ITEM 1. BUSINESS
OVERVIEW
Techne and its subsidiaries, collectively doing business as Bio-Techne (Bio-Techne, we, our, us or the Company) develop, manufacture and sell biotechnology products and clinical diagnostic controls worldwide. With our deep product portfolio and application expertise, Bio-Techne is a leader in providing specialized proteins, including cytokines and growth factors, and related immunoassays, small molecules and other reagents to the research, diagnostics and clinical controls markets.
A Minneapolis, Minnesota-based company, Bio-Techne originally was founded as Research and Diagnostic Systems, Inc. (R&D Systems) in 1976, initially producing hematology controls and calibrators for primary use in clinical settings. Techne Corporation, a public entity at the time and currently the parent company, acquired R&D Systems in 1984 and through this action made R&D Systems a public company. The initial products focused on the hematology blood controls and calibrators market but soon expanded through the creation of the Biotechnology Division, to include reagents used in life science research. A series of acquisitions further expanded the product portfolio. These included the Amgen research business in 1991, the Genzyme research business in 1997, Fortron Bio Science, Inc. and BiosPacific, Inc. (BiosPacific) in 2005, and Boston Biochem, Inc. and Tocris Holdings Limited (Tocris) in 2011. In fiscal 2014, we further strengthened our clinical controls solutions by acquiring Bionostics Holdings Limited (Bionostics), and our biotechnology segment offerings were increased by the recent acquisition of Shanghai PrimeGene Bio-Tech Co. (PrimeGene), and an agreement to invest in and possibly acquire CyVek, Inc. (CyVek). With these recent investments, we will be able to scale our business and expand into new product and geographic markets.
Recognizing the importance of a unified and global approach to meeting our mission and accomplishing our strategies, in fiscal 2014 we implemented a new global brand, Bio-Techne. The Bio-Techne brand is derived from the Greek words “Bio,” or “life,” and “Techne,” or “the application of knowledge to practical matters.” The combination of these words and their meanings capture the essence of Bio-Techne, its products and mission. The acquisition of various brands over the years drove the need for an umbrella branding strategy that could hold all of the acquired assets. The Bio-Techne name solidifies the new strategic direction for the Company along with unifying and positioning all of our brands under one complete portfolio.
With these strategic efforts, as well as the establishment of dedicated subsidiaries in Europe and Asia, we now operate globally along with offices in several locations in the United States, Europe and China. Today, our product line extends to over 24,000 products, 95% of which are manufactured in-house. While maintaining our core strengths in cytokines and immunoassays, we also develop antibodies, cell selection and multicolor flow cytometry kits, multiplex assays, biologically active compounds, and stem cell products and kits.
We are committed to providing the life sciences community with innovative, high-quality scientific tools to better understand biological processes and drive discovery. We intend to build on Bio-Techne’s past accomplishments, strong reputation and financial position by executing strategies that position us to become the standard for biological content in the research market, and to leverage that leadership position to enter the diagnostics and other adjacent markets. Our strategies include:
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Continued innovation in core products. Through collaborations with key opinion leaders and participation in scientific discussions and associations, we expect to leverage our continued significant investment in our research and development activities to be first-to-market with quality products that are at the leading edge of life science researchers’ needs.
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Investments in targeted acquisitions. We intend to leverage our strong balance sheet to gain access to new technologies and products that improve our competitiveness in the current market and allow us to enter adjacent markets.
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Expansion of geographic footprint. We will continue to expand our sales staff and distribution channels globally in order to increase our global presence and make it easier for customers to transact with us.
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Realignment of resources. In recognition of the increased size and scale of the organization, we intend to redesign our development and operational resources to create greater efficiencies throughout the organization.
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Talent recruitment and retention. We will recruit, train and retain the most talented staff to implement all of our strategies effectively.
OUR PRODUCTS AND MARKETS
Currently Bio-Techne operates worldwide and has two reportable business segments, Biotechnology and Clinical Controls, both of which serve the life science and diagnostic markets. The Biotechnology reporting segment develops, manufactures and sells biotechnology research and diagnostic products world-wide. The Clinical Controls reporting segment develops and manufactures controls and calibrators for the global clinical market. In fiscal 2014, net sales from Bio-Techne’s Biotechnology segment were 84% of consolidated net sales. Bio-Techne’s Clinical Controls segment net sales were 16% of consolidated net sales for fiscal 2014. Financial information relating to Bio-Techne’s segments is incorporated herein by reference to Note L to the Consolidated Financial Statements included in Item 8 of this Annual Report on Form 10-K.
Biotechnology Segment
Through our Biotechnology segment, we are one of the world’s leading suppliers of specialized proteins, such as cytokines, growth factors, immunoassays, antibodies and related reagents, to the biotechnology research community. The proteins are produced naturally in minute amounts by different cell types and can be isolated in a pure form either from the same cells or produced through recombinant DNA technology. With the acquisition of Tocris in April 2011, we added chemically-based products to our Biotechnology segment. These small compounds, sold in highly purified forms typically with agonistic or antagonistic properties in a variety of biological processes, allow customers access to a broad range of compounds and biological reagents to meet their life science research needs. Our combined chemical and biological reagents portfolio provides new tools which customers can use in solving the complexity of important biological pathways and glean knowledge which may lead to a fuller understanding of biological processes and ultimately to the development of novel strategies to address different pathologies.
Currently, the majority of the protein products are produced by laboratory processes that use recombinant DNA technology, while our chemically-based products are produced using available chemicals. Consequently, raw materials are readily available for most of our products in the Biotechnology segment.
Biotechnology Segment Products
Proteins. Cytokines, growth factors and enzymes, extracted from natural sources or produced using recombinant DNA technology, are developed and manufactured in house. All protein products are produced to the highest possible purity and characterized to ensure the highest level of biological activity. The growing interest by academic and commercial researchers in cytokines is largely due to the profound effect that tiny amounts of a cytokine can have on cells and tissues. Cytokines are intercellular messengers and, as a result, act as signaling agents by interacting with specific receptors on the affected cells and trigger events that can lead to significant changes in a cell behavior. For example, cytokines can induce cells to acquire more specialized functions and features (differentiation) or can play a key role in attracting cells at the site of injury, inducing them to grow and initiate the healing process. Unregulated cytokine production and action can have non-beneficial effects and lead to various pathologies. Enzymes are proteins which act as biological catalysts that accelerate chemical reactions. Most enzymes, including proteases, kinases and phosphatases, are proteins that modify the structure and function of other proteins and in turn affect cell behavior and function. Additionally, both enzymes and cytokines have the potential to serve as predictive biomarkers and therapeutic targets for a variety of diseases and conditions including cancer, Alzheimer’s, arthritis, autoimmunity, diabetes, hypertension, obesity, inflammation, AIDS and influenza.
Antibodies. Antibodies are specialized proteins produced by the immune system of an animal that recognize and bind to target molecules. Bio-Techne’s polyclonal antibodies are produced in animals (primarily goats, sheep and rabbits) and purified from the animals’ blood. Monoclonal antibodies are derived from immortalized rodent cell lines using hybridoma technology and are isolated from cell culture medium. The flow cytometry product line includes fluorochrome labeled antibodies and kits that are used to determine the immuno-phenotypic properties of cells from different tissues.
Immunoassays. We market a variety of immunoassays on different testing platforms, including a microtiter-plate based kit sold under the trade name Quantikine®, multiplex immunoassays based on encoded bead technology and immunoassays based on planar spotted surfaces. All of these immunoassay products are used by researchers to quantify the level of a specific protein in biological fluids, such as serum, plasma, or urine. Protein quantification is an integral component of basic research, as potential diagnostic tools for various diseases and as a valuable indicator of the effects of new therapeutic compounds in the drug discovery process.
Immunoassays can also be useful in clinical diagnostics. We have received Food and Drug Administration (FDA) marketing clearance for erythropoietin (EPO), transferrin receptor (TfR) and Beta2-microglobulin (ß2M) immunoassays for use as in vitro diagnostic devices.
Small Molecule Chemically-based Products. These products include small natural or synthetic chemical compounds used by investigators as agonists, antagonists and/or inhibitors of various biological functions. Used in concert with other Company products, they provide additional tools to elucidate key pathways of cellular functions and can provide insight into the drug discovery process.
Recent acquisitions and investments made in fiscal 2014 and 2015 will further expand and complement Bio-Techne’s current product offerings in the Biotechnology segment. For additional information regarding our investments and acquisitions, see “Acquisitions and Investments” under this Item 1.
Biotechnology Segment Customers and Distribution Methods
We sell our biotechnology products directly to customers who are primarily located in North America, Western Europe and China. In January 2014, we entered into a sales and marketing partnership agreement with Fisher Scientific in order to bolster our market presence in North America and leverage the transactional efficiencies offered by the large Fisher organization. We also sell through third party distributors in China, southern Europe and in the rest of the world. Our sales are widely distributed, and no single end-user customer accounted for more than 10% of Biotechnology’s net sales during fiscal 2014, 2013 or 2012.
Biotechnology Segment Competitors
The worldwide market for protein related and chemically-based research reagents is being supplied by a number of companies, including GE Healthcare Life Sciences, BD Biosciences, Merck KGaA/EMD Chemicals, Inc., PeproTech, Inc., Santa Cruz Biotechnology, Inc., Abcam plc., Sigma-Aldrich Corporation, Thermo Fisher Scientific, Inc., Cayman Chemical Company and Enzo Biochem, Inc. Market success is primarily dependent upon product quality, selection and reputation, and we believe we are one of the leading world-wide suppliers of cytokine related products in the research market. We further believe that the expanding line of our products, their recognized quality, and the growing demand for protein related and chemically-based research reagents will allow us to remain competitive in the growing biotechnology research and diagnostic market.
Biotechnology Segment Manufacturing
Our Biotechnology segment develops and manufactures the majority of its cytokines using recombinant DNA technology, thus significantly reducing our reliance on outside resources. Tocris chemical-based products are synthesized from widely available products. We typically have several outside sources for all critical raw materials necessary for the manufacture of our products.
The majority of Bio-Techne’s biotechnology products are shipped within one day of receipt of the customers’ orders. Consequently, we had no significant backlog of orders for our Biotechnology segment products as of the date of this Annual Report on Form 10-K or as of a comparable date for fiscal 2013.
Clinical Controls Segment
Proper diagnosis of many illnesses requires a thorough and accurate analysis of a patient’s blood cells, which is usually done with automated or semi-automated hematology instruments. Our Clinical Controls segment develops and manufactures controls and calibrators for instruments in the global clinical market.
Clinical Controls Segment Products
Hematology controls and calibrators are products derived from various cellular components of blood which have been stabilized. Control and calibrator products can be utilized to ensure that hematology instruments are performing accurately and reliably. Ordinarily, a hematology control is used once to several times a day to make sure the instrument is reading accurately. In addition, most instruments need to be calibrated periodically. Hematology calibrators are similar to controls, but undergo additional testing to ensure that the calibration values assigned are within tight specifications and can be used to calibrate the instrument.
Cell-based whole blood controls. Our Clinical Controls segment offers a wide range of hematology controls and calibrators for both impedance and laser type cell counters. Hematology control products are also supplied for use as proficiency testing tools by laboratory certifying authorities in a number of states and countries. We believe our products have improved stability and versatility and a longer shelf life than most of those of our competitors.
Chemistry-based blood controls. The acquisition of Bionostics early in fiscal 2014 expanded our product offerings in the Clinical Controls segment through their chemistry-based blood controls. Controls for blood glucose and blood gas devices are the largest portion of Bionostics’ business. Bionostics recently launched coagulation device control products which extend its product portfolio and allow it to enter an adjacent market segment in the controls business.
Clinical Controls Segment Customers and Distribution Methods
Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM) agreements represent the largest market for our clinical controls products. In fiscal 2014, 2013 and 2012, OEM agreements accounted for $41.2 million, $10.8 million and $9.7 million, respectively, or 12%, 3% and 3% of total consolidated net sales in each fiscal year, respectively. The increase in fiscal 2014 was a result of the acquisition of Bionostics. We sell our clinical control products directly to customers in the United States and through distributors in the rest of the world. One OEM customer accounted for approximately 14% of Clinical Controls’ net sales during fiscal 2014. No single customer accounted for more than 10% of Clinical Controls’ net sales in fiscal 2013 or 2012.
