Item 1. Business
Acquisition of Enterprise Business
In October 2014, Zebra acquired the Enterprise business (“Enterprise”) from Motorola Solutions, Inc. (“MSI”), excluding its iDEN, or Integrated Digital Enhanced Network Business, for $3.45 billion in cash (the “Acquisition”). Enterprise is an industry leader in mobile computing and advanced data capture technologies and services, which complement Zebra’s printing and RFID products. Its products include rugged and enterprise-grade mobile computers; laser imaging and radio frequency identification based data capture products; wireless LAN (“WLAN”) solutions and software; and applications that are associated with these products and services.
The Acquisition expanded Zebra’s product line with complementary products that together are employed by customers to obtain greater visibility and insight into their operations. It enables us to deliver end-to-end solutions supporting the Internet of Things (“IoT”) in targeted industries. The Acquisition strengthened our global reach. We believe that the greater real-time capabilities of the combined company will make Zebra a more valued strategic vendor to our customers, as well as a more important supplier of products and solutions to our channel partners.
Similar to Zebra’s business, Enterprise’s products and services are sold to a wide range of enterprise customers, including those in the retail, hospitality, transportation and logistics, manufacturing, warehouse and distribution centers, energy and utilities, education and healthcare industries.
Zebra funded the Acquisition through a combination of foreign cash on hand of $250 million, the sale of 7 1⁄4% senior notes due 2022 with an aggregate principal amount of $1.05 billion (the “Notes”), and a new credit agreement with various lenders that provided a term loan of $2.2 billion (the “Term Loan”). The new credit agreement also included a revolving credit facility providing $250 million (the “Revolving Facility”; and, together with the Notes and the Term Loan, the “Debt Agreements”).
Integration of Enterprise Business
We commenced integration planning soon after announcing the Acquisition in April 2014. Prior to closing, integration activities focused on understanding the carve-out of Enterprise from MSI. We needed to understand the systems and operations requirements of Enterprise and ensure that we had appropriate systems and personnel in place to handle Enterprise requirements. After closing the Acquisition, integration activities have focused on creating one Zebra by integrating the operations of Enterprise with Zebra to create a single business with common sales, marketing, finance, supply chain and other functions. Over the next few years, the integration will transform how we operate. Our priorities have centered on maintaining business and customer continuity while identifying and accelerating synergies and integrating organizations, processes and systems. As part of integration, we have been undergoing organizational review that involves a talent selection process that we expect to complete over the course of 2015.
To leverage our ability to deliver end-to-end solutions, we are creating a unified go-to-market strategy. This involves an evaluation of the current channel programs for Enterprise and Zebra along with understanding our new capabilities for delivering value directly to end users. For the near term, we foresee continuing with separate channel partner programs with differing program requirements until we are able to redesign our channel programs to best address the combined organization.
As part of the Acquisition, Zebra acquired a new enterprise resource planning (“ERP”) system that Enterprise uses for its operations and financial reporting. Until such time as Zebra is able to move onto a single ERP system, Zebra and Enterprise will be operating on separate ERP systems. In the interim, Zebra is implementing processes to address the multiple ERP systems and investigating the appropriate path to having a unified ERP system.
Another key focus of the post-closing integration activities relates to transitioning off of MSI-provided transition services related primarily to information technology. These services are an interim measure to facilitate the integration of Enterprise and enable us to continue operating Enterprise without disruption.
The remaining discussion of the “Business” section in this Annual Report addresses the way we currently operate. We expect that the continuing integration of Enterprise will significantly impact most of these processes in future periods.
The Company
Zebra is a global leader respected for innovation and reliability. We offer products and services that give organizations greater visibility and insights into their operations, which we call Enterprise Asset Intelligence. Our products and services allow our customers to manage their assets, transactions and people more effectively, and thereby improve their operational efficiency, deliver a better customer experience, provide more effective security and achieve other objectives of their organization. We provide products and services in approximately 100 countries, with 122 facilities and approximately 6,800 employees worldwide.
We design, manufacture and sell a broad range of products, including: enterprise mobile computers; advanced data capture devices such as laser, 2D and RFID scanners and readers; WLAN products; specialty printers for barcode labeling and personal identification; real-time location systems; related supplies such as self-adhesive labels; and utilities, frameworks and application software. Retailers, manufacturers, transportation and logistics companies, governments, healthcare institutions and other organizations around the world use our devices in solutions for automatic identification of assets, data collection and personal identification.
We believe strong underlying technology trends support growth in our industry and the further adoption of our products and solutions. Global competitive forces continue to drive enterprises to improve workflow and deliver better service to their customers. The broad availability of wireless and Internet connectivity supports the adoption and deployment of Zebra mobile computers, data capture devices and printers to enable organizations to collect more data in real time on the location, movement and condition of their assets. This information, which is generated with the increasing use of barcodes, RFID and other sensors, can help enterprises make smarter business decisions. Organizations are increasingly taking advantage of cloud computing for data analysis, as well as device management with solutions supported by the IoT. Zebra is well positioned to benefit from the further adoption of mobility, cloud computing, and IoT.
Acquisitions (other than the Acquisition of the Enterprise Business)
Laserband Acquisition - In July 2012, Zebra acquired LaserBand LLC. LaserBand is a leader in patient identification wristbands and related products. LaserBand strengthens Zebra’s product and patent portfolio and enables Zebra to offer a wider array of products to hospitals, healthcare organizations and other customers that use wristbands in their operations.
Hart Systems Acquisition - In December 2013, Zebra acquired Hart Systems, a leading provider of self-directed physical inventory management solutions to the retail industry. Hart has distinguished itself in the market by offering retailers high ROI, self-managed inventory solutions. This acquisition enables us to expand our presence in the retail market segment by offering additional inventory management services as part of Zebra’s dedicated retail solutions. It adds software as a service (SaaS) to Zebra’s product portfolio.
Discontinued Operations
Sale of Navis, LLC - On March 18, 2011, we sold our Navis marine terminal solutions business and the related WhereNet marine terminal solutions product line of our Zebra Enterprise Solutions business to Cargotec Corporation.
Sale of proveo AG - On August 3, 2011, we entered into a Share Purchase Agreement with F Two NV and sold all of our interest in Zebra Enterprise Solutions GmbH (formerly proveo AG) business. proveo AG provided integrated aviation solutions to help optimize motorized ground support equipment and other mobile assets in airport terminal areas.
Beginning in the first quarter of 2011, Zebra reported the results of these businesses as discontinued operations. The amounts presented in Zebra’s financial statements for discontinued operations include Navis and proveo assets and liabilities, and the operating results of these businesses for 2013, 2012, 2011 and 2010. With the sale of Navis, we integrated the remaining ZES business into our Location Solutions operations.
Continuing Operations
Commencing with the acquisition of Enterprise in October 2014, our continuing operations consist of two segments - (1) Enterprise, comprised of our mobile computing, data capture, and WLAN products and (2) Legacy Zebra, comprised of barcode and card printing, location and motion sensing and supplies products.
Enterprise
Mobile Computing: We design, manufacture and sell rugged and enterprise-grade mobile computing products in a variety of specialized form factors and features for specific enterprise applications. These specialized computers are used in industrial applications including inventory management in warehouses and distribution centers; field mobility applications including field service, post and parcel and direct store delivery; and customer facing applications including mobile point of sale and staff communication. Our products incorporate both Android and Microsoft operating systems and support local- and wide-area voice and data communications. Our mobile computing products often incorporate barcode scanning, global position system (GPS) and RFID features. We also provide related accessories and software applications.
Data Capture: We produce a wide variety of barcode scanners, RFID readers and image capture devices. Our portfolio of barcode scanning products includes fixed, handheld and embedded OEM modules, in both laser scanners and imagers. The devices collect and decode barcodes and transmit the resulting data to enterprise systems. Our RFID line of data capture products is focused on ultra-high frequency (UHF) technology. These RFID devices comply with the electronic product code global Generation 2 UHF standard and similar standards around the world. We also provide related accessories and software for our data capture products.
Wireless LAN: We sell WLAN switches, controllers and access points to provide wireless broadband and WLAN capabilities primarily to customers in retail, transportation and logistics and hospitality enterprises. We optimize the architecture of these solutions to minimize the resources required for installation and maintenance.
Legacy Zebra
Barcode and Card Printing: We design our printers to produce high-quality labels, wristbands, tickets, receipts, and plastic cards on demand. Our customers use our printers in a wide range of applications, including routing and tracking, patient safety, transaction processing, personal identification and product authentication. These applications require high levels of data accuracy, where speed, reliability and durability are critical. They also include specialty printing for receipts and tickets for improved customer service and productivity gains. Plastic cards are used for secure, reliable personal identification (state identification cards and drivers licenses, healthcare IDs), access control and financial cards (credit, debit and ATM cards) by financial institutions. Our RFID printer/encoders are used to print and encode passive RFID labels. We also provide related accessories and software to our data capture products.
Location and Motion Sensing: Zebra offers a range of solutions and services that provide visibility into the location and movement of a business’ personnel and assets with real-time locating systems. Zebra’s Location Solutions incorporates active RFID and other tracking technologies with software and services that offer benefits to users over systems using other technologies. The benefits of Zebra’s active RFID hardware include delivering high levels of location accuracy and the ability to be deployed indoors. Our software and hardware locate, track, manage, and optimize the utilization of high-value assets, equipment, and people. Zebra provides substantially all elements of the location solution, including asset tags, call tags, sensors, exciters and application software. The complementary technologies in our location solutions work seamlessly together to provide customers with asset visibility, tracking, and motion monitoring.
Applications for our location solutions span a broad array of industries where tracking assets, transactions and people are critical. Our location solutions are deployed primarily in industrial manufacturing, process industries, aerospace, transportation and logistics and healthcare environments. Sports teams are increasingly using our Zebra MotionWorks sports solution to track the movement of players in real time on the field of play and in practice.
Supplies: We produce stock and customized thermal labels, wristbands, plastic cards, card laminates and thermal transfer ribbons. Zebra supports its printing products, its resellers and its end users with an extensive line of superior quality, high-performance supplies optimized to a particular end user’s needs. Zebra promotes the use of genuine Zebra branded supplies with its printing equipment. Zebra also provides a family of self-laminating wristbands for use in laser printers. These wristbands are marketed under the LaserBand name. Zebra operates supplies production facilities located in the United States and Western Europe. We supplement our in-house production capabilities with those of third-party manufacturers to offer Genuine Zebra supplies, principally in Asia.
Service and Software
Each of our segments - Enterprise and Legacy Zebra - sells services and software that complement our hardware products described above.
Service: We provide maintenance, product support and repair services at our repair centers around the globe. Where appropriate, we also work with our network of resellers who may provide maintenance service, either directly or through independent service agents, to extend the geographic reach of maintenance and repair services. We also perform network integration, network and device management, as well as mobility consulting. Our expanded product line and services operations, which we acquired in the Enterprise Acquisition, increases our capability to provide services to our global customer base.
Software: Zebra’s software products enhance our customers’ ability to integrate, operate and manage their Zebra devices as well as gain visibility into their increasingly complex value chains, all to achieve improved management over their assets, people and transactions. We offer design and integration software, which is specifically designed to optimize the performance of Zebra label and card printers. We also offer a portfolio of software applications, utilities and platforms to enable optimal use of our devices, to assist in application development and integration, and to allow the management of devices and applications. Software for mobile computers, data capture devices and WLAN products include support for native operating systems, HTML5 application development frameworks, push-to-talk (“PTT”) technology, voice-over-IP (“VoIP”), device management, and custom applications. We use connectivity, mobility and IoT technologies delivered via packaged, on-premise software products, as well as through Software as a Service (“SaaS”), Platform as a Service (“PaaS”), and Hardware as a Service (“HaaS”) models. Our software products include Zatar, a cloud-based service that makes it easy for businesses to adopt and use an IoT solution in their operations.
Zebra connectivity solutions include support for Ethernet, 802.11a/b/g/n, and Bluetooth®. We support integration with multiple device operating systems, such as Android™, iOS, Linux, Microsoft® Windows® and UNIX. We have programs supporting the development of application software from independent third parties, as well as the integration of Zebra devices in systems developed by independent software vendors (ISVs).
Our Competitive Strengths
The following are our core competitive strengths that we believe enable us to differentiate ourselves from our competitors:
An industry leader focused solely on Enterprise Asset Intelligence
We focus on seven key technologies of Enterprise Asset Intelligence: (1) mobile computing, (2) barcode and card printing, (3) data capture, (4) RFID, (5) location and motion sensing; (6) cloud-based device management, and (7) WLAN. We believe we are the only pure play Enterprise Asset Intelligence supplier in the world.
High entry and switching barriers
We have deep and long-standing relationships with end customers for our products and services, and with our channel partners on a global basis. We believe a significant portion of our products are deployed in applications that are focused on rugged or semi-rugged environments, with specialized product performance requirements. These characteristics provide high switching barriers for our products.
Depth and breadth of products and services for delivering end-to-end solutions
We are able to deliver full end-to-end solutions across targeted industries, with a broad portfolio of products and our wide network of business and reseller partners.
Strong brands with multiple growth opportunities
We have strong brands in our relevant markets, and are well positioned to benefit from attractive global and secular trends in, including, mobility computing, data sensing, tracking and capturing devices, secure wireless networks, cloud-based applications and edge sensor analytics.
Highly diversified business mix
We are highly diversified across business segments, end markets, geographies, customers and suppliers. Additionally, we have strong recurring business in services and supplies driven by an extensive installed worldwide base of products.
Global reach
We sell to customers in approximately 100 countries around the world. This global presence gives us the capability to supply our customers with products, solutions and services no matter the location of their operations.
Scale advantages
We believe the size and scope of our operations, including product development, distribution and procurement capabilities, give us advantages over our competitors. We believe we have the largest installed base of products, compared with other companies in our industry. These characteristics allow us to achieve economies of scale and develop industry-leading solutions.
Our Business Strategy
Our business strategy is to deliver compelling value propositions and solutions, including IoT solutions, to our customers in Enterprise Asset Intelligence by leveraging and expanding our engineering, product development and distribution capabilities and best-in-class offerings. The following are key elements to our strategy for achieving this objective:
Capitalize on attractive longer-term secular growth trends
We intend to fuel long-term growth by capitalizing on transformational secular trends, particularly in mobility, the cloud and IoT. We expect to extend our leadership in mobile computing by delivering innovative solutions that increase productivity and revenues for customers through untethering their workforce. We intend to drive new business models and revenue streams for customers through delivering solutions that seamlessly integrate smart devices with cloud-based software applications. Finally, we will capitalize on the accelerating IoT trend by providing solutions that take advantage of proliferation of data from smart connected devices to drive increased visibility into customer operations.
Build upon and extend our leadership position in Enterprise Asset Intelligence
We intend to continue to deliver best-in-class offerings in core barcode, RFID and mobile computing and data capture solutions and use our product, services and distribution capabilities to offer an expanded set of solutions that provide increased visibility into customer operations. We intend to accelerate penetration of the industries and geographies we serve through the continued development of compelling Enterprise Asset Intelligence solutions, and by taking advantage of global channel relationships and industry leadership.
Provide customers with highly differentiated solutions that deliver compelling value
We intend to develop and use our knowledge and expertise of our customers’ industries and account relationships to drive customer-focused innovations in product and service offerings. Our sales and product development teams focus on delivering integrated end-to-end solutions that take advantage of our full suite of product and service offerings. We aim to provide differentiated solutions by:
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strengthening “premiumness” against hardware-centric competitors through increasing “beyond the box” value propositions (e.g., software, services, supplies);
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expanding into underpenetrated markets by delivering disruptive XaaS business model solutions (e.g., Hart Systems hardware / software-as-a-service physical inventory solution); and
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investing in a broader set of technologies that help customers unlock and create new value through gaining greater real-time visibility and insights into their operations.
Leverage unmatched scale and scope advantages to accelerate share gain
We aim to capture a significant share of the Enterprise Asset Intelligence industry through leveraging transformative scale advantage and by outdistancing competition through a broad portfolio of best-in-class products, research and development scale, go-to-market reach and global footprint.
Increase speed and trajectory of expanding profitability
We intend to improve profit margins through operational excellence, cost reductions and operating efficiencies derived from business process improvement activities and integration of Enterprise. We also intend to increase profitability through delivering innovative end-to-end solutions that provide significant value to customers.
Competition
We operate in a highly competitive environment. Competitive pressures on companies worldwide, growth in the number of mobile workers globally, industry consolidation and trends in technology are some of the factors that are creating business opportunities for established and new competitors.
Key competitive factors include the design, breadth and quality of products and services, product performance, product and service availability, warranty coverage, brand recognition, company relationships with customers and go-to-market channel partners and company reputation. We believe Zebra competes effectively with respect to these factors.
Many companies are engaged in the design, manufacture and marketing of mobile computing devices, barcode and card printers, data capture solutions, WLAN and location systems.
Mobile Computing
Competitors in mobile computing include companies that have historically served enterprises with ruggedized devices. We also compete with companies engaged in the design, manufacture and marketing of devices for broader consumer and commercial applications, including notebook computers and tablets, smart phones, cordless phones, and cellular/WLAN/wired infrastructure equipment.
We face competition in our mobile computing products and WLAN products and solutions from many companies, including the following (listed in alphabetical order): Apple, Aruba, Cisco, Bluebird, Datalogic, HP, Honeywell, Panasonic, Ruckus and Samsung.
Data Capture
Competition is robust among suppliers of data capture products. Each company seeks to provide a broad portfolio of barcode scanning products that are suitable for the majority of global market needs. In addition, we also compete against several smaller segment-focused competitors, which focus on limited product subsets or specific regional strengths. These competitors include Code Corporation, Fujian Newland, and Opticon. We provide competitive scanning products based distinct technologies - flying spot lasers, area (2D) imagers, and linear (1D) imagers. This diversity is required to meet a variety of customer needs.
We also offer a broad portfolio of both fixed and hand-held UHF (Ultra High Frequency) RFID readers, which are based on the Electronic Product Code (“EPC”) standard. Competition in this product segment remains highly fragmented.
Barcode and Card Printing
We consider our direct competition in printing to be producers of on-demand thermal transfer and direct thermal label printing systems, RFID printer/encoders, and mobile printers. Dye sublimation, the technology used in our card printers, is only one of several commercially available processes used to personalize cards. We also compete with companies engaged in the design, manufacture and marketing of printing systems that use alternative technologies, such as ink-jet and laser printing, as well as card printers based on ink-jet, thermal transfer, embossing, film-based systems, encoders, laser engraving and large-scale dye sublimation printers. These card personalization technologies offer viable alternatives to Zebra’s card printers and provide effective competition from a variety of companies, many of which are substantially larger than we are. In addition, service bureaus, which provide centralized services, compete for end-user business and provide an alternative to the purchase of our card printing equipment and supplies.
We face competition in our printing products from many printer companies, including the following (listed in alphabetical order): Argox; Avery Dennison; Bixolon; Blue Bamboo; Boca Systems; Brother International; Canon; CIM; Citizen; Cognitive TPG; Custom; Danaher; Datacard; Dymo, a Newell Rubbermaid Company; Epson; Evolis; Fargo Electronics, a unit of HID Global; Godex; Hewlett-Packard; Hitachi; Honeywell International Inc.; Lexmark International; MagiCard; Matica; Microcom; Mitsubishi; NBS Technologies; Nisca; Oki Data; Olympus; Practical Automation; Printronix; Sato; Seiko Instruments; Song Woo Electronics; Sony; Star Micronics; Taiwan Semiconductor; Toshiba TEC; Victor Data Systems; Woosim; and Xerox.
Location Solutions
We compete with a diverse group of companies marketing location solutions that are primarily based on active RFID technologies. These competitors include Aeroscout, Ekahau, Ubisense, Nebusens, Prozone, ZXY Sport Tracking, Sportsvision, IsoLynx, GE Healthcare, Versus Technology, Mojix, Impinj, Alien Technology, ThingMagic, TeleTracking Technologies, ARISTA, Centrak, Plus Location Systems and STATS LLC.
Supplies
The supplies business is highly fragmented and competition is comprised of numerous competitors of various sizes depending on the geographic area. We focus our supplies business primarily on providing differentiated products, which have unique performance characteristics, backed by reliable service.
Customers
Zebra’s customers are diversified across a wide variety of industries, including retail, manufacturing, transportation and logistics, and healthcare industries. Over the past three years, we had three customers that each accounted for 10% or more of its sales. All three of these customers are distributors and not end users. No end customers account for 10% or more of net sales during these years.
Sales and Marketing
Sales. We sell our products and solutions primarily through distributors (two-tier distribution), VARs, independent software vendors, direct marketers, and original equipment manufacturers (“OEMs”). We also sell our products directly to a select number of named customer accounts through our in-house sales force. Distributors purchase, stock and sell a variety of AIDC components from different manufacturers and sell to VARs, thereby increasing the distribution of our products. VARs customize systems for end-user applications using their systems and application integration expertise. Some OEMs resell the Zebra-manufactured products under their own brands as part of their own product offering. VARs, OEMs and systems integrators provide customers with a variety of AIDC hardware, accessories, application software, and systems integration expertise. Because these sales channels provide specific software, configuration, installation, integration and support services to end users within various industry segments, these relationships allow us to reach
customers around the world. We experience a minor amount of seasonality in sales, depending on the geographic region and industry served. We believe that the breadth of our distributor, VAR and OEM channel network, both in terms of variety of channel and extent of geographic reach, enhances our ability to compete and to effectively offer our solutions to a greater number of end users.
Marketing. Our marketing function aligns closely with sales and product management functions to deliver solutions that address the business needs of our customers and partners. Our marketing operations encompass global corporate marketing, field marketing, solutions marketing, product marketing, industry marketing, business intelligence, global demand center and channel marketing functions. Our corporate marketing function manages our global Zebra brand, corporate public relations, industry analyst relations, internal communications and crisis communications. Field marketing encompasses regional demand generation, channel program management and marketing and sales enablement. Our solutions marketing function includes product and industry marketing. Business intelligence focuses on market analysis, positioning and competitive analysis. Our global demand center leads content development and digital marketing, including our corporate website and social media. Our global channel team executes the corporate go-to-market strategy by building partner loyalty and attracting emerging partners.
Manufacturing and Outsourcing
Final assembly of our hardware products is performed by third-party electronics manufacturers. The manufacturing facility of our printers is located in China. Our mobile computing and data capture products are primarily produced in facilities located in Brazil, Israel, Mexico and China. We also use the services of joint design manufacturers (JDMs) for certain products. These manufacturers produce our products to our design specifications in the quantities we order. We maintain control over portions of the supply chain including supplier selection and price negotiations of key components. The manufacturers purchase the components and subassemblies used in the production of our products. The majority of our products are shipped to our regional distribution centers. A portion of products are reconfigured at our distribution centers through firmware downloads, packaging and customer specific customization before they are shipped to customers. In addition, certain products are manufactured in accordance with procurement regulations and various international trade agreements, and remain eligible for sale to the United States government.
