EDGAR 10-K Filing

Company CIK: 1718512
Filing Year: 2021
Filename: 1718512_10-K_2021_0001718512-21-000012.json

---

ITEM 1. BUSINESS
Item 1. Business
We are a global manufacturer of innovative, highly engineered power transmission and fluid power solutions. We offer a broad portfolio of products to diverse replacement channel customers, and to original equipment (“first-fit”) manufacturers as specified components, with the majority of our revenue coming from replacement channels. Our products are used in applications across numerous end markets, including off-highway end markets such as construction and agriculture, on-highway end markets such as transportation, diversified industrial, energy, automotive, consumer products and many others. Our net sales have historically been, and remain, highly correlated with industrial activity and utilization, and not with any single end market given the diversification of our business and high exposure to replacement markets. Key indicators of our performance include industrial production, industrial sales and manufacturer shipments. We sell our products globally under the Gates brand, which is recognized by distributors, equipment manufacturers, installers and end users as a premium brand for quality and technological innovation; this reputation has been built over 110 years since Gates’ founding in 1911.
Within the diverse end markets we serve, our highly engineered products are often critical components in applications for which the cost of downtime is high relative to the cost of our products, resulting in the willingness of end users to pay a premium for superior performance and availability. These applications subject our products to normal wear and tear, resulting in natural, and often preventive, replacement cycles that drive high-margin, recurring revenue. Our product portfolio represents one of the broadest ranges of power transmission and fluid power products in the markets we serve, and we maintain long-standing relationships with a diversified group of blue-chip customers throughout the world. As a leading designer, manufacturer and marketer of highly engineered, mission-critical products, we have become an industry leader across most of the regions and end markets in which we operate.
Gates’ business is well-balanced and diversified across products, channels and geographies, as highlighted in the following charts showing breakdowns of our Fiscal 2020 net sales of $2,793.0 million.
Our History and Recent Developments
On October 1, 1911, Charles Gates, Sr. purchased the Colorado Tire and Leather Company, a manufacturer of steel-studded bands of leather that attached to tires to extend their mileage. In 1917, the Company commercialized the V-belt, which used rubber and woven threading instead of rope belts, which were more commonly used at that time. In 1963, we built the first of many international facilities in Erembodegem, Belgium, followed by Jacarei, Brazil, in 1973. In 1986, we acquired the Uniroyal Power Transmission Company, which included an interest in the Unitta joint venture that lay the groundwork for Gates’ growth in the Asia-Pacific region. We have financial and operational control over the joint venture, and as such, consolidate it in our financial statements.
In 1996, Gates was acquired by a publicly held engineering firm based in the United Kingdom (“U.K.”), Tomkins plc, which was itself acquired by Onex Partners and the Canada Pension Plan Investment Board, who proceeded to divest certain of
Tomkins plc’s businesses under a new parent entity, Pinafore Holdings B.V. Gates was acquired by Blackstone in July 2014 and in 2015 established a new executive leadership team with Ivo Jurek as Chief Executive Officer.
We maintain an active acquisition pipeline. In 2018, we acquired Rapro, based in Turkey, and in 2017 we closed two transactions, Techflow Flexibles in the U.K. and Atlas Hydraulics in North America. All three of these acquisitions have been focused on expanding our presence in industrial markets with new products, capabilities, capacity and geographic reach. In addition, we continue to invest organically in new production capacity. During Fiscal 2018, we opened two new facilities located in Poland and in Mexico, and we also expanded our Changzhou facility in China.
Our Solutions
We operate our business on a product-line basis through our two reporting segments - Power Transmission and Fluid Power. See note 4 of our audited consolidated financial statements included elsewhere in this report for additional information.
We sell our products under the Gates brand in all of the geographies and end markets we serve. Our power transmission segment includes elastomer drive belts and related components used to efficiently transfer motion in a broad range of applications. Power transmission products represented approximately 64% of our total net sales for Fiscal 2020. Our fluid power segment includes hoses, tubing and fittings designed to convey hydraulic fluid at high pressures in both mobile and stationary applications, and other high-pressure and fluid transfer hoses used to convey various fluids. Our fluid power products represented approximately 36% of our net sales for Fiscal 2020.
Our power transmission and fluid power products are often critical to the functioning of the equipment, process or system in which they are components, such that the cost of downtime or potential equipment damage is high relative to the cost of our products. Our products are therefore replaced not only as a result of normal wear and tear, but also preemptively as part of ongoing maintenance to the broader system.
We have a broad portfolio of both power transmission and fluid power products in the end markets we serve. We have a long history of focusing on customer engagement and training, driving product innovation and providing best-in-class order fulfilment services.
Power Transmission. Our Power Transmission solutions enable and control motion. They are used in applications in which belts, chains, cables, geared transmissions or direct drives transfer power from an engine or motor to another part or system. Belt-based power transmission drives typically consist of either a synchronous belt or an asynchronous belt (V-belt, CVT belt or Micro-V® belt) and related components (sprockets, pulleys, water pumps, tensioners or other accessories). Within our Power Transmission segment, we offer solutions across the following key application platforms:
•Stationary drives: fixed drive systems such as those used in a factory driving a machine or pump, on a grain elevator driving the lift auger or in a distribution center driving a conveyor belt or robotic picking machine;
•Mobile drives: drives on a piece of mobile machinery such as a combine harvester or a road compactor, or in applications such as the brush head of a vacuum cleaner;
•Engine systems: synchronous drives and related components for cam shafts and auxiliary drives and asynchronous accessory drives for air conditioning (“A/C”) compressors, power steering, alternators and starter/generator systems;
•Personal mobility: drives on motorcycles, scooters, bicycles, both traditional and electric, as well as on snowmobiles and other power sports vehicles that are used to transfer power between the power source and the drive wheel(s) or track; and
•Vertical lift: elevators, cargo lifts and other applications in which a belt, cable, chain or other lifting mechanism is used to carry load.
Customers choose power transmission solutions based on a number of factors, including application requirements such as load, speed, gear ratio, temperature, operating environment, ease of maintenance, noise, efficiency and reliability, as well as the support they receive from their suppliers, including application-specific engineering. Belt-based drive systems have many advantages over other alternatives, as they are typically clean, low-maintenance, lubrication-free, quiet with low-vibration, lightweight, compact, energy-efficient, durable and reliable. In applications where these advantages are valued, customers typically choose belts over other forms of power transmission solutions.
Our belts are classified by their general design into asynchronous and synchronous belts; in addition, we also manufacture metal drive components and assemble certain product kits for the automotive replacement channel.
Asynchronous Belts. Asynchronous belts are our highest-volume products and are used in a broad range of applications. Asynchronous belts are made of proprietary rubber formulations, textiles and embedded cords for reinforcement. We were a pioneer in the design and manufacturing of V-belts, which draw their name from the shape of their profile. We also manufacture “ribbed” V-belts, which are belts with lengthwise V-shaped grooves, which we market under the Micro-V® name. This design results in a thinner belt for the same drive surface, making it more flexible and offering improved efficiency through lower friction losses.
In industrial end markets, asynchronous belts have a wide variety of applications, including use in pump drives, manufacturing lines, HVAC systems, industrial engines, truck, bus and marine engines, forestry and mining equipment and many other applications. Continuously-variable transmission (“CVT”) systems found in scooters, power sports vehicles and other applications use a specialized V-belt known as a CVT belt. In automotive applications, our asynchronous belts perform functions that include transferring power from the crankshaft to accessory drive components such as the alternator, A/C compressor, power steering system, water pump and, in some vehicles, a belt/starter generator system used in start/stop accessory drive systems to improve fuel economy.
During Fiscal 2018, Gates introduced the Micro-V® platform for engine accessory drive systems. The combination of newly developed material compounds and product design reduces belt weight and results in lower bending stiffness. These improvements enable tighter pulley configurations and reduced drive bending losses as compared to existing belt technologies; lower losses result in reduced energy consumption, CO2 emissions and heat generation.
Synchronous Belts. Synchronous belts, also known as timing belts, are non-slipping mechanical drive belts. They have teeth molded onto the inner surface and run over matching toothed pulleys or sprockets. Synchronous belts experience no slippage and are often used to transfer motion for indexing or timing purposes, as well as for linear positioning and positive drive conveying. They are typically used instead of chains or gears and we believe have a number of advantages over these alternatives, including less noise, no need for lubrication, improved durability and performance and a more compact design. Our synchronous belts are made of a flexible polymer over fabric reinforcement and are often built with Kevlar, aramid and carbon fibers.
Examples of industrial applications include use in HVAC systems, food processing and bottling plants, mining and agricultural equipment, automatic doors and robotics. Our synchronous belts are also utilized in personal mobility equipment, including both traditional and electric motorcycles, bicycles and scooters, applications in which clean, quiet performance is often valued. In automotive applications, our synchronous belts are used to synchronize the rotation of the engine crankshaft with the camshaft due to engine combustion in a valve train system, as well as in electric power steering and parking brake systems which are present in gasoline-powered, hybrid and electric vehicles.
During Fiscal 2019, Gates launched a new high-torque synchronous belt for industrial applications, the PowerGrip® GT®4. This new belt leverages Gates’ materials science and process engineering capabilities, utilizing a belt construction that replaces chloroprene with an advanced ethylene elastomer formulation that is more environmentally friendly. It has the highest power-carrying capacity in its segment, a wider operating temperature range and increased chemical resistance, allowing for narrower drives and a broad range of applications to be served with both first-fit and replacement channel customers.
Metal Drive Components. We manufacture and sell the tensioners and idlers used in belt drive systems. These products are designed and engineered to work efficiently with our belts. Tensioners are devices that maintain a constant tension in the belt drive system, thereby ensuring proper function and preventing loss of power or system failure. Tensioners typically employ a spring that places pressure along the belt for an intricate hold, while still allowing enough movement for vibration and to prevent stretching. Idlers, which sometimes also perform as tensioners, are used to take up extra belt length.
Kits. Our kits for the automotive replacement channel include all of the parts needed by an automotive service shop to perform a replacement of one of our products. Kits are created for specific makes and models and typically include belts, tensioners and idlers, and will sometimes also include water pumps, as they are often replaced simultaneously with a timing belt. Our kits are convenient for service technicians as they eliminate the need for more complicated product sourcing. On a comparable quantity basis, kits typically sell at a premium to a loose belt and the individual related components.
Our power transmission products are used in a broad range of applications in end markets including off-highway end markets such as construction and agriculture, on-highway end markets such as transportation, diversified industrial, energy, automotive and consumer products. The majority of our Fiscal 2020 net sales came from replacement channels, which provide high-margin, recurring revenue streams and are driven by attractive market trends. The bulk of our power transmission replacement business resides in developed regions, in which a large, aging installed base of equipment follows a natural maintenance cycle and is served by well-developed distribution channels. For example, a combine harvester in North America can have over 25 high-performance belts that are typically replaced at regular intervals, depending on wear and tear, with end users having access to replacement parts through an established channel. Similarly, in the North American automotive replacement market, maintenance intervals are well defined, and miles driven per vehicle and the average vehicle age have generally been increasing, leading to more wear and tear on vehicles. A smaller portion of our power transmission replacement business is generated in emerging markets, which generally have a smaller base of installed equipment and relatively nascent distribution channels. As they continue to develop, these replacement markets represent a significant long-term opportunity for growth.
In addition to our power transmission replacement business, we also serve a wide variety of blue-chip first-fit customers across all of our end markets. The majority of our automotive first-fit revenues in power transmission tend to come from emerging markets. These markets generally are higher-growth and result in higher-margin business than our developed regions. Our selective first-fit participation in these markets serves to further strengthen our brand and reinforces the strong position from which we serve the growing base of installed equipment, as the nascent replacement channels continue to develop.
Fluid Power. Our Fluid Power solutions are used in applications in which hoses and rigid tubing assemblies either transfer power hydraulically or convey fluids, gases or granular materials from one location to another. Within our Fluid Power segment, we offer solutions across the following key application platforms:
•Stationary hydraulics: applications within stationary machinery, such as an injection molding machine or a manufacturing press;
•Mobile hydraulics: applications used to power various implements in mobile equipment used in construction, agriculture, mining and other heavy industries;
•Engine systems: applications in thermal management, turbocharger, air intake and other systems for internal combustion, hybrid and electric passenger and commercial vehicles, as well as in diesel engine systems for reduction of emissions; and
•Other industrial: applications in which hoses are used to convey fluids, gases or granular material across several industries such as food and beverage, other process industries, and oil and gas drilling and refining.
Customers choose fluid power solutions based on a number of factors, including application-specific product performance parameters such as pressure and temperature ratings, corrosion and leak resistance, weight, flexibility, abrasion resistance and cleanliness, as well as compliance with standards and product availability. Attributes associated with the supplier, including brand, global footprint and reputation for reliability and quality, are also considered.
Hydraulics. Our hydraulics product line is comprised of hoses, tubing and fittings, as well as assemblies consisting of these products. Our hydraulic products are key components of hydraulic systems in both stationary and mobile equipment applications. We provide a full selection of hose sizes and construction types for use in a wide variety of working requirements and conditions. Hydraulic hoses are made of synthetic rubber and reinforced with steel wire or a textile-based yarn, and typically operate at very high pressures, often in extreme environmental conditions. Hoses are designed for use in specific mechanical applications and require high levels of quality and durability.
Our hydraulic fittings and tubing are engineered to match the product performance of our hydraulic hoses. The high-pressure nature of hydraulic systems requires these products have high levels of performance similar to those found in our hydraulic hoses. The ultimate performance of a hydraulic assembly, in which our products function as part of a hydraulic circuit, depends not only on how well the components are made, but also on how well they complement each other. In order to ensure compatibility with numerous applications, our hydraulic fittings are manufactured in a wide assortment of sizes, crimping systems and materials, and are protected by a range of patents. Our hydraulic products and assemblies are used in construction, agricultural and forestry equipment, as well as in food and other processing lines and stationary machinery.
During Fiscal 2018, Gates introduced a new premium product family consisting of hydraulic hoses that are lighter weight and more flexible. Made with high-performance reinforcement and a robust, abrasion-resistant cover, the MXT line of hydraulic hose is comprised of universally applicable, high-performance products that meet the needs of a wide range of applications. During Fiscal 2019, we launched the MXG line of hydraulic hose, a flexible, light-weight solution with increased durability and temperature performance, designed to replace conventional spiral hoses typically used in the most demanding applications. Also in Fiscal 2019, we launched a new, smart e-crimper, which is a machine used to attach fittings to hydraulic hoses. In addition to convenient, web-enabled access to training content and product crimp specs, this new crimper can be used with Gates’ intuitive mobile eCrimp app, which underwent a comprehensive update in Fiscal 2020.
Engine Hose. Our engine hose products perform a variety of conveyance functions in engine applications in internal combustion, hybrid and electric passenger and commercial vehicles. In internal combustion applications, Gates provides hose solutions for coolant (radiator, heater), air system (turbocharger, intake, vacuum, crankcase ventilation), fuel, oil (transmission oil cooling, power steering) and emissions / Diesel Exhaust Filtration (“DEF”) systems. In electric applications, Gates offers hose solutions for the thermal management system regulating the battery, inverter, motor(s) and passenger compartment.
Industrial Hose. Our industrial hoses are capable of transferring a wide range of substances - chemicals, food, beverages, petroleum, fuels, bulk materials, water, steam and air - to meet the requirements of diverse applications, including manufacturing, mining, oil and gas drilling, marine, agriculture, industrial cleaning and construction. Our application engineering teams work with customers to assist them in selecting the appropriate hose solution to safely meet their operational needs. We leverage our materials science expertise to enable hose performance at varying pressures and levels of resistance to chemicals, oil, abrasion, ozone, flame and both hot and cold temperatures. For performance in extreme environments, many of our industrial hoses feature both crush-resistant and flexible designs. Gates industrial hoses are highly engineered to meet or exceed a multitude of industry standards and certifications, and are offered in a range of diameters, lengths and colors to allow customers to differentiate the hoses in applications. We also offer a wide range of couplings to provide complete assembly solutions to our customers.
Our fluid power products are used in numerous applications, including off-highway end markets such as construction and agriculture, on-highway end markets such as transportation, diversified industrial, energy, automotive and consumer products. The largest portion of our Fiscal 2020 fluid power revenue came from replacement markets. Within these replacement markets, the majority of our revenue came from industrial applications. Approximately 18% of our Fiscal 2020 fluid power revenue came from products sold into the automotive end market, almost all of which was served through the higher-margin replacement channel.
Our Diverse Markets
We participate in many sectors of the industrial and consumer markets. Our products play essential roles in a diverse range of applications across a wide variety of end markets ranging from harsh and hazardous off-highway applications such as agriculture and construction, and diversified industrial applications such as manufacturing and logistics, to everyday consumer applications such as printers, power washers, automatic doors and vacuum cleaners. Virtually every form of transportation, ranging from internal combustion and electric trucks, buses, automobiles, to personal mobility vehicles, including motorcycles, bicycles, and snowmobiles, uses our products.
Our net sales have historically been, and remain, highly correlated with industrial activity and utilization, and not with any single end market given the diversification of our business and high exposure to replacement markets. Key indicators include industrial production, industrial sales and manufacturer shipments.
Our products are sold in over 120 countries across our four commercial regions: (1) the Americas; (2) Europe, Middle East & Africa (“EMEA”); (3) Greater China; and (4) East Asia & India. We have a long-standing presence in each of these regions.
Our commercial capabilities are complemented by our global manufacturing footprint, which generally allows us to manufacture products in close proximity to our customers. We have power transmission and fluid power operations in each commercial region and typically manufacture products for both first-fit customers and replacement customers in the same factory, which provides improved factory loading and demand leveling, as well as optimization of capital expenditures.
Our Channels
We sell our power transmission and fluid power products both as replacement components and as specified components on original equipment to customers worldwide. During Fiscal 2020, approximately 64% of our net sales were generated from replacement channels and 36% from first-fit channels globally. Our mix of replacement channel sales to first-fit sales varies by region based on our market strategy and the maturity of the equipment fleet and channel. For example, in emerging markets such as China, our business is characterized by a higher first-fit presence, given the relatively underdeveloped replacement channels. We believe that ultimately our first-fit presence in these emerging markets will allow us to better develop the replacement channels as they mature over time. By contrast, in North America and EMEA, where there are long-established replacement markets, approximately 70% and 72% of our Fiscal 2020 net sales, respectively, were derived from these higher-margin replacement channels. In the vast majority of the applications we serve, we do not need to have been the first-fit provider to serve these applications in the replacement markets.
Replacement. The majority of our sales are generated from customers in replacement channels, who primarily serve a large base of installed equipment that follows a natural maintenance cycle. Our ability to help replacement channel partners maximize revenue is an important part of our value proposition. These customers miss sales opportunities if a required product cannot be obtained quickly, either from a short-lead time order or on-hand inventory.
In addition to our products, we offer digital tools and other content to distributors, installers and end users of equipment containing our products. We also assist with customer training on product installation and early identification of wear-and-tear on components, which helps drive sales for our channel customers while mitigating the risk of equipment failure for end users.
First-Fit. We work closely with our first-fit customers by providing application engineering expertise to assist them with equipment design and selecting the right products to optimize performance. In engine systems, we provide application engineering for cam drive and accessory drive applications, and complete all design and manufacturing of the system components in-house. Close interactions between our R&D organization and customer technical teams provide input into our innovation and product development processes. We selectively participate in first-fit projects, focusing on opportunities where we are able to differentiate with technology and innovative solutions.
Customers
We maintain long-standing relationships with many customers, who range from local distributors with one location to large, global manufacturers of equipment. No single customer accounted for more than 10% of our Fiscal 2020 net sales.
Sales and Marketing and Distribution Organization
Our sales and distribution operations are structured to serve our customers efficiently across the globe. We have field representatives who possess local knowledge of product and application requirements, allowing us to meet our customers’ product availability requirements with short lead times. Our global sales and service support team helps reinforce customer and distributor relationships by focusing on end markets and customers.
Manufacturing
We have a global, “in region, for region” manufacturing footprint and regional service model that enable us to operate efficiently and effectively in proximity to our customers. We operate 48 manufacturing facilities and service centers as well as several major technical centers giving us a presence in 30 countries throughout the world. Our in-country deployment of manufacturing and technical resources enables us to meet customer needs rapidly and satisfy regional variations in product preference, while our scale allows us to service global customers on a world-wide basis.
Competition
We operate in competitive markets and industries that are also very fragmented. We offer our products and solutions across numerous and varied end markets and geographies through over 120 locations in 30 countries. Consequently, we have many competitors across our various markets and product offerings. These competitors and the degree of competition vary by product line, geographic scope, end market and channel. Although each of our markets and product offerings has many competitors, no single competitor competes with us with respect to all of our products, solutions, channels and end markets. Our global presence and the importance of product availability make it difficult for smaller regional and low-cost country manufacturers to penetrate our markets. We differentiate ourselves on the basis of product performance and quality, breadth of portfolio, customer support and training, service level, fill rates and product availability.
Research, Development and Intellectual Property
Applied R&D is important to our businesses and integral to our leading market positions. We have engineering teams in the U.S., Canada, the U.K., Germany, Spain, Poland, Turkey, Japan, China, Brazil, India, Mexico, Korea and Thailand that focus on the introduction of new and improved products with a particular emphasis on energy efficiency, safety, the application of technology to reduce unit and operating costs and improving services to our customers.
As of January 2, 2021, we held more than 2,400 patents and patent applications and 3,200 trademarks in various jurisdictions, and have elected to protect a variety of technologies and processes as trade secrets. While no individual patent or group of patents, taken alone, is considered critical to our business, collectively our patents and trademarks provide meaningful protection for our products and technical innovations.
Materials and Suppliers
We use a wide variety of materials, resulting in a highly diversified mix of inputs, which are sourced from a variety of suppliers around the world. Generally, we seek to obtain materials in the regions where our products are manufactured to minimize transportation and other costs. As of January 2, 2021, we had not experienced any significant shortages of raw materials and normally do not carry inventories of raw materials in excess of those required to meet our production schedules.
We continually seek to manage commodity and raw material costs using various strategies, including working with our customers and suppliers on pricing and costs, exploring material substitution opportunities, combining purchase requirements across regions and changing suppliers when appropriate.
Government Regulation
Our operations, products and properties are subject to extensive U.S. and foreign federal, state, local, and provincial laws and regulations relating to health, safety and environment (“HSE”) protection, including laws and regulations governing air emissions, wastewater discharges, waste management and disposal, substances in products, trade control laws, anti-corruption laws, data protection and privacy laws, and workplace health and safety, as well as the investigation and clean-up of contaminated sites. Under certain environmental laws, the obligation to investigate and remediate contamination at a facility may be imposed on current and former owners, lessees or operators or on persons who may have sent waste to that facility for disposal. We are currently performing environmental investigations and/or remediation at a number of former and current facilities in the U.S. and Canada and are incurring costs in relation to a number of offsite waste disposal sites. For more information, see “Item 1A. Risk Factors - Risks Related to Legal and Regulatory Matters”.
Human Capital
As of January 2, 2021, we employed approximately 14,300 full time employees worldwide. Approximately 6,500 of our employees are located in North America, 3,600 in EMEA, 3,600 in Greater China and East Asia & India, and 600 in South America. Approximately 67% of our work force consists of production employees, while approximately 24% of our global workforce was female and 76% male. Of approximately 1,400 managerial employees, 21% were female.
Some of our employees are members of labor unions, and over many years we have been able to maintain successful relationships with the unions and employment organizations. To date, employee relations have been flexible and constructive as we continue to pursue lean manufacturing improvements in our plants. Gates employs agency contractors, temporary employees and contract employees as a small percentage of our workforce. The number of associates in these categories typically varies with demand on our factories and distribution centers. Gates employs a small number of part-time associates across the globe.
Health and safety
We care about our employees and we believe that our commercial success is linked to a safe and healthy workforce. We are therefore committed to responsible business practices through the establishment, implementation and maintenance of the Gates Global HSE Standards Manual. We strive for zero injuries and an incident-free workplace and have achieved significant progress towards this goal through targeted risk reduction activities, improved case management, increased accountability to corrective action identification and closure, and more effective safety observation programs.
Demonstrating our commitment to safety, beginning in February 2020, we mobilized a centralized crisis response team that urgently developed and implemented our countermeasure actions across the globe for the novel coronavirus (“COVID-19”) pandemic. In addition to adhering to or exceeding local government mandates and guidance provided by health authorities, we proactively implemented quarantine protocols, social distancing policies, working from home arrangements, travel suspensions, frequent and extensive disinfecting of our workspaces, provision of personal protective equipment, mandatory temperature monitoring and periodic COVID-19 testing at our facilities.
Total rewards
Our compensation philosophy is to offer a compensation program that enables us to attract, motivate, reward and retain high-caliber employees who are capable of creating and sustaining value for our shareholders over the long-term and to design compensation and benefit programs that provide a fair and competitive compensation opportunity in order to appropriately reward employees for their contributions to our success. Globally, we offer the opportunity to earn short-term and long-term incentive awards to eligible employees, including a manufacturing incentive program to many of our production employees.
Employee development and training
Gates is committed to developing and unlocking the potential of our people and we make significant investments in training and professional development. Our learning and development framework supports the development of leadership and professional skills in three ways: on-the-job, learning from others, and participating in formal training programs. Some of the specific global and regional development experiences we offer include a global mentoring program that promotes a diverse and inclusive culture and knowledge transfer opportunities between our mentors and mentees; a structured succession planning process that identifies key talent and develops our employees to continue working toward their career goals and early career programs designed to develop talent in different areas of the business; for example, engineering, commercial and human resources. For our production employees, we provide skills-based training and certification opportunities.
Diversity, equity and inclusion
The Gates management team is committed to creating and sustaining a diverse workplace that understands and values individual differences across demographics, experiences and perspectives. We want to ensure that collaborative and respectful business practices in a performance-based, supportive environment enable every employee to realize his/her/their career ambitions. To that end, we have formed a Diversity, Equity & Inclusion (“DE&I”) Steering Committee, consisting of executive leadership, which works closely with our DE&I Leadership Council, consisting of representatives of relevant diversity groups across Gates’ businesses, to develop a DE&I strategy consistent with our corporate values while promoting a culture of inclusion, collaboration, tolerance and equal opportunity.
In 2020, to further develop our policies, programs and processes, we began a partnership with Catalyst, a global non-profit organization, to assess both quantitative and qualitative data and to help us ensure success in our initiatives around DE&I. We believe a diverse environment widens our talent pool as we strive to be an employer of choice for people from all backgrounds.
Where You Can Find More Information
We file annual, quarterly and current reports, proxy statements and other information with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”). Our SEC filings are available to the public over the internet at the SEC’s website at http://www.sec.gov. Our SEC filings are also available on our website, free of charge, at http://investors.gates.com as soon as reasonably practicable after they are filed with or furnished to the SEC.
We maintain an internet site at http://www.gates.com. Our website and the information contained on or connected to that site are not incorporated into this report.

