UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
FORM
(Mark One)
ANNUAL REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934 |
For the Fiscal Year Ended
or
TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934 |
For the transition period from to
Commission file number:
(Exact name of Registrant as specified in its charter)
(State or other jurisdiction of incorporation or organization) | (I.R.S. Employer Identification No.) |
(Address of principal executive offices)
(Registrant’s telephone number, including area code)
Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:
Title of each class | Trading Symbol(s) | Name of each exchange on which registered |
Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(g) of the Act: None
Indicate by check mark if the registrant is a well-known seasoned issuer, as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act.
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 ◻
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.
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has submitted electronically every Interactive Data File required to be submitted 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 such files).
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, a smaller reporting company, or an emerging growth company. See the definitions of “large accelerated filer,” “accelerated filer,” “smaller reporting company,” and “emerging growth company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act.
Accelerated Filer ◻ | ||
Non-accelerated Filer ◻ | Smaller Reporting Company Emerging Growth Company |
If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Exchange Act. ◻
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has filed a report on and attestation to its management’s assessment of the effectiveness of its internal control over financial reporting under Section 404(b) of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act (15 U.S.C. 7262(b)) by the registered public accounting firm that prepared or issued its audit report.
If securities are registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act, indicate by check mark whether the financial statements of the registrant included in the filing reflect the correction of an error to previously issued financial statements.
Indicate by check mark whether any of those error corrections are restatements that required a recovery analysis of incentive-based compensation received by any of the registrant’s executive officers during the relevant recovery period pursuant to §240.10D-1(b). ◻
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Act). Yes
As of June 30, 2023, the aggregate market value of Amphenol Corporation Class A Common Stock (based upon the closing price of such stock on the New York Stock Exchange) held by non-affiliates was approximately $
As of January 31, 2024, the total number of shares outstanding of Registrant’s Class A Common Stock was
DOCUMENTS INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE
Portions of the Registrant’s definitive proxy statement, which is expected to be filed within 120 days following the end of the fiscal year covered by this report, are incorporated by reference into Part III hereof.
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Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements
This Annual Report on Form 10-K (“Annual Report”) includes forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 and the provisions of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”). Such forward-looking statements are based on our management’s assumptions and beliefs about future events or circumstances using information currently available, and as a result, they are subject to risks and uncertainties. Forward-looking statements address events or developments that Amphenol Corporation (together with its subsidiaries, “Amphenol,” the “Company,” “we,” “our,” or “us”) expects or believes may or will occur in the future. These forward-looking statements, which address the Company’s expected business and financial performance and financial condition, among other matters, may contain words and terms such as: “anticipate,” “believe,” “continue,” “could,” “estimate,” “expect,” “forecast,” “guidance,” “intend,” “look ahead,” “may,” “ongoing,” “optimistic,” “plan,” “potential,” “predict,” “project,” “seek,” “should,” “target,” “will” or “would” and other words and terms of similar meaning.
Forward-looking statements by their nature address matters that are, to different degrees, uncertain, such as statements about expected earnings, revenues, growth, liquidity, effective tax rate, interest rates or other matters. Although the Company believes the expectations reflected in all forward-looking statements are based upon reasonable assumptions, the expectations may not be attained or there may be material deviation. Readers and investors are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date on which they are made. There are risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from these forward-looking statements. A description of some of these uncertainties and other risks is set forth under the caption “Risk Factors” in Part I, Item 1A and elsewhere in this Annual Report, as well as other reports filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”), including, but not limited to, Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q and Current Reports on Form 8-K. There may be other risks and uncertainties not identified in these documents that we either currently do not expect to have an adverse effect on our business or that we are unable to predict or identify at the time of this Annual Report. Our forward-looking statements may also be impacted by, among other things, future tax, regulatory and other legal changes that may arise in any of the jurisdictions in which we operate.
The Company undertakes no obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements except as required by law.
PART I
Item 1. Business
General
Amphenol Corporation is one of the world’s largest designers, manufacturers and marketers of electrical, electronic and fiber optic connectors and interconnect systems, antennas, sensors and sensor-based products and coaxial and high-speed specialty cable. The Company estimates, based on recent reports of industry analysts, that worldwide sales of interconnect and sensor-related products were approximately $235 billion in 2023.
Certain predecessor businesses of the Company were founded in 1932, and the Company was incorporated under the laws of the State of Delaware in 1986. The Company’s Class A Common Stock (“Common Stock”) began trading on the New York Stock Exchange in 1991.
Reportable Business Segments
The Company’s strategy is to provide our customers with comprehensive design capabilities, a broad selection of products and a high level of quality and service on a worldwide basis, while maintaining continuing programs of productivity improvement and cost control. The Company aligns its businesses into three reportable business segments: (i) Harsh Environment Solutions, (ii) Communications Solutions and (iii) Interconnect and Sensor Systems. This alignment reinforces the Company’s entrepreneurial culture and the clear accountability of each of our business unit general managers, while enhancing the scalability of Amphenol’s business for the future. The Company has three segment managers who lead their respective reportable business segments, each reporting directly to the Company’s Chief Executive Officer. All segment information throughout this Annual Report is presented under our three reportable segments.
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A description of each of our reportable business segments is as follows:
The following table provides a summary of the end markets that we service and our key products within each of the three reportable business segments:
Reporting Segment |
| Harsh Environment Solutions |
| Communications Solutions |
| Interconnect and Sensor Systems |
% of 2023 Net Sales: | 28% | 39% | 33% | |||
End Markets | ● Automotive ● Commercial Aerospace ● Defense ● Industrial ● Information Technology and Data Communications ● Mobile Networks | ● Automotive ● Broadband Communications ● Commercial Aerospace ● Defense ● Industrial ● Information Technology and Data Communications ● Mobile Devices ● Mobile Networks | ● Automotive ● Commercial Aerospace ● Defense ● Industrial ● Information Technology and Data Communications ● Mobile Networks | |||
Key Products | Connectors and Connector Systems: ● harsh environment data, power, fiber optic and radio frequency interconnect products Value-Add Products: ● backplane interconnect systems ● cable assemblies and harnesses ● cable management products Cable: ● coaxial cable Other: ● flexible and rigid printed circuit boards | Connectors and Connector Systems: ● fiber optic interconnect products ● high-speed interconnect products ● radio frequency interconnect products Value-Add Products: ● cable assemblies and harnesses Antennas: ● consumer device antennas ● network infrastructure antennas Cable: ● coaxial, power and specialty cable Other: ● hinges and other mechanical products ● production-related products | Connectors and Connector Systems: ● busbars and power distribution systems ● power interconnect products Value-Add Products: ● backplane interconnect systems ● cable assemblies and harnesses Sensors and Sensor-based Products: ● force ● gas and moisture ● level ● position ● pressure ● temperature ● vibration | |||
For further details related to the Company’s reportable business segments, information regarding the Company’s operations and results by reportable segment, as well as the Company’s net sales and long-lived assets by geographic area, refer to Note 13 of the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements, which is incorporated herein by reference.
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Our Strategy
The Company’s overall strategy is to provide our customers with comprehensive design capabilities, a broad selection of products and a high level of quality and service on a worldwide basis, while maintaining continuing programs of productivity improvement and cost control. Specifically, our business strategy is as follows:
| ● | Pursue broad market diversification - The Company constantly strives to increase the diversity of its markets, customers, applications and products. Due to the tremendous variety of opportunities in the electronics industry, management believes that it is important to participate wherever significant growth opportunities are available. This diversification positions us to proliferate our technologies across the broadest array of opportunities and reduces our exposure to any one particular market, thereby reducing the variability of our financial performance. An overview of the Company’s market and product participation is described under “Markets”. |
| ● | Develop high-technology performance-enhancing solutions - The Company seeks to expand the scope and number of its preferred supplier relationships with customers across its diverse end markets. The Company works closely with its customers at the design stage to create and manufacture innovative solutions. These products generally have higher value-added content than other interconnect, antenna and sensor products, and have been developed across the Company’s end markets. The Company is focused on technology leadership in the interconnect areas of radio frequency, power, harsh environment, high-speed and fiber optics, as well as antennas and sensors, as it views these technology areas to be of particular importance to our global customer base. |
| ● | Expand global presence - The Company is strategically expanding and shifting its global manufacturing, engineering, sales and service operations to better serve its existing customer base, penetrate developing markets and establish new customer relationships. As the Company’s global customers have grown their international operations to access developing world markets and lower manufacturing costs, the Company is continuing to expand and shift its international footprint in order to provide real-time capabilities to these customers. The majority of the Company’s international operations have broad capabilities, including new product development. The Company is also able to take advantage of the lower manufacturing costs in some regions, and has established low-cost manufacturing and assembly facilities around the world. |
| ● | Control costs - The Company recognizes the importance in today’s global marketplace of maintaining a competitive cost structure. Innovation, product quality and performance, and comprehensive customer service are not mutually exclusive with controlling costs. Controlling costs is part of a mindset. It is having the discipline to invest in programs that have a good return, maintaining a cost structure as flexible as possible to respond to changes in the marketplace, working with suppliers and vendors in a fair but prudent way to ensure a reasonable cost for materials and services and creating a mindset where managers manage the Company’s assets as if they were their own. This mindset was particularly important in recent years, as supply chain challenges arose, followed by inflationary pressures and logistical challenges that persisted into 2023. |
| ● | Pursue strategic acquisitions and investments - The Company believes that the industry in which it operates is highly fragmented and continues to provide significant opportunities for strategic acquisitions. As a result, we continue to pursue acquisitions of high-potential companies with strong management teams that complement our existing business while further expanding our product lines, technological capabilities and geographic presence. We seek to enhance the performance of acquired companies by leveraging Amphenol’s position with customers across our diverse end markets, our leading technologies and our access to low-cost manufacturing around the world. In 2023, the Company invested approximately $970 million to fund 10 acquisitions, while in 2022, the Company invested approximately $288 million to fund two acquisitions. Our acquisitions in 2023 and 2022 have strengthened our customer base and product offerings in many of our end markets and have brought a number of high-performing new management teams into the Company. |
| ● | Foster collaborative, entrepreneurial management - Amphenol’s management system is designed to provide clear income statement and balance sheet responsibility in a flat organizational structure. Each general manager is enabled and incented to grow and develop their business and to think entrepreneurially in providing innovative, timely and cost-effective solutions to meet customer needs. In addition, Amphenol’s general managers have access to the resources of the larger organization and are encouraged to work collaboratively with their peers throughout the Company to meet the needs of the expanding marketplace and to achieve common goals. As the Company has grown, we have preserved this unique culture of entrepreneurship by ensuring that our executive organization can effectively drive the performance of and collaboration among our global general managers. The alignment of the Company’s businesses into three divisions (representing the Company’s |
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| reportable business segments), each led by a segment manager reporting directly to the Chief Executive Officer, reinforces this culture and clear accountability, and enhances the scalability of the Company’s entrepreneurial organization. |
Markets
The Company sells products to customers in a diversified set of end markets. For a discussion of certain risks related to the Company’s end markets, refer to the subsection titled “Risks Related to our End Markets” included in Part I, Item 1A. Risk Factors herein.
Automotive - Amphenol is a leading supplier of advanced interconnect systems, sensors and antennas for a growing array of automotive applications. In addition, Amphenol has developed advanced technology solutions for hybrid and electric vehicles and is working with leading global customers to proliferate these advanced interconnect products into next-generation automobiles. Sales into the automotive market represented approximately 23% of the Company’s net sales in 2023, with sales into the following primary end applications:
● antennas |
| ● lighting |
● charging stations | ● passenger connectivity | |
● climate control | ● power management | |
● electric vehicles | ● safety and security systems | |
● engine management and control | ● sensing systems | |
● exhaust monitoring and cleaning | ● telematics systems | |
● hybrid vehicles | ● transmission systems | |
● infotainment and communications |
Broadband Communications - Amphenol is a world leader in broadband communication products for cable, satellite and telecommunications-based video and data networks, with industry-leading engineering, design and manufacturing expertise. The Company offers a wide range of products to service the broadband market, including customer premises and distribution cable, connectors and value-add interconnect products, passive components, active and passive fiber optic interconnect components, interconnect enclosures, as well as interconnect products integrated into headend equipment. Sales into the broadband communications market represented approximately 4% of the Company’s net sales in 2023, with sales into the following primary end applications:
● cable, satellite & telecommunications networks |
| ● network switching equipment |
● customer premises equipment | ● satellite interface devices | |
● high-speed internet hardware | ● set-top boxes |
Commercial Aerospace - Amphenol is a leading provider of high-performance interconnect systems and components to the commercial aerospace market. In addition to connector and interconnect assembly products, the Company also provides rigid and flexible printed circuits, high-technology cable management products as well as sensors. Our products are specifically designed to operate in the harsh environments of commercial aerospace, while also providing substantial weight reduction, simplified installation and/or minimal maintenance. Sales into the commercial aerospace market represented approximately 4% of the Company’s net sales in 2023, with sales into the following primary end applications:
● aircraft and airframe power distribution |
| ● in-flight entertainment |
● avionics | ● in-flight internet connectivity | |
● controls and instrumentation | ● lighting and control systems | |
● engines | ● wire bundling and cable management |
Defense - Amphenol is a world leader in the design, manufacture and supply of high-performance interconnect systems for harsh environment aerospace and defense applications. Such products require superior performance and reliability under conditions of stress and in hostile environments such as vibration, pressure, humidity, radiation and rapid and severe temperature changes. Amphenol provides an unparalleled product breadth, from aerospace and defense specification connectors to customized high-speed board level interconnects; from flexible to rigid printed circuit boards; from backplane systems to completely integrated assemblies; and from sensors to sensor-based systems. Amphenol is a technology leader, participating in major programs from the earliest inception across each phase of the production cycle.
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Sales into the defense market represented approximately 11% of the Company’s net sales in 2023, with sales into the following primary end applications:
● airframe | ● naval | |
● avionics | ● ordnance and missile systems | |
● communications | ● radar systems | |
● engines | ● rotorcraft | |
● ground vehicles and tanks | ● satellite and space programs | |
● homeland security | ● unmanned aerial vehicles |
Industrial - Amphenol is a technology leader in the design, manufacture and supply of high-performance interconnect systems, sensors and antennas for a broad range of industrial applications. Amphenol’s core competencies include application-specific industrial interconnect solutions utilizing integrated assemblies, including with both cable and flexible printed circuits, as well as high-power interconnects requiring advanced engineering and system integration. In particular, our innovative solutions facilitate the increasing demands of embedded computing, power distribution and electrification within industrial applications. Sales into the industrial market represented approximately 25% of the Company’s net sales in 2023, with sales into the following primary end applications:
● agriculture equipment |
| ● marine |
● alternative and traditional energy generation | ● medical equipment | |
● batteries and hybrid drive systems | ● oil and gas | |
● entertainment | ● power distribution | |
● factory and machine tool automation | ● public safety | |
● heavy equipment | ● rail mass transit | |
● instrumentation | ● semiconductor manufacturing equipment | |
● internet of things | ● smart manufacturing | |
● LED lighting | ● transportation | |
Information Technology and Data Communications - Amphenol is a global provider of interconnect solutions to designers, manufacturers and operators of internet-enabling systems. With our industry-leading high-speed, power and active and passive fiber optic interconnect technologies, together with superior simulation and testing capability and cost effectiveness, Amphenol is a market leader in interconnect development for the information technology and data communications (“IT datacom”) market. Our products enable a broad array of IT datacom systems and applications, including a growing range of systems to power artificial intelligence and machine learning. Whether industry standard or application-specific designs are required, Amphenol provides customers with products that enable performance at the leading edge of next-generation, high-speed, power and fiber optic technologies. Sales into the IT datacom market represented approximately 19% of the Company’s net sales in 2023, with sales into the following primary end applications:
● cloud computing and data centers | ● servers | |
● gaming systems | ● storage systems | |
● internet appliances | ● transmission | |
● networking equipment | ● web service providers | |
Mobile Devices - Amphenol designs and manufactures an extensive range of interconnect products, antennas and electromechanical components found in a wide array of mobile computing devices. Amphenol’s capability for high-volume production of these technically demanding, miniaturized products, combined with our speed of new product introduction, are critical drivers of the Company’s long-term success in this market. Sales into the mobile devices market represented approximately 10% of the Company’s net sales in 2023, with sales into the following primary end applications:
● consumer electronics |
| ● production-related products |
● mobile and smart phones, including accessories | ● wearable and hearable devices | |
● mobile computing devices, including laptops, tablets and e-readers | ||
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Mobile Networks - Amphenol is a leading global interconnect solutions provider to the mobile networks market and offers a wide product portfolio, including antennas, connectors and interconnect systems. The Company’s products are used in current and next generation wireless communications standards, including in 5G networks. In addition, the Company works with service providers around the world to offer an array of antennas and installation-related site solution interconnect products. Sales into the mobile networks market represented approximately 4% of the Company’s net sales in 2023, with sales into the following primary end applications:
● antenna systems |
| ● mobile switches |
● base stations | ● radio links | |
● core network controllers | ● small cells | |
● distributed antenna systems (DAS) | ||
Customers and Geographies
The Company manufactures and sells a broad portfolio of products on a global basis to customers in a wide variety of industries. Our customers include many of the leaders in their respective industries, and our relationships with them typically date back many years. We believe that our diversified customer base provides us with the opportunity to leverage our skills and experience across markets and reduces our exposure to particular end markets. Additionally, we believe that the diversity of our customer base is an important asset of the Company.
For many years, customers have generally been consolidating their lists of qualified suppliers to companies that have the ability to meet certain technical, quality, delivery and other standards while maintaining geographic flexibility and competitive prices. The Company has positioned its global resources to compete effectively in this environment. As an industry leader, the Company has established close working relationships with many of its customers on a global basis. These relationships allow the Company to better anticipate and respond to these customer needs when designing new products and new technical solutions. By working with customers to develop new products and technologies, the Company is able to identify and act on trends and leverage knowledge about next-generation technology across our portfolio of products. In addition, the Company has concentrated its efforts on service, procurement and manufacturing improvements designed to increase product quality and performance and lower product lead-time and cost. For a discussion of certain risks related to the Company’s sales, refer to the subsection titled “Risks Related to our End Markets” included in Part I, Item 1A. Risk Factors herein.
The Company’s products are sold to thousands of original equipment manufacturers (or OEMs) in numerous countries throughout the world. The Company’s products are also sold to electronic manufacturing services (EMS) companies, to original design manufacturers (or ODMs) and to service providers, including telecommunications network service providers and web service providers. No single customer accounted for 10% or more of the Company’s net sales during the years ended December 31, 2023, 2022 and 2021.
The Company sells its products through its own global sales force, independent representatives and a global network of electronics distributors. The Company’s sales to distributors represented approximately 17% and 18% of the Company’s net sales in 2023 and 2022, respectively. In addition to product design teams and collaborative initiatives with customers, the Company uses key account managers to manage certain customer relationships on a global basis so that it can bring to bear its total resources to meet the worldwide needs of its multinational customers.
Manufacturing
The Company is a global manufacturer employing advanced manufacturing processes including molding, stamping, plating, turning, computer numerical control (CNC) machining, 3D printing, extruding, die casting, certain other manufacturing, automation and assembly operations and proprietary process technology for connectors, specialty and coaxial cable production, antenna and sensor fabrication. Outsourcing of certain manufacturing processes is used when cost-effective. Substantially all of the Company’s manufacturing facilities operate under certification to management system standards of globally recognized, industry certification organizations. Many of our facilities are certified to quality management systems, primarily ISO9001, but also may include ISO13485, AS9100, and IATF16949. In addition, approximately half of our facilities are also certified to environmental or occupational health and safety management systems, including ISO14001 and ISO45001.
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The Company’s manufacturing facilities are generally vertically integrated operations from the initial design stage through final design and manufacturing. The Company designs, manufactures and assembles its products at facilities in approximately 40 countries around the world. Our global coverage positions us near many of our customers’ locations and allows us to assist them in consolidating their supply base and lowering their production and logistics costs. In addition, the Company generally relies on local management in every region, which we believe creates a strong degree of organizational stability and operational agility, as well as a deeper understanding of local markets. We believe our broad and balanced geographic distribution lowers our exposure to particular geographies. This was evident in recent years, as we were generally able to support our customers even if pandemic-related restrictions and other challenges were present in a particular geography. The Company believes that its global presence is an important competitive advantage, as it allows the Company to provide quality products on a timely and worldwide basis to its multinational customers, while at the same time offering a level of resiliency and diversification against local risks and challenges that may emerge in any single geography.
The Company employs a global manufacturing strategy to provide proximity and reliable service to customers, while also lowering production and logistics costs. Our strategy is to maintain strong cost and quality controls in our manufacturing and assembly operations. The Company evaluates and adjusts its expense levels and workforce to reflect current business conditions and attempts to maximize operating profitability as well as the return on capital investments. This strategy has been, and continues to be, critical to the Company’s ability to mitigate supply chain constraints, such as those experienced in recent years, and the higher inflationary environment, which began in 2022 and persisted into 2023. The Company sources its products on a worldwide basis. To better serve certain high-volume customers, the Company has established certain facilities near these major customers. The Company seeks to position its manufacturing and assembly facilities in order to serve local markets while coordinating, as appropriate, product design and manufacturing responsibility with the Company’s other operations around the world. For a discussion of certain risks related to the Company’s global operations, refer to the subsection titled “Risks Related to our Global Operations” included in Part I, Item 1A. Risk Factors herein.
Research and Development
The Company’s product development strategy is to rely on product design teams at each of our operating units around the world working collaboratively with customers, which often results in the Company obtaining approved vendor status for its customers’ new products and programs. The Company generally focuses its research and development efforts primarily on those product areas that it believes have the potential for broad market applications and significant sales within a one- to three-year period. The Company seeks to have its products become widely accepted within the industry for similar applications and products manufactured by other potential customers, which the Company believes will provide additional sources of future revenue. At the end of 2023, our research, development and engineering efforts, which relate to the creation of new and improved products and processes, were supported by approximately 4,000 of our employees and were performed primarily by individual operating units focused on specific markets and product technologies.
Intellectual Property
We own a significant portfolio of patents that principally relate to mechanical, electrical, radio frequency, optical and electronic features of connector, antenna and sensor products. We also own a portfolio of trademarks and are a licensee of various patents and trademarks. Patents for individual products extend for varying periods according to the date of patent filing or grant and the legal term of patents in the various countries where patent protection is obtained. Trademark rights may potentially extend for longer periods of time and are dependent upon the laws of various jurisdictions and the use of the trademarks.
We also rely upon trade secrets, manufacturing know-how, continuing technological innovations and licensing opportunities to maintain and improve our competitive position. We review third-party proprietary rights, including patents and patent applications, as available, in an effort to develop an effective intellectual property strategy, avoid infringement of third-party proprietary rights, identify licensing opportunities and monitor the intellectual property claims of others.
From time to time, the Company is involved in disputes with third parties regarding the Company’s or such third party’s intellectual property assets, particularly patents. While we consider our patents and trademarks to be valuable assets, we do not believe that our competitive position or our operations are dependent upon or would be materially impacted by the loss of any single patent or group of related patents, or by a third party’s successful enforcement of its
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patents against us or any of our products. For a discussion of certain risks related to the Company’s intellectual property, refer to the risk factor titled “We may experience difficulties in enforcing our intellectual property rights, which could result in loss of market share, and we may be subject to claims of infringement of the intellectual property rights of others” in Part I, Item 1A. Risk Factors herein.
Raw Materials
The Company purchases a wide variety of raw materials for the manufacture of its products, including (i) precious metals such as gold, silver and palladium, (ii) aluminum, steel, copper, titanium and metal alloy products and (iii) plastic materials. The Company also purchases a wide variety of mechanical and electronic components for the manufacturing of its products. Such raw materials and components are generally available throughout the world and are purchased locally from a variety of suppliers. The Company is generally not dependent upon any one source for raw materials or components or, if one source is used, the Company generally attempts to protect itself through long-term supply agreements. From time to time, the Company may encounter difficulties in obtaining certain raw materials or components necessary for production due to supply chain constraints and logistical challenges, which may include regulatory restrictions. These difficulties may also negatively impact the pricing of materials and components sourced or used by the Company. While the Company does not currently anticipate significant, broad-based difficulties in obtaining raw materials or components necessary for production, inflationary pressures and logistical challenges may impact the cost and availability of certain raw materials and components used by the Company and result in supply shortages for discrete raw materials or components, which could be further exacerbated by increased commodity prices and additional inflation. For a discussion of certain risks related to the availability of and dependence on raw materials and components, refer to the risk factor titled “The Company and certain of its suppliers and customers have experienced difficulties obtaining certain raw materials and components, and the cost of certain of the Company’s raw materials and components is increasing” in Part I, Item 1A. Risk Factors herein. Information regarding our obligations related to commitments to purchase certain goods and services is disclosed in Note 14 of the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.
Competition
The Company encounters competition in all areas of its business. The Company competes primarily on the basis of technology innovation, product quality and performance, price, customer service and delivery time. Primary competitors include Aptiv, Belden, Commscope, Eaton, Foxconn, Glenair, HARTING, Hirose, HUBER+SUHNER, ICT Luxshare, JAE, Jonhon, JST, Molex, Phoenix Contact, Radiall, Rosenberger, Sensata, TE Connectivity, Yazaki and 3M, among others. In addition, the Company competes with a large number of smaller companies who compete in specific geographies, markets or products. For a discussion of certain risks related to competition, refer to the risk factor titled “The Company encounters competition in all areas of our business” in Part I, Item 1A. Risk Factors herein.
Backlog and Seasonality
The Company estimates that its backlog of unfilled firm orders as of December 31, 2023 was approximately $4.0 billion compared with backlog of approximately $4.1 billion as of December 31, 2022. Orders typically fluctuate from quarter to quarter based on customer demand and general business conditions. Unfilled orders may generally be cancelled prior to shipment of goods. It is expected that nearly all of the Company’s backlog will be filled within the next 12 months. A significant portion of the Company’s business, such as sales to the communications-related markets (including wireless communications, information technology and data communications and broadband communications) and sales to distributors, generally have short lead times. Therefore, backlog may not be indicative of future demand. Generally, the Company does not experience significant seasonality in its business, although historically, the strongest quarters have typically been the last two quarters of our fiscal year.
Environmental Matters
Certain operations of the Company are subject to environmental laws and regulations that govern the discharge of pollutants into the air and water, as well as the handling and disposal of solid and hazardous wastes. The Company believes that its operations are currently in substantial compliance with applicable environmental laws and regulations and that the costs of continuing compliance will not have a material adverse effect on the Company’s financial condition, results of operations or cash flows. For more information on certain environmental matters, refer to Note 14 of the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements. For a discussion of certain risks related to environmental matters, refer to
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the risk factor titled “The Company is subject to environmental laws and regulations that could adversely affect our business” in Part I, Item 1A. Risk Factors herein.
Government Regulation
As a global company, we are subject to various laws and regulations applicable to parties doing business with the U.S. and other governments, including laws and regulations governing reporting obligations, interactions with government officials, performance of government contracts, the use and treatment of government furnished property and the nature of materials used in our products. In addition, the Company and its products are subject to import and export regulations present in each of the various jurisdictions in which we operate around the world. Certain of our products, including purchased components of such products, are subject to U.S. and non-U.S. export control laws and regulations, and may be exported only with the required export license or through an export license exception. The issuances of such licenses, in particular within the defense market, are subject to complex laws and regulations that could change frequently and with limited notice, depending on the jurisdiction, geopolitical events or other factors. The Company has systems in place to apply for licenses and to maintain compliance with any such regulations. Separately, we are required to comply with certain U.S. and non-U.S. economic sanctions and trade embargoes, as well as the terms of any preferential duty and/or tariff programs in which we participate.
For a discussion of certain risks related to government regulation, including export and import controls and sanctions, refer to the risk factors titled “The Company is exposed to political, economic, military and other risks related to operating in countries outside the United States, and changes in general economic conditions, geopolitical conditions, U.S. trade policies and other factors beyond the Company’s control may adversely impact its business and operating results,” “The Company must comply with complex U.S. governmental export and import controls as well as economic sanctions and trade embargoes,” “Our business and financial results may be adversely affected by government contracting risks,” and “Our international operations require us to comply with anti-corruption laws and regulations of the U.S. government and various foreign jurisdictions, and our business reputation and financial results may be impaired by improper conduct by any of our employees, customers, suppliers, distributors or any other business partners,” in Part I, Item 1A. Risk Factors herein.
Environmental, Social and Corporate Governance
We have a shared commitment to create innovative products and enable technologies that improve the lives of people around the world, to support the well-being of our employees and communities and to sustain the health of our planet. We believe that long-term value for our Company is created through making sustainable business choices, building strong relationships with our stakeholders and engaging in good corporate governance. Whether through reducing our and our partners’ environmental footprint, following humane labor practices, supporting the development and diversity of our global team, ensuring the strength and integrity of our supply chain or giving back to our communities, we have always believed that it is not just good stewardship, but good business to focus on the long-term sustainability of Amphenol.
Sustainability Report
The Company publishes an annual sustainability report (“Sustainability Report”) to highlight our goals and areas of progress and success in sustainability matters, including climate-related topics. The Sustainability Report discusses our approach and progress on the environmental, social and governance (“ESG”) issues most significant to our business, including ESG-related strategies, programs, goals and metrics that demonstrate our commitment to our stakeholders. The Sustainability Report is designed to inform and engage the Company’s broad range of stakeholders, such as employees, suppliers, customers, community members and investors, among others. Our 2022 Sustainability Report was prepared with reference to the Global Reporting Initiative (“GRI”) Standards framework and topics identified under the Sustainability Accounting Standards Board (“SASB”) standards and outlines board and executive-level oversight of climate-related risks and opportunities identified in the Task Force on Climate-Related Financial Disclosures (“TCFD”) recommendations. The SASB standards and GRI and TCFD frameworks encourage companies to disclose climate-related topics that are important to certain interested stakeholders, even if not material for purposes of the U.S. securities laws. Furthermore, the materiality standards under these frameworks are different from the materiality standard under the U.S. securities laws. Our 2022 Sustainability Report is available on our website at https://amphenol.com/sustainability. The items discussed in our 2022 Sustainability Report have not required material capital expenditures or operating expenses, nor caused material operational challenges or risks to the Company’s business or results of operations beyond those items disclosed in Item 1A. Risk Factors within the risk factors titled “The
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Company may be negatively impacted by extreme weather conditions and natural catastrophic events, including those caused or intensified by climate change and global warming,” “The Company is subject to, and may continue to be subject to, incremental costs, risks and regulations associated with efforts to combat the negative effects of climate change,” and “Increasing scrutiny and expectations regarding ESG matters could result in additional costs or risks or otherwise adversely impact our business”. Information included in our 2022 Sustainability Report and our website is not incorporated by reference in, and does not form part of, this Annual Report. Our 2023 Sustainability Report is expected to be released during the second quarter of 2024.
Human Capital Management and Our Culture
The Company’s success is closely tied to the capability, adaptability and accountability of our diverse, global organization. One of the key components of our business strategy is the fostering of a collaborative and entrepreneurial management culture. Each of our general managers operates in a flat organizational structure and is enabled and incented to grow and develop their business, with the support of the resources of the larger organization. We believe this structure, with approximately 130 general managers running unique, independent businesses, creates an environment and culture where each of our general managers has a more direct link to the success of their individual businesses and a more personal connection to the employees they oversee and the communities in which they operate.
As of December 31, 2023, the Company had approximately 95,000 employees worldwide, of which approximately 11,000 were located in the United States. Less than 10% of Amphenol’s U.S. workforce is represented by an independent trade union or covered by collective bargaining. The Company believes that it has a good relationship with both its unionized and non-unionized employees.
Governance and Culture – Our Board of Directors (the “Board”) is actively involved in overseeing the Company’s employee-related strategies and practices as well as the Company’s culture and ESG initiatives. This oversight is conducted both directly and through certain of the Board’s committees. At each of its regularly scheduled quarterly meetings, the Board reviews changes in key personnel and, at least once a year, meets with management to discuss various human resources related topics, including talent development, succession planning, diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives, compensation and culture. We believe the Company’s culture has been a critical component of the Company’s success and reinforcing that culture is a key responsibility of our executive management.
Diversity, Equity and Inclusion – Amphenol is committed to workplace diversity and fostering a culture of equity, inclusion and belonging across our organization. Our business spans the globe, and the employees in our facilities reflect the diversity of the communities in which we operate. At Amphenol, we promote and maintain a culture of respect and appreciation of differences in our employees. The Company generally relies on local management in every business unit to foster a culture of diversity, equity and inclusion, which we believe creates a strong degree of organizational stability and a deep commitment to our people and the local community. A key hallmark of our structure is our entrepreneurial culture that creates clear accountability for each of our general managers, who are our key business leaders. Our core management team is comprised of these general managers and their controllers, as well as our group general managers and executive management team. Women represented 26% of this core management team at the end of 2023. Of our total employees worldwide, approximately half are women.
Health, Safety and Well-being – We believe that the protection of our employees is a moral obligation. In addition, the safety and well-being of our employees is critical to the successful operation of our business. Our health and safety activities are overseen by our corporate environmental, health, safety and sustainability leadership team and are managed by our local teams, who coordinate on-site safety programs, resources, reporting and training in our facilities. We believe that this model of coaching and tracking at the corporate level, but administering at the facility level, has allowed us to provide training and supervision that better fits the local needs of each of our workforces.
Compensation and Benefits – The Company is focused on providing our employees around the world equitable and competitive compensation and benefits. In the U.S., in addition to competitive compensation, the Company maintains various employee benefits such as health and related insurance, retirement savings programs and health savings and flexible spending accounts. Outside the U.S., we maintain compensation and other benefits competitive with local market conditions.
Community and Social Impact – Amphenol recognizes that we have a responsibility to be a positive influence in the communities in which we operate around the world. Most of our community outreach is organized by our local management teams, which helps ensure that our efforts are working in support of the local communities in which our
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employees live and work. Our local teams are actively supporting their communities in a variety of ways including: school supply drives, local blood drives, mentoring of at-risk students, community clean-up events, local tree planting, holiday-giving events and food delivery services.
Available Information
The SEC maintains a website that contains reports, proxy and information statements and other information regarding issuers, including Amphenol, that file with the SEC. Any such documents that the Company files with the SEC can be obtained by the public on the SEC’s website at http://www.sec.gov. This Annual Report and all of the Company’s other filings with the SEC, such as quarterly reports on Form 10-Q, current reports on Form 8-K, proxy statements, and any amendments to such reports filed or furnished pursuant to Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Exchange Act, are also available to view, free of charge, on the Company’s website, www.amphenol.com, as soon as reasonably practicable after they are electronically filed with, or furnished to, the SEC. Also included on the Company’s website are press releases and other information about the Company’s financial results and performance, and information regarding ESG matters, among other information. Copies of this Annual Report are also available without charge, from Amphenol Corporation, Investor Relations, 358 Hall Avenue, Wallingford, CT 06492. The information on our website is not incorporated by reference in this Annual Report.
