ITEM 1.
BUSINESS
General Cable Corporation ("the Company") is a global leader in the development, design, manufacture, marketing and distribution of copper, aluminum and fiber optic wire and cable products for use in the energy, industrial, construction, specialty and communications markets. The Company additionally engages in the design, integration, and installation on a turn-key basis for products such as high and extra-high voltage terrestrial and submarine systems. The Company's guiding principles are as follows:
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Focusing on implementing the Company's new strategy to deliver increased operating income margins and returns from the Company's core strategic operations in North America, Latin America and Europe by leveraging economies of scale and capitalizing on the Company's leading positions across key markets where the Company has built long-standing customer relationships, efficient supply chains and a wide range of product offerings;
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Simplifying the geographic portfolio and reducing operational complexity by continuing on a strategy to exit its operations in Africa and Asia Pacific;
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Aligning organization structure to capitalize on the Company's leading market positions to benefit from key end markets, such as electric utility and communications;
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Strengthening and expanding customer relationships by providing high quality product lines and customer service;
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Continuing to increase cash flow through operational excellence by leveraging the Company's operating systems, logistical expertise, Lean Six Sigma manufacturing tools and techniques to improve the Company's cost position to increase margins as well as delivering improved returns through restructuring initiatives;
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Managing the Company's product portfolio by pursuing market share in faster growing and value added product lines;
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Enhancing organization capabilities by leveraging the Company's diversity and intellectual property through the sharing of best practices across the organization; and
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Cultivating a high performance culture with focus on operational execution, compliance, sustainability, safety, and innovation.
By operating under these guiding principles, the Company has been able to build a strong market position in the areas in which it competes. The Company considers its key performance indicators to be volume, as measured in metal pounds sold, operating income, net income, adjusted operating income, earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization ("EBITDA"), earnings per share, operating cash flows, the cash conversion cycle, returns on capital employed and invested capital and working capital efficiency.
The Company is a Delaware corporation and was incorporated in 1994. The Company and its predecessors have served various wire and cable markets for over 150 years. The Company's immediate predecessor was a unit of American Premier Underwriters, Inc. (“American Premier”), previously known as The Penn Central Corporation. American Premier acquired the Company's existing wire and cable business in 1981. In 1994, a subsidiary of Wassall PLC acquired the predecessor by purchase of General Cable's outstanding subordinated promissory note, the General Cable common stock held by American Premier and a tender offer for the publicly-held General Cable common stock. In 1997, Wassall consummated public offerings for the sale of all of its interest in General Cable's common stock. The Company has operated as an independent public company since completion of the offerings and its common stock is traded on the New York Stock Exchange under the ticker symbol, BGC.
For purposes of this report, unless the context otherwise requires, all references herein to the “Company,” “General Cable,” “we,” “us,” and “our” shall refer to General Cable Corporation and its subsidiaries.
Business Segments
The Company's operating structure is the basis for its financial reporting. The Company's four geographic operating and reportable segments are North America, Europe, Latin America, and Africa/Asia Pacific. Additional financial information regarding the segments appears in Note 18 - Segment Information.
North America
The North America segment engages in the development, design, manufacture, marketing and distribution of copper, aluminum and fiber optic wire and cable products for the energy, industrial, construction, specialty and communications markets principally for use in the electric utility, electrical infrastructure, construction, and communications industries, as well as manufacture and distribution of rod mill wire and cable products primarily in the United States and Canada. The North America segment contributed approximately 54%, 47% and 48% of the Company’s consolidated revenues for 2015, 2014 and 2013, respectively.
The North America segment primarily consists of 22 manufacturing facilities across the region. In 2015, the Company has continued to execute its restructuring programs in North America, completing restructuring activities at one manufacturing facility in the automotive business and announcing the permanent closure of two manufacturing facilities.
Additionally, the North America segment has regional centers of excellence and state-of-the-art laboratories for technical expertise and innovation in material technology and compounding, electrical testing, data cables, and specialty and military cables.
Europe
The Europe segment engages in the development, design, manufacture, marketing and distribution of copper, aluminum and fiber optic wire and cable products for the energy, industrial, construction, specialty and communications markets principally for use in the electric utility, electrical infrastructure, construction, and communications industries with operations in France, Germany, Norway, Portugal and Spain, and sells into markets throughout Europe, the Mediterranean and Africa. Additionally, the Europe segment engages in the design, integration, and installation on a turn-key basis of products such as high and extra-high voltage terrestrial and submarine systems around the world. The Europe segment contributed approximately 23%, 25% and 25% of the Company’s consolidated revenues for 2015, 2014, and 2013, respectively.
The Europe segment primarily consists of 6 manufacturing facilities across the region. In 2015, the Company has continued to execute its restructuring programs in Europe, completing the sale of one manufacturing facility in Spain and reducing capacity in two other manufacturing facilities in Spain. Additionally, the Europe segment has regional centers of excellence and state-of-the-art laboratories for high and extra-high voltage power cables and systems, submarine power and communications systems, and halogen-free flame retardant technology and compounding.
Latin America
The Latin America segment engages in the development, design, manufacture, marketing and distribution of copper and aluminum wire and cable products for use in the energy, industrial, construction, specialty and communications markets as well as manufacture and distribution of rod mill wire and cable products. The Latin America manufacturing operations are located in Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Honduras and Mexico. The Latin America segment contributed approximately 17%, 21% and 21% of the Company’s consolidated revenues in 2015, 2014 and 2013, respectively.
The Latin America segment serves developing countries and customers in sectors that are expected to offer better growth opportunity over time than the developed world. The rod mill wire and cable operations provide a competitive advantage in these markets.
The Latin America segment primarily consists of 7 manufacturing facilities across the region. In 2015, the Company has continued to execute its restructuring programs in Latin America announcing the consolidation of the Company's Brazil manufacturing facilities and the permanent closure of one manufacturing facility in Central America. Additionally, in 2015, the Company deconsolidated its Venezuelan subsidiary and began accounting for its investment in the Venezuelan subsidiary using the cost method of accounting.
Additionally, the Latin America segment has regional centers of excellence and state-of-the-art laboratories for rod fabrication and drawing.
Africa/Asia Pacific
The Africa/Asia Pacific segment engages in the development, design, manufacture, marketing and distribution of copper, aluminum and fiber optic wire and cable products for use in the energy, industrial, construction, specialty and communications markets as well as manufacture and distribution of rod mill wire and cable products. The Africa/Asia Pacific operations and equity investments are located in Algeria, Angola, Australia, China, Egypt, New Zealand, Pakistan, South Africa, and Zambia. The Africa/Asia Pacific segment contributed approximately 6%, 7% and 6% of the Company’s consolidated revenues in 2015, 2014 and 2013, respectively.
The Africa/Asia Pacific segment primarily consists of 7 manufacturing facilities across the region. In October 2014, the Company announced the intent to divest all of its operations in Asia Pacific and Africa in order to simplify its geographic portfolio and reduce operational complexity. As part of this plan, the Company completed the sale of its Phelps Dodge International Thailand ("Thailand") operations in the third quarter of 2015, the sale of its 51% interest in Dominion Wire and Cables ("Fiji") and its 20% interest in Keystone Electric Wire and Cable ("Keystone") in the first quarter of 2015, and the sale of its 60% interest in Phelps Dodge International Philippines, Inc. ("PDP") and Phelps Dodge Philippines Energy Products Corporation (“PDEP”) in the fourth quarter of 2014.
As of December 31, 2015, the Company determined the disposals of the Thailand, Fiji, Keystone, PDP and PDEP businesses combined with the businesses held for sale (the remaining Asia Pacific Operations) result in the Company’s disposal of a major geographical area, Asia Pacific. This disposal is considered a strategic shift that has and will have a major effect on the Company's operations and financial results; therefore, the results of the Asia Pacific Operations have been reclassified as discontinued operations for all periods presented.
As a result of the Company’s strategic shift out of the Asia Pacific Operations, the Africa/Asia Pacific segment is now comprised primarily of the Company’s Africa businesses. The financial results of the Company's Africa businesses are presented as continuing operations in the Consolidated Financial Statements for all periods presented.
The Company plans to continue operations until each remaining unit is divested. See Note 3 - Assets and Liabilities Held for Sale and Discontinued Operations for additional details.
Products
The Company serves its customers through a network of manufacturing facilities with worldwide sales representation and distribution. The Company believes it has one of the most diversified product lines in the industry to meet customers' needs. The various wire and cable product lines are sold and manufactured by all geographic segments. Revenue by product line and geographic region is included in Note 18 - Segment Information. The majority of products sold by the Company's four segments include the following:
Product Category
Principal Products
Principal Markets
Principal End-Users
Electric Utility
- low- and medium-voltage distribution cables
- high- and extra-high-voltage underground transmission cables and installation
- bare overhead conductors
- submarine transmission and distribution cables
- electric utilities
- investor-owned utility companies
- government-owned and state and local public power companies
- contractors
Electrical Infrastructure
- rubber- and plastic-jacketed wire and cables
- low- and medium-voltage industrial power cables
- ignition wire sets
- cable wire harnesses
- rail and mass transit cables
- shipboard cables
- oil and gas cables
- armored mining cables
- alternative energy power generation cables
- power generating stations; solar, nuclear, wind applications
- industrial applications; marine, mining, oil and gas, transit, machine builders and entertainment
- military
- infrastructure
- automotive aftermarket
- industrial power and control
- medical
- industrial consumers
- contractors
- electrical distributors
- electrical retailers
- OEM (original equipment manufacturers)
- DIY (do-it-yourself customers)
- industrial equipment manufacturers
- military customers
Communications
- high-bandwidth twisted copper and fiber optic cables
- multi-conductor and multi-pair fiber and copper networking cables
- outside plant telecommunications exchange cables
- coaxial cables
- fiber-optic submarine cable systems
- low detection profile cables
- turn-key submarine networks
- offshore integration systems
- telecom local loop
- enterprise networking and multimedia applications
- industrial instrumentation control
- commercial
- residential
- building management
- entertainment
- renewable energy
- telecommunications system operators
- contractors
- telecommunications distributors
- system integrators
- OEM
- DIY
Construction
- construction cable
- flexible cords; halogen-free, low-smoke and flame retardant cables
- residential and non-residential construction
- retail home centers
- electricians
- distributors
- installation and engineering contractors
- DIY
Rod Mill
- copper rod
- aluminum rod
- wire and cable industry
- wire and cable manufacturers
Industry and Market Overview
The Company produces and sells to a variety of end markets including markets for electric utility, electrical infrastructure, communications, construction and rod mill products. The underlying growth drivers in each of these end markets are similar and dependent on healthy GDP rates and construction cycles. Additionally, the global electric utility industry is dependent on a variety of factors including electricity consumption and grid integration, housing and construction, including the urbanization of emerging economies, governmental energy and tax policy, the investment policies of electric utilities, as well as renewable energy initiatives
primarily related to wind and solar power. The market for electrical infrastructure cable products has many sub-sectors and niches and is heavily influenced by the level of industrial construction spending, the level of capital equipment investment and transit, marine, and mining activity as well as renewable energy initiatives primarily related to terrestrial and offshore drilling. The market for communications products is primarily influenced by residential and non-residential construction and fiber-to-the-home initiatives as well as the level of broadband investments. The market demand for construction products is heavily influenced by the level of residential and non-residential construction spending. Rod mill product demand is principally driven by fundamental demand stemming from economic growth and development.
Customers
The Company has a regionally coordinated global direct sales force and in certain of its businesses operates under supply agreements of varying lengths. These agreements generally do not require a minimum level of sales and customers are not contractually obligated to buy the Company's products exclusively; however, these agreements generally provide adjustments to selling prices to reflect fluctuations in the cost of raw materials and typically have one to four year terms. The primary agreements are strategic alliances with a number of major utility customers around the world. The Company sells direct to utilities, independent distributors, retailers, contractors, and OEMs.
Raw Materials
The principal raw materials used by the Company in the manufacturing of its wire and cable products are copper and aluminum. The Company's products are material intensive with copper and aluminum comprising the major cost components for cable products. At current metal prices, material costs are approximately 85% of total product costs with copper and aluminum metal costs comprising approximately 45% of total product costs for the year ended December 31, 2015. The average selling price per quarter for the last three years is:
Volatility in the price of copper and aluminum and other raw materials, as well as fuel and energy, may in turn lead to significant fluctuations in our cost of sales or revenues. A significant portion of the Company's electric utility and telecommunications business and, to a lesser extent, the Company's electrical infrastructure business has metal escalators and de-escalators included in customer contracts under a variety of price setting and recovery formulas. The remainder of the Company's business requires that volatility in the cost of metals be recovered through negotiated price changes with customers. In these instances, the ability to change the Company's selling prices may lag the movement in metal prices by a period of time as the customer price changes are implemented.
Therefore, in the short-term, during periods of escalating raw material cost inputs, to the extent the Company is able to increase prices in the market to recover the higher raw material costs, the Company will generally experience an increase in gross profit from the sale of its relatively lower value inventory as computed under the weighted average inventory costing method. If the Company is unable to increase prices with the rise in the raw material market prices due to low levels of demand or market dynamics, the Company will experience lower gross profit. Conversely, during periods of declining raw material cost inputs, to the extent the Company has to decrease prices in the market due to competitive pressure as the current cost of metals declines, the Company will generally experience downward pressure on its gross profit due to the sale of relatively higher value inventory as computed under the weighted average inventory costing method. If the Company is able to maintain price levels in an environment in which raw material prices are declining due to high levels of demand, the Company will experience higher gross profit. There is no exact future measure of the effect to the Company's profitability of the change of raw material cost inputs due to the unique set of selling variables and the high volume of transactions in any given period, each of which involves numerous individual pricing decisions. In 2015, if there were a 10% increase in copper and aluminum costs, then our cost of sales would have increased approximately $170 million. The impact of this would directly impact gross profit if the Company was unable to increase prices with the rise in the price of copper and aluminum. To help reduce this volatility, the Company has implemented various pricing mechanisms and hedges a portion of its metal purchases when there is a firm price commitment for a future delivery but does not engage in speculative metals trading.
The Company purchases copper and aluminum from various global sources, generally through annual supply agreements. These agreements do not contractually obligate the Company to purchase products exclusively, or to purchase minimum quantities, do not contain 'take or pay' provisions, or require the Company to purchase products for a significant period of time. Copper and aluminum raw material supply is available from many sources and supply is generally expected to remain adequate for the Company's requirements, however, unanticipated problems with the Company's copper or aluminum rod suppliers could negatively affect the Company's business. In North America, the Company has centralized the purchasing of its copper, aluminum and other significant raw materials to capitalize on economies of scale and to facilitate the negotiation of purchase terms from suppliers. In 2015, the Company's largest supplier of copper rod in the region accounted for approximately 75% of its North American copper purchases while the largest supplier of aluminum rod accounted for approximately 50% of its North American aluminum purchases. In Latin America, the Company has centralized the purchasing of its copper to capitalize on economies of scale and to facilitate the negotiation of purchase terms from suppliers. In 2015, the Company's largest supplier of copper rod in the region accounted for approximately 60% of its Latin American copper purchases. The Company's European and Africa and Asia Pacific operations purchase copper and aluminum rod from many suppliers or brokers with each generally providing a small percentage of the total copper and aluminum rod purchased or internally produce copper and aluminum rod for production needs.
Other raw materials utilized by the Company include nylon, polyethylene resin and compounds and plasticizers, fluoropolymer compounds, optical fiber and a variety of filling, binding and sheathing materials. The Company believes that all of these materials are available in sufficient quantities through purchases in the open market.
Patents and Trademarks
The Company believes that the success of its business depends more on the technical competence, creativity and marketing abilities of its employees rather than on any individual patent, trademark or copyright. Nonetheless, the Company has a policy of seeking patents when appropriate on inventions concerning new products and product improvements. The Company owns numerous patents and trademarks globally, with pending applications for additional patents and trademarks, and maintains trade secret protection for certain confidential and proprietary information.
Although in the aggregate these patents are of considerable importance to the manufacturing and marketing of many of the Company's products, the Company does not consider any single patent to be material to its business as a whole. Trademarks and trade names, which are important to the Company, are Phelps Dodge International Corporation®, PDIC global symbols, General Cable®, Anaconda®, BICC®, Carol®, GenSpeed®, Helix/HiTemp®, NextGen®, Silec®, Polyrad®, Prestolite Wire®, STABILOY®, NUAL®, and the Company's triad symbol. The Company believes that products bearing these trademarks have achieved significant brand recognition within the industry.
Seasonality
The Company generally has experienced and expects to continue to experience certain seasonal trends in many products in which demand is linked with construction spending. Demand for these products during winter months in certain geographies is usually lower than demand during spring and summer months. Therefore, larger amounts of working capital are generally required during winter months in order to build inventories in anticipation of higher demand during the spring and summer months, when construction activity increases. In turn, receivables related to higher sales activity during the spring and summer months are generally collected during the fourth quarter of the year. Additionally, the Company has historically experienced changes in demand resulting from poor or unusual weather.
Competition
The markets for all of the Company's products are highly competitive and most markets include several competitors. The degree of competition varies by operating segment and product line. However, in general, the industry is mature and cost driven. Although the primary competitive factors for the Company's products vary somewhat across the different product categories, the principal factors influencing competition include, but are not limited to, price, quality, breadth of product line, inventory, delivery time, customer service, the environmental impact of the products, and the ability to meet customer's needs.
Many of the Company's products are made to industry specifications, and are therefore functionally interchangeable with those of competitors. However, the Company believes that significant opportunities exist to differentiate all of its products on the basis of quality, consistent availability, conformance to manufacturer's specifications and customer service. The Company believes its competitive strengths include breadth of product line, brand recognition, distribution and logistics, strong customer relations, operating efficiency and commitment to quality control and continuous improvement.
Advertising Expense
Advertising expense consists of expenses to promote the Company’s products, including trade shows, catalogs, and e-commerce promotions, and is charged to expense when incurred. Advertising expense was $10.2 million, $13.6 million and $12.8 million in 2015, 2014 and 2013, respectively.
Environmental Matters
The Company is subject to a variety of federal, state, local and foreign laws and regulations covering the storage, handling, emission and discharge of materials into the environment, including the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation and Liability Act (“CERCLA”), the Clean Water Act, the Clean Air Act (including the 1990 amendments) and the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act. While it is difficult to estimate future environmental liabilities accurately, the Company does not currently anticipate any material adverse effect on its consolidated results of operations, financial position or cash flows as a result of compliance with federal, state, local or foreign environmental laws or regulations or remediation costs of the sites as discussed in Note 19 - Commitments and Contingencies.
Employees
At December 31, 2015, General Cable employed approximately 12,000 employees worldwide. Approximately 20% of our employees were covered by collective bargaining agreements, of which 25% are subject to agreements that expire within one year from December 31, 2015. The Company believes it will successfully renegotiate these contracts as they come due. Generally, labor agreements are negotiated on an annual or bi-annual basis. The Company believes that its relations with its employees are generally good.
Disclosure Regarding Forward-Looking Statements
Certain statements in the 2015 Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2015 (the "2015 Annual Report on Form 10-K") including, without limitation, statements regarding future financial results and performance, plans and objectives, capital expenditures, understanding of competition, projected sources of cash flow, potential legal liability, proposed legislation and regulatory action, and our management's beliefs, expectations or opinions, are forward-looking statements, and as such, we desire to take advantage of the “safe harbor” which is afforded such statements under the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking statements are those that predict or describe future events or trends and that do not relate solely to historical matters. Forward-looking statements can generally be identified as statements containing the words “believe,” “expect,” “may,” “could,” “anticipate,” “intend,” “should,” “estimate,” “project,” “will,” “plan,” “assume,” “seek to” or other similar expressions, although not all forward-looking statements contain these identifying words. In addition, forward-looking statements are subject to certain risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those discussed in forward-looking statements as a result of factors, risks and uncertainties over many of which we have no control.
These factors, risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to, the following: (1) general economic conditions, particularly those in the construction, energy and information technology sectors; (2) the volatility in the price of raw materials, particularly copper and aluminum; (3) impairment charges with respect to our long-lived assets; (4) our ability to execute our plan to exit all of our Asia Pacific and African operations; (5) our ability to achieve all of our anticipated cost savings associated with our previously announced global restructuring plan; (6) our ability to invest in product development, to improve the design and performance of our products; (7) economic, political and other risks of maintaining facilities and selling products in foreign countries; (8) domestic and local country price competition; (9) our ability to successfully integrate and identify acquisitions; (10) the impact of technology; (11) our ability to maintain relationships with our distributors and retailers; (12) the changes in tax rates and exposure to new tax laws; (13) our ability to adapt to current and changing industry standards; (14) our ability to execute large customer contracts; (15) our ability to maintain relationships with key suppliers; (16) the impact of fluctuations in foreign currency rates; (17) compliance with foreign and U.S. laws and regulations, including the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act; (18) our ability to negotiate extensions of labor agreements; (19) our ability to continue our uncommitted accounts payable confirming arrangements; (20) our exposure to counterparty risk in our hedging arrangements; (21) our ability to achieve target returns on investments in our defined benefit plans; (22) possible future environmental liabilities and asbestos litigation; (23) our ability to attract and retain key employees; (24) our ability to make payments on our indebtedness; (25) our ability to comply with covenants in our existing or future financing agreements; (26) lowering of one or more of our debt ratings; (27) our ability to maintain adequate liquidity; (28) our ability to maintain effective disclosure controls and procedures and internal control over financial reporting; (29) the trading price of our common stock; and (30) and other material factors described in Item 1A
ITEM 1A. RISK FACTORS
We are subject to a number of risks listed below, which could have a material adverse effect on our financial condition, results of operations and the value of our securities.
Certain statements in the 2015 Annual Report on Form 10-K including, without limitation, statements regarding future financial results and performance, plans and objectives, capital expenditures, understanding of competition, projected sources of cash flow, potential legal liability, proposed legislation and regulatory action, and our management's beliefs, expectations or opinions, are forward-looking statements, and as such, we desire to take advantage of the “safe harbor” which is afforded such statements under the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Our forward-looking statements should be read in conjunction with our comments in this report under the heading, “Disclosure Regarding Forward-Looking Statements.” Actual results may differ materially from those statements as a result of factors, risks and uncertainties over which we have no control. These risks and uncertainties are not the only ones we face. Additional risks and uncertainties not presently known to us or that we currently believe to be immaterial may also impair our business or adversely affect our financial condition or results of operations.
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Our net sales, net income and growth depend largely on the economic strength of the geographic markets that we serve, and if these markets become weaker, we could experience decreased sales and net income.
Many of our customers use our products as components in their own products or in projects undertaken for their customers. Our ability to sell our products is largely dependent on general economic conditions, including end user spending on power transmission and distribution infrastructures, industrial manufacturing assets, new construction and building, information technology and maintaining or reconfiguring their communications networks. In periods of negative or no economic growth, we would likely experience a decrease in sales and net income.
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Volatility in the price of copper and aluminum and other raw materials, as well as fuel and energy, could adversely affect our businesses.
The costs of copper and aluminum, the most significant raw materials we use, have been subject to considerable volatility caused by supply conditions, weather, political and economic variables as well as other unknown and unpredictable variables. Other raw materials such as fuel and energy have additionally been subject to considerable volatility.
We typically pass these changes in copper and aluminum prices along to our customers, although there are timing delays of varying lengths depending upon the volatility of metals prices, the type of product, competitive conditions, pricing mechanisms and particular customer arrangements. Although the general trends are detailed in Item 1 - Business - Raw Materials, there is no exact future measure of the effect of the change of raw material cost inputs due to the unique set of selling variables and the high volume of transactions in any given period, each of which involves numerous individual pricing decisions.
In addition, we may be required to recognize an expense to record our inventory at market value, which would negatively impact our financial results. Although we attempt to recover copper and aluminum and other raw material price changes either in the selling price of our products or through commodity hedging programs, there is no assurance that we can do so successfully or at all in the future.
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We have recently recorded impairment charges with respect to certain of our long-lived assets as a result of our restructuring programs and market and industry conditions, and we could recognize additional impairment charges for our long-lived assets in the future.
As of December 31, 2015, property, plant and equipment, goodwill and other intangible assets account for approximately $582.3 million, or 25% of our total assets. In accordance with generally accepted accounting principles, we periodically assess our long-lived assets to determine if they are impaired. The testing for impairment is based on assumptions regarding our future business outlook as well as other factors. While we continue to review and analyze many factors that can impact our business, such as industry and economic trends, our analyses are subjective and are based on conditions existing at and trends leading up to the time
the assumptions are made. Actual results could differ materially from these assumptions particularly in the event of disruptions to our business, unexpected significant changes or planned changes in the use of assets or divestitures or expropriations of assets.
In the year ended December 31, 2015, the Company recognized an impairment charge upon deconsolidation of $12.0 million related to the Company's investment in Venezuela.
In 2015, the Company recognized asset-related charges of $17.7 million related to the Company's restructuring programs and $30.7 million related to the Company's Algerian operations.
Future impairment charges as a result of our restructuring and divestiture programs or otherwise could significantly affect our results of operations in the period recognized.
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We may not be able to execute our plan to exit all of our Asia Pacific and African operations.
In October 2014, we announced our plan to exit all of our Asia Pacific and African operations as described in Item 7 - Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations. Our goal is to simplify our global portfolio and reduce operational complexity by focusing on core strategic operations in North America, Latin America and Europe. We may not be able to offset the dilutive impacts from the loss of revenue or operating profit associated with divested manufacturing units. In addition, we may not be able to obtain favorable selling prices of the Asia Pacific and African manufacturing units. Our plan to exit all of the Asia Pacific and African manufacturing units will take time and will involve costs and management effort to market and negotiate the sale of each of the remaining manufacturing units as well as negotiate employee separation packages, consolidate operations of certain of our facilities and make investments necessary to operate our business with a smaller number of facilities. We may not be successful in these efforts. Our failure to achieve favorable selling prices could have a material adverse effect on our results of operations and liquidity in future periods.
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We may not be able to achieve all of our anticipated cost savings associated with our global restructuring plans.
In the fourth quarter of 2015, the Company committed to a new a strategic roadmap targeting growth and improvement in market positions, improvement to its overall cost position, enhancement of organizational capabilities, alignment of its organization structure and cultivation of a high-performance culture. Although we have identified key initiatives, the program will take time and management effort to execute and implement changes. These efforts will be launched in a phased approach and are expected to continue for several years. In July 2014, we announced a comprehensive restructuring program. As of December 31, 2015 the program is substantially complete. The restructuring program was focused on the closure of certain underperforming assets as well as the consolidation and realignment of other facilities. The Company also implemented initiatives to reduce selling, general and administrative ("SG&A") expenses globally. These restructuring programs are expected to create ongoing annual savings. We may not achieve the full amount of expected cost savings, or it may take us longer to achieve them than we currently anticipate. In addition, other unexpected costs could offset any savings we achieve. Our failure to achieve our anticipated annual cost savings could have a material adverse effect on our results of operations in future periods.
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The markets for our products are highly competitive, and if we fail to successfully invest in product development, productivity improvements and customer service and support, sales of our products could be adversely affected.
The markets for copper, aluminum and fiber optic wire and cable products are highly competitive and some of our competitors may have greater financial resources than we have. We compete with at least one major competitor with respect to each of our business segments. Many of our products are made to common specifications and, therefore, may be interchangeable with competitors' products. Accordingly, we are subject to competition in many markets on the basis of price, quality, breadth of product line, inventory, delivery time, customer service, the environmental impact of our products, and the ability to meet customers' needs.
We believe the design and performance of products will improve and new products will be introduced with competitive price and performance characteristics. We expect that we will be required to continue to invest in product development, productivity improvements and customer service and support in order to compete in our markets. Furthermore, an increase in imports of competing products could adversely affect our sales on a region by region basis.
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Our business is subject to the economic, political and other risks of maintaining facilities and selling products in foreign countries.
During the year ended December 31, 2015, approximately 46% of our sales and approximately 60% of our assets were in markets outside of North America. Our operations outside of North America reported operating cash outflows from continuing operations of approximately $49.1 million during this period. Some of our facilities, in particular, certain locations such as Algeria, Angola, Egypt, India, and Pakistan, among others, are at higher risk of being targets of economic and political destabilization, international conflicts, restrictive actions by foreign governments, nationalizations or expropriations, changes in regulatory requirements, the difficulty of effectively managing diverse global operations, terrorist activities, natural disasters, adverse foreign tax laws and the threat posed by potential pandemics in countries that do not have the resources necessary to deal with such outbreaks. Our financial results may be adversely affected by the enactment of exchange controls or foreign governmental or regulatory restrictions on the
transfer of funds. In addition, negative tax consequences relating to the repatriation of certain foreign income may adversely affect our cash flows. Over time, we may continue to expand our foreign operations, which would serve to exacerbate these risks and their potential effect on our business, financial position and results of operations. Economic and political developments in the countries in which we have operations, including future economic changes or crises (such as inflation, currency devaluation or recession), government deadlock, political instability, political activism, terrorist activities, civil strife, international conflicts, changes in laws and regulations and expropriation or nationalization of property or other resources, could impact our operations or the market value of our common stock and have an adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations.
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In each of our markets, we face pricing pressures. Such pricing pressures could adversely affect our results of operations and financial performance.
We face pricing pressures in each of our markets as a result of significant competition or over-capacity. In the event we are unable to implement cost reduction measures that are designed to improve our manufacturing techniques and processes, we may not achieve desired efficiency or productivity levels or reduce our manufacturing costs. In addition, productivity increases are related in part to factory utilization rates. Decreases in utilization rates may adversely impact productivity. Further pricing pressures, without offsetting cost reductions, could adversely affect our results of operations and financial performance.
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Growth through acquisition has been a significant part of our strategy and we may not be able to successfully identify, obtain or integrate acquisitions.
Growth through acquisition has been a significant part of our strategy. We regularly evaluate possible acquisition candidates. There can be no assurance that we will be successful in identifying, financing and closing acquisitions at favorable prices and terms. Potential acquisitions may require us to issue additional shares of stock or obtain additional or new financing. Further, there can be no assurance that we will be successful in integrating any such acquisitions that are completed. Integration of any such acquisitions may require substantial management, financial and other resources and may pose risks with respect to production, customer service and market share of our existing operations. In addition, we may acquire businesses that are subject to technological or competitive risks, and we may not be able to realize the benefits originally expected from such acquisitions.
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Alternative technologies, such as fiber optic and wireless technologies, may make some of our products less competitive.
Alternative technologies continue to have an adverse effect on elements of our business. For example, a continued increase in the rate of installations using fiber optic systems, an increase in the cost of copper-based systems, or advancing wireless technologies, as they relate to network and communications systems, may have an adverse effect on our business. While we do manufacture and sell fiber optic cables, any further acceleration in the erosion of our sales of copper cables due to increased market demand for fiber optic cables would most likely not be offset by an increase in sales of our fiber optic cables. In addition, our sales of copper premise cables currently face downward pressure from wireless and other similar technology and the increased acceptance and use of these technologies has increased this pressure and the potential negative impact on our future financial results, cash flows or financial position.
•
We are substantially dependent upon distributors and retailers for non-exclusive sales of our products and they could cease purchasing our products at any time.
Distributors and retailers account for a material portion of our sales. These distributors and retailers are not contractually obligated to carry our product lines exclusively or for any period of time. Therefore, these distributors and retailers may purchase products that compete with our products or cease purchasing our products at any time. The loss of one or more large distributors or retailers could have a material adverse effect on our ability to bring our products to end users and on our results of operations. Moreover, a downturn in the business of one or more large distributors or retailers could adversely affect our sales and could create significant credit exposure.
