Where Intelligence
Meets Infrastructure®
2 0 1 5 A N N U A L R E P O R T
Overview
Mueller Water Products, Inc. (NYSE:MWA) is a leading manufacturer and marketer of products and services used
in the transmission, distribution and measurement of water in North America. Our broad product and service
portfolio includes engineered valves, fire hydrants, metering products and systems, leak detection and pipe condi-
tion assessment. We help municipalities increase operational efficiencies, improve customer service and prioritize
capital spending, demonstrating why Mueller Water Products is Where Intelligence Meets Infrastructure®. The
piping component systems produced by Anvil help build connections that last in commercial, industrial and oil &
gas applications. Visit us at www.muellerwaterproducts.com.
Intelligent Water Technology
Water Treatment Plant
Pump Station
Transmission
Main Leak Detection
Pressure
Monitoring
Water Department
S.M.A.R.T.
Flushing System
Transmission
Main Leak
Detection
Distributes
Main Leak
Detection
Mi. Hydrant
Mi. Hydrant
Hydro-Guard
Transmission
Main Leak Detection
Drinking
Water
Source
Pressure
Monitoring
Hydro-Guard
Manage
Water
Semi-
Remotely
Residential Homes
ePulse
Pump Station
Water Treatment Plant
Pressure
Monitoring
Water Discharge after Treatment
Transmission
Main Leak Detection
Pressure
Monitoring
• Mueller Co. • Mueller Systems • Echologics
This diagram is for illustrative purposes only.
Chairman’s Letter
GREG HYLAND I Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer
January 15, 2016
To My Fellow Stockholders:
With an aging water infrastructure and more than two trillion gallons of treated water lost annually due to a variety
of factors, including leaks and water main breaks, clearly smarter solutions to managing our water infrastructure
are needed to ensure continued access to safe, clean drinking water.
Improving end markets, more efficient operations and our reputation for producing high-quality products
contributed to the solid improvement in our Mueller Co. business in 2015, which when coupled with innovative
technology for measuring water usage and detecting leaks, is why we believe that Mueller Water Products is
Where Intelligence Meets Infrastructure®.
Key 2015 Accomplishments
Over the past year, we further improved our financial position, developed new products to enhance the value we
offer our customers and continued to integrate Lean principles into the organization to improve the way we operate
our business. Our key accomplishments included:
• Increasing adjusted operating margin and adjusted EBITDA margin year-over-year and increasing adjusted net
income per diluted share by 30 percent.
• Restructuring our debt and lowering our total debt outstanding, both of which provide us with greater
flexibility in how we manage our business and enable us to invest in initiatives with significant growth
potential, such as leak detection technology. We also increased our quarterly dividend and announced a share
repurchase program as part of our capital allocation actions.
• Strengthening our Mueller Co. business by improving our manufacturing processes and service levels, as well
as demonstrating continued operating leverage as exemplified by strong margin improvement.
Financial Results
Our 2015 net sales were $1,164.5 million compared with 2014 net sales of $1,184.7 million. Our
adjusted EBITDA margin for 2015 improved 70 basis points to 16.2 percent from 15.5 percent in 2014.
Adjusted net income increased to $64.0 million, or $0.39 per diluted share, from $48.9 million, or $0.30
per diluted share in 2014. We generated free cash flow of $50.3 million in 2015.
Early in the year, we reduced debt and refinanced our long-term debt by entering into a new $500 million
senior secured term loan that matures in November 2021. With these actions, we reduced leverage,
improved our financial flexibility and lowered our annual interest expense by 44 percent to $27.9 million
from $50.0 million in 2014.
We redefined our reporting segments at the end of the year to provide greater transparency to stockholders
and the financial community, as well as to better reflect how we manage our businesses. We now report
financial results for three segments: Mueller Co., Anvil and Mueller Technologies. Mueller Technologies is
currently comprised of Mueller Systems and Echologics, which were previously reported within the Mueller
Co. segment.
From an end market perspective, we estimate that in 2015 about 70 percent of Mueller Co.’s net sales
were associated with the repair and replacement of municipal water distribution and treatment systems,
25 percent with residential construction and 5 percent with natural gas utilities. At Anvil, about 85 percent
of 2015 net sales were associated with non-residential construction, 10 percent with oil & gas (down from
about 20 percent in 2014) and 5 percent with the power generation market. The significant decline in
the oil & gas market negatively impacted Anvil’s margins because products sold to that market generally
have higher gross margins. Mueller Systems sells water metering products and systems and Echologics
sells water leak detection and pipe condition assessment products and services, primarily directly to
municipalities.
Our Strategy
Mueller remains the most recognized brand in the North American water infrastructure market, with one of the
largest installed bases of fire hydrants and iron gate valves in the United States. We believe our high-quality
products and leadership positions provide the platform to increase the value we offer municipalities through
enhanced products and services, improved customer service and increased operating efficiencies.
Our business strategy is to capitalize on the large, attractive and growing water infrastructure markets. Specifically,
we will:
Maintain our leadership positions with customers and end users by leveraging our strong brands, large installed
base, leading specification positions and extensive distribution network. We will also focus on maintaining high
customer service levels while developing and introducing value-added products and services.
Continue to enhance operational excellence by expanding the use of Lean Six Sigma manufacturing and business
improvement methodologies and by investing in advanced manufacturing and distribution processes, all with the
objective of capturing higher levels of quality, service and operational efficiency.
Develop, acquire and invest in businesses and technologies that expand our existing portfolio of businesses or
allow us to enter new markets, including international markets. Through internal development and acquisitions,
we will continue to invest in technology, intellectual capital and product development to enhance or expand our
existing offerings.
Intelligent Water Technology
In 2015, we continued to expand our Intelligent Water Technology portfolio, primarily by investing in our leak
detection technologies and by expanding the capabilities of our Advanced Metering Infrastructure (AMI) solutions.
Echologics’ leak detection technology was featured in the National Institute of Standards and Technology’s (NIST)
Global Cities Team Challenge, which was designed to showcase innovative applications of Internet of Things (IoT)
technologies within a smart city environment. Echologics partnered with IBM and AT&T on the challenge. As part
of the challenge, our leak detection technology was piloted in Atlanta, Las Vegas and Los Angeles, three major
cities that are proactively addressing their water infrastructure needs.
Mueller Systems is also demonstrating the applicability of the IoT for water infrastructure with its participation
in the LoRa™ Alliance, an association of telecom and other providers that are accelerating the adoption of the
IoT by delivering related products and services. We have significantly increased the radio range and reduced the
infrastructure required for the Mi.Net® System, our AMI solution, with our own technology advancements and
through the LoRa Alliance.
We are encouraged by the growing interest we are seeing in the marketplace for both our leak detection
technologies and AMI solutions. We entered 2016 with significantly higher AMI backlog and projects awarded for
Mueller Systems and projects under contract at Echologics.
Safety and Sustainability
One of our Core Values is to Foster a Safe and Environmentally Responsible Culture, and we have made great
strides in integrating this value into our organization.
The safety of our employees is our top priority, and our goal is to have zero injuries. I am proud to report that we
have steadily improved our safety performance and ended 2015 with our best safety performance over the last
four years. We entered 2016 with the right momentum for even further improvements.
As a company whose products and technologies are used to ensure that people continue to have access to safe,
clean drinking water, we are proud of the role we are playing in conserving a precious natural resource. This
commitment to sustainability also extends to how we manage our business.
We have a Company-wide sustainability program that centers around four key performance indicators (KPIs):
Energy, Greenhouse Gases, Water and Solid Waste. We continue to become a more sustainability-driven company,
but we know that further improvements are possible. To guide our sustainability program, we recently established
new targets to further reduce energy usage, greenhouse gas emissions, water usage and solid waste sent to
landfills on a per-ton-of-product produced. These new targets will take us through 2019.
Our Employees
Or improved financial performance, new products, technology enhancements and superior customer relationships
are the result of the dedication, expertise, hard work and commitment of our employees across the organization.
By embracing our Core Values of Act with Integrity – Do the Right Thing, Treat Each Other with Respect, Foster
a Safe and Environmentally Responsible Culture, Build Relationships, and Promote a Culture of Innovation and
Continuous Improvement, our employees help us realize our last Core Value – Deliver Exceptional Results – for
our customers, our stockholders and each other.
On behalf of all stockholders, I thank them for their many contributions to our success.
Summary
Reflecting on 2015, we are certainly pleased with the increase in both our overall adjusted operating margin
and adjusted EBITDA margin, as well as with the 30 percent increase in adjusted net income per diluted share.
We successfully restructured our debt and lowered our total debt outstanding, which gives us more flexibility in
managing our business and pursuing growth opportunities.
We believe the long-term outlook for our key end markets remains positive. However, the spending decline we
have seen in the oil & gas market will result in tough comparisons for that part of our business, especially in
the first quarter of 2016. As our capacity utilization increases and we see further benefits from our investments
in productivity improvements, we believe we will continue to demonstrate improved operating leverage and
expanding margins, leading to improved returns for our stockholders.
We expect to see improved performance in 2016 at Mueller Technologies as we increase net sales of our higher-
margin products.
We are approaching our 10th anniversary as a publicly held company financially and operationally stronger than
we were 10 years ago. Our portfolio of products and services continues to expand, building on our history of
innovation and our ability to help our customers operate more efficiently. Our brands have stronger leadership
positions today. And we are poised to accomplish even more in the year ahead. I look forward to updating you on
our progress throughout the year. In the meantime, thank you for the trust you have invested in us.
Sincerely,
Gregory E. Hyland
Chairman, President
and Chief Executive Officer
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, 2015
OR
TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
Commission file number: 001-32892
MUELLER WATER PRODUCTS, INC.
(Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in Its Charter)
Delaware
(State or Other Jurisdiction of Incorporation or Organization)
20-3547095
(I.R.S. Employer Identification Number)
1200 Abernathy Road N.E.
Suite 1200
Atlanta, GA 30328
(Address of Principal Executive Offices)
Registrant’s telephone number: (770) 206-4200
Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:
Title of Each Class
Common Stock, par value $0.01
Name of Each Exchange on Which Registered
New York Stock Exchange
Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(g) of the Act: None
Indicate by check mark if the registrant is a well-known seasoned issuer, as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act.
Indicate by check mark if the registrant is not required to file reports pursuant to Section 13 or Section 15(d) of the Act.
Yes
Yes
No
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 and posted on its corporate website, if any, every Interactive
Data File required to be submitted and posted pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulations S-T (§ 232.405 of this chapter) 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 if disclosure of delinquent filers pursuant to Item 405 of Regulation S-K (§ 229.505 of this chapter) is not contained
herein, and will not be contained, to the best of registrant’s knowledge, in definitive proxy or information statements incorporated by
reference in Part III of this Form 10-K or any amendment to this Form 10-K.
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, or a smaller reporting
company. See the definitions of “large accelerated filer,” “accelerated filer” and “smaller reporting company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange
Smaller reporting company
Act. (Check one):
Non-accelerated filer
Large accelerated filer
Accelerated filer
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Act).
Yes
No
There were 160,563,634 shares of common stock of the registrant outstanding at November 11, 2015. At March 31, 2015, the aggregate
market value of the voting and non-voting common stock held by non-affiliates (assuming only for purposes of this computation that directors
and executive officers may be affiliates) was $1,553 million based on the closing price per share as reported on the New York Stock
Exchange.
Applicable portions of the Proxy Statement for the upcoming Annual Meeting of Stockholders of the Company are incorporated by
reference into Part III of this Form 10-K.
DOCUMENTS INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE
Introductory Note
In this Annual Report on Form 10-K (this “annual report”), (1) the “Company,” “we,” “us” or “our” refer to Mueller Water
Products, Inc. and its subsidiaries, including Mueller Co., Anvil and Mueller Technologies; (2) “Mueller Co.” refers to our
Mueller Co. segment; (3) “Anvil” refers to our Anvil segment; (4) “Mueller Technologies” refers to our Mueller Technologies
segment and (5) “U.S. Pipe” refers to our former U.S. Pipe segment. With regard to the Company’s segments, “we,” “us” or
“our” may also refer to the segment being discussed.
We recently revised our reporting segments, presenting in this annual report Mueller Co., Anvil and Mueller Technologies,
a new segment, which includes Mueller Systems and Echologics. Mueller Systems’ and Echologics’ results were previously
reported within the Mueller Co. segment. Segment results previously presented have been recast to conform to the current
presentation.
On April 1, 2012, we sold the businesses comprising U.S. Pipe. U.S. Pipe’s results of operations have been reclassified as
discontinued operations, and its assets and liabilities reclassified as held for sale, for all prior periods. Unless the context
indicates otherwise, amounts related to U.S. Pipe have been excluded from amounts presented in this annual report.
Certain of the titles and logos of our products referenced in this annual report are part of our intellectual property. Each
trade name, trademark or servicemark of any other company appearing in this annual report is the property of its owner.
Unless the context indicates otherwise, whenever we refer in this annual report to a particular year, we mean our fiscal
year ended or ending September 30 in that particular calendar year. We manage our business and report operations through
three business segments: Mueller Co., Anvil and Mueller Technologies, based largely on the products sold and the customers
served.
Industry and Market Data
In this annual report, we rely on and refer to information and statistics from third-party sources regarding economic
conditions and trends, the demand for our water infrastructure, flow control and piping component system products and services
and the competitive conditions we face in serving our customers and end users. We believe these sources of information and
statistics are reasonably accurate, but we have not independently verified them.
Most of our primary competitors are not publicly traded companies. Only limited current public information is available
with respect to the size of our end markets and our relative competitive position. Our statements in this annual report about our
end markets and competitive positions are based on our beliefs, studies and judgments concerning industry trends.
Forward-Looking Statements
This annual report contains certain statements that may be deemed “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of the
Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. All statements that address activities, events or developments that we intend,
expect, plan, project, believe or anticipate will or may occur in the future are forward-looking statements. Examples of
forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, statements we make regarding our expectations for net sales and
operating income margins in 2016 and the outlook for general economic conditions, spending by municipalities and the
residential and non-residential construction markets and the impacts of these factors on our business and our expected financial
performance in 2016. Forward-looking statements are based on certain assumptions and assessments made by us in light of our
experience and perception of historical trends, current conditions and expected future developments. Actual results and the
timing of events may differ materially from those contemplated by the forward-looking statements due to a number of factors,
including regional, national or global political, economic, business, competitive, market and regulatory conditions and the other
factors described under the section entitled “RISK FACTORS” in Item 1A of Part I of this annual report.
Undue reliance should not be placed on any forward-looking statements. We do not have any intention or obligation to
update forward-looking statements, except as required by law.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Page
PART I
Item 1.
BUSINESS
Our Company
Business Strategy
Description of Products and Services
Manufacturing
Purchased Components and Raw Materials
Patents, Licenses and Trademarks
Seasonality
Sales, Marketing and Distribution
Backlog
Competition
Research and Development
Regulatory and Environmental Matters
Employees
Geographic Information
Securities Exchange Act Reports
Item 1A. RISK FACTORS
Risks Relating to Our Business
Risks Relating to Our Relationship with Walter Energy
Item 2.
Item 3.
PROPERTIES
LEGAL PROCEEDINGS
PART II
Item 5.
Item 6.
Item 7.
MARKET FOR REGISTRANT’S COMMON EQUITY, RELATED STOCKHOLDER MATTERS AND ISSUER
PURCHASES OF EQUITY SECURITIES
Equity Compensation Plan Information
Sale of Unregistered Securities
Issuer Purchases of Equity Securities
Stock Price Performance Graph
SELECTED FINANCIAL DATA
MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF
OPERATIONS
Overview
Results of Operations
Financial Condition
Liquidity and Capital Resources
Off-Balance Sheet Arrangements
Contractual Obligations
Effect of Inflation; Seasonality
Critical Accounting Estimates
Item 7A. QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURE ABOUT MARKET RISK
Item 8.
Item 9A. CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES
FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND SUPPLEMENTARY DATA
PART III
Item 10* DIRECTORS, EXECUTIVE OFFICERS AND CORPORATE GOVERNANCE
Item 11* EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION
Item 12*
SECURITY OWNERSHIP OF CERTAIN BENEFICIAL OWNERS AND MANAGEMENT AND RELATED
STOCKHOLDER MATTERS
Item 13* CERTAIN RELATIONSHIPS AND RELATED TRANSACTIONS, AND DIRECTOR INDEPENDENCE
Item 14*
PRINCIPAL ACCOUNTANT FEES AND SERVICES
PART IV
Item 15
EXHIBITS AND FINANCIAL STATEMENT SCHEDULES
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*
All or a portion of the referenced section is incorporated by reference from our definitive proxy statement that will
be issued in connection with the upcoming Annual Meeting of Stockholders.
Item 1.
BUSINESS
Our Company
PART I
Mueller Water Products, Inc. is a Delaware corporation that was incorporated on September 22, 2005 under the name
Mueller Holding Company, Inc. It is the surviving corporation of the merger of Mueller Water Products, LLC and Mueller
Water Products Co-Issuer, Inc. with and into Mueller Holding Company, Inc. on February 2, 2006. We changed our name to
Mueller Water Products, Inc. on February 2, 2006. On June 1, 2006, we completed an initial public offering of 28,750,000
shares of Series A common stock.
On December 14, 2006, Walter Energy, Inc. (“Walter Energy”, formerly Walter Industries, Inc.) distributed to its
shareholders 85,844,920 shares of our Series B common stock (the “Spin-off”). On January 28, 2009, each share of Series B
common stock was converted into one share of Series A common stock and the Series A designation was discontinued.
On September 23, 2009, we completed a public offering of 37,122,000 shares of common stock.
On April 1, 2012, we sold U.S. Pipe.
Our principal executive offices are located at 1200 Abernathy Road N.E., Suite 1200, Atlanta, Georgia 30328, and our
main telephone number at that address is (770) 206-4200.
We are a leading manufacturer and marketer of products and services used in the transmission, distribution and
measurement of water in North America. Our products and services are used by municipalities and the residential and non-
residential construction industries. Certain of our products have leading positions due to their strong brand recognition and
reputation for quality, service and innovation. We believe we have one of the largest installed bases of iron gate valves and fire
hydrants in the United States. Our iron gate valve or fire hydrant products are specified for use in the largest 100 metropolitan
areas in the United States. Our large installed base, broad product range and well-known brands have led to long-standing
relationships with the key distributors and end users of our products. Our consolidated net sales were $1,164.5 million in 2015.
Segment sales, operating results and additional financial data and commentary are provided in the Segment Analysis
section in Part II, Item 7. “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” and in
Note 16 to the consolidated financial statements in Part II, Item 8. “Financial Statements and Schedules” of this annual report.
Mueller Co.
Mueller Co. manufactures valves for water and gas systems, including iron gate, butterfly, tapping, check, knife, plug and
ball valves, as well as dry-barrel and wet-barrel fire hydrants and a broad line of pipe repair products, such as clamps and
couplings used to repair leaks. Mueller Co.’s net sales were $702.2 million in 2015. Sales of Mueller Co. products are driven
principally by spending on water and wastewater infrastructure upgrade, repair and replacement, and by construction of new
water and wastewater infrastructure, which is typically associated with construction of new residential communities. Mueller
Co. sells its products primarily through waterworks distributors. We estimate approximately 70% of Mueller Co.’s 2015 net
sales were for infrastructure upgrade, repair and replacement.
Anvil
Anvil manufactures and sources a broad range of products, including a variety of fittings, couplings, hangers, valves and
related products for use in non-residential construction (including HVAC and fire protection applications), industrial, power and
oil & gas end markets. Anvil’s net sales were $371.1 million in 2015. Anvil sells its products primarily through distributors
that resell to a wide variety of end users. Anvil services these distributors primarily through its distribution centers.
Mueller Technologies
Mueller Technologies companies offer residential and commercial water metering products and systems and water leak
detection and pipe condition assessment products and services. Mueller Technologies’ net sales were $91.2 million in 2015.
Mueller Technologies is currently comprised of the Mueller Systems and Echologics businesses. Mueller Systems sells water
metering products and systems and Echologics sells water leak detection and pipe condition assessment products and services,
primarily directly to end users, such as municipalities, while a portion of water metering products are sold through waterworks
distributors.
1
Table of Contents
Index to Financial Statements
Business Strategy
Our business strategy is to capitalize on the large, attractive and growing water infrastructure markets. Key elements of
this strategy are as follows:
We will maintain our leadership positions with our customers and end users.
We will maintain our leadership positions with our customers and end users by leveraging our brands and large installed
base; our valve or fire hydrant products’ specification in the 100 largest metropolitan areas in the United States; our established
and extensive distribution channels; and our broad range of leading water infrastructure, flow control and piping component
system products, as well as by developing and introducing additional products and services.
We will continue to enhance operational excellence.
We will continue to pursue superior product engineering, design and manufacturing by investing in technologically
advanced manufacturing processes. We will continue to expand the use of Lean manufacturing and Six Sigma business
improvement methodologies where appropriate to safely capture higher levels of quality, service and operational efficiency. We
will also continue to evaluate outsourcing or insourcing certain products wherever doing so will lower our costs while
maintaining high quality and service levels.
We will seek to develop, acquire and invest in businesses and technologies that expand our existing portfolio of
businesses or that allow us to enter new markets.
We will continue to evaluate the development and acquisition of strategic businesses, technologies and product lines that
have the potential to strengthen our competitive positions, enhance or expand our existing product and service offerings, expand
our technological capabilities, provide synergistic opportunities or that allow us to enter new markets. As part of this strategy,
we may pursue international opportunities, including acquisitions, joint ventures and partnerships, that allow us to expand
product or service offerings or to enter new markets. We will also continue to invest, through acquisition or internal
development, in technologies and intellectual capital, and in product development to enhance or expand our existing product
and service offerings.
Description of Products and Services
We offer a broad line of water infrastructure, flow control and piping component system products and services primarily in
the United States and Canada. Mueller Co. sells water and gas valves and fire hydrants. Anvil sells a broad range of pipe
fittings, couplings and hangers. Mueller Technologies companies sell water metering products and systems and leak detection
and pipe condition assessment products and services. Our products are designed, manufactured and tested in compliance with
industry standards, where applicable.
Mueller Co.
Mueller Co.’s water distribution products are manufactured to meet or exceed American Water Works Association
(“AWWA”) Standards and, where applicable, certified to NSF/ANSI Standard 61 for potable water conveyance. In addition,
Underwriters Laboratory (“UL”) and FM Approvals (“FM”) have approved many of these products. These products are
typically specified by a water utility for use in its system.
Water and Gas Valves and Related Products. Mueller Co. manufactures valves for water and gas systems, including iron
gate, butterfly, tapping, check, knife, plug and ball valves, and sells these products under a variety of brand names, including
Mueller and U.S. Pipe Valve and Hydrant. Water and gas valves and related products, generally made of iron or brass,
accounted for $495.7 million, $474.2 million and $434.1 million of our gross sales in 2015, 2014 and 2013, respectively. These
valve products are used to control transmission of potable water, non-potable water or gas. Water valve products typically
range in size from ¾ inch to 36 inches in diameter. Mueller Co. also manufactures significantly larger valves as custom order
work through its Henry Pratt business unit. Most of these valves are used in water transmission or distribution, water treatment
facilities or industrial applications.
Mueller Co. also produces small valves, meter bars and line stopper fittings for use in gas systems, as well as machines and
tools for tapping, drilling, extracting, installing and stopping-off, which are designed to work with its water and gas fittings and
valves as an integrated system.
2
Table of Contents
Index to Financial Statements
Fire Hydrants. Mueller Co. manufactures dry-barrel and wet-barrel fire hydrants. Sales of fire hydrants and fire hydrant
parts accounted for $177.4 million, $175.0 million and $161.5 million of our gross sales in 2015, 2014 and 2013, respectively.
Mueller Co. sells fire hydrants for new water infrastructure development, fire protection systems and water infrastructure repair
and replacement projects.
These fire hydrants consist of an upper barrel and nozzle section and a lower barrel and valve section that connects to a
water main. In dry-barrel hydrants, the valve connecting the barrel of the hydrant to the water main is located below ground at
or below the frost line, which keeps the upper barrel dry. Mueller Co. sells dry-barrel fire hydrants under the Mueller and U.S.
Pipe Valve and Hydrant brand names in the United States and the Mueller Canada Valve brand name in Canada. Mueller Co.
also makes wet-barrel hydrants, where the valves are located in the hydrant nozzles and the barrel contains water at all times.
Wet-barrel hydrants are made for warm weather climates, such as in California and Hawaii, and are sold under the Jones brand
name.
Most municipalities have approved a limited number of fire hydrant brands for installation within their systems due to their
desire to use the same tools and operating instructions across their systems and to minimize inventories of spare parts. We
believe Mueller Co.’s large installed base of fire hydrants throughout the United States and Canada, reputation for superior
quality and performance and incumbent specification positions have contributed to the leading market positions of its fire
hydrants. This large installed base also leads to recurring sales of replacement hydrants and hydrant parts.
Other Products and Services. Mueller Co. also sells pipe repair products, such as clamps and couplings used to repair
leaks, under the Mueller and Jones brand names.
Anvil
Anvil products include a variety of fittings, couplings, hangers, valves and related piping component system products for
use in non-residential construction (including HVAC and fire protection applications), industrial, power and oil & gas end
markets. Anvil’s net sales were $371.1 million, $401.4 million and $391.3 million in 2015, 2014 and 2013, respectively, of
which $98.0 million, $98.3 million and $93.1 million, respectively, were of products manufactured by third parties. The oil &
gas end markets accounted for approximately 10%, 20% and 20% of Anvil’s gross sales in 2015, 2014 and 2013, respectively.
Anvil’s sales into the oil & gas markets decreased significantly during 2015 as a result of a decline in oil & gas drilling activity
caused by a decline in oil & gas prices.
The majority of Anvil’s products are not specified by an architect or an engineer, but are required to be manufactured to
industry specifications, which may include material composition, tensile strength and various other requirements. Many
products carry the UL, FM or other approval rating.
Fittings and Couplings. Pipe fittings and couplings join pieces of pipe together. Anvil manufactures five primary
categories of pipe fittings and couplings:
• Cast Iron Fittings. Cast iron is an economical threaded-fitting material and is the standard used in the United States
for low pressure applications, such as sprinkler systems and other fire protection systems. We believe the substantial
majority of Anvil’s cast iron products are used in the fire protection industry, with the remainder used in steam and
other HVAC applications.
• Malleable Iron Fittings and Unions. Malleable iron is cast iron that is heat-treated to make it stronger, allowing a
thinner wall and a lighter product. Threaded malleable iron products are used primarily to join pipe in oil & gas and
industrial applications.
• Grooved Fittings, Couplings and Valves. Grooved ductile iron products, which use a threadless pipe-joining method
that does not require welding, are used in all of Anvil’s end markets.
•
Threaded Steel Pipe Couplings. Threaded steel pipe couplings are used by plumbing and electrical end users to join
pipe and conduit and by pipe mills as threaded-end protectors.
• Nipples. Pipe nipples are used to expand or compress the flow between pipes of different diameters. Anvil’s steel pipe
nipple product line is a complementary product offering that is packaged with cast iron fittings for fire protection
products, malleable iron fittings for industrial applications and its forged steel products for oil & gas and chemical
applications. Pipe nipples are also general plumbing items.
Hangers. Anvil manufactures a broad array of pipe hangers and supports. Standard pipe hangers and supports are used in
fire protection sprinkler systems and HVAC applications where the objective is to provide rigid support from the building
structure. Special order, or engineered, pipe supports are used in power and chemical plants to support piping systems that
must withstand thermal, dynamic or seismic movement.
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Other Products. Anvil distributes other products, including forged steel pipe fittings, hammer unions, bull plugs and swage
nipples used to connect pipe in oil & gas applications. Anvil also sells pipe fabrication machines directly to customers in the
fire protection industry.
Mueller Technologies
Mueller Technologies is comprised of companies that provide innovative solutions, products and services that actively
diagnose, monitor and control the delivery of water.
Water Metering Products and Systems. Mueller Systems manufactures and sources a variety of water technology products
under the Mueller Systems and Hersey brand names that are designed to help water providers accurately measure and control
water usage. Mueller Systems offers a complete line of residential, fire line and commercial metering solutions. Residential
and commercial water meters are generally classified as either manually read meters or remotely read meters via radio
technology. A manually read meter consists of a water meter and a register that gives a visual meter reading display. Meters
equipped with radio transmitters (endpoints) use encoder registers to convert the measurement data from the meter (mechanical
or static) into an encrypted digital format which is then transmitted via radio frequency to a receiver that collects and formats
the data appropriately for water utility billing systems. These remotely read, or mobile, systems are either automatic meter
reading (“AMR”) systems, where equipment for meter reading purposes, including a radio receiver, computer and reading
software, collects the data from utilities’ meters; or fixed network advanced metering infrastructure (“AMI”) systems, where
data is gathered utilizing a network of permanent data collectors or gateway receivers that are always active or listening for the
radio transmission from the utilities’ meters. AMI systems eliminate the need for utility personnel to travel through service
territories to collect meter reading data. These systems provide the utilities with more frequent and diverse data at specified
intervals from the utilities’ meters. Mueller Systems sells both AMR and AMI systems and related products. Mueller Systems’
remote disconnect water meter enables the water flow to be stopped and started remotely via handheld devices or from a central
operating facility.
Sales of water metering products and systems accounted for 88%, 90% and 90% of Mueller Technologies’ net sales in
2015, 2014 and 2013, respectively.
Water Leak Detection and Pipe Condition Assessment Products and Services. Echologics develops technologies and offers
products and services under the Echologics brand name that can non-invasively (without disrupting service or introducing a
foreign object into the water system) detect underground leaks and assess the condition of water mains comprised of a variety
of materials. Echologics leverages its proprietary acoustic technology to offer leak detection and condition assessment surveys.
In 2014, Echologics began offering a fixed leak detection service that allows customers to continuously monitor and detect
leaks on water transmission mains. We believe Echologics’ ability to offer leak detection and pipe condition assessment
services non-invasively is a key competitive advantage.
Manufacturing
See “Item 2. PROPERTIES” for a description of our principal manufacturing facilities.
We will continue to expand the use of Lean manufacturing and Six Sigma business improvement methodologies where
appropriate to safely capture higher levels of quality, service and operational efficiency.
Mueller Co.
Mueller Co. operates nine manufacturing facilities located in the United States and China. These manufacturing operations
include foundry, machining, fabrication, assembly, testing and painting operations. Not all facilities perform each of these
operations. Mueller Co.’s existing manufacturing capacity is sufficient for anticipated near-term requirements and Mueller Co.
has no current plans to expand capacity.
Mueller Co. foundries use lost foam and green sand casting techniques. Mueller Co. uses the lost foam technique for fire
hydrant production in its Albertville, Alabama facility and for iron gate valve production in its Chattanooga, Tennessee facility.
The lost foam technique has several advantages over the green sand technique for high-volume products, including a reduction
in the number of manual finishing operations, lower scrap levels and the ability to reuse some of the materials.
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Anvil
Anvil operates nine manufacturing facilities located in the United States. Anvil’s manufacturing operations include
foundry, heat treating, machining, fabricating, assembling, testing and painting operations. Not all facilities perform each of
these operations. These foundry operations employ automated vertical and horizontal green sand molding equipment. Anvil’s
products are made in a high-volume production environment, with extensive use of high-speed computer controlled machines
and other automated equipment.