Item 1A. Risk Factors
The Company’s business, operations, financial condition, liquidity, results of operations and stock price can be negatively affected by many risk factors. Investors should carefully consider the risks described below and all other information in this Annual Report. The Company’s past financial performance, including historical trends, should not be considered a reliable indicator of future performance. The risks and uncertainties described below are not the only ones facing the Company. Additional risks and uncertainties not presently known to the Company or that we currently consider immaterial may materialize and impair the Company’s business, operations, financial condition, liquidity, results of operations and/or stock price.
If actions taken by management to limit, monitor or control enterprise risk exposures are not successful, the Company’s business, operations, financial condition, liquidity and results of operations could be materially adversely affected. In such case, the trading price of the Company’s Common Stock and debt securities could decline and investors may lose all or part of their investment.
RISKS RELATED TO OUR GLOBAL OPERATIONS
The Company is exposed to political, economic, military and other risks related to operating in countries outside the United States, and changes in general economic conditions, geopolitical conditions, U.S. trade policies and other factors beyond the Company’s control may adversely impact its business and operating results.
The Company’s operations and performance depend significantly on global, regional and U.S. economic and geopolitical conditions. During 2023, non-U.S. markets constituted approximately 65% of the Company’s net sales, with China constituting approximately 23% of the Company’s net sales. The Company employs nearly 90% of its workforce outside the United States. The Company’s customers are located throughout the world, and the Company has many manufacturing, administrative and sales facilities outside the United States.
During the last few years there have also been significant changes to U.S. trade policies, sanctions, legislation, treaties and tariffs, including, but not limited to, trade policies and tariffs affecting China. These changes have, in certain cases, increased our costs of doing business. The imposition of additional tariffs or other trade barriers could increase our costs in certain markets and may cause our customers to find alternative sourcing or could make it more difficult for us to sell our products in some markets. Other countries where we operate or sell our products have changed, and may continue to change, their own policies on trade as well as business and foreign investment in their respective countries. For example, we have manufacturing facilities in certain jurisdictions that are authorized to operate under preferential duty and/or tariff programs that provide for reduced tariffs and/or eased import and export regulations and are subject to compliance with the terms of such programs, which have become stricter. Failure to comply with the terms of such programs could increase our manufacturing costs and adversely affect our business, operating results and financial condition. Additionally, it is possible that U.S. policy changes and uncertainty about such changes could increase market volatility and currency exchange rate fluctuations. As a result of these dynamics, we cannot predict the
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impact to our business of any future changes to the U.S.’s or other countries’ trading relationships or the impact of new laws or regulations adopted by the U.S. or other countries.
In addition to the risks noted above, a number of other legal, economic and geopolitical factors both in the United States and abroad could have a material adverse effect on the Company’s business, operations, financial condition, liquidity and/or results of operations, such as:
| ● | a global or regional economic slowdown or recession in any of the Company’s end markets (or a prolonging or intensification of such a slowdown or recession), which could negatively affect the financial condition of our customers and result in reduced demand; |
| ● | postponement of customer spending, in response to tighter credit, inflationary pressures, financial market volatility and other global economic factors; |
| ● | effects of significant changes in economic, monetary and/or fiscal policies in the United States and/or abroad, including interest rate changes by the U.S. Federal Reserve or other international central banking systems, foreign currency fluctuations, significant income tax changes and inflationary pressures; |
| ● | intergovernmental and other conflicts or actions, including, but not limited to, armed conflict, such as the ongoing military conflicts between Ukraine and Russia as well as Israel and Hamas, trade wars, cyberattacks and acts of terrorism or war; |
| ● | employment regulations and local labor conditions, including increases in employment costs, particularly in low-cost regions in which the Company currently operates; |
| ● | industrial policies in various countries that favor domestic industries over multinationals or that restrict foreign companies altogether; |
| ● | difficulties protecting intellectual property; |
| ● | longer payment cycles; |
| ● | changes in exchange control regulations, including any government actions that prohibit, limit or increase the cost of paying a dividend or otherwise moving cash between the Company’s subsidiaries located in different countries; |
| ● | credit risks and other challenges in collecting accounts receivable; and |
| ● | changes in assumptions, such as discount rates, along with lower than expected investment returns and performance related to the Company’s benefit plans. |
We may be negatively impacted by adverse public health developments, including epidemics and pandemics.
Any outbreaks of contagious diseases and other adverse public health developments in countries where we operate could have a material and adverse effect on our business, operations, financial condition, liquidity and results of operations. Beginning in early 2020 and continuing through 2022, the COVID-19 pandemic disrupted our offices and manufacturing facilities around the world, as well as the facilities of our suppliers, customers and our customers’ contract manufacturers. These disruptions included government regulations that inhibited our ability to operate certain of our facilities in the ordinary course, travel restrictions, supplier constraints, supply chain interruptions, logistics challenges and limitations, labor disruptions and reduced demand from certain customers. Future disruptions from similar harmful public health developments could have a material adverse impact on our business, operations, financial condition, liquidity and results of operations.
The Company and certain of its suppliers and customers have experienced difficulties obtaining certain raw materials and components, and the cost of certain of the Company’s raw materials and components is increasing.
The Company uses basic materials like aluminum, steel, copper, titanium, metal alloys, gold, silver, palladium and plastic resins in its manufacturing processes as well as a variety of components and relies on third-party suppliers to secure these materials and components. While the Company does not currently anticipate significant, broad-based difficulties in obtaining raw materials or components necessary for production, inflationary pressures and logistical challenges may impact the cost and availability of certain raw materials and components used by the Company and result in supply shortages for discrete raw materials or components, which could be further exacerbated by increased commodity prices and additional inflation. Moreover, the Company may not be able to pass along any increased raw material or component prices to its customers and may not be able to procure and obtain sufficient quantities of raw materials and components timely and at acceptable prices from our suppliers. In limited instances, we depend on a single source of supply or participate in commodity markets that may be served by a limited number of suppliers. Delays in obtaining supplies may result from a number of factors affecting our suppliers, and any delay could impair our
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ability to deliver products to our customers. The cost and availability of raw materials may fluctuate significantly due to external factors including, but not limited to, product scarcity, war or other armed conflict, logistical challenges, disruptions caused by climate change and adverse weather conditions, commodity market fluctuations, currency fluctuations, governmental policies and regulations such as trade tariffs and import restrictions, as well as pandemics and epidemics (as was the case with the COVID-19 pandemic), which may, in turn, negatively impact our results of operations and financial condition.
Cybersecurity incidents affecting our information technology systems could disrupt business operations or cause the release of highly sensitive confidential or personal information, resulting in adverse impacts to our reputation and operating results and potentially leading to litigation and/or governmental investigations, fines and other penalties.
We rely on our information technology systems for critical operations and face numerous and evolving cybersecurity threats and techniques used to disrupt operations and gain unauthorized access to these systems. These threats may arise from diverse threat actors such as state-sponsored organizations and opportunistic hackers and hacktivists, as well as through diverse attack vectors, including, but not limited to, malware, social engineering/phishing, credential harvesting, ransomware, malfeasance by insiders, human or technological error and other increasingly sophisticated attacks. Cyberattacks continue to expand and evolve, making it difficult to detect and prevent such threats from impacting the Company. Globally, there continues to be an increased volume of cyber threats, ransomware attempts and social engineering attacks, such as phishing and impersonation, and attackers increasingly use tools and techniques that are designed to circumvent controls, avoid detection, and remove or obfuscate forensic evidence. In addition, the rise of artificial intelligence and machine learning has led to more sophisticated and deceptive attacks. Attackers can manipulate systems in new ways and more easily perform functions at scale. As a result, we may be unable to detect, investigate, remediate, or recover from future attacks or incidents, or avoid a material adverse impact to our business.
In addition, global remote working dynamics continue to present additional risk that threat actors will engage in social engineering (for example, phishing) and exploit vulnerabilities in corporate and non-corporate networks. Ransomware attacks have become easier to execute, and with the rise of ransomware as a service, it has become an increasingly popular business model to lease or sell ransomware variants to anyone willing to pay the fee.
There can be no assurance that our cybersecurity risk management program and processes, including our policies, controls or procedures, will be fully complied with or effective in protecting our information technology systems. The Company and third-party providers upon whom we may rely for certain information technology services have been, and expect to continue to be, a target of various cybersecurity attacks, including, but not limited to, ransomware attacks. While the impact of such attacks has not been material, future cybersecurity incidents could lead to unauthorized access to and potentially impair the Company’s information technology systems, products, customers, suppliers and third-party service providers. Cybersecurity incidents could potentially result in the disruption of our business operations and/or misappropriation, destruction or corruption of critical data and confidential, personal, or proprietary information. Cybersecurity events could also result in the loss of or inability to access confidential information and critical business, financial or other data, and/or cause the release of highly sensitive confidential or personal information. Cybersecurity incidents could also result from unauthorized parties gaining access to our systems or information through fraudulent or other means of deceiving our employees, suppliers or third-party service providers. Our and key third-party information technology systems and infrastructure are susceptible to disruptions from cybersecurity incidents, ransomware attacks, security breaches, computer viruses, security vulnerabilities or “bugs” in software or hardware, outages, systems failures, natural disasters, adverse public health developments, or other catastrophic events, any of which could result in reputational damage that may cause the loss of existing or future customers, the loss of our intellectual property, the release of highly sensitive confidential or personal information, the inability to access critical data and other operational disruptions, litigation with third parties (including class actions) and/or governmental investigations and fines, among other things, which could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations. Finally, we cannot guarantee that any costs and liabilities incurred in relation to an attack or incident will be covered by our existing insurance policies or that applicable insurance will be available to us in the future on economically reasonable terms or at all.
We and our business partners maintain significant amounts of data electronically in locations around the world. This data relates to all aspects of our business, including financial information and current and future products under development, and also contains certain customer, supplier, partner and employee data, such as personal information. There is a risk of intrusion, cyberattacks or tampering that could compromise the integrity and privacy of this data or make the data inaccessible to us. In addition, in certain cases, in order to conduct business, we outsource to
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third-party business partners. Those partners may also be subject to data intrusion or a cyberattack. Any compromise of the data could substantially disrupt our operations, impact future business opportunities, harm our customers, employees and other business partners, damage our reputation, violate applicable laws, regulations, policies and contractual obligations and subject us to potentially significant costs and liabilities, including litigation or other enforcement actions.
The regulatory environment surrounding information security and privacy is increasingly demanding, with frequent imposition of new and changing requirements. Privacy laws and regulations around the world including, for example, in the European Union (“EU”), People’s Republic of China, the state of California, and several other U.S. states, impose significant obligations for companies on how they collect, store, protect, process and transfer personal information and can impose significant fines for non-compliance. In addition, in March 2022, the U.S. enacted the Strengthening American Cybersecurity Act, which imposes cyber incident and ransomware attack response protocols for businesses operating in numerous core industry sectors of the U.S. economy. The potential for fines, penalties, and other related costs in the event of a breach of or non-compliance with any existing and forthcoming information security or privacy laws and requirements may have an adverse effect on our financial results. For further discussion of the Company’s risk management, strategy, and governance around cybersecurity, refer to Part I, Item 1C. Cybersecurity herein.
The Company may be negatively impacted by extreme weather conditions and natural catastrophic events, including those caused or intensified by climate change and global warming.
From time to time, extreme weather conditions and natural disasters have negatively impacted, and may continue to negatively impact, portions of our operations, as well as the operations of our suppliers, vendors, customers and distributors. Such unpredictable weather conditions and natural disasters including, but not limited to, severe storms, earthquakes, fires, droughts, floods, hurricanes, tornadoes, and stronger and longer-lasting weather patterns, including heat waves and freezes and ambient temperature or precipitation changes, and their consequences and effects have, in the past, temporarily disrupted our business operations both in the United States and abroad. These events could cause some of the Company’s operations to suffer from supply chain disruptions and potential delays in fulfilling customer orders or order cancellations altogether, lost business and sales, increased costs, energy and water scarcity, changing costs or availability of insurance, and/or property damage or harm to our people, each and all of which could have an adverse effect on our business, operations, financial condition and results of operations.
Increasing scrutiny and expectations regarding ESG matters could result in additional costs or risks or otherwise adversely impact our business.
Companies across industries continue to face increasing scrutiny from a variety of stakeholders related to their ESG and sustainability practices. Expectations regarding voluntary and potential mandatory ESG initiatives and disclosures may result in increased costs, changes in demand for certain products, enhanced compliance or disclosure obligations, or other adverse impacts to our business, financial condition or results of operations. In addition, an inability to receive or maintain favorable ESG ratings could negatively impact our reputation or impede our ability to compete as effectively to attract and retain employees or customers, which may adversely impact our operations. Unfavorable ESG ratings could also lead to increased negative investor sentiment towards us or our industry, which could negatively impact the share price of our Common Stock as well as our access to and cost of capital.
Our international operations require us to comply with anti-corruption laws and regulations of the U.S. government and various foreign jurisdictions, and our business reputation and financial results may be impaired by improper conduct by any of our employees, customers, suppliers, distributors or any other business partners.
Doing business on a worldwide basis requires us and our subsidiaries to comply with the laws and regulations of the U.S. government and various foreign jurisdictions, and our failure to comply with these rules and regulations may expose us to significant liabilities. These laws and regulations may apply to companies, individual directors, officers, employees, subcontractors and agents, and may restrict our operations, trade practices, investment decisions and partnering activities. In particular, our international operations are subject to U.S. and foreign anti-corruption laws and regulations, such as the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act of 1977, as amended (“FCPA”). As part of our business, we deal with state-owned business enterprises, the employees and representatives of which may be considered foreign officials for purposes of the FCPA. In addition, some of the foreign locations in which we operate lack a developed legal system and have elevated levels of corruption. As a result of the above activities, we are exposed to the risk of violating U.S. and foreign anti-corruption laws.
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There can be no assurance that our policies and procedures designed for complying with applicable U.S. and international laws and regulations will be effective in preventing our directors, officers, employees, subcontractors and agents from taking actions that violate these legal requirements. Violations of these legal requirements could subject us to criminal fines and imprisonment, civil penalties, disgorgement of profits, injunctions, debarment from government contracts and other remedial measures. In addition, any actual or alleged violations could disrupt our operations, cause reputational harm, involve significant management distraction and result in a material adverse effect on our competitive position, results of operations, cash flows or financial condition.
The Company’s results can be positively or negatively affected by changes in foreign currency exchange rates.
The Company conducts business in many foreign currencies through its worldwide operations, and as a result, is subject to foreign exchange exposure due to changes in exchange rates of the various currencies, including possible foreign currency restrictions and/or devaluations. Changes in exchange rates can positively or negatively affect the Company’s sales, operating margins and equity. There can be no assurance that any or all actions taken by the Company to mitigate currency risk, such as locating factories in the same country or region in which products are sold, hedging contracts, cost reduction and pricing actions or working capital management, will be fully effective in successfully managing currency risk. A significant and sudden decline in the value of any of the foreign currencies of the Company’s worldwide operations could have an adverse effect on the Company’s business, financial condition, results of operations and cash flows.
The Company is dependent on attracting, recruiting, hiring and retaining skilled employees, including our various management teams.
Our performance is dependent on our ability to attract, recruit, hire and retain skilled personnel, including our executive and core management teams. Given the current inflationary wage environment and strong demand for skilled labor in many of the countries and regions in which we operate, the ability to identify and attract new talent, as well as retain existing talent, may prove to be difficult. It is possible that the current labor market could have an adverse effect on our ability to attract, recruit, hire and retain skilled employees, which in turn, could have an adverse effect on the Company’s business, financial condition and results of operations. In addition, our business could also be adversely impacted by the ongoing increases in labor costs, including wages and benefits.
RISKS RELATED TO OUR END MARKETS
The Company encounters competition in all areas of our business.
The Company competes primarily on the basis of technology innovation, product quality and performance, price, customer service and delivery time. Competitors include large, diversified companies, some of which have greater assets and financial resources than the Company, as well as medium- to small-sized companies. Rapid technological changes could also lead to the entry of new competitors of various sizes against whom we may not be able to successfully compete. There can be no assurance that the Company will be able to compete successfully against existing or new competition, and the inability to do so may result in price reductions, reduced margins, or loss of market share, any of which could have an adverse effect on the Company’s business, financial condition and results of operations.
The Company is dependent on end market dynamics to sell its products, particularly in the communications, automotive and defense end markets.
The Company is dependent on end market dynamics to sell its products, and its operating results could be adversely affected by cyclical and reduced demand in any of these markets. Approximately 37% of the Company’s 2023 net sales came from sales to the communications industry. Demand for products in these markets is generally subject to rapid technological change and/or capital spending by operators for constructing, rebuilding or upgrading their systems, all of which could be affected by a variety of factors, including general economic conditions, consolidation within the industry, the financial condition of operators and their access to financing, competition, technological developments, new legislation and regulation. Approximately 23% of the Company’s net sales came from the automotive industry. The automotive industry has historically experienced significant downturns during periods of deteriorating global or regional economic or credit conditions, or as a result of prolonged work stoppages or other disputes with labor unions. The communications and automotive end markets are also dominated by large customers that regularly exert price pressures on their suppliers, including the Company. Approximately 11% of the Company’s net sales came from sales to the defense end market. Accordingly, the Company’s sales are affected by changes in the defense budgets of the U.S. and
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foreign governments, which are subject to political and budgetary fluctuations and constraints. Periodic downturns in any of our customers’ end markets can significantly reduce demand for certain of our products, which could have a material adverse effect on the Company’s business, financial condition and results of operations.
RISKS RELATED TO ACQUISITIONS
The Company has at times experienced difficulties and unanticipated expenses in connection with purchasing and integrating newly acquired businesses.
The Company has completed numerous acquisitions in recent years, including 10 in 2023. The Company anticipates that it will continue to pursue acquisition opportunities as part of its growth strategy. From time to time, the Company experiences difficulty and unanticipated expenses associated with purchasing and integrating acquisitions, and acquisitions do not always perform and deliver the financial benefits expected. The Company has also experienced challenges at times following the acquisition of a new company or business, including, but not limited to, managing the operations, manufacturing facilities and technology; maintaining and increasing the customer base; or retaining key employees, suppliers and distributors. In certain limited cases, the Company has pursued indemnification claims against seller(s) of an acquired business or sought recovery under third party insurance policies for pre-acquisition liabilities, breaches of representations, warranties or covenants or for other reasons provided for in the relevant acquisition agreement or insurance policy. To the extent we pursue indemnification claims against such seller(s) or insurers, such seller(s) or insurers may successfully contest such claims and/or may not have the financial capacity to compensate us for such claims, or such claims may otherwise be difficult or impractical to enforce. We cannot predict or guarantee whether and to what extent anticipated cost savings, benefits, margin improvements and growth prospects will be achieved from recent or future acquisitions.
The Company may in the future incur goodwill and other intangible asset impairment charges.
On December 31, 2023, the total assets of the Company were $16.5 billion, which included $7.1 billion of goodwill (the excess of fair value of consideration paid over the fair value of net identifiable assets of businesses acquired) and $834.8 million of other intangible assets, net. The Company performs annual evaluations (or more frequently, if necessary) for the potential impairment of the carrying value of goodwill and other intangible assets. Such evaluations to date have not resulted in the need to recognize an impairment. However, if the financial performance of the Company’s businesses were to decline significantly, the Company could incur a material non-cash charge to its income statement for the impairment of goodwill and other intangible assets. Furthermore, we cannot provide assurance that impairment charges in the future will not be required if the expected cash flow estimates as projected by management do not occur, especially if an economic recession occurs and continues for a lengthy period or becomes more severe, or if acquisitions and investments made by the Company fail to achieve expected returns.
RISKS RELATED TO OUR LIQUIDITY AND CAPITAL RESOURCES
The Company’s credit agreements and senior notes contain certain requirements, which if breached, could have a material adverse effect on the Company.
The second amended and restated credit agreement that governs our $2.5 billion unsecured credit facility (the “Revolving Credit Facility”), which also backstops the Company’s U.S. commercial paper program (“U.S. Commercial Paper Program”) and Euro commercial paper program (“Euro Commercial Paper Program”), contains financial and other covenants, such as a limit on the ratio of debt to earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization, a limit on priority indebtedness and limits on incurrence of liens. The Company also has similar financial and other covenants associated with its two-year, $750.0 million unsecured delayed draw term loan credit agreement (the “Term Loan”) entered into in April 2022. In addition, the ability to meet the financial covenants can be affected by events beyond the Company’s control, and the Company cannot provide assurance that it will meet those tests. A breach of any of these covenants could result in a default under the Revolving Credit Facility and the Term Loan. Upon the occurrence of an event of default under the Revolving Credit Facility or the Term Loan, the lenders could terminate all commitments to extend further credit and elect to declare amounts outstanding thereunder to be immediately due and payable, which could result in the acceleration of certain of the Company’s other indebtedness and the Company not having sufficient assets to repay indebtedness under the Revolving Credit Facility, the Term Loan and such other debt instruments. As of December 31, 2023, the Company had no borrowings outstanding under the Revolving Credit Facility, Term Loan, U.S. Commercial Paper Program and Euro Commercial Paper Program. However, the Company borrowed under the U.S.
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Commercial Paper Program throughout much of 2023, and the Company may make additional borrowings under any of its debt instruments from time to time.
In addition to these credit agreements, the Company’s various senior notes also impose certain obligations on the Company and prohibit various actions by the Company unless it satisfies certain financial requirements. While the Company is compliant with all such requirements as of December 31, 2023, there can be no assurance that the Company will remain in compliance with such requirements.
The Company relies on the global capital markets, and an inability to access those markets on favorable terms could adversely affect the Company’s results.
The Company has used the global capital markets to raise capital to invest in its business and make strategic acquisitions. The capital and credit markets have experienced significant volatility in the past. If general economic and capital market conditions deteriorate significantly, it could become more difficult to access capital to finance capital investments, acquisitions and other initiatives including dividends and share repurchases, which could have a material adverse effect on the Company’s business, financial condition, results of operations or cash flows. In addition, if the credit rating agencies that rate the Company’s debt were to downgrade the Company’s credit rating, it would likely increase the Company’s cost of capital and make it more difficult for the Company to obtain new financing and access capital markets, which could also have a material adverse effect on the Company’s business, financial condition, results of operations or cash flows.
The Company’s results may be negatively affected by changing interest rates.
The Company is subject to interest rate volatility with regard to existing and future issuances of debt. The Company monitors its mix of fixed-rate and variable-rate debt, as well as its mix of short-term and long-term debt. As of December 31, 2023, less than 1% of the Company’s outstanding borrowings were subject to floating interest rates.
As a result of increases in the federal funds rate by the U.S. Federal Reserve beginning in early 2022 and through the middle of 2023, the floating interest rates related to our U.S. Commercial Paper Program (as well as our Revolving Credit Facility and Term Loan, to the extent either are drawn upon in the future) have increased substantially over this same period, a trend that could continue into 2024 and potentially beyond. To the extent that interest rates related to this floating rate debt increase further and the Company borrows under any of these floating interest rate instruments in the future, interest expense and interest payments would increase. There can be no assurance that interest rates will not change significantly from current levels.
RISKS RELATED TO LEGAL AND REGULATORY MATTERS
Our business and financial results may be adversely affected by government contracting risks.
We are subject to various laws and regulations applicable to parties doing business with the U.S. and other governments, including laws and regulations governing reporting obligations, interactions with government officials, performance of government contracts, the use and treatment of government furnished property and the nature of materials used in our products. We may be unilaterally suspended or barred from conducting business with the U.S. and other foreign governments or their suppliers (both directly and indirectly) or become subject to fines or other sanctions if we are found to have violated such laws or regulations. As a result of the need to comply with these laws and regulations, we are subject to increased risks of governmental investigations, civil fraud actions, criminal prosecutions, whistleblower lawsuits and other enforcement actions. For example, the Company reached an agreement in August 2023 with the U.S. government related to an investigation of alleged violations by the Company of the civil False Claims Act. Although the Company did not admit to any liability under the terms of the settlement agreement, the Company agreed to pay the U.S. government a settlement amount, ending the government’s investigation and releasing the Company from further liability for the issues under investigation. The U.S. laws and regulations to which we are subject include, but are not limited to, the Export Administration Regulations, the Federal Acquisition Regulation, the False Claims Act, International Traffic in Arms Regulations, regulations from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms and the FCPA. Moreover, we are subject to a wide range of similar laws and regulations in other countries throughout the world. Failure, or the perceived failure, to comply with applicable requirements also could harm our reputation and our ability to compete for future government contracts or sell commercial equivalent products. Any of these outcomes could have a material adverse effect on our business, operations, financial condition, liquidity, and results of operations.
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In addition, U.S. government contracts are subject to modification, curtailment or termination by the U.S. government without prior written notice, either for convenience or for default as a result of our failure to perform under the applicable contract. If our contracts are terminated by the U.S. government as a result of our default, we could be liable for additional costs the U.S. government incurs in acquiring undelivered goods or services from another source and any other damages it suffers. Furthermore, the U.S. government periodically audits our governmental contract costs, which could result in fines, penalties or adjustment of costs and prices under the contracts. Any such fines, penalties or payment adjustments resulting from such audits could adversely affect our reputation, business, operations, financial condition, liquidity, and results of operations.
The Company must comply with complex U.S. governmental export and import controls as well as economic sanctions and trade embargoes.
Certain of our products, including purchased components of such products, are subject to U.S. and non-U.S. export control laws and regulations, and may be exported only with the required export license or through an export license exception. In addition, we are required to comply with certain U.S. and non-U.S. economic sanctions and trade embargoes that restrict our ability to transact or deal with certain persons, countries, regions, and governments. These laws and regulations are complex, may change frequently and with limited notice, have generally become more stringent over time and have intensified under recent U.S. administrations, especially in light of ongoing tensions between the U.S. and China. For example, in 2019, the U.S. government added certain of the Company’s customers based in China to the “Entity List” maintained by the U.S. Department of Commerce, which imposes additional restrictions on sales to such customers. Further, in 2022, the U.S. Commerce Department’s Bureau of Industry Security released new export control regulations that restrict the provision to China of certain technology, software, manufacturing equipment and commodities that are used to make certain advanced computing integrated circuits (“ICs”) and supercomputers. These changes include new restrictions on the ability of U.S. companies to provide certain services to any facility in China that manufactures certain advanced ICs. Although, to date, none of such restrictions have had a material adverse effect on the Company’s business, financial condition and results of operations, the U.S. government has the power to place even greater restrictions, and such restrictions could further limit or prohibit the Company from selling its products or providing its services. In addition, we cannot ensure that our policies and procedures designed to maintain compliance with applicable rules and regulations will be effective in preventing instances of non-compliance. If we were to fail to comply with applicable export control restrictions (for example, by failing to obtain required export licensing), customs regulations, economic sanctions and other laws, we could be subject to substantial civil and criminal penalties, including fines, the incarceration of responsible employees and managers, reputational harm, and the possible loss of export or import privileges. In addition, if our distributors fail to obtain appropriate import, export or re-export licenses or permits, we may also be adversely affected through reputational harm and penalties. Obtaining the necessary export license for a particular sale may be time-consuming and may result in the delay or loss of sales opportunities.
Changes in fiscal and tax policies, audits and examinations by taxing authorities could impact the Company’s results.
The Company is subject to tax in the U.S. and in numerous foreign jurisdictions. The Company is currently under tax examination in several jurisdictions, and, in addition, new examinations could be initiated by additional tax authorities. As the Company has operations in jurisdictions throughout the world, the risk of tax examinations will continue to occur. The Company’s financial condition, results of operations or cash flows may be materially impacted by the results of these tax examinations.
On August 16, 2022, the President of the United States signed into law the Inflation Reduction Act of 2022 (the “IRA”), a tax and spending package that introduces several tax-related provisions, including a 15% corporate alternative minimum tax (“CAMT”) on certain large corporations and a 1% excise tax on certain corporate stock repurchases. Companies will be required to reassess their valuation allowances for certain affected deferred tax assets in the period of enactment but will not need to remeasure deferred tax balances for the related tax accounting implications of the CAMT. The IRA provisions, which became effective for Amphenol beginning on January 1, 2023, did not have a material impact on the Company during the year ended December 31, 2023. However, the full impact of these provisions in the future depends on several factors, including interpretive regulatory guidance, which has not yet been released.
The Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD)/G20 Inclusive Framework, known as Pillar Two, provides guidance for a global minimum tax. This guidance lays out a common approach for adopting the global minimum tax and enacting local legislation codifying the provisions that all 142 countries in the Inclusive Framework agreed to by consensus. The EU member states have agreed to adopt these rules in two stages with the first component effective on January 1, 2024, while the second component will be effective January 1, 2025. Non-EU
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countries have enacted or are expected to enact legislation on a similar timeline. Certain countries in which we operate have already enacted legislation to adopt the Pillar Two framework, while several other countries are expected to also implement similar legislation with varying effective dates in the future. When and how this framework is adopted or enacted by the various countries in which we do business will increase tax complexity and may increase uncertainty and adversely affect our provision for income taxes in the U.S. and non-U.S. jurisdictions.
Any future changes in tax laws, regulations, accounting standards for income taxes and/or other tax guidance, including related interpretations associated with the IRA or otherwise, could materially impact the Company’s current and non-current tax liabilities, along with deferred tax assets and liabilities, and consequently, our financial condition, results of operations or cash flows.
We may experience difficulties in enforcing our intellectual property rights, which could result in loss of market share, and we may be subject to claims of infringement of the intellectual property rights of others.
We rely on patent and trade secret laws, copyright, trademark, confidentiality procedures, controls and contractual commitments to protect our intellectual property rights. Despite our efforts, these protections may be limited and, from time to time, we encounter difficulties in protecting our intellectual property rights, particularly in certain countries outside the U.S. We cannot provide assurance that the patents that we hold or may obtain will provide meaningful protection against our competitors. Changes in laws concerning intellectual property, or the enforcement of such laws, may affect our ability to prevent or address the misappropriation of, or the unauthorized use of, our intellectual property, potentially resulting in loss of market share. Litigation may be necessary to enforce our intellectual property rights. Litigation is inherently uncertain and outcomes are unpredictable. If we cannot protect our intellectual property rights against unauthorized copying or use, or other misappropriation, we may not remain competitive.
The intellectual property rights of others could inhibit our ability to introduce new products. Other companies hold patents on technologies used in our industries and are aggressively seeking to expand, enforce and license their patent portfolios. We periodically receive notices from, or have lawsuits filed against us by, third parties claiming infringement, misappropriation or other misuse of their intellectual property rights and/or breach of our agreements with them. These third parties may include entities that do not have the capabilities to design, manufacture, or distribute products or that acquire intellectual property like patents for the sole purpose of monetizing their acquired intellectual property through asserting claims of infringement and misuse. In addition, some foreign competitors may take advantage of the intellectual property laws in their home countries and the more favorable litigation and regulatory environment to our detriment. Third-party claims of infringement may result in loss of revenue, substantial costs or lead to monetary damages or injunctive relief against us.
The Company is subject to customer claims, litigation and other regulatory or legal proceedings.
The Company is currently engaged in, or subject to, various customer claims, litigation and other regulatory and legal matters and may be subject to additional claims, litigation and other regulatory or legal proceedings in the future. Such matters expose the Company to risks that could be material, including, but not limited to, risks related to employment disputes, tax controversies, government investigations, intellectual property infringement, compliance with environmental laws, unfair sales practices, product safety and liability, and product warranty, indemnity and other contract-related claims. These matters may subject the Company to lawsuits, voluntary or forced product recalls, government investigations and criminal liability, including claims for compensatory, punitive or consequential damages, and could result in disruptions to our business and significant legal expenses. These matters could also damage our reputation, harm our relationships with customers or negatively affect product demand.
While the Company does maintain certain insurance coverages that may mitigate losses associated with some of these types of claims and proceedings, the policies may not apply and, where insurance exists, the amount of insurance coverage may not be adequate to cover the total claims and liabilities. In some cases, particularly with respect to product warranty claims from customers, we self-insure against this risk, meaning that any product liability claims will likely have to be paid from Company funds and not by insurance. Any current or future substantial liabilities or regulatory actions could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition, cash flows and reputation.
The Company is subject to environmental laws and regulations that could adversely affect our business.
The Company operates in both the United States and various foreign jurisdictions, and we must comply with locally enacted laws and regulations addressing health, safety and environmental matters in such jurisdictions in which we
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manufacture and/or sell our products. Certain operations of the Company are subject to locally enacted environmental laws and regulations that govern the discharge of pollutants into the air and water, as well as the handling and disposal of solid and hazardous wastes. The Company and its operations may be subject to liabilities, regardless of fault, for investigative and/or remediation efforts on such matters that may arise at any of the Company’s former or current properties, either owned or leased. Environmental liabilities can result from the use of hazardous materials in production, the disposal of products, damages associated with the use of any of our products or other related matters. We cannot be certain as to the potential impact of any changes to environmental conditions or environmental policies that may arise in any of our jurisdictions. Our failure to comply with these local environmental laws and regulations could result in fines or other punitive damages and/or modifications to our production processes as well as subject us to reputational harm, any of which could adversely impact our financial position, results of operations, or cash flows.
The Company is subject to, and may continue to be subject to, incremental costs, risks and regulations associated with efforts to combat the negative effects of climate change.
There is increased public awareness regarding climate change. This increased focus has led to international treaties and agreements and legislative and regulatory efforts. In addition to the risks discussed under the risk factors titled “The Company may be negatively impacted by extreme weather conditions and natural catastrophic events, including those caused or intensified by climate change and global warming” and “Increasing scrutiny and expectations regarding ESG matters could result in additional costs or risks or otherwise adversely impact our business,” the Company may also be subject to larger, global climate change initiatives, laws, regulations or orders, such as any laws or regulations to implement the Paris Climate Agreement, which seek to reduce greenhouse gas (“GHG”) emissions. In addition to government requirements, our customers are also increasingly imposing climate-related requirements on their suppliers, including us. Any failure, or perceived failure, to comply with these requirements may result in reduced demand for our products, reputational harm, or other adverse impacts to our business.
