text:
BRUNSWICK CORP
BC 2013.12.31 10K
Brunswick Corporation
1 N. Field Court, Lake Forest, Illinois 60045-4811 (Address of principal executive offices, including zip code)
(847) 735-4700 (Registrant's telephone number, including area code)
Title of each class Name of exchange on which registered
Common Stock ($0.75 par value) New York Stock Exchange, Chicago Stock Exchange
Indicate by check mark if the registrant is a well-known seasoned issuer, as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act. Yes x No o
Indicate by check mark if the registrant is not required to file reports pursuant to Section 13 or Section 15(d) of the Act. Yes o No x
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days. Yes x No o
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has submitted electronically and posted on its corporate Web site, if any, every Interactive Data File required to be submitted and posted pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulation S-T (§232.405 of this chapter) during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to submit and post such files). Yes x No o
Indicate by check mark if disclosure of delinquent filers pursuant to Item 405 of Regulation S-K is not contained herein, and will not be contained, to the best of registrant's knowledge, in the definitive proxy or information statements incorporated by reference in Part III of this Form 10-K or any amendment to this Form 10-K. x
o (Do not check if a smaller reporting company)
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act). Yes o No x
As of June 28, 2013, the last business day of the registrant's most recently completed second fiscal quarter, the aggregate market value of the voting stock of the registrant held by non-affiliates was $2,870,331,001. Such number excludes stock beneficially owned by officers and directors. This does not constitute an admission that they are affiliates.
The number of shares of Common Stock ($0.75 par value) of the registrant outstanding as of February 12, 2014 was 92,565,929.
Part III of this Report on Form 10-K incorporates by reference certain information that will be set forth in the Company's definitive Proxy Statement for the Annual Meeting of Shareholders scheduled to be held on May 7, 2014.
Market for Registrant's Common Equity, Related Stockholder Matters and Issuer Purchases of Equity Securities
Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and Management and Related Stockholders Matters
Exhibits and Financial Statement Schedules
Brunswick Corporation (Brunswick or the Company) is a Delaware corporation, incorporated on December 31, 1907. Brunswick is a leading global designer, manufacturer and marketer of recreation products including marine engines, boats, fitness equipment and bowling and billiards equipment. Brunswick's engine products include: outboard, sterndrive and inboard engines; trolling motors; propellers; engine control systems; and marine parts and accessories. The Company's boat offerings include: fiberglass pleasure boats; yachts and sport yachts; offshore fishing boats; aluminum fishing boats; inflatable boats; pontoon boats and deck boats. Brunswick's fitness products include both cardiovascular and strength training equipment for the commercial and consumer markets. Brunswick's bowling products include capital equipment, aftermarket and consumer goods. The Company also sells a complete line of billiards tables and other gaming tables and accessories. In addition, the Company owns and operates Brunswick bowling entertainment centers in the United States and Canada.
In 2013, Brunswick focused on executing its strategic growth initiatives and debt reduction strategy as well as achieving cost reductions and operating efficiencies throughout the Company in order to sustain earnings growth. In 2014, Brunswick's focus will be to drive consistent, profitable growth through product leadership resulting from investments in capital projects, research and development programs and sales and marketing resources in an effort to generate strong earnings and greater free cash flow. In the longer term, Brunswick's strategy remains consistent: to design, develop and introduce high-quality products featuring innovative technology and styling; to distribute products through a model that benefits its partners - dealers and distributors - and to provide world-class service to its customers; to develop and maintain low-cost manufacturing processes and to continually improve productivity and efficiency; to manufacture and distribute products globally with local and regional styling; to continue implementing the Company's capital strategy which includes maintaining a strong balance sheet, opportunistically lowering debt and funding pension obligations; and to attract and retain skilled and knowledgeable people. These strategic objectives support the Company's plans to grow by expanding its existing core businesses. The Company's primary objective is to enhance shareholder value by achieving returns on investments that exceed its cost of capital.
Refer to Note 5 – Segment Information and Note 2 – Discontinued Operations in the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements for additional information regarding the Company's segments and discontinued operations, including net sales, operating earnings and total assets by segment.
Marine Engine Segment
The Marine Engine segment, which had net sales of $2,088.1 million in 2013, consists of the Mercury Marine Group (Mercury Marine). The Company believes its Marine Engine segment has the largest dollar sales and unit volume of recreational marine engines in the world, along with a leading marine parts and accessories business.
Mercury Marine manufactures and markets a full range of outboard engines, sterndrive propulsion systems and inboard engines under the Mercury, Mercury MerCruiser, Mariner, Mercury Racing, Mercury Sport Jet and Mercury Jet Drive, MotorGuide, Axius and Zeus brand names. In addition, Mercury Marine manufactures and markets marine parts and accessories under the Quicksilver, Mercury Precision Parts, Mercury Propellers, Attwood, Land 'N' Sea, Kellogg Marine Supply, Diversified Marine Products, Sea Choice and MotorGuide brand names, including marine electronics and control integration systems, steering systems, instruments, controls, propellers, trolling motors, fuel systems, service parts and marine lubricants. Mercury Marine's outboard engines, sterndrive engines and inboard engines are sold to independent boat builders, local, state and foreign governments, and to the Company's Boat segment. In addition, Mercury Marine's outboard engines are sold to end-users through a global network of more than 6,000 marine dealers and distributors, specialty marine retailers and marine service centers.
Mercury Marine also supplies integrated, high-speed diesel propulsion systems to the worldwide recreational and commercial marine markets, including the Company's Boat segment. During the second quarter of 2012, the Company and Cummins Inc. transitioned to the respective parent companies the business activities of Cummins MerCruiser Diesel Marine LLC (CMD), the joint venture between Mercury Marine and Cummins Marine, a division of Cummins Inc., and began the liquidation process of the joint venture. This liquidation process was completed in 2013. As part of the transition, Mercury Marine has integrated CMD's high-speed diesel engine line into its product portfolio and sells, services and supports these products through its global sales and distribution network.
Mercury Marine manufactures four-stroke outboard engine models ranging from 2.5 to 350 horsepower and two-stroke OptiMax outboard engines, all of which feature Mercury's direct fuel injection (DFI) technology, ranging from 75 to 300 horsepower. All of these low-emission engines are in compliance with current U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) requirements. Mercury Marine's four-stroke outboard engines include Verado, a collection of supercharged outboards ranging from 150 to 350 horsepower,
and Mercury Marine's naturally aspirated four-stroke outboards, ranging from 2.5 to 150 horsepower, including the 150 FourStroke, introduced in 2012, which quickly became known for its light weight, fuel efficiency and performance. Mercury Marine also manufactures two-stroke, non-DFI engines for certain markets outside the United States. In addition, most of Mercury's sterndrive and inboard engines are now available with catalyst exhaust monitoring and treatment systems, and all are compliant with environmental regulations adopted by the State of California, effective January 1, 2008, and by the EPA, effective January 1, 2010.
To promote advanced propulsion systems with improved handling, performance and efficiency, Mercury Marine manufactures and markets advanced boat steering and engine control systems under the brand names of Zeus and Axius.
Mercury Marine's gasoline sterndrive and outboard engines are produced domestically in Fond du Lac, Wisconsin, with outboard engines also produced internationally in China and Japan. Mercury Marine manufactures 40, 50 and 60 horsepower four-stroke outboard engines in a facility in China, and produces smaller outboard engines in Japan pursuant to a joint venture with its partner, Tohatsu Corporation. Mercury Marine sources certain engine components from a global supply base of Asian, European and Latin American suppliers and manufactures additional engine component parts at its Fond du Lac facility and plants in Florida and Mexico. Mercury Marine also operates a remanufacturing business for engines and service parts in Wisconsin. In addition, Mercury Marine has an equity ownership interest in a company that manufactures boats under the brand names Bella, Flipper and Aquador in Finland.
Mercury Marine's parts and accessories distribution and products businesses include: Land 'N' Sea, Kellogg Marine Supply, Diversified Marine Products and Attwood Marine. These businesses are the leading distributors of marine parts and accessories throughout North America, offering same-day or next-day delivery service to a broad array of marine service facilities.
Inter-company sales to the Company's Boat segment represented approximately 11 percent of Mercury Marine's sales in 2013. Domestic demand for the Marine Engine segment's products is seasonal, with sales generally highest in the second calendar quarter of the year.
Boat Segment
The Boat segment consists of the Brunswick Boat Group (Boat Group), which manufactures and markets the following products: fiberglass pleasure boats; yachts and sport yachts; offshore fishing boats; aluminum fishing boats; pontoon boats; deck boats and inflatable boats. The Company believes that its Boat Group, which had net sales of $1,032.0 million during 2013, has the largest dollar sales and unit volume of any pleasure motorboat manufacturer in the world.
The Boat Group manages Brunswick's boat brands; evaluates and optimizes the Boat segment's boat portfolio; promotes recreational boating services and activities to enhance the consumer experience and dealer profitability; and speeds the introduction of new technologies into the boat manufacturing and design processes.
The Boat Group includes the following boat brands: Sea Ray yachts, sport yachts, sport cruisers and runabouts; Bayliner sport cruisers and runabouts; Meridian yachts; Boston Whaler and Lund fiberglass fishing boats; and Crestliner, Cypress Cay, Harris FloteBote, Lowe, Lund and Princecraft aluminum fishing, utility, pontoon boats and deck boats. The Boat Group also includes a commercial and governmental sales unit that sells products to commercial customers, as well as to the United States government and state, local and foreign governments. The Boat Group procures most of its outboard engines, gasoline sterndrive engines and gasoline inboard engines from Brunswick's Marine Engine segment.
The Boat Group also includes several Brunswick boat brands based in Europe and Asia, which include Quicksilver, Uttern and Rayglass (Protector and Legend), which are typically equipped with engines manufactured by Mercury Marine and often include other parts and accessories supplied by Mercury Marine.
The Boat Group has active manufacturing facilities in Florida, Indiana, Minnesota, Missouri, Tennessee, Brazil, Canada, Mexico, New Zealand and Portugal, as well as additional inactive manufacturing facilities in Indiana, North Carolina and Tennessee. The Boat Group utilizes contract manufacturing facilities in Poland.
During 2013, the Boat Group continued its restructuring activities by reducing its workforce and consolidating manufacturing operations. In the fourth quarter of 2013, the Company made the decision to outsource woodworking operations for its fiberglass sterndrive boats, which resulted in long-lived asset impairment charges. Throughout the first half of 2013, the Company completed the consolidation of its Knoxville, Tennessee boat plant operation into its manufacturing facilities in Vonore, Tennessee and Palm Coast, Florida. In the first quarter of 2013, the Company announced the consolidation of its yacht and motoryacht production at its Palm Coast, Florida manufacturing plant, and as a result, the Company suspended manufacturing at its Sykes Creek boat manufacturing facility in nearby Merritt Island, Florida as of the end of June 2013. In August 2013, the Company completed the
sale of its Hatteras and Cabo boat businesses. Finally, in 2013, the Boat Group divested several idle operating facilities and other real property holdings in Merritt Island, Florida; Ashland City, Knoxville and Dandridge, Tennessee; and Swansboro, North Carolina.
The Boat Group's products are sold to end-users through a global network of approximately 2,950 dealers and distributors, each of which carries one or more of Brunswick's boat brands. Sales to the Boat Group's largest dealer, MarineMax Inc., which has multiple locations and carries a number of the Boat Group's product lines, represented approximately 17 percent of Boat Group sales in 2013. Domestic demand for pleasure boats is seasonal, with sales generally highest in the second calendar quarter of the year.
Fitness Segment
Brunswick's Fitness segment is comprised of its Life Fitness division (Life Fitness), which designs, manufactures and markets a full line of reliable, high-quality cardiovascular fitness equipment (including treadmills, total body cross-trainers, stair climbers and stationary exercise bicycles) and strength-training equipment under the Life Fitness and Hammer Strength brands.
The Company believes that its Fitness segment, which had net sales of $693.5 million during 2013, is the world's largest manufacturer of commercial fitness equipment and a leading manufacturer of high-quality consumer fitness equipment. Life Fitness' commercial sales customers include health clubs, corporations, schools and universities, hotels, professional sports teams and the military and governmental agencies. Commercial sales are made to customers through Life Fitness' direct sales force, domestic dealers, and international distributors. Consumer products are available at specialty retailers, select mass merchants, sporting goods stores, through international distributors, and on the Life Fitness Web site.
The Fitness segment's principal manufacturing facilities are located in Illinois, Kentucky, Minnesota and Hungary, with third party contract manufacturing partners in China and Taiwan. Life Fitness distributes its products worldwide from regional warehouses and production facilities. Demand for Life Fitness products is seasonal, with sales generally highest in the fourth quarter of the year.
Bowling & Billiards Segment
The Bowling & Billiards segment is comprised of the Brunswick Bowling & Billiards division (BB&B), which had net sales of $310.3 million during 2013. The Company believes BB&B is a leading worldwide full-line designer, manufacturer and marketer of bowling and billiards products and operator of retail bowling centers.
BB&B's bowling products business designs, manufactures and markets a wide variety of bowling products, including capital equipment (such as automatic pinsetters and scoring devices), bowling balls and aftermarket products (such as lane machines, pinsetter parts, lane conditioners and lane cleaners). Through licensing arrangements, BB&B also offers a wide array of bowling consumer products, including bowling shoes, bags and accessories.
BB&B operates 88 bowling centers in the United States and Canada. During 2013, BB&B divested its seven European bowling centers. BB&B retail bowling centers offer bowling and, depending on size and location, may also offer the following activities and facilities: in-house restaurants, taverns, outdoor patios, billiards, video and redemption games, laser tag, pro shops and meeting and party rooms. Of the Company's 88 bowling centers, 37 have been converted into Brunswick Zones, bowling centers that offer an array of active entertainment activities for our guests. BB&B has further enhanced the Brunswick Zone concept with expanded Brunswick Zone entertainment centers, branded Brunswick Zone XL, which are larger than typical Brunswick Zones and feature multiple entertainment offerings. BB&B operates 15 Brunswick Zone XL centers.
In 2013, BB&B introduced three new "Brunswick's" bowling centers, designed to create a unique combination of active entertainment and distinctive cuisine that provides guests with a superior experience. The new Brunswick's centers are complemented by elevated American pub fare from in-house restaurant Tavern '45, local and craft beers and superior service. The lively atmosphere encourages guests to connect with friends in an active, welcoming environment.
BB&B's billiards business was established in 1845 and is Brunswick's heritage business. BB&B designs and/or markets billiards tables, table tennis tables, air powered table hockey games, billiard balls, cues and other gaming tables, as well as game room furniture and related accessories, under the Brunswick and Contender brands.
BB&B's primary manufacturing and distribution facilities are located in Michigan, Wisconsin, Hungary and Mexico.
Brunswick's bowling and billiards products are sold through a variety of channels, including distributors, dealers, mass merchandisers, bowling centers and other retailers, and directly to consumers through the Internet and other outlets. BB&B's sales are seasonal with sales generally highest in the first and fourth calendar quarters of the year.
Discontinued Operations
On December 31, 2012, the Board of Directors authorized the Company to exit its Hatteras and Cabo boat businesses, with the sale of these businesses completed in August 2013. As a result, these businesses, which were previously reported in the Company's Boat segment, are being reported as discontinued operations and are reported in separate lines in the Consolidated Statements of Operations for all periods presented. The assets and liabilities of these businesses meet the held for sale accounting criteria and have been aggregated and reported on separate lines of the Consolidated Balance Sheets for all periods presented. Brunswick's results as discussed in this Annual Report on Form 10-K reflect continuing operations only, unless otherwise noted.
The Company, through its Brunswick Financial Services Corporation (BFS) subsidiary, owns a 49 percent interest in a joint venture, Brunswick Acceptance Company, LLC (BAC). CDF Ventures, LLC (CDFV), a subsidiary of GE Capital Corporation, owns the remaining 51 percent. Under the terms of the joint venture agreement, BAC provides secured wholesale inventory floorplan financing to the Company's engine and boat dealers.
In 2013, the term of the BAC joint venture was extended through December 31, 2016. The joint venture agreement contains provisions allowing for the renewal of the agreement or purchase of the other party's interest in the joint venture at the end of its term. Alternatively, either partner may terminate the agreement at the end of its term.
Additionally, Brunswick offers financial services through Brunswick Product Protection Corporation, which provides marine dealers the opportunity to offer extended product warranties to retail customers, and through Blue Water Dealer Services, Inc., which provides retail financial services to marine dealers. Each company allows Brunswick to offer a more complete line of financial services to its boat and marine engine dealers and their customers.
Refer to Note 9 – Financial Services in the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements for more information about the Company's financial services.
Brunswick utilizes distributors, dealers and retailers (Dealers) for the majority of its boat sales and significant portions of its sales of marine engine, fitness and bowling and billiards products. Brunswick has over 16,000 Dealers serving its business segments worldwide. Brunswick's marine Dealers typically carry one or more of the following product categories - boats, engines and related parts and accessories.
Brunswick owns Land 'N' Sea, Kellogg Marine Supply and Diversified Marine Products, the primary parts and accessories distribution platforms for the Company's Marine Engine segment. We believe that these businesses, collectively, are the leading distributors of marine parts and accessories throughout North America, with 14 distribution warehouses located throughout the United States and Canada offering same-day or next-day delivery service to a broad array of marine service facilities and Dealers.
Brunswick's Dealers are independent companies or proprietors that range in size from small, family-owned businesses to a large, publicly-traded corporation with substantial revenues and multiple locations. Some Dealers sell Brunswick's products exclusively, while others also carry competitors' products. Brunswick partners with its boat dealer network to improve quality, service, distribution and delivery of parts and accessories to enhance the boating customer's experience.
Demand for a significant portion of Brunswick's products is seasonal, and a number of Brunswick's Dealers are relatively small and/or highly-leveraged. As a result, many Dealers require financial assistance to support their businesses, enabling them to provide stable channels for Brunswick's products. In addition to the financing offered by BAC, the Company provides its Dealers with assistance, including incentive programs, loans, loan guarantees and inventory repurchase commitments, under which the Company is obligated to repurchase inventory from a finance company in the event of a Dealer's default. The Company believes that these arrangements are in its best interest; however, the financial support that the Company provides to its Dealers exposes the Company to credit and business risk. Brunswick's business units, along with BAC, maintain active credit operations to manage this financial exposure, and the Company continually seeks opportunities to sustain and improve the financial health of its various
distribution channel partners. Refer to Note 12 – Commitments and Contingencies in the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements for further discussion of these arrangements.
Brunswick's sales to customers in markets other than the United States were $1,429.9 million (37 percent of net sales), $1,397.2 million (38 percent of net sales) and $1,483.6 million (40 percent of net sales) in 2013, 2012 and 2011, respectively. The Company transacts a portion of its sales in non-U.S. markets in local currencies, and the cost of its products is generally denominated in U.S. dollars. As a result, the strengthening or weakening of the U.S. dollar affects the financial results of Brunswick's non-U.S. operations.
