Form 10-K
Table of Contents

 

 

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

 

 

FORM 10-K

(Mark One)

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

For the fiscal year ended March 31, 2012

 

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

Commission File Number 1-11263

 

 

EXIDE TECHNOLOGIES

(Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in Its Charter)

 

Delaware   23-0552730

(State or other jurisdiction of

incorporation or organization)

 

(I.R.S. Employer

Identification Number)

13000 Deerfield Parkway, Building 200

Milton, Georgia

  30004
(Address of principal executive offices)   (Zip Code)

(678) 566-9000

(Registrant’s telephone number, including area code)

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

Common Stock, $.01 par value

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  ¨    No  þ

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

Indicate by a 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  þ    No  ¨

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has submitted electronically and posted on its corporate Web site, if any, every Interactive Data File required to be submitted and posted pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulation S-T during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to submit and post such files).    Yes  þ    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 the Registrant’s knowledge, in definitive proxy or information statements incorporated by reference in Part III of this Form 10-K or any amendment to this Form 10-K    ¨

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

 

Large accelerated filer   ¨    Accelerated filer   þ
Non-accelerated filer   ¨      Smaller reporting company   ¨

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

The aggregate market value of common stock held by non-affiliates of the Registrant as of September 30, 2011 was $306,792,220.

Indicate the number of shares outstanding of each of the issuer’s classes of common stock, as of the latest practicable date:

As of May 25, 2012, 78,346,859 shares of common stock were outstanding.

 

 

DOCUMENTS INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE

The definitive proxy statement relating to the registrant’s Annual Meeting of Stockholders to be held on September 20, 2012 is incorporated by reference in Part III to the extent described therein.

 

 

 


Table of Contents

EXIDE TECHNOLOGIES

TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

              Page  

PART I

       
  Item 1    BUSINESS      3   
  Item 1A    RISK FACTORS      10   
  Item 1B    UNRESOLVED STAFF COMMENTS      20   
  Item 2    PROPERTIES      20   
  Item 3    LEGAL PROCEEDINGS      22   
  Item 4    MINE SAFETY DISCLOSURES      22   

PART II

       
  Item 5    MARKET FOR REGISTRANT’S COMMON EQUITY, RELATED     STOCKHOLDER MATTERS AND ISSUER PURCHASES OF EQUITY      SECURITIES      23   
  Item 6    SELECTED FINANCIAL DATA      24   
  Item 7    MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL     CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS      25   
  Item 7A    QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURES ABOUT MARKET RISK      40   
  Item 8    FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND SUPPLEMENTARY DATA      42   
  Item 9    CHANGES IN AND DISAGREEMENTS WITH ACCOUNTANTS ON     ACCOUNTING AND FINANCIAL DISCLOSURE      42   
  Item 9A    CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES      42   
  Item 9B    OTHER INFORMATION      43   

PART III

       
  Item 10    DIRECTORS, EXECUTIVE OFFICERS, AND CORPORATE GOVERNANCE      43   
  Item 11    EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION      43   
  Item 12    SECURITY OWNERSHIP OF CERTAIN BENEFICIAL OWNERS AND     MANAGEMENT AND RELATED STOCKHOLDER MATTERS      43   
  Item 13    CERTAIN RELATIONSHIPS AND RELATED TRANSACTIONS, AND     DIRECTOR INDEPENDENCE      43   
  Item 14    PRINCIPAL ACCOUNTANT FEES AND SERVICES      43   

PART IV

       
  Item 15    EXHIBITS AND FINANCIAL STATEMENT SCHEDULES      44   

SIGNATURES

     45   

INDEX TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND SCHEDULE

     50   

 

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EXIDE TECHNOLOGIES

PART I

Item  1. Business

Overview and General Discussion of the Business

Exide Technologies is a Delaware corporation organized in 1966 to succeed to the business of a New Jersey corporation founded in 1888. Exide’s principal executive offices are located at 13000 Deerfield Parkway, Building 200, Milton, Georgia 30004.

The Company is a global leader in stored electrical energy solutions, and one of the largest manufacturers and suppliers of lead-acid batteries for transportation and industrial applications in the world, with fiscal 2012 net sales of approximately $3.1 billion. The Company’s operations in the Americas as well as Europe and Rest of World (“ROW”) represented approximately 40.4% and 59.6%, respectively, of fiscal 2012 net sales.

Unless otherwise indicated or unless the context otherwise requires, references to “fiscal year” refer to the twelve months ended March 31 of that year (e.g., “fiscal 2012” refers to the period beginning April 1, 2011 and ending March 31, 2012). Unless the context indicates otherwise, the “Company,” “Exide,” “we,” or “us” refers to Exide Technologies and its subsidiaries.

Company Products and Business Segments

The Company reports its financial results through four principal business segments: Transportation Americas, Transportation Europe and ROW, Industrial Energy Americas, and Industrial Energy Europe and ROW. Refer to Note 17 to the Consolidated Financial Statements in Item 8 of this Form 10-K for financial information about the Company’s business segments and the geographic areas in which the Company operates.

Transportation

The Company’s transportation batteries include starting lighting and ignition (“SLI”) batteries for cars, trucks, off-road vehicles, agricultural and construction vehicles, motorcycles, recreational vehicles, marine, and other applications including Micro-hybrids. The Company’s principal batteries sold in the transportation markets are represented by the following brands: Centra, DETA, Exide, Exide Extreme, Exide NASCAR Select, Orbital, Fulmen, and Tudor, as well as other brands under various private labels. The market for transportation batteries is divided between sales to aftermarket customers and original equipment manufacturers (“OEMs”). Transportation segments represented approximately 62.3% of the Company’s net sales in fiscal 2012. Within the transportation segments, aftermarket sales and OEM sales represented approximately 67.2% and 32.8% of fiscal 2012 net sales, respectively.

Aftermarket sales are impacted by a number of factors, including the number of vehicles in use, average battery life, average age of vehicles, weather conditions, and population growth. Aftermarket demand historically has been less cyclical than OEM demand due to the typical three to five-year replacement cycle. Some of the Company’s major aftermarket customers include Bosch, Tractor Supply, Canadian Tire, ADI, ATR International, and GroupAuto International. In addition, the Company is also a supplier of authorized replacement batteries for major OEMs including the BMW Group, Fiat Group, Honda, Iveco, John Deere, PSA Group, Scania, Volvo Trucks, Toyota, Volkswagen Group, Renault-Nissan, PACCAR, and many others.

OEM sales are primarily impacted by new vehicle manufacturing builds, based on consumer demand for new vehicles. The Company believes that the OEM market increasingly prefers suppliers with innovative energy storage technology supporting CO2 reductions and suppliers with established global production capabilities that can meet their needs as they expand internationally and increase platform standardization across multiple markets. The Company supplies batteries for two of the 10 top-selling vehicles in the United States of America

 

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(“U.S.”) and five of the 10 top-selling vehicles in Europe. Some of the Company’s significant OEM customers include the BMW Group, Fiat Group, International Truck & Engine, the PSA group (Peugeot S.A./Citroën), Case/New Holland, John Deere, Renault, Nissan, Scania, Volvo Trucks, Volkswagen Group, Chrysler, Toyota, among others.

Transportation Americas

In the Americas, the Company sells aftermarket transportation products through various distribution channels, including mass merchandisers, auto parts outlets, wholesale distributors, and battery specialists. The Company sells its OEM transportation replacement products principally through dealer networks. The Company’s Americas operations include a network of 78 branches which sell and distribute batteries and other products to the Company’s distributor channel customers, battery specialists, national account customers, retail stores, and OEM dealers. In addition, these branches collect spent batteries for the Company’s recycling facilities.

With its five active recycling facilities, the Company is the largest recycler of lead in North America. These operations supply recycled lead for use in almost all of Exide’s Transportation and Industrial Energy products manufactured in North America as well as supplying lead to a variety of external customers. The recycling facilities also recover and recycle battery acid as well as plastic materials that are used to produce new battery covers and cases.

Transportation Europe and ROW

In Europe and ROW, the Company sells OEM batteries to the light vehicle, light commercial vehicle and commercial vehicle industries. The commercial vehicle industry includes truck manufacturers as well as construction and agriculture vehicle manufacturers. Exide supplies most of its OEM batteries directly to the assembly plants of its customers. The Company supplies BMW, Fiat Group, Nissan, Renault, Volkswagen, Iveco, Scania, Volvo Trucks, and many other well known manufacturers. The Company also delivers service and replacement batteries into this segment. Those are either distributed by the OEM customers themselves or delivered directly to the service points through the Exide logistics network. The Company also supplies advanced lead-acid batteries for microhybrid vehicles equipped with CO2- reducing technologies such as Start & Stop vehicles with and without regenerative braking systems.

The Company sells Europe and ROW aftermarket batteries primarily through automotive parts and battery wholesalers, mass-merchandisers, auto centers, service installers, and oil companies. Wholesalers have traditionally represented the majority of this market, but sales through hypermarket chains and automotive parts stores, most often integrated in European-wide buying groups, have increased. Many automotive parts wholesalers are also increasingly organized in European organizations active in purchasing and merchandising programs. Battery specialists sell and distribute batteries to a network of automotive parts retailers, service stations, independent retailers, and garages throughout Europe.

Industrial Energy

The Company’s Industrial Energy segments supply both motive power and network power applications. Industrial Energy represented 37.7% of the Company’s net sales in fiscal 2012. Within the Industrial Energy segments, motive power sales and network power sales represented approximately 57.4% and 42.6% of Industrial Energy net sales, respectively.

Motive power batteries are used in the material handling industry for electric forklift trucks, and in other industries, including floor cleaning machinery, powered wheelchairs, railroad locomotives, mining, and the electric road vehicles market. The battery technologies for the motive power markets include flooded flat plate products, tubular plate products, absorbed glass mat (“AGM”) products, and gel electrolyte products. The

 

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Company also offers a complete range of battery chargers and related equipment for the operation and maintenance of battery-powered vehicles.

Network power batteries are used to provide back-up power for use with telecommunications systems, computer installations or data centers, hospitals, air traffic control, security systems, utilities, railway and military applications. Telecommunications applications include central and local switching systems, satellite stations, wireless base stations and mobile switches, optical fiber repeating boxes, cable TV transmission boxes, and radio transmission stations. The Company’s strongest network power battery brands, Absolyte and Sonnenschein, offer customers the choice of AGM or gel electrolyte valve regulated battery technologies and deliver among the highest energy and power densities in their class.

Industrial Energy Americas

In the Americas, the Company distributes motive power products and services through multiple channels. These include sales and service locations owned by the Company that are augmented by a network of independent manufacturers’ representatives. The Company serves a wide range of customers including OEM suppliers of lift trucks, large industrial companies, retail distributors, warehousing companies, and manufacturers. The Company’s primary motive power customers in the Americas include NACCO, Sears, Toyota, Walmart, and Target. The Company distributes network power products and services through sales and service locations owned by the Company augmented by a network of independent manufacturers’ representatives. The Company’s primary network power customers in the Americas include AT&T, APC, Emerson Electric, and Verizon Wireless.

Industrial Energy Europe and ROW

The Company distributes motive power products and services in Europe through in-house sales and service organizations and utilizes distributors and agents for the export of products from Europe to ROW countries. Motive power products in Europe are also sold to a wide range of customers in the aftermarket, ranging from large industrial companies and retail distributors to small warehousing and manufacturing operations. Motive power batteries are also sold in complete packages, including batteries, chargers, and increasingly through on-site service. The Company’s major OEM motive power customers include Toyota Material Handling, the KION Group, and Jungheinrich. The Company distributes network power products and services in Europe and batteries and chargers in Australia and New Zealand through in-house sales and service organizations. In Asia, products are distributed through independent distributors. The Company utilizes distributors, agents, and direct sales to export products from Europe and North America to ROW. The Company’s primary Network Power customers in Europe and ROW include Deutsche Telecom, Alcatel, Emerson Electric, Ericsson and Siemens Nokia Networks.

Quality

The Company recognizes that product performance and quality are critical to customer satisfaction and ultimately to its success. The Company has a standardized global Quality Management System (“QMS”) which it utilizes in conjunction with the deployment of lean manufacturing principles and new product development systems to drive improved levels of quality, productivity and services to the global transportation and industrial energy markets. The Company has an established history of utilizing lean manufacturing and six sigma tools and techniques under project names such as EXCELL and Take Charge! that are now a standard part of its operations, are coordinated globally, and have also been applied to areas such as maintenance and energy management. The Company also utilizes a disciplined Value Analysis Value Engineering (“VAVE”) process in conjunction with the QMS to ensure that its customers are receiving high quality, competitive products and services.

The Company’s quality commitment begins in the design phase with an in-depth understanding of customer and application requirements. The Company’s products are designed using carefully selected processes, tools and materials in order to meet required performance, industry and customers quality and durability standards. The

 

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Company’s focus on quality continues through the manufacturing process. The Company has quality audit processes and standards in each of its production and distribution facilities. The Company’s quality process extends throughout the entire product lifecycle including operation in service as well as recycling.

All of the Company’s major production facilities are approved under ISO/TS 16949 and/or ISO 9001 quality standards. The Company has also obtained ISO 14001 Environmental Health & Safety (“EH&S”) certification at the majority of its manufacturing plants, and has received quality certifications and awards from a number of OEM and aftermarket customers.

Research and Development

The Company is committed to developing new and technologically advanced products, services, and systems that provide superior performance and value to customers. To support this commitment, the Company focuses on developing opportunities across its global markets and operating a number of product and process-development centers of excellence around the world. These centers work cooperatively to define and improve the Company’s product design and production processes. By leveraging this network, the Company is able to transfer technological, product and process knowledge among its various operating facilities to adopt best practices for use throughout the Company. Investment in Research, Development and Engineering capability continues to be an important priority. In April 2011, a 19,000 square foot annex was opened in Alpharetta, Georgia for battery testing and other activities.

In addition to in-house efforts, the Company continues to pursue the formation of alliances and collaborative partnerships to develop energy-management systems for automotive electrical and electronic architectures for the global OEM market. Current cooperative efforts include materials, designs and systems. The Company is also pursuing development initiatives targeted at the industrial, military, and renewable energy markets.

In August 2009, the Company was awarded a $34.3 million grant by the United States Department of Energy (“DOE”) under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act to increase manufacturing capacity for AGM batteries with and without advanced carbon technology. These AGM batteries are designed for Start & Stop, Micro-Hybrid and no-idle vehicle applications and enable improved fuel efficiency and reduced CO2 emissions. Our total investment including the DOE grant is approximately $70.0 million for expansion of our Columbus, Georgia and Bristol, Tennessee facilities. As a result of these investments, we expect to create as many as 320 jobs and expand battery production capacity by about 1.5 million batteries per year. These investments have been largely completed in fiscal year 2012. As of March 31 2012, the Columbus plant is shipping flat plate AGM products to customers manufactured by the new equipment. The Bristol expansion is completed and as of March 31, 2012 is in the stage of product qualification. Product shipment to customers is expected within calendar 2012.

Patents, Trademarks and Licenses

The Company owns or has a license to use various trademarks that are valuable to its business. The Company believes these trademarks and licenses enhance the brand recognition of the Company’s products. The Company currently owns approximately 280 trademarks worldwide, and maintains licenses from others to use approximately 19 trademarks worldwide. For example, the Company licenses the NASCAR mark from the National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing, Inc. (“NASCAR”), and the Exide mark in the United Kingdom and Ireland from Chloride Group. The Company’s license to the NASCAR marks was extended for three years in fiscal year 2012 and now expires on December 31, 2014, and the license to the Exide mark in the United Kingdom and Ireland is for an unrestricted term subject to ongoing compliance with the terms of the license agreement. The Company also acts as licensor under certain trademark licensing agreements.

The Company has generated a number of patents in the operation of its business and currently owns all or a partial interest in greater than 315 patents and applications for patents pending worldwide. Although the

 

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Company believes its patents and patent applications collectively are important to the Company’s business, and that technological innovation is important to the Company’s market competitiveness, currently no operating segment is substantially dependent on any single patent or group of patents.

In 2003, the Company served notices in the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the District of Delaware to reject certain executory contracts with EnerSys, which the Company contended were executory, including a 1991 Trademark and Trade Name License Agreement (the “Trademark License”), pursuant to which the Company had licensed to EnerSys use of the “Exide” trademark on certain industrial battery products in the United States and 80 foreign countries. EnerSys objected to the rejection of certain of those contracts, including the Trademark License. In 2006, the Bankruptcy Court granted the Company’s request to reject certain of the contracts, including the Trademark License. EnerSys appealed those rulings. On June 1, 2010, the Third Circuit Court of Appeals reversed the Bankruptcy Court ruling, and remanded to the lower courts, holding that certain of the contracts, including the Trademark License, were not executory contracts and, therefore, were not subject to rejection. On August 27, 2010, acting on the Third Circuit's mandate, the Bankruptcy Court vacated its prior orders and denied the Company's motion to reject the contracts on the grounds that the agreements are not executory. On September 20, 2010, the Company filed a complaint in the Bankruptcy Court seeking a declaratory judgment that EnerSys does not have enforceable rights under the Trademark License under Bankruptcy Code provisions which the Company believes are relevant to non-executory contracts. EnerSys has filed a motion to dismiss that complaint, which the Company has opposed, and the motion remains pending. For further information regarding this matter, see Note 11 to the Consolidated Financial Statements.

Manufacturing, Raw Materials and Suppliers

Lead is the primary material used in the manufacture of the Company’s lead-acid batteries, representing approximately 49.2% of the cost of goods produced. The Company obtains substantially all of its North American lead requirements through the operation of five secondary lead recycling plants which reclaim lead by recycling spent lead-acid batteries. In North America, the Company obtains spent batteries for recycling primarily from the Company’s customers, through Company-owned branch networks, and from third party spent battery collectors. In Europe and ROW, the Company obtains a small portion of its lead requirements through the operation of two lead recycling plants. The majority of the Company’s lead requirements in Europe and ROW, however, are obtained from third-party suppliers.

The Company uses both polyethylene and AGM battery separators. There are a number of suppliers from whom the Company purchases AGM battery separators. Polyethylene battery separators are purchased primarily from one supplier pursuant to a supply agreement expiring in fiscal 2013. There is currently no second source that could readily provide the volume of certain polyethylene separators used by the Company. As a result, any major disruption in supply from the Company’s primary supplier of certain polyethylene separators would have a material adverse impact on the Company.

Other key raw materials and components in the production of batteries include lead oxide, acid, steel, plastics and chemicals, all of which are generally available from multiple sources. The Company has not experienced any material stoppage or disruption in production as a result of non-availability or delays in the availability of raw materials.

Competition

Transportation Segments

The Americas and European transportation markets are highly competitive. The manufacturers in these markets compete on price, quality, technical innovation, service, and warranty. Well-recognized brand names are also important for aftermarket customers who do not purchase private label batteries. Most sales are made without long-term contracts.

 

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In the Americas transportation segment, the Company believes it has the third largest market position. Other principal competitors in this market are Johnson Controls, Inc. and East Penn Manufacturing. Competition is strongest in the auto parts retail and mass merchandiser channels where large customers use their buying power to negotiate lower prices and longer payment terms. Due to technical and production qualification requirements, OEMs change battery suppliers less frequently than aftermarket customers, but because of their purchasing size, they can influence market participants to compete on price and other terms. The Company also believes that it has the overall second largest market position in Europe in transportation batteries for the light vehicles and commercial vehicles product categories. The Company’s largest competitor in the European transportation markets is Johnson Controls, Inc.

Industrial Energy Segments

The Company believes that it is one of the significant participants in the global motive power battery market. Competitors in the Americas include EnerSys Inc., East Penn Manufacturing, and Crown Battery, Inc. Competitors in Europe include EnerSys, Inc., Hoppecke, and MIDAC. In Asia, GS/Yuasa, Shinkobe, and EnerSys, Inc. are the primary competitors.

The Company is also one of the significant participants in the global network power battery market. Competitors in the Americas include C&D Technologies, EnerSys, Inc., and East Penn Manufacturing. The major competitor in Europe is EnerSys, Inc. In Asia, GS/Yuasa, Shinkobe, and EnerSys, Inc. are the primary competitors.

Seasonal Factors

The Company sells a disproportionate share of its transportation aftermarket batteries during the fall and early winter (the Company’s third and a portion of its fourth fiscal quarters). Retailers and distributors buy automotive batteries during these periods so they will have sufficient inventory for cold weather periods. Unusually cold winters and hot summers may accelerate battery failure and increase demand for transportation replacement batteries. Mild winters and cool summers, however, may have the opposite effect.

Environmental, Health and Safety Matters

As a result of its manufacturing, distribution, and recycling operations, the Company is subject to numerous federal, state, and local environmental, occupational safety, and health laws and regulations, as well as similar laws and regulations in other countries in which the Company operates (collectively, “EH&S laws”). For a discussion of the legal proceedings relating to environmental, health, and safety matters, see Note 11 to the Consolidated Financial Statements.

Employees

The Company employed approximately 9,988 persons at March 31, 2012, compared to approximately 10,027 persons at March 31, 2011.

Americas

As of March 31, 2012, the Company employed approximately 1,244 salaried employees and 2,876 hourly employees in the Americas, primarily in the U.S. Approximately 44% of these salaried employees are engaged in sales, service, marketing, and administration and 56% in manufacturing and engineering. Approximately 20% of the Company’s hourly employees in the Americas are represented by unions. The Company believes that relations with its unions are generally good. Union contracts covering approximately 1.4% of the Company’s domestic employees expire in fiscal 2013, and the remainder thereafter.

 

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Europe and ROW

As of March 31, 2012, the Company employed approximately 2,348 salaried employees and 3,520 hourly employees outside of the Americas, primarily in Europe. Approximately 64% of these salaried employees are engaged in sales, service, marketing, and administration and 36% in manufacturing and engineering. Generally, the Company’s hourly employees and some of its salaried employees in Europe and ROW are represented by unions. The Company meets regularly with the European Works Councils. The Company believes that relations with its unions are generally good. Contracts covering most of the Company’s non-U.S. union employees expire on various dates in fiscal 2013.

Executive Officers

James R. Bolch (54) President, Chief Executive Officer, and member of the Board of Directors. Mr. Bolch joined the Company in July 2010. His career has spanned 30 years in global industrial businesses serving a variety of market segments. Before joining Exide, he served as Senior Vice President and President, Industrial Technologies Sector at Ingersoll Rand Company. He joined Ingersoll Rand in 2005 from Schindler Elevator Corporation, where he served as Executive Vice President of the Service Business. Prior to his tenure at Schindler Elevator Corporation, Mr. Bolch spent 21 years with United Technologies Corporation.

Phillip A. Damaska (57) Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer. Mr. Damaska joined the Company in January 2005 as Vice President, Finance, was appointed Vice President and Corporate Controller in September 2005, was named Senior Vice President and Corporate Controller in March 2006, and was named Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer effective April 1, 2008. Prior to joining the Company, Mr. Damaska served in numerous capacities with Freudenberg-NOK from 1996 through 2004, most recently as President of Corteco, an automotive and industrial seal supplier that is part of the partnership's global group of companies.

Barbara A. Hatcher (57) Executive Vice President and General Counsel. Ms. Hatcher joined the Company in September 2000 in connection with the Company’s acquisition of GNB. Ms. Hatcher has been Executive Vice President and General Counsel since May 2006, after having served as Deputy General Counsel from April 2004 through April 2006. Ms. Hatcher previously served as GNB’s Vice President & General Counsel.

Bruce Cole (49Executive Vice President, Strategy and Business Development. Mr. Cole joined the Company in September 2000 in connection with the Company’s acquisition of GNB. Mr. Cole joined GNB in 1989. Mr. Cole served as President, Exide Americas from August 2007 to October 2011 and prior to that was Vice President and General Manager, North American Recycling. Mr. Cole has also served in a variety of roles at the Company including Vice President, Manufacturing & Engineering for Industrial Energy Americas and Vice President, Global Marketing, Industrial Energy.

R. Paul Hirt, Jr. (52) President, Exide Americas. Mr. Hirt joined Exide in October 2011. Prior to joining the Company, Mr. Hirt served as President and Chief Executive Officer of Sigma Electric Manufacturing Company from 2007 until October 2011. Mr. Hirt previously served from 1981 to 2007 in a number of positions at General Electric Company, most recently as General Manager, Americas Sales—GE Silicones from 2004 to 2007.

Michael Ostermann (46) President, Exide Europe. Mr. Ostermann joined Exide in January 2009 as President, Transportation Europe and was named President, Exide Europe in March 2010. Prior to joining the Company, Mr. Ostermann served in a variety of automotive industry and operational roles including his most recent position as Management Board Member and Managing Director for Frauenthal Holding AG, a European manufacturer of industrial ceramic products. Mr. Ostermann was responsible for establishing that company’s Automotive Division.

Louis E. Martinez (46) Vice President, Corporate Controller, and Chief Accounting Officer. Mr. Martinez was appointed to this position in March 2008. Previously, Mr. Martinez served as the Company's Assistant Corporate Controller since joining the Company in May 2005. Mr. Martinez served as Corporate Controller for

 

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Airgate PCS, Inc., from March 2003 through May 2005. Mr. Martinez has also served as Corporate Controller for Cotelligent, Inc., from March 2000 through February 2003 and as Director of Finance & Controller for Aegis Communications Group from 1996 through February 2000.

