Item 1. Business
On August 30, 2013, substantially all of the assets and liabilities related to our business were acquired from Lafarge North America Inc., or Lafarge, which we refer to as the Acquisition. Prior to the Acquisition, we operated as the gypsum division of Lafarge. Unless otherwise specified, references in this Annual Report on Form 10-K to “our,” “we,” “us,” the “Company” and “our business” (i) for periods prior to the completion of the Acquisition, refer to the gypsum division of Lafarge, (ii) for periods after completion of the Acquisition but prior to the conversion refer to LSF8 Gypsum Holdings Company, LLC (the entity formed to complete the Acquisition that was converted into Continental Building Products, Inc.) and (iii) for the periods after the conversion, refer to Continental Building Products, Inc., in each case together with its consolidated subsidiaries. We are a holding company controlled by Lone Star Fund VIII (U.S.), L.P. and have a relatively short operating history as a stand-alone company.
General
We are a leading, high margin manufacturer of gypsum wallboard and complementary finishing products. Our manufacturing facilities and sales efforts are concentrated in the eastern United States and eastern Canada. Gypsum wallboard is a primary building material used in new residential and commercial construction and repair and remodel (“R&R”). We estimate that in 2014 our market share in the United States east of the Mississippi River, a market which accounted for more than 55% of total U.S. wallboard demand, was approximately 17%, and our share is significantly higher in many of the major metropolitan areas within a shipping radius of 300 miles of our facilities, which include New York, Miami, Tampa, Orlando, Cincinnati, Cleveland, Columbus, Indianapolis, Nashville, Jacksonville and Hartford.
We sell our products in the new residential, R&R and commercial construction markets. Traditionally, the new residential construction market has been the most significant contributor to wallboard industry demand. It has also been the most volatile. During the recent economic downturn, new residential construction contracted sharply. As the broader economy and the housing market continue to recover, we expect significant growth in our net sales to come from increased new residential construction demand. The R&R construction market currently represents the largest wallboard market. R&R activity was also affected by the recent recession but has recovered more quickly than new construction markets. We believe that R&R construction will remain an important source of demand as existing U.S. housing stock ages and properties that were foreclosed during the downturn are rehabilitated. The commercial construction market encompasses areas such as office, retail, healthcare, hospitality and government building projects.
The recent economic and housing market downturns have been challenging for the gypsum wallboard industry. During this downturn, we have focused on reducing our cost base and improving the efficiency of our operations. For example, from 2007 to 2014, we were able to achieve a 7.5% reduction in selling, general and administrative related headcount, while net sales increased by 24.4%. We also closed two of our older and less efficient plants, resulting in significant fixed cost savings and rationalization of our capacity. We believe this disciplined approach to costs along with our significant investments in developing and upgrading our manufacturing facilities since 2000 will position us to benefit from a continuing recovery in the residential housing market.
The North American gypsum wallboard industry is the largest in the world, with the world’s highest per capita consumption rate. Gypsum wallboard is a low cost, widely used building product for interior and exterior walls and ceilings in residential and commercial structures. It is highly regarded for its ease and speed of application and its superior performance in providing comfort, fire resistance and thermal and sound insulation. The primary raw material, gypsum, can be either natural or synthetic. Natural gypsum is a mineral mined in select areas throughout North America. Synthetic gypsum is sourced primarily via flue gas desulfurization within coal-fired power plants. According to the Gypsum Association, use of synthetic gypsum has increased from 5% of total wallboard production in 1995 to 45% in 2014. We currently use exclusively synthetic gypsum in our manufacturing process.
New housing starts have been the most significant driver of North American wallboard demand. Starting in 2007, the North American wallboard industry suffered a dramatic decrease in demand, driven primarily by the significant downturn of the North American housing market and the associated credit crisis and global recession. U.S. housing starts fell from a cyclical peak of 2.1 million in 2005 to a 50-year low of 554,000 in 2009. Correspondingly, U.S. wallboard consumption declined by more than 50% from 36.2 billion square feet, or bsf, in 2005 to a low of 17.1 bsf in 2010. Pricing across the industry suffered over this period due to the decline in demand.
Industry-wide wallboard capacity contracted during the housing market downturn from a peak of approximately 40.5 bsf in 2008 to a low of approximately 33.1 bsf in 2012, as producers shuttered older and less efficient facilities or mothballed unneeded production capacity.
We believe that the U.S. housing market is in the early stages of a recovery. U.S. housing starts reached 0.78 million in 2012, driving U.S. wallboard consumption to 18.9 bsf. In 2013 and 2014, the positive trend in housing starts continued, with housing starts of 0.93 million and 1.0 million, respectively, according to the U.S. Census Bureau, driving wallboard consumption to 20.5 bsf and 21.5 bsf, respectively.
We believe that there is substantial room for continued improvement in housing starts. Housing starts have averaged 1.5 million over the past 50 years, which is approximately 50% greater than the 2014 starts of 1.0 million. Wallboard consumption has historically correlated closely with increased construction activity, typically trailing housing starts by approximately six to nine months. As housing starts return to normal levels, we expect a corresponding increase in wallboard demand.
We also expect continued recovery in the R&R market and improvement in the commercial construction market. In the residential segment, the Remodeling Market Index, or RMI, which measures home remodel activity, improved from 53 in the first quarter of 2014 to 60 in the fourth quarter of 2014 according to NAHB Economics Group (an index number of 50 indicates equal numbers of remodelers report activity higher and lower than the previous quarter). Additionally, according to projections from McGraw Hill Construction, commercial building starts are expected to rise from 572 million square feet in 2014 to 640 million square feet in 2015, a projected increase of 12%.
The Acquisition
Lafarge founded its U.S. wallboard business in 1996 when it acquired two manufacturing facilities, including our Buchanan plant, from Georgia-Pacific. During the period from 2000 to 2010, Lafarge expanded its geographic footprint through acquisitions and the greenfield development of our Palatka and Silver Grove plants. During this period, Lafarge pursued a strategy of servicing customers from newer and more efficient plants by shuttering less efficient plants, investing in new facilities and modernizing existing facilities. These efforts culminated with the upgrade of the Buchanan plant in 2006 and the opening of the second production line at the Silver Grove plant in 2007, which we believe made the facility the largest in North America. These investments transformed Lafarge’s gypsum division from a regional player in the northeast to a leading competitor across the eastern United States.
On August 30, 2013, Lone Star Fund VIII (U.S.), L.P., which we refer to in this Annual Report on Form 10-K, along with its affiliates and associates (excluding us and other companies that it owns as a result of its investment activity), as Lone Star, acquired substantially all of the assets comprising Lafarge’s North American gypsum business for a purchase price of approximately $703 million and the assumption of certain liabilities pursuant to the terms of the asset purchase agreement signed in connection with the Acquisition.
Products and Customers
We offer our customers a full range of gypsum wallboard products, including LiftLite ®, our lightweight product designed to be easier to lift and install, our Mold Defense ® line of products designed for enhanced protection against mold and mildew, and our Weather Defense ® line of moisture and mold-resistant exterior sheathing. To complement our wallboard business and to better serve our customers, we also operate a finishing products business that manufactures a comprehensive line of joint compounds at our plant in Silver Grove (Kentucky) and our joint compound plant in Chambly (Quebec). We provide superior customer service based on customer needs, consistently delivering high quality finished product and providing orders accurately with fast delivery times. Certain customers and markets have also favored the use of synthetic gypsum products, which we manufacture, versus natural gypsum products for the additional benefit of receiving Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design, or LEED, ratings to support environmentally responsible initiatives.
Our marketing and sales strategy consists of targeted direct sales efforts to existing and potential customers using an experienced sales force. We operate a single centralized customer-service call center. We also have a centralized logistics team for all of our operations that manages freight, storage and other distribution-related tasks. As is customary in the industry, we do not enter into long-term agreements with our customers. To encourage our customers to order our products and to increase their loyalty, we offer incentive programs, which provide for customer rebates that are triggered when specified sales volumes or net sales are reached. We generally bear the cost of delivering our finished products to our customers. We deliver by truck and, in the case of our Silver Grove and Palatka plants, by truck and rail. At each of our facilities, we have one or two carriers under contract that provide the majority of our shipping services.
We regularly achieve high rankings in customer service surveys and have received numerous “supplier of the year” awards from major customers. We consistently provide a high level of service to our customers through a combination of product availability and quality, on-time delivery, and timely and accurate invoicing. We sell our products through several different channels and to a broad group of customers, including gypsum wallboard distributors, buying groups, wholesalers and mass merchants. Lowes, our largest customer, represented 15%, 14%, and 15% of our net sales in 2014, 2013 on a pro forma basis, and 2012, respectively, and no other customer represented more than 10% of sales.
We believe our industry experience, manufacturing expertise and flexible production facilities enable us to quickly develop and implement new products in response to market needs or competitor product introductions. For example, in 2011 we introduced LiftLite ® , a lightweight wallboard for use on interior walls and ceilings. It is formulated to be up to approximately 20% lighter than standard 1⁄2 “ wallboard, making it easier to lift, carry and install. We designed LiftLite ® in a relatively short period of time with only a limited investment, and it has replaced most of our standard 1⁄2 ” wallboard.
Manufacturing and Distribution
We operate highly efficient and automated manufacturing facilities in Silver Grove (Kentucky), Palatka (Florida) and Buchanan (New York) that produce a full range of gypsum wallboard products for our diversified customer base. We are committed to operational excellence and have invested heavily in our facilities, which we believe are among the newest, largest and most efficient wallboard plants in North America. Our facilities have significant available capacity that will allow us to scale production in a cost-effective manner as wallboard demand increases.
Gypsum wallboard is manufactured by mixing finely ground, partially dehydrated, or calcinated, gypsum with water and forming the resulting slurry between two layers of continuous paperboard liner. It is allowed to harden briefly before being dried and cut to specification. The process is tightly controlled to achieve uniformity and desired board characteristics. Additives can be introduced to the slurry at the beginning of the process to give the resulting board enhanced properties. For instance, wax can be added for water resistance or fungicides added to defend against mold. Additives are also used to control the manufacturing process and to counteract impurities occurring in the gypsum.
We use only synthetic gypsum in our wallboard products, which we believe enhances our manufacturing quality and consistency, reduces production costs and provides important environmental benefits relative to natural gypsum. We are the only producer of gypsum wallboard in the United States to use 100% synthetic gypsum. Synthetic gypsum is principally produced through a process known as flue gas desulfurization, or FGD. The FGD process typically takes place in scrubbing towers in coal-fired power plants. Our strategically positioned plants provide us with two key benefits: cost-effective access to our supplies of synthetic gypsum, which reduces our inbound transportation costs, and close proximity to many major metropolitan areas, which decreases our product delivery costs.
We purchase all of our synthetic gypsum supplies from coal-fired power plants with operations near, or easily accessible to, our wallboard facilities. To secure our supplies, we have entered into long-term agreements with major suppliers, with remaining terms (with extensions) ranging from approximately 10 years to 35 years. Our supply contracts provide for a base price with escalation provisions. These contracts are structured as “take-or-pay” arrangements, where the sellers are required to supply a specified annual amount of gypsum and we are required to buy a specified annual amount, or else, in either case, pay penalties under the contracts. These synthetic gypsum suppliers are required to provide us with amounts in excess of our current requirements, which allows for significant scalability in our wallboard production. Two of our plants have sufficient supply under contract to operate at our full design capacity, while one of our facilities requires a small amount of additional supply at full capacity. We believe that we would be able to purchase additional synthetic gypsum on the open market to the extent any production increases require it, or if market conditions are favorable.
Our Seven Hills joint venture with Rock-Tenn Company, or RockTenn, provides us with a reliable source of high-quality paperboard liner required for consistent wallboard production. The joint venture was previously between RockTenn and Lafarge. On March 13, 2014, Lafarge assigned to us its interest in the joint venture agreement and other operative agreements, and such agreements will continue on the same terms and conditions as were in effect with Lafarge prior to the Acquisition. We therefore have a long-term supply agreement that fulfills all of our current paper requirements. The Seven Hills joint venture has the capacity to supply us with approximately 75% of our paper needs at our full capacity, and some additional capacity can be added with a modest additional investment.
Our manufacturing processes utilize significant amounts of natural gas and electricity. We purchase both natural gas and electricity on the open market. We use derivative instruments to manage certain commodity price and interest rate exposures. We do not use derivative instruments for speculative trading purposes, and we typically do not hedge beyond two years. See Item 7.A for additional information regarding our financial exposures.
Our wallboard facilities are located in close proximity to major metropolitan areas in the eastern United States and eastern Canada, lowering both our inbound and outbound transportation costs and facilitating timely delivery to our customers. Each of our facilities allows us to offer same-day delivery service to many of our key metropolitan markets, including our Buchanan plant, which provides same day delivery service to customers in the New York City tri-state area, which management believes provides us with a competitive advantage.
Competition
The market for our wallboard and finishing products is highly competitive. We believe the key competitive factors in the market include:
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Price;
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Service;
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Product quality; and
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Product range.
There are currently seven gypsum wallboard manufacturers in the United States, including: USG, National Gypsum, Georgia-Pacific, CertainTeed, Eagle Materials, Pabco Gypsum, and us. Of these, we believe only six compete in the eastern United States. Gypsum wallboard has a high weight-to-value ratio, so it is advantageous to both source raw materials and produce gypsum wallboard in close proximity to where it is used. If manufacturing facilities are not located in close proximity to end markets, transportation costs can render the cost of finished goods uncompetitive compared to locally manufactured wallboard. Accordingly, competition in the industry occurs principally on a regional basis, and we believe that national scale has limited benefits. Each competitive geographic region has a different group of manufacturers and customers and, as a result, a different competitive landscape. A number of our competitors are larger than us and may have greater resources or lower costs of capital than we do.
Although gypsum wallboard remains a regional industry, consolidation in the industry has resulted in increased market share for certain industry participants, including us. In 1997 there were thirteen gypsum wallboard producers, compared to seven in 2014. This consolidation has occurred almost entirely amongst the smaller producers. Since 1997, our national market share has grown from 3% to 10%.
Other Information
Because we fill orders upon receipt, we do not have any significant order backlog.
Our business does not have any special working capital requirements.
Spending on research and development was de minimis over the past three years.
No material part of our business is subject to renegotiation of profits or termination of contracts or subcontractors at the election of any government.
Employees
We had 538 employees as of December 31, 2014. Our employees at our Buchanan wallboard plant, representing approximately 14% of our workforce, are represented by two unions. While our collective bargaining agreement with the employees represented by one of the unions at our Buchanan plant expired on November 30, 2014, these employees are still considered unionized. Employees represented by that union voted on February 17, 2015 to accept a contract proposal, and we expect a contract to be signed on the basis of that proposal. Our collective bargaining agreement with the second union was set to expire on November 30, 2014, but has been extended through March 13, 2015. We continue to engage in negotiations with the second union. We believe our relationship with our unionized employees is positive and to date there have been no work disruptions as a result of the expiration of the collective bargaining agreement. Our remaining employees are non-union. We believe our relationships with both our union and non-union employees are good.
Intellectual Property
We maintain many trademarks for our wallboard and finishing products, including, among others, LiftLite ® , Firecheck ® , Mold Defense ® and Rapid Coat ® . We also rely on patents and trade secret law to protect some of our manufacturing processes. Loss of one or more of our patents, trademarks or licenses would not have a material impact on our business or our ability to continue our operations in the foreseeable future.
Environmental Matters
Our wallboard and finishing products businesses are subject to numerous federal, state and local laws and regulations pertaining to health, safety and the environment. Some of these laws, such as the federal Clean Air Act and the federal Clean Water Act (and analogous state laws), impose environmental permitting obligations and govern the nature and amount of emissions that may be generated. Some laws, such as the Federal Superfund law (and analogous state laws), impose obligations to clean up or remediate spills of hazardous materials into the
environment. Some laws, such as the federal Resource Conservation and Recovery Act, or RCRA, (and analogous state laws), impose obligations on us with respect to the management of waste products. None of our operations is the subject of any material local, state or federal environmental proceedings or inquiries. We do not, and have not, used asbestos in any of our products.
In June 2010, following a December 2008 coal ash spill from a surface impoundment in Kingston, Tennessee, the EPA proposed two alternative regulations that would address the storage and disposal of all coal combustion residuals, or CCRs, including synthetic gypsum. One of the proposed regulations would have regulated the transportation, storage and disposal of CCRs as a “special” waste under subtitle C of RCRA, which regulates hazardous waste, except when they are “beneficially used”. The second proposal would have allowed the beneficial use of synthetic gypsum and would regulate CCRs bound for disposal as “solid” waste under subtitle D of RCRA, which regulates non-hazardous wastes. On December 19, 2014 the EPA issued its final rule, which treats most CCRs as solid waste under subtitle D of RCRA. However, material, such as synthetic gypsum used for wallboard manufacturing that meets the definition of a “beneficial use of CCR”, is not generally regulated under the rule. Therefore, we do not believe the final rule will have a material effect on our business.
The U.S. Congress and several states are considering proposed legislation to reduce emission of “greenhouse gases,” including carbon dioxide and methane. Some states have already adopted greenhouse gas regulation or legislation. In 2009, the EPA issued its findings that certain greenhouse gases, including carbon dioxide, endanger the public health and welfare. In 2010, the EPA adopted rules to phase in requirements for all new or modified “stationary sources” that emit 100,000 tons of greenhouse gases per year, or modified sources that increase emissions by 75,000 tons per year, to annually obtain permits demonstrating that they are incorporating the “best available control technology” to minimize greenhouse gas emissions. These rules would affect future modifications or expansions of all our U.S. wallboard plants and the paper mill operated as a joint venture with RockTenn, which produce greenhouse gases. The rules are subject to pending legal challenges that have been filed by certain interested parties, including states, industry groups and environmental organizations, in the U.S. federal courts. If these rules withstand challenge, they could require that we incur significant costs to satisfy permitting requirements in the event of future plant modifications or expansions. In addition, enactment of new climate control legislation or other regulatory initiatives by the U.S. Congress or various states, or the adoption of additional regulations by the EPA and analogous state or Canadian governmental agencies that restrict emissions of greenhouse gases in areas in which we conduct business, could have a material adverse effect on our operations and demand for our services or products. Our manufacturing processes for wallboard use a significant amount of energy, especially natural gas. Increased regulation of energy use to address the possible emission of greenhouse gases and climate change could materially increase our manufacturing costs. From time to time, legislation has been introduced proposing a “carbon tax” on energy use or establishing a so-called “cap and trade” system. Such legislation would almost certainly increase the cost of energy used in our manufacturing processes. See “Risk Factors-We are subject to environmental and safety laws and regulations and these laws and regulations may change. These laws and regulations could cause us to make modifications to how we manufacture and price our products. They could also require that we make significant capital investments or otherwise increase our costs or result in liabilities to us.”
Additional Information
See Note 15 to the consolidated financial statements in Item 8 for financial information pertaining to our Wallboard segment and Item 1A
Item 1A - Risk Factors, for information regarding the possible effects that compliance with environmental laws and regulations may have on our business and operating results.
Available Information
Our website address is www.continental-bp.com. Information contained on our website or connected thereto does not constitute a part of this Annual Report on Form 10-K or any other filing we make with the Securities and Exchange Commission, or the SEC. We make available free of charge on our website our Annual Reports on Form 10-K, Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q, Current Reports on Form 8-K and amendments to those reports filed or furnished pursuant to Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, or the Exchange Act, as soon as reasonably practical after we file such material with, or furnish it to, the SEC. Certain of these documents may also be obtained by calling the SEC at 1-800-SEC-0330. The SEC also maintains an Internet website that contains reports, and other information regarding issuers that file electronically with the SEC at www.sec.gov. We also make available free of charge on our website our Principles of Corporate Governance, our Code of Ethics and Business Conduct, and the Charters of our Audit Committee, Nominating and Corporate Governance, and Compensation Committee of our Board of Directors.
Item 1A. RISK FACTORS
Our business, operations and financial condition are subject to various risks and uncertainties. We have described below significant factors that may adversely affect our business, operations, financial performance and condition or industry. You should carefully consider these factors, together with all of the other information in this Annual Report on Form 10-K and in other documents that we file with the SEC, before making any investment decision about our securities. Adverse developments or changes related to any of the factors listed below could materially and adversely affect our business, financial condition, results of operations, future prospects and growth.
Risks Relating to Our Business and Industry
Demand for our products is closely related to construction activity, particularly new residential construction, which is cyclical.
Historically, demand for the products that we manufacture has been closely correlated with new residential construction in the United States and Canada and, to a lesser extent, commercial construction and R&R activity. Since 2008, new residential construction activities have remained at their lowest levels since 1946 and, correspondingly, demand for the products that we manufacture has been weak. U.S. wallboard consumption was 17.1 bsf in 2010 and 17.2 bsf in 2011, down from pre-recession highs of 36.2 bsf in 2005. Prices fell significantly across the industry as demand decreased. Our net sales declined from $502.9 million for the year ended December 31, 2006 to $244.0 million for the year ended December 31, 2010. There is significant uncertainty regarding the timing and extent of the current recovery in such construction activity and resulting product demand levels. Demand for new residential construction is influenced by mortgage availability and rates, employment levels, household formation rates, domestic population growth, immigration rates, residential vacancy and foreclosure rates, demand for second homes, existing home prices, rental prices, housing inventory levels, consumer confidence, seasonal weather factors and other general economic factors. Our growth prospects depend, to a significant extent, on the degree by which conditions in the residential construction market improve in the future. We cannot control the foregoing and, as a result, our profitability and cash flow may vary materially in response to market conditions and changes in the supply and demand balance for our primary products.
During cyclical downturns in the markets in which we operate, we may incur losses. For example, for the years ended December 31, 2011 and 2012, we incurred net losses of $60.5 million and $12.8 million, respectively, while the housing downturn continued. As a result of any possible future cyclical downturns, the price of our common stock may decline.
If we cannot effectively compete in our markets, our business, financial condition and operating results may be materially and adversely affected.
Many of the wallboard products sold by our competitors are close substitutes for our products. Because of this substitutability, competition among manufacturers is based in large part on price, as well as service, quality and range of products. Actions of our competitors, many of which have significant excess capacity, or the entry of new competitors into our markets, could lead to lower pricing in an effort to maintain our customer base and could also lead to lower sales volumes. At times, the price for any one or more of the products that we produce may fall below our production costs, requiring us to either incur losses on product sales or cease production at one or more of our manufacturing facilities. Prices are often subject to material changes in response to relatively minor fluctuations in supply and demand, general economic conditions and other market conditions beyond our control. There can be no assurance that prices for products sold by us will not decline in the future or that such declines will not have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations.
Some of our competitors are larger companies and, therefore, have access to greater financial and other resources than we do. These resources may afford those competitors greater purchasing power, increased financial flexibility and more capital resources for expansion and improvement, which may enable those competitors to compete more effectively than we can. If we fail to compete effectively, we could suffer a loss of sales.
If our coal-fired power plant synthetic gypsum suppliers switch to natural gas or cease operations, our supply of synthetic gypsum could be constrained and our operating results or cash flows may be materially and adversely affected.
All of the gypsum used in our plants is synthetic gypsum, which is a coal-combustion residual, or CCR, resulting primarily from flue gas desulfurization, or FGD, carried out by electric generation or industrial plants burning coal as a fuel. The suppliers of synthetic gypsum are primarily power companies. As a result of the increase in coal price relative to natural gas and other reasons, some power companies have recently ceased operations or reduced power generation at certain high cost plants or at plants that are not compliant with current or anticipated environmental laws or switched such plants to using natural gas instead of coal for their electric generation needs. Additionally, existing or future changes in environmental regulations could make it more difficult or costly for power providers or industrial plants to burn coal. Potential future changes in environmental regulations include the EPA’s proposed regulations issued in June 2014 as part of its “Clean Power
Plan,” which have the stated goal of reducing the amount of carbon dioxide emitted from power plants by 30% from 2005 levels by the year 2030. If these rules are adopted in their current form, many believe a meaningful portion of the reduction in carbon emissions would be expected to come from reducing the output of coal fired power plants. We believe that the larger power plants with sophisticated pollution control devices that supply most of our gypsum would be less likely to be affected than smaller, less efficient plants. However, in the event any of the power companies with which we have synthetic gypsum supply agreements, for these or other reasons, reduce their power generation, switch to using natural gas instead of coal or cease operations completely, our access to synthetic gypsum may be constrained, which could have an adverse effect on our business. In that event, there can be no assurance that we could find alternative sources of synthetic gypsum in reasonable quantities or at reasonable prices. In December 2013 our synthetic gypsum supplier for the Buchanan plant, NRG Energy, announced plans to deactivate its Chalk Point and Dickerson coal fired power plants in May of 2018 (an extension from its prior announced date of May 2017). These two plants together have recently provided approximately one-third of our Buchanan plant’s synthetic gypsum. It is not certain that these plants will be deactivated at the announced time. However, even if these plants are deactivated, we believe we will have access to sufficient gypsum through multiple sources to continue economically operating the Buchanan plant at required capacity levels.
We and our suppliers are subject to environmental and safety laws and regulations and these laws and regulations may change. These laws and regulations could cause us or our suppliers to make modifications to how we or they manufacture and price our products. These laws could also require that we or our suppliers make significant capital investments or otherwise increase our or their costs or result in liabilities to us.
We and our suppliers are subject to federal, state, local and foreign laws and regulations governing the protection of the environment and occupational health and safety, including those governing air emissions, wastewater discharges, the management, disposal and cleanup of hazardous materials and wastes and the health and safety of our employees. We are also required to obtain permits from governmental authorities for certain operations, and if we expand or modify our facilities, or if environmental laws change, we could be required to obtain new or modified permits. If we were to fail to comply with these laws, regulations or permits, we could incur fines, penalties or other sanctions. In addition, we could be held responsible for costs and damages arising from claims or liabilities under these laws and regulations, such as with respect to any contamination at our facilities or at third-party waste disposal sites. We cannot completely eliminate the risk of contamination or injury resulting from hazardous materials. Environmental laws and regulations tend to become more stringent over time, and we could incur material additional expenses relating to compliance with future environmental laws.
For example, the U.S. Congress and several states are considering or have adopted legislation to reduce emission of “greenhouse gases,” including carbon dioxide and methane. In 2010, the EPA adopted rules to phase in requirements for all new or modified “stationary sources” that emit 100,000 tons of greenhouse gases per year, or modified sources that increase emissions by 75,000 tons per year, to annually obtain permits demonstrating that they are incorporating the “best available control technology” to minimize greenhouse gas emissions. These rules could affect all of our U.S. wallboard plants and the Seven Hills Paperboard LLC, or Seven Hills, paper mill operated as a joint venture with RockTenn, which produce greenhouse gases. The rules are subject to pending legal challenges that have been filed by certain interested parties, including states, industry groups and environmental organizations, in the U.S. federal courts. If these rules withstand challenge, they could require that we incur significant costs to satisfy permitting requirements. In addition, enactment of new climate control legislation or other regulatory initiatives by the U.S. Congress or various states, or the adoption of additional regulations by the EPA and analogous state or Canadian governmental agencies that restrict emissions of greenhouse gases in areas in which we conduct business, could have a material adverse effect on our operations and demand for our products. Our manufacturing processes for wallboard use a significant amount of energy, especially natural gas. Increased regulation of energy use to address the possible emission of greenhouse gases and climate change could materially increase our manufacturing costs.
Environmental regulatory changes or changes in methods used to comply with environmental regulations could adversely affect our suppliers, and therefore the price and availability of synthetic gypsum. If regulatory changes or changes in methods used to comply with environmental regulations adversely affect our suppliers or the price and availability of synthetic gypsum, our operating results or cash flows may be materially and adversely affected.
It is difficult to accurately predict if or when currently proposed or additional laws and regulations regarding emissions and other environmental concerns will be enacted or what capital expenditures might be required as a result of them. Stricter regulation of emissions might require us or our suppliers to install emissions control or other equipment at some or all of our or their manufacturing facilities, requiring significant additional capital investments.
We do not have long-term contracts with our customers, and our sales volume could be reduced if our customers switch some or all of their business with us to other suppliers.
As is customary in the industry, we do not enter into long-term contracts with our customers. Our customers may choose to stop or reduce purchases of our products at any time in the future. A significant loss of our customers or a significant reduction in their purchases could have a material negative impact on our sales volume and business, or cause us to reduce our prices, which could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition, results of operations and cash flows.
The loss of sales to Lowe’s may have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition and operating results.
In 2014, 2013 on a pro forma basis and 2012, Lowe’s accounted for 15%, 14%, and 15% of our net sales, respectively. If Lowe’s reduces, delays or cancels a substantial number of orders, our business, financial condition and operating results may be materially and adversely affected, particularly for the period in which the reduction, delay or cancellation occurs and also possibly for subsequent periods.
Because we do not have binding long-term purchasing agreements with Lowe’s, there can be no assurance that Lowe’s will continue to purchase products from us at current levels or at all.
A material disruption at one of our manufacturing facilities or at one of our suppliers’ facilities could prevent us from meeting customer demand, reduce our sales and/or negatively affect our financial results.
Any of our manufacturing facilities, or any of our machines within an otherwise operational facility, could cease operations unexpectedly due to a number of events, including but not limited to:
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major equipment failure;
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fires, floods, earthquakes, hurricanes, environmental incidents or other catastrophes;
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utility and transportation infrastructure disruptions;
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labor difficulties;
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other operational problems; or
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war, acts of terrorism or other unexpected events.
