CAUTIONARY STATEMENTS REGARDING FORWARD LOOKING STATEMENTS AND NON-GAAP FINANCIAL MEASURES:
The following discussion should be read in conjunction with the consolidated financial statements ofMatthews International Corporation ("Matthews" or the "Company") and related notes thereto included in this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q and the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year endedSeptember 30, 2020 . Any forward-looking statements contained herein are included pursuant to the "safe harbor" provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Such forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks and uncertainties that may cause the Company's actual results in future periods to be materially different from management's expectations. Although the Company believes that the expectations reflected in such forward-looking statements are reasonable, no assurance can be given that such expectations will prove correct. Factors that could cause the Company's results to differ materially from the results discussed in such forward-looking statements principally include changes in domestic or international economic conditions, changes in foreign currency exchange rates, changes in the cost of materials used in the manufacture of the Company's products, changes in mortality and cremation rates, changes in product demand or pricing as a result of consolidation in the industries in which the Company operates, changes in product demand or pricing as a result of domestic or international competitive pressures, ability to achieve cost-reduction objectives, unknown risks in connection with the Company's acquisitions, cybersecurity concerns, effectiveness of the Company's internal controls, compliance with domestic and foreign laws and regulations, technological factors beyond the Company's control, impact of pandemics or similar outbreaks, or other disruptions to our industries, customers or supply chains, and other factors described in Item 1A - "Risk Factors" in this Form 10-Q and Item 1A - "Risk Factors" in the Company's Form 10-K for the fiscal year endedSeptember 30, 2020 . In addition, although the Company does not have any customers that would be considered individually significant to consolidated sales, changes in the distribution of the Company's products or the potential loss of one or more of the Company's larger customers are also considered risk factors. Matthews cautions that the foregoing list of important factors is not all inclusive. Readers are also cautioned not to place undue reliance on any forward looking statements, which reflect management's analysis only as of the date of this report, even if subsequently made available by Matthews on its website or otherwise. Matthews does not undertake to update any forward looking statement, whether written or oral, that may be made from time to time by or on behalf of Matthews to reflect events or circumstances occurring after the date of this report. Included in this report are measures of financial performance that are not defined by generally accepted accounting principles inthe United States ("GAAP"). These non-GAAP financial measures assist management in comparing the Company's performance on a consistent basis for purposes of business decision-making by removing the impact of certain items that management believes do not directly reflect the Company's core operations. For additional information and reconciliations from the consolidated financial statements see "Non-GAAP Financial Measures" below.
RESULTS OF OPERATIONS:
The Company manages its businesses under three segments: SGK Brand Solutions, Memorialization and Industrial Technologies. The SGK Brand Solutions segment consists of brand management, pre-media services, printing plates and cylinders, engineered products (including energy solutions), imaging services, digital asset management, merchandising display systems, and marketing and design services primarily for the consumer goods and retail industries. The Memorialization segment consists primarily of bronze and granite memorials and other memorialization products, caskets, and cremation and incineration equipment primarily for the cemetery and funeral home industries. The Industrial Technologies segment includes marking and coding equipment and consumables, industrial automation products and order fulfillment systems for identifying, tracking, picking and conveying consumer and industrial products. The Company's primary measure of segment profitability is adjusted earnings before interest, income taxes, depreciation and amortization ("adjusted EBITDA"). Adjusted EBITDA is defined by the Company as earnings before interest, income taxes, depreciation, amortization and certain non-cash and/or non-recurring items that do not contribute directly to management's evaluation of its operating results. These items include stock-based compensation, the non-service portion of pension and postretirement expense, acquisition costs, ERP integration costs, and strategic initiatives and other charges. This presentation is consistent with how the Company's chief operating decision maker (the "CODM") evaluates the results of operations and makes strategic decisions about the business. For these reasons, the Company believes that adjusted EBITDA represents the most relevant measure of segment profit and loss. 22 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Item 2. Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations, Continued
In addition, the CODM manages and evaluates the operating performance of the segments, as described above, on a pre-corporate cost allocation basis. Accordingly, for segment reporting purposes, the Company does not allocate corporate costs to its reportable segments. Corporate costs include management and administrative support to the Company, which consists of certain aspects of the Company's executive management, legal, compliance, human resources, information technology (including operational support) and finance departments. These costs are included within "Corporate and Non-Operating" in the following table to reconcile to consolidated adjusted EBITDA and are not considered a separate reportable segment. Management does not allocate non-operating items such as investment income, other income (deductions), net and noncontrolling interest to the segments. The following table sets forth the sales and adjusted EBITDA for the Company's three reporting segments for the three and nine-month periods endedJune 30, 2021 and 2020. Refer to Note 13, "Segment Information" in Item 1 - "Financial Statements" for the Company's financial information by segment. Three Months Ended Nine Months Ended June 30, June 30, 2021 2020 2021 2020 Sales: (Dollar amounts in thousands) SGK Brand Solutions$ 199,715 $ 165,780 $ 538,879 $ 513,515 Memorialization 184,337 162,118 573,068 478,342 Industrial Technologies 44,328 31,524 120,244 107,309 Consolidated Sales$ 428,380 $ 359,422 $ 1,232,191 $ 1,099,166 Adjusted EBITDA: SGK Brand Solutions$ 33,258 $ 20,846 $ 75,426 $ 61,808 Memorialization 36,402 37,734 132,080 103,020 Industrial Technologies 5,940 4,679 15,242 15,205
Corporate and Non-Operating (15,585) (13,862) (47,030)
(41,009)
Total Adjusted EBITDA (1)
(1) Total Adjusted EBITDA is a non-GAAP financial measure. See the "Non-GAAP Financial Measures" section below.
