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UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549

 


 

FORM 10-K

 


 

x ANNUAL REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

 

FOR THE FISCAL YEAR ENDED MARCH 31, 2005

 

¨ TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

 

Commission file number: 333-113658

 


 

Sensus Metering Systems

(Bermuda 2) Ltd.

  Sensus Metering Systems Inc.
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)   (Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

 


 

Bermuda   98-0413362   Delaware   51-0338883

(State or other jurisdiction of

incorporation or organization)

 

(I.R.S. Employer

Identification No.)

 

(State or other jurisdiction of

incorporation or organization)

 

(I.R.S. Employer

Identification No.)

 

8601 Six Forks Road, Suite 300, Raleigh, North Carolina 27615

(Address of principal executive offices) (Zip Code)

 

(919) 845-4017

(Registrants’ telephone number, including area code)

 


 

Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act: None

 

Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(g) of the Act: None

 


 

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  ¨

 

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 definitive proxy or information statements incorporated by reference in Part III of this Form 10-K, or any amendment to this Form 10-K.  ¨

 

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is an accelerated filer (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act).    Yes  ¨    No  x

 

As of May 31, 2005, Sensus Metering Systems (Bermuda 2) Ltd. had 12,000 common shares outstanding, all of which were owned by Sensus Metering Systems (Bermuda 1) Ltd. and Sensus Metering Systems Inc. had 283.603994 shares of common stock outstanding, all of which were owned by Sensus Metering Systems (Bermuda 2) Ltd.

 



Table of Contents

FORM 10-K

 

FOR THE FISCAL YEAR ENDED MARCH 31, 2005

 

INDEX

 

          Page

Part I

         
Item 1.    Business    1
Item 2.    Properties    7
Item 3.    Legal Proceedings    7
Item 4.    Submission of Matters to a Vote of Security Holders    9

Part II

         
Item 5.    Market for Registrant’s Common Equity, Related Stockholder Matters and Issuer Purchases of Equity Securities    10
Item 6.    Selected Financial Data    10
Item 7.    Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations    11
Item 7A.    Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk    32
Item 8.    Financial Statements and Supplementary Data    33
Item 9.    Changes in and Disagreements With Accountants on Accounting and Financial Disclosure    77
Item 9A.    Controls and Procedures    77
Item 9B.    Other Information    77

Part III

         
Item 10.    Directors and Executive Officers of the Registrant    78
Item 11.    Executive Compensation    80
Item 12.    Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and Management and Related Stockholder Matters    84
Item 13.    Certain Relationships and Related Transactions    85
Item 14.    Principal Accountant Fees and Services    86

Part IV

         
Item 15.    Exhibits and Financial Statement Schedules    86


Table of Contents

PART I

 

ITEM 1. BUSINESS

 

Unless the context otherwise indicates or requires, the use in this Annual Report on Form 10-K of the terms “we,” “us” or “our” refers to Sensus Metering Systems (Bermuda 2) Ltd. and its consolidated subsidiaries, including Sensus Metering Systems Inc. and its predecessor business, Invensys Metering Systems.

 

Our Company

 

We are a leading provider of advanced metering and related communications systems to the worldwide utility industry and have over a century of experience in designing and manufacturing metering products. We are the largest global manufacturer of water meters, the fastest growing segment of the metering industry, and have a substantial share of the sales of automatic meter reading, or AMR, devices to North American water utilities. In 2004, our market share of the North American water metering market was estimated at approximately 28%. Additionally, we believe that we are a leading global developer and manufacturer of gas and heat metering systems and are an emerging participant in the North American electric metering market with iCon, our solid-state electricity meter. We are recognized throughout the metering industry for developing and manufacturing metering products with long-term accuracy and unique product features, as well as for providing comprehensive customer service for all of our products. In addition to our metering business, we believe we are the leading North American producer of pipe joining and repair products for water and natural gas utilities and a premier supplier of precision-manufactured aluminum die-castings. For fiscal 2003, 2004 and 2005 we had net sales from continuing operations of $504.5 million, $529.0 million and $569.8 million, respectively.

 

We distribute metering systems products to utilities located throughout the world and have a large installed base of meters worldwide, of which we estimate approximately 24 million are water meters located in North America, our largest market. The majority of our customers’ metering system purchases are for the purpose of increasing their operating income by improving the accuracy of meter readings and reducing utility operating costs. Our sales are primarily driven by the upgrade and replacement cycles of our customers’ metering systems, and by new residential and commercial construction and regulatory considerations. Our large installed base provides us with a historically stable stream of high margin distributor sales.