Given our global manufacturing presence, any future regulations relating to GHG emissions and/or other climate change-related laws and regulations, beyond initiatives already in process at the Company, could subject us to additional and/or unforeseen compliance costs and limitations, increased energy and raw material costs and incremental capital expenditure requirements. In addition, governmental bodies are increasingly adopting and considering adopting additional mandatory climate-related reporting obligations, and potentially GHG emissions reduction requirements, and these regulatory developments, to the extent we are subject to them, will likely result in increased corporate and operational general and administrative efforts and associated costs and expenses.
There have been various new laws around the world that have been passed and will require additional ESG-related disclosure. For example, in Europe, the EU finalized the Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (“CSRD”), which introduces more prescriptive sustainability reporting requirements for EU companies as well as certain non-EU companies, and will apply to all in-scope companies by January 1, 2028. In the United States, the SEC has proposed climate-related disclosure rules that have not yet been enacted as of the date of this report, and certain states have begun to pass their own ESG-related laws. For example, on October 7, 2023, the governor of California signed and enacted into law two climate-related disclosure bills (SB-253, Climate Corporate Data Accountability Act and SB-261, Greenhouse Gases: Climate-Related Financial Risk), which will require compliance as early as 2026.
Any future regulatory changes in any of the jurisdictions in which we operate could result in transition risks to the Company, including, but not limited to: (i) the nature and timing of any requirement to lower GHG emissions and adopt more energy-efficient energy use, which could result in changes or disruptions to the way the Company operates, (ii) financial risks where the compliance with such regulations requires unforeseen capital expenditures and becomes costly or financially burdensome, (iii) legal risks associated with the failure to adapt to or comply with future climate change-related regulations, (iv) risks of climate litigation associated with our disclosures and/or operations; (v) risks associated with the implementation of any new technologies required to comply with such regulations, which could impede our ability to develop new products, meet customer and market demand or compete on pricing and quality in the market, and/or (vi) reputational risks associated with our customers’ and investors’ perceptions of the Company and their preferences for maintaining relationships with companies with lower emissions, all of which could harm our reputation in the marketplace.
Item 1B. Unresolved Staff Comments
None.
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Item 1C. Cybersecurity
Cybersecurity Risk Management and Strategy
We have developed and implemented an information security and cybersecurity risk management program (“Program”) intended to protect and preserve the confidentiality, integrity and availability of our data and information technology systems. Our Program is integrated into our overall enterprise risk management program. We use the National Institute of Standards and Technology Cybersecurity Framework (the “NIST CSF”) as a benchmark to ensure that our Program is maintained in line with industry best practices. This does not imply that we meet any particular technical standards, specifications or requirements, but it does mean that we use the NIST CSF as a guide to help us identify, assess and manage cybersecurity risks relevant to our business.
The Company maintains a decentralized information technology infrastructure, where each of our business units utilizes a separate and distinct information technology system. This means that if any business unit’s systems are compromised, there is significantly less risk that another business unit will be impacted by that event. This decentralized structure also allows our information security professionals embedded within an individual business unit to make quick, efficient decisions when changes or actions are needed and provides an additional safeguard for our data and systems.
Our Program includes:
| ● | risk assessments and penetration tests integrated within our overall risk management processes that are designed to identify cybersecurity and technology risks, as well as to formulate management actions to respond to, mitigate and remediate material issues (if any); |
| ● | annual management reporting to the Board of Directors (the “Board”); |
| ● | reporting of the scope, objectives and results of internal audits on the procedures performed on the control environment related to our information security systems and security controls to the Audit Committee at least two times a year; |
| ● | annual cybersecurity awareness training to instruct employees how to better identify cybersecurity concerns and to avoid actions that might inadvertently allow outsiders to access our systems; |
| ● | installation of end point protection software on our Company-managed systems and workstations in an effort to detect and prevent malicious code from impacting our systems; |
| ● | a cross-functional team principally responsible for managing our cybersecurity risk assessment processes and our response to cybersecurity incidents; |
| ● | the use of external service providers, where appropriate, to assess, monitor, test or otherwise assist with aspects of our security controls and response to cybersecurity incidents; and |
| ● | a documented framework and supporting processes for handling security incidents that facilitates coordination across multiple parts of the Company. |
We have not identified risks from known cybersecurity threats, including as a result of any prior security breach, that have materially affected or are reasonably likely to materially affect us, including our business strategy, financial condition and results of operations. We face certain ongoing risks from cybersecurity threats that, if realized, are reasonably likely to materially affect us, including our operations, business strategy, results of operations or financial condition. For a discussion of certain risks related to cybersecurity, refer to the risk factor titled “Cybersecurity incidents affecting our information technology systems could disrupt business operations or cause the release of highly sensitive confidential or personal information, resulting in adverse impacts to our reputation and operating results and potentially leading to litigation and/or governmental investigations, fines and other penalties” in Part I, Item 1A. Risk Factors herein.
Cybersecurity Governance
Our Board maintains oversight responsibility relating to our Program, with assistance from the Audit Committee. At least annually, our management team (including the leaders of our Information Technology and Internal Audit teams) provides an update regarding our Program to the Board. This update provides an overall assessment of the effectiveness of our Program and a review of areas of focus for the upcoming year. The Board also receives periodic reports from our Vice President, Internal Audit, on the audit focus areas and control testing related to our information security systems
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and security controls, and our management team updates the Board, as necessary, regarding any material cybersecurity incidents.
Our management team, including our Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer, Senior Vice President and General Counsel, Vice President, Information Technology, and Vice President, Internal Audit, is responsible for assessing and managing our material risks from cybersecurity threats. The team has primary responsibility for our Program and our Vice President, Information Technology, supervises both our internal information security personnel and our retained external cybersecurity consultants. Our management team supervises efforts to prevent, detect, mitigate and remediate cybersecurity risks and incidents through various means, which may include briefings from internal information technology personnel and external consultants engaged by us, as well as alerts and reports produced by security tools deployed in our information technology environment.
Our management team’s experience includes knowledge related to information technology, cybersecurity and incidence response, risk management, control analysis and corporate governance. For additional details about our management team and their experience, refer to the Executive Leadership page on the Company’s website at https://www.amphenol.com/governance/leadership.
Item 2. Properties
The Company’s fixed assets include factories and warehouses and a substantial quantity of machinery and equipment. The Company’s factories, warehouses and machinery and equipment are generally in good operating condition, are reasonably maintained and substantially all of its facilities are in regular use. The Company considers the present level of fixed assets along with planned capital expenditures as suitable and adequate for operations in the current business environment. At December 31, 2023, the Company operated approximately 280 manufacturing facilities with approximately 27 million square feet, of which approximately 19 million square feet were leased. Manufacturing facilities located in the U.S. had approximately 5 million square feet, of which approximately 2 million square feet were leased. Manufacturing facilities located outside the U.S. had approximately 22 million square feet, of which approximately 17 million square feet were leased. The square footage by segment related to our manufacturing facilities was approximately 7 million square feet, 11 million square feet and 9 million square feet for the Harsh Environment Solutions segment, Communications Solutions segment and Interconnect and Sensor Systems segment, respectively.
The Company believes that its facilities are suitable and adequate for its business and are being appropriately utilized for their intended purposes. Utilization of the facilities varies based on demand for the relevant products. The Company regularly reviews its anticipated requirements for facilities and, based on that review, may from time to time acquire or lease additional facilities and/or dispose of existing facilities.
Item 3. Legal Proceedings
Information required with respect to legal proceedings in this Part I, Item 3 is included in Note 14 of the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements contained in Part II, Item 8 of this Annual Report, which is incorporated herein by reference.
Item 4. Mine Safety Disclosures
Not applicable.
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PART II
Item 5. Market for Registrant’s Common Equity, Related Stockholder Matters and Issuer Purchases of Equity Securities
Market Information
The Company effected the initial public offering of its Class A Common Stock (“Common Stock”) in November 1991. The Company’s Common Stock has been listed on the New York Stock Exchange since that time under the ticker symbol “APH”. As of January 31, 2024, there were 31 holders of record of the Company’s Common Stock. A significant number of outstanding shares of Common Stock are registered in the name of only one holder, which is a nominee of The Depository Trust Company, a securities depository for banks and brokerage firms. The Company believes that there are a significant number of beneficial owners of its Common Stock.
Stock Performance Graph
The following graph compares the cumulative total shareholder return of Amphenol over a period of five years ending December 31, 2023 with the performance of the Standard & Poor’s 500 (“S&P 500”) Stock Index and the Dow Jones U.S. Electrical Components & Equipment Index. This graph assumes that $100 was invested in our Common Stock and each index on December 31, 2018, reflects reinvested dividends, and is weighted on a market capitalization basis as of the beginning of each year. Each reported data point below represents the last trading day of each calendar year. The comparisons in the graph below are based upon historical data and are not indicative of, nor intended to forecast, future performance.
Dividends
Contingent upon declaration by the Company’s Board of Directors (the “Board”), the Company pays a quarterly dividend on shares of its Common Stock.
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The following table sets forth the dividends declared per common share for each quarter of 2023 and 2022:
| 2023 |
| 2022 | |||
First Quarter | $ | 0.21 | $ | 0.20 | ||
Second Quarter |
| 0.21 |
| 0.20 | ||
Third Quarter |
| 0.21 |
| 0.20 | ||
Fourth Quarter |
| 0.22 |
| 0.21 | ||
Total | $ | 0.85 | $ | 0.81 | ||
Dividends declared and paid for the years ended December 31, 2023 and 2022 (in millions) were as follows:
2023 | 2022 | |||||
Dividends declared | $ | 507.4 | $ | 482.6 | ||
Dividends paid (including those declared in the prior year) |
| 500.6 |
| 477.4 | ||
Amphenol has a history of paying quarterly cash dividends. While the Company currently expects a cash dividend to be paid in the future, future dividend payments remain within the discretion of the Board and are dependent on our financial results, liquidity, capital requirements, financial condition, compliance with financial covenants and requirements, and other factors considered relevant by the Board.
Repurchase of Equity Securities
On April 27, 2021, the Board authorized a stock repurchase program under which the Company may purchase up to $2.0 billion of the Company’s Common Stock during the three-year period ending April 27, 2024 (the “2021 Stock Repurchase Program”). During the three months and year ended December 31, 2023, the Company repurchased 1.3 million and 7.2 million shares of its Common Stock for $115.3 million and $585.1 million, respectively, under the 2021 Stock Repurchase Program. Of the total repurchases made in 2023, 5.5 million shares, or $435.8 million, have been retired by the Company, with the remainder of the repurchased shares being retained in Treasury stock at the time of repurchase. From January 1, 2024 through January 31, 2024, the Company did not repurchase any additional shares of its Common Stock, and, as of February 1, 2024, the Company has remaining authorization to purchase up to $226.5 million of its Common Stock under the 2021 Stock Repurchase Program. The timing and amount of any future purchases will depend on a number of factors, such as the levels of cash generation from operations, the volume of stock options exercised by employees, cash requirements for acquisitions, dividends paid, economic and market conditions and the price of the Common Stock.
The Company’s stock repurchases during the three months and year ended December 31, 2023 were as follows:
(dollars in millions, except price per share) | Total Number of Shares | Maximum Dollar Value | |||||||||
Total Number | Average | Purchased as Part of | of Shares that May Yet be | ||||||||
of Shares | Price Paid | Publicly Announced | Purchased Under the | ||||||||
Period | Purchased |
| per Share |
| Plans or Programs |
| Plans or Programs | ||||
First Quarter – 2023 | 2,117,279 | $ | 78.83 | 2,117,279 | $ | 644.7 | |||||
Second Quarter – 2023 | 1,982,956 | 77.44 | 1,982,956 | 491.1 | |||||||
Third Quarter – 2023 | 1,734,259 | 86.11 | 1,734,259 | 341.8 | |||||||
Fourth Quarter – 2023: | |||||||||||
October 1 to October 31, 2023 |
| 534,200 |
| 82.15 |
| 534,200 |
| 297.9 | |||
November 1 to November 30, 2023 |
| 599,079 |
| 86.38 |
| 599,079 |
| 246.2 | |||
December 1 to December 31, 2023 |
| 214,300 |
| 91.75 |
| 214,300 |
| $ | 226.5 | ||
1,347,579 | 85.56 | 1,347,579 | |||||||||
Total – 2023 |
| 7,182,073 | $ | 81.47 |
| 7,182,073 |
| ||||
Item 6. [Reserved]
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Item 7. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations
(amounts in millions, except share and per share data, unless otherwise noted)
The following discussion and analysis of the financial condition and results of operations for the years ended December 31, 2023, 2022 and 2021 has been derived from and should be read in conjunction with the Consolidated Financial Statements and the accompanying Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements included in Part II, Item 8, herein for Amphenol Corporation (together with its subsidiaries, “Amphenol,” the “Company,” “we,” “our,” or “us”). The Consolidated Financial Statements have been prepared in U.S. dollars, in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (“U.S. GAAP” or “GAAP”). Any references to the Company’s results in this Item 7 are specifically to our continuing operations only and exclude discontinued operations, unless otherwise noted. The following discussion and analysis also includes references to certain non-GAAP financial measures, which are defined in the “Non-GAAP Financial Measures” section below, including “Constant Currency Net Sales Growth” and “Organic Net Sales Growth”. For purposes of the following discussion, the terms “constant currencies” and “organically” have the same meaning, respectively, as these aforementioned non-GAAP financial measures. Refer to “Non-GAAP Financial Measures” within this Item 7 for more information, including our reasons for including non-GAAP financial measures and material limitations with respect to the usefulness of the measures.
In addition to historical information, the following discussion and analysis also contains certain forward-looking statements that are subject to risks and uncertainties, including but not limited to the risk factors described in Part I, Item 1A. Risk Factors herein, as well as the risks and uncertainties that exist with the use of forward-looking statements as described in the “Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements” section included herein at the beginning of this Annual Report on Form 10-K (“Annual Report”).
Overview
General
Amphenol is one of the world’s largest designers, manufacturers and marketers of electrical, electronic and fiber optic connectors and interconnect systems, antennas, sensors and sensor-based products and coaxial and high-speed specialty cable. In 2023, approximately 65% of the Company’s sales were outside the United States. The primary end markets for our products are:
| ● | information technology and communication devices and systems for the converging technologies of voice, video and data communications; |
| ● | a broad range of industrial applications and traditional, hybrid and electric automotive applications; and |
| ● | defense and commercial aerospace applications. |
The Company’s products are used in a wide variety of applications by a broad array of customers around the world. The Company competes primarily on the basis of technology innovation, product quality and performance, price, customer service and delivery time. For many years, customers have generally been consolidating their lists of qualified suppliers to companies that have the ability to meet certain technical, quality, delivery and other standards while maintaining geographic flexibility and competitive prices. The Company has focused its global resources to position itself to compete effectively in this environment. The Company believes that its global presence is an important competitive advantage, as it allows the Company to provide quality products on a timely and worldwide basis to its multinational customers, while at the same time offering a level of resiliency and diversification against local risks and challenges that may emerge in any single geography.
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Reportable Business Segments
The Company aligns its businesses into the following three reportable business segments:
This alignment reinforces the Company’s entrepreneurial culture and the clear accountability of each of our business unit general managers, while enhancing the scalability of Amphenol’s business for the future. For further details related to the Company’s reportable business segments, refer to Note 13 of the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements herein.
Strategy
The Company’s strategy is to provide our customers with comprehensive design capabilities, a broad selection of products and a high level of quality and service on a worldwide basis, while maintaining continuing programs of productivity improvement and cost control. The Company focuses its research and development efforts through close collaboration with its customers to develop highly engineered products that meet customer needs and have the potential for broad market applications and significant sales within a one- to three-year period. The Company is also focused on controlling costs. The Company does this by investing in modern manufacturing technologies, controlling purchasing processes and expanding into lower cost areas.
The Company’s strategic objective is to further enhance its position in its served markets by pursuing the following success factors:
| ● | Pursue broad market diversification; |
| ● | Develop high-technology performance-enhancing solutions; |
| ● | Expand global presence; |
| ● | Control costs; |
| ● | Pursue strategic acquisitions and investments; and |
| ● | Foster collaborative, entrepreneurial management. |
In 2023, the Company reported net sales and operating income of $12,554.7 and $2,559.6, respectively, each representing a decrease of 1% from 2022, while net income from continuing operations attributable to Amphenol Corporation of $1,928.0 represented an increase of 1% from 2022. In 2023, the Company’s net income from continuing operations attributable to Amphenol Corporation was impacted by (a) excess tax benefits of $82.4 related to stock-based compensation resulting from stock option exercises and (b) the gain of $5.4 on a bargain purchase acquisition that closed in the second quarter of 2023, partially offset by (c) acquisition-related expenses of $34.6 ($30.2 after-tax) comprised primarily of external transaction costs, as well as the amortization of $12.4 related to the value associated with acquired backlog resulting from three of the acquisitions that closed in 2023. In 2022, the Company’s net income from continuing operations attributable to Amphenol Corporation was impacted by (a) excess tax benefits of $56.0 related to stock-based compensation resulting from stock option exercises, partially offset by (b) acquisition-related expenses of $21.5 ($18.4 after-tax) comprised primarily of the amortization related to the value associated with acquired backlog resulting from two acquisitions that closed in 2022, along with external transaction costs. Excluding the effects of these items, Adjusted Operating Income decreased by 1%, while Adjusted Net Income from continuing operations attributable to Amphenol Corporation increased slightly in 2023 compared to 2022. Adjusted Operating Income and Adjusted Net
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Income from continuing operations attributable to Amphenol Corporation are both non-GAAP financial measures, each as defined in the “Non-GAAP Financial Measures” section below and reconciled within this Part II, Item 7. Sales and profitability trends are discussed in detail in “Results of Operations” below. In addition, a strength of the Company has been its ability to consistently generate net cash provided by operating activities from continuing operations (“Operating Cash Flow”). The Company uses Operating Cash Flow to fund capital expenditures and acquisitions, repurchase shares of the Company’s Class A Common Stock (“Common Stock”), pay dividends and reduce indebtedness. In 2023, the Company generated Operating Cash Flow of $2,528.7 and Free Cash Flow of $2,159.9, compared to Operating Cash Flow of $2,174.6 and Free Cash Flow of $1,796.4 in 2022. Free Cash Flow, a non-GAAP financial measure, is defined in the “Non-GAAP Financial Measures” section below and reconciled within this Part II, Item 7.
Inflation Reduction Act of 2022
On August 16, 2022, the President of the United States signed into law the Inflation Reduction Act of 2022 (the “IRA”), a tax and spending package that introduces several tax-related provisions, including a 15% corporate alternative minimum tax (“CAMT”) on certain large corporations and a 1% excise tax on certain corporate stock repurchases. Companies will be required to reassess their valuation allowances for certain affected deferred tax assets in the period of enactment but will not need to remeasure deferred tax balances for the related tax accounting implications of the CAMT. The IRA provisions, which became effective for Amphenol beginning on January 1, 2023, did not have a material impact on the Company during the year ended December 31, 2023. While the full impact of these provisions in the future depends on several factors, including interpretive regulatory guidance, which has not yet been released, the Company does not currently believe that the provisions of the IRA, including several other non-tax related provisions, will have a material impact on its financial condition, results of operations, liquidity and cash flows.
Pillar Two Framework
The Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD)/G20 Inclusive Framework, known as Pillar Two, provides guidance for a global minimum tax. This guidance lays out a common approach for adopting the global minimum tax and enacting local legislation codifying the provisions that all 142 countries in the Inclusive Framework agreed to by consensus. The European Union (“EU”) member states have agreed to adopt these rules in two stages with the first component effective on January 1, 2024, while the second component will be effective January 1, 2025. Non-EU countries have enacted or are expected to enact legislation on a similar timeline. Certain countries in which we operate have already enacted legislation to adopt the Pillar Two framework, while several other countries are expected to also implement similar legislation with varying effective dates in the future. When and how this framework is adopted or enacted by the various countries in which we do business will increase tax complexity and may increase uncertainty and adversely affect our provision for income taxes in the U.S. and non-U.S. jurisdictions. The Company has done a preliminary review of currently enacted legislation and does not expect the initial implementation to materially impact future results. However, the Company will continue to evaluate the potential impact of Pillar Two on the Company and its future results, as additional countries adopt legislation and issue individual guidance on their enacted legislation.
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Results of Operations
The following table sets forth the components of net income attributable to Amphenol Corporation as a percentage of net sales for the years indicated.
Year Ended December 31, |
| ||||||
| 2023 |
| 2022 |
| 2021 |
| |
Net sales |
| 100.0 | % | 100.0 | % | 100.0 | % |
Cost of sales |
| 67.5 | 68.1 | 68.7 | |||
Acquisition-related expenses |
| 0.3 | 0.2 | 0.6 | |||
Selling, general and administrative expenses |
| 11.9 | 11.3 | 11.3 | |||
Operating income |
| 20.4 | 20.5 | 19.4 | |||
Interest expense |
| (1.1) | (1.0) | (1.1) | |||
Gain on bargain purchase acquisition | — | — | — | ||||
Other income (expense), net |
| 0.2 | 0.1 | — | |||
Income from continuing operations before income taxes |
| 19.6 | 19.5 | 18.3 | |||
Provision for income taxes |
| (4.1) | (4.4) | (3.8) | |||
Net income from continuing operations |
| 15.5 | 15.2 | 14.5 | |||
Net income from continuing operations attributable to noncontrolling interests | (0.1) | (0.1) | (0.1) | ||||
Net income from continuing operations attributable to Amphenol Corporation | 15.4 | 15.1 | 14.4 | ||||
Income from discontinued operations attributable to Amphenol Corporation |
| — | — | 0.2 | |||
Net income attributable to Amphenol Corporation |
| 15.4 | % | 15.1 | % | 14.6 | % |
Note: Percentages in this table were calculated using actual, unrounded results; therefore, the sum of the components may not add due to rounding.
2023 Compared to 2022
Net sales were $12,554.7 for the year ended December 31, 2023 compared to $12,623.0 for the year ended December 31, 2022, which represented a decrease of 1% in U.S. dollars and 3% organically (excluding both currency and acquisition impacts), while flat in constant currencies compared to the prior year. The decrease in net sales in 2023 was driven by a sales decline in the Communications Solutions segment, partially offset by growth in the Harsh Environment Solutions and Interconnect and Sensor Systems segments, as described below. From an end market standpoint, the decrease in net sales was driven by organic declines in the information technology and data communications (“IT datacom”), mobile networks, mobile devices, industrial and broadband communications markets, partially offset by robust organic growth in the automotive, defense and commercial aerospace markets, along with contributions from the Company’s acquisition program. Net sales to the automotive market increased approximately $310.5, reflecting broad-based strength across our global automotive markets, in particular, next-generation electronics, including electric and hybrid drive trains. Net sales to the defense market increased approximately $237.6, driven by broad-based strength across virtually all defense applications, particularly related to naval, aircraft engines, helicopters, communications, and space-related applications, as well as contributions from acquisitions. Net sales to the commercial aerospace market increased approximately $117.9, primarily due to increased broad-based demand across all aircraft applications, in particular larger passenger planes. Net sales to the industrial market remained flat, as contributions from acquisitions, along with growth in medical, oil and gas, mass transit and transportation applications were offset by moderations in industrial instrumentation, battery and electric heavy vehicles, factory automation and heavy equipment applications. Net sales to the IT datacom market decreased approximately $362.8, as we experienced moderations across a broad array of applications including networking equipment, cloud storage, transmission, consumer electronics and servers, partially offset by strong growth in artificial intelligence-related applications. Net sales to the mobile networks market decreased approximately $163.9, driven by broad-based moderations in demand from mobile network operators and wireless equipment manufacturers, partially offset by contributions from acquisitions. Net sales to the mobile devices market decreased approximately $161.5, driven by declines in sales in laptops, wearable devices, tablets and production-related products, partially offset by growth in smartphones. Net sales to the broadband communications market decreased approximately $46.4, driven by moderations in demand from broadband service operators.
Net sales in the Harsh Environment Solutions segment (approximately 28% of net sales) increased 14% in U.S. dollars, 14% in constant currencies and 9% organically, in 2023, compared to 2022. The sales growth in 2023 was primarily driven by strong organic growth in the defense, commercial aerospace, automotive and IT datacom markets, along with contributions from the Company’s acquisition program, partially offset by organic declines in the industrial and mobile networks markets.
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Net sales in the Communications Solutions segment (approximately 39% of net sales) decreased 13% in U.S. dollars, 12% in constant currencies and 13% organically, in 2023, compared to 2022. The sales decline in 2023 was primarily driven by organic declines in the IT datacom, industrial, mobile networks, mobile devices and broadband communications markets, partially offset by strong organic growth in the automotive market, along with modest contributions from the Company’s acquisition program.
Net sales in the Interconnect and Sensor Systems segment (approximately 33% of net sales) increased 6% in U.S. dollars, 7% in constant currencies and 3% organically, in 2023, compared to 2022. The sales growth in 2023 was primarily driven by strong organic growth in the automotive and commercial aerospace markets, and moderate growth in the industrial and defense markets, along with contributions from the Company’s acquisition program, partially offset by organic declines in the IT datacom and mobile networks markets.
The table below reconciles Constant Currency Net Sales Growth and Organic Net Sales Growth to the most directly comparable U.S. GAAP financial measures, by segment, geography and consolidated, for the year ended December 31, 2023 compared to the year ended December 31, 2022:
Percentage Growth (relative to prior year) (1) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Net sales | Foreign | Constant | Organic | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
growth in | currency | Currency Net | Acquisition | Net Sales | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
U.S. Dollars (2) | impact (3) | Sales Growth (4) | impact (5) | Growth (4) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Net sales by: |
| 2023 |
| 2022 |
| (GAAP) | (non-GAAP) | (non-GAAP) | (non-GAAP) | (non-GAAP) | |||||||||||||||||||||||
Segment: |
|
| |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Harsh Environment Solutions | $ | 3,530.8 |
| $ | 3,107.2 | 14 | % | — | % | 14 | % | 5 | % | 9 | % | ||||||||||||||||||
Communications Solutions | 4,912.8 | 5,652.4 | (13) | % | (1) | % | (12) | % | 1 | % | (13) | % | |||||||||||||||||||||
Interconnect and Sensor Systems |
| 4,111.1 |
| 3,863.4 | 6 | % | — | % | 7 | % | 3 | % | 3 | % | |||||||||||||||||||
Consolidated | $ | 12,554.7 | $ | 12,623.0 | (1) | % | — | % | — | % | 3 | % | (3) | % | |||||||||||||||||||
Geography (6): |
|
| |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
United States | $ | 4,405.4 |
| $ | 4,155.2 | 6 | % | — | % | 6 | % | 5 | % | 1 | % | ||||||||||||||||||
Foreign |
| 8,149.3 |
| 8,467.8 | (4) | % | (1) | % | (3) | % | 1 | % | (4) | % | |||||||||||||||||||
Consolidated | $ | 12,554.7 | $ | 12,623.0 | (1) | % | — | % | — | % | 3 | % | (3) | % | |||||||||||||||||||
| (1) | Percentages in this table were calculated using actual, unrounded results; therefore, the sum of the components may not add due to rounding. |
| (2) | Net sales growth in U.S. dollars is calculated based on Net sales as reported in the Consolidated Statements of Income and Note 13 of the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements. While the term “net sales growth in U.S. dollars” is not considered a U.S. GAAP financial measure, for purposes of this table, we derive the reported (GAAP) measure based on GAAP results, which serves as the basis for the reconciliation to its comparable non-GAAP financial measures. |
| (3) | Foreign currency translation impact, a non-GAAP measure, represents the percentage impact on net sales resulting from foreign currency exchange rate changes in the current reporting year compared to the prior reporting year. Such amount is calculated by subtracting current year net sales translated at average foreign currency exchange rates for the prior year from current year net sales, taken as a percentage of the prior year’s net sales. |
| (4) | Constant Currency Net Sales Growth and Organic Net Sales Growth are non-GAAP financial measures as defined in the “Non-GAAP Financial Measures” section of this Item 7. |
| (5) | Acquisition impact, a non-GAAP measure, represents the percentage impact on net sales resulting from acquisitions that have not been included in the Company’s consolidated results for the full current year and/or prior comparable year presented. Such net sales related to these acquisitions do not reflect the underlying growth of the Company on a comparative basis. Acquisition impact is calculated as a percentage of the respective prior year period(s) net sales. |
| (6) | Net sales by geographic area are based on the customer location to which the product is shipped. |
The decrease in foreign net sales in 2023 compared to 2022 was primarily driven by sales declines in Asia. The comparatively stronger U.S. dollar in 2023 had the effect of decreasing sales by approximately $61.1, compared to 2022.
Selling, general and administrative expenses were $1,489.9, or 11.9% of net sales for 2023, compared to $1,420.9, or 11.3% of net sales, for 2022. The increase in Selling, general and administrative expenses as a percentage of net sales in 2023 was primarily driven by the effect of acquisitions, which currently have higher selling, general and administrative expenses as a percentage of net sales compared to the Company average. Administrative expenses increased $26.2 in 2023 and represented approximately 4.8% of net sales in 2023 and 4.6% of net sales in 2022. Research and development expenses increased $18.6 in 2023, primarily related to increases in expenses for new product development, and represented approximately 2.7% of net sales in 2023 and 2.6% of net sales in 2022. Selling and marketing expenses increased $24.2 in 2023 compared to 2022, and represented approximately 4.3% of net sales in 2023 and 4.1% of net sales in 2022.
Operating income was $2,559.6, or 20.4% of net sales, in 2023, compared to $2,585.8, or 20.5% of net sales, in 2022. Operating income in 2023 included acquisition-related expenses of $34.6, comprised primarily of external transaction costs, as well as the amortization related to the value associated with acquired backlog resulting from three of the acquisitions that closed in 2023. Operating income in 2022 included acquisition-related expenses of $21.5,
30
comprised primarily of the amortization related to the value associated with acquired backlog resulting from two acquisitions that closed in 2022, along with external transaction costs. The acquisition-related expenses in 2023 and 2022 had the effect of decreasing net income from continuing operations by $30.2, or $0.05 per share, and $18.4, or $0.03 per share, respectively. Acquisition-related expenses are presented separately in the Consolidated Statements of Income. Excluding the effect of these acquisition-related expenses, Adjusted Operating Income and Adjusted Operating Margin, each as defined in the “Non-GAAP Financial Measures” section below, were $2,594.2 and 20.7% of net sales, respectively, in 2023, and $2,607.3 and 20.7% of net sales, respectively, in 2022. While Adjusted Operating Income decreased modestly from 2022, Adjusted Operating Margin remained flat in 2023 relative to 2022, as the benefit of pricing actions and strong operational performance were offset by the operating leverage on the lower sales volumes, along with the negative impact on operating margin related to acquisitions that are currently operating below the average operating margin of the Company.
Operating income for the Harsh Environment Solutions segment in 2023 was $943.9, or 26.7% of net sales, compared to $801.6, or 25.8% of net sales in 2022. The increase in operating margin for the Harsh Environment Solutions segment for 2023 compared to 2022 was primarily driven by normal operating leverage on the higher sales volumes and strong operational performance, combined with the benefit of pricing actions, all partially offset by the negative impact on operating margin related to acquisitions that are currently operating below the average operating margin of the Company.
Operating income for the Communications Solutions segment in 2023 was $1,063.5, or 21.6% of net sales, compared to $1,245.7, or 22.0% of net sales in 2022. The decrease in operating margin for the Communications Solutions segment for 2023 compared to 2022 was primarily driven by operating leverage on the lower sales volumes, partially offset by the benefit of pricing actions and strong operational performance.
Operating income for the Interconnect and Sensor Systems segment in 2023 was $753.7, or 18.3% of net sales, compared to $716.5, or 18.5% of net sales in 2022. The modest decrease in operating margin for the Interconnect and Sensor Systems segment for 2023 compared to 2022 was primarily driven by the negative impact on operating margin related to acquisitions that are currently operating below the average operating margin of the Company, partially offset by the normal operating leverage on the higher sales volumes combined with the benefit of pricing actions.
Interest expense was $139.5 in 2023 compared to $128.4 in 2022. The increase in interest expense was driven by the higher interest rate environment, which primarily impacted borrowings under the Company’s U.S. Commercial Paper Program that were outstanding throughout much of 2023. Refer to Note 4 of the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements for further information related to the Company’s debt.
Provision for income taxes was at an effective rate of 20.7% in 2023 and 22.3% in 2022. Provision for income taxes in 2023 included excess tax benefits of $82.4 from stock option exercises as well as the effect of the gain from the bargain purchase acquisition that closed in the second quarter of 2023, all of which were partially offset by the tax effects related to acquisition-related expenses during the year. These items had the aggregate effect of decreasing the effective tax rate and increasing earnings per share by the amounts noted in the table below. Provision for income taxes in 2022 included excess tax benefits of $56.0 from stock option exercises, partially offset by the tax effects related to acquisition-related expenses during the year. These items had the aggregate effect of decreasing the effective tax rate and increasing earnings per share by the amounts noted in the table below. Excluding the effect of these items, the Adjusted Effective Tax Rate, a non-GAAP financial measure as defined in the “Non-GAAP Financial Measures” section below within this Item 7, was 24.0% and 24.5% for 2023 and 2022, respectively, as reconciled in the table below to the comparable effective tax rate based on GAAP results. For additional details related to the reconciliation between the U.S. statutory federal tax rate and the Company’s effective tax rate for these years, refer to Note 6 of the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.
Net income from continuing operations attributable to Amphenol Corporation and Net income from continuing operations per common share attributable to Amphenol Corporation-Diluted (“Diluted EPS”) were $1,928.0 and $3.11, respectively, for 2023, compared to $1,902.3 and $3.06, respectively, for 2022. Excluding the effect of the items discussed above, Adjusted Net Income from continuing operations attributable to Amphenol Corporation and Adjusted Diluted EPS, non-GAAP financial measures as defined in the “Non-GAAP Financial Measures” section below within this Item 7, were $1,870.4 and $3.01, respectively, for 2023, compared to $1,864.7 and $3.00, respectively, for 2022.