---

ITEM 1A. RISK FACTORS
Item 1A. Risk Factors
The risk factors noted in this section and other factors noted throughout this annual report, describe certain risks and uncertainties that could cause our actual results to differ materially from those contained in any forward-looking statement and should be considered carefully in evaluating our company and our business.
Summary of Risk Factors
We operate in a changing global environment that involves numerous known and unknown risks and uncertainties that could materially adversely affect our business, financial condition and results of operations. The following is a summary of some of these risks and uncertainties. This summary should be read together with the more detailed description of each risk factor below.
Summary of Risks Related to Economic and Market Conditions
•Conditions in the global and regional economy and the major end markets we serve may materially and adversely affect our business should they deteriorate.
•The COVID-19 pandemic has caused severe disruption in the global economy and may continue to have an adverse impact on our business.
•We are subject to economic, political and other risks associated with international operations that could adversely affect our business and our strategy to capitalize on our global reach.
•We may be unable to obtain raw materials at favorable prices in sufficient quantities, or at the time we require them.
•We may experience adverse changes in our relationships with, or the financial condition, performance, purchasing patterns or inventory levels of, key channel partners.
•We are exposed to exchange rate fluctuations in the international markets in which we operate.
•Terrorist acts, conflicts and wars may materially adversely affect our business.
Summary of Risks Related to Our Business and Industry
•We may not be able to successfully compete with our competitors, which could adversely affect our business.
•Pricing pressures from our customers may materially adversely affect our business.
•We are dependent on the continued operation of our manufacturing facilities and we may need to make investments in new or existing facilities or consolidate facilities to align with our strategies.
•We may not be able to accurately forecast demand or meet significant increases in demand for our products.
•We may not be able to maintain and enhance our strong brand on which we depend.
•We are dependent on market acceptance of new product introductions and innovations for continued revenue growth.
•We have taken, and continue to take, cost-reduction actions that may expose us to additional risk, and we may not be able to maintain the level of cost reductions that we have achieved.
•Longer lives of products used in our end markets may adversely affect demand for some of our replacement products.
•The development of the replacement market in emerging markets may limit our ability to grow in those markets.
•We may acquire businesses or assets that we may not be able to successfully integrate.
•We have investments in joint ventures that limit our ability to manage third-party risks associated with these projects.
•We are subject to liabilities with respect to businesses that we have divested in the past.
•Our insurance may not fully cover all future losses we may incur.
•If we suffer loss to our facilities, supply chains, distribution systems or information technology systems due to catastrophe or other events, it may have a material adverse effect on our business.
•The loss or financial instability of any significant customer could adversely affect our business.
Summary of Risks Related to Legal and Regulatory Matters
•We are subject to risks from litigation, legal and regulatory proceedings and obligations.
•Our products could infringe on the intellectual property of others, adversely affecting our business.
•Failure to adequately protect or enforce our intellectual property rights could adversely affect our business.
•Failure to develop, obtain, enforce and protect intellectual property rights could adversely affect our business.
•We may not be able to protect or enforce our intellectual property rights in all jurisdictions throughout the world.
•We may be subject to recalls or product liability claims, or may incur costs related to product warranties.
•We are subject to anti-corruption laws in various jurisdictions, as well as other laws governing our international operations. If we fail to comply with these laws we could be subject to civil or criminal penalties, other remedial measures, and legal expenses, which could materially adversely affect our business, financial condition and results of operations.
•Existing or new laws and regulations may prohibit, restrict or burden the sale of aftermarket products.
•Existing or new laws and regulations regarding environmental, health and safety matters may prohibit, burden, restrict or make significantly more costly the sale of our products.
Summary of Risks Related to Cybersecurity and Information Systems
•Cyber-security vulnerabilities, threats and more sophisticated and targeted computer crime could pose a risk to our systems, networks, products, solutions, services and data.
•Global privacy, data protection and data security requirements are highly complex, evolving rapidly, and may increase our costs to comply.
•Information systems failure may disrupt our business and result in financial loss and liability to our customers.
Summary of Risks Related to Human Capital Management
•If we lose our senior management or key personnel, our business may be materially and adversely affected.
•We may be materially adversely impacted by work stoppages and other labor matters.
•Certain of our defined benefit pension plans are underfunded, and additional cash contributions may be required.
Summary of Risks Related to Tax Matters
•Changes in our effective tax rate or additional tax liabilities could adversely impact our net income.
•Changes in tax laws could result in additional tax liabilities.
•Relevant tax authorities may no longer treat us as being exclusively a resident of the U.K. for tax purposes.
Summary of Risks Related to Our Indebtedness
•We are subject to risks related to our indebtedness. These include risks related to raising additional capital, paying our debts and meeting our indebtedness service obligations, interest rate risk, operating and financial restrictions on us and our subsidiaries, and the risk of failure to comply with the agreements relating to our outstanding indebtedness.
Summary of Risks Related to the Ownership of our Ordinary Shares
•We are subject to additional risks specific to ownership of our ordinary shares. These risks include those related to being a “controlled company” within the meaning of the rules of the New York Stock Exchange (“NYSE”), adverse changes in the market value of our shares, lack of current plans for dividend payments, risks related to future issuances of shares, and risks specific to holding shares in a U.K. company.
Risks Related to Economic and Market Conditions
Conditions in the global and regional economy and the major end markets we serve may materially and adversely affect our business should they deteriorate.
Our business and operating results have been, and will continue to be, affected by worldwide and regional economic conditions, including conditions in the end markets we serve. The level of demand for our products depends, in part, on the general economic conditions that exist in our served end markets. A substantial portion of our revenues are derived from customers in cyclical industries that typically are adversely affected by downward economic cycles. For example, in Fiscal 2019, a downturn in the short-cycle end markets, including sharp declines in agriculture and general industrial end markets, significantly impacted our business. Further, our historical results have been, and remain, highly correlated to global industrial activity and utilization and decreases in such activity or utilization may continue to impact our business, financial condition and results of operations.
During such downturns, our customers may experience deterioration of their businesses, cash flow shortages or difficulty obtaining financing. As a result, the demand for our products may be significantly reduced and existing or potential customers may delay or cancel plans to purchase our products and may not be able to fulfill their obligations to us in a timely fashion. Further, our vendors may experience similar conditions, which may impact their ability to fulfill their obligations to us.
We cannot predict the timing, strength or duration of any economic recovery, including in the short-cycle end markets, or a downturn globally or within our end markets. If conditions in the global economy or in the regions and major end markets that we serve deteriorate, demand for our products may decline and our results of operations, financial position and cash flows could be materially adversely affected.
The COVID-19 pandemic has caused severe disruption in the global economy, and may continue to have an adverse impact on our business.
The scale and scope of the COVID-19 pandemic may heighten the potential adverse effects on our business, operating results, cash flows and/or financial condition described in these risk factors or result in new risks, due to the impact of:
•unfavorable economic conditions on our customers. We are unable to predict the degree to which the pandemic will impact our customers’ businesses, but it has resulted in and could continue to result in customers reducing orders, delaying projects, deferring capital equipment purchases, making late payments or being unable to make payments. Further, travel restrictions and social distancing has reduced or eliminated, and may continue to reduce or eliminate, in-person sales meetings, attendance at trade shows and industry events. As a result, our sales and selling activities have been and may continue to be adversely impacted;
•a significant disruption in service within our operations, among our key suppliers and supply chains, or other third parties. We have experienced instances of suppliers temporarily closing operations, delaying order fulfillment or limiting production due to the pandemic. Continued disruptions, shipping delays or insolvency of key vendors in our supply chain could make it difficult or more costly for us to obtain the raw materials or other inputs we need for our operations;
•facility closures or disruptions. We manufacture and provide essential products to a variety of customers around the globe and intend to continue providing our products to the extent possible. We have experienced temporary disruptions at certain facilities and may continue to experience these due to regulatory shut-downs or other quarantine measures or illness, which could place constraints on our ability to produce our products and meet customer demand;
•challenges in product delivery. We have faced, and may continue to face, increased delays in the delivery of our product to our customers as a result of shipping delays, port closures and congestion, increased border controls and other transportation and shipping constraints, which may increase our costs of doing business and affect our ability to timely meet customer demand;
•compliance with substantial government regulation, including new laws or regulations or changes in existing laws or regulations, which laws or regulations may vary significantly by jurisdiction;
•fluctuations in equity market prices, interest rates and credit spreads limiting our ability to raise or deploy capital and affecting our overall liquidity. The Company continues to generate cash from operations and believes it has adequate liquidity and capital resources at this time; however, unanticipated consequences of the pandemic and resulting economic uncertainty could adversely affect our ability to raise additional funds when and as needed or lead to higher costs of borrowing;
•cyberattacks or other privacy or data security incidents. The Company has experienced and expects to continue to experience an increase in phishing and hacking attempts and other fraudulent schemes due to the pandemic. Such additional cyberattacks increase the Company’s risk of security breaches, and mitigation efforts require an increased investment of time and resources;
•changes and challenges to our workforce, including decreased worker productivity due to remote working arrangements, increased medical, emergency or other leave, redirection of management’s focus on managing and mitigating the impacts of the pandemic, the ability to meet staffing needs in our various facilities and delays in implementation of our organizational efficiency and business continuity plans; and
•delays in responsiveness by governments and other third parties in other matters arising in the ordinary course of business due to their prioritization of matters relating to COVID-19.
The duration and extent of the impact from the COVID-19 pandemic depends on future developments that cannot be accurately predicted at this time, such as the severity and transmission rate of the virus, including any variants, the development, distribution and effectiveness of vaccines or other medical advances, the extent and effectiveness of containment actions, the impact of labor market interruptions, the impact of government interventions, the potential of a longer term economic slowdown or recession and the impact of these and other factors on our employees, customers, suppliers and partners. Such impact on our business, operating results, cash flows and/or financial condition is uncertain, could be material and could result in asset impairment charges, including impairments of property, plant and equipment, goodwill or other intangible assets.
We are subject to economic, political and other risks associated with international operations that could adversely affect our business and our strategy to capitalize on our global reach.
One of our key strategies is to capitalize on our global commercial reach, and a substantial portion of our operations are conducted and located outside the U.S. For Fiscal 2020, approximately 62% of our net sales originated from outside of the U.S. We have manufacturing, sales and service facilities spanning five continents and sell to customers in over 120 countries. Moreover, a significant amount of our manufacturing functions and sources of our raw materials and components are from emerging markets such as China, India and Eastern Europe. Accordingly, our business and results of operations, as well as the business and results of operations of our vendors and customers, are subject to risks associated with doing business internationally, including:
•imposition of new or additional tariffs or other trade restrictions or embargoes, as well as import and export licensing and control requirements;
•political, social or economic instability, civil unrest, natural disasters, public health crises, war or terrorism that may disrupt economic activities in affected countries;
•exchange rate fluctuations, currency restructurings and hyperinflation or deflation in the countries in which we operate;
•imposition of currency restrictions and limitations on repatriation of earnings;
•the complexities of operating within multiple tax jurisdictions;
•partial or total expropriation by local, state or national governments;
•uncertainties as to local laws regarding, and enforcement of, contract and intellectual property rights;
•the ability to comply with or effect of complying with complex and changing laws, regulations and policies of foreign governments, including differing and, in some cases, more stringent labor and environmental regulations;
•differing local product preferences and product requirements; and
•difficulties involved in staffing and managing widespread operations, including challenges in administering and enforcing corporate policies, which may be different than the normal business practices of local cultures.
The likelihood of such occurrences and their potential effect on us vary from country to country and are unpredictable. Certain regions, including Latin America, Asia, the Middle East and Africa, are generally more economically and politically volatile and as a result, our operations in these regions could be subject to more significant fluctuations in sales and operating income. Because a significant percentage of our operating income in recent years has come from these regions, adverse fluctuations in the operating results in these regions could have a disproportionate impact on our results of operations in future periods.
The U.S. administration has publicly supported certain potential tax and trade proposals, modifications to international trade policy and other changes which have and may continue to affect U.S. trade relations with other countries, particularly China. Our industry has been impacted by the ongoing uncertainty surrounding tariffs and international trade relations generally, and it is difficult for us to predict the impact future trade measures may have on our business and results of operations in the future.
In addition, economic and political uncertainty arose out of the June 23, 2016 vote in the U.K. that resulted in the U.K.’s exit from the European Union (the “E.U.”), commonly referred to as “Brexit,” on January 31, 2020. In order to negotiate a trade agreement and other aspects of their future relationship, the E.U. and the U.K. agreed to participate in a transition period that expired on December 31, 2020. On December 24, 2020, the E.U. and the U.K. announced they had entered into a post-Brexit deal on certain aspects of trade and other strategic and political issues. We are currently in the process of reviewing the potential impact of the new Brexit trade deal on our business and operations. In addition, we do not know if the E.U. and the U.K. will succeed in negotiating certain other terms not yet addressed or covered by the new Brexit trade deal. Accordingly, we cannot yet predict the future implications of Brexit or whether it could disrupt our operations, increase our cost of doing business or otherwise adversely affect our financial condition or results of operations.
Additionally, concerns persist regarding the debt burden of certain European countries and the ability of these countries to meet future financial obligations, as well as concerns regarding the overall stability of the euro and the suitability of the euro as a single currency given the diverse economic and political circumstances of individual euro-area countries. If a country within the euro area were to default on its debt or withdraw from the euro currency, or if the euro were to be dissolved entirely, the impact on markets around the world, and on our global business, could be immediate and material. Such a development could cause financial and capital markets within and outside Europe to constrict, thereby negatively impacting our ability to finance our business, and also could cause a substantial reduction in consumer confidence and spending that could negatively impact sales.
While we have adopted certain operational and financial measures to reduce the risks associated with doing business internationally, any one of the risks listed above may impact us or require us to modify our business practices beyond what we can anticipate and could have a material adverse effect on our financial condition and results of operations.
We may be unable to obtain raw materials at favorable prices in sufficient quantities, or at the time we require them.
We purchase our energy, steel, aluminum, rubber and rubber-based materials, chemicals, polymers and other key manufacturing inputs from outside sources. We do not traditionally have long-term pricing contracts with raw material suppliers. The costs of these raw materials have been volatile historically and are influenced by factors that are outside of our control. In recent years, the prices for energy, metal alloys, polymers and certain other of our raw materials have fluctuated significantly. While we strive to avoid this risk by using price escalation mechanisms with respect to our raw materials in certain of our customer contracts, and we also seek to offset our increased costs with gains achieved through operational efficiencies, if we are unable to pass increases in the costs of our raw materials on to our customers or we experience a lag in our ability to pass increases to our customers, or operational efficiencies are not achieved, our operating margins and results of operations may be materially adversely affected.
Additionally, our businesses compete globally for key production inputs. The availability of qualified suppliers and of key inputs may be disrupted by market disturbances or any number of geopolitical factors, including political unrest and significant weather events. Such disruptions may require additional capital or operating expenditure by us or force reductions in our production volumes. In the event of an industry-wide general shortage of certain raw materials or key inputs, or a shortage or discontinuation of certain raw materials or key inputs from one or more of our suppliers, we may not be able to arrange for alternative sources of certain raw materials or key inputs. Any such shortage may materially adversely affect our competitive position versus companies that are able to better or more cheaply source such raw materials or key inputs.
We may experience adverse changes in our relationships with, or the financial condition, performance, purchasing patterns or inventory levels of, key channel partners.
Certain of our businesses sell a significant amount of their products to key channel partners, including distributors, which have valuable relationships with end users. Some of these channel partners may also sell our competitors’ products, and if they favor competing products for any reason they may fail to market our products effectively. Adverse changes in our relationships with these channel partners, or adverse developments in their financial condition, performance or purchasing patterns, could adversely affect our business, financial condition and results of operations. The levels of inventory maintained by our distributors and other channel partners, and changes in those levels, can also significantly impact our results of operations in any given period, such as the destocking we experienced in both the automotive and industrial replacement channels during Fiscal 2019. In addition, the consolidation of channel partners and customers in certain of our end markets could adversely impact our profitability.
We are exposed to exchange rate fluctuations in the international markets in which we operate.
We conduct operations in many areas of the world involving transactions denominated in a variety of currencies. We are subject to currency exchange rate risk to the extent that our costs may be denominated in currencies other than those in which we earn and report revenues and vice versa. In addition, a decrease in the value of any of these currencies relative to the U.S. dollar could reduce our profits from non-U.S. operations and the translated value of the net assets of our non-U.S. operations when reported in U.S. dollars in our consolidated financial statements. Movements in average currency exchange rates in the future could have a negative impact on our business, financial condition or results of operations as reported in U.S. dollars. Fluctuations in currencies may also make it more difficult to perform period-to-period comparisons of our reported results of operations.
We anticipate that there will be instances in which costs and revenues will not be exactly matched with respect to currency denomination. As a result, to the extent we continue to expand geographically, we expect that increasing portions of our revenues, costs, assets and liabilities will be subject to fluctuations in foreign currency valuations. We may experience economic loss and a negative impact on earnings or net assets solely as a result of foreign currency exchange rate fluctuations. Further, the markets in which we operate could restrict the removal or conversion of the local or foreign currency, resulting in our inability to hedge against these risks.
We also face risks arising from the imposition of exchange controls and currency devaluations. Exchange controls may limit our ability to convert foreign currencies into U.S. dollars or to remit dividends and other payments by our foreign subsidiaries or businesses located in or conducted within a country imposing controls. Currency devaluations result in a diminished value of funds denominated in the currency of the country instituting the devaluation. Actions of this nature, if they occur or continue for significant periods of time, could have an adverse effect on our results of operations and financial condition in any given period.
Terrorist acts, conflicts and wars may materially adversely affect our business.
As we have a large international footprint, we are subject to increased risk of damage or disruption to us, our employees, facilities, partners, suppliers, distributors, resellers or customers due to terrorist acts, conflicts and wars, wherever located around the world. The potential for future attacks, the national and international responses to attacks or perceived threats to national security, and other actual or potential conflicts or wars have created many economic and political uncertainties. Although it is impossible to predict the occurrences or consequences of any such events, they could result in a decrease in demand for our products, make it difficult or impossible to deliver products to our customers or to receive raw materials from our suppliers, create delays and inefficiencies in our supply chain and result in the need to impose employee travel restrictions, and thereby materially adversely affect our business, financial condition, results of operations and cash flows.
Risks Related to Our Business and Industry
We may not be able to successfully compete with our competitors, which could adversely affect our business.
We are subject to competition from other producers of products similar to ours. We compete on a number of factors, including product performance, quality, value, product availability, brand recognition, customer service, innovation and technology. Our customers often demand delivery of our products on a tight time schedule and in a number of geographic markets. If our quality of service declines or we cannot meet the demands of our customers, they may utilize the services or products of our competitors. Our competitors include manufacturers that may be better capitalized, may have a more extensive low-cost sourcing strategy and presence in low-cost regions, or may receive significant governmental support and, as a result, may be able to offer more aggressive pricing. Our competitors also may develop products that are superior to our products, may develop more efficient or effective methods of providing products and services, or may adapt more quickly than we do to new technologies or evolving customer requirements. If we are unable to continue providing technologically superior or better quality products, timely delivery and competitive pricing, our ability to compete could be harmed and we could lose customers or market share.
Pricing pressures from our customers may materially adversely affect our business.
We generate strong margins by selling premium products at premium prices. Accordingly, our margins could suffer if our customers are no longer willing to pay a premium for our product and service offerings. We face the greatest pricing pressure from our customers in the automotive first-fit end market. Virtually all vehicle manufacturers seek price reductions in both the initial bidding process and during the term of the award. We are also, from time to time, subject to pricing pressures from customers in our other end markets. If we are not able to offset price reductions through improved operating efficiencies and reduced expenditures or new product introduction, those price reductions may have a material adverse effect on our results of operations.
We are dependent on the continued operation of our manufacturing facilities and we may need to make investments in new or existing facilities or consolidate facilities to align with our strategies.
While we are not heavily dependent on any single manufacturing facility, major disruptions at a number of our manufacturing facilities, due to labor unrest, adverse weather, natural disasters, terrorist attacks, significant mechanical failure of our facilities, or other catastrophic event, could result in interruption of our business, a potential loss of customers and sales, or significantly increased operating costs.
In addition, we have in the past and may in the future need to make investments in new or existing manufacturing facilities or to consolidate manufacturing facilities to adapt our production capacity to changing market conditions and to align with our growth and efficiency strategies. The costs of such investments or consolidation efforts may be significant and we may not realize the expected benefits on our anticipated timeframe or at all, which may have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations.
We may not be able to accurately forecast demand or meet significant increases in demand for our products.
Certain of our businesses operate with short lead times, and we order raw materials and supplies and plan production based on discussions with our customers and internal forecasts of demand. If we are unable to accurately forecast demand for our products, in terms of both volume and specific products, or react appropriately to abrupt changes in demand, we may experience delayed product shipments and customer dissatisfaction. If demand increases significantly from current levels, both we and our suppliers may have difficulty meeting such demand, particularly if such demand increases occur rapidly. Additionally, we may carry excess inventory if demand for our products decreases below projected levels. Failure to accurately forecast demand or meet significant increases in demand could have a material adverse impact on our business, financial condition and operating results.
We may not be able to maintain and enhance our strong brand on which we depend.
Our brand has worldwide recognition and our success depends on our ability to maintain and enhance our brand image and reputation. In particular, we believe that maintaining and enhancing the Gates brand is critical to maintaining and expanding our customer base. Maintaining, promoting and enhancing our brand may require us to make substantial investments in areas such as product innovation, product quality, intellectual property protection, marketing and employee training, and these investments may not have the desired impact on our brand image and reputation. Our business could be adversely impacted if we fail to achieve any of these objectives or if the reputation or image of our brand is tarnished or receives negative publicity. In addition, adverse publicity about regulatory or legal action against us could damage our reputation and brand image and reduce long-term demand for our products, even if the regulatory or legal action is unfounded or not material to our operations. If we are unable to maintain or enhance the image of our brand, it could materially adversely affect our business, financial condition and results of operations.
We are dependent on market acceptance of new product introductions and product innovations for continued revenue growth.
The markets in which we operate are subject to technological change. Our long-term operating results depend substantially upon our ability to continually develop, introduce, and market new and innovative products, to modify existing products, to respond to technological change, and to customize certain products to meet customer requirements and evolving industry standards. The development of new product introductions and product innovations may require significant investment by us. There are numerous risks inherent in this process, including the risks that we will be unable to anticipate the direction of technological change or that we will be unable to develop and market new products and applications in a timely fashion to satisfy customer demands. For example, the increased adoption of electric vehicles may affect certain of the end markets that we serve and could alter the application platforms in which we offer solutions.
If we are unable to adapt to technological changes, including by developing and marketing new products, our business and results of operations may be adversely affected.
We have taken, and continue to take, cost-reduction actions that may expose us to additional risk and we may not be able to maintain the level of cost reductions that we have achieved.
We have been implementing cost reduction actions in all of our businesses and have discontinued product lines, divested non-core businesses, consolidated manufacturing operations and reduced our employee population in some locations. The impact of these cost-reduction actions on our sales and profitability may be influenced by many factors and we may not be able to maintain the level of cost savings that we have achieved depending on our ability to successfully complete these efforts. In connection with the implementation and maintenance of our cost reduction measures, we may face delays in anticipated workforce reductions, a decline in employee morale and a potential inability to meet operational targets due to an inability to retain or recruit key employees.
Longer lives of products used in our end markets may adversely affect demand for some of our replacement products.
The average useful life of certain products in our end markets has increased in recent years due to innovations in technologies and manufacturing processes. The longer product lives allow end users to replace parts less often. As a result, a portion of sales in the replacement markets we serve may be displaced. If this trend continues, it could adversely impact our replacement market sales.
The development of the replacement market in emerging markets may limit our ability to grow in those markets.
