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Matthews International Corporation

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Employees 11000
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FY2020 Annual Report · Matthews International Corporation
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UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D. C. 20549
__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

FORM 10-K

☒ Annual Report Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934
For the Fiscal Year Ended September 30, 2020

or 

☐ Transition Report Pursuant To Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934
For the Transition Period from _____ to _____
Commission File No. 0-09115
__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

MATTHEWS INTERNATIONAL CORPORATION
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

Pennsylvania
(State or other jurisdiction of incorporation or
organization)

25-0644320
(I.R.S. Employer Identification No.)

Two Northshore Center, Pittsburgh, PA 15212-5851
(Address of principal executive offices) (Zip Code)

(412) 442-8200
(Registrant's telephone number, including area code)

Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:
Title of each class
Class A Common Stock, $1.00 par value

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

Trading Symbol
MATW

Name of each exchange on which registered
Nasdaq Global Select Market

Indicate by check mark if the registrant is a well-known seasoned issuer, as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act.

Indicate by check mark if the registrant is not required to file reports pursuant to Section 13 or Section 15(d) of the Act.

Yes ☐                No ☒
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for
such shorter period that the registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days. 

Yes ☒                No ☐
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has submitted electronically every Interactive Data File required to be submitted and posted pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulation S-T during the
preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to submit and post such files).

Yes ☒                No ☐
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, a smaller reporting company, or an emerging growth company. See the
definitions of "large accelerated filer," "accelerated filer," "smaller reporting company," and "emerging growth company" in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act.

Yes ☒                No ☐

Large accelerated filer
Non-accelerated filer
Smaller reporting company

☒
☐
☐

Accelerated filer

Emerging growth company

☐

☐

If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting
standards provided pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Exchange Act. ☐

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has filed a report on and attestation to its management’s assessment of the effectiveness of its internal control over financial reporting under
Section 404(b) of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act (15 U.S.C. 7262(b)) by the registered public accounting firm that prepared or issued its audit report. ☒

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act).  

 Yes ☐                No ☒
The aggregate market value of the Class A Common Stock held by non-affiliates of the registrant, based upon the closing sale price of the Class A Common Stock on the Nasdaq Global
Select Market on March 31, 2020, the last business day of the registrant's most recently completed second fiscal quarter, was approximately $730 million.

As of October 31, 2020, shares of common stock outstanding were: Class A Common Stock 31,791,571 shares.

Documents incorporated by reference: Specified portions of the Proxy Statement for the 2021 Annual Meeting of Shareholders are incorporated by reference into Part III of this Report.

PART I

CAUTIONARY STATEMENTS REGARDING FORWARD LOOKING STATEMENTS AND NON-GAAP FINANCIAL MEASURES:

Any forward-looking statements contained in this Annual Report on Form 10-K (including, but not limited to, those contained in Item 1, "Business," Item 1A, "Risk Factors"
and Item 7, "Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations") are included in this report pursuant to the "safe harbor" provisions of the
Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995.  Such forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks and uncertainties that may cause the actual results of
Matthews  International  Corporation  ("Matthews"  or  the  "Company")  in  future  periods  to  be  materially  different  from  management's  expectations.   Although  the  Company
believes that the expectations reflected in such forward-looking statements are reasonable, no assurance can be given that such expectations will prove correct.  In addition to
the risk factors previously disclosed and those discussed elsewhere in this Annual Report on Form 10-K, factors that could cause the Company's results to differ materially from
the results discussed in such forward-looking statements principally include changes in domestic or international economic conditions, changes in foreign currency exchange
rates, changes in the cost of materials used in the manufacture of the Company's products, changes in mortality and cremation rates, changes in product demand or pricing as a
result of consolidation in the industries in which the Company operates, changes in product demand or pricing as a result of domestic or international competitive pressures,
ability  to  achieve  cost-reduction  objectives,  unknown  risks  in  connection  with  the  Company's  acquisitions,  cybersecurity  concerns,  effectiveness  of  the  Company's  internal
controls, compliance with domestic and foreign laws and regulations, technological factors beyond the Company's control, impact of pandemics or similar outbreaks, such as
coronavirus disease 2019 ("COVID-19") or other disruptions to our industries, customers or supply chains, and other factors described in Item 1A, "Risk Factors" in this Form
10-K.  In addition, although the Company does not have any customers that would be considered individually significant to consolidated sales, changes in the distribution of the
Company's  products  or  the  potential  loss  of  one  or  more  of  the  Company's  larger  customers  are  also  considered  risk  factors. Matthews  cautions  that  the  foregoing  list  of
important factors is not all inclusive. Readers are also cautioned not to place undue reliance on any forward looking statements, which reflect management's analysis only as of
the date of this report, even if subsequently made available by Matthews on its website or otherwise. Matthews does not undertake to update any forward looking statement,
whether written or oral, that may be made from time to time by or on behalf of Matthews to reflect events or circumstances occurring after the date of this report. Matthews
posts  important  information  on  its  investor  relations  website,  available  at  matw.com/investors.  The  Company's  shareholders  are  encouraged  to  review  the  contents  of  such
website. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the contents of such website are not incorporated into this Annual Report on Form 10-K.

Included in this report are measures of financial performance that are not defined by generally accepted accounting principles in the United States ("GAAP"). These non-GAAP
financial  measures  assist  management  in  comparing  the  Company's  performance  on  a  consistent  basis  for  purposes  of  business  decision-making  by  removing  the  impact  of
certain items that management believes do not directly reflect the Company's core operations. Refer to "Non-GAAP Financial Measures" in Item 7 - "Management's Discussion
and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations."

ITEM 1.  BUSINESS.

Matthews, founded in 1850 and incorporated in Pennsylvania in 1902, is a global provider of brand solutions, memorialization products and industrial technologies.  Brand
solutions  consists  of  brand  management,  pre-media  services,  printing  plates  and  cylinders,  engineered  products,  imaging  services,  digital  asset  management,  merchandising
display systems, and marketing and design services primarily for the consumer goods and retail industries. Memorialization products consist primarily of bronze and granite
memorials  and  other  memorialization  products,  caskets,  and  cremation  and  incineration  equipment  primarily  for  the  cemetery  and  funeral  home  industries.  Industrial
technologies  include  marking  and  coding  equipment  and  consumables,  industrial  automation  products  and  order  fulfillment  systems  for  identifying,  tracking,  picking  and
conveying consumer and industrial products.

2

ITEM 1.        BUSINESS, (continued)

The  Company  manages  its  business  under  three  reporting  segments,  SGK  Brand  Solutions,  Memorialization,  and  Industrial  Technologies. The  following  table  sets  forth
reported sales for the Company's business segments for the past three fiscal years.  Detailed financial information relating to business segments and to domestic and international
operations is presented in Note 19, "Segment Information" in Item 8 - "Financial Statements and Supplemental Data."

Sales to external customers:
SGK Brand Solutions
Memorialization
Industrial Technologies
Consolidated Sales

2020

Years Ended September 30,
2019
(Dollar amounts in thousands)

2018

$

$

693,093  $
656,035 
149,178 
1,498,306  $

743,869  $
636,892 
156,515 
1,537,276  $

805,274 
631,392 
165,914 
1,602,580 

In fiscal 2020, approximately 69% of the Company's sales were made from North America, 26% were made from Europe, 3% were made from Asia, and 2% were made from
other regions. For further information on segments, see Note 19, "Segment Information" in Item 8 - "Financial Statements and Supplementary Data." Products and services of
the  SGK  Brand  Solutions  segment  are  sold  throughout  the  world,  with  principal  locations  in  North America,  Europe  and Asia.    Memorialization  segment  products  are  sold
throughout  the  world,  with  the  segment's  principal  operations  located  in  North America,  Europe,  and Australia.    The  Industrial  Technologies  segment  sells  equipment  and
consumables directly to industrial consumers and distributors in North America and internationally through the Company's subsidiaries in Sweden, Germany and China, and
other foreign distributors.  Matthews owns a minority interest in Industrial Technologies product distributors in Asia, Australia and Europe.

SGK Brand Solutions:

The  SGK  Brand  Solutions  segment  provides  packaging  solutions,  brand  experience  services,  and  cylinder  production  and  engineering  expertise.  The  SGK  Brand  Solutions
segment  re-organized  its  operations  and  rebranded  as  a  global  packaging  and  brand  experience  business  that  simplifies  marketing,  amplifies  brands  and  delivers  value.
Matthews  has  more  than  100  years  in  the  packaging  business,  which  is  comprised  of  a  broad  technical  expertise  relating  to  the  creation  and  production  of  graphics,  their
workflows and best practices for the packaging marketing channel. This combination of knowledge, experience and skill helps the SGK Brand Solutions segment differentiate
itself from competitors. The expertise in the rotary processing of banded materials has also allowed expansion into engineered purpose-built machines for new applications.

The  SGK  Brand  Solutions  segment  helps  companies  to  define,  create,  produce  and  transform  their  packaging  and  marketing  supply  chains  and  the  brand  assets  that  flow
through them. By simplifying marketing, the segment helps deliver greater speed through workflow efficiency, enabling clients to get new product introductions and campaigns
to market faster which can result in a competitive advantage for the brand. By amplifying brands, the segment helps brands create meaningful experiences online and offline that
enable them to stand out in the marketplace which can result in a stronger connection between consumers and the brand. The SGK Brand Solutions segment also helps clients
deliver improved marketing productivity and profitability through innovative technology solutions.

The packaging solutions part of its business integrates all packaging-related services from the beginning to end of the packaging development workflow process. Clients may
purchase stand-alone services or a combination of services that are designed to fulfill larger, more strategic objectives. These services include design and adaptive packaging
design,  production  art,  photography,  retouching,  eCommerce  assets,  premedia,  print  technical  services,  cylinders  and  surfaces  engineering,  workflow  efficiency  consulting,
change  management  and  technology  workflow  solutions.  Largely,  a  print  media-based  business,  the  business  leverages  their  100+  years  of  packaging  expertise  to  create
packaging assets required for the eCommerce channel.

The brand experience part of the business integrates all marketing-related services from the beginning to the end of the marketing development workflow process. Clients may
purchases stand-alone services or a combination of services that are designed to fulfill larger, more strategic objectives. These services include all the services that help create
brand experiences: consumer insights, brand strategy, brand identity, content marketing strategy, marketing content creation, campaign strategy and development, online and
in-store  retail  experiences  and  merchandising  fabrication,  creative  process  management  and  technology  workflow  solutions.  Largely,  an  ideation  and  digital  media-based
business, the business leverages its branding expertise to drive the creation of digital experiences that “stick” with consumers.

3

 
 
ITEM 1.        BUSINESS, (continued)

The SGK Brand Solutions segment’s principal clients are global, multinational and regional companies in highly-regulated industries such as food and beverage, pharmaceutical
and healthcare, beauty  and  cosmetics,  and  alcohol  and  tobacco.  The  segment  also  serves  clients  in  a  diverse  range  of  sectors  which  includes  leaders  in  home  improvement,
personal care, technology and electronics, snack food and confections, telecommunications, and apparel, as well as a diverse range of shopping formats which include big-box
stores, department stores, specialty stores, grocery stores, pharmacy chains, and online retailers. These large, well-known companies represent a variety of brands across the
marketplace covering both national and private label brands with numerous packaging and marketing requirements.

The  segment  is  also  a  leading  international  supplier  of  pre-press,  rotogravure  and  embossing  tooling,  with  principal  clients  representing  brand  manufacturers,  printers  and
converters. The segment produces engineered products, which primarily represents purpose-built machines to support the automotive and energy storage industries.

The segment’s products, services and solutions are purchased in part or whole by companies with operations in and/or across the North America, Europe and Asia regions. A
large portion of these purchases result in annual or multi-year contracts; others are initiative-based. The segment generates new business opportunities through referrals and
relationships, marketing and lead generation and select industry partnerships. The Company has many long-standing relationships among its client base that span decades and
has new relationships with well-known global technology companies that are driving change in how consumers engage with brands and use devices like smartphones to shop
and buy online and in-store.

Major raw materials for this segment’s products include photopolymers, steel, copper, film, wood, particleboard, corrugated materials, structural steel, plastic, laminates, inks
and graphic art supplies. All such materials are presently available in adequate supply from various industry sources. Competition is on the basis of product quality, timeliness
of delivery and price, and increasingly, the ability to provide a holistic solution for brand content beyond its use for packaging, while at the same time elevating the role of
packaging in the marketing mix. The segment's ability to offer consistent service on a global basis is a key differentiator.

The  segment  competes  in  an  industry  that  is  constantly  challenged  by  emerging  technologies  that  impact  packaging  and  marketing.  These  challenges  can  create  new
opportunities for the segment to create, produce and manage large volumes of brand content. They also provide the segment with opportunities to advise its clients on how to
plan for, manage and execute the digital transformation of their packaging and marketing operations.

Memorialization:

The Memorialization segment manufactures and markets a full line of memorialization products used primarily in cemeteries, funeral homes and crematories. The segment's
products, which are sold principally in North America, Europe and Australia, include cast bronze memorials, granite memorials, caskets, cremation and incineration equipment
and other memorialization products.  The segment also manufactures and markets architectural products that are used to identify or commemorate people, places, events and
accomplishments.

Memorial products include flush bronze and granite memorials, upright granite memorials and monuments, cremation memorialization products, granite benches, flower vases,
crypt plates and letters, cremation urns, niche units, cemetery features and statues, along with other related products and services. Flush memorials are bronze plaques or granite
memorials which contain personal information about a deceased individual (such as name, birth date, and death date), photos and emblems.  Flush bronze and granite memorials
are even or "flush" with the ground and therefore are preferred by many cemeteries for easier lawn mowing and general maintenance.  The segment's memorial products also
include community and family mausoleums within North America.  In addition, the segment's other memorial products include bronze plaques, letters, emblems, vases, lights
and  photo  ceramics  that  can  be  affixed  to  granite  monuments,  mausoleums,  crypts  and  flush  memorials.    Principal  customers  for  memorial  products  are  cemeteries  and
memorial parks, which in turn sell the Company's products to the consumer.

Customers  of  the  Memorialization  segment  can  also  purchase  memorials  and  vases  on  a  "pre-need"  basis.    The  "pre-need"  concept  permits  families  to  arrange  for  these
purchases in advance of their actual need.  Upon request, the Company will manufacture the memorial to the customer's specifications (e.g., name and birth date) and place it in
storage for future delivery.  Memorials in storage have been paid in full with title conveyed to each pre-need purchaser.

4

ITEM 1.        BUSINESS, (continued)

The segment is also a leading manufacturer and distributor of caskets and other funeral home products in North America.  The segment produces and markets metal, wood and
cremation caskets. Caskets are offered in a variety of colors, interior designs, handles and trim in order to accommodate specific religious, ethnic or other personal preferences.
The segment also markets other funeral home products such as urns, jewelry, interior panels, and stationery. The segment offers individually personalized caskets through its
distribution network.

Metal  caskets  are  made  from  various  gauges  of  cold-rolled  steel,  stainless  steel,  copper  and  bronze. Metal  caskets  are  generally  categorized  by  whether  the  casket  is  non-
gasketed or gasketed, and by material (i.e., bronze, copper, or steel) and in the case of steel, by the gauge (thickness) of the metal.  Wood caskets are primarily manufactured
from  nine  different  species  of  wood. The  species  of  wood  used  are  poplar,  pine,  ash,  oak,  pecan,  maple,  cherry,  walnut  and  mahogany.  The  Memorialization  segment  is  a
leading  manufacturer  of  all-wood  constructed  caskets,  which  are  manufactured  using  pegged  and  dowelled  construction,  and  include  no  metal  parts. Cremation  caskets  are
made primarily from wood or cardboard covered with cloth or veneer. These caskets appeal primarily to cremation consumers, environmentally concerned consumers, and value
buyers.

The Memorialization segment also produces casket components. Casket components include stamped metal parts, metal locking mechanisms for gasketed metal caskets, and
adjustable beds. Metal casket parts are produced by stamping cold-rolled steel, stainless steel, copper and bronze sheets into casket component parts. Locking mechanisms and
adjustable beds are produced by stamping and assembling a variety of steel parts. The segment purchases from sawmills and lumber distributors various species of uncured
wood, which it dries and cures. The cured wood is processed into casket components.

In addition, the segment provides product and service assortment planning, as well as merchandising and display products to funeral service businesses. The Memorialization
segment  also  develops  and  sells  technology  solutions  which  help  funeral  homes  manage  their  businesses  and  serve  families  through  these  digital  platforms.  Solutions  are
delivered as software as a service and include funeral home management systems, and web-based arrangement and presentation systems. These products assist funeral service
professionals in providing information, value and satisfaction to their client families.

The  segment  also  provides  cremation  systems,  crematory  management,  and  cremation  service  and  supplies  to  the  pet  and  human  sector,  and  standard  and  specialized
incineration  systems,  including  abated  filtration  systems  to  satisfy  strict  environmental  requirements.    The  primary  market  areas  for  these  products  and  services  are  North
America and Europe, although the segment also sells into Latin America and the Caribbean, Australia, the Middle East and Asia.

Cremation  systems  include  flame-based  systems  for  cremation  of  humans  and  pets,  as  well  as  equipment  for  processing  the  cremated  remains  and  other  related  equipment
(ventilated work stations, tables, cooler racks, vacuums).  The principal markets for these products are funeral homes, cemeteries, crematories, pet crematories, animal disposers
and  veterinarians.  These  products  primarily  are  marketed  directly  by  segment  personnel.    Human  crematory  management/operations  represent  the  actual  operation  and
management of client-owned crematories.  Currently the segment provides these services primarily to municipalities and private operators in the United States and Europe. 
Cremation service and supplies consist of operator training, preventative maintenance and on-demand service work performed on various makes and models of equipment. This
work  can  be  as  simple  as  replacing  defective  bulbs  or  as  complex  as  complete  reconstruction  and  upgrading  or  retro-fitting  on  site.  Supplies  are  consumable  items  and
replacement parts associated with normal crematory operations.

Waste incineration systems encompass both batch load and continuous feed, static and rotary systems for incineration of all waste types, as well as equipment for in-loading
waste, out-loading ash and energy recovery. The principal markets for these products are animal and medical waste disposal, oil and gas "work camp" wastes, industrial wastes
and bio-mass generators.  Environmental and energy systems include emissions filtration units, waste heat recovery equipment, waste gas treatment products, as well as energy
recovery. The segment also provides commissioning, training and user support for customers of incineration systems.  The principal markets are municipalities or public/state
agencies, the cremation industry and other industries which utilize incinerators for waste reduction and energy production.

The Memorialization segment also manufactures a full line of other products, including urns in a variety of sizes, styles and shapes as well as standard and custom designed
granite cremation pedestals and benches.  The segment manufactures bronze and granite niche units, which are comprised of numerous compartments used to display cremation
urns in mausoleums and churches.  The Company also markets turnkey cremation gardens, which include the design and all related products for a cremation memorial garden.

5

ITEM 1.        BUSINESS, (continued)

Architectural  products  include  cast  bronze  and  aluminum  plaques,  etchings  and  letters  that  are  used  to  recognize,  commemorate  and  identify  people,  places,  events  and
accomplishments.  The Company's plaques are frequently used to identify the name of a building or the names of companies or individuals located within a building.  Such
products  are  also  used  to  commemorate  events  or  accomplishments,  such  as  military  service  or  financial  donations.    The  principal  markets  for  the  segment's  architectural
products  are  corporations,  fraternal  organizations,  contractors,  churches,  hospitals,  schools  and  government  agencies.    These  products  are  sold  to  and  distributed  through  a
network of independent dealers including sign suppliers, awards and recognition companies, and trophy dealers.

Raw  materials  used  by  the  Memorialization  segment  to  manufacture  memorials  consist  principally  of  bronze  and  aluminum  ingot,  granite,  sheet  metal,  coating  materials,
photopolymers and construction materials and are generally available in adequate supply.  Ingot is obtained from various North American, European and Australian smelters.
The primary materials required for casket manufacturing are cold-rolled steel and lumber. The segment also purchases copper, bronze, stainless steel, particleboard, corrugated
materials, paper veneer, cloth, ornamental hardware and coating materials. Purchase orders or supply agreements are typically negotiated with large, integrated steel producers
that have demonstrated timely delivery, high quality material and competitive prices.  Lumber is purchased from a number of sawmills and lumber distributors.  Raw materials
used to manufacture cremation and incineration products consist principally of structural steel, sheet metal, electrical components, combustion devices and refractory materials.
These are generally available in adequate supply from numerous suppliers.

Competition from other manufacturers of memorial products is on the basis of reputation, product quality, delivery, price, and design availability. The Company believes that its
superior quality, broad product lines, innovative designs, delivery capability, customer responsiveness, experienced personnel and consumer-oriented merchandising systems
are competitive advantages in its markets.  Competition in the mausoleum construction industry includes various construction companies throughout North America and is on
the basis of design, quality and price.  Competitors in the architectural market are numerous and include companies that manufacture cast and painted signs, plastic materials,
sand-blasted wood and other fabricated products.

The Memorialization segment markets its casket products in the United States through a combination of Company-owned and independent casket distribution facilities.  The
Company  operates  approximately  100  distribution  centers  in  the  United  States.   Approximately  85%  of  the  segment's  casket  products  are  currently  sold  through  Company-
owned  distribution  centers.    The  casket  business  is  highly  competitive  and  the  Company  competes  with  other  manufacturers  on  the  basis  of  product  quality,  price,  service,
design  availability  and  breadth  of  product  line.    The  Memorialization  segment  provides  a  line  of  casket  products  that  it  believes  is  as  comprehensive  as  any  of  its  major
competitors.    There  are  a  large  number  of  casket  industry  participants  operating  in  North  America  and  also  a  few  foreign  casket  manufacturers,  primarily  from  China,
participating in the North American market. 

The  Company  competes  with  several  manufacturers  in  the  cremation  and  accessory  equipment  market  principally  on  the  basis  of  product  design,  quality  and  price.    The
Memorialization segment and its three largest global competitors account for a substantial portion of the United States and European cremation equipment market.

The Memorialization segment works to provide a total solution to customers that own and operate businesses in both the cemetery and funeral home markets. The Company's
memorial and casket products serve the relatively stable casketed and in-ground burial death market, while its memorial products and cremation and incineration equipment
also serve the growing cremation market.

Industrial Technologies:

The Industrial Technologies segment designs, manufactures and distributes a wide range of marking and coding equipment and consumables, industrial automation solutions,
and warehouse automation systems.  Manufacturers, suppliers and distributors worldwide rely on Matthews' integrated systems to identify, track and pick their products.

Marking systems range from stand-alone marking products to complex ink-jet printing systems that integrate into a customer's production process.  The Company manufactures
and markets products and systems that employ different marking technologies, including laser and ink-jet printing.  These technologies apply product information required for
identification and traceability, as well as to facilitate inventory and quality control, regulatory compliance and brand name communication.

Warehouse  automation  systems  complement  the  tracking  and  distribution  of  a  customer's  products  with  automated  order  fulfillment  technologies,  and  controls  for  material
handling systems.  Material handling customers include some of the largest retail, eCommerce, and automated assembly companies in the United States.  The Company also
engineers innovative, custom solutions to address specific customer requirements in a variety of industries, including oil field services and security scanning.

6

ITEM 1.        BUSINESS, (continued)

A significant portion of the revenue of the Industrial Technologies segment is attributable to the sale of consumables and replacement parts required by the marking, coding and
tracking products sold by Matthews.  The Company develops inks exclusively for the use with its marking equipment which is critical to ensure ongoing equipment reliability
and mark quality.

The  principal  customers  for  the  Company's  marking  and  fulfillment  systems  products  are  manufacturers,  suppliers  and  distributors  of  durable  goods,  building  products,
consumer goods manufacturers (including food and beverage processors) and producers of pharmaceuticals.  The Company also serves a wide variety of industrial markets,
including metal fabricators, manufacturers of woven and non-woven fabrics, plastic, rubber and automotive products.

A portion of this segment's sales are outside the United States, with distribution sourced through the Company's subsidiaries in Sweden, Germany and China in addition to other
international distributors.  The Company owns a minority interest in distributors in Asia, Australia and Europe.

Major raw materials for this segment's products include precision components, electronics, printing components and chemicals, all of which are presently available in adequate
supply from various sources.

Competitors in the marking and fulfillment systems industries are diverse, with some companies offering limited product lines for well-defined specialty markets, while others
operate  similarly  to  the  Company,  offering  a  broad  product  line  and  competing  in  multiple  product  markets  and  countries.    Competitive  differentiation  for  marking  and
fulfillment systems products is based on product performance, ease of integration into the manufacturing and/or distribution process, service and price.  The Company typically
competes  with  specialty  companies  in  specific  brand  marking  solutions  and  traceability  applications.    The  Company  believes  that,  in  general,  its  Industrial  Technologies
segment offers one of the broadest lines of products to address a wide variety of marking, coding and industrial automation applications.

PATENTS, TRADEMARKS AND LICENSES:

The Company holds a number of trademarks and in excess of 100 domestic and foreign patents for its products and related technologies.  However, the Company believes the
loss of any individual or a significant number of patents or trademarks would not have a material impact on consolidated operations or revenues.

HUMAN CAPITAL RESOURCES:

At October 31, 2020, the Company and its majority-owned subsidiaries employed approximately 11,000 people globally. The Company's diverse team of talented employees
possess  a  vast  array  of  skills  including  creative  design,  photography,  engineering,  manufacturing,  research  and  development,  plant  operations,  production,  logistics  and
administrative support, such as information technology, human resources and finance. Certain of the Company's employees have highly specialized skills and subject-matter
expertise in their respective fields, which helps enable the Company to deliver industry leading products and services to its customers throughout the world.

The  Company  attracts  and  maintains  talent  by  offering  market  rate  competitive  salaries  for  the  locations  in  which  it  operates,  and  by  engaging  employees  with  rewarding
opportunities to contribute to the success of the Company. The Company is committed to supporting and developing its employees through global learning and development
programs. These  programs  are  designed  to  build  and  strengthen  employees’  skills,  including  leadership  and  professional  competencies.  Leadership  development  programs
include intensive learning programs for emerging leaders, as well as mid-level and senior leaders. The Company also strategically partners with educational institutions and
nonprofit  organizations  to  help  provide  current  and  future  workers  with  the  knowledge  and  skills  they  need  to  succeed. Such  efforts  also  include  routine  and  consistent
compliance training, covering a wide-range of relevant subjects. The Company has consistently re-invested in necessary resources to effectively staff and efficiently support its
three business segments.

Employee health and safety in the workplace is one of the Company’s core values. Safety efforts are led by the Global Health and Safety team and supported by individuals at
the local site level. Hazards in the workplace are timely identified and management actively tracks incidents so remedial actions may be implemented to improve workplace
safety. In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Company has taken actions aligned with the World Health Organization and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
to protect its workforce so they can more safely and effectively perform their work. In so doing, the Company has prioritized the initiation of comprehensive health and safety
protocols, further ensuring strict adherence to responsive measures for mitigating the spread of COVID-19.

7

ITEM 1.        BUSINESS, (continued)

The Company is committed to efforts to increase diversity and foster an inclusive work environment that supports the Company’s large global workforce. The Company has
taken  actions  to  enhance  diversity,  including  the  formation  of  a  Diversity  and  Inclusion  (“D&I”)  council,  comprised  of  a  diverse  group  of  talented  individuals  across  the
Company’s various businesses and geographic locations. The D&I council is responsible for helping to shape the Company’s D&I objectives, prioritize the Company’s actions
and  programs  in  this  important  area,  and  support  the  Company’s  efforts  in  building  a  more  inclusive  workplace. The  efforts  of  the  D&I  council  are  further  guided  by  the
Company’s Executive leadership team.

BACKLOG:

Because the nature of the Company's SGK Brand Solutions, Memorialization and Industrial Technologies businesses are primarily custom products made to order and services
with short lead times, backlogs are not generally material except for purpose built machinery projects in the SGK Brand Solutions segment, mausoleums and cremation and
incineration equipment in the Memorialization segment and industrial automation and order fulfillment systems in the Industrial Technologies segment.  Backlogs vary in a
range of approximately six to twelve months of sales for purpose built machinery projects and mausoleums. Cremation and incineration equipment sales backlogs vary in a range
of ten to twelve months of sales.  Backlogs for Industrial Technologies segment sales generally vary in a range of up to four weeks for standard products and twenty-four weeks
for custom systems.  The Company's current backlog is expected to be substantially filled in fiscal 2021, absent any disruptions related to COVID-19.

REGULATORY MATTERS:

The Company’s operations are subject to various federal, state and local laws and regulations requiring strict compliance, including, but not limited to, the protection of the
environment. The Company has established numerous internal compliance programs to further ensure lawful satisfaction of the applicable regulations. In addition, the Company
is  party  to  specific  environmental  matters  which  include  obligations  to  investigate  and  mitigate  the  effects  on  the  environment  of  certain  materials  at  operating  and  non-
operating sites. The Company is currently performing environmental assessments and remediation at certain sites, as applicable.

AVAILABLE INFORMATION:

The Company's principal executive offices are located at Two NorthShore Center, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15212, its telephone number is (412) 442-8200 and its website is
www.matw.com.    The  Company  files  or  furnishes  all  required  reports  with  the  Securities  and  Exchange  Commission  ("SEC")  in  accordance  with  the  Exchange Act.    The
Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K, Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q, Current Reports on Form 8-K, proxy statements and amendments to those reports are available free
of  charge  on  the  Company's  website  as  soon  as  reasonably  practicable  after  being  filed  or  furnished  to  the  SEC.  The  Company's  reports  filed  or  furnished  with  the  SEC,
including exhibits attached to such reports, are also available on the SEC's website at www.sec.gov.

ITEM 1A.  RISK FACTORS.

There are inherent risks and uncertainties associated with the Company's businesses that could adversely affect its operating performance and financial condition.  Set forth
below are descriptions of those risks and uncertainties that the Company currently believes to be material.  Additional risks not currently known or deemed immaterial may also
result in adverse effects on the Company.

Company-Specific Risk Factors:

Foreign Operations.  The Company conducts business in more than 25 countries around the world, and in fiscal 2020 approximately 33% of the Company's sales to external
customers were to customers outside the United States. In addition, the Company's manufacturing operations, suppliers and employees are located in many places around the
world.  As such, the Company's future success depends in part on its ability to grow sales in non-U.S. markets. Sales and operations outside of the United States are subject to
certain inherent risks, including fluctuations in the value of the U.S. dollar relative to foreign currencies, global economic uncertainties, tariffs, quotas, taxes and other market
barriers,  political  and  economic  instability,  restrictions  on  the  export  or  import  of  technology,  potentially  limited  intellectual  property  protection,  difficulties  in  staffing  and
managing international operations, potentially adverse tax consequences, and required compliance with non-U.S. laws and regulations.

8

ITEM 1A.    RISK FACTORS, (continued)

Changes in Foreign Currency Exchange Rates.  Manufacturing and sales of a significant portion of the Company's products are outside the United States, and accordingly,
the Company holds assets, incurs liabilities, earns revenue and pays expenses in a variety of currencies.  The Company's consolidated financial statements are presented in U.S.
dollars, and therefore, the Company must translate the reported values of its foreign assets, liabilities, revenue and expenses into U.S. dollars.  Increases or decreases in the
value of the U.S. dollar compared to foreign currencies may negatively affect the value of these items in the Company's consolidated financial statements, even though their
value has not changed in local currency.

Increased Prices for Raw Materials.  The Company's profitability is affected by the prices of the raw materials used in the manufacture of its products.  These prices may
fluctuate based on a number of factors, including changes in supply and demand, domestic and global economic conditions, volatility in commodity markets, currency exchange
rates, labor costs, tariffs and fuel-related costs.  If suppliers increase the price of critical raw materials, alternative sources of supply, or alternative materials, may not exist or be
readily available.

The Company has standard selling price structures (i.e., list prices) in certain of its segments, which are reviewed for adjustment generally on an annual basis.  In addition, the
Company has established pricing terms with several of its customers through contracts or similar arrangements.  Based on competitive market conditions and to the extent that
the  Company  has  established  pricing  terms  with  customers,  the  Company's  ability  to  immediately  increase  the  price  of  its  products  to  offset  the  increased  costs  may  be
limited.  Significant raw material price increases that cannot be mitigated by selling price increases or productivity improvements will negatively affect the Company's results of
operations.

Changes in Mortality and Cremation Rates.  Generally, life expectancy in the United States and other countries in which the Company's Memorialization segment operates
has increased steadily for several decades and is expected to continue to do so in the future.  The increase in life expectancy is also expected to impact the number of deaths in
the future.  Additionally, cremations have steadily grown as a percentage of total deaths in the United States since the 1960's, and are expected to continue to increase in the
future.  The Company expects that these trends will continue in the future and sales of the Company's Memorialization segment may benefit from the continued growth in the
number of cremations; however, such trends may adversely affect the volume of bronze and granite memorialization products and burial caskets sold in the United States.

Changes in Product Demand or Pricing.  The  Company's  businesses  have  and  will  continue  to  operate  in  competitive  markets.  Changes  in  product  demand  or  pricing  are
affected  by  domestic  and  foreign  competition  and  an  increase  in  consolidated  purchasing  by  large  customers  operating  in  both  domestic  and  global  markets.  The
Memorialization businesses generally operate in markets with ample supply capacity and demand which is correlated to death rates.  The SGK Brand Solutions businesses serve
global customers that are requiring their suppliers to be global in scope and price-competitive.  Additionally, in recent years the Company has witnessed an increase in products
manufactured offshore, primarily in China, and imported into the Company's U.S. markets.  It is expected that these trends will continue and may affect the Company's future
results of operations.

Changes  in  the  Distribution  of  the  Company's  Products  or  the  Loss  of  a  Large  Customer.   Although  the  Company  does  not  have  any  customer  that  is  individually
significant to consolidated sales, it does have contracts with several large customers in both the Memorialization and SGK Brand Solutions segments.  While these contracts
provide  important  access  to  large  purchasers  of  the  Company's  products,  they  can  obligate  the  Company  to  sell  products  at  contracted  prices  for  extended  periods  of  time. 
Additionally, any significant divestiture of business properties or operations by current customers could result in a loss of business if the Company is not able to maintain the
business with the subsequent owners of the businesses.

Pandemics or similar outbreaks may cause unfavorable economic or market conditions which could impact demand patterns and/or disrupt global supply chains and
production  operations.  Collectively,  these  outcomes  could  materially  and  adversely  affect  the  Company’s  business,  results  of  operations  and  financial  condition.
Pandemics or similar outbreaks, such as COVID-19, could adversely affect the economies of developed and emerging markets, potentially resulting in an economic downturn
that  could  affect  customers’  demand  for  the  Company’s  products  and  services,  as  well  as  the  Company's  ability  to  access  capital  at  acceptable  interest  rates.  The  spread  of
pandemics or similar outbreaks may also disrupt the Company’s manufacturing and production operations, as well as its distribution systems, which include import and export
for  delivery  of  the  Company’s  products  to  its  customers.  These  factors  could  materially  and  adversely  affect  the  Company’s  business,  financial  condition  and  results  of
operations.

9

ITEM 1A.    RISK FACTORS, (continued)

Due  to  the  uncertainty  relating  to  a  pandemic  or  similar  outbreak,  the  Company,  its  customers  or  its  suppliers  may  be  required,  or  believe  that  it  is  advantageous,  to  take
precautionary measures intended to minimize the risk of a virus or disease spreading to employees, customers, and the communities in which they operate, and these measures
could negatively impact the Company’s business. Further, if the scope and severity of an outbreak, such as COVID-19, worsens and the Company’s contingency plans prove
ineffective,  its  global  operations  could  potentially  experience  disruptions,  such  as  temporary  closure  of  facilities  or  delays  or  suspensions  in  product  offerings  and  services,
which may materially and adversely affect the Company’s business, financial condition and results of operations.

Risks in Connection with Acquisitions .  The Company has grown, in part, through acquisitions, and continues to evaluate acquisition opportunities that have the potential to
support  and  strengthen  its  businesses.    There  is  no  assurance  however  that  future  acquisition  opportunities  will  arise,  or  that  if  they  do,  that  they  will  be  consummated.    In
addition, acquisitions involve inherent risks that the businesses acquired will not perform in accordance with expectations, or that synergies expected from the integration of the
acquisitions will not be achieved as rapidly as expected, if at all. Failure to effectively integrate acquired businesses could prevent the realization of expected rates of return on
the  acquisition  investment,  including  the  achievement  of  cost-reduction  objectives,  and  could  have  a  negative  effect  on  the  Company's  results  of  operations  and  financial
condition.

Protection  of  Intellectual  Property.    Certain  of  the  Company's  businesses  rely  on  various  intellectual  property  rights,  including  patents,  copyrights,  trademarks  and  trade
secrets,  as  well  as  confidentiality  provisions  and  licensing  arrangements,  to  establish proprietary  rights.    If  the  Company  does  not  enforce  its  intellectual  property  rights
successfully,  its  competitive  position  may  suffer  which  could  harm  the  Company's  operating  results.  In  addition,  the  Company's  patents,  copyrights,  trademarks  and  other
intellectual  property  rights  may  not  provide  a  significant  competitive  advantage.  The  Company  may  need  to  spend  significant  resources  monitoring  its  intellectual  property
rights and may or may not be able to detect infringement by third parties. The Company's competitive position may be harmed if it cannot detect infringement and enforce its
intellectual  property  rights  quickly  or  at  all.  In  some  circumstances,  the  Company  may  choose  to  not  pursue  enforcement  because  an  infringer  has  a  dominant  intellectual
property  position  or  for  other  business  reasons.  In  addition,  competitors  might  avoid  infringement  by  designing  around  the  Company's  intellectual  property  rights  or  by
developing  non-infringing  competing  technologies.  Intellectual  property  rights  and  the  Company's  ability  to  enforce  them  may  be  unavailable  or  limited  in  some  countries
which could make it easier for competitors to capture market share and could result in lost revenues.