Backlog

The Company’s order backlog at March 31, 2012 and March 31, 2011, respectively, was approximately $50.9 million and $44.8 million for Industrial Energy Americas and approximately $132.0 million and $105.4 million for Industrial Energy Europe and ROW. The Company expects to fill those backlogs during fiscal 2013. The Transportation backlog at March 31, 2012 was not significant.

Available Information

The Company maintains a website on the internet at www.exide.com. The Company makes available free of charge through its website, by way of a hyperlink to a third-party Securities Exchange Commission (“SEC”) filing website (www.sec.gov), its annual reports on Form 10-K, quarterly reports on Form 10-Q, current reports on Form 8-K and amendments to those reports electronically filed or furnished pursuant to Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Exchange Act of 1934. The information on the Company’s website is not, and shall not be deemed to be, a part of this annual report on form 10-K or incorporated into any other filings the Company makes with the SEC. The SEC website (www.sec.gov) contains reports, proxy and other statements, and other information regarding issuers, including the Company, that file electronically with the SEC. All of this information is available as soon as reasonably practicable after it is filed with the SEC. In addition, the public may read and copy any materials the Company files with the SEC at the SEC’s Public Reference Room at 100 F Street, N.E., Washington D.C., 20549. Information on the operation of the Public Reference Room may be obtained by calling the SEC at 1-800-SEC-0330. The Company’s Code of Ethics and Business Conduct may be accessed within the Investor Relations section of its website. Amendments and waivers of the Code of Ethics and Business Conduct will also be disclosed within four business days of issuance on the website. Information found in the Company’s website is neither part of this annual report on Form 10-K nor any other report filed with the SEC.

Item 1A. Risk Factors

The Company has experienced significant fluctuations in raw material prices, particularly lead, and further changes in the prices of raw materials or in energy costs could have a material adverse effect on the Company’s business, financial condition, cash flows, or results of operations.

Lead is the primary material used in the manufacture of the Company’s lead-acid batteries, representing approximately 49.2% of the cost of goods produced. The Company obtains substantially all of its North American lead requirements through the operation of five secondary lead recycling plants which reclaim lead by recycling spent lead-acid batteries. In North America, the Company obtains spent batteries for recycling primarily from the Company’s customers, through Company-owned branch networks, and from outside spent battery collectors. Costs of spent batteries have been quite volatile, increasing by 14% on average in fiscal 2012 as compared with fiscal 2011. In Europe and ROW, the Company obtains a small portion of its lead requirements through the operation of two lead recycling plants. The majority of the Company’s lead requirements in Europe and ROW, however, are obtained from third-party suppliers.

Other key raw materials and components in the production of batteries include lead oxide, acid, steel, plastics and chemicals, all of which are generally available from multiple sources. The Company has not experienced any material stoppage or disruption in production as a result of non-availability or delays in the availability of raw materials.

The Company is subject to fluctuations in exchange rates and other risks associated with its non-U.S. operations which could adversely affect the Company’s business, financial condition, cash flows or results of operations.

The Company has significant manufacturing operations in, and exports to, several countries outside the U.S. Approximately 59.6% of the Company’s net sales for fiscal 2012 were generated in Europe and ROW with the

 

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significant majority generated in Euros. Because such a significant portion of the Company’s operation is based overseas, the Company is exposed to foreign currency risk, resulting in uncertainty as to future asset and liability values, and results of operations that are denominated in foreign currencies. The Company invoices foreign sales and service transactions in local currencies, using actual exchange rates during the period, and translates these revenues and expenses into U.S. Dollars at average monthly exchange rates. Because a significant portion of the Company’s net sales and expenses are denominated in foreign currencies, the depreciation of these foreign currencies in relation to the U.S. Dollar could adversely affect the Company’s reported net sales and operating margins. The Company translates its non-U.S. assets and liabilities into U.S. Dollars using current rates as of the balance sheet date. Therefore, foreign currency depreciation against the U.S. Dollar would result in a decrease in the Company’s net investment in foreign subsidiaries.

In addition, foreign currency depreciation, particularly depreciation of the Euro, would make it more expensive for the Company’s non-U.S. subsidiaries to purchase certain raw material commodities that are priced globally in U.S. Dollars, such as lead, which is quoted on the London Metals Exchange (“LME”) in U.S. Dollars. The Company does not engage in significant hedging of its foreign currency exposure and cannot assure that it will be able to hedge its foreign currency exposures at a reasonable cost.

There are other risks inherent in the Company’s non-U.S. operations, including:

 

   

Changes in local economic conditions, and disruption of markets; including current sovereign debt challenges in certain European countries.

 

   

Changes in laws and regulations, including changes in import, export, labor and environmental laws;

 

   

Exposure to possible expropriation or other government actions; and

 

   

Unsettled political conditions and possible terrorist attacks against American interests.

These and other risks may have a material adverse effect on the Company’s non-U.S. operations or on its business, financial condition, cash flows or results of operations.

The Company’s liquidity is affected by the seasonality of its business. Warm winters and cool summers adversely affect the Company.

The Company sells a disproportionate share of its automotive aftermarket batteries during the fall and early winter. Resellers buy automotive batteries during these periods so that they will have sufficient inventory for cold weather periods. This seasonality increases the Company’s working capital requirements and makes it more sensitive to fluctuations in the availability of liquidity. Unusually cold winters or hot summers may accelerate battery failure and increase demand for automotive replacement batteries. Mild winters and cool summers may have the opposite effect. As a result, if the Company’s sales are reduced by an unusually warm winter or cool summer, it may not be possible for the Company to recover these sales in later periods. Further, if the Company’s sales are adversely affected by the weather, it cannot make offsetting cost reductions to protect the Company’s liquidity and gross margins in the short-term because a large portion of the Company’s manufacturing and distribution costs are fixed. These circumstances could result in a material adverse effect on the Company’s business, financial condition, cash flows, or results of operations.

Decreased demand in the industries in which the Company operates may adversely affect its business, financial condition, cash flows or results of operations.

The Company’s financial performance depends, in part, on conditions in the automotive, material handling, and telecommunications industries which, in turn, are generally dependent on the U.S. and global economies. As a result, economic and other factors adversely affecting production by OEMs and their customers’ spending could adversely impact the Company’s business. Relatively modest declines in customer purchases from the

 

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Company could have a significant adverse impact on its profitability because the Company has substantial fixed production costs. If the Company’s OEM and large aftermarket customers reduce their inventory levels, or reduce their orders, the Company’s performance would be significantly adversely impacted. In this economic environment, the Company cannot predict future production rates or inventory levels or underlying economic factors. Continued uncertainty and unexpected fluctuations may adversely affect the Company’s business, financial conditions, cash flows, or results of operations.

The remaining portion of the Company’s battery sales are of aftermarket batteries. The factors influencing demand for automotive replacement batteries include: (1) the number of vehicles in use; (2) average battery life; (3) the average age of vehicles and their operating environment; (4) weather conditions; (5) population growth; and (6) overall economic conditions. Any significant adverse change in any one of these factors may adversely affect the Company’s business, financial condition, cash flows, or results of operations.

The loss of the Company’s primary supplier of polyethylene battery separators would have a material adverse effect on the Company’s business, financial condition, cash flows or results of operations.

The Company uses both polyethylene and AGM battery separators. There are a number of suppliers from whom the Company purchases AGM battery separators. Polyethylene battery separators are purchased primarily from one supplier pursuant to a supply agreement expiring in fiscal 2013. There is currently no second source that could readily provide the volume of certain of its polyethylene separators used by the Company. As a result, any major disruption in supply from the Company’s primary supplier of certain polyethylene separators would have a material adverse impact on the Company.

Many of the industries in which the Company operates are cyclical.

The Company’s operating results are affected by the general cyclical pattern of the industries in which its major customer groups operate. Any significant decline in demand for replacement batteries for automobiles, light trucks, or sport utility vehicles could have a material adverse impact on the Company’s business, financial condition, cash flows or results of operations of the Company’s Transportation segments. To a lesser extent, a prolonged decline in the demand for new automobiles, light trucks or sport utility vehicles could also have an adverse impact on these segments. A weak capital expenditure environment in the telecommunications, uninterruptible power systems or electric industrial forklift truck markets could have a material adverse effect on the business, financial condition, cash flows, or results of operations of the Company’s Industrial Energy segments.

The Company is subject to pricing pressure from its larger customers.

The Company faces significant pricing pressures in all of its business segments from its larger customers. Because of their purchasing volume, the Company’s larger customers can influence market participants to compete on price and other terms. Such customers also use their buying power to negotiate lower prices. If the Company is not able to offset price reductions resulting from these pressures by improved operating efficiencies and reduced expenditures, those price reductions may have an adverse impact on the Company’s business, financial condition, cash flows, or results of operations.

The Company faces increasing competition and pricing pressure from other companies in its industries, and if the Company is unable to compete effectively with these competitors, the Company’s sales and profitability could be adversely affected.

The Company competes with a number of major domestic and international manufacturers and distributors of lead-acid batteries, as well as a large number of smaller, regional competitors. Due to excess capacity in some sectors of its industry and consolidation among industrial purchasers, the Company has been subjected to continued and significant pricing pressures. The North American, European and Asian lead-acid battery markets

 

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are highly competitive. The manufacturers in these markets compete on price, quality, technical innovation, service, and warranty. In addition, the Company is experiencing heightened competitive pricing pressure as Asian producers, which are able to employ labor at significantly lower costs than producers in the U.S. and Western Europe, expand their export capacity and increase their marketing presence in the Company’s major markets. If the Company is unable to compete effectively with these competitors, its sales and profitability could be adversely affected, which could have a material adverse effect on the Company’s business, financial condition, cash flows, or results of operations.

If the Company is not able to develop new products or improve upon its existing products on a timely basis, the Company’s business, financial condition, cash flows or results of operations could be adversely affected.

The Company believes that its future success depends, in part, on the ability to develop, on a timely basis, new technologically advanced products or improve on the Company’s existing products in innovative ways that meet or exceed its competitors’ product offerings. Maintaining the Company’s market position will require continued investment in capital assets, research and development, and sales and marketing. Industry standards, customer expectations, or other products may emerge that could render one or more of the Company’s products less desirable or obsolete. The Company may be unsuccessful in making the technological advances necessary to develop new products or improve its existing products to maintain its market position. If any of these events occur, they could cause decreases in sales and have an adverse effect on the Company’s business, financial condition, cash flows or results of operations.

The Company may be adversely affected by the instability and uncertainty in the world financial markets and the global economy, and uncertainty around potential terrorist activities against global companies.

Unfavorable changes in global economic conditions, including the current sovereign debt issues in certain European countries as well as tightening credit markets, inflation or recession may result in consumers, businesses and governments deferring or lowering purchases of the Company’s products in the future. In addition, terrorist activities may cause unpredictable or unfavorable economic conditions and could have a material adverse impact on the Company’s business, financial condition, cash flows or results of operations. These economic conditions and uncertainty also may impact the ability of the Company’s customers to purchase the Company’s products and services. As a result, reserves for doubtful accounts and write-offs of accounts receivable may increase. In addition, the Company’s ability to meet customer’s demands depends, in part, on the Company’s ability to obtain timely and adequate delivery of quality materials, parts and components from its suppliers. If certain key suppliers were to become capacity constrained or insolvent as a result of the global economic conditions, or terrorist attacks, it could result in a reduction or interruption in supplies or a significant increase in the price of supplies. If such economic conditions persist, or terrorist attacks occur, they could have a material adverse effect on the Company’s business, financial condition, cash flows, or results of operations.

The Company may be unable to successfully implement its business strategy, which could adversely affect its business, financial condition, cash flows or results of operations.

The Company’s ability to achieve its business and financial objectives is subject to a variety of factors, many of which are beyond the Company’s control. For example, the Company may not be successful in increasing its manufacturing and distribution efficiency through productivity, process improvements and cost reduction initiatives. Further, the Company may not be able to realize the benefits of these improvements and initiatives within the time frames the Company currently expects. In addition, the Company may not be successful in maintaining or increasing the Company’s percentage of captive arrangements and spent-battery collections or in otherwise hedging its lead requirements, leaving it exposed to fluctuations in the price of lead. Any failure to successfully implement the Company’s business strategy could adversely affect the Company’s business, financial condition, cash flows, or results of operations, and could further impair the Company’s ability to make certain strategic capital expenditures.

 

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The Company is subject to costly regulation in relation to environmental and occupational, health and safety matters, which could adversely affect its business, financial condition, cash flows or results of operations.

Throughout the world, the Company manufactures, distributes, recycles, and otherwise uses large amounts of potentially hazardous materials, especially lead and acid. As a result, the Company is subject to a substantial number of costly regulations. In particular, the Company is required to comply with increasingly stringent requirements of federal, state, and local environmental, occupational health and safety laws and regulations in the U.S. and other countries, including those governing (1) emissions to air, discharges to water, noise and odor emissions; (2) the generation, handling, storage, transportation, treatment, and disposal of waste materials; and (3) the cleanup of contaminated properties and human health and safety. Compliance with these laws and regulations results in ongoing costs. The Company could also incur substantial costs, including cleanup costs, fines, and civil or criminal sanctions, third-party property damage or personal injury claims, or costs to upgrade or replace existing equipment, as a result of violations of or liabilities under environmental laws or non-compliance with environmental permits required at its facilities. In addition, many of the Company’s current and former facilities are located on properties with histories of industrial or commercial operations. Because some environmental laws can impose liability for the entire cost of cleanup upon any of the current or former owners or operators, regardless of fault, the Company could become liable for the cost of investigating or remediating contamination at these properties if contamination requiring such activities is discovered in the future. There is also inherent difficulty in assessing the Company’s potential liability due to the large number of other potentially responsible parties. For example, a demand for the total cleanup costs of a landfill used by many entities may be asserted by the government using joint and several liability theories. Although the Company believes that there is a reasonable basis in law to believe that it will ultimately be responsible for only its share of these remediation costs, there can be no assurance that the Company will prevail on these claims. In addition, the scope of remedial costs or other environmental injuries are highly variable, and estimating these costs involves complex legal, scientific and technical judgments. The Company may become obligated to pay material remediation-related costs at its closed Tampa, Florida facility in the amount of approximately $13.2 million to $19.9 million, and at the Columbus, Georgia facility in the amount of approximately $5.7 million to $8.5 million.

The Company cannot be certain that it has been, or will at all times be, in complete compliance with all environmental requirements, or that the Company will not incur additional material costs or liabilities in connection with these requirements in excess of amounts it has reserved. Private parties, including current or former employees, could bring personal injury or other claims against the Company due to the presence of, or exposure to, hazardous substances used, stored or disposed of by it, or contained in its products, especially lead. Environmental requirements are complex and have tended to become more stringent over time. These requirements or their enforcement may change in the future in a manner that could have a material adverse effect on the Company’s business, financial condition, cash flows or results of operations. The Company has made and will continue to make expenditures to comply with environmental requirements. These requirements, responsibilities and associated expenditures, if they continue to increase, could have a material adverse effect on the Company’s business, financial condition, cash flows or results of operations. While the Company’s costs to defend and settle claims arising under environmental laws in the past have not been material, the Company cannot provide assurance that this will remain so in the future.

On November 12, 2008, the Environmental Protection Agency (“EPA”) published new lead emissions standards under the National Ambient Air Quality Standards (“NAAQS”), which became effective on January 12, 2009. The new standards further restrict lead emissions by reducing the off-site concentration standards for lead in air from 1.5 micrograms per cubic meter to 0.15 micrograms per cubic meter. The Company believes that the new standards could impact a number of its U.S. facilities. Under the Clean Air Act (“CAA”), publication by the EPA of these ambient air quality standards initiates a process by which the states develop rules implementing the standards. Recently, some states have accelerated their implementation and the Company is working with these states to meet their requirements. Although the final impact on the Company’s operations cannot be reasonably determined at the current time, the Company believes that the financial impact of compliance with these lead emissions standards on its U.S. facilities will be funded through normal

 

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operations. Noncompliance with these standards could have a material adverse effect on the Company’s business, financial condition, cash flows or results of operations.

On January 5, 2012, the EPA passed the National Emissions Standards for Hazardous Air Pollutants (“NESHAP”) for secondary lead smelting. The final regulations include limits for lead and other fugitive emissions, particularly at the Company’s lead recycling facilities, as well as additional testing and monitoring, recordkeeping, and reporting requirements. Although the Company currently believes a majority of these requirements will be met through efforts to attain compliance with NAAQS standards, our failure to attain compliance with NESHAP could have a material adverse effect on the Company’s business, financial condition, cash flows or results of operations.

On January 17, 2012, the City of Frisco, Texas initiated actions that could have prevented the Company from proceeding with projects designed to comply with certain NAAQS implementation requirements related to the Company’s Frisco, Texas recycling facility and that could have imposed an involuntary closure of the facility. The Company contested the City’s actions, and subsequently reached a settlement with the City in June 2012 whereby the Company will sell certain land around the Company’s facility for a total purchase price of $45.0 million, in return for the Company’s agreement to cease operations at the site on or before December 31, 2012, assuming the City’s funding commitments are met and the Company receives state certification for its remedial activities. If the funding obligations cannot be met, it is uncertain when the Company would be able to meet NAAQS and NESHAP compliance and continue operating the facility.

Regulation and legislation adopted to address possible global climate change could increase the Company’s costs of operation and adversely affect the Company’s business, financial condition, cash flows or results of operations.

Recently, there has been an increasing focus on whether emissions of certain gases, commonly referred to as “greenhouse gases” including carbon dioxide, may be contributing to certain atmospheric and other climatic changes. Legislative and regulatory measures directed at limiting the emissions of greenhouse gases and other possible causes of climate change are in various stages of discussions or implementation in a number of countries in which the Company operates. Legislative, regulatory or other efforts in the United States, and international treaties to combat climate change could result in future increases in the cost of raw materials and energy sources such as electricity, natural gas and fossil fuels, all of which may result in higher manufacturing and distribution costs for the Company. The Company’s facilities may also be subject to additional regulation under future climate change policies. Compliance with environmental laws or regulations regarding the reduction of greenhouse gases could result in significant changes to the Company’s facilities and operations and result in an increased cost of conducting business. If the Company is unable to manage the financial risks or otherwise recover costs related to complying with climate change regulatory requirements, if any, it could have a material adverse effect on the Company’s business, financial condition, cash flows or results of operations.

The Company may be adversely affected by legal proceedings to which the Company is, or may become, a party.

The Company and its subsidiaries are currently, and may in the future become, subject to legal proceedings which could adversely affect its business, financial condition, cash flows or results of operations. See Note 11 to the Consolidated Financial Statements.

The cost of resolving the Company’s pre-petition disputed claims, including legal and other professional fees involved in settling or litigating these matters, could have a material adverse effect on its business, financial condition, cash flows or results of operations.

The Company established a reserve of common stock and warrants to purchase common stock for issuance to holders of these disputed unsecured claims as the claims are allowed by the Bankruptcy Court. Effective May 6, 2011 all outstanding warrants expired and were cancelled, and no further warrants will be issued from the

 

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reserve to resolve remaining pre-petition disputed unsecured claims. Although these claims are generally resolved through the issuance of common stock from the reserve rather than cash payments, the process of resolving these claims through settlement or litigation requires considerable Company resources, including expenditures for legal and professional fees and the attention of Company personnel. These costs could have a material adverse effect on the Company’s business, financial condition, cash flows or results of operations.

Work stoppages or other labor issues at the Company’s facilities or its customers’ or suppliers’ facilities could adversely affect the Company’s business, financial condition, cash flows or results of operations.

At March 31, 2012, approximately 20% of the Company’s hourly employees in the Americas and many of its non-U.S. employees were unionized. It is likely that a significant portion of the Company’s workforce will remain unionized for the foreseeable future. It is also possible that the portion of the Company’s workforce that is unionized may increase in the future. Contracts covering approximately 1.4% of the Company’s U.S. employees expire in fiscal 2013, and the remainder thereafter. In addition, contracts covering most of the Company’s union employees in Europe and ROW expire on various dates through fiscal 2013. Although the Company believes that its relations with employees are generally good, if conflicts develop between the Company and its employees’ unions in connection with the renegotiation of these contracts or otherwise, work stoppages or other labor disputes could result. A work stoppage at one or more of the Company’s plants, or a material increase in its costs due to unionization activities, may have a material adverse effect on the Company’s business, financial condition, cash flows or results of operations. Work stoppages at the facilities of the Company’s customers or suppliers may also negatively affect the Company’s business. If any of the Company’s significant customers experience a material work stoppage, the customer may halt or limit the purchase of the Company’s products. This could require the Company to shut down or significantly reduce production at facilities relating to those products. Moreover, if any of the Company’s suppliers experience a work stoppage, the Company’s operations could be adversely affected if an alternative source of supply is not readily available.

The Company’s substantial indebtedness could adversely affect its business, financial condition, cash flows or results of operations.

The Company has a significant amount of indebtedness. As of March 31, 2012, the Company had total indebtedness, including capital leases, of approximately $776.7 million. The Company’s level of indebtedness could have significant consequences. For example, it could:

 

   

Limit the Company’s ability to borrow money to fund its working capital, capital expenditures, acquisitions and debt service requirements;

 

   

Limit the Company’s flexibility in planning for, or reacting to, changes in its business and future business opportunities;

 

   

Make the Company more vulnerable to a downturn in its business or in the economy;

 

   

Place the Company at a disadvantage relative to some of its competitors, who may be less highly leveraged; and

 

   

Require a substantial portion of the Company’s cash flow from operations to be used for debt payments, thereby reducing the availability of cash to fund working capital, capital expenditures, acquisitions and other general corporate purposes.

One or a combination of these factors could adversely affect the Company’s business, financial condition, cash flows or results of operations. Subject to restrictions in the indenture governing the Company’s senior secured notes and convertible notes and its asset-backed revolving credit facility (the “ABL facility”), the Company may incur additional indebtedness, which could increase the risks associated with its already substantial indebtedness.

 

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Restrictive covenants limit the Company’s ability to operate its business and to pursue its business strategies, and its failure to comply with these covenants could result in an acceleration of its indebtedness.

The ABL facility and the indenture governing the senior secured notes contain covenants that limit or restrict the Company’s ability to finance future operations or capital needs, to respond to changing business and economic conditions or to engage in other transactions or business activities that may be important to its growth strategy or otherwise important to the Company. The ABL facility agreement and the indenture governing the Company’s senior secured notes limit or restrict, among other things, the Company’s ability and the ability of its subsidiaries to:

 

   

Incur or guarantee additional indebtedness;

 

   

Pay dividends or make distributions on the Company’s capital stock or certain other restricted payments or investments;

 

   

Purchase or redeem stock or subordinated indebtedness;

 

   

Issue stock of the Company’s subsidiaries;

 

   

Make investments and extend credit;

 

   

Engage in transactions with affiliates;

 

   

Transfer and sell assets;

 

   

Effect a consolidation or merger or sell, transfer, lease or otherwise dispose of all or substantially all of the Company’s assets;

 

   

Engage in transactions with affiliates, and

 

   

Create liens on the Company’s assets to secure debt.

In addition, the ABL facility requires the Company to repay outstanding borrowings with portions of the proceeds the Company receives from certain sales of property or assets and specified future debt offerings. The Company’s ability to comply with these provisions may be affected by events beyond its control.

Any breach of the covenants in the ABL facility or the indenture governing its senior secured notes could cause a default under the Company’s ABL facility and other debt (including the notes), which would restrict the Company’s ability to borrow under its ABL facility, thereby significantly impacting the Company’s liquidity which could have a material adverse effect on the Company’s business, financial condition, cash flows or results of operations. If there were an event of default under any of the Company’s debt instruments that was not cured or waived, the holders of the defaulted debt could cause all amounts outstanding with respect to the debt instrument to be due and payable immediately. The Company’s assets and cash flow may not be sufficient to fully repay borrowings under its outstanding debt instruments if accelerated upon an event of default. If, as or when required, the Company is unable to repay, refinance or restructure its indebtedness under, or amend the covenants contained in, its senior secured credit facility, the lenders under that facility could institute foreclosure proceedings against the assets securing borrowings under the ABL facility.

Holders of the Company’s common stock are subject to the risk of dilution of their investment as the result of the issuance of additional shares of common stock to holders of pre-petition claims to the extent the reserve of common stock established to satisfy such claims is insufficient.

On April 15, 2002 (the “Petition Date”), Exide Technologies, together with certain of its subsidiaries (the “Debtors”), filed voluntary petitions for reorganization under Chapter 11 of the federal bankruptcy laws (“Bankruptcy Code” or “Chapter 11”) in the Bankruptcy Court. The Debtors, along with the Official Committee of Unsecured Creditors, filed the Plan with the Bankruptcy Court on February 27, 2004 and, on April 21, 2004, the Bankruptcy Court confirmed the Plan.

 

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Pursuant to the Plan, the Company has established a reserve of common stock and warrants to purchase common stock for issuance to holders of unsecured pre-petition disputed claims. Effective May 6, 2011 all outstanding warrants expired and were cancelled, and no further warrants will be issued from the reserve to resolve remaining pre-petition disputed unsecured claims. To the extent this reserve is insufficient to satisfy these disputed claims, the Company would be required to issue additional shares of common stock, which would result in dilution to holders of its common stock.

Under the claims reconciliation and allowance process set forth in the Plan, the Official Committee of Unsecured Creditors, in consultation with the Company, established a reserve to provide for a pro rata distribution of common stock to holders of disputed claims as they become allowed. As claims are evaluated and processed, the Company will object to some claims or portions thereof, and upward adjustments (to the extent stock not previously distributed remain) or downward adjustments to the reserve will be made pending or following adjudication of these objections. Predictions regarding the allowance and classification of claims are inherently difficult to make.