Any downtime or facility damage could prevent us from meeting customer demand for our products or require us to make unplanned capital expenditures. If our machines or facilities were to incur significant downtime, our ability to satisfy customer requirements could be impaired, resulting in decreased customer satisfaction and lower sales and net income. Because we operate at a limited number of facilities, the effects of any particular shutdown or facility damage could be significant to our operations as a whole and pronounced in the markets near the facility affected.
In addition, our suppliers of synthetic gypsum and paperboard liner are subject to the manufacturing facility disruption risks noted above. Our suppliers’ inability to produce the necessary raw materials for our manufacturing processes may adversely impact our results of operations, cash flows and financial position. Because we rely on a limited number of suppliers, a disruption at any one of our suppliers’ facilities could have a significant impact on our business.
We are reliant on RockTenn for paper and we may require additional supplies of paper if our current supply is disrupted or our utilization increases.
We currently purchase substantially all of our paperboard liner from the Seven Hills joint venture with RockTenn. While the joint venture has the capacity to supply us with approximately 75% of our paper needs at our full capacity and 100% of our needs at current capacity, supply disruptions or additional paper demand that cannot be fulfilled on the open market could adversely affect our business. Since we only have one major supplier of paper, our risk of supply disruption may be greater than that of some of our competitors. Paper is a significant component of our variable costs. To the extent we are required to purchase paper on the open market, paper costs would be subject to market conditions and could increase, which could have a negative impact on our results of operations.
If the cost of energy increases, our cost of goods sold will increase and our operating results or cash flows may be materially and adversely affected.
Our manufacturing processes use substantial amounts of natural gas and electricity, which are major components of our cost of goods sold. Energy costs are affected by various market factors, including the availability of supplies of particular forms of energy, energy prices and local and national regulatory decisions. Prices for natural gas and electrical power have been volatile in recent years. There may be substantial
increases in the price of energy in the future, which may be pronounced if there are dislocations in the energy markets due to political instability or other unforeseeable events. We currently hedge slightly less than 50% of our natural gas based on usages for the past twelve months, and do not hedge our electricity purchases at all. Consequently, we may be adversely impacted by increases in price more than competitors utilizing a more comprehensive hedging strategy, particularly in respect of electricity purchases. There can be no assurances we will continue to utilize this hedging strategy in the future or whether it or any other strategy we implement, including not hedging at all, will be successful.
Significant changes in the cost and availability of transportation could adversely affect our business, financial condition and results of operations.
Because manufacturers are responsible for delivering wallboard to their customers in our industry, transportation costs associated with the delivery of our wallboard products are a significant portion of our variable costs. Increases in the cost of fuel or energy can result in increases in the cost of transportation, which could materially and adversely affect our operating profits. Also, reductions in the availability of certain modes of transportation, such as rail or trucking, could limit our ability to deliver our products and therefore materially and adversely affect our operating profits.
Our financial results may be affected by various legal and regulatory proceedings.
We are subject to litigation and regulatory proceedings in the normal course of business and could become subject to additional claims in the future, some of which could be material. The outcome of existing legal proceedings may differ from our expectations because the outcomes of litigation and similar disputes are often difficult to predict reliably. Various factors and developments could lead us to make changes in current estimates of liabilities and related insurance receivables, where applicable, or make additional estimates, including new or modified estimates as a result of a judicial ruling or judgment, a settlement, regulatory developments or changes in applicable law. A future adverse ruling, settlement or unfavorable development could result in charges that could have a material adverse effect on our results of operations.
We may be unable to attract and retain key management employees.
Our key management personnel are important to our success. Our ability to retain our key management personnel or to attract suitable replacements should any members of our management team leave is dependent on the competitive nature of the employment market. The loss of services from key management personnel or a limitation in their availability could materially and adversely impact our business.
We may experience delays or outages in our information technology system and computer networks.
We use information technology systems to collect, store and transmit the data needed to operate our business. We may be subject to information technology system failures and network disruptions. These may be caused by delays or disruptions due to system updates, natural disasters, malicious attacks, accidents, power disruptions, telecommunications failures, acts of terrorism or war, computer viruses, physical or electronic break-ins or similar events or disruptions. In the first quarter of 2014, we initiated implementation of an enterprise resource planning system, which was completed in October 2014. We may in the future add applications to replace outdated systems and to operate more efficiently. Predictions regarding benefits resulting from the implementation of these projects are subject to uncertainties. We may not be able to successfully implement the projects without experiencing difficulties. In addition, any expected benefits of implementing projects might not be realized or the costs of implementation might outweigh the benefits realized.
A disruption in our information technology systems due to a catastrophic event or security breach could interrupt or damage our operations. In addition, we could be subject to reputational harm or liability if confidential customer information is misappropriated from our information technology systems. Despite our security measures and business continuity plans, these systems could be vulnerable to disruption, and any such disruption could negatively affect our financial condition and results of operations.
Labor disruptions or cost increases could adversely affect our business.
A work stoppage at one of our facilities could cause us to lose sales, incur increased costs and adversely affect our ability to meet customers’ needs. A plant shutdown or a substantial modification to employment terms could negatively impact us. While our collective bargaining agreement with the employees represented by one of the two unions at our Buchanan plant expired on November 30, 2014, these employees are still considered unionized. Employees represented by that union voted on February 17, 2015 to accept a contract proposal, and we expect a contract to be signed on the basis of that proposal. Our collective bargaining agreement with the second union was set to expire on November 30, 2014, but has been extended through March 13, 2015. We continue to engage in negotiations with the second union. While we believe our relationship with our unionized employees is positive and to date there have been no work disruptions as a result of the
expiration of the collective bargaining agreement, we cannot assure you that we will be able to conclude the collective bargaining agreement with the two unions on the same or similar terms as those in the prior agreement, or at all, without production interruptions, including labor stoppages. Approximately 14% of our 538 employees were unionized as of December 31, 2014. From time to time we have experienced union organizing efforts directed at our non-union employees. We may also experience labor cost increases or disruptions in our non-union facilities in circumstances in which we must compete for employees with necessary skills and experience or in tight labor markets. Any such cost increases, work stoppages or disruptions could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition, results of operations and cash flows by limiting production, sales volumes and profitability.
Our business can be seasonal in nature, and this may cause our quarterly results to vary.
Sales of our wallboard products are, similar to many building products, seasonal in that sales are generally slightly higher from spring through autumn when construction activity is greatest in our markets. As a result, our quarterly results have varied in the past and may vary from quarter to quarter in the future. Such variations could have a negative impact on the price of our common stock. Additionally, because our business is seasonal, unfavorable weather conditions during peak construction periods could have an adverse effect on our sales.
Risks Relating to our Indebtedness
Our current indebtedness, and any future indebtedness we may incur, may limit our operational and financing flexibility and negatively impact our business.
Our subsidiary, Continental Building Products Operating Company, LLC, or OpCo, is a party to a secured credit facility that was entered into in connection with the Acquisition. As of December 31, 2014, $352.0 million was outstanding under the First Lien Credit Agreement and no revolving loans were outstanding under the Revolver. We may incur substantial additional debt in the future. This credit facility, and other debt instruments we may enter into in the future, may have important consequences to you, including the following:
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our ability to obtain additional financing for working capital, capital expenditures, acquisitions or general corporate purposes may be impaired;
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the requirement that we use a significant portion of our cash flows from operations to pay interest on any outstanding indebtedness, which would reduce the funds available to us for operations and other purposes; and
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our flexibility in planning for, or reacting to, changes in our business and the industry in which we operate may be limited.
We expect that we will depend primarily on cash generated by our operations for funds to pay our expenses and any amounts due under our credit facility and any other indebtedness we may incur. Our ability to make these payments depends on our future performance, which will be affected by financial, business, economic and other factors, many of which we cannot control. Our business may not generate sufficient cash flows from operations in the future and our currently anticipated growth in revenues and cash flows may not be realized, either or both of which could result in our being unable to repay indebtedness or to fund other liquidity needs. If we do not have enough money, we may be required to refinance all or part of our then existing debt, sell assets or borrow more money, in each case on terms that may not be acceptable to us. In addition, the terms of existing or future debt agreements, including our existing credit facility, may restrict us from adopting any of these alternatives. Our ability to recapitalize and incur additional debt in the future could also delay or prevent a change in control of our company, make some transactions more difficult and impose additional financial or other covenants on us. In addition, any significant levels of indebtedness in the future could place us at a competitive disadvantage compared to our competitors that may have proportionately less debt and could make us more vulnerable to economic downturns and adverse developments in our business. Our indebtedness and any inability to pay our debt obligations as they come due or inability to incur additional debt could adversely affect our business and results of operations.
The terms of our credit facility imposes operating and financial restrictions on us.
OpCo’s credit facility contains a number of significant restrictions and covenants that generally limit OpCo’s ability to, among other things:
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incur or guarantee additional debt;
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create or incur certain liens;
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make certain loan advances;
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engage in acquisitions, consolidations, mergers, changes of control and sales of certain assets;
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pay dividends and make other distributions;
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make optional payments and modifications of junior debt instruments;
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engage in certain affiliate transactions, sales and leasebacks and pledge transactions;
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make certain restricted subsidiary distributions;
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engage in certain lines of business or activities; and
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modify certain agreements.
The credit facility limits our ability to engage in these types of transactions even if we believe that a specific transaction would contribute to our future growth or improve our operating results. The First Lien Credit Agreement also requires OpCo and its restricted subsidiaries to maintain a specific total leverage ratio in certain circumstances. See “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations-Liquidity and Capital Resources-Credit Facilities” for more information regarding the terms of this credit facility.
Our ability to comply with these provisions may be affected by events beyond our control. A breach of any of these provisions or the inability to comply with required financial ratios in the credit facility could result in a default, in which case the lenders will have the right to declare all borrowings to be immediately due and payable. If we are unable to repay all borrowings when due, whether at maturity or if declared due and payable following a default, the lenders would have the right to proceed against the collateral granted to secure the indebtedness. If we breach these covenants or fail to comply with the terms of the credit facility, and the lenders accelerate the amounts outstanding under the credit facility, our business and results of operations would be adversely affected.
Risks Related to Our Relationship with Lafarge
Our historical financial information as a division of Lafarge may not be representative of our results as an independent public company.
Certain of the historical financial information that we have included in this Annual Report on Form 10-K has been derived from the historical financial statements of Lafarge and does not necessarily reflect what our financial position, results of operations or cash flows would have been had we been an independent entity during the historical periods presented. For periods prior to the Acquisition, the historical costs and expenses reflected in our combined financial statements include an allocation for certain corporate functions historically provided by Lafarge. These allocated costs are primarily related to corporate administrative expense, employee-related costs including pensions and other benefits for corporate and shared employees, and rental and usage fees for shared assets for the following functional groups: information technology, legal services, accounting and finance services, human resources, market and contract support, customer support, treasury, facility and other corporate and infrastructural services. While we believe that these allocations are reasonable reflections of the historical utilization levels of these services in support of our business, we have not made adjustments to reflect many significant changes that have occurred in our cost structure, funding and operations as a result of the Acquisition, including changes in our employee base, changes in our legal structure, potential increased costs associated with reduced economies of scale, migration of our informational technology systems, increased marketing expenses related to establishing a new brand identity and increased costs associated with being a publicly traded, stand-alone company. As a result of the Acquisition, we have had a very limited history of functioning as a stand-alone company. As a result of these factors, the historical financial information prior to fiscal year 2014 is not necessarily representative of the amount that would have been reflected in our financial statements had we been a stand-alone company or indicative of our future results of operations, financial position, cash flows or costs and expenses. For additional information, see “Selected Financial and Operating Data,” “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations,” and our historical combined financial statements and notes thereto.
Risks Related to the Ownership of Our Common Stock
Because our common stock has only recently started trading in the public market, the trading market for our common stock may not be sustained and our common stock prices may be volatile and could decline substantially.
Prior to the initial public offering of our stock in February 2014, or the Initial Public Offering, there was no market for shares of our common stock. Although our common stock is listed on the New York Stock Exchange, or NYSE, under the symbol “CBPX,” an active trading market for the shares of our common stock may not be sustained. Accordingly, no assurance can be given as to the following:
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the likelihood that an active trading market for shares of our common stock will be sustained;
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the liquidity of any such market;
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the ability of our stockholders to sell their shares of common stock; or
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the price that our stockholders may obtain for their common stock.
If an active market is not maintained, the market price of our common stock may decline and you may not be able to sell your shares. Even in an active trading market for our common stock, the market price of our common stock may be highly volatile and subject to wide fluctuations.
Some of the factors that could negatively affect or result in fluctuations in the market price of our common stock include:
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actual or anticipated variations in our quarterly operating results;
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changes in market valuations of similar companies;
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changes in the residential, commercial or R&R construction market;
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additions or departures of key personnel;
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actions by stockholders, including the sale by Lone Star of its shares of our common stock;
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speculation in the press or investment community;
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general market, economic and political conditions, including an economic slowdown or dislocation in the global credit markets;
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changes in interest rates;
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our operating performance and the performance of other similar companies;
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changes in securities analysts’ estimates of our financial performance or lack of research and reports by industry analysts;
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changes in accounting principles;
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changes in tax laws; and
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passage of legislation or other regulatory developments that adversely affect us or the homebuilding industry.
These and other factors may lower the market price of our common stock, regardless of our actual operating performance.
Furthermore, in recent years, the stock market has experienced significant price and volume fluctuations. This volatility has had a significant impact on the market price of securities issued by many companies, including companies in our industry. The changes frequently appear to occur without regard to the operating performance of the affected companies. Hence, the price of our common stock could fluctuate based upon factors that have little or nothing to do with us, and these fluctuations could materially reduce our share price and materially affect the value of your investment.
Lone Star owns a substantial portion of our common stock, it may have conflicts of interest with other stockholders in the future and its significant ownership may limit your ability to influence corporate matters.
Lone Star beneficially owns approximately 51% of our outstanding common stock. As a result of this concentration of stock ownership, Lone Star acting on its own has sufficient voting power to effectively control all matters submitted to our stockholders for approval, including director elections and proposed amendments to our bylaws. Five of the eight members of our board of directors are employees or affiliates of Lone Star.
In addition, this concentration of ownership may delay or prevent a merger, consolidation or other business combination or change in control of our company and make some transactions that might otherwise give you the opportunity to realize a premium over the then-prevailing market price of our common stock more difficult or impossible without the support of Lone Star. The interests of Lone Star may not always coincide with our interests as a company or the interests of other stockholders. Accordingly, Lone Star could cause us to enter into transactions or agreements of which you would not approve or make decisions with which you would disagree. This concentration of ownership may also adversely affect our share price. Lone Star is also able to transfer control of us to a third-party by transferring its common stock, which would not require the approval of our board of directors or other stockholders.
Additionally, Lone Star is in the business of making investments in companies and may from time to time acquire and hold interests in businesses that compete directly or indirectly with us. Lone Star may also pursue acquisition opportunities that may be complementary to our business, and as a result, those acquisition opportunities may not be available to us. In recognition that principals, members, directors, managers, partners, stockholders, officers, employees and other representatives of Lone Star and its affiliates and investment funds may serve as our directors or officers, our certificate of incorporation provides, among other things, that none of Lone Star or any principal, member, director, manager, partner, stockholder, officer, employee or other representative of Lone Star has any duty to refrain from engaging directly or indirectly in the same or similar business activities or lines of business that we do. In the event that any of these persons or entities acquires knowledge of a potential transaction or matter which may be a corporate opportunity for itself and us, we will not have any expectancy in such corporate opportunity, and these persons and entities will not have any duty to communicate or offer such corporate opportunity to us and may pursue or acquire such corporate opportunity for itself or direct such opportunity to another person. These potential conflicts of interest could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition, results of operations or prospects if, among other things, attractive corporate opportunities are allocated by the sponsors to themselves or their other affiliates.
We are a “controlled company” within the meaning of the NYSE rules and, as a result, qualify for, and intend to rely on, exemptions from certain corporate governance requirements.
Lone Star controls a majority of the voting power of our outstanding common stock. As a result, we are a “controlled company” within the meaning of the NYSE corporate governance standards. Under the NYSE rules, a company of which more than 50% of the voting power is held by a person or group is a “controlled company” and need not comply with certain requirements, including the requirement that a majority of the board of directors consist of independent directors and the requirements that our compensation and nominating and corporate governance committees be comprised entirely of independent directors. We are utilizing these exemptions. As a result, we do not have a majority of independent directors and our compensation and nominating committees do not consist entirely of independent directors. Accordingly, you will not have the same protections afforded to stockholders of companies that are subject to all of the NYSE corporate governance requirements.
Our future operating results may fluctuate significantly and our current operating results may not be a good indication of our future performance. Fluctuations in our quarterly financial results could affect our stock price in the future.
Our revenues and operating results have historically varied from period to period and we expect that they will continue to do so as a result of a number of factors, many of which are outside of our control, including the cyclicality and seasonality of our industry. If our quarterly financial results fail to meet the expectations of securities analysts and investors, our stock price could be negatively affected. Any volatility in our quarterly financial results may make it more difficult for us to raise capital in the future or pursue acquisitions that involve issuances of our stock. Our operating results for prior periods may not be effective predictors of future performance.
We have no present intention to pay dividends on our common stock.
We have no present intention to pay cash dividends on our common stock. Any determination to pay dividends to holders of our common stock will be at the discretion of our board of directors and will depend upon many factors, including our financial condition, results of operations, projections, liquidity, earnings, legal requirements, restrictions in our debt agreements and other factors that our board of directors deems relevant. Accordingly, you may need to sell your shares of our common stock to realize a return on your investment, and you may not be able to sell your shares at or above the price you paid for them.
If securities or industry analysts do not continue to publish research or reports about our business, publish inaccurate or unfavorable research about our business or change their recommendations regarding our stock adversely, our stock price and trading volume could decline.
The trading market for our common stock is influenced in part by the research and other reports that industry or securities analysts may publish about us or our business. We currently have, but may not be able to continue, research coverage by industry or financial analysts. If analysts do not continue coverage of us, the trading price of our stock would likely be negatively impacted. Even if analyst coverage continues, if one or more of the analysts who cover us downgrade our stock, or if analysts issue other unfavorable commentary or inaccurate research, our stock price would likely decline. If one or more of these analysts cease coverage of our company or fail to regularly publish reports on us, we could lose visibility in the financial markets, which in turn could cause our stock price or trading volume to decline.
Future sales of our common stock in the public market could cause our stock price to fall.
If our principal stockholder, Lone Star, sells substantial amounts of our common stock in the public market, the market price of our common stock could decrease significantly. The perception in the public market that Lone Star might sell substantial amounts of our common stock could also depress the market price of our common stock. Any such sale or perception could also impair our ability to raise capital or pay for acquisitions using our equity securities.
As of February 24, 2015, we have 44,124,000 shares of common stock outstanding, including 22,489,250 shares that are beneficially owned by Lone Star, or approximately 51% of our outstanding shares of common stock. Unless such shares are registered under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or the Securities Act, such shares may only be resold into the public markets in accordance with the requirements of Rule 144, including the volume limitations, manner of sale requirements and notice requirements thereof. In addition, the remaining shares of our common stock that are outstanding will become eligible for sale in the public markets from time to time, subject to Securities Act restrictions.
Lone Star has the right to demand that we file a registration statement with respect to the shares of our common stock held by it, and will have the right to include its shares in any registration statement that we file with the SEC, subject to certain exceptions. Any registration of the shares owned by Lone Star would enable those shares to be sold in the public market, subject to certain restrictions in our registration rights agreement.
The market price for shares of our common stock may drop significantly when the restrictions on resale by our existing stockholder lapse or if those restrictions on resale are waived. A decline in the price of shares of our common stock might impede our ability to raise capital through the issuance of additional shares of our common stock or other equity securities. In addition, we filed a registration statement on Form S-8 under the Securities Act registering shares under our stock incentive plan. Subject to the terms of the awards granting the shares included in the S-8 registration statement and except for shares held by affiliates who will have certain restrictions on their ability to sell, the shares are available for sale in the public market immediately after the vesting of the applicable award.
In the future, we expect to issue options, restricted stock and other forms of stock-based compensation, which have the potential to dilute stockholder value and cause the price of our common stock to decline.
We currently have options outstanding to purchase 142,000 shares of common stock under our stock incentive plan, 80,500 of which are currently exercisable, and 55,000 shares of restricted stock. We expect to offer stock options, restricted stock and other forms of stock-based compensation to our directors, officers and employees in the future. If any options that we issue are exercised, or any restricted stock that we may issue vests, and those shares are sold into the public market, the market price of our common stock may decline. In addition, the availability of shares of common stock for award under our equity incentive plan, or the grant of stock options, restricted stock or other forms of stock-based compensation, may adversely affect the market price of our common stock.
Our ability to raise capital in the future may be limited.
Our business and operations may consume resources faster than we anticipate. In the future, we may need to raise additional funds through the issuance of new equity securities, debt or a combination of both. Additional financing may not be available on favorable terms, or at all. If adequate funds are not available on acceptable terms, we may be unable to fund our capital requirements. If we issue new debt securities, the debt holders would have rights senior to common stockholders to make claims on our assets, and the terms of any debt could restrict our operations, including our ability to pay dividends on our common stock. If we issue additional equity securities, existing stockholders will experience dilution, and the new equity securities could have rights senior to those of our common stock. Because our decision to issue securities in any future offering will depend on market conditions and other factors beyond our control, we cannot predict or estimate the amount, timing or nature of our future offerings. Thus, our stockholders bear the risk of our future securities offerings reducing the market price of our common stock and diluting their interest.
We are a holding company and depend on the cash flow of our subsidiaries.
We are a holding company with no material assets other than the equity interests of our subsidiaries. Our subsidiaries conduct substantially all of our operations and own substantially all of our assets and intellectual property. Consequently, our cash flow and our ability to meet our obligations and pay any future dividends to our stockholders depends upon the cash flow of our subsidiaries and the payment of funds by our subsidiaries directly or indirectly to us in the form of dividends, distributions and other payments. Any inability on the part of our subsidiaries to make payments to us could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations.
Provisions of our charter documents, Delaware law and other documents could discourage, delay or prevent a merger or acquisition at a premium price.
Provisions in our certificate of incorporation and bylaws may have the effect of delaying or preventing a change of control or changes in our management. For example, our certificate of incorporation and bylaws include provisions that:
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permit us to issue, without stockholder approval, preferred stock in one or more series and, with respect to each series, fix the number of shares constituting the series and the designation of the series, the voting powers, if any, of the shares of the series and the preferences and other special rights, if any, and any qualifications, limitations or restrictions, of the shares of the series;
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prevent stockholders from calling special meetings;
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restrict the ability of stockholders to act by written consent after such time as Lone Star owns less than a majority of our common stock;
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limit the ability of stockholders to amend our certificate of incorporation and bylaws;
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require advance notice for nominations for election to the board of directors and for stockholder proposals;
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do not permit cumulative voting in the election of our directors, which means that the holders of a majority of our common stock may elect all of the directors standing for election; and
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establish a classified board of directors with staggered three-year terms.
These provisions may discourage, delay or prevent a merger or acquisition of our company, including a transaction in which the acquiror may offer a premium price for our common stock.
We are also subject to Section 203 of the Delaware General Corporation Law, or the DGCL, which, subject to certain exceptions, prohibits us from engaging in any business combination with any interested stockholder, as defined in that section, for a period of three years following the date on which that stockholder became an interested stockholder. In addition, our equity incentive plan permits vesting of stock options and restricted stock, and payments to be made to the employees thereunder in certain circumstances, in connection with a change of control of our company, which could discourage, delay or prevent a merger or acquisition at a premium price. In addition, our credit facility, and other debt instruments we may enter into in the future, may include provisions entitling the lenders to demand immediate repayment of all borrowings upon the occurrence of certain change of control events relating to our company, which also could discourage, delay or prevent a business combination transaction.
Our certificate of incorporation includes a forum selection clause, which could limit our stockholders’ ability to obtain a favorable judicial forum for disputes with us.
Our certificate of incorporation provides that, unless we consent in writing to the selection of an alternative forum, the sole and exclusive forum for any stockholder (including any beneficial owner) to bring (i) any derivative action or proceeding brought on our behalf, (ii) any action asserting a claim of breach of a fiduciary duty owed by any of our directors, officers, or employees to us or to our stockholders, (iii) any action asserting a claim arising pursuant to any provision of the DGCL or our certificate of incorporation or bylaws, or (iv) any action asserting a claim governed by the internal affairs doctrine, will be a state court located within the State of Delaware (or, if no state court located within the State of Delaware has jurisdiction, the federal district court for the District of Delaware); in all cases subject to the court’s having personal jurisdiction over the indispensable parties named as defendants. Any person or entity purchasing or otherwise acquiring any interest in shares of our capital stock is deemed to have notice of and consented to the foregoing provisions. This forum selection provision in our certificate of incorporation may limit our stockholders’ ability to obtain a favorable judicial forum for disputes with us. It is also possible that, notwithstanding the forum selection clause included in our certificate of incorporation, a court could rule that such a provision is inapplicable or unenforceable.
Our internal controls over financial reporting may not be effective and our independent registered public accounting firm may not be able to certify as to their effectiveness, which could have a significant and adverse effect on our business and reputation.
As a public company, we are required to comply with the SEC’s rules implementing Sections 302 and 404 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act, which require management to certify financial and other information in our quarterly and annual reports and provide an annual management report on the effectiveness of controls over financial reporting. As an “emerging growth company,” as defined in the JOBS Act, our independent registered public accounting firm will not be required to formally attest to the effectiveness of our internal controls over financial reporting pursuant to Section 404 until the later of the year following our first Annual Report on Form 10-K required to be filed with the SEC or the date we are no longer an emerging growth company. At such time, our independent registered public accounting firm may issue a report that is adverse in the event that it is not satisfied with the level at which our controls are documented, designed or operating.
To comply with the requirements of being a public company, we may need to undertake various actions, such as implementing new internal controls and procedures and hiring accounting or internal audit staff. Testing and maintaining internal controls can divert our management’s attention from other matters that are important to the operation of our business. In addition, when evaluating our internal controls over financial reporting, we may identify material weaknesses that we may not be able to remediate in time to meet the applicable deadline imposed upon us for compliance with the requirements of Section 404. If we identify material weaknesses in our internal controls over financial reporting or are unable to comply with the requirements of Section 404 in a timely manner or assert that our internal controls over financial reporting is effective, or if our independent registered public accounting firm is unable to express an opinion as to the effectiveness of our internal controls over financial reporting, investors may lose confidence in the accuracy and completeness of our financial reports and the market price of our common stock could be negatively affected, and we could become subject to investigations by the SEC or other regulatory authorities, which could require additional financial and management resources.
We are an “emerging growth company” and we cannot be certain if the reduced disclosure requirements applicable to emerging growth companies will make our common stock less attractive to investors.
We are an “emerging growth company,” as defined in the JOBS Act, and we intend to take advantage of certain exemptions from various reporting requirements that are applicable to other public companies but not to emerging growth companies, including, but not limited to, an exemption from the auditor attestation requirement of Section 404 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act, which may increase the risk that weaknesses or deficiencies in our internal control over financial reporting go undetected, and reduced disclosure obligations regarding executive compensation in our periodic reports and proxy statements, which may make it more difficult for investors and securities analysts to evaluate us.
Because we are an “emerging growth company” under the JOBS Act, we have included only four, rather than five, years of selected financial information. Accordingly, we have included only a limited operating history on which investors can base an evaluation of our business, results of operations and prospects.
We cannot predict if investors will find our common stock less attractive as a result of our taking advantage of these exemptions. If some investors find our common stock less attractive as a result of our choices, there may be a less active trading market for our common stock and our stock price may be more volatile. We may take advantage of these reporting exemptions until we are no longer an emerging growth company. We could be an emerging growth company until December 31, 2019, although a variety of circumstances could cause us to lose that status earlier.
The requirements of being a public company may strain our resources and divert management’s attention, and our limited public company operating experience may impact our business and stock price.
As a U.S. public company, we are generally subject to the reporting requirements of the Exchange Act, the Sarbanes-Oxley Act (other than the auditor attestation requirement of Section 404 while we continue to qualify as an “emerging growth company”), the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act, the listing requirements of the NYSE and other applicable securities rules and regulations. Compliance with these rules and regulations will increase our legal and financial compliance costs, make some activities more difficult, time-consuming or costly and increase demand on our systems and resources, particularly after we are no longer an “emerging growth company.” The Exchange Act requires, among other things, that we file annual, quarterly and current reports with respect to our business and operating results.
As a result of disclosure of information in filings required of a public company, our business and financial condition will become more visible, which we believe may result in threatened or actual litigation, including by competitors and other third parties. If such claims are successful, our business and operating results could be harmed, and even if the claims do not result in litigation or are resolved in our favor, these claims, and the time and resources necessary to resolve them, could divert the resources of our management and adversely affect our business, brand and reputation and results of operations.
Being a public company and these new rules and regulations make it more expensive for us to obtain director and officer liability insurance. Potential liability associated with serving on a public company’s board could make it difficult for us to attract and retain qualified members of our board of directors, particularly to serve on our audit committee and compensation committee, and qualified executive officers.
Our limited public company operating experience may make it difficult to forecast and evaluate our future prospects. If we are unable to execute our business strategy, either as a result of our inability to effectively manage our business in a public company environment or for any other reason, our business, prospects, financial condition and results of operations may be harmed, which could cause our stock price to decline.