Mueller Technologies
Mueller Systems operates one manufacturing facility in the United States and contracts with a manufacturing facility in
Mexico. Mueller Systems designs, manufactures and assembles water metering products in Cleveland, North Carolina and
designs and supports AMI systems in Middleborough, Massachusetts. Echologics designs leak detection and condition
assessment products in Toronto, Ontario.
Purchased Components and Raw Materials
Our products are made using various purchased components and several basic raw materials, including scrap steel, sand,
resin, brass ingot and steel pipe. Purchased parts and raw materials represented 38% and 15%, respectively, of cost of sales in
2015.
Patents, Licenses and Trademarks
We have active patents relating to the design of our products and trademarks for our brands and products. We have filed
and continue to file, when appropriate, patent applications used in connection with our business and products. Many of the
patents for technology underlying the majority of our products have been in the public domain for many years, and we do not
believe third-party patents individually or in the aggregate are material to our business. However, we consider the pool of
proprietary information, consisting of expertise and trade secrets relating to the design, manufacture and operation of our
products to be particularly important and valuable. We generally own the rights to the products that we manufacture and sell,
and we are not dependent in any material way upon any license or franchise to operate. See “Item 1A. RISK FACTORS-Any
inability to protect our intellectual property or our failure to effectively defend against intellectual property infringement claims
could adversely affect our competitive position.”
The table below highlights selected brand names by segment.
Mueller Co.
Anvil
Mueller Technologies
Canada Valve™
Centurion®
Hydro Gate®
Hydro-Guard®
Jones®
Milliken™
Mueller®
Pratt®
Anvil®
AnvilStar®
Anvil-Strut®
Beck®
Catawissa™
Gruvlok®
J.B. Smith™
Merit™
U.S. Pipe Valve and Hydrant™
SPF®
Echologics®
Echoshore®
ePulse®
Hersey™
LeakFinderRT®
LeakFinderST™
LeakListener®
LeakTuner®
Mi.Echo®
Mi.Data®
Mi.Hydrant™
Mi.Net®
Mueller SystemsSM
Seasonality
See “Item 1A. RISK FACTORS-Seasonal demand for certain of our products and services may adversely affect our
financial results.” and “Item 7. MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND
RESULTS OF OPERATIONS-Effect of Inflation; Seasonality.”
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Sales, Marketing and Distribution
We sell primarily to distributors. Our distributor relationships are generally non-exclusive, but we attempt to align
ourselves with key distributors in the principal markets we serve. We believe Mueller is the most recognized brand in the U.S.
water infrastructure industry.
Mueller Co.
Mueller Co. sells its products primarily through waterworks distributors to a wide variety of end user customers, including
municipalities, water and wastewater utilities, gas utilities, and fire protection and construction contractors. Sales of our
products are heavily influenced by the specifications for the underlying projects. Approximately 9%, 12% and 12% of Mueller
Co.’s net sales were to Canadian customers in 2015, 2014 and 2013, respectively.
At September 30, 2015, Mueller Co. had 90 sales representatives in the field and 92 inside marketing and sales
professionals, as well as 107 independent manufacturer’s representatives. In addition to calling on distributors, these
representatives call on municipalities, water companies and other end users to ensure the products specified for their projects
are our products or comparable to our products. Municipalities often require contractors to use the same products that have
been specified by that municipality.
Mueller Co.’s extensive installed base, broad product range and well-known brands have led to many long-standing
relationships with the key distributors in the principal markets we serve. Our distribution network covers all of the major
locations for our principal products in the United States and Canada. Although we have long-standing relationships with most
of our key distributors, we typically do not have long-term contracts with them, including our two largest distributors, which
together accounted for approximately 34%, 34% and 32% of Mueller Co.’s gross sales in 2015, 2014 and 2013, respectively.
The loss of either of these distributors would have a material adverse effect on our business. See “Item 1A. RISK FACTORS-
Our business depends on a small group of key customers for a significant portion of our sales.”
Anvil
Anvil sells its products primarily to distributors who then resell the products to a wide variety of end users, including
commercial contractors. At September 30, 2015, Anvil’s sales force consisted of 130 sales and customer service representatives
and 25 independent sales representatives. Anvil ships products primarily from four regional distribution centers.
Approximately 6%, 5% and 6% of Anvil’s net sales were to Canadian customers in 2015, 2014 and 2013, respectively.
Anvil generally does not have long-term contracts with its distributors, although it has long-standing relationships with
most of its key distributors. Anvil’s top five distributors together accounted for approximately 23% of Anvil’s gross sales in
each of 2015, 2014 and 2013. The loss of any one of these distributors could have a material adverse effect on our business.
See “Item 1A. RISK FACTORS-Our business depends on a small group of key customers for a significant portion of our sales.”
Mueller Technologies
Mueller Systems sells its water metering systems and products and services directly to end users, such as municipalities
and waterworks distributors. Echologics sells water leak detection and pipe condition assessment products and services
primarily directly to end users. At September 30, 2015, Mueller Technologies’ companies had 45 sales representatives in the
field and 28 inside marketing and sales professionals. The Mueller Technologies businesses’ five largest customers accounted
for approximately 25%, 35% and 24% of segment gross sales in 2015, 2014 and 2013, respectively. See “Item 1A. RISK
FACTORS-Our business depends on a small group of key customers for a significant portion of our sales.”
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Backlog
We consider backlog to represent orders placed by customers for which goods or services have yet to be delivered.
Backlog is a meaningful indicator for the Henry Pratt business unit of Mueller Co and the Mueller Systems business unit of
Mueller Technologies. Henry Pratt manufactures valves and other parts for large projects that typically require design and build
specifications. The delivery lead time for parts used for these projects can be as long as nine months, and we expect
approximately 8% of Henry Pratt’s backlog at the end of 2015 will not be shipped until beyond 2016. Mueller Systems
manufactures or sources water meter systems that are sometimes ordered in large quantities with delivery dates over several
years, and we expect approximately 18% of Mueller Systems’ backlog will not be shipped until beyond 2016. Backlog for
Henry Pratt and Mueller Systems is presented below.
Henry Pratt
Mueller Systems
September 30,
2015
2014
$
(in millions)
61.6
17.3
$
72.4
9.1
Sales cycles for metering systems can span several years and it is common for customers to place orders throughout the
contract period. Although we believe we have a common understanding with our customer as to the total value of a contract
when it is awarded, we do not recognize backlog until customer orders are received.
Competition
The U.S. and Canadian markets for water infrastructure, flow control and piping component system products are very
competitive. See “Item 1A. RISK FACTORS. Strong competition could adversely affect prices and demand for our products
and services, which would adversely affect our operating results.” There are only a few competitors for most of our product
and service offerings. Many of our competitors are well-established companies with products that have strong brand
recognition. We consider our installed base, product quality, customer service level, brand recognition, innovation, distribution
and technical support to be competitive strengths.
The competitive environment for most of Mueller Co.’s valve and hydrant products is mature and many end users are slow
to transition to brands other than their historically preferred brand. It is difficult to increase market share in this environment.
We believe Mueller Co. fire hydrants and valves enjoy strong competitive positions based primarily on the extent of their
installed base, product quality and brand recognition. Its principal competitors for fire hydrants and iron gate valves are
McWane, Inc. and American Cast Iron Pipe Company. The primary competitors for its brass products are The Ford Meter Box
Company, Inc. and A.Y. McDonald Mfg. Co. Many brass valves are interchangeable among different manufacturers.
The markets for Anvil’s products are highly competitive, price-sensitive and vulnerable to the increased acceptance of
products produced in perceived lower-cost countries, such as China and India. Anvil competes primarily on the basis of
availability, service, price and breadth of product offerings. Its primary competitors are Ward Manufacturing L.L.C. for cast
iron and malleable iron fittings, Victaulic Company and Tyco International Ltd. for ductile grooved fittings and ERICO
International Corporation, Cooper Industries plc and Carpenter & Paterson, Inc. for pipe hangers. Historically, its mechanical
and industrial customers have been slower to accept products manufactured outside the United States than our fire protection
customers.
The markets for products and services sold by the Mueller Technologies businesses are very competitive. Mueller Systems
sells water metering products and systems in the United States. We believe a substantial portion of this market is in the process
of transitioning from manually read meters to automatically read meters, but we also expect this transition to be relatively slow
and that many end users will be reluctant to adopt brands other than their historically preferred brand. Although Mueller
Systems’ market position is relatively small, we believe its automatically read meters and associated technology are well-
positioned to gain a greater share of these markets. Its principal competitors are Sensus USA Inc., Neptune Technology Group,
Inc., Badger Meter, Inc., Aclara LLC and Itron, Inc. Echologics sells water leak detection and pipe condition assessment
products and services in North America, the United Kingdom and select countries in Europe, Asia and the Middle East, with its
primary markets being the United States and Canada. The worldwide market for leak detection and pipe condition assessment
is highly fragmented with numerous competitors. Its more significant competitors are Pure Technologies Ltd., Gutermann AG,
and Syrinix Ltd.
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Research and Development
Our primary research and development (“R&D”) facilities are located in Chattanooga, Tennessee for Mueller Co., in North
Kingstown, Rhode Island for Anvil and in Middleborough, Massachusetts and Toronto, Ontario for Mueller Technologies. The
primary focus of these operations is to develop new products, improve and refine existing products and obtain and assure
compliance with industry approval certifications or standards (such as AWWA, UL, FM, NSF and The Public Health and Safety
Company). At September 30, 2015, we employed 96 people dedicated to R&D activities. R&D expenses were $14.9 million,
$14.4 million and $14.8 million during 2015, 2014 and 2013, respectively.
Regulatory and Environmental Matters
Our operations are subject to numerous federal, state and local laws and regulations, both within and outside the United
States, in areas such as: competition, government contracts, international trade, labor and employment, tax, licensing, consumer
protection, environmental protection, workplace health and safety, and others. These and other laws and regulations impact the
manner in which we conduct our business, and changes in legislation or government policies can affect our operations, both
favorably and unfavorably. For example, the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation and Liability Act
(“CERCLA” or “Superfund”) and similar state laws affect our operations by, among other things, imposing investigation and
cleanup requirements for threatened or actual releases of hazardous substances. Under CERCLA, joint and several liability
may be imposed on operators, generators, site owners, lessees and others regardless of fault or the legality of the original
activity that caused or resulted in the release of the hazardous substances. Thus, we may be subject to liability under CERCLA
and similar state laws for properties that (1) we currently own, lease or operate, (2) we, our predecessors, or former subsidiaries
have previously owned, leased or operated, (3) sites to which we, our predecessors or former subsidiaries sent waste materials,
and (4) sites at which hazardous substances from our facilities’ operations have otherwise come to be located. The purchaser
of U.S. Pipe has been identified as a “potentially responsible party” (“PRP”) under CERCLA in connection with a former
manufacturing facility operated by U.S. Pipe that was in the vicinity of a Superfund site located in North Birmingham,
Alabama. Under the terms of the acquisition agreement relating to the sale U.S. Pipe, we agreed to indemnify the purchaser for
certain environmental liabilities, including those arising out of the former manufacturing site in North Birmingham.
Accordingly, the purchaser tendered the matter to us for indemnification, which we accepted. Ultimate liability for the site will
depend on many factors that have not yet been determined, including the determination of EPA’s remediation costs, the number
and financial viability of the other PRPs (there are four other PRPs currently) and the determination of the final allocation of the
costs among the PRPs, if any. For more information regarding this matter as well as others that may affect our business,
including our capital expenditures, earnings and competitive position, see “Item 1A. RISK FACTORS,” “Item 3. LEGAL
PROCEEDINGS - Environmental,” “Item 7. MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL
CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS - Contingencies” and Note 17 of the Notes to our Consolidated Financial
Statements.
Employees
At September 30, 2015, we employed approximately 4,100 people, of whom 92% work in the United States. At
September 30, 2015, 64% of our hourly workforce was represented by collective bargaining agreements.
Our locations with employees covered by such agreements are presented below.
Location
Expiration of current agreement(s)
Albertville, AL
Aurora, IL
Decatur, IL
Tinley Park, IL
Columbia, PA
Chattanooga, TN
Henderson, TN
Simcoe, Canada
October 2017
September 2018
June 2016
April 2018
May 2017 and August 2017
October 2016 and January 2017
December 2018
November 2018
We believe relations with our employees, including those represented by collective bargaining agreements, are good.
Geographic Information
See Note 16 to the consolidated financial statements in Part II, Item 8. “Financial Statements and Schedules.”
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Securities Exchange Act Reports
We file annual and quarterly reports, proxy statements and other information with the U.S. Securities and Exchange
Commission (“SEC”). You may read and print materials that we have filed with the SEC from its website at www.sec.gov. Our
SEC filings may also be viewed and copied at the SEC public reference room located at 100 F Street, N.E., Washington, D.C.
20549. You may call the SEC at 1-800-SEC-0330 for further information on the public reference room.
In addition, certain of our SEC filings, including our annual reports on Form 10-K, our quarterly reports on Form 10-Q, our
current reports on Form 8-K and amendments to them can be viewed and printed free of charge from the investor information
section of our website at www.muellerwaterproducts.com. Copies of our filings, specified exhibits and corporate governance
materials are also available free of charge by writing us using the address on the cover of this annual report.
We are not including the information on our website as a part of, or incorporating it by reference into, this annual report.
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Item 1A.
RISK FACTORS
Risks Relating to Our Business
Our end markets are subject to risks relating to general economic cycles and conditions, which affect demand for our
products and services and may adversely affect our financial results.
Our primary end markets are municipal water distribution and treatment systems, the non-residential construction industry,
the oil & gas industry and new water and wastewater infrastructure associated with new residential construction. Sustained
uncertainty about any of these end markets could cause our distributors and end use customers to delay purchasing, or
determine not to purchase, our products or services. General economic and other factors, including unemployment levels,
energy costs, the state of the credit markets (including municipal bonds, mortgages, home equity loans and consumer credit)
and other factors beyond our control, could adversely affect our sales, profitability and cash flows.
A significant portion of our business depends on spending for water and wastewater infrastructure construction activity.
A significant portion of our business depends on local, state and federal spending on water and wastewater infrastructure
upgrade, repair and replacement. Funds for water and wastewater infrastructure repair and replacement typically come from
local taxes, water fees and water rates. State and local governments and private water entities that do not adequately budget for
capital expenditures when setting tax rates, water rates and water fees, as applicable, may be unable to pay for water
infrastructure repair and replacement if they do not have access to other funding sources. Governments and private water
entities may have limited abilities to increase taxes, water fees or water rates, as applicable. It is not unusual for water and
wastewater projects to be delayed and rescheduled for a number of reasons, including changes in project priorities and
difficulties in complying with environmental and other governmental regulations. In addition, reductions or delays in federal
spending related to water or wastewater infrastructure could adversely affect state or local projects and may adversely affect our
financial results.
Some state and local governments have placed or may place significant restrictions on the use of water by their
constituents. For example, in May 2015, California’s Water Resources Control Board approved a regulation designed to
increase water conservation in urban settings. According to the Control Board, California’s large urban water suppliers had a
cumulative water savings rate of 28.1% for the four months ended September 2015 compared to the same period in 2013.
These types of water use restrictions may lead to reduced water revenues by private water entities, municipalities or other
governmental agencies, which could similarly affect funding decisions for water-related projects.
Poor economic conditions may cause states, municipalities or private water entities to receive lower than anticipated
revenues, which may lead to reduced or delayed funding for water infrastructure projects. Even if favorable economic
conditions exist, water infrastructure owners may choose not to address deferred infrastructure needs due to a variety of
political factors or competing spending priorities.
Low levels of spending for water and wastewater infrastructure construction activity could adversely affect our sales,
profitability and cash flows.
Residential construction activity is important to our business and adverse conditions or sustained uncertainty regarding
this market could adversely affect our financial results.
Because a significant portion of our business depends on new water and wastewater infrastructure spending, which in turn
largely depends on residential construction, our financial performance depends significantly on the stability and growth of the
residential construction market. This market depends on a variety of factors beyond our control, including household
formation, consumer confidence, interest rates and the availability of mortgage financing, as well as the mix between single and
multifamily construction and ultimately the extent to which new construction leads to the development of raw land. Adverse
conditions or sustained uncertainty regarding the residential construction market could adversely affect our sales, profitability
and cash flows.
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Commercial construction activity is important to our business and adverse conditions or sustained uncertainty
regarding this market could adversely affect our financial results.
Like residential construction, commercial construction is important to our business. Accordingly, our business has been
significantly and adversely affected by declines in commercial construction activity due to, among other things, tight credit
markets and reductions in construction spending. Sustained uncertainty about commercial development could pose a risk to us
as market participants may postpone spending until conditions improve, which would adversely affect demand for some of our
products. Adverse conditions or sustained uncertainty regarding the commercial construction market could adversely affect our
sales, profitability and cash flows.
Our business depends on a small group of key customers for a significant portion of our sales.
Mueller Co. and Anvil products are sold primarily to distributors and our success depends on these outside parties
operating their businesses profitably and effectively. These distributors’ profitability and effectiveness can vary significantly
from company to company and from region to region within the same company. Further, our largest distributors generally also
carry competing products. We may fail to align our operations with successful distributors in any given market.
Distributors in our industry have experienced consolidation in recent years. If such consolidation continues, our
distributors could be acquired by other distributors who have better relationships with our competitors and pricing and profit
margin pressure may intensify. Pricing and profit margin pressure or the loss of any one of our key distributors in any market
could adversely affect our operating results.
The Mueller Technologies companies primarily sell directly to end users. Some of these customers represent a relatively
high concentration of net sales. Over time, expected growth in sales is expected to lessen the significance of individual
customers. In the short term, net sales could decline if existing significant customers do not continue to purchase our products
or services and new customers are not obtained to replace them.
Strong competition could adversely affect prices and demand for our products and services, which would adversely
affect our operating results.
The U.S. and Canadian markets for water infrastructure, flow control and piping component products are very competitive.
While there are only a few competitors for most of our product and service offerings, many of our competitors are well-
established companies with strong brand recognition. We compete on the basis of a variety of factors, including the quality,
price and innovation of our products, services and service levels. Anvil’s products in particular also compete on availability
and breadth of product offerings and are sold in fragmented markets with low barriers to entry. Our ability to retain our
customers in the face of competition depends on our ability to market our products and services to our customers and end users
effectively.
The U.S. markets for water metering products and systems are highly competitive. Our primary competitors benefit from
strong market positions and many end users are slow to transition to new products or new brands. Our ability to gain customers
in the face of competition depends on our technological advancements and ability to market our products and services to our
customers and end users effectively.
In addition to competition from North American companies, we face the threat of competition from outside of North
America. The intensity of competition from these companies is affected by fluctuations in the value of the U.S. dollar against
their local currencies, the cost to ship competitive products into North America and the availability of trade remedies, if any.
Competition may also increase as a result of U.S. competitors shifting their operations to lower-cost countries or otherwise
reducing their costs.
Our competitors may reduce the prices of their products or services, improve their quality, improve their functionality or
enhance their marketing or sales activities. Any of these potential developments could adversely affect our prices and demand
for our products and services.
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Our reliance on vendors for certain products, some of which are single-source or limited source suppliers, could harm
our business by adversely affecting product availability, reliability and cost.
We maintain several single-source or limited-source supplier relationships with manufacturers, including some located in
China. If the supply of a critical single- or limited-source product is delayed or curtailed, we may not be able to ship the related
products in desired quantities and in a timely manner. Even where multiple sources of supply are available, qualification of the
alternative suppliers and establishment of reliable supplies could result in delays and a possible loss of sales, which could harm
our operating results.
These relationships reduce our direct control over production. Our reliance on these vendors subjects us to a greater risk of
shortages, and reduced control over delivery schedules of products, as well as a greater risk of increases in product costs. In
instances where we stock lower levels of product inventories, a disruption in product availability could harm our financial
performance and our ability to satisfy customer needs. In addition, defective products from these manufacturers could reduce
product reliability and harm our reputation.
A disruption in our supply chain or other factors impacting the distribution of our products could adversely affect our
business.
A disruption within our logistics or supply chain network, including a work stoppage at any of the freight companies that
deliver our products to our customers, could adversely affect our business and result in lost sales or harm to our reputation. We
typically depend on rail, barge and trucking systems to deliver our products to customers. While Mueller Co.’s customers
typically arrange and pay for transportation from our factory to the point of use, disruption of these transportation services
because of weather-related problems, strikes, lock-outs or other events could temporarily impair our ability to supply our
products to our customers, thereby adversely affecting our sales, profitability and cash flows. Such a disruption could
adversely affect our financial performance or financial condition.
Transportation costs are relatively high for most of our products.
Transportation costs can be an important factor in a customer’s purchasing decision. Many of our products are big, bulky
and heavy, which tend to increase transportation costs. We also have relatively few manufacturing sites, which tends to
increase transportation distances to our customers and costs. High transportation costs could make our products less
competitive compared to similar or alternative products offered by competitors.
The long-term success of our newer technologies - such as smart metering and leak detection and pipe condition
assessment - which are key to the Mueller Technologies businesses, depends on market acceptance and our ability to
manage the risks associated with the introduction of new products and systems.
Our newer technologies comprise smart metering and leak detection and pipe condition assessment products and services.
These technologies are principally associated with our Mueller Systems and Echologics businesses, respectively. Our
investments in smart metering have primarily focused on the market for AMI and have been based on our belief that water
utilities will transition over time from traditional manual-read meters to automatically-read meters. The market for AMI is
relatively new and evolving, and the U.S. markets for water meter products and systems are highly competitive. Water utilities
have traditionally been slow adopters of new technology and may not adopt AMI as quickly as we expect, due, in part, to the
substantial investment related to installation of AMI systems and the strong market positions of our primary competitors.
Similarly, the adoption of our leak detection and pipe condition assessment products and services depends on the willingness of
our customers to invest in new product and service offerings, and the pace of adoption may be slower than we expect. If the
market for AMI develops more slowly than we expect or if our new leak detection and pipe condition assessment products and
services fail to gain market acceptance, our opportunity to grow these businesses will be limited.
In addition, the success of our new products and systems will depend on our ability to manage the risks associated with
their introduction, including the risk that new products and systems may have quality or other defects or deficiencies in their
early stages that result in their failure to satisfy performance and reliability requirements. Our success will depend in part on
our ability to manage these risks, including costs associated with manufacturing, installation, maintenance and warranties.
These challenges can be costly and technologically challenging, and we cannot determine in advance the ultimate effect they
may have. Failure to successfully manage these challenges could result in lost revenue, significant warranty and other
expenses, and harm to our reputation.
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Our business strategy includes developing, acquiring and investing in companies and technologies that broaden our
product portfolio or complement our existing business, which could be unsuccessful or consume significant resources and
adversely affect our operating results.
We will continue to evaluate the development or acquisition of strategic businesses, technologies and product lines with the
potential to strengthen our industry position, enhance our existing set of product and service offerings, or enter new markets.
We may be unable to identify or successfully complete suitable acquisitions in the future and completed acquisitions may not
be successful.
Acquisitions and technology investments may involve significant cash expenditures, debt incurrence, operating losses and
expenses that could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition, results of operations and cash flows.
These types of transactions involve numerous other risks, including:
•
•
diversion of management time and attention from existing operations;
difficulties in integrating acquired businesses, technologies and personnel into our business;
• working with partners or other ownership structures with shared decision-making authority (our interests and other
ownership interests may be inconsistent);
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
difficulties in obtaining and verifying relevant information regarding a business or technology prior to the
consummation of the transaction, including the identification and assessment of liabilities, claims or other
circumstances, including those relating to intellectual property claims, that could result in litigation or regulatory
exposure;
verifying the financial statements and other business information of an acquired business;
inability to obtain required regulatory approvals and/or required financing on favorable terms;
potential loss of key employees, contractual relationships or customers;
increased operating expenses related to the acquired businesses or technologies;
the failure of new technologies, products or services to gain market acceptance with acceptable profit margins;
entering new markets in which we have little or no experience or in which competitors may have stronger market
positions;
dilution of interests of holders of our common shares through the issuance of equity securities or equity-linked
securities; and
inability to achieve expected synergies.
Any acquisitions or investments may ultimately harm our business or financial condition, as they may not be successful
and may ultimately result in impairment charges.
Normal operations at our key manufacturing facilities may be interrupted.
Some of our key products, including fire hydrants and iron gate valves, are manufactured at single or few manufacturing
facilities that depend on critical pieces of heavy equipment that cannot be economically moved to other locations. We are
therefore limited in our ability to shift production among locations. The operations at our manufacturing facilities may be
interrupted or impaired by various operating risks, including, but not limited to:
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
catastrophic events, such as fires, floods, explosions, natural disasters, severe weather or other similar occurrences;
interruptions in the delivery of raw materials or other manufacturing inputs;
adverse government regulations;
equipment breakdowns or failures;
information systems failures;
violations of our permit requirements or revocation of permits;
releases of pollutants and hazardous substances to air, soil, surface water or ground water;
shortages of equipment or spare parts; and
labor disputes.
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Index to Financial Statements
The occurrence of any of these events may impair our production capabilities and adversely affect our sales, profitability
and cash flows.
Any inability to protect our intellectual property or our failure to effectively defend against intellectual property
infringement claims could adversely affect our competitive position.
Our business depends on our technology and expertise, which were largely developed internally and are not subject to
statutory protection. We rely on a combination of patent protection, copyright and trademark laws, trade secrets protection,
employee and third-party confidentiality agreements and technical measures to protect our intellectual property rights. The
measures that we take to protect our intellectual property rights may not adequately deter infringement, misappropriation or
independent development of our technology, and they may not prevent an unauthorized party from obtaining or using
information or intellectual property that we regard as proprietary or keep others from using brand names similar to our own.
The disclosure, misappropriation or infringement of our intellectual property could harm our competitive position. In addition,
our actions to enforce our rights may result in substantial costs and the diversion of management time and other resources. We
may also be subject to intellectual property infringement claims from time to time, which may result in additional expenses and
diverting resources to respond to these claims. Finally, for those products in our portfolio that rely on patent protection, once a
patent has expired the product is more subject to competition. Products under patent protection usually generate significantly
higher revenue and earnings than those not protected by patents. If we fail to successfully enforce our intellectual property
rights or register new patents, our competitive position could suffer, which could adversely affect our business, financial
condition, results of operations and cash flows.
If we do not successfully maintain our information and technology networks, including the security of those networks,
our operations could be disrupted and unanticipated increases in costs and/or decreases in revenues could result.
We rely on various information technology systems, some of which are controlled by outside service providers, to manage
key aspects of our operations. The proper functioning of our information technology systems is important to the successful
operation of our business. If critical information technology systems fail, or are otherwise unavailable, our ability to
manufacture products, process orders, track credit risk, identify business opportunities, maintain proper levels of inventories,
collect accounts receivable, pay expenses and otherwise manage our business would be adversely affected.
We depend on the Internet and our information technology infrastructure for electronic communications among our
locations around the world and between our personnel and suppliers and customers. Security breaches of this infrastructure can
create system disruptions, shutdowns or unauthorized disclosure of confidential information. If we or our service providers are
unable to prevent these breaches, our operations could be disrupted or we may suffer financial, reputational or other harm
because of lost or misappropriated information.
We may fail to effectively manage personal data, which could harm our reputation, result in substantial additional costs
and subject us to litigation.
As we grow our Mueller Technologies businesses, we continue to accumulate increasing volumes of customer data. In
addition, we store personal information in connection with our human resources operations. Our efforts to protect this
information may be unsuccessful due to employee errors or malfeasance, technical malfunctions, the actions of third parties
(such as cyber attack) or other factors. If we are unable to protect personal data, it could be accessed or disclosed improperly,
which could expose us to liability, harm our reputation and deter current and potential users from using our products and
services. The regulatory environment related to information security, data collection and privacy is increasingly rigorous, with
new and constantly changing requirements applicable to our business, and compliance with those requirements could result in
additional costs.
We are subject to a variety of claims, investigations and litigation that could adversely affect our results of operations
and harm our reputation.
In the normal course of our business, we are subject to claims and lawsuits, including from time to time claims for
damages related to product liability and warranties, investigations by governmental agencies, litigation alleging the
infringement of intellectual property rights and litigation related to employee matters and commercial disputes. Defending
these lawsuits and becoming involved in these investigations may divert our management’s attention, and may cause us to incur
significant expenses. In addition, we may be required to pay damage awards, penalties or settlements, or become subject to
injunctions or other equitable remedies, that could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition, results of
operations and cash flows. If we were required to participate in a product recall or take other action to address a product
liability or other claim, our reputation could be harmed. Moreover, any insurance or indemnification rights that we have may
be insufficient or unavailable to protect us against potential loss exposures. See “Item 1. BUSINESS - Regulatory and
Environmental Matters,” “Item 3. LEGAL PROCEEDINGS - Environmental,” “Item 7. MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION
14
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Index to Financial Statements
AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS - Contingencies” and Note 17 of the
Notes to our Consolidated Financial Statements.
Any failure to satisfy international trade laws and regulations or to otherwise comply with changes or other trade
developments may adversely affect us.
Our operations require importing and exporting goods and technology between countries on a regular basis. Thus, the sale
and shipment of our products and services across international borders, as well as the purchase of components and products
from international sources, subject us to extensive trade laws and regulations. Trade laws and regulations are complex, differ
by country, and are enforced by a variety of government agencies. Because we are subject to extensive trade laws and
regulations in the countries in which we operate, we are subject to the risk that laws and regulations could change in a way that
would expose us to additional costs, penalties or liabilities, and our policies and procedures may not always protect us from
actions that would violate international trade laws and regulations. For example, in January 2014, the Consolidated
Appropriations Act was signed into law, which included provisions requiring the use of American iron and steel products in
certain water projects receiving certain federal appropriations. We have incurred costs in connection with ensuring our ability
to certify to these requirements, including those associated with enhancing our assembly operations and sourcing practices. As
a result of the varying legal and regulatory requirements to which our cross-border activities are subject, we may not always be
in compliance with the trade laws and regulations in all respects. Any improper actions could subject us to civil or criminal
penalties, including material monetary fines, or other adverse actions, including denial of import or export privileges, and could
harm our reputation and our business prospects.
We are subject to increasingly stringent environmental, health and safety laws and regulations that impose significant
compliance costs. Any failure to satisfy these laws and regulations may adversely affect us.
We are subject to increasingly stringent laws and regulations relating to the protection of the environment, health and
safety and incur significant capital and other expenditures to comply with these requirements. Failure to comply with any
environmental, health or safety requirements could result in the assessment of damages, the imposition of penalties, suspension
of production, changes to equipment or processes or a cessation of operations at our facilities, any of which could have a
material adverse effect on our business. Because these laws are complex, subject to change and may be applied retroactively,
we cannot predict with certainty the extent of our future liabilities with respect to environmental, health and safety matters and
whether they will be material.