•
Changes in our tax rates or exposure to new tax laws could impact our profitability.
We are subject to income tax in the United States and in various other global jurisdictions. Our effective tax rates could be adversely affected by changes in the mix of earnings by jurisdiction and the valuation of deferred tax assets and liabilities. Our effective tax rate could also be adversely affected by changes in tax laws. For example, certain versions of recent U.S. tax reform proposals could, if enacted, significantly impact the taxation of U.S. based multinationals and could have a material impact on our tax expense and cash flows. In addition, we are subject to audits in various jurisdictions. Although we believe that our tax estimates are reasonable and appropriate, there are significant uncertainties in these estimates and as a result of these estimates there could be material adjustments. As a result of ongoing or possible future tax audits, we may be required to pay additional taxes and/or penalties as a result of such tax audits, which could have a potential negative impact on our future financial results, cash flows and financial position.
•
Changes in industry standards and regulatory requirements may adversely affect our business.
Our global business is subject to the requirements of federal, state, local and foreign regulatory authorities as well as industry standard-setting authorities. Changes in the standards and requirements imposed by such authorities could have an adverse effect
on us. In the event that we are unable to meet any such new or modified standards when adopted, our business could be adversely affected.
In addition, changes in the legislative environment could affect the growth and other aspects of important markets served by us. The wire and cable industry growth has been partially driven by energy related legislation, including alternative and renewable energy sources, investment incentives for utilities and government infrastructure spending. We cannot predict the impact, positive or negative, of legislative efforts or changes in laws or industry standards on our future financial results, cash flows or financial position.
•
Failure to properly execute large customer projects may negatively impact our ability to obtain similar contracts in the future and may result in material financial penalties.
In recent years, primarily in Europe, we have been awarded several large turn-key projects for specific customers. These projects involve numerous challenges associated with large long-term contracts and the contracts related to these projects generally include material financial penalties for non-performance on our part. We actively seek to increase our market share through successful execution of contracts for medium-voltage infield array projects and high-voltage export projects as well as underground terrestrial and submarine high-voltage projects. In addition, the terrestrial and submarine transmission cable markets in Europe, which are being driven by large investments in grid interconnections and alternative energy such as offshore wind power, represent an attractive long-term opportunity for us. The successful execution of large turn-key projects is important to our long-term success in this market.
•
Interruptions of supplies from key suppliers may affect our results of operations and financial performance.
Interruptions of supplies from our key suppliers, including those from catastrophes such as hurricanes, earthquakes, floods or terrorist activities, could disrupt production or impact our ability to increase or maintain production and sales. Most copper and aluminum rod used in our North American operations is externally sourced, and our largest supplier of copper rod accounted for approximately 75% of our North American purchases in 2015, while our largest supplier of aluminum rod accounted for approximately 50% of our North American purchases in 2015. Our largest supplier of copper rod accounted for approximately 60% of our Latin American purchases in 2015. Our European and Africa and Asia Pacific operations purchase copper and aluminum rod from many suppliers with each supplier generally providing a small percentage of the total copper and aluminum rod purchased. Any unanticipated problems with our copper or aluminum rod suppliers could have a material adverse effect on our business. Additionally, we use a limited number of sources for most of the other raw materials that we do not produce. We do not have long-term or volume purchase agreements with most of our suppliers, and may have limited options in the short-term for alternative supply if these suppliers fail to continue the supply of materials or components for any reason, including their business failure, inability to obtain raw materials or financial difficulties. Moreover, identifying and accessing alternative sources may increase our costs.
•
We source and sell products globally and are exposed to fluctuations in foreign currency exchange rates.
We manufacture and sell products and finance operations throughout the world and are exposed to the impact of foreign currency fluctuations on our results of operations. Also, our consolidated financial results are presented in U.S. dollars; therefore, a change in the value of currencies may adversely impact our financial statements after currency remeasurements and translation to U.S. dollars. In addition, devaluations of currencies could negatively affect the value of our earnings from, and the assets located in those markets.
•
If we fail to comply with the reporting obligations of the Exchange Act or if we fail to maintain adequate internal control over financial reporting, our business, the market value of our securities and our access to capital markets could be materially adversely affected.
As a public company, we are required to comply with the periodic reporting obligations of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, referred to as the “Exchange Act,” including the requirement that we file annual reports and quarterly reports with the SEC. Our failure to file required information in a timely manner could subject us to penalties under federal securities laws, expose us to additional lawsuits, create a default under our existing debt instruments and facilities, and restrict our ability to access financing. In addition, our management is responsible for establishing and maintaining adequate internal control over financial reporting. Our internal control over financial reporting is a process designed to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements in accordance with GAAP. Management had identified control deficiencies that constituted material weaknesses as of the year ended December 31, 2013. These material weaknesses resulted in accounting errors that caused us to issue, in March 2013, restated consolidated financial statements as of December 31, 2011 and 2010 and for the years ended December 31, 2011, 2010 and 2009, and unaudited restated financial statements for interim periods in 2011 and interim periods ended on March 30, 2012 and June 29, 2012, and, to issue, in January 2014, restated consolidated financial statements as of December 31, 2012, 2011 and 2010 and for the years ended December 31, 2012, 2011, 2010 and 2009, and unaudited restated financial statements for interim periods in 2011 and 2012 and the interim period ended on March 29, 2013.
We conducted internal investigations and have been subject to litigation principally relating to the matters resulting in the restatements described above; refer to Note 19 - Commitments and Contingencies.
We cannot provide assurance that we have identified all, or that we will not in the future have additional, material weaknesses in our internal control over financial reporting. As a result, we may be required to implement further remedial measures and to design enhanced processes and controls to address deficiencies, which could result in significant costs to us and require us to divert substantial resources, including management time, from other activities. If we identify material weaknesses or fail to maintain adequate internal controls over financial reporting in the future, we may not be able to prepare reliable financial reports and comply with our reporting obligations under the Exchange Act on a timely basis. Any such delays in the preparation of financial reports and the filing of our periodic reports may result in a loss of public confidence in the reliability of our financial statements, the commencement of additional litigation, or the commencement of regulatory action against us, which may include court actions or administrative proceedings, any of which could materially adversely affect our business, the market value of our securities and our access to the capital markets.
•
Compliance with foreign and U.S. laws and regulations applicable to our international operations, including the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (“FCPA”), other applicable anti-corruption laws and anti-competition regulations, may increase the cost of doing business in international jurisdictions.
Various laws and regulations associated with our current international operations are complex and increase our cost of doing business. Furthermore, these laws and regulations expose us to fines and penalties if we fail to comply with them. These laws and regulations include import and export requirements, anti-competition regulations, U.S. laws such as the FCPA, and local laws prohibiting payments to governmental officials and other corrupt practices. Although we have implemented policies and procedures designed to ensure compliance with these laws, there can be no assurance that our employees, contractors and agents will not take actions in violation of our policies. Any such violations could subject us to civil or criminal penalties, including material fines or prohibitions on our ability to offer our wire and cable products in one or more countries, and could also materially damage our reputation, brand, international expansion efforts, business and operating results.
As previously disclosed, we have been reviewing, with the assistance of external counsel, our use and payment of agents in connection with, and certain other transactions involving, our operations in Angola, Thailand, India, China and Egypt (the “Subject Countries”). Our review has focused upon payments and gifts made, offered, contemplated or promised by certain employees in one or more of the Subject Countries, directly and indirectly, and at various times, to employees of public utility companies and/or other officials of state owned entities that raise concerns under the FCPA and possibly under the laws of other jurisdictions. We have substantially completed our internal review in the Subject Countries and, based on our findings, we have increased our outstanding FCPA-related accrual of $24 million by an incremental $4 million, which represents the estimated profit derived from these subject transactions that we believe is probable to be disgorged. We have also identified certain other transactions that may raise concerns under the FCPA for which it is at least reasonably possible we may be required to disgorge estimated profits derived therefrom in an incremental aggregate amount up to $33 million. Refer to Note 19 - Commitments and Contingencies for additional details.
Any determination that our operations or activities are not in compliance with existing laws or regulations could result in the imposition of substantial fines, civil and criminal penalties, and equitable remedies, including disgorgement and injunctive relief. Because the government investigations regarding commission payment practices and our use and payment of agents described above are ongoing, we are unable to predict their duration, scope, results, or consequences. Dispositions of these types of matters can result in modifications to business practices and compliance programs, and in some cases the appointment of a monitor to review future business and practices with the objective of effecting compliance with the FCPA and other applicable laws.
•
Failure to negotiate extensions of our labor agreements as they expire may result in a disruption of our operations.
As of December 31, 2015, approximately 20% of our employees were represented by various labor unions of which 25% expire within the next twelve months.
We are party to labor agreements with unions that represent employees at many of our manufacturing facilities. Labor agreements are generally negotiated on an annual or bi-annual basis and the risk exists that we may not be able to renew labor agreements on reasonably satisfactory terms or at all. We cannot predict what issues may be raised by the collective bargaining units representing our employees and, if raised, whether negotiations concerning such issues will be successfully concluded. A protracted work stoppage could result in a disruption of our operations which could, in turn, adversely affect our financial results, customer satisfaction, and our ability to deliver certain products.
•
Failure or disruptions of our information systems, including a cybersecurity breach or failure of one or more key information technology systems, networks, hardware, processes, associated sites or service providers could interfere with our business and operations.
We rely on our information systems for processing customer orders, shipment of products, billing our customers, tracking inventory, supporting accounting functions and financial statement preparation, paying our employees, and otherwise running our business. Any disruption, whether from hackers or other sources, in our information systems could have a significant impact on our business. In addition, we may need to enhance our information systems to provide additional capabilities and functionality. The implementation of new information systems and enhancements is frequently disruptive to the underlying business of an enterprise. Any disruptions affecting our ability to accurately report our financial performance on a timely basis could adversely affect our business in a number of respects. If we are unable to successfully implement potential future information systems enhancements, our financial position, results of operations, and cash flows could be negatively impacted.
Increased IT security threats and more sophisticated computer crime, including advanced persistent threats, pose a potential risk to the security of our IT systems, networks and services, as well as the confidentiality, availability and integrity of our data. If the IT systems, networks or service providers we rely upon fail to function properly, or if we suffer a loss or disclosure of business or financial information, due to any number of causes, including catastrophic events, power outages and security breaches, and our business continuity plans do not effectively address these failures on a timely basis, we may suffer interruptions in our ability to manage operations, reputational, competitive and/or business harm as well as litigation and regulatory action, which may adversely impact our results of operations and/or financial condition. The costs and operational consequences of responding to breaches and implementing remediation measures could be significant.
•
The Company is exposed to counterparty risk in our hedging arrangements.
The Company is exposed to counterparty risk in our hedging arrangements. The failure of one or more counterparties to our hedging arrangements to fulfill or renew their obligations to us could adversely affect our results of operations. At times, depending on the extent of any unrealized loss position on a derivative contract, certain counterparties may require us to post collateral to secure our derivative contract positions.
•
Declining returns in the investment portfolio of our defined benefit pension plans and changes in actuarial assumptions could increase the volatility in our pension expense and require us to increase cash contributions to the plans.
We sponsor defined benefit pension plans around the world. Pension expense for the defined benefit pension plans sponsored by us is determined based upon a number of actuarial assumptions, including an expected long-term rate of return on assets and discount rate. The use of these assumptions makes our pension expense and our cash contributions subject to year-to-year volatility. As of December 31, 2015, 2014 and 2013, the defined benefit pension plans were underfunded by approximately $121.0 million, $147.0 million and $118.3 million, respectively, based on the actuarial methods and assumptions utilized for purposes of the applicable accounting rules and interpretations. We have experienced volatility in our pension expense and our cash contributions to our defined benefit pension plans. In 2015, pension expense was $15.1 million, an increase of approximately $0.9 million from 2014, and cash contributions were $13.4 million, an increase of approximately $5.9 million from 2014. We estimate our 2016 pension expense for our defined benefit plans will decrease to approximately $13.1 million. In the event that actual results differ from the actuarial assumptions or the actuarial assumptions are changed, the funded status of our defined benefit pension plans may change and any such deficiency could result in additional charges to equity and an increase in our future pension expense and cash contributions. Refer to Note 13 - Employee Benefit Plans of this document for details.
•
Environmental liabilities could potentially adversely impact us and our affiliates.
We are subject to federal, state, local and foreign environmental protection laws and regulations governing our operations and the use, handling, disposal and remediation of hazardous substances currently or formerly used by us and our affiliates. A risk of environmental liability is inherent in our and our affiliates' current and former manufacturing activities in the event of a release or discharge of a hazardous substance generated by us or our affiliates. Under certain environmental laws, we could be held jointly and severally responsible for the remediation of any hazardous substance contamination at our current and former facilities and at third party waste disposal sites. We could also be held liable for any consequences arising out of human exposure to such substances or other environmental damage. We and our affiliates have been named as potentially responsible parties in proceedings that involve environmental remediation. There can be no assurance that the costs of complying with environmental, health and safety laws and requirements in our current operations or the liabilities arising from past releases of, or exposure to, hazardous substances, will not result in future expenditures by us that could materially and adversely affect our financial results, cash flows or financial condition.
•
We are subject to certain asbestos litigation and unexpected judgments or settlements that could have a material adverse effect on our financial results.
Our subsidiaries have been named as defendants in non-maritime asbestos cases which involve plaintiffs alleging exposure to asbestos-containing cable manufactured by our predecessors. Our subsidiaries have also been named, along with numerous other
product manufacturers, as defendants in cases in which plaintiffs alleged that they suffered an asbestos related injury while working in the maritime industry. Refer to Note 19 - Commitments and Contingencies for a summary of our outstanding asbestos-related litigation. There can be no assurance that any judgments or settlements of the pending asbestos cases or any cases which may be filed in the future will not have a material adverse effect on our financial results, cash flows or financial position.
•
If we fail to retain our key employees and attract qualified personnel, our business may be harmed.
Our success has been largely dependent on the skills, experience and efforts of our key employees and the loss of the services of any of our executive officers or other key employees, without a properly executed transition plan, could have an adverse effect on us. It also includes continued development and execution of robust leadership succession plans, including successful execution of our recently announced CEO transition. The loss of any member of our senior management team or any of our other key employees could damage critical customer relationships, result in the loss of vital knowledge, experience and expertise, could lead to an increase in recruitment and training costs and make it more difficult to successfully operate our business and execute our business strategy. We may not be able to find qualified potential replacements for these individuals and the integration of potential replacements may be disruptive to our business. In addition, the loss of our key employees who have intimate knowledge of our manufacturing process could lead to increased competition to the extent that those employees are hired by a competitor and are able to recreate our manufacturing process. Our future success will also depend in part upon our continuing ability to attract and retain highly qualified personnel, who are in great demand.
•
Our indebtedness and our ability to pay our indebtedness could adversely affect our business and financial condition.
We have a significant amount of debt and may incur additional debt in the future. If new debt is added to our current debt levels, the risks described herein would increase. Refer to Note 10 - Long-Term Debt of this document for details on the various debt agreements.
The degree to which we are leveraged could have adverse consequences to us, limiting management's choices in responding to business, economic, regulatory and other competitive conditions. In addition, our ability to generate cash flow from operations sufficient to make scheduled payments on our debts as they become due will depend on our future performance, our ability to successfully execute our business strategy and our ability to obtain other financing, which may be influenced by economic, financial, competitive, legislative, regulatory and other factors that are beyond our control. Our material indebtedness may affect our ability to pay principal and interest on outstanding indebtedness, increase our vulnerability to adverse economic and industry conditions, limit future capital expenditures and research and development, limit our ability to fund working capital needs and general corporate requirements, decrease our flexibility to react to changes in our business and industry, and place us at a competitive disadvantage to our competitors with less debt.
Our ability to make payments on our indebtedness, to refinance our indebtedness and fund planned capital expenditures will depend on our ability to generate cash in the future. This, to a certain extent, is subject to general economic, financial, competitive, legislative, regulatory and other factors that are beyond our control. There can be no assurance that our business will generate sufficient cash flows from operations or that future borrowings will be available to us under our credit facilities in an amount sufficient to enable us to make payments with respect to our indebtedness or to fund our other liquidity needs. If this were the case, we might need to refinance all or a portion of our indebtedness on or before maturity, sell assets, reduce or delay capital expenditures or seek additional equity financing. There can be no assurance that we will be able to refinance any of our indebtedness on commercially reasonable terms or at all.
•
Failure to comply with covenants and other provisions in our existing or future financing agreements could result in cross-defaults under some of our financing agreements, which could jeopardize our ability to satisfy our obligations.
Various risks, uncertainties and events beyond our control could affect our ability or the ability of our subsidiaries to comply with the covenants, financial tests and ratios required by the instruments governing our and their financing arrangements, including, without limitation, the requirement that no final judgment or judgments of a court of competent jurisdiction have been rendered against us or our subsidiaries in excess of stated amounts. Failure to comply with any of the covenants in our existing or future financing agreements could result in a default under those agreements as well as other agreements containing cross-default provisions. A default would permit lenders to cease to make further extensions of credit, accelerate the maturity of the debt under these agreements and foreclose upon any collateral securing that debt as well as restrict our ability to make certain investments and payments, pay dividends, purchase company stock, enter into transactions with affiliates, make acquisitions, merge and consolidate, or transfer or sell assets. Under these circumstances, we might not have sufficient funds or other resources to satisfy all of our obligations.
Our ability and the ability of our subsidiaries to comply with these covenants is subject to various risks and uncertainties. In addition, events beyond our control could affect our ability to comply with and maintain the financial tests and ratios required by this indebtedness. Even if we or our subsidiaries, as applicable, are able to comply with all applicable covenants, the restrictions on our ability to operate our business in our sole discretion could harm our business by, among other things, limiting our ability to take advantage of financing, mergers, acquisitions and other opportunities.
Certain portions of our debt contain prepayment or acceleration rights at the election of the holders upon a covenant default, change in control or fundamental change, which, if exercised, could constitute an event of default under other portions of our debt. It is possible that we would be unable to fulfill all of these obligations simultaneously, which could adversely affect our financial position.
•
If we fail to meet our payment or other obligations under our secured indebtedness, the lenders under this indebtedness could foreclose on, and acquire control of, substantially all of our assets.
Indebtedness under our senior secured credit facility is secured by: (a) for US borrowings under the facility, a first priority security interest in substantially all of our domestic assets and, (b) for Canadian and European borrowings under the facility, a first priority security interest in substantially all of our domestic and Canadian assets and certain assets of our Spanish, French and German subsidiaries party to the facility. In addition, the lenders under our senior secured credit facility have received a pledge of (i) 100% of the equity interests in substantially all of our domestic subsidiaries, and (ii) 65% of the voting equity interests in and 100% of the non-voting equity interests in certain of our foreign subsidiaries, including our Canadian subsidiaries and our Spanish, French and German subsidiaries party to the facility. As a result of these pledges and liens, if we fail to meet our payment or other obligations under the facility, then the lenders under the facility would be entitled to foreclose on the assets pledged as collateral to secure the facility and liquidate such assets. Under those circumstances, we may not have sufficient funds to pay our obligations, which could adversely affect our financial position.
•
Our ability to pay principal and interest on outstanding indebtedness depends upon our receipt of dividends or other intercompany transfers from our subsidiaries.
We are a holding company and substantially all of our properties and assets are owned by, and all our operations are conducted through, our subsidiaries. As a result, we are dependent upon cash dividends and distributions or other transfers from our subsidiaries to meet our debt service obligations, including payment of the interest on and principal of our indebtedness when due, and other obligations. The ability of our subsidiaries to pay dividends and make other payments to us may be restricted by, among other things, applicable corporate, tax and other laws and regulations in the United States and abroad and agreements made by us and our subsidiaries, including under the terms of our existing and potentially future indebtedness.
In addition, claims of creditors, including trade creditors, of our subsidiaries will generally have priority with respect to the assets and earnings of such subsidiaries over the claims of our creditors, except to the extent the claims of our creditors are guaranteed by these subsidiaries. Certain of our indebtedness may be guaranteed by only some of our subsidiaries. In the event of our dissolution, bankruptcy, liquidation or reorganization, the holders of such indebtedness will not receive any amounts from our non-guarantor subsidiaries with respect to such indebtedness until after the payment in full of the claims of the creditors of those subsidiaries.
•
A downgrade in our financial strength or credit ratings could limit our ability to conduct our business or offer and sell additional debt securities.
Nationally recognized rating agencies currently rate our debt. Ratings are not recommendations to buy or sell our securities. We may, in the future, incur indebtedness with interest rates that may be affected by changes in or other actions associated with our credit ratings. Each of the rating agencies reviews its ratings periodically and previous ratings for our debt may not be maintained in the future. Rating agencies may also place us under review for potential downgrade in certain circumstances or if we seek to take certain actions. A downgrade of our debt ratings or other negative action, such as a review for a potential downgrade, could affect the market price of our existing subordinated and senior notes. Furthermore, these events may negatively affect our ability to raise additional debt with terms and conditions similar to our current debt, and accordingly, likely increase our cost of capital. In addition, a downgrade of these ratings, or other negative action, could make it more difficult for us to raise capital to refinance any maturing debt obligations to support business growth and to maintain or improve the current financial strength of our business and operations.
•
The trading price of our common stock may be adversely affected by many factors, not all of which are within our control, as well as by future issuances of our common stock or additional series of preferred stock.
The trading price of our common stock has been and may in the future be volatile. Our stock price could be subject to wide fluctuations in response to a variety of factors, including quarterly variations in our operating results or our competitors' operating results, announcements of new products or services by us or our competitors, adverse or unfavorable publicity about us or our services, or our competitors, timing and announcement of acquisitions by us or our competitors, technological innovations by us or our competitors, changes in our or our competitors' earnings estimates, financial strength or credit ratings of us or our competitors, changes in estimates or recommendations by security analysts for our stock or our competitors' stock, commencement of material litigation or unfavorable verdicts against us, and additions or departures of key personnel.
In addition, our trading price may be adversely affected by future issuances of our common stock. Our amended and restated certificate of incorporation provides that we have authority to issue 200 million shares of common stock. As of December 31, 2015, there were approximately 48.9 million shares of common stock outstanding (net of treasury shares), approximately 2.1 million shares of common stock are issuable upon the exercise of currently outstanding stock options and approximately 1.6 million
shares of common stock are issuable upon the vesting of currently outstanding restricted stock units and performance stock units. In addition, a maximum of approximately 14.3 million shares of our common stock could be issuable upon conversion of our Subordinated Convertible Notes. All of the shares of our common stock that could be issued pursuant to the conversion of our Subordinated Convertible Notes by holders who are not our affiliates would be freely tradable by such holders.
Our trading price also may be adversely affected by future issuances of series of preferred stock. Our Board of Directors is authorized to issue series of preferred stock without any action on the part of our stockholders. Our Board of Directors also has the power, without stockholder approval, to set the terms of any such series of preferred stock that may be issued, including voting rights, conversion rights, dividend rights, preferences over our common stock with respect to dividends or if we liquidate, dissolve or wind up our business and other terms. If we issue preferred stock in the future that has preference over our common stock with respect to the payment of dividends or upon our liquidation, dissolution or winding-up, or if we issue preferred stock with voting rights that dilute the voting power of our common stock, the market price of our common stock could be adversely affected.
ITEM 1B.
ITEM 1B.
UNRESOLVED STAFF COMMENTS
None.
ITEM 2.
ITEM 2. PROPERTIES
The Company’s principal manufacturing facilities are listed below by country. The Company owns the building at its global headquarters located in Highland Heights, Kentucky and leases various distribution centers and sales and administrative offices around the world. Many of the domestic and international facilities produce products for multiple markets including electrical infrastructure, electric utility, communications, construction and rod mill products. The Company believes that its properties are generally well maintained and are adequate for the Company’s current level of operations.
ITEM 3.
ITEM 3.
LEGAL PROCEEDINGS
We are subject to a number of lawsuits, investigations and claims arising out of the conduct of our business. Information regarding our litigation and other legal proceedings can be found in Note 19 - Commitments and Contingencies.
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
Market Information and Holders
General Cable’s common stock is listed on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol “BGC”. As of February 18, 2016, there were approximately 1,501 registered holders of the Company’s common stock. The following table sets forth the high and low daily sales prices for the Company’s common stock as reported on the New York Stock Exchange during the years ended December 31:
Dividends on Common Stock
On May 20, 2013, the Company's Board of Directors authorized the payment of a regular quarterly dividend of $0.18 per quarter (starting in the second quarter of 2013). During the year ended December 31, 2015, the Company paid in total approximately $35.3 million to all common shareholders of record, or $0.72 per share. During the year ended December 31, 2014, the Company paid in total approximately $35.4 million to all common shareholders of record, or $0.72 per share. Future declarations of dividends and the establishment of future record dates and payment dates are subject to the final determination of our Board of Directors. In determining dividends, the Board of Directors takes into consideration items such as general business conditions, financial performance, projected cash flows and anticipated financing needs. Future payments of dividends is also subject to the requirements of the Company's Revolving Credit Facility with JP Morgan Chase Bank, NA, as administrative agent, and other lenders (“Revolving Credit Facility”), and the 5.75% Senior Notes due 2022 (“5.75% Senior Notes), and the requirements of the Delaware General Corporation law.
Securities Authorized for Issuance under Equity Compensation Plans
Information related to the Company’s securities authorized for issuance under equity compensation plans, including the tabular disclosure, is presented in Item 12 - Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and Management and Related Stockholder Matters.
Performance Graph
The graph below compares the annual percentage change in cumulative total shareholder return on General Cable stock in relation to cumulative total return of the Standard & Poor’s 500 Stock Index, and a peer group of companies (“2015 Peer Group”). The data shown are for the period beginning May 16, 1997, the date that General Cable (“BGC”) common stock began trading on the NYSE, through December 31, 2015.
(1)
Assumes the value of the investment in General Cable common stock and each index was $100 on May 16, 1997, also assumes dividend reinvestment. The 2015 Peer Group consists of Belden Inc. (NYSE: BDC), Prysmian (Italy Stock Exchange) and Nexans (Paris Stock Exchange). Returns in the Peer Group are weighted by capitalization.
Purchases of Equity Securities by the Issuer and Affiliated Purchasers
The following table summarizes purchases of equity securities by the issuer during the quarter ended December 31, 2015:
(1) Includes 367 shares of common stock that were withheld for taxes on the vesting of restricted stock issued pursuant to the Company's equity compensation plans, and the average price paid per share was $11.99 during the quarter ended December 31, 2015. 56,228 shares of common stock were withheld for taxes on the vesting of restricted stock issued pursuant to the Company's equity compensation plans, and the average price paid per share was $14.42 during the year ended December 31, 2015.
(2) Includes 1,191 shares of common stock that were purchased through a rabbi trust as investments of participants in the Company's deferred compensation plan, and the average price paid per share was $15.36 during the quarter ended December 31, 2015. 24,074 shares of common stock were purchased through a rabbi trust as investments of participants in the Company's deferred compensation plan, and the average price paid per share was $15.25 during the year ended December 31, 2015. The Rabbi Trust (“Trust”) was established in connection with the deferred compensation plan, and the Trust assets are available to satisfy the claims of the Company’s creditors in the event of bankruptcy or insolvency of the Company.
ITEM 6.
ITEM 6.
SELECTED FINANCIAL DATA
The selected financial information for the years ended December 31, 2015, 2014, and 2013 and as of December 31, 2015 and 2014, was derived from audited consolidated financial statements included in this filing and for the years ended December 31, 2012 and 2011 and as of December 31, 2013, 2012 and 2011 was derived from previously audited consolidated financial statements. The results of the Company's Asia Pacific Operations have been reclassified as discontinued operations for all years presented below. The following selected financial data should be read in conjunction with “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” and the Consolidated Financial Statements and related notes thereto, especially as the information pertains to 2015, 2014 and 2013 activity.
(1)
Working capital means current assets less current liabilities. Working capital of the discontinued operations as of December 31, 2015, 2014, 2013, 2012 and 2011are $52.3 million, $155.2 million, $171.0 million, $195.2 million and $149.8 million, respectively. The total current assets and liabilities of the discontinued operations are included in the working capital balances above.
(2)
The total assets of the discontinued operations as of December 31, 2015, 2014, 2013, 2012 and 2011 are $160.8 million, $433.7 million, $647.7 million, $736.2 million and $583.5 million, respectively. The total assets of the discontinued operations are included in the total assets balances above.
(3)
December 31, 2015 amounts are not comparable to the prior periods presented due to the Company's adoption of ASU 2015-17, "Income Taxes (Topic 740): Balance Sheet Classification of Deferred Taxes" on a prospective basis for the year ended December 31, 2015. See Note 2 - Summary of Significant Accounting Policies for additional details.
ITEM 7.
ITEM 7.
MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS
The following Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations (“MD&A”) is intended to help the reader understand General Cable Corporation's financial position, changes in financial condition, and results of operations. MD&A is provided as a supplement to the Company's Consolidated Financial Statements and the accompanying Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements ("Footnote" or “Notes”) and should be read in conjunction with the Consolidated Financial Statements and Notes.
Certain statements in this report including, without limitation, statements regarding future financial results and performance, plans and objectives, capital expenditures and the Company's or management's beliefs, expectations or opinions, are forward-looking statements, and as such, General Cable desires to take advantage of the “safe harbor” which is afforded such statements under the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. The Company's forward-looking statements should be read in conjunction with the Company's comments in this report under the heading, “Disclosure Regarding Forward-Looking Statements.” Actual results may differ materially from those statements as a result of factors, risks and uncertainties over which the Company has no control. For a list of these factors, risks and uncertainties, refer to Item 1A - Risk Factors.
Overview
The Company is a global leader in the development, design, manufacture, marketing and distribution of copper, aluminum and fiber optic wire and cable products for use in the energy, industrial, construction, specialty and communications markets. The Company additionally engages in the design, integration, and installation on a turn-key basis for products such as high and extra-high voltage terrestrial and submarine systems. In 2014, the Company reorganized its reportable segments as a result of a change in what the chief operating decision maker uses to measure profitability and allocate resources. Accordingly, the Company analyzes its worldwide operations based on four geographical segments: North America, Europe, Latin America, and Africa/Asia Pacific. As of December 31, 2015, the Company manufactures its product lines in 42 manufacturing facilities and sells its products worldwide through its global operations. Additional financial information regarding the segments appears in Note 18 - Segment Information.
Significant Current Business Trends and Events
The wire and cable industry is competitive, mature and cost driven with minimal differentiation for many product offerings among industry participants from a manufacturing or technology standpoint. Over the last several years, the Company and the industry have experienced stable demand with pockets of relative demand strength. In certain markets; however, global demand remains below historical levels. The following are significant trends and events that occurred in 2015:
Effect of copper and aluminum prices
The Company continued and expects to continue to experience volatile commodity pricing, primarily copper and aluminum, as well as in other cost inputs. The Company typically passes these changes in copper and aluminum prices along to its customers, although there are timing delays of varying lengths depending upon the volatility of metal prices, the type of product, competitive conditions, pricing mechanisms and particular customer arrangements. Although the general trends are detailed in Item 1 - Business - Raw Materials, there is no exact measure of the effect of the change of raw material cost inputs due to the high volume of transactions in any given period, each of which involves a number of factors in the individual pricing decisions. To help reduce this volatility, the Company has implemented various pricing mechanisms and hedges a portion of its metal purchases when there is a firm price commitment for a future delivery but does not engage in speculative metals trading.
Africa and Asia Pacific divestiture program
As part of the 2014 announced divestiture plan, in the first quarter of 2015, the Company completed the sale of its interests in certain joint ventures including its 51% interest in Fiji and its 20% interest in Keystone for cash consideration of $9.3 million and $11.0 million, respectively. In the fourth quarter of 2014, the Company completed the sale of its 60% interest in PDP and PDEP for cash consideration of $67.1 million.