We will continue to incur increased costs as a result of being a publicly-traded company.
As a company with publicly-traded securities, we will continue to incur significant legal, accounting and other expenses not previously incurred. In addition, the Sarbanes-Oxley Act, as well as rules promulgated by the SEC and the NYSE, require us to adopt corporate governance practices applicable to U.S. public companies. These rules and regulations have increased our legal and financial compliance costs and may place a strain on our systems and resources. The Exchange Act requires that we file annual, quarterly and current reports with respect to our business and financial condition. The Sarbanes-Oxley Act requires that we maintain effective disclosure controls and procedures and internal controls over financial reporting. To maintain and improve the effectiveness of our disclosure controls and procedures, we will continue to commit significant resources, hire additional staff and provide additional management oversight. We have implemented additional procedures and processes for the purpose of addressing the standards and requirements applicable to public companies.
Item 1B.
Item 1B. UNRESOLVED STAFF COMMENTS
None
Item 2.
Item 2. PROPERTIES
We own the real property on which each of our wallboard manufacturing facilities and joint compounds finishing products facilities are located. The address of our corporate headquarters is currently 12950 Worldgate Drive, Suite 700, Herndon, VA 20170, in approximately 19,500 square feet of leased office space.
Wallboard Manufacturing Facilities
Our wallboard manufacturing facilities have an average capacity age of approximately 11 years. We believe that our wallboard facilities are some of the largest and most modern in North America, resulting in productivity levels among the highest in the industry. Our facilities operate at production speeds that are significantly faster than the industry average. Each of our facilities is able to produce a full range of our wallboard products. In 2014, our utilization rate across all of our wallboard facilities was approximately 67%. Each of our wallboard manufacturing facilities is subject to a mortgage under the First Lien Credit Agreement.
Silver Grove
Our Silver Grove facility is located on the Ohio River in the township of Silver Grove, Kentucky, just outside of Cincinnati, Ohio. The design capacity for Silver Grove is 1.7 billion square feet per year, which we believe makes it the largest wallboard facility in North America.
Palatka
Our Palatka facility is located approximately 50 miles southwest of Jacksonville, Florida, near the I-95 corridor. The design capacity of the Palatka facility is 900 million square feet, or mmsf, per year.
Buchanan
The Buchanan facility is located on the Hudson River, approximately 40 miles north of Manhattan and has a capacity of 650 mmsf per year.
Finishing Products
We operate two joint compound plants as part of our finishing products business. The Chambly plant is located approximately 20 miles outside of Montreal, and the Silver Grove joint compound plant is within our Silver Grove wallboard facility just outside of Cincinnati, Ohio.
We believe that our existing properties are adequate for our current requirements and our operations in the foreseeable future.
Item 3.
Item 3. LEGAL PROCEEDINGS
We have been from time to time, and may in the future become, party to litigation or other legal proceedings that we consider to be part of the ordinary course of our business. We are not currently involved in any legal proceedings that could be reasonably expected to have a material adverse effect on our business or our results of operations. We may become involved in material legal proceedings in the future. See Part II, Item 8, Financial Statements and Supplementary Data - Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements, Note 10, Commitments and Contingencies, for information on certain legal proceedings.
Item 4.
Item 4. MINE SAFETY DISCLOSURES
Not applicable.
PART II
Item 5.
Item 5. MARKET FOR REGISTRANT’S COMMON EQUITY, RELATED STOCKHOLDER MATTERS AND ISSUER PURCHASES OF EQUITY SECURITIES
Prior to February 5, 2014, our outstanding common stock was privately held and there was no established public trading market for our common stock. On February 5, 2014, we sold 11,765,000 shares of common stock in the Initial Public Offering at a price of $14.00 per share pursuant to a Registration Statement on Form S-1, which was declared effective by the Securities and Exchange Commission on February 4, 2014. Our common stock began trading on the NYSE on February 5, 2014 under the symbol CBPX. As of February 20, 2015, there were 3 holders of record of our common stock.
We currently do not pay dividends on our common stock and we have no present intention to pay cash dividends on our common stock. Any determination to pay dividends to holders of our common stock will be at the discretion of our board of directors and will depend upon many factors, including our financial condition, results of operations, projections, liquidity, earnings, legal requirements, restrictions in our debt agreements and other factors that our board of directors deems relevant. Our credit facility contains, and debt instruments that we enter into in the future may contain, covenants that place limitations on the amount of dividends we may pay. In addition, under Delaware law, our board of directors may declare dividends only to the extent of our surplus, which is defined as total assets at fair market value minus total liabilities, minus statutory capital, or, if there is no surplus, out of our net profits for the then current and immediately preceding year.
See Part III, Item 12, Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and Management and Related Stockholder Matters, for information regarding common stock authorized for issuance under equity compensation plans.
The following table sets forth, for the 2014 periods indicated, the high and low sales prices per share for our common stock as quoted by the NYSE.
Item 6.
Item 6. SELECTED FINANCIAL DATA
The following financial data should be read in conjunction with the audited financial statements and the related notes included elsewhere in this Annual Report on Form 10-K.
The financial statements included herein may not necessarily reflect our financial position, results of operations and cash flows as if we had operated as a stand-alone public company during all periods presented. Accordingly, the historical results should not be relied upon as an indicator of our future performance.
As discussed in more detail under Item 1 - Business-The Acquisition, we acquired the gypsum division of Lafarge North America Inc. on August 30, 2013. The accompanying financial statements are presented for the “Predecessor,” which are the combined financial statements of the Lafarge gypsum division for the period preceding the Acquisition, and the “Successor,” which are the consolidated financial statements of us and our subsidiaries for the period following the Acquisition. We were formed on July 26, 2013 and had no results of operations prior to the Acquisition on August 30, 2013. As such, our consolidated results of operations reflect activity of the acquired business for the four months from August 30, 2013 through December 31, 2013. The Predecessor’s combined statements of operations data for the years ended December 31, 2011 and 2012 and for the period from January 1, 2013 to August 30, 2013, and the Predecessor’s combined balance sheet data as of December 31, 2012 and 2011 have been derived from the audited combined financial statements of the Lafarge gypsum division. Our balance sheet data as of December 31, 2013 and December 31, 2014 and consolidated statements of operations for the period July 26, 2013 to
December 31, 2013 and the year ended December 31, 2014 are derived from the Successor consolidated financial statements, which are included elsewhere in this Annual Report on Form 10-K. The Predecessor’s financial statements may not necessarily be indicative of the cost structure or results of operations that would have existed if the gypsum division of Lafarge operated as a stand-alone, independent business. The Acquisition was accounted for as a business combination, which resulted in a new basis of accounting. The Predecessor’s and the Successor’s financial statements are not comparable as a result of applying a new basis of accounting. See the Notes to the consolidated financial statements for additional information regarding the accounting treatment of the Acquisition.
(1) EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA are non-GAAP measures. See “-Reconciliation of Non-GAAP Measures” in Item 7.
Item 7. MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS
The following discussion and analysis is intended to help the reader understand our business, financial condition, results of operations, liquidity and capital resources. You should read this discussion in conjunction with “Risk Factors”, “Forward-Looking Statements”, “Selected Historical Financial and Operating Data”, and our financial statements and related notes included elsewhere in this Annual Report on Form 10-K.
Until the consummation of the Acquisition, the gypsum division of Lafarge held all of the historical assets and liabilities related to our business and is referred to as the “Predecessor”. We believe it is more meaningful also to present the historical results of operations of the Predecessor. Also included in the discussion below are the unaudited pro forma combined results of operations for the years ended December 31, 2013 and 2012. The unaudited pro forma combined results of operations are based on our historical financial statements included below, adjusted to give effect to the Acquisition, dividend recapitalization, and our Initial Public Offering, assuming such transactions had been completed as of January 1, 2012. The unaudited pro forma combined results of operations are presented since the results for 2014 are not comparable to 2013, and the historical results for 2013 are not comparable to the corresponding 2012 period. As discussed in Item 1 - Business, the Acquisition occurred on August 30, 2013, and therefore the 2013 historical results are presented separately for the period from January 1, 2013 to August 30, 2013 (Predecessor basis) and the period from July 26, 2013 to December 31, 2013 (Successor basis). Accordingly, it is difficult to make comparisons of the results for 2014 to the results of 2013, and the historical results for 2013 to the historical results of 2012. We believe it is a more meaningful and useful discussion to compare the results of operations for the 2013 and 2012 periods on a pro forma combined basis and the actual historical year ended December 31, 2014 to the combined pro forma results for the year ended December 31, 2013. The pro forma combined results discussed herein are derived from the pro forma combined financial information presented below under “-Description of Pro Forma Adjustments for the Unaudited Combined Pro Forma Results of Operations for 2013 and 2012.”
It should be noted, however, that the historical results for net sales for the period from January 1, 2013 to August 30, 2013, when combined with the historical results for net sales for the period from July 26, 2013 to December 31, 2013, are the same as on a pro forma basis. Accordingly, the following analyzes the Company, the Predecessor, and the pro forma combined results of operations for the years ended December 31, 2014, 2013 and 2012, as applicable.
Overview
We are a leading manufacturer of gypsum wallboard and complementary finishing products in the eastern United States and eastern Canada. We operate highly efficient and automated manufacturing facilities that produce a full range of gypsum wallboard products for our diversified customer base. We sell our products in the new residential, R&R and commercial construction markets. We believe our operating efficiencies, favorable plant locations, manufacturing expertise and focus on delivering superior customer service position us to benefit from an anticipated increase in gypsum wallboard demand as the housing market recovers from historic lows.
Basis of Presentation
The historical consolidated financial statements for the period July 26, 2013 to December 31, 2013, which are discussed below, include operating results from the acquired gypsum business of Lafarge, which was acquired on August 30, 2013. Prior to August 30, 2013, the Company had no operating activity. As such, unaudited pro forma combined results of operations are presented for the years ended December 31, 2012 and 2013 because management believes they provide a meaningful comparison of operating results, with both periods adjusted for the impact of the Acquisition and our Initial Public Offering.
The historical combined financial statements of the Predecessor, which are discussed below, are prepared in accordance with GAAP and are derived from Lafarge’s consolidated financial statements and accounting records using the historical results of operations and assets and liabilities attributed to the gypsum operations, and include allocations of expenses from Lafarge. The historical financial statements and pro forma financial statements are not necessarily indicative of future performance or representative of the amounts that would have been incurred had we been a separate, stand-alone entity that operated independently of Lafarge during the periods prior to the consummation of the Acquisition.
The Predecessor statements of operations include expense allocations for certain corporate functions historically provided by Lafarge. These allocated costs related to corporate administrative expenses, employee related costs, including pensions and other benefits for corporate shared employees, and rental and usage fees for shared assets for the following functional groups: information technology, legal services, accounting and finance services, human resources, marketing and contract support, customer support, treasury, facility and other corporate infrastructural services. The costs of such services have been allocated based on the most meaningful respective allocation methodologies for the service provided, primarily based on proportionate revenue, proportionate headcount or proportionate direct labor costs compared to Lafarge and/or its subsidiaries. These allocations are reflected in selling and administrative expenses in the Predecessor statements of operations and totaled $4.9 million for the period January 1 to August 30, 2013 and $7.0 million for the year ended December 31, 2012.
Included in the allocations for the Predecessor are $3.0 million for the period January 1, to August 30, 2013, and $3.6 million for the year ended December 31, 2012, representing payments to Lafarge for use of the Lafarge brand under the master brand agreements which are not incurred by us as a public company. We consider these allocations to be a reasonable reflection of the utilization of services provided. The allocations may not, however, reflect the expense that we would have incurred as a stand-alone company. Actual costs that may have been incurred if we had been a stand-alone public company in 2012 and through August 30, 2013, would depend on a number of factors, including our chosen organizational structure, what functions were outsourced or performed by our employees and strategic decisions made in areas such as information technology systems and infrastructure. See Note 11 to the audited financial statements included in this Annual Report on Form 10-K. As a newly public company, we may incur additional unexpected costs related to our status as a public company.
Prior to the consummation of the Acquisition, the Predecessor used Lafarge’s centralized processes and systems for cash management, payroll, and purchasing. As a result, substantially all cash received by the Predecessor was deposited in and commingled with Lafarge’s general corporate funds and was not specifically allocated to the business. The net results of these cash transactions between Lafarge and the Predecessor are reflected as net Lafarge investment within equity in the combined balance sheets of the Predecessor included elsewhere in this Annual Report on Form 10-K. In addition, the net Lafarge investment represents Lafarge’s interest in the recorded net assets of the business and represents the cumulative net investment by Lafarge in the business through the dates presented, inclusive of cumulative operating results.
Due to these and other changes in connection with our Initial Public Offering, the historical financial information included in this Annual Report on Form 10-K is not necessarily indicative of our financial position, results of operations and cash flows in the future or what our financial position, results of operations and cash flows would have been had we been a separate, stand-alone entity that operated independently of Lafarge prior to the consummation of the Acquisition.
Our primary reportable segment is wallboard, which accounted for approximately 96% of our 2014 and 2013 full year net sales. We also operate other business activities, primarily finishing products, which complement our full range of wallboard products. See Note 15 to the audited financial statements included in this Annual Report on Form 10-K.
Corporate Separation Transactions
Our business was operated as a division of Lafarge from 1996 until August 30, 2013, and our assets, liabilities and operating results were included in the consolidated financial statements of Lafarge during that time. As part of the Acquisition, Lafarge transferred to us the assets and liabilities of its gypsum division reflected in the combined financial statements included elsewhere in this Annual Report on Form 10-K.
Our audited financial statements included elsewhere in this Annual Report on Form 10-K, which are discussed below, reflect the historical financial position, results of operations and cash flows of the business that was transferred to us from Lafarge pursuant to the Acquisition.
Factors Affecting our Results
Our net sales are a function of shipped volume and average net selling price. Traditionally, new housing starts have been the most significant driver of U.S. wallboard demand. Starting in 2007, the wallboard industry suffered a dramatic decrease in demand, coinciding with the significant downturn of the U.S. housing market and the associated credit crisis and global recession. U.S. housing starts fell from a cyclical peak of 2.1 million in 2005 to a low of 554,000 in 2009. Correspondingly, U.S. wallboard consumption declined by more than 50% from 36.2 bsf in 2005 to a low of 17.1 bsf in 2010. Pricing across the industry suffered over this period due to the decline in demand. Industry-wide wallboard capacity contracted during the housing downturn from a peak of approximately 39.6 bsf in 2008 to a low of 33.1 bsf in 2012 as producers shuttered older and less efficient facilities or mothballed unneeded capacity. We believe that the U.S. housing market is in the early stages of a recovery. Housing starts reached 0.78 million and 0.93 million in 2012 and 2013, respectively, driving U.S. wallboard consumption to 18.9 bsf and 20.5 bsf in 2012 and 2013, respectively. In 2014 housing starts are estimated to have reached over 1.0 million for the first time since 2007 and wallboard consumption increased to 21.5 bsf. In addition, we increased prices in the first quarter of 2012, 2013 and 2014, and have announced a price increase for the first quarter of 2015. We anticipate that improving market conditions in 2015 will drive continued growth in U.S. wallboard demand, higher industry volumes and continuation of a strong pricing environment.
Paper and synthetic gypsum are our principal wallboard raw materials. Paper constitutes our most significant input cost and the most significant driver of our variable manufacturing costs. Energy costs, consisting of natural gas and electricity, and synthetic gypsum are the other key components of variable manufacturing costs. In total, manufacturing cash costs represented 62% for 2014 and 62% and 61% of our cost of goods sold for 2013 and 2012 on a pro forma basis, respectively. Depreciation and amortization represented 16%, 16% and 20% of our cost of goods sold for 2014 and, on a pro forma basis, 2013 and 2012, respectively. Distribution costs to deliver product to our customers represented the remaining portion of our cost of goods sold, or approximately 22%, 22% and 19% of our cost of goods sold for 2014 and, on a pro forma basis, 2013 and 2012, respectively.
Variable manufacturing costs, including inputs such as paper, gypsum, natural gas, and other raw materials, represented 70%, and 66% and 65% of our manufacturing cash costs for 2014 and, on a pro forma basis, 2013 and 2012, respectively. Fixed production costs excluding depreciation and amortization consisted of labor, maintenance, and other costs that represented 30% and, on a pro forma basis, 34% and 35% of manufacturing cash costs for 2013 and 2012, respectively.
We currently purchase substantially all of our paperboard liner from Seven Hills Paperboard LLC, a joint venture that was originally between Lafarge and RockTenn, but was assigned by Lafarge to us effective March 13, 2014. Under the agreement with Seven Hills, the price of paper adjusts based on changes in the underlying costs of production of the paperboard liner, of which the two most significant are recovered waste paper and natural gas. The largest waste paper source used by the operation is old cardboard containers (known as OCC). Seven Hills has the capacity to supply us with approximately 75% of our paper needs at our full capacity utilization and all of our needs at current capacity utilization on market-based pricing terms that we consider favorable. We believe we can also purchase additional paper on the spot market at competitive prices.
We manufacture all of our wallboard products using synthetic gypsum. We purchase almost all of our synthetic gypsum supplies from coal-fired power plants that are easily accessible to our wallboard facilities. To secure our gypsum supplies, we have entered into long-term agreements with major suppliers, with remaining terms (with extensions) ranging from approximately 10 to 35 years. Our supply contracts provide for a base price with escalation provisions. These contracts are generally structured as “take-or-pay” arrangements, where the sellers are required to supply a specified annual amount of gypsum and we are required to buy a specified annual amount, or else, in either case, pay contractual penalties. Our long-term supply agreements fully cover all of our synthetic gypsum needs at current capacity utilization levels, which allows for significant scalability in our wallboard production. In addition, we believe that we would be able to purchase additional synthetic gypsum on the open market to the extent any production increases require it or if market conditions are favorable.
Our manufacturing processes utilize significant amounts of natural gas and electricity. In 2014, the Company entered into four natural gas swap contracts covering slightly less than half of our natural gas demand. We purchase the remaining amount of natural gas and all electricity at spot prices on the open market. We may in the future consider re-implementing a hedging strategy for electricity to the extent warranted by market conditions.
Results of Operations
(1) EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA are non-GAAP measures. See “-Reconciliation of Non-GAAP Measures” below for how we define and calculate EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA as non-GAAP measures, reconciliations thereof to operating income, the most directly comparable GAAP measure, and a description of why we believe these measures are important.
(2) Mill net sales price represents average selling price per thousand square feet net of freight and delivery costs.
July 26 to December 31, 2013
The Company was formed on July 26, 2013 and had no operating results until the Acquisition of the gypsum division of Lafarge on August 30, 2013. The Acquisition was accounted for as a business combination, which required the revaluation of the net assets acquired at fair value. Also as part of the Acquisition, we issued approximately $465.0 million of debt. As a result of these factors, the Company’s and the Predecessor’s financial statements are not comparable. See “ - Description of Pro Forma Adjustments for the Unaudited Combined Pro Forma Results of Operations for 2013 and 2012” below.
Net sales for the Successor period ended December 31, 2013 were $150.1 million. Strength in gypsum wallboard volumes and pricing supported net sales throughout the period. Total costs and operating expenses were $136.3 million for the Successor period ended December 31, 2013, resulting in operating income of $13.8 million. Net interest expense for the Successor period ended December 31, 2013 was $10.5 million and relates to the $465 million of debt that was issued in conjunction with the Acquisition, along with an additional $130 million of debt added in early December 2013. Income tax expense was $1.1 million for the Successor period ending December 31, 2013, yielding an effective tax rate of approximately 34.5% for the period. Net income for this period was $2.1 million, reflecting the positive operating income offset by interest expense and income taxes.
Full Year Ended December 31, 2014 (Successor) Compared to Pro Forma Full Year Ended December 31, 2013
Net Sales. Net sales increased by $22.2 million, up 5.5% from $402.3 million for the pro forma year ended December 31, 2013, to $424.5 million for the year ended December 31, 2014 (Successor). The increase was primarily attributable to the increase in the average net selling price for gypsum wallboard, which contributed approximately $24.4 million of additional net sales at constant exchange rates. Total volume growth of 0.9% was driven by a U.S. volume increase of 2.9%, partly offset by a decrease in Canadian volumes. Overall volumes had a $3.5 million favorable impact on net sales. An unfavorable $3.4 million impact of foreign currency, and $2.3 million in lower sales of our other products of contributed to the remaining difference.
Cost of Goods Sold. Cost of goods sold decreased $2.6 million, down 0.8% from $332.8 million for the pro forma year ended December 31, 2013 to $330.2 million for the year ended December 31, 2014 (Successor). Approximately $8.1 million of the decrease was due to one-time lease termination costs incurred in the third quarter of 2013 with no lease termination costs in 2014. Energy costs and freight costs rose by $5.3 million and $3.3 million, respectively. Foreign currency had a favorable impact of $3.1 million on cost of goods sold.
Selling and Administrative Expense. Selling and administrative expense decreased $6.2 million, down 15.6% to $33.6 million for the year ended December 31, 2014 (Successor) compared to $39.8 million for the pro forma year ended December 31, 2013. This decrease was primarily driven by higher non-recurring costs that occurred in 2013 and not in 2014. These non-recurring costs included $3.3 million of Acquisition closing fees and other costs that did not carry over to the Successor, including $2.2 million of pension costs and $3.0 million in master branding agreement costs for the pro forma year ended December 31, 2013. Higher information technology and other costs associated with the transition to being a stand-alone public company, along with $1.2 million of fees paid to Lafarge under the transition services agreement in 2014 (Successor), partially offset this decrease.
Operating (Loss) Income. Operating income increased $31.0 million, from $29.8 million for the pro forma year ended December 31, 2013 to $60.8 million for the year ended December 31, 2014 (Successor). The difference was driven mostly by $22.2 million in higher net sales, $6.2 million in lower selling and administrative expenses and $2.6 million in lower cost of goods sold.
Other (Expense) Income, Net. Other (expense) income, net, was a net expense of $5.6 million for the year ended December 31, 2014 (Successor), compared to other expense, net, of $0.2 million in the pro forma year ended December 31, 2013, primarily due to the $3.1 million prepayment premium for the repayment of the Second Lien Credit Agreement and a $2.0 million payment of termination fees to affiliates of Lone Star in connection with the termination of our asset advisory agreement.
Interest Expense, Net. Interest expense increased $5.7 million from $23.4 million for the pro forma year ended December 31, 2013 to $29.1 million for the year ended December 31, 2014 (Successor). The increase is primarily due to a write-off of original issue discount and deferred financing fees associated with the early repayment of the Second Lien Credit Agreement on February 10, 2014. The effect of the write-off was offset by a reduction of the interest rate on the debt related to the First Lien Credit Agreement in 2014, in connection with achieving lower leverage ratios and to a credit rating upgrade by Moody’s (See Note 13 to the audited financial statements included in this Annual Report on Form 10-K). Interest expense in 2014 was further reduced as a result of lower borrowings in the year due to $62 million of principal payments throughout the year.
Income Tax Benefit (Expense). Income tax expense was $10.0 million for the year ended December 31, 2014 (Successor). A valuation allowance of $0.4 million related to Canadian activities was recorded at December 31, 2014. Income tax expense for the pro forma year ended December 31, 2013 was $1.2 million due to the benefit of net operating losses that had been previously reserved with a valuation allowance. No valuation allowance was recorded as of December 31, 2013 as management concluded that it was more likely than not that the tax asset would be realized.
Net income. Net income increased $11.0 million, from $4.9 million for the pro forma year ended December 31, 2013 to $15.9 million for the year ended December 31, 2014 (Successor). The increase was due to higher net sales price in 2014 and non-recurring charges in 2013, partially offset by higher energy costs, depreciation and amortization and interest expense in 2014.
Pro Forma Full Year Ended December 31, 2013 Compared to Pro Forma Full Year Ended December 31, 2012
The unaudited pro forma combined results of operations are based on our historical unaudited financial statements included elsewhere in this Annual Report on Form 10-K, adjusted to give pro forma effect to the Acquisition, increased debt and dividend to Lone Star, and use of proceeds from our Initial Public Offering to repay debt. The unaudited pro forma combined results of operations are presented because management believes they provide a meaningful comparison of operating results for the year-ended December 31, 2013, to be compared with operating results for the year-ended December 31, 2012. See “-Description of Pro forma Adjustments for the Unaudited Combined Pro Forma Results of Operations for 2013 and 2012” below.
Pro Forma Net Sales. Pro forma net sales were $402.3 million for the year ended December 31, 2013, an increase of 29.2% from $311.4 million for the year ended December 31, 2012. The increase was primarily attributable to a 17.7% increase in the average mill-net selling price for gypsum wallboard, which contributed approximately $48.4 million of additional net sales, and a 13.5% increase in gypsum wallboard sales volume, which contributed approximately $39.9 million of additional net sales. Favorable foreign exchange of $1.3 million and improved sales in our other products contributed to the remaining increase.
Pro Forma Total Costs and Operating Expenses. Pro forma total costs and operating expenses increased by 4.3% to $372.5 million for the year ended December 31, 2013 compared to $356.8 million for the year ended December 31, 2012. Pro forma cost of goods sold was $332.8 million for the year ended December 31, 2013, an increase of 3.3% from $322.1 million in the prior year. Included in 2013 were costs for the termination of our Newark, New Jersey lease of $2.6 million and expenses for the termination of our co-generation power system lease of $3.3 million as compared to 2012 where we accelerated depreciation of $10.1 million for our Newark gypsum wallboard plant and wrote-off spare parts for $1.2 million. Excluding these items, cost of goods sold increased approximately $16.2 million. Higher sales volumes drove most of this increase, with additional freight increasing costs by approximately $10.0 million, higher usages of raw materials driving a $15.6 million increase, partially offset by lower raw material costs of $6.9 million and lower depreciation and amortization of $3.2 million. Foreign exchange contributed to an additional $1.3 million in costs of sales. During this time period, total plant capacity utilization rates increased from the mid 50% range for the year ended December 31, 2012 to slightly higher than 60% for 2013.
Pro forma selling and administrative expense increased $5.0 million, up 14.4%, mostly driven by $3.3 million of Acquisition closing costs. The remaining increase was comprised of higher fees associated with the master brand agreement and higher professional fees.
Pro Forma Operating (Loss) Income. The pro forma operating income of $29.8 million for the year ended December 31, 2013 improved from pro forma operating loss of $45.4 million for the year ended December 31, 2012. The improvement was driven by higher prices, improving sales volumes, and lower paperboard liner costs.
Pro Forma Other (Expense) Income, Net. Pro forma other (expense) income, net, was a net expense of $0.2 million for the year ended December 31, 2013 compared to $0.4 million net expense in the prior year. The decrease is due to third party debt issuance cost in the amount of $0.4 million recorded in the prior year.
Pro Forma Interest Expense, Net. Pro forma interest expense, net, assumes that the Acquisition debt was outstanding and that proceeds from our Initial Public Offering were used to repay debt as of January 1, 2012. Interest expense remained stable at $23.4 million for the year ended December 31, 2013 as compared to $23.2 million for 2012.
Pro Forma Income Tax (Expense). Pro forma income tax expense rose slightly to $1.2 million for the year ended December 31, 2013 compared to a $0.4 million income tax benefit for 2012. Given the history of pre-tax losses of the Predecessor, a valuation allowance was provided on a substantial portion of the deferred tax assets in the Predecessor financial statements. This resulted in tax rates substantially different from the U.S. federal statutory rate of 35%. A valuation allowance was not recorded as of December 31, 2013. Refer to Note 9 to the audited financial statements for a reconciliation of the effective tax rate for the Successor financial statements.
Pro forma net income (loss) . Pro forma net income for the year ended December 31, 2013 was $4.9 million compared to a pro forma loss of $68.7 million for 2012. The improved performance was primarily due to higher prices and volumes along with lower costs for paperboard liner.
Description of Pro forma Adjustments for the Unaudited Combined Pro Forma Results of Operations for 2013 and 2012
The following unaudited pro forma combined statements of operations data for the years ended December 31, 2013 and 2012 has been derived by application of pro forma adjustments to our historical combined financial statements included elsewhere in this Annual Report on Form 10-K. The unaudited pro forma combined financial information is for illustrative and informational purposes only and does not purport to represent what our financial position or results of operations would have been if we had operated as a stand-alone public company during the periods presented or if the transactions described below had actually occurred as of the dates indicated, nor does it project our financial position at any future date or our results of operations or cash flows for any future period.
Our unaudited pro forma combined financial information has been prepared to reflect adjustments to our historical financial information that are: (1) directly attributable to the transactions described below; (2) factually supportable; and (3) expected to have a continuing impact on our results. The unaudited pro forma combined financial information does not include non-recurring items, including, but not limited to, legal and advisory fees related to our Initial Public Offering. The unaudited pro forma combined financial information gives effect to the following transactions, or the Pro Forma Transactions, as if they had occurred as of January 1, 2012:
•
the Acquisition;
•
the additional borrowings under our First and Second Lien Credit Agreements and the distribution of such borrowings to our sponsor, Lone Star;
•
the completion of our Initial Public Offering;
•
use of the net proceeds of our Initial Public Offering to repay debt; and
•
other adjustments described in the notes to the unaudited pro forma combined financial information.
