UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549

FORM 10-K

x     ANNUAL REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

For the fiscal year ended October 27, 2006                                                                                      

OR

¨      TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

For the transition period from                    to                   

Commission file number 1-6357

ESTERLINE TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATION

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

 

Delaware   13-2595091

(State or other jurisdiction

of incorporation or organization)

 

(I.R.S. Employer

Identification No.)

 

500 108 th Avenue NE

Bellevue, Washington

  98004
(Address of principal executive offices)   (Zip code)

Registrant’s telephone number, including area code 425/453-9400                                                                          

Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:

 

Title of each class  

Name of each exchange

on which registered

Common Stock ($.20 par value)

Preferred Stock Purchase Rights

 

New York Stock Exchange

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.    Yes   x     No   ¨

Indicate by check mark if the registrant is not required to file reports pursuant to Section 13 or Section 15(d) of the Act.    Yes   ¨     No   x

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   x     No   ¨


Indicate by check mark if disclosure of delinquent filers pursuant to Item 405 of Regulation S-K 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.   x

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, or a non-accelerated filer. See definition of “accelerated filer and large accelerated filer” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act. (Check one):

Large accelerated filer   x                 Accelerated filer   ¨                 Non-accelerated filer   ¨

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act).    ¨   Yes     x   No

As of January 3, 2007, 25,572,476 shares of the Registrant’s common stock were outstanding. The aggregate market value of shares of common stock held by non-affiliates as of April 28, 2006 was $1,122,871,753 (based upon the closing sales price of $44.32 per share).

DOCUMENTS INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE

Portions of Annual Report to Shareholders for fiscal year ended October 27, 2006 – Parts I, II and IV.

Portions of Definitive Proxy Statement relating to the 2007 Annual Meeting of Shareholders, to be held on March 7, 2007 – Part III.

 


 

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PART I

This Report includes a number of forward-looking statements that reflect the Company’s current views with respect to future events and financial performance. Please refer to the section addressing forward-looking information on page 12 for further discussion. In this report, “we,” “our,” “us,” “Company,” and “Esterline” refer to Esterline Technologies Corporation and subsidiaries, unless otherwise noted or context otherwise indicates.

Item 1. Business

(a) General Development of Business.

Esterline, a Delaware corporation formed in 1967, is a leading specialized manufacturing company principally serving aerospace and defense customers. We design, manufacture and market highly engineered products and systems for application within the industries we serve.

Our strategy is to maintain a leadership position in niche markets for the development and manufacture of highly engineered products that are essential to our customers. We are concentrating our efforts to expand selectively our capabilities in these markets, to anticipate the global needs of our customers and to respond to such needs with comprehensive solutions. Our current business and strategic growth plan focuses on the continuous development of these products in three key technology segments – avionics and controls, sensors and systems, and advanced materials including thermally engineered components and specialized high-performance elastomers and other complex materials, principally for aerospace and defense markets. As part of our implementation of this growth plan, we focus on, among other things, expansion of our capabilities as a more comprehensive supplier to our customers, which in fiscal 2006 included the acquisition of Wallop Defence Systems Limited, FR Countermeasures and Darchem Holdings Limited, as described in more detail in the “Overview” section of Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Continuing Operations contained in the Annual Report to Shareholders for the fiscal year ended October 27, 2006 included as Exhibit 13 to this report. Our products are often mission-critical equipment, which have been designed into particular military and commercial platforms and in certain cases can only be replaced by products of other manufacturers following a formal certification process.

Our products have a long history in the aerospace and defense industry and are found on most military and commercial aircraft, helicopters, and land-based systems. For example, our products are used on the majority of active and in-production U.S. military aircraft and on every Boeing commercial aircraft platform manufactured in the past 65 years. In addition, our products are supplied to Airbus, all of the major regional and business jet manufacturers, and the major aircraft engine manufacturers. We differentiate ourselves through our engineering and manufacturing capabilities and our reputation for quality, reliability, and innovation. We work closely with original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) on new, highly engineered product designs which often results in our products being designed into their platforms; this integration often results in sole-source positions for OEM production and aftermarket business. In fiscal 2006, we estimate that 25% of our sales to commercial and military aerospace customers were derived from aftermarket business. Our aftermarket sales, including retrofits, spare parts, and repair services, historically carry a higher gross margin and have more stability than sales to OEMs. In many cases, aftermarket sales extend well beyond the OEM production period, supporting the platform during its entire life cycle.

 

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Our sales are diversified across three broad markets: defense, commercial aerospace, and general industrial. For fiscal 2006, we estimate we derived approximately 38% of our sales from the defense market, 43% from the commercial aerospace market and 19% from the general industrial market.

(b) Financial Information About Industry Segments.

A summary of net sales to unaffiliated customers, operating earnings and identifiable assets attributable to our business segments for fiscal years 2006, 2005 and 2004 is reported in Note 16 to the Company’s Consolidated Financial Statements contained in the Annual Report to Shareholders for the fiscal year ended October 27, 2006. The Annual Report is included as Exhibit 13 to this report.

(c) Narrative Description of Business.

Avionics & Controls

Our Avionics & Controls business segment designs and manufactures technology interface systems for military and commercial aircraft and land- and sea-based military vehicles, secure communications systems, specialized medical equipment, and other industrial applications.

We are a market leader in the development, manufacturing and marketing of sophisticated high reliability technology interface systems for commercial and military aircraft. These products include lighted push-button and rotary switches, keyboards, lighted indicators, panels and displays that are used in a broad variety of control and display applications. They have been integrated into many existing aircraft designs, including every Boeing commercial aircraft platform currently in production. This large installed base provides us with a significant spare parts and retrofit business. We are a Tier 1 supplier on the Boeing 787 program to design and manufacture all of the cockpit overhead panels and embedded software for these systems. In addition, we manufacture control sticks, grips and wheels, as well as specialized switching systems. In this area, we primarily serve commercial and military aviation, and airborne and ground-based military equipment manufacturing customers. For example, we are a leading manufacturer of pilot control grips for most types of military fighter jets and helicopters. Additionally, our software engineering center supports our customers’ needs with such applications as primary flight displays, flight management systems, air data computers and engine control systems.

Our proprietary products meet critical operational requirements and provide customers with significant technological advantages in such areas as night vision compatibility and active-matrix liquid-crystal displays (a technology enabling pilots to read display screens in a variety of light conditions as well as from extreme angles). Our products are incorporated in a wide variety of platforms ranging from military helicopters, fighters and transports, to commercial wide-body, regional and business jets. In fiscal 2006, some of our largest customers for these products included The Boeing Company, Honeywell, BAE Systems, Lockheed Martin, Smiths Aerospace and Sikorsky.

We are also a supplier in custom input integration with a full line of keyboard switch and input technologies for specialized medical equipment, communications systems and comparable equipment for military applications. These products include custom keyboards, keypads, and input devices that integrate cursor control devices, bar-code scanners, displays, laser pointers, and voice activation. We also produce meters that are used for point-of-use and point-of-care in vitro diagnostics. We have developed a wide variety of technologies, including plastic and vinyl membranes that protect high-

 

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use switches and fully depressible buttons, and backlighted elastomer switch coverings that are resistant to exposure from harsh chemicals. These technologies now serve as the foundation for a small but growing portion of our product line. In fiscal 2006, some of our largest customers for these products included Roche, Lockheed Martin, Philips, and General Electric.

Sensors & Systems

Our Sensors & Systems business segment produces high-precision temperature, pressure sensors and speed sensors, electrical power switching, control and data communication devices, fluid control components, micro-motors, motion control sensors, and other related systems principally for aerospace and defense customers. We are a market leader for these products in Europe with growing positions in the United States. For example, we are the sole-source supplier of temperature probes for use on all versions of the General Electric/Snecma CFM-56 jet engine. The CFM-56 has an installed base of over 16,000 engines, is standard equipment on new generation Boeing 737 aircraft and was selected as the engine for approximately 45% of all Airbus aircraft delivered to date. We are contracted to design and manufacture the 787’s sensors for the environmental control system and the primary power distribution assembly for the new Airbus A400M military transport. Additionally, we have secured a Tier 1 position with Rolls Royce for the complete suite of sensors for the engine that will power the A400M. The principal customers for our products in this business segment are jet engine manufacturers and airframe manufacturers. In fiscal 2006, some of our largest customers for these products included Flame, SAFRAN, British Ministry of Defence, Rolls Royce, General Electric, Avnet, The Boeing Company, Honeywell, and BAE Systems.

Advanced Materials

Our Advanced Materials business segment develops and manufactures high-performance elastomer products used in a wide range of commercial aerospace and military applications, and combustible ordnance for military applications. We also develop and manufacture highly engineered thermal components for commercial aerospace and industrial applications. This segment focuses principally on process-related technologies.

Specialized High-Performance Applications . We specialize in the development of proprietary formulations for silicone rubber and other elastomer products. Our elastomer products are engineered to address specific customer requirements where superior performance in high temperature, high pressure, caustic, abrasive and other difficult environments is critical. These products include clamping devices, thermal fire barrier insulation products, seals, tubing and coverings designed in custom-molded shapes. Some of the products include proprietary elastomers that are specifically designed for use on or near a jet engine. We are a leading U.S. supplier of high-performance elastomer products to the aerospace industry, with our primary customers for these products being jet and rocket engine manufacturers, commercial and military airframe manufacturers, as well as commercial airlines. In fiscal 2006, some of the largest customers for these products included the U.S. Department of Defense, Alliant Techsystems, The Boeing Company, General Dynamics, KAPCO, Honeywell, Lockheed Martin, and Goodrich. We also develop and manufacture high temperature lightweight insulation equipment for aerospace and automotive applications. Our commercial aerospace programs include the 737 and A320 series aircraft and the V2500 and BR710 engines. Our insulation material is used on diesel engine manifolds for earthmover and agricultural applications. In addition, we specialize in the development of thermal protection for petrochemical fire protection systems and nuclear insulation. We design and manufacture high temperature components for industrial and marine markets. Our manufacturing processes consist of cutting, pressing, welding (including laser) stainless steel, Inconel and titanium fabrications. In fiscal 2006,

 

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some of the largest customers of these products included Airbus, BAE Systems, and Spirit AeroSystems.

Other Defense Applications . We develop and manufacture combustible ordnance and electronic warfare countermeasure devices for military customers. We manufacture molded fiber cartridge cases, mortar increments, igniter tubes and other combustible ordnance components primarily for the U.S. Department of Defense. We are currently the sole supplier of combustible casings utilized by the U.S. Armed Forces. Sales are made either directly to the U.S. Department of Defense or through prime contractors, Alliant Techsystems and General Dynamics. These products include the combustible case for the U.S. Army’s new generation 155mm Modular Artillery Charge System, the 120mm combustible case used with the main armament system on the U.S. Army and Marine Corps’ M1-A1/2 tanks, and the 60mm, 81mm and 120mm combustible mortar increments. We are also currently the only U.S. supplier of radar countermeasure chaff and one of two suppliers to the U.S. Army of infrared decoy flares used by aircraft to help protect against radar and infrared guided missiles.

A summary of product lines contributing sales of 10% or more of total sales for fiscal years 2006, 2005 and 2004 is reported in Note 16 to the Consolidated Financial Statements contained in the Annual Report to Shareholders for the fiscal year ended October 27, 2006. The Annual Report is included as Exhibit 13 to this report.

Marketing and Distribution

We believe that a key to continued success is our ability to meet customer requirements both domestically and internationally. We have and will continue to improve our world-wide sales and distribution channels in order to provide a wider variety of products and to improve the effectiveness of our customers’ supply chain. For example, our medical device assembly operation in Shanghai, China, which was opened in 2005, serves our global medical customers. In addition, our service center in Singapore has improved our capabilities in Asia for our temperature sensor customers. Other enhancements include combining sales and marketing forces of our operating units where appropriate, cross-training our sales representatives on multiple product lines, and cross-stocking our spares parts and components.

In the technical and highly engineered product segments in which we compete, relationship selling is particularly appropriate in targeted marketing segments where customer and supplier design and engineering inputs need to be tightly integrated. Participation in industry trade shows is an effective method of meeting customers, introducing new products, and exchanging technical specifications. In addition to technical and industry conferences, our products are supported through direct internal international sales efforts, as well as through manufacturer representatives and selected distributors. Currently, 201 sales people, 215 representatives, and 129 distributors support our operations internationally.

Backlog

Backlog at October 27, 2006, was $653.5 million, compared with $482.8 million at October 28, 2005. We estimate that approximately $165.8 million of backlog is scheduled to be shipped after fiscal 2007.

Backlog is subject to cancellation until delivered, and therefore, we cannot assure that our backlog will be converted into revenue in any particular period or at all. Backlog does not include the total

 

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contract value of cost-plus reimbursable contracts, which are funded as we incur the costs. Except for the released portion, backlog also does not include fixed-price multi-year contracts.

Competition

Our products and services are affected by varying degrees of competition. We compete with other companies in most markets we serve, many of which have far greater sales volumes and financial resources. The principal competitive factors in the commercial markets in which we participate are product performance, service and price. Part of product performance requires expenditures in research and development that lead to product improvement. The market for many of our products may be affected by rapid and significant technological changes and new product introductions. Our principal competitors include Eaton, ECE, Gables Engineering, Otto Controls, Ultra Electronics and Telephonics in our Avionics & Controls segment; Ametek, Meggitt, Deutsch, Tyco, MPC Products and Goodrich in our Sensors & Systems segment; and Kmass, ULVA, Doncasters, Astec, Hitemp, Meggitt (including Dunlop Standard Aerospace Group), Adel Wiggins, RE Darling and Parker in our Advanced Materials segment.

Research and Development

Currently, our product development and design programs utilize an extensive base of professional engineers, technicians and support personnel, supplemented by outside engineering and consulting firms when needed. In fiscal 2006, approximately $52.6 million was expended for research, development and engineering, compared with $42.2 million in fiscal 2005 and $25.9 million in fiscal 2004. We believe continued product development is key to our long-term growth, and consequently, we consistently invest in research and development. Examples include research and development projects relating to a ground fault interrupter for aircraft applications, insulation material for various rocket and missile programs, high temperature, low observable material for military applications, and kinematic countermeasure flares for military applications, as well as new sensing technologies including silicon-on-insulator pressure sensors. In fiscal 2005 and 2004, we began bidding and winning new aerospace programs which will result in increased company-funded research and development. These programs included the A400M power distribution assembly, TP400 engine sensors, 787 overhead control panel and 787 environmental control system programs. In addition, we actively participate in customer-funded research and development programs, including applications on the new MMA aircraft, UH-60M Blackhawk, VH-71 Presidential Helicopter and Russian Regional Jet.

Foreign Operations

Our principal foreign operations consist of manufacturing facilities located in France, Germany and the United Kingdom and include sales and service operations located in Singapore and China. For further information regarding foreign operations, see Note 16 to the Consolidated Financial Statements contained in the Annual Report to Shareholders for the fiscal year ended October 27, 2006. The Annual Report is included as Exhibit 13 to this report.

Government Contracts and Subcontracts

As a contractor and subcontractor to the U.S. government (primarily the U.S. Department of Defense), we are subject to various laws and regulations that are more restrictive than those applicable to private sector contractors. Approximately 12% of our sales were made directly to the U.S. government in fiscal 2006. In addition, we estimate that our subcontracting activities to

 

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contractors for the U.S. government accounted for approximately 12% of sales during fiscal 2006. Therefore, we estimate that approximately 24% of our sales during the fiscal year were subject to U.S. government contracting regulations. Such contracts may be subject to termination, reduction or modification in the event of changes in government requirements, reductions in federal spending, and other factors.

Historically, our U.S. government contracts and subcontracts have been predominately fixed-price contracts. Generally, fixed-price contracts offer higher margins than cost-plus contracts in return for accepting the risk that increased or unexpected costs may reduce anticipated profits or cause us to sustain losses on the contracts. The accuracy and appropriateness of certain costs and expenses used to substantiate our direct and indirect costs for the U.S. government under both cost-plus and fixed-price contracts are subject to extensive regulation and audit by the Defense Contract Audit Agency, an arm of the U.S. Department of Defense. The contracts and subcontracts to which we are a party are also subject to profit and cost controls and standard provisions for termination at the convenience of the U.S. government. Upon termination, other than for our default, we will normally be entitled to reimbursement for allowable costs and to an allowance for profit. To date, none of our significant fixed-price contracts have been terminated.

Patents and Licenses

Although we hold a number of patents and licenses, we do not believe that our operations are dependent on our patents and licenses. In general, we rely on technical superiority, continual product improvement, exclusive product features, superior lead-time, on-time delivery performance, quality and customer relationships to maintain competitive advantage.

Seasonality

The timing of our revenues is impacted by the purchasing patterns of our customers and as a result we do not generate revenues evenly throughout the year. Moreover, our first fiscal quarter, November through January, includes significant holiday vacation periods in both Europe and North America. This leads to decreased order and shipment activity; consequently, first quarter results are typically weaker than other quarters and not necessarily indicative of our performance in subsequent quarters.

Sources and Availability of Raw Materials and Components

Due to our diversification, the sources and availability of certain raw materials and components are not as critical as they would be for manufacturers of a single product line. However, certain components, supplies and raw materials for our operations are purchased from single sources. In such instances, we strive to develop alternative sources and design modifications to minimize the effect of business interruptions.

Environmental Matters

We are subject to federal, state, local and foreign laws, regulations and ordinances that (i) govern activities or operations that may have adverse environmental effects, such as discharges to air and water, as well as handling and disposal practices for solid and hazardous waste, and (ii) impose liability for the costs of cleaning up, and certain damages resulting from, sites or past spills, disposals or other releases of hazardous substances.

 

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On August 29, 2002, our subsidiary, Armtec, acquired the radar countermeasures chaff and infrared decoy flare operations of the Electronic Warfare Passive Expendables Division of BAE Systems North America. At the time of our asset acquisition from BAE Systems, certain environmental remedial activities were required under a Part B Permit issued to the infrared decoy flare facility by the Arkansas Department of Environmental Quality under the Federal Resource Conservation and Recovery Act. The Part B Permit was transferred to Armtec, along with the remedial obligations. Under the terms of the asset purchase agreement, BAE Systems agreed to complete all remedial obligations at the infrared decoy flare facility and to indemnify us for all environmental liabilities to a maximum amount of $25.0 million. In addition, in connection with our acquisition of Wallop Defence Systems Limited, we and the seller agreed that some environmental remedial activities may need to be carried out, and these activities are currently ongoing. Under the terms of the Stock Purchase Agreement, a portion of the costs of any environmental remedial activities will be reimbursed by the seller if the cost is incurred within five years of the consummation of the acquisition.

At various times we have been identified as a potentially responsible party pursuant to the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act of 1980 (CERCLA), and analogous state environmental laws, for the clean up of contamination resulting from past disposals of hazardous wastes at certain sites to which we, among others, sent wastes in the past. CERCLA requires potentially responsible persons to pay for cleanup of sites from which there has been a release or threatened release of hazardous substances. Courts have interpreted CERCLA to impose strict, joint and several liability on all persons liable for cleanup costs. As a practical matter, however, at sites where there are multiple potentially responsible persons, the costs of cleanup typically are allocated among the parties according to a volumetric or other standard.

We have accrued liabilities for environmental remediation costs expected to be incurred by our operating facilities. Environmental exposures are provided for at the time they are known to exist or are considered reasonably probable and estimable. No provision has been recorded for environmental remediation costs that could result from changes in laws or other circumstances we have not currently contemplated.

Employees

For our continuing operations, we had approximately 8,150 employees at October 27, 2006, of which 4,970 were based in the United States, 2,750 in Europe, 310 in Mexico and 120 in Asia. Approximately 20% of the U.S.-based employees were represented by a labor union. Our European operations are subject to national trade union agreements and to local regulations governing employment.

(d) Financial Information About Foreign and Domestic Operations and Export Sales.

See risk factor below entitled “Political and economic instability in foreign countries and markets may have a material adverse impact on our operating results” under Item 1A of this report and Note 16 to the Consolidated Financial Statements contained in the Annual Report to Shareholders for the fiscal year ended October 27, 2006. The Annual Report is included as Exhibit 13 to this report.

(e) Available Information of the Registrant.

You can access financial and other information on our website, www.esterline.com . We make available through our website, free of charge, copies of our annual report on Form 10-K, quarterly

 

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reports on Form 10-Q, current reports on Form 8-K and amendments to those reports filed or furnished pursuant to Section 13(a) or Section 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, as soon as reasonably practicable after filing such material electronically or otherwise furnishing it to the Securities and Exchange Commission. Our Corporate Governance Guidelines and charters for our board committees are available on our website, www.esterline.com/governance/default.stm and our Code of Business Conduct and Ethics, which includes a code of ethics applicable to our accounting and financial employees, including our Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, is available on our website at www.esterline.com/governance/ethics.stm . Each of these documents is also available in print (at no charge) to any shareholder upon request. Our website and the information contained therein or connected thereto are not incorporated by reference into this Form 10-K.

 

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Executive Officers of the Registrant

The names and ages of all executive officers of the Company and the positions and offices held by such persons as of December 29, 2006 are as follows:

 

Name

  

Position with the Company

   Age
Robert W. Cremin    Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer    66
Robert D. George    Vice President, Chief Financial Officer,    50
   Secretary and Treasurer   
Marcia J. M. Greenberg    Vice President, Human Resources    54
Frank E. Houston    Group Vice President    55
Larry A. Kring    Senior Group Vice President    66
Stephen R. Larson    Vice President, Strategy & Technology    62
Richard J. Wood    Group Vice President    53

Mr. Cremin has been Chairman since January 2001. In addition, he has served as Chief Executive Officer and President since January 1999 and September 1997, respectively. Mr. Cremin has an M.B.A. from the Harvard Business School and a B.S. degree in Metallurgical Engineering from Polytechnic Institute of Brooklyn. He has been a director of the Company since 1998.

Mr. George has been Vice President, Chief Financial Officer, Secretary and Treasurer since July 1999 and Treasurer and Controller from June 1997 until July 1999. Mr. George has an M.B.A. from the Fuqua School of Business at Duke University and a B.A. degree in Economics from Drew University.

Ms. Greenberg has been Vice President, Human Resources since March 1993. Ms. Greenberg has a J.D. degree from Northwestern University School of Law and a B.A. degree in Political Science from Portland State University.

Mr. Houston has been Group Vice President since March 2005. Previously, he was President of Korry Electronics Co., part of Esterline’s Avionics & Controls segment, since October 2002. From March 2000 to October 2002, he served as President of Advanced Input Devices, Inc., also part of Esterline’s Avionics & Controls segment. Mr. Houston has an M.B.A. from the University of Washington and a B.A. degree in Political Science from Seattle Pacific University.

Mr. Kring has been Senior Group Vice President since February 2005. Previously, he was Group Vice President from August 1993. Mr. Kring has an M.B.A. from California State University at Northridge and a B.S. degree in Aeronautical Engineering from Purdue University.

Mr. Larson has been Vice President, Strategy & Technology since January 2000. Previously, he was Group Vice President from April 1991 through December 1999. Mr. Larson has an M.B.A. from the University of Chicago and a B.S. degree in Electrical Engineering from Northwestern University.

Mr. Wood has been Group Vice President since February 2005. In addition, he is the President of Esterline’s Sensors Group, which is included in the Sensors & Systems business segment, since July 2003. From March 2000 to July 2003, he served as Managing Director (Chief Executive Officer) of Weston Aerospace, a manufacturer of high-end sensors for large thrust jet engines acquired by Esterline in June 2003. Mr. Wood has a B.Sc. degree in Engineering Science from the University of Durham in England and is a Fellow of the Royal Aeronautical Society.

 

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Forward-Looking Statements

This annual report on Form 10-K includes forward-looking statements. These statements may be identified by the use of forward-looking terminology such as “anticipate,” “believe,” “continue,” “could,” “estimate,” “expect,” “intend,” “may,” “might,” “plan,” “potential,” “predict,” “should” or “will” or the negative thereof or other variations thereon or comparable terminology. In particular, statements about our expectations, beliefs, plans, objectives, assumptions or future events or performance contained in this report under the headings “Risks Relating to Our Business,” “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” and “Business” are forward-looking statements.

We have based these forward-looking statements on our current expectations, assumptions, estimates and projections. While we believe these expectations, assumptions, estimates and projections are reasonable, such forward-looking statements are only predictions and involve known and unknown risks and uncertainties, many of which are beyond our control. These and other important factors, including those discussed in this report under the headings “Risks Relating to Our Business and Our Industry,” “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” and “Business” may cause our actual results, performance or achievements to differ materially from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by these forward-looking statements. Some of the key factors that could cause actual results to differ from our expectations are:

 

    A significant downturn in the aerospace industry;
    A significant reduction in defense spending;
    A decrease in demand for our products as a result of competition, technological innovation or otherwise;
    Our inability to integrate acquired operations or complete acquisitions; and
    Loss of a significant customer or defense program.

Given these risks and uncertainties, you are cautioned not to place undue reliance on such forward-looking statements. The forward-looking statements included or incorporated by reference into this report are made only as of the date hereof. We do not undertake and specifically decline any obligation to update any such statements or to publicly announce the results of any revisions to any such statements to reflect future events or developments.

Item 1A. Risk Factors

 

Risks Relating to Our Business and Our Industry   

Implementing our acquisition strategy involves risks, and our failure to successfully implement this strategy could have a material adverse effect on our business.

One of our key strategies is to grow our business by selectively pursuing acquisitions. Since 1996 we have completed over 30 acquisitions, and we are continuing to actively pursue additional acquisition opportunities, some of which may be material to our business and financial performance. Although we have been successful with this strategy in the past, we may not be able to grow our business in the future through acquisitions for a number of reasons, including:

 

    Encountering difficulties identifying and executing acquisitions;
    Increased competition for targets, which may increase acquisition costs;

 

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    Consolidation in our industry reducing the number of acquisition targets;
    Acquisition financing not being available on acceptable terms or at all; and
    Competition laws and regulations preventing us from making certain acquisitions.

In addition, there are potential risks associated with growing our business through acquisitions, including the failure to successfully integrate and realize the expected benefits of an acquisition. For example, with any past or future acquisition, there is the possibility that:

 

    The business culture of the acquired business may not match well with our culture;
    Technological and product synergies, economies of scale and cost reductions may not occur as expected;
    Management may be distracted from overseeing existing operations by the need to integrate acquired businesses;
    We may acquire or assume unexpected liabilities;
    Unforeseen difficulties may arise in integrating operations and systems;
    We may fail to retain and assimilate employees of the acquired business;
    We may experience problems in retaining customers and integrating customer bases; and
    Problems may arise in entering new markets in which we may have little or no experience.

Failure to continue implementing our acquisition strategy, including successfully integrating acquired businesses, could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations.

Our future financial results could be adversely impacted by asset impairment charges.

Under Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 142, “Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets” (Statement No. 142), we are required to test both acquired goodwill and other indefinite-lived intangible assets for impairment on an annual basis based upon a fair value approach, rather than amortizing them over time. We have chosen to perform our annual impairment reviews of goodwill and other indefinite-lived intangible assets during the fourth quarter of each fiscal year. We also are required to test goodwill for impairment between annual tests if events occur or circumstances change that would more likely than not reduce our enterprise fair value below its book value. These events or circumstances could include a significant change in the business climate, including a significant sustained decline in an entity’s market value, legal factors, operating performance indicators, competition, sale or disposition of a significant portion of the business, or other factors. If the fair market value is less than the book value of goodwill, we could be required to record an impairment charge. The valuation of reporting units requires judgment in estimating future cash flows, discount rates and estimated product life cycles. In making these judgments, we evaluate the financial health of the business, including such factors as industry performance, changes in technology and operating cash flows. As we have grown through acquisitions, we have accumulated $366.2 million of goodwill, and have $29.3 million of indefinite-lived intangible assets, out of total assets of $1.3 billion at October 27, 2006. As a result, the amount of any annual or interim impairment could be significant and could have a material adverse effect on our reported financial results for the period in which the charge is taken. We also may be required to record an earnings charge or incur unanticipated expenses if, due to a change in strategy or other reason, we determined the value of other assets has been impaired.

We performed our impairment review for fiscal 2006 as of July 29, 2006, and our Step One analysis indicated that no impairment of goodwill exists on any of the Company’s reporting units. We

 

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account for the impairment of long-lived assets to be held and used in accordance with Financial Accounting Standards No. 144, “Accounting for the Impairment or Disposal of Long-lived Assets” (Statement No. 144). Statement No. 144 requires that a long-lived asset to be disposed of be reported at the lower of its carrying amount or fair value less cost to sell. An asset (other than goodwill and indefinite-lived intangible assets) is considered impaired when estimated future cash flows are less than the carrying amount of the asset. In the event the carrying amount of such asset is not deemed recoverable, the asset is adjusted to its estimated fair value. Fair value is generally determined based upon estimated discounted future cash flows. As we have grown through acquisitions, we have accumulated $212.3 million of intangible assets. As a result, the amount of any annual or interim impairment could be significant and could have a material adverse effect on our reported financial results for the period in which the charge is taken.

The loss of a significant customer or defense program could have a material adverse effect on our operating results.

Some of our operations are dependent on a relatively small number of customers and defense programs, which change from time to time. Significant customers in fiscal 2006 included the U.S. Department of Defense, The Boeing Company, General Dynamics, Flame, Rolls Royce, Honeywell, Lockheed Martin and Smiths Industries. There can be no assurance that our current significant customers will continue to buy our products at current levels. The loss of a significant customer or the cancellation of orders related to a sole-source defense program could have a material adverse effect on our operating results if we were unable to replace the related sales.

Our operating results are subject to fluctuations that may cause our revenues to decline.

Our business is susceptible to seasonality and economic cycles, and as a result, our operating results have fluctuated widely in the past and are likely to continue to do so. Our revenue tends to fluctuate based on a number of factors, including domestic and foreign economic conditions and developments affecting the specific industries and customers we serve. For example, the events of September 11, 2001 and the downturn in commercial aviation, due to, among other things, the conflict in Iraq, impacted our operations. It is possible that in the future our operating results in a particular quarter or quarters will not meet the expectations of securities analysts or investors, causing the market price of our common stock or senior subordinated notes to decline. We believe that quarter-to-quarter comparisons of our operating results are not a good indication of our future performance and should not be relied upon to predict our future performance.

Political and economic instability in foreign countries and markets may have a material adverse effect on our operating results.

Foreign sales were approximately 45% of our total sales in fiscal 2006, and we have manufacturing facilities in a number of foreign countries. A substantial portion of our Sensors & Systems operations are based in the U.K. and France. Doing business in foreign countries is subject to numerous risks, including political and economic instability, restrictive trade policies of foreign governments, economic conditions in local markets, health concerns, inconsistent product regulation or unexpected changes in regulatory and other legal requirements by foreign agencies or governments, the imposition of product tariffs and the burdens of complying with a wide variety of international and U.S. export laws and differing regulatory requirements. Our future sales of cockpit control displays to the Chinese market may be precluded by the proposed Bureau of Industry and Security’s (BIS) catch-all rule, currently scheduled for implementation in fiscal 2007. We expect the effect of this

 

14


regulation, if implemented, to be immaterial to our consolidated results of operations in future periods, but the loss of income from this market opportunity may have a measurable effect on the results of operations of our Avionics & Controls segment. To the extent that foreign sales are transacted in a foreign currency, we are subject to the risk of losses due to foreign currency fluctuations. In addition, we have substantial assets denominated in foreign currencies, primarily the U.K. pound and euro, that are not offset by liabilities denominated in those foreign currencies. These net foreign currency investments are subject to material changes in the event of fluctuations in foreign currencies against the U.S. dollar.

Among other things, we are subject to the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act, or FCPA, which generally prohibits U.S. companies and their intermediaries from bribing foreign officials for the purpose of obtaining or keeping business or otherwise obtaining favorable treatment. In particular, we may be held liable for actions taken by our strategic or local partners even though our partners are not subject to the FCPA. Any determination that we have violated the FCPA could result in sanctions that could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations.

 

15


We may not be able to compete effectively.

Our products and services are affected by varying degrees of competition. We compete with other companies and divisions and units of larger companies in most markets we serve, many of which have greater sales volumes or financial, technological or marketing resources than we do. Our principal competitors include: Eaton, ECE, Gables Engineering, Otto Controls, Ultra Electronics, and Telephonics in our Avionics & Controls segment; Ametek, Meggitt, Deutsch, Tyco, MPC Products and Goodrich in our Sensors & Systems segment; and Kmass, ULVA, Doncasters, Astec, Hitemp, Meggitt (including Dunlop Standard Aerospace Group), Adel Wiggins, RE Darling and Parker in our Advanced Materials segment. The principal competitive factors in the commercial markets in which we participate are product performance, service and price. Maintaining product performance requires expenditures in research and development that lead to product improvement and new product introduction. Companies with more substantial financial resources may have a better ability to make such expenditures. We cannot assure that we will be able to continue to successfully compete in our markets, which could adversely affect our business, financial condition and results of operations.

Our backlog is subject to modification or termination, which may reduce our sales in future periods.

We currently have a backlog of orders based on our contracts with customers. Under many of our contracts, our customers may unilaterally modify or terminate their orders at any time. In addition, the maximum contract value specified under a government contract awarded to us is not necessarily indicative of the sales that we will realize under that contract. For example, we are a sole-source prime contractor for many different military programs with the U.S. Department of Defense. We depend heavily on the government contracts underlying these programs. Over its lifetime, a program may be implemented by the award of many different individual contracts and subcontracts. The funding of government programs is subject to congressional appropriation.

Changes in defense procurement models may make it more difficult for us to successfully bid on projects as a prime contractor and limit sole-source opportunities available to us.

In recent years, the trend in combat system design and development appears to be evolving towards the technological integration of various battlefield components, including combat vehicles, command and control network communications, advanced technology artillery systems and robotics. If the U.S. military procurement approach continues to require this kind of overall battlefield combat system integration, we expect to be subject to increased competition from aerospace and defense companies who have significantly greater resources than we do. This trend could create a role for a prime contractor with broader capabilities that would be responsible for integrating various battlefield component systems and potentially eliminating or reducing the role of sole-source providers or prime contractors of component weapon systems.

The amount of debt we have outstanding, as well as any debt we may incur in the future, could have an adverse effect on our operational and financial flexibility.

As of October 27, 2006, we had $295.9 million of debt outstanding, of which $282.3 million is long-term debt. Our primary credit agreement as of October 27, 2006 includes a $100.0 million term loan facility, which may be drawn in U.S. dollars, U.K. pounds or euros. In addition, up to $25.0 million of our $100.0 million credit facility and up to $50.0 million in letters of credit may be drawn in U.K. pounds or euros in addition to U.S. dollars. On February 10, 2006, the Company borrowed U.K.

 

16


£57.0 million, or approximately $100.0 million, under the term loan facility. The Company used the proceeds from the loan as working capital for its U.K. operations and to repay a portion of our outstanding borrowings under the revolving credit facility. Our primary U.S. dollar credit facility as of October 27, 2006 totaled $100.0 million and is made available through a group of banks. The credit agreement is secured by substantially all of the Company’s assets and interest is based on standard inter-bank offering rates. In addition, we have unsecured foreign currency credit facilities that have been extended by foreign banks for up to $19.6 million. Available credit under the above credit facilities was $111.0 million at October 27, 2006, when reduced by outstanding foreign bank borrowings of $8.1 million and letters of credit of $0.6 million.

The indenture governing our outstanding senior subordinated notes in an aggregate principal amount of $175.0 million and other debt agreements limit, but do not prohibit, us from incurring additional debt in the future. Our level of debt could have significant consequences to our business, including the following:

 

    Depending on interest rates and debt maturities, a substantial portion of our cash flow from operations could be dedicated to paying principal and interest on our debt, thereby reducing funds available for our acquisition strategy, capital expenditures or other purposes;
    A significant amount of debt could make us more vulnerable to changes in economic conditions or increases in prevailing interest rates;
    Our ability to obtain additional financing for acquisitions, capital expenditures or for other purposes could be impaired;
    The increase in the amount of debt we have outstanding increases the risk of non-compliance with some of the covenants in our debt agreements which require us to maintain specified financial ratios; and
    We may be more leveraged than some of our competitors, which may result in a competitive disadvantage.

If we were unable to protect our intellectual property rights adequately, the value of our products could be diminished.

Our success is dependent in part on obtaining, maintaining and enforcing our proprietary rights and our ability to avoid infringing on the proprietary rights of others. While we take precautionary steps to protect our technological advantages and intellectual property and rely in part on patent, trademark, trade secret and copyright laws, we cannot assure that the precautionary steps we have taken will completely protect our intellectual property rights. Because patent applications in the United States are maintained in secrecy until either the patent application is published or a patent is issued, we may not be aware of third-party patents, patent applications and other intellectual property relevant to our products that may block our use of our intellectual property or may be used in third-party products that compete with our products and processes. In the event a competitor successfully challenges our products, processes, patents or licenses or claims that we have infringed upon their intellectual property, we could incur substantial litigation costs defending against such claims, be required to pay royalties, license fees or other damages or be barred from using the intellectual property at issue, any of which could have a material adverse effect on our business, operating results and financial condition.

In addition to our patent rights, we also rely on unpatented technology, trade secrets and confidential information. Others may independently develop substantially equivalent information and techniques or otherwise gain access to or disclose our technology. We may not be able to protect our rights in unpatented technology, trade secrets and confidential information effectively. We require each of our

 

17


employees and consultants to execute a confidentiality agreement at the commencement of an employment or consulting relationship with us. However, these agreements may not provide effective protection of our information or, in the event of unauthorized use or disclosure, they may not provide adequate remedies.

We may lose money or generate less than expected profits on our fixed-price contracts.

Our customers set demanding specifications for product performance, reliability and cost. Some of our government contracts and subcontracts provide for a predetermined, fixed price for the products we make regardless of the costs we incur. Therefore, we must absorb cost overruns, notwithstanding the difficulty of estimating all of the costs we will incur in performing these contracts and in projecting the ultimate level of sales that we may achieve. Our failure to anticipate technical problems, estimate costs accurately, integrate technical processes effectively or control costs during performance of a fixed-price contract may reduce the profitability of a fixed-price contract or cause a loss. While we believe that we have recorded adequate provisions in our financial statements for losses on our fixed-price contract as required under GAAP, we cannot assure that our contract loss provisions will be adequate to cover all actual future losses. Therefore, we may incur losses on fixed-price contracts that we had expected to be profitable, or such contracts may be less profitable than expected.

We depend on the continued contributions of our executive officers and other key management, each of whom would be difficult to replace.

Our future success depends to a significant degree upon the continued contributions of our senior management and our ability to attract and retain other highly qualified management personnel. We face competition for management from other companies and organizations. Therefore, we may not be able to retain our existing management personnel or fill new management positions or vacancies created by expansion or turnover at our existing compensation levels. Although we have entered into change of control agreements with some members of senior management, we do not have employment contracts with our key executives, nor have we purchased “key-person” insurance on the lives of any of our key officers or management personnel to reduce the impact to our company that the loss of any of them would cause. Specifically, the loss of any of our executive officers would disrupt our operations and divert the time and attention of our remaining officers. Additionally, failure to attract and retain highly qualified management personnel would damage our business prospects.

A downturn in the aircraft market could adversely affect our business.

The aircraft industry is cyclical in nature and affected by many factors beyond our control. For example, the aircraft market was affected by the conflict in Iraq and the events of September 11, 2001, resulting in bankruptcy filings, restructurings and downsizing by the major commercial and regional airline carriers. This prolonged downturn had an adverse effect on our business, financial condition and operating results.

The principal markets for manufacturers of commercial aircraft are the commercial and regional airlines, which are adversely affected by a number of factors, including fuel and labor costs, intense price competition, outbreak of infectious disease and terrorist attacks, as well as economic cycles, all of which can be unpredictable and are outside our control. Commercial aircraft production may increase or decrease in response to changes in customer demand caused by general economic conditions and the perceived safety and ease of airline travel.

 

18


The military aircraft industry is dependent upon the level of equipment expenditures by the armed forces of countries throughout the world, and especially those of the United States. Although the events of September 11, 2001 and the conflict in Iraq have increased the level of equipment expenditures by the U.S. Armed Forces, this level of spending may not be sustainable in light of record deficits being incurred by the U.S. In addition, in the past this industry has been adversely affected by a number of factors, including the reduction in military spending since the end of the Cold War. Decreases in military spending could depress demand for military aircraft.

Any decrease in demand for new aircraft or use of existing aircraft will likely result in a decrease in demand of our products and services, and correspondingly, our revenues, thereby adversely affecting our business, financial condition and results of operations.

The market for our products may be affected by our ability to adapt to technological change.

The rapid change of technology is a key feature of all of the markets in which our businesses operate. To succeed in the future, we will need to design, develop, manufacture, assemble, test, market, and support new products and enhancements to our existing products in a timely and cost-effective manner. Historically, our technology has been developed through internal research and development expenditures, as well as customer-sponsored research and development programs. There is no guarantee that we will continue to maintain, or benefit from, comparable levels of research and development in the future. In addition, our competitors may develop technologies and products that are more effective than those we develop or that render our technology and products obsolete or noncompetitive. Furthermore, our products could become unmarketable if new industry standards emerge. We cannot assure that our existing products will not require significant modifications in the future to remain competitive or that new products we introduce will be accepted by our customers, nor can we assure that we will successfully identify new opportunities and continue to have the needed financial resources to develop new products in a timely or cost-effective manner.

Our business is subject to government contracting regulations, and our failure to comply with such laws and regulations could harm our operating results and prospects.

We estimate that approximately 24% of our sales in fiscal 2006 were attributable to contracts in which we were either the prime contractor to, or a subcontractor to a prime contractor to, the U.S. government. As a contractor and subcontractor to the U.S. government, we must comply with laws and regulations relating to the formation, administration and performance of federal government contracts that affect how we do business with our clients and may impose added costs on our business. For example, these regulations and laws include provisions that contracts we have been awarded are subject to:

 

    Protest or challenge by unsuccessful bidders; and
    Unilateral termination, reduction or modification in the event of changes in government requirements.

The accuracy and appropriateness of certain costs and expenses used to substantiate our direct and indirect costs for the U.S. government under both cost-plus and fixed-price contracts are subject to extensive regulation and audit by the Defense Contract Audit Agency, an arm of the U.S. Department of Defense. Responding to governmental audits, inquiries or investigations may involve significant expense and divert management attention. Our failure to comply with these or other laws and regulations could result in contract termination, suspension or debarment from contracting with the

 

19


federal government, civil fines and damages, and criminal prosecution and penalties, any of which could have a material adverse effect on our operating results.

A significant portion of our business depends on U.S. government contracts, which contracts are often subject to competitive bidding, and a failure to compete effectively or accurately anticipate the success of future projects could adversely affect our business.

We obtain many of our U.S. government contracts through a competitive bidding process that subjects us to risks associated with:

 

    The frequent need to bid on programs in advance of the completion of their design, which may result in unforeseen technological difficulties and/or cost overruns;

 

    The substantial time and effort, including design, development and marketing activities, required to prepare bids and proposals for contracts that may not be awarded to us; and

 

    The design complexity and rapid rate of technological advancement of defense-related products.

In addition, in order to win the award of developmental programs, we must be able to align our research and development and product offerings with the government’s changing concepts of national defense and defense systems. The government’s termination of, or failure to fully fund, one or more of the contracts for our programs would have a negative impact on our operating results and financial condition. Furthermore, we serve as a subcontractor on several military programs that, in large part, involve the same risks as prime contracts.

Overall, we rely on key contracts with U.S. government entities for a significant portion of our sales and business. A substantial reduction in these contracts would materially adversely affect our operating results and financial position.

The airline industry is heavily regulated and if we fail to comply with applicable requirements, our results of operations could suffer.

Governmental agencies throughout the world, including the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration, or the FAA, prescribe standards and qualification requirements for aircraft components, including virtually all commercial airline and general aviation products, as well as regulations regarding the repair and overhaul of aircraft engines. Specific regulations vary from country to country, although compliance with FAA requirements generally satisfies regulatory requirements in other countries. We include, with the replacement parts that we sell to our customers, documentation certifying that each part complies with applicable regulatory requirements and meets applicable standards of airworthiness established by the FAA or the equivalent regulatory agencies in other countries. In order to sell our products, we and the products we manufacture must also be certified by our individual OEM customers. If any of the material authorizations or approvals qualifying us to supply our products is revoked or suspended, then the sale of the subject product would be prohibited by law, which would have an adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations.

From time to time, the FAA or equivalent regulatory agencies in other countries propose new regulations or changes to existing regulations, which are usually more stringent than existing regulations. If these proposed regulations are adopted and enacted, we may incur significant additional costs to achieve compliance, which could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations.

 

20


Future asbestos claims could harm our business.

We are subject to potential liabilities relating to certain products we manufactured containing asbestos. To date, our insurance has covered claims against us relating to those products. Commencing November 1, 2003, insurance coverage for asbestos claims has been unavailable. However, we continue to have some insurance coverage for exposure to asbestos contained in our products prior to that date.

We continue to manufacture for one customer a product that contains asbestos. We have an agreement with the customer for indemnification for certain losses we may incur as a result of asbestos claims relating to that product, but we cannot assure that this indemnification agreement will fully protect us from losses arising from asbestos claims.

To the extent we are not insured or indemnified for losses from asbestos claims relating to our products, asbestos claims could adversely affect our operating results and our financial condition.

Environmental laws and regulations may subject us to significant liability.

Our business and our facilities are subject to a number of federal, state, local and foreign laws, regulations and ordinances governing, among other things, the use, manufacture, storage, handling and disposal of hazardous materials and certain waste products. Among these environmental laws are rules by which a current or previous owner or operator of land may be liable for the costs of investigation, removal or remediation of hazardous materials at such property. In addition, these laws typically impose liability regardless of whether the owner or operator knew of, or was responsible for, the presence of any hazardous materials. Persons who arrange for the disposal or treatment of hazardous materials may be liable for the costs of investigation, removal or remediation of such substances at the disposal or treatment site, regardless of whether the affected site is owned or operated by them.

Because we own and operate a number of facilities that use, manufacture, store, handle or arrange for the disposal of various hazardous materials, we may incur costs for investigation, removal and remediation, as well as capital costs, associated with compliance with environmental laws. At the time of the acquisition of Wallop Defence Systems Limited, we and the seller agreed that some environmental remedial activities may need to be carried out and these activities are currently on-going. Under the terms of the Stock Purchase Agreement, a portion of the costs of any environmental remedial activities will be reimbursed by the seller if the cost is incurred within five years of the consummation of the acquisition. Additionally, at the time of our asset acquisition of the Electronic Warfare Passive Expendables Division of BAE Systems North America, certain environmental remedial activities were required under a Part B Permit issued to the infrared decoy flare facility by the Arkansas Department of Environmental Quality under the Federal Resource Conservation and Recovery Act. The Part B Permit was transferred to our subsidiary, Armtec, along with the remedial obligations. Under the terms of the asset purchase agreement, BAE Systems agreed to complete all remedial obligations at the infrared decoy flare facility and to indemnify us for all environmental liabilities related to that facility to a maximum amount of $25.0 million. Although environmental costs have not been material in the past, we cannot assure that these matters, or any similar liabilities that arise in the future, will not exceed our resources, nor can we completely eliminate the risk of accidental contamination or injury from these materials.

 

21


We may be required to defend lawsuits or pay damages in connection with the alleged or actual harm caused by our products.

We face an inherent business risk of exposure to product liability claims in the event that the use of our products is alleged to have resulted in harm to others or to property. For example, our operations expose us to potential liabilities for personal injury or death as a result of the failure of an aircraft component that has been designed, manufactured or serviced by us. We may incur significant liability if product liability lawsuits against us are successful. While we believe our current general liability and product liability insurance is adequate to protect us from future product liability claims, we cannot assure that coverage will be adequate to cover all claims that may arise. Additionally, we may not be able to maintain insurance coverage in the future at an acceptable cost. Any liability not covered by insurance or for which third-party indemnification is not available could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations.

 

22


Item 2. Properties

The following table summarizes our properties that are greater than 100,000 square feet or relate to principal operations, including identification of the business segment, as of October 27, 2006:

 

Location

  

Type of Facility

  

Business Segment

   Approximate
Square
Footage
   Owned
or
Leased
 

Brea, CA

   Office, Plant & Warehouse    Advanced Materials    429,000    Owned  

Seattle, WA

   Office & Plant    Avionics & Controls    200,000    Leased  

Stillington, U.K.

   Office & Plant    Advanced Materials    186,000    Owned  

East Camden, AR

   Office & Plant    Advanced Materials    175,000    Leased  

Coachella, CA

   Office & Plant    Advanced Materials    112,000    Owned  

Buena Park, CA

   Office & Plant    Sensors & Systems    110,000    Owned *

Bourges, France

   Office & Plant    Sensors & Systems    109,000    Leased  

Farnborough, U.K.

   Office & Plant    Sensors & Systems    108,000    Leased  

Milan, TN

   Office & Plant    Advanced Materials    100,000    Leased  

Sylmar, CA

   Office & Plant    Avionics & Controls    96,000    Leased  

Valencia, CA

   Office & Plant    Advanced Materials    88,000    Owned  

Coeur d’Alene, ID

   Office & Plant    Avionics & Controls    88,000    Leased  

Hampshire, U.K.

   Office & Plant    Advanced Materials    82,000    Owned  

Gloucester, U.K.

   Office & Plant    Advanced Materials    59,000    Leased  

 

* The building is located on a parcel of land covering 16.1 acres that is leased by the Company.

In total, we own approximately 1,400,000 square feet and lease approximately 1,400,000 square feet of manufacturing facilities and properties.

Item 3. Legal Proceedings

From time to time we are involved in legal proceedings arising in the ordinary course of our business. We believe we have adequately reserved for these liabilities and that there is no litigation pending that could have a material adverse effect on our results of operations and financial condition.

Item 4. Submission of Matters to a Vote of Security Holders

No matter was submitted to a vote of security holders during the fourth quarter of the fiscal year ended October 27, 2006.

 

23


PART II

Item 5. Market for Registrant’s Common Equity, Related Stockholder Matters and Issuer Purchases of              Equity Securities

We hereby incorporate by reference the following information that appears in our Annual Report to Shareholders for the fiscal year ended October 27, 2006:

 

  (a) The high and low market sales prices of our common stock for each quarterly period during fiscal years 2006 and 2005, respectively, is set forth under the section entitled “Market Price of Esterline Common Stock” of the Annual Report to Shareholders for the fiscal year ended October 27, 2006. The Annual Report is included as Exhibit 13 to this report.

 

  (b) Restrictions on the ability to pay future cash dividends is set forth in Note 11 to the Consolidated Financial Statements contained in the Annual Report to Shareholders for the fiscal year ended October 27, 2006. The Annual Report is included as Exhibit 13 to this report.

No cash dividends were paid during fiscal years 2006 and 2005. We are restricted from paying dividends under our current debt instruments and do not anticipate paying any dividends in the foreseeable future.

On January 3, 2007, there were 507 holders of record of our common stock.

The principal market for our Common Stock is the New York Stock Exchange.

Item 6. Selected Financial Data

We hereby incorporate by reference the information set forth under the section entitled, “Selected Financial Data” of the Annual Report to Shareholders for the fiscal year ended October 27, 2006. The Annual Report is included as Exhibit 13 to this report.

Item 7. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations

We hereby incorporate by reference the information set forth under the section entitled “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Continuing Operations” of the Annual Report to Shareholders for the fiscal year ended October 27, 2006. The Annual Report is included as Exhibit 13 to this report.

Item 7A. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures about Market Risk

We hereby incorporate by reference the information set forth under the section “Disclosures About Market Risk” of the Annual Report to Shareholders for the fiscal year ended October 27, 2006. The Annual Report is included as Exhibit 13 to this report.

Item 8. Financial Statements and Supplementary Data

The report of Ernst & Young LLP, Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm, and the consolidated financial statements are included in the Annual Report to Shareholders for the fiscal year ended October 27, 2006 and are hereby incorporated by reference. Quarterly results of

 

24


operations are reported in Note 17 of the Company’s Annual Report to Shareholders for the fiscal year ended October 27, 2006 and are hereby incorporated by reference. The Annual Report is included as Exhibit 13 to this report.

Item 9. Changes in and Disagreements with Accountants on Accounting and Financial Disclosure

None.

Item 9A. Controls and Procedures

 

Disclosure Controls and Procedures   

Our principal executive and financial officers evaluated our disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e) under the Exchange Act) as of October 27, 2006. Based upon that evaluation, they concluded as of October 27, 2006, that our disclosure controls and procedures were effective to ensure that information we are required to disclose in the reports that we file under the Exchange Act is recorded, processed, summarized and reported within time periods specified in Securities and Exchange Commission rules and forms. In addition, our principal executive and financial officers concluded as of October 27, 2006 that our disclosure controls and procedures are also effective to ensure that information required to be disclosed in reports that we file or submit under the Exchange Act is accumulated and communicated to our management, including our Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosure.

 

Management’s Report on Internal Control Over Financial Reporting   

We hereby incorporate by reference the information set forth under “Management’s Report on Internal Control Over Financial Reporting” that appears on page 87 of our Annual Report to Shareholders for the fiscal year ended October 27, 2006. The Annual Report is included as Exhibit 13 to this report.

 

Changes in Internal Control Over Financial Reporting   

During the three months ended October 27, 2006, there were no changes in our internal control over financial reporting that materially affected, or are reasonably likely to materially affect, our internal control over financial reporting.

Item 9B. Other Information

None.

 

25


PART III

Item 10. Directors and Executive Officers of the Registrant

We hereby incorporate by reference the information set forth under “Election of Directors,” “Section 16(a) Beneficial Ownership Reporting Compliance,” “Code of Ethics,” “Other Information as to Directors – Board and Board Committees,” and “Other Information as to Directors – Director Nominations and Qualifications” in the definitive form of the Company’s Proxy Statement, relating to its Annual Meeting of Shareholders to be held on March 7, 2007.

Information regarding our executive officers required by this item appears in Item 1 of this report under “Executive Officers of the Registrant.”

Item 11. Executive Compensation

We hereby incorporate by reference the information set forth under “Other Information as to Directors – Director Compensation” and “Executive Compensation,” in the definitive form of the Company’s Proxy Statement, relating to its Annual Meeting of Shareholders to be held on March 7, 2007.

Item 12. Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and Management and Related Stockholder                Matters

The following table gives information about the shares of Common Stock that may be issued upon the exercise of options, warrants and rights under the Amended and Restated 1987 Stock Option Plan, the Non-Employee Directors’ Stock Compensation Plan, the Amended and Restated 1997 Stock Option Plan, the 2002 Employee Stock Purchase Plan and the 2004 Equity Incentive Plan, the only equity compensation plans of the Company in effect as of the end of the Company’s last fiscal year.

 

     Equity Compensation Plan Information

Plan Category

   Number of securities
to be issued upon
exercise
of outstanding options,
warrants and rights
   Weighted-average
exercise price of
outstanding options,
warrants and rights
   Number of securities
remaining available for
future issuance under
equity compensation plans
(excluding securities
reflected in the first
column)

Equity compensation plans approved by security holders

   1,469,000    $25.80    1,363,427 (1)(2)

Equity compensation plans not approved by security holders

   —            —              —              
              

Total

   1,469,000    $25.80    1,363,427     

 

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(1) Of these shares, 1,117,950 shares are available for issuance under the 2004 Equity Incentive Plan, 202,295 shares are available for purchase under the 2002 Employee Stock Purchase Plan, and 43,182 shares are available for grant under the Non-Employee Directors’ Stock Compensation Plan, as of the end of the Company’s last completed fiscal year.