In emerging markets such as China, India, Eastern Europe and Russia, the replacement markets are still nascent as compared to those in more developed nations. In these markets, we have focused on building a first-fit presence in order to establish brand visibility in the end markets we serve. However, as the replacement markets in these regions grow, our products may not be selected as the replacement product, although we are the first-fit provider. If we are not able to convert our first-fit presence in these emerging markets into sales in the replacement end market, there may be a material adverse effect on our replacement end market growth potential in these emerging markets.
We may acquire businesses or assets that we may not be able to successfully integrate.
We consider strategic acquisitions of complementary businesses or assets to expand our product portfolio and geographic presence on an ongoing basis, and regularly have discussions concerning potential acquisitions, certain of which may be material. Acquisitions, particularly investments in emerging markets, involve legal, economic and political risks. We also encounter risks in the selection of appropriate investment and disposal targets, execution of the transactions and integration of acquired businesses or assets.
We may not be able to effectively integrate acquisitions or successfully implement appropriate operational, financial and management systems and controls to achieve the benefits expected to result from these acquisitions. As a result, we may not be able to recoup our investment in such acquisitions or achieve the economic benefits that we anticipate from such acquisitions. Our efforts to integrate these businesses or assets could be affected by a number of factors beyond our control, such as general economic conditions and increased competition. In addition, the process of integrating these businesses or assets could cause the interruption of, or loss of momentum in, the activities of our existing business and the diversion of management’s attention. Furthermore:
•the key personnel of the acquired company may decide not to work for us;
•customers of the acquired company may decide not to purchase products from us;
•suppliers of the acquired company may decide not to sell products to us;
•the markets may reject the acquired technologies, or they may not integrate with our existing technologies as expected;
•we may experience business disruptions as a result of information technology systems conversions;
•we may experience additional financial and accounting challenges and complexities in areas such as tax planning, treasury management, and financial reporting;
•we may be held liable for environmental, tax or other risks and liabilities as a result of our acquisitions, some of which we may not have discovered during our due diligence;
•we may intentionally assume the liabilities of the companies we acquire, which could result in material adverse effects on our business;
•our existing business may be disrupted or receive insufficient management attention;
•we may not be able to realize the cost savings or other financial benefits we anticipated, either in the amount or in the time frame that we expect; and
•we may incur debt or issue equity securities to pay for a future acquisition, the issuance of which could involve the imposition of restrictive covenants or be dilutive to our existing shareholders.
These impacts and any delays or difficulties encountered in connection with the integration of these businesses or assets could negatively impact our business and results of operations.
In addition, certain of the businesses that we have acquired and may acquire have unaudited financial statements that have been prepared by the management of such companies and have not been independently reviewed or audited. Such financial statements could be materially different if audited. Further, we may not continue to acquire businesses at valuations consistent with our prior acquisitions or we may not complete future acquisitions at all. There may not be attractive acquisition opportunities at reasonable prices, financing may not be available, or we may not be able to successfully integrate such acquired businesses into our existing operations. In addition, our results of operations from these acquisitions could, in the future, result in impairment charges for any of our intangible assets, including goodwill, or other long-lived assets, particularly if economic conditions worsen unexpectedly. These changes could materially negatively affect our business, results of operations or financial condition.
We have investments in joint ventures that limit our ability to manage third-party risks associated with these projects.
We have investments in joint ventures which may involve risks such as the possibility that a co-venturer in an investment might become bankrupt, be unable to meet its capital contribution obligations, have economic or business interests or goals that are inconsistent with our business interests or goals, or take actions that are contrary to our instructions or to applicable laws and regulations. Actions by a co-venturer or other third party could expose us to claims for damages, financial penalties and reputational harm, any of which could adversely affect our business and operations. In addition, we may agree to guarantee indebtedness incurred by a joint venture or provide standard indemnifications to lenders for loss liability or damage occurring as a result of our actions or actions of the joint venture. Such a guarantee or indemnity may be on a joint and several basis with a co-venturer, in which case we may be liable in the event that our co-venturer defaults on its guarantee obligation. The non-performance of a co-venturer’s obligations may cause losses to us in excess of the capital we have invested or committed.
Although our joint ventures may generate positive cash flow, in some cases we may choose to leave cash in the joint venture rather than distribute it either to support future investments within the joint venture or because it may be costly to distribute.
We are subject to liabilities with respect to businesses that we have divested in the past.
In recent years, we have divested a number of businesses. With respect to some of these former businesses, we have contractually agreed to indemnify the buyer against liabilities arising prior to the divestiture, including lawsuits, tax liabilities, product liability claims or environmental matters. Even without ongoing contractual indemnification obligations, we could be exposed to liabilities arising out of such divestitures. As a result of these types of arrangements, conditions outside our control could materially adversely affect our future financial results.
Our insurance may not fully cover all future losses we may incur.
Manufacturers of products such as ours are subject to inherent risks. We maintain an amount of insurance protection that we consider adequate, but we cannot provide any assurance that our insurance will be sufficient or provide effective coverage under all circumstances and against all hazards or liabilities to which we may be subject. Specifically, our insurance may not be sufficient to replace facilities or equipment that are damaged in part or in full. Damages or third-party claims for which we are not fully insured could adversely affect our financial condition and results of operations. Further, due to rising insurance costs and changes in the insurance markets, insurance coverage may not continue to be available at all or at rates or on terms similar to those presently available. Additionally, our insurance may subject us to significant deductibles, self-insured retentions, retrospectively rated premiums or similar costs. Any losses not covered by insurance could have a material adverse effect on us. We typically purchase business interruption insurance for our facilities. However, if we have a stoppage, our insurance policies may not cover every contingency and may not be sufficient to cover all of our lost revenues. In the future, we may be unable to purchase sufficient business interruption insurance at desirable costs.
We supply products to industries that are subject to inherent risks, including equipment defects, malfunctions and failures, and natural disasters, which could result in unforeseen and damaging events. These risks may expose us, as an equipment operator and supplier, to liability for personal injury, wrongful death, property damage, pollution and/or other environmental damage. The insurance we carry against many of these risks may not be adequate to cover our claims or losses. Further, insurance covering the risks we expect to face or in the amounts we desire may not be available in the future or, if available, the premiums may not be commercially justifiable. If we were to incur substantial liability and such damages were not covered by insurance or were in excess of policy limits, or if we were to incur liability at a time when we were not able to obtain liability insurance, our business, results of operations, cash flows and financial condition could be negatively impacted. If our customers suffer damages as a result of the occurrence of such events, they may reduce their business with us.
If we suffer loss to our facilities, supply chains, distribution systems or information technology systems due to catastrophe or other events, it may have a material adverse effect on our business.
Our facilities, supply chains, distribution systems and information technology systems are subject to catastrophic loss due to fire, flood, earthquake, hurricane, public health crises such as the COVID-19 pandemic, or other natural or man-made disasters. If any of these facilities, supply chains or systems were to experience a catastrophic loss or ongoing closure or disruption, it could negatively impact our operations, delay production and shipments, result in defective products or services, damage customer relationships and our reputation, result in legal exposure and large repair or replacement expenses. The third-party insurance coverage that we maintain will vary from time to time in both type and amount depending on cost, availability and our decisions regarding risk retention, and may be unavailable or insufficient to protect us against losses.
The loss or financial instability of any significant customer or customers could adversely affect our business.
A substantial part of our business is concentrated with a few customers, and we have certain customers that are significant to our business. During Fiscal 2020, our top ten customers accounted for approximately 24% of our consolidated net sales and accounted for approximately 35% of our trade accounts receivable balance as of January 2, 2021, and our largest customer accounted for approximately 9% and 17% of our Fiscal 2020 consolidated net sales and trade accounts receivable balance as of January 2, 2021, respectively. The loss of one or more of these customers or other major customers, a deterioration in our relationship with any of them, or their failure to pay amounts due to us could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition, results of operations or cash flows.
Our contracted backlog is comprised of future orders for our products from a broad number of customers. Defaults by any of the customers that have placed significant orders with us could have a significant adverse effect on our net sales, profitability and cash flow. Our customers may in the future default on their obligations to us due to bankruptcy, lack of liquidity, operational failure or other reasons deriving from the general economic environment or circumstances affecting those customers in particular. If a customer defaults on its obligations to us, it could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition, results of operations or cash flows.
Risks Related to Legal and Regulatory Matters
We are subject to risks from litigation, legal and regulatory proceedings and obligations.
We face an inherent business risk of exposure to various types of claims, lawsuits and proceedings. We are involved in various tax, intellectual property, product liability, product warranty and environmental claims and lawsuits, and other legal, antitrust and regulatory proceedings arising in the ordinary course of our business. Although it is not possible to predict with certainty the outcome of every claim, lawsuit or proceeding and the range of probable loss, we believe these claims, lawsuits and proceedings will not individually or in the aggregate have a material impact on our results. However, we could, in the future, be subject to various claims, lawsuits and proceedings, including, amongst others, tax, intellectual property, product liability, product warranty, environmental claims and antitrust claims, and we may incur judgments or enter into settlements of lawsuits and proceedings that could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations.
Our products could infringe on the intellectual property of others, adversely affecting our business.
Third parties may assert infringement or other misappropriation claims against us based on their patents or other intellectual property rights. In addition, first-fit manufacturers are seeking and obtaining more utility and design patents than they have in the past to threaten claims of intellectual property infringement against manufacturers and distributors of aftermarket products in efforts to restrict or eliminate the sale of aftermarket products.
Any claim relating to intellectual property infringement that is successfully asserted against us may require us to pay substantial damages, including treble damages, if we are found to be willfully infringing another party’s patents, for past use of the asserted intellectual property and royalties and other consideration going forward if we are forced to take a license. In addition, if any such claim were successfully asserted against us, we could be restricted or prohibited from manufacturing, selling or otherwise commercializing certain of our products, product candidates or other technology. Even if infringement claims against us are without merit, we will likely incur significant expenses investigating and defending such claims, and even if we prevail, may divert management attention from other business concerns.
In addition, certification by independent organizations of certain of our aftermarket products may be revoked or adversely affected by first-fit manufacturer claims. Lack of certification may negatively impact us because many major insurance companies recommend or require the use of aftermarket products only if they have been certified by an independent certifying organization.
Failure to adequately protect or enforce our intellectual property rights against counterfeiting activities could adversely affect our business.
Although we routinely conduct anti-counterfeiting activities in multiple jurisdictions, we have encountered counterfeit reproductions of our products that infringe on our intellectual property rights. We expect pirates to continue to encounter counterfeiting of certain of our products using our trademarks, which has led to, and will likely continue to cause loss of sales. It is difficult to police such counterfeiting, particularly on a worldwide basis, and the actions we take to stop such counterfeiting and to establish trademarks and other intellectual property rights may not be adequate to prevent such counterfeiting activities by others. If we are unsuccessful in challenging such products on the basis of trademark or other intellectual property infringement, continued sales of such imitating products may adversely affect market share and impact customer perceptions and demand.
Failure to develop, obtain, enforce and protect intellectual property rights could adversely affect our business.
Our success depends on our ability to develop technologies and inventions used in our products and to brand such products to obtain intellectual property rights and to protect and enforce such intellectual property rights. In this regard, we rely on U.S. and foreign patent, trademark, copyright, and trade secret laws, as well as license agreements, nondisclosure agreements, and confidentiality and other contractual provisions.
However, we may not be able to obtain patents or other intellectual property rights in our new technologies and inventions or, if we do, the scope of such rights may not be sufficiently broad to afford us any significant commercial advantage over our competitors. In addition, the technologies and inventions developed by our engineers in the future may not prove to be as valuable as those of competitors, or competitors may develop similar or identical technologies and inventions independently of us and before we do.
Even if we do obtain intellectual property rights, our efforts to enforce our intellectual property rights against infringers may not prove successful and will likely be time consuming and expensive. Competitors and other third parties may also challenge the ownership, validity, and/or enforceability of our patents or other intellectual property rights.
To the extent we do assert our intellectual property rights against third parties, adequate remedies may not be available in the event of an infringement or unauthorized use or disclosure of our trade secrets. If we fail to successfully enforce our intellectual property rights, our competitive position could suffer, which could harm our business, financial condition, results of operations and cash flows.
We will not seek to protect our intellectual property rights in all jurisdictions throughout the world and we may not be able to adequately enforce our intellectual property rights even in the jurisdictions where we seek protection.
Although we rely on U.S. and foreign intellectual property rights, filing, prosecuting, enforcing, and defending patents on our products in all jurisdictions throughout the world would be prohibitively expensive, and the laws of certain foreign countries may not protect or allow enforcement of intellectual property rights to the same extent as the laws of the U.S.
Further, successful assertion of our intellectual property rights depends on the judicial strength and willingness of the issuing jurisdictions to enact and enforce sufficient intellectual property laws. Creation and enforcement of intellectual property rights is a relatively recent development in much of the world, and so some time may be necessary to realize reliable intellectual property systems across all markets and jurisdictions, if this occurs at all.
Competitors may use our technologies in jurisdictions where we do not pursue and obtain patent protection to develop their own products and further, may export otherwise infringing products to territories where we have patent protection, but where the ability to enforce our patent rights is not as strong as in the U.S. These products may compete with our products, and our intellectual property rights may not be effective or sufficient to prevent such competition.
We may be subject to recalls or product liability claims, or may incur costs related to product warranties.
Meeting or exceeding many government-mandated safety standards is costly and requires manufacturers to remedy defects related to product safety through recall campaigns if the products do not comply with safety, health or environmental standards. If we, our customers or government regulators determine that a product is defective or does not comply with such standards prior to the start of production, the launch of a product could be delayed until such defect is remedied. The costs associated with any protracted delay of a product launch or a recall campaign to remedy defects in products that have been sold could be substantial.
We face an inherent risk of product liability claims if product failure results in any claim for injury or loss. Supplier consolidation and the increase in low-cost country sourcing may increase the likelihood of receiving defective materials, thereby increasing the risk of product failure and resulting liability claims. Litigation is inherently unpredictable and these claims, regardless of their outcome, may be costly, divert management attention and adversely affect our reputation. Although we have liability insurance, we cannot be certain that this insurance coverage will continue to be available to us at a reasonable cost or will be adequate. In addition, even if we are successful in defending against a claim relating to our products, claims of this nature could cause our customers to lose confidence in our products and us.
From time to time, we receive product warranty claims from our customers, pursuant to which we may be required to bear costs of repair or replacement of certain of our products. Vehicle manufacturers are increasingly requiring their outside suppliers to participate in the warranty of their products and to be responsible for the operation of these component products in new vehicles sold to consumers. Warranty claims may range from individual customer claims to full recalls of all products in the field. It cannot be assured that costs associated with providing product warranties will not be material.
We are subject to anti-corruption laws in various jurisdictions, as well as other laws governing our international operations. If we fail to comply with these laws we could be subject to civil or criminal penalties, other remedial measures, and legal expenses, which could materially adversely affect our business, financial condition and results of operations.
Our operations are subject to one or more anti-corruption laws in various jurisdictions, such as the U.S. Foreign Corrupt Practices Act of 1977, as amended (the “FCPA”), the U.K. Bribery Act of 2010 and other anti-corruption laws. The FCPA and these other laws generally prohibit employees and intermediaries from bribing or making other prohibited payments to foreign officials or other persons to obtain or retain business or gain some other business advantage. We operate in a number of jurisdictions that pose a high risk of potential FCPA or other anti-corruption violations, and we participate in joint ventures and relationships with third parties whose actions could potentially subject us to liability under the FCPA or other anti-corruption laws. In addition, 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 laws might be administered or interpreted.
We are also subject to other laws and regulations governing our operations, including regulations administered by the U.S. Department of Commerce’s Bureau of Industry and Security, the U.S. Department of Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control, and various non-U.S. government entities, including applicable export control regulations, economic sanctions on countries and persons, customs requirements, currency exchange regulations, and transfer pricing regulations (collectively, “Trade Control Laws”).
We are also subject to U.K. corporate criminal offences for failure to prevent the facilitation of tax evasion pursuant to the Criminal Finances Act 2017 (“FTP offences”). The FTP offences impose criminal liability on a company where it has failed to prevent the criminal facilitation of tax evasion by a person associated with the company.
We have instituted policies, procedures and ongoing training of certain employees with regard to business ethics, designed to ensure that we and our employees comply with the FCPA, other anticorruption laws, Trade Control Laws and the Criminal Finances Act 2017. However, there is no assurance that our efforts have been and will be completely effective in ensuring our compliance with all applicable anti-corruption laws, including the FCPA, or other legal requirements. If we are not in compliance with the FCPA, other anti-corruption laws, Trade Control Laws or the Criminal Finances Act 2017, we may be subject to criminal and civil penalties, disgorgement and other sanctions and remedial measures, and legal expenses, which could have a material adverse impact on our business, financial condition, results of operations and liquidity. Likewise, any investigation of any potential violations of the FCPA, other anti-corruption laws or the Criminal Finances Act 2017 by U.S. or foreign authorities could also have a material adverse impact on our reputation, business, financial condition and results of operations.
Existing or new laws and regulations may prohibit, restrict or burden the sale of aftermarket products.
Most states have passed laws that regulate or limit the use of aftermarket products in certain types of repair work. These laws include requirements relating to consumer disclosure, owner’s consent regarding the use of aftermarket products in the repair process, and the requirement to have aftermarket products certified by an independent testing organization. Additional legislation of this kind may be introduced in the future. If additional laws prohibiting or restricting the use of aftermarket products are passed, it could have an adverse impact on our aftermarket products business.
Certain organizations test the quality and safety of vehicle replacement products. If these organizations decide not to test a particular vehicle product, or in the event that such organizations decide that a particular vehicle product does not meet applicable quality or safety standards, we may decide to discontinue sales of such product or insurance companies may decide to discontinue authorization of repairs using such product. Such events could adversely affect our business.
Existing or new laws and regulations regarding environmental, health and safety matters may prohibit, burden, restrict or make significantly more costly the sale of our products.
Our operations, products and properties are subject to extensive foreign, federal, state, local and provincial laws and regulations relating to HSE protection around the world. HSE laws vary by jurisdiction but generally govern air emissions, wastewater discharges, material handling and transportation, waste management and disposal, substances in products, and workplace health and safety, as well as the investigation and clean-up of contaminated sites. Failure to comply with HSE laws and regulations could have significant consequences on our business and operations, including the imposition of substantial fines and sanctions for violations, injunctive relief (including requirements that we limit or cease operations at affected facilities), and negative publicity.
HSE laws have become increasingly stringent and stricter interpretation or enforcement of new and existing HSE laws could adversely affect our business, financial condition and results of our operations and product demand. For example, increasing global interest to control emissions of carbon dioxide, methane and other greenhouse gases (“GHGs”) in an effort to minimize the effect on climate change have the potential to directly impact the price of the energy and raw materials we purchase. In addition, GHGs regulations could impact oil and gas production, a key demand driver of our industrial end markets, and reduce demand for our products by driving down the use of fossil fuels.
The evolution of HSE laws beyond manufacturing operations to restrict specific chemical substances in our products or impose labeling and other requirements, such as California’s Safe Drinking Water and Toxic Enforcement Act (“Proposition 65”), or European Union’s Registration, Evaluation, Authorisation, and Restriction of Chemical Substances (“REACH”) Directive, could result in significant costs or limit access to certain markets.
We have incurred, and will continue to incur, both operating and capital costs to comply with HSE laws, including costs associated with the investigation and clean-up of some of our current and former properties and offsite disposal locations. As the present and former operator of industrial properties that use and generate hazardous materials, we could be subject to additional liability for environmental contamination in the future, regardless of whether we caused such contamination.
Risks Related to Cybersecurity and Information Systems
Cyber-security vulnerabilities, threats and more sophisticated and targeted computer crime could pose a risk to our systems, networks, products, solutions, services and data.
Increased global cyber security vulnerabilities, threats, computer viruses and more sophisticated and targeted cyber-related attacks, as well as cyber-security failures resulting from human error and technological errors, pose a risk to our systems, products and data as well as potentially to our employees’, customers', partners', suppliers' and third-party service providers' data. An attack could result in security breaches, theft, lost or corrupted data, misappropriation of sensitive, confidential or personal data or information, loss of trade secrets and commercially valuable information, production downtimes and operational disruptions. We attempt to mitigate these risks by employing a number of measures, including employee training, monitoring and testing, and maintenance of protective systems and contingency plans, but we remain potentially vulnerable to additional known or unknown threats. There is no assurance the financial or operational impact from such threats will not be material.
Global privacy, data protection and data security requirements are highly complex, evolving rapidly, and may increase our costs to comply.
To conduct our operations, we regularly move data across national borders, and consequently we are subject to a variety of continuously evolving and developing laws and regulations in the United States and abroad regarding privacy, data protection and data security. The scope of the laws that may be applicable to us is often uncertain and may be conflicting, particularly with respect to foreign laws. For example, the European Union’s General Data Protection Regulation (“GDPR”), which greatly increases the jurisdictional reach of European Union law and adds a broad array of requirements for handling personal data, including the public disclosure of significant data breaches, became effective in May 2018. Other countries have enacted or are enacting data localization and privacy laws that require data to stay within their borders, as well as requiring that data subjects provide clear and concise consent on how collected data will be utilized. These evolving compliance and operational requirements impose significant costs that are likely to increase over time as the breadth and complexity of regulations continues to evolve internationally. We continue to monitor these developments and adjust our data handling practice in accordance with applicable law.
Information systems failure may disrupt our business and result in financial loss and liability to our customers.
We rely on information technology networks and systems, including the Cloud and third party service providers, to process, transmit and store electronic information, and to manage or support a variety of business processes and activities. These information technology networks and systems may be susceptible to damage, disruptions or shutdowns due to failures during the process of upgrading or replacing software, databases or components, power outages, hardware failures or computer viruses. If these information technology systems suffer severe damage or disruption and the issues are not resolved in a timely manner, our business, financial condition and operations could be materially adversely affected.
Risks Related to Human Capital Management
If we lose our senior management or key personnel, our business may be materially and adversely affected.
The success of our business is largely dependent on our senior management team, as well as on our ability to attract and retain other qualified key personnel. In addition, there is significant demand in our industry for skilled workers. It cannot be assured that we will be able to retain all of our current senior management personnel and attract and retain other necessary personnel, including skilled workers, necessary for the development of our business. Further, in the event we do lose key personnel, the success of our business may depend on whether we have appropriate succession plans in place and can implement such plans to identify and integrate new personnel. The loss of the services of senior management and other key personnel or the failure to attract additional personnel and implement succession plans as required could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations.
We may be materially adversely impacted by work stoppages and other labor matters.
As of January 2, 2021, we had approximately 14,700 employees worldwide. Certain of our employees are represented by various unions under collective bargaining agreements, or by various regional works councils. While we have no reason to believe that we will be impacted by work stoppages and other labor matters, we cannot insure that future issues with our labor unions will be resolved favorably or that we will not encounter future strikes, work stoppages, or other types of conflicts with labor unions or our employees. Increased unionization of our workforce, new labor legislation or changes in regulations could disrupt our operations, reduce our profitability, or interfere with the ability of our management to focus on executing our business strategies. Any of these factors may have a materially adverse effect on us or may limit our flexibility in managing our workforce. In addition, many of our customers and vendors have unionized workforces. If one or more of our customers or vendors experience a material work stoppage, it could similarly have a material adverse effect on our business, results of operations and financial condition.
Certain of our defined benefit pension plans are underfunded, and additional cash contributions may be required.
Certain of our employees in the U.S., the U.K., Canada, Mexico, Germany and Japan are participants in defined benefit pension plans which we sponsor and/or to which we have contribution obligations. As of January 2, 2021, the unfunded amount of our defined benefit pension plans on a worldwide basis was $62.9 million on a Topic 715 “Compensation-Retirement Benefits” basis. The amount of our contributions to our underfunded plans will depend upon asset returns, funding assumptions, regulatory requirements and a number of other factors and, as a result, the amount we may be required to contribute to such plans in the future may vary. Such cash contributions to the plans will reduce the cash available for our business such as the payment of interest expense on our notes or our other indebtedness.
Risks Related to Tax Matters
Changes in our effective tax rate or additional tax liabilities could adversely impact our net income.