Research and Development
Zebra devotes significant resources developing new innovative solutions for our target markets and ensuring that our products and services maintain high levels of reliability and value to our customers. Research and development expenditures for 2014, 2013 and 2012 were $151.1 million, $91.1 million and $87.4 million, respectively, or 9.0% of net sales for 2014, and 8.8% of net sales in each of 2013 and 2012. Following the Acquisition, Zebra has more than 1,700 product development engineers worldwide focused on strengthening and broadening the already extensive product platform of the combined business.
Our Technology
Zebra’s mobile computing products incorporate a wide array of advanced technologies and sensors in rugged, ergonomic enclosures to meet the needs of specific use cases. These devices couple industry-standard operating systems with specialized hardware and software features to satisfy a customer’s mission-critical applications. Purpose-built rugged housings ensure reliable operations, surviving years of rough handling and harsh environments. Specialized features such as advanced data capture technologies, voice and video collaboration tools and advanced battery technologies enable our customers to work more efficiently and better serve their customers. A broad portfolio of accessories further tailors mobile computers to meet a wide variety of enterprise needs. Zebra mobile computers are offered with software tools and services that support application development, device configuration and field support to facilitate smooth and rapid deployment and ensure maximum customer return on investment.
Zebra’s advanced data capture products allow the rapid and accurate capture of business critical information simply, quickly, and accurately - enabling critical visibility into business processes and providing key metrics for enterprise operations. These products include barcode scanners in a variety of form factors, including handheld scanners, presentation scanners, and standalone engines designed for integration into third-party devices. These scanners incorporate a variety of technologies - area imagers, linear imagers, and lasers - to read linear and two-dimensional barcodes. They are used in a broad range of applications, ranging from supermarket checkout to industrial warehouse optimization to patient management in hospitals. The design of these products reflects the diverse needs of these markets, with different ergonomics, multiple communication protocols, and varying levels of ruggedness.
Zebra’s RFID readers use passive ultra-high frequency (UHF) to provide high speed, non-line of sight data capture, reading data from hundreds or thousands of RFID tags in near real time. Using the EPC (Electronic Product Code) standard, our customers take advantage of RFID technology across multiple industries to track high-value assets, monitor shipments, and drive increased retail sales though improved inventory accuracy. Zebra also offers mobile computers that support high frequency (HF) near-field communications (NFC), and low frequency (LF) radio technologies.
Zebra’s WLAN products provide the wireless backbone throughout an enterprise. Built upon industry standard Wi-Fi protocols, our products are differentiated by massive scalability, enhanced capacity controls, site survivability, comprehensive security and location-based services for enterprises. Zebra’s WiNG 5 technology enables geographically distributed enterprises to rapidly deploy controller-less WLAN solutions at multiple branch locations for corporate and guest access, all managed centrally. Integrated network, RF management, and application services at the edge allow an enterprise to prioritize mission critical or latency sensitive traffic like voice and video and provide proactive assurance for the wireless network. Network security brings a comprehensive threat library to protect the network from a broad spectrum of intruders. Device management protocols allow a single network infrastructure to onboard mobile users, campus and remote employees, authorized visitors and guest users bringing their own devices.
All Zebra printers and print engines incorporate thermal printing technology. This technology creates an image by heating certain pixels of an electrical printhead to selectively image a ribbon or heat-sensitive substrate. Thermal printing benefits applications requiring simple and reliable operations, yet it is flexible enough to support a wide range of specialty label materials and associated inks. Our dye-sublimation thermal card printers produce full-color, photographic quality images that are well-suited for driver’s licenses, access and identification cards, transaction cards, and on-demand photographs. Our printers also incorporate RFID technology that can encode data into passive RFID transponders embedded in a label, card, or wristband.
Zebra’s printers integrate company-designed mechanisms, electrical systems, and firmware. Enclosures of metal or high-impact plastic ensure the durability of our printers. Special mechanisms optimize handling of labels, ribbons, and plastic cards. Fast, high-current electrical systems provide consistent image quality. Firmware supports serial, parallel, Ethernet, USB, Bluetooth, or 802.11 wireless communications with appropriate security protocols. Printing instructions can be received as a proprietary language such as Zebra Programming Language II (ZPL II®), as a print driver-provided image, or as user-defined XML. These features make our printers easy to integrate into virtually all common computer systems.
Our Real Time Locating System (“RTLS”) solutions, which use active RFID technologies, extend Zebra’s reach by employing technologically advanced hardware and software solutions to locate, track, manage and optimize high-value assets, equipment and people. We offer a range of scalable RTLS technologies that generate accurate, on-demand information about the physical location and status of high-valued assets. Customers benefit by utilizing the choice or combination of asset tracking products that can be “application matched” based on ISO/IEC 24730-2, Cisco CCX Wi-Fi, precision GPS, and ultra wideband (UWB) technologies. In addition, we offer a selection of RTLS infrastructure products that receive tag transmissions and provide location and motion calculations, database and system management functions and asset visibility. The flexible infrastructure supports large tag populations and coverage areas that can range from small to large.
Zebra’s supplies business includes labels, receipts, ribbons, plastic cards and wristbands suitable for use with Zebra’s printers, and also wristbands which can be imaged in most commercial laser printers. Our wristbands incorporate multi-layer form technology to ensure trouble-free printing, wearer comfort, and reliable barcode reading, even when exposed to harsh chemical environments. Zebra offers many thermal label, card, and receipt materials, and matching ribbons, for diverse applications that may require chemical resistance, temperature extremes, abrasion, exceptional image quality, or long life.
Intellectual Property
Zebra relies on a combination of trade secrets, patents, trademarks, copyrights and contractual rights to establish and protect its innovations, and holds a large portfolio of U.S. and foreign registered intellectual property rights. As of December 31, 2014, such portfolio consisted of more than 800 trademark registrations, 500 trademark applications, 3,100 patents and 1,100 patent applications.
We believe that our intellectual property will continue to provide us with a competitive advantage in our core product areas as well as provide leverage for future technologies. We also believe that we are not dependent upon any single patent or select group of patents. Our success depends more upon our extensive know-how, innovative culture, technical leadership and marketing abilities. Although we do not rely only on patents or other intellectual property rights to protect or establish our market position; we will enforce our intellectual property rights when and where appropriate.
Employees
As of January 31, 2015, Zebra employed approximately 6,800 persons, of which 740 were corporate employees. Some portions of our business, primarily in Europe and China, are subject to labor laws that differ significantly from those in the United States. In Europe, for example, it is common for a works council to represent employees when discussing matters such as compensation, benefits, restructurings and layoffs. We consider our relations with our employees to be very good.
Regulatory Matters
Wireless Regulatory Matters
Our business is subject to certain wireless regulatory matters.
The use of wireless voice, data and video communications systems requires radio spectrum, which is regulated by government agencies throughout the world. In the U.S., the Federal Communications Commission (“FCC”) and the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (“NTIA”) regulate spectrum use by non-federal entities and federal entities, respectively. Similarly, countries around the world have one or more regulatory bodies that define and implement the rules for use of the radio spectrum, pursuant to their respective national laws and international coordination under the International Telecommunications Union. We manufacture and market products in spectrum bands already made available by regulatory bodies. These include voice and data infrastructure, mobile radios and portable or hand held devices. Consequently, our results of operations could be positively or negatively affected by the rules and regulations adopted from time to time by the FCC, NTIA or regulatory agencies in other countries. Our products operate both on licensed and unlicensed spectrum. The availability of additional radio spectrum may provide new business opportunities, and consequently, the loss of available radio spectrum may result in the loss of business opportunities. Regulatory changes in current spectrum bands may also provide opportunities or may require modifications to some products so they can continue to be manufactured and marketed.
Other Regulatory Matters
Some of our operations use substances regulated under various federal, state, local and international laws governing the environment and worker health and safety, including those governing the discharge of pollutants into the ground, air and water, the management and disposal of hazardous substances and wastes and the cleanup of contaminated sites. Certain products are subject to various federal, state, local and international laws governing chemical substances in electronic products. During 2014, compliance with U.S. federal, state and local, and foreign laws regulating the discharge of materials into the environment, or otherwise relating to the protection of the environment did not have a material effect on our business or results of operations.
Contact Information
Zebra Technologies is a Delaware corporation. Our principal offices are located at 475 Half Day Road, Suite 500, Lincolnshire, Illinois 60069. Our main telephone number is +1 (847) 634-6700, and our primary Internet Web site address is www.zebra.com. You can find all of Zebra’s filings with the SEC free of charge through the investor page on this Web site, immediately upon filing. During the second quarter of 2015, our principal offices will move to Three Overlook Point, Lincolnshire, Illinois 60069
Additional Information
For financial information regarding Zebra, see Zebra’s Consolidated Financial Statements and the related Notes, which are included in the Annual Report on Form 10-K.
Item 1A.
Item 1A. Risk Factors
Investors should carefully consider the risks, uncertainties and other factors described below, as well as other disclosures in Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations, because they could have a material adverse effect on Zebra’s business, financial condition, operating results, cash flows and growth prospects.
We have organized the risk factors into three sections: (1) Risks related to our business generally, (2) Risks related to the Acquisition and Integration of Enterprise, and (3) Risks related to the Indebtedness.
Risks related to our business
Zebra has substantial operations outside the United States and sells a significant portion of its products internationally and purchases important components, including final products, from foreign suppliers. Zebra has substantial operations outside of the United States which create significant risks. In addition, Zebra sells a substantial amount of its products to customers outside of the United States. Shipments to international customers are expected to continue to account for a material portion of net sales. Zebra also expects to continue the use of third-party contract manufacturing services with non-US production and assembly operations for our products.
Risks associated with operations, sales and purchases outside the United States include:
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Fluctuating foreign currency rates could restrict sales or increase costs of purchasing in foreign countries;
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Volatility in foreign credit markets may affect the financial well-being of our customers and suppliers;
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Adverse changes in, or uncertainty of, local business laws or practices, including the following:
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Foreign governments may impose burdensome tariffs, quotas, taxes, trade barriers or capital flow restrictions;
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Restrictions on the export or import of technology may reduce or eliminate the ability to sell in or purchase from certain markets;
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Political and economic instability may reduce demand for our products or put our foreign assets at risk;
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Potentially limited intellectual property protection in certain countries may limit recourse against infringing on our products or cause Zebra to refrain from selling in certain geographic territories;
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Staffing may be difficult and turnover higher at international operations;
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A government controlled exchange rate and limitations on the convertibility of currencies, including the the Chinese yuan;
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Transportation delays and customs related delays that may affect production and distribution of Zebra’s products; and
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Effectively managing and overseeing operations that are distant and remote from corporate headquarters may be difficult.
We also are subject to risks that our operations could be conducted by our employees, contractors, representatives or agents in ways that violate the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act, the U.K. Bribery Act or other similar anti-corruption laws. While we have policies and procedures to comply with these laws, our employees, contractors, representatives and agents may take actions that violate our policies. Any such violations could have a negative impact on our business. Moreover, we face risks that our anti-corruption policies and procedures may be violated by third-party sales representatives or other third-parties that help sell our products or provide other solutions and services, because such representatives or agents are not our employees and it may be more difficult to oversee their conduct.
Zebra may not be able to continue to develop products to address user needs effectively in an industry characterized by ongoing change. To be successful, Zebra must adapt to rapidly changing technological and application needs by continually improving its products as well as introducing new products and services to address user demands.
Zebra’s industry is characterized by:
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Evolving industry standards,
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Frequent new product and service introductions,
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Evolving distribution channels,
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Increasing demand for customized product and software solutions,
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Changing customer demands, and
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Changing security protocols.
Future success will depend on Zebra’s ability to effectively and economically adapt in this evolving environment. Zebra could incur substantial costs if it has to modify its business to adapt to these changes, and may even be unable to adapt to these changes.
Zebra competes in a competitive industry, which may become more competitive. Competitors may be able to respond more quickly to new or emerging technology and changes in customer requirements. Zebra faces significant competition in developing and selling its products and solutions. Some competitors have substantial marketing, financial, development and personnel resources. To remain competitive, Zebra believes it must continue to effectively and economically provide:
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Technologically advanced systems that satisfy user demands,
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Superior customer service,
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High levels of quality and reliability, and
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Dependable and efficient distribution networks.
Zebra cannot assure it will be able to compete successfully against current or future competitors. Increased competition in mobile computing products, data capture products, printers, WLAN products and solutions or supplies may result in price reductions, lower gross profit margins and loss of market share, and could require increased spending on research and development, sales and marketing and customer support. Some competitors may make strategic acquisitions or establish cooperative relationships with suppliers or companies that produce complementary products, which may create additional pressures on Zebra’s competitive position in the marketplace.
Zebra sources some of its component parts from sole source suppliers. A disruption in the supply of such component parts could have a material adverse effect on our ability to meet customer demand and negatively affect our financial results.
Zebra is vulnerable to the potential difficulties associated with the increase in the complexity of its business. Zebra has grown rapidly over the last several years through the Acquisition and domestic and international growth. This growth has caused increased complexities in the business. We believe our future success depends in part on our ability to manage our growth and increased complexities of our business and the demands from increased responsibility. The following factors could present difficulties to Zebra:
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Compliance with evolving laws and regulations in multiple international jurisdictions;
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Managing our distribution channel partners;
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Managing our contract manufacturing and supply chain;
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Manufacturing an increased number of products;
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Increased administrative and operational burden;
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Maintaining and improving information technology infrastructure to support growth;
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Increased logistical problems common to complex, expansive operations; and
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Increasing international operations.
Inability to consummate future acquisitions at appropriate prices could negatively impact our growth rate and stock price. Zebra’s ability to grow revenues, earnings and cash flow depends in part upon our ability to identify and successfully acquire and integrate businesses at appropriate prices and to realize anticipated synergies. Acquisitions can be difficult to identify and consummate due to competition among prospective buyers and the need to satisfy applicable closing conditions and obtain antitrust and other regulatory approval on acceptable terms.
Zebra could encounter difficulties in any acquisition it undertakes, including unanticipated integration problems and business disruption. Acquisitions could also dilute stockholder value and adversely affect operating results. Zebra may acquire or make investments in other businesses, technologies, services or products. An acquisition may present business issues which are new to Zebra. The process of integrating any acquired business, technology, service or product into our operations may result in unforeseen operating difficulties and expenditures. Integration of an acquired company also may consume considerable management time and attention, which could otherwise be available for ongoing operations and the further development of our existing business. The expected benefits of any acquisition may not be realized.
Acquisitions also may involve a number of risks, including:
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Difficulties and uncertainties in retaining the customers or other business relationships from the acquired entities;
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The loss of key employees of acquired entities;
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The ability of acquired entities to fulfill their customers’ obligations;
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The discovery of unanticipated issues or liabilities;
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Pre-closing and post-closing acquisition-related earnings charges could adversely impact operating results in any given period, and the impact may be substantially different from period to period;
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The failure of acquired entities to meet or exceed expected returns could result in impairment of goodwill or intangible assets acquired; and
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The acquired entities’ ability to implement internal controls and accounting systems necessary to be compliant with requirements applicable to public companies subject to SEC reporting.
Future acquisitions could result in potentially dilutive issuances of equity securities or the incurrence of debt and contingent liabilities.
Infringement by Zebra or Zebra suppliers on the proprietary rights of others could put Zebra at a competitive disadvantage, and any related litigation could be time consuming and costly. Third parties may claim that Zebra or Zebra’s suppliers violated their intellectual property rights. To the extent of a violation of a third-party’s patent or other intellectual property right, Zebra may be prevented from operating its business as planned, and may be required to pay damages, to obtain a license, if available, or to use a non-infringing method, if possible, to accomplish its objectives. Any of these claims, with or without merit, could result in costly litigation and divert the attention of key personnel. If such claims are successful, they could result in costly judgments or settlements. Also, as new technologies emerge the intellectual property rights of parties in such technologies can be uncertain. As a result, Zebra’s products involving such technologies may have higher risk of claims of infringement of the intellectual proprietary rights of third parties.
The inability to protect intellectual property could harm Zebra’s reputation, and its competitive position may be materially damaged. Zebra’s intellectual property is valuable and provides Zebra with certain competitive advantages. Zebra uses copyrights, patents, trademarks, trade secrets and contracts to protect these proprietary rights. Despite these precautions, third parties may be able to copy or reproduce aspects of Zebra’s intellectual property and its products or, without authorization, to misappropriate and use information which Zebra regards as its trade secrets. Additionally, the intellectual property rights Zebra obtains may not be sufficient to provide it with a competitive advantage and may be successfully challenged, invalidated, circumvented, or infringed. In any infringement litigation that Zebra may undertake to protect its intellectual property, any award of monetary damages may be unlikely or very difficult to obtain, and any such award Zebra may receive may not be commercially valuable. Furthermore, efforts to enforce or protect Zebra’s proprietary rights may be ineffective and could result in the invalidation or narrowing of the scope of Zebra’s intellectual property and its incurring substantial litigation costs, and, because of the substantial amount of discovery required in connection with intellectual property litigation, there is a risk that some of Zebra’s confidential information could be compromised by disclosure during this type of litigation. Some aspects of Zebra’s business and services also rely on technologies, software and content developed by or licensed from third parties, and Zebra may not be able to maintain its relationships with such third parties or enter into similar relationships in the future on reasonable terms or at all.
We currently use third party and/or open source operating systems and associated application ecosystems in certain of our mobile computing products. Such parties ceasing continued development of the operating system or restricting our access to such operating system could adversely impact our business and financial results. We currently use third-party and/or open source operating systems and associated application ecosystems in certain of our mobile computing products. As a result, we are dependent on third-parties’ continued development of operating systems, software application ecosystem infrastructures and such third-parties’ approval of our implementations of their operating system and associated applications. If such parties cease to continue development or support of such operating systems or restrict our access to such operating systems, we would be required to change our strategy for such devices. As a result, our financial results could be negatively impacted because a resulting shift away from the operating systems we currently use and the associated applications ecosystem could be costly and difficult. A strategy shift could increase the burden of development on Zebra and potentially create a gap in our portfolio for a period of time, which could competitively disadvantage Zebra.
Cybersecurity incidents could disrupt business operations. Like many companies, Zebra continually strives to meet industry information security standards relevant to our business. We regularly perform vulnerability assessments, remediate vulnerabilities, review log/access, perform system maintenance, manage network perimeter protection and implement and manage disaster recovery testing.
A cyber-attack that breaches our external perimeter may lead to a material disruption of our core business systems and/or lead to the loss or corruption of confidential business information that could result in an adverse business impact, as well as, possible damage to the Zebra brand. This could also lead to a public disclosure or theft of private intellectual property and a possible loss of customer confidence.
While we have experienced, and expect to continue to experience, these types of threats and incidents, there have been no material incidents incurred to-date at Zebra. If Zebra’s core business operations, or that of one of our third-party service providers, were to be breached, this could affect the confidentiality, integrity and availability of our systems and data. While we continue to perform security due diligence, there is always the possibility of a significant breach effecting the confidentiality, integrity and availability of our systems and/or data.
Zebra products that are deployed in customer environments also have the possibility of being breached, which could result in damage to a customer’s confidentiality, integrity and availability of the customer’s data and systems. It is possible that such a breach could result in delays in, or loss of market acceptance of, Zebra’s products and services; diversion of our resources; injury to our reputation; increase service and warranty expenses and payment of damages.
Zebra may incur liabilities as a result of product failures due to actual or apparent design or manufacturing defects. Zebra may be subject to product liability claims, which could include claims for property or economic damage or personal injury, in the event our products present actual or apparent design or manufacturing defects. Such design or manufacturing defects may occur not only in Zebra’s own designed products but also in components provided by third party suppliers. Zebra generally has insurance protection against property damage and personal injury liabilities and also seeks to limit such risk through product design, manufacturing quality control processes, product testing and contractual indemnification from suppliers. However, due to the large and growing size of Zebra’s installed product base, a design or manufacturing defect involving this large installed product base could result in product recalls or customer service costs that could have material adverse effects on Zebra’s financial results.
Defects or errors in Zebra’s software products could harm its reputation, result in significant cost to Zebra and impair Zebra’s ability to market such products. Zebra’s software may contain undetected errors, defects or bugs. Although Zebra has not suffered significant harm from any errors, defects or bugs to date, we may discover significant errors, defects or bugs in the future that we may not be able to correct or correct in a timely manner. It is possible that errors, defects or bugs will be found in Zebra’s existing or future software products and related services with the possible results of delays in, or loss of market acceptance of, Zebra’s products and services, diversion of our resources, injury to our reputation, increased service and warranty expenses and payment of damages.
Zebra depends on the ongoing service of its senior management and ability to attract and retain other key personnel. The future success of Zebra is substantially dependent on the continued service and continuing contributions of senior management and other key personnel. The ability to attract, retain and motivate highly skilled employees is important to Zebra’s long-term success. Competition for skill sets in certain functions within our industry is intense, and Zebra may be unable to retain key employees or attract, assimilate or retain other highly qualified employees in the future. Any disruption in the service of senior management or our ability to attract and retain key personnel may have a material adverse effect on our business and results of operations.
Terrorist attacks or war could lead to further economic instability and adversely affect Zebra’s stock price, operations, and profitability. The terrorist attacks that occurred in the United States on September 11, 2001 caused major instability in the U.S. and other financial markets. The possibility of further acts of terrorism and current and future war risks could have a similar impact. Any such attacks could, among other things, cause further instability in financial markets and could directly, or indirectly through reduced demand, negatively affect Zebra’s facilities and operations or those of its customers or suppliers.
Taxing authority challenges may lead to tax payments exceeding current reserves. Zebra is subject to ongoing tax examinations in various jurisdictions. As a result, we may record incremental tax expense based on expected outcomes of such matters. In addition, we may adjust previously reported tax reserves based on expected results of these examinations. Such adjustments could result in an increase or decrease to Zebra’s effective tax rate. Future changes in tax law in various jurisdictions around the world and income tax holidays could have a material impact on Zebra’s effective tax rate, foreign rate differential, future income tax expense and cash flows.
Forecasting our estimated annual effective tax rate is complex and subject to uncertainty, and there may be material differences between our forecasted and actual tax rates. Forecasts of our income tax position and effective tax rate are complex, subject to uncertainty and periodic updates because our income tax position for each year combines the effects of a mix of profits earned and losses incurred by us in various tax jurisdictions with a broad range of income tax rates, as well as changes in the valuation of deferred tax assets and liabilities, the impact of various accounting rules and changes to these rules and tax laws, the results of examinations by various tax authorities, and the impact of any acquisition, business combination or other reorganization or financing transaction.