 

(2) Pursuant to the Non-Employee Directors’ Stock Compensation Plan effective beginning fiscal 2007, each of the Company’s non-employee directors will receive an automatic grant of shares of Common Stock not subject to any restriction within 45 days of each annual shareholders meeting with an aggregate market value of $60,000 based on the closing price of the Common Stock on that date.

We hereby incorporate by reference the information set forth under “Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and Management” and “Equity Compensation Plan Information” in the definitive form of the Company’s Proxy Statement, relating to its Annual Meeting of Shareholders to be held on March 7, 2007.

Item 13. Certain Relationships and Related Transactions

None.

Item 14. Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm Fees and Services

We hereby incorporate by reference the information set forth under “Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm’s Fees” in the definitive form of the Company’s Proxy Statement relating to the 2007 Annual Meeting of Shareholders to be held on March 7, 2007.

 

27


PART IV

Item 15. Exhibits, Financial Statement Schedules, and Reports on Form 8-K

(a)(1) Financial Statements.

The following consolidated financial statements, together with the report of Ernst & Young LLP, Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm, dated December 18, 2006, appearing in the Company’s Annual Report to Shareholders for the fiscal year ended October 27, 2006.

 

     Annual Report
Reference

Consolidated Statement of Operations – Fiscal years 2006, 2005, and 2004

   *

Consolidated Balance Sheet – October 27, 2006 and October 28, 2005

   *

Consolidated Statement of Cash Flows – Fiscal years 2006, 2005, and 2004

   *

Consolidated Statement of Shareholders’ Equity and Comprehensive

  

         Income – Fiscal years 2006, 2005, and 2004

   *

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements – October 27, 2006

   *

Report of Ernst & Young LLP, Independent Registered Public

  

         Accounting Firm

   *

*   Incorporated by reference to the Annual Report to Shareholders for the fiscal year ended October 27, 2006. The Annual Report is included as Exhibit 13 to this report.

Refer also to Part II, Item 8 – Financial Statements and Supplementary Data for additional information.

 

(a)(2) Financial Statement Schedules.

The following consolidated financial statement schedule of the Company is included as follows:

Schedule II – Valuation and Qualifying Accounts, see page 36.

All other schedules for which provision is made in the applicable accounting regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission are not required under the related instructions or are inapplicable and therefore have been omitted.

 

(a)(3) Exhibits.

See Exhibit Index on pages 31-35.

 

28


SIGNATURES

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

 

ESTERLINE TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATION
(Registrant)
By       /s/ Robert D. George
  Robert D. George
  Vice President,
  Chief Financial Officer,
  Secretary and Treasurer
  (Principal Financial Officer)

Dated: January 8, 2007

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, this Report has been signed below by the following persons on behalf of the Registrant and in the capacities and on the dates indicated.

 

/s/ Robert W. Cremin

(Robert W. Cremin)

  

Chairman, President and

Chief Executive Officer

(Principal Executive Officer)

  

January 8, 2007

Date

/s/ Robert D. George

(Robert D. George)

  

Vice President,

Chief Financial Officer,

Secretary and Treasurer

(Principal Financial Officer)

  

January 8, 2007

Date

/s/ Gary J. Posner

(Gary J. Posner)

  

Corporate Controller and

Chief Accounting Officer

(Principal Accounting Officer)

  

January 8, 2007

Date

/s/ Lewis E. Burns

(Lewis E. Burns)

   Director   

January 8, 2007

Date

/s/ John F. Clearman

(John F. Clearman)

   Director   

January 8, 2007

Date

 

29


/s/ Robert S. Cline

(Robert S. Cline)

   Director   

January 8, 2007

Date

/s/ Anthony P. Franceschini

(Anthony P. Franceschini)

   Director   

January 8, 2007

Date

/s/ Paul V. Haack

(Paul V. Haack)

   Director   

January 8, 2007

Date

/s/ Charles R. Larson

(Charles R. Larson)

   Director   

January 8, 2007

Date

/s/ Jerry D. Leitman

(Jerry D. Leitman)

   Director   

January 8, 2007

Date

/s/ James L. Pierce

(James L. Pierce)

   Director   

January 8, 2007

Date

 

30


Exhibit
Number
  

Exhibit Index

  2.1    Share Purchase Agreement among Cobham plc, Esterline Acquisition Limited and Esterline Technologies Corporation dated March 8, 2006.
  3.1    Restated Certificate of Incorporation, dated June 6, 2002. (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.1 to the Company’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended April 26, 2002 [Commission File Number 1-6357].)
  3.2    By-laws of the Company, as amended and restated September 8, 2005. (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.2 to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K dated September 9, 2005 [Commission File Number 1-6357].)
  4.1    Rights Agreement dated as of December 11, 2002, between Esterline Technologies Corporation and Mellon Investor Services LLC, as Rights Agent, which includes as Exhibit A the Form of Certificate of Designation of Series B Serial Preferred Stock, as Exhibit B the Form of Rights of Certificate and as Exhibit C the Summary of Rights to Purchase Preferred Shares. (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.1 to the Company’s Registration Statement on Form 8-A, as amended, filed on December 12, 2002 [Commission File Number 1-6357].)
  4.2    Indenture relating to Esterline Technologies Corporation’s 7.75% Senior Subordinated Notes due 2013, dated as of June 11, 2003. (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.1 to the Company’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended August 1, 2003 [Commission File Number 1-6357].)
  4.3    Form of Exchange Note. (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.3 to the Company’s Form S-4, as amended, filed on September 30, 2003 [Commission File Number 333-109325].)
10.2    Amendment No. 4 Credit Agreement, dated as of February 10, 2006, among Esterline Technologies Corporation, the financial institutions referred to therein and Wachovia Bank, National Association, as Administrative Agent. (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.2 to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K dated February 10, 2006 [Commission File Number 1-6357].)
10.4    Industrial Lease dated July 17, 1984, between 901 Dexter Associates and Korry Electronics Co., First Amendment to Lease dated May 10, 1985, Second Amendment to Lease dated June 20, 1986, Third Amendment to Lease dated September 1, 1987, and Notification of Option Exercise dated January 7, 1991, relating to the manufacturing facility of Korry Electronics at 901 Dexter Avenue N., Seattle, Washington. (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.4 to the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended October 28, 2005 [Commission File Number 1-6357].)
 10.4a    Fourth Amendment dated July 27, 1994, to Industrial Lease dated July 17, 1984 between Houg Family Partnership, as successor to 901 Dexter Associates, and Korry Electronics Co. (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.4a to the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended October 28, 2005 [Commission File Number 1-6357].)

 

31


Exhibit
Number
  

Exhibit Index

    10.5    Industrial Lease dated July 17, 1984, between 801 Dexter Associates and Korry Electronics Co., First Amendment to Lease dated May 10, 1985, Second Amendment to Lease dated June 20, 1986, Third Amendment to Lease dated September 1, 1987, and Notification of Option Exercise dated January 7, 1991, relating to the manufacturing facility of Korry Electronics at 801 Dexter Avenue N., Seattle, Washington. (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.5 to the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended October 28, 2005 [Commission File Number 1-6357].)
    10.5a    Fourth Amendment dated March 28, 1994, to Industrial Lease dated July 17, 1984, between Michael Maloney and the Bancroft & Maloney general partnership, as successor to 801 Dexter Associates, and Korry Electronics Co. (Incorporated by reference to the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended October 28, 2005 [Commission File Number 1-6357].)
    10.10*    Compensation of Directors. (Incorporated by reference to “Other Information as to Directors – Compensation of Directors” in the definitive form of the Company’s Proxy Statement, relating to its 2007 Annual Meeting of Shareholders to be held on March 7, 2007, and to be filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission and the New York Stock Exchange.)
    10.13*    Amended and Restated 1987 Stock Option Plan. (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10 to the Company’s Registration Statement on Form S-8 [Commission File Number 33-52851] filed March 28, 1994.)
    10.15*    Esterline Technologies Corporation Supplemental Retirement Income Plan.
    10.16k*    Esterline Technologies Corporation Long-Term Incentive Plan. (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.16k to the Company’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended July 29, 2005 [Commission File Number 1-6357].)
    10.19*    Executive Officer Termination Protection Agreement. (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.19 to the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended October 28, 2005 [Commission File Number 1-6357].)
    10.19b*    Offer Letter from Esterline Technologies Corporation to Richard Wood dated February 2, 2005. (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.19b to the Company’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended January 28, 2005 [Commission File Number 1-6357].)
    10.19c*    Severance Protection Agreement between Richard Wood and Esterline Technologies Corporation, dated February 23, 2005. (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.19c to the Company’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended January 28, 2005 [Commission File Number 1-6357].)
    10.19d*    Executive Officer Compensation. (Incorporated by reference to “Executive Compensation” in the definitive form of the Company’s Proxy Statement, relating to its 2007 Annual Meeting of Shareholders to be held on March 7, 2007, and to be filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission and the New York Stock Exchange.)

 

32


Exhibit
Number
  

Exhibit Index

    10.19e*    Offer Letter from Esterline Technologies Corporation to Frank Houston dated March 4, 2005. (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.19e to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K dated March 29, 2005 [Commission File Number 1-6357].)
    10.21*    Esterline Technologies Corporation Fiscal Year 2006 Annual Incentive Compensation Plan. (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.21 to the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended October 28, 2005 [Commission File Number 1-6357].)
    10.22    Real Property Lease and Sublease, dated June 28, 1996, between 810 Dexter L.L.C. and Korry Electronics Co. (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.22 to the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended October 28, 2005 [Commission File Number 1-6357].)
    10.24*    Esterline Technologies Corporation Amended and Restated 1997 Stock Option Plan. (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 99.1 to the Company’s Registration Statement on Form S-8 [Commission File Number 333-103846] filed March 14, 2003.)
    10.25    Property lease between Slibail Immobilier and Norbail Immobilier and Auxitrol S.A., dated April 29, 1997, relating to the manufacturing facility of Auxitrol at 5, allée Charles Pathé, 18941 Bourges Cedex 9, France, effective on the construction completed date (December 5, 1997). (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.25 to the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended October 28, 2005 [Commission File Number 1-6357].)
    10.26    Industrial and build-to-suit purchase and sale agreement between The Newhall Land and Farming Company, Esterline Technologies Corporation and TA Mfg. Co., dated February 13, 1997 including Amendments, relating to premises located at 28065 West Franklin Parkway, Valencia, CA. (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.26 to the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended October 28, 2005 [Commission File Number 1-6357].)
    10.31    Lease Agreement, dated as of February 27, 1998, between Glacier Partners and Advanced Input Devices, Inc., Lease Amendment #1, dated February 27, 1998. (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.31 to the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended October 27, 2000 [Commission File Number 1-6357].)
    10.33*    Esterline Technologies Corporation 2002 Employee Stock Purchase Plan. (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 99.2 to the Company’s Registration Statement on Form S-8 [Commission File Number 333-135025] filed June 14, 2006.)

 

33


Exhibit
Number
  

Exhibit Index

    10.34    Lease Agreement, dated as of August 6, 2003, by and between the Prudential Insurance Company of America and Mason Electric Co., relating to premises located at Sylmar, California. (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.34 to the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended October 31, 2003 [Commission File Number 1-6357].)
    10.35    Occupation Lease of Buildings known as Phases 3 and 4 on the Solartron Site at Victoria Road, Farnborough, Hampshire between J Sainsbury Developments Limited and Weston Aerospace Limited, dated July 21, 2000. (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.35 to the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended October 31, 2003 [Commission File Number 1-6357].)
    10.36*    Esterline Technologies Corporation 2004 Equity Incentive Plan. (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 99.1 to the Company’s Registration Statement on Form S-8 [Commission File Number 333-135025] filed June 14, 2006.)
    10.36a*    Form of Stock Option Agreement. (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.36a to the Company’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended January 28, 2005 [Commission File Number 1-6357].)
    10.37    Lease Agreement dated as of March 19, 1969, as amended, between Leach Corporation and Gin Gor Ju, Trustee of Ju Family Trust, relating to premises located in Orange County. (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.37 to the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended October 29, 2004 [Commission File Number 1-6357].)
    10.38    Lease Agreement, dated November 29, 2005 between Lordbay Investments Limited, Darchem Engineering Limited and Darchem Holdings Limited relating to premises located at Units 4 and 5 Eastbrook Road, London Borough of Gloucestershire Gloucester. (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.38 to the Company’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended April 28, 2006 [Commission File Number 1-6357].)
    10.40*    Esterline Technologies Corporation Amended and Restated Non-Employee Directors’ Stock Compensation Plan. (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.40 to the Company’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended January 28, 2005 [Commission File Number 1-6357].)
    10.41    Amendment No. 1 dated as of November 23, 2005 to Lease Agreement dated as of March 1, 1994 between Highland Industrial Park, Inc. and Armtec Countermeasures Company. (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.41 to the Company’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended April 28, 2006 [Commission File Number 1-6357].)
    10.42*    Esterline Technologies Corporation Fiscal Year 2007 Annual Incentive Compensation Plan.
    10.43*    Esterline Technologies Supplemental Executive Retirement and Deferred Compensation Plan.

 

34


Exhibit
Number
  

Exhibit Index

    10.44    Lease Agreement dated November 4, 2002, between American Ordnance LLC and FR Countermeasures, relating to premises located at 25A Ledbetter Gate Road, Milan, Tennessee.
    11    Schedule setting forth computation of earnings per share for the five fiscal years ended October 27, 2006.
    12.1    Statement of Computation of Ratio of Earnings to Fixed Charges.
    13    Portions of the Annual Report to Shareholders for the fiscal year ended October 27, 2006, incorporated by reference herein.
    21    List of subsidiaries.
    23    Consent of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm.
    31.1    Certification of Chief Executive Officer.
    31.2    Certification of Chief Financial Officer.
    32.1    Certification (of Robert W. Cremin) pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.
    32.2    Certification (of Robert D. George) pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.

* Indicates management contract or compensatory plan or arrangement.

 

35


ESTERLINE TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES

SCHEDULE II – VALUATION AND QUALIFYING ACCOUNTS

(In Thousands)

 

Description          Balance at
Beginning
     of Year     
   Charged to
Costs
and Expenses
     Deductions       Balance at
End
     of Year     

Reserve for Doubtful
Accounts Receivable

          

Fiscal Years

          

2006

   $ 4,462    $ 597    $ (721 ) 1   $ 4,338
                              

2005

   $ 3,687    $ 1,511    $ (736 ) 1   $ 4,462
                              

2004

   $ 2,669    $ 1,294    $ (276 ) 1   $ 3,687
                              

 

1 Uncollectible accounts written off, net of recoveries.

 

36

Exhibit 2.1

LOGO

 

  Allen & Overy LLP
  CONFORMED COPY
  SHARE PURCHASE AGREEMENT
 

 

 

COBHAM PLC

 

and

 

ESTERLINE ACQUISITION LIMITED

 

and

 

ESTERLINE TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATION

 

Dated 8 March 2006

 

77368-00019 CO:2968104.2

      13 March 2006


CONTENTS

 

Clause    Page
1.    Interpretation    3
2.    Sale and Purchase    3
3.    Condition Precedent    3
4.    Completion    4
5.    Consideration    4
6.    Adjustments to Initial Consideration    4
7.    Deferred Consideration    5
8.    Shareholder Loans    5
9.    Guarantees    6
10.    Warranties    6
11.    Indemnity    7
12.    Pensions    9
13.    Environment    10
14.    Real Estate    10
15.    Use of Names    10
16.    Restrictive Covenants    11
17.    Confidentiality    13
18.    Notices    14
19.    Assignments    15
20.    Payments    15
21.    Guarantee    16
22.    General    17
23.    Whole Agreement    18
24.    Governing Law and Jurisdiction    18
25.    Language    19
Schedule   
1.   

WDSL

  
2.   

The Subsidiary

  
3.   

Property

  
4.   

Warranties

  
5.   

Warranty Claims

  
6.   

Pensions and Employee Benefits

  
7.   

Pre-Completion

  
8.   

Completion

  
  

Part 1            Seller’s Obligations

  
  

Part 2            Purchaser’s Obligations

  
9.   

Deferred Consideration

  
10.   

Working Capital

  
  

Part 1            Working Capital Statement

  
  

Part 2            Specific Policies for Preparation of the Working Capital Statement

  
  

Part 3            Pro Forma Working Capital Statement

  
11.   

Independent Accountants

  
12.   

Environment

  
13.   

Interpretation

  
Signatories   

 

77368-00019 CO:2968104.2

      13 March 2006


THIS AGREEMENT is made on 8 March 2006

BETWEEN :

 

(1) COBHAM PLC a company incorporated in England and Wales with registered number 30470 whose registered office is at Brook Road, Wimborne, Dorset BH21 2BJ, England (the Seller );

 

(2) ESTERLINE ACQUISITION LIMITED a company incorporated in England and Wales with registered number 5720105 whose registered office is at c/o Mitre Secretaries Ltd, Mitre House, 160 Aldersgate Street, London EC1A 4DD (the Purchaser ); and

 

(3) ESTERLINE TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATION a corporation incorporated in Delaware whose principal office is at 500 108 th Avenue NE, Bellevue, Washington, USA (the Guarantor ).

BACKGROUND :

 

(A) The Seller is beneficially entitled to all the issued share capital of Wallop Defence Systems Limited ( WDSL ) short details of which are set out in Schedule 1. WDSL is legally and beneficially entitled to all the issued share capital of ML Wallop Defence Systems Limited ( ML ) short details of which are set out in Schedule 2.

 

(B) The Seller wishes to sell and the Purchaser wishes to purchase all the issued share capital of WDSL (the Shares ) free from any Encumbrance on the terms and subject to the Condition set out in this agreement.

IT IS AGREED as follows:

 

1. INTERPRETATION

 

1.1 In addition to terms defined elsewhere in this agreement, the definitions and other provisions in 0 apply throughout this agreement, unless the contrary intention appears.

 

1.2 In this agreement, unless the contrary intention appears, a reference to a clause, subclause or schedule is a reference to a clause, subclause or schedule of or to this agreement. The schedules form part of this agreement.

 

1.3 The headings in this agreement do not affect its interpretation.

 

2. SALE AND PURCHASE

 

2.1 Subject to the Condition being satisfied, the Seller shall procure the sale with full title guarantee of the Shares and the Purchaser shall purchase the Shares.

 

2.2 The Shares shall be sold free from all Encumbrances and together with all rights attaching to them.

 

2.3 The consideration for the sale of the Shares shall be calculated in accordance with clauses 5, 6 and 7.

 

3. CONDITION PRECEDENT

 

3.1 The sale and purchase of the Shares is conditional on the German Federal Cartel Office ( FCO ) having cleared the transaction either by:

 

  (a)

notifying the Purchaser and/or the Seller within the one month period stipulated by section 40(1) of the German Act Against the Restraint of Competition (the German Act )

 

77368-00019 CO:2968104.2

   3    13 March 2006


 

that the conditions for a prohibition in accordance with section 36(1) of the German Act are not met; or

 

  (b) clearing the transaction within the four month period stipulated by section 40(2) of the German Act; or

 

  (c) permitting the time limits stipulated by section 40(1) and section 40(2) of the German Act to expire without having served the relevant notice or decision.

 

3.2 Each party shall use all reasonable endeavours to procure (so far as it is so able to procure) that the Condition is satisfied on or before 30 September 2006 (the Long Stop Date ). If the Condition is not satisfied in accordance with the preceding subclause on or before the Long Stop Date:

 

  (a) except for this subclause, clauses 1, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22.3 to 22.9, 23, 24 and 25 and the provisions of 0, all the provisions of this agreement shall lapse and cease to have effect; but

 

  (b) neither the lapsing of those provisions nor their ceasing to have effect shall affect any accrued rights or liabilities of either party in respect of damages for non-performance of any obligation under this agreement falling due for performance prior to such lapse and cessation.

 

4. COMPLETION

 

4.1 Completion shall take place at the offices of the Seller’s Solicitors at 9 a.m. on the third Business Day after the date on which the Condition is satisfied (or at such other place, at such other time and/or on such other date as the Seller and the Purchaser may agree).

 

4.2 Until Completion the provisions of 0 shall apply.

 

4.3 At Completion:

 

  (a) the Seller shall observe and perform the provisions of Part 1 of 0; and

 

  (b) the Purchaser shall observe and perform the provisions of Part 2 of 0.

 

4.4 Neither the Seller nor the Purchaser shall be obliged to complete the sale or purchase of any of the Shares unless the purchase of all the Shares is completed simultaneously in accordance with this agreement and the other has complied with its obligations under, in the case of the Seller, paragraphs (a)(i), (ii), (iv) and (v) of Part 1 of 0 and in the case of the Purchaser, paragraphs (b), (c) and (d) of Part 2 of 0.

 

5. CONSIDERATION

 

5.1 The initial consideration for the sale of the Shares shall be the sum of £33,750,000 less the Estimated Net Indebtedness (or, if the Estimated Net Indebtedness is negative, adding such amount) and plus the Estimated Working Capital Amount (or, if the Estimated Working Capital Amount is negative, subtracting such amount) (the Initial Consideration ).

 

5.2 Provisions for the interpretation of clause 5.1 and the adjustments in clause 6 are set out in 0.

 

6. ADJUSTMENTS TO INITIAL CONSIDERATION

 

6.1 The Initial Consideration shall be adjusted following Completion with respect to the Actual Net Indebtedness as follows:

 

77368-00019 CO:2968104.2

   4    13 March 2006


  (a) if the Actual Net Indebtedness exceeds the Estimated Net Indebtedness, the Initial Consideration shall be reduced by the amount of the excess; and

 

  (b) if the Actual Net Indebtedness is less than the Estimated Net Indebtedness, the Initial Consideration shall be increased by the amount of the difference.

 

6.2 The Initial Consideration shall be adjusted following Completion with respect to the Working Capital Amount as follows:

 

  (a) if the Working Capital Amount exceeds the Estimated Working Capital Amount, the Initial Consideration shall be increased by the amount of the excess; and

 

  (b) if the Working Capital Amount is less than the Estimated Working Capital Amount, the Initial Consideration shall be reduced by the amount of the difference.

 

6.3 If as a result of such adjustments:

 

  (a) the amount of the Initial Consideration is increased, the Purchaser shall make a payment to the Seller of a sum equal to that increase; or

 

  (b) the amount of the Initial Consideration is reduced, the Seller shall make a payment to the Purchaser of a sum equal to that reduction,

together with interest on that sum calculated on a daily basis at the rate of five per cent. per annum from (and including) Completion to (but excluding) the date of actual payment.

 

6.4 Any such payment shall be made within five Business Days following the day on which all such adjustments have been agreed or determined pursuant to Schedule 10.

 

7. DEFERRED CONSIDERATION

 

7.1 As further consideration for the sale of the Shares, the Purchaser shall pay to the Seller in cash the additional amounts calculated and payable in accordance with Schedule 9 (the Deferred Consideration ) if, and at the time, required by that Schedule.

 

7.2 The parties shall comply with the provisions of Schedule 9.

 

8. SHAREHOLDER LOANS

 

8.1 If the Estimated Shareholder Debt is positive (therefore, in aggregate, Financial Indebtedness is owed by the Companies to the Seller’s Group) then the Purchaser shall procure that on Completion a payment is made (by or on behalf of the relevant Company or Companies) to the Seller, on behalf of the relevant member or members of the Seller’s Group for the time being, of a sum equal to the Estimated Shareholder Debt.

 

8.2 If the Estimated Shareholder Debt is negative (therefore, in aggregate, Financial Indebtedness is owed by the Seller’s Group to the Companies) then the Seller shall procure that on Completion a payment is made (by or on behalf of the relevant member of the Seller’s Group) to WDSL, on behalf of the Companies, of a sum equal to the Estimated Shareholder Debt.

 

8.3

If the Actual Shareholder Debt is less than the Estimated Shareholder Debt, the Seller shall make a payment to the Purchaser (on behalf of the relevant Company or Companies), (if applicable by way of repayment in part of the sum paid to the Seller under subclause 8.1), of a sum equal to the amount by which the Actual Shareholder Debt is less than the Estimated Shareholder Debt. Any such

 

77368-00019 CO:2968104.2

   5    13 March 2006


 

payment shall be made within five Business Days following the day on which the Actual Shareholder Debt is agreed or determined pursuant to Schedule 10.

 

8.4 If the Actual Shareholder Debt exceeds the Estimated Shareholder Debt, the Purchaser shall procure that a payment is made (by or on behalf of the relevant Company or Companies) to the Seller (if applicable by way of repayment in part of the sum paid to the Purchaser under subclause 8.2), on behalf of the relevant member or members of the Seller’s Group for the time being, of a sum equal to the amount by which the Actual Shareholder Debt exceeds the Estimated Shareholder Debt. Any such payment shall be made within five Business Days following the day on which the Actual Shareholder Debt is agreed or determined pursuant to Schedule 10.

 

8.5 If the Actual Shareholder Debt is positive (therefore, in aggregate, Financial Indebtedness is owed by the Companies to the Seller’s Group) the Seller shall procure that the net sum equal to the Actual Shareholder Debt, which shall have been paid to the Seller on behalf of the relevant member or members of the Seller’s Group for the time being under this clause, and not, if applicable, repaid by it under this clause, shall be applied in satisfying in full the indebtedness constituting the Shareholder Debt.

 

8.6 If the Actual Shareholder Debt is negative (therefore, in aggregate, Financial Indebtedness is owed by the Seller’s Group to the Companies) the Purchaser shall procure that the net sum equal to the Actual Shareholder Debt, which shall have been paid to WDSL on behalf of the relevant Company under this clause, and not, if applicable, repaid by it under this clause, shall be applied in satisfying in full the indebtedness constituting the Shareholder Debt.

 

9. GUARANTEES

 

9.1 The Seller shall use reasonable endeavours to procure that as from Completion each Company is released from all guarantees, indemnities and similar obligations given by that Company in respect of any liability or obligation of the Seller and/or any other member of the Seller’s Group and pending such release the Seller shall indemnify that Company against all liabilities under those guarantees, indemnities or similar obligations.

 

9.2 The Purchaser shall use reasonable endeavours to procure that as from Completion each member of the Seller’s Group is released from all guarantees, indemnities and similar obligations which have been given by that member in respect of any liability or obligation of a Company and details of which are contained in the Disclosure Letter (including the Data Room).

 

9.3 Pending the release of each member of the Seller’s Group from all guarantees, indemnities and similar obligations which have been given it in respect of any liability or obligation of a Company, the Purchaser shall indemnify that member against all liabilities under those guarantees and indemnities or similar obligations (whether or not their details are contained in the Disclosure Letter (including the Data Room)).

 

10. WARRANTIES

 

10.1 The Seller warrants to the Purchaser that, except as fairly disclosed to the Purchaser in the Disclosure Letter (including the Data Room), each of the statements set out in 0 is true and accurate. The provisions of Section 6(2) of the Law of Property (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1994 are hereby excluded.

 

10.2

The Warranties set out in 0 in paragraphs 1.1(b), 1.4(a), (c) and (e), 1.7, 1.8, 1.9(a), (d), (e), (f), 1.10(j), 1.11(a)(i), 1.15(c) and (d), 1.18, 1.19(a) and 3(b), (c), (g), (h), (i), (j) will be deemed to be repeated, but subject to any matters fairly disclosed to the Purchaser in the Disclosure Letter (including the Data Room), immediately before Completion by reference to the facts and

 

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circumstances existing at Completion. For this purpose only, where the wording of a Warranty refers expressly or impliedly to the “date of this agreement”, or an equivalent term, that reference is to be construed as a reference to the “date of Completion”.

 

10.3 Each of the Warranties set out in the several paragraphs of 0 is separate and independent and, except as expressly provided to the contrary in this agreement, is not limited by reference to any other paragraph of that Schedule or by anything in this agreement or the Tax Deed.

 

10.4 The Seller waives and may not enforce any right which the Seller may have against any Company, or any director or employee of any Company, on which or on whom the Seller may have relied in agreeing to any term of this agreement or any statement in the Disclosure Letter.

 

10.5 The liability of the Seller in connection with this agreement shall be subject to the limitations contained in, and to the other provisions of, 0 and any Claim shall be subject to the provisions of that Schedule.

 

10.6 Any payment made by the Seller in respect of a breach of this agreement or under the Tax Deed shall, to the extent possible, be deemed to be a reduction in the Consideration.

 

10.7 The Purchaser warrants to the Seller that:

 

  (a) it has the requisite power and authority to enter into and to perform this agreement and the agreements and deed referred to in this agreement which are to be entered into by the Purchaser on Completion;

 

  (b) it has taken all necessary corporate action to authorise the execution and performance of its obligations under this agreement and the agreements and deed referred to in this agreement which are to be entered into by the Purchaser on Completion;

 

  (c) this agreement and each of the agreements and the deed referred to in this agreement which are to be entered into by the Purchaser on Completion constitute, or will constitute at Completion as applicable, binding obligations of the Purchaser in accordance with its respective terms; and

 

  (d) compliance with the terms of this agreement and the agreements and deed referred to in this agreement which are to be entered into by the Purchaser on Completion does not and will not conflict with, or constitute a default or a breach under, any provision of:

 

  (i) the Purchaser’s memorandum or articles of association or by-laws or equivalent constitutional documents; or

 

  (ii) any order, judgment, decree or regulation or any other restriction of any kind by which the Purchaser is bound or submits; or

 

  (iii) any agreement, instrument or contract to which the Purchaser is a party or by which it is bound.

 

11. INDEMNITY

 

11.1 The Seller undertakes to indemnify the Purchaser on demand from and against all liabilities and reasonable costs which a Company may incur arising from claims, actions or demands (each a Demand ) which are made against a Company by a third party (excluding any member of the Purchaser’s Group) for, or in respect of, an Indemnified Matter.

 

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11.2 If any Demand is made by a third party against a Company in respect of which indemnity may be sought under this clause:

 

  (a) the Purchaser shall give notice to the Seller as soon as reasonably practicable, and in any event within 20 Business Days of a Company receiving such Demand, attaching a copy of the Demand (if written) or otherwise setting out the details of the Demand known to the relevant Company;

 

  (b) the Purchaser shall, and shall procure that the Companies shall, take such action as the Seller may (at any time) reasonably request to avoid, dispute, resist, appeal, compromise or contest any Demand and in such case, the Purchaser shall, and shall procure that the Purchaser’s Group and the Companies shall, make available to the Seller such access to personnel and information (including copies of information) as may be reasonably requested by the Seller for avoiding, resisting, disputing, appealing, compromising or contesting any Demand and the Seller shall indemnify the Purchaser and keep the Purchaser indemnified on demand against all reasonable costs incurred in complying with such requests;

 

  (c) if the Seller does not request the Purchaser or the Companies to take any action, the Purchaser shall procure that the Companies consult with the Seller in relation to the conduct of any appeal, dispute, compromise or defence of the Demand and in particular the Companies shall not admit liability or settle or agree to settle any Indemnified Matter without first consulting with the Seller; and the Purchaser shall, and shall procure that the Companies shall, keep the Seller promptly informed of the progress of the Demand and provide the Seller with copies of all relevant documents and such other information as may be reasonably requested by the Seller at the Seller’s cost; and

 

  (d) the Purchaser shall not, and shall procure that the Purchaser’s Group and the Companies shall not, unless required to do so by law, contact any third party (who has not made a Demand) in relation to an Indemnified Matter (other than where the Purchaser is, acting reasonably, not aware the matter is an Indemnified Matter) without the prior written consent of the Seller.

 

11.3 The liability of the Seller under this clause shall cease on the tenth anniversary of Completion.

 

11.4 The Purchaser shall be under a duty to mitigate its and any Company’s Losses in respect of any Demand and Indemnified Matter where it and the Companies incur no Losses in doing so or the Seller has agreed to indemnify the Purchaser in respect of such Losses.

 

11.5 In this clause, Indemnified Matter means all liabilities of the Companies which were incurred prior to 1 January 2004 or which were incurred after 1 January 2004 but which relate to the operations of the Companies prior to 1 January 2004 other than:

 

  (a) in respect of Taxation;

 

  (b) in the case of ML, those relating to the Property or the Intellectual Property Rights held by it (as disclosed in the Disclosure Letter (including the Data Room));

 

  (c) those relating to the countermeasures or naval launchers businesses previously carried on by ML; and

 

  (d) those fairly disclosed in the Disclosure Letter (including the Data Room),

and excluding, for the avoidance of doubt, any liabilities which were incurred by a company other than the Companies prior to 1 January 2004 but were transferred to WDSL on or following 1 January

 

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2004 pursuant to the business transfer agreements between WDSL and Flight Refuelling Limited dated 3 November 2005 and 3 January 2006.

 

11.6 If any member of the Purchaser’s Group identifies any assets relating to the operations of the Companies prior to 1 January 2004 which do not relate to the business currently carried on by the Companies, the Purchaser shall, and shall procure where necessary that each company in the Purchaser’s Group shall, at the expense of the Seller, execute such documents and take such actions and do such things as are reasonably necessary to transfer the full right, title and interest in such asset(s) to the Seller or its nominee.

 

12. PENSIONS

 

12.1 Subject to Completion, the Seller and the Purchaser shall observe and perform those provisions of Schedule 6 as are expressed to be observed and performed by each of them respectively.

 

12.2 The Seller shall use reasonable endeavours to procure that the trustees of the Seller’s Scheme will engage the actuary of the Seller’s Scheme to determine whether a debt under section 75 of the Pensions Act 1995 (as amended pursuant to the Pensions Act 2004) is due on WDSL ceasing to participate in the Seller’s Scheme and, if so, to calculate and state its amount. If such a debt is due, the Seller will pay an amount equal to such debt in satisfaction of it to the trustees of the Seller’s Scheme within four months after Completion, or, if later, one month after the actuary has stated the amount of any such debt.

 

12.3 The Seller will indemnify and keep indemnified the Purchaser on demand against any and all liabilities of WDSL and ML other than (save as in respect of sub-clause (a) below) those fairly disclosed in the Disclosure Letter (including the Data Room):

 

  (a) which relate to participation by a Company in the Seller’s Scheme to the extent that the aggregate value of those liabilities exceeds the amount paid under clause 12.2 above;

 

  (b) which arise as a direct or indirect result of any action taken before Completion by the trustees of any pension scheme in which the Seller, the Companies or any entity which is or used to be in the Seller’s group participates or participated during the period up to and including Completion or by the Pensions Regulator in respect of any act or omission by a Company during the period up to and including Completion or any act or omission of any company in the Seller’s Group; and

 

  (c) which arise as a direct or indirect result of a claim by an Employee that he has any entitlement to payment of an early retirement benefit (on redundancy or otherwise) (such entitlement arising during the period up to and including Completion) which WDSL or ML will or may be required to provide as a consequence of that entitlement having transferred before Completion to WDSL or ML pursuant to the Transfer of Undertakings (Protection of Employees) Regulations 1981,

together the Pensions Indemnified Matters .

 

12.4 If any claim, action or demand (a Pensions Demand ) is made by a third party against a Company in respect of which indemnity may be sought under this clause or a Pensions Indemnified Matter in respect of which indemnity may be sought under this clause relates to a liability or obligation to a third party (a Third Party Pensions Liability ):

 

  (a)

the Purchaser shall give notice to the Seller as soon as reasonably practicable, and in any event within 20 Business Days of a Company either receiving such Pensions Demand, attaching a copy of the Pensions Demand (if written) or otherwise setting out the details of

 

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the Pensions Demand known to the relevant Company or otherwise becoming aware of the relevant Third Party Pensions Liability setting out reasonable details of it;

 

  (b) the Purchaser shall, and shall procure that the Companies shall, take such action as the Seller may (at any time) reasonably request to avoid, dispute, resist, appeal, compromise or contest any Pensions Demand or Third Party Pensions Liability and in such case, the Purchaser shall, and shall procure that the Purchaser’s Group and the Companies shall, make available to the Seller such access to personnel and information (including copies of information) as may be reasonably requested by the Seller for avoiding, resisting, disputing, appealing, compromising or contesting any Pensions Demand or Third Party Pensions Liability and the Seller shall indemnify the Purchaser and keep the Purchaser indemnified on demand against all reasonable costs incurred in complying with such requests; and

 

  (c) if the Seller does not request the Purchaser or the Companies to take any action, the Purchaser shall procure that the Companies consult with the Seller in relation to the conduct of any appeal, dispute, compromise or defence of the Pensions Demand or Third Party Pensions Liability and in particular the Companies shall not admit liability or settle or agree to settle any Pensions Demand or Third Party Pensions Liability without first consulting with the Seller; and the Purchaser shall, and shall procure that the Companies shall, keep the Seller promptly informed of the progress of the Pensions Demand or Third Party Pensions Liability and provide the Seller with copies of all relevant documents and such other information as may be reasonably requested by the Seller at the Seller’s cost.

 

12.5 The liability of the Seller under this clause shall cease on the tenth anniversary of Completion.

 

12.6 The Purchaser shall be under a duty to mitigate its and any Company’s Losses in respect of any Pensions Demand or Third Party Pensions Liability where it and the Companies incur no Losses in doing so or the Seller has agreed to indemnify the Purchaser in respect of such Losses.

 

13. ENVIRONMENT

The parties shall comply with the provisions of Schedule 12.

 

14. REAL ESTATE

The Seller shall provide, for six months following Completion, such reasonable assistance (at the cost of the Purchaser) as the Purchaser may reasonably require in respect of matters relating to title to enable the Purchaser to make an application for first registration in relation to the Property where title is unregistered.

 

15. USE OF NAMES

 

15.1 From Completion, the Purchaser shall and shall procure that the Purchaser’s Group and the Companies shall:

 

  (a) not represent that any member of the Seller’s Group retains any connection with the Companies or their businesses;

 

  (b) remove all references to the Seller’s Group and all Retained Names and Retained IP from any website operated by the Companies and remove all hypertext links to websites of the Seller’s Group and any metatags containing references to the Seller’s Group;

 

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  (c) no longer use domain names containing the Retained Names (whether or not as part of a name) and transfer to the Seller (for no consideration) any rights of the Companies to use those domain names; and

 

  (d) cease using or displaying the Retained Names or the Retained IP in any context in relation to the businesses of the Companies except that the Companies may distribute for a period of three months from Completion any sales literature containing the Retained Names or the Retained IP which exists at the time of Completion.

 

15.2 From Completion, the Seller shall and shall procure that the Seller’s Group shall:

 

  (a) not represent that any member of the Seller’s Group retains any connection with the Companies or their businesses;

 

  (b) remove all references to the Companies and all Transferred Name and Transferred IP from any website operated by the Seller’s Group and remove all hypertext links to websites of the Companies and any metatags containing references to the Companies;

 

  (c) no longer use domain names containing the Transferred Name (whether or not as part of a name) and transfer to the Purchaser (for no consideration) any rights of any member of the Seller’s Group to use those domain names; and

 

  (d) cease using or displaying the Transferred Names or the Transferred IP in any context in relation to the businesses of the Seller’s Group except that the Seller’s Group may distribute for a period of three months from Completion any sales literature containing the Transferred Names or the Transferred IP which exists at the time of Completion.

 

15.3 The Purchaser (on behalf of itself and each member of the Purchaser’s Group and the Companies) acknowledges that ownership of all Intellectual Property Rights relating to the Retained Names and to the Retained IP belongs exclusively to the Seller and the Seller (on behalf of itself and each member of the Seller’s Group) acknowledges that from Completion ownership of all Intellectual Property Rights relating to the Transferred Names and to the Transferred IP shall belong exclusively to the Purchaser.

 

15.4 The Purchaser shall indemnify and hold harmless the Seller and all members of the Seller’s Group from and against any and all Losses incurred or suffered by the Seller or any member of the Seller’s Group as a result of or relating to the use by the Purchaser’s Group or the Companies following Completion of the Retained Names or of the Retained IP contrary to this clause.

 

15.5 The Seller shall indemnify and hold harmless the Purchaser Companies from and against any and all Losses incurred or suffered by the Purchaser Companies as a result of or relating to the use by the Seller’s Group following Completion of the Transferred Names or of the Transferred IP contrary to this clause.

 

16. RESTRICTIVE COVENANTS

 

16.1 In this clause:

Confidential Information means all information not publicly known, used in or otherwise relating to any Company’s business, customers, or financial or other affairs, including information relating to:

 

  (a) trade secrets, know-how, ideas, computer systems and computer software;

 

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  (b) future projects, business development or planning, commercial relationships and negotiations; and

 

  (c) the marketing of Relevant Products or Services including customer names and lists, sales targets and statistics;

Relevant Customer means any person who at any time during the period of 12 months immediately preceding Completion was:

 

  (a) negotiating with any Company for the supply by any Company of goods or services; or

 

  (b) a client or customer of any Company; or

 

  (c) in the habit of dealing with any Company; and

Relevant Products or Services means products or services which are competitive with or of the type supplied by any Company at any time during the period of 12 months immediately preceding Completion.

 

16.2 The Seller undertakes to the Purchaser and each Company that no member of the Seller’s Group will (whether alone or in conjunction with, or on behalf of, another person and whether directly or indirectly), without the prior written consent of the Purchaser:

 

  (a) for a period of three years immediately following Completion, canvass, solicit or approach, or cause to be canvassed, solicited or approached, any Relevant Customer for the sale or supply of Relevant Products or Services;

 

  (b) for a period of three years immediately following Completion, deal or contract with any Relevant Customer in relation to the sale or supply of Relevant Products or Services;

 

  (c) for a period of three years immediately following Completion, interfere, or seek to interfere, with the continuance of supplies to any Company from any supplier who has been supplying goods or services to that Company at any time during the 12 months immediately preceding Completion if such interference causes or would cause that supplier to cease supplying, or materially reduce its supply of, those goods or services;

 

  (d) for a period of three years immediately following Completion, solicit or entice away, or endeavour to solicit or entice away, from any Company, any Senior Employee; or

 

  (e) for a period of three years immediately following Completion, be engaged in (except as the owner for investment of securities in a company dealt in on a recognised stock exchange and which confer not more than 10 per cent. of the votes which could be cast at a general meeting), any other business which supplies Relevant Products or Services save to the extent acquired as non material part of an acquisition (for the purposes of this subclause 16.2(e), non-material shall mean accounting for less than 25 per cent. of the turnover of the acquired group).

 

16.3 The restrictions in subclause 16.2(d) shall not prevent any member of the Sellers’ Group from publishing any recruitment advertisement in any local or national newspaper or other publication or on any website, or from negotiating with any person who replies to any such advertisement or who initiates any contact with any member of the Seller’s Group.

 

16.4

This clause shall not restrict the Seller’s Group from manufacturing or supplying any product or service which contains a part or component of a type supplied by a Company at any time during the

 

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period of 12 months immediately preceding Completion provided that no member of the Seller’s Group manufactured such part or component. In particular, and by illustration, this clause shall not restrict the Seller’s Group from manufacturing or supplying pyrotechnic valves which contain an explosive cartridge of a type that is manufactured by WDSL provided that no member of the Seller’s Group manufactures such explosive cartridge nor shall it restrict the Seller’s Group from manufacturing or supplying the weapons carriage and release system in which the CERU 201 product is used provided that no member of the Seller’s Group manufactures such CERU 201 product itself.

 

16.5 For the avoidance of doubt, the parties agree that neither the business of the design, manufacture, sale and support of systems used for the launching of non-marine, airborne and land based infra-red countermeasures as carried on by the Seller’s Group nor any business which produces pyrotechnic materials other than through the mixing of chemical compounds to produce energy shall be deemed to be competitive with the business of a Company for the purposes of this clause and accordingly products or services relating to such businesses shall be deemed not to be Relevant Products or Services.

 

16.6 Each of the undertakings set out in this clause is separate and severable and enforceable accordingly, and if any one or more of such undertakings or part of an undertaking is held to be against the public interest or unlawful or in any way an unreasonable restraint of trade, the remaining undertakings or remaining part of the undertakings will continue in full force and effect and will bind the Seller.

 

17. CONFIDENTIALITY

 

17.1 Neither the Seller nor the Purchaser shall make (or permit any other member of, in the case of the Seller, the Seller’s Group or, in the case of the Purchaser, the Purchaser Companies to make) any announcement concerning this sale and purchase or any related or ancillary matter on or after Completion, save that the Seller shall be entitled to make such announcements as it sees fit to a regulatory information service (as defined in the Listing Rules Instrument 2005) provided that the Seller shall first consult with, and consider the reasonable representations of, the Purchaser as to the content and timing of such announcements.

 

17.2 The Purchaser:

 

  (a) shall, and shall procure that each other member of the Purchaser’s Group for the time being shall, keep confidential all information provided to any member of the Purchaser’s Group by or on behalf of the Seller or otherwise obtained by any member of the Purchaser’s Group in connection with this agreement which relates to the Seller or any other member of the Seller’s Group; and

 

  (b) shall procure that, if after Completion a Company holds confidential information relating to the Seller or any other member of the Seller’s Group, that Company shall after Completion keep that information confidential and, to the extent reasonably practicable, shall return that information to the Seller or destroy it, in either case without retaining copies.

 

17.3 The Seller:

 

  (a) shall, and shall procure that each other member of the Seller’s Group for the time being shall, keep confidential all information provided to any member of the Seller’s Group or a Company by or on behalf of the Purchaser or otherwise obtained by any member of the Seller’s Group or a Company in connection with this agreement which relates to any member of the Purchaser’s Group; and

 

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  (b) shall procure that, if after Completion it or any other member of the Seller’s Group for the time being holds confidential information relating to a Company, the member of the Seller’s Group concerned shall keep that information confidential and, to the extent reasonably practicable, shall return that information to the Purchaser or, with the prior written consent of the Purchaser, destroy it, in either case without retaining copies.

 

17.4 Nothing in this clause prevents any announcement being made or any confidential information being disclosed (or being retained and not returned or destroyed):

 

  (a) with the written approval of the other party, which in the case of any announcement shall not be unreasonably withheld or delayed; or

 

  (b) to the extent required by law, any court of competent jurisdiction or any competent regulatory body.

 

17.5 Nothing in this clause prevents any confidential information being disclosed (or, where applicable, being retained and not returned or destroyed) by a party:

 

  (a) to the extent that the information is in or comes into the public domain otherwise than as a result of a breach of any undertaking or duty of confidentiality by that party; or

 

  (b) to that party’s professional advisers, auditors or bankers but, before any disclosure to any such person, the relevant party shall procure that such person is made aware of the terms of this clause and shall use its best endeavours to procure that such person adheres to those terms as if such person were bound by the relevant provisions of this clause.

 

18. NOTICES

 

18.1 Any notice or other communication to be given under this agreement or the Tax Deed must be in writing (which includes fax, but not email) and must be delivered or sent by post or fax to the party to whom it is to be given as follows:

 

(a)        to the Seller at:

 

Cobham plc

Brook Road

Wimborne

BH21 2BJ

 

Fax:     01202 840523

 

marked for the attention of the
Company Secretary,

 

with copies to:

 

(i)         the Group Financial
Director at the address set
out above; and

 

(ii)        Allen & Overy LLP at:

 

One New Change

London EC4M 9QQ

  

(b)        to the Purchaser at:

 

Esterline Technologies Corporation

10800 NE 8th St., Ste.600,

Bellevue, WA 98004

USA

 

Fax:     (425) 453 2916

 

marked for the attention of Steve
Larson,

 

with copies to:

 

(i)         Eversheds LLP at:

 

Senator House

85 Queen Victoria Street

London EC4V 4JA

 

marked for the attention of Robert Pitcher

 

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marked for the attention of

Richard Browne,

  

or at any such other address or fax number of which it shall have given notice for this purpose to the other party under this clause. Any notice or other communication sent by post shall be sent by prepaid first class recorded delivery post (if within the United Kingdom) or by prepaid airmail (if elsewhere).

 

18.2 Any notice or other communication shall be deemed to have been given:

 

  (a) if delivered, on the date of delivery; or

 

  (b) if sent by post, at 10 a.m. on the second Business Day after it was put into the post; or

 

  (c) if sent by fax, on the date of transmission, if transmitted before 3.00 p.m. (local time at the country of destination) on any Business Day, and in any other case on the Business Day following the date of transmission.

 

18.3 In proving the giving of a notice or other communication, it shall be sufficient to prove that delivery was made or that the envelope containing the communication was properly addressed and posted by prepaid first class recorded delivery post or by prepaid airmail or that the fax was properly addressed and transmitted, as the case may be.

 

19. ASSIGNMENTS

 

19.1 Subject to clause 19.2, none of the rights or obligations under this agreement nor the other Transaction Documents may be assigned or transferred without the prior written consent of the Seller and the Purchaser.

 

19.2 The Purchaser may assign the benefit of, and any rights under, this agreement or the other Transaction Documents to any member of the Purchaser’s Group provided that the Purchaser shall procure that any such assignee shall not cease to be a member of the Purchaser’s Group without first assigning such benefit or right to another member of the Purchaser’s Group and provided that the Seller’s liability to any such assignee for any claim under this agreement or the other Transaction Documents shall, in no event, be greater than it would have been to the Purchaser.

 

20. PAYMENTS

 

20.1 Unless otherwise expressly stated (or as otherwise agreed in writing in the case of a given payment), each payment to be made under this agreement or the other Transaction Documents shall be made without set-off, deduction or withholding and in pounds sterling by transfer of the relevant amount into the relevant account on or before the date the payment is due for value on that date. The relevant account for a given payment is, for payment of the Consideration, the account that the Seller notifies to the Purchaser not less than three Business Days prior to Completion or, in any other case, such other account as the party receiving payment shall, not less than three Business Days before the date that payment is due, have specified by giving notice to the party making payment for the purpose of that payment.

 

20.2 If a party defaults in making any payment when due of any sum payable under this agreement or under the other Transaction Documents, it shall pay interest on that sum from (and including) the date on which payment is due until (but excluding) the date of actual payment (after as well as before judgment) at an annual rate of two per cent. above the base rate from time to time of the Bank of England, which interest shall accrue from day to day and be compounded monthly.

 

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20.3 The parties acknowledge that Completion will satisfy the requirements of clause 1.4 of the agreement between the parties and others for the sale and purchase of all the issued shares of common stock in FR Countermeasures Inc. dated 23 December 2005 (the FRC Agreement ) and that, as required by the FRC Agreement, the Deferred Purchase Price (as defined in the FRC Agreement) shall be paid together with, and in addition to, the Initial Consideration.

 

21. GUARANTEE

 

21.1 In consideration of the Seller entering into this Agreement the Guarantor irrevocably and unconditionally:

 

  (a) guarantees as primary obligor to the Seller the due and punctual performance of the Purchaser’s obligations, under or arising out of the Transaction Documents;

 

  (b) undertakes that, if the Purchaser fails to pay in full and on time any amount due under or in connection with the Transaction Documents, the Guarantor will immediately on demand pay that amount as if it were the principal obligor; and

 

  (c) agrees to indemnify the Seller on demand against each loss, liability and cost which the Seller incurs as a result of the Purchaser’s failure to perform in full and on time its obligations under or arising out of the Transaction Documents or any of the obligations (or purported obligations) of the Purchaser under the Transaction Documents being or becoming void, voidable or unenforceable.

 

21.2 This guarantee shall remain in full force and effect until all the amounts payable by the Purchaser and obligations of the Purchaser described in clause 21.1 have been irrevocably paid and discharged in full.

 

21.3 The Guarantor’s obligations under this clause:

 

  (a) constitute direct, primary and unconditional obligations to pay on demand by the Seller any sum which the Purchaser is liable to pay under the Transaction Document and to perform on demand any obligation of the Purchaser under the Transaction Document without requiring the Seller first to take any steps against the Purchaser or any other person; and

 

  (b) shall not be affected by any matter or thing which but for this provision might operate to affect or prejudice those obligations, including:

 

  (i) any time or indulgence granted to, or composition with, the Purchaser or any other person; or

 

  (ii) any amendment of this agreement; or

 

  (iii) the taking, variation, renewal or release of, or refusal or neglect to perfect or enforce, any right, remedy or security against the Purchaser or any other person; or

 

  (iv) any legal limitation, disability or other circumstances relating to the Purchaser or any unenforceability or invalidity of any obligation of the Purchaser under the Transaction Documents.

 

21.4 The Guarantor warrants to the Seller that:

 

  (a) it has the requisite power and authority to enter into and to perform this agreement;

 

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  (b) it has taken all necessary corporate action to authorise the execution and performance of its obligations under this agreement;

 

  (c) this agreement constitutes binding obligations of the Guarantor in accordance with its terms; and

 

  (d) compliance with the terms of this agreement does not and will not conflict with, or constitute a default or a breach under, any provision of:

 

  (i) the Guarantor’s memorandum or articles of association or by-laws or equivalent constitutional documents; or

 

  (ii) any order, judgment, decree or regulation or any other restriction of any kind by which the Guarantor is bound or submits; or

 

  (iii) any agreement, instrument or contract to which the Guarantor is a party or by which it is bound.

 

22. GENERAL

 

22.1 Each of the obligations, Warranties and undertakings set out in this agreement (excluding any obligation which is fully performed at Completion) shall continue in force after Completion.

 

22.2 Time is not of the essence in relation to any obligation under this agreement unless:

 

  (a) time is expressly stated to be of the essence in relation to that obligation; or

 

  (b) one party fails to perform an obligation by the time specified in this agreement and the other party serves a notice on the defaulting party requiring it to perform the obligation by a specified time and stating that time is of the essence in relation to that obligation.

 

22.3 Except as otherwise expressly provided in this agreement each party shall pay the costs and expenses incurred by it in connection with the entering into and completion of this agreement.

 

22.4 The Purchaser shall be responsible for any stamp duty, stamp duty reserve tax or other transfer taxes payable in connection with this agreement or the other Transaction Documents.

 

22.5 This agreement may be executed in any number of counterparts, all of which, taken together, shall constitute one and the same agreement, and any party (including any duly authorised representative of a party) may enter into this agreement by executing a counterpart. Facsimile signatures shall be valid and binding to the same extent as original signatures.

 

22.6 The rights of each party under this agreement:

 

  (a) may be exercised as often as necessary;

 

  (b) except as otherwise expressly provided in this agreement, are cumulative and not exclusive of rights and remedies provided by law; and

 

  (c) may be waived only in writing and specifically.

Delay in exercising or non-exercise of any such right is not a waiver of that right.

 

22.7 Except as otherwise expressly stated in this agreement, a person who is not a party to this agreement may not enforce any of its terms under the Contracts (Rights of Third Parties) Act 1999.

 

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22.8 Any waiver of any breach of, or any default under, any of the terms of this agreement will not be deemed a waiver of any subsequent breach or default and will in no way affect the other terms of this agreement.

 

22.9 No variation of this agreement will be valid unless it is in writing and signed by or on behalf of the Seller, the Guarantor and the Purchaser.

 

22.10 Following Completion, each party will do, or procure the doing of, all acts and things and execute, or procure the execution of, all documents as are in each case reasonably within its control and the other party reasonably considers necessary to transfer title to the Shares to the Purchaser in accordance with this agreement. The Seller shall give such assistance to the Purchaser (at the cost and expense of the Purchaser) in relation to any reasonable requests for information by the Purchaser in respect of any share incentive plans (as defined for the purposes of Part 7 of the Income Tax (Earnings and Pensions) Act 2003) established by the Seller in which any employee of the Company participates.

 

22.11 At the expense of the Seller, the Seller shall and shall procure where necessary that each company in the Seller’s group shall, execute such further documents, and take such actions and do such things, as may be reasonably requested by the Purchaser to secure the full right, title and interest of the Companies in the Transferred IP and the registered trade marks set out in section 7.2.2 of the Data Room to the extent held by the Seller’s Group.

 

23. WHOLE AGREEMENT

 

23.1 This agreement and the other Transaction Documents contain the whole agreement between the parties relating to the transactions contemplated by the Transaction Documents and supersede all previous agreements, whether oral or in writing, between the parties relating to these transactions.