As general unsecured claims have been allowed in the Bankruptcy Court, the Company has distributed approximately one share of common stock of the Company per $383.00 in allowed claim amount. This rate was established based upon the assumption that the new common stock allocated to holders of general unsecured claims on the effective date, including the reserve established for disputed claims, would be fully distributed so that the recovery rates for all allowed unsecured claims would comply with the Plan without the need for any redistribution or supplemental issuance of securities. If the amount of general unsecured claims that is eventually allowed exceeds the amount of claims anticipated in the setting of the reserve, additional new common stock will be issued for the excess claim amounts at the same rates as used for the other general unsecured claims. If this were to occur, additional new common stock would also be issued to the holders of pre-petition secured claims to maintain the ratio of their distribution in common stock at nine times the amount of common stock distributed for all unsecured claims.

The Company’s ability to recognize the benefits of deferred tax assets is dependent on future cash flows and taxable income.

The Company recognizes the expected future tax benefit from deferred tax assets when realization of the tax benefit is considered to be more likely than not. Otherwise, a valuation allowance is applied against deferred tax assets. Assessing the recoverability of deferred tax assets requires management to make significant estimates related to expectations of future taxable income. Estimates of future taxable income are based on forecasted cash flows from operations and the application of existing tax laws in each jurisdiction. To the extent that future cash flows and taxable income differ significantly from estimates, the ability of the Company to realize the deferred tax assets could be impacted. Additionally, future changes in tax laws could limit the Company’s ability to obtain the future tax benefits represented by its deferred tax assets. As of March 31, 2012, the Company’s current and long-term deferred tax assets were $30.8 million and $174.6 million, respectively.

Negative tax consequences could materially and adversely affect the Company’s business, financial condition, cash flows or results of operations.

Adverse changes in the underlying profitability and financial outlook of the Company’s operations in several jurisdictions could lead to changes in the Company’s valuation allowances against deferred tax assets and other tax reserves on the Company’s statement of financial position that could materially and adversely affect the Company’s business, financial condition, cash flows or results of operations. Additionally, changes in tax laws in the U.S. or in other countries where the Company has significant operations could materially affect deferred tax assets and liabilities on the Company’s consolidated statement of financial position and tax expense. The Company is also subject to tax audits by governmental authorities in the U.S. and in non-U.S. jurisdictions. Negative results from one or more such tax audits could materially and adversely affect the Company’s business, financial condition, cash flows, or results of operations.

 

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The Company is subject to regulation of its international operations that could adversely affect its business, financial condition, cash flows or results of operations.

Due to the Company’s global operations, it is subject to many laws governing international relations, including those that prohibit improper payments to government officials and restrict where it can do business, what information or products it can supply to certain countries and what information it can provide to a non-U.S. government, including but not limited to the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act and the U.S. Export Administration Act. Violations of these laws, which are complex and often times difficult to interpret and apply, may result in severe criminal penalties or sanctions that could have a material adverse effect on the Company’s business, financial condition, cash flows or results of operations.

Any restructuring activities that the Company may undertake may not achieve the benefits anticipated and could result in additional unanticipated costs, which could have a material adverse effect on the Company’s business, financial condition, cash flows, or results of operations.

The Company regularly evaluates its existing operations, production capacity and business efficiencies and, as a result of such evaluations, the Company may undertake restructuring activities within its businesses, including the recently announced capacity reduction efforts and manufacturing realignment in the United States. These restructuring plans may involve higher costs or longer timetables than the Company anticipates and could result in substantial costs related to severance and other employee-related matters, litigation risks and expenses, and other costs. These restructuring activities may not result in improvements in future financial performance. If the Company is unable to realize the benefits of any restructuring activities or appropriately structure its businesses to meet market conditions, the restructuring activities could have a material adverse effect on the Company’s business, financial condition, cash flows, or results of operations.

CAUTIONARY STATEMENT FOR PURPOSES OF THE SAFE HARBOR

PROVISION OF THE PRIVATE SECURITIES LITIGATION REFORM ACT OF 1995

Except for historical information, this report may be deemed to contain “forward-looking” statements. The Company is including this cautionary statement for the express purpose of availing itself of the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995.

Examples of forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to (a) projections of revenues, cost of raw materials, income or loss, earnings or loss per share, capital expenditures, growth prospects, dividends, the effect of currency translations, capital structure, and other financial items, (b) statements of plans and objectives of the Company or its management or Board of Directors, including the introduction of new products, or estimates or predictions of actions by customers, suppliers, competitors or regulating authorities, (c) statements of future economic performance, and (d) statements of assumptions, such as the prevailing weather conditions in the Company’s market areas, underlying other statements and statements about the Company or its business.

Factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from these forward looking statements include, but are not limited to, the following general factors such as: (i) the fact that lead, a major constituent in most of the Company’s products, experiences significant fluctuations in market price and is a hazardous material that may give rise to costly environmental and safety claims, (ii) the Company’s ability to implement and fund business strategies based on current liquidity, (iii) the Company’s ability to realize anticipated efficiencies and avoid additional unanticipated costs related to its restructuring activities, (iv) the cyclical nature of the industries in which the Company operates and the impact of current adverse economic conditions on those industries, (v) unseasonable weather (warm winters and cool summers) which adversely affects demand for automotive and some industrial batteries, (vi) the Company’s substantial debt and debt service requirements which may restrict the Company’s operational and financial flexibility, as well as imposing significant interest and financing costs, (vii) the litigation proceedings to which the Company is subject, the results of which could have a material

 

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adverse effect on the Company and its business, (viii) the realization of the tax benefits of the Company’s net operating loss carry forwards, which is dependent upon future taxable income, (ix) competitiveness of the battery markets in the Americas and Europe, (x) risks involved in foreign operations such as disruption of markets, changes in import and export laws, currency restrictions, currency exchange rate fluctuations and possible terrorist attacks against U.S. interests, (xi) the ability to acquire goods and services and/or fulfill later needs at budgeted costs, (xii) general economic conditions, (xiii) the Company’s ability to successfully pass along increased material costs to its customers, and (xiv) recently adopted U.S. lead emissions standards and the implementation of such standards by applicable states.

The Company cautions each reader to carefully consider those factors hereinabove set forth and the acknowledgements contained in the “Risk Factors” section of this Annual Report on Form 10-K. Such factors and statements have, in some instances, affected and in the future could affect the ability of the Company to achieve its projected results and may cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed herein. We undertake no obligation to update any forward-looking statements in this Form 10-K.

Item 1B. Unresolved Staff Comments

None.

Item 2. Properties

The chart below lists the locations of the Company’s principal facilities. All of the facilities are owned by the Company unless otherwise indicated. Most of the Company’s significant U.S. properties and some of its European properties secure its financing arrangements. For a description of these financing arrangements, refer to Item 7 - Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations, Liquidity and Capital Resources. The leases for leased facilities generally expire at various dates through 2016.

 

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Location

       

Use

Americas:

     

Milton, GA

   (leased)    Global and Americas Executive Offices

Bristol, TN

   (portions leased)    Transportation Battery Manufacturing and Distribution Center

Cannon Hollow, MO

      Secondary Lead Recycling

Columbus, GA

      Transportation and Industrial Battery Manufacturing and Distribution Center

Fort Smith, AR

   (leased)    Industrial Battery Manufacturing and Distribution Center

Frisco, TX

      Secondary Lead Recycling

Kansas City, KS

      Industrial Battery Manufacturing and Distribution Center

Lampeter, PA

      Plastics Manufacturing

Manchester, IA

      Transportation Battery Manufacturing and Distribution Center

Mississauga, Canada

   (leased)    Distribution Center

Muncie, IN

      Secondary Lead Recycling

Reading, PA

      Secondary Lead Recycling and Polypropylene Reprocessing Center

Salina, KS

      Transportation Battery Manufacturing and Distribution Center

Vernon, CA

      Secondary Lead Recycling

Toluca, Mexico

   (leased)    Distribution Center

Europe and ROW:

     

Adelaide, Australia

      Transportation Battery Manufacturing and Distribution Center

Sydney, Australia

      Industrial Battery Assembly and Distribution

Pinsk, Belarus

   (leased)    Transportation Battery Manufacturing

Florival, Belgium

      Distribution Center

Shanghai, China

   (leased)    Asia Pacific Executive Offices

Horwich, England

   (leased)    UK Administration Offices

Trafford Park, England

   (leased)    Charger Manufacturing

Gennevilliers, France

   (leased)    European Executive Offices

Lille, France

      Industrial Battery Manufacturing

Peronne, France

      Plastics Manufacturing

Bad Lauterberg, Germany

      Industrial Battery Manufacturing and Distribution Center

Budingen, Germany

      Industrial Battery Manufacturing and Distribution Center

Vlaardingen, Holland

      Distribution Center

Tamilnadu, India

   (leased)    Industrial Battery Manufacturing and Distribution Center

Ahmadabad, India

      Transportation Battery Manufacturing

Romano Di Lombardia, Italy

      Transportation Battery Manufacturing

Lower Hutt, New Zealand

      Distribution Center

Poznan, Poland

   (portions leased)    Transportation Battery Manufacturing

Castanheira do Riatejo, Portugal

      Industrial Battery Manufacturing

Azambuja, Portugal

      Secondary Lead Recycling

Azuqueca de Henares, Spain

      Transportation Battery Manufacturing

San Esteban de Gomez, Spain

      Secondary Lead Recycling

La Cartuja, Spain

      Industrial Battery Manufacturing

Manzanares, Spain

      Transportation Battery Manufacturing

 

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In addition, the Company also leases sales and distribution outlets in America, Canada, Europe and Asia.

The Company believes that its facilities are in good operating condition, adequately maintained, and suitable to meet the Company’s present needs.

Item 3. Legal Proceedings

See Note 11 to the Consolidated Financial Statements, which is hereby incorporated herein by reference, for a discussion of the Company’s commitments and contingencies.

Item 4. Mine Safety Disclosures

Not Applicable.

 

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PART II

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

Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities and Use of Proceeds

 

Period    (a) Total
Number of
Shares (or Units)
Purchased (1)
     (b) Average Price
Paid per Share

(or Unit)
     (c) Total Number of
Shares (or Units)
Purchased as Part of
Publicly Announced
Plans or Programs
     (d) Maximum
Number (or
Approximate Dollar
Value) of Shares (or
Units) that May Yet
Be Purchased Under
the Plans or Programs
 

January 1 through January 31

     —           —           —           —     

February 1 through February 29

     —           —           —           —     

March 1 through March 31

     55,770       $ 3.08         —           —     

 

(1) Acquired by the Company in exchange for payment of U.S. tax obligations for certain participants in the Company’s 2004 Stock Incentive Plan and 2009 Stock Incentive Plan that elected to surrender a portion of their shares in connection with vesting of restricted stock awards.

Market Data

The Company’s common stock trades on The NASDAQ Global Market under the symbol “XIDE.” The high and low sales price for each quarter in fiscal 2012 and 2011 is set forth below.

 

     High      Low  

Fiscal 2012:

  

First Quarter

   $ 11.30       $ 6.81   

Second Quarter

   $ 7.86       $ 3.85   

Third Quarter

   $ 5.07       $ 2.32   

Fourth Quarter

   $ 4.08       $ 2.72   

Fiscal 2011:

  

First Quarter

   $ 6.40       $ 4.00   

Second Quarter

   $ 6.22       $ 4.14   

Third Quarter

   $ 9.63       $ 4.81   

Fourth Quarter

   $ 12.42       $ 9.40   

The Company did not declare or pay dividends on its common stock during fiscal years 2012 and 2011. Covenants in the ABL facility restrict the Company’s ability to pay cash dividends on capital stock and the Company presently does not intend to pay dividends on its common stock.

As of May 25, 2012, the Company had 78,346,859 shares of its common stock outstanding, with approximately 4,141 holders of record, respectively.

Equity Compensation Plan Information

As of March 31, 2012, the Company maintained stock option and incentive plans under which employees and non-employee directors could be granted options to purchase shares of the Company’s common stock or

 

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awarded shares of common stock. The following table contains information relating to such plans as of March 31, 2012.

 

     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
 

Equity compensation plans approved by security holders

     2,792,156       $ 7.79         1,072,934   

Equity compensation plans not approved by security holders

     80,000       $ 13.22         —     
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total

     2,872,156       $ 7.94         1,072,934   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Item 6. Selected Financial Data

The following table sets forth selected financial data for the Company. The reader should read this information in conjunction with the Company’s Consolidated Financial Statements and Notes thereto and “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” appearing elsewhere in this report.

 

     Fiscal Year Ended  
     2012     2011     2010     2009     2008  
     (In thousands except per share data)  

Statement of Operations Data

  

Net sales

   $ 3,084,650      $ 2,887,516      $ 2,685,808      $ 3,322,332      $ 3,696,671   

Operating income (1)

     78,875        95,773        16,739        67,631        116,338   

Income (loss) before income taxes

     751        20,316        (33,300     (36,308     44,489   

Net income (loss) attributable to Exide Technologies

   $ 56,739      $ 26,443      $ (11,814   $ (69,522   $ 32,059   

Basic earnings (loss) per share

   $ 0.73      $ 0.34      $ (0.16   $ (0.92   $ 0.47   

Diluted earnings (loss) per share

   $ 0.69      $ 0.33      $ (0.16   $ (0.92   $ 0.46   

Balance Sheet Data (at period end)

  

Working capital (2)

   $ 496,695      $ 542,037      $ 428,996      $ 489,216      $ 674,783   

Total assets

     2,194,986        2,183,664        1,956,226        1,900,187        2,491,396   

Total debt

     776,731        758,158        659,527        658,205        716,195   

Total stockholders’ equity attributable to Exide Technologies

     401,794        404,787        332,334        326,227        544,338   

Consolidated Cash Flow Data:

  

Cash provided by (used in):

          

Operating activities

   $ 91,768      $ 79,990      $ 109,162      $ 120,521      $ 1,080   

Investing activities

     (109,201     (71,796     (95,242     (101,087     (49,797

Financing activities

     17,273        57,599        1,930        (29,441     57,374   

Other Data:

  

Capital expenditures

     109,836        88,589        96,092        108,914        56,854   

 

  (1) Operating income reflects restructuring and impairment charges of $10.8 million, $42.3 million, $80.6 million, $75.0 million, and $10.3 million in fiscal 2012, 2011, 2010, 2009, and 2008, respectively.
  (2) Working capital is calculated as current assets less current liabilities.

 

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

The following discussion and analysis provides information which management believes is relevant to an assessment and understanding of the Company’s consolidated results of operations and financial condition. The discussion should be read in conjunction with the Consolidated Financial Statements and Notes thereto contained in this Annual Report on Form 10-K.

Some of the statements contained in the following discussion of the Company’s financial condition and results of operations refer to future expectations or include other “forward-looking” information. Those statements are subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that could cause the actual results to differ materially from those contemplated by these statements. The forward-looking information is based on various factors and was derived from numerous assumptions. See “Cautionary Statement for Purposes of the Safe Harbor Provision of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995,” included in this Report on Form 10-K for a discussion of factors to be considered when evaluating forward-looking information detailed below. These factors could cause our actual results to differ materially from the forward looking statements. For a discussion of certain legal contingencies, see Note 11 to the Consolidated Financial Statements.

Executive Overview

The Company is a global producer and recycler of lead-acid batteries. The Company’s four business segments, Transportation Americas, Transportation Europe and Rest of World (“ROW”), Industrial Energy Americas, and Industrial Energy Europe and ROW provide a comprehensive range of stored electrical energy products and services for transportation and industrial applications.

Transportation markets include Original Equipment (“OE”) and aftermarket automotive, heavy-duty truck, agricultural and marine applications, and new technologies for hybrid vehicles. Industrial markets include batteries for telecommunications systems, electric utilities, railroads, uninterruptible power supply (“UPS”), lift trucks, mining, and other commercial vehicles.

The Company’s four reportable segments are determined based upon the nature of the markets served and the geographic regions in which they operate. The Company’s chief operating decision-maker monitors and manages the financial performance of these four business groups.

Factors Which Affect the Company’s Financial Performance

Lead and other Raw Materials. Lead represents approximately 49.2% of the Company’s cost of goods sold. The market price of lead fluctuates. Generally, when lead prices decrease, customers may seek disproportionate price reductions from the Company, and when lead prices increase, customers may resist price increases. Either of these situations may cause customer demand for the Company’s products to be reduced and the Company’s net sales and gross margins to decline. The average price of lead as quoted on the LME has increased 1.3% from $2,244 per metric ton for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2011 to $2,274 per metric ton for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2012. At May 25, 2012, the quoted price on the LME was $1,945 per metric ton. To the extent that lead prices continue to be volatile and the Company is unable to pass higher material costs resulting from this volatility to its customers, its financial performance will be adversely impacted.

Energy Costs. The Company relies on various sources of energy to support its manufacturing and distribution process, principally natural gas at its recycling facilities, electricity at its battery manufacturing facilities, and diesel fuel for distribution of its products. The Company seeks to recoup increases in energy costs through price increases or surcharges. To the extent the Company is unable to pass on increases in energy costs to its customers, its financial performance will be adversely impacted.

Competition. The global transportation and industrial energy battery markets are highly competitive. In recent years, competition has continued to intensify and has impacted the Company’s ability to pass along

 

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increased prices to keep pace with rising production costs. The effects of this competition have been exacerbated by excess capacity in certain of the Company’s markets, fluctuating lead prices, and low-priced Asian imports in certain of the Company’s markets.

Exchange Rates. The Company is exposed to foreign currency risk in most European countries, principally from fluctuations in the Euro. For fiscal 2012, the average exchange rate of the Euro to the U.S. Dollar has increased 4.5% on average from $1.32 for fiscal 2011 to $1.38 for fiscal 2012. At March 31, 2012, the Euro was $1.33 as compared to $1.42 at March 31, 2011. Fluctuations in foreign currencies impacted the Company’s results for the periods presented herein. For the fiscal year ended March 31, 2012, approximately 59.6% of the Company’s net sales were generated in Europe and ROW. Further, approximately 64.2% of the Company’s aggregate accounts receivable and inventory as of March 31, 2012 were held by European and ROW subsidiaries. To the extent foreign currencies are volatile, the Company’s financial performance will be adversely impacted.

The Company is also exposed, although to a lesser extent, to foreign currency risk in the U.K., Poland, Australia, and various countries in the Pacific Rim. Fluctuations in exchange rates against the U.S. Dollar can result in variations in the U.S. Dollar value of non-U.S. sales, expenses, assets, and liabilities. In some instances, gains in one currency may be offset by losses in another.

Markets. The Company is subject to concentrations of customers and sales in a few geographic locations and is dependent on customers in certain industries, including the automotive, communications and data and material handling markets. Economic difficulties experienced in these markets and geographic locations impact the Company’s financial results. Original equipment volumes in the transportation and motive power channels have been and continue to be impacted by unfavorable global economic conditions. In addition, capital spending by major customers in our network power channels also continue to be below historic levels.

Seasonality and Weather. The Company sells a disproportionate share of its transportation aftermarket batteries during the fall and early winter (the Company’s third and a portion of its fourth fiscal quarters). Retailers and distributors buy automotive batteries during these periods so they will have sufficient inventory for cold weather periods. The impact of seasonality on sales has the effect of increasing the Company’s working capital requirements and also makes the Company more sensitive to fluctuations in the availability of liquidity.

Unusually cold winters or hot summers may accelerate battery failure and increase demand for transportation replacement batteries. Mild winters and cool summers may have the opposite effect. As a result, if the Company’s sales are reduced by an unusually warm winter or cool summer, it is not possible for the Company to recover these sales in later periods. Further, if the Company’s sales are adversely affected by the weather, the Company cannot make offsetting cost reductions to protect its liquidity and gross margins in the short-term because a large portion of the Company’s manufacturing and distribution costs are fixed.

Interest Rates. The Company is exposed to fluctuations in interest rates on its variable rate debt. See Notes 2, 7 and item 7A to the Consolidated Financial Statements.

Fiscal 2012 Highlights and Outlook

In the Americas, the Company obtains the vast majority of its lead requirements from five Company-owned and operated secondary lead recycling plants. These facilities reclaim lead by recycling spent lead-acid batteries, which are obtained for recycling from the Company’s customers and outside spent-battery collectors. Recycling helps the Company control the cost of its principal raw material used in North America as compared to purchasing lead at prevailing market prices. Similar to the fluctuation in lead prices, however, the cost of spent batteries has also fluctuated. The average cost of spent batteries increased approximately 14.0% in fiscal 2012 versus fiscal 2011. The Company continues to take pricing actions and is attempting to secure higher captive spent battery return rates to help mitigate price volatility associated with spent battery purchases in the open market.

In Europe, the Company’s lead requirements are mainly fulfilled by third-party suppliers. Because of the Company’s exposure to the historically volatile lead market prices in Europe, the Company has implemented

 

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several measures to offset changes in lead prices, including selective pricing actions and lead price escalators. The Company has automatic lead price escalators with virtually all OEM customers. The Company currently obtains a small portion of its lead requirements from recycling in its European facilities.

The Company expects that volatility in lead and other commodity costs, which affect all business segments, will continue to put pressure on the Company’s financial performance. However, selective pricing actions, lead price escalators in certain contracts and fuel surcharges have been implemented to help mitigate these risks. The implementation of selective pricing actions and price escalators generally lag the rise in market prices of lead and other commodities. Both lead price escalators and fuel surcharges may not be accepted by our customers, and if the price of lead decreases, our customers may seek disproportionate price reductions.

In addition to managing the impact of fluctuations in lead and other commodity costs on the Company’s results, the key elements of the Company’s underlying business plans and continued strategies are:

(i) Successful execution and completion of the Company’s restructuring plan and organizational realignment of divisional and corporate functions intended to result in further targeted headcount reductions.

(ii) Actions designed to improve the Company’s liquidity and operating cash flow through working capital reduction plans, the sale of non-strategic assets and businesses, streamlining cash management processes, implementing plans to minimize the cash costs of the Company’s restructuring initiatives, and closely managing capital expenditures.

(iii) Continued factory and distribution productivity improvements through the Company’s established EXCELL program, as well as the Value Analysis Value Engineering “VAVE” and Take Charge! initiatives.

(iv) Continued review and rationalization of the various brand offerings of products in its markets to gain efficiencies in manufacturing and distribution, and better leverage the Company’s marketing spending.

(v) Continued investment in production capacity to meet evolving needs for enhanced batteries (AGM and Micro- Hybrid Flooded) required for the increasing numbers of Stop & Start and Micro-Hybrid vehicles.

(vi) Continued research and development and engineering investments designed to develop enhanced lead-acid products as well as products utilizing alternative chemistries. In this regard, the Company continues to identify government funding opportunities to support near and long-term technological improvements in energy storage applications.

Critical Accounting Policies and Estimates

The Company’s discussion and analysis of its financial condition and results of operations are based upon the Company’s Consolidated Financial Statements, which have been prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (“GAAP”). The preparation of these financial statements requires the Company to make estimates and judgments that affect the reported amounts of assets, liabilities, revenues, and expenses, and the related disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities. On an ongoing basis, the Company evaluates its estimates based on its historical experience and on various other assumptions that are believed to be reasonable under the circumstances, the results of which form the basis for making judgments about the carrying values of assets and liabilities that are not readily apparent from other sources. Actual results may differ from these estimates under different assumptions or conditions.

The Company believes the following critical accounting policies and estimates affect the preparation of its Consolidated Financial Statements.

 

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Inventory Valuation. The Company adjusts its inventory carrying value to estimated market value (when below historical cost basis) based upon assumptions of future demand and market conditions. If actual market conditions are less favorable than those projected by the Company, additional inventory write-downs may be required.

Valuation of Long-lived Assets. The Company’s long-lived assets include property, plant and equipment, and identified intangible assets. Long-lived assets (other than indefinite lived intangible assets) are depreciated and amortized over their estimated useful lives, and are reviewed for impairment whenever changes in circumstances indicate the carrying value may not be recoverable. Indefinite-lived intangible assets are reviewed for impairment on both an annual basis and whenever changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying value may not be recoverable. The fair value of indefinite-lived intangible assets is based upon the Company’s estimates of future cash flows and other factors including discount rates to determine the fair value of the respective assets. An erosion of future business results in any of the Company’s business units could create impairments in the Company’s long-lived assets and require a significant write-down in future periods.

Employee Benefit Plans. The Company considers accounting for employee benefit plans critical because management is required to make significant subjective judgments about a number of actuarial assumptions, including discount rates, compensation growth, long-term return on plan assets, retirement, turnover, health care cost trend rates and mortality rates. Depending on the assumptions and estimates used, the pension and postretirement benefit expense could vary within a range of outcomes and have a material effect on reported results. In addition, the assumptions can materially affect accumulated benefit obligations and future cash funding. For a detailed discussion of the Company’s retirement benefits, see Employee Benefit Plans herein and Note 8 to the Consolidated Financial Statements.

Deferred Taxes. The Company records valuation allowances to reduce its deferred tax assets to amounts that are more likely than not to be realized. While the Company has considered future taxable income and used ongoing prudent and feasible tax planning strategies in assessing the need for valuation allowances, if the Company were to determine that it would be able to realize deferred tax assets in the future in excess of the Company’s net recorded amount, an adjustment to the net deferred tax asset would increase income in the period that such determination was made. Likewise, should the Company determine that it would not be able to realize all or part of its net deferred tax assets in the future, an adjustment to the net deferred tax asset would decrease income in the period such determination was made. The Company regularly evaluates the need for valuation allowances against its deferred tax assets.