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The following table reconciles Adjusted Operating Income, Adjusted Operating Margin, Adjusted Net Income from continuing operations attributable to Amphenol Corporation, Adjusted Effective Tax Rate and Adjusted Diluted EPS (all on a continuing operations basis only, each as defined in the “Non-GAAP Financial Measures” section below) to the most directly comparable U.S. GAAP financial measures for the years ended December 31, 2023 and 2022:
2023 | 2022 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Net Income |
| Net Income | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
attributable | Effective | attributable | Effective | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
Operating | Operating | to Amphenol | Tax |
| Diluted | Operating | Operating | to Amphenol | Tax |
| Diluted | |||||||||||||||||
Income |
| Margin (1) |
| Corporation |
| Rate (1) |
| EPS |
| Income |
| Margin (1) |
| Corporation |
| Rate (1) |
| EPS | ||||||||||
Reported (GAAP) | $ | 2,559.6 |
| 20.4 | % | $ | 1,928.0 | 20.7 | % | $ | 3.11 | $ | 2,585.8 |
| 20.5 | % | $ | 1,902.3 | 22.3 | % | $ | 3.06 | ||||||
Acquisition-related expenses | 34.6 | 0.3 | 30.2 | (0.2) | 0.05 | 21.5 | 0.2 | 18.4 | (0.1) | 0.03 | ||||||||||||||||||
Gain on bargain purchase acquisition | — | — | (5.4) | 0.1 | (0.01) | — | — | — | — | — | ||||||||||||||||||
Excess tax benefits related to stock-based compensation | — | — | (82.4) | 3.4 | (0.13) | — | — | (56.0) | 2.3 | (0.09) | ||||||||||||||||||
Adjusted (non-GAAP) (2) | $ | 2,594.2 | 20.7 | % | $ | 1,870.4 | 24.0 | % | $ | 3.01 | $ | 2,607.3 | 20.7 | % | $ | 1,864.7 | 24.5 | % | $ | 3.00 | ||||||||
Note: All data in the tables above are on a continuing operations basis only and exclude results associated with discontinued operations.
| (1) | While the terms “operating margin” and “effective tax rate” are not considered U.S. GAAP financial measures, for purposes of this table, we derive the reported (GAAP) measures based on GAAP results, which serve as the basis for the reconciliation to their comparable non-GAAP financial measures. |
| (2) | All percentages and per share amounts in this table were calculated using actual, unrounded results; therefore, the sum of the components may not add due to rounding. |
2022 Compared to 2021
Net sales were $12,623.0 for the year ended December 31, 2022 compared to $10,876.3 for the year ended December 31, 2021, which represented an increase of 16% in U.S. dollars, 19% in constant currencies and 15% organically (excluding both currency and acquisition impacts) compared to the prior year. The increase in net sales in 2022 was driven by robust growth across all three reportable business segments, as described below. From an end market standpoint, the increase in net sales was driven by robust organic growth across most end markets, including the automotive, IT datacom, industrial, broadband communications and commercial aerospace markets, moderate organic growth in the defense, mobile networks and mobile devices markets, and contributions from the Company’s acquisition program. Net sales to the automotive market increased approximately $470.1, reflecting broad-based growth across our global automotive market, including the Company’s strength in next-generation electronics, in particular electric and hybrid drive trains, power management, infotainment communications, antenna and antenna assemblies, charging stations, and safety and security systems. Net sales to the IT datacom market increased approximately $414.6, as we continue to benefit from our strong technology solutions and leading position across a broad array of applications as customers continue to support higher demand for increased bandwidth and cloud storage, along with contributions from acquisitions. Net sales to the industrial market increased approximately $399.7, with broad-based growth across nearly all market segments of the global industrial market, with particular strength in e-mobility applications primarily in heavy and commercial vehicles, along with strong growth in factory automation, alternative energy, medical, and transportation applications, as well as contributions from acquisitions. Net sales to the broadband communications market increased approximately $241.2, driven by increased overall demand from broadband service operators related to data network upgrades and expansions, along with contributions from acquisitions. Net sales to the commercial aerospace market increased approximately $85.6, primarily due to the continued recovery in travel and demand for aircraft, along with contributions from acquisitions. Net sales to the defense market increased approximately $47.9, driven by strength in space-related applications, unmanned aerial vehicles, ground vehicles, and avionics, as well as contributions from acquisitions. Net sales to the mobile networks market increased approximately $46.4, driven by continued recovery in demand from mobile networks equipment manufacturers and mobile operators, along with contributions from acquisitions. Net sales to the mobile devices market increased approximately $41.2, driven by growth in products incorporated into smartphones and wearable devices, partially offset by moderations in sales of tablets, hearable devices and laptops.
Net sales in the Harsh Environment Solutions segment (approximately 25% of net sales) increased 13% in U.S. dollars, 16% in constant currencies and 15% organically, in 2022, compared to 2021. The sales growth in 2022 was driven by strong organic growth in the industrial, automotive and commercial aerospace markets, and moderate organic
32
growth in the defense, mobile networks and IT datacom markets, along with contributions from the Company’s acquisition program.
Net sales in the Communications Solutions segment (approximately 45% of net sales) increased 17% in U.S. dollars, 19% in constant currencies and 13% organically, in 2022, compared to 2021. The sales growth in 2022 was driven by strong organic growth across several end markets, in particular the IT datacom, broadband communications and automotive markets, and moderate organic growth in the mobile devices, industrial and mobile networks markets, along with contributions from the Company’s acquisition program.
Net sales in the Interconnect and Sensor Systems segment (approximately 30% of net sales) increased 17% in U.S. dollars, 23% in constant currencies and 18% organically, in 2022, compared to 2021. The sales growth in 2022 was primarily driven by strong organic growth in the automotive, industrial, IT datacom, defense and commercial aerospace markets, along with contributions from the Company’s acquisition program, partially offset by a moderate decline in the mobile networks market.
The table below reconciles Constant Currency Net Sales Growth and Organic Net Sales Growth to the most directly comparable U.S. GAAP financial measures, by segment, geography and consolidated, for the year ended December 31, 2022 compared to the year ended December 31, 2021:
Percentage Growth (relative to prior year) (1) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Net sales | Foreign | Constant | Organic | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
growth in | currency | Currency Net | Acquisition | Net Sales | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
U.S. Dollars (2) | impact (3) | Sales Growth (4) | impact (5) | Growth (4) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Net sales by: |
| 2022 |
| 2021 |
| (GAAP) | (non-GAAP) | (non-GAAP) | (non-GAAP) | (non-GAAP) | |||||||||||||||||||||||
Segment: |
|
| |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Harsh Environment Solutions | $ | 3,107.2 |
| $ | 2,752.2 | 13 | % | (4) | % | 16 | % | 2 | % | 15 | % | ||||||||||||||||||
Communications Solutions | 5,652.4 | 4,832.1 | 17 | % | (2) | % | 19 | % | 5 | % | 13 | % | |||||||||||||||||||||
Interconnect and Sensor Systems |
| 3,863.4 |
| 3,292.0 | 17 | % | (5) | % | 23 | % | 5 | % | 18 | % | |||||||||||||||||||
Consolidated | $ | 12,623.0 | $ | 10,876.3 | 16 | % | (3) | % | 19 | % | 4 | % | 15 | % | |||||||||||||||||||
Geography (6): |
|
| |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
United States | $ | 4,155.2 |
| $ | 3,155.9 | 32 | % | — | % | 32 | % | 9 | % | 23 | % | ||||||||||||||||||
Foreign |
| 8,467.8 |
| 7,720.4 | 10 | % | (4) | % | 14 | % | 2 | % | 12 | % | |||||||||||||||||||
Consolidated | $ | 12,623.0 | $ | 10,876.3 | 16 | % | (3) | % | 19 | % | 4 | % | 15 | % | |||||||||||||||||||
| (1) | Percentages in this table were calculated using actual, unrounded results; therefore, the sum of the components may not add due to rounding. |
| (2) | Net sales growth in U.S. dollars is calculated based on Net sales as reported in the Consolidated Statements of Income and Note 13 of the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements. While the term “net sales growth in U.S. dollars” is not considered a U.S. GAAP financial measure, for purposes of this table, we derive the reported (GAAP) measure based on GAAP results, which serves as the basis for the reconciliation to its comparable non-GAAP financial measures. |
| (3) | Foreign currency translation impact, a non-GAAP measure, represents the percentage impact on net sales resulting from foreign currency exchange rate changes in the current reporting year compared to the prior reporting year. Such amount is calculated by subtracting current year net sales translated at average foreign currency exchange rates for the prior year from current year net sales, taken as a percentage of the prior year’s net sales. |
| (4) | Constant Currency Net Sales Growth and Organic Net Sales Growth are non-GAAP financial measures as defined in the “Non-GAAP Financial Measures” section of this Item 7. |
| (5) | Acquisition impact, a non-GAAP measure, represents the percentage impact on net sales resulting from acquisitions that have not been included in the Company’s consolidated results for the full current year and/or prior comparable year presented. Such net sales related to these acquisitions do not reflect the underlying growth of the Company on a comparative basis. Acquisition impact is calculated as a percentage of the respective prior year period(s) net sales. |
| (6) | Net sales by geographic area are based on the customer location to which the product is shipped. |
The increase in foreign net sales in 2022 compared to 2021 was driven by strong growth in both Europe and Asia. The comparatively stronger U.S. dollar in 2022 had the effect of decreasing sales by approximately $359.8, compared to 2021.
Selling, general and administrative expenses were $1,420.9, or 11.3% of net sales for 2022, compared to $1,226.3, or 11.3% of net sales, for 2021. Selling, general and administrative expenses as a percentage of net sales in 2022 remained flat as the leverage on the higher sales volumes during the year was offset by the Sensors business (“MTS Sensors”) of MTS Systems Corporation (“MTS”), acquired in early 2021, having higher selling, general and administrative expenses as a percentage of net sales compared to the Company average. Administrative expenses increased $90.6 in 2022 and represented approximately 4.6% of net sales in 2022 and 4.5% of net sales in 2021. Research and development expenses increased $5.9 in 2022, primarily related to increases in expenses for new product development, and represented approximately 2.6% of net sales in 2022 and 2.9% of net sales in 2021. Selling and marketing expenses increased $98.1 in 2022 compared to 2021, and represented approximately 4.1% of net sales in 2022 and 3.8% of net sales in 2021.
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Operating income was $2,585.8, or 20.5% of net sales, in 2022, compared to $2,105.1, or 19.4% of net sales, in 2021. Operating income in 2022 included acquisition-related expenses of $21.5, comprised primarily of the amortization related to the value associated with acquired backlog resulting from two acquisitions that closed in 2022, along with external transaction costs. Operating income in 2021 included acquisition-related expenses of $70.4, comprised primarily of transaction, severance, restructuring and certain non-cash purchase accounting costs related to the acquisition of MTS in the second quarter of 2021, along with external transaction costs and certain non-cash purchase accounting costs related to the acquisition of Halo Technology Limited (“Halo”) in the fourth quarter of 2021. The acquisition-related expenses in 2022 and 2021 had the effect of decreasing net income from continuing operations by $18.4, or $0.03 per share, and $57.3, or $0.09 per share, respectively. Acquisition-related expenses are presented separately in the Consolidated Statements of Income. Excluding the effect of these acquisition-related expenses, Adjusted Operating Income and Adjusted Operating Margin, each as defined in the “Non-GAAP Financial Measures” section below, were $2,607.3 and 20.7% of net sales, respectively, in 2022, and $2,175.5 and 20.0% of net sales, respectively, in 2021. The increases in Adjusted Operating Income and Adjusted Operating Margin in 2022 relative to 2021 was driven by all three segments, as described below.
Operating income for the Harsh Environment Solutions segment in 2022 was $801.6, or 25.8% of net sales, compared to $708.2, or 25.7% of net sales in 2021. The slight increase in operating margin for the Harsh Environment Solutions segment for 2022 compared to 2021 was primarily driven by normal operating leverage on the higher sales volumes, combined with the benefit of pricing actions, which were largely offset by the impact of the more challenging cost environment experienced in 2022.
Operating income for the Communications Solutions segment in 2022 was $1,245.7, or 22.0% of net sales, compared to $1,023.3, or 21.2% of net sales in 2021. The increase in operating margin for the Communications Solutions segment for 2022 compared to 2021 was primarily driven by normal operating leverage on the higher sales volumes, combined with the benefit of pricing actions, partially offset by the impact of the more challenging cost environment experienced in 2022.
Operating income for the Interconnect and Sensor Systems segment in 2022 was $716.5, or 18.5% of net sales, compared to $588.1, or 17.9% of net sales in 2021. The increase in operating margin for the Interconnect and Sensor Systems segment for 2022 compared to 2021 was primarily driven by normal operating leverage on the higher sales volumes, combined with the benefit of pricing actions, partially offset by the impact of the more challenging cost environment experienced in 2022.
Interest expense was $128.4 in 2022 compared to $115.5 in 2021. The increase in interest expense was driven by the higher interest rate environment and its impact on the balance outstanding under the Company’s U.S. Commercial Paper Program. Refer to Note 4 of the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements for further information related to the Company’s debt.
Provision for income taxes was at an effective rate of 22.3% in 2022 and 20.6% in 2021. Provision for income taxes in 2022 included excess tax benefits of $56.0 from stock option exercises, partially offset by the tax effects related to acquisition-related expenses during the year. These items had the aggregate effect of decreasing the effective tax rate and increasing earnings per share by the amounts noted in the table below. Provision for income taxes in 2021 included (i) excess tax benefits of $63.4 from stock option exercises and (ii) a discrete tax benefit of $14.9 related to the settlement of uncertain tax positions in certain non-U.S. jurisdictions, all of which were partially offset by the tax effects related to acquisition-related expenses during the year. These items had the aggregate effect of decreasing the effective tax rate and increasing earnings per share by the amounts noted in the table below. Excluding the effect of these items, the Adjusted Effective Tax Rate, a non-GAAP financial measure as defined in the “Non-GAAP Financial Measures” section below within this Item 7, was 24.5% and 24.3% for 2022 and 2021, respectively, as reconciled in the table below to the comparable effective tax rate based on GAAP results. For additional details related to the reconciliation between the U.S. statutory federal tax rate and the Company’s effective tax rate for these years, refer to Note 6 of the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.
Net income from continuing operations attributable to Amphenol Corporation and Diluted EPS were $1,902.3 and $3.06, respectively, for 2022, compared to $1,569.4 and $2.51, respectively, for 2021. Excluding the effect of the items discussed above, Adjusted Net Income from continuing operations attributable to Amphenol Corporation and Adjusted Diluted EPS, non-GAAP financial measures as defined in the “Non-GAAP Financial Measures” section below within this Item 7, were $1,864.7 and $3.00, respectively, for 2022, compared to $1,548.4 and $2.48, respectively, for 2021.
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The following table reconciles Adjusted Operating Income, Adjusted Operating Margin, Adjusted Net Income from continuing operations attributable to Amphenol Corporation, Adjusted Effective Tax Rate and Adjusted Diluted EPS (all on a continuing operations basis only, each as defined in the “Non-GAAP Financial Measures” section below) to the most directly comparable U.S. GAAP financial measures for the years ended December 31, 2022 and 2021:
2022 | 2021 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
Net Income |
| Net Income | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
attributable | Effective | attributable | Effective | |||||||||||||||||||||||
Operating | Operating | to Amphenol | Tax |
| Diluted | Operating | Operating | to Amphenol | Tax |
| Diluted | |||||||||||||||
Income |
| Margin (1) |
| Corporation |
| Rate (1) |
| EPS |
| Income |
| Margin (1) |
| Corporation |
| Rate (1) |
| EPS | ||||||||
Reported (GAAP) | $ | 2,585.8 |
| 20.5 | % | $ | 1,902.3 | 22.3 | % | $ | 3.06 | $ | 2,105.1 |
| 19.4 | % | $ | 1,569.4 | 20.6 | % | $ | 2.51 | ||||
Acquisition-related expenses | 21.5 | 0.2 | 18.4 | (0.1) | 0.03 | 70.4 | 0.6 | 57.3 | (0.2) | 0.09 | ||||||||||||||||
Excess tax benefits related to stock-based compensation | — | — | (56.0) | 2.3 | (0.09) | — | — | (63.4) | 3.2 | (0.10) | ||||||||||||||||
Discrete tax item | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | (14.9) | 0.7 | (0.02) | ||||||||||||||||
Adjusted (non-GAAP) (2) | $ | 2,607.3 | 20.7 | % | $ | 1,864.7 | 24.5 | % | $ | 3.00 | $ | 2,175.5 | 20.0 | % | $ | 1,548.4 | 24.3 | % | $ | 2.48 | ||||||
Note: All data in the tables above are on a continuing operations basis only and exclude results associated with discontinued operations.
| (1) | While the terms “operating margin” and “effective tax rate” are not considered U.S. GAAP financial measures, for purposes of this table, we derive the reported (GAAP) measures based on GAAP results, which serve as the basis for the reconciliation to their comparable non-GAAP financial measures. |
| (2) | All percentages and per share amounts in this table were calculated using actual, unrounded results; therefore, the sum of the components may not add due to rounding. |
Liquidity and Capital Resources
Liquidity and Cash Requirements
At December 31, 2023 and 2022, the Company had cash, cash equivalents and short-term investments of $1,660.2 and $1,434.2, respectively, with the majority of the Company’s cash, cash equivalents and short-term investments on hand located outside of the United States. The Company’s primary sources of liquidity are internally generated cash provided by operating activities, our cash, cash equivalents and short-term investments on hand, as well as availability under the U.S. Commercial Paper Program, the Euro Commercial Paper Program, the Revolving Credit Facility, and the Term Loan (all of which are defined and discussed in more detail below within this Item 7). The Company believes that these sources of liquidity, along with access to capital markets (which the Company accessed in March 2023 in connection with the issuance of the 2026 Senior Notes, as defined and discussed in more detail below within this Item 7), provide adequate liquidity to meet both its short-term (next 12 months) and reasonably foreseeable long-term requirements and obligations.
Cash Requirements from Known Contractual and Other Obligations
The Company’s primary ongoing cash requirements will be for operating and working capital needs, capital expenditures, product development activities, repurchases of our Common Stock, dividends, debt service, payments associated with the one-time tax on the deemed repatriation of all of the Company’s pre-2018 accumulated unremitted earnings and profits of foreign subsidiaries (“Transition Tax”), which is payable in annual installments until 2025, taxes due upon the repatriation of foreign earnings (which will be payable upon the repatriation of such earnings), funding of pension obligations, and other contractual obligations and commitments (refer to the table below for the Company’s material cash requirements from known contractual and other obligations). The Company may also use cash to fund all or part of the cost of future acquisitions, as was the case with our 2023 acquisitions. The Company expects that capital expenditures in 2024 will be in a range of 3% to 4% of net sales. The Company’s debt service requirements primarily consist of principal and interest on the Company’s Senior Notes, and to the extent of any amounts outstanding, the Revolving Credit Facility, Commercial Paper Programs and the Term Loan (all as defined below). As of December 31, 2023, the Company had no borrowings outstanding under the Revolving Credit Facility, Term Loan, U.S. Commercial Paper Program and Euro Commercial Paper Program. However, the Company borrowed under the U.S. Commercial Paper Program throughout much of 2023, the proceeds of which were used for general corporate purposes, and the Company may make additional borrowings under any of its debt instruments in the future. As a result of increases in the federal funds rate by the U.S. Federal Reserve beginning in early 2022 and through the middle of 2023, the floating interest rates related to our U.S. Commercial Paper Program (as well as our Revolving Credit Facility and Term Loan, to the extent either are drawn upon in the future) have increased substantially over this same period, a trend that could continue into 2024 and potentially beyond. To the extent that interest rates related to this floating rate debt increase
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further and the Company borrows under any of these floating interest rate instruments in the future, interest expense and interest payments would increase. Although the Company does not expect changes in interest rates to have a material effect on income or cash flows in 2024, there can be no assurance that interest rates will not change significantly from current levels.
The following table summarizes the Company’s material short- and long-term cash requirements from known obligations pursuant to certain contracts and commitments as of December 31, 2023, as well as an estimate of the timing in which such obligations and payments are expected to be satisfied.
Payment Due By Period |
| |||||||||||||||
Contractual Obligations |
|
| Less than |
| 1-3 |
| 3-5 |
| More than |
| ||||||
(dollars in millions) | Total | 1 year | years | years | 5 years |
| ||||||||||
Debt (1) | $ | 4,358.8 | $ | 354.0 | $ | 1,305.2 | $ | 552.3 | $ | 2,147.3 | ||||||
Interest related to senior notes |
| 542.6 |
| 109.1 |
| 186.3 |
| 149.0 |
| 98.2 | ||||||
Operating leases (2) |
| 332.2 |
| 99.8 |
| 126.0 |
| 59.7 |
| 46.7 | ||||||
Purchase obligations (3) |
| 968.7 |
| 932.4 |
| 28.1 |
| 6.4 |
| 1.8 | ||||||
Accrued pension and postretirement benefit obligations (4) |
| 52.1 |
| 5.8 |
| 10.0 |
| 10.3 |
| 26.0 | ||||||
Transition tax (5) |
| 62.9 |
| 30.1 |
| 32.8 |
| — |
| — | ||||||
Total (6) | $ | 6,317.3 | $ | 1,531.2 | $ | 1,688.4 | $ | 777.7 | $ | 2,320.0 | ||||||
| (1) | The Company has excluded expected interest payments on the Revolving Credit Facility, Term Loan, U.S. Commercial Paper Program and Euro Commercial Paper Program from the above table, as this calculation is largely dependent on average debt levels during each of the years presented. The actual interest payments made related to the Company’s Revolving Credit Facility, Term Loan and both Commercial Paper Programs combined, in 2023, were approximately $17.5. Expected debt levels, and therefore expected interest payments, are difficult to predict, as they are significantly impacted by items such as future acquisitions, repurchases of Common Stock and dividend payments, as well as payments or additional borrowings made to reduce or increase the underlying revolver balance. |
| (2) | The Company’s operating lease payments included in this table reflect the future minimum undiscounted fixed lease payments, which serve as the basis for calculating the Company’s operating lease liabilities as of December 31, 2023. The table above excludes any variable lease payments not included in the measurement of the Company’s right-of-use assets and operating lease liabilities, due to their uncertainty. Finance leases are not material to the Company individually or in the aggregate and as such have been excluded from the table above. |
| (3) | Purchase obligations relate primarily to open purchase orders for goods and services, including but not limited to, raw materials and components to be used in production. |
| (4) | This table includes estimated benefit payments expected to be made under the Company’s unfunded pension and postretirement benefit plans, as well as the anticipated minimum required contributions under the Company’s funded pension plans, the most significant of which covers certain of its U.S. employees. Over the past several years, there has been no minimum requirement for Company contributions to our defined benefit pension plans in the United States (“U.S. Plans”) due to prior contributions made in excess of minimum requirements, and as a result, there was no anticipated minimum required contribution included in the table above related to the U.S. Plans for 2024. The Company did not make any voluntary contributions to its U.S. Plans in 2023 and 2022. It is not possible to reasonably estimate expected required contributions in the above table after 2024, since several assumptions are required to calculate minimum required contributions, such as the discount rate and expected returns on pension assets. |
| (5) | As a result of the enactment of the U.S. Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017 (“Tax Act”) in December 2017, the United States changed to a modified territorial tax system, which significantly reduced the U.S. tax expense associated with the remittance of foreign earnings, among other changes. The Tax Act also imposed the Transition Tax associated with all of the Company’s pre-2018 accumulated unremitted earnings and profits of foreign subsidiaries. As a result, on December 31, 2017, the Company recorded a provisional U.S. tax expense for the Transition Tax, which was adjusted and finalized in 2018. The Transition Tax is to be paid in annual installments over the eight-year period until 2025, as permitted under the Tax Act. The table above reflects the remaining amounts associated with the Transition Tax, which is net of applicable tax credits and deductions. The sixth installment of the Transition Tax was paid in the second quarter of 2023. |
| (6) | As of December 31, 2023, the Company has recorded net liabilities of approximately $207.7 related to unrecognized tax benefits. These liabilities have been excluded from the above table due to the high degree of uncertainty regarding the timing of potential future cash flows. It is difficult to make a reasonably reliable estimate of the amount and period in which all of these liabilities might be paid. |
Repatriation of Foreign Earnings and Related Income Taxes
The Company has previously indicated an intention to repatriate most of its pre-2023 accumulated earnings and has accrued the foreign and U.S. state and local taxes, if applicable, on those earnings, as appropriate. The associated tax payments are due as the repatriations are made. The Company intends to indefinitely reinvest the remaining pre-2023 foreign earnings. The Company intends to distribute certain 2023 foreign earnings and, as of December 31, 2023, has accrued foreign and U.S. state and local taxes, where applicable, on those foreign earnings that it intends to repatriate, and intends to indefinitely reinvest the remaining 2023 foreign earnings. The Company intends to (i) evaluate certain post-2023 earnings for repatriation, and will accrue for those distributions where appropriate, and (ii) indefinitely reinvest all other foreign earnings. In addition, the Company paid its sixth annual installment of the Transition Tax, net of applicable tax credits and deductions, in the second quarter of 2023, and will pay the balance of the Transition Tax, net of applicable tax credits and deductions, in annual installments over the remainder of the eight-year period ending 2025, as permitted under the Tax Act. As of December 31, 2023, the Company has not provided for deferred income taxes on undistributed foreign earnings of approximately $1,350 related to certain geographies, as it is the Company’s intention to permanently reinvest such earnings outside the United States. It is impracticable to calculate the amount of taxes that would be payable if these undistributed foreign earnings were to be repatriated.
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Cash Flow Summary
The following table summarizes the Company’s cash flows from operating, investing and financing activities for the years ended December 31, 2023, 2022 and 2021, as reflected in the Consolidated Statements of Cash Flow:
Year Ended December 31, | |||||||||
| 2023 |
| 2022 |
| 2021 | ||||
Net cash provided by operating activities from continuing operations | $ | 2,528.7 | $ | 2,174.6 | $ | 1,523.9 | |||
Net cash used in investing activities from continuing operations |
| (1,393.7) |
| (731.1) |
| (2,604.4) | |||
Net cash used in financing activities from continuing operations |
| (1,012.4) |
| (1,196.7) |
| (145.1) | |||
Net cash change from discontinued operations | — | — | 733.0 | ||||||
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash and cash equivalents |
| (20.7) |
| (70.8) |
| (12.3) | |||
Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents | $ | 101.9 | $ | 176.0 | $ | (504.9) | |||
Note: Net cash change from discontinued operations in the table above, during the year ended December 31, 2021, includes the proceeds from the sale of the Divested MTS business, as defined and discussed in further detail in Note 11 of the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.
Operating Activities
The ability to generate cash from operating activities is one of the Company’s fundamental financial strengths. Operating Cash Flow was $2,528.7 in 2023, compared to $2,174.6 in 2022 and $1,523.9 in 2021. The increase in Operating Cash Flow in 2023 compared to 2022 is primarily due to an overall decrease in the net components of working capital in 2023, as discussed in more detail below. The increase in Operating Cash Flow in 2022 compared to 2021 was primarily due to both an increase in net income from continuing operations and a lower usage of cash related to the change in working capital as discussed below.
In 2023, the components of working capital as presented on the accompanying Consolidated Statements of Cash Flow decreased $149.8, excluding the impact of acquisitions and foreign currency translation, primarily due to decreases in accounts receivable of $146.4 and inventories of $71.4, partially offset by a decrease in accounts payable of $34.6 and an increase in prepaid expenses and other current assets of $34.1. In 2022, the components of working capital as presented on the accompanying Consolidated Statements of Cash Flow increased $193.1, excluding the impact of acquisitions and foreign currency translation, primarily due to increases in inventories of $278.5 and accounts receivable of $273.1, partially offset by increases in accrued liabilities, including income taxes, of $246.3 and accounts payable of $62.5, and a decrease in prepaid expenses and other current assets of $49.7. In 2021, the components of working capital as presented on the accompanying Consolidated Statements of Cash Flow increased $496.4, excluding the impact of acquisitions and foreign currency translation, primarily due to increases in accounts receivable, inventories, and prepaid expenses and other current assets of $398.4, $263.0 and $20.2, respectively, partially offset by increases in accounts payable of $131.7 and accrued liabilities, including income taxes, of $53.5.
The following describes the significant changes in the amounts as presented on the accompanying Consolidated Balance Sheets at December 31, 2023 compared to December 31, 2022. Accounts receivable decreased $12.9 to $2,618.4, driven by the decrease in days sales outstanding as noted below, which was largely offset by the impact of the 10 acquisitions (collectively, the “2023 Acquisitions”) that closed during 2023 and the effect of translation from exchange rate changes (“Translation”) at December 31, 2023 compared to December 31, 2022. Days sales outstanding at December 31, 2023 and 2022 were 70 days and 73 days, respectively. Inventories increased $73.5 to $2,167.1, which was primarily driven by the impact of the 2023 Acquisitions. Inventory days at December 31, 2023 and 2022 were 85 days and 86 days, respectively. Prepaid expenses and other current assets increased $69.6 to $389.6, primarily due to increases in various prepaid expenses and other current receivables, along with the impact of the 2023 Acquisitions. Property, plant and equipment, net, increased $110.4 to $1,314.7, primarily due to capital expenditures of $372.8, the impact of the 2023 Acquisitions and Translation, partially offset by depreciation of $313.7 and disposals. Goodwill increased $646.3 to $7,092.4, primarily driven by goodwill recognized as a result of the 2023 Acquisitions, along with Translation. Other intangible assets, net, increased $100.7 to $834.8, primarily due to the recognition of certain intangible assets related to the 2023 Acquisitions, partially offset by amortization of $86.0 associated with the Company’s current intangible assets. Accounts payable increased $41.8 to $1,350.9, primarily due to the impact of the 2023 Acquisitions. Payable days at December 31, 2023 and 2022 were 55 days and 54 days, respectively. Total accrued expenses, including accrued income taxes, increased $83.7 to $1,448.0, primarily due to the impact of the 2023 Acquisitions and increases in certain other accrued expenses, partially offset by modest decreases in accrued salaries, wages and employee benefits and accrued income taxes. Accrued pension and postretirement benefit obligations increased $15.1 to $143.0.
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In addition to Operating Cash Flow, the Company also considers Free Cash Flow, a non-GAAP financial measure defined in the “Non-GAAP Financial Measures” section below, as a key metric in measuring the Company’s ability to generate cash. The following table reconciles Free Cash Flow to its most directly comparable U.S. GAAP financial measure for the years ended December 31, 2023, 2022 and 2021. The increases in Free Cash Flow in 2023 compared to 2022, as well as in 2022 compared to 2021, were driven by the increase in Operating Cash Flow in each respective year, as described above. The following table is on a continuing operations basis only and excludes any cash flows related to discontinued operations:
| 2023 |
| 2022 |
| 2021 | ||||
Operating Cash Flow (GAAP) |
| $ | 2,528.7 |
| $ | 2,174.6 |
| $ | 1,523.9 |
Capital expenditures (GAAP) |
| (372.8) |
| (383.8) |
| (360.4) | |||
Proceeds from disposals of property, plant and equipment (GAAP) |
| 4.0 |
| 5.6 |
| 3.7 | |||
Free Cash Flow (non-GAAP) | $ | 2,159.9 | $ | 1,796.4 | $ | 1,167.2 | |||
Investing Activities
Cash flows from investing activities primarily consist of cash flows associated with capital expenditures, proceeds from disposals of property, plant and equipment, net purchases (sales and maturities) of short- and long-term investments, and acquisitions.
Net cash used in investing activities from continuing operations was $1,393.7 in 2023, compared to $731.1 in 2022 and $2,604.4 in 2021. In 2023, net cash used in investing activities from continuing operations was primarily driven by the use of $970.4 to fund acquisitions, capital expenditures (net of disposals) of $368.8, and net purchases of short-term investments of $59.4. In 2022, net cash used in investing activities from continuing operations was primarily driven by capital expenditures (net of disposals) of $378.2, the use of $288.2 to fund acquisitions, net purchases of long-term investments of $56.0, and net purchases of short-term investments of $25.2. In 2021, net cash used in investing activities from continuing operations was primarily driven by the use of $2,225.4 to fund acquisitions, capital expenditures (net of disposals) of $356.7, and net purchases of short-term investments of $8.6.
Financing Activities
Cash flows from financing activities primarily consist of cash flows associated with borrowings and repayments of the Company’s credit facilities and other long-term debt, repurchases of Common Stock, proceeds from stock option exercises, dividend payments, and distributions to and purchases of noncontrolling interests.
Net cash used in financing activities from continuing operations was $1,012.4 in 2023, compared to $1,196.7 in 2022 and $145.1 in 2021. In 2023, net cash used in financing activities from continuing operations was primarily driven by (i) net repayments of $632.6 related to the Company’s commercial paper programs, primarily the U.S. Commercial Paper Program, (ii) repurchases of the Company’s Common Stock of $585.1, (iii) dividend payments of $500.6, (iv) distributions to and purchases of noncontrolling interests of $24.0, (v) other debt repayments of $15.7, (vi) payments of $2.3 related to debt financing costs associated with the Company’s $350.0 principal amount of unsecured 4.750% Senior Notes due March 30, 2026 (the “2026 Senior Notes”), and (vii) payment of $1.5 associated with the deferred purchase price related to an acquisition, partially offset by (a) cash proceeds of $394.5 from the exercise of stock options and (b) net cash proceeds from borrowings of $354.9, primarily related to the issuance of the 2026 Senior Notes. In 2022, net cash used in financing activities from continuing operations was primarily driven by (i) repurchases of the Company’s Common Stock of $730.5, (ii) dividend payments of $477.4, (iii) net repayments of $159.3, primarily under the U.S. Commercial Paper Program, (iv) other debt repayments of $55.2, primarily related to short-term debt, and (v) distributions to and purchases of noncontrolling interests of $9.9, partially offset by (a) cash proceeds of $185.3 from the exercise of stock options and (b) proceeds of $50.7 primarily related to short-term borrowings. In 2021, net cash used in financing activities from continuing operations was primarily driven by (i) debt repayments of $912.6, primarily related to the repayment of the assumed then-outstanding MTS senior notes in the second quarter of 2021 as well as the redemption of the 3.125% Senior Notes (the “2021 Senior Notes”) in the third quarter of 2021 and the redemption of the 4.00% Senior Notes (the “2022 Senior Notes”) in the fourth quarter of 2021, (ii) repurchases of the Company’s Common Stock of $661.7, (iii) dividend payments of $346.7, (iv) a cash transfer of $28.7 made by the Company’s continuing operations to its discontinued operations in order to fund the September 2021 payment of contingent consideration assumed as part of the MTS acquisition, (v) distributions to and purchases of noncontrolling interests of $18.9,
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(vi) payments of $9.3 related to debt financing costs associated with the Company’s $750.0 principal amount of unsecured 2.200% Senior Notes due September 15, 2031 (the “2031 Senior Notes”), and (vii) payments of $4.1 associated with the deferred purchase price related to acquisitions, partially offset by (a) net borrowings of $796.3 primarily under the U.S. Commercial Paper Program, the majority of the proceeds of which were used to fund acquisitions, including MTS, and to redeem the 2021 Senior Notes and the 2022 Senior Notes, (b) net cash proceeds of $752.1, primarily related to the September 2021 issuance of the 2031 Senior Notes, and (c) cash proceeds of $288.5 from the exercise of stock options.
