EDGAR 10-K Filing

Company CIK: 1091883
Filing Year: 2022
Filename: 1091883_10-K_2022_0001091883-22-000042.json

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ITEM 1. BUSINESS
Item 1. Business
This Annual Report on Form 10-K contains certain statements that are “forward-looking statements” as that term is defined under the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 (the “Act”). The words “may,” “hope,” “should,” “expect,” “plan,” “anticipate,” “intend,” “believe,” “estimate,” “predict,” “potential,” “continue,” and other expressions which are predictions of or indicate future events and trends and which do not relate to historical matters, identify forward-looking statements. We believe that it is important to communicate our future expectations to our stockholders, and we, therefore, make forward-looking statements in reliance upon the safe harbor provisions of the Act. However, there may be events in the future that we are not able to accurately predict or control and our actual results may differ materially from the expectations we describe in our forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements, including statements about our future performance, including the potential outcome, if any, of the Board of Director's review of strategic alternatives; the expected and potential direct and indirect impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic on our business, our ability to remediate the material weakness in our internal control over financial reporting, the number of new product launches and future cash flows from operating activities, involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors, which may cause our actual results, performance or achievements to differ materially from anticipated future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Factors that could cause or contribute to such differences include, but are not limited to, the duration and scope of the COVID-19 pandemic; any adverse changes in governmental policies; variability of raw material and component pricing; changes in our suppliers’ performance; fluctuations in foreign currency exchange rates; changes in tariffs or other taxes related to doing business internationally; our ability to hire and retain key personnel; our ability to operate our manufacturing facilities at efficient levels, including our ability to prevent cost overruns and reduce costs; our ability to generate increased cash by reducing our working capital; our prevention of the accumulation of excess inventory; fluctuations in interest rates; our ability to successfully defend product liability actions; the inability to identify or complete a strategic transaction; as well as the uncertainty associated with the current worldwide economic conditions and the continuing impact on economic and financial conditions in the United States and around the world, including as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, natural disasters, military conflicts, terrorist attacks and similar matters. For a discussion of these risks, uncertainties and other factors, see Part I, Item 1A, "Risk Factors" in this Annual Report on Form 10-K. We undertake no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.
Overview
As used in this report, the terms “we,” “us,” “our,” the “Company” and “CIRCOR” mean CIRCOR International, Inc. and its subsidiaries (unless the context indicates another meaning). The term “common stock” means our common stock, par value $0.01 per share.
CIRCOR designs, manufactures and markets differentiated technology products and sub-systems for the industrial and aerospace and defense markets. We have a diversified flow and motion control product portfolio with recognized, market-leading brands that fulfill our customers’ mission critical and severe service needs. The Company’s strategy is to grow organically through innovative product development (including digital products), aftermarket growth, penetrating new regions, margin expansion and through complementary acquisitions; achieve world class operational excellence; and build an inclusive, growth-oriented culture that attracts and retains a diverse group of talent. We have a global presence and operate 21 major manufacturing facilities located in North America, Western Europe, Morocco, China and India. The Company has the following reportable business segments: Industrial segment (“Industrial”) and Aerospace & Defense segment (“Aerospace & Defense”). We sell our products directly to end-user customers and original equipment manufacturers (“OEMs”), as well as through Engineering, Procurement and Construction (“EPC”) companies and our channel partner network.
In 2020, we completed the divestiture of our loss-making Distributed Valves (“DV”) business. This action stemmed from our strategic decision to exit the upstream oil and gas valves market. This business and the associated loss on disposal were reported within discontinued operations in our consolidated financial statements. The following discussion in this Item 1 relates only to our continuing operations unless otherwise noted. Refer to Note 1, Description of Business along with Note 4, Discontinued Operations and Assets Held for Sale, to the consolidated financial statements included in this Annual Report for additional information.
Strategies
Our objective is to enhance stockholder value by focusing on organic growth, margin expansion, improving free cash flow and focused capital deployment. Our strategy to achieve these objectives is to:
1) Build the best team. We are committed to creating a strong employee value proposition that attracts talented and diverse people to CIRCOR. We are also committed to investing in, engaging, challenging and developing our employees through a variety of development programs. Our goal is to build an inclusive, growth-oriented culture that, when combined with robust process, appropriate metrics and individual accountability, will deliver extraordinary results.
2) Drive organic growth. We serve mission critical applications across our A&D and Industrial portfolio, and typically enjoy competitive position in the market segments we serve. One of the pillars of our growth is customer intimacy. Strong insights into the needs of our current and prospective customers enable us to drive growth through new products, aftermarket support, value-based pricing and enhanced customer experience from order through delivery. We view aftermarket as key to both organic growth and margin expansion and we will continue exploring support opportunities for our customers, especially those in our Industrial segment. In A&D, our businesses are well positioned for growth from critical programs such as Navy submarines, missiles including hypersonic, fighter aircraft and narrowbody and widebody commercial aircraft platforms. In addition, we are finding use of our technologies in new markets including medical, hydrogen and space applications. We will continue to invest in new technologies and new programs where we can leverage our unique technical advantages.
3) Realize margin expansion. We have a successful track record of expanding margins in our A&D segment and continue to build on this success through value-based pricing, volume growth and the leverage of our best-cost manufacturing operations in Morocco. In Industrial we are implementing similar strategies to those that have been successful in A&D, including value-based pricing, focus on the aftermarket, leverage of best-cost manufacturing in India and China, as well as factory modernization and 80/20 simplification.
5) Optimize overhead cost. We continue to evaluate our cost structure across the organization. We are continuously looking for opportunities to simplify our structure, eliminate redundancies and align our teams closer to the customers. These initiatives have already resulted in structural cost-out in the first half of 2022 and we have identified specific areas of opportunities for further improvements which we are currently evaluating for future implementation.
6) Achieve world class operational excellence. Our businesses are committed to achieving operational excellence in support of our customers’ expectations of high quality, on-time delivery and market competitiveness. We follow the CIRCOR Operating System (“COS”), which creates a disciplined culture of continuous improvement for driving operational excellence . COS is comprised of ten business process attributes designed to engage and empower our employees to recognize and eliminate waste, work real-time problem solving as part of their everyday job experience, and enhance our performance both in operations and front end processes. Quantitative performance metrics define site certification levels to help attain and sustain a high level of quality, productivity, inventory management and market competitiveness that delights our customers, stockholders, and employees.
7) Focused capital deployment. We have a portfolio of leading brands, differentiated technologies and strong customer relationships. We continually evaluate whether we are the best owners of our businesses, or whether we could undertake value enhancing divestitures. Although, our markets remain fragmented, and we see opportunity for complementary and value enhancing acquisitions, in the near term our focus is on organic investments, evaluating divestitures and reducing leverage
Business Segments
Industrial
Industrial is a global portfolio of highly engineered and differentiated flow control solutions. Our primary products are positive displacement pumps, specialty centrifugal pumps, metering pumps, automatic recirculating valves, control and actuator valves for mission critical applications.
Our technology is focused on moving the most difficult fluids with extremely high efficiency for critical applications in the general industrial, power, process, energy, and commercial marine end markets.
We plan to grow the Industrial segment by improving our understanding of our customers and their challenges and providing innovative new products, including digital products, in multiple product lines that address our customers' severe service and mission critical needs. We are driving growth regionally and developing products in-region, for-region. We are using multiple digital tools, including a new CIRCOR app, to support our customers in the aftermarket. The Industrial segment is also focused
on pricing initiatives to drive value-pricing for our products. We believe margin expansion can be achieved through use of COS at our sites.
Industrial is headquartered in Radolfzell, Germany, with primary manufacturing centers in North America, England, Germany, India, and China.
Markets and Applications
Industrial serves the general industrial, power and process, energy and commercial marine markets.
•The general industrial market includes a broad range of manufacturing operations for flow control. Our products are used to handle fluids with a wide range of viscosity, lubricity, temperature, pressure and flow requirements, automate and control plant utilities, increase energy efficiency in buildings and campuses, and safely regulate critical fluids such as steam and industrial gases used in manufacturing processes.
•The power and process market is comprised of electric utilities, industrial power producers and OEM power generating equipment providers. Our products and services are used across this segment in lubrication management for turbines and generators, as well as fuel delivery, heat transfer, and emissions reduction applications. We serve power generation facilities and processes fueled by natural gas, oil, hydro, solar, nuclear, and coal.
•The energy markets we serve are primarily midstream and downstream oil & gas, as well as renewables. In midstream, our products and services are used in the transfer of oils and refined products via pipelines, ship vessels, railcars, and trucks, as well as pipeline pigging and associated pipeline integrity operations. Our products and services are also used to manage and maintain storage terminals. In downstream, our products are used to support critical refining processes, both directly in the process and as part of integrated equipment supplied by OEMs. Our products are also used in the production and management of biofuels and supporting the operation of large-scale wind farms.
•The commercial marine market includes shipbuilders, OEM suppliers of onboard equipment, and shipping fleet operators. Our products and services are designed specifically to support all aspects of fluid systems, including propulsion, ballast handling, cooling water, bilge, fuel, power generation, and mechanical hydraulics.
•In all of the markets we serve, we provide aftermarket components and aftermarket services.
Brands
Industrial manufactures and markets products and services through the following brands:
Allweiler, DeltaValve, Houttuin, IMO Pump, IMO AB, Leslie Controls, RG Lawrence, RTK, Schroedahl, TapcoEnpro, Tushaco, and Zenith.
Products
Industrial offers a range of flow control products and services, including:
•3 Screw Pumps
•2 Screw Pumps
•Progressing Cavity Pumps
•Specialty Centrifugal Pumps
•Gear Metering Pumps
•Automatic Recirculation Valves
•Highly engineered valves, actuation and unheading devices for refinery coking and Fluidized Catalytic Cracking Units (FCCU) operations
•Severe Service and General Service Control Valves
Our products must comply with certification standards applicable to many of our end markets. These standards include but are not limited to ISO 9001:2008, ANSI/ASQC Q 9001, API 676, and Mil-I-45208.
Customers
Industrial's products and services are sold directly to end-users, OEMs that supply specialized systems in their respective end markets, and EPC companies and through a global network of indirect sales channels.
Revenue
Industrial accounted for $506.1 million, $499.2 million, and $684.6 million or 67%, 65%, and 72% of our net revenues for the years ended December 31, 2021, 2020, and 2019, respectively. For the year ended December 31, 2021 compared to 2020, revenues excluding divestitures increased $11.8 million driven by a 7% increase in the Pumps businesses offset by 5% reduction in the Valves businesses. For the year ended December 31, 2020 compared to 2019, $87.3 million of decline in net revenues was due to divestitures.
Aerospace & Defense
Aerospace & Defense produces diversified and innovative flow control products. Our primary product focus areas are valves, pumps, actuation, motors, switches and high pressure pneumatic systems. Aerospace & Defense products are mainly used in aerospace, defense and general industrial markets.
We plan to grow Aerospace & Defense by increasing market share in existing and new markets through exceptional sales and customer service and with new products enabled by innovative, reliable and high quality solutions. A key part of our strategy is the development of a strong technology team that can use our core technology to accelerate new product development. We are exploring adjacency applications for our core technology and opportunities to increase our aftermarket sales. Our growth will also be driven by margin expansion, through increased manufacturing capabilities at our lower cost facility in Morocco, adoption of the COS by our sites and value pricing initiatives.
We have Aerospace & Defense facilities in North America, the United Kingdom, France, Morocco, and India. Our Aerospace & Defense headquarters is in Corona, California.
Markets and Applications
Aerospace & Defense serves the aerospace and defense markets.
•The aerospace market that we serve includes commercial aerospace primarily focused on systems and components on airliners and business jets, such as hydraulic, pneumatic, fuel and ground support equipment including maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO). In addition, we serve the defense aerospace market, including applications where controls or motion switches are mission critical. We support fixed wing aircraft, rotorcraft, missile systems, ground vehicles, submarines, weapon systems and weapon launch systems, ordinance, fire control, fuel systems, pneumatic controls, and hydraulic and dockside support equipment including MRO.
•The non-aerospace defense market that we serve is primarily focused on naval vessels, with our pumps and valves used across most naval platforms in a wide variety of onboard applications. We are a trusted supplier to many countries' navies, leveraging our engineering and manufacturing capabilities to work directly with our customers in developing targeted solutions for mission critical applications including very low acoustic signature pumps for submarines.
•In all of the markets we serve, we provide aftermarket components and repair services.
Brands
Aerospace & Defense manufactures and markets control valves, pumps, regulators, fluid controls, actuation systems, pneumatic valves and controls, electro-mechanical controls, motors and other flow control products and systems. Aerospace & Defense provides actuation and fluid control systems and services through the following brands: CIRCOR Aerospace, Aerodyne Controls, CIRCOR Bodet, CIRCOR Industria, CIRCOR Motors, Hale Hamilton, Leslie Controls, Portland Valve, and Warren Pumps.
Products
Aerospace & Defense offers a range of solutions, including:
•Specialty Centrifugal, 2-Screw, and Propeller Pumps
•Specialized control valves
•MIL-Spec butterfly valves and actuators
•Electromechanical, pneumatic and hydraulic, fluid and motion control systems
•Brushless DC Motors
•Switches
•Pressure regulators and pressure control systems
•Actuation components and sub-systems
In the manufacture of our products, we must comply with certain certification standards, such as AS9100C, ISO 9001:2008, National Aerospace & Defense Contractors Accreditation Program, Federal Aviation Administration Certification and European Aviation Safety Agency as well as other customer qualification standards. Currently all of our manufacturing facilities comply with applicable standards.
Customers
Aerospace & Defense products and services are sold directly and indirectly to a range of customers, including those in the military and defense, commercial aerospace, business and general aviation and general industrial markets. Our customers include aircraft manufacturers (OEMs) and Tier 1 suppliers to these customers.
Revenue
Aerospace & Defense accounted for $252.5 million, $266.0 million, and $272.6 million, or 33%, 35%, and 28% of our net revenues for the years ended December 31, 2021, 2020, and 2019, respectively.
CIRCOR Consolidated
Competition
The domestic and international markets for our products are highly competitive. Some of our competitors have substantially greater financial, marketing, personnel and other resources than us. We consider product brand, quality, performance, on-time delivery, customer service, price, distribution capabilities and breadth of product offerings to be the primary competitive factors in these markets. We believe that new product development and product engineering also are important to our success and that our position in the industry is attributable, in significant part, to our ability to develop innovative products and to adapt existing products to specific customer applications. Our ability to leverage our large installed base of equipment to drive repairs and spares growth is a competitive advantage.
The primary competitors of our Industrial segment include: Leistritz AG, Curtiss-Wright Corporation, Netzsch GmbH, ITT Corporation, IMI plc, SPX Flow, Inc., Seepex GmbH, and Naniwa Ltd.
The primary competitors of our Aerospace & Defense segment include: Transdigm, Crane Co., Curtiss-Wright Corporation, Moog, Inc., Parker Hannifin Corp., and Woodward Inc.
New Product Development
Our engineering differentiation comes from our ability to offer products, solutions and services that address high pressure, high temperature, and caustic flow. Our solutions offer high standards of reliability, safety and durability in applications requiring precision movement and zero leakage.
We continue to develop new and innovative products to enhance our market positions and drive growth. Our product development capabilities include designing and manufacturing custom solutions to meet high tolerance or close precision requirements. Our Aerospace & Defense segment continues to expand its integrated systems design and testing capability to support bundled sub-systems for aeronautics applications, as well as acoustically superior pumps for marine applications. These testing and manufacturing capabilities enable us to develop customer-specified applications. In many cases, the unique characteristics of our customer-specified technologies have been subsequently used in broader product offerings. The Industrial segment provides unique flow control products for viscous and critical fluids with specific design and engineering capabilities.
We maintain a Global Engineering Center of Excellence in India with a capable technology and engineering team that complements the engineering resources in a business unit.
Customers
For the years ended December 31, 2021 and 2020, no customers accounted for more than 10% of the Company’s consolidated revenues. Our businesses sell into both long-term capital projects as well as short-cycle demand. As a result, we tend to experience fluctuations in orders, revenues and operating results at various points across economic and business cycles.
Selling and Distribution
Across our businesses we utilize a variety of channels to market our products and solutions. Those channels include direct sales, distributors and commissioned representatives. Our channel partner network typically offers technically trained sales forces with strong relationships in key markets. We believe that our established, global direct and indirect sales channels constitute a competitive strength. We believe that we have good relationships with our channel partners.
Intellectual Property
The Company relies upon a combination of trade secrets and patent and trademark registrations to protect its intellectual property. Our patents are scheduled to expire between 2022 and 2038, and our trademarks can be renewed as long as we continue to use them. We do not believe the vitality and competitiveness of any of our business segments as a whole depends on any one or more patents or trademarks. We own certain licenses such as software licenses, but we do not believe that our business as a whole depends on any one or more licenses.
Raw Materials
The raw materials used most often in our production processes are castings, forgings and bar stock of various materials, including stainless steel, carbon steel, bronze, copper, brass, titanium and aluminum. These materials are subject to price fluctuations that may adversely affect our results of operations. We purchase these materials from numerous suppliers and at times experience constraints on the supply of certain raw material as well as the inability of certain suppliers to respond to our needs. Historically, increases in the prices of raw materials have been partially offset by higher sales prices, active materials management, project engineering programs and the diversity of materials used in our production processes.
Regulatory and Environmental Matters
Our business and operations are subject to numerous federal, state and local laws and regulations, both within and outside the United States, in areas such as: competition, government contracts, international trade, labor and employment, tax, environmental protection, workplace health and safety, and others. These and other laws and regulations impact the manner in which we conduct our business, and changes in legislation or government policies can affect our operations, both favorably and unfavorably. Below is a summary of the some of the significant regulations that impact our business (see also Part I, Item IA, Risk Factors).
Government Procurement. The services we provide to the U.S. federal government are subject to Federal Acquisition Regulation, the Truth in Negotiations Act, export controls rules and Department of Defense (DOD) security regulations, as well as many other laws and regulations. These laws and regulations affect how we transact business with our customers and, in some instances, impose additional costs on our business operations. A violation of specific laws and regulations could lead to fines, contract termination or suspension of future contracts. Our government clients can also terminate, renegotiate, or modify any of their contracts with us at their convenience.
Trade Controls. The export of our products is subject to applicable trade controls laws, including those in the U.S., the European Union, the United Kingdom and China, and include, but are not limited to, the International Traffic in Arms Regulations, the Export Administration Regulations, and trade sanctions against embargoed countries. A violation of specific laws and regulations could lead to civil or criminal enforcement action and varying degrees of liability.
Anti-Bribery. We are subject to the U.S. Foreign Corrupt Practices Act and similar anti-bribery laws, which generally prohibit companies and their intermediaries from making improper payments to foreign government officials for the purpose of obtaining or retaining business. The U.K. Bribery Act of 2010 prohibits both domestic and international bribery, as well as bribery across both private and public sectors. In addition, an organization that “fails to prevent bribery” committed by anyone
associated with the organization can be charged under the U.K. Bribery Act unless the organization can establish the defense of having implemented “adequate procedures” to prevent bribery.
Human Capital
CIRCOR’s success depends on our ability to attract, develop, engage and retain key talent. Management oversees and drives a number of vital employee programs in support of these goals.
Employee Profile
As of December 31, 2021, CIRCOR had 3,120, employees, of whom approximately 98% are full-time. 43% of this workforce was in Europe, 40% in the United States, 11% in India and the rest spread across the rest of Asia, the Middle East and Latin America.
Approximately 37% of our workforce is composed of skilled direct labor working in our factories across the globe. 29% is indirect labor in support of this direct labor. 34% are selling, general and administrative expenses (“SG&A”) staff (including engineering, sales, finance, human resources and legal personnel). 6% of the Company’s U.S. employees are unionized. Outside the United States, we have employees in Europe that are represented by an employee representative organization, such as a union, works council or employee association.
Approximately 19% of the Company's global workforce is female, and 16% of the Company's employees in leadership roles are female. Approximately 34% of the Company's U.S. workforce and 23% of our U.S. employees in leadership roles are racially or ethnically diverse. At the Board of Directors level, 29% of our directors are female and 14% of our Board is racially or ethnically diverse.
Talent Attraction
We employ a rigorous recruitment process to attract and hire the talent needed for our continued success and growth. This includes candidates from diverse backgrounds and with differing experiences. Candidates are carefully vetted and assessed in multiple stages and interviews. Our recruitment processes are designed to comply with local labor laws and regulations.
Attracting a more diverse candidate pool was a particular focus in 2021. We published a revamped careers page on our website, which included a specific section on diversity & inclusion and focused on improving our job descriptions, to make them more appealing to broader slate of potential candidates. We also provided a standardized interview guide and unconscious bias training to hiring managers in 2021.
In addition, we actively partner with universities across the globe to recruit promising graduate talent into various functions in the Company. We work with Kellogg School (Northwestern University) to hire graduating Master of Business Administration (“MBA”) students each year into the Company’s general management rotation program and have plans to expand the program to include engineering graduates, who will be hired to participate in an engineering rotation program.
Talent Development
CIRCOR is committed to developing our talent. Many of our employees participate in an annual Talent Review Process and Performance Management Process, which helps assess the performance as well as the potential of employees. We focus on investment in three main methods of developing talent: (1) on-the-job, technical or skills-based training, (2) mentorship and (3) leadership and executive development training.
We have offered a Senior Leadership Development Program for top leaders and a Management Development Program for mid-level managers. In addition, we actively train our employees on diversity and inclusion, interpersonal skills, process improvement skills, compliance topics as well as technical skills at the site level. We work with high potential employees to create Individual Development Plans for them and provide opportunities for assessments and coaching as needed. In 2021, 50% of leadership positions were filled internally as CIRCOR lays heavy emphasis on promoting from within and creating growth opportunities for our employees. We use annual succession planning and periodic sessions with business leaders and the People team throughout the year to understand the open roles for which internal candidates might be available to fill.
Talent Retention
We are committed to creating a strong employee value proposition, and our retention strategy centers on building an inclusive, growth-oriented culture that is attractive to our employees. We have regular communications from our senior leaders to employees throughout the organization and provide channels for feedback.
We periodically conduct employee engagement surveys and other similar surveys to measure employee engagement and satisfaction. Our 2021 employee engagement survey had a greater than 70% participation rate, and measured employee engagement and satisfaction, and sought employee feedback, across a range of topics. In addition, our sites host town halls throughout the year to engage employees at a local level; some sites also have employee engagement committees that meet regularly with leadership to provide feedback. In 2021, while many of our employees continued to work from home, sites hosted online events to continue to facilitate employee engagement.
In addition, we offer competitive compensation and benefits packages that are designed to retain, motivate and reward our employees. CIRCOR has a Pay for Performance philosophy, and we align our compensation practices with reference to external benchmarks, internal comparisons and the relationship between management and non-management remuneration. We seek to ensure that our pay practices do not discriminate on the basis of gender or race, taking into account job-related responsibilities, geographic location, and individual employee work experience, education and performance. Some of our employees participate in our short-term and/or long-term incentive program connecting payouts to achievement of key financial and other metrics and the employee’s contribution to those results.
We also provide competitive benefits programs in line with local market practice. We regularly review our benefits packages globally, especially in light of changing employees’ expectations as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic and the entrance of Generation Z to our workforce. During 2021 we supported more work from home opportunities, and we rolled out a Flex Work Policy to accommodate employees after pandemic measures are lifted. Additionally, we offer a global Employee Assistance Program to assist with our employee’s well-being.
We carefully monitor the voluntary attrition of our employees. In 2021, the annualized voluntary attrition rate was 9%. This is higher than last year but remains within our expectations. We believe 2020 was lower than our historical rates, in part due to the COVID-19 pandemic, which we believe initially led to fewer employees leaving their jobs.
Employee Health & Safety
We are committed to protecting the health and safety of our employees, and safety is one of our Absolutes. Our Absolutes, which are Safety, Controls and Ethics, are the three imperatives underlying everything we do at CIRCOR. Our culture of safety includes an ongoing training program, stand downs when injury events occur and encouraging our employees to speak up if they see a safety hazard. In 2021, we instituted a Safety Action Plan to reinforce the fundamentals of safety and focus on leading indicators.
In addition to common lagging indicators used to track employee safety, such as injuries, we look to leading indicators, such as safety observations and near-misses, integrated with established problem-solving methodologies to resolve issues that endanger worker safety. In 2021, our Total Recordable Incident Rate (TRIR) was 0.83 and our Lost Time Incident Rate (LTIR) was 0.48. While these numbers are higher than our 2020 TRIR of 0.76 and LTIR of 0.32, nominal recordable incidents were flat and lost time incidents were up slightly year over year, with the ratios driven higher by a lower number of total hours worked across the organization. Additionally, 53% of our manufacturing sites had zero recordable incidents in 2021. We also had no work-related fatalities or incidents of occupational diseases. We aim to improve our safety numbers with continued training, regularly communicating our safety initiatives, and empowering our employees with measures including our Proactive Observation Program and Stop Work Authority.
We continue to strive to ensure the health, safety and general well-being of our teams. Actions we have taken in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, include the following:
•Encouraging those who are sick to stay home and continuing to use work-from-home where necessary to minimize potential outbreaks;
•Encouraging vaccination, and fully covering the cost of COVID-19 vaccinations
•Increasing cleaning protocols across all locations;
•Providing additional personal protective equipment and cleaning supplies;
•Implementing protocols to address actual and suspected COVID-19 cases and potential exposure;
•Utilization of masks to be worn as recommended by local law; and
•Expanding our Employee Assistance Program to all of our employees worldwide.
Diversity & Inclusion (“D&I”)
CIRCOR is committed to cultivating a workplace that makes diversity, equity, inclusion and transparency priorities in everything we do. In furtherance of that commitment, we have established active D&I initiatives in the areas of talent acquisition, talent development, total rewards, employee engagement and communications, which impact employees at all levels of the organization. In addition, we have a D&I Program Manager and Senior Executive Sponsor, who are driving our D&I initiatives and goals. Our primary goal is to increase gender and racial and ethnic representation throughout the organization, including senior management, and our initiatives are focused on that goal.
D&I achievements in 2021 included the following:
•Utilized metrics to understand penetration of activities and impact on creating diversity in the workplace;
•Included D&I review in periodic Talent Reviews with sites, including focus on Emerging Female Talent;
•Launched our second Employee Resource Group in late 2020, Pride & Allies @ CIRCOR;
•Continued employee communications on D&I topics and initiatives;
•Provided formal training on D&I to over 2,600 employees; and
•Provided formal training on Unconscious Bias to approximately 1,500 employees.
Restatement of Previously Issued Consolidated Financial Statements
On March 13, 2022, we reached a determination that our previously issued consolidated financial statements and related disclosures for (i) the years ended December 31, 2018, December 31, 2019 and December 31, 2020 included in our Annual Reports on Form 10-K, (ii) each of the quarterly and year-to-date periods for 2020 and (iii) the quarterly and year-to-date periods for the nine months ended October 3, 2021 should no longer be relied upon because of certain misstatements contained in those consolidated financial statements. We discussed the matters with Ernst & Young LLP, our independent registered public accounting firm for the fiscal year 2020 through the current fiscal year and with PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP, our independent registered public accounting firm for fiscal year 2019 and prior fiscal periods, and determined to restate our audited consolidated financial statements for the years ended December 31, 2020 and December 31, 2019, and our interim financial statements for the first, second, and third quarters of 2021 and 2020. The misstatements are described in greater detail in Notes 2 and 23 of the Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements included in Part II, Item 8, Financial Statements and Supplementary Data, within this Annual Report on Form 10-K.
Available Information
We file reports on Form 10-Q with the SEC on a quarterly basis, additional reports on Form 8-K from time to time, and an annual report on Form 10-K on an annual basis. These and other reports filed by us, or furnished by us, to the SEC in accordance with section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, are available free of charge from the SEC on its website at http://www.sec.gov. Additionally, our Form 10-Q, Form 8-K, Form 10-K and amendments to those reports are available without charge, as soon as reasonably practicable after they have been filed with, or furnished to, the SEC, on our Investor Relations website at http://investors.CIRCOR.com. The information on our website is not part of, or incorporated by reference in, this Annual Report.