Environmental Remediation and Compliance.  The Company is subject to the risk of environmental liability and limitations on its operations due to environmental laws and
regulations.  The  Company  is  subject  to  extensive  federal,  state,  local  and  foreign  environmental,  health  and  safety  laws  and  regulations  concerning  matters  such  as  air
emissions, wastewater discharges, solid and hazardous waste handling and disposal and the investigation and remediation of contamination. The risks of potentially substantial
costs  and  liabilities  related  to  compliance  with  these  laws  and  regulations  are  an  inherent  part  of  the  Company's  business,  and  future  conditions  may  develop,  arise  or  be
discovered that create substantial environmental compliance or remediation liabilities and costs. Compliance with environmental, health and safety legislation and regulatory
requirements may prove to be more limiting and costly than the Company anticipates, and there is no assurance that significant expenditures related to such compliance may not
be required in the future.

From time to time, the Company may be subject to legal proceedings brought by private parties or governmental authorities with respect to environmental matters, including
matters involving alleged noncompliance with or liability under environmental, health and safety laws, property damage or personal injury. New laws and regulations, including
those  which  may  relate  to  emissions  of  greenhouse  gases,  stricter  enforcement  of  existing  laws  and  regulations,  the  discovery  of  previously  unknown  contamination  or  the
imposition of new clean-up requirements could require the Company to incur costs or become the basis for new or increased liabilities that could have a material adverse effect
on the Company's business, financial condition or results of operations.

Technological Factors Beyond the Company's Control.  The Company operates in certain markets in which technological product development contributes to its ability to
compete effectively.  There can be no assurance that the Company will be able to develop new products, that new products can be manufactured and marketed profitably, or
that new products will successfully meet the expectations of customers.

Changes  in  Laws  and  Regulations  Governing  Data  Privacy  and  Data  Protection.    The  Company  is  subject  to  many  data  privacy,  data  protection,  and  data  breach
notification  laws,  including  the  European  Union  General  Data  Protection  Regulation  (the  “GDPR”),  which  became  effective  in  May  of 2018,  and  the  California  Consumer
Privacy Act  (the  "CCPA"),  which  became  effective  in  January  2020.    The  GDPR  and  the  CCPA  contain  numerous  requirements,  including  more  robust  obligations  and
increased documentation requirements for data protection compliance programs by companies. Complying with the  GDPR  and  the  CCPA  may  cause  the  Company  to  incur
substantial operational costs or require the Company to change its business practices.   The Company’s measures to assess the requirements of, and to comply with, the GDPR
and the CCPA, as

10

ITEM 1A.    RISK FACTORS, (continued)

well  as  new  and  existing  data-related  laws  and  regulations  of  other  jurisdictions,  could  be  challenged,  including  by  authorities  that  regulate  data-related  compliance.    The
Company’s ongoing compliance measures could result in the incurrence of significant expense in facilitating and responding to regulatory investigations, and if the measures
initiated by the Company are deemed to be inadequate, the Company could be subject to enforcement actions that may require operational changes, fines, penalties or damages,
which could have an adverse impact on the Company’s business or results of operations.

Changes  in  Tax  Rules. The  enactment  of  the  U.S.  Tax  Cuts  and  Jobs Act  (the  “Act”)  in  December  2017  significantly  affected  U.S.  tax  law  by  changing  how  the  U.S.
imposes tax on multinational corporations. The U.S. Department of Treasury has broad authority under the Act to issue regulations and interpretive guidance. The Company has
applied  available  guidance  to  estimate  its  tax  obligations,  but  new  guidance  issued  by  the  U.S.  Treasury  Department  may  cause  the  Company  to  make  adjustments  to
its tax estimates in future periods.

Compliance with Foreign Laws and Regulations.  Due to the international scope of the Company's operations, Matthews is subject to a complex system of commercial and
trade regulations around the world, and the Company's foreign operations are governed by laws, rules and business practices that often differ from those of the United States.
The Company cannot predict the nature, scope or effect of future regulatory requirements to which the Company's operations might be subject or the manner in which existing
laws might be administered or interpreted, which could have a material and negative impact on the Company's business and results of operation.  For example, recent years
have seen an increase in the development and enforcement of laws regarding trade compliance and anti-corruption, such as the U.S. Foreign Corrupt Practices Act and similar
laws in other countries. While Matthews maintains a variety of internal policies and controls and takes steps, including periodic training and internal audits, that the Company
believes are reasonably calculated to discourage, prevent and detect violations of such laws, the Company cannot guarantee that such actions will be effective or that individual
employees will not engage in inappropriate behavior in contravention of the Company's policies and instructions. Such conduct, or even the allegation thereof, could result in
costly investigations and the imposition of severe criminal or civil sanctions, could disrupt the Company's business, and could materially and adversely affect the Company's
reputation, business and results of operations or financial condition.

Further, the Company is subject to laws and regulations worldwide affecting its operations outside the United States in areas including, but not limited to, intellectual property
ownership and infringement, tax, customs, import and export requirements, anti-corruption and anti-bribery, foreign exchange controls and cash repatriation restrictions, foreign
investment,  data  privacy  requirements,  anti-competition,  pensions  and  social  insurance,  employment,  and  environment,  health,  and  safety.  Compliance  with  these  laws  and
regulations may be onerous and expensive and requirements may differ among jurisdictions.  Further, the promulgation of new laws, changes in existing laws and abrogation of
local regulations by national laws may have a negative impact on the Company's business and prospects.  In addition, certain laws and regulations are relatively new and their
interpretation and enforcement involve significant uncertainties. There can be no assurance that any of these factors will not have a material adverse effect on the Company's
business, results of operations or financial condition.

General Risk Factors:

Changes in Economic Conditions.  Generally, changes in domestic and international economic conditions affect the industries in which the Company and its customers and
suppliers operate.  These changes include changes in the rate of consumption or use of the Company's products due to economic downturns, volatility in currency exchange
rates, and changes in raw material prices resulting from supply and/or demand conditions.

Uncertainty  about  current  global  economic  conditions  poses  a  risk,  as  consumers  and  businesses  may  continue  to  postpone  or  cancel  spending.    Other  factors  that  could
influence  customer  spending  include  energy  costs,  conditions  in  the  credit  markets,  consumer  confidence,  global  pandemics,  and  other  factors  affecting  consumer  spending
behavior.  These and other economic factors could have an effect on demand for the Company's products and services and negatively impact the Company's financial condition
and results of operations.

Cybersecurity and Data Breaches.  In the course of business, the Company collects and stores sensitive data and proprietary business information. The Company could be
subject to service outages or breaches of security systems which may result in disruption, unauthorized access, misappropriation, or corruption of this information. Security
breaches of the Company's network or data including physical or electronic break-ins, vendor service outages, computer viruses, attacks by hackers or similar breaches can
create system disruptions, shutdowns, or unauthorized disclosure of confidential information. Although the Company is not aware of any significant incidents to date, if it is
unable  to  prevent  such  security  or  privacy  breaches,  its  operations  could  be  disrupted  or  the  Company  may  suffer  legal  claims,  loss  of  reputation,  financial  loss,  property
damage, or regulatory penalties because of lost or misappropriated information.

11

ITEM 1A.    RISK FACTORS, (continued)

Effectiveness  of  Internal  Controls.    Section  404  of  the  Sarbanes-Oxley Act  of  2002  requires  a  comprehensive  evaluation  of  the  Company's  internal  control  over  financial
reporting. To comply with this statute, the Company is required to document and test its internal control over financial reporting, management is required to assess and issue a
report concerning internal control over financial reporting, and the Company's independent registered public accounting firm is required to attest to and report on the Company's
assessment of the effectiveness of internal control over financial reporting. Any failure to maintain or implement required new or improved controls could cause the Company
to fail to meet its periodic reporting obligations or result in material misstatements in the consolidated financial statements, and substantial costs and resources may be required
to  rectify  these  or  other  internal  control  deficiencies.  If  the  Company  cannot  produce  reliable  financial  reports,  investors  could  lose  confidence  in  the  Company's  reported
financial information, the market price of the Company's common stock could decline significantly, and its business, financial condition, and reputation could be harmed.

Compliance  with  Securities  Laws  and  Regulations;  Conflict  Minerals  Reporting.    The  Company  is  required  to  comply  with  various  securities  laws  and  regulations,
including  but  not  limited  to  the  Sarbanes-Oxley Act  of  2002  and  the  Dodd-Frank  Wall  Street  Reform  and  Consumer  Protection Act  ("Dodd-Frank").  Dodd-Frank  contains
provisions, among others, designed to improve transparency and accountability concerning the supply chains of certain minerals originating from the Democratic Republic of
Congo  and  adjoining  countries  that  are  believed  to  be  benefiting  armed  groups  ("Conflict  Minerals").  While  Dodd-Frank  does  not  prohibit  companies  from  using  Conflict
Minerals, the SEC mandates due diligence, disclosure and reporting requirements for companies for which Conflict Minerals are necessary to the functionality or production of
a  product.  The  Company's  efforts  to  comply  with  Dodd-Frank  and  other  evolving  laws,  regulations  and  standards  could  result  in  increased  costs  and  expenses  related  to
compliance and potential violations.

ITEM 1B.  UNRESOLVED STAFF COMMENTS.

Not Applicable.

12

ITEM 2.  PROPERTIES.

The Company's facilities provide adequate space for meeting its near-term production requirements. Significant principal properties of the Company and its majority-owned
subsidiaries as of October 31, 2020 were as follows (properties, which are unencumbered, are owned by the Company except as noted):
Location

Description of Property

SGK Brand Solutions:

Chennai, India
Cleckheaton, England
Dachnow, Poland
East Butler, PA
Goslar, Germany
Grenzach-Wyhlen, Germany
Izmir, Turkey
Manchester, England
Minneapolis, MN
Mississauga, Canada
Mönchengladbach, Germany
Novgorod, Russia
Penang, Malaysia
Vreden, Germany
Memorialization:
Pittsburgh, PA
Apopka, FL
Aurora, IN
Colorno, Italy
Dallas, TX
Dandenong, Australia
Elberton, GA
Fontana, CA
Harrisburg, PA
Hyde, England
Indianapolis, IN
Monterrey, Mexico
Richmond, IN
Searcy, AR
Stone Mountain, GA
Whittier, CA
York, PA
Industrial Technologies:
Pittsburgh, PA
Cincinnati, OH
Gothenburg, Sweden
Lima, Costa Rica
Pewaukee, WI
Wilsonville, OR
Corporate and Administrative Offices:
Pittsburgh, PA
Des Plaines, IL

(1)

These properties are leased by the Company under operating lease arrangements.

13

Operating facility
Operating facility
Manufacturing
Manufacturing
Manufacturing
Manufacturing
Manufacturing
Manufacturing
Operating facility
Operating facility
Manufacturing
Manufacturing
Operating facility
Manufacturing and Operating facilities

Manufacturing / Division Offices
Manufacturing / Division Offices
Manufacturing
Manufacturing
Distribution Hub
Manufacturing
Manufacturing
Distribution Hub
Distribution Hub
Manufacturing
Distribution Hub
Manufacturing
Manufacturing
Manufacturing
Distribution Hub
Manufacturing
Manufacturing

Manufacturing / Division Offices
Manufacturing / Distribution
Manufacturing / Distribution
Manufacturing
Manufacturing
Manufacturing

General Offices
General Offices

(1)

(1)

(1)

(1)

(1)

(1)

(1)

(1)

(1)

(1)

(1)

(1)

(1)

(1)

(1)

(1)

(1)

(1)

(1)

(1)

(1)

 
 
 
 
 
ITEM 3.  LEGAL PROCEEDINGS.

Matthews  is  subject  to  various  legal  proceedings  and  claims  arising  in  the  ordinary  course  of  business.    Management  does  not  expect  that  the  results  of  any  of  these  legal
proceedings will have a material adverse effect on Matthews' financial condition, results of operations or cash flows.

ITEM 4.  MINE SAFETY DISCLOSURES.

Not applicable.

14

The following information is furnished with respect to officers and executive management as of October 31, 2020:

OFFICERS AND EXECUTIVE MANAGEMENT OF THE REGISTRANT

Name
Joseph C. Bartolacci
Gregory S. Babe
Davor Brkovich
Marcy L. Campbell
Brian J. Dunn
Steven D. Gackenbach
Gary R. Kohl
Robert M. Marsh
Steven F. Nicola
Brian D. Walters

Age
60
63
52
57
63
57
57
52
60
51

Positions with Registrant
President and Chief Executive Officer
Chief Technology Officer
Head of IT and Chief Information Officer
Senior Vice President, Human Resources
Executive Vice President, Strategy and Corporate Development
Group President, Memorialization
President, SGK Brand Solutions
Vice President and Treasurer
Chief Financial Officer and Secretary
Senior Vice President and General Counsel

Joseph C. Bartolacci was appointed President and Chief Executive Officer effective October 2006.

Gregory  S.  Babe was  appointed  Chief  Technology  Officer  effective  November  2015. Prior  thereto,  he  had  been  interim  Executive  Vice  President,  Global  Information
Technology and Integration since November 2014 when he joined the Company.

Davor Brkovich  was  appointed  Head  of  IT  and  Chief  Information  Officer  effective  November  2019. Prior  thereto,  he  had  been  interim  Head  of  IT  and  Chief  Information
Officer since February 2019 and prior thereto he served as Director, Global IT Infrastructure since January 2017, when he joined the Company. Prior to joining the Company,
he served as the Head of IT Operations at the Kraft Heinz Company since August 2015.

Marcy  L.  Campbell  was  appointed  Senior  Vice  President,  Human  Resources  effective  February  2018.    Prior  thereto,  Ms.  Campbell  served  as  Vice  President,  Human
Resources since November 2014.

Brian J. Dunn was appointed Executive Vice President, Strategy and Corporate Development effective July 2014. 

Steven D. Gackenbach was appointed Group President, Memorialization effective October 31, 2011. 

Gary R. Kohl was appointed President, SGK Brand Solutions effective May 2017. Prior thereto, he served as Executive Vice President, SGK Global Business Development
since December 2015 when he joined the Company. Prior to joining the Company, Mr. Kohl was the Group Senior Vice President of R. R. Donnelley & Sons Company.

Robert M. Marsh was appointed Vice President and Treasurer in February 2016. He served as Treasurer since December 2014 when he joined the Company. 

Steven F. Nicola was appointed Chief Financial Officer and Secretary effective December 2003.

Brian D. Walters was appointed Senior Vice President and General Counsel effective February 2018. Prior thereto, Mr. Walters served as Vice President and General Counsel
since February 2009.

15

PART II

ITEM 5.  MARKET FOR REGISTRANT'S COMMON EQUITY AND RELATED STOCKHOLDER MATTERS.

Market Information:

The authorized common stock of the Company consists of 70,000,000 shares of Class A Common Stock, $1.00 par value.  At September 30, 2020, 31,831,571 shares were
outstanding.  The Company's Class A Common Stock is traded on the Nasdaq Global Select Market under the symbol "MATW". 

The Company has a stock repurchase program.  The buy-back program is designed to increase shareholder value, enlarge the Company's holdings of its common stock, and add
to earnings per share.  Repurchased shares may be retained in treasury, utilized for acquisitions, or reissued to employees or other purchasers, subject to the restrictions set forth
in the Company's Restated Articles of Incorporation. Under the current authorization, the Company's Board of Directors has authorized the repurchase of a total of 5,000,000
shares of Matthews' common stock under the program, of which 538,736 shares remain available for repurchase as of September 30, 2020. All purchases of the Company's
common stock during fiscal 2020 were part of this repurchase program.

The following table shows the monthly fiscal 2020 stock repurchase activity:

Period

Total number of shares
purchased

Weighted-average
price paid per share
35.87 
35.02 
38.10 
37.04 
— 
23.91 
— 
34.02 
20.93 
18.80 
— 
22.00 
25.51 

9,800  $
38,425 
3,879 
750 
— 
20,000 
— 
486
236
45,000 
— 
55,000 
173,576  $

Total number of shares
purchased as part of a
publicly announced
plan

Maximum number of
shares that may yet be
purchased under the
plan

9,800 
38,425 
3,879 
750 
— 
20,000 
— 
486 
236 
45,000 
— 
55,000 
173,576 

702,512 
664,087 
660,208 
659,458 
659,458 
639,458 
639,458 
638,972 
638,736 
593,736 
593,736 
538,736 

October 2019
November 2019
December 2019
January 2020
February 2020
March 2020
April 2020
May 2020
June 2020
July 2020
August 2020
September 2020

Total

Holders:

Based on records available to the Company, the number of record holders of the Company's common stock was 551 at October 31, 2020.

Securities Authorized for Issuance Under Equity Compensation Plans:

See Equity Compensation Plans in Item 12 "Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and Management."

16

 
ITEM 5. MARKET FOR REGISTRANT'S COMMON EQUITY AND RELATED STOCKHOLDER MATTERS, (continued)

PERFORMANCE GRAPH

COMPARISON OF FIVE-YEAR CUMULATIVE RETURN *
AMONG MATTHEWS INTERNATIONAL CORPORATION,
S&P 500 INDEX, RUSSELL 2000 VALUE INDEX, S&P MIDCAP 400 INDEX AND S&P SMALLCAP 600 INDEX

This  graph  compares  the  return  on  Matthews’  Common  Stock  with  that  of  the  Standard  &  Poor’s  500  Index,  Russell  2000  Value  Index, S&P  MidCap  400  Index  and  S&P
SmallCap  600  Index  for  the  period  from  October  1,  2015  through  September  30,  2020.  The  graph  assumes  that  on  October  1,  2015,  $100  was  invested  in  each  of  the
Company’s  Common  Stock,  Standard  &  Poor’s  500  Index,  Russell  2000  Value  Index, S&P  MidCap  400  Index  and  S&P  SmallCap  600  Index.  The  graph  measures  total
stockholder return, which takes into account both changes in stock price and dividends. It assumes that dividends paid are invested in like securities.

The Russell  2000  Value  Index  replaces  the  S&P  MidCap  400  Index  and  S&P  SmallCap  600  Index,  which  were  used  as  the  industry  market  index  in  the  Company’s  2019
Annual Report on Form 10-K. The Company believes that the Russell 2000 Value Index, which measures the performance of those Russell 2000 companies with lower price-to-
book ratios and lower forecasted growth values, is a more appropriate industry market index because, among other reasons, it better reflects the price volatility that a share of
Matthews International Corporation Common Stock experiences.

The following graph compares the total return on the Company’s Common Stock with that of the Standard & Poor’s 500 Index, the newly selected Russell 2000 Value Index,
and  each  of  the S&P MidCap 400 Index and S&P SmallCap 600 Index used in Matthews’ 2019 Annual Report on Form 10-K.  The results are not necessarily indicative of
future performance.

*  Total return assumes dividend reinvestment

17

ITEM 6.  SELECTED FINANCIAL DATA.

Net sales

Operating (loss) profit

Interest expense

Net (loss) income attributable to 
Matthews shareholders

(Loss) earnings per common share:

Basic
Diluted

Weighted-average common shares outstanding:

Basic
Diluted

Cash dividends per share

 (6)

Total assets
Long-term debt, non-current 

(6)

2020

(1)

2019

(2)

2017

(4)

2016

(5)

Years Ended September 30,

2018
(Amounts in thousands, except per share data)
(Unaudited)

(3)

$

1,498,306  $

1,537,276  $

1,602,580  $

1,515,608  $

1,480,464 

(64,193)

34,885 

10,303 

40,962 

138,557 

121,376 

127,228 

37,427 

26,371 

24,344 

$

$

$

$

(87,155) $

(37,988) $

107,371  $

74,368  $

66,749 

(2.79) $
(2.79)

(1.21) $
(1.21)

3.39  $
3.37 

2.31  $
2.28 

31,190 
31,190 

31,416 
31,416 

31,674 
31,861 

32,240 
32,570 

2.04 
2.03 

32,642 
32,904 

0.84  $

0.80  $

0.76  $

0.68  $

0.60 

2,072,633  $
807,710 

2,190,603  $
898,194 

2,357,744  $
929,342 

2,244,649  $
881,602 

2,091,041 
844,807 

(1)

(2)

(3)

(4)

(5)

Fiscal 2020 included net pre-tax charges of $139,092, primarily related to a goodwill write-down, a legal matter reserve, non-recurring / incremental coronavirus disease 2019 ("COVID-19") costs, a gain
on sale of ownership interests in a subsidiary, acquisition-related costs, and strategic cost-reduction initiatives. Charges of $138,556 and $536 impacted operating profit and other deductions, respectively.
Fiscal  2019  included  net  pre-tax  charges  of  $114,768,  primarily  related  to  a  goodwill  write-down,  losses  from  cost-method  investments,  losses  on  divestitures,  acquisition-related  costs,  strategic  cost-
reduction initiatives, and net gains from the sale of buildings and vacant properties. Charges of $111,069 and $3,699 impacted operating profit and other deductions, respectively.
Fiscal 2018 included net pre-tax charges of $27,115 and income of $3,771, which impacted operating profit and other deductions, respectively. These pre-tax charges primarily consisted of acquisition-
related costs, and strategic cost-reduction initiatives. The pre-tax income primarily consisted of gains recognized on the disposition of certain cost-method investments.
Fiscal 2017 included net pre-tax charges of $38,458 and income of $10,483, which impacted operating profit and other deductions, respectively.  These pre-tax charges primarily consisted of acquisition-
related costs, and strategic cost-reduction initiatives. The pre-tax income primarily consisted of loss recoveries, net of related costs, related to the previously disclosed theft of funds by a former employee.
Fiscal 2016 included net pre-tax charges of $36,057 and income of $78, which impacted operating profit and other deductions, respectively. These amounts primarily consisted of acquisition-related costs
and strategic cost-reduction initiatives.

(6) 

Reporting periods prior to fiscal year 2020 were not revised to reflect the adoption of Accounting Standards Update ("ASU") No. 2016-02, "Leases (Topic 842)". Prior periods continue to be presented in

accordance with previous lease accounting guidance under GAAP.

18

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
ITEM 7.  MANAGEMENT'S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS.

The  following  discussion  should  be  read  in  conjunction  with  the  consolidated  financial  statements  of  Matthews  and  related  notes  thereto.    In  addition,  see  "Cautionary
Statement Regarding Forward-Looking Information" included in Part I of this Annual Report on Form 10-K.

RESULTS OF OPERATIONS:

The Company manages its businesses under three segments: SGK Brand Solutions, Memorialization and Industrial Technologies. The SGK Brand Solutions segment consists
of brand management, pre-media services, printing plates and cylinders, engineered products, imaging services, digital asset management, merchandising display systems, and
marketing and design services primarily for the  consumer  goods  and  retail  industries. The Memorialization segment consists primarily of bronze and granite memorials and
other memorialization products, caskets and cremation and incineration equipment primarily for the cemetery and funeral home industries. The Industrial Technologies segment
includes  marking  and  coding  equipment  and  consumables,  industrial  automation  products  and  order  fulfillment  systems  for  identifying,  tracking,  picking  and  conveying
consumer and industrial products.

The  Company's  primary  measure  of  segment  profitability  is  adjusted  earnings  before  interest,  income  taxes,  depreciation  and  amortization  ("adjusted  EBITDA"). Adjusted
EBITDA is defined by the Company as earnings before interest, income taxes, depreciation, amortization and certain non-cash and/or non-recurring items that do not contribute
directly  to  management’s  evaluation  of  its  operating  results. These  items  include  stock-based  compensation,  the  non-service  portion  of  pension  and  postretirement  expense,
acquisition costs, ERP integration costs, and strategic initiatives and other charges. This presentation is consistent with how the Company's chief operating decision maker (the
“CODM”) evaluates the results of operations and makes strategic decisions about the business. For these reasons, the Company believes that adjusted EBITDA represents the
most relevant measure of segment profit and loss.

In  addition,  the  CODM  manages  and  evaluates  the  operating  performance  of  the  segments,  as  described  above,  on  a  pre-corporate  cost  allocation  basis. Accordingly,  for
segment reporting purposes, the Company does not allocate corporate costs to its reportable segments. Corporate costs include management and administrative support to the
Company,  which  consists  of  certain  aspects  of  the  Company’s  executive  management,  legal,  compliance,  human  resources,  information  technology  (including  operational
support) and finance departments. These costs are included within "Corporate and Non-Operating" in the following table to reconcile to consolidated adjusted EBITDA and are
not considered a separate reportable segment. Management does not allocate non-operating items such as investment income, other income (deductions), net and noncontrolling
interest to the segments.

19

ITEM 7.     MANAGEMENT'S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS, (continued)

The following table sets forth sales and adjusted EBITDA for the Company's SGK Brand Solutions, Memorialization and Industrial Technologies segments for each of the last
three fiscal years. Refer to Note 19, "Segment Information" in Item 8 - "Financial Statements and Supplemental Data" for the Company's financial information by segment.

Sales to external customers:
SGK Brand Solutions
Memorialization
Industrial Technologies
Consolidated Sales

Adjusted EBITDA:

SGK Brand Solutions
Memorialization
Industrial Technologies
Corporate and Non-Operating
Total Adjusted EBITDA

(1)

2020

Years Ended September 30,
2019
(Dollar amounts in thousands)

2018

$

$

$

$

693,093  $
656,035 
149,178 
1,498,306  $

90,644  $

146,285 
22,753 
(56,602)
203,080  $

743,869  $
636,892 
156,515 
1,537,276  $

119,493  $
134,286 
24,082 
(56,989)
220,872  $

805,274 
631,392 
165,914 
1,602,580 

150,233 
145,487 
25,864 
(66,470)
255,114 

(1)

 Total Adjusted EBITDA is a non-GAAP financial measure. See the "Non-GAAP Financial Measures" section below.

Comparison of Fiscal 2020 and Fiscal 2019:

Sales for the year ended September 30, 2020 were $1.50 billion, compared to $1.54 billion for the year ended September 30, 2019, representing a decrease of $39.0 million. 
The  decrease  in  fiscal  2020  sales  reflected  lower  sales  in  the  SGK  Brand  Solutions  and  Industrial  Technologies  segments,  partially  offset  by  increased  sales  in  the
Memorialization segment. Changes in foreign currency rates were estimated to have an unfavorable impact of $6.9 million on fiscal 2020 consolidated sales compared to a year
ago. Fiscal 2020 sales were unfavorably impacted by the global outbreak of COVID-19, which has caused some commercial impact and business disruptions in certain of the
Company's segments and geographic locations. While substantially all of the Company's operations have remained open during the COVID-19 pandemic, management expects
COVID-19 to continue to impact its sales and results of operations in the short-term until the pandemic subsides (see "Forward Looking Information" below).

In the SGK Brand Solutions segment, sales for fiscal 2020 were $693.1 million, compared to $743.9 million in fiscal 2019.  The decrease primarily resulted from lower brand
sales in the U.S. and the U.K., sales declines in the private label brand market, and lower sales of cylinders and surfaces products in Europe. These decreases were partially
offset by increased revenues from purpose-built machinery projects and higher sales in the Asia-Pacific region. Changes in foreign currency exchange rates had an unfavorable
impact of $5.9 million on the segment's sales compared to the prior year.  Memorialization segment sales for fiscal 2020 were $656.0 million, compared to $636.9 million for
fiscal  2019.    The  increase  in  sales  primarily  resulted  from  increased  unit  sales  of  caskets  due  to  COVID-19,  improved  price  realization  on  caskets  and  cemetery  memorial
products,  and  higher  sales  of  cremation  and  incineration  equipment. These  increases  were  partially  offset  by  lower  unit  sales  of  cemetery  memorial  products,  which  were
impacted by COVID-19 related stay-at-home orders that limited families' access with cemeteries to arrange for their memorials. Changes in foreign currency exchange rates had
an unfavorable impact of $615,000 on the segment's sales compared to the prior year.  Industrial Technologies segment sales for fiscal 2020 were $149.2 million, compared to
$156.5 million for fiscal 2019.  The decrease primarily reflected lower sales of warehouse automation systems. Orders for warehouse automation solutions remained strong, but
access to job sites to complete these projects has been restricted due to COVID-19. Changes in foreign currency exchange rates had an unfavorable impact of $356,000 on the
segment's sales compared to the prior year.

Gross profit for the year ended September 30, 2020 was $497.8 million, compared to $542.5 million for fiscal 2019.  Consolidated gross profit as a percent of sales was 33.2%
and  35.3%  in  fiscal  2020  and  fiscal  2019,  respectively. The  decrease  in  gross  profit  primarily  reflected  lower  sales,  unfavorable  changes  in  product  mix,  ongoing  price
competition in the brand market, and unfavorable changes in margins for cylinders, surfaces and engineered products. These declines were partially offset by the realization of
productivity improvements and cost-reduction initiatives. Gross profit also included acquisition integration costs and other charges primarily in connection with cost-reduction
initiatives totaling $12.4 million and $2.4 million in fiscal 2020 and 2019, respectively.

20

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
ITEM 7.     MANAGEMENT'S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS, (continued)

Selling  and  administrative  expenses  for  the  year  ended  September  30,  2020  were  $400.0  million,  compared  to  $408.8  million  for  fiscal  2019.    Consolidated  selling  and
administrative expenses as a percent of sales were 26.7% for fiscal 2020, compared to 26.6% in fiscal 2019.  The decrease in selling and administrative expenses reflected the
impact  of  lower  sales  in  fiscal  2020,  reduced  travel  and  entertainment  ("T&E")  costs  resulting  from  the  COVID-19  pandemic,  and  benefits  from  ongoing  cost-reduction
initiatives,  partially  offset  by  increased  performance-based  compensation  compared  to  fiscal  2019. Fiscal  2020  selling  and  administrative  expenses  included  a  $10.6  million
charge  for  a  legal  matter  involving  a  letter  of  credit  for  a  customer  in  Saudi Arabia  (see  "Liquidity  and  Capital  Resources"  below).  Fiscal  2019  selling  and  administrative
expenses  included  $7.3  million  of  net  gains  from  the  sale  of  buildings  and  vacant  properties. Selling  and  administrative  expenses  included  an  $11.2  million  gain  and  $6.5
million  of  losses  recognized  on  the  sales  of  ownership  interests  in  Memorialization  businesses  completed  in  fiscal  2020  and  2019,  respectively.  Selling  and  administrative
expenses  also  included  acquisition  integration  and  related  systems-integration  costs,  and  other  charges  primarily  in  connection  with  cost-reduction  initiatives  totaling  $31.5
million in fiscal 2020, compared to $30.5 million in fiscal 2019. Intangible amortization for the year ended September 30, 2020 was $71.5 million, compared to $45.8 million
for fiscal 2019. The increase in intangible amortization primarily reflected $24.4 million of incremental amortization resulting from the fiscal 2019 reduction in useful lives for
certain  trade  names  that  are  being  discontinued. The  Company  recorded  goodwill  write-downs  within  the  SGK  Brand  Solutions  segment  totaling  $90.4  million  and  $77.6
million  for  the  years  ended  September  30,  2020  and  2019,  respectively.  Refer  to  Note  21,  "Goodwill  and  Other  Intangible Assets"  in  Item  8  -  "Financial  Statements  and
Supplementary Data" for further details.

Adjusted EBITDA for fiscal 2020 was $203.1 million, compared to $220.9 million for fiscal 2019. Adjusted EBITDA for the SGK Brand Solutions segment for fiscal 2020 was
$90.6 million, compared to $119.5 million for fiscal 2019.  The decrease in segment adjusted EBITDA primarily reflected the impact of lower sales, unfavorable changes in
product  mix,  ongoing  price  competition,  a  decline  in  margins  for  cylinders,  surfaces  and  engineered  products,  and  increased  performance-based  compensation  compared  to
fiscal  2019. Changes  in  foreign  currency  exchange  rates  had  an  unfavorable  impact  of  $1.8  million  on  the  segment's  adjusted  EBITDA  compared  to  the  prior  year.  These
decreases in segment adjusted EBITDA were partially offset by benefits from cost-reduction initiatives, and reduced T&E costs resulting from COVID-19.  Memorialization
segment adjusted EBITDA for fiscal 2020 was $146.3 million, compared to $134.3 million for fiscal 2019.  The increase in segment adjusted EBITDA primarily reflected the
impact  of  higher  sales,  benefits  from  productivity  initiatives  and  lower  T&E  costs,  partially  offset  by  increased  performance-based  compensation  compared  to  fiscal  2019.
Adjusted  EBITDA  for  the  Industrial  Technologies  segment  for  fiscal  2020  was  $22.8  million,  compared  to  $24.1  million  in  fiscal  2019.  Industrial  Technologies  segment
adjusted EBITDA primarily reflected the impact of lower sales, partially offset by benefits from cost-reduction initiatives and reduced T&E costs.

Investment income for the fiscal year ended September 30, 2020 was $2.0 million, compared to $1.5 million for the year ended September 30, 2019.  The increase primarily
reflected higher rates of return on investments (primarily marketable securities) held in trust for certain of the Company's benefit plans.  Interest expense for fiscal 2020 was
$34.9 million, compared to $41.0 million in fiscal 2019.  The decrease in interest expense reflected lower average interest rates and a decrease in average borrowing levels in the
current fiscal year. Other income (deductions), net for the year ended September 30, 2020 represented a decrease in pre-tax income of $9.2 million, compared to a decrease in
pre-tax income of $8.9 million in fiscal 2019. Other income (deductions), net includes banking-related fees and the impact of currency gains and losses on certain intercompany
debt and foreign denominated cash balances. Other income (deductions), net also includes the non-service components of pension and postretirement expense, which totaled
$7.8 million and $3.8 million in fiscal years 2020 and 2019, respectively. Fiscal 2019 other income (deductions), net also included a $3.7 million loss from the write-down of a
cost-method investment and related assets.

The Company's consolidated income taxes for the year ended September 30, 2020 were a benefit of $18.7 million, compared to an expense of $806,000 for fiscal 2019. The
difference between the Company's consolidated income taxes for fiscal 2020 versus fiscal 2019 primarily resulted from the fiscal 2020 consolidated loss before income taxes,
which reflected the goodwill write-down recorded in the second quarter of fiscal 2020, which was partially non-deductible, as well as a benefit for an expected net operating loss
(“NOL”) carryback. The NOL will be carried back five years allowing it to offset income that was previously taxed at a federal statutory tax rate of 35%. The Company’s fiscal
2020 effective tax rate was negatively affected by the non-deductible portion of the goodwill write-down along with certain other non-deductible expenses. The  fiscal  2020
effective tax rate benefited from research and development and foreign tax credits, the reduction of uncertain tax positions due to the completion of a foreign tax audit, and the
tax benefit of the NOL carryback. Refer to Note 16, “Income Taxes” in Item 8 - “Financial Statements and Supplementary Data” for further details regarding income taxes.

Net losses attributable to noncontrolling interests were $497,000 in fiscal 2020, compared to $901,000 in fiscal 2019.  The net losses attributable to noncontrolling interests
primarily reflected losses in less than wholly-owned businesses.

21

ITEM 7.     MANAGEMENT'S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS, (continued)

Comparison of Fiscal 2019 and Fiscal 2018:

For a comparison of the Company's results of operations for the fiscal years ended September 30, 2019 and September 30, 2018, see "Part II, Item 7. Management's Discussion
and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operation" of the Company's annual report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended September 30, 2019 filed with the SEC
on November 22, 2019.

NON-GAAP FINANCIAL MEASURES:

Included  in  this  report  are  measures  of  financial  performance  that  are  not  defined  by  GAAP. The  Company  uses  non-GAAP  financial  measures  to  assist  in  comparing  its
performance  on  a  consistent  basis  for  purposes  of  business  decision-making  by  removing  the  impact  of  certain  items  that  management  believes  do  not  directly  reflect  the
Company’s core operations including acquisition costs, ERP integration costs, strategic initiative and other charges (which includes non-recurring charges related to operational
initiatives and exit activities), stock-based compensation and the non-service portion of pension and postretirement expense. Management believes that presenting non-GAAP
financial measures is useful to investors because it (i) provides investors with meaningful supplemental information regarding financial performance by excluding certain items
that  management  believes  do  not  directly  reflect  the  Company's  core  operations,  (ii)  permits  investors  to  view  performance  using  the  same  tools  that  management  uses  to
budget,  forecast,  make  operating  and  strategic  decisions,  and  evaluate  historical  performance,  and  (iii)  otherwise  provides  supplemental  information  that  may  be  useful  to
investors  in  evaluating  the  Company’s  results.  The  Company  believes  that  the  presentation  of  these  non-GAAP  financial  measures,  when  considered  together  with  the
corresponding  GAAP  financial  measures  and  the  reconciliations  to  those  measures,  provided  herein,  provides  investors  with  an  additional  understanding  of  the  factors  and
trends affecting the Company’s business that could not be obtained absent these disclosures.