Sales for the nine months endedJune 30, 2021 were$1.23 billion , compared to$1.10 billion for the nine months endedJune 30, 2020 , representing an increase of$133.0 million . The increase in fiscal 2021 sales reflected higher sales in all of the Company's segments. Changes in foreign currency exchange rates were estimated to have a favorable impact of$27.4 million on fiscal 2021 consolidated sales compared to a year ago. Fiscal 2021 sales continued to be impacted by the global outbreak of coronavirus disease 2019 ("COVID-19"), which has caused some commercial impacts in certain of the Company's segments and geographic locations. These impacts have included higher sales volumes for memorialization products and services, but have also included temporary business disruptions and customer project delays for certain of the Company's businesses. While substantially all of the Company's operations have remained open during the COVID-19 pandemic, management expects COVID-19 to continue to impact its sales and results of operations in the short-term as the pandemic subsides (see "Forward Looking Information" below). In the SGK Brand Solutions segment, sales for the first nine months of fiscal 2021 were$538.9 million , compared to$513.5 million for the first nine months of fiscal 2020. The increase primarily resulted from higher sales of purpose-built engineered products (primarily in support of the electric vehicle and energy storage industries) and higher brand sales in theEurope andAsia-Pacific markets. These increases were partially offset by lower retail-based sales (principally merchandising solutions and private label brand market sales), decreased brand sales in theU.S. , and reduced sales of surfaces products inEurope , all of which were unfavorably impacted by COVID-19. Changes in foreign currency exchange rates had a favorable impact of$21.0 million on the segment's sales compared to the prior year. Memorialization segment sales for the first nine months of fiscal 2021 were$573.1 million , compared to$478.3 million for the first nine months of fiscal 2020. The increase in sales predominantly resulted from increased unit sales of caskets due to COVID-19. The segment also reported higher sales of bronze and granite memorial products, mausoleums, and cremation equipment. The increase in sales also reflected improved price realization and benefits from a recently completed acquisition of a small cemetery products business. Changes in foreign currency exchange rates had a favorable impact of$4.0 million on the segment's sales compared to the prior year. Industrial Technologies segment sales were$120.2 million for the first nine months of fiscal 2021, compared to$107.3 million for the first nine months of fiscal 2020. The sales increase primarily reflected higher sales of warehouse automation systems and increased product identification sales. Changes in foreign currency exchange rates had a favorable impact of$2.4 million on the segment's sales compared to the prior year. 23 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Item 2. Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations, Continued
Gross profit for the nine months endedJune 30, 2021 was$403.8 million , compared to$361.4 million for the same period a year ago. Consolidated gross profit as a percent of sales was 32.8% and 32.9% for the first nine months of fiscal 2021 and fiscal 2020, respectively. The increase in gross profit primarily reflected higher sales, benefits from the realization of productivity improvements and other cost-reduction initiatives, and improved margins for cylinders and engineered products within the SGK Brand Solutions segment. These improvements were partially offset by the impact of higher material and transportation costs, particularly in the Memorialization segment, and lower margins onU.K. based cremation and incineration projects. Gross profit also included acquisition integration costs and other charges primarily in connection with cost-reduction initiatives totaling$15.5 million and$6.6 million for the nine months endedJune 30, 2021 and 2020, respectively. Selling and administrative expenses for the nine months endedJune 30, 2021 were$308.0 million , compared to$302.2 million for the first nine months of fiscal 2020. Consolidated selling and administrative expenses, as a percent of sales, were 25.0% for the nine months endedJune 30, 2021 , compared to 27.5% for the same period last year. The increase in selling and administrative expenses reflected higher performance-based compensation compared to fiscal 2020, partially offset by benefits from ongoing cost-reduction initiatives, and reduced travel and entertainment ("T&E") costs resulting from the pandemic. Selling and administrative expenses also included acquisition integration and related systems-integration costs, and other charges primarily in connection with cost-reduction initiatives totaling$13.0 million in fiscal 2021, compared to$25.6 million in fiscal 2020. Fiscal 2020 selling and administrative expenses also included an$11.2 million gain on the sale of an ownership interest in a Memorialization business and a$10.6 million charge for a legal matter involving a letter of credit for a customer inSaudi Arabia . Intangible amortization for the nine months endedJune 30, 2021 was$61.2 million , compared to$53.6 million for the nine months endedJune 30, 2020 . The increase in intangible amortization reflected$10.1 million of incremental amortization resulting from a reduction in useful lives for certain customer relationships. Refer to Note 15, "Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets" in