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ITEM 1A. RISK FACTORS
Item 1A. Risk Factors
Set forth below are certain risk factors that we believe are material to our stockholders. The risks described in these risk factors, some of which we have actually experienced, could harm our business, financial condition, cash flows, results of operations and reputation. You should also consider these risk factors when you read “forward-looking statements” elsewhere in this report. You can identify forward-looking statements by terms such as “may,” “hope,” “should,” “expect,” “plan,” “anticipate,” “intend,” “believe,” “estimate,” “predict,” “potential” or “continue,” the negative of those terms or other comparable terminology. Forward-looking statements are only predictions and can be adversely affected by any of the following risks:
Risks related to our Material Weaknesses and Restatements
We have identified material weaknesses in our internal control over financial reporting and those weaknesses have led to a conclusion that our internal control over financial reporting and disclosure controls and procedures were not effective as of December 31, 2021. Our inability to remediate the material weaknesses, our discovery of additional weaknesses, and our inability to achieve and maintain effective disclosure controls and procedures and internal control over financial reporting, could adversely affect our results of operations, our stock price and investor confidence in our company.
Section 404 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 requires that companies evaluate and report on the effectiveness of their internal control over financial reporting. In addition, we engaged our independent registered public accounting firm to report on its evaluation of those controls. As disclosed in more detail under Item 9A, “Controls and Procedures” below, we have identified three material weaknesses as of December 31, 2021 in our internal control over financial reporting resulting from (i) a lack of effective review controls to mitigate the risks of material misstatements within significant accounts of smaller reporting locations, (ii) a lack of design and effective controls to monitor at the corporate level significant balances recorded within the trial balances of smaller reporting locations, and (iii) a lack of design and effective controls over the preparation, review and approval of cash account reconciliations and direct access to bank accounts in smaller reporting locations. Due to the material weaknesses in our internal control over financial reporting, we have also concluded our disclosure controls and procedures were not effective as of December 31, 2021.
Failure to have effective internal control over financial reporting and disclosure controls and procedures can impair our ability to produce accurate financial statements on a timely basis and has led and could again lead to a restatement of our financial statements. For example, the identified material weaknesses resulted in material adjustments to the consolidated financial statements for the years ending December 31, 2020 and 2019, and interim and year to date periods through the nine months ended October 3, 2021. If, as a result of the ineffectiveness of our internal control over financial reporting and disclosure controls and procedures, we cannot provide reliable financial statements, our business decision processes may be adversely affected, our business and results of operations could be harmed, investors could lose confidence in our reported financial information and our ability to obtain additional financing, or additional financing on favorable terms, could be adversely affected.
Our management has taken action to begin remediating the material weaknesses; however, certain remedial actions have not started or have only recently been undertaken, and while we expect to continue to implement our remediation plans throughout the fiscal year ending December 31, 2022, we cannot be certain as to when remediation will be fully completed. Additional details regarding the initial remediation efforts are disclosed in more detail in Part II, Item 9A, “Controls and Procedures” below. In addition, we could in the future identify additional internal control deficiencies that could rise to the level of a material weakness or uncover other errors in financial reporting. During the course of our evaluation, we may identify areas requiring improvement and may be required to design additional enhanced processes and controls to address issues identified through this review. In addition, there can be no assurance that such remediation efforts will be successful, that our internal control over financial reporting will be effective as a result of these efforts or that any such future deficiencies identified may not be material weaknesses that would be required to be reported in future periods. In addition, we cannot assure you that our independent registered public accounting firm will be able to attest that such internal controls are effective when they are required to do so.
If we fail to remediate these material weaknesses and maintain effective disclosure controls and procedures or internal control over financial reporting, we may not be able to rely on the integrity of our financial results, which could result in inaccurate or additional late reporting of our financial results, as well as delays or the inability to meet our future reporting obligations or to comply with SEC rules and regulations. This could result in claims or proceedings against us, including by shareholders or the SEC. The defense of any such claims could cause the diversion of the Company’s attention and resources and could cause us to incur significant legal and other expenses even if the matters are resolved in our favor.
Risks Related to our Markets and Industry
We face significant competition and, if we are not able to respond, our revenues may decrease.
We operate in a highly competitive environment in each of the markets we serve, and we face competition in each of our segments from numerous competitors. We consider product innovation, product quality, performance, customer service, on-time delivery, price, distribution capabilities and breadth of product offerings to be the primary competitive factors in our markets. Our competitors may be able to offer more attractive pricing, duplicate our strategies, or develop enhancements to products that could offer performance features that are superior to our products. Competitive pressures, including those described above, and other factors could adversely affect our competitive position, resulting in a loss of market share or decreases in prices, either of which could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition, cash flows or results of operations. In addition, some of our competitors are based in foreign countries and have cost structures and prices based on foreign currencies. The majority of our transactions are denominated in either U.S. dollar or Euro currency. Accordingly, currency fluctuations could cause our U.S. dollar and/or Euro priced products to be less competitive than our competitors’ products that are priced in other currencies.
We, along with our customers and vendors, face the uncertainty in the public and private credit markets and in general economic conditions in the United States and around the world.
In recent years there has been at times disruption and general slowdown of the public and private capital and credit markets in the United States and around the world. Such conditions can adversely affect our revenue, results of operations and overall financial growth. Our business can be affected by a number of factors that are beyond our control such as general geopolitical, economic and business conditions and conditions in the financial services market, which each could materially impact our business, financial condition, cash flows and results of operations. Additionally, many lenders and institutional investors, at times, have reduced funding to borrowers, including other financial institutions. A constriction on future lending by banks or investors could result in higher interest rates on future debt obligations, restrict our ability to obtain sufficient financing to meet our long-term operational and capital needs or limit our ability in the future to consummate strategic acquisitions. Any uncertainty in the credit markets could also negatively impact the ability of our customers and vendors to finance their operations which, in turn, could result in a decline in our sales and in our ability to obtain necessary raw materials and components, thus potentially having an adverse effect on our business, financial condition, cash flows or results of operations.
Implementation of our acquisition strategy may not be successful, which could affect our ability to increase our revenues, reduce our profitability or lead to significant impairment charges.
One of our strategies has been and is to increase our revenues and expand our markets through acquisitions that will provide us with complementary products. We expect to face competition for acquisition candidates that may limit the number of acquisition opportunities available to us and may result in higher acquisition prices. In addition, our announcement in March 2022 that our Board is reviewing strategic alternatives available to the Company may impact our ability to complete acquisitions. We cannot be certain that we will be able to identify, acquire or profitably manage additional acquired companies or successfully integrate such additional acquired companies without substantial costs, delays or other problems. Acquisitions may also involve a number of special risks, including: adverse effects on our reported operating results; use of cash; diversion of management’s attention; loss of key personnel at acquired companies; or unanticipated management or operational problems or legal liabilities.
Moreover, there can be no assurance that companies we have previously acquired or that we may acquire in the future ultimately will achieve the revenues, profitability or cash flows, or generate the synergies upon which we justify our investment in them; as a result, any such under-performing acquisitions could result in impairment charges which would adversely affect our results of operations. The acquired assets of businesses include goodwill and indefinite-lived intangible assets that are required to be tested for impairment at least annually or more frequently if impairment indicators are present. Events or changes that could indicate that the carrying value of our goodwill or indefinite-lived intangible assets may not be recoverable include reduced future cash flow estimates, slower growth rates in industry segments in which we participate and a decline in our stock price and market capitalization. In addition, any prolonged material disruption of our employees, distributors, suppliers or customers, whether due to COVID-19 or otherwise, would negatively impact our global sales and operating results and could lead to impairments and other valuation allowances.
Risks Related to our Operations
If we cannot continue operating our manufacturing facilities at current or higher levels, our results of operations could be adversely affected.
We operate a number of manufacturing facilities for the production of our products. The equipment and management systems necessary for such operations may break down, perform poorly or fail, resulting in fluctuations in manufacturing efficiencies. Such fluctuations may affect our ability to deliver products to our customers on a timely basis, which could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition, cash flows or results of operations. We are working to continuously enhance and improve lean manufacturing techniques as part of the COS. We believe that this process produces meaningful reductions in manufacturing costs. However, continuous improvement of these techniques may cause short-term inefficiencies in production. If we are not successful in continuously improving our processes, our results of operations may suffer.
Further, a catastrophic event could result in the loss of the use of all or a portion of one of our manufacturing facilities. Although we carry property and business interruption insurance, our coverage may not be adequate to compensate us for all losses that may occur. Any of these events individually or in the aggregate could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition and operating results.
If we cannot pass on higher raw material or manufacturing costs to our customers, we may become less profitable.
One of the ways we attempt to manage the risk of higher raw material and manufacturing costs is to increase selling prices to our customers. The markets we serve are extremely competitive and customers may not accept price increases or may look to alternative suppliers, which may negatively impact our profitability and revenues.
The inability of our suppliers to provide us with adequate quantities of materials to meet our customers’ demands on a timely basis has had, and may continue to have, an adverse effect on our business; in addition, if the quality of the materials provided does not meet our standards, we may lose customers or experience lower profitability.
Some of our customer contracts require us to compensate those customers if we do not meet specified delivery obligations. We rely on numerous suppliers to provide us with our required materials and in many instances these materials must meet certain specifications. In addition, we continue to increase our dependence on lower cost foreign sources of raw materials, components, and, in some cases, completed products. While we actively manage our supply chain, having a geographically diverse supply base inherently poses significant logistical challenges, and we could experience diminished supplier performance resulting in longer than expected lead times and/or product quality issues. In addition, the potential physical effects of climate change, such as increased frequency and severity of storms, floods and other climatic events, could disrupt our supply chain, and cause our suppliers to incur significant costs in preparing for or responding to these effects. These or other meteorological changes could lead to increased costs. The occurrence of such factors could have a negative impact on our ability to deliver products to customers within our committed time frames and could adversely impact our results of operations, financial condition and cash flows.
For example, during the second half of 2021, the COVID-19 pandemic, as well as labor shortages and logistics constraints, contributed to supply chain shortages and negatively impacted our results of operations as we faced unexpected difficulties obtaining raw material, castings, and components across CIRCOR. In the near term, we anticipate continued greater than usual uncertainty as a result of global supply chain challenges and that shortages of components and raw materials may continue to negatively impact the operation of our business.
If we experience delays in introducing new products or if our existing or new products do not achieve or maintain market acceptance, our revenues may decrease.
Our industries are characterized by: intense competition; changes in end-user requirements; technically complex products; and evolving product offerings and introductions.
We believe our future success depends, in part, on our ability to anticipate or adapt to these factors and to offer, on a timely basis, mission-critical products that meet customer demands. Failure to develop new and innovative products or to custom design existing products could result in the loss of existing customers to competitors or the inability to attract new business, either of which may adversely affect our revenues. The development of new or enhanced products is a complex and uncertain process requiring the anticipation of technological and market trends. We may experience design, manufacturing, marketing or
other difficulties, such as an inability to attract a sufficient number of qualified engineers, which could delay or prevent our development, introduction or marketing of new products or enhancements and result in unexpected expenses.
If we fail to manufacture and deliver high quality products in accordance with industry standards, we will lose customers.
Product quality and performance are a priority for our customers since many of our product applications involve caustic or volatile chemicals and, in many cases, involve processes that require precise control of fluids. Our products are used in the aerospace, military, commercial aircraft, analytical equipment, oil & gas refining, power generation, chemical processing and maritime industries. These industries require products that meet stringent performance and safety standards, such as the standards of the International Organization for Standardization, Underwriters’ Laboratory, American National Standards Institute, American Society of Mechanical Engineers and the European Pressure Equipment Directive. If we fail to maintain and enforce quality control and testing procedures, our products will not meet these stringent performance and safety standards that are required by many of our customers. Non-compliance with the standards could result in a loss of current customers and damage our ability to attract new customers, which could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition, cash flows or results of operations.
We rely on information technology in our operations, and any material failure, inadequacy, interruption or security failure of that technology could harm our business, financial condition, cash flows and results of operations.
We rely on information technology networks and systems, including systems of third parties and the Internet, to process, transmit and store electronic information, and manage or support a variety of business processes, including operational and financial transactions and records, personal identifying information, payroll data and workforce scheduling information. We purchase some of our information technology from vendors, on whom our systems depend. We rely on commercially available systems, software, tools and monitoring to provide security for the processing, transmission and storage of Company and customer information. Although we have taken steps to protect the security of our information systems and the data maintained in those systems, no such measures can eliminate the possibility of the systems' improper functioning or the improper access or disclosure of confidential or personally identifiable information such as in the event of cyber-attacks. Security breaches, whether through physical or electronic break-ins, computer viruses, ransomware, impersonation of authorized users, attacks by hackers or other means, can create system disruptions or shutdowns or the unauthorized disclosure of confidential information. Additionally, outside parties frequently attempt to fraudulently induce employees, suppliers or customers to disclose sensitive information or take other actions, including making fraudulent payments or downloading malware, by using “spoofing” and “phishing” emails or other types of attacks. Our employees have been and likely will continue to be targeted by such fraudulent activities. Outside parties may also subject us to distributed denial of services attacks or introduce viruses or other malware through “trojan horse” programs to our users’ computers in order to gain access to our systems and the data stored therein. Because the techniques used to obtain unauthorized access, disable or degrade service, or sabotage systems change frequently and continuously become more sophisticated, often are not recognized until launched against a target and may be difficult to detect for a long time, we may be unable to anticipate these techniques or to implement adequate preventive or detective measures.
When Company, personal or otherwise protected information is improperly accessed, tampered with or distributed, we face significant financial exposure, including incurring significant costs to remediate possible injury to the affected parties. We may also be subject to sanctions and civil or criminal penalties if we are found to be in violation of the privacy or security rules under federal, state, or international laws protecting confidential information. Any failure to maintain proper functionality and security of our information systems could results in the loss of trade secrets or other proprietary or competitively sensitive information, compromise personally identifiable information regarding customers or employees, interrupt our operations, damage our reputation, subject us to liability claims or regulatory penalties. The costs associated with maintaining robust information security mechanisms and controls are also increasing and are likely to increase further in the future. We continuously seek to maintain a robust program of information security and controls, but the impact of a material information technology event could have a material adverse effect on our competitive position, reputation, results of operations, financial condition and cash flows.
Terrorist activity, acts of war, and/or political instability around the world could cause economic conditions to deteriorate and adversely impact our businesses.
In the past, terrorist attacks have negatively impacted general economic, market and political conditions. Terrorist acts, acts of war or political instability (wherever located around the world) could cause damage or disruption to our business, our facilities or our employees which could significantly impact our business, financial condition or results of operations. The potential for future terrorist attacks, the national and international responses to terrorist attacks, political instability, and other acts of war or hostility, have created many economic and political uncertainties, which could adversely affect our business and results of operations in ways that cannot presently be predicted. U.S. Government imposed sanctions and export restrictions on certain businesses in Russia as a result of its actions in Ukraine could cause us to experience adverse effects with respect to certain business partners or customers, including inability to ship, or collect payments for, completed orders. In addition, with manufacturing facilities located worldwide, including facilities located in North America, Western Europe, Morocco, and India, we may be impacted by terrorist actions not only against the United States but in other parts of the world as well. In some cases, we are not insured for losses and interruptions caused by terrorist acts and acts of war.
The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic has adversely impacted, and continues to pose risks to, our business, results of operations and financial condition.
The situation relating to the COVID-19 pandemic and its potential effects on our business and financial results remains dynamic. The broader implications for our business and results of operations remain uncertain and will depend on many factors outside our control, including, without limitation, the timing, extent, trajectory and duration of the pandemic, the development, availability and effectiveness of treatments and vaccines, the imposition of protective public safety measures, and the impact of the pandemic on the global economy and enterprise and consumer behaviors. If these and other effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, including its effect on broader economies, financial markets and overall demand environment for our products, continue or worsen, it could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition, results of operations, or cash flows.
The COVID-19 pandemic has and may further increase the likelihood and severity of other risks discussed in this “Risk Factors” section, including but not limited to risks related to competition, development of the market for and demand for our products, delays in the development and production of our products, availability and cost of raw materials required to produce our products and other supply chain disruptions, labor shortages reliance on third parties, our international scale, our exposure to currency exchange rate fluctuations and the credit risks of our customers and resellers, and volatility in the capital markets.
Risks Related to our International Operations
If we are unable to continue operating successfully overseas or to successfully expand into new international markets, our revenues may decrease.
We derive a significant portion of our revenue from sales outside the United States. In addition, one of our key growth strategies is to sell our products in international markets not significantly served by us in portions of Europe, Latin America and Asia. We market our products and services outside of the United States through direct sales, distributors, and technically trained commissioned representatives. We may not succeed in our efforts to further penetrate these markets. Moreover, conducting business outside the United States is subject to risks, including currency exchange rate fluctuations; changes or instability in regional, political or economic conditions, outbreak of war or expansion of hostilities, trade protection measures such as tariffs or import or export restrictions; and complex, varying and changing government regulations and legal standards and requirements, particularly with respect to price protection, competition practices, export control regulations and restrictions, customs and tax requirements, immigration, anti-boycott regulations, data privacy, intellectual property, anti-corruption and environmental compliance, including U.S. customs and export regulations and restrictions and the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act. Additionally, the U.S. Government continues to impose and/or consider imposing sanctions on certain businesses and persons in Russia. We continue to monitor and evaluate additional sanctions and export restrictions that may be imposed by the U.S. Government and any responses from Russia that could directly affect our supply chain, or our ability to continue delivering products to or receiving payments from our business partners or customers, including customers who may decide to completely withhold contract payments owed to us. The occurrence of any of these factors could materially and adversely affect our operations.
Our international activities expose us to fluctuations in currency exchange rates that could adversely affect our results of operations and cash flows.
Our international manufacturing and sales activities expose us to changes in foreign currency exchange rates. Our major foreign currency exposures involve the markets in Western Europe and Asia. Fluctuations in foreign currency exchange rates could result in our (i) paying higher prices for certain imported goods and services, (ii) realizing lower prices for any sales denominated in currencies other than U.S. dollars, (iii) realizing lower net income, on a U.S. dollar basis, from our international operations due to the effects of translation from weakened functional currencies, and (iv) realizing higher costs to settle transactions denominated in other currencies. Any of these risks could adversely affect our results of operations and cash flows.
We use derivatives to help manage the currency risk related to certain business transactions denominated in foreign currencies. To the extent these transactions are completed, the contracts minimize our risk from exchange rate fluctuations because they offset gains and losses on the related derivatives. However, there can be no assurances that we will be able to effectively utilize these forward exchange contracts in the future to offset significant risk related to fluctuations in currency exchange rates. In addition, there can be no assurances that counterparties to such contracts will perform their contractual obligations to us in order for us to realize the anticipated benefits of the contracts.
A change in international governmental policies or restrictions could result in decreased availability and increased costs for certain components and finished products that we purchase from sources in foreign countries, which could adversely affect our profitability.
Like most manufacturers of flow control products, we attempt, where appropriate, to reduce costs by seeking lower cost sources of certain components and finished products. Many such sources are located in developing countries such as India and China, where a change in governmental approach toward U.S. trade could restrict the availability to us of such sources. In addition, periods of war or other international tension and global health pandemics could interfere with international freight operations and hinder our ability to purchase such components and products. A decrease in the availability of these items could hinder our ability to timely meet our customers’ orders. We attempt, when possible, to maintain alternate sources for these components and products and the capability to produce such items in our own manufacturing facilities. However, the cost of obtaining such items from alternate sources or producing them ourselves is often considerably greater, and a shift toward such higher cost production could therefore adversely affect our profitability.
Risks Related to our Business Strategy
Our ability to execute our strategy is dependent upon our ability to attract, train and retain qualified personnel.
Our continued success depends, in part, on our ability to identify, attract, motivate, train and retain qualified personnel in key functions and geographic areas, including the members of our senior management team. In particular, we are dependent on our ability to recruit and retain qualified engineers with the requisite education, background and industry experience to assist in the development, enhancement, introduction and manufacture of our products.
Failure to attract, train and retain qualified personnel, whether as a result of an insufficient number of qualified candidates or the allocation of inadequate resources to training, integration and retention, could impair our ability to execute our business strategy and could have an adverse effect on our business prospects. Our success also depends to a large extent upon our ability to attract and retain key executives. The loss of the services of one or more of these key employees could have an adverse effect, at least in the short to medium term, on significant aspects of our business, including the ability to manage our business effectively and the successful execution of our strategies. If certain of these employees decide to leave us, we could incur disruptions to the completion of certain initiatives and we could incur significant costs in hiring, training, developing and retaining their replacements.
Recent changes in the Company’s executive management team may be disruptive to, or cause uncertainty in, our business, results of operations and the price of the Company’s common stock.
On December 10, 2021, Abhishek Khandelwal announced his resignation from his position as Chief Financial Officer of the Company effective December 31, 2021, and the Company’s Board of Directors appointed Arjun Sharma, Senior Vice President of Business Development as the Company’s interim Chief Financial Officer effective January 1, 2022. Subsequently, on January 19, 2022, Mr. Scott A. Buckhout stepped down from his position as Chief Executive Officer of the Company, effective immediately, and the Company’s Board of Directors promoted Aerospace & Defense Group President Tony S. Najjar to the position of Chief Operating Officer and appointed him as interim Chief Executive Officer effective immediately. These changes in the Company’s executive management team may be disruptive to, or cause uncertainty in, the Company’s business, and any additional changes to the executive management team could have a negative impact on the Company’s ability to manage and grow its business effectively. Any such disruption or uncertainty or difficulty in efficiently and effectively filling key roles could have a material adverse impact on the Company’s results of operations and the price of the Company’s common stock.
Our review of strategic alternatives may not result in the identification or completion of a transaction, or create additional value for our stockholders.
On March 14, 2022, the Company announced that the Board of Directors had initiated a review of potential strategic alternatives to enhance shareholder value. At this time it has not made any decisions as to any potential strategic alternatives. We cannot make any assurance that the Board’s review will result in a transaction or other strategic change to the Company or its business, or that the outcome of the review will provide greater value to our stockholders than the current price of our common stock.
Risks Related to Legal, Regulatory and Compliance Matters
We face risks from product liability lawsuits that may adversely affect our business.
We, like other manufacturers, face an inherent risk of exposure to product liability claims in the event that the use of our products results in personal injury, property damage or business interruption to our customers. We may be subjected to various product liability claims, including, among others, asbestos-related claims, claims that our products include inadequate or improper instructions for use or installation, or inadequate warnings concerning the effects of the failure of our products. Although we maintain quality controls and procedures, including the testing of raw materials and safety testing of selected finished products, we cannot be certain that our products will be free from defect. In addition, in certain cases, we rely on third-party manufacturers for our products or components of our products. Although we have liability insurance coverage, we cannot be certain that this insurance coverage will continue to be available to us at a reasonable cost or, if available, will be adequate to cover any such liabilities. For example, liability insurance typically does not afford coverage for a design or manufacturing defect unless such defect results in injury to person or property. We generally attempt to contractually limit liability to our customers to risks that are insurable but are not always successful in doing so. Similarly, we generally seek to obtain contractual indemnification from our third-party suppliers, and for us to be added as an additional insured party under such parties’ insurance policies. Any such indemnification or insurance is limited by its terms and, as a practical matter, is limited to the credit worthiness of the indemnifying or insuring party. In the event that we do not have adequate insurance or contractual indemnification, product liabilities could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition, cash flows or results of operations.
The costs of complying with existing or future governmental regulations on importing and exporting practices and of curing any violations of these regulations, could increase our expenses, reduce our revenues or reduce our profitability.
We are subject to a variety of laws and international trade practices, including regulations issued by certain United States governmental agencies and authorities in the European Union. We cannot predict the nature, scope or effect of future regulatory requirements to which our international trading practices might be subject or the manner in which existing laws might be administered or interpreted. Future regulations could limit the countries into which certain of our products may be sold or could restrict our access to, and increase the cost of obtaining products from, foreign sources. We continue to monitor and evaluate additional sanctions and export restrictions that may be imposed by the U.S. Government with respect to Russia, and any responses from Russia, that could impact our business. Sanctions or restrictions could cause us to be unable to complete contractual commitments to end customers, cause our end customers to fail to compensate us for previously ordered or delivered products, or cause funds or products to be subjected to legal holds. The aggregate revenue from customers in Russia and Ukraine for each of the fiscal years ended 2021 and 2020 was less than 1% of consolidated net revenues, primarily related to our Downstream Oil & Gas business in the Industrial reporting segment. In addition, actual or alleged violations of such regulations could result in enforcement actions and/or financial penalties that could result in substantial costs.
If we incur higher costs as a result of trade policies, treaties, government regulations or tariffs, we may become less profitable.
There is currently significant uncertainty about the future relationship between the United States and China, including with respect to trade policies, treaties, government regulations and tariffs. The past U.S. presidential administration had called for substantial changes to U.S. foreign trade policy and had implemented greater restrictions on international trade and significant changes in tariffs on goods imported into the U.S. Under the current administration, we expect that tariff increases will primarily impact our Industrial segment. We are unable to predict whether or when additional tariffs will be imposed or the impact of any such future tariff changes.
The costs of complying with existing or future environmental regulations and curing any violations of these regulations could increase our expenses or reduce our profitability.
We are subject to a variety of environmental laws relating to the storage, discharge, handling, emission, generation, use and disposal of chemicals, solid and hazardous waste and other toxic and hazardous materials used to manufacture, or resulting from the process of manufacturing, our products. We cannot predict the nature, scope or effect of future regulatory requirements to which our operations might be subject or the manner in which existing or future laws will be administered or interpreted. Future regulations could be applied to materials, products or activities that have not been subject to regulation previously. The costs of complying with new or more stringent regulations, or with more vigorous enforcement of these or existing regulations, could be significant.
Environmental laws require us to maintain and comply with a number of permits, authorizations and approvals and to maintain and update training programs and safety data regarding materials used in our processes. Violations of these requirements could result in financial penalties and other enforcement actions. We also could be required to halt one or more portions of our operations until a violation is cured. Although we attempt to operate in compliance with these environmental laws, we may not succeed in this effort at all times. The costs of curing violations or resolving enforcement actions that might be initiated by government authorities could be substantial.
Regulations related to “conflict minerals” may cause us to incur additional expenses and could limit the supply and increase the cost of certain metals used in manufacturing our products.
Under the conflict minerals rule, public companies must disclose whether specified minerals, known as conflict minerals, are necessary to the functionality or production of products manufactured or contracted to be manufactured. The rule requires a disclosure report to be filed by May 31st of each year. The conflicts mineral rule could affect sourcing at competitive prices and availability in sufficient quantities of certain minerals used in the manufacture of our products, including tantalum, tin, gold and tungsten. The number of suppliers who provide conflict-free minerals is limited. In addition, there may be material costs associated with complying with the disclosure requirements, such as costs related to determining the source of certain minerals used in our products, as well as costs of possible changes to products, processes, or sources of supply as a consequence of such verification activities. As our supply chain is complex, we may not be able to sufficiently verify the origins of the relevant minerals used in our products through the due diligence procedures that we implement, which may harm our reputation. In addition, we may encounter challenges to satisfy those customers who require that all of the components of our products be certified as conflict-free, which could place us at a competitive disadvantage if we are unable to do so.
Risks Related to our Common Stock
The trading price of our common stock continues to be volatile, and investors in our common stock may experience substantial losses.
The trading price of our common stock may be, and, in the past, has been volatile. Our common stock could decline or fluctuate in response to a variety of factors, including, but not limited to: our failure to meet our performance estimates or performance estimates of securities analysts; changes in financial estimates of our revenues and operating results or buy/sell recommendations by securities analysts; the timing of announcements by us or our competitors concerning significant product line developments, contracts or acquisitions or publicity regarding actual or potential results or performance; fluctuation in our quarterly operating results caused by fluctuations in revenue and expenses; substantial sales of our common stock by our existing stockholders; general stock market conditions; and fluctuations in oil and gas prices or other economic or external factors. While we attempt in our public disclosures to provide forward-looking information in order to enable investors to anticipate our future performance, such information by its nature represents our good-faith forecasting efforts. As a result, our
actual results have differed materially, and going forward could differ materially, from our forecasts, which could cause further volatility in the value of our common stock.
In recent years the stock market as a whole has experienced dramatic price and volume fluctuations. In the past, securities class action litigation has often been instituted against companies following periods of volatility in the market price of their securities. This type of litigation could result in substantial costs and a diversion of management attention and resources.
Risks Related to our Indebtedness
If we are unable to generate sufficient cash flow, we may not be able to service our debt obligations, including making payments on our outstanding term loan.
Our ability to make payments of principal and interest on our indebtedness when due, including the significant indebtedness that we incurred in connection with our acquisition of Colfax Corporation's Fluid Handling business (“FH”), depends upon our future performance, which will be subject to general economic conditions (including recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic), industry cycles and financial, business and other factors affecting our consolidated operations, many of which are beyond our control. If we are unable to generate sufficient cash flow from operations in the future to service our outstanding debt, we may be required to, among other things:
•seek additional financing in the debt or equity markets;
•refinance or restructure all or a portion of our indebtedness;
•divert funds that would otherwise be invested in our operations;
•sell selected assets; or
•reduce or delay planned capital expenditures or operating expenditures.
Such measures might not be sufficient to enable us to service our debt, which could negatively impact our financial results. In addition, we may not be able to obtain any such financing, refinancing or complete a sale of assets on economically favorable terms. In the case of financing or refinancing, favorable interest rates will be dependent on the health of the debt capital markets and our credit rating.
Our existing indebtedness could also have the effect, among other things, of reducing our flexibility to respond to changing business and economic conditions, reducing funds available for working capital, capital expenditures, acquisitions and other general corporate purposes or creating competitive disadvantages relative to other companies with lower debt levels.
Our credit agreement requires that we maintain certain ratios and limits our ability to make acquisitions, incur debt, pay dividends, make investments, sell assets or merge.
Our credit agreement, dated December 20, 2021, as amended (the "New Credit Agreement"), governs our senior secured term loan and senior secured revolving credit facility. This agreement includes provisions which place limitations on certain activities, including, without limitation, our ability to: incur additional indebtedness; create liens or encumbrances on our assets; provide guarantees; make certain investments, loans and acquisitions; pay certain dividends or redeem, repurchase or retire certain capital stock or certain indebtedness; engage in certain transactions with our affiliates; enter into certain restrictive agreements; or dispose of or sell assets; or enter into mergers or similar transactions. These restrictions may limit our ability to operate our business and may prohibit or limit our ability to execute our business strategy, compete, enhance our operations, take advantage of potential business opportunities as they arise or meet our capital needs. Furthermore, future debt instruments or other contracts could contain more restrictive financial or other covenants. The breach of any of these covenants by us or the failure by us to meet any of these conditions or requirements could result in a default under any or all of our indebtedness, which could result in the lenders thereunder ending their obligation to make loans to us and declaring any outstanding indebtedness under the credit agreement or other applicable debt instrument immediately due and payable. Alternatively, our lenders could charge us substantial consent fees to secure amendments or waivers for our non-compliance with financial or other debt covenants. If we are unable to service our indebtedness, our business, financial condition, cash flows and results of operations would be materially adversely affected.
Discontinuation, replacement or reform of LIBOR could affect interest rates under our credit agreement and financing costs.
Borrowings under the New Credit Agreement are made at variable rates, based on London Interbank Offered Rate (“LIBOR”) as a reference rate. On July 27, 2017 the UK Financial Conduct Authority, which regulates LIBOR, announced that it desired to phase out LIBOR by the end of 2021. On November 30, 2020, the ICE Benchmark Administration Limited, which administers LIBOR, announced that it planned to consult on ceasing publication of LIBOR on December 31, 2021 for the one week and two
month LIBOR tenors (for which publication has now ceased), and on June 30, 2023 for all other LIBOR tenors, including the LIBOR tenor that we use. In light of these announcements, the future of LIBOR at this time is uncertain and any changes in the methods by which LIBOR is determined or regulatory activity related to LIBOR’s phaseout could cause LIBOR to perform differently than in the past or cease to exist. In the United States the Alternative Reference Rate Committee convened by the US Federal Reserve identified the Secured Overnight Financing Rate (“SOFR”) as its preferred alternative reference rate to the US Dollar LIBOR. Prior to the phase-out of LIBOR, we expect to reach agreement with our lenders on an amendment to the New Credit Agreement to use SOFR in lieu of LIBOR. We do not expect a significant change to the effective interest rate on our borrowing as a result of any replacement reference rate. Whether SOFR attains market acceptance as a LIBOR replacement tool is uncertain. In the event we are unable to reach agreement on a replacement reference rate, the loans outstanding under the New Credit Agreement from time to time using LIBOR as a reference rate will convert to the base rate, which could result in higher interest rates on these term loans and any such revolving loans.

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ITEM 1B. UNRESOLVED STAFF COMMENTS
Item 1B. Unresolved Staff Comments
None.

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ITEM 2. PROPERTIES
Item 2. Properties
We maintain 21 major manufacturing facilities worldwide, including operations located in North America, Western Europe, Morocco, China, and India. We also maintain sales offices or warehouses from which we ship finished goods to customers, distributors and commissioned representative organizations. Our executive office is located in Burlington, Massachusetts and is leased.
Our Aerospace & Defense segment has major manufacturing facilities located in North America, United Kingdom, France, and Morocco. Our Industrial segment has major facilities located in North America, Germany, India and China.
Segment Leased Owned Total
Industrial 5 10 15
Aerospace & Defense 1 5 6
Total 6 15 21
In general, we believe that our properties, including machinery, tools and equipment, are in good condition, are well maintained, and are adequate and suitable for their intended uses. Our manufacturing facilities generally operate five days per week on one or two shifts. We believe our manufacturing capacity could be increased by working additional shifts and weekends and by successful implementation of our CIRCOR Operating System. We also have low-cost sources for manufacturing in India and Morocco which have capacity to fulfill our expected manufacturing needs. We believe that our current facilities will meet our near-term production requirements without the need for additional facilities.

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ITEM 3. LEGAL PROCEEDINGS
Item 3. Legal Proceedings
For information regarding our legal proceedings refer to the first two paragraphs of Note 17, Contingencies, Commitments and Guarantees, to the consolidated financial statements included in this Annual Report, which disclosure is incorporated herein by reference. In addition, the Company has self-reported to the SEC relating to the accounting irregularities identified at the Pipeline Engineering business discussed in this Annual Report on Form 10-K. The Company continues to respond to requests for information from the SEC. At this time, it is not possible to predict the outcome of the Company’s correspondence with the SEC, including whether or not any proceeding will be initiated or, if so, when or how the matter will be resolved.

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ITEM 4. MINE SAFETY DISCLOSURE
Item 4. Mine Safety Disclosures
Not applicable.
Part II

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ITEM 5. MARKET FOR REGISTRANT'S COMMON EQUITY
Item 5. Market for Registrant’s Common Equity, Related Stockholder Matters and Issuer Purchases of Equity Securities
Our common stock is traded on the New York Stock Exchange (“NYSE”) under the symbol “CIR”.
Our Board of Directors is responsible for determining our dividend policy. The timing and level of any dividends will necessarily depend on our Board of Directors’ assessments of earnings, financial condition, capital requirements and other factors, including restrictions, if any, imposed by our lenders. On February 28, 2018, we announced the suspension of our nominal dividend, as part of our capital deployment strategy.
As of July 19, 2022, there were 20,351,853 shares of our common stock outstanding and we had 47 holders of record of our common stock. We believe the number of beneficial owners of our common stock was substantially greater on that date.
The graph below compares the cumulative 5-Year total return provided stockholders on CIRCOR International, Inc.'s common stock relative to the cumulative total returns of the S&P 500 index, the Russell 2000 index, our previous peer group (“2018 Peer Group”) and our updated peer group (“2019 Peer Group”). The companies included in the 2018 Peer Group and the 2019 Peer Group are listed in footnotes 1 and 2 below, respectively. We revised our peer group to incorporate peers relevant to the businesses we acquired in the Fluid Handling acquisition along with divestitures of non-core businesses. An investment of $100 (with reinvestment of all dividends) is assumed to have been made in our common stock, in each index and in each of the peer groups on December 31, 2016 and its relative performance is tracked through December 31, 2021.
12/16 12/17 12/18 12/19 12/20 12/21
CIRCOR International, Inc. $ 100.00 $ 75.24 $ 32.92 $ 71.47 $ 59.41 $ 42.01
S&P 500 100.00 121.83 116.49 153.17 181.35 233.41
Russell 2000 100.00 114.65 102.02 128.06 153.62 176.39
2018 Peer Group 100.00 95.48 63.10 82.17 71.03 97.54
2019 Peer Group 100.00 126.30 119.41 157.02 161.81 250.63
•2018 Peer Group: There are three companies included in the Company's 2018 Peer Group which are: Dover Corp, IDEX Corp and Schlumberger NV.
•2019 Peer Group: The eight companies included in the Company's 2019 Peer Group are: Alfa Laval Ab, Flowserve Corp, Gardner Denver Holdings Inc, Imi Plc, Metso Oyj, Sulzer Ag and Weir Group Plc.

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ITEM 6. SELECTED FINANCIAL DATA
Item 6. Selected Financial Data
Not Applicable.