The Company has significant flexibility to meet its financial commitments. The Company uses debt financing to lower the overall cost of capital and increase return on stockholders’ equity. The Company’s debt financing includes the use of Commercial Paper Programs, the Revolving Credit Facility, the Term Loan, and senior notes as part of its overall cash management strategy.
The Company has an amended and restated $2,500.0 unsecured revolving credit facility (the “Revolving Credit Facility”). The Revolving Credit Facility matures in November 2026 and gives the Company the ability to borrow, in various currencies, at a spread that varies, based on the Company’s debt rating, over certain currency-specific benchmark rates, which benchmark rates in the case of U.S. dollar borrowings are either the base rate or the adjusted term Secured Overnight Financing Rate (“SOFR”). The Company may utilize the Revolving Credit Facility for general corporate purposes. As of December 31, 2023 and 2022, there were no outstanding borrowings under the Revolving Credit Facility. The Revolving Credit Facility requires payment of certain annual agency and commitment fees and requires that the Company satisfy certain financial covenants. On December 31, 2023, the Company was in compliance with the financial covenants under the Revolving Credit Facility.
On April 19, 2022, the Company entered into a two-year, $750.0 unsecured delayed draw term loan credit agreement (the “Term Loan”), which is scheduled to mature on April 19, 2024. The Term Loan was undrawn at closing and may be drawn on up to five occasions over the life of the facility. The Term Loan may be repaid at any time without premium or penalty, and, once repaid, cannot be reborrowed. If drawn upon, the proceeds from the Term Loan are expected to be used for general corporate purposes. Interest rates under the Term Loan are based on a spread over either the base rate or the adjusted term SOFR, which spread varies based on the Company’s debt rating. As of December 31, 2023, the Company had not yet drawn upon the Term Loan, and as such, there were no outstanding borrowings under the Term Loan. The Term Loan requires payment of certain commitment fees and requires that the Company satisfy certain financial covenants, which financial covenants are the same as those under the Revolving Credit Facility. On December 31, 2023, the Company was in compliance with the financial covenants under the Term Loan.
The Company has a commercial paper program pursuant to which the Company may issue short-term unsecured commercial paper notes (the “USCP Notes”) in one or more private placements in the United States (the “U.S. Commercial Paper Program”). The maximum aggregate principal amount outstanding of USCP Notes at any time is $2,500.0. The Company utilizes borrowings under the U.S. Commercial Paper Program for general corporate purposes, which, in recent years, have included fully or partially funding acquisitions, as well as repaying certain outstanding senior notes as was the case in 2021 with (i) the third quarter 2021 redemption of the 2021 Senior Notes, of which $227.7 aggregate principal amount was then outstanding, and (ii) the fourth quarter 2021 redemption of the 2022 Senior Notes, of which $295.0 aggregate principal amount was then outstanding. The Company borrowed under the U.S. Commercial Paper Program throughout much of 2023, the proceeds of which were used for general corporate purposes. During the fourth quarter of 2023, the Company repaid all of its USCP Notes then outstanding, and, as of December 31, 2023, there were no USCP Notes outstanding. As of December 31, 2022, the amount of USCP Notes outstanding was $632.8, with a weighted average interest rate of 4.69%.
The Company and one of its wholly owned European subsidiaries (the “Euro Issuer”) also have a commercial paper program (the “Euro Commercial Paper Program” and, together with the U.S. Commercial Paper Program, the “Commercial Paper Programs”), pursuant to which the Euro Issuer may issue short-term unsecured commercial paper notes (the “ECP Notes” and, together with the USCP Notes, the “Commercial Paper”), which are guaranteed by the Company and are to be issued outside of the United States. The ECP Notes may be issued in Euros, Sterling, U.S. dollars or other currencies. The maximum aggregate principal amount outstanding of ECP Notes at any time is $2,000.0. The Company utilizes borrowings under the Euro Commercial Paper Program for general corporate purposes, which may include, for example, fully or partially funding acquisitions. As of December 31, 2023 and 2022, there were no ECP Notes outstanding.
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Amounts available under the Commercial Paper Programs may be borrowed, repaid and re-borrowed from time to time. In conjunction with the Revolving Credit Facility, as of December 31, 2023, the authorization from the Company’s Board of Directors (the “Board”) limits the maximum principal amount outstanding of USCP Notes, ECP Notes, and any other commercial paper or similar programs, along with outstanding amounts under the Revolving Credit Facility, at any time to $2,500.0 in the aggregate. The Commercial Paper Programs are rated A-2 by Standard & Poor’s and P-2 by Moody’s and, based on the Board’s authorization described above, are currently backstopped by the Revolving Credit Facility, as amounts undrawn under the Company’s Revolving Credit Facility are available to repay Commercial Paper, if necessary. Net proceeds of the issuances of Commercial Paper are expected to be used for general corporate purposes. The Company reviews its optimal mix of short-term and long-term debt regularly and may replace certain amounts of Commercial Paper, short-term debt and current maturities of long-term debt with new issuances of long-term debt in the future.
As of December 31, 2023, the Company has outstanding senior notes (the “Senior Notes”) as follows:
Principal |
| Interest |
| ||||||
Amount |
| Rate | Maturity | ||||||
$ | 350.0 |
| 3.20 | % | April 2024 | ||||
400.0 |
| 2.050 | % | March 2025 | |||||
350.0 | 4.750 | % | March 2026 | ||||||
500.0 |
| 4.350 | % | June 2029 | |||||
900.0 |
| 2.80 | % | February 2030 | |||||
750.0 | 2.200 | % | September 2031 | ||||||
€ | 500.0 | 0.750 | % | May 2026 (Euro Notes) | |||||
500.0 |
| 2.00 | % | October 2028 (Euro Notes) | |||||
On March 30, 2023, the Company issued the 2026 Senior Notes. The Company used the net proceeds from the 2026 Senior Notes to repay certain outstanding borrowings under the U.S. Commercial Paper Program. On September 14, 2021, the Company issued the 2031 Senior Notes. The Company used the net proceeds from the 2031 Senior Notes to repay certain outstanding borrowings under the U.S. Commercial Paper Program.
All of the Company’s outstanding senior notes in the United States (the “U.S. Senior Notes”) are unsecured and rank equally in right of payment with the Company’s and the Euro Issuer’s other unsecured senior indebtedness. Interest on each series of U.S. Senior Notes is payable semiannually. The Company may, at its option, redeem some or all of any series of U.S. Senior Notes at any time, subject to certain terms and conditions.
The Euro Issuer has two outstanding unsecured senior notes issued in Europe. The Euro Issuer has €500.0 (approximately $545.4 at date of issuance) principal amount of unsecured 0.750% Senior Notes due May 4, 2026 (the “2026 Euro Notes”), the net proceeds of which were used to repay amounts outstanding under the then existing revolving credit facility. In addition, the Euro Issuer also has €500.0 (approximately $574.6 at date of issuance) principal amount of unsecured 2.000% Senior Notes due October 8, 2028 (the “2028 Euro Notes”, together with the 2026 Euro Notes, the “Euro Notes”, and the Euro Notes, together with the U.S. Senior Notes, the “Senior Notes”), the net proceeds of which were used to repay a portion of the outstanding amounts under our Commercial Paper Programs, with the remainder of the net proceeds being used for general corporate purposes. The Euro Notes are unsecured and rank equally in right of payment with the Company’s and the Euro Issuer’s other unsecured senior indebtedness and are fully and unconditionally guaranteed on a senior unsecured basis by the Company. Interest on each series of Euro Notes is payable annually. The Company may, at its option, redeem some or all of either series of Euro Notes at any time, subject to certain terms and conditions.
The Senior Notes impose certain obligations on the Company and prohibit various actions by the Company unless it satisfies certain financial requirements. On December 31, 2023, the Company was in compliance with all requirements under its Senior Notes. Refer to Note 4 of the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements for further information related to the Company’s debt.
On April 27, 2021, the Board authorized a stock repurchase program under which the Company may purchase up to $2,000.0 of the Company’s Common Stock during the three-year period ending April 27, 2024 (the “2021 Stock Repurchase Program”). During the years ended December 31, 2023, 2022 and 2021, the Company repurchased 7.2 million, 9.9 million and 6.2 million shares of its Common Stock for $585.1, $730.5 and $457.9, respectively, under the 2021 Stock Repurchase Program. Of the total repurchases made in 2023, 5.5 million shares, or $435.8, have been retired
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by the Company, with the remainder of the repurchased shares being retained in Treasury stock at the time of repurchase. Of the total repurchases made in 2022, 9.3 million shares, or $689.7, have been retired by the Company, with the remainder of the repurchased shares being retained in Treasury stock at the time of repurchase. Of the total repurchases made in 2021 under the 2021 Stock Repurchase Program, 5.8 million shares, or $424.9, were retired by the Company, with the remainder of the repurchased shares being retained in Treasury stock at the time of repurchase. From January 1, 2024 through January 31, 2024, the Company did not repurchase any additional shares of its Common Stock, and, as of February 1, 2024, the Company has remaining authorization to purchase up to $226.5 of its Common Stock under the 2021 Stock Repurchase Program. The timing and amount of any future purchases will depend on a number of factors, such as the levels of cash generation from operations, the volume of stock options exercised by employees, cash requirements for acquisitions, dividends paid, economic and market conditions and the price of the Common Stock.
In April 2018, the Board authorized a stock repurchase program under which the Company could purchase up to $2,000.0 of Common Stock during the three-year period ending April 24, 2021 (the “2018 Stock Repurchase Program”). During the year ended December 31, 2021, the Company repurchased 3.1 million shares of its Common Stock for $203.8 under the 2018 Stock Repurchase Program. As a result of these purchases, the Company completed all purchases authorized under the 2018 Stock Repurchase Program, and, therefore, the 2018 Stock Repurchase Program was terminated. Of the total repurchases made in 2021 under the 2018 Stock Repurchase Program, 2.8 million shares, or $184.0, were retired by the Company, with the remainder of the repurchased shares being retained in Treasury stock at the time of repurchase.
Contingent upon declaration by the Board, the Company pays a quarterly dividend on shares of its Common Stock. On October 25, 2022, the Board approved an increase to the Company’s quarterly dividend rate from $0.20 per share to $0.21 per share, effective with dividends declared in the fourth quarter of 2022, and on October 24, 2023, the Board approved an additional increase to the Company’s quarterly dividend rate from $0.21 per share to $0.22 per share, effective with dividends declared in the fourth quarter of 2023, contingent upon declaration by the Board. The following table summarizes the declared quarterly dividends per share for each of the three years ended December 31, 2023, 2022 and 2021:
| 2023 |
| 2022 |
| 2021 | ||||
First Quarter | $ | 0.21 | $ | 0.20 | $ | 0.145 | |||
Second Quarter | 0.21 | 0.20 | 0.145 | ||||||
Third Quarter | 0.21 | 0.20 | 0.145 | ||||||
Fourth Quarter | 0.22 | 0.21 | 0.20 | ||||||
Total | $ | 0.85 | $ | 0.81 | $ | 0.635 | |||
The following table summarizes the dividends declared and paid for the years ended December 31, 2023, 2022 and 2021:
| 2023 |
| 2022 |
| 2021 | ||||
Dividends declared | $ | 507.4 | $ | 482.6 | $ | 379.7 | |||
Dividends paid (including those declared in the prior year) |
| 500.6 |
| 477.4 |
| 346.7 | |||
Pensions
The Company and certain of its subsidiaries in the United States have defined benefit pension plans (“U.S. Plans”), which cover certain U.S. employees and which represent the majority of the plan assets and benefit obligations of the aggregate defined benefit plans of the Company. The U.S. Plans’ benefits are generally based on years of service and compensation and are generally noncontributory. The majority of U.S. employees are not covered by the U.S. Plans and are instead covered by various defined contribution plans. Certain foreign subsidiaries also have defined benefit plans covering their employees (the “Foreign Plans” and, together with the U.S. Plans, the “Plans”). The total liability for accrued pension and postretirement benefit obligations associated with the Company’s pension and postretirement benefit plans decreased in 2023 to $106.0 from $111.1 in 2022, primarily driven by actual positive returns on plan assets in 2023, partially offset by interest cost and the modest effect of the lower discount rates in 2023 on our projected benefit obligations. There is no current requirement for cash contributions to any of the U.S. Plans, and the Company plans to evaluate annually, based on actuarial calculations and the investment performance of the Plans’ assets, the timing and amount of cash contributions in the future, if any.
Refer to Note 9 of the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements for further discussion of the Company’s benefit plans and other postretirement benefit plans.
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Acquisitions
During 2023, the Company completed 10 acquisitions (the “2023 Acquisitions”) for $970.4, net of cash acquired. Five of the acquisitions have been included in the Harsh Environment Solutions segment, three acquisitions have been included in the Interconnect and Sensor Systems segment, and two acquisitions have been included in the Communications Solutions segment. The 2023 Acquisitions were each funded using cash on hand or borrowings under our Commercial Paper Programs, or a combination thereof. One of the 2023 Acquisitions, which closed in the second quarter of 2023, represented a bargain purchase, where the estimated fair value of assets acquired, net of liabilities assumed, exceeded the purchase price. The Company recognized a non-cash gain of $5.4 on the bargain purchase acquisition during the year ended December 31, 2023, which has been recorded separately in the Company’s Consolidated Statements of Income. The 2023 Acquisitions were not material, either individually or in the aggregate, to the Company’s financial results.
During 2022, the Company completed two acquisitions (the “2022 Acquisitions”) for $288.2, net of cash acquired. One of the 2022 Acquisitions was included in the Harsh Environment Solutions segment, and the other acquisition was included in the Interconnect and Sensor Systems segment. The 2022 Acquisitions, which were funded through a combination of borrowings under the U.S. Commercial Paper Program and cash on hand, were not material, either individually or in the aggregate, to the Company’s financial results.
Acquisition-related Expenses
In 2023, the Company incurred $34.6 ($30.2 after-tax) of acquisition-related expenses, comprised primarily of external transaction costs associated with the 2023 Acquisitions, along with the amortization related to the value associated with acquired backlog resulting from three of the 2023 Acquisitions. In 2022, the Company incurred $21.5 ($18.4 after-tax) of acquisition-related expenses, comprised primarily of the amortization related to the value associated with acquired backlog resulting from the 2022 Acquisitions, along with external transaction costs. Such acquisition-related expenses are presented separately in the accompanying Consolidated Statements of Income.
For further discussion of the Company’s acquisitions, refer to Note 11 of the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.
Subsequent Events
On January 30, 2024, the Company entered into a definitive stock purchase agreement by and between the Company and Carlisle Companies Incorporated (“Carlisle”), agreeing to acquire the Carlisle Interconnect Technologies (“CIT”) business of Carlisle for an aggregate purchase price of $2,025 in cash, subject to customary post-closing adjustments. The acquisition is expected to be completed by the end of the second quarter of 2024 and is subject to certain regulatory approvals and other customary closing conditions. The Company expects to finance the CIT acquisition through a combination of cash on hand and debt financing, which could include borrowings under the Company’s existing credit and/or U.S. Commercial Paper Program. CIT, headquartered in St. Augustine, FL, is a leading global supplier of harsh environment interconnect solutions primarily to the commercial aerospace, defense and industrial end markets. CIT’s wide range of products include wire and cable, cable assemblies, contacts, connectors and sensors, which, management believes, are highly complementary to Amphenol’s existing interconnect and sensor solutions. If and when the acquisition is consummated, the Company expects to report the CIT business within its Harsh Environment Solutions segment.
Environmental Matters
Certain operations of the Company are subject to environmental laws and regulations that govern the discharge of pollutants into the air and water, as well as the handling and disposal of solid and hazardous wastes. The Company believes that its operations are currently in substantial compliance with applicable environmental laws and regulations and that the costs of continuing compliance will not have a material adverse effect on the Company’s financial condition, results of operations or cash flows. For more information on certain environmental matters, refer to Note 14 of the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.
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Inflation and Costs
The cost of the Company’s products is influenced by the cost of a wide variety of raw materials. The Company strives to offset the impact of increases in the cost of raw materials, labor and services through price increases, productivity improvements and cost saving programs. However, in certain markets, implementing price increases can be difficult and there is no guarantee that the Company will be successful. From time to time, the Company may encounter difficulties in obtaining certain raw materials or components necessary for production due to supply chain constraints and logistical challenges, which may include regulatory restrictions. These difficulties may also negatively impact the pricing of materials and components sourced or used by the Company. While the Company does not currently anticipate significant, broad-based difficulties in obtaining raw materials or components necessary for production, inflationary pressures and logistical challenges may impact the cost and availability of certain raw materials and components used by the Company and result in supply shortages for discrete raw materials or components, which could be further exacerbated by increased commodity prices and additional inflation. For a discussion of certain risks related to inflation and costs, refer to the risk factor titled “The Company and certain of its suppliers and customers have experienced difficulties obtaining certain raw materials and components, and the cost of certain of the Company’s raw materials and components is increasing” in Part I, Item 1A. Risk Factors herein.
Foreign Currency Exchange Rates
The Company conducts business in many foreign currencies through its worldwide operations, and as a result, is subject to foreign exchange exposure due to changes in exchange rates of the various currencies, including possible currency devaluations. Changes in exchange rates can positively or negatively affect the Company’s sales, operating margins and equity. The Company attempts to mitigate currency risk in a number of ways, such as locating factories in the same country or region in which products are sold, hedging contracts, cost reduction and pricing actions or working capital management. However, there can be no assurance that any or all such actions taken by the Company will be fully effective in successfully managing currency risk, including in the event of a significant and sudden decline in the value of any of the foreign currencies of the Company’s worldwide operations. For further discussion of foreign exchange exposures, risks and uncertainties, refer to the risk factor titled “The Company’s results can be positively or negatively affected by changes in foreign currency exchange rates” in Part I, Item 1A. Risk Factors herein.
Non-GAAP Financial Measures
In addition to assessing the Company’s financial condition, results of operations, liquidity and cash flows in accordance with U.S. GAAP, management utilizes certain non-GAAP financial measures, defined below, as part of its internal reviews for purposes of monitoring, evaluating and forecasting the Company’s financial performance, communicating operating results to the Board and assessing related employee compensation measures. Management believes that these non-GAAP financial measures may be helpful to investors in assessing the Company’s overall financial performance, trends and year-over-year comparative results, in addition to the reasons noted below. Non-GAAP financial measures related to operating income, operating margin, net income from continuing operations attributable to Amphenol Corporation, effective tax rate and diluted EPS from continuing operations exclude income and expenses that are not directly related to the Company’s operating performance during the years presented. Items excluded in the presentation of such non-GAAP financial measures in any period may consist of, without limitation, acquisition-related expenses, refinancing-related costs, gains associated with bargain purchase acquisitions, and certain discrete tax items including, but not limited to, (i) the excess tax benefits related to stock-based compensation and (ii) the impact of significant changes in tax law. Non-GAAP financial measures related to net sales exclude the impact of foreign currency exchange rates and acquisitions. Non-GAAP financial measures and their most directly comparable U.S. GAAP financial measures presented within this Item 7 are on a continuing operations basis only and exclude any results associated with discontinued operations. The non-GAAP financial information contained herein is included for supplemental purposes only and should not be considered in isolation or as a substitute for or superior to the related U.S. GAAP financial measures. In addition, these non-GAAP financial measures are not necessarily the same or comparable to similar measures presented by other companies as such measures may be calculated differently or may exclude different items.
The non-GAAP financial measures defined below should be read in conjunction with the Company’s financial statements presented in accordance with U.S. GAAP. The reconciliations of these non-GAAP financial measures to the
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most directly comparable U.S. GAAP financial measures for the years ended December 31, 2023, 2022 and 2021 are included in “Results of Operations” and “Liquidity and Capital Resources” within this Item 7:
| ● | Adjusted Diluted EPS is defined as diluted earnings per share from continuing operations (as reported in accordance with U.S. GAAP), excluding income and expenses and their specific tax effects that are not directly related to the Company’s operating performance during the years presented. Adjusted Diluted EPS is calculated as Adjusted Net Income from continuing operations attributable to Amphenol Corporation, as defined below, divided by the weighted average outstanding diluted shares as reported in the Consolidated Statements of Income. |
| ● | Adjusted Effective Tax Rate is defined as Provision for income taxes, as reported in the Consolidated Statements of Income, expressed as a percentage of Income from continuing operations before income taxes, as reported in the Consolidated Statements of Income, each excluding income and expenses and their specific tax effects that are not directly related to the Company’s operating performance during the years presented. |
| ● | Adjusted Net Income from continuing operations attributable to Amphenol Corporation is defined as Net income from continuing operations attributable to Amphenol Corporation, as reported in the Consolidated Statements of Income, excluding income and expenses and their specific tax effects that are not directly related to the Company’s operating performance during the years presented. |
| ● | Adjusted Operating Income is defined as Operating income, as reported in the Consolidated Statements of Income, excluding income and expenses that are not directly related to the Company’s operating performance during the years presented. |
| ● | Adjusted Operating Margin is defined as Adjusted Operating Income (as defined above) expressed as a percentage of Net sales (as reported in the Consolidated Statements of Income). |
| ● | Constant Currency Net Sales Growth is defined as the year-over-year percentage change in net sales growth, excluding the impact of changes in foreign currency exchange rates. The Company’s results are subject to volatility related to foreign currency translation fluctuations. As such, management evaluates the Company’s sales performance based on actual sales growth in U.S. dollars, as well as Organic Net Sales Growth (as defined below) and Constant Currency Net Sales Growth, and believes that such information is useful to investors to assess the underlying sales trends. |
| ● | Free Cash Flow is defined as (i) Net cash provided by operating activities from continuing operations (“Operating Cash Flow” - as reported in accordance with U.S. GAAP) less (ii) capital expenditures (as reported in accordance with U.S. GAAP), net of proceeds from disposals of property, plant and equipment (as reported in accordance with U.S. GAAP), all of which are derived from the Consolidated Statements of Cash Flow. Free Cash Flow is an important liquidity measure for the Company, as we believe it is useful for management and investors to assess our ability to generate cash, as well as to assess how much cash can be used to reinvest in the growth of the Company or to return to stockholders through either stock repurchases or dividends. |
| ● | Organic Net Sales Growth is defined as the year-over-year percentage change in net sales growth resulting from operating volume and pricing changes, and excludes the impact of (i) changes in foreign currency exchange rates (described above), which is outside the control of the Company, and (ii) acquisitions, both of which are taken as a percentage of the respective prior year period(s) net sales. The acquisition impact represents the percentage impact on net sales resulting from acquisitions that have not been included in the Company’s consolidated results for the full current year period(s) and/or prior comparable year period(s) presented. Such net sales related to these acquisitions do not reflect the underlying growth of the Company on a comparative basis. Management evaluates the Company’s sales performance based on actual sales growth in U.S. dollars, as well as Constant Currency Net Sales Growth (as defined above) and Organic Net Sales Growth, and believes that such information is useful to investors to assess the underlying sales trends. |
Recent Accounting Pronouncements
Refer to Note 1 of the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements for a discussion of recently issued accounting pronouncements, including those adopted by the Company.
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Critical Accounting Estimates
The preparation of consolidated financial statements in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the consolidated financial statements and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting period. Management bases its estimates on historical experience along with other assumptions that we believe are reasonable in formulating our bases for making judgements regarding the carrying amounts of assets and liabilities that are not readily apparent elsewhere. Estimates are adjusted as new information becomes available. Actual results could differ from those estimates. The Company believes that the following accounting policies and estimates are most critical since they require significant assumptions and judgments that inherently are subject to risks and uncertainties. The significant accounting policies are more fully described in Note 1 of the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.
Revenue Recognition
The Company’s primary source of revenues consist of product sales to either end customers and their appointed contract manufacturers (including original equipment manufacturers) or to distributors. Our revenues are derived from contracts with customers, which in most cases are customer purchase orders that may be governed by master sales agreements. For each contract, the promise to transfer the control of the products, each of which is individually distinct, is considered to be the identified performance obligation. As part of the consideration promised in each contract, the Company evaluates the customer’s credit risk. Our contracts do not have any significant financing components, as payment terms are generally due net 30 to 120 days after delivery. Although products are almost always sold at fixed prices, in determining the transaction price, we evaluate whether the price is subject to refund (due to returns) or adjustment (due to volume discounts, rebates, or price concessions) to determine the net consideration we expect to be entitled to. We allocate the transaction price to each distinct product based on its relative standalone selling price. Taxes assessed by governmental authorities and collected from the customer, including but not limited to sales and use taxes and value-added taxes, are not included in the transaction price.
The vast majority of our sales are recognized at a point-in-time under the core principle of recognizing revenue when control transfers to the customer, which generally occurs when we ship or deliver the product from our manufacturing facility to our customers, when our customer accepts and has legal title of the goods, and where the Company has a present right to payment for such goods. Based on the respective contract terms, most of our contracts’ revenues are recognized either (i) upon shipment based on free on board (“FOB”) shipping point or (ii) when the product arrives at its destination. For the years ended December 31, 2023, 2022 and 2021, less than 5% of our net sales were recognized over time, where the associated contracts relate to the sale of goods with no alternative use as they are only sold to a single customer and whose underlying contract terms provide the Company with an enforceable right to payment, including a reasonable profit margin, for performance completed to date, in the event of customer termination. For the contracts recognized over time, we typically record revenue using the input method, based on the materials and labor costs incurred to date relative to the contract’s total estimated costs. This method reasonably depicts when and as control of the goods transfers to the customer, since it measures our progress in producing the goods which is generally commensurate with this transfer of control. Since we typically invoice our customers at the same time that we satisfy our performance obligations, contract assets and contract liabilities related to our contracts with customers recorded in the Consolidated Balance Sheets were not material as of December 31, 2023 and 2022.
Standard product warranty coverage, which provides assurance that our products will conform to the contractually agreed-upon specifications for a limited period from the date of shipment, is typically offered, while extended or separately priced warranty coverage is typically not offered. The warranty claim is generally limited to a credit equal to the purchase price or a promise to repair or replace the product for a specified period of time at no additional charge. We estimate our warranty liability based on historical experience, product history, and current trends.
Income Taxes
Deferred income taxes are provided for revenue and expenses which are recognized in different periods for income tax and financial statement reporting purposes. The Company recognizes the effects of changes in tax laws and rates on deferred income taxes in the period in which legislation is enacted. Deferred income taxes are provided on undistributed earnings of foreign subsidiaries in the period in which the Company determines it no longer intends to permanently reinvest such earnings outside the United States. As of December 31, 2023, the Company has not provided for deferred income taxes on undistributed foreign earnings of approximately $1,350 related to certain geographies, as it is the
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Company’s intention to permanently reinvest such earnings outside the United States. It is impracticable to calculate the amount of taxes that would be payable if these undistributed foreign earnings were to be repatriated. In addition, the Company remains indefinitely reinvested with respect to its financial statement basis in excess of tax basis of its investments in foreign subsidiaries. It is not practicable to determine the deferred tax liability with respect to such basis differences. Deferred tax assets are regularly assessed for recoverability based on both historical and anticipated earnings levels and a valuation allowance is recorded when it is more likely than not that these amounts will not be recovered.
The tax effects of an uncertain tax position taken or expected to be taken in income tax returns are recognized only if it is “more likely than not” to be sustained on examination by the taxing authorities, based on its technical merits as of the reporting date. The tax benefits recognized in the financial statements from such a position are measured based on the largest benefit that has a greater than fifty percent likelihood of being realized upon ultimate settlement. The Company includes estimated interest and penalties related to unrecognized tax benefits in the provision for income taxes.
As a result of the Tax Act, the global intangible low-taxed income (“GILTI”) provision imposed a tax on certain earnings of foreign subsidiaries. The Company elected an accounting policy to account for GILTI as a period cost. The U.S. Treasury Department has issued final interpretive guidance relating to certain provisions of the Tax Act and proposed additional guidance related to the same provisions. The Company will account for the impact of additional guidance in the period in which any new guidance is released, if appropriate.
Item 7A. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk
(amounts in millions)
The Company, in the normal course of doing business, is exposed to a variety of risks, including market risks associated with foreign currency exchange rates and changes in interest rates. The Company does not have any significant concentration with any one counterparty.
Foreign Currency Exchange Rate Risk
The Company conducts business in many foreign currencies through its worldwide operations, and as a result, is subject to foreign exchange exposure due to changes in exchange rates of the various currencies. Changes in exchange rates can positively or negatively affect the Company’s sales, operating margins and equity. The Company attempts to mitigate currency risk in a number of ways, such as locating factories in the same country or region in which products are sold, hedging contracts, cost reduction and pricing actions or working capital management. However, there can be no assurance that any or all such actions taken by the Company will be fully effective in successfully managing currency risk, including in the event of a significant and sudden decline in the value of any of the foreign currencies of the Company’s worldwide operations.
One of the Company’s wholly owned European subsidiaries (the “Euro Issuer”) has two outstanding unsecured senior notes issued in Europe (collectively, the “Euro Notes”), each of which was issued with a principal amount of €500.0. The 0.750% Euro Senior Notes, which were issued in May 2020, mature on May 4, 2026, while the 2.000% Euro Senior Notes, which were issued in October 2018, mature on October 8, 2028. The Company and the Euro Issuer also have a commercial paper program (the “Euro Commercial Paper Program” and, together with the U.S. Commercial Paper Program, the “Commercial Paper Programs”), pursuant to which the Euro Issuer may issue, outside of the United States, short-term unsecured commercial paper notes. While the Euro Notes are denominated in Euros, the Company may borrow, from time to time, under the Revolving Credit Facility and Euro Commercial Paper Program, and such borrowings have been and may continue to be denominated in various foreign currencies, including the Euro. When borrowing in foreign currencies, there can be no assurance that the Company can successfully manage changes in exchange rates, including in the event of a significant and sudden decline in the value of any of the foreign currencies in which such borrowings are made. Refer to Note 4 of the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements for a discussion of debt.
The Company also utilizes foreign exchange forward contracts to hedge foreign currency exchange rate fluctuations for exposures associated with (i) certain transactions denominated in foreign currencies and (ii) net investments in certain foreign subsidiaries from which we expect to repatriate earnings to the United States. As of December 31, 2023, the fair value of such foreign exchange forward contracts was not material. A 10% change in foreign currency exchange rates would not have a material effect on the value of the hedges as of December 31, 2023 and 2022. The Company does
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not engage in purchasing forward contracts for trading or speculative purposes, and our derivative financial instruments are with large financial institutions with strong credit ratings. As of December 31, 2023, the Company does not have any significant concentration of exposure with any one counterparty. Refer to Note 1 and Note 5 of the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements for a discussion of derivative financial instruments.
Interest Rate Risk
The Company is subject to market risk from exposure to changes in interest rates based on the Company’s financing activities. The Company manages its exposure to interest rate risk through a mix of fixed and variable rate debt. The Company currently has various fixed rate senior notes outstanding, in both the United States and Europe, with various maturity dates, the most recent of which was issued in 2023. In March 2023, the Company issued $350.0 principal amount of 4.750% 2026 Senior Notes, the net proceeds of which were used to repay certain outstanding borrowings under the U.S. Commercial Paper Program.
Any borrowings under the Revolving Credit Facility bear interest at rates that fluctuate with a spread that varies, based on the Company’s debt rating, over certain currency-specific benchmark rates, which benchmark rates in the case of U.S. dollar borrowings are either the base rate or the adjusted term Secured Overnight Financing Rate (“SOFR”). Similarly, any borrowings under the two-year, $750.0 delayed draw Term Loan entered into by the Company in April of 2022, bear interest at rates that fluctuate with a spread that varies, based on the Company’s debt rating, over either the base rate or the adjusted term SOFR. Any borrowings under the Commercial Paper Programs are subject to floating interest rates. Therefore, when the Company borrows under these debt instruments, the Company is exposed to market risk related to changes in interest rates. As of December 31, 2023, the Company had no borrowings outstanding under the Revolving Credit Facility, Term Loan, U.S. Commercial Paper Program and Euro Commercial Paper Program. However, the Company borrowed under the U.S. Commercial Paper Program throughout much of 2023, the proceeds of which were used for general corporate purposes, and the Company may make additional borrowings under any of its debt instruments from time to time. As of December 31, 2023, less than 1% of the Company’s outstanding borrowings were subject to floating interest rates. As of December 31, 2022, there were no outstanding borrowings under the Revolving Credit Facility, Term Loan and Euro Commercial Paper Program, while approximately $640, or 14% of the Company’s outstanding borrowings in 2022, primarily under the U.S. Commercial Paper Program, were subject to floating interest rates. The Company’s weighted average floating rate on borrowings under the U.S. Commercial Paper Program as of December 31, 2022 was 4.69%.
As a result of increases in the federal funds rate by the U.S. Federal Reserve beginning in early 2022 and through the middle of 2023, the floating interest rates related to our U.S. Commercial Paper Program (as well as our Revolving Credit Facility and Term Loan, to the extent either are drawn upon in the future) have increased substantially over this same period, a trend that could continue into 2024 and potentially beyond. To the extent that interest rates related to this floating rate debt increase further and the Company borrows under any of these floating interest rate instruments in the future, interest expense and interest payments would increase. A 10% change in the interest rate at December 31, 2023 and 2022 under our Revolving Credit Facility, Term Loan or Commercial Paper Programs would not have a material effect on interest expense. Although the Company does not expect changes in interest rates to have a material effect on income or cash flows in 2024, there can be no assurance that interest rates will not change significantly from current levels.
47
Item 8. Financial Statements and Supplementary Data
REPORT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM
To the stockholders and the Board of Directors of Amphenol Corporation
Opinions on the Financial Statements and Internal Control over Financial Reporting
We have audited the accompanying consolidated balance sheets of Amphenol Corporation and subsidiaries (the “Company”) as of December 31, 2023 and 2022, the related consolidated statements of income, comprehensive income, changes in equity, and cash flow, for each of the three years in the period ended December 31, 2023, and the related notes and the schedule listed in the Index at Item 15 (collectively referred to as the “financial statements”). We also have audited the Company’s internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2023, based on criteria established in Internal Control — Integrated Framework (2013) issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission (COSO).
In our opinion, the financial statements referred to above present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of the Company as of December 31, 2023 and 2022, and the results of its operations and its cash flows for each of the three years in the period ended December 31, 2023, in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (generally accepted accounting principles). Also, in our opinion, the Company maintained, in all material respects, effective internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2023, based on criteria established in Internal Control — Integrated Framework (2013) issued by COSO.