As a multinational corporation, we conduct our business in many countries and are subject to taxation in many jurisdictions. The taxation of our business is subject to the application of multiple and sometimes conflicting tax laws and regulations as well as multinational tax conventions. Our effective tax rate is highly dependent upon the geographic distribution of our worldwide earnings or losses, the tax regulations and tax holidays in each geographic region, the availability of tax credits and carry-forwards, and the effectiveness of our tax planning strategies. The application of tax laws and regulations is subject to legal and factual interpretation, judgment and uncertainty. Tax laws themselves are subject to change as a result of changes in fiscal policy, changes in legislation, and the evolution of regulations and court rulings. Consequently, taxing authorities may impose tax assessments or judgments against us that could materially impact our tax liability and/or our effective income tax rate.
Economic conditions and financial market disruptions may adversely affect Zebra’s business and results of operations. Adverse economic conditions or reduced information technology spending may adversely impact our business. Financial markets throughout the world experienced extreme disruption from 2008 through 2009, resulting in historically high volatility in security prices, severely diminished liquidity and credit availability, rating downgrades of certain investments and declining valuations of others, failure and potential failures of major financial institutions and unprecedented government support of financial institutions and corporations. A recurrence of these developments and a related general economic downturn could adversely affect Zebra’s business and financial condition through a reduction in demand for our products by our customers. If a slowdown were severe enough, it could require further impairment testing and write-downs of goodwill and other intangible assets. Cost reduction actions may be necessary and lead to restructuring charges. A tightening of financial credit could adversely affect our customers, suppliers, outsource manufacturers and channel partners (e.g., distributors and resellers) from obtaining adequate credit for the financing of significant purchases. Another economic downturn could also result in a decrease in or cancellation of orders for Zebra’s products and services; negatively impact Zebra’s ability to collect its accounts receivable on a timely basis; result in additional reserves for uncollectible accounts receivable; and require additional reserves for inventory obsolescence. Higher volatility and fluctuations in foreign exchange rates for the U.S. dollar against currencies such as the euro, the British pound, the Chinese yuan, and the Brazilian real could negatively impact product sales, margins and cash flows.
A natural disaster may cause supply disruptions that could adversely affect Zebra’s business and results of operations. As reported, a powerful earthquake centered off the northeastern coast of Japan on March 11, 2011, resulted in the loss of many lives, wide-spread damage to and destruction of property, disruption of electric power, and the release of radiation from a crippled nuclear power plant. This devastation disrupted the operations to varying degrees of companies with business activity in the affected region, including the business of Zebra’s suppliers. Other natural disasters may occur in the future and Zebra is not able to predict to what extent or duration any such disruptions will have on our ability to maintain ordinary business operations. The consequences of an unfortunate natural disaster may have a material adverse effect on Zebra’s business and results of operations.
Zebra is exposed to risks under large, multi-year system and solutions and services contracts that may negatively impact its business. Zebra enters into large, multi-year system and solutions and services contracts with our customers. This exposes Zebra to risks, including among others: (i) technological risks, especially when the contracts involve new technology; (ii) financial risks, including the estimates inherent in projecting costs associated with large, long-term contracts and the related impact on operating results; (iii) cyber security risk, especially in managed services contracts with customers that process personal data; and (iv) political risk. Recovery of front loaded capital expenditures in long-term managed services contracts with customers is dependent on the continued viability of such customers. The insolvency of customers could result in a loss of anticipated future revenue attributable to that program or product, which could have an adverse impact on Zebra’s profitability.
Zebra enters into fixed-price contracts that could subject it to losses in the event Zebra fails to properly estimate its costs. Zebra enters into a number of firm fixed-price contracts. If Zebra’s initial cost estimates are incorrect, Zebra can lose money on these contracts. Because many of these contracts involve new technologies and applications, require Zebra to engage subcontractors and can last multiple years, unforeseen events, such as technological difficulties, fluctuations in the price of raw materials, problems with Zebra’s subcontractors or suppliers and other cost overruns, can result in the contract pricing becoming less favorable or even unprofitable to Zebra and have an adverse impact on Zebra’s financial results. In addition, a significant increase in inflation rates could have an adverse impact on the profitability of longer-term contracts.
Zebra utilizes the services of subcontractors to perform under many of its contracts and the inability of its subcontractors to perform in a timely and compliant manner could negatively impact Zebra’s performance obligations as the prime contractor. Zebra engages subcontractors on many of its contracts and as Zebra expands its global solutions and services business Zebra’s use of subcontractors has and will continue to increase. Zebra’s subcontractors may further subcontract performance and may supply third-party products and software. Zebra may have disputes with its subcontractors, including disputes regarding the quality and timeliness of work performed by the subcontractor or its subcontractors and
the functionality, warranty and indemnities of products, software and services supplied by Zebra’s subcontractor. Zebra is not always successful in passing along customer requirements to its subcontractors, and thus in some cases may be required to absorb contractual risks from its customers without corresponding back-to-back coverage from Zebra’s subcontractor. Zebra’s subcontractors may not be able to acquire or maintain the quality of the materials, components, subsystems and services they supply, or secure preferred warranty and indemnity coverage from their suppliers which might result in greater product returns, service problems, warranty claims and costs and regulatory compliance issues and could harm Zebra’s business, financial condition and results of operations.
Over the last several years we have outsourced portions of certain business operations like repair, distribution and engineering services and may outsource additional business operations which limits our control over these business operations and exposes us to additional risk as a result of the actions of our outsource partners. As we outsource more of our business operations we are not able to directly control these activities. Our outsource partners may not prioritize our business over that of their other customers and they may not meet our desired level of service, cost reductions or other metrics. In some cases their actions may result in our being found to be in violation of laws or regulations like import or export regulations. As many of our outsource partners operate outside of the U.S., our outsourcing activity exposes us to information security vulnerabilities and increases our global risks. In addition, we are exposed to the financial viability of our outsource partners. Once a business activity is outsourced we may be contractually prohibited from, or may not practically be able to, bring such activity back within the Company or move it to another outsource partner. The actions of our outsource partners could result in reputational damage to us and could negatively impact our financial results.
Failure of Zebra’s suppliers, subcontractors, distributors, resellers and representatives to use acceptable legal or ethical business practices could negatively impact our business. It is Zebra’s policy to require its suppliers, subcontractors, distributors, resellers, and third-party sales representatives (“TPSRs”) to operate in compliance with applicable laws, rules and regulations regarding working conditions, employment practices, environmental compliance, anti-corruption and trademark and copyright licensing. However, Zebra does not control their labor and other business practices. If one of Zebra’s suppliers, subcontractors, distributors, resellers, or TPSRs violates labor or other laws or implements labor or other business practices that are regarded as unethical, the shipment of finished products to Zebra could be interrupted, orders could be canceled, relationships could be terminated and Zebra’s reputation could be damaged. If one of Zebra’s suppliers or subcontractors fails to procure necessary license rights to trademarks, copyrights or patents, legal action could be taken against Zebra that could impact the salability of Zebra’s products and expose Zebra to financial obligations to a third-party. Any of these events could have a negative impact on Zebra’s sales and results of operations.
Zebra relies on third-party dealers, distributors, and resellers to sell many of its products. In addition to Zebra’s own sales force, Zebra offers its products through a variety of third-party dealers, distributors and retailers. These third-parties may also market other products that compete with Zebra’s products. Failure of one or more of Zebra’s dealers, distributors or retailers to effectively promote Zebra’s products could affect its ability to bring products to market and have a negative impact on its results of operations.
Some of these third-parties are smaller and more likely to be impacted by a significant decrease in available credit that could result from a weakness in the financial markets. If credit pressures or other financial difficulties result in insolvency for third-party dealers, distributors or retailers and we are unable to successfully transition end-customers to purchase our products from other third-parties or from Zebra directly, it may cause, and in some cases has caused, a negative impact on our financial results.
Final assembly of certain of Zebra’s products is performed by third-party electronics manufacturers. Zebra is dependent on these third-party electronics manufacturers as a sole-source of supply for the manufacture of such products. A failure by such manufacturers to provide manufacturing services to Zebra as Zebra requires, or any disruption in such manufacturing services, may adversely affect Zebra’s business results. Because Zebra relies on these third-party electronics manufacturers to manufacture its products, Zebra may incur increased business continuity risks. Zebra is not able to exercise direct control over the assembly or related operations of certain of its products. If these third party manufacturers experience business difficulties or fail to meet Zebra’s manufacturing needs, then Zebra may be unable to satisfy customer product demands, lose sales and be unable to maintain customer relationships. Longer production lead times may result in shortages of certain products and inadequate inventories during periods of unanticipated higher demand. Without such third parties continuing to manufacture Zebra’s products, Zebra will have no other means of final assembly of certain of its products until Zebra is able to secure the manufacturing capability at another facility or develop an alternative manufacturing facility. This transition could be costly and time consuming.
Although Zebra carries business interruption insurance to cover lost sales and profits in an amount it considers adequate, in the event of supply disruption, this insurance does not cover all possible situations. In addition, the business interruption insurance would not compensate Zebra for the loss of opportunity and potential adverse impact, both short-term and long-term, on relations with our existing customers going forward.
Zebra’s future operating results depend on its ability to purchase a sufficient amount of materials, parts and components, as well as services and software to meet the demands of its customers and any disruption to its suppliers or significant increase in the price of supplies could have a negative impact on its results of operations. Zebra’s ability to meet customers’ demands depends, in part, on its ability to timely obtain an adequate delivery of quality materials, parts and components, as well as services and software from its suppliers. In addition, certain supplies are available only from a single source or limited sources and Zebra may not be able to diversify sources in a timely manner. If demand for Zebra’s products or services increases from its current expectations or if suppliers are unable to meet Zebra’s demand for other reasons, including as a result of natural disasters or financial issues, Zebra could experience an interruption in supplies or a significant increase in the price of supplies that could have a negative impact on its business. Zebra has experienced shortages in the past that have negatively impacted its results of operations and may experience such shortages in the future. In addition, credit constraints at Zebra’s suppliers could cause Zebra to accelerate payment of accounts payable by Zebra, impacting Zebra’s cash flow.
In addition, Zebra’s current contractual arrangements with certain suppliers may be cancelled or not extended by such suppliers and, therefore, not afford Zebra with sufficient protection against a reduction or interruption in supplies. Moreover, in the event any of these suppliers breach their contracts with Zebra, Zebra’s legal remedies associated with such a breach may be insufficient to compensate Zebra for any damages it may suffer.
The unfavorable outcome of any pending or future litigation, arbitration or administrative action could have a material adverse effect on Zebra’s financial condition or results of operations. From time to time Zebra is made a party to litigation, arbitration or administrative actions. Zebra’s financial results and reputation could be negatively impacted by unfavorable outcomes to any pending or future litigation or administrative actions, including those related to the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act, the U.K. Bribery Act or other anti-corruption laws. There can be no assurances as to the favorable outcome of any litigation or administrative proceedings. In addition, it can be very costly to defend litigation or administrative proceedings and these costs could negatively impact Zebra’s financial results.
It is important that Zebra is able to obtain many different types of insurance, and if Zebra is not able to obtain insurance or exhausts its coverage Zebra is forced to retain the risk. Zebra has many types of insurance coverage and is also self-insured for some risks and obligations. While the cost and availability of most insurance is stable, there are still certain types and levels of insurance that remain difficult to obtain, such as professional liability insurance, which is expensive to obtain for the amount of coverage often requested by certain customers. As Zebra grows its global solutions and services business, Zebra is being asked to obtain higher amounts of professional liability insurance, which could result in higher costs to do business. Natural disasters and certain risks arising from securities claims, professional liability and public liability are potential self-insured events that could negatively impact Zebra’s financial results. In addition, while Zebra maintains insurance for certain risks, the amount of its insurance coverage may not be adequate to cover all claims or liabilities, and Zebra may be forced to bear substantial costs from an accident, incident or claim.
Zebra is subject to a wide range of product regulatory and safety, consumer, worker safety and environmental laws. Zebra’s operations and the products it manufactures and/or sells are subject to a wide range of product regulatory and safety, consumer, worker safety and environmental laws and regulations. Compliance with such existing or future laws and regulations could subject Zebra to future costs or liabilities, impact its production capabilities, constrict its ability to sell, expand or acquire facilities, restrict what products and services Zebra can offer, and generally impact its financial performance. Some of these laws are environmental and relate to the use, disposal, remediation, emission and discharge of, and exposure to hazardous substances. These laws often impose liability and can require parties to fund remedial studies or actions regardless of fault. Zebra continues to incur disposal costs and have ongoing remediation obligations. Environmental laws have tended to become more stringent over time and any new obligations under these laws could have a negative impact on Zebra’s operations or financial performance.
Laws focused on: the energy efficiency of electronic products and accessories; recycling of both electronic products and packaging; reducing or eliminating certain hazardous substances in electronic products; and the transportation of batteries continue to expand significantly. Laws pertaining to accessibility features of electronic products, standardization of connectors and power supplies, the transportation of lithium-ion batteries and other aspects are also proliferating. There
are also demanding and rapidly changing laws around the globe related to issues such as product safety, radio interference, radio frequency radiation exposure, medical related functionality, and consumer and social mandates pertaining to use of wireless or electronic equipment. These laws, and changes to these laws, could have a substantial impact on whether Zebra can offer certain products, solutions and services, on product costs, and on what capabilities and characteristics Zebra’s products or services can or must include.
These laws impact Zebra’s products and negatively affect Zebra’s ability to manufacture and sell products competitively. Zebra expects these trends to continue. In addition, Zebra anticipates that it will see increased demand to meet voluntary criteria related to reduction or elimination of certain constituents from products, increasing energy efficiency, and providing additional accessibility.
Risks Related to the Acquisition and Integration of the Enterprise Business
Zebra may be unable to effectively integrate Enterprise into its existing business. The integration of Enterprise, which is significantly larger than Zebra’s business prior to the Acquisition, into Zebra’s operations will be a significant undertaking and will require significant attention from Zebra’s management. The Acquisition, with an approximate enterprise value of $3.45 billion, is significantly larger than prior acquisitions Zebra completed and significantly increased the size of Zebra’s operations, increased its number of employees and operating facilities and expanded its geographic scope. There can be no assurance that Zebra will be able to successfully integrate Enterprise, or if such integration is successfully accomplished, that such integration will not be more costly than presently contemplated. There can also be no assurance that Zebra can successfully manage the combined business due to Zebra’s greatly increased size and scope. If Zebra cannot successfully integrate and manage Enterprise within a reasonable time following the Acquisition, Zebra may not be able to realize the potential and anticipated benefits of the Acquisition, which could have a material adverse effect on its business, financial condition, operating results, cash flows and growth prospects.
Zebra may be unable to realize the expected growth opportunities and cost savings from the Acquisition. In connection with the integration of Enterprise into Zebra’s existing operating structure, Zebra will seek to realize growth opportunities, along with cost savings. Zebra currently expects to realize annual cost savings of approximately $150 million per year to be fully achieved by the end of 2016. The anticipated cost savings are based upon assumptions about Zebra’s ability to implement integration measures in a timely fashion and within certain cost parameters. Zebra’s ability to achieve the planned cost synergies relies upon a significant number of factors, some of which may be beyond its control. For example, Zebra may be unable to eliminate duplicative costs in a timely fashion or at all. Zebra’s inability to realize anticipated cost savings, and revenue enhancements from the Acquisition could have a material adverse effect on its business, financial condition, operating results, cash flows and growth prospects.
The Acquisition could divert the attention of management. After completing the Acquisition, Zebra entered new lines of business that it lacks experience managing. Similarly, because Enterprise is significantly larger than Zebra’s business prior to the Acquisition, Zebra will be required to manage new and larger lines of business, and consequently the integration process will require significant attention from management, which may divert management’s attention from Zebra’s other businesses. Management may also have difficulty assimilating the corporate cultures, maintaining employee morale and retaining key employees. These diversions, together with other difficulties Zebra may have integrating Enterprise, could have a material adverse effect on Zebra’s business, financial condition, operating results, cash flows and growth prospects.
Zebra may be unable to retain key employees who transferred as part of Enterprise. Generally, employees of Enterprise are not contractually obligated to continue their employment with Zebra. Zebra’s ability to successfully integrate and operate Enterprise depends in part on the continued service of senior management and other key personnel of Enterprise. Zebra can provide no assurance that it will be successful in retaining the service of Enterprise’s senior managers and key employees, and the failure to do so could have a material adverse effect on Zebra’s ability to integrate Enterprise.
Enterprise may have liabilities that are not known to Zebra. As part of the Acquisition, Zebra assumed certain liabilities of Enterprise. There may be liabilities that Zebra failed or were unable to discover in the course of performing due diligence investigations into Enterprise. Any such liabilities, individually or in the aggregate, could have a material adverse effect on Zebra’s business, financial condition, operating results, cash flows and growth prospects.
The Acquisition may entitle certain customers of Enterprise to terminate their agreements with it as a result of change of control provisions. Certain Enterprise customers may be entitled to terminate certain of their agreements with Enterprise as a result of the Acquisition. Zebra cannot avoid the possibility that some customers may exercise their termination rights and opt to discontinue business with Enterprise as a result of the Acquisition, which could have an adverse effect on Zebra’s expected revenues following the Acquisition.
Moreover, some of Zebra’s existing customers may conclude that as a result of the Acquisition they are overly reliant on a single provider. In such circumstance, Zebra’s customers may engage its competitors or facilitate the emergence of new competitors to diversify sourcing and service options, which could have an adverse effect on Zebra’s expected revenues following the Acquisition.
Zebra relies on MSI to perform certain critical transition services and there can be no assurance that those services will be performed timely and effectively or that Zebra can replace those services prior to the expiration of the transition services agreement or successfully develop its own operations going forward. Under the terms of the transition services agreement that Zebra entered into with MSI in connection with the Acquisition, MSI will provide Zebra with services critical for the operation and continuity of Zebra operation of Enterprise for a period of twelve to twenty-four months (which may be extended an additional six to twelve months upon Zebra’s request). Zebra is in the process of transitioning these critical functions, which include primarily information technology. Until Zebra transitions such functions, it will continue to rely on MSI for those services. There can be no assurances that these services will be performed timely and effectively or that Zebra will be able to successfully or timely transition such functions away and assume responsibility over them. Significant disruption in these transition services, or unanticipated costs related to these services, could materially and adversely affect Zebra’s business, financial condition and results of operations. Additionally, if we are unable to transition such services to Zebra in a timely fashion or without disruption to Zebra’s operations, we could experience an adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations.
Section 404 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 requires us to document and test our internal controls over financial reporting and to report on our assessment as to the effectiveness of these controls. Any delays or difficulty in satisfying these requirements or negative reports concerning our internal controls could adversely affect our future results of operations and financial condition. These documentation and reporting requirements apply to the portion of our business relating to the Enterprise as of Business of December 31, 2015. Because of the timing, size and complexity of the Acquisition Zebra has not completed its documentation and assessment of internal controls over financial reporting related to Enterprise. We may discover areas of our internal controls that need improvement, particularly with respect to Enterprise. We cannot be certain that any remedial measures we take will ensure appropriate implementation and maintenance of adequate internal controls over the financial reporting processes and reporting in the future. We may incur significant additional costs in order to ensure the financial reporting related to Enterprise complies with the requirements of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 and its other public company requirements, which, in turn, would reduce our earnings. Implementing such remedial measures may be complicated by the limited timeframe in which to implement such measures, the possibility that implementation of such measures may require a substantial amount of work and time by Zebra personnel, and the challenge of migrating to a new ERP while implementing such remedial measures. In addition, development of an adequate financial reporting system and the internal controls for Enterprise to achieve compliance with the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 may increase the time and costs necessary to complete integration of Enterprise or cause us to miss our reporting obligations. To the extent the financial reporting function of Enterprise has deficiencies in its internal controls, it may impact our internal controls.
Any failure to implement required new or improved controls, or difficulties encountered in their implementation, could harm our operating results or cause us to fail to meet our reporting obligations. If we are unable to conclude that we have effective internal controls over financial reporting, or if our independent registered public accounting firm is unable to provide us with an unqualified report regarding the effectiveness of our internal controls over financial reporting, investors could lose confidence in the reliability of our financial statements. Failure to comply with Section 404 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 could potentially subject us to sanctions or investigations by the SEC, or other regulatory authorities. In addition, failure to comply with our reporting obligations with the SEC may cause an event of default to occur under the Debt Agreements, or similar instruments governing any debt we or our subsidiaries incur in the future.
Risks Related to the Indebtedness
In connection with the Acquisition, Zebra has incurred substantial debt obligations, which could adversely affect Zebra’s financial condition. Zebra’s total outstanding debt for borrowed money in connection with the acquisition was approximately $3.25 billion on October 27, 2014. In addition, subject to restrictions in the agreements governing Zebra’s existing and future indebtedness, Zebra may incur additional indebtedness. Zebra’s substantial level of indebtedness could have important consequences, including the following:
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Zebra may experience difficulty in satisfying its obligations with respect to its existing indebtedness or future indebtedness, including the Indebtedness;
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Zebra’s ability to obtain additional financing for working capital, capital expenditures, acquisitions or general corporate purposes may be impaired;
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Zebra plans to use a substantial portion of cash flow from operations to pay interest and principal on the indebtedness, which may reduce the funds available to Zebra for other purposes, such as acquisitions and capital expenditures;
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Zebra’s may be at a competitive disadvantage with reduced flexibility in planning for, or responding to, changing conditions in the industry, including increased competition; and
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Zebra may be more vulnerable to economic downturns and adverse developments in the business.
Zebra expects to fund its expenses and to pay the principal and interest on the Indebtedness from cash flow from operations. Zebra’s ability to meet its expenses and to pay principal and interest on the Indebtedness when due thus depends on its future performance, which will be affected by financial, business, economic and other factors. Zebra will not be able to control many of these factors, such as economic conditions in the markets where Zebra operates and pressure from competitors. Additionally, Zebra has not previously undertaken substantial amounts of indebtedness. Historically, Zebra has operated its business without incurring significant indebtedness for borrowed money and has limited experience operating its business subject to the constraints imposed by the Debt Agreements.
Despite the Indebtedness, Zebra may be able to incur substantially more indebtedness and take other actions that could further exacerbate the risk associated with its substantial indebtedness. Zebra incurred approximately $3.25 billion of indebtedness. In addition to the financing activities, Zebra may be able to incur substantially more indebtedness in the future, resulting in higher leverage. Subject to the limits contained in the Debt Agreements, Zebra may incur additional indebtedness from time to time to finance working capital, capital expenditures, investments or acquisitions, or for other purposes. To the extent Zebra incurs additional indebtedness, the risks associated with its substantial indebtedness will be exacerbated.