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ITEM 7. MANAGEMENT'S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS
Item 7. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations
See Part 1, Item 1, “Business”, for additional detail on forward looking statements.
Restatement of Previously Issued Consolidated Financial Statements:
We have restated our previously issued consolidated financial statements contained in this Annual Report on Form 10-K. Refer to the “Explanatory Note” preceding Item 1, Business, for background on the restatement, the fiscal periods impacted, control considerations, and other information.
In addition, we have restated certain previously reported financial information at December 31, 2020 and for the fiscal years ended December 31, 2020 and December 31, 2019 in this Item 7, Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations, including but not limited to information within the Consolidated Results of Operations, Results of Operations by Segment, and Non-GAAP Financial Measures sections. We have also included certain restated quarterly information in the Supplemental Quarterly Financial Information section at the end of this item.
See Note 2, Restatement of Previously Issued Consolidated Financial Statements, in Item 8, Financial Statements and Supplementary Data, for additional information related to the restatement, including descriptions of the misstatements and the impacts on our consolidated financial statements.
Company Overview
CIRCOR International is one of the world’s leading providers of mission critical flow control products and services for the Industrial and Aerospace & Defense markets. The Company has a product portfolio of market-leading brands serving its customers’ most demanding applications. CIRCOR markets its solutions directly and through various sales partners to more than 14,000 customers in approximately 130 countries. The Company has a global presence with approximately 3,100 employees and is headquartered in Burlington, Massachusetts. See Part 1, Item 1, Business, for additional information regarding the description of our business.
COVID-19
The COVID-19 pandemic continued to adversely impact our end markets, operations, and financial condition in 2021. Throughout this continued time of uncertainty, the Company's top priority remains the health and safety of our employees, customers, and suppliers. Throughout 2021, we implemented measures in an effort to ensure our employees around the world have the necessary protection and our business continues to operate with as little disruption as possible. These measures include but are not limited to:
•Additional cleaning and disinfecting procedures at all facilities;
•Encouraging vaccination and fully covering the cost of COVID-19 vaccines;
•Daily temperature checks and masks for employees, in accordance with local regulations;
•Establishing social distancing guidelines for on-site employees;
•Employees are strongly encouraged to work from home where possible; and
•Limiting non-essential travel
The situation relating to the COVID-19 pandemic and its potential effects on our business and financial results remains dynamic, and the broader implications for our business and results of operations remain uncertain and will depend on many factors outside our control. Please see Part 1, Item 1A - “Risk Factors” for more detail.
Segment Commentary
The Company's Aerospace & Defense segment has been and continues to be impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic, primarily in our Commercial Aerospace end markets. Commercial Aerospace order rates improved in 2021 compared to 2020 as demand for OEM components and aftermarket services increased with air framer production rates and aircraft utilization. However, we continue to expect that a recovery to pre-pandemic levels of demand will not occur until the end of 2023. While our Defense business has been less impacted by the pandemic, we did experience a slowdown in government spending on spare parts as well as some delays on key programs which impacted our revenues in 2021. However, we expect a return to near term and long term growth in this end market driven by our positions on key U.S. defense programs, including the Joint Strike Fighter and Columbia class submarines, strong backlog, and new product introductions in close partnership with our customers. We continue to focus on increasing our global aftermarket and deploying value-based pricing across the segment, both of which will contribute to growth and margin expansion.
The Company's Industrial reporting segment has been and continues to be impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. In 2021, we saw a significant increase in demand across end markets and geographies as the commercial impact of COVID-19 lessened through the year. We exited 2021 with a strong backlog that positions the Industrial segment well for future revenue growth in 2022 and beyond. In the near term, we expect strong growth in our longer-cycle end markets, such as Commercial Marine and Downstream Oil & Gas, as we deliver on improved orders from 2021. Our General Industrial end market, which includes products that serve power generation, chemical processing, and other customers, is expected to experience moderate growth. We continue to focus on increasing our global aftermarket, deploying value-based pricing across the segment, and simplifying our organizational structure to drive growth and margin expansion.
In both reporting segments, the Company's results from operations were, and continue to be, adversely impacted by global supply chain constraints and rising inflation. In 2021, we faced unexpected difficulties in procuring certain raw material, castings, and components, additional labor constraints due to COVID-19 and a challenging labor market, and inflation on both material and logistics. These challenges were most acute in the second half of the year and continue to evolve in 2022. In order to mitigate the impact of these factors on our operations and financial position, we continue to implement actions across the company including, but not limited to: list price increases and surcharges, structural cost out actions, changes in suppliers from which we procure material, and manufacturing productivity through the implementation of the CIRCOR Operating System and 80/20. Finally, continuing to attract and retain diverse and talented personnel, including the enhancement of our global sales, operations, product management and engineering organizations, remains an important part of our strategy during 2022.
Finally, we continue to monitor and evaluate additional sanctions and export restrictions that may be imposed by the U.S. Government and other governments along with any responses from Russia that could directly affect our supply chain, business partners or customers. The aggregate revenue from customers in Russia and Ukraine for each of the fiscal years ended 2021 and 2020 was less than 1% of consolidated net revenues, primarily related to our Downstream Oil & Gas business in the Industrial reporting segment. However, the conflict in Russia and Ukraine is likely to adversely impact demand in that region, increase energy costs related to our operations, and negatively impact material cost and availability.
Basis of Presentation
All significant intercompany balances and transactions have been eliminated in consolidation. We operate and report financial information using a 52-week fiscal year ending December 31. The data periods contained within our Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q reflect the results of operations for the 13-week, 26-week and 39-week periods which generally end on the Sunday nearest the calendar quarter-end date. Certain reclassifications have been made to prior period amounts to conform to the current period financial statement presentation, including the results of discontinued operations and reportable segment information.
Critical Accounting Policies and Use of Estimates
The Company’s discussion and analysis of its financial condition and results of operations is based upon its consolidated financial statements, which have been prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (“GAAP”). The preparation of these consolidated financial statements requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets, liabilities, revenue and expenses and related disclosure of contingent liabilities. On an on-going basis, management evaluates its significant estimates, including those related to contracts accounted for under the percentage of completion method, bad debts, inventories, intangible assets and goodwill, purchase accounting, delivery penalties, income taxes, and contingencies including litigation. Management believes goodwill, revenue recognition and income taxes to be the most complex and sensitive judgments because of their significance to the consolidated financial statements and which result primarily from the need to make estimates about the effects of matters that are inherently uncertain. Management bases its estimates on historical experience, current market and economic conditions and other assumptions that management believes are reasonable. The results of these estimates form the basis for judgments about the carrying value of assets and liabilities where the values are not readily apparent from other sources. Actual results may differ from these estimates under different assumptions or conditions.
There have been no significant changes from the methodology applied by management for critical accounting estimates previously disclosed in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2020.
For information regarding our significant accounting policies, refer to Note 3, Summary of Significant Accounting Policies, to the consolidated financial statements included in this Annual Report.
Goodwill
For goodwill, we perform an impairment assessment at the reporting unit level on an annual basis as of our October month end or more frequently if circumstances warrant. On March 29, 2020, we reorganized our reporting units and the stock price dropped below book value, which we determined were triggering events requiring an assessment of our goodwill and indefinite-lived trade names. Based on our impairment assessment as of March 29, 2020, we concluded that our goodwill in the Industrial reporting unit was impaired and, accordingly, recorded a goodwill impairment charge of $138.1 million in the quarter ended March 29, 2020.
During the fourth quarter of 2021, we identified a change in our reporting units due to economic deviations within the Industrial business segment. Refinery valves (“RV”) and Industrial were determined to be two separate reporting units within the Industrial business segment. With the change in reporting units, we performed an impairment test prior to the change, on our previous one reporting unit, and then performed an impairment test immediately after the change on the two reporting units which also coincides with our annual impairment test date of October month end. With the change, we assigned goodwill to the Industrial and RV reporting units based on their relative fair values.
For the annual goodwill assessment, we estimated the fair value of our three reporting units, Industrial, RV, and Aerospace & Defense, using an income approach based on the present value of future cash flows. We selected this method as being the most meaningful in preparing the goodwill assessments because the use of the income approach typically generates a more precise measurement of fair value than the market approach. In applying the income approach to our accounting for goodwill, we make assumptions about the amount and timing of future expected cash flows, terminal value growth rates and appropriate discount rates. The amount and timing of future cash flows within our discounted cash flow analyses is based on our most recent operational budgets, current industry and market conditions, and other estimates of future performs. The terminal value growth rate is used to calculate the value of cash flows beyond the last projected period in our discounted cash flow analyses and reflects our best estimates for stable, perpetual growth of its reporting units. We corroborated the valuations that arose from the discounted cash flow approach by performing both a market multiple valuation and by reconciling the aggregate fair value of its reporting units to its market capitalization at the time of the test. The fair value of each of the reporting units exceeded the respective carrying amount, except for the RV reporting unit for which we recorded a goodwill impairment charge in the amount of $10.5 million. The fair values utilized for our 2021 goodwill assessment exceeded the carrying amounts by more than 165% and 55% for our Aerospace & Defense and Industrial reporting units, respectively. The growth rate assumptions utilized were consistent with growth rates within the markets that we serve and considered the near to mid-term negative impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on our end markets, operations, and cash flows. If our results significantly vary from our estimates, related projections, or business assumptions in the future due to change in industry or market conditions, we may be required to record impairment charges.
Revenue Recognition
Revenues are recorded based on the amount of consideration we expect to be entitled to as a result of satisfying our performance obligations. Revenue on our point in time contracts are recognized when the customer obtains control of the product, which is generally at the time of shipping. Revenues and costs on certain long-term contracts are recognized over-time using an input measure (e.g., costs incurred to date relative to total estimated costs at completion, known as the “cost-to-cost” method) as we incur costs on our contracts. We use a cost-to-cost measure of progress because it best depicts the transfer of control to the customer which occurs as it incurs costs on its contracts. Under the cost-to-cost measure of progress, revenue is recognized proportionally as costs are incurred. Contract costs include labor, materials and subcontractors’ costs, other direct costs and an allocation of overhead, as appropriate. Accounting for over-time contracts requires reliable estimates in order to estimate total contract revenue and costs. For these contracts, management reviews the progress and execution of our performance obligations at least quarterly. Management estimates the profit on a contract as the difference between the total estimated revenue and estimate at completion (“EAC”) costs and recognizes the resultant profit over the life of the contract, using the cost-to-cost EAC input method to measure progress toward complete satisfaction of a performance obligation. A change in one or more of these estimates could affect the profitability of the related contracts. Management recognizes adjustments in estimated profit on contracts under the cumulative catch-up method. Under this method, the impact of the adjustment on profit recorded to date is recognized in the period the adjustment is identified. Revenue and profit in future periods of contract performance is recognized using the adjusted estimate. The impact of adjustments in contract estimates on our operating earnings can be reflected in either operating expenses or revenue.
The transaction price for our contracts represents our best estimate of the consideration we will receive and includes assumptions regarding variable consideration as applicable. Certain of our long-term contracts contain fees or other provisions that can either increase or decrease the transaction price. We include estimated amounts in the transaction price to the extent it is probable that a significant reversal of cumulative revenue recognized will not occur when the uncertainty associated with the variable consideration is resolved. Our estimates of variable consideration and determination of whether to include estimated amounts in the transaction price are based largely on an assessment of our anticipated performance, historical performance, and all other information that is reasonably available to us.
Income Taxes
Income taxes are accounted for under the asset and liability method. Deferred tax assets and liabilities are recognized for the future tax consequences attributable to differences between the financial statement carrying amounts of existing assets and liabilities and their respective tax bases and operating loss and tax credit carry-forwards. Deferred tax assets and liabilities are measured using enacted tax rates expected to apply to taxable income in the years in which those temporary differences are expected to be recovered or settled. The effect on deferred tax assets and liabilities of a change in tax rates is recognized in income in the period that includes the enactment date. Any material changes in tax rates or changes in tax laws could cause our estimates of taxes we anticipate to pay or to recover in the future to change. Any material changes could create an increase or a decrease in our effective tax rate.
In accordance with the provisions of ASC Topic 740, Income Taxes, the Company initially recognizes the financial statement effect of a tax position when, based solely on its technical merits, it is more likely than not (a likelihood of greater than fifty percent) that the position will be sustained upon examination by the relevant taxing authority. Those tax positions failing to qualify for initial recognition are recognized in the first interim period in which they meet the more likely than not standard, are resolved through negotiation or litigation with the taxing authority, or upon expiration of the statute of limitations. De-recognition of a tax position that was previously recognized occurs when an entity subsequently determines that a tax position no longer meets the more likely than not threshold of being sustained. Tax laws are complex and often subject to varied interpretations. Therefore, the ultimate outcome with respect to taxes we may owe may differ from the amounts recognized.
ASC 740, Income Taxes, requires a valuation allowance to reduce deferred tax assets if, based on the weight of available evidence, it is more likely than not that some portion, or all, of the deferred tax assets will not be realized. The weight given to the potential effect of negative and positive evidence should be commensurate with the extent to which it can be objectively verified. The more negative evidence that exists, (a) the more positive evidence is necessary and (b) the more difficult it is to support a conclusion that a valuation allowance is not needed for some portion, or all, of the deferred tax asset. Should there be
a cumulative loss in recent years it is considered a significant piece of negative evidence that is difficult to overcome in assessing the need for a valuation allowance.
The Company recognized a valuation allowance for the German and the U.S. net deferred tax assets (“DTA”) in the year ended December 31, 2020. We reviewed the German and U.S. valuation allowances. In both the case of Germany and the U.S. there is a cumulative three year loss at December 31, 2021. The Company concluded that the negative evidence outweighed the positive
evidence as of December 31, 2021. Therefore, the Company has not relied on projections of future taxable income in our assessment of the realization of deferred tax assets at December 31, 2021. The Company maintained a valuation allowance related to the German deferred tax assets of $13.6 million and $17.5 million as of December 31, 2021 and December 31, 2020, respectively. The Company relied solely on the expected reversal of taxable temporary differences to support the realizability of the German deferred tax assets and no reliance was placed on projections of future taxable income. The Company maintained a valuation allowance related to the U.S. deferred tax assets of $73.6 million and $67.9 million as of December 31, 2021 and December 31, 2020, respectively. The Company relied solely on the expected reversal of temporary differences to support the realizability of the U.S. deferred tax assets and no reliance was placed on projections of future taxable income.
Results of Operations
The Chief Operating Decision Maker (“CODM”) is the function that allocates the resources of the enterprise and assesses the performance of the Company's reportable operating segments. CIRCOR has determined that the CODM is solely comprised of its Chief Executive Officer (“CEO”), as the CEO has the ultimate responsibility for CIRCOR strategic decision-making and resource allocation.
Our CODM evaluates segment operating performance using segment operating income. We define segment operating income as GAAP operating income excluding intangible amortization and amortization of fair value step-ups of inventory and fixed assets from acquisitions completed subsequent to December 31, 2011, the impact of restructuring-related inventory write-offs, impairment charges and special charges or gains. The Company also refers to this measure as adjusted operating income. The Company uses this measure because it helps management understand and evaluate the segments’ core operating results and facilitates a comparison of performance for determining incentive compensation achievement.
For information regarding our segment determination refer to Note 19, Business Segment and Geographical Information, of the consolidated financial statements included in this Annual Report.
The following tables present information on net revenues and operating income of our business segments, along with a reconciliation of total segment operating income to the Company's consolidated operating income.
2021 Compared With 2020
Consolidated Operations
As Restated
(in thousands) 2021 2020 Total
Change Divestiture Operations Foreign
Exchange
Net Revenues
Industrial $ 506,126 $ 499,209 $ 6,917 $ (4,900) $ (741) $ 12,558
Aerospace & Defense 252,541 266,010 (13,469) - (16,282) 2,813
Consolidated Net Revenues $ 758,667 $ 765,219 $ (6,552) $ (4,900) $ (17,023) $ 15,371
Net revenues in 2021 were $758.7 million, a decrease of $6.6 million from 2020 primarily driven by lower revenue as a result of lower operational results of $17.0 million and divestitures of $4.9 million, partially offset by favorable foreign exchange of $15.4 million.
Segment Results
As Restated
(in thousands) 2021 2020 Change
Net Revenues
Industrial $ 506,126 $ 499,209 $ 6,917
Aerospace & Defense 252,541 266,010 (13,469)
Consolidated Net Revenues $ 758,667 $ 765,219 $ (6,552)
Operating Income
Industrial - Segment Operating Income $ 28,896 $ 27,025 $ 1,871
Aerospace & Defense - Segment Operating Income 56,073 58,379 (2,306)
Corporate expenses (30,638) (30,378) (260)
Subtotal 54,331 55,026 (695)
Special restructuring charges (recoveries), net 4,234 4,945 (711)
Special other charges (recoveries), net 20,038 (39,248) 59,286
Special and restructuring charges (recoveries), net (1) 24,272 (34,303) 58,575
Restructuring related inventory charges (recoveries), net 599 (251) 850
Impairment charges 10,500 138,078 (127,578)
Acquisition amortization 41,772 42,463 (691)
Acquisition depreciation 6,511 3,986 2,525
Restructuring, impairment and other cost, net 59,382 184,276 (124,894)
Consolidated Operating (Loss) Income $ (29,323) $ (94,947) $ 65,624
Consolidated Operating Margin (3.9) % (12.4) %
(1) See Note 6, Special and Restructuring Charges (Recoveries), net in the consolidated financial statements included in this Annual Report, for additional details.
Industrial Segment
As Restated
(in thousands, except percentages) 2021 2020 Change
Orders $ 595,410 $ 481,609 $ 113,801
Net Revenues as reported $ 506,126 $ 499,209 $ 6,917
Net Revenues excluding divestiture (1) 506,126 494,309 11,817
Segment Operating Income as reported 28,896 27,025 1,871
Segment Operating Income excluding divestiture (2) 28,896 27,025 1,871
Segment Operating Margin as reported 5.7 % 5.4 %
Segment Operating Margin excluding divestiture (2) 5.7 % 5.5 %
(1) Adjusted for the January 2020 divestiture of our Instrumentation & Sampling business. The Instrumentation and Sampling business generated revenues of $0.0 million and $4.9 million for the years ended December 31, 2021 and December 31, 2020, respectively.
(2) Adjusted for the January 2020 divestiture of our Instrumentation & Sampling business, which contributed $0.0 million and $0.0 million to segment operating income for the years ended December 31, 2021 and December 31, 2020, respectively
Industrial segment orders increased $113.8 million, or 24%, in 2021 compared to 2020. The increase was primarily driven by a 35% increase in the Valves businesses and 17% increase in the Europe and North American Pumps businesses ("Pumps businesses"). Segment orders excluding divestitures and the impact of foreign exchange increased $102.6 million, or 21%, in 2021 compared to 2020.
Industrial segment revenues increased $6.9 million, or 1%, in 2021 compared to 2020. The increase was primarily driven by a 7% increase in the Pumps businesses partially offset by a 5% reduction in the Valves businesses. In both businesses, revenues were adversely impacted by global supply chain challenges including material input delays, labor shortages, and logistics constraints. Segment revenues excluding divestitures and the impact of foreign exchange decreased $0.7 million, or less than 1%, in 2021 compared to 2020.
Industrial segment operating income increased $1.9 million, or 7%, in 2021 compared to 2020. The increase was primarily driven by an increase in the Pumps businesses which was largely due to a one-time charge of $5.9 million recorded in the three months ended March 29, 2020 for an allowance against a customer receivable. In both businesses, operating income was adversely impacted by global supply chain challenges as well as material and freight inflation.
Aerospace & Defense Segment
(in thousands, except percentages) 2021 2020 Change
Orders $ 255,168 $ 254,547 $ 621
Net Revenues $ 252,541 $ 266,010 $ (13,469)
Segment Operating Income 56,073 58,379 (2,306)
Segment Operating Margin 22.2 % 21.9 %
Aerospace & Defense segment orders increased $0.6 million, or less than 1%, in 2021 compared to 2020. The increase was driven by a 32% increase in our Commercial Aerospace businesses, offset by a 16% decrease in our Defense businesses. Segment orders excluding the impact of foreign exchange decreased $2.1 million, or 1%, in 2021 compared to 2020.
Aerospace & Defense segment net revenues decreased by $13.5 million, or 5% in 2021 compared to 2020. The decrease was primarily driven by a 8% decrease in the Defense businesses partially offset by a 1% increase in the Commercial Aerospace businesses. In both businesses, revenues were adversely impacted by global supply chain challenges including material input delays, labor shortages, and logistics constraints. Segment revenue excluding the impact of foreign exchange decreased $16.3 million, or 6%, in 2021 compared to 2020.
Segment operating income decreased $2.3 million, or 4%, in 2021 compared to 2020. The decrease was driven primarily by lower volume in the Defense business, partially offset by cost controls. In both businesses, operating income was adversely impacted by global supply chain challenges as well as material and freight inflation.
Corporate Expenses
Corporate expenses increased $0.3 million to $30.6 million for 2021. The increase was driven largely by higher insurance premium costs which were partially offset by lower benefit and compensation costs.
Special and Restructuring Charges (Recoveries), net
During 2021, the Company recorded a total of $24.3 million in special and restructuring charges compared to $34.3 million of recoveries in 2020. The charges recorded in 2021 were related to debt refinancing, the sale of two Industrial product lines, the write off of an aged receivable, and cost saving initiatives. The increase in special and restructuring charges in 2021 compared to 2020 was primarily driven by the gain on sale related to our divested Instrumentation and Sampling business in 2020. In our consolidated statements of operations, these charges are recorded in special and restructuring charges (recoveries), net. These restructuring charges and other special charges are described in further detail in Note 6, Special and Restructuring Charges (Recoveries), net, in the consolidated financial statements included in this Annual Report.
Other Costs (Recoveries), net
During 2021, the Company recorded a total of $59.4 million of other costs (recoveries), net, including $10.5 million related to goodwill impairment and $0.6 million of restructuring related inventory charges, both in our Industrial business. The remaining charges represent plant, property, and equipment depreciation related to the step-up in fair value as part of our acquisition of Colfax Corporation's Fluid Handling (“FH”) business, intangible amortization in connection with acquisitions subsequent to December 31, 2011, and step-up in fair value of inventory acquired as part of our FH acquisition. These charges are recorded in either selling, general and administrative expenses or cost of revenues based upon the nature of the underlying asset.
Interest Expense, Net
Interest expense decreased $1.9 million to $32.4 million for 2021. The change in interest expense was primarily due to lower debt balances throughout the year.
Other Income, Net
Other income, net, was $3.8 million for 2021 compared to $1.6 million in 2020. The difference of $2.2 million primarily relates to more favorable exchange rates and increased returns on pension assets.
Comprehensive (Loss) Income
Comprehensive loss decreased $205.5 million, from a comprehensive loss position of $226.8 million for the year-ended December 31, 2020 to a comprehensive loss position of $21.3 million for the year-ended December 31, 2021. This change was primarily driven by a $120.4 million decrease in net loss from our continuing operations caused by a decrease of $127.6 million impairment of goodwill, a $50.7 million decrease in our income tax provision and a $36.5 million decrease in net loss from our discontinued operations, partially offset by a $58.6 million increase in special and restructuring charges, a $52.1 million increase in pension related actuarial gains and a $8.8 million change in foreign currency translation adjustments.
As of December 31, 2021, we had a cumulative currency translation adjustment of $18.6 million in Accumulated Other Comprehensive Loss for our Brazil entity. If we were to cease to have a controlling financial interest in the Brazil entity or otherwise satisfy criteria for reclassification of the amount from Accumulated Other Comprehensive Loss to earnings, we would recognize a non-cash charge of $18.6 million based on December 31, 2021 balances, which would be included as a special charge within the consolidated statement of operations.
Provision for (Benefit from) Income Taxes
The table below outlines the change in effective tax rate for 2021 and 2020 (in thousands, except percentages).
As Restated
2021 2020 Change
Income (Loss) Before Tax $(57,862) $(127,572) $69,710
Expected federal income tax rate 21.0% 21.0% -%
State income taxes, net of federal tax benefit (0.3) (2.1) 1.8
Impairment - (6.5) 6.5
US permanent differences (1.7) - (1.7)
Foreign tax rate differential 3.7 2.8 0.9
Tax reserve (2.6) (0.6) (2.0)
Rate Change (1.7) (0.1) (1.6)
GILTI - - -
Prior period adjustment 0.2 1.4 (1.2)
Dispositions (1.0) (0.7) (0.3)
Valuation Allowance (24.7) (59.1) 34.4
Other, net (5.2) 0.4 (5.6)
Equity compensation 2.0 (0.3) 2.3
Research and development 1.3 - 1.3
Effective tax rate (9.0)% (43.8)% 34.8%
The Company recognized a valuation allowance for the German and the U.S. net DTAs in the year ended December 31, 2020. We reviewed the German and U.S. valuation allowances. In both the case of Germany and the U.S. there is a cumulative three year loss at December 31, 2021. The Company concluded that the negative evidence outweighed the positive evidence as of December 31, 2021. Therefore, the Company has not relied on projections of future taxable income in our assessment of the realization of deferred tax assets at December 31, 2021. The Company maintained a valuation allowance related to the German deferred tax assets of $13.2 million and $17.3 million, respectively, as of December 31, 2021 and December 31, 2020. The Company relied solely on the expected reversal of taxable temporary differences to support the realizability of the German deferred tax assets and no reliance was placed on projections of future taxable income. The Company maintained a valuation allowance related to the U.S. deferred tax assets of $73.1 million and $67.9 million as of December 31, 2021 and December 31, 2020, respectively. The Company relied solely on the expected reversal of temporary differences to support the realizability of the U.S. deferred tax assets and no reliance was placed on projections of future taxable income.
As of December 31, 2021 and 2020, the Company maintained a total valuation allowance of $139.0 million and $138.7 million, respectively, which relates to foreign, federal, and state deferred tax assets as of December 31, 2021 and 2020. The amount of the deferred tax asset considered realizable, however, could be adjusted if estimates of future taxable income during the carryforward period are reduced or increased or if objective negative evidence in the form of cumulative losses is no longer present and additional weight is given to subjective evidence such as our projections for growth.
Results of Operations
2020 Compared With 2019
Consolidated Operations
As Restated
(in thousands) 2020 2019 Total
Change Divestiture Operations Foreign
Exchange
Net Revenues
Industrial $ 499,209 $ 684,637 $ (185,428) $ (87,300) $ (100,595) $ 2,466
Aerospace & Defense 266,010 272,625 (6,615) - (7,363) 749
Consolidated Net Revenues $ 765,219 $ 957,262 $ (192,043) $ (87,300) $ (107,958) $ 3,215
Net revenues in 2020 were $765.2 million, a decrease of $192.0 million from 2019 primarily driven by lower revenue as a result of lower operational results of $107.9 million and divestitures of $87.3 million, partially offset by favorable exchange of $3.2 million.
The following table present information on net revenues and operating income of our business segments, along with a reconciliation of total segment operating income to the Company's consolidated operating income.
As Restated
(in thousands) 2020 2019 Change
Net Revenues
Industrial $ 499,209 $ 684,637 $ (185,428)
Aerospace & Defense 266,010 272,625 (6,615)
Consolidated Net Revenues $ 765,219 $ 957,262 $ (192,043)
Operating Income
Industrial - Segment Operating Income 27,025 83,058 $ (56,033)
A&D - Segment Operating Income 58,379 52,030 6,349
Corporate expenses (30,378) (33,820) 3,442
Subtotal 55,026 101,268 (46,242)
Restructuring charges, net 4,945 5,186 (241)
Special charges, net (39,248) 16,362 (55,610)
Special and restructuring charges (recoveries), net (1) (34,303) 21,548 (55,851)
Restructuring related inventory (recoveries) charges, net (1) (251) (820) 569
Amortization of inventory step-up - - -
Impairment charges 138,078 - 138,078
Acquisition amortization 42,463 45,715 (3,252)
Acquisition depreciation 3,986 4,352 (366)
Restructuring and other cost, net 184,276 49,247 135,029
Consolidated Operating Income $ (94,947) $ 30,473 $ (125,420)
Consolidated Operating Margin (12.4) % 3.2 %
(1) See Note 6, Special and Restructuring Charges (Recoveries), net of the consolidated financial statements, for additional details.
Industrial Segment
As Restated
(in thousands, except percentages) 2020 2019 Change
Orders $ 481,609 $ 662,862 $ (181,253)
Net Revenues as reported $ 499,209 $ 684,637 $ (185,428)
Net Revenues excluding divestiture (1) 494,309 597,337 (103,028)
Segment Operating Income as reported 27,025 83,058 (56,033)
Segment Operating Income excluding divestiture (2) 27,025 66,527 (39,502)
Segment Operating Margin as reported 5.4 % 12.1 %
Segment Operating Margin excluding divestiture (2) 5.5 % 12.3 %
(1) ) Adjusted for the January 2020 divestiture of our Instrumentation & Sampling business and the August 2019 divestiture of certain assets and liabilities related to our Spence and Nicholson product lines. The Instrumentation and Sampling business generated revenues of $4.9 million and $78.6 million for the years ended December 31, 2020 and December 31, 2019, respectively. The Spence and Nicholson product lines generated revenues of $0.0 million and $13.5 million for the year ended December 31, 2020 and December 31, 2019, respectively.
(2) Adjusted for the January 2020 divestiture of our Instrumentation & Sampling business, which contributed $0.0 million and $13.8 million to segment operating income for the years ended December 31, 2020 and December 31, 2019, respectively, and the August 2019 divestiture of certain assets and liabilities related to our Spence and Nicholson product lines, which contributed $0.0 million and $3.5 million to segment operating income for the years ended December 31, 2020 and December 31, 2019, respectively
Industrial segment orders decreased $181.3 million, or 27%, in 2020 compared to 2019. The decrease was primarily driven by the impact from divestitures of $88.1 million and reductions in the Valves businesses of 45% and the Pumps businesses of 7%.
Industrial segment net revenues decreased $185.4 million, or 27%, in 2020 compared to 2019. Segment net revenues excluding divestitures and the impact of foreign exchange decreased $100.6 million due to the timing of projects in the Pumps businesses driving a decrease of 11% and reduction in the Valves businesses of 44%.
Industrial segment operating income decreased $56.0 million, or 67%, in 2020 compared to 2019. Segment operating income excluding divestitures decreased $39.5 million, or 48% to $27.0 million for 2020 compared to $66.5 million for 2019, driven by decreases in the Pumps businesses of 33% and the Valves of 84% partially offset by operational efficiencies in headquarters.
Aerospace & Defense Segment
As Restated
(in thousands, except percentages) 2020 2019 Change
Orders $ 254,547 $ 313,939 $ (59,392)
Net Revenues 266,010 272,625 $ (6,615)
Segment Operating Income 58,379 52,030 6,349
Segment Operating Margin 21.9 % 19.1 %
Aerospace & Defense segment orders decreased $59.4 million, or $19% to $254.5 million in 2020 compared to $313.9 million in 2019, driven by decreases in our Defense businesses of 5% and our Aerospace businesses of 35%.
Aerospace & Defense segment net revenues decreased by $6.6 million, or 2% in 2020 compared to 2019. The decrease was driven by our Aerospace businesses of 28%, partially offset by increases in the Defense businesses 19%.
Segment operating income increased $6.3 million, or 12% to $58.4 million for 2020 compared to $52.0 million for 2019. The increase in operating income was driven by improved pricing and cost actions taken to mitigate the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Corporate Expenses
Corporate expenses decreased $3.4 million to $30.4 million for 2020. This decrease was primarily driven by ongoing cost savings initiatives and lower travel expenses due to global travel restrictions related to COVID-19.
Special and Restructuring charges, net
During 2020, the Company recorded a total of $34.3 million in recovery of special and restructuring charges compared to $21.5 million of special and restructuring charges in 2019. The recovery is a result of the net gain on sale of our Instrumentation & Sampling business, offset by professional fees related to an unsolicited tender offer to acquire the Company and other restructuring costs associated with our simplification efforts, primarily in our Industrial Segment. The increase in recovery of special and restructuring charges in 2020 compared to 2019 was primarily driven by the net gain on sale of our Instrumentation & Sampling business. In our consolidated statements of operations, these recoveries are recorded in special and restructuring (recoveries) charges, net. These restructuring charges and other special charges are described in further detail in Note 6, Special and Restructuring Charges (Recoveries), net, of the consolidated financial statements included in this Annual Report.
Other cost (Recoveries), net
During 2020, the Company recorded a total of $183.5 million of impairment and other costs, net, including Industrial reporting unit goodwill impairment in the amount of $138.1 million. Included in these charges are plant, property, and equipment depreciation related to the step-up in fair value as part of our acquisition of the FH business, intangible amortization in connection with acquisitions subsequent to December 31, 2011, and step-up in fair value of inventory acquired as part of our FH acquisition. These charges are recorded in either selling, general and administrative expenses or cost of revenues based upon the nature of the underlying asset.
Interest Expense, Net
Interest expense decreased $14.4 million to $34.2 million for 2020. The change in interest expense was primarily due to lower debt balances.
Other Income, Net
Other income, net, was $1.6 million for 2020 compared to $0.9 million in 2019. The difference of $0.7 million primarily relates to net pension income for the retirement plans we acquired as part of the FH acquisition. Pension Income was partially offset by unfavorable foreign currency translation.
Comprehensive (Loss) Income
Comprehensive loss increased $77.8 million, from a comprehensive loss position of $149.0 million for the year-ended December 31, 2019 to a comprehensive loss position of $226.8 million for the year-ended December 31, 2020. This change was primarily driven by an increase in net loss of $77.7 million in our continued operations caused by impairment of goodwill of $138.1 million and increased income taxes of $42.1 million, partially offset by net gain on the sale of the Instrumentation & Sampling business of $53.2 million and reduced losses in our discontinued operations of $74.0 million as the Distributed Valve business was divested during the year.
As of December 31, 2020, we had a cumulative currency translation adjustment of $18.2 million in Accumulated Other Comprehensive Loss for our Brazil entity. If we were to cease to have a controlling financial interest in the Brazil entity or otherwise satisfy criteria for reclassification of the amount from Accumulated Other Comprehensive Loss to earnings, we would recognize a non-cash charge of $18.2 million based on December 31, 2020 balances, which would be included as a special charge within the consolidated statements of operations.
(Benefit from) Provision for Income Taxes
The table below outlines the change in effective tax rate for 2020 and 2019 (in thousands, except percentages).
As Restated
2020 2019 Change
Income (Loss) Before Tax $(127,572) $(17,258) $(110,314)
Expected federal income tax rate 21.0% 21.0% -%
State income taxes, net of federal tax benefit (2.1) 9.1 (11.2)
Impairment (6.5) - (6.5)
US permanent differences - (1.0) 1.0
Foreign tax rate differential 2.8 (23.5) 26.3
Tax reserve (0.6) (0.2) (0.4)
Rate Change (0.1) 3.5 (3.6)
GILTI - (2.3) 2.3
Unbenefitted Losses - (0.3) 0.3
Intercompany Financing - 17.8 (17.8)
Prior period adjustment 1.4 25.8 (24.4)
Dispositions (0.7) (129.4) 128.7
Valuation Allowance (59.1) - (59.1)
Other, net 0.4 (9.4) 9.8
Foreign-derived intangible income ("FDII") - 6.3 (6.3)
Equity compensation (0.3) (0.7) 0.4
Research and development - 7.7 (7.7)
Effective tax rate (43.8)% (75.6)% 31.8%
Management assesses the available positive and negative evidence to estimate whether sufficient future taxable income will be generated to permit use of the existing deferred tax assets. On July 9, 2020, the US Department of the Treasury ("Treasury") and Internal Revenue Service released final regulations ("Final Regulations") that provide guidance on the section 250 deduction for foreign-derived intangible income ("FDII") and global intangible low-taxed income ("GILTI"). In addition, on July 20, 2020, Treasury released proposed regulations ("Proposed Regulations") concerning GILTI. Based on the expected impact of these regulations, we believe less reliance should be placed on the US taxation of foreign earnings, which would adversely impact our ability to realize our US deferred tax assets. With the release of the Final Regulations during the third quarter of 2020, coupled with the negative evidence of cumulative losses in the US, the negative evidence outweighed the positive evidence as of the third quarter of 2020. As such, the Company has not relied on projections of future taxable income in our assessment of the realization of deferred tax assets at September 27, 2020, and recognized a valuation allowance of $42.2 million in income tax expense in the third quarter of 2020. In addition, the Company recorded a valuation allowance related to German deferred tax assets of $14.8 million in income tax expense in the fourth quarter of 2020. The Company relied solely on the expected reversal of taxable temporary differences to support the realizability of the German deferred tax assets and no reliance was placed on projections of future taxable income.
As of December 31, 2020 and 2019, the Company maintained a total valuation allowance of $138.7 million and $47.0 million, respectively, which relates to foreign, federal, and state deferred tax assets as of December 31, 2020 and 2019. The amount of the deferred tax asset considered realizable, however, could be adjusted if estimates of future taxable income during the carryforward period are reduced or increased or if objective negative evidence in the form of cumulative losses is no longer present and additional weight is given to subjective evidence such as our projections for growth.
Liquidity and Capital Resources
Our liquidity needs arise primarily from capital investment in machinery, equipment and the improvement of facilities, funding working capital requirements to support business growth initiatives, debt service costs, and acquisitions. We have historically generated cash from operations and remain in a strong financial position, with resources available for reinvestment in existing businesses and managing our capital structure on a short and long-term basis.
Cash Flow Activities for the Year Ended December 31, 2021 Compared to the Year Ended December 31, 2020
The following table summarizes our cash flow activities for the year-ended indicated (in thousands):
As Restated
2021 2020 2019
Cash flow provided by (used in):
Operating activities $ 10,448 $ (22,481) $ 14,628
Investing activities (2,705) 144,295 153,036
Financing activities (11,528) (134,139) (153,672)
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash and cash equivalents (3,448) 3,878 278
Increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents $ (7,233) $ (8,447) $ 14,270
During the year ended December 31, 2021, cash provided by operating activities was $10.4 million compared to $22.5 million used during the year ended December 31, 2020. The $32.9 million increase in operating cash flows was primarily driven by a decrease in our net loss from continuing operations, the non-repeat of one-time professional fees, and the non-repeat of one-time transition costs related to the exit of the upstream oil & gas business. The increase was also driven by an improvement in cash provided by accounts payable, partially offset by lower cash provided by accounts receivable and inventories.
During the year ended December 31, 2021, cash used in investing activities was $2.7 million compared to $144.3 million generated during the year ended December 31, 2020. The $147.0 million year over year decrease in cash provided was primarily due to cash generated from sales of businesses during the year ended December 31, 2020.
During the year ended December 31, 2021, cash used in financing activities was $11.5 million compared to $134.1 million used during the year ended December 31, 2020. The $122.6 million year over year decrease in cash used by financing activities is driven by $515.6 million of higher proceeds from long-term debt resulting from a new secured Credit Agreement partially offset by $376.6 million of higher payments of long-term debt and $12.2 million of debt issuance costs.
As of December 31, 2021, total debt (including current portion) was $513.3 million compared to $509.5 million at December 31, 2020. Total debt is net of unamortized debt discount and debt issuance costs of $13.0 million and $12.0 million at December 31, 2021 and 2020, respectively. Total debt as a percentage of total shareholders’ equity was 384% as of December 31, 2021 compared to 333% as of December 31, 2020. As of December 31, 2021, we had available capacity to borrow an additional $75.3 million under our revolving credit facility.
We entered into a new secured Credit Agreement, dated as of December 20, 2021 (“New Credit Agreement”), which provides for a $100.0 million revolving line of credit with a five year maturity and a $530.0 million term loan with a seven year maturity of which the term loan was funded in full at closing. This New Credit Agreement replaced and terminated the Credit Agreement dated December 11, 2017 (“Prior Credit Agreement”) under which the Company had borrowings of $492.0 million on its term loan and $38.7 million on its revolving line of credit as of, December 20, 2021.
The New Credit Agreement contains covenants that require, among other items, maintenance of certain financial ratios and also limits our ability to: enter into secured and unsecured borrowing arrangements; issue dividends to shareholders; acquire and dispose of businesses; invest in capital equipment; transfer assets among domestic and international entities; participate in certain higher yielding long-term investment vehicles; and issue certain types of additional shares of our stock which limits our ability to borrow under the credit facility. The primary financial covenant is total net leverage, a ratio of total secured debt (less cash and cash equivalents up to a maximum of $75.0 million) to total earnings before interest expense, taxes, depreciation, and amortization based on the four fiscal quarters at the testing period.
As of December 31, 2021, we had no borrowings outstanding under our revolving credit facility, $525.0 million gross borrowings under our term loan, $1.3 million other short-term borrowings, and $32.5 million borrowings outstanding under letters of credit. We were in compliance with all financial covenants related to the New Credit Agreement at December 31, 2021 and we believe it is likely that we will continue to meet such covenants for at least the next twelve months from date of issuance of the financial statements.
The ratio of current assets to current liabilities was 2.0:1 at December 31, 2021 compared to 2.2:1 at December 31, 2020. As of December 31, 2021, cash and cash equivalents totaled $59.9 million and was substantially all held in foreign bank accounts. This compares to $66.9 million of cash and cash equivalents as of December 31, 2020, with balances all substantially held in foreign bank accounts. These funds are considered indefinitely reinvested to be used to expand operations either organically or through acquisitions outside of the United States.
In 2022, we expect to generate positive cash flow from operating activities sufficient to support our capital expenditures and service our debt. Based on our expected cash flows from operations and contractually available borrowings under our credit facility, we expect to have sufficient liquidity to fund working capital needs and future growth over at least the next twelve months from date of filing the 2021 financial statements.
Cash Flow Activities for the Year Ended December 31, 2020 Compared to the Year Ended December 31, 2019
During the year ended December 31, 2020, we used $22.5 million in cash flow from operating activities compared to generating $14.6 million during the year ended December 31, 2019. The $37.1 million decrease in operating cash was primarily driven by lower income from continuing operations, payment of one-time professional fees, and transition costs related to the exiting the upstream oil & gas business, partially offset by higher cash flows from inventory.
During the year ended December 31, 2020, we generated $144.3 million from investing activities compared to generating $153.6 million during the year ended December 31, 2019. The $9.3 million year over year decrease in cash provided was primarily driven by cash used in discontinued investing activities.
During the year ended December 31, 2020, we used $133.4 million in cash from financing activities compared to cash used of $153.1 million during the year ended December 31, 2019. The $19.7 million year over year decrease in cash used by financing activities resulted from lower repayment of long term debt partially offset by lower proceeds.
As of December 31, 2020, total debt (including current portion) was $509.5 million compared to $637.4 million at December 31, 2019. Total debt is net of unamortized term loan debt issuance costs of $12.1 million and $17.6 million at December 31, 2020 and 2019, respectively. Total debt as a percentage of total shareholders’ equity was 333% as of December 31, 2020 compared to 171% as of December 31, 2019. As of December 31, 2020, we had available capacity to borrow an additional $91.7 million under our revolving credit facility.
As of December 31, 2020, we had borrowings of $507.9 million outstanding under our credit facility, $1.6 million in other short-term borrowings, and $39.3 million outstanding under letters of credit.
The ratio of current assets to current liabilities was 2.2:1 at December 31, 2020 compared to 2.1:1 at December 31, 2019. As of December 31, 2020, cash and cash equivalents totaled $66.9 million and was substantially all held in foreign bank accounts. This compares to $75.8 million of cash and cash equivalents as of December 31, 2019, with balances substantially all held in foreign bank accounts. These funds are considered indefinitely reinvested to be used to expand operations either organically or through acquisitions outside of the United States.
On February 26, 2020, the Company amended its term loan to lower the interest rate associated with the applicable margin calculation. The new terms lowered the interest rate on the Company's term loan from LIBOR plus an applicable margin of 3.5% to LIBOR plus an applicable margin of 3.25%, based on its existing corporate family rating from Moody's. The applicable margin reduces to LIBOR plus an applicable margin of 3.00% , with a corporate family rating from Moody's of B1 or better.
During the fourth quarter of 2019, the Company entered into a definitive agreement to sell its non-core Instrumentation and Sampling (“I&S”) business to Crane Co. for $172 million, in cash, subject to working capital adjustments. The transaction closed on January 31, 2020. The I&S business manufactures valves, fittings, regulators and sampling systems primarily serving energy end markets. The Company received net cash proceeds from sale of $169.8 and recognized a pre-tax gain on sale of $54.6 million.
Significant Contractual Obligations and Commercial Commitments
The following table summarizes our significant contractual obligations and commercial commitments at December 31, 2021 that affect our liquidity (in thousands):
Payments due by Period
Total (1) Less Than
1 Year 1 - 3
Years 3 - 5
Years More than
5 years
Contractual Cash Obligations:
Long-term debt, less current portion $ 526,311 $ 1,611 $ 10,600 $ 10,600 $ 503,500
Interest payments on debt 190,454 38,997 70,359 57,015 24,083
Operating leases 19,735 4,775 7,187 3,953 3,820
Total contractual cash obligations $ 736,500 $ 45,383 $ 88,146 $ 71,568 $ 531,403
Commercial Commitments:
U.S. standby letters of credit $ 24,745 $ 21,017 $ 3,728 $ - $ -
International standby letters of credit 7,731 4,129 2,722 531 349
Commercial contract commitments 100,559 83,576 13,135 3,521 327
Total commercial commitments $ 133,035 $ 108,722 $ 19,585 $ 4,052 $ 676
Our commercial contract commitments primarily relate to open purchase orders of $90.0 million, $10.0 million of which extend to 2023 and beyond.
In accordance with the authoritative guidance for accounting for uncertainty in income taxes, as of December 31, 2021, we had unrecognized tax benefits of $2.6 million and $0.2 million of accrued interest. The Company does not expect the unrecognized tax benefits to change over the next 12 months.
During the fiscal year ended December 31, 2021, we made cash contributions of approximately $0.8 million to our U.S. pension plans and $4.3 million to our foreign pension plans. During the fiscal year ended December 31, 2020, we made cash contributions of approximately $0.8 million to our U.S. plans and $4.1 million for our foreign plans. During the fiscal year ended December 31, 2019, we made cash contributions of approximately $0.8 million to our U.S. plans and $4.3 million for our foreign plans.
In addition, we made $4.2 million, $0.5 million, and $3.4 million in payments to our 401(k) savings plan for 2021, 2020, and 2019, respectively.
In 2022, we expect to make defined benefit plan contributions based on the minimum required funding in accordance with statutory requirements (approximately $1.0 million in the U.S. and approximately $3.6 million for our foreign plans). The estimates for plan funding for future periods may change as a result of the uncertainties concerning the return on plan assets, the number of plan participants, and other changes in actuarial assumptions. We anticipate fulfilling these commitments through the generation of cash flow from operations.
Off-Balance Sheet Arrangements
Through December 31, 2021, we have not entered into any off-balance sheet arrangements or material transactions with unconsolidated entities or other persons that have, or are reasonably likely to have, a current or future effect on our financial condition, changes in financial condition, revenues or expenses, results of operations, liquidity, capital expenditures, or capital resources that is material to investors.

