Company: BHE
Filing Date: 2025-02-24
Form Type: 10-K
Source: 0000950170-25-025644
Chunk: 132

Company: BENCHMARK ELECTRONICS INC
Filing Date: 2025-02-24
Form: 10-K
Item: Item 7
Chunk 132
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 raising additional debt or equity on acceptable terms.

2024 Cash Flows

Cash provided from operating activities was $189.2 million in 2024 and primarily consisted of $63.3 million of net income, adjusted for $46.1 million of depreciation and amortization, $13.4 million of stock-based compensation expense, a $34.0 million decrease in accounts receivable, and a $127.8 million decrease in inventories partially offset by a $61.3 million decrease in advance payments from customers and a $18.3 million decrease in accounts payable. Working capital was $0.9 billion as of December 31, 2024.

We primarily purchase components only after customer orders or forecasts are received, which mitigates, but does not eliminate, the risk of loss on inventories. Supplies of electronic components and other materials used in operations are subject to industry-wide shortages. In certain instances, suppliers may allocate available quantities to us. When shortages of these components and other material supplies used in operations have occurred, vendors have at times been unable to ship the quantities we need for production, forcing us to delay shipments, which can increase backorders and impact cash flows. Vendors also may increase the costs of components based on the market conditions including these shortages. In certain instances, we request and receive advance payments from customers as prepayments of inventory to meet working capital demands of a contract, offset inventory risks such as inventory purchased in advance of current needs and protect the Company from the failure of other parties to fulfill obligations under a contract. For example, we have historically been impacted by supply chain constraints, including shortages, longer lead times and increased transit times.

Cash used in investing activities was $32.8 million in 2024 primarily due to capital expenditures for property, plant and equipment of $31.3 million and purchased software of $1.9 million partially offset by $2.0 million in proceeds from the disposal of property, plant and equipment. The purchases of property, plant and equipment were primarily for machinery and equipment in the Americas and Asia.

Cash used in financing activities was $109.1 million in 2024. Borrowings under the Credit Agreement were $600.0 million and principal payments under the Credit Agreement were $674.1 million. In addition, we paid $23.9 million of dividends during 2024 and $6.3 million for employee taxes paid to settle stock-based awards exercised during the year. We also completed $5.1 million in common stock share repurchases.

Credit