The  Company  believes  that  adjusted  EBITDA  provides  relevant  and  useful  information,  which  is  used  by  the  Company’s  management  in  assessing  the  performance  of  its
business. Adjusted EBITDA is defined by the Company as earnings before interest, income taxes, depreciation, amortization and certain non-cash and/or non-recurring items
that  do  not  contribute  directly  to  management’s  evaluation  of  its  operating  results. These  items  include  stock-based  compensation,  the  non-service  portion  of  pension  and
postretirement expense, acquisition costs, ERP integration costs, and strategic initiatives and other charges. Adjusted EBITDA provides the Company with an understanding of
earnings before the impact of investing and financing charges and income taxes, and the effects of certain acquisition and ERP integration costs, and items that do not reflect the
ordinary  earnings  of  the  Company’s  operations.  This  measure  may  be  useful  to  an  investor  in  evaluating  operating  performance. It  is  also  useful  as  a  financial  measure  for
lenders and is used by the Company’s management to measure business performance. Adjusted EBITDA is not a measure of the Company's financial performance under GAAP
and should not be considered as an alternative to net income or other performance measures derived in accordance with GAAP, or as an alternative to cash flow from operating
activities as a measure of the Company's liquidity. The Company's definition of adjusted EBITDA may not be comparable to similarly titled measures used by other companies.

22

ITEM 7.     MANAGEMENT'S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS, (continued)

The reconciliation of net income to adjusted EBITDA is as follows:

2020

(1)**

Net (loss) income
Income tax (benefit) provision
(Loss) income before income taxes
Net loss attributable to noncontrolling interests
Interest expense
*
Depreciation and amortization 
Acquisition costs 
ERP integration costs 
Strategic initiatives and other charges 
Legal matter reserve 
Non-recurring / incremental COVID-19 costs 
(6)
Goodwill write-downs 
Net realized (gains) losses on divestitures and asset dispositions:
(Gain) loss on sale of ownership interests in subsidiaries 
Realized loss (gain) on cost-method investments 
Net gains from the sale of buildings and vacant properties 

(3)**

(2)**

(8)

(5)

(9)

(4)

(7)

Joint Venture depreciation, amortization, interest expense and other charges 
Stock-based compensation
Non-service pension and postretirement expense 
Total Adjusted EBITDA

(11)

(10)

$

$

Years Ended September 30,
2019
(Dollar amounts in thousands)
(38,889) $
806 
(38,083)
901 
40,962 
90,793 
10,872 
7,508 
13,449 
— 
— 
77,572 

(87,652) $
(18,685)
(106,337)
497 
34,885 
119,058 
3,844 
2,296 
33,799 
10,566 
4,655 
90,408 

(11,208)
— 
— 
4,732 
8,096 
7,789 
203,080  $

6,469 
4,731 
(7,347)
1,514 
7,729 
3,802 
220,872  $

2018

107,111 
(9,118)
97,993 
260 
37,427 
76,974 
10,918 
10,864 
5,266 
— 
— 
— 

— 
(3,771)
— 
— 
13,460 
5,723 
255,114 

(7)

(2)

(1)

(3) 

 Includes certain non-recurring costs associated with recent acquisition activities.
 Represents costs associated with global ERP system integration efforts.
Includes certain non-recurring costs primarily associated with productivity and cost-reduction initiatives intended to result in improved operating performance, profitability and working capital levels. 
 Represents a reserve established for a legal matter involving a letter of credit for a customer in Saudi Arabia within the Memorialization segment (see Note 9, "Long Term Debt" in Item 8 - “Financial

(4)
Statements and Supplementary Data”).
(5)
cleaning supplies and services, etc.) incurred in response to COVID-19. This amount does not include the impact of any lost sales or underutilization due to COVID-19.
(6)

 Includes certain non-recurring direct incremental costs (such as costs for purchases of computer peripherals and devices to facilitate working-from-home, additional personal protective equipment and

 Represents goodwill write-downs within the SGK Brand Solutions segment (see Note 21, "Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets" in Item 8 - “Financial Statements and Supplementary Data”).
 Represents the (gain) loss on the sale of ownership interests in subsidiaries within the Memorialization segment.
 Includes gains/losses related to cost-method investments, and related assets, within the SGK Brand Solutions and Memorialization segments.
Includes significant building and vacant property transactions resulting in a gain of $8.7 million within the Industrial Technologies segment and losses of $0.9 million and $0.4 million within the SGK

 Represents the Company's portion of depreciation, intangible amortization, interest expense, and other non-recurring charges incurred by non-consolidated subsidiaries accounted for as equity-method

(9) 
Brand Solutions and Memorialization segments, respectively.
(10)
investments within the Memorialization segment.
 Non-service pension and postretirement expense includes interest cost, expected return on plan assets and amortization of actuarial gains and losses. These benefit cost components are excluded from
(11)
adjusted  EBITDA  since  they  are  primarily  influenced  by  external  market  conditions  that  impact  investment  returns  and  interest  (discount)  rates.  The  service  cost  and  prior  service  cost  components  of
pension and postretirement expense are included in the calculation of adjusted EBITDA, since they are considered to be a better reflection of the ongoing service-related costs of providing these benefits.
Please note that GAAP pension and postretirement expense or the adjustment above are not necessarily indicative of the current or future cash flow requirements related to these employee benefit plans.

(8)

* Depreciation and amortization was $87.6 million, $59.7 million, and $46.3 million for the SGK Brand Solutions segment, $20.5 million, $19.7 million, and $20.0 million for the Memorialization segment,
$5.8 million, $6.2 million, and $5.8 million for the Industrial Technologies segment, and $5.2 million, $5.2 million, and $4.9 million for Corporate and Non-Operating, for the fiscal years ended September 30,
2020, 2019, and 2018, respectively.
** Acquisition costs, ERP integration costs, and strategic initiatives and other charges were $14.0 million, $8.9 million, and $11.0 million for the SGK Brand Solutions segment, $0.3 million, $3.1 million, and
$0.6 million for the Industrial Technologies segment, and $23.0 million, $19.9 million, and $14.0 million for Corporate and Non-Operating, for the fiscal years ended September 30, 2020, 2019, and 2018,
respectively. Acquisition costs, ERP integration costs, and strategic initiatives and other charges were $2.7 million, and $1.4 million for the Memorialization segment for the fiscal years ended September 30,
2020 and 2018, respectively.

23

ITEM 7.     MANAGEMENT'S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS, (continued)

LIQUIDITY AND CAPITAL RESOURCES:

Net cash provided by operating activities was $180.4 million for the year ended September 30, 2020, compared to $131.1 million and $147.6 million for fiscal years 2019 and
2018,  respectively.    Operating  cash  flow  for  fiscal  2020  principally  included  net  (loss)  income  adjusted  for  deferred  taxes,  depreciation  and  amortization,  stock-based
compensation  expense,  net  losses  related  to  goodwill  and  investments,  and  non-cash  pension  expense,  and  changes  in  working  capital  items. The  favorable  movements  in
working capital in fiscal 2020 primarily reflected enhanced accounts receivable collection efforts and effective management of trade accounts payable, as the Company has
been focusing its efforts on cash management. The fiscal 2020 decrease in other assets reflects changes in operating leases assets. Operating cash flow for fiscal 2019 principally
included net (loss) income adjusted for deferred taxes, depreciation and amortization, stock-based compensation expense, net losses related to goodwill and investments, net
gains  from  the  sale  of  buildings  and  other  property,  and  non-cash  pension  expense,  and  changes  in  working  capital  items.  Operating  cash  flow  for  fiscal  2018  principally
included  net  income  adjusted  for  deferred  taxes,  depreciation  and  amortization,  stock-based  compensation  expense,  net  gains  related  to  investments,  and  non-cash  pension
expense,  and  changes  in  working  capital  items.  Fiscal  2018  operating  cash  flow  also  included  cash  contributions  of  $12.7  million  to  the  Company's  pension  and  other
postretirement plans.

Cash  used  in  investing  activities  was  $2.7  million  for  the  year  ended  September  30,  2020,  compared  to  $60.8  million  and  $162.3  million  for  fiscal  years  2019  and  2018,
respectively.  Investing activities for fiscal 2020 primarily reflected capital expenditures of $34.8 million, acquisition payments (net of cash acquired or received from sellers) of
$1.0 million, proceeds of $42.2 million from the sale of an ownership interest in a pet cremation business, and investments and advances of $9.7 million. Investing activities for
fiscal 2019 primarily reflected capital expenditures of $37.7 million, acquisition payments (net of cash acquired or received from sellers) of $11.5 million, proceeds of $13.3
million  from  the  sale  of  assets,  proceeds  of  $8.3  million  from  the  sale  of  a  controlling  interest  in  a  Memorialization  business,  and  additional  investments  made  in  non-
consolidated  subsidiaries  of $33.1  million.    Investing  activities  for  fiscal  2018  primarily  reflected  capital  expenditures  of  $43.2  million,  acquisition  payments  (net  of  cash
acquired  or  received  from  sellers)  of  $121.1  million,  proceeds  of  $9.2  million  from  the  sale  of  certain  cost-method  investments,  and  cash  payments  of  $11.9  million  for
purchases of investments.

Capital expenditures were $34.8 million for the year ended September 30, 2020, compared to $37.7 million and $43.2 million for fiscal years 2019 and 2018, respectively. 
Capital  expenditures  in  each  of  the  last  three  fiscal  years  reflected  reinvestments  in  the  Company's  business  segments  and  were  made  primarily  for  the  purchase  of  new
production machinery, equipment, software and systems, and facilities designed to improve product quality, increase manufacturing efficiency, lower production costs and meet
regulatory requirements.  Capital spending for property, plant and equipment has averaged $38.6 million for the last three fiscal years. Capital expenditures for the last three
fiscal years were primarily financed through operating cash. Capital spending for fiscal 2021 is currently estimated to be approximately $40 million.  The Company expects to
generate sufficient cash from operations to fund all anticipated capital spending projects.

Cash used in financing activities for the year ended September 30, 2020 was $172.3 million, and principally reflected repayments, net of proceeds, on long-term debt of $126.3
million, purchases of treasury stock of $4.4 million, payment of dividends to the Company's shareholders of $26.4 million ($0.84 per share), $10.2 million of holdback and
contingent consideration payments related to acquisitions from prior years, and payment of deferred financing fees of $2.0 million (see below).  Cash used in financing activities
for the year ended September 30, 2019 was $75.0 million, and principally reflected repayments, net of proceeds, on long-term debt of $16.0 million, purchases of treasury stock
of $26.1 million, payment of dividends to the Company's shareholders of $25.6 million ($0.80 per share), and $4.4 million of holdback and contingent consideration payments
related  to  a  fiscal  2018  acquisition. Cash  provided  by  financing  activities  for  the  year  ended  September  30,  2018  was  $0.9  million,  and  primarily  reflected  proceeds,  net  of
repayments on long-term debt of $53.0 million, purchases of treasury stock of $21.2 million, payment of dividends to the Company's shareholders of $24.6 million ($0.76 per
share), and payment of deferred financing fees of $4.1 million.

24

ITEM 7.     MANAGEMENT'S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS, (continued)

The Company has a domestic credit facility with a syndicate of financial institutions that was amended and restated in March 2020. The amended and restated loan agreement
includes a $750.0 million senior secured revolving credit facility, which matures in March 2025, and a $35.0 million senior secured amortizing term loan, which matures in July
2021. A  portion  of  the  revolving  credit  facility  (not  to  exceed $350.0  million  )  can  be  drawn in  foreign  currencies.  The  term  loan  requires  scheduled  quarterly  principal
payments through its maturity date. Borrowings under both the revolving credit facility and the term loan bear interest at LIBOR (Euro LIBOR for balances drawn in Euros)
plus a factor ranging from 0.75% to 2.00% (1.50% at September 30, 2020) based on the Company's secured leverage ratio.  The secured leverage ratio is defined as net secured
indebtedness  divided  by  EBITDA  (earnings  before  interest,  income  taxes,  depreciation  and  amortization)  as  defined  within  the  domestic  credit  facility  agreement.    The
Company is required to pay an annual commitment fee ranging from 0.15% to 0.30% (based on the Company's leverage ratio) of the unused portion of the revolving credit
facility. The Company incurred debt issuance costs of approximately $2.0 million in connection with the amended and restated agreement, which was deferred and is being
amortized over the term of the facility.

The domestic credit facility requires the Company to maintain certain leverage and interest coverage ratios. A portion of the facility (not to exceed $35.0 million) is available for
the issuance of trade and standby letters of credit. Outstanding U.S. dollar denominated borrowings on the revolving credit facility at September 30, 2020 and 2019 were $257.4
million  and  $325.6  million,  respectively. Outstanding  Euro  denominated  borrowings  on  the  revolving  credit  facility  at  September  30,  2020  and  2019  were  €117.0  million
($137.2 million) and €125.0 million ($136.5 million), respectively. Outstanding borrowings on the term loan at September 30, 2020 and 2019 were $22.4 million and $53.5
million,  respectively. The  weighted-average  interest  rate  on  outstanding  borrowings  for  the  domestic  credit  facility  (including  the  effects  of  interest  rate  swaps  and  Euro
denominated borrowings) at September 30, 2020 and 2019 was 2.41% and 2.65%, respectively.

The Company has $300.0 million of 5.25% senior unsecured notes due December 1, 2025 (the "2025 Senior Notes"). The 2025 Senior Notes bear interest at a rate of 5.25% per
annum with interest payable semi-annually in arrears on June 1 and December 1 of each year. The Company's obligations under the 2025 Senior Notes are guaranteed by certain
of the Company's direct and indirect wholly-owned domestic subsidiaries. The Company is subject to certain covenants and other restrictions in connection with the 2025 Senior
Notes. The Company incurred direct financing fees and costs in connection with 2025 Senior Notes. Unamortized costs were $2.7 million and $3.3 million at September 30,
2020 and 2019, respectively.

The Company has a $115.0 million accounts receivable securitization facility (the "Securitization Facility") with certain financial institutions. The Securitization Facility, which
had a maturity date of April 2020, was amended in March 2020 to extend the maturity date until March 2022. Under the Securitization Facility, the Company and certain of its
domestic subsidiaries sell, on a continuous basis without recourse, their trade receivables to Matthews Receivables Funding Corporation, LLC (“Matthews RFC”), a wholly-
owned  bankruptcy-remote  subsidiary  of  the  Company. Matthews  RFC  in  turn  assigns  a  collateral  interest  in  these  receivables  to  certain  financial  institutions,  and  then  may
borrow funds under the Securitization Facility. The Securitization Facility does not qualify for sale treatment. Accordingly, the trade receivables and related debt obligations
remain on the Company's Consolidated Balance Sheet. Borrowings under the Securitization Facility bear interest at LIBOR plus 0.75%. The Company is required to pay an
annual  commitment  fee  ranging  from  0.25%  to  0.35%  of  the  unused  portion  of  the  Securitization  Facility. Outstanding  borrowings  under  the  Securitization  Facility  at
September 30, 2020 and 2019 were $67.7 million and $94.0 million, respectively. The interest rate on borrowings under this facility at September 30, 2020 and 2019 was 0.90%
and 2.77%, respectively.

The following table presents information related to interest rate contracts entered into by the Company and designated as cash flow hedges:

Pay fixed swaps - notional amount
Net unrealized loss
Weighted-average maturity period (years)
Weighted-average received rate
Weighted-average pay rate

$
$

September 30, 2020

September 30, 2019

(Dollar amounts in thousands)

312,500 
(7,792)

$
$

2.6
0.15 %
1.34 %

293,750 
(534)

1.9
2.02 %
1.41 %

The Company enters into interest rate swaps in order to achieve a mix of fixed and variable rate debt that it deems appropriate. The interest rate swaps have been designated as
cash flow hedges of future variable interest payments which are considered probable of occurring.  Based on the Company's assessment, all of the critical terms of each of the
hedges matched the underlying terms of the hedged debt and related forecasted interest payments, and as such, these hedges were considered highly effective.

25

ITEM 7.     MANAGEMENT'S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS, (continued)

The fair value of the interest rate swaps reflected an unrealized loss of $7.8 million ($5.9 million after tax) and an unrealized loss net of unrealized gains of $534,000 ($403,000
after tax) at September 30, 2020 and 2019, respectively, that is included in shareholders' equity as part of accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) ("AOCI").  Assuming
market rates remain constant with the rates at September 30, 2020, a loss (net of tax) of approximately $2.4 million included in AOCI is expected to be recognized in earnings
over the next twelve months.

The Company, through certain of its European subsidiaries, has a credit facility with a European bank, which is guaranteed by Matthews.  The maximum amount of borrowings
available  under  this  facility  is  €35.0  million  ($41.0  million).    The  credit  facility  matures  in  December  2020  and  the  Company  intends  to  extend  this  facility.  Outstanding
borrowings under the credit facility totaled €18.9 million ($22.2 million) and €12.8 million ($14.0 million) at September 30, 2020 and 2019, respectively. The weighted-average
interest rate on outstanding borrowings under this facility at September 30, 2020 and 2019 was 1.25%.

The Company’s German subsidiary, Matthews Europe GmbH, had €15.0 million ($16.4 million at September 30, 2019) of senior unsecured notes with European banks.  The
notes matured in November 2019 at which point they were paid. The weighted-average interest rate on the notes at September 30, 2019 was 1.40%.

Finance lease liabilities included as a component of debt totaled $9.7 million and $3.6 million at September 30, 2020 and 2019, respectively. See Note 10, "Leases" in Item 8 -
“Financial  Statements  and  Supplementary  Data”  for  further  discussion  on  the  Company's  lease  obligations. Other  borrowings  totaled  $20.7  million  and  $395,000  at
September 30, 2020 and 2019, respectively. The weighted-average interest rate on other borrowings was 2.10% and 2.17% at September 30, 2020 and 2019, respectively. The
Company was in compliance with all of its debt covenants as of September 30, 2020.

The  Company  uses  certain  foreign  currency  debt  instruments  as  net  investment  hedges  of  foreign  operations.  Currency  losses  of $4.4  million  (net  of  income  taxes  of  $1.4
million) and currency gains of $3.3 million (net of income taxes of $1.1 million), which represent effective hedges of net investments, were reported as a component of AOCI
within currency translation adjustment at September 30, 2020 and 2019, respectively.

In September 2014, a claim was filed by a customer seeking to draw upon a letter of credit issued by the Company of £8.6 million ($11.0 million at September 30, 2020) with
respect  to  a  performance  guarantee  on  an incineration  equipment  project  in  Saudi Arabia. Management assessed the customer's demand to be without merit and initiated an
action with the court in the United Kingdom (the "U.K. Court"). Pursuant to this action, an order was issued by the U.K. Court in January 2015 requiring that, upon receipt by
the customer, the funds were to be remitted by the customer to the U.K. Court pending resolution of the dispute between the parties. As a result, the Company made payment on
the draw to the financial institution for the letter of credit and the funds were ultimately received by the customer. The customer did not remit the funds to the U.K. Court as
ordered. On June 14, 2016, the U.K. Court ruled completely in favor of Matthews following a trial on the merits. However, the ongoing dispute involves litigation in multiple
foreign jurisdictions because the contract between the parties includes a venue clause requiring the venue for any litigation to be in the United Kingdom, while the enforcement
of any final judgment is required to be executed in Saudi Arabia. The Company continues to pursue a trial on the merits in Saudi Arabia; however, given the recent COVID-19
pandemic, the case has been further delayed. As the Company has successfully completed the project and subsequently operated the equipment, the Company remains confident
regarding the pending trial on the merits in Saudi Arabia and expects to be in a position to enforce the judgment and initiate collection efforts following completion of that trial.
However, the Company’s level of success in recovering funds from the customer will depend upon several factors including a successful completion of the pending trial on the
merits in Saudi Arabia, the availability of recoverable funds, and the subsequent level of support of the Saudi Arabian government to enforce a potential judgment against the
customer.

During the third quarter of fiscal 2020, the Saudi Arabian government implemented restrictions on travel to Mecca due to the COVID-19 pandemic. As a result, the Company
was not able to support the operation of the incineration equipment for the local agency responsible for its operation during the current year Hajj Pilgrimage. Consequently, as of
the filing of this report, the Company is now concerned regarding the level of anticipated support from the government in its collection efforts. Therefore,  when  considered
collectively with the potential delay in completing the trial and other collectability risks, the Company established a reserve for the full value of the funded letter of credit as of
June  30,  2020. The  funded  letter  of  credit  was  previously  classified  within  other  assets  on  the  Consolidated  Balance  Sheet  as  of  September  30,  2019. The  Company  will
continue to assess the accounting and collectability related to this matter as facts and circumstances evolve.

26

ITEM 7.     MANAGEMENT'S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS, (continued)

The Company has a stock repurchase program.  Under the current authorization, the Company's Board of Directors has authorized the repurchase of a total of 5,000,000 shares
of  Matthews'  common  stock  under  the  program,  of  which  538,736  shares  remain  available  for  repurchase  as  of  September  30,  2020. The  buy-back  program  is  designed  to
increase shareholder value, enlarge the Company's holdings of its common stock, and add to earnings per share.  Repurchased shares may be retained in treasury, utilized for
acquisitions, or reissued to employees or other purchasers, subject to the restrictions set forth in the Company's Restated Articles of Incorporation. 

The Company utilized certain provisions of the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (commonly referred to as the CARES Act) and other similar economic
relief initiatives that were enacted in response to COVID-19. Under the CARES Act, the Company elected to defer payments for certain taxes, primarily U.S. payroll taxes,
which were $8.4 million for fiscal 2020.

Consolidated working capital was $258.7 million at September 30, 2020, compared to $303.8 million at September 30, 2019.  Cash and cash equivalents were $41.3 million at
September 30, 2020, compared to $35.3 million at September 30, 2019.  The Company's current ratio was 1.8 and 2.1 at September 30, 2020 and 2019, respectively.

ACQUISITIONS AND DIVESTITURES:

Refer to Note 20, "Acquisitions and Divestitures" in Item 8 - "Financial Statements and Supplementary Data," for further details on the Company's acquisitions.

FORWARD-LOOKING INFORMATION:

The  Company's  current  strategy  to  attain  annual  operating  growth  primarily  consists  of  the  following:    internal  growth  -  which  includes  organic  growth,  cost  structure  and
productivity improvements, new product development and the expansion into new markets with existing products - and acquisitions and related integration activities to achieve
synergy benefits.

The significant factors (excluding acquisitions) influencing sales growth in the SGK Brand Solutions segment are global economic conditions, brand innovation, the level of
marketing spending by the Company's clients, and government regulation. Due to the global footprint of this segment, currency fluctuations can also be a significant factor. For
the  Memorialization  segment,  North America  death  rates,  the  cremation  trend,  and  price  realization  impact  sales  growth  for  the  Company's  bronze  and  granite  memorials,
caskets  and  cremation  and  incineration-related  products. For  the  Industrial  Technologies  segment,  sales  growth  drivers  include  economic/industrial  market  conditions,  new
product development, and the e-commerce trend.

During fiscal 2019, the Company initiated a strategic evaluation to improve profitability and reduce the Company's cost structure. These actions leveraged the benefit of the
Company's new global ERP platform, primarily targeted at the SGK Brand Solutions segment, both operational and commercial structure, and the Company's shared financial
services and other administrative functions. This evaluation identified opportunities for significant cost structure improvements, which the Company expects to achieve through
fiscal 2022.  The Company's recent strategic review has also resulted in improvements to the commercial structure within the SGK Brand Solutions segment, including the
consolidation of several of the segment's trade names. As a result, the amortization of these intangible assets will significantly increase for fiscal 2020 through fiscal 2022.

On  January  30,  2020,  the  World  Health  Organization  declared  an  outbreak  of  COVID-19  to  be  a  Public  Health  Emergency  of  International  Concern,  and  subsequently
recognized  COVID-19  as  a  global  pandemic  on  March  11,  2020. Widespread  efforts  have  been  deployed  by  multiple  countries  around  the  world  to  prevent  the  virus  from
spreading, including temporary closures of non-essential businesses, event cancellations, travel restrictions, quarantines, and other disruptive actions. Substantially all of the
Company’s operations have remained open during the COVID-19 pandemic, as they have been considered “essential” businesses during this time.  However, the Company has
experienced some commercial impact and business disruptions in certain segments and geographic locations as a result of COVID-19.

Considerable judgement is necessary to assess and predict the potential financial impacts of COVID-19 on the Company’s future operating results. Management expects that
each  of  its  business  segments  will  experience  some  level  of  sales  impacts  in  the  short-term,  potentially  due  to  customer  business  disruptions,  facilities  shut-downs,  weaker
global economic conditions, and possible customer project delays. Longer-term financial impacts will depend on global economic conditions eventually resulting from COVID-
19. Management expects each of its businesses to experience increased financial volatility in the short-term, but currently anticipates its core businesses will return to a more
normalized future state once the COVID-19 pandemic subsides.

27

ITEM 7.     MANAGEMENT'S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS, (continued)

CRITICAL ACCOUNTING POLICIES:

The preparation of financial statements in conformity with generally accepted accounting principles requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the
reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements and  the  reported  amounts  of  revenues  and
expenses  during  the  reporting  period.    Therefore,  the  determination  of  estimates  requires  the  exercise  of  judgment  based  on  various  assumptions  and  other  factors  such  as
historical experience, economic conditions, and in some cases, actuarial techniques.  Actual results may differ from those estimates.  A discussion of market risks affecting the
Company can be found in Item 7A, "Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures about Market Risk," of this Annual Report on Form 10-K.

The Company's significant accounting policies are included in the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements included in this Annual Report on Form 10-K.  Management
believes that the application of these policies on a consistent basis enables the Company to provide useful and reliable financial information about the Company's operating
results and financial condition.  The following accounting policies involve significant estimates, which were considered critical to the preparation of the Company's consolidated
financial statements for the year ended September 30, 2020.

Long-Lived Assets, including Property, Plant and Equipment:

Long-lived assets are recorded at their respective cost basis on the date of acquisition.  Depreciation on property, plant and equipment is computed primarily on the straight-line
method over the estimated useful lives of the assets.  Intangible assets with finite useful lives are amortized over their estimated useful lives.  The Company reviews long-lived
assets, including property, plant and equipment, and intangibles with finite useful lives, whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying amount of such
assets may not be recoverable.  Recoverability of assets is determined by evaluating the estimated undiscounted net cash flows of the operations to which the assets relate.  An
impairment loss would be recognized when the carrying amount of the assets exceeds the fair value, which is based on a discounted cash flow analysis. No such charges were
recognized during the years presented.

Goodwill and Indefinite-Lived Intangibles:

Goodwill and intangible assets with indefinite useful lives are not amortized, but are tested annually for impairment, or when circumstances indicate that a possible impairment
may  exist.    In  general,  when  the  carrying  value  of  these  assets  exceeds  the  implied  fair  value,  an  impairment  loss  must  be  recognized.   A  significant  decline  in  cash  flows
generated  from  these  assets  may  result  in  a  write-down  of  the  carrying  values  of  the  related  assets.    For  purposes  of  testing  goodwill  for  impairment,  the  Company  uses  a
combination of valuation techniques, including discounted cash flows and other market indicators.  A number of assumptions and estimates are involved in the application of
the discounted cash flow model to forecast operating cash flows, including sales volumes and pricing, costs to produce, tax rates, capital spending, working capital changes, and
discount rates.  The Company estimates future cash flows using volume and pricing assumptions based largely on existing customer relationships and contracts, and operating
cost  assumptions  management  believes  are  reasonable  based  on  historical  performance  and  projected  future  performance  as  reflected  in  its  most  recent  operating  plans  and
projections. The discount rates used in the discounted cash flow analyses are developed with the assistance of valuation experts and management believes the discount rates
appropriately reflect the risks associated with the Company's operating cash flows.  In order to further validate the reasonableness of the estimated fair values of the reporting
units as of the valuation date, a reconciliation of the aggregate fair values of all reporting units to market capitalization is performed using a reasonable control premium.

The Company performed its annual impairment review of goodwill and indefinite-lived intangible assets in the second quarter of fiscal 2020 (January 1, 2020) and determined
that the estimated fair values for all goodwill reporting units exceeded their carrying values. The estimated fair values for two reporting units within the SGK Brand Solutions
segment (Graphics Imaging and Cylinders, Surfaces and Engineered Products) exceeded their carrying values (expressed as a percentage of carrying value) by less than 10% as
of January 1, 2020.

In its assessment of the potential impacts of COVID-19 on the estimated future earnings and cash flows for the SGK Brand Solutions segment, and in light of the limited excess
fair values for its two reporting units (discussed above), management determined that COVID-19 represented a triggering event, resulting in a re-evaluation of the goodwill for
its reporting units within the SGK Brand Solutions segment (Graphics Imaging and Cylinders, Surfaces and Engineered Products), as of March 31, 2020. As a result of this
interim assessment, the Company recorded a goodwill write-down totaling $90.4 million during the fiscal 2020 second quarter. Subsequent to this write-down, the fair values of
the two reporting units within the SGK Brand Solutions segment (Graphics Imaging and Cylinders, Surfaces and Engineered Products) approximated their carrying values at
March 31, 2020. The fair values for these reporting units were determined using level 3 inputs (including estimates of revenue

28

ITEM 7.     MANAGEMENT'S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS, (continued)

growth,  EBITDA  contribution  and  the  discount  rates)  and  a  combination  of  the  income  approach  using  the  estimated  discounted  cash  flows  and  a  market-based  valuation
methodology. If current projections are not achieved or specific valuation factors outside the Company’s control (such as discount rates and continued economic and industry
impacts of COVID-19) significantly change, additional goodwill write-downs may be necessary in future periods.

During the fourth quarter of fiscal 2019, the Company initiated an in-depth review of the commercial and cost structure of the SGK Brand Solutions segment as a result of
continued challenging market conditions affecting the segment. This review identified certain opportunities to improve the segment’s profitability and reduce its operating cost
structure and, as a result, the Company revised its estimates of future earnings and cash flows for the Graphics Imaging reporting unit. In response to these revised projections,
the  Company  re-evaluated  the  goodwill  for  the  Graphics  Imaging  reporting  unit,  as  of  September  1,  2019. As  a  result  of  this  interim  assessment,  the  Company  recorded  a
goodwill write-down of $77.6 million during the fiscal 2019 fourth quarter.

Pension and Postretirement Benefits:

Pension assets and liabilities are determined on an actuarial basis and are affected by the market value of plan assets, estimates of the expected return on plan assets and the
discount rate used to determine the present value of benefit obligations.  Actual changes in the fair market value of plan assets and differences between the actual return on plan
assets, the expected return on plan assets and changes in the selected discount rate will affect the amount of pension cost.

The Company's principal pension plan maintains a substantial portion of its assets in equity securities in accordance with the investment policy established by the Company's
pension board.  Based on an analysis of the historical performance of the plan's assets and information provided by its independent investment advisor, the Company set the
long-term  rate  of  return  assumption  for  these  assets  at  6.75%  at  September  30,  2019  for  purposes  of  determining  fiscal  2020  pension  cost.    The  Company's  discount  rate
assumption used in determining the present value of the projected benefit obligation is based upon published indices as of September 30, 2020 and September 30, 2019 for the
fiscal  year  end  valuation.  The  discount  rate  was  2.62%,  3.13%  and  4.21%  in  fiscal  2020,  2019  and  2018,  respectively. Refer  to  Item  7A,  "Quantitative  and  Qualitative
Disclosures about Market Risk," of this Annual Report on Form 10-K, for disclosure about the hypothetical impact of changes in actuarial assumptions.

Income Taxes:

Deferred tax assets and liabilities are provided for the differences between the financial statement and tax bases of assets and liabilities using enacted tax rates in effect for the
years in which the differences are expected to reverse.  Valuation allowances are recorded to reduce deferred tax assets when it is more likely than not that a tax benefit will not
be realized.  Deferred income taxes have not been provided on undistributed earnings of foreign subsidiaries since they have either been previously taxed, or are now exempt
from tax, under the U.S. Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, and such earnings are considered to be reinvested indefinitely in foreign operations.

29

ITEM 7.     MANAGEMENT'S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS, (continued)

LONG-TERM CONTRACTUAL OBLIGATIONS AND COMMITMENTS:

The following table summarizes the Company's contractual obligations at September 30, 2020, and the effect such obligations are expected to have on its liquidity and cash
flows in future periods.

Payments due in fiscal year:

Total

2021

(1)

Contractual Cash Obligations:
Revolving credit facilities
Securitization facility
Senior secured term loan
2025 Senior Notes
Finance lease obligations 
Non-cancelable operating leases 
Other
Total contractual cash obligations

(2)

(2)

$

$

416,793  $
67,700 
22,359 
383,881 
10,514 
77,161 
27,338 
1,005,746  $

2022 to 2023
(Dollar amounts in thousands)
—  $

2024 to 2025

After
2025

394,627  $
— 
— 
31,500 
869 
14,221 
2,168 
443,385  $

— 
— 
— 
305,131 
1,753 
5,224 
5,606 
317,714 

67,700 
— 
31,500 
4,045 
31,912 
5,594 
140,751  $

22,166  $
— 
22,359 
15,750 
3,847 
25,804 
13,970 
103,896  $

(1)

The Company maintains certain debt facilities with current maturity dates in fiscal 2021 that it intends and has the ability to extend beyond fiscal 2021 totaling $32.3 million. These balances have been

classified as non-current on the Company's Consolidated Balance Sheet.

(2)

Lease obligations have not been discounted to their present value.

A  significant  portion  of  the  loans  included  in  the  table  above  bear  interest  at  variable  rates.   At  September  30,  2020,  the  weighted-average  interest  rate  was  2.41%  on  the
Company's domestic credit facility, 0.90% on the Company's Securitization Facility, 1.25% on the credit facility through the Company's European subsidiaries, and 2.10% on
other outstanding borrowings.

Benefit payments under the Company's principal retirement plan are made from plan assets, while benefit payments under the supplemental retirement plan and postretirement
benefit plan are funded from the Company's operating cash. In response to COVID-19, the federal government passed a modified relief bill, which provides additional funding
measures  associated  with  IRS  regulations.  In  accordance  with  this  bill,  the  Company  was  not  required  to  make  contributions  to  its  principal  retirement  plan  in  fiscal  2020.
However, the Company contributed 668,000 shares of its Class A Common Stock to its principal retirement plan during the fourth quarter of fiscal 2020.  The  shares  had  a
market value of approximately $15.0 million at the time of the contribution.

The Company is required to make cash contributions of approximately $4.2 million to its principal retirement plan in fiscal 2021.  The Company estimates that benefit payments
to participants under its retirement plans (including its supplemental retirement plan) and postretirement benefit payments will be approximately $11.4 million and $831,000,
respectively, in fiscal 2021.  The amounts are expected to increase incrementally each year thereafter, to $14.3 million and $931,000, respectively, in 2025.  The Company
believes that its current liquidity sources, combined with its operating cash flow and borrowing capacity, will be sufficient to meet its capital needs for the foreseeable future.

Unrecognized tax benefits are positions taken, or expected to be taken, on an income tax return that may result in additional payments to tax authorities.  If a tax authority agrees
with the tax position taken, or expected to be taken, or the applicable statute of limitations expires, then additional payments will not be necessary.  As of September 30, 2020,
the  Company  had  unrecognized  tax  benefits,  excluding  penalties  and  interest,  of  approximately  $10.5  million.    The  timing  of  potential  future  payments  related  to  the
unrecognized tax benefits is not presently determinable. The Company believes that its current liquidity sources, combined with its operating cash flow and borrowing capacity,
will be sufficient to meet its capital needs for the foreseeable future.

INFLATION:

Except for the volatility in the cost of bronze ingot, steel, wood, granite and fuel (see "Results of Operations"), inflation has not had a material impact on the Company over the
past three years nor is it anticipated to have a material impact for the foreseeable future.

30

 
ITEM 7.     MANAGEMENT'S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS, (continued)

RECENTLY ISSUED ACCOUNTING PRONOUNCEMENTS:

Refer to Note 3, "Accounting Pronouncements" in Item 8 - "Financial Statements and Supplementary Data," for further details on recently issued accounting pronouncements.

ITEM 7A.  QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURES ABOUT MARKET RISK:

The following discussion about the Company's market risk involves forward-looking statements.  Actual results could differ materially from those projected in the forward-
looking statements.  The Company has market risk related to changes in interest rates, commodity prices and foreign currency exchange rates.  The Company does not generally
use derivative financial instruments in connection with these market risks, except as noted below.

Interest Rates - The Company's most significant long-term instrument is the domestic credit facility, which bears interest at variable rates based on LIBOR (Euro-LIBOR for
balances drawn in Euros).

The following table presents information related to interest rate contracts entered into by the Company and designated as cash flow hedges:

Pay fixed swaps - notional amount
Net unrealized loss
Weighted-average maturity period (years)
Weighted-average received rate
Weighted-average pay rate

September 30, 2020

September 30, 2019

$
$

(Dollar amounts in thousands)
312,500 
(7,792)

$
$

2.6
0.15 %
1.34 %

293,750 
(534)

1.9
2.02 %
1.41 %

The interest rate swaps have been designated as cash flow hedges of the future variable interest payments which are considered probable of occurring.  Based on the Company's
assessment, all the critical terms of each of the hedges matched the underlying terms of the hedged debt and related forecasted interest payments, and as such, these hedges were
considered highly effective.