We are subject to income taxes as well as non-income based taxes in the U.K., the U.S. and various other jurisdictions in which we operate. The laws and regulations in these jurisdictions are inherently complex and the Company and its subsidiaries will be obliged to make judgments and interpretations about the application of these laws and regulations to the Company and its subsidiaries and their operations and businesses, including those related to any restructuring of intercompany operations, holdings or financings; the valuation of intercompany services; cross-border payments between affiliated companies; and the related effects on income tax, VAT and transfer tax. Further, our tax liabilities could be adversely affected by numerous other factors, including income before taxes being lower than anticipated in countries with lower statutory tax rates and higher than anticipated in countries with higher statutory tax rates, changes in the valuation of deferred income tax assets and liabilities, and changes in tax laws and regulations. We are regularly under audit by taxing authorities in certain of the jurisdictions in which we operate. Although we believe our tax estimates are reasonable, including our estimates of reserves for unrecognized tax benefits related to the implementation of our European corporate center in Fiscal 2019, any changes in our judgments and interpretation of tax laws or any material differences as a result of the audits could result in unfavorable tax adjustments that have an adverse effect on our overall tax liability.
Changes in tax laws could result in additional tax liabilities.
Changes in tax laws can and do occur. For example, in 2017, the U.S. government enacted the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, which is complex and continues to be further clarified with supplemental guidance. Changes to tax laws may require the Company to make significant judgment in determining the appropriate provision and related accruals for these taxes; and, as a result, such changes could result in substantially higher taxes and a significant adverse effect on our results of operations, financial conditions and liquidity. In addition, the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (“OECD”), which represents a coalition of member countries, has recommended fundamental tax reforms affecting the taxation of multinational corporations, including the Base Erosion and Profit Shifting project, which in part aims to address international corporate tax avoidance. Countries have already enacted significant measures in this regard. The OECD has undertaken a new project to address the tax challenges of the digitization of the economy. The proposal seeks to allocate a greater share of taxing rights to countries where consumers are located, regardless of the physical presence of a business, and by implementing a global minimum tax. Such OECD projects are likely to result in further changes to the international tax regime which could adversely impact our effective tax rate and tax liabilities.
Further, the U.K.’s decision to leave the E.U. may result in changes to the interpretation and application of tax laws and regulations including changes to the interpretations of double tax treaties which could lead to significant changes in the U.K. tax burden of the Company. In addition, it may become more difficult for cash to be repatriated to U.K. companies without the application of withholding tax and the tax treatment of the interest on any intra-group loans may be impacted by these changes, both resulting in significant changes to the tax burden of the Company.
Any such developments to the tax regime in the U.K., the U.S. or in other countries in which we operate could materially affect our tax burden and/or have a negative impact on our ability to compete in the global marketplace.
Relevant tax authorities may no longer treat us as being exclusively a resident of the U.K. for tax purposes.
We are a company incorporated in the U.K. Current U.K. tax law provides that we will be regarded as being U.K. resident for tax purposes from incorporation and shall remain so unless (i) we were concurrently resident of another jurisdiction (applying the tax residence rules of that jurisdiction) that has a double tax treaty with the U.K., and (ii) there is a tiebreaker provision in that tax treaty which allocates exclusive residence to that other jurisdiction.
Based upon our management and organizational structure, we believe that we should be regarded solely as resident in the U.K. from our incorporation for tax purposes. However, because this analysis is highly factual and may depend on future changes in our management and organizational structure, there can be no assurance regarding the final determination of our tax residence. Should we be treated as resident in a country or jurisdiction other than the U.K., we could be subject to taxation in that country or jurisdiction on our worldwide income and may be required to comply with a number of material and formal tax obligations, including withholding tax and/or reporting obligations provided under the relevant tax law, which could result in additional costs and expenses. Further, we may not qualify for benefits under the tax treaties entered into between the U.K. and other countries. Not being treated exclusively as a resident of the U.K. for tax purposes could result in adverse tax consequences to us.
Risks Related to Our Indebtedness
Our substantial leverage could adversely affect our financial condition, our ability to raise additional capital to fund our operations, our ability to operate our business, our ability to react to changes in the economy, or our industry or our ability to pay our debts, and could divert our cash flow from operations to debt payments.
We are highly leveraged. As of January 2, 2021, the total principal amount of our debt was $2,720.8 million. Subject to the limits contained in the credit agreements that govern our senior secured credit facilities, the indenture that governs our notes and the applicable agreements governing our other debt instruments, we may be able to incur substantial additional debt from time to time to finance working capital, capital expenditures, investments or acquisitions, or for other purposes. If we do so, the risks related to our high level of debt could increase. Specifically, our high level of debt could have important consequences, including the following:
•making it more difficult for us to satisfy our obligations with respect to our debt;
•limiting our ability to obtain additional financing to fund future working capital, capital expenditures, acquisitions or other general corporate requirements;
•requiring a substantial portion of our cash flows to be dedicated to debt service payments instead of other purposes, thereby reducing the amount of cash flows available for working capital, capital expenditures, acquisitions and other general corporate purposes;
•increasing our vulnerability to general adverse economic and industry conditions;
•exposing us to the risk of increased interest rates as certain of our borrowings are at variable rates of interest;
•limiting our flexibility in planning for and reacting to changes in the industry in which we compete;
•placing us at a disadvantage compared to other, less leveraged competitors; and
•increasing our cost of borrowing.
We are a holding company, and our consolidated assets are owned by, and our business is conducted through, our subsidiaries. Earnings from these subsidiaries are our primary source of funds for debt payments and operating expenses. If our subsidiaries are restricted from making distributions, our ability to meet our debt service obligations or otherwise fund our operations may be impaired. Moreover, there may be restrictions on payments by subsidiaries to their parent companies under applicable laws, including laws that require companies to maintain minimum amounts of capital and to make payments to shareholders only from profits. As a result, although a subsidiary of ours may have cash, we may not be able to obtain that cash to satisfy our obligation to service our outstanding debt or fund our operations.
Despite our current level of indebtedness, we may be able to incur substantially more debt and enter into other transactions which could further exacerbate the risks to our financial condition described above.
We may be able to incur significant additional indebtedness in the future. Although certain of the agreements governing our existing indebtedness contain restrictions on the incurrence of additional indebtedness and entering into certain types of other transactions, these restrictions are subject to a number of qualifications and exceptions. Additional indebtedness incurred in compliance with these restrictions could be substantial. These restrictions also do not prevent us from incurring obligations, such as trade payables, that do not constitute indebtedness as defined under our debt instruments. To the extent new debt is added to our current debt levels, the substantial leverage risks described in the immediately preceding risk factor would increase.
Our variable rate indebtedness subjects us to interest rate risk, which could cause our indebtedness service obligations to increase significantly.
Interest rates may increase in the future. As a result, interest rates on our revolving credit facility or other variable rate debt offerings could be higher or lower than current levels. As of January 2, 2021, after taking into account our interest rate derivatives, $762.9 million (equivalent), or 28.0%, of our outstanding debt had variable interest rates. If interest rates increase, our debt service obligations on the variable rate indebtedness would increase even though the amount borrowed remained the same, and our net income and cash flows, including cash available for servicing our indebtedness, would correspondingly decrease.
In addition, we have $2,152.6 million of variable rate indebtedness that uses LIBOR or EURIBOR as a benchmark for establishing the rate of interest. LIBOR and its foreign currency counterparts are the subject of recent national, international and other regulatory guidance and proposals for reform and were initially not expected to be maintained after 2021. In November 2020, the Board of Governors of the U.S. Federal Reserve System, the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency and the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation issued a joint statement stating that the administrator of LIBOR will consult on its intention to cease publicizing “one week” and “two month” LIBOR following the publication at the end of 2021, but the remaining LIBOR periods would only cease following the publication at the end of June 2023 to allow a greater number of existing contracts to mature prior to any disruption in LIBOR. However, there is no certainty that financial institutions will enter into new contracts, or agree to modify terms of existing contracts, utilizing LIBOR after 2021. We therefore may need to renegotiate certain of our loan agreements that extend past 2021, which could require us to incur significant expense and may subject us to disputes or litigation over the appropriateness or comparability to LIBOR or EURIBOR of the replacement reference rates. At this time, it is not possible to predict how markets will respond in coming years to alternative reference rates as replacements to the current interbank rates. The consequences of these developments cannot be entirely predicted, but could include an increase in the cost of our variable rate indebtedness and could challenge our ability to renegotiate our revolving credit facility or other variable rate debt offerings.
Certain of our debt agreements impose significant operating and financial restrictions on us and our subsidiaries that could prevent us from capitalizing on business opportunities.
The credit agreements that govern our senior secured term loan facilities and the indenture that governs our notes impose significant operating and financial restrictions on our subsidiaries. These restrictions limit the ability of certain of our subsidiaries to, among other things:
•incur or guarantee additional debt or issue disqualified stock or preferred stock;
•pay dividends and make other distributions on, or redeem or repurchase, capital stock;
•make certain investments;
•incur certain liens;
•enter into transactions with affiliates;
•merge or consolidate;
•enter into agreements that restrict the ability of restricted subsidiaries to make dividends or other payments;
•designate restricted subsidiaries as unrestricted subsidiaries; and
•transfer or sell assets.
As a result of these restrictions, we are limited as to how we conduct our business and we may be unable to raise additional debt or equity financing to compete effectively or to take advantage of new business opportunities. The terms of any future indebtedness we may incur could include similar or more restrictive covenants. We cannot ensure that we will be able to maintain compliance with these covenants in the future and, if we fail to do so, that we will be able to obtain waivers from the lenders or amend the covenants.
Our failure to comply with the restrictive covenants described above as well as other terms of our other indebtedness or the terms of any future indebtedness from time to time could result in an event of default, which, if not cured or waived, could result in our being required to repay these borrowings before their due date. If we are forced to refinance these borrowings on less favorable terms or are unable to refinance these borrowings, our results of operations and financial condition could be adversely affected.
Our failure to comply with the agreements relating to our outstanding indebtedness, including as a result of events beyond our control, could result in an event of default that could materially and adversely affect our results of operations and our financial condition.
If there is an event of default under any of the agreements relating to our outstanding indebtedness, the holders of the defaulted debt could cause all amounts outstanding with respect to that debt to be due and payable immediately. We cannot assure you that our assets or cash flows would be sufficient to fully repay borrowings under our outstanding debt instruments if accelerated upon an event of default. Further, if we are unable to repay, refinance or restructure our indebtedness under our secured debt, the holders of such debt could proceed against the collateral securing that indebtedness. In addition, any event of default or declaration of acceleration under one debt instrument could also result in an event of default under one or more of our other debt instruments.
Risks Related to the Ownership of our Ordinary Shares
Our Sponsor and its affiliates control us and their interests may conflict with ours in the future.
Our Sponsor and its affiliates beneficially owned approximately 84.7% of our outstanding ordinary shares as of January 2, 2021. Moreover, under our articles of association (the “Articles”) and our shareholders agreement with our Sponsor, for so long as our Sponsor and its affiliates retain significant ownership of us, we have agreed to nominate to our board individuals designated by such Sponsor. Even when our Sponsor and its affiliates cease to own ordinary shares representing a majority of the total voting power, for so long as our Sponsor continues to own a significant percentage of our ordinary shares, such Sponsor will still be able to significantly influence the composition of our board of directors and the approval of actions requiring shareholder approval through their voting power. Accordingly, for such period of time, our Sponsor will have significant influence with respect to our management, business plans and policies, including the appointment and removal of our officers. In particular, for so long as our Sponsor continues to own a significant percentage of our ordinary shares, such Sponsor will be able to cause or prevent a change of control of our company or a change in the composition of our board of directors and could preclude any unsolicited acquisition of our company. The concentration of ownership could deprive other shareholders of an opportunity to receive a premium for ordinary shares as part of a sale of our company and ultimately might affect the market price of our ordinary shares.
Our Sponsor and its affiliates engage in a broad spectrum of activities. In the ordinary course of their business activities, our Sponsor and its affiliates may engage in activities where their interests conflict with our interests or those of our shareholders. Our shareholders’ agreement provides that neither our Sponsor nor any of its affiliates or any director who is not employed by us or his or her affiliates, will have any duty to refrain from engaging, directly or indirectly, in the same business activities or similar business activities or lines of business in which we operate. Our Sponsor also may pursue acquisition opportunities that may be complementary to our business, and, as a result, those acquisition opportunities may not be available to us. In addition, our Sponsor may have an interest in our pursuing acquisitions, divestitures and other transactions that, in their judgment, could enhance their investment, even though such transactions might involve risks to us and our shareholders.
We are a “controlled company” within the meaning of the rules of the NYSE and, as a result, rely on and intend to continue to rely on, exemptions from certain corporate governance requirements. Our shareholders may not have the same protections afforded to shareholders of companies that are subject to such requirements.
Our Sponsor controls a majority of the combined voting power of all classes of our shares entitled to vote generally in the election of directors. As a result, we are a “controlled company” within the meaning of the corporate governance standards of the NYSE. Under these rules, a company of which more than 50% of the voting power in the election of directors is held by an individual, group or another company is a “controlled company” and may elect not to comply with certain corporate governance requirements. For example, controlled companies:
•are not required to have a board that is composed of a majority of “independent directors,” as defined under the rules of such exchange;
•are not required to have a compensation committee that is composed entirely of independent directors; and
•are not required to have a nominating and corporate governance committee that is composed entirely of independent directors.
Because we utilize certain of these exemptions, our compensation, nominating and governance committees are not comprised entirely of independent directors and accordingly, our shareholders may not have the same protections afforded to shareholders of companies that are subject to all of the corporate governance requirements of the NYSE.
The market price of our ordinary shares has been and may in the future be volatile, which could cause the value of our shareholders’ investment to decline.
The market price of our ordinary shares has been and may in the future be volatile and could be subject to wide fluctuations. Securities markets worldwide experience significant price and volume fluctuations. During 2020, the per share trading price of our ordinary shares fluctuated from a low of $5.42 to a high of $14.30. This market volatility, as well as general economic, market or political conditions, could reduce the market price of our ordinary shares regardless of our operating performance. In addition, our operating results could be below the expectations of public market analysts and investors due to a number of potential factors, including variations in our quarterly operating results or dividends, if any, to shareholders, additions or departures of key management personnel, failure to meet analysts’ earnings estimates, publication of research reports about our industry, litigation and government investigations, changes or proposed changes in laws or regulations or differing interpretations or enforcement thereof affecting our business, adverse market reaction to any indebtedness we may incur or securities we may issue in the future, changes in market valuations of similar companies or speculation in the press or investment community, announcements by our competitors of significant contracts, acquisitions, dispositions, strategic partnerships, joint ventures or capital commitments, adverse publicity about the industries we participate in or individual scandals, and in response the market price of our ordinary shares could decrease significantly.
Stock markets and the price of our ordinary shares may experience extreme price and volume fluctuations. In the past, following periods of volatility in the overall market and the market price of a company’s securities, securities class action litigation has often been instituted against these companies. This litigation, if instituted against us, could result in substantial costs and a diversion of our management’s attention and resources.
Because we have no current plans to pay dividends on our ordinary shares, our shareholders may not receive any return on their investments unless they sell their ordinary shares for a price greater than that which they paid.
We have no current plans to pay dividends on our ordinary shares. The declaration, amount and payment of any future dividends on our ordinary shares will be at the sole discretion of our board of directors. Our Board of Directors may take into account general and economic conditions, our financial condition and results of operations, our available cash and current and anticipated cash needs, capital requirements, contractual, legal, tax and regulatory restrictions and implications on the payment of dividends by us to our shareholders or by our subsidiaries to us, and such other factors as our Board of Directors may deem relevant. In addition, our ability to pay dividends is limited by our senior secured credit facilities and notes and may be limited by covenants of other indebtedness we or our subsidiaries incur in the future. As a result, our shareholders may not receive any return on an investment in our ordinary shares unless such shares are sold for a price greater than that which was paid for them.
Our shareholders may be diluted by the future issuance of additional ordinary shares in connection with our incentive plans, acquisitions or otherwise.
Our shareholders adopted a resolution authorizing our board of directors to allot our ordinary shares and to grant rights to subscribe for or convert any security into such shares for the consideration and on the terms and conditions established by our Board of Directors in its sole discretion, whether in connection with acquisitions or otherwise. Additionally, we have reserved 12,500,000 ordinary shares for issuance under our Omnibus Incentive Plan. Any ordinary shares that we issue, including under our Omnibus Incentive Plan or other equity incentive plans that we may adopt in the future, would dilute the percentage ownership held by the holders of our ordinary shares.
Future issuances of ordinary shares by us, and the availability for resale of shares held by our Sponsor, may cause the market price of our ordinary shares to decline.
Sales of a substantial number of our ordinary shares in the public market, or the perception that these sales could occur, could substantially decrease the market price of our ordinary shares.
Pursuant to a registration rights agreement, we granted our Sponsor the right to cause us, in certain instances, at our expense, to file registration statements under the Securities Act covering resales of our ordinary shares held by them or to participate in future registration of securities by us. In Fiscal 2019, the SEC declared effective a registration statement on Form S-3 that, among other things, registers (i) up to a maximum aggregate offering price of $1,000,000,000 of our securities, and (ii) the resale of 243,985,383 shares held by our Sponsor, which represented approximately 83.9% of our outstanding ordinary shares as of January 2, 2021. These shares held by our Sponsor also may be sold pursuant to Rule 144 under the Securities Act subject to certain volume, manner of sale, and other limitations. The market price of our ordinary shares could drop significantly if we or our Sponsor sell these shares or are perceived by the market as intending to sell them.
We may issue a new class or classes of shares whose terms could adversely affect the voting power or value of our ordinary shares.
Our articles of association, as amended, authorize us to issue, subject to the limit therein on the authority of our Board of Directors to allot new shares of the Company, without the approval of the holders of our ordinary shares, a new class or classes of shares, including preference shares, with nominal value in any currency and with, or having attached to them, such powers, designations, preferences, voting rights, rights and terms of redemption, and relative participating, optional or other special rights and qualifications, limitations and restrictions attaching thereto as the Board of Directors may determine, including rights to (a) receive dividends (which may include rights to receive preferential or cumulative dividends), (b) distributions made on a winding up of the Company and (c) be convertible into, or exchangeable for, shares of any other class or classes or of any other series of the same or any other class or classes of shares, at such price or prices (subject to the Companies Act 2006 (“Companies Act”)) or at such rates of exchange and with such adjustments as may be determined by our Board of Directors.
The terms of one or more classes of shares could adversely impact the voting power of our ordinary shares. For example, we might grant holders of a new class of shares the right to elect some number of our directors in all events or on the happening of specified events or the right to veto specified transactions.
Similarly, the repurchase or redemption rights or liquidation preferences we might assign to a new class of shares could affect the residual value of our ordinary shares.
U.S. investors may have difficulty enforcing civil liabilities against our company, our directors or members of senior management.
There is doubt as to whether English courts would enforce certain civil liabilities under U.S. securities laws in original actions or judgments of U.S. courts based upon these civil liability provisions. In addition, awards of punitive damages in actions brought in the U.S. or elsewhere may be unenforceable in the U.K. An award for monetary damages under the U.S. securities laws would be considered punitive if it does not seek to compensate the claimant for loss or damage suffered and is intended to punish the defendant. The enforceability of any judgment in the U.K. will depend on the particular facts of the case as well as the laws and treaties in effect at the time. The U.S. and the U.K. do not currently have a treaty providing for recognition and enforcement of judgments (other than arbitration awards) in civil and commercial matters.
The rights of our shareholders may differ from the rights typically offered to shareholders of a U.S. corporation.
We are incorporated under English law. The rights of holders of ordinary shares are governed by English law, including the provisions of the Companies Act, and by our Articles. These rights differ in certain respects from the rights of shareholders in typical U.S. corporations.
The U.K. City Code on Takeovers and Mergers (the “Takeover Code”) applies, among other things, to an offer for a public company whose registered office is in the U.K. and whose securities are not admitted to trading on a regulated market in the U.K. if the company is considered by the Panel on Takeovers and Mergers (the “Takeover Panel”) to have its place of central management and control in the U.K. This is known as the “residency test”. Under the Takeover Code, the Takeover Panel will determine whether we have our place of central management and control in the U.K. by looking at various factors, including the structure of our board of directors, the functions of the directors and where they are resident.
If at the time of a takeover offer, the Takeover Panel determines that we have our place of central management and control in the U.K., we would be subject to a number of rules and restrictions, including but not limited to the following: (i) our ability to enter into deal protection arrangements with a bidder would be extremely limited; (ii) we might not, without the approval of our shareholders, be able to perform certain actions that could have the effect of frustrating an offer, such as issuing shares or carrying out acquisitions or disposals; and (iii) we would be obliged to provide equality of information to all bona fide competing bidders.
Our Sponsor has an interest in over 50% of our voting share capital, and therefore, if the Takeover Panel were to determine that we were subject to the Takeover Code, our Sponsor would be able to increase its aggregate holding in us without triggering the requirement under Rule 9 of the Takeover Code to make a cash offer for the outstanding shares in the issuer.
The Takeover Panel has confirmed to our representatives that, on the basis of our Board of Directors, it does not consider the Takeover Code to apply to the Company, although that position is subject to change if our place of central management and control is subsequently found to move to the U.K.
Our Articles provide that the courts of England and Wales have exclusive jurisdiction to determine shareholder and derivative disputes, which could limit our shareholders’ ability to obtain a favorable judicial forum for disputes with us or our directors, former directors, officers or employees.
Our Articles provide that the courts of England and Wales have exclusive jurisdiction to determine any dispute brought by a shareholder in that shareholder’s capacity as such, or related to or connected with any derivative claim in respect of a cause of action vested in the Company or seeking relief on behalf of the Company, against the Company and/or the board and/or any of the directors, former directors, officers or other employees individually, arising out of or in connection with these Articles or (to the maximum extent permitted by applicable law) otherwise. This choice of forum provision may limit a shareholder’s ability to bring a claim in a judicial forum that the shareholder believes is favorable for disputes with us or our directors, former directors, officers or other employees, which may discourage lawsuits against us and our directors, former directors, officers and employees. The rights of stockholders under Delaware law and shareholders under English law in relation to the bringing of shareholder suits differ in several significant respects. Any person or entity purchasing or otherwise acquiring or holding any interest in our ordinary shares shall be deemed to have notice of and to have consented to the provisions of our governing documents described above, as they may be amended from time to time.
Transfers of our shares outside DTC may be subject to stamp duty or stamp duty reserve tax in the U.K., which would increase the cost of dealing in our shares.
On completion of the IPO, as noted below, the new ordinary shares were issued to a nominee for The Depository Trust Company (“DTC”) and corresponding book-entry interests credited in the facilities of DTC. On the basis of current law, no charges to U.K. stamp duty or stamp duty reserve tax (“SDRT”) are expected to arise on the issue of the ordinary shares into DTC’s facilities or on transfers of book-entry interests in ordinary shares within DTC’s facilities and investors are strongly encouraged to hold ordinary shares in book-entry form through the facilities of DTC.
A transfer of title in the ordinary shares from within the DTC system to a purchaser out of DTC and any subsequent transfers that occur entirely outside the DTC system, will attract a charge to stamp duty at a rate of 0.5% of any consideration, which is payable by the transferee of the ordinary shares. Any such duty must be paid and the relevant transfer document, if any, stamped by HM Revenue & Customs (“HMRC”) before the transfer can be registered in our company books. However, if those ordinary shares are redeposited into DTC, the redeposit will attract stamp duty or SDRT at the rate of 1.5% to be paid by the transferor.
We have put in place arrangements to require that our ordinary shares held in certificated form cannot be transferred into the DTC system until the transferor of the ordinary shares has first delivered the ordinary shares to a depositary specified by us so that stamp duty (and/or SDRT) may be collected in connection with the initial delivery to the depositary. Any such ordinary shares will be evidenced by a receipt issued by the depositary. Before the transfer can be registered in our books, the transferor will also be required to put funds in the depositary to settle the resultant liability to stamp duty (and/or SDRT), which will be charged at a rate of 1.5% of the value of the shares.
If our ordinary shares are not eligible for continued deposit and clearing within the facilities of DTC, then transactions in our securities may be disrupted and/or our ability to issue shares under our equity compensation plans may be restricted.
The facilities of DTC are a widely-used mechanism that allow for rapid electronic transfers of securities between the participants in the DTC system, which include many large banks and brokerage firms. Our ordinary shares are currently eligible for deposit and clearing within the DTC system. DTC generally has discretion to cease to act as a depository and clearing agency for the ordinary shares including to the extent that any changes in U.K. law (including changes as a result of the U.K.’s decision to leave the E.U.) changes the stamp duty or SDRT position in relation to the ordinary shares. If DTC were to determine that our ordinary shares are not eligible for continued deposit and clearance within its facilities, our ordinary shares may not be eligible for continued listing on the NYSE and trading in our ordinary shares would be disrupted. While we would pursue alternative arrangements to preserve our listing and maintain trading, any such disruption could have a material adverse effect on the market price of our ordinary shares and our access to the capital markets.