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ITEM 7A. QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURES ABOUT MARKET RISK
Item 7A. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk
Market Risk
Business performance in the oil & gas refining sector is largely tied to refining margins, which are also driven by the market price of crude oil and gasoline demand. Seasonal factors such as hurricanes and peak gasoline demand in the summer months may also drive high crack spread margins. During periods when high crack spread margins exist, refineries prefer to operate continuously at full capacity. Refiners may decide to delay planned maintenance (commonly called “unit turnarounds”) during these periods to maximize their returns. Refining crack spread margins moderated in 2018, which resulted in unit turnarounds.
As a result, the timing of major capital projects in our severe service refinery valves business were impacted. While planned maintenance and unit turnarounds are necessary for safe and efficient operation of the refineries, project timing driven by these factors may continue to create fluctuations in our performance.
Foreign Currency Exchange Risk
The Company is exposed to certain risks relating to its ongoing business operations including foreign currency exchange rate risk and interest rate risk. During 2019, the Company entered into a cross-currency swap (“cross-currency swap”) agreement to hedge against future volatility in exchange rates between the U.S. dollar and the Euro. The cross-currency swap was pursuant to an ISDA Master Agreement with Deutsche Bank AG and provided for early termination if the counterparty ceased to be part of the Company’s secured lender group. Concurrent with closing of the New Credit Agreement, the cross-currency swap was terminated in December 2021. For additional information regarding our foreign currency exchange risk refer to Note 13, Financing Arrangements, of the consolidated financial statements included in this Annual Report.
Interest Rate Risk
Loans under our credit facility bear interest at variable rates which reset every 30 to 180 days depending on the rate and period selected by the Company. These loans are subject to interest rate risk as interest rates will be adjusted at each rollover date to the extent such amounts are not repaid. As of December 31, 2021, the interest rate on the Company's hedged loan portion was 7.1475%, whereas, the unhedged portion was 5.0%. In 2018, the Company entered into an interest rate swap to mitigate the inherent rate risk associated with our outstanding variable rate debt. This hedging instrument matured in April 2022 and the Company is currently unhedged against changes in interest rates. Refer to Note 13, Financing Arrangements, of the consolidated financial statements included in this Annual Report.

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ITEM 8. FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND SUPPLEMENTARY DATA
Item 8. Financial Statements and Supplementary Data
Our consolidated financial statements and the related notes thereto are listed in Item 15(a)(1) on the Index to Consolidated Financial Statements.

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ITEM 9. CHANGES IN AND DISAGREEMENTS WITH ACCOUNTANTS
Item 9. Changes In and Disagreements With Accountants on Accounting and Financial Disclosure
None.

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ITEM 9A. CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES
Item 9A. Controls and Procedures
Evaluation of Disclosure Controls and Procedures
Our management, with the participation of our interim Chief Executive Officer ("CEO") and interim Chief Financial Officer ("CFO") (our principal executive officer and principal financial officer, respectively), has evaluated the effectiveness of our disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934) as of the end of the period covered by this Annual Report on Form 10-K. The Company’s disclosure controls and procedures are designed to provide reasonable assurance that information we disclose in reports that we file or submit under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 is accumulated and communicated to management, including our principal executive and financial officers, to allow timely decisions regarding disclosure and that such information is recorded, processed, summarized and reported, within the time periods specified in the Securities and Exchange Commission’s rules and forms. Management recognizes that any controls and procedures, no matter how well designed and operated, can provide only reasonable assurance of achieving their objectives and management necessarily applies its judgment in evaluating the cost-benefit relationship of possible controls and procedures. Based on that evaluation, our interim CEO and interim CFO concluded that, as of December 31, 2021, the Company’s disclosure controls and procedures were not effective because of the material weaknesses in our internal control over financial reporting described below.
Management’s Report on Internal Control over Financial Reporting
The Company's management is responsible for establishing and maintaining adequate internal control over financial reporting (as defined by Rules 13a-15(f) and 15d-15(f) under the Exchange Act). The 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.
The Company's management assessed the effectiveness of internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2021, based upon the framework presented in “Internal Control-Integrated Framework” (2013) issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission (“COSO”). Based on this assessment, management concluded that the Company's internal control over financial reporting was not effective as of December 31, 2021, due to the material weaknesses discussed below.
A material weakness is a deficiency, or combination of deficiencies, in internal control over financial reporting, such that there is a reasonable possibility that a material misstatement of the Company's annual or interim financial statements will not be prevented or detected on a timely basis.
Based on its assessment, Management concluded that deficiencies existed as of December 31, 2021, as the Company did not maintain a sufficient number of finance, accounting and internal controls personnel across the organization to identify and prevent the misstatements that resulted in the restatement of the prior period financial statements.
This material weakness contributed to the following additional material weaknesses detailed below.
a.The Company did not maintain a sufficient level of centralized oversight over smaller reporting locations. Specifically, the Company did not adequately design controls to validate the completeness and accuracy of amounts that were used in controls designed to mitigate the risks of material misstatements within significant accounts of smaller reporting locations. Also, the Company did not design and maintain effective controls over the preparation, review and approval of cash account reconciliations and did not obtain direct access to bank accounts at certain smaller reporting locations.
b.The Company did not maintain a sufficient complement of effective process level controls at smaller locations to validate activity recorded within the trial balances of smaller reporting locations based on criteria established in Internal Control - Integrated Framework issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission (COSO). Additionally, the Company did not maintain sufficient level of monitoring of that activity at the segment level.
These material weaknesses resulted in misstatements to the Company’s consolidated financial statements across a number of financial statement line items, including but not limited to revenues, net income, goodwill, cash and cash equivalents and other working capital accounts resulting in restatement of the prior period financial statements.
Our independent registered public accounting firm, Ernst & Young LLP, has issued an audit report on their assessment of our internal control over financial reporting. The audit report is included herein.
Remediation Plan for Material Weakness in Internal Control over Financial Reporting
The Company has been actively addressing the identified material weaknesses. Actions have been taken to strengthen controls, and further actions are planned including:
a.The Company is in the process of reassessing its staffing needs and adding personnel in key roles or external resources as necessary, to address the identified control gaps
b.Redesign monitoring controls to provide more direct and centralized oversight over smaller reporting locations
c.Implement additional controls targeted to prevent and detect a material misstatement arising at smaller reporting locations including an additional control designed to have Corporate independently review cash account reconciliations and obtain direct access to bank accounts of the Company’s smaller reporting locations
d.Continue training on a regular basis related to internal control over financial reporting for finance and accounting personnel
The Company expects that the actions described above and resulting improvements in controls will strengthen its internal control over financial reporting and will address the identified material weaknesses. The Company doesn’t anticipate being able to remediate all three of the material weaknesses by December 31, 2022.

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ITEM 9B. OTHER INFORMATION
Item 9B. Other Information
None.

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ITEM 10. DIRECTORS, EXECUTIVE OFFICERS AND CORPORATE GOVERNANCE
Item 10. Directors, Executive Officers and Corporate Governance
Board of Directors
The following table provides information about the board of directors and the detailed information about each individual’s qualifications, experience, skills and expertise along with select professional and community contributions can be found below.
Name
Position
Age
Director Since
Audit
Compensation
N&CG*
Independent
Samuel R. Chapin
Director
65 2019
t
l
X
Tina M. Donikowski
Director
63 2017
l
l
t
X
Arthur L. George, Jr.**
Director
61 2022
X
Bruce Lisman
Director
l
l
X
Helmuth Ludwig t
Chair
X
John (Andy) O'Donnell
Director
t
l
X
Jill D. Smith
Director
64 2020
l
l
X
t Chair l Member
*N&CG: Nominating & Corporate Governance Committee
**Mr. George resigned from the Board on July 22, 2022, effective immediately, for health reasons.
Under our Articles of Organization and By-laws, our board has completed its transition from a classified board to the annual election of all directors. At each annual meeting of stockholders, all directors will stand for election for one-year terms expiring at the next succeeding annual meeting of stockholders.
Samuel R. Chapin. Mr. Chapin has served as a member of the Board since January 2019. Mr. Chapin served as Executive Vice Chairman at the Bank of America Merrill Lynch, a multinational investment bank, from 2010 to his retirement in June 2016. Mr. Chapin joined Merrill Lynch in 1984 as a member of the Mergers and Acquisitions group and he was named a Managing Director in Investment Banking in 1993. Mr. Chapin was named Senior Vice President and head of Merrill Lynch’s Global Investment Banking Division in 2001 and was named Vice Chairman in 2003. While at Merrill Lynch and Bank of America Merrill Lynch, Mr. Chapin was responsible for managing relationships with a number of the firm’s largest corporate clients. He currently serves on the Board of Directors of PerkinElmer, Inc., and O-I Glass, Inc. and the Board of Trustees at Lafayette College. Mr. Chapin’s qualifications to sit on our Board include his experience and significant knowledge of the industrials market with a mastery of strategic M&A accrued over more than 35 years in investment banking.
Tina M. Donikowski. Ms. Donikowski has served as a member of the Board since March 2017. Ms. Donikowski retired from General Electric Company, a diversified industrial company, in October 2015 after 38 years with the company. She served in a number of senior positions during her career at General Electric Company, including most recently as Vice President, Global Locomotive Business, GE Transportation, from January 2013 until her retirement. She currently also serves on the Board of Directors of TopBuild Corp., a leading installer and distributor of insulation and building material products to the U.S. construction industry based in Daytona Beach, Florida; Advanced Energy Industries, Inc., a designer and manufacturer of highly engineered precision power, measurement, and control solutions for mission-critical applications and processes; and Eriez Magnetics, a privately held manufacturer and designer of magnetic, vibratory, and metal detection applications based in Erie, Pennsylvania. Previously she served on the board of Atlas Copco AB, a world-leading provider of sustainable productivity solutions based in Stockholm, Sweden. Ms. Donikowski’s qualifications to sit on our Board include her extensive experience in leading technology businesses and her strong operations background.
Arthur L. George, Jr. Mr. George joined the Board in January 2022. Mr. George, retired from Texas Instruments, one of the world’s largest semiconductor companies, in 2014 after a 30-year career span. He served in a number of senior positions during his career at Texas Instruments, including immediately prior to retirement, as Senior Vice President and Manager of Texas Instruments’ Analog Engineering Operations from 2011 until 2014. Mr. George previously served on the board of directors of Nordson Corporation and Axcelis Technologies, Inc. Mr. George’s qualifications to sit on the Board include his experience in leading technology businesses and his global business and leadership expertise. On July 22, 2022, Mr. George advised the Board of his resignation, effective immediately. Mr. George indicated that his resignation was due to health reasons and not due to a disagreement with management or the Board.
Bruce Lisman. Mr. Lisman has served as a member of the Board since June 2020. Mr. Lisman retired in 2009 from JP Morgan Chase & Co., a multinational investment firm, where he had served as Chairman of the Global Equities Division. From 1987 to 2008, he was Head or Co-Head of the Global Equity Division at Bear Stearns Companies. Mr. Lisman serves as a director of Myers Industries, Inc., a material handling and distribution company, Associated Capital., a financial services company that was spun-off from GAMCO Investors, Inc., and National Life Group, a mutual life insurance company. Prior board service includes PC Construction, an engineering and construction company as Chairman from 2013 to 2019, and as a member until 2021, and The Pep Boys, a nationwide auto parts retailer. Mr. Lisman’s qualifications to sit on our Board include his financial global business and leadership expertise.
Helmuth Ludwig. Dr. Ludwig has served as a member of the Board since January 2016. From October 2016 until his retirement in December 2019, he served as Global CIO for Siemens, a leading technology company. He previously served among other roles as CEO of the Siemens Industry Sector in North America from October 2011 to September 2014 and as President of Siemens PLM Software from August 2007 to September 2010 where he is credited for having successfully led the integration of the organization’s 50 legal entities and multiple facilities across 26 countries. Earlier in his career, Dr. Ludwig held a number of international assignments at Siemens in Europe, Latin America, and Asia. Dr. Ludwig has served as a member of the board of Hitachi Ltd., Tokyo since July 2020. He teaches as a Professor of Practice for Strategy and Entrepreneurship at Southern Methodist University Cox School of Business in Dallas and is a Board Leadership Fellow with the National Association of Corporate Directors (NACD). Dr. Ludwig is a known expert and regular speaker at industry conferences on the Internet of Things and “Industry 4.0.” Dr. Ludwig’s qualifications to sit on our Board include his proven manufacturing leadership skills, extensive international experience, and his success in leading the integration and simplification of a complex global enterprise.
John (Andy) O'Donnell. Mr. O'Donnell has served as a member of the Board since November 2011. Until his retirement in January 2014, Mr. O'Donnell had worked at Baker Hughes, an oilfield services company, since 1975. He served as Vice President of Baker Hughes since 1998 and was appointed to Vice President, Office of the Chief Executive Officer in 2012, a role in which he served until his retirement. From 2009 to 2011, Mr. O'Donnell was President, Western Hemisphere Operations of Baker Hughes. He was President of Baker Petrolite Corporation from 2005 to 2009 and President of Baker Hughes Drilling Fluids from 2004 to 2005. He served as Vice President, Business Process Development at Baker Hughes from 1998 to 2002 and as Vice President of Manufacturing at Baker Oil Tools from 1990 to 1998. Mr. O'Donnell also serves on the Board of Directors of Cactus, Inc., where he is a member of its Audit, Compensation, and Nominating and Corporate Governance Committees. Mr. O'Donnell’s qualifications to sit on our Board include his experience in international energy markets and leading multinational sales, marketing, service and manufacturing operations.
Jill D. Smith. Ms. Smith has served as a member of the Board since January 2020. Ms. Smith most recently served as President, Chief Executive Officer and Director of Allied Minds plc, an intellectual property commercialization company focused on technology and life sciences from March 2017 until her retirement in June 2019. She previously served as Chairman, Chief Executive Officer and President of DigitalGlobe, Inc., a global provider of satellite imagery products and services, from 2005 to 2011. Ms. Smith started her career as a consultant at Bain & Company where she rose to Partner. She then joined Sara Lee as Vice President and subsequently went on to serve as President and Chief Executive Officer of SRDS, a business-to-business publishing firm and later as President and Chief Executive Officer of eDial, a VoIP collaboration company. Furthermore, she served as Chief Operating Officer of Micron Electronics, and co-founded and led Treacy & Company, a consulting and boutique investment firm. Ms. Smith currently serves on the Boards of Directors of R1 RCM Inc., where she is a member of the Audit and Human Capital Committees, AspenTech, where she is Chair of the Board and Chair of the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee, and MDA, where she is Chair of the Nominating and Governance Committee and a member of the Human Resource Development and Compensation Committee. Ms. Smith’s qualifications to sit on our Board includes her extensive experience as a technology executive, including as a CEO focused on growing innovative companies.
Management
Our executive officers and key employees, and their respective ages and positions, as of June 30, 2022, are as follows:
Name
Age
Position
Tony Najjar
Chief Operating Officer and Interim President and Chief Executive Officer
Arjun Sharma
Interim Chief Financial Officer and Senior Vice President, Business Development
Jessica Wenzell
Senior Vice President, General Counsel & Secretary and Chief People Officer
Amit Goel
Vice President, Finance, Corporate Controller and Chief Accounting Officer
Tanya Dawkins
Vice President, Corporate Treasurer
Tony Najjar. Mr. Najjar was named Chief Operating Officer and Interim President and Chief Executive Officer effective January 19, 2022. He previously served as the President, Aerospace and Defense Group since February 2018. He served as Vice President, Aerospace and Defense in the Advance Flow Solutions Group from October 2016 to February 2018 and Vice President, Sales & Marketing, Aerospace and Defense Group, from April 2015 to October 2016. Before joining CIRCOR, Mr. Najjar served as Programs Manager, Business Development and Mergers & Acquisitions at Rockwell Collins, a multinational manufacturing company, from October 2011 to April 2015. He has spent nearly 36 years in the aerospace and defense industry in engineering, sales, and general management roles, including leadership positions at Rockwell Collins and Kaiser Aerospace. Mr. Najjar holds both a bachelor's degree and a Master of Science degree in Mechanical Engineering from Oklahoma State University and an MBA from Pepperdine University.
Arjun Sharma. Mr. Sharma was appointed as our interim Chief Financial Officer effective January 1, 2022 and continues to serve as our Senior Vice President, Business Development, a position he has held since 2009, overseeing the Company’s mergers and acquisitions and strategic planning functions. Prior to joining CIRCOR, Mr. Sharma served as managing director at Global Equity Partners, a venture capital and strategy consulting firm, from January 2009 to September 2009, where he was responsible for executing equity investments and leading client engagements on acquisitions, divestitures, and growth strategy. From 2007 to 2008, he was Director of Mergers and Acquisitions at Textron Inc., a multi-industry company with a global network of aircraft, defense, industrial and finance businesses, where he was responsible for developing the company’s M&A strategy and leading acquisition and divestiture transactions. From 2002 to 2007, Mr. Sharma held various positions of increasing responsibility at SPX Corporation, a Fortune 500 multi-industry company, culminating in his appointment as Director of Corporate Development. Mr. Sharma holds a Master of Science degree in Finance from Drexel University and a Bachelor of Commerce degree from Delhi University. Mr. Sharma is a graduate of the PLD program at Harvard Business School.
Jessica Wenzell. Ms. Wenzell was appointed as Chief People Officer effective November 15, 2022 and continues to serve as our Senior Vice President, General Counsel and Secretary, roles she has held since joining CIRCOR in September 2020. Prior to joining CIRCOR, Ms. Wenzell served in executive roles of increasing responsibility at General Electric Company for over 14 years. From January 2018 to August 2020, she was GE’s Executive Counsel - Strategic Transactions, leading cross-functional, legal entity carve-out activities for divestitures. Her previous roles at GE included Executive Counsel - Indirect Sourcing & Properties (August 2017 to March 2018); Executive Counsel, Chief Compliance Officer for GE Oil & Gas (August 2013 to July 2017); and General Counsel for GE Measurement & Control (2010 to 2013). Ms. Wenzell began her career at Luce, Forward, Hamilton & Scripps LLP in the Corporate & Securities Practice Group. She received her Bachelor’s degree in Political Science from the University of California, San Diego and her J.D. from the University of California, Hastings College of the Law, San Francisco.
Amit Goel. Mr. Goel joined CIRCOR as Vice President, Finance, Corporate Controller and Chief Accounting Officer in September 2020. Prior to joining CIRCOR, Mr. Goel served in roles of increasing responsibility at Ernst & Young, LLP for over 17 years. From July 2017 to September 2020, he was a Partner in the Firm's National Accounting Office. His previous roles at EY included Audit Partner (July 2013 to June 2017); Senior Manager of Audit Services (October 2010 to June 2013); and Senior to Manager, Audit Services (September 2003 to September 2010), Mr. Goel is a Certified Public Accountant, a Chartered Financial Analyst and a Chartered Accountant. He received his Bachelor of Commerce from Sydenham College of Commerce & Economics from Mumbai University in India.
Tanya Dawkins. Ms. Dawkins has served as to Vice President, Corporate Treasurer since March 2018. She previously served as Senior Director, Corporate Treasurer from September 2015 to March 2018. From 2001 to September 2015, Ms. Dawkins held a variety of senior finance positions at CIRCOR, including Global Treasury Manager, External Reporting Manager, and Corporate Accounting Manager. Prior to joining CIRCOR, Ms. Dawkins served as Director of Finance for GenRad Corporation (now part of Teradyne). Ms. Dawkins previously had spent 10 years at Digital Equipment Corporation in a variety of senior
finance positions. She is a Certified Treasury Professional and holds a Bachelor of Business Administration in Finance from the University of Texas at Austin, and an MBA from Simmons Graduate School of Management.
CERTAIN CORPORATE GOVERNANCE MATTERS
Board Committees
Our Board maintains three standing committees: an Audit Committee, a Compensation Committee and a Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee.
Audit Committee. The Audit Committee, which consists of Mr. Chapin, Ms. Donikowski, Mr. Lisman, and Ms. Smith (each of whom has been affirmatively determined by the full Board to be an independent director, as well as meeting the stricter independence standards applicable to audit committee members under NYSE listing standards and the rules of the SEC), oversees the integrity of the Company’s financial statements and is directly responsible for the appointment, compensation, retention and oversight of the work of the firm of independent auditors (the “Auditors”) that audits the Company’s financial statements and performs services related to the audit. Among other responsibilities, the Audit Committee reviews the scope and results of the audit with the Auditors, reviews with management and the Auditors the Company’s annual and quarterly operating results, considers the adequacy of the Company’s internal accounting procedures and controls and considers the effect of such procedures on the Auditors’ independence. The Audit Committee also is responsible for overseeing the Company’s internal audit function, the Company’s compliance with legal and regulatory requirements and cybersecurity issues, and the review and approval of related party transactions. To satisfy these oversight responsibilities, the Audit Committee separately meets regularly with the Company’s Chief Financial Officer, Vice President of Internal Audit, and the Auditors. Pursuant to the requirements of the NYSE, the Audit Committee operates in accordance with a charter (the “Audit Committee Charter”), which is available on the Company’s website at www.CIRCOR.com under the “Investors” sub-link. The Company will provide a hard copy of the Audit Committee Charter to stockholders free of charge upon written request to the Corporate Secretary at the Company’s corporate headquarters. Each member of the Audit Committee meets the financial literacy requirements of the NYSE and, in addition, the Board has determined that at least one of the Committee’s members, Mr. Chapin, is an “audit committee financial expert” under the disclosure standards adopted by the SEC.
Compensation Committee. The Compensation Committee, which consists of Mr. O’Donnell, Ms. Donikowski, and Mr. Lisman (each of whom has been affirmatively determined by the full Board to be an independent director, as well as meeting the stricter independence standards applicable to compensation committee members under NYSE listing standards and the rules of the SEC), sets and oversees the Company’s compensation philosophy and policy, reviews and determines the compensation arrangements for the Company’s CEO; reviews the recommendations of the CEO and approves the compensation arrangements for all other officers and senior level employees; reviews general compensation levels for other employees as a group; determines the awards to be granted to eligible persons under the Company's 2019 Stock Option and Incentive Plan (as amended, the “2019 Pan:”); and takes such other action as may be required in connection with the Company’s compensation and incentive plans, including with respect to compensation and risk-management issues. The Compensation Committee has the sole authority from the Board for the appointment, compensation and oversight of the Company’s outside compensation consultant.
The Compensation Committee engaged Semler Brossy (“Semler”) in the last quarter of the year ended December 31, 2021 ("Fiscal Year 2021") as its compensation consultant. In so doing, the Compensation Committee affirmatively determined that Semler is independent and has no conflict of interest as contemplated under rules adopted by the SEC and the NYSE, and has conducted annual reviews to confirm that Semler remains free of conflict per these rules. Semler reports directly to the Compensation Committee and does not provide any additional services to the Company. The executive compensation services provided by Semler include assisting in defining the Company’s executive compensation strategy, providing market benchmark information, recommending the composition of the compensation peer group used as a benchmark by the Compensation Committee, advising with respect to the design of both short-term and long-term incentive compensation plans, and summarizing regulatory and governance guidelines. In making its compensation decisions, the Compensation Committee relies significantly on the information provided by Semler.
The Compensation Committee operates in accordance with a charter (the “Compensation Committee Charter”), which is available on the Company’s website at www.CIRCOR.com under the “Investors” sub-link. The Company also will provide a hard copy of the Compensation Committee Charter to stockholders free of charge upon written request to the Corporate Secretary at the Company’s corporate headquarters.
Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee. The Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee, which consists of Ms. Donikowski, Mr. Chapin, Mr. O'Donnell, and Ms. Smith (each of whom has been affirmatively determined by the full Board to be an independent director), is responsible for establishing criteria for selection of new directors, identifying individuals qualified to become directors and recommending candidates to the Board for nomination as directors. In addition, the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee is responsible for recommending to the Board a set of corporate governance principles applicable to the Company, overseeing the evaluation process of the Board and the evaluation of its committees, recommending to the Board appropriate levels of director compensation and, together with the Audit Committee, monitoring compliance with the Company’s Code of Conduct & Business Ethics. The committee also oversees ESG, including human capital, employee safety and diversity & inclusion initiatives. The Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee operates in accordance with a charter (the “Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee Charter”), which is available on the Company’s website at www.CIRCOR.com under the “Investors” sub-link. The Company also will provide a hard copy of the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee Charter to stockholders free of charge upon written request to the Corporate Secretary at the Company’s corporate headquarters.
Ad Hoc Committees. From time to time, the Board may establish ad hoc committees and delegate certain of its authority for the purpose of addressing particular matters (including, for example, the approval of financing or credit agreements or other matters that the Board thinks would be appropriate for review by an ad hoc committee). There were no ad hoc committees in 2021. The Board established a a special sub-committee on February 4, 2022, to assist with its strategic alternatives review. Mr. Ludwig, Mr. Chapin, and Mr. Lisman serve on the committee,
Executive Session. Independent directors meet at least twice a year in executive session without management, and at such other times as may be requested by any independent director. During Fiscal Year 2021, the Chair of the Board presided at meetings of the Company’s independent directors held in executive session without management. These sessions promote candor and discussion of matters in a setting that is independent of management.
Code of Ethics
The Company has implemented and regularly monitors compliance with a comprehensive Code of Conduct & Business Ethics (the “Code of Conduct”), which applies uniformly to all directors, executive officers, and employees. Among other things, the Code of Conduct addresses conflicts of interest, confidentiality, fair dealing, protection and proper use of Company assets, compliance with applicable law (including insider trading and anti-bribery laws), and reporting of illegal or unethical behavior. The Code of Conduct is available on the Company's website at www.CIRCOR.com under the “Investors” tab and a hard copy will be provided by the Company to any stockholder who requests it by writing to the Company's Secretary at the Company's executive offices. In addition, we will post on our website all disclosures that are required by SEC regulations or NYSE listing standards with respect to amendments to, or waivers from, any provision of the Code of Conduct.
Delinquent Section16(a) Reports
Section 16(a) of the Exchange Act requires our executive officers, directors and the holders of more than 10% of our common stock to file with the SEC initial reports of ownership and reports of changes in ownership of our common stock and other equity securities. To our knowledge, based solely on a review of our records and written representations by the persons required to file these reports, all filing requirements of Section 16(a) were satisfied on a timely basis with respect to Fiscal Year 2021, with the exception of a late Form 4 filing by Jill D. Smith to report a grant of RSUs.
Family Relationships
No family relationships exist between any director or executive officer.