Non-U.S. sales are set forth in Note 5 – Segment Information in the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements and are also included in the table below, which details Brunswick's non-U.S. sales by region:
Marine Engine segment non-U.S. sales represented approximately 46 percent of Brunswick's non-U.S. sales in 2013. The segment's principal non-U.S. operations include the following:
An outboard engine assembly plant in Suzhou, China;
An outboard engine assembly plant operated by a joint venture in Japan;
A component manufacturing facility in Mexico;
Distribution, sales, service and applications engineering offices in Australia, Belgium, Brazil, Canada, China, Malaysia, Mexico, New Zealand and Singapore; and
Sales or representative offices in China, Dubai, Finland, France, Italy, Norway, Russia, Sweden and Switzerland.
Boat segment non-U.S. sales comprised approximately 26 percent of Brunswick's non-U.S. sales in 2013. A portion of the Boat Group's products are manufactured or assembled in Brazil, Canada, Mexico, New Zealand and Portugal, as well as in boat plants owned and operated by third parties in Poland that perform contract manufacturing for the Company, and are sold worldwide through Dealers. The Boat Group has sales or import offices in Belgium, Brazil, Canada, Italy, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Poland and Sweden.
Fitness segment non-U.S. sales comprised approximately 24 percent of Brunswick's non-U.S. sales in 2013. Life Fitness sells its products worldwide and has sales and distribution centers in Brazil, Germany, Hong Kong, Japan, the Netherlands, Spain and the United Kingdom. The Fitness segment manufactures strength-training equipment and select lines of cardiovascular equipment in Hungary for its international markets, and has relationships with contract manufacturers in China and Taiwan.
Bowling & Billiards segment non-U.S. sales comprised approximately 4 percent of Brunswick's non-U.S. sales in 2013. BB&B sells its products worldwide, has finance and service representatives in Germany, and operates plants that manufacture automatic pinsetters in Hungary and bowling balls in Mexico. BB&B operates three retail bowling centers in Canada.
Raw Materials and Supplies
Brunswick purchases a wide variety of raw materials from its supplier base, including oil, aluminum, steel and resins, as well as product parts and components, such as engine blocks and boat windshields. The prices for these raw materials, parts and components fluctuate depending on market conditions. Significant increases in the cost of such materials would raise the Company's production costs, which could reduce the Company's profitability if the Company could not recoup the increased costs through higher product prices.
As Brunswick's manufacturing operations raised production levels in 2013, the Company's need for raw materials and supplies increased. Moving into 2014, Brunswick's suppliers will need to increase their manufacturing operations to meet the rising demand
for their products and, in many cases, may need to hire additional workers in order to fulfill the orders placed by Brunswick and other customers. During 2013, the Company experienced some shortages, and delayed delivery, of certain materials, parts and supplies essential to its manufacturing operations. The Company has addressed and will continue to address this issue by identifying alternative suppliers, working to secure adequate inventories of critical supplies and continually monitoring the capabilities of its supplier base.
The Company also continues to expand its global procurement operations to better leverage its purchasing power across its divisions and to improve supply chain and cost efficiencies. The Company mitigates its commodity price risk on certain raw material purchases by using derivatives to hedge exposure related to changes in commodity prices.
Brunswick has, and continues to obtain, patent rights covering certain features of its products and processes. By law, Brunswick's patent rights, which consist of patents and patent licenses, have limited lives and expire periodically. The Company believes that its patent rights are important to its competitive position in all of its business segments.
In the Marine Engine segment, patent rights principally relate to features of outboard engines and inboard-outboard drives, hybrid drives and pod drives, including: die-cast powerheads; cooling and exhaust systems; drivetrain, clutch and gearshift mechanisms; boat/engine mountings; shock-absorbing tilt mechanisms; ignition systems; propellers; marine vessel control systems; fuel and oil injection systems; supercharged engines; outboard mid-section structures; segmented cowls; hydraulic trim, tilt and steering; screw compressor charge air cooling systems; a range of proprietary metal alloys and airflow silencers.
In the Boat segment, patent rights principally relate to processes for manufacturing fiberglass hulls, decks and components for boat products, as well as patent rights related to interiors and other boat features and components.
In the Fitness segment, patent rights principally relate to fitness equipment designs and components, including patents covering internal processes, programming functions, displays, design features and styling.
In the Bowling & Billiards segment, patent rights principally relate to computerized bowling scorers and bowling center management systems, bowling center furniture, bowling lanes, lane conditioning machines, pinsetters and bowling center equipment, bowling balls, and billiards table designs and components.
The following are Brunswick's principal trademarks:
Marine Engine Segment: Attwood, Axius, Diversified Marine Products, Kellogg Marine Supply, Land 'N' Sea, Mariner, MercNET, MerCruiser, Mercury, Mercury Marine, Mercury Parts Express, Mercury Precision Parts, Mercury Propellers, Mercury Racing, MotorGuide, OptiMax, Quicksilver, Seachoice, SeaPro, SmartCraft, Sport Jet, Swivl-Eze, Valiant, Verado and Zeus.
Boat Segment: Aquapalooza, Bayliner, Boston Whaler, Crestliner, Cypress Cay, FloteBote, Harris, Lowe, Lund, Master Dealer, Meridian, Princecraft, Quicksilver, Rayglass, Sea Ray, Sentry and Uttern.
Fitness Segment: Flex Deck, Hammer Strength, Lifecycle and Life Fitness.
Bowling & Billiards Segment: Air Hockey, Brunswick, Brunswick's, Brunswick Zone, Brunswick Zone XL, Centennial, Contender, Cosmic Bowling, DV8, Gold Crown, GS-X, Pro Lane, Striking Line, Tavern '45, Vector, Viz-A-Ball and Zone.
Brunswick's trademark rights have indefinite lives, and many are well known to the public and are considered to be valuable assets.
Competitive Conditions and Position
The Company believes that it has a reputation for quality in each of its highly competitive lines of business. Brunswick competes in its various markets by: utilizing efficient production techniques; developing and strengthening its leading brands; developing and promoting innovative technological advancements; undertaking effective marketing, advertising and sales efforts; providing high-quality, innovative products at competitive prices; and offering extensive aftermarket services.
Strong competition exists in each of Brunswick's product groups, but no single enterprise competes with Brunswick in all product groups. In each product area, competitors range in size from large, highly-diversified companies to small, single-product businesses. Brunswick also indirectly competes with businesses that offer alternative leisure products or activities.
The following summarizes Brunswick's competitive position in each segment:
Marine Engine Segment: The Company believes it has the largest dollar sales and unit volume of recreational marine engines in the world, along with a leading marine parts and accessories business. The marine engine market is highly competitive among several major international companies that comprise the majority of the market, as well as several smaller companies including Chinese manufacturers. Competitive advantage in this segment is a function of product features, technological leadership, quality, service, pricing, performance and durability, along with effective promotion and distribution.
Boat Segment: The Company believes it has the largest dollar sales and unit volume of pleasure motorboats in the world. There are several major manufacturers of pleasure and offshore fishing boats, along with hundreds of smaller manufacturers. Consequently, this business is both highly competitive and highly fragmented. The Company believes it has the broadest range of boat product offerings in the world, with boats ranging in size from 10 to 65 feet. In all of its boat operations, Brunswick competes on the basis of product features, technology, quality, brand strength, dealer service, pricing, performance, value, durability and styling, along with effective promotion and distribution.
Fitness Segment: The Company believes it is the world's largest manufacturer of commercial fitness equipment and a leading manufacturer of high-quality consumer fitness equipment. There are a few large manufacturers of fitness equipment and hundreds of small manufacturers, which creates a highly fragmented, competitive landscape. Many of Brunswick's fitness equipment offerings feature industry-leading product innovations, and the Company places significant emphasis on introducing new fitness equipment to the market. Competitive focus is also placed on product quality, technology, service, pricing, state-of-the-art biomechanics, and effective promotional activities.
Bowling & Billiards Segment: The Company believes it is a leading worldwide full-line designer, manufacturer and marketer of bowling products and billiards tables. There are other manufacturers of bowling products and competitive emphasis is placed on product innovation, quality, service, marketing activities and pricing. The billiards industry continues to experience competitive pressure from low-cost billiards manufacturers outside the United States. The bowling retail market, in which the Company's bowling centers compete, is highly fragmented. Brunswick is one of the two largest bowling center operators in the North American market, with Brunswick's bowling retail business emphasizing the bowling and entertainment experience, maintaining quality facilities and providing excellent guest service.
The Company strives to improve its competitive position in all of its segments by continuously investing in research and development to drive innovation in its products and manufacturing technologies. Brunswick's research and development investments support the introduction of new products and enhancements to existing products. Research and development expenses as a percentage of net sales were 3.1 percent, 2.8 percent and 2.6 percent in 2013, 2012 and 2011, respectively. Research and development expenses by segment are shown below:
Bowling & Billiards
The number of employees worldwide is shown below by segment:
Union (domestic)
Boat (A)
Corporate (B)
2012 employee numbers include employees of those businesses treated as discontinued operations.
2013 Corporate numbers include approximately 150 information technology employees that were previously included in the divisional totals and were consolidated within Corporate beginning in 2013.
The Company believes that the relationships between its employees, the labor unions and the Company remain stable.
Environmental Requirements
Refer to Note 12 – Commitments and Contingencies in the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements for a description of certain environmental proceedings.
Brunswick maintains an Internet Web site at http://www.brunswick.com that includes links to Brunswick's Annual Report on Form 10-K, Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q, Current Reports on Form 8-K and any amendments to those reports (SEC Reports). The SEC Reports are available without charge as soon as reasonably practicable following the time that they are filed with, or furnished to, the SEC. Shareholders and other interested parties may request email notification of the posting of these documents through the Investors section of Brunswick's Web site.
The Company's operations and financial results are subject to various risks and uncertainties, including those described below, which could adversely affect the Company's business, financial condition, results of operations, cash flows and the trading price of the Company's common stock.
Worldwide economic conditions, particularly in the United States and Europe, have adversely affected the Company's industries, businesses and results of operations and may continue to do so.
General worldwide economic conditions, particularly in the United States and Europe, continue to be challenging as economies continue to recover from the effects caused by the subprime lending and general credit market crisis, collateral effects on the finance and banking industries, increased energy costs, concerns about inflation, slower economic activity, low consumer confidence, and weak business conditions. In times of economic uncertainty and contraction, consumers tend to have less discretionary income and to defer expenditures for discretionary items, which adversely affects the Company's financial performance, especially in its marine businesses. A majority of the Company's businesses are cyclical in nature and are highly sensitive to personal discretionary spending levels, and their success is dependent upon favorable economic conditions, the overall level of consumer confidence and personal income levels.
Demand for the Company's marine products has been significantly influenced by weak economic conditions, low consumer confidence, high unemployment and increased market volatility worldwide, especially in the United States and Europe. Although increases have not been experienced in all product segments and geographic markets, the Company estimates that retail unit sales of powerboats in the United States again increased modestly during 2013. However, unit sales remain down significantly from historical levels, particularly in the fiberglass sterndrive boat segment. Any deterioration in general economic conditions that further diminishes consumer confidence or discretionary income may further reduce the Company's sales and adversely affect its financial results, including increasing the potential for future impairment charges. The Company cannot predict the timing or strength of economic recovery, either worldwide or in the specific markets where it competes.
Fiscal concerns in the United States and Europe, including resolution of the debt ceiling and potential downgrade of the U.S. government's credit rating, may negatively impact the worldwide economy, and could have an adverse effect on the Company's industries, businesses and financial condition.
Concerns regarding the U.S. debt ceiling and budget deficit, as well as the European debt and unemployment crisis, could have an adverse effect on worldwide economic conditions. These concerns also include the potential impact of additional credit agency downgrades. Such fiscal concerns and the resulting downgrade of the U.S. government's credit rating could have a material adverse impact on worldwide economic conditions, the financial markets and the availability of credit and, consequently, may negatively affect the Company's industries, businesses and overall financial condition.
Although consumer credit markets have improved, consumer credit market conditions continue to influence demand, especially for marine products, and may continue to do so.
Customers often finance purchases of the Company's marine products, particularly boats. Credit market conditions continued to improve in 2013, but remained less favorable overall than those in existence prior to the decline in marine retail demand. While interest rates are generally lower, there continue to be fewer lenders, tighter underwriting and loan approval criteria, greater down payment requirements and negative loan equity, particularly in larger products. If credit conditions worsen, and adversely affect the ability of customers to finance potential purchases at acceptable terms and interest rates, it could result in a decrease in sales of the Company's products or delay any improvement in its sales.
The inability of the Company's dealers and distributors to secure adequate access to capital could adversely affect the Company's sales.
The Company's dealers require adequate liquidity to finance their operations, including purchases of the Company's products. Dealers are subject to numerous risks and uncertainties that could unfavorably affect their liquidity positions, including, among other things, continued access to adequate financing sources on a timely basis on reasonable terms. These sources of financing are vital to the Company's ability to sell products through the Company's distribution network, particularly to its boat and engine dealers. During the credit crisis which ensued before, during and after the 2009 recession, several third-party floorplan lenders ceased their lending operations or materially reduced their exposure. A significant portion of the Company's domestic and international boat and engine sales to dealers are financed through entities affiliated with GE Capital Corporation (GECC), including BAC (the Company's 49 percent owned joint venture, with the other 51 percent being owned by CDFV, a subsidiary of GECC), which provides floorplan financing to domestic marine dealers.
The availability and terms of financing offered by the Company's dealer floorplan financing providers will continue to be influenced by a number of factors including: their ability to access certain capital markets, including the securitization and the commercial paper markets, and to fund their operations in a cost effective manner; the performance of their overall credit portfolios; their willingness to accept the risks associated with lending to marine dealers; and the overall creditworthiness of those dealers. The Company's sales could be adversely affected if BAC were to be terminated, if further declines in floorplan financing availability occur, or if financing terms change unfavorably. This could require the Company to find alternative sources of financing, including the Company providing this financing directly to dealers, which could require additional capital to fund the associated receivables.
The Company's financial results may be adversely affected if it is unable to maintain effective distribution.
The Company relies on third-party dealers and distributors to sell the majority of its products, particularly in the marine business. The ability to maintain a reliable network of dealers is essential to the Company's success. The Company faces competition from other boat manufacturers in attracting and retaining distributors and independent boat dealers. A significant deterioration in the number or effectiveness of the Company's dealers and distributors could have a material adverse effect on the Company's financial results.
Weakening demand for marine products could adversely affect the financial performance of the Company's dealers. In particular, reduced cash flow from decreases in sales and tightening credit markets may impair a dealer's ability to fund operations. Inability to fund operations can force dealers to cease business, and the Company may not be able to obtain alternate distribution in the vacated market. An inability to obtain alternate distribution could unfavorably affect the Company's net sales through reduced market presence. If conditions were to worsen, the Company anticipates that dealer failures or voluntary market exits could increase, especially if overall retail demand for boats materially declines.
Adverse economic, credit and capital market conditions could have a negative impact on the Company's financial results.
The Company does not frequently rely on short-term capital markets to meet its working capital requirements, fund capital expenditures, pay dividends, or fund employee benefit programs; however, the Company does maintain short-term borrowing facilities which can be used to meet these capital requirements. In addition, over the long term, the Company may determine that it is necessary to access the capital markets to refinance existing long-term indebtedness or for other initiatives.
Adverse global economic conditions, market volatility and heightened governmental regulation could lead to volatility and disruptions in the capital and credit markets. This could adversely affect the Company's ability to access capital and credit markets or increase the cost to do so, which could have a negative impact on its business, financial results and competitive position.
Inventory reductions by major dealers, retailers and independent boat builders could adversely affect the Company's financial results.
The Company and its dealers, retailers and other distributors could decide to reduce the number of units they hold, particularly if demand trails forecasted levels or if new product introductions are expected to replace older products, especially in the large fiberglass boat business. Such efforts tend to result in wholesale reductions in excess of retail reductions and would likely result in lower production levels of the Company's products, thus resulting in lower rates of absorption of fixed costs in the Company's manufacturing facilities and lower margins. While actions taken continue to keep dealer inventories at appropriate levels, the potential need for future inventory reductions by dealers and independent boatbuilder customers could impair the Company's future sales and results of operations.
The Company may be required to repurchase inventory or accounts of certain dealers.
The Company has agreements with certain third-party finance companies to provide financing to the Company's customers to enable the purchase of its products. In connection with these agreements, the Company either may have obligations to repurchase the Company's products from the finance company, or may have recourse obligations to the finance company on the dealer's receivables. These obligations are triggered if the Company's dealers default on their debt obligations to the finance companies.
The Company's maximum contingent obligation to repurchase inventory and its maximum contingent recourse obligations on customer receivables have been reduced in recent years and are less than the total balances of dealer financings outstanding under these programs, as the Company's obligations under certain of these arrangements are subject to caps, or are limited based on the age of product. The Company's risk related to these arrangements is mitigated by the proceeds it receives on the resale of repurchased product to other dealers, or by recoveries on receivables purchased under the recourse obligations.
The Company's inventory repurchase obligations relate primarily to the inventory floorplan credit facilities of the Company's boat and engine dealers. The Company's actual historical repurchase experience related to these repurchase arrangements has been substantially less than the Company's maximum contractual obligations. If dealers file for bankruptcy or cease operations, losses
associated with the repurchase of the Company's products could be incurred. In addition, as the repurchases may be triggered by dealer bankruptcies, the Company's net sales and earnings may be unfavorably affected as a result of reduced market coverage and the associated decline in sales.
Declines in marine industry demand could cause an increase in future repurchase activity, or could require the Company to incur losses in excess of established reserves. In addition, the Company's cash flow and loss experience could be adversely affected if repurchased inventory is not successfully distributed to other dealers in a timely manner, or if the recovery rate on the resale of the product declines. In addition, the finance companies could require changes in repurchase or recourse terms that would result in an increase in the Company's contractual contingent obligations.
The loss of key accounts or critical suppliers could harm the Company's business.
If the Company were to experience the loss of a key account, its business could be negatively affected in a significant way. Similarly, if one of the Company's most critical suppliers were to close its operations, cease manufacturing or otherwise fail to deliver an essential component necessary to the Company's manufacturing operations, it could have a detrimental effect on the Company's ability to manufacture and sell its products, resulting in an interruption in business operations and/or a loss of sales. In an effort to mitigate the risk associated with the Company's reliance on such accounts and suppliers, it continually works to monitor such relationships, maintain a complete and competitive product lineup and identify alternative suppliers for key components.
The Company's success depends upon the continued strength of its brands.
The Company believes that its brands, including Brunswick, Mercury, Sea Ray, Boston Whaler and Life Fitness, are significant contributors to the success of the Company's business, and that maintaining and enhancing the brands are important to expanding the Company's customer base. Failure to continue to promote and protect the Company's brands may adversely affect the Company's business and results of operations.
The Company has a large fixed cost base that can affect its profitability in a declining sales environment.
The fixed cost levels of operating marine production plants can put pressure on profit margins when sales and production decline. The Company's profitability is dependent, in part, on its ability to spread fixed costs over an increasing number of products sold and shipped, and if the Company makes a decision to reduce its rate of production, gross margins could be negatively affected. Consequently, decreased demand or the need to reduce inventories can lower the Company's ability to absorb fixed costs and materially impact its results of operations.
Successfully managing its manufacturing footprint is critical to the Company's operating and financial results.