Clinical Controls Segment Competitors
Competition is intense in the clinical controls business. The first control products were developed in response to the rapid advances in electronic instrumentation used in hospital and clinical laboratories for blood cell counting. Historically, most of the instrument manufacturing companies made controls for use on their own instruments. With rapid expansion of the instrument market, however, a need for more versatile controls enabled non-instrument manufacturers to gain a foothold. Today the market is composed of manufacturers of laboratory reagents, chemicals and coagulation products and independent blood control manufacturers in addition to instrument manufacturers. The principal clinical diagnostic control competitors for our products in this segment are Abbott Diagnostics, Beckman Coulter, Inc., Bio-Rad Laboratories, Inc., Streck, Inc., Siemens Healthcare Diagnostics Inc. and Sysmex Corporation. We believe we are the third largest supplier of hematology controls in the marketplace behind Beckman Coulter, Inc. and Streck, Inc.
Clinical Controls Segment Manufacturing
The primary raw material for our clinical controls products is whole blood. Human blood is purchased from commercial blood banks, while porcine and bovine blood is purchased from nearby meat processing plants. After raw blood is received, it is separated into its components, processed and stabilized. Although the cost of human blood has increased due to the requirement that it be tested for certain diseases and pathogens prior to use, the higher cost of these materials has not had a material adverse effect on our business. Bio-Techne does not perform its own pathogen testing, as most suppliers test all human blood collected.
There was no significant backlog of orders for our Clinical Control products as of the date of this Annual Report on Form 10-K or as of a comparable date for fiscal 2013. The majority of the Clinical Control products are shipped based on a preset, recurring schedule.
Geographic Information
Following is financial information relating to geographic areas (in thousands):
Net sales are attributed to countries based on the location of the customer or distributor. Long-lived assets are comprised of land, buildings and improvements and equipment, net of accumulated depreciation and other assets. See the description of risks associated with the Company’s foreign subsidiaries in Item 1A
ITEM 1A. RISK FACTORS
Statements in this Annual Report on Form 10-K, and elsewhere, that are forward-looking involve risks and uncertainties which may affect the Company’s actual results of operations. Certain of these risks and uncertainties which have affected and, in the future, could affect the Company’s actual results are discussed below. The Company undertakes no obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements made due to new information or future events. Investors are cautioned not to place undue emphasis on these statements.
The following risk factors should be read carefully in connection with evaluation of the Company’s business and any forward-looking statements made in this Annual Report on Form 10-K and elsewhere. Any of the following risks or others discussed in this Annual Report on Form 10-K or the Company’s other SEC filings could materially adversely affect the Company’s business, operating results and financial condition.
Changes in economic conditions could negatively impact the Company’s revenues and earnings.
The Company’s biotechnology products are sold primarily to research scientists at pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies and at university and government research institutions. Research and development spending by the Company’s customers and the availability of government research funding can fluctuate due to changes in available resources, mergers of pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies, spending priorities, general economic conditions and institutional and governmental budgetary policies. The U.S. and global economies have experienced a period of economic downturn. Such downturns, and other reductions or delays in governmental funding, could cause customers to delay or forego purchases of the Company’s products. The Company carries essentially no backlog of orders and changes in the level of orders received and filled daily can cause fluctuations in quarterly revenues and earnings.
The biotechnology and clinical control industries are very competitive, more so recently due to consolidation trends.
The Company faces significant competition across all of its product lines and in each market in which it operates. Competitors include companies ranging from start-up companies, which may be able to more quickly respond to customers’ needs, to large multinational companies, which may have greater financial, marketing, operational, and research and development resources than the Company. In addition, consolidation trends in the pharmaceutical and biotechnology industries have served to create fewer customer accounts and to concentrate purchasing decisions for some customers, resulting in increased pricing pressure on the Company. Moreover, customers may believe that consolidated businesses are better able to compete as sole source vendors, and therefore prefer to purchase from such businesses. The entry into the market by manufacturers in China and other low-cost manufacturing locations is also creating increased pricing and competitive pressures, particularly in developing markets. Failure to anticipate and respond to competitors’ actions may impact the Company’s future sales and earnings.
The Company’s future growth is dependent on the development of new products in a rapidly changing technological environment.
One element of the Company’s growth strategy is to increase revenues through new product releases. As a result, the Company must anticipate industry trends and develop products in advance of customer needs. New product development requires planning, designing and testing at both technological and manufacturing-process levels and may require significant research and development expenditures. There can be no assurance that any products now in development, or that the Company may seek to develop in the future, will achieve feasibility or gain market acceptance. There can also be no assurance that the Company’s competitors will not succeed in developing technologies and products in a more timely and cost effective manner than the Company. If the Company does not appropriately innovate and invest in new technologies, the Company’s technologies will become outdated, rendering the Company’s technologies and products obsolete or noncompetitive. To the extent the company fails to introduce new and innovative products, the Company may lose market share to its competitors, which may be difficult or impossible to regain.
Acquisitions and divestures pose financial, management and other risks and challenges.
The Company routinely explores acquiring other businesses and assets. From time to time, the Company may also consider disposing of certain assets, subsidiaries, or lines of business. In early fiscal 2014, the Company finalized the acquisition of Bionostics. In the last quarter of fiscal 2014, the Company acquired PrimeGene and announced its investment in CyVek and its intention to acquire the remaining shares of CyVek in the event certain milestones were met. Subsequent to the close of fiscal 2014, the Company also acquired Novus and ProteinSimple. Acquisitions or divestitures present financial, managerial and operational challenges, including diversion of management attention, difficulty with integrating acquired businesses, integration of different corporate cultures or separating personnel and financial and other systems, increased expenses, assumption of unknown liabilities, indemnities, and potential disputes with the buyers or sellers, and the need to evaluate the financial systems of and establish internal controls for acquired entities. There can be no assurance that the Company will engage in any acquisitions or divestitures or that the Company will be able to do so on terms that will result in any expected benefits. In addition, acquisitions financed with borrowings could make the Company more vulnerable to business downturns and could negatively affect the Company’s earnings due to higher leverage and interest expense.
The Company is subject to risk associated with global operations.
The Company engages in business globally, with approximately 47% of the Company’s sales revenue in fiscal 2014 coming from outside the U.S. This subjects the Company to a number of risks, including international economic, political, and labor conditions; tax laws (including U.S. taxes on foreign subsidiaries); increased financial accounting and reporting burdens and complexities; unexpected changes in, or impositions of, legislative or regulatory requirements; failure of laws to protect intellectual property rights adequately; inadequate local infrastructure and difficulties in managing and staffing international operations; delays resulting from difficulty in obtaining export licenses for certain technology; tariffs, quotas and other trade barriers and restrictions; transportation delays; operating in locations with a higher incidence of corruption and fraudulent business practices; and other factors beyond the Company’s control, including terrorism, war, natural disasters, climate change and diseases.
The application of laws and regulations implicating global transactions is often unclear and may at times conflict. Compliance with these laws and regulations may involve significant costs or require changes in the Company’s business practices that result in reduced revenue and profitability. Non-compliance could also result in fines, damages, criminal sanctions, prohibitions business conduct, and damage to the Company’s reputation. The Company incurs additional legal compliance costs associated with its global operations and could become subject to legal penalties in foreign countries if it does not comply with local laws and regulations, which may be substantially different from those in the U.S.
The Company conducts and plans to grow its business in developing markets.
The Company’s efforts to grow its businesses depends, to a degree, on its success in developing market share in additional geographic markets including, but not limited to, China. In some cases, these countries have greater political and economic volatility and greater vulnerability to infrastructure and labor disruptions than the Company’s other markets. Operating and seeking to expand business in a number of different regions and countries exposes the Company to multiple and potentially conflicting cultural practices, business practices and legal and regulatory requirements.
In many foreign countries, particularly in those with developing economies, it may be common to engage in business practices that are prohibited by U.S. regulations applicable to the Company, such as the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act. Although the Company implements policies and procedures designed to ensure compliance with these laws, there can be no assurance that all of the Company’s employees, contractors, and agents, as well as those companies to which the Company outsources certain aspects of its business operations, including those based in foreign countries where practices which violate such U.S. laws may be customary, will comply with the Company’s internal policies. Any such non-compliance, even if prohibited by the Company’s internal policies, could have an adverse effect on the Company’s business and result in significant fines or penalties.
The Company is significantly dependent on sales made through foreign subsidiaries which are subject to changes in exchange rates and changes to the strength of foreign governments and economic conditions.
Approximately 30% of the Company’s net sales in fiscal 2014 were made through its foreign subsidiaries, which transact their sales in foreign currencies. Any adverse movement in foreign currency exchange rates could, therefore, negatively affect the Company’s revenues and earnings. Moreover, the financial crisis faced by several Eurozone countries, and the ongoing economic instability in that region, may lead to reduced spending on health care and research by Eurozone governments, which could adversely affect the Company’s European sales, as well as its revenues, financial condition and results of operations.
The Company may incur losses as a result of its investments in ChemoCentryx, Inc., CyVek, Inc. and other companies in which is does not have a majority interest, the success of which is largely out of the Company’s control.
The Company’s expansion strategies include collaborations and investments in joint ventures and companies developing new products related to the Company’s business. These strategies carry risks that objectives will not be achieved and future earnings will be adversely affected.
The Company has an approximate 14% equity investment in ChemoCentryx, Inc. (CCXI) that is valued at $37.1 million on the Company’s June 30, 2014 Consolidated Balance Sheet. CCXI is a biopharmaceutical company focused on discovering, developing and commercializing orally-administered therapeutics to treat autoimmune diseases, inflammatory diseases and cancers. The development of new drugs is a highly risky undertaking. CCXI is dependent on a limited number of products, must achieve favorable clinical trial results, obtain regulatory and marketing approval for these products and is reliant on a strategic alliance with GlaxoSmithKline. CCXI has also incurred significant losses and has yet to achieve profitability.
The ownership of CCXI shares is very concentrated, the share price is highly volatile and there is limited trading of the shares. These factors make it possible that the Company could experience future dilution or a decline in the $7.6 million unrealized gain it has on its CCXI investment and/or its original $29.5 million investment in CCXI. At August 22, 2014, the market value of the Company’s investment in CCXI was $30.9 million.
On April 1, 2014, the Company invested $10 million in CyVek, Inc. in exchange for shares of CyVek’s common stock representing approximately 19.9% of the outstanding voting stock of CyVek. In connection with this investment, the Company also became a party to CyVek’s existing investor agreements and has an observer seat on CyVek’s board of directors. CyVek is an instrument company that has developed a microfluidics instrument platform and related reagents for performing immunoassays and other assays for the research market. Cyvek has incurred significant losses and has not yet achieved profitability. There is no assurance that the Company’s investment in CyVek will bring sufficient returns, and may in fact result in losses.
The Company’s success will be dependent on recruiting and retaining highly qualified personnel.
Recruiting and retaining qualified scientific, production and management personnel are critical to the Company’s success. The Company’s anticipated growth and its expected expansion into areas and activities requiring additional expertise will require the addition of new personnel and the development of additional expertise by existing personnel. The failure to attract and retain such personnel could adversely affect the Company’s business.
The Company is dependent on maintaining its intellectual property rights.
The Company’s success depends in part on its ability to protect and maintain its intellectual property, including trade secrets. The Company attempts to protect trade secrets in part through confidentiality agreements, but those agreements can be breached, and if they are, there may not be an adequate remedy. If trade secrets become publicly known, the Company could lose its competitive position.
In addition, the Company’s success depends in part on its ability to operate without infringing the proprietary rights of others, and to obtain licenses where necessary or appropriate. The Company has obtained and continues to negotiate licenses to produce a number of products claimed to be owned by others. Since the Company has not conducted a patent infringement study for each of its products, it is possible that products of the Company may unintentionally infringe patents of third parties.