At the closing of the Acquisition, we entered into a transitional services agreement, under which Lafarge provided certain services to us that were previously provided when we were wholly owned by Lafarge for fees specified in that agreement. The services included corporate services, such as information technology, accounting and finance services, marketing support, customer support, treasury, facility and other corporate and infrastructural services. The transitional services agreement was terminated in the fourth quarter of 2014 as we transitioned these activities to our own organization. As a newly public company, we may incur additional unexpected costs related to our status as a public company.
Continental Building Products, Inc.
Pro Forma Combined Statement of Operations
Full Year Ended December 31, 2013
(Unaudited)
See accompanying notes to the pro forma statements of operations.
Continental Building Products, Inc.
Pro Forma Combined Statement of Operations
Full Year Ended December 31, 2012
(Unaudited)
See accompanying notes to the pro forma statements of operations.
Notes to the unaudited pro forma statements of operations:
(a) Purchase Accounting
The unaudited pro forma combined statements of operations reflect an adjustment for the increase in depreciation and amortization expenses related to the fair value adjustments to tangible and long-lived intangible assets with definite lives assuming the Acquisition occurred at January 1, 2012. The incremental pro forma amortization expense for long-lived intangible assets with definite lives was $10.4 and $20.4 million for the full year 2013 and 2012, respectively. The incremental pro forma depreciation expense for long-lived tangible assets was $7.2 and $10.2 million for the full year 2013 and 2012, respectively.
The unaudited combined statements of operations also reflect an adjustment to increase cost of sales by $1.5 million for the 2012, with a corresponding reduction to cost of sales for 2013. This reflects the turn through cost of sales of inventory that was stepped up to fair value assuming that the transaction occurred on January 1, 2012.
(b) Equity Awards
In conjunction with our Initial Public Offering that we completed in February 2014, we granted approximately 142,000 stock options and 75,000 restricted shares to employees. The fair value of the restricted shares is based on the share price on the date of grant, which was the offering price of $14.00 per share. The fair value of the stock options was determined using the Black Scholes option pricing model as described in Note 16 to the audited financial statements included in this Annual Report on Form 10-K. The unaudited combined statements of operations reflect compensation expense for this award assuming the awards were granted on January 1, 2012. Pro forma compensation expense of $0.5 million has been recognized in selling and administrative expense for 2013 and 2012 based on a vesting period of four years.
(c) Debt modification
Represents third party fees incurred in connection with debt upsizing.
(d) Debt financing
In connection with the Acquisition, we entered into a $320 million First Lien Credit Agreement that also included a revolving credit facility of up to $50 million U.S. dollars, and a $120 million Second Lien Credit Agreement. At the closing of the Acquisition, US $28.5 million was borrowed under the Revolver. On December 2, 2013, we entered into amendments to the First Lien Credit Agreement and the Second Lien Credit Agreement pursuant to which we issued additional term loans in an aggregate principal amount of $95 million under the First Lien Credit Agreement and $35 million under the Second Lien Credit Agreement with the proceeds distributed as a return of capital to our owner, Lone Star. On February 10, 2014, we used the proceeds from our Initial Public Offering to completely repay the $155 million due under the Second Lien Credit Agreement. For our pro forma statements of operations, all three of these events are assumed to have happened on January 1, 2012 and result in the unaudited pro forma combined statements of operations reflecting an adjustment for interest expense and the amortization of deferred financing costs on the $415 million First Lien Term Loans and approximately $28.5 million Revolver borrowings. Incremental pro forma interest expense was $12.8 and $22.9 million for 2013 and 2012, respectively.
The borrowings for the debt assumed to be outstanding at January 1, 2012 are floating rate at LIBOR plus a specified spread (plus 3.75% for the First Lien Term Loans and plus 3% for the Revolver), with the agreements stipulating a LIBOR floor of 1%. A rise of current interest rate levels to above the 1% floor would be required to increase our interest expense and a reduction in interest rates would have no impact. As of December 31, 2013, we had elected to use three month LIBOR with a rate of 0.25%. A hypothetical 1% increase in interest rates would have increased interest expense by $1.1 million for the pro forma full year 2013.
The termination fee of $2.0 million for the asset advisory agreement with an affiliate of Lone Star and the $3.1 million for the 2% call premium on early repayment of our Second Lien Credit Agreement were not included in the pro forma income statement as each represents a non-recurring expense.
(e) Interest in Seven Hills
As of the Acquisition and through December 31, 2013, the equity interest in Seven Hills remained with Lafarge. Under the terms of the Asset Purchase Agreement entered into in connection with the Acquisition, Lafarge passed through all of the benefits and burdens of the Joint Venture Agreement and the other operative agreements to us, and our supply of paper from the joint venture continued after the closing of the Acquisition under the same terms and conditions as existed prior to the Acquisition. We elected to measure this financial interest in Seven Hills at fair value and the pro forma combined statements of operations eliminate the equity earnings of this investment. On March 13, 2014, Lafarge assigned its interest in Seven Hills to us.
(f) Income taxes
Due to our limited history and the history of pre-tax losses generated by the Predecessor, deferred tax benefits were not recorded on the pro forma adjustments.
Reconciliation of Non-GAAP Measures
EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA have been presented in this Annual Report on Form 10-K as supplemental measures of financial performance that are not required by, or presented in accordance with, GAAP. We have presented EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA as supplemental performance measures because we believe that they facilitate a comparative assessment of our operating performance relative to our performance based on our results under GAAP while isolating the effects of some items that vary from period to period without any correlation to core operating performance and eliminate certain charges that we believe do not reflect our operations and underlying operational performance. We also believe that EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA are useful to investors because they present a better reflection of our performance as an independent company following the Acquisition and allows investors to view our business through the eyes of management and the board of directors, facilitating comparison of results across historical periods.
EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA may not be comparable to similarly titled measures of other companies because other companies may not calculate EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA in the same manner as we do. EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA are not measurements of our financial performance under GAAP and should not be considered in isolation or as alternatives to operating income determined in accordance with GAAP or any other financial statement data presented as indicators of financial performance or liquidity, each as calculated and presented in accordance with GAAP.
The following table reconciles operating income to EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA:
(in thousands)
(a) Lafarge retained the pension and post-retiree liabilities related to its gypsum division and no new plans have been established by Continental. The adjustment represents pension and post-retiree benefit costs allocated to the Predecessor.
(b) Adjusts for the amounts paid to Lafarge under the master brand agreements by Lafarge that were discontinued after the Acquisition.
(c) Adjusts for special payouts paid by Lafarge related to a retention program due to the process of disposing of its gypsum business.
(d) Adjusts for the write-off of spare parts related to the closure of the Newark, New Jersey gypsum wallboard plant.
(e) Adjusts for the payment of a lease termination fee to the Port of Newark related the Newark, New Jersey plant closure.
(f) Adjusts for the payment of a lease termination fee to discontinue the use of the co-generation power plant.
(g) Adjusts for the transaction costs associated with the Acquisition.
(h) Adjusts for step-up to fair value of inventory that increased cost of sales for one month after the Acquisition.
Liquidity and Capital Resources
Prior to the Acquisition on August 30, 2013, our primary source of liquidity was cash from operations and borrowings or advances from Lafarge. Our business used Lafarge’s centralized processes and systems for cash management, payroll and purchasing. As a result, all cash received by the business was deposited in and commingled with Lafarge’s general corporate funds and was not specifically allocated to the business. The combined financial statements for the periods prior to the consummation of the Acquisition therefore reflect a cash sweep or contribution at the end of the relevant fiscal periods and no retained cash balances.
Since the Acquisition, our primary sources of liquidity are cash on hand, cash from operations, and borrowings under the debt financing arrangements that we entered into in connection with the Acquisition. We believe these sources will be sufficient to fund our planned operations and capital expenditures.
The following table sets forth a summary of the net cash provided by (used in) operating, investing and financing activities for the Company for the year ended December 31, 2014 (Successor), for the period July 26 to December 31, 2013 (Successor) and for the Predecessor’s activities for the period January 1, 2013 to August 30, 2013, and the year ended December 31, 2012 (in thousands):
Net Cash Provided by Operating Activities
Net cash provided by operating activities was $78.0 million for the year ended December 31, 2014 (Successor). Net cash provided by operating activities for the period July 26, 2013 to December 31, 2013 (Successor) was $37.4 million. Net cash provided by operating activities under the Predecessor was $24.7 million for the period from January 1, 2013 through August 30, 2013, up from $16.4 million for the year ended December 31, 2012. This improvement was primarily due to net income being generated in 2013 versus a loss in 2012.
Net Cash Used In Investing Activities
Net cash used in investing activities of the Successor was $7.7 million for the year ended December 31, 2014 and $705.9 million for the period July 26, 2013 to December 31, 2013. The investing activities for the year ended December 31, 2014 primarily reflect capital expenditures and software purchased or developed, partially offset by distributions received from Seven Hills. The investing activities for the period July 26 to December 31, 2013 (Successor) include the $703.1 million purchase price of the Acquisition.
Net cash used in investing activities under the Predecessor was $2.0 million for the period from January 1, 2013 through August 30, 2013, as compared to $4.4 million for the year ended December 31, 2012, primarily reflecting capital expenditures in both periods.
Net Cash Provided by (Used In) by Financing Activities
Net cash used in financing activities of the Successor in 2014 was $65.6 million. In 2014, net proceeds of $151.4 million from the Initial Public Offering were used to repay the Second Lien Credit Agreement. In 2014, approximately $62.0 million was used to make principal payments on the First Lien Credit Agreement. Net cash provided by financing activities was $680.5 million for the period July 26, 2013 to December 31, 2013 (Successor) and reflects the net proceeds received to fund the Acquisition of the gypsum division of Lafarge and increased borrowings in December 2013 to distribute as a return of capital to our sponsor, Lone Star. Lone Star originally contributed $265.0 million in equity to the Company as of August 30 2013, reduced by $130.0 million from the return of capital on December 2, 2013. Proceeds from the issuance of long-term debt under the First and Second Lien Credit Agreements totaled $565.0 million, net of original issuance discount. The amount drawn on the revolving credit facility as of August 30, 2013 was reduced to zero through the use of cash from operations. The financings resulted in the payment of debt issuance costs of $18.5 million. Net cash used in financing activities under the Predecessor was $22.7 million for January 1, 2013 to August 30, 2013, up from $12.0 million for the year ended December 31, 2012, representing distributions to Lafarge in both periods. The increase in distributions to Lafarge was due to improved operating cash flows.
Capital Expenditures
We have made significant capital investments in our facilities since 2000 and we believe that our facilities are among the newest and most efficient plants in North America. Our investment in the second line at Silver Grove and the renovation at Buchanan provided additional low cost capacity, significantly improved plant performance and a strong base for new product introduction. Having completed these significant investments prior to 2011, we expect capital expenditures to remain modest in the short to medium term.
All of our capital expenditures have been for sustaining purposes in the periods presented. Capital expenditures made by the Successor in 2014 were $5.7 million and $2.8 million in the period July 26, 2013 to December 31, 2013. In the Predecessor periods, capital expenditures were $2.5 million from January 1, 2013 to August 30, 2013 and were $5.2 million for 2012.
Credit Facilities
First Lien Credit Agreement
On August 30, 2013, we and our subsidiary OpCo entered into a first lien credit agreement with Credit Suisse AG, as administrative agent, Credit Suisse Securities (USA) LLC and RBC Capital Markets, as joint lead arrangers and joint bookrunners, and Royal Bank of Canada, as syndication agent. On December 2, 2013, we and OpCo entered into an amendment to the first lien credit agreement. We refer to the first lien credit agreement as amended by such amendment as the First Lien Credit Agreement. The First Lien Credit Agreement provides OpCo a term loan facility at an initial amount of $415.0 million and a U.S. dollar revolving loan facility, or USD Revolver, of $40.0 million and a Canadian dollar and/or U.S. dollar revolving facility, or CAD Revolver, which, together with the USD Revolver, we refer to as the Revolver, of $10.0 million (such aggregate $50.0 million revolving facilities together, the “Revolver”), which may be borrowed by OpCo or by its subsidiary, Continental Building Products Canada Inc., or CBP Canada, in Canadian dollars or U.S. dollars.
Rates of interest on amounts borrowed under the First Lien Credit Agreement are based on, at our option, either the USD London Interbank Offer Rate, or LIBOR (in the case of borrowings denominated in U.S. dollars), the Canadian Dealer Offered Rate, or CDOR (in the case of borrowings denominated in Canadian dollars), or an alternate base rate, as applicable to the borrowing, plus an applicable margin rate, in each case. The initial margin rate was equal to 3.75% with respect to LIBOR First Lien Term Loans borrowings, 2.75% with respect to alternate base rate First Lien Term Loans borrowings, 3.00% with respect to LIBOR or CDOR Revolver borrowings, or 2.00% with respect to alternate base rate Revolver borrowings. The interest rate spread over LIBOR, which has a 1% floor, was reduced by 50 basis points in May 2014, from 3.75% to 3.25%, as a result of our achievement of a total leverage ratio of less than four times net debt to the trailing twelve months adjusted earnings before interest, depreciation and amortization, as of March 31, 2014, as calculated pursuant to the First Lien Credit Agreement. This reduced interest rate for the First Lien Credit Agreement will be in effect for as long as the leverage ratio, as calculated pursuant to the First Lien Credit Agreement, remains below four. The margin applicable to the borrowing was further reduced in the third quarter of 2014 by 25 basis points to 3.00% after we achieved a B2 rating with a stable outlook by Moody’s and this rate will remain in effect as long as we maintain this rating and outlook or better.
The annual effective interest rate on the First Lien Credit Agreement including original issue discount and amortization of debt issuance costs was 4.7% at December 31, 2014.
Under the terms of the First Lien Credit Agreement, OpCo is required to repay the First Lien Term Loans in 27 consecutive quarterly installments of $1,037,500, beginning on December 31, 2013, and a final installment on August 28, 2020 in an amount equal to the aggregate principal amount of all First Lien Term Loans under the First Lien Credit Agreement outstanding on such date. During 2014, OpCo pre-paid $59.9 million of principal payments and no further mandatory principal payments are required until the final payment of $352.0 million due on August 28, 2020. As of December 31, 2014 and 2013, there were no amounts outstanding under the Revolver and there was $352.0 million and $414.0 million, respectively, in outstanding First Lien Term Loans. As of December 31, 2014 and 2013, OpCo’s undrawn borrowing availability under the USD Revolver was $35.2 million and $37.6 million, respectively, and OpCo’s undrawn borrowing availability under the CAD Revolver was $10.0 million. The First Lien Credit Agreement contains restrictive covenants, which require OpCo and its restricted subsidiaries to maintain a specific total leverage ratio, or Financial Covenant, and contains certain restrictions on us, OpCo and its restricted subsidiaries with respect to indebtedness and guarantees, liens, acquisitions, consolidations and mergers, changes of control, sales of certain assets, dividends and other distributions, loans and advances, optional payments and modifications of junior debt instruments, affiliate transactions, sales and leasebacks, negative pledge clauses, restrictions on restricted subsidiary distributions, lines of business, our activities and modifications of agreements. The Financial Covenant is in effect if, on the last day of a fiscal quarter, the amount of outstanding Revolver
usage (including the face amount of any letters of credit issued under the First Lien Credit Agreement) exceeds 25% of the aggregate commitments under the Revolver at such time. When in effect, the Financial Covenant in the First Lien Credit Agreement requires OpCo and its restricted subsidiaries to maintain, at the end of each fiscal quarter, a total ratio of consolidated total debt to consolidated EBITDA for the previous 12-month period, as each such term is defined by the First Lien Credit Agreement, equal to or less than a level that varies over the term of the First Lien Credit Agreement from 6.00 to 1.00 to 5.00 to 1.00. As the sum of outstanding borrowings under the Revolver and outstanding letters of credit were less than 25% of the aggregate commitments under the Revolver at December 31, 2014, the Financial Covenant was not applicable for the fourth quarter of 2014.
OpCo’s payment obligations under the First Lien Credit Agreement are guaranteed by us and certain of OpCo’s wholly-owned restricted subsidiaries, or Subsidiary Guarantors, as defined by the First Lien Credit Agreement. In addition, CBP Canada is a co-borrower with respect to the CAD Revolver and is jointly liable on OpCo’s payment obligations with respect to the CAD Revolver.
OpCo’s and CBP Canada’s payment obligations under the First Lien Credit Agreement and our guarantee obligations and the guarantee obligations of the Subsidiary Guarantors are secured by a first priority lien on substantially all of our assets and the assets of OpCo, and certain of OpCo’s wholly-owned restricted subsidiaries, as defined by the First Lien Credit Agreement. In addition, OpCo’s payment obligations under the First Lien Credit Agreement are supported by a first priority pledge of all of OpCo’s equity interest in certain wholly-owned restricted subsidiaries, as defined by the First Lien Credit Agreement, and by a first priority pledge by us, of all of the equity interests we own in OpCo.
Second Lien Credit Agreement
On August 30, 2013, we and OpCo entered into a second lien credit agreement with Credit Suisse AG, as administrative agent, Credit Suisse Securities (USA) LLC and RBC Capital Markets, as joint lead arrangers and joint bookrunners, and Royal Bank of Canada, as syndication agent. On December 2, 2013, we and OpCo entered into an amendment to the second lien credit agreement. We refer to the second lien credit agreement as amended by such amendment as the Second Lien Credit Agreement. The Second Lien Credit Agreement provided OpCo a term loan facility, or the Second Lien Term Loans, of $155.0 million. Rates of interest on amounts borrowed under the Second Lien Credit Agreement were based on, at OpCo’s option, either the LIBOR or an alternate base rate, plus an applicable margin rate, in each case. As of December 31, 2013, the weighted average effective interest rate for the Second Lien Term Loans was 9.4%.
As part of the use of proceeds from our Initial Public Offering, on February 10, 2014, all amounts outstanding under the Second Lien Term Loan were repaid and are no longer outstanding.
Contractual Obligations and Other Long-Term Liabilities
The following table summarizes our significant contractual obligations as of December 31, 2014:
(1) Operating lease payments reflect the minimum payments over the non-cancelable lease terms of the associated lease.
(2) Reflects estimated minimum payments for synthetic gypsum over the contract terms, including transport.
(3) We purchase paper under a long-term contract that specifies a two-year termination notice requirement from the anniversary date of the contract. RockTenn has the option to require us to purchase paper for up to an additional two years subsequent to termination. The table reflects the estimated minimum payments due as of December 31, 2014, assuming a notice of cancellation was delivered on that date and no exercise by Rock-Tenn of its option.
(4) Represents minimum notional gas purchase commitment under contract.
(5) Represents commitments for data center, warehouse facilities and other.
(6) See Note 13 to our audited financial statements included elsewhere in this Annual Report on Form 10-K. Interest on indebtedness is calculated based on interest rates in effect at December 31, 2014.
A purchase commitment is an enforceable and legally binding agreement to purchase goods or services that specifies significant terms, including: fixed or minimum quantities to be purchased, minimum or variable price provisions and approximate timing of the transaction. Our primary purchase obligations are for our two principal raw materials, synthetic gypsum and paper. The purchase obligation amounts in the table above are based on the minimum quantities to be purchased at estimated prices to be paid based on current market conditions. Accordingly, the actual amounts due may vary significantly from the estimates included in the table.
In connection with the Acquisition, we entered into certain debt financing transactions as described above under “Credit Facilities.”
Off-Balance Sheet Arrangements
With the exception of letters of credit of approximately $4.8 million at December 31, 2014, we have no off-balance sheet arrangements.
Critical Accounting Policies
A summary of our significant and recent accounting policies is included in Note 2 to the audited financial statements included elsewhere in this Annual Report on Form 10-K. The preparation of our financial statements requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and the disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses. Although management bases its estimates on historical experience and various other assumptions that are believed to be reasonable under the circumstances, actual results may differ to some extent from the estimates on which our financial statements have been prepared at any point in time. We believe that the critical accounting policies listed below involve our more significant judgments, assumptions and estimates and, therefore, could have the greatest potential impact on the financial statements.
Impairment or Disposal of Long-Lived Assets
We evaluate the recoverability of our long-lived assets in accordance with the provisions of Financial Accounting Standards Board Accounting Standards Codification 360 Property, Plant and Equipment, or ASC 360. ASC 360 requires that long-lived assets and certain identifiable intangibles be reviewed for impairment whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying amount of an asset may not be recoverable. Recoverability of assets is measured by comparing the carrying amount of an asset to future undiscounted net cash flows expected to be generated by the asset. Such evaluations for impairment are significantly impacted by estimates of future prices for its products, capital needs, economic trends in the construction sector and other factors. If such assets are considered to be impaired, the impairment to be recognized is measured by the amount by which the carrying amount of the assets exceeds their fair value. Assets to be disposed of by sale are reflected at the lower of their carrying amount or fair value less cost to sell.
Determination as to whether and how much an asset is impaired involves significant management judgment involving highly uncertain matters, including estimating the future success of sales volumes, future selling prices and costs, alternative uses for the assets, and estimated proceeds from disposal of the assets. However, the impairment reviews and calculations are based on estimates and assumptions that take into account our business plans and long-term investment decisions.
We record impairment charges for assets that we permanently close if their fair value is less than their carrying value. In 2012, we closed our Newark wallboard plant and as a result, recorded an $11.3 million charge in the Predecessor financial statements related to accelerated depreciation and write-offs of spare parts and other assets.
Goodwill and Intangible Assets
The goodwill reflected in the Successor financial statements at December 31, 2014 and 2013 relates to the Acquisition of the gypsum operations from Lafarge on August 30, 2013.
Goodwill represents the excess of costs over the fair value of identifiable assets of businesses acquired. We value goodwill and intangible assets in accordance with Financial Accounting Standards Board Accounting Standards Codification 350, Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets, or ASC 350. ASC 350 requires goodwill to be either qualitatively or quantitatively assessed for impairment annually (or more frequently if impairment indicators arise). Intangible assets that have indefinite useful lives are not amortized but are tested at least annually for impairment or whenever events or circumstances indicate an impairment may have occurred. In the Predecessor financial statements, trademarks totaling $0.3 million have been deemed as having indefinite lives. Intangible assets that are deemed to have definite lives are amortized over their useful lives.
At December 31, 2014 and 2013, we had $119.9 million of goodwill, which resulted from the acquisition of the gypsum operations from Lafarge. All goodwill is associated with our wallboard reporting unit. On an annual basis, we measure the fair value of our wallboard reporting unit on a qualitative basis or by using a discounted cash flow approach that estimates the projected future cash flows to be generated by the reporting unit, using a discount rate reflecting the weighted average cost of capital for a potential market participant. We perform our annual goodwill impairment test on the first day of our fiscal fourth quarter. Differences in assumptions used in projecting future cash flows and cost of funds could have a significant impact on the determination of fair value.
Projections are based on forecasts developed internally by management for use in managing the business. These projections include significant assumptions such as estimates of future revenues, profits, working capital requirements, operating plans and capital expenditures. Our forecasts are driven by consensus industry estimates of key economic indicators that affect our operating results, most notably new residential construction, light commercial construction, and repair and remodel activity. These economic indicators are then used to estimate future production volumes, selling prices and key input costs for our manufactured products. Our forecasts also take into consideration recent sales data and planned timing of capital projects.
A growth rate is used to calculate the terminal value in the discounted cash flow model and is the expected rate at which earnings or revenue is projected to grow beyond the forecasted period. The future cash flows are discounted at a rate that is consistent with a weighted average cost of capital for a potential market participant.
Based on the results of the first step of the goodwill impairment test, we determined that the fair value of our wallboard reporting unit exceeded the carrying amount as of October 1, 2014 and 2013 and, therefore, no goodwill impairment existed. We relied on a qualitative assessment to reach this conclusion. As a result, the second step of the goodwill impairment test was not required to be completed.
Acquisition Accounting
The Company’s acquisition of the gypsum business of Lafarge North America Inc. was accounted for in accordance with Accounting Standards Codification 805, Business Combinations, or ASC 805. Pursuant to ASC 805, the assets acquired and liabilities assumed are recorded at the date of Acquisition at their respective estimated fair values, with any excess of the purchase price over the estimated fair values of the net assets acquired recorded as goodwill. Significant judgment is required in estimating the fair value of certain assets and in assigning their respective useful lives. The fair value estimates are based on available historical information and on future expectations and assumptions deemed reasonable by management, but are inherently uncertain. The most significant assets acquired are property, plant and equipment and intangible assets. We determine the fair value of property, plant and equipment using the following methods: acquired buildings using the cost approach considering a variety of factors, including replacement cost; land based on comparisons to similar assets that have been recently marketed for sale or sold; and machinery and equipment using a cost approach. We use an income approach to estimate the fair value of intangible assets, which is based on forecasts of the expected future cash flows attributable to the respective assets. Significant estimates and assumptions inherent in the valuation reflect a consideration of the marketplace, and include the amount and timing of future cash flows and the discount rate applied to the cash flows. Unanticipated market or macroeconomic events or circumstances may occur which could affect the accuracy or validity of the estimates and assumptions.
Income Taxes
The provision for income taxes in the Predecessor financial statements is calculated as if the business completed a separate tax return apart from Lafarge, although its business was included in Lafarge’s U.S. federal and state income tax returns and non-U.S. (Canada) jurisdiction tax returns. Deferred tax assets and liabilities are recognized principally for the expected tax consequences of temporary differences between the tax basis of assets and liabilities and their reported amounts, using currently enacted tax rates. Tax attributes generated by the business are treated as transactions between the business and Lafarge. Valuation allowances are recorded to reduce deferred tax assets when it is more likely than not that a tax benefit will not be realized, which can occur when cumulative losses are recorded over several periods.
Effective upon the closing of the Acquisition, we were no longer part of the consolidated tax filings of Lafarge. Unused net operating loss carryforwards, representing $111.0 million at December 31, 2012, remained with Lafarge and will not be available to offset taxable income that might be generated by us in the future.
Since the formation of the Company on July 26, 2013, our annual tax rate is based on our income, statutory tax regulations and rates, and tax planning opportunities available to us in the various jurisdictions in which we operate. Significant judgment is required in determining our annual tax expense and in evaluating our tax positions.
Tax law requires items to be included in our tax returns at different times than when the items are reflected in the financial statements. As a result, the annual tax expense reflected in the consolidated statement of operations is different than that which will be reported in the tax returns. Some of these differences are permanent, such as expenses recorded for accounting purposes that are not deductible in the returns, and some differences are temporary and reverse over time, such as depreciation expense. Temporary differences create deferred tax assets and liabilities. Deferred tax liabilities generally represent tax expense recognized in the financial statements for which payment has been deferred, or expense for which a deduction has been taken already in the tax return but the expense has not yet been recognized in the financial statements. Deferred tax assets generally represent items that can be used as a tax deduction or credit in tax returns in future years for which a benefit has already been recorded in the financial statements. Valuation allowances are established when necessary to reduce deferred income tax assets to the amounts we believe are more likely than not to be recovered. In evaluating the amount of any such valuation allowance, the company considers the reversal of existing temporary differences, the existence of taxable income in prior carry back years, available tax planning strategies and estimates of future taxable income for each of its taxable jurisdictions. The latter two factors involve the exercise of significant judgment.
We determine whether it is more likely than not that a tax position will be sustained upon examination by the appropriate taxing authorities before any part of the benefit is recorded in the financial statements. A tax position is measured as the portion of the tax benefit that is greater than 50% likely to be realized upon settlement with a taxing authority (that has full knowledge of all relevant information). We may be required to change our provision for income taxes when the ultimate deductibility of certain items is challenged or agreed to by taxing authorities, when estimates used in determining valuation allowances on deferred tax assets significantly change, or when receipt of new information indicates the need for adjustment in valuation allowances. Additionally, future events, such as changes in tax laws, tax regulations, or interpretations of such laws or regulations, could have an impact on the provision for income tax and the effective tax rate. Any such changes could significantly affect the amounts reported in the consolidated financial statements in the year these changes occur.
JOBS Act
In April 2012, the JOBS Act was enacted. Section 107 of the JOBS Act provides that an emerging growth company can take advantage of the extended transition period provided in Section 7(a)(2)(B) of the Securities Act for complying with new or revised financial accounting standards. An emerging growth company can therefore delay the adoption of certain accounting standards until those standards would otherwise apply to private companies. However, we have determined to opt out of such extended transition period and, as a result, we will comply with new or revised financial accounting standards on the relevant dates on which adoption of such standards is required for non-emerging growth companies.
FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS
This Annual Report on Form 10-K contains “forward-looking statements.” These forward-looking statements are included throughout this Annual Report on Form 10-K, and relate to matters such as our industry, business strategy, goals and expectations concerning our market position, future operations, margins, profitability, capital expenditures, liquidity, capital resources and other financial and operating information. We have used the words “approximately,” “anticipate,” “assume,” “believe,” “contemplate,” “continue,” “could,” “estimate,” “expect,” “future,” “intend,” “may,” “plan,” “potential,” “predict,” “project,” “seek,” “should,” “target,” “will” and similar terms and phrases to identify forward-looking statements in this Annual Report on Form 10-K. All of our forward-looking statements are subject to risks and uncertainties that may cause actual results to differ materially from those that we are expecting, including:
•
cyclicality in our markets, especially the new residential construction market;
•
the highly competitive nature of our industry and the substitutability of competitors’ products;
•
disruptions in our supply of synthetic gypsum due to regulatory changes or coal-fired power plants ceasing or reducing operations or switching to natural gas;
•
changes to environmental and safety laws and regulations requiring modifications to our manufacturing systems;
•
potential losses of customers;
•
changes in affordability of energy and transportation costs;
•
material disruptions at our facilities or the facilities of our suppliers;
•
disruptions to our supply of paperboard liner, including termination of the RockTenn contract;
•
changes in, cost of compliance with or the failure or inability to comply with governmental laws and regulations, in particular environmental regulations;
•
our involvement in legal and regulatory proceedings;
•
our ability to attract and retain key management employees;
•
disruptions in our information technology systems;
•
labor disruptions;
•
seasonal nature of our business;
•
the effectiveness of our internal controls over financial reporting;
•
increased costs and demands on management as a public company;
•
our lack of public company operating experience;
•
our relationship, and actual and potential conflicts of interest, with Lone Star; and
•
additional factors discussed under the sections captioned “Risk Factors,” “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” and “Business.”