A significant component of the Company's cost-reduction efforts has been a focus on reducing its manufacturing footprint by consolidating boat and engine production into fewer plants. In the fourth quarter of 2012, the Company began the consolidation of its Knoxville, Tennessee boat plant operation into its manufacturing facilities in Vonore, Tennessee and Palm Coast, Florida. This transition was completed in 2013. In addition, in the first quarter of 2013, the Company announced the consolidation of its yacht and motoryacht production at its Palm Coast, Florida manufacturing plant, and as a result, the Company suspended manufacturing at its Sykes Creek boat manufacturing facility in nearby Merritt Island, Florida as of the end of June 2013.
The Company has also been making strategic capital investments in capacity expansion activities that will enable the affected businesses to successfully capture growth opportunities. During 2013, the Company invested capital in a new pontoon facility in Fort Wayne, Indiana and began or continued plant expansion activities at its facilities in Edgewater, Florida, New York Mills, Minnesota and Fond du Lac, Wisconsin.
Moving production to a different plant or expanding capacity at an existing facility involves risks, including the inability to start up production within the cost and timeframe estimated, supply product to customers when expected and attract a sufficient number of skilled workers to handle the additional production demands. The inability to successfully implement the Company's manufacturing footprint initiatives could adversely affect its ability to meet customer demand for products and could increase the cost of production versus projections, both of which could result in a significant adverse impact on operating and financial results. Additionally, expenses and cost inefficiencies associated with plant consolidation, including severance costs and loss of trained employees with knowledge of the Company's business and operations, could exceed projections and negatively impact financial results.
To successfully manage its manufacturing footprint, the Company also must enable growth through strategic capital investments, including facility and capacity expansion projects. These capital improvement projects and expansions must be carefully managed to ensure cost targets are met, environmental, safety and other regulations are followed and high-quality workmanship is maintained.
If the Company is not able to successfully implement its restructuring and growth initiatives, this could have a material adverse effect on the Company's business and financial condition.
The Company's ability to successfully generate improvements in cash flow will depend partly on its continued successful execution of the Company's restructuring and growth initiatives. Demand for certain of the Company's marine products continues to be at historically low levels, mainly as a result of weak economic conditions. As a result, the Company has taken, and may in the future take, additional global restructuring activities to realign its cost structure with existing demand. Restructuring activities could result in impairment charges and other expenses, which could adversely impact the Company's cash flow, results of operations or financial condition.
The Company relies on third-party suppliers for the supply of the raw materials, parts and components necessary to manufacture its products. The Company's financial results may be adversely affected by an increase in cost, disruption of supply or shortage of or defect in raw materials, parts or product components.
Outside suppliers and contract manufacturers provide the Company with raw materials used in its manufacturing processes including oil, aluminum, copper, steel and resins, as well as product parts and components. The prices for these raw materials, parts and components fluctuate depending on market conditions and in some instances, commodity prices. Substantial increases in the prices of the Company's raw materials, parts and components would increase the Company's operating costs, and could reduce its profitability if the Company could not recoup the increased costs through increased product prices.
In addition, some components used in the Company's manufacturing processes, including furniture, upholstery and boat windshields are available from a sole supplier or a limited number of suppliers. Operational and financial difficulties that these or other suppliers may face in the future could adversely affect their ability to supply the Company with the parts and components it needs, which could significantly disrupt the Company's operations. It may be difficult to find a replacement supplier for a limited or sole source raw material, part or component without significant delay or on commercially reasonable terms. In addition, an uncorrected defect or supplier's variation in a raw material, part or component, either unknown to the Company or incompatible with the Company's manufacturing process, could harm the Company's ability to manufacture products.
Some of the risks that could disrupt the Company's operations, impair the Company's ability to deliver products to the Company's customers and negatively affect the Company's financial results include: an increase in the cost of, defects in or a sustained interruption in the supply or shortage of some of these raw materials, parts or products that may be caused by delayed start-up periods experienced by the Company's suppliers as they increase production efforts; financial pressures on the Company's suppliers due to a weakening economy; a deterioration of the Company's relationships with suppliers; or by events such as natural disasters, power outages or labor strikes. In addition to the risks described above regarding interruption of supplies, which are exacerbated in the case of single-source suppliers, the exclusive supplier of a key component potentially could exert significant bargaining power over price, quality, warranty claims, or other terms relating to a component.
The Company's manufacturing operations increased production in 2013 and are expected to continue to do so in 2014, and consequently, the Company's need for raw materials and supplies will increase. The Company's suppliers must be prepared to ramp up operations and, in many cases, hire additional workers and/or expand capacity in order to fulfill the orders placed by the Company and other customers. The Company experienced periodic supply shortages in 2013. The Company continues to work to address this issue by identifying alternative suppliers, working to secure adequate inventories of critical supplies and continually monitoring the capabilities of its supplier base. In the future, however, the Company may continue to experience shortages of, delayed delivery of and/or increased prices for key materials, parts and supplies that are essential to its manufacturing operations.
The Company's pension funding requirements and expenses are affected by certain factors outside its control, including the performance of plan assets, the discount rate used to value liabilities, actuarial data and experience and legal and regulatory changes.
The Company's funding obligations and pension expense for its four qualified pension plans are driven by the performance of assets set aside in trusts for these plans, the discount rate used to value the plans' liabilities, actuarial data and experience, and legal and regulatory funding requirements. Changes in these factors could have an adverse impact on the Company's results of operations, liquidity or shareholders' equity. In addition, a portion of the Company's pension plan assets are invested in equity securities, which can experience significant declines if economic conditions or financial markets weaken. The level of the Company's funding of its qualified pension plan liabilities was approximately 79 percent as of December 31, 2013. The Company's future pension expenses and funding requirements could increase significantly due to the effect of adverse changes in the discount rate and asset levels along with a decline in the estimated return on plan assets. In addition, as a result of changes in regulations, the Company could be legally required to make increased contributions to the pension plans, and these contributions could be material and negatively affect the Company's cash flow.
Higher energy and fuel costs can adversely affect the Company's results.
Higher energy and fuel costs result in increases in operating expenses at the Company's manufacturing facilities and in the cost of shipping products to customers. In addition, increases in energy costs can adversely affect the pricing and availability of petroleum-based raw materials such as resins and foam that are used in many of the Company's marine products. Also, higher fuel prices may have an adverse effect on demand for marine retail products, as they increase the cost of boat ownership and possibly affect product usage, and may have a negative impact on operating margins, particularly in the Fitness segment, as transportation costs increase. Finally, because heating and air conditioning comprise a significant part of the cost of operating a bowling center, any increase in the price of energy could adversely affect the operating margins of the Company's bowling centers.
The Company's profitability may suffer as a result of competitive pricing and other pressures.
The introduction of lower-priced alternative products by other companies can hurt the Company's competitive position in all of its businesses. The Company is constantly subject to competitive pressures, particularly in the outboard engine market, in which predominantly Asian manufacturers often have pursued a strategy of aggressive pricing, particularly during periods when the Japanese yen weakens versus the U.S. dollar. Such pricing pressure may limit the Company's ability to increase prices for its products in response to raw material and other cost increases and negatively affect the Company's profit margins.
In addition, the Company's independent boat builder customers may react negatively to potential competition for their products from Brunswick's own boat brands, which can lead them to purchase marine engines and marine engine supplies from competing marine engine manufacturers and may negatively affect demand for the Company's products.
The Company's ability to remain competitive depends on the successful introduction of new product offerings and the ability to meet its customers' expectations.
The Company believes that its customers rigorously evaluate their suppliers on the basis of product quality along with new product innovation and development capability. The Company's ability to remain competitive and meet its growth objectives may be adversely affected by difficulties or delays in product development, such as an inability to develop viable new products, gain market acceptance of new products, generate sufficient capital to fund new product development or obtain adequate intellectual property protection for new products. To meet ever-changing consumer demands, the timing of market entry and pricing of new products are critical. As a result, the Company may not be able to introduce new products necessary to remain competitive in all markets that it serves. Furthermore, the Company must deliver quality products that meet or exceed its customers' expectations regarding product quality and after-sales service.
The Company competes with a variety of other activities for consumers' scarce discretionary income and leisure time.
The vast majority of the Company's products are used for recreational purposes, and demand for the Company's products can be adversely affected by competition from other activities that occupy consumers' time, including other forms of recreation as well as religious, cultural and community activities. Additionally, the decrease in consumers' discretionary income as a result of the recent economic environment has influenced consumers' willingness to purchase and enjoy the Company's products.
The Company manufactures and sells products that create exposure to potential product liability, warranty liability, personal injury and property damage claims and litigation.
The Company's products may expose it to potential product liability, warranty liability, personal injury or property damage claims relating to the use of those products. The Company's manufacturing consolidation efforts and production of new products could result in product quality issues, thereby increasing the risk of litigation and potential liability. To address this risk, the Company has established a global, enterprise-wide organization charged with the responsibility of addressing, reviewing and reporting on product integrity issues. Historically, the resolution of such claims has not materially adversely affected the Company's business, and the Company maintains insurance coverage to mitigate a portion of these risks, which it believes to be adequate. However, the Company may experience material losses in the future, incur significant costs to defend claims or experience claims in excess of its insurance coverage or claims that will not be covered by insurance. Furthermore, the Company's reputation may be adversely affected by such claims, whether or not successful, including potential negative publicity about its products. The Company records reserves for known potential liabilities, but there is the possibility that actual losses may exceed these reserves and therefore negatively impact earnings.
Environmental laws and zoning and other requirements can inhibit the Company's ability to grow its marine businesses.
Environmental restrictions, boat plant emission restrictions and permitting and zoning requirements can limit production capacity, access to water for boating, as well as marina and storage space. In addition, certain jurisdictions both inside and outside the United States require or are considering requiring a license to operate a recreational boat. While such licensing requirements
are not expected to be unduly restrictive, they may deter potential customers, thereby reducing the Company's sales. Furthermore, regulations allowing the sale of fuel containing higher levels of ethanol for automobiles, which is not appropriate or intended for use in marine engines, may nonetheless result in increased warranty, service and other claims against the Company if boaters mistakenly use this fuel in marine engines, causing damage to and the degradation of components in their marine engines.
Compliance with environmental regulations affecting marine engines will increase costs and may reduce demand for the Company's products.
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's emission regulations require certain gasoline sterndrive and inboard engines to be equipped with a catalyst exhaust monitoring and treatment system. It is possible that environmental regulatory bodies may impose higher emissions standards in the future for these and other marine engines including outboards. Compliance with these standards would increase the cost to manufacture and the price to the customer for the Company's engines, which could in turn reduce consumer demand for the Company's marine products and potentially reduce operating margins. An increase in the cost of marine engines, an increase in the retail price to consumers, or unforeseen delays in compliance with environmental regulations affecting these products, could have an adverse effect on the Company's results of operations.
The Company's businesses may be adversely affected by compliance obligations and liabilities under various laws and regulations.
The Company is subject to federal, state, local and foreign laws and regulations, including product safety, environmental, health and safety laws and other regulations. While the Company believes that it maintains all requisite licenses and permits and that it is in material compliance with all applicable laws and regulations, a failure to satisfy these and other regulatory requirements could cause the Company to incur fines or penalties, and compliance could increase its cost of operations. The adoption of additional laws, rules and regulations could also increase the Company's capital or operating costs.
The Company's manufacturing processes involve the use, handling, storage and contracting for recycling or disposal of hazardous or toxic substances or wastes. Accordingly, the Company is subject to regulations regarding these substances, and the misuse or mishandling of such substances could expose it to liabilities, including claims for property or natural resources damages or personal injury, or fines. The Company is also subject to laws requiring the cleanup of contaminated property. If a release of hazardous substances occurs at or from any of the Company's current or former properties or another location where it has disposed of hazardous materials, the Company may be held liable for the contamination, regardless of knowledge or whether it was at fault in connection with the release, and the amount of such liability could be material.
Additionally, the Company is subject to laws governing its relationship with its employees, including, but not limited to, employee wage, hour and benefit issues, such as pension funding and health care benefits. Changes to such legislation could increase the cost of the Company's operations. Specifically, the effects of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, once ultimately determined and fully implemented, may have an adverse effect on the financial operations of the Company, primarily in the bowling retail business.
Increases in income tax rates or changes in income tax laws or enforcement could have a material adverse impact on the Company's financial results.
Changes in domestic and international tax legislation could expose the Company to additional tax liability. Although the Company carefully monitors changes in tax laws and works to mitigate the impact of proposed changes, such changes or failure to extend legislation, including the research and development credit, may negatively impact the Company's financial results. In addition, any increase in individual income tax rates, such as those implemented at the beginning of 2013, would negatively affect the Company's potential customers' discretionary income and could decrease the demand for its products. Finally, governments in certain foreign jurisdictions are increasing their audit activity in an effort to obtain additional revenue. This increase in activity involves increased costs to the Company for having to resolve these potential disputes and from the potential additional taxes which may be assessed.
If the Company's intellectual property protection is inadequate, others may be able to use its technologies and thereby impair the Company's ability to compete, which could have a material adverse effect on the Company, its financial condition and results of operations.
The Company regards much of the technology underlying its products as proprietary. The Company relies on a combination of patents, trademark, copyright and trade secret laws; employee and third-party non-disclosure agreements; and other contracts to establish and protect its technology and other intellectual property rights. The steps the Company takes to protect its proprietary technology may be inadequate to prevent misappropriation of the Company's technology, or third parties may independently develop similar technology. The agreements may be breached or terminated, the Company may not have adequate remedies for
any such breach, and existing patent, trademark, copyright and trade secret laws afford it limited protection. Policing unauthorized use of the Company's intellectual property is difficult, particularly in many regions outside the United States. A third party could copy or otherwise obtain and use the Company's products or technology without authorization. Litigation may be necessary for the Company to defend against claims of infringement or to protect its intellectual property rights and could result in substantial cost and divert the attention of management. Further, the Company might not prevail in such litigation and the Company may be forced to seek licenses or royalty arrangements from third parties, which the Company may not be able to obtain on reasonable terms, or the Company may be forced to stop using products that included the challenged intellectual property, which could harm its business.
Some of the Company's operations are conducted by joint ventures that are not operated solely for its benefit.
Some of the Company's operations are carried on through jointly owned companies such as BAC and Tohatsu Marine Corporation. With respect to these joint ventures, the Company shares ownership and management responsibility of these companies with one or more parties who may not have the same goals, strategies, priorities or resources as the Company. These joint ventures are intended to be operated for the benefit of all co-owners, rather than for the Company's exclusive benefit.
Changes in currency exchange rates can adversely affect the Company's results.
The Company derives a portion of its revenues from outside the United States (approximately 37 percent in 2013). The Company manufactures its products primarily in the United States and the costs of the Company's products are generally denominated in U.S. dollars, although the increase in manufacturing and sourcing of products and materials outside the United States continues to be a strategic focus. The Company sells a portion of these products in currencies other than the U.S. dollar. Consequently, a strong U.S. dollar can make the Company's products less price-competitive relative to products manufactured outside the United States, and can adversely affect its financial performance.
Although the Company enters into currency exchange contracts to reduce its risk related to currency exchange fluctuations, it is impossible to hedge against all currency risk, especially over the long term, and changes in the relative values of currencies may occur from time to time and, in some instances, affect the Company's results of operations. The Company is also exposed to the risk that its counterparties to hedging contracts could default on their obligations, which may have an adverse effect on the Company.
A growing portion of the Company's revenue may be derived from international sources, which exposes it to additional uncertainty.
Approximately 37 percent of the Company's 2013 sales were derived from sources outside the United States and the Company intends to continue to expand its international operations and customer base as part of its growth strategy. Sales outside the United States, especially in emerging markets, are subject to various risks, including government embargoes or foreign trade restrictions, tariffs, fuel duties, inflation, difficulties in enforcing agreements and collecting receivables through foreign legal systems, compliance with international laws, treaties and regulations and unexpected changes in regulatory environments, disruptions in distribution, dependence on foreign personnel and unions, as well as economic and social instability. In addition, there may be tax inefficiencies in repatriating cash from non-U.S. subsidiaries. If the Company continues to expand its business globally, its success will depend, in part, on the Company's ability to anticipate and effectively manage these and other risks. These and other factors may have a material impact on the Company's international operations or its business as a whole.
An impairment in the carrying value of goodwill, trade names and other long-lived assets could negatively affect the Company's consolidated results of operations and net worth.
Goodwill and indefinite-lived intangible assets, such as the Company's trade names, are recorded at fair value at the time of acquisition and are not amortized, but are reviewed for impairment at least annually or more frequently if impairment indicators arise. In evaluating the potential for impairment of goodwill and trade names, the Company makes assumptions regarding future operating performance, business trends and market and economic conditions. Such analyses further require the Company to make certain assumptions about sales, operating margins, growth rates and discount rates. There are inherent uncertainties related to these factors and in applying these factors to the assessment of goodwill and trade name recoverability. Goodwill reviews are prepared using estimates of the fair value of reporting units based on the estimated present value of future discounted cash flows. The Company could be required to evaluate the recoverability of goodwill or trade names prior to the annual assessment if it experiences disruptions to the business, unexpected significant declines in operating results, a divestiture of a significant component of the Company's business or market capitalization declines.
The Company also continually evaluates whether events or circumstances have occurred that indicate the remaining estimated useful lives of its definite-lived intangible assets, excluding goodwill, and other long-lived assets may warrant revision or whether
the remaining balance of such assets may not be recoverable. The Company uses an estimate of the related undiscounted cash flow over the remaining life of the asset in measuring whether the asset is recoverable.
If the future operating performance of the Company's reporting units is not sufficient, the Company could be required to record non-cash impairment charges. Impairment charges could substantially affect the Company's reported earnings in the periods such charges are recorded. In addition, impairment charges could indicate a reduction in business value which could limit the Company's ability to obtain adequate financing in the future. As of December 31, 2013, goodwill was approximately 10 percent of total assets and included $270.9 million of goodwill related to the Life Fitness segment and $20.8 million of goodwill related to the Marine Engine segment.
Adverse weather conditions can have a negative effect on marine and retail bowling center revenues.
Weather conditions can have a significant effect on the Company's operating and financial results, especially in the marine and retail bowling center businesses. Sales of the Company's marine products are generally stronger just before and during spring and summer, and favorable weather during these months generally has a positive effect on consumer demand. Conversely, unseasonably cool weather, excessive rainfall or drought conditions during these periods can reduce demand. Hurricanes and other storms can result in the disruption of the Company's distribution channel, operations or supply chain. In addition, severely inclement weather on weekends and holidays, particularly during the winter months, can adversely affect patronage of the Company's bowling centers and, therefore, revenues in the retail bowling center business. Additionally, in the event that climate change occurs, which could result in environmental changes including, but not limited to, severe weather, rising sea levels or reduced access to water, the Company's business could be disrupted and negatively affected.
Instability in locations where the Company maintains a significant presence could adversely impact the Company's business operations.
The Company has established a global presence, with manufacturing, sales, distribution and retail locations around the world. Changing conditions in those locations, including, but not limited to, political instability, civil unrest and an increase in criminal activity, could have a negative impact on the Company's local manufacturing and other business operations. Decreased stability in those regions where the Company conducts business poses a risk of business interruption and delays in shipments of materials, components and finished goods, as well as a risk of decreased local retail demand for the Company's products in those regions.