Item 1 - "Financial Statements" for further details. Intangible amortization also included accelerated amortization resulting from the fiscal 2019 reduction in useful lives for certain trade names that are being discontinued. Amortization for these trade names totaled$26.0 million and$28.1 million for the nine months endedJune 30, 2021 andJune 30, 2020 , respectively. During the second quarter of fiscal 2020, the Company recorded a goodwill write-down totaling$90.4 million related to its two reporting units within the SGK Brand Solutions segment (Graphics Imaging and Cylinders, Surfaces and Engineered Products). Adjusted EBITDA was$175.7 million for the nine months endedJune 30, 2021 and$139.0 million for the nine months endedJune 30, 2020 . Adjusted EBITDA for the SGK Brand Solutions segment was$75.4 million for the first nine months of fiscal 2021 compared to$61.8 million for the same period a year ago. The increase in segment adjusted EBITDA primarily reflected the impact of higher sales, benefits from cost-reduction initiatives, reduced T&E costs resulting from COVID-19, and improved margins for cylinders and engineered products. Changes in foreign currency exchange rates had a favorable impact of$2.0 million on the segment's adjusted EBITDA compared to the prior year. These increases were partially offset by increased performance-based compensation compared to fiscal 2020. Memorialization segment adjusted EBITDA was$132.1 million for the first nine months of fiscal 2021 compared to$103.0 million for the first nine months of fiscal 2020. The increase in segment adjusted EBITDA primarily reflected the impact of higher sales, benefits from productivity initiatives, and lower T&E costs. These increases were partially offset by the impact of higher material and transportation costs, increased performance-based compensation compared to fiscal 2020, and lower margins onU.K. based cremation and incineration projects. Adjusted EBITDA for the Industrial Technologies segment was$15.2 million for the nine months endedJune 30, 2021 and the nine months endedJune 30, 2020 . Industrial Technologies segment adjusted EBITDA primarily reflected the impact of higher warehouse automation and product identification sales, benefits from cost-reduction initiatives, and reduced T&E costs, which were offset by increased performance-based compensation expense and higher product development costs. Changes in foreign currency exchange rates had a favorable impact of$512,000 on the segment's adjusted EBITDA compared to the prior year. Investment income was$3.0 million for the nine months endedJune 30, 2021 and$1.4 million for the nine months endedJune 30, 2020 . Investment income for both periods primarily reflected changes in the value of investments (primarily marketable securities) held in trust for certain of the Company's benefit plans. Interest expense for the first nine months of fiscal 2021 was$21.7 million , compared to$26.9 million for the same period last year. The decrease in interest expense reflected a decrease in average borrowing levels and lower average interest rates in the current fiscal year. Other income (deductions), net, for the nine months endedJune 30, 2021 represented a decrease in pre-tax income of$6.8 million , compared to a decrease in pre-tax income of$7.4 million for the same period last year. Other income (deductions), net includes the non-service components of pension and postretirement expense, which totaled$5.7 million and$6.7 million for the nine months endedJune 30, 2021 and 2020, respectively. Other income (deductions), net also includes banking-related fees and the impact of currency gains and losses on certain intercompany debt and foreign denominated cash balances. 24 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Item 2. Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations, Continued
Income tax provisions for the Company's interim periods are based on the effective income tax rate expected to be applicable for the full year. The Company's consolidated income taxes for the nine months endedJune 30, 2021 were an expense of$2.6 million , compared to a benefit of$22.7 million for the first nine months of fiscal 2020. The difference between the Company's consolidated income taxes for the first nine months of fiscal 2021 compared to the same period for fiscal 2020 primarily resulted from consolidated pre-tax income in fiscal 2021 compared to a pre-tax loss in fiscal 2020. Additionally, fiscal 2021 included discrete tax expenses related to foreign operating losses, discrete tax benefits related to the resolution of uncertain tax liabilities, a net operating loss ("NOL") carryback to tax years where theU.S. federal statutory rate was 35%, and additional foreign tax credits. Fiscal 2020 included discrete tax benefits resulting from the closure of several tax audits. The Company's fiscal 2021 nine-month effective tax rate varied from theU.S. statutory tax rate of 21.0% primarily due to discrete tax expenses related to foreign operating losses, discrete tax benefits related to the resolution of uncertain tax liabilities, a NOL carryback to tax years where theU.S. federal statutory rate was 35%, and additional foreign tax credits. Additionally, state taxes, foreign statutory rate differentials, and tax credits all affected the fiscal 2021 effective tax rate. The Company's fiscal 2020 nine-month effective tax rate varied from theU.S. statutory tax rate of 21.0% primarily due to state taxes, foreign statutory rate differentials, tax credits, the goodwill write-down, the expected NOL carryback, and discrete tax benefits recognized in fiscal 2020.