In addition, U.S. Superfund statutes may impose joint and several liability for the costs of remedial investigations and
actions on entities that generated waste, arranged for disposal of waste, transported to or selected the disposal sites and the past
and present owners and operators of such sites. All such responsible parties (or any one of them, including us) may be required
to bear all of such costs regardless of fault, the legality of the original disposal or ownership of the disposal site. As a result, we
may be required to conduct investigations and perform remedial activities at current and former operating and manufacturing
sites where we have been, or in the future could be, named a PRP with respect to such environmental liabilities, any of which
could require us to incur material costs. The final remediation costs of these environmental sites may exceed current estimated
costs, and additional sites in the future may require material remediation expenses. If actual expenditures exceed our estimates,
our results of operations and financial position could be materially and adversely affected. See “Item 1. BUSINESS -
Regulatory and Environmental Matters,” “Item 3. LEGAL PROCEEDINGS - Environmental,” “Item 7. MANAGEMENT’S
DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS - Contingencies” and
Note 17 of the Notes to our Consolidated Financial Statements.
We manage our business as a decentralized organization, which presents risks.
We have three segments that operate under a decentralized organizational structure. Our operations have different business
practices, information technology systems, accounting policies, internal controls, procedures and compliance programs.
Further, we may need to modify existing programs and processes to increase efficiency and operating effectiveness and
improve corporate visibility into our decentralized operations. We also regularly update compliance programs and processes to
comply with existing laws, new interpretations of existing laws and new laws and we may not implement those modifications
effectively. It could take time for any such modifications to be implemented across our operations. During the implementation
periods, our decentralized operating approach could result in inconsistent management practices and procedures, which could
adversely affect our business. Once achieved, it may also be difficult to maintain operational consistency across our
organization.
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We rely on successors to Tyco to indemnify us for certain liabilities and they may become financially unable or fail to
comply with the terms of the indemnity.
Under the terms of the acquisition agreement relating to the August 1999 sale by Tyco of our businesses to a previous
owner of these businesses, we are indemnified by certain Tyco entities (“Tyco Indemnitors”) for all liabilities arising in
connection with the operation of these businesses prior to their sale by Tyco, including with respect to products manufactured
or sold prior to the closing of that transaction, as well as certain environmental liabilities. These indemnities survive
indefinitely and are not subject to any dollar limits. In the past, Tyco Indemnitors have made substantial payments and assumed
defense of claims in connection with these indemnification obligations. Tyco’s indemnity does not cover liabilities to the extent
caused by us or the operation of our businesses after August 1999, nor does it cover liabilities arising with respect to businesses
or sites acquired after August 1999. Since 2007, Tyco has engaged in multiple corporate restructurings, split-offs and
divestitures. The result of these transactions is that the assets of, and control over, Tyco Indemnitors has changed. Should any
Tyco Indemnitor become financially unable or fail to comply with the terms of the indemnity, we may be responsible for such
obligations or liabilities.
Our expenditures for pension obligations could be materially higher than we have predicted.
We provide pension benefits to certain current and former employees. To determine our future payment obligations under
the plans, certain rates of return on the plans’ assets, growth rates of certain costs and participant longevity have been estimated.
The proportion of the assets held by our U.S. pension plan invested in fixed income securities, instead of equity securities, has
increased over historical levels. This shift in asset allocation has resulted in a decrease in the estimated rate of return on plan
assets for this plan. Assumed discount rates, expected return on plan assets and participant longevity have significant effects on
the amounts reported for the pension obligations and pension expense.
The funded status of our pension plans can also be influenced by regulatory requirements, which can change unexpectedly
and impose higher costs if funding levels are below certain thresholds. We may increase contributions to our pension plans to
avoid or reduce these higher costs.
Significant adverse changes in credit and capital markets or changes in investments could result in discount rates or actual
rates of return on plan assets being materially lower than projected and require us to increase pension contributions in future
years to meet funding level requirements. Increasing life spans for North American participants may increase the estimated
benefit payments and increase the amounts reported for pension obligations, pension contributions and pension expense. If
increased funding requirements are particularly significant and sustained, our overall liquidity could be materially reduced,
which could cause us, among other things, to reduce investments and capital expenditures, or restructure or refinance our debt.
Our high fixed costs may make it more difficult for us to respond to economic cycles.
A significant portion of our cost structure is fixed, including manufacturing overhead, capital equipment and research and
development costs. In a prolonged economic downturn, these fixed costs may cause our gross margins to erode and earnings to
decline.
The prices of our purchased components and raw materials can be volatile.
Our operations require substantial amounts of purchased components and raw materials, such as scrap steel, sand, resin,
brass ingot and steel pipe. We generally purchase components and raw materials at current market prices. The cost and
availability of these materials are subject to economic forces largely beyond our control, including North American and
international demand, foreign currency exchange rates, freight costs and commodity speculation.
We may not be able to pass on the entire cost of price increases for purchased components and raw materials to our
customers or offset fully the effects of these higher costs through productivity improvements. In particular, when purchased
component or raw material prices increase rapidly or to significantly higher than normal levels, we may not be able to pass cost
increases through to our customers on a timely basis, if at all, which would reduce our profitability and cash flows. In addition,
if purchased components or raw materials were not available or not available on commercially reasonable terms, our sales,
profitability and cash flows would be reduced. Our competitors may secure more reliable sources of purchased components
and raw materials or they may obtain these supplies on more favorable terms than we do, which could give them a cost
advantage.
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We may be affected by new governmental legislation and regulations relating to carbon dioxide emissions.
Many of our manufacturing plants use significant amounts of electricity generated by burning fossil fuels, which releases
carbon dioxide. Federal and state courts and administrative agencies are considering the scope and scale of carbon dioxide
emission regulation under various laws pertaining to the environment, energy use and development and greenhouse gas
emissions. In addition, several states are considering various carbon dioxide registration and reduction programs. The final
details and scope of these various legislative, regulatory and policy measures are unclear and their potential impact is still
uncertain, so we cannot fully predict the impact on our business.
The potential impacts of climate change on our operations are highly uncertain. The EPA has found that global climate
change could increase the severity and possibly the frequency of severe weather patterns. Although the financial impact of
these potential changes is not reasonably estimable at this time, our operations in certain locations and those of our customers
and suppliers could potentially be adversely affected, which could adversely affect our sales, profitability and cash flows.
Potential international business opportunities may expose us to additional risks.
A part of our growth strategy depends on us expanding internationally. Although net sales outside of the United States and
Canada account for a small percentage of our total net sales, we expect to increase our level of business activity outside of the
United States and Canada. Some countries that present good business opportunities also face political and economic instability
and vulnerability to infrastructure and other disruptions. Seeking to expand our business internationally exposes us to
additional risks, which include political and economic uncertainties, currency fluctuations, changes in local business conditions
and national and international conflicts. A primary risk we face in connection with our export orders relates to our ability to
collect amounts due from customers. We also face the potential risks arising from staffing, monitoring and managing
international operations, including the risk such activities may divert our resources and management time.
In addition, compliance with the laws and regulations of multiple international jurisdictions increases our cost of doing
business. International operations are subject to anti-corruption laws and anti-competition regulations, among others. For
example, the U.S. Foreign Corrupt Practices Act and similar non-U.S. anti-corruption laws generally prohibit companies and
their intermediaries from making improper payments or providing anything of value to improperly influence foreign
government officials and certain others for the purpose of obtaining or retaining business, or obtaining an unfair advantage.
Violations of these laws and regulations could result in criminal and civil sanctions, disrupt our business and adversely affect
our brands, international expansion efforts, business and operating results.
Seasonal demand for certain of our products and services may adversely affect our financial results.
Sales of some of Mueller Co.’s and Anvil’s products, including iron gate valves and fire hydrants, are seasonal, with lower
sales in our first and second fiscal quarters when weather conditions throughout most of North America tend to be cold
resulting in lower levels of construction activity. This seasonality in demand has resulted in fluctuations in our sales and
operating results. To satisfy demand during expected peak periods, we may incur costs associated with inventory build-up, and
our projections as to future needs may not be accurate. The Mueller Technologies businesses’ sales and operating results are
also affected by seasonality. For example, demand for Echologics’ service offerings in Canada and the Northeast United States
has historically been lower during our first and second fiscal quarters. Because many of our expenses are fixed, seasonal trends
can cause reductions in our profitability and profit margins and deterioration of our financial condition during periods affected
by lower production or sales activity.
Covenants in our debt instruments may adversely affect us and we are exposed to interest rate risk.
Our senior secured term loan facility contains covenants, including those limiting our ability to incur indebtedness, issue
disqualified and preferred stock, make restricted payments, issue dividends, engage in asset sales and engage in transactions
with affiliates, among others. Our asset based lending agreement contains similar restrictions and also requires the maintenance
of a certain fixed charge coverage ratio during any period when availability is less than a specified threshold.
In addition, we may be exposed to interest rate risk under our term loan as well as our asset based lending agreement.
Interest on amounts outstanding under these debt instruments are based on LIBOR, which fluctuates. Accordingly, while term
loan borrowings are outstanding we will be exposed to risks associated with fluctuations in LIBOR and may, from time to time,
seek to enter into hedging arrangements or other interest rate management techniques to reduce potential volatility in earnings
and cash flows from such fluctuations. For example, in 2015 we entered into interest rate swap contracts. Although we expect
LIBOR to fluctuate, we believe significant volatility in LIBOR over the short to medium term is unlikely and while hedging
programs and other interest rate management techniques may reduce the impact of interest rate movements, they do not
eliminate them. Further, such programs and techniques could expose us to additional expenses that could adversely affect our
financial condition and results of operations.
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The term loan specifies a LIBOR floor of 0.75%, and we are not exposed to fluctuations in LIBOR until such time as
LIBOR exceeds that floor. Each 100 basis point increase in LIBOR above the floor would increase annualized interest expense
on the term loan by approximately $5 million, before considering any impact from the interest rate swap contracts.
Failure to attract, motivate, train and retain qualified personnel, including key personnel could adversely affect our
business.
Our ability to expand or maintain our business depends on our ability to hire, train and retain employees with the skills
necessary to understand and adapt to the continuously developing needs of our customers. The increasing demand for qualified
personnel makes it more difficult for us to attract and retain employees with requisite skill sets, particularly employees with
specialized technical and trade experience. Changing demographics and labor work force trends also may result in a loss of
knowledge and skills as experienced workers retire. If we fail to attract, motivate, train and retain qualified personnel, or if we
experience excessive turnover, we may experience declining sales, manufacturing delays or other inefficiencies, increased
recruiting, training and relocation costs and other difficulties, and our business, financial condition, results of operations and
cash flows could be materially and adversely affected. Competition for qualified personnel is intense, particularly in several
regions of the United States where we manufacture products and particularly within our Mueller Technologies businesses. We
may not be successful in attracting or retaining qualified personnel, which could negatively impact our business.
In addition, our business depends on the efforts, skills, reputations and business relationships of key executive and
management personnel. The loss of these personnel could jeopardize our relationships with customers and may adversely
affect our business, financial condition, results of operations and cash flows.
We are subject to “conflict” minerals regulations, which imposes costs on us and could raise reputational and other
risks.
SEC disclosure requirements relating to certain minerals (“conflict minerals”), sourced from the Democratic Republic of
Congo and surrounding countries that are necessary to the functionality of a product manufactured, or contracted to be
manufactured, mandate, among other things, that we perform due diligence on our supply chain. Our efforts to comply with
these requirements has resulted in an increase in expenses and a diversion of management’s time and attention from other
business activities. In addition, since our supply chain is complex, we may not be able to sufficiently verify the origins of all
metals used in our products, which may adversely affect our reputation and/or disqualify us as a manufacturer for certain
customers.
Risks Relating to Our Relationship with Walter Energy
We may have substantial additional liability for federal income tax allegedly owed by Walter Energy.
Each member of a consolidated group for federal income tax purposes is jointly and severally liable for the federal income
tax liability of each other member of the consolidated group for any year in which it is a member of the group at any time
during such year. Each member of the Walter Energy consolidated group, which included us (including our subsidiaries)
through December 14, 2006, is also jointly and severally liable for pension and benefit funding and termination liabilities of
other group members, as well as certain benefit plan taxes. Accordingly, we could be liable under such provisions in the event
any such liability is incurred, and not discharged, by any other member of the Walter Energy consolidated group for any period
during which we were included in the Walter Energy consolidated group.
A dispute exists with regard to federal income taxes for years 1980 to 1994 and 1999 to 2001 allegedly owed by the Walter
Energy consolidated group, which included U.S. Pipe during these periods. As a matter of law, we are jointly and severally
liable for any final tax determination, which means that in the event Walter Energy is unable to pay any amounts owed, we
would be liable. Walter Energy filed a petition for reorganization under Chapter 11 of the U.S. Bankruptcy Code in July 2015.
We are monitoring the filing to determine whether we could be liable for all or a portion of this federal income tax liability if it
is incurred, and not discharged, for any period during which we were included in the Walter Energy consolidated group.
In accordance with the income tax allocation agreement, Walter Energy used certain tax assets of one of our predecessors
in its calendar 2006 tax return for which payment to us is required. The income tax allocation agreement only requires Walter
Energy to make the payment upon realization of this tax benefit by receiving a refund or otherwise offsetting taxes due. Walter
Energy owes us $11.6 million that is payable pending completion of an IRS audit of Walter Energy’s 2006 tax year and the
related refund of tax from that year. As a result of the aforementioned Chapter 11 petition, we recorded a provision for doubtful
accounts of $11.6 million in the quarter ended June 30, 2015.
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The tax allocation agreement between us and Walter Energy allocates to us certain tax risks associated with the Spin-
off.
Walter Energy effectively controlled all of our tax decisions for periods during which we were a member of the Walter
Energy consolidated federal income tax group and certain combined, consolidated or unitary state and local income tax groups.
Under the terms of an income tax allocation agreement between us and Walter Energy dated May 26, 2006, we generally
compute our tax liability on a stand-alone basis, but Walter Energy has sole authority to respond to and conduct all tax
proceedings (including tax audits) relating to our federal income and combined state returns, to file all such returns on our
behalf and to determine the amount of our liability to (or entitlement to payment from) Walter Energy for such periods. This
arrangement may result in conflicts of interests between us and Walter Energy. In addition, our tax allocation agreement
provides that if the Spin-off is determined not to be tax-free pursuant to Section 355 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as
amended, we generally will be responsible for any taxes incurred by Walter Energy or its shareholders if such taxes result from
certain of our actions or omissions and for a percentage of any such taxes that are not a result of our actions or omissions or
Walter Energy’s actions or omissions or taxes based on our market value relative to Walter Energy’s market value.
Additionally, to the extent Walter Energy is unable to pay taxes, if any, attributable to the Spin-off and for which it is
responsible under our tax allocation agreement, we could be liable for those taxes as a result of being a member of the Walter
Energy consolidated federal income tax group for 2006, the year in which the Spin-off occurred. We believe Walter Energy’s
calendar 2006 income tax returns are still open for federal examination.
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Item 2.
PROPERTIES
Our principal properties are listed below.
Location
Activity
Size
(sq. ft.)
Owned or
leased
Mueller Co.:
Albertville, AL
Aurora, IL
Decatur, IL
Hammond, IN
Chattanooga, TN
Chattanooga, TN
Cleveland, TN
Brownsville, TX
Barrie, Ontario
Jingmen, China
Anvil:
Ontario, CA
Columbia, PA
Greencastle, PA
Waynesboro, PA
North Kingstown, RI
Henderson, TN
Houston, TX
Irving, TX
Longview, TX
Simcoe, Ontario
Tinley Park, IL
Mueller Technologies:
Cleveland, NC
Toronto, Ontario
Corporate:
Atlanta, GA
Manufacturing
Manufacturing and distribution
Manufacturing
Manufacturing
Manufacturing
Research and development
Manufacturing
Manufacturing
Distribution
Manufacturing
Distribution
Manufacturing and distribution
Manufacturing
Manufacturing
Manufacturing and research and development
Manufacturing
Manufacturing and distribution
Distribution
Manufacturing
Distribution
Distribution
Manufacturing
Research and development
422,000
231,000
467,000
51,000
525,000
22,000
40,000
50,000
50,000
154,000
73,000
663,000
135,000
73,000
164,000
180,000
105,000
218,000
114,000
107,000
130,000
190,000
10,000
Leased
Owned
Owned
Owned
Owned
Leased
Owned
Leased
Leased
Owned
Leased
Owned
Owned
Owned
Leased
Owned
Owned
Leased
Owned
Owned
Leased
Owned
Leased
Corporate headquarters
25,000
Leased
We consider our facilities to be well maintained and believe we have sufficient capacity to meet our anticipated needs
through 2016. Our leased properties have terms expiring at various dates through January 2024.
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Item 3.
LEGAL PROCEEDINGS
We are involved in various legal proceedings that have arisen in the normal course of operations, including the proceedings
summarized below.
The effect of the outcome of these matters on our future results of operations cannot be predicted with certainty as any
such effect depends on future results of operations and the amount and timing of the resolution of such matters. Other than the
litigation described below, we do not believe any of our outstanding litigation would have a material adverse effect on our
business or prospects.
Environmental. We are subject to a wide variety of laws and regulations concerning the protection of the environment,
both with respect to the operations at many of our properties and with respect to remediating environmental conditions that may
exist at our own or other properties. We accrue for environmental expenses resulting from existing conditions that relate to past
operations when the costs are probable and reasonably estimable. These expenses were $3.8 million, $1.2 million and $1.5
million in 2015, 2014 and 2013, respectively. We capitalize environmental expenditures that increase the life or efficiency of
long-term assets or that reduce or prevent environmental contamination. Capital expenditures for environmental requirements
are anticipated to be approximately $1 million during 2016. Capitalized environmental-related expenditures were $0.6 million,
$0.1 million and $1.2 million in 2015, 2014 and 2013, respectively.
Under the terms of the acquisition agreement relating to the August 1999 sale by Tyco of our businesses to a previous
owner of these businesses, we are indemnified by certain Tyco entities (“Tyco Indemnitors”) for all liabilities arising in
connection with the operation of these businesses prior to their sale by Tyco, including with respect to products manufactured
or sold prior to the closing of that transaction, as well as certain environmental liabilities. These indemnities survive
indefinitely and are not subject to any dollar limits. In the past, Tyco Indemnitors have made substantial payments and assumed
defense of claims in connection with these indemnification obligations. Tyco’s indemnity does not cover liabilities to the extent
caused by us or the operation of our businesses after August 1999, nor does it cover liabilities arising with respect to businesses
or sites acquired after August 1999. Since 2007, Tyco has engaged in multiple corporate restructurings, split-offs and
divestitures. While none of these transactions directly affects the indemnification obligations of the Tyco Indemnitors under the
1999 acquisition agreement, the result of such transactions is that the assets of, and control over, such Tyco Indemnitors has
changed. Should any of these Tyco Indemnitors become financially unable or fail to comply with the terms of the indemnity,
we may be responsible for such obligations or liabilities.
In September 1987, we implemented an Administrative Consent Order (“ACO”) for our Burlington, New Jersey property,
which was required under the New Jersey Environmental Cleanup Responsibility Act (now known as the Industrial Site
Recovery Act). The ACO required soil and ground-water cleanup, and we completed, and received final approval on, the soil
cleanup required by the ACO. We retained this property related to the sale of our former U.S. Pipe segment. We expect
ground-water issues as well as issues associated with the demolition of former manufacturing facilities at this site will continue
and remediation by us could be required. Long-term ground-water monitoring may also be required, but we do not know how
long such monitoring would be required and do not believe monitoring or further remediation costs, if any, will have a material
adverse effect on our financial condition or results of operations.
On July 13, 2010, Rohcan Investments Limited, the former owner of property leased by Mueller Canada Ltd. and located
in Milton, Ontario, filed suit against Mueller Canada Ltd. and its directors seeking C$10 million in damages arising from the
defendants’ alleged environmental contamination of the property and breach of lease. Mueller Canada Ltd. leased the property
from 1988 through 2008. We are pursuing indemnification from a former owner for certain potential liabilities that are alleged
in this lawsuit, and we have accrued for other liabilities not covered by indemnification. On December 7, 2011, the Court
denied the plaintiff’s motion for summary judgment.
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The purchaser of U.S. Pipe has been identified as a PRP under CERCLA in connection with a former manufacturing
facility operated by U.S. Pipe that was in the vicinity of a Superfund site located in North Birmingham, Alabama. Under the
terms of the acquisition agreement relating to the sale of U.S. Pipe, we agreed to indemnify the purchaser for certain
environmental liabilities, including those arising out of the former manufacturing site in North Birmingham. Accordingly, the
purchaser tendered the matter to us for indemnification, which we accepted. Ultimate liability for the site will depend on many
factors that have not yet been determined, including the determination of EPA’s remediation costs, the number and financial
viability of the other PRPs (there are four other PRPs currently) and the determination of the final allocation of the costs, if any,
among the PRPs. Accordingly, because the amount of such costs cannot be reasonably estimated at this time, no amounts had
been accrued for this matter at September 30, 2015. See “Item 1. BUSINESS - Regulatory and Environmental Matters,” “Item
1A. RISK FACTORS - We are subject to increasingly stringent environmental, health and safety laws and regulations that
impose significant compliance costs. Any failure to satisfy these laws and regulations may adversely affect us,” “Item 7.
MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS -
Contingencies” and Note 17 of the Notes to our Consolidated Financial Statements.
Other Matters. Anvil is in a dispute with Victaulic Company (“Victaulic”) regarding two patents held by Victaulic, U.S.
Patent 7,086,131 (the “131 Patent”) and U.S. Patent 7,712,796 (the “796 Patent” and collectively with the 131 Patent, the “U.S.
Patents”), which Anvil believes are invalid. The U.S. Patents potentially relate to a coupling product currently manufactured
and marketed by Anvil. Anvil filed multiple reexamination requests with the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (the “PTO”)
regarding the U.S. Patents, and the PTO granted the requests. Although the PTO examiner initially invalidated most of the
claims of the 796 Patent, the PTO examiner affirmed the validity of the 796 Patent in September 2014. In April 2015, the PTO
examiner invalidated the original claim of the 131 Patent but found several claims added during reexamination that appear
substantially similar to those included in the 796 Patent patentable. The PTO examiners’ decisions with respect to the U.S.
Patents have been appealed by Anvil and Victaulic. Relatedly, Anvil and Victaulic are engaged in lawsuits in the U.S. District
Court for the Northern District of Georgia and in the Federal Court of Toronto, Ontario, Canada. The Georgia District Court
litigation has been stayed pending the final outcome of the ongoing reexaminations of the U.S. Patents by the PTO. Although
Anvil intends to continue to vigorously contest the validity of the U.S. Patents, as well as Victaulic’s related patents in Canada,
and to defend itself against any counterclaims made by Victaulic, the probability of a favorable or unfavorable outcome with
respect to these proceedings is unknown. Any number of potential outcomes is possible due to the multiple claims associated
with the proceedings, each of which is in different stages and subject to appeal. Further, there are a number of highly complex
factual and technical issues involved, and it is uncertain whether a favorable or unfavorable result with respect to a particular
ruling or proceeding will impact the other matters in controversy. Accordingly, we have not recorded any accrual with respect
to these proceedings and a range of liability is not reasonably estimable.
We are party to a number of other lawsuits arising in the ordinary course of business, including product liability cases for
products manufactured by us or third parties. We provide for costs relating to these matters when a loss is probable and the
amount is reasonably estimable. Administrative costs related to these matters are expensed as incurred. The effect of the
outcome of these matters on our future results of operations cannot be predicted with certainty as any such effect depends on
future results of operations and the amount and timing of the resolution of such matters. While the results of litigation cannot
be predicted with certainty, we believe the final outcome of such other litigation is not likely to have a materially adverse effect
on our business or prospects.
22
Table of Contents
Index to Financial Statements
Item 5.
MARKET FOR REGISTRANT’S COMMON EQUITY, RELATED STOCKHOLDER MATTERS
AND ISSUER PURCHASES OF EQUITY SECURITIES
PART II
Our common stock is listed on the New York Stock Exchange under the trading symbol MWA.
Covenants contained in certain of the debt instruments described in Note 7 to the consolidated financial statements restrict
the amount we can pay in cash dividends. Future dividends will be declared at the discretion of our board of directors and will
depend on our future earnings, financial condition and other factors.
The range of high and low intraday sales prices of our common stock and the dividends declared per share is presented
below.
2015
4th quarter
3rd quarter
2nd quarter
1st quarter
2014
4th quarter
3rd quarter
2nd quarter
1st quarter
High
Low
Dividends
per share
$
$
9.29
10.49
10.54
10.48
9.42
9.80
10.04
9.44
$
7.04
8.95
8.34
7.92
7.64
8.30
7.95
7.44
0.0200
0.0200
0.0175
0.0175
0.0175
0.0175
0.0175
0.0175
At September 30, 2015, there were 126 stockholders of record for our common stock.
Equity Compensation Plan Information
The information regarding our compensation plans under which equity securities are authorized for issuance is set forth in
“Item 12. SECURITY OWNERSHIP OF CERTAIN BENEFICIAL OWNERS AND MANAGEMENT AND RELATED
STOCKHOLDER MATTERS.”
Sale of Unregistered Securities
We did not issue any unregistered securities within the past three years.
Issuer Purchases of Equity Securities
We did not repurchase shares of our common stock in the quarter ended September 30, 2015.
23
Table of Contents
Index to Financial Statements
Stock Price Performance Graph
The following graph compares the cumulative quarterly stock market performance of our common stock with the Russell
2000 Stock Index (“Russell 2000”) and the Dow Jones U.S. Building Materials & Fixtures Index (“DJ Building Materials &
Fixtures”) since September 30, 2010.
Total return values were calculated based on cumulative total return assuming (i) the investment of $100 in our common
stock, the Russell 2000 and the DJ Building Materials & Fixtures on the dates indicated and (ii) reinvestment of all dividends.
24
Table of Contents
Index to Financial Statements
Item 6.
SELECTED FINANCIAL DATA
The selected financial and other data presented below should be read in conjunction with, and are qualified by reference
to, “Item 7. MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF
OPERATIONS” and the consolidated financial statements and notes thereto included elsewhere in this annual report.
2015
2014
2012
2013
(in millions, except per share data)
2011
$
$
$
$
$
$
$
Statement of operations data:
Net sales
Cost of sales
Gross profit
Selling, general and administrative expenses
Loss on Walter receivable
Restructuring expenses
Interest expense, net
Loss on early extinguishment of debt
Income (loss) before income taxes
Income tax expense (benefit)
Income (loss) from continuing operations
Discontinued operations(1)
Net income (loss)
Net income (loss) per basic share:
Continuing operations
Discontinued operations
Net income (loss)
Net income (loss) per diluted share:
Continuing operations
Discontinued operations
Net income (loss)
Weighted average shares outstanding:
Basic
Diluted
Balance sheet data (at September 30):
Cash and cash equivalents
Working capital
Property, plant and equipment, net
Assets held for sale
Total assets
Total debt
Long-term liabilities
Liabilities held for sale
Total liabilities
Total equity
Other data (year ended September 30):
Depreciation and amortization(2)
Capital expenditures(2)
Cash dividends declared per share
$
$
$
$
$
$
$
1,164.5
817.2
347.3
216.9
11.6
9.2
27.6
31.3
50.7
19.8
30.9
—
30.9
0.19
—
0.19
0.19
—
0.19
160.5
163.2
113.1
381.5
148.9
—
1,229.8
489.0
694.0
—
862.0
367.8
58.1
37.5
0.075
$
$
$
$
$
$
$
1,184.7
836.8
347.9
220.7
—
3.1
49.6
1.0
73.5
18.0
55.5
—
55.5
0.35
—
0.35
0.34
—
0.34
159.2
162.2
161.1
363.0
146.3
—
1,312.5
541.0
716.5
—
960.9
351.6
56.7
36.9
0.070
$
$
$
$
$
$
$
1,120.8
807.6
313.2
214.4
—
1.5
51.7
1.4
44.2
8.8
35.4
5.4
40.8
0.23
0.03
0.26
0.22
0.03
0.25
157.7
160.3
123.6
386.3
141.9
—
1,275.9
594.8
764.6
—
947.7
328.2
59.2
36.5
0.070
$
1,023.9
752.8
271.1
204.2
—
2.8
59.9
1.5
2.7
7.9
(5.2)
(103.2)
(108.4) $
(0.03) $
(0.66)
(0.69) $
(0.03) $
(0.66)
(0.69) $
$
156.5
156.5
83.0
321.5
137.9
—
1,233.2
615.1
833.6
—
1,002.0
231.2
60.6
31.4
0.070
964.6
716.5
248.1
191.8
—
3.6
65.6
—
(12.9)
(2.9)
(10.0)
(28.1)
(38.1)
(0.07)
(0.18)
(0.25)
(0.07)
(0.18)
(0.25)
155.3
155.3
61.0
404.0
143.8
249.7
1,475.6
668.9
901.8
56.9
1,096.6
379.0
63.1
23.1
0.070
(1)
In 2012, we sold U.S. Pipe. U.S. Pipe’s results of operations are classified as discontinued operations for 2013 through
2011 and its assets and liabilities classified as held for sale for 2011.
(2) Excludes discontinued operations.
25
Table of Contents
Index to Financial Statements
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 and notes thereto that
appear elsewhere in this annual report.
Overview
Organization
On October 3, 2005, Walter Energy acquired all outstanding shares of capital stock representing the Mueller Co. and Anvil
businesses and contributed them to its U.S. Pipe business to form the Company. In June 2006, we completed an initial public
offering of 28,750,000 shares of Series A common stock and in December 2006, Walter Energy distributed to its shareholders
all of its equity interests in the Company, consisting of all of the Company’s outstanding shares of Series B common stock. On
January 28, 2009, each share of Series B common stock was converted into one share of Series A common stock and the Series
A designation was discontinued.
Unless the context indicates otherwise, whenever we refer to a particular year, we mean our fiscal year ended or ending
September 30 in that particular calendar year.
We have recently revised our reporting segments, presenting in this annual report Mueller Co., Anvil and Mueller
Technologies, a new segment, which includes Mueller Systems and Echologics. Mueller Systems’ and Echologics’ results were
previously reported within the Mueller Co. segment. Segment results previously presented have been recast to conform to the
current presentation.
Business
We expect our three primary end markets, repair and replacement of water infrastructure driven by municipal spending,
new water infrastructure installation driven by residential construction and non-residential construction to grow in 2016. We
expect the residential construction market to be the fastest growing, followed by municipal spending.
Mueller Co.
We estimate approximately 70% of Mueller Co.’s 2015 net sales were for repair and replacement directly related to
municipal water infrastructure spending, approximately 25% were related to residential construction activity and approximately
5% were related to natural gas utilities.
Municipal spending in 2015 was relatively strong compared with the prior year period and economic forecasts predict this
trend will continue. According to the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, state and local tax receipts for the quarter ended
September 30, 2015 were up year-over-year and, according to the U.S. Department of Labor, the trailing twelve-month average
consumer price index for water and sewerage rates at September 30, 2015 increased 4.5%. However, water conservation
efforts, particularly in areas impacted by recent drought conditions, have resulted in lower overall receipts for some U.S. water
utilities.
The year-over-year percentage change in housing starts is a key indicator of demand for Mueller Co.’s products sold in the
residential construction market. In September 2015, Zelman & Associates forecasted a 13% increase in housing starts for
calendar 2016 compared to the prior year. In October 2015, Blue Chip Consensus also forecasted a 13% increase in housing
starts for calendar 2016 compared to the prior year.
We expect Mueller Co.’s net sales percentage growth in 2016 to be in the mid-single digits, with growth in key markets
offset by anticipated unfavorable impacts from changes in Canadian currency exchange rates and the divestiture of the
municipal castings business in December 2014.