The fair value of the interest rate swaps reflected an unrealized loss, of $7.8 million ($5.9 million after-tax) at September 30, 2020 that is included in equity as part of AOCI.  A
decrease of 10% in market interest rates (e.g., a decrease from 5.0% to 4.5%) would result in a decrease of approximately $1.0 million in the fair value of the interest rate swaps.

Commodity Price Risks - In the normal course of business, the Company is exposed to commodity price fluctuations related to the purchases of certain materials and supplies
(such as bronze ingot, steel, granite, fuel and wood) used in its manufacturing operations. The Company obtains competitive prices for materials and supplies when available. 
In addition, based on competitive market conditions and to the extent that the Company has established pricing terms with customers through contracts or similar arrangements,
the Company's ability to immediately increase the price of its products to offset the increased costs may be limited.

Foreign Currency Exchange Rates - The Company is subject to changes in various foreign currency exchange rates, primarily including the Euro, British Pound, Canadian
Dollar,  and  Australian  Dollar  in  the  conversion  from  local  currencies  to  the  U.S.  dollar  of  the  reported  financial  position  and  operating  results  of  its  non-U.S.  based
subsidiaries. An adverse change (strengthening U.S. dollar) of 10% in exchange rates would have resulted in a decrease in reported sales of $49.1 million and a decrease in
reported operating income of $5.6 million for the year ended September 30, 2020.

31

ITEM 7A.                          QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURES ABOUT MARKET RISK, (continued)

Actuarial Assumptions  -  The  most  significant  actuarial  assumptions  affecting  pension  expense  and  pension  obligations  include  the  valuation  of  retirement  plan  assets,  the
discount  rates  and  the  estimated  return  on  plan  assets.    The  estimated  return  on  plan  assets  is  currently  based  upon  projections  provided  by  the  Company's  independent
investment advisor, considering the investment policy of the plan and the plan's asset allocation.  The fair value of plan assets and discount rates are "point-in-time" measures,
and volatility of the debt and equity markets makes estimating future changes in fair value of plan assets and discount rates challenging.  The Company elected to value its
principal retirement and other postretirement benefit plan liabilities using a modified assumption of future mortality that reflects a significant improvement in life expectancy
over the previous mortality assumptions.  Refer to Note 14, "Pension and Other Postretirement Plans" in Item 8 – "Financial Statements and Supplementary Data" for additional
information.

The following table summarizes the impact on the September 30, 2020 actuarial valuations of changes in the primary assumptions affecting the Company's retirement plans and
supplemental retirement plan.

Change in Discount Rates
+1%

-1%

Impact of Changes in Actuarial Assumptions
Change in Expected Return

Change in Market Value of Assets

+1%

-1%

(Dollar amounts in thousands)

+5%

-5%

(Decrease) increase in net benefit cost

$

(5,098) $

6,250  $

(1,638) $

1,638  $

(1,717) $

1,717 

(Decrease) increase in projected benefit obligation

(40,284)

50,506 

Increase (decrease) in funded status

40,284 

(50,506)

— 

— 

— 

— 

— 

— 

8,407 

(8,407)

32

 
 
 
 
ITEM 8.  FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND SUPPLEMENTARY DATA.

Description

Management's Report to Shareholders

Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm

Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm

Financial Statements:

Consolidated Balance Sheets as of September 30, 2020 and 2019

Consolidated Statements of Income for the years ended September 30, 2020, 2019 and 2018

Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income for the years ended September 30, 2020, 2019 and 2018

Consolidated Statements of Shareholders' Equity for the years ended September 30, 2020, 2019 and 2018

Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows for the years ended September 30, 2020, 2019 and 2018

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

Supplementary Financial Information (unaudited)

Financial Statement Schedule – Schedule II-Valuation and Qualifying
Accounts for the years ended September 30, 2020, 2019 and 2018

33

Pages

34

35

36

38

40

41

42

43

44

76

77

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
MANAGEMENT'S REPORT TO SHAREHOLDERS

To the Shareholders and the Board of Directors of

Matthews International Corporation and Subsidiaries

Management's Report on Financial Statements

The accompanying consolidated financial statements of Matthews International Corporation and its subsidiaries (collectively, the "Company") were prepared by management,
which is responsible for their integrity and objectivity. The statements were prepared in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles and include amounts that are
based  on  management's  best  judgments  and  estimates.  The  other  financial  information  included  in  this Annual  Report  on  Form  10-K  is  consistent  with  that  in  the  financial
statements.

Management's Report on Internal Control over Financial Reporting

Management is responsible for establishing and maintaining adequate internal control over financial reporting for the Company, as such term is defined in Exchange Act Rule
13a-15f.  In  order  to  evaluate  the  effectiveness  of  internal  control  over  financial  reporting  management  has  conducted  an  assessment  using  the  criteria  in Internal  Control  –
Integrated Framework (2013), issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission ("COSO"). Internal controls over financial reporting is a
process under the supervision of, our Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, and effected by the Company's board of directors, management and other personnel
to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with generally
accepted accounting principles and includes those policies and procedures that (i) pertain to the maintenance of records that, in reasonable detail, accurately and fairly reflect the
transactions  and  dispositions  of  the  assets  of  the  Company;  (ii)  provide  reasonable  assurance  that  transactions  are  recorded  as  necessary  to  permit  preparation  of  financial
statements  in  accordance  with  generally  accepted  accounting  principles,  and  that  receipts  and  expenditures  of  the  Company  are  being  made  only  in  accordance  with
authorizations of management and directors of the Company; and (iii) provide reasonable assurance regarding prevention or timely detection of unauthorized acquisition, use,
or disposition of the Company's assets that could have a material effect on the financial statements.  Because of its inherent limitations, internal control over financial reporting
may  not  prevent  or  detect  misstatements. Also,  projections  of  any  evaluation  of  effectiveness  to  future  periods  are  subject  to  the  risk  that  controls  may  become  inadequate
because of changes in conditions, or that the degree of compliance with the policies or procedures may deteriorate.

Management, under the supervision and with the participation of our Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, evaluated the effectiveness of the Company's internal
control  over  financial  reporting  based  on  criteria  in Internal Control – Integrated Framework (2013) issued by the COSO, and has  concluded  that  the  Company  maintained
effective internal control over financial reporting as of September 30, 2020.  The effectiveness of the Company's internal control over financial reporting as of September 30,
2020 has been audited by Ernst & Young LLP, an independent registered public accounting firm, as stated in their report which is included herein.

Management's Certifications

The certifications of the Company's Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer required by the Sarbanes-Oxley Act have been included as Exhibits 31 and 32 in this
Annual Report on Form 10-K.

34

 
 
REPORT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM

To the Shareholders and the Board of Directors of

Matthews International Corporation and Subsidiaries

Opinion on Internal Control over Financial Reporting

We  have  audited  Matthews  International  Corporation  and  Subsidiaries’  internal  control  over  financial  reporting  as  of  September  30,  2020,  based  on  criteria  established  in
Internal Control—Integrated Framework issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission (2013 framework) (the COSO criteria). In our
opinion,  Matthews  International  Corporation  and  Subsidiaries  (the  Company)  maintained,  in  all  material  respects,  effective  internal  control  over  financial  reporting  as  of
September 30, 2020, based on the COSO criteria.

We also have audited, in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States) (PCAOB), the consolidated balance sheets of the
Company as of September 30, 2020 and 2019, the related consolidated statements of income, comprehensive income (loss), shareholders' equity and cash flows for each of the
three  years  in  the  period  ended  September  30,  2020,  and  the  related  notes  and  the  financial  statement  schedule  listed  in  the  Index  at  Item  15(a)2  and  our  report  dated
November 20, 2020 expressed an unqualified opinion thereon.

Basis for Opinion

The Company’s management is responsible for maintaining effective internal control over financial reporting and for its assessment of the effectiveness of internal control over
financial  reporting  included  in  the  accompanying  Management’s  Report  on  Internal  Control  over  Financial  Reporting.  Our  responsibility  is  to  express  an  opinion  on  the
Company’s internal control over financial reporting based on our audit. We are a public accounting firm registered with the PCAOB and are required to be independent with
respect  to  the  Company  in  accordance  with  the  U.S.  federal  securities  laws  and  the  applicable  rules  and  regulations  of  the  Securities  and  Exchange  Commission  and  the
PCAOB.

We  conducted  our  audit  in  accordance  with  the  standards  of  the  PCAOB.  Those  standards  require  that  we  plan  and  perform  the  audit  to  obtain  reasonable  assurance  about
whether effective internal control over financial reporting was maintained in all material respects.

Our audit included obtaining an understanding of internal control over financial reporting, assessing the risk that a material weakness exists, testing and evaluating the design
and operating effectiveness of internal control based on the assessed risk, and performing such other procedures as we considered necessary in the circumstances. We believe
that our audit provides a reasonable basis for our opinion.

Definition and Limitations of Internal Control over Financial Reporting

A company’s internal control over financial reporting is a process designed to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of
financial statements for external purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles. A company’s internal control over financial reporting includes those
policies and procedures that (1) pertain to the maintenance of records that, in reasonable detail, accurately and fairly reflect the transactions and dispositions of the assets of the
company;  (2)  provide  reasonable  assurance  that  transactions  are  recorded  as  necessary  to  permit  preparation  of  financial  statements  in  accordance  with  generally  accepted
accounting principles, and that receipts and expenditures of the company are being made only in accordance with authorizations of management and directors of the company;
and (3) provide reasonable assurance regarding prevention or timely detection of unauthorized acquisition, use, or disposition of the company’s assets that could have a material
effect on the financial statements.

Because of its inherent limitations, internal control over financial reporting may not prevent or detect misstatements. Also, projections of any evaluation of effectiveness to
future periods are subject to the risk that controls may become inadequate because of changes in conditions, or that the degree of compliance with the policies or procedures
may deteriorate.

/s/ Ernst & Young LLP

Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
November 20, 2020

35

REPORT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM

To the Shareholders and the Board of Directors of

Matthews International Corporation and Subsidiaries

Opinion on the Financial Statements

We have audited the accompanying consolidated balance sheets of Matthews International Corporation and Subsidiaries (the Company) as of September 30, 2020 and 2019, the
related consolidated statements of income, comprehensive income (loss), shareholders' equity and cash flows for each of the three years in the period ended September 30, 2020,
and the related notes and the financial statement schedule listed in the Index at Item 15(a)2 (collectively referred to as the “consolidated financial statements”). In our opinion,
the  consolidated  financial  statements  present  fairly,  in  all  material  respects,  the  financial  position  of  the  Company  at  September  30,  2020  and  2019,  and  the  results  of  its
operations and its cash flows for each of the three years in the period ended September 30, 2020, in conformity with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles.

We also have audited, in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States) (PCAOB), the Company's internal control over
financial reporting as of September 30, 2020, based on criteria established in Internal Control-Integrated Framework issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of
the Treadway Commission (2013 framework) and our report dated November 20, 2020 expressed an unqualified opinion thereon.

Adoption of ASU No. 2016-02

As discussed in Note 3 to the consolidated financial statements, effective October 1, 2019, the Company changed its method of accounting for leases due to the adoption of
Accounting Standards Update No. 2016-02, Leases (Topic 842).

Basis for Opinion

These financial statements are the responsibility of the Company's management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on the Company’s financial statements based on our
audits.  We  are  a  public  accounting  firm  registered  with  the  PCAOB  and  are  required  to  be  independent  with  respect  to  the  Company  in  accordance  with  the  U.S.  federal
securities laws and the applicable rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission and the PCAOB.

We conducted our audits in accordance with the standards of the PCAOB. Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about
whether  the  financial  statements  are  free  of  material  misstatement,  whether  due  to  error  or  fraud.  Our  audits  included  performing  procedures  to  assess  the  risks  of  material
misstatement of the financial statements, whether due to error or fraud, and performing procedures that respond to those risks. Such procedures included examining, on a test
basis, evidence regarding the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements. Our audits also included evaluating the accounting principles used and significant estimates
made by management, as well as evaluating the overall presentation of the financial statements. We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinion.

Critical Audit Matters

The  critical  audit  matter  communicated  below  is  a  matter  arising  from  the  current  period  audit  of  the  financial  statements  that  was  communicated  or  required  to  be
communicated to the audit committee and that: (1) relates to accounts or disclosures that are material to the financial statements and (2) involved our especially challenging,
subjective or complex judgments. The communication of the critical audit matter does not alter in any way our opinion on the consolidated financial statements, taken as a
whole, and we are not, by communicating the critical audit matter below, providing a separate opinion on the critical audit matter or on the accounts or disclosures to which it
relates.

36

Description of the Matter

Valuation of Graphics Imaging Reporting Unit Goodwill
As  more  fully  described  in  Note  21  to  the  consolidated  financial  statements,  during  2020,  the  Company  recorded  a  $29.9  million
goodwill impairment charge attributable to its Graphics Imaging (Graphics) reporting unit within the Company’s SGK Brand Solutions
segment. The continuation of challenging market conditions affecting Graphics, combined with the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic
and  adverse  foreign  currency  trends,  unfavorably  impacted  the  financial  results  and  forecasts  for  this  reporting  unit.  Because  of  these
challenging market conditions, as of March 31, 2020, the Company evaluated the goodwill attributable to this reporting unit, determining
that the reporting unit’s carrying value exceeded its estimated fair value and, therefore, goodwill was impaired. Significant assumptions
used  in  the  Company’s  fair  value  estimate  included  revenue  growth,  operating  profit  margin,  market  participant  assumptions,  and  the
discount rate.

Auditing the goodwill impairment charge was complex, as it included estimating the fair value of the reporting unit. In particular, the fair
value  estimates  are  sensitive  to  the  significant  assumptions  named  above,  which  are  affected  by  expected  future  market  or  economic
conditions.

How We Addressed the
Matter in Our Audit

We  obtained  an  understanding,  evaluated  the  design,  and  tested  the  operating  effectiveness  of  internal  controls  over  the  Company’s
goodwill  impairment  review  process.  These  controls  include  management’s  assessment  of  indicators  of  impairment,  management's
review  of  the  assumptions  utilized  to  develop  the  estimate,  and  management’s  verification  of  the  completeness  and  accuracy  of  the
underlying data utilized to project future operating results for the reporting unit.

To test the fair value of the reporting unit, our audit procedures included, among others, involving our valuation specialists to assist in
assessing  the  valuation  methodologies  utilized  by  the  Company  and  its  valuation  expert  and  testing  the  significant  assumptions  and
underlying data used by the Company. We compared the significant assumptions used by management to current industry and economic
trends, changes in the Company’s business model, and other relevant factors. We also assessed the historical accuracy of management’s
estimates. We performed sensitivity analyses of significant assumptions to evaluate the sensitivity of the fair value of the reporting unit
resulting  from  changes  in  key  assumptions.  We  reviewed  the  reconciliation  of  the  fair  value  of  the  reporting  units  to  the  market
capitalization of the Company and assessed the resulting control premium.

/s/ Ernst & Young LLP

We have served as the Company’s auditor since 2016.

Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
November 20, 2020

37

 
MATTHEWS INTERNATIONAL CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
September 30, 2020 and 2019
(Dollar amounts in thousands, except per share data)

ASSETS
Current assets:

Cash and cash equivalents
Accounts receivable, net of allowance for doubtful
   accounts of $9,618 and $10,846, respectively
Inventories
Other current assets

Total current assets

Investments

Property, plant and equipment, net

Deferred income taxes

Other assets

Goodwill

Other intangible assets, net

Total assets

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.

38

2020

2019

$

41,334  $

35,302 

295,185 
175,100 
63,954 

318,756 
180,274 
49,384 

575,573 

583,716 

63,250 

85,501 

236,788 

237,442 

3,757 

5,032 

94,379 

31,455 

765,388 

846,807 

333,498 

400,650 

$

2,072,633  $

2,190,603 

MATTHEWS INTERNATIONAL CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS, continued
September 30, 2020 and 2019
(Dollar amounts in thousands, except per share data)

LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY
Current liabilities:

Long-term debt, current maturities
Trade accounts payable
Accrued compensation
Accrued income taxes
Other current liabilities

Total current liabilities

Long-term debt

Accrued pension

Postretirement benefits

Deferred income taxes

Other liabilities

Total liabilities

Shareholders' equity-Matthews:
Class A common stock, $1.00 par value; authorized
70,000,000 shares; 36,333,992 shares issued

Preferred stock, $100 par value, authorized 10,000 shares, none issued
Additional paid-in capital
Retained earnings
Accumulated other comprehensive loss
Treasury stock, 4,502,420 and 4,985,508 shares, respectively, at cost
Total shareholders' equity-Matthews
Noncontrolling interests
Total shareholders' equity

$

2020

2019

26,824  $
82,921 
58,058 
3,612 
145,453 
316,868 

42,503 
74,558 
42,545 
5,997 
114,276 
279,879 

807,710 

898,194 

149,848 

133,762 

18,600 

19,963 

78,911 

102,482 

89,263 
1,461,200 

37,087 
1,471,367 

36,334 
— 
135,187 
859,002 
(240,719)
(178,997)
610,807 
626 
611,433 

36,334 
— 
137,774 
972,594 
(228,361)
(200,235)
718,106 
1,130 
719,236 

Total liabilities and shareholders' equity

$

2,072,633  $

2,190,603 

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.

39

 
 
MATTHEWS INTERNATIONAL CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME
for the years ended September 30, 2020, 2019 and 2018
(Dollar amounts in thousands, except per share data)

Sales
Cost of sales

Gross profit

Selling expense
Administrative expense
Intangible amortization
Goodwill write-downs

Operating (loss) profit

Investment income
Interest expense
Other income (deductions), net

(Loss) income before income taxes

Income tax benefit (provision)

Net (loss) income

$

2020
1,498,306  $
(1,000,537)

2019
1,537,276  $
(994,810)

2018
1,602,580 
(1,018,359)

497,769 

542,466 

584,221 

(125,117)
(274,923)
(71,514)
(90,408)

(133,368)
(275,467)
(45,756)
(77,572)

(141,570)
(272,532)
(31,562)
— 

(64,193)

10,303 

138,557 

1,962 
(34,885)
(9,221)

1,494 
(40,962)
(8,918)

1,570 
(37,427)
(4,707)

(106,337)

(38,083)

97,993 

18,685 

(806)

9,118 

(87,652)

(38,889)

107,111 

Net loss attributable to noncontrolling interests

497 

901 

260 

Net (loss) income attributable to Matthews shareholders

(Loss) earnings per share attributable to Matthews shareholders:

Basic

Diluted

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.

40

$

$

$

(87,155) $

(37,988) $

107,371 

(2.79) $

(1.21) $

(2.79) $

(1.21) $

3.39 

3.37 

 
 
 
 
MATTHEWS INTERNATIONAL CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF COMPREHENSIVE INCOME (LOSS)
for the years ended September 30, 2020, 2019 and 2018
(Dollar amounts in thousands)

Net loss
Other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax:

Foreign currency translation adjustment
Pension plans and other postretirement benefits

Unrecognized (loss) gain on derivatives:
Net change from periodic revaluation
Net amount reclassified to earnings

      Net change in unrecognized loss on derivatives
Other comprehensive loss, net of tax
Comprehensive loss

Net loss
Other comprehensive loss, net of tax:

Foreign currency translation adjustment
Pension plans and other postretirement benefits

Unrecognized loss on derivatives:

Net change from periodic revaluation
Net amount reclassified to earnings

Net change in unrecognized loss on derivatives
Other comprehensive loss, net of tax
Comprehensive loss

Net income (loss)
Other comprehensive (loss) income, net of tax:

Foreign currency translation adjustment
Pension plans and other postretirement benefits

Unrecognized gain (loss) on derivatives:
Net change from periodic revaluation
Net amount reclassified to earnings

      Net change in unrecognized gain (loss) on derivatives
Other comprehensive (loss) income, net of tax
Comprehensive income (loss)

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.

41

Matthews

Year Ended September 30, 2020
Noncontrolling Interest

Total

$

(87,155) $

(497)

$

(87,652)

4,333 
(11,211)

(6,130)
650 
(5,480)
(12,358)
(99,513) $

(7)
— 

— 
— 
— 
(7)
(504)

$

4,326 
(11,211)

(6,130)
650 
(5,480)
(12,365)
(100,017)

Matthews

Year Ended September 30, 2019
Noncontrolling Interest

Total

(37,988) $

(901)

$

(38,889)

(21,254)
(33,867)

(6,540)
(2,402)
(8,942)
(64,063)
(102,051) $

(92)
— 

— 
— 
— 
(92)
(993)

$

(21,346)
(33,867)

(6,540)
(2,402)
(8,942)
(64,155)
(103,044)

Matthews

Year Ended September 30, 2018
Noncontrolling Interest

Total

107,371  $

(260)

$

107,111 

(22,053)
15,631 

6,095 
(1,042)
5,053 
(1,369)
106,002  $

71 
— 

— 
— 
— 
71 
(189)

$

(21,982)
15,631 

6,095 
(1,042)
5,053 
(1,298)
105,813 

$

$

$

$

$

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
MATTHEWS INTERNATIONAL CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY
for the years ended September 30, 2020, 2019 and 2018
(Dollar amounts in thousands, except per share data)

Common
Stock

Additional
Paid-in
Capital

Retained
Earnings

Accumulated Other
Comprehensive
(Loss) Income
(net of tax)

Treasury
Stock

Non-
controlling
Interests

Total

$

36,334 
— 

$

123,432 
— 

$

948,830 
107,371 

$

(154,115)
— 

$

(164,774)
— 

$

$

552 
(260)

— 
— 
— 

— 

— 

— 

— 
— 

— 

— 
— 
— 

13,460 

— 

(8,040)

400 
— 

— 

— 
— 
— 

— 

— 

— 

— 
(24,637)

8,814 

$

36,334 
— 

$

129,252 
— 

$

1,040,378 
(37,988)

$

— 
— 
— 

— 

— 

— 

— 
— 
— 

— 

— 
— 
— 

7,729 

— 

(154)

947 
— 
— 

— 

$

36,334 
— 

$

137,774 
— 

$

— 
— 
— 

— 

— 

— 

— 
— 

— 
— 
— 

8,096 

— 

(486)

1,527 
— 

— 
— 
— 

— 

— 

— 

— 
(25,620)
— 

(4,176)

972,594 
(87,155)

$

— 
— 
— 

— 

— 

— 

— 
(26,437)

15,631 
(22,053)
5,053 

— 

— 

— 

— 
— 

(8,814)

(164,298)
— 

$

(33,867)
(21,254)
(8,942)

— 

— 

— 

— 
— 
— 

— 

— 
— 
— 

— 

(21,181)

13,040 

(400)
— 

— 

(173,315)
— 

$

— 
— 
— 

— 

(26,127)

154 

(947)
— 
— 

— 

(228,361)
— 

$

(200,235)
— 

$

(11,211)
4,333 
(5,480)

— 

— 

— 

— 
— 

— 
— 
— 

— 

(4,428)

486 

(1,527)
— 

— 
71 
— 

— 

— 

— 

— 
— 

— 

363 
(901)

— 
(92)
— 

— 

— 

— 

— 
— 
1,760 

— 

1,130 
(497)

— 
(7)
— 

— 

— 

— 

— 
— 

$

$

— 
36,334 

$

(11,724)
135,187 

$

— 
859,002 

$

$

— 
(240,719)

$

26,707 
(178,997)

$

— 
626 

$

790,259 
107,111 

15,631 
(21,982)
5,053 
105,813 
13,460 

(21,181)

5,000 

— 
(24,637)

— 

868,714 
(38,889)

(33,867)
(21,346)
(8,942)
(103,044)
7,729 

(26,127)

— 

— 
(25,620)
1,760 

(4,176)

719,236 
(87,652)

(11,211)
4,326 
(5,480)
(100,017)
8,096 

(4,428)

— 

— 
(26,437)

14,983 
611,433 

Balance, September 30, 2017
Net income
Pension plans and other
postretirement benefits
Translation adjustment
Fair value of derivatives

Total comprehensive income

Stock-based compensation
Purchase of 393,864 shares
  of treasury stock
Issuance of 326,827 shares
  of treasury stock
Cancellation of 6,756 shares of
  treasury stock
Dividends
Reclassification of accumulated 
other comprehensive (loss)
income ("AOCI") tax effects
Balance, September 30, 2018
Net loss
Pension plans and other
postretirement benefits
Translation adjustment
Fair value of derivatives

Total comprehensive loss
Stock-based compensation
Purchase of 709,970 shares
  of treasury stock
Issuance of 3,782 shares
  of treasury stock
Cancellation of 20,114 shares of
  treasury stock
Dividends
Acquisition
Cumulative tax adjustment for 
intra-entity transfers
Balance, September 30, 2019
Net loss
Pension plans and other
postretirement benefits
Translation adjustment
Fair value of derivatives

Total comprehensive loss
Stock-based compensation
Purchase of 173,576 shares
  of treasury stock
Issuance of 12,125 shares
  of treasury stock
Cancellation of 23,461 shares of
  treasury stock
Dividends
Pension contribution of  668,000
  shares of treasury stock

Balance, September 30, 2020

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.

42

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
MATTHEWS INTERNATIONAL CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
for the years ended September 30, 2020, 2019 and 2018
(Dollar amounts in thousands)

Cash flows from operating activities:

Net (loss) income
Adjustments to reconcile net (loss) income to net cash
  provided by operating activities:

Depreciation and amortization
Stock-based compensation expense
Deferred tax benefit
Gain on sale of assets, net
(Gain) loss on sale of ownership interests in subsidiaries
Unrealized gain on investments
Losses from equity-method investments
Realized loss (gain) on cost-method investments
Goodwill write-downs
Changes in working capital items
Decrease (increase) in other assets
Increase in other liabilities
Other operating activities, net

Net cash provided by operating activities

Cash flows from investing activities:

Capital expenditures
Acquisitions, net of cash acquired
Proceeds from sale of assets
Proceeds from sale of cost-method investments
Proceeds from sale of ownership interests in subsidiaries
Investments and advances

Net cash used in investing activities
Cash flows from financing activities:
Proceeds from long-term debt
Payments on long-term debt
Purchases of treasury stock
Dividends
Acquisition holdback and contingent consideration payments
Other financing activities

Net cash (used in) provided by financing activities

Effect of exchange rate changes on cash
Net change in cash and cash equivalents
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of year
Cash and cash equivalents at end of year

Cash paid during the year for:

Interest
Income taxes

Non-cash investing and financing activities:

Acquisition of long-term asset under financing arrangement
Contribution of treasury stock to principal retirement plan

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.

43

2020

2019

2018

$

(87,652) $

(38,889) $

107,111 

119,058 
8,096 
(16,607)
(348)
(11,208)
(2,066)
3,498 
— 
90,408 
46,367 
16,392 
4,886 
9,623 
180,447 

(34,849)
(1,000)
624 
— 
42,210 
(9,703)
(2,718)

1,154,809 
(1,281,092)
(4,428)
(26,437)
(10,215)
(4,889)
(172,252)
555 
6,032 
35,302 
41,334  $

35,269  $
20,734 

—  $

14,983 

$

$

$

90,793 
7,729 
(6,783)
(8,567)
6,469 
(305)
2,050 
4,731 
77,572 
(12,482)
4,677 
7,540 
(3,452)
131,083 

(37,688)
(11,504)
13,253 
— 
8,254 
(33,074)
(60,759)

503,693 
(519,731)
(26,127)
(25,620)
(4,421)
(2,836)
(75,042)
(1,552)
(6,270)
41,572 
35,302  $

41,453  $
15,467 

—  $
— 

76,974 
13,460 
(23,125)
(2,190)
— 
(1,304)
— 
(3,771)
— 
(9,934)
(9,872)
5,406 
(5,181)
147,574 

(43,200)
(121,065)
4,705 
9,158 
— 
(11,934)
(162,336)

704,188 
(651,166)
(21,181)
(24,637)
— 
(6,303)
901 
(2,082)
(15,943)
57,515 
41,572 

37,232 
11,014 

14,544 
— 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
MATTHEWS INTERNATIONAL CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(Dollar amounts in thousands, except per share data)

1.     NATURE OF OPERATIONS:

Matthews  International  Corporation  ("Matthews"  or  the  "Company"),  founded  in  1850  and  incorporated  in  Pennsylvania  in  1902,  is  a  global  provider  of  brand  solutions,
memorialization products and industrial technologies. Brand solutions consists of brand management, pre-media services, printing plates and cylinders, engineered products,
imaging  services,  digital  asset  management,  merchandising  display  systems,  and  marketing  and  design  services  primarily  for  the  consumer  goods  and  retail  industries.
Memorialization products consist primarily of bronze and granite memorials and other memorialization products, caskets, and cremation and incineration equipment primarily
for  the  cemetery  and  funeral  home  industries.  Industrial  technologies  include  marking  and  coding  equipment  and  consumables,  industrial  automation  products  and  order
fulfillment systems for identifying, tracking, picking and conveying consumer and industrial products.

The Company has facilities in the North America, Europe, Asia, Australia, and Central and South America.

2.    SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES:

Principles of Consolidation:

The  consolidated  financial  statements  include  all  domestic  and  foreign  subsidiaries  in  which  the  Company  maintains  an  ownership  interest  and  has  operating  control.
Investments in certain companies over which the Company exerts significant influence, but does not control the financial and operating decisions, are accounted for as equity
method  investments.    Investments  in  certain  companies  over  which  the  Company  does  not  exert  significant  influence  are  accounted  for  as  cost-method  investments. All
intercompany accounts and transactions have been eliminated.

Use of Estimates:

The preparation of financial statements in conformity with generally accepted accounting principles requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the
reported amounts of assets and liabilities and the disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements and the reported amounts of revenues and
expenses during the reporting period.  Actual results could differ from those estimates.

Cash and Cash Equivalents:

The Company considers all investments purchased with a remaining maturity of three months or less to be cash equivalents.  The carrying amount of cash and cash equivalents
approximates fair value due to the short-term maturities of these instruments.

Trade Receivables and Allowance for Doubtful Accounts:

Trade  receivables  are  carried  at  their  estimated  collectible  amounts.  Trade  credit  is  generally  extended  on  a  short-term  basis;  thus  trade  receivables  do  not  bear  interest,
although a finance charge may be applied to such receivables that are more than 30 days past due. The allowance for doubtful accounts is based on an evaluation of specific
customer accounts for which available facts and circumstances indicate collectability may be uncertain.

Inventories:

Inventories are stated at the lower of cost or net realizable value with cost generally determined under the average cost method. Inventory costs include material, labor, and
applicable manufacturing overhead (including depreciation) and other direct costs. Net  realizable  value  is  the  estimated  selling  price  in  the  ordinary  course  of  business,  less
reasonably predictable costs of completion, disposal, and transportation.

44

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (continued)
(Dollar amounts in thousands, except per share data)

2.    SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES, (continued)

Property, Plant and Equipment:

Property, plant and equipment are carried at cost.  Depreciation is computed primarily on the straight-line method over the estimated useful lives of the assets, which generally
range from 10 to 45 years for buildings and 3 to 12 years for machinery and equipment.  Gains or losses from the disposition of assets are reflected in operating profit.  The cost
of maintenance and repairs is charged to expense as incurred.  Renewals and betterments of a nature considered to extend the useful lives of the assets are capitalized.  Property,
plant  and  equipment  are  reviewed  for  impairment  whenever  events  or  changes  in  circumstances  indicate  that  the  carrying  amount  of  such  assets  may  not  be  recoverable. 
Recoverability  of  assets  is  determined  by  evaluating  the  estimated  undiscounted  net  cash  flows  of  the  operations  to  which  the  assets  relate.   An  impairment  loss  would  be
recognized when the carrying amount of the assets exceeds the fair value, which is based on a discounted cash flow analysis. No such charges were recognized during the years
presented.

Leases:

A lease exists at contract inception if the contract conveys the right to control an identified asset for a period of time in exchange for consideration. Control is considered to exist
when  the  lessee  has  the  right  to  obtain  substantially  all  of  the  economic  benefits  from  the  use  of  an  identified  asset,  as  well  as  the  right  to  direct  the  use  of  that  asset.  If  a
contract is considered to be a lease, the Company recognizes a lease liability based on the present value of the future lease payments, and a corresponding right-of-use ("ROU")
asset. As a majority of the Company’s leases do not provide an implicit interest rate within the lease, an incremental borrowing rate is used to determine the ROU asset and lease
liability which is based on information available at the commencement date. Options to purchase, extend or terminate a lease are included in the ROU asset and lease liability
when it is reasonably certain an option will be exercised. Renewal options are most prevalent in the Company’s real estate leases. In general, the Company has not included
renewal options for leases in the ROU asset and lease liability because the likelihood of renewal is not considered to be reasonably certain. In addition, leases may include
variable lease payments, for items such as maintenance and utilities, which are expensed as incurred as variable lease expense.

The Company applies the practical expedient to not separate lease components from non-lease components for all asset classes. In addition, the Company applies the practical
expedient to utilize a portfolio approach for certain equipment asset classes, primarily information technology, as the application of the lease model to the portfolio would not
differ materially from the application of the lease model to the individual leases within the portfolio.

There are two types of leases, operating leases and finance leases. Lease classification is determined at lease commencement. Leases not meeting the finance lease criteria are
classified  as  operating  leases.  Effective  October  1,  2019,  ROU  assets  and  corresponding  lease  liabilities  are  recorded  on  the  Consolidated  Balance  Sheet. ROU  assets  for
operating leases are classified in other assets, and ROU assets for finance leases are classified in property, plant and equipment, net on the Consolidated Balance Sheet. For
operating leases, short-term lease liabilities are classified in other current liabilities, and long-term lease liabilities are classified in other liabilities on the Consolidated Balance
Sheet. For finance leases, short-term lease liabilities are classified in long-term debt, current maturities, and long-term lease liabilities are classified in long-term debt on the
Consolidated Balance Sheet. Leases with an initial lease term of twelve months or less have not been recognized on the Consolidated Balance Sheet. Reporting periods prior to
October 1, 2019 continue to be presented in accordance with previous lease accounting guidance under GAAP.

Lease  expense  for  operating  leases  is  recognized  on  a  straight-line  basis  over  the  lease  term  as  an  operating  expense,  while  the  expense  for  finance  leases  is  recognized  as
depreciation  expense  and  interest  expense  using  the  interest  method  of  recognition.  On  the  cash  flow  statement,  payments  for  operating  leases  are  classified  as  operating
activities. Payments for finance leases are classified as a financing activity, with the exception of the interest component of the payment which is classified as an operating
activity.

45

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (continued)
(Dollar amounts in thousands, except per share data)

2.    SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES, (continued)

Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets:

Intangible assets with finite useful lives are amortized over their estimated useful lives, ranging from 2 to 15 years, and are reviewed when appropriate for possible impairment,
similar to property, plant and equipment.  Goodwill and intangible assets with indefinite lives are not amortized, but are tested annually for impairment, or when circumstances
indicate that a possible impairment may exist.  In general, when the carrying value of these assets exceeds the implied fair value, an impairment loss must be recognized.  A
significant  decline  in  cash  flows  generated  from  these  assets  may  result  in  a  write-down  of  the  carrying  values  of  the  related  assets.  For  purposes  of  testing  goodwill  for
impairment,  the  Company  uses  a  combination  of  valuation  techniques,  including  discounted  cash  flows  and  other  market  indicators.  For  purposes  of  testing  indefinite-lived
intangible assets, the Company generally uses a relief from royalty method.

Pension and Other Postretirement Plans:

Pension assets and liabilities are determined on an actuarial basis and are affected by the market value of plan assets, estimates of the expected return on plan assets and the
discount rate used to determine the present value of benefit obligations.  Actual changes in the fair market value of plan assets and differences between the actual return on plan
assets, the expected return on plan assets and changes in the selected discount rate will affect the amount of pension cost. Differences between actual and expected results or
changes in the value of the obligations and plan assets are initially recognized through other comprehensive income and subsequently amortized to the Consolidated Statement
of Income.

Environmental:

Costs that mitigate or prevent future environmental issues or extend the life or improve equipment utilized in current operations are capitalized and depreciated on a straight-line
basis over the estimated useful lives of the related assets.  Costs that relate to current operations or an existing condition caused by past operations are expensed.  Environmental
liabilities are recorded when the Company's obligation is probable and reasonably estimable.  Accruals for losses from environmental remediation obligations do not consider
the effects of inflation, and anticipated expenditures are not discounted to their present value.

Derivatives and Hedging:

Derivatives are held as part of a formal documented hedging program.  All derivatives are held for purposes other than trading.  Matthews measures effectiveness by formally
assessing, at least quarterly, the historical and probable future high correlation of changes in the fair value or future cash flows of the hedged item.  If the hedging relationship
ceases  to  be  highly  effective  or  it  becomes  probable  that  an  expected  transaction  will  no  longer  occur,  gains  and  losses  on  the  derivative  will  be  recorded  in  other  income
(deductions) at that time.

Changes in the fair value of derivatives designated as cash flow hedges are recorded in other comprehensive income (loss) ("OCI"), net of tax, and are reclassified to earnings in
a manner consistent with the underlying hedged item.  The cash flows from derivative activities are recognized in the statement of cash flows in a manner consistent with the
underlying hedged item.