---

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

---

ITEM 2. PROPERTIES
Item 2. Properties
We have a presence in over 120 locations in 30 countries across the Americas, Europe, Asia and Australia. Our corporate operations center is located in Denver, Colorado, and we also maintain regional headquarters in Denver, Colorado, Luxembourg, Shanghai, China and Singapore.
As of January 2, 2021, the carrying amount of our property, plant and equipment was $705.0 million of which $4.1 million related to assets held under finance leases. This compares to a carrying amount of our property, plant and equipment of $727.9 million as of December 28, 2019, of which $2.8 million related to assets held under finance leases.
Included in property, plant and equipment are land and buildings with a total carrying amount of $247.3 million as of January 2, 2021, compared to $249.2 million as of December 28, 2019, representing manufacturing facilities, service centers, distribution centers and offices located throughout the world, predominantly in North America. As of January 2, 2021, Gates owned 33 of these facilities, including 24 manufacturing or service centers.
Additionally, we lease approximately 101 locations. These leased locations included 24 manufacturing or service centers as of January 2, 2021. Management believes that the Company’s properties are suitable and adequate for its current and anticipated business operations.

---

ITEM 3. LEGAL PROCEEDINGS
Item 3. Legal Proceedings
Gates is, from time to time, party to general legal proceedings and claims, which arise in the ordinary course of business. Gates is also, from time to time, party to legal proceedings and claims in respect of environmental obligations, product liability, intellectual property and other matters which arise in the ordinary course of business and against which management believes meritorious defenses are available.
While it is not possible to quantify the financial impact or predict the outcome of all pending claims and litigation, management does not anticipate that the outcome of any current proceedings or known claims, either individually or in aggregate, will have a material adverse effect upon our financial position, results of operations or cash flows.

---

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

---

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
Market Information
Our ordinary shares are traded on the NYSE under the symbol “GTES”. As of February 5, 2021, there were three holders of record of our ordinary shares. This does not include a substantially greater number of holders whose ordinary shares are held by these recordholders, including through banks, brokers, and other institutions.
Dividends
We have no current plans to pay dividends on our ordinary shares. Any decision to declare and pay dividends in the future will be made at the sole discretion of our board of directors and will depend on, among other things, our results of operations, cash requirements, financial condition, contractual restrictions and other factors that our board of directors may deem relevant. We are a holding company and have no direct operations; accordingly, we will only be able to pay dividends from funds we receive from our subsidiaries. In addition, the ability of our subsidiaries to pay dividends will be limited by covenants in our existing indebtedness and may be limited by the agreements governing any indebtedness we or our subsidiaries may incur in the future.
Purchases of Equity Securities by the Issuer and Affiliated Purchasers
None.

---

ITEM 6. SELECTED FINANCIAL DATA
Item 6.
The selected financial data previously required by Item 301 of Regulation S-K has been omitted in reliance on SEC Release No. 33-10890.