Net losses attributable to noncontrolling interests were
NON-GAAP FINANCIAL MEASURES:
Included in this report are measures of financial performance that are not defined by GAAP. The Company uses non-GAAP financial measures to assist in comparing its performance on a consistent basis for purposes of business decision-making by removing the impact of certain items that management believes do not directly reflect the Company's core operations including acquisition costs, ERP integration costs, strategic initiative and other charges (which includes non-recurring charges related to operational initiatives and exit activities), stock-based compensation and the non-service portion of pension and postretirement expense. Management believes that presenting non-GAAP financial measures is useful to investors because it (i) provides investors with meaningful supplemental information regarding financial performance by excluding certain items that management believes do not directly reflect the Company's core operations, (ii) permits investors to view performance using the same tools that management uses to budget, forecast, make operating and strategic decisions, and evaluate historical performance, and (iii) otherwise provides supplemental information that may be useful to investors in evaluating the Company's results. The Company believes that the presentation of these non-GAAP financial measures, when considered together with the corresponding GAAP financial measures and the reconciliations to those measures, provided herein, provides investors with an additional understanding of the factors and trends affecting the Company's business that could not be obtained absent these disclosures. The Company believes that adjusted EBITDA provides relevant and useful information, which is used by the Company's management in assessing the performance of its business. Adjusted EBITDA is defined by the Company as earnings before interest, income taxes, depreciation, amortization and certain non-cash and/or non-recurring items that do not contribute directly to management's evaluation of its operating results. These items include stock-based compensation, the non-service portion of pension and postretirement expense, acquisition costs, ERP integration costs, and strategic initiatives and other charges. Adjusted EBITDA provides the Company with an understanding of earnings before the impact of investing and financing charges and income taxes, and the effects of certain acquisition and ERP integration costs, and items that do not reflect the ordinary earnings of the Company's operations. This measure may be useful to an investor in evaluating operating performance. It is also useful as a financial measure for lenders and is used by the Company's management to measure business performance. Adjusted EBITDA is not a measure of the Company's financial performance under GAAP and should not be considered as an alternative to net income or other performance measures derived in accordance with GAAP, or as an alternative to cash flow from operating activities as a measure of the Company's liquidity. The Company's definition of adjusted EBITDA may not be comparable to similarly titled measures used by other companies. 25 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Item 2. Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations, Continued
The reconciliation of net income to adjusted EBITDA is as follows:
Three Months Ended Nine Months Ended June 30, June 30, 2021 2020 2021 2020 (Dollar amounts in thousands) Net income (loss)$ 3,366 $ 1,849 $ 6,526 $ (95,052) Income tax (benefit) provision (2,325) (6,209) 2,627 (22,672) Income (loss) before income taxes 1,041 (4,360) 9,153 (117,724) Net (income) loss attributable to noncontrolling interests (11) 420 60 491 Interest expense 6,748 8,082 21,709 26,935 Depreciation and amortization * 35,389 30,168 97,919 88,418 Acquisition related items (1)** 398 355 38 2,576 ERP integration costs (2)** 118 745 477 2,160 Strategic initiatives and other charges: (3)** Workforce reductions and related costs 1,826 776 10,644 4,425 Other cost-reduction initiatives 4,871 4,743 12,339 20,951 Gain on sale of ownership interest in a subsidiary (4) - (11,208) - (11,208) Legal matter reserve (5) - 10,566 - 10,566 Non-recurring / incremental COVID-19 costs (6) 1,993 1,871 4,689 2,534 Goodwill write-down (7) - - - 90,408 Joint Venture depreciation, amortization, interest expense and other charges (8) - 2,473 - 4,732 Stock-based compensation 5,713 2,539 12,960 7,078 Non-service pension and postretirement expense (9) 1,929 2,227 5,730 6,682 Total Adjusted EBITDA$ 60,015 $ 49,397 $ 175,718 $ 139,024 (1) Includes certain non-recurring items associated with recent acquisition activities. (2) Represents costs associated with global ERP system integration efforts. (3) Includes certain non-recurring costs associated with productivity and cost-reduction initiatives intended to result in improved operating performance, profitability and working capital levels. (4) Represents a gain on the sale of an ownership interest in a subsidiary within the Memorialization segment. (5) Represents a reserve established for a legal matter involving a letter of credit for a customer inSaudi Arabia within the Memorialization segment. (6) Includes certain non-recurring direct incremental costs (such as costs for purchases of computer peripherals and devices to facilitate working-from-home, additional personal protective equipment and cleaning supplies