 

23.2 Each party acknowledges that in agreeing to enter into this agreement and the other Transaction Documents it has not relied on any representation, warranty, collateral contract or other assurance (except those set out in the Transaction Documents) made by or on behalf of the other party before the entering into of this agreement. Each party waives all rights and remedies which, but for this subclause, might otherwise be available to it in respect of any such representation, warranty, collateral contract or other assurance.

 

23.3 Nothing in this clause limits or excludes any liability for fraud.

 

24. GOVERNING LAW AND JURISDICTION

 

24.1 This agreement (and any claims or disputes arising out of or related thereto or to the transactions contemplated thereby or to the inducement of any party to enter therein, whether for breach of contract, tortious conduct, or otherwise and whether predicated on common law, statute or otherwise) shall in all respects be governed by, and construed in accordance with, English law, including all matters of construction, validity and performance, in each case without reference to any conflict of law rules that might lead to the application of the laws of any other jurisdiction.

 

24.2 Each party irrevocably submits to the exclusive jurisdiction of the English courts for the purposes of any suit, action or other proceeding arising out of this agreement, any ancillary agreements to this agreement or any transaction contemplated hereby or thereby.

 

24.3 Each party further agrees that service of any process, summons, notice or document by prepaid first class post or by prepaid airmail to such party’s respective address set forth above or in the next subclause shall be effective service of process for any action, suit or proceeding with respect to any matters to which it has submitted to jurisdiction in this clause.

 

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24.4 The Guarantor irrevocably appoints the Purchaser as its agent in England for service of process.

 

24.5 Each party irrevocably and unconditionally waives any objection to the laying of venue of any action, suit or proceeding arising out of this agreement, any ancillary agreement to this agreement or the transactions contemplated hereby and thereby in England, and hereby and thereby further irrevocably and unconditionally waives and agrees not to plead or claim in any such court that any such action, suit or proceeding brought in any such court has been brought in an inconvenient forum.

 

24.6 EACH PARTY IRREVOCABLY AND UNCONDITIONALLY WAIVES, TO THE FULLEST EXTENT PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAW, ANY RIGHT IT MAY HAVE TO A TRIAL BY JURY IN ANY LEGAL ACTION OR PROCEEDING ARISING, DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY, OUT OF OR RELATING TO THIS AGREEMENT OR THE TRANSACTIONS CONTEMPLATED BY IT AND FOR ANY COUNTERCLAIM THEREIN (IN EACH CASE WHETHER BASED ON CONTRACT, TORT OR ANY OTHER THEORY AND WHETHER PREDICATED ON COMMON LAW, STATUTE OR OTHERWISE). EACH PARTY (A) CERTIFIES THAT NO REPRESENTATIVE, AGENT OR ATTORNEY OF THE OTHER PARTY HAS REPRESENTED, EXPRESSLY OR OTHERWISE, THAT THE OTHER PARTY WOULD NOT, IN THE EVENT OF LITIGATION, SEEK TO ENFORCE THE FOREGOING WAIVER AND (B) ACKNOWLEDGES THAT IT AND THE OTHER PARTY HAVE BEEN INDUCED TO ENTER INTO THIS AGREEMENT BY, AMONGST OTHER THINGS, THE MUTUAL WAIVERS AND CERTIFICATIONS IN THIS CLAUSE.

 

25. LANGUAGE

The language of this agreement and the transactions envisaged by it is English and all notices to be given in connection with this agreement must be in English. All demands, requests, statements, certificates or other documents or communications to be provided in connection with this agreement and the transactions envisaged by it must be in English or accompanied by a certified English translation; in this case the English translation prevails unless the document or communication is a statutory or other official document or communication.

AS WITNESS this agreement has been signed by the parties (or their duly authorised representatives) on the date stated at the beginning of this agreement.

 

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SCHEDULE 4

WARRANTIES

 

1. GENERAL

 

1.1 Due Incorporation and Capacity

 

(a) The Seller is a corporation validly existing under the laws of England with the requisite power and authority to enter into and perform, and has taken all necessary corporate action to authorise the execution and performance of its obligations under this agreement.

 

(b) Compliance with the terms of this agreement and the agreements and deed referred to in this agreement which are to be entered into by the Seller on Completion does not and will not conflict with, or constitute a default or a breach under, any provision of:

 

  (i) the Seller’s memorandum or articles of association or by-laws or equivalent constitutional documents; or

 

  (ii) any order, judgment, decree or regulation or any other restriction of any kind by which the Seller is bound or submits; or

 

  (iii) any agreement, instrument or contract to which the Seller is a party or by which it is bound.

 

1.2 Valid Obligations

The Transaction Documents constitute or will, when executed, constitute valid and binding obligations of the Seller or relevant member of the Seller’s Group in accordance with their respective terms.

 

1.3 Incorporation

Each Company is a corporation validly existing under the laws of England.

 

1.4 Ownership of Shares

 

(a) The Shares described in Schedule 1 and Schedule 2 constitute the whole of the issued and allotted share capital of WDSL and ML respectively.

 

(b) The Shares are fully paid.

 

(c) There is no option, right to acquire, rights or pre-emption, right of first refusal, third party right or interest, mortgage, charge, pledge, lien or other form of security or encumbrance on, over or affecting any of the Shares and there is no contract, agreement or commitment (whether conditional or not) to give or create any of the foregoing.

 

(d) The Seller is entitled to procure the transfer of the full legal and beneficial ownership in the Shares to the Purchaser on the terms set out in this agreement.

 

(e) No contract, agreement or commitment (whether conditional or not) has been entered into which requires or may require any Company to allot or issue any share capital and no Company has allotted any securities which are convertible into share capital.

 

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1.5 Subsidiaries and associates

 

(a) No Company is or has at any time during the period of 6 years ending on the date of this agreement been the holder or beneficial owner of, nor has agreed to acquire, any shares of any other corporation other than WDSL in respect of the shares in ML.

 

(b) No Company has, or has within the last 7 years had, any subsidiary undertakings other than, in the case of WDSL, ML.

 

1.6 Accounts

 

(a) The Accounts (a copy of which is attached to the Disclosure Letter):

 

  (i) have been prepared in accordance with UK GAAP and applicable law;

 

  (ii) give a true and fair view of the state of affairs of each of WDSL and ML as at the Accounts Date; and

 

  (iii) in the case of WDSL, have been prepared on bases and principles which are consistent with those used in the preparation of the audited statutory accounts of WDSL for the financial year immediately preceding that which ended on the Accounts Date.

 

(b) All the accounts, ledgers and other financial records of each Company required to be kept by law have been kept.

 

(c) The Management Accounts have been prepared in good faith on a basis consistent with each previous set of management accounts of WDSL since the Accounts Date.

 

1.7 Records

The Companies have complied with the provisions of sections 221 and 222 of the Companies Act 1985 in respect of their accounting records.

 

1.8 Position since the Accounts Date

Since the Accounts Date:

 

  (i) the businesses of each Company has been carried on in the ordinary course;

 

  (ii) except for any dividends provided for in the Accounts and except for the WDSL Final Dividend, no dividend or other distribution has been declared, paid or made by the Companies;

 

  (iii) no Company has acquired, or agreed to acquire, any single fixed asset having a value in excess of £150,000 or fixed assets having an aggregate value in excess of £300,000;

 

  (iv) no Company has disposed of, or agreed to dispose of, any fixed asset (excluding Stock disposed of in the ordinary and usual course of business) having a value reflected in the Accounts in excess of £150,000 or acquired since the Accounts Date;

 

  (v) no loan made by any Company which remains outstanding has become due and payable in whole or in part to the relevant Company;

 

  (vi)

no Company has borrowed or raised any money or taken up any financial facilities (other than overdraft borrowings in the ordinary course of business) and no Company has repaid

 

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any borrowing or indebtedness in advance of its stated maturity except from a member of the Seller’s Group;

 

  (vii) no Company has sold or agreed to sell a debt and no Financial Indebtedness has been released, deferred, subordinated or written off by any Company;

 

  (viii) no resolution of the shareholders of any Company has been passed;

 

  (ix) no Company has changed its accounting reference date;

 

  (x) no Company has experienced any material damage, destruction or loss (whether or not covered by insurance) of any material asset of any such Company (except normal wear and tear) when such asset has a book value as shown in the Accounts of greater than £150,000; and

 

  (xi) save as fairly disclosed in the Disclosure Letter (including the Data Room) no arrangement (including any payment or benefit) has been entered into by a Company with any current director or any person connected with a current director of a Company (other than any director who is to resign on Completion in accordance with 0).

 

1.9 Licences and Compliance

 

(a) Each Company has obtained all material licences, permissions, authorisations and consents required for the carrying on of the business now carried on by it in the places and in the manner in which that business is now carried on and, so far as the Seller is aware, such licences, permissions, authorisations and consents are in full force and effect and have been complied with in all material respects.

 

(b) No Company has received written notice since 1 January 2004 or which is still outstanding that it is in default under any material licence, permission, authorisation or consent.

 

(c) No Company has received written notice that it is in violation of, or in default with respect to, any statute, regulation, order, decree or judgment of any court or any governmental agency of the jurisdiction in which it is incorporated which could have a material and adverse effect upon its assets or business.

 

(d) The copy of the memorandum and articles of association (or similar constitutional documents) of each Company attached to or contained in the Disclosure Letter (including the Data Room) is true, complete and up to date.

 

(e) The statutory books (including all registers and minute books) of each Company have been properly kept and contain an accurate and complete record of the matters which should be dealt with in those books and no notice or allegation that any of them is incorrect or should be rectified has been received.

 

(f) Each Company has conducted its business in all material respects in compliance with all applicable English laws and, so far as the Seller is aware, the laws of the countries in which it sells or has since 1 January 2004 sold its products (excluding the United States) which relate solely to the sale of those products.

 

(g) So far as the Seller is aware, there is not in existence, any investigation or inquiry by, or on behalf of, any governmental body in respect of the affairs of any Company other than in the ordinary course of business.

 

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1.10 Property

 

(a) The Property comprises all the land and buildings in which the Companies have an interest, the details of which in Schedule 3 are materially true complete and accurate.

 

(b) The relevant Companies have good title to the Property and the Companies are in exclusive occupation of the Property free of all leases, tenancies, mortgages or charges and so far as the Seller is aware free of any reservation, covenant, restriction, exception, easement, wayleave, licence, franchise, option or right to acquire or any contract to create, or claim made by any person to be entitled to, any of the foregoing.

 

(c) No Company has received written notice relating to any subsisting material and adverse breaches of any applicable law relating to town and country planning and applicable building regulations and by laws affecting the same, nor any such notices relating to non compliance with covenants restrictions and conditions affecting the Property and, so far as the Seller is aware, there are no circumstances likely to give rise to any such notice or breach.

 

(d) No Company has received written notice relating to any subsisting material and adverse breaches of any statutory, municipal or other requirements (including planning consents) involved in the use of the Property and the conduct of the business of each Company and the Seller is not aware of any intended or contemplated revocation or refusal of any such licence or consent.

 

(e) The Property is served by drainage, water, electricity and/or gas services, all of which are connected to the mains sufficient for their existing uses.

 

(f) So far as the Seller is aware there are no material and adverse disputes affecting the Property whether actual or threatened.

 

(g) The means of access to the Property are over either roads which have been adopted and maintained by the local authority or under permanent legal easements sufficient for their existing uses.

 

(h) There are appurtenant to the Property all rights and easements necessary for its present use and enjoyment and all such rights and easements are enjoyed on a freehold basis.

 

(i) The Property is not subject to any outgoings (other than uniform business rates water charges and other standard payments to the relevant water company) whether of a periodically recurring nature or otherwise, and whether payable by the owner or occupier of the Property.

 

(j) So far as the Seller is aware, there is not or has not been in force any policy relating to defective title or restrictive covenant indemnity.

 

(k) The title deeds to the Property are in the relevant Company’s possession free from any lien.

 

(l) Save for any such agreement disclosed in the Disclosure Letter (including the Data Room), no Company is party to any uncompleted agreement to acquire or dispose of any freehold or leasehold property.

 

(m) Except in relation to the Property, no Company has incurred any liability (whether actual or contingent) in relation to any freehold or leasehold property and in particular no Company has since assumed any liability under a lease (whether as a landlord tenant guarantor or otherwise).

 

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1.11 Environment

 

(a) In this paragraph:

 

  (i) Environmental Law means all statutes and regulations in effect as at the date of this agreement concerning the pollution or protection of the Environment, the generation, transportation, storage, treatment or disposal of a Dangerous Substance or harm to or protection of the health of animals or plants and capable in each case of enforcement by legal process in the jurisdiction of operation of a Company;

 

  (ii) Environmental Licence means any permit, licence, authorisation, consent or other approval required under any Environmental Law for the operation of the business of a Company or for the use of the Property;

 

  (iii) Dangerous Substance means any natural or artificial substance whether alone or in combination with any other matter likely to cause harm to the Environment or to man or any other living organism; and

 

  (iv) Environment means any air (including air within natural or man-made structures above or below ground) water (including territorial, coastal and inland waters and ground water but excluding any water in drains and sewers) and land (including surface land, sub-surface land, seabed and riverbed underwater).

 

(b) Each Company (i) has obtained all material Environmental Licences (all of which are valid and subsisting); and (ii) is in material compliance and has during the last 3 years ending on the date hereof been in material compliance with all applicable Environmental Law and with the terms and conditions of all Environmental Licences in all material respects.

 

(c) No Company has received any written notice or communication alleging that it is in violation of any Environmental Law or any material Environmental Licence which could have a material and adverse effect upon its assets or business.

 

(d) As far as the Seller is aware each Company can continue to comply during the period of 12 months following Completion in all material respects with all conditions of each Environmental Licence assuming there has been no change to Environmental Law.

 

(e) Copies of all Environmental Licences have been provided in the Disclosure Letter (including the Data Room).

 

(f) The Companies have not received any written communication (during the 3 years prior to the date hereof) in respect of any Environmental Licence, varying, modifying, revoking, suspending or cancelling the same or indicating any intention or threatening to do so.

 

(g) The Companies have not received any written notice or any complaint or claim (during the 3 years to the date hereof) from any person in respect of a breach of, or a material liability under, Environmental law.

 

(h) The Companies are not engaged and have not during the 3 years prior to the date hereof been engaged in any action, litigation, arbitration or dispute resolution proceedings or been subject to any investigation under Environmental Law.

 

(i)

So far as the Seller is aware, full details of any material remedial work relating to soil and groundwater contamination carried out during the 3 years prior to the date hereof at any site occupied or formerly occupied by a Company and of any material environmental assessment, audit,

 

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review or investigation conducted during the 3 years prior to the date hereof by or on behalf of a Company or otherwise in relation to any such site are set out in the Disclosure Letter.

 

(j) In the period prior to and including 1 January 2004, ML has not occupied any properties relating to the countermeasures or naval launchers businesses (previously carried on by ML) other than the Property and from 1 January 2004, no Company has occupied any property other then the Property.

 

1.12 Intellectual Property Rights

 

(a) In this paragraph:

 

  (i) Licence means the licence of technology, patents and patent applications between WDSL and Richard Ian Brydges-Price dated 4 October 2005; and

 

  (ii) Licence Intellectual Property Rights means the Intellectual Property Rights to which WDSL is licensee under the Licence.

 

(b) The Disclosure Letter contains a list of all patents, registered trade marks, registered service marks, registered designs or other registered Intellectual Property Rights of which a Company is the registered proprietor or for which application has been made by a Company and any such rights which are registered to a member of the Seller’s Group (or the subject of an application by a member of the Seller’s Group) and used or beneficially owned by a Company.

 

(c) So far as the Seller is aware, no written notice has been received by any Company or Richard Ian Brydges-Price claiming that either it, he nor the Licence infringes any right in confidential information or other Intellectual Property Right of any third party.

 

(d) So far as the Seller is aware, all Intellectual Property Rights used by each Company for the purpose of carrying on its business as currently carried on are owned (free from any Encumbrance) by, licensed to or otherwise used pursuant to legally enforceable unencumbered rights by a Company.

 

(e) So far as the Seller is aware, nothing has been done or omitted to be done whereby any of the Company’s Intellectual Property Rights might cease to be valid, subsisting and enforceable.

 

(f) So far as the Seller is aware, there are no circumstances which would prevent any current application for registration of any Company’s Intellectual Property Rights or Licence Intellectual Property Rights from proceeding to grant and registration.

 

(g) So far as the Seller is aware, there has been no breach of the Licence terms.

 

(h) Complete and accurate copies of all licences, sub-licences and other agreements whereby each Company is licensed or otherwise authorised to use the Intellectual Property Rights of a third party or whereby any Company licenses or otherwise authorises a third party to use Intellectual Property Rights are contained in the Disclosure Letter (including the Data Room). No notice has been given to terminate any such licence, and the obligations of all parties in respect of them have been fully complied with and no disputes have arisen in respect of all such licences.

 

(i) The Disclosure Letter contains a full list of domain names in connection with the Internet or Worldwide Web which are held by, registered on behalf of or are or have been used in respect of each Company. One or other of the Companies is the registered owner of each such domain name.

 

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1.13 Contracts

 

(a) No Company is party to any material contract which:

 

  (i) was entered into otherwise than in the ordinary course of trading;

 

  (ii) involves the supply of goods the aggregate sales value of which will represent in excess of 10 per cent. of the budgeted turnover for the current financial year of the Company (being £2.7 million);

 

  (iii) involves the acquisition or sale in of a business or shares in a company;

 

  (iv) is for the supply of goods or services by the relevant Company on terms under which retrospective or future discounts, price reductions or other financial incentives are given;

 

  (v) involves delegation of any power under a power of attorney or authorisation of any person (as agent or otherwise) to bind or commit the relevant Company to any obligation;

 

  (vi) restricts the freedom of the relevant Company to carry on its business in any part of the world in such manner as it may think fit;

 

  (vii) involves conditions, warranties, indemnities or representations given in connection with a sale of shares or an undertaking or any fixed assets sold for a consideration in excess of £10,000;

 

  (viii) is a guarantee, indemnity, surety or similar obligation in respect of the obligations of a third party, under which any liability or contingent liability is outstanding; or

 

  (ix) is for the provision of management services to the relevant Company and which is not terminable by the Company on less than twelve months’ notice without compensation.

 

(b) No Company has received written notice that it is in default under any agreement, mortgage, charge, lien or pledge which is material to the financial condition of the Company.

 

(c) No Company has agreed to become a member of any partnership or other unincorporated association, joint venture or consortium (other than recognised trade associations).

 

1.14 Litigation

No Company is a plaintiff or defendant in, or otherwise a party to, any material litigation, arbitration, tribunal, investigative or administrative proceedings which are in progress nor, so far as the Seller is aware, have such proceedings been expressly threatened by or against any Company or any of their respective assets.

 

1.15 Liquidation

 

(a) No administrator, receiver or administrative receiver or local equivalent has been appointed in respect of the whole or any part of the assets or undertaking of any Company.

 

(b) No petition has been presented, no order has been made and no resolution has been passed for the winding up of any Company.

 

(c) No voluntary arrangement or compromise or other arrangement with creditors has been proposed, agreed or sanctioned under any applicable law in respect of a Company.

 

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(d) No Company has called any formal or informal meeting of all or any of its creditors.

 

(e) No distress, execution or other process has been levied on or applied for in respect of any asset of any Company.

 

(f) So far as the Seller is aware, there are no facts in existence which are likely to lead to any of the events or circumstances referred to in this paragraph 1.15(a) to (e).

 

(g) No Company has entered into a transaction with the Seller’s Group in the two years prior to the date of this agreement which is liable to be set aside under section 238(3) of the Insolvency Act 1986.

 

1.16 Employees

 

(a) The Seller has disclosed to the Purchaser in respect of the Companies:

 

  (i) a list of all Senior Employees showing, by reference to appropriate categories, remuneration payable and other principal benefits provided; and

 

  (ii) brief details of the numbers of other staff and hourly paid employees and a brief description of their terms and conditions of employment.

 

(b) Save as disclosed pursuant to paragraph 1.16(a) above, there is not in existence any written or unwritten contract of employment with a director or an employee of a Company which cannot be terminated by 12 months’ notice or less without giving rise to a claim for damages or compensation (other than a statutory redundancy payment or statutory compensation for unfair dismissal).

 

(c) Save as disclosed pursuant to paragraph 1.16(a) above, there is not outstanding any agreement or arrangement to which a Company is a party for profit sharing or for payments to any of its directors or employees of bonuses or for incentive payments or other similar matters and there are no other material payments by a Company to employees which have not been disclosed.

 

(d) None of the directors or managing directors of any Company has given or been given notice to terminate his employment.

 

(e) No dispute has arisen within the last 12 months between a Company and a material number or category of its employees or with any trade union.

 

(f) None of the Companies is currently experiencing or has experienced any material strikes, collective labour grievances or other collective bargaining disputes in the last five years.

 

(g) None of the employees of the Companies are currently subject to any disciplinary action by a Company or are currently engaged in any grievance procedure against a Company.

 

1.17 Insurance

 

(a) All premiums due in relation to each Company’s policies of insurance have been paid, and so far as the Seller is aware nothing has been done or omitted to be done which would make any policy of insurance of any Company void or voidable or which might lead to any liability under such insurance being avoided by the insurer.

 

(b) No insurance claim is pending or outstanding.

 

(c) Summaries of each Company’s insurances and of each claim made against those insurances in the last 2 years are set out in or attached to the Disclosure Letter (including the Data Room).

 

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1.18 Assets: unencumbered title

 

(a) None of the property, assets, undertaking, goodwill or uncalled capital of any Company is subject to any Encumbrance other than the Property, Intellectual Property Rights, goods ordered by customers in the ordinary course of business and retention of title in respect of goods purchased in the ordinary course of business.

 

(b) Of the assets owned or used by the Seller’s Group and the Companies and used by the Companies at the date of this agreement, the Companies own or have the right to use (or will at Completion own or have the right to use, pursuant to the Transitional Services Agreement or otherwise) those assets necessary to carry on their business as carried on at the date of this agreement.

 

1.19 Effects of the Agreement

 

(a) The execution of this agreement and the observance and performance of its provisions will not:

 

  (i) pursuant to a provision of the relevant licence, authorisation or consent cause the automatic termination of or default under any licence, authorisation or consent (other than any contained in the Disclosure Letter (including the Data Room)) required by any Company for the purposes of its business;

 

  (ii) result in the creation, imposition, crystallisation or enforcement of any Encumbrance whatsoever on any of the assets of any Company; or

 

  (iii) result in any present or future indebtedness of any Company becoming due and payable, or capable of being declared due and payable, prior to its stated maturity date.

 

(b) The Companies are not required to pay any financial or other benefit to (or release from liability) any of the managers, directors or key employees of the Companies, which is dependent on the execution or completion of this agreement and the parties acknowledge that, in the event of a breach of this provision, the cost of such benefits or releases shall be borne in their entirety by the Seller.

 

1.20 Confidential Information

 

(a) Each of the employees of the Companies has executed a confidentiality agreement or are bound by terms and condition of employment pursuant to which such employee has agreed to maintain the confidentiality of the relevant Company’s confidential information.

 

(b) As far as the Seller is aware, all breaches by employees of the Companies (during their employment by the Companies) of the Official Secrets Act 1989 and disclosures of any confidential information of the Companies in each case since 1 January 2004 are set out in the Disclosure Letter.

 

1.21 Unlawful Payments

 

(a) No Company is suspended or debarred from bidding for contracts or subcontracts for any department or any agency of the government of the United Kingdom or, so far as the Seller is aware, any department or agency of the United States government or any foreign government nor, so far as the Seller is aware, has any such suspension or debarment been threatened or action for suspension or debarment been commenced.

 

(b)

So far as the Seller is aware, no Company is currently being audited, except in the ordinary course of business or as is customary in the industry or as provided by the Federal Acquisition Regulations, nor so far as the Seller is aware is any Company currently being investigated by the United States Government Accounting Office, the United States Department of Justice, the United States

 

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Department of Defence or any of its agencies, the Defence Contract Audit Agency or the Inspector General or other authorities of any agency of the United States government, any equivalent British government department or agency or any foreign government nor so far as the Seller is aware has any such audit or investigation been threatened.

 

(c) None of the Companies nor any of the directors or officers of any of the Companies nor, so far as the Seller is aware without having made any enquiries or taken any steps to verify that such is the case other than in accordance with paragraph 5 of 0, any representatives or agents of any of the Companies have made, provided, or offered any contributions, payments, other inducement, gifts of anything of value or entertainment to any government officials, political parties, candidates or others where such provision or offering is contrary to English law (any payment pursuant to this paragraph hereinafter referred to as an Unlawful Payment ).

 

(d) None of the Companies has, in the 12 months prior to the date of this agreement, received notice of any Unlawful Payment or an investigation of an alleged Unlawful Payment.

 

2. TAX

 

2.1 General

 

(a) Taxation liabilities

All Taxation of any nature whatsoever for which a Company is liable and which has fallen due for payment has been duly paid.

 

(b) Taxation returns

All notices, computations and returns which ought to have been given or made have been properly and duly submitted by each Company to the relevant Taxation authorities and all information, notices, computations and returns submitted to such authorities are true, accurate and complete in all material respects and are not the subject of any material dispute nor are likely to become the subject of any material dispute with such authorities. All records which a Company is required to keep for Taxation purposes have been duly kept and are available for inspection at the premises of the Company.

 

(c) Extensions of time for filing

No Company has asked for any extensions of time for the filing of any tax returns or other documents relating to Taxation.

 

(d) Claims and requests for treatment

All claims or other requests for any particular treatment relating to Taxation that have been taken into account in computing any amount in the Accounts or the Management Accounts, as the case may be, and the time limit for the making of which has passed have been duly made.

 

(e) Penalties and interest

No Company has within the past three years paid or become liable to pay any interest, penalty, surcharge or fine relating to Taxation.

 

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(f) Investigations

No Company has within the past 12 months been subject to, or is currently subject to, any non routine investigation, audit or visit by any Taxation or excise authority. So far as the Seller is aware, no claim has been made within the past 12 months by a taxing authority in a jurisdiction where any Company does not file tax returns that such Company is or may be subject to Taxation by such jurisdiction.

 

(g) Employee Securities

No liability to national insurance contributions or obligation to account for income tax under PAYE could fall on a Company as a result of a chargeable event (within the meaning of Part 7 ITEPA) before, at or after Completion in respect of securities and interests in securities made available or securities options granted to an employee or director prior to Completion.

Full details of all share incentive schemes and profit sharing schemes and employee benefit trusts in which employees of the Companies participate whether approved by HMRC or not have been disclosed.

 

(h) Close companies

No Company is, or has ever been, a close company as defined in section 414 Taxes Act 1988.

 

(i) Group transactions

Neither of the Companies is under any obligation to make, or any contingent liability to pay for or repay payments previously received in respect of, claims for or surrenders of group relief pursuant to sections 402 and 413 Taxes Act 1988 and elections pursuant to paragraph 66 of Schedule 29 Finance Act 2002.

 

(j) Tax avoidance

No Company has entered into or been a party to any scheme, arrangement or transaction designed wholly or mainly or containing steps or stages having no commercial purpose and designed wholly or mainly for the purpose of avoiding or deferring Taxation or reducing a liability to Taxation or amounts to be accounted for under PAYE.

 

(k) Base values and acquisition costs

If each of the capital assets of each Company owned at the Accounts Date was disposed of for a consideration equal to the book value of that asset in, or adopted for the purpose of, the Balance Sheet, or in the case of assets acquired since the Accounts Date, equal to the consideration given on acquisition, no liability to corporation tax on chargeable gains or balancing charge under the Capital Allowances Act 2001 would arise (and for this purpose there will be disregarded any relief or allowance available to the relevant Company other than amounts falling to be deducted from the consideration receivable under section 38 TCGA).

 

(l) VAT: general

Each Company:

 

  (i) is registered in the United Kingdom for VAT purposes and such registration is not subject to any conditions set down by HMRC and is not registered or required to be registered for VAT or any similar tax in any other jurisdiction; and

 

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  (ii) maintains complete, correct and up-to-date records for the purposes of all legislation relating to VAT and is not subject to HMRC conditions in this regard and is not in arrears with any payment or return under that legislation or in respect of Intrastats or excise or customs duties, or liable to any abnormal or non-routine payment of VAT, or any forfeiture or penalty, or to the operation of any penal provision.

 

(m) VAT: property transactions

Neither a Company nor any relevant associate (within the meaning of paragraph 3(7) Schedule 10 Value Added Taxes Act 1994) has made any election under paragraph 2(1) Schedule 10 Value Added Taxes Act 1994 in respect of any land in, over or in respect of which any Company has any interest, right or licence to occupy and no Company is aware of any intention to make such an election.

 

(n) Stamp duty and stamp duty reserve tax

All documents which are liable to stamp duty and which confer any right upon a Company or on which a Company may need to rely have been duly stamped and no document which confers any right upon a Company or on which a Company may need to rely and which is outside the United Kingdom would attract stamp duty if it were brought into the United Kingdom and there is no liability to any penalty in respect of such duty or circumstances which may give rise to such a penalty.

No Company has ever incurred or otherwise been under a liability to stamp duty reserve tax and there are no circumstances which may result in it being so liable.

 

(o) Stamp duty land tax

Stamp duty land tax has been paid in full in respect of all land transactions to which stamp duty land tax applies and in respect of which a Company is the purchaser within the meaning of section 43(4) Finance Act 2003 and no Company has any liability or obligation (contingent or otherwise) to submit a further land transaction return.

 

(p) Transfer pricing/Thin capitalisation

No Company has undertaken, or has agreed to undertake any transaction which is otherwise than on fully arm’s length terms and there are no circumstances which could cause any Taxation authority to make or require to be made any adjustment to the terms on which such transactions is treated as taking place.

 

2.2 Deductions and withholdings

Each Company has made all deductions in respect, or in account, of any Taxation from any payments made by it which it is obliged to make and has accounted in full to the appropriate authority for all amounts so deducted.

 

2.3 Tax Residence

No Company is treated for any Taxation purpose as resident in a country other than the country of its incorporation and no Company has, or has had within the past six years, a branch, agency or permanent establishment in a country other than the country of its incorporation.

 

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3. PENSIONS

 

(a) In this paragraph 3:

Scheme Documents means the documents relating to the Seller’s Schemes identified in the Disclosure Letter (including the Data Room).

 

(b) Except pursuant to the Seller’s Schemes, neither WDSL nor ML has paid, provided or contributed towards, or has or has had any liability to pay, provide or contribute towards, any relevant benefits as defined in Section 612 of the Taxes Act 1988 for or in respect of any employee.

 

(c) No employee has any right under the Seller’s Scheme other than as set out in the Scheme Documents.

 

(d) A list of all current active members of the Seller’s Schemes who are Employees is attached to or contained in the Disclosure Letter (including the Data Room).

 

(e) The Seller’s Schemes is approved as exempt approved schemes (within the meaning of section 592 of the Taxes Act) and, so far as the Seller is aware, there is no ground on which approval may be withdrawn or cease to apply.

 

(f) There is no litigation nor, so far as the Seller is aware, threat of litigation in connection with the Seller’s Scheme. No investigation by the Pensions Ombudsman, the Occupational Pensions Regulatory Authority, the Pensions Regulator or the Inland Revenue has been or is being carried out in relation to the Seller’s Scheme and so far as the Seller is aware there are no facts which may give rise to any such investigation.

 

(g) All amounts payable by WDSL and ML to the Seller’s Schemes have been paid.

 

(h) WDSL and ML have acted in accordance with the terms of the Scheme Documents in all material respects and with all material legal and regulatory requirements (including but not limited to the duty to facilitate access to a stakeholder pension scheme under section 3 of the Welfare Reform and Pensions Act) which apply by virtue of, or in relation to, their participation in the Seller’s Schemes.

 

(i) No Employee has any entitlement to payment of an early retirement benefit (on redundancy or otherwise) which WDSL or ML will or may be required to provide as a consequence of that entitlement having transferred to WDSL or ML pursuant to the Transfer of Undertakings (Protection of Employment) Regulations 1981.

 

(j) No act or omission has occurred which could result in the Pensions Regulator issuing, in relation to the Seller’s Schemes, a contribution notice as defined in section 38 of the Pensions Act 2004.

 

(k) No service company or insufficiently resourced company (both as defined in section 44 of the Pensions Act 2004) has participated in the Seller’s Schemes since April 2005 and the Seller does not intend, in the 12 months from Completion, to allow any company which at Completion does not participate in the Seller’s Schemes and which is insufficiently resourced to participate in the Seller’s Schemes.

 

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SCHEDULE 5

WARRANTY CLAIMS

 

1. Acknowledgement

The Purchaser and the Guarantor acknowledge and agree that:

 

  (a) the Warranties are the only representations, warranties or other assurances of any kind given by or on behalf of the Seller or any member of the Seller’s Group and on which the Purchaser may rely in entering into this agreement;

 

  (b) no other statement, promise or forecast made by or on behalf of the Seller or any member of the Seller’s Group may form the basis of, or be pleaded in connection with, any Claim by the Purchaser;

 

  (c) at the time of entering into this agreement it is not aware of any matter or thing which is inconsistent with the Warranties or constitutes a breach of any of them;

 

  (d) notwithstanding any other term of this agreement, the only Warranties that are given in relation to the environment are those contained in paragraph 1.11 of 0; and

 

  (e) notwithstanding any other term of this agreement, the only Warranties that are given in relation to Taxation are those contained in section 2 of 0.

 

2. Exclusions

The Seller shall not be liable in respect of a Claim to the extent that it relates to any liability or obligation on the part of a Company:

 

  (a) for which express or specific provision is made, or of which the payment or discharge is reflected, in the Accounts or the Management Accounts, as the case may be, or the Working Capital Statement; or

 

  (b) which arises or increases as a result of a change in legislation or a change in the interpretation of legislation on the basis of case law made after Completion (whether relating to Taxation, the rate of Taxation or otherwise) or any amendment to, or the withdrawal of, any practice previously published by a Taxation Authority, in either case occurring after Completion, whether or not that change, amendment or withdrawal purports to be effective retrospectively in whole or in part; or

 

  (c) which arises as a result of any change after Completion of the date to which any Company makes up its accounts or in the bases, methods or policies of accounting of any Company other than a change which is reported by the auditors for the time being of any Company to be necessary in their opinion because such bases, methods or policies of accounting as at the date of Completion are not in accordance with any published accounting practice or principle then current; or

 

  (d) for which the Purchaser is compensated as a result of a claim under the Tax Deed or another provision of this agreement; or

 

  (e) occasioned by any act or omission of any Purchaser Company after Completion; or

 

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  (f) of which the Purchaser, the Guarantor or the Purchaser’s Advisers is aware at the date of this agreement; or

 

  (g) in the case of a Taxation liability, if any profits or amount to which the Taxation is attributable were actually earned or received by or actually accrued to any Company but were not reflected in the Working Capital Statement; or

 

  (h) which arises or is increased as a result of the failure or omission of any Company to make any valid claim, election, surrender or disclaimer, to give any valid notice or consent or to do any other thing under the provisions of any enactment or regulation relating to Taxation after Completion, the making, giving or doing of which was taken into account in computing the provisions for Taxation in the Working Capital Statement; or

 

  (i) which arises or is increased as a result of any claim, election, surrender or disclaimer made or notice or consent given after Completion by any Company or any member of the Purchaser’s Group under the provisions of any enactment or regulation relating to Taxation other than any claim, election, surrender, disclaimer, notice or consent assumed to have been made, given or done in computing the amount of any allowance, provision or reserve in the Working Capital Statement or which is made at the prior request of the Seller pursuant to its rights under the Tax Deed; or

 

  (j) which would not have arisen but for a cessation, or any change in the nature or conduct, of any trade carried on by any Company at Completion, being a cessation or change occurring on or after Completion.

 

3. Financial Limits

The liability of the Seller shall be limited as follows:

 

  (a) there shall be disregarded (including for the purposes of paragraph (b)) any breach of the Warranties in respect of which the amount of the damages to which the Purchaser would otherwise be entitled is less than £100,000;

 

  (b) the Purchaser shall not be entitled to recover any damages in respect of any breach or breaches of the Warranties unless the amount of damages in respect of such breach or breaches exceeds in aggregate the sum of £1,500,000 (in which case the Seller shall be liable for the whole amount and not merely the excess); and

 

  (c) the maximum aggregate liability of the Seller in respect of all and any claims under the Warranties and the Indemnities and all and any claims under the Tax Deed shall not exceed the Consideration actually received by the Seller from time to time.

 

4. Time limits

The liability of the Seller shall terminate (but without prejudice to the rights and obligations of the parties under the Tax Deed):

 

  (a) on the seventh anniversary of Completion in respect of those matters set out in the section 2 of 0; and

 

  (b) on the date 18 months after Completion in respect of all other Warranties,

except in respect of any Claim of which written notice is given to the Seller giving reasonable details of the nature of the matter before the relevant date. The liability of the Seller in respect of any Claim

 

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shall in any event terminate if proceedings in respect of it have not been commenced within six months of service of notice of that Claim unless the Seller shall have assumed conduct of the Claim in question in accordance with the provisions of this Schedule or the Tax Deed.

 

5. Notice of Warranty Claims

If the Purchaser becomes aware of a matter which is likely to give rise to a Claim, the Seller shall not be liable in respect of it unless the Purchaser has given written notice of the relevant facts to the Seller as soon as reasonably practicable after becoming aware of those facts and in any event within 3 months of becoming aware of those facts.

 

6. Conduct of Third Party Claims

If a Claim arises as a result of, or in connection with, a liability or alleged liability to a third party (a Third Party Claim ), then (subject to the provisions of the Tax Deed in relation to any matter which is the subject of a claim under it):

 

  (a) the Purchaser shall give notice of the relevant facts to the Seller as soon as reasonably practicable and in any event within two months of becoming aware of the circumstances or the receipt of the document as appropriate;

 

  (b) the Purchaser shall and shall procure that the relevant Company shall take such action as the Seller may reasonably request by notice in writing given to the Purchaser to avoid, dispute, resist, appeal or compromise or contest any Third Party Claim and in such case, the Purchaser shall and shall procure that the relevant Company shall make available to the Seller such access to personnel and information (including copies of information) as may be reasonably requested by the Seller for avoiding, resisting, disputing, appealing or compromising or contesting any Third Party Claim and the Seller shall indemnify the Purchaser and keep the Purchaser indemnified on demand against all reasonable costs incurred in complying with such requests of the Purchaser under this subparagraph; and

 

  (c) if the Seller does not request the Purchaser or the relevant Company to take any action the Purchaser shall procure that the relevant Company consults with the Seller in relation to the conduct of any appeal, dispute, compromise or defence of the Third Party Claim; and the Purchaser shall, and shall procure that the relevant Company shall, keep the Seller promptly informed of the progress of the Third Party Claim and provide the Seller with copies of all relevant documents and such other information as may be reasonably requested by the Seller at the Seller’s cost.

 

7. Mitigation

Subject to the provisions of clauses 11.4 and 12.6, nothing in this agreement shall be deemed to relieve the Purchaser from any common law duty to mitigate any loss or damage incurred by it as a result of any breach of this agreement. In the case of a Claim relating to Taxation, the Purchaser shall be obliged to utilise all Pre Completion Reliefs (as defined in the Tax Deed) to mitigate any Tax liability and clause 9 of the Tax Deed shall apply as if it was set out in this schedule mutatis mutandis .

 

8. Recovery from third parties

This paragraph applies if:

 

  (a) the Seller makes a payment (excluding any interest on a late payment) in respect of a Claim (the Damages Payment ); and

 

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  (b) any Company or the Purchaser receives any sum which would not have been received but for the circumstance which gave rise to that Claim (the Third Party Sum ); and

 

  (c) the receipt of the Third Party Sum was not taken into account in calculating the Damages Payment; and

 

  (d) the aggregate of the Third Party Sum and the Damages Payment exceeds the amount required to compensate the Purchaser in full for the loss or liability which gave rise to the Claim in question, such excess being the Excess Recovery .

If this paragraph applies, the Purchaser shall, promptly on receipt of the Third Party Sum by it or the relevant Group Company, repay to the Seller an amount equal to the lower of: (i) the Excess Recovery; and (ii) the Damages Payment, after deducting (in either case) all costs incurred by the Purchaser or the relevant Company in recovering the Third Party Sum and any taxation payable by the Purchaser or any Company by virtue of its receipt.

 

9. Insurance

Without prejudice to the Purchaser’s duty to mitigate any loss in respect of any breach of this agreement, if in respect of any matter which would otherwise give rise to a breach of this agreement one of the Companies is entitled to claim under any policy of insurance (or would have been so entitled had it maintained in force the insurance cover normally maintained for businesses of this type), the amount of insurance monies to which that Company is or would have been entitled shall reduce pro tanto or extinguish the claim for breach of this agreement.

 

10. Rescission

The Purchaser’s only remedies under this agreement (in the absence of fraud) shall be damages or equitable relief and the Purchaser shall not be entitled to rescind or terminate this agreement after its signature in any circumstances.

 

11. Double recovery

The Purchaser shall not be entitled to recover under any provision of this agreement or the Transaction Documents more than once in respect of the same Loss.

 

12. Unlimited liability

Notwithstanding any other provisions of this agreement, the limitations in this Schedule shall not apply in respect of any claim arising by reason of fraud by the Seller and the limitations in paragraph 3 of this Schedule shall not apply in respect of a breach of the Warranties in paragraphs 1.1(a), 1.2 or 1.3 of 0.

 

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SCHEDULE 7

PRE-COMPLETION

Until Completion the Seller shall exercise all rights and powers available to it so as to procure that, except with the written consent of the Purchaser, no Company shall:

 

(a) incur any capital expenditure exceeding £150,000; or

 

(b) dispose of or create any Encumbrance in respect of a material amount of its assets except in the ordinary course of business and except the payment of the WDSL Final Dividend; or

 

(c) enter into any unusual or abnormal contract or commitment not in the ordinary course of business; or

 

(d) grant any lease or third party right in respect of any of the Property or transfer or otherwise dispose of the Property; or

 

(e) other than as a result of any annual salary review, make any change in the terms and conditions of employment of any of its directors or employees or employ or terminate (except for good cause) the employment of any Senior Employee; or

 

(f) announce to any person any proposal to grant or create, any additional Retirement Benefit or take any action or allow any action to be taken in relation to the Schemes in relation to any employee of WDSL or ML other than in the ordinary course of administering the Schemes or knowingly omit to take any action necessary or prudent for the ordinary proper operation of the Schemes; or

 

(g) create, issue, purchase or redeem any class of share or loan capital; or

 

(h) other than in respect of ordinary business at an annual general meeting, pass any resolution of its shareholders or any class of shareholders, whether in general meeting or otherwise; or

 

(i) form any subsidiary or acquire shares in any company or participate in, or terminate any participation in, any partnership or joint venture; or

 

(j) agree, conditionally or otherwise, to do any of the foregoing; or

 

(k) in any other way depart from the ordinary course of its business.

 

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SCHEDULE 8

COMPLETION

PART 1

SELLER’S OBLIGATIONS

At Completion the Seller shall procure:

 

(a) the delivery to the Purchaser of:

 

  (i) duly executed transfer in favour of the Purchaser or its nominee(s) of all the Shares;

 

  (ii) the share certificate(s) representing the Shares (or an express indemnity in a form satisfactory to the Purchaser in the case of any found to be missing);

 

  (iii) the common or corporate seal (where applicable), registers and share certificate books of each Company;

 

  (iv) the Tax Deed duly executed by the Seller;

 

  (v) the Transitional Services Agreement executed by the parties to it;

 

  (vi) the resignations of Rolf Soderstrom and Andrew John Stevens as directors of WDSL and the resignations of Richard Sismey and Andrew John Stevens as directors of ML, in each case acknowledging that he has no claim against the relevant Company for loss of office;

 

  (vii) the resignation of the auditors of WDSL confirming that there are no circumstances connected with their resignation which should be brought to the attention of the members or creditors of WDSL;

 

  (viii) the power of attorney in the Agreed Form executed by Flight Refuelling Limited in respect of the Shares; and

 

  (ix) a certified copy of the resolutions of the board of directors (or a duly constituted committee of the board) of the Seller authorising the execution of the Tax Deed and each of the other Transaction Documents to be executed by it at Completion; and

 

(b) that a board meeting of each Company is held at which it is resolved that:

 

  (i) such persons as the Purchaser nominates are appointed as additional directors and the secretary of that Company;

 

  (ii) its registered office is changed to such address as is notified to the Seller three Business Days before Completion;

 

  (iii) in the case of WDSL, the transfer referred to in paragraph (a) above (subject only to it being duly stamped) is, to the extent relevant, approved for registration;

 

  (iv) in the case of WDSL, such auditors as are notified to the Seller three Business Days before Completion are appointed as auditors; and

 

  (v) the resignations referred to in (a)(vi) and (vii) above are accepted.

 

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PART 2

PURCHASER’S OBLIGATIONS

At Completion the Purchaser shall:

 

(a) deliver to the Seller a certified copy of the resolutions of the board of directors (or a duly constituted committee of the board) of the Purchaser authorising the execution of the Tax Deed and each of the other Transaction Documents to be executed by it at Completion;

 

(b) deliver to the Seller a counterpart of the Tax Deed duly executed by the Purchaser;

 

(c) pay the Initial Consideration and (on behalf of the Purchaser (as defined in the FRC Agreement)) the Deferred Purchase Price (as defined in the FRC Agreement) in cash to the Seller; and

 

(d) pay any Deferred Consideration payable on Completion in cash to the Seller.

 

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SCHEDULE 13

INTERPRETATION

 

1. In this agreement:

Accounts means the audited balance sheet as at the Accounts Date and the audited profit and loss account for the year ended on that date of WDSL and the unaudited balance sheet as at the Accounts Date of ML;

Accounts Date means 31 December 2005;

Actual Net Indebtedness means the Net Indebtedness as shown in the Working Capital Statement;

Actual Shareholder Debt means the Shareholder Debt as shown in the Working Capital Statement;

Actual Working Capital means the Working Capital as shown in the Working Capital Statement;

Advance Payments means the sum of all payments on account received or receivable from a customer other than Progress Payments;

Agreed Form means, in relation to any document, the form of that document which has been initialled for the purpose of identification by the Seller or the Seller’s Solicitors and the Purchaser or the Purchaser’s Solicitors with such changes as the Seller and the Purchaser may agree in writing before Completion;

Business Day means a day (other than a Saturday or Sunday) on which banks are generally open in London for normal business;

Claim means any claim by the Purchaser (or its assignee) against the Seller for a breach of the Warranties;

Companies means WDSL and ML and Company means any of them;

Completion means completion of the sale and purchase of the Shares in accordance with this agreement or the date thereof, as the case may be;

Condition means the condition precedent to the sale and purchase of the Shares set out in clause 3.1;

Consideration means the aggregate of the Initial Consideration (as adjusted) and the Deferred Consideration (if any);

Data Room means each of the documents contained in the “WDSL” section of the Project Windsor electronic data site hosted by Merrill Corporation copies of which are contained on the cd-rom in the Agreed Form enclosed with the Disclosure Letter and the supplementary file annexed to the Disclosure Letter;

Deferred Consideration has the meaning given in clause 7.1;

Disclosure Letter means the letter of the same date as this agreement from the Seller to the Purchaser;

Encumbrance means any mortgage, charge (fixed or floating), pledge, lien, option, right to acquire, right of pre-emption, assignment by way of security or trust arrangement for the purpose of

 

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providing security or other security interest of any kind (including any retention arrangement), or any agreement to create any of the foregoing;

Environmental Tax means the tax known as aggregates levy charged in accordance with Part 2 of the Finance Act 2001, the tax known as climate change levy charged in accordance with Part I of Schedule 6 to the Finance Act 2000 and the tax known as landfill tax charged in accordance with Part III of the Finance Act 1996;

Estimated Net Indebtedness means the estimate of the Net Indebtedness as shown in the Estimated Working Capital Statement;

Estimated Shareholder Debt means the estimate of the Shareholder Debt as shown in the Estimated Working Capital Statement;

Estimated Working Capital means the estimate of Working Capital as shown in the Estimated Working Capital Statement;

Estimated Working Capital Amount means the Estimated Working Capital less the Target Working Capital;

Estimated Working Capital Statement means the statement containing the Seller’s good faith estimate of the amounts of Net Indebtedness (including Shareholder Debt) and Working Capital as at Completion as provided by the Seller to the Purchaser prior to Completion;

Financial Indebtedness means indebtedness of the Companies to any person other than another Company in respect of finance leases and moneys borrowed on term loans, revolving loans or overdraft and any accrued but unpaid interest in respect of those borrowings;

HMRC means Her Majesty’s Revenue and Customs (or, where applicable, a person or persons which previously had responsibility for any function for which Her Majesty’s Revenue and Customs has responsibility);

holding company has the meaning given in section 736 of the Companies Act 1985;

Indemnities means the indemnities in clauses 11 and 12 and Schedule 12;

Independent Accountants means such firm of chartered accountants as may be appointed under Schedule 11;

Initial Consideration has the meaning given in clause 5.1;

Intellectual Property Rights means (i) copyright, patents, database rights and rights in trade marks, designs, know-how and confidential information (whether registered or unregistered), (ii) applications for registration, and rights to apply for registration, of any of the foregoing rights and (iii) all other intellectual property rights and equivalent or similar forms of protection existing anywhere in the world;

Long-Stop Date has the meaning given in clause 3.2;

Losses means losses, costs, damages, liabilities, charges, expenses and penalties;

Management Accounts means the latest unaudited management accounts of the relevant Company contained in the Disclosure Letter (including the Data Room);

 

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Net Indebtedness means that amount equal to the sum of: (i) the Shareholder Debt; (ii) the Advance Payments; and (iii) the aggregate other net external Financial Indebtedness of the Companies as at Completion, after deducting from that sum the aggregate amount of the cash in hand or at bank and cash equivalents held by the Companies as at Completion;

Progress Payments means the sum of all payments on account received or receivable from a customer which are validly set-off against stock (at cost) deliverable under a contract to the same customer or debtors relating to that customer where such related revenues have been recognised;

Property means the property shortly described in Schedule 3 and includes every part of each of them and Property means any of them;

Purchaser Companies means the Purchaser’s Group and, with effect from Completion, the Companies and Purchaser Company means any of them;

Purchaser’s Accountants means Ernst & Young of 1 More London Place, London SE1 2AF;

Purchaser’s Advisers means the Purchaser’s Solicitors, the Purchaser’s Accountants and Jeffries Quarterdeck;

Purchaser’s Group means the Purchaser and the Guarantor and all their subsidiary undertakings, all their parent undertakings and all the other subsidiary undertakings of each of their parent undertakings (other than the Companies);

Purchaser’s Solicitors means Eversheds LLP of Senator House, 85 Queen Victoria Street, London EC4V 4JA;

Retained IP means any trade marks or logos which include the Retained Names;

Retained Names means “Cobham”, “FR” and “Flight Refuelling”;

Retirement Benefit has the meaning given in Section 255(5) of the Pensions Act 2004;

Seller’s Accountants means PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP of 1 Embankment Place, London WC2N 6RH;

Seller’s Group means the Seller and all its subsidiary undertakings (other than the Companies);

Seller’s Scheme means the Cobham Pension Plan (currently governed by a trust deed and rules dated 29 January 1998, as amended) and the Cobham Executives Pension Plan (currently governed by a trust deed and rules dated 29 January 1998, as amended);

Seller’s Solicitors means Allen & Overy LLP of One New Change, London EC4M 9QQ;

Senior Employee means any employee of a Company whose annual salary before bonuses and benefits at the date of this agreement exceeds £50,000;

Shareholder Debt means the aggregate of the Financial Indebtedness owing from the Companies to the Seller’s Group as at Completion (including in respect of the WDSL Final Dividend) less the aggregate of the Financial Indebtedness owing from the Seller’s Group to the Companies as at Completion;

subsidiary undertaking and parent undertaking have the meanings given in section 258 of the Companies Act 1985;

 

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Target Working Capital means £1,900,000;

Taxation means all forms of taxation, duties, imposts and levies, whether of the United Kingdom or elsewhere, including income tax (including income tax or amounts equivalent to or in respect of income tax required to be deducted or withheld from or accounted for in respect of any payment), corporation tax, advance corporation tax, capital gains tax, inheritance tax, VAT, Environmental Tax, customs and other import or export duties, excise duties, stamp duty, stamp duty reserve tax, stamp duty land tax, National Insurance and social security or other similar contributions, and any interest, surcharge, penalty or fine in relation thereto;

Taxation Authority means the Inland Revenue or any other taxing or other authority (whether within or outside the United Kingdom) competent to impose, administer or collect any Taxation;

Tax Deed means the Tax Deed in the Agreed Form;

Taxes Act 1988 means the Income and Corporation Taxes Act 1988;

Transaction Documents means this agreement, the documents referred to in it and any other agreements executed or to be executed by the parties on the date of this agreement or Completion;

Transitional Services Agreement means the agreement to be executed between WDSL and Flight Refuelling Limited in the Agreed Form;

Transferred IP means any trade marks or logos which include the Transferred Names;

Transferred Names means Wallop and WDS;

UK GAAP means generally accepted accounting principles and practices in the United Kingdom;

VAT means value added tax chargeable under or pursuant to the VATA 1994 or the EU Sixth VAT Directive (77/388/EEC);

VATA 1994 means the Value Added Tax Act 1994;

WDSL Final dividend means the final dividend of £660,000 declared by WDSL in December 2005 which remains unpaid at the date of this agreement;

Warranties means the warranties on the part of the Seller contained in clause 10;

Warranty Claim means a claim by the Purchaser the basis of which is that any one or more of the Warranties is, or is alleged to be, untrue, inaccurate or misleading;

Working Capital means the adjusted working capital of the Companies as at Completion as ascertained in accordance with Schedule 10;

Working Capital Amount means the Actual Working Capital less the Target Working Capital; and

Working Capital Statement means the statement of Net Indebtedness and Working Capital determined or agreed following Completion in accordance with, and pursuant to, the policies, practices and procedures set out in set out in Schedule 10.

 

2.

It is assumed that the Estimated Indebtedness and Actual Net Indebtedness and Estimated Shareholder Debt and Actual Shareholder Debt calculations will show amounts being owed by the Companies and therefore Estimated Indebtedness and Actual Net Indebtedness and Estimated Shareholder Debt and Actual Shareholder Debt when used in clauses 5, 6 and 8 shall be the positive

 

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figure representing the amounts by which the Companies are indebted (although in such a case the figures will appear as negative in the Working Capital Statement and Target Working Capital Statement). If Estimated Net Indebtedness or Actual Net Indebtedness or Estimated Shareholder Debt or Actual Shareholder Debt show amounts being owed to the Companies these will be negative numbers in clauses 5, 6 and 8 (and appear in the Estimated Working Capital Statement or Working Capital Statement as positive numbers).