Catastrophic events, including natural and environmental disasters, could have a negative effect on the Company's operations and financial results.
The occurrence of natural and environmental disasters, including hurricanes, floods, earthquakes and environmental spills, could decrease consumer demand for and sales of the Company's products. If such an occurrence takes place in one of Brunswick's major sales markets, the Company could experience a decrease in sales. Additionally, if such an event occurs near the Company's business, manufacturing facilities or key suppliers' facilities, the affected locations could experience an interruption in business operations and/or their operating systems.
The Company's operations are dependent upon the services of key individuals, the loss of whom may have an adverse effect.
The Company's operations depend, in part, on the efforts of the Company's executive officers and other key employees. In addition, the Company's future success will depend on, among other factors, its ability to attract and retain other qualified personnel. The loss of the services of any of the Company's key employees or the failure to attract or retain employees could have an adverse effect on the Company. The Company's restructuring activities, which result in employee terminations, may make it more difficult for the Company to attract or retain employees and it may be adversely affected for some time by the loss of trained employees with knowledge of the Company's business and industries. If the Company is unable to attract and retain qualified individuals, or the Company's costs to do so increase significantly, the Company's operations could be adversely affected.
The Company's business operations could be negatively impacted by the failure of its information technology systems.
The Company's global business operations are managed through a variety of information technology (IT) systems. These systems govern all aspects of the company's operations around the world. The Company is dependent on these systems for all commercial transactions, customer interactions, and image projection. Some of the systems are based on legacy technology and operate with a minimal level of available support. If one of these legacy systems or another of the Company's key IT systems were to suffer a failure, or if the Company's IT systems were unable to communicate effectively, this could result in missed or delayed sales, or lost opportunities for cost reduction or efficient cash management. The Company exchanges information with hundreds of trading partners across all aspects of its commercial operations. Any breach in security or disruption of the
communications could result in erroneous transactions or loss of reputation and confidence. The company has numerous portals to engage in e-commerce and e-marketing; therefore, the company must remain diligent in protecting itself from malicious cyber attacks. A successful cyber attack could result in a disruption of services, fraudulent transactions, or disclosure of confidential information. This could negatively affect the Company's relationships with its trading partners and damage its image and reputation.
Brunswick's headquarters are located in Lake Forest, Illinois. Brunswick has numerous manufacturing plants, distribution warehouses, bowling entertainment centers, sales offices and product test sites around the world. Research and development facilities are primarily located at manufacturing sites.
The Company believes its facilities are suitable and adequate for its current needs and are well maintained and in good operating condition. Most plants and warehouses are of modern, single-story construction, providing efficient manufacturing and distribution operations. The Company believes its manufacturing facilities have the capacity, or is investing to increase capacity, to meet current and anticipated demand. Brunswick owns its Lake Forest, Illinois headquarters and most of its principal plants.
The principal facilities used in Brunswick's operations are in the following locations:
Marine Engine Segment: Fresno, California; Old Lyme, Connecticut; Miramar, Panama City, Pompano Beach and St. Cloud, Florida; Atlanta, Georgia; Lowell, Michigan; Brookfield, Fond du Lac and Oshkosh, Wisconsin; Melbourne, Australia; Petit Rechain, Belgium; Toronto, Ontario, Canada; Suzhou, China; Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia; Juarez, Mexico; and Singapore. The Fresno, California; Old Lyme, Connecticut; Miramar and Pompano Beach, Florida; Lowell, Michigan; Melbourne, Australia; Toronto, Ontario, Canada; Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia and Singapore facilities are leased. The remaining facilities are owned by Brunswick.
Boat Segment: Edgewater and Palm Coast, Florida; Fort Wayne, Indiana; New York Mills, Minnesota; Lebanon, Missouri; Vonore, Tennessee; Petit Rechain, Belgium; Joinville, Santa Catarina, Brazil; Princeville, Quebec, Canada; Reynosa, Mexico; Auckland, New Zealand; and Vila Nova de Cerveira, Portugal. The facilities in Santa Catarina, Brazil; Auckland, New Zealand and Brunswick Commercial and Government Products in Edgewater, Florida are leased. The remaining facilities are owned by Brunswick.
Fitness Segment: Franklin Park and Rosemont, Illinois; Falmouth, Kentucky; Ramsey, Minnesota; and Kiskoros, Hungary. The Rosemont office and a portion of the Franklin Park facility are leased. The remaining facilities are owned by Brunswick.
Bowling & Billiards Segment: Lake Forest, Illinois; Muskegon, Michigan; Bristol, Wisconsin; Szekesfehervar, Hungary; Reynosa, Mexico; and 88 bowling recreation centers in the United States and Canada. The Reynosa manufacturing facility and 24 of BB&B's bowling centers are leased. The remaining facilities are owned by Brunswick.
Refer to Note 12 – Commitments and Contingencies in the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements for information about the Company's legal proceedings.
Executive Officers of the Registrant
Brunswick's Executive Officers are listed in the following table:
Dustan E. McCoy
Chairman and Chief Executive Officer
William L. Metzger
Christopher E. Clawson
Vice President and President - Life Fitness
Kristin M. Coleman
Andrew E. Graves
Vice President and President - Brunswick Boat Group
Kevin S. Grodzki
Vice President and President - Global Sales and Marketing - Mercury Marine
B. Russell Lockridge
Vice President and Chief Human Resources Officer
Alan L. Lowe
Vice President - Finance and Controller
Mark D. Schwabero
Vice President and President - Mercury Marine
There are no familial relationships among these officers. The term of office of all Executive Officers expires May 7, 2014. The Executive Officers are elected by the Board of Directors each year.
Dustan E. McCoy was named Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Brunswick in December 2005. He was Vice President of Brunswick and President - Brunswick Boat Group from 2000 to 2005. From 1999 to 2000, he was Vice President, General Counsel and Secretary of Brunswick.
William L. Metzger was named Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of Brunswick in March 2013. Previously, he served as Vice President and Treasurer of Brunswick from 2001 to 2013 and in a number of positions of increasing responsibility within Brunswick since his start with Brunswick in 1987.
Christopher E. Clawson was named Vice President and President - Life Fitness in August of 2010. Prior to this appointment, Mr. Clawson served as Chief Executive Officer and President of Johnson Health Tech - North America, a fitness equipment designer and manufacturer. Previously, Mr. Clawson had been with Life Fitness from 1994 to 2004, where he held a number of positions of increasing responsibility in product development and marketing, eventually serving as Vice President Sales and Marketing - Consumer.
Kristin M. Coleman was named Vice President, General Counsel and Secretary of Brunswick in May 2009. Prior to her appointment, she was Vice President and Associate General Counsel for Mead Johnson Nutrition Company, a producer of infant and children's nutritional products. She had previously been with Brunswick Corporation from 2003 to 2008, serving in a number of positions of increasing responsibility.
Andrew E. Graves was named Vice President and President - Brunswick Boat Group in October 2009. Previously, he was Vice President and President - US Marine and Outboard Boats from 2008 to 2009 and President - Brunswick Boat Group Freshwater Group from 2005 to 2008. From 2003 to 2005, Mr. Graves was President of Dresser Flow Solutions, a global energy infrastructure company.
Kevin S. Grodzki was named Vice President and President - Global Sales and Marketing - Mercury Marine in September 2012. Previously, Mr. Grodzki, who has been with Mercury since 2005, served as President - Sales, Marketing and Commercial Operations since November 2008. Prior to that assignment, he was President of Brunswick's Life Fitness Division.
B. Russell Lockridge has been Vice President and Chief Human Resources Officer of Brunswick since 1999.
Alan L. Lowe has been Vice President - Finance and Controller of Brunswick since May 2013. Previously, he was Vice President and Controller of Brunswick since 2003.
Mark D. Schwabero was named Vice President and President - Mercury Marine in December 2008. Previously, he was
President - Mercury Outboards from 2004 to 2008.
Item 5. Market for Registrant's Common Equity, Related Stockholder Matters and Issuer Purchases of Equity Securities
Brunswick's common stock is traded on the New York and Chicago Stock Exchanges. Quarterly information with respect to the high and low prices for the common stock and the dividends declared on the common stock is set forth in Note 21 – Quarterly Data (unaudited) in the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements. As of February 12, 2014, there were 10,136 shareholders of record of the Company's common stock.
In October 2013, Brunswick announced its quarterly dividend on its common stock of $0.10 per share, payable in December 2013, which reflected an increase over the annual dividend of $0.05 per share paid in 2012. Brunswick expects to continue to pay quarterly dividends at the discretion of the Board of Directors, subject to continued capital availability and a determination that cash dividends continue to be in the best interest of the Company's shareholders.
Brunswick's dividend and share repurchase policies may be affected by, among other things, the Company's views on future liquidity, potential future capital requirements and restrictions contained in certain credit agreements.
Comparison of Five-Year Cumulative Total Return among Brunswick, S&P 500 Index and S&P 500 Global Industry Classification Standard (GICS) Consumer Discretionary Index
S&P 500 GICS Consumer Discretionary Index
The basis of comparison is a $100 investment at December 31, 2008 in each of: (i) Brunswick, (ii) the S&P 500 Index, and (iii) the S&P 500 GICS Consumer Discretionary Index. All dividends are assumed to be reinvested. The S&P 500 GICS Consumer Discretionary Index encompasses industries including automotive, household durable goods, textiles and apparel, and leisure equipment. Brunswick believes the companies included in this index provide the most representative sample of enterprises that are in primary lines of business that are similar to Brunswick's.
The selected historical financial data presented below as of and for the years ended December 31, 2013, 2012 and 2011 has been derived from, and should be read in conjunction with, the historical consolidated financial statements of the Company, including the notes thereto, and Item 7 of this report, including the Matters Affecting Comparability section. The selected historical financial data presented below as of and for the years ended December 31, 2010 and 2009 has been derived from the consolidated financial statements of the Company for the years that are not included herein.
Results of operations data
Operating earnings (loss) (A)
(503.6
Earnings (loss) before interest, loss on early extinguishment of debt and income taxes (A)
Earnings (loss) before income taxes (A)
(38.1
Net earnings (loss) from continuing operations (A) (D)
Discontinued operations:
Net loss from discontinued operations, net of tax (B) (C)
Net earnings (loss) (A) (B) (C) (D)
Basic earnings (loss) per common share:
Earnings (loss) from continuing operations (A) (D)
Average shares used for computation of basic earnings (loss) per share
Diluted earnings (loss) per common share:
Average shares used for computation of diluted earnings (loss) per share
2013 results include $21.4 million of pretax restructuring, exit and impairment charges. 2012 results include $25.8 million of pretax restructuring, exit and impairment charges. 2011 results include $21.3 million of pretax restructuring, exit and impairment charges. 2010 results include $54.2 million of pretax restructuring, exit and impairment charges. 2009 results include $158.3 million of pretax restructuring, exit and impairment charges.
Net loss from discontinued operations in 2013 includes a Gain on disposal of discontinued operations, net of tax of $1.6 million (a pre-tax loss of $1.4 million and a net tax benefit of $3.0 million). Net loss from discontinued operations in 2012 includes an impairment charge on assets held for sale, net of tax of $53.2 million ($52.7 million pre-tax). See Note 2 – Discontinued Operations in the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements for further discussion.
Net loss from discontinued operations includes other restructuring and impairment charges, net of tax of $14.5 million, $1.4 million, $8.1 million and $14.2 million in 2012, 2011, 2010 and 2009, respectively.
Net earnings (loss) from continuing operations includes an income tax benefit of $599.5 million from the reversal of deferred tax valuation allowance reserves in 2013.
(in millions, except per share and other data)
Total assets of continuing operations
Common shareholders' equity (A)
Cash flow data
Net cash provided by operating activities of continuing operations
Cash dividends paid
Dividends declared per share
Book value per share (A)
Return on beginning shareholders' equity (A)
Effective tax rate from continuing operations
Debt-to-capitalization rate (A)
Number of shareholders of record
Common stock price (NYSE)
Close (last trading day)
NM = Not meaningful
Includes an income tax benefit of $599.5 million from the reversal of deferred tax valuation allowance reserves in 2013.
The Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements should be read in conjunction with the above summary.
Item 7. Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations
Certain statements in Management's Discussion and Analysis are based on non-GAAP financial measures. Specifically, the discussion of the Company's cash flows includes an analysis of free cash flows, net debt and total liquidity, and the discussion of the Company's earnings includes a presentation of operating earnings excluding restructuring, exit and impairment charges and diluted earnings per common share, as adjusted. GAAP refers to generally accepted accounting principles in the United States. A "non-GAAP financial measure" is a numerical measure of a registrant's historical or future financial performance, financial position or cash flows that excludes amounts, or is subject to adjustments that have the effect of excluding amounts, that are included in the most directly comparable measure calculated and presented in accordance with GAAP in the consolidated statements of operations, balance sheets or statements of cash flows of the issuer; or includes amounts, or is subject to adjustments that have the effect of including amounts, that are excluded from the most directly comparable measure so calculated and presented. Non-GAAP financial measures do not include operating and statistical measures.
The Company includes non-GAAP financial measures in Management's Discussion and Analysis, as Brunswick's management believes that these measures and the information they provide are useful to investors because they permit investors to view Brunswick's performance using the same tools that management uses and to better evaluate the Company's ongoing business performance.
Certain statements in Management's Discussion and Analysis are forward-looking as defined in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking statements may include words such as "expect," "anticipate," "believe," "may," "should," "could" or "estimate." These statements involve certain risks and uncertainties that may cause actual results to differ materially from expectations as of the date of this filing. These risks include, but are not limited to, those set forth under Item 1A of this Annual Report on Form 10-K. Placing undue reliance on the Company's forward-looking statements should be avoided, as the forward-looking statements represent the Company's views only as of the date this Annual Report is filed. The Company undertakes no obligation to update publicly or revise any forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.
Overview and Outlook
In 2013, the Company successfully navigated through extreme variability in markets and business conditions, which resulted in the fourth consecutive year of strong improvement in operating earnings. Despite global economic challenges, the Company looked to achieve the following objectives in 2013:
Deliver revenue growth;
Experience strong increases in operating earnings as well as maintain strong gross margins achieved in 2012; and
Continue to generate strong free cash flow, retire debt and make significant contributions into the Company's defined benefit pension plans in pursuit of fully funding these plans.
Achievements against the Company's objectives in 2013 were as follows:
Deliver revenue growth:
Ended the year with a 5 percent increase in net sales when compared with 2012, despite unfavorable retail demand trends in certain marine segments, due to the following:
Favorable demand environment in the aluminum and fiberglass outboard boat and engine markets with increased sales in outboard engine products, such as the 150 horsepower FourStroke, the Verado engine family and engines in the 75 to 115 horsepower range;
Increased sales in the marine service, parts and accessories businesses reflecting contributions from new products, market share gains and stable boat participation;
Fitness segment net sales benefited from introductions of new products as well as strong gains in international markets and growth in sales to U.S. health club and hospitality customers; and
International sales for the Company increased 2 percent in 2013 when compared with 2012, primarily due to increased sales to European and Latin American markets.
Experience strong increases in operating earnings as well as maintain strong gross margins achieved in 2012:
Reported operating earnings of $304.2 million in 2013 compared with operating earnings of $264.1 million in 2012 and $213.7 million in 2011;
Increased investment spending to support long-term growth initiatives was partially offset by continuing successful cost reduction actions, achieving operating efficiency improvements and realizing the benefits from restructuring activities; and
Improved gross margins 70 basis points in 2013 when compared to 2012.
Continue to generate strong free cash flow, retire debt and make significant contributions into the Company's defined benefit pension plans in pursuit of fully funding these plans:
Operating cash flows from continuing operations totaled $204.8 million during 2013, benefitting from improved operating results, partially offset by cash used for changes in certain current assets and current liabilities;
Selectively increased capital expenditures to support strategic and growth initiatives and for profit-maintaining investments;
Generated strong free cash flow of $75.9 million in 2013 which enabled the Company to reach its debt reduction targets and will allow for funding of future investments in growth;
Reduced debt balances by $112.0 million as well as the average interest rate on outstanding debt, which lowered interest expense by $24.2 million;
Contributed $53.8 million to the Company's defined benefit pension plans, which combined with the reduction of the unfunded obligation of approximately $200 million at December 31, 2013 due to an increase in the discount rate and strong investment returns, brought the aggregate funded status of qualified pension plans to approximately 79 percent; and
Ended the year with $369.2 million of cash and marketable securities, a net reduction of $59.5 million.
The Company reported an increase in net sales to $3,887.5 million from $3,717.6 million in 2012. The overall increase was driven by the Marine Engine, Fitness and Boat segments, partially offset by sales decreases in the Bowling & Billiards segment. The increase in Marine Engine net sales reflected solid increases in outboard engine products sales due to the favorable demand environment in the aluminum and fiberglass outboard boat markets and gains in the marine service, parts and accessories businesses, partially offset by lower sterndrive engine sales. Boat segment net sales increased mainly due to higher sales volumes of aluminum and fiberglass outboard boats, partially offset by wholesale shipment declines in fiberglass sterndrive boats. Fitness segment net sales increased reflecting strong gains in international markets, growth in sales to U.S. health club and hospitality customers and benefits from new product introductions. Bowling & Billiards net sales decreased as a result of lower bowling products sales and a reduced bowling retail center count, partially offset by higher U.S. equivalent retail bowling center sales as well as increased billiards sales. International sales for the Company increased 2 percent in 2013 when compared with 2012, primarily due to increased demand for certain Fitness and Marine Engine segment products in Europe along with increased sales to Latin America in the Boat and Fitness segments.
Operating earnings during 2013 were $304.2 million, with an operating margin of 7.8 percent. Operating earnings during 2012 were $264.1 million, with an operating margin of 7.1 percent. The 2013 results included $21.4 million of restructuring, exit and impairment charges, while the 2012 results included $25.8 million of restructuring, exit and impairment charges. Improved operating earnings during 2013 mainly resulted from increased sales revenues in certain segments, operating efficiency improvements, cost reductions and lower restructuring, exit and impairment charges, partially offset by increased investment spending to support long-term growth initiatives.
Net earnings increased to $769.2 million in 2013 compared with $50.0 million in 2012 due to the Company recognizing a net income tax benefit from continuing operations for 2013 of $545.6 million, which included a $599.5 million reversal of tax valuation allowance reserves and a net charge of $30.2 million primarily resulting from unfavorable valuation allowance adjustments related
to stock-based compensation, partially offset by the reassessment of tax reserves. In 2012, the Company recognized an income tax provision from continuing operations of $33.6 million, which included a net tax charge of $3.4 million for the reassessment of tax reserves and an unfavorable impact related to stock-based compensation, partially offset by the net benefit of the release of valuation allowances for certain foreign entities that were no longer in a cumulative three-year loss position.
The Company expects that 2014 revenue will grow 5 percent to 7 percent when compared with 2013, with all four segments experiencing growth. The 2014 marine segment targets are based on global economic conditions that are generally comparable to 2013, with weakness continuing in certain regions in Europe. As a result of benefiting from new products and the modest recovery in the global marine market, the Company expects solid growth in outboard boat and engine products, as well as in the global service, parts and accessories businesses. The Company also anticipates that overall fiberglass sterndrive engine and boat markets will remain challenging, with stability expected in large boats. Positive health and fitness trends combined with new product introductions have positioned the Company's Fitness segment to continue to deliver excellent results. Additionally, the Company's Bowling & Billiards segment will benefit from a stable market and a focus on providing new and innovative concepts and products to drive sales in an evolving bowling retail market.