 

In our most important market, the North American utility market, our core end-customers are the approximately 53,000 water, 3,000 electric and 1,300 gas utilities located throughout the continent. To serve our fragmented and geographically diverse water utility customer base, we focus our efforts on the small- to mid-size utilities that have an installed base of less than 50,000 meters. Such utilities represent approximately 90% of the water utilities in North America. Our advanced metering and AMR systems are attractive to these smaller utilities, which generally have limited resources, because they reduce labor-intensive manual meter readings, improve reading accuracy and minimize the cost of repairs. In the gas and electric utility markets, we target all of the approximately 1,300 gas and 3,000 electric utilities comprising the respective markets. We reach our customer base in the North American water and gas markets primarily by utilizing a network of distributors, some of which we have had relationships with for over 30 years. Since entering the electric meter market in 2002, we have established our electric utility sales channels in North America through a combination of direct sales personnel, manufacturers’ representatives and distributors. We are generally the exclusive meter supplier to our North American distributors and manufacturers’ representatives in most of the regional and local markets they serve. Our distributors and manufacturers’ representatives, who have strong relationships with our end-customer base, frequently act as outsourced purchasing departments that offer product recommendations and provide inventory management support.

 

We have three principal product lines: metering systems products, pipe joining and repair products and precision die casting products, accounting for approximately 80%, 10% and 10% of net sales, respectively, for fiscal 2005. Metering systems, the largest product line, includes advanced metering and related AMR communications systems and consists of four principal metering product categories: water, gas, heat and electricity. Under the Smith-Blair brand name, we manufacture pipe joining and repair products used primarily by water and gas utilities. Our precision die casting product line includes precision die-castings that are used internally for our gas meter housings and sold externally, primarily to the top five suppliers to the U.S. automotive industry (“Tier I”).

 

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Our Smith-Blair subsidiary is the leading manufacturer of pipe joining, tapping and repair products. These products are used primarily by water and natural gas utilities to construct, extend and repair utility piping systems. Smith-Blair products are principally sold through distributors to many of the same utility customers that purchase our water meters. Smith-Blair’s natural gas pipeline coupling products feature our patented self-restraining EZ technology and provide pipe joining solutions for polyethylene (“PE”) pipe, as well as for transitions from PE pipe to metallic pipes. While Smith-Blair’s primary markets are water and gas utilities, other applications are as diverse as pulp and paper, mining, petroleum, chemical, irrigation, sewage treatment and power generation.

 

Our precision die casting business, conducted through Sensus Precision Die Casting, has been producing high-performance aluminum die-castings since 1956. Sensus Precision Die Casting conducts its principal manufacturing operations from a 255,000 square foot facility located in Russellville, Kentucky. In addition to die-castings produced for consumption in our metering business, products manufactured by Sensus Precision Die Casting are used in approximately 70 models of automobiles. These products include air conditioning compressor housings, rack and pinion steering housings, and antilock brake housings. Although Sensus Precision Die Casting products are principally sold in the U.S. domestic market, we are beginning to see markets develop overseas with our automotive customers.

 

On December 17, 2003, pursuant to a stock purchase agreement between Sensus Metering Systems Inc. (“Sensus”) and Invensys plc (“Invensys”), and certain of its subsidiaries, the Company acquired (the “Acquisition”) the metering systems and certain other businesses from Invensys plc (“Invensys Metering Systems”). Prior to the date of the Acquisition, the Company had no operations. As a result of the Acquisition, we changed the basis of accounting and acquired substantial debt, such that the financial results of periods prior to the Acquisition are not necessarily comparable to results after the Acquisition.

 

Industry Overview

 

Our metering systems are sold primarily to the utility industry. Unlike the electric and gas utility markets, which are dominated by large, publicly traded or investor owned companies, the water utility market is dominated by local municipalities that generally seek to maximize revenue in budget-constrained environments. As a result, metering systems are a critical revenue measurement tool for these utilities. Over time, as meters degrade and lose accuracy due to corrosion and wear and tear, these utilities must replace their installed meter base, or risk losing revenue from their customers. Because any incremental revenue earned in excess of projected rates translates into operating income for the municipality, water utilities have a strong incentive to ensure the highest degree of accuracy in their meter readings.

