as Senior Vice President prior thereto.
Steven J. Frisch joined Plexus in 1990 and has served as Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer since 2016. Prior thereto, he served as Executive Vice President and Chief Customer Officer since 2014. Previously, Mr. Frisch served as Executive Vice President - Global Customer Services from 2013 to 2014. Mr. Frisch was Regional President - Plexus EMEA from 2010 to 2013. Mr. Frisch also served as Senior Vice President - Global Engineering Solutions from 2007 to 2013.
Patrick J. Jermain joined Plexus in 2010 and has served as Chief Financial Officer since 2014; he was named a Vice President in 2014, Senior Vice President in 2015 and Executive Vice President in 2019. Previously, Mr. Jermain served as Treasurer and Vice President of Finance since 2013 and as Corporate Controller since 2010.
Angelo M. Ninivaggi joined Plexus in 2002 and has served as Chief Administrative Officer since 2013. Mr. Ninivaggi has also served as Vice President, General Counsel and Secretary since 2006, was named a Senior Vice President in 2011 and Executive Vice President in 2019. Mr. Ninivaggi also served as Corporate Compliance Officer from 2007 to 2013.
Ronnie Darroch joined Plexus in 2012 and has served as Executive Vice President and Regional President - EMEA since May 2019. Previously, Mr. Darroch served as Regional President - AMER from 2016 to 2019, Senior Vice President - Global Manufacturing Solutions from 2014 to 2019, was named an Executive Vice President in 2016, Regional President - EMEA from 2013 to 2014 and Vice President of Operations - EMEA prior thereto. Prior to joining Plexus, Mr. Darroch served in various positions at Jabil Circuit, Inc., an EMS provider.
Yong Jin Lim joined Plexus in 2002 and has served as Regional President - APAC since 2007. Mr. Lim will retire from Plexus on June 20, 2021.
Scott Theune joined Plexus in 1993 and has served as Regional President - AMER since May 2019. Previously, Mr. Theune served as Senior Vice President of Global Supply Chain from 2016 to 2019, Vice President of Supply Chain from 2005 to 2016, and General Manager and Global Director of Manufacturing Process and Technology prior thereto.
ITEM 11.
ITEM 11. EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION
Incorporated herein by reference to "Corporate Governance - Board and Committee Responsibilities - Compensation & Leadership Development Committee," "Director Compensation for Fiscal 2020," "Compensation Discussion & Analysis," "Executive Compensation" and "Compensation Committee Report" in the 2021 Proxy Statement.
ITEM 12.
ITEM 12. SECURITY OWNERSHIP OF CERTAIN BENEFICIAL OWNERS AND MANAGEMENT AND RELATED STOCKHOLDER MATTERS
Incorporated herein by reference to "Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and Management."
Equity Compensation Plan Information
The following table chart gives aggregate information regarding grants under all Plexus equity compensation plans through October 3, 2020:
ITEM 13.
ITEM 13. CERTAIN RELATIONSHIPS AND RELATED TRANSACTIONS, AND DIRECTOR INDEPENDENCE
Incorporated herein by reference to "Corporate Governance - Director Independence" and "Certain Transactions" in the 2021 Proxy Statement.
ITEM 14.
ITEM 14. PRINCIPAL ACCOUNTING FEES AND SERVICES
Incorporated herein by reference to the subheading "Ratify Independent Auditors - Fees and Services" in the 2021 Proxy Statement.
PART IV
ITEM 15.
ITEM 15. EXHIBITS, FINANCIAL STATEMENT SCHEDULES
(a) Documents filed
Financial Statements and Financial Statement Schedule. See the list of Financial Statements and Financial Statement Schedule in Item 8.