 

3. The following are examples as to how the Initial Consideration in clause 5 should be calculated:

 

   Example amount   

Example

explanation

   Effect on Initial Consideration    Example
Estimated Net Indebtedness    £1,000,000    the Companies owe £1,000,000 in aggregate externally and to the Seller’s Group    Initial Consideration reduced    Initial Consideration is £36,500,00 (if Estimated Working Capital Amount is nil)
  

negative

£1,000,000

   the Companies have cash of £1,000,000 and no debt owed by or to them    Initial Consideration increased    Initial Consideration is £38,500,00 (if Estimated Working Capital Amount is nil)

Estimated

Working Capital Amount

   £1,000,000    the Estimated Working Capital is greater than the Target Working Capital, for example, Estimated Working Capital is £500,000 and Target Working Capital is negative £500,000    Initial Consideration increased    Initial Consideration is £38,500,00 (if Estimated Net Indebtedness is nil)
  

negative

£1,000,000

   the Estimated Working Capital is less than the Target Working Capital, for example, Estimated Working Capital is negative £500,000 and Target Working Capital is £500,000    Initial Consideration reduced    Initial Consideration is £36,500,00 (if Estimated Net Indebtedness is nil)

 

4. The following are examples of how the adjustments to the Initial Consideration in clause 6 should be calculated:

 

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   44    13 March 2006


   Example amount    Example explanation    Effect on Initial Consideration    Example

Actual Net

Indebtedness

  

£1,000,000

(Estimated Net

Indebtedness is

negative

£1,000,000)

   the Companies owe £2,000,000 in aggregate more externally and to the Seller’s Group than estimated   

Initial

Consideration

reduced

  

Initial

Consideration is

reduced by

£2,000,000

  

negative

£3,000,000

(Estimated Net

Indebtedness is

negative

£1,000,000)

   the Companies have £2,000,000 more cash and amount owed to them externally and by the Seller’s Group than estimated   

Initial

Consideration

increased

  

Initial

Consideration is

increased by

£2,000,000

Working Capital

Amount

  

£1,000,000

(Estimated

Working Capital

Amount is negative

£1,000,000)

   it was estimated that working capital would be less than the target by £1,000,000 but is greater than the target by £1,000,000   

Initial

Consideration

increased

  

Initial

Consideration is

increased by

£2,000,000

  

negative

£3,000,000

(Estimated

Working Capital

Amount is negative

£1,000,000)

   it was estimated that working capital would be less than the target by £1,000,000 but is less than the target by £3,000,000   

Initial

Consideration

reduced

  

Initial

Consideration is

reduced by

£2,000,000

 

5. Where any statement in 0 or in the Disclosure Letter is qualified by the expression “so far as the Seller is aware” or “to the best of the Seller’s knowledge, information and belief” or any similar expression, that expression or statement shall be deemed to refer to the actual knowledge of Charles Hughes, Ken Morrison and Mike Kelly following diligent enquiry of John Taylor, Nicholas Jackson, Rob Butler, Nick Barlow, Rob Powell, Ruaidhri Magee and Phil Miles.

 

6. In this agreement any reference, express or implied, to an enactment (which includes any legislation in any jurisdiction) includes:

 

  (a) that enactment as amended, extended or applied by or under any other enactment (before, on or after the date of this agreement);

 

  (b) any enactment which that enactment re-enacts (with or without modification); and

 

  (c)

any subordinate legislation (including regulations) made (before, on or after the date of this agreement) under that enactment, including (where applicable) that enactment as amended,

 

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   45    13 March 2006


 

extended or applied as described in subparagraph (a), or under any enactment which it re enacts as described in subparagraph (b).

 

7. In this agreement:

 

  (a) words denoting persons include bodies corporate and unincorporated associations of persons;

 

  (b) references to an individual include his estate and personal representatives;

 

  (c) subject to clause 19, references to a party to this agreement include the successors or assigns (immediate or otherwise) of that party;

 

  (d) a person shall be deemed connected with another if that person is connected with that other within the meaning of section 839 of the Taxes Act 1988;

 

  (e) the words including and include shall mean including without limitation and include without limitation, respectively;

 

  (f) any reference importing a gender includes the other genders;

 

  (g) any reference to a time of day is to London time;

 

  (h) any reference to £ is to pounds sterling;

 

  (i) any reference to writing includes typing, printing, lithography, photography or facsimile but excludes e-mail;

 

  (j) any reference to a document is to that document as amended, varied or novated from time to time otherwise than in breach of this agreement or that document; and

 

  (k) any reference to a company includes any company, corporation or other body corporate wheresoever incorporated.

 

8. If there is any conflict or inconsistency between a term in the body of this agreement and a term in any of the schedules or any other document referred to or otherwise incorporated into this agreement, the term in the body of this agreement shall take precedence, unless the relevant schedule or other document which is referred to or otherwise incorporated into this agreement expressly provides that the term in it is to take precedence over the term in the body of this agreement.

 

9. The eiusdem generis rule does not apply to this agreement. Accordingly, specific words indicating a type, class or category of thing shall not restrict the meaning of general words following such specific words, such as general words introduced by the word other or a similar expression. Similarly, general words followed by specific words shall not be restricted in meaning to the type, class or category of thing indicated by such specific words.

 

10. A reference in this agreement to any English legal term for any action, remedy, method or form of judicial proceeding, legal document, court or any other legal concept or matter shall be deemed to include a reference to the corresponding or most similar legal term in any jurisdiction other than England, to the extent that such jurisdiction is relevant to the transactions contemplated by this agreement or the terms of this agreement.

 

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   46    13 March 2006


SIGNATORIES

 

Signed by    )                 /s/ WARREN TUCKER
for Cobham plc    )
Signed by    )                 /s/ ROBERT D GEORGE
for Esterline Acquisition Limited    )
Signed by    )                 /s/ ROBERT CREMIN
for Esterline Technologies Corporation    )

 

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   47    13 March 2006

Exhibit 10.15 *

ESTERLINE TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATION

SUPPLEMENTAL RETIREMENT INCOME PLAN

EFFECTIVE

January 1, 2005


TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

          Page #

ARTICLE I

  

Purpose

   3

ARTICLE II

  

Definitions

   3

ARTICLE III

  

Eligibility and Participation

   6
  

1. Eligibility

   6
  

2. Participation

   6

ARTICLE IV

  

Supplemental Retirement Income

   6
  

1. Retirement or other Termination

   6
  

2. Amount of Supplemental Retirement Income

   7
  

3. Normal Retirement Benefit

   7
  

4. Early Retirement Benefit

   7
  

5. Vesting

   7

ARTICLE V

  

Survivor Benefits

   7
  

1. Pre-retirement Death Benefit

   7
  

2. Post-retirement Supplemental Retirement Income

   8

ARTICLE VI

  

Withholding Taxes

   8

ARTICLE VII

  

Amendment and Termination of Plan

   8

ARTICLE VIII

  

Administration

   9

ARTICLE IX

  

Miscellaneous

   9
  

1. Source of Funding

   9
  

2. Not a Contract of Employment

   9
  

3. Successors and Assigns

   9
  

4. Expenses

   10
  

5. No Prior Right or Offer

   10
  

6. Notice

   10
  

7. Terms

   10
  

8. Incompetence

   10
  

9. Governing Law

   10
  

10. Top Hat Plan

   10
  

11. Tax Effects

   11

ARTICLE X

  

Claims Procedure

   11
  

1. Claim

   11
  

2. Denial of Claim

   11
  

3. Review of Claim

   11
  

4. Final Decision

   11
  

5. Venue

   12


ESTERLINE TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATION

SUPPLEMENTAL RETIREMENT INCOME PLAN

ARTICLE I

Purpose

This Supplemental Retirement Income Plan is intended to promote and advance the interests of Esterline Technologies Corporation (the “Company”) and its shareholders by providing competitive compensation to select key executives of the Company.

Under the Qualified Plan, certain Code provisions serve to restrict an individual’s benefit with respect to any plan year:

 

    The maximum amount of Plan Compensation that can be considered in determining Company contributions ($220,000 for 2006) – Code Section 417(a)(17)

 

    The maximum amount that may be accrued under the plan for a Participant as an annual benefit (the lesser of 100% of average allowable compensation or $175,000 for 2006) – Code Section 415(b)

The Plan is intended to allow Participants to accrue retirement pension benefits on eligible earnings above these limits according to the same benefit accrual formulas provided for the general workforce in the Company’s Qualified Plan.

This Plan is intended to comply with Code Section 409A with respect to all benefits under the Plan. This Plan is effective as of January 1, 2005.

ARTICLE II

Definitions

The following words when capitalized shall have the following meanings, unless a different meaning is required by the context. Any capitalized terms used in this Plan that are not defined herein shall have the meanings set forth in the Qualified Plan.

1. “ Administrator ” shall mean the Company’s Board as set forth in Article VIII hereof. The Board may delegate responsibility for administration of the Plan to a Board committee (the “Committee”) composed solely of two or more directors, each of whom is a “Non-Employee Director” (as that term is defined in Rule 16b-3(b) promulgated by the Securities and Exchange Commission pursuant to its authority under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934).


2. “ Accrued Benefit ” shall have the same meaning as provided in the Qualified Plan.

3. “ Beneficiary ” means the person, trust or other entity designated by the Participant under the terms and conditions of the Qualified Plan who is or may become entitled to receive a benefit under the Qualified Plan upon the Participant’s death.

4. “ Board ” shall mean the Board of Directors of the Company. In the event the Board has delegated any authority with respect to the Plan to a Committee, references to the “Board” in this Plan shall be deemed to refer to either the Board or the Committee, whichever is appropriate in the context in which the word is used.

5. “ Cash Balance Benefit” means the benefit accrual formula in Schedule IV of the Qualified Plan.

6. “ Change in Control ” of the Company occurs on the date that any one person, or more than one person acting as a group, acquires ownership of stock of the Company that, together with stock held by such person or group, constitutes more than 35% of the total voting power of the stock of the Company, excluding the acquisition of additional stock by a person or more than one person acting as a group who is considered to own more than 35% of the total fair market value or total voting power of the stock of the corporation. A Change in Control also occurs on the date that a change in the composition of the Board during any 12-month period occurs such that the individuals who, as of the beginning of such 12-month period, constitute the Board (“Incumbent Board”) cease for any reason to constitute at least a majority of the Board; provided, however, that for purposes of this definition, any individual who becomes a member of the Board subsequent to the beginning of the 12-month period, whose election, or nomination for election by the Company’s shareholders, was approved by a vote of at least two-thirds of those individuals who are members of the Board and who were also members of the Incumbent Board (or deemed to be such pursuant to this proviso) shall be considered as though such individual were a member of the Incumbent Board; and provided further, however, that any such individual whose initial assumption of office occurs as a result of or in connection with an actual or threatened solicitation of proxies or consents by or on behalf of an entity other than the Board shall not be considered a member of the Incumbent Board.

7. “ Code ” shall mean the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended from time to time.

8. “ Company ” shall mean Esterline Technologies Corporation, a Delaware corporation, and any affiliate permitted to participate in this Plan (as designated by the Board) or any successor to such corporation.

9. “ Compensation ” is as defined in the Qualified Plan; provided, however, that “Compensation” shall not include the Participant’s earnings, if any, under a multi-year performance based incentive arrangement, reimbursements or other expense allowances, cash and non-cash fringe benefits, moving expenses, or welfare benefits, whether or not reported as income to the Participant, or severance and paid time off (PTO) benefits paid upon termination of employment, whether paid on or after a Participant’s Severance from Service Date.

 

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10 “ Distribution Election Form ” shall mean the irrevocable form completed by a Participant in connection with his Participation Agreement, which forms a part of the Plan, under which the Participant elects the manner of distribution of his vested Plan benefit. The Distribution Election Form shall be completed within thirty (30) days of the Participant becoming eligible to participate under the Plan. In the case of a current Participant who has not yet completed a Distribution Election Form, the Distribution Election Form shall be completed no later than January 31, 2007.

11. “ Early Retirement Date ” shall mean the date elected by a Participant who is eligible for early retirement as provided in the Qualified Plan.

12. “ ERISA ” shall mean the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended from time to time.

13. “ Final Average Pay Benefit ” means the benefit accrual formula in Schedule I of the Qualified Plan.

14. “ Normal Retirement Date ” shall mean the later of the first day of the month coincident with or immediately preceding the Participant’s 65 th birthday, or the date the Participant is credited with five (5) or more years of participation as provided in the Qualified Plan.

15. “ Participant ” shall mean any individual who has been designated by the Board as eligible to participate in the Plan and who has executed a Participation Agreement and returned it to the Administrator as provided in Article III hereof.

16. “ Participation Agreement ” shall mean a written agreement governing a Participant’s rights under the Plan, which shall be executed by the Company and the Participant in such form as the Administrator shall specify.

17. “ Person ” shall include individuals, partnerships, corporations, associations, and other entities.

18. “ Plan ” shall mean the Supplemental Retirement Plan set forth herein.17. “ Qualified Plan ” shall mean the Esterline Technologies Retirement Plan, as amended from time to time.

19. “ Spouse ” shall mean the lawful spouse of a Participant as defined under the Defense of Marriage Act of 1996 who was legally married to the Participant throughout the one year period ending on the earlier of the date as of which the Participant has elected to begin receiving benefits or the date of the Participant’s death, provided that a former spouse will be treated as the Spouse to the extent required under a Qualified Domestic Relations Order.

20. “ Supplemental Retirement Income ” shall mean the supplemental retirement benefit described in Article IV hereof.

 

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21. “ Vested ” or “ Vesting ” shall mean the degree to which a Participant’s right to benefits under the Plan has become nonforfeitable.

ARTICLE III

Eligibility and Participation

1. Eligibility . The Board shall designate, from time to time, certain employees of the Company, including employees who also may be directors of the Company, who are determined by the Board to be key executives of the Company and thus eligible to participate in the Plan. In selecting the employees eligible to participate in the Plan, the Board shall consider the position and responsibilities of such individuals, the value of their services to the Company, and such other factors as the Board deems pertinent. After the Board has designated an employee as eligible to participate in the Plan, the Administrator shall notify such employee and present him with a Participation Agreement executed by the Company.

2. Participation . An eligible employee shall become a Participant in the Plan upon executing and returning to the Administrator the Participation Agreement described in paragraph 1 above.

ARTICLE IV

Supplemental Retirement Income

1. Retirement or other Termination . Upon the Participant’s separation from service, whether upon retirement or otherwise, for reasons other than death or termination for Cause (as defined below), he shall be entitled to Supplemental Retirement Income as determined and payable under this Article IV.

a. If Participant’s employment is terminated by the Company without Cause or is terminated by the Participant for any reason, he shall be entitled to the vested portion of his Supplemental Retirement Income at his Normal or Early Retirement Date.

b. If Participant’s employment is terminated for Cause, he shall not be entitled to any portion of his Supplemental Retirement Income hereunder.

c. “Cause” when used in connection with the termination of Participant’s employment by the Company, shall mean (i) the willful and continued failure by Participant substantially to perform his duties and obligations to the Company (other than any such failure resulting from any illness, sickness or physical or mental incapacity) which failure continues after the Company has given notice thereof to Participant or (ii) the willful engaging by Participant in misconduct which is significantly injurious to the Company, monetarily or otherwise. For purposes of this definition, no act, or failure to act, on Participant’s part shall be considered “willful” unless done, or omitted to be done, by Participant in bad faith and without reasonable belief that his action or omission was in the best interests of the Company.

 

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d. In the event that the Participant is a “key employee” as described in Code Section 409A(a)(2)(B)(i), payment of such Participant’s benefits by reason of his separation from service shall commence no earlier than six months following the date of his separation from service.

2. Amount of Supplemental Retirement Income . The Participant’s Supplemental Retirement Income shall equal the excess of:

(A) the Participant’s Modified Accrued Benefit over

(B) his Accrued Benefit payable under the Qualified Plan.

The Participant’s “Modified Accrued Benefit” shall be his Accrued Benefit determined as provided under the Qualified Plan except that Compensation for this purpose shall not be limited as provided in Section 401(a)(17) of the Code or any other similar statutory limitation on Compensation, nor shall the benefit so determined be limited as provided by Section 415 of the Code or any other similar statutory limitation on benefits.

3. Normal Retirement Benefit . Upon separation from service on or after reaching his Normal Retirement Date the Participant shall be entitled to his Supplemental Retirement Income which shall be paid by the Company in the manner elected by the Participant on his Distribution Election Form. The Participant may subsequently change his election regarding the manner of distribution of his Supplemental Retirement Income by submitting a new Distribution Election Form to the Company provided that the following conditions are met: (i) such election may not take effect until at least twelve (12) months after the date on which the election is made, (ii) except in the case of payment made on account of the Participant’s death, the payment with respect to which such election is made must be deferred for a period of not less than five (5) years from the date such payment would otherwise have been paid or commenced, and (iii) any election related to a payment at a specified time or pursuant to a fixed schedule may not be made less than twelve (12) months prior to the date the payment or stream of payments was scheduled to commence. No lump sum payments will be made under this Plan.

4. Early Retirement Benefit . If the Participant elects to retire early he shall be entitled to his Supplemental Retirement Income, payable as set forth above, reduced however by the Qualified Plan’s early retirement factor.

5. Vesting . Unless otherwise provided in the Participation Agreement, the Participant’s Supplemental Retirement Income hereunder shall become vested as his Accrued Benefit shall vest under the Qualified Plan.

ARTICLE V

Survivor Benefits

1. Pre-retirement Death Benefit . If a Participant dies prior to the commencement of his Supplemental Retirement Income under Article IV hereof, and his Beneficiary would be entitled to a survivor’s benefit under the terms of the Qualified Plan, the Participant’s

 

-7-


Beneficiary shall be entitled to receive a survivor’s benefit in the Supplemental Retirement Income, calculated in the same manner as the survivor’s benefit under the Qualified Plan but using the Supplemental Retirement Income in place of the Accrued Benefit under the Qualified Plan. Such survivor’s benefit shall be in lieu of all other benefits which the Participant (or his Beneficiary) would have been eligible to receive under the terms of the Plan. Such benefit shall be paid as directed by the Participant on his Distribution Election Form and the Beneficiary shall not have the power to defer the commencement of such benefit.

2. Post-retirement Supplemental Retirement Income . If a Participant dies after commencing to receive his Supplemental Retirement Income under Article IV hereof and has selected a survivor’s form of benefit, the Participant’s Beneficiary shall be entitled to receive from the Company the survivor’s benefit as provided by the Participant’s election.

ARTICLE VI

Withholding Taxes

Notwithstanding anything in the Plan to the contrary, the Company shall withhold from all benefit payments made to a Participant (or his Beneficiary) under the Plan any amount which the Company is required to withhold for any applicable state or federal taxes.

ARTICLE VII

Amendment and Termination of Plan

The Plan may be amended, discontinued or terminated by the Board at any time; provided, however, that no amendment, discontinuance or termination of the Plan shall, without the consent of any persons affected thereby, alter or impair any rights created prior to such amendment, discontinuance or termination. In the event that the Board terminates the Plan, benefits shall be paid in accordance with the terms of the plan in effect at the time of such termination. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Board shall have discretion, upon complete termination of the Plan, to accelerate payment of vested benefits in the following circumstances: (1) within twelve (12) months of a corporate dissolution taxed under Code Section 331, or with the approval of a bankruptcy court pursuant to 11 U.S.C. 503(b)(1)(A), so long as the amounts deferred under the Plan are included in the Participant’s gross income in the latest of the calendar year in which the termination occurs, the calendar year in which the amount is no longer subject to a substantial risk of forfeiture, or the first calendar year in which the payment is administratively practicable; (2) within the thirty (30) days preceding or the twelve (12) months following a Change in Control event; or (3) all arrangements of the same type as this Plan (those that would be aggregated under Proposed Treasury Regulation Section 1.409A-1(c) if the Participant participated in all of the arrangements) are terminated, only amounts payable absent a termination of the Program are paid within twelve (12) months of the termination, all payments are made within twenty-four (24) months of the termination, and a new arrangement of the same type is not adopted at any time for a period of five years following the date of the termination.

 

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ARTICLE VIII

Administration

The Plan shall be administered by the Board or the Committee, if one has been appointed. The Board has exclusive power to interpret the Plan and may from time to time make such decisions and adopt such rules and regulations for implementing the Plan as it deems appropriate. In so administering the Plan, the decisions and actions of the Board shall be final and binding on all parties with respect to all matters relating to the Plan. A Participant shall not be entitled to examine, audit or otherwise have access to any financial statements, bookkeeping records or other records of account pertaining to the Company or the Plan under any circumstances whatsoever. For purposes of any requirements imposed by ERISA, the Company is the administrator of the Plan (and any other pension plan sponsored by the Company for the benefit of a select group of management or highly compensated employees) as defined in Section 3(16)(A) of ERISA.

ARTICLE IX

Miscellaneous

1. Source of Funding . The Plan is unfunded. The rights of a Participant (and/or his Beneficiary) to benefits under the Plan shall be solely those of an unsecured creditor of the Company, and all benefits payable under the Plan shall be paid from the general funds of the Company. The Company’s obligations under this Plan shall be those of an unfunded and unsecured promise to pay money in the future. The Company may, but shall not be required to, establish a reserve of assets to provide funds for payments under this Plan. Such reserve may be through an account, escrow or trust fund or through the purchase of Company-owned insurance and shall be on such terms and conditions as shall prevent taxation to Participants and Beneficiaries of any amounts held in the reserve prior to the time payments are made. Establishing such a reserve shall have no effect on the operation of this Plan or upon the status of Participants as unsecured general creditors of the Company. Rights to payments shall not be limited to assets held in any reserve.

2. Not a Contract of Employment . The terms and conditions of the Plan shall not be deemed to constitute a contract of employment between the Company and the Participant, and the Participant (and his Beneficiary) shall have no rights against the Company except as specifically provided herein. Moreover, nothing in the Plan shall be deemed to give a Participant the right to be retained in the employ of the Company or to interfere with the right of the Company to discipline or discharge the Participant at any time.

3. Successors and Assigns . A Participant shall not have any right to transfer, assign, encumber, hypothecate or otherwise dispose of his (or his Beneficiary’s) right to receive benefit payments under the Plan. The provisions of the Plan shall bind and inure to the benefit of the Company and its successors and assigns. The term “successors” as used herein shall include any corporation or other business entity which shall, whether by merger, consolidation, purchase or otherwise, acquire all or substantially all of the business or assets of the Company.

 

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4. Expenses . All expenses and costs in connection with the adoption and administration of the Plan shall be borne by the Company.

5. No Prior Right or Offer . Except as expressly granted pursuant to the Plan subsequent to its effective date, nothing in the Plan shall be deemed to give any director, officer or employee, or his legal representatives or assigns or any other person or entity claiming under or through him, any contractual or other right to participate in the benefits of the Plan.

6. Notice . Any notice or other communication required or permitted hereunder shall be in writing and shall be deemed given when personally delivered to the addressee or deposited in the United States mail, postage prepaid and properly addressed to the addressee’s last known address.

7. Terms . Whenever any words are used herein in the masculine they shall be construed as though they were used in the feminine in all cases where they would so apply and wherever any words are used herein in the singular or in the plural, they shall be construed as though they were used in the plural or the singular, as the case may be, in all cases where they would so apply. Titles of Articles and paragraphs hereof are for general information only, and the Plan is not to be construed by reference thereto.

8. Incompetence . If the Administrator determines that a Participant is unable to care for his affairs because of illness, accident or otherwise, any payment due the Participant shall be made only to a duly authorized guardian or other legal representative or, upon appropriate indemnification of the Administrator, to the Spouse. Any such payment shall be a payment for the account of the Participant and shall be a complete discharge of any liability of the Company therefore.

9. Governing Law . The provisions of the Plan shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of Washington, except where preempted by ERISA or any other federal statute. Invalidation of any one of the provisions of the Plan for any reason shall in no way affect the other provisions hereof, and all such other provisions shall remain in full force and effect.

10. Top Hat Plan . This Plan is intended to be an unfunded plan maintained primarily for a select group of “management or highly-compensated employees” within the meaning of Sections 201, 301 and 401 of ERISA, and therefore to be exempt from the provisions of Parts 2, 3 and 4 of Title I of ERISA. Accordingly, the Plan shall terminate and no further benefits shall accrue hereunder if it is determined by a court of competent jurisdiction or by an opinion of counsel that the Plan constitutes an employee pension benefit plan within the meaning of Section 3(2) of ERISA which is not so exempt. Upon a termination under this provision, the amount of each Participant’s benefit accrued under the Plan as of such termination shall be distributed to such Participant in the manner described in Article VII, above.

 

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11. Tax Effects . Neither the Company nor the Administrator nor any other person or entity represents or guarantees that any particular federal, state or local tax consequences will occur as a result of any Participant’s participation in this Plan. Each Participant shall consult with his own advisers regarding the tax consequences of participation in this Plan.

ARTICLE X

Claims Procedure

1. Claim . Any person claiming a benefit, requesting an interpretation or ruling under this Plan or requesting information under this Plan shall present the request in writing to the Administrator, which shall respond in writing within 90 days, except that if the claim involves a determination that the Participant is disabled, the response will be made within 45 days.

2. Denial of Claim . If the claim or request is denied, the written notice of denial shall include:

(a) the reasons for denial, with specific reference to the Plan provisions on which the denial is based;

(b) a description of any additional material or information required and an explanation of why it is necessary; and

(c) an explanation of the Plan’s claim review procedure.

3. Review of Claim . Any person whose claim or request is denied may request review by notice given in writing to the Administrator within 60 days of such denial. In case of a claim involving a determination that the Participant is disabled, a request for review may be made within 180 days of the denial. The claim or request shall be reviewed by the Administrator, who may, but shall not be required to, grant the claimant a hearing. On review, the claimant may have representation, examine pertinent documents and submit issues and comments in writing.

4. Final Decision . The decision on review shall normally be made within 60 days. If an extension of time is required for a hearing or other special circumstance, the claimant shall be notified and the total time limit shall be 120 days. In case of a claim involving a determination that the Participant is disabled, the decision will normally be made within 45 days; any extension will be for not more than an additional 45 days. The decision shall be in writing and shall state the reasons and the relevant Plan provisions. All decisions on review shall be final and bind all parties concerned.

 

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5. Venue . Venue of any dispute under this Plan shall be in a court of competent jurisdiction in King County, Washington.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Company has executed this Plan on this 18th day of December, 2006

 

ESTERLINE TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATION
By:   /s/ Marcia J. M. Greenberg
 
Its:   VP Human Resources

 

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ESTERLINE TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATION

SUPPLEMENTAL RETIREMENT PLAN

PARTICIPATION AGREEMENT

AND

DISTRIBUTION ELECTION FORM

This AGREEMENT is made on __________________, by ESTERLINE TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATION, a Delaware corporation (the “Company”) and __________________ (the “Participant”).

R E C I T A L S

A. Pursuant to the Company’s Supplemental Retirement Income Plan (the “Plan”), a copy of which is attached and incorporated by this reference, the Board of Directors of the Company (the “Board”) has designated the employee as eligible to participate in the Plan on the terms and conditions set forth in the Plan and in this Agreement.

B. The employee wishes to participate in the Plan.

C. The Plan requires that a Participant make an affirmative election with respect to the manner of benefit distribution.

Now, therefore, the parties AGREE as follows:

1. Participation in Plan . Pursuant to Article III, Section 2 of the Plan, the employee shall become a Participant in the Plan upon executing this Agreement and delivering it to the Esterline Technologies Corporation HR Department. [For Participants under Schedule I (Final Average Pay portion) of the Esterline Technologies Retirement Plan — Participant hereby agrees to have withheld from his/her compensation 1% of the amount by which his/her compensation for any year as set forth in the Plan exceeds the limit provided in Section 401(a)(17) of the Code for that year.] The Participant acknowledges that he has read the Plan and agrees to all of its terms, conditions and provisions. The parties agree that the definitions of terms used in this Agreement are as defined in the Plan or in the Qualified Plan.

2. Company Contribution . The Company may set aside or otherwise reserve amounts sufficient to fund the Participant’s Supplemental Retirement Income. However, the Company’s obligations under this Plan shall be those of an unfunded and unsecured promise to pay money in the future. The rights of a Participant (and/or his Beneficiary) to benefits under the Plan shall be solely those of an unsecured creditor of the Company, and all benefits payable under the Plan shall be paid from the general funds of the Company.

3. Supplemental Retirement Income . The amount of Participant’s Supplemental Retirement Income under the Plan will be determined and payable as set forth in the Plan.


4. Vesting . The Participant’s Supplemental Retirement Income hereunder shall be vested as his Accrued Benefit shall vest under the Qualified Plan.

5. Distribution Election. Participant hereby elects the following form of benefit distribution:

 

  ____ Single life annuity payable for Participant’s lifetime.

 

  ____ Joint and 100% surviving spouse annuity.

 

  ____ Joint and 75% surviving spouse annuity (only available for Participants who are also participating in the Final Average Pay Benefit of the Qualified Plan).

 

  ____ Life annuity with ___-year (enter 5, 10 or 15) certain period (only available for Participants who are also participating in the Final Average Pay Benefit of the Qualified Plan).

Participant understands and acknowledges that failure to make an election regarding the manner of benefit distribution will result in distribution being made as follows: (1) if Participant does not have a spouse during the one-year period leading up to his benefit commencement date, then Participant’s vested accrued benefit shall be distributed in the form of a single life annuity; or (2) if Participant has a spouse during the one-year period leading up to his benefit commencement date, then Participant’s vested accrued benefit shall be distributed in the form of a joint and 50% surviving spouse annuity.

6. Miscellaneous .

6.1 This Agreement is binding upon and inures to the benefit of the parties hereto and their respective successors, assignees, legal representatives, and heirs; provided, however, that the Participant may not assign any of his rights under the Plan or this Agreement.

6.2 This instrument together with the Plan constitutes the entire agreement between the parties relating to the subject matter hereof and shall not be modified or amended in any way except in writing signed by both parties.

6.3 Neither the failure nor the delay on the part of either party to exercise any right, power, or privilege shall operate as a waiver in that or any subsequent instance.

6.4 This Agreement shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of Washington, except where preempted by ERISA or any other federal statute.

6.5 The Board has exclusive authority to interpret the Plan and may from time to time make such decisions and adopt such rules and regulations for implementing the Plan as it

 

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deems appropriate. In so administering the Plan, the decisions and actions of the Board shall be final and binding on all parties with respect to all matters relating to the Plan.

 

ESTERLINE CORPORATION
By     
Its     
 
PARTICIPANT
    
Signature

 

    
[Printed name]

SERP II Participation Agreement

 

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Exhibit 10.42 *

FY07 Annual Incentive Compensation Plan

Esterline Technologies Corporation

 

1. Purpose. The Board of Directors has established this Plan to encourage Esterline officers and senior managers to make prudent decisions that will strengthen current year financial results for shareholders. The Plan is designed to reward participants for successful achievement of an earnings objective, and to provide incentives for them to achieve outstanding results.

 

2. Membership. The Board will appoint selected officers and senior managers from among Esterline’s corporate staff to Plan membership. Individuals become members upon return of a signed acceptance.

 

3. Objective. The Plan’s earnings objective will be determined by the Board’s Compensation Committee, and approved by the Board at the beginning of the fiscal year.

 

4. Incentive Formula.

 

  a. Target Incentive Compensation. The Board will establish a target incentive compensation award level for each member (“target IC”), which will range from 5% to 60% of the member’s base salary as of fiscal year-end. Esterline will pay the target IC amount if the corporation achieves its earnings objective, subject to other terms of this Plan.

 

  b. Threshold. Members will earn no IC if the corporation’s earnings fall below a minimum established by the Board (“Plan threshold”). At the Plan threshold, members will earn 25% of their target IC.

 

  c. Maximum. Members may earn up to 200% of their target IC for exceptional achievement if corporate earnings exceed the Plan’s objective and reach this “Plan maximum”. Plan members will earn no additional IC for achievement above the Plan maximum.

 

  d. Proportionate Awards. Between the Plan threshold and Plan maximum, member earnings will increase or decrease from target levels in direct proportion to incremental achievement.

 

5. General Terms.

 

  a. Plan Administration. The Board has delegated administrative authority to its Compensation Committee, which shall consider any issues arising under the Plan, oversee Plan award calculations, and make recommendations to the Board for final approval.

 

  b.

Adjustments. The Compensation Committee may exercise its discretion to recommend the Board either subtract from or add to computed awards, provided, however, that the Compensation committee may not adjust awards for any member who is a covered employee for purposes of Section 162(m) of the Internal Revenue


 

Code of 1986 in such a manner as would increase the amount of compensation otherwise payable to that employee. The maximum range of such adjustments is limited to either 25% of the member’s computed award or 25% of the member’s target IC, whichever is greater.

 

  c. Calculations. Esterline will calculate earnings per share on a fully-diluted basis, as audited, and before extraordinary items.

 

  d. Payment. Esterline will pay Plan awards within 60 days following fiscal year-end, provided:

 

    Company auditors have issued an opinion that supports earnings calculations;

 

    The Board has approved the proposed awards; and,

 

    Members remain employed through the entire fiscal year and through the payment date, except as provided in sections 5f and 5g below.

 

  e. Employment. This Plan does not affect members’ terms of employment, except as specifically provided here. This Plan does not guarantee continued employment. Members remain subject to usual Esterline policies and practices.

 

  f. Partial Year Membership. If an employee is appointed to the Plan mid-year, Esterline will pay a pro-rata amount based on the member’s period of employment, and on the terms under which they were appointed to the Plan.

 

  g. Termination. If a member leaves Esterline employment prior to the Plan payment date for any reason, whether voluntary or involuntary, s/he shall forfeit any IC award otherwise earned, except:

 

  i. The Board may exercise its discretion to grant a pro-rata award to a terminated employee based on his/her period of employment; or,

 

  ii. If a member leaves due to retirement, disability or death, Esterline will pay a pro-rata amount based on the member’s period of active employment.

 

  h. Entire Agreement. This Plan, together with the member’s appointment letter comprise the entire agreement between the member and Esterline with respect to these subjects.

 

  i. Modification. The Board may modify or terminate this Plan at any time, provided it pays members on a pro-rata basis for any IC earned prior to such change.

Approved by the Board and issued on its behalf:

 

/s/ Robert W. Cremin

Robert W. Cremin
Chairman, President & CEO
December 7, 2006

 

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FY07 Annual IC Plan

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Exhibit 10.43 *

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ESTERLINE TECHNOLOGIES

SUPPLEMENTAL EXECUTIVE RETIREMENT

&

DEFERRED COMPENSATION PLAN

Effective

January 1, 2007


TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

                Page #
ARTICLE I   Purpose    1
ARTICLE II   Definitions    1
ARTICLE III   Eligibility and Participation    4
  1.      Eligibility    4
  2.      Participation    5
  3.      Deferrals Irrevocable and Non-assignable    5
ARTICLE IV   Participant Deferrals and Company Allocations    5
  1.      Participant Elective Deferrals    5
  2.      Company Allocations    5
  3.      Vesting of Allocations    6
ARTICLE V   Investment of Account Balances    6
  1.      Investment Direction    6
  2.      Change in Investment Direction    6
  3.      No Impact on Benefit Promise    6
ARTICLE VI   Time and Method of Benefit Payment    7
  1.      Retirement or other Termination    7
  2.      Normal Payment of Account Balance    7
  3.      Normal Form of Payment    7
  4.      Election of Alternate Timing or Form of Benefit Payment    7
  5.      Death of Participant    8
  6.      Hardship Withdrawal    9
  7.      Incompetence    9
ARTICLE VII   Value of Participant’s Account Balance    9
  1.      Account Balance    9
  2      Adjustment to Account    9
  3.      Account Statements    9
ARTICLE VIII   Withholding Taxes    9
ARTICLE IX   Amendment and Termination of Plan    10
ARTICLE X   Administration    10
  1.      Expenses    10
  2.      Maintenance of Separate Accounts    10
ARTICLE XI   Claims Procedure    11
  1.      Claim    11
  2.      Denial of Claim    11
  3.      Review of Claim    11
  4.      Final Decision    11
ARTICLE XII   Miscellaneous    11
  1.      Top Hat Plan    11

 

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  2.      Source of Funding    12
  3.      Successors and Assigns    12
  4.      Employment Rights    12
  5.      Absence of Liability    13
  6.      Notices    13
  7.      Terms    13
  8.      Severability    13
  9.      Governing Law    13

 

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ESTERLINE TECHNOLOGIES

SUPPLEMENTAL EXECUTIVE RETIREMENT AND

DEFERRED COMPENSATION PLAN

ARTICLE I

Purpose

This Supplemental Executive Retirement and Deferred Compensation Plan is intended to promote and advance the interests of Esterline Technologies Corporation (the “Company”) and its shareholders by providing competitive compensation to select key executives of the Company.

Under the Qualified Plan, certain Code provisions serve to restrict an individual’s participation with respect to any plan year:

 

    The maximum amount of Plan Compensation one may defer is limited to $15,000 for 2006 ($20,000 for employees at least age 50) – Code Sections 402(g) and 414(v)

 

    The maximum amount of Plan Compensation that can be considered in determining Company contributions ($220,000 for 2006) – Code Section 417(a)(17)

 

    The maximum amounts that Highly Compensated Employees can defer and receive as matching contributions are restricted by the need to satisfy nondiscrimination tests – Code Sections 401(k)(3) and 401(m)(2)

 

    The maximum amount that may be allocated to a Participant’s account for any plan year (the lesser of 100% of compensation or $44,000 for 2006) – Code Section 415(c)

None of these limits apply to this Supplemental Executive Retirement and Deferred Compensation Plan.

Benefits under the Plan are intended to provide a source of retirement income for such executives in addition to their retirement savings under the Company’s Qualified Plan. To achieve this result, the Plan provides participants the opportunity to defer a portion of their annual cash compensation, and authorizes the Company to make individual deferred compensation commitments. Vested amounts are to be made available for distribution at participant determined dates. The Plan is designed to serve these purposes by offering fully vested elective deferrals and Company provided credits subject to vesting, and by making accumulated balances payable upon separation or the occurrence of other significant events, including unforeseeable emergencies.

This Plan is also intended to comply with Code Section 409A with respect to all benefits under the Plan.

ARTICLE II

Definitions

The following words when capitalized shall have the following meanings, unless a different meaning is required by the context. Any capitalized terms used in this Plan that are not defined herein shall have the meanings set forth in the Qualified Plan.

 

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1. “ Account ” shall mean the bookkeeping account representing the total of all amounts credited for the benefit of a Participant under the Plan as described in Article VII . The Account shall include separate portions attributable to elective deferral and Company allocations.

2. “ Administrator ” shall mean the Board. The Board may delegate responsibility for administration of the Plan to a Board committee composed of two or more directors, all of whom are “Non-Employee Directors” (as that term is defined in Rule 16b-3(b) promulgated by the Securities and Exchange Commission pursuant to its authority under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934). The Administrator or delegated committee can further delegate responsibility of record keeping and regular administration to other parties, including persons employed by the Company.

3. “ Appointment Letter ” shall mean a letter from the Board to the Participant that offers him an opportunity to participate in the Plan and states the amount of the Company’s intended allocation to the Participant’s Account, if any, under Article IV, section 2(b) for the Plan Year.

4. “ Beneficiary ” shall mean any person, trust or other entity designated by a Participant as the party who is or may become entitled to receive a benefit under the Plan upon the Participant’s death.

5. “ Board ” shall mean the Board of Directors of the Company. In the event the Board has delegated any Administrator authority with respect to the Plan to a committee, references to the “Board” in this Plan shall be deemed to refer to either the Board or such committee, whichever is appropriate in the context in which the word is used.

6. “ Change in Control ” of the Company occurs on the date that any one person, or more than one person acting as a group, acquires ownership of stock of the Company that, together with stock held by such person or group, constitutes more than 35% of the total voting power of the stock of the Company, excluding the acquisition of additional stock by a person or more than one person acting as a group who is considered to own more than 35% of the total fair market value or total voting power of the stock of the corporation. A Change in Control also occurs on the date that a change in the composition of the Board during any 12-month period occurs such that the individuals who, as of the beginning of such 12-month period, constitute the Board (“Incumbent Board”) cease for any reason to constitute at least a majority of the Board; provided, however, that for purposes of this definition, any individual who becomes a member of the Board subsequent to the beginning of the 12-month period, whose election, or nomination for election by the Company’s shareholders, was approved by a vote of at least two-thirds of those individuals who are members of the Board and who were also members of the Incumbent Board (or deemed to be such pursuant to this proviso) shall be considered as though such individual were a member of the Incumbent Board; and provided further, however, that any such individual whose initial assumption of office occurs as a result of or in connection with an actual or threatened solicitation of proxies or consents by or on behalf of an entity other than the Board shall not be considered a member of the Incumbent Board.

7. “ Code ” shall mean the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended from time to time.

 

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Deferred SERP Plan Document

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8. “ Company ” shall mean Esterline Technologies Corporation, a Delaware corporation, and any affiliate permitted to participate in this Plan (as designated by the Board) or any successor to such corporation.

9. “ Disability ” shall mean:

(a) Participant is unable to engage in any substantial gainful activity by reason of any medically determinable physical or mental impairment which can be expected to last for a continuous period of not less than twelve (12) months,

(b) Participant is, by reason of any medically determinable physical or mental impairment which can be expected to result in death or can be expected to last for a continuous period of not less than twelve (12) months, receiving income replacement benefits for a period of not less than three (3) months under the Company’s long term disability plan, or

(c) Participant is determined to be totally disabled by the Social Security Administration.

10. “ Effective Date ” shall mean January 1, 2007, the date on which the provisions of this Plan became effective and the date on which Participants were first permitted to participate in the Plan.

11. “ ERISA ” shall mean the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended from time to time.

12. “ LTIP Compensation ” for any Plan Year means Participant earnings, if any, under a multi-year performance based incentive arrangement.

13. “ Normal Retirement Date ” shall mean the first day of the month coincident with or immediately preceding the Participant’s 65 th birthday.

14. “ Participant ” shall mean any individual who has been designated by the Board as eligible to participate in the Plan and who has executed a Participation Agreement and returned it to the Administrator as provided in Article III.

15. “ Participation Agreement ” shall mean a written agreement which, together with this Plan, govern a Participant’s rights under the Plan. Each Participation Agreement shall be executed by the Company and by the applicable Participant.

16. “ Plan ” shall mean this Esterline Technologies Supplemental Executive Retirement and Deferred Compensation Plan.

17. “ Plan Compensation ” for any Plan Year is as determined in the Qualified Plan without the dollar amount limitation applicable to the Qualified Plan; provided, however, that “Plan Compensation” shall not include LTIP Compensation, reimbursements or other expense allowances, cash and non-cash fringe benefits, moving expenses, or welfare benefits, whether or not reported as income to the Participant, or severance and paid time off (PTO) benefits paid upon termination of employment, whether paid on or after a Participant’s Severance from Service Date.

 

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18. “ Plan Year ” shall mean the accounting year of the Plan, which is the twelve-consecutive month period commencing on each January 1 and ending on the following December 31.

19. “ Qualified Plan ” shall mean the Esterline Technologies Voluntary Savings Plan, as amended from time to time.

20. “ Spouse ” shall mean the lawful spouse of a Participant as defined under the Defense of Marriage Act of 1996 who was legally married to the Participant throughout the one year period ending on the earlier of the date as of which the Participant has elected to begin receiving benefits or the date of the Participant’s death, provided that a former spouse will be treated as the Spouse to the extent required under a Qualified Domestic Relations Order.

21. “ Trust ” means the grantor trust established by the Company in connection with the maintenance of this Plan. The terms of the Trust shall be based upon and consistent with the requirements provided in the model grantor or “rabbi” trust published by the Internal Revenue Service as part of Revenue Procedure 92-64.

22. “ Unforeseeable Emergency ” shall mean a severe financial hardship to the Participant resulting from an illness or accident of the Participant, the Participant’s spouse, or a dependent (as defined in section 152(a)) of the Participant, loss of the Participant’s property due to casualty, or other similar extraordinary and unforeseeable circumstances arising as a result of events beyond the control of the participant. Amounts distributed with respect to an emergency must not exceed the amounts necessary to satisfy such emergency plus amounts necessary to pay taxes reasonably anticipated as a result of the distribution, after taking into account the extent to which such hardship is or may be relieved through reimbursement or compensation by insurance or otherwise or by liquidation of the Participant’s assets (to the extent the liquidation of such assets would not itself cause severe financial hardship).

23. “ Vested ” or “ Vesting ” shall mean the degree to which a Participant’s right to the balance in such Participant’s Account under the Plan has become non-forfeitable.

ARTICLE III

Eligibility and Participation

1. Eligibility . The Board, from time to time, shall designate certain employees of the Company who the Board determines to be key executives of the Company, including employees who may also be directors of the Company, as eligible to participate in the Plan. The Board shall specify each employee’s terms and conditions of participation in a Participation Agreement. In selecting the employees eligible to participate in the Plan, the Board shall consider the positions and responsibilities of such individuals, the value of their services to the Company, and such other factors as the Board deems pertinent.

After the Board has designated an employee as eligible to participate in the Plan, the Administrator shall notify such employee and present the employee with a Participation Agreement executed by the Company. No notice shall be required with respect to a Participant whose status as a Participant is continuing from one year to the next.

 

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2. Participation . An eligible employee shall become a Participant in the Plan upon executing and returning to the Administrator the Participation Agreement described above. An Employee’s status as a Participant in the Plan may be terminated by the Board at any time, with or without cause and in the Board’s sole discretion.

3. Deferrals Irrevocable and Non-assignable . All amounts credited to a Participant’s Account, including elective deferrals and Company allocations, shall be treated as having been irrevocably credited and no payment based on such amounts may be received except in accordance with the eligibility requirements, terms and conditions of this Plan. Notwithstanding any provision in this Plan to the contrary, if it is determined that any amounts credited under this Plan are currently or retrospectively taxable under the Code, such amounts will be paid out in a lump sum upon such determination.

Neither the Participant nor any Beneficiary shall have any right or ability to alienate, sell, transfer, assign, pledge, encumber or submit to garnishment, execution or levy, either voluntarily or involuntarily, any amount due or expected to become due under this Plan. Amounts due under this Plan shall be paid, transferred, delivered or otherwise conveyed only to the Participant or the Participant’s Beneficiary.

ARTICLE IV

Participant Deferrals and Company Allocations

1. Participant Elective Deferrals .

(a) Plan Compensation . Each Participant may elect in writing to have any whole percentage up to 75% of his Plan Compensation withheld by the Company and credited to his Account under the Plan.

(b) Long Term Incentive Plan Compensation . If permitted under the terms of his Participation Agreement, a Participant may elect in writing to have any whole percentage up to 100% of his LTIP Compensation available after tax withholding under Article VIII withheld by the Company and credited to his Account under the Plan.

(c) Timing and Manner of Election . Newly eligible Participants may enroll in the Plan within 30-days of eligibility. Each year thereafter, Participants will be permitted to make election changes no later than December 31 of the Plan Year for Plan Compensation elections, and no later than April 30 for LTIP Compensation deferral elections. The elected percentage may not change throughout the year. If a Participant fails to file a properly completed election form with the Administrator or its designee by the prescribed time or in the manner specified by the Administrator, he will be deemed to have made the same elections for the new Plan Year as were in place at the close of the prior Plan Year. Elective deferrals shall be deducted from the Participants’ Plan and LTIP Compensation prior to imposition of any federal or state income taxes.

2. Company Allocations .

(a) Deferral Matching Allocations . Participants making elective deferrals from Plan Compensation will be eligible for a Company matching allocation. The Company’s match allocations will be made at the same percentage rate the Participant would have received had the deferrals been made as Salary Deferral Contributions under the Qualified Plan.

 

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(b) Discretionary Allocations . The Company shall have the right to allocate an additional amount to any Participant which the Company, in its sole discretion, shall determine. Among others, the Company may determine to make an allocation to a Participant to provide international compensation equalization or in lieu of amounts the Participant would have accrued under the Company’s defined benefit retirement plan had he qualified to participate. The Company’s determination shall be final and binding on all Participants.

3. Vesting of Allocations . The portion of each Participant’s Account under the Plan attributable to such Participant’s elective deferral allocations shall be fully vested at all times. The portion of each such Account attributable to allocations by the Company will become fully vested and non-forfeitable upon the earliest to occur of (i) Participant completes a three Year Period of Service, (ii) Participant attains his Normal Retirement Date (while a Company employee), and (iii) Participant terminates employment with the Company due to his death or Disability. The portion of a Participant’s Account, if any, which remains non-vested at Participant’s separation from service with the Company, will be forfeited and used to satisfy other benefit obligations under the Plan.

ARTICLE V

Investment of Account Balances

1. Investment Direction . A Participant may request, as of the date he becomes a Participant, and from time to time thereafter, that a stated percentage of the future allocations to his Account be invested in any or each of certain investment funds that the Administrator makes available, in such increments, in such manner, and subject to such other rules as the Administrator may prescribe. The Administrator shall not be obligated to honor such a request, but may take the request into account in determining the prudence of a particular investment.

Notwithstanding the foregoing, in the event a Participant has requested that his or her Account be invested in a particular way, then to the extent such request has been honored, the income or loss attributable to such Participant’s Account shall be determined solely on the basis of the performance of the designated investment portfolio.

2. Change in Investment Direction . A Participant’s investment request for future allocations will remain in effect until changed by the Participant. A Participant may change his investment request for future allocations to his Account at such times, in such increments, and subject to such rules as the Plan Administrator shall establish. In addition, each Participant may request that the amounts allocated to his Account be reallocated among the investment funds then available, in such increments, and subject to such rules as the Administrator shall establish.

3. No Impact on Benefit Promise . Investment of a Participant’s Account balance in the manner requested by a Participant shall not change the fact that the Company makes only an unsecured promise to pay any amounts deferred under this Plan.

 

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ARTICLE VI

Time and Method of Benefit Payment

1. Retirement or other Termination . Upon the Participant’s separation from service, whether upon retirement or otherwise, for reasons other than death or termination for Cause (as defined below), he shall be entitled to the vested balance in his Account.

(a) If Participant’s employment is terminated by the Company without Cause or is terminated by the Participant for any reason, he shall be entitled to the vested portion of his Account at his separation.

(b) If Participant’s employment is terminated for Cause, he shall not be entitled to the Company Matching or Discretionary Allocation portions of his Account hereunder, whether or not considered vested pursuant to Article IV, Section 3. Such portion shall be forfeited and applied to satisfaction of other benefit obligations under the Plan, except if such forfeiture is inconsistent with other written agreements between the Company and the Participant, in which case the other written agreement(s) shall control.

(c) “Cause” when used in connection with the termination of Participant’s employment by the Company, shall mean (i) the willful and continued failure by Participant substantially to perform his duties and obligations to the Company (other than any such failure resulting from any illness, sickness or physical or mental incapacity) which failure continues after the Company has given notice thereof to Participant or (ii) the willful engaging by Participant in misconduct which is significantly injurious to the Company, monetarily or otherwise. For purposes of this definition, no act, or failure to act, on Participant’s part shall be considered “willful” unless done, or omitted to be done, by Participant in bad faith and without reasonable belief that his action or omission was in the best interests of the Company.

2. Normal Timing for Payment of Account Balance . The elective deferral portion of a Participant’s Account balance will become payable upon the earliest to occur of the following: (a) the date specified by the Participant on an election form received by the Administrator, (b) the date the Participant dies, (c) the date the Participant becomes Disabled, or (d) the date the Participant separates from service with the Company. The vested amount of a Participant’s Account attributable to Company allocations shall be payable upon Participant’s separation from service with the Company. Notwithstanding the above, however, in the event that the Participant is a “key employee” as described in Code Section 409A(a)(2)(B)(i), payment of such Participant’s benefits by reason of his separation from service shall commence no earlier than six months following the date of such separation. Payment will be made in the manner set forth in this Article VI and in accordance with the Participant’s distribution election.

3. Normal Form of Payment . Participant’s vested Account balance will be paid to the Participant in a single lump sum cash payment, unless the Participant has elected installment payments in accordance with the terms of the Plan and the Participant’s distribution election.

4. Election of Alternate Timing or Form of Benefit Payment . A Participant may elect (i) to defer receipt of his vested Account balance, (ii) to receive the Account balance in installment payments; or (iii) both with respect to the elective deferral portion of his Account. The Participant may make an installment payment election, but may not make any election

 

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regarding payment timing; for the Company allocation portion of his vested Account balance. Any such election will be effective if made in the manner prescribed, and received by, the Administrator either (x) no later than 30 days after the date on which the Participant is notified of his participation in the Plan in accordance with Article III of the Plan; or (y) in accordance with the Subsequent Elections provisions of Section 4(c) below and his Participation Agreement.

(a) Defer Receipt of Benefit . Receipt of the elective deferral Account balance may be deferred until a fixed future date. If receipt is deferred, payment will commence at the specified time.

(b) Alternate Form of Benefit . A Participant may elect to receive the elective deferral or Company allocation portion of his vested Account Balance, or both, in installment payments instead of as a lump sum. Installment payments will be made in substantially the same manner as provided by the Qualified Plan.

(c) Subsequent Elections . The Participant may make a subsequent election regarding the form or timing of payment of his vested Account balance as permitted under Sections 4(a) and 4(b) above, provided the election meets the following requirements:

(i) Such election does not take effect until at least 12 months after the date on which the election is made;

(ii) In the case of an election to defer payment, the first or sole payment pursuant to such election is made not less than five (5) years from the date such payment would otherwise have been made, except that this requirement does not apply to payments relating to death, unforeseeable emergency, or a Participant becoming Disabled; and

(iii) The election is made a minimum of 12 months prior to the date on which the first scheduled payment is to be made.

In the event the Participant submits a distribution payment or timing election as permitted under this Section 4 which does not meet all of the requirements set forth above, the election will be void. Accordingly, payment will be made pursuant to the terms of the Participant’s immediately preceding valid election, if applicable. If the Participant has not made a valid election, payment will be made in a single lump sum upon Participant’s separation from service with the Company.

5. Death of Participant . If the Participant dies prior to payment of his entire vested Account balance in the Plan, the Administrator shall direct the Company to pay the remaining vested balance of the Participant’s Account to the Participant’s Beneficiary in a single sum. Any designation of Beneficiary shall be made by the Participant on an election form filed with the Administrator and may be changed by the Participant only by filing another election form containing the revised instructions. If no Beneficiary is designated or no designated beneficiary survives the Participant, the single sum payment shall be made to the Participant’s estate. The Administrator may require any person claiming a Participant’s vested Account balance as the Participant’s Beneficiary under the Plan to produce such evidence as the Administrator may deem reasonable.

 

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6. Hardship Withdrawal . If a Participant suffers an Unforeseeable Emergency the Participant may request, and the Administrator may direct the Company to pay to the Participant from the elective deferral portion of his Account, the amount the Administrator determines is necessary to satisfy the emergency need, including any amounts necessary to pay federal, state or local income taxes reasonably anticipated to result from the payment. A Participant requesting an emergency payment shall apply for the payment in writing on a form approved by the Administrator and shall provide such additional information as the Administrator may require.

7. Incompetence . If the Administrator determines that a Participant is unable to care for his affairs because of illness, accident or otherwise, any payment due the Participant shall be made only to a duly authorized guardian or other legal representative or, upon appropriate indemnification of the Administrator, to the Spouse. Any such payment shall be a payment for the account of the Participant and shall be a complete discharge of any liability of the Company therefore.

ARTICLE VII

Value of Participant’s Account Balance

1. Account Balance . The value of each Participant’s Account consists of all Participant elective deferrals and Company allocations, whether or not matching, allocated to the Participant’s Account plus any allocation as a result of an investment adjustment and less any payments, transfers or other disbursements of the Participant’s Account balance. For purposes of a payment under the Plan, the value of a Participant’s Account balance is its value as of the date of payment.

2. Adjustment to Account . As of each business day that the New York Stock Exchange is open for trading and the trustee of the Trust is open for the conduct of trust transactions (each a “Valuation Date”), the net income or loss of each Participant’s Account since the immediately preceding Valuation Date shall be determined. Net income (or loss) of Participants’ Accounts includes the increase (or decrease) in the fair market value of Trust assets, interest income, dividends and other income and gains (or losses) attributable to each such Account since the immediately preceding Valuation Date, reduced by any expenses charged to the Account since the immediately preceding Valuation Date. The net income (or loss) of the Trust will be determined separately for each Investment Fund and allocated among the Accounts of the Participants in proportion to the respective balances of such Accounts invested in each such Investment Fund.

3. Account Statements . At least once a year the Administrator or its designee will furnish each Participant with a statement reflecting his or her cumulative Account balance and amounts payable, subject to the Participant’s continued employment.