---

ITEM 7. MANAGEMENT'S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS
Item 7: Management’s Discussion and Analysis
of Financial Condition and Results of Operations
The following discussion should be read in conjunction with our consolidated financial statements and related notes thereto included elsewhere in this annual report. This discussion and analysis addresses Fiscal 2020 and Fiscal 2019. For discussion and analysis of our financial condition and results of operations for Fiscal 2019 and Fiscal 2018, see the Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations, in Part II, Item 7 of our Annual Report on Form 10-K for Fiscal 2019, which is incorporated herein by reference. In addition to historical information, this discussion contains forward-looking statements that involve risks, uncertainties and assumptions that could cause actual results to differ materially from management’s expectations. Factors that could cause such differences are discussed in “Forward-Looking Statements” and “Risk Factors” above.
Our Company
We are a global manufacturer of innovative, highly engineered power transmission and fluid power solutions. We offer a broad portfolio of products to diverse replacement channel customers and to original equipment (“first-fit”) manufacturers as specified components, with the majority of our revenue coming from replacement channels. Our products are used in applications across numerous end markets, which include construction, agriculture, energy, automotive, transportation, general industrial, consumer products and many others. We sell our products globally under the Gates brand, which is recognized by distributors, equipment manufacturers, installers and end users as a premium brand for quality and technological innovation; this reputation has been built for over a century since Gates’ founding in 1911. Within the diverse end markets we serve, our highly engineered products are often critical components in applications for which the cost of downtime is high relative to the cost of our products, resulting in the willingness of end users to pay a premium for superior performance and availability. These applications subject our products to normal wear and tear, resulting in a natural replacement cycle that drives high-margin, recurring revenue. Our product portfolio represents one of the broadest ranges of power transmission and fluid power products in the markets we serve, and we maintain long-standing relationships with a diversified group of blue-chip customers throughout the world. As a leading designer, manufacturer and marketer of highly engineered, mission-critical products, we have become an industry leader across most of the regions and end markets in which we operate.
Business Trends
Our net sales have historically been, and remain, highly correlated with industrial activity and utilization and not with any single end market given the diversification of our business and high exposure to replacement channels. This diversification limits our exposure to trends in any given end market. In addition, a majority of our sales are generated from customers in replacement channels, who serve primarily a large base of installed equipment that follows a natural maintenance cycle that is somewhat less susceptible to various trends that affect our end markets. Such trends include infrastructure investment and construction activity, agricultural production and related commodity prices, commercial and passenger vehicle production, miles driven and fleet age, evolving regulatory requirements related to emissions and fuel economy and oil and gas prices and production. Key indicators of our performance include industrial production, industrial sales and manufacturer shipments.
During Fiscal 2020, sales into replacement channels accounted for approximately 64% of our total net sales. Our replacement sales cover a very broad range of applications and industries and, accordingly, are highly correlated with industrial activity and utilization and not a single end market. Replacement products are principally sold through distribution partners that may carry a very broad line of products or may specialize in products associated with a smaller set of end market applications.
During Fiscal 2020, sales into first-fit channels accounted for approximately 36% of our total net sales. First-fit sales are to a variety of industrial and automotive customers. Our industrial first-fit customers cover a diverse range of industries and applications and many of our largest first-fit customers manufacture construction and agricultural equipment. Among our automotive first-fit customers, a majority of our net sales are to emerging market customers, where we believe our first-fit presence provides us with a strategic advantage in developing those markets and ultimately increasing our higher margin replacement channel sales. First-fit automotive sales in developed markets represented approximately 7% of our total net sales for Fiscal 2020, with first-fit automotive sales in North America contributing less than 3% of total net sales. As a result of the foregoing factors, we do not believe that our historical consolidated net sales have had any meaningful correlation to global automotive production but are positively correlated to industrial production.
Our recently completed manufacturing footprint investments and other productivity improvements in recent years have helped to position us to continue to make progress on our restructuring program, which is primarily intended to optimize our manufacturing and distribution footprint over the mid-term by removing structural fixed costs and, to a lesser degree, streamlining our selling, general and administrative (“SG&A”) back-office functions. We anticipate that most of the costs associated with these actions will be incurred during 2020 and 2021. Some of these costs will, in accordance with U.S. GAAP, be classified in cost of sales, negatively impacting gross margin, but due to their nature and impact of hindering comparison of the performance of our businesses on a period-over-period basis or with other businesses, they will be excluded from Adjusted EBITDA, consistent with the treatment of similar costs in the current and prior years.
Impact of COVID-19 Pandemic
The first quarter of 2020 marked the beginning of an unprecedented environment for the global economy, which has continued into 2021, although to a lessening degree as it impacts our business, as governments, companies and communities implemented strict measures to minimize the spread of COVID-19. We are prioritizing the health and safety of our employees and the communities in which we operate around the world, taking additional protective measures in our plants to safely maintain operational continuity in support of our global customer base.
In early February 2020, as our business in China was being impacted, we mobilized a centralized crisis response team that developed and is tactically engaged in the implementation of our countermeasure actions across our global footprint. We are adhering to local government mandates and guidance provided by health authorities and have proactively implemented quarantine protocols, social distancing policies, working from home arrangements, travel suspensions, frequent and extensive disinfecting of our workspaces, provision of personal protective equipment, and mandatory temperature monitoring at our facilities. We expect to continue implementing these measures and we may take further actions if required or recommended by government authorities or if we determine them to be in the best interests of our employees, customers, and suppliers.
Our operations are supported largely by local supply chains. Where necessary, we have taken steps to qualify additional suppliers to ensure we are able to maintain continuity of supply. Although we have not experienced any significant disruptions to date, certain Gates suppliers have, or may in the future, temporarily close operations, delay order fulfillment or limit production due to the pandemic. Continued disruptions, shipping delays or insolvency of key vendors in our supply chain could make it difficult or more costly for us to obtain the raw materials or other inputs we need for our operations.
Gates employs an in-region, for-region manufacturing strategy, under which local operations primarily support local demand. In those cases where local production supports demand in other regions, contingency plans have been activated as appropriate. In addition to the handful of plants that were temporarily closed by government mandates, we have proactively managed our output to expected demand levels and occasionally suspended production at other plants for short periods of time, predominantly in the first half of 2020. We may continue to experience these production disruptions, which could place constraints on our ability to produce our products and meet customer demand or increase our costs. Of these temporary closures in the first half of 2020, the most significant for us was in Greater China, where we closed all of our production facilities for approximately three weeks, and in India, where our facilities were closed for approximately six weeks. We have since safely returned these plants to more normalized capacity. Our two largest regions of Europe and North America did not begin to see an impact from COVID-19 until late March 2020. With large portions of the economies in these regions having been effectively shut down during April 2020, we experienced significant year-over-year revenue declines most sharply in that month, with significant month-over-month improvements in subsequent months.
As shelter-in-place requirements eased in various jurisdictions, unfortunately accompanied in some cases by a resurgence in cases, there has been continued progress in the fight against COVID-19. We have seen sequential improvements in both the third and fourth quarters of 2020 compared to the second quarter of 2020, and we currently expect the first quarter of 2021 to show further improvement compared to the fourth quarter. During this crisis, we have maintained our ability to respond to demand improvements, and while we have limited new capital expenditures, we continue to fund key initiatives, which we believe will serve us well as our end markets continue to recover.
We have strength and flexibility in our liquidity position, which includes committed borrowing headroom of $386.7 million under our lines of credit (none of which are currently expected to be drawn in the foreseeable future), in addition to cash balances of $521.4 million as of January 2, 2021. In addition, our business also has a demonstrated ability to generate free cash flow even in challenging environments.
As a result of the unpredictable and evolving impact of the pandemic and measures being taken around the world to combat its spread, the timing and trajectory of the recovery remain unclear at this time, and the adverse impact of the pandemic on Gates’ operations may continue to be material.
Despite this highly uncertain environment, our early experience in China, and more recent experience in North America and EMEA, has helped frame our response to this crisis and our focus in 2021 will continue to be on:
•safely supporting our employees, customers and the communities in which we operate;
•actively managing what we can control in terms of our supply chains and operations;
•managing our compressible costs to the prevailing demand conditions by tightly controlling discretionary spending; and
•funding our key growth initiatives to enhance our differentiation in the market and allow us to emerge from this downturn in an even stronger competitive position.
Results for the year ended January 2, 2021 compared to the results for the year ended December 28, 2019
Summary Gates Performance
For the year ended
(dollars in millions)
January 2,
2021 December 28,
Net sales $ 2,793.0 $ 3,087.1
Cost of sales 1,758.3 1,944.6
Gross profit 1,034.7 1,142.5
Selling, general and administrative expenses 776.9 777.3
Transaction-related expenses 5.2 2.6
Asset impairments 5.2 0.7
Restructuring expenses 37.3 6.0
Other operating (income) expenses (1.0) 9.1
Operating income from continuing operations 211.1 346.8
Interest expense 154.3 157.8
Other income (14.2) (9.8)
Income from continuing operations before taxes 71.0 198.8
Income tax benefit (19.3) (495.9)
Net income from continuing operations $ 90.3 $ 694.7
Adjusted EBITDA(1)
$ 506.6 $ 611.0
Adjusted EBITDA margin
18.1 % 19.8 %
(1) See “-Non-GAAP Measures” for a reconciliation of Adjusted EBITDA to net income from continuing operations, the closest comparable GAAP measure, for each of the periods presented.
Net sales
Net sales during Fiscal 2020 were $2,793.0 million, compared to $3,087.1 million during the prior year, a decrease of 9.5%, or $294.1 million. Our net sales for Fiscal 2020 were adversely impacted by movements in average currency exchange rates of $34.5 million compared to the prior year period, due principally to the strengthening of the U.S. dollar against a number of currencies, in particular the Brazilian Real and Mexican Peso. Excluding this impact, core sales decreased by $259.6 million, or 8.4%, during Fiscal 2020 compared to the prior year, driven primarily by lower volumes, offset partially by a benefit of $16.1 million from favorable pricing.
Core sales in our Power Transmission and Fluid Power businesses declined by 6.5% and 11.6%, respectively, during Fiscal 2020. This decline in core sales was driven by the impacts from the COVID-19 pandemic which adversely affected sales to customers across all of our channels, particularly the industrial replacement channel, which declined by $91.1 million compared to the prior year. Globally, sales to our industrial customers declined by $153.3 million on a core basis, compared to a $106.3 million decline in core sales to our automotive customers, compared to the prior year. Most of the industrial decline came from North America, which decreased by $111.0 million during Fiscal 2020, compared to the prior year, driven by lower volumes in the construction, energy and heavy duty vehicle end markets. Industrial sales in EMEA decreased by 10.6% compared to the prior year, buoyed by strong sales in the second half, but reflecting the weakness in the construction end market, and a decline of 4.3% in the general industrial end market. Industrial sales in Greater China grew by $19.8 million in Fiscal 2020 compared to the prior year, driven almost exclusively by sales to our industrial first-fit customers, primarily in the general industrial and heavy duty vehicle end markets.
Global sales to the automotive end markets declined by 7.6% during Fiscal 2020 compared to the prior year, driven by declines in North America, Greater China and East Asia & India. In all of our regions, the decline was focused in the first half of the year and we have seen steady recovery throughout the second half of 2020 with sales broadly flat in the third quarter and growing by 8.7% in the fourth quarter, compared to the prior year periods.
Cost of sales
Cost of sales for Fiscal 2020 was $1,758.3 million, compared to $1,944.6 million for the prior year, a decrease of 9.6%, or $186.3 million. The decrease was driven primarily by lower volumes, a function of lower demand resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic. Favorable movements in average currency exchange rates contributed a further $20.6 million to the decrease in cost of sales during Fiscal 2020 compared to the prior year.
Gross profit
Gross profit for Fiscal 2020 was $1,034.7 million, down 9.4% from $1,142.5 million for the prior year. This change was driven primarily by lower volumes, offset partially by a benefit from favorable pricing of $16.1 million.
Our gross profit margin for Fiscal 2020 was unchanged from the prior year at 37.0%.
Selling, general and administrative expenses
SG&A expenses for Fiscal 2020 were $776.9 million compared to $777.3 million for the prior year. This decrease of $0.4 million was driven primarily by higher labor costs of $24.0 million (including higher severance), offset by savings on most other cost categories, primarily travel, entertainment and marketing, and variable costs related to decreased volumes.
Transaction-related expenses
Transaction-related expenses of $5.2 million were incurred during Fiscal 2020, related primarily to payments made on resolution of certain contingencies that affected the purchase price paid by Blackstone upon acquiring Gates in July 2014. Transaction-related expenses of $2.6 million were incurred during the prior year period, related primarily to exploratory merger and acquisition activity, as well as to corporate filings and transactions to provide the Company with flexibility for future raising of capital and debt, share buybacks and dividend payments. These expenses were offset partially by the release of an accrual from a prior year period acquisition.
Restructuring expenses
As described further under “Business Trends” above, we have accelerated and expanded upon our previously announced restructuring program, which is primarily intended to optimize our manufacturing and distribution footprint over the mid-term by removing structural fixed costs, and, to a lesser degree, streamlining our SG&A back-office functions.
Restructuring expenses, including asset impairments, of $43.9 million were recognized during Fiscal 2020, related primarily to the closure of a manufacturing facility in Korea, a European reorganization involving office and distribution center closures or downsizings and implementation of a regional shared service center, and the closure of two North American manufacturing facilities. The closure of the Korean facility resulted in severance and other labor and benefit costs of $13.2 million, an impairment of inventory of $1.4 million (recognized in cost of sales) and an impairment of fixed assets of $4.8 million (recognized in asset impairments). Restructuring costs incurred in relation to our European reorganization were $12.6 million, of which $11.4 million related to estimated severance.
Restructuring expenses, including asset impairments, of $7.9 million were recognized during the prior year, related primarily to severance costs, predominantly due to reductions in force across all regions and impairments of inventory and fixed assets related to facility closures in countries including France, the U.S., Turkey and Australia. During Fiscal 2019 we also incurred $1.6 million of professional fees relating primarily to the closure of one of our facilities in France, the reorganization of our European corporate center, and a strategic restructuring of part of our Asian business.
Interest expense
For the year ended
(dollars in millions)
January 2,
2021 December 28,
Debt:
Dollar Term Loan
$ 77.2 $ 80.7
Euro Term Loan
24.2 22.4
Dollar Senior Notes
35.9 35.4
Other loans
0.1 0.1
137.4 138.6
Amortization of deferred issuance costs
13.5 16.6
Other interest expense
3.4 2.6
$ 154.3 $ 157.8
Details of our long-term debt are presented in note 15 to the consolidated financial statements included elsewhere in this report.
Interest on debt for Fiscal 2020 decreased when compared to the prior year due primarily to the lower interest rates applicable to the floating rate Dollar Term Loan. This decrease was substantially offset by derivative hedging activity on our cross currency and interest rate derivatives of $16.1 million during Fiscal 2020 compared to the prior year.
The amortization of deferred issuance costs in Fiscal 2020 includes accelerated amortization of $3.7 million due to the prepayment of $300.0 million against our Dollar Term Loan facility on December 31, 2020, whereas Fiscal 2019 includes accelerated amortization of $6.1 million due to the repayment of our outstanding 6.00% Senior Notes due 2022 as part of the refinancing transactions described further in note 15 to the consolidated financial statements included elsewhere in this report.
Other income
For the year ended
(dollars in millions)
January 2,
2021 December 28,
Interest income on bank deposits
$ (4.3) $ (5.7)
Foreign currency gain on net debt and hedging instruments
(5.3) (0.8)
Net adjustments related to post-retirement benefits
(4.5) (3.1)
Other
(0.1) (0.2)
$ (14.2) $ (9.8)
Other income for Fiscal 2020 was $14.2 million, compared to $9.8 million in the prior year. Lower interest on bank deposits due to lower interest rates was more than offset by higher gains from movements in foreign currency exchange rates on net debt and hedging instruments during Fiscal 2020 compared to the prior year.
In addition, we recognized net settlement and curtailment gains in relation to our post-retirement benefit plans of $2.1 million during Fiscal 2020, compared to $0.7 million in the prior year.
Income tax benefit
For Fiscal 2020, we had an income tax benefit of $19.3 million on pre-tax income of $71.0 million, which resulted in an effective tax rate of (27.2%) compared to an income tax benefit of $495.9 million on pre-tax income of $198.8 million, which resulted in an effective tax rate of (249.4)% for Fiscal 2019.
The increase in the effective tax rate for Fiscal 2020 compared to the prior year was due primarily to the recognition in the prior year of a $579.0 million tax benefit related to the release of valuation allowances, related mainly to Luxembourg net operating losses, offset partially by a tax expense of $59.7 million from related unrecognized tax benefits, both resulting from our European business reorganization. In addition to the business reorganization, our effective tax rate for Fiscal 2020 benefited from certain tax items including $32.3 million for audit settlements, changes in valuation allowances and tax law changes. Fiscal 2019 also included $12.0 million of net tax benefits, consisting of a benefit in tax on international operations of $19.9 million, offset partially by an increase of $7.9 million in unrecognized tax benefits.
Deferred Income Tax Assets and Liabilities
We recognize deferred tax assets and liabilities for future tax consequences arising from differences between the carrying amounts of existing assets and liabilities under U.S. GAAP and their respective tax bases, and for net operating loss carryforwards and tax credit carryforwards. We evaluate the recoverability of our deferred tax assets, weighing all positive and negative evidence, and are required to establish or maintain a valuation allowance for these assets if we determine that it is more likely than not that some or all of the deferred tax assets will not be realized. The weight given to the evidence is commensurate with the extent to which the evidence can be objectively verified. If negative evidence exists, positive evidence is necessary to support a conclusion that a valuation allowance is not needed.
Our framework for assessing the recoverability of deferred tax assets requires us to weigh all available evidence, including:
•taxable income in prior carry back years if carry back is permitted under the relevant tax law;
•future reversal of existing temporary differences;
•tax-planning strategies that are prudent and feasible; and
•future taxable income exclusive of reversing temporary differences and carryforwards.
After weighing all of the evidence, giving more weight to the evidence that was objectively verifiable, we determined in Fiscal 2020 that it was more likely than not that deferred tax assets in the U.K., Luxembourg, and Belgium totaling $29.5 million were realizable. Similarly, we determined in Fiscal 2019 that it was more likely than not that deferred income tax assets in Luxembourg, the U.K., and the U.S. totaling $586.2 million were realizable.
In Fiscal 2020, the deferred tax assets above relate primarily to disallowed interest carryforwards of $26 million in these jurisdictions which have no expiration. As a result of changes in estimates of future taxable profits, in the third quarter of Fiscal 2020, due primarily to the impact of anticipated changes to the composition of our intercompany financing arrangements, our judgment changed regarding valuation allowances on these deferred tax assets. The change in estimates and resulting change in judgment relate to the evaluation of proposed international tax law changes advanced during the period.
Included within the $586.2 million of valuation allowances released in Fiscal 2019 are deferred income tax assets totaling $579.0 million related to €2.1 billion of indefinite lived net operating losses in Luxembourg for which our evaluation of the positive and negative evidence changed during the first quarter of Fiscal 2019 due to the implementation of our European corporate center. Our European corporate center was implemented in Fiscal 2019 to centralize and strengthen regional operations in Europe, which thereafter became centrally managed from Luxembourg.
As of each reporting date, we consider new evidence, both positive and negative, that could impact our view with regard to the future realization of deferred tax assets. We will maintain our positions with regard to future realization of deferred tax assets, including those with respect to which we continue maintaining valuation allowances, until there is sufficient new evidence to support a change in expectations. Such a change in expectations could arise due to many factors, including those impacting our forecasts of future earnings, as well as changes in the international tax laws under which we operate and tax planning. It is not reasonably possible to forecast any such changes at the present time, but it is possible that, should they arise, our view of their effect on the future realization of deferred tax assets may impact materially our financial statements.
Significant Events
On March 27, 2020, the CARES Act was enacted and signed into law in the U.S. in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. One of the provisions of this law is an increase to the allowable business interest deduction from 30% of adjusted taxable income to 50% of adjusted taxable income for the 2019 and 2020 tax years. This modification significantly increases the current deductible interest expense of the Company for both years, which will result in a cash benefit while increasing our effective tax rate through requirements to allocate and apportion interest expense for certain other tax purposes, including in determining our global intangible low-taxed income inclusion, deduction for foreign derived intangible income, and the utilization of foreign tax credits.
Adjusted EBITDA
Adjusted EBITDA for Fiscal 2020 was $506.6 million, compared to $611.0 million in the prior year, a decrease of 17.1% or $104.4 million. The Adjusted EBITDA margin was 18.1% for Fiscal 2020, a 170 basis point decrease from the prior year. The decrease in Adjusted EBITDA was driven primarily by the impact from reduced volumes and resulting lower fixed cost absorption.
For a reconciliation of net income to Adjusted EBITDA for each of the periods presented and the calculation of the Adjusted EBITDA margin, see “-Non-GAAP Measures.”
Analysis by Operating Segment
Power Transmission (64.5% of Gates’ net sales for the year ended January 2, 2021)
For the year ended
(dollars in millions)
January 2,
2021 December 28,
2019 Period over period change
Net sales
$ 1,800.2 $ 1,945.7 (7.5 %)
Adjusted EBITDA
$ 353.0 $ 412.6 (14.4 %)
Adjusted EBITDA margin
19.6 % 21.2 %
Net sales in Power Transmission for Fiscal 2020 were $1,800.2 million, compared to $1,945.7 million in the prior year, a decrease of 7.5%, or $145.5 million. Excluding the adverse impact of movements in average currency exchange rates of $18.4 million, core sales decreased by 6.5%, or $127.1 million, compared to the prior year, driven primarily by lower volumes.
Power Transmission’s core sales decline was driven primarily by a combination of weak demand and widespread shutdowns resulting from measures taken in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. These factors impacted sales to our automotive customers in particular, with automotive first-fit and automotive replacement sales decreasing by 14.1% and 4.7%, respectively, during Fiscal 2020 compared to the prior year. Most of this decline came from the automotive replacement channel in North America and the automotive first-fit channels in Greater China and East Asia & India. Partially offsetting these declines was growth of 4.4% in sales to our industrial first-fit customers, primarily in Greater China and EMEA, driven by the general industrial and heavy duty vehicle end markets. We also saw modest growth of 5.3% in the construction end market for Fiscal 2020 compared to the prior year, particularly in North America. Sequentially, all regions grew during the fourth quarter compared to the third quarter, with North America growing by 9.3% and EMEA by 5.5%.
Power Transmission Adjusted EBITDA for Fiscal 2020 was $353.0 million, compared to $412.6 million in the prior year, a decrease of 14.4% or $59.6 million. The Adjusted EBITDA margin for Fiscal 2020 was 19.6%, a 160 basis point decline from the prior year. The decreases compared to the prior year were driven primarily by lower volumes and resulting lower fixed cost absorption.
Fluid Power (35.5% of Gates’ net sales for the year ended January 2, 2021)
For the year ended
(dollars in millions)
January 2,
2021 December 28,
2019 Period over period change
Net sales
$ 992.8 $ 1,141.4 (13.0 %)
Adjusted EBITDA
$ 153.6 $ 198.4 (22.6 %)
Adjusted EBITDA margin
15.5 % 17.4 %
Net sales in Fluid Power for Fiscal 2020 were $992.8 million, compared to $1,141.4 million in the prior year, a decrease of 13.0%, or $148.6 million. Excluding the adverse impact of movements in average currency exchange rates of $16.1 million, core sales decreased by 11.6%, or $132.5 million, compared to the prior year, driven primarily by lower volumes.
Fluid Power’s core sales decline in Fiscal 2020 was driven almost exclusively by lower sales to our industrial customers, across all regions, except for Greater China. The combination of weak demand and widespread shutdowns resulting from measures taken in response to the COVID-19 pandemic impacted almost all of our end markets, but particularly construction, which declined during Fiscal 2020 by 17.4% compared to the prior year. Sales to the automotive end market returned to growth in Fiscal 2020 compared to the prior year, growing by 2.2%, driven primarily by EMEA. Sequentially, most regions grew by double-digits during the fourth quarter, compared to the third quarter, with North America growing by 18.4% and EMEA by 15.5%.
Fluid Power Adjusted EBITDA for Fiscal 2020 was $153.6 million, compared to $198.4 million in the prior year period, a decrease of 22.6%, or $44.8 million. The Adjusted EBITDA margin for Fiscal 2020 was 15.5%, a 190 basis point decline from the prior year. The decreases compared to the prior year were driven primarily by lower volumes and resulting lower fixed cost absorption.
Liquidity and Capital Resources
Treasury Responsibilities and Philosophy
Our primary liquidity and capital resource needs are for working capital, debt service requirements, capital expenditures, facility expansions and acquisitions. We expect to finance our future cash requirements with cash on hand, cash flows from operations and, where necessary, borrowings under our revolving credit facilities. We have historically relied on our cash flow from operations and various debt and equity financings for liquidity.
From time to time, we enter into currency derivative contracts to manage currency transaction exposures. Similarly from time to time, we may enter into interest rate derivatives to maintain the desired mix of floating and fixed rate debt.
As market conditions warrant, we and our majority equity holders, Blackstone and its affiliates, may from time to time, seek to repurchase securities that we have issued or loans that we have borrowed in privately negotiated or open market transactions, by tender offer or otherwise. Subject to any applicable limitations contained in the agreements governing our indebtedness, any such purchases may be funded by existing cash or by incurring new secured or unsecured debt, including borrowings under our credit facilities. The amounts involved in any such purchase transactions, individually or in the aggregate, may be material. Any such purchases may relate to a substantial amount of a particular tranche of debt, with a corresponding reduction, where relevant, in the trading liquidity of that debt. In addition, any such purchases made at prices below the “adjusted issue price” (as defined for U.S. federal income tax purposes) may result in taxable cancellation of indebtedness income to us, which may be material, and result in related adverse tax consequences to us.
It is our policy to retain sufficient liquidity throughout the capital expenditure cycle to maintain our financial flexibility. While we have seen a decline in our business during 2020, and the duration and extent of the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic on our business are difficult to predict, we do not currently anticipate any material long-term deterioration in our overall liquidity position in the foreseeable future. Further, we do not have any meaningful debt maturities until 2024 and we do not currently expect to need to draw down under our committed lines of credit in the foreseeable future. We therefore believe that as of January 2, 2021, we have adequate liquidity and capital resources for the next twelve months.
Cash Flow
Year ended January 2, 2021 compared to the year ended December 28, 2019
Cash provided by operations was $309.0 million during Fiscal 2020 compared to cash provided by operations of $348.9 million during the prior year. This decrease was driven primarily by lower operating performance due to the difficult demand environment during the current year, offset partially by lower cash interest and tax payments. Interest paid was lower at $135.7 million during Fiscal 2020, compared to $150.8 million in the prior year, due primarily to timing of interest payments. Net income taxes paid were also lower, with $60.4 million paid during Fiscal 2020 compared to $108.8 million in the prior year, largely a function of refunds received and lower tax payments based on the decrease in taxable profits.
Net cash used in investing activities during Fiscal 2020 was $77.5 million, compared to $78.0 million in the prior year. Capital expenditures decreased by $15.7 million from $83.1 million in prior year to $67.4 million in Fiscal 2020, which was mostly offset by lower cash received under corporate-owned life insurance policies of $10.5 million and lower net cash flows from other investing activities of $4.5 million (primarily lower proceeds from the sale of property, plant and equipment).
Net cash used in financing activities was $353.8 million during Fiscal 2020, compared to $59.3 million in the prior year. This higher cash outflow was driven primarily by the prepayment of $300.0 million against our Dollar Term Loan facility in December 2020.
Indebtedness
Our long-term debt, consisting principally of two term loans and U.S. dollar denominated unsecured notes, was as follows:
Carrying amount Principal amount
(dollars in millions)
As of January 2,
2021 As of December 28,
2019 As of January 2,
2021 As of December 28,
Debt:
-Secured
Term Loans (U.S. dollar and Euro denominated) $ 2,131.2 $ 2,395.0 $ 2,152.6 $ 2,416.8
-Unsecured
Senior Notes (U.S. dollar) 577.3 563.2 568.0 568.0
Other debt 0.2 0.2 0.2 0.2
$ 2,708.7 $ 2,958.4 $ 2,720.8 $ 2,985.0
Details of our long-term debt are presented in note 15 to the consolidated financial statements included elsewhere in this annual report.