Foreign Currency:

The functional currency of the Company's foreign subsidiaries is generally the local currency.  Balance sheet accounts for foreign subsidiaries are translated into U.S. dollars at
exchange rates in effect at the consolidated balance sheet date.  Gains or losses that result from this process are recorded in accumulated other comprehensive income (loss). 
The revenue and expense accounts of foreign subsidiaries are translated into U.S. dollars at the average exchange rates that prevailed during the period. Realized gains and
losses  from  foreign  currency  transactions  are  presented  in  the  Statement  of  Income  in  a  consistent  manner  with  the  underlying  transaction  based  upon  the  provisions  of
Accounting Standards Codification ("ASC") 830 "Foreign Currency Matters."

Comprehensive Income (Loss):

Comprehensive income (loss) consists of net income adjusted for changes, net of any related income tax effect, in cumulative foreign currency translation, the fair value of
derivatives, unrealized investment gains and losses and remeasurement of pension and other postretirement liabilities.

46

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (continued)
(Dollar amounts in thousands, except per share data)

2.    SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES, (continued)

Treasury Stock:

Treasury stock is carried at cost.  The cost of treasury shares sold is determined under the average cost method.

Revenue Recognition:

Revenue is recognized when control of a good or service promised in a contract (i.e., performance obligation) is transferred to a customer. Control is obtained when a customer
has the ability to direct the use of and obtain substantially all of the remaining benefits from that good or service. For substantially all transactions, control passes in accordance
with  agreed  upon  delivery  terms,  including  in  certain  circumstances,  customer  acceptance.  This  approach  is  consistent  with  the  Company’s  historical  revenue  recognition
methodology. In limited instances revenue is recognized over time as critical milestones are met and as services are provided. Transaction  price,  for  revenue  recognition,  is
allocated to each performance obligation consisting of the stand alone selling price for goods and services, as well as warranties. Transaction price also reflects estimates of
rebates, other sales or contract renewal incentives, cash discounts and sales returns ("Variable Consideration"). Estimates are made for Variable Consideration based on contract
terms and historical experience of actual results and are applied to the performance obligations as they are satisfied. Each product or service delivered to a third-party customer
is considered to satisfy a performance obligation. Performance obligations generally occur at a point in time and are satisfied when control of the goods passes to the customer.
Certain revenue related to mausoleum construction and significant engineering projects, including cremation and incineration projects, and marking and industrial automation
projects, are recognized over time using the input method measuring progress toward completion of such projects. Amounts recognized using the over time method were less
than 5% of the Company's consolidated revenue for the years ended September 30, 2020, 2019 and 2018. The Company is entitled to collection of the sales price under normal
credit terms in the regions in which it operates. Refer to Note 4, “Revenue Recognition,” for a further discussion.

Shipping and Handling Fees and Costs:

All  fees  billed  to  the  customer  for  shipping  and  handling  are  classified  as  a  component  of  net  revenues. All  costs  associated  with  shipping  and  handling  are  classified  as  a
component of cost of sales or selling expense.

Research and Development Expenses:

Research and development costs are expensed as  incurred  and  were  approximately  $22,289, $26,176 and $24,984  for  the  years  ended  September  30,  2020,  2019  and  2018,
respectively.

Stock-Based Compensation:

Stock-based compensation cost is measured at grant date, based on the fair value of the award, and is recognized as expense over the employee requisite service period. 

Income Taxes:

Deferred tax assets and liabilities are provided for the differences between the financial statement and tax bases of assets and liabilities using enacted tax rates in effect for the
years in which the differences are expected to reverse.  Valuation allowances are recorded to reduce deferred tax assets when it is more likely than not that a tax benefit will not
be realized.  Deferred income taxes have not been provided on undistributed earnings of foreign subsidiaries since they have either been previously taxed, or are now exempt
from tax, under the U.S. Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, and such earnings are considered to be reinvested indefinitely in foreign operations.

Earnings Per Share:

Basic earnings per share is computed by dividing net income by the average number of common shares outstanding. Diluted earnings per share is computed using the treasury
stock method, which assumes the issuance of common stock for all dilutive securities.

47

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (continued)
(Dollar amounts in thousands, except per share data)

3.     ACCOUNTING PRONOUNCEMENTS:

Issued

In August  2018,  the  Financial Accounting  Standards  Board  (the  "FASB")  issued Accounting  Standards  Update  ("ASU")  No.  2018-14, Compensation  -  Retirement  Benefits  -
Defined  Benefit  Plans  -  General  (Subtopic  715-20),  which  modifies  the  disclosure  requirements  for  employers  that  sponsor  defined  benefit  pension  or  other  postretirement
plans.  This ASU is effective for the Company beginning in interim periods starting in fiscal year 2021.  The adoption of this ASU is not expected to have a material impact on
the Company's consolidated financial statements.

In  June  2016,  the  FASB  issued ASU  No.  2016-13, Financial  Instruments  -  Credit  Losses  (Topic  326),  which  provides  financial  statement  users  with  more  decision-useful
information about the expected credit losses on financial instruments and other commitments to extend credit held by a reporting entity at each report date. Subsequently, the
FASB issued ASU No. 2019-11,  Codification Improvements to Topic 326, Financial Instruments—Credit Losses and ASU No. 2020-02, Financial Instruments—Credit Losses
(Topic 326) and Leases (Topic 842), that provide certain amendments to the new guidance. These ASUs are effective for the Company beginning in interim periods starting in
fiscal year 2021. The adoption of these ASUs are not expected to have a material impact on the Company's consolidated financial statements.

Adopted

In December 2019, the FASB issued ASU No. 2019-12, Income Taxes (Topic 740) which simplifies the accounting for income taxes. The amendments in this update remove
certain exceptions to the general principles in Topic 740 and also simplify GAAP for other areas of Topic 740 by clarifying and amending existing guidance. The amendments
in this ASU will be applied using different approaches depending on what the specific amendment relates to and, for public entities, are effective for fiscal years, and interim
periods within those fiscal years, beginning after December 15, 2020. The Company early adopted this ASU in the quarter ended March 31, 2020. The adoption of this ASU had
no significant impact on the Company's consolidated financial statements, but modifies the methodology to assess certain tax principles in Topic 740 prospectively.

In August 2018, the FASB issued ASU No. 2018-13, Fair Value Measurement (Topic 820), Disclosure Framework - Changes to the Disclosure Requirements for Fair Value
Measurement, which modifies the disclosure requirements on fair value measurements including the consideration of costs and benefits.  The adoption of this ASU in the first
quarter ended December 31, 2019 had no impact on the Company's consolidated financial statements.

In August  2017,  the  FASB  issued ASU  No.  2017-12, Derivatives  and  Hedging  (Topic  815),  which  provides  new  guidance  intended  to  improve  the  financial  reporting  of
hedging relationships to better portray the economic results of an entity’s risk management activities in its financial statements. The adoption of this ASU in the first quarter
ended December 31, 2019 had no impact on the Company's consolidated financial statements.

In May 2017, the FASB issued ASU No. 2017-09, Compensation - Stock Compensation (Topic 718), which provides new guidance intended to clarify and reduce complexities
in applying stock compensation guidance to a change to the terms or conditions of share-based payment awards. The adoption of this ASU in the first quarter ended December
31, 2018 had no impact on the Company's consolidated financial statements.

In  February  2017,  the  FASB  issued ASU  No.  2017-07, Compensation  -  Retirement  Benefits  (Topic  715),  Improving  the  Presentation  of  Net  Periodic  Pension  Cost  and  Net
Periodic Postretirement Benefit Cost, which provides new guidance intended to improve the disclosure requirements related to the service cost component of net benefit cost.
ASU 2017-07 requires a company to present the service cost components of net periodic benefit cost in the same income statement line as other employee compensation costs,
with the remaining components of net periodic benefit cost presented separately from the service cost components and outside of any subtotal of operating income, if one is
presented. The Company adopted this standard on October 1, 2018 applying the presentation requirements retrospectively.

In January 2017, the FASB issued ASU No. 2017-01, Business Combinations (Topic 805), Clarifying the Definition of a Business,  which  provides  new  guidance  intended  to
make the definition of a business more operable and allow for more consistency in application.  The adoption of this ASU in the first quarter ended December 31, 2018 had no
impact on the Company's consolidated financial statements.

In  October  2016,  the  FASB  issued ASU  No.  2016-16, Income  Taxes  -  Intra-Entity  Transfers  of  Assets  Other  Than  Inventory  (Topic  740),  which  will  require  an  entity  to
recognize the income tax consequences of an intra-entity transfer of an asset, other

48

3.     ACCOUNTING PRONOUNCEMENTS, (continued)

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (continued)
(Dollar amounts in thousands, except per share data)

than inventory, when the transfer occurs. The Company adopted ASU 2016-16 on October 1, 2018 using the modified retrospective method which resulted in a decrease to
retained earnings and other assets of $4,176.

In August 2016, the FASB issued ASU No. 2016-15, Statement of Cash Flows (Topic 230): Classification of Certain Cash Receipts and Cash Payments (a consensus of the
Emerging Issues Task Force), which provides new guidance intended to clarify the presentation of certain cash flow items including debt prepayments, debt extinguishment
costs, contingent considerations payments, and insurance proceeds, among other things. The adoption of this ASU in the first quarter ended December 31, 2018 did not have a
material impact on the Company's consolidated financial statements.

In February 2016, the FASB issued ASU No. 2016-02, Leases (Topic 842), which provides new guidance on how an entity should account for leases and recognize associated
lease  assets  and  liabilities.  This ASU  requires  lessees  to  recognize  assets  and  liabilities  that  arise  from  financing  and  operating  leases  on  the  Consolidated  Balance  Sheet.
Subsequently, the FASB issued several ASUs that address implementation issues and correct or improve certain aspects of the new lease guidance, including ASU 2017-13,
Revenue Recognition (Topic 605), Revenue from Contracts with Customers (Topic 606), Leases (Topic 840), and Leases (Topic 842), ASU 2018-01, Leases (Topic 842) Land
Easement  Practical  Expedient  for  Transition  to  Topic  842, ASU  2018-10,  Codification  Improvements  to  Topic  842,  Leases,  ASU  2018-11, Leases  (Topic  842):  Targeted
Improvements, ASU 2018-20, Leases (Topic 842): Narrow-Scope Improvements for Lessors, and ASU 2019-01, Leases (Topic 842): Codification Improvements. These ASUs
do  not  change  the  core  principles  in  the  lease  guidance  outlined  above. ASU  No.  2018-11  provides  an  additional  transition  method  to  adopt ASU  No.  2016-02.  Under  the
transition method, an entity initially applies the new leases standard at the adoption date versus at the beginning of the earliest period presented and recognizes a cumulative-
effect adjustment to the opening balance of retained earnings in the period of adoption. The Company adopted the standard using the transition method as of October 1, 2019.
Under this approach, the Company recognized and recorded ROU assets and related lease liabilities on the Consolidated Balance Sheet of approximately $80 million with no
impact to retained earnings. Reporting periods prior to October 1, 2019 continue to be presented in accordance with previous lease accounting guidance under GAAP. As part of
the  adoption,  the  Company  elected  the  package  of  practical  expedients  permitted  under  the  transition  guidance  which  includes  the  ability  to  carry  forward  historical  lease
classification.

In  January  2016,  the  FASB  issued ASU  No.  2016-01, Financial  Instruments  -  Overall  (Subtopic  825-10):  Recognition  and  Measurement  of  Financial  Assets  and  Financial
Liabilities, which provides new guidance intended to improve the recognition, measurement, presentation and disclosure of financial instruments. In February 2018, the FASB
issued ASU 2018-03, Technical Corrections and Improvements to Financial Instruments—Overall (Subtopic 825-10), that provides guidance related to implementation issues
and corrects or improves certain aspects of the financial instruments guidance. The adoption of these ASUs in the first quarter ended December 31, 2018 had no impact on the
Company's consolidated financial statements.

In May 2014, the FASB issued ASU No. 2014-09, Revenue from Contracts with Customers: Topic 606. This ASU replaces nearly all existing U.S. GAAP guidance on revenue
recognition. The standard prescribes a five-step model for recognizing revenue, the application of which will require significant judgment. The FASB issued ASU 2015-14 in
August 2015 which resulted in a deferral of the original effective date of ASU 2014-09. During 2016 and 2017, the FASB issued six ASUs that address implementation issues
and correct or improve certain aspects of the new revenue recognition guidance, including ASU 2016-08, Principal  versus  Agent  Considerations  (Reporting  Revenue  Gross
versus  Net),  ASU  2016-10, Identifying  Performance  Obligations  and  Licensing,  ASU  2016-12, Narrow-Scope  Improvements  and  Practical  Expedients, ASU  2016-20,
Technical Corrections and Improvements to Topic 606, Revenue from Contracts with Customers, ASU 2017-13, Revenue Recognition (Topic 605), Revenue from Contracts with
Customers  (Topic  606),  Leases  (Topic  840),  and  Leases  (Topic  842)   and  ASU  2017-14, Income  Statement—Reporting  Comprehensive  Income  (Topic  220),  Revenue
Recognition (Topic 605), and Revenue from Contracts with Customers (Topic 606) . These ASUs do not change the core principles in the revenue recognition guidance outlined
above. The Company adopted the provisions of these ASUs in the first fiscal quarter of 2019, using the modified retrospective method. The adoption of these ASUs did not
impact the Company's consolidated financial statements and therefore, there was no cumulative effect adjustment recognized to retained earnings on October 1, 2018.

In  February  2018,  the  FASB  issued ASU  No.  2018-02,  Income  Statement  -  Reporting  Comprehensive  Income  (Topic  220),  which  provides  new  guidance  to  allow  a
reclassification  from  accumulated  other  comprehensive  income  to  retained  earnings  for  stranded  tax  effects  resulting  from  the  U.S.  Tax  Cuts  and  Jobs Act.  The  amount  of
reclassification is the difference between the Company's historical U.S. income tax rate and the newly enacted 21% corporate income tax rate. The Company early adopted this
ASU in the third quarter ended June 30, 2018. The adoption of this ASU resulted in a decrease to AOCI and corresponding increase to retained earnings of $8,814.

49

4.     REVENUE RECOGNITION:

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (continued)
(Dollar amounts in thousands, except per share data)

The Company delivers a variety of products and services through its business segments. The SGK Brand Solutions segment delivers brand management, pre-media services,
printing plates and cylinders, engineered products, and imaging services for consumer goods and retail customers, merchandising display systems, and marketing and design
services primarily to the consumer goods and retail industries. The Memorialization segment produces and delivers bronze and granite memorials and other memorialization
products, caskets, and cremation and incineration equipment primarily for the cemetery and funeral home industries.  The Industrial Technologies segment delivers marking and
coding  equipment  and  consumables,  industrial  automation  products  and  order  fulfillment  systems  for  identifying,  tracking,  picking  and  conveying  consumer  and  industrial
products for the warehousing and industrial industries.

The Company disaggregates revenue from contracts with customers by geography, as it believes geographic regions best depict how the nature, amount, timing and uncertainty
of  revenue  and  cash  flows  are  affected  by  economic  factors. Disaggregated  sales  by  segment  and  region  for  the  years  ended  September  30,  2020,  2019  and  2018  were  as
follows:

North America

Central and South
America

Europe

Australia

Asia

Consolidated

SGK Brand Solutions:
2020
2019
2018

Memorialization:
2020
2019
2018

Industrial Technologies:
2020
2019
2018

Consolidated:
2020
2019
2018

$

$

$

$

305,527  $
320,553 
351,631 

611,496  $
590,575 
583,942 

120,682  $
127,140 
130,794 

6,304  $
5,853 
6,171 

326,776  $
362,088 
389,151 

—  $
— 
— 

—  $
— 
— 

35,557  $
37,199 
36,773 

25,498  $
26,966 
30,154 

1,037,705  $
1,038,268 
1,066,367 

6,304  $
5,853 
6,171 

387,831  $
426,253 
456,078 

12,097  $
11,767 
12,599 

8,982  $
9,118 
10,677 

—  $
— 
— 

21,079  $
20,885 
23,276 

42,389  $
43,608 
45,722 

—  $
— 
— 

2,998  $
2,409 
4,966 

45,387  $
46,017 
50,688 

693,093 
743,869 
805,274 

656,035 
636,892 
631,392 

149,178 
156,515 
165,914 

1,498,306 
1,537,276 
1,602,580 

5.    FAIR VALUE MEASUREMENTS:

Fair value is defined as the price that would be received to sell an asset or paid to transfer a liability in an orderly transaction between market participants at the measurement
date. A three level fair value hierarchy is used to prioritize the inputs used in valuations, as defined below:

Level 1:
Level 2:
Level 3:

Observable inputs that reflect unadjusted quoted prices for identical assets or liabilities in active markets.
Inputs other than quoted prices included within Level 1 that are observable for the asset or liability, either directly or indirectly.
 Unobservable inputs for the asset or liability.

50

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
       
5.    FAIR VALUE MEASUREMENTS, (continued)

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (continued)
(Dollar amounts in thousands, except per share data)

As of September 30, 2020 and 2019, the fair values of the Company's assets and liabilities measured on a recurring basis were categorized as follows:

Assets:

Equity and fixed income mutual funds
Life insurance policies
Total assets at fair value

Liabilities:
   Derivatives
Total liabilities at fair value

 (1)

Level 1

Level 2

Level 3

Total

September 30, 2020

— 
— 
—  $

—  $
—  $

24,610 
4,621 
29,231  $

7,792  $
7,792  $

— 
— 
—  $

—  $
—  $

24,610 
4,621 
29,231 

7,792 
7,792 

$

$
$

(1)

 Interest rate swaps are valued based on observable market swap rates and are classified within Level 2 of the fair value hierarchy.

Assets:

 (1)

Derivatives
Equity and fixed income mutual funds
Life insurance policies
Total assets at fair value

Liabilities:
   Derivatives 
Total liabilities at fair value

(1)

Level 1

Level 2

Level 3

Total

September 30, 2019

$

$

$
$

—  $
— 
— 
—  $

—  $
—  $

845  $

22,986 
4,030 
27,861  $

1,379  $
1,379  $

—  $
— 
— 
—  $

—  $
—  $

845 
22,986 
4,030 
27,861 

1,379 
1,379 

(1)

 Interest rate swaps are valued based on observable market swap rates and are classified within Level 2 of the fair value hierarchy.

6.    INVENTORIES:

Inventories at September 30, 2020 and 2019 consisted of the following:

Raw materials
Work in process
Finished goods

2020

2019

$

$

36,157  $
70,128 
68,815 
175,100  $

35,616 
76,297 
68,361 
180,274 

51

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (continued)
(Dollar amounts in thousands, except per share data)

7.     INVESTMENTS:

At September 30, 2020 and 2019, non-current investments were as follows:

Equity and fixed income mutual funds
Life insurance policies
Equity-method investments
Other investments

2020

2019

$

$

24,610  $
4,621 
446 
33,573 
63,250  $

22,986 
4,030 
39,761 
18,724 
85,501 

Equity and fixed income mutual funds represent investments held in trust for the Company's non-qualified supplemental retirement plan and are classified as trading securities
and recorded at fair value.  The market value of these investments exceeded cost by $138 and $941 at September 30, 2020 and 2019, respectively. Realized and unrealized gains
and losses are recorded in investment income.  Realized gains (losses) for fiscal 2020, 2019 and 2018 were not material.

During fiscal 2019, the Company completed the sale of a 51% ownership interest in a small Memorialization business. This transaction resulted in the recognition of a $5,587
pre-tax  loss  which  was  included  as  a  component  of  administrative  expenses  for  the  year  ended  September  30,  2019. Immediately  following  the  transaction,  the  Company
retained a non-controlling interest in this business, which was accounted for as an equity-method investment. The Company made additional capital contributions to this non-
consolidated subsidiary totaling $29,148 during fiscal 2019 and continued to account for this non-controlling interest as an equity method investment.

During fiscal 2020, the Company made $9,482 of additional investments in its non-consolidated Memorialization subsidiary. Subsequently in fiscal 2020, the Company sold its
ownership interest in this subsidiary for $42,210 of cash and $15,000 of senior preferred shares. The senior preferred shares earn a yield based on an escalating rate ranging
from 6%  to 14% and are expected to be redeemed before the end of calendar year 2022. In connection with this sale transaction, the Company recognized a pre-tax gain of
$11,208 which has been recorded as a component of administrative expenses. The senior preferred shares are included within other investments in the table above along with
ownership interests in various entities of less than 20%, which are recorded under the cost-method of accounting.

8.     PROPERTY, PLANT AND EQUIPMENT:

Property, plant and equipment and the related accumulated depreciation at September 30, 2020 and 2019 were as follows:

Buildings
Machinery, equipment and other

Less accumulated depreciation

Land
Construction in progress

2020

2019

$

$

113,231  $
486,282 
599,513 
(391,436)
208,077 
16,660 
12,051 
236,788  $

114,276 
446,356 
560,632 
(361,193)
199,439 
17,310 
20,693 
237,442 

Depreciation expense, including amortization of assets under finance lease, was $47,544, $45,037 and $45,412 for each of the three years ended September 30, 2020, 2019 and
2018, respectively.

52

 
 
    
 
 
 
 
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (continued)
(Dollar amounts in thousands, except per share data)

9.    LONG-TERM DEBT:

Long-term debt at September 30, 2020 and 2019 consisted of the following:

Revolving credit facilities
Securitization facility
Senior secured term loan
2025 Senior Notes
Notes payable to banks
Other borrowings
Finance lease obligations

Less current maturities

2020

2019

$

$

416,793  $
67,700 
22,359 
297,256 
— 
20,742 
9,684 
834,534 
(26,824)
807,710  $

476,132 
93,950 
53,497 
296,716 
16,376 
395 
3,631 
940,697 
(42,503)
898,194 

The Company has a domestic credit facility with a syndicate of financial institutions that was amended and restated in March 2020. The amended and restated loan agreement
includes a $750,000 senior secured revolving credit facility, which matures in March 2025, and a $35,000 senior secured amortizing term loan, which matures in July 2021. A
portion of the revolving credit facility (not to exceed $350,000) can be drawn in foreign currencies. The term loan requires scheduled quarterly principal payments through its
maturity date. Borrowings under both the revolving credit facility and the term loan bear interest at LIBOR (Euro LIBOR for balances drawn in Euros) plus a factor ranging
from 0.75% to 2.00% (1.50% at September 30, 2020) based on the Company's secured leverage ratio.  The secured leverage ratio is defined as net secured indebtedness divided
by EBITDA (earnings before interest, income taxes, depreciation and amortization) as defined within the domestic credit facility agreement.  The Company is required to pay an
annual commitment fee ranging from 0.15% to 0.30% (based on the Company's leverage ratio) of the unused portion of the revolving credit facility. The Company incurred debt
issuance costs of approximately $2,000 in connection with the amended and restated agreement, which was deferred and is being amortized over the term of the facility.

The domestic credit facility requires the Company to maintain certain leverage and interest coverage ratios. A portion of the facility (not to exceed $35,000) is available for the
issuance of trade and standby letters of credit. Outstanding U.S. dollar denominated borrowings on the revolving credit facility at September 30, 2020 and 2019 were $257,439
and $325,638,  respectively. Outstanding Euro denominated borrowings on the revolving credit facility at September 30, 2020 and 2019 were €117.0 million ($137,188)  and
€125.0 million ($136,470),  respectively.  Outstanding  borrowings  on  the  term  loan  at  September  30,  2020  and  2019  were  $22,359 and $53,497,  respectively.  The  weighted-
average interest rate on outstanding borrowings for the domestic credit facility (including the effects of interest rate swaps and Euro denominated borrowings) at September 30,
2020 and 2019 was 2.41% and 2.65%, respectively.

The  Company  has  $300,000  of 5.25%  senior  unsecured  notes  due  December  1,  2025  (the  "2025  Senior  Notes").  The  2025  Senior  Notes  bear  interest  at  a  rate  of 5.25%  per
annum with interest payable semi-annually in arrears on June 1 and December 1 of each year. The Company's obligations under the 2025 Senior Notes are guaranteed by certain
of the Company's direct and indirect wholly-owned domestic subsidiaries. The Company is subject to certain covenants and other restrictions in connection with the 2025 Senior
Notes. The Company incurred direct financing fees and costs in connection with 2025 Senior Notes. Unamortized costs were $2,744 and $3,284 at September 30, 2020 and
2019, respectively.

The Company has a $115,000 accounts receivable securitization facility (the "Securitization Facility") with certain financial institutions. The Securitization Facility, which had
a maturity date of April 2020, was amended in March 2020 to extend the maturity date until March 2022. Under the Securitization Facility, the Company and certain of its
domestic subsidiaries sell, on a continuous basis without recourse, their trade receivables to Matthews Receivables Funding Corporation, LLC (“Matthews RFC”), a wholly-
owned  bankruptcy-remote  subsidiary  of  the  Company. Matthews  RFC  in  turn  assigns  a  collateral  interest  in  these  receivables  to  certain  financial  institutions,  and  then  may
borrow funds under the Securitization Facility. The Securitization Facility does not qualify for sale treatment. Accordingly, the trade receivables and related debt obligations
remain on the Company's Consolidated Balance Sheet. Borrowings under the Securitization Facility bear interest at LIBOR plus 0.75%. The Company is required to pay an
annual  commitment  fee  ranging  from 0.25%  to 0.35%  of  the  unused  portion  of  the  Securitization  Facility. Outstanding  borrowings  under  the  Securitization  Facility  at
September 30, 2020 and 2019 were $67,700 and $93,950,  respectively. The  interest  rate  on  borrowings  under  this  facility  at  September  30,  2020  and  2019  was 0.90%  and
2.77%, respectively.

53

 
 
 
9.    LONG-TERM DEBT, (continued)

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (continued)
(Dollar amounts in thousands, except per share data)

The following table presents information related to interest rate contracts entered into by the Company and designated as cash flow hedges:

Pay fixed swaps - notional amount
Net unrealized loss
Weighted-average maturity period (years)
Weighted-average received rate
Weighted-average pay rate

$
$

September 30, 2020

September 30, 2019

312,500 
(7,792)

$
$

2.6
0.15 %
1.34 %

293,750 
(534)

1.9
2.02 %
1.41 %

The Company enters into interest rate swaps in order to achieve a mix of fixed and variable rate debt that it deems appropriate. The interest rate swaps have been designated as
cash flow hedges of future variable interest payments which are considered probable of occurring.  Based on the Company's assessment, all of the critical terms of each of the
hedges matched the underlying terms of the hedged debt and related forecasted interest payments, and as such, these hedges were considered highly effective.

The  fair  value  of  the  interest  rate  swaps  reflected  an  unrealized  loss  of  $7,792 ($5,884  after  tax)  and  an  unrealized  loss  net  of  unrealized  gains  of  $534 ($403  after  tax)  at
September  30,  2020  and  2019,  respectively,  that  is  included  in  shareholders'  equity  as  part  of  accumulated  other  comprehensive  income  ("AOCI").   Assuming  market  rates
remain constant with the rates at September 30, 2020, a loss (net of tax) of approximately $2,389 included in AOCI is expected to be recognized in earnings over the next twelve
months.
At September 30, 2020 and 2019, the interest rate swap contracts were reflected on a gross-basis in the consolidated balance sheets as follows:

Derivatives:
Current assets:

Other current assets

Long-term assets:
Other assets
Current liabilities:

Other current liabilities

Long-term liabilities:
Other liabilities

Total derivatives

2020

2019

$

$

—  $

— 

(3,164)

(4,628)
(7,792) $

548 

297 

(484)

(895)
(534)

The (losses) gains recognized on derivatives was as follows:

Derivatives in Cash Flow Hedging
Relationships

Location of (Loss) Gain Recognized in
Income on Derivatives

Interest rate swaps

Interest expense

Amount of (Loss) Gain Recognized in Income on Derivatives
2018
2019
2020
$1,380
$3,181
$(861)

54

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (continued)
(Dollar amounts in thousands, except per share data)

9.    LONG-TERM DEBT, (continued)

The Company recognized the following (losses) gains in AOCI:

Derivatives in Cash Flow Hedging
Relationships

 Amount of (Loss) Gain Recognized in AOCI
on Derivatives
2019

2020

2018

Location of (Loss) Gain
Reclassified from AOCI into
Income
(Effective Portion*)

Amount of (Loss) Gain Reclassified from
AOCI into Income (Effective Portion*)
2019

2020

2018

Interest rate swaps

$(6,130)

$(6,540)

$6,095

Interest expense

$(650)

$2,402

$1,042

* 

There is no ineffective portion or amount excluded from effectiveness testing.

The Company, through certain of its European subsidiaries, has a credit facility with a European bank, which is guaranteed by Matthews.  The maximum amount of borrowings
available under this facility is €35.0 million ($41,039).  The credit facility matures in December 2020 and the Company intends to extend this facility. Outstanding borrowings
under  the  credit  facility  totaled €18.9  million  ($22,166)  and  €12.8  million  ($14,024)  at  September  30,  2020  and  2019,  respectively.  The  weighted-average  interest  rate  on
outstanding borrowings under this facility was 1.25% at September 30, 2020 and 2019.

The Company’s German subsidiary, Matthews Europe GmbH, had € 15.0 million ($16,376 at September 30, 2019) of senior unsecured notes with European banks.  The notes
matured in November 2019 at which point they were paid. The weighted-average interest rate on the notes at September 30, 2019 was 1.40%.

Finance lease liabilities included as a component of debt totaled 9,684 and 3,631 at September 30, 2020 and 2019, respectively. Other borrowings totaled $20,742 and $395 at
September  30,  2020  and  2019,  respectively. The  weighted-average  interest  rate  on  these  outstanding  borrowings  was 2.10%  and 2.17%  at  September  30,  2020  and  2019,
respectively.

The Company uses certain foreign currency debt instruments as net investment hedges of foreign operations. Currency losses of $4,377 (net of income taxes of $1,420)  and
currency  gains  of  $3,320  (net  of  income  taxes  of  $1,077),  which  represent  effective  hedges  of  net  investments,  were  reported  as  a  component  of AOCI  within  currency
translation adjustment for fiscal 2020 and 2019, respectively.

In September 2014, a claim was filed by a customer seeking to draw upon a letter of credit issued by the Company of £8,570,000 ($11,032 at September 30, 2020) with respect
to a performance guarantee on an incineration equipment project in Saudi Arabia. Management assessed the customer's demand to be without merit and initiated an action with
the court in the United Kingdom (the "U.K. Court"). Pursuant to this action, an order was issued by the U.K. Court in January 2015 requiring that, upon receipt by the customer,
the funds were to be remitted by the customer to the U.K. Court pending resolution of the dispute between the parties. As a result, the Company made payment on the draw to
the financial institution for the letter of credit and the funds were ultimately received by the customer. The customer did not remit the funds to the U.K. Court as ordered. On
June  14,  2016,  the  U.K.  Court  ruled  completely  in  favor  of  Matthews  following  a  trial  on  the  merits.  However,  the  ongoing  dispute  involves  litigation  in  multiple  foreign
jurisdictions because the contract between the parties includes a venue clause requiring the venue for any litigation to be in the United Kingdom, while the enforcement of any
final judgment is required to be executed in Saudi Arabia. The Company continues to pursue a trial on the merits in Saudi Arabia; however, given the recent coronavirus disease
2019  ("COVID-19")  pandemic,  the  case  has  been  further  delayed. As  the  Company  has  successfully  completed  the  project  and  subsequently  operated  the  equipment,  the
Company remains confident regarding the pending trial on the merits in Saudi Arabia and expects to be in a position to enforce the judgment and initiate collection efforts
following completion of that trial. However, the Company’s level of success in recovering funds from the customer will depend upon several factors including a successful
completion of the pending trial on the merits in Saudi Arabia, the availability of recoverable funds, and the subsequent level of support of the Saudi Arabian government to
enforce a potential judgment against the customer.

During the third quarter of fiscal 2020, the Saudi Arabian government implemented restrictions on travel to Mecca due to the COVID-19 pandemic. As a result, the Company
was not able to support the operation of the incineration equipment for the local agency responsible for its operation during the current year Hajj Pilgrimage. Consequently, as of
the filing of this report, the Company is now concerned regarding the level of anticipated support from the government in its collection efforts. Therefore,  when  considered
collectively with the potential delay in completing the trial and other collectability risks, the Company established a reserve for the full value of the funded letter of credit as of
June  30,  2020. The  funded  letter  of  credit  was  previously  classified  within  other  assets  on  the  Consolidated  Balance  Sheet  as  of  September  30,  2019. The  Company  will
continue to assess the accounting and collectability related to this matter as facts and circumstances evolve.

55

9.    LONG-TERM DEBT, (continued)

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (continued)
(Dollar amounts in thousands, except per share data)

As of September 30, 2020 and 2019 the fair value of the Company's long-term debt, including current maturities, which is classified as Level 2 in the fair value hierarchy,
approximated the carrying value included in the Consolidated Balance Sheets. The Company was in compliance with all of its debt covenants as of September 30, 2020.

Aggregate maturities by fiscal year of long-term debt, including other borrowings, is as follows:

2021
2022
2023
2024
2025
Thereafter

Finance lease obligations

$

$

(a)

(b)

55,564 
68,650 
979 
979 
395,816 
302,862 
824,850 
9,684 
834,534 

(a) 

The Company maintains certain debt facilities with current maturity dates in fiscal 2021 that it intends and has the ability to extend beyond fiscal 2021 totaling $ 32,255. These balances have been classified

as non-current on the Company's Consolidated Balance Sheet.

(b)

 Aggregate maturities of finance lease obligations can be found in Note 10, "Leases."

10.    LEASES:

The Company’s lease portfolio includes various contracts for real estate, vehicles, information technology and other  equipment. Effective  October  1,  2019,  ROU  assets  and
corresponding lease liabilities are recorded on the Consolidated Balance Sheet. Reporting periods prior to October 1, 2019 continue to be presented in accordance with previous
lease accounting guidance under GAAP. The following table presents the balance sheet and lease classification for the Company's lease portfolio:

Balance Sheet Classification
Non-current assets:

Property, plant and equipment, net
Other assets

Total lease assets

Current liabilities:

Long-term debt, current maturities
Other current liabilities

Non-current liabilities:
Long-term debt
Other liabilities

Total lease liabilities

Lease Classification

September 30, 2020

$

$

$

$

9,185 
72,011 
81,196 

3,515 
23,942 

6,169 
49,297 
82,923 

Finance
Operating

Finance
Operating

Finance
Operating

56

 
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (continued)
(Dollar amounts in thousands, except per share data)

10.    LEASES, (continued)

The following table presents the components of lease cost:

Finance lease cost:

Amortization of ROU assets
Interest on lease liabilities

 (a)

Operating lease cost
(a)
Variable lease cost 
Sublease income
Total lease cost

(a) 

Annual lease cost under operating leases were $ 29,033, $38,015 and $ 38,934 in fiscal 2020, 2019 and 2018, respectively. 

Supplemental information regarding the Company's leases follows:

Cash paid for finance and operating lease liabilities:
Operating cash flows from finance leases
Operating cash flows from operating leases
Financing cash flows from finance leases

ROU assets obtained in exchange for new finance lease liabilities
ROU assets obtained in exchange for new operating lease liabilities

Weighted-average remaining lease term - finance leases (years)
Weighted-average remaining lease term - operating leases (years)
Weighted-discount rate - finance leases
Weighted-discount rate - operating leases

Maturities of lease obligations by fiscal year were as follows as of September 30, 2020:

Operating Leases

Finance Leases

2021
2022
2023
2024
2025
Thereafter
Total future minimum lease payments
Less: Interest
Present value of lease liabilities:

$

$

25,804  $
18,973 
12,939 
8,706 
5,515 
5,224 
77,161 
3,922 
73,239  $

57

For the Year Ended September
30, 2020

$

$

2,112 
206 
23,735 
5,298 
(732)
30,619 

For the Year Ended September
30, 2020

$
$
$
$
$

207 
29,309 
2,064 
2,613 
12,442 

September 30, 2020

4.39
3.52
2.89  %
2.82  %

3,847 
2,877 
1,168 
462 
407 
1,753 
10,514 
830 
9,684 

11.     SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY:

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (continued)
(Dollar amounts in thousands, except per share data)

The authorized common stock of the Company consists of 70,000,000 shares of Class A Common Stock, $1.00 par value.

The Company has a stock repurchase program.  The buy-back program is designed to increase shareholder value, enlarge the Company's holdings of its common stock, and add
to earnings per share.  Repurchased shares may be retained in treasury, utilized for acquisitions, or reissued to employees or other purchasers, subject to the restrictions set forth
in the Company's Restated Articles of Incorporation.  Under the current authorization, the Company's Board of Directors has authorized the repurchase of a total of 5,000,000
shares of Matthews' common stock under the program, of which 538,736 shares remain available for repurchase as of September 30, 2020.

12.     SHARE-BASED PAYMENTS:

The Company maintains an equity incentive plan (the "2017 Equity Incentive Plan") that provides for grants of stock options, restricted shares, restricted share units, stock-
based  performance  units  and  certain  other  types  of  stock-based  awards.  Under  the  2017  Equity  Incentive  Plan,  which  has  a ten-year  term,  the  maximum  number  of  shares
available for grants or awards is an aggregate of 1,700,000.  At September 30, 2020, there were 1,700,000 shares reserved for future issuance under the 2017 Equity Incentive
Plan. 565,860 restricted share units have been granted under the 2017 Equity Incentive Plan and are outstanding as of September 30, 2020. The 2017 Equity Incentive Plan is
administered by the Compensation Committee of the Board of Directors.