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ITEM 11. EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION
Item 11. Executive Compensation
Director Compensation
The form and amount of director compensation are reviewed periodically by the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee, most recently in December 2021. The Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee reviews our data from the Peer Group Companies, which are outlined in the Compensation Discussion and Analysis section of this document, as was prepared by ISS Corporate Solutions, Inc. ("ISS") and broad survey data concerning director compensation practices, levels, and trends for companies comparable to the Company in revenue, business, and complexity. It also considers the significant amount of time that our non-employee directors spend in fulfilling their duties to the Company as well as the required level of
skill to serve on our Board. The Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee recommends changes, if any, to the Board for approval. Employee directors do not receive separate compensation for service as directors.
The Company uses a combination of cash and stock-based incentive compensation to attract and retain qualified candidates to serve as non-employee directors on the Board. Cash compensation is paid quarterly, in arrears. Due to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the Company’s operations, the Board reduced each category of fee and retainer our directors receives by 15% in 2020. These retainer and fee reductions taken during 2020 to non-employee, director cash compensation were commensurate with the reduction senior management took to their cash compensation in light of the COVID-19 pandemic and its impact on the Company. The cash compensation reductions were lifted at the February 2021 Board meeting effective April 1, 2021 after considering both internal and external factors. The cash compensation our non-employee directors earned in 2021 is as follows:
Annual Cash Compensation
Annual Retainer (Board Member)......................................................................................................
$72,188
Annual Retainer (Chair of the Board).................................................................................................
$182,875
Chair Fee (Audit Committee)............................................................................................................
$19,250
Chair Fee (Compensation Committee)................................................................................................
$14,438
Chair Fee (Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee)...............................................................
$9,625
Committee Membership Fee (per committee).......................................................................................
$4,813
Annual Equity Grant
Our non-employee directors are also eligible to receive an annual equity grant under our 2019 Plan. If a director joins the Board during the middle of the year, the annual equity grant is pro-rated based on the quarter in which the director joins the Board. In 2021, the targeted value of such grant was $105,000 which was the same amount targeted for the annual equity grant in 2020. On March 17, 2021, each director, with the exception of Mr. Wilver, who retired from the Board in April 2021, received a grant of 2,827 time-based restricted stock units (“Time RSUs”) which becomes vested and settles in shares of common stock on a one-for-one basis thirteen months from the date of grant, provided the non-employee director is still providing services on the Board. The number of Time RSUs was determined by dividing $105,000 by the average closing price of our common stock on the New York Stock Exchange based on the last 20 trading days weighted for volume through March 16, 2021, rounded up to the nearest whole share. The average closing share price through March 16, 2021 was $37.15.
2021 Director Compensation
The following table shows the compensation our non-employee directors earned for their services in 2021:
Name
Fees Earned in Cash (1)
Stock
Awards (2)
Total
Samuel Chapin
$98,063
$112,571
$210,634
David F. Dietz
$60,563
$112,571
$173,134
Tina M. Donikowski
$81,813
$112,571
$194,384
Bruce Lisman
$81,813
$112,571
$194,384
Helmuth Ludwig
$182,875
$112,571
$295,446
John (Andy) O'Donnell
$91,438
$112,571
$204,009
Jill D. Smith
$86,625
$112,571
$199,196
Peter M. Wilver
$28,333
$0
$28,333
(1)
The amounts shown in this column reflect the fees earned in Fiscal Year 2021 for Board and committee service. The 15% reduction in fees approved by the Board effective April 1, 2020 was lifted effective April 1, 2021. Mr. Wilver and Mr. Dietz both retired from the Board effective April 30, 2021 and September 30, 2021, respectively. Mr. Chapin became Chair of the Audit Committee effective January 1, 2021 taking over from Mr. Wilver. Director fees continue to be paid quarterly in arrears.
(2)
Reflects the grant date fair value of the annual equity grant made in Time RSUs to each of the directors in accordance with Financial Accounting Standards Board Accounting Standards Codification Topic 718. For a discussion of the assumptions related to the calculation of the amounts in this column, refer to Note 14 Share-Based Compensation, of the consolidated financial statements in this Annual Report on Form 10-K. The grant date fair value of the Time RSUs was based on the Company's previous day closing stock price prior to the grant date of March 17, 2021 of $39.82. Mr. Wilver did not receive an annual grant in 2021 due to his planned retirement.
The total number of Time RSUs held by each non-employee director as of December 31, 2021 was 2,827.
Deferred Compensation
Prior to 2019, non-employee directors were eligible to participate in the Management Stock Purchase Plan (MSPP), which allowed them to purchase RSUs at a discount of 33% to the closing price of the Company’s common stock ("MSPP RSUs"), with RSU settlement deferred for a minimum period of three years. In 2021, the last of these MSPP RSUs were settled and distributed in shares. As of December 31, 2021, there were no outstanding balances for non-employee directors under the MSPP.
Reimbursement for Training and Reasonable Related Travel
Each of our directors has a budget of up to $5,000 USD (plus travel costs) per year for relevant educational training. When possible, directors are encouraged to share training opportunities with other boards that they serve on and to split the costs for such opportunities between those boards and the Company. Each of our non-employee directors are also reimbursed for reasonable travel and other expenses incurred in attending meetings.
The following sections provide a summary of cash and certain other amounts earned by our Named Executive Officers ("NEOs") in Fiscal Year 2021 (and the preceding two fiscal years). Except where noted, the information in the Summary Compensation Table generally pertains to compensation to the NEOs for Fiscal Year 2021. We encourage you to read the following tables closely. The narratives preceding the tables and the footnotes accompanying each table are important parts of each table. Also, we encourage you to read this section in conjunction with the Compensation Discussion and Analysis above.
Compensation Discussion and Analysis
Overview
In this section, we describe the executive compensation program for our Named Executive Officers (the “NEOs”). Our intent is to help stockholders understand the framework of our overall program, its objectives and the rationale for the Compensation Committee’s compensation decisions. Our NEOs for Fiscal Year 2021 were as follows:
Named Executive Officer Title
Scott Buckhout (1) President and Chief Executive Officer (“CEO”)
Abhishek Khandelwal (2) Senior Vice President, Chief Financial Officer (“CFO”)
Tony Najjar (3) President, Aerospace and Defense Group
Arjun Sharma (4) Senior Vice President, Business Development
Jessica Wenzell (5) Senior Vice President, General Counsel, Secretary & Chief People Officer
Sumit Mehrotra (6) Former President, Industrial Group
(1) Mr. Buckhout terminated employment with CIRCOR on January 19, 2022.
(2) Mr. Khandelwal terminated employment with CIRCOR on December 31, 2021.
(3) Mr. Najjar was named Chief Operating Officer and Interim President and Chief Executive Officer effective January 19, 2022 in connection with Mr. Buckhout's departure and is no longer serving in the role of President, Aerospace and Defense Group.
(4) Mr. Sharma was appointed as our interim Chief Financial Officer effective January 1, 2022 and continues to serve as our Senior Vice President, Business Development.
(5) Ms. Wenzell was appointed as our Chief People Officer effective November 15, 2021 and continues to serve as our Senior Vice President, General Counsel and Secretary
(6) Mr. Mehrotra terminated employment with CIRCOR on July 5, 2021.
In this Compensation Discussion and Analysis, in certain cases, we refer to Messrs. Buckhout, Khandelwal, and Sharma and Ms. Wenzell as “Corporate NEOs” and Messrs. Najjar and Mehrotra as “Group NEOs.”
Executive Summary
Our Business: 2021 Performance Overview
CIRCOR is a leading provider of severe service and mission critical flow and motion control solutions and other highly engineered products for the Industrial and Aerospace & Defense markets that include recognized, market-leading brands. We have a global presence with approximately 3,100 employees worldwide and customers in approximately 100 countries. We operate 21 major manufacturing facilities located in North America, Western Europe, Morocco, China and India. We sell our products directly to end-user customers and original equipment manufacturers, as well as through Engineering, Procurement and Construction companies and our channel partner network. The Company has two reportable business segments: the Industrial segment (“Industrial Group”) and the Aerospace & Defense segment (“Aerospace & Defense Group” or “A&D Group”).
In 2021 our business continued to feel the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. Throughout this continued time of uncertainty, the Company’s top priority remains the health and safety of our employees, customers, and suppliers. As the COVID-19 pandemic evolves, we continue to implement appropriate measures to ensure our employees around the world have the necessary protection and our business continues to operate with as little disruption as possible. We believe that the Company’s continued focus on new product innovation, cost productivity and the CIRCOR Operating System serve to best position the Company for potential end market recovery across our Industrial and Aerospace & Defense segments.
We continue to implement actions to mitigate the impact from lower demand and an increasingly competitive environment. In addition, we are investing in products and technologies designed to help solve our customers’ most difficult problems. We intend to further simplify CIRCOR by standardizing technology, consolidating suppliers and achieving world class operational excellence. Attracting and retaining talented personnel remains an essential underpinning to the enhancement of our global sales, operations, product management and engineering organizations.
2021 Financial Achievements (in thousands, except percentages)
The following table highlights certain measures that serve as our compensation performance metrics for our performance-based compensation and the level of achievement of these metrics in 2021:
Short-Term Incentive Plan Metrics Long-Term Incentive Plan Metrics
Net Sales Adjusted Operating Income(1) Adjusted Working Capital % of Sales(2) Free Cash Flow(3) Adjusted Operating Margin(4) Adjusted Measurement Cash Flow(5) Relative Total Shareholder Return(6)
CIRCOR (overall including Corporate expenses)(7) N/A $51.4 N/A $(3.9) see note (6)
Aerospace & Defense Group $250.1 $55.3 37.8% N/A N/A N/A
Industrial Group(8) $415.0 $23.2 19.0% N/A N/A N/A
(1) Adjusted Operating Income (“AOI”), a non-GAAP measure, is defined as GAAP operating income excluding intangible amortization and amortization of fair value step-ups of inventory and fixed assets from acquisitions completed after December 31, 2011, the impact of restructuring-related inventory write-offs, impairment charges and special charges or gains.
(2) "Adjusted Working Capital % of Sales" or "(AWC % of Sales": a non-GAAP measure, is defined as the sum of Adjusted Working Capital balances at year-end divided by Net Sales. “Adjusted Working Capital” includes the following accounts: Trade Accounts Receivable, Unbilled Receivables (short and long term), Inventory, Trade Accounts Payable, Customer Advances (short and long term), and Deferred Revenue.
(3) Free Cash Flow, a non-GAAP financial measure calculated by subtracting GAAP capital expenditures, net of proceeds from asset sales, from GAAP operating cash flow.
(4) Adjusted Operating Margin (“AOM”), a non-GAAP measure, is defined as Adjusted Operating Income divided by Net Sales. Adjusted Operating Income is defined as GAAP operating income excluding intangible amortization and amortization of fair value step-ups of inventory and fixed assets from acquisitions completed after December 31, 2011, the impact of restructuring-related inventory write-offs, impairment charges and special charges or gains.
(5) “Adjusted Measurement Cash Flow” or “Adjusted MCF” with respect to a fiscal year is calculated by adding the Company’s cash provided by operating businesses less Corporate General and Administrative spend for that year. Specifically, Adjusted MCF excludes cash flows from income taxes, corporate special charges, and restructuring costs but includes interest expense.
(6) “Relative Total Shareholder Return” or “Relative TSR” is calculated by ranking the Company and a list of specified peer companies within the S&P 600 SmallCap Industrial Index from highest to lowest according to their respective TSR and expressing the Company's performance as its corresponding percentile within the group of companies. Results are not yet reportable as the applicable, three-year period ends in 2024.
(7) Corporate refers to the group of employees that provides services to the Aerospace & Defense Group and the Industrial Group or support management of Company-wide functions.
(8) For purposes of calculating incentive compensation in the Industrial Group, Refinery Valves is excluded.
Key Compensation Actions Taken During 2021
The Company’s financial results and the overall business environment were considered when determining compensation paid for 2021. Please see Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for Fiscal Year 2021 for a more detailed description of the Company’s financial results.
2021 was, in many respects, a step towards a more stable and predictable business environment following a difficult year in 2020 that was dominated by reaction to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic to our business. Compensation actions taken by the Compensation Committee in 2021 reflected this return to forward-looking strategy, including the following:
•Return to Standard Compensation Programs and Process: Following the extraordinary impact of the COVID-19 pandemic to our business in 2020 and the corresponding actions the Compensation Committee took to adjust compensation practices and costs, in 2021 we returned to our typical cadence of determination of annual incentive awards based on pre-established business goals and metrics approved by the Compensation Committee.
•Revised Metric for Short-Term Incentives: The Compensation Committee determined that Adjusted Working Capital % of Sales would replace the free cash flow metric previously used as one of the Short-Term Incentive Plan measures for Group NEOs. This change was made to eliminate overlap with another of the Short-Term Incentive Plan measures, AOI.
•New Metric for Long-Term Incentives: The Compensation Committee determined that a change to the structure of performance-based stock awards would further align NEO compensation to stockholder interest. The Compensation Committee also considered the difficulty of setting multi-year financial goals in the current business environment. Effective with the 2021 annual Long-Term Incentive ("LTI") award, the performance metric for the performance-based portion of NEO awards is Relative TSR, which links the number of shares that our NEOs earn to the Company’s TSR performance relative to the TSR of peer industrial companies, as described more fully below under 2021 Long-Term Incentive.
•New Compensation Consultant: As part of its governance routine, the Compensation Committee conducted a comprehensive review of independent compensation consultants that could assist the Committee in fulfilling its responsibilities. As a result of its review, the Compensation Committee selected Semler Brossy as its independent consultant effective October 2021, replacing its former consultant, Pearl Meyer.
•Updated Peer Group: The Compensation Committee conducted its annual review of the group of peer companies that we compare our compensation practices to. As a result of its review and in order to ensure that the peer group continues to be comprised of similarly sized companies that align to our industry, changes were made to five of the
seventeen companies in our peer group referenced for fiscal 2021. The updated peer group will be referenced for 2022 compensation decisions.
•Retention Incentives for Certain NEOs: In connection with Mr. Khandelwal's termination of employment in December 2021, the Compensation Committee approved retention awards to Mr. Sharma and Ms. Wenzell, each of whom are integral to our financial reporting, disclosure and corporate governance processes. These awards were made to retain experienced executives to provide leadership for these important functions through the end of 2022 while we search for and onboard a new leader for the finance function.
Following the completion of 2021, our Compensation Committee made the following decisions with respect to incentive-based compensation based on 2021 performance results for its NEOs:
•Annual Short-Term Incentives: The 2021 Short-Term Incentive Plan (“2021 STI Plan”) payouts for NEOs were determined based on the Company's performance on the metrics approved by the Compensation Committee at the beginning of 2021. The Compensation Committee did not use its discretion to modify any of the performance results when determining payouts, however, the Committee determined it is in the best interest of the Company to exercise the Committee’s discretion to adjust the amounts earned by Mr. Buckhout and Mr. Mehrotra under the 2021 STI Plan to zero based on the significant accounting irregularities discovered by the Company with respect to the Pipeline Engineering business unit. As announced in the Form 8-K filed on March 14, 2022, the Pipeline Engineering accounting irregularities occurred over multiple years under the leadership of Messrs. Buckhout and Mehrotra and impacted the actual performance of the STI financial metrics, the inability to rely on the Company’s prior financial statements due to the misstatements, and led to the restatement of the three years of Company’s financial results. The 2021 STI Plan results for our NEOs are set forth below under 2021 Short-Term Incentive Plan Results.
•Outstanding Long-Term Incentives: While a certain portion of our LTI awards were significantly impacted by the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on performance results, the Compensation Committee did not use its discretion to modify any of the performance results to reflect the COVID-19 business impact when determining the number of earned shares under our performance-based stock awards. However, the Committee did consider the impact of the Pipeline Engineering matters on the three year results of the 2019 performance award and used its discretion to reduce the number of shares vesting in the final tranche of our 2019 performance awards to zero. The second tranche of our 2020 performance awards earned 0% of target as set forth below under Prior Year PSU Results. The vesting of our 2021 performances awards will be determined following the completion of the performance period in 2024.
•Pipeline Engineering: Based on the significant accounting irregularities discovered by the Company with respect to the its Pipeline Engineering business unit as announced via Form 8-K filed on March 14, 2022, which occurred over multiple years under the leadership of Messrs. Buckhout and Mehrotra, the impacts thereof on actual performance of the STI financial metrics, the inability to rely on the Company’s prior financial statements due to the misstatements, and the impending restatement of the Company’s financial results, the Committee determined it is in the best interest of the Company to exercise the Committee’s discretion to adjust the amounts earned by Mr. Buckhout and Mr. Mehrotra under the 2021 STI Plan to zero.
2021 Stockholder Engagement, Say-on-Pay Results & Program Changes
The Company regularly evaluates its compensation programs and considers the results of its most recent stockholder advisory vote on executive compensation (“say-on-pay”), as well as feedback received directly from stockholders through our ongoing engagement.
At the May 2021 annual meeting of stockholders, we received say-on-pay support of approximately 97%. This result indicated continued support for the Company’s executive compensation program. Highlights of our executive compensation program include:
•Short-term incentive plans for business groups aligned to critical metrics. The short-term incentive plan is designed to ensure appropriate focus on the respective business groups as well as overall corporate performance. Specifically, Group NEO bonuses are based on 70% Group results and 30% Company-wide metrics, and Corporate NEO bonuses are based 60% on the incentive scores of the A&D and Industrial Groups and 40% based on Company-wide metrics. As such, for our 2021 STI Plan, Group Presidents in A&D and Industrial Groups were measured on their group-specific performance metrics based 35% on Group AOI, 30% on CIRCOR AOI, 20% on Group Adjusted Working Capital % of Sales and 15% on Group Net Sales. Corporate NEOs were measured on the incentive scores of the Aerospace & Defense Group and Industrial Groups excluding the impact of CIRCOR AOI on Group scores, each
counting for 30% of the total incentive score, CIRCOR AOI (30% of score) and CIRCOR Free Cash Flow (10% of the score).
•Equity vehicle mix for NEOs aligned with long-term objectives. 2021 LTI awards were a mix of 50% performance-based restricted stock units (“PSUs”) and 50% restricted stock units (“RSUs”). We use an equal mix of PSUs and RSUs to provide both long-term performance and long-term retention incentives to our NEOs in support of our business strategy.
•TSR performance metric for long-term awards. For 2021 LTI awards, we replaced the previous AOM and Adjusted Measurement Cash Flow metrics used for our PSUs with a three-year Relative TSR metric. The Compensation Committee changed to a Relative TSR metric to more closely align management and stockholder interests by incorporating another metric of importance to stockholders and to remove some of the difficulty of setting multi-year financial goals in a still stabilizing market.
•Replenishment of equity plan share pool. At our 2021 annual meeting, stockholders approved the replenishment of our share reserve under our 2019 Stock Option and Incentive Plan, which is the primary vehicle that we use to provide long-term incentive awards to our employees, including our NEOs.
Going forward, we plan to continue to engage with our stockholders and consider their perspectives regarding compensation and governance matters.
CEO Pay At-A-Glance (Target v. Realized)
The chart below shows target and realized compensation for Mr. Buckhout. Target total direct compensation represents base salary, target annual bonus, and target annual LTI awards. Realized compensation represents base salary, annual bonus actually paid in cash, and the value realized upon the exercise of stock options or vesting of PSUs or RSUs, including RSUs granted under our Management Stock Purchase Plan during each year. Realized compensation has trailed target total direct compensation over the prior three years, reflecting the rigor of our goal-setting process for annual bonus and PSU awards and the pay for performance nature of our overall executive compensation program.
Mr. Buckhout's 2021 compensation includes $1,137,758 related to the vesting of a special RSU award issued on March 4, 2020, for retention purposes. His 2021 STI amount earned was adjusted to zero, as further discussed herein.
Good Compensation Governance
The Compensation Committee continually evaluates the Company's compensation policies and practices to ensure that they are consistent with good governance principles. Below are highlights of what we do and what we do not do:
What We Do What We Do Not Do
ü We place the majority of weight on performance-based, at-risk, and long-term compensation. X We do not provide any compensation-related tax gross-ups (except in connection with relocation expenses).
ü We deliver rewards that are based on achieving long-term objectives and the creation of stockholder value. X We do not provide significant perquisites.
ü We target total direct compensation at approximately the market median for our peer group. X We do not allow officers or directors to hedge Company stock.
ü We maintain stock ownership guidelines for our directors and executives, including our CEO and other NEOs. X We do not allow officers or directors to pledge Company stock.
ü We have “double-trigger” change in control vesting of cash severance payments and new equity awards. X We do not reprice or replace out-of-the-money stock options without stockholder approval.
ü Our Compensation Committee seeks advice from an independent compensation consultant. X We do not have contracts that guarantee employment with any executive (all employment is terminable-at-will).
ü We maintain a clawback policy with respect to incentive-based cash and equity compensation.
ü We cap annual bonus payouts to eliminate potential windfalls for executives.
ü We cap the vesting value of TSR-based PSUs to eliminate potential windfalls for executives.
ü We encourage executives to invest their cash incentives in the Company through our Management Stock Purchase Plan (MSPP).
What Guides Our Program
Our Compensation Guiding Principles
The philosophy underlying our executive compensation program is to attract, retain and motivate highly qualified and talented executives and reward the achievement of specific annual, long-term and strategic goals that promote the profitable growth of the Company and enhance stockholder value. To this end, the following principles guide the structure of our program:
•Link to business priorities and performance. A significant portion of an executive’s total compensation should be “at risk,” subject to the attainment of certain specific and measurable performance goals and objectives. We select performance metrics that are most directly tied to the creation of enterprise value and that our management team can meaningfully influence. As performance goals are met or exceeded, executives are rewarded commensurately. Conversely, if goals are not met, actual earned compensation will be lower than target compensation.
•Alignment of executives with stockholders' interests. Our compensation program should encourage our executives to hold a meaningful amount of equity. In addition, we believe compensation to our executives should be based on a balance of short- and long-term financial performance factors. This approach also supports our retention strategy and promotes our achievement-oriented culture.
•Competitiveness of Pay Position. Target total direct compensation should be competitive with that being offered to individuals holding comparable positions at other public companies with which we compete for executive talent. In general, we position target total direct compensation for our NEOs, as well as each element of total target compensation, to be at or around the median target compensation for executives with similar positions at our peer group companies.
•Maintenance of Governance Standards. We believe that maintaining best-practice executive compensation governance standards is in the best interests of our stockholders and executives and critical to the ability to manage risk.
Elements of Compensation
Our compensation philosophy is supported by the following elements of compensation:
Pay Element How It’s Paid What It Does How It Links to Performance
Base Salary Cash
(Fixed) Provides a competitive, fixed rate of pay relative to similar positions in the market and enables the Company to attract and retain critical executive talent Based on job scope, level of responsibilities, individual performance, experience, tenure and market levels
Short-Term Incentive Plan Cash
(At-Risk) Focuses executives on achieving annual financial and strategic goals that enhance long-term stockholder value Tied to achievement of targets relating to AOI, Free Cash Flow, Working Capital and Net SalesNo formulaic payouts for performance below threshold
Award capped at 300% of target value
Long-Term Incentive (LTI) Plan PSUs Provides incentives for executives to execute on longer-term goals that will increase stockholder returns Tied to achievement of Relative TSR when compared to peer industrial companiesVesting follows three-year period based on performance results
Number of shares is capped at 200% of target (100% of target if TSR is negative)
RSUs Supports leadership retention strategy Annual vesting over a three-year periodPaid in CIRCOR shares at vesting
How We Further Foster Stock Ownership and Strengthen Alignment with Stockholders
In order to more closely align the interests of our executives with those of our stockholders, our NEOs are also eligible to participate in the MSPP, which is designed to encourage our NEOs to invest up to 100% of their own earned incentive compensation in equity of the Company.
The Compensation Committee approves the participants in the MSPP. Participants are entitled to purchase RSUs under the MSPP at a discount of 33% from the fair market value of the Company’s Common Stock on the annual grant date using all or a portion of their pre-tax, short-term incentive award. RSUs purchased under the MSPP vest in whole after a three-year period. Any NEO who resigns from the Company (other than due to retirement) prior to vesting may lose the benefits associated with the discounted purchase price of RSUs purchased under the MSPP, as well as any further appreciation in stock price and accrued dividends associated with such RSUs.
Total Pay Mix at Target
A significant portion of our NEOs' compensation is designed “at risk,” subject to the attainment of specific and measurable performance goals and objectives or subject to the valuation of the Company’s stock price. For example, as shown in the diagram below, 82% of the target total direct compensation of our CEO and 63% of the target total direct compensation of our other NEOs serving at year-end is allocated to a combination of PSUs, RSUs and target bonus; and therefore, based on achieving financial and operating metrics or based on the valuation of the Company's stock price.
CEO Pay Mix at Target Other NEOs Pay Mix at Target
Salary 18% 37%
Target Bonus 20% 23%
RSUs 31% 20%
PSUs 31% 20%
% at Risk 82% 63%
The above diagram reflects annualized target total direct compensation as of year-end 2021, which we define to include annualized base salaries, target short-term incentive amounts and the target LTI award amounts used to determine the number of target shares underlying PSU and RSU awards.
The Decision-Making Process
The Role of the Compensation Committee. The Compensation Committee oversees the executive compensation program for our NEOs. The Compensation Committee is comprised of independent, non-employee members of the Board. The Committee works very closely with its independent consultant and management to examine the effectiveness of the Company's executive compensation program throughout the year. Attracting and retaining a team of outstanding executives with complementary skills is one of the Company’s priorities.
When making decisions regarding the compensation of the NEOs, the Compensation Committee considers information from a variety of sources. The Compensation Committee also regularly assesses our incentive plan measures in light of current business context, relevance to stockholders and alignment with peer company practices. The Compensation Committee analyzes both individual elements, total compensation and pay mix for each of the NEOs. While actual compensation reflects the Company’s performance, the Company’s goal is for total target compensation, as well as each element of total target compensation, to be at or around the median target compensation for executives with similar positions at our peer group companies (described in further detail below). The Compensation Committee also incorporates flexibility into its compensation programs and into the assessment process to respond to changing business needs, and to take into consideration individual performance, including the relative complexity and strategic importance of specific roles.
In setting meaningful performance goals for our STI Plan, the Compensation Committee carefully considers a number of factors, including the general economic and industry climate, anticipated customer spending, projected revenue from current contracts and renewals and deals in the pipeline. Based on these factors, a range of performance scenarios is developed. Goals are then set at the threshold, target and maximum performance levels with the target goals aligning with the Company’s operating plan. CIRCOR strives for alignment between our STI Plan performance targets and our operating plan and the financial guidance we provide externally. In setting performance goals for our LTI Plan, the Compensation Committee considers the same factors as for the STI Plan but over a multi-year timeframe, its long-term objectives and the degree of difficulty in setting extended multi-year financial goals based on the economic and industry climates. We believe achievement of the meaningful performance targets and shareholder return goals that result from this rigorous goal-setting process will drive long-term value creation for our investors.
The Compensation Committee makes all final compensation and equity award decisions regarding our NEOs, except for the CEO, whose compensation is determined by the independent members of the full Board, based upon recommendations of the Compensation Committee.
The Role of Management. The CEO reviews his recommendations pertaining to other executives (non-NEO) pay with the Committee providing transparency and oversight. Decisions on non-NEO executive pay are made by the CEO. The CEO does not participate in the deliberations of the Committee regarding his own compensation.
The Role of the Independent Consultant. The Compensation Committee engages an independent compensation consultant to provide expertise on competitive pay practices, program design, and an objective assessment of any inherent risks of any programs. Pursuant to authority granted to it under its charter, the Committee changed its independent consultant in [October] 2021 from Pearl Meyer to Semler Brossy. Semler Brossy, as Pearl Meyer before it, reports directly to the Committee and does not provide any additional services to management. The Committee has conducted an independence assessment of its consultants in accordance with SEC rules.
The Role of Market References - Peer Group Companies. Our executive compensation program considers the compensation practices of companies with which the Company competes or could compete for executive talent. In its review of 2021 executive compensation, the Compensation Committee compared the Company’s overall compensation structure (mix of pay) and levels for the NEOs (total annual compensation, as well as each component of their total compensation) with the peer group companies.
Peer group companies generally have similar business models (e.g., multiple product lines, significant concentration of international sales, manufacturing operations) and are within comparable size ranges (e.g., market capitalization, revenue). For the purposes of setting 2021 compensation, and with the support of Pearl Meyer, the Compensation Committee considered the following list of peer group companies (the “Peer Group Companies”) which was unchanged from the prior year:
Peer Group Companies for Setting 2021 Compensation
Albany International Corp. ESCO Technologies, Inc. SPX FLOW, Inc.
Altra Industrial Motion Corp. Forum Energy Technologies, Inc.(1) Standex International Corporation
Barnes Group Inc. Mueller Water Products, Inc. Tennant Company
Chart Industries, Inc.(1) NN, Inc.(1) TriMas Corporation
Enerpac Tool Group Corp.(1) Rexnord Corporation Watts Water Technologies, Inc.
EnPro Industries, Inc.(1) SPX Corporation
(1) This company is one of the five companies that the Compensation Committee subsequently removed from our peer group list in preparation for 2022 compensation planning. New companies added to the peer group for 2022 compensation planning are: Astrec Industries, Inc, Ducommun Incorporated, Helios Technologies, Inc., Kadant Inc. and Kaman Corporation.
The Committee also reviewed supplemental industry market survey data as part of its subjective determination of 2021 target compensation levels for our NEOs. When reviewing market survey data, to the extent available the Compensation Committee relies on size-appropriate industry survey data based on annual revenue.
2021 Executive Compensation in Detail
As set forth above, the principal elements of the Company’s executive compensation program consist of base salary, annual short-term incentives, the MSPP and long-term incentives. 2021 base salaries for our NEOs, in the aggregate, were slightly below the market median for our peer group, and target total cash (base salaries plus target short-term incentives) and target total direct compensation (target total cash plus target LTI) in the aggregate approximated the market median for our peer group, although in each case there were variations in market position by executive due to factors including tenure, experience in current role, individual performance, and consideration of past awards.
Base Salary
NEOs' base salaries are determined by evaluating factors such as the responsibilities and complexity of the position, the experience and performance of the individual, market data for similar roles, overall company performance and internal equity within the Company.
At the beginning of each fiscal year, the Compensation Committee generally reviews and adjusts the base salaries for each of the Company’s executives, with any adjustments to become effective on April 1st of that year. NEOs who were employed by the Company at that time received base salary increases ranging between 3.0% to 10.0%, to better align their pay with the market. Base salaries for each NEO are shown below:
NEO 2020
Year-End Base Salary 2021
Year-End Base Salary % Change
Scott Buckhout $790,000 $810,000 2.5%
Abhishek Khandelwal $400,000 $440,000 10.0%
Tony Najjar $385,000 $396,500 3.0%
Arjun Sharma $360,000 $371,000 3.1%
Jessica Wenzell (1) $340,000 $390,000 14.7%
Sumit Mehrotra (2) $412,000 N/A
(1) Ms. Wenzell received a 10.0% merit increase in April 2021 and a 4.3% increase in November 2021 in connection with her taking on the additional role of Chief People Officer.
(2) Mr. Mehrotra received a 3.0% merit increase in April 2021 prior to his termination of employment on July 5, 2021.
The salaries for Messrs. Buckhout, Najjar, Sharma and Mehrotra were increased to maintain alignment of their compensation relative to, in the case of Messrs. Buckhout and Mehrotra, executives in comparable positions within our peer companies, and in the case of Messrs. Sharma and Najjar, market benchmarks determined based on general industry survey data. The salaries for Mr. Khandelwal and Ms. Wenzell were increased more significantly in order to more appropriately align salary level relative to median market practice for these roles.
Short-Term Incentive Plan
Target Award Opportunities. The STI Plan provides our NEOs the opportunity to earn a performance-based annual cash bonus. Actual bonus payouts depend on the achievement of pre-established performance objectives and can range from 0% to 300% of target award amounts, depending on the financial measure. Target annual award opportunities for the NEOs are approved by the Compensation Committee and are intended to be competitive in the market in which the Company competes for talent and reflect the level of responsibility of the role. They are, therefore, set at or around the median for comparable positions in the market. For 2021, target award amounts, which are stated as a percentage of base salary, were as follows:
NEO Target Award Opportunity (as % of base salary)
Scott Buckhout 110%
Abhishek Khandelwal(1) 70%
Tony Najjar 60%
Arjun Sharma 60%
Jessica Wenzell 60%
Sumit Mehrotra(2) 60%
(1) Mr. Khandelwal was not eligible to receive any payments under the 2021 STI Plan as a result of his resignation on December 31, 2021.
(2) Mr. Mehrotra was eligible to participate in the 2021 STI Plan on a pro-rated basis pursuant to the terms of his separation agreement in connection with his termination of employment on July 5, 2021
Performance Measures, Weightings and Goals. Our STI Plan pays participants based on levels of performance against rigorous metrics established by the Compensation Committee. The performance measures vary depending upon the role and responsibility of the NEO.
For 2021, STI awards for Corporate NEOs were based on achievements, as calculated based on the following performance measures and weightings:
Performance Measures Weightings
Aerospace & Defense Group(1) 30%
Industrial Group(1) 30%
CIRCOR AOI 30%
CIRCOR Free Cash Flow 10%
(1) Reflects Group STI Plan results calculated pursuant to the table below but excluding the impact of CIRCOR AOI on such results
For purposes of calculating STI awards for Group NEOs, group-specific AOI, Adjusted Working Capital % of Sales, Net Sales and CIRCOR AOI are considered.
For 2021, STI awards for Group NEOs were based on the achievement of the following performance measures and weightings for each group (which impact all NEOs):
Performance Measures Weightings
Group AOI 35%
CIRCOR AOI 30%
Group Adjusted Working Capital % of Sales 20%
Group Net Sales 15%
The table below summarizes the Threshold, Target, Stretch and Above Stretch performance levels and the calculated results for each performance measure in effect for our NEOs in 2021. For performance between Threshold, Target, Stretch and Above Stretch, bonus pool funding is determined by linear interpolation.
Measure(1) Threshold Target Stretch Above Stretch Achievement
Results(1)
A&D Group AOI $44.8M $64.0M $83.1M $102.3M $55.3M
A&D Group AWC % of Sales 29.9% 23.0% 16.1% 9.2% 37.8%
A&D Group Net Sales $225.6M $282.0M $338.4M $394.8M $250.1M
Industrial Group AOI $28.8M $41.2M $53.5M $65.9M $23.2M
Industrial Group AWC % of Sales 30.4% 23.4% 16.3% 9.3% 19.0%
Industrial Group Net Sales $331.9M $414.8M $497.8M $580.8M $415.0M
CIRCOR AOI $66.7M $83.4M $100.1M $116.8M $51.4M
CIRCOR Free Cash Flow $32.9M $47.0M $61.1M $75.2M ($3.9M)
Plan Funding as % of Target Bonus (2) 50.0% 100.0% 200% 300.0% See table below
(1) Threshold, Target, Stretch and Above Stretch are calculated using a set foreign exchange rate. That same rate is used to calculate Achievement Results. The Compensation Committee believes that it is important to use a set exchange rate for metric and result calculations to reduce the impact on the level of achievement of metrics caused by fluctuations in exchange rates, which are beyond the control of our NEOs.
(2) To achieve funding above Target level with respect to Group AWC% of Sales, Group AOI achievement must be at or above Threshold; to achieve funding above Target level with respect to Group Net Sales, Group AOI achievement must be at or above Target; to achieve funding above Target level with respect to CIRCOR Free Cash Flow, CIRCOR AOI achievement must be at or above Threshold.
Based on the outlook at the time the goals were set and with input from Pearl Meyer, the Compensation Committee concluded that these performance goals struck an appropriate balance in providing both a reasonable probability of attainment and sufficient rigor and motivation of superior performance. The Compensation Committee considered the probability of achievement of different levels of performance as well as the uncertainty concerning the Company’s performance in 2021.
2021 Short-Term Incentive Plan Results
The calculated results of our 2021 STI Plan, as reflected in the table above, fell short of our targets, in part due to the slow pace of recovery from the waning impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on our business and also due to the Pipeline Engineering impacts to our financial results.
Our NEOs shared in the STI payments based on the STI Plan funding results of their respective business Group as set forth in the table below:
NEO STI Plan Group Alignment STI Plan Funding Result Target STI Plan Amount Actual Award
(as a % of Target) Actual Award
(in Dollars)
Scott Buckhout(1)
Corporate 31.2% $891,000 -% $-
Abhishek Khandelwal(2)
Corporate 31.2% $308,000 -% $-
Tony Najjar Aerospace & Defense Group 37.9% $237,900 37.9% $90,057
Arjun Sharma Corporate 31.2% $222,600 31.2% $69,505
Jessica Wenzell Corporate 31.2% $234,000 31.2% $73,064
Sumit Mehrotra(1)(3)
Industrial Group 0.4% $129,793 -% $-
(1) Based on the significant accounting irregularities discovered by the Company with respect to its Pipeline Engineering business unit as announced in the Form 8-K filed on March 14, 2022, which occurred over multiple years under the leadership of Messrs. Buckhout and Mehrotra, the impacts thereof on actual performance of the STI financial metrics, the inability to rely on the Company’s prior financial statements due to the misstatements, and the impending restatement of the Company’s financial results, the Committee determined it is in the best interest of the Company to exercise the Committee’s discretion to adjust the amounts earned by Mr. Buckhout and Mr. Mehrotra under the 2021 STI Plan to zero.
(2) Mr. Khandelwal did not receive any payments under the 2021 STI Plan as a result of his termination of employment on December 31, 2021.
(3) Mr. Mehrotra was eligible to participate in the 2021 STI Plan on a pro-rated basis pursuant to the terms of his separation agreement in connection with this termination of employment on July 5, 2021. The Company agreed to Mr. Mehrotra's eligibility for a 2021 bonus payout in exchange for his mutually agreed date of termination and the orderly transition of his responsibilities to other employees. Due to the Pipeline Engineering accounting irregularities, Mr. Mehrotra's 2021 STI payment was adjusted to zero.
Historical Alignment of Performance and STI Plan Results
The chart below depicts our track record of past payouts for Corporate NEOs, under our STI Plan, over the last five years:
Year STI Payout as % of Target
2017 42.5%
2018 107.2%
2019 70%
2020 75%*
2021 31.2%
*2020 Result: reflects adjustment approved by the Compensation Committee from the actual 28.3% of target achieved.
Management Stock Purchase Plan (“MSPP”)
In connection with our 2021 STI Plan payments, consistent with past practice, many of our NEOs made an advanced election to apply all or a portion of their 2021 STI Plan cash bonus payment towards the purchase of RSUs under the MSPP. The table below outlines the MSPP deferral election made by our NEOs prior to the beginning of 2021.
NEO 2021 Cash Bonus Deferral - Election
Scott Buckhout (1) 70%
Abhishek Khandelwal -%
Tony Najjar 30%
Arjun Sharma 100%
Jessica Wenzell -%
Sumit Mehrotra (1) 100%
(1) Although Messrs. Buckhout and Mehrotra each elected to participate in the MSPP with respect to the 2021 STI payout, no MSPP awards were granted since they did not receive a 2021 STI payment as a result of the Pipeline Engineering accounting irregularities.
Long-Term Incentive Awards
LTI awards are intended to provide executives with a continuing stake in the long-term success of the Company and to align their interests with those of stockholders. LTI awards are also used to attract, retain and motivate executives responsible for the Company’s long-term success.
The Compensation Committee evaluates the Long Term Incentive Plan (the “LTI Plan”) annually relative to its objectives as well as practices within the Peer Group Companies. For our 2021 LTI grants, we introduced a new performance measure for our PSUs of Relative TSR, which compares our performance against a peer group of companies within the S&P 600 SmallCap Industrial Index, as described in more detail below. In addition to eliminating the difficulty of setting multi-year financial targets during an uncertain business environment, the change to using Relative TSR award structure for our LTI program eliminates redundancy of financial metrics between our STI and LTI Plans, further aligns our NEO compensation with stockholder interests by rewarding for TSR performance above peers and also aligns the three-year cliff performance and vesting periods with peer market practice.
The 2021 LTI Plan included an equal mix of PSUs based on the Relative TSR measure and time-based RSUs. The Committee believes that using a mix of performance and time-based awards provides balance to the LTI Plan with substantial alignment to shareholder interests with the TSR measure and mitigates retention risk for our NEOs in periods when performance may lag our peers. Vesting of LTI awards is subject to continued employment with the Company on the date of vesting, creating a retention incentive for our NEOs.
Target LTI awards for each of our NEOs in 2021 was expressed in dollar amounts and varied based on consideration of factors such as role, level of responsibility, performance and past award history:
NEO PSUs(1) RSUs(1) Total Value
Scott Buckhout(2) $1,425,000 $1,425,000 $2,850,000
Abhishek Khandelwal(2) $225,000 $225,000 $450,000
Tony Najjar(3) $200,000 $200,000 $400,000
Arjun Sharma $200,000 $200,000 $400,000
Jessica Wenzell(4) $125,000 $125,000 $250,000
Sumit Mehrotra(2) $200,000 $200,000 $400,000
(1) The number of share units underlying the PSUs and RSUs was determined based on the average per share price of the Company’s common stock for the 20 consecutive trading days ending on March 16, 2021, rounding up for any fractional shares. The corresponding grant date fair value of these awards as reported in the Summary Compensation Table and Grants of Plan Based Awards Table differs from the values listed above since we generally account for these types of awards using the closing price of the Company’s common stock on the trading day preceding the grant date and, with regard to PSUs, the grant date fair value is determined based on a Monte Carlo simulation that takes into account the probability of all possible stock price outcomes and Relative TSR performance between the start of the performance period (February 26, 2021) and the grant date (March 17, 2021).
(2) Awards for Messrs. Buckhout, Khandelwal and Mehrotra were subsequently forfeited in connection with their termination of employment, with the exception of the first vesting tranche (one-third) of Mr. Buckhout's RSU award which vested pursuant to his termination agreement.
(3) Mr. Najjar's target award was increased to $500,000, to be effective with the 2022 award cycle, in connection with his appointment to the Chief Operating Officer and Interim President and Chief Executive Officer role effective January 19, 2022.
(4) Ms. Wenzell's target award was increased to $350,000, to be effective with the 2022 award cycle, in connection with her additional appointment as Chief People Officer, in addition to General Counsel, effective November 15, 2021.
In conjunction with its annual review of the compensation program design, the Compensation Committee determined that a change to the structure of future PSU awards from using internal financial measures to using Relative TSR would (1) eliminate the difficulty of setting multi-year financial targets during an uncertain business environment, (2) eliminate redundancy of financial metrics between our STI and LTI plans, (3) further align our NEO compensation with stockholder interests by rewarding for TSR performance above peers and (4) align the three-year cliff performance and vesting periods with peer market practice. Effective with the 2021 LTI awards, the performance metric for the PSU portion of NEO awards is based on Relative TSR, which will measures the Company’s return to stockholders in the form of stock price appreciation and assuming reinvestment of any dividends over a three-year period relative to that of other peer industrial companies (the "TSR Peer Group"). The TSR Peer Group is comprised of a custom group of companies listed on the S&P 600 SmallCap Industrial Index, which includes other mid-sized industrial companies that are comparable to the current profile of the Company.
For purposes of above, "S&P 600 SmallCap Industrial Index" means each company that was in the S&P 600 SmallCap Industrial Index as of February 26, 2021 and continues to be a member of such index through February 29, 2024 (and including
any companies that become bankrupt or insolvent prior to such date) but excluding the following companies that the Compensation Committee determined were inappropriate comparisons: Exponent, Inc., Forrester Research, Inc., Heidrick and Struggles International, Inc, Interface, Inc., Kelly Services, Inc., Korn Ferry, Matthews International Corporation, Pitney Bowes, Inc., Resources Connection Inc., True Blue Inc., Unifirst Corporation, US Ecology Inc., and Viad Corp. The companies excluded from the TSR Peer Group were removed due to the higher concentration of services in their business mix relative to the Company.
Final award value is determined after completion of the three-year performance period based on the following schedule, subject in each case to (1) a vesting limit of no more than the number of target shares awarded if absolute TSR over the three year performance period is negative (the "Negative Return Cap") and (2) a limit on the value of shares than can vest, determined as of the last day of the performance period, equal to a maximum of six hundred percent (600%) of the product of (i) the number of target shares awarded, times (ii) the fair market value of a share of Common Stock on the grant date (the “600% Cap”). If the 600% Cap is exceeded, the number of PSUs that would otherwise become earned PSUs will be reduced to the extent necessary to avoid the 600% Cap being exceeded.
Company TSR Relative to the TSRs of the S&P 600 SmallCap Industrial Companies
for the Performance Period Earned
Vesting
Percentage
(% of target shares awarded that will vest)(1)
Below 25th Percentile 0%
25th Percentile 50%
50th Percentile 100%
75th Percentile or Higher 200% (Maximum)
(1) Subject to the Negative Return Cap and/or the 600% Cap, as applicable, as defined in the preceding paragraph.
As of December 31, 2021, the Company's Relative TSR from the beginning of the performance period of February 26, 2021 was below 25th percentile.
Prior Year PSU Results
LTI awards made to our NEOs in 2020 and 2019 were also delivered in a 50/50 mix of RSUs and PSUs. The actual realizable value of these PSUs is determined based on cumulative performance over three years. For each performance year in the three-year performance period, cumulative goals were set for adjusted cash flow and adjusted operating margin and performance is assessed at the end of each year to determine the number of shares to vest.
The PSUs will vest only if the pre-established cumulative goals are met. PSUs that do not vest in years one or two of the performance period due to performance results may vest in a subsequent year up to 100% if the cumulative performance in years two and/or three, as applicable, is 100% of target or above. Performance at threshold achievement level results in .01% of target shares vesting; performance at target achievement level results in 100% of target shares vesting; and performance at maximum achievement level or better results in a maximum of 200% of target shares vesting.
For the second vesting tranche of the PSUs granted in 2020 (reflecting cumulative results for 2020 and 2021), the Company’s performance fell below the threshold for Adjusted MCF and Average AOM resulting in zero shares vesting, as detailed below:
Performance Measures
(50/50 weighting) Performance Range Actual Performance %
Payout Shares Earned and Vested
Threshold Target Maximum
Fiscal Years 2020-2021 Adjusted MCF $83.2M $104.0M $124.8M $23.7M -% 0
Fiscal Years 2020-2021 AOM 10.8% 13.5% 16.1% 7.2% -% 0
With regard to the third and last vesting tranche of the 2019 PSUs granted in 2019 (reflecting cumulative results for 2019, 2020 and 2021), the Company underachieved its cumulative targets for Free Cash Flow and Average AOM. As a result of the impact of the Pipeline Engineering matters on the Company's financial performance over the three-year performance period of this award, the Compensation Committee exercised the Committee’s discretion to adjust the amounts earned under the last tranche of the 2019 PSU award to zero, as described in more detail in note (2) to the table below:
Performance Measures
(50/50 weighting) Performance Range Actual Performance %
Payout Shares Earned and Vested
Threshold Target Maximum
Fiscal Years 2019-2021 Adjusted FCF(1)
$12.9M $185.4M $154.1M ($33.6M) -% 0
Fiscal Years 2019-2021 AOM 6.72% 9.60% 12.48% 6.88% -% 0
(1) "Adjusted Free Cash Flow" for this award is is calculated by adding the Company’s cash provided by operating activities less capital expenditures for that year.
(2) Based on the significant accounting irregularities discovered by the Company with respect to the Pipeline Engineering business unit as announced via Form 8-K filed on March 14, 2022, the impacts thereof on actual performance of the PSU financial metrics, the inability to rely on the Company’s prior financial statements due to the misstatements, and the impending restatement of the Company’s financial results, the Committee determined it is in the best interest of the Company to exercise the Committee’s discretion to adjust the amounts earned under the last tranche of the 2019 PSU award to zero.
Retention Incentive Compensation
In connection with the Mr. Khandelwal's termination of employment in December 2021 and our search for a new chief financial officer, the Compensation Committee approved retention awards for two of our NEOs that are integral to our financial reporting, disclosure and corporate governance processes. These awards were made to retain experienced executives to provide continuity of leadership for these important functions through the end of 2022. See also 2022 Compensation Actions Update below for discussion on additional retention issued in 2022.
•Mr. Sharma, in connection with his appointment to interim Chief Financial Officer effective January 1, 2022, will receive (1) an additional $4,500 per bi-weekly pay period during the term of his interim role, (2) payment on his behalf up to $65,000 towards an executive management education program, (3) a retention bonus installment in the amount of $95,000 following June 30, 2022, and (4) a second retention bonus installment in the amount of $45,000 following December 31, 2022.
•Ms. Wenzell, in connection with her General Counsel role, received a retention bonus installment in the amount of $100,000 following the timely filing of our 2021 Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2021, and will receive a second retention bonus installment in the amount of $50,000 following December 31, 2022.
Payment of each bonus installment is subject to (1) continued employment, (2) absence of a notice from the executive or from the Company of intent to terminate employment and (3) satisfactory performance through the applicable scheduled installment payment dates and, additionally, payment of the first bonus installment is subject to repayment to the Company in the event of termination of employment for cause prior to December 31, 2022. Mr. Sharma's retention installments, to the extent not already paid, are subject to full payment in the event the Company terminates his employment without cause. Ms. Wenzell's retention installments, to the extent not already paid, are subject to payment on a pro-rata basis in the event the Company provides notice of its intent to terminate her employment without cause.
Long-Term Incentive Granting Practices
Most LTI awards are granted at the time of the annual grant in the first quarter of the year, although awards may be granted as part of the hiring process or in connection with a change in responsibility. LTI awards granted during the year have a grant date no earlier than the date of approval. Grants for our executive officers are typically reviewed and approved at a regularly scheduled Compensation Committee meeting or by written consent in advance of the individual’s employment commencement or promotion date. For these awards, the grant date is the date of the meeting if the individual receiving the grant has already commenced employment. If the individual has not yet commenced employment, the date of grant is the business day following the individual’s first day of employment.
For our 2021 annual LTI awards, the number of share units underlying each award was determined by dividing the award value by the average per share price of the Company’s common stock for the 20 consecutive trading days ending on March 16, 2021, rounding up for any fractional shares. This method was introduced in the first quarter of 2020, in lieu of using the closing price on the grant date, during a highly volatile period in the trading price of our stock. Using this approach ensures that the number of share units awarded is not inflated due the closing price on the grant date.
Other Executive Compensation Practices & Policies
Stock Ownership Guidelines
To further align the interests of the executive officers of the Company with the interests of the stockholders, the Company has adopted Stock Ownership Guidelines for executive officers. These guidelines establish an expectation that, within a five-year period, each NEO shall achieve and maintain an equity interest in the Company at least equal to a specified multiple of such individual’s annual base salary. The applicable multiples are as follows:
Position Target
Chief Executive Officer 5x annual base salary
Chief Financial Officer 3x annual base salary
Other NEOs 2x annual base salary
In calculating an individual’s equity interest, credit is given for (i) the value of actual shares of Common Stock owned beneficially, (ii) the before-tax value of all vested stock options and (iii) the before-tax value of all outstanding RSU awards (including those which the individual has received in lieu of bonus compensation). The calculation of an individual’s equity interest, however, does not include the value of any outstanding equity awards subject to risk of forfeiture by virtue of performance.
An annual review is conducted by our Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee to assess compliance with the guidelines. As of December 31, 2021, each of our NEOs met their applicable ownership guidelines, or, for NEOs who have been with the Company for less than five years, were on track to achieve their ownership guidelines by the applicable target compliance date. No adjustments to stock ownership guidelines were made due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Clawback Policy
Under our clawback policy, in the event of a restatement of the Company’s financial results, the Board may recover or require reimbursement of incentive compensation received by a NEO during the three completed fiscal years immediately preceding the date on which we are required to prepare a restatement. In addition, if the Board determines that a NEO engaged in misconduct, then the Board shall take such action as it deems to be in the Company’s best interest and necessary to remedy the misconduct or acts/omissions of the NEO and prevent their recurrence, including recovery or required reimbursement of incentive compensation. Misconduct for this purpose includes, but is not limited to, fraudulent, criminal or other willful misconduct, any action or inaction that causes harm, willful and material breach of Company policies, breach of confidentiality obligations or withholding of material information from or misstatement to the Board. Any recoupment under this policy may be in addition to, and shall not otherwise limit, any other remedies that may be available to the Company under applicable law, including disciplinary actions up to and including termination of employment.
Insider Trading, Anti-Hedging & Anti-Pledging Policies
We maintain an insider trading policy that prohibits hedging the economic risk of ownership of our stock by all directors, executive officers and certain designated employees. No person who is considered an “insider” of the Company, which includes each of our NEOs and directors, may directly or indirectly sell any securities of the Company that are not owned by the person at the time of the sale (short sale). Such persons also may not purchase or sell puts, calls, options or other derivative instruments in respect of our securities at any time without the approval of the Company’s Clearance Officer. We also do not allow officers or directors to pledge Company stock.
Risk Assessment and Mitigation of Compensation Policies and Practices
The Compensation Committee has reviewed our incentive compensation programs, discussed the concept of risk as it relates to our compensation program, considered various mitigating factors and reviewed these items with its independent consultant, Pearl Meyer. In addition, our Compensation Committee asked Pearl Meyer to conduct an independent risk assessment of our executive compensation program. Based on these reviews and discussions, the Compensation Committee does not believe our compensation program creates risks that are reasonably likely to have a material adverse effect on our business.
Other Benefits
The Company maintains a defined contribution 401(k) plan in which substantially all of our U.S. employees, including our NEOs, are eligible to participate. We also maintain a nonqualified deferred compensation plan to provide benefits, at the Company’s discretion, that would otherwise be provided under the qualified 401(k) plan to certain participants but for the imposition of certain maximum statutory limits imposed on qualified plan benefits (for example, annual limits on eligible pay and contributions).
We also provide our NEOs with a limited number of perquisites as part of their compensation arrangements, which we consider to be reasonable and consistent with competitive practice. These perquisites include annual car allowances and financial counseling/tax preparation services, which, in total, comprise a de minimis part of the NEO’s target total direct compensation.
Severance and Change in Control Agreements
In order to attract and retain key executives, the Company has entered into severance and change of control agreements with our NEOs, including special severance agreements entered into with Messrs. Buckhout and Mehrotra in connection with their termination of employment, as discussed in “Severance and Other Benefits upon Termination of Employment or Change of Control.”
The agreements are intended to support management continuity and align with market practice. The change of control agreements are intended to maintain focus on stockholder value creation in the event of an actual or threatened change of control. Pursuant to Company policy, the Company does not provide tax gross-ups in connection with any compensatory arrangements. As a result, we do not have any change of control agreements that provide for tax gross-ups. More detail is provided below in “Severance and Other Benefits upon Termination of Employment or Change of Control.”
2022 Compensation Actions Update
In conjunction with the departure of Mr. Buckhout on January 19, 2022 and the announcement that our Board has initiated a review of potential strategic alternatives in response to multiple inquiries from third parties about a possible transaction, the Compensation Committee and/or the Board took the following actions:
•For Mr. Najjar, in connection with his appointment to Chief Operating Officer and Interim President and Chief Executive Officer effective January 19, 2022, the Board approved (1) an increase in base salary from $396,500 to $425,000, (2) an increase in STI target for 2022 from 60% to 65% of base salary, (3) a 2022 LTI grant in the amount of $500,000, and (4) for his interim role, additional compensation of $20,000 per month during the term of his interim role and a $250,000 RSU grant schedule to vest one year following grant (with vesting accelerated if Mr. Najjar’s employment with the Company is terminated for a reason other than for cause) to be granted upon the earlier of the conclusion of his interim role or immediately prior to a change of control event.
•The Compensation Committee also approved a retention award for Mr. Najjar in the amount of $40,000, scheduled to vest in two equal installments on August 31, 2022 and November 30, 2022
•For Mr. Sharma, the Compensation Committee approved an additional retention award of $74,000, scheduled to vest in two equal installments on August 31, 2022 and November 30, 2022]
•For Ms. Wenzell, the Compensation Committee approved an additional retention award of $78,000, scheduled to vest in two equal installments on August 31, 2022 and November 30, 2022
Additionally, in connection with the filing delay of the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ending December 31, 2021 and the corresponding delay in the grant of our 2022 LTI awards, the Compensation Committee conditionally approved the cash settlement of these LTI awards in the event that a change in control transaction is consummated prior to the grant date. This action was taken to provide our executives with a measure of certainty regarding their compensation during a period of significant uncertainty about the future ownership and leadership structure of the Company.
SUMMARY OF CASH AND CERTAIN OTHER COMPENSATION AND
OTHER PAYMENTS TO THE NAMED EXECUTIVE OFFICERS
The following sections provide a summary of cash and certain other amounts earned by the NEOs in Fiscal Year 2021 (and the preceding two fiscal years). Except where noted, the information in the Summary Compensation Table generally pertains to compensation to the NEOs for Fiscal Year 2021. We encourage you to read the following tables closely. The narratives preceding the tables and the footnotes accompanying each table are important parts of each table. Also, we encourage you to read this section in conjunction with the Compensation Discussion and Analysis above.
2021 Summary Compensation Table
Name and
Principal Position
Year
Salary
Bonus
Stock
Awards (1)
Option
Awards(2)
Non-Equity Incentive Plan Compensation(3)
All Other Compensation(4)
Total
(a)
(b)
(c)
(d)
(e)
(f)
(g)
(h)
(i)
Scott Buckhout
Former President and Chief Executive Officer (5)
$805,385
$-
$3,410,115
$-
$-
$14,001
$4,229,501
$754,017
$405,586
$2,193,689
$-
$246,164
$3,582
$3,603,038
$761,077
$-
$1,259,320
$1,375,000
$-
$13,449
$3,408,846
Former Abhishek Khandelwal
Chief Financial Officer (6)
$430,769
$-
$502,973
$-
$-
$26,001
$959,743
$273,077
$234,470
$428,641
$-
$51,268
$11,032
$998,488
Tony Najjar
President, Aerospace and Defense Group
$393,846
$-
$477,828
$-
$ 90,057.00 $14,031
$885,705
$345,962
$79,356
$368,095
$-
$128,544
$2,835
$924,792
Arjun Sharma
Senior Vice President, Business Development
$368,462
$-
$526,926
$-
$ 69,505.00 $22,401
$917,789
$315,712
$100,813
$395,605
$-
$61,187
$14,342
$887,659
$301,412
$-
$187,500
$62,500
$-
$25,762
$577,174
Jessica Wenzell
Senior Vice President, General Counsel & Chief People Officer
$368,000
$-
$279,469
$-
$ 73,064.00 $13,890
$661,359
Sumit Mehrotra
Former President, Industrial Group (7)
$219,162
$-
$480,616
$-
$-
$48,671
$748,449
$407,077
$110,127
$304,632
$-
$25,833
$213,927
$1,061,596
$383,846
$-
$240,000
$80,000
$-
$371,533
$1,075,379
(1) Reflects the grant date fair value of PSUs and time-based restricted stock units (“Time RSUs”), including MSPP RSUs attributable to the 33% discount on restricted stock units purchased under our Management Stock Purchase Plan (MSPP) in 2021 in connection with our 2020 STI Plan. For more details about these grants, please refer to the section below entitled “2021 Grants of Plan-Based Awards.” A discussion of the assumptions used in calculating the amounts in this column may be found in Note 14 (“Share-Based Compensation”) to our audited consolidated financial statements for the year ended December 31, 2021 included in this Annual Report on Form 10-K.
(2) Reflects the aggregate grant date fair value of stock options awards. For a discussion of the assumptions related to the calculation of the amounts in this column, refer to Note 14 (“Share-Based Compensation”).
(3) Reflects the amounts earned under our STI Plan by each NEO, whether received in cash or RSUs. Some of our NEOs elected to use all or a portion of their short-term incentive to purchase RSUs under our MSPP in 2021 and 2020. There were no annual bonus payments made to NEOs for 2019. The number of RSUs purchased by each NEO is as follows:
NEO
Year
Percentage of Bonus Used to Purchase RSUs
Amount of Bonus Excluding Sign-On Bonus
Amount of Non-Equity Incentive Plan Compensation
Amount of Bonus Plus Non-Equity Incentive Plan Compensation
Amount of Bonus Used to Purchase RSUs
Number of Purchased RSUs
Scott Buckhout 2021 70% - - $0 - -
2020 70% $405,586 $246,164 $651,750 $456,225 17,100
2019 65% - - $0 - -
Abhishek Khandelwal 2021 -% $- $- $- $- -
2020 -% $84,470 $51,268 $135,738 - -
Tony Najjar 2021 30% - $ 90,057.00 $ 90,057.00 $ 27,017.00 TBD
2020 30% 79,356 128,544 $207,900 62,370 2,337
Arjun Sharma 2021 100% $- $ 69,505.00 $ 69,505.00 $ 69,505.00 TBD
2020 100% $100,813 $61,187 $162,000 $162,000 6,072
2019 100% $- $- $- $- -
Jessica Wenzell 2021 -% - $ 73,064.00 $ 73,064.00 - -
Sumit Mehrotra 2021 100% $- $- $- - -
2020 50% $110,127 $25,833 $135,960 $67,980 2,548
2019 100% $- $- $- $- -
Under our MSPP, the purchase price for RSUs is 67% of the closing price of our Common Stock on the business day prior to the date of grant. The grant date fair value of the 33% discount is referred to as MSPP RSUs, and the MSPP RSUs have been included under the Stock Awards column as additional compensation to NEOs. The total number of RSUs to be purchased in connection with the 2021 STI Plan will be determined by dividing the dollar amount of the bonus indicated in the above table by 67% of the closing price of our Common Stock on the grant date, scheduled to occur following the filing our our 2021 Annual Report on Form 10-k. For the 2020 STI Plan, the total number of RSUs purchased was determined by dividing the dollar amount of the bonus indicated in the above table by $26.68, which is 67% of the closing price of our Common Stock on March 16, 2021. The actual number of RSUs purchased under the MSPP may be reduced to pay for tax withholding. Although Messrs. Buckhout and Mehrotra each elected to participate in the MSPP with respect to the 2021 STI payout, no MSPP awards were granted since they did not receive a 2021 STI payment.
(4)
See “2021 All Other Compensation Table” for specific items in this category.
(5)
Mr. Buckhout terminated employment with CIRCOR on January 19, 2022. The equity awards granted to Mr. Buckhout in 2021 and disclosed in the Summary Compensation Table were forfeited except for 12,787 RSUs that vested pursuant to his separation agreement.
(6)
Mr. Khandelwal terminated employment with CIRCOR on December 31, 2021. The equity awards granted to Mr. Khandelwal in 2021 and disclosed in the Summary Compensation Table were forfeited
(7) Mr. Mehrotra terminated employment with CIRCOR on July 5, 2021. The equity awards granted to Mr. Mehrotra in 2021 and disclosed in the Summary Compensation Table were forfeited.
2021 All Other Compensation Table
Name
Perquisites
and Other
Personal
Benefits (1)
Tax
Preparation
and
Financial
Planning
Life Insurance
Premiums
(2)
Payments
Relating to
Employee
Savings
Plan
(3)
Other
(4)
Total
Scott Buckhout................................................
$1,201
$-
$1,200
$11,600
$-
$14,001
Abhishek Khandelwal.........................................
$13,201
$-
$1,200
$11,600
$-
$26,001
Tony Najjar....................................................
$1,201
$-
$1,200
$11,600
$30
$14,031
Arjun Sharma..................................................
$9,601
$-
$1,200
$11,600
$-
$22,401
Jessica Wenzell................................................
$1,186
$-
$1,104
$11,600
$-
$13,890
Sumit Mehrotra................................................
$5,128
$5,887
$626
$7,175
$48,671
$67,487
(1)
The amounts shown in this column reflect each NEO’s annual car allowance and the cost of group accident and disability insurance that provides for higher coverage levels than generally available to other employees.
(2)
The amounts shown in this column reflect group term life insurance premiums paid on behalf of each NEO.
(3)
The amounts shown in this column reflect Company matching contributions to each NEO’s 401(k) savings account of up to 4.0% of eligible compensation subject to the limits imposed by IRS regulations.
(4)
For Mr. Mehrotra, the amount shown in this column reflects payment for accrued vacation.
2021 Grants of Plan-Based Awards
The following table summarizes the grant of plan-based awards made to our NEOs in 2021.
Name Type of
Award (1) Grant
Date Approval Date Estimated Future Payouts
Under Non-Equity Incentive
Plan Awards (2) Estimated Future Payouts
Under Equity Incentive
Plan Awards (3) All Other Stock
Awards: Number of Shares of Stock or Units
(#) Grant Date Fair
Value of Stock and Option Awards ($) (4) (5)
Thresh-hold
($) Target
($) Maxi-mum
($) Thresh-hold
(#) Target
(#) Maxi-mum
(#)
(a) (b) (c) (d) (e) (f) (g) (h) (i) (l)
Scott Buckhout STI 445,500 891,000 2,673,000 - - - - -
PSU 3/17/2021 3/3/2021 - - - 19,180 38,359 76,718 - 1,657,876
Time RSU 3/17/2021 3/3/2021 - - - - - - 38,361 1,527,535
MSPP RSU 3/17/2021 3/3/2021 - - - - - - 5,643 224,704.26
Abhishek Khandelwal STI 154,000 308,000 924,000 - - - - -
PSU 3/17/2021 3/3/2021 - - - 3,029 6,057 12,114 261,784
Time RSU 3/17/2021 3/3/2021 - - - - - - 6,057 241,190
Tony Najjar STI 118,950 237,900 713,700 - - - - -
PSU 3/17/2021 3/3/2021 - - - 2,692 5,384 10,768 - 232,696
Time RSU 3/17/2021 3/3/2021 - - - - - - 5,385 214,431
Time RSU 3/17/2021 3/3/2021 - - - - - - 771 30,701
Arjun Sharma STI 111,300 222,600 667,800 - - - - -
PSU 3/17/2021 3/3/2021 - - - 2,692 5,384 10,768 - 232,696
Time RSU 3/17/2021 3/3/2021 - - - - - - 5,385 214,431
MSPP RSU 3/17/2021 3/3/2021 - - - - - - 2,004 79,799
Jessica Wenzell STI 117,000 234,000 702,000 - - - - -
PSU 3/17/2021 3/3/2021 - - - 1,683 3,365 6,730 - 145,435
Time RSU 3/17/2021 3/3/2021 - - - - - - 3,366 134,034
Sumit Mehrotra STI 127,350 254,700 764,100 - - - - -
PSU 3/17/2021 3/3/2021 - - - 2,692 5,384 10,768 - 232,696
Time RSU 3/17/2021 3/3/2021 - - - - - - 5,385 214,431
MSPP RSU 3/17/2021 3/3/2021 - - - - - - 841 33,489
(1) Type of Award:
"STI" refers to cash awards that are subject to performance conditions under the STI Plan
"PSU" refers to RSU awards that are subject to performance conditions
"Time RSU" refers to RSU awards that are subject to time-based vesting only
"MSPP RSU" refers to the portion of Time RSU awards granted under our Management Stock Purchase Plan (MSPP) that are attributable to the 33% discounted purchase price. Each of our NEOs, other than Mr. Khandelwal and Ms. Wenzell, elected to use a portion of his or her short-term incentive bonus awarded under our 2020 STI Plan to purchase Time RSUs at a price equal to 67% of the closing price of our Common Stock on the business day prior to the date of grant. See footnote (3) to the “Summary Compensation Table” for a description of the actual amount of annual bonus earned by each of the NEOs, the corresponding amount of each NEO’s bonus that was used to purchase RSUs and the total number of RSUs purchased.
The Time RSU, PSU, and MSPP RSU awards were granted under our LTI Plan. See Summary Compensation Table and the footnotes thereto for additional information on these types of awards.
(2) The amounts in these columns indicate the threshold, target and maximum performance bonus amounts payable under our STI Plan prior to deducting any amounts the NEO elected to use to purchase RSUs under the MSPP. The potential bonus amounts payable under the STI Plan are based on the achievement of specific financial performance metrics. The NEOs would receive a bonus payout equal to 50% of their target bonus at the threshold level of performance and 300% of their target bonus at the maximum level of performance. If none of the threshold performance metrics are met, no bonus would be payable to the NEOs under the STI Plan unless otherwise determined by the Compensation Committee.
(3) The amounts in these columns indicate the threshold, target and maximum number of shares that the NEO could receive if an award payout is achieved under the PSUs. These potential share amounts are based on achievement of relative total shareholder return goals compared to a specified index of small-sized industrial companies during the performance period beginning on February 26, 2021 and ending on February 29, 2024. The NEO would receive 50% of the target number of shares at the threshold level of performance and 200% of the target number of shares at the maximum level of performance. If the threshold performance target is not met, then our NEOs will not receive any shares.
(4) The amounts in this column reflect the aggregate grant date fair values of the PSUs reflected in column (g) and Time RSUs and MSPP RSUs reflected in column (i), each calculated in accordance with accounting guidance.
(5) Included in this column is the grant date fair value of the target number of PSUs granted to each NEO, which we consider to be the probable outcome of the performance conditions as of the grant date. The following table shows for each NEO the grant date fair value of the target number of PSUs granted to each such officer that is included in the Summary Compensation Table and the grant date fair value of the maximum number of PSUs.
NEO Target Number of PSUs Grant Date Fair Value of Target Number of PSUs Maximum Number of PSUs Grant Date Fair Value of Maximum Number of PSUs
Scott Buckhout 38,359 $1,657,876 76,718 $3,315,752
Abhishek Khandelwal 6,057 $261,784 12,114 $523,567
Tony Najjar 5,384 $232,696 10,768 $465,393
Arjun Sharma 5,384 $232,696 10,768 $465,393
Jessica Wenzell 3,365 $145,435 6,730 $290,871
Sumit Mehrotra 5,384 $232,696 10,768 $465,393
The target number of PSUs awarded in 2021 is earned if our relative total shareholder return goals are achieved during the performance period beginning on February 26, 2021 and ending on February 29, 2024. The maximum number of PSUs that can be earned is two times the target number of PSUs. See “Long Term Equity Incentives” in “Compensation Discussion and Analysis” for more details.
Outstanding Equity Awards at 2021 Fiscal Year-End
Option Awards
Stock Awards
Name
Type
of
Award
(1)
Number of Securities Underlying Unexercised Options Exercisable (#)(2)
Number of Securities Underlying
Unexercised Options
Unexercisable (#) (2)
Equity Incentive Plan Awards: Number of Securities Underlying unexercised unearned options (#)
Option Exercise Price
($)
Option Expiration
Date
Award
Grant
Date
Number of Shares or Units of Stock That
Have Not Vested (#)
Market Value
of Shares or Units of Stock That Have Not
Vested
($) (3)
Equity Incentive Awards: Number of Unearned Shares, Units or Other
Rights That Have Not Vested (#)
Equity Incentive Plan Awards: Market or Payout Value of Unearned Shares, Units or Other Rights That Have Not Vested ($) (3)
(a)
(b)
(c)
(d)
(e)
(f)
(g)
(h)
(i)
(j)
(k)
Scott Buckhout
Perf Option
150,000 (4)
-
-
$41.17
4/09/2023
4/09/2013
-
-
-
-
Option
39,141
-
-
$51.84
2/23/2022
2/23/2015
-
-
-
-
Option
79,977
-
-
$38.89
2/23/2023
2/23/2016
-
-
-
-
Option
55,788
-
-
$60.99
2/27/2024
2/27/2017
-
-
-
-
Option
98,775
-
-
$42.62
3/05/2025
3/05/2018
-
-
-
-
Option
38,711
77,422
-
$33.63
3/04/2026
3/04/2019
-
-
-
-
MSPP RSU
-
-
-
-
-
3/04/2019
19,486
$529,629 (5)
-
-
PSU
-
-
-
-
-
3/27/2020
-
-
68,445
$1,860,335 (6)
Time RSU
-
-
-
-
-
3/27/2020
45,630
$1,240,223 (7
-
-
MSPP RSU
-
-
-
-
-
3/17/2021
17,100
$464,778 (5)
-
-
PSU
-
-
-
-
-
3/17/2021
-
-
38,359
$1,042,598 (8)
Time RSU
-
-
-
-
-
3/17/2021
38,361
$1,042,652 (7)
-
-
Abhishek Khandelwal (9)
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
Tony Najjar
Option
2,730
-
-
$38.89
2/23/2023
2/23/2016
-
-
-
-
Option
1,449
-
-
$60.99
2/27/2024
2/27/2017
-
-
-
-
Option
1,704
-
-
$42.62
3/05/2025
3/05/2018
-
-
-
-
Option
2,816
1,408
-
$33.63
3/04/2026
3/04/2019
-
-
-
-
MSPP RSU
-
-
-
-
-
3/04/2019
5,183
$140,874 (5)
-
-
Time RSU
-
-
-
-
-
3/04/2019
$13,481 (7)
-
-
PSU
-
-
-
-
-
3/27/2020
-
-
8,406
$228,475 (6)
Time RSU
-
-
-
-
-
3/27/2020
5,604
$152,317 (7)
-
-
MSPP RSU
-
-
-
-
-
3/17/2021
2,337
$63,520 (5)
-
-
PSU
-
-
-
-
-
3/17/2021
-
-
5,384
$146,337 (8)
Time RSU
-
-
-
-
-
3/17/2021
5,385
$146,364 (7)
-
-
Arjun Sharma
Option
2,799
-
-
$32.76
3/05/2022
3/05/2012
-
-
-
-
Option
3,663
-
-
$51.84
2/23/2022
2/23/2015
-
-
-
-
Option
8,406
-
-
$38.89
2/23/2023
2/23/2016
-
-
-
-
Option
5,943
-
-
$60.99
2/27/2024
2/27/2017
-
-
-
-
Option
2,760
-
-
$42.62
3/05/2025
3/05/2018
-
-
-
-
Option
3,520
-
$33.63
3/04/2026
3/04/2019
-
-
-
-
MSPP RSU
-
-
-
-
-
3/04/2019
6,612
$179,714 (5)
-
-
Time RSU
-
-
-
-
-
3/04/2019
$16,852 (7)
-
-
PSU
-
-
-
-
-
3/27/2020
-
-
9,609
$261,173 (6)
Time RSU
-
-
-
-
-
3/27/2020
6,406
$174,115 (7)
-
-
MSPP RSU
-
-
-
-
-
3/17/2021
6,072
$165,037 (5)
-
-
PSU
-
-
-
-
-
3/17/2021
-
-
5,384
$146,337 (8)
Time RSU
-
-
-
-
-
3/17/2021
5,385
$146,364 (7)
-
-
Jessica Wenzell
Time RSU
-
-
-
-
-
11/9/2020
1,158
$31,474 (7)
-
-
PSU
-
-
-
-
-
3/17/2021
-
-
3,365
$91,461 (8)
Time RSU
-
-
-
-
-
3/17/2021
3,366
$91,488 (7)
-
-
Sumit Mehrotra (10)
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
(1)
Type of Award:
"Time RSU" refers to RSU awards that are subject to time-based vesting only
"PSU" refers to RSU awards that are subject to performance conditions
"Perf Option" refers to inducement stock option awards that are subject to a service period and a market vesting condition
"Option" refers to stock option awards that are subject to time-based vesting
"MSPP RSU" refers to RSU awards subject to time-based vesting pursuant to our Management Stock Purchase Plan
With the exception of the Perf Option award to Mr. Buckhout on April 9, 2013, which was granted as special inducement award under Section 303A.08 of the NYSE Listed Company Manual), each of these awards was granted under our 1999, 2014 or 2019 Stock Option and Incentive Plans.
(2)
The Options listed in these columns were granted pursuant to our Equity Incentive Plan in effect at the time of grant. The Option grants on March 5, 2012 vested ratably 33% per year generally beginning on the first anniversary from such date and have a ten-year term. The Option grants on February 23, 2015, February 23, 2016, February 27, 2017, March 5, 2018 and March 4, 2019 vest ratably 33% per year generally beginning on the first anniversary from such date and have a seven-year term.
(3)
The amounts shown in these columns reflect the market value of unvested RSUs calculated by multiplying the number of such unvested RSUs by $27.18, the closing price of our Common Stock on December 31, 2021.
(4)
On April 9, 2013, a special inducement stock option award of 200,000 shares was granted to Mr. Buckhout with an exercise price of $41.17 per share. This stock option award includes both a service period and a market vesting condition. In 2014, certain of these targets were achieved and 150,000 shares vested and remain exercisable. The remaining 50,000 shares were canceled during 2018 due to lack of performance achievement.
(5)
The amounts reflect the unvested portion of MSPP RSUs pursuant to the MSPP provisions allowing executives to receive MSPP RSUs in lieu of a specified percentage or dollar amount of their short-term incentive cash bonus. Such MSPP RSUs vest in whole on the date that is three years from the date of the grant, provided that the NEO is then employed with the Company, at which time they convert into shares of Common Stock and are issued to the executive unless the executive has selected a longer deferral period. For example, awards with a grant date of March 4, 2019 vest on March 4, 2022. To the extent that an executive does not earn a vested benefit when terminating employment before the scheduled vesting date, the unvested MSPP RSUs are cancelled and the Company returns the corresponding annual incentive cash bonus used to purchase those MSPP RSUs plus interest at the one-year U.S. Treasury bill rate. If all of the unvested MSPP RSUs disclosed in the table above were cancelled on December 31, 2021 due to an NEO’s voluntary resignation, the amount that would be required to be returned to each NEO is as follows: Mr. Buckhout $909,564; Mr. Najjar $182,901; and Mr. Sharma $315,831. In the event of retirement, disability or an involuntary termination for any reason prior to the third anniversary of the grant date, the NEO vests in a pro-rata amount of the MSPP RSUs (based on number of full years that the NEO was employed by the Company after the grant date divided by three), and the remaining unvested MSPP RSUs would be cancelled for a return of the corresponding bonus with interest. See the tables for each NEO under the heading “Severance and Other Benefits Upon Termination of Employment or Change of Control” for an estimate of these amounts.
(6)
The amounts reflect the unvested portion of long-term incentive grants in the form of PSUs pursuant to our Equity Incentive Plan in effect at the time of grant, including PSUs that did not meet the performance threshold to vest on December 31, 2020 and December 31, 2021 but that remain eligible to vest on December 31, 2022. Such grants are subject to financial performance conditions for the three year period ending December 31, 2022 and reflect the target amount of the award.
(7)
The amounts reflect the unvested portion of long-term incentive grants in the form of Time RSUs pursuant to our Equity Incentive Plan, in effect at the time of grant. Such grants generally vest ratably over a three-year period, beginning on the first anniversary of the date of grant, subject to any longer deferral period selected by the executive.
(8)
The amounts reflect the unvested portion of long-term incentive grants in the form of PSUs pursuant to our Equity Incentive Plan in effect at the time of grant. Such grants are subject to relative total shareholder return conditions during the performance period beginning on February 26, 2021 and ending on February 29, 2024 and reflect the target amount of the award.
(9)
Mr. Khandelwal terminated employment on December 31, 2021 and his outstanding awards were forfeited immediately there following.
(10)
Mr. Mehrotra terminated employment July 5, 2021 and had no outstanding awards as of December 31, 2021.
2021 Options Exercises and Stock Vested
Option Awards Stock Awards
Name Number of Shares
Acquired on
Exercise (#) Value Realized
on
Exercise ($) Number of Shares
Acquired on
Vesting (#)(1) Value Realized
on
Vesting ($)(2)
(a) (b) (c) (d) (e)
Scott Buckhout(3) - - 89,193 $3,200,542
Abhishek Khandelwal(4) - - 14,837 $524,785
Tony Najjar(5) - - 19,173 $710,587
Arjun Sharma(6) - - 23,616 $864,945
Jessica Wenzell(7) - - 579 $16,461
Sumit Mehrotra(8) 4,506 $25,372 16,824 $611,143
(1) With respect to shares acquired upon vesting of RSUs, NEOs have shares withheld to pay associated income taxes. The number of shares reported represents the gross number prior to withholding of such shares. In certain cases, the actual receipt of shares underlying vested RSUs may have been deferred pursuant to a previous election made by the NEO. This table reports the number of shares vested regardless of whether distribution actually was made.
(2) The amounts shown in this column reflect the value realized upon vesting of Time RSUs, PSUs, and MSPP RSUs determined by multiplying the number of share units that vested (prior to withholding of any shares to pay associated income taxes) and the closing price of our Common Stock on the day prior to vesting. The amounts reported include the value of MSPP RSUs that were purchased with the following Short-Term Incentive award amounts earned prior to 2021: $208,495 for Mr. Buckhout, $26,339 for Mr. Najjar, $107,443 for Mr. Sharma, and $93,110 for Mr. Mehrotra.
(3) Mr. Buckhout had 30,020 RSUs vest on March 4, 2021 with a price of $37.90, 7,301 MSPP RSUs and 29,057 PSUs vest on March 5, 2021 with a price of $35.08, 22,815 RSUs vest on April 27, 2021 with a price of $34.51.
(4) Mr. Khandelwal had 14,837 RSUs vest on April 2, 2021 with a price of $35.37.
(5) Mr. Najjar had 14,041 RSUs vest on March 4, 2021 with a price of $37.90, 922 MSPP RSUs and 196 RSUs and 1,212 PSUs vest on March 5, 2021 with a price of $35.08, 2,802 RSUs vest on April 27, 2021 with a price of $34.51.
(6) Mr. Sharma had 13,589 RSUs vest on March 4, 2021 with a price of $37.90, 3,762 MSPP RSUs and 1,100 RSUs and 1,962 PSUs vest on March 5, 2021 with a price of $35.08, 3,203 RSUs vest on April 27, 2021 with a price of $34.51.
(7) Ms. Wenzell had 579 RSUs vest on December 9, 2021 with a price of $28.43.
(8) Mr. Mehrotra exercised 4,506 stock options on March 10, 2021 with an exercise price of $33.63 and a market price of $39.26. Additionally, he had 7,998 RSUs vest on March 4, 2021 with a price of $37.90, 3,209 MSPP RSUs and 392 RSUs and 2,423 PSUs vest on March 5, 2021 with a price of $35.08, and 2,802 RSUs vest on April 27, 2021 with a price of $34.51.
2021 Nonqualified Deferred Compensation
The Company sponsors a nonqualified deferred compensation plan to provide benefits that would have otherwise been provided to participants in our 401(k) plan but for the imposition of certain maximum statutory limits imposed on qualified plans, such as annual limits on eligible pay and contributions. The Company also may, in its discretion, make the same contributions to the nonqualified deferred compensation plan but only with respect to compensation in excess of the annual limit of eligible pay. In 2021, the Company elected not to make core contributions to the nonqualified deferred compensation plan. Any contribution credits that we provided to participants under the nonqualified deferred compensation plan are invested in a rabbi trust, at the discretion of the plan participants, in one or more mutual funds selected by the plan participants.
The same mutual funds that we make available under our 401(k) plan are also available under the nonqualified 401(k) excess plan and there are no minimum or guaranteed rates of return to the participants on such investments. Distributions from the nonqualified deferred compensation plan are made in lump sum in connection with a participant’s separation from service.
As discussed above, our MSPP allows our NEOs to defer the payment of their short-term incentive compensation in the form of RSUs. We also permit the grantees of our MSPP RSUs to defer the settlement of MSPP RSUs beyond the vesting date. The deferral period is a stated period of years selected in advance by the grantee. In general, if the grantee’s employment terminates before the end of the deferral period for reasons other than retirement, the MSPP RSUs will be settled in shares of our common stock upon termination of employment. If the grantee retires before the end of the deferral period, the MSPP RSUs will be settled in shares of our common stock at the end of the deferral period. During the deferral period, any dividends that would otherwise be paid on the deferred MSPP RSUs accumulate in cash and will be paid out at the same time that the deferred MSPP RSUs are settled. Information regarding short-term incentive compensation that was used to purchase MSPP RSUs is set forth in the Outstanding Equity Awards at 2021 Fiscal Year-End Table.
Under either deferred compensation arrangement, if a distribution is made on account of separation from service, the distribution will be delayed by six months if the participant is considered a specified employee within the meaning of Section 409A of the Internal Revenue Code.
The following table outlines employee and employer contributions to each deferred compensation arrangement for Fiscal Year 2021. The table also includes earnings or losses during Fiscal Year 2021, and the aggregate balances as of December 31, 2021.
Name (a) Item Executive
Contributions
in Last FY (b)(1) Registrant
Contributions
in Last FY (c) Aggregate
Earnings/(Loss) in
Last FY (d) (2) Aggregate
Withdrawals/
Distributions (e) Aggregate
Balance at
Last FYE
(f) (3)
Scott Buckhout Excess 401K $120,808 $- $21,188 $- $250,047
Abhishek Khandelwal Excess 401K $- $- $- $- $-
Tony Najjar Excess 401K $- $- $- $- $-
Arjun Sharma Excess 401K $- $- $13,440 $- $96,040
Jessica Wenzell Excess 401K $- $- $- $- $-
Sumit Mehrotra Excess 401K $- $- $230 $- $1,913
(1) These amounts are included in 2021 salary as reported in the Summary Compensation Table.
(2) These amounts are excluded from the Summary Compensation Table.
(3) These figures include the following amounts that have been reported in the Summary Compensation Tables of prior year Proxy Statements; $80,081 for Mr. Buckhout (including $50,716 reported in 2020 salary), $965 for Mr. Mehrotra, and $50,123 for Mr. Sharma (including $45,212 reported in 2019 salary).
SEVERANCE AND OTHER BENEFITS UPON
TERMINATION OF EMPLOYMENT OR CHANGE IN CONTROL
To achieve our compensation objective of attracting, retaining and motivating qualified executives, we believe that we need to provide our executive officers with severance and change in control protections that are competitive with the protections offered by our Peer Group Companies. Offering our executive officers these payments and benefits facilitates the operation of our business, allows them to better focus their time, attention and capabilities on our business, assists us in recruiting and motivating executive officers, provides for a clear and consistent approach to managing involuntary departures with mutually understood separation benefits and aligns with market practice. The following section describes our severance and change in control agreements for our NEOs employed with us at year end along with estimated payments if their employment had terminated with us as of December 31, 2021. Information regarding NEOs who departed during 2021 is set forth in the Summary Compensation Table above. Other benefits that our NEOs would be entitled to irrespective of termination of employment or change in control, such as previously vested equity awards and non-qualified deferred compensation, are described above.
Severance Agreements
Each of our NEOs has entered into an agreement providing severance benefits if he resigns from the Company for good reason or if the Company terminates him other than for cause (the “Severance Agreements”). In such circumstances, Mr. Buckhout’s Severance Agreement entitled him to a lump sum payment equal to (i) his then-current base salary and (ii) his target short-term incentive compensation in effect during the fiscal year in which the termination occurs. In the same circumstances, each of Messrs. Khandelwal’s, Najjar’s and Sharma’s and Ms. Wenzell's Severance Agreement entitles him or her to a lump sum payment equal to his or her then-current base salary and short-term incentive compensation for the fiscal year in which the termination occurs, to the extent that performance goals are met for that year, prorated based on the date of termination of employment. In addition, the severance benefit for each of the NEOs includes the Company continuing to pay for medical coverage (if COBRA coverage is elected) in the same proportion it did on the date of termination for up to 12 months following termination.
To receive the benefits described above, each such NEO must execute a general release of claims in a manner satisfactory to the Company within 21 days of the termination of employment. Each of the NEOs listed above also has agreed to comply with non-competition and non-solicitation obligations lasting for the term of employment and one year following termination as consideration for the severance benefits.
The Severance Agreements continue to apply after a change in control. No benefits, however, are payable under the Severance Agreements if severance benefits become payable under the Change in Control Agreements, as described below.
In addition to the Severance Agreements, the company also entered into special agreements with Messrs. Buckhout and Mehrotra in connection with their termination of employment ("Special Termination Agreements"). Mr. Mehrotra's Special Termination Agreement, entered into between the parties on June 7, 2021 in connection with Mr. Mehrotra's resignation tendered on or about May 11, 2021, provided, in exchange for his agreement to continue leading the Industrial business through his employment termination date of July 5, 2021 and his release of future claims against the Company, the lump sum payment of his bonus earned under the 2021 STI Plan, pro-rated based on his termination date ($0, as disclosed in the Summary Compensation Table). All outstanding equity awards, deferred compensation benefits and earned but unused vacation balances were settled in accordance with the underlying terms of the applicable award agreements and plan documents. Mr. Buckhout's Special Termination Agreement, entered into between the parties on January 28, 2022 in connection with his termination of employment on January 19, 2022, is substantially the same as Mr. Buckhout's Severance Agreement described above except that it provides for acceleration of vesting (but not the timing of payment) of his two RSU vesting tranches that were otherwise scheduled to vest in March and April of 2022 (a combined total of 35,602 RSUs). Mr. Buckhout's Special Termination Agreement also confirmed his eligibility to participate in the 2021 STI Plan ($0, as disclosed in the Summary Compensation Table) and the PSU vesting on December 31, 2021 pursuant to his 2019 PSU award (as disclosed in the 2021 Option Exercises and Stock Vested table). All other outstanding equity awards, deferred compensation benefits and earned but unused vacation balances were settled in accordance with the underlying terms of the applicable award agreements and plan documents.
Change in Control Agreements
Each of our NEOs has entered into an agreement providing benefits in the event of a change in control of the Company (the “Change in Control Agreements”). The term of each Change in Control Agreement is one year subject to annual one-year extensions unless there is a notice of non-renewal. Each of the Change in Control Agreements provides enhanced severance benefits if, within two years following a change of control, such NEO's employment is terminated by the Company without
cause or he or she resigns from the Company for good reason. In such circumstances, the Change in Control Agreement entitles each such NEO to a lump sum payment equal to two times (i) the greater of his or her (a) then-current base salary, (b) salary immediately prior to the change in control or (c) salary immediately prior to the announcement of the change in control if such announcement occurs in a different year than the change in control and (ii) the greater of (a) his or her target annual bonus in effect during the fiscal year in which the termination occurs and (b) the average annual bonuses paid or payable for the three fiscal years ended prior to termination of employment or, if greater, the three fiscal years ended prior to the change in control (or, in each case, a lesser period for which annual bonuses were payable). Such payment is payable on the first payroll date after a release of claims becomes irrevocable, subject to a later payment date of up to six months and one-day following termination of employment, in the event required by Section 409A of the Internal Revenue Code.
The Change in Control Agreements also provide for (i) a pro-rated payment of annual bonus for the performance year in which termination of employment occurs based on actual performance through such termination date and payable at the same time as bonuses are paid to other senior executives, (ii) payments equal to the value of up to 24 months of COBRA premiums (if COBRA coverage is elected) to facilitate continuation of medical coverage, with the first 18 months payable in monthly installments and the remaining six months, if applicable, paid in a lump sum following the 18-month anniversary of termination of employment if COBRA coverage were maintained for the full 18 months and (iii) the accelerated vesting of certain equity-based awards in connection with a termination of employment without cause or for good reason (a “qualifying termination”) as further detailed below.
The treatment of equity awards granted after March 1, 2019 (“Equity Awards”) are governed by the Change in Control Agreements as follows:
•For Equity Awards that are subject only to service conditions, awards will vest upon a change in control only in the event the surviving entity does not assume or continue the awards or provide substitute awards of similar value. If such awards are assumed or substituted and a qualifying termination of employment subsequently occurs within two years of the change in control event, any unvested portion of such awards will immediately vest.
•For Equity Awards that are subject to achievement of performance criteria, if the change in control event is also a “change in the ownership of a corporation” or a “change in the ownership of a substantial portion of a corporation's assets” (as set forth in Treas.Reg. 1.409A-3(i)(5)), then any such award (i) will, to the extent not otherwise subject to substantial risk of forfeiture, immediately vest on a pro-rated basis based on the greater of (a) the target number of shares underlying the award or (b) the number of shares determined based on actual performance between the beginning of the performance period and the event date) or (ii) if such award is otherwise subject to a substantial risk of forfeiture, it may be replaced with a substitute award of restricted stock of the successor entity of equal value to the target number of performance shares (or, if greater, the number of shares determined based on actual performance between the beginning of the performance period and change in control date) with vesting to occur on the second anniversary of the change in control if the change in control occurs within the first 12 months of the applicable performance period or on the first anniversary of the change in control date if the change in control occurs after the first 12 months of the applicable performance period, or, if earlier, immediate vesting upon a qualifying termination of employment.
The treatment of equity awards granted prior to March 2, 2019 are governed by terms of the underlying award and generally provide (i) in the case of awards that are subject only to service conditions, accelerated vesting upon a change in control and (ii) in the case of awards that are subject to achievement of performance criteria, if the change in control occurs following the completion of a performance period, accelerated vesting based on actual performance results, otherwise, accelerated vesting of the target number of shares underlying a performance period (or if greater, the number of shares determined based on actual performance). Effective with the Equity Awards, there is double trigger vesting on unvested equity upon a change in control.
A “change in control” for purposes of the Change in Control Agreements means any of the following: (i) acquisition of 50% or more of the voting power of the Company’s then outstanding securities; (ii) consummation of a consolidation or merger of the Company that results in stockholders owning less than 50% voting shares of the consolidated or merge entity (or its ultimate parent corporation, if any), (iii) stockholders of the Company approve a complete liquidation or dissolution of the Company or there is consummation of a sale or similar transaction of substantially all of the assets of the Company; or (iv) failure of incumbent directors for any reason to constitute at least a majority of the Board. In each case above, such event must also constitute a change in ownership or effective control of the Company, or a change in the ownership of a substantial portion of the assets of the Company, within the meaning of Section 409A(a)(2)(A)(v) of the Internal Revenue Code and U.S. Treasury Regulation Section 1.409A-3(i)(5).
As noted above, the NEO’s would not be entitled to benefits under the Severance Agreements in connection with any termination from the Company with respect to which benefits under the Change in Control Agreements would be payable. Each of the NEOs listed above also has agreed to comply with non-competition and non-solicitation provisions lasting for the term of employment and one year following termination as consideration for the change in control benefits.
Illustration of Potential Payments upon Termination of Employment
The following tables list the estimated amounts that Messrs. Buckhout, Khandelwal, Najjar and Sharma and Ms. Wenzell would have become entitled to in the event of a termination from the Company or change in control of the Company had such termination or change in control occurred on December 31, 2021. Assumptions used in preparing these estimates are set forth in the footnotes to each table. These tables do not include amounts that are otherwise earned and vested prior to a termination of employment or a change in control, such as vested stock options or nonqualified deferred compensation, amounts payable under disability or life insurance coverages.
Scott Buckhout
Severance and Other Benefits
Involuntary Without Cause or Voluntary Resignation With Good Reason Within Two Years Following Change in Control Involuntary Other Than For Cause or Voluntary Resignation With Good Reason at Any Other Time Involuntary For Cause or Voluntary Resignation Without Good Reason Change in Control Without a Termination of Employment (“Single Trigger”) Death or Disability (13)
12/31/2021 12/31/2021 12/31/2021 12/31/2021 12/31/2021
Cash Severance $ 3,402,000 (1) $ 1,701,000 (7) - - -
Pro-Rated Bonus - (2) - - - -
Health Benefits $ 65,635 (3) $ 21,975 (8) - - -
Gain on accelerated stock options - (4) - - - - (4)
Value of accelerated restricted stock units $ 6,180,216 (5) $ 960,589 (9) - (10) - (11) $ 6,146,398 (12)
Total Value: $ 9,647,851 (6) $ 2,683,564 $ - $ - $ 6,146,398
(1) This amount reflects payment to Mr. Buckhout that would equal two times his (i) then-current base salary and (ii) then-effective target short-term incentive compensation.
(2) Payment would equal Mr. Buckhout’s then-effective target short-term incentive compensation, to the extent that performance goals were met, prorated based on the date of resignation or termination (no amount is illustrated in this example since the bonus had been earned as of December 31, 2021 as reflected in the Summary Compensation Table in the “Bonus” and “Non-Equity Incentive Plan Compensation” columns).
(3) This amount reflects payments to Mr. Buckhout that would equal the cost of continued health insurance for a period of two years for Mr. Buckhout and any covered spouse and dependents. 75% of this amount would be paid in equal monthly installments over the 18-month period following the date of termination with each installment payment conditioned on qualification for coverage under COBRA and the remaining 25% would be paid in a lump sum following the 18-month anniversary of employment termination if healthcare coverage is still in effect under COBRA.
(4) Mr. Buckhout would be entitled to the immediate vesting of all unvested stock options. The incremental value is reflected as zero since these stock options were underwater based on the closing stock price of $27.18 on December 31, 2021.
(5) This amount reflects the incremental value to which Mr. Buckhout would be entitled due to the immediate vesting of all unvested RSUs including MSPP RSUs and the target number of PSUs assuming target performance results (including PSUs that had not met the performance threshold to vest as of December 31, 2021 but that remain eligible for future vesting) using the closing stock price of $27.18 on December 31, 2021.
(6) These amounts do not reflect a 20% excise tax under Section 4999 of the Internal Revenue Code that may apply depending upon the facts and circumstances in the event of a change in control. This estimate also does not reflect that payments are subject to being reduced in certain circumstances to avoid this tax.
(7) This amount reflects payment to Mr. Buckhout that would equal his (i) then-current base salary and (ii) his then-effective target short-term incentive compensation.
(8) This amount reflects payments that would be made on Mr. Buckhout’s behalf for the continuation of health insurance coverage for a period of 12 months for Mr. Buckhout and any covered spouse and dependents based on the same cost sharing percentage in effect for the health insurance plans prior to termination of employment. This amount would be divided into monthly installments with each installment payment conditioned on qualification for coverage under COBRA.
(9) This amount reflects the incremental value to which Mr. Buckhout would be entitled due to pro-rata vesting of the MSPP RSUs (based on number of full years that he was employed by the Company after the grant date divided by three) using the closing stock price of $27.18 on December 31, 2021, and the remaining unvested MSPP RSUs would be cancelled for a return of the corresponding bonus plus interest at the one-year U.S. Treasury bill rate.
(10) An executive who voluntarily resigns prior to attaining 55 years of age and completing at least five years of service is entitled to receive a return of short-term incentive cash bonuses used to purchase MSPP RSUs plus interest at the one- year U.S. Treasury bill rate. See footnote (5) to the Outstanding Equity Awards table for the amounts that would be returned to Mr. Buckhout due to a voluntary resignation on December 31, 2021. In the event of any involuntary termination, regardless of the reason for it, the executive vests in a pro-rata amount of the MSPP RSUs (based on number of full years that the executive was employed by the Company after the grant date divided by three), and the remaining unvested MSPP RSUs would be cancelled for a return of the corresponding bonus plus interest at the one-year U.S. Treasury bill rate. The value of the shares and cash that would be returned to Mr. Buckhout upon an involuntary termination on December 31, 2021 would be 960,589. This amount is reflected in the amount disclosed under “Involuntary Other Than For Cause or Voluntary Resignation With Good Reason at Any Other Time” above.
(11) As of December 31, 2021, none of Mr. Buckhout's unvested awards were subject to single trigger vesting.
(12) This amount reflects the incremental value to which Mr. Buckhout would be entitled due to (a) pro-rata vesting of the MSPP RSUs (based on number of full years that the executive was employed by the Company after the grant date divided by three) and the remaining unvested MSPP RSUs would be cancelled for a return of the corresponding bonus plus interest at the one-year U.S. Treasury bill rate, (b) the immediate vesting of all other unvested RSUs, and (c) immediate vesting of all unvested PSUs assuming target performance results (including PSUs that had not met the performance threshold to vest as of December 31, 2021 but that remain eligible for future vesting), in each case using the closing stock price of $27.18 on December 31, 2021.
(13) “Disability” for this purpose means qualifying for receipt of long-term disability benefits under the Company’s long-term disability plan as in effect from time to time.
In connection with Mr. Buckhout's termination of employment on January 19, 2022, the figures in this table are superseded by the amount of severance and stock acceleration he actually received as further described herein, and in Exhibit 10.38 to this Annual Report on Form 10-K.
Abhishek Khandelwal
Severance and Other Benefits
Involuntary Without Cause or Voluntary Resignation With Good Reason Within Two Years Following Change in Control Involuntary Other Than For Cause or Voluntary Resignation With Good Reason at Any Other Time Involuntary For Cause or Voluntary Resignation Without Good Reason Change in Control Without a Termination of Employment (“Single Trigger”) Death or Disability (8)
12/31/2021 12/31/2021 12/31/2021 12/31/2021 12/31/2021
Cash Severance $ 1,496,000 (1) $ 440,000 (6) - - -
Pro-Rated Bonus $ 96,170 (2) $ 96,170 (2) - - -
Health Benefits $ 58,913 (3) $ 22,390 (7) - - -
Gain on accelerated stock options - - - - -
Value of accelerated restricted stock units $ 1,135,798 (4) - - - $ 1,135,798 (4)
Total Value: $ 2,786,881 (5) $ 558,560 - $ - $ 1,135,798
(1) This amount reflects payment to Mr. Khandelwal that would equal two times his (i) then-current base salary and (ii) then-effective target short-term incentive compensation.
(2) This amount reflects payment to Mr. Khandelwal that would equal Mr. Khandelwal’s then-effective target short-term incentive compensation, to the extent that performance goals were met, prorated based on the date of resignation or termination.
(3) This amount reflects payments to Mr. Khandelwal that would equal the cost of continued health insurance for a period of two years for Mr. Khandelwal and any covered spouse and dependents. 75% of this amount would be paid in equal monthly installments over the 18-month period following the date of termination with each installment payment conditioned on qualification for coverage under COBRA and the remaining 25% would be paid in a lump sum following the 18-month anniversary of employment termination if healthcare coverage is still in effect under COBRA.
(4) This amount reflects the incremental value to which Mr. Khandelwal would be entitled due to the immediate vesting of all unvested RSUs using the closing stock price of $27.18 on December 31, 2021.
(5) These amounts do not reflect a 20% excise tax under Section 4999 of the Internal Revenue Code that may apply depending upon the facts and circumstances in the event of a change in control. This estimate also does not reflect that payments are subject to being reduced in certain circumstances to avoid this tax.
(6) This amount reflects payment to Mr. Khandelwal that would equal his then-current base salary.
(7) This amount reflects payments to Mr. Khandelwal that would equal the cost of continued health insurance for a period of one year for Mr. Khandelwal and any covered spouse and dependents based on the same cost sharing percentage in effect for the health insurance plans prior to termination of employment. This amount would be divided into monthly installments with each installment payment conditioned on qualification for coverage under COBRA.
(8) “Disability” for this purpose means qualifying for receipt of long-term disability benefits under the Company’s long-term disability plan as in effect from time to time.
In connection with Mr. Khandelwal's actual termination of employment on December 31, 2021, he received no severance, bonus, stock acceleration, or other acceleration of payments of any kind.
Tony Najjar
Severance and Other Benefits
Involuntary Without Cause or Voluntary Resignation With Good Reason Within Two Years Following Change in Control Involuntary Other Than For Cause or Voluntary Resignation With Good Reason at Any Other Time Involuntary For Cause or Voluntary Resignation Without Good Reason Change in Control Without a Termination of Employment (“Single Trigger”) Retirement Death or Disability (14)
12/31/2021 12/31/2021 12/31/2021 12/31/2021 12/31/2021 12/31/2021
Cash Severance $ 1,268,800 (1) $ 396,500 (7) - - - -
Pro-Rated Bonus - (2) - (2) - - - -
Health Benefits $ 66,440 (3) $ 21,975 (8) - - - -
Gain on accelerated stock options - (4) - - - - - (4)
Value of accelerated restricted stock units $ 891,368 (5) $ 196,475 (9) - (10) - (11) $ 304,651 (12) $ 883,450 (13)
Total Value: $ 2,226,608 (6) $ 614,950 - $ - $ 304,651 $ 883,450
(1) This amount reflects payment to Mr. Najjar that would equal two times his (i) then-current base salary and (ii)\then-effective target short-term incentive compensation.
(2) Payment would equal Mr. Najjar’s then-effective target short-term incentive compensation, to the extent that performance goals were met, prorated based on the date of resignation or termination (no amount is illustrated in this example since the bonus had been earned as of December 31, 2021 as reflected in the Summary Compensation Table in the “Bonus and Non-Equity Incentive Plan Compensation” columns).
(3) This amount reflects payments to Mr. Najjar that would equal the cost of continued health insurance for a period of two years for Mr. Najjar and any covered spouse and dependents. 75% of this amount would be paid in equal monthly installments over the 18-month period following the date of termination with each installment payment conditioned on qualification for coverage under COBRA and the remaining 25% would be paid in a lump sum following the 18-month anniversary of employment termination if healthcare coverage is still in effect under COBRA.
(4) Mr. Najjar would be entitled to the immediate vesting of all unvested stock options. The incremental value is reflected as zero since these stock options were underwater based on the closing stock price of $27.18 on December 31, 2021.
(5) This amount reflects the incremental value to which Mr. Najjar would be entitled due to the immediate vesting of all unvested RSUs including MSPP RSUs and the target number of PSUs assuming target performance results (including PSUs that had not met the performance threshold to vest as of December 31, 2021 but that remain eligible for future vesting) using the closing stock price of $27.18 on December 31, 2021.
(6) These amounts do not reflect a 20% excise tax under Section 4999 of the Internal Revenue Code that may apply depending upon the facts and circumstances in the event of a change in control. This estimate also does not reflect that payments are subject to being reduced in certain circumstances to avoid this tax.
(7) This amount reflects payment to Mr. Najjar that would equal his then-current base salary
(8) This amount reflects payments to Mr. Najjar that would equal the cost of continued health insurance for a period of one- year for Mr. Najjar and any covered spouse and dependents based on the same cost sharing percentage in effect for the health insurance plans prior to termination of employment. This amount would be divided into monthly installments with each installment payment conditioned on qualification for coverage under COBRA.
(9) This amount reflects the incremental value to which Mr. Najjar would be entitled due to pro-rata vesting of the MSPP RSUs (based on number of full years that he was employed by the Company after the grant date divided by three) using the closing stock price of $27.18 on December 31, 2021, and the remaining unvested MSPP RSUs would be cancelled for a return of the corresponding bonus plus interest at the one-year U.S. Treasury bill rate.
(10) An executive who voluntarily resigns prior to attaining 55 years of age and completing at least five years of service is entitled to receive a return of short-term incentive cash bonuses used to purchase MSPP RSUs plus interest at the one-year U.S. Treasury bill rate. See footnote (5) to the Outstanding Equity Awards table for the amounts that would be returned to Mr. Najjar due to a voluntary resignation on December 31, 2021. In the event of any involuntary termination, regardless of the reason for it, the executive vests in a pro-rata amount of the MSPP RSUs (based on number of full years that the executive was employed by the Company after the grant date divided by three), and the remaining unvested MSPP RSUs would be cancelled for a return of the corresponding bonus plus interest at the one-year U.S. Treasury bill rate. The value of the shares and cash that would be returned to Mr. Najjar upon an involuntary termination on December 31, 2021 would be $196,475. This amount is reflected in the amount disclosed under “Involuntary Other Than For Cause or Voluntary Resignation With Good Reason at Any Other Time” above.
(11) As of December 31, 2021, none of Mr. Najjar's unvested awards were subject to single trigger vesting.
(12) This amount reflects the incremental value to which Mr. Najjar would be entitled due to (a) pro-rata vesting of the MSPP RSUs (based on number of full years that the executive was employed by the Company after the grant date divided by three) and the remaining unvested MSPP RSUs would be cancelled for a return of the corresponding bonus plus interest at the one-year U.S. Treasury bill rate, (b) pro-rata vesting of all other unvested RSUs (based on number of days that the executive was employed by the Company during the vesting period), and (c) pro-rata vesting of all unvested PSUs including PSUs that had not met the performance threshold to vest as of December 31, 2021 but that remain eligible for future vesting (determined for each tranche based on number of months that the executive was employed by the Company after the grant date divided by the number of months in each such tranche) based on actual performance results and paid following the conclusion of each tranche. This amount assumes future tranches perform at the same level as inception to date performance as of December 31, 2021 and is valued using the closing stock price of $27.18 on December 31, 2021.
(13) This amount reflects the incremental value to which Mr. Najjar would be entitled due to (a) pro-rata vesting of the MSPP RSUs (based on number of full years that the executive was employed by the Company after the grant date divided by three) and the remaining unvested MSPP RSUs would be cancelled for a return of the corresponding bonus plus interest at the one-year U.S. Treasury bill rate, (b) the immediate vesting of all other unvested RSUs, and (c) immediate vesting of all unvested PSUs assuming target performance results (including PSUs that had not met the performance threshold to vest as of December 31, 2021 but that remain eligible for future vesting), in each case using the closing stock price of $27.18 on December 31, 2021.
(14) “Disability” for this purpose means qualifying for receipt of long-term disability benefits under the Company’s long-term disability plan as in effect from time to time.
Arjun Sharma
Severance and Other Benefits
Involuntary Without Cause or Voluntary Resignation With Good Reason Within Two Years Following Change in Control Involuntary Other Than For Cause or Voluntary Resignation With Good Reason at Any Other Time Involuntary For Cause or Voluntary Resignation Without Good Reason Change in Control Without a Termination of Employment (“Single Trigger”) Death or Disability (13)
12/31/2021 12/31/2021 12/31/2021 12/31/2021 12/31/2021
Cash Severance $ 1,187,200 (1) $ 371,000 (7) - - -
Pro-Rated Bonus - (2) - (2) - - -
Health Benefits $ 48,824 (3) $ 21,859 (8) - - -
Gain on accelerated stock options - (4) - - - - (4)
Value of accelerated restricted stock units $ 1,089,592 (5) $ 333,148 (9) - (10) - (11) $ 1,077,989 (12)
Total Value: $ 2,325,616 (6) $ 726,007 - $ - $ 1,077,989
(1) This amount reflects payment to Mr. Sharma that would equal two times his (i) then-current base salary and (ii) then-effective target short-term incentive compensation.
(2) Payment would equal Mr. Sharma’s then-effective target short-term incentive compensation, to the extent that performance goals were met, prorated based on the date of resignation or termination (no amount is illustrated in this example since the bonus had been earned as of December 31, 2021 as reflected in the Summary Compensation Table in the “Bonus” and “Non-Equity Incentive Plan Compensation” columns).
(3) This amount reflects payments to Mr. Sharma that would equal the cost of continued health insurance for a period of two years for Mr. Sharma and any covered spouse and dependents. 75% of this amount would be paid in equal monthly installments over the 18-month period following the date of termination with each installment payment conditioned on qualification for coverage under COBRA and the remaining 25% would be paid in a lump sum following the 18-month anniversary of employment termination if healthcare coverage is still in effect under COBRA.
(4) Mr. Sharma would be entitled to the immediate vesting of all unvested stock options. The incremental value is reflected as zero since these stock options were underwater based on the closing stock price of $27.18 on December 31, 2021.
(5) This amount reflects the incremental value to which Mr. Sharma would be entitled due to the immediate vesting of all unvested RSUs including MSPP RSUs and the target number of PSUs assuming target performance results (including PSUs that had not met the performance threshold to vest as of December 31, 2021 but that remain eligible for future vesting) using the closing stock price of $27.18 on December 31, 2021.
(6) These amounts do not reflect a 20% excise tax under Section 4999 of the Internal Revenue Code that may apply depending upon the facts and circumstances in the event of a change of control. This estimate also does not reflect that payments are subject to being reduced in certain circumstances to avoid this tax.
(7) This amount reflects payment to Mr. Sharma that would equal his then-current base salary
(8) This amount reflects payments to Mr. Sharma that would equal the cost of continued health insurance for a period of one year for Mr. Sharma and any covered spouse and dependents based on the same cost sharing percentage in effect for the health insurance plans prior to termination of employment. This amount would be divided into monthly installments with each installment payment conditioned on qualification for coverage under COBRA.
(9) This amount reflects the incremental value to which Mr. Sharma would be entitled due to pro-rata vesting of the MSPP RSUs (based on number of full years that he was employed by the Company after the grant date divided by three) using the closing stock price of $27.18 on December 31, 2021, and the remaining unvested MSPP RSUs would be cancelled for a return of the corresponding bonus plus interest at the one-year U.S. Treasury bill rate.
(10) (10) An executive who voluntarily resigns prior to attaining 55 years of age and completing at least five years of service is entitled to receive a return of short-term incentive cash bonuses used to purchase MSPP RSUs plus interest at the one-year U.S. Treasury bill rate. See footnote (5) to the Outstanding Equity Awards table for the amounts that would be returned to Mr. Sharma due to a voluntary resignation on December 31, 2021. In the event of any involuntary termination, regardless of the reason for it, the executive vests in a pro-rata amount of the MSPP RSUs (based on number of full years that the executive was employed by the Company after the grant date divided by three), and the remaining unvested MSPP RSUs would be cancelled for a return of the corresponding bonus plus interest at the one-year U.S. Treasury bill rate. The value of the shares and cash that would be returned to Mr. Sharma upon an involuntary termination on December 31, 2021 would be $333,148. This amount is reflected in the amount disclosed under “Involuntary Other Than For Cause or Voluntary Resignation With Good Reason at Any Other Time” above.
(11) As of December 31, 2021, none of Mr. Sharma's unvested awards were subject to single trigger vesting.
(12) This amount reflects the incremental value to which Mr. Sharma would be entitled due to (a) pro-rata vesting of the MSPP RSUs (based on number of full years that the executive was employed by the Company after the grant date divided by three) and the remaining unvested MSPP RSUs would be cancelled for a return of the corresponding bonus plus interest at the one-year U.S. Treasury bill rate, (b) the immediate vesting of all other unvested RSUs, and (c) immediate vesting of all unvested PSUs assuming target performance results (including PSUs that had not met the performance threshold to vest as of December 31, 2021 but that remain eligible for future vesting), in each case using the closing stock price of $27.18 on December 31, 2021.
(13) “Disability” for this purpose means qualifying for receipt of long-term disability benefits under the Company’s long-term disability plan as in effect from time to time.
Jessica Wenzell
Severance and Other Benefits
Involuntary Without Cause or Voluntary Resignation With Good Reason Within Two Years Following Change in Control Involuntary Other Than For Cause or Voluntary Resignation With Good Reason at Any Other Time Involuntary For Cause or Voluntary Resignation Without Good Reason Change in Control Without a Termination of Employment (“Single Trigger”) Death or Disability (9)
12/31/2021 12/31/2021 12/31/2021 12/31/2021 12/31/2021
Cash Severance $ 1,248,000 (1) $ 390,000 (7) - - -
Pro-Rated Bonus - (2) - (2) - - -
Health Benefits $ 58,913 (3) $ 22,390 (8) - - -
Accelerated retention award payments $ 4,775 (4) $ 4,775 - - -
Gain on accelerated stock options - - - - -
Value of accelerated restricted stock units $ 214,423 (5) - - - $ 214,423 (5)
Total Value: $ 1,526,111 (6) $ 417,165 - $ - $ 214,423
(1) This amount reflects payment to Ms. Wenzell that would equal two times her (i) then-current base salary and (ii) then-effective target short-term incentive compensation.
(2) Payment would equal Ms. Wenzell’s then-effective target short-term incentive compensation, to the extent that performance goals were met, prorated based on the date of resignation or termination (no amount is illustrated in this example since the bonus had been earned as of December 31, 2021, as reflected in the Summary Compensation Table in the “Bonus” and “Non-Equity Incentive Plan Compensation” columns).
(3) This amount reflects payments to Ms. Wenzell that would equal the cost of continued health insurance for a period of two years for Ms. Wenzell and any covered spouse and dependents. 75% of this amount would be paid in equal monthly installments over the 18-month period following the date of termination with each installment payment conditioned on qualification for coverage under COBRA and the remaining 25% would be paid in a lump sum following the 18-month anniversary of employment termination if healthcare coverage is still in effect under COBRA.
(4) This amount reflects the pro-rated retention payment to which Ms. Wenzell would be entitled if the Company gave notice of its intent to terminate her employment other than for cause on December 31, 2021.
(5) This amount reflects the incremental value to which Ms. Wenzell would be entitled due to the immediate vesting of all unvested RSUs using the closing stock price of $27.18 on December 31, 2021.
(6) These amounts do not reflect a 20% excise tax under Section 4999 of the Internal Revenue Code that may apply depending upon the facts and circumstances in the event of a change in control. This estimate also does not reflect that payments are subject to being reduced in certain circumstances to avoid this tax.
(7) This amount reflects payment to Ms. Wenzell that would equal her then-current base salary.
(8) This amount reflects payments to Ms. Wenzell that would equal the cost of continued health insurance for a period of one year for Ms. Wenzell and any covered spouse and dependents based on the same cost sharing percentage in effect for the health insurance plans prior to termination of employment. This amount would be divided into monthly installments with each installment payment conditioned on qualification for coverage under COBRA.
(9) “Disability” for this purpose means qualifying for receipt of long-term disability benefits under the Company’s long-term disability plan as in effect from time to time.
Sumit Mehrotra
Severance and Other Benefits
With regard to Mr. Mehrotra's payments in connection with his termination of employment on July 5, 2021, the only payments made to him were: (1) his pro-rata 2021 short-term incentive payment of $0 as reflected in the Summary Compensation Table above, (2) payment in the amount of $48,671 for earned but unused vacation, and (3) in connection with his participation in the MSPP and pursuant to its terms, payment in the amount of $232,859, representing the return of prior year short-term incentive cash bonuses used to purchase MSPP RSUs plus interest at the applicable one-year U.S. Treasury bill rate.
CEO PAY RATIO
Under the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act, we are required to disclose the median of the annual total compensation of our employees (excluding our CEO), the annual total compensation of our principal executive officer, Mr. Buckhout, and the ratio of these two amounts.
There have been no changes in our employee population or employee compensation arrangements in our last completed fiscal year that we believe would significantly impact our pay ratio disclosure. Accordingly, we are using the same median employee as we used for purposes of our Fiscal Year 2020 pay ratio disclosure. We used December 31, 2020 as the date for identifying our median employee as it corresponded to the end of our fiscal year. As of December 31, 2020, we employed 3,263 employees globally. We included all of our full-time employees (but not the CEO), part-time employees and consultants (other than those whose pay was determined by a third party) in our analysis, and we identified our median employee by ranking total compensation based on employees' base pay on December 31, 2020. We use base pay as a reasonable alternative measure for annual total compensation since our incentive and equity plans do not have broad participation across our employee population. Adjustments were made to annualize the compensation for full-time and part-time employees who were not employed for all of 2020. We did not apply any cost-of-living adjustments as part of the calculation. Using this methodology, our median employee was determined to be a full-time employee.
The 2021 annual compensation of our median employee was $65,251, calculated in accordance with the rules applicable to the Summary Compensation Table found on page 64 of this Annual Report on Form 10-K. For 2021, the annual compensation of Mr. Buckhout was $4,229,501 as disclosed in the Summary Compensation Table. Our estimate of the ratio of Mr. Buckhout’s annual total compensation to the median of the annual total compensation of all other employees is 65-to-1.
The SEC’s rules for identifying the median compensated employee and calculating the pay ratio based on that employee's annual total compensation allow companies to adopt a variety of methodologies to apply certain exclusions and make reasonable estimates and assumptions that reflect their employee populations and compensation practices. Given the different methodologies that various public companies will use to determine their estimates of pay ratio, including different methodologies, exclusions, estimates and assumptions allowed under SEC rules, and different employment and compensation practices among companies, the ratio reported above should not be used as a basis for comparison between CIRCOR and other companies.
Compensation Committee Report
The Compensation Committee has reviewed and discussed the Compensation Discussion and Analysis for Fiscal Year 2021 with management. Based on such review and discussions, the Compensation Committee recommended to the Board that the Compensation Discussion and Analysis be included in this Annual Report on Form 10-K.
Submitted by the Compensation Committee of the Board
John (Andy) O'Donnell
Tina M. Donikowski
Bruce M. Lisman