In addition, as part of the divestiture plan, on June 25, 2015, the Company announced it reached a definitive agreement to sell its Asia Pacific operations consisting of Thailand, China, New Zealand and Australia. On August 31, 2015, the Company completed the sale of its Thailand operations for cash consideration of approximately $88 million. On September 29, 2015, the Company received notice that certain closing conditions of the definitive agreement to sell the remaining Asia Pacific Operations were unsatisfied or incapable of satisfaction and the buyer terminated the purchase agreement for the remaining Asia Pacific Operations.
The results of the Asia Pacific Operations have been reclassified as discontinued operations for all periods presented. Previously the results of these businesses included certain allocated corporate costs, which have been reallocated to the remaining continuing operations within the Africa/Asia Pacific segment on a retrospective basis. As a result of the Company’s strategic shift out of the Asia Pacific Operations, the Africa/Asia Pacific segment is now comprised primarily of the Company’s Africa businesses. The
financial results of the Company's Africa businesses are presented as continuing operations in the Consolidated Financial Statements. Refer to Note 3 - Assets and Liabilities Held for Sale and Discontinued Operations.
Restructuring Activities
In the fourth quarter of 2015, the Company committed to a new a strategic roadmap targeting growth and improvement in market positions, improvement to its overall cost position, enhancement of organizational capabilities, alignment of its organization structure and cultivation of a high-performance culture. This effort will be launched in a phased approach and is expected to continue over the next several years. This new strategic roadmap may result in the exit or disposal of certain businesses or production.
For the year ended December 31, 2015, the Company incurred total costs of $8.6 million, including $0.1 million in the North America segment, $6.7 million in the Europe segment and $1.8 million in the Latin America segment. The Company anticipates these actions will result in restructuring savings in the range of $10 million to $15 million annually beginning in 2017.
In July 2014, the Company announced that it was implementing a restructuring program. As of December 31, 2015, the program is substantially complete. The restructuring program generated approximately $36 million of savings in 2015, and is expected to generate ongoing annual savings of $80 million to $100 million beginning in 2016. The restructuring program was focused on the closure of certain underperforming assets as well as the consolidation and realignment of other facilities. The Company also implemented initiatives to reduce SG&A expenses globally. For the year ended December 31, 2015, the Company incurred charges of $41.9 million. During 2015, costs incurred were $11.9 million in the North America segment, $22.1 million in the Europe segment and $7.9 million in the Latin America segment. These actions resulted in the elimination of approximately 1,170 positions globally.
Events affecting Venezuela Operations
Effective October 2, 2015, the Company deconsolidated its Venezuelan subsidiary and began accounting for its investment in the Venezuelan subsidiary using the cost method of accounting. This change resulted in a third quarter fiscal 2015 one-time charge of $12.0 million recorded in the SG&A caption on the Consolidated Statements of Operations and Comprehensive Income (Loss), recorded in the Company's European reportable segment (recognized in the European reportable segment due to the legal ownership structure of the Venezuelan subsidiary). Beginning in the fourth quarter of 2015, the Company's financial results will only include U.S. dollar payments received from its Venezuelan subsidiary. Accordingly, the Company will no longer include the results of our local Venezuelan subsidiary's operations in future reporting periods. Refer to Note 2 - Summary of Significant Accounting Policies and additional discussion in this MD&A under Critical Accounting Policies and Estimates.
2015 Algeria Asset Impairment
In the fourth quarter of 2015, the Algerian financial outlook developed by management deteriorated due to the significant decline of the oil and gas market, which is a major component of the Algerian economy. Based on the internal projections developed by management, the Company determined that the undiscounted expected future cash flows were less than the carrying value of the assets. A valuation of the Algerian machinery and equipment and real property assets was performed to determine the fair value utilizing standard valuation approaches, which incorporate Level 3 inputs. Based on the results of the analysis, the Company recorded an impairment charge of $30.7 million in the fourth quarter of 2015. The impairment charge was recorded in the Cost of sales caption in the Consolidated Statements of Operations and Comprehensive Income (Loss).
FCPA Matters
As previously disclosed, the Company has been reviewing, with the assistance of external counsel, its use and payment of agents in connection with, and certain other transactions involving, the Company's operations in Angola, Thailand, India, China and Egypt. The Company's review has focused upon payments and gifts made, offered, contemplated or promised by certain employees in one or more of the Subject Countries, directly and indirectly, and at various times, to employees of public utility companies and/or other officials of state owned entities that raise concerns under the FCPA and possibly under the laws of other jurisdictions. The Company substantially completed its internal review in the Subject Countries and, based on its findings, the Company increased its outstanding FCPA-related accrual of $24 million by an incremental $4 million, which represents the estimated profit derived from these subject transactions that the Company believes is probable to be disgorged. The Company has also identified certain other transactions that may raise concerns under the FCPA for which it is at least reasonably possible the Company may be required to disgorge estimated profits derived therefrom in an incremental aggregate amount up to $33 million.
Based on the analysis completed, with the assistance of external counsel and forensic accountants, the Company has substantially completed its internal review in these countries. As a result, the Company has recorded an estimated charge in the amount of $4 million in the year ended December 31, 2015, increasing the accrual as of December 31, 2015 to $28 million. The accrued amount reflects the probable and estimable amount of the related profits that the Company believes is probable of being disgorged, and does not include any provision for any fines, civil or criminal penalties, or other relief, any or all of which could be substantial.
The Company has also identified certain other transactions that raise concerns under the FCPA for which it is at least reasonably possible the Company may be required to disgorge estimated profits derived therefrom in an aggregate amount up to $33 million.
Seasonality
The Company generally has experienced and expects to continue to experience certain seasonal trends in many products in which demand is linked with construction spending. Demand for these products during winter months in certain geographies is usually lower than demand during spring and summer months. Therefore, larger amounts of working capital are generally required during winter months in order to build inventories in anticipation of higher demand during the spring and summer months, when construction activity increases. In turn, receivables related to higher sales activity during the spring and summer months are generally collected during the fourth quarter of the year. Additionally, the Company has historically experienced changes in demand resulting from poor or unusual weather.
In addition to the factors previously mentioned, the Company is currently being affected by the following general macro-level trends:
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Global demand and pricing are uneven as a result of macroeconomic factors, and therefore, continues to hamper growth in key end markets;
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Currency volatility and continued political uncertainty in certain markets;
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Volatility in the price of copper and aluminum;
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Competitive price pressures in certain markets;
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New commodity deposits are more difficult to find, harder and more expensive to extract, and lower in quantities;
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End market demand in Latin America continues to be hampered by inconsistent construction spending and electrical infrastructure investment;
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Recovery is slow in Europe and demand continues to be uneven for a broad spectrum of products in Europe;
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The U.S. market has remained relatively stable compared to the uneven and challenging operating environments of the emerging economies;
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New communications networks are an enabling technology, which require communication infrastructure investment;
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Climate change concerns are resulting in increased regulatory energy mandates, emphasizing renewable sources of energy;
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Project timing continues to be volatile resulting in a lag in demand in all segments; and
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Countries are seeking greater energy independence for political and economic reasons.
The Company's overall financial results discussed in this section of the annual report reflect the above trends.
Results of Operations
The following table sets forth, for the periods indicated, consolidated statement of operations data in millions of dollars and as a percentage of net sales. Percentages may not add due to rounding.
Year Ended December 31, 2015 Compared with Year Ended December 31, 2014
Net Sales
The following tables set forth net sales, metal-adjusted net sales and metal pounds sold by segment, in millions. For the metal-adjusted net sales results, net sales for 2014 have been adjusted to reflect the 2015 copper average price of $2.51 per pound (a $0.61 decrease compared to 2014) and the aluminum average price of $0.88 per pound (a $0.17 decrease compared to 2014). Metal-adjusted net sales, a non-GAAP financial measure, are provided herein in order to eliminate the effect of metal price volatility from the comparison of revenues from one period to another. The comparable GAAP financial measure is set forth below. Refer to Item 1 - Business for a discussion of metal price volatility.
Net sales decreased $1,163.9 million, or 22%, to $4,225.1 million in 2015 from 2014 and metal-adjusted net sales decreased $689.2 million, or 14%, in 2015 from 2014. The decrease in metal-adjusted net sales of $689.2 million is primarily due to decreased volume of $252.1 million and unfavorable foreign currency exchange rate changes of $616.6 million on the translation of reported revenues partially offset by favorable selling price and product mix of $179.5 million. Volume, as measured by metal pounds sold, decreased by 138.3 million pounds, or 12%, in 2015 compared to 2014. Metal pounds sold, a non-GAAP measure, is provided herein as the Company believes this metric to be an appropriate measure of sales volume since it is not impacted by metal prices or foreign currency exchange rate changes.
Metal-adjusted net sales in the North America segment decreased $39.8 million, or 2%. The decrease in sales on a metal adjusted basis is due to decreased volume of $17.3 million and unfavorable foreign currency exchange rate changes of $59.9 million on the translation of reported revenues, principally related to the Canadian dollar, partially offset by favorable selling price and product mix of approximately $37.4 million. Volume, as measured by metal pounds sold, decreased by 9.5 million pounds, or 2%, in 2015 compared to 2014. The decrease was primarily attributable to demand for industrial and specialty products, particularly those used in oil and gas applications, partially offset by favorable market demand for the North American aluminum rod businesses and stable demand for communication and electric utility products.
Metal-adjusted net sales in the Europe segment decreased $284.2 million, or 23%. The decrease in sales on a metal adjusted basis is due to unfavorable foreign currency exchange rate changes of $219.4 million on the translation of reported revenues primarily related to the Euro relative to the U.S. dollar and lower volume of $82.8 million, partially offset by favorable selling price and product mix of $18.0 million. Volume, as measured by metal pounds sold, decreased by 45.4 million pounds, or 23%, in 2015 compared to 2014. The decrease in volume sold was primarily attributable to exiting of certain businesses as a result of the Company's restructuring program initiated in July 2014 and lower demand for low voltage construction and industrial products.
Metal-adjusted net sales in the Latin America segment decreased $279.2 million, or 28%. The decrease in sales on a metal adjusted basis is primarily due to unfavorable foreign currency exchange rate changes of $265.6 million on the translation of reported revenues primarily due to the weakening of certain currencies in Latin America relative to the U.S. dollar and decreased volume of $124.3 million, partially offset by favorable selling price and product mix of $110.7 million. Volume, as measured by metal pounds sold, decreased by 68.2 million pounds, or 22%, in 2015 compared to 2014. The decrease in volume is primarily attributable to the impact related to deconsolidation of the Company's Venezuelan subsidiary in the third quarter of 2015, decreased Chilean copper rod sales within the region and overall weak end market demand due to ongoing difficult economic conditions and reduced government spending.
Metal-adjusted net sales in the Africa/Asia Pacific segment decreased $86.0 million, or 26%. The decrease in sales on a metal adjusted basis is primarily due to unfavorable foreign currency exchange rate changes of $71.7 million on the translation of reported revenues primarily due to the weakening of certain currencies in Africa relative to the U.S. dollar and decreased volume of $27.7 million partially offset by favorable selling price and product mix of $13.4 million. Volume, as measured by metal pounds sold,
decreased by 15.2 million pounds, or 20%, in 2015 compared to 2014. The decrease in volume sold is primarily attributable to the weak economic conditions in Africa.
Cost of Sales
Cost of sales decreased $1,242.4 million to $3,811.3 million in 2015 from $5,053.7 million in 2014 primarily due to favorable foreign currency exchange rate changes of $632.4 million. The percentage decrease in cost of sales, 25%, is greater than the percentage decrease in sales, 22%, in 2015 primarily due to charges recognized in 2014; including long-lived asset-related charges of $104.2 million and employee separation and other costs of $32.7 million both related to the global restructuring plan, $10.1 million of costs related to the permanent closure of two manufacturing facilities in our electric utility business in North America, a long-lived asset impairment charge of $13.1 million related to the Brazil rod mill, a long-lived asset impairment charge of $29.3 million in Venezuela and a $10.3 million charge for the long-term value added tax receivable from the Venezuelan government partially offset by $24.0 million related to restructuring charges and long-lived asset impairment charges of $30.7 million related to the Company's Algeria operations recognized in 2015. As previously noted, cost of sales is raw material intensive with copper and aluminum comprising the major cost components in most of the Company's cable products. At current metal prices, material costs are approximately 85% of total product cost with copper and aluminum metal costs comprising approximately 45% of total product cost for the year ended December 31, 2015.
Gross Profit
Gross profit increased $78.5 million, or 23% in 2015 as compared to 2014. Gross profit as a percentage of sales was 10% in 2015 and 6% in 2014. The increase in gross profit as a percentage of sales is primarily due to the items listed within the Cost of Sales section above.
Selling, General and Administrative Expense
Selling, general and administrative expense decreased $19.2 million, or 5%, in 2015 from 2014 primarily due to favorable foreign currency exchange rate changes of $42.1 million, restructuring savings recognized in 2015 as a result of the July 2014 restructuring plan and the recognition of a $24.0 million accrual related to the FCPA investigation in the year ended December 31, 2014. The decrease is partially offset by costs incurred as part of the global restructuring plans of $26.5 million recognized in the year ended December 31, 2015 compared to $14.2 million recognized in the year ended December 31, 2014, recognition of a one-time charge of $12.0 million related to the deconsolidation of the Company's Venezuelan subsidiary and recognition of a $4.0 million accrual related to the FCPA investigation in the year ended December 31, 2015. SG&A as a percentage of metal-adjusted net sales was approximately 9% in 2015 and 8% in 2014.
Operating Income (Loss)
The following table sets forth operating income (loss) by segment, in millions of dollars.
The decrease in operating income for the North America segment of $17.3 million was primarily due to the negative impact of selling higher average cost inventory into a lower price environment on copper and aluminum based products in the current year, the negative impact of industrial and specialty products, particularly those used in oil and gas applications, costs incurred as part of the global restructuring plans of $12.0 million in 2015 and the recognition of a $4.0 million accrual related to the FCPA investigation. The decrease was partially offset by the recognition of a $24.0 million accrual related to the FCPA investigation and costs incurred as part of the global restructuring plans of $16.9 million in 2014 as well as the benefit of restructuring savings in 2015.
The increase in operating income for the Europe segment of $100.6 million was primarily attributable to a decrease in costs incurred as part of the global restructuring plans, $28.8 million in 2015 as compared to $115.6 million in 2014. In addition, the increase in operating income in Europe was due to the continued strong execution of the submarine turnkey project business, including the favorable impact of achieving significant project milestones during the final installation stages in one of the Company's subsea power contracts and the benefit of restructuring initiatives in 2015 compared to 2014. The increase in operating income is partially offset by a one-time charge of $12.0 million related to the deconsolidation of the Company's Venezuelan subsidiary in 2015.
The decrease in operating loss for the Latin America segment of $224.7 million was primarily attributable to the recognition of a goodwill and other indefinite-lived trade name impairment of $152.0 million in 2014, decreased costs incurred as part of the global restructuring plans for 2015 of $9.7 million as compared to costs for 2014 of $28.7 million and other non-cash charges recognized in 2014, including, a long-lived asset impairment charge related to the Brazil rod mill of $13.1 million, a long-lived asset impairment charge of $29.3 million in Venezuela and a $10.3 million charge for the long-term value added tax receivable from the Venezuelan government partially offset by end market demand pressure throughout Latin America due to the ongoing difficult economic conditions and reduced government spending.
The increase in operating loss for the Africa/Asia Pacific segment of $40.9 million was primarily attributable to weak economic conditions in Africa and asset impairment charges of $30.7 million related to the Company's Algeria operations recognized in 2015 partially offset by the recognition of a goodwill and other indefinite-lived trade name impairment of $14.4 million recognized in 2014.
Other Income (Expense)
Other income and expense primarily includes foreign currency transaction gains or losses, which result from changes in exchange rates between the designated functional currency and the currency in which a transaction is denominated, Venezuela currency devaluation charges as well as gains and losses on derivative instruments that are not designated as cash flow hedges. During 2015 and 2014, the Company recorded a $67.0 million loss and a $210.8 million loss, respectively.
For 2015, other expense was primarily attributable to the adoption of the SIMADI currency exchange system in Venezuela and ongoing remeasurement of the local balance sheet which resulted in an expense of $22.9 million, $32.4 million related to other foreign currency transaction losses and $11.7 million related to losses on derivative instruments that were not designated as cash flow hedges.
For 2014, other expense was primarily attributable to $83.1 million related to the Venezuela currency devaluation resulting from the remeasurement of the financial results at the 6.30 BsF per U.S. dollar rate to the SICAD 1 rate, $90.2 million related to the Venezuela currency devaluation resulting from the remeasurement of the financial results at the SICAD 1 rate to the SICAD 2 rate, $28.4 million of foreign currency transaction losses, and losses of $3.8 million on derivative instruments which were not designated as cash flow hedges.
Refer to Note 2 - Summary of Significant Accounting Policies for recent developments regarding the Company's Venezuelan operations and deconsolidation during the year ended December 31, 2015.
Interest Expense
Net interest expense decreased $17.2 million in 2015 as compared to 2014 primarily attributable to reductions in working capital in Latin America and applying divestiture sale proceeds to reduce net debt in 2015, as well as incremental interest expense on the Company's Senior Floating Rate Notes recognized in 2014. The Senior Floating Rate Notes were repaid in April 2015.
Tax Provision
The Company’s effective tax rate for 2015 and 2014 was 10.6% and (1.2%), respectively. The Company’s relatively low 2015 effective tax rate was primarily due to the adverse impact of operating losses incurred in jurisdictions where valuation allowances are recorded against net deferred tax assets, partially offset by tax benefits associated with the exiting of business in India and the expiration of statutes of limitation on contingent tax liabilities in various jurisdictions. The Company’s low 2014 effective tax rate was primarily due to a relatively small income tax benefit recorded on the significant pre-tax charges related to asset impairments, restructuring charges, Venezuelan currency devaluation loss, and other operating losses incurred in jurisdictions where valuation allowances are recorded against net deferred tax assets.
For the year ended December 31, 2014, the Company recognized a goodwill impairment charge of $93.6 million for which no tax benefit was recorded due to the non-deductibility of goodwill in the relevant taxing jurisdictions. In addition, due primarily to the valuation allowances recorded in various business units, relatively small tax benefits were recorded for the $73.0 million impairment charge for the indefinite-lived trade name associated with the PDIC reporting unit, the $42.4 million impairment charge related to the Company’s long-lived assets, and the $151.1 million restructuring charges related to the July 2014 restructuring plan. In addition, no tax benefits were recorded for the $173.3 million non-deductible Venezuelan currency devaluation losses.
During 2015, after weighing all positive and negative evidence, including three year cumulative loss positions, forecasted future profitability, impairments and restructuring charges, difficult market and industry conditions, and factoring in prudent and feasible tax planning strategies, valuation allowances were recorded against deferred tax assets of certain business units that did not have deferred tax valuation allowances prior to 2015. Specifically, $1.4 million of valuation allowances have been recorded against the December 31, 2015 deferred tax assets of the Brazilian automotive and South African units. During 2015, a $4.3 million tax benefit was recognized for the release of the valuation allowance against the NSW German unit's deferred tax assets due to a sustained level of profitability. In addition, several other business units maintained full deferred tax asset valuation allowances that had been established in prior years, some for which the valuation allowance amounts increased significantly due to impairments,
restructuring charges and operating losses. During 2014, valuation allowances were established against the deferred tax assets of the following business units: Venezuela ($10.7 million), Brazil ($8.4 million), Spain ($10.9 million) and Colombia ($2.3 million).
Year Ended December 31, 2014 Compared with Year Ended December 31, 2013
Net Sales
The following tables set forth net sales, metal-adjusted net sales and metal pounds sold by segment, in millions. For the metal-adjusted net sales results, net sales for 2013 have been adjusted to reflect the 2014 copper average price of $3.12 per pound (a $0.22 decrease compared to 2013) and the aluminum average price of $1.05 per pound (a $0.10 increase compared to 2013). Metal-adjusted net sales, a non-GAAP financial measure, are provided herein in order to eliminate the effect of metal price volatility from the comparison of revenues from one period to another. The comparable GAAP financial measure is set forth below. Refer to Item 1 - Business for a discussion of metal price volatility.
Net sales decreased $392.3 million , or 7%, to $5,389.0 million in 2014 from 2013 and metal-adjusted net sales decreased $331.4 million, or 6%, in 2014 from 2013. The decrease in metal-adjusted net sales of $331.4 million is primarily due to decreased volume of $127.8 million and unfavorable foreign currency exchange rate changes of $212.1 million on the translation of reported revenues partially offset by favorable selling price and product mix of $8.5 million. Volume, as measured by metal pounds sold, decreased by 55.5 million pounds, or 5%, in 2014 compared to 2013.
Metal-adjusted net sales in the North America segment decreased $188.7 million, or 7%. The decrease in sales on a metal adjusted basis is due to decreased volume of $84.5 million, unfavorable selling price and product mix of $73.8 million, and unfavorable foreign currency exchange rate changes of $30.4 million, on the translation of reported revenues, principally related to the Canadian dollar. Volume, as measured by metal pounds sold, decreased by 36.6 million pounds, or 6%, in 2014 compared to 2013. The decrease in demand was primarily due to weak utility and construction spending as a result of the uneven pace of the economic
recovery hampering growth in key end-markets. In addition, 2013 reflects a strong contribution from bare aluminum transmission projects as compared to 2014 which vary depending on project timing.
Metal-adjusted net sales in the Europe segment decreased $98.3 million, or 7%. The decrease in sales on a metal adjusted basis is due to decreased volume of $78.1 million, unfavorable selling price and product mix of $17.1 million and unfavorable foreign currency exchange rate changes of $3.1 million on the translation of reported revenues primarily related to the Euro relative to the U.S. dollar. Volume, as measured by metal pounds sold, decreased by 33.8 million pounds, or 14%, in 2014 compared to 2013. The decrease in demand was primarily attributable to continued weak economic conditions in Iberia, which negatively influenced demand across a broad spectrum of products.
Metal-adjusted net sales in the Latin America segment decreased $49.5 million, or 4%. The decrease in sales on a metal adjusted basis is primarily due to unfavorable foreign currency exchange rate changes of $153.9 million on the translation of reported revenues primarily due to the devaluation of the Venezuelan currency relative to the U.S. dollar, partially offset by increased volume of $45.3 million and favorable selling price and product mix of $59.1 million. Volume, as measured by metal pounds sold, increased by 19.6 million pounds, or 7%, in 2014 compared to 2013. The increase in volume is primarily attributable to increased Chilean copper rod sales within the region in 2014.
Metal-adjusted net sales in the Africa/Asia Pacific segment increased $5.1 million, or 1%. The increase in sales on a metal adjusted basis is primarily due to favorable selling price and product mix of $40.3 million partially offset by unfavorable foreign currency exchange rate changes of $24.7 million on the translation of reported revenues primarily due to the weakening of certain currencies in Africa relative to the U.S. dollar and decreased volume of $10.5 million. Volume, as measured by metal pounds sold, decreased by 4.7 million pounds, or 6%, in 2014 compared to 2013. The decrease in volume was primarily attributable to the decrease in electrical utility projects in northern Africa in 2014 compared to 2013.
Cost of Sales
Cost of sales decreased $122.6 million to $5,053.7 million in 2014 from $5,176.3 million in 2013. The percentage decrease in cost of sales, 2%, is less than the percentage decrease in sales, 7%, in 2014 primarily due to non-cash long-lived asset-related charges of $104.2 million and employee separation and other costs of $32.7 million both related to the global restructuring plan, $10.1 million of costs related to the permanent closure of two manufacturing facilities in our electric utility business in North America, a long-lived asset impairment charge of $13.1 million related to the Brazil rod mill recognized in 2014, a long-lived asset impairment charge of $29.3 million in Venezuela and a $10.3 million charge for the long-term value added tax receivable from the Venezuelan government partially offset by a long-lived asset impairment charge related to the Mexico assets of $14.0 million recognized in 2013. As previously noted, cost of sales is raw material intensive with copper and aluminum comprising the major cost components in most of the Company's cable products. At current metal prices, material costs are approximately 85% of total product cost with copper and aluminum metal costs comprising approximately 50% of total product cost for the year ended December 31, 2014.
Gross Profit
Gross profit decreased $269.7 million, or 45% in 2014 as compared to 2013. Gross profit as a percentage of sales was 6% in 2014 and 10% in 2013. The decrease in gross profit as a percentage of sales is primarily due to the items listed within the Cost of Sales section above, partially offset by the Company's revised profitability on a project due to the completion of a number of critical project milestones; increasing gross profit $18.3 million in the year ended December 31, 2014 and a contractual settlement received in 2014 by our German subsidiary related to a submarine turnkey project of $15.2 million.
Selling, General and Administrative Expense
Selling, general and administrative expense decreased $19.2 million, or 4%, in 2014 from 2013 primarily due to the Company's efforts to decrease SG&A costs, $13.9 million of costs related to the restatement and investigative costs recognized in 2013, favorable foreign currency exchange rate changes of $5.7 million in 2013 and a $5.0 million settlement on recovery of losses associated with reported theft of inventory within our Brazilian subsidiary in 2014, partially offset by employee separation and other costs incurred as part of the global restructuring plan of $14.2 million and due to the recognition of a $24.0 million accrual related to the FCPA investigation in Angola. SG&A as a percentage of metal-adjusted net sales was approximately 8% in 2014 and 2013.
Operating Income
The following table sets forth operating income by segment, in millions of dollars.
The decrease in operating income for the North America segment of $25.7 million was primarily due to the recognition of a $24.0 million accrual related to the FCPA investigation in Angola and $10.1 million of costs related to the permanent closure of two manufacturing facilities in our electric utility business in North America in 2014. The decrease was partially offset by a $5.0 million settlement on recovery of losses associated with reported theft of inventory within our Brazilian subsidiary in 2014.
The increase in operating loss for the Europe segment of $86.2 million was primarily attributable to a non-cash long-lived asset-related charge of $80.1 million and employee separation and other costs of $35.5 million both related to the global restructuring plan partially offset by increased profitability of the submarine turnkey project business in 2014 primarily due to the Company's revised profitability on a project due to the completion of a number of critical project milestones; increasing gross profit $18.3 million in the year ended December 31, 2014, and a contractual settlement received in 2014 by our German subsidiary related to a submarine turnkey project of $15.2 million.
The decrease in operating income for the Latin America segment of $291.7 million was primarily attributable to a non-cash impairment charge related to goodwill and other indefinite-lived trade names of $152.0 million, non-cash long-lived asset-related charges of $20.9 million and employee separation and other costs of $7.8 million both related to the global restructuring plan, a long-lived asset impairment charge of $13.1 million related to the Brazil rod mill recognized in 2014, a long-lived asset impairment charge of $29.3 million in Venezuela and a $10.3 million charge for the long-term value added tax receivable from the Venezuelan government and the negative impact due to the social unrest in Venezuela in 2014 partially offset by a long-lived asset impairment charge related to the Mexico assets of $14.0 million recognized in 2013.
The decrease in operating income for the Africa/Asia Pacific segment of $18.7 million was primarily attributable to a non-cash impairment charge related to goodwill and other indefinite-lived trade names of $14.4 million recognized in 2014.
Other Income (Expense)
Other income and expense primarily includes foreign currency transaction gains or losses, which result from changes in exchange rates between the designated functional currency and the currency in which a transaction is denominated as well as gains and losses on derivative instruments that are not designated as cash flow hedges. During 2014 and 2013, the Company recorded a $210.8 million loss and a $66.6 million loss, respectively.
For 2014, other expense was primarily attributable to $83.1 million in devaluation charges related to the Venezuela currency devaluation resulting from the remeasurement of the financial results at the 6.30 BsF per U.S. dollar rate to the SICAD 1 rate, $90.2 million related to the Venezuela currency devaluation resulting from the remeasurement of the financial results at the SICAD 1 rate to the SICAD 2 rate, $28.4 million of foreign currency transaction losses, and losses of $3.8 million on derivative instruments which were not designated as cash flow hedges.
For 2013, other expense was primarily attributable to $40.9 million related to the Venezuela currency devaluation, $4.6 million of foreign currency transaction losses which includes $17.0 million in foreign exchange gains related to copper imports in Venezuela that were approved at the 4.30 BsF per U.S. dollar rate prior to currency devaluation on February 13, 2013, and losses of $21.1 million on derivative instruments that were not designated as cash flow hedges and ineffectiveness on derivatives designated as cash flow hedges.
Interest Expense
Net interest expense decreased $6.0 million in 2014 as compared to 2013 primarily attributable to the repayment at maturity of the $355.0 million 0.875% Convertible Notes due 2013 which were repaid in the fourth quarter of 2013 partially offset by increased working capital needs in Latin America and Africa.
Tax Provision
The Company’s effective tax rate for 2014 and 2013 was (1.2%) and (442.0%), respectively. The Company’s low 2014 effective tax rate was primarily due to a relatively small income tax benefit recorded on the significant pre-tax charges related to asset impairments, restructuring charges, Venezuelan currency devaluation loss, and other operating losses incurred in jurisdictions where valuation allowances are recorded against net deferred tax assets. The Company's high effective tax rate for 2013 reflects the combined impact of significant valuation allowances recorded against deferred tax assets in various units with a recent loss history and a relatively low pre-tax income amount.
For the year ended December 31, 2014, the Company recognized a goodwill impairment charge of $93.6 million for which no tax benefit was recorded due to the non-deductibility of goodwill in the relevant taxing jurisdictions. In addition, due primarily to the valuation allowances recorded in various business units, relatively small tax benefits were recorded for the $73.0 million impairment charge for the indefinite-lived trade name associated with the PDIC reporting unit, the $42.4 million impairment charge related to the Company’s long-lived assets, and the $151.1 million restructuring charges related to the July 2014 restructuring plan. In addition, no tax benefits were recorded for the $173.3 million non-deductible Venezuelan currency devaluation losses.
During 2014, after weighing all positive and negative evidence, including three year cumulative loss positions, forecasted future profitability, impairments and restructuring charges, difficult market and industry conditions, and factoring in prudent and feasible tax planning strategies, valuation allowances were recorded against deferred tax assets of certain business units that did not have deferred tax valuation allowances prior to 2014. Specifically, valuation allowances have been recorded against the December 31, 2014 deferred tax assets of the following business units: Venezuela ($10.7 million), Brazil ($8.4 million), Spain ($10.9 million) and Colombia ($2.3 million). In addition, several other business units maintained full deferred tax asset valuation allowances that had been established in prior years, some for which the valuation allowance amounts increased significantly due to impairments, restructuring charges and operating losses.
Preferred Stock Dividends
During 2013, the Company accrued and paid $0.3 million in dividends on its Series A preferred stock. The Company's outstanding shares of the Series A preferred stock were mandatorily redeemed on November 24, 2013. Prior to the redemption date, all but two shareholders elected to convert their shares into shares of the Company’s common stock at the conversion ratio of 5.056 shares of common stock per share of Series A preferred stock. As a result of the conversions and mandatory redemption, as of November 25, 2013, no shares of the Series A preferred stock were outstanding during 2014.
Liquidity and Capital Resources
Cash flows from operations as well as borrowings under the Company's Revolving Credit Facility provide the primary source for financing operating expenses and other short term liquidity needs. As necessary, the Company incurs additional borrowings to fund working capital needs, debt and interest payments, as well as discretionary investment in internal product development, acquisitions, cash dividends and to fund tax payments. The overall cash position of the Company reflects the business results and a global cash management strategy that incorporates liquidity management, economic factors, and tax considerations.