Revenue Recognition. The Company records sales when revenue is earned. Shipping terms are generally FOB shipping point and revenue is recognized when product is shipped to the customer. In limited cases, terms are FOB destination and in these cases, revenue is recognized when the product is delivered to the customer’s delivery site. The Company records sales net of discounts and estimated customer allowances and returns.

Sales Returns and Allowances. The Company provides for an allowance for product returns and/or allowances at the time sales are recorded. Based upon its manufacturing re-work process, the Company believes that the majority of its product returns are not the result of product defects. The Company recognizes the estimated cost of product returns as a reduction of sales in the period in which the related revenue is recognized. The product return estimates are based upon historical trends and claims experience, and include an assessment of the anticipated lag between the date of sale and claim/return date.

Environmental Reserves. The Company is subject to numerous environmental laws and regulations in all the countries in which it operates. In addition, the Company can be held liable for the cost of investigation and remediation of sites impacted by its past operating activities. The Company maintains reserves for the cost of addressing these liabilities once they are determined to be both probable and reasonably estimable. These estimates are determined through a combination of methods, including outside estimates of likely expense and the Company’s historical experience in the management of these matters.

 

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Because environmental liabilities are not accrued until a liability is determined to be probable and reasonably estimable, not all potential future environmental liabilities have been included in the Company’s environmental reserves and, therefore, additional future earnings charges are possible. Also, future findings or changes in estimates could result in either an increase or decrease in the reserves and have a significant impact on the Company’s liquidity and its results of operations.

Litigation. The Company has legal contingencies that have a high degree of uncertainty. When a contingency becomes probable and reasonably estimable, a reserve is established. Lawsuits have been filed against the Company for which the liabilities are not considered probable and reasonably estimable. Consequently, no reserves have been established for these matters. If future litigation or the resolution of existing matters results in liability to the Company, such liability could have a significant impact on the Company’s future results and liquidity.

Results of Operations

Fiscal Year Ended March 31, 2012 compared with Fiscal Year Ended March 31, 2011

Net Sales

Net sales were $3.1 billion for fiscal 2012 versus $2.9 billion in fiscal 2011. Foreign currency translation favorably impacted net sales in fiscal 2012 by approximately $57.6 million. Excluding the foreign currency translation impact, net sales increased by approximately $139.6 million, or 4.8%, primarily as a result of higher unit sales in many of the Company’s markets and an estimated $115.5 million related to lead price increases.

Net sales by segment:

 

     For the fiscal year ended      FAVORABLE / (UNFAVORABLE)  
     March 31,
2012
     March 31,
2011
     TOTAL     Currency
Related
     Non-Currency
Related
 
     (In thousands)  

Transportation Americas

   $ 907,838       $ 942,014       $ (34,176   $ 2,124       $ (36,300

Transportation Europe and ROW

     1,014,292         922,870         91,422        20,385         71,037   

Industrial Energy Americas

     339,328         295,364         43,964        262         43,702   

Industrial Energy Europe and ROW

     823,192         727,268         95,924        34,784         61,140   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total

   $ 3,084,650       $ 2,887,516       $ 197,134      $ 57,555       $ 139,579   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

 

Transportation Americas net sales, excluding the foreign currency translation impact, decreased 3.9% due to a 17.5% decrease in aftermarket unit sales, partially offset by a 79.4% increase in OEM unit sales and a $48.4 million impact of lead related price increases. Third-party lead sales for fiscal 2012 were approximately $6.4 million lower than such third-party sales in 2011.

Transportation Europe and ROW net sales, excluding foreign currency translation, increased 7.7% mainly due to 5.5% higher unit sales in the OEM channel and $58.3 million impact of lead related pricing actions. Unit sales in the aftermarket channel were essentially flat year over year.

Industrial Energy Americas net sales, excluding the foreign currency translation impact, increased 14.8% due to higher unit sales of 8.4% in Motive Power and 10.5% in Network Power markets.

Industrial Energy Europe and ROW net sales, excluding foreign currency translation impact, increased 8.4% due to 21.4% higher unit sales in the Motive Power market and $10.8 million of lead related pricing actions. Network Power sales in Europe continue to be lower due to depressed market conditions.

 

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Gross Profit

Gross profit was $484.8 million in fiscal 2012 versus $541.3 million in fiscal 2011. Gross margin was 15.7% of net sales in fiscal 2012 compared to 18.7% of net sales in fiscal 2011. Excluding the foreign currency translation impact, gross profit decreased due to higher commodity costs, manufacturing inefficiencies due to lower production and certain operational issues and lower unit sales in Transportation Americas. Gross margin was unfavorably impacted by 60 basis points resulting from unrecovered lead costs. Foreign currency translation favorably impacted gross profit in fiscal 2012 by approximately $8.7 million. Also negatively impacting fiscal 2012 gross profit is an out-of-period adjustment of $4.6 million as discussed in Note 1 to the Consolidated Financial Statements.

Operating Expenses

 

  i. Selling and administrative expenses decreased $8.2 million, to $395.1 million in fiscal 2012 from $403.3 million in fiscal 2011. Excluding unfavorable foreign currency translation impact of $8.8 million, the expenses decreased by $17.0 million, primarily due to cost controls and lower compensation related costs. Included in selling and administrative expenses were general and administrative expenses of $167.4 million in fiscal 2012 and $177.2 million in fiscal 2011.

 

  ii. Restructuring and impairment expenses decreased by $31.4 million, to $10.9 million in fiscal 2012 from $42.3 million in fiscal 2011, and included non-cash asset impairment charges of $3.8 million and $9.1 million in fiscal 2012 and 2011, respectively. The fiscal 2012 decrease was primarily due to fiscal 2011 charges related to workforce reductions in the Americas and throughout Europe, along with certain plant closure costs.

Operating Income

Operating income was $78.9 million at March 31, 2012 versus $95.8 million at March 31, 2011. Operating income was unfavorably impacted by lower gross profit, partially offset by $31.4 million lower restructuring and impairment expenses, and decreased selling and administrative expenses.

Operating income by segment:

 

    For the Fiscal Year Ended        
    March 31, 2012     March 31, 2011     FAVORABLE / (UNFAVORABLE)  
    TOTAL     Percent of
Net Sales
    TOTAL     Percent of
Net Sales
    TOTAL     Currency
Related
    Non-Currency
Related
 
    (In thousands)  

Transportation Americas

  $ 9,513        1.0   $ 62,368        6.6   $ (52,855   $ 91      $ (52,946

Transportation Europe & ROW

    55,928        5.5     65,792        7.1     (9,864     (1,272     (8,592

Industrial Energy Americas

    41,657        12.3     25,220        8.5     16,437        (55     16,492   

Industrial Energy Europe & ROW

    14,435        1.8     23,149        3.2     (8,714     2,309        (11,023

Unallocated corporate

    (31,780     n/a        (38,470     n/a        6,690        (1,242     7,932   
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 
    89,753        2.9     138,059        4.8     (48,306     (169     (48,137

Less: restructuring and impairments, net

    10,878        n/a        42,286        n/a        31,408        (113     31,521   
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total operating income

  $ 78,875        2.6   $ 95,773        3.2   $ (16,898   $ (282   $ (16,616
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

 

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Gross margins by segment:

 

     For the Fiscal Year
Ended
 
     March 31,
2012
    March 31,
2011
 

Transportation Americas

     14.5     19.5

Transportation Europe & ROW

     15.3     17.8

Industrial Energy Americas

     24.6     23.7

Industrial Energy Europe & ROW

     13.9     16.9
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total

     15.7     18.7
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Transportation Americas operating income, excluding the foreign currency translation impact, decreased primarily due to 17.5% lower aftermarket unit sales and higher commodity costs, including the cost of acquiring spent batteries on the open market. The increase in net sales and cost of sales from lead related pricing had an 80 basis point unfavorable impact on operating and gross margins. Excess capacity at our Bristol, TN flooded battery facility continued to weigh on margins and resulted in a decision to proceed to close this facility. We expect the closure to be complete by the end of fiscal 2013. We also experienced significant operating issues at our Reading, PA recycling facility during the early part of fiscal 2012, which negatively impacted margins.

Transportation Europe and ROW operating income, excluding foreign currency translation impact, decreased mainly due to higher commodity costs including lead, partially offset by pricing actions and higher unit sales in the OEM channel. Also negatively impacting fiscal 2012 results is an out-of-period adjustment of $4.6 million, or 50 basis points, as discussed in Note 1 to the Consolidated Financial Statements. The increase in net sales and cost of sales from lead related pricing had a 90 basis point unfavorable impact on operating and gross margins.

Industrial Energy Americas operating income increased primarily due to higher unit sales in the Motive Power and Network Power markets as well as improved manufacturing efficiencies, lower warranty expenses and other expense reductions. Higher margin tubular motive power product sales continued at an increasing rate, fully utilizing our current capacity.

Industrial Energy Europe and ROW operating income, excluding foreign currency translation impact, decreased mainly due to higher commodity costs, principally lead. Lead related pricing impacted operating and gross margins unfavorably by 20 basis points. This business was further impacted by a higher percentage of lower margin motive sales, continued softness in the network power business and capacity utilization rates in our factories in the low 80’s.

Unallocated corporate operating expenses, excluding the foreign currency translation impact, decreased mainly due to lower salary related expenses, professional fees, and stock compensation expenses.

Other Expense (Income)

Other expense (income) was $6.3 million at March 31, 2012 versus $2.2 million at March 31, 2011. The unfavorable change primarily relates to an approximate $12.4 million increase in currency remeasurement loss, partially offset by a decrease in reorganization items.

Interest Expense (net)

Interest expense increased $ 9.4 million, to $71.8 million as of March 31, 2012 from $62.4 million as of March 31, 2011 primarily due to increased borrowings resulting from our January 2011 debt refinancing.

 

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Income Taxes

 

     For the Fiscal Year Ended  
     March 31, 2012     March 31, 2011  
     (In thousands)  

Pre-tax income

   $ 751      $ 20,316   

Income tax provision (benefit)

     (55,203     (6,496

Effective tax rate

     -7350.6     -32.0

The effective tax rate for fiscal 2012 includes the recognition of taxes on income and losses in almost all of the Company’s jurisdictions with the primary exception of the United Kingdom and Spain, on which full valuation allowances are recorded. During the year the income tax benefit increased as a result of the reversal of a valuation allowance in France of $73.6 million. In addition, the income tax benefit was decreased by the establishment of valuation allowance in India and Portugal aggregating $4.2 million.

During fiscal 2012, the Company recorded a $13.4 million settlement with the Spanish tax authorities regarding its current and certain former Spanish subsidiaries. The settlement permanently closes income tax audits for fiscal years 2003 through 2010. As part of the settlement, the Company agreed to withdraw its appeal of audit results for the periods 2003 through 2006. This withdrawal resulted in the forfeiture of the $13.4 million previously paid during the appeal process. See Note 10 to the Consolidated Financial Statements for further discussion of the Company’s effective tax rate.

The effective tax rate for fiscal 2011 was impacted by the generation of income in tax paying jurisdictions in certain countries in Europe, Asia, the U.S. and Canada, and the movement of valuation allowances in the United Kingdom, Spain, and France. During the year, the income tax benefit increased by the reversal of valuation allowance in Italy and Australia of $15.0 million and tax rate differential on foreign earnings of $12.0 million.

Fiscal Year Ended March 31, 2011 compared with Fiscal Year Ended March 31, 2010

Net Sales

Net sales were $2.9 billion for fiscal 2011 versus $2.7 billion in fiscal 2010. Foreign currency translation unfavorably impacted net sales in fiscal 2010 by approximately $53.6 million. Excluding the foreign currency translation impact, net sales increased by approximately $255.3 million, or 9.5%, primarily as a result of higher unit sales in many of the Company’s markets and an estimated $150.0 million in lead related price increases.

Net sales by segment:

 

     For the fiscal year ended      FAVORABLE / (UNFAVORABLE)  
     March 31,
2011
     March 31,
2010
     TOTAL      Currency
Related
    Non-Currency
Related
 
     (In thousands)  

Transportation Americas

   $ 942,014       $ 922,629       $ 19,385       $ 8,603      $ 10,782   

Transportation Europe and ROW

     922,870         824,190         98,680         (36,516     135,196   

Industrial Energy Americas

     295,364         237,137         58,227         1,415        56,812   

Industrial Energy Europe and ROW

     727,268         701,852         25,416         (27,110     52,526   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total

   $ 2,887,516       $ 2,685,808       $ 201,708       $ (53,608   $ 255,316   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

 

Transportation Americas net sales, excluding the foreign currency translation impact, increased 1.2% due to increases in OEM unit sales and the $25.0 million impact of lead related price increases, partially offset by a decline in aftermarket unit sales and third party lead sales. Third-party lead sales for fiscal 2011 were approximately $10.1 million lower than such third-party sales in fiscal 2010.

 

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Transportation Europe and ROW net sales, excluding foreign currency translation, increased 16.4% mainly due to higher unit sales in both the aftermarket and OEM channels and $66.8 million impact of lead related pricing actions.

Industrial Energy Americas net sales, excluding the foreign currency translation impact, increased 24.0% due to higher unit sales in both the Motive Power and Network Power markets and $12.6 million of lead related pricing actions.

Industrial Energy Europe and ROW net sales, excluding foreign currency translation impact, increased 7.5% due to higher Motive Power unit sales and $45.7 million of lead related pricing actions, partially offset by lower Network Power unit sales.

Gross Profit

Gross profit was $541.3 million in fiscal 2011 versus $510.7 million in fiscal 2010. Gross margin was 18.7% of net sales in fiscal 2011 compared to 19.0% of net sales in fiscal 2010. Foreign currency translation unfavorably impacted gross profit in fiscal 2011 by approximately $6.6 million. Excluding the foreign currency translation impact, gross profit increased by $37.3 million primarily due to higher unit sales as well as improved manufacturing efficiencies. The increase in net sales and cost of sales from lead related pricing also had a net 110 basis point unfavorable impact on gross margin.

Operating Expenses

 

  i. Selling and administrative expenses decreased $10.0 million, to $403.3 million in fiscal 2011 from $413.3 million in fiscal 2010. Excluding favorable foreign currency translation impact of $5.3 million, the expenses decreased by $4.7 million, primarily due to cost controls and lower selling related costs. Included in selling and administrative expenses were general and administrative expenses of $177.2 million in fiscal 2011 and $182.5 million in fiscal 2010.

 

  ii. Restructuring and impairment expenses decreased by $38.3 million, to $42.3 million in fiscal 2011 from $80.6 million in fiscal 2010, and included non-cash asset impairment charges of $9.1 million and $10.0 million in fiscal 2011 and 2010, respectively. Fiscal 2010 restructuring activities included the closure of the battery plants in Auxerre, France and Over Hulton, U.K.

Operating Income

Operating income was $95.8 million at March 31, 2011 versus $16.7 million at March 31, 2010. Operating income was favorably impacted by higher gross profit, $38.3 million lower restructuring and impairment expenses, and reduced selling and administrative expenses. Foreign currency translation unfavorably impacted operating income in fiscal 2011 by $1.3 million.

 

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Operating Income by segment:

 

     For the Fiscal Year Ended     FAVORABLE / (UNFAVORABLE)  
     March 31, 2011     March 31, 2010        
     TOTAL     Percent
of Net
Sales
    TOTAL     Percent
of Net
Sales
    TOTAL     Currency
Related
    Non-Currency
Related
 
     (In thousands)                    

Transportation Americas

   $ 62,368        6.6   $ 86,375        9.4   $ (24,007   $ 231      $ (24,238

Transportation Europe and ROW

     65,792        7.1     41,190        5.0     24,602        (2,666     27,268   

Industrial Energy Americas

     25,220        8.5     14,341        6.0     10,879        89        10,790   

Industrial Energy Europe and ROW

     23,149        3.2     (41     0.0     23,190        1,365        21,825   

Unallocated corporate

     (38,470     n/a        (44,530     n/a        6,060        (274     6,334   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 
     138,059        4.8     97,335        3.6     40,724        (1,255     41,979   

Less: restructuring and impairments, net

     42,286        n/a        80,596        n/a        38,310        1,142        37,168   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total operating income

   $ 95,773        3.3   $ 16,739        0.6   $ 79,034      $ (113   $ 79,147   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Gross margins by segment:

 

     For the Fiscal Year Ended  
     March 31, 2011     March 31, 2010  

Transportation Americas

     19.5     22.4

Transportation Europe & ROW

     17.8     17.3

Industrial Energy Americas

     23.7     22.8

Industrial Energy Europe & ROW

     16.9     15.3
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total

     18.7     19.0
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Transportation Americas operating income decreased primarily due to higher commodity costs resulting in a decrease in gross profit.

Transportation Europe and ROW operating income, excluding the foreign currency translation impact, increased primarily due to higher unit sales and improved manufacturing efficiencies, resulting in improved gross profit.

Industrial Energy Americas operating income increased primarily due to higher unit sales and improved manufacturing efficiencies resulting in higher gross profit, partially offset by increased selling and marketing costs related to the higher sales as well as higher costs related to new product engineering initiatives.

Industrial Energy Europe and ROW operating income, excluding foreign currency translation impact, increased primarily due to higher unit sales and improved manufacturing efficiencies as well as lower selling and administrative expenses resulting from headcount reductions and spending controls.

Unallocated corporate operating expenses, excluding the foreign currency translation impact, decreased mainly due to lower administrative expenses resulting from spending controls.

Other Expense

Other expense (income) was $2.2 million as of March 31, 2011 versus ($9.8) million at March 31, 2010. The increase primarily relates to lower currency remeasurement loss of $7.9 million and an increase of approximately $ 3.3 million in reorganization costs resulting from professional fees and the settlement of certain legacy bankruptcy claims.

 

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Interest Expense

Interest expense increased $2.5 million, to $62.4 million at March 31, 2011 versus $59.9 million as of March 31, 2010 due to higher debt balances.

Loss on Early Extinguishment of Debt

Fiscal 2011 results were unfavorably impacted by a $10.8 million loss on early extinguishment of debt related to the Company’s extinguishment of its previous senior secured notes and senior secured credit facility. See note 7 to the Consolidated Financial Statements.

Income Taxes

 

     For the fiscal year ended  
     March 31, 2011     March 31, 2010  
     (In thousands)  

Pre-tax loss

   $ 20,316      $ (33,300

Income tax (benefit) provision

     (6,496     (21,963

Effective tax rate

     -32.0     66.0

The effective tax rate for fiscal 2011 and fiscal 2010 was impacted by the generation of income in tax-paying jurisdictions in certain countries in Europe, the U.S., Asia, and Canada, and the movement of valuation allowances in the United Kingdom, Spain, and France. During fiscal 2011, the income tax benefit increased by the reversal of valuation allowance in Italy and Australia of $15.0 million and tax rate differential on foreign earnings of $12.0 million. During fiscal 2010, the income tax benefit increased by $38.8 million due to the change in valuation of certain deferred tax balances. The Company evaluates its deferred tax assets and liabilities on a quarterly basis and during the fourth quarter, new information became available that led the Company to re-evaluate certain deferred tax liabilities. See Note 10 to the Consolidated Financial Statements.

Liquidity and Capital Resources

As of March 31, 2012, the Company had cash and cash equivalents of $155.4 million and availability under the senior secured asset-backed revolving credit facility (the “ABL facility”) of $152.8 million. This compared to cash and cash equivalents of $161.4 million and availability under the Company’s revolving credit facility of $144.0 million as of March 31, 2011.

In January 2011, the Company issued $675.0 million in aggregate principal amount of 8 5/8% senior secured notes (“Senior Secured Notes” or “Notes”) due 2018. The proceeds of the Senior Secured Notes were used to (1) repay outstanding borrowings under the Company’s credit facilities existing prior to that offering; (2) fund the tender offer and consent solicitation and subsequent redemption by the Company of all of the then-outstanding 10  1/2% Senior Secured Notes due 2013 after the completion of the tender offer; and (3) fund ongoing working capital and other general corporate purposes. Concurrently with the issuance of the Senior Secured Notes, the Company entered into an ABL facility with commitments of an aggregate borrowing capacity of $200.0 million.

The Senior Secured Notes

Borrowings under the Senior Secured Notes bear interest at a rate of 8 5/8% per annum, payable semi-annually in arrears in the months of February and August. The Notes are senior secured obligations, and are not guaranteed by any of the Company’s subsidiaries.

Prior to February 1, 2015, the Company may redeem in whole or in part the Notes at a redemption price equal to 100% of the principal amount of the Notes plus accrued and unpaid interest, and a “make-whole” premium. In addition, prior to February 1, 2015, the Company may redeem, no more than once in any twelve-month period, up

 

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to 10% of the original aggregate principal amount of the Notes at a redemption price equal to 103% of the principal amount of the Notes to be redeemed, plus accrued and unpaid interest. Prior to February 1, 2014, the Company may on one or more occasions redeem up to 35% of the aggregate principal amount of the Notes at a redemption price equal to 108.625 % of the principal amount of the Notes to be redeemed, plus accrued and unpaid interest, with the net cash proceeds of certain equity offerings. The Company may make such a redemption only if, after such redemption, at least 65% of the aggregate principal amount of the Notes issued under the indenture remains outstanding and the Company issues a redemption notice in respect thereof not more than 60 days after the consummation of the equity offering. On or after February 1, 2015, the Company may redeem, in whole or in part, the Notes at the redemption prices set forth in the following table (expressed as a percentage of the principal amount thereof):

 

Year

   Percentage

2015

   104.313%

2016

   102.16%

2017 and thereafter

   100.00%

Upon a change of control the Company will be required to make an offer to repurchase the Notes at a price equal to 101% of the principal amount thereof, plus accrued and unpaid interest to the date of repurchase.

The Notes are secured by (i) a first-priority lien on the notes priority collateral, which includes the Company’s existing and after-acquired equipment, stock of the Company’s direct subsidiaries, certain intercompany loans, certain real property, and substantially all of the Company’s other assets that do not secure the ABL facility on a first-priority basis, and (ii) a second-priority lien on the ABL priority collateral, which includes the Company’s assets that secure the ABL facility on a first-priority basis, including the Company’s receivables, inventory, intellectual property rights, deposit accounts, tax refunds, certain intercompany loans and certain other related assets and proceeds thereof. The ABL facility will be secured by a first-priority lien on the ABL priority collateral and a second-priority lien on the notes priority collateral. The value of the collateral at any time will depend on market and other economic conditions, including the availability of suitable buyers for the collateral.

The indenture for these Notes contains certain covenants which limit the ability of the Company and its subsidiaries’ ability to, among other things, incur debt, pay dividends, make investments, create liens or use assets as security, and sell assets including the capital stock of subsidiaries.

Asset-Backed Revolving Credit Facility

The ABL facility has a borrowing capacity of $200 million, and includes a letter of credit sub-facility of $75.0 million, a swingline sub-facility of $25.0 million and an accordion feature that permits the Company to increase the revolving credit commitments by an amount up to $50.0 million (for an aggregate revolving credit commitment of up to $250.0 million) if the Company obtains commitments from existing or new lenders for such increase. Revolving loans and letters of credit under the ABL facility will be available in U.S. Dollars and Euros. The ABL facility will mature January 25, 2016. The ABL facility (not including the swingline sub-facility) bears interest at a rate equal to (1) the base rate plus an interest margin or (2) LIBOR (for U.S. Dollar or Euro denominated revolving loans, as applicable) plus an interest margin. The base rate will be a rate per annum equal to the greatest of (a) the U.S. Federal Funds Rate plus 0.50%, (b) the prime commercial lending rate of the administrative agent, and (c) a rate equal to LIBOR for a one-month interest period plus 1.00%. The swingline sub-facility will bear interest at a rate per annum equal to the applicable floating rate (base rate or LIBOR for a one-month interest period) plus an interest margin. The interest margin will be adjusted quarterly based on the average amount available for drawing under the ABL facility and will range between 2.75% and 3.25% per annum for LIBOR borrowings and 1.75% and 2.25% per annum for base rate borrowings.

The Company’s ability to obtain revolving loans and letters of credit under the ABL facility will be subject to a borrowing base comprising the following: (1) a domestic borrowing base comprising 85% of the Company’s eligible accounts receivable and those of the Company’s domestic subsidiaries, plus 85% of the net orderly

 

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liquidation value of the Company’s eligible inventory and such domestic subsidiaries less, in each case, certain reserves and subject to certain limitations, and (2) a foreign borrowing base comprising 85% of the combined eligible accounts receivable of the Company’s foreign subsidiaries, plus 85% of the net orderly liquidation value of eligible inventory of the Company’s Canadian subsidiaries less, in each case, certain reserves and subject to certain limitations. The maximum amount of credit that will be available to the Company under the foreign borrowing base will be limited to the U.S. Dollar equivalent of $40.0 million plus the availability generated by the eligible accounts receivable and inventory of our Canadian subsidiaries.

The obligations under the ABL facility are guaranteed by certain of the Company’s domestic subsidiaries. The obligations of Exide C.V. under the ABL facility are guaranteed by the Company’s domestic subsidiary and certain foreign subsidiaries.

The obligations under the ABL facility are secured by a lien on substantially all of the assets of Exide Technologies and domestic subsidiaries, and the obligations of Exide C.V. and the foreign subsidiaries under the ABL facility are secured by a lien on substantially all of the assets of Exide Technologies and domestic subsidiaries, and on substantially all of the personal property of Exide C.V. and the foreign subsidiaries. Subject to certain permitted liens, the liens securing the obligations under the ABL facility are first priority liens on all assets other than notes priority collateral and are second priority liens on all notes priority collateral.