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ITEM 12. SECURITY OWNERSHIP OF CERTAIN BENEFICIAL OWNERS
Item 12. Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and Management and Related Stockholder Matters
EQUITY COMPENSATION PLAN INFORMATION
Plan category Number of securities
to be issued upon
exercise of
outstanding
options,
warrants and rights Weighted-average
exercise price of
outstanding options,
warrants and rights Number of securities
remaining available
for future issuance
under equity
compensation
plans (excluding
securities reflected
in column (a))
(a) (b) (c)
Equity compensation plans approved by security holders 954,400 (1) $24.57 (3) 1,274,109
Equity compensation plans not approved by security holders 150,000 (2) $10.35 (3) N/A
Total 1,104,400 $23.61 1,274,109
(1)Reflects 2,799 stock options granted under the Company’s Amended and Restated 1999 Stock Option and Incentive Plan, 443,954 stock options and 50,372 restricted stock units granted under the Company's 2014 Stock Option and Incentive Plan, and 457,275 restricted stock units granted under the Company's 2019 Stock Option and Incentive Plan.
(2)Reflects 150,000 stock options issued as an inducement equity award to our former President and CEO on April 9, 2013. This award was granted pursuant to the inducement award exemption under Section 303A.08 of the NYSE Listed Company Manual. This award was forfeited on April 19, 2022, ninety days from Mr. Buckhout's termination of employment.
(3)The weighted-average exercise price does not take into account the shares issuable upon vesting of outstanding restricted stock units, which have no exercise price.
Principal Stockholders
The following table sets forth certain information regarding beneficial ownership of our common stock as of March 31, 2022, by:
•all persons known by us to beneficially own more than 5% of our common stock;
•each of our current directors;
•our NEOs included in the Summary Compensation Table appearing in this Proxy Statement; and
•all current directors and executive officers as a group.
The number of shares beneficially owned by each stockholder is determined under rules issued by the SEC and includes voting or investment power with respect to securities. Under these rules, beneficial ownership includes any shares as to which the individual or entity has sole or shared voting power or investment power and includes any shares as to which the individual or entity has the right to acquire beneficial ownership within 60 days after March 31, 2022, through the exercise of any stock option, RSU or other right. The inclusion in this Proxy Statement of such shares, however, does not constitute an admission that the named stockholder is a direct or indirect beneficial owner of such shares. As of July 8, 2022, a total of 20,351,853 shares of our common stock were outstanding.
Unless otherwise indicated below, to our knowledge, all persons listed below have sole voting and investment power with respect to their shares of common stock except, to the extent authority is shared by spouses under applicable law.
Shares of Common
Stock Beneficially Owned
Name of Beneficial Owner(1)
Number(2)
Percent(2)
BlackRock, Inc.(3)
3,098,901 15.2
T. Rowe Price Associates, Inc.(4)
2,836,119 13.9
The Vanguard Group(5)
2,226,958 10.9
Gabelli Entities(6)
1,592,907 7.8
Royce & Associates, LP(7)
1,229,540 6.0
Segall Bryant & Hamill, LLCs(8)
1,305,744 6.4
Scott Buckhout(9)
86,305 *
Samuel R. Chapin
10,994 *
Tina Donikowski
15,396 *
Arthur L George, Jr.(10)
- *
Abhishek Khandelwal(11)
10,489 *
Bruce Lisman
8,797 *
Helmuth Ludwig
27,120 *
Sumit Mehrotra(12)
19,832 *
Tony Najjar
31,493 *
John (Andy) O'Donnell
35,368 *
Arjun Sharma
65,013 *
Jill D. Smith
7,871 *
Jessica W. Wenzell
1,138 *
All current executive officers and directors as a group (ten)(13)
203,190 1.0
* Less than 1%.
(1)
The address of each stockholder in the table is c/o CIRCOR International, Inc., 30 Corporate Drive, Suite 200, Burlington, MA 01803, except that the address of BlackRock, Inc. is 55 East 52nd Street, New York, NY 10055; the address of T. Rowe Price Associates, Inc. is 100 E. Pratt Street, Baltimore, MD 21202; the address of The Vanguard Group is 100 Vanguard Blvd., Malvern, PA 19355; the address of the Gabelli Entities (as defined in Footnote 6) is One Corporate Center, Rye, NY 10580; the address of Royce & Associates is 745 Fifth Avenue, New York, NY 10151.
(2)
The number of shares of Common Stock outstanding used in calculating the percentage for each listed person and the directors and executive officers as a group includes the number of shares of Common Stock underlying stock options held by such person or group that are exercisable, and RSUs that vest within 60 days after March 31, 2022, but excludes shares of Common Stock underlying stock options or RSUs held by any other person. Amounts in the table include: 10,107 options for Mr. Najjar and 22,389 options for Mr. Sharma.
(3)
The information is based on a Schedule 13F-HR filed with the SEC on May 12, 2022 on behalf of BlackRock, Inc. (“BlackRock”). According to the filing, BlackRock has sole investment discretion over 3,098,901 shares and sole voting authority over 3,082,020 shares. The firm does not have the authority to vote 14,787 of the reported shares.
(4)
This information is based on a Schedule 13F-HR filed with the SEC on May 16, 2022, on behalf of T. Rowe Price Associates, Inc. (“Price Associates”) and a Form NPORT-P filed with the SEC on May 27, 2022, on behalf of T. Rowe Price Small-Cap Value Fund, Inc. (“T. Rowe Small Cap”). According to the filings, Price Associates has sole investment discretion over 2,836,119 shares and sole voting authority over 962,696 shares. T. Rowe Small Cap has sole voting authority over 1,850,266 shares. Price Associates does not serve as custodian of the assets of any of its clients; in each instance, only the client or the client’s custodian or trustee bank has the right to receive dividends paid with respect to, and proceeds from the sale of, such securities. The ultimate power to direct the receipt of dividends paid with respect to, and the proceeds from the sale of, such securities, is vested in the individual and institutional clients which Price Associates serves as an investment adviser. Any and all discretionary authority which has been delegated to Price Associates may be revoked in whole or in part at any time. Not more than 5% of the class of such securities is owned by any one client subject to the investment advice of Price Associates. With respect to securities owned by any one of the registered investment companies sponsored by Price Associates which it also serves as investment adviser (the “T. Rowe Price Funds”), only the custodian for each of such T. Rowe Price Funds has the right to receive dividends paid with respect to, and proceeds from the sale of, such securities. No other person is known to have such right, except that the shareholders of each such T. Rowe Price Fund participate proportionately in any dividends and distributions so paid.
(5)
The information is based on a Schedule 13F-HR/a filed with the SEC on May 13, 2022 on behalf of The Vanguard Group. According to the filing, The Vanguard Group has sole investment discretion over 2,226,958 shares, and shared voting authority over 31,571 shares. The firm does not have the authority to vote 2,195,387 of the reported shares.
(6)
The information is based on an amended Schedule 13D filed with the SEC on July 11, 2022, on behalf of Mario J. Gabelli and various entities which Mr. Gabelli directly or indirectly controls or for which he acts as chief investment officer including, but not limited to, Gabelli Funds, LLC, GAMCO Asset Management Inc., Gabelli & Company Investment Advisors, Inc., Teton Advisors, Inc., GGCP, Inc., GAMCO Investors, Inc., and Associated Capital Group, Inc. (collectively, the “Gabelli Entities”). According to the amended Schedule 13D, the Gabelli Entities engage in various aspects of the securities business, primarily as investment advisors to institutional and individual clients, including registered investment companies and pension plans, and as general partners (or the equivalent of) in private investment partnerships or private funds and as a registered broker-dealer. Certain of the Gabelli Entities may also make investments for their own accounts. According to the amended Schedule 13D, Gabelli Funds, LLC, GAMCO Asset Management Inc. and Teton Advisors, Inc. beneficially owned 520,869, 1,139,684 and 72,266 shares, respectively. Gabelli & Company Investment Advisers, Inc. and the Gabelli Foundation, Inc. beneficially owned 39,453 and 22,000 shares, respectively. Mr. Gabelli, GAMCO Investors, Inc., GGCP, Inc. and Associated Capital Group, Inc. are deemed to beneficially own the shares owned beneficially by each of the Gabelli Entities. Subject to certain limitations, each of the Gabelli Entities has sole dispositive and voting power, either for its own benefit or for the benefit of its investment clients or partners, as the case may be, in the shares beneficially owned by such entity, except that (i) GAMCO Asset Management Inc. does not have the authority to vote 22,400 of the reported shares, (ii) Gabelli Funds, LLC has sole dispositive and voting power with respect to the shares of the Company held by the various funds so long as the aggregate voting interest of all joint filers does not exceed 25% of their total voting interest in the Company and, in that event, the proxy voting committee of each such fund shall respectively vote that fund's shares, (iii) at any time, the proxy voting committee of each such fund may exercise in its sole discretion the entire voting power with respect to the shares held by such fund under special circumstances such as regulatory considerations, and (iv) the power of Mr. Gabelli, Associated Capital Group, Inc., GAMCO Investors, Inc., and GGCP, Inc. is indirect with respect to shares beneficially owned directly by other Gabelli Entities
(7)
The information is based on the Schedule 13F-HR filed with the SEC on May 5, 2022 on behalf of Royce & Associates LP ("Royce Associates"). According to the filing, Royce Associates has sole investment discretion and and sole voting authority over 1,229,540 shares.
(8)
The information is based on a Form 13F-HR filed with the SEC on May 13, 2022 on behalf of Segall Bryant & Hamill, LLC. According to the filing, Segall Bryant & Hamill has sole voting authority over 1,069,459 shares. The firm does not have the authority to vote 236,285 of the reported shares.
(9)
Mr. Buckhout terminated his employment with the Company on January 19, 2022 and information provided is as of that date.
(10) Arthur L. George, Jr. joined the Board of Directors on January 26, 2022 and resigned on July 22, 2022, due to health reasons.
(11) Mr. Khandelwal terminated his employment with the Company on December 31, 2021, and information provided is as of that date.
(12) Mr. Mehrotra terminated his employment with the Company on July 5, 2021, and information provided is as of that date.
(13) Includes 33,984 shares of Common Stock issuable upon the exercise of outstanding stock options that will be exercisable within 60 days after March 31, 2022.