 

In addition to the importance of the revenue stream measured by water meters, utilities have recently begun to manage their costs by deploying AMR systems. Traditionally, utilities have employed personnel to manually visit and read each meter, a laborious and expensive process prone to human error. AMR systems permit utilities to reduce the number of meter reading employees and increase accuracy by translating meter flow readings into electronic signals (encoding), rather than mechanically turning dials. Once encoded, water usage data can be read by walk-by and drive-by systems via remote signal, and increasingly, can be read remotely by fixed-network receivers installed in each neighborhood, significantly reducing a utility’s meter reading workforce and expense.

 

Metering Systems Products

 

The global metering systems market, excluding sales of AMR communications systems, generated approximately $5.8 billion in annual sales in 2002. We compete primarily in the North American and European markets. These markets accounted for $1.1 billion and $1.7 billion, respectively, of annual sales in 2002. The North American metering market is projected to grow at a compounded annual growth rate, or CAGR, of approximately 4% over the next two years. The overall European market is expected to contract by approximately 2% annually over the next two years, due primarily to reductions in the gas and electric metering markets. Our primary European market, the water metering market, is projected to grow at a CAGR of approximately 3% over the same period.

 

Demand for meters has historically been driven by replacement and repair activities, upgrades to new features or technologies, new construction activity, conservation considerations and regulatory requirements. In addition, utilities have been migrating their manually read meters to technology-based, communicating metering systems (“AMR systems”). AMR systems enable utilities to lower their operating costs and increase their revenue streams through the reduction of manual meter readings and the improvement of measurement accuracy. As a result of these benefits, the AMR market has experienced significant growth. In 2004, the AMR market in North America generated an estimated

 

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$652 million in annual sales, or 59% of the North American metering and AMR systems market. This market has grown at a CAGR of approximately 16% from 2000 to 2004 and is expected to grow at a CAGR of approximately 15% over the next three years. We believe substantial expansion opportunities exist in the market for AMR systems, as only an estimated 20% of the total North American installed meter base, including water, gas and electric meters, contained AMR technologies at December 2003.

 

The water metering market generates an estimated $1.4 billion in global annual sales, with North America and Europe accounting for approximately $440 million and $444 million, respectively. The North American water metering market is estimated to grow at a CAGR of approximately 3% through 2007, while the European water metering market is estimated to grow at a CAGR of approximately 3% through 2007. The water metering market is comprised of sales of meters for residential, industrial and commercial applications. We estimate that the top four water meter manufacturing companies in North America represent approximately 80% of the North American water metering market, and the top four water meter manufacturing companies in Europe represent approximately 85% of the European water metering market.

 

In North America, market conditions and governing standards bodies allow for variations in product design and technology. As a result, the expected service life of a water metering system is approximately 15 years. Due to this long service life, North American utilities benefit by investing in more expensive, higher quality metering systems because long-term reliability and accuracy are important to maintaining utility revenue levels. In addition, AMR systems enable utilities to achieve significant cost savings. Much of the European residential water metering market, however, is subject to national regulations that effectively limit a meter’s service life to approximately six years. These regulations minimize the need for long-term meter accuracy. In addition, European utilities do not read their meters as frequently as those in North America and rely on self-reporting, which minimizes the cost benefits of AMR systems. As a result of these factors, product differentiation and features are less of a basis for competition, and advanced technology systems are often more difficult to justify in Europe than in the North American market. In the commercial and industrial markets, durability, accuracy and design specifications are more critical in a customer’s selection process than price. Sales of meters to the European commercial and industrial water metering markets therefore generate higher margins than sales to the European residential water metering market.

 

In addition to water metering products, we offer metering products for the gas, electric and heat metering markets. The gas metering market generated approximately $1.2 billion in global annual sales in 2002, with North America accounting for approximately $291 million. The global electric metering market generates approximately $3.2 billion in annual sales, with North America accounting for approximately $523 million. The North American gas and electric metering markets are projected to grow at a CAGR of approximately 5% and 4%, respectively, through 2007. The heat metering market generates approximately $262 million in annual sales. The European heat market is projected to contract at an annual rate of 4% through 2007, while ultrasonic technology is expected to gain acceptance and grow at a CAGR of approximately 9% during the same period.