The Company's short term borrowings vary by period based on the Company's working capital requirements which is dependent on incremental demand for products and changes in the price of copper, aluminum, and other raw material cost inputs. At December 31, 2015, current assets exceeded current liabilities by $792.6 million. Based upon historical experience, the cash on its balance sheet and the expected availability of funds under its credit facilities, the Company believes its sources of liquidity will be sufficient to enable it to meet funding requirements for cash dividends, working capital, capital expenditures, debt repayment, salaries and related benefits, restructuring activities, interest and taxes for the next twelve months and foreseeable future. The Company maintains approximately $485.1 million of excess availability under its various credit facilities around the world. On March 31, 2015, the Company repaid its $125.0 million of Senior Floating Rate Notes at maturity by utilizing availability under its Revolving Credit Facility.
The Company's North American and principal European operations generally borrow and repay under its Revolving Credit Facility multiple times per week for working capital needs; borrowing on a short term basis is the most effective method to reduce interest costs based on the terms of the agreement. The Company's European operations also participate in accounts payable confirming arrangements with several European financial institutions to address working capital requirements in the business. At December 31, 2015, the arrangements had a maximum availability limit of the equivalent of approximately $161.3 million, of which approximately $115.4 million was utilized. The Company's Latin America and Africa/Asia Pacific operations utilize various short term credit facilities for working capital purposes.
General Cable Corporation is a holding company with no operations of its own. All of the Company’s operations are conducted, and net sales are generated, by its subsidiaries and investments. Accordingly, the Company’s cash flow comes from the cash flows of its global operations. The Company’s ability to use cash flow from its international operations, if necessary, has historically been adversely affected by limitations on the Company’s ability to repatriate such earnings tax efficiently. As of December 31, 2015 and 2014, approximately 99% of cash and cash equivalents were held outside of the U.S. by the Company's foreign subsidiaries. If these funds are needed for the Company's operations in the U.S., repatriation of the funds would generally result in foreign
withholding taxes and the recognition of U.S. taxable income. However, the Company does not foresee a need to repatriate this cash to fund U.S. operations. In addition, the Company's Revolving Credit Facility provides the Company flexibility in financing operating expenses and any other short term liquidity needs of the Company's North American and European operations.
Summary of Cash Flows
Operating cash inflow from continuing operations of $175.1 million in 2015 reflects a net working capital source of $104.4 million driven principally by a decrease in receivables of $110.3 million due to a decrease in volume sold and lower copper and aluminum prices in the fourth quarter of 2015 compared to the fourth quarter of 2014 and due to a decrease in inventory of $25.0 million related to the continued efficient management of inventory levels in 2015 and lower copper and aluminum prices in the fourth quarter of 2015 compared to the fourth quarter of 2014. The net working capital source was partially offset by a decrease in accounts payable, accrued and other liabilities of $60.5 million in 2015 which is primarily driven by the decrease in working capital needs. In addition, the operating cash inflow from continuing operations of $175.1 million in 2015 reflects a source of $70.7 million related to net income (loss) adjusted for depreciation and amortization, foreign currency exchange (gains) losses, deferred income tax income, Venezuela deconsolidation charge, non-cash asset impairment charges, convertible debt instrument non-cash interest charges, and gains on disposal of subsidiaries and other property.
Operating cash inflow from continuing operations of $94.6 million in 2014 reflects a net working capital source of $31.7 million driven principally by a decrease in inventory of $113.0 million due to the achievement of an aggressive inventory reduction targeted by management in the latter portion of the year and the lower copper costs at December 31, 2014 compared to December 31, 2013, partially offset by a decrease in accounts payable, accrued and other liabilities of $115.4 million in 2014 which is primarily driven by the decrease in working capital needs partially offset by the recognition of a restructuring accrual of $33.4 million and a FCPA accrual of $24.0 million in 2014. In addition, the operating cash inflow from continuing operations of $94.6 million in 2014 reflects a source of $62.9 million related to net income (loss) adjusted for depreciation and amortization, amortization on restricted stock awards, foreign currency exchange (gains) losses, deferred income tax income, goodwill and intangible asset impairment charges, non-cash asset impairment charges, convertible debt instrument non-cash interest charges, and gains on disposal of PDP and PDEP and other property.
Operating cash outflow from continuing operations of $0.9 million in 2013 reflects a net working capital use of $180.0 million driven principally by a decrease in accounts payable, accrued and other liabilities of $113.5 million. The decrease in accounts payable, accrued and other liabilities is due both to the implementation of the Revolving Credit Facility in the Company’s principal European operations which resulted in a reduction of payable balances including a more effective use of existing cash balances and an effort to more effectively utilize cash balances in certain Latin America and Africa/Asia Pacific units to reduce outstanding accounts payable. Partially offsetting the net working capital use of $180.0 million in the twelve fiscal months of 2013 was $179.1 million of overall net cash inflows related to net income (loss) adjusted for depreciation and amortization, amortization on restricted stock awards, foreign currency loss, non-cash asset impairment charge, deferred income tax income, convertible debt instrument non cash interest charges, and the losses on the disposal of property.
Cash flow used by investing activities from continuing operations was $61.7 million in 2015 principally reflecting capital expenditures of $56.5 million and $8.2 million reduction of cash related to the deconsolidation of Venezuela operations. The Company currently anticipates capital spending to be approximately $70 million to $80 million in 2016.
Financing activities from continuing operations resulted in $258.8 million of cash outflows in 2015 as compared to cash outflows of $120.7 million in 2014. The Company decreased net borrowings due to reductions in working capital and the use of cash proceeds generated from the sale of the Company's subsidiaries related to the divestiture plan. During the year ended December 31, 2015 , the Company repaid its $125.0 million of Senior Floating Rate Notes at maturity by utilizing availability under its Revolving Credit Facility. During the years ended December 31, 2015 and 2014, the Company paid dividends in total of approximately $35.3 million and $35.4 million to all common shareholders of record, respectively. Future declarations of dividends and the establishment of future record dates and payment dates are subject to the final determination of our Board of Directors. In determining dividends, the Board of Directors takes into consideration items such as general business conditions, financial performance, projected cash flows and anticipated financing needs. Future payments of dividends are also subject to the Company's Revolving Credit Facility, the indentures governing the Subordinated Convertible Notes and 5.75% Senior Notes, and the requirements of the Delaware General Corporation law. In addition, the Company purchased $30.7 million, or 1,000,000 of its common shares at an average price of $30.73 per share, during the year ended December 31, 2014.
Financing activities from continuing operations resulted in $120.7 million of cash outflows in 2014 as compared to cash outflows of $113.2 million in 2013. The Company decreased borrowings on the Revolving Credit Facility due to reductions in working capital and the use of cash proceeds generated from the sale of the Company’s interest in the Philippines in 2014. During 2013, the Company fully satisfied and extinguished its $355.0 million, 0.875% Convertible Notes, at maturity using cash on hand and borrowings under its Revolving Credit Facility. During the year ended December 31, 2013, the Company paid dividends in total of approximately $26.7 million to all common shareholders of record. In addition, the Company purchased $19.5 million, or 597,531 common shares at an average price of $32.65 per share, during the year ended December 31, 2013.
The Company evaluates various factors such as future operating cash flow requirements, other cash flow expectations, investment and financing strategic plans and the overall cost of capital to determine the appropriate levels of short and long-term debt to maintain. Refer to "Debt and Other Contractual Obligations" below for details.
Debt and Other Contractual Obligations
The Company had outstanding debt obligations of $1,078.6 million as of December 31, 2015 and maintained approximately $485.1 million of excess availability under its various credit facilities around the world as well as approximately $45.9 million available under foreign accounts payable confirming arrangements with financial institutions. The Company utilizes short and long-term debt to address working capital needs, restructuring payments, debt repayments and interest payments as well as discretionary investments in internal product development, acquisitions, payment of dividends, repurchase of common stock and taxes. Short-term liquidity and working capital needs are generally supported through operating cash flows. The Company maintains ratings on its public debt; therefore, the Company has and expects to continue to obtain market rates on any new borrowings.
On July 21, 2011, the Company entered into a $400 million Revolving Credit Facility, which was first amended in 2012 to increase the facility size to $700 million and then subsequently amended and restated on September 6, 2013 and further amended on October 22, 2013, May 20, 2014, September 23, 2014 and October 28, 2014, to, among other things, increase the Revolving Credit Facility to $1.0 billion, $630 million of which may be borrowed by the U.S. borrower, $300 million of which may be borrowed by the European borrowers and $70 million of which may be borrowed by the Canadian borrower. The Revolving Credit Facility contains restrictions including limitations on, among other things, distributions and dividends, acquisitions and investments, indebtedness, liens and affiliate transactions. The Revolving Credit Facility provides the Company with flexibility and the restrictions in the Revolving Credit Facility generally only apply in the event that the Company's availability under the Revolving Credit Facility falls below certain specific thresholds.
The Revolving Credit Facility has a maturity date of September 6, 2018. The commitment amount under the Revolving Credit Facility may be increased by an additional $250 million, subject to certain conditions and approvals as set forth in the Revolving Credit Facility. The Revolving Credit Facility requires maintenance of a minimum fixed charge coverage ratio of 1.00 to 1.00 if availability under the Revolving Credit Facility is less than the greater of $100 million or 10% of the then existing aggregate lender commitment under the Revolving Credit Facility. As of December 31, 2015 the availability under the Revolving Credit Facility is greater than $100 million.
Failure to comply with any of the covenants, financial tests and ratios required by the Company's existing or future debt obligations could result in a default under those agreements and under other agreements containing cross-default provisions, as defined in the Company's Revolving Credit Facility, Subordinated Convertible Notes, 5.75% Senior Notes and various other credit facilities maintained by the Company's subsidiaries. A default would permit lenders to cease making further extensions of credit, accelerate the maturity of the debt under these agreements and foreclose upon any collateral securing that debt. Indebtedness under the Company's Revolving Credit Facility is secured by: (a) for US borrowings under the Revolving Credit Facility, a first priority security interest in substantially all of the Company's domestic assets and, (b) for Canadian and European borrowings under the Revolving Credit Facility, a first priority security interest in substantially all of the Company's domestic and Canadian assets and certain assets of the Company's Spanish, French and German subsidiaries party to the Revolving Credit Facility. In addition, the lenders under the Company's Revolving Credit Facility have received a pledge of (i) 100% of the equity interests in substantially all of the Company's domestic subsidiaries, and (ii) 65% of the voting equity interests in and 100% of the non-voting equity interests in certain of the Company's foreign subsidiaries, including the Company's Canadian subsidiaries and the Company's Spanish, French and German subsidiaries party to the Revolving Credit Facility. The Company also has incurred secured debt in connection with some of its European operations. The lenders under these European secured credit facilities also have liens on assets of certain of our European subsidiaries. As a result of these pledges and liens, if the Company fails to meet its payment or other obligations under any of its secured indebtedness, the lenders under the applicable credit agreement would be entitled to foreclose and liquidate substantially all of the Company's assets. Broadly, cross-default provisions would permit lenders to cause such indebtedness to become due prior to its stated maturity in the event a default is not cured for a period of time under the terms of one or more financing agreements, or a change in control or a fundamental change occurs.
As of December 31, 2015 and December 31, 2014, the Company was in compliance with all material debt covenants.
The Company’s defined benefit plans at December 31, 2015 and 2014 were underfunded by $121.0 million and $147.0 million, respectively. The Company recorded an after-tax loss of $15.1 million in 2015 and $25.7 million in 2014 to accumulated other comprehensive income. The Company estimates its 2016 pension expense for its defined benefit pension plans will be approximately $13.1 million and cash contributions are expected to be approximately $5.1 million. In 2015, pension expense was $15.1 million and cash contributions were $13.4 million.
The Company anticipates being able to meet its obligations as they come due based on historical experience and the expected availability of funds under its credit facilities. The Company’s contractual obligations and commercial commitments as of December 31, 2015 (in millions of dollars) are summarized below:
(1)
This table does not include interest payments on General Cable’s revolving credit facilities because the future amounts are based on variable interest rates and the amount of the borrowings under the Revolving Credit Facility fluctuate depending upon the Company’s working capital requirements.
(2)
This table does not include derivative instruments as the ultimate cash outlays cannot be reasonably predicted. Refer to Note 11 - Financial Instruments and Item 7A
ITEM 7A.
QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURES ABOUT MARKET RISK
The Company is exposed to various market risks, including changes in interest rates, foreign currency exchange rates and raw material (commodity) prices. To manage risk associated with the volatility of these natural business exposures, the Company enters into interest rate, commodity and foreign currency derivative agreements as well as copper and aluminum forward pricing agreements. The Company does not purchase or sell derivative instruments for trading purposes. The Company does not engage in trading activities involving commodity contracts for which a lack of marketplace quotations would necessitate the use of fair value estimation techniques.
Interest Rate Risk
The Company is subject to interest rate risk on its fixed and floating rate debt. As of December 31, 2015, $289.9 million of the Company’s debt and capital lease obligations of $1,078.6 million were subject to changes in short-term interest rates.
As it relates to the Company’s variable rate debt, assuming no changes in the Company’s financial structure, if market interest rates average 1% higher over the next twelve months than the market interest rates as of December 31, 2015, interest expense for the next twelve months would increase by approximately $3 million. This amount was determined by calculating the effect of the hypothetical interest rate on our variable rate debt. This calculated, hypothetical increase in interest expense for the following twelve months may be different from the actual increase in interest expense from a 1% increase in interest rates due to varying interest rate reset dates on the Company’s floating rate debt.
Raw Material Price Risk
The costs of copper and aluminum, the most significant raw materials we use, have been subject to considerable volatility caused by supply conditions, weather, political and economic variables as well as other unknown and unpredictable variables. This copper and aluminum price volatility is representative of all reportable segments. In addition, the Company has historically experienced volatility on raw materials other than copper and aluminum used in cable manufacturing, such as insulating compounds, steel and wood reels, freight costs and energy costs. Generally, the Company attempts to adjust selling prices in most of its markets in order to offset the impact of this raw material price and other cost volatility on reported earnings. The Company’s ability to execute and ultimately realize price adjustments is influenced by competitive conditions in its markets, including manufacturing capacity utilization.
The Company enters into commodity instruments to hedge the purchase of copper, aluminum as well as other raw materials in future periods. Principal transactions hedged during the year were firm sales and purchase commitments. In 2015, the Company accounted for these commodity instruments as economic hedges. Changes in the fair value of economic hedges are recognized in current period earnings in other income (expense).
In 2015, the Company estimates that a 10% increase in copper and aluminum costs over current market prices, would have increased the Company's Cost of sales approximately $170 million. The impact of this would directly impact gross profit if the Company was unable to increase prices with the rise in the price of copper and aluminum.
Foreign Currency Exchange Rate Risk
The Company operates in multiple countries throughout the globe; therefore, the Company is exposed to fluctuations in foreign currency exchange rates. The Company is exposed to transactional foreign currency risk, the risk when transactions not denominated in the functional currency in which the Company operates are revalued. The Company enters into foreign currency exchange contracts principally to hedge the currency fluctuations in certain transactions denominated in foreign currencies, thereby limiting the Company's risk that would otherwise result from changes in exchange rates. Principal transactions hedged during the year were firm sales and purchase commitments. The fair value of foreign currency contracts represents the amount required to enter into offsetting contracts with similar remaining maturities based on quoted market prices.
In 2015, the Company accounted for these foreign currency exchange contracts as economic hedges. Changes in the fair value of economic hedges are recognized in current period earnings in other income (expense).
In addition, to mitigate these risks, the Company believes it is appropriate to finance those operations with borrowings denominated in the local currency to the extent practicable where debt financing is desirable or necessary. Considerations which influence the amount of such borrowings include long- and short-term business plans, tax implications, and the availability of borrowings with acceptable interest rates and terms. In those countries where the local currency is the designated functional currency, this strategy mitigates the risk of reported losses or gains in the event the foreign currency strengthens or weakens against the U.S. dollar.
The Company also has exposure to foreign currency exchange risk when the results of its international operating units are translated from the local currency into the U.S. dollar. At December 31, 2015 and 2014, the accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) account included in the total equity section of the Consolidated Balance Sheet included a cumulative translation loss of $275.6 million and $185.1 million, respectively. A 10% increase in the value of the US dollar relative to foreign currencies would increase the cumulative translation loss resulting in a cumulative translation loss of approximately $65 million in 2015. This sensitivity analysis is inherently limited as it assumes that rates of multiple foreign currencies will always move in the same direction relative to the value of the U.S. dollar.
Uncertainty in the global market conditions has resulted in, and may continue to cause, significant volatility in foreign currency exchange rates which could increase these risks, particularly in the Company’s emerging or developing markets within its Latin America and Africa/Asia Pacific segments, which have historically been subject to considerable foreign currency exchange rate volatility. On October 2, 2015, the Company deconsolidated its Venezuelan subsidiary due to a lack of control over the Company's Venezuelan subsidiary and began accounting for the investment in the Venezuelan subsidiary using the cost method of accounting. See to Note 2 - Summary of Significant Accounting Policies for additional details.
ITEM 8.
ITEM 8.
FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND SUPPLEMENTARY DATA
ITEM 9.
ITEM 9.
CHANGES IN AND DISAGREEMENTS WITH ACCOUNTANTS ON ACCOUNTING AND FINANCIAL DISCLOSURE
None.
ITEM 9A.
ITEM 9A.
CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES
The Company maintains disclosure controls and procedures that are designed to ensure that information required to be disclosed in the Company's reports under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”), is recorded, processed, summarized and reported within the time periods specified in the SEC's rules and forms, and that such information is accumulated and communicated to management, including the Company's Chief Executive Officer (“CEO”) and Chief Financial Officer (“CFO”) as appropriate to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosure. 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.
Management, under the supervision and with the participation of our CEO and CFO, evaluated the effectiveness of the Company's disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Rule 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e) under the Exchange Act) as of the end of the period covered by this report (the “Evaluation Date”). Based upon that evaluation, the CEO and CFO have concluded that the design and operation of the Company's disclosure controls and procedures at a reasonable assurance level were effective as of December 31, 2015.
Management's Annual Report on Internal Control over Financial Reporting
Management, under the supervision of the CEO and CFO, is responsible for establishing and maintaining adequate internal control over financial reporting. Internal control over financial reporting, as defined in Rules 13a-15(f) and 15d-15(f) promulgated under the Exchange Act, is a process designed by, or under the supervision of, the CEO and CFO and is effected by the board of directors, management and other personnel to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external reporting purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles (“GAAP”). Internal control over financial reporting includes those policies and procedures that:
•
Pertain to the maintenance of records that, in reasonable detail, accurately and fairly reflect the transactions and dispositions of the assets of the Company;
•
Provide reasonable assurance that transactions are recorded as necessary to permit preparation of financial statements in accordance with GAAP, and that the receipts and expenditures of the Company are being made only in accordance with appropriate authorization of management and the board of directors; and
•
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.
Management evaluated the effectiveness of the Company's internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2015 using the framework established in "Internal Control-Integrated Framework (2013)" issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission (“COSO”). Based on this assessment, management concluded that, as of December 31, 2015, the Company’s internal control over financial reporting was effective.
The effectiveness of the Company’s internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2015 has been audited by Deloitte & Touche LLP, an independent registered public accounting firm, as stated in their report which appears herein.
Changes in Internal Control Over Financial Reporting
There have been no changes in the Company’s internal control over financial reporting, as such item is defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(f) and 15d-15(f), during the fiscal quarter ended December 31, 2015, that have materially affected, or are reasonably likely to materially affect the Company’s internal control over financial reporting.
REPORT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM
To the Board of Directors and Shareholders of
General Cable Corporation
Highland Heights, Kentucky
We have audited the internal control over financial reporting of General Cable Corporation and subsidiaries (the "Company") as of December 31, 2015, based on criteria established in Internal Control - Integrated Framework (2013) issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission. The Company'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 Annual 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 by, or under the supervision of, the company's principal executive and principal financial officers, or persons performing similar functions, and effected by the company's board of directors, management, and other personnel 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 the inherent limitations of internal control over financial reporting, including the possibility of collusion or improper management override of controls, material misstatements due to error or fraud may not be prevented or detected on a timely basis. Also, projections of any evaluation of the effectiveness of the internal control over financial reporting to future periods are subject to the risk that the controls may become inadequate because of changes in conditions, or that the degree of compliance with the policies or procedures may deteriorate.
In our opinion, the Company maintained, in all material respects, effective internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2015, based on the criteria established in Internal Control - Integrated Framework (2013) issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission.
We have also audited, in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States), the consolidated financial statements and financial statement schedule as of and for the year ended December 31, 2015 of the Company and our report dated February 29, 2016 expressed an unqualified opinion on those financial statements and financial statement schedule.
/s/ Deloitte & Touche LLP
Cincinnati, Ohio
February 29, 2016
ITEM 9B.
ITEM 9B.
OTHER INFORMATION
None.
PART III.
ITEM 10.
ITEM 10.
DIRECTORS, EXECUTIVE OFFICERS AND CORPORATE GOVERNANCE
See the information on the Company’s Executive Officers in Item 1 - Business - Executive Officers of the Registrant. Except as set forth in Item 1 - Business, the additional information required by this item, including information on the Directors of the Company, will be included in the definitive Proxy Statement which General Cable intends to file with the SEC within 120 days after December 31, 2015, and is incorporated herein by reference.
The Company has adopted a Code of Ethics and Business Conduct that applies to its directors, officers (including the Company’s principal executive officer, principal financial officer and principal accounting officer) and employees. A Copy of the Code of Ethics and Business Conduct, is available on the Company’s website, www.generalcable.com, and may be found under the “Investor Information” section by clicking on “Corporate Governance”. This document is also available in print to any shareholders who request it. The Company intends to satisfy the disclosure requirement under Item 5.05 of Form 8-K regarding an amendment to, or waiver from, a provision of our Code of Ethics by posting such information on our website at the location specified above.
ITEM 11.
ITEM 11.
EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION
The information required by this item will be included in the definitive Proxy Statement which General Cable intends to file with the SEC within 120 days after December 31, 2015, and is incorporated herein by reference.
ITEM 12.
ITEM 12.
SECURITY OWNERSHIP OF CERTAIN BENEFICIAL OWNERS AND MANAGEMENT AND RELATED STOCKHOLDER MATTERS
The information required by this item will be included in the definitive Proxy Statement which General Cable intends to file with the SEC within 120 days after December 31, 2015, and is incorporated herein by reference.
ITEM 13.
ITEM 13.
CERTAIN RELATIONSHIPS AND RELATED TRANSACTIONS, AND DIRECTOR INDEPENDENCE
The information required by this item will be included in the definitive Proxy Statement which General Cable intends to file with the SEC within 120 days after December 31, 2015, and is incorporated herein by reference.
ITEM 14.
ITEM 14.
PRINCIPAL ACCOUNTING FEES AND SERVICES
The information required by this item will be included in the definitive Proxy Statement which General Cable intends to file with the SEC within 120 days after December 31, 2015, and is incorporated herein by reference.
PART IV.
ITEM 15.
ITEM 15.
EXHIBITS AND FINANCIAL STATEMENT SCHEDULE
(a) Documents filed, or furnished as applicable, as part of the 2015 Annual Report on Form 10-K:
1. Consolidated Financial Statements are included in Part II, Item 8 - Financial Statements and Supplementary Data.
2. Financial Statement Schedule filed herewith for 2015, 2014 and 2013:
II. Valuation and Qualifying Accounts Page 118
All other schedules for which provisions are made in the applicable SEC regulation have been omitted as they are not applicable, not required, or the required information is included in the Consolidated Financial Statements or Notes thereto.
3. The exhibits listed on the accompanying Exhibit Index are filed or furnished, as applicable herewith or incorporated herein by reference.
Documents indicated by a double asterisk (**) are filed herewith; documents indicated by an asterisk (*) identify each management contract or compensatory plan. Documents not indicated by a double asterisk are incorporated by reference to the document indicated. The warranties, representations and covenants contained in any of the agreements included herein or which appear as exhibits hereto (or as exhibits, schedules, annexes or other attachments thereto) should not be relied upon by buyers, sellers or holders of the Company’s securities and are not intended as warranties, representations or covenants to any individual or entity except as specifically set forth in such agreement.
Signatures
Pursuant to the requirements of Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, General Cable Corporation has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized.
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, this report has been signed below by the following persons on behalf of General Cable Corporation and in the capacities and on the date indicated.
* By /s/ EMERSON C. MOSER
Emerson C. Moser
Attorney - in -fact
Exhibit Index
REPORT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM
To the Board of Directors and Shareholders of
General Cable Corporation
Highland Heights, Kentucky
We have audited the accompanying consolidated balance sheets of General Cable Corporation and subsidiaries (the "Company") as of December 31, 2015 and 2014, and the related consolidated statements of operations and comprehensive income (loss), cash flows and changes in total equity for each of the three years in the period ended December 31, 2015. Our audits also included the financial statement schedule listed in the Index at Item 15. These financial statements and financial statement schedule are the responsibility of the Company's management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on these financial statements and financial statement 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, such consolidated financial statements present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of General Cable Corporation and subsidiaries as of December 31, 2015 and 2014, and the results of their operations and their cash flows for each of the three years in the period ended December 31, 2015, in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America. Also, in our opinion, the 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 have also audited, in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States), the Company's internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2015, based on the criteria established in Internal Control - Integrated Framework (2013) issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission and our report dated February 29, 2016 expressed an unqualified opinion on the Company's internal control over financial reporting.
/s/ Deloitte & Touche LLP
Cincinnati, Ohio
February 29, 2016
GENERAL CABLE CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES
Consolidated Statements of Operations and Comprehensive Income (Loss)
(in millions, except per share data)
See accompanying Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.
GENERAL CABLE CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES
Consolidated Balance Sheets
(in millions, except share data)
See accompanying Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.
GENERAL CABLE CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES
Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows (in millions)
See accompanying Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.
GENERAL CABLE CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES
Consolidated Statements of Changes in Total Equity (dollars in millions, share amounts in thousands)
See accompanying Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.
GENERAL CABLE CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
1. General
General Cable Corporation (the Company) is a global leader in the development, design, manufacture, marketing and distribution of copper, aluminum and fiber optic wire and cable products for use in the energy, industrial, construction, specialty and communications markets. The Company sells copper, aluminum and fiber optic wire and cable products worldwide. The Company additionally engages in the design, integration, and installation on a turn-key basis for products such as high and extra-high voltage terrestrial and submarine systems. Accordingly, the Company analyzes its worldwide operations based on four geographical segments: North America, Europe, Latin America, and Africa/Asia Pacific. Additional financial information regarding the segments appears in Note 18 - Segment Information. As of December 31, 2015, General Cable operated 42 manufacturing facilities in 19 countries with regional distribution centers around the world in addition to the corporate headquarters in Highland Heights, Kentucky.
2. Summary of Significant Accounting Policies
Principles of Consolidation
The Company’s consolidated financial statements include the accounts of wholly-owned subsidiaries and majority-owned controlled subsidiaries. The Company records its investment in each unconsolidated affiliated Company (generally 20-50 percent ownership in which it has the ability to exercise significant influence) at its respective equity in net assets. Other investments (generally less than 20 percent ownership) are recorded at cost. All intercompany transactions and balances among the consolidated companies have been eliminated.
Prior to October 2, 2015, the Company included the results of the Venezuelan operations in the Consolidated Financial Statements using the consolidation method of accounting. The Company’s Venezuelan earnings and cash flows are reflected in the historical Consolidated Financial Statements using a combination of official exchange rates, with imports of copper at the essential finished goods rate of 6.30 bolivars per U.S. dollar and the SICAD 1 rate and the remaining business at the SICAD 1, SICAD 2 and SIMADI rates. Evolving conditions in Venezuela, including currency exchange regulations which reduced access to dollars through currency exchange markets and local market dynamics, have resulted in an other-than-temporary lack of exchangeability between the Venezuelan bolivar and U.S. dollar, and have restricted the Company's Venezuelan operations’ ability to pay dividends and satisfy certain other obligations denominated in U.S. dollars. Additionally, the existence of other governmental limitations have restricted the Company's ability to control its Venezuelan operations and as of the third quarter of 2015 the Company's copper production had been idled for approximately six months, and the aluminum was being produced at extremely low levels. The currency and other controls in Venezuela have significantly limited the Company's ability to realize the benefits from earnings of the Company’s Venezuelan operations and to access the resulting liquidity provided by those operations. The Company expects that this condition will continue for the foreseeable future. For accounting purposes, this lack of exchangeability and governmental restrictions on operations have resulted in a lack of control over the Company's Venezuelan subsidiary. Management has continuously evaluated the conditions in Venezuela, and concluded to deconsolidate as of October 2, 2015, considering the evolving macroeconomic deterioration in Venezuela, including a significant decrease of oil prices in the third quarter, further government intervention with respect to the Company and its operations impeding its ability to effectively manage its operations. No U.S. dollars have been received by the Venezuelan subsidiary in over one year, despite significant efforts made by the Company. Management concluded in the third quarter that given that these circumstances, it cannot be considered a temporary situation. Therefore, in accordance with ASC 810, the Company deconsolidated its Venezuelan subsidiary and began accounting for the investment in the Venezuelan subsidiary using the cost method of accounting.
This change, which the Company made effective October 2, 2015, resulted in a third quarter one-time charge of $12.0 million recorded in the SG&A caption on the Consolidated Statements of Operations and Comprehensive Income (Loss) to recognize the fair value of the cost method investment, resulting in full impairment. Such impairment was recorded in the Company's European reportable segment, which is due to the legal ownership structure of the Venezuelan subsidiary. There were no foreign currency translation gains or losses previously recorded in accumulated other comprehensive income as the US dollar was the functional currency of the Venezuelan subsidiary. The Company's Venezuelan operations’ cash balance of $8.2 million at the date of deconsolidation (previously measured using the SIMADI exchange rates), is no longer reported in Cash and cash equivalents in the Company's Consolidated Balance Sheet. There were no intercompany receivables due from the Venezuelan subsidiary at December 31, 2015. At December 31, 2015, there was an intercompany payable of $2.9 million from the Company's Peru subsidiary that was reclassified to a trade payable in the Company's Consolidated Balance Sheet.
Since October 2, 2015, the Company's financial results have not included the operating results of its Venezuelan subsidiary. The Company's financial results will only include U.S. dollar payments received from its Venezuelan subsidiary. Dividends, if any, from the Venezuelan subsidiary are recorded as operating income upon receipt of the cash. We will continue to monitor the
conditions in Venezuela and may return to consolidating our Venezuelan subsidiary should the Company’s ability to exert operational control return, as defined under US GAAP accounting rules. As of December 31, 2015, there have been no material developments in the conditions in Venezuela, including currency controls and governmental restrictions on operations, and this cost method investment has zero carrying value.
Variable Interest Entities
The Company evaluates all of our interests in variable interest entities (“VIEs”) for consolidation. When our interests are determined to be variable interests, we assess whether we are deemed to be the primary beneficiary of the VIE. The primary beneficiary of a VIE is required to consolidate the VIE. ASC 810 defines the primary beneficiary as the party that has both (i) the power to direct the activities of the VIE that most significantly impact its economic performance, and (ii) the obligation to absorb losses and the right to receive benefits from the VIE which could be potentially significant. The Company considers its variable interests as well as any variable interests of its related parties in making this determination. Where both of these factors are present, the Company is deemed to be the primary beneficiary and it consolidates the VIE. Where either one of these factors is not present, the Company is not the primary beneficiary and does not consolidate the VIE.