The Company expects to have higher earnings before income taxes in 2014 resulting from increased revenue and solid improvements in gross margins levels. Operating expenses, including research and development expenditures, are projected to be higher in 2014 when compared with 2013, but slightly lower on a percentage of sales basis, as the Company increases investment spending to support long-term growth initiatives. The Company expects net earnings in 2014 to benefit from restructuring activities completed in 2012 and 2013 as well as lower restructuring, exit and impairment charges, net interest and pension expenses.
The Company is also planning for its effective tax rate to increase in 2014 to an estimated 34 percent after adjusting for the impact of one-time pretax charges such as debt extinguishment losses and restructuring charges, as well as non-recurring special tax items. As a result of this significant increase in the effective tax rate, the Company expects earnings per common share to decrease in 2014 when compared to 2013.
The discussion above contains the Company's outlook for its business in 2014. This outlook, and the statements contained therein, are based on current expectations, estimates, plans and projections about the Company's business which are not guarantees of future performance and involve certain risks and uncertainties that may cause actual results to differ materially from expectations as of the date of this filing. This outlook and the related forward-looking view of the Company's business speak only as of the date of this filing and the Company does not undertake any obligation to update any forward-looking statements to reflect events or circumstances after the date of this filing.
On December 31, 2012, the Board of Directors authorized the Company to exit its Hatteras and Cabo boat businesses, with the sale of these businesses completed in August 2013. In this Annual Report on Form 10-K, the Company is reporting the results of the Hatteras and Cabo businesses, which were previously reported in the Boat segment, as discontinued operations for all periods presented. The Company's results, as discussed in Management's Discussion and Analysis, reflect continuing operations only, unless otherwise noted.
Restructuring Activities
The restructuring, exit and impairment charges recorded in the Consolidated Statements of Operations during 2013, 2012 and 2011 by reportable segment, are summarized below:
In the fourth quarter of 2013, the Company made the decision to outsource woodworking operations for its fiberglass sterndrive boats, which resulted in long-lived asset impairment charges. The Company anticipates its Boat segment may incur approximately $2 million to $4 million of additional restructuring charges in 2014 related to this action and will achieve annual savings between $1 million and $2 million, with the full benefit being realized in 2015. Future cost savings will primarily be reflected in Cost of sales as reported in the Company's Consolidated Statements of Operations.
In the second quarter of 2013, the Company entered into an agreement to divest its European retail bowling centers in the Bowling & Billiards segment. The Company completed its divestiture activities during the fourth quarter of 2013. The Company anticipates this action will improve the profitability of its Bowling & Billiards segment by $1 million to $2 million, with the full benefit being realized in 2014. Future cost savings will be reflected in Cost of sales and Selling, general and administrative expense as reported in the Company's Consolidated Statements of Operations; however, the Company also expects a reduction in Net sales as a result of these actions.
The Company announced in the first quarter of 2013 the consolidation of its yacht and motoryacht production at its Palm Coast, Florida manufacturing plant. As a result, the Company suspended manufacturing at its Sykes Creek boat manufacturing facility in Merritt Island, Florida as of the end of June 2013. The Company anticipates its Boat segment will achieve annual savings between $3 million and $5 million, with the full benefit being realized in 2014. Future cost savings will primarily be reflected in Cost of sales as reported in the Company's Consolidated Statements of Operations.
In the third quarter of 2012, the Company reached a decision to exit Bayliner cruisers in the U.S. and European markets and to further reduce the Company's manufacturing footprint by closing its Knoxville, Tennessee production facility and consolidate its fiberglass cruiser manufacturing into other boat production facilities. Those actions were initiated in connection with the continued weakness in the fiberglass sterndrive boat market. The Company anticipates its Boat segment will achieve annual savings between $10 million and $12 million, with full benefits from this action being realized in 2014. Future cost savings will primarily be reflected in Cost of sales as reported in the Company's Consolidated Statements of Operations. The Company has experienced a reduction in Net sales due to associated reductions in models and lower production volumes during the transition.
Restructuring charges in the Marine Engine segment during 2012 and 2011 included costs associated with the Company's announced plans to reduce excess manufacturing capacity by relocating inboard and sterndrive production to Fond du Lac, Wisconsin and closing its Stillwater, Oklahoma plant. This action resulted in $39.9 million of restructuring charges between 2009 and the completion of this plant transition in 2012. The Company substantially achieved its ongoing annual savings run rate target, when compared with 2009, of approximately $40 million by the end of 2012 with the benefit reflected as a reduction in Cost of sales, Selling, general and administrative expense and Research and development expense as reported in the Company's Consolidated Statements of Operations.
During 2012 and 2011, the Company disposed of non-strategic assets, consolidated manufacturing operations and reduced the Company's global workforce, which resulted in permanent cost savings, mainly in the Company's Boat and Marine Engine segments. These cost savings have been reflected through a reduction in Cost of sales and Selling, general and administrative expense as reported in the Company's Consolidated Statements of Operations.
In the third quarter of 2011, the Company divested its Boat segment's Sealine boat brand. Results of operations of Sealine are not material for the periods presented; however, the absence of Sealine has resulted in reductions in Net sales, Cost of Sales and Selling, general and administrative expense between 2011 and 2012 as reported in the Company's Consolidated Statement of Operations.
See Note 3 – Restructuring Activities in the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements for further details. The Company anticipates it will incur approximately $2 million to $4 million of additional restructuring charges in 2014 primarily related to known restructuring activities initiated during 2013 in the Boat segment.
Matters Affecting Comparability
The following events have occurred during 2013, 2012 and 2011, which the Company believes affect the comparability of the results of operations:
Restructuring, exit and impairment charges. The Company is executing restructuring initiatives designed to improve its cost structure, better utilize overall capacity and improve general operating efficiencies. During 2013, the Company recorded charges of $21.4 million related to these restructuring activities as compared with charges of $25.8 million in 2012 and $21.3 million in 2011. See Note 3 – Restructuring Activities in the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements for further details.
Gain on sale of real estate and distribution facility. In the first quarter of 2013, the Company's Marine Engine segment recognized a $5.5 million gain on the sale of real estate in Selling, general and administrative expense on the Consolidated Statements of Operations. In the first quarter of 2011, the Company recognized a $6.8 million gain on the sale of a distribution facility in Australia in Selling, general and administrative expense on the Consolidated Statements of Operations.
Interest expense and loss on early extinguishment of debt. The Company reported interest expense of $43.9 million, $68.1 million and $81.8 million during 2013, 2012 and 2011, respectively. Interest expense decreases from 2011 through 2013 were primarily the result of lower average outstanding debt levels at lower average interest rates.
Additionally, the Company repurchased $258.0 million of debt during 2013, compared with $124.2 million and $142.8 million during 2012 and 2011, respectively. In connection with these retirements, the Company recorded losses on early extinguishment of debt of $32.8 million, $16.3 million and $19.8 million during 2013, 2012 and 2011, respectively. See Note 15 – Debt in the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements for further details.
Tax items. The Company recognized a net income tax benefit of $545.6 million during 2013. In the fourth quarter of 2013, the Company reached the conclusion that it was appropriate to release valuation allowance reserves against a significant portion of its federal deferred tax assets and against certain state deferred tax assets due to the sustained positive operating performance of its U.S. operations and the availability of expected future taxable income. Additionally, the Company achieved a cumulative three year income position, reached four consecutive quarters of positive pre-tax operating earnings, and completed its near- and mid-term business plans, all of which were significant positive factors that overcame substantive prior negative evidence. The Company also considered forecasts of future operating results and utilization of net operating losses and tax credits prior to their expiration. Reversal of deferred tax asset valuation allowances also were recorded in the fourth quarter of 2013 for business units located in Norway and Sweden. As a result, the Company recorded a $599.5 million reversal of its deferred tax asset valuation allowance reserves in the fourth quarter of 2013 after determining it was more likely than not that certain deferred tax assets would be realized.
In addition to the reversal of its deferred tax asset valuation allowance reserves, the 2013 net income tax benefit included a net charge of $30.2 million, which primarily resulted from unfavorable valuation allowance adjustments related to stock-based compensation, partially offset by the reassessment of tax reserves.
The Company recognized an income tax provision of $33.6 million during 2012, which generally related to foreign and state jurisdictions where the Company was in a tax paying position. In addition, the tax provision during 2012 included a net charge of $3.4 million, which included the reassessment of tax reserves and an unfavorable impact related to stock-based compensation, partially offset by the net benefit of the release of valuation allowances primarily for foreign entities that were no longer in a cumulative three-year loss position.
The Company recognized an income tax provision of $20.1 million during 2011, which generally related to foreign and state jurisdictions where the Company was in a tax paying position. In addition, the tax provision during 2011 included a net benefit of $6.2 million, primarily related to the reassessment of tax reserves.
See Note 11 – Income Taxes in Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements for further details.
The following table sets forth certain amounts, ratios and relationships calculated from the Consolidated Statements of Operations for the years ended December 31, 2013, 2012 and 2011:
Increase/(Decrease)
Gross margin (A)
Restructuring, exit and impairment charges
Operating earnings
Net earnings from continuing operations(B)
Diluted earnings per common share from continuing operations (B)
Expressed as a percentage of Net sales:
70 bpts
150 bpts
Selling, general and administrative expense
(10) bpts
Research and development expense
bpts = basis points
Gross margin is defined as Net sales less Cost of sales as presented in the Consolidated Statements of Operations.
Net earnings from continuing operations in 2013 includes an income tax benefit of $599.5 million from the reversal of deferred tax valuation allowance reserves as well as a net charge of $30.2 million, which included unfavorable valuation allowance adjustments primarily related to stock-based compensation, partially offset by the reassessment of tax reserves.
The Company's net sales increased in 2013 when compared to 2012 period mainly due to increases in the Company's Marine Engine, Fitness and Boat segments, partially offset by sales decreases in the Bowling & Billiards segment. The increase in Marine Engine net sales reflected solid increases in outboard engine products sales due to the favorable demand environment in the aluminum and fiberglass outboard boat markets and gains in the marine service, parts and accessories businesses, partially offset by lower sterndrive engine sales. Boat segment net sales increased mainly due to higher sales volumes of aluminum and fiberglass outboard boats, partially offset by wholesale shipment declines in fiberglass sterndrive boats. Fitness segment net sales increased reflecting strong gains in international markets, growth in sales to U.S. health club and hospitality customers as well as benefits from new product introductions. Bowling & Billiards net sales decreased as a result of lower bowling products sales and a reduced bowling retail center count, partially offset by higher U.S. equivalent retail bowling center sales as well as increased billiards sales. International sales for the Company increased 2 percent in 2013 when compared with 2012, primarily due to increased demand for certain Fitness and Marine Engine segment products in Europe along with increased sales to Latin America for the Boat and Fitness segments.
The increase in gross margin percentage in 2013 compared with 2012 included benefits from improved operating efficiencies and successful cost-reduction efforts.
Selling, general and administrative expense decreased as a percentage of net sales during 2013 when compared with 2012 mainly due to improved operating efficiencies and a $5.5 million gain on the sale of real estate in the Marine Engine segment in
the first quarter of 2013, mostly offset by investment spending to support long-term growth initiatives and higher variable incentive compensation expense resulting from mark-to-market adjustments on certain equity-based awards.
Research and development expense increased $14.2 million, or 13 percent, in 2013 when compared with 2012 as the Company increased investment spending to support long-term growth initiatives.
During 2013, the Company recorded restructuring charges of $21.4 million compared with $25.8 million in 2012. See Note 3 – Restructuring Activities in the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements for further details.
The Company recognized equity losses of $1.9 million and $3.8 million in the 2013 and 2012, respectively, which were related to the Company's marine joint ventures.
Interest expense decreased $24.2 million in 2013 compared with 2012, as a result of lower average outstanding debt levels at a lower average interest rate when compared with 2012. Interest income decreased in 2013 compared with 2012 primarily due to lower average levels of marketable securities during the comparable periods.
The Company repurchased $258.0 million of debt during 2013 and recorded losses on early extinguishment of debt of $32.8 million. The Company repurchased $124.2 million of debt during 2012 and recorded losses on early extinguishment of debt of $16.3 million.
The Company recognized an income tax benefit for 2013 of $545.6 million, which included a $599.5 million benefit for the release of deferred tax asset valuation allowance reserves and a net charge of $30.2 million primarily resulting from unfavorable valuation allowance adjustments related to stock-based compensation, partially offset by the reassessment of tax reserves. Refer to Matters Affecting Comparability for additional information. The Company recognized an income tax provision of $33.6 million for 2012, which included a net tax charge of $3.4 million. The net tax charge included the reassessment of tax reserves and an unfavorable impact related to stock-based compensation, partially offset by the net benefit of the release of valuation allowances for entities that were no longer in a cumulative three-year loss position. The effective tax rate for 2013 was not meaningful. The effective tax rate for 2012 was 18.6 percent.
Operating earnings, Net earnings from continuing operations and Diluted earnings per common share from continuing operations increased in 2013 when compared with 2012 primarily due to the factors discussed in the preceding paragraphs.
Diluted earnings from continuing operations per common share, as adjusted – defined as Diluted earnings from continuing operations per common share, excluding the earnings or loss per share impact for Restructuring, exit and impairment charges from continuing operations, Loss on early extinguishment of debt, reversal of deferred tax valuation allowance reserves and special tax items – increased by $0.64 per share, or 31 percent, to $2.73 per share for 2013 when compared with $2.09 per share for 2012. For 2013, Restructuring, exit and impairment charges from continuing operations were $0.22 per share, Loss on early extinguishment of debt was $0.32 per share, reversal of deferred tax valuation allowance reserves were a benefit of $6.39 per share and special tax items were a net provision of $0.32 per share. In 2012, Restructuring, exit and impairment charges from continuing operations were $0.28 per share, Loss on early extinguishment of debt was $0.18 per share and special tax items were a net provision of $0.04 per share.
The Company completed the sale of its Hatteras and Cabo boat brands during the third quarter of 2013 and recorded an after-tax gain of $1.6 million. Sales from discontinued operations decreased to $23.0 million in 2013 from $56.2 million in 2012. The pre-tax operating loss from discontinued operations of $8.4 million in 2013 was comprised mainly of operating losses, divestiture related costs and adjustments to the fair value of the business. The pre-tax operating loss from discontinued operations in 2012 was $96.7 million, which was largely attributable to the $52.7 million impairment charge on assets held for sale and restructuring and long-lived asset impairment charges. The income tax benefit was $2.4 million for the year ended December 31, 2013 and the income tax provision was $0.7 million for the year ended December 31, 2012.
Net sales increased slightly in 2012 due to revenue growth in the Marine Engine segment, partially offset by the lower sales in the Boat and Bowling & Billiards segments. Net sales remained flat in the Fitness segment. The Marine Engine segment increased sales in the non-European outboard engine and marine service, parts and accessories businesses. Net sales to the Company's European markets in 2012 declined by $118.9 million, or 19.9 percent, when compared with 2011, due mainly to weak economic conditions in Europe. This decline in European sales affected all of the Company's segments, with $37.2 million of the decline being associated with the absence of sales from the Company's former Sealine boat brand, which was divested in August 2011. Net sales were also negatively affected by weaker global demand for fiberglass sterndrive boats, partially offset by strong demand for aluminum fishing and pontoon boats and outboard powered fiberglass boats. Additionally, lower international sales included the impact of unfavorable changes in foreign currency exchange rates. The Fitness segment's higher sales to North American health club customers, increased sales to Asian markets and stronger U.S. consumer sales were partially offset by declines in net sales to U.S. hospitality customers and the absence of a large order from one of Fitness' major customer categories in the first half of 2011. The strong revenue growth for bowling products and an increase in U.S. equivalent retail bowling center sales were more than offset by the sales declines resulting from operating fewer retail bowling centers and a decrease in bowling product sales to European customers.
The increase in gross margin percentage in 2012 compared with 2011 was mainly due to improved operating efficiencies and successful cost-reduction activities across all of the Company's segments as well as lower depreciation and pension expense.
Selling, general and administration expense decreased slightly as a percentage of net sales in 2012 when compared with 2011 as a result of the realization of successful cost-reduction efforts and lower variable compensation and pension expense. These items were offset by the absence of a $6.8 million gain recognized on the sale of a distribution facility in Australia and a favorable recovery against an insurance policy recorded in the first quarter of 2011 as well as increased spending on company-wide investments in growth initiatives.
Research and development expense increased as a percentage of net sales during 2012 when compared with 2011 as a result of increased spending for company-wide investments in growth initiatives.
During 2012, the Company recorded restructuring, exit and impairment charges of $25.8 million compared with $21.3 million in 2011. See Note 3 – Restructuring Activities in the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements for further details.
The improvement in operating earnings was mainly due to the factors discussed above.
The Company recognized equity losses of $3.8 million and $4.7 million in 2012 and 2011, respectively, primarily related to the Company's marine joint ventures. The loss in 2011 includes a $3.8 million charge associated with the dissolution of the Company's Cummins MerCruiser Diesel Marine LLC joint venture between Brunswick's Mercury Marine division and Cummins Marine, a division of Cummins Inc., which was finalized in the second quarter of 2012.
Interest expense decreased $13.7 million in 2012 compared with 2011, primarily as a result of the Company's debt retirement activities, which lowered average outstanding debt levels in 2012 when compared with 2011.
The Company repurchased $124.2 million of debt during 2012 and recorded losses on early extinguishment of debt of $16.3 million. During 2011, the Company recorded losses on early extinguishment of debt of $19.8 million in connection with the retirement of $142.8 million of notes.
The Company recognized an income tax provision for 2012 of $33.6 million, which included a net tax charge of $3.4 million associated with the reassessment of tax reserves and an unfavorable impact related to stock-based compensation, partially offset by the net benefit of the release of valuation allowances for entities that were no longer in a cumulative three-year loss position. The Company recognized an income tax provision of $20.1 million for 2011, which included a net tax benefit of $6.2 million primarily related to the reassessment of unrecognized tax benefits. Due to the Company's three years of cumulative book losses in certain jurisdictions and the uncertainty of the realization of certain deferred tax assets, the Company continues to adjust its valuation allowances as deferred tax assets increase or decrease, resulting in effectively no recorded tax benefit for those jurisdictions with operating losses, or no tax expense for those jurisdictions with operating income and loss carryforwards. The tax provision recognized in 2012 and 2011 generally relates to foreign and state jurisdictions where the Company is in a tax paying position. The effective tax rate, which is calculated as the income tax provision as a percentage of pretax income, for 2012 and 2011 was 18.6 percent and 18.2 percent, respectively.
Diluted earnings (loss) from continuing operations per common share, as adjusted increased by $0.73 per share, or 54 percent, to $2.09 per share for 2012 when compared with $1.36 per share in 2011. For 2012, Restructuring, exit and impairment charges from continuing operations were $0.28 per share, Loss on early extinguishment of debt was $0.18 per share and special tax items were a net provision of $0.04 per share. In 2011, Restructuring, exit and impairment charges from continuing operations were $0.24 per share, Loss on early extinguishment of debt was $0.21 per share and special tax item benefits totaled $0.07 per share.