26
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Index to Financial Statements
Anvil
In 2015, approximately 85% of Anvil’s net sales were generated by non-residential construction spending. Several leading
indicators related to non-residential construction appear to be signaling growth in this market. For example, the Architectural
Billings Index for September 2015 remained above 50, which indicates growth, and Blue Chip Consensus forecasted a 4.8%
increase in non-residential fixed investment in calendar 2016.
Sales to the oil & gas market accounted for approximately 10% of Anvil’s net sales in 2015, down from 20% in 2014. The
trend in rig counts correlates with the direction of demand for Anvil’s products that are sold into this market. According to
Baker Hughes Incorporated, U.S. land-based rig counts in early October 2015 represent a decline of approximately 58% year-
over-year.
We expect Anvil’s net sales percentage growth in 2016 to be in the low single digits, driven by the non-residential
construction market. We believe Anvil’s overall growth will continue to be impacted by an expected decline in net sales to its
addressed oil & gas market on a year-over-year basis during the first half of the year, especially in the first quarter. Based on
current market conditions, we expect Anvil’s net sales into this market during the second half of the year to be flat on a year-
over-year basis.
Mueller Technologies
The municipal market is the key end market for the Mueller Technologies companies. These businesses are project-
oriented and depend on customer adoption of their technology-based products and services. For 2016, we entered the year
with significantly higher AMI backlog and projects awarded for Mueller Systems and higher projects under contract at
Echologics.
We expect Mueller Technologies’ net sales percentage growth in 2016 to be approximately 10% to 15%. We also expect
operating income to improve by approximately $7 million to $10 million.
Consolidated
Overall in 2016 for Mueller Water Products, we expect year-over-year net sales percentage growth in the mid-single digits
with stronger growth at the Mueller Co. and Mueller Technologies segments. We expect higher operating income and operating
margin, driven primarily by a favorable mix of our higher-margin products at Mueller Co.
27
Table of Contents
Index to Financial Statements
Results of Operations
Year Ended September 30, 2015 Compared to Year Ended September 30, 2014
Mueller Co.
$
$
$
702.2
229.1
$
$
84.0
—
8.2
92.2
136.9
$
Mueller Co.
$
$
$
679.1
212.1
$
$
83.3
2.1
85.4
126.7
$
Net sales
Gross profit
Operating expenses:
Selling, general and administrative
Loss on Walter receivable
Restructuring
Operating income (loss)
Interest expense, net
Loss on early extinguishment of debt
Income before income taxes
Income tax expense
Net income
Net sales
Gross profit
Operating expenses:
Selling, general and administrative
Restructuring
Operating income (loss)
Interest expense, net
Loss on early extinguishment of debt
Income before income taxes
Income tax expense
Net income
Consolidated Analysis
Anvil
Year ended September 30, 2015
Mueller
Technologies
(in millions)
91.2
$
17.1
$
371.1
101.1
$
$
Corporate
Total
— $
— $
1,164.5
347.3
70.7
—
0.4
71.1
30.0
$
29.9
—
0.1
30.0
(12.9) $
32.3
11.6
0.5
44.4
(44.4)
216.9
11.6
9.2
237.7
109.6
27.6
31.3
50.7
19.8
30.9
Total
$
Anvil
Year ended September 30, 2014
Mueller
Technologies
(in millions)
104.2
$
22.9
$
401.4
112.9
$
$
Corporate
— $
— $
1,184.7
347.9
70.7
0.9
71.6
41.3
$
27.2
0.1
27.3
(4.4) $
39.5
—
39.5
(39.5)
220.7
3.1
223.8
124.1
49.6
1.0
73.5
18.0
55.5
$
Net sales for 2015 declined to $1,164.5 million from $1,184.7 million in the prior year period due primarily to lower
shipment volumes of $16.7 million and unfavorable changes in Canadian currency exchange rates of $10.7 million offset by
improved pricing of $7.2 million.
Gross profit for 2015 of $347.3 million was essentially flat compared to $347.9 million in the prior year period. Gross
margin increased 40 basis points to 29.8% in 2015 from 29.4% in the prior year period due primarily to improved sales pricing.
Selling, general and administrative expenses (“SG&A”) for 2015 decreased to $216.9 million from $220.7 million in the
prior year period. SG&A as a percentage of net sales was 18.6% in both 2015 and in the prior year period.
We have a tax-related receivable from Walter Energy from prior to our spin-off from Walter in December 2006. Walter
filed a petition for reorganization under Chapter 11 of the U.S. Bankruptcy Code in July 2015. As a result of this petition, we
recorded a provision for doubtful accounts of $11.6 million in 2015.
28
Table of Contents
Index to Financial Statements
Interest expense, net declined $22.0 million in 2015 compared to the prior year period due primarily to the debt refinancing
we completed in November 2014, which replaced the Senior Subordinated Notes and the Senior Unsecured Notes with the
lower-rate Term Loan. Also, debt principal outstanding declined by $45.0 million due to the November 2014 refinancing. The
components of interest expense, net are provided below.
2015
2014
Term Loan
7.375% Senior Subordinated Notes
8.75% Senior Unsecured Notes
Deferred financing costs amortization
ABL Agreement
Other interest expense
Interest income
The components of income tax expense are provided below.
Expense from income before income taxes
Deferred tax asset valuation allowance adjustment
State tax rate change
Segment Analysis
Mueller Co.
$
$
$
$
$
(in millions)
17.5
4.0
2.4
2.0
1.7
0.3
27.9
(0.3)
27.6
$
2015
2014
$
(in millions)
19.3
0.5
—
19.8
$
—
30.6
16.0
2.0
1.2
0.2
50.0
(0.4)
49.6
30.1
(9.6)
(2.5)
18.0
Net sales for 2015 increased to $702.2 million from $679.1 million in the prior year period. Net sales increased primarily
due to higher shipment volumes of $26.7 million and improved pricing of $4.2 million offset by unfavorable changes in
Canadian currency exchange rates of $7.8 million. Domestic shipments excluding Henry Pratt, increased approximately $13.9
million, led primarily by an increase in valve and hydrant products. Net sales at Henry Pratt also increased by $22.4 million,
led by $12.4 million shipments of plant and water treatment valves and $9.9 million of shipments from our 2014 acquisitions.
These increases were partially offset by the absence of $9.4 million of prior year net sales of the Canadian municipal castings
business.
Gross profit for 2015 increased to $229.1 million from $212.1 million in the prior year period. Gross profit for 2015
increased primarily due to increased shipment volumes. Gross margin increased to 32.6% for 2015 compared to 31.2% in the
prior year period. Gross margin improved primarily due to increased shipment volumes, more favorable product mix and
improved sales pricing.
SG&A in 2015 increased to $84.0 million compared to $83.3 million in the prior year period. SG&A were 12.0% and
12.3% of net sales for 2015 and 2014, respectively.
During 2015, Mueller Co. ceased operations at a foundry in Canada that primarily produced commodity municipal
castings. This resulted in a loss of $7.2 million, which comprised most of the total restructuring expense of $8.2 million
recorded during the year.
29
Table of Contents
Index to Financial Statements
Anvil
Net sales in 2015 decreased to $371.1 million from $401.4 million in the prior year period. Net sales in 2015 decreased
$30.5 million due to lower shipment volumes into the oil & gas market being only slightly offset by shipment volume growth in
Anvil's other markets and $2.8 million due to unfavorable changes in Canadian currency exchange rates, offset by increased
pricing of $3.0 million.
Gross profit in 2015 decreased to $101.1 million from $112.9 million in the prior year period. Gross margin declined to
27.2% in 2015 compared to 28.1% in the prior year period largely due to unfavorable product mix with the decline of shipments
into the oil & gas market.
SG&A stayed flat at $70.7 million in 2015 compared to the prior year period. SG&A increased to 19.1% of net sales for
2015 from 17.6% of net sales for 2014. SG&A in 2014 included a $2.5 million gain from the sale of certain of Anvil’s
Bloomington, Minnesota assets.
Mueller Technologies
Net sales in 2015 decreased to $91.2 million from $104.2 million in the prior year period due to $12.9 million of lower
shipment volumes. The Mueller Technologies businesses are more project-oriented and the decrease in net sales was primarily
due to fewer large projects that specified AMI metering systems.
Gross profit in 2015 decreased to $17.1 million from $22.9 million in the prior year period. Gross margin declined to
18.8% in 2015 compared to 22.0% in the prior year period due primarily to product mix.
SG&A increased to $29.9 million in 2015 compared to $27.2 million in the prior year period. SG&A increased primarily
due to additional research and development investments in Echologics and expanding the number of sales and customer service
representatives. SG&A increased to 32.8% of net sales for 2015 from 26.1% of net sales in the prior period.
Corporate
SG&A decreased to $32.3 million in 2015 from $39.5 million in the prior year period primarily due to lower personnel-
related expenses.
30
Table of Contents
Index to Financial Statements
Year Ended September 30, 2014 Compared to Year Ended September 30, 2013
Mueller Co.
$
$
$
679.1
212.1
$
$
83.3
2.1
85.4
126.7
$
Mueller Co.
$
$
$
632.5
184.1
$
$
82.3
1.5
83.8
100.3
$
Net sales
Gross profit
Operating expenses:
Selling, general and administrative
Restructuring
Operating income (loss)
Interest expense, net
Loss on early extinguishment of debt
Income before income taxes
Income tax expense
Net income
Net sales
Gross profit
Operating expenses:
Selling, general and administrative
Restructuring
Operating income (loss)
Interest expense, net
Loss on early extinguishment of debt
Income before income taxes
Income tax expense
Income from continuing operations
Income from discontinued operations,
net of tax
Net income
Consolidated Analysis
Anvil
Year ended September 30, 2014
Mueller
Technologies
(in millions)
104.2
$
22.9
$
401.4
112.9
$
$
Corporate
Total
— $
— $
1,184.7
347.9
70.7
0.9
71.6
41.3
$
27.2
0.1
27.3
(4.4) $
39.5
—
39.5
(39.5)
220.7
3.1
223.8
124.1
49.6
1.0
73.5
18.0
55.5
Total
$
Anvil
Year ended September 30, 2013
Mueller
Technologies
(in millions)
97.0
$
17.0
$
391.3
112.1
$
$
Corporate
— $
— $
1,120.8
313.2
71.8
0.1
71.9
40.2
$
26.0
—
26.0
(9.0) $
34.3
(0.1)
34.2
(34.2)
214.4
1.5
215.9
97.3
51.7
1.4
44.2
8.8
35.4
5.4
40.8
$
Net sales for 2014 increased to $1,184.7 million from $1,120.8 million in the prior year period. Net sales increased due to
$48.9 million of increased shipment volumes and $19.4 million of higher pricing, both of which were primarily at Mueller Co.
Gross profit for 2014 increased to $347.9 million from $313.2 million in the prior year period. Gross margin increased
150 basis points to 29.4% in 2014 from 27.9% in the prior year period. Gross profit and gross margin benefited primarily from
increased shipment volumes, reduced per-unit costs from improved utilization of manufacturing capacity, and higher sales
pricing.
SG&A for 2014 increased to $220.7 million from $214.4 million in the prior year period. SG&A increased primarily due
to higher expenses associated with higher shipment volumes, higher stock-based compensation expense and U.S. Pipe-related
expenses being reported in SG&A in the current year and in discontinued operations in the prior year. SG&A as a percentage of
net sales decreased to 18.6% in 2014 compared to 19.1% in the prior year period.
31
Table of Contents
Index to Financial Statements
Restructuring increased in 2014 compared to the prior year due to an impairment charge for production equipment at
Mueller Co. and the costs to withdraw from a multi-employer pension plan at Anvil. Mueller Co. changed its approach to the
production of certain sizes of iron gate valves and recorded a charge of $1.5 million. Anvil sold the production equipment and
certain inventory at its Bloomington, Minnesota location and recorded an accrual for its pension plan withdrawal liability of
$0.9 million.
Interest expense, net decreased in 2014 compared to the prior year due primarily to a lower level of total debt outstanding.
The components of interest expense, net are detailed below.
2014
2013
7.375% Senior Subordinated Notes
8.75% Senior Unsecured Notes
Deferred financing costs amortization
ABL Agreement
Other interest expense
Interest income
$
$
$
(in millions)
30.6
16.0
2.0
1.2
0.2
50.0
(0.4)
49.6
$
31.0
16.8
2.0
1.5
0.7
52.0
(0.3)
51.7
During 2014, we redeemed $55.0 million of our 7.375% Senior Subordinated Notes for $55.7 million and recorded a loss
from early extinguishment of debt of $1.0 million. During 2013, we redeemed $22.5 million of our 8.75% Senior Unsecured
Notes for $23.2 million, and recorded a loss on early extinguishment of debt of $1.4 million.
The components of income tax expense in continuing operations are provided below.
2014
2013
Expense from income before income taxes
Deferred tax asset valuation allowance adjustment
State tax rate change
Other discrete items
Segment Analysis
Mueller Co.
$
$
$
(in millions)
30.1
(9.6)
(2.5)
—
18.0
$
17.5
(8.5)
—
(0.2)
8.8
Net sales for 2014 increased to $679.1 million from $632.5 million in the prior year period. Net sales increased primarily
due to $35.3 million of increased shipment volumes and $14.5 million of higher pricing. Domestic net sales from our core
valves, hydrants and brass products grew 17% year-over-year.
Gross profit for 2014 increased to $212.1 million from $184.1 million in the prior year period primarily due to increased
shipment volumes and higher sales pricing. Gross margin increased to 31.2% for 2014 compared to 29.1% in the prior year
period primarily due to higher shipment volumes, including the related improvement in utilization of manufacturing capacity,
and higher sales pricing.
SG&A in 2014 increased to $83.3 million compared to $82.3 million in the prior year period. SG&A were 12.3% and
13.0% of net sales for 2014 and 2013, respectively.
Anvil
Net sales in 2014 increased to $401.4 million from $391.3 million in the prior year period. Net sales increased primarily
due to increased shipment volumes.
Gross profit in 2014 increased to $112.9 million from $112.1 million in the prior year period. Gross margin declined to
28.1% in 2014 compared to 28.6% in the prior year period due primarily to operational inefficiencies at Anvil’s largest
manufacturing facility.
32
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Index to Financial Statements
SG&A decreased to $70.7 million in 2014 from $71.8 million in the prior year period. SG&A decreased to 17.6% of net
sales for 2014 from 18.3% of net sales in 2013. SG&A in 2014 included a $2.5 million gain from the sale of certain of Anvil’s
Bloomington, Minnesota assets.
Mueller Technologies
Net sales in 2014 increased to $104.2 million from $97.0 million in the prior year period. Net sales increased primarily due
to increased shipment volumes of AMI metering systems.
Gross profit in 2014 increased to $22.9 million from $17.0 million in the prior year period. Gross margin increased to
22.0% in 2014 compared to 17.5% in the prior year period due primarily to higher operating leverage driven by the increased
shipment volumes.
SG&A increased to $27.2 million in 2014 from $26.0 million in the prior year period. SG&A decreased to 26.1% of net
sales for 2014 from 26.8% of net sales in 2013.
Corporate
SG&A increased to $39.5 million in 2014 from $34.3 million in the prior year period primarily due to higher stock-based
compensation and professional fees.
Financial Condition
Cash and cash equivalents were $113.1 million at September 30, 2015 compared to $161.1 million at September 30, 2014.
Cash and cash equivalents decreased during 2015 as a result of cash used in financing of $99.0 million, primarily debt
repayments, and cash used in investing of $31.6 million, primarily capital expenditures, partially offset by cash provided by
operating activities of $87.8 million. Cash and cash equivalents also decreased by $5.2 million during 2015 due to changes in
currency exchange rates.
Receivables, net were $175.3 million at September 30, 2015 compared to $182.1 million at September 30, 2014.
Receivables at September 30, 2015 and September 30, 2014 represented approximately 51 and 52 days net sales, respectively.
Inventories were $219.1 million at September 30, 2015 compared to $198.0 million at September 30, 2014. Inventories
increased during 2015 due primarily to lower sales into the oil & gas market, lower sales due to adverse weather impacts at
Mueller Co. and a build-up of certain meter components. Estimated inventory turns in 2015 were approximately half a turn
slower than 2014.
Property, plant and equipment, net was $148.9 million at September 30, 2015 compared to $146.3 million at September 30,
2014, and depreciation expense was $28.7 million in 2015. Capital expenditures, including external-use software development
costs capitalized, were $37.5 million in 2015.
Intangible assets were $507.3 million at September 30, 2015 compared to $533.6 million at September 30, 2014. Finite-
lived intangible assets, $202.3 million of net book value at September 30, 2015, are amortized over their estimated useful lives.
This amortization expense was $29.4 million during 2015 and is expected to be $20 million to $25 million for each of the next
five years. Indefinite-lived intangible assets, $305.0 million at September 30, 2015, are not amortized, but tested at least
annually for possible impairment.
Accounts payable and other current liabilities were $161.9 million at September 30, 2015 compared to $198.2 million at
September 30, 2014. Decreased payables relate primarily to decreased purchasing activity in the 2015 fourth quarter compared
to the 2014 fourth quarter.
Net outstanding borrowings were $489.0 million at September 30, 2015 compared to $541.0 million at September 30,
2014. The $52.0 million decrease during 2015 reflects a reduction of principal related to the November 2014 refinancing.
Deferred income taxes were net liabilities of $117.0 million at September 30, 2015 compared to net liabilities of $111.8
million at September 30, 2014. The $5.2 million increase was primarily related to utilization of federal and state net operating
losses during 2015, offset by changes in pension and valuation allowance. Deferred tax liabilities related to intangible assets
and other were $183.1 million and $191.6 million at September 30, 2015 and 2014, respectively.
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Liquidity and Capital Resources
We refinanced our debt on November 25, 2014 by repaying all of our Senior Subordinated Notes and Senior Unsecured
Notes and entering into a $500.0 million term loan that matures on November 25, 2021.
We had cash and cash equivalents of $113.1 million at September 30, 2015 and approximately $170 million of additional
borrowing capacity under our ABL Agreement based on September 30, 2015 data. Undistributed earnings from our subsidiaries
in Canada and China are considered to be permanently invested outside of the United States. At September 30, 2015, cash and
cash equivalents included $16.0 million and $6.3 million in Canada and China, respectively.
In 2014, we used $10.0 million to acquire certain assets of Lined Valve Company Inc., which was reduced by a purchase
price adjustment of $0.3 million that we received in 2015.
Cash flows from operating activities are categorized below.
Collections from customers
Disbursements, other than interest and income taxes
Interest payments, net
Income tax payments, net
Cash provided by operating activities
2015
2014
(in millions)
$
$
1,168.1
(1,030.2)
(36.8)
(13.3)
87.8
$
$
1,167.9
(969.0)
(48.7)
(2.6)
147.6
Increased disbursements, other than interest and income taxes, during 2015 reflect timing differences of purchases and
disbursements.
Capital expenditures were $37.5 million during 2015 compared to $36.9 million during 2014. We estimate 2016 capital
expenditures will be $38 million to $40 million.
We were not required to make, and we did not make, any contributions to our U.S. pension plan in 2015. The proportion of
the assets held by our U.S. pension plan invested in fixed income securities, instead of equity securities, has increased over
historical levels. Because of this shift in the strategic asset allocation, the estimated rate of return on pension plan assets has
decreased, which could ultimately cause our pension expense and our required contributions to this plan to increase.
Income tax payments were higher during 2015 compared to the prior year period because we totally utilized our net
operating loss carryforwards for U.S. federal income taxes during the year. We expect income tax payments in 2016 to be
significantly higher than the amount of tax payments made in 2015. Tax payments in 2015 were impacted by certain non-
recurring expenses, primarily a $31.3 million loss on early extinguishment of debt, an $11.6 million loss on the receivable from
Walter Energy, Inc. and $9.2 million of restructuring charges, as well as the use of our remaining U.S. federal operating loss
carryforwards. We expect effective tax rates in 2016 to be comparable to 2015.
On April 28, 2015, we announced the authorization of a stock repurchase program for up to $50.0 million of our common
stock. The program does not commit us to any particular timing or quantity of purchases, and we may suspend or discontinue
the program at any time. In May 2015, we acquired 523,851 shares of our common stock through open market purchases. At
September 30, 2015, we had remaining authorization of $45.0 million to repurchase shares of our common stock.
We anticipate our existing cash, cash equivalents and borrowing capacity combined with our expected operating cash flows
will be sufficient to meet our anticipated operating expenses, capital expenditures and debt service obligations as they become
due through September 30, 2016. However, our ability to make these payments will depend partly upon our future operating
performance, which will be affected by general economic, financial, competitive, legislative, regulatory, business and other
factors beyond our control.
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ABL Agreement
At September 30, 2015, the ABL Agreement consisted of a revolving credit facility for up to $225 million of revolving
credit borrowings, swing line loans and letters of credit. The ABL Agreement permits us to increase the size of the credit
facility by an additional $150 million in certain circumstances subject to adequate borrowing base availability. We may borrow
up to $25 million through swing line loans and may have up to $60 million of letters of credit outstanding.
Borrowings under the ABL Agreement bear interest at a floating rate equal to LIBOR plus a margin ranging from 175 to
225 basis points, or a base rate, as defined in the ABL Agreement, plus a margin ranging from 75 to 125 basis points. At
September 30, 2015, the applicable LIBOR-based margin was 175 basis points.
The ABL Agreement terminates on December 18, 2017. We pay a commitment fee for any unused borrowing capacity
under the ABL Agreement of either 37.5 basis points per annum or 25 basis points per annum, based on daily average
availability during the previous calendar quarter.
The ABL Agreement is subject to mandatory prepayments if total outstanding borrowings under the ABL Agreement are
greater than the aggregate commitments under the revolving credit facility or if we dispose of overdue accounts receivable in
certain circumstances. The borrowing base under the ABL Agreement is equal to the sum of (a) 85% of the value of eligible
accounts receivable and (b) the lesser of (i) 65% of the value of eligible inventory or (ii) 85% of the net orderly liquidation
value of the value of eligible inventory, less certain reserves. Prepayments can be made at any time with no penalty.
Substantially all of our U.S. subsidiaries are borrowers under the ABL Agreement and are jointly and severally liable for
any outstanding borrowings. Our obligations under the ABL Agreement are secured by a first-priority perfected lien on all of
our U.S. inventory, accounts receivable, certain cash and other supporting obligations.
Borrowings are not subject to any financial maintenance covenants unless excess availability is less than the greater of
$22.5 million and 10% of the aggregate commitments under the ABL Agreement. The ABL Agreement contains customary
negative covenants and restrictions on our ability to engage in specified activities, such as:
•
•
•
limitations on other debt, liens, investments and guarantees;
restrictions on dividends and redemptions of our capital stock and prepayments and redemptions of debt; and
restrictions on mergers and acquisition, sales of assets and transactions with affiliates.
Term Loan
We had $496.2 million face value outstanding under the Term Loan at September 30, 2015. Term Loan borrowings accrue
interest at a floating rate equal to LIBOR, subject to a floor of 0.75%, plus 325 basis points. We may voluntarily repay amounts
borrowed under the Term Loan at any time. The principal amount of the Term Loan is required to be repaid in quarterly
installments of $1.25 million. The Term Loan matures on November 25, 2021. The Term Loan is guaranteed by substantially
all of our U.S. subsidiaries and secured by essentially all of our assets, though the ABL Agreement has a senior claim on certain
collateral securing borrowings thereunder.
Our corporate credit rating and the credit rating for our debt are presented below.
Corporate credit rating
ABL Agreement
Term Loan
Outlook
Moody’s
September 30,
Standard & Poor’s
September 30,
2015
B1
Not rated
B2
Stable
2014
B1
Not rated
n/a
Stable
2015
BB-
Not rated
BB
Stable
2014
BB-
Not rated
n/a
Stable
In October 2015, Moody’s upgraded their rating for our corporate credit and our Term Loan to Ba3.
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Off-Balance Sheet Arrangements
We do not have any relationships with unconsolidated entities or financial partnerships, such as entities often referred to as
structured finance or special purpose entities, which would have been established for the purpose of facilitating off-balance
sheet arrangements or other contractually narrow or limited purposes. In addition, we do not have any undisclosed borrowings
or debt or any derivative contracts other than those described in “Item 7A. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosure About
Market Risk” or synthetic leases. Therefore, we are not exposed to any financing, liquidity, market or credit risk that could
have arisen had we engaged in such relationships.
We use letters of credit and surety bonds in the ordinary course of business to ensure the performance of contractual
obligations. At September 30, 2015, we had $29.2 million of letters of credit and $29.3 million of surety bonds outstanding.
Contractual Obligations
Our contractual obligations at September 30, 2015 are presented below.
Debt:
Principal payments(1)
Interest
Operating leases
Unconditional purchase
obligations(2)
Other noncurrent liabilities(3)
$
$
2016
2017-2018
2019-2020
(in millions)
After 2020
Total
6.1
20.0
6.7
76.2
0.8
109.8
$
$
11.1
43.9
8.5
0.1
—
63.6
$
$
10.2
43.0
2.3
—
—
55.5
$
$
471.2
26.4
1.9
—
—
499.5
$
$
498.6
133.3
19.4
76.3
0.8
728.4
(1) The long-term debt balance at September 30, 2015 is net of $2.2 million of unamortized discount on the term loan.
(2)
Includes contractual obligations for purchases of raw materials and capital expenditures.
(3) Consists of obligations for required pension contributions. Actual payments may differ. We have not estimated
required pension contributions beyond 2016.
Effect of Inflation
We experience changing price levels primarily related to purchased components and raw materials. Mueller Co.
experienced a 16% decrease in the average cost per ton of scrap steel and a 14% decrease in the average cost of brass ingot
purchased in 2015 compared to 2014. Anvil experienced a 23% decrease in the average cost per ton of scrap steel purchased in
2015 compared to 2014. Changes in prices for purchased parts, freight, warehousing, labor, and other factors tended to offset
these changes during 2015. The Mueller Technologies businesses are not significantly impacted by fluctuations in commodity
prices.
Seasonality
Our water infrastructure business depends on construction activity, which is seasonal in many areas due to the impact of
cold weather conditions on construction. Net sales and operating income have historically been lowest in the quarters ending
December 31 and March 31 when the northern United States and all of Canada generally face weather conditions that restrict
significant construction and other field crew activity. For Mueller Co., approximately 45% of a fiscal year’s net sales occurs in
the first half of the fiscal year with 55% occurring in the second half of the fiscal year. See “Item 1A. RISK FACTORS-
Seasonal demand for certain of our products and services may adversely affect our financial results.”
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Index to Financial Statements
Critical Accounting Estimates
The preparation of financial statements in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States
requires us to make estimates and judgments that affect the reported amounts of assets, liabilities, revenues, expenses and
related disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities. These estimates are based upon experience and on various other
assumptions we believe to be reasonable under the circumstances. Actual results may differ from these estimates. We consider
an accounting estimate to be critical if changes in the estimate that are reasonably likely to occur over time or the use of
reasonably different estimates could have a material impact on our financial condition or results of operations. We consider the
accounting topics presented below to include our critical accounting estimates.
Revenue Recognition
We recognize revenue when delivery of a product or performance of a service has occurred and there is persuasive
evidence of a sales arrangement, sales prices are fixed and determinable and collectability from the customers is reasonably
assured. Sales are recorded net of estimated discounts, returns and rebates. Discounts, returns and rebates are estimated based
upon current offered sales terms and historical return and allowance rates.
Receivables
The estimated allowance for doubtful receivables is based upon judgments and estimates of expected losses and specific
identification of problem accounts. Significantly weaker than anticipated industry or economic conditions could impact
customers’ ability to pay such that actual losses may be greater than the amounts provided for in this allowance. The periodic
evaluation of the adequacy of the allowance for doubtful receivables is based on an analysis of prior collection experience,
specific customer creditworthiness and current economic trends within the industries served. In circumstances where a specific
customer’s inability to meet its financial obligation is known to us (e.g., bankruptcy filings or substantial downgrading of credit
ratings), we record a specific allowance to reduce the receivable to the amount we reasonably believe will be collected.
Inventories
We record inventories at the lower of first-in, first-out method cost or market value. Inventory cost includes an overhead
component that can be affected by levels of production and actual costs incurred. We evaluate the need to record adjustments
for impairment of inventory at least quarterly. This evaluation includes such factors as anticipated usage, inventory levels and
ultimate product sales value. Inventory that, in the judgment of management, is obsolete or in excess of our normal usage is
written-down to its estimated market value, if less than its cost. Significant judgments must be made when establishing the
allowance for obsolete and excess inventory.
Income Taxes
We recognize deferred tax liabilities and deferred tax assets for the expected future tax consequences of events that have
been included in the financial statements or tax returns. Deferred tax liabilities and assets are determined based on the
differences between the financial statements and the tax basis of assets and liabilities, using enacted tax rates in effect for the
years in which the differences are expected to reverse. A valuation allowance is provided to offset any net deferred tax assets
when, based upon the available evidence, it is more likely than not that some or all of the deferred tax assets will not be
realized. Our tax balances are based on our expectations of future operating performance, reversal of taxable temporary
differences, tax planning strategies, interpretation of the tax regulations currently enacted and rulings in numerous tax
jurisdictions.
We only record tax benefits for positions that we believe are more likely than not of being sustained under audit
examination based solely on the technical merits of the associated tax position. The amount of tax benefit recognized for any
position that meets the more likely than not threshold is the largest amount of the tax benefit that we believe is greater than 50%
likely of being realized.
Accounting for the Impairment of Long-Lived Assets Including Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets
We test indefinite-lived intangible assets for impairment annually (or more frequently if events or circumstances indicate
possible impairment). We performed this annual impairment testing at September 1, and concluded that our indefinite-lived
intangible assets were not impaired. We tested the indefinite-lived intangible assets for impairment using a “royalty savings
method,” which is a variation of the discounted cash flow method. This method estimates a fair value by calculating an
estimated discounted future cash flow stream from the hypothetical licensing of the indefinite-lived intangible assets. If this
estimated fair value exceeds the carrying value, no impairment is indicated. This analysis is dependent on management’s best
estimates of future operating results and the selection of reasonable discount rates and hypothetical royalty rates. Significantly
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Index to Financial Statements
different projected operating results could result in a different conclusion regarding impairment. No impairments would have
been indicated for any discount rates and hypothetical royalty rates consistent with standard valuation methodologies
considered reasonable by management.
Other long-lived assets, including finite-lived intangible assets, are amortized over their respective estimated useful lives
and reviewed for impairment if events or circumstances indicate possible impairment.
Contingencies
We are involved in litigation, investigations and claims arising out of the normal conduct of our business. We estimate and
accrue liabilities resulting from such matters based on a variety of factors, including outstanding legal claims and proposed
settlements; assessments by counsel of pending or threatened litigation; and assessments of potential environmental liabilities
and remediation costs. We believe we have adequately accrued for these potential liabilities; however, facts and circumstances
may change and could cause the actual liability to exceed the estimates, or may require adjustments to the recorded liability
balances in the future. As we learn new facts concerning contingencies, we reassess our position both with respect to accrued
liabilities and other potential exposures. Estimates particularly sensitive to future changes include contingent liabilities
recorded for environmental remediation, tax and legal matters. Estimated future environmental remediation costs are subject to
change due to such factors as the uncertain magnitude of cleanup costs, the unknown time and extent of such remedial actions
that may be required, and the determination of our liability in proportion to that of other responsible parties. Estimated future
costs related to tax and legal matters are subject to change as events evolve and as additional information becomes available
during the administrative and litigation processes. For more information on these and other contingencies, see Note 17 of the
Notes to our Consolidated Financial Statements. See also “Item 1. BUSINESS - Regulatory and Environmental Matters,”
“Item 1A. RISK FACTORS” and “Item 3. LEGAL PROCEEDINGS”
Workers Compensation, Defined Benefit Pension Plans, Environmental and Other Long-term Liabilities
We are obligated for various liabilities that will ultimately be determined over what could be a very long future time period.