The Company performs ongoing reassessments of: (1) whether any entities previously evaluated under the majority voting interest framework have become VIEs, based on certain events, and therefore subject to the VIE consolidation framework, and (2) whether changes in the facts and circumstances regarding our involvement with a VIE causes our consolidation conclusion regarding the VIE to change.
Subsequent to the deconsolidation of the Company’s Venezuelan subsidiary under the majority voting interest framework on October 2, 2015, the subsidiary is considered a VIE. The Company concluded that it is not deemed to be the primary beneficiary, and accordingly does not consolidate this subsidiary. To assess whether the Company has the power to direct the activities of the subsidiary that most significantly impact the subsidiary’s economic performance, the Company considered all facts and circumstances, including identifying the activities that most significantly impact the subsidiary’s economic performance, and determining if the Company has power over those activities.
The Company is not obligated to provide, nor has it provided, any financial support to its Venezuelan subsidiary subsequent to deconsolidation. As such, the risk associated with the Company's involvement in this VIE is limited to the carrying value of the Company's investment in the entity, and any receivables due from the entity. As of December 31, 2015, the Company's maximum risk of loss related to VIEs in which the Company was not the primary beneficiary was zero.
Discontinued Operations
The Company evaluates long-lived assets that have been sold, to be sold or abandoned to determine if the results of the business should classified as discontinued operations in accordance with ASU 2014-08, "Reporting Discontinued Operations and Disclosures of Disposals of Components of an Entity." During the year ended December 31, 2015, the Company determined the disposals of the PDP and PDEP, Fiji, Keystone and Thailand businesses combined with the businesses held for sale (the remaining Asia Pacific Operations) result in the Company’s disposal of a major geographical area, Asia Pacific. This disposal is considered a strategic shift that has and will have a major effect on the Company's operations and financial results; therefore, the results of the Asia Pacific Operations have been reclassified as discontinued operations for all periods presented. Previously the results of these businesses included certain allocated corporate costs, which have been reallocated to the remaining continuing operations within the Africa/Asia Pacific segment on a retrospective basis.
As a result of the Company’s strategic shift out of the Asia Pacific Operations, the Africa/Asia Pacific segment is now comprised primarily of the Company’s Africa businesses. As of December 31, 2015, the Company determined that the remaining businesses in the Africa/Asia Pacific segment, the Africa businesses, did not meet the held for sale criteria set forth in ASC 360 primarily driven by management’s belief that the probability of a sale within one year is uncertain. The financial results of the Company's Africa businesses are presented as continuing operations in the Consolidated Financial Statements for all periods presented. Refer to Note 3 - Assets and Liabilities Held for Sale and Discontinued Operations for additional details.
Use of Estimates
The preparation of the financial statements in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting period. These estimates are based on historical experience and information that is available to management about current events and actions the Company may take in the future. Significant items subject to estimates and assumptions include valuation allowances for accounts receivable and deferred income taxes; legal, compliance, environmental and asbestos liabilities; uncertain tax positions; inventory costing and valuation, assets and obligations related to pension and other postretirement benefits; business combination accounting and related purchase accounting valuations; long-lived assets, goodwill and intangible valuations; financial instruments; self-insured workers’ compensation and health insurance reserves; and revenue
recognized under the percentage-of-completion method. There can be no assurance that actual results will not differ from these estimates.
Historically, the Company has not experienced material changes in estimates as it relates to the revenue recognized under the percentage of completion method. However, in 2014, the Company completed a number of critical project milestones related to one certain submarine turnkey project at the Company's German submarine power cable manufacturing facility and resolved certain claims with the customer. As a result the Company determined to no longer use the zero-profit method of accounting for this project, which had been used due to certain project failures. Based on this change in estimate and the resolution of certain claims, the Company's gross profit increased $18.3 million in the year ended December 31, 2014. There was no material impact to gross profit as a result of changes in estimates related to revenue recognition under the percentage of completion method in 2013 or 2015.
Revenue Recognition
The majority of the Company’s revenue is recognized when goods are shipped to the customer, title and risk of loss are transferred, pricing is fixed and determinable and collectability is reasonably assured. Most revenue transactions represent sales of inventory. A provision for payment discounts, product returns, warranty and customer rebates is estimated based upon historical experience and other relevant factors and is recorded within the same period that the revenue is recognized. A portion of the Company’s revenue consists of long-term product installation contract revenue that is recognized based on the percentage-of-completion method generally based on the cost-to-cost method if there are reasonably reliable estimates of total revenue, total cost, and the extent of progress toward completion; and there is an enforceable agreement between parties who can fulfill their contractual obligations. The Company reviews contract price and cost estimates periodically as the work progresses and reflects adjustments proportionate to the percentage-of-completion to income in the period when those estimates are revised. For these contracts, if a current estimate of total contract cost indicates a loss on a contract, the projected loss is recognized in full in the period when determined.
Stock-Based Compensation
The Company has various plans which provide for granting options and common stock to certain employees and independent directors of the Company and its subsidiaries. All share-based payments to employees, including grants of employee stock options, are recognized in the financial statements based on their fair values. The appropriate fair value model is used for valuing share-based payments and in determining the amortization method for the compensation cost for new awards, and to awards modified, repurchased or canceled after January 1, 2006. Information on General Cable’s equity compensation plans and additional information on compensation costs from stock-based compensation are described in Note 15 - Share-Based Compensation.
Earnings Per Share
Earnings or loss per common share-basic is determined by dividing net income applicable to common shareholders by the weighted average number of common shares-basic outstanding. Earnings per common share-assuming dilution is computed based on the weighted average number of common shares-assuming dilution outstanding which gives effect (when dilutive) to stock options, other stock-based awards, the assumed conversion of the Subordinated Convertible Notes, if applicable, and other potentially dilutive securities. Refer to discussion in Note 17 - Earnings Per Common Share.
Foreign Currency
For operations outside the United States that prepare financial statements in currencies other than the U.S. dollar, results of operations and cash flows are translated at average exchange rates during the period, and assets and liabilities are translated at spot exchange rates at the end of the period. Foreign currency translation adjustments are included as a separate component of accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) in total equity. The effects of changes in exchange rates between the designated functional currency and the currency in which a transaction is denominated are recorded as foreign currency transaction gains (losses) within other income (expense) in the Consolidated Statements of Operations and Comprehensive Income (Loss).
Cash Equivalents
The Company considers all highly liquid investments with an original maturity of three months or less from the date of purchase to be cash equivalents. Cash equivalents are carried at cost, which approximates fair value.
Accounts Receivable
The accounts receivable balance is recorded at the stated amount, less allowances for doubtful accounts, price discounts, and returns. At the time of the sale and at each quarter, the Company evaluates the accounts receivable balance to determine a best estimate for doubtful accounts, price discounts, and returns. The Company reviews general historical trends in the account, customer overdue balances, high risk accounts that have been specifically identified based on historical and current customer patterns, contractual obligations, and current economic conditions to determine an estimate for these allowances.
Inventories
Approximately 84% of the Company's inventories are valued using the average cost method and all remaining inventories are valued using the first-in, first-out (FIFO) method. During 2014, the Venezuelan entity recorded $9.5 million of lower of cost or market charges that were recognized. All inventories are stated at the lower of cost or market value.
The Company has consignment inventory at certain of its customer locations for purchase and use by the customer or other parties. General Cable retains title to the inventory and records no sale until it is ultimately sold either to the customer storing the inventory or to another party. In general, the value and quantity of the consignment inventory is verified by General Cable through either cycle counting or annual physical inventory counting procedures.
Property, Plant and Equipment
Property, plant and equipment are stated at cost, less accumulated depreciation. Costs assigned to property, plant and equipment relating to acquisitions are based on estimated fair values at the acquired date. Depreciation is provided using the straight-line method over the estimated useful lives of the assets: buildings, from 15 to 50 years; and machinery, equipment and office furnishings, from 2 to 20 years. Leasehold improvements are depreciated over the life of the lease or over the useful life if shorter. The Company’s manufacturing facilities perform major maintenance activities during planned shutdown periods which traditionally occur in July and December, and costs related to major maintenance activities are expensed as incurred.
The Company evaluates the recoverability of the carrying amount of long-lived assets (including property, plant and equipment and intangible assets with determinable lives) whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying amount of an asset may not be fully recoverable. The Company evaluates events or changes in circumstances based mostly on actual historical operating results, but business plans, forecasts, general and industry trends and anticipated cash flows are also considered. Impairment is assessed when the undiscounted expected future cash flows derived from an asset are less than its carrying amount. Impairment losses are measured as the amount by which the carrying value of an asset exceeds its fair value and are recognized in earnings. The Company also continually evaluates the estimated useful lives of all long-lived assets and, when warranted, revises such estimates based on current events.
In 2015, the Company recognized asset-related charges of $17.7 million related to the Company's restructuring programs and $30.7 million related to the Company's Algerian operations. In the year ended December 31, 2014, the Company recorded asset-related costs of $104.2 million related to the Company's July 2014 restructuring program, recorded asset impairment charges of $13.1 million related to a Brazil rod mill plant and $29.3 million related to the Venezuela operations. See Note 4 - Restructuring and Note 7 - Property, Plant and Equipment for additional details.
The Company evaluates long-lived assets to be sold or abandoned to determine if the long-lived assets shall be classified as held for sale. In October 2014, the Company announced the intent to divest all of the Company's operations in Africa and Asia Pacific. As a part of this plan, the Company completed the sale its interest in PDP and PDEP in the fourth quarter of 2014, completed the sale of its interests in Fiji and Keystone in the first quarter of 2015 and completed the sale of its Thailand operations in the third quarter of 2015. The Company reviewed each disposal group in the Company's Africa/Asia Pacific reportable segment to determine if the assets should be considered held for sale.
As of December 31, 2015, the Company determined that the remaining Asia Pacific Operations continued to meet the held for sale criteria set forth in ASC 360 to be classified as held for sale. Refer to Note 3 - Assets and Liabilities Held for Sale and Discontinued Operations for additional details.
Goodwill and Intangible Assets
Goodwill and intangible assets with indefinite useful lives are not amortized, but are reviewed at least annually for impairment. Goodwill is allocated to various reporting units, which are generally an operating segment or one level below the operating segment. The Company compares the fair value of each reporting unit to its carrying amount to determine if there is potential goodwill impairment. If the fair value of a reporting unit is less than its carrying value, an impairment loss is recorded to the extent that the fair value of the goodwill within the reporting unit is less than the carrying value of the goodwill. The impairment test for the Company’s indefinite-lived intangible assets involves comparing the fair value of the intangibles to their carrying values. If the carrying amount of an intangible asset with an indefinite life exceeds its fair value, an impairment loss would be recognized in the amount equal to the excess.
In the year ended December 31, 2014, the Company recognized impairment charges equal to the total recorded PDIC reporting unit goodwill of $93.5 million and the Company recognized $73.0 million of impairment charges related to the PDIC trade name. Our annual impairment test for both remaining goodwill and indefinite lived intangibles assets after the 2014 impairment charges indicated there was no impairment. However, future changes in judgments, assumptions and estimates that are used in our annual impairment testing, including discount and tax rates, future cash flow projections, or the long term growth rate could result in significantly different estimates of fair value; therefore, such changes could materially affect the financial statements in any given year.
Intangible assets that are not deemed to have an indefinite life, principally customer relationships and tradenames, are amortized over their useful lives based on the expected economic benefit consistent with the historical customer attrition rates.
Severance Expenses
In 2015 and 2014, the Company announced restructuring plans. As a result, the Company has incurred restructuring costs which include employee separation costs. The charges relate to involuntary separations and the amounts are based on current salary levels and past service periods and are either considered one-time employee termination benefits in accordance with ASC 420 - Exit or Disposal Cost Obligations ("ASC 420") or as charges for contractual termination benefits under ASC 712 - Compensation - Nonretirement Postemployment Benefits ("ASC 712"). The charges are recognized when it is probable that a liability has been incurred and the amount of such liability is reasonably estimable. Management estimates must be applied to determine when it is appropriate to record restructuring accruals as well as assumptions in calculating the restructuring accruals as employees could choose to voluntarily leave the Company, forfeiting termination benefits. To the extent these assumptions and estimates change, there could be future subsequent adjustments to the accrual balance.
Long-Term Debt
In accordance with ASC 470, convertible debt instruments that may be settled in cash or other assets, or partially in cash, upon conversion, are separately accounted for as long-term debt and equity components (or conversion feature). The accounting applies to the Subordinated Convertible Notes. The debt component represents the Company’s contractual obligation to pay principal and interest and the equity component represents the Company’s option to convert the debt security into equity of the Company or the equivalent amount of cash. Upon issuance, the Company allocated the debt component on the basis of the estimated fair value of an identical debt instrument that it would issue excluding the convertible option and the remaining proceeds are allocated to the equity component. The bifurcation of the debt and equity components resulted in a debt discount for the aforementioned notes. In accordance with ASC 470, the Company uses the interest method to amortize the debt discount to interest expense over the amortization period which is the expected life of the debt.
Derivative Financial Instruments
It is the Company’s policy that derivative transactions are executed only to manage exposures arising in the normal course of business and not for the purpose of creating speculative positions or trading. Derivative financial instruments are utilized to manage interest rate, commodity and foreign currency risk. In the normal course of business, the Company occasionally enters into forward pricing agreements for the purchase of copper and aluminum for delivery in a future month to match certain sales transactions. ASC 815 - Derivatives and Hedging, as amended, requires that all derivatives be recorded on the balance sheet at fair value. At December 31, 2015, there were no derivatives that were designated as cash flow hedges.
Fair Value of Financial Instruments
The Company carries derivative assets, derivative liabilities and marketable equity securities held in a rabbi trust as part of the Company’s deferred compensation plan at fair value. The Company determines the fair market value of its financial instruments based on the fair value hierarchy established in ASC 820 - Fair Value Measurement ("ASC 820").
Pension Plans
The Company provides retirement benefits through contributory and non-contributory qualified and non-qualified defined benefit pension plans covering eligible domestic and international employees as well as through defined contribution plans and other postretirement benefits. Benefits under General Cable’s qualified U.S. defined benefit pension plan generally are based on years of service multiplied by a specific fixed dollar amount, and benefits under the Company’s qualified non-U.S. defined benefit pension plans generally are based on years of service and a variety of other factors that can include a specific fixed dollar amount or a percentage of either current salary or average salary over a specific period of time. The amounts funded for any plan year for the qualified U.S. defined benefit pension plan are neither less than the minimum required under federal law nor more than the maximum amount deductible for federal income tax purposes. General Cable’s non-qualified unfunded U.S. defined benefit pension plans include a plan that provides defined benefits to select senior management employees beyond those benefits provided by other programs. The Company’s non-qualified unfunded non-U.S. defined benefit pension plans include plans that provide retirement indemnities to employees. Pension obligations for the non-qualified unfunded defined benefit pension plans are recognized in the Consolidated Balance Sheet and are based on local practices and regulations of the respective countries. General Cable makes cash contributions for the costs of the non-qualified unfunded defined benefit pension plans as the benefits are paid.
Loss Contingencies
The Company determines whether to disclose and/or accrue for loss contingencies based on an assessment of whether the risk of loss is remote, reasonably possible or probable. The Company's assessment is developed in consultation with its outside counsel and other advisers and is based on an analysis of possible outcomes. Loss contingency assumptions involve judgments that are inherently subjective and can involve matters that are in litigation, which, by its nature is unpredictable. The Company believes that its assessment of the probability of loss contingencies is reasonable, but because of the subjectivity involved and the unpredictable nature of the subject matter at issue, the Company's assessment may prove ultimately to be incorrect, which could materially impact the consolidated financial statements.
Self-insurance
The Company is self-insured for certain employee medical benefits, workers’ compensation benefits, environmental and asbestos-related issues. The Company purchased stop-loss coverage in order to limit its exposure to any significant level of workers’ compensation claims in 2015 and 2014. Certain insurers are also partly responsible for coverage on many of the asbestos-related issues (refer to Note 19 - Commitments and Contingencies for information relating to the release of one of these insurers during 2006). Self-insured losses are accrued based upon estimates of the aggregate liability for uninsured claims incurred using the Company’s historical claims experience.
Concentration of Risk
General Cable sells a broad range of products globally. Concentrations of credit risk with respect to trade receivables are limited due to the large number of customers, including members of buying groups, composing General Cable’s customer base. General Cable customers generally receive a 30 to 60 day payment period on purchases from the Company, with certain exceptions in European, Mediterranean and Asian markets. Certain automotive aftermarket customers of the Company receive payment terms ranging from 45 days to 360 days, which is common in this particular market. Ongoing credit evaluations of customers’ financial condition are performed, and generally, no collateral is required. General Cable maintains reserves for potential credit losses and such losses, in the aggregate, have not exceeded management’s estimates. Certain subsidiaries also maintain credit insurance for certain customer balances. Bad debt expense associated with uncollectible accounts for the years ended December 31, 2015, 2014 and 2013 was $3.2 million, $4.9 million and $6.3 million, respectively.
In North America, the Company has centralized the purchasing of its copper, aluminum and other significant raw materials to capitalize on economies of scale and to facilitate the negotiation of favorable purchase terms from suppliers. In 2015, the Company’s largest supplier of copper rod accounted for approximately 75% of its North American copper purchases while the largest supplier of aluminum rod accounted for approximately 50% of its North American aluminum purchases. In Latin America, the Company has centralized the purchasing of its copper to capitalize on economies of scale and to facilitate the negotiation of purchase terms from suppliers. In 2015, the Company's largest supplier of copper rod in the region accounted for approximately 60% of its Latin American copper purchases. The Company's European and Africa and Asia Pacific operations purchase copper and aluminum rod from many suppliers or brokers with each generally providing a small percentage of the total copper and aluminum rod purchased or internally produce copper and aluminum rod for production needs.
Income Taxes
The Company is subject to income tax in numerous United States federal, state, and foreign jurisdictions. Significant judgments and estimates are inherent in determining the Company's consolidated income tax expense, current tax payable, deferred tax assets and liabilities, and liabilities for uncertain tax positions. Future events such as changes in business conditions, tax legislation, tax audit resolutions, or foreign earnings repatriation plans could materially impact these estimates and the Company's tax position.
Deferred tax assets and liabilities are determined based on the differences between the financial statement basis and tax basis of assets and liabilities using enacted tax rates in effect for the year in which the differences are expected to reverse. The effect of a change in tax rates on deferred tax assets and liabilities is recognized in income in the period that includes the enactment date. At December 31, 2015, the Company had recorded a net deferred tax liability of $124.7 million ($20.6 million net deferred tax asset less $145.3 million net deferred tax liability). The valuation of deferred tax assets is dependent on, among other things, the ability of the Company to generate a sufficient level of future taxable income. In estimating future taxable income, the Company has considered both positive and negative evidence, such as historical and forecasted results of operations, including prior losses, and has considered the implementation of prudent and feasible tax planning strategies. As of December 31, 2015, the Company recorded a valuation allowance of $139.5 million to reduce deferred tax assets to the amount judged more likely than not to be realized. The Company has and will continue to review on a quarterly basis its assumptions and tax planning strategies, and, if the amount of the estimated realizable deferred tax assets is less than the amount currently on the balance sheet, the Company would reduce its deferred tax asset, recognizing a non-cash charge against reported earnings. Likewise, if the Company determines that a valuation allowance against a deferred tax asset is no longer appropriate, the adjustment to the valuation allowance would reduce income tax expense.
The Company operates in multiple jurisdictions with complex tax policies and regulations. In certain jurisdictions, the Company has taken tax positions that it believes are supportable, but which could be subject to challenge by the tax authorities. These tax positions are evaluated and liabilities for uncertain tax positions are established in accordance with the ASC 740 accounting guidance. The status of uncertain tax positions is reviewed in light of changing facts and circumstances, such as tax audits, rulings, and case law, and the related liabilities are adjusted accordingly.
The Company recognizes interest and penalties related to unrecognized tax benefits within the income tax expense line in the accompanying Consolidated Statements of Operations and Comprehensive Income (Loss). Accrued interest and penalties are included within the related tax liability line item in the Consolidated Balance Sheets.
Shipping and Handling Costs
All shipping and handling amounts billed to a customer in a sales transaction are classified as revenue. Shipping and handling costs associated with storage and handling of finished goods and storage and handling of shipments to customers are included in cost of sales and totaled $112.3 million, $145.9 million and $148.8 million for the years ended December 31, 2015, 2014 and 2013, respectively.
Advertising Expense
Advertising expense consists of expenses relating to promoting the Company’s products, including trade shows, catalogs, and e-commerce promotions, and is charged to expense when incurred. Advertising expense was $10.2 million, $13.6 million and $12.8 million in 2015, 2014 and 2013, respectively.
New Accounting Pronouncements
During the year ended December 31, 2015, the Company did not change any of its existing accounting policies that are expected to have a significant effect on the consolidated financial statements.
The following accounting pronouncements were adopted and became effective with respect to the Company in 2015 and 2014:
In November 2015, the FASB issued ASU 2015-17, "Income Taxes (Topic 740): Balance Sheet Classification of Deferred Taxes." This update provides guidance on simplifying the presentation of deferred income taxes. Prior to the adoption of ASU 2015-17, deferred income tax liabilities and assets are separated into current and noncurrent amounts while ASU 2015-17 amends the standard to require that deferred tax liabilities and assets be classified as noncurrent. The amendments may be applied either prospectively to all deferred tax liabilities and assets or retrospectively to all periods presented with earlier application permitted as of the beginning of an interim or annual reporting period. The Company elected early adoption of the standard on a prospective basis and implemented ASU 2015-17 for the year ended December 31, 2015. Adoption of this ASU resulted in reclassifications of current deferred tax assets and current deferred tax liabilities to non-current in the Company's Consolidated Balance Sheet as of December 31, 2015. No prior periods were retrospectively adjusted. The adoption of this ASU did not have a material effect on the Company’s Consolidated Financial Statements.
In April 2014, the FASB issued ASU 2014-08, "Reporting Discontinued Operations and Disclosures of Disposals of Components of an Entity", which raises the threshold for determining which disposals are required to be presented as discontinued operations and modifies related disclosure requirements. The revised accounting guidance applies prospectively to all disposals (or classifications as held for sale) of components of an entity and for businesses that, upon acquisition, are classified as held for sale on or after adoption. Early adoption is permitted for disposals (or classifications as held for sale) that have not been previously reported in financial statements. The Company elected to early adopt the guidance and implemented ASU 2014-08 for the year ended December 31, 2014. The effects of applying the revised guidance will vary based upon the nature and size of future disposal transactions. It is expected that fewer disposal transactions will meet the new criteria to be reported as discontinued operations. For the year ended December 31, 2015, the Company reported the results of the Asia Pacific businesses as discontinued operations; refer to Note 3 - Assets and Liabilities Held for Sale and Discontinued Operations. The Company will continually evaluate the status of discontinued operations each quarter to ensure compliance with ASU 2014-08 requirements.
The following recently issued accounting pronouncements will become effective in future periods with respect to the Company:
In February 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-02, "Leases (Topic 842)." The standard requires lessees to recognize the assets and liabilities that arise from leases on the balance sheet. A lessee should recognize in the statement of financial position a liability to make lease payments (the lease liability) and a right-of-use asset representing its right to use the underlying asset for the lease term. The new guidance is effective for annual and interim reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2018. The amendments should be applied at the beginning of the earliest period presented using a modified retrospective approach with earlier application permitted as of the beginning of an interim or annual reporting period. The Company is in the process of evaluating the impact of the new guidance on its Consolidated Financial Statements.
In July 2015, the FASB issued ASU 2015-11, “Inventory (Topic 330): Simplifying the Measurement of Inventory.” This update provides guidance on simplifying the measurement of inventory. The current standard is to measure inventory at lower of cost or
market; where market could be replacement cost, net realizable value, or net realizable value less an approximately normal profit margin. ASU 2015-11 updates this guidance to measure inventory at the lower of cost and net realizable value; where net realizable value is the estimated selling prices in the ordinary course of business, less reasonably predictable costs of completion, disposal, and transportation. This update is effective for annual reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2016. The amendments should be applied prospectively with earlier application permitted as of the beginning of an interim or annual reporting period. ASU 2015-11 is not expected to have a material impact on the Company’s Consolidated Financial Statements.
In April 2015, the FASB issued ASU 2015-03, “Interest - Imputation of Interest (Subtopic 835-30): Simplifying the Presentation of Debt Issuance Costs.” The update requires debt issuance costs related to a recognized debt liability be presented in the balance sheet as a direct deduction from the carrying amount of the related debt liability instead of being presented as an asset. Debt disclosures will include the face amount of the debt liability and the effective interest rate. In August 2015, the FASB issued ASU 2015-15, "Presentation and Subsequent Measurement of Debt Issuance Costs Associated with Line-of-Credit Arrangements", which clarifies the presentation and subsequent measurement of debt issuance costs associated with lines of credit. These costs may be presented as an asset and amortized ratably over the term of the line of credit arrangement, regardless of whether there are outstanding borrowings on the arrangement. The update requires retrospective application and represents a change in accounting principle. The update is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2015. Early adoption is permitted for financial statements that have not been previously issued. ASU 2015-03 and ASU 2015-15 are not expected to have a material impact on the Company’s Consolidated Financial Statements.
In June 2014, the FASB issued ASU 2014-12, "Compensation - Stock Compensation (Topic 718): Accounting for Share-Based Payments When the Terms of an Award Provide That a Performance Target Could be Achieved after the Requisite Service Period." This standard provides more explicit guidance for treating share-based payment awards that require a specific performance target that affects vesting and that could be achieved after the requisite service period as a performance condition. The new guidance is effective for annual and interim reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2015. The Company does not expect the adoption of this guidance to have a material impact on its Consolidated Financial Statements.
In May 2014, the FASB issued ASU 2014-09, “Revenue from Contracts with Customers (Topic 606).” This ASU outlines a single, comprehensive model for accounting for revenue from contracts with customers which requires an entity to recognize the amount of revenue to which it expects to be entitled for the transfer of promised goods or services to customers. The standard permits the use of either the retrospective or modified retrospective (cumulative effect) transition method. The Company has not selected a transition method and is evaluating the impact that the standard will have on its Consolidated Financial Statements and related disclosures. In August 2015, the FASB issued ASU 2015-14, “Revenue from Contracts with Customers (Topic 606)", which defers the effective date of ASU 2014-09 to annual and interim reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2017 with early application permitted for annual and interim reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2016. The Company will adopt this standard on January 1, 2018.
3. Assets and Liabilities Held for Sale and Discontinued Operations
In October 2014, the Company announced the intent to divest all of the Company's operations in Africa and Asia Pacific in order to simplify the Company's geographic portfolio and reduce operational complexity. The October divestiture plan is focused on the sale and closure of the Company's non-core assets. The Company expects to incur approximately $14 million in pre-tax charges consisting primarily of legal and transaction fees for the dispositions. Such amounts are reflected in the North America segment. For the year ended December 31, 2015, the Company recognized $3.4 million. The charges were immaterial for the year ended December 31, 2014.
As part of this plan, the Company recognized the following:
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On June 25, 2015, the Company announced it reached a definitive agreement to sell its Asia Pacific operations consisting of Thailand, Alcan (Tianjin) Alloy Products ("China"), General Cable New Zealand Limited ("New Zealand") and General Cable Australia Pty. Ltd ("Australia") in a two-step process, with close on sale of the Thailand operations on August 31, 2015 and expected close on the China, New Zealand and Australia operations (together "the remaining Asia Pacific Operations") on September 30, 2015. On August 31, 2015, the Company completed the sale of its Thailand operations for cash consideration of approximately $88 million. The pre-tax gain recognized in the year ended December 31, 2015 from the disposition of Thailand was $14.5 million, which included post-closing working capital adjustments. On September 29, 2015, the Company received notice from the buyer that certain closing conditions of the definitive agreement to sell were unsatisfied or incapable of satisfaction and terminated the purchase agreement for the remaining Asia Pacific Operations.
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In the first quarter of 2015, the Company completed the sale of its 51% interest in Fiji for cash consideration of $9.3 million. The pre-tax loss recognized in the year ended December 31, 2015 from the disposition of Fiji was $2.6 million.
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In the first quarter of 2015, the Company completed the sale of its 20% interest in Keystone for cash consideration of $11.0 million. The pre-tax gain recognized in the year ended December 31, 2015 from the disposition of Keystone was $3.6 million.
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In the fourth quarter of 2014, the Company completed the sale of its interest in PDP and PDEP for cash consideration of $67.1 million. The pre-tax gain on the sale from the disposition of PDP and PDEP recognized in the year ended December 31, 2014 was $17.6 million.
As of December 31, 2015, the Company has initiated actions to respond to the termination of the definitive agreement to sell the remaining Asia Pacific Operations and is actively marketing the assets at a price that is reasonable given the termination of this agreement. During the year ended December 31, 2015, the Company determined that the remaining Asia Pacific Operations met the held for sale criteria set forth in ASC 360 - Property, Plant and Equipment to be classified as held for sale. Assets held for sale are measured at the lower of their carrying amount or fair value less cost to sell and depreciation is ceased. Development of estimates of fair values in this circumstance is complex and is dependent upon, among other factors, the nature of the potential sales transaction, composition of assets and/or businesses in the disposal group, the comparability of the disposal group to market transactions, negotiations with third party purchasers, etc. Such factors bear directly on the range of potential fair values and the selection of the best estimates. Key assumptions were developed based on market observable data and, in the absence of such data, internal information that is consistent with what market participants would use in a hypothetical transaction.
As of December 31, 2015, the Company determined that the remaining businesses in the Africa/Asia Pacific segment, the Africa businesses, did not meet the held for sale criteria set forth in ASC 360 primarily driven by management’s belief that the probability of a sale within one year is uncertain.
Consistent with the conclusion reached in the second and third quarters of 2015, as of December 31, 2015, the Company determined the disposals of the PDP and PDEP, Fiji, Keystone and Thailand businesses combined with the businesses held for sale (the Asia Pacific Operations) result in the Company’s disposal of a major geographical area, Asia Pacific. This disposal is considered a strategic shift that has and will have a major effect on the Company's operations and financial results; therefore, the results of the Asia Pacific Operations have been reclassified as discontinued operations for all periods presented. Previously the results of these businesses included certain allocated corporate costs, which have been reallocated to the remaining continuing operations within the Africa/Asia Pacific segment on a retrospective basis. As a result of the Company’s strategic shift out of the Asia Pacific Operations, the Africa/Asia Pacific segment is now comprised primarily of the Company’s Africa businesses. The financial results of the Company's Africa businesses are presented as continuing operations in the Consolidated Financial Statements.
The results of operations, financial position and cash flows for the Asia Pacific Operations are separately reported as discontinued operations for all periods presented. Included in Net income (loss) from discontinued operations, net of taxes in the Consolidated Statements of Operations and Comprehensive Income (Loss) were the following (in millions):
(1) Based on the estimated expected sales price of the India operations and in accordance with ASC 360, the Company recorded an impairment loss in cost of sales of $13.6 million in the year ended December 31, 2015. As part of the Company's strategic review and asset optimization plans, announced in the second quarter of 2014, the Company recorded an asset impairment charge in cost of sales of $16.5 million in the year ended December 31, 2014, based on the review of its India asset group in accordance with ASC 360.
The pre-tax loss attributable to the parent for the Asia Pacific Operations for the years ended December 31, 2015 and December 31, 2014 was $8.2 million and $53.9 million, respectively. The pre-tax gain attributable to the parent for the Asia Pacific Operations for the year ended December 31, 2013 was $24.9 million.