Sales from discontinued operations decreased to $56.2 million in 2012 from $78.0 million in 2011, primarily due to continued weakness in the luxury sportfishing convertible and motoryacht boat market segments. Pre-tax operating loss from discontinued operations was $96.7 million in 2012, compared with $21.4 million in 2011. The increase in operating loss was largely attributable to the $52.7 million impairment charge on assets held for sale and increased restructuring and long-lived asset impairment charges in 2012 along with a decrease in net sales. The income tax provision was $0.7 million in 2012 as compared to a $2.7 million income tax benefit in 2011.
The Company operates in four reportable segments: Marine Engine, Boat, Fitness and Bowling & Billiards. Refer to Note 5 – Segment Information in the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements for details on the operations of these segments.
During the first quarter of 2012, the Company realigned its global marine operations, which resulted in changes to the components of the Marine Engine and Boat reportable segments. Several Brunswick boat brands based in Europe and Asia, which include Quicksilver, Rayglass and Uttern boats, each of which were previously included in the Marine Engine segment, are now managed and included as part of the Boat segment. Additionally, the Company started evaluating segment results exclusive of certain costs associated with its defined benefit pension plans. As a result of freezing benefit accruals in its defined benefit pension plans, the Company elected to allocate only service-related costs to the operating segment results and report all other components of pension expense on a separate line included in the segment information. As a result, Interest cost, Expected return on plan assets and Amortization of net actuarial losses previously reported in the Marine Engine and Bowling & Billiards segments, as well as Corporate/Other, are now being reported in Pension - non-service costs. Pension costs associated with Service cost and Amortization of prior service cost, while not significant, remain in the reporting segments as presented in the tables below. Segment results have been revised for all periods presented to reflect the change in Brunswick's reported segments. See Note 5 – Segment Information in the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements for further details.
The following table sets forth Marine Engine segment results for the years ended December 31, 2013, 2012 and 2011:
Net sales recorded by the Marine Engine segment increased in 2013 when compared with 2012 due to the continuing favorable demand environment in the aluminum and fiberglass outboard boat markets and the solid sales increases of the segment's outboard engine products, such as the 150 horsepower FourStroke, the Verado engine family and engines in the 75 to 115 horsepower range . Net sales also increased solidly in the segment's marine service, parts and accessories businesses reflecting contributions from new products, market share gains and stable boat participation. Partially offsetting these factors were lower sterndrive engine sales as unfavorable global retail demand trends and related reductions in dealer inventories of fiberglass sterndrive boats continued. International sales, which represented 35 percent of the segment's sales during 2013, experienced a 1 percent increase when compared with 2012 mainly due to higher sales to Europe.
The restructuring, exit and impairment charges recognized in 2012 included costs associated with the Company's consolidation of engine production facilities that was completed in 2012 as discussed in Note 3 – Restructuring Activities in the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements. There were no restructuring, exit and impairment charges in the Marine Engine segment for 2013.
Marine Engine segment operating earnings improved in 2013 as a result of the items positively affecting net sales as discussed above along with improved operating efficiencies. Also contributing to increased operating earnings in 2013 were: improved costs, including benefits from changes in foreign currency; the absence of sterndrive production ramp-up issues, which limited sales in the first half of 2012 and resulted in operating inefficiencies stemming from the sterndrive manufacturing transition to Fond du Lac, Wisconsin in 2012; a $5.5 million gain on the sale of real estate recorded in the first quarter of 2013; the absence of restructuring, exit and impairment charges in 2013; and favorable insurance settlements received in the second quarter of 2013; partially offset by an increase in investment spending to support long-term growth initiatives.
Capital expenditures in 2013 and 2012 were related to tooling, plant expansion and consolidation activities, growth initiatives and profit-maintaining investments. Increased capital expenditures in 2013 are primarily related to the capacity expansion in Fond du Lac, Wisconsin.
Net sales recorded by the Marine Engine segment increased in 2012 compared with 2011. The increase was mainly related to strong growth in the non-European outboard engine and marine service, parts and accessories businesses, partially offset by sales declines in sterndrive engines reflecting weak global demand and lower sales to European markets due to difficult economic conditions. The segment's U.S. outboard engine business benefited from a growing aluminum and fiberglass outboard boat marketplace, the segment's new 150 horsepower FourStroke outboard engine and increasingly strong demand for the 75 to 115 horsepower four stroke outboard product range, resulting in production growth and increased sales. Sales also increased due to strong growth in non-European marine service, parts and accessories businesses as a result of stable boating participation, new product launches and market share gains. International sales, representing 37 percent of the segment's sales during 2012, experienced a 4 percent decrease when compared with 2011 due to the impacts of economic conditions on European demand and an unfavorable impact from changes in foreign currency exchange rates.
The restructuring, exit and impairment charges recognized in 2012 and 2011 included costs associated with the Company's consolidation of engine production facilities that was completed in 2012 as discussed in Note 3 – Restructuring Activities in the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.
Marine Engine segment operating earnings improved in 2012 as a result of the items positively affecting net sales discussed above, successful cost reduction activities, increased outboard and sterndrive engine production, lower variable compensation and warranty expense and lower restructuring charges. Partially offsetting these factors were: investments in growth initiatives; operating inefficiencies resulting from sterndrive engine production ramp-up issues experienced in the first quarter of 2012; less favorable bad debt experience when compared with 2011; the absence of a gain recognized on the sale of a distribution facility in Australia in 2011; and the absence of favorable recoveries against insurance policies recognized in 2011.
Capital expenditures in 2012 and 2011 were related to tooling, plant consolidation activities, growth initiatives and profit-maintaining investments.
The following table sets forth Boat segment results for the years ended December 31, 2013, 2012 and 2011:
Boat segment net sales increased in 2013 versus 2012 resulting from continued growth in the aluminum and fiberglass outboard boat categories partially offset by declines in wholesale shipments of fiberglass sterndrive boats, due to weak retail demand and the Company's strategy to reduce associated pipeline inventories to prepare for new product introductions. International sales, which represented 36 percent of the segment's sales during 2013, increased slightly due to higher sales into Latin American markets, partially offset by sales declines in other regions while sales in European markets were flat.
The restructuring, exit and impairment charges recognized during 2013 were mainly related to: the consolidation of Company's yacht and motoryacht manufacturing footprint; the consolidation of the Company's fiberglass cruiser manufacturing; and the Company's decision to outsource woodworking operations for its fiberglass sterndrive boats. The restructuring, exit and impairment charges recognized during 2012 were associated with the Company's decisions to exit Bayliner cruisers in the U.S. and European markets, consolidate cruiser manufacturing and close its Knoxville, Tennessee production facility. Impairment charges were also recorded for certain European and Asia-Pacific boat brands. See Note 3 – Restructuring Activities in the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements for further details.
The Boat segment reported a lower operating loss in 2013 when compared with 2012 mainly due to higher fiberglass outboard and aluminum outboard boat sales, ongoing benefits from the fiberglass sterndrive boat cost-reduction activities, including those initiated in the fourth quarter of 2012, and lower restructuring charges. Partially offsetting these factors were lower sales of fiberglass sterndrive boats, increased investment spending to support long-term growth, including product development related costs, and the absence of favorable legal and insurance settlements reached in the second quarter of 2012.
Capital expenditures in 2013 and 2012 were related to tooling costs for the production of new models, growth initiatives and profit-maintaining investments as well as the purchase of a new pontoon boat manufacturing facility in 2013, which replaced the segment's existing facility.
Boat segment net sales decreased slightly when comparing 2012 with 2011 despite experiencing an increase in wholesale unit shipments. Increases in wholesale unit shipments reflected strong growth in retail demand for aluminum fishing and pontoon boats and U.S. outboard powered fiberglass boat products, which was mostly offset by continued weakness in global large fiberglass sterndrive boat products and European outboard powered fiberglass boat products and the associated reductions in pipeline inventories. The unfavorable revenue effect of this shift in boat mix, along with the impact of weak European markets and the absence of $37.2 million of 2011 net sales associated with the Company's former Sealine boat brand, which was divested in August 2011, were the main factors contributing to the decline in net sales. Refer to Note 3 – Restructuring Activities in the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements for further discussion of the Sealine divestiture. International sales, which represented 37 percent of the segment's sales during 2012, experienced a 10 percent decrease in 2012 when compared with 2011 due mainly to the divestiture of Sealine and the economic conditions in Europe, partially offset by increased sales associated with the segment's growth initiative in Brazil to sell Sea Ray and Bayliner fiberglass boat products.
The restructuring, exit and impairment charges recognized during 2012 were associated with the Company's decisions to exit Bayliner cruisers in the U.S. and European markets, consolidate cruiser manufacturing and close its Knoxville, Tennessee production facility. Impairment charges were also recorded for certain European and Asia-Pacific boat brands. The restructuring, exit and impairment charges recognized during 2011 were primarily related to the divestiture of the Company's Sealine boat brand offset by gains recognized on the sales of certain idle properties. See Note 3 – Restructuring Activities in the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements for further details.
The Boat segment operating loss increased in 2012 mainly due to the higher restructuring, exit and impairment charges, reduced net sales and increased spending on investments in new products and growth initiatives. Partially offsetting these factors were lower costs resulting from successful cost reduction efforts, improved operating efficiencies from higher outboard boat production and lower variable compensation expense.
Capital expenditures in 2012 and 2011 were related to tooling costs for the production of new models, growth initiatives and profit-maintaining investments.
The following table sets forth Fitness segment results for the years ended December 31, 2013, 2012 and 2011:
Fitness segment net sales increased in 2013 when compared with 2012, reflecting strong gains in international markets and growth in sales to U.S. health club and hospitality customers with all markets benefitting from new product introductions. European markets grew in 2013 as a result of distribution enhancements and improved market conditions. Partially offsetting these gains was a decrease in sales to local and federal government customers. International sales were 49 percent of the segment's sales in 2013 and increased mainly due to higher sales to European, Latin American and Asia-Pacific markets.
Fitness segment operating earnings increased in 2013 primarily as a result of higher sales and a favorable insurance settlement received in the first quarter of 2013, partially offset by investment spending on growth initiatives and a reduced gross margin percentage.
Capital expenditures in 2013 and 2012 were related to growth initiatives and profit-maintaining investments.
Net sales for the Fitness segment remained flat in 2012 when compared to 2011, reflecting gains in commercial sales to North American health club customers, increased sales to Asian markets and stronger U.S. consumer sales, which were partially offset by a large order from one of its major customer categories recorded in the first half of 2011. Net sales also declined to U.S. hospitality customers and due to the impact of unfavorable changes in foreign currency exchange rates, most notably in European markets. International sales declined and comprised 48 percent of the segment's sales during 2012.
Fitness segment operating earnings increased in 2012 as a result of improved operating efficiencies and lower warranty and variable compensation expenses, partially offset by higher material costs.
The following table sets forth Bowling & Billiards segment results for the years ended December 31, 2013, 2012 and 2011:
Bowling & Billiards segment net sales decreased in 2013 when compared with 2012 as a result of a reduced retail bowling center count and lower bowling products sales. Partially offsetting these factors were higher U.S. equivalent retail bowling center sales and billiards sales. International sales, representing 20 percent of the segment's sales during 2013, decreased by 12 percent when compared with 2012, mostly due to the divestiture of the segment's European retail bowling centers.
The restructuring, exit and impairment charges recorded in 2013 are primarily related to actions associated with the divestiture of the segment's European retail bowling centers. See Note 3 – Restructuring Activities in the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements for further details.
Bowling & Billiards segment operating earnings decreased during 2013 due to higher restructuring charges, lower sales and increased investments for long-term growth, partially offset by gains in U.S. equivalent retail bowling center sales and improvements in cost efficiencies.
Capital expenditures in 2013 and 2012 were related to growth initiatives, including the introduction of three new "Brunswick's" retail bowling centers, and profit-maintaining investments.
Bowling & Billiards segment net sales decreased slightly in 2012 when compared with 2011 as a result of operating fewer U.S. retail bowling centers and lower bowling product sales to European customers, partially offset by strong revenue growth for U.S. bowling products and an increase in U.S. equivalent retail bowling center sales. International sales, representing 21 percent of the segment's sales during 2012, experienced a 7 percent decrease when compared with 2011, primarily due to weak European demand.
Bowling & Billiards segment operating earnings improved during 2012, as a result of improved operating efficiencies, lower restructuring charges and variable compensation expense, partially offset by the impact of lower sales and increased spending on investments in growth initiatives.
The following table sets forth Corporate results for the years ended December 31, 2013, 2012 and 2011:
Restructuring, exit and impairment charges (gains)
The restructuring, exit and impairment charges recognized during 2013 related to severance actions. The restructuring, exit and impairment gains recognized during 2012 related to disposals of non-strategic assets. See Note 3 – Restructuring Activities in the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements for further details.
Corporate operating expenses increased in 2013 when compared with 2012 mainly due to spending associated with the Company's strategic growth initiatives, higher variable incentive compensation expense resulting from mark-to-market adjustments on certain equity-based awards, increases in reserves for various legal matters and higher restructuring charges. Corporate operating expenses decreased in 2012 when compared with 2011 mainly due to lower variable compensation costs.
Cash Flow, Liquidity and Capital Resources
The following table sets forth an analysis of free cash flow for the years ended December 31, 2013, 2012 and 2011:
Net cash provided by (used for):
Proceeds from the sale of property, plant and equipment
Total free cash flow from continuing operations*
*The Company defines "Free cash flow from continuing operations" as cash flow from operating and investing activities of continuing operations (excluding cash provided by or used for acquisitions and investments, transfers to/from restricted cash and purchases or sales of marketable securities). Free cash flow from continuing operations is not intended as an alternative measure of cash flow from operations, as determined in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP) in the United States. The Company uses this financial measure, both in presenting its results to shareholders and the investment community and in its internal evaluation and management of its businesses. Management believes that this financial measure and the information it provides are useful to investors because it permits investors to view Brunswick's performance using the same tool that management uses to gauge progress in achieving its goals. Management believes that the non-GAAP financial measure "Free cash flow from continuing operations" is also useful to investors because it is an indication of cash flow that may be available to fund investments in future growth initiatives and future debt retirements.
Brunswick's major sources of funds for investments, acquisitions, debt retirements and dividend payments are cash generated from operating activities, available cash and marketable securities balances and selected borrowings. The Company evaluates potential acquisitions, divestitures and joint ventures in the ordinary course of business.
2013 Cash Flow
In 2013, net cash provided by operating activities of continuing operations totaled $204.8 million. The primary driver of the cash provided by operating activities was earnings adjusted for non-cash items, including the reversal of deferred tax valuation allowance reserves, depreciation and amortization and debt extinguishment losses. Net cash provided by operating activities also included unfavorable changes in working capital. Working capital is defined as Accounts and notes receivable, Inventories and Prepaid expenses and other, net of Accounts payable and Accrued expenses as presented in the Consolidated Balance Sheets. Inventory increased $21.7 million driven primarily by the Company's Marine Engine segment in response to strong market
demand for outboard products, to meet seasonal requirements in advance of the 2014 marine selling season and to support new product introductions. Accounts payable decreased $18.0 million during 2013 due to timing of payments. The increase in Accounts and notes receivable of $15.6 million during 2013 was driven primarily by higher fourth quarter sales across the Company's Marine Engine and Fitness segments when compared with 2012, partially offset by the improved timing of customer payments.
Net cash provided by investing activities of continuing operations during 2013 totaled $7.1 million, which included net proceeds from marketable securities of $131.0 million that were partially used to retire the Company's Senior notes due in 2016 during the second quarter as discussed below and to satisfy working capital requirements. See Note 8 – Investments in the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements for further discussion of the Company's marketable securities. The Company also received $17.8 million in proceeds from the sale of property, plant and equipment in the normal course of business mainly in our Boat and Marine Engine segments. Investing activities during 2013 also included an inflow of $6.5 million resulting from a reduction in the restricted cash required to collateralize a portion of the Company's workers' compensation related obligations. See Note 12 – Commitments and Contingencies in Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements for further discussion. Partially offsetting these items was $148.1 million of capital expenditures in 2013. The Company's capital spending is focused on new product introductions and strategic initiatives, the Marine Engine segment's capacity expansion in Fond du Lac, Wisconsin, a new pontoon boat manufacturing facility, other high priority, profit-maintaining capital and investments targeting operating cost reductions.
Cash flows used for financing activities of continuing operations were $116.5 million during 2013. The cash outflow was mainly the result of repurchasing the remaining $249.8 million of the Company's Senior notes due in 2016 and paying a $24.2 million premium above par as well as paying dividends, partially offset by net proceeds received from issuing $150.0 million of new debt due in 2021 and paying $3.4 million in related debt issuance costs. See Note 15 – Debt in the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements for further discussion.
The Company reported excess tax benefits from share-based compensation activity of $37.2 million in 2013, which resulted primarily from the exercise of stock appreciation rights and stock options. Excess tax benefits are netted out of cash provided by operating activities and are reflected as a cash inflow from financing activities in the Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows. In 2013, excess tax benefits did not significantly benefit the amount of taxes paid by the Company because of its tax position. Consequently, cash flows from operating activities and free cash flow were negatively affected by excess tax benefits. See Note 17 – Stock Plans and Management Compensation in the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements for further discussion.
In 2012, net cash provided by operating activities of continuing operations totaled $183.6 million. The primary driver of the cash provided by operating activities was earnings adjusted for non-cash expenses. Net cash provided by operating activities also included unfavorable changes in working capital. Inventory increased $73.1 million as a result of decisions to increase inventories in the Company's engine and outboard boat businesses in response to strong market demand and to meet seasonal requirements in advance of the 2013 marine selling season. The decrease in Accrued expenses of $44.8 million during 2012 included the payments of the variable compensation earned in 2011, which had been accrued as of December 31, 2011. The increase in Accounts and notes receivable of $19.6 million during 2012 was driven primarily by higher fourth quarter sales across all of the Company's segments when compared with 2011, partially offset by the improved timing of customer payments. Partially offsetting these items was an increase in Accounts payable of $57.8 million, which was a result of increased production in the Company's Marine Engine, Boat and Fitness segments.
Net cash used for investing activities of continuing operations in 2012 totaled $62.9 million, which included capital expenditures of $115.2 million. The Company's capital spending was focused on growth initiatives and new product introductions, as well as high priority, profit-maintaining capital and investments required to reduce operating costs. Partially offsetting the use of cash for investing activities was net proceeds from marketable securities of $21.8 million. See Note 8 – Investments in Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements for further discussion. The Company also received $18.8 million in proceeds from the sale of idle property, plant and equipment in its Boat and Marine Engine segments. Investing activities during 2012 also included an inflow of $7.0 million resulting from a reduction in the restricted cash required to collateralize a portion of the Company's workers' compensation related obligations. See Note 12 – Commitments and Contingencies in Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements for further discussion.
Cash flow used for financing activities of continuing operations was $148.5 million in 2012. The cash outflow was primarily the result of long-term debt retirements as discussed in Note 15 – Debt in Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements, dividends paid to common shareholders, and net withholdings from stock compensation activity, partially offset by excess tax benefits from share-based compensation as discussed above for 2013.