The forward-looking statements contained in this Annual Report on Form 10-K are based on historical performance and management’s current plans, estimates and expectations in light of information currently available to us and are subject to uncertainty and changes in circumstances. There can be no assurance that future developments affecting us will be those that we have anticipated. Actual results may differ materially from these expectations due to changes in global, regional or local political, economic, business, competitive, market, regulatory and other factors, many of which are beyond our control. We believe that these factors include those described in “Risk Factors.” Should one or more of these risks or uncertainties materialize, or should any of our assumptions prove to be incorrect, our actual results may vary in material respects from what we may have expressed or implied by these forward-looking statements. We caution that you should not place undue reliance on any of our forward-looking statements. Any forward-looking statement made by us in this Annual Report on Form 10-K speaks only as of the date on which we make it. Factors or events that could cause our actual results to differ may emerge from time to time, and it is not possible for us to predict all of them. We undertake no obligation to publicly update any forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new information, future developments or otherwise, except as may be required by applicable securities laws.
Item 7A.
Item 7A. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures about Market Risk
In the normal course of business, we are exposed to financial risks such as changes in interest rates, foreign currency exchange rates, and commodity price risk associated with our input costs. We use derivative instruments to manage selected commodity price and interest rate exposures.
Interest Rate Risk
Our exposure to market risk for changes in interest rates relates primarily to our outstanding debt, and cash and cash equivalents. As of December 31, 2014, we had $15.6 million in cash and cash equivalents. The interest expense associated with First Lien Term Loan and any loans under the Revolver will vary with market rates. We paid down the Second Lien Term Loan in full with the proceeds from our Initial Public Offering, and it is no longer outstanding.
Our exposure to market risk for changes in interest rates related to our outstanding debt is somewhat mitigated as the First Lien Term Loan and the Revolver have a LIBOR floor of 1% and the Second Lien Term Loan has been terminated. A rise of current interest rate levels to above the 1% floor would be required to increase our interest expense and a reduction in interest rates would have no impact on our interest expense. As of December 31, 2014, we elected to use three month LIBOR with a rate of 0.25%. A hypothetical 1% increase in interest rates would have increased interest expense by $1.0 million for the full year 2014.
The return on our cash equivalents balance was less than one percent. Therefore, although investment interest rates may continue to decrease in the future, the corresponding impact to our interest income, and likewise to our income and cash flow, would not be material.
Foreign Currency Risk
Approximately 8%, 10%, 12%, and 12% of our sales for the year ended December 31, 2014 (Successor) and for the periods July 26, 2013 to December 31, 2013 (Successor), January 1, 2013 to August 30, 2013 (Predecessor) and year ended December 31, 2012 (Predecessor), respectively, were in Canada. As a result, we are exposed to movements in foreign exchange rates between the U.S. dollar and Canadian dollar. We estimate that a 1% change in the exchange rate between the U.S. and Canadian currencies would impact net sales by approximately $0.4 million based on 2014 Successor results. This may differ from actual results depending on the level of sales volumes in Canada. During the reported periods we did not use foreign currency hedges to manage this risk.
Commodity Price Risk
Some of our key production inputs, such as paper and natural gas, are commodities whose prices are determined by the market’s supply and demand for such products. Price fluctuations on our key input costs have a significant effect on our financial performance. The markets for most of these commodities are cyclical and are affected by factors such as global economic conditions, changes in or disruptions to industry production capacity, changes in inventory levels and other factors beyond our control. For natural gas, we had a fixed price instrument during 2011 that expired in 2012. In 2014, the Company entered into four natural gas swap contracts covering slightly less than half of our natural gas demand. Other than the natural gas contract described above we did not manage commodity price risk with derivative instruments. We may in the future enter into derivative financial instruments from time to time to manage our exposure related to these market risks.
Counterparty Risk
The Company is exposed to credit losses in the event of nonperformance by the counterparties to the Company’s derivative instruments. As of December 31, 2014, the Company’s derivatives were in a $0.9 million net liability position. All of the Company’s counterparties have investment grade credit ratings; accordingly, the Company anticipates that the counterparties will be able to fully satisfy their obligations under the contracts. The Company’s agreements outline the conditions upon which it or the counterparties are required to post collateral. As of December 31, 2014, the Company had no collateral posted with its counterparties related to the derivatives.
Seasonality
Sales of our wallboard products are, similar to many building products, seasonal in that sales are generally slightly higher from spring through autumn when construction activity is greatest in our markets.
Item 8.
Item 8. FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND SUPPLEMENTARY DATA
CONTINENTAL BUILDING PRODUCTS, INC. (SUCCESSOR) and
GYPSUM DIVISION OF LAFARGE NORTH AMERICA INC. (PREDECESSOR)
Page
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Audited Financial Statements:
Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm
Consolidated (Successor) / Combined (Predecessor) Statements of Operations
Consolidated (Successor) / Combined (Predecessor) Statements of Comprehensive Income (Loss )
Consolidated Balance Sheets
Consolidated (Successor) / Combined (Predecessor) Statements of Cash Flows
Consolidated (Successor) / Combined (Predecessor) Statements of Changes in Equity / Net Parent Investment
Notes to Financial Statements
REPORT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM
The Board of Directors and Shareholders of Continental Building Products, Inc.
We have audited the accompanying consolidated balance sheets of Continental Building Products, Inc. (the Company) as of December 31, 2014 and 2013, and the related consolidated statements of operations, comprehensive income (loss), changes in equity, and cash flows for the year ended December 31, 2014 and the period from July 26, 2013 to December 31, 2013. We have also audited the accompanying combined statements of operations, comprehensive income (loss), changes in net parent investment, and cash flows of the Gypsum division of Lafarge North America Inc. (the “Predecessor”) for the period from January 1, 2013 to August 30, 2013 and for the year ended December 31, 2012. These financial statements are the responsibility of the Company’s management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on these financial statements 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 audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements are free of material misstatement. We were not engaged to perform an audit of the Company’s internal control over financial reporting. Our audits included consideration of internal control over financial reporting as a basis for designing audit procedures that are appropriate in the circumstances, but not for the purpose of expressing an opinion on the effectiveness of the Company’s internal control over financial reporting. Accordingly, we express no such opinion. An audit also includes 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. We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinion.
In our opinion, the financial statements referred to above present fairly, in all material respects, the consolidated financial position of Continental Building Products, Inc. at December 31, 2014 and 2013, and the consolidated results of its operations and its cash flows for the year ended December 31, 2014, and for the period from July 26, 2013 to December 31, 2013, in conformity with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles. Also, in our opinion, the Predecessor financial statements referred to above present fairly, in all material respects, the combined results of the Predecessor’s operations and cash flows for the period from January 1, 2013 to August 30, 2013 and the year ended December 31, 2012, in conformity with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles.
/s/ Ernst & Young LLP
McLean, VA
February 25, 2015
CONTINENTAL BUILDING PRODUCTS, INC.
CONSOLIDATED (SUCCESSOR) / COMBINED (PREDECESSOR) STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS
See accompanying notes to financial statements.
CONTINENTAL BUILDING PRODUCTS, INC.
CONSOLIDATED (SUCCESSOR) / COMBINED (PREDECESSOR) STATEMENTS OF
COMPREHENSIVE INCOME (LOSS)
See accompanying notes to financial statements.
CONTINENTAL BUILDING PRODUCTS, INC.
CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
See accompanying notes to financial statements.
CONTINENTAL BUILDING PRODUCTS, INC.
CONSOLIDATED (SUCCESSOR) / COMBINED (PREDECESSOR) STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
See accompanying notes to financial statements.
CONTINENTAL BUILDING PRODUCTS, INC.
CONSOLIDATED (SUCCESSOR)/ COMBINED (PREDECESSOR) STATEMENTS OF
CHANGES IN EQUITY/NET PARENT INVESTMENT
(in thousands, except share data)
See accompanying notes to financial statements.
CONTINENTAL BUILDING PRODUCTS, INC.
CONSOLIDATED (SUCCESSOR) / COMBINED (PREDECESSOR) NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
1. Background and Nature of Operations
Description of Business
Continental Building Products, Inc. (“CBP”, the “Company”, or the “Successor”) is a Delaware corporation. Prior to the acquisition of the gypsum division of Lafarge North America Inc. (“Lafarge N.A.”) on August 30, 2013, further described below, CBP had no operating activity. The accompanying consolidated financial statements of CBP for the year ended December 31, 2014 and for the period July 26, 2013 to September 30, 2013 contain activity of the acquired business (the “Successor”) and the combined financial statements for the period January 1, 2013 to August 30, 2013 and the year ended December 31, 2012 include the historical accounts of the gypsum division of Lafarge N.A. (the “Predecessor”).
The Company manufactures gypsum wallboard related products for commercial and residential buildings and houses. The Company operates a network of three highly efficient wallboard facilities, all located in the eastern United States and produces joint compound at one plant in the United States and at another plant in Canada.
The Acquisition
On June 24 2013, Lone Star Fund VIII (U.S.), L.P., (along with its affiliates and associates, but excluding the Company and other companies that it owns as a result of its investment activity, “Lone Star”), entered into a definitive agreement with Lafarge N.A. to purchase the assets of its North American gypsum division for an aggregate purchase price of approximately $703 million (the “Acquisition”) in cash. The closing of the Acquisition occurred on August 30, 2013.
Initial Public Offering
On February 10, 2014, the Company completed the initial public offering of 11,765,000 shares of its common stock at an offering price of $14.00 per share (the “Initial Public Offering). Net proceeds from the Initial Public Offering after underwriting discounts and commissions, but before other closing costs, were approximately $154 million. The net proceeds were used to pay a $2 million one-time payment to Lone Star in consideration for the termination of the Company’s asset advisory agreement with affiliates of Lone Star (See Note 11, Related Party Transactions). The remaining $152 million of net proceeds and cash on hand of $6.1 million were used to repay the $155 million Second Lien Term Loan in full along with a prepayment premium of $3.1 million (See Note 13, Debt). In expectation of the Initial Public Offering, on February 3, 2014, the Company effected a 32,304 for one stock split of its common stock. The Company’s common stock trades on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol “CBPX”.
2. Significant Accounting Policies
Basis of Presentation-Successor
The accompanying consolidated financial statements for CBP have been prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States (U.S. GAAP). The consolidated financial statements include the accounts of the Company and its wholly-owned subsidiaries. All intercompany transactions have been eliminated.
The Company’s financial statements reflect the Acquisition of the Predecessor that occurred on August 30, 2013, which was accounted for as a business combination. In connection with the Acquisition, $3.3 million in Acquisition related costs were incurred, which are reported as selling and administrative costs in the accompanying statement of operations of the Successor for the period from July 26, 2013 to December 31, 2013. The following table summarizes the fair values of the assets acquired and liabilities assumed at the Acquisition date.
The fair value of accounts receivables acquired was $31.9 million (included in total current assets above), with the gross contractual amount being $33.3 million. The Company expects $1.4 million to be uncollectible. There were no loss contingencies identified as part of the Acquisition. The total Purchase Price remained the same as the one previously provided for the year ended December 31, 2013. The goodwill recognized is attributable primarily to expected synergies and the assembled workforce of the Company. These come from the synergies that are obtained in operating the plants as part of a network, versus individually, and from an experienced employee base skilled at managing a process driven manufacturing environment. We expect the goodwill will be deductible for income tax purposes.
The following represents the unaudited pro forma income statement as if the Acquisition had occurred on January 1, 2012:
(in thousands)
These amounts have been calculated by adjusting the results to reflect the additional depreciation and amortization that would have been charged assuming the fair value adjustments to property, plant and equipment and intangible assets had been applied on January 1, 2012, and to reflect the interest expense on the debt used to finance the Acquisition (see Note 13) net of proceeds received from the Initial Public Offering.
Basis of Presentation-Predecessor
The accompanying combined financial statements for the Predecessor have been prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States (U.S. GAAP).
The Predecessor financial statements have been derived from the consolidated financial statements and accounting records of Lafarge N.A. using the historical results of operations and historical cost basis of the assets and liabilities of Lafarge N.A. that comprise the business acquired. These Predecessor financial statements have been prepared to demonstrate the historical results of operations, financial position, and cash flows for the indicated periods under Lafarge N.A.’s management that were acquired by CBP. All intercompany balances and transactions have been eliminated. Transactions and balances between the Predecessor and Lafarge N.A. and its subsidiaries are reflected as related party transactions within these financial statements.
The accompanying Predecessor combined financial statements include the assets, liabilities, revenues and expenses that are specifically identifiable to the acquired business and reflect all costs of doing business related to their operations, including expenses incurred by other entities on the Predecessor’s behalf. In addition, certain costs related to the Predecessor have been allocated from Lafarge N.A. Those allocations are derived from multiple levels of the organization including shared corporate expenses from Lafarge N.A. and fees from Lafarge N.A.’s parent company related to certain service and support functions. The costs associated with these services and support functions (indirect costs) have been allocated to the Predecessor using the most meaningful respective allocation methodologies which were primarily based on proportionate revenue, proportionate headcount, or proportionate direct labor costs compared to Lafarge N.A. and/or its subsidiaries. These allocated costs are primarily related to corporate administrative expenses, employee-related costs including pensions and other benefits for corporate and shared employees, and rental and usage fees for shared assets for the following functional groups: information technology, legal services, accounting and finance services, human resources, marketing and contract support, customer support, treasury, facility and other corporate and infrastructural services. Income taxes have been accounted for in the Predecessor financial statements on a separate return basis as described in Note 9.
The Predecessor utilized Lafarge N.A.’s centralized processes and systems for cash management, payroll, and purchasing. As a result, all cash received by the Predecessor was deposited in and commingled with Lafarge N.A.’s general corporate funds and was not specifically allocated to the Predecessor. The net results of these cash transactions between the Predecessor and Lafarge N.A. are reflected within “Net capital contributions to Lafarge N.A.” in the accompanying Combined Statements of Cash Flows.
Management believes the assumptions and allocations underlying the Predecessor combined financial statements are reasonable and appropriate under the circumstances. The expenses and cost allocations have been determined on a basis considered by Lafarge N.A. to be a reasonable reflection of the utilization of services provided to or the benefit received by the Predecessor during the periods presented relative to the total costs incurred by Lafarge N.A. However, the amounts recorded for these transactions and allocations are not necessarily representative of the amount that would have been reflected in the financial statements had the Predecessor been an entity that operated independently of Lafarge N.A. Consequently, future results of operations after the Predecessor’s separation from Lafarge N.A. will include costs and expenses incurred by the Company that may be materially different than the Predecessor’s historical results of operations. Accordingly, the financial statements for these periods under the Predecessor are not indicative of the Company’s future results of operations, financial position and cash flows.
Earnings Per Share
Earnings per share for the period from July 26, 2013 to December 31, 2013 are calculated after taking into account the 32,304 for one stock split that occurred on February 3, 2014. For the year ended December 31, 2014, basic earnings and loss per share are based on the weighted average number of shares of common stock outstanding assuming the 32,304 for one stock split occurred as of January 1, 2014 and the issuance of 11,765,000 new shares on February 10, 2014 in connection with the Initial Public Offering. Diluted earnings and loss per share are based on the weighted average number of shares outstanding plus the dilutive effect, if any, of outstanding restricted stock awards and stock options.
The following is a reconciliation of the share amounts included in basic and diluted earnings per share computations:
The effect of 142,000 stock options was excluded from the computation of earnings per shares as the effect would have been anti-dilutive. There were no potentially dilutive securities outstanding during the period from July 26, 2013 to December 31, 2013.
Cost of Goods Sold and Selling and Administrative Expenses
Cost of goods sold includes costs of production, depreciation, inbound freight charges for raw materials, outbound freight to customers, purchasing and receiving costs, inspection costs, warehousing at plant facilities, and internal transfer costs. Costs associated with third-party warehouses are included in selling and administrative expenses. Selling and administrative costs also include expenses for sales, marketing, legal, accounting and finance services, human resources, customer support, treasury, other general corporate services and amortization of software development cost.
Estimates
The preparation of financial statements in conformity with U.S. GAAP requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and the disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses. Actual results may differ from these estimates.
Foreign Currency Translation
The Company uses the U.S. dollar as its functional currency for operations in the United States and the Canadian dollar for our operations in Canada. The assets and liabilities of our Canadian operations are translated at the exchange rate prevailing at the balance sheet date. Related revenues and expense accounts for the Canadian operations are translated using the average exchange rate during the year. Cumulative foreign currency translation adjustment of $2.2 million, $0.3 million and $5.6 million at December 31, 2014 and 2013 (Successor), and December 31, 2012 (Predecessor), respectively, is included in “Accumulated Other Comprehensive Loss” in the Balance Sheets and in the Consolidated (Successor) / Combined (Predecessor) Statements of Changes in Equity.
Cash
Cash and cash equivalents include highly liquid investments with maturities of three months or less at the time of purchase maintained at financial institutions in the United States and Canada. At times the amounts may exceed federally insured deposit limits. The Company has not experienced any losses and does not believe it is exposed to any significant credit risk related to demand deposits.
Prior to the Acquisition, treasury activities, including activities related to the Company, were centralized by Lafarge N.A. such that cash collections were automatically distributed to Lafarge N.A. and reflected as net parent investment.
Concentration of Credit Risk
Financial instruments that potentially subject the Company to concentrations of credit risk are primarily receivables. The Company performs ongoing credit evaluations of its customers’ financial condition and generally requires no collateral from its customers. The allowances for non-collection of receivables are based upon analysis of economic trends in the construction industry, detailed analysis of the expected collectability of accounts receivable that are past due and the expected collectability of overall receivables.
The Company’s significant customers, as measured by percentage of total revenues for the periods presented, were as follows:
The Company’s significant customers, as measured by percentage of total accounts receivable, were as follows:
Receivables
Trade receivables are recorded at net realizable value, which includes allowances for cash discounts and doubtful accounts, and are reflected net of customer incentives. We review the collectability of trade receivables on an ongoing basis. We reserve for trade receivables determined to be uncollectible. This determination is based on the delinquency of the account, the financial condition of the customer and our collection experience.
Inventories
Inventories are valued at the lower of cost or market. Virtually all of our inventories are valued under the average cost method. Inventories include materials, labor and applicable factory overhead costs. The value of inventory is adjusted for damaged, obsolete, excess and slow-moving inventory. Market value of inventory is estimated based on the impact of market trends, an evaluation of economic conditions and the value of current orders relating to the future sales of this type of inventory.
Property, Plant and Equipment
Property, plant and equipment, which include amounts recorded under capital lease arrangements, is stated at cost less accumulated depreciation. Depreciation of property, plant and equipment is computed for financial reporting purposes using the straight-line method over the estimated useful lives of the assets. These lives range from 20 to 25 years for buildings, 5 to 25 years for plant machinery, and 5 to 8 years for mobile equipment. For plant machinery, the large majority of the existing assets are being amortized over an estimated remaining life of approximately 15 years. Repair and maintenance costs are expensed as incurred. Substantially all of the Company’s depreciation expenses are recorded in “Cost of goods sold” in the Statements of Operations.
We capitalize interest during the active construction of major projects. Capitalized interest is added to the cost of the underlying assets and is depreciated over the useful lives of those assets. There was no interest capitalized during the years ended December 31, 2014, 2013, or 2012.
Impairment or Disposal of Long-Lived Assets
The Company evaluates the recoverability of its long-lived assets in accordance with the provisions of Accounting Standards Codification 360 Property, Plant and Equipment (“ASC 360”). ASC 360 requires that long-lived assets and certain identifiable intangibles be reviewed for impairment whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying amount of an asset may not be recoverable. Recoverability of assets is measured by comparing the carrying amount of an asset to future undiscounted net cash flows expected to be generated by the asset. Such evaluations for impairment are significantly impacted by estimates of future prices for its products, capital needs, economic trends in the construction sector and other factors. If such assets are considered to be impaired, the impairment to be recognized is measured by the amount by which the carrying amount of the assets exceeds their fair value. Assets to be disposed of by sale are reflected at the lower of their carrying amount or fair value less cost to sell.
We assess impairment of our long-lived assets at the lowest level for which identifiable cash flows are largely independent of the cash flows of other assets and liabilities. At December 31, 2014, we grouped the wallboard plants and a warehouse facility as an asset group. The plants within each group were used together to generate cash flows. Our two joint compound plants were also grouped as an asset group.
Goodwill and Intangible Assets
The goodwill and intangibles reflected in the Successor financial statements relates solely to the Lone Star Acquisition of the Company.
Goodwill represents the excess of costs over the fair value of identifiable assets of businesses acquired. The Company evaluates goodwill and intangible assets in accordance with ASC 350, Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets (“ASC 350”). ASC 350 requires goodwill to be either qualitatively or quantitatively assessed for impairment annually (or more frequently if impairment indicators arise) for each reporting unit. The Company performs its annual impairment testing of goodwill as of October 1st of each year.
Intangible assets that are deemed to have definite lives are amortized over their useful lives. The cost of internal-use software purchased or developed internally, is accounted for in accordance with ASC 350-40, Internal-Use Software. The weighted average useful life of capitalized software is 3 years. Amortization of customer relationships is done over a 15 year period using an accelerated method that reflects the expected future cash flows from the acquired customer-related intangible asset. Trademarks identified as having definite lives are amortized on a straight-line basis over the estimated useful life of 15 years.
Fair Value Measurements
U.S. GAAP provides a framework for measuring fair value, establishes a fair value hierarchy of the valuation techniques used to measure the fair value and requires certain disclosures relating to fair value measurements. Fair value is defined as the price that would be received to sell an asset or paid to transfer a liability in an orderly transaction between market participants in a market with sufficient activity.
The three-tier fair value hierarchy which prioritizes the inputs used in measuring fair value is as follows:
•
Level 1-Observable inputs such as quoted prices (unadjusted) in active markets for identical assets or liabilities that a Company has the ability to access;
•
Level 2-Inputs, other than the quoted market prices included in Level 1, which are observable for the asset or liability, either directly or indirectly; and
•
Level 3-Unobservable inputs for the asset or liability which is typically based on an entity’s own assumptions when there is little, if any, related market data available.
The Company evaluates assets and liabilities subject to fair value measurements on a recurring and non-recurring basis to determine the appropriate level to classify them for each reporting period. This determination requires significant judgments to be made by the Company. The fair values of receivables, accounts payable, accrued costs and other current liabilities approximate the carrying values as a result of the short-term nature of these instruments.
The Company estimates the fair value of its debt by discounting the future cash flows of each instrument using estimated market rates of debt instruments with similar maturities and credit profiles. These inputs are classified as Level 3 within the fair value hierarchy. As of December 31, 2014 and 2013, the carrying value reported in the consolidated balance sheet for the Company’s notes payable approximated its fair value.
At December 31, 2013, we recorded at fair value our financial interest in Seven Hills. We determined the fair value of this financial asset using the discounted cash flow method using assumptions derived from significant unobservable inputs and accordingly this valuation falls into Level 3 in the fair value hierarchy. The fair value of this asset at December 31, 2013 was $13.0 million. The significant unobservable input used in the fair value measurement of our financial interest is a discount rate which was estimated to be 16%.
The only assets or liabilities the Company had at December 31, 2014 that are recorded at fair value on a recurring basis is the interest rate cap that the Company entered into on March 31, 2014 that had a fair value of $0.03 million as of December 31, 2014 and natural gas hedges that had a negative fair value of $1.4 million at December 31, 2014. Our Level 2 fair value derivative instruments consist of interest rate swaps and natural gas hedges for which market-based pricing inputs are observable. Generally, we obtain our Level 2 pricing inputs from our counterparties. Substantially all of these assumptions are observable in the marketplace throughout the full term of the instrument, can be derived from observable data or are supported by observable levels at which transactions are executed in the marketplace.
No derivative contracts were outstanding as of December 31, 2013.
Assets and liabilities that are measured at fair value on a non-recurring basis include intangible assets and goodwill. These items are recognized at fair value when they are considered to be impaired.
There were no fair value adjustments for assets and liabilities measured on a non-recurring basis. The Company discloses fair value information about financial instruments for which it is practicable to estimate that value.
Environmental Remediation Liabilities
When the Company determines that it is probable that a liability for environmental matters has been incurred, an undiscounted estimate of the required remediation costs is recorded as a liability in the financial statements, without offset of potential insurance recoveries. Costs that extend the life, increase the capacity or improve the safety or efficiency of company-owned assets or are incurred to mitigate or prevent future environmental contamination are capitalized. Other environmental costs are expensed when incurred.
Income Taxes
For the Predecessor financial statements, the provision for income taxes is calculated as if the Company completed a separate tax return apart from its Parent, although the Company was included in the Parent’s U.S. federal and state income tax returns and non-U.S. (Canada) jurisdiction tax returns. As of the date of Acquisition, the Successor financial statements reflect a new tax basis of accounting and the Company is a tax filer independent of Lafarge N.A. Deferred tax assets and liabilities are recognized principally for the expected tax consequences of temporary differences between the tax basis of assets and liabilities and their reported amounts, using currently enacted tax rates.
In the Predecessor financial statements, net operating loss carry-forwards generated by the Company and not historically utilized by the Parent are reflected in the Company’s deferred tax assets notwithstanding the fact that such losses were retained by the Parent. Net operating losses that have already been utilized by the Parent are treated as equity transactions between the Company and the Parent. Valuation allowances are recorded to reduce deferred tax assets when it is more likely than not that a tax benefit will not be realized.
In the Successor financial statements, no net operating losses were carried over from the Predecessor as part of the Acquisition. The Successor did not make any income tax payments for the period July 26, 2013 to December 31, 2013.
Stock-Based Compensation
The Company accounts for stock-based compensation to employees and directors based on the estimated fair value of the award generally determined on the date of grant. The associated expense, net of estimated forfeitures, is generally recognized ratably over the requisite service period, which is generally the vesting period of the award.
Collective Bargaining Agreement
Our employees at our Buchanan wallboard plant, representing approximately 14% of our workforce, are represented by two unions. While our collective bargaining agreement with the employees represented by one of the unions at our Buchanan plant expired on November 30, 2014, these employees are still considered unionized. Employees represented by that union voted on February 17, 2015 to accept a contract proposal, and we expect a contract to be signed on the basis of that proposal. Our collective bargaining agreement with the second union was set to expire on November 30, 2014, but has been extended through March 13, 2015. We continue to engage in negotiations with the second union. We believe our relationship with our unionized employees is positive and to date there have been no work disruptions as a result of the expiration of the collective bargaining agreement. Our remaining employees are non-union. We believe our relationships with both our union and non-union employees are good.
Defined Contribution Pension Plans-Successor
Subsequent to the Acquisition by Lone Star, the Company’s employees can participate in a 401K defined contribution pension plan. The Company contributes funds into this plan depending on each employee’s years of service and subject to certain limits. For the period ended December 31, 2014, the Company recorded an expense of $1.9 million for these contributions. From July 26, 2013 to December 31, 2013, the Company recorded an expense of $0.5 million.
Defined Benefit Pension Plans and Other Post-Retirement Benefits-Predecessor
Prior to the Acquisition by Lone Star, the Company’s salaried employees and union hourly employees participated in defined benefit pension plans sponsored by the Parent. These plans include other Parent employees that are not employees of the Company. The Parent also provides certain retiree health and life insurance benefits to eligible employees who have retired from the Company. Salaried participants generally become eligible for retiree health care benefits when they retire from active service at age 55 or later. Benefits, eligibility and cost-sharing provisions for hourly employees vary by location and/or bargaining unit. Generally, the health care plans pay a stated percentage of most medical and dental expenses reduced for any deductible, co-payment and payments made by government programs and other group coverage. The Company recorded approximately $11.9 million for the year ended December 31, 2012 in pension and other post-retirement benefits expense related to its employees, which has been reflected within “Cost of goods sold” and “Selling and administrative” in the accompanying Combined Statements of Operations. The related pension and post-retirement benefit liability has not been allocated to the Company and has not been presented in the accompanying Combined Balance Sheets since the obligation remained a liability of Lafarge N.A after the Acquisition of the Company by Lone Star.
Revenue Recognition
Revenue from the sale of gypsum products is recorded when title and ownership are transferred upon shipment of the products. Amounts billed to a customer in a sales transaction related to shipping and handling are included in “Net sales,” and costs incurred for shipping and handling are classified as “Cost of goods sold” in the Consolidated/Combined Statements of Operations. The revenues reported in these financial statements relate to specifically identifiable historical activities of the plants, warehouses, and other assets that comprise the Company. We record estimated reductions to revenue for customer programs and incentive offerings, including promotions and other volume-based incentives, in the period in which the sale occurs.