The ABL facility contains customary conditions including restrictions on, among other things, the incurrence of indebtedness and liens, dividends and other distributions, consolidations and mergers, the purchase and sale of assets, the issuance or redemption of equity interests, loans and investments, acquisitions, intercompany transactions, a change of control, voluntary payments and modifications of indebtedness, modification of organizational documents and material contracts, affiliate transactions, and changes in lines of business. The ABL facility also contains a financial covenant requiring the Company to maintain a minimum fixed charge coverage ratio of 1.00 to 1.00, tested monthly on a trailing twelve-month basis, if at any time the Company’s excess availability under the ABL facility is less than the greater of $30.0 million and 15% of the aggregate commitments of the lenders.

The Convertible Notes

In March 2005, the Company issued floating rate convertible senior subordinated notes due September 18, 2013, with an aggregate principal amount of $60.0 million. The convertible notes bear interest at a per annum rate equal to the 3-month LIBOR, adjusted quarterly, minus a spread of 1.5%. The interest rate at March 31, 2012 and March 31, 2011 was 0.0%. Interest is payable quarterly. The notes are convertible into the Company’s common stock at a conversion rate of 61.6143 shares per one thousand dollars principal amount at maturity, subject to adjustments for any common stock splits, dividends on the common stock, tender and exchange offers by the Company for the common stock and third-party tender offers, and in the case of a change in control in which 10% or more of the consideration for the common stock is cash or non-traded securities, the conversion rate increases, depending on the value offered and timing of the transaction, to as much as 70.2247 shares per one thousand dollars principal amount.

At March 31, 2012, the Company was in compliance with covenants contained in the ABL Facility and the indentures governing the Notes and the floating rate convertible subordinated notes.

At March 31, 2012, the Company had outstanding letters of credit with a face value of $47.2 million and surety bonds with a face value of $41.9 million. The majority of the letters of credit and surety bonds have been issued as collateral or financial assurance with respect to certain liabilities that the Company has recorded, including but not limited to environmental remediation obligations and self-insured workers’ compensation reserves. Failure of the Company to satisfy its obligations with respect to the primary obligations secured by the letters of credit or surety bonds could entitle the beneficiary of the related letter of credit or surety bond to demand payments pursuant to such instruments. The letters of credit generally have terms up to one year. Collateral held by the surety in the form of letters of credit at March 31, 2012, pursuant to the terms of the agreement, was $39.7 million.

 

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Risks and uncertainties could cause the Company’s performance to differ from management’s estimates. As discussed above under “Factors Which Affect the Company’s Financial Performance – Seasonality and Weather,” the Company’s business is seasonal. During the Company’s first and second fiscal quarters, the Company builds inventory in anticipation of increased sales in the winter months. This inventory build increases the Company’s working capital needs. During these quarters, because working capital needs are already high, unexpected costs or increases in costs beyond predicted levels would place a strain on the Company’s liquidity.

Sources and Uses of Cash

The Company’s liquidity requirements have been met historically through cash provided by operations, borrowed funds and the proceeds of sales of accounts receivable. Additional cash has been generated in recent years through the sale of non-core business assets.

Cash flows provided by operating activities were $91.8 million and $80.0 million in fiscal 2012 and fiscal 2011 respectively. The operating cash flows increased primarily due to decreases in inventory resulting from several inventory management and global inventory reduction initiatives, partially offset by lower operating profits.

The Company generated $0.6 million and $16.8 million in cash from the sale of non-core assets in fiscal 2012 and fiscal 2011, respectively. These sales principally relate to the sale of surplus land and buildings.

Total debt at March 31, 2012 was $776.7 million, as compared to $758.2 million at March 31, 2011. See Note 7 to the Consolidated Financial Statements for the composition of such debt.

Cash provided by financing activities was $17.3 million and $57.6 million in fiscal 2012 and fiscal 2011, respectively. Cash flows provided by financing activities in fiscal 2012 relate primarily to net proceeds from increases in short-term borrowings and other debt. Fiscal 2011 included the Company’s debt refinancing and related increased net debt proceeds.

As of March 31, 2012, the Company had approximately $137.3 million of undistributed earnings in its foreign subsidiaries.

Going forward, the Company’s principal sources of liquidity will be cash on hand, cash from operations, and borrowings under the ABL facility.

The Company’s liquidity needs arise primarily from the funding of working capital, obligations on indebtedness, capital expenditures, and funding benefit plans. Because of the seasonality of the Company’s business, more cash has typically been generated in the third and fourth fiscal quarters than the first and second fiscal quarters. Greatest cash demands from operations have historically occurred during the months of June through October.

The Company believes that it will have sufficient ongoing liquidity to support its operations during fiscal 2013, including payment of remaining accrued restructuring costs of approximately $13.7 million as of March 31, 2012. For further discussion, see Note 12 to the Consolidated Financial Statements.

Capital expenditures were $109.8 million and $88.6 million in fiscal 2012 and fiscal 2011, respectively.

Total pension and other post-retirement employer contributions and direct benefit payments were approximately $29.4 million and $20.0 million in fiscal 2012 and fiscal 2011, respectively.

 

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Employee Benefit Plans

Accounting and Significant Assumptions

The Company accounts for pension and post-employment benefits using the accrual method. The accrual method of accounting for pensions and post-employment benefits involves the use of actuarial assumptions concerning future events that impact estimates of the amount and timing of benefit obligations and future benefit payments.

Significant assumptions used in calculating the Company’s pension and post-employment benefit obligations and related expense are the discount rate, rate of compensation increase, and the expected long-term rate of return on plan assets. The Company establishes these underlying assumptions in consultation with its actuaries. Depending on the assumptions used, pension obligations and related expense could vary within a range of outcomes and have a material effect on the Company’s results, benefit obligations, and cash funding requirements.

The discount rates used by the Company for determining benefit obligations are generally based on high quality corporate bonds and reflect the expected cash flows of the respective plans. The assumed rates of compensation increases reflect estimates of the projected change in compensation levels based on future expectations, general price levels, productivity, and historical experience, among other factors. In evaluating the expected long-term rate of return on plan assets, the Company considers the allocation of assets and the expected return on various asset classes in the context of the long-term nature of pension obligations.

At March 31, 2012, the Company had decreased the discount rates used to value its pension benefit obligations to reflect the decrease in yields on high quality corporate bonds, and decreased the rate of compensation increases to reflect current inflationary expectations. The aggregate effect of these changes increased the present value of projected benefit obligations as of March 31, 2012.

A one-percentage point increase or decrease in the weighted average expected return on plan assets for defined benefit plans would increase or decrease net periodic benefit cost by approximately $4.4 million in fiscal 2012. A one-percentage point increase in the weighted average discount rate would decrease net periodic benefit cost for defined benefit plans by approximately $0.5 million in fiscal 2012. A one-percentage point decrease in the weighted average discount rate would decrease net periodic benefit cost for defined benefit plans by approximately $0.1 million in fiscal 2012.

Plan Funding Requirements

Cash contributions to the Company’s pension plans are generally made in accordance with minimum regulatory requirements. The Company expects its cumulative minimum future cash contributions to its pension plans will total approximately $142.2 million from fiscal 2013 to fiscal 2017, including $33.8 million in fiscal 2013. In addition, the Company expects that cumulative contributions to its other post retirement benefit plans will total approximately $9.2 million from fiscal 2013 to fiscal 2017, including $1.9 million in fiscal 2013.

Financial Instruments and Market Risk

From time to time, the Company has used forward contracts to hedge certain commodity price exposures, including lead. The forward contracts are entered into for periods consistent with related underlying exposures and do not constitute positions independent of those exposures. The Company expects that it may increase the use of financial instruments, including fixed and variable rate debt as well as swap, forward and option contracts to finance its operations and to hedge interest rate, currency and certain commodity purchasing related risks in the future. The swap, forward, and option contracts would be entered into for periods consistent with related underlying exposures and would not constitute positions independent of those exposures. The Company has not entered into, and does not intend to enter into, contracts for speculative purposes nor be a party to any leveraged instruments. For further discussion of the Company’s financial instruments, see Note 2 to the Consolidated Financial Statements.

 

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The Company’s ability to utilize financial instruments may be restricted because of tightening, and/or elimination of unsecured credit availability with counter-parties. If the Company is unable to utilize such instruments, the Company may be exposed to greater risk with respect to its ability to manage exposures to fluctuations in foreign currencies, interest rates, lead prices, and other commodities.

Accounts Receivable Factoring Arrangements

In the ordinary course of business, the Company utilizes accounts receivable factoring arrangements in countries where programs of this type are typical. Under these arrangements, the Company may sell certain of its trade accounts receivable to financial institutions. The arrangements in virtually all cases do not contain recourse provisions against the Company for its customers’ failure to pay. The Company sold approximately $69.6 million and $67.3 million of foreign currency trade accounts receivable at March 31, 2012 and 2011, respectively. Changes in the level of receivables sold from year to year are included in the change in accounts receivable within cash flow from operations in the Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows.

Contractual Obligations and Commercial Commitments

The Company’s contractual obligations and commercial commitments at March 31, 2012 are summarized by fiscal year in which the payments are due in the following table:

 

     2013      2014      2015      2016      2017      2018 and
beyond
     Total  
     (in thousands)  

Floating Rate Convertible

                    

Senior Subordinated Notes

   $ —         $ 60,000       $ —         $ —         $ —         $ —         $ 60,000   

Senior Secured Notes

     —           —           —           —           —           675,000         675,000   

Interest on long-term debt (a)

     58,219         58,219         58,219         58,219         58,219         48,676         339,771   

Short term borrowings

     20,014         —           —           —           —           —           20,014   

Government loans (non-interest bearing)

     —           —           —           931         931         7,444         9,306   

Other term loans

     2,781         2,788         2,093         85         84         18         7,849   

Capital leases (b)

     2,318         1,767         1,626         16         —           —           5,727   

Operating leases

     23,911         14,708         8,038         4,440         1,876         391         53,364   

Other non-current liabilities (c)

     —           22,120         13,456         7,751         6,500         45,248         95,075   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total contractual cash obligations

   $ 107,243       $ 159,602       $ 83,432       $ 71,442       $ 67,610       $ 776,777       $ 1,266,106   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

 

  (a) Reflects the Company’s scheduled interest payments and assumes an interest rate of 0.0% on the floating rate convertible senior subordinated notes, and 8 5/8% on the Senior Secured Notes.
  (b) Capital leases reflect future minimum lease payments including imputed interest charges.
  (c) Other non-current liabilities include amounts on the Consolidated Balance Sheet as of March 31, 2012 (amounts that have been discounted are reflected as such on the table above).
  (d) Pension and other post-retirement benefit obligations are not included in the table above. The Company expects that cumulative contributions to its pension plans will total approximately $142.2 million from fiscal 2013 to fiscal 2017, including $33.8 million in fiscal 2013. In addition, the Company expects that cumulative contributions to its other post-retirement benefit plans will total approximately $9.2 million from fiscal 2013 to fiscal 2017, including $1.9 million in fiscal 2013. See Note 8 to the Consolidated Financial Statements.

Item 7A. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risks

The Company is exposed to market risks from changes in foreign currency exchange rates, certain commodity prices and interest rates. The Company does not enter into contracts without the intent to mitigate a

 

40


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particular risk, nor is it a party to any leveraged instruments. A discussion of the Company’s accounting policies for derivative instruments is provided in Notes 1 and 2 to the Consolidated Financial Statements.

Foreign Currency Exchange Rate Risk

The Company is exposed to foreign currency risk related to uncertainties to which future earnings or asset and liability values are exposed due to operating cash flows and various financial instruments that are denominated in foreign currencies. More specifically, the Company is exposed to foreign currency risk in most European countries, principally Germany, France, the United Kingdom, Spain, Italy, and Poland. It is also exposed, although to a lesser extent, to foreign currency risk in Australia and countries in the Pacific Rim. Movements of exchange rates against the U.S. Dollar can result in variations in the U.S. Dollar value of non-U.S. sales. In some instances, gains in one currency may be offset by losses in another. The Company enters into foreign currency forward contracts to mitigate the effect of foreign currency exchange rate fluctuations on certain transactions subject to foreign currency risk. See Note 2 to the Consolidated Financial Statements.

Commodity Price Risk

Lead is the primary material used in the manufacture of lead-acid batteries, representing approximately 49.2% of the Company’s cost of goods sold. The market price of lead fluctuates. Generally, when lead prices decrease, customers may seek disproportionate price reductions from the Company, and when lead prices increase, customers may resist price increases. The Company occasionally enters into certain lead and non-lead commodity hedging instruments to mitigate the effect of price fluctuations in those commodities. See Note 2 to the Consolidated Financial Statements.

Interest Rate Risk

The Company is exposed to interest rate risk on its short-term borrowings and a portion of its long-term debt. The following table presents the expected outstanding debt balances and related interest rates, excluding capital lease obligations and lines of credit, under the terms of the Company’s borrowing arrangements in effect at March 31, 2012.

 

     March 31,     2018 and
beyond
 
     2013     2014     2015     2016     2017    
     (In thousands)  

8 5/8% Senior Secured Notes (a)

   $ 675,000      $ 675,000      $ 675,000      $ 675,000      $ 675,000      $ 675,000   

Fixed interest rate

     8.625     8.625     8.625     8.625     8.625     8.625

Floating Rate Convertible

            

Senior Subordinated Notes

     60,000        —          —          —          —          —     

Variable interest rate (b)

     0.0     —          —          —          —          —     

Other term loans

     4,934        2,283        184        101        18        —     

Fixed interest rate

     1.9     1.0     0.8     0.8     0.8     —     

(a)    The 8 5/8% Senior Secured Notes mature in February 2018. See Note 7 to the Consolidated Financial Statements.

(b)    Variable components of interest rates based upon market rates at March 31, 2012. See Note 7 to the Consolidated Financial Statements.

Effects of Inflation

Inflation has not had a material impact on the Company’s operations. The Company generally has been able to partially offset the effects of inflation with cost-reduction programs, operating efficiencies, and pricing actions.

 

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Future Environmental Developments

As a result of its multinational manufacturing, distribution and recycling operations, the Company is subject to numerous federal, state, and local environmental, occupational safety, and health laws and regulations, and similar laws and regulations in other countries in which the Company operates. For a discussion of the legal proceedings relating to environmental matters, see Note 11 to the Consolidated Financial Statements.

Item 8. Financial Statements and Supplementary Data

See Index to Financial Statements at page F-1.

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

None.

Item 9A. Controls and Procedures

Evaluation of Disclosure Controls and Procedures

The Company maintains “disclosure controls and procedures,” as such term is defined in Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (the “Exchange Act”), that are designed to ensure that information required to be disclosed by the Company in reports that it files or submits under the Exchange Act is recorded, processed, summarized, and reported within the time periods specified in SEC rules and forms, and that such information is accumulated and communicated to the Company’s management, including the Company’s chief executive officer and chief financial officer, as appropriate, to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosure.

As of the end of the period covered by this report, the Company carried out an evaluation, under the supervision and with the participation of senior management, including the chief executive officer and the chief financial officer, of the effectiveness of the design and operation of our disclosure controls and procedures pursuant to Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(b) and 15d-15(b). Based upon this evaluation, the chief executive officer and the chief financial officer concluded that the Company’s disclosure controls and procedures were effective.

Management’s Report on Internal Control over Financial Reporting

Management of the Company is responsible for establishing and maintaining adequate internal control over financial reporting, as such term is defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(f) and 15d-15(f). The 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. Because of its inherent limitations, internal control over financial reporting may not prevent or detect misstatements. Also, projections of any evaluation of effectiveness to future periods are subject to the risk that controls may become inadequate because of changes in conditions, or that the degree of compliance with the policies or procedures may deteriorate.

Management, together with our chief executive officer and chief financial officer, has completed its evaluation of the effectiveness of the Company’s internal control over financial reporting as of March 31, 2012 based on the criteria established in Internal Control—Integrated Framework issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission (COSO). Based on our assessment and on those criteria, we determined that, as of March 31, 2012, the Company’s internal control over financial reporting was effective.

The effectiveness of the Company’s internal control over financial reporting as of March 31, 2012 has been audited by PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP, an independent registered public accounting firm, as stated in their report which is included herein.

 

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Changes in Internal Control Over Financial Reporting

There have not been any changes in the Company’s internal control over financial reporting during the fiscal quarter ended March 31, 2012 that have materially affected or are reasonably likely to materially affect the Company’s internal control over financial reporting.

Item 9B. Other Information

None

PART III

Item 10. Directors, Executive Officers, and Corporate Governance

Information concerning the Board of Directors of the Company, the members of the Company’s Audit Committee, the Company’s Audit Committee financial expert and the Company’s Code of Ethics is incorporated by reference to the Company’s Proxy Statement for the Annual Meeting of Stockholders currently scheduled to be held on September 20, 2012 (the “Proxy Statement”).

Section 16(a) Beneficial Ownership Reporting Compliance

Information concerning compliance with Section 16(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 is incorporated by reference to the Proxy Statement.

Director Independence

The information required by this item is incorporated by reference to the Proxy Statement.

Audit Committee Financial Expert

The information required by this item is incorporated by reference to the Proxy Statement.

Code of Ethics

The information required by this item is incorporated by reference to the Proxy Statement.

Item 11. Executive Compensation

The information required by this item is incorporated by reference to the Proxy Statement.

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

The information required by this item is incorporated by reference to the Proxy Statement.

Item 13. Certain Relationships and Related Transactions, and Director Independence

The information required by this item is incorporated by reference to the Proxy Statement.

Item 14. Principal Accountant Fees and Services

The information required by this item is incorporated by reference to the Proxy Statement.

 

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PART IV

Item 15. Exhibits and Financial Statement Schedules

 

  (a)     Index to Financial Statements

 

  See Index to Consolidated Financial Statements at page F-1.

 

  (b)     Exhibits Required by Item 601 of Regulation S-K

 

  See Index to Exhibits.

 

  (c)     Financial Statement Schedules

 

  See Index to Consolidated Financial Statements at page F-1.

 

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SIGNATURES

Pursuant to the requirements of Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized on June 7, 2012.

 

EXIDE TECHNOLOGIES

By:

 

/s/    PHILLIP A. DAMASKA        

 

Phillip A. Damaska,

Executive Vice President and

Chief Financial Officer

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, this report has been signed below by the following persons on behalf of the registrant and in the capacities stated, in each case, on June 7, 2012.

 

By:

 

/s/     JAMES R. BOLCH

 

  By:

 

/s/    JOHN O’HIGGINS

   

James R. Bolch,

Chief Executive Officer

(principal executive officer)

     

John O’Higgins,

Director

By:

 

/s/    PHILLIP A. DAMASKA 

 

By:

 

/s/    DOMINIC J. PILEGGI

   

Phillip A. Damaska,

Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer

(principal financial officer)

     

Dominic J. Pileggi,

Director

By:

 

/s/    LOUIS E. MARTINEZ 

 

By:

 

/s/    JOHN P. REILLY 

   

Louis E. Martinez,

Vice President, Corporate Controller, and Chief Accounting
Officer

(principal accounting officer)

     

John P. Reilly,

Chairman of the Board of Directors

By:

 

/s/    HERBERT F. ASPBURY

 

By:

 

/s/    MICHAEL P. RESSNER 

   

Herbert F. Aspbury,

Director

     

Michael P. Ressner,

Director

By:

 

/s/    MICHAEL R. D’APPOLONIA

 

By:

 

/s/    CARROLL R. WETZEL

   

Michael R. D’Appolonia,

Director

     

Carroll R. Wetzel,

Director

By:

 

/s/    DAVID S. FERGUSON

   
   

David S. Ferguson,

Director

       

 

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INDEX TO EXHIBITS

 

2.1    Joint Plan of Reorganization of the Official Committee of Unsecured Creditors and the Debtors, dated March 11, 2004, incorporated by reference to Exhibit 2.1 to the Company’s Report on Form 8-K (file no. 001-11263) dated May 6, 2004.
2.2    Amended Technical Amendment to (1) Joint Plan of Reorganization of the Official Committee of Unsecured Creditors and the Debtors and (II) Plan Supplement for Joint Plan of Reorganization of the Official Committee of the Unsecured Creditors and the Debtors, dated April,27, 2004, incorporated by reference to Exhibit 2.2 to the Company’s Report on Form 8-K (file no. 001-11263) dated May 6, 2004.
2.3    Order confirming the Joint Plan of Reorganization of the Official Committee of Unsecured Creditors and the Debtors entered April 20, 2004, incorporated by reference to Exhibit 2.3 to the Company’s Report on Form 8-K (file no. 001-11263) dated May 6, 2004.
3.1    Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation, incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.1 to the Company’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q (file no. 001-11263) dated November 8, 2007.
3.2    Amended and Restated Bylaws of the Company, effective March 25, 2009, incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.1 to the Company’s Report on Form 8-K (file no. 001-11263) dated March 31, 2010.
4.1    Indenture, dated as of March 18, 2005, by and between the Company and SunTrust Bank relating to the Floating Rate Convertible Senior Subordinated Notes due 2013, incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.2 to the Company’s Report on Form 8-K (file no. 001-11263) dated March 25, 2005.
4.2    Registration Rights Agreement, dated September 18, 2006, between Exide Technologies, Tontine Capital Partners, L.P., Tontine Partners, L.P., Tontine Overseas Associates, L.L.C., Tontine Capital Overseas Master Fund, L.P., Arklow Capital, LLC and Legg Mason Investment Trust, Inc., incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to the Company’s Report on Form 8-K (file no. 001-11263) dated September 19, 2006.
4.3    Rights Agreement, dated as of December 6, 2008, by and between the Company and American Stock Transfer & Trust Company, LLC, incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.1 to the Company’s Registration Statement in Form 8-A (file no. 001-11263) dated December 8, 2008.
4.4    Indenture, dated as of January 25, 2011, by and between Exide Technologies and Wells Fargo Bank, National Association, as trustee, incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.1 to the Company’s Report on Form 8-K (file no. 001-11263) dated January 25, 2011.
4.5    Form of 8 5/8% Senior Notes due 2018 (included as Exhibit A in Exhibit 4.5).
4.6    Registration Rights Agreement, dated January 25, 2011, by and between the Exide Technologies and Deutsche Bank Securities Inc., as representative of the several initial purchasers, incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.3 to the Company’s Report on Form 8-K (file no. 001-11263) dated January 25, 2011.
4.7    Security Agreement dated as of January 25, 2011, by Exide Technologies in favor of Wells Fargo Bank, National Association, as collateral agent, incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.4 to the Company’s Report on Form 8-K (file no. 001-11263) dated January 25, 2011.
4.8    Supplemental Indenture, dated as of January 25, 2011, by and between Exide Technologies and U.S. Bank, National Association, as successor trustee incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.4 to the Company’s Report on Form 8-K (file no. 001-11263) dated January 25, 2011.
4.9    Credit Agreement, dated as of January 25, 2011, by and among Exide Technologies, Exide Global Holding Netherlands C.V., various financial institutions named therein, and Wells Fargo Capital Finance, LLC, as administrative agent, incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to the Company’s Report on Form 8-K (file no. 001-11263) dated January 25, 2011.

 

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      4.10    US Security Agreement dated as of January 25, 2011, by and among Exide Technologies, and Wells Fargo Capital Finance, LLC, in its capacity as agent, incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.2 to the Company’s Report on Form 8-K (file no. 001-11263) dated January 25, 2011.
      4.11    US General Continuing Guaranty, dated as of January 25, 2011, by Exide Technologies, in favor of Wells Fargo Capital Finance, LLC, as agent, incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.3 to the Company’s Report on Form 8-K (file no. 001-11263) dated January 25, 2011.
      4.12    Intercreditor Agreement dated as of January 25, 2011, by and among Exide Technologies, Wells Fargo Capital Finance, LLC, as agent under the credit agreement dated January 25, 2011 and Wells Fargo Bank, National Association, as trustee and collateral agent under the indenture dated January 25, 2011, incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.4 to the Company’s Report on Form 8-K
(file no. 001-11263) dated January 25, 2011.
  †10.30    Form of Restricted Share Units Award Agreement, incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to the Company’s Report on Form 8-K (file no. 001-11263) dated March 27, 2007.
  †10.31    Form of Exide Technologies Employee Restricted Shares Award Agreement, incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to the Company’s Report on Form 8-K (file no. 001-11263) dated
October 20, 2004.
  †10.32    Form of Exide Technologies Employee Stock Option Award Agreement, incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.2 to the Company’s Report on Form 8-K (file no. 001-11263) dated October 20, 2004.
  †10.33    Form of Non-Employee Director Stock Option Award Agreement, incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.4 to the Company’s Report on Form 8-K (file no. 001-11263) dated October 20, 2004.
  †10.34    Form of Non-Employee Director Restricted Shares Award Agreement, incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.5 to the Company’s Report on Form 8-K (file no. 001-11263) dated October 20, 2004.
  †10.35    Exide Technologies’ 2004 Stock Incentive Plan, as further amended and restated effective August 22, 2007, incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.2 to the Company’s Report on Form 10-Q
(file no. 001-11263) dated November 8, 2007.
  †10.36    Amendment to Stock Option Award Agreement between Exide Technologies and Phillip A. Damaska, dated February 18, 2008, incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.5 to the Company’s Report on Form 8-K (file no. 001-11263) dated February 20, 2008.
*†10.37    Performance Unit Award Agreement, dated as of May 4, 2009 by and between the Company and Phillip A. Damaska.
*†10.38    Performance Unit Award Agreement, dated as of May 4, 2009 by and between the Company and Barbara A. Hatcher.
  †10.39    Exide Technologies 2009 Stock Incentive Plan, incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to the Company’s Report on Form 8-K (file no. 001-11263) dated September 21, 2009.
  †10.40    Form of Performance Share Award Agreement, incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to the Company’s Report on Form 8-K (file no. 001-11263) dated March 31, 2010. #
  †10.41    Form of Restricted Stock Award Agreement incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.2 to the Company’s Report on Form 8-K (file no. 001-11263) dated March 31, 2010.
    10.42    Supply Agreement between Daramic, LLC and Exide Technologies, dated January 17, 2010, incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.37 to the Company’s Report on Form 10-K/A
(file no.001-11263) dated January 7, 2011.#
  †10.43    Employment Agreement between Exide Technologies and James R. Bolch, dated June 10, 2010, incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to the Company’s Report on Form 8-K
(file no. 001-11263) dated June 15, 2010.