Zebra’s use of derivative financial instruments to reduce interest rate risk associated with the Acquisition may result in added volatility in its quarterly operating results. Zebra does not hold or issue derivative financial instruments for trading purposes. However, Zebra does utilize derivative financial instruments to reduce interest rate risk associated with the indebtedness. To manage variable interest rate risk, Zebra entered into forward interest rate swap agreements, which will effectively convert a portion of the Indebtedness into a fixed rate loan. Under generally accepted accounting principles, the fair values of the swap contracts, which will either be amounts receivable from or payable to counterparties, are reflected as either assets or liabilities on Zebra’s Consolidated Balance Sheets. Zebra records its fair value change in our Consolidated Statements of Earnings, as a component of “Other income (expense)”. The associated impact on Zebra’s quarterly operating results is directly related to changes in prevailing interest rates. If interest rates increase, Zebra would have a non-cash gain on the swaps, and vice versa. Consequently, these swap contracts introduce complexity to Zebra’s operating results.
Restrictive covenants in the Debt Agreements may limit Zebra’s current and future operations, particularly its ability to respond to changes in its business or to pursue its business strategies. The Debt Agreements contain, and instruments governing any future indebtedness will contain, a number of restrictive covenants that impose significant operating and financial restrictions, including restrictions on Zebra’s ability to take actions that Zebra believes may be in its interest. Zebra expects these covenants will limit its ability to:
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incur additional indebtedness or guarantees;
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pay dividends or make other distributions or repurchase or redeem its stock or prepay or redeem certain indebtedness;
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sell or dispose of assets and issue capital stock of restricted subsidiaries;
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incur liens or enter into sale-lease-back transactions;
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enter into agreements restricting its subsidiaries’ ability to pay dividends;
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enter into transactions with affiliates;
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engage in new lines of business;
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consolidate, merge or enter into other fundamental changes;
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make loans, investments and/or acquisitions; and
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enter into amendments or modifications of certain material subordinated debt agreements or organizational documents.
Additionally, the Term Loan entered into to fund a portion of the Acquisition will require Zebra to maintain in certain circumstances compliance with a consolidated total secured net leverage ratio. Zebra’s ability to comply with this ratio may be affected by events beyond its control, and Zebra cannot assure you that Zebra will meet this ratio. The restrictions could adversely affect Zebra’s ability to:
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finance operations;
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make needed capital expenditures;
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make strategic acquisitions or investments or enter into alliances;
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withstand a future downturn in our business or the economy in general;
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engage in business activities, including future opportunities, that may be in Zebra’s interest; and
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plan for or react to market conditions or otherwise execute Zebra’s business strategies.
A breach of any of the covenants contained in the Debt Agreements (including an inability to comply with the financial maintenance covenants) that is not remedied within the applicable cure period, if any, would result in an event of default under the Debt Agreements. If, when required, Zebra is unable to repay or refinance the Indebtedness or amend the covenants contained in the Debt Agreements, or if a default otherwise occurs that is not cured or waived, the lenders or holders of Zebra’s debt securities could elect to declare all borrowings outstanding, together with accrued interest and other fees, to be immediately due and payable or institute foreclosure proceedings against those assets that secure the borrowings. Should the outstanding obligations be accelerated and become due and payable because of any failure to comply with the applicable covenants in the future, Zebra would be required to search for alternative measures to finance current and ongoing obligations of its business. There can be no assurance that such financing will be available on acceptable terms, if at all. Any of these scenarios could adversely impact Zebra’s liquidity, financial condition and results of operations.
A significant amount of cash will be required to service the Indebtedness. Zebra’s ability to make payments on and to refinance the Indebtedness and to fund working capital needs, general corporate expenditures and planned capital expenditures will depend on Zebra’s ability to generate a significant amount of cash in the future. This, to a certain extent, is subject to general economic, financial, competitive, business, legislative, regulatory and other factors that are beyond Zebra’s control.
If Zebra’s business does not generate sufficient cash flows from operations or if future borrowings are not available to Zebra in an amount sufficient to enable Zebra to pay the Indebtedness or to fund its other liquidity needs, Zebra may need to refinance all or a portion of the Indebtedness on or before the maturity thereof, sell assets, reduce or delay capital investments or seek to raise additional capital, any of which could have a material adverse effect on Zebra’s operations. In addition, Zebra may not be able to effect any of these actions, if necessary, on commercially reasonable terms or at all. Zebra’s ability to restructure or refinance the Indebtedness will depend on the condition of the capital and debt markets and its financial condition at such time. Any refinancing of the Indebtedness could be at higher interest rates and may require Zebra to comply with more onerous covenants, which could further restrict business operations. The terms of anticipated or future debt instruments may limit or prevent Zebra from taking any of these actions. In addition, any failure to make scheduled payments of interest and/or principal on outstanding indebtedness would likely result in a reduction of Zebra’s credit rating, which could harm its ability to access additional capital on commercially reasonable terms or at all. Zebra’s inability to generate sufficient cash flow to satisfy its debt service obligations, or to refinance or restructure its obligations on commercially reasonable terms or at all, would have an adverse effect, which could be material, on Zebra’s business, financial condition and results of operations, as well as on its ability to satisfy the obligations in respect of the Indebtedness.
Item 1B.
Item 1B. Unresolved Staff Comments
Not applicable.
Item 2.
Item 2. Properties
Zebra’s corporate headquarters are located in Lincolnshire, Illinois, a northern suburb of Chicago. Zebra also operates manufacturing, production and warehousing facilities, administrative, research and sales facilities in other U.S. locations and other countries.
As of December 31, 2014, Zebra owned 3 facilities located in: Holtville, NY; Preston, UK; and Mississauga, Ontario, Canada. As of December 31, 2014, we operated from 13 facilities for the purposes of manufacturing, production and warehousing, eight of which were located in the United States and five were located in other countries. As of December 31, 2014, the Company leased 88 facilities, 35 of which were located in the United States and 53 were located in other countries
We generally consider the productive capacity of the plants to be adequate and sufficient for our requirements. The extent of utilization of each manufacturing facility varies throughout the year.
Item 3.
Item 3. Legal Proceedings
See Note 15 in the Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements included in this Form 10-K.
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
Stock Information: Price Range and Common Stock
Our Class A Common Stock is traded on The NASDAQ Stock Market under the symbol ZBRA. The following table shows the high and low trade prices for each fiscal quarter in 2014 and 2013, as reported by The NASDAQ Stock Market.
Source: The NASDAQ Stock Market
At February 13, 2015, the last reported price for the Class A Common Stock was $90.53 per share, and there were 187 registered stockholders of record for Zebra’s Class A Common Stock. In addition, we had approximately 23,900 stockholders who owned Zebra stock in street name.
Dividend Policy
Since our initial public offering in 1991, we have not declared any cash dividends or distributions on our capital stock. Zebra currently does not anticipate paying any cash dividends in the foreseeable future.
Treasury Shares
Zebra did not purchase shares of Zebra Class A Common Stock during the fourth quarter of 2014.
On November 2011, Zebra’s Board authorized the purchase of up to an additional 3,000,000 shares under the purchase plan program and the maximum number of shares that may yet be purchased under the program is 665,475. The November 2011 authorization does not have an expiration date.
Item 6.
Item 6. Selected Financial Data
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF EARNINGS (LOSS) DATA
(In thousands, except per share amounts)
CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEET DATA
(In thousands)
(1) On October 27, 2014, we acquired Enterprise; Consolidated Statements of Earnings (loss) data include Enterprise’s results from the acquisition date through December 31, 2014. Net Sales in 2014 include $476.0 million from Enterprise operations
(2) Includes acquisition and integration costs of $126.7 million and exit and restructuring costs of $6.0 million
(3) Includes interest expense costs of $56.8 million
(4) Includes exit and restructuring costs of $5.9 million
(5) Includes asset impairment charges of $9.1 million and exit and restructuring costs of $0.9 million
(6) Includes exit and restructuring costs of $2.0 million
(7) Includes litigation settlement proceeds received of $1.1 million and exit and restructuring costs of $2.3 million
(8) The consolidated balance sheet data includes Enterprise data as of December 31, 2014. Total assets include $2.336 billion of goodwill and $1.014 billion of intangibles, see Note 3 Business Combinations in the Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements included in this Form 10-K. Long term obligations include $3.2 billion of long term debt, see Note 14 Long-term debt in the Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements included in this Form 10-K
(9) Calculated as current assets minus current liabilities.
(10) Long-term obligations include deferred compensation, unearned revenue and long-term debt.
Item 7.
Item 7. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations
Overview
Zebra is a global leader respected for innovation and reliability. We offer products and services that give organizations greater visibility and insights into their operations, which we call Enterprise Asset Intelligence. Our products and services allow our customers to manage their assets, transactions and people more effectively, and thereby improve their operational efficiency, deliver a better customer experience, provide more effective security and achieve other objectives of their organization.
In October 2014, Zebra acquired the Enterprise business (“Enterprise”) from Motorola Solutions, Inc. (“MSI”), excluding its iDEN, or Integrated Digital Enhanced Network Business, for $3.45 billion in cash (the “Acquisition”). Enterprise is an industry leader in mobile computing and advanced data capture technologies and services, which complement Zebra’s printing and RFID products. Its products include rugged and enterprise-grade mobile computers; laser, imaging and radio frequency identification based data capture products; wireless LAN (“WLAN”) solutions and software; and applications that are associated with these products and services. Enterprise service revenues include revenues arising from maintenance, integration services and device and network management.
Similar to Zebra’s business, Enterprise’s products and services are sold to a wide range of enterprise customers, including those in the retail, hospitality, transportation and logistics, manufacturing, warehouse and distribution centers, energy and utilities, education and healthcare industries. Zebra financed the Acquisition through a combination of cash on hand and borrowings of $3.25 billion (the “Indebtedness”), including the sale of 7 1⁄4% senior notes due 2022 with an aggregate principal amount of $1.05 billion (the “Notes”) and a new credit agreement with various lenders that provided a term loan of $2.2 billion (the “Term Loan”) due 2021.
Results of Operations: Year Ended December 31, 2014 versus Year Ended December 31, 2013
Consolidated Results of Operations
(Amounts in thousands, except percentages)
Zebra experienced sales growth across all regions and all product categories in 2014 which resulted in an increase of 60.9% compared to 2013. Sales growth is primarily from the October 2014 acquisition of Enterprise and the December 2013 acquisition of Hart Systems LLC which increased sales for the year by $482.2 million and $23.7 million respectively, in services, software and hardware. Sales of printers and supplies also contributed meaningfully to the annual sales growth.
Sales by product category were as follows (amounts in thousands, except percentages):
Sales to customers by geographic region were as follows (in thousands, except percentages):
Gross profit
Gross profit increased $274.4 million or 54.5%. $214.8 million was due to the October 2014 acquisition of Enterprise and $15.3 million was due to the December 2013 acquisition of Hart Systems LLC.
Operating income
Operating income decreased 44.7% from prior year. This was mainly due to acquisition costs and amortization of intangibles related to the October 2014 acquisition of Motorola’s Enterprise Business. In addition, expenses across all functional areas increased due to the October 2014 acquisition of Enterprise and the December 2013 acquisition of Hart Systems LLC.
Segment Information
Commencing with the acquisition of Enterprise in October 2014, our continuing operations consist of two segments - (1) Enterprise, comprised of our mobile computing, data capture, and WLAN products and (2) Legacy Zebra, comprised of barcode and card printing, location and motion sensing and supplies products. The following commentary should be read in conjunction with the financial results of each operating business segment as detailed in Note 21, Segment Information and Geographic Data in the Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements. The segment data excludes acquisition costs, amortization of intangibles and exit and restructuring costs.
Segment information is as follows (in thousands):
Legacy Zebra Segment - Year to date
(Amounts in thousands, except percentages)
Legacy Zebra Segment Sales
Net sales for 2014 increased 15.1%, compared to 2013. This increase is a result of growth across all regions and across all product categories, with notable increases in supplies and service contracts, tabletop, desktop and mobile printers. Increased services and software revenue is attributable to both organic growth and the December 2013 acquisition of Hart Systems increased sales by $23.7 million. Movement in foreign currency, net of hedges, increased sales growth by $10.2 million.
Legacy Zebra Segment Gross profit
Gross margin of 50.0%, versus 48.5% for 2013, reflects the favorable impact of lower product costs, improved absorption of fixed costs, lower freight costs, and revenue related to the December 2013 acquisition of Hart Systems LLC. Favorable movements in foreign currency, net of hedges, increased gross profit by $7.1 million.
Legacy Zebra Segment Operating Income
Operating income increased 33.4% from prior year. This is the result of favorable movements in gross profit offset by increases in operating expenses. These expenses exclude acquisition costs, amortization of intangibles and exit and restructuring costs.
Enterprise Segment - For two months ended December 31, 2014
(Amounts in thousands, except percentages)
Enterprise Sales
On October 27, 2014, Zebra acquired Enterprise, a provider of industry-leading data capture, mobile computing, specialty printing and asset tracking solutions and services. This transaction strengthens and expands Zebra’s product portfolio and geographic reach.
For the two months ended December 31, 2014, net sales for Enterprise was $482.2 million, excluding a reduction of $6.2 million in a purchase price accounting adjustment related to the valuation of service contracts. For the period, sales of mobile computing products were strong, with shipments to customers in retail, transportation and logistics and postal, particularly in North America and EMEA. Sales of Enterprise products were also strong to distributors, also particularly in North America and EMEA.
Enterprise Gross profit
Gross profit for Enterprise for the two months ended December 31, 2014, was $214.8 million, or 44.5% of sales, excluding reductions of $28.5 million in cost of sales and $6.2 million in service revenue, as purchase accounting adjustments. The gross profit margin reflects the mix of product sales and service revenue for the two-month period.
Enterprise Operating Income
Operating income for Enterprise for the two months ended December 31, 2014 was $65.0 million. Excluded from this amount are accounting adjustments of $28.5 million in cost of sales and $6.2 million in service revenue, amortization expense of $43.6 million and acquisition expense of $10.5 million associated with the October 2014 acquisition of Enterprise and $5.7 million of restructuring costs.
Consolidated Operating expenses
Operating expenses are summarized below (in thousands, except percentages):
Operating expenses for 2014 increased 100.8% mainly due to acquisition costs, amortization of intangibles and increased costs across all functional areas as a result of the October 2014 acquisition of Enterprise and the December 2013 acquisition of Hart Systems LLC.
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Selling and marketing expenses increased 54.5% of which 46.4% is related to the October 2014 acquisition of Enterprise. This remaining increase of 8.1% is mainly due to increases in compensation costs related to higher sales and improved operating results in the legacy Zebra business.
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Research and development increased 65.8% in comparison to 2013 with Enterprise contributing 55.4% to the year over year increase. Compensation costs and outside professional services make up the majority of the incremental change from prior year.
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General and administrative expenses increased 43.6% due to increases in compensation costs due to higher sales and outside professional services. The October 2014 acquisition of Enterprise contributed 19.0% to the overall increase from prior year.
Consolidated other income (expense)
Zebra’s non-operating income and expense items are summarized in the following table (in thousands):
Foreign exchange loss
The increase in foreign exchange loss is due to losses on net foreign currency assets of $14.4 million offset by gains of $5.7 million from foreign exchange derivatives.
Interest Expense
The increase in interest expense is due to interest expense of $16.0 million related to the senior notes, $20.0 million related to the term loan and bridge loan fees of $19.0 million.
Forward Interest Rate Swaps
The increase in forward swap loss is due to the loss on the forward interest rate swaps not designated in a hedge relationship. We entered into New Swaps and Offsetting Swaps on November 20, 2014, which we designated as cash flow hedges of interest rate exposure associated with variability in future cash flows on the Term Loan. Subsequent to the hedge designation, the effective portion of changes in their fair value is recognized in other comprehensive income (loss) and the ineffective portion is recognized in earnings. The effective portion recognized in other comprehensive income (loss) will be reclassified to earnings in other income (expense) as the interest payments under the Term Loan affect earnings. The Syndicated Swaps and the Offsetting Swaps are not designated in a hedging relationship and the changes in fair values are recognized in earnings in other income (expense). Refer to Note 13, Derivative Instruments to the Consolidated Financial Statements included in the Form 10-K.
Income taxes
The effective income tax rate for 2014 was (95.0%) compared to prior year’s effective income tax rate of 18.1%. The 2014 rate benefit is primarily driven by foreign earnings taxed at a lower rates and domestic pre-tax loss, which is attributable to third-party interest expense and acquisition expenses.
Comparison of Years Ended December 31, 2013 and 2012
Consolidated Results of Operations
(Amounts in thousands, except percentages)
Consolidated Results of Operations - Full Year
Net sales for 2013 compared with 2012 increased 4.2% as a result of growth across most product categories with notable increases in supplies, service and software. The growth in supplies, due to the LaserBand acquisition in July 2012, partially offset weak business conditions from the first half of 2013. Printer unit volumes increased 4.9% for 2013 compared to 2012 due to volume increases in desktop, mobile, kiosk and card printers. Movement towards lower-priced printers partially offset unit volume increases. Movement in foreign currency, net of hedge activity, partially offset sales growth by $2.8 million.
Sales by product category were as follows (amounts in thousands, except percentages):
North America, Asia Pacific and Europe, Middle East and Africa contributed to an overall growth of 4.2% with notable increases in supplies and printer sales. The growth in supplies, which includes labels and wristbands, is the result of the Laserband acquisition in July of 2012 plus organic growth in supplies.
Sales to customers by geographic region were as follows (in thousands, except percentages):
Gross profit
Gross profit increased 2.4% due to higher volumes partially offset by unfavorable movements in product mix. Movements in foreign currency, net of hedges, decreased gross profit by $1.0 million.
Operating expenses
Operating expenses are summarized below (in thousands, except percentages):
Operating expenses for 2013 increased 4.9%. The increase is due to increased expenses across all functional areas offset by the absence of a goodwill impairment charge which represents 2.8% of 2012 operating expenses. The acquisition of both LaserBand and StepOne contributed to the increase in Zebra’s operating expenses. Several categories accounted for these increases, including compensation costs, outside professional services, depreciation and information systems expenses. Acquisition costs are related to investigated and completed acquisitions during the period. Amortization of intangible assets increased from additions of current technology, patent and patent rights and customer relationships during the year, including the acquisition of LaserBand in July 2012. Exit and restructuring costs in 2012 and 2013 primarily relate to the restructuring of the Location Solutions business management structure.
Exit and restructuring costs
During the third quarter of 2012, revenue from Location Solutions fell below plan from slower than anticipated growth in the automotive and process manufacturing industries and weakness in the government sector. As a result, we initiated the Locations Solutions 2012 restructuring plan.
In the second quarter of 2013, management determined that additional restructuring actions would be required to meet our financial goals for the Location Solutions business. We anticipate that the results of our restructuring actions will reduce costs of the Location Solutions business by $4.0 million per year. These savings should be fully realized by the first quarter 2014. The savings from the Location Solutions restructuring plan will primarily benefit cost of goods sold, engineering and selling and marketing expenses.
During 2007, Zebra began a plan to outsource printer manufacturing to a third-party contract manufacturer. The transition to the third-party manufacturer was completed during 2010. During the fourth quarter of 2012, we determined that further supply chain cost reductions were possible by moving certain supply chain support operations closer to our contract printer manufacturer’s facility, which is located in China. We anticipate these actions will generate $2.6 million in annual savings to our cost of goods sold. These actions were completed by the end of 2013.
Operating income
The operating income decrease for 2013 was the result of operating expense increases as noted above and partially offset by higher gross profit.
Other income (expense)
Zebra’s non-operating income and expense items are summarized in the following table (in thousands):
The increase in other income is the result of a net $1.6 million favorable litigation settlement associated with an investment loss that was recorded in prior years.
Income taxes
The effective tax rate for 2013 was 18.1% compared to an effective tax rate of 25.8% for 2012. The 2012 rate reflects a discrete item for nondeductible asset impairment charge, increasing the tax rate by 1.9% for the full year. Further, in 2012, in order to streamline the management, financing and capital structure of its foreign affiliates, Zebra established a foreign holding company and restructured the ownership structure of its foreign affiliates. This new holding company structure allows Zebra to consolidate the ownership of its significant foreign affiliates under a single holding company. In addition, the structure introduced leverage which gives Zebra the ability to facilitate cash pooling and improve the capital structure of its non-US operations. The new capital structure and global financing favorably impacts the Zebra’s effective tax rate and facilitates the tax efficient movement of Zebra’s foreign cash to finance the ongoing operating and investment needs of the foreign subsidiaries. The restructuring was completed in the second quarter of 2012 and was in place for the full year in 2013. In addition, the US R&D credit reinstatement for the 2012 income tax year resulted in a tax benefit of $0.9 million. Finally, Zebra recorded a favorable provision to return adjustment resulting in a reduction to the effective tax rate of 1.1% following the filing of Zebra’s 2012 income tax returns.
Critical Accounting Policies and Estimates
Management prepared the consolidated financial statements of Zebra under accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America. These principles require the use of estimates, judgments and assumptions. We believe that the estimates, judgments and assumptions we used are reasonable, based upon the information available.
Our estimates and assumptions affect the reported amounts in our financial statements. The following accounting policies comprise those that we believe are the most critical in understanding and evaluating Zebra’s reported financial results.
Revenue Recognition
Revenue includes sales of hardware, supplies, software and services (including repair services, extended service contracts, and professional services) and bundled sales of equipment, software and services. We enter into revenue arrangements that may consist of multiple deliverables of our products and services due to the needs of our customers. Zebra recognizes revenue when persuasive evidence of an arrangement exists, delivery has occurred and title has passed to the customer, which happens at the point of shipment, provided that no significant obligations remain, the price is fixed and determinable and collectability of the sales price is reasonably assured. For hardware sales, in addition to the criteria discussed above, revenue recognition occurs when no significant obligations remain and allowances for discounts, price protection, returns and customer incentives can be reasonably estimated. In addition to cooperative marketing and other incentive programs, Zebra has arrangements with some distributors which allow for price protection and limited rights of return, generally through stock rotation programs. Under the price protection programs, Zebra gives distributors credits for the difference between the original price paid and Zebra’s then current price. Under the stock rotation programs, distributors are able to exchange certain products based on the number of qualified purchases made during the period. We monitor and track these programs and record a provision for future payments or credits granted as reductions of revenue based on historical experience. Recorded revenues are reduced by these allowances. Zebra enters into post contract maintenance and support agreements; revenues are deferred and then recognized ratably over the service period and the cost of providing these services is expensed as incurred. Zebra includes shipping and handling charges billed to customers as revenue when the product ships; any costs incurred related to these services are included in cost of sales.