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ITEM 13. CERTAIN RELATIONSHIPS AND RELATED TRANSACTIONS
Item 13. Certain Relationships and Related Transactions, and Director Independence
Director Independence
The Board, upon consideration of all relevant facts and circumstances and upon recommendation of the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee, has affirmatively determined that each of Mr. Chapin, Ms. Donikowski, Mr. George, Mr. Lisman, Mr. Ludwig, Mr. O’Donnell and Ms. Smith is independent of the Company. The Board also previously determined that David Dietz and Peter Wilver, each a former director who served during part of Fiscal Year 2021, were independent of the Company prior to their respective retirements from the Board in Fiscal Year 2021. In evaluating the independence of each director, the Board applied the standards and guidelines set forth in the applicable Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) and New York Stock Exchange (“NYSE”) regulations in determining that each director has no material relationship with the Company, directly or as a partner, stockholder or affiliate of an organization that has a relationship with the Company. The bases for the Board’s determination include, but are not limited to, the following:
•No director is an employee of the Company, or its subsidiaries or affiliates.
•No director has an immediate family member who is an officer of the Company or its subsidiaries or has any other current or past material relationship with the Company.
•No director receives, or in the past three years, has received, any compensation from the Company other than compensation for services as a director.
•No director has a family member who has received any compensation during the past three years from the Company.
•No director, during the past three years, has been affiliated with, or had an immediate family member who has been affiliated with, a present or former internal or external auditor of the Company.
•No executive officer of the Company serves on the compensation committee or the board of directors of any corporation that employs a director or a member of any director’s immediate family.
•No director is an officer or employee (or has an immediate family member who is an officer or employee) of an organization that sells products and services to, or receives products and services from, the Company in excess of the greater of $1 million or 2% of such organization’s consolidated gross revenues in any fiscal year.
Related Party Transactions
The Company’s Board of Directors has adopted a Related Party Transactions Policy that requires that any proposed transaction involving the Company or a subsidiary of the Company in which a director or executive officer has direct economic or beneficial interest shall be reviewed and approved by the Audit Committee of the Board.
Since the beginning of Fiscal Year 2021, the Company was not a party to any transaction in which the amount involved exceeded $120,000 and in which an executive officer, director, director nominee or 5% stockholder (or their immediate family members) had a material direct or indirect interest, and no such person was indebted to the Company.