The Company has been and may in the future be sued by third parties alleging that the Company is infringing their intellectual property rights. These lawsuits are expensive, take significant time, and divert management’s focus from other business concerns. If the Company is found to be infringing the intellectual property of others, it could be required to cease certain activities, alter its products or processes or pay licensing fees. This would cause unexpected costs and delays which may have a material adverse effect on the Company. If the Company is unable to obtain a required license on acceptable terms, or unable to design around any third party patent, it may be unable to sell some of its products and services, which could result in reduced revenue. In addition, if the Company does not prevail, a court may find damages or award other remedies in favor of the opposing party in any of these suits, which may adversely affect the Company’s earnings.
The Company has entered into and drawn on a revolving credit facility. The burden of this additional debt could adversely affect the Company, make it more vulnerable to adverse economic or industry conditions, and prevent it from funding its expansion strategy.
In connection with the acquisition of ProteinSimple in July 2014, the Company entered into a revolving credit facility, governed by a Credit Agreement dated July 28, 2014. The Credit Agreement provides for a revolving credit facility of $150 million, which can be increased by an additional $150 million subject to certain conditions. Borrowings under the Credit Agreement bear interest at a variable rate. As of July 31, 2014, the Company had drawn $125 million under the Credit Agreement.
The terms of the Credit Agreement and the burden of the indebtedness incurred thereunder could have negative consequences for us, such as:
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limiting our ability to obtain additional financing to fund our working capital, capital expenditures, debt service requirements, expansion strategy, or other needs;
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increasing the Company’s vulnerability to, and reducing its flexibility in planning for, adverse changes in economic, industry and competitive conditions; and
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increasing the Company’s vulnerability to increases in interest rates.
The Credit Agreement also contains negative covenants that limit our ability to engage in specified types of transactions. These covenants limit our ability to, among other things, sell, lease or transfer any properties or assets, with certain exceptions; and enter into certain merger, consolidation or other reorganization transactions, with certain exceptions.
A breach of any of these covenants could result in an event of default under our credit facility. Upon the occurrence of an event of default, the lender could elect to declare all amounts outstanding under such facility to be immediately due and payable and terminate all commitments to extend further credit. In addition, the Company would be subject to additional restrictions if an event of default exists under the Credit Agreement, such as a prohibition on the payment of cash dividends.
The Company’s business is subject to governmental laws and regulations.
The Company’s operations are subject to regulation by various US federal, state and international agencies. Laws and regulations enacted and enforced by these agencies impact all aspects of the Company’s operations including design, development, manufacturing, labeling, selling and the importing and exporting of products across international borders. Any changes to laws and regulations governing such activities could have an effect on the Company’s operations and ability to obtain regulatory clearance or approval of the Company’s products. If the Company fails to comply with any of these regulations, it may become subject to fines, penalties or actions that could impact development, manufacturing and distribution and/or increase costs or reduce sales. The approval process applicable to clinical control products of the type that may be developed by the Company may take a year or more. Delays in obtaining approvals could adversely affect the marketing of new products developed by the Company, and negatively affect the Company’s revenues.
As a multinational corporation, the Company is subject to the tax laws and regulations of U.S. federal, state and local governments and of several international jurisdictions. From time to time, new tax legislation may be implemented which could adversely affect current or future tax filings or negatively impact the Company’s effective tax rate and thus increase future tax payments.
The Company relies heavily on internal manufacturing and related operations to produce, package and distribute its products.
The Company manufactures the majority of the products it sells at its Minneapolis, Minnesota facility. Quality control, packaging and distribution operations support all of the Company’s sales. Since the Company creates value for its customers through the development of high-quality products, any significant decline in quality or disruption of operations for any reason, particularly at the Minneapolis facility, could adversely affect sales and customer relationships, and therefore adversely affect the business. While the Company has taken certain steps to manage these operational risks, and while insurance coverage may reimburse, in whole or in part, for losses related to such disruptions, the Company’s future sales growth and earnings may be adversely affected by perceived disruption risks or actual disruptions.
The design and manufacture of products involves certain inherent risks. Manufacturing or design defects could lead to recalls, litigation or alerts relating to the Company’s products. A recall could result in significant costs and damage to the Company’s reputation which could reduce demand, particularly for certain of its regulated products.
Disruptions in the supply and cost of raw materials could reduce the Company’s earnings, cash flow, and ability to meet customers’ needs.
The Company’s products are made from a wide variety of raw materials that are generally available from alternate sources of supply. However, some of the Company’s products are available only from a single supplier. If such suppliers were to limit or terminate production or otherwise fail to supply these materials for any reason, such failures could have a material adverse impact on the Company’s product sales and business. In addition, price increases for raw materials could adversely affect the Company’s earnings and cash flow.
Increased exposure to product liability claims could adversely affect the Company’s earnings.
Product liability is a major risk in testing and marketing biotechnology and pharmaceutical products offered by the Company’s customers. Currently these risks are primarily borne by the Company’s customers. As the Company’s products and services are further integrated into customers’ production processes, the Company may become increasingly exposed to product liability and other claims in the event that the use of its products or services is alleged to have resulted in adverse effects. There can be no assurance that a future product liability claim or series of claims brought against the Company would not have an adverse effect on the Company’s business or the results of operations. The Company’s business may be materially and adversely affected by a successful product liability claim or claims in excess of any insurance coverage that it may have. In addition, product liability claims, regardless of their merits, could be costly, divert management’s attention, and adversely affect the Company’s reputation and demand for its products.
Any such product liability claims brought against the Company could be significant and any adverse determination may result in liabilities in excess of the Company’s insurance coverage. Although the Company carries product liability insurance, it cannot be certain that current insurance will be sufficient to cover these claims or that it can be maintained on acceptable terms, if at all.
Cyber security risks and the failure to maintain the confidentiality, integrity, and availability of the Company’s computer hardware, software, and Internet applications and related tools and functions could result in damage to the Company’s reputation and/or subject the Company to costs, fines, or lawsuits.
The integrity and protection of the Company’s own data, and that of its customers and employees, is critical to the Company’s business. The regulatory environment governing information, security and privacy laws is increasingly demanding and continues to evolve. Maintaining compliance with applicable security and privacy regulations may increase the Company’s operating costs and/or adversely impact the Company’s ability to market its products and services to customers. Although the Company’s computer and communications hardware is protected through physical and software safeguards, it is still vulnerable to fire, storm, flood, power loss, earthquakes, telecommunications failures, physical or software break-ins, software viruses, and similar events. These events could lead to the unauthorized access, disclosure and use of non-public information. The techniques used by criminal elements to attack computer systems are sophisticated, change frequently and may originate from less regulated and remote areas of the world. As a result, the Company may not be able to address these techniques proactively or implement adequate preventative measures. If the Company’s computer systems are compromised, it could be subject to fines, damages, litigation, and enforcement actions, customers could curtail or cease using its applications, and the Company could lose trade secrets, the occurrence of which could harm its business.
ITEM 1B.
ITEM 1B. UNRESOLVED STAFF COMMENTS
There are no unresolved staff comments as of the date of this report.
ITEM 2.
ITEM 2. PROPERTIES
The Company owns the facilities that its headquarters and R&D Systems subsidiary occupy in Minneapolis, Minnesota. The Minneapolis facilities are utilized by both the Company’s Clinical Controls and Biotechnology segments.
The Minneapolis complex includes approximately 800,000 square feet of space in several adjoining buildings. Bio-Techne uses approximately 625,000 square feet of the complex for administrative, research, manufacturing, shipping and warehousing activities. The Company is currently leasing or plans to lease the remaining space in the complex as retail and office space.
The Company owns approximately 649 acres of farmland, including buildings, in southeast Minnesota. A portion of the land and buildings are leased to third parties as cropland and for a dairy operation. The remaining property is used by the Company to house animals for polyclonal antibody production for its Biotechnology segment.
Rental income from the above properties was $1.0 million, $0.8 million and $0.7 million in fiscal 2014, 2013 and 2012, respectively.
The Company owns the 17,000 square foot facility that its R&D Europe subsidiary occupies in Abingdon, England. This facility is utilized by the Company’s Biotechnology segment.
The Company leases the following facilities, all of which are utilized by the Company’s Biotechnology segment with the exception of the location used by the Company’s Bionostics subsidiary (Clinical Control segment):
The Company is currently pursuing new lease space for its Tocris operations. The Company believes the owned and leased properties, other than the Tocris facility, are adequate to meet its occupancy needs in the foreseeable future.
ITEM 3.
ITEM 3. LEGAL PROCEEDINGS
As of August 22, 2014, the Company is not a party to any legal proceedings that, individually or in the aggregate, are reasonably expected to have a material adverse effect on the Company’s business, results of operations, financial condition or cash flows.
ITEM 4.
ITEM 4. MINE SAFETY DISCLOSURES
Not applicable.
PART II
ITEM 5.
ITEM 5. MARKET FOR THE REGISTRANT’S COMMON EQUITY, RELATED SHAREHOLDER
MATTERS AND ISSUER PURCHASES OF EQUITY SECURITIES
Market Price of Common Stock
The Company’s common stock trades on the NASDAQ Global Select Market under the symbol “TECH.” The following table sets forth for the periods indicated the high and low sales price per share for the Company’s common stock as reported by the NASDAQ Global Select Market.
Holders of Common Stock and Dividends Paid
As of August 22, 2014, there were over 31,000 beneficial shareholders of the Company’s common stock and over 150 shareholders of record. The Company paid quarterly cash dividends totaling $45.4 million, $43.5 million and $41.0 million in fiscal 2014, 2013 and 2012, respectively. The Board of Directors periodically considers the payment of cash dividends, and there is no guarantee that the Company will pay comparable cash dividends, or any cash dividends, in the future. The Company entered into a revolving line of credit in July 2014, which would prohibit payment of dividends to Company shareholders in the event of a default thereunder. The Credit Agreement that governs the revolving line of credit contains customary events of default.
Issuer Purchases of Equity Securities
There was no share repurchase activity by the Company in fiscal 2014. The maximum approximate dollar value of shares that may yet be purchased under the Company’s existing stock repurchase plan is approximately $125 million. The plan does not have an expiration date.
Stock Performance Graph
The following chart compares the cumulative total shareholder return on the Company’s common stock with the S&P Midcap 400 Index and the S&P 400 Biotechnology Index. The comparison assumes $100 was invested on the last trading day before July 1, 2009 in the Company’s common stock and in each of the foregoing indices and assumes reinvestment of dividends.
ITEM 6.
ITEM 6. SELECTED FINANCIAL DATA
(dollars in thousands, except per share data)
(1) The Company acquired Bionostics Holdings, Ltd on July 22, 2013 and Shanghai PrimeGene Bio-Tech Co. on April 30, 2014.
(2) The Company acquired Boston Biochem, Inc. on April 1, 2011 and Tocris Holdings Limited and subsidiaries on April 28, 2011.
(3) Earnings before income taxes included acquisition related expenses related to amortization of intangibles, costs recognized on sale of acquired inventories and professional fees associated with acquisition activity, as follows: 2014 - $20.0 million; 2013 - $10.2 million; 2012 - $12.7 million; 2011 - $5.0 million; 2010 - $1.0 million.
ITEM 7.
ITEM 7. MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL
CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS
FORWARD-LOOKING INFORMATION
This report contains forward-looking statements, which are based on the Company’s current assumptions and expectations. The principal forward-looking statements in this report include: the Company’s expectations regarding product releases and strategy, acquisition activity, governmental license renewals, capital expenditures, the performance of the Company’s investments, future dividend declarations, the construction and lease of certain facilities, the adequacy of owned and leased property for future operations, anticipated financial results and sufficiency of capital resources to meet the Company’s foreseeable future cash and working capital requirements.
All such forward-looking statements are intended to enjoy the protection of the safe harbor for forward-looking statements contained in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, as amended. Although the Company believes there is a reasonable basis for the forward-looking statements, the Company’s actual results could be materially different. The most important factors which could cause the Company’s actual results to differ from forward-looking statements are set forth in the Company’s description of risk factors in Item 1A to this Annual Report on Form 10-K.
Forward-looking statements speak only as of the date they are made, and the Company does not undertake any obligation to update any forward-looking statements.