Basis for Opinions
The Company’s management is responsible for these financial statements, for maintaining effective internal control over financial reporting, and for its assessment of the effectiveness of internal control over financial reporting, included in the accompanying Management Report on Internal Control. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on these financial statements and an opinion on the Company’s internal control over financial reporting based on our audits. We are a public accounting firm registered with the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States) (PCAOB) and are required to be independent with respect to the Company in accordance with the U.S. federal securities laws and the applicable rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission and the PCAOB.
We conducted our audits in accordance with the standards of the PCAOB. Those standards require that we plan and perform the audits to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements are free of material misstatement, whether due to error or fraud, and whether effective internal control over financial reporting was maintained in all material respects.
Our audits of the financial statements included performing procedures to assess the risks of material misstatement of the financial statements, whether due to error or fraud, and performing procedures to respond to those risks. Such procedures included examining, on a test basis, evidence regarding the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements. Our audits also included evaluating the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, as well as evaluating the overall presentation of the financial statements. Our audit of internal control over financial reporting included obtaining an understanding of internal control over financial reporting, assessing the risk that a material weakness exists, and testing and evaluating the design and operating effectiveness of internal control based on the assessed risk. Our audits also included performing such other procedures as we considered necessary in the circumstances. We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinions.
Definition and Limitations of Internal Control over Financial Reporting
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.
48
Critical Audit Matter
The critical audit matter communicated below is a matter arising from the current-period audit of the financial statements that was communicated or required to be communicated to the audit committee and that (1) relates to accounts or disclosures that are material to the financial statements and (2) involved our especially challenging, subjective, or complex judgments. The communication of critical audit matters does not alter in any way our opinion on the financial statements, taken as a whole, and we are not, by communicating the critical audit matter below, providing a separate opinion on the critical audit matter or on the accounts or disclosures to which it relates.
Income Taxes — Unrecognized Tax Benefits — Refer to Notes 1 and 6 to the financial statements
Critical Audit Matter Description
The Company operates in the U.S. and numerous foreign taxable jurisdictions, and at any point in time has numerous audits underway at various stages of completion. The Company evaluates its tax positions and establishes liabilities for uncertain tax positions that may be challenged by tax authorities and may not be fully sustained, despite the Company’s belief that the underlying tax positions are fully supportable. The tax effects of an uncertain tax position taken or expected to be taken in income tax returns are recognized only if it is “more likely than not” to be sustained on examination by the taxing authorities, based on its technical merits as of the reporting date. The tax benefits recognized in the financial statements from such a position are measured based on the largest benefit that has a greater than fifty percent likelihood of being realized upon ultimate settlement.
Management judgment is required to identify and evaluate each uncertain tax position to determine whether the more likely than not recognition thresholds have been met. Further, the evaluation of each uncertain tax position requires management to apply specialized skill and knowledge related to the identified position. The Company has unrecognized tax benefits of $216.0 million, including penalties and interest, as of December 31, 2023.
We identified the liabilities for uncertain tax positions as a critical audit matter because of the complexity created by the multiple jurisdictions in which the Company files its tax returns, each of which has differing and complex tax laws and regulations. This required a high degree of auditor judgment and an increased extent of effort, including the need to involve our income tax specialists, when performing audit procedures to evaluate management’s identification of uncertain tax positions, the estimates of the amounts to be realized and whether it is more likely than not that the tax position will be sustained.
How the Critical Audit Matter Was Addressed in the Audit
Our audit procedures related to uncertain tax positions included the following, among others:
| ● | We tested the effectiveness of controls over the uncertain tax positions for income taxes, including management’s controls over the identification and recording of uncertain tax positions as well as the determination of whether it is more likely than not that the tax position will be sustained. |
| ● | With the assistance of our income tax specialists, we evaluated management’s significant judgements regarding uncertain tax positions including: |
| o | Assessing the reasonableness of the methods and assumptions used by management to identify uncertain tax positions including but not limited to: |
| ◾ | Evaluating former and ongoing tax audits by tax authorities |
| ◾ | Evaluating transactions for which third-party tax advice or tax opinions were received |
| ◾ | Determining if there’s any additional information available to us that was not identified and considered in management’s assessment. |
| o | Assessing the technical merits of a sample of positions identified and the reasonableness of the methodology used to determine the uncertain tax liability. |
| o | Evaluating management’s conclusion with respect to whether uncertain tax positions accounted for in prior periods have been effectively settled and/or whether the statute of limitations has expired and, if so, whether the resolution of the tax position has been appropriately accounted for in the financial statements. |
| o | Evaluating tax positions that have not yet settled or are within statute to determine whether any new information regarding the sustainability of these tax positions or measurement of tax benefit is present such that a previously unrecognized uncertain tax position is recognized. |
/s/
February 7, 2024
We have served as the Company’s auditor since 1997.
49
AMPHENOL CORPORATION
Consolidated Statements of Income
(dollars and shares in millions, except per share data)
Year Ended December 31, | ||||||||||
| 2023 |
| 2022 |
| 2021 |
| ||||
Net sales | $ | | $ | | $ | | ||||
Cost of sales |
| |
| |
| | ||||
Gross profit |
| |
| |
| | ||||
Acquisition-related expenses |
| |
| |
| | ||||
Selling, general and administrative expenses |
| |
| |
| | ||||
Operating income |
| |
| |
| | ||||
Interest expense |
| ( |
| ( |
| ( | ||||
Gain on bargain purchase acquisition |
| |
| |
| | ||||
Other income (expense), net |
| |
| |
| ( | ||||
Income from continuing operations before income taxes |
| |
| |
| | ||||
Provision for income taxes |
| ( |
| ( |
| ( | ||||
Net income from continuing operations | | | | |||||||
Less: Net income from continuing operations attributable to noncontrolling interests |
| ( |
| ( |
| ( | ||||
Net income from continuing operations attributable to Amphenol Corporation |
| |
| |
| | ||||
Income from discontinued operations attributable to Amphenol Corporation, net of income taxes of ($ | | | | |||||||
Net income attributable to Amphenol Corporation | $ | | $ | | $ | | ||||
Net income per common share attributable to Amphenol Corporation — Basic: | ||||||||||
Continuing operations | $ | | $ | | $ | | ||||
Discontinued operations, net of income taxes | | | | |||||||
Net income attributable to Amphenol Corporation — Basic | $ | | $ | | $ | | ||||
Weighted average common shares outstanding — Basic |
| |
| |
| | ||||
Net income per common share attributable to Amphenol Corporation — Diluted: | ||||||||||
Continuing operations | $ | | $ | | $ | | ||||
Discontinued operations, net of income taxes | | | | |||||||
Net income attributable to Amphenol Corporation — Diluted | $ | | $ | | $ | | ||||
Weighted average common shares outstanding — Diluted |
| |
| |
| | ||||
Dividends declared per common share | $ | | $ | | $ | | ||||
Note: Per share amounts may not add due to rounding.
See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements.
50
AMPHENOL CORPORATION
Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income
(dollars in millions)
Year Ended December 31, | ||||||||||
| 2023 |
| 2022 |
| 2021 |
| ||||
Net income from continuing operations | $ | | $ | | $ | | ||||
Add: Income from discontinued operations attributable to Amphenol Corporation, net of income taxes | | | | |||||||
Net income before allocation to noncontrolling interests | $ | | $ | | $ | | ||||
Total other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax: | ||||||||||
Foreign currency translation adjustments |
| ( |
| ( |
| ( | ||||
Unrealized loss on hedging activities |
| |
| ( |
| | ||||
Pension and postretirement benefit plan adjustment | | | | |||||||
Total other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax |
| |
| ( |
| ( | ||||
Total comprehensive income |
| |
| |
| | ||||
Less: Comprehensive income attributable to noncontrolling interests |
| ( |
| ( |
| ( | ||||
Comprehensive income attributable to Amphenol Corporation | $ | | $ | | $ | | ||||
See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements.
51
AMPHENOL CORPORATION
Consolidated Balance Sheets
(dollars and shares in millions, except per share data)
December 31, | |||||||
| 2023 |
| 2022 |
| |||
ASSETS | |||||||
Current Assets: | |||||||
Cash and cash equivalents | $ | | $ | | |||
Short-term investments |
| |
| | |||
Total cash, cash equivalents and short-term investments |
| |
| | |||
Accounts receivable, less allowance for doubtful accounts of $ |
| |
| | |||
Inventories |
| |
| | |||
Prepaid expenses and other current assets |
| |
| | |||
Total current assets |
| |
| | |||
Property, plant and equipment, net |
| |
| | |||
Goodwill | | | |||||
Other intangible assets, net |
| |
| | |||
Other long-term assets | | | |||||
Total Assets | $ | | $ | | |||
LIABILITIES, REDEEMABLE NONCONTROLLING INTERESTS AND EQUITY | |||||||
Current Liabilities: | |||||||
Accounts payable | $ | | $ | | |||
Accrued salaries, wages and employee benefits |
| |
| | |||
Accrued income taxes |
| |
| | |||
Accrued dividends | | | |||||
Other accrued expenses |
| |
| | |||
Current portion of long-term debt |
| |
| | |||
Total current liabilities |
| |
| | |||
Long-term debt, less current portion |
| |
| | |||
Accrued pension and postretirement benefit obligations |
| |
| | |||
Deferred income taxes | | | |||||
Other long-term liabilities |
| |
| | |||
Total Liabilities | | | |||||
Commitments and contingent liabilities (Note 14) | |||||||
Redeemable noncontrolling interests | | | |||||
Equity: | |||||||
Class A Common Stock, $ |
| | | ||||
Additional paid-in capital |
| |
| | |||
Retained earnings |
| |
| | |||
Treasury stock, at cost; | ( | ( | |||||
Accumulated other comprehensive loss |
| ( |
| ( | |||
Total stockholders’ equity attributable to Amphenol Corporation |
| |
| | |||
Noncontrolling interests |
| |
| | |||
Total Equity |
| |
| | |||
Total Liabilities, Redeemable Noncontrolling Interests and Equity | $ | | $ | | |||
See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements.
52
AMPHENOL CORPORATION
Consolidated Statements of Changes in Equity
(dollars and shares in millions, except per share data)
Stockholders’ equity attributable to Amphenol Corporation | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Accumulated | Redeemable | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Additional | Other | Non- | Non- | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Common Stock |
| Treasury Stock | Paid-in | Retained | Comprehensive | controlling | Total | controlling | |||||||||||||||||||||
Shares | Amount |
| Shares |
| Amount |
| Capital |
| Earnings |
| Loss |
| Interests (1) |
| Equity | Interests | |||||||||||||
Balance as of January 1, 2021 |
| | $ | | ( | $ | ( | $ | | $ | | $ | ( | $ | | $ | | $ | | ||||||||||
Net income |
| |
| |
| |
| | |||||||||||||||||||||
Other comprehensive income (loss) |
| ( |
| |
| ( |
| | |||||||||||||||||||||
Acquisitions resulting in noncontrolling interests |
| |
| |
| | |||||||||||||||||||||||
Purchase of noncontrolling interest | | ( | ( | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Distributions to shareholders of noncontrolling interests |
| ( |
| ( |
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Purchase of treasury stock | ( |
| ( |
| ( | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Retirement of treasury stock |
| ( |
| | |
| |
| ( |
| | ||||||||||||||||||
Stock options exercised |
| |
| | | |
| | ( |
| | ||||||||||||||||||
Dividends declared ($ |
| ( |
| ( | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
Stock-based compensation expense |
| |
| | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
Balance as of December 31, 2021 |
| | | ( | ( | | | ( | | | | ||||||||||||||||||
Net income |
| |
| |
| |
| | |||||||||||||||||||||
Other comprehensive income (loss) |
| ( |
| ( |
| ( |
| | |||||||||||||||||||||
Purchase of noncontrolling interest | ( | ( | ( | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Distributions to shareholders of noncontrolling interests |
| ( |
| ( |
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Purchase of treasury stock | ( |
| ( |
| ( | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Retirement of treasury stock |
| ( |
| | |
| |
| ( |
| | ||||||||||||||||||
Stock options exercised |
| |
| | | |
| | ( |
| | ||||||||||||||||||
Dividends declared ($ |
| ( |
| ( | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
Stock-based compensation expense |
| |
| | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
Balance as of December 31, 2022 |
| | | ( | ( | | | ( | | | | ||||||||||||||||||
Net income |
| |
| |
| |
| | |||||||||||||||||||||
Other comprehensive income (loss) |
| |
| ( |
| |
| | |||||||||||||||||||||
Acquisitions resulting in noncontrolling interests |
| |
| |
| | |||||||||||||||||||||||
Distributions to shareholders of noncontrolling interests |
| ( |
| ( |
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Purchase of treasury stock | ( |
| ( |
| ( | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Retirement of treasury stock |
| ( |
| | |
| |
| ( |
| | ||||||||||||||||||
Stock options exercised |
| |
| | | |
| | ( |
| | ||||||||||||||||||
Dividends declared ($ |
| ( |
| ( | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
Stock-based compensation expense |
| |
| | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
Balance as of December 31, 2023 |
| | $ | | ( | $ | ( | $ | | $ | | $ | ( | $ | | $ | | $ | | ||||||||||
| (1) | Excludes redeemable noncontrolling interests. |
See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements.
53
AMPHENOL CORPORATION
Consolidated Statements of Cash Flow
(dollars in millions)
Year Ended December 31, | ||||||||||
| 2023 |
| 2022 |
| 2021 |
| ||||
Cash from operating activities: | ||||||||||
Net income from continuing operations | $ | | $ | | $ | | ||||
Adjustments to reconcile net income from continuing operations to net cash provided by operating activities from continuing operations: | ||||||||||
Depreciation and amortization |
| |
| |
| | ||||
Stock-based compensation expense |
| |
| |
| | ||||
Deferred income tax benefit |
| ( | ( | ( | ||||||
Gain on bargain purchase acquisition |
| ( |
| |
| | ||||
Net change in operating assets and liabilities, excluding effects of acquisitions: | ||||||||||
Accounts receivable, net |
| | ( | ( | ||||||
Inventories |
| | ( | ( | ||||||
Prepaid expenses and other current assets |
| ( | | ( | ||||||
Accounts payable |
| ( | | | ||||||
Accrued income taxes |
| | | ( | ||||||
Other accrued liabilities |
| ( | | | ||||||
Accrued pension and postretirement benefits |
| ( | ( | | ||||||
Other long-term assets and liabilities |
| ( | ( | ( | ||||||
Net cash provided by operating activities from continuing operations | | | | |||||||
Net cash provided by operating activities from discontinued operations | | | | |||||||
Net cash provided by operating activities |
| |
| |
| | ||||
Cash from investing activities: | ||||||||||
Capital expenditures |
| ( |
| ( |
| ( | ||||
Proceeds from disposals of property, plant and equipment |
| |
| |
| | ||||
Purchases of investments |
| ( |
| ( |
| ( | ||||
Sales and maturities of investments |
| |
| |
| | ||||
Acquisitions, net of cash acquired |
| ( |
| ( |
| ( | ||||
Other, net | | | ( | |||||||
Net cash used in investing activities from continuing operations | ( | ( | ( | |||||||
Net cash provided by investing activities from discontinued operations | | | | |||||||
Net cash used in investing activities |
| ( |
| ( |
| ( | ||||
Cash from financing activities: | ||||||||||
Proceeds from issuance of senior notes and other long-term debt |
| |
| |
| | ||||
Repayments of senior notes and other long-term debt |
| ( | ( | ( | ||||||
Proceeds from short-term borrowings | | | | |||||||
Repayments of short-term borrowings | | ( | | |||||||
(Repayments) borrowings under commercial paper programs, net | ( | ( | | |||||||
Payment of costs related to debt financing |
| ( |
| ( |
| ( | ||||
Payment of deferred purchase price related to acquisitions | ( | | ( | |||||||
Purchase of treasury stock |
| ( |
| ( |
| ( | ||||
Proceeds from exercise of stock options | | | | |||||||
Distributions to and purchases of noncontrolling interests | ( | ( | ( | |||||||
Dividend payments |
| ( |
| ( |
| ( | ||||
Transfers to discontinued operations | | | ( | |||||||
Net cash used in financing activities from continuing operations | ( | ( | ( | |||||||
Net cash used in financing activities from discontinued operations | | | ( | |||||||
Net cash used in financing activities |
| ( |
| ( |
| ( | ||||
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash and cash equivalents |
| ( |
| ( |
| ( | ||||
Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents |
| |
| |
| ( | ||||
Cash and cash equivalents balance, beginning of year |
| |
| |
| | ||||
Cash and cash equivalents balance, end of year | $ | | $ | | $ | | ||||
Cash paid during the year for: | ||||||||||
Interest | $ | | $ | | $ | | ||||
Income taxes, net |
| |
| |
| | ||||
See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements.
54
AMPHENOL CORPORATION
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
(All amounts included in the following Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements are presented in millions, except share and per share data, unless otherwise noted)
Note 1—Summary of Significant Accounting Policies
Business
Amphenol Corporation (together with its subsidiaries, “Amphenol,” the “Company,” “we,” “our,” or “us”) is one of the world’s largest designers, manufacturers and marketers of electrical, electronic and fiber optic connectors and interconnect systems, antennas, sensors and sensor-based products and coaxial and high-speed specialty cable. The Company sells its products to customers worldwide.
The Company aligns its businesses into the following
The Company began reporting under these reportable segments in connection with its Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarterly period ended March 31, 2022 and for each quarterly and annual period thereafter. All segment information throughout the Consolidated Financial Statements and Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements is presented in accordance with the
Use of Estimates
The preparation of consolidated financial statements in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (“U.S. GAAP” or “GAAP”) requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the consolidated financial statements and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting period. The Company’s management evaluates these significant estimates and assumptions that affect the consolidated financial statements and related disclosures. Estimates used in calculating certain accounts, including but not limited to, the allowance for doubtful accounts, provisions for slow-moving or obsolete inventory, revenue recognition, income taxes and related valuation allowances, goodwill and intangible assets from acquisitions, and pensions, are developed based on historical experience or other assumptions that the Company believes to be reasonable. Actual results could differ from those estimates.
Principles of Consolidation
The consolidated financial statements are prepared in U.S. dollars and include the accounts of the Company and its wholly owned and majority-owned subsidiaries. Intercompany account balances and transactions have been eliminated in consolidation. The results of companies acquired are included in the Consolidated Financial Statements from the
55
effective date of acquisition. Similarly, the results of companies divested are included in the Consolidated Financial Statements during the period of Amphenol’s ownership through the date of the divestiture.
Cash and Cash Equivalents
Cash and cash equivalents consist of cash and liquid investments with an original maturity of three months or less. The carrying amounts approximate fair values of those instruments, the majority of which are in non-U.S. bank accounts.
Short-term and Long-term Investments
Short-term investments primarily consist of certificates of deposit with original or remaining maturities of twelve months or less. Long-term investments primarily consist of certificates of deposit with original and remaining maturities of more than twelve months. The carrying amounts of these short-term and long-term investments approximate their respective fair values, the vast majority of which are in non-U.S. bank accounts. Short-term investments are presented separately as its own line item on the Consolidated Balance Sheets. Long-term investments are recorded in Other long-term assets on the Consolidated Balance Sheets.
Accounts Receivable
Accounts receivable is stated at net realizable value. The Company regularly reviews accounts receivable balances and adjusts the receivable reserves as necessary whenever events or circumstances indicate the carrying value may not be recoverable. The Company assesses and records an allowance for expected credit losses on accounts receivable.
Inventories
Inventories are stated at the lower of cost or net realizable value. The principal components of cost included in inventories are materials, direct labor and manufacturing overhead. The Company regularly reviews inventory quantities on hand, evaluates the realizability of inventories and adjusts the carrying value as necessary based on forecasted product demand. Provisions for slow-moving and obsolete inventory are made based on historical experience and product demand.
Depreciable Assets
Property, plant and equipment are carried at cost less accumulated depreciation. Depreciation is recorded on a straight-line basis over the respective asset lives determined on a composite basis by asset group or on a specific item basis using the estimated useful lives of such assets, which generally range from
Leases
Amphenol is a lessee of buildings, office space, automobiles and equipment throughout the world, nearly all of which are classified as operating leases expiring at various dates. The Company determines if an arrangement qualifies as a lease at lease inception. Lease right-of-use (“ROU”) assets and lease liabilities for existing operating leases are recognized on the Consolidated Balance Sheets. Operating lease liabilities are recorded based on the present value of the future lease payments over the lease term, assessed as of the commencement date. The Company’s real estate leases, which are comprised primarily of manufacturing facilities, warehouses and sales offices, represent the vast majority of our operating lease liabilities and generally have a lease term between
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estate leases including lease payments tied to a rate or index which may be subject to variability. Certain real estate leases also include executory costs such as common area maintenance (non-lease component), as well as property insurance and property taxes (non-components).
Substantially all of our lease agreements do not specify an implicit borrowing rate, and as such, the Company utilizes its incremental borrowing rate by lease term, in order to calculate the present value of our future lease payments. The discount rate represents a risk-adjusted rate on a secured basis, and is the rate at which the Company would borrow funds to satisfy the scheduled lease liability payment streams commensurate with the lease term. For new or renewed leases, the discount rate is determined using available data at lease commencement and based on the lease term including any reasonably certain renewal periods.
Some of our lease agreements, primarily related to real estate, include options for the Company to either renew (extend) or early terminate the lease. Leases with renewal options allow the Company to extend the lease term typically between
Refer to Note 10 herein for further information related to our lease portfolio.
Goodwill
Goodwill represents the excess purchase cost over the fair value of net assets acquired in business combinations. As a result of the change in the reporting segment structure that went in effect on January 1, 2022, the Company utilized the relative fair value allocation approach to reallocate the historical goodwill associated with the previous Interconnect Products and Assemblies segment, while the historical goodwill associated with the previous Cable Products and Solutions segment was allocated in full to the Communications Solutions segment. The Company concluded that there were no events or changes in circumstances, immediately prior to the reporting unit change, that would indicate that either of the Company’s legacy reporting unit’s carrying amount may be impaired. Therefore, no goodwill impairment assessment was deemed necessary related to the legacy reporting units prior to the change.
The Company continues to perform its evaluation for the impairment of goodwill associated with the Company’s reporting units on an annual basis as of each July 1, or more frequently if an event occurs or circumstances change that would indicate that a reporting unit’s carrying amount may be impaired. The Company reviews its reporting unit structure each year, or more frequently based on changes in our organization. The Company continues to define its reporting units as the
In 2023 and 2022, the annual goodwill impairment assessment was performed on the Company’s
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quantitative assessment was not required. As a result,
The Company has
Intangible Assets
Other than goodwill, intangible assets primarily consist of customer relationships, proprietary technology, acquired backlog and license agreements and are generally amortized over the estimated periods of benefit. The fair value associated with acquired identifiable intangible assets are generally valued based on discounted cash flow analyses, independent appraisals and certain estimates made by management. The Company assesses and reviews its identifiable intangible assets, subject to amortization, for potential impairment whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate the intangible asset’s carrying amount may not be recoverable. Factors the Company considers important, which could trigger an impairment review, include significant changes in the manner of the use of the asset, changes in historical trends in operating performance, significant changes in projected operating performance, anticipated future cash flows and significant negative economic trends. Any indefinite-lived intangible assets that are not subject to amortization, which are comprised of certain trade names, are reviewed at least annually for impairment. In the third quarter of 2023, the Company performed its annual assessment of these identifiable indefinite-lived intangible assets. Based on its assessment, the Company determined that it was more likely than not that the fair value of the indefinite-lived intangible assets exceeded their respective carrying amounts. There has been
Acquisitions
The Company accounts for acquisitions using the acquisition method of accounting, which requires that assets acquired and liabilities assumed be recognized at fair value as of the acquisition date. The purchase price of acquisitions is allocated to the tangible and identifiable intangible assets acquired and liabilities and noncontrolling interests assumed based on estimated fair values, and any excess purchase price over the identifiable assets acquired and liabilities assumed is recorded as goodwill. Any subsequent adjustments to the purchase price allocation prior to the completion of the measurement period will be reflected as an adjustment to goodwill in the period in which the adjustments are identified. The Company may use independent valuation specialists to assist in determining the estimated fair values of assets acquired and liabilities assumed, which could require certain significant management assumptions and estimates.
Discontinued Operations and Held for Sale Accounting
The Company reports a component of an entity or group of components of an entity as a discontinued operation and held for sale upon acquisition, if the Company has (i) executed a plan to sell the business as of the acquisition date or (ii) has begun to formulate a plan to sell the business and either currently meets or expects to meet the held for sale criteria within three months. An entity meets the held for sale criteria when (a) management, having the authority to approve the action, commits to a plan to sell the discontinued operation, the plan of which is unlikely to have any significant changes or to be withdrawn, (b) the completed sale is probable within one year, and (c) an active program to locate a buyer has been initiated with the operation actively marketed for sale at a price that is reasonable in relation to its current fair value and for immediate sale in its present condition. The assets acquired and liabilities assumed from an entity that qualifies for held for sale accounting are measured and recorded at fair value less costs to sell, and are recorded as current assets held for sale and current liabilities held for sale when the planned sale is expected to close within one year. The Company separately accounts for the operating results and related cash flows associated with discontinued operations until such operations are divested; such discontinued operations are reported separately from the operating results and related cash flows associated with continuing operations in the accompanying Consolidated Financial Statements. For further information related to the Company’s discontinued operations, refer to Note 11 herein.
Revenue Recognition
The Company recognizes revenue upon the transfer of promised goods or services to customers in an amount that reflects the consideration to which the entity expects to be entitled in exchange for such goods or services. The vast majority of our sales are recognized when products are shipped from our facilities or delivered to our customers, depending on the respective contractual terms. A nominal portion of our contracts have revenue recognized over time as
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control of the goods transfers, rather than when the goods are delivered, and title, risk and reward of ownership are passed to the customer, since they have no alternative use and for which the Company has an enforceable right to payment, including a reasonable profit margin, from the customer for performance completed to date. Refer to Note 13 herein for further discussion regarding the Company’s disaggregation of net sales.
The Company’s primary source of revenues consist of product sales to either end customers and their appointed contract manufacturers (including original equipment manufacturers) or to distributors, and the vast majority of our sales are recognized at a point-in-time under the core principle of recognizing revenue when control transfers to the customer. Revenues are derived from contracts with customers, which in most cases are customer purchase orders that may be governed by master sales agreements. For each contract, the promise to transfer the control of the products, each of which is individually distinct, is considered to be the identified performance obligation. As part of the consideration promised in each contract, the Company evaluates the customer’s credit risk. Our contracts do not have any significant financing components, as payment terms are generally due net
The vast majority of our sales are recognized at a point-in-time under the core principle of recognizing revenue when control transfers to the customer. With limited exceptions, the Company recognizes revenue at the point in time when we ship or deliver the product from our manufacturing facility to our customer, when our customer accepts and has legal title of the goods, and where the Company has a present right to payment for such goods. Based on the respective contract terms, most of our contracts’ revenues are recognized either (i) upon shipment based on free on board (“FOB”) shipping point or (ii) when the product arrives at its destination. For the years ended December 31, 2023, 2022 and 2021, less than
The Company receives customer orders negotiated with multiple delivery dates that may extend across more than
Sales to Distributors and Resellers
Sales to certain distributors and resellers are made under terms allowing certain price adjustments and limited rights of return of the Company’s products held in their inventory or upon sale to their end customers. The Company maintains a reserve for unprocessed and estimated future price adjustment claims and returns as a refund liability. The reserve is recorded as a reduction to revenue in the same period that the related revenue is recorded and is calculated based on an analysis of historical claims and returns over a period of time to appropriately account for current pricing and business trends. Similarly, sales returns and allowances are recorded based on historical return rates, as a reduction to revenue with a corresponding reduction to cost of sales for the estimated cost of inventory that is expected to be returned. These reserves were not material to the Consolidated Balance Sheets as of December 31, 2023 and 2022.
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Warranty
Standard product warranty coverage, which provides assurance that our products will conform to the contractually agreed-upon specifications for a limited period from the date of shipment, is typically offered, while extended or separately priced warranty coverage is typically not offered. The warranty claim is generally limited to a credit equal to the purchase price or a promise to repair or replace the product for a specified period of time at no additional charge. We estimate our warranty liability based on historical experience, product history, and current trends, and record warranty expense in Cost of sales in the Consolidated Statements of Income. Warranty liabilities and related warranty expense have not been and were not material in the accompanying Consolidated Financial Statements as of and for the years ended December 31, 2023, 2022 and 2021.
Shipping and Handling Costs
The Company accounts for shipping and handling activities related to contracts with customers as a cost to fulfill our promise to transfer control of the related product, including any such costs incurred after the customer has obtained control of the goods. Shipping and handling costs are generally charged to and paid by the majority of our customers as part of the contract. For a nominal portion of our customer contracts, primarily for certain customers in the broadband communications market (a market primarily in the Communications Solutions segment), such costs are not separately charged to the customers. Shipping and handling costs are included in Cost of sales in the accompanying Consolidated Statements of Income.
Contract Assets and Contract Liabilities
The Company records contract assets or contract liabilities depending on the timing of revenue recognition, billings and cash collections on a contract-by-contract basis. Contract assets represent unbilled receivables, which generally arise when revenue recognized over time exceed amounts billed to customers. Contract liabilities represent billings or advanced consideration received from customers in excess of revenue recognized to date. As the Company’s performance obligations are typically less than
Contract Costs
The Company’s policy is to capitalize any incremental costs incurred to obtain a customer contract, only to the extent that such costs are explicitly chargeable to the customer and the benefit associated with the costs is expected to be longer than year. Otherwise, such costs are expensed as incurred and recorded within Selling, general and administrative expenses in the accompanying Consolidated Statements of Income. Incremental costs to fulfill customer orders, which are mostly comprised of pre-production and set-up costs, are generally capitalized to the extent such costs are contractually guaranteed to be reimbursed by the customer. Otherwise, such costs are expensed as incurred. Capitalized contract costs to obtain a contract or to fulfill a contract that are not accounted for under other existing accounting standards are recorded as either other current or long-term assets on the accompanying Consolidated Balance Sheets, depending on the timing of when the Company expects to recognize the expense, and are generally amortized consistent with the timing of when transfer of control of the related goods occurs. Such capitalized contract costs were not material as of December 31, 2023 and 2022, and the related amortization expense was not material for the years ended December 31, 2023, 2022 and 2021.
Retirement Pension Plans
Costs for retirement pension plans include current service costs and amortization of prior service costs over the average working life expectancy. It is the Company’s policy to fund current pension costs taking into consideration minimum funding requirements and maximum tax deductible limitations. The expense of retiree medical benefit programs is recognized during the employees’ service with the Company. The recognition of expense and the related obligation for retirement pension plans and medical benefit programs is significantly impacted by estimates and assumptions made by management such as discount rates used to value certain liabilities, expected return on assets, mortality projections and future health care costs. The Company uses third-party specialists such as actuaries and investment advisors to assist management in appropriately measuring the expense and obligations associated with pension and other postretirement plan benefits.
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Stock-Based Compensation
The Company accounts for its stock option, restricted share and phantom stock awards based on the fair value of the award at the date of grant and recognizes compensation expense over the service period that the awards are expected to vest. The Company recognizes expense for stock-based compensation with graded vesting on a straight-line basis over the vesting period of the entire award. Stock-based compensation expense includes the estimated effects of forfeitures, which are adjusted over the requisite service period to the extent actual forfeitures differ or are expected to differ from such estimates. Changes in estimated forfeitures are recognized in the period of change and impact the amount of expense to be recognized in future periods. The expense incurred for stock-based compensation plans is included in Selling, general and administrative expenses in the accompanying Consolidated Statements of Income.
Income Taxes
Deferred income taxes are provided for revenue and expenses which are recognized in different periods for income tax and financial statement reporting purposes. The Company recognizes the effects of changes in tax laws and rates on deferred income taxes in the period in which legislation is enacted. Deferred income taxes are provided on undistributed earnings of foreign subsidiaries in the period in which the Company determines it no longer intends to permanently reinvest such earnings outside the United States. As of December 31, 2023, the Company has not provided for deferred income taxes on undistributed foreign earnings of approximately $
The tax effects of an uncertain tax position taken or expected to be taken in income tax returns are recognized only if it is “more likely than not” to be sustained on examination by the taxing authorities, based on its technical merits as of the reporting date. The tax benefits recognized in the financial statements from such a position are measured based on the largest benefit that has a greater than fifty percent likelihood of being realized upon ultimate settlement. The Company includes estimated interest and penalties related to unrecognized tax benefits in the provision for income taxes.
As a result of the U.S. Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017 (the “Tax Act”), the global intangible low-taxed income (“GILTI”) provision imposed a tax on certain earnings of foreign subsidiaries. The Company an accounting policy to account for GILTI as a period cost. The U.S. Treasury Department has issued final interpretive guidance relating to certain provisions of the Tax Act and proposed additional guidance related to the same provisions. The Company will account for the impact of additional guidance in the period in which any new guidance is released, if appropriate.
Foreign Currency Translation
The financial position and results of operations of the Company’s foreign subsidiaries are measured using local currency as the functional currency. Assets and liabilities of such subsidiaries have been translated into U.S. dollars at current exchange rates and related revenues and expenses have been translated at weighted average exchange rates. The aggregate effect of translation adjustments is included as a component of Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) within equity. Transaction gains and losses related to operating assets and liabilities are included in Cost of sales in the accompanying Consolidated Statements of Income.
Research and Development
Costs incurred in connection with the development of new products and applications are expensed as incurred. Research and development expenses for the creation of new and improved products and processes were $
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Environmental Obligations
The Company recognizes the potential cost for environmental remediation activities when site assessments are made, remediation efforts are probable and related amounts can be reasonably estimated. The Company assesses its environmental liabilities as necessary and appropriate through regular reviews of contractual commitments, site assessments, feasibility studies and formal remedial design and action plans.
Net Income per Common Share
Basic earnings per common share is computed by dividing net income attributable to Amphenol Corporation by the weighted average number of common shares outstanding. Diluted earnings per common share is computed by dividing net income attributable to Amphenol Corporation by the weighted average number of outstanding common shares, including dilutive common shares, the dilutive effect of which relates to stock options. Diluted earnings per common share assumes the exercise of outstanding dilutive stock options using the treasury stock method. Refer to Note 8 of the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements for a reconciliation of the basic weighted average common shares outstanding to diluted weighted average common shares outstanding, used in the calculation of earnings per share (basic and diluted) from continuing operations, discontinued operations and for total Amphenol Corporation.