With respect to the restricted share grants, generally one-half of the shares vest on the third anniversary of the grant, one-quarter of the shares vest in one-third increments upon
the attainment of pre-defined levels of adjusted earnings per share, and the remaining one-quarter of the shares vest in one-third increments upon attainment of pre-defined
levels of appreciation in the market value of the Company's Class A Common Stock.  Additionally, restricted shares cannot vest until the first anniversary of the grant date. 
Unvested restricted shares generally expire on the earlier of three or five years from the date of grant, upon employment termination, or within specified time limits following
voluntary employment termination (with the consent of the Company), retirement or death.  The Company issues restricted shares from treasury shares.

With  respect  to  the  restricted  share  unit  grants,  units  generally  vest  on  the  third  anniversary  of  the  grant  date.  The  number  of  units  that  vest  depend  on  certain  time  and
performance  thresholds. Approximately  thirty-eight  percent  of  the  shares  vest  based  on  time,  while  the  remaining  vest  based  on  pre-defined  performance  thresholds.  The
Company issues common stock from treasury shares once vested.

For  the  years  ended  September  30,  2020,  2019  and  2018,  stock-based  compensation  cost  totaled  $8,096, $7,729  and  $13,460,  respectively.  The  years  ended  September  30,
2020,  2019,  and  2018  included  $1,564, $1,849,  and  $2,850  respectively,  of  stock-based  compensation  cost  that  was  recognized  at  the  time  of  grant  for  retirement-eligible
employees. The associated future income tax benefit recognized was $1,665, $1,535 and $2,826 for the years ended September 30, 2020, 2019 and 2018, respectively.

The transactions for restricted shares and restricted share units for the year ended September 30, 2020 were as follows:

Non-vested at September 30, 2019
Granted
Vested
Expired or forfeited

Non-vested at September 30, 2020

Weighted-
average
Grant-date
Fair Value

49.61 
34.97 
64.08 
55.65 

40.88 

Shares

615,635  $
303,660 
(128,795)
(40,178)
750,322  $

As of September 30, 2020, the total unrecognized compensation cost related to unvested restricted stock was $9,122 which is expected to be recognized over a weighted-average
period of 1.8 years.

58

12.     SHARE-BASED PAYMENTS, (continued)

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (continued)
(Dollar amounts in thousands, except per share data)

The  Company  maintains  the  2019  Director  Fee  Plan,  the Amended  and  Restated  2014  Director  Fee  Plan  and  the  1994  Director  Fee  Plan  (collectively,  the  "Director  Fee
Plans"). There will be no further fees or share-based awards granted under the Amended and Restated 2014 Director Fee Plan and the 1994 Director Fee Plan.  Under the 2019
Director Fee Plan, non-employee directors (except for the Chairman of the Board) each receive, as an annual retainer fee for fiscal 2020, either cash or shares of the Company's
Class A Common Stock with a value equal to $ 85.  The annual retainer fee for fiscal 2020 paid to a non-employee Chairman of the Board is $185.  Where the annual retainer
fee is provided in shares, each director may elect to be paid these shares on a current basis or have such shares credited to a deferred stock account as phantom stock, with such
shares to be paid to the director subsequent to leaving the Board.  The total number of shares of stock that have been authorized to be issued under the 2019 Director Fee Plan or
credited  to  a  deferred  stock  compensation  account  for  subsequent  issuance  is 150,000  shares  of  Common  Stock  (subject  to  adjustment  upon  certain  events  such  as  stock
dividends or stock splits).  The value of deferred shares is recorded in other liabilities.  A total of  30,764 shares and share units had been deferred under the Director Fee Plans
at September 30, 2020.  Additionally, non-employee directors each receive an annual stock-based grant (non-statutory stock options, stock appreciation rights and/or restricted
shares or units) with a value of $125 for fiscal year 2020.  241,378 restricted shares and restricted share units have been granted under the Director Fee Plans, 68,149 of which
were issued under the 2019 Director Fee Plan and are unvested at September 30, 2020. 

13.     EARNINGS PER SHARE:

The information used to compute (loss) earnings per share attributable to Matthews' common shareholders was as follows:

Net (loss) income available to Matthews shareholders

Weighted-average shares outstanding (in thousands):

Basic shares
Effect of dilutive securities
Diluted shares

2020

2019

2018

$

(87,155) $

(37,988) $

107,371 

31,190 
— 
31,190 

31,416 
— 
31,416 

31,674 
187 
31,861 

Anti-dilutive securities excluded from the dilutive calculation were insignificant for the fiscal year ended September 30, 2018.

59

 
 
 
 
14.    PENSION AND OTHER POSTRETIREMENT PLANS:

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (continued)
(Dollar amounts in thousands, except per share data)

The Company provides defined benefit pension and other postretirement plans to certain employees. Effective January 1, 2014, the Company's principal retirement plan was
closed to new participants.  The following provides a reconciliation of benefit obligations, plan assets and funded status of the plans as of the Company's actuarial valuation as
of September 30, 2020 and 2019:

Change in benefit obligation:

Benefit obligation, beginning of year
Service cost
Interest cost
Actuarial loss (gain)
Exchange loss (gain)
Benefit payments
Benefit obligation, end of year

Change in plan assets:

(1)

Fair value, beginning of year 
Actual return
Benefit payments
Employer contributions
(1)
Fair value, end of year 

(1)

Funded status 
Unrecognized actuarial loss (gain)
Unrecognized prior service cost
Net amount recognized

Amounts recognized in the consolidated balance sheet:

Current liability
Noncurrent benefit liability
Accumulated other comprehensive loss (income)
Net amount recognized

Amounts recognized in accumulated
       other comprehensive loss (income):

Net actuarial loss (income)
Prior service cost
Net amount recognized

Pension

2020

2019

Other Postretirement
2019
2020

289,957  $
8,679 
7,735 
23,827 
799 
(12,110)
318,887 

155,313 
8,705 
(12,110)
16,226 
168,134 

241,553  $
7,998 
9,202 
43,198 
(581)
(11,413)
289,957 

158,662 
6,852 
(11,413)
1,212 
155,313 

(150,753)
110,971 
343 
(39,439) $

(134,644)
95,741 
(367)
(39,270) $

(905) $

(149,848)
111,314 
(39,439) $

(882) $

(133,762)
95,374 
(39,270) $

20,952  $
227 
501 
(1,402)
— 
(847)
19,431 

— 
— 
(847)
847 
— 

(19,431)
676 
(2,048)
(20,803) $

(831) $

(18,600)
(1,372)
(20,803) $

18,826 
244 
718 
2,212 
— 
(1,048)
20,952 

— 
— 
(1,048)
1,048 
— 

(20,952)
(106)
(330)
(21,388)

(989)
(19,963)
(436)
(21,388)

110,971  $
343 
111,314  $

95,741  $
(367)
95,374  $

676  $

(2,048)
(1,372) $

(106)
(330)
(436)

$

$

$

$

$

$

(1) 

The fair value of plan assets and funded status do not include the value of investments held in trust for the Company's non-qualified supplemental retirement plan. These investments totaled $24,610 and

$22,986 as of September 30, 2020 and 2019, respectively. Refer to Note 7, "Investments" for further details.

60

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
14.    PENSION AND OTHER POSTRETIREMENT PLANS, (continued)

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (continued)
(Dollar amounts in thousands, except per share data)

Based  upon  actuarial  valuations  performed  as  of  September  30,  2020  and  2019,  the  accumulated  benefit  obligation  for  the  Company's  defined  benefit  pension  plans  was
$295,674 and $270,140 at September 30, 2020 and 2019, respectively, and the projected benefit obligation for the Company's defined benefit pension plans was $318,887 and
$289,957 at September 30, 2020 and 2019, respectively.

Net periodic pension and other postretirement benefit cost for the plans included the following:

Service cost
Interest cost *
Expected return on plan assets *
Amortization:

Prior service cost
Net actuarial loss *

Net benefit cost

2020

Pension
2019

2018

2020

Other Postretirement
2019

2018

$

$

8,679  $
7,735 
(10,214)

(186)
9,767 
15,781  $

7,998  $
9,202 
(10,304)

(186)
4,245 
10,955  $

8,159  $
8,210 
(10,136)

(138)
7,018 
13,113  $

227  $
501 
— 

(464)
— 
264  $

244  $
718 
— 

(195)
(59)
708  $

335 
631 
— 

(195)
— 
771 

* 

Non-service components of pension and postretirement expense are included in other income (deductions), net.

Matthews has elected to utilize a full yield curve approach in the estimation of the service and interest cost components of net periodic benefit cost by applying the specific spot
rates along the yield curve used in the determination of the benefit obligation to the relevant projected cash flows.

Benefit payments under the Company's principal retirement plan are made from plan assets, while benefit payments under the supplemental retirement plan and postretirement
benefit plan are funded from the Company's operating cash. In response to COVID-19, the federal government passed a modified relief bill, which provides additional funding
measures  associated  with  IRS  regulations.  In  accordance  with  this  bill,  the  Company  was  not  required  to  make  contributions  to  its  principal  retirement  plan  in  fiscal  2020.
However,  the  Company  contributed 668,000  shares  of  its  Class A  Common  Stock  to  its  principal  retirement  plan  during  the  fourth  quarter  of  fiscal  2020.  The  shares  had  a
market value of approximately $14,983 at the time of the contribution. The Company is required to make contributions of approximately $4,191 to its principal retirement plan
in fiscal 2021.

Contributions made in fiscal 2020 are as follows:
Contributions
Principal retirement plan *
Supplemental retirement plan
Other retirement plans
Other postretirement plan

* Amount represents contribution of Matthews Class A Common Stock (see above).

Amounts of AOCI expected to be recognized in net periodic benefit costs in fiscal 2021 include:

Net actuarial loss
Prior service cost

$

$

Pension

Other Postretirement

14,983  $
821 
422 
— 

Other
Postretirement
Benefits

Pension
Benefits

12,076  $
(68)

— 
— 
— 
847 

— 
(364)

61

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
14.    PENSION AND OTHER POSTRETIREMENT PLANS, (continued)

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (continued)
(Dollar amounts in thousands, except per share data)

The weighted-average assumptions in the following table represent the rates used to develop the actuarial present value of the projected benefit obligation for the year listed and
also the net periodic benefit cost for the following year. The measurement date of annual actuarial valuations for the Company's principal retirement and other postretirement
benefit plans was September 30, for fiscal 2020, 2019 and 2018.  The weighted-average assumptions for those plans were:

Discount rate
Return on plan assets
Compensation increase

2020

2.62 %
6.75 %
3.50 %

Pension
2019

3.13 %
6.75 %
3.50 %

2018

2020

Other Postretirement   
2019

2018

4.21 %
6.75 %
3.50 %

2.63 %
— 
— 

3.10 %
— 
— 

4.19 %
— 
— 

In October 2014, the Society of Actuaries' Retirement Plans Experience Committee ("RPEC") released new mortality tables known as RP 2014. Each year, RPEC releases an
update to the mortality improvement assumption that was released with the RP 2014 tables. The Company considered the RPEC mortality and mortality improvement tables
and performed a review of its own mortality history to assess the appropriateness of the RPEC tables for use in generating financial results.  In fiscal years 2020, 2019 and
2018, the Company elected to value its principal retirement and other postretirement benefit plan liabilities using the base RP 2014 mortality table and a slightly modified fully
generational mortality improvement assumption. The revised assumption uses the most recent RPEC mortality improvement table for all years where the RPEC tables are based
on finalized data, and the most recently published Social Security Administration Intermediate mortality improvement for subsequent years.

The underlying basis of the investment strategy of the Company's defined benefit plans is to ensure the assets are invested to achieve a positive rate of return over the long term
sufficient to meet the plans' actuarial interest rate and provide for the payment of benefit obligations and expenses in perpetuity in a secure and prudent fashion, maintain a
prudent risk level that balances growth with the need to preserve capital, diversify plan assets so as to minimize the risk of large losses or excessive fluctuations in market value
from year to year, achieve investment results over the long term that compare favorably with other pension plans and appropriate indices.  The Company's investment policy, as
established by the Company's pension board, specifies the types of investments appropriate for the plans, asset allocation guidelines, criteria for the selection of investment
managers, procedures to monitor overall investment performance as well as investment manager performance.  It also provides guidelines enabling plan fiduciaries to fulfill
their responsibilities.

The Company's defined benefit pension plans' weighted-average asset allocation at September 30, 2020 and 2019 and weighted-average target allocation were as follows:

Asset Category
Equity securities
Fixed income, cash and cash equivalents
Other investments

* 

Target allocation relates to the Company's primary defined benefit pension plan as of September 30, 2020.

Plan Assets at

2020

2019

Target
Allocation

*

$

$

118,677  $
34,184 
15,273 
168,134  $

105,297 
39,156 
10,860 
155,313 

65  %
25  %
10  %
100  %

Based on an analysis of the historical and expected future performance of the plan's assets and information provided by its independent investment advisor, the Company set the
long-term rate of return assumption for its primary defined benefit pension plans' assets at 6.75% in 2020 for purposes of determining pension cost and funded status under
current guidance.  The Company's discount rate assumption used in determining the present value of the projected benefit obligation is based upon published indices.

The Company categorizes plan assets within a three level fair value hierarchy (see Note 5, "Fair Value Measurements" for a further discussion of the fair value hierarchy). The
valuation methodologies used to measure the fair value of pension assets, including the level in the fair value hierarchy in which each type of pension plan asset is classified as
follows.

62

 
  
 
 
 
14.    PENSION AND OTHER POSTRETIREMENT PLANS, (continued)

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (continued)
(Dollar amounts in thousands, except per share data)

Equity securities consist of direct investments in the stocks of publicly traded companies.  Such investments are valued based on the closing price reported in an active market
on which the individual securities are traded.  As such, the direct investments are classified as Level 1.

Mutual funds are valued at the closing price of shares held by the Plan at year end.  As such, these mutual fund investments are classified as Level 1.

Fixed income securities consist of publicly traded fixed interest obligations (primarily U.S. government notes and corporate and agency bonds).  Such investments are valued
through consultation and evaluation with brokers in the institutional market using quoted prices and other observable market data.  As such, U.S. government notes are included
in Level 1, and the remainder of the fixed income securities are included in Level 2.

Cash and cash equivalents consist of direct cash holdings and short-term money market mutual funds.  These values are valued based on cost, which approximates fair value,
and as such, are classified as Level 1.

Other investments consist primarily of real estate, commodities, private equity holdings and hedge fund investments.  These holdings are valued by investment managers based
on the most recent information available.  The valuation information used by investment managers may not be readily observable.  As such, these investments are classified as
Level 3.

The Company's defined benefit pension plans' asset categories at September 30, 2020 and 2019 were as follows:

(1)

Asset Category
Equity securities - stocks 
Equity securities - mutual funds
Fixed income securities
Cash and cash equivalents
Other investments
Total

(1)

 Includes $14,936 of of Matthews Class A Common Stock in Level 1.

Asset Category
Equity securities - stocks
Equity securities - mutual funds
Fixed income securities
Cash and cash equivalents
Other investments
Total

September 30, 2020

Level 1

Level 2

Level 3

Total

37,089  $
81,588 
11,738 
2,360 
— 
132,775  $

—  $
— 
20,086 
— 
— 
20,086  $

—  $
— 
— 
— 
15,273 
15,273  $

37,089 
81,588 
31,824 
2,360 
15,273 
168,134 

September 30, 2019

Level 1

Level 2

Level 3

Total

54,985  $
50,312 
15,829 
4,359 
— 
125,485  $

—  $
— 
18,968 
— 
— 
18,968  $

—  $
— 
— 
— 
10,860 
10,860  $

54,985 
50,312 
34,797 
4,359 
10,860 
155,313 

$

$

$

$

Changes in the fair value of Level 3 assets at September 30, 2020 and 2019 are summarized as follows:

Asset Category

Fair Value,
Beginning of Period

Acquisitions

Dispositions

Realized Gains

Unrealized Gains
(Losses)

Fair Value, End
of Period

Other investments:
Fiscal Year Ended:
September 30, 2020
September 30, 2019

$

10,860  $
10,115 

10,835  $
4,162 

(6,326) $
(2,786)

220  $
685 

(316) $

(1,316)

15,273 
10,860 

63

 
 
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (continued)
(Dollar amounts in thousands, except per share data)

14.    PENSION AND OTHER POSTRETIREMENT PLANS, (continued)

Benefit payments expected to be paid are as follows:

Years ending September 30:

2021
2022
2023
2024
2025
2026-2030

Pension Benefits

Other Postretirement
Benefits

$

$

11,363  $
12,302 
12,630 
14,138 
14,252 
78,163 
142,848  $

831 
858 
887 
910 
931 
4,557 
8,974 

For measurement purposes, a rate of increase of 7.0% in the per capita cost of health care benefits was assumed for 2021; the rate was assumed to decrease gradually to 4.0% for
2070 and remain at that level thereafter.  Assumed health care cost  trend rates have a significant effect on the amounts reported.  An increase in the assumed health care cost
trend rates by one percentage point would have increased the accumulated postretirement benefit obligation as of September 30, 2020 by $50 and the aggregate of the service
and interest cost components of net periodic postretirement benefit cost for the year then ended by $3.  A decrease in the assumed health care cost trend rates by one percentage
point would have decreased the accumulated postretirement benefit obligation as of September 30, 2020 by $46 and the aggregate of the service and interest cost components of
net periodic postretirement benefit cost for the year then ended by $3.

The Company sponsors defined contribution plans for hourly and salary employees. The expense associated with the contributions made to these plans was $8,692, $8,176, and
$8,685 for the fiscal years ended September 30, 2020, 2019 and 2018, respectively.

64

 
15.     ACCUMULATED OTHER COMPREHENSIVE INCOME:

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (continued)
(Dollar amounts in thousands, except per share data)

The changes in AOCI by component, net of tax, for the years ended September 30, 2020, 2019, and 2018 were as follows:

Postretirement
Benefit Plans

Currency
Translation
Adjustment

Derivatives

Total

Attributable to Matthews:

Balance, September 30, 2017
OCI before reclassification
Amounts reclassified from AOCI
Net current-period OCI
Reclassification of AOCI tax effects
Balance, September 30, 2018
OCI before reclassification
Amounts reclassified from AOCI
Net current-period OCI
Balance, September 30, 2019
OCI before reclassification
Amounts reclassified from AOCI
Net current-period OCI
Balance, September 30, 2020

Attributable to noncontrolling interest:

Balance, September 30, 2017
OCI before reclassification
Net current-period OCI
Balance, September 30, 2018
OCI before reclassification
Net current-period OCI
Balance, September 30, 2019
OCI before reclassification
Net current-period OCI
Balance, September 30, 2020

$

$

$

$

$

  $

(43,623)
10,584 
5,047 
15,631 
(9,884)
(37,876)
(36,784)
2,917 
(33,867)
(71,743)
(18,094)
6,883 
(11,211)
(82,954)

(a)

(c)

(a)

(a)

— 
— 
— 
— 
— 
— 
— 
— 
— 
— 

$

$

$

$

$

$

(112,907)  
(22,053)  

— 
(22,053)
— 
(134,960)
(21,254)
— 
(21,254)
(156,214)
4,333 
— 
4,333 
(151,881)

396   
71   
71   
467   
(92)  
(92)  
375   
(7)  
(7)  
368   

$

$

$

$

$

$

2,415 
6,095 
(1,042)
5,053 
1,070 
8,538 
(6,540)
(2,402)
(8,942)
(404)
(6,130)
650 
(5,480)
(5,884)

(b)

(c)

(b)

(b)

— 
— 
— 
— 
— 
— 
— 
— 
— 
— 

$

$

$

$

$

$

(154,115)
(5,374)
4,005 
(1,369)
(8,814)
(164,298)
(64,578)
515 
(64,063)
(228,361)
(19,891)
7,533 
(12,358)
(240,719)

396 
71 
71 
467 
(92)
(92)
375 
(7)
(7)
368 

(a)

(b)

(c)

Amounts were included in net periodic benefit cost for pension and other postretirement benefit plans (see Note 14).
Amounts were included in interest expense in the periods the hedged item affected earnings (see Note 9).
Amounts were reclassified from AOCI to retained earnings through adoption of ASU 2018-02,  Income Statement - Reporting Comprehensive Income (Topic 220) (see Note 3).

Accumulated other comprehensive loss at September 30, 2020 and 2019 consisted of the following:

Cumulative foreign currency translation
Fair value of derivatives, net of tax of $1,908 and $131, respectively
Minimum pension liabilities, net of tax of $26,988 and $23,195, respectively

2020

2019

$

$

(151,881) $
(5,884)
(82,954)
(240,719) $

(156,214)
(404)
(71,743)
(228,361)

65

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
   
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (continued)
(Dollar amounts in thousands, except per share data)

15.     ACCUMULATED OTHER COMPREHENSIVE INCOME, (continued)

Reclassifications out of AOCI for the years ended September 30, 2020, 2019 and 2018 were as follows:

 Details about AOCI Components

  September 30, 2020

September 30, 2019

September 30, 2018

Affected line item in the Statement of
Income

Postretirement benefit plans
Prior service (cost) credit
Actuarial losses

 (a)

 (a)

Derivatives

Interest rate swap contracts

$

$

$

  $

650  $

(9,767)
(9,117)
2,234 
(6,883) $

(861) $
(861)
211 
(650) $

381  $

(4,245)
(3,864)
947 
(2,917) $

3,181  $
3,181 
(779)
2,402  $

333 
(7,018)
(6,685)
1,638 
(5,047) Net income

Income before income tax
Income taxes

 (b)

Interest expense
Income before income tax
Income taxes

1,380 
1,380 
(338)
1,042  Net income

 (b)

(a)

(b)

Prior  service  cost  amounts  are  included  in  the  computation  of  pension  and  other  postretirement  benefit  expense,  which  is  reported  in  both  cost  of  goods  sold  and  selling  and  administrative  expenses. 
Actuarial losses are reported in other income (deductions), net. For additional information, see Note 14.
For pre-tax items, positive amounts represent income and negative amounts represent expense.

16.     INCOME TAXES:

The income tax (benefit) provision consisted of the following:

Current:
Federal
State
Foreign

Deferred:
Federal
State
Foreign

Total

2020

2019

2018

$

$

(12,354) $
(1,030)
11,306 
(2,078)

4,710 
2,880 
(24,197)
(16,607)
(18,685) $

3,308  $
2,232 
2,049 
7,589 

(5,472)
(2,782)
1,471 
(6,783)

806  $

(2,577)
1,051 
15,533 
14,007 

(24,094)
1,315 
(346)
(23,125)
(9,118)

The U.S. Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (the “Act”) was enacted on December 22, 2017. The Act reduced the U.S. federal corporate tax rate from 35.0% to 21.0% effective January 1,
2018, which resulted in a blended U.S. statutory tax rate of 24.5% for the Company in fiscal 2018, and a 21.0% rate for the Company in fiscal 2019 and fiscal 2020. The Act
also required a one-time transition tax on earnings of certain foreign subsidiaries that were previously deferred, and created new taxes on certain foreign-sourced earnings.

Global intangible low taxed income ("GILTI"): The Act also created a new requirement that certain income earned by foreign subsidiaries must be included currently in the
gross income of the U.S. shareholder. Under U.S. GAAP, the Company is permitted to make an accounting policy election to either treat taxes due on future inclusions in U.S.
taxable income related to GILTI as a current-period expense when incurred or to factor such amounts into the Company's measurement of its deferred taxes. The Company has
made the election to treat taxes due on future inclusions related to GILTI as current period expense. The Company has calculated that no provision for GILTI tax expense was
required in fiscal 2019 or fiscal 2020.

66

 
   
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
   
 
 
 
 
 
 
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (continued)
(Dollar amounts in thousands, except per share data)

16.     INCOME TAXES, (continued)

The reconciliation of the federal statutory tax rate to the consolidated effective tax rate was as follows:

Federal statutory tax rate
Effect of state income taxes, net of federal deduction
Foreign statutory taxes compared to federal statutory rate
Share-based compensation
U.S. manufacturing incentive
Tax credits
Tax basis difference
Transition tax
U.S. statutory tax rate change on temporary differences
Goodwill write-down
Tax rate differential on net operating loss carryback
Other
Effective tax rate

2020

2019

2018

21.0 %
(1.9)%
3.4 %
(1.4)%
— %
1.8 %
— %
— %
— %
(9.4)%
4.2 %
(0.1)%
17.6 %

21.0 %
2.7 %
(0.8)%
(3.1)%
— %
4.9 %
9.8 %
— %
— %
(40.2)%
— %
3.6 %
(2.1)%

24.5 %
2.2 %
1.4 %
(0.6)%
(1.3)%
(2.7)%
(1.5)%
9.0 %
(38.7)%
— %
— %
(1.6)%
(9.3)%

The Company's consolidated income taxes for the year ended September 30, 2020 were a benefit of $18,685, compared to an expense of $806 for fiscal 2019, and a benefit of
$9,118 for fiscal 2018. The difference between the Company's consolidated income taxes for fiscal 2020 versus fiscal 2019 primarily resulted from the fiscal 2020 consolidated
loss before income taxes, which reflected the goodwill write-down recorded in the second quarter of fiscal 2020, which was partially non-deductible, as well as a benefit for an
expected net operating loss (“NOL”) carryback. The NOL will be carried back five years allowing it to offset income that was previously taxed at a federal statutory tax rate of
35%. The Company’s fiscal 2020 effective tax rate was negatively affected by the non-deductible portion of the goodwill write-down along with certain other non-deductible
expenses. The fiscal 2020 effective tax rate benefited from research and development and foreign tax credits, the reduction of uncertain tax positions due to the completion of a
foreign tax audit, and the tax benefit of the NOL carryback. The increase in the fiscal 2019 effective tax rate, compared to fiscal 2018, primarily reflected the fiscal 2018 U.S.
deferred  tax  benefit  from  the Act  enactment,  as  well  as  a  goodwill  impairment  in  fiscal  2019  that  was  not  tax  deductible.  The  fiscal  2019  effective  tax  rate  benefited  from
research and development and foreign tax credits and the elimination, achieved through tax planning, of a taxable basis difference.

The Company's foreign subsidiaries had loss before income taxes for the year ended September 30, 2020 and income before income taxes for the years ended September 30,
2019 and 2018 of approximately $68,343, $11,042 and $56,424, respectively. Deferred income taxes have not been provided on undistributed earnings of foreign subsidiaries
since they have either been previously taxed, or are now exempt from tax, under the U.S. Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, and such earnings are considered to be reinvested indefinitely
in foreign operations. At September 30, 2020, undistributed earnings of foreign subsidiaries for which deferred income taxes have not been provided approximated $383,423. 

67

 
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (continued)
(Dollar amounts in thousands, except per share data)

16.     INCOME TAXES, (continued)

The components of deferred tax assets and liabilities at September 30, 2020 and 2019 are as follows:

Deferred tax assets:

Pension and postretirement benefits
Accruals and reserves not currently deductible
Income tax credit carryforward
Operating and capital loss carryforwards
Stock options
Other

Total deferred tax assets
Valuation allowances

Net deferred tax assets

Deferred tax liabilities:

Depreciation
Unrealized gains and losses
Goodwill and intangible assets
Other

Total deferred tax liabilities

Net deferred tax liability

$

2020

2019

39,705  $
12,258 
5,308 
34,146 
4,062 
8,376 
103,855 
(22,527)
81,328 

(27,671)
389 
(123,259)
(5,941)
(156,482)

37,587 
10,400 
3,204 
21,896 
4,778 
5,381 
83,246 
(15,352)
67,894 

(24,792)
(565)
(138,952)
(1,035)
(165,344)

$

(75,154) $

(97,450)

At September 30, 2020, the Company had foreign net operating loss carryforwards of $101,994 and foreign capital loss carryforwards of $20,119. The Company has recorded
deferred tax assets of $2,189 for state net operating loss carryforwards, which will be available to offset future income tax liabilities. If not used, state net operating losses will
begin to expire in 2021.  Certain of the foreign net operating losses begin to expire in 2021 while the majority of the Company's foreign net operating losses have no expiration
period. Certain of these carryforwards are subject to limitations on use due to tax rules affecting acquired tax attributes, loss sharing between group members, and business
continuation. Therefore, the Company has established tax-effected valuation allowances against these tax benefits in the amount of $22,527 at September 30, 2020. 

Changes in the total amount of gross unrecognized tax benefits (excluding penalties and interest) are as follows:

Balance, beginning of year
Increases for tax positions of prior years
Decreases for tax positions of prior years
Increases based on tax positions related to the current year
Decreases due to lapse of statute of limitation
Balance, end of year

2020

2019

2018

$

$

15,526  $
500 
(2,727)
939 
(3,755)
10,483  $

14,827  $
— 
— 
1,420 
(721)
15,526  $

7,968 
7,886 
— 
882 
(1,909)
14,827 

The Company had unrecognized tax benefits of $7,066 at September 30, 2020, which would impact the annual effective tax rate.  It is reasonably possible that the amount of
unrecognized tax benefits could decrease by approximately $7,803 in the next 12 months primarily due to the completion of audits and the expiration of the statute of limitation
related to specific tax positions.

The  Company  classifies  interest  and  penalties  on  tax  uncertainties  as  a  component  of  the  provision  for  income  taxes.    Total  penalties  and  interest  accrued  were  $2,172  and
$2,880 at September 30, 2020 and 2019, respectively.  These accruals may potentially be applicable in the event of an unfavorable outcome of uncertain tax positions.

68

 
 
 
 
16.     INCOME TAXES, (continued)

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (continued)
(Dollar amounts in thousands, except per share data)

The Company is currently under examination in several tax jurisdictions and remains subject to examination until the statute of limitation expires for those tax jurisdictions. 

As of September 30, 2020, the tax years that remain subject to examination by major jurisdiction generally are:
2017 and forward
United States - Federal
2016 and forward
United States - State
2016 and forward
Canada
2019 and forward
Germany
2019 and forward
United Kingdom
2015 and forward
Australia
2016 and forward
Singapore

17.     COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENT LIABILITIES:

The Company is party to various legal proceedings, the eventual outcome of which are not predictable.  Although the ultimate disposition of these proceedings is not presently
determinable, management is of the opinion that they should not result in liabilities in an amount which would materially affect the Company's consolidated financial position,
results of operations or cash flows.

The Company has employment agreements with certain employees, the terms of which expire at various dates between fiscal 2021 and 2025.  The agreements generally provide
for base salary and bonus levels and include non-compete provisions.  The aggregate commitment for salaries under these agreements at September 30, 2020 was $6,723.

18.     SUPPLEMENTAL CASH FLOW INFORMATION:

Changes in working capital items as presented in the Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows consisted of the following:

Current assets:

Accounts receivable
Inventories
Other current assets

Current liabilities:

Trade accounts payable
Accrued compensation
Accrued income taxes
Other current liabilities

Net change

2020

2019

2018

$

$

24,055  $
5,976 
(14,803)
15,228 

8,363 
15,512 
(2,384)
9,648 
31,139 
46,367  $

8,779  $
830 
10,317 
19,926 

3,715 
(8,832)
(5,416)
(21,875)
(32,408)
(12,482) $

(790)
(2,869)
(16,293)
(19,952)

2,516 
(10,940)
(9,973)
28,415 
10,018 
(9,934)

69

 
 
 
 
 
 
19.     SEGMENT INFORMATION:

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (continued)
(Dollar amounts in thousands, except per share data)

The Company manages its businesses under three segments: SGK Brand Solutions, Memorialization and Industrial Technologies. The SGK Brand Solutions segment consists
of brand management, pre-media services, printing plates and cylinders, engineered products, imaging services, digital asset management, merchandising display systems, and
marketing and design services primarily for the consumer goods and retail industries. The Memorialization segment consists primarily of bronze and granite memorials and
other  memorialization  products,  caskets,  and  cremation  and  incineration  equipment  primarily  for  the  cemetery  and  funeral  home  industries.    The  Industrial  Technologies
segment  includes  marking  and  coding  equipment  and  consumables,  industrial  automation  products  and  order  fulfillment  systems  for  identifying,  tracking,  picking  and
conveying consumer and industrial products.

The  Company's  primary  measure  of  segment  profitability  is  adjusted  earnings  before  interest,  income  taxes,  depreciation  and  amortization  ("adjusted  EBITDA"). Adjusted
EBITDA is defined by the Company as earnings before interest, income taxes, depreciation, amortization and certain non-cash and/or non-recurring items that do not contribute
directly  to  management’s  evaluation  of  its  operating  results.  These  items  include  stock-based  compensation,  the  non-service  portion  of  pension  and  postretirement  expense,
acquisition costs, ERP integration costs, and strategic initiatives and other charges. This presentation is consistent with how the Company's chief operating decision maker (the
“CODM”) evaluates the results of operations and makes strategic decisions about the business. For these reasons, the Company believes that adjusted EBITDA represents the
most relevant measure of segment profit and loss.

In  addition,  the  CODM  manages  and  evaluates  the  operating  performance  of  the  segments,  as  described  above,  on  a  pre-corporate  cost  allocation  basis. Accordingly,  for
segment reporting purposes, the Company does not allocate corporate costs to its reportable segments. Corporate costs include management and administrative support to the
Company,  which  consists  of  certain  aspects  of  the  Company’s  executive  management,  legal,  compliance,  human  resources,  information  technology  (including  operational
support) and finance departments. These costs are included within "Corporate and Non-Operating" in the following table to reconcile to consolidated adjusted EBITDA and are
not considered a separate reportable segment. Management does not allocate non-operating items such as investment income, other income (deductions), net and noncontrolling
interest to the segments. The accounting policies of the segments are the same as those described in Summary of Significant Accounting Policies (Note 2).  Intersegment sales
are accounted for at negotiated prices.  Segment assets include those assets that are used in the Company's operations within each segment.  Assets classified under "Corporate
and  Non-Operating"  principally  consist  of  cash  and  cash  equivalents,  investments,  deferred  income  taxes  and  corporate  headquarters'  assets.    Long-lived  assets  include
property, plant and equipment (net of accumulated depreciation), goodwill, and other intangible assets (net of accumulated amortization).

70

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (continued)
(Dollar amounts in thousands, except per share data)

19.     SEGMENT INFORMATION, (continued)

Information about the Company's segments follows:

Sales to external customers:
2020
2019
2018
Intersegment sales:
2020
2019
2018
Depreciation and amortization:
2020
2019
2018
Adjusted EBITDA:
2020
2019
2018
Total assets:
2020
2019
2018
Capital expenditures:
2020
2019
2018

SGK Brand
Solutions

Memorialization

Industrial
Technologies

Corporate and Non-
Operating

Consolidated

$

693,093  $
743,869 
805,274 

656,035  $
636,892 
631,392 

149,178  $
156,515 
165,914 

—  $
— 
— 

1,498,306 
1,537,276 
1,602,580 

29 
703 
310 

87,597 
59,684 
46,300 

90,644 
119,493 
150,233 

1,014,097 
1,106,276 
1,285,053 

20,250 
22,310 
22,133 

4 
25 
2 

20,527 
19,731 
20,005 

146,285 
134,286 
145,487 

779,886 
830,377 
814,800 

11,282 
9,352 
15,513 

71

281 
48 
9 

5,771 
6,195 
5,796 

22,753 
24,082 
25,864 

192,948 
191,533 
196,855 

1,598 
2,382 
2,577 

— 
— 
— 

5,163 
5,183 
4,873 

(56,602)
(56,989)
(66,470)

85,702 
62,417 
61,036 

1,719 
3,644 
2,977 

314 
776 
321 

119,058 
90,793 
76,974 

203,080 
220,872 
255,114 

2,072,633 
2,190,603 
2,357,744 

34,849 
37,688 
43,200 

 
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (continued)
(Dollar amounts in thousands, except per share data)

19.     SEGMENT INFORMATION, (continued)

A reconciliation of adjusted EBITDA to net income follows:

Total Adjusted EBITDA

(1)**

(4)

(3)**

(2)**

Acquisition costs 
ERP integration costs 
Strategic initiatives and other charges 
Legal matter reserve 
Non-recurring / incremental COVID-19 costs 
(6)
Goodwill write-downs 
Net realized gains (losses) on divestitures and asset dispositions:
Gain (loss) on sale of ownership interests in subsidiaries 
Realized (loss) gain on cost-method investments 
Net gains from the sale of buildings and vacant properties 

(5)

(7)

(8)

(9)

(10)

Joint Venture depreciation, amortization, interest expense and other charges 
Stock-based compensation
Non-service pension and postretirement expense 
*
Depreciation and amortization 
Interest expense
Net loss attributable to noncontrolling interests
(Loss) income before income taxes
Income tax benefit (provision)
Net (loss) income

(11)

2020

2019

2018

203,080  $

220,872  $

255,114 

(3,844) $
(2,296)
(33,799)
(10,566)
(4,655)
(90,408)

11,208 
— 
— 
(4,732)
(8,096)
(7,789)
(119,058)
(34,885)
(497)
(106,337)
18,685 
(87,652) $

(10,872) $
(7,508)
(13,449)
— 
— 
(77,572)

(6,469)
(4,731)
7,347 
(1,514)
(7,729)
(3,802)
(90,793)
(40,962)
(901)
(38,083)
(806)
(38,889) $

(10,918)
(10,864)
(5,266)
— 
— 
— 

— 
3,771 
— 
— 
(13,460)
(5,723)
(76,974)
(37,427)
(260)
97,993 
9,118 
107,111 

$

$

$

(4)

(1)

(2)

(7)

(3) 

 Includes certain non-recurring costs associated with recent acquisition activities.
 Represents costs associated with global ERP system integration efforts.
Includes certain non-recurring costs primarily associated with productivity and cost-reduction initiatives intended to result in improved operating performance, profitability and working capital levels. 
 Represents a reserve established for a legal matter involving a letter of credit for a customer in Saudi Arabia within the Memorialization segment (see Note 9, "Long Term Debt").
 Includes certain non-recurring direct incremental costs (such as costs for purchases of computer peripherals and devices to facilitate working-from-home, additional personal protective equipment and

(5)
cleaning supplies and services, etc.) incurred in response to COVID-19. This amount does not include the impact of any lost sales or underutilization due to COVID-19.
(6)

 Represents goodwill write-downs within the SGK Brand Solutions segment (see Note 21, "Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets").
 Represents the gain (loss) on the sale of ownership interests in subsidiaries within the Memorialization segment.
 Includes gains/losses related to cost-method investments, and related assets, within the SGK Brand Solutions and Memorialization segments.
 Includes significant building and vacant property transactions resulting in a gain of $8,663 within the Industrial Technologies segment and losses of $915 and $401 within the SGK Brand Solutions and

 Represents the Company's portion of depreciation, intangible amortization, interest expense, and other non-recurring charges incurred by non-consolidated subsidiaries accounted for as equity-method

(9)
Memorialization segments, respectively.
(10)
investments within the Memorialization segment.
 Non-service pension and postretirement expense includes interest cost, expected return on plan assets and amortization of actuarial gains and losses. These benefit cost components are excluded from
(11)
adjusted  EBITDA  since  they  are  primarily  influenced  by  external  market  conditions  that  impact  investment  returns  and  interest  (discount)  rates.  The  service  cost  and  prior  service  cost  components  of
pension and postretirement expense are included in the calculation of adjusted EBITDA, since they are considered to be a better reflection of the ongoing service-related costs of providing these benefits.
Please note that GAAP pension and postretirement expense or the adjustment above are not necessarily indicative of the current or future cash flow requirements related to these employee benefit plans.