Fair Value of Financial Instruments
Fair value is the price that would be received to sell an asset or paid to transfer a liability in an orderly transaction between market participants at the measurement date. Our financial assets and financial liabilities that require recognition under the accounting guidance generally include available-for-sale investments, employee deferred compensation plan, foreign currency derivatives and interest rate swaps. The guidance establishes a hierarchy for inputs used in measuring fair value that maximizes the use of observable inputs and minimizes the use of unobservable inputs by requiring that the observable inputs be used when available. Observable inputs are inputs that market participants would use in pricing the asset or liability developed based on market data obtained from sources independent of us. Unobservable inputs that reflect our assumptions about the assumptions market participants would use in pricing the asset or liability developed based on the best information available in the circumstances.
Zebra’s investments in marketable debt securities are classified as available-for-sale except for securities held in Zebra’s deferred compensation plan which are considered to be trading securities. In general we use quoted prices in active markets for identical assets to determine fair value. If active markets for identical assets are not available to determine fair value, then we use quoted prices for similar assets or inputs that are observable either directly or indirectly.
Zebra has foreign currency forwards to hedge certain foreign currency exposures and interest rate swaps to hedge a portion of the variability in future cash flows on debt. We use broker quotations or market transactions, in either the listed or over-the-counter markets to value our foreign currency exchange contracts and relevant observable market inputs at quoted intervals, such as forward yield curves and Zebra’s own credit risk to value our interest rate swaps.
Accounts Receivable
We maintain an allowance for doubtful accounts for losses that we estimate will arise from our customers’ inability to make required payments. We make estimates of the collectability of our accounts receivable by considering factors such as historical bad debt experience, specific customer creditworthiness, the age of the accounts receivable balances and current economic trends that may affect a customer’s ability to pay. If the data we use to calculate the allowance for doubtful accounts does not reflect the future ability to collect outstanding receivables, additional provisions for doubtful accounts may be needed and our results of operations could be materially affected. Accounts receivable reserves as of December 31, 2014, were $1.1 million or 0.2% of the balance due.
Inventories
We value our inventories at the lower of the actual cost to purchase or manufacture using the first-in, first-out (FIFO) method, or the current estimated market value. We review inventory quantities on hand and record a provision for excess and obsolete inventory based on forecasts of product demand and production requirements for the subsequent twelve months.
Over the last three years, our inventory reserves have ranged from 1.5% to 11.9% of gross inventory. As of December 31, 2014, inventory reserves were $5.8 million, or 1.5% of gross inventory. We believe this reserve level is appropriate considering the quantities and quality of the inventories as of December 31, 2014.
Goodwill and other Intangible Assets
We perform an annual review of goodwill or sooner if indicators of potential impairment are identified. We review performance and other indicators and determine at that time if the goodwill test associated with the acquisition should be evaluated on a qualitative or quantitative basis. If quantitative, the process we would expect to use, and have used historically, compares the book value of net assets to the fair value of the reporting units. If the fair value is determined to be less than the book value or qualitative factors indicate that it is more likely than not that goodwill is impaired, a second step is performed to compute the amount of impairment as the difference between the estimated fair value of goodwill and the carrying value at the testing date. We estimate the fair value of the reporting units using discounted cash flow and certain market value data.
Of the goodwill recognized at December 31, 2014, approximately $2.336 billion relates to the Enterprise Acquisition transaction. Approximately $153.5 million of goodwill existed prior to the Enterprise Acquisition and is recorded in the Legacy Zebra business. Net intangible assets excluding goodwill amounted to $1.014 billion as of December 31, 2014.
The annual evaluation of goodwill requires the use of estimates about future operating results, valuation multiples, and discount rates to determine their estimated fair value. Changes in these assumptions can materially affect these estimates. If our future performance is below our projections, goodwill impairment charges can result. Zebra will monitor future results and will perform a test if indicators trigger an impairment review.
Long-lived Assets and Other Intangible Assets
Long-lived assets held and used are reviewed for impairment whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying amount of an asset may not be recoverable. We estimate the future cash flows expected to result from the use of the asset and its eventual disposition. If the sum of the expected future cash flows (undiscounted and without interest charges) is less than the carrying amount of the asset, an impairment is recognized. Determining whether an impairment has occurred typically requires various estimates and assumptions, including determining which undiscounted cash flows are directly related to the potentially impaired asset, the useful life over which cash flows will occur, their amount, and the asset’s residual value, if any. Any related impairment loss is calculated based upon comparison of the fair value to the carrying value of the asset. Separate intangible assets that have finite useful lives are amortized over their useful lives. An impaired long-lived or intangible asset would be written down to fair value, based on various available valuation techniques, including the discounted cash flow method.
Income Taxes
Income taxes are recognized during the year in which transactions enter into the determination of financial statement income, with deferred taxes being provided for temporary differences between financial and tax reporting. Zebra recognizes in the financial statements a provision for tax uncertainties, resulting from application of complex tax regulations in multiple jurisdictions. See Note 19 in the Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements included in the Form 10-K.
Contingencies
Zebra records estimated liabilities related to contingencies based on our estimates of the probable outcomes. Quarterly, Zebra assesses the potential liability related to pending litigation, tax audits and other contingencies and confirm or revise estimates and reserves as appropriate.
For further information regarding material pending legal proceedings, see Note 15 in the Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements included in the Form 10-K.
Equity-Based Compensation
As of December 31, 2014, Zebra had an active equity-based compensation plan and a stock purchase plan available for future grants. We accounted for these plans in accordance with ASC 505 and ASC 718. Zebra recognizes compensation costs using the straight-line method over the vesting period of up to 5 years. See Notes 2 and 18 to the Consolidated Financial Statements included in the Form 10-K for further information.
Acquisitions
We account for acquired businesses using the acquisition method of accounting. This method requires that the purchase price be allocated to the identifiable assets acquired and liabilities assumed at their estimated fair values. The excess of the purchase price over the identifiable assets acquired and liabilities assumed is recorded as goodwill.
The estimates used to determine the fair value of long-lived assets, such as intangible assets, can be complex and require significant judgments. We use information available to us to make fair value determinations and engage independent valuation specialists, when necessary, to assist in the fair value determination of significant acquired long-lived assets. While we use our best estimates and assumptions as a part of the purchase price allocation process, our estimates are inherently uncertain and subject to refinement. Critical estimates in valuing certain intangible assets include, but are not limited to, future expected cash flows from customer relationships, customer attrition rates and discount rates. Management’s estimates of fair value are based upon assumptions believed to be reasonable, but due to the inherent uncertainty during the measurement period, which may be up to one year from the acquisition date, we record adjustments to the assets acquired and liabilities assumed, with the corresponding offset to goodwill. The purchase price allocation of the Enterprise Acquisition is based upon a preliminary valuation and the estimates and assumptions are subject to change within the measurement period as additional information is obtained.
Recently Issued Accounting Pronouncements
In July 2013, the FASB issued Accounting Standard Update (“ASU”) 2013-11 “Presentation of an Unrecognized Tax Benefit When a Net Operating Loss Carryforward, a Similar Tax Loss, or a Tax Credit Carryforward Exists.” ASU 2013 -11 was issued to promote consistency among financial statement issuers and amends ASC 740, “Income Taxes,” to provide clarification of the financial statement presentation of an unrecognized tax benefit when a net operating loss carryforward, a similar tax loss, or a tax credit carryforward exists. According to ASU 2013-11, an unrecognized tax benefit or a portion of an unrecognized tax benefit should be presented in the financial statements as a reduction of a deferred tax asset for a net operating loss carryforward, a similar tax loss, or a tax credit carryforward, with certain exceptions. The revised guidance is effective for interim and annual periods beginning after December 15, 2013 with early adoption permitted. We adopted this guidance for our fiscal year beginning January 1, 2014. The adoption did not have a material impact on our financial statements.
In April 2014, the FASB issued ASU 2014-08 “Reporting Discontinued Operations and Disclosures of Disposals of Components of an Entity.” This update amends the criteria for reporting discontinued operations to, among other things, raise the threshold for disposals to qualify as discontinued operations. Under the revised standard, a discontinued operation must represent a strategic shift that has or will have a major effect on an entity’s operations and financial results. The revised standard will also allow an entity to have certain continuing cash flows or involvement with the component after the disposal. This update is effective for interim and annual reporting periods, beginning after December 15, 2014, with early adoption permitted. We will adopt this guidance for our fiscal year beginning January 1, 2015. We do not expect the adoption to have a material impact on our financial statements.
In May 2014, the FASB issued update 2014-09, ASC 606, Revenue from Contracts with Customers. This guidance is a comprehensive new revenue recognition model that requires a company to recognize revenue to depict the transfer of goods or services to a customer at an amount that reflects the consideration it expects to receive in exchange for those goods or services. This standard is effective for annual periods beginning after December 15, 2016 and interim periods within those annual periods. Management is still assessing the impact of adoption on its consolidated financial statements.
Liquidity and Capital Resources
In connection with the Acquisition in October 2014, we incurred indebtedness totaling $3.25 billion. As of December 31, 2014, we had cash and marketable securities balances of $418.3 million and long-term debt totaling $3.2 billion. We did not have any borrowings against our revolving credit facility with $247.1 million available ($250 million less $2.9 million of letters of credit available). See Note 14 Long term debt in the Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements for further details and under Financing activities below. The primary factors that influence our liquidity include, but are not
limited to, the amount and timing of our revenues, cash collections from our customers, capital expenditures and acquisitions of third-parties. Management believes that existing capital resources and funds generated from operations are sufficient to meet anticipated capital requirements and service our indebtedness. The following table summarizes our cash flow activities for the periods indicated (in thousands):
The change in our cash and cash equivalents balance is reflective of the following:
Operating activities
During 2014, Zebra generated operating cash flows of $248.3 million increasing $53.6 million from 2013. The operating cash flows increase is a result of strong legacy Zebra performance in addition to operating cash from the acquisition of Enterprise.
Receivables increased $69.6 million which was a result of fourth quarter 2014 sales from both legacy Zebra and the acquisition of Enterprise.
Accounts payable increased $62.2 million primarily due to increase in business activity as a result of the acquisition of Enterprise.
Accrued liabilities increased $164.3 million as of December 31, 2014. This increase in accrued liabilities is related to an increase in compensation accruals and professional service fees which are related to the acquisition of Enterprise.
Movements in deferred revenue reflect the increased level of service contracts. Deferred revenue primarily consists of billings and payments received in advance of revenue recognition from service contracts.
Investing activities
Cash used for investing increased to $3.1 billion due to the $3.4 billion paid to acquire Enterprise, refer to Note 3 Business Combinations in the Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements for further discussion regarding the Acquisition.
Financing activities
In 2014, financing activities were a source of cash of $3.2 billion compared to uses of cash of $44.2 million and $49.4 million in 2013 and 2012. Financing activities were higher in 2014 primarily to fund the purchase price related to the acquisition of Enterprise, see further discussion below. In addition we paid deferred financing costs of $24.0 million related to this debt; these costs are capitalized in Zebra’s financial results. In 2013 and 2012, cash used for financing activities was primarily to repurchase shares of Zebra’s common stock.
The following table shows our level of indebtedness and other information as of December 31, 2014 (in thousands):
Private Offering
On October 15, 2014, Zebra completed a private offering of $1.05 billion aggregate principal of 7.25% Senior Notes due October 15, 2022 (the “Senior Notes”). Interest on the Senior Notes is payable in cash on April 15 and October 15 of each year, commencing on April 15, 2015.
The Indenture covering the Senior Notes contains certain covenants limiting among other things, the ability of Zebra and its restricted subsidiaries, with certain exceptions as described in the indenture, to; (i) incur indebtedness or issue certain preferred stock; (ii) incur liens; (iii) pay dividends or make distributions in respect of capital stock; (iv) purchase or redeem capital stock; (v) make investments or certain other restricted payments; (vi) sell assets; (vii) issue or sell stock of restricted subsidiaries; (viii) enter into transactions with stockholders or affiliates; or (ix) effect a consolidation or merger. On December 31, 2014, Zebra was in compliance with the covenants.
New Credit Facilities
On October 27, 2014, Zebra entered into a new credit agreement which provides for a term loan of $2.2 billion (“Term Loan”) and a revolving credit facility of $250.0 million (“Revolving Credit Facility”). Borrowings under the Term Loan bear interest at a variable rate plus an applicable margin, subject to an all-in floor of 4.75%. As of December 31 2014, the Term Loan interest rate was 4.75%. Interest payments are payable quarterly, starting January 27, 2015. The October 2012 revolving credit agreement for $250.0 million with a syndicate of banks was terminated upon execution of this credit agreement. The Company has entered into interest rate swaps to manage interest rate risk on its long-term debt. See Note 13 Derivative Instruments in the Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements for further details.
The credit agreement requires Zebra to prepay the Term Loan and Revolving Credit Facility, under certain circumstances or transactions defined in the credit agreement. Also, Zebra may voluntarily prepay its obligations under the Term Loan at any time; however, we are required to make scheduled quarterly principal payments of $5.5 million beginning June 30, 2015, with the balance of $2.1 billion due on October 27, 2021.
The Revolving Credit Facility is available for working capital and other general corporate purposes including letters of credit. The amount (including letters of credit) shall not exceed $250.0 million. As of December 31, 2014, Zebra had established letters of credit amounting to $2.9 million, which reduced funds available for other borrowings under the agreement to $247.1 million. The Revolving Credit Facility will mature and the commitments thereunder will terminate on October 27, 2019.
Borrowings under the Revolving Credit Facility bear interest at a variable rate plus an applicable margin. The applicable margin for borrowings under the Revolving Credit Facility ranges from 2.25% to 2.75% depending on Zebra’s consolidated total secured net leverage ratio which is evaluated on a quarterly basis. Interest payments are payable quarterly. As of December 31 2014, Zebra did not have any borrowings against the Revolving Credit Facility.
The Revolving Credit Facility contains certain covenants limiting among other things, the ability of Zebra and its restricted subsidiaries, with certain exceptions as described in the agreement, to: (i) incur indebtedness, make guarantees or issue certain equity securities; (ii) pay dividends on its capital stock or redeem, repurchase or retire its capital stock; (iii) make certain investments, loans and acquisitions; (iv) sell certain assets or issue capital stock of restricted subsidiaries; (v) create liens or engage in sale-leaseback transactions; (vi) merge, consolidate or transfer or dispose of substantially all of their assets; (vii) engage in certain transactions with affiliates; (viii) alter the business it conducts; (ix) amend, prepay, redeem or purchase subordinated debt and (x) enter into agreements limiting subsidiary dividends and distributions. The Revolving Credit Facility also requires Zebra to comply with a financial covenant consisting of a quarterly maximum consolidated Total Secured Net Leverage Ratio, (as defined in the Revolving Credit Facility). This test is only required to be performed at the end of the fiscal quarter and when 20% of the commitments under the Revolving Credit Facility have been drawn and remain outstanding.
The Term Loan and obligations under the Revolving Credit Facility are collateralized by a security interest in substantially all of Zebra’s assets as defined in the security agreement and guaranteed by its direct and indirect wholly-owned existing and future domestic restricted subsidiaries, subject to certain exceptions.
Certain domestic subsidiaries of Zebra (the “Guarantor Subsidiaries”) guarantee the Notes, the Term Loan and the Revolving Credit Facility on a senior basis: For the twelve months ended December 31, 2014, after giving pro forma effect to the acquisition of Enterprise, the non-Guarantor Subsidiaries would have (a) accounted for approximately 44% of our total revenue and (b) held approximately 16% of our total assets and approximately 15.6%, or $704.1 million, of our total liabilities including trade payables but excluding intercompany liabilities.
On December 31, 2014, Zebra was in compliance with the covenants.
Historically, significant portions of our cash inflows were generated by our operations. We currently expect this trend to continue throughout 2015. We believe that our existing cash and investments, borrowings available under our Revolving Credit Facility, together with cash flows expected from operations will be sufficient to meet expected operating, capital expenditure and debt obligation requirements for the next 12 months.
Zebra had $268.4 million as of December 31, 2014, and $251.7 million as of December 31, 2013 of foreign cash and investments, which are primarily invested in U.S. dollar-denominated holdings.
Management believes that existing capital resources and funds generated from operations are sufficient to finance anticipated capital requirements.
Contractual Obligations
Zebra’s contractual obligations as of December 31, 2014 were (in thousands):
Purchase obligations are for purchases made in the normal course of business to meet operational requirements, primarily raw materials and finished goods.
Uncertain tax position liabilities of $18.9 million have been excluded from the above table as we cannot make a reasonably reliable estimate of the period of cash settlement with the respective taxing authority.
Item 7A.
Item 7A. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk
Market risk is the sensitivity of income to changes in interest rates, commodity prices and foreign currency changes. Zebra is exposed to the following types of market risk: interest rates and foreign currency.
Interest Rate Risk
Historically, we mitigated interest rate risk on marketable security investments with an investment policy and use of outside professional investment managers; our objective was to achieve stable and predictable targeted rates of return and to provide the liquidity necessary for the operation of the business.
In connection with the acquisition of Enterprise, Zebra incurred significant debt, including variable rate debt (subject to interest rate caps). As of December 31, 2014, we had $2.2 billion debt outstanding under our Term Loan, which debt bears interest determined by reference to a variable rate index. To mitigate this risk, we entered into forward interest rate swaps to hedge the interest rate risk associated with the variable interest payments on our Term Loan that was used to fund the acquisition of Enterprise. Refer to Note 13 Derivative Instruments in the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements included in this form 10-K for further discussions of hedging activities.
Foreign Exchange Risk
We conduct business in over 100 countries throughout the world and, therefore, at times are exposed to risk based on movements in foreign exchange rates. On occasion, we invoice customers in their local currency and have a resulting foreign currency denominated revenue transaction and accounts receivable. We also purchase certain raw materials and other items in foreign currencies. We manage these risks using derivative financial instruments. See Note 13 of the Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements included in this form 10-K for further discussions of hedging activities.
The following table sets forth the impact of a ten percent movement in the dollar/pound and dollar/euro rates measured as if Zebra did not engage in the selective hedging practices described above. The risk is increased through additional exposure as it relates to the acquisition of Enterprise. It is based on the dollar/euro and dollar/pound exchange rates and euro and pound denominated assets and liabilities (in thousands, except per share data).
Item 8.
Item 8. Financial Statements and Supplementary Data
The financial statements and schedule of Zebra are annexed to this report as pages through. An index to such materials appears on page.
Item 9.
Item 9. Changes in and Disagreements with Accountants on Accounting and Financial Disclosures
Not applicable.
Item 9A.
Item 9A. Controls and Procedures
Evaluation of Disclosure Controls and Procedures
We conducted an evaluation of the effectiveness of the design and operation of our disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (the “Exchange Act”)) as of the end of the period covered by this Form 10-K. The evaluation was conducted under the supervision of our Disclosure Committee, and with the participation of management, including our Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer. Based on that evaluation, our Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer have concluded that our disclosure controls and procedures were effective to provide reasonable assurance that (i) the information required to be disclosed by us in this Form 10-K was recorded, processed, summarized and reported within the time periods specified in the SEC’s rules and forms, and (ii) information required to be disclosed by us in our reports that we file or furnish under the Exchange Act is accumulated and communicated to our management, including our principal executive and principal financial officers, or persons performing similar functions, as appropriate to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosure.
Management’s Report on Internal Control over Financial Reporting
Our management is responsible for establishing and maintaining adequate internal control over financial reporting as defined in Rules 13a-15(f) and 15d-15(f) under the Exchange Act to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of our financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles. Our management assessed the effectiveness of our internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2014. In making this assessment, our management used the criteria set forth by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission in Internal Control-Integrated Framework as released in 2013. Based on this assessment and those criteria, our management believes that, as of December 31, 2014, our internal control over financial reporting is effective. Management’s assessment of internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2014 excludes the internal control over financial reporting related to Enterprise (acquired on October 27, 2014). Enterprise is included in the 2014 consolidated financial statements and constituted 78% of net assets and 81% of total assets as of December 31, 2014 and 28% and (26%) of revenues and net income, respectively, for the year then ended.
Our independent registered public accounting firm, Ernst & Young LLP, has issued an attestation report on Zebra’s internal control over financial reporting. Ernst & Young LLP’s report is included on page 46 of this report on Form 10-K.
Changes in Internal Control over Financial Reporting
In connection with our initial reviews of internal controls for Enterprise, we have identified certain internal control deficiencies related to Enterprise. We continue to identify and review the internal controls of the Enterprise business and are establishing a plan of remediation that is consistent with our obligation to assess the effectiveness of Enterprise’s internal controls over financial reporting as of December 31, 2015.
The identification review, assessment and remediation of internal control deficiencies is overseen by senior management and our audit committee, and is undertaken primarily through the integration of processes and procedures with existing Zebra processes and procedures, development and implementation of formal policies, improved processes and documented procedures, as well as the hiring of additional finance personnel.
During the quarter covered by this report, there have been no other changes in our internal controls that have materially affected, or are reasonably likely to materially affect, our internal controls over financial reporting.
Inherent Limitations on the Effectiveness of Controls
Our management, including our Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, does not expect that our disclosure controls and procedures or our internal controls will prevent or detect all errors and all fraud. A control system, no matter how well conceived and operated, can provide only reasonable, not absolute, assurance that the objectives of the control system are met. Further, the design of a control system must reflect the fact that there are resource constraints, and the benefits of controls must be considered relative to their costs. Because of the inherent limitations in all control systems, no evaluation of controls can provide absolute assurance that misstatements due to error or fraud will not occur or that all control issues and instances of fraud, if any, within Zebra have been prevented or 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. Controls can also be circumvented by the individual acts of some persons, by collusion of two or more people, or by management override of the controls. The design of any system of controls is based in part on certain assumptions about the likelihood of future events, and there can be no assurance that any design will succeed in achieving its stated goals under all potential future conditions. Projections of any evaluation of controls effectiveness to future periods are subject to risks. Over time, controls may become inadequate because of changes in conditions or deterioration in the degree of compliance with policies or procedures.
Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm
The Board of Directors and Stockholders of
Zebra Technologies Corporation:
We have audited Zebra Technologies Corporation’s internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2014, based on criteria established in Internal Control-Integrated Framework issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission (2013 framework) (the COSO criteria). Zebra Technologies Corporation’s management is responsible for maintaining effective internal control over financial reporting, and for its assessment of the effectiveness of internal control over financial reporting included in the accompanying Management’s Report on Internal Control over Financial Reporting. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on the company’s internal control over financial reporting based on our audit.
We conducted our audit 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 effective internal control over financial reporting was maintained in all material respects. Our audit included obtaining an understanding of internal control over financial reporting, assessing the risk that a material weakness exists, testing and evaluating the design and operating effectiveness of internal control based on the assessed risk, and performing such other procedures as we considered necessary in the circumstances. We believe that our audit provides a reasonable basis for our opinion.