Financial information for assets and liabilities held for sale were the following (in millions):
4. Restructuring
November 2015 restructuring program
In the fourth quarter of 2015, the Company committed to a new a strategic roadmap targeting growth and improvement in market positions, improvement to its overall cost position, enhancement of organizational capabilities, alignment of its organization structure and cultivation of a high-performance culture. This effort will be launched in a phased approach and is expected to continue over the next several years. This new strategic roadmap may result in the exit or disposal of certain businesses or production.
The Company expects to incur approximately $30 million in before-tax restructuring charges; $18 million in the North America segment, $8 million in the Europe segment and $4 million in the Latin America segment. For the year ended December 31, 2015, aggregate and total costs incurred were $8.6 million. For the year ended December 31, 2015, aggregate and total costs incurred were $0.1 million in the North America segment, $6.7 million in the Europe segment and $1.8 million in the Latin America segment. For the year ended December 31, 2015, approximately $6.8 million of these charges were recorded in the Cost of sales caption and $1.8 million were recorded in SG&A expenses in the Consolidated Statements of Operations and Comprehensive Income (Loss).
July 2014 restructuring program
In July 2014, the Company announced a comprehensive restructuring program. As of December 31, 2015, this program is substantially complete and future estimated costs are expected to be immatieral. The restructuring program was focused on the closure of certain underperforming assets as well as the consolidation and realignment of other facilities. The Company also implemented initiatives to reduce SG&A expenses globally. Costs incurred as part of the restructuring program related to the Company's Asia Pacific Operations are not included below as the costs associated with these exit or disposal activities are included within the results of discontinued operations.
As part of the restructuring program, in the second quarter of 2015, the Company completed the disposal of a subsidiary in Spain for cash consideration of $1.8 million. The pre-tax loss on the sale from the disposition in the second quarter was $11.0 million. This sale did not represent a strategic shift; therefore, the results are not presented as discontinued operations. This loss is included as asset-related restructuring costs in the Europe segment for the year ended December 31, 2015 and is recognized in the SG&A expenses caption in the Consolidated Statements of Operations and Comprehensive Income (Loss).
For the years ended December 31, 2015 and 2014, the Company incurred charges of $41.9 million and $151.1 million, respectively. For the years ended December 31, 2015 and 2014, costs incurred were $11.9 million and $6.8 million in the North America segment, $22.1 million and $115.6 million in the Europe segment and $7.9 million and $28.7 million in the Latin America segment, respectively. For the years ended December 31, 2015 and 2014, approximately $17.2 million and $136.9 million of these charges were recorded in the Cost of sales caption and $24.7 million and $14.2 million were recorded in SG&A expenses in the Consolidated Statements of Operations and Comprehensive Income (Loss), respectively. The Company also incurred other costs as outlined below. For the year ended December 31, 2015, aggregate costs incurred were $18.7 million in the North America segment, $137.7 million in the Europe segment and $36.6 million in the Latin America segment.
Changes in the restructuring reserve and activity for the years ended December 31, 2015 and 2014 are below (in millions):
Employee Separation Costs
The Company recorded employee separation costs of $11.9 million and $38.3 million for the years ended December 31, 2015 and 2014, respectively. The employee separation charges were $8.2 million and $2.2 million in North America, $2.7 million and $33.4 million in Europe and $1.0 million and $2.7 million in Latin America for the years ended December 31, 2015 and 2014, respectively.
Employee separation costs include severance, retention bonuses and pension costs. As of December 31, 2015, employee separation costs included severance charges for approximately 1,170 employees; approximately 930 of these employees were classified as manufacturing employees and approximately 240 of these employees were classified as non-manufacturing employees. The charges relate to involuntary separations and the amounts are based on current salary levels and past service periods and are either considered one-time employee termination benefits in accordance with ASC 420 or as charges for contractual termination benefits under ASC 712.
Asset-Related Costs
The Company recorded asset-related restructuring costs of $15.8 million and $104.2 million for the years ended December 31, 2015 and 2014, respectively. The long-lived asset impairment charges were $0.6 million and $3.2 million in North America, $10.8 million and $80.1 million in Europe and $4.4 million and $20.9 million in Latin America for the years ended December 31, 2015 and 2014, respectively.
Asset-related costs consist of asset write-downs, accelerated depreciation and the loss on the sale of a subsidiary in Spain. Asset write-downs relate to the establishment of a new fair value basis for assets to be classified as held-for-sale or to be disposed of, as well as asset impairment charges for asset groups to be held-and-used in locations which are being restructured and it has been determined the undiscounted cash flows expected to result from the use and eventual disposition of the assets are less than their carrying value.
To determine the fair value, a current appraisal of each impaired asset groups' machinery and equipment and real property, as applicable, was performed utilizing standard valuation approaches, which incorporate Level 3 inputs. The Company assesses impairment at the asset group level which represents the lowest level for which identifiable cash flows can be determined independent of other groups of assets and liabilities. The asset groups at the Company are primarily each manufacturing unit, unless the cash flows of the manufacturing unit are not independent due to shared production, distribution and sale of the finished product. The Company considered the expected net cash flows to be generated by the use of each asset group, as well as the expected cash proceeds from the disposition of the assets, if any, to determine fair value. The impairment charges were recorded in the Cost of sales caption in the Consolidated Statements of Operations and Comprehensive Income (Loss).
The Company notes the plan to abandon a long-lived asset before the end of its previously estimated useful life is a change in accounting estimate per ASC 250 - Accounting Changes and Error Corrections. The annual depreciation impact from the asset write-downs and changes in estimated useful lives is immaterial.
Other Costs
The Company recorded other restructuring-type charges of $14.2 million and $8.6 million for the years ended December 31, 2015 and 2014, respectively. The other restructuring-type charges were $3.1 million and $1.4 million in North America, $8.6 million and $2.1 million in Europe and $2.5 million and $5.1 million in Latin America for the years ended December 31, 2015 and 2014, respectively.
Other restructuring-type charges are incurred as a direct result of the restructuring program. Such charges primarily include working capital write-downs not associated with normal operations, equipment relocation, termination of contracts and other immaterial costs.
5. Other Income (Expense)
Other income and expense primarily includes foreign currency transaction gains or losses, which result from changes in exchange rates between the designated functional currency and the currency in which a transaction is denominated as well as gains and losses on derivative instruments that are not designated as cash flow hedges and Venezuela devaluation charges. During 2015, 2014 and 2013, the Company recorded losses of $67.0 million, $210.8 million and $66.6 million, respectively.
For 2015, other expense was primarily attributable the adoption of the of the SIMADI currency exchange system in Venezuela and ongoing remeasurement of the local balance sheet, which resulted in an expense of $22.9 million, $32.4 million related to foreign currency transaction losses, and $11.7 million related to losses on derivative instruments that were not designated as cash flow hedges.
For 2014, other expense was primarily attributable to $83.1 million in charges related to the Venezuela currency devaluation resulting from the remeasurement of the financial results at the 6.30 BsF per U.S. dollar rate to the SICAD 1 rate, $90.2 million related to the Venezuela currency devaluation resulting from the remeasurement of the financial results at the SICAD 1 rate to the SICAD 2 rate, $28.4 million of foreign currency transaction losses, and losses of $3.8 million on derivative instruments which were not designated as cash flow hedges.
For 2013, other expense was primarily attributable to $40.9 million related to the Venezuela currency devaluation, $4.6 million of foreign currency transaction losses which includes $17.0 million in foreign exchange gains related to copper imports in Venezuela that were approved at the 4.30 BsF per U.S. dollar rate prior to currency devaluation on February 13, 2013, and losses of $21.1 million on derivative instruments that were not designated as cash flow hedges and ineffectiveness on derivatives designated as cash flow hedges.
Refer to Note 2 - Summary of Significant Accounting Policies for more information related regarding the Company's Venezuelan operations.
6. Inventories
As of December 31, 2015, all inventories are stated at the lower of cost or market value and consisted of the following (in millions):
At December 31, 2015 and 2014, the Company had approximately $18.6 million and $26.4 million, respectively, of consignment inventory at locations not operated by the Company with approximately 80% of the consignment inventory located throughout the United States and Canada.
During 2014, the Venezuelan subsidiary recorded $9.5 million of lower of cost or market charges that were recognized within the Cost of sales caption in the Consolidated Statements of Operations and Comprehensive Income (Loss). These charges are due to translation of local sales at higher foreign currency exchange rates that are subject to sales price caps under the new price controls law while the Company's cost for the copper component of its inventory is based on copper purchases at rates lower than the rates used to translate the financial results at the Company's Venezuela subsidiary. Therefore, management reduced Venezuela's inventory value to expected sales price (market value), which was lower than the recorded cost basis. Refer to Note 2 - Summary of Significant Accounting Policies for more information regarding the Company's Venezuelan operations.
7. Property, Plant and Equipment
Property, plant and equipment consisted of the following (in millions):
Depreciation expense totaled $80.0 million, $99.1 million and $107.2 million for the years ended December 31, 2015, 2014 and 2013, respectively.
2015 Algeria Asset Impairment
In October 2014, the Company announced its intent to divest all of the Company's operations in Africa and Asia Pacific in order to simplify the Company's geographic portfolio and reduce operational complexity. This was considered a significant change for the related asset groups and caused the Company to perform asset impairment recoverability analysis in accordance with ASC 360. Beginning in the fourth quarter of 2014, management, using a probability weighted average approach, had been evaluating its undiscounted expected future cash flows based on internal financial projections developed by management and consideration of non-binding sales offers received from possible external buyers. During quarters prior to the fourth quarter of 2015, based on the internal projections developed by management and consideration of non-binding sales offers, the Company determined that the undiscounted expected future cash flows of the Algerian operations were greater than the carrying value of the assets.
In the fourth quarter of 2015, the Algerian financial outlook deteriorated due to a significant decline in the oil and gas market, which is a major component of the Algerian economy. Based on updated internal projections developed by management, the Company determined that the undiscounted expected future cash flows were less than the carrying value of the assets. A valuation of the Algeria machinery and equipment and real property assets was performed to determine the fair value utilizing standard valuation approaches, which incorporate Level 3 inputs. Development of estimates of fair values in this circumstance is complex and is dependent upon, among other factors, the nature of the potential sales transaction, composition of assets, comparability to market transactions, negotiations with third party purchasers, etc. Such factors bear directly on the range of potential fair values and the selection of the best estimates. Based on the results of the analysis, the Company recorded an impairment charge of $30.7 million in the fourth quarter of 2015. The impairment charge was recorded in the Cost of sales caption in the Consolidated Statements
of Operations and Comprehensive Income (Loss). The Algerian results are reported within the Africa/Asia Pacific reportable segment.
2014 Venezuela Asset Impairment
Effective December 31, 2014, the Company expected that the majority of its Venezuelan subsidiary’s net monetary assets would be remeasured at the SICAD 2 rate since that was the rate the Company believed to be applicable for future dividend remittances. Due to the changes in the rate used to remeasure the financial statements of the Venezuelan subsidiary, the Company's estimated future operating results were determined to be lower than historical and previously projected future profit levels. This change was considered a significant adverse change for the Venezuela asset group and caused the Company to perform an asset impairment analysis of its Venezuelan business in accordance with ASC 360.
The Company developed its internal forward business plans and 2015 outlook to determine the undiscounted expected future cash flows derived from the Venezuela long-lived assets. Based on the internal projections developed by management, the Company determined that the undiscounted expected future cash flows were less than the carrying value of the assets. To determine the fair value, a current appraisal of the Venezuela machinery and equipment and real property assets was performed utilizing standard valuation approaches, which incorporate Level 3 inputs. Based on the results of the analysis, the Company recorded an impairment charge of $29.3 million in the fourth quarter of 2014. The impairment charge was recorded in the Cost of sales caption in the Consolidated Statements of Operations and Comprehensive Income (Loss). Refer to Note 2 - Summary of Significant Accounting Policies for more information related regarding the Company's Venezuelan operations. The Venezuela results are reported within the Latin America reportable segment.
2014 Brazil Rod Mill Asset Impairment
The Brazil rod mill results are reported within the Latin America reportable segment. In the second half of 2014, the Company announced its intent to shut down the Brazil rod mill due to changes in the supply market. The change in the supply market was deemed a significant adverse change in the manner in which the Brazil rod mill would operate resulting in a change in the defined asset group. The asset group was deemed impaired as it no longer provided future benefits to the Company. To determine the fair value, the Company considered the expected net cash flows to be generated by the assets through the closure date, as well as the expected cash proceeds from the disposition of the assets utilizing standard valuation approaches, which incorporate Level 3 inputs. Based on the results of the analysis, the Company recorded an impairment charge of $13.1 million in the year ended December 31, 2014. The impairment charge was recorded in the Cost of sales caption in the Consolidated Statements of Operations and Comprehensive Income (Loss).
2013 Mexico Asset Impairment
In the second half of 2013, the Company’s executive management decided to no longer import building wire product into the United States manufactured in its Mexico unit ("Mexico"). This change was considered significant to the Mexican operation due to the associated revenue, profit and the influence on the overall results in Mexico from this United States business. This change coupled with pricing pressures in the Mexico market and a history of losses caused the Company to perform an asset impairment analysis of its Mexican business in accordance with ASC 360.
The Mexico results are reported within the Latin America reporting segment. The Mexico operations and assets include machinery and equipment which manufactures power cables, building wire and telephone cables. These three product lines have a significant amount of shared costs including advertising, sales force, data processing, accounting, and general management. The Company manages its business at a total Mexico level and has similar distribution methods. Therefore, based on the reporting structure, the lowest level of which identifiable cash flows that can be determined is the Mexico unit.
The Company developed its internal forward business plans and 2014 outlook under the guidance of new local and regional leadership to determine the undiscounted expected future cash flows derived from the Mexican long-lived assets. Based on the internal projections developed by executive management, the Company determined that the undiscounted expected future cash flows were less than the carrying value of the assets. To determine the fair value, a current appraisal of the Mexico machinery and equipment and real property assets was performed utilizing standard valuation approaches, which incorporate Level 3 inputs. Based on the results of the analysis, the Company recorded an impairment charge of $14.0 million in the third quarter of 2013. The impairment charge was recorded in the Cost of sales caption in the Consolidated Statements of Operations and Comprehensive Income (Loss).
8. Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets, net
The amounts of goodwill and indefinite-lived intangible assets were as follows (in millions):
(1) $19.4 million and $3.4 million of the currency translation and other adjustment related to the reclassification of the PDIC trade name to a definite-lived asset with an estimated remaining life of 10 years in the Latin America and Africa/Asia Pacific segments, respectively,
(2) The difference in the goodwill and indefinite-lived asset impairment in the above table and the amounts reported in the Consolidated Statements of Operations and Comprehensive Income (Loss) is due to the difference in the average foreign currency exchange rates for the three months ended March 28, 2014 as compared to the spot rates at March 28, 2014 at the various entities within the reporting unit.
At December 31, 2015 and 2014, the total accumulated goodwill impairment charge within the Latin America segment was $82.6 million prior to foreign currency translation adjustments. At December 31, 2015 and 2014, the total accumulated goodwill impairment charge within the Africa / Asia Pacific segment was $10.9 million and $10.3 million, respectively, prior to foreign currency translation adjustments. At December 31, 2015 and 2014, the total accumulated indefinite-lived asset trade name impairment loss was $2.1 million, prior to foreign currency translation adjustments, within the North America segment, $68.9 million, prior to foreign currency translation adjustments, within the Latin America segment and $3.7 million, prior to foreign currency translation adjustments, within the Africa / Asia Pacific segment.
The amounts of other intangible assets were as follows (in millions):
Amortized intangible assets are stated at cost less accumulated amortization as of December 31, 2015 and 2014. Amortized intangible assets have been determined to have a useful life in the range of 7 to 12 years. The approximate weighted average useful life of the amortized intangible assets is 10 years. For customer relationships, the Company has accelerated the amortization expense to align with the historical customer attrition rates. All other amortized intangible assets are amortized on a straight-line basis. The amortization of intangible assets in 2015, 2014 and 2013 was $9.8 million, $11.0 million, and $9.9 million, respectively. The estimated amortization expense for the next five years in millions of dollars is: 2016 - $9.2 million, 2017 - $7.6 million, 2018 - $5.0 million, 2019 - $4.7 million, and 2020 - $3.3 million and $6.1 million thereafter.
2014 Goodwill and Indefinite-lived Intangible Impairment Testing
Goodwill and intangible assets with indefinite useful lives are not amortized, but are reviewed at least annually for impairment. The Company completes its annual impairment test during the fourth quarter of each year. In addition, the Company evaluates the carrying amount between such annual valuations if events occur or circumstances change that would more likely than not reduce the fair value of the reporting unit below its carrying amount. Events or circumstances may include, but are not limited to, a significant change in legal factors or in the business climate, adverse action or assessment by a regulator, unanticipated competition, loss of key personnel, possible sale or disposal of a reporting unit or a significant portion of a reporting unit, significant changes in financial projections or significant changes in the market capitalization. In the first quarter of 2014, the following events occurred which represented changes in the fair value of the PDIC reporting unit and caused the Company to perform an interim goodwill and intangible asset impairment test:
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Except certain cost of sales related to copper inventory, all of the Venezuelan subsidiary's BsF denominated revenues and expenses for future periods were to reflect remeasurement using the SICAD 1 rate versus the prior official rate of 6.30 BsF per U.S. dollar. Due to this, the Company's estimated future operating results were determined to be lower than historical and previously projected future profit levels. Refer to Note 2 - Summary of Significant Accounting Policies for more information related regarding the Company's Venezuelan operations.
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In the first quarter of 2014, the Venezuelan President used decree power to pass the Law of Costs, Earnings, and Fair Profits, which became effective in January 2014, authorizing, among other things, the Venezuelan government to set maximum pricing limits in the private sector. Therefore, the majority of the Company’s product portfolio in Venezuela became subject to price controls, which restricted the Company’s ability to increase prices more than 30% higher than product costs. Until this law would be removed or revised to allow for a higher level of pricing, the Venezuelan operating profit margin was expected to be lower than historical and previously projected future profit levels. In addition, ongoing labor negotiations and expected continuing social unrest in Venezuela were expected to result in lower than historical and previously projected future profit levels. Refer to Note 2 - Summary of Significant Accounting Policies for more information related regarding the Company's Venezuelan operations.
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During the first quarter of 2014, the Company experienced a significant decline in its stock price, resulting in the Company’s market capitalization falling below its book value.
Based upon the combination of the above factors, the Company concluded that goodwill impairment indicators existed as of March 28, 2014, and performed an interim goodwill impairment analysis. The Company engaged an outside valuation firm to assist in valuing the Company’s reporting unit and preparing the goodwill impairment analysis. To determine the fair value of the reporting unit (Level 3), the Company employed an income and market-based approach with each being weighted equally. Under the income approach, the Company used a discounted cash flow method to calculate the fair value based on the present value of estimated future cash flows. Assumptions used in the discounted cash flow method, such as forecasted operating results, expected growth rates, working capital needs, tax rates, and cost of capital, were based on the then current market conditions and were consistent with internal management projections. The cost of capital rate selected was based on consideration of the risks inherent in the investment and market rates of return available from alternative investments of similar type and quality as of the valuation date. The guideline public company method was used for the market approach. The approach provided an estimate of value using multiples of earnings derived from the market values of publicly traded companies in the wire and cable industry. In addition to the selection of guideline companies, the market approach included an analysis of the Company’s financial and operating performance risk, profitability, and growth as compared to the reporting unit.
The Company performed the first step (“Step 1”) of the goodwill impairment assessment at March 28, 2014. In Step 1 of the goodwill impairment test, the Company compared the fair value of the reporting unit, to its carrying amount, including goodwill of $92.9 million. Based on the results of the valuation, the carrying amount of the reporting unit exceeded the fair value. Based on the results of Step 1 of the impairment analysis and the preliminary results of Step 2, the Company believed that an impairment loss was probable and based on a preliminary estimate, after consultation with a third party valuation specialist, the Company recognized impairment charges equal to the total recorded PDIC goodwill of $82.9 million and $10.6 million in the Latin America and Africa/Asia Pacific reportable segments, respectively. The impairment charge was recorded in the goodwill impairment charge caption in the Consolidated Statements of Operations and Comprehensive Income (Loss).
In the second quarter of 2014, the Company completed Step 2 of the goodwill impairment test ("Step 2") to determine if any adjustment to the goodwill impairment charge was required. The Step 2 analysis required the Company to perform a theoretical purchase price allocation for the reporting unit to determine the implied fair value of goodwill and to compare the implied fair value of goodwill to the recorded amount of goodwill. Based on the analysis, no modification of the initial impairment estimate was required in the second quarter of 2014.
Based on the decrease of our cash flow projections for the PDIC reporting unit, the Company also completed an impairment test for the trade name in the first quarter of 2014. The fair value of the trade name was based on the discounted cash flows the trade name could be expected to generate in the future. Based on the results of the valuation, the carrying amount of the trade name exceeded the fair value. The impairment valuation resulted in $69.1 million and $3.8 million of impairment charges in the first quarter related to the PDIC trade name in the Latin America and Africa/Asia Pacific reportable segments, respectively. The impairment charge was recorded in the intangible asset impairment charges caption in the Consolidated Statements of Operations and Comprehensive Income (Loss). In the second quarter of 2014 in connection with the completion of the above mentioned Step 2 analysis, the Company reassessed the remaining life of the PDIC trade name and concluded it was no longer indefinite. In the second quarter, the Company reclassified the PDIC trade name to a definite-lived asset with an estimated remaining life of 10 years based on increased political and economic instability in countries in which the trade name is utilized.
9. Accrued Liabilities
Accrued liabilities consisted of the following (in millions):
10. Long-Term Debt
At December 31, 2015, maturities of long-term debt during the twelve month periods beginning December 31, 2016 through December 31, 2020 and thereafter were $154.9 million, $2.5 million, $138.4 million, $0.7 million and $0.7 million, respectively, and $781.4 million thereafter.
The fair value of the Company's long-term debt, as noted below, was estimated using inputs other than quoted prices that are observable, either directly or indirectly.
5.75% Senior Notes due 2022
The Company's 5.75% Senior Notes are summarized in the table below:
(1)
The Company may, at its option, redeem the 5.75% Senior Notes on or after the stated beginning dates at percentages noted above (plus accrued and unpaid
interest). Additionally, on or prior to October 1, 2015, the Company had the right to redeem in the aggregate up to 35% of the aggregate principal amount
of 5.75% Senior Notes issued with the cash proceeds from one or more equity offerings, at a redemption price in cash equal to 105.75% of the principal plus accrued and unpaid interest so long as (i) at least 65% of the aggregate principal amount of the 5.75% Senior Notes issued remained outstanding immediately after giving effect to any such redemption; and (ii) notice of any such redemption was given within 60 days after the date of the closing of any such equity offering. In addition, at any time prior to October 1, 2017, the Company may redeem some or all of the 5.75% Senior Notes at a redemption price equal to 100% of the principal amount plus accrued and unpaid interest, plus a make whole premium.
The 5.75% Senior Notes' indenture contains covenants that limit the ability of the Company and certain of its subsidiaries to (i) incur additional indebtedness and guarantee indebtedness; (ii) pay dividends or make other distributions or repurchase or redeem the Company's capital stock; (iii) purchase, redeem or retire debt; (iv) issue certain preferred stock or similar equity securities; (v) make loans and investments; (vi) sell assets; (vii) incur liens; (viii) enter into transactions with affiliates; (ix) enter into agreements restricting the Company's subsidiaries' ability to pay dividends; and (x) consolidate, merge or sell all or substantially all assets. However, these covenants are subject to exceptions and qualifications.
The 5.75% Senior Notes may also be repurchased at the option of the holders in connection with a change of control (as defined in the indenture governing the 5.75% Senior Notes) or in connection with certain asset sales.
Subordinated Convertible Notes
The Company’s Subordinated Convertible Notes Due 2029 outstanding as of December 31, 2015 and 2014 are as follows:
The Company’s Subordinated Convertible Notes were issued on December 18, 2009 in the amount of $429.5 million. The notes and the common stock issuable upon conversion were registered on a Registration Statement on Form S-4, initially filed with the SEC on October 27, 2009, as amended and as declared effective by the SEC on December 18, 2009. At issuance, the Company separately accounted for the liability and equity components of the instrument, based on the Company’s nonconvertible debt borrowing rate on the instrument’s issuance date of 12.5%. At issuance, the liability and equity components were $162.9 million and $266.6 million, respectively. The equity component (debt discount) is being amortized to interest expense based on the effective interest method. The Subordinated Convertible Notes were issued to complete an exchange offer; therefore, all proceeds were used to extinguish the Company's previously held 1.00% Senior Convertible Notes due 2012. The Company incurred issuance fees and expenses of approximately $14.5 million as a result of the exchange offer which have been proportionately allocated to the liability and equity components of the new subordinate notes due in 2029. Additional terms have been summarized in the table below.
The Company’s Subordinated Convertible Notes and terms are summarized in the tables below. For a discussion of the effects on earnings per share, refer to Note 17 - Earnings Per Common Share.
Subordinated Convertible Notes due 2029 (1)
Conversion Rights - The notes are convertible at the option of the holder into the Company’s common stock upon the occurrence of certain events, including
(i) during any calendar quarter commencing after March 31, 2010, in which the closing price of the Company’s common stock is greater than or equal to 130% of the conversion price for at least 20 trading days during the period of 30 consecutive trading days ending on the last trading day of the preceding calendar quarter (establishing a contingent conversion price of $47.78);
(ii) during any five business day period after any five consecutive trading day period in which the trading price per $1,000 principal amount of the notes for each day of that period is less than 98% of the product of the closing sale price of the Company’s common stock and the applicable conversion rate;
(iii) certain distributions to holders of the Company’s common stock are made or upon specified corporate transactions including a consolidation or merger;
(iv) a fundamental change as defined; and
(v) at any time during the period beginning on August 31, 2029 and ending on the close of business on the business day immediately preceding the stated maturity date.
(vi) On or after November 15, 2019, the Company may redeem all or a part of the notes for cash at a price equal to 100% of the principal amount of the notes, plus interest, if the price of our common stock has been at least 150% of the conversion price then in effect for at least 20 trading days during the 30 consecutive trading day period immediately preceding the date on which notice is given
Initial conversion rate
$36.75 per share - approximating 27.2109 shares per $1,000 principal amount of notes
Upon conversion
A holder will receive, in lieu of common stock, an amount of cash equal to the lesser of (i) the principal amount of the notes, or (ii) the conversion value, determined in the manner set forth in the indenture governing the notes, of a number of shares equal to the conversion rate.
If the conversion value exceeds the principal amount of the notes on the conversion date, the Company will also deliver, at the Company’s election, cash or common stock or a combination of cash and common stock with respect to the conversion value upon conversion.
If conversion occurs in connection with a “fundamental change” as defined in the notes indenture, the Company may be required to repurchase the notes for cash at a price equal to the principal amount plus accrued but unpaid interest.
If conversion occurs in connection with certain changes in control, the Company may be required to deliver additional shares of the Company’s common stock (a “make whole” premium) by increasing the conversion rate with respect to such notes.
Share issuable upon conversion
The Company may issue additional share up to 11,686,075 under almost all conditions and up to 14,315,419 under the “make-whole” premium
Guarantee
None
(1)
In the event of a “fundamental change” or exceeding the aforementioned average pricing thresholds, the Company would be required to classify the amount outstanding as a current liability.
Senior Floating Rate Notes
On March 31, 2015, the Company used proceeds from the Revolving Credit Facility to repay the outstanding principal of $125
million and accrued interest of $0.8 million on the Senior Floating Rate Notes due April 2015.
Revolving Credit Facility
On July 21, 2011, the Company entered into a $400 million Revolving Credit Facility, which was first amended in 2012 to increase the facility size to $700 million and then subsequently amended and restated on September 6, 2013 and further amended on October 22, 2013, May 20, 2014, September 23, 2014 and October 28, 2014, to, among other things, increase the Revolving Credit Facility to $1.0 billion, $630 million of which may be borrowed by the U.S. borrower, $300 million of which may be borrowed by the European borrowers and $70 million of which may be borrowed by the Canadian borrower. The Revolving Credit Facility contains restrictions including limitations on, among other things, distributions and dividends, acquisitions and investments, indebtedness, liens and affiliate transactions. The Revolving Credit Facility provides the Company with flexibility and the restrictions in the Revolving Credit Facility generally only apply in the event that the Company's availability under the Revolving Credit Facility falls below certain specific thresholds.
The Revolving Credit Facility has a maturity date of September 6, 2018. The maturity date of the Revolving Credit Facility would have automatically become due December 31, 2014, if the Company's Senior Floating Rate Notes were not refinanced with indebtedness that matured or was mandatorily redeemable or redeemable at the option of the holders thereof not earlier than the date that is 6 months after September 6, 2018 unless, if such notes were not refinanced, there was at least $100 million of availability under the Revolving Credit Facility and the fixed charge coverage ratio (as defined in the Revolving Credit Facility) was not less than 1.15 to 1.00, in each case after giving pro forma effect to the repayment of such notes. In the fourth quarter of 2014, the Company obtained a limited waiver eliminating the pro forma effect to the repayment of the notes for the calculation of the fixed charge coverage ratio. Based on the modified calculation the Company was in compliance as of December 31, 2014. The fixed charge coverage ratio was 1.29 to 1.00 at December 31, 2014. The commitment amount under the Revolving Credit Facility may be increased by an additional $250 million, subject to certain conditions and approvals as set forth in the Revolving Credit Facility. The Revolving Credit Facility requires maintenance of a minimum fixed charge coverage ratio of 1.00 to 1.00 if availability under the Revolving Credit Facility is less than the greater of $100 million or 10% of the then existing aggregate lender commitment under the Revolving Credit Facility. As of December 31, 2015, the availability under the Revolving Credit Facility is greater than $100 million. The fair value of the Revolving Credit Facility approximates the carrying value due to the variable interest rate under the Revolving Credit Facility and the asset-backed feature of the debt. The Company capitalized $0.6 million, $1.7 million, $4.9 million in 2015, 2014 and 2013, respectively, in deferred financing costs in connection with the Revolving Credit Facility.
Indebtedness under our Revolving Credit Facility is secured by: (a) for US borrowings under the facility, a first priority security interest in substantially all of our domestic assets and, (b) for Canadian and European borrowings under the facility, a first priority security interest in substantially all of our domestic and Canadian assets and certain assets of our Spanish, French and German subsidiaries party to the facility. In addition, the lenders under our Revolving Credit Facility have received a pledge of (i) 100% of the equity interests in all of the Company's domestic subsidiaries, and (ii) 65% of the voting equity interests in and 100% of the non-voting equity interests in certain of our foreign subsidiaries, including our Canadian subsidiaries and our Spanish, French and German subsidiaries party to the Revolving Credit Facility. Borrowings under the Revolving Credit Facility bear interest at interest rate bases elected by the Company plus an applicable margin calculated quarterly based on the Company's average availability and Total Consolidated Leverage Ratio as set forth in the credit agreement. The Revolving Credit Facility also requires the payment of a commitment fee equal to the available but unused commitments multiplied by an applicable margin of either 0.25% or 0.375% based on the average daily unused commitments.
The Company's Revolving Credit Facility as of the respective dates is summarized in the table below:
(1) Total undrawn availability for the U.S. borrower, the Canadian borrower and the European borrowers at December 31, 2015 is $239.1 million, $34.8 million and $73.6 million, respectively. Total undrawn availability for the U.S. borrower, the Canadian borrower and the European borrowers at December 31, 2014 is $257.7 million, $54.3 million and $113.0 million, respectively.
Latin America Credit Facilities
The Company’s Latin America credit facilities are summarized in the table below:
The Company’s Latin America credit facilities are short term loans utilized for working capital purposes. The fair value of the Latin America credit facilities approximates the carrying value due to the short term nature of the facilities.