(8)

* Depreciation and amortization was $ 87,597, $59,684, and $ 46,300 for the SGK Brand Solutions segment, $ 20,527, $19,731, and $ 20,005 for the Memorialization segment, $5,771, $6,195, and $ 5,796 for the
Industrial Technologies segment, and $5,163, $5,183, and $ 4,873 for Corporate and Non-Operating, for the fiscal years ended September 30, 2020, 2019, and 2018, respectively.
** Acquisition costs, ERP integration costs, and strategic initiatives and other charges were $ 13,990, $8,903, and $ 11,044 for the SGK Brand Solutions segment, $ 268, $3,073, and $ 613 for the Industrial
Technologies segment, and $22,985, $19,853, and $ 13,961 for Corporate and Non-Operating, for the fiscal years ended September 30, 2020, 2019, and 2018, respectively. Acquisition costs, ERP integration
costs, and strategic initiatives and other charges were $2,696, and $ 1,430 for the Memorialization segment for the fiscal years ended September 30, 2020, and 2018, respectively.

72

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (continued)
(Dollar amounts in thousands, except per share data)

19.     SEGMENT INFORMATION, (continued)

Information about the Company's operations by geographic area follows:

North America

Central and South
America

Europe

Australia

Asia

Consolidated

Sales to external customers:
2020
$
2019
2018

Long-lived assets:
2020
2019
2018

1,037,705  $
1,038,268 
1,066,367 

957,393 
1,047,505 
1,182,250 

6,304  $
5,853 
6,171 

387,831  $
426,253 
456,078 

14,063 
15,585 
16,535 

286,990 
342,802 
365,455 

21,079  $
20,885 
23,276 

21,746 
21,278 
23,037 

45,387  $
46,017 
50,688 

55,482 
57,729 
58,302 

1,498,306 
1,537,276 
1,602,580 

1,335,674 
1,484,899 
1,645,579 

20.    ACQUISITIONS AND DIVESTITURES:

Fiscal 2020:

During the fourth quarter of fiscal 2020, the Company completed a small acquisition in the Memorialization segment for a purchase price of $1,000 (net of cash acquired and
holdback amounts, subject to working capital adjustments). The preliminary purchase price allocation is not finalized as of September 30, 2020 and is subject to changes as the
Company obtains additional information related to fixed assets and other assets, and liabilities.

Fiscal 2019:

On November 1, 2018 the Company acquired 80% ownership of Frost Converting Systems, Inc. (“Frost”) for a purchase price of approximately $7,162 (net of cash acquired and
holdback  amounts).  Frost  is  a  leading  global  supplier  of  high-performance  rotary  dies  for  embossing,  creasing  and  cutting  of  paperboard  packaging  and  is  included  in  the
Company's  SGK  Brand  Solutions  segment.  The  Company  finalized  the  allocation  of  the  purchase  price  related  to  the  Frost  acquisition  in  the  fourth  quarter  of  fiscal  2019,
resulting in an immaterial adjustment to certain working capital accounts.

During fiscal 2019, the Company completed small acquisitions in the Memorialization segment for a combined purchase price of $3,094 (net of cash acquired and holdback
amounts). The Company finalized the purchase price allocations related to these acquisitions in the first quarter of fiscal 2020, resulting in an immaterial adjustment to certain
working capital accounts.

During fiscal 2019, the Company completed the sale of a 51% ownership interest in a small Memorialization business. Net proceeds from this sale totaled approximately $8,254,
and  the  transaction  resulted  in  the  recognition  of  a  $5,587  loss,  which  is  included  as  a  component  of  administrative  expenses  for  the  year  ended  September  30,  2019.
Immediately following the transaction, the Company retained a non-controlling interest in this business. The Company also divested of a small, fully owned Memorialization
business, resulting in the recognition of a $882 loss, which is included as a component of administrative expenses for the year ended September 30, 2019.

Fiscal 2018:

On February 1, 2018, the Company acquired certain net assets of Star Granite and Bronze International, Inc. ("Star Granite") for a total purchase price of $35,961, consisting of
cash of $30,961 (net of cash acquired and holdback amounts) and shares of Matthews common stock valued at $5,000.  Star Granite manufactures and distributes granite and
other  memorialization  products  to  cemetery  and  other  customers  across  the  United  States  and  is  included  in  the  Company's  Memorialization  segment. Annual  sales  for  this
business were approximately $31,000 prior to the acquisition. The Company finalized the allocation of the purchase price related to the Star Granite acquisition in the second
quarter of fiscal 2019, resulting in an immaterial adjustment to certain working capital accounts.

73

 
 
 
 
 
 
20.     ACQUISITIONS AND DIVESTITURES, (continued)

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (continued)
(Dollar amounts in thousands, except per share data)

On  November  28,  2017,  the  Company  acquired  Compass  Engineering  Group,  Inc.  ("Compass")  for  $51,887  (net  of  cash  acquired). Compass  provides  high-quality  material
handling control solutions and is included in the Company's Industrial Technologies segment. Annual sales for this business were approximately $24,000 prior to the acquisition.
The Company finalized the allocation of purchase price related to the Compass acquisition in the fourth quarter of fiscal 2018, resulting in an immaterial adjustment to certain
working capital and intangible asset amounts.

During fiscal 2018, the Company completed several additional smaller acquisitions for an aggregate purchase price of $39,465 (net of cash acquired and holdback amounts).
These additional acquisitions strengthen the Company's operations across the SGK Brand Solutions and Memorialization segments. The Company finalized the allocation of
purchase price related to these acquisitions during fiscal 2019 and 2018 resulting in immaterial adjustments to certain working capital accounts.

21.     GOODWILL AND OTHER INTANGIBLE ASSETS:

Changes to goodwill during the years ended September 30, 2020 and 2019, follow.
SGK Brand Solutions

Memorialization

Industrial Technologies

Consolidated

Net goodwill at September 30, 2018
Additions during period
Divestiture during period
Translation and other adjustments
Goodwill write-down
Net goodwill at September 30, 2019
Translation and other adjustments
Goodwill write-down
Net goodwill at September 30, 2020

$

$

485,318  $
1,506 
— 
(13,548)
(77,572)
395,704 
6,441 
(90,408)
311,737  $

371,550  $
3,592 
(14,970)
(435)
— 
359,737 
1,945 
— 
361,682  $

92,026  $
— 
— 
(660)
— 
91,366 
603 
— 
91,969  $

948,894 
5,098 
(14,970)
(14,643)
(77,572)
846,807 
8,989 
(90,408)
765,388 

In fiscal 2019, the additions to SGK Brand Solutions goodwill reflects the acquisition of Frost. The changes in Memorialization goodwill primarily reflect small acquisitions and
divestitures completed in fiscal 2019.
The net goodwill balances at September 30, 2020 and 2019 included $178,732 and $88,324 of accumulated impairment losses, respectively. Accumulated impairment losses at
September 30, 2020 were $173,732 and $5,000 for the SGK Brand Solutions and Memorialization segments, respectively. Accumulated impairment losses at September 30,
2019 were $83,324 and $5,000 for the SGK Brand Solutions and Memorialization segments, respectively.

The Company performed its annual impairment review of goodwill and indefinite-lived intangible assets in the second quarter of fiscal 2020 (January 1, 2020) and determined
that the estimated fair values for all goodwill reporting units exceeded their carrying values. The estimated fair values for two reporting units within the SGK Brand Solutions
segment (Graphics Imaging and Cylinders, Surfaces and Engineered Products) exceeded their carrying values (expressed as a percentage of carrying value) by less than 10% as
of January 1, 2020.

On  January  30,  2020,  the  World  Health  Organization  declared  an  outbreak  of  COVID-19  to  be  a  Public  Health  Emergency  of  International  Concern,  and  subsequently
recognized  COVID-19  as  a  global  pandemic  on  March  11,  2020. Widespread  efforts  have  been  deployed  by  multiple  countries  around  the  world  to  prevent  the  virus  from
spreading, including temporary closures of non-essential businesses, event cancellations, travel restrictions, quarantines, and other disruptive actions. Substantially all of the
Company’s operations have remained open during the COVID-19 pandemic, as they have been considered “essential” businesses during this time.  However, the Company has
experienced some commercial impact and business disruptions in certain segments and geographic locations as a result of COVID-19.

In its assessment of the potential impacts of COVID-19 on the estimated future earnings and cash flows for the SGK Brand Solutions segment, and in light of the limited excess
fair values for its two reporting units (discussed above), management determined that COVID-19 represented a triggering event, resulting in a re-evaluation of the goodwill for
its reporting units within the SGK Brand Solutions segment (Graphics Imaging and Cylinders, Surfaces and Engineered Products), as of March

74

21.     GOODWILL AND OTHER INTANGIBLE ASSETS, (continued)

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (continued)
(Dollar amounts in thousands, except per share data)

31, 2020. As a result of this interim assessment, the Company recorded a goodwill write-down totaling $90,408 during the fiscal 2020 second quarter. Subsequent to this write-
down, the fair values of the two reporting units within the SGK Brand Solutions segment (Graphics Imaging and Cylinders, Surfaces and Engineered Products) approximated
their  carrying  values  at  March  31,  2020. The  fair  values  for  these  reporting  units  were  determined  using  level  3  inputs  (including  estimates  of  revenue  growth,  EBITDA
contribution and the discount rates) and a combination of the income approach using the estimated discounted cash flows and a market-based valuation methodology.  If current
projections are not achieved or specific valuation factors outside the Company’s control (such as discount rates and continued economic and industry impacts of COVID-19)
significantly change, additional goodwill write-downs may be necessary in future periods.

During the fourth quarter of fiscal 2019, the Company initiated an in-depth review of the commercial and cost structure of the SGK Brand Solutions segment as a result of
continued challenging market conditions affecting the segment. This review identified certain opportunities to improve the segment’s profitability and reduce its operating cost
structure and, as a result, the Company revised its estimates of future earnings and cash flows for the Graphics Imaging reporting unit. In response to these revised projections,
the  Company  re-evaluated  the  goodwill  for  the  Graphics  Imaging  reporting  unit,  as  of  September  1,  2019. As  a  result  of  this  interim  assessment,  the  Company  recorded  a
goodwill write-down of $77.6 million during the fiscal 2019 fourth quarter.
The following tables summarize the carrying amounts and related accumulated amortization for intangible assets as of September 30, 2020 and 2019, respectively.

September 30, 2020
Indefinite-lived trade names
Definite-lived trade names
Customer relationships
Copyrights/patents/other

September 30, 2019
Indefinite-lived trade names
Definite-lived trade names
Customer relationships
Copyrights/patents/other

Carrying
Amount

Accumulated
Amortization

Net

$

$

$

$

30,540 
148,867 
379,246 
20,704 
579,357 

30,540 
148,628 
374,515 
20,463 
574,146 

$

$

$

$

— 
(64,462)
(166,892)
(14,505)
(245,859)

— 
(22,653)
(137,330)
(13,513)
(173,496)

$

$

$

$

30,540 
84,405 
212,354 
6,199 
333,498 

30,540 
125,975 
237,185 
6,950 
400,650 

The net change in intangible assets during fiscal 2020 included a small acquisition, the impact of foreign currency fluctuations during the period, and additional amortization.

During fiscal 2019, the Company reassessed its trade name strategy for the SGK Brand Solutions segment, in conjunction with an overall assessment and shift of its commercial
structure and strategy for this segment, and initiated a plan to reduce its global trade names for its core brand solutions businesses. As a result of this change, the Company has
begun to discontinue the use of certain trade names within the SGK Brand Solutions segment. Accordingly, the remaining useful lives of the impacted trade names have been
reduced to reflect the Company’s brand migration plans and an estimated time period when the discontinued trade names will be classified as defensive assets.

Amortization expense on intangible assets was $71,514, $45,756, and $31,562 in fiscal 2020, 2019 and 2018, respectively. Fiscal year amortization expense is estimated to be
approximately $60,448 in 2021, $47,046 in 2022, $28,165 in 2023, $26,458 in 2024 and $24,472 in 2025.

75

 
 
 
 
 
 
SUPPLEMENTARY FINANCIAL INFORMATION

Selected Quarterly Financial Data (Unaudited):

The following table sets forth certain items included in the Company's unaudited consolidated financial statements for each quarter of fiscal 2020 and fiscal 2019. 

Quarter Ended

December 31

March 31

June 30
(Dollar amounts in thousands, except per share data)

September 30

Year Ended
September 30

Fiscal Year 2020
Sales

Gross profit

$

364,944  $

374,800  $

359,422  $

399,140  $

1,498,306 

115,727 

124,764 

120,953 

136,325 

497,769 

Operating (loss) profit

(4,943)

(85,097)

Net (loss) income attributable to  Matthews shareholders

(10,466)

(86,364)

5,246 

2,269 

20,601 

7,406 

(Loss) earnings per share:

Basic
Diluted

Fiscal Year 2019:
Sales

Gross profit

Operating profit (loss)

Net income (loss) attributable to  Matthews shareholders

Earnings (loss) per share:

Basic
Diluted

$

$

$

(64,193)

(87,155)

(2.79)
(2.79)

(0.34) $
(0.34)

(2.77) $
(2.77)

0.07  $
0.07 

0.24  $
0.24 

374,177  $

391,400  $

379,294  $

392,405  $

1,537,276 

126,411 

136,281 

137,178 

142,596 

542,466 

16,166 

3,097 

24,264 

15,417 

29,691 

14,629 

(59,818)

(71,131)

0.10  $
0.10 

0.49  $
0.48 

0.47  $
0.46 

(2.28) $
(2.28)

10,303 

(37,988)

(1.21)
(1.21)

76

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
FINANCIAL STATEMENT SCHEDULE

SCHEDULE II - VALUATION AND QUALIFYING ACCOUNTS

Description

Allowance for Doubtful Accounts:
Fiscal Year Ended:
September 30, 2020
September 30, 2019
September 30, 2018

Balance at
Beginning of Period

Charged to
Expense

Charged to other
Accounts

 (1)

Deductions 

(2)

Balance at End of
Period

(Dollar amounts in thousands)

Additions

$

10,846  $
11,158 
11,622 

1,736  $
2,787 
855 

$

15 
20 
762 

(2,979) $
(3,119)
(2,081)

9,618 
10,846 
11,158 

(1)

(2)

Amount comprised principally of acquisitions and purchase accounting adjustments in connection with acquisitions, and amounts reclassified to other accounts.
Amounts determined not to be collectible (including direct write-offs), net of recoveries.

Description

Deferred Tax Asset Valuation Allowance:
Fiscal Year Ended:
September 30, 2020
September 30, 2019
September 30, 2018

Balance at
Beginning of
Period

Provision Charged
(Credited) To
Expense

 (1)

Allowance Changes
(2)

Other Additions
(3)
(Deductions) 

Balance at End of
Period

(Dollar amounts in thousands)

$

15,352  $
15,188 
21,917 

6,982  $
821 
2,482 

—  $
— 
(8,510)

$

193 
(657)
(701)

22,527 
15,352 
15,188 

(1)

(2)

(3)

Amounts relate primarily to adjustments in net operating loss carryforwards which are precluded from use.
Fiscal 2018 amounts primarily reflect the release of valuation allowances due to the termination of net operating loss carryforwards upon the liquidation of non-U.S. holding companies as part of an entity
reduction plan.
Consists principally of adjustments related to foreign exchange.

77

 
 
 
ITEM 9.  CHANGES IN AND DISAGREEMENTS WITH ACCOUNTANTS ON ACCOUNTING AND FINANCIAL DISCLOSURE.

None.

ITEM 9A.  CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES.

(a) Evaluation of Disclosure Controls and Procedures.

The Company's disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the "Exchange Act"))
are designed to provide reasonable assurance that information required to be disclosed in the Company's reports filed under the Exchange Act, such as this Annual Report on
Form  10-K,  are  recorded,  processed,  summarized  and  reported  within  the  time  periods  specified  in  the  rules  of  the  Securities  and  Exchange  Commission  ("SEC").  These
disclosure controls and procedures also are designed to provide reasonable assurance that such information is accumulated and communicated to management, including the
Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosures.

Management,  under  the  supervision  and  with  the  participation  of  our  Chief  Executive  Officer  and  Chief  Financial  Officer,  evaluated  the  effectiveness  of  the  Company's
disclosure controls and procedures in effect as of September 30, 2020. Based on that evaluation, the Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer concluded that, as of
September  30,  2020,  the  Company's  disclosure  controls  and  procedures  were  effective  to  provide  reasonable  assurance  that  material  information  is  accumulated  and
communicated to management, including the Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, and that such information is recorded, processed, summarized and properly
reported  within  the  appropriate  time  period,  relating  to  the  Company  and  its  consolidated  subsidiaries,  required  to  be  included  in  the  Exchange Act  reports,  including  this
Annual Report on Form 10-K.

(b) Management's Report on Internal Control over Financial Reporting.

Management's Report on Internal Control over Financial Reporting is included in Management's Report to Shareholders in Item 8 of this Annual Report on Form 10-K.

(c) Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm.

The Company's internal control over financial reporting as of September 30, 2020 has been audited by Ernst & Young LLP, an independent registered public accounting firm,
as stated in their report which is included in Item 8 of this Annual Report on Form 10-K.

(d) Changes in Internal Control over Financial Reporting.

There  have  been  no  changes  in  the  Company's  internal  controls  over  financial  reporting  that  occurred  during  the  fourth  fiscal  quarter  ended  September  30,  2020  that  have
materially affected, or are reasonably likely to materially affect, the Company's internal controls over financial reporting.

ITEM 9B.  OTHER INFORMATION.

None.

78

 
 
 
PART III

ITEM 10.  DIRECTORS, EXECUTIVE OFFICERS AND CORPORATE GOVERNANCE.

In addition to the information reported in Part I of this Annual Report on Form 10-K, under the caption "Officers and Executive Management of the Registrant," the information
required by this item as to the directors of the Company is hereby incorporated by reference from the information appearing under the captions "General Information Regarding
Corporate Governance – Audit Committee," "Proposal No. 1 – Elections of Directors" and "Delinquent Section 16(a) Reports" in the Company's definitive proxy statement,
which involves the election of the directors and is to be filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the "SEC") pursuant to the Exchange Act, within 120 days of the
end of the Company's fiscal year ended September 30, 2020.

The Company's Code of Ethics Applicable to Executive Management is set forth in Exhibit 14.1 hereto.  Any amendment to the Company's Code of Ethics or waiver of the
Company's Code of Ethics for senior financial officers, executive officers or directors will be posted on the Company's website within four business days following the date of
the amendment or waiver, and such information will remain available on the website for at least a twelve-month period.

ITEM 11.  EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION.

The information required by this item as to the compensation of directors and executive management of the Company is hereby incorporated by reference from the information
appearing under the captions "Compensation of Directors" and "Executive Compensation and Retirement Benefits" in the Company's definitive proxy statement which involves
the election of directors and is to be filed with the SEC pursuant to the Exchange Act, within 120 days of the end of the Company's fiscal year ended September 30, 2020.  The
information contained in the "Compensation Committee Report" is specifically not incorporated herein by reference.

79

ITEM 12.  SECURITY OWNERSHIP OF CERTAIN BENEFICIAL OWNERS AND MANAGEMENT.

The information required by this item as to the ownership by management and others of securities of the Company is hereby incorporated by reference from the information
appearing under the caption "Stock Ownership" in the Company's definitive proxy statement, which involves the election of directors and is to be filed with the SEC pursuant to
the Exchange Act, within 120 days of the end of the Company's fiscal year ended September 30, 2020.

Equity Compensation Plans:

The Company maintains an equity incentive plan (the "2017 Equity Incentive Plan") that provides for grants of stock options, restricted shares, restricted share units, stock-
based  performance  units  and  certain  other  types  of  stock-based  awards.  The  Company  also  maintains  equity  incentive  plans  (the  "2012  Equity  Incentive  Plan"  and  "2007
Equity  Incentive  Plan")  and  a  stock  incentive  plan  (the  "1992  Incentive  Stock  Plan")  that  previously  provided  for  grants  of  stock  options,  restricted  shares,  stock-based
performance units and certain other types of stock-based awards. Under the 2017 Equity Incentive Plan, which has a ten-year term, the maximum number of shares available for
grants or awards is an aggregate of 1,700,000.  There will be no further grants under the 2012 Equity Incentive Plan, the 2007 Equity Incentive Plan, or the 1992 Incentive
Stock  Plan. At September 30, 2020, there were 1,700,000 shares reserved for future issuance under the 2017 Equity Incentive Plan. 565,860 restricted share units have been
granted  under  the  2017  Equity  Incentive  Plan  and  are  outstanding  as  of  September  30,  2020. All  plans  are  administered  by  the  Compensation  Committee  of  the  Board  of
Directors.

With  respect  to  outstanding  restricted  share  grants,  generally  one-half  of  the  shares  vest  on  the  third  anniversary  of  the  grant,  one-quarter  of  the  shares  vest  in  one-third
increments upon the attainment of pre-defined levels of adjusted earnings per share, and the remaining one-quarter of the shares vest in one-third increments upon attainment of
pre-defined levels of appreciation in the market value of the Company's Class A Common Stock.  Additionally, restricted shares cannot vest until the first anniversary of the
grant date.  Unvested restricted shares generally expire on the earlier of three or five years from the date of grant, upon employment termination, or within specified time limits
following voluntary employment termination (with the consent of the Company), retirement or death.  The Company issues restricted shares from treasury shares.

With  respect  to  the  restricted  share  unit  grants,  units  generally  vest  on  the  third  anniversary  of  the  grant  date.  The  number  of  units  that  vest  depend  on  certain  time  and
performance  thresholds. Approximately  thirty-eight  percent  of  the  shares  vest  based  on  time,  while  the  remaining  vest  based  on  pre-defined  performance  thresholds.  The
Company issues common stock from treasury shares once vested.

The Company maintains the 2019 Director Fee Plan, the Amended and Restated 2014 Director Fee Plan and the 1994 Director Fee Plan (collectively, the "Director Fee Plans").
There will be no further fees or share-based awards granted under the Amended and Restated 2014 Director Fee Plan and the 1994 Director Fee Plan.  Under the 2019 Director
Fee Plan, non-employee directors (except for the Chairman of the Board) each receive, as an annual retainer fee for fiscal 2020, either cash or shares of the Company's Class A
Common Stock with a value equal to $85,000.  The annual retainer fee for fiscal 2020 paid to a non-employee Chairman of the Board is $185,000.  Where the annual retainer
fee is provided in shares, each director may elect to be paid these shares on a current basis or have such shares credited to a deferred stock account as phantom stock, with such
shares to be paid to the director subsequent to leaving the Board.  The total number of shares of stock that have been authorized to be issued under the 2019 Director Fee Plan or
credited  to  a  deferred  stock  compensation  account  for  subsequent  issuance  is  150,000  shares  of  Common  Stock  (subject  to  adjustment  upon  certain  events  such  as  stock
dividends or stock splits).  The value of deferred shares is recorded in other liabilities.  A total of 30,764 shares and share units had been deferred under the Director Fee Plans
at September 30, 2020.  Additionally, non-employee directors each receive an annual stock-based grant (non-statutory stock options, stock appreciation rights and/or restricted
shares or units) with a value of $125,000 for fiscal year 2020.  241,378 restricted shares and restricted share units have been granted under the Director Fee Plans, 68,149 of
which were issued under the 2019 Director Fee Plan and are unvested at September 30, 2020. 

80

ITEM 12.     SECURITY OWNERSHIP OF CERTAIN BENEFICIAL OWNERS AND MANAGEMENT, continued

The following table provides information about grants under the Company's equity compensation plans as of September 30, 2020:

Equity Compensation Plan Information

Plan category

Equity compensation plans approved by security holders
Equity compensation plans not approved by security holders

Total

Number of securities
to be issued upon
exercise of
outstanding options,
warrants and rights
(a)

Weighted-average
exercise price
of outstanding
options, warrants
and rights
(b)

Number of securities
remaining available
for future issuance
under equity
compensation plans
(excluding
securities reflected
in column (a))
(c)

30,764 
None
30,764 

$

$

— 
None
— 

(1)

3,263,225 
None
3,263,225 

(1)

 Includes (1) the 2017 Equity Incentive Plan, which provides for the grant or award of stock options, restricted shares, stock-based performance units and certain other types of stock based awards; (2) the
2019 Director Fee Plan, which provides for the grant, award or deferral of stock options, restricted shares, stock-based performance units and certain other types of stock based awards and compensation; and
(3) the shares purchased under the Employee Stock Purchase Plan which are purchased in the open market by employees at the fair market value of the Company's stock. The Company provides a matching
contribution of 10% of such purchases subject to certain limitations under the Employee Stock Purchase Plan. As the Employee Stock Purchase Plan is an open market purchase plan, it does not have a dilutive
effect.

ITEM 13.  CERTAIN RELATIONSHIPS, RELATED TRANSACTIONS, AND DIRECTOR INDEPENDENCE.

The information required by this item as to certain relationships and transactions with management and other related parties of the Company is hereby incorporated by reference
from the information appearing under the captions "Proposal No. 1 – Election of Directors" and "Certain Transactions" in the Company's definitive proxy statement, which
involves the election of directors and is to be filed with the SEC pursuant to the Exchange Act, within 120 days of the end of the Company's fiscal year ended September 30,
2020.

ITEM 14.  PRINCIPAL ACCOUNTING FEES AND SERVICES.

The information required by this item as to the fees billed and the services provided by the principal accounting firm of the Company is hereby incorporated by reference from
the information appearing under the caption "Relationship with Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm" in the Company's definitive proxy statement, which involves
the election of directors and is to be filed with the SEC pursuant to the Exchange Act within 120 days of the end of the Company's fiscal year ended September 30, 2020.

81

 
 
 
 
 
PART IV

ITEM 15.  EXHIBITS, FINANCIAL STATEMENT SCHEDULES, AND REPORTS ON FORM 8-K.

(a) 1.  Financial Statements:

The following items are included in Part II, Item 8:

Management's Report to Shareholders

Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm

Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm

Consolidated Balance Sheets as of September 30, 2020 and 2019

Consolidated Statements of Income for the years ended September 30, 2020, 2019 and 2018

Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income for the years ended September 30, 2020, 2019 and 2018

Consolidated Statements of Shareholders' Equity for the years ended September 30, 2020, 2019 and 2018

Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows for the years ended September 30, 2020, 2019 and 2018

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

Supplementary Financial Information (unaudited)

2.     Financial Statement Schedules:

The following item is included in Part II, Item 8:

Schedule II - Valuation and Qualifying Accounts

3.     Exhibits Filed:

Exhibits Index

82

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34

35

36

38

40

41

42

43

44

76

77

83

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
MATTHEWS INTERNATIONAL CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES
EXHIBITS INDEX

The following Exhibits to this report are filed herewith or, if marked with an asterisk (*), are incorporated by reference.  Exhibits marked with an "a" represent a management
contract or compensatory plan, contract or arrangement required to be filed by Item 601(b)(10)(iii) of Regulation S-K.

Exhibit No.

Description

Prior Filing or Sequential Page Numbers Herein

3.1

3.2

4.1 a

4.2

4.3

4.4

4.5

4.6

10.1

10.2

10.3 a

10.4 a

10.5 a

Restated Articles of Incorporation*

Exhibit Number 3.1 to the Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year
ended September 30, 1994

Restated By-laws, Amended July 20, 2017*

Exhibit Number 3.1 to the Current Report on Form 8-K filed on July 26,
2017

Form of Revised Option Agreement of Repurchase (effective October
1, 1993)*

Exhibit Number 4.5 to the Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year
ended September 30, 1993

Form of Share Certificate for Class A Common Stock*

Exhibit Number 4.9 to the Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year
ended September 30, 1994

Indenture, dated as of December 6, 2017, by and among Matthews, the
Guarantors, and the Bank of New York Mellon Trust Company, as
trustee*

Exhibit Number 4.1 to the Current Report on Form 8-K filed on
December 7, 2017

5.25% Senior Notes due December 1, 2025*

Exhibit Number 4.2 to the Current Report on Form 8-K filed on
December 7, 2017

Registration Rights Agreement

Exhibit Number 10.1 to the Current Report on Form 8-K filed on
September 25, 2020

Description of Securities

Filed Herewith

Purchase Agreement dated December 1, 2017 by and among Matthews
International Corporation Guarantors and J.P. Morgan Securities LLC*

Exhibit Number 10.1 to the Current Report on Form 8-K filed on
December 7, 2017

Shareholder's Agreement, dated as of March 16, 2014, by and among
Matthews International Corporation, the Shareholders named therein
and David A. Schawk, in his capacity as the Family Representative*

Exhibit Number 10.2 to the Current Report on Form 8-K filed on March
19, 2014

Employment Agreement as of the 29th day of July 2014, by and
between Matthews International Corporation, a Pennsylvania
corporation, and David Schawk

Exhibit A to the Definitive Proxy Statement on Schedule 14A filed on
January 20, 2015

Form of Schawk Family Share Purchase Agreement

Exhibit Number 10.1 to the Current Report on Form 8-K filed on May 16,
2016

Supplemental Retirement Plan (as amended through April 23, 2009)*

Exhibit Number 10.5 to the Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year
ended September 30, 2010

10.6 a

  Officers Retirement Restoration Plan (effective

April 23, 2009)*

Exhibit Number 10.6 to the Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year
ended September 30, 2009

83

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
MATTHEWS INTERNATIONAL CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES
EXHIBITS INDEX, Continued

Exhibit No.

Description

Prior Filing or Sequential Page Numbers Herein

10.7 a

10.8 a

10.9 a

10.10 a

1992 Stock Incentive Plan (as amended through
April 25, 2006)*

Exhibit Number 10.1 to the Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter
ended March 31, 2006

Form of Stock Option Agreement*

Form of Restricted Stock Agreement*

Exhibit Number 10.7 to the Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year
ended September 30, 2008

Exhibit Number 10.8 to the Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year
ended September 30, 2008

1994 Director Fee Plan (as amended through
April 22, 2010)*

Exhibit Number 10.7 to the Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year
ended September 30, 2013

10.11 a

  Amended and Restated 2014 Director Fee Plan*

10.12 a

1994 Employee Stock Purchase Plan*

Exhibit Number 10.1 to the Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter
ended March 31, 2017

Exhibit Number 10.2 to the Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter
ended March 31, 1995

10.13 a

2007 Equity Incentive Plan (as amended through September 26,
2008)*

Exhibit Number 10.11 to the Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year
ended September 30, 2008

10.14 a

2012 Equity Incentive Plan*

10.15 a

2015 Incentive Compensation Plan*

10.16 a

2017 Equity Incentive Plan*

Exhibit A to the Definitive Proxy Statement on Schedule 14A filed on
January 22, 2013

Exhibit A to the Definitive Proxy Statement on Schedule 14A filed on
January 19, 2016

Exhibit Number 99.1 to the Registration Statement on Form S-8 filed on
May 3, 2019

10.17 a

Form of Restricted Stock Unit Agreement under the 2017 Equity
Incentive Plan*

Exhibit Number 99.2 to the Registration Statement on Form S-8 filed on
May 3, 2019

10.18 a

2019 Director Fee Plan*

Exhibit Number 99.3 to the Registration Statement on Form S-8 filed on
May 3, 2019

10.19 a

Form of Restricted Stock Unit Agreement under the 2019 Director
Fee Plan*

Exhibit Number 99.4 to the Registration Statement on Form S-8 filed on
May 3, 2019

10.20 a

Form of Change in Control Agreement*

Exhibit Number 10.1 to Current Report on Form 8-K filed on October 3,
2019

10.21

Third Amended and Restated Loan Agreement*

Exhibit  Number  10.1  to  the  Current  Report  on  Form  8-K  filed  on  March
30, 2020

14.1

21

Form of Code of Ethics Applicable to Executive Management*

Exhibit Number 14.1 to the Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year
ended September 30, 2004

Subsidiaries of the Registrant

Filed Herewith

84

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
MATTHEWS INTERNATIONAL CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES
EXHIBITS INDEX, Continued

Exhibit No.

Description

Prior Filing or Sequential Page Numbers Herein

23.1

31.1

31.2

32.1

32.2

101.INS

101.SCH

101.CAL

101.DEF

101.LAB

101.PRE

104.

Consent of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm

Filed Herewith

Certification of Principal Executive Officer for Joseph C. Bartolacci

Filed Herewith

Certification of Principal Financial Officer for Steven F. Nicola

Filed Herewith

Certification Pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as Adopted
Pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, of
Joseph C. Bartolacci

Certification Pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as Adopted
Pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, of
Steven F. Nicola

Furnished Herewith

Furnished Herewith

XBRL Instance Document- the instance document does not appear in
the Interactive Data File because its XBRL tags are embedded within
the Inline XBRL document

Filed Herewith

XBRL Taxonomy Extension Schema

Filed Herewith

XBRL Taxonomy Extension Calculation Linkbase

Filed Herewith

XBRL Taxonomy Extension Definition Linkbase

Filed Herewith

XBRL Taxonomy Extension Label Linkbase

Filed Herewith

XBRL Taxonomy Extension Presentation Linkbase

Filed Herewith

Cover Page Interactive Data File (Embedded within the Inline XBRL
document and included in Exhibit 101)

Filed Herewith

Copies of any Exhibits will be furnished to shareholders upon written request.  Requests should be directed to Mr. Steven F. Nicola, Chief Financial Officer and Secretary of the
Registrant.

85

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Pursuant  to  the  requirements  of  Section  13  or  15(d)  of  the  Securities  Exchange Act  of  1934,  the  Registrant  has  duly  caused  this  report  to  be  signed  on  its  behalf  by  the
undersigned, thereunto duly authorized, on November 20, 2020.

SIGNATURES

MATTHEWS INTERNATIONAL CORPORATION

(Registrant)

By

/s/ Joseph C. Bartolacci
Joseph C. Bartolacci
President and Chief Executive Officer

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, this report has been signed below by the following persons on behalf of the Registrant and in the capacities
indicated on November 20, 2020:

/s/ Joseph C. Bartolacci
Joseph C. Bartolacci
President and Chief Executive Officer
(Principal Executive Officer)

/s/ Steven F. Nicola
Steven F. Nicola
Chief Financial Officer and Secretary
(Principal Financial and Accounting Officer)

/s/ John D. Turner
John D. Turner, Chairman of the Board

/s/ Alvaro Garcia-Tunon
Alvaro Garcia-Tunon, Director

/s/ Gregory S. Babe
Gregory S. Babe, Director

/s/ Katherine E. Dietze
Katherine E. Dietze, Director

/s/ Terry L. Dunlap
Terry L. Dunlap, Director

/s/ Lillian D. Etzkorn
Lillian D. Etzkorn, Director

/s/ Morgan K. O'Brien
Morgan K. O'Brien, Director

/s/ Don W. Quigley, Jr.
Don W. Quigley, Jr., Director

/s/ David A. Schawk
David A. Schawk, Director

/s/ Jerry R. Whitaker
Jerry R. Whitaker, Director

86

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
EXHIBIT 4.6

DESCRIPTION OF THE SECURITIES
OF MATTHEWS INTERNATIONAL CORPORATION
REGISTERED PURSUANT TO SECTION 12 OF THE
SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

Matthews International Corporation (the “Company,” “we” or “our”) has one class of securities registered under Section 12 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as

amended: our Class A Common Stock (our “common stock”)

The following description of our capital stock, including our common stock, is not complete and is qualified in its entirety by reference to, the Company's Restated
Articles of Incorporation (the “Company Articles”) and the Company’s Restated By-Laws (the “Company Bylaws”), each of which is filed with or incorporated by reference as
an  exhibit  to  our  Annual  Report  on  Form  10-K. For  additional  information,  please  read  the  Company  Articles,  Company  Bylaws,  and  the  applicable  provisions  of  the
Pennsylvania Business Corporation Law (the “PBCL”).