ARTICLE VIII

Withholding Taxes

Notwithstanding anything in the Plan to the contrary, the Company shall withhold from all deferrals and benefit payments made to a Participant (or his Beneficiary) under the Plan any amount which the Company is required to withhold for any applicable state or federal taxes.

 

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Neither the Company nor the Administrator nor any other person or entity represents or guarantees that any particular federal, state or local tax consequences will occur as a result of any Participant’s participation in this Plan. Each Participant shall consult with his own advisers regarding the tax consequences of participation in this Plan.

ARTICLE IX

Amendment and Termination of Plan

The Plan may be amended or terminated by the Board at any time; provided, however, that no amendment or termination of the Plan shall, without the consent of any persons affected thereby, alter or impair any rights created prior to such amendment or termination. In the event that the Board terminates the Plan, benefits shall be paid in accordance with the terms of the Plan as in effect at the time of such termination.

Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Board shall have discretion, on termination, to accelerate payment of vested benefits in the following circumstances: (1) within twelve (12) months of a corporate dissolution taxed under Code Section 331, or with the approval of a bankruptcy court pursuant to 11 U.S.C. 503(b)(1)(A), so long as the amounts deferred under the Plan are included in the Participant’s or Beneficiary’s gross income in the latest of the calendar year in which the termination occurs, the calendar year in which the amount is no longer subject to a substantial risk of forfeiture, or the first calendar year in which payment is administratively practicable; (2) within the thirty (30) day period preceding or the twelve (12) months following a Change in Control event; or (3) all arrangements of the same type as this Plan (that is, arrangements which are required to be aggregated under Proposed Treasury Regulation Section 1.409A-1(c) if the Participant participated in all of the arrangements) are terminated, only amounts payable absent a termination of the Plan are paid within twelve (12) months of the termination, all payments are made within twenty-four (24) months of the termination, and a new arrangement of the same type is not adopted at any time for a period of five years following the date of the termination.

ARTICLE X

Administration

The Plan shall be administered by the Administrator. The Administrator has exclusive power to interpret the Plan and may from time to time make such decisions and adopt such rules and regulations for implementing the Plan as it deems appropriate. In so administering the Plan, the decisions and actions of the Administrator shall be final and binding on all parties with respect to all matters relating to the Plan. A Participant shall not be entitled to examine, audit or otherwise have access to any financial statements, bookkeeping records or other records of account pertaining to the Company or the Plan under any circumstances whatsoever.

1. Expenses . All expenses and costs in connection with the adoption and administration of the Plan shall be borne by the Company.

2. Maintenance of Separate Accounts . The Administrator or its designee will create and maintain adequate records to disclose all Participants’ Account bookkeeping entries. Such records shall be in the form of individual Account ledgers, and credits to and payments from an

 

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Account shall be reflected therein. The maintenance of individual Account bookkeeping entries for Participants is only for accounting purposes and no segregation of assets from the general assets of the Company to each Account shall be required. Each payment made from an Account shall be charged to the Account as of the date paid.

ARTICLE XI

Claims Procedure

1. Claim . Any person claiming a benefit, requesting an interpretation or ruling under this Plan or requesting information under this Plan shall present the request in writing to the Administrator or its designee, which shall respond in writing within 90 days, except that if the claim involves a determination that the Participant is disabled, the response will be made within 45 days.

2. Denial of Claim . If the claim or request is denied, the written notice of denial shall include:

(a) the reasons for denial, with specific reference to the Plan provisions on which the denial is based;

(b) a description of any additional material or information required and an explanation of why it is necessary; and

(c) an explanation of the Plan’s claim review procedure.

3. Review of Claim . Any person whose claim or request is denied may request review by notice given in writing to the Administrator within 60 days of such denial. In case of a claim involving a determination that the Participant is disabled, a request for review may be made within 180 days of the denial. The claim or request shall be reviewed by the Administrator, who may, but shall not be required to, grant the claimant a hearing. On review, the claimant may have representation, examine pertinent documents and submit issues and comments in writing.

4. Final Decision . The decision on review shall normally be made within 60 days. If an extension of time is required for a hearing or other special circumstance, the claimant shall be notified and the total time limit shall be 120 days. In case of a claim involving a determination that the Participant is disabled, the decision will normally be made within 45 days; any extension will be for not more than an additional 45 days. The decision shall be in writing and shall state the reasons and the relevant Plan provisions. All decisions on review shall be final and bind all parties concerned.

ARTICLE XII

Miscellaneous

1. Top Hat Plan . This Plan is maintained primarily to provide deferred compensation benefits for a select group of “management or highly-compensated employees” within the meaning of Sections 201, 301 and 401 of ERISA, and therefore to be exempt from the provisions of Parts 2, 3 and 4 of Title I of ERISA. Accordingly, the Plan shall terminate and no further benefits

 

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shall accrue hereunder if it is determined by a court of competent jurisdiction or by an opinion of counsel that the Plan constitutes an employee pension benefit plan within the meaning of Section 3(2) of ERISA which is not so exempt.

2. Source of Funding . All amounts allocated to a Participant’s Account under the Plan, together with interest or other income credited thereon pursuant to the terms of the Plan, shall be paid to the trustee of the Company’s Trust, and shall be subject to the provisions of the Trust. Trust assets shall be subject to the claims of the creditors of the Company should the Company become insolvent. Nothing contained in this Plan requires the Company to set aside or hold in trust any amounts or assets for the purpose of paying benefits to Participants. This Plan creates only a contractual obligation on the part of the Company to pay to the Participant or Beneficiary an amount equal to the vested portion of the value of the Participant’s Plan Account. The Participant or Beneficiary shall be no more than a general unsecured creditor of the Company with no special or prior right to any assets of the Company or the Trust for payment of any obligations hereunder. The trustee shall be required to hold the Trust assets and income for the benefit of the Company’s general creditors in the event of the Company’s insolvency or inability to pay its debts when they mature, and in such case no Participant or Beneficiary shall have a preferred claim on the Trust assets. The Board and the chief executive officer of the Company shall have the duty to inform the trustee in writing of the Company’s insolvency or its inability to pay its debts as they mature within seven (7) days of such event. When so informed, the trustee of the Trust shall suspend payments to all Participants and Beneficiaries, and shall hold Trust assets for the benefit of the Company’s general creditors. In the case of the trustee’s actual knowledge of the Company’s insolvency or inability to pay its debts as they mature, the trustee will deliver Trust assets to satisfy claims of the Company’s general creditors as directed by a court of competent jurisdiction. Except as otherwise provided herein, all assets of the Trust, including investment income, shall be retained for the exclusive benefit of Participants and Beneficiaries and shall be used to pay benefits to such persons and to pay administrative expenses and taxes of the Trust to the extent not paid by the Company. At no time prior to the satisfaction of all liabilities under the Plan with respect to Participants and their Beneficiaries shall any of the Trust assets revert to or accrue to the benefit of the Company, except that contributions made by the Company by a mistake of fact may be returned to the Company within one year of the payment date.

3. Successors and Assigns . A Participant shall not have any right to transfer, assign, encumber, hypothecate or otherwise dispose of his (or his Beneficiary’s) right to receive benefit payments under the Plan. The provisions of the Plan shall bind and inure to the benefit of the Company and its successors and assigns. The term “successors” as used herein shall include any corporation or other business entity which shall, whether by merger, consolidation, purchase or otherwise, acquire all or substantially all of the business or assets of the Company.

4. Employment Rights . Any payment under this Plan shall be independent of, and in addition to, payments made under any other agreements or under any qualified or nonqualified retirement plan which may be in force between the Company and any Participant or Beneficiary, or any other compensation payable to Participant or his or her Beneficiary by the Company. Neither this Plan nor any form executed in connection herewith shall be construed as: (i) constituting or creating a contract of employment; (ii) restricting either the Company’s rights to discharge Participant with or without cause or Participant’s right to terminate his or her employment; or (iii) creating any guarantee or representation as to the amount of compensation to be paid to Participant by the Company during any period of regular employment.

 

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5. Absence of Liability . Any and all liability created to administer this Plan or to provide any Participant or Beneficiary with benefits under this Plan shall be exclusively and solely that of the Company. Neither the Company, the Committee, nor any other person, officer or employee, nor any agent of the foregoing, shall be jointly or severally liable for any act or failure to act under the Plan or for anything whatever in connection with the Plan, or the administration thereof, except and only to the extent of liability resulting from gross negligence or fraud. Neither the Administrator, nor any officer, director or employee, past, present or future, of the Company, shall have any liability to any Participant or Beneficiary, or to any other person or entity, to provide or pay such benefits, such liability hereby being expressly and unconditionally denied.

6. Notices . Any notice or other communication required or permitted hereunder shall be in writing and shall be deemed given when personally delivered to the addressee or deposited in the United States mail, postage prepaid and properly addressed to the addressee’s last known address.

7. Terms . Whenever any words are used herein in the masculine they shall be construed as though they were used in the feminine in all cases where they would so apply and wherever any words are used herein in the singular or in the plural, they shall be construed as though they were used in the plural or the singular, as the case may be, in all cases where they would so apply. Titles of Articles and Sections hereof are for general information only, and the Plan is not to be construed by reference thereto.

8. Severability . In the event any provision of the Plan shall be held illegal or invalid for any reason, this illegality or invalidity shall not affect the remaining provisions of the Plan, and such remaining provisions shall be fully severable and the Plan shall, to the extent practicable, be construed and enforced as if the illegal or invalid provision had never been inserted therein.

9. Governing Law . The provisions of the Plan shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of Washington, except where preempted by ERISA or any other federal statute. Invalidation of any one of the provisions of the Plan for any reason shall in no way affect the other provisions hereof, and all such other provisions shall remain in full force and effect. Venue of any dispute under this Plan shall be in a court of competent jurisdiction in King County, Washington.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Company has executed this Plan on this 8 th day of December, 2006.

 

ESTERLINE TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATION
By:  

/s/ Marcia J.M. Greenberg

 
Its:   VP Human Resources
 
Date:   12/8/06

 

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ESTERLINE TECHNOLOGIES

SUPPLEMENTAL EXECUTIVE RETIREMENT AND

DEFERRED COMPENSATION PLAN


PARTICIPATION AGREEMENT


This is an AGREEMENT made as of                      , by and between ESTERLINE TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATION, a Delaware corporation (the “Company”) and                      (the “employee” or the “Participant”). The parties agree as follows:

1. Participation in Plan . Pursuant to the Company’s Supplemental Executive Retirement and Deferred Compensation Plan (the “Plan”), a copy of which is attached and incorporated by this reference, the Board of Directors of the Company (the “Board”) has appointed the employee as a Participant in the Plan on the terms and conditions set forth in his Appointment Letter, in this Agreement, and in the Plan. Pursuant to Article III, Section 2 of the Plan, the employee’s participation shall become effective upon execution and delivery of this Participation Agreement to the Company’s HR Department within 30 days after the date of his Appointment Letter.

2. Participant Elective Deferrals .

(a) Plan Compensation Deferrals . The Participant shall make timely deferral elections directing the Company to withhold a whole percentage of eligible Plan Compensation up to 75%, and to credit that amount to his Account under the Plan.

(b) LTIP Compensation Deferrals . The Participant shall make timely deferral elections directing the Company to withhold a whole percentage of eligible LTIP Compensation up to 100%, and to credit that amount to his Account under the Plan.

3. Company Allocations .

(a) Matching. Participants making elective deferrals from Plan Compensation will be eligible for a Company match on deferrals for the portion of their Plan Compensation that is in excess of the limit applicable under the Qualified Plan. The match will be made at the same rate the employee would have received had the elective deferrals been made under the Qualified Plan.

(b) Discretionary. The Board, in its discretion, shall allocate such additional amounts to Participant’s Account for a Plan Year as the Board shall determine.

(c) Timing of Allocations. Allocations to Participants’ Accounts with respect to a Plan Year shall be made by the Company within 30 days after the Company determines and makes its final annual “true-up” Matching Contributions to the Qualified Plan.

(d) Vesting. Company allocations to a Participant’s Account under the Plan will be subject to the Plan’s vesting provisions at Article IV, Section 3 and subject to termination forfeiture provisions in Article VI, Section 1(b).

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4. Participant Statements Regarding Distributions & Subsequent Elections :

(a) I understand and acknowledge that if I do not submit a valid election indicating otherwise, the Company will distribute my deferral Account balances and the Company Allocations as a single lump sum as soon as administratively practicable following the earliest to occur of my death, Disability, separation from service, or a Change in Control where the Company’s successor does not agree to maintain the Plan.

(b) I understand I may elect to change both the timing and manner of distribution of my deferral Account balances and that I may also elect to change the manner (but not the timing) of my vested Company Account balances; provided, however, that : (i) such election will not take effect until one year after the date the election is received by the Administrator; (ii) the payment date I choose for my deferral Account balances must be at least five years after the date payment would have been made or begun (except in cases of death, Disability or Unforeseeable Emergency) based on my earlier election: and (iii) the election must be received by the Administrator at least one year before payment was to have been made or begun.

5. Miscellaneous .

This Agreement is binding upon and inures to the benefit of the parties and their respective successors, assignees, legal representatives, and heirs; provided, however, that the Participant may not assign any of his rights under the Plan or this Agreement.

This Agreement together with the Plan and the Appointment Letter constitute the entire agreement between the parties relating to this subject matter and shall not be modified or amended in any way except in writing signed by both parties.

Neither failure nor delay by either party to exercise any right, power, or privilege shall operate as a waiver in that or any subsequent instance.

This Agreement shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of Washington, except where preempted by ERISA or any other federal statute.

Capitalized terms have the meanings as stated in this Agreement, in the attached Plan, or in the Qualified Plan. The Administrator has exclusive authority to interpret the Plan, the Appointment Letter and this Agreement, and may from time to time make such decisions and adopt such rules and regulations for implementing the Plan as it deems appropriate. In so administering the Plan, the decisions and actions of the Administrator shall be final and binding on all parties with respect to all matters relating to the Plan.

 

ESTERLINE TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATION     PARTICIPANT
By:  

 

   

 

      [NAME]
Its  

 

   

 

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Esterline Technologies

Supplemental Executive Retirement and

Deferred Compensation Plan

PARTICIPANT APPOINTMENT

1. Appointment, Terms & Conditions. Esterline Technologies Corporation (the “Company”) has appointed Participant to its Supplemental Executive Retirement and Deferred Compensation Plan (“the Plan”), subject to all terms and conditions stated here, in the Participation Agreement, and in the Plan document, which are attached and incorporated by reference.

 

Participant:    
Deferral Matching Allocation Rate:    
Discretionary Annual Allocation:    
Other Special Terms:    

2. Duration. This appointment will continue as provided in the Plan or until the Company acts to terminate Participant’s eligibility.

Approved by the Board                          , 2006.

Esterline Technologies Corporation

Robert W. Cremin

Chairman, President & CEO

 

Attachments:    Participation Agreement
   Supplemental Executive Retirement and Deferred Compensation Plan

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Exhibit 10.44

TENANT FACILITIES USE AGREEMENT - E & Z Lines

FR Countermeasures Inc. and American Ordnance LLC

This TENANT FACILITIES USE AGREEMENT (“Agreement”) is between American Ordnance LLC, a Delaware limited liability company, with an office at 2280 Highway 104 West, Suite 2, Milan, TN 38358 (AO) and FR Countermeasures, Inc., a Delaware corporation, an affiliate of Flight Refuelling Limited, with an office c/o FR Holdings Inc., at 10 Cobham Drive, Orchard Park, New York, 14127 (“TENANT”) shall be effective as of the date of the last signature.

 

1. USE of FACILITIES

The U. S. Government is the owner of the Milan Army Ammunition Plant (“MLAAP”) and AO is the U. S. Government’s Contractor at the MLAAP. AO has the authority (Appendix A) to grant to the TENANT the right to use and occupy Lines E and Z (more fully described on attached Appendix B, which consists of approximately 102,531 square feet of useable building space on 48.80 associated acres of land together with reasonable access for cars, trucks and other vehicular traffic (the Lines, land and access rights are collectively referred to as the “Facilities”) for the manufacturing of pyrotechnic devices, infrared countermeasure devices and related uses. The right to use and occupy granted shall be in consideration of and subject to this Agreement, which is accepted and agreed to by AO and the TENANT. The TENANT acknowledges that this Agreement does not convey any ownership interest in the Facilities to the TENANT.

 

2. DELIVERY OF RIGHT TO USE THE FACILITIES

AO shall deliver the right to use the Facilities to the TENANT on the effective date as determined in the preamble above and such day also shall be deemed the commencement date. Within five (5) business days of the satisfaction of the conditions set forth in the preamble above, AO and TENANT shall mutually agree upon the effective date and commencement date in writing.

 

3. TERM

Unless sooner terminated as herein provided, this Agreement shall be in effect for a term of ten (10) years from the commencement date. This Agreement may be extended for a ten-year bi-lateral period by written notice from TENANT to AO at least ninety (90) days prior to the expiration of the initial term or any preceding renewal term; said extension shall be on the same terms and conditions as stated in this Agreement, if approved by the U. S. Government as indicated in Appendix A.

 

4. FACILITIES USE PAYMENT

Except as otherwise provided in this Article 4, the TENANT shall pay to AO a monthly payment of $18,000 . Payment shall be paid to AO by the TENANT within fifteen (15) calendar days of the monthly anniversary following the effective date of this Agreement. The monthly payment excludes all utilities, the responsibility of which is that of the TENANT to supply. Notwithstanding the foregoing, in the event that AO is able to obtain Armament Retooling and Manufacturing Support (ARMS) funding for the repair, renovation and re-equipping of the Facilities in an amount and otherwise upon terms and conditions acceptable to TENANT, for the first seven (7) years of the Term the monthly payment shall be the greater of $18,000 or one eighty-fourth (1/84) of the amount of the ARMS funding. For years 8 through 10 of this Agreement, the monthly payment shall be as follows:

Year 8   $18,000

Year 9   $18,540

Year 10 $19,100

TENANT has provided at Appendix E Flight Refuelling Limited’s guarantee for all obligations in this Agreement.

 

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E & Z 10-28-02    Company Confidential & Proprietary Information


5. DEPOSITS

 

  a. Security-Deposit. Within fifteen (15) business days of the effective date of this Agreement, TENANT shall pay a security deposit to AO in an amount equal to the amount of one (1) monthly payment as stated in Article 4. above as security for the faithful performance of the TENANT’s obligations under this Agreement (the “Security Deposit”), AO may claim and retain such amount of the Security Deposit as is reasonably necessary to cure any defaults of the TENANT. If AO applies any part of the Security Deposit to cure any default of the TENANT, the TENANT shall deposit with AO upon demand, the amount so applied, so that AO shall have the full amount of the initial Security Deposit on hand at all times during the term of this Agreement. AO may commingle the Security Deposit with other AO funds. The Security Deposit shall be retained by AO for no more than thirty (30) days after the termination of this Agreement; and thereafter, AO shall return the Security Deposit or any remaining balance thereof, if any, to the TENANT and AO shall pay TENANT interest accumulated on any undisbursed amount of the Security Deposit at the rate of 2% per annum simple interest.

 

  b. Disposal Deposit. Within fifteen (15) business days of the effective date of this Agreement, TENANT shall pay a disposal deposit of $56,250 to AO to cover the cost of disposal of any material remaining at the Facilities after the end of the lease term (“the Disposal Deposit”). AO may commingle the Disposal Deposit with other AO funds. The Disposal Deposit shall be retained by AO for no more than thirty (30) days after the termination of this Agreement; and thereafter, AO shall return the Disposal Deposit or any remaining balance thereof, if any, to the TENANT and AO shall pay TENANT interest accumulated on any undisbursed amount of the Disposal Deposit at the rate of 2% per annum simple interest.

 

6. CONDITION, CARE, MAINTENANCE AND ALTERATION OF FACILITIES

 

  a. Representations by AO regarding condition of the Facilities. AO represents and warrants to TENANT that:

 

  1) The Facilities have a right of access to a public road.

 

  2) Except for the agreement between the TENANT and AO and AO’s prime contract with the U.S. Government, AO has no knowledge of any other outstanding leases or other agreements relating to the Facilities.

 

  3) There are no employees of AO that would, by reason of any governmental regulations, employment contract or other reason become employees of TENANT as a result of this Agreement.

 

  4) All utilities necessary to service the Facilities are available to the Facilities without the consent of any other person, other than the payment of service charges to the utility provider. There are no facts or conditions in existence that will result in the termination of the present access from the Facilities to any utility services or to existing highways and roads and AO has not done any act which will result in the termination of such access or services, to the best of AO’s knowledge.

 

  5) The Facilities are serviced by water and sewer (sanitary and storm service) and all plumbing, heating, HVAC, sewer, electrical and lighting fixtures and systems at the Facilities are currently in good working order and shall be in good working order on a mutually agreed upon date.

 

  6) There are no claims, actions, litigation, arbitration or other proceedings pending against AO which relates to the Facilities or the transaction contemplated by this Agreement and to the best of AO’s knowledge, there is currently no governmental investigation, threatened litigation or arbitration proceedings to which AO is or would be a party which relates to the Facilities except for those described in Appendix D, Paragraph 1.

 

  7) To the best of AO’s knowledge, except as disclosed in the reports listed on attached Appendix D (the “Appendix D Reports”), complete copies of which reports shall be made available to TENANT prior to the effective date of this Agreement, the Facilities are not in violation of any federal, state or local law, ordinance or regulation relating to any Hazardous Materials, as hereafter defined, industrial hygiene or other environmental conditions on, under or about the Facilities including but not limited to soil and ground water conditions. Hazardous Materials (“Hazardous Materials”) shall mean any flammable explosives, radioactive materials, hazardous wastes or substances, toxic waste or substances, and other related materials including without limitation any substances defined as or included in the definition of “Hazardous Substances”, “Hazardous Waste”, “Hazardous Materials” or “Toxic Substances” under any applicable federal, state or local law or regulations.

 

  b.

Care. The TENANT shall exercise due diligence in the use of the Facilities from any and all causes. TENANT shall not be responsible for any condition that exists at the Facilities prior to the effective date (“Pre-existing Condition”). The TENANT shall be responsible for and at “All Risk” for any and all loss of or damage to the Facilities only to the

 

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extent that such loss or damage is caused by the acts or omissions of the TENANT or the TENANT’s agents, representatives, tenants or invitees. The TENANT shall promptly repair or replace, to the reasonable satisfaction of AO, any of the foregoing property described in Article 1 so lost or damaged or upon mutual agreement, pay to AO, at AO’s option, an amount equal to the decrease in value or replacement cost.

 

  c. Maintenance. After the delivery of the Facilities by AO to the TENANT, the TENANT, at the TENANT’s own expense and at all times, shall maintain the Facilities in good, safe, neat, clean and sanitary condition, to include the perimeter fencing and associated land areas inside as well as the parking areas outside the fence, and shall surrender the Facilities, upon the termination of this Agreement, in as good condition as received, normal wear and tear excepted. Tenant shall not be responsible for structural repairs to the roof, load bearing walls, floors or foundation unless such repairs are required due to the acts or omissions of TENANT, its employees, agents or invitees.

 

  d. Alterations. The TENANT shall not make any alterations, additions or improvements, in, to or about the Facilities without the prior, written approval of an authorized AO official representative, which approval shall not be unreasonably withheld.

 

  e. Unsafe Conditions. If AO or the TENANT discovers any condition that arises out of the TENANT’s activity at the MLAAP that presents an immediate threat to the safety or health of any person or that threatens to endanger life, property or the environment the TENANT shall take immediate steps to correct the condition or activity and eliminate the danger. If the TENANT fails to take such immediate steps, AO, in addition to any other right AO may have, including the right to terminate this Agreement if the condition or activity constitutes a breach of this Agreement, may deny the TENANT access to the MLAAP and AO may-take action to correct the condition or activity and collect the cost of doing so from the TENANT. The TENANT shall have no claim for damages against AO, the U. S. Government or any director, officer, employee, other tenant or agent of either of them on account of action taken in good faith pursuant to this provision, nor shall AO’s failure to take action pursuant to this provision relieve the TENANT of any obligations the TENANT has under this Agreement. If AO or the Tenant discovers any Pre-existing Condition or any condition that arises out of AO’s activity at the MLAAP that presents an immediate threat to the safety or health of any person or that threatens to endanger life, property or the environment, AO shall take immediate steps to correct the condition or activity and eliminate the danger. If AO fails to take such immediate steps, TENANT, in addition to any other right TENANT may have, including the right to terminate this Agreement if the condition or activity constitutes a material breach of this Agreement, may take action to correct the condition or activity and collect the cost of doing so from AO, including the right to set off such cost from the facilities use payment due under the terms of Article 4 of this Agreement.

 

7. INSURANCE

 

  a. Minimum Scope and Coverage. The TENANT, at the TENANT’s own expense, shall maintain during the term of this Agreement the following insurance coverage written with insurance companies that are A. M. Best’s rated A except that Workers’ Compensation insurance may be provided through the Tennessee State Workers’ Compensation Fund:

 

  1) All insurance coverage provided by the TENANT under this Agreement shall contain or be endorsed to contain, coverage of the U. S. Government and AO as additional insureds (except for the Workers’ Compensation Coverage) and insurance coverage will not be canceled or reduced without the insurer providing AO with at least thirty (30) days (ten [10] days for notice of cancellation for non-payment) written notice.

 

  2) Workers’ Compensation insurance in compliance with statutory requirements and with Employer’s Liability insurance of $100,000 each accident, $100,000 each employee and $500,000 policy limit. The coverage shall contain or be endorsed to contain, a waiver of subrogation in favor of AO.

 

  3) Commercial General Liability (CGL) insurance written on an occurrence basis with Combined Single Limits for bodily injury and property damage of not less than $1,000,000 per occurrence and $2,000,000 in the aggregate and a deductible of not more than $1,000 per occurrence. The CGL policy shall provide coverage for Facilities Operations, Broad Form Property Damage, and Contractual Liability. Automobile Liability insurance with Combined Single Limits for bodily injury and property damage of $500,000 per occurrence.

 

  b.

Verification of Coverage. Prior to the delivery of the use of the Facilities to the TENANT and for the coverage required to be provided by the TENANT by this Agreement, the TENANT shall deliver to AO a Certificate of Insurance signed by a person authorized by the insurer. The receipt by AO of an incomplete, inaccurate or invalid

 

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Certificate of Insurance shall not relieve or decrease the liability of the TENANT for the TENANT’s obligations under this Article 7 of this Agreement. If requested by AO, the TENANT, at the TENANT’s expense, shall provide AO with certified copies of all insurance policies required by this Agreement.

 

  c. TENANT shall insure Facilities for loss or property damage from fire or other casualty from an insurance company licensed in the State of Tennessee in an amount of at least $5,000,000 or an amount which will not otherwise result in coinsurance and with TENANT, AO and the U.S. Government as named insureds as their interest may appear. TENANT shall provide to AO a Certificate of Insurance fifteen (15) days after the effective date.

 

8. ORDINANCES, STATUTES-AND PERMITS

 

  a. The TENANT shall conduct the TENANT’s activities at the MLAAP in compliance at all times with all applicable city, county, state or federal statutes, regulations and ordinances, including all requirements of Department of Defense Instruction (DoD) 4145.26-M and the TENANT shall obtain and maintain, at the TENANT’s own cost and expense, any and all licenses, consents, and permits (collectively “Permits”) necessary to the TENANT’s occupancy or use of the Facilities. During the term of this Agreement, the TENANT may not use or permit any other person to use the Facilities or any part thereof, for any purpose or in any manner that is in violation of any applicable statutes, regulations, ordinances, licenses, consents or permits. In the event that TENANT is unable to obtain any Permits prior to the effective date, TENANT may elect to terminate this Agreement on written notice to AO. AO shall cooperate with TENANT in connection with TENANT’s efforts to obtain and maintain any required permits.

 

9. INDEMNIFICATION AND DEFENSE

 

  a. The TENANT agrees to defend, indemnify and hold harmless AO from and against all claims, demands, investigations, costs (including but not limited to all movement and disposal costs associated with product/energetics that could be residual at end of their contract), expenses, suits, proceedings, actions, causes of action, damages (including incidental, consequential or punitive damages), liabilities, judgments, fines or penalties of any description whatsoever, including reasonable attorney’s fees arising from any service that relates to or is caused by (a) any act or omission of the TENANT or any of its employees, persons under the control of TENANT, agents, lower-tier Tenants, subcontractors or invitees (other than AO or AO’s lower-tier subcontractors), or (b) non compliance with laws by the TENANT or any of its employees, persons under the control of TENANT, agents, lower-tier Tenants, subcontractors or invitees (other than AO or AO’s lower-tier subcontractors). This indemnification language will survive the termination of this Agreement.

 

  b. AO agrees to defend, indemnify and hold harmless TENANT from and against all claims, demands, investigations, costs, expenses, suits, proceedings, actions, causes of action, damages (including incidental, consequential or punitive damages), liabilities, judgments, fines or penalties of any description whatsoever, including reasonable attorney’s fees arising that relates to or is caused by (a) act or omission of AO or any of their employees, persons under the control of AO, agents, subcontractors or invitees (other than Tenant) or any Pre-existing Condition, or (b) non-compliance with laws by AO or any of their employees, persons under the control of AO, their agents, subcontractors or invitees. This indemnification language will survive the termination of this Agreement.

 

  c. Environmental Indemnification. Notwithstanding any other provision to the contrary herein, TENANT shall indemnify, reimburse, defend and hold harmless AO , its employees, agents, successors and assigns, from and against any and all claims, actions or causes of action, demands, penalties, fines, suits, proceedings, assessments, disbursements, judgments, losses, liabilities, obligations, damages, costs and expenses (including, but not limited to, reasonable attorney’s fees and court costs) imposed upon, suffered or incurred by AO, its employees, agents, successors and assigns, either directly or indirectly, pursuant to or in connection with the application of any laws, including environmental laws, and arising out of or resulting from:

 

  i. Any actual or threatened damage to the Facilities by TENANT;

 

  ii. Any misrepresentation or breach of warranty made by TENANT, its agents, employees, or contractors, in this Agreement relating to laws or environmental laws;

 

  iii. Any breach of or default in the performance by TENANT, its agents, employees or contractors, of any covenant, agreement or obligation to be performed by TENANT, its agents, employees or contractors relating to laws or environmental laws.

 

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  d. Rules of Indemnification. The rights and obligations of any party when claiming a right to indemnification hereunder this Article 9 (the “Indemnitee”) from the other party (the “Indemnitor”) shall be governed by the following rules:

 

  i. Indemnitee shall give prompt written notice to the Indemnitor of any claims of which the Indemnitee or of any state of facts that the Indemnitee determines will or is reasonably likely to give rise to a claim by the Indemnitee against the Indemnitor based on this hold-harmless clause, stating the nature and basis of such claim and the amount thereof, to the extent known. No failure to give such notice shall affect the indemnification obligations of the Indemnitor hereunder except to the extent Indemnitor can demonstrate such failure materially prejudiced such Indemnitor’s ability to defend successfully the matter giving rise to the indemnification claim.

 

  ii. Upon written acknowledgement by the Indemnitor (a) that it is undertaking and will prosecute the defense of the claim pursuant to this Agreement and (b) confirming that the claim is one with respect to which the Indemnitor is obligated to indemnify and that it will pay the full amount of potential liability in connection with any such claim, then such claim may be defended by the Indemnitor. The Indemnitee shall have the right to employ its own counsel at its own expense, provided that Indemnitor’s counsel shall have complete control and direction of the defense of the claim.

 

  iii. The Indemnitor shall make no settlement of any claim that Indemnitor has undertaken to defend without Indemnitee’s consent, unless (i) there is no admission of violation of law, negligence or fault of any kind by or on behalf of Indemnitee, (ii) the relief agreed to in connection therewith requires no action, payment or financial undertaking by or on the part of the Indemnitee and is not reasonably likely to restrict or otherwise interfere with Indemnitee’s ability to conduct its business, and (iii) Indemnitee receives a general release of liability reasonably satisfactory to it.

 

10. PROPERTY TAXES

The monthly payment does not include any state or local real and personal property taxes (or any fees in lieu of property taxes) that may be assessed against the TENANT’s use of the Facilities. It shall be the TENANT’s sole responsibility to file any real or personal property forms or returns as required by state law and local authorities. In the event real or personal property taxes (or fees in lieu of property taxes) are assessed against the TENANT’s use of the Facilities, the TENANT shall be solely responsible for payment of such taxes (or fees in lieu of property taxes). AO assumes no responsibility for determining the correctness of any property assessments on account of the TENANT’s use of the Facilities. Any appeals afforded by law for state and local property assessments shall be undertaken by the TENANT in the TENANT’s name and any legal fees or other costs of such proceedings shall be borne by the TENANT. AO shall cooperate with the TENANT in executing or requesting the U.S. Government to execute required documents.

 

11. ENVIRONMENTAL CONDITIONS

 

  a. General Duty of Care. The TENANT shall conduct the TENANT’s activities at the MLAAP in a manner that employs all reasonable means available to protect the environment and natural resources of the MLAAP.

 

  b. Hazardous Substances. Except as otherwise permitted by law, TENANT shall not treat, dispose, bring, use or store at the MLAAP any hazardous substances (as defined by 42 USC, Section 9601 (14) and implementing regulations, and for the purposes of this Agreement, hazardous substances shall include any petroleum product or waste or any fraction thereof) unless the TENANT first obtains AO’s written consent, which shall not be unreasonably withheld or delayed. The TENANT shall submit to AO, and also keep at the Facilities, a copy of the material safety data sheet for each hazardous substance that the TENANT uses or stores at the Facilities or MLAAP.

 

  c. Releases. If any activity of the TENANT results in a release of any hazardous substance to the environment at the MLAAP in violation of law, the TENANT shall immediately notify AO and act promptly and diligently, at the TENANT’s expense and in compliance with all applicable laws, regulations, ordinances, orders, agreements and directives to mitigate and correct any damage to natural resources at or adjacent to the MLAAP. Further, the TENANT shall correct or terminate any activity within the TENANT’s control at the MLAAP immediately upon discovering that such activity poses an imminent danger to the environment at the MLAAP.

 

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  d. Corrective Action Plans. If any government agency of competent authority or AO determines that a corrective action plan must be prepared prior to the remediation of a release or threatened release of hazardous substances, and if such release is caused by the TENANT’s activities at the MLAAP, then the TENANT, at the TENANT’s sole expense, shall promptly prepare and submit the required plans and financial assurances, and promptly implement and complete the approved plans to AO’s reasonable satisfaction.

 

  e. Closure. At the conclusion of this Agreement, the TENANT shall effect closure of the TENANT’s operations at the MLAAP in accordance with the closure plan set forth in any permit the TENANT may have with respect to those activities. If the TENANT’s closure activities render any part of the MLAAP unusable, the TENANT shall compensate AO on a monthly basis until the closure activities have been completed to the reasonable satisfaction of the appropriate governmental agencies and AO for the reasonable loss of use of the part of the MLAAP effected.

 

  f. Data. The TENANT shall have a continuing duty to provide to AO, at the TENANT’s expense, all information concerning any material environmental release or impact of the TENANT’s activities at the MLAAP during the effective period of this Agreement. The TENANT shall furnish AO true and complete copies of all material reports, submissions, inspections, notices, orders, directives, findings and correspondence and other materials pertinent to the TENANT’s compliance with applicable laws and regulations as such are issued or received by the TENANT.

 

  g. Survival of Provision upon Termination of Agreement. This Article 11 shall survive the expiration or sooner termination of this Agreement.

 

12. TERMINATION

 

  a. Pursuant to the demand of the U. S. Government, AO may terminate this Agreement or portions thereof at any time by giving thirty (30) days written notice to the TENANT (i) during any national emergency declared by the President or the Congress of the United States; or (ii) in the event of mobilization. In addition, AO may terminate this Agreement or portions thereof in the event the Government determines that the termination of this Agreement or portions thereof, is in its best interest. A timetable shall be negotiated with the TENANT for cessation of use of the Facilities. In the event of any termination, a termination settlement shall be negotiated by AO with the U. S. Government in accordance with FAR Part 31 and FAR Part 49 on behalf of and in cooperation with the TENANT establishing appropriate termination settlement costs to be paid to the TENANT. TENANT shall submit a termination settlement proposal to AO within sixty (60) days of receiving notice of termination for the purpose of negotiating with the U. S. Government AO shall not agree to a termination settlement with the U. S. Government with respect to the termination of the Agreement or any portion thereof without first obtaining TENANT’s written consent. If a settlement by determination is made by the U. S. Government with respect to the termination of the Agreement or any portion thereof, AO shall appeal such determination at the request of TENANT and at TENANT’s expense. All responsibilities, liabilities and obligations of AO for a termination of the Agreement shall be satisfied by the equitable adjustment made by the U. S. Government. However, this provision shall not prevent or diminish any other rights or remedies the TENANT may have to settle claims it might have with the U. S. Government caused by termination under this clause.

 

  b. Default. AO or TENANT may each terminate this Agreement upon the material breach of this Agreement by the other if such breach remains uncured for a period of sixty (60) days after written notice thereof from the non- breaching party, provided that such sixty (60) day period shall be reasonably extended for up to thirty (30) additional days or for a longer period if (i) the subject breach cannot be completely cured within such period and (ii) the TENANT takes all reasonable steps toward cure within such sixty (60) day or longer period and thereafter proceeds diligently to completion of cure of the breach.

 

  c. Except for a termination under paragraph (a) above if AO terminates this Agreement, for default of the TENANT, before the end of the initial term, TENANT shall forfeit its Security Deposit and AO may take possession of the Facilities by peaceful means or by summary proceedings and remove all persons and property therefrom, without being deemed guilty in any manner of trespass, and lease the Facilities or any part thereof to another party, at such fees as AO may with reasonable diligence be able to secure. Should AO be unable to lease the Facilities to another party after reasonable efforts to do so or should such payments be less than the payments the TENANT was obligated to pay under this Agreement plus the expense of leasing the Facilities to another party, then the TENANT shall pay the amount of such deficiency, less Security Deposit, Disposal Deposit and proceeds from releasing to AO for the term of this Agreement.

 

  d.

If TENANT terminates this Agreement, for default of AO, AO shall pay TENANT an amount that may be reasonable in the circumstances to compensate TENANT for any reasonable expenses and/or losses directly

 

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incurred by TENANT as a result of such termination. In the event of such termination TENANT Security Deposit shall be immediately refunded to the TENANT and the Disposal Deposit shall be released to TENANT.

 

  e. TENANT may terminate this Agreement for convenience in the first seven (7) years of the term with written notice to AO, payment to AO of the unpaid ARMS funding spent on the Facilities (i.e. 1/84 x ARMS Funding spent x remaining number of months in 7 year term), and fulfillment of any other obligations related to the leasing of the Facilities contained in this Agreement to the termination date of this Agreement. TENANT may terminate for convenience in years eight ( 8) through ten (10) of the term with written notice to AO, payment to AO of the rent for the calendar year in which termination notice is given and rent for the following calendar year, and fulfillment of any other obligations related to the leasing of the Facilities contained in this Agreement to the termination date of this Agreement, less Security Deposit, Disposal Deposit and proceeds from reletting.

 

13. STANDARD PROVISIONS

 

  a. Entry and Inspection. The TENANT shall permit AO and/or the U. S. Government to enter upon the Facilities at reasonable times and upon reasonable notice for the purpose of inspecting the Facilities.

 

  b. Assignment by the TENANT. The TENANT shall not have the right to assign this Agreement, any interest of this Agreement or to sub-license the Facilities without the prior written consent of AO, which shall not be unreasonably withheld or delayed.

 

  c. Assignment by AO. AO is expressly given the right to assign any or all of AO’s interest in this Agreement.

 

  d. Legal Construction. In case any one or more of the provisions contained in this Agreement shall be held to be invalid, illegal or unenforceable, such invalidity, illegality or unenforceability shall not affect any other provision and this Agreement shall be construed as if such invalid, illegal or unenforceable provision had never been contained herein so long as such provision does not go to the essence of this Agreement.

 

  e. Prior Agreements. This Agreement, including the attached Appendices and Schedules constitutes the sole and only Agreement of the parties hereto and supersedes any prior understandings or written or oral agreements between the parties respecting the within subject matter.

 

  f. Amendment. No amendment, modification or alteration of the terms herein shall be binding unless the same be in writing, dated subsequent to the date hereof, and duly executed by the parties hereto.

 

  g. Rights and Remedies. The rights and remedies provided by this Agreement are cumulative and the use of any one right or remedy by either party shall not preclude or waive such party’s right to use any or all other remedies. Said rights and remedies are given in addition to any other rights the parties may have by law, statute, ordinance or otherwise.

 

  h. Waiver of Default. No waiver by the parties hereto of any default or breach of any term, condition or covenant of this Agreement shall be deemed to be a waiver of any other default or breach of the same or any other term, condition or covenant contained herein.

 

  i. Attorney’s Fees. In the event AO or the TENANT breaches any of the terms of this Agreement whereby the party not in default employs attorneys to protect or enforce such party’s rights hereunder and prevails, then the defaulting party agrees to pay the other party reasonable attorney’s fees and other expenses so incurred by such other party.

 

  j. Force Majeure. Neither party to this Agreement shall be required to perform any term, condition or covenant in this Agreement so long as such performance is delayed or prevented by force majeure, which shall mean acts of God, strikes, lockouts, material or labor restrictions by any governmental authority, civil riots, floods, and any other cause not reasonably within the control of either party and which by the exercise of due diligence of either party is unable, wholly or in part, to prevent or overcome.

 

  k.

Payments. All payments of moneys due AO by the TENANT under this Agreement shall be remitted to AO’s Controller, at the MLAAP or to such designee as selected at the sole option of AO. If the TENANT fails to make any payments due under this Agreement by the due date to which such payments applies, the TENANT

 

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shall pay a late fee in the amount equal to 1 1/4 % per month (15% per year) of the overdue amount of any such payment due under this Agreement.

 

  l. Notices. Any written notice that either party may or is required to give, shall be given by overnight delivery service or by mailing the same, first class postage prepaid, to the TENANT or AO at the address set forth in the preamble to this Agreement or at such other places as the parties may designate by written notice.

 

  m. Upon any termination of AO as the contractor for the use of the Facilities, and the TENANT suffering a loss or having any other claim, TENANT may submit any claim either through AO or in accordance with U.S. government directions provided to AO.

 

  n. Special Terms and Conditions. See Appendix D attached which is incorporated herein by reference. Additional terms and conditions will be included, as mutually agreed upon, after operational data is provided to AO by TENANT.

 

  o. Governing Law. This Agreement and the rights and obligations of the parties hereto shall be governed, construed and enforced in accordance with the laws of the State of Tennessee.

 

  p. Headings. Headings contained in this Agreement are for reference purposes only and shall not affect in any way the meaning or interpretation of this Agreement.

 

  q. Historical Preservation. The TENANT shall not remove or disturb or cause or permit to be removed or disturbed, at the MLAAP any historical, archeological, architectural or other cultural artifacts, relics, vestiges, remains or objects of antiquity. In the event the TENANT discovers such items at the MLAAP, the TENANT shall immediately notify AO and such items shall be protected by the TENANT from further disturbance until a professional examination of such items can be made or until clearance to proceed is authorized by AO.

 

  r. Employee Hiring. Neither party to this Agreement shall knowingly hire or solicit the hiring of, any employee, or consultant-of the other party without the expressed written consent of said other party.

 

  s. AO Company Confidential and Proprietary Information. Each page of this Agreement is labeled American Ordnance LLC Company Confidential and Proprietary Information and the TENANT shall not disclose this Agreement, whether this document is executed or unexecuted, to a third party without the expressed written consent of AO and AO shall not withhold such written consent if disclosure of this Agreement by the TENANT is required by law, regulation or court order.

 

  t. If and so long as the TENANT pays the facilities use payment required by the terms of this Agreement and performs and observes all other covenants and provisions of this Agreement, TENANT shall quietly enjoy the Facilities, subject, however, to the terms and conditions of this Agreement.

 

  u. If the TENANT vacates the Facilities, then this shall not be considered a breach of this Agreement as long as the TENANT continues to make the monthly payments required by Article 4 (Facilities Use Payment) and fulfill all other obligations in this Agreement.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned hereby execute this Agreement.

 

American Ordnance LLC:     FR Countermeasures Inc.:
/s/ William B. Niven     /s/ John B. Taylor
Signature     Signature
William B. Niven     John B. Taylor
Printed Name     Printed Name
Vice President and Plant Manager     Director and General Manager
Title     Title
11-04-02     31-10-02
Date     Date

 

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Exhibit 11

ESTERLINE TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATION

(In thousands, except per share amounts)

Computation of Earnings (Loss) Per Share – Basic

 

     2006    2005    2004    2003     2002  

Income From Continuing Operations

   $ 55,615    $ 51,034    $ 29,375    $ 28,147     $ 28,477  

Income (Loss) From Discontinued Operations, Net of Tax

          6,992      10,208      (5,312 )     (25,264 )
                                     

Earnings Before Cumulative Effect of a Change in Accounting Principle

     55,615      58,026      39,583      22,835       3,213  

Cumulative Effect of a Change in Accounting Principle, Net of Tax

                          (7,574 )
                                     

Net Earnings (Loss)

   $ 55,615    $ 58,026    $ 39,583    $ 22,835     $ (4,361 )
                                     

Weighted Average Number of Shares Outstanding – Basic

     25,413      24,927      21,195      20,900       20,751  
                                     

Earnings (Loss) Per Share – Basic:

             

Continuing operations

   $ 2.19    $ 2.05    $ 1.39    $ 1.35     $ 1.37  

Discontinued operations

          .28      .48      (.26 )     (1.22 )
                                     

Earnings per share before cumulative effect of a change in accounting principle

     2.19      2.33      1.87      1.09       .15  

Cumulative effect of a change in accounting principle

                          (.36 )
                                     

Earnings (Loss) Per Share – Basic

   $ 2.19    $ 2.33    $ 1.87    $ 1.09     $ (.21 )
                                     

 

1


ESTERLINE TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATION

(In thousands, except per share amounts)

Computation of Earnings (Loss) Per Share – Diluted

 

     2006    2005    2004    2003     2002  

Income From Continuing Operations

   $ 55,615    $ 51,034    $ 29,375    $ 28,147     $ 28,477  

Income (Loss) From Discontinued Operations, Net of Tax

          6,992      10,208      (5,312 )     (25,264 )
                                     

Earnings Before Cumulative Effect of a Change in Accounting Principle

     55,615      58,026      39,583      22,835       3,213  

Cumulative Effect of a Change in Accounting Principle, Net of Tax

                          (7,574 )
                                     

Net Earnings (Loss)

   $ 55,615    $ 58,026    $ 39,583    $ 22,835     $ (4,361 )
                                     

Weighted Average Number of Shares Outstanding

     25,413      24,927      21,195      20,900       20,751  

Net Shares Assumed to be Issued for Stock Options

     405      375      344      205       270  
                                     

Weighted Average Number of Shares and Equivalent Shares Outstanding – Diluted

     25,818      25,302      21,539      21,105       21,021  
                                     

Earnings (Loss) Per Share – Diluted:

             

Continuing operations

   $ 2.15    $ 2.02    $ 1.37    $ 1.33     $ 1.35  

Discontinued operations

          .27      .47      (.25 )     (1.20 )
                                     

Earnings per share before cumulative effect of a change in accounting principle

     2.15      2.29      1.84      1.08       .15  

Cumulative effect of a change in accounting principle

                          (.36 )
                                     

 

2


     2006    2005    2004    2003    2002  

Earnings (Loss) Per Share – Diluted

   $     2.15    $     2.29    $     1.84    $     1.08    $ (.21 )
                                    

Earnings (Loss) Per Share – Basic

   $ 2.19    $ 2.33    $ 1.87    $ 1.09    $ (.21 )
                                    

Dilutive Effect Per Share

   $ .04    $ .04    $ .03    $ .01    $        —  
                                    

 

3

Exhibit 12.1

ESTERLINE TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATION

(In thousands)

Statement of Computation of Ratio of Earnings to Fixed Charges

 

     2006    2005    2004    2003    2002

Income from continuing operations before income taxes

   $ 73,196    $ 67,670    $ 38,989    $ 40,605    $ 37,588

Fixed charges 1

              

Interest expense

     21,290      18,159      17,336      11,991      7,117

Amortization of debt issuance cost

     172      56      56      703      167

Interest included in rental expense

     3,505      3,137      2,894      2,398      2,164

Total

     24,967      21,352      20,286      15,092      9,448

Earnings 2

   $ 98,163    $ 89,022    $ 59,275    $ 55,697    $ 47,036

Ratio of earnings available to cover fixed charges

     3.9      4.2      2.9      3.7      5.0

 

 

1 Fixed charges consist of interest on indebtedness and amortization of debt issuance cost plus that portion of lease rental expense representative of the interest factor.

 

2 Earnings consist of income from continuing operations before income taxes plus fixed charges.

Exhibit 13

Financial Highlights

In Thousands, Except Per Share Amounts

 

     2006      2005

For Fiscal Years

     

Operating Results

     

Net sales

   $ 972,275    $ 835,403

Segment earnings

     120,848      105,799

Income from continuing operations

     55,615      51,034

Income from discontinued operations, net of tax

          6,992

Net earnings

     55,615      58,026

Earnings per share – diluted:

     

Continuing operations

   $ 2.15    $ 2.02

Discontinued operations

          .27

Earnings per share

     2.15      2.29

Weighted average shares outstanding – diluted

     25,818      25,302

Financial Position

     

Total assets

   $ 1,290,451    $ 1,115,248

Property, plant and equipment, net

     170,442      138,214

Long-term debt, net

     282,307      175,682

Shareholders’ equity

     707,989      620,864

 

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Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Continuing Operations

OVERVIEW

We operate our businesses in three segments: Avionics & Controls, Sensors & Systems and Advanced Materials. The Avionics & Controls segment designs and manufactures technology interface systems for military and commercial aircraft and land- and sea-based military vehicles, secure communications systems, specialized medical equipment, and other industrial applications. The Sensors & Systems segment produces high-precision temperature and pressure sensors, electrical power switching, control and data communication devices, micro-motors, motion control sensors, and other related systems, principally for aerospace and defense customers. The Advanced Materials segment develops and manufactures high-performance elastomer products used in a wide range of commercial aerospace and military applications, combustible ordnance components and electronic warfare countermeasure devices for military customers, and thermally engineered components for critical aerospace applications. All segments include sales to domestic, international, defense and commercial customers.

Our current business and strategic plan focuses on the continued development of our products in three key technologies: avionics and controls, sensors and systems and specialized high-performance elastomers and other complex materials, principally for aerospace and defense markets. We are concentrating our efforts to expand our capabilities in these markets and to anticipate the global needs of our customers and respond to such needs with comprehensive solutions. These efforts focus on continuous research and new product development, acquisitions and establishing strategic realignments of operations to expand our capabilities as a more comprehensive supplier to our customers across our entire product offering. We acquired Wallop Defence Systems Limited (Wallop) and FR Countermeasures on March 24, 2006 and December 23, 2005, respectively, from Cobham plc. Wallop and FR Countermeasures are manufacturers of military pyrotechnic countermeasure devices. We paid approximately $65.0 million for both companies, including acquisition costs and an adjustment based on the amount of indebtedness and net working capital as of closing. In addition, we may pay an additional purchase price of up to U.K. £10.0 million, or approximately $19.0 million, depending on the achievement of certain objectives. The acquisitions strengthen our international and U.S. position in countermeasure devices. Wallop and FR Countermeasures are included in our Advanced Materials segment. On December 16, 2005, we acquired Darchem Holdings Limited (Darchem), a manufacturer of thermally engineered components for critical aerospace applications, for U.K. £68.7 million (approximately $121.7 million), including acquisition costs and an adjustment based on the amount of cash and net working capital of Darchem as of closing. Darchem holds a leading position in its niche market and fits our engineered-to-order model and is included in our Advanced Materials segment.

On January 28, 2005, we completed the sale of our wholly-owned subsidiary Fluid Regulators Corporation (Fluid Regulators), which was included in our Sensors & Systems segment, for approximately $21.4 million. As a result of the sale, we recorded a gain of approximately $7.0 million, net of tax of $2.4 million, in fiscal 2005. The disposition is reported as

 

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discontinued operations and the consolidated financial statements for all prior periods have been adjusted to reflect this presentation.

Income from continuing operations for fiscal 2006 was $55.6 million, or $2.15 per diluted share, compared with $51.0 million, or $2.02 per diluted share, in fiscal 2005, principally reflecting strong results in Avionics & Controls, weaker earnings in Sensors & Systems and increased earnings in Advanced Materials. Avionics & Controls earnings were stronger from cockpit controls reflecting new OEM programs, higher aftermarket spares sales and improved margins on medical equipment devices. The decrease in Sensors & Systems earnings was principally due to the completion of a pressure sensor retrofit program in fiscal 2005, excess production costs and increased research and development expenses for the A400M program. Advanced Materials earnings mainly reflected incremental earnings from our Darchem acquisition and improved sales and earnings from our Arkansas flare countermeasure operations.

On June 26, 2006, an explosion occurred at our Wallop facility, which resulted in one fatality and several minor injuries. The incident destroyed an oven complex for the production of advanced flares and significantly damaged the advanced flare facility. Although the advanced flare facility is expected to be closed for about 18 months due to the requirements of the Health Safety Executive (HSE) to review the cause of the accident, operations will continue at a portion of our facility located on the same site as the advanced flare facility. The HSE investigation will not be completed until the Coroner’s Inquest is filed possibly in July or August 2007. Although it is not possible to determine the results of the HSE investigation or how the Coroner will rule, management does not expect to be found in breach of the Health & Safety Act related to the accident and, accordingly, no amounts have been recorded for any potential fines that may be assessed by the HSE. The HSE will also review and approve the plans and construction of the new flare facility.

The operation is insured under a property, casualty and business interruption insurance policy. The damaged building and inventory is fully covered by insurance and, accordingly, no loss as a result of the accident has been recorded related to these assets in fiscal 2006. We have recorded business interruption insurance recoveries of $4.9 million for losses incurred in fiscal 2006. As we continue to incur losses in future periods as a result of the accident, business interruption insurance recoveries that can be estimated and are probable of collection will be recorded in our consolidated financial statements.

Non-operating expense in the first fiscal quarter of 2006 included a $1.4 million, net of tax, prepayment penalty arising from the $40.0 million prepayment of our 6.77% Senior Notes.

Net income was $55.6 million, or $2.15 per share on a diluted basis, compared with $58.0 million, or $2.29 per share on a diluted basis, in fiscal 2005. Net income in fiscal 2005 included income from discontinued operations of $7.0 million, or $0.27 per share on a diluted basis.

 

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Results of Continuing Operations

Fiscal 2006 Compared with Fiscal 2005

Sales for fiscal 2006 increased 16.4% over the prior year. Sales by segment were as follows:

 

Dollars In Thousands    Increase (Decrease)
From Prior Year
  2006    2005

Avionics & Controls

   8.2%   $   283,011    $   261,550

Sensors & Systems

   4.3%     333,257      319,539

Advanced Materials

   40.0%       356,007      254,314
 

Total

     $   972,275    $   835,403
 

The 8.2% increase in Avionics & Controls reflected incremental sales from the Palomar acquisition in the third quarter of fiscal 2005 and higher sales of cockpit controls. These increases were partially offset by decreased sales of diagnostic medical devices; we expect to replace these sales from new or existing customers who meet our targeted profile of requiring highly engineered solutions with low production volumes and high mix. During fiscal 2006 and 2005, sales of cockpit displays to the Chinese market aggregated $7.6 million and $6.7 million, respectively. Our future sales of cockpit control displays to the Chinese market may be precluded by the proposed Bureau of Industry and Security’s (BIS) catch-all rule, currently scheduled for implementation in fiscal 2007. We expect the effect of this regulation, if implemented, to be immaterial to our consolidated results of operations in future periods, but the loss of income from this market opportunity may have a measurable effect on the results of operations of our Avionics & Controls segment.