A company’s internal control over financial reporting is a process designed to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles. A company’s internal control over financial reporting includes those policies and procedures that (1) pertain to the maintenance of records that, in reasonable detail, accurately and fairly reflect the transactions and dispositions of the assets of the company; (2) provide reasonable assurance that transactions are recorded as necessary to permit preparation of financial statements in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles, and that receipts and expenditures of the company are being made only in accordance with authorizations of management and directors of the company; and (3) provide reasonable assurance regarding prevention or timely detection of unauthorized acquisition, use, or disposition of the company’s assets that could have a material effect on the financial statements.
Because of its inherent limitations, internal control over financial reporting may not prevent or detect misstatements. Also, projections of any evaluation of effectiveness to future periods are subject to the risk that controls may become inadequate because of changes in conditions, or that the degree of compliance with the policies or procedures may deteriorate.
As indicated in the accompanying Management’s Report on Internal Control over Financial Reporting, management’s assessment of and conclusion on the effectiveness of internal control over financial reporting did not include the internal controls of the Motorola Solutions Enterprise business, which is included in the 2014 consolidated financial statements of Zebra Technologies Corporation and constituted 78% of net assets and 81% of total assets as of December 31, 2014 and 28% and (26%) of revenues and net income, respectively. Our audit of internal control over financial reporting of Zebra Technologies Corporation also did not include an evaluation of the internal control over financial reporting of the Motorola Solutions Enterprise business.
In our opinion, Zebra Technologies Corporation maintained, in all material respects, effective internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2014, based on the COSO criteria.
We also have audited, in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States), the consolidated balance sheets of Zebra Technologies Corporation as of December 31, 2014 and 2013, and the related consolidated statements of operations, comprehensive income, shareholders’ equity, and cash flows for each of the three years in the period ended December 31, 2014, of Zebra Technologies Corporation and our report dated March 17, 2015, expressed an unqualified opinion thereon.
Chicago, Illinois
March 17, 2015
/s/Ernst & Young LLP
Item 9B.
Item 9B. Other Information
Not applicable.
PART III
Item 10.
Item 10. Directors, Executive Officers and Corporate Governance
We have adopted a Code of Ethics for Senior Financial Officers that applies to Zebra’s Chief Executive Officer, Chief Financial Officer and the Vice President, Finance. The Code of Ethics is posted on the Investor Relations - Corporate Governance page of Zebra’s Internet web site, www.zebra.com, and is available for download. Any waiver from the Code of Ethics and any amendment to the Code of Ethics will be disclosed on such page of Zebra’s web site
All other information in response to this item is incorporated by reference from the Proxy Statement sections entitled “Corporate Governance,” “Election of Directors,” “Board and Committees of the Board,” “Executive Officers,” and “Section 16(a) Beneficial Ownership Reporting Compliance.”.”
Item 11.
Item 11. Executive Compensation
The information in response to this item is incorporated by reference from the Proxy Statement sections entitled “Compensation Discussion and Analysis-Executive Summary,” “Compensation Discussion and Analysis,” “Executive Compensation,” “Director Compensation,” “Compensation Committee Interlocks and Insider Participation” and “Compensation Committee Report.”
Item 12.
Item 12. Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and Management and Related Stockholder Matters
The information in response to this item is incorporated by reference from the Proxy Statement sections entitled “Ownership of our Common Stock” and “Equity Compensation Plan Information.”
Item 13.
Item 13. Certain Relationships and Related Transactions, and Director Independence
The information in response to this item is incorporated by reference from the Proxy Statement section entitled “Corporate Governance.”
Item 14.
Item 14. Principal Accounting Fees and Services
The information in response to this item is incorporated by reference from the Proxy Statement section entitled “Fees of Independent Auditors.”
PART IV
Item 15.
Item 15. Exhibits, Financial Statement Schedules
The financial statements and schedule filed as part of this report are listed in the accompanying Index to Financial Statements and Schedule. The exhibits filed as a part of this report are listed in the accompanying Index to Exhibits.
SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the Registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, there unto duly authorized, on the 17th day of March 2015.
ZEBRA TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATION
By: /s/ Anders Gustafsson
Anders Gustafsson
Chief Executive Officer
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities and Exchange Act of 1934, the report has been signed below by the following persons in the capacities and on the dates indicated.
ZEBRA TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES
INDEX TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND SCHEDULE
All other financial statement schedules are omitted because they are not applicable or the required information is shown in the consolidated financial statements or related notes.
Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm
To the Board of Directors and Stockholders of
Zebra Technologies Corporation
We have audited the accompanying consolidated balance sheets of Zebra Technologies Corporation (the Company) as of December 31, 2014 and 2013, and the related consolidated statements of operations, comprehensive income, shareholders’ equity and cash flows for each of the three years in the period ended December 31, 2014. Our audits also included the financial statement schedule listed in Index at Item 15. These financial statements and schedule are the responsibility of the Company’s management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on these financial statements and schedule 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. An audit includes examining, on a test basis, evidence supporting the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements. An audit also includes assessing the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, as well as 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 Zebra Technologies Corporation at December 31, 2014 and 2013, and the consolidated results of its operations and its cash flows for each of the three years in the period ended December 31, 2014, in conformity with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles. Also, in our opinion, the related financial statement schedule, when considered in relation to the basic consolidated financial statements taken as a whole, presents fairly in all material respects the information set forth therein.
We also have audited, in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States), Zebra Technologies Corporation’s internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2014, based on criteria established in Internal Control-Integrated Framework issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission (2013 framework) and our report dated March 17, 2015 expressed an unqualified opinion thereon.
/s/ Ernst & Young LLP
Chicago, Illinois
March 17, 2015
ZEBRA TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
(Amounts in thousands)
See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements.
ZEBRA TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF EARNINGS
(Amounts in thousands, except per share data)
See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements.
ZEBRA TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF COMPREHENSIVE INCOME
(Amounts in thousands)
See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements.
ZEBRA TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY
(Dollars in thousands)
See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements.
ZEBRA TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
(Amounts in thousands)
See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements.
ZEBRA TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
Note 1 Description of Business
Zebra Technologies Corporation and its wholly-owned subsidiaries (Zebra) design, manufacture, sell and support a broad range of direct thermal and thermal transfer label printers, radio frequency identification printer/encoders, dye sublimation card printers, real-time locating solutions, related accessories and support software. These products are used principally in automatic identification (auto ID), data collection and personal identification applications and are distributed world-wide through a network of resellers, distributors and end users representing a wide cross-section of industrial, service and government organizations.
In October 2014, Zebra acquired the Enterprise business (“Enterprise”) from Motorola Solutions, Inc. (“MSI”), for $3.45 billion in cash (the “Acquisition”). Enterprise is an industry leader in mobile computing and advanced data capture technologies and services, which complement Zebra’s printing and RFID products. Its products include rugged and enterprise-grade mobile computers; laser, imaging and radio frequency identification based data capture products; wireless LAN (“WLAN”) solutions and software; and applications that are associated with these products and services. Enterprise service revenues include revenues arising from maintenance, integration services and device and network management.
Note 2 Summary of Significant Accounting Policies
Principles of Consolidation. These consolidated financial statements were prepared on a consolidated basis to include the accounts of Zebra and its wholly owned subsidiaries. All significant intercompany accounts, transactions and unrealized profit were eliminated in consolidation.
Fiscal Calendar. Zebra operates on a 4 week/4 week/5 week fiscal quarter, and each fiscal quarter ends on a Saturday. The fiscal year always begins on January 1 and ends on December 31. This fiscal calendar results in some fiscal quarters being either greater than or less than 13 weeks, depending on the days of the week those dates fall. During the 2014 fiscal year, our quarter end dates were as follows:
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March 29,
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June 28,
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September 27, and
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December 31.
Use of Estimates. These consolidated financial statements were prepared using estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities as of the date of the consolidated financial statements and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting period. Actual results could differ from those estimates.
Cash and Cash Equivalents. Cash consists primarily of deposits with banks. In addition, Zebra considers highly liquid short-term investments with original maturities of less than three months to be cash equivalents. These highly liquid short-term investments are readily convertible to known amounts of cash and are so near their maturity that they present insignificant risk of a change in value because of changes in interest rates.
Accounts Receivable and Allowance for Doubtful Accounts. Accounts receivable consist primarily of amounts due to us from our normal business activities. Collateral on trade accounts receivable is generally not required. Zebra maintains an allowance for doubtful accounts for estimated uncollectible accounts receivable. The allowance is based on our assessment of known delinquent accounts. Accounts are written off against the allowance account when they are determined to be no longer collectible.
Inventories. Inventories are stated at the lower of cost or market, and cost is determined by the first-in, first-out (FIFO) method. Manufactured inventories consist of the following costs: component, direct labor and manufacturing overhead. Purchased inventories also include internal purchasing overhead costs.
Property and Equipment. Property and equipment is stated at cost. Depreciation and amortization is computed primarily using the straight-line method over the estimated useful lives of the various classes of property and equipment, which are 30 years for buildings and range from 3 to 10 years for other property. Leasehold improvements are amortized using the straight-line method over the shorter of the lease term or estimated useful life of the asset.
Income Taxes. Zebra accounts for income taxes under the liability method in accordance with ASC 740, Income Taxes. Accordingly, deferred income taxes are provided for the future tax consequences attributable to differences between the carrying amounts of assets and liabilities for financial reporting and income tax purposes. Deferred tax assets and liabilities are measured using tax rates in effect for the year in which those temporary differences are expected to be recovered or settled. A valuation
allowance is established when necessary to reduce deferred tax assets to the amount that is more likely than not to be realized. The Company recognizes the benefit of tax positions when it is more likely than not to be sustained on its technical merits. Zebra recognizes interest and penalties related to income tax matters as part of income tax expense.
Goodwill and Other Intangibles. Goodwill represents the unamortized excess of the cost of acquiring a business over the fair values of the net assets acquired at the date of acquisition.
We perform an annual review of goodwill or sooner if indicators of potential impairment are identified. Because the purchase price allocation related to the Acquisition has not yet been finalized due to the timing of the acquisition, the goodwill from this acquisition has not been allocated to the reporting units. We will review performance and other indicators during 2015 and determine at that time if the goodwill test associated with the Acquisition should be evaluated on a qualitative or quantitative basis. If quantitative, the process we would expect to use, and have used historically, compares the book value of net assets to the fair value of the reporting units. If the fair value is determined to be less than the book value or qualitative factors indicate that it is more likely than not that goodwill is impaired, a second step is performed to compute the amount of impairment as the difference between the estimated fair value of goodwill and the carrying value at the testing date. We estimate the fair value of the reporting units using discounted cash flow and certain market value data.
Goodwill of a reporting unit is tested for impairment between annual tests if an event occurs or circumstances change that would more likely than not reduce the fair value of a reporting unit below its carrying amount.
In accordance with ASU 2011-08, Zebra’s qualitative analysis determined that it is not more likely than not that the fair value of our goodwill is less than the carrying amount and therefore, performing the two-step impairment test was not necessary. If Zebra concluded otherwise, we would perform the first step of the two-step impairment test by calculating the fair value and comparing the fair value to the carrying amount. If the carrying amount exceeded the fair value, we would perform the second step of goodwill impairment test to determine the amount of impairment loss. The second step of the goodwill impairment test involves comparing the implied fair value of the affected reporting unit’s goodwill with the carrying value of that goodwill.
Zebra elected to perform its annual test for Hart Systems, LLC., which was acquired in December 2013, effective the first day of the fourth quarter.
Other intangible assets capitalized consist primarily of current technology, customer relationships, trade names, unpatented technology, and patent rights. These assets are recorded at cost and amortized on a straight-line basis over a weighted-average life of 4.1 years, which approximates the estimated useful lives. Weighted average lives remaining by intangible asset class are as follows: Current technology 3.3 year; Trade names; 3.7 years; Unpatented Technology 3.5 years; Patent and patent rights 3.2 years and customer relationship 5.3 years.
Amortization of Debt Issuance Costs. The Company capitalizes costs incurred in connection with borrowings or establishment of credit facilities. These costs are amortized over the life of the borrowing or life of the credit facility using the effective interest method.
Revenue Recognition. Revenue includes sales of hardware, supplies, software and services (including repair services, extended service contracts, and professional services) and bundled sales of equipment, software and services. We enter into revenue arrangements that may consist of multiple deliverables of our products and services due to the needs of our customers. Zebra recognizes revenue when persuasive evidence of an arrangement exists, delivery has occurred and title has passed to the customer, which happens at the point of shipment, provided that no significant obligations remain, the price is fixed and determinable and collectability of the sales price is reasonably assured. For hardware sales, in addition to the criteria discussed above, revenue recognition occurs when no significant obligations remain and allowances for discounts, price protection, returns and customer incentives can be reasonably estimated. In addition to cooperative marketing and other incentive programs, Zebra has arrangements with some distributors which allow for price protection and limited rights of return, generally through stock rotation programs. Under the price protection programs, Zebra gives distributors credits for the difference between the original price paid and Zebra’s then current price. Under the stock rotation programs, distributors are able to exchange certain products based on the number of qualified purchases made during the period. We monitor and track these programs and record a provision for future payments or credits granted as reductions of revenue based on historical experience. Recorded revenues are reduced by these allowances. Zebra enters into post contract maintenance and support agreements; revenues are deferred and then recognized ratably over the service period and the cost of providing these services is expensed as incurred. Zebra includes shipping and handling charges billed to customers as revenue when the product ships; any costs incurred related to these services are included in cost of sales.
Research and Development Costs. Research and development costs are expensed as incurred. These costs include:
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Salaries, benefits, and other R&D personnel related costs,
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Consulting and other outside services used in the R&D process,
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Engineering supplies,
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Engineering related information systems costs, and
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Allocation of building and related costs.
Advertising. Advertising is expensed as incurred. Advertising costs totaled $13.2 million for the year ended December 31, 2014, $7.6 million for the year ended December 31, 2013 and $9.0 million for the year ended December 31, 2012.
Market Development Funds. Zebra makes market development funds available to its resellers to support demand generation activity by the resellers. These funds require the reseller to provide specific services or benefits to Zebra and substantiate the fair value of such services rendered. Zebra reimburses resellers for agreed activities up to the amounts approved by Zebra. These payments are treated as marketing costs consistent with the requirements of ASC 605. Any payments to resellers that do not meet these requirements are recorded as reductions to revenue.
Warranty. Zebra generally, provides warranty coverage of one year on printers against defects in material and workmanship. Thermal printheads are warranted for six months and batteries are warranted for one year. Battery-based products, such as location tags, are covered by a 90 day warranty. Mobile computing products and WLAN products are warranted for one year. Advanced data capture products are warranted from 1-5 years, depending on the product. A provision for warranty expense is recorded at the time of sale and adjusted quarterly based on historical warranty experience. The following table is a summary of Zebra’s accrued warranty obligation (in thousands):
Fair Value of Financial Instruments. Fair value is the price that would be received to sell an asset or paid to transfer a liability in an orderly transaction between market participants at the measurement date. Our financial assets and financial liabilities that require recognition under the accounting guidance generally include our available-for-sale investments, employee deferred compensation plan investments, foreign currency derivatives and interest rate swaps. In accordance with ASC 815 we recognize derivative instruments and hedging activities as either assets or liabilities on the balance sheet and measure them at fair value. Gains and losses resulting from changes in fair value are accounted for depending on the use of the derivative and whether it is designated and qualifies for hedge accounting. See Note 13 for additional information on our derivatives and hedging activities.
Zebra has foreign currency forwards to hedge certain foreign currency exposures and interest rate swaps to hedge a portion of the variability in future cash flows on debt. We use broker quotations or market transactions, in either the listed or over-the-counter markets to value our foreign currency exchange contracts and relevant observable market inputs at quoted intervals, such as forward yield curves and Zebra’s own credit risk to value our interest rate swaps.
Zebra’s investments in marketable debt securities are classified as available-for-sale except for securities held in Zebra’s deferred compensation plan which are considered to be trading securities. In general we use quoted prices in active markets for identical assets to determine fair value. If active markets for identical assets are not available to determine fair value, then we use quoted prices for similar assets or inputs that are observable either directly or indirectly.
Equity-Based Compensation. At December 31, 2014, Zebra had a general equity-based compensation plan and an employee stock purchase plan under which shares of our common stock were available for future grants and sales, and which are described more fully in Note 18. We account for these plans in accordance with ASC 505 and ASC 718. Zebra recognizes compensation costs using the straight-line method over the vesting period upon grant of up to 5 years.
The compensation expense and the related income tax benefit for share-based payments were included in the Consolidated Statement of Earnings as follows (in thousands):
ASC 505 and ASC 718 requires the cash flows resulting from the tax benefits from tax deductions in excess of the compensation cost recognized (excess tax benefits) to be classified as cash flows from financing activities. Cash flows resulting from the tax benefits of tax deductions in excess of the compensation cost recognized (excess tax benefits) are classified as financing cash flows in the statement of cash flows. The tax benefits classified as financing cash flows were $6.1 million as of December 31, 2014, $4.3 million as of December 31, 2013, and $1.6 million as of December 31, 2012.
Foreign Currency Translation. The consolidated balance sheets of Zebra’s foreign subsidiaries, not having a U.S. dollar functional currency, are translated into U.S. dollars using the year-end exchange rate, and statement of earnings items are translated using the average exchange rate for the year. The resulting translation gains or losses are recorded in stockholders’ equity as a cumulative translation adjustment, which is a component of accumulated other comprehensive income (loss).
Acquisition Costs. Zebra expenses acquisition costs as incurred. Zebra incurred transaction expenses of approximately $126.7 million, $4.7 million, and $3.1 million which have been recorded in acquisition and integration costs in the consolidated statements of operations for the years ended December 31, 2014, 2013 and 2012, respectively.
Concentration risks. We rely on third-parties to develop and/or manufacture many of our components and some of our finished products, and to design certain components and finished products, as well as provide us with software necessary for the operation of those products and we may increase our reliance on such third-parties in the future. We could have difficulties fulfilling our orders and our sales and profits could decline if: (i) we are not able to engage such third-parties with the capabilities or capacities required by our business, (ii) such third-parties lack sufficient quality control and fail to deliver quality components, products, services or software on time and at reasonable prices or deliver products, services or software that do not meet regulatory or industry standards or requirements, (iii) if there are significant changes in the financial or business condition of such third-parties, or (iv) if we have difficulties transitioning operations to such third-parties.
Acquisitions
We account for acquired businesses using the acquisition method of accounting. This method requires that the purchase price be allocated to the identifiable assets acquired and liabilities assumed at their estimated fair values. The excess of the purchase price over the identifiable assets acquired and liabilities assumed is recorded as goodwill.
The estimates used to determine the fair value of long-lived assets, such as intangible assets, can be complex and require significant judgments. We use information available to us to make fair value determinations and engage independent valuation specialists, when necessary, to assist in the fair value determination of significant acquired long-lived assets. While we use our best estimates and assumptions as a part of the purchase price allocation process, our estimates are inherently uncertain and subject to refinement. Critical estimates in valuing certain intangible assets include, but are not limited to, future expected cash flows from customer relationships, customer attrition rates and discount rates. Management’s estimates of fair value are based upon assumptions believed to be reasonable, but due to the inherent uncertainty during the measurement period, which may be up to one year from the acquisition date, we record adjustments to the assets acquired and liabilities assumed, with the corresponding offset to goodwill. The purchase price allocation of the Acquisition is based upon a preliminary valuation and the estimates and assumptions are subject to change within the measurement period as additional information is obtained.
Impairment of Long-Lived Assets and Long-Lived Assets to be Disposed of. Zebra accounts for long-lived assets in accordance with the provisions of ASC 360. The statement 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 to be held and used is measured by a comparison of the carrying amount of an asset to the sum of the undiscounted cash flows expected to result from the use and the eventual disposition of the asset. 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 the fair value of the assets. Assets to be disposed of are reported at the lower of the carrying amount or fair value less costs to sell.
Recently Issued Accounting Pronouncements.
In July 2013, the FASB issued Accounting Standard Update (“ASU”) 2013-11 “Presentation of an Unrecognized Tax Benefit When a Net Operating Loss Carryforward, a Similar Tax Loss, or a Tax Credit Carryforward Exists.” ASU 2013 -11 was issued to promote consistency among financial statement issuers and amends ASC 740, “Income Taxes,” to provide clarification of the financial statement presentation of an unrecognized tax benefit when a net operating loss carryforward, a similar tax loss, or a tax credit carryforward exists. According to ASU 2013-11, an unrecognized tax benefit or a portion of an unrecognized tax benefit should be presented in the financial statements as a reduction of a deferred tax asset for a net operating loss carryforward, a similar tax loss, or a tax credit carryforward, with certain exceptions. The revised guidance is effective for interim and annual periods beginning after December 15, 2013 with early adoption permitted. We adopted this guidance for our fiscal year beginning January 1, 2014. The adoption did not have a material impact on our financial statements.
In April 2014, the FASB issued ASU 2014-08 “Reporting Discontinued Operations and Disclosures of Disposals of Components of an Entity.” This update amends the criteria for reporting discontinued operations to, among other things, raise the threshold for disposals to qualify as discontinued operations. Under the revised standard, a discontinued operation must represent a strategic shift that has or will have a major effect on an entity’s operations and financial results. The revised standard will also allow an entity to have certain continuing cash flows or involvement with the component after the disposal. This update is effective for interim and annual reporting periods, beginning after December 15, 2014, with early adoption permitted. We will adopt this guidance for our fiscal year beginning January 1, 2015. We do not expect the adoption to have a material impact on our financial statements.
In May 2014, the FASB issued update 2014-09, ASC 606, Revenue from Contracts with Customers. This guidance is a comprehensive new revenue recognition model that requires a company to recognize revenue to depict the transfer of goods or services to a customer at an amount that reflects the consideration it expects to receive in exchange for those goods or services. This standard is effective for annual periods beginning after December 15, 2016 and interim periods within those annual periods. Management is still assessing the impact of adoption on its consolidated financial statements.
Note 3 Business Combinations
On October 27, 2014, Zebra completed its acquisition of the Enterprise Business with Motorola Solutions Inc. (“MSI”) for a purchase price of $3.45 billion. Zebra is a leading provider of solutions that deliver greater intelligence and insights into our customers’ enterprises and extended value chains. The Enterprise Business will generate significant value by driving further product innovation and deeper engagement with our customers and partners. It positions Zebra as a leading technology innovator, with the accelerating convergence of mobility, data analytics and cloud computing. This transaction will enable Zebra to further sharpen its strategic focus on providing mission-critical solutions for its customers. Certain assets and liabilities historically associated with the Enterprise Business have been retained by MSI, including MSI’s iDEN infrastructure business. The Acquisition was pursuant to the Master Acquisition Agreement dated April 14, 2014, as amended (the “Master Acquisition Agreement”) and was structured as a combination of stock and asset acquisitions and a merger of certain US entities, resulting in 100% ownership of Enterprise.