We established the recorded liabilities for such items at September 30, 2015 using estimates for when such amounts will be paid
and what the amounts of such payments will be. These estimates are subject to change based on numerous factors, including
among others, regulatory changes, technology changes, the investment performance of related assets, longevity of participants,
the discount rate used and changes to plan designs.
Item 7A.
QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURE ABOUT MARKET RISK
We are exposed to various market risks, including potential losses arising from adverse changes in market prices and rates,
such as various commodity prices, interest rates and foreign exchange rates. We do not enter into derivatives or other financial
instruments for trading or speculative purposes.
Our primary financial instruments are cash and cash equivalents. This includes cash in banks and highly rated, liquid
money market investments. We believe those instruments are not subject to material potential near-term losses in future
earnings from reasonably possible near-term changes in market rates or prices.
Commodity Price Risk
Our products are made using various purchased components and several basic raw materials, including scrap steel, sand,
resin, brass ingot and steel pipe. We expect prices for these items to fluctuate based on marketplace demand and our product
margins and level of profitability may fluctuate if we do not pass changes in purchased component and raw material costs to our
customers.
Mueller Co. experienced a 16% decrease in the average cost per ton of scrap steel and a 14% decrease in the average cost
of brass ingot purchased in 2015 compared to 2014. Anvil experienced a 23% decrease in the average cost per ton of scrap
steel purchased in 2015 compared to 2014. Changes in prices for purchased parts, freight, warehousing, labor, and other factors
tended to offset these changes during 2014. See “Item 1A. RISK FACTORS-The prices of our purchased components and raw
materials can be volatile.”
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Index to Financial Statements
Interest Rate Risk
At September 30, 2015, we have variable rate debt with a face value of $496.2 million. To the extent LIBOR is above our
Term Loan’s rate floor of 0.75%, the impact on pre-tax earnings or cash flows resulting from a 100 basis point increase in
interest rates on variable rate debt, holding other variables constant, would be approximately $5.0 million per year. Our interest
rate swap contracts described more fully under Note 8. in the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements reduce this annual
hypothetical exposure by approximately $1.5 million during fiscal years 2017-2021.
Currency Risk
Our principal assets, liabilities and operations outside the U.S. are in Canada, China and Australia. These assets and
liabilities are translated into U.S. dollars at currency exchange rates in effect at the end of each period, with the effect of such
translation reflected in other comprehensive loss. Our stockholders’ equity will fluctuate depending upon the weakening or
strengthening of the U.S. dollar against these non-U.S. currencies. Net sales and expenses of these subsidiaries are translated
into U.S. dollars at the average currency exchange rate during the period. At September 30, 2015, $31.4 million of our net
assets were denominated in non-U.S. currencies.
Item 8.
FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND SUPPLEMENTARY DATA
The Reports of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm, our Consolidated Financial Statements and the
accompanying Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements that are filed as part of this annual report are listed under “Item 15.
EXHIBITS AND FINANCIAL STATEMENT SCHEDULES” and are set forth on pages F-1 through F-33 immediately
following the signature pages of this annual report.
Selected quarterly financial data for 2015 and 2014 are provided in Note 19 of the notes to consolidated financial
statements.
Item 9A.
CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES
Evaluation of Disclosure Controls and Procedures
We maintain disclosure controls and procedures that are designed to ensure that information required to be disclosed in the
reports we file or submit under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”) is recorded, processed,
summarized and reported within the time periods specified in the rules and forms of the Securities and Exchange Commission
and that such information is accumulated and communicated to our management, including the Chief Executive Officer and the
Chief Financial Officer as appropriate, to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosure.
Our Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer evaluated the effectiveness of the design and operation of our
disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e) of the Exchange Act) as of the end of the
period covered by this annual report. Based on this evaluation, those officers have concluded that, at September 30, 2015, our
disclosure controls and procedures were effective.
Changes in Internal Control over Financial Reporting
There were no changes in internal control over financial reporting during the quarter ended September 30, 2015 that have
materially affected, or are reasonably likely to materially affect, our internal control over financial reporting.
Management’s Report on Internal Control over Financial Reporting
Management is responsible for establishing and maintaining adequate internal control over financial reporting (as defined
in Rule 13a-15(f) of the Exchange Act). Internal control over financial reporting is designed to provide reasonable assurance
regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance
with generally accepted accounting principles. A company’s internal control over financial reporting 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.
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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.
We assessed the effectiveness of our internal control over financial reporting at September 30, 2015. In making this
assessment, we used the criteria set forth by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission in
Internal Control - Integrated Framework (2013 framework). After doing so, management concluded that, at September 30,
2015, our internal control over financial reporting was effective.
The effectiveness of our internal control over financial reporting at September 30, 2015 has been audited by Ernst &
Young LLP, an independent registered public accounting firm, as stated in their report which is included in this annual report.
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Item 10.
DIRECTORS, EXECUTIVE OFFICERS AND CORPORATE GOVERNANCE
PART III
The name, age at November 15, 2015 and position of each of our current executive officers and directors are presented
below.
Name
Age
Position
Gregory E. Hyland
Keith L. Belknap
Robert D. Dunn
Thomas E. Fish
Evan L. Hart
Robert P. Keefe
Kevin G. McHugh
Gregory S. Rogowski
Marietta Edmunds Zakas
Shirley C. Franklin
Thomas J. Hansen
Jerry W. Kolb
Joseph B. Leonard
Mark J. O’Brien
Bernard G. Rethore
Neil A. Springer
Lydia W. Thomas
Michael T. Tokarz
64 Chairman of the board of directors, President and Chief Executive Officer
57 Senior Vice President, General Counsel, Chief Compliance Officer and Corporate
Secretary; President of Mueller Systems and Echologics
58 Senior Vice President, Human Resources
61 President, Anvil
50 Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer
61 Senior Vice President and Chief Technology Officer
57 Vice President and Controller
56 President, Mueller Co.
56 Senior Vice President, Strategy, Corporate Development and Communications
70 Director
66 Director
79 Director
72 Director
72 Director
74 Director
77 Director
71 Director
66 Director
Gregory E. Hyland has been Chairman of the board of directors since October 2005 and President and Chief Executive
Officer since January 2006. Mr. Hyland was Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer of Walter Energy, a
homebuilding, financial services and natural resources company, from September 2005 to December 2006. Prior to that time,
he was President, U.S. Fleet Management Solutions of Ryder System, Inc. (“Ryder”), a transportation and logistics company,
from June 2005 to September 2005. Mr. Hyland was Executive Vice President, U.S. Fleet Management Solutions of Ryder from
October 2004 to June 2005. He earned Bachelor and Master of Business Administration degrees from the University of
Pittsburgh.
Keith L. Belknap has been our Senior Vice President, General Counsel and Corporate Secretary since April 2012, our Chief
Compliance Officer since October 2012 and President of Mueller Systems and Echologics since July 2015. Previously, Mr.
Belknap was Senior Vice President, General Counsel and Corporate Secretary of PRIMEDIA, Inc., a digital media and real
estate advertising company, since 2007. Prior to that time, he held senior legal positions with PPG Industries, a supplier of
paint, coating, optical product, specialty material, chemical, glass and fiberglass, and Georgia-Pacific Corporation, a
manufacturer and marketer of tissue, packaging, paper, pulp and building products. Mr. Belknap earned a Bachelor of Arts
degree with honors from the University of Tulsa (Phi Beta Kappa) and a Juris Doctor with honors from Harvard Law School.
Robert D. Dunn has been our Senior Vice President, Human Resources since November 2007. Previously, Mr. Dunn was
Senior Vice President, Human Resources of Dean Foods Company (formerly Suiza Foods Corporation), a food and dairy
company since 1999. He earned a Bachelor of Science degree from Murray State University and a Master of Business
Administration degree from Embry Riddle Aeronautical University.
Thomas E. Fish has been President of our Anvil segment since 2000. From January 2005 to November 2005, Mr. Fish was
Mueller Co.’s Interim Chief Financial Officer. He earned a Bachelor of Science degree from the University of Rhode Island
and is a certified public accountant.
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Evan L. Hart has been our Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer since July 2008. Mr. Hart was our Controller
from December 2007 to July 2008 and our Vice President of Financial Planning and Analysis from September 2006 to
December 2007. Previously, he was Vice President, Controller and Treasurer for Unisource Worldwide, Inc., a marketer and
distributor of commercial printing and business imaging papers, packaging systems and facility supplies and equipment from
2002 to 2006. Mr. Hart earned a Bachelor of Science degree from Birmingham-Southern College and is a certified public
accountant.
Robert P. Keefe has been our Senior Vice President and Chief Technology Officer since December 2011 and our Senior
Vice President and Chief Information Officer since March 2007. Previously, Mr. Keefe was Corporate Vice President and Chief
Information Officer at Russell Corporation, an athletic apparel, footwear and equipment company. He is a director of the
Society for Information Management, International, a non-profit trade organization. Mr. Keefe earned a Bachelor degree from
the State University of New York at Oswego and a Master of Business Administration degree from Pace University.
Kevin G. McHugh has been our Vice President and Controller since July 2008. Mr. McHugh was our Vice President,
Financial Reporting from January 2008 to July 2008. Previously, he was Corporate Controller at Unisource Worldwide, Inc.
from 2003 to 2007. Mr. McHugh earned a Bachelor of Business Administration degree with honors from the University of
Notre Dame and is a certified public accountant.
Gregory S. Rogowski has been President of our Mueller Co. segment since May 2009. Previously, Mr. Rogowski was
President and/or Chief Executive Officer of Performance Fibers, Inc., a polyester industrial fibers business from 2004 to 2009.
He earned a Bachelor of Science degree from Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, a Master of Science degree
from the University of Akron and a Master of Business Administration degree from the University of Richmond.
Marietta Edmunds Zakas has been our Senior Vice President, Strategy, Corporate Development and Communications since
November 2006. Previously, Ms. Zakas held various positions at Russell Corporation, culminating in her role as Corporate
Vice President, Chief of Staff, Business Development and Treasurer. She earned a Bachelor of Arts degree with honors from
Randolph-Macon Woman’s College (now known as Randolph College), a Master of Business Administration degree from the
University of Virginia Darden School of Business and a Juris Doctor from the University of Virginia School of Law. Ms. Zakas
is a director of Atlantic Capital Bank and Atlantic Capital Bancshares.
Shirley C. Franklin has been a member of our board of directors since November 2010. Ms. Franklin is the Barbara Jordan
visiting professor at the LBJ School of the University of Texas and the Executive Chair of the board of directors of Purpose
Built Communities, Inc., a national non-profit organization established to transform struggling neighborhoods into sustainable
communities. She also is Co-Chair of the Atlanta Regional Commission on Homelessness and Chair of the board of directors of
the National Center for Civil and Human Rights. From 2002 to 2010, Ms. Franklin was mayor of Atlanta, Georgia. She is a
director of Delta Air Lines, Inc., a provider of air transportation for passengers and cargo. Ms. Franklin earned a Bachelor of
Science degree in sociology from Howard University and a Master’s degree in sociology from the University of Pennsylvania.
Thomas J. Hansen has been a member of our board of directors since October 2011. Until 2012, Mr. Hansen was Vice
Chairman of Illinois Tool Works Inc. (“ITW”), a manufacturer of fasteners and components, consumable systems and a variety
of specialty products and equipment. He joined ITW in 1980 as sales and marketing manager of the Shakeproof Industrial
Products businesses. From 1998 until May 2006, Mr. Hansen was Executive Vice President of ITW. He is a director of Terex
Corporation, a diversified global manufacturer of a variety of machinery products, and Standex International Corporation, a
manufacturer of products and services for diverse industrial market segments. Mr. Hansen earned a Bachelor of Science degree
in marketing from Northern Illinois University and a Master of Business Administration degree from Governors State
University.
Jerry W. Kolb has been a member of our board of directors since April 2006. Mr. Kolb has been a director of Walter
Energy since June 2003. He was a Vice Chairman of Deloitte & Touche LLP, a registered public accounting firm, from 1986 to
1998. Mr. Kolb earned a Bachelor of Science degree in accountancy from the University of Illinois and Master of Business
Administration degree in finance from DePaul University. Mr. Kolb is a certified public accountant.
Joseph B. Leonard has been a member of our board of directors since April 2006. Mr. Leonard was a director of Walter
Energy from June 2005 to April 2007 and he rejoined that board in February 2009. He was Interim Chief Executive Officer of
Walter Energy from March 2010 through March 2011 and from August 2011 to September 2011. Mr. Leonard was Chairman of
AirTran Holdings, Inc., a full service airline company, from November 2007 to June 2008, Chairman and Chief Executive
Officer of AirTran Holdings, Inc. from January 1999 to November 2007 and President of AirTran Holdings, Inc. from January
1999 to January 2001. He is a director of Air Canada, a full service airline company. Mr. Leonard earned a Bachelor of
Science degree in aerospace engineering from Auburn University.
42
Table of Contents
Index to Financial Statements
Mark J. O’Brien has been a member of our board of directors since April 2006. He serves as Chairman of Walter
Investment Management Corp. (formerly Walter Energy’s financing business), and from 2009 to October 2015 he served as
Chief Executive Officer of the company. Mr. O’Brien has been President and Chief Executive Officer of Brier Patch Capital
and Management, Inc., a real estate investment firm, since September 2004. He held various executive positions at Pulte
Homes, Inc., a home building company, for 21 years, retiring as President and Chief Executive Officer in June 2003. Mr.
O’Brien earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in history from the University of Miami.
Bernard G. Rethore has been a member of our board of directors since April 2006. He has been a director of Walter Energy
since March 2002. Mr. Rethore has been Chairman of the Board Emeritus of Flowserve Corporation, a manufacturer of pumps,
valves, seals and components, since April 2000. From January 2000 to April 2000, he was Flowserve’s Chairman. Mr. Rethore
had previously served as its Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer. He had been a director of Belden, Inc., a
manufacturer of specialty signal-transmission products, from 1997 until May 2012. Mr. Rethore is a director of Dover Corp., a
diversified manufacturer of a wide range of proprietary products. In 2008, he was honored by the Outstanding Directors
Exchange as an Outstanding Director of the Year and in 2012, he was designated a Board Leadership Fellow by the National
Association of Corporate Directors. Mr. Rethore earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Economics (Honors) from Yale University
and a Master of Business Administration degree from the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania, where he was a
Joseph P. Wharton Scholar and Fellow.
Neil A. Springer has been a member of our board of directors since April 2006 and serves as our Lead Director. Mr.
Springer was a director of Walter Energy from August 2000 to April 2006. He has been managing director of Springer &
Associates LLC, a board consulting and executive recruitment company, since 1994. Mr. Springer was a director of IDEX
Corporation from 1990 until April 2011. He earned a Bachelor of Science degree in accounting from Indiana University, a
Master of Business Administration degree from the University of Dayton and a certificate of accountancy from the University
of Illinois.
Lydia W. Thomas has been a member of our board of directors since January 2008. Dr. Thomas was President and Chief
Executive Officer of Noblis, Inc., a public interest research and development company, from 1996 to 2007. She was previously
with The MITRE Corporation, Center for Environment, Resources and Space, serving as Senior Vice President and General
Manager from 1992 to 1996, Vice President from 1989 to 1992 and Technical Director from 1982 to 1989. Dr. Thomas is a
director of Cabot Corporation, a global performance materials company. In 2013, she was honored by the outstanding Directors
Exchange as an outstanding Director of the Year. Dr. Thomas earned a Bachelor of Science degree in zoology from Howard
University, a Master of Science degree in microbiology from American University and a Doctor of Philosophy degree in
cytology from Howard University.
Michael T. Tokarz has been a member of our board of directors since April 2006. Mr. Tokarz served as non-executive
Chairman of the Board of Walter Energy since December 2006. Since February 2002, he has been a member of the Tokarz
Group, LLC, an investment company. From January 1996 until February 2002, Mr. Tokarz was a member of the limited
liability company that serves as the general partner of Kohlberg Kravis Roberts & Co. L.P., a private equity company. He is a
director of CNO Financial Group, Inc. (formerly Conseco, Inc.), an insurance provider, MVC Capital, Inc., a registered
investment company and Walter Investment Management Corp. Until February 2015, he served as a director of IDEX
Corporation and until January 2014 he served as a director of Dakota Growers Pasta Company. In 2007, he was honored by the
Outstanding Directors Exchange as an Outstanding Director of the Year. Mr. Tokarz earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in
economics with high distinction and a Master of Business Administration degree in finance from the University of Illinois.
Additional Information
Additional information required by this item will be contained in our definitive proxy statement issued in connection with
the 2016 annual meeting of stockholders filed with the SEC within 120 days after September 30, 2015 and is incorporated
herein by reference.
Our website address is www.muellerwaterproducts.com. You may read and print our annual reports on Form 10-K,
quarterly reports on Form 10-Q, current reports on Form 8-K and all amendments to those reports from the investor relations
section of our website free of charge. These reports are available on our website soon after we file them with or furnish them to
the SEC. These reports should also be available through the SEC’s website at www.sec.gov.
43
Table of Contents
Index to Financial Statements
We have adopted a written code of conduct that applies to all directors, officers and employees, including a separate code
that applies only to our principal executive officer and senior financial officers in accordance with Section 406 of the Sarbanes-
Oxley Act of 2002 and the rules of the SEC promulgated thereunder. Our Code of Business Conduct and Ethics is available in
the corporate governance section of our website. In the event that we make changes in, or provide waivers from, the provisions
of this Code of Business Conduct and Ethics that the SEC requires us to disclose, we will disclose these events in the corporate
governance section of our website.
We have adopted corporate governance guidelines. The guidelines and the charters of our board committees are available
in the corporate governance section of our website. Copies of the Code of Business Conduct and Ethics, corporate governance
guidelines and board committee charters are also available in print upon written request to the Corporate Secretary, Mueller
Water Products, Inc., 1200 Abernathy Road N.E., Suite 1200, Atlanta, GA 30328.
Item 11.
EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION
The information required by this item will be contained in our definitive proxy statement issued in connection with the
2016 annual meeting of stockholders and is incorporated herein by reference.
Item 12.
SECURITY OWNERSHIP OF CERTAIN BENEFICIAL OWNERS AND MANAGEMENT AND
RELATED STOCKHOLDER MATTERS
Except for the information set forth below and the information set forth in “Part II, Item 5. MARKET FOR
REGISTRANT’S COMMON EQUITY, RELATED STOCKHOLDER MATTERS AND ISSUER PURCHASES OF EQUITY
SECURITIES,” the information required by this item will be contained in our definitive proxy statement issued in connection
with the 2016 annual meeting of stockholders and is incorporated herein by reference.
Securities Authorized for Issuance under Equity Compensation Plans
We have two compensation plans under which our equity securities are authorized for issuance. The Mueller Water
Products, Inc. 2006 Employee Stock Purchase Plan (“ESPP”) was approved by our sole stockholder in May 2006 and the
Mueller Water Products, Inc. 2006 Stock Incentive Plan (“2006 Plan”) was approved by our sole stockholder in May 2006 and
amended by our stockholders in January 2008, January 2009 and January 2012.
The following table sets forth certain information relating to these equity compensation plans at September 30, 2015.
Equity compensation plans approved by
stockholders:
2006 Plan
ESPP
Total
Number of securities
to be issued
upon exercise of
outstanding options,
warrants and rights
Weighted average
exercise price of
outstanding options,
warrants and rights
Number of securities
remaining available
for future issuance
5,785,336 (1)
61,313
5,846,649
$
6.54 (2)
—
7,271,214 (3)
1,470,253 (4)
8,741,467
Equity compensation plans not approved by
stockholders
—
$
—
—
(1) Consists of the maximum number of shares that could to be earned upon exercise or vesting of outstanding stock-
based awards granted under the 2006 Plan. This includes 251,308 share-settled performance shares that could result in
a smaller number of securities being earned depending on Company performance, as described in Note 11 to the
consolidated financial statements.
(2) Weighted average exercise price of 3,992,666 outstanding stock options.
(3) The number of shares available for future issuance under the 2006 Plan is 20,500,000 shares less the cumulative
number of awards granted under the plan plus the cumulative number of awards canceled under the plan after January
25, 2012. This total reflects the maximum amount of shares that could be earned for which the final number of shares
to be earned has not yet been determined.
(4) The number of shares available for future issuance under the ESPP Plan is 4,000,000 shares less the cumulative
number of shares that have been issued under the plan.
44
Table of Contents
Index to Financial Statements
Item 13.
CERTAIN RELATIONSHIPS AND RELATED TRANSACTIONS, AND DIRECTOR
INDEPENDENCE
The information required by this item will be contained in our definitive proxy statement issued in connection with the
2016 annual meeting of stockholders and is incorporated herein by reference.
Item 14.
PRINCIPAL ACCOUNTANT FEES AND SERVICES
The information required by this item will be contained in our definitive proxy statement issued in connection with the
2016 annual meeting of stockholders and is incorporated herein by reference.
45
Table of Contents
Index to Financial Statements
Item 15.
EXHIBITS AND FINANCIAL STATEMENT SCHEDULES
(a) Financial Statements
PART IV
Index to financial statements
Reports of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm
Consolidated Balance Sheets at September 30, 2015 and 2014
Consolidated Statements of Operations for the years ended September 30, 2015, 2014 and 2013
Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income for the years ended September 30, 2015, 2014 and 2013
Consolidated Statements of Stockholders’ Equity for the years ended September 30, 2015, 2014 and 2013
Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows for the years ended September 30, 2015, 2014 and 2013
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
Page
number
F-1
F-3
F-4
F-5
F-6
F-7
F-8
(b) Financial Statement Schedules
Except for Schedule II, Valuation and Qualifying Accounts, the schedules for which provision is made in the applicable
accounting regulations of the SEC are not required under the related instructions or are inapplicable and, therefore, have been
omitted. The information required by Schedule II is included in the notes to consolidated financial statements.
(c) Exhibits
Exhibit no.
2.1
2.2
2.3
2.4
3.1
3.2
4.1
4.2
10.2
10.3*
10.4*
Document
Agreement and Plan of Merger dated as of June 17, 2005 among Mueller Water Products, Inc., Walter
Industries, Inc., JW MergerCo, Inc. and DLJ Merchant Banking II, Inc., as stockholders’ representative.
Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 2.1 to Mueller Water Products, Inc. Form 8-K (File no. 333-116590) filed
on June 21, 2005.
Letter Agreement dated as of February 23, 2006 between Walter Industries, Inc. and Mueller Water
Products, Inc. Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to Mueller Water Products, Inc. Form 8-K (File no.
333-131521) filed February 27, 2006.
Agreement and Plan of Merger, dated as of January 31, 2006, by and among Mueller Holding Company, Inc.,
Mueller Water Products, LLC and Mueller Water Products Co-Issuer, Inc. Incorporated by reference to
Exhibit 2.1 Mueller Water Products, Inc. Form 8-K (File no. 333-116590) filed on February 3, 2006.
Certificate of Merger, dated February 2, 2006, of Mueller Water Products, LLC and Mueller Water Products
Co-Issuer, Inc. with and into Mueller Holding Company, Inc. Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.1.2 to
Mueller Water Products, Inc. Form 8-K (File no. 333-116590) filed on February 3, 2006.
Second Restated Certificate of Incorporation of Mueller Water Products, Inc. Incorporated by reference to
Exhibit 3.1 to Mueller Water Products, Inc. Form 8-K (File no. 001-32892) filed on January 25, 2012.
Amended and Restated Bylaws of Mueller Water Products, Inc. Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.2 to
Mueller Water Products, Inc. Form 8-K (File no. 001-32892) filed on January 25, 2012.
Indenture dated as of May 24, 2007 among Mueller Water Products, Inc., the guarantors named on the
signature pages thereto and The Bank of New York (including form of global notes). Incorporated by reference
to Exhibit 4.6 to Mueller Water Products, Inc. Form 8-K (File no. 001-32892) filed on May 30, 2007.
Indenture, dated August 26, 2010, among Mueller Water Products, Inc., the guarantors named on the signature
pages thereto and The Bank of New York Mellon Trust Company, N.A., as trustee (including form of global
notes). Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.6 to Mueller Water Products, Inc. Form 8-K (File no. 001-32892)
filed on August 27, 2010.
Income Tax Allocation Agreement by and among Walter Industries, Inc., the Walter Affiliates (as defined
therein), Mueller Water Products, Inc. and the Mueller Affiliates (as defined therein). Incorporated by reference
to Exhibit 10.2 to Mueller Water Products, Inc. Form 8-K (File no. 001-32892) filed on May 30, 2006.
Mueller Water Products, Inc. Amended and Restated 2006 Stock Incentive Plan. Incorporated by reference to
Exhibit A to Mueller Water Products, Inc. Form DEF 14A (File no. 001-32892) filed on December 14, 2011.
Mueller Water Products, Inc. Form of Notice of Stock Option Grant. Incorporated by reference to
Exhibit 10.21 to Mueller Water Products, Inc. Form 10-Q (File no. 001-32892) filed on February 9, 2010.
10.4.1*
Mueller Water Products, Inc. Form of Notice of Stock Option Grant. Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.4
to Mueller Water Products, Inc. Form 10-Q (File no. 001-32892) filed on February 7, 2014.
46
Table of Contents
Index to Financial Statements
Exhibit no.
10.4.2*
10.5*
10.5.1*
10.5.2*
10.6*
10.7*
10.8*
10.9*
10.10*
10.11*
10.11.1*
10.11.2*
10.11.3*
10.11.4*
10.11.5*
10.12*
10.12.1*
10.12.2*
10.13*
10.13.1*
10.13.2*
Document
Mueller Water Products, Inc. Form of Notice of Stock Option Grant. Incorporated by reference to Exhibit
10.4.2 to Mueller Water Products, Inc. Form 10-K (File no. 001-32892) filed on November 26, 2014.
Mueller Water Products, Inc. Form of Restricted Stock Unit Award Agreement. Incorporated by reference to
Exhibit 10.5 to Mueller Water Products, Inc. Form 10-K (File no. 001-32892) filed on November 29, 2012.
Mueller Water Products, Inc. Form of Restricted Stock Unit Award Agreement. Incorporated by reference to
Exhibit 10.5 to Mueller Water Products, Inc. Form 10-Q (File no. 001-32892) filed on February 7, 2014.
Mueller Water Products, Inc. Form of Restricted Stock Unit Award Agreement. Incorporated by reference to
Exhibit 10.5.2 to Mueller Water Products, Inc. Form 10-K (File no. 001-32892) filed on November 26, 2014.
Mueller Water Products, Inc. 2006 Employee Stock Purchase Plan, as amended September 27, 2006.
Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.5 to Mueller Water Products, Inc. Form 10-K (File no. 001-32892)
filed on December 21, 2006.
Mueller Water Products, Inc. Directors’ Deferred Fee Plan. Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.7 to
Mueller Water Products, Inc. 8-K (File no. 001-32892) filed on May 30, 2006.
Form of Mueller Water Products, Inc. Director Indemnification Agreement. Incorporated by reference to
Exhibit 99.2 to Mueller Water Products, Inc. 8-K (File no. 001-32892) filed on October 31, 2008.
Executive Incentive Plan of Mueller Water Products, Inc. Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.6 to Mueller
Water Products, Inc. 8-K (File no. 001-32892) filed on May 30, 2006.
Mueller Water Products, Inc. Executive Deferred Compensation Plan. Incorporated by reference to
Exhibit 99.3 to Mueller Water Products, Inc. 8-K (File no. 001-32892) filed on October 31, 2008.
Employment Agreement, dated September 15, 2008 between Mueller Water Products, Inc. and Gregory E.
Hyland. Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 99.1 to Mueller Water Products, Inc. Form 8-K (File no.
001-32892) filed on October 6, 2008.
Amendment, dated as of March 2, 2006, to Executive Employment Agreement dated September 9, 2005
between Walter Industries, Inc. and Gregory E. Hyland. Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to Mueller
Water Products, Inc. Form 8-K (File no. 333-131521) filed on March 3, 2006.
Amended and Restated Mueller Water Products, Inc. Supplemental Defined Contribution Plan, effective as of
January 1, 2009. Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.13.2 to Mueller Water Products, Inc. Form 8-K (File
no. 001-32892) filed on February 9, 2009.
Amendment, dated December 1, 2009, to Executive Employment Agreement, dated September 9, 2005,
between Mueller Water Products, Inc. and Gregory E. Hyland. Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 99.1 to
Mueller Water Products, Inc. Form 8-K (File no. 001-32892) filed on December 4, 2009.
Amendment, dated December 1, 2010, to Executive Employment Agreement, dated September 9, 2005,
between Mueller Water Products, Inc. and Gregory E. Hyland. Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 99.1 to
Mueller Water Products, Inc. Form 8-K (File no. 001-32892) filed on December 6, 2010.
Amendment, dated March 31, 2012, to Executive Employment Agreement, dated September 9, 2005, between
Mueller Water Products, Inc. and Gregory E. Hyland. Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 99.1 to Mueller
Water Products, Inc. Form 10-Q (File no. 001-32892) filed on May 10, 2012.
Executive Employment Agreement, dated as of July 16, 2008, between Mueller Water Products, Inc. and Evan
L. Hart. Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.18 to Mueller Water Products, Inc. Form 10-Q
(File 001-32892) filed on August 11, 2008.
Amendment, dated December 1, 2009, to Executive Employment Agreement, dated September 6, 2006,
between Mueller Water Products, Inc. and Evan L. Hart. Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 99.3 to Mueller
Water Products, Inc. Form 8-K (File no. 001-32892) filed on December 4, 2009.
Amendment, dated March 31, 2012, to Executive Employment Agreement, dated September 6, 2006, between
Mueller Water Products, Inc. and Evan L. Hart. Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 99.3 to Mueller Water
Products, Inc. Form 8-K (File no. 001-3892) filed on May 10, 2012.
Employment Agreement, dated as of July 31, 2006, between Mueller Water Products, Inc. and Thomas E. Fish.
Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.2 to Mueller Water Products, Inc. Form 8-K (File no. 001-32892) filed
on August 3, 2006.
Employment Agreement, dated as of February 22, 2010, between Mueller Water Products, Inc. and Thomas E.
Fish. Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 99.1 to Mueller Water Products, Inc. Form 8-K (File no. 001-32892)
filed on February 26, 2010.
Executive Change-in-Control Severance Agreement, dated February 22, 2010, between Mueller Water
Products, Inc. and Thomas E. Fish. Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 99.2 to Mueller Water Products, Inc.
Form 8-K (File no. 001-32892) filed on February 26, 2010.
47
Table of Contents
Index to Financial Statements
Exhibit no.