Debt issuances and redemptions
On December 31, 2020, we made a principal debt prepayment of $300.0 million against our Dollar Term Loan facility.
On November 22, 2019, we issued and sold $568.0 million of unsecured Dollar Senior Notes, described further below. The proceeds from this debt issuance were used on December 5, 2019 to redeem all $568.0 million of our outstanding 6.00% Dollar Senior Notes, plus interest accrued up to and including the redemption date of $13.2 million. The majority of the costs totaling approximately $8.6 million related to the refinancing transactions have been deferred and will be amortized to interest expense over the remaining term of the related borrowings using the effective interest method.
Dollar and Euro Term Loans
Our secured credit facilities include a Dollar Term Loan credit facility and a Euro Term Loan credit facility that were drawn on July 3, 2014. These facilities mature on March 31, 2024. These term loan facilities bear interest at a floating rate. As of January 2, 2021, borrowings under the Dollar Term Loan facility, which currently bears interest at LIBOR, subject to a floor of 1.00%, plus a margin of 2.75%, bore interest at a rate of 3.75% per annum. The Dollar Term Loan interest rate is re-set on the last business day of each month. As of January 2, 2021, the Euro Term Loan bore interest at EURIBOR, which is currently below 0%, subject to a floor of 0%, plus a margin of 3.00%. The Euro Term Loan interest rate is re-set on the last business day of each quarter.
Both term loans are subject to quarterly amortization payments of 0.25%, based on the original principal amount less certain prepayments with the balance payable on maturity. During Fiscal 2020, we made amortization payments against the Dollar Term Loan and the Euro Term Loan of $21.7 million and $9.4 million, respectively. During Fiscal 2019, we made amortization payments against the Dollar Term Loan and the Euro Term Loan of $17.3 million and $7.4 million, respectively.
During the periods presented, foreign exchange (losses) gains were recognized in respect of the Euro Term Loans as summarized in the table below. As a portion of the facility was designated as a net investment hedge of certain of our Euro investments, a corresponding portion of the foreign exchange (losses) gains were recognized in other comprehensive income (“OCI”).
For the year ended
(dollars in millions)
January 2,
2021 December 28,
(Loss) gain recognized in statement of operations $ (51.4) $ 17.3
Loss recognized in OCI (15.5) (0.2)
Total (loss) gain $ (66.9) $ 17.1
The above net foreign exchange (losses) gains recognized in the Other (income) expenses line of the consolidated statement of operations have been substantially offset by net foreign exchange movements on Euro-denominated intercompany loans as part of our overall hedging strategy.
Our Term Loans, which mature after 2021, use LIBOR as a benchmark for establishing the rate of interest. LIBOR is the subject of recent national, international and other regulatory guidance and proposals for reform and is not expected to be maintained after 2021. The transition to alternatives to LIBOR could be modestly disruptive to credit markets, and while we don't believe that the impact would be material to us, we do not yet have insight into what those impacts might be.
Unsecured Senior Notes
As of December 28, 2019, we had $568.0 million of 6.25% Dollar Senior Notes outstanding that were issued in November 2019. These notes are scheduled to mature on January 15, 2026 and bear interest at an annual fixed rate of 6.25% with semi-annual interest payments.
On and after January 15, 2022, we may redeem the 6.25% Dollar Senior Notes, at our option, in whole at any time or in part from time to time, at the following redemption prices (expressed as a percentage of the principal amount), plus accrued and unpaid interest to the redemption date:
Redemption Price
During the year commencing:
-2022 103.125 %
-2023 101.563 %
-2024 and thereafter 100.000 %
Additionally, net cash proceeds from an equity offering can be utilized at any time prior to January 15, 2022, to redeem up to 40% of the notes at a redemption price equal to 106.250% of the principal amount thereof, plus accrued and unpaid interest through to the redemption date.
Upon the occurrence of a change of control or a certain qualifying asset sale, the holders of the notes will have the right to require us to make an offer to repurchase each holder's notes at a price equal to 101% (in the case of a change of control) or 100% (in the case of an asset sale) of their principal amount, plus accrued and unpaid interest.
Revolving Credit Facility
We also have a secured revolving credit facility, maturing on January 29, 2023, that provides for multi-currency revolving loans up to an aggregate principal amount of $185.0 million, with a letter of credit sub-facility of $20.0 million.
As of both January 2, 2021 and December 28, 2019, there were no drawings for cash under the revolving credit facility and there were no letters of credit outstanding.
Asset-Backed Revolver
We have a revolving credit facility backed by certain of our assets in North America. The facility allows for loans of up to a maximum of $325.0 million ($230.2 million as of January 2, 2021, compared to $294.6 million as of December 28, 2019, based on the values of the secured assets on those dates) with a letter of credit sub-facility of $150.0 million within this maximum. The facility matures on January 29, 2023.
As of both January 2, 2021 and December 28, 2019, there were no drawings for cash under the asset-backed revolver, but there were letters of credit outstanding of $28.5 million and $50.1 million, respectively.
Non-guarantor subsidiaries
The majority of the Company’s U.S. subsidiaries are guarantors of the senior secured credit facilities.
For the twelve months ended January 2, 2021, before intercompany eliminations, our non-guarantor subsidiaries represented approximately 70% of our net sales and 63% of our EBITDA as defined in the financial covenants attaching to the senior secured credit facilities. As of January 2, 2021, before intercompany eliminations, our non-guarantor subsidiaries represented approximately 57% of our total assets and approximately 24% of our total liabilities.
Net Debt
Net debt is a non-GAAP measure representing the principal amount of our debt less the carrying amount of cash and cash equivalents. During Fiscal 2020, our net debt decreased by $150.3 million from $2,349.7 million as of December 28, 2019 to $2,199.4 million as of January 2, 2021. Excluding changes in foreign currency exchange rates, the decrease in net debt during Fiscal 2020 was driven primarily by the increase in cash, a function of cash provided by operating activities of $309.0 million, offset partially by capital expenditures of $67.4 million, dividends paid to non-controlling shareholders of $19.0 million and net cash paid under corporate-owned life insurance policies of $9.4 million.
Partially offsetting this decrease in net debt were movements in foreign currency exchange rates, which had an unfavorable net impact of $57.1 million on net debt during Fiscal 2020, with the majority of the movement relating to the impact of the strengthening of the Euro against the U.S. dollar on our Euro-denominated debt.
Borrowing Headroom
As of January 2, 2021, our asset-backed revolving credit facility had a borrowing base of $230.2 million, being the maximum amount we can draw down based on the current value of the secured assets. The facility was undrawn for cash, but there were letters of credit outstanding against the facility amounting to $28.5 million. We also have a secured revolving credit facility that provides for multi-currency revolving loans up to an aggregate principal amount of $185.0 million.
In total, our committed borrowing headroom was $386.7 million, in addition to cash balances of $521.4 million.
Tabular Disclosure of Contractual Obligations
Our consolidated contractual obligations and commercial commitments are summarized in the following table which includes aggregate information about our contractual obligations as of January 2, 2021 and the periods in which payments are due, based on the earliest date on which we could be required to settle the liabilities. The table below excludes our gross liability for uncertain tax positions of $111.5 million because the timing of cash settlement, if any, is unknown at this time.
Floating interest payments and payments and receipts on interest rate derivatives are estimated based on market interest rates prevailing at the balance sheet date. Amounts in respect of purchase obligations are items that we are obligated to pay in the future, but they are not required to be included on the consolidated balance sheet.
Earliest period in which payments are due
(dollars in millions)
Total
2021 2022 and 2023
2024 and 2025
2026 and beyond
Bank overdrafts and debt:
-Principal
$ 2,720.8 $ 25.4 $ 50.5 $ 2,076.9 $ 568.0
-Interest payments(1)(2)
441.7 113.6 221.0 89.3 17.8
Derivative financial instruments(3)
105.1 15.1 69.8 20.2 -
Finance leases
3.1 1.1 1.7 0.3 -
Operating leases
174.0 27.8 40.2 28.9 77.1
Post-retirement benefits(4)
16.4 16.4 - - -
Indemnified tax liabilities
0.9 0.8 0.1 - -
Purchase obligations(5)
30.2 14.1 11.8 4.2 0.1
Total
$ 3,492.2 $ 214.3 $ 395.1 $ 2,219.8 $ 663.0
(1) Future interest payments include payments on fixed and floating rate debt.
(2) Floating rate interest payments are estimated based on market interest rates and terms prevailing as of January 2, 2021.
(3) Net payments on cross currency swaps, interest rate caps, interest rate swaps and currency forward contracts are estimated based on market rates prevailing as of January 2, 2021.
(4) Post-retirement benefit obligations represent our expected cash contributions to defined benefit pension and other post-retirement benefit plans in 2021. It is not practicable to present expected cash contributions for subsequent years because they are determined annually on an actuarial basis to provide for current and future benefits in accordance with federal law and other regulations.
(5) A purchase obligation is defined as an agreement to purchase goods or services that is enforceable and legally binding on us and that specifies all significant terms, including: fixed or minimum quantities to be purchased; fixed, minimum or variable price provisions; and the approximate timing of the transaction.
Cash Balances
As of January 2, 2021, our total cash and cash equivalents were $521.4 million, compared to $635.3 million as of December 28, 2019.
Restricted cash was $2.7 million as of January 2, 2021, compared to $1.3 million as of December 28, 2019, including $1.0 million as of January 2, 2021 and $1.0 million as of December 28, 2019, which was held in escrow for insurance purposes. Cash held in our non-wholly owned Asian subsidiaries was $152.7 million and $141.5 million as of January 2, 2021 and December 28, 2019, respectively.
Distributable Reserves
Under the laws of England and Wales, future dividend payments or share repurchases may only be made out of “distributable reserves” on the Company’s statutory balance sheet. During August 2019, the High Court of Justice in London sanctioned a reduction in the Company’s statutory capital for the purpose of creating distributable reserves by approving the cancellation of the deferred shares in issue and the cancellation of the entire amount standing to the credit of the Company’s share premium account, creating $5.5 billion of distributable reserves. These transactions, which have no impact on the consolidated U.S. GAAP financial statements, facilitate the possible future payment of dividends to shareholders of the Company or possible future share repurchases.
Non-GAAP Measures
EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA
EBITDA is a non-GAAP measure that represents net income or loss for the period before the impact of income taxes, net interest and other expenses, depreciation and amortization. EBITDA is widely used by securities analysts, investors and other interested parties to evaluate the profitability of companies. EBITDA eliminates potential differences in performance caused by variations in capital structures (affecting net finance costs), tax positions (such as the availability of net operating losses against which to relieve taxable profits), the cost and age of tangible assets (affecting relative depreciation expense) and the extent to which intangible assets are identifiable (affecting relative amortization expense).
Management uses Adjusted EBITDA as its key profitability measure. This is a non-GAAP measure that represents EBITDA before certain items that are considered to hinder comparison of the performance of our businesses on a period-over-period basis or with other businesses. We use Adjusted EBITDA as our measure of segment profitability to assess the performance of our businesses, and it is used for total Gates as well because we believe it is important to consider our profitability on a basis that is consistent with that of our operating segments, as well as that of our peer companies with a similar leveraged, private equity ownership history. We believe that Adjusted EBITDA should, therefore, be made available to securities analysts, investors and other interested parties to assist in their assessment of the performance of our businesses.
During the periods presented, the items excluded from EBITDA in computing Adjusted EBITDA primarily included:
•non-cash charges in relation to share-based compensation;
•transaction-related expenses incurred in relation to business combinations and major corporate transactions, including acquisition integration activities;
•asset impairments;
•restructuring expenses, including severance-related expenses;
•net gains or losses on disposals and on the exit of businesses; and
•fees paid to our private equity sponsor for monitoring, advisory and consulting services.
Differences exist among our businesses and from period to period in the extent to which their respective employees receive share-based compensation or a charge for such compensation is recognized. We therefore exclude from Adjusted EBITDA the non-cash charges in relation to share-based compensation in order to assess the relative performance of our businesses.
We exclude from Adjusted EBITDA acquisition-related costs that are required to be expensed in accordance with U.S. GAAP. In particular, we exclude the effect on cost of sales of the uplift to the carrying amount of inventory held by entities acquired by Gates. We also exclude costs associated with major corporate transactions because we do not believe that they relate to our performance. Other items are excluded from Adjusted EBITDA because they are individually or collectively significant items that are not considered to be representative of the performance of our businesses. During the periods presented, we excluded restructuring expenses and severance-related expenses that reflect specific, strategic actions taken by management to shutdown, downsize, or otherwise fundamentally reorganize areas of Gates’ business; the net gain or loss on disposals of assets other than in the ordinary course of operations and gains and losses incurred in relation to non-Gates businesses disposed of in prior periods; significant impairments of intangibles and of other assets, representing the excess of their carrying amounts over the amounts that are expected to be recovered from them in the future; and fees paid to our private equity sponsor.
EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA exclude items that can have a significant effect on our profit or loss and should, therefore, be used in conjunction with, not as substitutes for, profit or loss for the period. Management compensates for these limitations by separately monitoring net income from continuing operations for the period.
The following table reconciles net income from continuing operations, the most directly comparable GAAP measure, to EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA:
For the year ended
(dollars in millions)
January 2,
2021 December 28,
2019 December 29,
Net income from continuing operations $ 90.3 $ 694.7 $ 271.7
Income tax (benefit) expense (19.3) (495.9) 31.8
Net interest and other expenses 140.1 148.0 193.3
Depreciation and amortization 218.6 222.2 218.5
EBITDA 429.7 569.0 715.3
Transaction-related expenses 5.2 2.6 6.7
Asset impairments 5.2 0.7 0.6
Restructuring expenses 37.3 6.0 6.4
Share-based compensation expense 19.8 15.0 6.0
Sponsor fees (included in other operating (income) expenses) 1.9 6.5 8.0
Impact of fair value adjustment on inventory (included in cost of sales) - - 0.3
Inventory impairments and adjustments (included in cost of sales) 1.4 1.2 1.2
Duplicate expenses incurred on facility relocation - - 5.2
Severance expenses (included in cost of sales) 1.0 4.0 1.7
Other primarily severance expenses (included in SG&A) 8.0 3.4 4.4
Other items not directly related to current operations (2.9) 2.6 -
Adjusted EBITDA $ 506.6 $ 611.0 $ 755.8
Adjusted EBITDA Margin
Adjusted EBITDA margin is a non-GAAP measure that represents Adjusted EBITDA expressed as a percentage of net sales. We use Adjusted EBITDA margin to measure the success of our businesses in managing our cost base and improving profitability.
For the year ended
(dollars in millions)
January 2,
2021 December 28,
2019 December 29,
Net sales $ 2,793.0 $ 3,087.1 $ 3,347.6
Adjusted EBITDA $ 506.6 $ 611.0 $ 755.8
Adjusted EBITDA margin 18.1 % 19.8 % 22.6 %
Core growth reconciliations
Core revenue growth is a non-GAAP measure that represents net sales for the period excluding the impacts of movements in average currency exchange rates and the first-year impacts of acquisitions and disposals, when applicable. We present core growth because it allows for a meaningful comparison of year-over-year performance without the volatility caused by foreign currency gains or losses or the incomparability that would be caused by impacts of acquisitions or disposals. Management believes that this measure is therefore useful for securities analysts, investors and other interested parties to assist in their assessment of the operating performance of our businesses. The closest GAAP measure is net sales.
For the year ended January 2, 2021
(dollars in millions)
Power Transmission Fluid Power Total
Net sales for the year ended January 2, 2021 $ 1,800.2 $ 992.8 $ 2,793.0
Impact on net sales of movements in currency rates 18.4 16.1 34.5
Core revenue for the year ended January 2, 2021 1,818.6 1,008.9 2,827.5
Net sales for the year ended December 28, 2019 1,945.7 1,141.4 3,087.1
Decrease in net sales on a core basis (core revenue) $ (127.1) $ (132.5) $ (259.6)
Core revenue decline (6.5) % (11.6) % (8.4) %
For the year ended December 28, 2019
(dollars in millions)
Power Transmission Fluid Power Total
Net sales for the year ended December 28, 2019 $ 1,945.7 $ 1,141.4 $ 3,087.1
Impact on net sales of movements in currency rates 56.5 20.5 77.0
Impact on net sales from recent acquisitions - (7.5) (7.5)
Core revenue for the year ended December 28, 2019 2,002.2 1,154.4 3,156.6
Net sales for the year ended December 29, 2018 2,098.8 1,248.8 3,347.6
Decrease in net sales on a core basis (core revenue) $ (96.6) $ (94.4) $ (191.0)
Core revenue decline (4.6) % (7.6) % (5.7) %
Net Debt
Management uses net debt, rather than the narrower measure of cash and cash equivalents and restricted cash which forms the basis for the consolidated statement of cash flows, as a measure of our liquidity and in assessing the strength of our balance sheet.
Management analyzes the key cash flow items driving the movement in net debt to better understand and assess Gates’ cash performance and utilization in order to maximize the efficiency with which resources are allocated. The analysis of cash movements in net debt also allows management to more clearly identify the level of cash generated from operations that remains available for distribution after servicing our debt and post-employment benefit obligations and after the cash impacts of acquisitions and disposals.
Net debt represents the net total of:
• the principal amount of our debt; and
• the carrying amount of cash and cash equivalents.
Net debt was as follows:
(dollars in millions)
As of January 2,
2021 As of December 28,
Principal amount of debt $ 2,720.8 $ 2,985.0
Less: Cash and cash equivalents
(521.4) (635.3)
Net debt
$ 2,199.4 $ 2,349.7
The principal amount of debt is reconciled to the carrying amount of debt as follows:
(dollars in millions)
As of January 2,
2021 As of December 28,
Principal amount of debt $ 2,720.8 $ 2,985.0
Accrued interest
17.3 15.2
Deferred issuance costs
(29.4) (41.8)
Carrying amount of debt
$ 2,708.7 $ 2,958.4
Adjusted EBITDA adjustments for ratio calculation purposes
The financial maintenance ratio in our revolving credit agreement and other ratios related to incurrence-based covenants (measured only upon the taking of certain actions, including the incurrence of additional indebtedness) under our revolving credit facility, our term loan facility and the indenture governing our outstanding notes are calculated in part based on financial measures similar to Adjusted EBITDA as presented elsewhere in this report, which financial measures are determined at the Gates Global LLC level and adjust for certain additional items such as severance costs, the pro forma impacts of acquisitions and the pro forma impacts of cost-saving initiatives. These additional adjustments during the last 12 months, as calculated pursuant to such agreements, resulted in a net benefit to Adjusted EBITDA for ratio calculation purposes of $15.1 million.
Gates Industrial Corporation plc is not an obligor under our revolving credit facility, our term loan facility or the indenture governing our outstanding notes. Gates Global LLC, an indirect subsidiary of Gates Industrial Corporation plc, is the borrower under our revolving credit facility and our term loan facility and the issuer of our outstanding notes. The only significant difference between the results of operations and net assets that would be shown in the consolidated financial statements of Gates Global LLC and those for the Company that are included elsewhere in this report is a receivable of $0.6 million and $9.2 million as of January 2, 2021 and December 28, 2019, respectively, due to Gates Global LLC and its subsidiaries from indirect parent entities of Gates Global LLC and additional cash and cash equivalents held by the Company of $4.2 million and $2.0 million as of January 2, 2021 and December 28, 2019, respectively.
Critical Accounting Estimates and Judgments
Details of our significant accounting policies are set out in note 2 to our audited consolidated financial statements included elsewhere in this annual report.
When applying our accounting policies, we must make assumptions, judgments and estimates concerning the future that affect reported amounts of assets, liabilities, revenue and expenses. We makes these assumptions, estimates and judgments based on factors such as historical experience, the observance of trends in the industries in which we operate and information available from our customers and other outside sources. Due to the inherent uncertainty involved in making assumptions, estimates and judgments, the actual outcomes could be different. The policies discussed below are considered by management to be more critical than other policies because their application involves a significant amount of estimation uncertainty that increases the risk of a material adjustment to the carrying amounts of our assets and liabilities.
Net Sales
We derive our net sales primarily from the sale of a wide range of power transmission and fluid power products and components for a large variety of industrial and automotive applications, both in the aftermarket and first-fit channels, throughout the world.
In the substantial majority of our agreements with customers, we consider accepted customer purchase orders, which in some cases are governed by master sales agreements, to represent the contracts with our customers. Revenue from the sale of goods under these contracts is measured at the invoiced amount, net of estimated returns, early settlement discounts and rebates. Taxes collected from customers relating to product sales and remitted to government authorities are excluded from revenues. Where a customer has the right to return goods, future returns are estimated based on historical returns profiles. Settlement discounts that may apply to unpaid invoices are estimated based on the settlement histories of the relevant customers.
Our transaction prices often include variable consideration, usually in the form of discounts and rebates that may apply to issued invoices. The reduction in the transaction price for variable consideration requires that we make estimates of the expected total qualifying sales to the relevant customers. These estimates, including an analysis for potential constraint on variable consideration, take into account factors such as the nature of the rebate program, historical information and expectations of customer and consumer behavior. Overall, the transaction price is reduced to reflect our estimate of the amount of consideration that is not probable of significant reversal.
We allocate the transaction price to each distinct performance obligation based on their relative standalone selling price. The product price as specified on the accepted purchase order or similar binding contract is considered to be the standalone selling price. In substantially all of our contracts with customers, our performance obligations are satisfied at a point in time, rather than over a period of time, when control of the product is transferred to the customer. This occurs typically at shipment. In determining whether control has transferred and the customer is consequently able to control the use of the product for their own benefit, we consider if there is a present right to payment, legal title and physical possession has been transferred, whether the risks and rewards of ownership have transferred to the customer, and if acceptance of the asset by the customer is more than perfunctory.
Impairment of Goodwill and Other Indefinite-Lived Assets
Goodwill and other indefinite-lived intangible assets are subject to an annual impairment test but are also tested for impairment if an event occurs or circumstances change that would more likely than not reduce the fair value below its carrying amount.
Goodwill
Goodwill arising in a business combination is allocated to the reporting unit that is expected to benefit from the synergies of the acquisition. Where goodwill is attributable to more than one reporting unit, the goodwill is determined by allocating the purchase consideration in proportion to their respective business enterprise values and comparing the allocated purchase consideration with the fair value of the identifiable assets and liabilities of the reporting unit.
Goodwill is not amortized but is tested for impairment on the first day of the fourth quarter or more frequently whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying value may not be recoverable and is carried at cost less any recognized impairment.
To identify a potential impairment of goodwill, the fair value of the reporting unit to which the goodwill is allocated is compared to its carrying amount, including goodwill. If the fair value of the reporting unit exceeds its carrying amount, the goodwill of the reporting unit is not considered impaired. If the fair value is lower than the carrying amount, an impairment charge is recognized for the amount by which the carrying amount exceeds the reporting unit’s fair value, limited to the amount of goodwill allocated to that reporting unit.
Management based the fair value calculations on a weighted blend of the income and market approaches. The income approach was based on cash flow forecasts derived from the most recent financial plans approved by the board of directors, in which the principal assumptions were those regarding sales growth rates, selling prices and changes in direct costs. Forecasts for the following two years were based on region-specific growth assumptions determined by management, taking into account strategic initiatives.
Cash flows for each of the reporting units for the years beyond this period were projected to grow at compound annual growth rates reflecting annual decreases over the next seven years from the 2023 growth rates to the terminal growth rate. For Gates as a whole, this growth rate was 4.0%. The terminal growth rate for both reporting units was set at 2.5%, a rate that does not exceed the expected long-term growth rates in the respective principal end markets.
Management applied discount rates to the resulting cash flow projections that reflect current market assessments of the time value of money and the risks specific to each reporting unit. In each case, the discount rate was determined using a capital asset pricing model. The discount rates used in the impairment tests of goodwill during Fiscal 2020 were 9.0% for both reporting units.
For both reporting units, the fair values exceeded the carrying values and no goodwill impairments were therefore recognized during Fiscal 2020. A decline in the fair value of greater than 38% and 29% on our Power Transmission and Fluid Power reporting units, respectively, all else being equal, would result in an impairment of the goodwill allocated to those reporting units.
We base our fair value estimates on assumptions we believe to be reasonable at the time but that are unpredictable and inherently uncertain. In addition, we make certain judgments and assumptions in allocating goodwill between reporting units and in allocating shared assets and liabilities to determine the carrying values for each of our reporting units tested. Changes in assumptions or circumstances could result in an additional impairment in the period in which the change occurs and in future years.
Indefinite-Lived Assets Other than Goodwill
To identify a potential impairment of indefinite-lived assets other than goodwill, the fair value of the asset is compared to its carrying amount. If the fair value of the indefinite-lived asset exceeds its carrying amount, it is not considered impaired. Fair value is calculated based on the anticipated net cash inflows and outflows related to the indefinite-lived asset.
During the periods covered by this annual report, we held an indefinite-lived brand and trade name intangible asset. We test the intangible for impairment on the first day of the fourth quarter or more frequently whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying value may not be recoverable and is carried at cost less any recognized impairment.
The fair value for our indefinite-lived brand and trade name intangible asset was determined using a relief from royalty valuation methodology in which the key assumptions included sales growth rates and an estimated royalty rate. Sales forecasts were determined on the same basis as those used for the annual impairment testing of goodwill (as described above).
Management applied discount rates to the calculated royalty savings that reflect current market assessments of the time value of money and the risks specific to each region in which those royalty savings arose. In each case, the discount rate was determined using a capital asset pricing model adjusted for a premium to reflect the higher risk specific to the nature of the intangible asset. The discount rate used in Fiscal 2020 impairment test was 10.0%. As a result of the impairment testing, no impairment was recognized during Fiscal 2020. All else being equal, a decline in the fair value of greater than 37% in the fair value of the brand and trade name intangible asset would result in an impairment.
We base our fair value estimates on assumptions we believe to be reasonable at the time but that are unpredictable and inherently uncertain. Changes in assumptions or circumstances could result in an additional impairment in the period in which the change occurs and in future years.
Taxation
We are subject to income tax in most of the jurisdictions in which we operate. Management is required to exercise significant judgment in determining our provision for income taxes. Management’s judgment is required in relation to unrecognized income tax benefits whereby additional current tax may become payable in the future following the audit by tax authorities of previously-filed tax returns. It is possible that the final outcome of these unrecognized income tax benefits may differ from management’s estimates.
Management assesses unrecognized income tax benefits based upon an evaluation of the facts, circumstances and information available at the balance sheet date. Provision is made for unrecognized tax benefits to the extent that the amounts previously taken or expected to be taken in tax returns exceeds the tax benefits that are recognized in the consolidated financial statements in respect of the tax positions. A tax benefit is recognized in the consolidated financial statements only if management considers that it is more likely than not that the tax position will be sustained on examination by the relevant tax authority solely on the technical merits of the position and is measured as the largest amount of tax benefit that is greater than 50% likely of being realized upon settlement assuming that the tax authority has full knowledge of all relevant information. Provisions for unrecognized income tax benefits are reviewed regularly and are adjusted to reflect events such as the expiration of limitation periods for assessing tax, guidance given by the tax authorities and court decisions.
Deferred income tax assets and liabilities are recognized based on the expected future tax consequences of the difference between the financial statement carrying amount and the respective tax basis. Deferred income taxes are measured on the enacted rates expected to apply to taxable income at the time the difference is anticipated to reverse. Deferred income tax assets are reduced through the establishment of a valuation allowance if it is more likely than not that the deferred income tax asset will not be realized taking into account the timing and amount of the reversal of taxable temporary differences, expected future taxable income and tax planning strategies.
Deferred income tax is provided on certain taxable temporary differences arising on investments in foreign subsidiaries, except where we intend, and are able, to reinvest such amounts on a permanent basis or to remit such amounts in a tax-free manner.
We have recorded valuation allowances against certain of our deferred income tax assets and we intend to continue maintaining such valuation allowances until there is sufficient evidence to support the reduction of all or some portion of these allowances. During Fiscal 2020, we determined that it was more likely than not that certain deferred income tax assets in the U.K., Luxembourg and Belgium totaling $29.5 million were realizable. During Fiscal 2019, we determined that it was more likely than not that certain deferred income tax assets in Luxembourg, the U.K., and the U.S. totaling $586.2 million were realizable.
Accounting Pronouncements Not Yet Adopted
Recently-issued accounting pronouncements that may be relevant to our operations but have not yet been adopted are outlined in note 3 to our audited consolidated financial statements included elsewhere in this annual report.