Zebra financed the Acquisition through a combination of cash on hand and borrowings of $3.25 billion (the “Indebtedness”), including the sale of 7 1/4% senior notes due 2022 with an aggregate principal amount of $1.05 billion (the “Notes”) and a new credit agreement with various lenders that provided a term loan of $2.2 billion (the “Term Loan”) due 2021. See Note 14 Long Term Debt footnote. Consideration paid was in the form of cash paid to MSI, plus additional adjustments including expected working capital which totaled $3.5 billion.
In connection with this acquisition, Zebra incurred related transaction expenses of approximately $126.7 million which have been recorded in acquisition and integration costs in the consolidated statements of earnings for the year ended December 31, 2014.
As part of the Acquisition of Enterprise, Zebra issued stock-based awards with value equivalent to the unvested portion of Enterprise employees’ awards as of the date of close. The new awards issued were in the form of both stock options and RSUs. Based on the contractual terms of MSI’s legacy equity awards, in the event that an employee’s employment is terminated as a result of a divestiture of a portion of the MSI business, unvested awards vest based on a pro rata basis up until the divestiture date, and the remaining awards are forfeited. The original MSI awards vested up to the date of Acquisition and the remainder were forfeited. The new grants of awards by Zebra require future service to be rendered to the combined company, beginning on the issuance date. As a result, the fair value of the replacement awards will be recognized as compensation cost in the post-combination financial statements and there was no adjustment to purchase price.
The allocations of the purchase price for the Acquisition have been prepared on a preliminary basis based on third-party valuations and changes to these allocations may occur as additional information becomes available. We are in the process of obtaining third-party valuations related to the fair value of our tangible and intangible assets, in addition to determining and recording the tax effects of the transaction to include all assets/liabilities since those are recorded at fair value. Acquired goodwill represents the premium paid over the fair value of the net tangible and intangible assets acquired. Zebra paid this premium for a number of reasons, including acquiring an experienced workforce and enhancing technology capabilities as further described above.
The following table summarizes preliminary the estimated fair values of the assets acquired and the liabilities assumed at the date of acquisition (in thousands):
(1) - Other current liabilities include accounts payable, customer reserves, and employee compensation and related benefits
(2) - Based on the preliminary purchase price allocations, accounts receivable estimated fair value is $424.4 million and gross contractual value of $445.2 million. The difference represents Zebra’s best estimate of the contractual cash flows that will not be collected.
On a preliminary basis pending the receipt of final valuations, the purchase price was allocated to identifiable tangible and intangible assets acquired and liabilities assumed based on their estimated fair values resulting in goodwill of $2.336 billion.
The intangible assets of $1.014 billion consist of the following (in millions):
As of the acquisition date, there were $19.9 million of indemnification assets recorded to reflect MSI’s obligation to reimburse Zebra for pre-acquisition tax liabilities, statutory bonus accruals, and sales incentive plan accruals assumed. The amounts were recorded in relation to the Master Acquisition Agreement.
Currently, the entire goodwill is assigned to the Enterprise segment. The final assignment of goodwill to reporting units has not been completed as of the date these financial statements are issued. The preliminary amount of tax deductible goodwill is $74.4 million.
The amount of Enterprise revenue and net income (including integration costs of $10.5 million) included in Zebra’s Consolidated Statements of Earnings for 2014 was $476.0 million and $1.3 million, respectively.
The following table presents certain unaudited pro forma information for illustrative purposes only, for 2014 and 2013 as if Enterprise had been acquired on January 1, 2013. The unaudited estimated pro forma information combines the historical results of Enterprise with Zebra’s consolidated historical results and includes certain adjustments reflecting the estimated impact of certain fair value adjustments for the respective periods. The pro forma information is not indicative of what would have occurred had the
acquisition taken place on January 1, 2013 and does not include the impact of possible business model changes. Additionally, Zebra expects to achieve further operating cost savings and other business synergies, including revenue growth, as a result of the acquisition that are not reflected in the pro forma amounts that follow. As a result, actual results will differ from the unaudited pro forma information presented.
The unaudited pro forma gives effect to actual operation results prior to the Acquisition and has been adjusted with respect to certain aspects of the Acquisition to reflect:
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the fair value adjustment to Enterprise’s inventory resulting in an increase in cost of sales in the 2013 pro forma year of $30.1 million;
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inclusion in the 2013 pro forma year of $48.1 million in transaction costs directly attributable to the Acquisition incurred by both Enterprise and Zebra through year end 2014;
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additional depreciation and amortization expenses that would have been recognized assuming fair value adjustments to the Enterprise’s assets acquired, including intangibles and property and equipment; to eliminate the historical interest expense recorded in the results of Enterprise; and to reflect the estimated interest expense, amortization of original issue discount (“OID”), amortization of debt issuance cost and other recurring financing costs associated with the Indebtedness.
Concurrent with the closing of the transaction, we entered into a Transition Services Agreement (“TSA”) with MSI, whereby MSI is to provide various services; primarily information technology from the acquisition date through October 2016. Our costs under the TSA commenced in November 2014, for approximately $6 million per month. These costs are being reduced as we discontinue certain services and transition these services into our own processes. Monthly costs, under the TSA can also increase if services are extended beyond October 2015. We incurred $9.6 million under the TSA from October 28th through December 31, 2014.
Hart Systems In the fourth quarter 2013, Zebra acquired all of the outstanding membership interests in Hart Systems, LLC (a New York limited liability company) for approximately $95.7 million with $60.9 million of the purchase price allocated to goodwill. As of September 27, 2014 the purchase price allocation was finalized and the amount of goodwill was reduced to $58.6 million for adjustments related to deferred taxes. The Consolidated Statement of Earnings includes the impact of this acquisition subsequent to the December 18, 2013 acquisition date. Pro forma results have not been presented because the effect of the acquisition is not material to the company’s financial results.
Note 4 Fair Value Measurements
Financial assets and liabilities are to be measured using inputs from three levels of the fair value hierarchy. Fair value is based on the price that would be received to sell an asset or paid to transfer a liability in an orderly transaction between market participants at the measurement date. Zebra uses a fair value hierarchy that prioritizes observable and unobservable inputs used to measure fair value into three broad levels:
Level 1:
Quoted prices (unadjusted) in active markets that are accessible at the measurement date for assets or liabilities. The fair value hierarchy gives the highest priority to Level 1 inputs. (i.e. U.S. Treasuries and money market funds)
Level 2:
Observable prices that are based on inputs not quoted on active markets, but corroborated by market data.
Level 3:
Unobservable inputs are used when little or no market data is available. The fair value hierarchy gives the lowest priority to Level 3 inputs.
In determining fair value, we utilize valuation techniques that maximize the use of observable inputs and minimize the use of unobservable inputs to the extent possible as well as consider counterparty credit risk in the assessment of fair value. Included in our investment portfolio at December 31, 2013, was an auction rate security which was classified as available for sale and reflected at fair value. Due to events in credit markets, however, the auction event for the instruments was failed. Therefore, the fair value of this security was estimated utilizing broker quotations, discounted cash flow analysis or other types of valuation adjustment methodologies at December 31, 2013. On October 1, 2011, Zebra deemed the decline in the market value of the auction rate security temporary and recorded the estimated decline of $412,000 in accumulated other comprehensive income. As of the third quarter 2014, Zebra decided to dispose of the security, deemed the investment to be permanently impaired and recorded a loss of $600,000. During the fourth quarter Zebra sold the security for $2.4 million and recorded an additional loss of $30,000.
Financial assets and liabilities carried at fair value as of December 31, 2014, are classified below (in thousands):
Financial assets and liabilities carried at fair value as of December 31, 2013, are classified below (in thousands):
1) Includes investments in notes issued by the Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corporation and the Federal Home Loan Bank.
2) The fair value of forward contracts are calculated as follows:
a. Fair value of a collar or put option contract associated with forecasted sales hedges are calculated using bid and ask rates for similar contracts.
b. Fair value of regular forward contracts associated with forecasted sales hedges are calculated using the period-end exchange rate adjusted for current forward points.
c. Fair value of balance sheet hedges are calculated at the period end exchange rate adjusted for current forward points unless the hedge has been traded but not settled at period end. If this is the case, the fair value is calculated at the rate at which the hedge is being settled.
3) The fair value of forward interest rate swap contracts is based upon a valuation model that uses relevant observable market inputs at quoted intervals, such as forward yield curves, and is adjusted for Zebra’s own credit risk and the interest rate swap terms.
The following table presents Zebra’s activity for assets measured at fair value on a recurring basis using significant unobservable inputs, Level 3 as defined in ASC 820 for the years ended December 31 (in thousands):
The following is a summary of investments at December 31, 2014 and December 31, 2013 (in thousands):
The maturity dates of investments as of December 31, 2014 are as follows (in thousands):
The carrying value for Zebra’s financial instruments classified as current assets (other than short-term investments) and current liabilities approximate fair value due to short term maturities.
Note 5 Investments and Marketable Securities
Investments in marketable debt securities are classified based on intent and ability to sell investment securities. Zebra’s available-for-sale securities are used to fund future acquisitions and other operating needs and therefore can be sold prior to maturity. Investments in marketable debt securities for which Zebra intends to sell within the next year are classified as current and those that we intend to hold in excess of one-year are classified as non-current.
Changes in the market value of available-for-sale securities are reflected in the accumulated other comprehensive income caption of stockholders’ equity in the balance sheet, until we dispose of the securities. Once these securities are disposed of, either by sale or maturity, the accumulated changes in market value are transferred to investment income. On the Consolidated Statement of Cash Flows, changes in the balances of available-for-sale securities are shown as purchases, sales and maturities of investments and marketable securities under investing activities.
Changes in market value of trading securities would be recorded in investment income as they occur, and the related cash flow statement includes changes in the balances of trading securities as operating cash flows.
Changes in unrealized gains and losses on available-for-sale securities are included in these financial statements as follows (in thousands):
The following table shows the number, aggregate market value and unrealized losses (in thousands) of investments with market values that were less than amortized cost as of December 31, 2014. These lower market values are primarily caused by fluctuations in interest rates and credit spreads. Market values are expected to recover to the amortized cost prior to maturity.
As of December 31, 2013, the number, aggregate market value and unrealized losses (in thousands) of investments with market values that were less than amortized cost were:
Using the specific identification method, the proceeds and realized gains on the sales of available-for-sale securities were as follows (in thousands):
Included in Zebra’s cash, restricted cash, investments and marketable securities are amounts held by foreign subsidiaries which are generally invested in U.S. dollar-denominated holdings. Zebra had $268.4 million as of December 31, 2014, and $251.7 million as of December 31, 2013 of foreign cash and investments.
Note 6 Accounts Receivable
The components of accounts receivable are as follows (in thousands):
Note 7 Inventories
The components of inventories are as follows (in thousands):
Note 8 Property and Equipment
Property and equipment, which includes assets under capital leases, is comprised of the following (in thousands):
Other items related to property and equipment are as follows (in thousands):
Note 9 Goodwill and Other Intangible Asset Data
In 2014, we acquired intangible assets in the amount of $1.014 billion for developed technology, customer relationships and trade names associated with the Acquisition. These intangible assets have an estimated useful life ranging from 1 to 15 years. See Note 3 Business Combinations for specific information regarding the Acquisition. In 2013, we acquired intangible assets in the amount of $37.2 million for developed technology, customer relationships and trade names associated with the acquisition of Hart Systems, LLC.
Intangible asset data are as follows (in thousands):
Changes in the net carrying value amount of goodwill were as follows (in thousands):
Gross goodwill was $180.7 million and accumulated impairments through 2011 were $101.0 million. In 2014, we acquired goodwill in the amount of $2.336 billion and because the purchase price allocation related to the Acquisition has not been finalized, the entire goodwill is assigned to the Enterprise segment. The assignment of goodwill to reporting units has not been completed as of date these financial statements are issued.
In the fourth quarter 2013, Zebra acquired all of the outstanding membership interests in Hart Systems, LLC (a New York limited liability company) with $60.9 million of the purchase price allocated to goodwill. As of September 27, 2014 the purchase price allocation was finalized and the amount of goodwill was reduced to $58.6 million for adjustments related to deferred taxes. Zebra performed a quantitative assessment of goodwill related to Hart Systems, LLC., as of the first day of the fourth quarter and determined there was no impairment of goodwill.
Note 10 Other Assets
Other assets consist of the following (in thousands):
As a result of the Acquisition, Zebra acquired $10.4 million of long-term investments which are accounted for under the cost method of accounting. These investments are primarily in venture capital backed technology companies and our ownership interest is in the range of 2.0% to 8.3%. These investments are in addition to the cost method investments in venture capital backed technology companies already owned by Zebra. Zebra also acquired as a result of the Acquisition $16.9 million of long-term trade receivables and $11.3 million of other long-term assets.
Note 11 Accrued Liabilities
The components of accrued liabilities are as follows (in thousands):
Note 12 Costs Associated with Exit and Restructuring
During the fourth quarter 2014, Zebra incurred restructuring costs resulting from organizational design changes. The costs below incurred for the year ended December 31, 2014 and costs expected to be incurred represent the costs related to these restructuring activities primarily related to the acquisition.
Costs incurred through December 31, 2013 and costs expected to be incurred relate to the following: restructuring of Zebra’s manufacturing operations; relocation of a significant portion of Zebra’s supply chain operations from the U.S. to China; consolidating activities domestically; restructuring of our sales operations; restructuring certain corporate functions; and amending the Location Solutions “2012 restructuring plan” by adding additional restructuring charges to be incurred. These restructuring charges were complete by the third quarter 2014.
As of December 31, 2014, we have incurred the following exit and restructuring costs related to the 2014 organization design changes, Location Solutions business management structure and manufacturing operations relocation and restructuring (in thousands):
As of December 31, 2013, we incurred the following exit and restructuring costs related to the Location Solutions business management structure and manufacturing operations relocation and restructuring (in thousands):
Liabilities and expenses related to exit activities were as follows (in thousands):
Liabilities related to exit activities are included in the accrued liabilities line item on the balance sheet. Exit costs are included in operating expenses under the line item exit and restructuring costs.
Note 13 Derivative Instruments
Portions of our operations are subject to fluctuations in foreign exchange rates. We manage these risks using derivative financial instruments. We conduct business on a multinational basis in a wide variety of foreign currencies. Our exposure to market risk for changes in foreign currency exchange rates arises from international financing activities between subsidiaries, foreign currency denominated monetary assets and liabilities and transactions arising from international trade. Our objective is to preserve the economic value of non-functional currency denominated cash flows. We attempt to hedge transaction exposures with natural offsets to the fullest extent possible and, once these opportunities have been exhausted, through foreign exchange forward and option contracts with third parties.
In addition, we have exposure to market risk for changes in interest rates resulting from the variable interest payments on the term facility that was used to fund the Acquisition. In June 2014, we entered into a commitment letter for a new variable rate credit facility to fund the announced acquisition and we also entered into two tranches of floating-to-fixed forward interest rate swaps (“Original Swaps”) to hedge the interest rate risk. In July 2014, we designated the Original Swaps as cash flow hedges of interest rate exposure associated with variability in future cash flows on our variable rate commitment. On October 27, 2014, the variable rate commitment was funded and we entered into a term loan of $2.2 billion (the “Term Loan”). Through October 31, 2014, the Original Swaps continued to hedge the variability in future cash flows on the Term Loan and the changes in fair value of the Original Swaps were recorded to accumulated other comprehensive income (loss). Ineffectiveness was insignificant.
On October 30, 2014, we discontinued hedge accounting on the Original Swaps due to syndication of the Original Swaps to a group of commercial banks, which resulted in the termination of the Original Swaps and entry into the syndicated forward starting interest rate swaps (“Syndicated Swaps”). The Syndicated Swaps were not designated as hedges and the changes in fair value is recognized in earnings in other income (expense).
On November 20, 2014 we entered into additional floating-to-fixed forward starting interest rate swaps (“New Swaps”) and designated these as cash flow hedges of interest rate exposure associated with variability in future cash flows on our Term Loan. To offset the impact to earnings of the changes in fair value of the Syndicated Swaps, we also entered into fixed-to-floating forward starting interest rate swaps (“Offsetting Swaps”), which were not designated in a hedging relationship and the changes in the fair value are recognized in earnings in other income (expense). Changes in fair value of the New Swaps that are designated as cash flow hedge and are effective at offsetting variability in the future cash flows on our Term Loan are recognized in other comprehensive income (loss). Ineffectiveness is immediately recognized in earnings.
The fair value of the forward starting interest rate swap contracts is estimated using market quoted forward interest rates for the London Interbank Offered Rate “LIBOR” at the balance sheet date and the application of such rates subject to the interest rate swap terms. In accordance with ASC 815 we recognize derivative instruments as either assets or liabilities on the balance sheet and measure them at fair value. Gains and losses resulting from changes in fair value are accounted for depending on the use of the derivative and whether it is designated as and qualifies for hedge accounting.
Credit and market risk
Financial instruments, including derivatives, expose us to counter-party credit risk for nonperformance and to market risk related to interest and currency exchange rates. We manage our exposure to counterparty credit risk through specific minimum credit standards, diversification of counterparties, and procedures to monitor concentrations of credit risk. Our counterparties in derivative transactions are commercial banks with significant experience using derivative instruments. We monitor the impact of market risk on the fair value and cash flows of our derivative and other financial instruments considering reasonably possible changes in interest rates and currency exchange rates and restrict the use of derivative financial instruments to hedging activities. We continually monitor the creditworthiness of our customers to which we grant credit terms in the normal course of business. The terms and conditions of our credit sales are designed to mitigate or eliminate concentrations of credit risk with any single customer.
Fair Value of Derivative Instruments
Zebra has determined that derivative instruments for hedges that have traded but have not settled are considered Level 1 in the fair value hierarchy, and hedges that have not traded are considered Level 2 in the fair value hierarchy. Derivative instruments are used to manage risk and are not used for trading or other speculative purposes, nor do we use leveraged derivative financial instruments. Our foreign currency exchange contracts are valued using broker quotations or market transactions, in either the listed or over-the-counter markets.
Hedging of Net Assets
We use forward contracts to manage exposure related to our pound and euro denominated net assets. Forward contracts typically mature within three months after execution of the contracts. We record gains and losses on these contracts and options in income each quarter along with the transaction gains and losses related to our net asset positions, which would ordinarily offset each other.
Summary financial information related to these activities included in our consolidated statement of earnings as other income (expense) is as follows (in thousands):
Hedging of Anticipated Sales
We can manage the exchange rate risk of anticipated euro-denominated sales using purchased options, forward contracts, and participating forwards. We designate these contracts as cash flow hedges which mature within twelve months after the execution of the contracts. Gains and losses on these contracts are deferred in other comprehensive income until the contracts are settled and the hedged sales are realized. The deferred gains or losses will then be reported as an increase or decrease to sales.
Summary financial information related to the cash flow hedges is as follows (in thousands):
Summary financial information related to the cash flow hedges of future revenues follows (in thousands, except percentages):
Forward Contracts
We record our forward contracts at fair value on our consolidated balance sheet as either long-term other assets or long-term other liabilities depending upon the fair value calculation as detailed in Note 4 of Zebra’s financial statements. The amounts recorded on our consolidated balance sheets are as follows (in thousands):
Forward Interest Rate Swaps
The forward interest rate swaps hedge the interest rate risk associated with the variable interest payments on our Term Loan that was used to fund the Acquisition.
These Original Swaps were used to economically hedge interest rate risk associated with the variable rate commitment until July 30, 2014, and as such, changes in their fair value were recognized in earnings in other income (expense). Effective July 30, 2014, the Original Swaps were designated as cash flow hedges of interest rate exposure associated with variability in future cash flows on the variable rate commitment. On October 27, 2014, the variable rate commitment was funded and we entered into a Term Loan that accrues interest at a variable rate of LIBOR (subject to a floor of 0.75% per annum) plus a margin of 4.0%. On October 30, 2014, we discontinued hedge accounting for the Original Swaps due to the syndication of the Original Swaps to a group of commercial banks, which resulted in their termination. The changes in fair value of the Original Swaps between July 30, 2014 and their termination were included in other comprehensive income (loss), and any ineffectiveness was insignificant. The amounts included in other comprehensive income (loss) will be amortized to earnings in other income (expense) as the interest payments under the Term Loan affect earnings.
We entered into New Swaps and Offsetting Swaps on November 20, 2014. We designated the New Swaps as cash flow hedges of interest rate exposure associated with variability in future cash flows on the Term Loan. Subsequent to the hedge designation, the effective portion of changes in their fair value is recognized in other comprehensive income (loss) and the ineffective portion is recognized in earnings. The effective portion recognized in other comprehensive income (loss) will be reclassified to earnings in other income (expense) as the interest payments under the Term Loan affect earnings.
The Syndicated Swaps and the Offsetting Swaps are not designated in a hedging relationship and the changes in fair values are recognized in earnings in other income (expense).
The location of the forward interest rate swaps designated in a hedge relationship is as follows (in thousands):
The interest rate swap designated in a hedging relationship is highly effective.
The forward interest rate swaps not designated in a hedging relationship are recorded in a net liability position of $14.5 million in the Consolidated Balance Sheets.
The gross and net amounts offset at December 31, 2014 were as follows (in thousands):
The volume of the forward interest rate swaps, New Swaps, designated in a hedge relationship is as follows (in thousands):
The New Swaps, each with a term of one year, are designated as cash flow hedges of interest rate exposure associated with variability in future cash flows on the Term Loan. The notional amount of the designated New Swaps effective in each year of the cash flow hedge relationships does not exceed the principal amount of the Term Loan which is hedged. The New Swaps have the following notional amounts per year (in thousands):
The gain (loss) recognized on the forward interest rate swaps not designated in a hedge relationship is as follows (in thousands):
The gain (loss) recognized in other comprehensive income (loss) on the forward interest rate swaps designated in a hedging relationship is as follows (in thousands):
No gain (loss) was reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) into earnings on the forward interest rate swaps designated in a hedging relationship during the year ended December 31, 2014.
At December 31, 2014, we expect that approximately $4.1 million in losses on the forward interest rate swaps designated in a hedging relationship will be reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive loss into earnings during the next 12 months.
Note 14 Long-Term Debt
The following table summarizes the carrying value of our debt as of December 31, 2014 (in thousands):
Zebra did not have any long-term debt outstanding at December 31, 2013.
The following table summarizes the contractual maturities of our debt over the next five years, at December 31, 2014 (in thousands):
The estimated fair value of our long-term debt approximated $3.3 billion at December 31, 2014. This fair value amount represents the estimated value at which our lenders could trade our debt within the financial markets and does not represent the settlement value of these long-term debt liabilities to us. The fair value of the long-term debt will continue to vary each period based on fluctuations in market interest rates, as well as changes to our credit ratings. This methodology resulted in a Level 2 classification in the fair value hierarchy.