In 2011, net cash provided by operating activities of continuing operations totaled $135.2 million. The most significant source of cash provided by operating activities of continuing operations resulted from earnings adjusted for non-cash expenses. Net cash provided by operating activities of continuing operations also included unfavorable changes in working capital. Inventories increased by $32.1 million as the Marine Engine segment built higher levels of inventory in advance of the retail selling season as well as from increased demand across the Fitness and Bowling & Billiards segments. Accrued expenses decreased by $11.0 million, driven mainly by the payment of dealer allowances and favorable warranty experience.
Net cash used for investing activities of continuing operations in 2011 totaled $131.8 million, which included capital expenditures of $87.1 million. The Company's capital spending was focused on high priority, profit-maintaining investments and investments to reduce operating costs, or for new product introductions. The Company also completed net purchases of marketable securities of $67.5 million. See Note 8 – Investments in the Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements for further discussion. Investing activities during 2011 also included a transfer of $20.0 million to restricted cash to collateralize a portion of the Company's obligations related to certain workers' compensation obligations. See Note 12 – Commitments and Contingencies in Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements for further discussion. Also included in cash used for investing activities of continuing operations was $30.5 million in proceeds from the sale of property, plant and equipment in the normal course of business, including a Marine Engine distribution facility in Australia and idle Marine Engine and Boat properties.
Cash used for financing activities of continuing operations was $167.9 million in 2011. The cash outflow was primarily the result of retirements of long-term debt, as discussed in Note 15 – Debt in Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements, and dividends paid to common shareholders, partially offset by net proceeds from stock compensation activity.
The Company views its highly liquid assets as of December 31, 2013 and 2012 as:
Short-term investments in marketable securities
Long-term investments in marketable securities
The following table sets forth an analysis of Net debt as of December 31, 2013 and 2012:
Short-term debt, including current maturities of long-term debt
Less: Cash, cash equivalents and marketable securities
Net debt (A)
(A) The Company defines Net debt as Short-term and Long-term debt, less Cash and cash equivalents, Short-term investments in marketable securities and Long-term investments in marketable securities, as presented in the Consolidated Balance Sheets. Net debt is not intended as an alternative measure to debt, as determined in accordance with GAAP in the United States. The Company uses this financial measure, both in presenting its results to shareholders and the investment community and in its internal evaluation and management of its businesses. Management believes that this financial measure and the information it provides are useful to investors because it permits investors to view the Company's performance using the same metric that management uses to gauge progress in achieving its goals. Management believes that the non-GAAP financial measure "Net debt" is also useful to investors because it is an indication of the Company's ability to repay its outstanding debt using its current cash, cash equivalents and marketable securities.
The following table sets forth an analysis of Total liquidity as of December 31, 2013 and 2012:
Amounts available under its asset-based lending facilities
Total liquidity (A)
(A) The Company defines Total liquidity as Cash and cash equivalents, Short-term investments in marketable securities and Long-term investments in marketable securities as presented in the Consolidated Balance Sheets, plus amounts available for borrowing under its asset-based lending facilities. Total liquidity is not intended as an alternative measure to Cash and cash equivalents, Short-term investments in marketable securities and Long-term investments in marketable securities as determined in accordance with GAAP in the United States. The Company uses this financial measure, both in presenting its results to shareholders and the investment community and in its internal evaluation and management of its businesses. Management believes that this financial measure and the information it provides are useful to investors because it permits investors to view the Company's performance using the same metric that management uses to gauge progress in achieving its goals. Management believes that the non-GAAP financial measure "Total liquidity" is also useful to investors because it is an indication of the Company's available highly liquid assets and immediate sources of financing.
Cash, cash equivalents and marketable securities totaled $369.2 million as of December 31, 2013, a decrease of $59.5 million from $428.7 million as of December 31, 2012. Total debt as of December 31, 2013 and December 31, 2012 was $459.8 million and $571.8 million, respectively. As a result, the Company's Net debt decreased to $90.6 million as of December 31, 2013, from $143.1 million at December 31, 2012. The Company's debt-to-capitalization ratio improved to 30.7 percent as of December 31, 2013, from 88.0 percent as of December 31, 2012, due mainly to the effect of earnings on Shareholders' equity, which included an income tax benefit from the reversal of $599.5 million of deferred tax valuation allowance reserves; reduced debt levels; and lower Accumulated other comprehensive losses resulting from the favorable remeasurement of the Company's defined benefit plan obligations at December 31, 2013.
In March 2011, the Company entered into a five-year $300.0 million secured, asset-based borrowing facility (Facility). Borrowings under this Facility are limited to the lesser of $300.0 million or the value of the borrowing base, consisting of certain accounts receivable and inventory of the Company's domestic subsidiaries. As of December 31, 2013, the borrowing base totaled $294.7 million, and available borrowing capacity totaled $277.9 million, net of $16.8 million of letters of credit outstanding under the Facility. The Company has the ability to issue up to $125.0 million in letters of credit under the Facility. The Company had no borrowings under the Facility as of December 31, 2013. The Company pays a facility fee of 25.0 to 62.5 basis points per annum, which is adjusted based on a leverage ratio. The facility fee was 25.0 basis points per annum as of December 31, 2013. Under the terms of the Facility, the Company has multiple borrowing options, including borrowing at a rate tied to adjusted LIBOR plus a spread of 225 to 300 basis points, which is adjusted based on a leverage ratio. The borrowing spread was 225 basis points as of December 31, 2013. The Company may also borrow at the highest of the following, plus a spread of 125 to 200 basis points, which is adjusted based on a leverage ratio (125 basis points as of December 31, 2013): the Federal Funds rate plus 0.50 percent; the Prime Rate established by JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A.; or the one month adjusted LIBOR rate plus 1.00 percent.
The Company's borrowing capacity may also be affected by the fixed charge covenant included in the Facility. The covenant requires that the Company maintain a fixed charge coverage ratio, as defined in the agreement, of greater than 1.0, whenever unused borrowing capacity plus certain cash balances (together representing Availability) falls below $37.5 million. At the end of 2013, the Company had a fixed charge coverage ratio in excess of 1.0, and therefore had full access to borrowing capacity available under the Facility. When the fixed charge covenant ratio is below 1.0, the Company is required to maintain at least $37.5 million of Availability in order to be in compliance with the covenant. Consequently, the borrowing capacity is effectively reduced by $37.5 million whenever the fixed charge covenant ratio falls below 1.0. Upon entering into the Facility in March 2011, the Company terminated its existing Mercury Receivables ABL Facility and its $400.0 million secured, asset-based facility, which was set to expire in May 2012. As a result of terminating these agreements, the Company wrote off $1.1 million of deferred debt issuance costs during the first quarter of 2011.
Management believes that the Company has adequate sources of liquidity to meet the Company's short-term and long-term needs. As a result of debt retirements completed in 2013 and 2012, the next significant long-term debt maturity is not until 2021. The Company's debt reduction activities are largely completed, however, the Company may continue to opportunistically retire debt to a balance below $450 million.
The Company expects to increase earnings before income taxes in 2014 when compared with 2013 from higher sales, improved operating earnings and lower net interest expense. The Company's working capital performance in 2014 will primarily be influenced by revenue growth. Net activity in working capital is expected to reflect a use of cash in 2014 in the range of $40 million to $60 million, with seasonality in the marine businesses and timing of incentive compensation payments resulting in using cash to fund
working capital in the first quarter of 2014 while generating cash through the liquidation of working capital over the remainder of the year. The Company's plans include capital expenditures of approximately 4 percent of projected net sales in 2014, with a substantial portion directed at growth and profit enhancing projects. Despite higher capital spending levels and usage of cash for working capital, the Company plans to generate free cash flow in 2014 in the range of $150 million to $175 million. As a result of the factors listed above as well as the Company's progress and accomplishments during recent challenging global marine market conditions, in October 2013, the Board of Directors declared a quarterly dividend on its common stock of $0.10 per share paid December 13, 2013, which reflected an increase over the annual dividend of $0.05 per share paid in 2012.
The aggregate funded status of the Company's qualified defined benefit pension plans, measured as a percentage of the projected benefit obligation, was approximately 79 percent at December 31, 2013 compared with approximately 67 percent at December 31, 2012. As of December 31, 2013, the Company's qualified defined benefit pension plans were underfunded on an aggregate projected benefit obligation basis by $255.4 million. See Note 16 – Postretirement Benefits in the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements for more details.
The Company contributed $50.0 million to its qualified defined benefit pension plans in 2013 compared with $65.6 million of contributions in 2012. The Company also contributed $3.8 million and $3.4 million to fund benefit payments in its nonqualified defined benefit pension plan in 2013 and 2012, respectively. The Company anticipates contributing approximately $52 million to the qualified defined benefit pension plans and approximately $4 million to cover benefit payments in the unfunded, nonqualified defined benefit pension plans in 2014. Company contributions are subject to change based on market conditions, pension funding regulations and Company discretion.
The Company, through its Brunswick Financial Services Corporation (BFS) subsidiary, owns a 49 percent interest in a joint venture, Brunswick Acceptance Company, LLC (BAC). CDF Ventures, LLC (CDFV), a subsidiary of GE Capital Corporation (GECC), owns the remaining 51 percent. BAC commenced operations in 2003 and provides secured wholesale inventory floor-plan financing to Brunswick's boat and engine dealers.
In March 2013, the term of the BAC joint venture was extended through December 31, 2016. The joint venture agreement contains provisions allowing for the renewal of the agreement or the purchase of the other party's interest in the joint venture at the end of its term. Alternatively, either partner may terminate the agreement at the end of its term. The joint venture agreement contains a financial covenant that is conformed to the minimum fixed-charge coverage ratio test contained in the Facility, as described above. Compliance with the fixed-charge coverage ratio test under the joint venture agreement is only required when the Company's Availability under the Facility, as described above, is below $37.5 million. As of December 31, 2013, the Company was in compliance with the fixed-charge coverage ratio covenant under both the joint venture agreement and the Facility.
BAC is funded in part through a $1.0 billion secured borrowing facility from GE Commercial Distribution Finance Corporation (GECDF), which is in place through the term of the joint venture, and with equity contributions from both partners. BAC also sells a portion of its receivables to a securitization facility, the GE Dealer Floorplan Master Note Trust, which is arranged by GECC. The sales of these receivables meet the requirements of a "true sale" and are therefore not retained on the financial statements of BAC. The indebtedness of BAC is not guaranteed by the Company or any of its subsidiaries. In addition, BAC is not responsible for any continuing servicing costs or obligations with respect to the securitized receivables. BFS and GECDF have an income sharing arrangement related to income generated from the receivables sold by BAC to the securitization facility. The Company records this income in Other income (expense), net, in the Consolidated Statements of Operations.
The Company considers BFS's investment in BAC as an investment in a variable interest entity of which the Company is not the primary beneficiary. To be considered the primary beneficiary, the Company must have the power to direct the activities of BAC that most significantly impact BAC's economic performance and the Company must have the obligation to absorb losses or the right to receive benefits from BAC that could be potentially significant to BAC. Based on a qualitative analysis performed by the Company, BFS did not meet the definition of a primary beneficiary. As a result, BFS's investment in BAC is accounted for by the Company under the equity method and is recorded as a component of Equity investments in its Consolidated Balance Sheets. The Company records BFS's share of income or loss in BAC based on its ownership percentage in the joint venture in Equity loss in its Consolidated Statements of Operations. BFS's equity investment is adjusted monthly to maintain a 49 percent interest in accordance with the capital provisions of the joint venture agreement. The Company funds its investment in BAC through cash contributions and reinvested earnings. BFS's total investment in BAC at December 31, 2013 and December 31, 2012 was $11.2 million and $10.5 million, respectively.
BFS recorded income related to the operations of BAC of $3.7 million, $3.6 million and $4.6 million for the years ended December 31, 2013, 2012 and 2011, respectively. This income includes amounts earned by BFS under the aforementioned income sharing agreement as discussed in Note 9 – Financial Services in the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.
Guarantees. The Company has reserves to cover potential losses associated with guarantees and repurchase obligations based on historical experience and current facts and circumstances. Historical cash requirements and losses associated with these obligations have not been significant. See Note 12 – Commitments and Contingencies in the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements for a description of these arrangements.
The following table sets forth a summary of the Company's contractual cash obligations as of December 31, 2013:
Interest payments on long-term debt
Operating leases (2)
Capital leases (2)
Purchase obligations (3)
Deferred management compensation (4)
Other tax liabilities (5)
Other long-term liabilities (6)
Total contractual obligations
See Note 15 – Debt in the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements for additional information on the Company's debt. "Debt" refers to future cash principal payments.
See Note 20 – Leases in the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements for additional information on the Company's operating and capital leases.
Purchase obligations represent agreements with suppliers and vendors at the end of 2013 for raw materials and other supplies as part of the normal course of business.
Amounts primarily represent long-term deferred compensation plans for Company management. Payments are assumed to be equal to the remaining liability.
Represents the expected cash obligations related to the Company's liability for uncertain income tax positions. As of December 31, 2013, the Company's total liability for uncertain tax positions including interest was $6.3 million. Due to the high degree of uncertainty regarding the timing of potential future cash outflows associated with these liabilities, other than the items included in the table above, the Company was unable to make a reasonably reliable estimate of the amount and period in which these remaining liabilities might be paid.
Other long-term liabilities include amounts recorded as secured obligations for lease and other long-term receivables originated by the Company and assigned to third parties where the transfer of assets do not meet the conditions for a sale as a result of the Company's contingent obligation to repurchase the receivables in the event of customer non-payment. Amounts above also include obligations under deferred revenue arrangements and future projected payments related to the Company's nonqualified pension plans. Other long-term liabilities also include $33.6 million of required qualified pension plan contributions to be paid in 2014; however, the Company anticipates contributing additional discretionary contributions to bring the total contributions to qualified pension plans to approximately $52 million. Additionally, $5.8 million of scheduled retiree health care and life insurance benefit plan payments are included in other long-term liabilities. Due to the high degree of uncertainty regarding the potential future cash outflows associated with these plans, the Company is unable to provide a reasonably reliable estimate of the amounts and periods in which any additional liabilities might be paid.
See Note 12 – Commitments and Contingencies in the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements for disclosure related to certain legal and environmental proceedings.
In its Marine Engine segment, Brunswick continues to develop engine technologies to reduce engine emissions to comply with current and future emissions requirements. The costs associated with these activities may have an adverse effect on Marine Engine segment operating margins and may affect short-term operating results. The State of California adopted regulations that required catalyst exhaust monitoring and treatment systems on sterndrive and inboard engines that became effective on January 1, 2008. The EPA adopted similar environmental regulations governing engine sales, effective January 1, 2010. Other environmental regulatory bodies in the United States and other countries may also impose higher emissions standards than are currently in effect for those regions. The Company complies with current regulations regarding emissions and expects to comply fully with any new regulations, but compliance will increase the cost of these products for the Company and the industry. The Boat segment continues to pursue fiberglass boat manufacturing technologies and techniques to reduce air emissions at its boat manufacturing facilities. The Company does not believe that compliance with federal, state and local environmental laws will have a material adverse effect on Brunswick's competitive position.
The preparation of the consolidated financial statements in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States requires management to make certain estimates and assumptions that affect the amount of reported assets and liabilities and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the consolidated financial statements and revenues and expenses during the periods reported. Actual results may differ from those estimates. If current estimates for the cost of resolving any specific matters are later determined to be inadequate, results of operations could be adversely affected in the period in which additional provisions are required. The Company records a reserve when it is probable that a loss has been incurred and the loss can be reasonably estimated. The Company establishes its reserves based on its best estimate within a range of losses. If the Company is unable to identify the best estimate, the Company records the minimum amount in the range. The Company has discussed the development and selection of the critical accounting policies with the Audit Committee of the Board of Directors and believes the following are the most critical accounting policies that could have an effect on Brunswick's reported results.
Revenue Recognition and Sales Incentives. Brunswick's revenue is derived primarily from the sale of boats, marine engines, marine parts and accessories, fitness equipment, bowling retail activities, bowling products and billiards tables. Revenue is recognized in accordance with the terms of the sale, primarily upon shipment to customers, once the sales price is fixed or determinable and collectability is reasonably assured. Brunswick offers discounts and sales incentives that include retail promotions, rebates and manufacturer coupons that are recorded as reductions of revenues in Net sales in the Consolidated Statements of Operations. The estimated liability and reduction in revenues for sales incentives is recorded at the later of when the program has been communicated to the customer or at the time of sale. Revenues from freight are included as a part of Net sales in the Consolidated Statements of Operations, whereas shipping, freight and handling costs are included in Cost of sales.
Allowances for Doubtful Accounts. The Company records an allowance for uncollectible trade receivables based upon currently known bad debt risks and provides reserves based on loss history, customer payment practices and economic conditions. Actual collection experience may differ from the current estimate of reserves. The Company also provides a reserve based on historical, current and estimated future purchasing levels in connection with its long-term notes receivable for Brunswick's supply agreements. These assumptions are re-evaluated considering the customer's financial position and product purchase volumes. Changes to the allowance for doubtful accounts may be required if a future event or other circumstance results in a change in the estimate of the ultimate collectability of a specific account or note.
Reserve for Excess and Obsolete Inventories. The Company records a reserve for excess and obsolete inventories in order to ensure inventories are carried at the lower of cost or fair market value. Fair market value can be affected by assumptions about market demand and conditions, historical usage rates, model changes and new product introductions. If model changes, new product introductions or changes in the competitive environment create less than favorable market conditions, we may be required to provide additional reserves for excess and obsolete inventories. If market conditions improve, the Company may be able to sell previously reserved inventory at the lower cost basis for a higher price than assumed in the Company's excess and obsolete calculation.
Warranty Reserves. The Company records a liability for standard product warranties at the time revenue is recognized. The liability is recorded using historical warranty experience to estimate projected claim rates and expected costs per claim. If necessary, the Company adjusts its liability for specific warranty matters when they become known and are reasonably estimable. The Company's warranty reserves are affected by product failure rates and material usage and labor costs incurred in correcting a product failure. If these estimated costs differ from actual product failure rates and actual material usage and labor costs, a revision to the warranty reserve would be required.
Restructuring and Exit Activities. From time to time, the Company engages in actions associated with cost reduction initiatives. The Company's restructuring actions require significant estimates including: (a) expenses for severance and other employee separation costs; (b) remaining lease obligations, including sublease income; and (c) other exit costs. The Company has accrued amounts that it believes are its best estimates of the obligations it expects to incur in connection with these actions, but these estimates are subject to change due to market conditions and final negotiations. Should the actual amounts differ from the originally estimated amounts, the Company's earnings could be affected.
The Company recognized $21.4 million, $25.8 million and $21.3 million in restructuring, exit and impairment charges in 2013, 2012 and 2011, respectively, which are discussed in more detail in Note 3 – Restructuring Activities in the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.
Goodwill and Other Intangibles. Goodwill and other intangible assets primarily result from business acquisitions. The excess of cost over net assets of businesses acquired is recorded as goodwill. The Company reviews these assets for impairment at least annually and whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying value may not be recoverable. The reporting units with goodwill balances are the Company's Fitness and Marine Engine segments.