The 4.3% increase in Sensors & Systems principally reflected growth in OEM programs for temperature and pressure sensors and electrical power switching devices. These increases were partially offset by lower motion control distribution sales to the British Ministry of Defence (British MoD). In addition, pressure sensor sales in the first nine months of fiscal 2005 were enhanced by a retrofit program.

The 40.0% increase in Advanced Materials reflected $76.1 million in incremental sales from the acquisitions of Darchem, Wallop and FR Countermeasures and higher sales of flare countermeasure devices, elastomer material and increased sales at our metal finishing unit. Sales of combustible ordnance are expected to decline in fiscal 2007 due to reduced U.S. Army requirements but be offset by increases in flare countermeasure sales.

Sales to foreign customers, including export sales by domestic operations, totaled $437.0 million and $345.8 million, and accounted for 45.0% and 41.4% of our sales for fiscal 2006 and 2005, respectively.

Overall, gross margin as a percentage of sales was 30.9% and 31.4% for fiscal 2006 and 2005, respectively. Avionics & Controls segment gross margin was 35.3% and 33.3% for fiscal 2006 and 2005, respectively, reflecting a higher mix of cockpit control and after-market sales and an

 

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improved recovery of fixed expenses. The increase also reflects enhanced medical equipment margins.

Sensors & Systems segment gross margin was 33.9% and 34.5% for fiscal 2006 and 2005, respectively. The decrease in Sensors & Systems gross margin from fiscal 2005 was largely a result of production inefficiencies and incremental direct labor costs incurred to reduce delinquent shipments at our pressure and sensor operations. In addition, fiscal 2005 benefited from a retrofit program. Gross margin in fiscal 2005 was impacted by a loss provision on shipments of off-spec electrical power switching devices. In fiscal 2006, the Company was able to negotiate a favorable settlement with its customer and, accordingly, nearly all of the loss provision recorded in fiscal 2005 was reversed. Gross margin was also impacted by a weaker U.S. dollar compared to the euro and U.K. pound on U.S. dollar-denominated sales and euro- and U.K. pound-based cost of sales.

Advanced Materials segment gross margin was 24.7% and 25.3% for fiscal 2006 and 2005, respectively. Gross margin was impacted by the explosion at our Wallop facility, as explained above and start-up costs at our FR Countermeasures unit. This decrease in gross margin was partially offset by improved operating efficiencies at our Arkansas flare countermeasure operation. Additionally, gross margins improved at our elastomer material operations, reflecting increased recovery of fixed expenses and a shift in sales mix to higher margin space and defense products.

Selling, general and administrative expenses (which include corporate expenses) increased to $159.6 million in fiscal 2006 compared with $137.4 million in fiscal 2005. Selling, general and administrative expenses include stock option expense of $5.4 million resulting from accounting for stock option expense under Financial Accounting Standards No. 123(R), “Share-Based Payment,” (Statement No. 123(R)). For information on our adoption of Statement No. 123(R), see Note 13 to the consolidated financial statements. In fiscal 2005, we recorded $2.8 million of stock option expense under the variable method of accounting. The increase in selling, general and administrative expenses primarily reflected incremental selling, general and administrative expenses from the Darchem, Wallop, FR Countermeasures and Palomar acquisitions. In addition, pension expense was $4.3 million and $3.0 million in fiscal 2006 and 2005, respectively. Pension expense in fiscal 2006 included a $1.2 million increase in the Leach pension obligation existing as of our acquisition of Leach in August 2004, which was identified during an audit of its pension plan. The increase in selling, general and administrative expense also reflected a $1.0 million charge as a result of a customer contract termination and higher commission expense from increased sales. As a percentage of sales, selling, general and administrative expenses were 16.4% and 16.5% in fiscal 2006 and 2005, respectively.

Research, development and related engineering spending increased to $52.6 million, or 5.4% of sales, in fiscal 2006 compared with $42.2 million, or 5.1% of sales, in fiscal 2005. Darchem’s research and development and engineering spending as a percentage of sales is lower than our other operating units. If research, development and engineering spending as a percentage of sales is calculated excluding Darchem, the percentage is 5.8%, which we consider to be a better comparison to the prior year. The increase in research, development and related engineering largely reflects spending on the A400M primary power distribution assembly, TP400 engine

 

5


sensors, 787 overhead panel control and 787 environmental control programs. Research, development and engineering expense in fiscal 2006 is net of a $5.2 million government subsidy due from France. Research, development and related engineering spending is expected to return to more historical levels during the second half of fiscal 2007.

Segment earnings (which exclude corporate expenses and other income and expense) increased 14.2% during fiscal 2006 to $120.8 million compared to $105.8 million in the prior year. Avionics & Controls segment earnings were $45.1 million for fiscal 2006 compared with $37.3 million in fiscal 2005 and reflected incremental earnings from the Palomar acquisition completed in June 2005 and strong earnings from our cockpit control and medical equipment operations.

Sensors & Systems segment earnings were $29.3 million for fiscal 2006 compared with $34.5 million in fiscal 2005. The decrease in Sensors & Systems earnings from fiscal 2005 reflected manufacturing inefficiencies and incremental direct labor costs incurred to reduce delinquent shipments at our pressure and temperature sensors operations. Sensors & Systems earnings were also impacted by a $1.0 million charge as a result of a customer contract termination as well as a $4.6 million increase in research, development and engineering spending which was principally incurred by our Leach units. Sensors & Systems earnings also reflected the impact of a weaker U.S. dollar relative to the euro on U.S. dollar-denominated sales and euro-based operating expenses.

Advanced Materials segment earnings were $46.5 million for fiscal 2006 compared with $34.0 million for fiscal 2005. Advanced Materials earnings reflected incremental earnings from the Darchem acquisition and improved earnings from our elastomer and Arkansas flare countermeasure operations. Advanced Materials earnings were impacted by lower sales and earnings at our combustible ordnance operations, start-up costs at our FR Countermeasures unit and the incident at our Wallop operations described above. Business interruption insurance recoveries of $4.9 million were recorded during fiscal 2006.

Interest income decreased to $2.6 million during fiscal 2006 compared with $4.1 million in fiscal 2005, reflecting lower balances of cash and cash equivalents and short-term investments. Interest expense increased to $21.3 million during fiscal 2006 compared with $18.2 million in the prior year, reflecting increased borrowings to finance acquisitions and working capital requirements. In February 2006, we entered into an interest rate swap agreement on the full principal amount of our U.K. £57.0 million term loan, exchanging the variable interest rate for a fixed interest rate of 4.75% plus an additional margin amount determined by reference to the Company’s leverage ratio. In September 2003, we entered into an interest rate swap agreement on $75.0 million of our Senior Subordinated Notes due in 2013. The swap agreement exchanged the fixed interest rate for a variable interest rate on $75.0 million of the $175.0 million principal amount outstanding.

The effective income tax rate for continuing operations for fiscal 2006 was 22.8% compared with 24.1% in fiscal 2005. The effective tax rate was lower than the statutory rate, as both years benefited from various tax credits and deductions. In addition, in fiscal 2006, we recognized a $4.5 million reduction of previously estimated tax liabilities, which was the result of the

 

6


following items: $1.6 million due to the expiration of the statute of limitations and adjustments resulting from a reconciliation of prior year’s U.S. income tax return to the U.S. income tax return’s provision for income taxes, $2.0 million as a result of receiving a Notice of Proposed Adjustment (NOPA) from the State of California Franchise Tax Board covering, among other items, the examination of research and development tax credits for fiscal years 1997 through 2002 and $0.9 million as a result of a favorable conclusion of a tax examination. In fiscal 2005, we recognized a $2.0 million reduction of previously estimated tax liabilities due to the expiration of the statute of limitations and adjustments resulting from a reconciliation of prior year’s U.S. income tax return to the U.S. income tax return’s provision for income taxes. While the effective tax rate in fiscal 2006 was impacted by the expiration of the U.S. Research and Experimentation Credit at December 31, 2005, the impact was partially offset by increased benefits from various tax credits and foreign interest deductions. On December 21, 2006, the Tax Relief and Health Care Act of 2006 (the Act) was signed into law. The Act retroactively extends the Federal Research and Experimentation tax credit from January 1, 2006 through December 31, 2007. As a result of the extension of the Research and Experimentation tax credit, during the first quarter of fiscal 2007, we anticipate that the Company will recognize approximately $2.0 million of tax benefits related to fiscal 2006. In addition, we expect that the Company will recognize approximately $2.0 million of research and experimentation tax benefits related to fiscal 2007 in our full year results of operations.

New orders for fiscal 2006 were $1,143.0 million compared with $894.4 million for fiscal 2005. Avionics & Controls orders for fiscal 2006 increased 7.2% from the prior-year period. Sensors & Systems orders for fiscal 2006 decreased 4.0% from the prior-year period, principally reflecting the timing of receiving orders. Advanced Materials orders for fiscal 2006 increased 92.3% from the prior-year period, principally reflecting the Darchem and Wallop acquisitions. Backlog at the end of fiscal 2006 was $653.5 million compared with $482.8 million at the end of the prior year. Approximately $165.8 million is scheduled to be delivered after fiscal 2007. Backlog is subject to cancellation until delivery.

 

7


Fiscal 2005 Compared with Fiscal 2004

Sales for fiscal 2005 increased 36.1% over the prior year. Sales by segment were as follows:

 

Dollars In Thousands    Increase (Decrease)
From Prior Year
  2005    2004

Avionics & Controls

   24.8%   $   261,550    $   209,498

Sensors & Systems

   76.8%     319,539      180,768

Advanced Materials

   13.9%     254,314      223,344
 

Total

     $ 835,403    $ 613,610
 

The 24.8% increase in Avionics & Controls reflected incremental sales from the Leach medical and Palomar business units, higher sales of cockpit controls, and increased sales volumes of aftermarket cockpit switches. These increases were partially offset by lower sales of technology interface systems for land-based military vehicles.

The 76.8% increase in Sensors & Systems principally reflected $107.7 million in incremental sales from the Leach acquisition, enhanced sales of temperature and pressure sensors, and motion control distribution sales to the British Ministry of Defence (British MoD). The increase also reflected a stronger euro relative to the U.S. dollar, as the average exchange rate from the euro to the U.S. dollar increased from 1.22 in fiscal 2004 to 1.27 in fiscal 2005.

The 13.9% increase in Advanced Materials reflected higher sales of flare countermeasure devices, elastomer material and increased sales at our metal finishing unit. These increases were partially offset by lower sales of combustible ordnance due to reduced U.S. Army requirements.

Sales to foreign customers, including export sales by domestic operations, totaled $345.8 million and $244.2 million, and accounted for 41.4% and 39.8% of our sales for fiscal 2005 and 2004, respectively.

Overall, gross margin as a percentage of sales was 31.4% and 31.8% for fiscal 2005 and 2004, respectively. Avionics & Controls segment gross margin was 33.3% and 33.7% for fiscal 2005 and 2004, respectively, reflecting a higher mix of lower margin medical equipment sales. The impact from medical equipment sales was partially offset by a higher mix of aftermarket products and cockpit controls sales and software support services performed by our AVISTA unit. Additionally, gross margin in fiscal 2004 reflected plant relocations and consolidation of facilities. Mason Electric Co. and Janco Corporation moved from their respective facilities to one new facility. This move required more time to execute than originally anticipated, resulting in higher than expected moving expenses, operating inefficiencies and delayed shipments.

Sensors & Systems segment gross margin was 34.5% and 36.5% for fiscal 2005 and 2004, respectively. The decrease in Sensors & Systems gross margin from fiscal 2004 was largely a result of a higher sales mix of electrical power switching, control and data communication devices sold by Leach. Leach products tend to have a lower gross margin on average than other products included in the Sensors & Systems segment. A loss provision on shipments of off-spec

 

8


products also contributed to the decrease in gross margin. Gross margin was also impacted by a weaker U.S. dollar compared to the euro on U.S. dollar-denominated sales and euro-based cost of sales.

Advanced Materials segment gross margin was 25.3% and 26.1% for fiscal 2005 and 2004, respectively. Lower sales volumes of combustible ordnance and incremental start-up costs on certain flare countermeasure devices were partially offset by improved gross margins at our elastomer material and metal finishing operations. Comparing fiscal 2005 and fiscal 2004, our elastomer material gross margins were aided by lower integration and workers’ compensation expenses and higher sales volumes to aerospace customers, resulting in an increased recovery of fixed expenses. In fiscal 2004, our elastomer material operations were impacted by certain operational inefficiencies from integrating acquired businesses, which resulted in higher labor costs. Improved gross margins at our metal finishing operations reflected an improved recovery of fixed expenses due to higher sales and increased selling prices.

Selling, general and administrative expenses (which include corporate expenses) increased to $137.4 million in fiscal 2005 compared with $118.7 million in fiscal 2004. Selling, general and administrative expenses include stock option expense of $2.8 million and $4.3 million in fiscal 2005 and 2004, respectively. These are non-cash charges resulting from mark-to-market adjustments under the variable method of accounting. The increase in selling, general and administrative expenses primarily reflected incremental selling, general and administrative expenses from the Leach acquisition partially offset by certain expense reductions at our Sensors & Systems operations and the decrease in stock option expense. As a percentage of sales, selling, general and administrative expenses were 16.5% and 19.4% in fiscal 2005 and 2004, respectively. The decrease in selling, general and administrative expense as a percentage of sales principally reflected $4.5 million in severance expense in our Sensors & Systems segment incurred in the prior-year period, lower stock option expense and higher sales volumes without a proportional increase in the expense during fiscal 2005.

Research, development and related engineering spending increased to $42.2 million, or 5.1% of sales, in fiscal 2005 compared with $25.9 million, or 4.2% of sales, in fiscal 2004. The increase in research, development and related engineering largely reflects spending on the A400M primary power distribution assembly, TP400 engine sensors, 787 overhead panel control and 787 environmental control programs.

Segment earnings (which exclude corporate expenses and other income or expense) increased 55.8% during fiscal 2005 to $105.8 million compared to $67.9 million in the prior year. Avionics & Controls segment earnings were $37.3 million for fiscal 2005 compared with $32.1 million in fiscal 2004 and reflected increased earnings from higher sales of cockpit controls to the aftermarket and OEM customers. These earnings included a $3.1 million increase in research, development and engineering spending. Avionics & Controls results were partially offset by weaker earnings from medical equipment operations. Comparatively, fiscal 2004 Avionics & Controls earnings were impacted by the relocation and consolidation of facilities.

Sensors & Systems segment earnings were $34.5 million for fiscal 2005 compared with $7.8 million in fiscal 2004. The increase in Sensors & Systems earnings from fiscal 2004

 

9


reflected incremental earnings from the Leach acquisition, higher sales volumes, and lower severance expenses. Sensors & Systems earnings also reflected a $13.1 million increase in research, development and engineering spending which was principally incurred by our Leach units. The decrease in severance expense compared with fiscal 2004 reflected $4.5 million in severance and legal costs incurred in the first fiscal quarter of 2004. Sensors & Systems earnings also reflected the impact of a weaker U.S. dollar relative to the euro on U.S. dollar-denominated sales and euro-based operating expenses.

Advanced Materials segment earnings were $34.0 million for fiscal 2005 compared with $28.0 million for fiscal 2004. Advanced Materials earnings reflected higher sales and earnings from our elastomer and metal finishing operations. Advanced Materials earnings were impacted by lower sales and earnings at our combustible ordnance operations, and higher operating expenses at our flare countermeasure operations.

During the fourth quarter of fiscal 2004, we sold a product line in our Sensors & Systems segment and recorded a gain of $3.4 million. The gain is reflected in Other Expense, Net.

Interest income increased to $4.1 million during fiscal 2005 compared with $2.0 million in fiscal 2004, reflecting interest earned on increased balances of cash and cash equivalents and short-term investments. Interest expense increased to $18.2 million during fiscal 2005 compared with $17.3 million in the prior year, due to the increased interest rate on our variable rate borrowing. In September 2003, we entered into an interest rate swap agreement on $75.0 million of our Senior Subordinated Notes due in 2013. The swap agreement exchanged the fixed interest rate for a variable interest rate on $75.0 million of the $175.0 million principal amount outstanding.

The effective income tax rate for continuing operations for fiscal 2005 was 24.1% compared with 24.6% in fiscal 2004. The effective tax rate was lower than the statutory rate, as both years benefited from various tax credits and deductions. In addition, in fiscal 2005, we recognized a $2.0 million reduction of previously estimated tax liabilities due to the expiration of the statute of limitations and adjustments resulting from a reconciliation of U.S. and non-U.S. tax returns to the provision for income taxes. In fiscal 2004, we recognized a $1.9 million reduction of previously estimated tax liabilities as a result of receiving a Notice of Proposed Adjustment (NOPA) from the Internal Revenue Service covering the audit of research and development tax credits for fiscal years 1997 through 1999. Due to the NOPA and the expectation of a similar result for fiscal years 2000 through 2003, we revised our estimated liability for income taxes as of January 30, 2004. The current year’s results benefited from the 18-month extension by the U.S. Congress of the Research and Experimentation Credit (R&D credit) from June 30, 2004 to December 31, 2005.

Income from continuing operations was $51.0 million, or $2.02 per share on a diluted basis, compared with $29.4 million, or $1.37 per share, in fiscal 2004. Net earnings were $58.0 million, or $2.29 per share on a diluted basis in fiscal 2005, compared with net earnings of $39.6 million, or $1.84 per share, in fiscal 2004. Net earnings in fiscal 2005 included net income of $7.0 million, or $.27 per share, from discontinued operations. Net earnings in fiscal 2004 included net income of $10.2 million, or $.47 per share, from discontinued operations.

 

10


New orders for fiscal 2005 were $894.4 million compared with $742.8 million for fiscal 2004. Avionics & Controls orders for fiscal 2005 increased 24.4% from the prior-year period and reflected the acquisitions of the Leach medical and Palomar units. Sensors & Systems orders for fiscal 2005 increased 26.5% from the prior-year period and reflected the acquisition of Leach. Advanced Materials orders for fiscal 2005 increased 9.1% from the prior-year period and reflected increased aerospace orders and was partially offset by lower program requirements for combustible ordnance. Backlog at the end of fiscal 2005 was $482.8 million compared with $423.8 million at the end of the prior year. The increase in backlog principally reflects the Palomar acquisition.

 

11


Liquidity and Capital Resources

Working Capital and Statement of Cash Flows

Cash and cash equivalents and short-term investments at the end of fiscal 2006 totaled $42.6 million, a decrease of $138.3 million from the prior year. Net working capital increased to $267.7 million at the end of fiscal 2006 from $265.2 million at the end of the prior year. Sources of cash flows from operating activities principally consist of cash received from the sale of products offset by cash payments for material, labor and operating expenses.

Cash flows from operating activities were $36.7 million and $76.4 million in fiscal 2006 and 2005, respectively. The decrease principally reflected lower cash flows from operating activities of our non-U.S. units, including the $5.2 million research and development subsidy from France not yet received in cash. In addition, the decrease reflects increased cash payments for inventory. Customers are now requiring shorter lead times and higher levels of safety stock which have resulted in a significantly higher investment in inventory. The decrease also reflects higher payments of taxes and interest, the $2.2 million prepayment penalty on the 6.77% Senior Notes and increased cash payments for incentive compensation, which is paid annually in December.

Cash flows used by investing activities were $153.0 million and $91.5 million in fiscal 2006 and 2005, respectively. The increase in the use of cash for investing activities mainly reflected cash paid for acquisitions. Additionally, fiscal 2005 included $21.4 million in proceeds from the sale of our discontinued operations.

Cash flows provided by financing activities were $39.1 million and $105.1 million in fiscal 2006 and 2005, respectively. The decrease in cash provided by financing activities principally reflected the net proceeds of $108.5 million from our public offering of 3.7 million shares of common stock completed in fiscal 2005. Additionally, the decrease reflected the repayment of our $30.0 million 6.40% Senior Notes in accordance with terms and the $40.0 million prepayment of our 6.77% Senior Notes in the first fiscal quarter of 2006. These decreases were partially offset by our borrowing of $100.0 million under our term loan facility in fiscal 2006.

Capital Expenditures

Net property, plant and equipment was $170.4 million at the end of fiscal 2006 compared with $138.2 million at the end of the prior year. Capital expenditures for fiscal 2006 were $26.5 million (excluding acquisitions) and included machinery and equipment and enhancements to information technology systems. Capital expenditures are anticipated to approximate $27.5 million for fiscal 2007. We will continue to support expansion through investments in infrastructure including machinery, equipment, buildings and information systems.

Debt Financing

Total debt increased $47.3 million from the prior year to $295.9 million at the end of fiscal 2006. Total debt outstanding including the fair value of the interest rate swap at the end of fiscal 2006 consisted of $174.3 million under our Senior Subordinated Notes, $108.1 million under our GBP Term Loan and $13.5 million under our credit facility and various foreign currency debt agreements, including capital lease obligations. The Senior Subordinated Notes are due June 15, 2013 at an interest rate of 7.75%. The Senior Subordinated Notes are general unsecured

 

12


obligations of the Company and are subordinated to all existing and future senior debt of the Company. In addition, the Senior Subordinated Notes are effectively subordinated to all existing and future senior debt and other liabilities (including trade payables) of the Company’s foreign subsidiaries. The Senior Subordinated Notes are guaranteed, jointly and severally, by all the existing and future domestic subsidiaries of the Company unless designated as an “unrestricted subsidiary” under the indenture covering the Senior Subordinated Notes.

In September 2003, we entered into an interest rate swap agreement on $75.0 million of our Senior Subordinated Notes due in 2013. The swap agreement exchanged the fixed interest rate for a variable interest rate on $75.0 million of the $175.0 million principal amount outstanding. On November 15, 2005, $30.0 million of the 6.4% Senior Notes matured and was paid. Additionally, on November 15, 2005, we exercised our option under the terms of the Note Purchase Agreement, dated as of November 1, 1998, to prepay the outstanding principal amount of $40.0 million of the 6.77% Senior Notes due November 15, 2008. Under the terms of the Note Purchase Agreement, we paid an additional $2.0 million to the holders of the 6.77% Senior Notes as a prepayment penalty and wrote off debt issuance costs associated with the 6.77% Senior Notes. The payment of the prepayment penalty and the write-off of the debt issuance costs were accounted for as a loss on extinguishment of debt in the first quarter of fiscal 2006.

On February 10, 2006, we amended the credit agreement to provide a $100.0 million term loan facility, which may be drawn in U.S. dollars, U.K. pounds or euros. In addition to the $100.0 million term loan facility, we have a $100.0 million revolving credit facility that provides up to $25.0 million of the credit facility and up to $50.0 million of the letter of credit may be drawn in U.K. pounds or euros in addition to U.S. dollars. Available credit under the above credit facilities was $111.0 million at fiscal 2006 year end, when reduced by outstanding borrowings of $8.1 million and letters of credit of $0.6 million. On February 10, 2006, we borrowed U.K. £57.0 million, or approximately $100.0 million, under the term loan facility. We used the proceeds from the loan as working capital for our U.K. operations and to repay a portion of our outstanding borrowings under the revolving credit facility. The principal amount of the loan is payable quarterly commencing on March 31, 2007 through the termination date of November 14, 2010, according to a payment schedule by which 1.25% of the principal amount is paid in each quarter of 2007, 2.50% in each quarter of 2008, 5.00% in each quarter of 2009 and 16.25% in each quarter of 2010. The loan accrues interest at a variable rate based on the British Bankers Association Interest Settlement Rate for deposits in U.K. pounds plus an additional margin amount that ranges from 1.13% to 0.50% depending upon the Company’s leverage ratio. As of October 27, 2006, the interest rate on the term loan was 5.72%. We entered into an interest rate swap agreement on the full principal amount by which the variable interest rate was exchanged for a fixed interest rate of 4.75% plus an additional margin amount determined by reference to the Company’s leverage ratio. At October 27, 2006, the fair value of the interest rate swap was a $1.5 million asset. The interest rate swap is accounted for as a cash flow hedge and the fair value is included in Other Comprehensive Income.

We believe cash on hand, funds generated from operations and other available debt facilities are sufficient to fund operating cash requirements and capital expenditures through fiscal 2007; however, we may periodically utilize our lines of credit for working capital requirements. In addition, we believe we have adequate access to capital markets to fund future acquisitions.

 

13


Pension Obligations

Our pension plans, which principally include a U.S. pension plan maintained by Esterline and U.S. and non-U.S. plans maintained by Leach, were under-funded $20.5 million at October 27, 2006. This under-funding principally resulted from the acquisition of Leach and assumption of its under-funded pension plans. We account for pension expense using the end of the fiscal year as our measurement date and we make actuarially computed contributions to our pension plans as necessary to adequately fund benefits. Our funding policy is consistent with the minimum funding requirements of ERISA. In fiscal 2006, operating cash flow included $0.7 million of cash funding to these pension plans. We expect pension funding requirements to be approximately $5.3 million in fiscal 2007 for the plans maintained by Leach, and we do not expect the U.S. Esterline pension plan to require any contributions in fiscal 2007. The rate of increase in future compensation levels is consistent with our historical experience and salary administration policies. The expected long-term rate of return on plan assets is based on long-term target asset allocations of 70% equity and 30% fixed income. We periodically review allocations of plan assets by investment type and evaluate external sources of information regarding long-term historical returns and expected future returns for each investment type and, accordingly, believe an 8.5% assumed long-term rate of return on plan assets is appropriate. Current allocations are consistent with the long-term targets.

We made the following assumptions with respect to our pension obligation in 2006 and 2005:

 

     2006     2005  

Principal assumptions as of fiscal year end:

    

Discount Rate

   5.75 – 6.0 %   5.5 %

Rate of increase in future compensation levels

   4.5 %   4.5 %

Assumed long-term rate of return on plan assets

   8.5 %   8.5 %

We use a discount rate for expected returns that is a spot rate developed from a yield curve established from high-quality corporate bonds and matched to plan-specific projected benefit payments. Although future changes to the discount rate are unknown, had the discount rate increased or decreased by 25 basis points, pension liabilities in total would have decreased $4.7 million or increased $4.9 million, respectively. If all other assumptions are held constant, the estimated effect on fiscal 2007 pension expense from a hypothetical 25 basis point increase or decrease in both the discount rate and expected long-term rate of return on plan assets would not have a material effect on our pension expense. We are not aware of any legislative or other initiatives or circumstances that will significantly impact our pension obligations in fiscal 2007.

Research and Development Expense

For the three years ended October 27, 2006, research and development expense has averaged 4.9% of sales. In fiscal 2005 and 2004, we began bidding and winning new aerospace programs which will result in increased company-funded research and development. These programs included the A400M primary power distribution assembly, TP400 engine sensors, 787 overhead panel control and 787 environmental control programs. We estimate that research and development expense in fiscal 2007 will be approximately 5.0% of sales for the full year.

 

14


Equity Offering

On August 3, 2004, we filed a shelf registration statement on Form S-3 registering $300.0 million of equity and debt securities, which was declared effective on August 25, 2004. The shelf registration statement enables us to issue equity and debt securities in response to market conditions. On November 24, 2004 we completed a public offering of 3.7 million shares of common stock, including shares sold under the underwriters’ over-allotment option, priced at $31.25 per share, generating net proceeds of $108.5 million, of which $5.0 million was used to retire existing credit facilities. The funds provided additional financial resources for acquisitions and general corporate purposes.

Contractual Obligations

The following table summarizes our outstanding contractual obligations as of fiscal year end.

 

In Thousands      Total    Less than
1 year
    
 
1-3
years
    
 
4-5
years
    
 
After 5
years

Long-term debt

   $ 287,845    $    5,538    $ 31,844    $ 76,014    $ 174,449

Credit facilities

     8,075    8,075               

Operating lease obligations

     65,982    10,602      18,731      16,785      19,864

Purchase obligations

     289,679    278,396      6,823      4,460     

Total contractual obligations

   $ 651,581    $302,611    $ 57,398    $ 97,259    $ 194,313
 

Seasonality

The timing of our revenues is impacted by the purchasing patterns of our customers and, as a result, we do not generate revenues evenly throughout the year. Moreover, our first fiscal quarter, November through January, includes significant holiday vacation periods in both Europe and North America. This leads to decreased order and shipment activity; consequently, first quarter results are typically weaker than other quarters and not necessarily indicative of our performance in subsequent quarters.

 

15


Disclosures About Market Risk

Interest Rate Risks

Our debt includes fixed rate and variable rate obligations. We are not subject to interest rate risk on the fixed rate obligations. We are subject to interest rate risk on $75.0 million of our Senior Subordinated Notes due in 2013. We hold an interest rate swap agreement, which exchanged the fixed interest rate for a variable rate on $75.0 million of the $175.0 million principal amount outstanding under our Senior Subordinated Notes due in 2013.

We also have a variable rate note with our £57.0 million GBP Term Loan. We hold an interest rate swap agreement, which exchanged the variable interest rate for a fixed rate on the £57.0 million GBP Term Loan.

Inclusive of the effect of the interest rate swaps, a hypothetical 10% increase or decrease in average market interest rates would not have a material effect on our pretax income.

The following table provides information about our derivative financial instruments and other financial instruments that are sensitive to changes in interest rates. For long-term debt, the table presents principal cash flows and the related weighted-average interest rates by contractual maturities. For our interest rate swap, the following tables present notional amounts and, as applicable, the interest rate by contractual maturity date at October 27, 2006 and October 28, 2005.

At October 27, 2006

Dollars In Thousands

 

     Long-Term Debt – Fixed Rate     Interest Rate Swap  

Maturing in:

   Principal
Amount
   Average
Rates
 
 
   
 
Notional
Amount
 
 
  Average
Pay Rate 
(1)
  Average
Receive Rate
 
 

2007

   $          1,484    6.04 %   $     *   7.75 %

2008

   2,346    5.87 %         *   7.75 %

2009

   1,117    7.50 %         *   7.75 %

2010

   210    7.69 %         *   7.75 %

2011

   122    7.64 %         *   7.75 %

Thereafter

   175,147    7.75 %     75,000     *   7.75 %
   

Total

   $      180,426      $ 75,000      
   

Fair Value
at 10/27/2006

   $      192,439      $ (698 )    

 

(1) The average pay rate is LIBOR plus 2.56%.

 

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At October 27, 2006

Dollars In Thousands

 

     Long-Term Debt – Variable Rate     Interest Rate Swap  
Maturing in:    Principal
Amount
  

Average

Rates  (1)

    Notional
Amount
    Average
Pay Rate
    Average
Receive Rate 
(1)
 

2007

   $          4,054    *     $ 4,054     4.755 %   *  

2008

   9,460    *       9,460     4.755 %   *  

2009

   18,921    *       18,921     4.755 %   *  

2010

   58,113    *       58,113     4.755 %   *  

2011

   17,569    *       17,569     4.755 %   *  
   

Total

   $      108,117      $ 108,117      
   

Fair Value at
10/27/2006

   $      108,117      $ 1,498      

 

(1)  The average rate on the long-term debt and the average receive rate on the interest rate swap is the British Bankers Association Interest Settlement Rate for deposits in U.K. pounds plus an additional margin of 1.13% to 0.50% depending on the Company’s leverage ratio.

 

 

At October 28, 2005

Dollars In Thousands

 

     

 

 

     Long-Term Debt – Fixed Rate     Interest Rate Swap  
Maturing in:    Principal
Amount
   Average Rates     Notional
Amount
    Average
Pay Rate 
(1)
    Average
Receive Rate
 

2006

   $        70,934    6.62 %   $     *     7.75 %

2007

   763    5.79 %         *     7.75 %

2008

   464    7.20 %         *     7.75 %

2009

   390    7.08 %         *     7.75 %

2010

   22    7.18 %         *     7.75 %

Thereafter

   175,055    7.75 %     75,000     *     7.75 %
   

Total

   $      247,628      $ 75,000      
   

Fair Value
at 10/28/2005

   $      252,330      $ (1,012 )    

 

(1) The average pay rate is LIBOR plus 2.56%.

 

17


Currency Risks

To the extent that sales are transacted in a foreign currency, we are subject to foreign currency fluctuation risk. Furthermore, we have assets denominated in foreign currencies that are not offset by liabilities in such foreign currencies. We own significant operations in France, Germany and the United Kingdom and, accordingly, we may experience gains or losses due to foreign exchange fluctuations. Comparing October 27, 2006 and October 28, 2005, the foreign exchange rate for the dollar relative to the euro decreased to .785 from .829, or 5.2%, and the dollar relative to the U.K. pound decreased to .527 from .564, or 6.5%. Comparing October 28, 2005 to October 29, 2004, the foreign exchange rate for the dollar relative to the euro increased to .829 from .781, or 6.1%, and the dollar relative to the U.K. pound increased to .564 from .544, or 3.6%.

Our policy is to hedge a portion of our forecasted transactions using forward exchange contracts with maturities up to fifteen months. The Company does not enter into any forward contracts for trading purposes. At October 27, 2006 and October 28, 2005, the notional value of foreign currency forward contracts was $52.8 million and $38.5 million, respectively. The fair value of these contracts was a $0.8 million asset and a $0.9 million liability at October 27, 2006 and October 28, 2005, respectively. If the U.S. dollar increased or decreased in value against all hedged currencies by a hypothetical 10%, the effect on the fair value of the foreign currency contracts would not be material.

The following tables provide information about our derivative financial instruments, including foreign currency forward exchange agreements and certain firmly committed sales transactions denominated in currencies other than the functional currency at October 27, 2006 and October 28, 2005. The information about certain firmly committed sales contracts and derivative financial instruments is in U.S. dollar equivalents. For forward foreign currency exchange agreements, the following tables present the notional amounts at the current exchange rate and weighted-average contractual foreign currency exchange rates by contractual maturity dates.

Firmly Committed Sales Contracts

Operations with Foreign Functional Currency

At October 27, 2006

Principal Amount by Expected Maturity

In Thousands

 

       Euro    U.K. Pound
Fiscal Years    Firmly Committed
Sales Contracts in
United States Dollar
   Firmly Committed
Sales Contracts in
United States Dollar

2007

   $              55,135    $              28,219

2008

   8,074    6,714

2009

   109    5,202

2010

      861

2011

      757
 

Total

   $              63,318    $              41,753
 

 

18


Derivative Contracts

Operations with Foreign Functional Currency

At October 27, 2006

Notional Amount by Expected Maturity

Average Foreign Currency Exchange Rate (USD/Foreign Currency) 1

Dollars In Thousands, Except for Average Contract Rate

Related Forward Contracts to Sell U.S. Dollar for Euro

 

     United States Dollar
Fiscal Years    Notional Amount    Avg. Contract Rate

2007

   $          31,800    1.265

2008

   5,470    1.294
 

Total

   $          37,270   
    

Fair Value at 10/27/2006

   $               297   

 

Related Forward Contracts to Sell U.S. Dollar for U.K. Pound

 

     United States Dollar
Fiscal Years    Notional Amount    Avg. Contract Rate

2007

   $          26,675    1.841

2008

   3,015    1.868
 

Total

   $          29,690   
    

Fair Value at 10/27/2006

   $               311   

 

1 The Company has no derivative contracts maturing after fiscal 2008.

 

19


Firmly Committed Sales Contracts

Operations with Foreign Functional Currency

At October 28, 2005

Principal Amount by Expected Maturity

In Thousands

 

       Euro    U.K. Pound
Fiscal Years    Firmly Committed
Sales Contracts in
United States Dollar
   Firmly Committed
Sales Contracts in
United States Dollar

2006

   $              26,883    $              15,705

2007

   6,153    2,072

2008

   2,094    402

2009

      2,909

2010

      46
 

Total

   $              35,130    $              21,134
 

 

20


Derivative Contracts

Operations with Foreign Functional Currency

At October 28, 2005

Notional Amount by Expected Maturity

Average Foreign Currency Exchange Rate (USD/Foreign Currency) 1

Dollars In Thousands, Except for Average Contract Rate

Related Forward Contracts to Sell U.S. Dollar for Euro

 

     United States Dollar
Fiscal Years    Notional Amount     Avg. Contract Rate

2006

   $          17,800     1.266

2007

   2,090     1.244
 

Total

   $          19,890    
     

Fair Value at 10/28/2005

   $              (501 )  

 

Related Forward Contracts to Sell U.S. Dollar for U.K. Pound

 

     United States Dollar
Fiscal Years    Notional Amount     Avg. Contract Rate

2006

   $          16,370     1.824

2007

   2,240     1.800
 

Total

   $          18,610    
     

Fair Value at 10/28/2005

   $              (433 )  

 

1 The Company has no derivative contracts maturing after fiscal 2007.

As more fully described under Note 11 of the consolidated financials statements, on February 10, 2006, we borrowed U.K. £57.0 million, or approximately $100.0 million, under our term loan facility. We designated the U.K. £57.0 million loan as a hedge of the investment in a certain U.K. business unit. The foreign currency gain or loss that is effective as a hedge is reported as a component of Other Comprehensive Income in shareholders’ equity. A 10% increase or decrease in the U.K. pound would increase or decrease Other Comprehensive Income by $6.8 million, net of tax. We also hold an interest rate swap agreement, which exchanged the variable interest rate for a fixed rate on the £57.0 million GBP Term Loan. At October 27, 2006, the fair value of the interest rate swap was a $1.5 million asset.

 

21


Critical Accounting Policies

Our financial statements and accompanying notes are prepared in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles. Preparing financial statements requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets, liabilities, revenues and expenses. Actual results may differ from estimates under different assumptions or conditions. These estimates and assumptions are affected by our application of accounting policies. Our critical accounting policies include revenue recognition, accounting for the allowance for doubtful accounts receivable, accounting for inventories at the lower of cost or market, accounting for goodwill and intangible assets in business combinations, impairment of goodwill and intangible assets, accounting for legal contingencies, accounting for pension benefits, and accounting for income taxes.

Revenue Recognition

We recognize revenue when the title and risk of loss have passed to the customer, there is persuasive evidence of an agreement, delivery has occurred or services have been rendered, the price is determinable, and the collectibility is reasonably assured. We recognize product revenues at the point of shipment or delivery in accordance with the terms of sale. Sales are net of returns and allowances. Returns and allowances are not significant because products are manufactured to customer specification and are covered by the terms of the product warranty.

Revenues and profits on fixed-price contracts with significant engineering as well as production requirements are recorded based on the ratio of total actual incurred costs to date to total estimated costs for each contract (cost-to-cost method) in accordance with the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants Statement of Position 81-1, “Accounting for Performance of Construction-Type and Certain Production-Type Contracts.” We review cost performance and estimates to complete on our ongoing contracts at least quarterly. The impact of revisions of profit estimates are recognized on a cumulative catch-up basis in the period in which the revisions are made. Provisions for anticipated losses on contracts are recorded in the period they become evident. Amounts representing contract change orders, claims or other items are included in revenue only when they can be reliably estimated and realization is probable, and are determined on a percentage-of-completion basis measured by the cost-to-cost method.

Allowance for Doubtful Accounts

We establish an allowance for doubtful accounts for losses expected to be incurred on accounts receivable balances. Judgment is required in estimation of the allowance and is based upon specific identification, collection history and creditworthiness of the debtor.

Inventories

We account for inventories on a first-in, first-out or average cost method of accounting at the lower of its cost or market. The determination of market requires judgment in estimating future demand, selling prices and cost of disposal.

 

22


Goodwill and Intangible Assets in Business Combinations

We account for business combinations, goodwill and intangible assets in accordance with Financial Accounting Standards No. 141, “Business Combinations” (Statement No. 141) and Financial Accounting Standards No. 142, “Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets” (Statement No. 142). Statement No. 141 specifies the types of acquired intangible assets that are required to be recognized and reported separately from goodwill.

Impairment of Goodwill and Intangible Assets

Statement No. 142 requires goodwill and indefinite-lived intangible assets to be tested for impairment at least annually. We are also required to test goodwill for impairment between annual tests if events occur or circumstances change that would more likely than not reduce our enterprise fair value below its book value. These events or circumstances could include a significant change in the business climate, including a significant sustained decline in an entity’s market value, legal factors, operating performance indicators, competition, sale or disposition of a significant portion of the business, or other factors.

The valuation of reporting units requires judgment in estimating future cash flows, discount rates and estimated product life cycles. In making these judgments, we evaluate the financial health of the business, including such factors as industry performance, changes in technology and operating cash flows.

Statement No. 142 outlines a two-step process for testing goodwill for impairment. The first step (Step One) of the goodwill impairment test involves estimating the fair value of a reporting unit. Statement No. 142 defines fair value (Fair Value) as “the amount at which an asset (or liability) could be bought (or incurred) or sold (or settled) in a current transaction between willing parties, that is, other than in a forced liquidation sale.” A reporting unit is generally defined at the operating segment level or at the component level one level below the operating segment, if said component constitutes a business. The Fair Value of a reporting unit is then compared to its carrying value, which is defined as the book basis of total assets less total liabilities. In the event a reporting unit’s carrying value exceeds its estimated Fair Value, evidence of potential impairment exists. In such a case, the second step (Step Two) of the impairment test is required, which involves allocating the Fair Value of the reporting unit to all of the assets and liabilities of that unit, with the excess of Fair Value over allocated net assets representing the Fair Value of goodwill. An impairment loss is measured as the amount by which the carrying value of the reporting unit’s goodwill exceeds the estimated Fair Value of goodwill.

We performed our impairment review for fiscal 2006 as of July 29, 2006, and our Step One analysis indicates that no impairment of goodwill exists in any of the Company’s reporting units. Our Step One test was based upon a market and discounted cash flow valuation method.

As we have grown through acquisitions, we have accumulated $366.2 million of goodwill and $29.3 million of indefinite-lived intangible assets out of total assets of $1,290.5 million at October 27, 2006. The amount of any annual or interim impairment could be significant and

 

23


could have a material adverse effect on our reported financial results for the period in which the charge is taken.

Impairment of Long-lived Assets

We account for the impairment of long-lived assets to be held and used in accordance with Financial Accounting Standards No. 144, “Accounting for the Impairment or Disposal of Long-Lived Assets” (Statement No. 144). Statement No. 144 requires that a long-lived asset to be disposed of be reported at the lower of its carrying amount or fair value less cost to sell. An asset (other than goodwill and indefinite-lived intangible assets) is considered impaired when estimated future cash flows are less than the carrying amount of the asset. In the event the carrying amount of such asset is not deemed recoverable, the asset is adjusted to its estimated fair value. Fair value is generally determined based upon estimated discounted future cash flows. As we have grown through acquisitions, we have accumulated $212.3 million of intangible assets. The amount of any annual or interim impairment could be significant and could have a material adverse effect on our reported financial results for the period in which the charge is taken.

Contingencies

We are party to various lawsuits and claims, both as plaintiff and defendant, and have contingent liabilities arising from the conduct of business. We are covered by insurance for general liability, product liability, workers’ compensation and certain environmental exposures, subject to certain deductible limits. We are self-insured for amounts less than our deductible and where no insurance is available. Financial Accounting Standards No. 5, “Accounting for Contingencies,” requires that an estimated loss from a contingency should be accrued by a charge to income if it is probable that an asset has been impaired or a liability has been incurred and the amount of the loss can be reasonably estimated. Disclosure of a contingency is required if there is at least a reasonable possibility that a loss has been incurred. We evaluate, among other factors, the degree of probability of an unfavorable outcome and the ability to make a reasonable estimate of the amount of loss.

Pension Benefits

We account for employee pension benefit costs and obligations in accordance with the applicable statements issued by the Financial Accounting Standards Board. In accordance with these statements, we select appropriate assumptions including discount rate, rate of increase in future compensation levels and assumed long-term rate of return on plan assets. Our assumptions are based upon historical results, the current economic environment and reasonable expectations of future events. Actual results which vary from our assumptions are accumulated and amortized over future periods and, accordingly, are recognized in expense in these periods. Significant differences between our assumptions and actual experience or significant changes in assumptions could impact the pension costs and the pension obligation.

 

24


Income Taxes

We account for income taxes in accordance with Financial Accounting Standards No. 109, “Accounting for Income Taxes.” The objectives of accounting for income taxes are to recognize the amount of taxes payable or refundable for the current year and deferred tax liabilities and assets for the future tax consequences of events that have been recognized in our financial statements or tax returns. Judgment is required in assessing the future tax consequences of events that have been recognized in our financial statements or tax returns. Variations in the actual outcome of these future tax consequences could materially impact our financial position and results of operations.

Recent Accounting Pronouncements

In October 2006, the Financial Accounting Standards Board issued Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 158, “Employers’ Accounting for Defined Benefit Pension and Other Postretirement Plans, an amendment of FASB Statements No. 87, 88, 106 and 123(R).” Statement No. 158 requires an entity to:

 

    Recognize in its statements of financial position an asset for a defined benefit postretirement plan’s overfunded status or a liability for a plan’s underfunded status.

 

    Measure a defined benefit postretirement plan’s assets and obligations that determine its funded status as of the end of the employer’s fiscal year.

 

    Recognize changes in the funded status of a defined benefit postretirement plan in comprehensive income in the year in which the changes occur.

Statement No. 158 does not change the amount of net periodic benefit cost included in net income or address the various measurement issues associated with postretirement benefit plan accounting. The requirement to recognize the funded status of a defined benefit postretirement plan and the disclosure requirements are effective as of October 26, 2007. If we had implemented Statement No. 158 as of October 27, 2006, the effect on our balance sheet would be an increase in pension liabilities and a decrease in accumulated other comprehensive income of approximately $8.5 million.

In September 2006, the Financial Accounting Standards Board issued Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 157, “Fair Value Measurements.” Statement No. 157 defines fair value, establishes a framework for measuring fair value in generally accepted accounting principles, and expands disclosures about fair value measurements. Statement No. 157 applies under other accounting pronouncements that require or permit fair value measurements. Statement No. 157 indicates, among other things, that a fair value measurement assumes the transaction to sell the asset or transfer the liability occurs in the principal market for the asset or liability or, in the absence of a principal market, the most advantageous market for the asset or liability. Statement No. 157 is effective for the Company’s year ending October 30, 2009. The Company is currently evaluating the impact of Statement No. 157 on the Company’s financial statements.

 

25


In June 2006, the Financial Accounting Standards Board issued FIN No. 48, “Accounting for Uncertainty in Income Taxes – an interpretation of FASB Statement No. 109,” which clarifies the accounting for uncertainty in income taxes recognized in an enterprise’s financial statements in accordance with FASB Statement No. 109, “Accounting for Income Taxes.” The interpretation prescribes a recognition method and measurement attribute for the financial statement recognition and measurement of a tax position taken or expected to be taken in a tax return. FIN No. 48 requires recognition of tax benefits that satisfy a greater than 50% probability threshold. FIN No. 48 also provides guidance on derecognition, classification, interest and penalties, accounting in interim periods, disclosure, and transition. FIN No. 48 is effective for us beginning October 27, 2007. We are assessing the potential impact that the adoption of FIN No. 48 will have on our financial statements.

In March 2005, the Financial Accounting Standards Board issued FASB Interpretation No. (FIN) 47 – “Accounting for Conditional Asset Retirement Obligations, an interpretation of FASB Statement No. 143,” which clarifies the term “conditional asset retirement obligation” as used in SFAS No. 143, “Accounting for Asset Retirement Obligations.” Specifically, FIN No. 47 provides that an asset retirement obligation is conditional when either the timing and (or) method of settling the obligation is conditioned on a future event. Accordingly, an entity is required to recognize a liability for the fair value of a conditional asset retirement obligation if the fair market value of the liability can be reasonably estimated. Uncertainty about the timing and (or) method of settlement of a conditional asset retirement obligation should be factored into the measurement of the liability when sufficient information exists. This interpretation also clarifies when an entity would have sufficient information to reasonably estimate the fair value of an asset retirement obligation. FIN No. 47 was effective for fiscal years ending after December 15, 2005. Our adoption of FIN No. 47 on October 27, 2006 did not have a material impact on our consolidated results of operation and financial condition.

Effective October 29, 2005, the Company adopted Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 123 (revised 2004), “Share-Based Payment” (Statement No. 123(R)), which requires the Company to measure the cost of employee services received in exchange for an award of equity instruments based on the grant-date fair value of the award. The Company adopted Statement No. 123(R) using the modified prospective method effective October 29, 2005. The cumulative effect of the change in accounting principle upon adoption of Statement No. 123(R) was included in selling, general and administrative expense as the amount was not significant.

In November 2004, the Financial Accounting Standards Board issued Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 151, “Inventory Costs – An Amendment of ARB No. 43, Chapter 4.” Statement No. 151 amends the guidance in ARB No. 43, Chapter 4, “Inventory Pricing,” to clarify the accounting for abnormal amounts of idle facility expense, freight, handling costs and wasted material (spoilage). Among other provisions, the new rule requires that items, such as idle facility expense, excessive spoilage, double freight and rehandling costs, be recognized as current period charges regardless of whether they meet the criterion of “so abnormal” as stated in ARB No. 43. Additionally, Statement No. 151 requires that the allocation of fixed production overheads to the costs of conversion be based on the normal capacity of the production facilities. Adoption of Statement No. 151 in the first fiscal quarter of 2006 did not have a material impact on our consolidated results of operations and financial condition.

 

26


Market Price of Esterline Common Stock

In Dollars

 

For Fiscal Years    2006    2005
     High    Low    High    Low

Quarter

           

First

   $ 42.36    $ 35.55    $ 36.62    $ 28.70

Second

     46.12      38.70      36.52      29.20

Third

     46.65      38.60      43.01      31.60

Fourth

     42.40      30.97      44.27      35.85
 

Principal Market – New York Stock Exchange

At the end of fiscal 2006, there were approximately 510 holders of record of the Company’s common stock.

No cash dividends were paid during fiscal 2006 and 2005. We are restricted from paying dividends under our current credit facility, and so we do not anticipate paying any dividends in the foreseeable future.

 

27


Selected Financial Data

In Thousands, Except Per Share Amounts

 

For Fiscal Years    2006     2005     2004     2003     2002  

Operating Results 1

          

Net sales

   $ 972,275     $ 835,403     $ 613,610     $ 549,132     $ 421,706  

Cost of sales

     671,419       573,453       418,590       376,931       285,900  

Selling, general and administrative

     159,624       137,426       118,746       105,301       79,085  

Research, development and engineering

     52,612       42,238       25,856       17,782       13,829  

Other (income) expense

     (490 )     514       (509 )            

Insurance recovery

     (4,890 )                        

Loss (gain) on sale of product line

                 (3,434 )     66        

Loss (gain) on derivative financial instruments

                       (2,676 )     1  

Interest income

     (2,642 )     (4,057 )     (1,964 )     (868 )     (1,814 )

Interest expense

     21,290       18,159       17,336       11,991       7,117  

Loss on extinguishment of debt

     2,156                          

Income from continuing operations before income taxes

     73,196       67,670       38,989       40,605       37,588  

Income tax expense

     16,716       16,301       9,592       12,458       9,111  

Income from continuing operations

     55,615       51,034       29,375       28,147       28,477  

Income (loss) from discontinued operations, net of tax

           6,992       10,208       (5,312 )     (25,264 )

Cumulative effect of a change in accounting principle

                             (7,574 )

Net earnings (loss)

     55,615       58,026       39,583       22,835       (4,361 )

Earnings (loss) per share – diluted:

          

Continuing operations

   $ 2.15     $ 2.02     $ 1.37     $ 1.33     $ 1.35  

Discontinued operations

           .27       .47       (.25 )     (1.20 )

Cumulative effect of a change in accounting principle

                             (.36 )

Earnings (loss) per share – diluted

     2.15       2.29       1.84       1.08       (.21 )
   

 

28


Selected Financial Data

In Thousands, Except Per Share Amounts

 

For Fiscal Years    2006    2005    2004    2003    2002

Financial Structure

              

Total assets

   $ 1,290,451    $ 1,115,248    $ 935,348    $ 802,827    $ 573,678

Long-term debt, net

     282,307      175,682      249,056      246,792      102,133

Shareholders’ equity

     707,989      620,864      461,028      396,069      357,164

Weighted average shares outstanding – diluted

     25,818      25,302      21,539      21,105      21,021
 

 

1    Operating results for 2005 through 2002 and balance sheet items for 2003 through 2002 reflect the segregation of continuing operations from discontinued operations. See Note 3 to the Consolidated Financial Statements.

 

 

For Fiscal Years    2006    2005    2004    2003    2002

Other Selected Data 2

              

EBITDA from continuing operations

   $ 141,258    $ 118,812    $ 87,440    $ 73,918    $ 61,732

Stock option expense

     5,430      2,799      4,326      1,428      4,711

Capital expenditures

     26,540      23,730      21,800      16,764      15,008

Interest expense

     21,290      18,159      17,336      11,991      7,117

Depreciation and amortization from continuing operations

     41,828      34,241      28,753      23,438      14,129

 

2 EBITDA from continuing operations is a measurement not calculated in accordance with GAAP. We define EBITDA from continuing operations as operating earnings from continuing operations plus stock option expense and depreciation and amortization (excluding amortization of debt issuance costs). We do not intend EBITDA from continuing operations to represent cash flows from continuing operations or any other items calculated in accordance with GAAP, or as an indicator of Esterline’s operating performance. Our definition of EBITDA from continuing operations may not be comparable with EBITDA from continuing operations as defined by other companies. We believe EBITDA is commonly used by financial analysts and others in the aerospace and defense industries and thus provides useful information to investors. Our management and certain financial creditors use EBITDA as one measure of our leverage capacity and debt servicing ability, and is shown here with respect to Esterline for comparative purposes. EBITDA is not necessarily indicative of amounts that may be available for discretionary uses by us. The following table reconciles operating earnings from continuing operations to EBITDA from continuing operations.

 

29


In Thousands

 

For Fiscal Years    2006    2005    2004    2003    2002

Operating earnings from continuing operations

   $ 94,000    $ 81,772    $ 54,361    $ 49,052    $ 42,892

Stock option expense

     5,430      2,799      4,326      1,428      4,711

Depreciation and amortization from continuing operations

     41,828      34,241      28,753      23,438      14,129
 

EBITDA from continuing operations

   $ 141,258    $ 118,812    $ 87,440    $ 73,918    $ 61,732
 

 

30


Consolidated Statement of Operations

In Thousands, Except Per Share Amounts

 

For Each of the Three Fiscal Years

in the Period Ended October 27, 2006

   2006     2005     2004  

Net Sales

   $ 972,275     $ 835,403     $ 613,610  

Cost of Sales

     671,419       573,453       418,590  
   
     300,856       261,950       195,020  

Expenses

      

Selling, general and administrative

     159,624       137,426       118,746  

Research, development and engineering

     52,612       42,238       25,856  
   

Total Expenses

     212,236       179,664       144,602  

Other

      

Other (income) expense

     (490 )     514       (509 )

Insurance recovery

     (4,890 )            

Gain on sale of product line

                 (3,434 )
   

Total Other

     (5,380 )     514       (3,943 )
   

Operating Earnings From

      

Continuing Operations

     94,000       81,772       54,361  

Interest income

     (2,642 )     (4,057 )     (1,964 )

Interest expense

     21,290       18,159       17,336  

Loss on extinguishment of debt

     2,156              
   

Other Expense, Net

     20,804       14,102       15,372  
   

Income From Continuing Operations
Before Income Taxes

     73,196       67,670       38,989  

Income Tax Expense

     16,716       16,301       9,592  
   

Income From Continuing Operations
Before Minority Interest

     56,480       51,369       29,397  

Minority Interest

     (865 )     (335 )     (22 )
   

Income From Continuing Operations

     55,615       51,034       29,375  

Income From Discontinued
Operations, Net of Tax

           6,992       10,208  
   

Net Earnings

   $ 55,615     $ 58,026     $ 39,583  
   

 

31


Consolidated Statement of Operations

In Thousands, Except Per Share Amounts

 

For Each of the Three Fiscal Years

in the Period Ended October 27, 2006

   2006     2005     2004  

Earnings Per Share – Basic:

      

Continuing operations

   $       2.19     $       2.05     $       1.39  

Discontinued operations

           .28       .48  
   

Earnings Per Share – Basic

   $ 2.19     $ 2.33     $ 1.87  
   

Earnings Per Share – Diluted:

      

Continuing operations

   $ 2.15     $ 2.02     $ 1.37  

Discontinued operations

           .27       .47  
   

Earnings Per Share – Diluted

   $ 2.15     $ 2.29     $ 1.84  
   

See Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.