(b) Exhibits. The list of exhibits is included below:
10.3 (c)Amendment No. 3 to Amended and Restated Master Accounts Receivable Purchase Agreement between Plexus Corp. and Plexus Manufacturing Sdn. Bhd., Plexus Intl. Sales & Logistics, LLC, Plexus Services Ro SRL, Plexus Corp. (UK) Limited and each additional seller party thereto from time to time as the Sellers, Plexus Corp., as Seller Representative, and The Bank of Tokyo-Mitsubishi UFJ, Ltd., New York Branch, as the Purchaser, dated as of March 28, 2017. (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to the Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q of Plexus Corp. filed on May 5, 2017).
10.3 (d)Amendment No. 4 to Amended and Restated Master Accounts Receivable Purchase Agreement between Plexus Corp. and Plexus Manufacturing Sdn. Bhd., Plexus Intl. Sales & Logistics, LLC, Plexus Services Ro SRL, Plexus Corp. (UK) Limited and each additional seller party thereto from time to time as the Sellers, Plexus Corp., as Seller Representative, and The Bank of Tokyo-Mitsubishi UFJ, Ltd., New York Branch, as the Purchaser, dated as of September 11, 2017. (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.3(d) to the Annual Report on Form 10-K of Plexus Corp. filed on November 16, 2018).
10.3 (e)Amendment No. 5 to Amended and Restated Master Accounts Receivable Purchase Agreement between Plexus Corp. and Plexus Manufacturing Sdn. Bhd., Plexus Intl. Sales & Logistics, LLC, Plexus Services Ro SRL, Plexus Corp. (UK) Limited and each additional seller party thereto from time to time as the Sellers, Plexus Corp., as Seller Representative, and The Bank of Tokyo-Mitsubishi UFJ, Ltd., New York Branch, as the Purchaser, dated as of October 19, 2017. (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.3(d) to the Annual Report on Form 10-K of Plexus Corp. filed on November 17, 2017).
10.3 (f)Amendment No. 6 to Amended and Restated Master Accounts Receivable Purchase Agreement between Plexus Corp. and Plexus Manufacturing Sdn. Bhd., Plexus Intl. Sales & Logistics, LLC, Plexus Services Ro SRL, Plexus Corp. (UK) Limited and each additional seller party thereto from time to time as the Sellers, Plexus Corp., as Seller Representative, and MUFG Bank Ltd. (f/k/a The Bank of Tokyo-Mitsubishi UFJ, Ltd., New York Branch), as the Purchaser, dated as of May 4, 2018. (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to the Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q of Plexus Corp. filed on August 3, 2018).
10.3 (g)Amendment No. 7 to Amended and Restated Master Accounts Receivable Purchase Agreement between Plexus Corp. and Plexus Manufacturing Sdn. Bhd., Plexus Intl. Sales & Logistics, LLC, Plexus Services Ro SRL, Plexus Corp. (UK) Limited and each additional seller party thereto from time to time as the Sellers, Plexus Corp., as Seller Representative, and MUFG Bank Ltd. (f/k/a The Bank of Tokyo-Mitsubishi UFJ, Ltd., New York Branch), as the Purchaser, dated as of September 19, 2018. (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.3(g) to the Annual Report on Form 10-K of Plexus Corp. filed on November 16, 2018).
10.3 (h)Amendment No. 8 to Amended and Restated Master Accounts Receivable Purchase Agreement between Plexus Corp. and Plexus Manufacturing Sdn. Bhd., Plexus Intl. Sales & Logistics, LLC, Plexus Services Ro SRL, Plexus Corp. (UK) Limited and each additional seller party thereto from time to time as the Sellers, Plexus Corp., as Seller Representative, and MUFG Bank Ltd. (f/k/a The Bank of Tokyo-Mitsubishi UFJ, Ltd., New York Branch), as the Purchaser, dated as of March 20, 2019. (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to the Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q of Plexus Corp. filed on May 3, 2019).
10.3 (i)Amendment No.9 to Amended and Restated Master Accounts Receivable Purchase Agreement between Plexus Corp. and Plexus Manufacturing Sdn. Bhd., Plexus Intl. Sales & Logistics, LLC, Plexus Services Ro SRL, Plexus Corp. (UK) Limited and each additional seller party thereto from time to time as the Sellers, Plexus Corp., as Seller Representative, and MUFG Bank Ltd. (f/k/a The Bank of Tokyo-Mitsubishi UFJ, Ltd., New York Branch), as the Purchaser, dated as of June 21, 2019. (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.2 to the Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q of Plexus Corp. filed on August 2, 2019).