10.13.3*
10.14
10.15*
10.16*
10.17*
10.19
10.19.1
10.19.2*
10.20*
10.20.1*
10.20.2*
10.20.3*
10.21
10.22*
10.22.1*
10.23*
10.23.1*
10.23.2*
10.23.3*
10.24*
10.25*
Document
Amendment, dated March 31, 2012, to Executive Employment Agreement, dated September 9, 2005, between
Mueller Water Products, Inc. and Thomas E. Fish. Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 99.1 to Mueller Water
Products, Inc. Form 10-Q (File no. 001-32892) filed on May 10, 2012.
Joint Litigation Agreement dated December 14, 2006 between Walter Industries, Inc. and Mueller Water
Products, Inc. Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.3 to Mueller Water Products, Inc. Form 8-K (File no.
001-32892) filed on December 19, 2006.
Form of Executive Change-in-Control Severance Agreement. Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 99.3 to
Mueller Water Products, Inc. Form 8-K (File no. 001-32892) filed on October 6, 2008.
Form of Amendment to Executive Employment Agreement. Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 99.1 to
Mueller Water Products, Inc. Form 8-K (File no. 001-32892) filed on February 6, 2009.
Mueller Water Products, Inc. 2010 Management Incentive Plan. Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.20 to
Mueller Water Products, Inc. Form 10-Q (File no. 001-32892) filed on February 9, 2010.
Credit Agreement, dated August 26, 2010, among Mueller Water Products, Inc. and the borrowing subsidiaries
named on the signature pages thereto, each as a Borrower, certain financial institutions, as Lenders, JPMorgan
Chase Bank, N.A., as Syndication Agent, Wells Fargo Bank, National Association and SunTrust Bank, as Co-
Documentation Agents, Bank of America, N.A. as Administrative Agent and Banc of America Securities LLC
and J.P. Morgan Securities Inc., as Joint Lead Arrangers and Joint Bookrunners. Incorporated by reference to
Exhibit 10.23 to Mueller Water Products, Inc. Form 8-K (File no. 001-32892) filed on August 27, 2010.
First Amendment to Credit Agreement, dated December 18, 2012. Incorporated by reference to Exhibit
10.20.1 to Mueller Water Products, Inc. Form 8-K (File no. 001-32892) filed on December 19, 2012.
Second Amendment to Credit Agreement, dated November 25, 2014. Incorporated by reference to Exhibit
10.19.2 to Mueller Water Products, Inc. Form 10-K (File no. 001-32892) filed on November 26, 2014.
Employment Agreement, dated April 10, 2009, between Mueller Water Products, Inc. and Gregory Rogowski.
Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.26 to Mueller Water Products, Inc. Form 10-K (File no. 001-32892)
filed on November 23, 2010.
Amendment to Employment Agreement, date December 1, 2009, between Mueller Water Products, Inc. and
Gregory Rogowski. Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.27 to Mueller Water Products, Inc. Form 10-K
(File no. 001-32892) filed on November 23, 2010.
Executive Change-in-Control Severance Agreement, dated May 4, 2009, between Mueller Water Products, Inc.
and Gregory Rogowski. Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.28 to Mueller Water Products, Inc. Form 10-K
(File no. 001-32892) filed on November 23, 2010.
Amendment, dated March 31, 2012, to Executive Employment Agreement, dated September 9, 2005, between
Mueller Water Products, Inc. and Gregory Rogowski. Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 99.1 to Mueller
Water Products, Inc. Form 10-Q (File no. 001-32892) filed on May 10, 2012.
Purchase Agreement, dated March 7, 2012, among Mueller Water Products, Inc., Mueller Group, LLC and
USP Holdings Inc. Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 2.3 to Mueller Water Products, Inc. Form 8-K (File
no. 001-32892) filed on March 8, 2012.
Employment Agreement, dated April 1, 2012, between Mueller Water Products, Inc. and Keith L. Belknap
Executive Change-in-Control Severance Agreement, dated April 1, 2012, between Mueller Water Products,
Inc. and Keith L. Belknap
Mueller Water Products, Inc. Form of Performance Share Award Agreement for October 1, 2012 to September
30, 2015 award cycle. Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.25 to Mueller Water Products, Inc. Form 10-K
(File no. 001-32892) filed on November 29, 2012.
Exhibit A (2013-15 Award Cycle). Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.23.1 to Mueller Water Products,
Inc. Form 10-Q (File no. 001-32892) filed on February 6, 2015.
Exhibit A (2014-16 Award Cycle). Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.24.1 to Mueller Water Products, Inc.
Form 10-Q (File no. 001-32892) filed on February 6, 2015.
Exhibit A (2015-17 Award Cycle). Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.27.1 to Mueller Water Products, Inc.
Form 10-Q (File no. 001-32892) filed on February 6, 2015.
Mueller Water Products, Inc. Form of Performance Share Award Agreement (Stub Period). Incorporated by
reference to Exhibit 10.26 to Mueller Water Products, Inc. Form 10-K (File no. 001-32892) filed on November
29, 2012.
Mueller Water Products, Inc. Form of Performance Share Award Agreement for October 1, 2013 to September
30, 2016 award cycle. Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.23 to Mueller Water Products, Inc. Form 10-Q
(File no. 001-32892) filed on February 7, 2014.
48
Table of Contents
Index to Financial Statements
Exhibit no.
10.26*
10.27*
12.1**
14.1*
21.1**
23.1**
31.1**
31.2**
32.1**
32.2**
101**
*
**
Document
Mueller Water Products, Inc. Form of Performance Share Award Agreement for October 1, 2014 to September
30, 2017 award cycle. Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.27 to Mueller Water Products, Inc. Form 10-Q
(File no. 001-32892) filed on February 6, 2015.
Term Loan Credit Agreement, dated November 25, 2014, among Mueller Water Products, Inc., as borrower,
the several lenders from time to time parties thereto, SunTrust Robinson Humphrey, Inc., TD Securities (USA)
LLC and Goldman Sachs Lending Partners LLC, as co-documentation agents, and Bank of America, N.A., as
administrative agent. Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.26.2 to Mueller Water Products, Inc. Form 10-K
(File no. 001-32892) filed on November 26, 2014.
Computation of Ratio of Earnings to Fixed Charges
Code of Business Conduct and Ethics for Mueller Water Products, Inc. Incorporated by reference to Exhibit
14.1 to Mueller Water Products, Inc. Form 10-Q (File no. 00132892) filed on February 7, 2014.
Subsidiaries of Mueller Water Products, Inc.
Consent of Independent Registered Accounting Firm
Certification of Chief Executive Officer pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.
Certification of Chief Financial Officer pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.
Certification of Chief Executive Officer pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.
Certification of Chief Financial Officer pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.
The following financial information from the Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended September 30,
2015, formatted in XBRL (Extensible Business Reporting Language), (i) the Consolidated Balance Sheets, (ii)
the Consolidated Statements of Operations and Other Comprehensive Income, (iii) the Consolidated
Statements of Stockholders’ Equity, (iv) the Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows, and (v) the Notes to
Consolidated Financial Statements.
Management compensatory plan, contract or arrangement
Filed with this annual report
49
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Index to Financial Statements
SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, the Registrant
has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized.
Date: November 24, 2015
MUELLER WATER PRODUCTS, INC.
By:
/s/ Gregory E. Hyland
Name: Gregory E. Hyland
Title: Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1934, as amended, this report has been signed by the following
persons on behalf of the registrant and in the capacities and on the dates indicated.
Signature
/s/ Gregory E. Hyland
Gregory E. Hyland
/s/ Evan L. Hart
Evan L. Hart
Title
Date
Chairman of the Board of Directors, President and Chief Executive
Officer (principal executive officer)
November 24, 2015
Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer (principal financial
officer)
November 24, 2015
/s/ Kevin G. McHugh
Vice President and Controller (principal accounting officer)
November 24, 2015
Kevin G. McHugh
/s/ Shirley C. Franklin
Director
Shirley C. Franklin
/s/ Thomas J. Hansen
Director
Thomas J. Hansen
/s/ Jerry W. Kolb
Director
Jerry W. Kolb
/s/ Joseph B. Leonard
Director
Joseph B. Leonard
/s/ Mark J. O’Brien
Director
Mark J. O’Brien
/s/ Bernard G. Rethore
Director
Bernard G. Rethore
/s/ Neil A. Springer
Director
Neil A. Springer
/s/ Lydia W. Thomas
Director
Lydia W. Thomas
/s/ Michael T. Tokarz
Director
Michael T. Tokarz
50
November 24, 2015
November 24, 2015
November 24, 2015
November 24, 2015
November 24, 2015
November 24, 2015
November 24, 2015
November 24, 2015
November 24, 2015
Table of Contents
Index to Financial Statements
The Board of Directors and Stockholders of Mueller Water Products, Inc.
Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm
We have audited the accompanying consolidated balance sheets of Mueller Water Products, Inc. and subsidiaries as of
September 30, 2015 and 2014, and the related consolidated statements of operations, comprehensive income (loss), equity, and
cash flows for each of the three years in the period ended September 30, 2015. These financial statements are the responsibility
of the Company’s management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on these financial statements based on our audits.
We conducted our audits in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States).
Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial
statements are free of material misstatement. An audit includes examining, on a test basis, evidence supporting the amounts
and disclosures in the financial statements. An audit also includes assessing the accounting principles used and significant
estimates made by management, as well as evaluating the overall financial statement presentation. We believe that our audits
provide a reasonable basis for our opinion.
In our opinion, the financial statements referred to above present fairly, in all material respects, the consolidated financial
position of Mueller Water Products, Inc. and subsidiaries at September 30, 2015 and 2014, and the consolidated results of their
operations and their cash flows for each of the three years in the period ended September 30, 2015, 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),
Mueller Water Products, Inc.’s internal control over financial reporting as of September 30, 2015, 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 24, 2015 expressed an unqualified opinion thereon.
Atlanta, Georgia
November 24, 2015
F- 1
Table of Contents
Index to Financial Statements
The Board of Directors and Stockholders of Mueller Water Products, Inc.
Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm
We have audited Mueller Water Products, Inc. and subsidiaries’ internal control over financial reporting as of September 30,
2015, 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). Mueller Water Products, Inc. and
subsidiaries’ 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 conducted our audit in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States).
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.
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.
In our opinion, Mueller Water Products, Inc. and subsidiaries maintained, in all material respects, effective internal control over
financial reporting as of September 30, 2015, based on the COSO criteria.
We also have audited, in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States), the
consolidated balance sheets of Mueller Water Products, Inc. and subsidiaries as of September 30, 2015 and 2014, and the
related consolidated statements of operations, comprehensive income (loss), equity, and cash flows for each of the three years in
the period ended September 30, 2015 and our report dated November 24, 2015 expressed an unqualified opinion on those
financial statements.
Atlanta, Georgia
November 24, 2015
F- 2
Table of Contents
Index to Financial Statements
MUELLER WATER PRODUCTS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
Assets:
Cash and cash equivalents
Receivables, net
Inventories
Deferred income taxes
Other current assets
Total current assets
Property, plant and equipment, net
Intangible assets
Other noncurrent assets
Total assets
Liabilities and equity:
Current portion of long-term debt
Accounts payable
Other current liabilities
Total current liabilities
Long-term debt
Deferred income taxes
Other noncurrent liabilities
Total liabilities
Commitments and contingencies (Note 17)
Common stock: 600,000,000 shares authorized; 160,497,841 and 159,760,671 at
September 30, 2015 and 2014, respectively
Additional paid-in capital
Accumulated deficit
Accumulated other comprehensive loss
Total Company stockholders’ equity
Noncontrolling interest
Total equity
Total liabilities and equity
September 30,
2015
2014
(in millions, except share amounts)
$
$
$
$
$
$
$
113.1
175.3
219.1
28.3
13.7
549.5
148.9
507.3
24.1
1,229.8
6.1
98.7
63.2
168.0
482.9
145.3
65.8
862.0
161.1
182.1
198.0
38.6
27.6
607.4
146.3
533.6
25.2
1,312.5
46.2
116.0
82.2
244.4
494.8
150.4
71.3
960.9
1.6
1,574.8
(1,142.8)
(67.3)
366.3
1.5
367.8
1,229.8
$
1.6
1,582.8
(1,173.7)
(60.7)
350.0
1.6
351.6
1,312.5
The accompanying notes are an integral part of the consolidated financial statements.
F- 3
Table of Contents
Index to Financial Statements
MUELLER WATER PRODUCTS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS
Net sales
Cost of sales
Gross profit
Operating expenses:
Selling, general and administrative
Loss on Walter receivable
Restructuring
Total operating expenses
Operating income
Interest expense, net
Loss on early extinguishment of debt
Income before income taxes
Income tax expense
Income from continuing operations
Income from discontinued operations, net of tax
Net income
Net income per basic share:
Continuing operations
Discontinued operations
Net income
Net income per diluted share:
Continuing operations
Discontinued operations
Net income
Weighted average shares outstanding:
Basic
Diluted
$
$
$
$
$
$
Year ended September 30,
2015
2013
2014
(in millions, except per share amounts)
$
1,164.5
817.2
347.3
$
1,184.7
836.8
347.9
1,120.8
807.6
313.2
216.9
11.6
9.2
237.7
109.6
27.6
31.3
50.7
19.8
30.9
—
30.9
0.19
—
0.19
0.19
—
0.19
$
$
$
$
$
220.7
—
3.1
223.8
124.1
49.6
1.0
73.5
18.0
55.5
—
55.5
0.35
—
0.35
0.34
—
0.34
$
$
$
$
$
214.4
—
1.5
215.9
97.3
51.7
1.4
44.2
8.8
35.4
5.4
40.8
0.23
0.03
0.26
0.22
0.03
0.25
160.5
163.2
159.2
162.2
157.7
160.3
Dividends declared per share
$
0.075
$
0.070
$
0.070
The accompanying notes are an integral part of the consolidated financial statements.
F- 4
Table of Contents
Index to Financial Statements
MUELLER WATER PRODUCTS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF COMPREHENSIVE INCOME
Net income
Other comprehensive income (loss):
Minimum pension liability
Income tax effects
Foreign currency translation
Derivative instruments
Income tax effects
Comprehensive income
$
2015
Year ended September 30,
2014
(in millions)
2013
$
30.9
$
55.5
$
40.8
6.3
(2.6)
(8.7)
(2.6)
1.0
(6.6)
24.3
$
(45.1)
17.4
(4.4)
—
—
(32.1)
23.4
$
55.2
6.3
(2.4)
—
—
59.1
99.9
The accompanying notes are an integral part of the consolidated financial statements.
F- 5
Table of Contents
Index to Financial Statements
Balance at September 30,
2012
Net income
Dividends declared
Stock-based compensation
Shares retained for
employee taxes
Stock issued under stock
compensation plans
Other comprehensive
income, net of tax
Balance at September 30,
2013
Net income (loss)
Dividends declared
Stock-based compensation
Shares retained for
employee taxes
Stock issued under stock
compensation plans
Joint venture capital
contributed
Other comprehensive loss,
net of tax
Balance at September 30,
2014
Net income (loss)
Dividends declared
Stock-based compensation
Excess tax benefit on stock
option exercises
Shares retained for
employee taxes
Stock issued under stock
compensation plans
Stock repurchased under
buyback program
Other comprehensive loss,
net of tax
Balance at September 30,
2015
MUELLER WATER PRODUCTS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF EQUITY
Common
stock
Additional
paid-in
capital
Accumulated
deficit
Accumulated
other
comprehensive
loss
Non-
controlling
interest
Total
(in millions)
$
1.6
—
—
—
—
—
—
1.6
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
1.6
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
$
$
1,587.3
—
(11.0)
6.5
(1,270.0) $
40.8
—
—
(87.7) $
—
—
—
— $
—
—
—
(1.5)
3.1
—
1,584.4
—
(11.2)
8.5
(3.1)
4.2
—
—
—
—
—
(1,229.2)
55.5
—
—
—
—
—
—
1,582.8
—
(12.0)
4.9
(1,173.7)
30.9
—
—
3.2
(2.4)
3.3
(5.0)
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
59.1
(28.6)
—
—
—
—
—
—
(32.1)
(60.7)
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
(6.6)
—
—
—
—
(0.1)
—
—
—
—
1.7
—
1.6
(0.1)
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
231.2
40.8
(11.0)
6.5
(1.5)
3.1
59.1
328.2
55.4
(11.2)
8.5
(3.1)
4.2
1.7
(32.1)
351.6
30.8
(12.0)
4.9
3.2
(2.4)
3.3
(5.0)
(6.6)
$
1.6
$
1,574.8
$
(1,142.8) $
(67.3) $
1.5
$
367.8
The accompanying notes are an integral part of the consolidated financial statements.
F- 6
Table of Contents
Index to Financial Statements
MUELLER WATER PRODUCTS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
Operating activities:
Net income
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating
$
30.9
$
55.5
$
40.8
2015
Year ended September 30,
2014
(in millions)
2013
activities:
Income from discontinued operations
Loss on early extinguishment of debt
Amortization
Depreciation
Loss on Walter receivable
Deferred income taxes
Stock-based compensation
Retirement plans
Other, net
Changes in assets and liabilities, net of acquisitions:
Receivables
Inventories
Other assets
Liabilities
Net cash provided by operating activities
Investing activities:
Capital expenditures
Business acquisitions, net of cash acquired
Proceeds from sales of assets
Net cash used in investing activities
Financing activities:
Issuance of debt
Repayment of debt
Dividends paid
Deferred financing costs paid
Stock repurchased under buyback program
Shares retained for employee taxes
Common stock issued
Excess tax benefit on stock-based compensation
Joint venture capital contributed
Other
Net cash used in financing activities
Net cash flows from discontinued operations:
Operating activities
Investing activities
Net cash used in discontinued operations
Effect of currency 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
—
31.3
29.4
28.7
11.6
6.9
4.8
1.0
4.7
3.5
(24.6)
(0.7)
(39.7)
87.8
(37.5)
0.3
5.6
(31.6)
512.5
(589.0)
(12.0)
(8.5)
(5.0)
(2.4)
3.3
3.2
—
(1.1)
(99.0)
—
—
—
(5.2)
(48.0)
161.1
113.1
$
—
1.0
29.4
27.3
—
15.6
8.6
1.5
0.7
(16.9)
11.0
3.6
10.3
147.6
(36.9)
(10.0)
4.7
(42.2)
—
(55.7)
(11.2)
—
—
(3.1)
4.2
—
1.7
(1.1)
(65.2)
—
—
—
(2.7)
37.5
123.6
161.1
$
(5.4)
1.4
31.8
27.4
—
7.3
7.1
4.3
2.3
0.9
(25.9)
1.8
20.3
114.1
(36.5)
(0.2)
0.5
(36.2)
—
(23.2)
(11.0)
(0.7)
—
(1.5)
3.1
—
—
(2.4)
(35.7)
(4.9)
4.5
(0.4)
(1.2)
40.6
83.0
123.6
$
The accompanying notes are an integral part of the consolidated financial statements.
F- 7
Table of Contents
Index to Financial Statements
Note 1.
Organization
MUELLER WATER PRODUCTS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
Mueller Water Products, Inc., a Delaware corporation, together with its consolidated subsidiaries, operates in three business
segments: Mueller Co., Anvil and Mueller Technologies. Mueller Co. manufactures valves for water and gas systems,
including butterfly, iron gate, tapping, check, knife, plug and ball valves, as well as dry-barrel and wet-barrel fire hydrants.
Anvil manufactures and sources a broad range of products, including a variety of fittings, couplings, hangers and related
products. Mueller Technologies offers metering systems, leak detection, pipe condition assessment and other products and
services for the water infrastructure industry. The “Company,” “we,” “us” or “our” refer to Mueller Water Products, Inc. and its
subsidiaries. With regard to the Company’s segments, “we,” “us” or “our” may also refer to the segment being discussed.
In July 2014, Mueller Co. acquired a 49% ownership in an industrial valve joint-venture for $1.7 million. Due to
substantive control features in the joint-venture agreement, all of the joint venture’s assets, liabilities and results of operations
are included in our consolidated financial statements. We included an adjustment for the loss attributable to noncontrolling
interest in selling, general and administrative expenses. Noncontrolling interest is recorded at its carrying value, which
approximates fair value.
Our consolidated financial statements are prepared in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the
United States of America (“GAAP”), which require us to make certain estimates and assumptions that affect the reported
amounts of assets, liabilities, sales and expenses and the disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities for the reporting periods.
Actual results could differ from those estimates. All significant intercompany balances and transactions have been eliminated.
Certain reclassifications have been made to previously reported amounts to conform to the current presentation.
We have recently revised our reporting segments, presenting in this annual report Mueller Co., Anvil and a new segment,
Mueller Technologies, which includes Mueller Systems and Echologics. Mueller Systems and Echologics were previously
reported within the Mueller Co. segment. Segment results previously presented have been recast to conform to the current
presentation.
Unless the context indicates otherwise, whenever we refer to a particular year, we mean our fiscal year ended or ending
September 30 in that particular calendar year.
Note 2.
Summary of Significant Accounting Policies
Revenue Recognition-Revenue is recognized when delivery of products has occurred or services have been rendered and
there is persuasive evidence of a sales arrangement, selling prices are fixed or determinable and collectibility is reasonably
assured. Revenue is reported net of estimated discounts, returns and rebates as “net sales.”
In May 2014, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) issued new guidance for the recognition of revenue.
This new guidance applies to us beginning with our first quarter of fiscal 2019 and early adoption is not permitted. We are in
the early stages of evaluating the impact of the adoption of this guidance on our financial statements and related disclosures and
we have not yet reached any conclusions.
Shipping and Handling-Costs to ship products to customers are included in cost of sales. Amounts billed to customers, if
any, to cover shipping and handling costs are included in net sales.
Stock-based Compensation-Compensation expense for stock-based awards granted to employees and directors is based on
the fair value at the grant dates for our outstanding stock-settled share awards and is based on the fair value at each reporting
date for our cash-settled share awards. See Note 11 for more information regarding our stock-based compensation. Stock-
based compensation expense is a component of selling, general and administrative expenses.
Cash and Cash Equivalents-All highly liquid investments with remaining maturities of 90 days or less when purchased are
classified as cash equivalents. Where there is no right of offset against cash balances, outstanding checks are included in
accounts payable.
Receivables-Receivables are amounts due from customers. To reduce credit risk, credit investigations are generally
performed prior to accepting orders from new customers and, when necessary, letters of credit, bonds or other instruments are
required to ensure payment.
F- 8
Table of Contents
Index to Financial Statements
The allowance for doubtful receivables is based upon judgments and estimates of expected losses and specific
identification of problem accounts. Significantly weaker than anticipated industry or economic conditions could impact
customers’ ability to pay such that actual losses may be greater than the amounts provided for in this allowance. The periodic
evaluation of the adequacy of the allowance for doubtful receivables is based on an analysis of prior collection experience,
specific customer creditworthiness and current economic trends within the industries served. In circumstances where we expect
a specific customer’s inability to meet its financial obligations (e.g., bankruptcy filings or substantial downgrading of credit
ratings), we record a specific allowance to reduce the receivable to the amount management reasonably believes will
be collected.
The following table summarizes information concerning our allowance for doubtful receivables.
Balance at beginning of year
Provision charged to expense
Balances written off, net of recoveries
Other
Balance at end of year
2015
2014
(in millions)
2013
$
$
5.3
0.1
(0.2)
—
5.2
$
$
5.3
—
(0.1)
0.1
5.3
$
$
5.7
0.4
(0.8)
—
5.3
Inventories-Inventories are recorded at the lower of first-in, first-out method cost or market value. We evaluate our
inventory in terms of excess and obsolete exposures. This evaluation includes such factors as anticipated usage, inventory
turnover, inventory levels and ultimate product sales value. Inventory cost includes an overhead component that is affected by
levels of production and actual costs incurred. Management periodically evaluates the effects of production levels and costs
capitalized as part of inventory.
The following table summarizes information concerning our inventory valuation reserves.
Balance at beginning of year
Provision charged to expense
Inventory disposed
Other
Balance at end of year
2015
2014
(in millions)
2013
$
$
8.5
2.1
(2.9)
0.1
7.8
$
$
10.6
2.8
(4.3)
(0.6)
8.5
$
$
12.5
2.4
(4.6)
0.3
10.6
Other Current Assets-Other current assets include maintenance supplies and tooling costs. Costs for perishable tools and
maintenance items are expensed when put into service. Costs for more durable items are amortized over their estimated useful
lives, ranging from 3 to 10 years. During 2015, we revised our presentation of supplies and tooling for all periods presented to
include components of our production equipment in property, plant and equipment and to include any supplies we do not expect
to use in the next year in other noncurrent assets.
Property, Plant and Equipment-Property, plant and equipment is recorded at cost, less accumulated depreciation.
Depreciation is recorded using the straight-line method over the estimated useful lives of the assets. Estimated useful lives are
10 to 20 years for land improvements, 10 to 40 years for buildings and 3 to 15 years for machinery and equipment. Leasehold
improvements and capitalized leases are depreciated using the straight-line method over the lesser of the useful life of the asset
or the remaining lease term. Gains and losses upon disposition are reflected in operating results in the period of disposition.
Direct internal and external costs to implement computer systems and internal-use software are capitalized. Capitalized
costs are depreciated over the estimated useful life of the system or software, generally 3 to 6 years, beginning when site
installation or module development is complete and ready for use.
Liabilities are recognized at fair value for asset retirement obligations related to plant and landfill closures in the period in
which they are incurred and the carrying amounts of the related long-lived assets are correspondingly increased. Over time, the
liabilities are accreted to their estimated future values. At September 30, 2015 and 2014, asset retirement obligations were $2.9
million and $3.2 million, respectively.
F- 9
Table of Contents
Index to Financial Statements
Accounting for the Impairment of Long-Lived Assets-We test indefinite-lived intangible assets and goodwill for impairment
annually (or more frequently if events or circumstances indicate possible impairment.) We perform our annual impairment
testing at September 1. We amortize finite-lived intangible assets over their respective estimated useful lives and review for
impairment if events or circumstances indicate possible impairment.
Workers Compensation-Our exposure to workers compensation claims is generally limited to $1 million per incident.
Liabilities, including those related to claims incurred but not reported, are recorded principally using annual valuations based on
discounted future expected payments and using historical data combined with insurance industry data when historical data is
limited. We are indemnified under an agreement with a predecessor to Tyco for all Mueller Co. and Anvil workers
compensation liabilities related to incidents that occurred prior to August 16, 1999. See Note 17. We retained U.S. Pipe
workers compensation liabilities related to incidents that occurred prior to April 1, 2012, but the Purchaser has agreed to
reimburse us for up to $11.8 million in payments we make related to these liabilities. At September 30, 2015, the remaining
reimbursements may be up to $5.6 million, which we have recorded on a discounted basis as $0.8 million in other current assets
and $4.3 million in other noncurrent assets. See Note 5. On an undiscounted basis, workers compensation liabilities were
$15.3 million and $17.0 million at September 30, 2015 and 2014, respectively. On a discounted basis, workers compensation
liabilities were $13.1 million and $14.7 million at September 30, 2015 and 2014, respectively.
We apply a discount rate at a risk-free interest rate, generally a U.S. Treasury bill rate, for each policy period. The rate
used is one with a duration that corresponds to the weighted average expected payout period for each policy period. Once a
discount rate is applied to a policy period, it remains the discount rate for that policy period until all claims are paid.
Warranty Costs-We accrue for warranty expenses that can include customer costs of repair and/or replacement, including
labor, materials, equipment, freight and reasonable overhead costs. We accrue for the estimated cost of product warranties at
the time of sale if such costs are determined to be reasonably estimable at that time. Warranty cost estimates are revised
throughout applicable warranty periods as better information regarding warranty costs becomes available.
Activity in accrued warranty, reported as part of other current liabilities, is presented below.
Balance at beginning of year
Warranty expense
Warranty payments
Balance at end of year
2015
2014
(in millions)
2013
$
$
2.6
5.2
(4.9)
2.9
$
$
2.8
4.1
(4.3)
2.6
$
$
1.6
4.2
(3.0)
2.8
Deferred Financing Costs-Costs of debt financing are charged to expense over the lives of the related financing
agreements, which range from 5 to 10 years. Remaining costs and the future period over which they would be charged to
expense are reassessed when amendments to the related financing agreements or prepayments occur.
In August 2015, the FASB issued guidance on debt issuance costs. This new guidance requires us to present certain debt
issuance costs related to our recognized debt liability as a direct deduction from the carrying amount of that debt liability. We
adopted this guidance at September 30, 2015 for all periods presented. ABL Agreement-related deferred financing costs are
included in other noncurrent assets and remaining deferred financing costs are offset against long-term debt in the
accompanying consolidated balance sheets. Deferred financing costs of $8.8 million at September 30, 2015 are scheduled to
amortize as follows: $1.4 million related to the ABL Agreement amortizes on a straight-line basis; $7.4 million related to the
Term Loan amortizes using the effective-interest rate method. All such amortization will be over the remaining term of the
respective debt. See Note 7.
Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities-We manage interest rate risk to some extent using derivative instruments.
We designated our interest rate swap contracts as cash flow hedges of interest payments. As a result the changes in the fair
value of these contracts prior to settlement are reported as a component of accumulated other comprehensive loss and will be
reclassified into earnings in the periods during which the hedged transactions affect earnings.
F- 10
Table of Contents
Index to Financial Statements
Income Taxes-Deferred tax liabilities and deferred tax assets are recognized for the expected future tax consequences of
events that have been included in the financial statements or tax returns. Such liabilities and assets are determined based on the
differences between the financial statement basis and the tax basis of assets and liabilities, using tax rates in effect for the years
in which the differences are expected to reverse. A valuation allowance is provided when, based upon the available evidence, it
is more likely than not that some or all of the deferred tax assets will not be realized.
We only record tax benefits for positions that management believes are more likely than not of being sustained under audit
based solely on the technical merits of the associated tax position. The amount of tax benefit recognized for any position that
meets the more likely than not threshold is the largest amount of the tax benefit that we believe is greater than 50% likely of
being realized.
Environmental Expenditures-We capitalize environmental expenditures that increase the life or efficiency of noncurrent
assets or that reduce or prevent environmental contamination. We accrue for environmental expenses resulting from existing
conditions that relate to past operations when the costs are probable and reasonably estimable. We are indemnified under an
agreement with a predecessor to Tyco for certain environmental liabilities that existed at August 16, 1999. See Note 17.
Research and Development-Research and development costs are expensed as incurred.
Advertising-Advertising costs are expensed as incurred.
Translation of Foreign Currency-Assets and liabilities of our businesses whose functional currency is other than the U.S.
dollar are translated into U.S. dollars using currency exchange rates at the balance sheet date. Revenues and expenses are
translated at average currency exchange rates during the period. Foreign currency translation gains and losses are reported as a
component of accumulated other comprehensive loss. Gains and losses resulting from foreign currency transactions are
included in operating results as incurred.
Note 3.
Intangible Assets
Direct internal and external costs to develop external-use software are capitalized. Capitalized costs are depreciated over
the estimated useful life of the software, beginning when the software is complete and ready for sale. During 2014, we revised
our estimate of the useful life of the software to 6 years from 3 years. At September 30, 2015, the remaining weighted-average
amortization period for the external-use software was 4.0 years. Amortization expense related to such software assets was $1.6
million, $1.1 million and $2.3 million for 2015, 2014 and 2013, respectively. Amortization expense for each of the next five
years is scheduled to be $2.3 million in 2016, $2.3 million in 2017, $2.1 million in 2018, $1.8 million in 2019 and $1.6 million
in 2020.