Derivative Instruments
The company uses derivative instruments to manage selected commodity price and interest rate exposures. The Company does not use derivative instruments for speculative trading purposes, and typically does not hedge beyond two years. All derivative instruments must be recorded on the balance sheet at fair value.
Currently, we are using natural gas swap contracts to hedge manage commodity price increase exposure. The Company elected to designate these derivative instruments as cash flow hedges in accordance with ASC 815-20, Derivatives - Hedging. For derivative contracts designated as cash flow hedges, the effective portion of changes in the fair value of the derivative is recorded to accumulated other comprehensive income, and is reclassified to earnings when the underlying forecasted transaction affects earnings. The ineffective portion of the changes in the fair value of the derivative is recorded in cost of goods sold. Gains and losses on these contracts that are designated as cash flow hedges are reclassified into earnings when the underlying forecasted transaction affect earnings. The Company reassesses the probability of the underlying forecasted transactions occurring on a quarterly basis.
In addition, we are using an interest rate cap to protect against extreme market interest rate changes. Changes in the fair value of the interest rate cap are expected to be perfectly effective in offsetting the changes in cash flow of interest payments. The hedge is being accounted for as a cash flow hedge. Changes in the time value of the interest rate cap are reflected directly in earnings through “other income/expense” in non-operating income.
Recent Accounting Pronouncements
In May 2014, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (the “FASB”) issued ASU No. 2014-09, Revenue from Contracts with Customers (Topic 606), which provides accounting guidance for all revenue arising from contracts with customers and affects all entities that enter into contracts to provide goods or services to their customers. ASU 2014-09 will be effective for the Company in the first quarter of 2017 and requires retroactive application on either a full or modified basis. Early application is not permitted. The Company is currently evaluating ASU 2014-09 to determine its impact on its consolidated financial statements and disclosures.
In August 2014, the FASB issued ASU No. 2014-15, Disclosure of Uncertainties about an Entity’s Ability to Continue as a Going Concern: Presentation of Financial Statements- Going Concern (Subtopic 205-40). This ASU defines when and how companies are required to disclose going concern uncertainties, which must be evaluated each interim and annual period. Specifically, it requires management to determine whether substantial doubt exists regarding the entity’s going concern presumption. Substantial doubt about an entity’s ability to continue as a going concern exists when relevant conditions and events, considered in the aggregate, indicate that it is probable that the entity will be unable to meet its obligations as they become due within one year after the date that the financial statements are issued (or available to be issued). If substantial doubt exists, certain disclosures are required; the extent of those disclosures depends on an evaluation of management’s plans (if any) to mitigate the going concern uncertainty. The provisions of ASU 2014-15 will be effective for annual periods ending after December 15, 2016, and to annual and interim periods thereafter. Early adoption is permitted. The ASU should be applied on a prospective basis. The Company believes the adoption of this ASU will not have a material impact on our disclosures.
3. Receivables
Receivables consist of the following ( in thousands ):
Trade receivables are recorded net of credit memos issued during the normal course of business.
The following reflects a rollforward of the receivable allowances for the years ended December 31, 2014, 2013, and 2012 (in thousands):
4. Inventories
Inventories consist of the following ( in thousands ):
5. Property, Plant and Equipment
Property, plant and equipment consist of the following ( in thousands ):
Depreciation expense was $35.3 million for the year ended December 31, 2014 (Successor), $11.7 million for July 26, 2013 to December 31, 2013 (Successor), $16.1 million for January 1, 2013 to August 30, 2013 (Predecessor) and $34.8 million for the year ended December 31, 2012 (Predecessor). Depreciation expense for the Predecessor includes depreciation of certain equipment obtained under a capital lease arrangement.
6. Goodwill
At December 31, 2014 and 2013, the Company had two reporting units, of which only one included goodwill. During 2013, a new basis of accounting was established with the Acquisition of the Company by Lone Star on August 30, 2013, and resulted in a new value of goodwill for the Successor financial statements. In accordance with ASC 350, the Company performed the first step of the goodwill impairment test, by comparing the fair value of the reporting unit with its carrying value. The Company completed qualitative assessments as of October 1, 2013 and 2014 and determined that the fair value of the reporting unit exceeded its carrying value. As a result management concluded that there was no goodwill impairment as of December 31, 2014 and 2013.
7. Software and Other Intangibles
Customer relationships and other intangibles consist of the following ( in thousands ):
Amortization expense was $19.0 million for the year ended December 31, 2014 (Successor), $6.8 million for July 26, 2013 to December 31, 2013 (Successor), $0.8 million for January 1, 2013 to August 30, 2013 (Predecessor), and $1.6 million for the year ended December 31, 2012 (Predecessor).
Amortization expense related to capitalized software was $0.3 million for the year ended December 31, 2014 (Successor), and $0.3 million for the period January 1, 2013 to August 30, 2013 (Predecessor). CBP did not acquire capitalized software as part of the Acquisition, and capitalized approximately $3.7 million for the year ended December 31, 2014 (Successor) related to internal-use software development costs for a new enterprise resource planning (“ERP”) system. The new ERP system was placed in service in October 2014 and amortization of the software development costs began over a three-year useful life with the expense to be recorded in selling and administrative expense. In addition, CBP capitalized $0.6 million for software purchased from external parties and $0.1 million for the development of a new website.
Based on the intangible assets recorded as of December 31, 2014, amortization expense for the years ending December 31, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018 and 2019 is expected to be approximately $16.0 million, $13.5 million, $11.6 million, $9.3 million, and $8.4 million, respectively. These amounts may vary as acquisitions and dispositions occur in the future.
8. Accrued and Other Liabilities
Accrued and other liabilities consist of the following ( in thousands ):
9. Income Taxes
The components of the income tax (expense) benefit are as follows ( in thousands ):
The components of income (loss) before income taxes by country are as follows ( in thousands ):
The provision for income taxes differs from that which would have resulted from the use of the federal statutory income tax rates primarily as a result of the provision for various state income taxes and due to the valuation allowance recorded against deferred tax assets for the Predecessor.
Taxes computed at the U.S. statutory federal income tax rate of 35% are reconciled to the Company’s effective rate as follows ( in thousands ):
Income tax payments made by the Company during 2014 totaled $4.2 million.
Deferred income taxes reflect the net effect of temporary differences between the carrying amount of assets and liabilities for financial reporting purposes and the amounts used for tax purposes. The significant components of deferred tax assets and deferred tax liabilities included on the Combined Balance Sheets are (in thousands):
The following is a rollforward of the deferred tax valuation allowance for the periods presented (in thousands):
The Predecessor’s operating results have historically been included in Lafarge N.A.’s combined US Federal and state income tax returns. In addition, the Canadian Predecessor operations have historically been included in Lafarge N.A.’s Canadian Federal and provincial income tax returns. The provisions for income taxes in the Predecessor financial statements have been determined on a separate return basis as if the Company filed its own tax returns. In 2012, the Predecessor generated pre-tax operating losses of $13.2 million, resulting in federal and state tax benefits. For U.S. federal income tax purposes, the Predecessor had unused net operating loss carry-forwards of $111.0 million expiring from 2028 through 2032. For Canadian federal income tax purposes, the Predecessor had no loss carry-forwards available. The income tax benefits related to net operating losses that have been utilized by Lafarge N.A. are reflected in the Predecessor financial statements as a distribution to Lafarge N.A. Management considered and weighed the available evidence, both positive and negative, to determine whether it is more-likely-than-not that some portion, or all, of the Predecessor’s deferred tax assets will not be realized. Given the losses of the Predecessor over the recent years, the Predecessor had established a valuation allowance relating to a portion of the deferred tax assets in the Predecessor financial statements. None of the net operating loss carry-forward carried forward to CBP as of the Acquisition date with Lone Star. At December 31, 2014, the Company recorded a valuation allowance of $0.4 million related to its Canadian operations. A valuation allowance was not recorded at December 31, 2013, as management concluded realization of the deferred tax assets was more likely than not.
The Successor is subject to audit examinations at federal, state and local levels by tax authorities in those jurisdictions. In addition, the Canadian operations are subject to audit examinations at federal and provincial levels by tax authorities in those jurisdictions. The tax matters challenged by the tax authorities are typically complex; therefore, the ultimate outcome of these challenges is subject to uncertainty. The Successor has not identified any issues that did not meet the recognition threshold or would be impacted by the measurement provisions of the uncertain tax position guidance. Penalties and interest, if any, related to uncertain tax positions, are recorded as a component of the income tax provision.
10. Commitments and Contingencies
The Company leases certain buildings and equipment. The Company’s facility and equipment leases may provide for escalations of rent or rent abatements and payment of pro rata portions of building operating expenses. Minimum lease payments are recognized on a straight-line basis over the minimum lease term. The rent expense for the year ended December 31, 2014 was $4.8 million. The Predecessor terminated the leases at a facility at the Port of Newark prior to the Acquisition by Lone Star. During January 1, 2013 to August 30, 2013 (Predecessor), total rent paid on this lease, including a termination fee, was $4.2 million. Total expenses under operating leases were $1.5 million for July 26, 2013 to December 31, 2013 (Successor). Including Newark, total expenses under operating leases were $7.8 million for January 1, 2013 to August 30, 2013 (Predecessor), and $7.0 million for the year ended December 31, 2012 (Predecessor). The Company also has noncapital purchase commitments that primarily relate to gas, gypsum, paper and other raw materials. The total amounts purchased under such commitments were $72.5 million for the year ended December 31, 2014 (Successor), $23.0 million for July 26, 2013 to December 31, 2013 (Successor), $47.9 million for January 1, 2013 to August 30, 2013 (Predecessor), and $63.8 million for the year ended December 31, 2012 (Predecessor).
The table below shows the future minimum lease payments due under non-cancelable operating leases and purchase commitments at December 31, 2014 ( in thousands ):
Under certain circumstances, the Company provides letters of credit related to its natural gas and other supply purchases. At December 31, 2014 and December 31, 2013, the Successor had outstanding letters of credit of approximately $4.8 million and $2.4 million, respectively. At December 31, 2012, the Predecessor had outstanding letters of credit of approximately $1.4 million.
In January of 2015, a law firm purporting to represent a group of homebuilders sent a letter to us and to other US wallboard manufacturers claiming that such manufacturers had conspired to fix the price of wallboard in violation of antitrust and unfair competition laws. The letter we received also alleges that the manufacturers abolished the use of “job quotes” and agreed to restrict the supply of wallboard in order to support the allegedly collusive price increases. Finally, the letter says that the firm is prepared to file a lawsuit against us in the event it does not receive a satisfactory response. The Company denies any wrongdoing of the type alleged in the letter and believes the claims are without merit. The Company believes that the claims specified in the letter will not have any material adverse effect on the Company’s financial condition, results of operations or liquidity.
In the ordinary course of business, the Company executes contracts involving indemnifications standard in the industry and indemnifications specific to a transaction such as sale of a business. These indemnifications might include claims relating to any of the following: environmental and tax matters; intellectual property rights; governmental regulations and employment-related matters; customer, supplier, and other commercial contractual relationships; and financial matters. While the maximum amount to which the Company may be exposed under such agreements cannot be estimated, it is the opinion of management that these guarantees and indemnifications are not expected to have a materially adverse effect on the Company’s financial condition, results of operations or liquidity.
In the ordinary course of business, the Company is involved in certain legal actions and claims, including proceedings under laws and regulations relating to environmental and other matters. Because such matters are subject to many uncertainties and the outcomes are not predictable with assurance, the total liability for these legal actions and claims cannot be determined with certainty. When the Company determines that it is probable that a liability for environmental matters, legal actions or other contingencies has been incurred and the amount of the loss is reasonably estimable, an estimate of the costs to be incurred is recorded as a liability in the financial statements. As of December 31, 2014 and 2013, such liabilities are not material to the Company’s financial statements. While management believes its accruals for such liabilities are adequate, the Company may incur costs in excess of the amounts provided. Although the ultimate amount of liability that may result from these matters or actions is not ascertainable, the Company believes that any amounts exceeding the recorded accruals will not materially affect its financial condition.
Following the Acquisition, the Company’s sole membership interest holder, LSF8 Gypsum Holdings, L.P., implemented a cash-based long term incentive plan (the “LTIP”), in which participants have the potential to earn a cash payout upon a monetization event (as defined in the LTIP). Potential monetization events include the sale of the Company, an Initial Public Offering where the sponsor reduces its interest to below 50% or at the sponsor’s discretion, or through certain cash distributions as defined in the LTIP. At December 31, 2014, no such monetization events had occurred, and therefore no amounts were accrued in the accompanying balance sheet as of December 31, 2014 and 2013.
11. Related Party Transactions
Allocated Expenses
The Predecessor has been allocated selling and administrative expenses from Lafarge N.A. of $4.9 million for January 1, 2013 to August 30, 2013 and $7.0 million for the year ended December 31, 2012. These costs from Lafarge N.A. had been derived from multiple levels of the organization including shared corporate expenses and fees from the parent of Lafarge N.A. These allocated costs were primarily related to corporate administrative expenses and reorganization costs, employee-related costs including pensions and other benefits for corporate and shared employees, and rental and usage fees for shared assets for the following functional groups: information technology, legal services, accounting and finance services, human resources, marketing and contract support, customer support, treasury, facility and other corporate and infrastructural services. The costs associated with these services and support functions (indirect costs) have been allocated to the Predecessor using the most meaningful respective allocation methodologies which were primarily based on proportionate revenue, proportionate headcount or proportionate direct labor costs of the Predecessor compared to Lafarge N.A. and/or its subsidiaries.
In addition to the allocated selling and administrative expenses noted above, the Predecessor recorded approximately $7.6 million for January 1, 2013 to August 30, 2013 and $11.9 million for the year ended December 31, 2012, in pension and other post-retirement benefits expense related its employees, which has been reflected within “Cost of goods sold” and “Selling and administrative” in the accompanying Combined Statements of Operations of the Predecessor. The Predecessor’s salaried employees and union hourly employees participate in defined benefit pension plans sponsored by the Parent. These plans include other Lafarge N.A. employees that are not employees of the Predecessor. Lafarge N.A. also provides certain retiree health and life insurance benefits to eligible employees who have retired from the Predecessor. Salaried participants generally become eligible for retiree health care benefits when they retire from active service at age 55 or later. Benefits, eligibility and cost-sharing provisions for hourly employees vary by location and/or bargaining unit. Generally, the health care plans pay a stated percentage of most medical and dental expenses reduced for any deductible, copayment and payments made by government programs and other group coverage. The related pension and post-retirement benefit liability has not been allocated to the Predecessor and has not been presented in the accompanying Predecessor balance sheet since the obligation remained a liability of Lafarge N.A. The Successor does not have any pension or postretirement benefit plans in place.
Management believes the assumptions and allocations underlying the combined Predecessor financial statements are reasonable and appropriate under the circumstances. The expenses and cost allocations have been determined on a basis considered by Lafarge N.A. to be a reasonable reflection of the utilization of services provided to or the benefit received by the Predecessor during the periods presented relative to the total costs incurred by Lafarge N.A. However, the amounts recorded for these transactions and allocations are not necessarily representative of the amount that would have been reflected in the financial statements had the Predecessor been an entity that operated independently of Lafarge N.A. Consequently, future results of operations after the Predecessor’s separation from Lafarge N.A. will include costs and expenses that may be materially different than the Predecessor’s historical results of operations. Accordingly, the financial statements for these periods are not indicative of the future results of operations, financial position and cash flows.
Other
Since the Acquisition, the Company has no longer been part of the Lafarge N.A. organization but did have a Transition Services Agreement to help with certain ongoing back-office functions. These functions included, among others, accounting, treasury, tax, and information technology services. Starting in September 2013, the Company paid Lafarge N.A. a fee for these services of $119,000 per month that escalated to $129,700 per month in 2014. These services were terminated as of December 31, 2014.
On August 30, 2013, the Company entered into an advisory agreement with an affiliate of Lone Star to provide certain management oversight services to the Company, including assistance and advice on strategic plans, obtaining and maintaining certain legal documents, and communicating and coordinating with service providers. The Company paid 110% of actual costs for the services provided. For fiscal year 2014 no services were provided. The agreement was terminated upon the closing of the Initial Public Offering and in connection therewith, the Company paid a termination fee of $2.0 million that is included in non-operating expense.
12. Investment in Seven Hills
The Predecessor was a party to a paperboard liner venture with an unaffiliated third-party named Seven Hills Paperboard, LLC (“Seven Hills”). This venture provided the Predecessor with a continuous supply of high-quality recycled paperboard liner to meet its ongoing production requirements. For the Predecessor financial statements, management evaluated the characteristics of its investment in Seven Hills and concluded that Seven Hills would be deemed a Variable Interest Entity as there was not sufficient equity at risk in Seven Hills. The Predecessor also considered certain characteristics related to control and the power to direct the activities of Seven Hills that most significantly impact Seven Hills’ economic performance, including the significant decisions made by the Managing Board and the involvement of the other investor in managing the day-to-day activities. The Predecessor concluded the Company was not the primary beneficiary. Accordingly, the Predecessor accounted for its investment in Seven Hills under the equity method of accounting.
From the closing of the Acquisition through March 13, 2014, the venture equity ownership remained with Lafarge N.A., although many of the rights and obligations and underlying economics were contractually transferred to the Company in connection with the Acquisition. Based on the allocation of the purchase price paid in the Acquisition, $13.0 million related to the financial interest in the Seven Hills venture was recorded and represents the fair value of the rights retained by the Company after the Acquisition. In the Successor financial statements, the Company elected the option to account for this financial interest at fair value with changes in fair value reflected in earnings during the period in which they occur. The Company elected to measure this financial interest at fair value, as permitted under FASB Accounting Standards Codification (“ASC”) 825, Financial Instruments, to better reflect the expected future benefit of the acquired financial interest.
On March 13, 2014, Lafarge N.A. assigned its interest in the joint venture and the joint venture agreement and the other operative agreements to the Company under the same terms and conditions as existed prior to the Acquisition. The Successor evaluated the characteristics of its investment and determined that Seven Hills would be deemed a variable interest entity, but that it did not have the power to direct the principal activities most impacting the economic performance of Seven Hills, and is thus not the primary beneficiary. As such, at this date of transfer the Company recorded the investment at fair value and began accounting for this investment in Seven Hills under the equity method of accounting.
The Company currently has the right to terminate the venture and put its interest to the other investor based on a formula-driven price effective on the anniversary of the commencement date by providing notice two years prior to any such anniversary. Proceeds from such termination would revert to CBP. As of December 31, 2014 and December 31, 2013, the estimated redemption value would be $11.1 million and $13.8 million, respectively.
Paperboard purchased from Seven Hills was $49.7 million for the year ended December 31, 2014 (Successor), $17.6 million for July 26, 2013 to December 31, 2013 (Successor), $33.1 million for January 1, 2013 to August 30, 2013 (Predecessor), and was $43.6 million for the year ended December 31, 2012 (Predecessor). The Company also has certain purchase commitments for paper totaling $29.7 million through 2017.
13. Debt
Debt consists of the following:
In connection with the Acquisition by Lone Star, CBP purchased all of the assets of the Predecessor with cash. In order to finance a portion of the consideration payable to Lafarge N.A., the Successor entered into a First Lien Credit Agreement for borrowings of $320 million, a Second Lien Credit Agreement for borrowings of $120 million, and drew $25 million under a $50 million revolving credit facility as part of the First Lien Credit Agreement. In conjunction with the initial issuance of this debt, the Company incurred $15.3 million of debt issuance costs which are recorded as an asset and are being amortized using the effective interest rate method or the straight-line method which approximates the effective interest rate method, over the estimated life of the related debt.
On December 2, 2013, we modified our First Lien Credit Agreement and Second Lien Credit Agreement and increased our borrowings by a total of $130 million with the proceeds distributed as a return of capital to our sponsor, Lone Star. The changes were considered a modification of the existing instruments in accordance with guidance provided by ASC 470-50.
The maturity dates for the First Lien Credit Agreement and Second Lien Credit Agreement remained the same. The First Lien was increased by $95 million from $320 million to a total $415 million with quarterly principal payments increased from $0.8 million to $1.0 million and the remaining amount due at maturity in 2020. The Second Lien was increased by $35 million from $120 million to $155 million and remains all due at maturity in 2021. Interest remained floating for both liens and the interest rate spread over LIBOR (with a 1% floor) was increased from plus 3.5% to plus 3.75% for the term loan under the First Lien Credit Agreement and from plus 7.5% to plus 7.75% for the term loan under the Second Lien Credit Agreement. Total original issue discount and other fees associated with the amendment of approximately $5 million were paid at closing. Third party debt issuance costs were expensed. In May 2014, the interest rate spread over LIBOR was reduced by 50 basis points, from 3.75% to 3.25%, as a result of the Company achieving a total leverage ratio of less than four times net debt to the trailing twelve months adjusted earnings before interest, depreciation and amortization, as of March 31, 2014, as calculated pursuant to the First Lien Credit Agreement. This reduced interest rate for the First Lien Credit Agreement will be in effect for as long as the leverage ratio, remains below four. The margin applicable to the borrowing was further reduced in the third quarter 2014 by 25 basis points to 3.00% after the Company achieved a B2 rating with a stable outlook by Moody’s and will remain in effect as long as this rating and outlook are maintained or better.
The First Lien Credit Agreement is secured by the underlying property and equipment of the Company and has principal payments of approximately $1.0 million that are due quarterly. During 2014, CBP pre-paid $59.9 million of principal payments and no further quarterly mandatory principal payments are required until the final payment of $352 million due on August 28, 2020. At December 31, 2014, the annual effective interest rate on the First Lien Credit Agreement including original issue discount and amortization of debt issuance costs was 4.7%.
The First Lien Credit Agreement also has a $50 million revolver (the “Revolver”), none of which was outstanding as of December 31, 2014. Interest is floating, based on LIBOR (with a floor of 1%), plus 225 basis points. In addition, CBP pays a facility fee of 50 basis points per annum on the total Revolver facility. Availability under the Revolver at December 31, 2014, based on draws and outstanding letters of credit and that there are no violations of covenants, was $45.2 million.
On February 10, 2014, the Company completed the Initial Public Offering and used $152 million of net proceeds from the Initial Public Offering and cash on hand of $6.1 million to repay the $155 million Second Lien Term Loan in full along with a prepayment premium of $3.1 million.
Total interest paid by the Successor for the year ended December 31, 2014 and for the period July 26, 2013 to December 31, 2013 was $19.5 million and $9.5 million, respectively. No significant amounts of interest were paid by the Predecessor.
The table below shows the future minimum principal payments due under the credit agreements.
Under the terms of the credit agreements above, the Company is required to comply with certain covenants, including among others, the limitation of indebtedness, limitation on liens, and limitations on certain cash distributions. One single financial covenant governs all of the Company’s debt and only applies if the outstanding borrowings of the Revolver plus outstanding letters of credit are greater than $12.5 million as of the end of the quarter, beginning with the quarter ending December 31, 2013. The financial covenant is a total leverage ratio calculation, in which total debt less outstanding cash is divided by adjusted earnings before interest, depreciation and amortization. As the sum of outstanding borrowings under the Revolver and outstanding letters of credit were less than $12.5 million at December 31, 2014, the financial covenant of 6.0 times was not applicable at December 31, 2014.
14. Derivative Instruments
The Company uses derivative instruments to manage selected commodity price and interest rate exposures. The Company does not use derivative instruments for speculative trading purposes, and typically does not hedge beyond two years. Cash flows from derivative instruments are included in net cash provided by operating activities in the consolidated statements of cash flows.
Commodity Derivative Instruments
As of December 31, 2014, the Company had 1,650 thousand millions of British Thermal Units (“mmBTUs”) in aggregate notional amount outstanding natural gas swap contracts to manage commodity price exposures. All of these contracts mature by October 31, 2015. The Company elected to designate these derivative instruments as cash flow hedges in accordance with ASC 815-20, Derivatives - Hedging. For derivative contracts designated as cash flow hedges, the effective portion of changes in the fair value of the derivative is recorded to accumulated other comprehensive income, and is reclassified to earnings when the underlying forecasted transaction affects earnings. The ineffective portion of changes in the fair value of the derivative is recorded in cost of goods sold. The net unrealized loss that remained in accumulated other comprehensive income (loss), as of December 31, 2014 was $0.9 million, which is net of a tax amount of $0.5 million. No ineffectiveness was recorded on these contracts during 2014. The Company reassesses the probability of the underlying forecasted transactions occurring on a quarterly basis.
On a pre-tax basis, for the year ended December 31, 2014, approximately $1.4 million of losses were recognized in other comprehensive income for the commodity contracts. For the same period, the amount of gain reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive income into income was $0.1 million. As of December 31, 2014, $0.9 million was recorded in other current liabilities.
Interest Rate Derivative Instrument
At December 31, 2014, the Company had an interest rate cap on three month U.S. Dollar LIBOR of 2% for a notional amount of $204.9 million, representing 58.2% of the principal amount outstanding under the First Lien Credit Agreement as of December 31, 2014. The notional amount of the interest rate cap declines by $0.5 million each quarter through December 31, 2015. The objective of the hedge is to protect the cash flows from adverse extreme market interest rate changes for a portion of the First Lien Credit Agreement through March 31, 2016. Changes in the fair value of the interest rate cap are expected to be perfectly effective in offsetting the changes in cash flow of interest payments attributable to fluctuations for three month U.S. Dollar LIBOR interest rates above 2%. The hedge is being accounted for as a cash flow hedge.
Changes in the time value of the interest rate cap are reflected directly in earnings through “other income / expense” in non-operating income. CBP recorded a $0.2 million loss for the year ended December 31, 2014 (Successor). The fair value of the time value of the interest rate cap of $0.03 million is recorded in other current assets as of December 31, 2014.
Counterparty Risk
The Company is exposed to credit losses in the event of nonperformance by the counterparties to the Company’s derivative instruments. As of December 31, 2014, the Company’s derivatives were in a $0.9 million net liability position. All of the Company’s counterparties have investment grade credit ratings; accordingly, the Company anticipates that the counterparties will be able to fully satisfy their obligations under the contracts. The Company’s agreements outline the conditions upon which it or the counterparties are required to post collateral. As of December 31, 2014, the Company had no collateral posted with its counterparties related to the derivatives.
15. Segment Reporting
Segment information is presented in accordance with ASC 280, Segment Reporting (“ASC 280”), which establishes standards for reporting information about operating segments. It also establishes standards for related disclosures about products and geographic areas. The Company’s and Predecessor’s primary reportable segment is wallboard which represents approximately 96% of the revenues of the Company and Predecessor. This segment produces wallboard for the commercial and residential construction sectors. We also operate other business activities, primarily finishing products, which complement the Company’s full range of wallboard products.
Revenues from the major products sold to external customers include gypsum wallboard and finishing products.
The Company’s and Predecessor’s two geographic areas consist of the United States and Canada for which it reports net sales, fixed assets and total assets.
The Company and Predecessor evaluate operating performance based on profit or loss from operations before certain adjustments as shown below. Revenues are attributed to geographic areas based on the location of the assets producing the revenues. We did not provide asset information by segment as our Chief Operating Decision Maker does not use such information for purposes of allocating resources and assessing segment performance.
Reportable segment information consists of the following ( in thousands ):
Information concerning principal geographic areas is as follows ( in thousands ):
16. Share-Based Compensation
In conjunction with the Initial Public Offering, the Company granted employees 142,000 stock options and 75,000 restricted shares that vest over four years. The fair value of stock options was determined using the Black Scholes option pricing model with the following assumptions: (a) a risk free interest rate assumption of 2.15%, based on the U.S. Treasury yield curve in effect at the time of the grant; (b) a dividend yield of 0% as the Company currently has no plans to pay a dividend; (c) a volatility assumption of 50.34%, based on historical volatilities of comparable publicly traded companies, and (d) an expected life of 6.25 years based on the assumption that the options will be exercised evenly from time of vesting to the expiration date. Compensation expense of $0.8 million was recorded for share-based awards for the year ended December 31, 2014. The income tax benefit of share-based awards for the year ended December 31, 2014 was $0.3 million.
The fair value of each Restrictive Share Award is equal to the market price of our common stock at the date of the grant. The following table summarizes restricted shares activity for the year ended December 31, 2014:
Unearned compensation related to stock options as of December 31, 2014 of $0.5 million will be recognized over a weighted average remaining period of 3 years.
The following tables summarize stock option activity for the year ended December 31, 2014:
17. Quarterly Data (unaudited)
The following table presents selected quarterly data for the Successor periods:
(1) Operating income for the period ended September 30, 2013 includes $2,075 of lease termination costs, $3,296 of Acquisition closing costs, and inventory step-up impacting margin of $1,500.
The following table presents selected quarterly data for the Predecessor periods:
(1) Operating income for the three months ended March 31, 2013 includes $2,858 of pension expense and $1,120 of expense related to the Master Brands Agreement with Lafarge S.A.
(2) Operating income for the three months ended June 30, 2013 includes $2,817 for pension expense and $1,140 of expense related to the Master Brands Agreement with Lafarge S.A.
(3) Operating income for the period July 1, 2013 to August 30, 2013 includes $1,961 for pension expense, $744 of expense related to the Master Brands Agreement with Lafarge S.A., lease termination costs of $2,556 for the Newark facility that was closed, and lease termination costs of $1,195 to discontinue the use of our co-generation power plant.
Item 9.
Item 9. CHANGES IN AND DISAGREEMENTS WITH ACCOUNTANTS ON ACCOUNTING AND FINANCIAL DISCLOSURE
None
Item 9A.