 

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  †10.44   Restricted Stock Award Agreement, dated July 26, 2010, by and between Exide Technologies and James R. Bolch, incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to the Company’s Report on Form 8-K (file no. 001-11263) dated July 26, 2010.
  †10.45   U.K. form of Non-Employee Director Restricted Stock Unit Award, incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to the Company’s Report on Form 8-K (file no. 001-11263) dated September 20, 2010.
  †10.46   U.K. form of Non-Employee Director Restricted Stock Unit Award for New Directors, incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.2 to the Company’s Report on Form 8-K (file no. 001-11263) dated September 20, 2010.
  †10.47   U.S. form of Non-Employee Director Restricted Stock Unit Award for New Directors, incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.3 to the Company’s Report on Form 8-K (file no. 001-11263) dated September 20, 2010.
  †10.48   Agreement between Exide Technologies and Edward R. Tetreault, dated September 18, 2010, incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to the Company’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q (file no. 001-11263) dated November 4, 2010.
  †10.49   Release, Settlement, and Income Protection Agreement between Exide Technologies and
George S. Jones, Jr., dated October 21, 2010, incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.2 to the Company’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q (file no. 001-11263) dated November 4, 2010.
  †10.50   Form of Indemnification Agreement, incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to the Company’s Report on Form 8-K (file no. 001-11263) dated November 10, 2010.
  †10.51   Release, Settlement and Income Protection Agreement between Exide Technologies and Mitchell S. Bregman, incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to the Company’s Report on Form 8-K (file no. 001-11263) dated December 20, 2010.
  †10.52   Amendment to Agreement between Exide Technologies and Edward R. Tetreault, dated December 22, 2010, incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to the Company’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q (file no. 001-11263) dated February 7, 2011.
  †10.53   Form of Performance Share Award Agreement, incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to the Company’s Report on Form 8-K (file no. 001-11263) dated April 4, 2011.
  †10.54   Form of Performance Unit Agreement, incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.2 to the Company’s Report on Form 8-K (file no. 001-11263) dated April 4, 2011.#
  †10.55   Fiscal 2012 Annual Incentive Plan, amending and restating the Fiscal 2010 Short-Term Incentive Plan incorporated by reference to the Report on Form 10-K (file no. 001-11263) dated June 1, 2011.
  †10.56   Offer of Employment to R. Paul Hirt, Jr., dated September 16, 2011, incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to the Company’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q (file no. 001-11263) dated February 9, 2012.
  †10.57   Separation Agreement and General Release between Exide Technologies and Edward R. Tetreault dated October 25, 2011, incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.2 to the Company’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q (file no. 001-11263) dated February 9, 2012.
  †10.58   Amendment to Employment Agreement between Exide Technologies and James R. Bolch dated February 6, 2012, incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.2 to the Company’s Report on Form 8-K (file no. 001-11263) dated February 9, 2011.
  *†10.59   Employment Agreement between Exide Technologies, GmbH and Michael Ostermann dated January 1, 2009.
  *†10.60   Assignment Agreement between Exide Technologies, GmbH and Michael Ostermann dated January 1, 2009.

 

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  †10.61   Amendment to Employment Agreement between Exide Technologies, GmbH and Michael Ostermann dated February 8, 2012, incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.3 to the Company’s Report on Form 8-K (file no. 001-11263) dated February 9, 2011.
*†10.62   Performance Unit Award Agreement, dated as of March 27, 2012 by and between the Company and James R. Bolch. +
*†10.63   Performance Unit Award Agreement, dated as of March 27, 2012 by and between the Company and Phillip A. Damaska. +
*†10.64   Performance Unit Award Agreement, dated as of March 27, 2012 by and between the Company and Barbara A. Hatcher. +
*†10.65   Performance Unit Award Agreement, dated as of March 27, 2012 by and between the Company and R. Paul Hirt, Jr. +
*†10.66   Performance Unit Award Agreement, dated as of March 27, 2012 by and between the Company and Michael Ostermann. +
*†10.67   Fiscal 2013 Annual Incentive Plan, amending and restating the Fiscal 2010 Short-Term Incentive Plan.
  *21   Subsidiaries of Exide Technologies.
  *23.1   Consent of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm.
  *31.1   Certification of James R. Bolch, Chief Executive Officer, pursuant to Section 302 of Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.
  *31.2   Certification of Phillip A. Damaska, Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer, pursuant to Section 302 of Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.
  *32.1   Certifications pursuant to Section 906 of Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.
*101.INS   XBRL Instance Document.
*101.SCH   XBRL Taxonomy Extension Schema Document.
*101.CAL   XBRL Taxonomy Extension Calculation Linkbase Document.
*101.DEF   XBRL Taxonomy Extension Definition Linkbase Document.
*101.LAB   XBRL Taxonomy Extension Label Linkbase Document.
*101.PRE   XBRL Taxonomy Extension Presentation Linkbase Document.

 

* Filed with this Report.
Management contract or compensatory plan or arrangement.
+ Pursuant to a request for confidential treatment, portions of this exhibit have been redacted from the publicly filed document and have been furnished separately to the Securities and Exchange Commission as required by Rule 24b-2 under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934.
# Pursuant to a request for confidential treatment, which has been granted, portions of this exhibit have been redacted from the publicly filed document and have been furnished separately to the Securities and Exchange Commission as required by Rule 24b-2 under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934.

 

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EXIDE TECHNOLOGIES AND SUBSIDIARIES

INDEX TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND SCHEDULE

 

Exide Technologies and Subsidiaries

  

REPORT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM

     51   

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS

     52   

CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS

     53   

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY

     54   

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS

     55   

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

     56   

FINANCIAL STATEMENT SCHEDULE:

  

II — VALUATION AND QUALIFYING ACCOUNTS

     88   

All other schedules are omitted because they are not applicable, not required, or the information required to be set forth therein is included in the Consolidated Financial Statements or in the Notes thereto.

 

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REPORT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM

To the Stockholders and Board of Directors of Exide Technologies

In our opinion, the accompanying consolidated balance sheets and the related consolidated statements of operations, stockholders’ equity and cash flows present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of Exide Technologies and its subsidiaries at March 31, 2012 and 2011, and the results of their operations and their cash flows for each of the three years in the period ended March 31, 2012 in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America. In addition, in our opinion, the financial statement schedule listed in the accompanying index presents fairly, in all material respects, the information set forth therein when read in conjunction with the related consolidated financial statements. Also in our opinion, the Company maintained, in all material respects, effective internal control over financial reporting as of March 31, 2012, based on criteria established in Internal Control - Integrated Framework issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission (COSO). The Company’s management is responsible for these financial statements and financial statement schedule, for maintaining effective internal control over financial reporting and for its assessment of the effectiveness of internal control over financial reporting, included in Management’s Report on Internal Control over Financial Reporting appearing under Item 9A. Our responsibility is to express opinions on these financial statements, on the financial statement schedule, and on the Company’s internal control over financial reporting based on our integrated 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 audits to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements are free of material misstatement and whether effective internal control over financial reporting was maintained in all material respects. Our audits of the financial statements included examining, on a test basis, evidence supporting the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements, assessing the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, and evaluating the overall financial statement presentation. Our audit of internal control over financial reporting included obtaining an understanding of internal control over financial reporting, assessing the risk that a material weakness exists, and testing and evaluating the design and operating effectiveness of internal control based on the assessed risk. Our audits also included performing such other procedures as we considered necessary in the circumstances. We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinions.

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 (i) pertain to the maintenance of records that, in reasonable detail, accurately and fairly reflect the transactions and dispositions of the assets of the company; (ii) provide reasonable assurance that transactions are recorded as necessary to permit preparation of financial statements in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles, and that receipts and expenditures of the company are being made only in accordance with authorizations of management and directors of the company; and (iii) provide reasonable assurance regarding prevention or timely detection of unauthorized acquisition, use, or disposition of the company’s assets that could have a material effect on the financial statements.

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

/s/ PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP

Atlanta, Georgia

June 7, 2012

 

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EXIDE TECHNOLOGIES AND SUBSIDIARIES

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS

(in thousands, except per-share data)

 

     For the Fiscal Year Ended  
     March 31, 2012     March 31, 2011     March 31, 2010  

Net sales

   $ 3,084,650      $ 2,887,516      $ 2,685,808   

Cost of sales

     2,599,822        2,346,189        2,175,137   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Gross profit

     484,828        541,327        510,671   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Selling and administrative expenses

     395,075        403,268        413,336   

Restructuring and impairments, net

     10,878        42,286        80,596   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Operating income

     78,875        95,773        16,739   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Other expense (income), net

     6,320        2,220        (9,894

Interest expense, net

     71,804        62,410        59,933   

Loss on early extinguishment of debt

     —          10,827        —     
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Income (loss) before income taxes

     751        20,316        (33,300

Income tax (benefit) provision

     (55,203     (6,496     (21,963
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net income (loss)

     55,954        26,812        (11,337

Net (loss) income attributable to noncontrolling interests

     (785     369        477   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net income (loss) attributable to

      

Exide Technologies

   $ 56,739      $ 26,443      $ (11,814
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Earnings (loss) per share

      

Basic

   $ 0.73      $ 0.34      $ (0.16
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Diluted

   $ 0.69      $ 0.33      $ (0.16
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Weighted average shares

      

Basic

     77,667        76,678        75,960   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Diluted

     82,081        81,309        75,960   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

 

 

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these statements.

 

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EXIDE TECHNOLOGIES AND SUBSIDIARIES

CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS

(In thousands, except per share data)

 

     March 31, 2012     March 31, 2011  
ASSETS     

Current assets:

    

Cash and cash equivalents

   $ 155,368      $ 161,363   

Accounts receivable, net

     500,375        508,937   

Inventories

     479,467        519,909   

Prepaid expenses and other current assets

     21,840        22,476   

Deferred income taxes

     30,804        31,115   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total current assets

     1,187,854        1,243,800   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Property, plant and equipment, net

     622,975        611,635   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Other assets:

    

Goodwill and intangibles, net

     164,039        178,418   

Deferred income taxes

     174,601        81,036   

Other noncurrent assets

     45,517        68,775   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 
     384,157        328,229   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total assets

   $ 2,194,986      $ 2,183,664   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 
LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY     

Current liabilities:

    

Short-term borrowings

   $ 20,014      $ 9,088   

Current maturities of long-term debt

     3,787        2,132   

Accounts payable

     390,549        417,156   

Accrued expenses

     276,809        273,387   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total current liabilities

     691,159        701,763   

Long-term debt

     752,930        746,938   

Noncurrent retirement obligations

     236,312        214,236   

Deferred income taxes

     17,158        15,898   

Other noncurrent liabilities

     95,075        98,940   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total liabilities

     1,792,634        1,777,775   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY

    

Preferred stock, $0.01 par value, 1,000 shares authorized, 0 shares issued and outstanding

     —          —     

Common stock, $0.01 par value, 200,000 shares authorized, 78,351 and 77,498 shares issued and outstanding

     783        775   

Additional paid-in capital

     1,133,417        1,127,124   

Accumulated deficit

     (715,913     (772,652

Accumulated other comprehensive income

     (16,493     49,540   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total stockholders’ equity attributable to Exide Technologies

     401,794        404,787   

Noncontrolling interests

     558        1,102   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total stockholders’ equity

     402,352        405,889   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total liabilities and stockholders’ equity

   $ 2,194,986      $ 2,183,664   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these statements.

 

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EXIDE TECHNOLOGIES AND SUBSIDIARIES

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY

 

                      Accumulated Other
Comprehensive (Loss) Income
             
    Common
Stock
    Additional
Paid-in
Capital
    Accumulated
Deficit
    Defined
Benefit
Plans
    Derivatives
Qualifying
as Hedges
    Cumulative
Translation
Adjustment
    Non-
controlling
Interest
    Exide
Technologies
Comprehensive
(Loss) Income
 
    (In thousands)  

Balance at March 31, 2009

  $ 755      $ 1,111,001      $ (787,281   $ (20,962   $ (4,969   $ 27,683      $ 15,840     
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

Net loss

    —          —          (11,814     —          —          —          477      $ (11,814

Defined benefit plans, net of tax of $4,393

    —          —          —          (17,436     —          —          —          (17,436

Translation adjustment

    —          —          —          —          —          24,914        390        24,914   

Net recognition of unrealized loss on derivatives, net of tax of $527

    —          —          —          —          1,484        —          —          1,484   
               

 

 

 

Comprehensive loss

    —          —          —          —          —          —          —        $ (2,852
               

 

 

 

Increase in ownership of sub.

    —          (1,789     —          —          —          —          (1,003  

Common stock issuance/other

    1        —          —          —          —          —          —       

Stock compensation

    —          10,747        —          —          —          —          —       
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

Balance at March 31, 2010

  $ 756      $ 1,119,959      $ (799,095   $ (38,398   $ (3,485   $ 52,597      $ 15,704     
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

Net income

    —          —          26,443        —          —          —          369      $ 26,443   

Defined benefit plans, net of tax of $549

    —          —          —          11,505        —          —          —          11,505   

Translation adjustment

    —          —          —          —          —          23,846        783        23,846   

Net recognition of unrealized loss on derivatives, net of tax of $1,237

    —          —          —          —          3,475        —          —          3,475   
               

 

 

 

Comprehensive income

    —          —          —          —          —          —          —        $ 65,269   
               

 

 

 

Increase in ownership of sub.

    —          917        —          —          —          —          (15,754  

Common stock issuance/other

    19        (319     —          —          —          —          —       

Stock compensation

    —          6,567        —          —          —          —          —       
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

Balance at March 31, 2011

  $ 775      $ 1,127,124      $ (772,652   $ (26,893   $ (10   $ 76,443      $ 1,102     
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

Net income

    —          —          56,739        —          —          —          (785   $ 56,739   

Defined benefit plans, net of tax of $15,472

    —          —          —          (43,050     —          —          —          (43,050

Translation adjustment

    —          —          —          —          —          (22,866     446        (22,866

Net recognition of unrealized loss on derivatives, net of tax of $49

    —          —          —          —          (117     —          —          (117
               

 

 

 

Comprehensive income

    —          —          —          —          —          —          —        $ (9,294
               

 

 

 

Increase in ownership of sub.

    —          —          —          —          —          —          —       

Common stock issuance/other

    8        1,141        —          —          —          —          (205  

Stock compensation

    —          5,152        —          —          —          —          —       
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

Balance at March 31, 2012

  $ 783      $ 1,133,417      $ (715,913   $ (69,943   $ (127   $ 53,577      $ 558     
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these statements.

 

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EXIDE TECHNOLOGIES AND SUBSIDIARIES

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS

 

     For the Fiscal Year Ended  
     March 31,
2012
    March 31,
2011
    March 31,
2010
 
     (In thousands)  

Cash flows from operating activities:

      

Net income (loss)

   $ 55,954      $ 26,812      $ (11,337

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

      

Depreciation and amortization

     84,353        84,067        90,113   

Unrealized gain on warrants

     (68     (268     (807

Loss on asset sales / impairments

     3,773        9,055        10,002   

Deferred income taxes

     (77,913     (11,383     (28,363

Provision for doubtful accounts

     1,529        (759     4,741   

Non-cash stock compensation

     5,152        6,567        10,747   

Amortization of deferred financing costs

     4,289        4,798        5,004   

Loss on early extinguishment of debt

     —          10,827        —     

Currency remeasurement loss (gain)

     10,036        (2,373     (10,239

Changes in assets and liabilities—

      

Receivables

     (9,899     (2,094     21,090   

Inventories

     20,025        (83,369     20,128   

Other current assets

     866        (4,360     1,451   

Payables

     (9,099     66,925        68,060   

Accrued expenses

     13,131        (4,383     (34,888

Other noncurrent liabilities

     (25,236     (21,302     (23,661

Other, net

     14,875        1,230        (12,879
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net cash provided by operating activities

     91,768        79,990        109,162   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Cash flows from investing activities:

      

Capital expenditures

     (109,836     (88,589     (96,092

Proceeds from asset sales

     635        16,793        850   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net cash used in investing activities

     (109,201     (71,796     (95,242
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Cash flows from financing activities:

      

Increase (decrease) in short-term borrowings

     12,408        1,820        (236

Decrease in borrowings under Senior Secured Credit Facility

     —          (285,423     (3,005

Increase (decrease) in other debt

     5,409        (291,695     6,995   

Issuance of Senior Secured Notes

     —          675,000        —     

Financing costs

     —          (23,093     —     

Debt redemption premium

     —          (3,865     —     

Acquisition of noncontrolling interests/other

     (544     (15,145     (1,824
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net cash provided by financing activities

     17,273        57,599        1,930   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Effect of exchange rate changes on cash and cash equivalents

     (5,835     6,012        4,203   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net (decrease) increase In cash and cash equivalents

     (5,995     71,805        20,053   

Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of period

     161,363        89,558        69,505   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Cash and cash equivalents, end of period

   $ 155,368      $ 161,363      $ 89,558   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Supplemental disclosures of cash flow information:

      

Cash paid during the period for—

      

Interest

   $ 69,194      $ 41,569      $ 47,129   

Income taxes (net of refunds)

   $ 23,907      $ 7,627      $ 9,954   

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these statements.

 

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EXIDE TECHNOLOGIES AND SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

March 31, 2012

(1) BASIS OF PRESENTATION AND SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES

The Consolidated Financial Statements include the accounts of Exide Technologies (referred to together with its subsidiaries, unless the context requires otherwise, as “Exide” or the “Company”) and all of its majority-owned subsidiaries. The Consolidated Financial Statements are prepared in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles (“GAAP”). Unless otherwise indicated or unless the context otherwise requires, references to “fiscal year” refer to the period ended March 31 of that year (e.g. “fiscal 2012” refers to the period beginning April 1, 2011 and ending March 31, 2012).

Certain comparative prior period amounts in the Consolidated Financial Statements have been reclassified to conform to current period presentation. Specifically, the Company reclassified approximately $23.1 million and $27.4 million from selling and administrative expenses to cost of sales for the fiscal years ended March 31, 2011 and 2010, respectively, to conform the classification of certain Industrial Energy Europe and Rest of World (“ROW”) headcount and related expenses to that of other operating segments. This reclassification did not impact operating income or cash flows.

On October 11, 2011, the Company was apprised of allegations of intentional misstatement of production and inventory entries at the Company’s Portugal recycling facility. The Company immediately commenced an investigation into the allegations, which has since been concluded. As a result of the investigation, the Company determined that intentional misstatements of production and inventories were made, which resulted in overstatements of inventory and understatements of cost of sales over a multi-year period. The Company concluded that the amounts necessary to correct these errors are not material to fiscal 2012 full year results, and the Company concluded that the amounts associated with each of the relevant prior fiscal periods impacted are not material. Accordingly, the Company’s financial results for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2012 include a pre-tax out of period adjustment of $4.6 million for the Transportation Europe and ROW segment to correct these errors.

Principles of Consolidation

The Consolidated Financial Statements include the accounts of Exide Technologies and all of its majority owned subsidiaries in which it exercises control. Investments in affiliates of less than a 20% interest are accounted for by the cost method. Investments in 20% to 50% owned companies are accounted for by the equity method. All significant intercompany transactions have been eliminated.

Nature of Operations

The Company is one of the largest manufacturers and suppliers of lead-acid batteries for transportation and industrial energy applications in the world. The Company manufactures industrial and transportation batteries in North America, Europe, India, and Australia. The Company’s transportation batteries include ignition and lighting batteries for cars, trucks, off-road vehicles, agricultural and construction vehicles, motorcycles, recreational vehicles, marine, and other applications.

The Company’s industrial batteries consist of motive power batteries, such as those used in forklift trucks and other electric vehicles, and network power batteries used for back-up power applications, such as those used for telecommunication systems. The Company markets its transportation batteries to a broad range of retailers and distributors of replacement batteries and automotive original equipment manufacturers (“OEM”).

 

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The Company has four business segments: Transportation Americas, Transportation Europe and Rest of World (“ROW”), Industrial Energy Americas, and Industrial Energy Europe and ROW. For a discussion of the Company’s segments, see Note 17.

Major Customers and Concentration of Credit

The Company has a number of major end-user customers, retail and OEM, both in North America and Europe. No single customer accounted for more than 10% of consolidated net sales during any of the fiscal years presented. The Company does not believe a material part of its business is dependent upon a single customer, the loss of which would have a material long-term impact on the business of the Company.

Foreign Currency Translation

The functional currencies of the Company’s foreign subsidiaries are primarily the respective local currencies. Assets and liabilities of the Company’s foreign subsidiaries and affiliates are translated into U.S. Dollars at the year-end exchange rate, and revenues and expenses are translated at average monthly exchange rates. Translation gains and losses are recorded as a component of accumulated other comprehensive income within stockholders’ equity. Foreign currency gains and losses from certain intercompany transactions are also recorded as a component of accumulated other comprehensive income. All other foreign currency gains and losses are included in other expense (income), net.

Cash Equivalents

Cash equivalents consist of highly liquid instruments with maturities at the time of acquisition of three months or less. Cash equivalents are stated at cost, which approximates fair value because of the short-term maturity of these instruments.

Allowance for Doubtful Accounts

The Company maintains allowances for doubtful accounts for estimated probable losses resulting from the inability of the Company’s customers to make required payments. The Company continues to assess the adequacy of the reserves for doubtful accounts based on the financial condition of the Company’s customers and other external factors that may impact collectability. The majority of the Company’s accounts receivable are due from trade customers. Credit is extended based on an evaluation of the Company’s customers’ financial condition and generally, collateral is not required. Payment terms vary and accounts receivable are stated in the Consolidated Financial Statements at amounts due from customers net of an allowance for doubtful accounts. Accounts outstanding for longer than the payment terms are considered past due. The Company considers a number of factors in determining the allowance for doubtful accounts, including the length of time trade accounts receivable are past due, the customers’ current ability to pay their obligations to the Company, the Company’s previous loss history, and the condition of the general economy and the industry as a whole. The Company writes off accounts receivable when they become uncollectible. The Company’s accounts receivable balance at March 31, 2012 and 2011 reflects an allowance for doubtful accounts of $20.3 million and $29.2 million, respectively.

Inventories

Inventories, which consist of material, labor and overhead, are stated at the lower of cost or market using the first-in, first-out (“FIFO”) method. The Company writes down its inventory to estimated net realizable value (when below historical cost) based on assumptions of future demand and market conditions.

Property, Plant and Equipment

Depreciation is provided on a straight-line basis over the estimated useful lives of the assets. The range of original estimated useful lives is: buildings and improvements, 25-40 years; machinery and equipment,

 

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3-14 years. Cost and accumulated depreciation for property retired or disposed of are removed from the accounts, and any gain or loss on disposal is credited or charged to earnings. Expenditures for maintenance and repairs are charged to expense as incurred. Additions, improvements and major renewals are capitalized.

Deferred Financing Costs

Deferred financing costs are amortized to interest expense over the life of the related debt.

Valuation of Long-Lived Assets

The Company’s long-lived assets include property, plant and equipment, identified intangible assets, and goodwill. Long-lived assets (other than indefinite lived intangible assets and goodwill) are depreciated over their estimated useful lives, and are reviewed for impairment whenever changes in circumstances indicate the carrying value may not be recoverable. Indefinite-lived intangible assets and goodwill are reviewed for impairment on both an annual basis and whenever changes in circumstances indicate the carrying value may not be recoverable. The fair value of indefinite-lived intangible assets and goodwill is based upon the Company’s estimates of future cash flows and other factors including discount rates to determine the fair value of the respective assets. If these assets or their related assumptions change in the future, the Company may be required to record impairment charges.

Sales Returns and Allowances

The Company provides for an allowance for product returns and/or allowances. Based upon its manufacturing re-work process, the Company believes that the majority of its product returns are not the result of product defects. The Company recognizes the estimated cost of product returns as a reduction of sales in the period in which the related revenue is recognized. The product return estimates are based upon historical trends and claims experience, and include an assessment of the anticipated lag between the date of sale and claim/return date.

Income Taxes

The Company accounts for income taxes using the liability method in accounting for deferred taxes. If it is more likely than not that some portion, or all, of a deferred tax asset will not be realized, a valuation allowance is recognized.

Revenue Recognition

The Company records sales when revenue is earned. Shipping terms are generally FOB shipping point and revenue is recognized when product is shipped to the customer. In limited cases, terms are FOB destination and in these cases, revenue is recognized when product is delivered to the customer’s delivery site.