At September 30, 2015, the remaining weighted-average amortization period for the business combination-related finite-
lived intangible assets was 8.1 years. Amortization expense related to these assets was $27.8 million, $28.3 million and $29.5
million for 2015, 2014 and 2013, respectively. Amortization expense for each of the next five years is scheduled to be $22.3
million in 2016, $22.4 million in 2017, $22.5 million in 2018, $22.3 million in 2019 and $22.2 million in 2020.
F- 11
Table of Contents
Index to Financial Statements
Intangible assets are presented below.
Capitalized external-use software:
Cost
Accumulated amortization
Net book value
Business combination-related:
Cost:
Finite-lived intangible assets:
Technology
Customer relationships and other
Indefinite-lived intangible assets:
Trade names and trademarks
Goodwill
Accumulated amortization:
Technology
Customer relationships and other
Net book value
Total intangible assets net book value
Note 4.
Acquisition
September 30,
2015
2014
(in millions)
$
17.9
(7.0)
10.9
14.3
(5.4)
8.9
80.3
400.2
299.6
5.4
785.5
(74.2)
(214.9)
(289.1)
496.4
507.3
$
80.4
400.2
300.0
5.4
786.0
(68.1)
(193.2)
(261.3)
524.7
533.6
$
$
On July 1, 2014, Mueller Co.’s Henry Pratt unit completed the acquisition of certain assets of Lined Valve Company Inc., a
privately-held company, for a final purchase price of $9.7 million. The fair values of the related assets and liabilities are
presented below in millions.
Assets acquired:
Receivables
Inventories
Property, plant and equipment
Goodwill
Customer relationships and other identifiable intangible assets
Other noncurrent assets
Liabilities:
Accounts payable and other current liabilities
Other noncurrent liabilities
$
$
1.5
1.2
0.6
5.4
2.1
0.4
(0.5)
(1.0)
9.7
Most of the goodwill arising from the acquisition is tax-deductible, and the customer relationships and other identifiable
intangible assets have an estimated useful life of 10.0 years. We believe that the purchase price attributable to goodwill
represents the future benefits expected as a result of the acquisition.
F- 12
Table of Contents
Index to Financial Statements
Note 5.
Restructuring and Discontinued Operations
In 2015, Mueller Co. sold certain assets related to its municipal casting operations in Canada and closed the associated
facility. These actions resulted in restructuring expense of $7.2 million, which was comprised of a $2.5 million impairment
charge, $2.3 million of environmental remediation costs and $2.4 million of severance and other costs. These operations
generated net sales of $11.5 million during 2014.
In 2014, Anvil sold the production equipment and certain inventory at its Bloomington, Minnesota location for an
immaterial gain. Anvil also signed a supply agreement with the buyer and terminated the employment of all employees at that
location, which resulted in the withdrawal from the only multi-employer pension plan in which the Company had participated.
Anvil recorded a related withdrawal liability of $0.9 million as restructuring expense. Also in 2014, Anvil sold the land and
buildings at this location, which resulted in a net a gain of $2.5 million included in selling, general and administrative expenses.
On April 1, 2012, we sold our former U.S. Pipe segment and received proceeds of $94.0 million in cash, subject to
adjustments, and the agreement by the purchaser to reimburse us for expenditures to settle certain previously-existing liabilities
estimated at $10.1 million at March 31, 2012. During 2013, we received $4.5 million in cash for certain purchase price
adjustments and reduced our loss on sale of discontinued operations accordingly.
The table below represents a summary of the operating results for the U.S. Pipe discontinued operations. These operating
results do not reflect what they would have been had U.S. Pipe not been classified as discontinued operations.
Operating income
Reduced loss on sale of discontinued operations
Income from discontinued operations, net of tax
2013
(in millions)
0.5
4.9
5.4
$
We have retained certain assets, liabilities and activities previously associated with our former U.S. Pipe segment,
including ownership of certain real property and retention of pension and workers compensation obligations. Cash flows
associated with some of these items are anticipated to continue indefinitely, but they are not clearly and closely related to the
future operations of U.S. Pipe under its new owners. See Note 17.
Note 6.
Income Taxes
The components of income before income taxes are presented below.
U.S.
Non-U.S.
Income before income taxes
2015
2014
(in millions)
2013
$
$
55.4
(4.7)
50.7
$
$
71.6
1.9
73.5
$
$
41.0
3.2
44.2
The cumulative amount of undistributed earnings of foreign subsidiaries that we consider to be indefinitely reinvested, and
thus for which United States income taxes have not been provided, was $54.4 million at September 30, 2015. It is not currently
practical to estimate the amount of unrecognized United States income taxes that might be payable on the repatriation of these
earnings.
F- 13
Table of Contents
Index to Financial Statements
Income tax expense of continuing operations is presented below.
Current:
U.S. federal
U.S. state and local
Non-U.S.
Deferred:
U.S. federal
U.S. state and local
Non-U.S.
Income tax expense
2015
2014
(in millions)
2013
$
$
12.4
0.7
(0.2)
12.9
4.5
2.9
(0.5)
6.9
19.8
$
$
0.1
1.6
0.7
2.4
28.7
(12.8)
(0.3)
15.6
18.0
$
$
0.6
0.1
0.8
1.5
6.2
1.3
(0.2)
7.3
8.8
The allocations of current income tax expense between continuing and discontinued operations are provided below.
Expense from operations
Valuation allowance-related benefit
Other items
Income tax expense
2013
Continuing
operations
Discontinued
operations
$
$
17.5
(8.5)
(0.2)
8.8
$
$
2.1
(2.1)
—
—
The reconciliation between income tax expense at the U.S. federal statutory income tax rate and reported income tax
expense from continuing operations is presented below.
2015
2014
(in millions)
2013
$
17.7
$
25.7
$
15.5
2.4
(1.5)
(1.3)
0.7
0.6
0.4
0.3
(0.1)
—
0.6
19.8
$
3.6
—
(0.1)
0.9
(1.2)
(0.2)
0.8
(8.4)
(2.5)
(0.6)
18.0
$
2.0
—
(0.6)
0.5
(7.8)
0.4
0.2
(1.1)
—
(0.3)
8.8
Expense at U.S. federal statutory income tax rate of 35%
Adjustments to reconcile to income tax expense:
State income taxes, net of federal benefit
Domestic production activities deduction
Tax credits
Nondeductible expenses, other than compensation
Federal valuation allowance
Foreign income taxes
Nondeductible compensation
State valuation allowance, net of federal benefit
State tax rate change
Other
Income tax expense
$
F- 14
Table of Contents
Index to Financial Statements
Deferred income tax balances are presented below.
Deferred income tax assets:
Inventory reserves
Accrued expenses
Pension and other postretirement benefits
Stock-based compensation
State net operating losses
Federal net operating losses and credit carryovers
Other
Valuation allowance
Total deferred income tax assets, net of valuation allowance
Deferred income tax liabilities:
Intangible assets
Other
Total deferred income tax liabilities
Net deferred income tax liabilities
September 30,
2015
2014
(in millions)
$
15.5
13.6
17.8
8.9
8.1
0.5
3.0
67.4
(1.3)
66.1
182.3
0.8
183.1
117.0
$
15.2
15.3
20.3
10.7
10.3
6.8
1.9
80.5
(0.7)
79.8
190.1
1.5
191.6
111.8
$
$
We reevaluate the need for a valuation allowance against the U.S. deferred tax assets each quarter, considering results to
date, projections of taxable income, tax planning strategies and reversing taxable temporary differences.
After inclusion of the tax effect of the loss on the sale of U.S. Pipe in 2012, our net reversing deferred tax credits were
insufficient to fully support our deferred tax assets, which include net operating loss carryforwards, and we concluded that a
valuation allowance was necessary to reduce our U.S. net reversing deferred tax assets to zero. Accordingly, we recorded
income tax expense in 2012 to establish valuation allowances related to deferred tax assets. In the 2014 fourth quarter, we
credited to income almost all of the deferred tax valuation allowance based on our expectation of future taxable income. In the
2015 fourth quarter, we credited to income the remaining state net operating loss valuation allowance based on utilization.
Our state net operating loss carryforwards, which expire between 2016 and 2033, remain available to offset future taxable
earnings. At September 30, 2015, we have utilized our federal net operating loss carryforwards. At September 30, 2015, we
have $3.9 million of foreign net operating losses. We plan to utilize substantially all of this amount during 2016, and the
remainder has no expiration date.
The following table summarizes information concerning our gross unrecognized tax benefits.
Balance at beginning of year
Increases related to prior year positions
Decreases due to lapse in statute of limitations
Balance at end of year
2015
2014
(in millions)
$
$
2.7
$
0.3
(0.4)
2.6
$
3.7
0.1
(1.1)
2.7
Substantially all unrecognized tax benefits would, if recognized, impact the effective tax rate. We recognize interest related
to uncertain tax positions as interest expense and recognize any penalties incurred as a component of selling, general and
administrative expenses. At September 30, 2015 and 2014, we had $0.6 million and $0.7 million, respectively, of accrued
interest expense related to unrecognized tax benefits.
We expect to settle certain state income tax audits within the next 12 months and believe it is reasonably possible that these
audit settlements will reduce the gross unrecognized tax benefits by $0.8 million.
F- 15
Table of Contents
Index to Financial Statements
The federal income tax returns for Mueller Co. and Anvil are closed for years prior to 2005 and for Mueller Water
Products, Inc. for 2007 and 2008. Our 2009 through 2011 returns are closed except to the extent net operating losses from
those years have been utilized on subsequent years’ returns. U.S. Pipe is subject to statute extension agreements that may be
applicable to Walter Energy, and we remain liable for any tax related to U.S. Pipe pursuant to the terms of our sale of that
segment. See Note 17.
Our state income tax returns are generally closed for years prior to 2010, except to the extent of our state net operating loss
carryforwards. Our Canadian income tax returns are generally closed for years prior to 2008. We are currently under audit by
several states at various levels of completion. We do not have any material unpaid assessments.
Note 7.
Borrowing Arrangements
The components of our long-term debt are presented below.
ABL Agreement
Term Loan
Senior Subordinated Notes
Senior Unsecured Notes
Other
Deferred financing costs
Less current portion
Long-term debt
September 30,
2015
2014
(in millions)
— $
494.0
—
—
2.4
496.4
(7.4)
(6.1)
482.9
$
—
—
365.0
178.3
2.3
545.6
(4.6)
(46.2)
494.8
$
$
ABL Agreement. Our asset based lending agreement (“ABL Agreement”) consists of a revolving credit facility for up to
$225 million of revolving credit borrowings, swing line loans and letters of credit. The ABL Agreement also permits us to
increase the size of the credit facility by an additional $150 million in certain circumstances subject to adequate borrowing base
availability. We may borrow up to $25 million through swing line loans and may have up to $60 million of letters of credit
outstanding.
Borrowings under the ABL Agreement bear interest at a floating rate equal to LIBOR plus a margin ranging from 175 to
225 basis points, or a base rate, as defined in the ABL Agreement, plus a margin ranging from 75 to 125 basis points. At
September 30, 2015 the applicable rate was LIBOR plus 175 basis points.
The ABL Agreement terminates on December 18, 2017. We pay a commitment fee for any unused borrowing capacity
under the ABL Agreement of either 37.5 basis points per annum or 25 basis points per annum, based on daily average
availability during the previous calendar quarter. At September 30, 2015, our commitment fee was 37.5 basis points.
Borrowings are not subject to any financial maintenance covenants unless excess availability is less than the greater of $22.5
million and 10% of the aggregate commitments under the ABL Agreement. Excess availability based on September 30, 2015
data, as reduced by outstanding letters of credit, swap contract liabilities and accrued fees and expenses of $32.1 million, was
approximately $170 million.
Term Loan. On November 25, 2014, we entered into a $500.0 million senior secured term loan (“Term Loan”). We
capitalized $8.5 million of financing costs, which are being amortized over the term of the Term Loan using the effective
interest rate method. The proceeds from the Term Loan, along with other cash, were used to prepay our 7.375% Senior
Subordinated Notes (“Senior Subordinated Notes”) and 8.75% Senior Unsecured Notes (“Senior Unsecured Notes”) and to
satisfy and discharge our obligations under the respective indentures. We recorded a loss on early extinguishment of debt of
$31.3 million, which consisted of $25.2 million of tender and call premiums, $4.4 million of deferred financing costs and $1.7
million of unamortized discount written off.
F- 16
Table of Contents
Index to Financial Statements
The Term Loan accrues interest at a floating rate equal to LIBOR, subject to a floor of 0.75%, plus 325 basis points. At
September 30, 2015, the weighted-average effective interest rate, including amortization of original issue discount, was 4.02%.
We may voluntarily repay amounts borrowed under the Term Loan at any time. The principal amount of the Term Loan is
required to be repaid in quarterly installments of $1.25 million, with any remaining principal due on November 25, 2021. The
Term Loan is guaranteed by substantially all of our U.S. subsidiaries and is secured by essentially all of our assets, although the
ABL Agreement has a senior claim on certain collateral securing borrowings thereunder. The Term Loan is reported net of
unamortized discount of $2.2 million. Based on quoted market prices, the outstanding Term Loan had a fair value of $496.9
million at September 30, 2015.
The Term Loan contains affirmative and negative operating covenants applicable to us and our restricted subsidiaries. We
believe we were compliant with these covenants at September 30, 2015 and expect to remain in compliance through September
30, 2016.
The scheduled maturities of outstanding borrowings outstanding at September 30, 2015 for each of the following years are
$6.1 million for 2016, $5.7 million for 2017, $5.4 million for 2018, $5.2 million for 2019, $5.0 million for 2020 and $471.2
million after 2020.
Note 8.
Derivative Financial Instruments
We are exposed to interest rate risk that we manage to some extent using derivative instruments. We have four interest rate
swap contracts with forward start dates of September 30, 2016. Starting on that date, we will receive interest calculated using
3-month LIBOR, subject to a floor of 0.750%, and pay fixed interest at 2.341%, on an aggregate notional amount of $150.0
million. These swap contracts effectively fix the interest rate on $150.0 million of our borrowings under the Term Loan at
5.591%, including the 325 basis point spread, from September 30, 2016 through September 30, 2021. Based on publicly
available interest rate forward yield curve information, these swap contract liabilities had a fair value of $2.6 million at
September 30, 2015, which is included in other noncurrent liabilities.
We have designated our interest rate swap contracts as cash flow hedges of our future interest payments and elected to
apply the “shortcut” method of assessing hedge effectiveness. As a result, the gain or loss on the swap contracts is reported as a
component of other comprehensive loss and will be reclassified into interest expense as the related interest payments are made.
Note. 9
Retirement Plans
We have various pension plans (“Pension Plans”), which we fund in accordance with their requirements and, where
applicable, in amounts sufficient to satisfy the minimum funding requirements of applicable laws. The Pension Plans provide
benefits based on years of service and compensation or at stated amounts for each year of service.
The measurement date for all Pension Plans was September 30.
We were not required to make, and we did not make, any contributions to our U.S. pension plan in 2015. We contributed
$1.2 million to terminate two of our Canadian plans in 2015 and recorded a settlement charge of $0.5 million in selling, general
and administrative expenses. We currently estimate we will contribute approximately $0.8 million to our Pension Plans in
2016.
The components of net periodic benefit cost are presented below.
Service cost
Interest cost
Expected return on plan assets
Amortization of net loss
Curtailment / special settlement loss
Net periodic benefit cost
2015
2014
(in millions)
2013
$
$
1.9
20.1
(24.6)
3.2
0.5
1.1
$
$
1.7
19.9
(23.8)
3.5
0.2
1.5
$
$
2.0
18.3
(25.1)
9.0
0.1
4.3
F- 17
Table of Contents
Index to Financial Statements
Balance sheet information for Pension Plans with accumulated benefit obligations in excess of plan assets is presented
below.
Projected benefit obligations
Accumulated benefit obligations
Fair value of plan assets
September 30,
2015
2014
$
(in millions)
427.0
427.0
381.3
459.9
459.9
407.6
$
Balance sheet information for Pension Plans with accumulated benefit obligations less than plan assets is presented below.
Projected benefit obligations
Accumulated benefit obligations
Fair value of plan assets
September 30,
2015
2014
(in millions)
$
$
1.2
1.2
2.1
1.6
1.6
2.9
F- 18
Table of Contents
Index to Financial Statements
Amounts recognized for our Pension Plans and other postretirement benefit plans are presented below.
Projected benefit obligations:
Beginning of year
Service cost
Interest cost
Actuarial loss (gain)
Benefits paid
Currency translation
Decrease in obligation due to curtailment / settlement
End of year
Accumulated benefit obligations at end of year
Plan assets:
Beginning of year
Actual return on plan assets
Employer contributions
Settlement
Currency translation
Benefits paid
End of year
Accrued benefit cost at end of year:
Unfunded status
Recognized on balance sheet:
Other noncurrent assets
Other noncurrent liabilities
Recognized in accumulated other comprehensive loss, before tax:
Prior year service cost
Net actuarial loss
Pension Plans
2015
2014
(in millions)
461.5
1.9
20.1
(25.9)
(26.0)
(1.6)
(1.8)
428.2
428.2
410.5
1.3
1.2
(1.9)
(1.7)
(26.0)
383.4
$
$
$
$
$
399.6
1.7
19.9
67.3
(26.0)
(0.8)
(0.2)
461.5
461.5
395.2
42.1
0.1
—
(0.9)
(26.0)
410.5
(44.8) $
(51.0)
$
0.9
(45.7)
(44.8) $
— $
113.5
113.5
$
1.3
(52.3)
(51.0)
0.1
119.7
119.8
$
$
$
$
$
$
$
$
$
$
Change in actuarial loss (gain) in 2014 is due to actual rates of return on plans assets being lower than projected and the
adoption of new mortality tables issued by the Society of Actuaries due to the increasing lifespan of North Americans.
Our U.S. plan comprised 98% of the Pension Plans’ obligations and 98% of the Pension Plans’ assets at September 30,
2015.
Pension Plan activity in accumulated other comprehensive loss, before tax, in 2015 is presented below, in millions.
Balance at beginning of year
Actuarial gain
Prior year actuarial loss amortization to net periodic cost
Settlement
Balance at end of year
$
$
119.8
(2.6)
(3.2)
(0.5)
113.5
F- 19
Table of Contents
Index to Financial Statements
Beginning in 2015, we amortized amounts in accumulated other comprehensive loss representing unrecognized prior year
service cost and unrecognized loss related to our U.S. pension plan over the weighted average life expectancy of the plan’s
inactive participants instead of the weighted average remaining service period for active participants, as we did through 2014.
The effect of this change was not material to our consolidated financial statements.
The components of accumulated other comprehensive loss related to pension that we expect to amortize into net periodic
benefit cost in 2016 are presented below, in millions.
Amortization of unrecognized prior year service cost
Amortization of unrecognized loss
$
$
0.1
3.1
3.2
The discount rates for determining the present value of pension obligations were selected using a “bond settlement”
approach, which constructs a hypothetical bond portfolio that could be purchased such that the coupon payments and maturity
values could be used to satisfy the projected benefit payments. The discount rate is the equivalent rate that results in the present
value of the projected benefit payments equaling the market value of this bond portfolio. Only high quality (AA graded or
higher), non-callable corporate bonds are included in this bond portfolio. We rely on the Pension Plans’ actuaries to assist in the
development of the discount rate model.
Management’s expected returns on plan assets were determined with the assistance of the Pension Plans’ actuaries and
investment consultants. Expected returns on plan assets were developed using forward looking returns over a time horizon of
10 to 15 years for major asset classes along with projected risk and historical correlations.
A summary of key assumptions for our pension plans is below.
Weighted average used to determine benefit obligations:
Discount rate
Weighted average used to determine net periodic cost:
Discount rate
Expected return on plan assets
Pension Plans
2014
2015
2013
4.84%
4.49%
5.16%
4.49%
6.21
5.16%
6.24
4.21%
6.71
We maintain a single trust to hold the assets of the U.S. pension plan. During 2013, the strategic asset allocation was
adjusted to 40% equity investments from 60% equity investments. This trust’s strategic asset allocations, tactical range at
September 30, 2015 and actual asset allocations are presented below.
Strategic asset
allocation
Tactical range
2015
Actual asset allocations at
September 30,
2014
2013
Equity investments:
Large capitalization stocks
Small capitalization stocks
International stocks
Fixed income investments
Cash
26%
5
9
40
60
—
100%
30 - 50%
50 - 70
5
0 -
39%
60
1
100%
40%
59
1
100%
40%
59
1
100%
Assets of the Pension Plans are allocated to various investments to attain diversification and reasonable risk-adjusted
returns while also managing the exposure to asset and liability volatility. These ranges are targets and deviations may occur
from time to time due to market fluctuations. Portfolio assets are typically rebalanced to the allocation targets at least annually.
F- 20
Table of Contents
Index to Financial Statements
The valuation methodologies used to measure the assets of the Pension Plans at fair value are:
• Equity investments are valued at the closing price reported on the active market when reliable market quotations are
readily available. When market quotations are not readily available, assets of the Pension Plans are valued by a
method the trustees of the Pension Plans believe accurately reflects fair value;
•
Fixed income fund investments are valued using the closing price reported in the active market in which the
investment is traded or based on yields currently available on comparable securities of issuers with similar credit
ratings; and
• Other investments are valued as determined by the trustees of the Pension Plans based on their net asset values and
supported by the value of the underlying securities and by the unit prices of actual purchase and sale transactions
occurring at or close to the financial statement date.
The assets of the Pension Plans by level within the fair value hierarchy are presented below.
Equity:
Large cap stocks:
Large cap growth funds
Large cap index funds
Large cap value funds
Small cap stocks:
Small cap growth funds
International stocks:
Mutual funds
International funds
Total equity
Fixed income
Cash and cash equivalents
Equity:
Large cap stocks:
Large cap growth funds
Large cap index funds
Large cap value funds
Small cap stocks:
Small cap growth funds
International stocks:
Mutual funds
International funds
Total equity
Fixed income
Cash and cash equivalents
Level 1
September 30, 2015
Level 2
(in millions)
Total
$
$
$
$
— $
—
—
—
42.1
—
42.1
—
4.0
46.1
$
32.7
27.1
15.7
18.5
—
13.9
107.9
229.4
—
337.3
Level 1
September 30, 2014
Level 2
(in millions)
— $
—
—
—
45.9
—
45.9
—
4.5
50.4
$
31.5
35.9
15.3
18.5
—
15.4
116.6
243.5
—
360.1
$
$
$
$
32.7
27.1
15.7
18.5
42.1
13.9
150.0
229.4
4.0
383.4
Total
31.5
35.9
15.3
18.5
45.9
15.4
162.5
243.5
4.5
410.5
F- 21
Table of Contents
Index to Financial Statements
Our estimated future pension benefit payments are presented below in millions.
2016
2017
2018
2019
2020
2021-2025
$
32.9
26.4
26.6
26.8
27.1
138.0
Defined Contribution Retirement Plans-Certain of our employees participate in defined contribution 401(k) plans or similar
non-U.S plans. We make matching contributions as a function of employee contributions. Matching contributions were $6.2
million, $5.6 million and $5.1 million during 2015, 2014 and 2013, respectively.
Note 10.
Capital Stock
Common stock share activity is presented below.
Shares outstanding at September 30, 2012
Exercise of stock options
Exercise of employee stock purchase plan instruments
Vesting of restricted stock units, net of shares withheld for taxes
Shares outstanding at September 30, 2013
Exercise of employee stock purchase plan instruments
Exercise of stock options
Vesting of restricted stock units, net of shares withheld for taxes
Shares outstanding at September 30, 2014
Exercise of employee stock purchase plan instruments
Exercise of stock options
Vesting of restricted stock units, net of shares withheld for taxes
Stock repurchased under buyback program
Shares outstanding at September 30, 2015
Note 11.
Stock-based Compensation Plans
The effect of stock-based compensation on our statements of operations is presented below.
156,840,648
384,475
290,173
719,004
158,234,300
204,360
587,964
734,047
159,760,671
212,550
506,632
541,839
(523,851)
160,497,841
Decrease in operating income
Decrease in net income
Decrease in earnings per basic share
Decrease in earnings per diluted share
$
2015
2013
2014
(in millions, except per share data)
13.2
7.0
8.1
4.4
0.05
0.03
0.05
0.03
$
$
11.4
6.9
0.04
0.04
We excluded 1,165,414, 1,103,845 and 1,387,198 instruments from the calculation of diluted earnings per share for 2015,
2014 and 2013, respectively, because the effect of including them would have been antidilutive.
At September 30, 2015, there was approximately $3.3 million of unrecognized compensation expense related to stock-
based awards not yet vested. We expect to recognize this expense over a weighted average life of approximately 1.1 years.
F- 22
Table of Contents
Index to Financial Statements
The Mueller Water Products, Inc. 2006 Stock Incentive Plan (“2006 Plan”) authorizes an aggregate of 20,500,000 shares of
common stock that may be granted through the issuance of stock-based awards. Any awards canceled are available for
reissuance. Generally, all of our employees and members of our board of directors are eligible to participate in the 2006 Plan.
At September 30, 2015, 7,271,214 shares of common stock were available for future grants of awards under the 2006 Plan.
This total assumes that the maximum number of shares will be earned for awards for which the final number of shares to be
earned has not yet been determined.
An award granted under the 2006 Plan vests at such times and in such installments as set by the Compensation and Human
Resources Committee of the board of directors, but no award will be exercisable after the ten-year anniversary of the date on
which it is granted. Management expects some instruments will be forfeited prior to vesting. Grants to members of our board
of the directors are expected to vest fully. Based on historical forfeitures, we expect grants to others to be forfeited at an annual
rate of 3%.
Restricted Stock Units. Depending on the specific terms of each award, restricted stock units generally vest on the three-
year anniversary of the grant date, or ratably over the life of the award, usually three years, on each anniversary date of the
original grant. Restricted stock units granted since November 2007 also vest upon the Retirement (as defined in the 2006 Plan)
of a participant. Compensation expense for restricted stock units is recognized between the grant date and the vesting date (or
the date on which a participant becomes Retirement-eligible, if sooner) on a straight-line basis for each tranche of each award.
Fair values of restricted stock units are determined using the closing price of our common stock on the respective dates of grant.
Restricted stock unit activity under the 2006 Plan is summarized below.
Outstanding at September 30, 2012
Granted
Vested
Cancelled
Outstanding at September 30, 2013
Granted
Vested
Cancelled
Outstanding at September 30, 2014
Granted
Vested
Cancelled
Outstanding at September 30, 2015
Restricted
stock units
2,423,762
509,338
(995,037)
(12,723)
1,925,340
381,012
(1,099,591)
—
1,206,761
459,659
(793,630)
—
872,790
Weighted
average
grant date fair
value per unit
4.13
$
5.37
4.77
12.28
4.30
8.51
4.94
—
5.04
9.70
3.99
—
8.45
$
Weighted
average
remaining
contractual
term (years)
Aggregate
intrinsic
value
(millions)
1.0
0.9
0.7
0.8
$
5.6
9.4
7.7
Performance Shares. Performance-based restricted stock units (“PRSUs”) represent a target number of units that may be
paid out at the end of a multi-year award cycle consisting of annual performance periods coinciding with our fiscal years. As
determined at the date of grant, PRSUs may settle in cash-value equivalent of, or directly in, shares of our common stock.
Settlement will range from zero to two times the number of PRSUs granted, depending on our financial performance against
predetermined targets. Performance goals are established within 90 days of the beginning of each performance period by the
Compensation and Human Resources Committee of our board of directors (“Committee”). At the end of each annual
performance period, the Committee confirms performance against the applicable performance targets. PRSUs do not convey
voting rights or earn dividends. PRSUs vest on the last day of an award cycle, unless vested sooner due to a “Change of
Control” of the Company, or the death, disability or Retirement of a participant.
The 243,992 cash-settled PRSUs granted in the quarter ended December 31, 2012 settled in the quarter ended December
31, 2014 for $4.0 million. Compensation expense for cash-settled PRSU’s has been recognized over the applicable
performance periods based on the estimated performance factor and the closing price of our common stock at each balance
sheet date.
F- 23
Table of Contents
Index to Financial Statements
The stock-settled PRSUs granted in 2013, 2014 and 2015 will be settled in November 2015, December 2016 and December
2017, respectively. Compensation expense for stock-settled PRSU’s is recognized over the applicable performance periods
based on the estimated performance factors and the closing price of our common stock on the date each performance goal is
established. The stock prices used to value the awards were $5.22 for the 2013 performance period, $8.52 for the 2014
performance period and $9.78 for the 2015 performance period. Stock-settled PRSUs activity under the 2006 Plan is
summarized below.
Award date
November 27, 2012
December 3, 2013
December 2, 2014
Performance
period
Units
awarded
Shares
earned
2013
2014
2015
2014
2015
2016
2015
2016
2017
135,553
135,553
135,552
90,841
90,841
90,849
80,233
80,229
80,229
271,106
271,106
0
181,682
0
n/a
0
n/a
n/a
Stock Options. Outstanding stock options generally vest on each anniversary date of the original grant ratably over three
years. Stock options granted since November 2007 also vest upon the Retirement of a participant. Compensation expense for
stock options is recognized between the grant date and the vesting date (or the date on which a participant becomes Retirement-
eligible, if sooner) on a straight-line basis for each tranche of each award. Stock option activity under the 2006 Plan is
summarized below.
Outstanding at September 30, 2012
Granted
Exercised
Cancelled
Outstanding at September 30, 2013
Granted
Exercised
Cancelled
Outstanding at September 30, 2014
Granted
Exercised
Cancelled
Outstanding at September 30, 2015
Exercisable at September 30, 2015
Options
5,522,610
125,780
(384,475)
(139,209)
5,124,706
86,904
(587,964)
(71,411)
4,552,235
97,119
(506,632)
(150,056)
3,992,666
3,799,877
Expected to vest after September 30, 2015
192,789
Weighted
average
exercise
price
per option
6.30
5.91
4.97
12.52
6.22
8.58
4.61
12.92
6.37
9.97
3.42
13.90
6.54
6.43
8.76
$
$
$
$
Weighted
average
remaining
contractual
term (years)
6.8
$
Aggregate
intrinsic
value
(millions)
3.5
1.2
14.6
—
13.6
3.2
9.3
9.3
0.1
$
$
$
5.9
5.0
4.2
3.9
8.6
F- 24
Table of Contents
Index to Financial Statements
Stock option exercise prices are equal to the closing price of our common stock on the relevant grant date. The ranges of
exercise prices for stock options outstanding at September 30, 2015 are summarized below.
Exercise price
$ 0.00 - $ 4.99
$ 5.00 - $ 9.99
$ 10.00 - $ 14.99
$ 15.00 - $ 20.99
Options
Weighted
average
exercise price
1,395,711
$
1,799,892
515,846
281,217
3,992,666
$
3.34
6.07
11.30
16.76
6.54
Weighted
average
remaining
contractual
term (years)
5.4
4.3
2.0
0.8
4.2
Exercisable
options
Weighted
average
exercise price
1,395,711
$
1,607,103
515,846
281,217
3,799,877
$
3.34
5.74
11.30
16.76
6.43
Compensation expense attributed to stock options is based on the fair value of the awards on their respective grant dates, as
determined using a Black-Scholes model. The weighted average grant-date fair values of stock options granted and the
weighted average assumptions used to determine these fair values are indicated below.