 

32


Consolidated Balance Sheet

In Thousands, Except Share and Per Share Amounts

 

As of October 27, 2006 and October 28, 2005    2006    2005

Assets

     

Current Assets

     

Cash and cash equivalents

   $ 42,638    $ 118,304

Cash in escrow

     4,409      11,918

Short-term investments

          62,656

Accounts receivable, net of allowances of $4,338 and $4,462

     191,737      149,751

Inventories

     185,846      130,469

Income tax refundable

     6,231     

Deferred income tax benefits

     27,932      26,868

Prepaid expenses

     9,545      7,533
 

Total Current Assets

     468,338      507,499

Property, Plant and Equipment

     

Land

     16,903      15,869

Buildings

     96,451      79,219

Machinery and equipment

     226,037      187,022
 
     339,391      282,110

Accumulated depreciation

     168,949      143,896
 
     170,442      138,214

Other Non-Current Assets

     

Goodwill

     366,155      261,167

Intangibles, net

     241,657      166,118

Debt issuance costs, net of accumulated amortization of $2,277 and $1,602

     4,469      5,144

Deferred income tax benefits

     14,790      13,320

Other assets

     24,600      23,786
 

Total Assets

   $ 1,290,451    $ 1,115,248
 

See Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.

 

33


As of October 27, 2006 and October 28, 2005    2006    2005

Liabilities and Shareholders’ Equity

     

Current Liabilities

     

Accounts payable

   $ 62,693    $ 41,453

Accrued liabilities

     121,419      119,115

Credit facilities

     8,075      2,031

Current maturities of long-term debt

     5,538      70,934

Federal and foreign income taxes

     2,874      8,798
 

Total Current Liabilities

     200,599      242,331

Long-Term Liabilities

     

Long-term debt, net of current maturities

     282,307      175,682

Deferred income taxes

     72,349      46,421

Other liabilities

     23,629      27,237

Commitments and Contingencies

         

Minority Interest

     3,578      2,713

Shareholders’ Equity

     

Common stock, par value $.20 per share, authorized 60,000,000 shares,
issued and outstanding 25,489,651 and 25,319,892 shares

     5,098      5,064

Additional paid-in capital

     270,074      260,095

Retained earnings

     400,985      345,370

Accumulated other comprehensive income

     31,832      10,335
 

Total Shareholders’ Equity

     707,989      620,864
 

Total Liabilities and Shareholders’ Equity

   $ 1,290,451    $ 1,115,248
 

See Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.

 

34


Consolidated Statement of Cash Flows

In Thousands

 

For Each of the Three Fiscal Years

in the Period Ended October 27, 2006

   2006     2005     2004  

Cash Flows Provided (Used) by Operating Activities

      

Net earnings

   $ 55,615     $ 58,026     $ 39,583  

Minority interest

     865       335       22  

Depreciation and amortization

     42,833       35,308       31,145  

Deferred income tax

     (1,623 )     (4,501 )     3,264  

Share-based compensation

     5,430       2,799       4,326  

Loss (gain) on disposal and holding period loss on discontinued operations

                 (12,521 )

Loss (gain) on sale of discontinued operations

           (9,456 )      

Loss (gain) on sale of building

           59        

Loss (gain) on sale of land

                 (892 )

Loss (gain) on sale of product line

                 (3,434 )

Loss (gain) on sale of short-term investments

     (610 )     (1,397 )      

Working capital changes, net of effect of acquisitions

      

Accounts receivable

     (16,511 )     (17,645 )     (9,032 )

Inventories

     (39,241 )     (11,636 )     (9,095 )

Prepaid expenses

     (1,305 )     1,702       (659 )

Other current assets

           435        

Accounts payable

     8,106       4,166       2,600  

Accrued liabilities

     (646 )     19,916       10,240  

Federal and foreign income taxes

     (12,530 )     5,169       8,951  

Other liabilities

     (1,677 )     (6,414 )     4,359  

Other, net

     (2,030 )     (454 )     (5,530 )
   
     36,676       76,412       63,327  
   

Cash Flows Provided (Used) by Investing Activities

      

Purchases of capital assets

     (26,540 )     (23,776 )     (22,126 )

Proceeds from sale of discontinued operations

           21,421       10,000  

Proceeds from sale of building

           2,319        

Proceeds from sale of product line

                 3,475  

Proceeds from sale of land

                 1,654  

Escrow deposit

           (4,207 )     (12,500 )

Proceeds from sale of capital assets

     643       2,312       778  

Purchase of short-term investments

           (173,273 )      

Proceeds from sale of short-term investments

     63,266       112,014       12,797  

Acquisitions of businesses, net of cash acquired

     (190,344 )     (28,261 )     (138,811 )
   
     (152,975 )     (91,451 )     (144,733 )
   

 

35


For Each of the Three Fiscal Years

in the Period Ended October 27, 2006

     2006       2005       2004  

Cash Flows Provided (Used) by Financing Activities

      

Proceeds provided by stock issuance under employee stock plans

     4,038       3,519       2,267  

Excess tax benefits from stock option exercise

     545       1,208       540  

Proceeds provided by sale of common stock

           108,490        

Net change in credit facilities

     5,905       (4,829 )     4,122  

Repayment of long-term debt, net

     (71,372 )     (3,302 )     (29,429 )

Proceeds from issuance of long-term debt

     100,000              

Debt and other issuance costs

                 (268 )
   
     39,116       105,086       (22,768 )
   

Effect of foreign exchange rates on cash

     1,517       (1,222 )     2,290  
   

Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents

     (75,666 )     88,825       (101,884 )

Cash and cash equivalents – beginning of year

     118,304       29,479       131,363  
   

Cash and cash equivalents – end of year

   $ 42,638     $ 118,304     $ 29,479  
   

Supplemental Cash Flow Information

      

Cash paid for interest

   $ 21,548     $ 16,610     $ 17,394  

Cash paid (refunded) for taxes

     23,710       14,193       (1,909 )

See Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.

 

36


Consolidated Statement of Shareholders’

Equity and Comprehensive Income

In Thousands, Except Per Share Amounts

 

For Each of the Three Fiscal Years

in the Period Ended October 27, 2006

     2006       2005       2004  

Common Stock, Par Value $.20 Per Share

      

Beginning of year

   $ 5,064     $ 4,264     $ 4,213  

Shares issued under stock option plans

     34       64       51  

Shares issued under equity offering

           736        
   

End of year

     5,098       5,064       4,264  
   

Additional Paid-in Capital

      

Beginning of year

     260,095       144,879       137,797  

Shares issued under stock option plans

     4,549       4,663       2,756  

Shares issued under equity offering

           107,754        

Share-based compensation expense

     5,430       2,799       4,326  
   

End of year

     270,074       260,095       144,879  
   

Retained Earnings

      

Beginning of year

     345,370       287,344       247,761  

Net earnings

     55,615       58,026       39,583  
   

End of year

     400,985       345,370       287,344  
   

Accumulated Other Comprehensive Gain (Loss)

      

Beginning of year

     10,335       24,541       6,298  

Change in fair value of derivative financial instruments, net of tax

     2,089       43       581  

Adjustment for minimum pension liability, net of tax

     (2,346 )     (75 )     (850 )

Foreign currency translation adjustment

     21,754       (14,174 )     18,512  
   

End of year

     31,832       10,335       24,541  
   

Total Shareholders’ Equity

   $ 707,989     $ 620,864     $ 461,028  
   

Comprehensive Income

      

Net earnings

   $ 55,615     $ 58,026     $ 39,583  

Change in fair value of derivative financial instruments, net of tax

     2,089       43       581  

Adjustment for minimum pension liability, net of tax

     (2,346 )     (75 )     (850 )

Foreign currency translation adjustment

     21,754       (14,174 )     18,512  
   

Comprehensive Income

   $ 77,112     $ 43,820     $ 57,826  
   

See Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.

 

37


Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

NOTE 1:  Accounting Policies

Nature of Operations

Esterline Technologies Corporation (the Company) designs, manufactures and markets highly engineered products. The Company serves the aerospace and defense industry, primarily in the United States and Europe. The Company also serves the industrial/commercial and medical markets.

Principles of Consolidation and Basis of Presentation

The consolidated financial statements include the accounts of the Company and all subsidiaries. All significant intercompany accounts and transactions have been eliminated. Classifications have been changed for certain amounts in prior periods to conform with the current year’s presentation. The Company’s fiscal year ends on the last Friday of October.

Management Estimates

To prepare financial statements in conformity with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles, management is required to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities, disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements, and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting period. Actual results could differ from those estimates.

Concentration of Risks

The Company’s products are principally focused on the aerospace and defense industry, which includes military and commercial aircraft original equipment manufacturers and their suppliers, commercial airlines, and the United States and foreign governments. Accordingly, the Company’s current and future financial performance is dependent on the economic condition of the aerospace and defense industry. The commercial aerospace market has historically been subject to cyclical downturns during periods of weak economic conditions or material changes arising from domestic or international events. Management believes that the Company’s sales are fairly well balanced across its customer base, which includes not only aerospace and defense customers but also medical and industrial commercial customers. However, material changes in the economic conditions of the aerospace industry could have a material effect on the Company’s results of operations, financial position or cash flows.

Revenue Recognition

The Company recognizes revenue when the title and risk of loss have passed to the customer, there is persuasive evidence of an agreement, delivery has occurred or services have been rendered, the price is determinable, and the collectibility is reasonably assured. The Company recognizes product revenues at the point of shipment or delivery in accordance with the terms

 

38


of sale. Sales are net of returns and allowances. Returns and allowances are not significant because products are manufactured to customer specification and are covered by the terms of the product warranty.

Revenues and profits on fixed-price contracts with significant engineering as well as production requirements are recorded based on the ratio of total actual incurred costs to date to total estimated costs for each contract (cost-to-cost method) in accordance with the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants Statement of Position 81-1, “Accounting for Performance of Construction-Type and Certain Production-Type Contracts.” The Company reviews cost performance and estimates to complete on its ongoing contracts at least quarterly. The impact of revisions of profit estimates are recognized on a cumulative catch-up basis in the period in which the revisions are made. Provisions for anticipated losses on contracts are recorded in the period they become evident. Amounts representing contract change orders, claims or other items are included in revenue only when they can be reliably estimated and realization is probable, and are determined on a percentage-of-completion basis measured by the cost-to-cost method.

Financial Instruments

Fair Value of Financial Instruments

The Company’s financial instruments consist primarily of cash and cash equivalents, accounts receivable, accounts payable, short-term borrowings, long-term debt, foreign currency forward contracts, and interest rate swap agreements. The carrying amounts of cash and cash equivalents, accounts receivable, and accounts payable approximate their respective fair values because of the short-term maturities or expected settlement dates of these instruments. The fair market value of the Company’s long-term debt and short-term borrowings was estimated at $300.6 million and $252.3 million at fiscal year end 2006 and 2005, respectively. These estimates were derived using discounted cash flows with interest rates currently available to the Company for issuance of debt with similar terms and remaining maturities.

Foreign Currency Exchange Risk Management

The Company is subject to risks associated with fluctuations in foreign currency exchange rates from the sale of products in currencies other than its functional currency. The Company’s policy is to hedge a portion of its forecasted transactions using forward exchange contracts, with maturities up to fifteen months. These forward contracts have been designated as cash flow hedges. The portion of the net gain or loss on a derivative instrument that is effective as a hedge is reported as a component of other comprehensive income in shareholders’ equity and is reclassified into earnings in the same period during which the hedged transaction affects earnings. The remaining net gain or loss on the derivative in excess of the present value of the expected cash flows of the hedged transaction is recorded in earnings immediately. If a derivative does not qualify for hedge accounting, or a portion of the hedge is deemed ineffective, the change in fair value is recorded in earnings. The amount of hedge ineffectiveness has not been material in any of the three fiscal years in the period ended October 27, 2006. At October 27, 2006 and October 28, 2005, the notional value of foreign currency forward contracts was $52.8 million and $38.5 million, respectively. The fair value

 

39


of these contracts was a $0.8 million asset and a $0.9 million liability at October 27, 2006 and October 28, 2005, respectively. The Company does not enter into any forward contracts for trading purposes.

In February 2006, the Company entered into a term loan for U.K. £57.0 million. The Company designated the term loan as a hedge of the investment in a certain U.K. business unit. The foreign currency gain or loss that is effective as a hedge is reported as a component of other comprehensive income in shareholders’ equity. The amount of foreign currency transaction loss included in Other Comprehensive Income at October 27, 2006 was $5.1 million net of taxes. To the extent that this hedge is ineffective, the foreign currency gain or loss is recorded in earnings. There was no ineffectiveness in 2006.

Interest Rate Risk Management

Depending on the interest rate environment, the Company may enter into interest rate swap agreements to convert the fixed interest rates on notes payable to variable interest rates or terminate any swap agreements in place. These interest rate swap agreements have been designated as fair value hedges. Accordingly, gain or loss on swap agreements as well as the offsetting loss or gain on the hedged portion of notes payable are recognized in interest expense during the period of the change in fair values. The Company attempts to manage exposure to counterparty credit risk by only entering into agreements with major financial institutions which are expected to be able to fully perform under the terms of the agreement. In September 2003, the Company entered into an interest rate swap agreement on $75.0 million of its Senior Subordinated Notes due in 2013. The swap agreement exchanged the fixed interest rate for a variable interest rate on $75.0 million of the $175.0 million principal amount outstanding. The fair market value of the Company’s interest rate swap was a liability of $0.7 million and $1.0 million at October 27, 2006 and October 28, 2005, respectively.

Depending on the interest rate environment, the Company may enter into interest rate swap agreements to convert the variable interest rates on notes payable to fixed interest rates. These swap agreements are accounted for as cash flow hedges and the fair market value of the hedge instrument is included in Other Comprehensive Income. In February 2006, the Company entered into an interest rate swap agreement on the full principal amount of its U.K. £57.0 million term loan facility. The swap agreement exchanged the variable interest rate for a fixed interest rate of 4.75% plus an additional margin amount determined by reference to the Company’s leverage ratio. The fair value of the interest rate swap was a $1.5 million asset at October 27, 2006.

The fair market value of the interest rate swaps was estimated by discounting expected cash flows using quoted market interest rates.

Foreign Currency Translation

Foreign currency assets and liabilities are translated into their U.S. dollar equivalents based on year-end exchange rates. Revenue and expense accounts are translated at average exchange rates. Aggregate exchange gains and losses arising from the translation of foreign assets and

 

40


liabilities are included in shareholders’ equity as a component of comprehensive income. Accumulated foreign currency translation adjustment was $38.5 million, $16.7 million and $30.9 million as of the fiscal years ended October 27, 2006, October 28, 2005 and October 29, 2004, respectively. Foreign currency transaction gains and losses are included in results of operations and have not been significant in amount in any of the three fiscal years in the period ended October 27, 2006.

Cash Equivalents and Cash in Escrow

Cash equivalents consist of highly liquid investments with maturities of three months or less at the date of purchase. Fair value of cash equivalents approximates carrying value. Cash in escrow represents amounts held in escrow pending finalization of a purchase transaction. Cash equivalents include $10.0 million in cash under a letter of credit facility at October 27, 2006 and October 28, 2005.

Short-term Investments

Short-term investments consist of highly liquid debt securities with maturities of more than three months at the date of purchase. Short-term investments are classified as available for sale securities and are carried at fair value. Unrealized gains and losses are reported as a net amount in a separate component of stockholders’ equity until realized. The gains or losses on short-term securities sold were determined under the specific identification method. Unrealized gains and losses were not significant at October 28, 2005. At October 28, 2005, short-term investments having maturities within one year aggregated $28.9 million, after one year through five years aggregated $1.0 million and after ten years aggregated $32.8 million.

Accounts Receivable

Accounts receivable are recorded at the net invoice price for sales billed to customers. Accounts receivable are considered past due when outstanding more than normal trade terms allow. An allowance for doubtful accounts is established when losses are expected to be incurred. Accounts receivable are written off to the allowance for doubtful accounts when the balance is considered to be uncollectible.

Inventories

Inventories are stated at the lower of cost or market using the first-in, first-out (FIFO) or average cost method. Inventory cost includes material, labor and factory overhead.

Property, Plant and Equipment, and Depreciation

Property, plant and equipment is carried at cost and includes expenditures for major improvements. Depreciation is generally provided on the straight-line method based upon estimated useful lives ranging from 15 to 30 years for buildings, and 3 to 10 years for machinery and equipment. Depreciation expense was $26,757,000, $23,578,000 and $21,609,000 for fiscal years 2006, 2005 and 2004, respectively.

 

41


Debt Issuance Costs

Costs incurred to issue debt are deferred and amortized as interest expense over the term of the related debt using a method that approximates the effective interest method.

Long-lived Assets

The carrying amount of long-lived assets is reviewed periodically for impairment. An asset (other than goodwill and indefinite lived intangible assets) is considered impaired when estimated future cash flows are less than the carrying amount of the asset. In the event the carrying amount of such asset is not deemed recoverable, the asset is adjusted to its estimated fair value. Fair value is generally determined based upon estimated discounted future cash flows.

Goodwill and Intangibles

Goodwill is not amortized under Statement No. 142, but is tested for impairment at least annually. A reporting unit is generally defined at the operating segment level or at the component level one level below the operating segment, if said component constitutes a business. Goodwill and intangible assets are allocated to reporting units based upon the purchase price of the acquired unit, the valuation of acquired tangible and intangible assets, and liabilities assumed. When a reporting unit’s carrying value exceeds its estimated fair value, an impairment test is required. This test involves allocating the fair value of the reporting unit to all of the assets and liabilities of that unit, with the excess of fair value over allocated net assets representing the fair value of goodwill. An impairment loss is measured as the amount by which the carrying value of goodwill exceeds the estimated fair value of goodwill.

Intangible assets are amortized using the straight-line method over their estimated period of benefit, ranging from 2 to 20 years. The Company periodically evaluates the recoverability of intangible assets and takes into account events or circumstances that warrant revised estimates of useful lives or that indicate that an impairment exists.

Indefinite-lived intangible assets (other than goodwill) are tested annually for impairment or more frequently on an interim basis if circumstances require. This test is comparable to the impairment test for goodwill described above.

Environmental

Environmental exposures are provided for at the time they are known to exist or are considered probable and reasonably estimable. No provision has been recorded for environmental remediation costs which could result from changes in laws or other circumstances currently not contemplated by the Company. Costs provided for future expenditures on environmental remediation are not discounted to present value.

 

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Share-based Compensation

Prior to October 29, 2005, the Company accounted for its share-based compensation in accordance with Accounting Principles Board Opinion No. 25, “Accounting for Stock Issued to Employees.” The variable method of accounting was used to account for stock option plans where the option holders were permitted to exercise options by surrendering the option subject to the grant in payment of the exercise price of the option and the related statutory taxes. No compensation expense was recognized at the date of grant because the exercise price of all stock option grants is equal to the market price of the Company’s common stock as of the date of grant. However, subsequent changes in the market price of the Company’s stock to the date of exercise or forfeiture resulted in a change in the measurement of compensation costs. Effective October 29, 2005, the Company adopted Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 123 (revised 2004), “Share-Based Payment” (Statement No. 123(R)), which requires the Company to measure the cost of employee services received in exchange for an award of equity instruments based on the grant-date fair value of the award. The Company adopted Statement No. 123(R) using the modified prospective method effective October 29, 2005. The cumulative effect of the change in accounting principle upon adoption of Statement No. 123(R) was included in selling, general and administrative expense as the amount was not significant.

The following table illustrates the effect on net income and earnings per share as if the Company had applied the fair value method for fiscal years ended in 2005 and 2004:

In Thousands, Except Per Share Amounts

 

     2005     2004  

Net earnings as reported

   $ 58,026     $ 39,583  

Share-based compensation cost,
net of income tax included in net earnings as reported

     1,862       2,906  

Share-based compensation cost,
net of income tax under the fair value method of accounting

     (2,504 )     (1,784 )
   

Pro forma net earnings

   $ 57,384     $ 40,705  
   

Basic earnings per share as reported

   $ 2.33     $ 1.87  

Pro forma basic earnings per share

     2.30       1.92  

Diluted earnings per share as reported

   $ 2.29     $ 1.84  

Pro forma diluted earnings per share

     2.26       1.89  
   

Product Warranties

Estimated product warranty expenses are recorded when the covered products are shipped to customers and recognized as revenue. Product warranty expense is estimated based upon the terms of the warranty program.

 

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Earnings Per Share

Basic earnings per share is computed on the basis of the weighted average number of common shares outstanding during the year. Diluted earnings per share also includes the dilutive effect of stock options. Common shares issuable from stock options that are excluded from the calculation of diluted earnings per share because the exercise price was greater than the closing market price for fiscal 2006 and 2005 were 346,800 and 180,400, respectively. The weighted average number of shares outstanding used to compute basic earnings per share was 25,413,000, 24,927,000 and 21,195,000 for fiscal years 2006, 2005 and 2004, respectively. The weighted average number of shares outstanding used to compute diluted earnings per share was 25,818,000, 25,302,000 and 21,539,000 for fiscal years 2006, 2005 and 2004, respectively.

Recent Accounting Pronouncements

In October 2006, the Financial Accounting Standards Board issued Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 158, “Employers’ Accounting for Defined Benefit Pension and Other Postretirement Plans, an amendment of FASB Statements No. 87, 88, 106 and 123(R).” Statement No. 158 requires an entity to:

 

    Recognize in its statements of financial position an asset for a defined benefit postretirement plan’s overfunded status or a liability for a plan’s underfunded status.

 

    Measure a defined benefit postretirement plan’s assets and obligations that determine its funded status as of the end of the employer’s fiscal year.

 

    Recognize changes in the funded status of a defined benefit postretirement plan in comprehensive income in the year in which the changes occur.

Statement No. 158 does not change the amount of net periodic benefit cost included in net income or address the various measurement issues associated with postretirement benefit plan accounting. The requirement to recognize the funded status of a defined benefit postretirement plan and the disclosure requirements are effective for the Company on October 26, 2007. If the Company had implemented Statement No. 158 as of October 27, 2006, the effect on the balance sheet would be an increase in pension liabilities and a decrease in accumulated other comprehensive income of approximately $8.5 million.

In September 2006, the Financial Accounting Standards Board issued Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 157, “Fair Value Measurements.” Statement No. 157 defines fair value, establishes a framework for measuring fair value in generally accepted accounting principles, and expands disclosures about fair value measurements. Statement No. 157 applies under other accounting pronouncements that require or permit fair value measurements. Statement No. 157 indicates, among other things, that a fair value measurement assumes the transaction to sell the asset or transfer the liability occurs in the principal market for the asset or liability or, in the absence of a principal market, the most advantageous market for the asset or

 

44


liability. Statement No. 157 is effective for the Company’s year ending October 30, 2009. The Company is currently evaluating the impact of Statement No. 157 on the Company’s financial statements.

In June 2006, the Financial Accounting Standards Board issued FIN No. 48, “Accounting for Uncertainty in Income Taxes – an interpretation of FASB Statement No. 109,” which clarifies the accounting for uncertainty in income taxes recognized in an enterprises’ financial statements in accordance with FASB Statement No. 109, “Accounting for Income Taxes.” The interpretation prescribes a recognition method and measurement attribute for the financial statement recognition and measurement of a tax position taken or expected to be taken in a tax return. FIN No. 48 requires recognition of tax benefits that satisfy a greater than 50% probability threshold. FIN No. 48 also provides guidance on derecognition, classification, interest and penalties, accounting in interim periods, disclosure, and transition. FIN No. 48 is effective for the Company beginning October 27, 2007. Management is assessing the potential impact that the adoption of FIN No. 48 will have on the Company’s consolidated financial statements.

In March 2005, the Financial Accounting Standards Board issued FASB Interpretation No. (FIN) 47 – “Accounting for Conditional Asset Retirement Obligations, an interpretation of FASB Statement No. 143,” which clarifies the term “conditional asset retirement obligation” as used in SFAS No. 143, “Accounting for Asset Retirement Obligations.” Specifically, FIN No. 47 provides that an asset retirement obligation is conditional when either the timing and (or) method of settling the obligation is conditioned on a future event. Accordingly, an entity is required to recognize a liability for the fair value of a conditional asset retirement obligation if the fair market value of the liability can be reasonably estimated. Uncertainty about the timing and (or) method of settlement of a conditional asset retirement obligation should be factored into the measurement of the liability when sufficient information exists. This interpretation also clarifies when an entity would have sufficient information to reasonably estimate the fair value of an asset retirement obligation. FIN No. 47 is effective for fiscal years ending after December 15, 2005. Implementation of FIN No. 47 did not have a material impact on the consolidated results of operations and financial condition.

Effective October 29, 2005, the Company adopted Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 123 (revised 2004), “Share-Based Payment” (Statement No. 123(R)), which requires the Company to measure the cost of employee services received in exchange for an award of equity instruments based on the grant-date fair value of the award. The Company adopted Statement No. 123(R) using the modified prospective method effective October 29, 2005. The cumulative effect of the change in accounting principle upon adoption of Statement No. 123(R) was included in selling, general and administrative expense as the amount was not significant.

In November 2004, the Financial Accounting Standards Board issued Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 151, “Inventory Costs – An Amendment of ARB No. 43, Chapter 4.” Statement No. 151 amends the guidance in ARB No. 43, Chapter 4, “Inventory Pricing,” to clarify the accounting for abnormal amounts of idle facility expense, freight, handling costs and wasted material (spoilage). Among other provisions, the new rule requires that items, such as idle facility expense, excessive spoilage, double freight and rehandling costs, be recognized as current period charges regardless of whether they meet the criterion of “so abnormal” as stated in

 

45


ARB No. 43. Additionally, Statement No. 151 requires that the allocation of fixed production overheads to the costs of conversion be based on the normal capacity of the production facilities. Adoption of Statement No. 151 in the first fiscal quarter of 2006 did not have a material impact on the Company’s consolidated results of operations and financial condition.

 

NOTE 2:  Recovery of Insurance Claims

On June 26, 2006, an explosion occurred at the Company’s Wallop facility, which resulted in one fatality and several minor injuries. The incident destroyed an oven complex for the production of advanced flares and significantly damaged the advanced flare facility. Although the advanced flare facility is expected to be closed for about 18 months due to the requirement of the Health Safety Executive (HSE) to review the cause of the accident, operations will continue at a portion of the facility located on the same site as the advanced flare facility. The HSE investigation will not be completed until the Coroner’s Inquest is filed possibly in July or August 2007. Although it is not possible to determine the results of the HSE investigation or how the Coroner will rule, management does not expect to be found in breach of the Health & Safety Act related to the accident and, accordingly, no amounts have been recorded for any potential fines that may be assessed by the HSE. The HSE will also review and approve the plans and construction of the new flare facility.

The operation is insured under a property, casualty and business interruption insurance policy. The damaged building and inventory is fully covered by insurance and, accordingly, no loss as a result of the accident has been recorded on these assets in fiscal 2006. Repairs and incremental costs related to the accident, which are fully covered by insurance, are recorded on the consolidated balance sheet as a receivable from the insurance carrier. The Company recorded business interruption insurance recoveries of $4.9 million for losses incurred in fiscal 2006. As the Company continues to incur losses in future periods as a result of the incident, business insurance recoveries which can be estimated and are probable of collection will be recorded in the consolidated financial statements.

 

46


NOTE 3:  Discontinued Operations

On July 25, 2002, the Board of Directors adopted a formal plan for the sale of the assets and operations of the Company’s Automation segment. As a result, the consolidated financial statements present the Automation segment as a discontinued operation. On August 31, 2004, the Company sold the stock of W. A. Whitney for $10.0 million in cash. Upon the final disposition of its discontinued operations, the Company recorded an $8.0 million gain, net of $4.5 million in tax, including the reversal of estimated reserves, which were recognizable upon the sale of the business. On January 28, 2005, the Company completed the sale of the outstanding stock of its wholly owned subsidiary Fluid Regulators Corporation (Fluid Regulators), which was included in the Sensors & Systems segment, for approximately $21.4 million. As a result of the sale, the Company recorded a gain of approximately $7.0 million, net of tax of $2.4 million, in the first fiscal quarter of 2005. On May 13, 2005, the Company closed a small unit in its Other segment and incurred $0.4 million in severance, net of $0.2 million in tax, in the second quarter of fiscal 2005.

Sales of the discontinued operations were $4,421,000 and $31,451,000 in fiscal years 2005 and 2004, respectively. The operating results of the discontinued segment for fiscal years 2005 and 2004 consist of the following:

In Thousands

 

     2005     2004

Income (loss) before taxes

   $ (52 )   $ 3,261

Tax expense (benefit)

     (13 )     1,067

Net income (loss)

     (39 )     2,194

Gain on disposal, including tax expense of $2,435 and $4,507

     7,031       8,014

Income from discontinued operations

   $ 6,992     $ 10,208
 

 

NOTE 4:  Inventories

Inventories at the end of fiscal 2006 and 2005 consisted of the following:

 

In Thousands      2006      2005

Raw materials and purchased parts

   $ 89,480    $ 64,377

Work in process

     66,333      45,798

Finished goods

     30,033      20,294
   $ 185,846    $ 130,469
 

 

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NOTE 5:  Goodwill

The following table summarizes the changes in goodwill by segment for fiscal 2006 and 2005:

In Thousands

 

     Avionics &
Controls
    Sensors &
Systems
    Advanced
Materials
   Total  

Balance, October 29, 2004

   $ 78,113     $ 86,239     $ 83,465    $ 247,817  

Goodwill from acquisitions

     20,180       3,611            23,791  

Sale of business

           (7,070 )          (7,070 )

Foreign currency translation adjustment

     (1,169 )     (2,202 )          (3,371 )
   

Balance, October 28, 2005

   $ 97,124     $ 80,578     $ 83,465    $ 261,167  

Goodwill from acquisitions

     3,519             89,854      93,373  

Goodwill adjustments

     143       176            319  

Foreign currency translation adjustment

     1,238       3,207       6,851      11,296  
   

Balance, October 27, 2006

   $ 102,024     $ 83,961     $ 180,170    $ 366,155  
   

 

NOTE 6:  Intangible Assets

Intangible assets at the end of fiscal 2006 and 2005 were as follows:

In Thousands

 

          2006    2005
     Weighted
Average Years
Useful Life
   Gross
Carrying
Amount
   Accum.
Amort.
   Gross
Carrying
Amount
   Accum.
Amort.

Programs

   18    $ 204,817    $ 31,932    $ 140,460    $ 20,307

Core technology

   16      8,981      2,728      8,976      2,105

Patents and other

   14      56,467      23,280      37,329      20,135

Total

      $ 270,265    $ 57,940    $ 186,765    $ 42,547
 

Indefinite-lived Intangible Assets Trademark

      $ 29,332       $ 21,900   
 

Amortization of intangible assets was $14,899,000, $10,690,000 and $8,533,000 in fiscal years 2006, 2005 and 2004, respectively.

 

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Estimated amortization expense related to intangible assets for each of the next five fiscal years is as follows:

In Thousands

Fiscal Year

 

2007

   $   15,559

2008

     15,248

2009

     14,499

2010

     13,955

2011

     13,594

 

NOTE 7:  Accrued Liabilities

Accrued liabilities at the end of fiscal 2006 and 2005 consisted of the following:

 

In Thousands    2006    2005

Payroll and other compensation

   $ 52,293    $ 47,781

Casualty and medical

     12,296      13,022

Interest

     5,698      6,962

Warranties

     7,952      8,811

State and other tax accruals

     16,055      13,537

Acquisition related payments

     4,394      7,895

Pension obligations

     5,601     

Customer deposits

     5,139      6,203

Other

     11,991      14,904
   $ 121,419    $ 119,115
 

 

NOTE 8:  Other Liabilities

Other liabilities at the end of fiscal 2006 and 2005 consisted of the following:

 

In Thousands    2006    2005

Pension and post retirement obligation

   $   23,629    $   22,994

Acquisition related payments

          4,243
   $   23,629    $   27,237
 

 

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NOTE 9:  Retirement Benefits

Pension benefits are provided for approximately 37% of all U.S. employees under the Esterline contributory pension plan or the Leach noncontributory defined benefit pension plan.

Under the Esterline plan, pension benefits are based on years of service and five-year average compensation or under a cash balance formula, with annual pay credits ranging from 2% to 6% of salary. Esterline amended its defined benefit plan to add the cash balance formula effective January 1, 2003. Participants elected either to continue earning benefits under the current plan formula or to earn benefits under the cash balance formula. Effective January 1, 2003, all new participants are enrolled in the cash balance formula. Esterline also has an unfunded supplemental retirement plan for key executives providing for periodic payments upon retirement.

Under the Leach noncontributory defined benefit pension plan, benefits are based on an employee’s years of service and the highest five consecutive years’ compensation during the last ten years of employment. Leach’s non-U.S. subsidiaries have retirement plans covering substantially all of its employees. Benefits become vested after ten years of employment and are due in full upon retirement, disability or death of the employee. Leach also has a supplemental retirement plan which provides supplemental pension benefits to key management in addition to amounts received under the Company’s existing retirement plan.

The Company accounts for pension expense using the end of the fiscal year as its measurement date. In addition, the Company makes actuarially computed contributions to these plans as necessary to adequately fund benefits. The Company’s funding policy is consistent with the minimum funding requirements of ERISA. The Esterline plan will require no contributions in fiscal 2007. Effective December 2003, the Leach plan was frozen and employees no longer accrue benefits for future services. The accumulated benefit obligation and projected benefit obligation for the Leach plans are $44,789,000 and $45,553,000, respectively, with plan assets of $23,633,000 as of October 27, 2006. The accrued benefit liabilities for these Leach plans are $17,107,000 at October 27, 2006. Contributions to the Leach plans totaled $735,000 in fiscal 2006. Contributions of $5,271,000 will be made in fiscal 2007.

 

     2006     2005  

Principal assumptions as of fiscal year end:

    

Discount Rate

   5.75 – 6.0 %   5.5 %

Rate of increase in future compensation levels

   4.5 %   4.5 %

Assumed long-term rate of return on plan assets

   8.5 %   8.5 %

Plan assets are invested in a diversified portfolio of equity and debt securities, consisting primarily of common stocks, bonds and government securities. The objective of these investments is to maintain sufficient liquidity to fund current benefit payments and achieve targeted risk-adjusted returns. Management periodically reviews allocations of plan assets by investment type and evaluates external sources of information regarding the long-term historical returns and expected future returns for each investment type and, accordingly, believes an 8.5%

 

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assumed long-term rate of return on plan assets is appropriate. Allocations by investment type are as follows:

 

           Actual  
     Target     2006     2005  
Plan assets allocation as of fiscal year end:       

Equity securities

   65 – 75 %   67.0 %   65.4 %

Debt securities

   25 – 35 %   31.7 %   32.2 %

Cash

   0 %   1.3 %   2.4 %
   

Total

     100.0 %   100.0 %

Net periodic pension cost for the Company’s defined benefit plans at the end of each fiscal year consisted of the following:

 

     2006     2005     2004  

In Thousands

      

Components of Net Periodic Cost

      

Service cost

   $ 4,021     $ 3,537     $ 3,838  

Interest cost

     10,304       10,055       7,618  

Expected return on plan assets

     (12,756 )     (11,851 )     (9,766 )

Amortization of prior service cost

     18       18       19  

Amortization of actuarial loss

     1,569       1,260       468  

One-time charge benefit adjustment

     1,188              
   

Net periodic cost

   $ 4,344     $ 3,019     $ 2,177  
   

 

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The funded status of the defined benefit pension plans at the end of fiscal 2006 and 2005 were as follows:

In Thousands

 

     2006     2005  

Benefit Obligation

    

Beginning balance

   $ 190,329     $ 166,328  

Currency translation adjustment

     376       (325 )

Service cost

     4,021       3,537  

Interest cost

     10,304       10,055  

One-time charge benefit adjustment

     1,188        

Actuarial loss

     (7,318 )     19,412  

Acquisitions

           1,127  

Benefits paid

     (10,312 )     (9,805 )
   

Ending balance

   $ 188,588     $ 190,329  
   

Plan Assets – Fair Value

    

Beginning balance

   $ 155,464     $ 142,311  

Currency translation adjustment

     56        

Realized and unrealized gain on plan assets

     21,149       17,357  

Unrecognized gain

     157        

Acquisitions

           976  

Company contributions

     1,552       5,232  

Benefits paid

     (10,312 )     (10,412 )
   

Ending balance

   $ 168,066     $ 155,464  
   

Reconciliation of Funded Status to Net Amount Recognized

    

Funded status – plan assets relative to benefit obligation

   $ (20,522 )   $ (34,865 )

Unrecognized net actuarial loss

     13,753       31,119  

Unrecognized prior service benefit

     (50 )     (31 )

Unrecognized net loss

     5       27  
   

Net amount recognized

   $ (6,814 )   $ (3,750 )
   

Amount Recognized in the Consolidated Balance Sheet

    

Prepaid benefit cost

   $ 14,801     $ 16,129  

Accrued benefit liability

     (21,615 )     (19,879 )

Additional minimum liability

     (5,254 )     (1,582 )

Intangible assets

     73       107  

Accumulated other comprehensive income

     5,181       1,475  
   

Net amount recognized

   $ (6,814 )   $ (3,750 )
   

The accumulated benefit obligation for all pension plans was $182,214,223 at October 27, 2006 and $180,844,351 at October 28, 2005.

 

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Estimated future benefit payments expected to be paid from the plan or from the Company’s assets are as follows:

In Thousands

 

2007

   $ 10,889

2008

     11,222

2009

     11,517

2010

     11,905

2011

     12,123

2012-2016

     63,595

Employees may participate in certain defined contribution plans. The Company’s contribution expense under these plans totaled $8,107,000, $7,133,000 and $5,796,000 in fiscal 2006, 2005 and 2004, respectively.

 

NOTE 10:  Income Taxes

Income tax expense from continuing operations for each of the fiscal years consisted of:

In Thousands

 

     2006     2005     2004  

Current

      

U.S. Federal

   $ 16,746     $ 13,726     $ 7,835  

State

     (2,790 )     2,657       1,000  

Foreign

     4,383       4,419       284  
   
     18,339       20,802       9,119  

Deferred

      

U.S. Federal

     (82 )     (1,656 )     3,705  

State

     259       (1,104 )     847  

Foreign

     (1,800 )     (1,741 )     (4,079 )
   
     (1,623 )     (4,501 )     473  
   

Income tax expense

   $ 16,716     $ 16,301     $ 9,592  
   

 

U.S. and foreign components of income from continuing operations before income taxes for each of the fiscal
years were:

 

In Thousands

 

 
     2006     2005     2004  

U.S.

   $ 48,489     $ 40,162     $ 32,705  

Foreign

     24,707       27,508       6,284  
   

Income from continuing operations, before income taxes

   $ 73,196     $ 67,670     $ 38,989  
   

 

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Primary components of the Company’s deferred tax assets (liabilities) at the end of the fiscal year resulted from temporary tax differences associated with the following:

In Thousands

 

     2006     2005  

Reserves and liabilities

   $ 17,971     $ 18,320  

NOL carryforwards

     8,984       11,343  

Tax credit carryforwards

     1,850       2,274  

Employee benefits

     5,113       5,689  

Non-qualified stock options

     3,201       2,066  

Hedging activities

     3,028        

Other

     2,575       496  
   

Total deferred tax assets

     42,722       40,188  

Depreciation and amortization

     (14,462 )     (17,083 )

Intangibles and amortization

     (56,098 )     (29,338 )

Other

     (1,789 )      
   

Total deferred tax liabilities

     (72,349 )     (46,421 )
   

Net deferred tax liabilities

   $ (29,627 )   $ (6,233 )
   

In connection with the Leach acquisition in fiscal 2004, the Company assumed a U.S. net operating loss (NOL) of $38.6 million which can be carried forward to subsequent years, subject to limitations under Internal Revenue Code Section 382. Approximately $2.4 million of the tax benefit associated with the NOL carryforward is included in current deferred income tax benefits each year, reflecting the amount of NOL available in the current year under Section 382. The remainder is reported as non-current deferred income tax benefits, reflecting the amount of the NOL that is expected to be utilized in future fiscal years. The non-current deferred income tax benefit associated with the NOL was $6.6 million and $9.0 million at the end of fiscal 2006 and 2005, respectively. The NOL expires beginning in 2022.

The incremental tax benefit received by the Company upon exercise of non-qualified employee stock options was $0.5 million, $1.2 million and $0.5 million in fiscal 2006, 2005 and 2004, respectively.

Management believes that it is more likely than not that the Company will realize the current and long-term deferred tax assets as a result of future taxable income. Significant factors management considered in determining the probability of the realization of the deferred tax assets include our historical operating results and expected future earnings. Accordingly, no valuation allowance has been recorded on the deferred tax assets.

The Company operates in numerous taxing jurisdictions and is subject to regular examinations by various U.S. federal, state and foreign jurisdictions for various tax periods. Additionally, the Company has retained tax liabilities and the rights to tax refunds in connection with various acquisitions and divestitures of businesses in prior years. The Company’s income tax positions are based on research and interpretations of income tax laws and rulings in each of the jurisdictions in which we do business. Due to the subjectivity and complexity of the interpretations of the tax laws and rulings in each jurisdiction, the differences and interplay in

 

54


the tax laws between those jurisdictions as well as the inherent uncertainty in estimating the final resolution of complex tax audit matters, the Company’s estimates of income tax liabilities and assets may differ from actual payments, assessments or refunds.

The U.S. federal income returns for fiscal years ended 2003, 2004 and 2005 remain open for examination and presently, fiscal years ended 2003 and 2004 are currently under examination. Additionally, various state and foreign income tax returns are open to examination and presently several foreign income tax returns are under examination. Such examinations could result in challenges to tax positions taken and, accordingly, the Company may record adjustments to provisions based on the outcomes of such matters. However, the Company believes that the resolution of these matters, after considering amounts accrued, will not have a material adverse effect on its consolidated financial statements.

A reconciliation of the U.S. federal statutory income tax rate to the effective income tax rate for each of the fiscal years was as follows:

 

     2006     2005     2004  

U.S. statutory income tax rate

   35.0 %   35.0 %   35.0 %

State income taxes

   1.3     1.5     1.7  

Foreign taxes

   (8.6 )   (6.6 )   (5.8 )

Export sales benefit

   (0.7 )   (1.2 )   (1.7 )

Pass-through entities

   0.4     0.9     6.8  

Domestic manufacturing deduction

   (0.7 )        

Foreign tax credits

           (5.6 )

Research & development credits

   (0.5 )   (3.8 )   (4.4 )

Tax accrual adjustment

   (4.0 )   (2.5 )   (1.8 )

Other, net

   0.6     0.8     0.4  
   

Effective income tax rate

   22.8 %   24.1 %   24.6 %
   

No provision for federal income taxes has been made on accumulated earnings of foreign subsidiaries, since such earnings are considered indefinitely reinvested. The amount of the unrecognized deferred tax liability for temporary differences related to investments in foreign subsidiaries is not practical to determine because of the complexities regarding the calculation of unremitted earnings and the potential for tax credits.

In fiscal 2005, the Company completed its evaluation of the repatriation provision of the American Jobs Creation Act (the Act), signed into law on October 22, 2004. The Act created a special one-time deduction related to the repatriation of certain foreign earnings. Based upon its evaluation, the Company has elected to not repatriate earnings from its foreign subsidiaries.

 

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NOTE 11:  Debt

Long-term debt at the end of fiscal 2006 and 2005 consisted of the following:

In Thousands

 

     2006     2005  

GBP Term Loan, due November 2010

   $ 108,117     $  

7.75% Senior Subordinated Notes, due June 2013

     175,000       175,000  

6.77% Senior Notes, due November 2008

           40,000  

6.40% Senior Notes, due November 2005

           30,000  

Other

     5,426       2,628  
   
     288,543       247,628  

Fair value of interest rate swap agreement

     (698 )     (1,012 )

Less current maturities

     5,538       70,934  
   

Carrying amount of long-term debt

   $ 282,307     $ 175,682  
   

In June 2003, the Company sold $175.0 million of 7.75% Senior Subordinated Notes due in 2013 and requiring semi-annual interest payments in December and June of each year until maturity. The net proceeds from this offering were used to acquire the Weston Group from The Roxboro Group PLC for U.K. £55.0 million (approximately $94.6 million based on the closing exchange rate and including acquisition costs) and for general corporate purposes, including the repayment of debt and possible future acquisitions. The Senior Subordinated Notes are general unsecured obligations of the Company and are subordinated to all existing and future senior debt of the Company. In addition, the Senior Subordinated Notes are effectively subordinated to all existing and future senior debt and other liabilities (including trade payables) of the Company’s foreign subsidiaries. The Senior Subordinated Notes are guaranteed, jointly and severally, by all the existing and future domestic subsidiaries of the Company unless designated as an “unrestricted subsidiary” under the indenture covering the Senior Subordinated Notes. The Senior Subordinated Notes are subject to redemption at the option of the Company, in whole or in part, on or after June 28, 2008 at redemption prices starting at 103.875% of the principal amount plus accrued interest during the period beginning June 28, 2003 and declining annually to 100% of principal and accrued interest on June 15, 2011.

In September 2003, the Company entered into an interest rate swap agreement on $75.0 million of its Senior Subordinated Notes due in 2013. The swap agreement exchanged the fixed interest rate for a variable interest rate on $75.0 million of the $175.0 million principal amount outstanding. The variable interest rate is based upon LIBOR plus 2.56% and was 7.98% at October 27, 2006. The fair market value of the Company’s interest rate swap was a $698,000 liability at October 27, 2006 and was estimated by discounting expected cash flows using quoted market interest rates.

On November 15, 2005, the Company exercised its option under the terms of the Note Purchase Agreement, dated as of November 1, 1998, to prepay the outstanding principal amount of $40,000,000 of the 6.77% Senior Notes due November 15, 2008. Under the terms

 

56


of the Note Purchase Agreement, the Company paid an additional $1,984,000 to the holders of the 6.77% Senior Notes as a prepayment penalty and wrote off $172,000 of debt issuance costs associated with the 6.77% Senior Notes. The payment of the prepayment penalty and write-off of debt issuance costs are accounted for as a loss on extinguishment of debt.

On February 10, 2006, the Company amended its credit agreement to provide a $100.0 million term loan facility, which may be drawn in U.S. dollars, U.K. pounds or euros. In addition to the $100.0 million term loan facility, the Company has a $100.0 million revolving credit facility that provides up to $25.0 million of the credit facility and up to $50.0 million of the letter of credit may be drawn in U.K. pounds or euros in addition to U.S. dollars. On February 10, 2006, the Company borrowed U.K. £57.0 million, or approximately $100.0 million, under the term loan facility. The Company used the proceeds from the loan as working capital for its U.K. operations and to repay a portion of its outstanding borrowings under the revolving credit facility. The principal amount of the loan is payable quarterly commencing on March 31, 2007 through the termination date of November 14, 2010, according to a payment schedule by which 1.25% of the principal amount is paid in each quarter of 2007, 2.50% in each quarter of 2008, 5.00% in each quarter of 2009 and 16.25% in each quarter of 2010. The loan accrues interest at a variable rate based on the British Bankers Association Interest Settlement Rate for deposits in U.K. pounds plus an additional margin amount that ranges from 1.13% to 0.50% depending upon the Company’s leverage ratio. As of October 27, 2006, the interest rate on the term loan was 5.72%. The Company entered into an interest rate swap agreement on the full principal amount by which the variable interest rate was exchanged for a fixed interest rate of 4.75% plus an additional margin amount determined by reference to the Company’s leverage ratio. At October 27, 2006, the fair value of the interest rate swap was a $1,498,000 asset. The interest rate swap is accounted for as a cash flow hedge and is included in Other Comprehensive Income.

Maturities of long-term debt at October 27, 2006, were as follows:

In Thousands

Fiscal Year

  

2007

   $ 5,538

2008

     11,806

2009

     20,038

2010

     58,323

2011

     17,691

2012 and thereafter

     175,147
 
   $ 288,543
 

 

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Short-term credit facilities at the end of fiscal 2006 and 2005 consisted of the following:

In Thousands

 

     2006     2005  
     Outstanding
Borrowings
   Interest
Rate
    Outstanding
Borrowings
   Interest
Rate
 

U.S.

   $ 5,000    6.07 %   $     

Foreign

     3,075    3.98 %     2,031    2.76 %
   
   $ 8,075      $ 2,031   
   

At October 27, 2006, the Company’s primary U.S. dollar credit facility totals $100,000,000 and is made available through a group of banks. The credit agreement is secured by substantially all of the Company’s assets and interest is based on standard inter-bank offering rates. An additional $19,646,000 of unsecured foreign currency credit facilities have been extended by foreign banks for a total of $119,646,000 available companywide.

A number of underlying agreements contain various covenant restrictions which include maintenance of net worth, payment of dividends, interest coverage and limitations on additional borrowings. The Company was in compliance with these covenants at October 27, 2006. Available credit under the above credit facilities was $110,987,000 at fiscal 2006 year end, when reduced by outstanding borrowings of $8,075,000 and letters of credit of $584,000.

 

NOTE 12:  Commitments and Contingencies

Rental expense for operating leases totaled $11,462,000, $9,651,000 and $9,482,000 in fiscal years 2006, 2005 and 2004, respectively.

At October 27, 2006, the Company’s rental commitments for noncancelable operating leases with a duration in excess of one year were as follows:

In Thousands

Fiscal Year

  

2007

   $ 10,602

2008

     9,539

2009

     9,192

2010

     8,657

2011

     8,128

2012 and thereafter

     19,864
 
   $ 65,982
 

The Company is a party to various lawsuits and claims, both as plaintiff and defendant, and has contingent liabilities arising from the conduct of business, none of which, in the opinion of management, is expected to have a material effect on the Company’s financial position or

 

58


results of operations. The Company believes that it has made appropriate and adequate provisions for contingent liabilities.

Approximately 989 U.S.-based employees or 21% of total U.S.-based employees were represented by various labor unions. In June 2006, a collective bargaining agreement covering about 200 employees expired and a successor agreement was reached with the labor union. A second agreement covering about 100 employees expired in September 2006 and a successor agreement covering about 150 employees was reached. Management believes that the Company has established a good relationship with these employees and their union. The Company’s European operations are subject to national trade union agreements and to local regulations governing employment.

 

NOTE 13:  Employee Stock Plans

The Company has two share-based compensation plans, which are described below. The compensation cost that has been charged against income for those plans for fiscal 2006 was $5.4 million. The total income tax benefit recognized in the income statement for the share-based compensation arrangement was $1.5 million.

In March 2002, the Company’s shareholders approved the establishment of an Employee Stock Purchase Plan (ESPP) under which 300,000 shares of the Company’s common stock are reserved for issuance to employees. On March 1, 2006, the Company’s shareholders authorized an additional 150,000 shares of the Company’s stock under the ESPP. The plan qualifies as a noncompensatory employee stock purchase plan under Section 423 of the Internal Revenue Code. Employees are eligible to participate through payroll deductions subject to certain limitations.

At the end of each offering period, usually six months, shares are purchased by the participants at 85% of the lower of the fair market value on the first day of the offering period or the purchase date. During fiscal 2006, employees purchased 70,683 shares at a fair market value price of $36.55 per share, leaving a balance of 202,295 shares available for issuance in the future. As of October 27, 2006, deductions aggregating $937,679 were accrued for the purchase of shares on December 15, 2006.

The fair value of the awards under the employee stock purchase plan was estimated using a Black-Scholes pricing model which uses the assumptions noted in the following table. The Company uses historical data to estimate volatility of the Company’s common stock. The risk-free rate for the contractual life of the option is based on the U.S. Treasury zero coupon issues in effect the time of grant.

 

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     2006     2005     2004  

Volatility

   30.0 – 30.7 %   30.7 %   30.7 – 38.8 %

Risk-free interest rate

   3.20 – 5.15 %   1.64  – 2.44 %   0.94 – 1.01 %

Expected life (months)

   6     6     6  

Dividends

            
   

The Company also provides a nonqualified stock option plan for officers and key employees. On March 1, 2006, the Company’s shareholders authorized the issuance of an additional 1,000,000 shares of the Company’s common stock under the equity incentive plan. At the end of fiscal 2006, the Company had 2,586,950 shares reserved for issuance to officers and key employees, of which 1,117,950 shares were available to be granted in the future.

The Board of Directors authorized the Compensation Committee to administer awards granted under the equity incentive plan, including option grants, and to establish the terms of such awards. Awards under the equity incentive plan may be granted to eligible employees of the Company over the 10-year period ending March 3, 2014. Options granted become exercisable ratably over a period of four years following the date of grant and expire on the tenth anniversary of the grant. Option exercise prices are equal to the fair market value of the Company’s common stock on the date of grant. The weighted-average grant date fair value of the options granted in fiscal 2006 and 2005, was $22.04 per share and $19.56 per share, respectively.

The fair value of each option granted by the Company was estimated using a Black-Scholes pricing model which uses the assumptions noted in the following table. The Company uses historical data to estimate volatility of the Company’s common stock and option exercise and employee termination assumptions. The range of the expected term reflects the results from certain groups of employees exhibiting different behavior. The risk-free rate for the periods within the contractual life of the grant is based upon the U.S. Treasury zero coupon issues in effect at the time of the grant.

 

     2006     2005     2004  

Volatility

   44.26 – 44.95 %   45.3 %   47.1 %

Risk-free interest rate

   4.53 – 5.18 %   4.48 – 4.60 %   3.12 – 3.84 %

Expected life (years)

   6.5 – 9.5     6 – 9     5 – 8  

Dividends

            
   

 

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The following table summarizes the changes in outstanding options granted under the Company’s stock option plans:

 

     2006    2005    2004
     Shares
Subject to
Option
    Weighted
Average
Exercise
Price
   Shares
Subject to
Option
    Weighted
Average
Exercise
Price
   Shares
Subject to
Option
    Weighted
Average
Exercise
Price

Outstanding, beginning of year

   1,401,100     $ 23.56    1,438,000     $ 18.34    1,497,750     $ 16.25

Granted

   176,400       38.87    347,400       36.36    229,000       25.09

Exercised

   (90,500 )     16.54    (340,050 )     14.93    (278,250 )     12.53

Cancelled

   (18,000 )     25.92    (44,250 )     20.65    (10,500 )     21.99
 

Outstanding, end of year

   1,469,000     $ 25.80    1,401,100     $ 23.56    1,438,000     $ 18.34
 

Exercisable, end of year

   886,300     $ 20.61    738,200     $ 18.32    877,750     $ 16.39
 

The aggregate intrinsic value of the option shares outstanding and exercisable at October 27, 2006 was $15.4 million and $13.3 million, respectively.

The number of option shares vested or that are expected to vest at October 27, 2006 was 1.4 million and the aggregate intrinsic value was $17.7 million. The weighted average exercise price and weighted average remaining contractual term of option shares vested or that are expected to vest at October 27, 2006 was $25.67 and 6.24 years, respectively. The weighted-average remaining contractual term of option shares currently exercisable is 4.9 years as of October 27, 2006.