Accounting for Shipping and Handling Costs

The Company records shipping and handling costs incurred in cost of sales and records shipping and handling costs billed to customers in net sales.

Advertising

The Company expenses advertising costs as they are incurred.

Net Earnings (Loss) Per Share

The Company computes basic earnings (loss) per share by dividing net income (loss) by the weighted average number of common shares outstanding during the period. Diluted earnings per share is computed by dividing net income by diluted weighted average shares outstanding. Potentially dilutive shares include the assumed exercise of stock options and the assumed vesting of restricted stock and stock unit awards (using the treasury stock method) as well as the assumed conversion of the Company’s Floating Rate Convertible Senior

 

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Subordinated Notes, if dilutive. The potential dilutive effect of the assumed conversion of convertible debt is determined using the if-converted method, and considers both the impact of incremented common shares after an assumed conversion, and the related addition to net income of the after-tax interest recognized during the period on the convertible debt. Shares which are contingently issuable under the Company’s plan of reorganization have been included as outstanding common shares for purposes of calculating basic earnings (loss) per share.

Use of Estimates in the Preparation of Financial Statements

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. Actual results could differ from those estimates.

Recently Issued Accounting Standards

In June 2011, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) issued an amendment to an existing accounting standard which requires companies to present net income and other comprehensive income in one continuous statement or in two separate but consecutive statements. In addition, in December 2011, the FASB issued an amendment to an existing accounting standard which defers the requirement to present components of reclassifications of other comprehensive income on the face of the income statement. This new accounting pronouncement is effective for the Company’s first quarter of fiscal 2013, and the Company does not expect the adoption of these standards to result in any material impact to the Company’s financial statements.

(2) ACCOUNTING FOR DERIVATIVES

The Company uses derivative contracts to hedge the volatility arising from changes in the fair value of certain assets and liabilities that are subject to market risk, such as interest rates on debt instruments, foreign currency exchange rates, and certain commodities. The Company does not enter into derivative contracts for trading or speculative purposes.

The Company recognizes outstanding derivative instruments as assets or liabilities, based on measurements of their fair values. If a derivative qualifies for hedge accounting, gains or losses in its fair value that offset changes in the fair value of the asset or liability being hedged (“effective” gains or losses) are reported in accumulated other comprehensive income, and subsequently recorded to earnings only as the related variability on the hedged transaction is recorded in earnings. If a derivative does not qualify for hedge accounting, changes in its fair value are reported in earnings immediately upon occurrence, and the classification of cash flows from these instruments is consistent with that of the transactions being hedged. Derivatives qualify for hedge accounting if they are designated as hedging instruments at their inception, and if they are highly effective in achieving changes in fair value or cash flows that offset the fair value / cash flow changes of the assets or liabilities being hedged. Regardless of a derivative’s accounting designation, changes in its fair value or cash flows that are not offset by fair value / cash flow changes in the asset or liability being hedged are considered ineffective, and are recognized in earnings immediately.

The Company enters into interest rate swaps for time periods ranging from one month to several years in order to mitigate exposures related to interest rates on long-term debt. At March 31, 2012, the Company held interest rate swap contracts to convert a total of $87.5 million of its $675.0 million Senior Secured Notes from a fixed rate of 8.625% to floating rates through February 1, 2018. The swaps’ notional values totaled $87.5 million, and have been designated as economic hedges. Changes in the fair value of these instruments are recorded in earnings immediately.

The Company also enters into commodity swap and forward contracts for various time periods usually not exceeding one year. The Company uses these contracts to mitigate the effects of its exposure to price variability on certain raw materials and other costs included in the delivered cost of its products. These contracts include

 

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economic hedges on which fair value changes are recorded in earnings immediately, and instruments designated as cash flow hedging instruments.

The Company also enters into foreign currency forward contracts for various time periods ranging from one month to several years. The Company uses these contracts to mitigate the effect of its exposure to foreign currency remeasurement gains and losses on selected transactions that will be settled in a currency other than the functional currency of the transacting entity. Changes in the fair value of these currency forward contracts are recognized immediately in earnings. At March 31, the Company held foreign currency forward contracts with a total notional value of approximately $123.8 million.

The following tables set forth information on the presentation of these derivative instruments in the Company’s Consolidated Financial Statements:

 

          Fair Value As of  
     Balance Sheet    March 31, 2012      March 31, 2011  
          (In thousands)  

Asset Derivatives:

        

Foreign exchange forwards

   Current assets    $ 104       $ 5   

Commodity swaps / forwards

   Current assets      320         1,564   

Interest rate swaps

   Current assets      1,755         —     

Interest rate swaps

   Noncurrent assets      2,323         —     

Liability Derivatives:

        

Foreign exchange forwards

   Current liabilities    $ 5,725       $ 2,555   

Commodity swaps / forwards

   Current liabilities      697         1,263   

 

     Statement of
Operations
    For the Fiscal Year Ended  
     March 31,
2012
    March 31,
2011
    March 31,
2010
 
           (In thousands)  

Foreign Exchange

        

Forwards

     Other (income)         

(Gain) loss

     expense, net      $ (6,051   $ 823      $ 1,198   

Commodity Swaps / Forwards

        

Loss (gain)

     Cost of sales        3,970        (16     (665

Interest Rate Swap

        

(Gain) loss

     Interest expense, net        (1,820     5,305        6,042   

(3) GOODWILL AND INTANGIBLE ASSETS

 

     Goodwill
(not subject  to
amortization)
     Trademarks
and
Tradenames

(not subject to
amortization)
     Trademarks
and
Tradenames

(subject to
amortization)
    Customer
Relationships
    Technology     Total  
     (In thousands)  

As of March 31, 2012

              

Gross amount

   $ 4,000       $ 61,470       $ 13,971      $ 115,520      $ 30,958      $ 225,919   

Accumulated amortization

     —           —           (8,734     (37,936     (15,210     (61,880
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net

   $ 4,000       $ 61,470       $ 5,237      $ 77,584      $ 15,748      $ 164,039   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

As of March 31, 2011

              

Gross amount

   $ 4,568       $ 63,561       $ 14,444      $ 119,454      $ 31,986      $ 234,013   

Accumulated amortization

     —           —           (7,891     (34,273     (13,431     (55,595
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net

   $ 4,568       $ 63,561       $ 6,553      $ 85,181      $ 18,555      $ 178,418   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

 

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Amortization of intangible assets for fiscal year 2012, 2011 and 2010 was $8.2 million, $8.5 million and $8.9 million, respectively. Excluding the impact of any future acquisitions (if any), the Company anticipates annual amortization of intangible assets for each of the next five years to be approximately $6.7 million to $7.2 million. Intangible assets have been recorded at the legal entity level and are subject to foreign currency fluctuation.

(4) INVENTORIES

Inventories, valued using the first-in, first-out (“FIFO”) method, consist of:

 

     March 31,
2012
     March 31,
2011
 
     (In thousands)  

Raw materials

   $ 85,116       $ 83,584   

Work-in-process

     123,723         128,003   

Finished goods

     270,628         308,322   
  

 

 

    

 

 

 
   $ 479,467       $ 519,909   
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

(5) PROPERTY, PLANT AND EQUIPMENT

Property, plant and equipment consist of:

 

     March 31,
2012
    March 31,
2011
 
     (In thousands)  

Land

   $ 56,983      $ 58,692   

Buildings and improvements

     184,615        192,768   

Machinery and equipment

     922,159        944,862   

Construction in progress

     94,861        63,037   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 
     1,258,618        1,259,359   

Less: Accumulated depreciation

     (635,643     (647,724
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Property, plant and equipment, net

   $ 622,975      $ 611,635   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Depreciation expense was $74.1 million, $72.8 million, and $78.7 million, for fiscal 2012, 2011, and 2010, respectively.

(6) OTHER NONCURRENT ASSETS

 

     March 31,
2012
     March 31,
2011
 
     (In thousands)  

Deposits (a)

   $ 4,566       $ 21,813   

Deferred financing costs

     20,326         23,982   

Investment in affiliates

     1,963         1,988   

Capitalized software, net

     2,003         3,102   

Loan to affiliate

     1,005         1,005   

Retirement plans

     7,474         12,523   

Financial instruments

     2,323         —     

Other

     5,857         4,362   
  

 

 

    

 

 

 
   $     45,517       $     68,775   
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

 

(a) Deposits principally represent amounts held by beneficiaries as cash collateral for the Company’s contingent obligations with respect to certain environmental matters, workers compensation insurance, and operating lease commitments.

 

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(7) DEBT

At March 31, 2012 and 2011, short-term borrowings of $20.0 million and $9.1 million, respectively, consisted of borrowings under various operating lines of credit and working capital facilities maintained by certain of the Company’s non-U.S. subsidiaries. Certain of these borrowings are collateralized by receivables, inventories and/or property. These borrowing facilities, which are typically for one-year renewable terms, generally bear interest at current local market rates plus up to one percent per annum. The weighted average interest rate on short-term borrowings was approximately 5.4% and 4.7% at March 31, 2012 and 2011, respectively.

Total long-term debt at March 31, 2012 and 2011 consisted of the following:

 

     March 31,
2012
     March 31,
2011
 
     (In thousands)  

8 5/8% Senior Secured Notes due 2018

   $ 675,000       $ 675,000   

Floating Rate Convertible Senior Subordinated Notes due September 2013

     60,000         60,000   

Other, including capital lease obligations and other loans at interest rates averaging approximately 6.2% due in installments through 2018

     18,363         14,070   
  

 

 

    

 

 

 
     753,363         749,070   

Fair value adjustments on hedged debt (see Note 2 - interest rate swaps)

     3,354         —     
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total

     756,717         749,070   

Less-current maturities

     3,787         2,132   
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total Long-Term Debt

   $ 752,930       $ 746,938   
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total debt including short-term borrowings at March 31, 2012 and 2011 was $776.7 million and $758.2 million, respectively.

In January 2011, the Company issued $675.0 million in aggregate principal amount of 8 5/8% senior secured notes (“Senior Secured Notes” or “Notes”) due 2018. The proceeds of the Senior Secured Notes were used to extinguish the Company’s previous credit facility and to discharge and thereafter redeem any and all of the Company’s then outstanding 10.5% senior notes. Concurrently with the issuance of the Senior Secured Notes, the Company entered into a senior secured asset-based revolving credit facility (the “ABL facility”) with commitments of an aggregate borrowing capacity of $200.0 million.

The Senior Secured Notes

Borrowings under the Senior Secured Notes bear interest at a rate of 8 5/8% per annum, payable semi-annually in arrears in February and August.

The Notes are secured by (i) a first-priority lien on the notes priority collateral, which includes the Company’s existing and after-acquired equipment, stock of the Company’s direct subsidiaries, certain intercompany loans, certain real property, and substantially all of the Company’s other assets that do not secure the ABL facility on a first-priority basis, and (ii) a second-priority lien on the ABL priority collateral, which includes the Company’s assets that secure the ABL facility on a first-priority basis, including the Company’s receivables, inventory, intellectual property rights, deposit accounts, tax refunds, certain intercompany loans and certain other related assets and proceeds thereof. The ABL facility will be secured by a first-priority lien on the ABL priority collateral and a second-priority lien on the notes priority collateral. The value of the collateral at any time will depend on market and other economic conditions, including the availability of suitable buyers for the collateral.

 

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The Notes contain provisions by which the Company may elect to repay some or all of the principal balance prior to its 2018 maturity date:

 

   

Prior to February 1, 2014, the Company may on one or more occasions redeem up to 35% of the aggregate principal amount of the Notes at a redemption price equal to 108.625 % of the principal amount of the notes to be redeemed, plus accrued and unpaid interest, with the net cash proceeds of certain equity offerings. The Company may make such a redemption only if, after such redemption, at least 65% of the aggregate principal amount of the notes issued under the indenture remains outstanding and the Issuer issues a redemption notice in respect thereof not more than 60 days prior to or before the date of the equity offering closing.

 

   

Prior to February 1, 2015, the Company may:

 

  i. redeem in whole or in part the Notes at a redemption price equal to 100% of the principal amount of the Notes plus accrued and unpaid interest, and a “make-whole” premium.

 

  ii. redeem, no more than once in any twelve-month period, up to 10% of the original aggregate principal amount of the Notes at a redemption price equal to 103% of the principal amount of the Notes to be redeemed, plus accrued and unpaid interest.

 

   

On or after February 1 of the years indicated below, the Company may redeem, in whole or in part, the Notes at the redemption prices set forth in the following table (expressed as a percentage of the principal amount thereof):

 

Year

   Percentage  

2015 ..

     104.313

2016 ..

     102.16

2017 and thereafter ..

     100.00

Upon a change of control the Company will be required to make an offer to repurchase the notes at a price equal to 101% of the principal amount thereof, plus accrued and unpaid interest to the date of repurchase.

The indenture for the Notes contains certain covenants which limit the ability of the Company and its subsidiaries’ ability to, among other things, incur debt, pay dividends, make investments, create liens or use assets as security, and sell assets including the capital stock of subsidiaries.

Asset-Backed Revolving Credit Facility

The ABL facility includes a letter of credit sub-facility of $75.0 million, a swingline sub-facility of $25.0 million and an accordion feature that permits the Company to increase the revolving credit commitments by an amount up to $50.0 million (for an aggregate revolving credit commitment of up to $250.0 million) if the Company obtains commitments from existing or new lenders for such increase. Revolving loans and letters of credit under the ABL facility will be available in U.S. Dollars and Euros. The ABL facility will mature on January 25, 2016. The ABL facility (not including the swingline sub-facility) bears interest at a rate equal to (1) the base rate plus an interest margin or (2) LIBOR (for U.S. Dollar or Euro denominated revolving loans, as applicable) plus an interest margin. The base rate will be a rate per annum equal to the greatest of (a) the U.S. Federal Funds Rate plus 0.50%, (b) the prime commercial lending rate of the administrative agent, and (c) a rate equal to LIBOR for a one-month interest period plus 1.00%. The swingline sub-facility will bear interest at a rate per annum equal to the applicable floating rate (base rate or LIBOR for a one-month interest period) plus an interest margin. The interest margin will be adjusted quarterly based on the average amount available for drawing under the ABL facility and will range between 2.75% and 3.25% per annum for LIBOR borrowings and 1.75% and 2.25% per annum for base rate borrowings.

The Company’s ability to obtain revolving loans and letters of credit under the ABL facility will be subject to a borrowing base comprising the following: (1) a domestic borrowing base comprising 85% of the Company’s

 

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eligible accounts receivable and those of the Company’s domestic subsidiaries, plus 85% of the net orderly liquidation value of the Company’s eligible inventory and such domestic subsidiaries less, in each case, certain reserves and subject to certain limitations, and (2) a foreign borrowing base comprising 85% of the combined eligible accounts receivable of the Company’s foreign subsidiaries, plus 85% of the net orderly liquidation value of eligible inventory of the Company’s Canadian subsidiaries less, in each case, certain reserves and subject to certain limitations. The maximum amount of credit that will be available to the Company under the foreign borrowing base will be limited to the U.S. Dollar equivalent of $40.0 million plus the availability generated by the eligible accounts and eligible inventory of our Canadian subsidiaries.

The obligations under the ABL facility are guaranteed by certain of the Company’s domestic subsidiaries. The obligations of Exide C.V. under the ABL facility will be guaranteed by the Company’s domestic subsidiary and certain foreign subsidiaries.

The obligations under the ABL facility will be secured by a lien on substantially all of the assets of Exide Technologies and domestic subsidiaries, and the obligations of Exide C.V. and the foreign subsidiaries under the ABL facility will be secured by a lien on substantially all of the assets of Exide Technologies and domestic subsidiaries, and on substantially all of the personal property of Exide C.V. and the foreign subsidiaries. Subject to certain permitted liens, the liens securing the obligations under the ABL facility will be first priority liens on all assets other than notes priority collateral and will be second priority liens on all notes priority collateral.

The ABL facility contains customary conditions including restrictions on, among other things, the incurrence of indebtedness and liens, dividends and other distributions, consolidations and mergers, the purchase and sale of assets, the issuance or redemption of equity interests, loans and investments, acquisitions, intercompany transactions, a change of control, voluntary payments and modifications of indebtedness, modification of organizational documents and material contracts, affiliate transactions, and changes in lines of business. The ABL facility also contains a financial covenant requiring the Company to maintain a minimum fixed charge coverage ratio of 1.00 to 1.00, tested monthly on a trailing twelve-month basis, if at any time the Company’s excess availability under the ABL facility is less than the greater of $30.0 million and 15% of the aggregate commitments of the lenders.

The Convertible Notes

In March 2005, the Company issued floating rate convertible senior subordinated notes due September 18, 2013, with an aggregate principal amount of $60.0 million. The convertible notes bear interest at a per annum rate equal to the 3-month LIBOR, adjusted quarterly, minus a spread of 1.5%. The interest rate at March 31, 2012 and March 31, 2011 was 0.0%. Interest is payable quarterly. The notes are convertible into the Company’s common stock at a conversion rate of 61.6143 shares per one thousand dollars principal amount at maturity, subject to adjustments for any common stock splits, dividends on the common stock, tender and exchange offers by the Company for the common stock and third-party tender offers, and in the case of a change in control in which 10% or more of the consideration for the common stock is cash or non-traded securities, the conversion rate increases, depending on the value offered and timing of the transaction, to as much as 70.2247 shares per one thousand dollars principal amount.

At March 31, 2012, the Company was in compliance with covenants contained in the ABL Facility and indenture agreements that cover the 8 5/8% Senior Secured Notes and the floating rate convertible subordinated notes.

At March 31, 2012, the Company had outstanding letters of credit with a face value of $47.2 million and surety bonds with a face value of $41.9 million. The majority of the letters of credit and surety bonds have been issued as collateral or financial assurance with respect to certain liabilities that the Company has recorded, including but not limited to environmental remediation obligations and self-insured workers’ compensation reserves. Failure of the Company to satisfy its obligations with respect to the primary obligations secured by the

 

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letters of credit or surety bonds could entitle the beneficiary of the related letter of credit or surety bond to demand payments pursuant to such instruments. The letters of credit generally have terms up to one year. Collateral held by the surety in the form of letters of credit at March 31, 2012, pursuant to the terms of the agreement, was $39.7 million.

Annual principal payments required under long-term debt obligations at March 31, 2012 are as follows:

 

     Amount  
     (In thousands)  

2013

   $ 2,555   

2014

     62,651   

2015

     2,054   

2016

     1,014   

2017

     1,014   

2018 and beyond

     682,462   
  

 

 

 

Total

   $ 751,750   
  

 

 

 

See note 11 for principal payments required under capital lease obligations, which are not shown above.

(8) EMPLOYEE BENEFIT PLANS AND POSTRETIREMENT HEALTH CARE AND LIFE INSURANCE BENEFITS

In the U.S., the Company has a noncontributory defined benefit pension plan that, while currently frozen, covers substantially all hourly and salaried employees. In Europe and ROW, the Company sponsors several defined benefit plans that cover substantially all employees who are not covered by statutory plans. For defined benefit plans, charges to expense are based upon underlying assumptions established by the Company in consultation with its actuaries. In most cases, the Europe and ROW defined benefit plans are not required to be funded.

The Company also has defined contribution plans in North America, Europe, and ROW with related expense of $19.3 million, $8.8 million, and $14.0 million, for fiscal 2012, 2011, and 2010, respectively.

The Company provides certain retiree health care and life insurance benefits to a limited number of employees. The Company accrues the estimated cost of providing post-retirement benefits during the employees’ applicable years of service.

 

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The following tables set forth the plans’ funded status and the amounts recognized in the Company’s Consolidated Financial Statements at March 31, 2012 and 2011:

 

Pension Benefits:

    
     Fiscal Year Ended  
     March 31, 2012     March 31, 2011  
     (In thousands)  

Change in benefit obligation:

    

Benefit obligation at beginning of period

   $ 633,486      $ 623,275   

Service cost

     2,231        3,168   

Interest cost

     33,076        33,357   

Actuarial loss (gain)

     65,599        (3,555

Plan participants’ contributions

     258        256   

Benefits paid

     (35,846     (34,900

Currency translation

     (9,823     15,483   

Settlements and other

     (2,256     (3,598
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Benefit obligation at end of period

   $ 686,725      $ 633,486   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Change in plan assets:

    

Fair value of plan assets at beginning of period

   $ 444,079      $ 411,982   

Actual return on plan assets

     39,560        41,565   

Employer contributions

     27,267        18,231   

Plan participants’ contributions

     258        256   

Benefits paid

     (35,846     (34,900

Currency translation

     (746     8,913   

Settlements and other

     (2,256     (1,968
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Fair value of plan assets at end of period

   $ 472,316      $ 444,079   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Reconciliation of funded status:

    

Benefit obligation at end of period

   $ 686,725      $ 633,486   

Fair value of plan assets at end of period

     472,316        444,079   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Funded status

   $ (214,409   $ (189,407
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Amounts recognized in Statement of Financial Position:

    

Noncurrent other assets

   $ 7,474      $ 12,523   

Accrued expenses

     (8,822     (9,390

Noncurrent retirement obligations

     (213,061     (192,540
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net amount recognized at end of period

   $ (214,409   $ (189,407
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Amounts recognized in accumulated other comprehensive loss:

    

Prior service cost

   $ 896      $ 1,042   

Net actuarial loss

     98,501        42,165   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net amount recognized in accumulated other comprehensive loss:

   $ 99,397      $ 43,207   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

 

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Other Post-Retirement Benefits:

    
     Fiscal Year Ended  
     March 31, 2012     March 31, 2011  
      (in thousands)  

Change in benefit obligation:

    

Benefit obligation at beginning of period

   $ 23,332      $ 18,974   

Service cost

     516        185   

Interest cost

     1,123        1,020   

Actuarial loss

     2,467        5,737   

Plan participants’ contributions

     115        98   

Benefits paid

     (2,132     (1,868

Plan amendments & other

     —          (1,182

Premiums paid

     —          —     

Currency translation

     (268     368   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Benefit obligation at end of period

   $ 25,153      $ 23,332   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Change in plan assets:

    

Fair value of plan assets at beginning of period

   $ —        $ —     

Employer contributions

     2,017        1,770   

Plan participants’ contributions

     115        98   

Benefits paid

     (2,132     (1,868

Premiums paid

     —          —     
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Fair value of plan assets at end of period

   $ —        $ —     
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Reconciliation of funded status:

    

Benefit obligation at end of period

   $ 25,153      $ 23,332   

Fair value of plan assets at end of period

     —          —     
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Funded status

   $ (25,153   $ (23,332
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Amounts recognized in statement of financial position:

    

Accrued expenses

   $ (1,902   $ (1,636

Noncurrent retirement obligations

     (23,251     (21,696
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net amount recognized at end of period

   $ (25,153   $ (23,332
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Amounts recognized in accumulated other comprehensive (income) loss:

    

Prior service credit

   $ (3,440   $ (3,930

Net actuarial loss

     10,130        8,289   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net amount recognized in accumulated other comprehensive loss:

   $ 6,690      $ 4,359   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

 

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Disclosure Assumptions:    Pension     Other Post-Retirement              
     Benefits     Benefits              
Weighted-average assumptions as of:    March 31,
2012
    March 31,
2011
    March 31,
2012
    March 31,
2011
             

Discount rate

     4.5     5.4     4.3     5.1    

Rate of compensation increase

     2.5     2.6     n/a        n/a       
Expense Assumptions:    Pension     Other Post-Retirement  
     Benefits / Expense     Benefits / Expense  
Weighted-average assumptions for:    FY 2012     FY 2011     FY 2010     FY 2012     FY 2011     FY 2010  

Discount rate

     5.4     5.5     7.1     5.1     5.7     7.5

Expected return on plan assets

     7.1     7.2     7.2     n/a        n/a        n/a   

Rate of compensation increase

     2.6     2.9     3.5     n/a        n/a        n/a   

For fiscal year 2012 pension benefit expense, the Company assumed an expected weighted average return on plan assets of 7.1%. In developing this rate assumption, the Company evaluated input from third-party pension plan asset managers, including their review of asset class return expectations and long-term inflation assumptions.

Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income

The amounts in accumulated other comprehensive income on the consolidated statement of financial position, exclusive of tax impacts, that have not yet been recognized as components of net periodic benefit cost at March 31, 2012 are as follows:

 

     Pension
Benefits
    Postretirement
Health and Other
Benefits
 
      (in thousands)  

Accumulated other comprehensive income:

    

Net loss arising during the year

   $ 57,253      $ 2,467   

Net prior service cost

     (88     490   

Net loss recognized during the year

     (613     (498

Exchange rate loss recognized during the year

     (362     (128
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total

   $ 56,190      $ 2,331   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

The amounts in accumulated other comprehensive income expected to be recognized as components of net periodic benefit cost over the next fiscal year are as follows:

 

     Pension
Benefits
     Postretirement
Health and Other
Benefits
 
      (in thousands)  

Amortization of:

     

Prior service cost/(credit)

   $ 64       $ (490

Net loss

     2,020         643   
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total

   $ 2,084       $ 153   
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

 

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Net Periodic Benefit Cost

The following tables set forth the plans’ expenses recognized in the Company’s Consolidated Financial Statements:

 

     Pension Benefits  
     Fiscal Year Ended  
   March 31, 2012     March 31, 2011     March 31, 2010  
      (In thousands)  

Components of net periodic benefit cost:

      

Service cost

   $ 2,231      $ 3,168      $ 3,184   

Interest cost

     33,076        33,357        36,592   

Expected return on plan assets

     (31,214     (28,862     (23,443

Amortization of:

      

Prior service cost

     88        221        11   

Actuarial loss

     665        1,037        1,038   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net periodic benefit cost

   $ 4,846      $ 8,921      $ 17,382   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

The above excludes the impact of settlement and curtailment net gains of $0.05 million, $1.4 million, and $3.2 million in fiscal 2012, 2011, and 2010, respectively. Approximately $2.0 million of expense will be amortized from accumulated other comprehensive (income) loss into net periodic benefit cost in fiscal 2013 relating to the Company’s pension plans.