Africa/Asia Pacific Credit Facilities
The Company’s Africa/Asia Pacific credit facilities are summarized in the table below:
The Company’s Africa/Asia Pacific credit facilities are short term loans utilized for working capital purposes. The fair value of the Africa/Asia Pacific credit facilities approximates the carrying value due to the short term nature of the facilities.
11. Financial Instruments
The Company is exposed to various market risks, including changes in interest rates, foreign currency and raw material (commodity) prices. To manage risks associated with the volatility of these natural business exposures, the Company enters into interest rate, commodity and foreign currency derivative agreements, as well as copper and aluminum forward pricing agreements. The Company does not purchase or sell derivative instruments for trading purposes. The Company does not engage in derivative contracts for which a lack of marketplace quotations would necessitate the use of fair value estimation techniques.
The Company enters into commodity instruments to hedge the purchase of copper, aluminum and lead in future periods and foreign currency exchange contracts principally to hedge the currency fluctuations in certain transactions denominated in foreign currencies, thereby limiting the Company's risk that would otherwise result from changes in exchange rates. Principal transactions hedged during the year were firm sales and purchase commitments. The fair value of foreign currency contracts represents the amount required to enter into offsetting contracts with similar remaining maturities based on quoted market prices.
The Company accounts for these commodity instruments and foreign currency exchange contracts as economic hedges. Changes in the fair value of economic hedges are recognized in current period earnings.
Fair Value of Derivatives Instruments
The notional amounts and fair values of derivatives not designated as cash flow hedges at December 31, 2015 and 2014 are shown below (in millions).
(1)
Balance recorded in “Prepaid expenses and other” and “Other non-current assets”
(2)
Balance recorded in “Accrued liabilities” and “Other liabilities”
As of December 31, 2015 and 2014, all financial instruments held by the Company were subject to enforceable master netting arrangements held by various financial institutions. In general, the terms of our agreements provide that in the event of an early termination the counterparties have the right to offset amounts owed or owing under that and any other agreement with the same counterparty. The Company's accounting policy is to not offset these positions in the Consolidated Balance Sheets. As of December 31, 2015 and 2014, the net positions of the enforceable master netting agreements are not significantly different from the gross positions noted in the table above. Depending on the extent of an unrealized loss position on a derivative contract held by the Company, certain counterparties may require collateral to secure the Company's derivative contract position. As of December 31, 2015 and 2014, there were no contracts held by the Company that required collateral to secure the Company’s derivative liability positions. Refer to Note 5 - Other Income (Expense) for more information.
12. Income Taxes
For financial reporting purposes, income before income taxes includes the following components (in millions):
The provision (benefit) for income taxes consisted of the following (in millions):
The reconciliation of reported income tax expense (benefit) to the amount of income tax expense that would result from applying domestic federal statutory tax rates to pretax income is as follows (in millions):
(1) For the year ended December 31, 2015, the major component consists of a $10.8 million tax benefit related to the exit of certain businesses. For the year ended December 31, 2014, the major components consist of $27.7 million for goodwill impairments, $8.4 million for the FCPA accrual and $78.1 million for non-deductible Venezuela devaluation and functional currency adjustments, partially offset by $32.9 million for Venezuela inflation adjustments
The components of deferred tax assets and liabilities were as follows (in millions):
The valuation of deferred tax assets is dependent on, among other things, the ability of the Company to generate a sufficient level of future taxable income in relevant taxing jurisdictions. In estimating future taxable income, the Company has considered both positive and negative evidence and has considered the implementation of prudent and feasible tax planning strategies. The Company has and will continue to review on a quarterly basis its assumptions and tax planning strategies and, if the amount of the estimated realizable net deferred tax asset is less than the amount currently on the balance sheet, the Company will reduce its deferred tax asset, recognizing a non-cash charge against reported earnings.
As of December 31, 2015, the Company has recorded approximately $139.5 million of valuation allowance to adjust deferred tax assets to the amount judged more likely than not to be realized. The valuation allowance is primarily attributable to certain foreign temporary differences and tax loss and tax credit carryforwards due to uncertainties regarding the ability to obtain future tax benefits for these tax attributes.
The Company has recognized deferred tax assets of approximately $50.1 million for gross tax loss carryforwards in various taxing jurisdictions as follows (in millions):
The Company also has various foreign subsidiaries with approximately $319 million of tax loss carryforwards in various jurisdictions that are subject to a valuation allowance due to statutory limitations on utilization, uncertainty of future profitability, and other relevant factors.
During 2015, after weighing all positive and negative evidence, including three year cumulative loss positions, forecasted future profitability, impairments and restructuring charges, difficult market and industry conditions, and factoring in prudent and feasible tax planning strategies, valuation allowances were recorded against deferred tax assets of certain business units that did not have deferred tax valuation allowances prior to 2015. Specifically, $1.4 million of valuation allowances have been recorded against the December 31, 2015 deferred tax assets of the Brazilian and South African units. During 2015, a $4.3 million tax benefit was recognized for the release of the valuation allowance against the NSW German unit's deferred tax assets due to a sustained level of profitability. Various other business units maintained full deferred tax asset valuation allowances that had been established in prior years, some for which the valuation allowance amounts increased significantly due to impairments, restructuring charges and operating losses.
In general, it is the practice and intention of the Company to permanently reinvest the earnings of its non-U.S. subsidiaries in those operations. As such, historically, the Company has not provided for deferred income taxes on the excess of financial reporting over tax basis in investments in foreign subsidiaries. These basis differences would become taxable upon the repatriation of assets from the foreign subsidiaries or upon a sale or liquidation of the foreign subsidiaries.
On October 23, 2014, the Company’s Board of Directors authorized a plan to exit all of the Company’s Asia Pacific and African operations. As a result of this plan, the Company can no longer assert that the financial reporting over tax basis in investments in these foreign subsidiaries will never reverse.
As of December 31, 2015, $0.6 million of deferred income tax liabilities were recorded for the excess of financial reporting over tax basis in investments in foreign subsidiaries and equity investees in Asia Pacific and Africa. The $0.6 million of deferred income tax liabilities recorded as of December 31, 2015 relate solely to U.S. and foreign income taxes and foreign withholding taxes that would result from the future divestiture transactions. With respect to certain Asia Pacific and Africa subsidiaries and equity investees with an excess of tax over financial reporting basis, the Company has not recorded deferred tax assets since it is not apparent that these basis differences will reverse in the foreseeable future or yield a future tax benefit even if the basis differences would reverse in the foreseeable future.
Deferred taxes have not been recorded for the tax implications of repatriating cash to the U.S. from the sales proceeds of Asia Pacific and African subsidiaries that are not directly owned by the U.S., as it is the Company’s intention to redeploy these cash proceeds in its non-U.S. operations indefinitely rather than repatriating the cash proceeds to the U.S. Assuming sales proceeds equal the net book value of the subsidiaries, the additional U.S. income tax and foreign withholding tax that would be incurred upon cash repatriation of the sales proceeds from the divestiture of the Asia Pacific and African entities that are not owned directly by the U.S. is estimated at $25 million.
During 2015, the Company recorded $0.5 million of income tax expense associated with changes in the outside basis differences of the Asia Pacific and Africa subsidiaries. The $0.5 million of income tax expense includes a $1.8 million tax benefit resulting from the release of previously recorded deferred tax liabilities related to Keystone and Fiji, two entities that were sold in 2015. In addition, the Company recorded $0.2 million of withholding tax expense in 2015 on an anticipated 2016 dividend from the Egyptian subsidiary to its Spanish parent company.
The temporary difference associated with the excess of financial reporting over tax basis in investments in all foreign subsidiaries outside of the Asia Pacific and African regions is estimated at approximately $325 million as of December 31, 2015. This amount was estimated based on book retained earnings as reduced for retained earnings amounts that have been previously taxed in the U.S. The Company remains committed to permanently reinvesting these earnings and does not see a need to repatriate cash to fund operations, including investing and financing activities, in the foreseeable future. Accordingly, no deferred income taxes have been recorded on the outside basis difference of foreign subsidiaries outside of the Asia Pacific and Africa regions. The determination of the additional income taxes that would be incurred upon repatriation of assets or disposition of such foreign subsidiaries is not practical due to the complexities, variables, and assumptions inherent in the hypothetical calculation.
The Company applies ASC 740 in determining unrecognized tax benefits. ASC 740 prescribes a recognition threshold that a tax position is required to meet before being recognized in the financial statements and provides guidance on derecognition, measurement, classification, interest and penalties, accounting in interim periods and disclosures.
The following is a tabular reconciliation of the total amounts of unrecognized tax benefits for the year:
Included in the balance of unrecognized tax benefits at December 31, 2015, 2014 and 2013 are $20.1 million, $25 million and $55 million, respectively, of tax benefits that, if recognized, would affect the effective tax rate.
The Company recognizes interest and penalties related to unrecognized tax benefits as income tax expense. Related to the unrecognized tax benefits noted above, the Company accrued penalties of $(1.4) million and interest of $(3.1) million during 2015 and in total, as of December 31, 2015, has recognized a liability for penalties of $1.7 million and interest of $2.8 million. During 2014 and 2013, the Company accrued penalties of $(1.2) million and $0.7 million, respectively, and interest of $(0.3) million and $3.7 million, respectively, and in total, as of December 31, 2014 and 2013, had recognized liabilities for penalties of $3.5 million and $7.4 million, respectively and interest of $6.8 million and $14.8 million, respectively.
The Company files income tax returns in numerous tax jurisdictions around the world. Due to uncertainties regarding the timing and outcome of various tax audits, appeals and settlements, it is difficult to reliably estimate the amount of unrecognized tax benefits that could change within the next twelve months. The Company believes it is reasonably possible that approximately $3 million of unrecognized tax benefits could change within the next twelve months due to the resolution of tax audits and statute of limitations expirations.
The Internal Revenue Service ("IRS") currently is in the process of examining the Company's 2012 consolidated income tax return. The IRS completed its examination of the Company's 2007 through 2010 consolidated income tax returns in the second quarter of 2013 with insignificant tax adjustments. With limited exceptions, tax years prior to 2010 are no longer open in major foreign, state, or local tax jurisdictions.
In October 2015, the IRS proposed a cumulative taxable income adjustment of $33.6 million through 2012 in connection with the Original Issue Discount (“OID”) yield on the Company’s $429.5 million Subordinated Convertible Notes (“Notes”) due 2029. The Company believes that the amount of the OID deductions claimed on its federal income tax returns since the 2009 issuance of the Notes is proper and will appeal the IRS proposed adjustment. If the IRS were to sustain the proposed adjustment in full, the Company’s OID deductions claimed on its 2013, 2014 and 2015 tax returns would also be reduced. The estimated impact on cash taxes and income tax expense would not be material due to the Company's tax loss and credit carry forward positions.
13. Employee Benefit Plans
General Cable provides retirement benefits through contributory and noncontributory qualified and non-qualified defined benefit pension plans covering eligible domestic and international employees as well as through defined contribution plans and other postretirement benefits.
Defined Benefit Pension Plans
The changes in the benefit obligation and plan assets, the funded status of the plans and the amounts recognized in the Consolidated Balance Sheets are as follows (in millions):
The accumulated benefit obligation for U.S. defined benefit retirement pension plans was $174.2 million and $190.1 million for 2015 and 2014, respectively. The accumulated benefit obligation for Non-U.S. defined benefit retirement pension plans was $110.4 million and $117.9 million for 2015 and 2014, respectively. Pension plans with accumulated benefit obligations in excess of plan assets consist of the following (in millions):
Pension expense included the following components (in millions):
The estimated net loss for the defined benefit pension plans that will be amortized from accumulated other comprehensive income into net pension expense over the next fiscal year is $8.4 million. The prior service cost to be amortized from accumulated other comprehensive income into net pension expense over the next fiscal year is $0.7 million.
The Company evaluates its actuarial assumptions at least annually, and adjusts them as necessary. The Company uses a measurement date of December 31 for all of its defined benefit pension plans. The weighted average assumptions used in determining benefit obligations were:
The weighted average assumptions used to determine net pension expense were:
Pension expense for the defined benefit pension plans sponsored by General Cable is determined based principally upon certain actuarial assumptions, including the discount rate and the expected long-term rate of return on assets. The discount rates for the U.S. defined benefit pension plans were determined based on a review of long-term bonds that receive one of the two highest ratings given by a recognized rating agency which are expected to be available during the period to maturity of the projected
pension benefit obligations and based on information received from actuaries. Non-U.S. defined benefit pension plans followed a similar evaluation process based on financial markets in those countries where General Cable provides a defined benefit pension plan.
The weighted-average long-term expected rate of return on assets is based on input from actuaries, including their review of historical 10-year, 20-year, and 25-year rates of inflation and real rates of return on various broad equity and bond indices in conjunction with the diversification of the asset portfolio. The Company’s overall investment strategy is to diversify its investments for the qualified U.S. defined benefit pension plan based on an asset allocation assumption of 65% allocated to equity investments, with an expected real rate of return of 8%, and 35% to fixed-income investments, with an expected real rate of return of 2%, and an assumed long-term rate of inflation of 3%. Equity investments primarily include investments in large-cap and mid-cap companies primarily located in the United States. The actual asset allocations were 65% of equity investments and 35% of fixed-income investments at December 31, 2015 and 69% of equity investments and 31% of fixed-income investments at December 31, 2014. Approximately 43% of plan assets were concentrated in two mutual funds as of December 31, 2015 and 2014. The expected long-term rate of return on assets for qualified non-U.S. defined benefit plans is based on a weighted-average asset allocation assumption of 60% allocated to equity investments and 40% to fixed-income investments. The actual weighted-average asset allocations were 61% of equity investments and 39% of fixed-income investments at December 31, 2015 and 59% of equity investments, 38% of fixed-income investments and 3% of other investments at December 31, 2014. Management believes that long-term asset allocations on average and by location will approximate the Company’s assumptions and that the long-term rate of return used by each country that is included in the weighted-average long-term expected rate of return on assets is a reasonable assumption.
The Company determined the fair market values of the pension plan assets based on the fair value hierarchy established in ASC 820. The standard describes three levels of inputs that may be used to measure fair values which are provided in Note 2 - Summary of Significant Accounting Policies. The fair values of pension plan assets are primarily traded in active markets. For those that are not traded in active markets, the fair value is determined using quantitative models that require the use of multiple market inputs including interest rates, prices and indices to generate pricing and volatility factors, which are used to value the asset. The predominance of market inputs are actively quoted and can be validated through external sources, including brokers, market transactions and third-party pricing services. Estimation risk is greater for pension assets where observable market inputs are less readily available or are unobservable. The fair values of certain pension assets include adjustments for market liquidity, counterparty credit quality. The fair value of the Company’s pension plan assets at December 31, 2015 by asset category are as follows (in millions):
The fair value of the Company’s pension plan assets at December 31, 2014 by asset category are as follows (in millions):
(1)
The Company’s interest represents approximately 26% of the lease which is currently between American Premier Underwriters (APU), the Lessor and CONSOL Energy (CONSOL), the Lessee. The lease pertains to real property mined by CONSOL located in Pennsylvania.
The following table represents details of the fair value measurements using significant unobservable inputs (Level 3):
The determination of pension expense for the qualified defined benefit pension plans is based on the fair market value of assets as of the measurement date. Investment gains and losses are recognized in the measurement of assets immediately. Such gains and losses will be amortized and recognized as part of the annual benefit cost to the extent that unrecognized net gains and losses from all sources exceed 10% of the greater of the projected benefit obligation or the market value of assets.
General Cable’s expense under both U.S. and non-U.S. defined benefit pension plans is determined using the discount rate as of the beginning of the fiscal year, this 2016 expense for the pension plans will be based on the weighted-average discount rate of approximately 4.30% for U.S. defined benefit pension plans and 2.81% for non-U.S. defined benefit pension plans.
The Company expects to contribute, at least the minimum required, not more than is tax deductible, $5.1 million to its defined benefit pension plans for 2016. The estimated future benefit payments expected to be paid for the Company’s defined benefit pension plans are $16.0 million in 2016, $16.1 million in 2017, $16.2 million in 2018, $16.7 million in 2019, $16.9 million in 2020 and $88.4 million from 2021 through 2023.
In 2015 and 2014, the Company recorded pre-tax non-cash settlement losses of $0.9 million and $2.7 million for the termination of pension plans related to the closure of one North America manufacturing plant.
Defined Contribution Plans
Expense under both U.S. and non-U.S. defined contribution plans generally equals up to six percent of each eligible employee’s covered compensation based on the location and status of the employee. The net defined contribution plan expense recognized was $11.7 million, $12.0 million and $11.7 million, respectively, for the years ended December 31, 2015, 2014 and 2013.
14. Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income
General Cable is authorized to issue 200 million shares of common stock and 25 million shares of preferred stock.
The components of accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) as of December 31, 2015 and 2014, respectively, consisted of the following (in millions):
The following is the detail of the change in the Company's accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) from December 31, 2013 to December 31, 2015 including the effect of significant reclassifications out of accumulated other comprehensive income (in millions, net of tax):
The following is the detail of the reclassifications out of accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) for the year ended December 31, 2015 (in millions, net of tax):
Stock Repurchase Programs
On December 10, 2013, the Company's Board of Directors authorized the extension of the Company’s existing $125 million share repurchase program through the end of 2014. The share repurchase program has not been extended. Stock purchases under this program were able to be made through the open market and privately negotiated transactions at times and in such amounts as deemed appropriate by a special committee appointed by the Board. Under the stock repurchase program, the Company purchased $30.7 million, or 1,000,000 common shares at an average price of $30.73 per share, during the year ended December 31, 2014.
Dividends on Common Stock
On May 20, 2013, the Company's Board of Directors authorized the payment of a regular quarterly dividend of $0.18 per share per quarter (starting in the second quarter of 2013). During the year ended December 31, 2015, the Company paid in total approximately $35.3 million to all common shareholders of record, or $0.72 per share. During the year ended December 31, 2014, the Company paid in total approximately $35.4 million to all common shareholders of record, or $0.72 per share. During the year ended December 31, 2013, the Company paid in total approximately $26.7 million to all common shareholders of record, or $0.54 per share. Future declarations of dividends and the establishment of future record dates and payment dates are subject to the final determination of our Board of Directors. In determining dividends, the Board of Directors takes into consideration items such as general business conditions, financial performance, projected cash flows and anticipated financing needs. Future payments of dividends is also subject to the Company's Revolving Credit Facility and 5.75% Senior Notes, and the requirements of the Delaware General Corporation law.
Deferred Compensation Plan
The Company maintains a deferred compensation plan (“Deferred Compensation Plan”). This plan is available to directors and certain officers and managers of the Company. The plan allows participants to defer all or a portion of their directors’ fees and/or salary and annual bonuses, as applicable, and it permits participants to elect to contribute and defer all or any portion of their stock awards or restricted stock units (together "Deferred Stock"). All fees, salary and bonus deferrals to the participants’ accounts vest immediately. Company contributions vest according to the vesting schedules in the qualified plan, and Deferred Stock vests according to the schedule designated by the award. The Company makes matching contributions and retirement contributions currently equal to 6% of compensation over the qualified plan limits, whether or not the employee elects to defer any compensation. The Deferred Compensation Plan does not have dollar limits on tax-deferred contributions. A Rabbi Trust (“Trust”) has been established in connection with the Deferred Compensation Plan, and the Trust assets are available to satisfy the claims of the Company’s creditors in the event of bankruptcy or insolvency of the Company. Participants have the right to request that their account balances be determined by reference to specified investment alternatives (with the exception of the portion of the account
which consists of Deferred Stock). With certain exceptions, these investment alternatives are the same alternatives offered to participants in the General Cable Retirement Savings Plan for Salaried Associates. Participants have the right to request that the Plan Administrator re-allocate the deferrals among available investment alternatives; provided, however, that the Plan Administrator is not required to honor such requests. Distributions from the Plan are generally made upon the participant's termination as a director and/or employee, as applicable, of the Company. Participants receive payments from the plan in cash, either as a lump sum payment or through equal annual installments from between one and ten years, except for the Deferred Stock, which the participants receive in shares of General Cable stock.
Assets of the Trust are invested in funds covering a variety of securities and investment strategies, approximately 70% are invested in mutual funds, 26% are invested in Deferred Stock and 4% are invested in the General Cable stock fund ("Stock Fund"). Mutual funds available to participants are publicly quoted and reported at market value. The Company accounts for these investments as trading securities in accordance with ASC 320 - Investments - Debt and Equity Securities. The Stock Fund that is held by the Trust is accounted for as discussed in ASC 718 - Compensation - Stock Compensation ("ASC 718").
The market value of mutual fund investments and General Cable stock in the Trust was $25.6 million and $31.9 million as of December 31, 2015 and 2014, respectively. The market value of the assets held by the Trust, exclusive of the market value of the shares of the Deferred Stock and the Stock Fund in the Trust at December 31, 2015 and December 31, 2014 was $18.0 million and $22.1 million, respectively, and is classified as “other non-current assets” in the Consolidated Balance Sheets. Amounts payable to the plan participants at December 31, 2015 and 2014, excluding the market value of the shares of Deferred Stock was $19.0 million and $23.5 million, respectively, and is classified as “other liabilities” in the Consolidated Balance Sheets.
In accordance with ASC 710 - Compensation - General, all market value fluctuations of the Trust assets, exclusive of the shares of Deferred Stock and Stock Fund, are effectively offset by changes in the market value of the deferred compensation liability, which are included as compensation expense in the Consolidated Statements of Operations and Comprehensive Income (Loss).
15. Share-Based Compensation
The Company has various plans that provide for granting options, restricted stock units and restricted stock to certain employees and independent directors of the Company and its subsidiaries. The Company recognizes compensation expense for share-based payments based on the fair value of the awards at the grant date. The table below summarizes compensation expense for the Company’s non-qualified stock options based on the fair value method estimated using the Black-Scholes valuation model, and non-vested stock awards, including restricted stock units, and performance-based non-vested stock awards based on the fair value method for the years ended December 31, 2015, 2014 and 2013. The Company records compensation expense related to non-vested stock awards as a component of SG&A Expense.
During the years ended December 31, 2015, 2014 and 2013, cash received from stock option exercises was $0.2 million, $0.3 million and $0.7 million, respectively. The total tax benefit to be realized for tax deductions from these option exercises was less than $0.1 million for the year ended December 31, 2015 and $0.1 million and $0.4 million for the years ended December 31, 2014 and 2013, respectively. The $4.3 million and $7.0 million tax deductions for all share-based compensation for the years ended December 31, 2015 and 2014, respectively, includes $(1.7) million and $(0.5) million of excess tax benefits (deficiencies). The 2015, 2014 and 2013 deficiency does not impact cash flow due to the U.S. tax loss carry forward position. The Company has elected the shortcut method to calculate the pool of excess tax benefits available to absorb tax deficiencies recognized subsequent to the adoption of ASC 718.
The Company currently has share-based compensation awards outstanding under the General Cable Corporation 2005 Stock Incentive Plan (“2005 Plan”). The 2005 Plan allows the Company to fulfill its incentive award obligations generally by granting nonqualified stock options and nonvested stock awards. New shares are issued when nonqualified stock options are exercised and when non-vested stock awards are granted. The 2005 Plan was amended and restated on May 14, 2015. The amended and restated
2005 Plan authorized a maximum of 9 million shares to be granted. Shares reserved for future grants, including options, under the amended and restated 2005 Plan, approximated 3.6 million at December 31, 2015.
The 2005 Plan authorizes the following types of awards to be granted: (i) Nonqualified Stock Options; (ii) Stock Appreciation Rights; (iii) Stock Awards; and (iv) Stock Units, as more fully described in the amended and restated 2005 Plan. Stock awards, stock units and cash awards may constitute performance-based awards. Each award is subject to such terms and conditions consistent with the 2005 Plan as determined by the Compensation Committee and as set forth in an award agreement and awards under the 2005 Plan were granted at not less than the closing market price on the date of grant.
Stock Options
All options awarded under the 2005 Plan have a term not to exceed 10 years from the grant date. The majority of the options vest ratably over three years of continued employment from the grant date. A summary of stock option activity for the year ended December 31, 2015 is as follows (options in thousands and aggregate intrinsic value in millions):
During the years ended December 31, 2015 and 2013 there were 352.1 thousand and 334.0 thousand stock options granted, respectively. During the year ended December 31, 2014 there were no stock options granted. During the years ended December 31, 2015 and 2013, the weighted average grant date fair value of options granted was $19.65 and $35.24, respectively. During the years ended December 31, 2015, 2014 and 2013, the total intrinsic value of options exercised was $0.1 million, $0.2 million, and $1.0 million, respectively, and the total fair value of options vested during the periods was $27.7 million, $25.7 million, and $20.8 million, respectively. At December 31, 2015, 2014 and 2013, the total compensation cost related to nonvested options not yet recognized was $1.5 million, $1.1 million and $4.1 million with a weighted average expense recognition period of 2.3 years, 1.2 years and 1.9 years, respectively.
The fair value of each option award is estimated on the date of grant using the Black-Scholes valuation model using the following weighted-average assumptions:
(1)
Risk-free interest rate - This is the U.S. Treasury rate at the grant date having a term approximately equal to the expected life of the option. An increase in the risk-free interest rate will increase compensation expense.
(2)
Expected dividend yield - The assumptions for the compensation expense were set at the beginning of the year prior to the Company deciding to pay dividends in 2013; as the Company did not expect to pay dividends in 2013 there was no effect on compensation expense in the year ended December 31, 2013.
(3)
Expected option life - This is the period of time over which the options granted are expected to remain outstanding and is based on historical experience. Options granted have a maximum term of ten years. An increase in expected life will increase compensation expense.
(4)
Expected stock price volatility - This is a measure of the amount by which a price has fluctuated or is expected to fluctuate. The Company uses actual historical changes in the market value of the Company’s stock to calculate the volatility assumption as it is management’s belief that this is the best indicator of future volatility. An increase in the expected volatility will increase compensation expense.
Additional information regarding options outstanding as of December 31, 2015 is as follows (options in thousands):
Nonvested Stock
The majority of the nonvested stock and stock unit awards issued under the 2005 Plan are restricted as to transferability and salability with these restrictions being removed in equal annual installments over the five-year period following the grant date. A minimal amount of immediately vesting restricted stock held by certain members of the Company’s Board of Directors in the Deferred Compensation Plan is included in this presentation as nonvested stock.
A summary of all nonvested stock and restricted stock units activity for the year ended December 31, 2015, is as follows (shares in thousands):
The weighted-average grant date fair value of all nonvested shares and restricted stock units granted, the total fair value (in millions) of all nonvested shares and restricted stock units granted, and the fair value (in millions) of all nonvested shares and restricted stock units that have vested during each of the past three years is as follows:
As of December 31, 2015, there was $9.3 million of total unrecognized compensation cost related to all nonvested stock and restricted stock units. The cost is expected to be recognized over a weighted average period of 1.8 years. There are 538 thousand nonvested stock and restricted stock units with a weighted average grant price of $26.52 and a fair value of $14.3 million expected to vest in 2016.
16. Redeemable Noncontrolling Interest
On October 1, 2012, the Company participated in a share subscription for 60% of the outstanding and issued shares of Procables. The existing shareholders immediately prior to the subscription (the “Sellers” or “Minority Shareholders”) maintained control of the remaining 40% of the shares. The Company and the Minority Shareholders also agreed to certain put and call options with regard to the remaining 40% interest in Procables retained by the Minority Shareholders. For a 36-month period commencing on the fourth anniversary of the closing date, the Minority Shareholders may exercise a put option to sell their entire 40% interest in Procables to the Company. The Company shall be irrevocably obligated to purchase the shares (the "Put Option"). In addition, the Company has a call option (the "Call Option") to purchase the Minority Shareholders’ 40% interest in Procables, during the 36-month period commencing on the expiration of the Put Option period. The consideration to be exchanged, per share in the event of a Put Option or Call Option shall be the higher of the following (1) the final per share purchase price; or (2) a price per share based on the Company's enterprise value equal to seven times the average of its earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization (“EBITDA”) over the two most recently audited year-end financial statements immediately prior to the option being exercised, minus the 12-month average Net Indebtedness, as defined in the agreement, of the Company for the most recent audited fiscal year (“EBITDA average”). The Company determined that the Put Option is embedded within the noncontrolling interest shares that are subject to the Put Option. The redemption feature requires classification of the Minority Shareholder's interest in the Consolidated Balance Sheets outside of equity under the caption “Redeemable noncontrolling interest.”
The redeemable noncontrolling interest of Procables was recorded on the acquisition date based on the estimated fair value of the shares including the embedded Put Option. The fair value of the Put Option was estimated at the higher of the final per share purchase price or EBITDA average. At December 31, 2015, the final per share purchase price was greater than the EBITDA average; therefore, the redeemable noncontrolling interest was valued at the same cost as the fair value determined at the opening balance sheet date, $18.2 million. Subsequent adjustments to the value of the redeemable noncontrolling interest due to the redemption feature, if any, will be recognized as they occur and recorded within Net income (loss).
17. Earnings Per Common Share
The Company applies the two-class method of computing basic and diluted earnings per share. Future declarations of dividends and the establishment of future record dates and payment dates are subject to the final determination of our Board of Directors.
A reconciliation of the numerator and denominator of earnings (loss) per common share-basic to earnings (loss) per common share-assuming dilution is as follows (in millions, except per share data):
(1)
Numerator
(2)
Denominator
(3)
Under the two class method, Earnings per share - basic reflects undistributed earnings per share for both common stock and unvested share-based payment awards (restricted stock).
(4)
Outstanding unvested share-based payment awards that contain rights to non-forfeitable dividends are considered participating securities in undistributed earnings in the calculation above.
As of December 31, 2015, 2014 and 2013, there were approximately 3,646 thousand, 3,057 thousand, and 288 thousand shares excluded from the earnings per common share - assuming dilution computation because their impact was anti-dilutive, respectively.
Under ASC 260 - Earnings per Share and ASC 470 and because of the Company’s obligation to settle the par value of the Subordinated Convertible Notes in cash, the Company is not required to include any shares underlying the Subordinated Convertible Notes in its weighted average shares outstanding - assuming dilution until the average stock price per share for the quarter exceeds the $36.75 conversion price of the Subordinated Convertible Notes, respectively, and only to the extent of the additional shares
that the Company may be required to issue in the event that the Company’s conversion obligation exceeds the principal amount of the Subordinated Convertible Notes.
Regarding the Subordinated Convertible Notes, the average stock price threshold conditions had not been met as of December 31, 2015 or December 31, 2014. At any such time in the future the threshold conditions are met, only the number of shares issuable under the “treasury” method of accounting for the share dilution would be included in the Company’s earnings per share - assuming dilution calculation, which is based upon the amount by which the average stock price exceeds the conversion price.
The following table provides examples of how changes in the Company’s stock price would require the inclusion of additional shares in the denominator of the weighted average shares outstanding - assuming dilution calculation for the Subordinated Convertible Notes.
(1)
Represents the number of incremental shares that must be included in the calculation of fully diluted shares under U.S. GAAP.