During 2011, the Company early adopted an amendment to the Intangibles - Goodwill and Other topic of the Accounting Standards Codification (ASC). The Company determined through its qualitative assessment during 2013, 2012 and 2011 that it is not "more likely than not" that the fair values of its reporting units are less than their carrying values. As a result, the Company was not required to perform the two-step impairment test.
As part of the qualitative assessment process, the Company calculates the fair value of its reporting units using the income approach. The income approach calculates the fair value of the reporting unit using a discounted cash flow approach utilizing a Gordon Growth model. Internally forecasted future cash flows, which the Company believes reasonably approximate market participant assumptions, are discounted using a weighted average cost of capital (Discount Rate) developed for each reporting unit. The Discount Rate is developed using market observable inputs, as well as considering whether or not there is a measure of risk related to the specific reporting unit's forecasted performance. The key uncertainties in these calculations are the assumptions used in a reporting unit's forecasted future performance, including revenue growth and operating margins, as well as the perceived risk associated with those forecasts. The Company compares the fair value of a reporting unit with its carrying amount to support its qualitative assessment conclusions. The Company did not record any goodwill impairments in 2013, 2012 or 2011.
The Company's primary intangible assets are customer relationships and trade names acquired in business combinations. The costs of amortizable intangible assets are amortized over their expected useful lives, typically between three and fifteen years, to their estimated residual values using the straight-line method. Intangible assets that are subject to amortization are evaluated for impairment using a process similar to that used to evaluate long-lived assets described below. Intangible assets not subject to amortization are assessed for impairment at least annually and whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying value may not be recoverable. The impairment test for indefinite-lived intangible assets consists of a comparison of the fair value of the intangible asset with its carrying amount. An impairment loss is recognized for the amount by which the carrying value exceeds the fair value of the asset. The fair value of trade names is measured using a relief-from-royalty approach, which assumes the value of the trade name is the discounted cash flows of the amount that would be paid to third parties had the Company not owned the trade name and instead licensed the trade name from another company. Higher royalty rates are assigned to premium brands within the marketplace based on name recognition and profitability, while other brands receive lower royalty rates. The basis for future cash flow projections is internal revenue forecasts by brand, which the Company believes represent reasonable market participant assumptions, to which the selected royalty rate is applied. These future cash flows are discounted using the applicable Discount Rate, which considers the annual goodwill impairment testing process noted above, as well as any potential risk premium to reflect the inherent risk of holding a standalone intangible asset. The key uncertainties in this calculation are the selection of an appropriate royalty rate and assumptions used in developing internal revenue growth forecasts, as well as the perceived risk associated with those forecasts in developing the Discount Rate.
The Company did not record any indefinite-lived intangible asset impairments during 2013 and 2011. In 2012, the Company recorded $0.8 million of indefinite-lived intangible asset impairments during the annual impairment testing. An additional $0.7 million of indefinite-lived intangible asset impairment charges were recorded in 2012 for trade names connected with brands experiencing continued weakness in the fiberglass sterndrive boat market segments as well as the refinement of its North American boat product portfolio. Refer to Note 3 – Restructuring Activities in the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements for further discussion.
Long-Lived Assets. The Company continually evaluates whether events and circumstances have occurred that indicate the remaining estimated useful lives of its definite-lived intangible assets, excluding goodwill and indefinite-lived trade names, and other long-lived assets may warrant revision or that the remaining balance of such assets may not be recoverable. Once an
impairment indicator is identified, the Company tests for recoverability of the related asset group using an estimate of undiscounted cash flows over the remaining asset group's life. If an asset group's carrying value is not recoverable, the Company records an impairment loss based on the excess of the carrying value of the asset group over the long-lived asset group's fair value. Fair value is determined using observable inputs, including the use of appraisals from independent third parties, when available, and, when observable inputs are not available, based on the Company's assumptions of the data that market participants would use in pricing the asset or liability, based on the best information available in the circumstances. Specifically, the Company uses discounted cash flows to determine the fair value of the asset when observable inputs are unavailable. The Company tested its long-lived asset balances for impairment as indicators presented themselves during 2013, 2012 or 2011, resulting in impairment charges of $7.8 million, $12.2 million and $4.0 million, respectively, which are recognized in Restructuring, exit and impairment charges and Selling, general and administrative expense in the Consolidated Statements of Operations.
Litigation. In the normal course of business, the Company is subject to claims and litigation, including obligations assumed or retained as part of acquisitions and divestitures. The Company accrues for litigation exposure based upon its assessment, made in consultation with counsel, of the likely range of exposure stemming from the claim. In light of existing reserves, the Company's litigation claims, when finally resolved, will not, in the opinion of management, have a material adverse effect on the Company's consolidated financial position.
Environmental. The Company accrues for environmental remediation-related activities for which commitments or clean-up plans have been developed and for which costs can be reasonably estimated. Accrued amounts are generally determined in coordination with third-party experts on an undiscounted basis and do not consider recoveries from third parties until such recoveries are realized. In light of existing reserves, the Company's environmental claims, when finally resolved, will not, in the opinion of management, have a material adverse effect on the Company's consolidated financial position or results of operations.
Self-Insurance Reserves. The Company records a liability for self-insurance obligations, which include employee-related health care benefits and claims for workers' compensation, product liability, general liability and auto liability. In estimating the obligations associated with self-insurance reserves, the Company primarily uses loss development factors based on historical claim experience, which incorporate anticipated exposure for losses incurred, but not yet reported. These loss development factors are used to estimate ultimate losses on incurred claims. Actual costs associated with a specific claim can vary from an earlier estimate. If the facts were to change, the liability recorded for expected costs associated with a specific claim may need to be revised.
Postretirement Benefit Reserves. Postretirement costs and obligations are actuarially determined and are affected by assumptions, including the discount rate, the estimated future return on plan assets, the increase in costs of health care benefits and other factors. The Company evaluates assumptions used on a periodic basis and makes adjustments to these liabilities as necessary.
Income Taxes. Deferred taxes are recognized for the future tax effects of temporary differences between financial and income tax reporting using tax rates in effect for the years in which the differences are expected to reverse. The Company evaluates the realizability of net deferred tax assets and, as necessary, records valuation allowances against them. The Company estimates its tax obligations based on historical experience and current tax laws and litigation. The judgments made at any point in time may change based on the outcome of tax audits and settlements of tax litigation, as well as changes due to new tax laws and regulations and the Company's application of those laws and regulations. These factors may cause the Company's tax rate and deferred tax balances to increase or decrease.
The Company evaluates the pronouncements of various authoritative accounting organizations, primarily the Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB), the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), and the Emerging Issues Task Force (EITF), to determine the impact of new pronouncements on GAAP and the impact on the Company. The following are recent accounting pronouncements that have been adopted during 2013 or have not yet been adopted:
Unrecognized Tax Benefit: In July 2013, the FASB amended the Accounting Standards Codification (ASC) to provide guidance on financial statement presentation of an unrecognized tax benefit when a net operating loss (NOL) carryforward, a similar tax loss, or a tax credit carryforward exists. The guidance states that entities should present an unrecognized tax benefit as a reduction of a deferred tax asset for an NOL or tax credit carryforward whenever the NOL or tax credit carryforward would be available to reduce the additional taxable income or tax due if the tax position is disallowed. The amendment is effective for fiscal years, and the interim periods within those years, beginning after December 15, 2013, with early adoption permitted. The Company is currently evaluating the impact of the adoption of the ASC amendment, but does not expect it to have a material effect on the Company's consolidated financial statements.
Comprehensive Income: In February 2013, the FASB amended the ASC to require entities to provide information about amounts reclassified out of other comprehensive income by component. The Company is required to present, either on the face of the financial statements or in the notes, the amounts reclassified from other comprehensive income to the respective line items in the Condensed Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income. This amendment is effective for interim and annual periods beginning after December 15, 2012. Refer to Note 18 – Comprehensive Income in the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements for the Company's disclosures as a result of adopting this amendment.
Offsetting Assets and Liabilities: In January 2013, the FASB amended the ASC to provide additional guidance on the scope of disclosures about offsetting assets and liabilities. The additional guidance provided that only recognized derivatives, repurchase agreements and reverse repurchase agreements, and securities borrowing and lending transactions would be subject to disclosure requirements. This amendment is effective for interim and annual periods beginning on or after January 1, 2013, and retrospective application is required. The adoption of this amendment did not have an impact on the Company's disclosure or the Company's consolidated results of operations and financial condition.
Intangibles – Goodwill and Other: In July 2012, the FASB amended the ASC to simplify how entities test indefinite-lived intangible assets for impairment. The amendment to the ASC permits entities to first assess qualitative factors to determine whether it is more likely than not that the indefinite-lived intangible asset is impaired. If based on this assessment, the Company concludes that it is not more likely than not that the indefinite-lived intangible asset is impaired, then performing the quantitative impairment test is unnecessary. The amendment is effective for annual and interim indefinite-lived intangible assets impairment tests performed for fiscal years beginning after September 15, 2012. The Company adopted this amendment in 2013 and it did not have a material impact on the Company's consolidated results of operations and financial condition.
The Company is exposed to market risk from changes in foreign currency exchange rates, commodity prices and interest rates. The Company enters into various hedging transactions to mitigate these risks in accordance with guidelines established by the Company's management. The Company does not use financial instruments for trading or speculative purposes.
The Company uses foreign currency forward and option contracts to manage foreign exchange rate exposure related to anticipated transactions, and assets and liabilities that are subject to risk from foreign currency rate changes. The Company's principal currency exposures relate to the Euro, Japanese yen, Canadian dollar, Australian dollar, Brazilian real, Mexican peso, British pound, Swedish krona, Norwegian krone and New Zealand dollar. The Company hedges certain anticipated transactions with financial instruments whose maturity date, along with the realized gain or loss, occurs on or near the execution of the anticipated transaction. The Company manages foreign currency exposure of certain assets or liabilities through the use of derivative financial instruments such that the gain or loss on the derivative financial instrument offsets the loss or gain recognized on the asset or liability, respectively.
Certain raw materials used by the Company are exposed to the effect of changing commodity prices. Accordingly, the Company uses commodity swap agreements, futures contracts and supplier agreements to manage fluctuations in prices of anticipated purchases of certain raw materials, including aluminum, copper and natural gas.
From time-to-time, the Company enters into forward starting interest rate swaps to hedge the interest rate risk associated with the future issuance of long-term debt. There were no forward starting interest rate swaps outstanding at December 31, 2013.
The following analyses provide quantitative information regarding the Company's exposure to foreign currency exchange rate risk, commodity price risk and interest rate risk as it relates to its derivative financial instruments. The Company uses a model to evaluate the sensitivity of the fair value of financial instruments with exposure to market risk that assumes instantaneous, parallel shifts in exchange rates and commodity prices. For options and instruments with nonlinear returns, models appropriate to the instrument are utilized to determine the impact of market shifts. There are certain shortcomings inherent in the sensitivity analyses presented, primarily due to the assumption that exchange rates change in a parallel fashion.
The amounts shown below represent the estimated reduction in fair market value that the Company would incur on its derivative financial instruments from a 10 percent adverse change in quoted foreign currency rates, commodity prices and interest rates.
Risk Category
See Index to Financial Statements and Financial Statement Schedule on page 49.
Conclusion Regarding the Effectiveness of Disclosure Controls and Procedures
Under the supervision and with the participation of the Company's management, including the Chief Executive Officer and the Chief Financial Officer of the Company (its principal executive officer and principal financial officer, respectively), the Company has evaluated its disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Securities Exchange Act Rules 13a -15(e) and 15d -15(e)) as of the end of the period covered by this Annual Report. Based upon that evaluation, the Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer have concluded that the Company's disclosure controls and procedures are effective.
Management's Report on Internal Control Over Financial Reporting
Pursuant to Section 404 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, the Company included a report of management's assessment of the effectiveness of its internal controls as part of this Annual Report for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2013. Management's report is included in the Company's 2013 Financial Statements under the captions entitled "Report of Management on Internal Control Over Financial Reporting" and is incorporated herein by reference.
There have been no changes in the Company's internal control over financial reporting during the quarter ended December 31, 2013, that have materially affected, or are reasonably likely to materially affect, the Company's internal control over financial reporting.
Information pursuant to this Item with respect to the Directors of the Company, the Company's Audit Committee and the Company's code of ethics is incorporated by reference from the discussion under the headings Proposal No. 1: Election of Directors and Corporate Governance in the Company's proxy statement for the 2014 Annual Meeting of Stockholders (Proxy Statement). Information pursuant to this Item with respect to compliance with Section 16(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 is incorporated by reference from the discussion under the heading Section 16(a) Beneficial Ownership Reporting Requirements in the Proxy Statement.
The information required by Item 401 of Regulation S-K regarding executive officers is included under "Executive Officers of the Registrant" following Item 4 in Part I of this Annual Report.
Information pursuant to this Item with respect to compensation paid to Directors of the Company is incorporated by reference from the discussion under the heading Director Compensation in the Proxy Statement. Information pursuant to this Item with respect to executive compensation is incorporated by reference from the discussion under the heading Executive Compensation in the Proxy Statement.
Information pursuant to this Item with respect to the securities of the Company owned by the Directors and certain officers of the Company, by the Directors and officers of the Company as a group and by the persons known to the Company to own beneficially more than 5 percent of the outstanding voting securities of the Company is incorporated by reference from the discussion under the heading Stock Held by Directors, Executive Officers and Principal Shareholders in the Proxy Statement. Information pursuant to this Item with respect to securities authorized for issuance under the Company's equity compensation plans is hereby incorporated by reference from the discussion under the heading Equity Compensation Plan Information in the Proxy Statement.
Information pursuant to this Item with respect to certain relationships and related transactions is incorporated from the discussion under the headings Proposal No. 1: Election of Directors and Corporate Governance in the Proxy Statement.
Item 14. Principal Accounting Fees and Services
Information pursuant to this Item with respect to fees for professional services rendered by the Company's independent registered public accounting firm and the Audit Committee's policy on pre-approval of audit and permissible non-audit services of the Company's independent registered public accounting firm is incorporated by reference from the discussion in the Proxy Statement under the heading Ratification of the Appointment of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm.
The financial statements and schedule filed as part of this Annual Report are listed in the accompanying Index to Financial Statements and Financial Statement Schedule on page 49. The exhibits filed as a part of this Annual Report are listed in the accompanying Exhibit Index on page 111.
Index to Financial Statements and Financial Statement Schedule
Report of Management on Internal Control over Financial Reporting
Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm on Internal Control over Financial Reporting
Consolidated Statements of Operations for the Years Ended December 31, 2013, 2012 and 2011
Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income for the Years Ended December 31, 2013, 2012 and 2011
Consolidated Balance Sheets as of December 31, 2013 and 2012
Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows for the Years Ended December 31, 2013, 2012 and 2011
Consolidated Statements of Shareholders' Equity for the Years Ended December 31, 2013, 2012 and 2011
Financial Statement Schedule:
Schedule II - Valuation and Qualifying Accounts
The Company's management is responsible for the preparation, integrity and objectivity of the financial statements and other financial information presented in this Annual Report. The financial statements have been prepared in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States and reflect the effects of certain estimates and judgments made by management.
The Company's management is also responsible for establishing and maintaining adequate internal control over financial reporting, as defined in Securities Exchange Act Rule 13a-15(f). Under the supervision and with the participation of the Company's management, including the Company's Chief Executive Officer and the Chief Financial Officer, the Company conducted an evaluation of the effectiveness of its internal control over financial reporting based on the framework in Internal Control - Integrated Framework issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission (1992 framework).
Based on the Company's evaluation under the framework in Internal Control - Integrated Framework, management concluded that internal control over financial reporting was effective as of December 31, 2013. The effectiveness of internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2013 has been audited by Ernst & Young LLP, an independent registered public accounting firm, as stated in their attestation report, which is included herein.
Lake Forest, Illinois
/s/ DUSTAN E. McCOY
/s/ WILLIAM L. METZGER
Board of Directors and Shareholders
We have audited Brunswick Corporation's internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2013, based on criteria established in Internal Control-Integrated Framework issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission (1992 framework) (the COSO criteria). Brunswick Corporation's management is responsible for maintaining effective internal control over financial reporting, and for its assessment of the effectiveness of internal control over financial reporting included in the accompanying Report of Management on Internal Control over Financial Reporting. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on the company's internal control over financial reporting based on our audit.
We conducted our audit in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States). Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether effective internal control over financial reporting was maintained in all material respects. Our audit included obtaining an understanding of internal control over financial reporting, assessing the risk that a material weakness exists, testing and evaluating the design and operating effectiveness of internal control based on the assessed risk, and performing such other procedures as we considered necessary in the circumstances. We believe that our audit provides a reasonable basis for our opinion.
A company's internal control over financial reporting is a process designed to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles. A company's internal control over financial reporting includes those policies and procedures that (1) pertain to the maintenance of records that, in reasonable detail, accurately and fairly reflect the transactions and dispositions of the assets of the company; (2) provide reasonable assurance that transactions are recorded as necessary to permit preparation of financial statements in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles, and that receipts and expenditures of the company are being made only in accordance with authorizations of management and directors of the company; and (3) provide reasonable assurance regarding prevention or timely detection of unauthorized acquisition, use or disposition of the company's assets that could have a material effect on the financial statements.
Because of its inherent limitations, internal control over financial reporting may not prevent or detect misstatements. Also, projections of any evaluation of effectiveness to future periods are subject to the risk that controls may become inadequate because of changes in conditions, or that the degree of compliance with the policies or procedures may deteriorate.
In our opinion, Brunswick Corporation maintained, in all material respects, effective internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2013, based on the COSO criteria.
We also have audited, in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States), the consolidated balance sheets of Brunswick Corporation as of December 31, 2013 and 2012 and the related consolidated statements of operations, comprehensive income, shareholders' equity and cash flows for each of the three years in the period ended December 31, 2013 of Brunswick Corporation and our report dated February 14, 2014 expressed an unqualified opinion thereon.
We have audited the accompanying consolidated balance sheets of Brunswick Corporation as of December 31, 2013 and 2012, and the related consolidated statements of operations and comprehensive income, shareholders' equity, and cash flows for each of the three years in the period ended December 31, 2013. Our audits also included the financial statement schedule listed in the Index at Item 15. These financial statements and schedule are the responsibility of the Company's management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on these financial statements and schedule based on our audits.
We conducted our audits in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States). Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements are free of material misstatement. An audit includes examining, on a test basis, evidence supporting the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements. An audit also includes assessing the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management as well as evaluating the overall financial statement presentation. We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinion.
In our opinion, the financial statements referred to above present fairly, in all material respects, the consolidated financial position of Brunswick Corporation at December 31, 2013 and 2012, and the consolidated results of its operations and its cash flows for each of the three years in the period ended December 31, 2013, in conformity with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles. Also, in our opinion, the related financial statement schedule, when considered in relation to the basic financial statements taken as a whole, presents fairly in all material respects the information set forth therein.
We also have audited, in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States), Brunswick Corporation's internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2013, based on criteria established in Internal Control-Integrated Framework issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission (1992 framework) and our report dated February 14, 2014 expressed an unqualified opinion thereon.
For the Years Ended December 31