and services, etc.) incurred in response to COVID-19. This amount does not include the impact of any lost sales or underutilization due to COVID-19. (7) Represents the goodwill write-down for two reporting units within the SGK Brand Solutions segment. (8) Represents the Company's portion of depreciation, intangible amortization, interest expense, and other non-recurring charges incurred by non-consolidated subsidiaries accounted for as equity-method investments within the Memorialization segment. (9) Non-service pension and postretirement expense includes interest cost, expected return on plan assets, amortization of actuarial gains and losses, and curtailment gains and losses. These benefit cost components are excluded from adjusted EBITDA since they are primarily influenced by external market conditions that impact investment returns and interest (discount) rates. Curtailment gains and losses are excluded from adjusted EBITDA since they generally result from certain non-recurring events, such as plan amendments to modify future benefits. The service cost and prior service cost components of pension and postretirement expense are included in the calculation of adjusted EBITDA, since they are considered to be a better reflection of the ongoing service-related costs of providing these benefits. Please note that GAAP pension and postretirement expense or the adjustment above are not necessarily indicative of the current or future cash flow requirements related to these employee benefit plans. * Depreciation and amortization was$26.8 million and$21.8 million for the SGK Brand Solutions segment,$5.8 million and$5.5 million for the Memorialization segment,$1.4 million and$1.5 million for the Industrial Technologies segment, and$1.3 million and$1.3 million for Corporate and Non-Operating, for the three months endedJune 30, 2021 and 2020, respectively. Depreciation and amortization was$72.7 million and$65.3 million for the SGK Brand Solutions segment,$17.0 million and$15.0 million for the Memorialization segment,$4.2 million and$4.3 million for the Industrial Technologies segment, and$4.0 million and$3.8 million for Corporate and Non-Operating, for the nine months endedJune 30, 2021 and 2020, respectively. ** Acquisition costs, ERP integration costs, and strategic initiatives and other charges were$3.8 million and$1.8 million for the SGK Brand Solutions segment, income of$484,000 and charges of$697,000 for the Memorialization segment, and charges of$2.9 million and$4.1 million for Corporate and Non-Operating, for the three months endedJune 30, 2021 and 2020, respectively. Acquisition costs, ERP integration costs, and strategic initiatives and other charges were$14.1 million and$9.1 million for the SGK Brand Solutions segment,$1.3 million and$1.8 million for the Memorialization segment, and$8.1 million and$19.0 million for Corporate and Non-Operating, for the nine months endedJune 30, 2021 and 2020, respectively. Acquisition costs, ERP integration costs, and strategic initiatives and other charges were$268,000 for the Industrial Technologies segment, for the nine months endedJune 30, 2020 . 26 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Item 2. Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations, Continued
LIQUIDITY AND CAPITAL RESOURCES:
Net cash provided by operating activities was$106.9 million for the first nine months of fiscal 2021, compared to$123.6 million for the first nine months of fiscal 2020. Operating cash flow for both periods principally included net income (loss) adjusted for deferred taxes, depreciation and amortization, stock-based compensation expense, net gains (losses) related to investments, non-cash pension expense, other non-cash adjustments, and changes in working capital items. Fiscal 2021 operating cash flow also reflected a$15.0 million discretionary contribution to fund the Company's principal retirement plan. Net changes in working capital items decreased operating cash flow by$7.5 million in fiscal 2021, and contributed$41.7 million to operating cash flow in fiscal 2020. The fiscal 2021 change in working capital reflected payments of certain payroll tax amounts that were deferred due to COVID-19, an increase in inventory due to higher material costs, and delayed refunds of federal taxes. Cash used in investing activities was$22.9 million for the nine months endedJune 30, 2021 , compared to cash provided by investing activities of$7.4 million for the nine months endedJune 30, 2020 . Investing activities for the first nine months of fiscal 2021 reflected capital expenditures of$24.5 million , acquisitions payments (net of cash acquired and holdback amounts) totaling$15.6 million , proceeds from the sale of investments of$15.0 million , and proceeds from the sale of assets of$2.2 million . Investing activities for the first nine months of fiscal 2020 primarily reflected capital expenditures of$25.5 million , proceeds of$42.2 million from the sale of an ownership interest in a Memorialization business, and investments and advances of$9.7 million . Capital expenditures reflected reinvestment in the Company's business segments and were made primarily for the purchase of new production machinery, equipment, software and systems, and facilities designed to improve product quality, increase manufacturing efficiency, lower production costs and meet regulatory requirements. Capital expenditures for the last three fiscal years were primarily financed through operating cash. Capital spending