 

Pipe Joining and Repair Products

 

Our Smith-Blair brand competes in the North American pipe joining, tapping and repair products market. Pipe joining, tapping and repair products consist principally of pipe couplings, tapping sleeves and saddles, and repair clamps that are used by utilities in pipe joining and pipe repair applications. We estimate this market was essentially flat in 2004. Demand for pipe joining, tapping and repair products is driven by new construction, replacements and repairs. Replacement and repair demand is driven by aging infrastructure as well as extreme weather conditions, including freezes, droughts and earthquakes. Due to the often time-sensitive nature of customer demand for pipe joining, tapping and repair products, a company’s ability to promptly respond to customer needs with effective engineering solutions plays a significant role in its success within this market. Smith-Blair successfully differentiates itself by providing the widest range of both standard products and engineered-to-order products while maintaining the highest levels of customer service and, we believe, the shortest lead times in the industry.

 

Precision Die Casting Products

 

In North America, approximately 250 die casters produce thousands of castings for numerous products ranging from components for automobiles to medical devices. Our die casting products consist of high quality thin-wall, low porosity aluminum die-castings, generally targeting the automotive industry and gas utility markets in North America. We believe that only four other precision die casters in the United States have the ability to produce products that are similar to those we produce. Sales within the precision die casting market are largely dependent on

 

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the success of the automotive platform for which the products are manufactured. Pricing of precision die casting products also tends to decline over time reflecting operating efficiencies achieved over the life of a product, the cost savings of which are typically passed on to customers. Growth in the precision die casting market is driven primarily by the automotive market, which we estimate accounts for 56% of the market, and by the aircraft, major appliances, machine tool and heavy machinery sectors. In fiscal 2005, approximately 27% of our die casting products were used internally by our gas metering business, approximately 70% were sold to Tier I automotive component suppliers and the remaining 3% were sold to manufacturers of lawn equipment and power tools. The internal production of die-casting provides the aluminum housings for our diaphragm gas meters. In addition, we produce components used externally in small engines, automotive air conditioning compressors, rack and pinion steering systems and braking systems.

 

Sales, Marketing and Distribution

 

In North America, we sell our water and gas meters primarily through a network of distributors, some of which we have had relationships with for over 30 years. Distributors can most effectively reach our broad base of existing and potential customers, which includes over 53,000 water, 3,000 electric and 1,300 gas utilities. Since entering the electric meter market in 2002, we have established our electric utility sales channels in North America through a combination of direct sales personnel, manufacturers’ representatives and distributors. Our distributors and manufacturers’ representatives have extensive relationships with many of the water, electric and gas utilities in North America. Through strong, sole-source distribution arrangements in regional and local markets, we are able to leverage those relationships to generate sales. We complement our distribution network with a North American sales force consisting of 51 members, the majority of whom are dedicated to the water metering market. We encourage each distributor to have an SMS-trained specialist on staff who is extensively trained in all aspects of our metering and AMR product lines. This specialist provides expertise on a local level and also acts as a liaison through whom we can communicate important product developments. Through account development programs, our sales people also frequently make joint sales calls with distributors and manufacturers’ representatives.

 

The distribution agreements with our distributors throughout North America require that our distributors promote, sell and provide service for our products within their territory. Generally, prices and other terms and conditions of sale are governed by our terms of sale and price lists as in effect from time to time. Although our distribution agreements for the North American market are, as a rule, for renewable one-year terms, either party is generally able to terminate the agreement, with or without cause, upon 30 days prior written notice. Our largest distributor, National Waterworks, Inc. and its affiliates represented approximately 12% of total net sales in fiscal 2005. No other one customer accounted for more than 5% of total net sales.

 

Our sales and marketing strategy in Europe differs from that in North America because of the varying competitive and regulatory landscape. In Germany and certain other European countries, for example, there are regulations that effectively limit the in-service life of a cold water meter to six years and a hot water or heat meter to five years. In such markets, long-term accuracy and durability are not as important due to the short life of meters. Most utilities in Europe procure their meters through a tender process required by European Union or in-house regulations. Price, therefore, remains the main competitive factor in most sections of the residential European metering market. To address the specific characteristics of the European market, we maintain a direct field sales force of 68 persons who are highly trained on product specifications and performances and are able to assist customers in analyzing the technical and financial implications of major metering projects. In addition, we selectively use distributors in the European market primarily in the water and heat sub metering markets. European distributors act more as wholesalers than distributors and do not maintain significant sales and support groups.

 

We also maintain a small sales force in South America, Asia and, Africa. Market coverage is mainly achieved through commissioned sales agents and several distributors. The sales people have an important role in specifying products and services. They are also responsible for getting products qualified by utilities’ technical departments.