USE OF ADJUSTED FINANCIAL MEASURES
The adjusted financial measures used in this Annual Report on Form 10-K quantify the impact the following events had on reported net sales, gross margin percentages and net earnings for fiscal 2014 as compared to fiscal 2013 and 2012:
•
fluctuations in exchange rates used to convert transactions in foreign currencies (primarily the Euro, British pound sterling and Chinese yuan) to U.S. dollars;
•
the acquisition of Bionostics Holdings, Ltd. (Bionostics) on July 22, 2013 and Shanghai PrimeGene Bio-Tech Co. (PrimeGene) on April 30, 2014, including the impact of amortizing intangible assets and the recognition of costs upon the sale of inventory written-up to fair value;
•
professional fees and other costs incurred as part of the acquisition of Bionostics and PrimeGene in fiscal 2014, the acquisitions of Novus Biologicals LLC (Novus) and ProteinSimple, which closed in July 2014, and on-going acquisition activity;
•
income tax adjustments related to the reinstatement of the U.S. credit for research and development expenditures in fiscal 2013, the expiration of the credit on December 31, 2013, and the reversal of valuation allowances on deferred tax assets in fiscal 2012; and
•
impairment losses related to the Company’s investments in unconsolidated entities.
These adjusted financial measures are not prepared in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP) and may be different from adjusted financial measures used by other companies. Adjusted financial measures should not be considered as a substitute for, or superior to, measures of financial performance prepared in accordance with GAAP. The Company views these adjusted financial measures to be helpful in assessing the Company’s ongoing operating results. In addition, these adjusted financial measures facilitate our internal comparisons to historical operating results and comparisons to competitors’ operating results. These adjusted financial measures are included in this Annual Report on Form 10-K because the Company believes they are useful to investors in allowing for greater transparency related to supplemental information used in the Company’s financial and operational analysis. Investors are encouraged to review the reconciliations of adjusted financial measures used in this Annual Report on Form 10-K to their most directly comparable GAAP financial measures.
OVERVIEW
Bio-Techne develops, manufactures and sells biotechnology products and clinical diagnostic controls worldwide. With our deep product portfolio and application expertise, Bio-Techne is a leader in providing specialized proteins, including cytokines and growth factors, and related immunoassays, small molecules and other reagents to the research, diagnostics and clinical controls markets.
Bio-Techne operates worldwide and has two reportable business segments, Biotechnology and Clinical Controls, both of which service the life science and diagnostic markets. The Biotechnology reporting segment develops, manufactures and sells biotechnology research and diagnostic products world-wide. The Clinical Controls reporting segment develops and manufactures controls and calibrators for the global clinical market.
OVERALL RESULTS
For fiscal 2014, consolidated net sales increased 15% as compared to fiscal 2013. After adjusting for the impact of the Bionostics and PrimeGene acquisitions in fiscal 2014, as well as foreign currency fluctuations, organic sales for the year increased 3%. The growth was broad-based, with the Company achieving organic growth in both reporting segments and in most regions of the world. Commercial investments made globally in fiscal 2014, especially in China, were the biggest contributing factor impacting organic revenue growth.
Consolidated GAAP net earnings decreased 1% for fiscal 2014 as compared to fiscal 2013. After adjusting for acquisition related costs and certain income tax items in both years, adjusted net earnings increased 6% in fiscal 2014 as compared to fiscal 2013. Adjusted earnings growth was driven by increased sales partially offset by a lower margin mix from the acquired Bionostics business, as well as investments made in commercial operations and administrative infrastructure during fiscal 2014.
For fiscal 2013, consolidated net sales decreased 1% as compared to fiscal 2012. There were no acquisitions made in fiscal 2013 or fiscal 2012 and the impact from foreign currency fluctuation was minimal. The U.S. market in the Biotechnology segment was particularly soft in 2013, with lower National Institute of Health (NIH) funding for our academic customers coupled with industry consolidation in the pharma and biotech markets.
Consolidated GAAP net earnings were flat for fiscal 2013 as compared to fiscal 2012. After adjusting for acquisition related costs and certain income tax and impairment items in both years, adjusted net earnings decreased 3% in fiscal 2013 as compared to fiscal 2012. The lower earnings in fiscal 2013 resulted from lower revenue coupled with a 5% increase in research and development investment and a 4% increase in selling, general and administrative costs primarily related to investments made in global commercial resources, administrative infrastructure, and annual wage, salary and benefits increases.
RESULTS OF OPERATIONS
Net Sales
Consolidated organic net sales, excluding the impact of net sales contributed by companies acquired during the fiscal year and the effect of the change from the prior year in exchange rates used to convert sales in foreign currencies (primarily British pound sterling, euros and Chinese yuan) into U.S. dollars, were as follows (in thousands):
Net sales by reportable segment were as follows (in thousands):
In fiscal 2014, Biotechnology segment net sales increased 4% from the prior fiscal year. Included in fiscal 2014 Biotechnology segment net sales was $0.7 million from the acquisition of PrimeGene in April 2014 and the positive impact of foreign currency fluctuations of $3.5 million. Excluding these amounts, organic net sales for the segment increased 3% in fiscal 2014, driven by the commercial investments made in China, solid execution from our Pacific Rim distributors, and a robust pharma and biotech market in the U.S. U.S. academic customers still suffered from decreases in NIH funding, but sales to these customers stabilized sequentially throughout fiscal 2014. Included in fiscal 2014 net sales were $3.4 million of sales of new biotechnology products released during the fiscal year.
In fiscal 2013, Biotechnology segment net sales decreased 2% from the prior fiscal year. Biotechnology segment organic net sales, excluding the negative impact of foreign currency fluctuations of $2.6 million, decreased 1% in fiscal 2013, primarily as a result of lower NIH funding and pharma consolidation in the U.S. Included in fiscal 2013 net sales were $2.8 million of sales of new biotechnology products during the fiscal year.
Clinical Controls segment net sales increased $34.8 million in fiscal 2014. Included in Clinical Controls segment net sales was $33.1 million from the acquisition of Bionostics in July 2013. Clinical Controls segment organic net sales increased 7% and 5%, respectively, in fiscal 2014 and 2013 from each of the prior fiscal years, primarily as a result of strong end-market demand and operational execution.
Gross Margins
Consolidated gross margins were 70%, 74% and 75% in fiscal 2014, 2013 and 2012, respectively. GAAP reported consolidated gross margins were negatively impacted as a result of purchase accounting related to inventory and intangible assets acquired during fiscal 2014 and prior years. Under purchase accounting, inventory is valued at fair value less expected selling and marketing costs, resulting in reduced margins in future periods as the inventory is sold. Excluding the impact of acquired inventory sold and amortization of intangibles, adjusted gross margins were 74%, 77% and 78% in fiscal 2014, 2013 and 2012, respectively.
A reconciliation of the reported consolidated gross margin percentages, adjusted for acquired inventory sold and intangible amortization included in cost of sales, is as follows:
Fluctuations in adjusted gross margins, as a percentage of net sales, have primarily resulted from changes in foreign currency exchange rates and changes in product mix. In fiscal 2014, the biggest impact to gross margin, as compared to fiscal 2013, was the change in product mix associated with the acquisition of Bionostics. We expect that, in the future, gross margins will continue to be impacted by future acquisitions as well as by the introduction and growth of lower-priced brands that will differentiate from our current premium brands, and allow the Company to better compete in more price-sensitive markets.
Segment gross margins, as a percentage of net sales, were as follows:
The Clinical Controls segment gross margin percentage for fiscal 2014 was negatively impacted by purchase accounting and intangible asset amortization related to the acquisition of Bionostics in July 2013, as discussed above.
Selling, General and Administrative Expenses
Selling, general and administrative expenses increased $17.3 million (40%) and $1.7 million (4%) in fiscal 2014 and 2013, respectively. The increase in fiscal 2014 was mainly the result of the acquisitions of Bionostics and PrimeGene, including $4.2 million of selling, general and administrative expenses by the acquired companies and an increase of $4.0 million of intangible amortization. Selling, general and administrative expenses in fiscal 2014 also included $2.2 million of acquisition related professional fees compared to $0.6 million in fiscal 2013. The remaining increase in selling, general and administrative expenses in fiscal 2014 and in fiscal 2013 included investments made in global commercial resources, administrative infrastructure, and annual wage, salary and benefits increases.
Consolidated selling, general and administrative expenses were composed of the following (in thousands):
Research and Development Expenses
Research and development expenses increased $1.7 million (6%) and $1.3 million (5%) in fiscal 2014 and 2013, respectively, as compared to prior-year periods. Included in research and development expense in fiscal 2014 was $0.9 million of expenses by the companies acquired during fiscal 2014. The remaining increases for fiscal 2014 and 2013 were primarily the result of the development of new proteins, antibodies and assay kits within the Biotechnology segment. The Company introduced approximately 1,600 and 2,100 new biotechnology products in fiscal 2014 and 2013, respectively. Research and development expenses are composed of the following (in thousands):
Interest Income
Interest income for fiscal 2014, 2013 and 2012 was $2.7 million, $2.6 million and $2.6 million, respectively. Interest income in fiscal 2014 remained flat from fiscal 2013 as a result of lower cash balances during the fiscal year as a result of the acquisition of Bionostics in the first quarter of fiscal 2014. Interest income in fiscal 2013 remained flat from fiscal 2012 as a result of increased cash balances offset by lower interest rates.
As discussed further in “Liquidity and Capital Resources” below, with the opening of a debt facility in July 2014 to partially fund the acquisition of ProteinSimple, the Company expects to incur net interest expense as opposed to net interest income in fiscal 2015.
Other Non-operating Expense, Net
Other non-operating expense, net, consists of foreign currency transaction gains and losses, rental income, building expenses related to rental property and the Company’s share of gains and losses from equity method investees as follows (in thousands):
Income Taxes
Income taxes for fiscal 2014, 2013 and 2012 were provided at rates of 31.3%, 29.9% and 30.7%, respectively, of consolidated earnings before income taxes. In January 2013, the U.S. federal credit for research and development was reinstated for the period of January 2012 through December 2013. As a result, fiscal 2014 included a credit of $0.5 million for the period of July 2013 through December 2013, while fiscal 2013 included a credit of $1.4 million for the period of January 2012 to June 2013.
Included in income taxes in fiscal 2012 was a $3.0 million benefit due to the reversal of a deferred tax valuation allowance on the excess tax basis in the Company’s investments in unconsolidated entities. The Company determined such valuation allowance was no longer necessary and included the benefit in fiscal 2012 income taxes. In addition, the fiscal 2012 consolidated tax rate was negatively impacted by the expiration of the U.S. research and development credit on December 31, 2011.
U.S. federal taxes have been reduced by the manufacturer’s deduction provided for under the American Jobs Creation Act of 2004 and the U.S. federal credit for research and development. Foreign income taxes have been provided at rates which approximate the tax rates in the countries in which the Company has operations.
Net Earnings
Adjusted consolidated net earnings are as follows (in thousands):
LIQUIDITY AND CAPITAL RESOURCES
Cash, cash equivalents and available-for-sale investments at June 30, 2014 were $367 million compared to $465 million at June 30, 2013. Included in available-for-sale investments at June 30, 2014 and 2013 was the fair value of the Company’s investment in CCXI of $37.1 million and $89.6 million, respectively.
At June 30, 2014, approximately 76%, 21%, and 3% of the Company’s cash and equivalent account balances of $319 million were located in the U.S., U.K. and China, respectively. At June 30, 2014, approximately 84% of the Company’s available-for-sale investment accounts are located in the U.S., with the remaining 16% in China.
The Company has either paid U.S. taxes on its undistributed foreign earnings or intends to indefinitely reinvest the undistributed earnings in the foreign operations. Management of the Company expects to be able to meet its cash and working capital requirements for operations, facility expansion, capital additions, and cash dividends for the foreseeable future, and at least the next 12 months, through currently available funds and cash generated from operations.
Subsequent to June 30, 2014, the Company acquired Novus for approximately $60.0 million and ProteinSimple for approximately $300 million. The Novus acquisition was financed through cash on hand. The purchase of ProteinSimple was financed through cash on hand and a $150 million revolving line of credit facility that was opened in July 2014, of which $125 million was initially drawn to fund the acquisition. This senior unsecured revolving credit facility has a term of five years with an adjustable interest rate equal to the greater of (i) the prime commercial rate, (ii) the per annum federal funds rate plus 0.5%, or (iii) LIBOR + 1.00% - 1.75% depending on the existing total leverage ratio of Debt to EBITDA (as defined in the Credit Agreement governing the revolving credit facility). The financial covenants of the revolving credit facility require the Company to maintain a minimum Interest Coverage Ratio, defined as the ratio of EBIT to cash interest expense, of 4.0x and a maximum total leverage ratio of 3.5x. The annualized fee for any unused portion of the credit facility is 15 basis points.