for property, plant and equipment has averaged$38.6 million for the last three fiscal years. Capital spending for fiscal 2021 is currently estimated to be approximately$40 million . The Company expects to generate sufficient cash from operations to fund all anticipated capital spending projects. Cash used in financing activities for the nine months endedJune 30, 2021 was$79.8 million , primarily reflecting repayments, net of proceeds, on long-term debt of$49.0 million , treasury stock purchases of$6.1 million , dividends of$20.9 million to the Company's shareholders, and$1.6 million of holdback and deferred payments related to acquisitions from prior years. Cash used in financing activities for the nine months endedJune 30, 2020 was$123.1 million , primarily reflecting repayments, net of proceeds, on long-term debt of$92.1 million , treasury stock purchases of$2.4 million , dividends of$19.8 million to the Company's shareholders,$4.7 million of holdback and contingent consideration payments related to acquisitions from prior years, and payment of deferred financing fees of$2.0 million . The Company has a domestic credit facility with a syndicate of financial institutions that includes a$750.0 million senior secured revolving credit facility, which matures inMarch 2025 , and a$35.0 million senior secured amortizing term loan. The senior secured amortizing term loan was paid in full inMarch 2021 . A portion of the revolving credit facility (not to exceed$350.0 million ) can be drawn in foreign currencies. Borrowings under the revolving credit facility bear interest at LIBOR (Euro LIBOR for balances drawn in Euros) plus a factor ranging from 0.75% to 2.00% (1.00% atJune 30, 2021 ) based on the Company's secured leverage ratio. The secured leverage ratio is defined as net secured indebtedness divided by EBITDA (earnings before interest, income taxes, depreciation and amortization) as defined within the domestic credit facility agreement. The Company is required to pay an annual commitment fee ranging from 0.15% to 0.30% (based on the Company's leverage ratio) of the unused portion of the revolving credit facility. The Company incurred debt issuance costs in connection with the domestic credit facility. Unamortized costs were$2.4 million and$2.7 million atJune 30, 2021 andSeptember 30, 2020 , respectively. The domestic credit facility requires the Company to maintain certain leverage and interest coverage ratios. A portion of the facility (not to exceed$35.0 million ) is available for the issuance of trade and standby letters of credit. OutstandingU.S. dollar denominated borrowings on the revolving credit facility atJune 30, 2021 andSeptember 30, 2020 were$259.2 million and$257.4 million , respectively. Outstanding Euro denominated borrowings on the revolving credit facility atJune 30, 2021 andSeptember 30, 2020 were €97.0 million ($115.2 million ) and €117.0 million ($137.2 million ), respectively. There were no outstanding borrowings on the term loan as ofJune 30, 2021 . Outstanding borrowings on the term loan atSeptember 30, 2020 were$22.4 million . The weighted-average interest rate on outstanding borrowings for the domestic credit facility (including the effects of interest rate swaps and Euro denominated borrowings) atJune 30, 2021 and 2020 was 1.94% and 2.44%, respectively. 27 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Item 2. Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations, Continued
The Company has$300.0 million of 5.25% senior unsecured notes dueDecember 1, 2025 (the "2025 Senior Notes"). The 2025 Senior Notes bear interest at a rate of 5.25% per annum with interest payable semi-annually in arrears onJune 1 andDecember 1 of each year. The Company's obligations under the 2025 Senior Notes are guaranteed by certain of the Company's direct and indirect wholly-owned domestic subsidiaries. The Company is subject to certain covenants and other restrictions in connection with the 2025 Senior Notes. The Company incurred direct financing fees and costs in connection with the 2025 Senior Notes. Unamortized costs were$2.3 million and$2.7 million atJune 30, 2021 andSeptember 30, 2020 , respectively. The Company has a$115.0 million accounts receivable securitization facility (the "Securitization Facility") with certain financial institutions which matures inMarch 2022 and the Company intends to extend this facility. Under the Securitization Facility, the Company and certain of its domestic subsidiaries sell, on a continuous basis without recourse, their trade receivables toMatthews Receivables Funding Corporation, LLC ("Matthews RFC"), a wholly-owned bankruptcy-remote subsidiary of the Company. Matthews RFC in turn assigns a collateral interest in these receivables to certain financial institutions, and then may borrow funds under the Securitization Facility. The Securitization Facility does not qualify for sale treatment. Accordingly, the trade receivables and related debt obligations remain on the Company's Consolidated Balance Sheet. Borrowings under the Securitization Facility bear interest at LIBOR plus 0.75%. The Company is required to pay an annual commitment fee ranging from 0.25% to 0.35% of the unused portion of the Securitization Facility. Outstanding borrowings under the Securitization Facility atJune 30, 2021 andSeptember 30, 2020 were$90.7 million and$67.7 million , respectively. AtJune 30, 2021 and 2020, the interest rate on borrowings under this facility was 0.85% and 0.91% respectively.