 

In addition to the sales and distribution channels, each product line is supported by a product marketing group. The marketing groups furnish product and sales support materials by providing a variety of services, including literature, promotional programs and web-site management. The corporate marketing group also coordinates product pricing and distributor support programs, as well as support for industry advertising, trade shows and publications.

 

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Products and Systems Development

 

We are committed to developing the most technologically advanced products within the metering industry. Currently, we maintain an active engineering and technology program that performs four key functions: development of new products, support of existing products, technical assistance for customers and new technology investigations. Our research and development expenditures for fiscal 2005 were $24.4 million. We currently have approximately 154 technical personnel operating in eight key facilities in six countries, with several smaller support groups located regionally.

 

A primary focus of our research and development is new product development. New product ideas are collected from many sources, including customers, sales and marketing people and competitors. We have established engineering teams with specific technical expertise to support global business activities, which eliminate duplication of effort and allow us to focus on enhancing each specific area of expertise. Utilities are very conservative in adopting new technologies and prefer to use products with a proven track record of successful deployment in the field. As a result, new products must undergo extensive field-testing prior to release to target markets. Another major activity of our engineering group is the continual refinement and improvement of existing product design and cost.

 

In addition to developing our own internal technologies, we have many existing strategic relationships, including licensing agreements and development partnerships with third parties. These relationships are typically negotiated on an exclusive basis and provide us with full licensing rights.

 

Suppliers and Raw Materials

 

In fiscal 2005, we purchased approximately $228 million of materials from direct suppliers and approximately $49 million of materials from indirect suppliers. In fiscal 2005, our largest supplier accounted for approximately 13% of total material expenditures, while the top ten suppliers accounted for approximately 41% of total material expenditures.

 

The principal materials used in the manufacturing processes are commodities that are available from a variety of sources. The key metal materials used in the manufacturing processes include brass castings, aluminum ingot and machined parts. The key non-metal materials used include high performance engineered plastic parts, energy, plastic resins and rubber. We do not maintain long-term supply contracts with our suppliers. Management believes that there is a readily available supply of materials in sufficient quantity from a variety of sources. We have not experienced a significant shortage for key materials and have not recently engaged in hedging transactions for commodity supplies.

 

We have developed strategic partnerships with Contract Electronic Manufacturers (“CEMs”), our outsource manufacturing providers. We are able to leverage the CEMs’ ability and capacity to manufacture high volume electronic components. In addition, CEMs function as an extension of our manufacturing capabilities by assembling some of our products and shipping them directly to customers.

 

Customers

 

Our top ten customers accounted for approximately 33% of net sales in fiscal 2005. Sales to distributors affiliated with National Waterworks, Inc., our largest customer, constituted approximately 12% of total net sales in fiscal 2005. No other one customer accounted for more than 5% of total net sales.

 

Employees

 

We are headquartered in Raleigh, North Carolina and operate globally with 33 facilities in the United States and other countries, including Germany, France, U.K., India, Brazil, Chile, South Africa and China. As of March 31, 2005, we had approximately 3,350 full-time employees, of which approximately 1,370 were located in the United States.

 

We maintain both union and non-union workforces. As of March 31, 2005, approximately 1,840 employees were covered by collective bargaining agreements. The Uniontown, Pennsylvania facility has a five-year agreement with the United Steel Workers of America that will expire on February 24, 2008. Sensus Precision Die Casting, Inc., our subsidiary through which we operate our precision die casting product line, has a three-year agreement with the

 

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United Automobile Workers that will expire on October 8, 2006. The current three-year agreement between Smith-Blair and the United Steel Workers of America expires on March 28, 2007. Additionally, Ludwigshafen, Germany and Hannover, Germany employees are represented by IG Metall and negotiate with local Employers Associations that represent the German subsidiaries as well as other employers from the industry. The outcome of these negotiations also indirectly affects non-unionized employees to the extent that individual employment agreements contain references to the relevant metal union contracts. The current agreement, the first executed in recent years covering our German unionized workforce, expires on February 28, 2006. We are subject to work stoppages at our facilities, or our customers or suppliers may be subjected to work stoppages, which could seriously impact the profitability of our business.

 

Intellectual Property

 

Our success and ability to compete depend substantially upon our intellectual property. We pursue patent and trademark protection in the United States and abroad. Currently we have almost 211 U.S. and foreign patents, 23 of which we believe are significant to the business. The protection for the first of these patents expires in July 2005 and the protection for the last of these patents expires in 2022. We also currently have numerous trademark registrations, 26 of which we believe are significant to the business. With respect to these trademarks, so long as we continue to use and renew the registration for them, we can continue to have exclusive rights to use the trademarks indefinitely in those jurisdictions in which registrations are in effect. We sell many of our products under a number of registered trademarks, which we believe are widely recognized in the metering industry.