Future acquisition strategies may or may not require additional borrowings under the line of credit facility or other outside sources of funding.
Cash Flows From Operating Activities
The Company generated cash from operations of $137 million, $124 million and $127 million in fiscal 2014, 2013 and 2012, respectively. The increase in cash generated from operating activities in fiscal 2014 as compared to fiscal 2013 was mainly the result of increase in net earnings after adjustment for non-cash expenses related to depreciation, amortization, costs recognized on sale of acquired inventory, and stock option expense. Operating cash flow also benefitted from the timing of certain trade receivable cash receipts, trade payable cash disbursements, and income tax payments. The decrease in cash generated from operating activities in fiscal 2013 as compared to fiscal 2012 was mainly the result of decrease in net earnings and changes in working capital.
Cash Flows From Investing Activities
On July 22, 2013, the Company acquired for cash all of the outstanding shares of Bionostics for a net purchase price of approximately $103 million. The acquisition was financed through cash and cash equivalents on hand. On April 30, 2014, the Company acquired all of the ownership interest of PrimeGene for a net purchase price of approximately $18.8 million. The Company paid approximately $6.0 million at closing, with the remaining purchase price payable over fiscal years 2015 to 2017. The acquisition cash payment was financed through cash and cash equivalents on hand and sale of certain short-term available-for-sale investments.
On April 1, 2014, the Company entered into an Agreement of Investment and Merger (the Agreement) with CyVek. Pursuant to the terms of the Agreement, the Company invested $10.0 million in CyVek and received shares of common stock representing approximately 19.9% of the outstanding voting stock of CyVek. The investment was financed through cash and cash equivalents on hand.
If, within twelve months of the date of the Agreement, CyVek meets commercial milestones related to the sale of its products and certain other conditions, the Company will acquire CyVek through a merger, with CyVek surviving as a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Company. If the merger is consummated, the Company will make an initial payment of $60.0 million to the other stockholders of CyVek. The purchase price payable at the closing of the merger may be adjusted based on the final levels of cash, indebtedness and transaction expenses of CyVek as of the closing. The Company will also pay CyVek’s other stockholders up to $35.0 million based on the revenue generated by CyVek’s products and related products before the date that is 30 months from the closing of the Merger. The Company will also pay CyVek’s other stockholders 50% of the amount, if any, by which the revenue from CyVek’s products and related products exceeds $100 million in calendar year 2020.
The Company’s net purchases (sales) of available-for-sale investments in fiscal 2014, 2013 and 2012 were ($184) million, $9.1 million and $15.3 million, respectively. Most of the Company’s available-for-sale investments in the U.S. (other than its investment in CCXI) were liquidated by fiscal 2014 year-end to prepare for the July purchase of Novus and ProteinSimple. The Company’s investment policy is to place excess cash in municipal and corporate bonds with the objective of obtaining the highest possible return while minimizing risk and keeping the funds accessible. In fiscal 2015, this policy will be more applicable in non-U.S. jurisdictions as the Company intends to use excess cash from U.S. operation primarily to minimize the outstanding balance on the Company’s revolving credit facility.
Capital additions consisted of the following (in thousands):
Construction/renovation for fiscal 2014 and 2013 included $6.5 million and $18.0 million, respectively, related to the renovation of a building on the Company’s Minneapolis campus which was completed in fiscal 2014. Capital additions planned for fiscal 2015 are approximately $16.2 million and are expected to be financed through currently available cash and cash generated from operations. Included in the planned fiscal 2015 capital expenditures are approximately $5.0 million for leasehold improvements and equipment needed for the relocation and expansion of the Company’s Tocris facilities in the U.K. Another $5.0 million is expected to be funded in fiscal year 2016 to complete the project.
Cash Flows From Financing Activities
In fiscal 2014, 2013 and 2012, the Company paid cash dividends of $45.4 million, $43.5 million and $41.0 million, respectively. The Board of Directors periodically considers the payment of cash dividends.
The Company received $8.3 million, $1.1 million and $0.8 million for the exercise of options for 141,000, 22,000 and 17,000 shares of common stock in fiscal 2014, 2013 and 2012, respectively. The Company recognized excess tax benefits from stock option exercises of $0.3 million, $0.1 million and $0.1 million in fiscal 2014, 2013 and 2012, respectively.
In fiscal 2013 and 2012, the Company purchased 8,324 and 13,140 shares of common stock, respectively, for its employee stock bonus plans at a cost of $0.6 million and $0.9 million, respectively.
In April 2009, the Board of Directors authorized a plan for the repurchase and retirement of $60 million of its common stock. In October 2012, the Board of Directors increased the amount authorized under the plan by $100 million. The plan does not have an expiration date. In fiscal 2013 and 2012, the Company purchased and retired 28,000 and 344,000 shares of common stock, respectively, at market values of $1.8 million and $23.6 million. There were no stock repurchases in fiscal 2014. At June 30, 2014, approximately $125 million remained available for purchase under the above authorizations.
CONTRACTUAL OBLIGATIONS
The following table summarizes the Company’s contractual obligations and commercial commitments as of June 30, 2014 (in thousands):
(1) Amounts represent the maximum potential contingent liability under the CyVek Merger Agreement. In addition, the Company will pay CyVek’s other stockholders up to 50% of the amount, if any, by which revenues of CyVek’s products and related products exceeds $100 million in calendar year 2020.
OFF-BALANCE SHEET ARRANGEMENTS
The Company is not a party to any off-balance sheet transactions, arrangements or obligations that have, or are reasonably likely to have, a current or future material effect on the Company’s financial condition, changes in the financial condition, revenues or expenses, results of operations, liquidity, capital expenditures or capital resources.
CRITICAL ACCOUNTING POLICIES
Management’s discussion and analysis of the Company’s financial condition and results of operations are based upon the Company’s Consolidated Financial Statements, which have been prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (U.S. GAAP). The preparation of these financial statements requires management to make estimates and judgments that affect the reported amounts of assets, liabilities, revenues and expenses, and related disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities. On an ongoing basis, management evaluates its estimates. Management bases its estimates on historical experience and on various other assumptions that are believed to be reasonable under the circumstances, the results of which form the basis for making judgments about the carrying values of assets and liabilities that are not readily apparent from other sources. Actual results may differ from these estimates under different assumptions or conditions.
The Company has identified the policies outlined below as critical to its business operations and an understanding of results of operations. The listing is not intended to be a comprehensive list of all accounting policies; investors should also refer to Note A to the Consolidated Financial Statements included in Item 8 of this Annual Report on Form 10-K .
Valuation of Available-For-Sale Investments
The Company considers all of its marketable securities available-for-sale and reports them at fair market value. Fair market values are based on assumptions that market participants would use in pricing an asset or liability in the principal or most advantageous market. Unrealized gains and losses on available-for-sale investments are excluded from income, but are included, net of taxes, in other comprehensive income. If an “other-than-temporary” impairment is determined to exist, the difference between the value of the investment recorded in the financial statements and the Company’s current estimate of fair value is recognized as a charge to earnings in the period in which the impairment is determined. Net unrealized gains on available-for-sale investments at June 30, 2014 were $7.6 million.
Valuation of Inventory
Inventories are stated at the lower of cost (first-in, first-out method) or market. The Company regularly reviews inventory on hand for slow-moving and obsolete inventory, inventory not meeting quality control standards and inventory subject to expiration.
To meet strict customer quality standards, the Company has established a highly controlled manufacturing process for proteins, antibodies and its chemically-based products. These products require the initial manufacture of multiple batches to determine if quality standards can be consistently met. In addition, the Company will produce larger batches of established products than current sales requirements due to economies of scale. The manufacturing process for these products, therefore, has and will continue to produce quantities in excess of forecasted usage. The Company values its manufactured protein and antibody inventory based on a two-year forecast and its chemically-based products on a five-year forecast. The establishment of a two-year or five-year forecast requires considerable judgment. Inventory quantities in excess of the forecast are not valued due to uncertainty over salability. The value of protein, antibody and chemically-based product inventory not valued at June 30, 2014 was $30.3 million.
The fair value of inventory purchased through acquisitions were determined based on quantities acquired, selling prices at the date of acquisition and management’s assumptions regarding inventory having future value and the costs to sell such inventories. Inventory purchased in fiscal 2014 through the acquisition of Bionostics was increased $1.7 million to $5.7 million. Substantially all of Bionostics acquired inventory was sold as of June 30, 2014. Inventory purchased in fiscal 2014 through the acquisition of PrimeGene was increased $0.8 million to $1.0 million. The increase in value of the PrimeGene inventory remaining at June 30, 2104 was $0.6 million.
The value of inventory purchased in fiscal 2011 through acquisitions was increased $25.7 million for a total acquired inventory value of $33.0 million. In addition, the Company acquired inventory that was not valued as part of the purchase price allocation as it was in excess of forecasted usage. The increase in value of the fiscal 2011 acquired inventory remaining at June 30, 2014 was $7.6 million.
Valuation of Intangible Assets and Goodwill
When a business is acquired, the purchase price is allocated, as applicable, between tangible assets, identifiable intangible assets and goodwill. Determining the portion of the purchase price allocated to intangible assets requires significant estimates. The fair value of intangible assets acquired, including developed technologies, trade names, customer relationships and non-compete agreements, were based on management’s forecasted cash inflows and outflows using a relief-from-royalty and multi-period excess earnings method with consideration to other factors including an independent valuation of management’s assumptions. Intangible assets are being amortized over their estimated useful lives, ranging from 3 to 15 years. The Company reviews the carrying amount of intangible assets for impairment whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate the carrying amount of an asset may not be recoverable. Intangible assets, net of accumulated amortization, were $109 million at June 30, 2014.
Goodwill recognized in connection with a business acquisition represents the excess of the aggregate purchase price over the fair value of net assets acquired. Goodwill is tested for impairment annually or more frequently if changes in circumstance or the occurrence of events suggest impairment exists. Assessing the impairment of goodwill requires the Company to make judgments regarding the fair value of the net assets of its reporting units and the allocation of the carrying amount of shared assets to the reporting units. The Company’s annual assessment included a qualitative assessment of whether it is more-likely-than-not that a reporting unit’s fair value is less than its carrying value. A significant change in the Company’s market capitalization or in the carrying amount of net assets of a reporting unit could result in an impairment charge in future periods. The Company completed its annual impairment testing of goodwill and concluded that no impairment existed as of June 30, 2014, as the fair values of the Company’s reporting units exceeded their carrying values. Goodwill at June 30, 2014 was $151 million.
Valuation of Investments
The Company has made equity investments in several start-up and early development stage companies, including CyVek in fiscal 2014. The accounting treatment of each investment (cost method or equity method) is dependent upon a number of factors, including, but not limited to, the Company’s share in the equity of the investee and the Company’s ability to exercise significant influence over the operating and financial policies of the investee. In determining which accounting treatment to apply, the Company must make judgments based upon the quantitative and qualitative aspects of the investment.
The Company periodically assesses its equity investments for impairment. Development stage companies of the type the Company has invested in are dependent on their ability to raise additional funds to continue research and development efforts and on receiving patent protection and/or FDA clearance to market their products. If such funding were unavailable or inadequate to fund operations or if patent protection or FDA clearance were not received, the Company would potentially recognize an impairment loss to the extent of its remaining net investment.
ITEM 7A.
ITEM 7A. QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURES
ABOUT MARKET RISK
At the end of fiscal 2014, the Company had a portfolio of fixed income debt securities, excluding those classified as cash and cash equivalents, of $11.3 million (see Note C to the Consolidated Financial Statements included in Item 8
ITEM 8. FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND SUPPLEMENTARY DATA
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF EARNINGS AND COMPREHENSIVE INCOME
Techne Corporation and Subsidiaries
(in thousands, except per share data)
See Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.
CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
Techne Corporation and Subsidiaries
(in thousands, except share and per share data)
See Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF SHAREHOLDERS’ EQUITY
Techne Corporation and Subsidiaries
(in thousands)
See Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
Techne Corporation and Subsidiaries
(in thousands)
See Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
Techne Corporation and Subsidiaries
Years ended June 30, 2014, 2013 and 2012
A. Description of Business and Summary of Significant Accounting Policies:
Description of business: Techne Corporation and subsidiaries, collectively doing business as Bio-Techne, (the Company) develop, manufacture and sell biotechnology products and clinical diagnostic controls worldwide. With its deep product portfolio and application expertise, Bio-Techne is a leader in providing specialized proteins, including cytokines and growth factors, and related immunoassays, small molecules and other reagents to the research, diagnostics and clinical controls markets.
Estimates: The preparation of consolidated financial statements in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities, disclosures of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the consolidated financial statements, and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting period. These estimates include the valuation of accounts receivable, available-for-sale investments, inventory, intangible assets, stock based compensation and income taxes. Actual results could differ from these estimates.
Principles of consolidation: The consolidated financial statements include the accounts of the Company and its wholly-owned subsidiaries. All intercompany accounts and transactions have been eliminated.
Translation of foreign financial statements: Assets and liabilities of the Company’s foreign operations are translated at year-end rates of exchange and the resulting gains and losses arising from the translation of net assets located outside the U.S. are recorded as other comprehensive income (loss) on the consolidated statement of earnings and comprehensive income. The cumulative translation adjustment is a component of accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) on the consolidated balance sheets. Foreign statements of earnings are translated at the average rate of exchange for the year. Foreign currency transaction gains and losses are included in other non-operating expense in the consolidated statements of earnings.
Revenue recognition: The Company recognizes revenue when persuasive evidence of an arrangement exists, delivery has occurred or services have been rendered, the price is fixed or determinable and collectability is reasonably assured. Payment terms for shipments to end-users are generally net 30 days. Payment terms for distributor shipments may range from 30 to 90 days. Freight charges billed to end-users are included in net sales and freight costs are included in cost of sales. Freight charges on shipments to distributors are paid directly by the distributor. Any claims for credit or return of goods must be made within 10 days of receipt. Revenues are reduced to reflect estimated credits and returns. Sales, use, value-added and other excise taxes are not included in revenue.
Research and development: Research and development expenditures are expensed as incurred. Development activities generally relate to creating new products, improving or creating variations of existing products, or modifying existing products to meet new applications.
Advertising costs: Advertising expenses (including production and communication costs) were $3.4 million, $3.2 million and $3.4 million for fiscal 2014, 2013 and 2012, respectively. The Company expenses advertising expenses as incurred.
Share-based compensation: The cost of employee services received in exchange for the award of equity instruments is based on the fair value of the award at the date of grant. Separate groups of employees that have similar historical exercise behavior with regard to option exercise timing and forfeiture rates are considered separately in determining option fair value. Compensation cost is recognized using a straight-line method over the vesting period and is net of estimated forfeitures. Stock option exercises and stock awards are satisfied through the issuance of new shares.
Income taxes: The Company uses the asset and liability method of accounting for income taxes. Deferred tax assets and liabilities are recognized to record the income tax effect of temporary differences between the tax basis and financial reporting basis of assets and liabilities. 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 effect on deferred tax assets and liabilities of a change in tax rates is recognized in income in the period that includes the enactment date. Tax positions taken or expected to be taken in a tax return are recognized in the financial statements when it is more likely than not that the position would be sustained upon examination by tax authorities. A recognized tax position is then measured at the largest amount of benefit that is greater than fifty percent likely of being realized upon ultimate settlement. The Company recognizes interest and penalties related to unrecognized tax benefits in income tax expense.
Financial instruments not measured at fair value: Certain of the Company’s financial instruments are not measured at fair value but nevertheless are recorded at carrying amounts approximating fair value, based on their short-term nature. These financial instruments include cash and cash equivalents, accounts receivable, accounts payable and other current liabilities.
Cash and equivalents: Cash and cash equivalents include cash on hand and highly-liquid investments with original maturities of three months or less.
Available-for-sale investments: Available-for-sale investments consist of debt instruments with original maturities of generally three months to three years and equity securities. Available-for-sale investments are recorded based on trade-date. The Company considers all of its marketable securities available-for-sale and reports them at fair value. The Company utilizes valuation techniques for determining fair market value which maximize the use of observable inputs and minimize the use of unobservable inputs to the extent possible. The Company determines fair value based on assumptions that market participants would use in pricing an asset or liability in the principal or most advantageous market. When considering market participant assumptions in fair value measurements, the following fair value hierarchy distinguishes between observable and unobservable inputs, which are categorized in one of the following levels:
Level 1 Inputs: Unadjusted quoted prices in active markets for identical assets or liabilities accessible to the reporting entity at the measurement date.
Level 2 Inputs: Other than quoted prices included in Level 1 inputs that are observable for the asset or liability, either directly or indirectly, for substantially the full term of the asset or liability.
Level 3 Inputs: Unobservable inputs for the asset or liability used to measure fair value to the extent that observable inputs are not available, thereby allowing for situations in which there is little, if any, market activity for the asset or liability at measurement date.
Unrealized gains and losses on available-for-sale securities are excluded from income, but are included, net of taxes, in other comprehensive income. If an “other-than-temporary” impairment is determined to exist, the difference between the value of the investment security recorded in the financial statements and the Company’s current estimate of the fair value is recognized as a charge to earnings in the period in which the impairment is determined.
Inventories: Inventories are stated at the lower of cost (first-in, first-out method) or market. The Company regularly reviews inventory on hand for slow-moving and obsolete inventory, inventory not meeting quality control standards and inventory subject to expiration. To meet strict customer quality standards, the Company has established a highly controlled manufacturing process for proteins, antibodies and its chemically-based products. These products require the initial manufacture of multiple batches to determine if quality standards can be consistently met. In addition, the Company will produce larger batches of established products than current sales requirements due to economies of scale. The manufacturing process for these products, therefore, has and will continue to produce quantities in excess of forecasted usage. The Company values its manufactured protein and antibody inventory based on a two-year forecast and its chemically-based products on a five-year forecast. Inventory quantities in excess of the forecast are not valued due to uncertainty over salability. Sales of previously unvalued protein, antibody and chemically-based inventory for fiscal years 2014, 2013 and 2012 were not material.
Property and equipment: Property and equipment are recorded at cost. Equipment is depreciated using the straight-line method over an estimated useful life of five years. Buildings, building improvements and leasehold improvements are amortized over estimated useful lives of 5 to 40 years. Property and equipment are reviewed for impairment whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying amount may not be recoverable. In the current year, the Company has identified no such events.
Goodwill: At June 30, 2014 and 2013, the Company had recorded goodwill of $151.5 million and $84.3 million, respectively. The Company tests goodwill at least annually for impairment. The Company completed its annual impairment testing of goodwill and concluded that no impairment existed as of June 30, 2014.
Intangible assets: Intangible assets are being amortized over their estimated useful lives. Intangible assets are reviewed for impairment whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying amount may not be recoverable. In the current year, the Company has identified no such events.
Investments in unconsolidated entities: The Company has equity investments in several start-up and early development stage companies. The accounting treatment of each investment (cost method or equity method) is dependent upon a number of factors, including, but not limited to, the Company’s share in the equity of the investee and the Company’s ability to exercise significant influence over the operating and financial policies of the investee.
B. Acquisitions:
Bionostics Holdings, Ltd.: On July 22, 2013, the Company acquired for cash all of the outstanding shares of Bionostics Holdings, Ltd. (Bionostics) and its U.S. operating subsidiary, Bionostics, Inc. Bionostics is a global leader in the development, manufacture and distribution of control solutions that verify the proper operation of in-vitro diagnostic devices primarily utilized in point of care blood glucose and blood gas testing. Bionostics is included in the Company’s Clinical Controls segment.
In connection with the Bionostics acquisition, the Company recorded $14.4 million of developed technology intangible assets that have an estimated useful life of 9 years, $2.7 million of trade name intangible assets that have an estimated useful life of 5 years, $2.4 million related to non-compete agreements that have an estimated useful life of 3 years, and $41.0 million related to customer relationships that have an estimated useful life of 14 years. The intangible asset amortization is not deductible for income tax purposes.
The goodwill recorded as a result of the Bionostics acquisition represents the strategic benefits of growing the Company’s product portfolio and the expected revenue growth from increased market penetration from future products and customers. The goodwill is not deductible for income tax purposes.
Transaction costs of $0.5 million and $0.6 million were included in the Company’s selling, general and administrative costs during fiscal 2014 and 2013, respectively, related to the Bionostics acquisition.
Shanghai PrimeGene Bio-Tech Co.: On April 30, 2014, the Company acquired all of the ownership interest of Shanghai PrimeGene Bio-Tech Co. (PrimeGene). PrimeGene manufactures recombinant proteins and is included in the Company’s Biotechnology segment. The Company paid approximately $6.0 million at closing, with the remaining purchase price payable over fiscal years 2015 to 2017. The note payable is due to individuals who are currently employed by PrimeGene.
In connection with the PrimeGene acquisition, the Company recorded $2.2 million of developed technology intangible assets that have an estimated useful life of 9 years, $3.0 million of trade name intangible assets that have an estimated useful life of 11 years, $0.3 million related to non-compete agreements that have an estimated useful life of 3 years, and $9.1 million related to customer relationships that have an estimated useful life of 9 years. The intangible asset amortization is not deductible for income tax purposes.
The goodwill recorded as a result of the PrimeGene acquisition represents the strategic benefits of growing the Company’s product portfolio and the expected revenue growth from increased market penetration from future products and customers. The goodwill is not deductible for income tax purposes.
Transaction costs of $0.4 million were included in the Company’s selling, general and administrative costs during fiscal 2014, related to the PrimeGene acquisition.
The aggregate purchase price of the acquisitions was allocated to the assets acquired and liabilities assumed based on their preliminarily estimated fair values at the date of acquisition. The preliminary estimate of the excess of purchase price over the fair value of net tangible assets acquired was allocated to identifiable intangible assets and goodwill. The following table summarizes the estimated fair values of the assets acquired and liabilities assumed as a result of the acquisitions (in thousands):
Tangible assets acquired, net of liabilities assumed, were stated at fair value at the date of acquisition based on management’s assessment. The purchase price allocated to developed technology, trade names, non-compete agreements and customer relationships was based on management’s forecasted cash inflows and outflows and using a relief-from-royalty and a multi-period excess earnings method to calculate the fair value of assets purchased. The developed technology is being amortized with the expense reflected in cost of goods sold in the Consolidated Statement of Earnings and Comprehensive Income. Amortization expense related to trade names, the non-compete agreement and customer relationships is reflected in selling, general and administrative expenses in the Consolidated Statement of Earnings and Comprehensive Income. The deferred income tax liability represents the estimated future impact of adjustments for the cost to be recognized upon the sale of acquired inventory that was written up to fair value and intangible asset amortization, both of which are not deductible for income tax purposes.
The Company’s consolidated financial statements for fiscal 2014 include Bionostics and PrimeGene net sales of $33.1 million and $0.7 million, respectively and net income of $2.1 million and net loss of $0.1 million, respectively. Included in Bionostics and PrimeGene results for fiscal 2014 were amortization of intangibles of $5.5 million and $0.3 million, respectively, and costs recognized on the sales of acquired inventory of $1.5 million and $0.2 million, respectively.
C. Available-For-Sale Investments:
At June 30, 2014 and 2013, the amortized cost and market value of the Company’s available-for-sale securities by major security type were as follows (in thousands):
At June 30, 2014 and 2013, all of the Company’s available-for-sale debt securities were valued using Level 2 inputs, while its equity securities were valued using Level 1 inputs. Certificates of deposit are carried at cost and are not subject to the fair value hierarchy. There were no transfers between Level 1 and Level 2 securities during fiscal 2014. Gross unrealized gains on available-for-sale investments were $7.6 million at June 30, 2014. Gross unrealized gains and unrealized losses on available-for-sale investments were $60.7 million and $0.2 million, respectively, at June 30, 2013.