Item 9A. CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES
Disclosure Controls and Procedures
We carried out an evaluation, under the supervision and with the participation of our principal executive officer and principal financial officer, of the effectiveness of the design and operation of our disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Rule 13a-15(e) of the Exchange Act) as of the end of the period covered by this report. Based on this evaluation, our principal executive officer and principal financial officer concluded that our disclosure controls and procedures were effective as of the end of the period covered by this report.
Management’s Report on Internal Control over Financial Reporting
The Company’s management is responsible for establishing and maintaining adequate internal control over financial reporting (as defined in Rule 13a-15(f) of the Exchange Act).
Management, with the participation of our principal executive officer and principal financial officer, conducted an assessment of the effectiveness of our internal control over financial reporting as of the end of the period covered by this report based on the criteria set forth in Internal Control - Integrated Framework issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission (1992 framework). Based on this evaluation, management has concluded that our internal control over financial reporting was effective as of the end of the period covered by this report.
Changes in Internal Control Over Financial Reporting
There have been no changes in our internal control over financial reporting that occurred during our most recent fiscal quarter that have materially affected, or are reasonably likely to materially affect, our internal control over financial reporting.
Limitations on Effectiveness of Controls
Our management, including our principal executive officer and principal financial officer, does not expect that our disclosure controls and procedures or our system of internal control over financial reporting will prevent or detect all errors and all fraud. A control system, no matter how well designed or operated, can provide only reasonable, but not absolute, assurance that the objectives of the system of internal control are met. The design of our control system reflects the fact that there are resource constraints, and that the benefits of such control system must be considered relative to their costs. Further, because of the inherent limitations in all control systems, no evaluation of controls can provide absolute assurance that all control failures and instances of fraud, if any, within the Company have been detected. These inherent limitations include the realities that judgments in decision-making can be faulty and that breakdowns can occur because of simple error or mistake. Additionally, controls can be circumvented by the intentional acts of individuals, by collusion of two or more people, or by management override of the controls. The design of any system of controls is also based in part on certain assumptions about the likelihood of future events, and there can be no assurance that the design of any particular control will always succeed in achieving its objective under all potential future conditions.
Item 9B.
Item 9B. OTHER INFORMATION
None
PART III
Item 10.
Item 10. DIRECTORS, EXECUTIVE OFFICERS AND CORPORATE GOVERNANCE
The following table sets forth certain information regarding our executive officers and directors as of the date hereof:
Name
Age
Position
James Bachmann
President, Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer
Dennis Romps
Senior Vice President, Corporate Controller and Chief Accounting Officer
Timothy Power
Senior Vice President, General Counsel and Secretary
Muhammad Shabaz “Boz” Malik
Senior Vice President Sales, Marketing and Supply Chain
David Obergefell
Senior Vice President Manufacturing
Isabelle Shiffrin
Vice President of Human Resources
Bradley P. Boggess
Director
Edward Bosowski
Director
Samuel D. Loughlin
Director
Michael O. Moore
Director
Chadwick S. Suss
Director
Jack Sweeny
Director
Kyle S. Volluz
Director
Grant Wilbeck
Director
Executive Officers
James Bachmann -Mr. Bachmann was appointed our President and Chief Executive Officer in January 2015 and our Chief Financial Officer starting January 1, 2014. Mr. Bachmann also briefly served as our interim Chief Executive Officer from November 2014 to January 2015. Mr. Bachmann previously served as Chief Financial Officer of Lafarge USA and co-Chief Financial Officer of Lafarge from November 2012 through December 31, 2013. He served as Senior Vice President Finance - Investor Relations of Lafarge S.A. from January 2008 through October 2012, Senior Vice President and Controller of Lafarge from November 2005 to June 2006, Vice President Finance - Aggregates, Concrete, and Asphalt Division of Lafarge from February 2004 to November 2005, Vice President Controller of the Gypsum Division of Lafarge from May 2002 to February 2004, and worked at Arthur Andersen from September 1990 to April 2002. Mr. Bachmann received a BSBA from Georgetown University.
Dennis Romps -Mr. Romps became our Chief Accounting Officer in January 2015 and our Senior Vice President and Corporate Controller in January 2014. He previously served as our Chief Financial Officer from August 2013 to December 2013, as Co-Chief Financial Officer of Lafarge from December 2006 through August 2013, as Vice President of Finance and Information Technology of the gypsum division of Lafarge from January 2012 through August 2013, as Vice President of Finance and Supply Chain of the gypsum division of Lafarge from January 2011 through December 2011 and as Vice President of Finance of the gypsum division of Lafarge from 2005 through December 2010. Mr. Romps received a B.A. from Michigan State University and an M.B.A. from Kellogg - Northwestern University. He is a Certified Public Accountant.
Timothy Power -Mr. Power became our Senior Vice President, General Counsel and Secretary in August 2013. He previously served as Vice President and Associate General Counsel of Lafarge from April 2005 through August 2013, and as Assistant General Counsel of Lafarge from September 1999 through April 2005. He is a member of the New York and District of Columbia bars. Prior to his employment at Lafarge, he was an associate at Shearman & Sterling in New York, and at White & Case in Moscow, Russia, among other positions. He received a B.A. and a J.D. from Vanderbilt University.
Muhammad Shahbaz “Boz” Malik -Mr. Malik became our Senior Vice President, Sales, Marketing and Supply Chain in September 2014. He previously served as the Vice President of Sales, Marketing and Commercial Excellence - Engineered Insulation Systems with Owens Corning from June 2010 until September 2014 and as Vice President & General Manager, Timberlake Cabinetry with American Woodmark from June 2007 to February 2010. Prior to that, Mr. Malik held several general management positions with Johns Manville and General Electric. Mr. Malik received a B.S. in Mechanical Engineering from Purdue University.
David Obergefell -Mr. Obergefell has served as our Senior Vice President of Manufacturing since June 2014. Previously he was a partner in Gypsum Process Solutions, a gypsum wallboard consulting business, from January 2013 to May 2014. Prior to joining Gypsum Process Solutions, Mr. Obergefell served in numerous roles for USG Corporation for 34 years, where, among other roles, he was V.P. Manufacturing-International from 2008 to 2011, and V.P. Manufacturing-West-USA and Mexico from 1998 to 2008. Mr. Obergefell received a B.S. in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Dayton.
Isabelle Shiffrin -Ms. Shiffrin became our Vice President of Human Resources in August 2013. She previously served as Vice President of Human Resources for the gypsum division of Lafarge from January 2012 through August 2013, as Vice President of Marketing and Strategy from November 2009 through December 2011 and as Director of National Accounts from July 2006 through 2009. She received a B.A. from the University of Provence, France, and an M.B.A. from Georgetown University.
Directors
Bradley P. Boggess -Mr. Boggess has been a member of our board of directors since August 2013. Mr. Boggess has been a Director of Hudson Americas, LLC, an affiliate of ours and Lone Star since June 2011. His responsibilities include identifying investment opportunities, managing acquisition processes, and driving portfolio company performance. Mr. Boggess’s asset management responsibilities include Lone Star’s operating companies that include grocery, restaurants, and building products. Prior to joining Hudson Americas, Mr. Boggess worked as a turnaround and restructuring advisor with AlixPartners, a leading management consulting and turnaround services firm, from May 2007 to June 2011. Mr. Boggess is a former Armor Officer in the United States Army. Mr. Boggess is also a member of the board of directors of Southeastern Grocers LLC, Caliber Home Loans, Inc., DFC Global Corp. and Sterling Holdings Limited. Mr. Boggess also served as a member of the Board of Directors of Del Frisco’s Restaurant Group, Inc. from December 2012 to December 2013.
Mr. Boggess’s background as a management consultant, turnaround advisor and private equity executive in a wide range of industries allows him to assist the board in understanding and addressing the wide variety of issues it faces. His responsibilities for Lone Star’s companies, including our company, also provide Mr. Boggess with a deep working knowledge of our business and operations.
Edward Bosowski - Mr. Bosowski has been a member of our board of directors since February 2014. Mr. Bosowski worked for USG Corporation (USG), the largest manufacturer and distributor of gypsum wallboard in the United States, for over 30 years. His final position at USG was Executive Vice President, Chief Strategy Officer, and President and CEO of USG’s international subsidiary, positions he held from 2006 to 2008. From 2001 to 2006, his responsibilities included being a member of the Office of the President for USG Corporation and several direct reporting relationships, including USG’s distribution subsidiary, its international subsidiary and various staff functions. From 1996 to 2001, he served as Executive Vice President of Sales and Marketing for the domestic gypsum business and became President and CEO of the North American Gypsum Business Unit. After joining USG in 1976, Mr. Bosowski held various positions and leadership roles in several operations and staff functions, including finance, marketing, supply chain, information technology, research and development, engineering, technical services, and business development.
Mr. Bosowski brings a significant level of industry experience to the board, developed during his more than 30 years in the gypsum industry. His extensive expertise and broad leadership roles in the North American gypsum industry provide valuable insight and guidance.
Samuel D. Loughlin -Mr. Loughlin has been Chairman of the Board and a member of our board of directors since February 2014. Mr. Loughlin currently serves as President-Americas Region of Lone Star U.S. Acquisitions, LLC, an affiliate of ours and Lone Star, where he is responsible for the management and oversight of all originations initiatives in North America. Previously, from 2011 to 2013, he served as Managing Director and Senior Managing Director of Lone Star U.S. Acquisitions, LLC. Mr. Loughlin joined Hudson Americas in 2008 and focused on directing the management of the corporate assets located in North America. From 2008 to 2011, he served in various capacities at Hudson Americas, LLC, an affiliate of ours and Lone Star, with responsibility for its retail and restaurant operating companies, in addition to leading teams in special originations initiatives. Mr. Loughlin has more than 16 years of finance and legal experience, including mergers and acquisitions, financing, private equity investment, originations and asset management transactions. Prior to joining Hudson Americas, Mr. Loughlin was a Partner of a Texas based private equity firm with real estate, operating company and securities holdings, where he was responsible for legal oversight, deal structuring, asset evaluation, acquisitions and sales. Prior to that, Mr. Loughlin served as an attorney at Vinson & Elkins LLP, where he was a member of the Business and Corporate Securities group, with experience in venture capital and mezzanine financing transactions, private and public securities offerings, mergers and acquisitions, management buyouts and debt financing transactions. Mr. Loughlin also served as chairman of the board of directors of Del Frisco’s Restaurant Group, Inc. from July 2012 through December 2013.
Mr. Loughlin has significant experience with the strategic, financial and operational requirements facing companies in the retail and related industries, allowing him to guide the board in analyzing, shaping, and overseeing our execution of important operational and policy issues. His responsibilities for Lone Star’s retail companies, including our company, also provide Mr. Loughlin with a working knowledge of our business and operations that are important to the development of the board.
Michael O. Moore -Mr. Moore has been a member of our board of directors since February 2014. Until August 2014, Mr. Moore served as Executive Vice President, Chief Financial Officer and Assistant Secretary of Ruby Tuesday, Inc., a national owner, operator or franchisor of casual dining restaurants, a position he held since April 2012. Prior to joining Ruby Tuesday, Mr. Moore was employed with Sun Capital Partners as Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of Pamida Stores from February 2009 to March 2012 and as Interim Chief Financial Officer of Kellwood, Inc. from November 2008 to February 2009. Prior to his tenure with Sun Capital Partners, Mr. Moore served as Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of Advanced Auto Parts from December 2005 to February 2008. Additionally, prior to December 2005, among other positions, Mr. Moore served as Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of The Cato Corporation and as Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of Bloomingdales.
Mr. Moore brings a significant level of financial and accounting expertise to the Board developed during his more than 30 year career. Mr. Moore’s wealth of public company experience provides valuable insight regarding public company reporting matters, as well as insight into management’s day-to-day duties and responsibilities.
Chadwick S. Suss - Mr. Suss has been a member of our board of directors since February 2014. Mr. Suss has been a Vice President of Hudson Americas, LLC, an affiliate of ours and Lone Star since August 2013. His responsibilities include identifying investment opportunities, managing acquisition processes, driving portfolio company performance and working on investment exits. Mr. Suss’s asset management responsibilities include the grocery and building products businesses of Lone Star’s operating companies. Prior to joining Hudson Americas, Mr. Suss worked as a turnaround and restructuring advisor with AlixPartners from March 2009 to July 2013. Prior to AlixPartners, Mr. Suss held investment banking roles at J.P. Morgan and A.G. Edwards as well as corporate finance positions at S.C. Johnson.
Mr. Suss brings broad financial and operational expertise to the board of directors developed through roles in management consulting, investment banking and corporate finance across a variety of industries. Mr. Suss’s background and expertise allow him to help the board identify, understand and address a wide variety of issues.
Jack Sweeny -Mr. Sweeny has been a member of our board of directors since February 2014. Mr. Sweeny worked for Temple-Inland, Inc., a leading building products company, for 40 years. His final position at Temple-Inland was Group Vice President of Temple-Inland, a position he held from 2002 to 2010. Prior to becoming Group Vice President, Mr. Sweeny served as Vice President of Forest Operations from 1995 to 2002 and as Vice President of Operations from 1984 to 1995. After joining Temple-Inland in 1970, Mr. Sweeny held various positions and leadership roles at the company, including managing its marketing department. Mr. Sweeny is a member of the board of directors of First Bank & Trust East Texas.
Mr. Sweeny brings broad industry expertise to the board of directors developed during his 40 years in the building products industry, including experience with all aspects of the gypsum wallboard manufacturing process. His experience provides valuable insight and guidance to the board on the building products industry as a whole.
Kyle S. Volluz -Mr. Volluz has been a member of our board of directors since February 2014. Mr. Volluz has been a Managing Director with Hudson Advisors, LLC, an affiliate of ours and Lone Star, since January 2015, and from January 2010 to January 2015, a Director with Hudson Americas, LLC, a subsidiary of Hudson Advisors, in each case, with responsibility for the management of the Legal Department. In such capacity, Mr. Volluz oversees all legal issues impacting operating companies that are affiliates of Lone Star within North America, as well as other corporate investments for which Hudson Advisors or its affiliates provide asset management services in North America. In particular, Mr. Volluz has been actively involved in the negotiation and closing of several lending transactions, acquisitions, and asset sales for us and other Lone Star portfolio companies since joining Hudson Americas in 2009. Previously, Mr. Volluz was Senior Vice President and Director of Legal Services for Goldman Sachs Specialty Lending Group, an affiliate of Goldman, Sachs & Co., a position he held from 2005 to 2009. Prior thereto, Mr. Volluz was an attorney with Baker Botts LLP and Thompson & Knight LLP, where he supported clients in various types of commercial banking transactions, mergers and acquisitions, private and public securities offerings, and debt financing transactions. Mr. Volluz is a member of the board of directors of Caliber Home Loans, Inc. and DFC Global Corp.
Mr. Volluz’s knowledge of our company allows him to bring a well-informed perspective to the board of directors regarding our operations and the associated legal risks. His extensive experience with capital market transactions, both involving our company and other affiliates of Lone Star Fund, also allows him to make valuable contributions with respect to our capital structure and financing and investing activities. His legal background also provides valuable insight to the board regarding issues we may face.
Grant Wilbeck -Mr. Wilbeck has been a member of our board of directors since February 2014. Mr. Wilbeck has served as Managing Director of Lone Star U.S. Acquisitions, LLC, an affiliate of ours and Lone Star, since 2013, where he focuses on origination and underwriting activities related to corporate private equity and debt investments. Previously, from 2007 to 2013, he served in various capacities at Hudson Americas, LLC, an affiliate of ours and Lone Star, with asset management responsibility across all retail and restaurant operating companies focusing on operational performance, capital structure and acquisition opportunities. Prior to joining Hudson Americas, LLC, Mr. Wilbeck was at APS Financial Corp. where he was a research analyst focused on distressed debt and special situations. Mr. Wilbeck is a member of the board of directors of Caliber Home Loans, Inc.
Mr. Wilbeck brings broad expertise in financial management to the board of directors. His extensive experience in the financial markets also allows him to make valuable contributions with respect to our capital structure and financing and investing activities.
There are no family relationships among any of our directors or executive officers.
Committees of the Board of Directors
Audit Committee
The primary responsibilities of our audit committee is to oversee the accounting and financial reporting processes of our company as well as our subsidiary companies, and to oversee the internal and external audit processes. The audit committee also assists the board of directors in fulfilling its oversight responsibilities by reviewing the financial information provided to stockholders and others, and the system of internal controls established by management and the board of directors. The audit committee oversees the independent auditors, including their independence and objectivity. The audit committee is empowered to retain independent legal counsel and other advisors as it deems necessary or appropriate to assist it in fulfilling its responsibilities, and to approve the fees and other retention terms of the advisors.
From our listing on the NYSE in connection with our Initial Public Offering on February 4, 2014 to November 3, 2014, our audit committee was comprised of Messrs. Moore, Suss and Sweeny, with Mr. Moore serving as Chair. Since November 3, 2014, the audit committee has been comprised of Messrs. Bosowski, Moore and Sweeny, with Mr. Moore serving as Chair. The board of directors has determined that each of Messrs. Bosowski, Moore and Sweeny is independent, as defined under and required by the federal securities laws and the NYSE rules. The board of directors has determined that Mr. Moore qualifies as an audit committee financial expert under the federal securities laws and that each member of the audit committee is “financially literate” as required under NYSE rules, as such qualification is interpreted by the board of directors in its business judgment. We initially relied on the exemption set forth in SEC rule 10A-3(b)(1)(iv)(A) that provides for a one-year transition period before the audit committee of a newly public company is required to be comprised solely of independent directors; however, the audit committee was comprised entirely of independent directors within this one-year transition period and we do not believe our previous reliance on this exemption materially adversely affected the ability of the audit committee to act independently because the audit committee was comprised of a majority of independent directors at all times. The audit committee held seven meetings during fiscal 2014 following its formation in connection with our Initial Public Offering.
Compensation Committee
The primary responsibilities of our compensation committee is to periodically review and approve the compensation and other benefits for our employees, officers and independent directors. This includes reviewing and approving corporate goals and objectives relevant to the compensation of our executive officers in light of those goals and objectives, and setting compensation for these officers based on those evaluations. Our compensation committee also administers and has discretionary authority over the issuance of stock awards under our equity incentive plan.
The compensation committee may delegate authority to review and approve the compensation of our employees to certain of our executive officers, including with respect to awards made under our equity incentive plan. Even where the compensation committee does not delegate authority, our executive officers will typically make recommendations to the compensation committee regarding compensation to be paid to our employees and the size of grants of stock option, restricted stock and other forms of stock-based compensation.
The compensation committee is comprised of three members, Messrs. Boggess, Bosowski and Suss, with Mr. Boggess serving as chair. For so long as we are a controlled company, we are not required to have a compensation committee comprised of independent directors under NYSE rules. The board has nonetheless determined that Mr. Bosowski is independent under NYSE rules. The compensation committee held two meetings during fiscal 2014 following its formation in connection with our Initial Public Offering.
Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee
Our nominating and corporate governance committee oversees all aspects of our corporate governance functions. The committee makes recommendations to our board of directors regarding director candidates and assists our board of directors in determining the composition of our board of directors and its committees. The qualifications that the nominating and corporate governance committee and board of directors consider in identifying qualified candidates to serve as directors include age, skills, such as financial background and skills, education, professional and academic affiliations, industries served, length of service, positions held, and geographies served. While the nominating and corporate governance committee does not have a formal policy with respect to diversity, it also considers diversity of viewpoints, backgrounds, experience and other demographics in evaluating director candidates. The nominating and corporate governance committee may also consult with outside advisors or retain search firms to assist in the search for qualified candidates. Once potential candidates are identified, including those candidates nominated by stockholders, the nominating and corporate governance committee reviews the backgrounds of those candidates. Final candidates are then chosen and then interviewed by other board or management representatives. Based on the interviews, the nominating and corporate governance committee then makes its recommendation to the board of directors. If the board of directors approves the recommendation, the candidate is nominated for election.
The nominating and corporate governance committee is comprised of three members, Messrs. Boggess, Loughlin and Volluz, with Mr. Loughlin serving as chair. For so long as we are a controlled company, we are not required to have a nominating and governance committee comprised of independent directors under NYSE rules. The nominating and corporate governance committee held one meeting in fiscal 2014 following its formation in connection with our Initial Public Offering.
Code of Ethics and Business Conduct, Principles of Corporate Governance and Committee Charters
Our board of directors has adopted a Code of Ethics and Business Conduct that establishes the standards of ethical conduct applicable to all directors, officers and employees of our company, including our principal executive, financial and accounting officers, or persons performing similar functions. The Code addresses, among other things, conflicts of interest, compliance with disclosure controls and procedures and internal control over financial reporting, corporate opportunities and confidentiality requirements. The audit committee is responsible for applying and interpreting our Code of Ethics and Business Conduct and in situations where questions are presented to it. In the event we make any amendment to, or grant any waiver from, a provision of the Code of Ethics that applies to the principal executive officer, principal financial officer or principal accounting officer that requires disclosure under applicable SEC rules, we will disclose such amendment or waiver and the reasons therefor on our website at www.continental-bp.com.
Our Code of Ethics and Business Conduct, our Principles of Corporate Governance and the charters of the committees of our Board of Directors, including the Audit Committee, Compensation Committee and Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee, are available through the “Investor Relations” and “Corporate Governance” links on our Web site at www.continental-bp.com. In the event we make any amendment to, or grant any waiver from, a provision of the Code of Ethics and Business Conduct that applies to our principal executive officer, principal financial officer or principal accounting officer that requires disclosure under applicable SEC rules, we will disclose such amendment or waiver and the reasons therefor on our website. We will provide any person without charge a copy of any of the aforementioned codes of ethics upon receipt of a written request. Requests should be addressed to: Continental Building Products, Inc., 12950 Worldgate Drive, Suite 700, Herndon, Virginia 20170, Attention: General Counsel.
Compensation Committee Interlocks and Insider Participation
During the last completed fiscal year our compensation committee was, and our compensation committee currently is, comprised of Messrs. Boggess, Bosowski and Suss. None of our executive officers currently serves or has served during the last completed fiscal year, as a member of the board of directors, or as a member of the compensation or similar committee, of any entity that has one or more executive officers who served on our board of directors. For a description of the transactions between us and members of the compensation committee, and entities affiliated with such members, see Item 13 - Certain Relationships and Related Transactions, and Director Independence.
Item 11.
Item 11. EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION
Introduction
The executive compensation disclosure that follows explains the compensation awarded to, earned by or paid to James Bachmann, our President, Chief Executive Officer, and Chief Financial Officer, Isaac Preston, our former Chief Executive Officer, Timothy Power and Dennis Romps, our two most highly compensated executive officers other than our chief executive officers for fiscal year 2014. We refer to these individuals in this section as our named executive officers or NEOs.
As discussed elsewhere in this Annual Report on Form 10-K, on August 30, 2013, substantially all of the assets and liabilities related to our business were acquired from Lafarge in the Acquisition. As a result of this, all compensation programs in which our NEOs participated, and all decisions made with regard to the compensation of our NEOs, prior to the Acquisition were programs of, or decisions made by Lafarge or Lafarge S.A., which together with their consolidated subsidiaries we refer to in this Annual Report on Form 10-K as the Lafarge Group. Following the Acquisition, we implemented our own compensation program, which was substantially similar to that in effect prior to the Acquisition, and all decisions regarding the compensation of our current NEOs other than Mr. Romps are now made by the compensation committee of our board of directors. Mr. Romps’ compensation is established by the Chief Executive Officer.
Summary Compensation Table
The following table summarizes information concerning the compensation awarded to, earned by or paid to our NEOs (i) during our fiscal year ended December 31, 2013, under compensation plans and programs maintained by the Lafarge Group or the Company, as applicable, and (ii) during our fiscal year ended December 31, 2014, under the compensation plans and programs maintained by the Company.
(1) No discretionary bonuses were paid to any NEOs for fiscal year 2014. For fiscal year 2013, the amounts shown in this column for each NEO represent, as applicable, a one-time Acquisition-related bonus (Mr. Preston-$171,615, Mr. Power-$102,965 and Mr. Romps-$101,500) as well as pro-rated annual incentive bonuses for January through August of 2013 (Mr. Preston-$240,261, Mr. Power-$89,940 and Mr. Romps-$95,156).
(2) The amounts shown in this column for 2014 represent the aggregate grant date fair value of restricted stock awards granted under the Company’s 2014 Stock Incentive Plan in accordance with FASB ASC Topic 718, Stock Compensation, or ASC 718. The fair value reported equals the number of restricted shares granted to each executive multiplied by the Company’s initial public offering price of $14.00 per share. Pursuant to the terms of the award, Mr. Preston forfeited all shares of restricted stock underlying this grant in connection with his death on November 25, 2014. The amounts shown in this column for 2013 represent the aggregate grant date fair value of certain Lafarge S.A. performance share awards made to Messrs. Preston, Power and Romps. The aggregate grant date fair values of such awards were determined assuming the highest level of performance conditions, determined as of the grant date. The aggregate grant date fair values were determined based on a fair value model using the market value of a share of Lafarge S.A. stock on the date of grant.
(3) Represents the grant date fair value of options granted under the Company’s 2014 Stock Incentive Plan in accordance with ASC 718. Please refer to Note 16 of Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements included elsewhere in this Annual Report on Form 10-K for a discussion of the assumptions used to calculate these amounts.
(4) For fiscal year 2014, each of our NEOs was eligible to earn a cash performance bonus, which is described in further detail below. Under the terms of his employment agreement, Mr. Preston (or his estate) did not receive an annual bonus for the 2014 fiscal year following his death on November 25, 2014. For fiscal year 2013, Messrs. Preston, Power and Romps received payments in respect of September through December of 2013 under the Stub Year Bonus Plan, described in further detail below.
(5) The amounts in this column represent the sum of automobile allowances, country club memberships, life insurance premiums, and Company matching contributions to defined contribution plans, in each case paid on behalf of the NEOs during 2014 and 2013. In addition, the amounts reported for 2014 include estimated additional Company contributions to our defined contribution plan related to services performed in 2014, but which amounts will not be finalized and contributed to participant accounts until March of 2015. The amount reported for 2014 for Mr. Preston also includes the value of continued medical, dental, and vision coverage that the Company agreed to provide to his surviving spouse and children through January 31, 2016. The amounts previously reported for 2013 were increased to reflect employer defined contribution plan contributions made with respect to the 2013 plan year, but not finalized and contributed to participant accounts until March of 2014, as well as certain life insurance premiums paid by the Company on behalf of Messrs. Preston, Power, and Romps for 2013.
(6) Mr. Preston served as our Chief Executive Officer until his death on November 25, 2014. Effective on such date, Mr. Bachmann, who has served as our Chief Financial Officer since January 1, 2014, was appointed to also serve as Interim Chief Executive Officer. On January 6, 2015, the Company announced that Mr. Bachmann was appointed to serve as President and Chief Executive Officer.
Narrative Disclosure to the Summary Compensation Table
Certain of the compensation plans and programs described below were maintained by the Lafarge Group and remained with the Lafarge Group and were not transferred to the Company in connection with the Acquisition. Following the Acquisition, we implemented our own compensation programs and policies, pursuant to which our current NEOs receive compensation and benefits. These programs and policies are substantially similar to those of Lafarge described below, except as explicitly noted below.
Base Salary
Messrs. Bachmann and Preston entered into employment agreements with the Company, in each case effective as of January 1, 2014. Pursuant to these employment agreements, Mr. Bachmann’s base salary for 2014 was set at $325,000 and Mr. Preston’s base salary for 2014 was set at $450,000. Mr. Bachmann’s salary is subject to review from time to time as determined by our board of directors or a committee thereof and may be subject to future change.
Messrs. Power’s and Romps’ base salaries are determined on an annual basis, taking into account the NEO’s position and responsibilities, the pay range for individuals in similar positions and having similar responsibilities within the Company, the compensation practices of similar companies in our sector and market and the NEO’s previous base salary. The Company has not entered into employment agreements with Messrs. Power or Romps.
Incentive Compensation
Annual Cash Incentives for Fiscal Year 2013.
In connection with the Acquisition, for the portion of fiscal year 2013 leading up to the Acquisition, each of Messrs. Preston, Power and Romps received a guaranteed annual incentive payment equal to the bonus payment such individual received in fiscal 2012 under the Lafarge Group Bonus Plan, pro-rated for the first eight months of the year (reflected in the “Bonus” column of the Summary Compensation Table).
We maintained a plan substantially similar to the Lafarge Group Bonus Plan for the remaining four months of 2013, pursuant to which Messrs. Preston, Power and Romps were eligible to earn a pro-rated portion of their target bonus amount (expressed as a percentage of their base salary) based upon the achievement of certain business and financial objectives, as well as their individual performance compared to pre-defined objectives (reflected in the “Non-Equity Incentive Plan Compensation” column of the Summary Compensation Table). We refer here to the bonus opportunity for September to December of 2013 as the Stub Year Bonus Plan. For 2013, the target award opportunities for our NEOs for the Stub Year Bonus Plan (prior to pro-ration), expressed as a percentage of their respective base salaries, were: Isaac Preston-100%, Timothy Power-75% and Dennis Romps-75%. In 2013, 40% of each award opportunity for the Stub Year Bonus Plan was tied to the achievement of a financial performance goal, 25% to the achievement of a cost reduction and revenue enhancement goal and 35% to the NEO’s achievement of individual objectives, including health and safety objectives. In February of 2014, we reviewed performance against the pre-defined objectives and determined that each NEO earned 100% of their target award opportunity.