 

While we rely on patent, copyright, trademark and trade secret law to protect our technology, we also believe that factors such as our existing licensing agreements, contracts with component manufacturers, the technological and creative skills of our personnel, new product developments and ongoing product enhancements are essential to establishing and maintaining a technology leadership position. We cannot assure you that others will not develop technologies that are similar or superior to our technologies.

 

We generally enter into confidentiality agreements with our employees, consultants, corporate partners and licensees, and generally control access to, and distribution of, our proprietary information. Our confidentiality agreements generally prohibit the unauthorized disclosure or use of the technology being developed, disclosed, evaluated or licensed. Despite these efforts to protect our proprietary rights, unauthorized persons may attempt to obtain and use our technology. Policing unauthorized use of our technology is difficult, and there can be no assurance that the steps taken by us will prevent misappropriation of our technology, particularly in foreign countries where the laws may not protect proprietary rights as fully as the laws of the United States. The unauthorized disclosure or misappropriation of our intellectual property could harm our competitive position.

 

Disputes regarding intellectual property rights are common in each of the markets in which we operate. In addition, we believe that many of our competitors have filed or intend to file patent applications covering aspects of their technology in fields relating to our current or proposed products. Our intellectual property may be inadequate or misappropriated, or we may be subject to claims of infringement.

 

Available Information

 

Our internet website address is www.sensus.com. We make available free of charge through our website our annual reports on Form 10-K, quarterly reports on Form 10-Q, current reports on Form 8-K and amendments to those as soon as reasonably practicable after such documents are electronically filed with, or furnished to, the Securities and Exchange Commission.

 

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ITEM 2. PROPERTIES

 

As of March 31, 2005, we maintain 22 manufacturing and assembly facilities and 11 office locations. Of these 33 locations, 11 are located in North America, 13 in Europe, 2 in South America, 3 in Asia and 4 in Africa. We own and lease manufacturing/assembly, office and other industrial facilities throughout North America and in several foreign countries.

 

The table below sets forth the locations of the facilities in North America.

 

Location


   Owned/Leased

   Square Feet

   Use of Facility

Texarkana, AR

   Owned    250,005    Manufacturing/Assembly

Goleta, CA

   Leased    7,890    Office

Orlando, FL

   Owned    48,492    Manufacturing/Assembly

Russellville, KY

   Leased    254,999    Manufacturing/Assembly

Juarez, Mexico

   Leased    45,720    Manufacturing/Assembly

Raleigh, NC

   Leased    20,344    Office

DuBois, PA

   Owned    197,003    Manufacturing/Assembly

DuBois, PA(1)

   Leased    136,617    Manufacturing/Assembly

Pittsburgh (Forest Hills), PA

   Leased    8,848    Office

Uniontown, PA

   Leased    240,317    Manufacturing/Assembly

Richardson, TX

   Leased    215    Office

 

The table below sets forth the locations of the facilities outside of North America.

 

Location


   Owned/Leased

   Square Feet

   Use of Facility

El Eulma, Algeria

   Leased    32,818    Manufacturing/Assembly

Minsk, Belorussia

   Owned    1,098    Office

Nova Odessa, Brazil

   Leased    37,674    Manufacturing/Assembly

Santiago, Chile

   Leased    21,653    Manufacturing/Assembly

Beijing, China

   Leased    83,173    Manufacturing/Assembly

Shanghai, China

   Leased    53,628    Manufacturing/Assembly

Prague, Czech Republic

   Leased    8,814    Office

Malakoff, France

   Leased    3,940    Office

Lyon, France

   Owned    55,952    Manufacturing/Assembly

Babelsberg, Germany(1)

   Owned    21,625    Manufacturing/Assembly

Hannover, Germany

   Owned    49,471    Manufacturing/Assembly

Ludwigshafen, Germany

   Leased    18,815    Manufacturing/Assembly

Ludwigshafen, Germany

   Owned    317,743    Manufacturing/Assembly

Pune, India

   Owned    32,292    Manufacturing/Assembly

Rosh Haayin, Israel

   Leased    2,100    Office

Temara, Morocco

   Leased    10,764    Manufacturing/Assembly

Stara Tura, Slovakia

   Leased    57,652    Manufacturing/Assembly

Gauteng, South Africa

   Leased    16,178    Manufacturing/Assembly

Barcelona, Spain

   Leased    6,738    Office

Valencia, Spain

   Leased    1,076    Office

Romsey, UK

   Leased    31,043    Manufacturing/Assembly

Sumy, Ukraine

   Leased    4,133    Office

(1) Leased to a third party.