The Company’s investment in equity securities consists of investments in the common stock and warrants of ChemoCentryx, Inc. (CCXI). The warrants are to purchase 150,000 shares of CCXI common stock at $20 per share and expire in February, 2022. The fair value of the warrants as of June 30, 2014 and 2013 were $0.6 million and $1.5 million, respectively, and were valued using Level 2 inputs. At June 30, 2014, the Company holds an approximate 14% interest in CCXI.
Contractual maturities of available-for-sale debt securities are shown below (in thousands). Expected maturities may differ from contractual maturities because borrowers may have the right to recall or prepay obligations with or without call or prepayment penalties.
Proceeds from maturities or sales of available-for-sale securities were $290 million, $104 million and $132 million during fiscal 2014, 2013 and 2012, respectively. There were no material realized gains or losses on these sales. Realized gains and losses are determined on the specific identification method.
D. Inventories:
Inventories consist of (in thousands):
At June 30, 2014 and 2013, the Company had $30.3 million and $26.0 million, respectively, of excess protein, antibody and chemically-based inventory on hand which was not valued.
E. Property and Equipment:
Property and equipment consist of (in thousands):
F. Intangible Assets and Goodwill:
Intangible assets and goodwill consist of (in thousands):
The change in the carrying amount of goodwill in fiscal 2014 resulted from the Bionostics and PrimeGene acquisitions and currency translation.
Changes to the carrying amount of net intangible assets consists of (in thousands)
Amortization expense related to technologies included in cost of sales was $4.2 million, $3.0 million and $3.0 million in fiscal 2014, 2013 and 2012, respectively. Amortization expense related to trade names, customer relationships, and the non-compete agreement included in selling, general and administrative expense was $6.1 million, $2.1 million and $2.1 million in fiscal 2014, 2013 and 2012, respectively.
The estimated future amortization expense for intangible assets as of June 30, 2014 is as follows (in thousands):
G. Investments in Unconsolidated Entities:
On April 1, 2014, the Company entered into an Agreement of Investment and Merger (the Agreement) withCyVek, Inc. (CyVek). Pursuant to the terms of the Agreement, the Company invested $10.0 million in CyVek and received shares of Common Stock representing approximately 19.9% of the outstanding voting stock of CyVek.
If, within twelve months of the date of the Agreement, CyVek meets commercial milestones related to the sale of its products, the Company will acquire CyVek through a merger, with CyVek surviving as a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Company. If the merger is consummated, the Company will make an initial payment of $60.0 million to the other stockholders of CyVek. The purchase price payable at the closing of the merger may be adjusted based on the final levels of cash, indebtedness and transaction expenses of CyVek as of the closing. The Company will also pay CyVek’s other stockholders up to $35.0 million based on the revenue generated by CyVek’s products and related products before the date that is 30 months from the closing of the Merger. The Company will also pay CyVek’s other stockholders 50% of the amount, if any, by which the revenue from CyVek’s products and related products exceeds $100.0 million in calendar year 2020.
The Company has determined that it is not practicable to estimate the fair value of its investment in CyVek as CyVek is a development stage entity. The Company is not aware of any events or changes in circumstances that would materially impact the value of its investment.
H. Commitments and Contingencies:
The Company leases office and warehouse space, vehicles and various office equipment under operating leases. At June 30, 2014, aggregate net minimum rental commitments under non-cancelable leases having an initial or remaining term of more than one year are payable as follows (in thousands):
Total rent expense was approximately $1.6 million, $0.7 million and $0.8 million for the years ended June 30, 2014, 2013 and 2012, respectively.
The Company is routinely subject to claims and involved in legal actions which are incidental to the business of the Company. Although it is difficult to predict the ultimate outcome of these matters, management believes that any ultimate liability will not materially affect the consolidated financial position or results of operations of the Company.
I. Share-based Compensation and Other Benefit Plans:
Equity incentive plan: The Company’s 2010 Equity Incentive Plan (the 2010 Plan) provides for the granting of incentive and nonqualified stock options, restricted stock, restricted stock units, performance shares, performance units and stock appreciation rights. There are 3.0 million shares of common stock authorized for grant under the 2010 Plan. At June 30, 2014, there were 2.3 million shares of common stock available for grant under the 2010 Plan. The maximum term of incentive options granted under the 2010 Plan is ten years. The 2010 Plan replaced the Company’s 1998 Nonqualified Stock Option Plan (the 1998 Plan) and 1997 Incentive Stock Option Plan (the 1997 Plan). The 2010 Plan, the 1998 Plan and the 1997 Plan (collectively, the Plans) are administered by the Board of Directors and its Compensation Committee, which determine the persons who are to receive awards under the Plans, the number of shares subject to each award and the term and exercise price of each award. The number of shares of common stock subject to outstanding awards at June 30, 2014 under the 2010 Plan, the 1998 Plan and the 1997 Plan were 656,000, 151,000, and 9,000, respectively.
Stock option activity under the Plans for the three years ended June 30, 2014, consists of the following (shares in thousands):
The fair values of options granted under the Plans were estimated on the date of grant using the Black-Scholes option-pricing model with the following assumptions used:
The dividend yield is based on the Company’s historical annual cash dividend divided by the market value of the Company’s common stock. The expected annualized volatility is based on the Company’s historical stock price over a period equivalent to the expected life of the option granted. The risk-free interest rate is based on U.S. Treasury constant maturity interest rates with a term consistent with the expected life of the options granted.
The weighted average fair value of options granted during fiscal 2014, 2013 and 2012 was $14.77, $9.72 and $14.14, respectively. The total intrinsic value of options exercised during fiscal 2014, 2013 and 2012 were $3.7 million, $0.4 million and $0.3 million, respectively. The total fair value of options vested during fiscal 2014, 2013 and 2012 were $2.2 million, $1.5 million and $1.6 million, respectively.
In fiscal 2014 and fiscal 2013, 26,355 and 15,000 restricted common stock shares were granted at weighted average grant date fair values of $86.60 and $67.46 per share, respectively. Non-vested restricted common stock shares at June 30, 2014 and 2013 were 36,355 and 15,000, respectively.
In fiscal 2014, 5,000 restricted stock units were granted at a weighted average grant date fair value of $86.25. The restricted stock units vest over a three year period.
Stock-based compensation cost of $3.5 million, $1.9 million and $1.6 million was included in selling, general and administrative expense in fiscal 2014, 2013 and 2012, respectively. As of June 30, 2014, there was $5.5 million of unrecognized compensation cost related to non-vested stock options, non-vested restricted stock units and non-vested restricted stock which will be expensed in fiscal 2015 through 2018. The weighted average period over which the compensation cost is expected to be recognized is 1.2 years.
Profit sharing and savings plans: The Company has profit sharing and savings plans for its U.S. employees, which conform to IRS provisions for 401(k) plans. The Company may make profit sharing contributions at the discretion of the Board of Directors. The Company has recorded an expense for contributions to the plans of $0.7 million and $0.8 million for the years ended June 30, 2014 and 2012, respectively. No contribution was charged to operations for fiscal 2013. The Company operates defined contribution pension plans for its U.K. employees. The Company has recorded an expense for contributions to the plans of $0.6 million, $0.6 million and $0.5 million for the years ended June 30, 2014, 2013 and 2012, respectively.
Performance incentive programs: In fiscal 2014, under certain employment agreements and a Management Incentive Plan available to executives officers and certain management personnel, the Company recorded cash bonuses of $0.9 million and granted options for 216,000 shares of common stock, 5,000 restricted stock units and 17,855 shares of restricted common stock. In fiscal 2013 and 2012, under certain employment agreements with executive officers and an executive Incentive Bonus Plan, the Company recorded cash bonuses of $0.3 million and $31,000 and granted options for 132,852 and 22,932 shares of common stock for the years ended June 30, 2013 and 2012, respectively. In addition, in fiscal 2013, 15,000 restricted common stock shares were issued to an executive officer.
J. Income Taxes:
The provisions for income taxes consist of the following (in thousands):
The following is a reconciliation of the federal tax calculated at the statutory rate of 35% to the actual income taxes provided (in thousands):
Temporary differences comprising deferred taxes on the Consolidated Balance Sheets are as follows (in thousands):
A deferred tax valuation allowance is required when it is more likely than not that all or a portion of deferred tax assets will not be realized. At June 30, 2014, the Company has provided a valuation allowance for potential capital loss carryovers resulting from excess tax basis in certain of its equity investments. The Company believes that it is more likely than not that the results of future operations will generate sufficient taxable income to realize the recorded deferred tax assets.
During fiscal 2013, the Company’s R&D Europe subsidiary declared and paid a dividend of £20 million ($30.7 million) to the Company. The £20 million R&D Europe earnings had previously been taxed in the U.S. and therefore, no additional U.S. tax resulted from the repatriation. Undistributed earnings of the Company’s foreign subsidiaries amounted to approximately $174 million as of June 30, 2014. Deferred taxes have not been provided on such undistributed earnings, as the Company has either paid U.S. taxes on the undistributed earnings or intends to indefinitely reinvest the undistributed earnings in the foreign operations.
The Company’s unrecognized tax benefits at June 30, 2014, 2013 and 2012, including accrued interest and penalties, were not material. The Company does not believe it is reasonably possible that the total amounts of unrecognized tax benefits will significantly increase in the next twelve months. The Company files income tax returns in the U.S federal tax jurisdiction, the states of Minnesota, Massachusetts and California, and several jurisdictions outside the U.S. U.S. tax returns for 2011 and subsequent years remain open to examination by the tax authorities. The Company’s major non-U.S. tax jurisdictions are the United Kingdom, France and Germany, which have tax years open to examination for 2011 and subsequent years, and China, which has calendar year 2014 open to examination.
K. Earnings Per Share:
The number of shares used to calculate earnings per share are as follows (in thousands, except per share data):
The dilutive effect of stock options in the above table excludes all options for which the aggregate exercise proceeds exceeded the average market price for the period. The number of potentially dilutive option shares excluded from the calculation was 196,000, 329,000 and 94,000 at June 30, 2014, 2013 and 2012, respectively.
L. Segment Information:
The Company has two reportable segments based on the nature of its products. The Company’s Biotechnology reporting segment develops, manufactures and sells biotechnology research and diagnostic products world-wide. The Company’s Clinical Controls reporting segment develops and manufactures controls and calibrators for sale world-wide. No customer in the Biotechnology segment accounted for more than 10% of the segments net sales for the years ended June 30, 2014, 2013 and 2012. One customer accounted for approximately 14% of Clinical Controls’ net sales during fiscal 2014. No single customer accounted for more than 10% of Clinical Controls’ net sales in fiscal 2013 or 2012. There are no concentrations of business transacted with a particular customer or supplier or concentrations of revenue from a particular product or geographic area that would severely impact the Company in the near term.
The accounting policies of the segments are the same as those described in Note A. In evaluating segment performance, management focuses on sales and earnings before taxes.
Following is financial information relating to the operating segments (in thousands):
The other reconciling items include the results of unallocated corporate expenses and the Company’s share of gain (losses) from its equity method investees.
Following is financial information relating to geographic areas (in thousands):
External sales are attributed to countries based on the location of the customer or distributor. Long-lived assets are comprised of land, buildings and improvements and equipment, net of accumulated depreciation and other assets.
M. Supplemental Disclosures of Cash Flow Information and Noncash Investing and Financing Activities:
In fiscal 2014, the Company acquired PrimeGene for approximately $18.7 million. Approximately $6.0 million was paid at closing with approximately $12.7 million payable over fiscal years 2015 through 2017.
In fiscal 2014, 2013 and 2012, the Company paid cash for income taxes of $55.2 million, $51.6 million and $58.7 million, respectively.
In fiscal 2014, stock options for 1,077 shares of common stock were exercised by the surrender of 733 shares of common stock at fair market value of $56,000.
During fiscal 2012, the Company’s cost basis investment in CCXI was converted to an available-for-sale investment carried at fair value.
N. Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income:
Changes in accumulated other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax, for the year ended June 30, 2014 consists of (in thousands):
O. Subsequent Events:
On July 2, 2014, the Company acquired all of the issued and outstanding equity interests of Novus Holdings LLC (Novus). The Company paid $60 million for the acquisition. Novus is a supplier of a large portfolio of both outsourced and in-house developed antibodies and other reagents for life science research. The transaction was financed through cash on hand.
On July 31, 2014, the Company acquired ProteinSimple. ProteinSimple develops and commercializes proprietary systems and consumables for protein analysis. ProteinSimple was acquired for approximately $300 million, subject to adjustment following closing based on the final level of working capital of ProteinSimple. The transaction was financed through cash on hand and a revolving line of credit facility governed by a Credit Agreement dated July 28, 2014 (the Credit Agreement).
The Credit Agreement provides for a revolving credit facility of $150 million, which can be increased by an additional $150 million subject to certain conditions. Borrowings under the Credit Agreement may be used for working capital and expenditures of the Company and its subsidiaries, including financing permitted acquisitions. Borrowings under the Credit Agreement bear interest at a variable rate. The Credit Agreement matures on July 31, 2019. The Credit Agreement contains customary restrictive and financial covenants. The Credit Agreement also contains customary events of default. The Company did not make any draws on the Credit Agreement at the closing of the Credit Agreement. On July 31, 2014, the Company drew $125 million on the Credit Agreement in relation to the closing of the ProteinSimple acquisition.
Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm
The Board of Directors and Stockholders
Techne Corporation:
We have audited the accompanying consolidated balance sheets of Techne Corporation and subsidiaries (the Company) as of June 30, 2014 and 2013, and the related consolidated statements of earnings and comprehensive income, shareholders’ equity, and cash flows for each of the years in the three-year period ended June 30, 2014. We also have audited Techne Corporation’s internal control over financial reporting as of June 30, 2014, based on criteria established in Internal Control - Integrated Framework (1992) issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission. Techne Corporation’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 the accompanying Management’s Annual report on Internal Controls over Financial Reporting. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on these consolidated financial statements and an opinion on the Company’s internal control over financial reporting based on our audits.
We conducted our audits in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States). Those standards require that we plan and perform the audits to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements are free of material misstatement and whether effective internal control over financial reporting was maintained in all material respects. Our audits of the consolidated financial statements included examining, on a test basis, evidence supporting the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements, assessing the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, and evaluating the overall financial statement presentation. Our audit of internal control over financial reporting included obtaining an understanding of internal control over financial reporting, assessing the risk that a material weakness exists, and testing and evaluating the design and operating effectiveness of internal control based on the assessed risk. Our audits also included performing such other procedures as we considered necessary in the circumstances. We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinions.
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 (1) pertain to the maintenance of records that, in reasonable detail, accurately and fairly reflect the transactions and dispositions of the assets of the company; (2) 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 (3) 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.
In our opinion, the consolidated financial statements referred to above present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of Techne Corporation and subsidiaries as of June 30, 2014 and 2013, and the results of its operations and its cash flows for each of the years in the three-year period ended June 30, 2014, in conformity with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles. Also in our opinion, Techne Corporation maintained, in all material respects, effective internal control over financial reporting as of June 30, 2014, based on criteria established in Internal Control - Integrated Framework issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission.
KPMG LLP
Minneapolis, Minnesota
August 29, 2014
ITEM 9.
ITEM 9. CHANGES IN AND DISAGREEMENTS WITH ACCOUNTANTS ON
ACCOUNTING AND FINANCIAL DISCLOSURE
None.
ITEM 9A.
ITEM 9A. CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES
Evaluation of Disclosure Controls and Procedures
As required by Rule 13a-15(b) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (the “Exchange Act”), management, with the participation of our Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, evaluated, as of the end of the period covered by this report, the effectiveness of our disclosure controls and procedures as defined in Exchange Act Rule 13a-15(e). Based upon that evaluation, our Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer concluded that our disclosure controls and procedures were effective as of June 30, 2014.
MANAGEMENT’S REPORT ON INTERNAL CONTROL OVER FINANCIAL REPORTING
Management is responsible for establishing and maintaining adequate internal control over financial reporting (as defined in Rule 13a-15(f) under the Exchange Act). Our 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 GAAP. 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.
Management, including our Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, assessed the effectiveness of our internal control over financial reporting as of June 30, 2014. In making this assessment, our management used the criteria for effective internal control over financial reporting described in “Internal Control - Integrated Framework (1992)” issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission. Based on this assessment, management has determined that our internal control over financial reporting was effective as of June 30, 2014.
A material weakness is a deficiency, or a combination of deficiencies, in internal control over financial reporting, such that there is a reasonable possibility that a material misstatement of the Company’s annual or interim financial statements will not be prevented or detected on a timely basis. At June 30, 2013, the Company identified a material weakness in the design, implementation and operating effectiveness of general IT controls (GITCs) intended to ensure that access to financial applications and data was adequately restricted to appropriate personnel, and that program changes to particular financial applications are documented, tested, and moved into the production environment only by individuals separate from the development function. As a result, certain classes of transactions subject to controls that rely upon information generated by the Company’s IT systems that are subject to the operation of the GITCs, including the completeness, existence, and accuracy of revenue and accounts receivable, allow for a reasonable possibility that a misstatement is not adequately prevented or detected through the operation of management’s system of internal control over financial reporting.
In light of the material weakness identified above, at June 30, 2013, the Company performed additional analysis and other post-closing procedures to ensure that the Company’s consolidated financial statements were prepared in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles and accurately reflect its financial position and results of operation as of and for the year ended June 30, 2013.
During fiscal 2014, the Company enhanced its internal testing approach, including performing additional procedures and expanding the documentation for select controls, to ensure the completeness, existence and accuracy of system generated information used to support the operation of the controls. As of June 30, 2014, the Company’s management has concluded that the enhanced testing and the expansion of human resources to improve segregation of duties have remediated the material weakness.
The Company’s internal control over financial reporting as of June 30, 2014 has been audited by KPMG LLP, as stated in their report which is included elsewhere herein.
Changes in Internal Control over Financial Reporting
Other than the remediation actions described above, there were no other material changes in our internal control over financial reporting that occurred during the quarter ended June 30, 2014 that have materially affected, or are reasonably likely to materially affect, our internal control over financial reporting.
ITEM 9B.
ITEM 9B. OTHER INFORMATION
On April 24, 2014, the Board of Directors of Techne Corporation (the “Company”), approved a form of indemnification agreement (the “Indemnification Agreement”) and authorized the Company to enter into an Indemnification Agreement with each of the Company’s directors and executive officers and certain other employees as determined by the Company’s chief executive officer (each an “Indemnitee”).
The Indemnification Agreement clarifies the process and conditions under which the Company will advance expenses and indemnify each Indemnitee against costs incurred in connection with a proceeding to which an Indemnitee is made party to, or threatened to be made party to, by reason of anything done or not done by the Indemnitee in his or her official capacity, or in which he or she serves as a witness by reason of such official capacity. The indemnification rights provided for in the Indemnification Agreement supersede other agreements on the topics of indemnification and advancement, including the Company’s Bylaws, and supplement indemnification and advancement rights provided for under applicable law.
This foregoing description of the material terms of the Indemnification Agreement does not purport to be complete and is qualified in its entirety by reference to the full text of the Indemnification Agreement, which is attached as Exhibit 10.27 hereto and is incorporated by reference herein.
On August 27, 2014, the Company, Research and Diagnostic Systems, Inc. (“R&D”), a Minnesota corporation and wholly-owned subsidiary of the Company, and Cayenne Merger Sub, Inc. (“Merger Sub”), a Delaware corporation and wholly-owned subsidiary of R&D, entered into a letter agreement (the “Agreement”) with CyVek, Inc., a Delaware corporation (“CyVek”), relating to the Agreement of Investment and Merger, dated as of April 1, 2014, among such parties and Citron Capital Limited, as Stockholders’ Agent (the “Merger Agreement”).
Under the Agreement, the parties agreed that they have no obligations under Section 5.5 of the Merger Agreement to enter into any agreement relating to certain pre-merger services. In addition, the Agreement clarifies that certain leases or licenses of the CyPlex analyzer solely for binding commitments to purchase cartridges will constitute valid leases or licenses for purposes of the Commercial Milestone Achievement set forth in Section 7.8 of the Merger Agreement, and that certain related customers will be considered separate, independent, unaffiliated third-party customers for purposes of meeting the Commercial Milestone Achievement set forth in Section 7.8 of the Merger Agreement.
This description of the material terms of the Agreement does not purport to be complete and is qualified in its entirety by reference to the full text of the Agreement, which will be filed as an exhibit to the Company’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ending September 30, 2014.
PART III
ITEM 10.
ITEM 10. DIRECTORS, EXECUTIVE OFFICERS AND CORPORATE GOVERNANCE
Other than “Executive Officers of the Registrant” which is set forth at the end of Item 1 in Part I of this report, the information required by Item 10 is incorporated herein by reference to the sections entitled “Election of Directors,” “Corporate Governance” and “Compliance With Section 16(a) of the Exchange Act” in the Company’s Proxy Statement for its 2014 Annual Meeting of Shareholders which will be filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission pursuant to Regulation 14A within 120 days after the close of the fiscal year for which this report is filed.
ITEM 11.
ITEM 11. EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION
The information required by Item 11 is incorporated herein by reference to the section entitled “Corporate Governance” and “Executive Compensation Discussion and Analysis” in the Company’s Proxy Statement for its 2014 Annual Meeting of Shareholders which will be filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission pursuant to Regulation 14A within 120 days after the close of the fiscal year for which this report is filed.
ITEM 12.
ITEM 12. SECURITY OWNERSHIP OF CERTAIN BENEFICIAL
OWNERS AND MANAGEMENT AND RELATED SHAREHOLDER MATTERS
Information about the Company’s equity compensation plans at June 30, 2014 is as follows:
(1) Includes the Company’s 2010 Equity Incentive Plan, 1997 Incentive Stock Option Plan and 1998 Nonqualified Stock Option Plan.
The remaining information required by Item 12 is incorporated by reference to the sections entitled “Principal Shareholders” and “Management Shareholdings” in the Company’s Proxy Statement for its 2014 Annual Meeting of Shareholders which will be filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission pursuant to Regulation 14A within 120 days after the close of the fiscal year for which this report is filed.
ITEM 13.
ITEM 13. CERTAIN RELATIONSHIPS AND RELATED TRANSACTIONS, AND DIRECTOR INDEPENDENCE
The information required by Item 13 is incorporated by reference to the sections entitled “Corporate Governance” in the Company’s Proxy Statement for its 2014 Annual Meeting of Shareholders which will be filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission pursuant to Regulation 14A within 120 days after the close of the fiscal year for which this report is filed.
ITEM 14.
ITEM 14. PRINCIPAL ACCOUNTING FEES AND SERVICES
The information required by Item 14 is incorporated herein by reference to the section entitled “Audit Matters” in the Company’s Proxy Statement for its 2014 Annual Meeting of Shareholders which will be filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission pursuant to Regulation 14A within 120 days after the close of the fiscal year for which this report is filed.
PART IV
ITEM 15.
ITEM 15. EXHIBITS, FINANCIAL STATEMENT SCHEDULES
A. (1) List of Financial Statements.
The following Consolidated Financial Statements are filed as part of this Annual Report on Form 10-K:
Consolidated Statements of Earnings and Comprehensive Income for the Years Ended June 30, 2014, 2013
and 2012
Consolidated Balance Sheets as of June 30, 2014 and 2013
Consolidated Statements of Shareholders’ Equity for the Years Ended June 30, 2014, 2013 and 2012
Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows for the Years Ended June 30, 2014, 2013 and 2012
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements for the Years Ended June 30, 2014, 2013 and 2012
Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm
A. (2) Financial Statement Schedules.
All financial statement schedules are omitted because they are not applicable, not material or the required information is shown in the Consolidated Financial Statements or Notes thereto.
A. (3) Exhibits.
See “Exhibit Index” immediately following signature page.
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.
Pursuant to the requirements 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 dates indicated.
EXHIBIT INDEX
for Form 10-K for the 2014 Fiscal Year
* Incorporated by reference; SEC File No. 000-17272
** Management contract or compensatory plan or arrangement