The table below presents stock activity related to stock options exercised in fiscal 2006 and 2005:

In Thousands

 

     2006    2005

Proceeds from stock options exercised

   $ 1,497    $ 2,539

Tax benefits related to stock options exercised

   $ 797    $ 2,690

Intrinsic value of stock options exercised

   $ 2,266    $ 7,575

Total unrecognized compensation expense for options that have not vested as of October 27, 2006, is $4.6 million, which will be recognized over a weighted average period of 1.3 years. The total fair value of option shares vested during the year ended October 27, 2006 was $3.3 million.

 

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The following table summarizes information for stock options outstanding at October 27, 2006:

 

     Options Outstanding    Options Exercisable

          Range of

Exercise Prices

   Shares    Weighted
Average
Remaining
Life (years)
    
 
 
Weighted
Average
Price
   Shares     
 
 
Weighted
Average
Price

$11.38 – 15.82

   266,000    3.95    $ 13.89    266,000    $ 13.89

  15.83 – 19.88

   284,200    4.93      18.78    239,200      18.81

  19.89 – 23.85

   264,500    5.27      22.53    206,500      22.16

  23.86 – 35.12

   307,500    7.45      30.56    130,750      29.01

  35.13 – 40.80

   346,800    8.86      38.97    43,850      38.90
 

 

NOTE 14:  Capital Stock

The authorized capital stock of the Company consists of 25,000 shares of preferred stock ($100 par value), 475,000 shares of serial preferred stock ($1.00 par value), each issuable in series, and 60,000,000 shares of common stock ($.20 par value). At the end of fiscal 2006, there were no shares of preferred stock or serial preferred stock outstanding.

On November 24, 2004 the Company completed a public offering of 3.7 million shares of common stock, including shares sold under the underwriters’ over-allotment option, priced at $31.25 per share, generating net proceeds of approximately $109 million, of which $5.0 million was used to pay off existing credit facilities. The funds provided additional financial resources for acquisitions and general corporate purposes.

Effective December 5, 2002, the Board of Directors adopted a Shareholder Rights Plan, providing for the distribution of one Series B Serial Preferred Stock Purchase Right (Right) for each share of common stock held as of December 23, 2002. Each Right entitles the holder to purchase one one-hundredth of a share of Series B Serial Preferred Stock at an exercise price of $161.00, as may be adjusted from time to time.

The Right to purchase shares of Series B Serial Preferred Stock is triggered once a person or entity (together with such person’s or entity’s affiliates) beneficially owns 15% or more of the outstanding shares of common stock of the Company (such person or entity, an Acquiring Person). When the Right is triggered, the holder may purchase one one-hundredth of a share of Series B Serial Preferred Stock at an exercise price of $161.00 per share. If after the Rights are triggered, (i) the Company is the surviving corporation in a merger or similar transaction with an Acquiring Person, (ii) the Acquiring Person beneficially owns more than 15% of the outstanding shares of common stock or (iii) the Acquiring Person engages in other “self-dealing” transactions, holders of the Rights can elect to purchase shares of common stock of the Company with a market value of twice the exercise price. Similarly, if after the Rights are triggered, the Company is not the surviving corporation of a merger or similar transaction or the Company sells 50% or more of its assets to another person or entity, holders of the Rights may elect to purchase

 

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shares of common stock of the surviving corporation or that person or entity who purchased the Company’s assets with a market value of twice the exercise price.

 

NOTE 15:  Acquisitions and Sale of Product Line

Acquisitions

The Company acquired Wallop Defence Systems Limited (Wallop) and FR Countermeasures from Cobham plc on March 24, 2006 and December 23, 2005, respectively. Wallop and FR Countermeasures, manufacturers of military pyrotechnic countermeasure devices, strengthen the Company’s international and U.S. position in countermeasure devices. The Company paid $65.0 million for both companies, including acquisition costs and an adjustment based on the amount of indebtedness and net working capital as of closing. The Company assumed a $4.2 million obligation at FR Countermeasures. In addition, the Company may pay an additional purchase price up to U.K. £10.0 million, or approximately $19.0 million, depending on the achievement of certain objectives. At the time of the acquisition of Wallop, the Company and the seller agreed that some environmental remedial activities may need to be carried out, and these activities are currently on-going. Under the terms of the Stock Purchase Agreement, a portion of the costs of any environmental remedial activities will be reimbursed by the seller if the cost is incurred within five years of the consummation of the acquisition. Wallop and FR Countermeasures are included in the Advanced Materials segment.

The following summarizes the estimated fair market value of the assets acquired and liabilities assumed at the date of acquisition. The allocation of the purchase price was based upon a preliminary independent valuation report, as management continues to finalize the valuation of certain assets. The amount allocated to goodwill is not expected to be deductible for income tax purposes.

In Thousands

As of March 24, 2006 (Wallop) and December 23, 2005 (FR Countermeasures)

 

Current Assets

   $ 11,479

Property, plant and equipment

     20,963

Intangible assets subject to amortization
Programs (17 year weighted average useful life)

     20,921

Goodwill

     29,544

Deferred income tax benefit

     2,151
 

Total assets acquired

     85,058

Debt assumed

     4,212

Current liabilities assumed

     9,182

Deferred tax liabilities

     6,648
 

Net assets acquired

   $ 65,016
 

 

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On December 16, 2005, the Company acquired Darchem Holdings Limited (Darchem), a manufacturer of thermally engineered components for critical aerospace applications for U.K. £68.7 million (approximately $121.7 million), including acquisition costs and an adjustment based on the amount of cash and net working capital of Darchem as of closing. Darchem holds a leading position in its niche market and fits the Company’s engineered-to-order model. Darchem is included in the Advanced Materials segment.

The following summarizes the estimated fair market value of the assets acquired and liabilities assumed at the date of acquisition. The allocation of the purchase price was based upon a preliminary independent valuation report, as management continues to finalize the value of certain acquired assets. The amount allocated to goodwill is not expected to be deductible for income tax purposes.

In Thousands

As of December 16, 2005

 

Current Assets

   $ 21,864

Property, plant and equipment

     8,499

Intangible assets subject to amortization

  

Programs (18 year weighted average useful life)

     46,441

Customer relationships (6 year weighted useful life)

     2,215

Patents (11 year weighted average useful life)

     3,083

Other (1 year useful life)

     284
 
     52,023

Trade name

     6,219

Other

     171

Goodwill

     60,313
 

Total assets acquired

     149,089

Current liabilities assumed

     8,499

Deferred tax liabilities

     18,933
 

Net assets acquired

   $ 121,657
 

 

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On June 3, 2005, the Company acquired Palomar Products, Inc. (Palomar), a California-based manufacturer of secure military communications products, for $29.1 million, including a $4.2 million escrow deposit. Palomar’s products extend the Company’s avionics and controls product lines. Palomar is included in the Avionics & Controls segment.

The following summarizes the estimated fair market value of the assets acquired and liabilities assumed at the date of acquisition. The allocation of the purchase price was based upon a valuation report. The amount allocated to goodwill is not expected to be deductible for income tax purposes.

In Thousands

As of June 3, 2005

  

Current Assets

   $ 8,079

Property, plant and equipment

     2,151

Intangible assets subject to amortization

  

Programs (16 year weighted average useful life)

     9,001

Patents (15 year weighted average useful life)

     2,082

Other (3 year useful life)

     5
 
     11,088

Deferred income tax benefits

     1,526

Goodwill

     17,166
 

Total assets acquired

     40,010

Current liabilities assumed

     6,571

Deferred tax liabilities

     4,317
 

Net assets acquired

   $ 29,122
 

On August 27, 2004, the Company acquired Leach Holding Corporation (Leach), a manufacturer of electrical power switching, control and data communication devices for the aerospace industry for approximately $147.4 million including acquisition costs. Leach also manufactures medical diagnostic, therapeutic and patient monitoring devices, and analytical, optical and biosensor instruments for medical, laboratory and industrial applications.

The aerospace business is included in the Sensors & Systems segment and the medical business is included in the Avionics & Controls segment.

 

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The following summarizes the estimated fair market value of the assets acquired and liabilities assumed at the date of acquisition. The amount allocated to goodwill is not expected to be deductible for income tax purposes.

In Thousands

As of August 27, 2004

 

Current Assets

   $ 50,977

Property, plant and equipment

     24,380

Intangible assets subject to amortization

  

Programs (20 year weighted average useful life)

     30,117

Patents (15 year weighted average useful life)

     2,235

Leasehold interest (64 year remaining term of lease)

     4,300

Other (10 year useful life)

     4,721
 
     41,373

Trade names

     13,720

Deferred income tax benefits

     14,123

Goodwill

     56,441

Other assets

     4,259
 

Total assets acquired

     205,273

Current liabilities assumed

     20,631

Long-term debt

     2,192

Pension and other liabilities

     20,144

Deferred tax liabilities

     12,511

Minority interest

     2,356
 

Net assets acquired

   $ 147,439
 

On December 1, 2003, the Company acquired AVISTA, Incorporated (AVISTA), a Wisconsin-based developer of embedded avionic software, for approximately $13.3 million, including contingent purchase price payments of $3.3 million and $3.5 million made in December 2004 and 2005, respectively, which were recorded as additional consideration for the acquired assets. AVISTA provides a software engineering center to support the Company’s customers with such applications as primary flight displays, flight management systems, air data computers and engine control systems. AVISTA is included in the Avionics & Controls segment. Revenues are largely fees charged for software engineering services.

The above acquisitions were accounted for under the purchase method of accounting and the results of operations were included from the effective date of each acquisition.

Sale of Product Line

During the fourth quarter of fiscal 2004, the Company sold a product line in its Sensors & Systems segment and recorded a gain of $3.4 million.

 

66


NOTE 16:  Business Segment Information

The Company’s businesses are organized and managed in three reporting segments: Avionics & Controls, Sensors & Systems and Advanced Materials. Operating segments within each reporting segment are aggregated. Operations within the Avionics & Controls segment focus on technology interface systems for commercial and military aircraft, and similar devices for land- and sea-based military vehicles, secure communications systems, specialized medical equipment and other industrial applications. Sensors & Systems includes operations that produce high-precision temperature and pressure sensors, electrical power switching, control and data communication devices, motion control components and other related systems principally for aerospace and defense customers. The Advanced Materials segment focuses on thermally engineered components for critical aerospace applications, high-performance elastomer products used in a wide range of commercial aerospace and military applications, and combustible ordnance and electronic warfare countermeasure devices. All segments include sales to domestic, international, defense and commercial customers.

Geographic sales information is based on product origin. The Company evaluates these segments based on segment profits prior to net interest, other income/expense, corporate expenses and federal/foreign income taxes.

 

67


Details of the Company’s operations by business segment for the last three fiscal years were as follows:

 

In Thousands    2006     2005     2004  

Sales

      

Avionics & Controls

   $ 283,011     $ 261,550     $ 209,498  

Sensors & Systems

     333,257       319,539       180,768  

Advanced Materials

     356,007       254,314       223,344  
   
   $ 972,275     $ 835,403     $ 613,610  
   

Income From Continuing Operations

      

Avionics & Controls

   $ 45,050     $ 37,325     $ 32,077  

Sensors & Systems

     29,305       34,482       7,809  

Advanced Materials

     46,493       33,992       28,004  
   

Segment Earnings

     120,848       105,799       67,890  

Corporate expense

     (27,338 )     (23,513 )     (17,472 )

Other income (expense)

     490       (514 )     509  

Loss on extinguishment of debt

     (2,156 )            

Gain on sale of product line

                 3,434  

Interest income

     2,642       4,057       1,964  

Interest expense

     (21,290 )     (18,159 )     (17,336 )
   
   $ 73,196     $ 67,670     $ 38,989  
   

Identifiable Assets

      

Avionics & Controls

   $ 266,090     $ 245,016     $ 198,142  

Sensors & Systems

     431,091       398,801       374,123  

Advanced Materials

     518,841       266,327       267,811  

Other

                 2  

Corporate 1

     74,429       205,104       95,270  
   
   $ 1,290,451     $ 1,115,248     $ 935,348  
   

Capital Expenditures

      

Avionics & Controls

   $ 4,890     $ 3,538     $ 6,483  

Sensors & Systems

     10,093       11,155       3,335  

Advanced Materials

     11,424       8,283       11,492  

Discontinued Operations

           46       326  

Corporate

     133       754       490  
   
   $ 26,540     $ 23,776     $ 22,126  
   

 

68


In Thousands    2006     2005     2004  

Depreciation and Amortization

      

Avionics & Controls

   $ 6,904     $ 6,972     $ 5,525  

Sensors & Systems

     15,097       14,311       10,337  

Advanced Materials

     19,164       12,469       12,394  

Discontinued Operations

           141       1,452  

Corporate

     1,668       1,415       1,437  
   
   $ 42,833     $ 35,308     $ 31,145  
   

 

1     Primarily cash, prepaid pension expense (see Note 9) and deferred tax assets (see Note 10).

       

 

 

The Company’s operations by geographic area for the last three fiscal years were as follows:

 

In Thousands    2006     2005     2004  

Sales

      

Domestic

      

Unaffiliated customers – U.S.

   $ 535,259     $ 489,644     $ 369,424  

Unaffiliated customers – export

     120,247       95,370       88,567  

Intercompany

     12,017       10,179       2,769  
   
     667,523       595,193       460,760  
   

France

      

Unaffiliated customers

     121,553       108,236       58,788  

Intercompany

     14,878       13,528       5,050  
   
     136,431       121,764       63,838  
   

United Kingdom

      

Unaffiliated customers

     165,204       108,901       90,531  

Intercompany

     11,931       3,021       2,406  
   
     177,135       111,922       92,937  
   

All Other Foreign

      

Unaffiliated customers

     30,012       33,252       6,300  

Intercompany

     4,747       2,850       938  
   
     34,759       36,102       7,238  
   

Eliminations

     (43,573 )     (29,578 )     (11,163 )
   
   $ 972,275     $ 835,403     $ 613,610  
   

 

69


In Thousands    2006    2005    2004

Segment Earnings 1

        

Domestic

   $ 95,496    $ 79,555    $ 62,743

France

     12,239      14,987      227

United Kingdom

     9,466      7,975      4,746

All other foreign

     3,647      3,282      174
 
   $ 120,848    $ 105,799    $ 67,890
 

Identifiable Assets 2

        

Domestic

   $ 697,804    $ 569,000    $ 432,365

France

     157,631      140,049      197,431

United Kingdom

     308,493      190,090      202,411

All other foreign

     52,094      11,005      7,871
 
   $ 1,216,022    $ 910,144    $ 840,078
 

 

1 Before corporate expense, shown on page 68.

 

2 Excludes corporate, shown on page 68.

The Company’s principal foreign operations consist of manufacturing facilities located in France, Germany and the United Kingdom, and include sales and service operations located in Singapore and China. Sensors & Systems segment operations are dependent upon foreign sales, which represented $219.2 million, $214.4 million and $144.3 million of Sensors & Systems sales in fiscal 2006, 2005 and 2004, respectively. Intercompany sales are at prices comparable with sales to unaffiliated customers. U.S. Government sales as a percent of Advanced Materials and Avionics & Controls sales were 29.1% and 4.3%, respectively, in fiscal 2006 and 12.0% of consolidated sales. In fiscal 2005, U.S. Government sales as a percent of Advanced Materials and Avionics & Controls sales were 35.4% and 4.0%, respectively, and 12.7% of consolidated sales.

Product lines contributing sales of 10% or more of total sales in any of the last three fiscal years were as follows:

 

     2006     2005     2004  

Elastomeric products

   13 %   14 %   16 %

Sensors

   14 %   16 %   19 %

Aerospace switches and indicators

   11 %   12 %   13 %
   

 

70


NOTE 17:  Quarterly Financial Data (Unaudited)

The following is a summary of unaudited quarterly financial information:

In Thousands, Except Per Share Amounts

 

Fiscal Year 2006    Fourth    Third     Second     First  

Net sales

   $ 270,273    $ 248,398     $ 247,939     $ 205,665  

Gross margin

     81,901      75,357       80,739       62,859  

Income from continuing operations 1

     18,369      11,223   2     17,659   3     8,364   4, 5
   

Net earnings

   $ 18,369    $ 11,223   2   $ 17,659   3   $ 8,364   4, 5
   

Earnings per share – basic

         

Continuing operations

   $ .72    $ .44     $ .70     $ .33  
   

Earnings per share – basic

   $ .72    $ .44     $ .70     $ .33  
   

Earnings per share – diluted

         

Continuing operations 6

   $ .71    $ .43     $ .68     $ .32  
   

Earnings per share – diluted 6

   $ .71    $ .43     $ .68     $ .32  
   

 

71


In Thousands, Except Per Share Amounts

 

Fiscal Year 2005    Fourth    Third     Second     First

Net sales

   $ 224,146    $ 209,873     $ 211,592     $ 189,792

Gross margin

     69,619      65,693       68,538       58,100

Income from continuing operations

     15,366      11,859  7     13,726       10,083

Income from discontinued operations

     24      3       (562 )     7,527
 

Net earnings

   $ 15,390    $ 11,862   7   $ 13,164     $ 17,610
 

Earnings per share – basic

         

Continuing operations

   $ .61    $ .47     $ .55     $ .42

Discontinued operations

                (.03 )     .31
 

Earnings per share – basic

   $ .61    $ .47     $ .52     $ .73
 

Earnings per share – diluted

         

Continuing operations 6

   $ .60    $ .46     $ .54     $ .41

Discontinued operations 6

                (.02 )     .31
 

Earnings per share – diluted 6

   $ .60    $ .46     $ .52     $ .72
 

 

1     The effects of the business interruption insurance recovery are included in income from continuing operations and presented below:

 

     Fourth    Third     Second     First
    Fiscal Year 2006    $ 4,104    $ 786     $     $

 

2 Included a $1.6 million reduction of previously estimated tax liabilities due to the expiration of the statute of limitations and adjustments resulting from a reconciliation of the prior year’s U.S. income tax return to the provision for income taxes.

 

3 Included a $2.0 million reduction of previously estimated tax liabilities as a result of receiving a Notice of Proposed Adjustment (NOPA) from the State of California Franchise Tax Board covering, among other items, the examination of research and development tax credits for fiscal years 1997 through 2002.

 

4 Included a $0.9 million reduction of previously estimated tax liabilities as a result of a favorable tax audit which concluded on December 23, 2005.

 

5 Included a $2.2 million loss on early extinguishment of debt.

 

6 The sum of the quarterly per share amounts may not equal per share amounts reported for year-to-date periods. This is due to changes in the number of weighted average shares outstanding and the effects of rounding for each period.

 

7 Included a $2.0 million reduction of previously estimated tax liabilities due to the expiration of the statute of limitations and adjustments resulting from a reconciliation of U.S. and non-U.S. tax returns to the provision for income taxes.

 

72


NOTE 18:  Guarantors

The following schedules set forth condensed consolidating financial information as required by Rule 3-10 of Securities and Exchange Commission Regulation S-X for fiscal 2006, 2005 and 2004 for (a) Esterline Technologies Corporation (the Parent); (b) on a combined basis, the subsidiary guarantors (Guarantor Subsidiaries) of the Senior Subordinated Notes which include Advanced Input Devices, Inc., Amtech Automated Manufacturing Technology, Angus Electronics Co., Armtec Countermeasures Co., Armtec Countermeasures TNO Co., Armtec Defense Products Co., AVISTA, Incorporated, BVR Technologies Co., EA Technologies Corporation, Equipment Sales Co., Esterline Sensors Services Americas, Inc., Esterline Technologies Holdings Limited, H.A. Sales Co., Hauser Inc., Hytek Finishes Co., Janco Corporation, Kirkhill-TA Co., Korry Electronics Co., Leach Holding Corporation, Leach International Corporation, Leach Technology Group, Inc., Mason Electric Co., MC Tech Co., Memtron Technologies Co., Norwich Aero Products, Inc., Palomar Products, Inc., Pressure Systems, Inc., Pressure Systems International, Inc., Surftech Finishes Co., UMM Electronics Inc., and (c) on a combined basis, the subsidiary non-guarantors (Non-Guarantor Subsidiaries), which include Advanced Input Devices Ltd. (U.K.), Auxitrol S.A., Auxitrol Technologies S.A.S., Darchem Engineering Limited, Darchem Holdings Ltd., Esterline Acquisition Ltd. (U.K.), Esterline Input Devices Asia Ltd. (Barbados), Esterline Input Devices Ltd. (Shanghai), Esterline Sensors Services Asia PTD, Ltd., Esterline Technologies Denmark Aps (Denmark), Esterline Technologies Ltd. (England), Esterline Technologies Ltd. (Hong Kong), Guizhou Leach-Tianyi Aviation Electrical Company Ltd. (China), Leach International Asia-Pacific Ltd. (Hong Kong), Leach International Europe S.A. (France), Leach International Germany GmbH (Germany), Leach International Mexico S. de R.L. de C.V. (Mexico), Leach International U.K. (England), Leach Italia Srl. (Italy), LRE Medical GmbH (Germany), ML Wallop Defence Systems Ltd. (U.K.), Muirhead Aerospace Ltd., Norcroft Dynamics Ltd., Pressure Systems International Ltd., Wallop Defence Systems Limited, Weston Aero Ltd. (England), and Weston Aerospace Ltd. (England). The guarantor subsidiaries are direct and indirect wholly-owned subsidiaries of Esterline Technologies and have fully and unconditionally, jointly and severally, guaranteed the Senior Subordinated Notes.

 

73


Condensed Consolidating Balance Sheet as of October 27, 2006

In Thousands

 

     Parent    Guarantor
Subsidiaries
  

Non-
Guarantor

Subsidiaries

   Eliminations     Total

Assets

             

Current Assets

             

Cash and cash equivalents

   $ 14,343    $ 2,672    $ 25,623    $     $ 42,638

Cash in escrow

     4,409                      4,409

Short-term investments

                         

Accounts receivable, net

     301      105,995      85,441            191,737

Inventories

          110,904      74,942            185,846

Income tax refundable

          4      6,227            6,231

Deferred income tax benefits

     25,227      5      2,700            27,932

Prepaid expenses

     164      4,631      4,750            9,545
 

Total Current Assets

     44,444      224,211      199,683            468,338

Property, Plant & Equipment, Net

     2,324      105,621      62,497            170,442

Goodwill

          195,474      170,681            366,155

Intangibles, Net

     73      75,928      165,656            241,657

Debt Issuance Costs, Net

     4,469                      4,469

Deferred Income Tax Benefits

     13,531           1,259            14,790

Other Assets

     3,536      15,344      5,720            24,600

Amounts Due To (From) Subsidiaries

     247,727      85,734           (333,461 )    

Investment in Subsidiaries

     747,784                (747,784 )    
 

Total Assets

   $ 1,063,888    $ 702,312    $ 605,496    $ (1,081,245 )   $ 1,290,451
 

 

74


Condensed Consolidating Balance Sheet as of October 27, 2006

In Thousands

 

    Parent   Guarantor
Subsidiaries
   

Non-
Guarantor

Subsidiaries

  Eliminations     Total

Liabilities and Shareholders’ Equity

         

Current Liabilities

         

Accounts payable

  $ 725   $ 20,924     $ 41,044   $     $ 62,693

Accrued liabilities

    30,651     57,687       33,081           121,419

Credit facilities

    5,000           3,075           8,075

Current maturities of long-term debt

    4,054     792       692           5,538

Federal and foreign income taxes

    2,791     72       11           2,874
 

Total Current Liabilities

    43,221     79,475       77,903           200,599

Long-Term Debt, Net

    278,365     2,592       1,350           282,307

Deferred Income Taxes

    27,942     (20 )     44,427           72,349

Other Liabilities

    6,371     9,998       7,260           23,629

Amounts Due To (From) Subsidiaries

              301,391     (301,391 )    

Minority Interest

              3,578           3,578

Shareholders’ Equity

    707,989     610,267       169,587     (779,854 )     707,989
 

Total Liabilities and Shareholders’ Equity

  $ 1,063,888   $ 702,312     $ 605,496   $ (1,081,245 )   $ 1,290,451
 

 

75


Condensed Consolidating Statement of Operations for the fiscal year ended October 27, 2006

In Thousands

 

     Parent     Guarantor
Subsidiaries
    Non-
Guarantor
Subsidiaries
    Eliminations     Total  

Net Sales

   $     $ 640,688     $ 346,884     $ (15,297 )   $ 972,275  

Cost of Sales

           442,497       244,219       (15,297 )     671,419  
   
           198,191       102,665             300,856  

Expenses

          

Selling, general and administrative

           96,183       63,441             159,624  

Research, development and engineering

           22,298       30,314             52,612  
   

Total Expenses

           118,481       93,755             212,236  

Other

          

Other income

                 (490 )           (490 )

Insurance recovery

                 (4,890 )           (4,890 )
   

Total Other

                 (5,380 )           (5,380 )
   

Operating Earnings from Continuing Operations

           79,710       14,290             94,000  

Interest income

     (20,857 )     (2,522 )     (3,959 )     24,696       (2,642 )

Interest expense

     20,551       4,029       21,406       (24,696 )     21,290  

Loss on extinguishment of debt

     2,156                         2,156  
   

Other Expense, Net

     1,850       1,507       17,447             20,804  
   

Income (Loss) from Continuing
Operations Before Taxes

     (1,850 )     78,203       (3,157 )           73,196  

Income Tax Expense (Benefit)

     (517 )     18,387       (1,154 )           16,716  
   

Income (Loss) From Continuing
Operations Before
Minority Interest

     (1,333 )     59,816       (2,003 )           56,480  

Minority Interest

                 (865 )           (865 )
   

Income (Loss) From Continuing Operations

     (1,333 )     59,816       (2,868 )           55,615  

Equity in Net Income of Consolidated Subsidiaries

     56,948                   (56,948 )      
   

Net Income (Loss)

   $ 55,615     $ 59,816     $ (2,868 )   $ (56,948 )   $ 55,615  
   

 

76


Condensed Consolidating Statement of Cash Flows for the fiscal year ended October 27, 2006

In Thousands

 

     Parent     Guarantor
Subsidiaries
    Non-
Guarantor
Subsidiaries
    Eliminations     Total  

Cash Flows Provided (Used) by Operating Activities

          

Net earnings (loss)

   $ 55,615     $ 59,816     $ (2,868 )   $ (56,948 )   $ 55,615  

Minority interest

                 865             865  

Depreciation & amortization

           24,201       18,632             42,833  

Deferred income tax

     (1,561 )     87       (149 )           (1,623 )

Share-based compensation

           3,667       1,763             5,430  

Gain on sale of short-term investments

     (610 )                       (610 )

Working capital changes, net of effect of acquisitions
Accounts receivable

     370       (8,948 )     (7,933 )           (16,511 )

Inventories

           (25,447 )     (13,794 )           (39,241 )

Prepaid expenses

     15       (138 )     (1,182 )           (1,305 )

Accounts payable

     (265 )     665       7,706             8,106  

Accrued liabilities

     (146 )     4,040       (4,540 )           (646 )

Federal & foreign income taxes

     810       (8 )     (13,332 )           (12,530 )

Other liabilities

     (1,579 )     (4,619 )     4,521             (1,677 )

Other, net

     (1,541 )     914       (1,403 )           (2,030 )
   
     51,108       54,230       (11,714 )     (56,948 )     36,676  

Cash Flows Provided (Used) by Investing Activities

          

Purchases of capital assets

     (133 )     (16,624 )     (9,783 )           (26,540 )

Proceeds from sale of capital assets

     6       495       142             643  

Proceeds from sale of short-term investments

     63,266                         63,266  

Acquisitions of businesses, net

           (12,566 )     (177,778 )           (190,344 )
   
     63,139       (28,695 )     (187,419 )           (152,975 )

 

77


Condensed Consolidating Statement of Cash Flows for the fiscal year ended October 27, 2006

In Thousands

 

     Parent     Guarantor
Subsidiaries
    Non-
Guarantor
Subsidiaries
    Eliminations    Total  

Cash Flows Provided (Used) by Financing Activities

           

Proceeds provided by stock issuance under employee stock plans

     4,038                        4,038  

Excess tax benefits from stock option exercises

     545                        545  

Net change in credit facilities

     5,000             905            5,905  

Proceeds from issuance of long-term debt

     100,000                        100,000  

Repayment of long-term debt, net

     (70,001 )     (828 )     (543 )          (71,372 )

Net change in intercompany financing

     (214,850 )     (24,103 )     182,005       56,948       
   
     (175,268 )     (24,931 )     182,367       56,948      39,116  

Effect of foreign exchange rates on cash

           (86 )     1,603            1,517  
   

Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents

     (61,021 )     518       (15,163 )          (75,666 )

Cash and cash equivalents – beginning of year

     75,364       2,154       40,786            118,304  
   

Cash and cash equivalents –
end of year

   $ 14,343     $ 2,672     $ 25,623     $    $ 42,638  
   

 

78


Condensed Consolidating Balance Sheet as of October 28, 2005

In Thousands

 

     Parent    Guarantor
Subsidiaries
   Non-
Guarantor
Subsidiaries
    Eliminations     Total

Assets

            

Current Assets

            

Cash and cash equivalents

   $ 75,364    $ 2,154    $ 40,786     $     $ 118,304

Cash in escrow

     11,918                       11,918

Short-term investments

     62,656                       62,656

Accounts receivable, net

     671      96,931      52,149             149,751

Inventories

          84,351      46,118             130,469

Deferred income tax benefits

     25,115      102      1,651             26,868

Prepaid expenses

     179      4,481      2,873             7,533
 

Total Current Assets

     175,903      188,019      143,577             507,499

Property, Plant & Equipment, Net

     2,687      95,001      40,526             138,214

Goodwill

          191,919      69,248             261,167

Intangibles, Net

     107      82,196      83,815             166,118

Debt Issuance Costs, Net

     5,144                       5,144

Deferred Income Tax Benefits

     11,257           2,063             13,320

Other Assets

     2,638      16,266      4,882             23,786

Amounts Due To (From) Subsidiaries

     134,964      64,835            (199,799 )    

Investment in Subsidiaries

     615,599      129      (128 )     (615,600 )    
 

Total Assets

   $ 948,299    $ 638,365    $ 343,983     $ (815,399 )   $ 1,115,248
 

 

79


Condensed Consolidating Balance Sheet as of October 28, 2005

In Thousands

 

    Parent   Guarantor
Subsidiaries
    Non-
Guarantor
Subsidiaries
  Eliminations     Total

Liabilities and Shareholders’ Equity

         

Current Liabilities

         

Accounts payable

  $ 990   $ 19,877     $ 20,586   $     $ 41,453

Accrued liabilities

    38,620     53,246       27,249           119,115

Credit facilities

              2,031           2,031

Current maturities of long-term debt

    70,000           934           70,934

Federal and foreign income taxes

    3,634     76       5,088           8,798
 

Total Current Liabilities

    113,244     73,199       55,888           242,331

Long-Term Debt, Net

    173,988           1,694           175,682

Deferred Income Taxes

    30,880     (10 )     15,551           46,421

Other Liabilities

    9,323     11,209       6,705           27,237

Amounts Due To (From) Subsidiaries

              195,829     (195,829 )    

Minority Interest

              2,713           2,713

Shareholders’ Equity

    620,864     553,967       65,603     (619,570 )     620,864
 

Total Liabilities and Shareholders’ Equity

  $ 948,299   $ 638,365     $ 343,983   $ (815,399 )   $ 1,115,248
 

 

80


Condensed Consolidating Statement of Operations for the fiscal year ended October 28, 2005

In Thousands

 

     Parent     Guarantor
Subsidiaries
    Non-
Guarantor
Subsidiaries
    Eliminations     Total  

Net Sales

   $     $ 574,864     $ 278,767     $ (18,228 )   $ 835,403  

Cost of Sales

           403,823       187,858       (18,228 )     573,453  
   
           171,041       90,909             261,950  

Expenses

          

Selling, general and administrative

           90,892       46,534             137,426  

Research, development and engineering

           17,399       24,839             42,238  
   

Total Expenses

           108,291       71,373             179,664  

Other

          

Other expense

     50       86       378             514  
   

Total Other

     50       86       378             514  
   

Operating Earnings from Continuing Operations

     (50 )     62,664       19,158             81,772  

Interest income

     (15,940 )     (3,015 )     (2,679 )     17,577       (4,057 )

Interest expense

     18,261       4,642       12,833       (17,577 )     18,159  
   

Other Expense, Net

     2,321       1,627       10,154             14,102  
   

Income (Loss) from Continuing Operations Before Taxes

     (2,371 )     61,037       9,004             67,670  

Income Tax Expense (Benefit)

     (728 )     14,409       2,620             16,301  
   

Income (Loss) From Continuing Operations Before Minority Interest

     (1,643 )     46,628       6,384             51,369  

Minority Interest

                 (335 )           (335 )
   

Income (Loss) From Continuing Operations

     (1,643 )     46,628       6,049             51,034  

Income From Discontinued Operations, Net of Tax

           6,992                   6,992  

Equity in Net Income of Consolidated Subsidiaries

     59,669                   (59,669 )      
   

Net Income (Loss)

   $ 58,026     $ 53,620     $ 6,049     $ (59,669 )   $ 58,026  
   

 

81


Condensed Consolidating Statement of Cash Flows for the fiscal year ended October 28, 2005

In Thousands

 

     Parent     Guarantor
Subsidiaries
    Non-
Guarantor
Subsidiaries
    Eliminations     Total  

Cash Flows Provided (Used) by Operating Activities

          

Net earnings (loss)

   $ 58,026     $ 53,620     $ 6,049     $ (59,669 )   $ 58,026  

Minority interest

                 335             335  

Depreciation & amortization

           22,152       13,156             35,308  

Deferred income tax

     3,205       (112 )     (7,594 )           (4,501 )

Share-based compensation

           2,262       537             2,799  

Gain on disposal of discontinued operations

           (9,456 )                 (9,456 )

Loss on sale of building

           59                   59  

Gain on sale of short-term investments

     (1,397 )                       (1,397 )

Working capital changes, net of effect of acquisitions Accounts receivable

     1,550       (11,458 )     (7,737 )           (17,645 )

Inventories

           (6,350 )     (5,286 )           (11,636 )

Prepaid expenses

     174       (903 )     2,431             1,702  

Other current assets

     147       288                   435  

Accounts payable

     470       2,638       1,058             4,166  

Accrued liabilities

     9,540       7,401       2,975             19,916  

Federal & foreign income taxes

     638       1       4,530             5,169  

Other liabilities

     40       (6,838 )     384             (6,414 )

Other, net

     7,830       (3,783 )     (4,501 )           (454 )
   
     80,223       49,521       6,337       (59,669 )     76,412  

Cash Flows Provided (Used) by Investing Activities

          

Purchases of capital assets

     (754 )     (15,289 )     (7,733 )           (23,776 )

Proceeds from sale of discontinued operations

           21,421                   21,421  

Proceeds from sale of building

           2,319                   2,319  

Escrow deposit

     (4,207 )                       (4,207 )

Proceeds from sale of capital assets

     3       2,017       292             2,312  

Purchase of short-term investments

     (173,273 )                       (173,273 )

Proceeds from sale of short-term investments

     112,014                         112,014  

Acquisitions of businesses, net

           (28,261 )                 (28,261 )
   
     (66,217 )     (17,793 )     (7,441 )           (91,451 )

 

82


Condensed Consolidating Statement of Cash Flows for the fiscal year ended October 28, 2005

In Thousands

 

     Parent     Guarantor
Subsidiaries
    Non-
Guarantor
Subsidiaries
    Eliminations    Total  

Cash Flows Provided (Used) by Financing Activities

           

Proceeds provided by stock issuance under employee stock plans

     3,519                        3,519  

Excess tax benefits from stock option exercises

     1,208                        1,208  

Proceeds from stock issuance

     108,490                        108,490  

Net change in credit facilities

     (5,000 )           171            (4,829 )

Repayment of long-term debt, net

     (2,781 )     (57 )     (464 )          (3,302 )

Net change in intercompany financing

     (50,479 )     (31,962 )     22,772       59,669       
   
     54,957       (32,019 )     22,479       59,669      105,086  

Effect of foreign exchange rates on cash

     (458 )     92       (856 )          (1,222 )
   

Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents

     68,505       (199 )     20,519            88,825  

Cash and cash equivalents – beginning of year

     6,859       2,353       20,267            29,479  
   

Cash and cash equivalents – end of year

   $ 75,364     $ 2,154     $ 40,786     $    $ 118,304  
   

 

83


Condensed Consolidating Statement of Operations for the fiscal year ended October 29, 2004

In Thousands

 

     Parent     Guarantor
Subsidiaries
    Non-
Guarantor
Subsidiaries
    Eliminations     Total  

Net Sales

   $     $ 461,067     $ 155,073     $ (2,530 )   $ 613,610  

Cost of Sales

           320,285       100,835       (2,530 )     418,590  
   
           140,782       54,238             195,020  

Expenses

          

Selling, general and administrative

           79,038       39,708             118,746  

Research, development and engineering

           10,275       15,581             25,856  
   

Total Expenses

           89,313       55,289             144,602  

Other

          

Other expense (income)

     (520 )     (239 )     250             (509 )

Gain on sale of business

     (1,700 )           (1,734 )           (3,434 )
   

Total Other

     (2,220 )     (239 )     (1,484 )           (3,943 )
   

Operating Earnings from Continuing Operations

     2,220       51,708       433             54,361  

Interest income

     (14,316 )     (3,017 )     (828 )     16,197       (1,964 )

Interest expense

     17,010       3,272       13,251       (16,197 )     17,336  
   

Other Expense, Net

     2,694       255       12,423             15,372  
   

Income (Loss) from Continuing Operations Before Taxes

     (474 )     51,453       (11,990 )           38,989  

Income Tax Expense (Benefit)

     (140 )     12,934       (3,202 )           9,592  
   

Income (Loss) From Continuing
Operations
Before Minority Interest

     (334 )     38,519       (8,788 )           29,397  

Minority Interest

                 (22 )           (22 )
   

Income (Loss) From Continuing Operations

     (334 )     38,519       (8,810 )           29,375  
   

Income From Discontinued Operations, Net of Tax

           10,208                   10,208  

Equity in Net Income of Consolidated Subsidiaries

     39,917                   (39,917 )      
   

Net Income (Loss)

   $ 39,583     $ 48,727     $ (8,810 )   $ (39,917 )   $ 39,583  
   

 

84


Condensed Consolidating Statement of Cash Flows for the fiscal year ended October 29, 2004

In Thousands

 

     Parent     Guarantor
Subsidiaries
    Non-
Guarantor
Subsidiaries
    Eliminations     Total  

Cash Flows Provided (Used) by Operating Activities

          

Net earnings (loss)

   $ 39,583     $ 48,727     $ (8,810 )   $ (39,917 )   $ 39,583  

Minority interest

                 22             22  

Depreciation & amortization

           22,320       8,825             31,145  

Deferred income tax

     3,375             (111 )           3,264  

Share-based compensation

           3,191       1,135             4,326  

Gain on disposal of discontinued operations

           (12,521 )                 (12,521 )

Gain on sale of land

           (892 )                 (892 )

Gain on sale of product line

     (1,700 )           (1,734 )           (3,434 )

Working capital changes, net of effect of acquisitions

          

Accounts receivable

     (2,126 )     (5,513 )     (1,393 )           (9,032 )

Inventories

           (6,897 )     (2,198 )           (9,095 )

Prepaid expenses

     (219 )     760       (1,200 )           (659 )

Accounts payable

     382       (684 )     2,902             2,600  

Accrued liabilities

     11,800       (1,444 )     (116 )           10,240  

Federal & foreign income taxes

     8,935       (804 )     820             8,951  

Other liabilities

     9,283       (923 )     (4,001 )           4,359  

Other, net

     (9,734 )     5,668       (1,464 )           (5,530 )
   
     59,579       50,988       (7,323 )     (39,917 )     63,327  

Cash Flows Provided (Used) by Investing Activities

          

Purchases of capital assets

     (490 )     (18,881 )     (2,755 )           (22,126 )

Proceeds from sale of discontinued operations

           10,000                   10,000  

Proceeds from sale of product line

     1,700             1,775             3,475  

Proceeds from sale of land

           1,654                   1,654  

Escrow deposit

     (12,500 )                       (12,500 )

Proceeds from sale of capital assets

     23       1,190       (435 )           778  

Proceeds from sale of short-term investments

     12,797                         12,797  

Acquisitions of businesses, net

           (50,855 )     (87,956 )           (138,811 )
   
     1,530       (56,892 )     (89,371 )           (144,733 )

 

85


Condensed Consolidating Statement of Cash Flows for the fiscal year ended October 29, 2004

In Thousands

 

     Parent     Guarantor
Subsidiaries
    Non-
Guarantor
Subsidiaries
    Eliminations    Total  

Cash Flows Provided (Used) by Financing Activities

           

Proceeds provided by stock issuance under employee stock plans

     2,267                        2,267  

Excess tax benefits from stock option exercises

     540                        540  

Net change in credit facilities

     5,000       (180 )     (698 )          4,122  

Repayment of long-term debt, net

     (27,996 )     (77 )     (1,356 )          (29,429 )

Debt and other issuance costs

     (268 )                      (268 )

Net change in intercompany financing

     (143,641 )     5,573       98,151       39,917       
   
     (164,098 )     5,316       96,097       39,917      (22,768 )

Effect of foreign exchange rates on cash

     14       (89 )     2,365            2,290  
   

Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents

     (102,975 )     (677 )     1,768            (101,884 )

Cash and cash equivalents – beginning of year

     109,834       3,030       18,499            131,363  
   

Cash and cash equivalents – end of year

   $ 6,859     $ 2,353     $ 20,267     $    $ 29,479  
   

 

86


Management’s Report on Internal Control Over Financial Reporting

Our management is responsible for establishing and maintaining adequate internal control over financial reporting as defined in Rules 13a-15(f) and 15d-15(f) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. Our internal control system over financial reporting is designed by, or under the supervision of, our chief executive officer and chief financial officer, and is effected by our board of directors, management and other personnel to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles. Our 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 assets of the company;

(ii) provide reasonable assurance that transactions are recorded as necessary to permit preparation of financial statements in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles and that transactions are made only in accordance with the authorization of our management and directors; and

(iii) provide reasonable assurance regarding prevention or timely detection of unauthorized transactions that could have a material effect on the financial statements.

Because of inherent limitations, internal control over financial reporting may not prevent or detect misstatements. Therefore, even those systems determined to be effective can provide only reasonable assurance with respect to financial statement preparation and presentation. Also, projections of any evaluation of effectiveness to future periods are subject to risk that controls may become inadequate because of changes in condition, or that the degree of compliance with the policies or procedures may deteriorate.

Our management assessed the effectiveness of Esterline’s internal control over financial reporting as of October 27, 2006. In making this assessment, our management used the criteria set forth by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission (COSO) in Internal Control-Integrated Framework. On March 27, 2006, the company completed the acquisition of Wallop Defence Systems Ltd. As permitted by applicable rules promulgated by the Securities and Exchange Commission, our management excluded the Wallop Defence Systems Ltd. operations from its assessment of internal control over financial reporting as of October 27, 2006. Wallop Defence Systems Ltd. constituted approximately 6.0% and 7.7% of consolidated total assets and total shareholders’ equity, respectively, as of October 27, 2006, and 0.9% and (1.4%) of consolidated net sales and net earnings, respectively, for the year then ended. Wallop Defence Systems Ltd. will be included in the company’s assessment as of October 26, 2007. Based on management’s assessment and those criteria, our management concluded that our internal control over financial reporting was effective as of October 27, 2006.

Our independent registered public accounting firm, Ernst & Young LLP, has issued an audit report on our assessment and the effectiveness of our internal control over financial reporting. This report appears on page 89.

 

/s/ Robert W. Cremin
Robert W. Cremin
Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer
(Principal Executive Officer)

 

87


/s/ Robert D. George
Robert D. George

Vice President, Chief Financial Officer,

Secretary and Treasurer

(Principal Financial Officer)

/s/ Gary J. Posner
Gary J. Posner

Corporate Controller and

Chief Accounting Officer

(Principal Accounting Officer)

 

88


Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm

The Board of Directors and Shareholders

Esterline Technologies Corporation

Bellevue, Washington

We have audited management’s assessment, included in the accompanying Management’s Report on Internal Control Over Financial Reporting, that Esterline Technologies Corporation maintained effective internal control over financial reporting as of October 27, 2006, based on criteria established in Internal Control—Integrated Framework issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission (the COSO criteria). Esterline Technologies Corporation’s management is responsible for maintaining effective internal control over financial reporting and for its assessment of the effectiveness of internal control over financial reporting. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on management’s assessment and an opinion on the effectiveness of 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, evaluating management’s assessment, testing and evaluating the design and operating effectiveness of internal control, 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

 

89


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.

As indicated in the accompanying Management’s Report on Internal Control Over Financial Reporting, management’s assessment of and conclusion on the effectiveness of internal control over financial reporting did not include the internal controls of Wallop Defence Systems Ltd., which is included in the 2006 consolidated financial statements of Esterline Technologies Corporation and constituted 6.0% and 7.7% of consolidated total assets and total shareholders’ equity, respectively, as of October 27, 2006 and 0.9% and (1.4%) of consolidated net sales and net earnings, respectively, for the year then ended. Our audit of internal control over financial reporting of Esterline Technologies Corporation also did not include an evaluation of the internal control over financial reporting of Wallop Defence Systems Ltd.

In our opinion, management’s assessment that Esterline Technologies Corporation maintained effective internal control over financial reporting as of October 27, 2006, is fairly stated, in all material respects, based on the COSO criteria. Also, in our opinion, Esterline Technologies Corporation maintained, in all material respects, effective internal control over financial reporting as of October 27, 2006, based on the COSO criteria.

We have also audited, in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States), the consolidated balance sheets of Esterline Technologies Corporation as of October 27, 2006, and October 28, 2005, and the related consolidated statements of operations, shareholders’ equity and comprehensive income, and cash flows for each of the three years in the period ended October 27, 2006 of Esterline Technologies Corporation and our report dated December 18, 2006 expressed an unqualified opinion thereon.

Ernst & Young LLP

Seattle, Washington

December 18, 2006

 

90


Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm

 

The Board of Directors and Shareholders

Esterline Technologies Corporation

Bellevue, Washington

We have audited the accompanying consolidated balance sheets of Esterline Technologies Corporation as of October 27, 2006 and October 28, 2005, and the related consolidated statements of operations, shareholders’ equity and comprehensive income, and cash flows for each of the three years in the period ended October 27, 2006. 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 Esterline Technologies Corporation at October 27, 2006 and October 28, 2005, and the consolidated results of its operations and its cash flows for each of the three years in the period ended October 27, 2006, 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), the effectiveness of Esterline Technologies Corporation’s internal control over financial reporting as of October 27, 2006, based on criteria established in Internal Control – Integrated Framework issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission and our report dated December 18, 2006 expressed an unqualified opinion thereon.

As discussed in Note 1 to the financial statements, in 2006 the Company changed its method of accounting for share-based payments.

 

Ernst & Young LLP

 

Seattle, Washington

December 18, 2006

 

91

Exhibit 21

SUBSIDIARIES

The subsidiaries of the Company as of October 27, 2006 are as follows:

 

Name of Subsidiary          Jurisdiction of
Incorporation

Advanced Input Devices, Inc.

   Delaware

Memtron Technologies Co.

   Delaware

Advanced Input Devices (UK) Ltd.

   England

LRE Medical GmbH

   Germany

Esterline Input Devices (Shanghai) Ltd.

   China

Armtec Defense Products Co.

   Delaware

Armtec Countermeasures Co.

   Delaware

Armtec Countermeasures TNO Co.

   Delaware

Wallop Defence Systems

   England

Auxitrol Technologies S.A.

   France

Auxitrol S.A.

   France

Esterline Sensors Services Americas, Inc.

   Delaware

BVR Technologies Co.

   Delaware

Darchem Engineering Ltd.

   Scotland

Hytek Finishes Co.

   Delaware

Kirkhill – TA Co.

   California

Korry Electronics Co.

   Delaware

AVISTA Incorporated

   Wisconsin

Palomar Products, Inc.

   Delaware

Leach International Corporation

   Delaware

Leach International Europe S.A.

   France

Mason Electric Co.

   Delaware

Muirhead Aerospace Limited

   England

Weston Aerospace Ltd.

   England

Norwich Aero Products Ltd.

   New York

Pressure Systems, Inc.

   Virginia

The above list excludes certain subsidiaries that, considered in the aggregate as a single subsidiary, would not constitute a significant subsidiary as of October 27, 2006.

Exhibit 23

Consent of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm

We consent to the incorporation by reference in this Annual Report (Form 10-K) of Esterline Technologies Corporation of our reports dated December 18, 2006, with respect to the consolidated financial statements of Esterline Technologies Corporation, Esterline Technologies Corporation management’s assessment of the effectiveness of internal control over financial reporting, and the effectiveness of internal control over financial reporting of Esterline Technologies Corporation, included in the 2006 Annual Report to Shareholders of Esterline Technologies Corporation.

Our audits also included the financial statement schedule of Esterline Technologies Corporation listed in Item 15(a). This schedule is the responsibility of Esterline Technologies Corporation’s management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion based on our audits. In our opinion, the financial statement schedule referred to above, when considered in relation to the basic financial statements taken as a whole, presents fairly in all material respects the information set forth therein.

We also consent to the incorporation by reference in the following Registration Statements:

 

  (1) Registration Statement (Form S-3 No. 333-117905) of Esterline Technologies Corporation;

 

  (2) Registration Statement (Form S-8 No. 333-43843) pertaining to the Esterline Technologies Corporation 1997 Stock Option Plan;

 

  (3) Registration Statement (Form S-8 No. 33-58375) pertaining to the Esterline Technologies Corporation Non-Employee Directors’ Stock Compensation Plan;

 

  (4) Registration Statement (Form S-8 No. 333-62650) pertaining to the Esterline Technologies Corporation Amended and Restated 1997 Stock Option Plan;

 

  (5) Registration Statement (Form S-8 No. 333-85440) pertaining to the Esterline Technologies Corporation 2002 Employee Stock Purchase Plan;

 

  (6) Registration Statement (Form S-8 No. 333-103846) pertaining to the Esterline Technologies Corporation Amended and Restated 1997 Stock Option Plan;

 

  (7) Registration Statement (Form S-8 No. 333-113475) pertaining to the Esterline Technologies Corporation 2004 Equity Incentive Plan;

 

  (8) Registration Statement (Form S-8 No. 333-135025) pertaining to the Esterline Technologies Corporation 2004 Equity Incentive Plan and the Esterline Technologies Corporation 2002 Employee Stock Purchase Plan;

of our reports dated December 18, 2006, with respect to the consolidated financial statements of Esterline Technologies Corporation, Esterline Technologies Corporation management’s assessment of the effectiveness of internal control over financial reporting and the effectiveness of internal control over financial reporting of Esterline Technologies Corporation, incorporated herein by reference, and our report included in the preceding paragraph with respect to the financial statement schedule of Esterline Technologies Corporation included in this Annual Report (Form 10-K) of Esterline Technologies Corporation.

Ernst & Young LLP

Seattle, Washington

January 4, 2007

Exhibit 31.1

CERTIFICATIONS

I, Robert W. Cremin, certify that:

1. I have reviewed this annual report on Form 10-K of Esterline Technologies Corporation;

2. Based on my knowledge, this report does not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary to make the statements made, in light of the circumstances under which such statements were made, not misleading with respect to the period covered by this report;

3. Based on my knowledge, the financial statements, and other financial information included in this report, fairly present in all material respects the financial condition, results of operations and cash flows of the registrant as of, and for, the periods presented in this report;

4. The registrant’s other certifying officer(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) Designed such disclosure controls and procedures, or caused such disclosure controls and procedures to be designed under our supervision, to ensure that material information relating to the registrant, including its consolidated subsidiaries, is made known to us by others within those entities, particularly during the period in which this report is being prepared;

 

  b) Designed such internal control over financial reporting, or caused such internal control over financial reporting to be designed under our supervision, to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles;

 

  c) Evaluated the effectiveness of the registrant’s disclosure controls and procedures and presented in this report our conclusions about the effectiveness of the disclosure controls and procedures, as of the end of the period covered by this report based on such evaluation; and

 

  d) Disclosed in this report any change in the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting that occurred during the registrant’s most recent fiscal quarter (the registrant’s fourth 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) All significant deficiencies and material weaknesses in the design or operation of internal control over financial reporting which are reasonably likely to adversely affect the registrant’s ability to record, process, summarize and report financial information; and

 

  b) Any fraud, whether or not material, that involves management or other employees who have a significant role in the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting.

 

Dated: January 8, 2007     By:   /s/ Robert W. Cremin
        Robert W. Cremin
       

Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer

(Principal Executive Officer)

Exhibit 31.2

CERTIFICATIONS

I, Robert D. George, certify that:

1. I have reviewed this annual report on Form 10-K of Esterline Technologies Corporation;

2. Based on my knowledge, this report does not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary to make the statements made, in light of the circumstances under which such statements were made, not misleading with respect to the period covered by this report;

3. Based on my knowledge, the financial statements, and other financial information included in this report, fairly present in all material respects the financial condition, results of operations and cash flows of the registrant as of, and for, the periods presented in this report;

4. The registrant’s other certifying officer(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) Designed such disclosure controls and procedures, or caused such disclosure controls and procedures to be designed under our supervision, to ensure that material information relating to the registrant, including its consolidated subsidiaries, is made known to us by others within those entities, particularly during the period in which this report is being prepared;

 

  b) Designed such internal control over financial reporting, or caused such internal control over financial reporting to be designed under our supervision, to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles;

 

  c) Evaluated the effectiveness of the registrant’s disclosure controls and procedures and presented in this report our conclusions about the effectiveness of the disclosure controls and procedures, as of the end of the period covered by this report based on such evaluation; and

 

  d) Disclosed in this report any change in the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting that occurred during the registrant’s most recent fiscal quarter (the registrant’s fourth 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) All significant deficiencies and material weaknesses in the design or operation of internal control over financial reporting which are reasonably likely to adversely affect the registrant’s ability to record, process, summarize and report financial information; and

 

  b) Any fraud, whether or not material, that involves management or other employees who have a significant role in the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting.

 

Dated: January 8, 2007     By:   /s/ Robert D. George
        Robert D. George
       

Vice President, Chief Financial Officer,

Secretary and Treasurer

(Principal Financial Officer)

Exhibit 32.1

CERTIFICATION PURSUANT TO

18 U.S.C. SECTION 1350,

AS ADOPTED PURSUANT TO SECTION 906

OF THE SARBANES-OXLEY ACT OF 2002

In connection with the Annual Report of Esterline Technologies Corporation (the “ Company ”) on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended October 27, 2006 as filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on the date hereof (the “Form 10-K” ), I, Robert W. Cremin, 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 Form 10-K fully complies with the requirements of Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (15 U.S.C. 78m or 78o(d)); and

 

  (2) The information contained in the Form 10-K fairly presents, in all material respects, the financial condition and results of operations of the Company.

Dated: January 8, 2007

 

By:   /s/ Robert W. Cremin
  Robert W. Cremin
  Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer

Exhibit 32.2

CERTIFICATION PURSUANT TO

18 U.S.C. SECTION 1350,

AS ADOPTED PURSUANT TO SECTION 906

OF THE SARBANES-OXLEY ACT OF 2002

In connection with the Annual Report of Esterline Technologies Corporation (the “ Company ”) on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended October 27, 2006 as filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on the date hereof (the “the Form 10-K” ), I, Robert D. George, 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 Form 10-K fully complies with the requirements of Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (15 U.S.C. 78m or 78o(d)); and

 

  (2) The information contained in the Form 10-K fairly presents, in all material respects, the financial condition and results of operations of the Company.

Dated: January 8, 2007

 

By:   /s/ Robert D. George
  Robert D. George
  Vice President, Chief Financial Officer, Secretary and Treasurer