 

ITEM 3. LEGAL PROCEEDINGS

 

Smith-Blair, Inc., our subsidiary, was named a defendant in an action filed in the Supreme Court of New York County, New York on December 5, 2001 (James Trodden v. Consolidated Edison of New York, Felix Industries and Smith-Blair, Inc.) whereby the plaintiff seeks $10 million in damages for alleged personal injuries arising from an underground gas explosion of a pipeline that included one of our products. An earlier stay resulting from the bankruptcy of a co-defendant has been lifted, and the lawsuit is presently in the discovery phase. Pursuant to the terms of the Acquisition, we are entitled to full indemnification for this lawsuit from an affiliate of Invensys plc.

 

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Our subsidiary, Sensus Metering Systems-North America Inc., along with as many as 200 or more other companies, is a defendant in several lawsuits filed in various state courts in Mississippi by groups of plaintiffs alleging illnesses from exposure to asbestos or asbestos-containing products and seeking unspecified compensatory and punitive damages. Because the cases are in initial stages, it is uncertain whether any plaintiffs have dealt with any of the subsidiary’s products, were exposed to an asbestos-containing component part of a product of the subsidiary or whether such part could have been a contributing factor to the alleged illness. Although we are entitled to indemnification for legal and indemnity costs for asbestos claims related to these products from certain subsidiaries of Invensys plc, under the stock purchase agreement pursuant to which we acquired Invensys Metering Systems, such indemnities, when aggregated with all other indemnity claims, are limited to the purchase price paid by us in connection with the Acquisition.

 

In addition, we are, from time to time, party to legal proceedings arising out of the operations of our business. We believe that an adverse outcome of our existing legal proceedings, including the proceedings described above, would not have a material adverse impact on our business, financial condition or results of operations. Nevertheless, unexpected adverse future events, such as an unforeseen development in our existing proceedings, a significant increase in the number of new cases or changes in our current insurance arrangements could result in liabilities that have a material adverse impact on our business, financial condition or results of operations.

 

Environmental Matters

 

We are subject to a variety of federal, state, local and foreign environmental laws and regulations, including those governing the discharge of pollutants into the air or water, the management and disposal of hazardous substances or wastes and the cleanup of contaminated sites. Some of our operations require environmental permits and controls to prevent and reduce air and water pollution, and these permits are subject to modification, renewal and revocation by issuing authorities. We are also subject to the federal Occupational Health and Safety Act and similar state and foreign laws related to employee safety. We cannot assure you that we have been and will be at all times in compliance with all of these requirements, including reporting obligations and permit restrictions, or that we, or they, will not incur material fines, penalties, costs or liabilities in connection with such requirements or a failure to comply with them. While we currently incur capital and other expenditures to comply with these environmental laws, these laws may become more stringent and our processes may change. Therefore, the amount and timing of such expenditures in the future may vary substantially from those currently anticipated.

 

We are aware of known contamination at the following United States facilities: Russellville, Kentucky; DuBois, Pennsylvania (Plants 1 and 2); Texarkana, Arkansas; and Uniontown, Pennsylvania, as a result of historic releases of hazardous materials. The former owner of these sites is investigating, remediating and monitoring these properties. We are obligated to reimburse the former owner for a minority of monies expended on the remediation plus interest on monies paid at all sites other than Russellville (“Reimbursement Sites”), where the former owner pays all remediation costs. In connection with the Acquisition, certain subsidiaries of Invensys agreed to retain liability for the reimbursement obligations related to the Reimbursement Sites. As a result, we do not expect to have any future liabilities for the costs of remediation or other reimbursement costs associated with the Reimbursement Sites.

 

In addition, there is contamination in the soil and groundwater at our facility in Ludwigshafen, Germany. We are indemnified against costs that may result from the contamination. This indemnification obligation is subject to the condition that the plots of land continue in industrial use, unless the former owner has agreed to the change from industrial use. We also have an indemnity, subject to certain limitations, from certain subsidiaries of Invensys regarding this facility pursuant to the terms of the purchase agreement governing the acquisition of Invensys Metering Systems.