Grant-date fair value
Risk-free interest rate
Dividend yield
Expected life (years)
Expected annual volatility
$
$
2015
5.93
1.74%
0.80%
8.0
0.6199
2014
5.13
2.44%
1.10%
8.0
0.6386
$
2013
5.91
1.63%
2.17%
8.0
0.6696
The risk-free interest rate is based on the U.S. Treasury zero-coupon yield in effect at the grant date with a term equal to the
expected life. The expected dividend yield is based on our estimated annual dividend and stock price history at the grant date.
The expected term represents the period of time the awards are expected to be outstanding.
Employee Stock Purchase Plan. The Mueller Water Products, Inc. 2006 Employee Stock Purchase Plan (“ESPP”)
authorizes the sale of up to 4,000,000 shares of our common stock to employees. Generally, all full-time, active employees are
eligible to participate in the ESPP, subject to certain restrictions. Employee purchases are funded through payroll deductions,
and any excess payroll withholdings are returned to the employee. The price for shares purchased under the ESPP is the lower
of 85% of closing price on the first day or the last day of the offering period. At September 30, 2015, 1,470,253 shares were
available for issuance under the ESPP.
F- 25
Table of Contents
Index to Financial Statements
Phantom Plan. In 2012, the Company adopted the Mueller Water Products, Inc. Phantom Plan (“Phantom Plan”). The
Phantom Plan awards were awarded to certain non-officer employees. Outstanding phantom awards vest ratably on each
anniversary date of the original grant for three years. Compensation expense for Phantom Plan awards is charged against
income on a straight-line basis for each tranche of each award based on the closing price of our common stock at each balance
sheet date. Phantom Plan awards are payable in cash and recorded as liability awards. The outstanding Phantom Plan awards
had a fair value of $7.66 per award at September 30, 2015 and our liability for such awards was $2.7 million. Phantom Plan
activity for 2015 is summarized below.
Outstanding at September 30, 2012
Granted
Vested
Cancelled
Outstanding at September 30, 2013
Granted
Vested
Cancelled
Outstanding at September 30, 2014
Granted
Vested
Cancelled
Outstanding at September 30, 2015
Weighted
average
grant date
fair value
per unit
2.03
5.22
$
2.03
4.03
8.52
5.29
6.22
9.78
8.29
8.49
$
Phantom
Plan units
358,866
382,605
(119,637)
(12,852)
608,982
304,815
(240,739)
(29,770)
643,288
289,524
(317,409)
(56,525)
558,878
Weighted
average
remaining
contractual
term (years)
Aggregate
intrinsic
value
(millions)
1.2
1.0
0.8
0.8
$
0.7
2.1
3.1
F- 26
Table of Contents
Index to Financial Statements
Note 12.
Supplemental Balance Sheet Information
Selected supplemental balance sheet information is presented below.
Inventories:
Purchased components and raw material
Work in process
Finished goods
Other current assets:
Maintenance and repair tooling
Income taxes
Other
Property, plant and equipment:
Land
Buildings
Machinery and equipment
Construction in progress
Accumulated depreciation
Other current liabilities:
Compensation and benefits
Customer rebates
Taxes other than income taxes
Warranty
Environmental
Income taxes
Interest
Restructuring
Other
September 30,
2015
2014
(in millions)
$
$
$
$
$
$
$
$
77.8
40.7
100.6
219.1
5.0
1.5
7.2
13.7
9.4
79.3
350.7
20.1
459.5
(310.6)
148.9
30.5
15.4
4.0
2.9
1.9
0.8
0.5
0.1
7.1
63.2
$
$
$
$
$
$
$
$
72.0
34.5
91.5
198.0
6.2
13.0
8.4
27.6
9.6
78.0
332.9
18.7
439.2
(292.9)
146.3
39.5
16.9
4.7
2.6
0.1
0.7
10.7
0.9
6.1
82.2
F- 27
Table of Contents
Index to Financial Statements
Note 13.
Supplemental Statement of Operations Information
Selected supplemental statement of operations information is presented below.
Included in selling, general and administrative expenses:
Research and development
Advertising
Interest expense, net:
Term loan
7.375% Senior Subordinated Notes
8.75% Senior Unsecured Notes
Deferred financing costs amortization
ABL Agreement
Other interest expense
Interest income
Note 14.
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Loss
Accumulated other comprehensive loss is presented below.
2015
2014
(in millions)
2013
$
$
$
$
14.9
5.2
17.5
4.0
2.4
2.0
1.7
0.3
27.9
(0.3)
27.6
$
$
$
$
14.4
4.7
$
$
— $
30.6
16.0
2.0
1.2
0.2
50.0
(0.4)
49.6
$
14.8
5.0
—
31.0
16.8
2.0
1.5
0.7
52.0
(0.3)
51.7
Foreign
currency
translation
Minimum
pension
liability, net of
tax
Derivative
instruments,
net of tax
Total
Balance at September 30, 2014
Current period other comprehensive loss
Balance at September 30, 2015
$
$
$
2.4
(8.7)
(6.3) $
(in millions)
(63.1) $
3.7
(59.4) $
— $
(1.6)
(1.6) $
(60.7)
(6.6)
(67.3)
Note 15.
Supplemental Cash Flow Information
The impact these transactions had on our consolidated balance sheets is presented below.
Pension plans:
Increase (decrease) in other noncurrent assets
Decrease (increase) in other noncurrent liabilities
Increase in other current liabilities
Decrease (increase) in deferred tax liabilities
Decrease (increase) in accumulated other comprehensive loss
Cash paid, net:
Interest
Income taxes
2015
September 30,
2014
(in millions)
2013
$
$
$
$
(1.3) $
28.3
—
(10.6)
(16.4)
— $
36.8
13.3
$
$
— $
(25.5)
0.1
9.8
15.6
— $
48.7
2.6
$
$
0.3
51.5
—
(20.1)
(31.7)
—
49.1
0.7
F- 28
Table of Contents
Index to Financial Statements
Note 16.
Segment Information
Our operations consist of three business segments: Mueller Co., Anvil and Mueller Technologies. These segments are
organized primarily based on products sold and customers served and are consistent with how the segments are managed, how
resources are allocated and how information is used by the chief operating decision maker. Mueller Co. manufactures valves
for water and gas systems including butterfly, iron gate, tapping, check, knife, plug and ball valves and dry-barrel and wet-
barrel fire hydrants. Anvil manufactures and sources a broad range of products including a variety of fittings, couplings,
hangers and related products. The Mueller Technologies businesses offer metering, leak detection, pipe condition assessment
and other products and services for the water infrastructure industry.
Segment results are not reflective of their results on a stand-alone basis. Intersegment sales and transfers are made at
selling prices generally intended to cover costs. Mueller Co. personnel provide certain administrative services, including
management of accounts payable and accounts receivable, without any allocation of cost to Mueller Technologies. We do not
believe the costs of such administrative services are material to the segments’ results. The determination of segment results
excludes certain corporate expenses designated as Corporate because they are not directly attributable to segment operations.
Interest expense, loss on early extinguishment of debt and income taxes are not allocated to the segments. Corporate expenses
include those costs incurred by our corporate function, such as accounting, treasury, risk management, human resources, legal,
tax and other administrative functions and also costs associated with assets and liabilities retained following the sale of U.S.
Pipe. Corporate assets principally consist of cash, income tax assets, assets related to the sale of our former U.S. Pipe segment
and deferred financing costs. Segment assets consist primarily of receivables, inventories, property, plant and equipment,
intangible assets and other noncurrent assets.
Geographical area information is presented below.
Net sales:
2015
2014
2013
Property, plant and equipment, net:
September 30, 2015
September 30, 2014
United States
Canada
Other
Total
(in millions)
$
$
1,037.7
$
82.7
$
1,040.6
970.9
101.1
101.5
142.9
$
138.5
$
2.7
4.3
$
$
44.1
43.0
48.4
3.3
3.5
1,164.5
1,184.7
1,120.8
148.9
146.3
Net sales in Canada declined in 2015 compared with 2014 due primarily to the sale of Mueller Co.’s municipal castings
business in December 2014.
Approximately 41% of our 2015 gross sales were to our 10 largest customers, and approximately 25% of our 2015 gross
sales were to our two largest customers, Ferguson Enterprises, Inc. (“Ferguson Enterprises”) and HD Supply, Inc. (“HD
Supply”). Sales to Ferguson Enterprises comprised approximately 13%, 13% and 12% of our total gross sales during 2015,
2014 and 2013, respectively. In 2015, Ferguson Enterprises accounted for approximately 16%, 8% and 2% of gross sales for
Mueller Co., Anvil and Mueller Technologies, respectively. Receivables from Ferguson Enterprises totaled $28.2 million and
$25.7 million at September 30, 2015 and 2014, respectively. Sales to HD Supply comprised approximately 12%, 11% and 11%
of our total gross sales during 2015, 2014, and 2013, respectively. In 2015, HD Supply accounted for approximately 18% and
5% of gross sales for Mueller Co. and Anvil, respectively. Receivables from HD Supply totaled $17.4 million and $17.7
million at September 30, 2015 and 2014, respectively.
F- 29
Table of Contents
Index to Financial Statements
Summarized financial information for our segments is presented below.
Net sales, excluding intercompany:
2015
2014
2013
Intercompany sales:
2015
2014
2013
Operating income (loss):
2015
2014
2013
Depreciation and amortization:
2015
2014
2013
Loss on Walter receivable and
restructuring:
2015
2014
2013
Capital expenditures:
2015
2014
2013
Total assets:
September 30, 2015
September 30, 2014
Intangible assets, net:
September 30, 2015
September 30, 2014
Mueller Co.
Anvil
Mueller
Technologies
(in millions)
Corporate
Total
$
$
$
$
$
$
$
$
$
$
$
$
$
$
$
$
702.2
679.1
632.5
7.2
6.7
7.4
136.9
126.7
100.3
38.8
38.0
38.3
8.2
2.1
1.5
20.5
18.8
16.6
757.7
767.9
435.5
459.7
$
$
$
$
$
$
$
$
371.1
401.4
391.3
0.1
0.1
0.1
30.0
41.3
40.2
14.7
14.2
14.2
0.4
0.9
0.1
10.3
11.6
12.3
255.3
263.9
54.5
57.9
$
91.2
104.2
97.0
— $
—
—
(12.9) $
(4.4)
(9.0)
$
$
$
$
$
4.2
4.1
6.3
0.1
0.1
—
6.5
6.1
7.4
77.2
67.9
17.3
16.0
— $
—
—
— $
—
—
(44.4) $
(39.5)
(34.2)
$
$
$
$
0.4
0.4
0.4
12.1
—
(0.1)
0.2
0.4
0.2
139.6
212.8
1,164.5
1,184.7
1,120.8
7.3
6.8
7.5
109.6
124.1
97.3
58.1
56.7
59.2
20.8
3.1
1.5
37.5
36.9
36.5
1,229.8
1,312.5
— $
—
507.3
533.6
Note 17.
Commitments and Contingencies
We are involved in various legal proceedings that have arisen in the normal course of operations, including the proceedings
summarized below. The effect of the outcome of these matters on our financial statements cannot be predicted with certainty as
any such effect depends on the amount and timing of the resolution of such matters. Other than the litigation described below,
we do not believe that any of our outstanding litigation would have a material adverse effect on our business or prospects.
Environmental. We are subject to a wide variety of laws and regulations concerning the protection of the environment,
both with respect to the operations at many of our properties and with respect to remediating environmental conditions that may
exist at our own or other properties. We accrue for environmental expenses resulting from existing conditions that relate to past
operations when the costs are probable and reasonably estimable.
In the acquisition agreement pursuant to which a predecessor to Tyco sold our businesses to a previous owner in
August 1999, Tyco agreed to indemnify us and our affiliates, among other things, for all “Excluded Liabilities.” Excluded
Liabilities include, among other things, substantially all liabilities relating to the time prior to August 1999, including
environmental liabilities. The indemnity survives indefinitely. Tyco’s indemnity does not cover liabilities to the extent caused
by us or the operation of our businesses after August 1999, nor does it cover liabilities arising with respect to businesses or sites
F- 30
Table of Contents
Index to Financial Statements
acquired after August 1999. Since 2007, Tyco has engaged in multiple corporate restructurings, split-offs and divestitures.
While none of these transactions directly affects the indemnification obligations of the Tyco indemnitors under the 1999
acquisition agreement, the result of such transactions is that the assets of, and control over, such Tyco indemnitors has changed.
Should any of these Tyco indemnitors become financially unable or fail to comply with the terms of the indemnity, we may be
responsible for such obligations or liabilities.
In September 1987, we implemented an Administrative Consent Order (“ACO”) for our Burlington, New Jersey property,
which was required under the New Jersey Environmental Cleanup Responsibility Act (now known as the Industrial Site
Recovery Act). The ACO required soil and ground-water cleanup, and we completed, and received final approval on, the soil
cleanup required by the ACO. We retained this property related to the sale of our former U.S. Pipe segment. We expect
ground-water issues as well as issues associated with the demolition of former manufacturing facilities at this site will continue
and remediation by us could be required. Long-term ground-water monitoring may also be required, but we do not know how
long such monitoring would be required and do not believe monitoring or further remediation costs, if any, will have a material
adverse effect on any of our financial statements.
On July 13, 2010, Rohcan Investments Limited, the former owner of property leased by Mueller Canada Ltd. and located
in Milton, Ontario, filed suit against Mueller Canada Ltd. and its directors seeking C$10.0 million in damages arising from the
defendants’ alleged environmental contamination of the property and breach of lease. Mueller Canada Ltd. leased the property
from 1988 through 2008. We are pursuing indemnification from a former owner for certain potential liabilities that are alleged
in this lawsuit, and we have accrued for other liabilities not covered by indemnification. On December 7, 2011, the Court
denied the plaintiff’s motion for summary judgment.
The purchaser of U.S. Pipe has been identified as a “potentially responsible party” (“PRP”) under the Comprehensive
Environmental Response, Compensation and Liability Act (“Superfund”) in connection with a former manufacturing facility
operated by U.S. Pipe that was in the vicinity of a Superfund site located in North Birmingham, Alabama. Under the terms of
the acquisition agreement relating to the sale of U.S. Pipe, we agreed to indemnify the purchaser for certain environmental
liabilities, including those arising out of the former manufacturing site in North Birmingham. Accordingly, the purchaser
tendered the matter to us for indemnification, which we accepted. Ultimate liability for the site will depend on many factors
that have not yet been determined, including the determination of EPA’s remediation costs, the number and financial viability of
the other PRPs (there are four other PRPs currently) and the determination of the final allocation of the costs among the PRPs,
if any. Accordingly, because the amount of such costs cannot be reasonably estimated at this time, no amounts had been
accrued for this matter at September 30, 2015.
Walter Energy. Each member of the Walter Energy consolidated group, which included us through December 14, 2006, is
jointly and severally liable for the federal income tax liability of each other member of the consolidated group for any year in
which it is a member of the group at any time during such year. Accordingly, we could be liable in the event any such federal
income tax liability is incurred, and not discharged, by any other member of the Walter Energy consolidated group for any
period during which we were included in the Walter Energy consolidated group.
Walter Energy effectively controlled all of our tax decisions for periods during which we were a member of the Walter
Energy consolidated group for federal income tax purposes and certain combined, consolidated or unitary state and local
income tax groups. Under the terms of an income tax allocation agreement between us and Walter Energy, dated May 26, 2006,
we generally compute our tax liability on a stand-alone basis, but Walter Energy has sole authority to respond to and conduct all
tax proceedings (including tax audits) relating to our federal income and combined state tax returns, to file all such tax returns
on our behalf and to determine the amount of our liability to (or entitlement to payment from) Walter Energy for such previous
periods.
A dispute exists with the IRS regarding federal income taxes allegedly owed by the Walter Energy consolidated group from
multiple tax years. According to Walter Energy's quarterly report on Form 10-Q filed with the SEC on November 5, 2015 (the
"Walter Form 10-Q"), at September 30, 2015, Walter Energy had $33.0 million of accruals for unrecognized tax benefits on the
matters subject to disposition. Walter Energy has stated it believes that all of its current and prior tax filing positions have
substantial merit and intends to vigorously defend any tax claims asserted. In addition, Walter Energy stated in the Walter Form
10-Q that it believes that it has sufficient accruals to address any claims, including interest and penalties, and does not believe
that any potential difference between the final settlements and the amounts accrued will have a material effect on its financial
position, but such potential difference could be material to results of its operations in a future reporting period.
Walter Energy filed a petition for reorganization under Chapter 11 of the U.S. Bankruptcy Code in July 2015. We are
currently monitoring the filing inasmuch as we could be liable for all or a portion of this federal income tax liability if it is
incurred, and not discharged, for any period during which we were included in the Walter Energy consolidated group.
F- 31
Table of Contents
Index to Financial Statements
In accordance with the income tax allocation agreement, Walter Energy used certain tax assets of one of our predecessors
in its calendar 2006 tax return for which payment to us is required. The income tax allocation agreement only requires Walter
Energy to make the payment upon realization of this tax benefit by receiving a refund or otherwise offsetting taxes due. Walter
Energy currently owes us $11.6 million that is payable pending completion of an IRS audit of Walter Energy’s 2006 tax year
and the related refund of tax from that year. As a result of the aforementioned Chapter 11 petition, we recorded a provision for
doubtful accounts of $11.6 million in the quarter ended June 30, 2015. During the quarter ended September 30, 2015, we wrote
off this receivable.
Indemnifications. We are a party to contracts in which it is common for us to agree to indemnify third parties for certain
liabilities that arise out of or relate to the subject matter of the contract. In some cases, this indemnity extends to related
liabilities arising from the negligence of the indemnified parties, but usually excludes any liabilities caused by gross negligence
or willful misconduct. We cannot estimate the potential amount of future payments under these indemnities until events arise
that would trigger a liability under the indemnities.
Additionally, in connection with the sale of assets and the divestiture of businesses, such as the divestiture of our U.S. Pipe
segment, we may agree to indemnify buyers and related parties for certain losses or liabilities incurred by these parties with
respect to: (i) the representations and warranties made by us to these parties in connection with the sale and (ii) liabilities
related to the pre-closing operations of the assets or business sold. Indemnities related to pre-closing operations generally
include certain environmental and tax liabilities and other liabilities not assumed by these parties in the transaction.
Indemnities related to the pre-closing operations of sold assets or businesses normally do not represent additional liabilities
to us, but simply serve to protect these parties from potential liability associated with our obligations existing at the time of the
sale. As with any liability, we have accrued for those pre-closing obligations that are considered probable and reasonably
estimable. Should circumstances change, increasing the likelihood of payments related to a specific indemnity, we will accrue a
liability when future payment is probable and the amount is reasonably estimable.
Other Matters. Anvil is in a dispute with Victaulic Company (“Victaulic”) regarding two patents held by Victaulic, U.S.
Patent 7,086,131 (the “131 Patent”) and U.S. Patent 7,712,796 (the “796 Patent” and collectively with the 131 Patent, the “U.S.
Patents”), which Anvil believes are invalid. The U.S. Patents potentially relate to a coupling product currently manufactured
and marketed by Anvil. Anvil filed multiple reexamination requests with the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (the “PTO”)
regarding the U.S. Patents, and the PTO granted the requests. Although the PTO examiner initially invalidated most of the
claims of the 796 Patent, the PTO examiner affirmed the validity of the 796 Patent in September 2014. In April 2015, the PTO
examiner invalidated the original claim of the 131 Patent but found several claims added during reexamination that appear
substantially similar to those included in the 796 Patent patentable. The PTO examiners’ decisions with respect to the U.S.
Patents have been appealed by Anvil and Victaulic. Relatedly, Anvil and Victaulic are engaged in lawsuits in the U.S. District
Court for the Northern District of Georgia and in the Federal Court of Toronto, Ontario, Canada. The Georgia District Court
litigation has been stayed pending the final outcome of the ongoing reexaminations of the U.S. Patents by the PTO. Although
Anvil intends to continue to vigorously contest the validity of the U.S. Patents, as well as Victaulic’s related patents in Canada,
and to defend itself against any counterclaims made by Victaulic, the probability of a favorable or unfavorable outcome with
respect to these proceedings is unknown. Any number of potential outcomes is possible due to the multiple claims associated
with the proceedings, each of which is in different stages and subject to appeal. Further, there are a number of highly complex
factual and technical issues involved, and it is uncertain whether a favorable or unfavorable result with respect to a particular
ruling or proceeding will impact the other matters in controversy. Accordingly, we have not recorded any accrual with respect
to these proceedings and a range of liability is not reasonably estimable.
We are party to a number of other lawsuits arising in the ordinary course of business, including product liability cases for
products manufactured by us or third parties. We provide for costs relating to these matters when a loss is probable and the
amount is reasonably estimable. Administrative costs related to these matters are expensed as incurred. The effect of the
outcome of these matters on our future financial statements cannot be predicted with certainty as any such effect depends on the
amount and timing of the resolution of such matters. While the results of litigation cannot be predicted with certainty, we
believe that the final outcome of such other litigation is not likely to have a materially adverse effect on our business or
prospects.
Operating Leases. We maintain operating leases primarily for equipment and facilities. Rent expense was $10.4 million,
$9.3 million and $8.4 million for 2015, 2014 and 2013, respectively. Future minimum payments under non-cancellable
operating leases are $6.7 million, $5.5 million, $3.0 million, $1.7 million and $0.6 million during 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019 and
2020, respectively. Total minimum payments due beyond 2020 are $1.9 million.
F- 32
Table of Contents
Index to Financial Statements
Note 18.
Subsequent Events
On October 21, 2015, our board of directors declared a dividend of $0.02 per share on our common stock, payable on or
about November 20, 2015 to stockholders of record at the close of business on November 10, 2015.
Note 19.
Quarterly Consolidated Financial Information (Unaudited)
2015
Net sales
Gross profit
Operating income
Net income (loss)
Net income (loss) per share(1)
Basic
Diluted
2014
Net sales
Gross profit
Operating income
Net income
Net income per share (1):
Basic
Diluted
Quarter
Fourth
Third
Second
First
(in millions, except per share amounts)
$
$
$
$
$
$
$
$
$
$
$
$
311.4
97.7
44.4
22.3
0.14
0.14
320.7
101.3
43.0
26.2
0.16
0.16
$
$
$
$
$
$
$
$
$
$
$
$
301.0
96.2
31.5
16.5
0.10
0.10
318.5
97.3
41.8
18.5
0.12
0.11
$
$
$
$
$
$
$
$
$
$
$
$
290.3
82.1
25.6
12.3
0.08
0.08
288.1
82.2
25.3
9.7
0.06
0.06
$
$
$
$
$
$
$
$
$
$
$
$
261.8
71.3
8.1
(20.2)
(0.13)
(0.13)
257.4
67.1
14.0
1.1
0.01
0.01
(1) The sum of the quarterly amounts may not equal the full year amount due to rounding.
F- 33
Subsidiaries of Mueller Water Products, Inc.
Exhibit 21.1
Entity
Anvil International Holdings, LLC
Anvil International, LC
Echologics, LLC
Henry Pratt Company, LLC
Henry Pratt International, LLC
Hydro Gate, LLC
J.B. Smith Mfg Co., LLC
James Jones Company, LLC
Jingmen Pratt Valve Co. Ltd.
Millikin Valve, LLC
Mueller Canada Holdings Corp.
Mueller Canada Ltd.
Mueller Co. LC
State of
incorporation or
organization
Delaware
Doing business as
Anvil International (N.H.)
Delaware
Anvil Int'l Ltd Partnership of Delaware
Anvil International LP of Delaware
Delaware
Delaware
Delaware
Delaware
Delaware
Delaware
China
Delaware
Canada
Canada
NA
NA
NA
NA
NA
James Jones Company of Delaware, LLC
NA
NA
NA
Anvil Canada; Echologics Engineering
Delaware
Mueller Co. Ltd., L.P.
Mueller Group Co-Issuer, Inc.
Mueller Group, LLC
Mueller Co. International Holdings, LLC
Mueller International, LLC
Mueller Property Holdings, LLC
Mueller Service California, Inc.
Mueller Service Co., LLC
Mueller Systems, LLC
OSP, LLC
PCA-Echologices Pty Ltd.
U.S. Pipe Valve & Hydrant, LLC
Delaware
Delaware
Delaware
Delaware
Delaware
Delaware
Delaware
Delaware
Delaware
Australia
Delaware
Mueller Co. Ltd. (LP)
Mueller Flow, LLC
NA
NA
Mueller International Finance (N.H.)
NA
NA
NA
NA
NA
NA
NA
NA
Exhibit 23.1
CONSENT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM
We consent to the incorporation by reference in (1) the Registration Statement (Form S-8 No. 333-179441) pertaining to the
2006 Stock Incentive Plan and 2006 Employee Stock Purchase Plan of Mueller Water Products, Inc. and (2) the Registration
Statement (Form S-3 No. 333-205094) of our reports dated November 24, 2015, with respect to the consolidated financial
statements of Mueller Water Products, Inc. and the effectiveness of internal control over financial reporting of Mueller Water
Products, Inc. included in this Annual Report (Form 10-K) for the year ended September 30, 2015.
Atlanta, Georgia
November 24, 2015
Exhibit 31.1
CERTIFICATION PURSUANT TO SECTION 302 OF THE SARBANES-OXLEY ACT OF 2002
I, Gregory E. Hyland, certify that:
1.
2.
3.
4.
I have reviewed this annual report on Form 10-K of Mueller Water Products, Inc.;
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;
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;
The registrant’s other certifying officer(s) 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)
b)
c)
d)
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;
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;
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
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(s) 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)
b)
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
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.
Dated: November 24, 2015
/s/ Gregory E. Hyland
Gregory E. Hyland
President
and Chief Executive Officer
Exhibit 31.2
CERTIFICATION PURSUANT TO SECTION 302 OF THE SARBANES-OXLEY ACT OF 2002
I, Evan L. Hart, certify that:
1.
2.
3.
4.
I have reviewed this annual report on Form 10-K of Mueller Water Products, Inc.;
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;
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;
The registrant’s other certifying officer(s) 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)
b)
c)
d)
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;
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;
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
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(s) 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)
b)
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
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.
Dated: November 24, 2015
/s/ Evan L. Hart
Evan L. Hart,
Senior Vice President
and Chief Financial Officer
CERTIFICATION PURSUANT TO SECTION 906 OF THE SARBANES-OXLEY ACT OF 2002
(18 U.S.C. SECTION 1350)
In connection with the accompanying annual report on Form 10-K of Mueller Water Products, Inc. (the “Company”) for
the fiscal year ended September 30, 2015 (the “Report”), I, Gregory E. Hyland, Chief Executive Officer of the Company,
certify, pursuant to 18 U.S.C. §1350, as adopted pursuant to §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
Exhibit 32.1
operations of the Company.
Dated: November 24, 2015
/s/ Gregory E. Hyland
Gregory E. Hyland
President
and Chief Executive Officer
CERTIFICATION PURSUANT TO SECTION 906 OF THE SARBANES-OXLEY ACT OF 2002
(18 U.S.C. SECTION 1350)
In connection with the accompanying annual report on Form 10-K of Mueller Water Products, Inc. (the “Company”) for
the fiscal year ended September 30, 2015 (the “Report”), I, Evan L. Hart, Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of
the Company, certify, pursuant to 18 U.S.C. §1350, as adopted pursuant to §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
Exhibit 32.2
operations of the Company.
Dated: November 24, 2015
/s/ Evan L. Hart
Evan L. Hart,
Senior Vice President
and Chief Financial Officer
Board of Directors
Gregory E. Hyland
Chairman, President and
Chief Executive Officer
Mueller Water Products, Inc.
Shirley C. Franklin
Barbara Jordan Visiting Professor
LBJ School of the University of
Texas and Former Mayor of Atlanta
Thomas J. Hansen
Former Vice Chairman
Illinois Tool Works Inc.
Jerry W. Kolb
Retired Vice Chairman
Deloitte & Touche LLP
Executive Officers
Gregory E. Hyland
Chairman, President and
Chief Executive Officer
Thomas E. Fish
President, Anvil International
Gregory S. Rogowski
President, Mueller Co.
Lydia W. Thomas
Retired President and
Chief Executive Officer
Noblis, Inc.
Michael T. Tokarz
Chairman, Walter Energy, Inc.
and Chairman, MVC Capital, Inc.
Joseph B. Leonard
Retired Chairman
AirTran Holdings, Inc.
Mark J. O’Brien
Former Chairman and
Chief Executive Officer
Walter Investment
Management Corp.
Bernard G. Rethore
Chairman Emeritus
Flowserve Corporation
Neil A. Springer
Managing Director
Springer & Associates LLC
Keith L. Belknap
Senior Vice President,
General Counsel, Corporate
Secretary and
Chief Compliance Officer;
President, Mueller Systems
and Echologics
Evan L. Hart
Senior Vice President and
Chief Financial Officer
Robert P. Keefe
Senior Vice President and
Chief Technology Officer
Marietta Edmunds Zakas
Senior Vice President
Strategy, Corporate Development
and Communications
Kevin G. McHugh
Vice President and Controller
Stockholder Information
Annual Meeting
The annual meeting of stockholders of
Mueller Water Products, Inc. will be held
February 26, 2016 at 10:00 A.M.
Abernathy Room
500 Northpark Building
1100 Abernathy Road, N.E.
Atlanta, Georgia 30328
Media Contact
Corporate Communications
Mueller Water Products, Inc.
1200 Abernathy Road, N.E.
Suite 1200
Atlanta, GA 30328
(770) 206-4240
Fax: (770) 206-4235
Corporate Office
Mueller Water Products, Inc.
1200 Abernathy Road, N.E.
Suite 1200
Atlanta, GA 30328
(770) 206-4200
www.muellerwaterproducts.com
Investor Contact
Investor Relations
Mueller Water Products, Inc.
1200 Abernathy Road, N.E.
Suite 1200
Atlanta, GA 30328
(770) 206-4237
Fax: (770) 206-4260
Form 10-K
A copy of the Company’s Annual
Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal
year ended September 30, 2015,
including financial statements,
is available on the Company’s
Web site at
www.muellerwaterproducts.com
or by written request to:
Investor Relations
Mueller Water Products, Inc.
1200 Abernathy Road, N.E.
Suite 1200
Atlanta, GA 30328
Common Stock
Trading Symbol: MWA
New York Stock Exchange
Transfer Agent and Registrar
Computershare Shareowner
Services LLC
250 Royall Street
Canton, MA 02021
Toll Free Number: 866-205-6698
www.computershare.com/investor
TDD for Hearing Impaired:
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Foreign Shareowners:
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TDD Foreign Shareowners:
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North Alabama Pipe
Innovators of Pipe Fabrication Equipment
1200 Abernathy Road, N.E., Suite 1200
Atlanta, GA 30328
www.muellerwaterproducts.com
©2016 Mueller Water Products, Inc.
Trademarks referred to herein are owned by Mueller International, LLC or other affiliates of Mueller Water Products, Inc.
The 2015 Mueller Water Products, Inc. annual report saved the
following resources by printing on processed-chlorine-free paper
containing up to 30% post-consumer waste.
trees
waste water
net energy
solid waste
greenhouse gases
4
grown
1,777
gallons
1
million BTUs
108
pounds
369
pounds