18. Segment Information
Effective in the fourth quarter of 2014, in connection with the Company's announcement to commit to a plan to divest all of the Company's operations in Asia Pacific and Africa, the Company reorganized its reportable segments as a result of a change to what the CODM uses to measure profitability and allocate resources. Accordingly, the Company presents four geographic operating and reportable segments - North America, Europe, Latin America, and Africa/Asia Pacific. As a result of the change in how the CODM manages and allocates resources, there was a change in how certain corporate costs are allocated to better align with how the CODM allocates resources. Previously, the amounts were evenly allocated across each reportable segment and the amounts are now allocated based on a percentage of revenue at each segment. This change in the allocation method is reflected in the results below retrospectively. The Company’s operating and reportable segments align with the structure of the Company’s internal management organization. All four segments engage in the development, design, manufacturing, marketing and distribution of copper, aluminum, and fiber optic communication, construction, electric utility and electrical infrastructure wire and cable products. In addition to the above products, the North America, Latin America and Africa/Asia Pacific segments manufacture and distribute rod mill wire and cable products.
Net revenues as shown below represent sales to external customers for each segment. Intersegment sales have been eliminated. For the year ended December 31, 2015, intersegment sales were $29.8 million in North America, $18.3 million in Europe, and $19.5 million in Latin America. For the year ended December 31, 2014, intersegment sales were $31.5 million in North America, $55.8 million in Europe, and $31.7 million in Latin America. For the year ended December 31, 2013, intersegment sales were $20.6 million in North America, $54.9 million in Europe, and $72.3 million in Latin America.
The chief operating decision maker evaluates segment performance and allocates resources based on segment operating income. Segment operating income represents income from continuing operations before interest income, interest expense, other income (expense), other financial costs and income tax. Summarized financial information for the Company's reportable segments is as follows:
The total assets of the discontinued operations as of December 31, 2015, 2014 and 2013 are $160.8 million, $433.7 million and $647.7 million, respectively. The total assets of the discontinued operations are included in the Africa/Asia Pacific segment above.
Revenues by Major Product Lines Revenues to external customers are attributable to sales of electric utility, electrical infrastructure, construction, communications and rod mill wire product lines.
Geographic Information The following table presents net sales to unaffiliated customers by country of destination for the last three years and long-lived assets by country as of December 31:
The total long-lived assets of the discontinued operations as of December 31, 2015 and 2014 are $56.9 million and $119.9 million, respectively. The total long-lived assets of the discontinued operations are included in the Others category above.
19. Commitments and Contingencies
Environmental matters
We are subject to a variety of federal, state, local and foreign laws and regulations covering the storage, handling, emission and discharge of materials into the environment, including CERCLA, the Clean Water Act, the Clean Air Act (including the 1990 amendments) and the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act.
Our subsidiaries in the United States have been identified as potentially responsible parties with respect to several sites designated for cleanup under CERCLA or similar state laws, which impose liability for cleanup of certain waste sites and for related natural resource damages without regard to fault or the legality of waste generation or disposal. Persons liable for such costs and damages generally include the site owner or operator and persons that disposed or arranged for the disposal of hazardous substances found at those sites. Although CERCLA imposes joint and several liability on all potentially responsible parties, in application, the potentially responsible parties typically allocate the investigation and cleanup costs based upon, among other things, the volume of waste contributed by each potentially responsible party.
Settlements can often be achieved through negotiations with the appropriate environmental agency or the other potentially responsible parties. Potentially responsible parties that contributed small amounts of waste (typically less than 1% of the waste) are often given the opportunity to settle as “de minimus” parties, resolving their liability for a particular site. We do not own or operate any of the waste sites with respect to which we have been named as a potentially responsible party by the government. Based on our review and other factors, we believe that costs relating to environmental clean-up at these sites will not have a material adverse effect on our results of operations, cash flows or financial position.
On March 7, 2011, GK Technologies, Inc. (“GK Tech”) was served with a Complaint filed on February 24, 2011, by the Housing Authority of the City of Los Angeles (“HACLA”) arising under CERCLA, California statutory law, and common law in the case known as Housing Authority of the City of Los Angeles v. PCC Technical Industries, Inc., Case No. 11-CV-01626 FMO (C.D. Cal.). The Housing Authority contends that GK Tech and several other defendants are responsible for environmental contamination at property located at 9901 S. Alameda Street in Los Angeles (the “Site”), which was apparently the location of a steel recycling mill formerly operated by a former subsidiary of GK Tech. The former subsidiary was legally dissolved in September 1993.
GK Tech has asserted various defenses to the claim, including the dissolution of the former subsidiary and the lack of knowledge of the environmental contamination. The Court had previously determined, as a matter of law, that the former subsidiary is one of several potentially responsible parties (“PRPs”) liable under CERCLA for costs of remediation of the contamination at the Site.
HACLA began conducting remediation work at the Site in April 2015, with projected costs at the time ranging from $5 million to $13 million. In October 2015, HACLA substantially expanded the scope of the remediation work at the Site and now estimates that the total costs to complete the work are between $21 million and $30 million. HACLA has collected some amounts through prior settlements with parties that owned and/or conducted operations on the Site after March 1979, which amounts we believe would partially offset any possible liability of GK Tech. GK Tech believes that it has very good defenses to HACLA’s successor liability theories but, nevertheless, it is reasonably possible that GK Tech could be held liable for between $0 million and $30 million in this case.
At December 31, 2015 and 2014, we had an accrued liability of approximately $3.6 million and $4.5 million, respectively, for various environmental-related liabilities to the extent costs are known and can be reasonably estimated as a liability. While it is
difficult to estimate future environmental-related liabilities accurately, we do not currently anticipate any material adverse effect on our results of operations, financial position or cash flows as a result of compliance with federal, state, local or foreign environmental laws or regulations or cleanup costs of the sites discussed above.
Asbestos litigation
We have been a defendant in asbestos litigation for the past 27 years. Our subsidiaries have been named as defendants in lawsuits alleging exposure to asbestos in products manufactured by us. As of December 31, 2015, we were a defendant in approximately 339 cases brought in state and federal courts throughout the United States. In the calendar year 2015, 99 asbestos cases were brought against us. In the calendar year 2014, 104 asbestos cases were brought against us. In the last 27 years, we have had no cases proceed to verdict. In many of the cases, we were dismissed as a defendant before trial for lack of product identification. As of December 31, 2015, 50,875 asbestos cases have been dismissed. In the calendar year 2015, 2,988 asbestos cases were dismissed. As of December 31, 2014, 47,887 cases were dismissed. With regards to the approximately 339 remaining pending cases, we are aggressively defending these cases based upon either lack of product identification as to whether we manufactured asbestos-containing product and/or lack of exposure to asbestos dust from the use of our product.
Historically, a large number of suits were brought on behalf of plaintiffs by a single admiralty law firm (“MARDOC”). Plaintiffs in the MARDOC cases generally alleged that they formerly worked in the maritime industry and sustained asbestos-related injuries from products that General Cable ceased manufacturing in the mid-1970s. The MARDOC cases are managed and supervised by a federal judge in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania (“District Court”) by reason of a transfer by the judicial panel on Multidistrict Litigation (“MDL”). In September 2014, upon receipt from the MDL Court of a current statistical report listing numbers of outstanding cases as well as a list identifying outstanding Maritime/MARDOC cases by plaintiff name, General Cable recorded a dismissal of 25,759 cases reducing its number of pending Maritime/MARDOC cases to 2,679. In June 2015, upon further review of the outstanding cases, General Cable recorded a dismissal of the remaining 2,679 Maritime/MARDOC cases.
For cases outside the MDL as of December 31, 2015, plaintiffs have asserted monetary damages in 175 cases. In 63 of these cases, plaintiffs allege only damages in excess of some dollar amount (about $670 thousand per plaintiff); in these cases there are no claims for specific dollar amounts requested as to any defendant. In 111 other cases pending in state and federal district courts (outside the MDL), plaintiffs seek approximately $480 million in damages from as many as 50 defendants. In one case, plaintiffs have asserted damages related to General Cable in the amount of $4 million. In addition, in relation to these 175 cases, there are claims of $319 million in punitive damages from all of the defendants. However, many of the plaintiffs in these cases allege non-malignant injuries. As of December 31, 2015 and 2014, we had accrued, on a gross basis, approximately $4.1 million and $4.7 million, respectively, and as of December 31, 2015 and 2014, had recovered approximately $0.4 million and $0.5 million of insurance recoveries for these lawsuits, respectively. The net amount of $3.7 million and $4.2 million, as of December 31, 2015 and 2014, respectively, represents our best estimate in order to cover resolution of current and future asbestos-related claims.
The components of the asbestos litigation reserve are current and future asbestos-related claims. The significant assumptions are: (1) the number of cases per state, (2) an estimate of the judgment per case per state, (3) an estimate of the percentage of cases per state that would make it to trial and (4) the estimated total liability percentage, excluding insurance recoveries, per case judgment. Management's estimates are based on the Company's historical experience with asbestos related claims. The Company's current history of asbestos claims does not provide sufficient and reasonable information to estimate a range of loss for potential future, unasserted asbestos claims because the number and the value of the alleged damages of such claims have not been consistent. As such, the Company does not believe a reasonably possible range can be estimated with respect to asbestos claims that may be filed in the future.
Settlement payments are made, and the asbestos accrual is relieved, when we receive a fully executed settlement release from the plaintiff's counsel. As of December 31, 2015 and 2014, aggregate settlement costs were $9.7 million and $9.5 million, respectively. In calendar years 2015, 2014 and 2013, the settlement costs totaled $0.2 million, $0.6 million and $0.3 million, respectively. As of December 31, 2015 and 2014, aggregate litigation costs were $26.1 million and $24.7 million, respectively. In calendar years 2015, 2014 and 2013, the costs of administering and litigating asbestos claims totaled $1.4 million, $1.8 million and $1.7 million, respectively.
In January 1994, we entered into a settlement agreement with certain principal primary insurers concerning liability for the costs of defense, judgments and settlements, if any, in all of the asbestos litigation described above. Subject to the terms and conditions of the settlement agreement, the insurers were responsible for a substantial portion of the costs and expenses incurred in the defense or resolution of this litigation. However, one of the insurers participating in the settlement that was responsible for a significant portion of the contribution under the settlement agreement entered into insurance liquidation proceedings and another became insolvent. As a result, the contribution of the insurers has been reduced and we have had to bear substantially most of the costs relating to these lawsuits.
European Commission competition matter
As part of the Company’s acquisition of Silec in December 2005, SAFRAN SA (“SAFRAN”), agreed to indemnify the Company for the full amount of losses arising from, related to or attributable to practices, if any, that are similar to previous practices investigated by the French competition authority for alleged competition law violations related to medium-and high voltage cable markets. The Company has asserted a claim under this indemnity against SAFRAN related to the European Commission’s Statement of Objections, discussed below, to preserve the Company’s rights in case of an adverse European Commission decision.
On July 5, 2011, the European Commission issued a Statement of Objections in relation to its ongoing competition investigation to a number of wire and cable manufacturers in the submarine and underground power cables business, including our Spanish affiliate, Grupo General Cable Sistemas, and its French subsidiary, Silec. The Statement of Objections alleged that the two affiliates engaged in violations of competition law in the underground power cables businesses for limited periods of time. The allegations related to Grupo General Cable Sistemas claimed that it had participated in a cartel from January 2003 to May 2007, while the allegations related to Silec were for the ten month period following its December 22, 2005 acquisition from SAFRAN by Grupo General Cable Sistemas.
Following our formal responses to the Statement of Objections in October 2011 and a hearing in 2012, the European Commission issued a final decision on April 2, 2014. In the decision, the claims of infringement against Grupo General Cable Sistemas were dismissed for lack of evidence of alleged cartel activity. With regard to Silec, the European Commission’s decision imposed a fine of 1.9 million Euros related to the period Silec has been owned by us. This fine was based on participation that allegedly commenced well before Silec was acquired by us. On June 13, 2014, we filed an appeal with the General Court of the European Union challenging the European Commission’s decision as to Silec in Europe based on established precedent. We also continue to pursue our claim for full indemnification for the Silec fine under the terms of the acquisition agreement with SAFRAN executed in 2005.
Transformer damage claims
In March 2012, we received formal notice of a claim for damages arising from a transformer fire that occurred in December 2010 allegedly resulting in loss of equipment and some consequential damages at a metal processing facility in Iceland. We supplied and installed cables and terminations to the transformer, which was manufactured and installed by an independent third party, during 2006 and the first quarter of 2007. Our work was inspected and accepted by the customer in March 2007. In August 2012, the customer initiated arbitration proceedings before the ICC Tribunal with a request to arbitrate in Pennsylvania. In September 2012, we initiated litigation in Pennsylvania state court seeking a declaration that we are not liable for any damages associated with the alleged loss resulting from the transformer fire and seeking to enjoin the ICC arbitration proceedings. The customer then moved the case from state to federal district court in the Western District of Pennsylvania which determined on motion that the ICC Tribunal not the court should decide whether the claims were arbitrable in the first instance. The arbitration was conducted before the ICC Tribunal in April 2015, and the parties filed post-hearing briefs. We are currently awaiting a decision from the ICC Tribunal. We continue to believe we have substantial defenses to potential liability in regard to the transformer fire and claimed loss. We currently estimate our range of reasonably possible loss from the arbitration proceeding to be between $0 million and $18 million.
Brazil tax matters
One of our Brazilian subsidiaries is involved in administrative proceedings with State treasury offices regarding whether tax incentives granted to us by one Brazilian state are applicable to goods sold in another Brazilian State. We believe we correctly relied on the tax incentives granted and that we have substantial defenses to their disallowance by the Brazilian State claimant. The total amount of taxes allegedly due for the infractions including potential interest and penalties is up to $8 million. In September 2012, an Administrative Court found that we were not liable for any incentive tax payments claimed by the State treasury office, however this determination was overturned on appeal and has since been further appealed. This appeal remains pending at the Brazilian Courts. Despite the pending appeal, in October 2014, the State issued a summons to recover the approximately $8 million of contested incentives described above, and we are complying with the terms of the State’s summons while continuing to contest the Court’s ruling. We currently estimate our range of reasonably possible loss to be between $0 million and $8 million.
One of our Brazilian subsidiaries has received formal notices of infractions from the Brazilian state authorities related to the failure to timely file electronic records with the state authorities in regard to inventories, good receipts, and invoices from acquisitions. The total amount due for the infractions including potential interest and penalties was up to $20 million. In July 2015, we resolved these claims under a tax amnesty program for an immaterial amount.
Our Brazilian subsidiaries have received notifications of various other claims related to disputed tax credits taken on Federal Tax Offset returns, which are in various phases of litigation. We believe we correctly applied the tax credits taken and that we have substantial defenses to these claims. The total amount of taxes allegedly due for the disputed credits, including potential interest and penalties is up to $12 million.
Brazil labor matter
One of our Brazilian subsidiaries has received infraction notices issued by the Department of Labor. Subsequently, the Brazilian Federal Labor Public Prosecutor filed a related lawsuit claiming collective punitive damages, in the amount of approximately $10 million. In March 2015, the Lower Labor Court rendered a decision granting collective punitive damages of approximately $1.6 million which was subsequently overturned on appeal but then reinstated by the Lower Labor Court. The Brazilian subsidiary is appealing this decision, and as of December 31, 2015, we have accrued our best estimate of the probable loss upon resolution of this claim, which is immaterial.
Government and internal investigations
We have been reviewing, with the assistance of external counsel, our use and payment of agents in connection with, and certain other transactions involving, our operations in Angola, Thailand, India, China and Egypt (the “Subject Countries”). Our review has focused upon payments and gifts made, offered, contemplated or promised by certain employees in one or more of the Subject Countries, directly and indirectly, and at various times, to employees of public utility companies and/or other officials of state owned entities that raise concerns under the FCPA and possibly under the laws of other jurisdictions. We have substantially completed our internal review in the Subject Countries and, based on our findings, we have increased our outstanding FCPA-related accrual of $24 million by an incremental $4 million, which represents the estimated profit derived from certain transactions that we believe is probable to be disgorged. We have also identified certain other transactions that may raise concerns under the FCPA for which it is at least reasonably possible we may be required to disgorge up to an additional $33 million, which represents the estimated profits derived from those other transactions.
The amounts accrued and the additional range of reasonably possible loss solely reflect profits that may be disgorged based on our investigation in the Subject Countries, and do not include, and we are not able to reasonably estimate, the amount of any possible fines, civil or criminal penalties or other relief, any or all of which could be substantial. The SEC and DOJ inquiries into these matters remain ongoing. We continue to cooperate with the DOJ and the SEC with respect to these matters. At this time, we are unable to predict the nature of any action that may be taken by the DOJ or SEC or any remedies these agencies may pursue as a result of such actions.
As previously disclosed, we conducted internal investigations, subject to the oversight of the Audit Committee of our Board of Directors and with the assistance of external counsel, principally relating to matters resulting in restatements of a number of our previously issued financial statements. The matters addressed in the investigations included (i) inventory accounting errors addressed in the restatements, including those resulting from inventory theft in Brazil, as well as the timing of internal reporting of the inventory accounting issues to senior corporate management at our headquarters in Highland Heights, Kentucky and (ii) historical revenue recognition accounting practices with regard to “bill and hold” sales in Brazil related to aerial transmission projects, including instances where we determined that the requirements for revenue recognition under GAAP with respect to the bill and hold sales were not met. (“Bill and hold” sales generally are sales meeting specified criteria under GAAP that enable the seller to recognize revenue at the time title to goods and ownership risk is transferred to the customer, even though the seller does not ship the goods until a later time. In typical sales transactions other than those accounted for as bill and hold, title to goods and ownership risk is transferred to the customer at the time of shipment or delivery.) In connection with these matters, among others, our management identified control deficiencies that constituted material weaknesses in our internal control over financial reporting. These material weaknesses resulted in accounting errors that caused us to issue two sets of restated financial statements. In March 2013, principally to correct the inventory accounting errors, we issued restated consolidated financial statements as of December 31, 2011 and 2010 and for the years ended December 31, 2011, 2010 and 2009, and unaudited restated financial statements for interim periods in 2011 and interim periods ended on March 30, 2012 and June 29, 2012. In January 2014, principally to correct errors relating to revenue recognition with respect to the bill and hold sales, we issued restated consolidated financial statements (which also encompassed matters addressed in the earlier restatement) as of December 31, 2012, 2011 and 2010 and for the years ended December 31, 2012, 2011, 2010 and 2009, and unaudited restated financial statements for interim periods in 2011 and 2012 and the interim period ended on March 29, 2013.
We voluntarily contacted the SEC to advise it of our initial internal investigation, and we have continued to provide information to the SEC on an ongoing basis, including, among other things, information regarding the matters described above and certain earnings management activities by employees prior to the end of 2012. As we previously disclosed, these earnings management activities (none of which identified to date had a material effect on our consolidated financial statements) were designed to delay the reporting of expenses or other charges, including improper capitalization of costs, misuse of accruals and failure to timely report inventory shortfalls identified through physical inventory counts. The SEC has issued a formal order of investigation. Pursuant to the formal order, the SEC issued subpoenas to us seeking relevant documents and to certain of our current and former employees seeking their testimony. The SEC has requested information regarding, among other things, the above-described Angola matter, matters that were subject to our internal investigations and earnings management activities by employees. We continue to cooperate with the SEC in connection with its investigation.
Any determination that our operations or activities are not in compliance with existing laws or regulations could result in the imposition of substantial fines, civil and criminal penalties, and equitable remedies, including disgorgement and injunctive relief. Because the government investigations regarding commission payment practices and our use and payment of agents described above are ongoing, we are unable to predict their duration, scope, results, or consequences. Dispositions of these types of matters can result in modifications to business practices and compliance programs, and in some cases the appointment of a monitor to review future business and practices with the objective of effecting compliance with the FCPA and other applicable laws. At this time, we cannot reasonably estimate the amount or range of additional possible loss that we may incur above the amount accrued to date in connection with the foregoing matters.
Purported class action and derivative litigation
Litigation was initiated against us and certain of our current and former directors, executive officers and employees following the restating of our financial statements principally as a result of the matters described above under “Government and internal investigations” relating to our Brazilian business.
Two civil complaints were filed in the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York on October 21, 2013 and December 4, 2013 by named plaintiffs, on behalf of purported classes of persons who purchased or otherwise acquired our publicly traded securities, against us, Gregory Kenny, our former President and Chief Executive Officer, and Brian Robinson, our Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer. On our motion, the complaints were transferred to the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Kentucky, the actions were consolidated, and a consolidated complaint was filed in that Court on May 20, 2014 by City of Livonia Employees Retirement System, as lead plaintiff on behalf of a purported class of all persons or entities who purchased our securities between November 3, 2010 and October 14, 2013 (the “City of Livonia Complaint”). The City of Livonia Complaint alleged claims under the antifraud and controlling person liability provisions of the Exchange Act, alleging generally, among other assertions, that we employed inadequate internal financial reporting controls that resulted in, among other things, improper revenue recognition, understated cost of sales, overstated operating income, net income and earnings per share, and the failure to detect inventory lost through theft; that we issued materially false financial results that had to be restated on two occasions; and that statements of Messrs. Kenny and Robinson that they had tested and found effective our internal controls over financial reporting and disclosure were false. The City of Livonia Complaint alleged that as a result of the foregoing, our stock price was artificially inflated and the plaintiffs suffered damages in connection with their purchase of our stock. The City of Livonia Complaint sought damages in an unspecified amount; reasonable costs and expenses, including counsel and experts fees; and such equitable injunctive or other relief as the Court deems just and proper. On January 27, 2015, the Court dismissed the City of Livonia Complaint, with prejudice, based on plaintiff’s failure to state a claim upon which relief could be granted. On February 24, 2015, plaintiff filed a motion to alter or amend the January 27, 2015 judgment and for leave to file the proposed amended complaint, which the lower Court also denied. On June 9, 2015, plaintiff appealed the lower Court’s decisions to the Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals, which appeal is currently pending.
In addition, a derivative complaint was filed on January 7, 2014 in the Campbell County, Kentucky Circuit Court against all but one member of our Board of Directors, including Mr. Kenny, two former directors, Mr. Robinson and two former officers, one of whom is a former executive officer. The derivative complaint alleges that the defendants breached their fiduciary duties by knowingly failing to ensure that we implemented and maintained adequate internal controls over our accounting and financial reporting functions and by knowingly disseminating to stockholders materially false and misleading statements concerning our financial results and internal controls. The derivative complaint seeks damages in an unspecified amount, appropriate equitable relief to remedy the alleged breaches of fiduciary duty, attorneys’ fees, experts’ fees and other costs. On March 5, 2014, the derivative case was placed on inactive status until a motion is filed by a party to reinstate the action to the Court’s active docket.
We believe the derivative complaint, insofar as it relates to our current and former directors, including Mr. Kenny, and to Mr. Robinson, and the City of Livonia Complaint are without merit and intend to vigorously contest the actions.
Other
In addition, we are involved in various routine legal proceedings and administrative actions incidental to our business. In the opinion of our management, these routine proceedings and actions should not, individually or in the aggregate, have a material adverse effect on our consolidated results of operations, cash flows or financial position. However, in the event of unexpected future developments, it is possible that the ultimate resolution of these matters or other similar matters, if unfavorable, may have such adverse effects.
In accordance with GAAP, we record a liability when it is both probable that a liability has been incurred and the amount of the loss can be reasonably estimated. These provisions are reviewed at least quarterly and adjusted to reflect the impacts of negotiations, settlements, rulings, advice of legal counsel, and other information and events pertaining to a particular case. To the extent additional information arises or our strategies change, it is possible that our estimate of our probable liability in these matters may change.
The General Cable Executive Severance Benefit Plan (“Severance Plan”), effective January 1, 2008, applicable to our U.S. executives holding a position of Executive Vice President or above prior to August 1, 2014, and the 2014 Executive Officer
Severance Plan ("2014 Severance Plan"), applicable to the Company’s executive officers holding a position of Executive Vice President or above or the position of Chief Financial Officer, General Counsel, Chief Compliance Officer or Chief Human Resources Officer and were hired or first promoted into such position after August 1, 2014, each include a change in control provision such that the executives may receive payments or benefits in accordance with the Severance Plan or 2014 Severance Plan, as applicable, to the extent that both a change of control and a triggering event, each as defined in the Severance Plan, occur. Unless there are circumstances of ineligibility, as defined, the Company must provide payments and benefits upon both a change in control and a triggering event.
The Company has entered into various operating lease agreements related principally to certain administrative, manufacturing and distribution facilities and transportation equipment. At December 31, 2015, future minimum rental payments required under non-cancelable lease agreements during the twelve month periods beginning December 31, 2015 through December 31, 2020 and thereafter are $16.7 million, $10.2 million, $8.0 million, $6.7 million and $5.0 million, respectively, and $6.5 million thereafter. Rental expense recorded in income from continuing operations was $41.6 million, $45.3 million and $47.0 million for the years ended December 31, 2015, 2014 and 2013, respectively.
As of December 31, 2015, the Company had $43.4 million in letters of credit (including the $36.7 million outstanding on the Company's Revolving Credit Facility), $168.5 million in various performance bonds and $173.9 million in other guarantees. Other guarantees include bank guarantees and advance payment bonds. These letters of credit, performance bonds and guarantees are periodically renewed and are generally related to risk associated with self-insurance claims, defined benefit plan obligations, contract performance, quality and other various bank and financing guarantees. Advance payment bonds are often required by customers when the Company obtains advance payments to secure the production of cable for long term contracts. The advance payment bonds provide the customer protection on their deposit in the event that the Company does not perform under the contract.
20. Unconsolidated Affiliated Companies
Unconsolidated affiliated companies are those in which the Company generally owns less than 50 percent of the outstanding voting shares. The Company does not control these companies and accounts for its investments in them on the equity method basis. The unconsolidated affiliated companies primarily manufacture or market wire and cable products in our Latin America and Africa/Asia Pacific segments. As of December 31, 2015 and 2014, the Company has recorded on its Consolidated Balance Sheets an investment in unconsolidated affiliated companies of $8.4 million and $17.5 million, respectively. The Company’s share of the income of these companies is reported in the Consolidated Statements of Operations and Comprehensive Income (Loss) under “Equity in net earnings of affiliated companies.” In 2015, 2014 and 2013, equity in net earnings of affiliated companies was $0.4 million, $1.2 million, and $1.7 million, respectively. As of December 31, 2015, the Company’s ownership percentage was as follows: Colada Continua Chilean, S.A. 41%, Nostag GmBH & Co. KG 33% and Pakistan Cables Limited 24.6%.
21. Fair Value Disclosure
The fair market values of the Company’s financial instruments are determined based on the fair value hierarchy as discussed in ASC 820.
The Company carries derivative assets and liabilities (Level 2) and marketable equity securities (Level 1) held in the rabbi trust as part of the Company’s Deferred Compensation Plan at fair value. The fair values of derivative assets and liabilities traded in the over-the-counter market are determined using quantitative models that require the use of multiple market inputs including interest rates, prices and indices to generate pricing and volatility factors, which are used to value the position. The predominance of market inputs are actively quoted and can be validated through external sources, including brokers, market transactions and third-party pricing services. Marketable equity securities are recorded at fair value, which are based on quoted market prices.
Financial assets and liabilities measured at fair value on a recurring basis are summarized below (in millions).
At December 31, 2015, there were no material financial assets or financial liabilities measured at fair value on a recurring basis using significant unobservable inputs (Level 3).
In 2015, the Company recognized asset-related charges of $17.7 million related to the Company's restructuring programs and $30.7 million related to the Company's Algerian operations.
During the first quarter of 2014, the Company recognized a goodwill impairment charge of $155.1 million and an impairment charge of $93.4 million for the indefinite-lived trade name associated with the PDIC reporting unit. In addition, the Company recognized asset-related charges of $29.3 million related to the Company's long-lived assets in Venezuela, $104.2 million related to the July 2014 restructuring plan and $13.1 million for the closure of the Brazil aluminum rod mill manufacturing plant in the year ended December 31, 2014.
To determine the fair value for the above assets, the Company considered appraisals, including discounted cash flows expected to result from the use and eventual disposition of the assets, utilizing standard valuation approaches, which incorporate Level 3 inputs. To determine the fair value of the asset groups, the Company employed both income and market-based approaches. See Note 7 - Property, Plant and Equipment and Note 8 - Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets for additional details.
Similarly, there were no other nonfinancial assets or nonfinancial liabilities measured at fair value on a non-recurring basis.
22. Quarterly Operating Results (Unaudited)
The interim financial information is unaudited. In the opinion of management, the interim financial information reflects all adjustments necessary for a fair presentation of quarterly financial information. Quarterly results have been influenced by seasonal factors inherent in General Cable’s businesses. The sum of the quarters’ earnings per share amounts may not add to full year earnings per share because each quarter is calculated independently, and the sum of the quarters’ other figures may not add to the full year because of rounding. The Company's fiscal quarters consist of 13-week periods ending on the Friday nearest to the end of the calendar months of March, June and September.
23. Supplemental Guarantor Condensed Financial Information
General Cable Corporation (“Parent Company”) and its U.S. 100% wholly-owned subsidiaries (“Guarantor Subsidiaries”) fully and unconditionally guarantee the $600.0 million of 5.75% Senior Notes due in 2022 of the Parent Company on a joint and several basis. The following tables present financial information about the Parent Company, Guarantor Subsidiaries and Non-Guarantor Subsidiaries in millions. Intercompany transactions are eliminated in the "Eliminations" column of the Supplemental Guarantor Condensed Financial Information tables. The results of the Asia Pacific Operations have been reclassified as discontinued operations for all periods presented. The Asia Pacific Operations are included as Non-Guarantor Subsidiaries in the schedules below. Refer to Note 3 - Assets and Liabilities Held for Sale and Discontinued Operations for additional details.
Condensed Statement of Operations and Comprehensive Income (Loss) Information
Year Ended December 31, 2015
Condensed Statement of Operations and Comprehensive Income (Loss) Information
Year Ended December 31, 2014
Condensed Statement of Operations and Comprehensive Income (Loss) Information
Year Ended December 31, 2013
Condensed Balance Sheet Information
December 31, 2015
Condensed Balance Sheet Information
December 31, 2014
Condensed Statement of Cash Flows Information
Year Ended December 31, 2015
Condensed Statement of Cash Flows Information
Year Ended December 31, 2014
Condensed Statement of Cash Flows Information
Year Ended December 31, 2013
Intercompany Activity
The Parent Company and its Guarantor Subsidiaries participate in a cash pooling program. As part of this program, cash balances are generally swept on a daily basis between the Guarantor Subsidiaries’ bank accounts and those of the Parent Company. There are a significant number of the Company’s subsidiaries that participate in this cash pooling arrangement and there are thousands of transactions per week that occur between the Parent Company and Guarantor Subsidiaries, all of which are accounted for through the intercompany accounts.
Parent Company transactions include interest, dividend, tax payments and intercompany sales transactions related to administrative costs incurred by the Parent Company, which are billed to Guarantor Subsidiaries on a cost-plus basis. These costs are reported in the Parent’s “Selling, general and administrative expenses” on the Consolidated Statement of Operations and Comprehensive Income (Loss) Information for the respective period(s). All intercompany transactions are presumed to be settled in cash when they occur and are included in operating activities on the statement of cash flows. Non-operating cash flow changes have been classified as financing activities beginning in 2009.
A summary of cash and non-cash transactions of the Parent Company’s intercompany account is provided below:
Dividends
There were no dividend payments to the Parent Company from the Guarantor Subsidiaries in the twelve months ended December 31, 2015, 2014, and 2013.
Parent Company Long-Term Debt
At December 31, 2015 and 2014, the Parent Company was party to various long-term financing arrangements, as summarized below (in millions):
Long-term debt related to the Parent Company is discussed in Note 10 - Long-Term Debt.
Commitments and Contingencies
For contingencies and guarantees related to the Parent Company, refer to Note 10 - Long-Term Debt and Note 19 - Commitments and Contingencies.
Schedule II
GENERAL CABLE CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES
Valuation and Qualifying Accounts
(in millions)