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ITEM 14. PRINCIPAL ACCOUNTING FEES AND SERVICES
Item 14. Principal Accounting Fees and Services
The following table summarizes the fees we incurred for professional services provided by EY for fiscal year 2021 and 2020, for audit, audit-related, tax and other services:
Auditor Fees ($ in Thousands)
Fiscal Year
Audit Fees (1)
$ 6,200 $ 4,800
Audit Related Fees (2)
Tax Fees (3)
29 9
All Other Fees (4)
8 8
Total
$ 6,237 $ 4,817
(1) For the professional services rendered for the audit of the Company’s annual financial statements, for review of the financial statements included in the Company’s quarterly reports on Form 10-Q, for conducting of the independent auditor’s obligations relative to attestation of internal controls under Section 404 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, and performing local statutory audits. This amount also includes incremental professional services rendered for the restatement of the Company's financial statements as described within.
(2) Represents fees and expenses for assurance and related services that are reasonably related to the performance of the audit or review of our financial statements and not reported under “Audit Fees.”
(3) The tax services performed in 2021 consisted of tax compliance services.
(4) All other fees consisted of fees for an accounting research tool.
Audit Committee Pre-Approval
The Audit Committee’s policy is to pre-approve all audit and non-audit services provided by the independent auditors. These services may include audit services, audit-related services, tax services and other services. Pre-approval generally is provided for up to one year and any pre-approval is detailed as to the particular service or category of services and generally is subject to a specific budget. The Audit Committee has delegated pre-approval authority to its Chair when expediting of services is necessary. The independent auditors and management report annually to the Audit Committee regarding the extent of services provided by the independent auditors in accordance with this pre-approval, and the fees for the services performed. All of the audit, audit-related, tax and other services provided by PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP in the first half of Fiscal Year 2020 and related fees were approved in accordance with the Audit Committee’s policy. All of the audit, audit-related, tax and other services provided by Ernst & Young LLP in the second half of Fiscal Year 2020 Fiscal Year 2021 and related fees were approved in accordance with the Audit Committee’s policy.
Part IV

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ITEM 15. EXHIBITS, FINANCIAL STATEMENT SCHEDULES
Item 15. Exhibits, Financial Statement Schedules
(a)(1) Financial Statements
Topic Page
Number
Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm (PCAOB ID:42)
Consolidated Balance Sheets
Consolidated Statements of Operations
Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive (Loss)
Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows
Consolidated Statements of Shareholders’ Equity
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
Report of Ernst & Young LLP (PCAOB ID: 42) dated July 26, 2022 on the Company's financial statements filed as a part hereof for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2021 and 2020 and on the Company's internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2021 is included in this Annual Report on Form 10-K. The independent registered public accounting firm's consent with respect to this report appears in Exhibit 23.1 of this Annual Report on Form 10-K.
Report of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP (PCAOB ID: 238) dated March 30, 2020, except for the change in reportable segments discussed in Note 19 to the consolidated financial statements, as to which the date is March 15, 2021, and except for the effects of the restatement discussed in Note 2, as to which date is July 26, 2022 on the Company’s financial statements filed as a part hereof for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2019 is included in this Annual Report on Form 10-K. The independent registered public accounting firm’s consent with respect to this report appears in Exhibit 23.2 of this Annual Report on Form 10-K.
(a)(2) Exhibits
Unless otherwise indicated, references to exhibits in the table below being incorporated by reference are made in each case with respect to filings of the Company, SEC File No. 001-14962.
Exhibit
No. Description and Location
2.1
Share Purchase Agreement, dated April 15, 2015, between the Company and affiliates and Schroedahl-ARAPP Spezialarmaturen GmbH & Co. KG and affiliates, incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 2.1 to the Company’s Form 8-K filed with the SEC on April 15, 2015
2.2
Agreement and Plan of Merger dated October 12, 2016 by and among the Company, Downstream Holding, LLC, Downstream Acquisition LLC, and Sun Downstream, LP., incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 2.1 to the Company’s Form 8-K filed with the SEC on October 14, 2016
2.3
Purchase Agreement, dated as of September 24, 2017, by and between Colfax Corporation and the Company, incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 2.1 to the Company's Form 8-K filed with the SEC on September 25, 2017
2.4
Quota Purchase Agreement, dated as of July 13, 2019, as amended by Amendment No. 1 to the Quota Purchase Agreement, dated as of July 26, 2019, between CEP Holdings Sarl and P&P Flow Control AG, incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 2.1 of the Company’s Form 8-K, filed with the SEC on August 1, 2019
2.5
Asset Purchase Agreement, dated as of August 30, 2019, by and among Spence Engineering Company, Inc., Leslie Controls, Inc., Emerson Process Management Regulator Technologies, Inc. and the Company (for certain enumerated provisions), incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 2.1 of the Company’s Form 8-K, filed with the SEC on September 6, 2019
2.6
Amended and Restated Securities Purchase Agreement, dated as of January 31, 2020, by and among CIRCOR Dovianus Holdings B.V., CIRCOR Aerospace, Inc., the Company and Crane Co., incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 2.1 of the Company’s Form 8-K, filed with the SEC on February 5, 2020
2.7
Securities Purchase Agreement, dated as of June 5, 2020, by and between CIRCOR Energy Products, LLC and Rheinsee 765. V V GmbH (Renamed into “MS Valves GmbH”), incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 2.1 to the Company’s Form 8-K, filed with the SEC on June 23, 2020
3.1
Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation of the Company, incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 3.1 to the Company’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q filed with the SEC on August 7, 2020
3.2
Third Amended and Restated By-Laws of the Company, incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 3.2 to the Company’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q, filed with the SEC on May 12, 2021
4.1**
Description of Securities Registered under Section 12 of the Exchange Act
10.1
Credit Agreement, dated as of December 11, 2017, by and among the Company, as borrower, certain subsidiaries of the Company, as guarantors, the lenders from time to time party thereto, Deutsche Bank AG New York Branch, as term loan administrative agent and collateral agent, SunTrust Bank, as revolver administrative agent, swing line lender and a letter of credit issuer, Deutsche Bank Securities Inc. and SunTrust Robinson Humphrey, Inc., as joint-lead arrangers and joint-bookrunners, and Citizens Bank, N.A. and HSBC Securities (USA) Inc. as co-managers incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 10.2 to the Company's Form 8-K, filed with the SEC on December 12, 2017
10.2
Amendment No 2. to the Credit Agreement, dated as of February 19, 2020, by and among the Company, certain domestic subsidiaries of the Company, as guarantors, the lenders party thereto, Deutsche Bank AG New York Branch, as term loan administrative agent and as collateral agent and Trust Bank (formerly known as SunTrust Bank), as revolver administrative agent, incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 10.56 to the Company’s Form 10-K, filed with the SEC on March 31, 2020
10.3
Amendment No. 3 to the Credit Agreement, dated as of February 26, 2020, by and among the Company, certain domestic subsidiaries of the Company, as guarantors, the lenders party thereto, Deutsche Bank AG New York Branch, as term loan administrative agent and as collateral agent and Trust Bank (formerly known as SunTrust Bank), as revolver administrative agent, incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to the Company’s Form 8-K, filed with the SEC on February 28, 2020
10.4
Amendment No. 4 to the Credit Agreement, dated as of May 18, 2020, by and among the Company, Inc., certain domestic subsidiaries of the Company, as guarantors, the lenders party thereto, Deutsche Bank AG New York Branch, as term loan administrative agent and as collateral agent and Truist Bank (formerly known as SunTrust Bank), as revolver administrative agent, incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to the Company’s Form 8-K, filed with the SEC on May 22, 2020
10.5§
CIRCOR International, Inc. Amended and Restated 1999 Stock Option and Incentive Plan (as amended, the “1999 Stock Option and Incentive Plan”), incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 4.4 to the Company’s Registration Statement on Form S-8, File No. 333-125237, filed with the SEC on May 25, 2005
10.6§
First Amendment to the 1999 Stock Option and Incentive Plan, dated as of December 1, 2005, incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to the Company’s Form 8-K, filed with the SEC on December 7, 2005
10.7§
Second Amendment to the 1999 Stock Option and Incentive Plan, dated as of February 12, 2014, incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 10.6 to the Company's Form 10-K, filed with the SEC on March, 1 2018
10.8§
Form of Non-Qualified Stock Option Agreement for Employees (Three Year Cliff Vesting) under the 1999 Stock Option and Incentive Plan , incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to the Company’s Form 10-Q, filed with the SEC on May 10, 2010
10.9§
CIRCOR International, Inc. Amended and Restated Management Stock Purchase Plan dated as of January 1, 2017, incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 10.8 to the Company's Form 10-K, filed with the SEC on March1, 2018
10.10§
Form of Indemnification Agreement entered into by the Company and its directors and certain of its officers incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 10.12 to the Company’s Form 10-K, filed with the SEC on March 12, 2003
10.11§
Stock Option Inducement Award Agreement, dated as of April 9, 2013, between the Company and Scott A Buckhout, incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 10.3 to the Company’s Form 8-K, filed with the SEC on April 15, 2013
10.12§
Severance Agreement, dated as of April 9, 2013, between the Company and Scott A Buckhout, incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 10.4 to the Company’s Form 8-K, filed with the SEC on April 15, 2013
10.13§
CIRCOR International, Inc. 2014 Stock Option and Incentive Plan (the “2014 Stock Option and Incentive Plan”) incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit A to the Company’s Definitive Proxy Statement, filed with the SEC on March 21, 2014
10.14§
First Amendment to 2014 Stock Option and Incentive Plan, dated February 12, 2014, incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 10.36 to the Company’s Form 10-K, filed with the SEC on February 18, 2015
10.15§
Form of Non-Qualified Stock Option Agreement for Employees under the 2014 Stock Option and Incentive Plan, incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 10.34 of the Company's Form 10-K, filed with the SEC on February 21, 2017
10.16§
Form of Restricted Stock Unit Agreement for Employees under the 2014 Stock Option and Incentive Plan, incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 10.35 of the Company's Form 10-K, filed with the SEC on February 21, 2017
10.17§
Form of Performance-Based Restricted Stock Unit Agreement for Employees under the 2014 Stock Option and Incentive Plan, incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 10.1 of the Company’s Form 10-Q, filed with the SEC on May 14, 2019
10.18§
Form of Management Stock Purchase Plan Restricted Stock Unit Agreement for Employees and Directors under the 2014 Stock Option and Incentive Plan, incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 10.2 of the Company’s Form 10-Q, filed with the SEC on May 14, 2019
10.19§
Form of Non-Qualified Stock Option Agreement for Employees under the 2014 Stock Option and Incentive Plan, incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 10.3 of the Company’s Form 10-Q, filed with the SEC on May 14, 2019
10.20§
Form of Restricted Stock Unit Agreement for Employees under the 2014 Stock Option and Incentive Plan, incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 10.4 of the Company’s Form 10-Q, filed with the SEC on May 14, 2019
10.21§
Form of Restricted Stock Unit Agreement for Directors under the 2014 Stock Option and Incentive Plan, incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 10.5 of the Company’s Form 10-Q, filed with the SEC on May 14, 2019
10.22§
CIRCOR International, Inc. 2019 Stock Option and Incentive Plan (the “2019 Stock Option and Incentive Plan”), incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 99.1 to the Company’s Form 8-K, filed with the SEC on May 14, 2019
10.23§
Form of Performance-Based Restricted Stock Unit Agreement for Employees under the 2019 Stock Option and Incentive Plan, incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 10.1 of the Company’s Form 10-Q, filed with the SEC on August 1, 2019
10.24§
Form of Updated Performance-Based Restricted Stock Unit Agreement under the 2019 Stock Option and Incentive Plan, incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 10.8 to the Company’s Form 10-Q, filed with the SEC on June 1, 2020
10.25§
Form of 2020 Special One Year Restricted Stock Unit Agreement under the 2019 Stock Option and Incentive Plan, incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 10.9 to the Company’s Form 10-Q, filed with the SEC on June 1, 2020
10.26§
Form of Restricted Stock Unit Agreement for Employees under the 2019 Stock Option and Incentive Plan, incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 10.10 to the Company’s Form 10-Q, filed with the SEC on June 1, 2020
10.27§
Form of Restricted Stock Unit Agreement for Directors under the 2019 Stock Option and Incentive Plan, incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 10.11 to the Company’s Form 10-Q, filed with the SEC on June 1, 2020
10.28§
First Amendment to the Amended and Restated Management Stock Purchase Plan, incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 10.2 of the Company’s Form 10-Q, filed with the SEC on November 13, 2019
10.29§
Offer Letter, dated March 28, 2020, between the Company and Abhishek Khandelwal, incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 10.4 to the Company’s Form 10-Q, filed with the SEC on June 1, 2020
10.30§
Form of Inducement Restricted Stock Unit Agreement between the Company and Abhishek Khandelwal, incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 99.1 to the Company’s Registration Statement on Form S-8, File No. 333-237554, filed with the SEC on April 2, 2020
10.31§
Form of Amended and Restated Executive Change in Control Agreement, incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 10.5 to the Company’s Form 10-Q, filed with the SEC on August 7, 2020
10.32§
Form of Severance Agreement between the Company and each of its executive officers other than Scott A. Buckhout, incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 10.32 to the Company’s 2020 Form 10-K, filed with the SEC on March 15, 2021
10.33§
Form of Restrictive Covenants Agreement between the Company and each of its executive officers, incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 10.33 to the Company’s 2020 Form 10-K, filed with the SEC on March 15, 2021
10.34
Credit Agreement, dated as of December 20, 2021, by and among the Company, as borrower, certain subsidiaries of the Company, as guarantors, the lenders from time to time party thereto, Truist Bank, as administrative agent, collateral agent, swing line lender and a letter of credit issuer, and Truist Securities, Inc., Citizen Bank, N.A. and Keybanc Capital Markets Inc. as joint lead arrangers and joint bookrunners incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to the Company’s Form 8-K, filed with the SEC on December 22, 2022
10.35§**
Separation Agreement and Release, dated July 5, 2021, between the Company and Sumit Mehrotra
10.36§
Executive Retention Agreement, dated January 14, 2022, between the Company and AJ Sharma incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to the Company’s Form 8-K, filed with the SEC on January 19, 2022.
10.37§**
Executive Retention Agreement, dated January 14, 2022, between the Company and Jessica W. Wenzell
10.38§**
Agreement and Release, dated January 19, 2022 between the Company and Scott A. Buckhout
10.39
Letter from PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP to the SEC, dated June 5, 2020, incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 16.1 to the Company’s Form 8-K, filed with the SEC on June 5, 2020
10.40§
CIRCOR International, Inc. 2019 Stock Option and Incentive Plan, as amended, incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 99.1 to the Company’s Form 8-K, filed with the SEC on May 28, 2021
10.41
Amendment No. 1 to Credit Agreement, dated as of April 8, 2022, by and among CIRCOR International, Inc., as borrower, the other credit parties party thereto, each lender and letter of credit issuer from time to time party thereto and Truist Bank, as administrative agent and collateral agent, incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to the Company’s Form 8-K, filed with the SEC on April 13, 2022
10.42
Amendment No. 2 to Credit Agreement, incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to the Company’s Form 8-K, filed with the SEC on May 31, 2022
21**
Schedule of Subsidiaries of CIRCOR International, Inc.
23.1**
Consent of Ernst & Young LLP, Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm
23.2**
Consent of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP, Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm
31.1**
Certification of Chief Executive Officer Pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002
31.2**
Certification of Chief Financial Officer Pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002
32.1**
Certification of Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002
101 The following financial statements from CIRCOR International, Inc.’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2021, as filed with the SEC on July 26, 2022, formatted in XBRL (eXtensible Business Reporting Language), as follows:
(i) Consolidated Balance Sheets as of December 31, 2021 and 2020
(ii) Consolidated Statements of Operations for the years ended December 31, 2021, 2020, and 2019
(iii) Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive (Loss) Income for the years ended December 31, 2021, 2020, and 2019
(iv) Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows for the years ended December 31, 2021, 2020, and 2019
(v) Consolidated Statements of Shareholders’ Equity for the years ended December 31, 2021, 2020, and 2019
(vi) Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements
* The Company hereby agrees to provide the Commission, upon request, copies of any omitted exhibits or schedules to this exhibit required by Item 601(b)(2) of Regulation S-K.
** Filed with this report.
*** Furnished with this report.
§ Indicates management contract or compensatory plan or arrangement.