 

Based on information currently available, we believe that future environmental compliance expenditures will not have a material effect on our financial position, and we have established allowances we believe are adequate to cover our potential environmental liabilities. However, as to any of the above-described indemnities, we cannot assure that the indemnifying parties will be able to satisfy their obligations. Environmental compliance costs and liabilities could reduce our net income and cash available for operations.

 

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Other Regulatory Matters

 

Our products are subject to the rules and regulations of various federal, state and local agencies and foreign regulatory bodies. For example, our AMR products use radio spectrum and are subject to regulation by the Federal Communications Commission (“FCC”), and much of the European water and heat metering markets, including Germany, The Netherlands, Austria, Switzerland, the Czech Republic and Slovakia, are subject to national regulation. We are also subject to regulation by other governmental bodies. Further, we are subject to governmental regulations related to occupational safety and health, labor, wage practices and the performance of certain engineering services. We believe that we are currently in material compliance with such regulations; however, failure to comply with current or future regulations could result in the imposition of substantial fines, suspension of production, alteration of production processes, cessation of operations, or other actions that could materially and adversely affect our business, financial condition or results of operations.

 

ITEM 4. SUBMISSION OF MATTERS TO A VOTE OF SECURITY HOLDERS

 

None.

 

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PART II

 

ITEM 5. MARKET FOR REGISTRANT’S COMMON EQUITY, RELATED STOCKHOLDER MATTERS AND ISSUER PURCHASES OF EQUITY SECURITIES

 

  (a) None.

 

  (b) Not applicable.

 

  (c) None.

 

ITEM 6. SELECTED FINANCIAL DATA

 

We have derived the following selected consolidated financial data from our audited consolidated financial statements, and those of our predecessor, Invensys Metering Systems. The information set forth below is not necessarily indicative of the results of future operations and should be read in conjunction with “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” and the consolidated financial statements and related notes included elsewhere in this annual report.

 

     Predecessor (4)

            

($ in millions)

 

   Year Ended
March 31,
2001


   Year Ended
March 31,
2002


   Year Ended
March 31,
2003


  

Period from

April 1, 2003 to

December 17,

2003


  

Period from

Inception
(December 18,

2003) to

March 31,

2004


    Year Ended
March 31,
2005


 

Income Statement Data:

                                            

Net sales

   $ 531.3    $ 496.4    $ 504.5    $ 364.6    $ 164.4     $ 569.8  

Income (loss) from continuing operations

   $ 25.6    $ 34.8    $ 33.3    $ 10.0    $ (1.5 )   $ (4.2 )

Other Financial Data:

                                            

EBITDA (1)

   $ 80.5    $ 69.1    $ 79.9    $ 43.2    $ 20.8     $ 79.9  

Restructuring and other similar costs (2)

     31.9      22.7      12.4      9.6      1.1       8.1  

Capital expenditures

     17.3      18.7      11.8      8.4      6.1       22.4  

Ratio of earnings to fixed charges (3)

     28.1x      40.4x      31.9x      31.0x      0.8x       1.1x  

Balance Sheet Data

                                            

Cash and cash equivalents

   $ 9.4    $ 8.9    $ 17.1      —      $ 48.5     $ 54.9  

Total assets

     669.7      629.6      670.0      —        952.9       940.2  

Total debt

     2.1      —        14.1      —        506.6       500.4  

Stockholder’s equity

     513.4      485.9      496.3      —        198.0       194.0  

(1) For additional information regarding EBITDA, see “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations—Non-GAAP Measures”. We have presented EBITDA because management considers EBITDA to be an important measure of financial performance. Among other things, management believes that EBITDA provides useful information for our investors for trending, analyzing and benchmarking the performance and value of our business. Management also believes that EBITDA is useful in assessing current performance compared with the historical performance of our predecessor because significant line items within our income statements such as depreciation, amortization and interest expense are significantly impacted by the Acquisition. Internally, EBITDA is used as a financial measure to assess the performance of our business and is an important measure in our incentive compensation plans. EBITDA should not be considered as an alternative to net income (determined in accordance with GAAP) as an indicator of our financial performance, or as an alternative to cash flows from operating activities (determined in accordance with GAAP) as a measure of our liquidity.
(2) For additional information regarding restructuring and other similar costs, see “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations—Recent Restructuring and Cost Savings Initiatives.” These restructuring and other similar costs (and certain o