The following table presents information related to interest rate contracts entered into by the Company and designated as cash flow hedges (dollar amounts in thousands):
June 30, 2021 September 30, 2020 Pay fixed swaps - notional amount$ 250,000 $
312,500
Net unrealized loss$ (2,982) $
(7,792)
Weighted-average maturity period (years) 2.5
2.6
Weighted-average received rate 0.10 % 0.15 % Weighted-average pay rate 1.34 % 1.34 % The Company enters into interest rate swaps in order to achieve a mix of fixed and variable rate debt that it deems appropriate. The interest rate swaps have been designated as cash flow hedges of future variable interest payments, which are considered probable of occurring. Based on the Company's assessment, all of the critical terms of each of the hedges matched the underlying terms of the hedged debt and related forecasted interest payments, and as such, these hedges were considered highly effective. The fair value of the interest rate swaps reflected an unrealized loss of$3.0 million ($2.3 million after tax) atJune 30, 2021 and an unrealized loss of$7.8 million ($5.9 million after tax) atSeptember 30, 2020 that is included in shareholders' equity as part of accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) ("AOCI"). Assuming market rates remain constant with the rates atJune 30, 2021 , a loss (net of tax) of approximately$1.8 million included in AOCI is expected to be recognized in earnings over the next twelve months. The Company, through certain of its European subsidiaries, has a credit facility with a European bank, which is guaranteed by Matthews. The maximum amount of borrowing available under this facility is €25.0 million ($29.7 million ), which includes €8.0 million ($9.5 million ) for bank guarantees. The credit facility matures inDecember 2021 and the Company intends to continue to extend this facility. Outstanding borrowings under the credit facility totaled €6.6 million ($7.8 million ) and €18.9 million ($22.2 million ) atJune 30, 2021 andSeptember 30, 2020 , respectively. The weighted-average interest rate on outstanding borrowings under this facility atJune 30, 2021 and 2020 was 2.25% and 1.25%, respectively. The Company uses certain foreign currency debt instruments as net investment hedges of foreign operations. Currency losses of$6.0 million (net of income taxes of$1.9 million ) and currency losses of$4.4 million (net of income taxes of$1.4 million ), which represent effective hedges of net investments, were reported as a component of AOCI within currency translation adjustment atJune 30, 2021 andSeptember 30, 2020 , respectively. 28
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Item 2. Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations, Continued
The Company has a stock repurchase program. The Company's Board of Directors had authorized the repurchase of a total of 5,000,000 shares of Matthews' common stock under the program, of which 324,861 shares remained available for repurchase as ofJune 30, 2021 . OnJuly 28, 2021 , the Company's Board of Directors authorized an additional 2,500,000 shares for repurchase under the program. The buy-back program is designed to increase shareholder value, enlarge the Company's holdings of its common stock, and add to earnings per share. Repurchased shares may be retained in treasury, utilized for acquisitions, or reissued to employees or other purchasers, subject to the restrictions set forth in the Company's Restated Articles of Incorporation. Consolidated working capital of the Company was$291.3 million atJune 30, 2021 , compared to$258.7 million atSeptember 30, 2020 . Cash and cash equivalents were$46.2 million atJune 30, 2021 , compared to$41.3 million atSeptember 30, 2020 . The Company's current ratio was 1.9 atJune 30, 2021 and 1.8 atSeptember 30, 2020 . REGULATORY MATTERS: The Company's operations are subject to various federal, state and local laws and regulations requiring strict compliance, including, but not limited to, the protection of the environment. The Company has established numerous internal compliance programs to further ensure lawful satisfaction of the applicable regulations. In addition, the Company is party to specific environmental matters which include obligations to investigate and mitigate the effects on the environment of certain materials at operating and non-operating sites. The Company is currently performing environmental assessments and remediation at certain sites, as applicable. ACQUISITIONS:
Refer to Note 14, "Acquisitions" in Item 1 - "Financial Statements" for further details on the Company's acquisitions.
FORWARD-LOOKING INFORMATION:
The Company's current strategy to attain annual operating growth primarily consists of the following: internal growth - which includes organic growth, cost structure and productivity improvements, new product development and the expansion into new markets with existing products - and acquisitions and related integration activities to achieve strategic and synergy benefits. The significant factors (excluding acquisitions) influencing sales growth in the SGK Brand Solutions segment are global economic conditions, brand innovation, the level of marketing spending by the Company's clients, and government regulation. Due to the global footprint of this segment, currency fluctuations can also be a significant factor. For the Memorialization segment, sales growth will be influenced byNorth America death rates, and the impact of the increasing trend toward cremation on the segment's product offerings, including caskets, cemetery memorial products and cremation-related products. For the Industrial Technologies segment, sales growth drivers include economic/industrial market conditions, new product development, and the e-commerce trend. During fiscal 2019, the Company initiated a strategic evaluation to improve profitability and reduce the Company's cost structure. These actions leveraged the benefit of the Company's new global ERP platform, primarily targeted at the SGK Brand Solutions segment, both operational and commercial structure, and the Company's shared financial services and other administrative functions. This evaluation identified opportunities for significant cost structure improvements, which the Company expects to achieve through at least fiscal 2022. The Company's recent strategic review has also resulted in improvements to the commercial structure within the SGK Brand Solutions segment. OnJanuary 30, 2020 , theWorld Health Organization declared an outbreak of COVID-19 to be a Public Health Emergency of International Concern, and subsequently recognized COVID-19 as a global pandemic inMarch 2020 . Widespread efforts have been deployed by multiple countries around the world to prevent the virus from spreading, including temporary closures of non-essential businesses, event cancellations, travel restrictions, quarantines, and other disruptive actions. Substantially all of the Company's operations have remained open during the COVID-19 pandemic, as they have been considered "essential" businesses during this time. However, the Company has experienced some commercial impact and business disruptions in certain segments and geographic locations as a result of COVID-19. 29
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Item 2. Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations, Continued
Considerable judgment is necessary to assess and predict the potential financial impacts of COVID-19 on the Company's future operating results. Management expects that each of its business segments will experience some level of impacts in the short-term, potentially due to customer business disruptions, supply chain disruptions, facilities shut-downs, changing global economic conditions, and customer project delays. Additionally, recent increases in the cost of certain raw materials and other inflationary impacts are expected to impact the Company's results for the near future. The Company expects to partially mitigate these cost increases through price realization and the cost-reduction initiatives discussed above. Longer-term financial impacts will depend on global economic conditions eventually resulting from COVID-19.