Treasury Stock
Treasury stock purchases are recorded at cost. Any issuances from treasury shares are recorded using the weighted average cost method.
Noncontrolling Interests
The Company presents noncontrolling interests in consolidated entities as its own caption within equity, separate from the Company’s equity attributable to Amphenol Corporation stockholders, to the extent that such noncontrolling interests do not have redemption features that are not solely within the control of the Company, as discussed below. Net income from continuing operations attributable to noncontrolling interests is classified below net income from continuing operations. Earnings per share is determined after the impact of the noncontrolling interests’ share in net income of the Company.
Redeemable Noncontrolling Interests
The Company reports noncontrolling interests in the mezzanine (“temporary equity”) section, between liabilities and equity, of the Consolidated Balance Sheets, to the extent that such noncontrolling interests have redemption features, such as a put option, that is redeemable at a fixed or determinable price on a fixed or determinable date at the option of the holder, or upon the occurrence of an event that is not solely within the control of the Company. Due to its redeemable features that are outside the control of the Company, the redeemable noncontrolling interest is and will continue to be reported in the mezzanine section in the Consolidated Balance Sheets for as long as the put option is exercisable by the option holder. The carrying amount of the redeemable noncontrolling interest, initially valued at fair value as part of acquisition accounting, is adjusted each reporting period to equal the greater of the (i) redemption value or (ii) carrying value of the noncontrolling interest, adjusted each reporting period for income or loss attributable to the noncontrolling interest and any distributions made to date. The redemption value is generally calculated based on a multiple of earnings. Any measurement adjustments, if applicable, to the redeemable noncontrolling interest are recognized in Additional paid-in capital in the Consolidated Balance Sheets. Refer to Note 5 herein for further details related to the redeemable noncontrolling interests.
Derivative Financial Instruments
The Company records each of its derivatives at fair value within the accompanying Consolidated Balance Sheets, and the respective accounting treatment for each derivative is based on its hedge designation. We do not enter into derivative financial instruments for trading or speculative purposes, and our derivative financial instruments are with large financial institutions with strong credit ratings. As of December 31, 2023, the Company does not have any significant concentration of exposure with any one counterparty. Refer to Note 5 herein for further discussion of our derivative financial instruments.
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Cash Flow Hedges
From time to time, the Company utilizes derivative financial instruments in the management of interest rate and foreign currency exposures. Such cash flow hedges include foreign exchange forward contracts to hedge exposure to foreign currency exchange rate fluctuations for certain transactions denominated in foreign currencies. As of December 31, 2023 and 2022, there were
Net Investment Hedges
The Company is exposed to variability in the U.S. dollar equivalent of the net investments in our foreign subsidiaries and, by extension, the U.S. dollar equivalent of any foreign earnings repatriated to the U.S. due to potential changes in foreign currency exchange rates. As a result, from time to time, the Company enters into foreign exchange forward contracts to hedge the net investments in certain foreign subsidiaries from which we expect to repatriate earnings to the United States. As of December 31, 2023, there were
Non-Designated Derivatives
The Company enters into certain derivative financial instruments, from time to time, that are not designated as hedging instruments. The Company enters into such foreign exchange forward contracts to reduce and minimize the impact of foreign currency fluctuations arising from the change in fair value of certain foreign currency denominated assets and liabilities. These non-designated derivative instruments are adjusted to fair value each period through earnings, within the financial statement line item to which the derivative instrument relates. For each of the three years ended December 31, 2023, such non-designated derivative instruments, including their impact to the Consolidated Statements of Income, were not material to the Company. Cash flows associated with non-designated hedges are classified and reported consistent with the cash flows associated with the underlying hedged item.
Recent Accounting Pronouncements
In October 2021, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (the “FASB”) issued Accounting Standards Update (“ASU”) No. 2021-08, Business Combinations (Topic 805): Accounting for Contract Assets and Contract Liabilities from Contracts with Customers (“ASU 2021-08”), which amends ASC 805 by requiring acquiring entities to apply ASC 606 to recognize and measure contract assets and contract liabilities in a business combination. The intent of ASU 2021-08 is to address diversity in practice and improve comparability for both the recognition and measurement of acquired revenue contracts by providing (i) guidance on how to determine whether a contract liability is recognized by the acquirer in a business combination and (ii) specific guidance on how to recognize and measure contract assets and contract liabilities from revenue contracts in a business combination. ASU 2021-08 and its amendments were effective for fiscal years, including interim periods within those fiscal years, beginning after December 15, 2022, and the amendments should be applied prospectively to business combinations occurring on or after the effective date of the amendments. The Company adopted ASU 2021-08 on January 1, 2023. ASU 2021-08 did not have a material impact on our acquisitions during 2023, and its impact on our financial condition, results of operations or cash flows going forward will be dependent upon the nature of any future business combinations.
In September 2022, the FASB issued ASU No. 2022-04, Liabilities – Supplier Finance Programs (Subtopic 405-50): Disclosure of Supplier Finance Program Obligations (“ASU 2022-04”), which amends ASC 405 by requiring
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entities to provide more detailed disclosures regarding supplier finance programs used in connection with the purchase of goods and services. The intent of ASU 2022-04 is to enhance transparency of these programs by requiring entities to disclose (i) the key terms of the program(s), including the payment terms and assets pledged as security or other forms of guarantees, (ii) the amount of obligations outstanding at the end of the reporting period and a description of where those obligations are presented on the balance sheet, and (iii) annual rollforward information of the activity of such obligations during the reporting period. ASU 2022-04 is effective for fiscal years, including interim periods within those fiscal years, beginning after December 15, 2022, with the exception of the disclosure of rollforward information, which will be effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2023. Disclosure requirements under ASU 2022-04 must be applied retrospectively covering each period for which a balance sheet is presented, with the exception of the rollforward information which shall be applied prospectively. The Company completed its evaluation of ASU 2022-04, which did not have a material impact on its consolidated financial statements and disclosures.
In November 2023, the FASB issued ASU No. 2023-07, Segment Reporting (Topic 280): Improvements to Reportable Segment Disclosures (“ASU 2023-07”), which amends ASC 280. The intent of ASU 2023-07 is to improve the disclosures around a public entity’s reportable segments and address requests from investors for additional, more detailed information about a reportable segment’s expenses, by requiring entities to disclose on an annual and interim basis: (i) significant segment expenses that are regularly provided to the Chief Operating Decision Maker (“CODM”) and included within each reported measure of segment profit or loss and (ii) an amount for other segment items by reportable segment and a description of its composition, which represents the difference between segment revenue less segment expenses disclosed under the significant expense principle and each reported measure of segment profit or loss. Furthermore, entities will be required to: (i) provide all annual disclosures about a segment’s profit or loss and assets currently required under ASC 280 on an interim basis as well, (ii) clarify that an entity is not precluded from reporting additional measures of a segment’s profit or loss that are used by the CODM in assessing segment performance and deciding how to allocate resources, and (iii) disclose the title and position of the CODM and an explanation of how the CODM uses the reported measures of segment profit or loss in assessing segment performance and deciding how to allocate resources. ASU 2023-07 is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2023, and interim periods within fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2024, with early adoption permitted. The Company is currently evaluating the potential impact of ASU 2023-07 on its consolidated financial statements and disclosures.
In December 2023, the FASB issued ASU No. 2023-09, Income Taxes (Topic 740): Improvements to Income Tax Disclosures (“ASU 2023-09”). The intent of ASU 2023-09 is to improve the disclosures around a company’s rate reconciliation information and certain types of income taxes companies are required to pay. Specifically, these new disclosure requirements will provide more transparency regarding income taxes companies pay in the United States and other countries, along with more disclosure around a company’s rate reconciliation, among other new disclosure requirements, such that users of financial statements can get better information about how the operations, related tax risks, tax planning and operational opportunities of companies affect their effective tax rates and future cash flow prospects. ASU 2023-09 is effective for annual fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2024, with early adoption permitted for annual financial statements that have not yet been issued or made available for issuance. The amendments under ASU 2023-09 should be applied on a prospective basis, although retrospective application is permitted. The Company is currently evaluating the potential impact of ASU 2023-09 on its consolidated financial statements and disclosures.
Note 2—Inventories
The components of Inventories are comprised of:
December 31, | ||||||
2023 |
| 2022 | ||||
Raw materials and supplies | $ | | $ | | ||
Work in process |
| |
| | ||
Finished goods |
| |
| | ||
$ | | $ | | |||
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Note 3—Property, Plant and Equipment, Net
The components of Property, plant and equipment, net are summarized as follows:
December 31, | ||||||
2023 |
| 2022 | ||||
Land and improvements | $ | | $ | | ||
Buildings and improvements |
| |
| | ||
Machinery and equipment |
| |
| | ||
Office equipment and other |
| |
| | ||
| |
| | |||
Accumulated depreciation |
| ( |
| ( | ||
$ | | $ | | |||
Depreciation expense for the years ended December 31, 2023, 2022 and 2021 was $
Note 4—Long-Term Debt
Long-term debt consists of the following:
December 31, 2023 | December 31, 2022 |
| |||||||||||||
|
| Carrying |
| Approximate |
| Carrying |
| Approximate |
| ||||||
| Maturity |
| Amount |
| Fair Value (1) |
| Amount |
| Fair Value (1) | ||||||
Revolving Credit Facility |
| November 2026 |
| $ | | $ | | $ | | $ | | ||||
U.S. Commercial Paper Program (less unamortized discount of |
| November 2026 |
| | | | | ||||||||
Euro Commercial Paper Program |
| November 2026 |
| | | | | ||||||||
Term Loan Credit Facility |
| April 2024 |
| | | | | ||||||||
| April 2024 |
| | | | | |||||||||
| March 2025 |
| | | | | |||||||||
March 2026 | | | | | |||||||||||
| May 2026 |
| | | | | |||||||||
| October 2028 |
| | | | | |||||||||
| June 2029 |
| | | | | |||||||||
| February 2030 |
| | | | | |||||||||
| September 2031 |
| | | | | |||||||||
Other debt |
| 2024-2031 |
| | |
| | | |||||||
Less: unamortized deferred debt issuance costs |
|
| ( | ( | |||||||||||
Total debt |
|
| | |
| |
| | |||||||
Less: current portion |
|
| |
| |
| |
| | ||||||
Total long-term debt |
|
| $ | | $ | | $ | | $ | | |||||
| (1) | The fair value of each series of the Company’s Senior Notes is based on recent bid prices in an active market and is therefore classified as Level 1 in the fair value hierarchy (Note 5). |
Revolving Credit Facility
The Company has an amended and restated $
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Overnight Financing Rate (“SOFR”). The Company may utilize the Revolving Credit Facility for general corporate purposes. As of December 31, 2023 and 2022, there were
Term Loan Credit Facility
On April 19, 2022, the Company entered into a
Commercial Paper Programs
The Company has a commercial paper program (the “U.S. Commercial Paper Program”) pursuant to which the Company may issue short-term unsecured commercial paper notes (the “USCP Notes” or “U.S. Commercial Paper”) in one or more private placements in the United States. The maturities of the USCP Notes vary but may not exceed
The Company and
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Amounts available under the Commercial Paper Programs may be borrowed, repaid and re-borrowed from time to time. In conjunction with the Revolving Credit Facility, as of December 31, 2023, the authorization from the Company’s Board of Directors (the “Board”) limits the maximum principal amount outstanding of USCP Notes, ECP Notes, and any other commercial paper or similar programs, along with outstanding amounts under the Revolving Credit Facility, at any time to $
U.S. Senior Notes
On March 30, 2023, the Company issued $
On September 14, 2021, the Company issued $
All of the Company’s outstanding senior notes in the United States (the “U.S. Senior Notes”) are unsecured and rank equally in right of payment with the Company’s and the Euro Issuer’s other unsecured senior indebtedness. Interest on each series of U.S. Senior Notes is payable semiannually. The Company may, at its option, redeem some or all of any series of U.S. Senior Notes at any time, subject to certain terms and conditions, which include paying
Euro Senior Notes
The Euro Issuer has
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paying
The fair value of each series of Senior Notes is based on recent bid prices in an active market and is therefore classified as Level 1 in the fair value hierarchy (Note 5). The Senior Notes impose certain obligations on the Company and prohibit various actions by the Company unless it satisfies certain financial requirements.
The maturity of the Company’s debt (exclusive of unamortized deferred debt issuance costs as of December 31, 2023) over each of the next five years ending December 31 and thereafter, is as follows:
2024 | $ | |
| |
2025 |
| | ||
2026 |
| | ||
2027 |
| | ||
2028 |
| | ||
Thereafter |
| | ||
$ | |
As of December 31, 2023, the Company had approximately $
Note 5—Fair Value Measurements
Fair value is determined based on the exchange price that would be received for an asset or paid to transfer a liability (an exit price) in the principal or most advantageous market for the asset or liability in an orderly transaction between market participants. These requirements establish market or observable inputs as the preferred source of values. Assumptions based on hypothetical transactions are used in the absence of market inputs. The Company does not have any non-financial instruments accounted for at fair value on a recurring basis.
The valuation techniques required are based upon observable and unobservable inputs. Observable inputs reflect market data obtained from independent sources, while unobservable inputs reflect the Company’s market assumptions. These two types of inputs create the following fair value hierarchy:
Level 1 Quoted prices for identical instruments in active markets.
Level 2 Quoted prices for similar instruments in active markets; quoted prices for identical or similar instruments in markets that are not active; and model-derived valuations whose inputs are observable or whose significant value drivers are observable.
Level 3 Significant inputs to the valuation model are unobservable.
The Company’s assets and liabilities currently subject to such standards with fair value disclosure requirements are primarily (i) debt instruments, (ii) pension plan assets, and (iii) assets acquired and liabilities and noncontrolling interests assumed as part of acquisition accounting, which are discussed in Note 4, Note 9 and Note 11, respectively, herein, along with short- and long-term investments and derivative instruments, discussed below. Substantially all of the Company’s short- and long-term investments consist of certificates of deposit, which are considered as Level 2 in the fair value hierarchy. The vast majority of the Company’s existing long-term investments have original maturities of
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The Company reviews the fair value hierarchy classifications on a quarterly basis and determines the appropriate classification of such assets and liabilities subject to the fair value hierarchy standards based on, among other things, the ability to observe valuation inputs. The fair values of the Company’s financial and non-financial assets and liabilities subject to such standards at December 31, 2023 and December 31, 2022 are as follows:
Fair Value Measurements |
| ||||||||||||
| Quoted Prices in |
| Significant |
| Significant |
| |||||||
Active Markets | Observable | Unobservable |
| ||||||||||
for Identical | Inputs | Inputs |
| ||||||||||
2023 | Total | Assets (Level 1) | (Level 2) | (Level 3) |
| ||||||||
Short-term investments | $ | | $ | | $ | | $ | | |||||
Long-term investments | | | | | |||||||||
Forward contracts | ( | | ( | | |||||||||
Redeemable noncontrolling interests | ( | | | ( | |||||||||
Total | $ | | $ | | $ | | $ | ( | |||||
2022 |
| ||||||||||||
Short-term investments | $ | | $ | | $ | | $ | | |||||
Long-term investments | | | | | |||||||||
Forward contracts | | | | | |||||||||
Redeemable noncontrolling interests | ( | | | ( | |||||||||
Total | $ | | $ | | $ | | $ | ( | |||||
The Company utilizes foreign exchange forward contracts, hedging instruments accounted for as cash flow hedges, in the management of foreign currency exposures. In addition, the Company also enters into foreign exchange forward contracts, accounted for as net investment hedges, to hedge our exposure to variability in the U.S. dollar equivalent of the net investments in certain foreign subsidiaries. As of December 31, 2023, the Company had
Certain acquisitions may result in noncontrolling interest holders who, in certain cases, are entitled to a put option, giving them the ability to put some or all of their redeemable interest in the shares of the acquiree to the Company. Specifically, if exercised by the noncontrolling interest holder, Amphenol would be required to purchase some or all of the option holder’s redeemable interest, at a redemption price during specified time period(s) stipulated in the respective acquisition agreement. The redeemable noncontrolling interests recorded on the accompanying Consolidated Balance Sheets relate to recent acquisitions, which, based on the terms of the respective acquisition agreements, will remain in temporary equity until the applicable put option is either fully exercised or expires. The redemption value of the redeemable noncontrolling interests is generally calculated using Level 3 unobservable inputs based on a multiple of earnings, which, for the redeemable noncontrolling interests currently outstanding, approximate fair value. As such, the redemption value is classified as Level 3 in the fair value hierarchy and is recorded as Redeemable noncontrolling interests on the Consolidated Balance Sheets as of December 31, 2023 and 2022. A rollforward of the Redeemable noncontrolling interests for the years ended December 31, 2023, 2022 and 2021 is included in the accompanying Consolidated Statements of Changes in Equity.
With the exception of the fair value of the assets acquired and liabilities assumed in connection with acquisition accounting, the Company does not have any other significant financial or non-financial assets and liabilities that are measured at fair value on a non-recurring basis. For further discussion and related policies regarding the Company’s short- and long-term investments, derivative financial instruments, and redeemable noncontrolling interests, refer to Note 1 herein.
69
Note 6—Income Taxes
The components of income from continuing operations before income taxes and the provision for income taxes are as follows:
Year Ended December 31, |
| |||||||||
| 2023 |
| 2022 |
| 2021 |
| ||||
Income from continuing operations before income taxes: | ||||||||||
United States | $ | | $ | | $ | | ||||
Foreign |
| |
| |
| | ||||
$ | | $ | | $ | | |||||
Current tax provision (benefit): | ||||||||||
United States | $ | | $ | | $ | | ||||
Foreign |
| |
| |
| | ||||
| | | ||||||||
Deferred tax provision (benefit): | ||||||||||
United States | ( | ( | ( | |||||||
Foreign |
| ( |
| |
| | ||||
| ( |
| ( |
| ( | |||||
Total provision for income taxes | $ | | $ | | $ | | ||||
The United States federal government enacted the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (“Tax Act”) in December 2017. As a result, in 2017, the Company recorded a transition tax (“Transition Tax”) related to the deemed repatriation of the accumulated unremitted earnings and profits of the Company’s foreign subsidiaries. In the second quarter of 2023, the Company paid its sixth annual installment of the Transition Tax, net of applicable tax credits and deductions. The Company will pay the balance of the Transition Tax, net of applicable tax credits and deductions, over the remainder of the
At December 31, 2023, the Company had $
A valuation allowance of $
70
Differences between the U.S. statutory federal tax rate and the Company’s effective income tax rate are analyzed below:
Year Ended December 31, |
| ||||||
2023 |
| 2022 |
| 2021 |
| ||
U.S. statutory federal tax rate | | % | | % | | % | |
State and local taxes, net | | | | ||||
Foreign earnings and dividends taxed at different rates | | | | ||||
U.S. tax on foreign income | | | | ||||
Excess tax benefits related to stock-based compensation | ( | ( | ( | ||||
Settlements of uncertain tax positions in foreign jurisdictions including refund claims and related deferred taxes | | | ( | ||||
Other, net | | | | ||||
Effective tax rate | | % | | % | | % | |
The components of the Company’s deferred tax assets and liabilities are comprised of the following:
December 31, | ||||||
| 2023 |
| 2022 | |||
Deferred tax assets relating to: | ||||||
Accrued liabilities and reserves | $ | | $ | | ||
Operating lease liabilities | | | ||||
Operating loss, interest, and tax credit carryforwards |
| |
| | ||
Pensions |
| |
| | ||
Inventories |
| |
| | ||
Employee benefits |
| |
| | ||
Total deferred tax assets | | | ||||
Valuation allowance | ( | ( | ||||
Total deferred tax assets, net of valuation allowances | | | ||||
Deferred tax liabilities relating to: | ||||||
Goodwill | | | ||||
Depreciation and amortization |
| |
| | ||
Operating lease right-of-use assets | | | ||||
Unremitted foreign earnings | |
| | |||
Total deferred tax liabilities | | | ||||
Net deferred tax liability | $ | | $ | | ||
Classification of deferred tax assets and liabilities, as reflected on the Consolidated Balance Sheets: | ||||||
Other long-term assets | $ | | $ | | ||
Deferred income taxes |
| |
| | ||
Net deferred tax liability, long-term | $ | | $ | | ||
A tabular reconciliation of the gross amounts of unrecognized tax benefits excluding interest and penalties at the beginning and end of the year for 2023, 2022 and 2021 is shown below.
| 2023 |
| 2022 |
| 2021 |
| ||||
Unrecognized tax benefits as of January 1 | $ | | $ | | $ | | ||||
Gross increases for tax positions in prior periods |
| |
| |
| | ||||
Gross increases for tax positions in current period |
| |
| |
| | ||||
Settlements |
| ( |
| ( |
| | ||||
Lapse of statutes of limitations |
| ( |
| ( |
| ( | ||||
Unrecognized tax benefits as of December 31 | $ | | $ | | $ | | ||||
71
The Company includes estimated interest and penalties related to unrecognized tax benefits in the provision for income taxes. During the years ended December 31, 2023, 2022 and 2021, the provision for income taxes included a net expense (benefit) of $
The Company operates in the U.S. and numerous foreign taxable jurisdictions, and at any point in time has numerous audits underway at various stages of completion. With few exceptions, the Company is subject to income tax examinations by tax authorities for the years 2017 and after. The Company is generally not able to precisely estimate the ultimate settlement amounts or timing until the close of an audit. The Company evaluates its tax positions and establishes liabilities for uncertain tax positions that may be challenged by tax authorities and may not be fully sustained, despite the Company’s belief that the underlying tax positions are fully supportable. As of December 31, 2023 and 2022, the amount of unrecognized tax benefits, including penalties and interest, which if recognized would impact the effective tax rate, was approximately $
Inflation Reduction Act of 2022
On August 16, 2022, the President of the United States signed into law the Inflation Reduction Act of 2022 (the “IRA”), a tax and spending package that introduces several tax-related provisions, including a 15% corporate alternative minimum tax (“CAMT”) on certain large corporations and a 1% excise tax on certain corporate stock repurchases. Companies will be required to reassess their valuation allowances for certain affected deferred tax assets in the period of enactment but will not need to remeasure deferred tax balances for the related tax accounting implications of the CAMT. The IRA provisions, which became effective for Amphenol beginning on January 1, 2023, did not have a material impact on the Company during the year ended December 31, 2023. While the full impact of these provisions in the future depends on several factors, including interpretive regulatory guidance, which has not yet been released, the Company does not currently believe that the provisions of the IRA, including several other non-tax related provisions, will have a material impact on its financial condition, results of operations, liquidity and cash flows.
Note 7—Equity
Stock-Based Compensation:
For the years ended December 31, 2023, 2022 and 2021, the Company’s Income from continuing operations before income taxes was reduced for stock-based compensation expense of $
Stock Options
In May 2017, the Company adopted the 2017 Stock Purchase and Option Plan for Key Employees of Amphenol and Subsidiaries (the “2017 Employee Option Plan”), which provided for the issuance of
72
Prior to the approval of the 2017 Employee Option Plan, the Company issued stock options under the 2009 Stock Purchase and Option Plan for Key Employees of Amphenol and Subsidiaries, and its amendment (the “2009 Employee Option Plan”).
Stock option activity for 2021, 2022 and 2023 was as follows:
| Weighted |
| |||||||||
| Average | Aggregate |
| ||||||||
| Weighted | Remaining | Intrinsic |
| |||||||
| Average | Contractual | Value | ||||||||
| Options |
| Exercise Price |
| Term (in years) |
| (in millions) |
| |||
Options outstanding at January 1, 2021 |
| | $ | |
| ||||||
Options granted |
| |
| | |||||||
Options exercised |
| ( |
| | |||||||
Options forfeited |
| ( |
| | |||||||
Options outstanding at December 31, 2021 |
| |
| | |||||||
Options granted |
| |
| | |||||||
Options exercised |
| ( |
| | |||||||
Options forfeited |
| ( |
| | |||||||
Options outstanding at December 31, 2022 |
| | | ||||||||
Options granted |
| |
| | |||||||
Options exercised |
| ( |
| | |||||||
Options forfeited |
| ( |
| | |||||||
Options outstanding at December 31, 2023 |
| | $ | | $ | | |||||
Vested and non-vested options expected to vest at December 31, 2023 |
| | $ | | $ | | |||||
Exercisable options at December 31, 2023 |
| | $ | | $ | | |||||
A summary of the status of the Company’s non-vested options as of December 31, 2023 and changes during the year then ended is as follows:
|
| Weighted Average |
| |||
Fair Value | ||||||
Options | at Grant Date |
| ||||
Non-vested options at January 1, 2023 |
| | $ | | ||
Options granted |
| |
| | ||
Options vested |
| ( |
| | ||
Options forfeited |
| ( |
| | ||
Non-vested options at December 31, 2023 |
| | $ | | ||
The weighted average fair value at the grant date of options granted during 2022 and 2021 was $
During the years ended December 31, 2023, 2022 and 2021, the following activity occurred under the Company’s option plans:
2023 |
| 2022 |
| 2021 | ||||
Total intrinsic value of stock options exercised | $ | | $ | | $ | | ||
Total fair value of stock options vested |
| |
| |
| | ||
As of December 31, 2023, the total compensation cost related to non-vested options not yet recognized was approximately $
The grant-date fair value of each option grant under the 2009 Employee Option Plan and the 2017 Option Plan is estimated using the Black-Scholes option pricing model. The grant-date fair value of each share grant is determined based on the closing share price of the Company’s Common Stock on the date of the grant. The fair value is then amortized on a straight-line basis over the requisite service period of the awards, which is generally the vesting period.
73
Use of a valuation model for option grants requires management to make certain assumptions with respect to selected model inputs. Expected share price volatility is calculated based on the historical volatility of the Common Stock and implied volatility derived from related exchange traded options. The average expected life is based on the contractual term of the option and expected exercise and historical experience. The risk-free interest rate is based on U.S. Treasury zero-coupon issuances with a remaining term equal to the expected life assumed at the date of grant. The expected annual dividend per share is based on the Company’s dividend rate.
The fair value of stock options has been estimated at the date of grant using the Black-Scholes option-pricing model with the following weighted average assumptions:
| 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | |||||
Risk free interest rate | | % | | % | | % | ||
Expected life |
| years | years | years | ||||
Expected volatility |
| | % | | % | | % | |
Expected dividend yield |
| | % | | % | | % |
Restricted Stock
In 2012, the Company adopted the 2012 Restricted Stock Plan for Directors of Amphenol Corporation (the “2012 Directors Restricted Stock Plan”). The 2012 Directors Restricted Stock Plan expired on May 22, 2022. The 2012 Directors Restricted Stock Plan was administered by the Board. Grants under the 2012 Directors Restricted Stock Plan entitled the holder to receive shares of the Company’s Common Stock without payment. Restricted shares granted under the 2012 Directors Restricted Stock Plan vested on the earlier of the first anniversary of the date of grant or the day immediately prior to the date of the next regular annual meeting of the Company’s stockholders following such date of grant.
On May 17, 2023,
Restricted share activity for 2021, 2022 and 2023 was as follows:
Weighted Average | ||||||||
Fair Value | Remaining | |||||||
Restricted | at Grant | Amortization | ||||||
| Shares |
| Date |
| Term (in years) |
| ||
Restricted shares outstanding at January 1, 2021 |
| | $ | |
| |||
Restricted shares granted |
| |
| | ||||
Shares vested and issued |
| ( |
| | ||||
Restricted shares outstanding at December 31, 2021 |
| |
| |
| |||
Restricted shares granted |
| |
| | ||||
Shares vested and issued |
| ( |
| | ||||
Restricted shares outstanding at December 31, 2022 |
| | |
| ||||
Restricted shares granted |
| |
| | ||||
Shares vested and issued |
| ( |
| | ||||
Restricted shares outstanding at December 31, 2023 |
| |
| $ | |
| ||
The total fair value of restricted share awards that vested during 2023, 2022, and 2021 was $
74
Phantom Stock
On June 5, 2023, the Company granted
Stock Repurchase Programs:
On April 27, 2021, the Board authorized a stock repurchase program under which the Company may purchase up to $
On April 24, 2018, the Board authorized a stock repurchase program under which the Company could purchase up to $
Dividends:
Contingent upon declaration by the Board, the Company pays a quarterly dividend on shares of its Common Stock. On October 25, 2022, the Board approved an increase to the Company’s quarterly dividend rate from $
| 2023 |
| 2022 |
| 2021 | ||||
First Quarter | $ | | $ | | $ | | |||
Second Quarter | | | | ||||||
Third Quarter | | | | ||||||
Fourth Quarter | | | | ||||||
Total | $ | | $ | | $ | | |||
75
Dividends declared and paid for the years ended December 31, 2023, 2022 and 2021 were as follows:
| 2023 |
| 2022 |
| 2021 | ||||
Dividends declared | $ | | $ | | $ | | |||
Dividends paid (including those declared in the prior year) |
| |
| |
| | |||
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss):
Balances of related after-tax components comprising Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) included in equity at December 31, 2023, 2022 and 2021 are as follows:
Foreign | Unrealized | Pension and | Accumulated |
| |||||||||
Currency | Gain (Loss) | Postretirement | Other | ||||||||||
Translation | on Hedging | Benefit Plan | Comprehensive |
| |||||||||
| Adjustments |
| Activities |
| Adjustment |
| (Loss) Income |
| |||||
Balance at January 1, 2021 | $ | ( | $ | | $ | ( | $ | ( | |||||
Other comprehensive income (loss) before reclassifications, net of tax of | ( | | | ( | |||||||||
Amounts reclassified from Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) to earnings, net of tax of ($ | | | | | |||||||||
Balance at December 31, 2021 |
| ( |
| |
| ( |
| ( | |||||
Other comprehensive income (loss) before reclassifications, net of tax of | ( | ( | ( | ( | |||||||||
Amounts reclassified from Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) to earnings, net of tax of ($ | | | | | |||||||||
Balance at December 31, 2022 |
| ( |
| |
| ( |
| ( | |||||
Other comprehensive income (loss) before reclassifications, net of tax of | | | ( | ( | |||||||||
Amounts reclassified from Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) to earnings, net of tax of ($ | | | | | |||||||||
Balance at December 31, 2023 | $ | ( | $ | | $ | ( | $ | ( | |||||
For the years ended December 31, 2023, 2022 and 2021, as it relates to the Company’s cash flow hedges, which is comprised of foreign exchange forward contracts, the amounts recognized in Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) associated with foreign exchange forward contracts, as well as the amounts reclassified from Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) to foreign exchange gain (loss), included in Cost of sales in the accompanying Consolidated Statements of Income, were not material. There were
76
Note 8—Earnings Per Share
The following is a reconciliation of net income from continuing operations, discontinued operations and for total Amphenol Corporation, as well as a reconciliation of the basic weighted average common shares outstanding to diluted weighted average common shares outstanding, which were used to calculate the earnings per share (basic and diluted) for the years ended December 31, 2023, 2022 and 2021 (note that per share amounts may not add due to rounding):
(dollars and shares in millions, except per share data) |
| 2023 |
| 2022 |
| 2021 | |||
Net income attributable to Amphenol Corporation stockholders: | |||||||||
Net income from continuing operations attributable to Amphenol Corporation | $ | | $ | | $ | | |||
Income from discontinued operations attributable to Amphenol Corporation, net of income taxes of ($ | | | | ||||||
Net income attributable to Amphenol Corporation | $ | | $ | | $ | | |||
Weighted average common shares outstanding — Basic |
| |
| |
| | |||
Effect of dilutive stock options |
| |
| |
| | |||
Weighted average common shares outstanding — Diluted |
| |
| |
| | |||
Net income per common share attributable to Amphenol Corporation — Basic: | |||||||||
Continuing operations | $ | | $ | | $ | | |||
Discontinued operations, net of income taxes | | | | ||||||
Net income attributable to Amphenol Corporation — Basic | $ | | $ | | $ | | |||
Net income per common share attributable to Amphenol Corporation — Diluted: | |||||||||
Continuing operations | $ | | $ | | $ | | |||
Discontinued operations, net of income taxes | | | | ||||||
Net income attributable to Amphenol Corporation — Diluted | $ | | $ | | $ | | |||
Excluded from the computations above were anti-dilutive common shares (primarily related to outstanding stock options) of
Note 9—Benefit Plans and Other Postretirement Benefits
Defined Benefit Plans
The Company and certain of its domestic subsidiaries have defined benefit pension plans (the “U.S. Plans”), which cover certain U.S. employees and which represent the majority of the plan assets and benefit obligations of the aggregate defined benefit plans of the Company. The U.S. Plans’ benefits are generally based on years of service and compensation and are generally noncontributory. The majority of U.S. employees are not covered by the U.S. Plans and are instead covered by various defined contribution plans. The Company also has an unfunded Supplemental Employee Retirement Plan (“SERP”), which provides for the payment of the portion of annual pension that cannot be paid from the retirement plan as a result of regulatory limitations on average compensation for purposes of the benefit computation. Certain foreign subsidiaries have defined benefit plans covering their employees (the “Foreign Plans” and, together with the U.S. Plans, the “Plans”). The largest foreign pension plan, in accordance with local regulations, is unfunded and had a projected benefit obligation of approximately $
77
The following is a summary of the Company’s defined benefit plans’ funded status as of the most recent actuarial valuations as of December 31 of each year.
| U.S. Plans | Foreign Plans | Total | |||||||||||||||
2023 | 2022 | 2023 | 2022 | 2023 | 2022 | |||||||||||||
Change in projected benefit obligation: | ||||||||||||||||||
Projected benefit obligation at beginning of year | $ | | $ | | $ | | $ | | $ | | $ | | ||||||
Service cost |
| |
| |
| |
| |
| |
| | ||||||
Interest cost |
| |
| |
| |
| |
| |
| | ||||||
Plan amendments |
| |
| |
| |
| |
| |
| | ||||||
Actuarial loss (gain) |
| |
| ( |
| |
| ( |
| |
| ( | ||||||
Foreign exchange translation and other |
| |
| |
| ( |
| ( |
| ( |
| ( | ||||||
Benefits paid |
| ( |
| ( |
| ( |
| ( |
| ( |
| ( | ||||||
Projected benefit obligation at end of year |
| |
| |
| |
| |
| |
| | ||||||
Change in plan assets: | ||||||||||||||||||
Fair value of plan assets at beginning of year |
| |
| |
| |
| |
| |
| | ||||||
Actual return on plan assets |
| |
| ( |
| |
| ( |
| |
| ( | ||||||
Employer contributions |
| |
| |
| |
| |
| |
| | ||||||
Foreign exchange translation and other |
| |
| |
| ( |
| ( |
| ( |
| ( | ||||||
Benefits paid |
| ( |
| ( |
| ( |
| ( |
| ( |
| ( | ||||||
Fair value of plan assets at end of year |
| |
| |
| |
| |
| |
| | ||||||
Over (under) funded status at end of year | $ | | $ | ( | $ | ( | $ | ( | $ | ( | $ | ( | ||||||
Amounts recognized on the balance sheet as of December 31: | ||||||||||||||||||
Other long-term assets | $ | | $ | | $ | | $ | | $ | | $ | | ||||||
Other accrued expenses | | | | | | | ||||||||||||
Accrued pension and postretirement benefit obligations | | | | | | | ||||||||||||
Over (under) funded status at end of year | $ | | $ | ( | $ | ( | $ | ( | $ | ( | $ | ( | ||||||
Accumulated other comprehensive loss, net | $ | ( | $ | ( | $ | ( | $ | ( | $ | ( | $ | ( | ||||||
Weighted average assumptions used to determine projected benefit obligations: | ||||||||||||||||||
Discount rate |
| | % | | % | | % | | % | |||||||||
Rate of compensation increase |
| | % | | % | | % | | % | |||||||||
The projected benefit obligation decreased slightly in 2023 compared to 2022, primarily due to benefits paid during the year, which were largely offset by interest cost. The projected benefit obligation decreased in 2022, primarily due to actuarial gains resulting from the impact of higher discount rates on our projected benefit obligation, along with foreign exchange translation and benefits paid during the year. The accumulated benefit obligation for the Company’s defined benefit pension plans was $
78
The following summarizes information for defined benefit plans with an accumulated benefit obligation in excess of plan assets as of December 31, 2023 and 2022:
U.S. Plans | Foreign Plans | |||||||||||
2023 |
| 2022 |
| 2023 | 2022 | |||||||
Accumulated benefit obligation | $ | | $ | | $ | | $ | | ||||
Fair value of plan assets | | | | | ||||||||
The following summarizes information for defined benefit plans with a projected benefit obligation in excess of plan assets as of December 31, 2023 and 2022:
U.S. Plans | Foreign Plans | |||||||||||
2023 |
| 2022 |
| 2023 | 2022 | |||||||
Projected benefit obligation | $ | | $ | | $ | | $ | | ||||
Fair value of plan assets | | | | | ||||||||
The amounts, before tax, included in Accumulated other comprehensive loss at December 31, 2023 and 2022 that have not yet been recognized as expense were as follows:
| U.S. Plans | Foreign Plans | Total | |||||||||||||||
2023 |
| 2022 |
| 2023 |
| 2022 |
| 2023 |
| 2022 | ||||||||
Actuarial losses, net | $ | |
| $ | |
| $ | |
| $ | |
| $ | |
| $ | | |
Prior service cost | |
| |
| |
| |
| |
| | |||||||
The following is a summary of the components of net pension expense for the Company’s defined benefit plans for the years ended December 31, 2023, 2022 and 2021:
U.S. Plans | Foreign Plans | Total | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2023 |
| 2022 |
| 2021 |
| 2023 |
| 2022 |
| 2021 |
| 2023 |
| 2022 |
| 2021 | ||||||||||
Components of net pension expense: |
|
| |||||||||||||||||||||||||
Service cost | $ | | $ | | $ | |
| $ | | $ | | $ | |
| $ | | $ | | $ | | |||||||
| |
| |
| |
|
| |
| |
| |
|
| |
| |
| | ||||||||
| ( |
| ( |
| ( |
|
| ( |
| ( |
| ( |
|
| ( |
| ( |
| ( | ||||||||
| | |
| | | |
| | | | |||||||||||||||||
| |
| |
| |
|
| |
| |
| |
|
| |
| |
| | ||||||||
Net pension (income) expense | $ | ( | $ | | $ | |
| $ | | $ | | $ | |
| $ | | $ | | $ | | |||||||
Weighted average assumptions used to determine net periodic benefit cost: | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Discount rate |
| | % | | % | | % | | % | | % | | % | ||||||||||||||
Expected long-term return on assets |
| | % | | % | | % | | % | | % | | % | ||||||||||||||
Rate of compensation increase |
| | % | | % | | % | | % | | % | | % | ||||||||||||||
The pension expense for the Plans is calculated based upon a number of actuarial assumptions established on January 1 of the applicable year, including mortality projections as well as a weighted average discount rate, rate of increase in future compensation levels and an expected long-term rate of return on the respective Plans’ assets which are detailed in the table above. The Company records service costs in the same line item as the respective employee compensation costs and within operating income, while all non-service costs are reported separately within Other income (expense), net in the Consolidated Statements of Income.