In connection with the closing of the Acquisition, Messrs. Preston, Power and Romps also received a one-time bonus for their work done on the divestiture (reflected in the “Bonus” column of the Summary Compensation Table).
Annual Cash Incentives for Fiscal Year 2014.
Each of our named executive officers was eligible to earn an annual cash incentive bonus for 2014 based upon the achievement of a pre-established EBITDA target set by the compensation committee and, for Mr. Romps, successfully implementing an enterprise resource planning (ERP) software system prior to year end. Pursuant to his employment agreement, the target amount for Mr. Bachman’s annual cash performance bonus is set at 75% of his base salary. The compensation committee determined that Mr. Power would be eligible to earn a target annual cash incentive equal to 75% of his annual base salary. Our Chief Executive Officer determined that Mr. Romps would be eligible to earn a target annual cash incentive equal to 75% of his annual base salary. Generally, in order to receive payment of any annual cash performance bonus, the officer must be continuously employed through, and still employed by, the Company or any of its subsidiaries on the last day of the applicable performance period. Under the terms of his employment agreement, Mr. Preston (or his estate) did not receive an annual bonus for the 2014 fiscal year following his death on November 25, 2014.
Annual cash incentives were payable under our annual incentive plan for fiscal year 2014 based upon achievement of an EBITDA target significantly higher than that for 2013 and, for Mr. Romps, successful implementation of an ERP software system prior to year-end. For Mr. Romps, each of the EBITDA and ERP targets were given a 50% weighting. For all other executives, bonuses were payable entirely based upon achievement of the EBITDA target. Upon achievement of a threshold of 80% of the targeted EBITDA, each executive could receive a 50% payout of the EBITDA component. Achievement of 100% of the targeted EBITDA would result in a 100% bonus payout for this component. Achievement of 120% of the targeted EBITDA would result in a maximum bonus payout of 120% of this component. Payouts for EBITDA achieved between these points were interpolated. The EBITDA performance target was designed to be rigorous and difficult for our executive officers to achieve.
For 2014, the Company achieved EBITDA of $115.1 million, which resulted in a payout of 65.1% for all executives. Mr. Romps also successfully implemented our new ERP software prior to year-end, resulting in a 100% payout for this component of his award. The actual annual cash incentives paid to each executive are set forth in the “Non-Equity Incentive Plan” column of the Summary Compensation table above.
Equity Incentive Compensation.
Prior to the Acquisition, each of our NEOs participated in the Lafarge S.A. Performance Share Plan, or the PSP. Under the PSP, the NEOs were eligible to receive grants of performance shares of Lafarge S.A., based upon the achievement of Lafarge Group’s internal and external performance objectives. Each of the NEOs received a performance share grant under the PSP in 2013 that can be earned subject to Lafarge Group’s 2014 and combined 2014-2015 EBITDA performance relative to enumerated targets. Subject to satisfaction of the performance metrics, the performance shares are eligible to vest four years following the date of grant in 2017.
In fiscal year 2014, our NEOs and other executive officers and Company employees received equity awards in connection with the Company’s initial public offering. On February 4, 2014, we granted approximately 142,000 stock options and 75,000 shares of restricted stock based on the initial offering price of $14.00 per share. In connection with those grants, the NEOs received the following equity awards: Mr. Preston received 60,000 stock options and 20,000 shares of restricted stock, Mr. Bachmann received 15,000 stock options and 5,000 shares of restricted stock, Mr. Power received 7,500 stock options and 5,500 shares of restricted stock and Mr. Romps received 7,500 stock options and 5,000 shares of restricted stock.
Long-Term Incentives Following the Acquisition.
Following the Acquisition, Lone Star implemented a new cash-based long term incentive plan, the LSF8 Gypsum Holdings, L.P. Long Term Incentive Plan, or the LTIP. Under the LTIP, participants are granted pool units entitling them, subject to the terms of the LTIP, to a potential cash payout upon a monetization event (as defined below under “-Severance and Change in Control Arrangements”). LSF8 Gypsum Holdings, L.P., or LSF8, our majority shareholder, maintains, and is obligated for all payments under the LTIP. The LTIP was effective August 30, 2013. Each of Messrs. Bachmann, Preston (now through his estate) and Power participate in the LTIP, but Mr. Romps does not.
To date, Mr. Bachmann has been awarded 200,000 pool units under the LTIP, Mr. Power has been awarded 100,000 pool units under the LTIP and Mr. Preston was awarded 400,000 pool units under the LTIP. (In addition, three other executive officers that are not NEOs for fiscal year 2014 hold an aggregate of 150,000 pool units under the LTIP). The total number of pool units authorized under the LTIP is 1,000,000. While LSF8 does not expect to increase the total number of pool units authorized under the LTIP, LSF8 may make future limited grants out of the currently authorized but unallocated pool units under the LTIP.
Pool units granted under the LTIP generally only become vested upon the occurrence, prior to August 30, 2018, of a vesting monetization event (as defined below under “-Severance and Change in Control Arrangements”). However, following his death, LSF8 amended Mr. Preston’s LTIP award agreement to provide for the full vesting of all 400,000 pool units he held thereunder and future payments, if any, with respect to such pool units will be made to Mr. Preston’s estate. The value of a participant’s pool units is determined as of the
closing date of each monetization event relative to that participant’s interest in the incentive pool, calculated as the number of vested pool units held by the individual participant, divided by 1,000,000 (the total number of pool units under the LTIP). The amount of profits credited to the incentive pool under the LTIP in connection with a monetization event is based upon the internal rate of return realized upon a monetization event by the Company’s direct and indirect equity holders immediately prior to our initial public offering; provided, however, in no event will more than $35 million, in the aggregate, be credited to the incentive pool under the LTIP. In addition, the incentive pool will not be credited with any amounts and no payouts will be made unless (1) such internal rate of return is at least 15%, and (2) when combined with any prior monetization event, the monetization event results in a return of the beginning equity value (as defined in the LTIP) to the Company’s direct and indirect equity holders immediately prior to our initial public offering. Payments under the LTIP, if earned pursuant to the LTIP, are made in cash as soon as reasonably practicable after the closing of the applicable monetization event. Our initial public offering and our November 2014 secondary offering did not trigger any payouts under the LTIP.
The amount of profits that are credited to the incentive pool upon a monetization event, subject to the $35 million cap, is summarized in the table and footnotes below:
(1) Upon a monetization event that is a cash distribution (as defined under “-Severance and Change in Control Arrangements”) and that occurs prior to any of the other types of monetization events, the incentive pool will be credited with an amount equal to the Cash Distribution Participation Amount. The “Cash Distribution Participation Amount” is a portion of the excess of:
(i) the sum of such cash distribution actually distributed to the Company’s current direct and indirect equity owners immediately prior to our initial public offering (the “Cash Distribution Cash Received”) plus all prior cash distributions (plus all prior Monetization Event Value Received (see footnote (2), below), if any), over
(ii) the beginning equity value (as defined in the LTIP), as increased from time to time pursuant to the LTIP (such excess, the “Cash Distribution Profit Amount”).
To determine such portion, LSF8 will calculate a cumulative internal rate of return (“Cumulative Internal Rate of Return”) with respect to the Cash Distribution Cash Received in such current cash distribution and all prior cash distributions (the “Aggregate Cash Distribution Cash Received”). However, the incentive pool will not be credited with any amounts unless and until the Cumulative Internal Rate of Return equals or exceeds 15%. Once the Cumulative Internal Rate of Return equals or exceeds 15%, the Cash Distribution Participation Amount or Monetization Event Participation Amount, as applicable, will be determined pursuant to the table above.
(2) Upon a monetization event other than a cash distribution, the incentive pool will be credited with the Monetization Event Participation Amount. The “Monetization Event Participation Amount” will mean a portion of the excess of:
(i) the sum of the net cash proceeds (and the fair market value of other consideration received at the time of the monetization event as determined in LSF8’s discretion) from the event causing the monetization event actually received by the Company’s direct and indirect equity holders immediately prior to our initial public offering (the “Monetization Event Value Received”) plus all prior Aggregate Cash Distribution Cash Received, over
(ii) the beginning equity value (such excess, the “Monetization Event Profit Amount”).
To determine such portion, LSF8 will calculate a Cumulative Internal Rate of Return with respect to the Monetization Event Value Received and the Aggregate Cash Distribution Cash Received (the “Aggregate Monetization Event Value”). However, the incentive pool will not be credited with any amounts unless and until the Cumulative Internal Rate of Return equals or exceeds 15%. Once the Cumulative Internal Rate of Return equals or exceeds 15% then, the Cash Distribution Participation Amount or Monetization Event Participation Amount, as applicable, will be determined pursuant to the table above.
In addition, in the event the Cumulative Internal Rate of Return is greater than or equal to 25%, the aggregate amount credited as Monetization Event Participation Amount will not be less than $85,000,000.
(3) The percentage in the right-hand column in any particular row of the table is applied only to the portion of the Cash Distribution Profit Amount or Monetization Event Profit Amount, as applicable, attributable to the incremental Cumulative Internal Rate of Return reflected in the left-hand column of such row.
Retirement Plans
Prior to the Acquisition, our NEOs participated in retirement benefit plans sponsored by Lafarge. None of those plans were assigned to the Company in connection with the Acquisition and thus our NEOs no longer actively participate in those plans. Following the Acquisition, we implemented our own tax qualified 401(k) defined contribution plan, or the 401(k) plan, for the benefit of our employees. Under the 401(k) plan, employees (including the current NEOs) are permitted to elect to reduce their current compensation by up to the statutorily prescribed annual limit and to have the amount of such reduction contributed to the 401(k) plan. We are also permitted to make contributions up to the legally prescribed limits on behalf of all eligible employees to the 401(k) plan, which are reflected in the “All Other Compensation” column of the Summary Compensation Table above.
Termination, Severance and Change in Control Arrangements
Mr. Isaac Preston
Pursuant to his employment agreement, upon his death, Mr. Preston’s estate was entitled to his accrued base salary through November 25, 2014, any unreimbursed travel and business expenses owned to Mr. Preston, and any other amounts owed to arising from his participation in, or benefits under, any employee benefit plans, programs or arrangements (including without limitation, any disability or life insurance benefit plans, programs or arrangements). In addition, under his employment agreement, his estate was also entitled to any additional payments determined by our Board of Directors in its sole discretion. Following his passing, the Board of Directors determined to provide medical, dental and vision coverage to Mr. Preston’s surviving spouse and children for the period from February 1, 2015 to January 31, 2016, at a total Company cost of $11,145, and LSF8 elected to provide for the full vesting of Mr. Preston’s LTIP pool units such that any future payments, if any, with respect to such pool units will be made to Mr. Preston’s estate.
Mr. James Bachmann
Pursuant to his employment agreement, in the event that Mr. Bachmann’s employment is terminated by the Company without Cause or he resigns for Good Reason (in each case, as defined in such agreement), then subject to his execution and non-revocation of a waiver and general release of claims in a form provided by the Company and his compliance with the confidentiality, non-compete, non-solicitation and non-disparagement restrictive covenants contained in his employment agreement, he would be entitled to any accrued payments or benefits and continued payment of his base salary for a period of 24 months.
Other NEOs
Under the Lafarge North America Inc. Severance Pay Plan, or the Severance Plan, each of our NEOs was eligible to receive severance benefits in the event that his employment was involuntarily terminated and such termination constituted a “separation from service” under Code Section 409A, each of which we refer to as a Qualifying Termination. Under the Severance Plan, if an NEO experienced a Qualifying Termination, the NEO was entitled, subject to his execution of a general release and waiver of legal claims, to continue to receive an amount equal to six months’ base salary, paid in the same manner and amount as prior to his Qualifying Termination. The NEO would also be eligible to receive up to an additional 12 months of base salary, paid monthly, if he is unable to locate substantially equivalent employment within 18 months of the Qualifying Termination. The Severance Plan also provides for continued health benefits for so long as the participant is receiving base salary payments, pursuant to the terms of the Severance Plan. All benefits payable under the Severance Plan are subject, in time and manner of payment, to compliance with Code Section 409A. Following the Acquisition, the Company committed to providing Messrs. Power and Romps with the same level of severance benefits provided under the Severance Plan for a period of at least 12 months.
Except as set forth above, our NEOs do not participate in any plans or programs, providing for the payment of additional compensation or benefits in the event of a change in control of the Company, except the LTIP. As discussed above pursuant to the LTIP, pool units generally become vested only upon the occurrence of a vesting monetization event that occurs prior to August 30, 2018, subject to continued employment through the date of the event. All vested and unvested pool units will generally be forfeited upon any termination of employment; provided, however that a participant will retain the right to receive payment in respect of vested units, but only with respect to monetization events that occurred prior to the participant’s termination of employment. As noted above, following his death, LSF8 amended Mr. Preston’s LTIP award agreement to provide for full vesting of the 400,000 pool units he held thereunder and future payments, if any, with respect to such pool units will be made to Mr. Preston’s estate. In addition, with respect to Messrs. Bachmann’s and Power’s pool units, upon his termination of employment either by the Company without cause (as defined in the LTIP) or his resignation for good reason (as defined in the LTIP), in either case, within 12 months following a major transaction, Mr. Bachmann or Mr. Power, as applicable, will be deemed vested with respect to 50% of his pool units and shall be entitled to retain those vested pool units following such termination of employment.
Generally, for purposes of the LTIP, a monetization event occurs when:
•
LSF8 or the Company is converted, merged, consolidated or reorganized into or with another corporation or other legal person and, immediately after such conversion, merger, consolidation, or reorganization, less than a majority of the combined voting power of the then-outstanding equity securities of such corporation or other legal person immediately after such transaction are held in the aggregate by the holders of voting securities of LSF8 immediately prior to such transaction;
•
the equityholders of LSF8 sell, transfer or exchange more than 50% of the combined voting power of the then-outstanding equity securities of LSF8 or the Company to an unrelated third party, or (B) LSF8 or its subsidiaries sell, transfer or exchange more than 50% in value of their aggregate assets to any other entity or other legal person, and less than a majority of the combined voting power of the then outstanding equity securities of such entity or person immediately after such sale are held in the aggregate by the holders of voting securities of LSF8 immediately prior to such sale;
•
a firm commitment underwritten public offering occurs that is registered under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, of the equity interests of LSF8, the Company, another subsidiary of LSF8 or a respective successor entity where either (A) the members’ interest in the voting securities of LSF8, a subsidiary or a respective successor entity, as applicable, is reduced to below 50% as a result of such public offering or (B) LSF8 determines, in its sole and absolute discretion, that such public offering constitutes a monetization event for purposes of the LTIP; or
•
LSF8 pays dividends or distributions (whether pursuant to a regular dividend, extraordinary dividend, non-dividend distribution, redemption, recapitalization, or otherwise) (a “cash distribution”).
In turn, a vesting monetization event is any of the events described in the subsections above (i) that is not a cash distribution, or (ii) that is a cash distribution, provided that at the time of such event, the Cumulative Internal Rate of Return of the Company’s direct and indirect equity holders as of immediately prior to our initial public offering is at least 15% and, when combined with any prior monetization event, results in a return to such direct and indirect equity holders of the Company of at least their beginning equity value.
For purposes of the LTIP, a major transaction occurs if LSF8 or the Company acquires, merges or is reorganized into or with another unrelated corporation, which corporation at the time of such transaction has a fair market value (as determined by the administrator of the LTIP in its sole discretion) equal to or greater than the beginning equity value under the LTIP.
Outstanding Equity Awards at Fiscal Year End
The following table provides information regarding outstanding equity awards made to the NEOs under the Company’s 2014 Stock Incentive Plan as of the end of the fiscal year ended December 31, 2014.
(1) All stock option and stock awards were granted on February 4, 2014 in connection with the Company’s Initial Public Offering. All awards vest in four equal installments on the first, second, third and fourth anniversaries of the grant date.
(2) The market value of outstanding awards of restricted stock is computed by using the closing price of a share of the Company’s common stock on December 31, 2014, which was $17.73.
(3) Mr. Preston’s February 4, 2014 stock option award vested in full immediately upon his passing and his estate may exercise the award until the date that is 12 months following the date of his passing, in each case pursuant to the terms of the option award agreement.
Director Compensation
Each of our independent directors receives an annual retainer of $50,000 per year, with an additional $2,500 annual fee for service as the chairman of the board or as chairperson of a committee of the board. Commencing on January 1, 2015, the annual fee for service as the audit committee chairperson was increased from $2,500 to $5,000 per year. In addition, we pay our independent directors a fee of $1,500 for each meeting attended in person or telephonically. Independent directors also receive an annual equity grant. Such cash fees are paid quarterly in arrears. Directors who are also members of management or affiliated with Lone Star are not separately compensated for their services as a director.
The table below sets forth the compensation paid (or credited) to each of the Company’s non-management directors during fiscal 2014:
(1) Represents the aggregate grant date fair value of restricted stock awards granted under the 2014 Stock Incentive Plan in accordance with ASC 718. The fair value reported equals the number of restricted shares granted to each independent director multiplied by the Company’s initial public offering price of $14.00 per share. A grant of 834 shares of restricted stock was made to Mr. Sweeny and a grant of 833 shares of restricted stock was made to each of Messrs. Bosowski and Moore on February 4, 2014 in connection with the Company’s initial public offering. Mr. Sweeny held 834 shares of restricted stock and Messrs. Bosowski and Moore each held 833shares of restricted stock at December 31, 2014.
(2) Represents the grant date fair value of options granted under the 2014 Stock Incentive Plan in accordance with ASC 718. A grant of 2,500 stock options was made to each independent director on February 4, 2014 in connection with the Company’s initial public offering. Each of the three independent directors held 2,500 stock options at December 31, 2014. Please refer to Note 16 in Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements included elsewhere in this Annual Report on Form 10-K for a discussion of the assumptions used to calculate these amounts.
Item 12.
Item 12. SECURITY OWNERSHIP OF CERTAIN BENEFICIAL OWNERS AND MANAGEMENT AND RELATED STOCKHOLDER MATTERS
Information with Respect to Securities Authorized for Issuance Under Equity Compensation Plans
The following table sets forth as of December 31, 2014, information with respect to (a) number of securities to be issued upon exercise of outstanding options, warrants and rights, (b) the weighted average exercise price of outstanding options, warrants and rights and (c) the number of securities remaining available for future issuance, in each case under the 2014 Stock Incentive Plan, our only equity compensation plan.
Security Ownership
The following table presents information concerning the beneficial ownership of the shares of our common stock as of February 24, 2015 by (1) each person known to us to beneficially own more than 5% of the outstanding shares of our common stock, (2) each of our directors and named executive officers and (3) all of our directors and executive officers as a group.
Beneficial ownership is determined under the rules of the SEC and generally includes voting or investment power over securities. Except in cases where community property laws apply or as indicated in the footnotes to this table, we believe that each stockholder identified in the table possesses sole voting and investment power over all shares of common stock shown as beneficially owned by the stockholder. Shares of common stock subject to options and warrants that are exercisable or exercisable within 60 days of February 24, 2015 are considered outstanding and beneficially owned by the person holding the options for the purpose of computing the percentage ownership of that person but are not treated as outstanding for the purpose of computing the percentage ownership of any other person. Unless indicated below, the address of each individual listed below is c/o Continental Building Products, Inc., 12950 Worldgate Drive, Suite 700, Herndon, Virginia 20170.
* Represents less than one percent.
(1) LSF8 Gypsum Holdings, L.P., a Delaware limited partnership is controlled by LSF VIII International Finance, L.P., a Bermuda limited partnership, which is controlled by its general partner, Lone Star Partners VIII, L.P., a Bermuda limited partnership, which is controlled by its general partner Lone Star Management Co. VIII, Ltd., a Bermuda exempted limited company, which is controlled by its sole owner (shareholder) John P. Grayken. The address for all of these persons, other than LSF VIII International Finance, L.P., Lone Star Partners VIII, L.P., Lone Star Management Co. VIII, Ltd. and Mr. Grayken, is 2711 North Haskell Avenue, Suite 1700, Dallas, Texas 75204. The address for LSF VIII International Finance, L.P., Lone Star Partners VIII, L.P. and Lone Star Management Co. VIII, Ltd. is Washington Mall, Suite 304, Third Floor, 7 Reid Street, Hamilton HM 11, Bermuda. The address for Mr. Grayken is Pyrford Court, Pyrford Common Road, Woking, Surrey, GU22 8UB, England, United Kingdom.
(2) The information regarding the beneficial ownership of Capital World Investors is based on the Schedule 13G filed with the SEC thereby on February 13, 2015. The address for Capital World Investors is 333 South Hope Street, Los Angeles, CA 90071.
(3) Includes 3,750 options to purchase shares of Company common stock that were exercisable as of February 24, 2015.
(4) Includes 1,875 options to purchase shares of Company common stock that were exercisable as of February 24, 2015.
(5) Includes 1,875 options to purchase shares of Company common stock that were exercisable as of February 24, 2015.
(6) Mr. Boggess owns interests in entities which own indirect non-controlling interests in LSF8 Gypsum Holdings, L.P.’s parent company and therefore expressly disclaims any beneficial ownership of interests in LSF8 Gypsum Holdings, L.P. or our common stock owned by LSF8 Gypsum Holdings, L.P.
(7) Includes 625 options to purchase shares of Company common stock that were exercisable as of February 24, 2015.
(8) Mr. Loughlin owns interests in entities which own indirect non-controlling interests in LSF8 Gypsum Holdings, L.P.’s parent company and therefore expressly disclaims any beneficial ownership of interests in LSF8 Gypsum Holdings, L.P. or our common stock owned by LSF8 Gypsum Holdings, L.P.
(9) Includes 625 options to purchase shares of Company common stock that were exercisable as of February 24, 2015.
(10) Includes 625 options to purchase shares of Company common stock that were exercisable as of February 24, 2015.
(11) Mr. Volluz owns interests in entities which own indirect non-controlling interests in LSF8 Gypsum Holdings, L.P.’s parent company and therefore expressly disclaims any beneficial ownership of interests in LSF8 Gypsum Holdings, L.P. or our common stock owned by LSF8 Gypsum Holdings, L.P.
(12) Mr. Wilbeck owns interests in entities which own indirect non-controlling interests in LSF8 Gypsum Holdings, L.P.’s parent company and therefore expressly disclaims any beneficial ownership of interests in LSF8 Gypsum Holdings, L.P. or our common stock owned by LSF8 Gypsum Holdings, L.P.
(13) Includes 11,250 options to purchase shares of Company common stock that were exercisable as of February 24, 2015.
Item 13.
Item 13. CERTAIN RELATIONSHIPS AND RELATED TRANSACTIONS, AND DIRECTOR INDEPENDENCE
Relationships with Lone Star and Affiliates
Asset Advisory Fees
Effective August 30, 2013, we entered into an Asset Advisory Agreement with Hudson Americas LLC and Lone Star Fund VIII (U.S.), L.P., both affiliates of our sole equityholder. Pursuant to the Asset Advisory Agreement, Hudson Americas provided us with certain oversight functions in connection with the management of our business and assets, including: (i) communicating and coordinating with our personnel and service providers; (ii) assisting and advising us in the pursuit of our strategic plan and managing our assets in furtherance of our strategic plan; and (iii) obtaining and maintaining all required licenses, permits, certificates, consents and other approvals with respect to our assets. In addition, the agreement permitted, but did not require, Hudson Americas to provide us with certain ancillary services, such as financial accounting and reporting, tax accounting, preparation and reporting, treasury, risk management, legal and compliance, record keeping and operating company oversight. Pursuant to the Asset Advisory Agreement, we paid Hudson Americas an amount equal to 110% of the actual costs of the manager and ancillary services or 110% of the hourly billing rates of the individual billing rates of the individuals performing such services, as applicable.
Upon the consummation of our Initial Public Offering in February 2014, we terminated the Asset Advisory Agreement for a one-time termination payment of $2.0 million. We did not pay any other fees under the Asset Advisory Agreement in fiscal year 2014.
General
For as long as Lone Star and its affiliates continue to beneficially own shares of common stock representing more than a majority of the voting power of our common stock, they will be able to direct the election of all of the members of our board of directors and exercise a controlling influence over our business and affairs, including any determinations with respect to mergers or other business combinations, the acquisition or disposition of assets, the incurrence of indebtedness, the issuance of any additional common stock or other equity securities, the repurchase or redemption of common stock and the payment of dividends. Similarly, Lone Star has the power to determine matters submitted to a vote of our stockholders without the consent of our other stockholders, has the power to prevent a change in our control and could take other actions that might be favorable to them.
Registration Rights Agreement
We entered into a registration rights agreement with Lone Star in connection with the consummation of our Initial Public Offering. The terms of the registration rights agreement include provisions for demand registration rights and piggyback registration rights in favor of Lone Star. The registration rights agreement does not provide for the payment of any consideration by us to Lone Star if a registration statement for the resale of shares of common stock held by Lone Star is not declared effective or if the effectiveness is not maintained. Currently, 22,489,250 shares of common stock are entitled to these registration rights.
Director Indemnification Agreements
Our bylaws permit us to indemnify our executive officers and directors to the fullest extent permitted by law, subject to limited exceptions. We entered into indemnification agreements with each of our executive officers and directors that provide, in general, that we will indemnify them to the fullest extent permitted by law in connection with their service to us or on our behalf.
Review and Approval of Related Party Transactions
We have implemented a written policy pursuant to which our board of directors or the audit committee will review and approve transactions with our directors, officers and holders of more than 5% of our voting securities and their affiliates. Prior to approving any transaction with a related party, our board of directors or audit committee (in each case, composed of disinterested directors), as applicable, will consider the material facts as to the related party’s relationship with us or interest in the transaction. Related party transactions will not be approved unless the board of directors or the audit committee (in each case, composed of disinterested directors), as applicable, has approved of the transaction. We did not have a formal review and approval policy for related party transactions at the time of any transaction described above.
Item 14.
Item 14. PRINCIPAL ACCOUNTING FEES AND SERVICES
Audit and Non-Audit Fees
Set forth below are the fees billed to the Company to its independent registered public accounting firm, Ernst & Young, for the fiscal periods indicated.
Audit Fees - Consist of fees for professional services provided in connection with the annual audit of the Company’s consolidated financial statements; the reviews of the Company’s quarterly results of operations and reports on Form 10-Q; and the services that an independent auditor would customarily provide in connection with audits of the Company’s subsidiaries, other regulatory filings, and similar engagements for each fiscal year shown, such as consents and reviews of documents filed with the SEC.
Tax Fees - Consist of fees for tax compliance, tax advice and tax planning.
All Other Fees - Consist of fees for professional services provided in connection with the preparation of the Initial Public Offering and subsequent offerings of the Company’s stock, the registration of the Company’s long-term equity compensation plan, and the Company’s implementation of a new information technology system.
Pre-Approval Policies and Procedures
In connection with our Initial Public Offering, the Board of Directors has adopted a written policy for the pre-approval of certain audit and non-audit services which Ernst & Young provides. The policy balances the need to ensure the independence of Ernst & Young while recognizing that in certain situations Ernst & Young may possess both the technical expertise and knowledge of the Company to best advise the Company on issues and matters in addition to accounting and auditing. In general, the Company’s independent registered public accounting firm cannot be engaged to provide any audit or non-audit services unless the engagement is pre-approved by the Audit Committee in compliance with the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002. Certain basic services may also be pre-approved by the Chairman of the Audit Committee under the policy. However, any service that is not specifically pre-approved under the policy must be specifically pre-approved by the Audit Committee if it is to be provided by the independent registered public accounting firm. In determining whether or not to pre-approve services, the Audit Committee determines whether the service is a permissible service under the SEC’s rules, and, if permissible, the potential effect of such services on the independence of the Company’s independent registered public accounting firm. All of the fees identified in the table above were approved in accordance with SEC requirements and, following our Initial Public Offering, pursuant to the policies and procedures described above.
SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the Registrant has duly caused this Form 10-K to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized.
Continental Building Products, Inc.
By:
/s/ James Bachmann
Name:
James Bachmann
Title:
President, Chief Executive Officer and Acting Chief Financial Officer
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, this report has been signed below by the following persons on behalf of the Registrant in the capacities and on the date(s) indicated.
Item 15.
Item 15. EXHIBITS AND FINANCIAL STATEMENT SCHEDULES
(a) 1 and 2. See Part II, Item 8, Financial Statements and Supplementary Data, for an index of our consolidated financial statements and supplementary data schedule.
(a) 3. Exhibits
# Denotes management compensatory plan or arrangement.
* Filed herewith.
^ Certain portions of this exhibit have been redacted and separately filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission pursuant to a request for confidential treatment.
(a) Previously filed on December 24, 2013 as an exhibit to the Company’s Registration Statement on Form S-1 (File No. 333-193078) and incorporated herein by reference.
(b) Previously filed on January 10, 2014 as an exhibit to Amendment No. 1 to the Company’s Registration Statement on Form S-1 (File No. 333-193078) and incorporated herein by reference.
(c) Previously filed on January 23, 2014 as an exhibit to Amendment No. 2 to the Company’s Registration Statement on Form S-1 (File No. 333-193078) and incorporated herein by reference.
(d) Previously filed on January 31, 2014 as an exhibit to Amendment No. 3 to the Company’s Registration Statement on Form S-1 (File No. 333-193078) and incorporated herein by reference.