General

Under  the  Company Articles,  the  Company  is  authorized  to  issue  100,000,000  shares  of  common  stock,  $1.00  par  value  per  share,  and  10,000  shares  of  preferred
stock, $100.00 par value per share. 70,000,000 shares of the Company’s common stock are designated as Class A Common Stock and 30,000,000 shares of the Company’s
common stock are designated as Class B Common Stock.

As of October 31, 2020, there are approximately 31,339,703 shares of Class A Common Stock issued and outstanding, no shares of Class B Common Stock issued and
outstanding  (and  were  previously  converted  into  shares  of  Class  A  Common  Stock  upon  such  date  that  the  Class  B  Common  Stock  represented  fewer  than  5%  of  the
outstanding shares of our common stock), and no shares of preferred stock issued and outstanding.

The Company's Class A Common Stock

Voting Rights

Each share of the Company's common stock is entitled to one vote on all matters requiring a vote of shareholders. Shareholders do not have cumulative voting rights in
elections of directors. The Company's board of directors (the “Company Board”) has fixed the number of directors constituting the full Company Board at ten, divided into three
classes. The terms of office of the three classes of directors end in successive years. A director nominee will be elected to the Company Board at a meeting of shareholders if the
votes  cast  "for"  such  nominee  exceed  the  votes  cast  "against"  such  nominee  (excluding  abstentions),  unless  the  number  of  nominees  exceeds  the  number  of  directors  to  be
elected, in which case the nominees receiving the highest number of votes up to the number of directors to be elected will be elected. However, in the event a nominee does not
receive a majority of votes cast, such director is required under our Corporate Governance Guidelines to conditionally resign from the Board. Acceptance of such resignation is
at the discretion of the Company Board.

Dividend Rights

Subject to the rights and preferences of the holders of any outstanding shares of preferred stock, each share of the Company's common stock is entitled to receive any
dividends, in cash, securities or property, as the Company Board may declare. Pennsylvania law prohibits the payment of dividends and the repurchase of capital stock if the
Company is insolvent or if the Company would become insolvent after the dividend or repurchase (unless, in the case of a repurchase, the purchase price is deferred such that
the Company will not become insolvent when it is paid).

Liquidation and Other Rights

In the event of the liquidation, dissolution or winding up, either voluntarily or involuntarily, of the Company, subject to the rights and preferences of the holders of any

outstanding shares of preferred stock, holders of common stock will be entitled to share pro rata in all of the Company's remaining assets available for distribution.

1

EXHIBIT 4.6

Miscellaneous

The holders of the Company's common stock do not have preemptive rights or conversion rights, and there are no redemption or sinking fund provisions applicable to

the Company's common stock. Holders of fully paid shares of the Company's common stock are not subject to any liability for further calls or assessments.

Description of Preferred Stock

Under Pennsylvania law and the Company Articles, the Company Board is authorized to issue shares of preferred stock from time to time in one or more series without
shareholder  approval.  Subject  to  limitations  prescribed  by  Pennsylvania  law,  the  Company Articles  and  the  Company  Bylaws,  the  Company  Board  is  able  to  determine  the
number of shares constituting each series of preferred stock and the designation, preferences, qualifications, limitations, restrictions, and special or relative rights or privileges of
that series.

Holders of the Company preferred stock will have no voting rights for the election of directors and have no other voting rights except as the Company Board may

determine pursuant to its authority under the Company Articles with respect to any particular series of the Company preferred stock and except as provided by law.

The particular terms of any series of the Company preferred stock will be set by the Company Board for that series of preferred stock. Those terms may include:

• the distinctive serial designation of such series;
• the annual dividend rate for such series, if any, and the date or dates from which dividends shall commence to accrue; • the redemption price or prices, if any, for shares
of such series and the terms and conditions on which such shares may be redeemed;
• the provisions for a sinking, purchase or similar fund, if any, for the redemption or purchase of shares of such series;
• the preferential amount or amounts payable upon shares of such series in the event of the Company's voluntary or involuntary liquidation;
• the voting rights, if any, of shares of such series;
• the terms and conditions, if any, upon which shares of such series may be converted and the class or classes or series of the Company's securities into which such shares
may be converted;
• the relative seniority, parity or junior rank of such series with respect to other series of preferred stock then or thereafter to be issued; and
• any other specific terms, preferences, rights, privileges, limitations or restrictions of such series.

While the terms summarized above may generally apply to any shares of preferred stock that the Company may offer, the Company Board will include the specific

terms of each series of preferred stock in a statement with respect to shares that will be filed with the Pennsylvania Department of State and the Commission.

Anti-Takeover Effect of the Company's Governing Documents and Pennsylvania Business Corporation Law

The  Company Articles  and  the  Company  Bylaws  contain  a  number  of  provisions  relating  to  corporate  governance  and  to  the  rights  of  the  Company  shareholders.
Certain of these provisions may have a potential "anti-takeover" effect by delaying, deferring or preventing a change of control of the Company. In addition, certain provisions
of Pennsylvania law may have a similar effect.

Required Vote for Transactions Involving Interested Shareholders

In addition to any other affirmative vote required by law, the Company Articles or otherwise, certain business combination transactions require the affirmative vote of
(x) the holders of at least 80% of the outstanding shares of the Company capital stock entitled to vote in an annual election of directors of the Company, voting together as a
single class, and (y) the holders of at least a majority of the outstanding shares of the Company capital stock entitled to vote in an annual election of directors of the Company,
voting together as a single class, which are not beneficially owned by any person which is at such time (i) the beneficial owner, directly or indirectly of more than 15% of the
outstanding shares of the Company capital stock entitled to vote in an annual election of directors of

2

EXHIBIT 4.6

the Company, (ii) an affiliate of the Company and at any time within the two-year period immediately prior to such time was the beneficial owner, directly or indirectly, of more
than 15% of the outstanding shares of the Company capital stock entitled to vote in an annual election of directors of the Company, or (iii) an assignee of or has otherwise
succeeded to the beneficial ownership of any outstanding shares of the Company capital stock entitled to vote in an annual election of directors of the Company which were at
any time within the two-year period immediately prior to such time beneficially owned by an interested shareholder (within the meaning of clauses (i) through (iii) hereof) (such
person described in clauses (i) through (iii) is referred to in this prospectus as an interested shareholder), if such assignment or succession shall have occurred in the course of a
transaction or series of transactions not involving a public offering with the meaning of the Securities Act.  Such approval shall be required with respect to any of the following
business combination transactions:

•

•

•

•

•

•

Any  merger,  consolidation  or  share  exchange  of  the  Company  or  any  subsidiary  of  the  Company  with  (a)  any  interested  shareholder  or  with  (b)  any  other  person
(whether  or  not  itself  an  interested  shareholder)  which  is,  or  after  such  merger,  consolidation  or  share  exchange  would  be,  an  affiliate  or  associate  of  an  interested
shareholder or which does not include in its articles of in Company the substance of the terms of the Company Articles, in each case without regard to which person is
surviving person;
Any  sale,  lease,  exchange,  mortgage,  pledge,  transfer  or  other  disposition  or  security  arrangement,  investment,  loan,  advance,  guarantee,  agreement  to  purchase,
agreement to pay, extension of credit, joint venture participation or other arrangement (in one transaction or a class of transactions) to with or for the benefit of any
interested shareholder or any affiliate or associate of any interested shareholder involving any assets, securities or commitments of the Company or any subsidiary of the
Company  having  an  aggregate  fair  market  value,  or  involving  aggregate  commitments,  equal  to  5%  or  more  of  the  consolidated  total  assets  of  the  Company  and  its
subsidiaries;
The  issuance  or  transfer  by  the  Company  or  any  subsidiary  of  the  Company  (in  one  transaction  or  a  class  of  transactions)  of  any  securities  of  the  Company  or  any
subsidiary of the Company to any interested shareholder or any affiliate or associate of any interested shareholder in exchange for cash, securities or other consideration
(or a combination thereof) having an aggregate fair market value equal to 5% or more of the consolidated total assets of the Company and its subsidiaries;
The adoption of any plan or proposal for the liquidation or dissolution of the company proposed by or on behalf of any interested shareholder or any affiliate or associate
of any interested shareholder;
Any reclassification of securities (including any reverse stock split), or recapitalization of the company, or any merger or consolidation of the Company with any of its
subsidiaries or any other transaction (whether or not with or otherwise involving an interested shareholder) which has the effect, directly or indirectly, of increasing the
proportionate share of the outstanding shares of any class of equity securities or securities convertible into equity securities of the company or any subsidiary of the
Company which is directly or indirectly beneficially owned by any interested shareholder or any affiliate or associate of any interested shareholder; or
Any other transaction or series of transactions similar in purpose or effect to, or any agreement, contract or other arrangement providing for, any one or more of the
transactions specified in the (1) through (5) above.

The affirmative vote of holders of the Company’s voting capital stock with respect to a business combination is not required if such business combination is approved by a
majority of the directors of the Company who are not interested shareholders or an affiliate, associate or representative of an interested shareholder and either (A) was a director
of the Company immediately prior to the time the interested shareholder became an interested shareholder or (B) was a successor to a director described in clause (A) and is
recommended or elected to succeed a disinterested director by a majority of the directors describe in clause (A) (we refer in this prospectus to each such director described in
clauses (A) and (B) as a disinterested director).

Required Vote for Amendment of the Company Articles and the Company Bylaws

Subject to the voting rights given to any particular series of preferred stock by the Company Board, if any, pursuant to the Company Articles, and except as may be
specifically provided to the contrary in any other provision in the Company Articles with respect to amendment or repeal of such provision, the Company Articles cannot be
amended  and  no  provision  may  be  repealed  by  the  Company  shareholders  without  the  affirmative  vote  of  the  holders  of  not  less  than  80%  of  the  voting  power  of  the  then
outstanding shares of the Company capital stock entitled to vote in an annual election of directors of the Company, voting together as a single class, and the holders of at least a

3

EXHIBIT 4.6

majority  of  the  voting  power  of  the  then  outstanding  shares  of  the  Company  capital  stock  entitled  to  vote  in  an  annual  election  of  directors  of  the  Company  which  are  not
beneficially owned by any interested shareholder, voting together as a single class, unless such action has been previously approved by the affirmative vote of a majority of the
disinterested directors then in office, in which event (unless otherwise expressly provided in the Company Articles) the Company Articles may be amended and any provision
repealed by such shareholder approval as may be specified by law.

The Company Board may make, amend and repeal the Company Bylaws with respect to those matters which are not, by statute, reserved exclusively to the Company
shareholders, subject to the power of the Company shareholders to change such action. No bylaw may be made, amended or repealed by the Company shareholders unless such
action is approved by the affirmative vote of the holders of not less than majority of the voting power of the then outstanding shares of the Company capital stock at a duly
organized meetings of the Company shareholders or as otherwise may be specified by law.

Preferred Stock

The purpose of authorizing the Company Board to issue preferred stock and determine its rights and preferences is to eliminate delays associated with a shareholder
vote on specific issuances. The issuance of preferred stock, while providing desirable flexibility in connection with possible acquisitions and other corporate purposes, could
have the effect of making it more difficult for a third party to acquire, or of discouraging a third party from attempting to acquire, a majority of the Company's outstanding
voting stock. The existence of the authorized but undesignated preferred stock may have a depressive effect on the market price of the Company's common stock.

Anti-Takeover Law Provisions under the Pennsylvania Business Corporation Law

The Company is subject to certain provisions of Chapter 25 of the Pennsylvania Business Corporation Law, which may have the effect of discouraging or rendering

more difficult a hostile takeover attempt against the Company, including Section 2524, Section 2538, Subchapter 25E and Subchapter 25F of the PBCL.

Under Section 2524 of the PBCL, shareholders of the Company cannot act by partial written consent except if permitted under the Company Articles. The Company

Articles do not permit shareholder action by partial written consent.

Section  2538  of  the  PBCL  requires  enhanced  shareholder  approval  for  certain  transactions  between  the  Company  and  an  "interested  shareholder"  (defined  as  a
shareholder who is a party to the transaction or is treated differently from other shareholders). Section 2538 applies if an interested shareholder (together with his, her or its
affiliates) is to (i) be a party to a merger or consolidation, a share exchange or certain sales of assets involving the Company or one of the Company's subsidiaries; (ii) receive a
disproportionate amount of any securities of any corporation which survives or results from a division; (iii) be treated differently from others holding shares of the same class in
a  voluntary  dissolution  of  such  corporation;  or  (iv)  have  his  or  her  percentage  of  voting  or  economic  share  interest  in  such  corporation  materially  increased  relative  to
substantially all other shareholders in a reclassification. Under these circumstances, the proposed transaction must be approved by the affirmative vote of the holders of shares
representing at least a majority of the votes that all disinterested shareholders are entitled to cast with respect to such transaction. However, this special voting requirement will
not apply where the proposed transaction has been approved in a prescribed manner by the members of the Company Board independent from the interested shareholder or if
certain other conditions, including the amount of consideration to be paid to certain shareholders, are satisfied or the interested shareholder owns 80% or more of the Company.
This voting requirement is in addition to any other voting requirement under the PBCL, the Company Articles or the Company Bylaws.

Under Subchapter 25E of the PBCL, if any person or group acting in concert acquires voting power over shares representing 20% or more of the votes which all of the
Company's shareholders would be entitled to cast in an election of directors, any other shareholder may demand that such person or group purchase such shareholder's shares at
a price determined in an appraisal proceeding.

Under Subchapter 25F of the PBCL, the Company may not engage in a merger, consolidation, share exchange, division, asset sale, disposition (in one transaction or a

series of transactions) or a variety of other business combination transactions with a person who becomes the beneficial owner of shares representing 20% or

4

EXHIBIT 4.6

more of the voting power in an election of the Company's directors unless: (1) the business combination or the acquisition of the 20% interest is approved by the Company
Board prior to the date the 20% interest is acquired; (2) the person beneficially owns at least 80% of the Company's outstanding shares and the business combination (a) is
approved  by  a  majority  vote  of  the  disinterested  shareholders  and  (b)  satisfies  certain  minimum  price  and  other  conditions  prescribed  in  Subchapter  25F;  (3)  the  business
combination is approved by a majority vote of the disinterested shareholders at a meeting called no earlier than five years after the date the 20% interest is acquired; or (4) the
business  combination  (a)  is  approved  by  shareholder  vote  at  a  meeting  called  no  earlier  than  five  years  after  the  date  the  20%  interest  is  acquired  and  (b)  satisfies  certain
minimum price and other conditions prescribed in Subchapter 25F.

The Company has opted out of Subchapter 25G of the PBCL (which would have required a shareholder vote to accord voting rights to control shares acquired by a
20%  shareholder  in  a  control-share  acquisition)  and  Subchapter  25H  of  the  PBCL  (which  would  have  required  a  person  or  group  to  disgorge  to  the  Company  any  profits
received from a sale of the Company's equity securities under certain circumstances).

Advance Notice Requirements

The  Company  Bylaws  require  the  Company  shareholders  to  provide  advance  notice  if  they  wish  to  submit  a  proposal  or  nominate  candidates  for  director  at  the
Company's  annual  meeting  of  shareholders.  These  procedures  provide  that  notice  of  shareholder  proposals  and  shareholder  nominations  for  the  election  of  directors  at  the
Company's annual meeting must be in writing and received by the Company's secretary at its principal executive offices at least 75, but not more than 120, days prior to the
anniversary of the date of the prior year's annual meeting of shareholders, provided that with respect to shareholder proposals, in the event the date of the annual meeting is more
than 30 days before or more than 60 days after the first anniversary of the preceding year’s annual meeting, a notice by the shareholder to be timely must be delivered at least
75,  but  not  more  than  120,  days  prior  to  such  annual  meeting  or  the  10th  day  following  the  date  on  which  public  announcement  of  the  date  of  such  meeting  is  first  made.
Shareholder nominations for election of director must be in writing in accordance with Section 6.1 of the Company Articles, and must include (1) the name and address of the
shareholder who intends to make the nomination and of the person(s) to be nominated; (2) a representation that the shareholder is a holder of record of common stock of the
Company entitled to vote at such meeting and intends to appear in person or by proxy at the meeting to nominate the person(s) specified in the notice; (3) a description of all
arrangements or understandings between the shareholder and each nominee and any other person(s) (naming such person(s)) pursuant to which the nomination or nominations
are to be made by the shareholder; (4) such other information regarding each nominee proposed by such shareholder as would be required to be included in a proxy statement
filed pursuant to the proxy rules of the Commission, had the nominee been nominated by the Company Board; and (5) the consent of each nominee to serve as a director of the
Company if so elected.

The Company Bylaws do not require the Company to include in its proxy materials for an annual meeting of shareholders any nominations of persons to serve on the
Company Board made by the Company shareholders. The Corporate Governance Committee of the Company Board and the Company Board will consider any candidate for
nominee as a director that is properly submitted by a shareholder in accordance with the Company’s Articles of Incorporation and Bylaws and does not maintain a policy with
regard to such nominations distinct from such requirements.

Special Meetings of Shareholders

The Company Bylaws provide that a special meeting of shareholders may be called by the Company Board or chief executive officer. Only Company shareholders
who hold of record at last 20% of the shares entitled be voted upon any proposal to be considered at such meeting have a right to call a special meeting under the Company
Bylaws.

Special Treatment for Specified Groups of Nonconsenting Shareholders

Additionally, in connection with a plan of merger, plan of interest exchange, plan of conversion, plan of division or plan of domestication, Section 329 and Section

1906 of the PBCL permits holders of shares of a class or series to be separated into one or more groups, if approved by a majority of the votes cast by any class or series of

5

EXHIBIT 4.6

shares  any  of  the  shares  of  which  are  so  classified  into  groups,  to  provide  mandatory  special  treatment  for  the  specified  groups. Such  classification  is  subject  to  additional
specific requirements as set forth in Section 329 and Section 1906 of the PBCL. In the way of example, under these provisions of the PBCL, if the requirements are met, shares
of common stock held only by designated shareholders of record, and no other shares of common stock, could be cashed out at a price determined by the company, subject to
applicable dissenters' rights.

Exercise of Director Powers Generally

Section 1715 of the PBCL also provides that the directors of a corporation are not required to regard the interests of the shareholders as being dominant or controlling
in making decisions concerning takeovers or any other matters. The directors may consider, to the extent they deem appropriate, among other  things,  (1)  the  effects  of  any
proposed action upon any or all groups affected by the action, including, among others, shareholders, employees, creditors, customers and suppliers, (2) the short-term and long-
term interests of the corporation, (3) the resources, intent and conduct of any person or group seeking to acquire control of the corporation and (4) all other pertinent factors. The
PBCL expressly provides that directors do not violate their fiduciary duties solely by relying on "poison pills" or the anti-takeover provisions of the PBCL. The Company does
not currently have a "poison pill."

Limitations on Liability, Indemnification of Officers and Directors, and Insurance

The PBCL permits a corporation to indemnify any person who was or is a party or is threatened to be made a party to any threatened, pending or completed action or
proceeding,  whether  civil,  criminal,  administrative  or  investigative  (other  than  an  action  by  or  in  the  right  of  the  corporation),  by  reason  of  the  fact  that  he  is  or  was  a
representative  of  the  corporation,  against  expenses  (including  attorney's  fees),  judgments,  fines  and  amounts  paid  in  settlement  actually  and  reasonably  incurred  by  him  in
connection with the action or proceeding if he acted in good faith and in a manner he reasonably believed to be in, or not opposed to, the best interests of the corporation, and
with respect to any criminal proceeding, had no reasonable cause to believe his or her conduct was unlawful. In an action by or in the right of the corporation, indemnification
will  not  be  made  in  respect  of  any  claim,  issue,  or  matter  as  to  which  the  person  has  been  adjudged  to  be  liable  to  the  corporation  unless  the  applicable  court  otherwise
determines.

Unless ordered by a court, the determination of whether indemnification is proper in a specific case will be determined by (1) the board of directors by a majority vote
of a quorum consisting of directors who were not parties to the action or proceeding; (2) if such a quorum is not obtainable or if obtainable and a majority vote of a quorum of
disinterested directors so directs, by independent legal counsel in a written opinion; or (3) by the shareholders.

To the extent that a representative of a business corporation has been successful on the merits or otherwise in defense of  a  third-party  action,  derivative  action,  or

corporate action, he or she must be indemnified against expenses (including attorneys' fees) actually and reasonably incurred by such individual in connection therewith.

Pennsylvania law permits a corporation to purchase and maintain insurance for a director or officer against any liability asserted against such individual, and incurred
in his or her capacity as a director or officer or arising out of his or her position, whether or not the corporation would have the power to indemnify such individual against such
liability under Pennsylvania law.

The Company Articles provide that a director shall, to the maximum extent permitted by Pennsylvania law, have no personal liability for monetary damages for any
action taken, or any failure to take any action, as a director unless such director has breached or failed to perform the duties of his or her office under Chapter 17, Subchapter B
of  the  PBCL  (or  any  successor  statute  relating  to  directors'  standard  of  care  and  justifiable  reliance),  and  the  breach  or  failure  to  perform  constitutes  self-dealing,  willful
misconduct or recklessness. The Company Articles provide for indemnification for current and former directors and officers serving at the request of the corporation to the
fullest extent permitted by Pennsylvania law. The Company Articles and Company Bylaws also permit the advancement of expenses and expressly authorize the Company to
carry  directors'  and  officers'  insurance  to  protect  itself  and  its  directors  and  officers  against  certain  liabilities.  The  Company  Bylaws  also  provide  for  indemnification  of
employees and agents of the Company under certain circumstances.

6

EXHIBIT 4.6

The  limitation  of  liability  and  indemnification  provisions  in  the  Company Articles  and  the  Company  Bylaws  may  discourage  shareholders  from  bringing  a  lawsuit
against directors for breach of their fiduciary duty. These provisions may also have the effect of reducing the likelihood of derivative litigation against the Company's directors
and  officers,  even  though  such  an  action,  if  successful,  might  otherwise  benefit  the  Company  and  its  shareholders.  However,  these  provisions  do  not  limit  or  eliminate  the
Company's rights, or those of any shareholder, to seek nonmonetary relief such as injunction or rescission in the event of a breach of a director's duty of care. The provisions do
not alter the liability of directors under the federal securities laws. In addition, your investment may be adversely affected to the extent that, in a class action or direct suit, the
Company pays the costs of settlement and damage awards against directors and officers pursuant to these indemnification provisions. There is currently no pending material
litigation or proceeding against any of the Company directors or officers for which indemnification is sought.

Authorized but Unissued Shares

Subject  to  applicable  law  and  stock  exchange  rules,  the  Company's  authorized  but  unissued  shares  of  common  stock  and  preferred  stock  are  available  for  future
issuance  without  your  approval.  The  Company  may  use  additional  shares  for  a  variety  of  purposes,  including  future  public  offerings  to  raise  additional  capital,  to  fund
acquisitions and as employee compensation. The existence of authorized but unissued shares of common stock and preferred stock could render more difficult or discourage an
attempt to obtain control of the Company by means of a proxy contest, tender offer, merger or otherwise.

7

MATTHEWS INTERNATIONAL CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES
SUBSIDIARIES OF THE REGISTRANT
(as of October 31, 2020)

Name
IDL Worldwide, Inc.
The SLN Group, Inc.
Therm-Tec, Inc.
Frost Converting Systems, Inc.
Equator Design, Inc.
Kenuohua Matthews Electronic (Beijing) Company, Ltd.

Kenuohua Matthews Marking Products (Tianjin) Co., Ltd.

Matthews Canada Ltd.
Matthews Industries, Inc.

Matthews Bronze Pty. Ltd.
C. Morello (Australia) Pty Ltd.

Matthews International S.p.A.

Caggiati Espana S.A.
Matthews International Sarl
Gem Matthews International s.r.l.
Rottenecker-Caggiati GmbH
Tyche SpA

Matthews Resources, Inc.
Matthews Marking Systems Sweden AB

Matthews Kodiersysteme GmbH

Innovative Branding Technology Solutions, LLC
The York Group, Inc.

York Agency, Inc.
Milso Industries Corporation
New Liberty Casket Company LLC
York Casket Development Company, Inc.
Matthews Aurora, LLC 

Aurora Casket Company, LLC

Aurora Casket de Mexico S. de R.L. de C.V.
Aurora St. Laurent, Inc.
Matthews Gibraltar Mausoleum & Construction Company
SGK LLC

Schawk Japan Ltd.
Schawk Thailand Ltd.
Schawk Worldwide Holdings, Inc.
Schawk Holdings Inc.

Miramar Equipment, Inc.
Schawk USA Inc.

Kedzie Aircraft, LLC 
Schawk LLC 

Schawk de Mexico SRL de CV

EXHIBIT 21

Percentage Ownership
100 
100 
100 
80 
100 
60 
100 
100 
100 
100 
100 
100 
100 
100 
95 
82 
51 
100 
100 
100 
100 
100 
100 
100 
100 
100 
100 
100 
100 
100 
100 
100 
100 
100 
100 
100 
100 
100 
100 
100 
100 

 
 
 
 
 
Name

Schawk Servicios Administrativos, S. de R.L. de CV

Schawk Latin America Holdings, LLC

Schawk do Brasil Gestao de Marcas Ltda.
Schawk Panama Services, S de RL

Schawk Digital Solutions, Inc.
Seven Worldwide (UK) Limited  
MATW North America Holding LLC
MATW UK Holding LLP

Schawk Wace Group 

Matthews International Corporation Costa Rica S.R.L.
Matthews Holding Germany LLP & Co. KG
Matthews Singapore Holding Pte. Ltd.

The InTouch Group Limited
Guidance Automation Limited
GJ Creative Limited

Absolute 2 Design Limited
Equator (GJ) Limited
Equator (SA) Limited
Equator SA Limited
Equator Design Agency Australia PTY LIMITED

MATW Holding LLC

Matthews Corporation Holding Company (UK) Limited
Furnace Construction Cremators Limited
Matthews Environmental Solutions Limited

Schawk Canada Inc.   

Protopak Innovations, Inc.

Schawk Germany GmbH
Desgrippes Gobe Group (Yuan Hosea)
Schawk UK Ltd.

M3dia Limited
Matthews Brands Solutions (UK) Limited
PM Colour Limited
InTouch Reprographic Limited
M3dia Projects Limited
VCG (Holdings) Limited

VCG Colourlink Limited
VCG Connect Limited
VCG Catapult Ltd.
VCG Kestrel Limited
VCG Oasis Ltd.

Schawk UK Corporate Packaging
Schawk UK Holdings Ltd.
Schawk Luxembourg SARL
Brandimage Degrippes and LAGA SAS
Brandimage Belgique Holding SA

Percentage Ownership
100 
100 
100 
100 
100 
100 
100 
100 
100 
100 
100 
100 
100 
100 
100 
100 
100 
100 
100 
100 
100 
100 
100 
100 
100 
100 
100 
100 
100 
100 
100 
100 
100 
51 
100 
100 
100 
100 
100 
100 
100 
100 
100 
100 
100 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Name

Percentage
Ownership

Brandimage Desgrippes and LAGA SA

Brandmark International Holding B.V.

Anthem NL BV

Matthews International Malaysia Sdn. Bhd.
Schawk Spain S.L.
Schawk Poland Sp z.o.o.
Schawk Belgium BVBA
Schawk Asia Pacific Pte Ltd.
Schawk India Pvt Ltd.
Schawk Holdings Australia Pty Ltd.
Anthem! Design Pty. Limited
Marque Brand Consultants Pty Ltd.
Schawk Australia Pty. Limited

Schawk Hong Kong Ltd.

Desgripes Gobe Group (HK) Ltd.
Desgrippes (Shanghai) Brand Consulting Co Ltd.
Schawk Anthem Shenzhen Co Ltd.
Schawk Imaging (Shanghai) Co.

MATW Netherlands Holding B.V.

Matthews Brand Solutions, S. de R.L. de CV
Saueressig Baski Oncesi Hazirlik Sistemier Sanaji ve Tricarct Amonin Sirketi
Matthews International Brasil Servicos de Marketing e Branding Ltda.
Matthews Europe GmbH
5flow GmbH
PT. Saueressig Engraving Indonesia
S+T Reprotechnick GmbH

Reproservice Eurodigital GmbH
Repro Busek Druckvorstufentechnick GmbH
Repro Busek Druckvorstufentechnick GmbH & Co. KG
Rudolf Reproflex GmbH

IDL Crack Europe GmbH

Klischeewerkstatt Scholler GmbH
Tact Group Ltd.

Shenzen Jun Ye Design & Production Ltd.

Reproflex Vietnam Limited Company
TWL Nyomdaipari es Kereskedeimi Koriatolt Felelossegu Tarsasag

Matthews International GmbH

Matthews Verwaltungs GmbH
Ungricht GmbH + Co KG
Saueressig Polska Sp. z.o.o.
Saueressig 000

Wetzel GmbH

Saueressig Polska Sp. z.o.o.

100 
100 
100 
100 
100 
100 
100 
100 
100 
100 
100 
100 
100 
100 
100 
100 
100 
100 
100 
100 
100 
100 
100 
100 
100 
100 
100 
100 
100 
100 
100 
100 
100 
100 
60 
100 
100 
100 
100 
67 
100 
100 
33 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
CONSENT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM

EXHIBIT 23.1

We consent to the incorporation by reference in the Registration Statements (Form S-8 Nos. 333-231192, 333-194456, 333-190366, 333-157132, 333-131496, 333-83731, 033-
57793,  033-57795,  and  033-57797)  of  our  reports  dated  November  20,  2020,  with  respect  to  the  consolidated  financial  statements  and  schedule  of  Matthews  International
Corporation and Subsidiaries and the effectiveness of internal control over financial reporting of Matthews International Corporation and Subsidiaries included in this Annual
Report (Form 10-K) of Matthews International Corporation and Subsidiaries for the year ended September 30, 2020.

/s/ Ernst & Young LLP

Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
November 20, 2020

CERTIFICATION
PRINCIPAL EXECUTIVE OFFICER

EXHIBIT 31.1

I, Joseph C. Bartolacci, certify that:
1. I have reviewed this annual report on Form 10-K of Matthews International Corporation;
2. Based on my knowledge, this report does not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary to make the statements made, in light of
the circumstances under which such statements were made, not misleading with respect to the period covered by this report;
3. Based on my knowledge, the financial statements, and other financial information included in this report, fairly present in all material respects the financial condition, results
of operations and cash flows of the registrant as of, and for, the periods presented in this report;
4. The registrant's other certifying officer and I are responsible for establishing and maintaining disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(e)
and 15d-15(e)) and internal control over financial reporting (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(f) and 15d-15(f)) for the registrant and have:
a) designed such disclosure controls and procedures, or caused such disclosure controls and procedures to be designed under our supervision, to ensure that material information
relating to the registrant, including its consolidated subsidiaries, is made known to us by others within those entities, particularly during the period in which this report is being
prepared;
b)  designed such internal control over financial reporting, or caused such internal control over financial reporting to be designed under our supervision, to provide reasonable
assurance  regarding  the  reliability  of  financial  reporting  and  the  preparation  of  financial  statements  for  external  purposes  in  accordance  with  generally  accepted  accounting
principles;
c) evaluated the effectiveness of the registrant's disclosure controls and procedures and presented in this report our conclusions about the effectiveness of the disclosure controls
and procedures, as of the end of the period covered by this report based on such evaluation; and
d) disclosed in this report any change in the registrant's internal control over financial reporting that occurred during the registrant's most recent fiscal quarter (the registrant's
fourth  fiscal  quarter  in  the  case  of  an  annual  report)  that  has  materially  affected,  or  is  reasonably  likely  to  materially  affect,  the  registrant's  internal  control  over  financial
reporting; and
5. The registrant's other certifying officer and I have disclosed, based on our most recent evaluation of internal control over financial reporting, to the registrant's auditors and
the audit committee of registrant's board of directors (or persons performing the equivalent functions):
a) all significant deficiencies and material weaknesses in the design or operation of internal control over financial reporting which are reasonably likely to adversely affect the
registrant's ability to record, process, summarize and report financial information; and
b) any fraud, whether or not material, that involves management or other employees who have a significant role in the registrant's internal control over financial reporting.

Date: November 20, 2020

/s/Joseph C. Bartolacci
-------------------------
Joseph C. Bartolacci
President and Chief Executive Officer

CERTIFICATION
PRINCIPAL FINANCIAL OFFICER

EXHIBIT 31.2

I, Steven F. Nicola, certify that:
1. I have reviewed this annual report on Form 10-K of Matthews International Corporation;
2. Based on my knowledge, this report does not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary to make the statements made, in light of
the circumstances under which such statements were made, not misleading with respect to the period covered by this report;
3. Based on my knowledge, the financial statements, and other financial information included in this report, fairly present in all material respects the financial condition, results
of operations and cash flows of the registrant as of, and for, the periods presented in this report;
4. The registrant's other certifying officer and I are responsible for establishing and maintaining disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(e)
and 15d-15(e)) and internal control over financial reporting (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(f) and 15d-15(f)) for the registrant and have:
a) designed such disclosure controls and procedures, or caused such disclosure controls and procedures to be designed under our supervision, to ensure that material information
relating to the registrant, including its consolidated subsidiaries, is made known to us by others within those entities, particularly during the period in which this report is being
prepared;
b)  designed such internal control over financial reporting, or caused such internal control over financial reporting to be designed under our supervision, to provide reasonable
assurance  regarding  the  reliability  of  financial  reporting  and  the  preparation  of  financial  statements  for  external  purposes  in  accordance  with  generally  accepted  accounting
principles;
c) evaluated the effectiveness of the registrant's disclosure controls and procedures and presented in this report our conclusions about the effectiveness of the disclosure controls
and procedures, as of the end of the period covered by this report based on such evaluation; and
d) disclosed in this report any change in the registrant's internal control over financial reporting that occurred during the registrant's most recent fiscal quarter (the registrant's
fourth  fiscal  quarter  in  the  case  of  an  annual  report)  that  has  materially  affected,  or  is  reasonably  likely  to  materially  affect,  the  registrant's  internal  control  over  financial
reporting; and
5. The registrant's other certifying officer and I have disclosed, based on our most recent evaluation of internal control over financial reporting, to the registrant's auditors and
the audit committee of registrant's board of directors (or persons performing the equivalent functions):
a) all significant deficiencies and material weaknesses in the design or operation of internal control over financial reporting which are reasonably likely to adversely affect the
registrant's ability to record, process, summarize and report financial information; and
b) any fraud, whether or not material, that involves management or other employees who have a significant role in the registrant's internal control over financial reporting.

Date: November 20, 2020

/s/Steven F. Nicola
-------------------------
Steven F. Nicola
Chief Financial Officer

Certification Pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350,

As Adopted Pursuant to

Section 906 of The Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002

EXHIBIT 32.1

In  connection  with  the Annual  Report  of  Matthews  International  Corporation  (the  "Company")  on  Form  10-K  for  the  period  ended  September  30,  2020  as  filed  with  the
Securities and Exchange Commission on the date hereof (the "Report"), I, Joseph C. Bartolacci, President and Chief Executive Officer, certify, to the best of my knowledge,
pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, that:

(1)  The Report fully complies with the requirements of Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934; and

(2)  The information contained in the Report fairly presents, in all material respects, the financial condition and results of operations of the Company.

/s/Joseph C. Bartolacci
-------------------------------------
Joseph C. Bartolacci,
President and Chief Executive Officer

November 20, 2020

A signed original of this written statement required by Section 906, or other document authenticating, acknowledging, or otherwise adopting the signature that appears in typed
form within the electronic version of this written statement required by Section 906, has been provided to Matthews International Corporation and will be retained by Matthews
International Corporation and furnished to the Securities and Exchange Commission or its staff upon request.

Certification Pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350,

As Adopted Pursuant to

Section 906 of The Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002

EXHIBIT 32.2

In  connection  with  the Annual  Report  of  Matthews  International  Corporation  (the  "Company")  on  Form  10-K  for  the  period  ended  September  30,  2020  as  filed  with  the
Securities and Exchange Commission on the date hereof (the "Report"), I, Steven F. Nicola, Chief Financial Officer, certify, to the best of my knowledge, pursuant to 18 U.S.C.
Section 1350, as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, that:

(1)  The Report fully complies with the requirements of Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934; and

(2)  The information contained in the Report fairly presents, in all material respects, the financial condition and results of operations of the Company.

/s/Steven F. Nicola
-------------------------------------
Steven F. Nicola,
Chief Financial Officer

November 20, 2020

A signed original of this written statement required by Section 906, or other document authenticating, acknowledging, or otherwise adopting the signature that appears in typed
form within the electronic version of this written statement required by Section 906, has been provided to Matthews International Corporation and will be retained by Matthews
International Corporation and furnished to the Securities and Exchange Commission or its staff upon request.