79
The discount rate used by the Company for valuing pension liabilities is based on a review of high quality corporate bond yields with maturities approximating the remaining life of the projected benefit obligations. The weighted average discount rate for the U.S. Plans on this basis was
The primary investment objective of the Plans is to ensure an adequate pool of assets to support the benefit obligations to participants, retirees and beneficiaries. Over time, the Plans have aimed to earn a rate of return on assets greater than the liability discount rate, with a prudent level of risk and diversification. For the U.S. Plans, this has resulted in assets exceeding benefit obligations. In an effort to reduce the funding status volatility of the Plans, the target asset allocations for the U.S. Plans were
The Company invests in a diversified investment portfolio through various investment managers and evaluates its plan assets for the existence of concentration risks. As of December 31, 2023, there were no significant concentrations of risks in the Company’s defined benefit plan assets. The Company does not invest nor instruct investment managers to invest pension assets in Amphenol securities. The Plans may indirectly hold the Company’s securities as a result of external investment management in certain commingled funds. Such holdings would not be material relative to the Plans’ total assets. The Company’s Foreign Plans primarily invest in equity and debt securities and insurance contracts, as determined by each Plans’ Trustees or investment managers.
In developing the expected long-term rate of return assumption for the U.S. Plans, the Company relies primarily on projected long-term asset returns by asset class prepared annually by our investment consultants. For 2023, the expected long-term rate of return on the U.S. Plans’ assets was based on an asset allocation assumption of approximately
80
The Company’s Plan assets, the vast majority of which relate to the U.S. Plans, are reported at fair value and classified in their entirety based on the lowest level of input that is significant to the fair value measurement. The process requires judgment and may have an effect on the placement of the Plan assets within the fair value measurement hierarchy. The fair values of the Company’s pension Plans’ assets at December 31, 2023 and 2022 by asset category are as follows (refer to Note 5 for definitions of Level 1, 2 and 3 inputs):
Assets Measured at | |||||||||||||||
Asset Category | Total | Level 1 | Level 2 | Level 3 | Net Asset Value (a) | ||||||||||
December 31, 2023 | |||||||||||||||
Equity securities: | |||||||||||||||
U.S. equities — large cap | $ | | $ | | $ | | $ | | $ | | |||||
U.S. equities — small/mid cap and other |
| |
| |
| |
| |
| | |||||
International equities — growth |
| |
| |
| |
| |
| | |||||
International equities — other |
| |
| |
| |
| |
| | |||||
Alternative investment funds | | | | | | ||||||||||
Fixed income securities: | |||||||||||||||
U.S. fixed income securities — intermediate term |
| |
| |
| |
| |
| | |||||
U.S. fixed income securities — long term | |
| |
| |
| |
| | ||||||
International fixed income securities — other |
| | |
| |
| |
| | ||||||
Insurance contracts |
| |
| |
| |
| |
| | |||||
Cash and cash equivalents |
| |
| |
| |
| |
| | |||||
Total | $ | | $ | | $ | | $ | | $ | | |||||
December 31, 2022 | |||||||||||||||
Equity securities: | |||||||||||||||
U.S. equities — large cap | $ | | $ | | $ | | $ | | $ | | |||||
U.S. equities — small/mid cap and other |
| |
| |
| |
| |
| | |||||
International equities — growth |
| |
| |
| |
| |
| | |||||
International equities — other |
| |
| |
| |
| |
| | |||||
Alternative investment funds | | | | | | ||||||||||
Fixed income securities: | |||||||||||||||
U.S. fixed income securities — intermediate term |
| |
| |
| |
| |
| | |||||
U.S. fixed income securities — long term | |
| |
| |
| |
| | ||||||
International fixed income securities — other |
| | |
| |
| |
| | ||||||
Insurance contracts | |
| |
| |
| |
| | ||||||
Cash and cash equivalents | |
| |
| |
| |
| | ||||||
Total | $ | | $ | | $ | | $ | | $ | | |||||
| (a) | Certain investments measured at fair value using the net asset value practical expedient have been removed from the fair value hierarchy but included in the table above in order to permit the reconciliation of the fair value hierarchy to total plan assets. |
Equity securities primarily consist of publicly traded U.S. and non-U.S. equities. Publicly traded securities are valued at the last trade or closing price reported in the active market in which the individual securities are traded. Certain equity securities held in commingled funds are valued at unitized net asset value (“NAV”) based on the fair value of the underlying net assets owned by the funds. Alternative investment funds include investments in hedge funds including fund of fund products.
Fixed income securities primarily consist of government securities and corporate bonds. They are valued at the closing price in the active market or at quotes obtained from brokers/dealers or pricing services. Certain fixed income securities held within commingled funds are valued based on the fair value of the underlying net assets of the funds, as determined by the custodian of the funds.
The Level 2 pension plan assets are comprised primarily of pooled funds valued using published prices based off of observable market data.
81
The Level 3 pension plan assets as of December 31, 2023 and 2022 included in the table above primarily consist of contracts with insurance companies related to certain foreign plans. The insurance contracts generally include guarantees in accordance with the policy purchased. Our valuation of Level 3 assets is based on insurance company or third-party actuarial valuations, representing an estimation of the surrender or market values of the insurance contract between the Company and the insurance companies. The following table sets forth a summary of changes of the fair value of the Level 3 pension plan assets for the years ended December 31, 2023 and 2022:
2023 | 2022 | |||||
Balance on January 1 | $ | | $ | | ||
Unrealized gains (losses), net | | ( | ||||
Purchases, sales and settlements, net | ( | ( | ||||
Foreign currency translation | | ( | ||||
Balance on December 31 | $ | | $ | |
The Company made cash contributions to the Plans of $
Benefit payments related to the Plans above, including those amounts to be paid out of Company assets and reflecting future expected service as appropriate, are expected to be as follows:
| U.S. | Foreign |
| |||||||
Year | Plans | Plans | Total |
| ||||||
2024 |
| $ | |
| $ | |
| $ | |
|
2025 |
| |
| |
| | ||||
2026 |
| |
| |
| | ||||
2027 |
| |
| |
| | ||||
2028 |
| |
| |
| | ||||
2029-2033 |
| |
| |
| | ||||
Certain foreign subsidiaries of the Company offer certain benefits under local statutory plans which are excluded from the tables above. The net liability for such plans was $
Other Postretirement Benefit Plans
The Company maintains self-insurance programs for that portion of its health care and workers compensation costs not covered by insurance. The Company also provides certain health care and life insurance benefits to certain eligible retirees in the U.S. through postretirement benefit (“OPEB”) programs. The Company’s share of the cost of such plans for most participants is fixed, and any increase in the cost of such plans will be the responsibility of the retirees. The Company funds the benefit costs for such plans on a pay-as-you-go basis. As of December 31, 2023 and 2022, the total liability associated with postretirement benefit obligations was approximately $
Defined Contribution Plans
The Company offers various defined contribution plans for certain U.S. and foreign employees. Participation in these plans is based on certain eligibility requirements. Through December 31, 2022, the Company matched employee contributions to the U.S. defined contribution plans up to a maximum of
82
January 1, 2023, the Company increased its matching of employee contributions to the U.S. defined contribution plans to a maximum of
Note 10—Leases
Operating Leases
For the years ended December 31, 2023, 2022 and 2021, total operating lease cost was $
Year Ending December 31, | |||
2024 | $ | | |
2025 | | ||
2026 | | ||
2027 | | ||
2028 | | ||
Thereafter | | ||
Total future minimum lease payments | $ | | |
Less imputed interest | ( | ||
Total present value of future minimum lease payments | $ | | |
The following summarizes the operating lease-related account balances on our Consolidated Balance Sheets, as of December 31, 2023 and 2022:
| 2023 |
| 2022 | |||
$ | | $ | | |||
$ | | $ | | |||
| | |||||
$ | | $ | | |||
The following summarizes additional supplemental data related to our operating leases:
Year Ended December 31: | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | |||||||
Supplemental Cash Flow Information: | ||||||||||
Cash paid for amounts included in the measurement of lease liabilities: | ||||||||||
Operating cash flows from operating leases | $ | | $ | | $ | | ||||
Right-of-use assets obtained in exchange for lease liabilities | $ | | $ | | $ | | ||||
As of December 31: | ||||||||||
Weighted Average Remaining Lease Term | ||||||||||
Weighted Average Discount Rate | | % | | % | | % | ||||
Lease contracts that we have executed but which have not yet commenced as of December 31, 2023 were not material, and are excluded from the tables above. The Company does not generally enter into leases involving the construction or design of the underlying asset, and nearly all of the assets we lease are not specialized in nature. Our lease agreements generally do not include residual value guarantees nor do we enter into sublease arrangements with external parties.
83
Finance Leases
In rare circumstances, the Company may enter into finance leases for specific equipment used in manufacturing, in which the Company takes ownership of the asset upon the end of the lease. The Company records its finance leases within Property, plant and equipment, net, Current portion of long-term debt and Long-term debt on the accompanying Consolidated Balance Sheets. The Company’s finance leases and related depreciation and interest expense, cash flows and impact on the Company’s consolidated financial statements were not material individually or in the aggregate as of and for the years ended December 31, 2023, 2022 and 2021.
Note 11—Acquisitions
2023 Acquisitions
During the year ended December 31, 2023, the Company completed
As of December 31, 2023, the 2023 Acquisitions resulted in the recognition of $
2022 Acquisitions
During the year ended December 31, 2022, the Company completed
84
2021 Acquisitions
During the year ended December 31, 2021, the Company completed
Acquisition of MTS Systems Corporation
On December 9, 2020, Amphenol announced that the Company entered into a definitive agreement under which Amphenol would acquire MTS Systems Corporation (Nasdaq: MTSC) (“MTS”) for $
On April 7, 2021, the Company completed the acquisition of MTS for a total enterprise value of approximately $
The purchase price allocation for the MTS Sensors business was performed separately from the Divested MTS business, the latter of which was accounted for as discontinued operations and whose assets acquired, including associated goodwill, and liabilities assumed were reported as current assets held for sale and current liabilities held for sale on the Company’s balance sheet. As a result of the sale of the Divested MTS business on December 1, 2021, the Company completed the acquisition accounting associated with the Divested MTS business and the associated current assets held for sale and current held for sale were
85
The retained MTS Sensors business is reported within our Interconnect and Sensor Systems segment. In 2022, the Company completed its analysis of the purchase price allocation of the fair value of the tangible and identifiable intangible assets acquired and liabilities assumed, as part of the acquisition accounting associated with the MTS Sensors business. The final assessment of values for the MTS Sensors business did not differ materially from previous preliminary assessments. The MTS acquisition resulted in the recognition of $
Presentation and Sale of the Divested MTS Business
On January 19, 2021 and prior to the closing of the MTS acquisition, the Company entered into a definitive agreement to sell the Divested MTS business to ITW. As a result of the agreement to sell the Divested MTS business to ITW, the Divested MTS business met the discontinued operations reporting criteria and “held for sale” accounting criteria as of the MTS acquisition date of April 7, 2021, and therefore, the Company did not assign the Divested MTS business to any of its
As discussed above, the purchase price allocation associated with the Divested MTS business was performed separately from the MTS Sensors business, as the Divested MTS business met the “held for sale” accounting criteria. The assets acquired and liabilities assumed resulting from the purchase price allocation for the Divested MTS business were measured and recorded at fair value less costs to sell, which was considered a Level 3 fair value measurement based on the transaction’s then-expected consideration. Such assets acquired and liabilities assumed were recorded as current assets held for sale and current liabilities held for sale, as separate single line items on the Company’s balance sheet as of the MTS acquisition date through December 1, 2021, the date of the sale of the Divested MTS business. At each reporting period in 2021, the Company reassessed the fair value of these assets held for sale and liabilities held for sale and noted that the carrying value of the disposal group did not exceed its fair value less costs to sell. In addition, the Company assumed a $
On December 1, 2021, the Company completed the sale of the Divested MTS business to ITW for approximately $
86
Acquisition of Halo Technology Limited
On December 1, 2021, the Company completed the acquisition of approximately
Acquisition-related Expenses
In 2023, the Company incurred $
Note 12—Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets
The changes in the carrying amount of goodwill by segment were as follows:
| Harsh |
| Interconnect |
|
| ||||||||
Environment | Communications | and Sensor |
| ||||||||||
Solutions | Solutions | Systems | Total |
| |||||||||
Goodwill at December 31, 2021 | $ | | $ | | $ | | $ | | |||||
Acquisition-related |
| |
| ( |
| |
| | |||||
Foreign currency translation |
| ( |
| ( |
| ( |
| ( | |||||
Goodwill at December 31, 2022 | | | | | |||||||||
Acquisition-related |
| |
| |
| |
| | |||||
Foreign currency translation |
| |
| |
| |
| | |||||
Goodwill at December 31, 2023 | $ | | $ | | $ | | $ | | |||||
The increase in goodwill during 2023 was primarily driven by goodwill recognized from the 2023 Acquisitions. The increase in goodwill during 2022 was primarily driven by goodwill recognized from the 2022 Acquisitions, partially offset by foreign currency translation.
87
Other than goodwill noted above, the Company’s intangible assets as of December 31, 2023 and 2022 were as follows:
December 31, 2023 | December 31, 2022 | ||||||||||||||||||
Weighted | Gross |
|
| Net |
| Gross |
|
| Net | ||||||||||
Average | Carrying | Accumulated | Carrying | Carrying | Accumulated | Carrying | |||||||||||||
Life (years) | Amount | Amortization | Amount | Amount | Amortization | Amount | |||||||||||||
Customer relationships | $ | | $ | | $ | | $ | | $ | | $ | | |||||||
Proprietary technology |
| |
| | |
| |
| | | |||||||||
Backlog and other |
| |
| | |
| |
| | | |||||||||
Total intangible assets (definite-lived) | | | | | | | |||||||||||||
Trade names (indefinite-lived) | | | | | |||||||||||||||
$ | | $ | | $ | | $ | | $ | | $ | | ||||||||
The increase in the gross carrying amount of intangible assets in 2023 was primarily driven by customer relationships and proprietary technology resulting from acquisition accounting associated with certain 2023 Acquisitions. Amortization expense for the years ended December 31, 2023, 2022 and 2021 was approximately $
Note 13—Reportable Business Segments and International Operations
Since January 1, 2022, the Company aligns its businesses into
The following are the Company’s
The accounting policies of the segments are the same as those for the Company as a whole, as described in Note 1 herein. The Company evaluates the performance of the segments and allocates resources to each of them based on, among other things, profit or loss from operations before certain corporate and other related items such as interest, stock-based compensation expense, income taxes, amortization related to certain intangible assets and nonrecurring gains and losses. The Company also incurs general corporate expenses and costs which are not allocated to the reportable business
88
segments but have been included in “Corporate / Other” in the following tables for reconciliation purposes. Assets are reviewed by the CODM on a consolidated basis and therefore are not presented by reportable business segment.
Net sales by segment for the years ended December 31, 2023, 2022 and 2021 are as follows:
| External | Intersegment | ||||||||||||||||
2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | |||||||||||||
Harsh Environment Solutions |
| $ | | $ | | $ | | $ | | $ | | $ | | |||||
Communications Solutions | | | | | | | ||||||||||||
Interconnect and Sensor Systems | | | | | | | ||||||||||||
Consolidated Net sales | $ | | $ | | $ | | $ | | $ | | $ | | ||||||
Segment operating income and the reconciliation of segment operating income to consolidated income from continuing operations before income taxes for the years ended December 31, 2023, 2022 and 2021 are as follows:
2023 | 2022 | 2021 | |||||||
Segment operating income: | |||||||||
Harsh Environment Solutions | $ | | $ | | $ | | |||
Communications Solutions | | | | ||||||
Interconnect and Sensor Systems | | | | ||||||
Total segment operating income | | | | ||||||
Corporate / Other: | |||||||||
Stock-based compensation expense | ( | ( | ( | ||||||
Acquisition-related expenses | ( | ( | ( | ||||||
Other operating expenses | ( | ( | ( | ||||||
Interest expense | ( | ( | ( | ||||||
Gain on bargain purchase acquisition | | | | ||||||
Other income (expense), net | | | ( | ||||||
Income from continuing operations before income taxes | $ | | $ | | $ | | |||
Depreciation and amortization expense by segment for the years ended December 31, 2023, 2022 and 2021 is as follows:
2023 | 2022 | 2021 | |||||||
Harsh Environment Solutions |
| $ | | $ | | $ | | ||
Communications Solutions | | | | ||||||
Interconnect and Sensor Systems | | | | ||||||
Corporate / Other | | | | ||||||
Total | $ | | $ | | $ | | |||
89
Net sales by geographic area for the years ended December 31, 2023, 2022 and 2021 and long-lived assets by geographic area as of December 31 were as follows:
| 2023 |
| 2022 |
| 2021 | ||||
Net sales | |||||||||
United States | $ | | $ | | $ | | |||
China |
| |
| |
| | |||
Other foreign locations |
| |
| |
| | |||
Total | $ | | $ | | $ | | |||
Long-lived assets(1) | |||||||||
United States | $ | | $ | | $ | | |||
China |
| |
| |
| | |||
Other foreign locations |
| |
| |
| | |||
Total | $ | | $ | | $ | | |||
(1) Long-lived assets included in this table are comprised of property, plant and equipment, net, and operating lease right-of-use assets for all years presented. |
Disaggregation of Net Sales
The following tables show our net sales disaggregated into categories the Company considers meaningful to depict how the nature, amount, timing and uncertainty of revenue and cash flows are affected by economic factors for the years ended December 31, 2023, 2022 and 2021:
Net sales by sales channel: | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | ||||||
End customers and contract manufacturers: | |||||||||
Harsh Environment Solutions | $ | | $ | | $ | | |||
Communications Solutions | | | | ||||||
Interconnect and Sensor Systems |
| |
| |
| | |||
$ | | $ | | $ | | ||||
Distributors and resellers: | |||||||||
Harsh Environment Solutions | $ | | $ | | $ | | |||
Communications Solutions | | | | ||||||
Interconnect and Sensor Systems |
| |
| |
| | |||
$ | | $ | | $ | | ||||
Total Net sales | $ | | $ | | $ | | |||
Net sales by geography: | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | ||||||
United States: | |||||||||
Harsh Environment Solutions | $ | | $ | | $ | | |||
Communications Solutions | | | | ||||||
Interconnect and Sensor Systems |
| |
| |
| | |||
$ | | $ | | $ | | ||||
China: | |||||||||
Harsh Environment Solutions | $ | | $ | | $ | | |||
Communications Solutions | | | | ||||||
Interconnect and Sensor Systems |
| |
| |
| | |||
$ | | $ | | $ | | ||||
Other foreign locations: | |||||||||
Harsh Environment Solutions | $ | | $ | | $ | | |||
Communications Solutions | | | | ||||||
Interconnect and Sensor Systems |
| |
| |
| | |||
$ | | $ | | $ | | ||||
Total Net sales | $ | | $ | | $ | | |||
Net sales by geographic area are based on the customer location to which the product is shipped.
90
2021. It is impracticable to disclose net sales by product or group of products. For further discussion related to the Company’s policies surrounding revenue recognition, refer to Note 1 herein.
Reportable Business Segments Prior to 2022
Prior to 2022 and through December 31, 2021, the Company operated through
Businesses previously reported in the Interconnect Products and Assemblies segment were aligned with
Note 14—Commitments and Contingencies
The Company is party to a number of legal and/or regulatory actions arising out of the normal course of its business. The Company records a loss contingency liability when, in the opinion of management after seeking legal advice, a loss is considered probable and the amount can be reasonably estimated. Based on information currently available and management’s evaluation of such information, the Company does not believe that the resolution of any existing legal or regulatory action is expected to have a material adverse effect on the Company’s financial condition, results of operations or cash flows. The Company’s legal costs associated with defending itself are recorded to expense as incurred.
Certain operations of the Company are subject to environmental laws and regulations that govern the discharge of pollutants into the air and water, as well as the handling and disposal of solid and hazardous wastes. The Company believes that its operations are currently in substantial compliance with applicable environmental laws and regulations and that the costs of continuing compliance will not have a material adverse effect on the Company’s financial condition, results of operations or cash flows.
The Company also has purchase obligations related to commitments to purchase certain goods and services. At December 31, 2023, the Company had purchase commitments of $
Note 15—Subsequent Events
On
91
Item 9. Changes in and Disagreements with Accountants on Accounting and Financial Disclosure
None.
Item 9A. Controls and Procedures
The Company’s management, with the participation of the Company’s Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, has evaluated the effectiveness of the design and operation of our disclosure controls and procedures, as defined in Rules 13a-15(e) or 15d-15(e) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”), as of December 31, 2023. These disclosure controls and procedures are designed to provide reasonable assurance that information required to be disclosed by the Company in reports that it files or submits under the Exchange Act is recorded, processed, summarized and reported within the time periods specified in the Securities and Exchange Commission rules and forms, and such information is accumulated and communicated to our management, including our Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, as appropriate, to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosure. Based on their evaluation, the Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer have concluded that the Company’s disclosure controls and procedures were effective at the reasonable assurance level as of December 31, 2023.
There has been no change in our internal control over financial reporting during the Company’s most recent fiscal quarter ended December 31, 2023 that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, our internal control over financial reporting.
Management Report on Internal Control
Internal control over financial reporting is designed to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external reporting purposes in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America. Due to its inherent limitations, internal control over financial reporting may not prevent or detect misstatements. Management is responsible for establishing and maintaining adequate internal control over financial reporting of Amphenol Corporation and its subsidiaries (the “Company”), as defined in Rules 13a-15(f) and 15d-15(f) of the Exchange Act. Under the supervision and with the participation of our management, including our principal executive officer and principal financial officer, the Company conducted an evaluation of the effectiveness of the internal control over financial reporting based on criteria established in the Internal Control – Integrated Framework (2013) issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission (COSO). Based on that evaluation, management concluded that the Company’s internal control over financial reporting was effective as of December 31, 2023.
Deloitte & Touche LLP, an independent registered public accounting firm, has audited the Company’s internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2023 in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (PCAOB). Those standards require that Deloitte & Touche LLP plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether effective internal control over financial reporting was maintained in all material respects. Deloitte & Touche LLP has issued an attestation report on the Company’s internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2023, which is included in Item 8 of this Annual Report.
Item 9B. Other Information
Trading Arrangements
During the three months ended December 31, 2023,
Item 9C. Disclosure Regarding Foreign Jurisdictions that Prevent Inspections
Not applicable.
92
PART III
The Company intends to file a definitive proxy statement (the “Proxy Statement”) pursuant to Regulation 14A under the Securities Exchange Act within 120 days following the end of the fiscal year ended December 31, 2023, and certain information included therein is incorporated herein by reference.
Item 10. Directors, Executive Officers and Corporate Governance
Pursuant to Instruction G(3) to Form 10-K, the information required by Item 10 with respect to the Directors of the Registrant is incorporated herein by reference to the Proxy Statement.
Pursuant to Instruction G(3) to Form 10-K, the information required by Item 10 with respect to the Executive Officers of the Registrant is incorporated herein by reference to the Proxy Statement.
To the extent disclosure for delinquent reports is being made, it can be found under the caption “Delinquent Section 16(a) Reports” in the Proxy Statement and is incorporated herein by reference to the Proxy Statement.
The Company’s Code of Business Conduct and Ethics, which is applicable to all directors, officers and employees of the Company, including the principal executive officer, principal financial officer and principal accounting officer, is available on the Company’s website at www.amphenol.com. The Company intends to post amendments to or waivers from its Code of Business Conduct and Ethics (to the extent applicable to the Company’s principal executive officer, principal financial officer, principal accounting officer or persons performing similar functions) on its website. In addition, a current copy may be requested by writing to the Company’s World Headquarters at:
358 Hall Avenue
P.O. Box 5030
Wallingford, CT 06492
Attention: Investor Relations
Item 11. Executive Compensation
Pursuant to Instruction G(3) to Form 10-K, the information required by Item 11 is incorporated herein by reference to the Proxy Statement.
Item 12. Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and Management and Related Stockholder Matters
Pursuant to Instruction G(3) to Form 10-K, the information required by Item 12 is incorporated herein by reference to the Proxy Statement, other than the “Equity Compensation Plan Information” provided below.
Equity Compensation Plan Information
The following table summarizes the Company’s equity compensation plan information as of December 31, 2023:
Equity Compensation Plan Information | ||||||||
| Number of |
| Weighted |
| Number of securities remaining | |||
| securities to be issued | average exercise | available for future issuance | |||||
| upon exercise of | price of outstanding | under equity compensation | |||||
outstanding options, | options, warrants | plans (excluding shares | ||||||
Plan category |
| warrants and rights | and rights | reflected in column (a)) | ||||
(a) | (b) | (c) | ||||||
Equity compensation plans approved by security holders |
| 60,409,162 | $ | 50.46 |
| 31,280,607 | ||
Equity compensation plans not approved by security holders |
| — |
| — |
| — | ||
Total |
| 60,409,162 | $ | 50.46 |
| 31,280,607 | ||
93
Item 13. Certain Relationships and Related Transactions, and Director Independence
Pursuant to Instruction G(3) to Form 10-K, the information required by Item 13 is incorporated herein by reference to the Proxy Statement.
Item 14. Principal Accountant Fees and Services
Pursuant to Instruction G(3) to Form 10-K, the information required by Item 14 is incorporated herein by reference to the Proxy Statement.
94
PART IV
Item 15. Exhibit and Financial Statement Schedules
(a)(1) Consolidated Financial Statements
Schedules other than the above have been omitted because they are either not applicable or the required information has been included in the Consolidated Financial Statements or the notes thereto.
(a)(3) Listing of Exhibits
The following exhibits are filed as part of, or incorporated by reference into, this Annual Report:
3.1 | |
3.2 | |
4.1 | |
4.2 | |
4.3 | |
4.4 | |
4.5 | |
4.6 | |
4.7 |
95
4.8 | |
4.9 | |
4.10 | |
4.11 | |
10.1 | |
10.2 | Form of 2017 Stock Option Agreement (filed as Exhibit 10.1 to the Form 8-K filed on May 19, 2017).†* |
10.3 | |
10.4 | |
10.5 | |
10.6 | |
10.7 | |
10.8 | |
10.9 | |
10.10 | |
10.11 | |
10.12 | |
10.13 | |
10.14 | |
10.15 | |
10.16 | |
10.17 | |
10.18 | |
10.19 | |
10.20 | |
10.21 | |
10.22 | |
10.23 | |
10.24 |
96
10.25 | |
10.26 | |
10.27 | |
10.28 | |
10.29 | |
10.30 | |
10.31 | |
10.32 | |
10.33 | |
10.34 | |
10.35 | |
21.1 | |
23.1 | |
31.1 | |
31.2 | |
32.1 | |
32.2 | |
97.1 | Amphenol Corporation Policy for Recovery of Erroneously Awarded Compensation.** |
101.INS | Inline XBRL Instance Document – the Instance Document does not appear in the Interactive Data File because its XBRL tags are embedded within the Inline XBRL document.** |
101.SCH | Inline XBRL Taxonomy Extension Schema Document.** |
101.CAL | Inline XBRL Taxonomy Extension Calculation Linkbase Document.** |
101.DEF | Inline XBRL Taxonomy Extension Definition Linkbase Document.** |
101.LAB | Inline XBRL Taxonomy Extension Label Linkbase Document.** |
101.PRE | Inline XBRL Taxonomy Extension Presentation Linkbase Document.** |
104 | Cover Page Interactive Data File – the cover page XBRL tags are embedded within the Inline XBRL document (included in Exhibit 101).** |
† Management contract or compensatory plan or arrangement.
* Incorporated herein by reference as stated.
** Filed herewith.
*** Furnished herewith.
Item 16. Form 10-K Summary
Not applicable.
97
SCHEDULE II
AMPHENOL CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES
VALUATION AND QUALIFYING ACCOUNTS
For the years ended December 31, 2023, 2022 and 2021
(Dollars in millions)
| Balance at |
| Charged to |
|
| Balance at |
| ||||||
beginning | cost and | Additions | end of |
| |||||||||
of period | expenses | (Deductions) | period |
| |||||||||
Allowance for doubtful accounts: | |||||||||||||
Year ended December 31, 2023 | $ | | $ | | $ | ( | $ | | |||||
Year ended December 31, 2022 |
| | | | | ||||||||
Year ended December 31, 2021 |
| | | ( |
| | |||||||
Valuation allowance on deferred tax assets: | |||||||||||||
Year ended December 31, 2023 | $ | | $ | | $ | | $ | | |||||
Year ended December 31, 2022 | | ( | ( | | |||||||||
Year ended December 31, 2021 |
| | | ( | | ||||||||
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Signatures
Pursuant to the requirements of Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized in the Town of Wallingford, State of Connecticut on the 7th day of February, 2024.
AMPHENOL CORPORATION | |
/s/ R. Adam Norwitt | |
R. Adam Norwitt | |
President and Chief Executive Officer |
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, this report has been signed below by the following persons on behalf of the registrant and in the capacities and on the dates indicated.
Signature | Title | Date | ||
/s/ R. Adam Norwitt | President, Chief Executive Officer and Director | February 7, 2024 | ||
R. Adam Norwitt | (Principal Executive Officer) | |||
/s/ Craig A. Lampo | Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer | February 7, 2024 | ||
Craig A. Lampo | (Principal Financial Officer and Principal Accounting Officer) | |||
/s/ Martin H. Loeffler | Chairman of the Board of Directors | February 7, 2024 | ||
Martin H. Loeffler | ||||
/s/ David P. Falck | Presiding Director | February 7, 2024 | ||
David P. Falck | ||||
/s/ Nancy A. Altobello | Director | February 7, 2024 | ||
Nancy A. Altobello | ||||
/s/ Edward G. Jepsen | Director | February 7, 2024 | ||
Edward G. Jepsen | ||||
/s/ Rita S. Lane | Director | February 7, 2024 | ||
Rita S. Lane | ||||
/s/ Robert A. Livingston | Director | February 7, 2024 | ||
Robert A. Livingston | ||||
/s/ Prahlad Singh | Director | February 7, 2024 | ||
Prahlad Singh | ||||
/s/ Anne Clarke Wolff | Director | February 7, 2024 | ||
Anne Clarke Wolff |
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