10.3 (j)Amendment No.10 to Amended and Restated Master Accounts Receivable Purchase Agreement between Plexus Corp. and Plexus Manufacturing Sdn. Bhd., Plexus Intl. Sales & Logistics, LLC, Plexus Services Ro SRL, Plexus Corp. (UK) Limited and each additional seller party thereto from time to time as the Sellers, Plexus Corp., as Seller Representative, and MUFG Bank Ltd. (f/k/a The Bank of Tokyo-Mitsubishi UFJ, Ltd., New York Branch), as the Purchaser, dated as of December 23, 2019. (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to the Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q of Plexus Corp. filed on February 7, 2020).
10.3 (k)Amendment No.11 to Amended and Restated Master Accounts Receivable Purchase Agreement between Plexus Corp. and Plexus Manufacturing Sdn. Bhd., Plexus Intl. Sales & Logistics, LLC, Plexus Services Ro SRL, Plexus Corp. (UK) Limited and each additional seller party thereto from time to time as the Sellers, Plexus Corp., as Seller Representative, and MUFG Bank Ltd. (f/k/a The Bank of Tokyo-Mitsubishi UFJ, Ltd., New York Branch), as the Purchaser, dated as of September 10, 2020.
ITEM 16. FORM 10-K SUMMARY
None.
Plexus Corp. and Subsidiaries
Schedule II - Valuation and Qualifying Accounts
For the fiscal years ended October 3, 2020, September 28, 2019 and September 29, 2018 (in thousands):
SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of Section 13 or 15(d) 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.
POWER OF ATTORNEY
KNOW ALL PERSONS BY THESE PRESENTS, that each person whose signature appears below constitutes and appoints Todd P. Kelsey, Patrick J. Jermain and Angelo M. Ninivaggi, and each of them, his or her true and lawful attorneys-in-fact and agents, with full power of substitution and resubstitution, for him or her and in his or her name, place and stead, in any and all capacities, to sign any and all amendments to this report, and to file the same with all exhibits thereto, and other documents in connection therewith, with the Securities and Exchange Commission, and any other regulatory authority, granting unto said attorneys-in-fact and agents, and each of them, full power and authority to do and perform each and every act and thing requisite and necessary to be done in and about the premises, as fully to all intents and purposes as he or she might or could do in person, hereby ratifying and confirming all that said attorneys-in-fact and agents or any of them, or their substitutes, may lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue hereof.
Pursuant to the requirement of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, this report has been signed by the following persons on behalf of the registrant and in the capacities and on the date indicated.*
SIGNATURE AND TITLE
/s/ Todd P. Kelsey/s/ Rainer Jueckstock
Todd P. Kelsey, President and Chief Executive Officer (Principal Executive Officer) and DirectorRainer Jueckstock, Director
/s/ Patrick J. Jermain/s/ Peter Kelly
Patrick J. Jermain, Executive Vice President and Chief
Financial Officer (Principal Financial Officer and
Principal Accounting Officer)Peter Kelly, Director
/s/ Dean A. Foate/s/ Joel Quadracci
Dean A. Foate, ChairmanJoel Quadracci, Director
/s/ Ralf R. Böer/s/ Karen M. Rapp
Ralf R. Böer, DirectorKaren M. Rapp, Director
/s/ Stephen P. Cortinovis/s/ Paul A. Rooke
Stephen P. Cortinovis, DirectorPaul A. Rooke, Director
/s/ David J. Drury/s/ Michael V. Schrock
David J. Drury, DirectorMichael V. Schrock, Director
/s/ Joann M. Eisenhart
Joann M. Eisenhart, Director
*Each of the above signatures is affixed as of November 20, 2020.