Private Offering
On October 15, 2014, Zebra completed a private offering of $1.05 billion aggregate principal of 7.25% Senior Notes due October 15, 2022 (the “Senior Notes”). The Senior Notes yielded an effective interest rate of 7.61% at issuance. The Senior Notes are governed by the terms of an indenture, dated as of October 15, 2014, by and among Zebra and U.S. Bank National Association, as Trustee. Interest on the Senior Notes is payable in cash on April 15 and October 15 of each year, commencing on April 15, 2015.
The Indenture covering the Senior Notes contains certain covenants limiting among other things, the ability of Zebra and its restricted subsidiaries, with certain exceptions as described in the indenture, to; (i) incur indebtedness or issue certain preferred stock; (ii) incur liens; (iii) pay dividends or make distributions in respect of capital stock; (iv) purchase or redeem capital stock; (v) make investments or certain other restricted payments; (vi) sell assets; (vii) issue or sell stock of restricted subsidiaries; (viii) enter into transactions with stockholders or affiliates; or (ix) effect a consolidation or merger.
The Senior Notes are guaranteed, jointly and severally, on a senior and unsecured basis by its direct and indirect wholly-owned existing and future domestic restricted subsidiaries, subject to certain exceptions. The Senior Notes rank equal in right of payment to all of our existing and future unsecured, unsubordinated obligations. The Senior Notes are effectively subordinated to the secured obligations of the Company and subsidiaries to the extent of the value of the assets securing such obligations.
New Credit Facilities
On October 27, 2014, Zebra entered into a new credit agreement which provides for a term loan of $2.2 billion (“Term Loan”) and a revolving credit facility of $250.0 million (“Revolving Credit Facility”). Borrowings under the Term Loan bear interest at a variable rate plus an applicable margin, subject to an all-in floor of 4.75%. As of December 31 2014, the Term Loan interest rate was 4.75%. Interest payments are payable quarterly, starting January 27, 2015. The October 2012 revolving credit agreement for $250.0 million with a syndicate of banks was terminated upon execution of this credit agreement. Zebra has entered into interest rate swaps to manage interest rate risk on its long-term debt. See Note 13 Derivative Instruments
The credit agreement requires Zebra to prepay the Term Loan and Revolving Credit Facility, under certain circumstances or transactions defined in the credit agreement. Also, Zebra may voluntarily prepay outstanding loans under the Term Loan at any time; however, we are required to make scheduled quarterly principal payments of $5.5 million beginning June 30, 2015, with the balance of $2.1 billion due on October 27, 2021.
The Revolving Credit Facility is available for working capital and other general corporate purposes including letters of credit. The amount (including letters of credit) shall not exceed $250.0 million. As of December 31, 2014, Zebra had established letters of credit amounting to $2.9 million, which reduced funds available for other borrowings under the agreement to $247.1 million. The Revolving Credit Facility will mature and the commitments thereunder will terminate on October 27, 2019.
Borrowings under the Revolving Credit Facility bear interest at a variable rate plus an applicable margin. The applicable margin for borrowings under the Revolving Credit Facility ranges from 2.25% to 2.75% depending on Zebra’s consolidated total secured net leverage ratio which is evaluated on a quarterly basis. As of December 31 2014, the Revolving Credit Facility interest rate was 3.25%. Interest payments are payable quarterly. As of December 31 2014, Zebra did not have any borrowings against the Revolving Credit Facility.
In addition to paying interest on outstanding principal amounts under the Revolving Credit Facility, the Company is required to pay a commitment fee to the lenders with respect to the unutilized commitments. The commitment fee rate is currently 0.375% per year. The commitment fee rate will be adjusted to 0.250%, 0.375% or 0.500% depending on Zebra’s consolidated total secured net leverage ratio.
The Revolving Credit Facility contains certain covenants limiting among other things, the ability of Zebra and its restricted subsidiaries, with certain exceptions as described in the agreement, to; (i) incur indebtedness, make guarantees or issue certain equity securities; (ii) pay dividends on its capital stock or redeem, repurchase or retire its capital stock; (iii) make certain investments, loans and acquisitions; (iv) sell certain assets or issue capital stock of restricted subsidiaries; (v) create liens or engage in sale-leaseback transactions; (vi) merge, consolidate or transfer or dispose of substantially all of their assets; (vii) engage in certain transactions with affiliates; (viii) alter the business it conducts; (ix) amend, prepay, redeem or purchase subordinated debt and (x) enter into agreements limiting subsidiary dividends and distributions. The Revolving Credit Facility also requires Zebra to comply with a financial covenant consisting of a quarterly maximum consolidated total secured net leverage ratio test that will be tested only when at the end of any fiscal quarter, 20% of the commitments under the Revolving Credit Facility have been drawn and remain outstanding.
The Term Loan and obligations under the Revolving Credit Facility are collateralized by a security interest in substantially all of Zebra’s assets as defined in the security agreement and guaranteed by its direct and indirect wholly-owned existing and future domestic restricted subsidiaries, subject to certain exceptions.
Debt issue costs of $24.0 million were recorded as of December 31, 2014; $21.8 million relates to the Senior Notes and $2.2 million relates to the Term Loan, these costs are amortized over 8 and 7 years respectively.
Zebra entered into a bridge financing facility prior to the acquisition, to ensure financing would be in place to consummate the transaction. Upon the closing of the Acquisition at which time Zebra had secured other long-term financing Zebra incurred $18.8 million of costs related to the bridge financing facility, which are included in interest expense for the year ended December 31, 2014.
Note 15 Commitments and Contingencies
Leases. Minimum future obligations under all non-cancelable operating leases as of December 31, 2014 are as follows (in thousands):
Rent expense for operating leases charged to operations was as follows (in thousands):
The operating lease information includes a variety of properties around the world. These properties are used as manufacturing facilities, distribution centers and sales offices. Lease terms range from one year to 20 years with breaking periods specified in the lease agreements.
Legal Proceedings. We are subject to a variety of investigations, claims, suits and other legal proceedings that arise from time to time in the ordinary course of business, including but not limited to, intellectual property, employment, tort and breach of contract matters. We currently believe that the outcomes of such proceedings, individually and in the aggregate, will not have a material adverse impact on our business, cash flows, financial position, or results of operations. Any legal proceedings are subject to inherent uncertainties, and management’s view of these matters and their potential effects may change in the future.
Note 16 Stockholders’ Equity
Share count and par value data related to stockholders’ equity are as follows:
During the year ended December 31, 2013, Zebra purchased 1,356,861 shares of common stock for $63.1 million under Board authorized share repurchase plan and purchased 1,473,863 shares of common stock for $54.4 million in 2012. Zebra did not purchase shares of Zebra Class A Common Stock during the year ended December 31, 2014.
A roll forward of Class A common shares outstanding is as follows:
Note 17 Earnings (Loss) Per Share
For the years ended December 31, 2014, 2013, and 2012, earnings (loss) per share were computed as follows (in thousands, except per-share amounts):
The potentially dilutive securities that were excluded from the earnings (loss) per share calculation consist of stock options and stock appreciation rights (SARs) with an exercise price greater than the average market price of the Class A Common Stock. These options were as follows:
Note 18 Equity-Based Compensation
As of December 31, 2014, Zebra had a general equity-based compensation plan and an employee stock purchase plan under which shares of our common stock were available for future grants and sales, and which are described below.
On May 19, 2011, Zebra’s stockholders approved the 2011 Zebra Technologies Corporation Long Term Incentive Plan (the 2011 Plan), which included authorization for issuance of awards of 5,500,000 shares under the 2011 Plan. The 2011 Plan became effective immediately and superseded the 2006 Incentive Compensation Plan (the 2006 Plan), the 1997 Stock Option Plan (the 1997 Plan) and the 2002 Non-Employee Director Stock Option Plan (the 2002 Director Plan), except that the prior plans will remain in effect with respect to awards granted under the prior plans until such awards have been exercised, forfeited, cancelled, expired or otherwise terminated in accordance with the terms of such grants. The types of awards available under the 2011 Plan are incentive stock options, nonqualified stock options, stock appreciation rights (SARs), restricted stock, performance shares and units and performance-based cash bonuses. Employees, directors and consultants of Zebra and its subsidiaries are eligible to participate in the 2011 Plan. The Compensation Committee of the Board of Directors administers the 2011 Plan. As of December 31, 2014, 3,307,608 shares were available for grant under the 2011 Plan, and SARs in respect of 818,949 shares were outstanding under the 2011 Plan.
The SARs granted under the 2011 Plan have an exercise or grant price equal to the closing market price of Zebra’s stock on the date of grant. SAR’s general vest over a four or five-year period. These awards expire on the earlier of (a) ten years following the grant date, (b) immediately if the employee is terminated for cause, (c) ninety days after termination of employment if the employee is terminated involuntarily other than for cause, (d) thirty days after termination of employment if the employee voluntarily terminates his or her employment, or (e) one year after termination of employment if the employee’s employment terminates due to death, disability, or retirement.
Zebra’s time-vested restricted stock grants consist of restricted stock awards (RSAs) and performance vested restricted stock awards (PSAs). The following table shows the number of RSAs and PSAs granted in 2014 and the generally vesting schedule of the awards that were granted under the 2011 Plan.
These RSAs and PSAs will vest at each vesting date if the employee remains employed by Zebra throughout the applicable time period, but will vest in whole or in part (as set forth in each Restricted Stock Agreement) before the end of the vesting period in the event of death, disability, resignation for good reason, a change in control (as defined in the 2011 Plan), or termination by Zebra other than for Cause, as defined in each Restricted Stock Agreement. The restricted stock is forfeited in certain situations specified in the Restricted Stock Agreement, including, if the employee’s employment is terminated by Zebra for Cause or if the employee resigns for other than good reason. Zebra’s restricted stock awards are expensed over the vesting period of the related award, which is typically three years. Some awards, including those granted annually to non-employee directors as an equity retainer fee, were vested upon grant. Compensation cost is calculated as the market date fair value on grant date multiplied by the number of shares granted.
The 2006 Plan was superseded by the 2011 Plan. As of December 31, 2014, options and SARs for 774,661 shares were outstanding and exercisable under the 2006 Plan. These options and SARs expire on the earlier of (a) ten years following the grant date, or (b) immediately if the employee is terminated for cause, (c) ninety days after termination of employment if the employee is terminated involuntarily other than for cause, (d) thirty days after termination of employment if the employee voluntarily terminates his or her employment, or (e) one year after termination of employment if the employee’s employment terminates due to death, disability, or retirement.
The 1997 Plan was superseded by the 2006 Plan. As of December 31, 2014, options for 85,197 shares were outstanding and exercisable under the 1997 Plan. These options terms are the same as noted in the paragraph above in the 2006 Plan.
The 2002 Director Plan was superseded by the 2006 Plan. As of December 31, 2014, options for 80,000 shares were outstanding and exercisable under the 2002 Director Plan. Unless otherwise provided in an option agreement, options granted under the 2002 Director Plan become exercisable in five equal increments beginning on the date of the grant and continuing on each of the four anniversaries thereafter. All such options expire on the earlier of (a) ten years following the grant date, (b) the first anniversary of the termination date of the non-employee director’s directorship for any reason other than the termination of the non-employee director’s directorship by Zebra’s stockholders for cause, or resignation for cause, in each case as defined in the option agreement.
In connection with Zebra’s acquisition of WhereNet, Zebra assumed existing unvested stock options exercisable for shares of WhereNet’s common stock and converted them into options exercisable for Zebra common stock. These converted options have exercise prices and vesting dates based on their previous terms and all of these options that are outstanding are fully vested. As of December 31, 2014, outstanding WhereNet options were exercisable into 1,604 shares of Zebra Class A Common Stock.
On May 19, 2011 Zebra’s stockholders adopted the 2011 Employee Stock Purchase Plan (which replaced the 2001 Stock Purchase plan) under which employees who work a minimum of 20 hours per week may elect to withhold up to 10% of their cash compensation through regular payroll deductions to purchase shares of Class A Common Stock from Zebra over a period not to exceed 12 months at a purchase price per share which is equal to the lesser of: (1) 95% of the fair market value of the shares as of the date of the grant, or (2) 95% of the fair market value of the shares as of the date of purchase. Stock purchase plan expense for the year ended December 31, 2014 was $326,000. Stock purchase plan expense for the year ended December 31, 2013 was $224,000 and for the year ended December 31, 2012 was $242,000.
For purposes of calculating the compensation cost, the fair value is estimated on the date of grant using a binomial model. Volatility is based on an average of the implied volatility in the open market and the annualized volatility of Zebra’s stock prices over our entire stock history. Stock option grants in the table below include stock appreciation rights (SAR) that will be settled in Zebra stock. The following table shows the weighted-average assumptions used for grants of SARs as well as the fair value of the grants based on those assumptions:
The forfeiture rate is based on the historical annualized forfeiture rate, which is consistent with prior year rates. This rate includes only pre-vesting forfeitures. Volatility is based on an average of the implied volatility in the open market and the annualized volatility of Zebra’s stock prices over our entire stock history. The risk free interest rate used is the implied yield currently available from the U.S. Treasury zero-coupon yield curve over the contractual term of the options. The expected weighted-average life is based on historical exercise behavior, which combines the average life of the options that have already been exercised or cancelled with the exercise life of all unexercised options. The exercise life of unexercised options assumes that the option will be exercised at the midpoint of the vesting date and the full contractual term. These assumptions are consistent with the assumptions used in prior years.
Stock option activity for the years ended December 31, 2014, 2013, and 2012, was as follows:
There were no stock options granted in 2014, 2013 or 2012.
The following table summarizes information about stock options outstanding at December 31, 2014:
SAR activity for the years ended December 31, 2014, 2013, and 2012, was as follows:
The terms of the SARs are established under the applicable Plan and the applicable SAR agreement. Once vested, a SAR entitles the holder to receive a payment equal to the difference between the per-share grant price of the SAR and the fair market value of a share of Zebra stock on the date the SAR is exercised, multiplied by the number of shares covered by the SAR. Exercised SARs will be settled in whole shares of Zebra stock, and any fraction of a share will be settled in cash. Vesting of SARs granted in 2014 is as follows: 195,560 SARs vest annually in four equal amounts on each of the first four anniversaries of the grant date. Vesting of SARs granted in 2013 is as follows: 326,811 SARs vest annually in four equal amounts on each of the first four anniversaries of the grant date. All SARs expire 10 years after the grant date.
The following table summarizes information about SARs outstanding at December 31, 2014:
Restricted stock award activity, granted under the 2011 and 2006 Plans, for the years ended December 31, 2014, 2013 and 2012 was as follows:
Restricted stock units of 42,071 were awarded for the year ended December 31, 2014. Restricted units of 4 were released and 103 units were forfeited during the same period. Performance stock units of 10,345 were awarded for the year ended December 31, 2014. There were no performance stock units released or forfeited in 2014.
Performance share award activity, granted under the 2011 and 2006 Plans, for the years ended December 31, 2014, 2013 and 2012 was as follows:
As of December 31, 2014, there was $53.5 million of unearned compensation cost related to awards granted under Zebra’s equity-based compensation plans, which is expected to be recognized over a weighted-average period of 2.0 years.
The fair value of the purchase rights issued to Zebra employees under the stock purchase plan is estimated using the following weighted-average assumptions for purchase rights granted. Expected lives of three months to one year have been used along with these assumptions.
Note 19 Income Taxes
The geographical sources of income before income taxes were as follows (in thousands):
The provision (benefit) for income taxes consists of the following (in thousands):
The provision for income taxes differs from the amount computed by applying the U.S. statutory Federal income tax rate of 35% to income before income taxes. A reconciliation of the provision for income taxes is below (in thousands):
The primary reason for the difference between the US statutory rate of 35% and Zebra’s effective tax rate is due to a combination of higher profits in lower rate international jurisdictions, the Singapore tax holiday, the research & experimental credit, which is offset by changes in the valuation allowance, uncertain tax positions, the non-deductible portion of the acquisition expenses and other items. In conjunction with the opening of Zebra’s Singapore distribution center and the establishment of Singapore as a regional headquarter location in 2009, Zebra negotiated a 10% income tax rate with the Singapore Economic Development Board. The negotiated rate is a reduction from the then current statutory rate of 17%. This agreement reduced Zebra’s consolidated income taxes by approximately $2.0 million, $1.9 million and $2.0 million in 2014, 2013 and 2012, respectively. Due to Zebra’s increased business operations in Malaysia, it is unclear whether Zebra’s Singapore headquarters will meet the additional requirements necessary to qualify for the 10% rate in 2015 and 2016.
Tax effects of temporary differences that give rise to deferred tax assets and liabilities are as follows (in thousands):
Zebra earns a significant amount of our operating income outside the U.S. With the exception of the acquired unrepatriated earnings related to the Enterprise acquisition, it is the company’s policy to consider foreign earnings and profits to be permanently reinvested in foreign jurisdictions. As part of Enterprise, the acquired earnings & profits and previously taxed income (“PTI”), including
excess cash balances pursuant to the Master Acquisition Agreement (“MAA”) of the newly acquired MSI foreign subsidiaries will not be permanently reinvested. As a result, Zebra has established a deferred tax liability in purchase accounting in the amount of $2.7 million. Zebra has not recognized deferred tax liabilities for unremitted earnings of approximately $466.4 million and $354.2 million as of December 31, 2014 and 2013, respectively. It is not practicable to determine the amount of unrecognized deferred tax liabilities on these indefinitely reinvested earnings.
Included in deferred tax assets are amounts related to federal and state net operating losses (“NOL”) that resulted from Zebra’s acquisition of WhereNet Corp and Enterprise. As of December 31, 2014, Zebra has approximately $156.3 million of net operating loss carry-forwards, of which $8.8 million is limited by Section 382, available to offset future taxable income that begin to expire in 2022. As of December 31, 2014, Zebra had approximately $26.8 million of state net operating loss carry-forwards that begin to expire in 2017. Zebra has approximately $30.1 million of research & experimental credits that begin to expire in 2025 and approximately $1.7 million of foreign tax credits that begin to expire in 2017. Lastly, Zebra has approximately $3.9 million of alternative minimum tax credits.
A reconciliation of the beginning and ending amount of unrecognized tax benefits is as follows (in thousands):
The total impact of unrecognized tax benefits, if recognized, that would impact the effective tax rate is $0.7 million. Zebra believes it is reasonably possible that the recorded amount of gross unrecognized tax benefit may decrease by $2.8 million within the next twelve months as a result of tax planning.
The Singapore tax authorities have issued an assessment resulting in additional withholding tax and penalties relating to royalty payments made from 2009 to 2013. These royalty payments relate to commercial rights not covered by the current royalty exemption in place resulting in a withholding tax of approximately $3.2 million and penalties of approximately $0.6 million. The withholding tax will be offset as a foreign tax credit in the U.S. resulting in no impact to the effective tax rate.
Zebra’s continuing practice is to recognize interest and/or penalties related to income tax matters as part of income tax expense. Zebra has accrued $3.1 million and $0 of interest and penalties in the consolidated balance sheet as of December 31, 2014 and 2013, respectively.
Zebra is currently undergoing an audit of the 2013 US federal income tax returns. The tax years 2010 through 2014 remain open to examination by multiple state taxing jurisdictions. Below is a summary of open tax years by major jurisdiction outside of the United States.
China
2002 - 2014
France
2010 - 2014
Germany
2008 - 2014
India
1997 - 2014
Japan
2011 - 2014
United Kingdom
2008 - 2014
Note 20 Other Comprehensive Income (Loss)
Stockholders’ equity contains certain items classified as other comprehensive income (loss), including:
•
Unrealized gains (losses) on anticipated sales hedging transactions relate to derivative instruments used to hedge the currency exchange rates for forecasted euro sales and interest rates on variable rate commitments. These hedges are designated as cash flow hedges, and we have deferred income statement recognition of gains and losses until the hedged transaction occurs. See Note 13 for more details.
•
Unrealized gains (losses) on forward interest rate swap hedging transactions refers to the hedging of the interest rate risk associated with the variable rate commitment entered into for the Acquisition. See Note 13 for more details.
•
Unrealized gains (losses) on investments are deferred from income statement recognition until the gains or losses are realized.
•
Foreign currency translation adjustment relates to our non-U.S. subsidiary companies that have designated a functional currency other than the U.S. dollar. We are required to translate the subsidiary functional currency financial statements to dollars using a combination of historical, period-end, and average foreign exchange rates. This combination of rates creates the foreign currency translation adjustment component of other comprehensive income.
The components of other comprehensive income (loss) included in the Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income (Loss) are as follows (in thousands):
(1) Transfer of unrealized gains and (losses) from AOCI to income on anticipated sales hedging transactions are included in net sales of tangible products.
(2) Transfer from AOCI to income and (losses) on forward interest rate swap hedging transactions are reported in forward swaps gain (loss).
(3) Transfer of unrealized gains and (losses) from AOCI to income on investments are included in investment income.
(4) Transfer of foreign currency translation gains and (losses) from AOCI to income, are included in foreign exchange.
Note 21 Segment Information and Geographic Data
On October 27, 2014, Zebra acquired a portion of the Enterprise business of Motorola Solutions, Inc. for $3.45 billion in an all-cash transaction. As a result of this acquisition, Zebra is in a period of transition as it relates to organizational alignment and management reporting which could impact segment reporting in future periods. However, at December 31, 2014, Zebra has two reportable segments: Legacy Zebra (“Z”) and Enterprise (“E”). Segment assets are not reviewed by Zebra’s chief operating decision maker and therefore are not disclosed below. (in thousands):
(1) - amount included in Corporate, eliminations consist of purchase accounting adjustments related to the Acquisition.
(2) - amounts included in Corporate, eliminations consist of purchase accounting adjustments not reported in segments: amortization expense, acquisition integration expense and exit and restructuring costs; for the year ended December 31, 2012, also includes a $9.1 million impairment charge.
Information regarding Zebra’s operations by geographic area is contained in the following table. These amounts are reported in the geographic area of the destination of the final sale. We manage our business based on these regions rather than by individual countries. (in thousands):
Net sales by country are determined by the country from where the products are invoiced when they leave Zebra’s warehouse. Generally, our United States sales company serves North America and Latin America while our United Kingdom sales company serves the Europe, Middle East and Africa markets and our Singapore sales company serves all of the Asia Pacific market.
Net sales by major product category are as follows (in thousands):
Note 22 Major Customers
Our net sales to significant customers as a percentage of total net sales were as follows:
All three of the above customers are distributors and not end users. No other customer accounted for 10% or more of total net sales during these years. No customers accounted for more than 10% of outstanding accounts receivable at December 31, 2014 and 2013, respectively.
Note 23 Quarterly Results of Operations (unaudited)
(Amounts in thousands, except per share data)
ZEBRA TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES
Schedule II
Valuation and Qualifying Accounts
(Amounts in thousands)
See accompanying report of independent registered public accounting firm.
Index to Exhibits