---

ITEM 7A. QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURES ABOUT MARKET RISK
Item 7A. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk
Our market risk includes the potential loss arising from adverse changes in foreign currency exchange rates, interest rates, commodity prices, and the credit risk of our customers and third-party depository institutions that hold our cash and short-term deposits. From time to time, we use derivative financial instruments, principally foreign currency swaps, forward foreign currency contracts, interest rate caps (options) and interest rate swaps, to reduce our exposure to foreign currency risk and interest rate risk. We do not hold or issue derivatives for speculative purposes and monitor closely the credit quality of the institutions with which we transact. Our objective in managing these risks is to reduce fluctuations in earnings and cash flows associated with changes in foreign currency exchange rates and interest rate movements.
On a regular basis, we monitor third-party depository institutions that hold our cash and short-term investments and we diversify these assets among counterparties to minimize exposure to any one of these entities. We also monitor the creditworthiness of our customers and suppliers to mitigate any adverse impact.
Foreign Currency Exchange Risk
We have global operations and thus make investments and enter into transactions denominated in various foreign currencies. Our operating results are impacted by buying, selling and financing in currencies other than the functional currency of our operating companies. We monitor exposure to transactions denominated in currencies other than the functional currency of each country in which we operate, and enter into forward contracts to mitigate that exposure as needed. We also naturally hedge foreign currency through our production in the countries in which we sell our products.
In addition, we are exposed to currency risk associated with translating our non-U.S. dollar financial statements into U.S. dollars, which is our reporting currency. As a result, we are exposed to movements in the exchange rates of various currencies against the U.S. dollar. Translational foreign exchange risks arise predominantly on the potential increase in our significant euro debt when translated to U.S. dollars, as well as on the potential decreases in the value of our earnings, cash balances and other net assets denominated in euro and other currencies when translated to U.S. dollars.
The currency profiles of our cash and debt are centrally managed as are decisions about the location of cash. The currency profile of cash and debt, after taking into account the effect of the currency swaps and forwards used to manage those profiles, were as follows:
(dollars in millions) As of January 2,
2021 As of December 28,
Cash and cash equivalents by currency:
-U.S. dollar $ 199.5 $ 336.9
-Chinese Yuan Renminbi 94.8 81.1
-Indian Rupee 49.6 43.2
-Euro 37.8 28.0
-Japanese Yen 30.6 29.9
-Other 109.1 116.2
$ 521.4 $ 635.3
Principal amount of debt by currency:
-U.S. dollar $ 1,634.2 $ 1,982.7
-Euro 1,086.6 1,002.3
$ 2,720.8 $ 2,985.0
As described in note 13 to the audited consolidated financial statements included elsewhere in this annual report, during Fiscal 2020 and Fiscal 2019 we had designated a portion of our Euro Term Loans, as well as a €254.5 million cross currency swap, as hedges of a portion of our net investment in euro-denominated foreign operations. Changes in the value of these instruments resulting from fluctuations in the euro to U.S. dollar exchange rate are accordingly recorded as foreign currency translation adjustments within other comprehensive income.
Interest Rate Risk
Our prevailing market risk on interest rates is the potential fluctuation in interest costs and in the fair value of long-term debt resulting from movements in interest rates.
We use interest rate derivatives as part of our interest rate risk management strategy to add stability to interest expense and to manage our exposure to interest rate movements. The interest rate caps are designated as cash flow hedges and involve the receipt of variable rate payments from a counterparty if interest rates rise above the strike rate on the contract in exchange for a premium. The following table summarizes the key terms of the active interest rate derivatives held by the Company:
Notional
principal
amount
(millions) Interest rate
Payable Receivable
Variable Fixed Variable Fixed Variable rate index
As of January 2, 2021
Maturity date:
-June 2025 $ 870.0 - % 2.5 % - % 1.0 % 1 month LIBOR
-June 2023 € 425.0 - % 0.3 % - % - % 3 month EURIBOR
As of December 28, 2019
Maturity date:
-June 2020 $ 1,200.0 - % 0.5 % - % - % 3 month LIBOR
-June 2023 € 425.0 - % 0.3 % - % - % 3 month EURIBOR
The interest rate profile of the Company’s financial assets and liabilities, after taking into account the effect of the interest rate hedging activities, was as follows:
As of January 2, 2021 As of December 28, 2019
Interest-bearing Interest-bearing
(dollars in millions)
Floating
rate Fixed
rate Non-interest
bearing Total Floating
rate Fixed
rate Non-interest
bearing Total
Financial assets:
Available-for-sale investments $ - $ - $ 2.1 $ 2.1 $ - $ - $ 1.1 $ 1.1
Cash and cash equivalents 211.4 - 307.3 518.7 380.4 - 254.9 635.3
Restricted cash - - 2.7 2.7 - - 1.3 1.3
211.4 - 312.1 523.5 380.4 - 257.3 637.7
Financial liabilities:
Debt (762.9) (1,957.7) (0.2) (2,720.8) (741.7) (2,243.1) (0.2) (2,985.0)
Obligations under finance leases - (3.0) - (3.0) - (1.7) - (1.7)
(762.9) (1,960.7) (0.2) (2,723.8) (741.7) (2,244.8) (0.2) (2,986.7)
$ (551.5) $ (1,960.7) $ 311.9 $ (2,200.3) $ (361.3) $ (2,244.8) $ 257.1 $ (2,349.0)
Liquidity risk
Liquidity risk is the risk that an entity will encounter difficulty in meeting obligations associated with financial liabilities. Our debt facilities are monitored against forecast requirements and timely action is taken to put in place, renew or replace credit lines. We aim to reduce liquidity risk by diversifying our funding sources, maintaining adequate headroom under our debt facilities and by staggering the maturities of our debt.
We have established long-term credit ratings of B2 Stable with Moody’s and B+ Stable with Standard & Poor’s. Credit ratings are subject to regular review by the credit rating agencies and may change in response to economic and commercial developments.
For the expected timing of contractual cash flows relating to our financing arrangements, see the table set out above under “Item 7. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations-Contractual Obligations under Financing Arrangements and Other Commitments.”
Commodity Risk
We source a wide variety of materials and components from a network of global suppliers. While such materials are typically available from numerous suppliers, commodity raw materials such as aluminum, steel and polymers are subject to price fluctuations, which could have a negative impact on our results. We primarily manage these risks through normal operating activities. We strive to pass along such commodity price increases to customers to avoid profit margin erosion and utilize lean initiatives to further mitigate the impact of commodity raw material price fluctuations as we achieve improved efficiencies. We historically have not entered into any derivative commodity instruments to manage the exposure to changing price risk for supplies, but we will continue to evaluate their viability.
Credit risk
Our principal financial assets are cash and cash equivalents, derivatives, trade and other receivables and investments.
We regularly monitor third-party depository institutions that hold our cash and short-term investments, primarily for safety of principal and secondarily for maximizing yield on those funds. We diversify our cash and short-term investments among counterparties to minimize exposure to any one of these entities.
The credit risk on derivative financial instruments is limited because the counterparties are financial institutions with high credit-ratings assigned by international credit-rating agencies.
To mitigate the credit risk attributable to our trade receivables we perform credit verifications and monitor closely the creditworthiness of new and existing customers. The amounts presented in the balance sheet for trade receivables are net of allowances for expected credit losses. We develop expected loss estimates based either on the aging profile of outstanding receivables or by applying an experience factor (either a percentage of sales or a percentage of open receivables). These methodologies are based primarily on historical trends and experience, but credit controllers also regularly assess individual customer accounts to identify any potential increases or decreases in the level of expected credit loss needed to be applied to each customer based on current circumstances and future expectations.
Two customers of our North America businesses accounted for 16.5% and 11.9%, respectively, of our total trade accounts receivable balance as of January 2, 2021, compared to 18.9% and 11.3%, respectively, as of December 28, 2019. These concentrations are due to the extended payment terms common in the industry in which these businesses operate.
We have no other significant concentrations of credit risk as our exposure is spread over a large number of customers and counterparties.

---

ITEM 8. FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND SUPPLEMENTARY DATA
Item 8. Financial Statements and Supplementary Data
The information required by this Item is included as a separate section in this annual report. See Part IV. Item 15. “Exhibits, Financial Statement Schedules,” which is incorporated herein by reference.

---

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

---

ITEM 9A. CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES
Item 9A. Controls and Procedures
Disclosure Controls and Procedures
The Company maintains disclosure controls and procedures designed to provide reasonable assurance that information required to be disclosed by the Company in reports that it files or submits under the Exchange Act, is recorded, processed, summarized and reported within the time periods specified in SEC rules and forms and accumulated and communicated to our management, including our principal executive officer and principal financial officer, as appropriate, to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosure.
Any controls and procedures, no matter how well designed and operated, can provide only reasonable, not absolute, assurance of achieving the desired control objectives. The Company’s management, with the participation of the Company’s Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, has evaluated the effectiveness the Company’s disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Rules 13a-15(e) or 15d-15(e) promulgated under the Exchange Act) as of the end of the period covered by this annual report. Based upon that evaluation required by paragraph (b) of Rules 13a-15 or 15d-15, the Company’s Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer concluded that, as of January 2, 2021, the Company’s disclosure controls and procedures were effective.
Management’s Annual Report on Internal Control over Financial Reporting
Our management is responsible for establishing and maintaining effective internal control over financial reporting as defined in Rules 13a-15(f) and 15d-15(f) under the Exchange Act. This system is designed to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of consolidated financial statements for external purposes in accordance with U.S. GAAP. Because of the inherent limitations of internal control over financial reporting, including the possibility of collusion or improper management override of controls, misstatements due to error or fraud may not be prevented or detected on a timely basis.
Our management, with the participation of the Company’s Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, performed an assessment of the effectiveness of the Company’s internal control over financial reporting at January 2, 2021, utilizing the criteria discussed in the “Internal Control - Integrated Framework (2013)” issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission. The objective of this assessment was to determine whether our internal control over financial reporting was effective at January 2, 2021. Based on management’s assessment, we have concluded that our internal control over financial reporting was effective at January 2, 2021.
Deloitte & Touche LLP, the independent registered public accounting firm that audited the Company’s consolidated financial statements included elsewhere in this report, has issued an attestation report on our internal control over financial reporting as of January 2, 2021, as stated in its report which is included herein.
Changes in Internal Control over Financial Reporting
There has been no change in our internal control over financial reporting during our most recent fiscal quarter that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, our internal control over financial reporting.

---

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

---

ITEM 10. DIRECTORS, EXECUTIVE OFFICERS AND CORPORATE GOVERNANCE
Item 10. Directors, Executive Officers and Corporate Governance
Directors and Executive Officers
The information called for by this Item 10 is incorporated by reference to our definitive proxy statement for our 2021 annual general meeting of shareholders (our “2021 Proxy Statement”), anticipated to be filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission within 120 days of January 2, 2021, under the headings “Proposal 1- Election of Directors,” “Corporate Governance,” and “Delinquent Section 16(a) Reports.”
Code of Ethics
We maintain a Code of Business Conduct and Ethics that applies to all of our officers, directors and employees, including our principal executive officer, principal financial officer, principal accounting officer and controller, or persons performing similar functions, which is posted on our website. Our Code of Business Conduct and Ethics is a “code of ethics,” as defined in Item 406(b) of Regulation S-K. We will make any legally required disclosures regarding amendments to, or waivers of, provisions of our code of ethics on our website. The information contained on, or accessible from, our website is not part of this annual report by reference or otherwise.

---

ITEM 11. EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION
Item 11. Executive Compensation
The information called for by this Item 11 is incorporated by reference to our 2021 Proxy Statement anticipated to be filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission within 120 days of January 2, 2021, under the headings “Executive Compensation” and “Corporate Governance - Compensation Interlocks and Insider Participation.”

---

ITEM 12. SECURITY OWNERSHIP OF CERTAIN BENEFICIAL OWNERS
Item 12. Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and Management and Related Stockholder Matters
The information called for by this Item 12 is incorporated by reference to our 2021 Proxy Statement anticipated to be filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission within 120 days of January 2, 2021, under the headings “Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and Management” and “Equity Compensation Plan Information.”

---

ITEM 13. CERTAIN RELATIONSHIPS AND RELATED TRANSACTIONS
Item 13. Certain Relationships and Related Person Transactions, and Director Independence
The information called for by this Item 13 is incorporated by reference to our 2021 Proxy Statement anticipated to be filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission within 120 days of January 2, 2021, under the headings “Corporate Governance” and “Related-Person Transactions Policies and Procedures.”

---

ITEM 14. PRINCIPAL ACCOUNTING FEES AND SERVICES
Item 14. Principal Accounting Fees and Services
The information called for by this Item 14 is incorporated by reference to our 2021 Proxy Statement anticipated to be filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission within 120 days of January 2, 2021, under the heading “Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm.”
PART IV

---

ITEM 15. EXHIBITS, FINANCIAL STATEMENT SCHEDULES
Item 15. Exhibits, Financial Statement Schedules
The financial statements filed as part of this report are indexed below. Financial statement schedules have been omitted since they either are not required, not applicable, or the information is otherwise included.
Audited Consolidated Financial Statements of Gates Industrial Corporation plc and its subsidiaries:
Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm
Consolidated Statements of Operations for the fiscal years ended January 2, 2021, December 28, 2019, and December 29, 2018
Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income for the fiscal years ended January 2, 2021, December 28, 2019, and December 29, 2018
Consolidated Balance Sheets as of January 2, 2021 and December 28, 2019
Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows for the fiscal years ended January 2, 2021, December 28, 2019, and December 29, 2018
Consolidated Statements of Shareholders’ Equity for the fiscal years ended January 2, 2021, December 28, 2019, and December 29, 2018
Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements
Exhibits
Incorporated by Reference
Exhibit No.
Description
Form
Exhibit
Filing Date
3.1 Certificate of Incorporation of Gates Industrial Corporation plc
S-1
3.1 1/8/2018
3.2 Articles of Association of Gates Industrial Corporation plc, effective October 7, 2019
10-Q
3.2 11/6/2019
4.1 Description of Securities of Gates Industrial Corporation plc*
4.2 Indenture, dated as of November 22, 2019, by and among Gates Global LLC, Gates Corporation, the subsidiary guarantors named on the signature pages thereto and U.S. Bank National Association, as trustee, which includes the Form of 6.25% Senior Notes due 2026
8-K 4.1 11/27/2019
10.1 Shareholders Agreement
8-K 10.1 1/29/2018
10.2 Registration Rights Agreement
8-K 10.2 1/29/2018
10.3 Monitoring Fee Agreement
8-K 10.3 1/29/2018
10.4 Support and Services Agreement
8-K 10.4 1/29/2018
10.5 Agreement for the Provision of Depositary Services and Custody Services in respect of Gates Industrial Corporation plc Depositary Receipts
8-K 10.5 1/29/2018
10.6 Amended and Restated Credit Agreement, dated as of January 24, 2018
8-K 10.7 1/29/2018
10.7 Credit Agreement, dated as of July 3, 2014, among Omaha Holdings LLC, Gates Global LLC, the guarantors party thereto, Credit Suisse AG, Cayman Islands Branch, as administrative agent, collateral agent, swing line lender and L/C issuer, and the lenders party thereto
S-1 10.18 12/27/2017
10.8 Amendment No. 1 to Credit Agreement, dated as of April 7, 2017, among Omaha Holdings LLC, Gates Global LLC, the guarantors party thereto, Credit Suisse AG, Cayman Islands Branch, as administrative agent and collateral agent, the lenders party thereto and Credit Suisse AG, Cayman Islands Branch, as the additional B-1 euro term lender and additional B-1 dollar term lender
S-1 10.19 12/27/2017
10.9 Amendment No. 2 to Credit Agreement, dated as of November 22, 2017, among Omaha Holdings LLC, Gates Global LLC, the guarantors party thereto, Credit Suisse AG, Cayman Islands Branch, as administrative agent and collateral agent, the lenders party thereto and Credit Suisse AG, Cayman Islands Branch, as the additional B-2 euro term lender and additional B-2 dollar term lender
S-1 10.20 12/27/2017
10.10 Amendment No. 3, dated as of January 24, 2018, to the Credit Agreement dated as of July 3, 2014, among Omaha Holdings LLC, Gates Global LLC, the guarantors party thereto, Credit Suisse AG, Cayman Islands Branch, as administrative agent and collateral agent, and the lenders party thereto
8-K 10.6 1/29/2018
10.11 ABL Intercreditor Agreement, dated as of July 3, 2014, among Citibank, N.A., as ABL agent, Credit Suisse AG, Cayman Islands Branch, as cash flow agent, Gates Global LLC, Omaha Holdings LLC and the other grantors party thereto
S-1 10.23 12/27/2017
10.12 Security Agreement, dated as of July 3, 2014, among Omaha Holdings LLC, Gates Global LLC, the other grantors party thereto and Citibank, N.A., as collateral agent for the secured parties
S-1 10.24 12/27/2017
10.13 Security Agreement, dated as of July 3, 2014, among Tomkins Automotive Canada Limited, Gates Canada Inc. and Citibank, N.A., as collateral agent for the secured parties
S-1 10.25 12/27/2017
10.14 Security Agreement, dated as of July 3, 2014, among Omaha Holdings LLC, Gates Global LLC, the other grantors party thereto and Credit Suisse AG, Cayman Islands Branch, as collateral agent for the secured parties
S-1 10.26 12/27/2017
10.15 Gates Industrial Corporation plc 2014 Stock Incentive Plan†
10-K 10.15 2/14/2019
10.16 Form of Nonqualified Stock Option Agreement under the Gates Industrial Corporation plc 2014 Stock Incentive Plan (Pre-2017 grants to Ivo Jurek, David Naemura, Walter Lifsey and Rasmani Bhattacharya†
10-K 10.16 2/14/2019
10.17 Form of Nonqualified Stock Option Agreement under the Gates Industrial Corporation plc 2014 Stock Incentive Plan (Pre-2017 grant to Roger Gaston)†
10-K 10.17 2/14/2019
10.18 Form of Nonqualified Stock Option Agreement under the Gates Industrial Corporation plc 2014 Stock Incentive Plan (2017 grant to Ivo Jurek)†
10-K 10.18 2/14/2019
10.19 Form of Nonqualified Stock Option Agreement under the Gates Industrial Corporation plc 2014 Stock Incentive Plan (2017 grant to Roger Gaston)†
10-K 10.19 2/14/2019
10.20 Form of Management Equity Subscription Agreement under the Gates Industrial Corporation plc 2014 Stock Incentive Plan†
10-K 10.20 2/14/2019
10.21 Gates Industrial Corporation plc 2015 Non-Employee Director Stock Incentive Plan†
10-K 10.21 2/14/2019
10.22 Form of Nonqualified Stock Option Agreement under the Gates Industrial Corporation plc 2015 Non-Employee Director Stock Incentive Plan†
10-K 10.22 2/14/2019
10.23 Gates Industrial Corporation plc 2018 Omnibus Incentive Plan†
10-Q 10.1 11/2/2018
10.24 Form of Option Agreement under the Gates Industrial Corporation plc 2018 Omnibus Incentive Plan†
10-Q 10.2 5/3/2018
10.25 Form of Time-Based Restricted Stock Agreement under the Gates Industrial Corporation plc 2018 Omnibus Incentive Plan†
10-Q 10.2 11/2/2018
10.26 Form of Time-Based Restricted Stock Unit Agreement under the Gates Industrial Corporation plc 2018 Omnibus Incentive Plan (Non-Employee Director)†
10-Q 10.3 11/2/2018
10.27 Form of Time-Based Restricted Stock Unit Agreement under the Gates Industrial Corporation plc 2018 Omnibus Incentive Plan (Employee)†
10-Q 10.4 11/2/2018
10.28 Form of Stock Appreciation Right Agreement under the Gates Industrial Corporation plc 2018 Omnibus Incentive Plan†
10-Q 10.5 11/2/2018
10.29 Form of Option Agreement under the Gates Industrial Corporation plc 2018 Omnibus Incentive Plan (3 yr.)†
10-Q 10.1 5/8/2019
10.30 Form of Time-Based Restricted Stock Unit Agreement under the Gates Industrial Corporation plc 2018 Omnibus Incentive Plan (Employee)†
10-Q 10.2 5/8/2019
10.31 Form of Time-Based Restricted Stock Unit Agreement under the Gates Industrial Corporation plc 2018 Omnibus Incentive Plan (Non-Employee Director)†
10-Q 10.3 5/8/2019
10.32 Form of Performance-Based Restricted Stock Unit Agreement under the Gates Industrial Corporation plc 2018 Omnibus Incentive Plan†
10-Q 10.4 5/8/2019
10.33 Special Option Agreement under the Gates Industrial Corporation plc 2018 Omnibus Incentive Plan (5 yr.)†
10-Q 10.5 5/8/2019
10.34 Form of Time-Based Restricted Stock Unit Agreement under the Gates Industrial Corporation plc 2018 Omnibus Incentive Plan (Executive Officer), effective January 1, 2020.*†
10-K 10.34 2/21/2020
10.35 Form of Option Agreement under the Gates Industrial Corporation plc 2018 Omnibus Incentive Plan (Executive Officer), effective January 1, 2020.*†
10-K 10.35 2/21/2020
10.36 Form of Performance-Based Restricted Stock Unit Agreement under the Gates Industrial Corporation plc 2018 Omnibus Incentive Plan, effective January 1, 2020.*†
10-K 10.36 2/21/2020
10.37 Gates Corporation Supplemental Retirement Plan, amended and restated effective March 8, 2018†
10-Q 10.1 5/3/2018
10.38 Form of Director and Officer Deed of Indemnity†
S-1 10.12 1/8/2018
10.39 Form of Executive Severance Plan†
S-1 10.15 12/27/2017
10.40 Form of Executive Change in Control Plan†
S-1 10.16 12/27/2017
10.41 Separation Agreement, effective March 13, 2020, between the Company and Jamey S. Seely†
8-K 10.1 3/18/2020
21.1 Subsidiaries of the Registrant*
23.1 Consent of Deloitte & Touche LLP*
31.1 Certification by the Chief Executive Officer Pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002*
31.2 Certification by the Chief Financial Officer Pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002*
32.1 Certification by the Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer Pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002**
101 The following financial information from Gates Industrial Corporation's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended January 2, 2021, formatted in Extensible Business Reporting Language (XBRL): (i) Consolidated Statements of Operations for the years end ended January 2, 2021, December 28, 2019 and December 29, 2018 (ii) Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income for the years ended January 2, 2021, December 28, 2019 and December 29, 2018 (iii) Consolidated Balance Sheets as of January 2, 2021 and December 28, 2019, (iv) Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows for the years ended January 2, 2021, December 28, 2019 and December 29, 2018 (v) Consolidated Statements of Shareholders' Equity for the years ended January 2, 2021, December 28, 2019 and December 29, 2018, and (vi) Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements.*
104 Cover Page Interactive Data File (embedded within the Inline XBRL document and included in Exhibit 101)
* Filed herewith.
** Furnished herewith.
† Management contract or compensatory plan or arrangement.