CRITICAL ACCOUNTING POLICIES:
The preparation of financial statements in conformity with GAAP requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting period. Therefore, the determination of estimates requires the exercise of judgment based on various assumptions and other factors such as historical experience, economic conditions, and in some cases, actuarial techniques. Actual results may differ from those estimates. A discussion of market risks affecting the Company can be found in Item 7A - "Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures about Market Risk" in the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year endedSeptember 30, 2020 . A summary of the Company's significant accounting policies are included in the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements and in the critical accounting policies in Management's Discussion and Analysis included in the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year endedSeptember 30, 2020 . Management believes that the application of these policies on a consistent basis enables the Company to provide useful and reliable financial information about the Company's operating results and financial condition. The Company performed its annual impairment review of goodwill and indefinite-lived intangible assets in the second quarter of fiscal 2021 (January 1, 2021 ) and determined that the estimated fair values for all goodwill reporting units exceeded their carrying values, therefore no impairment charges were necessary. The estimated fair value of the Company's Graphics Imaging reporting unit, within the SGK Brand Solutions segment, exceeded the carrying value (expressed as a percentage of carrying value) by approximately 5%. If current projections are not achieved or specific valuation factors outside the Company's control (such as discount rates and continued economic and industry impacts of COVID-19) significantly change, goodwill write-downs may be necessary in future periods.
LONG-TERM CONTRACTUAL OBLIGATIONS AND COMMITMENTS:
The following table summarizes the Company's contractual obligations atJune 30, 2021 , and the effect such obligations are expected to have on its liquidity and cash flows in future periods. Payments due in fiscal year: 2021 2022 (1) to After Total Remainder 2023 2024 to 2025 2025 Contractual Cash Obligations: (Dollar amounts in thousands) Revolving credit facilities$ 382,253 $ -$ 7,786 $ 374,467 $ - Securitization Facility 90,710 - 90,710 - - 2025 Senior Notes 368,536 - 31,500 31,500 305,536 Finance lease obligations (2) 11,024 1,232 5,967 1,780 2,045 Non-cancelable operating leases (2) 89,820 7,096 45,950 24,926 11,848 Other 20,609 984 11,459 2,132 6,034 Total contractual cash obligations$ 962,952 $
9,312
(1) The Company maintains certain debt facilities with maturity dates of twelve
months or less that it intends and has the ability to extend beyond twelve
months totaling
A significant portion of the loans included in the table above bear interest at variable rates. AtJune 30, 2021 , the weighted-average interest rate was 1.94% on the Company's domestic credit facility, 0.85% on the Company's Securitization Facility and 2.25% on the credit facility through the Company's European subsidiaries. 30 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Item 2. Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations, Continued
Benefit payments under the Company's principal retirement plan are made from plan assets, while benefit payments under the supplemental retirement plan and postretirement benefit plan are funded from the Company's operating cash. During the nine months endedJune 30, 2021 contributions of$15.0 million ,$607,000 and$436,000 were made under the principal retirement plan, supplemental retirement plan and postretirement plan, respectively. UnderIRS regulations, no further contributions are required to be made to the Company's principal retirement plan during fiscal 2021. The Company currently anticipates contributing an additional$298,000 and$395,000 under the supplemental retirement plan and postretirement plan, respectively, for the remainder of fiscal 2021. During the third quarter of fiscal 2021, the Compensation Committee of the Company's Board of Directors approved a resolution to freeze all future benefit accruals for all participants in the Company's supplemental retirement plan and the defined benefit portion of the officers retirement restoration plan, effectiveApril 30, 2021 . Consequently, participants in these plans will no longer earn additional benefits afterApril 30, 2021 . Unrecognized tax benefits are positions taken, or expected to be taken, on an income tax return that may result in additional payments to tax authorities. If a tax authority agrees with the tax position taken, or expected to be taken, or the applicable statute of limitations expires, then additional payments will not be necessary. As ofJune 30, 2021 , the Company had unrecognized tax benefits, excluding penalties and interest, of approximately$8.1 million . The timing of potential future payments related to the unrecognized tax benefits is not presently determinable. The Company believes that its current liquidity sources, combined with its operating cash flow and borrowing capacity, will be sufficient to meet its capital needs for the foreseeable future.
RECENTLY ISSUED ACCOUNTING PRONOUNCEMENTS:
Refer to Note 2, "Basis of Presentation" in Item 1 - "Financial Statements," for further details on recently issued accounting pronouncements.
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