 

     Other Post-Retirement Benefits  
     Fiscal Year Ended  
   March 31, 2012     March 31, 2011     March 31, 2010  
      (In thousands)  

Components of net periodic benefit cost:

      

Service cost

   $ 516      $ 185      $ 141   

Interest cost

     1,123        1,020        1,235   

Amortization of:

      

Prior service cost

     (490     (490     (385

Actuarial loss (gain)

     498        110        (15
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net periodic benefit cost

   $ 1,647      $ 825      $ 976   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

$0.2 million of expenses will be amortized from accumulated other comprehensive (income) loss into net periodic benefit cost in fiscal 2013 relating to the Company’s other post retirement benefit plans.

The projected benefit obligation, accumulated benefit obligation, and fair value of plan assets for the pension plans with accumulated benefit obligations in excess of plan assets were $529.5 million, $524.3 million and $307.7 million, respectively, as of March 31, 2012 and $485.9 million, $481.1 million and $284.2 million, respectively, as of March 31, 2011.

 

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The accumulated benefit obligation for the Company’s pension plans was $679.3 million as of March 31, 2012. Expected future benefit payments are as follows:

 

            Other Post-
Retirement
 

Fiscal Year

   Pension
Benefits
     Gross Expected
Benefit Payments
 
     (In thousands)  

2013

   $ 40,931       $ 1,903   

2014

     36,838         1,886   

2015

     37,590         1,838   

2016

     38,390         1,808   

2017

     39,510         1,794   

2018 to 2022

     206,080         8,322   

Pension Plan Investment Strategy

The Company’s pension plans are invested in a diversified portfolio of investments consisting primarily of equity and fixed income securities. The target asset allocation for the plan portfolio is based on a combination of financial, demographic, and actuarial considerations, along with the advice of the Company’s investment advisory firm. The plans’ current target allocation is a mix of approximately 40% equity investments and 60% long duration fixed-income investments. The Company believes this target allocation will be effective in achieving the plans’ long-term investment objectives of:

 

   

protecting the plan’s funded status from volatility

   

optimizing the long-term return on plan assets sufficient to accommodate current and future pension obligations

   

maintaining an acceptable level of risk for each asset category

The Company utilizes a principal investment manager to actively manage the assets of its U.S. plan. Based on its underlying risk parameters, the Company has established investment guidelines for each investment manager within which they have agreed to operate. These guidelines include criteria for identifying eligible and ineligible securities as well as diversification criteria. In addition, investment managers are required to seek approval prior to making investments in certain commodity contracts, illiquid investments, or futures or options strategies, and are prohibited from engaging in certain transactions including the short selling of securities, borrowing money, or engaging in futures or options strategies for purposes of speculation or leverage.

The Company’s non-U.S. pension plans are also managed by investment managers who are appointed by the trustees of those plans. The investment strategies of those plans are similar to those of the U.S. plan, but are in some instances influenced by local laws and regulations.

The asset allocation for the Company’s pension plans by asset category are as follows:

 

     Percentage of Plan Assets at Year End  
     2012     2011  

Cash and cash equivalents

     1     1

Equity securities

     39     46

Fixed income securities

     59     52

Other

     1     1
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total

     100     100
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Plan Contributions

The estimated fiscal 2013 pension plan contributions are $33.8 million and other post-retirement contributions are $1.9 million. Cash contributions to the Company’s pension plans are generally made in accordance with minimum regulatory requirements.

 

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The Company expects that cumulative contributions to its pension plans will total approximately $142.2 million from fiscal 2013 to fiscal 2017, and contributions to its other post retirement benefit plans will total approximately $9.2 million from fiscal 2013 to fiscal 2017.

Health Care Cost Trends

Assumed health care cost trend rates have a significant effect on the amounts reported for other post-retirement benefits. A one-percentage-point change in assumed health care cost trend rates would have the following effects:

 

     One Percentage-      One Percentage-  
     Point Increase      Point Decrease  
     (In thousands)  

Effect on total of service and interest cost components

   $ 286       $ 219   

Effect on the postretirement benefit obligation

   $ 2,606       $ 2,142   

(9) STOCK BASED COMPENSATION PLANS

The Company accounts for stock based compensation by recognizing the cost resulting from all share-based payment transactions in the financial statements. The Company uses fair value as the basis for measuring the cost of such compensation. The fair values of stock awards are determined using an estimated expected life. The Company recognizes compensation expense on a straight-line basis over the period the award is earned by the employee.

The Company’s stock incentive plan provides incentives and awards to employees and directors of the Company. Under the plan, all employees are eligible to receive awards. The plan permits the granting of stock options, restricted stock, restricted stock units, and performance awards.

Under the terms of the plan, stock options are generally subject to a three-year vesting schedule, and generally expire 10 years from the option grant date. Restricted stock and restricted stock units are generally subject to a three to five-year vesting schedule. In addition, as part of their annual compensation, each non-employee member of the Company’s Board of Directors receives restricted stock units. These awards are 100% vested one year after the grant date, but are not deliverable until the director has completed his or her service on the board. The vesting schedules for the awards are subject to certain change in control provisions, including full vesting if an employee is terminated within 12 months of a change in control.

Total compensation cost related to stock compensation plans was $5.2 million and $6.6 million for fiscal 2012 and 2011, respectively. As of March 31, 2012, total compensation cost related to non-vested awards not yet recognized in the Company’s Consolidated Financial Statements was $10.4 million, which is expected to be recognized over a weighted average period of 1.5 years.

Stock Option Awards

The fair value of each option grant is estimated at the date of grant using the Black-Scholes option pricing model. Expected volatility is calculated based on the historical volatility of the Company’s stock. The risk free interest rate is based on the U.S. Treasury yield for a term equal to the expected life of the options at the time of

 

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grant. The Company did not issue stock options during the fiscal years ended March 31, 2012 and 2011. The following table includes information about the weighted-average fair values of options issued in fiscal 2010:

 

     For the Fiscal Year
Ended
 
     March 31, 2010  

Weighted average fair value

   $ 4.38   

Expected volatility

       77.7% to 78.4%   

Risk-free interest rates

           2.7% to 2.9%   

Expected term of options

     5.6 to 6.5 years   

Dividend yield

     0.00%   

The following is a summary of stock option activity:

 

     Number of Stock
Options
(in thousands)
    Weighted Average
Exercise Price
     Weighted Average
Remaining Contractual
Life
 

Shares under option:

       

Outstanding at March 31, 2009

     3,496      $ 8.00         7.6 years   
  

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

 

Granted

     605        6.29      

Forfeited

     (31     9.28      

Exercised

     (64     3.90      
  

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

 

Outstanding at March 31, 2010

     4,006      $ 7.79         7.0 years   
  

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

 

Granted

     —          6.29      

Forfeited

     (514     9.28      

Exercised

     (393     3.90      
  

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

 

Outstanding at March 31, 2011

     3,100      $ 8.02         6.0 years   
  

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

 

Granted

     —          n/a      

Forfeited

     (228     9.01      

Exercised

     —          n/a      
  

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

 

Outstanding at March 31, 2012

     2,872      $ 7.94         5.0 years   
  

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

 

Vested and Exercisable at:

       

March 31, 2012

     2,786      $ 7.99         4.9 years   

March 31, 2011

     2,769      $ 7.83         5.8 years   

March 31, 2010

     2,956      $ 6.97         6.3 years   

 

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Restricted Stock Awards

During the fiscal years ended March 31, 2012, 2011, and 2010, 1.4 million, 1.4 million, and 0.5 million, shares of restricted stock and/or restricted stock units were approved to be granted to certain eligible employees.

Restricted stock transactions during the fiscal year ended March 31, 2012 were as follows:

 

     Number of
Shares
    Weighted-Average
Fair Value
 
     (in thousands)  

Outstanding (non-vested) at March 31, 2011

     1,758      $ 7.13   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Granted

     1,429        3.26   

Vested

     (647     6.68   

Forfeited

     (168     8.35   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Outstanding (non-vested) at March 31, 2012

     2,372      $ 4.83   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

(10) INCOME TAXES

The provision for income taxes includes federal, state and foreign taxes currently payable and those deferred because of net operating losses and temporary differences between the financial statement and tax bases of assets and liabilities. The components of income (loss) before income taxes and minority interest, and the (benefit) provision for income taxes are as follows:

 

     Fiscal Year Ended  
     March 31, 2012     March 31, 2011     March 31, 2010  
     (In thousands)  
Income (loss) before income taxes and minority interest:       

U.S.

   $ (30,726   $ (3,692   $ 33,017   

Foreign

     31,477        24,008        (66,317
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 
   $ 751      $ 20,316      $ (33,300
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Income tax (benefit) provision:

      

Current

      

U.S.

   $ (825   $ (268   $ (5,746

Foreign

     23,535        5,155        12,146   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 
     22,710        4,887        6,400   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Deferred

      

U.S.

   $ (9,809   $ (1,311   $ (23,332

Foreign

     (68,104     (10,072     (5,031
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 
     (77,913     (11,383     (28,363
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total (benefit) provision

   $ (55,203   $ (6,496   $ (21,963
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

 

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Major differences between the federal statutory rate and the effective tax rate are as follows:

 

     Fiscal Year Ended  
     March 31, 2012     March 31, 2011     March 31, 2010  

Federal statutory rate

     35.0     35.0     35.0

Dividend income

     (0.2     0.4        (2.1

Change in tax rate

     (6.7     (4.2     0.5   

Change in uncertain tax positions

     (312.1     (15.2     15.9   

Local tax provision

     527.0        9.3        (7.2

Change in valuation allowances

     (8,109.8     (2.1     (93.4

Revaluation of warrants

     (3.2     (0.4     0.9   

Rate differences on foreign subsidiaries

     (1,795.2     (59.1     18.0   

Executive compensation

     72.2        2.8        (6.3

Deferred tax valuation change

     —          —          116.4   

Thin cap disallowance

     84.1        —          —     

Spain tax settlement

     1,787.0        —          —     

Sub part F income

     28.0        1.0        (2.0

Other, net

     343.3        0.5        (9.7
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Effective tax rate

     -7350.6     -32.0     66.0
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

The following is a summary of the significant components of the Company’s deferred tax assets and liabilities:

 

     March 31, 2012     March 31, 2011  

Deferred tax assets:

     (In thousands)   

Operating loss and tax credit carry-forwards

   $ 259,657      $ 296,957   

Compensation reserves

     64,628        63,261   

Environmental reserves

     9,446        9,934   

Warranty

     8,753        7,869   

Other

     26,069        36,327   

Valuation allowance

     (103,539     (239,509
  

 

 

   

 

 

 
   $ 265,014      $ 174,839   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Deferred tax liabilities:

    

Property, plant and equipment

   $ (32,022   $ (27,020

Foreign Exchange

     (4,880     (9,112

Intangible assets

     (39,865     (42,454
  

 

 

   

 

 

 
     (76,767     (78,586
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net deferred tax assets

   $ 188,247      $ 96,253   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

The net deferred income tax asset is classified in the consolidated balance sheet as follows:

 

     March 31, 2012     March 31, 2011  
     (In thousands)  

Current asset

   $ 30,804      $ 31,115   

Noncurrent asset

     174,601        81,036   

Noncurrent liability

     (17,158     (15,898
  

 

 

   

 

 

 
   $ 188,247      $ 96,253   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

As of March 31, 2012 the Company has net operating loss carry-forwards (“NOLs”) for U.S. and state income tax purposes of $195.1 million. These loss carry-forwards will expire in years 2013 through 2032. The

 

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Company determined that a Sec. 382 ownership change occurred during the fiscal year ending March 31, 2007 related to the September 2006 rights offering. IRC Sec. 382 places annual limits on the amount of the Company’s U.S. and state NOLs that may be used to offset future taxable income. The Company has calculated its Sec. 382 limitation on U.S. and state losses incurred prior to September 15, 2006 to approximate $5.0 million per year over the next nineteen years.

At March 31, 2012, certain of the Company’s foreign subsidiaries have NOLs for income tax purposes of approximately $933.0 million, of which approximately $65.8 million expire in fiscal years 2013 through 2027. The remaining NOLs are available for carry-forward indefinitely.

Valuation allowances have been recognized in certain foreign tax jurisdictions to reduce the deferred tax assets for loss carryforwards and deductible temporary differences for which it is more likely than not that the tax benefits associated with those assets will not be realized. In other jurisdictions (primarily the U.S., France, and Germany), the Company’s net deferred tax assets include loss carryforwards and deductible temporary differences which management believes are realizable through a combination of forecasted future taxable income and anticipated tax planning strategies. Each quarter, the Company reviews the need to report the future realization of tax benefits of deductible temporary differences or loss carryforwards on its financial statements. All available evidence is considered to determine whether a valuation allowance should be established against these future tax benefits or previously established valuation allowances should be released. This review is performed on a jurisdiction by jurisdiction basis.

During fiscal 2012, the Company determined that tax benefits from deferred tax assets relating to its France operations is more likely than not, and reversed the valuation allowance on these deductible temporary differences and loss carryforwards. This determination was based on the results of operations in recent years and its expected profitability in the current and future years. Reversal of the valuation allowance resulted in a non-cash income tax benefit of $73.6 million. Also during fiscal 2012, the Company determined that it was not more likely than not that the tax benefits from deferred tax assets relating to some of its India and Portugal operations would be realized and established a valuation allowance on these deductible temporary differences and loss carryforwards. This determination was based on the results of operations in recent years and their expected profitability in the current and future years. Establishment of the valuation allowance resulted in a non-cash income tax charge of $1.5 million for India and $2.7 million for Portugal.

During fiscal 2012, the Company recorded a $13.4 million settlement with the Spanish tax authorities regarding its current and certain former Spanish subsidiaries. The settlement permanently closes income tax audits for fiscal years 2003 through 2010. As part of the settlement, the Company agreed to withdraw its appeal of audit results for the periods 2003 through 2006. This withdrawal resulted in the forfeiture of the $13.4 million previously paid during the appeal process.

During fiscal 2011, the Company determined that it was more likely than not the Company would realize the tax benefits from deferred tax assets relating to its Italian and Australian operations and reversed the valuation allowance on these deductible temporary differences and loss carryforwards. This determination was based on the results of operations in recent years and their expected profitability in the current and future years. Reversal of the valuation allowance resulted in a non-cash income tax benefit of $ 6.0 million for Italy and $9.0 million for Australia.

As of March 31, 2012, the Company had not provided for withholding or U.S. Federal income taxes on current or prior year undistributed earnings of certain foreign subsidiaries since such earnings are expected to be reinvested indefinitely or be substantially offset by available foreign tax credits and operating loss carry forwards. As of March 31, 2012 and 2011, the Company had approximately $137.3 million and $153.7 million, respectively, of undistributed earnings in its foreign subsidiaries. It is not practicable to determine the amount of unrecognized deferred U.S. income tax liability on these unremitted earnings.

 

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The Company files income tax returns in the U.S. federal jurisdiction and various state and foreign jurisdictions. The Company is no longer subject to U.S. federal income tax examinations by tax authorities for years ended before March 31, 2009.

With respect to state and local jurisdictions and countries outside of the United States, with limited exceptions, the Company and its subsidiaries are no longer subject to income tax audits for years ended before March 31, 2006. Although the outcome of tax audits is always uncertain, the Company believes that adequate amounts of tax, interest and penalties have been provided for any adjustments that could result from these years.

A reconciliation of the beginning and ending amount of unrecognized tax benefit is as follows:

 

     March 31, 2012     March 31, 2011  
   (In thousands)  

Beginning of year

   $ 51,523      $ 52,000   

Increases for tax positions taken during current period

     2,345        2,018   

(Decreases) increases for currency fluctuation on tax positions

     (3,037     2,575   

Decreases for settlements with taxing authorities

     (3,197     (3,550

Decreases for lapse of the applicable statue of limitations

     (6,111     (1,520
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

End of year

   $ 41,523      $ 51,523   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

The amount, if recognized, that would affect the Company’s effective tax rate at March 31, 2012 and March 31, 2011 is $38.3 million and $18.3 million, respectively.

The Company classifies interest and penalties on uncertain tax benefits as income tax expense. At March 31, 2012 and March 31, 2011, before any tax benefits, the Company had $3.0 million and $2.7 million, respectively, of accrued interest and penalties on unrecognized tax benefits.

During the next twelve months, the Company does not expect the resolution of any tax audits which could potentially reduce unrecognized tax benefits by a material amount. However, expiration of the statute of limitations for a tax year in which the Company has recorded uncertain tax benefits will occur in the next twelve months. The removal of these uncertain tax benefits would affect the Company’s effective tax rate by $0.4 million.

(11) COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES

Claims Reconciliation

On April 15, 2002, the “Petition Date”, Exide Technologies, together with certain of its subsidiaries (the “Debtors”), filed voluntary petitions for reorganization under Chapter 11 of the federal bankruptcy laws (“Bankruptcy Code” or “Chapter 11”) in the United States Bankruptcy Court for the District of Delaware (“Bankruptcy Court”). The Debtors continued to operate their businesses and manage their properties as debtors-in-possession throughout the course of the bankruptcy case. The Debtors, along with the Official Committee of Unsecured Creditors, filed a Joint Plan of Reorganization (the “Plan”) with the Bankruptcy Court on February 27, 2004 and, on April 21, 2004, the Bankruptcy Court confirmed the Plan.

Under the Plan, holders of general unsecured claims were eligible to receive collectively 2.5 million shares of common stock and warrants to purchase up to approximately 6.7 million shares of common stock at $29.84 per share. Approximately 13.4% of such common stock and warrants were initially reserved for distribution for disputed claims. The Official Committee of Unsecured Creditors, in consultation with the Company, established such reserve to provide for a pro rata distribution of new common stock and warrants to holders of disputed

 

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claims as they become allowed. As claims are evaluated and processed, the Company will object to some claims or portions thereof, and upward adjustments (to the extent common stock and warrants not previously distributed remain) or downward adjustments to the reserve will be made pending or following adjudication of such objections. Predictions regarding the allowance and classification of claims are difficult to make. With respect to environmental claims in particular, it is difficult to assess the Company’s potential liability due to the large number of other potentially responsible parties. For example, a demand for the total cleanup costs of a landfill used by many entities may be asserted by the government using joint and several liability theories. Although the Company believes that there is a reasonable basis to believe that it will ultimately be responsible for only its proportional share of these remediation costs, there can be no assurance that the Company will prevail on these claims. In addition, the scope of remedial costs, or other environmental injuries, is highly variable and estimating these costs involves complex legal, scientific and technical judgments. Many of the claimants who have filed disputed claims, particularly environmental and personal injury claims, produce little or no proof of fault on which the Company can assess its potential liability. Such claimants often either fail to specify a determinate amount of damages or provide little or no basis for the alleged damages. In some cases, the Company is still seeking additional information needed for a claims assessment and information that is unknown to the Company at the current time may significantly affect the Company’s assessment regarding the adequacy of the reserve amounts in the future.

As general unsecured claims have been allowed in the Bankruptcy Court, the Company has distributed approximately one share of common stock per $383.00 in allowed claim amount and approximately one warrant per $153.00 in allowed claim amount. These rates were established based upon the assumption that the common stock and warrants allocated to holders of general unsecured claims on the effective date, including the reserve established for disputed claims, would be fully distributed so that the recovery rates for all allowed unsecured claims would comply with the Plan without the need for any redistribution or supplemental issuance of securities. Effective May 6, 2011, all outstanding warrants expired and were cancelled. No more warrants will be issued to resolve any remaining pre-petition claims. If the amount of general unsecured claims that is eventually allowed exceeds the amount of claims anticipated in the setting of the reserve, additional common stock will be issued for the excess claim amounts at the same rates as used for the other general unsecured claims. If this were to occur, additional common stock would also be issued to the holders of pre-petition secured claims to maintain the ratio of their distribution in common stock at nine times the amount of common stock distributed for all unsecured claims. Based on information available as of May 25, 2012, approximately 71.9% of common stock and warrants reserved for this purpose has been distributed. The Company also continues to resolve certain non-objected claims.

Private Party Lawsuits and other Legal Proceedings

In 2003, the Company served notices in the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the District of Delaware to reject certain executory contracts with EnerSys, which the Company contended were executory, including a 1991 Trademark and Trade Name License Agreement (the “Trademark License”), pursuant to which the Company had licensed to EnerSys use of the “Exide” trademark on certain industrial battery products in the United States and 80 foreign countries. EnerSys objected to the rejection of certain of those contracts, including the Trademark License. In 2006, the Bankruptcy Court granted the Company’s request to reject certain of the contracts, including the Trademark License. EnerSys appealed those rulings. On June 1, 2010, the Third Circuit Court of Appeals reversed the Bankruptcy Court ruling, and remanded to the lower courts, holding that certain of the contracts, including the Trademark License, were not executory contracts and, therefore, were not subject to rejection. On August 27, 2010, acting on the Third Circuit’s mandate, the Bankruptcy Court vacated its prior orders and denied the Company’s motion to reject the contracts on the grounds that the agreements are not executory. On September 20, 2010, the Company filed a complaint in the Bankruptcy Court seeking a declaratory judgment that EnerSys does not have enforceable rights under the Trademark License under Bankruptcy Code provisions which the Company believes are relevant to non-executory contracts. EnerSys has filed a motion to dismiss that complaint, which the Company has opposed, and the motion remains pending.

 

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Environmental Matters

As a result of its multinational manufacturing, distribution and recycling operations, the Company is subject to numerous federal, state, and local environmental, occupational health, and safety laws and regulations, as well as similar laws and regulations in other countries in which the Company operates (collectively, “EH&S laws”).

The Company is exposed to liabilities under such EH&S laws arising from its past handling, release, storage and disposal of materials now designated as hazardous substances and hazardous wastes. The Company previously has received notification from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (“EPA”), equivalent state and local agencies or others alleging or indicating that the Company is or may be responsible for performing and/or investigating environmental remediation, or seeking the repayment of the costs spent by governmental entities or others performing investigations and/or remediation at certain U.S. sites under the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation and Liability Act or similar state laws.

The Company monitors and responds to inquiries from the EPA, equivalent state and local agencies and others at approximately 50 federally defined Superfund or state equivalent sites. While the ultimate outcome of the environmental matters described in this paragraph is uncertain due to several factors, including the number of other parties that may also be responsible, the scope of investigation performed at such sites and the remediation alternatives pursued by such federal and equivalent state and local agencies, the Company presently believes any liability for these matters, individually and in the aggregate, will not have a material adverse effect on the Company’s financial condition, cash flows or results of operations.

The Company is also involved in the assessment and remediation of various other properties, including certain currently and formerly owned or operating facilities. Such assessment and remedial work is being conducted pursuant to applicable EH&S laws with varying degrees of involvement by appropriate regulatory authorities. In addition, certain environmental matters concerning the Company are pending in various courts or with certain environmental regulatory agencies with respect to these currently or formerly owned or operating locations. While the ultimate outcome of the environmental matters described in this paragraph is uncertain, the Company presently believes the resolution of these known environmental matters, individually and in the aggregate, will not have a material adverse effect on the Company’s financial condition, cash flows or results of operations.

The Company has established liabilities for on-site and off-site environmental remediation costs where such costs are probable and reasonably estimable and believes that such liabilities are adequate. As of March 31, 2012 and March 31, 2011, the amount of such liabilities on the Company’s Consolidated Balance Sheets was approximately $27.7 million and $28.2 million, respectively. Because environmental liabilities are not accrued until a liability is determined to be probable and reasonably estimable, not all potential future environmental liabilities have been included in the Company’s environmental liabilities and, therefore, additional earnings charges are possible. Also, future findings or changes in estimates could have a material adverse effect on the recorded reserves and cash flows.

The sites that currently have the largest reserves include the following:

Tampa, Florida

The Tampa site is a former secondary lead recycling plant, lead oxide production facility, and sheet lead-rolling mill that operated from 1943 to 1989. Under a RCRA Part B Closure Permit and a Consent Decree with the State of Florida, Exide is required to investigate and remediate certain historic environmental impacts to the site. Cost estimates for remediation (closure and post-closure) are expected to range from $13.2 million to $20.0 million depending on final State of Florida requirements. The remediation activities are expected to occur over the course of several years.

 

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Columbus, Georgia

The Columbus site is a former secondary lead recycling plant that was taken out of service in 1999, but remains part of a larger facility that includes an operating lead-acid battery manufacturing facility. Groundwater remediation activities began in 1988. Costs for supplemental investigations, remediation and site closure are currently estimated at $5.7 million to $8.5 million.

Guarantees

At March 31, 2012, the Company had outstanding letters of credit with a face value of $47.2 million and surety bonds with a face value of $41.9 million. The majority of the letters of credit and surety bonds have been issued as collateral or financial assurance with respect to certain liabilities that the Company has recorded, including but not limited to environmental remediation obligations and self-insured workers’ compensation reserves. Failure of the Company to satisfy its obligations with respect to the primary obligations secured by the letters of credit or surety bonds could entitle the beneficiary of the related letter of credit or surety bond to demand payments pursuant to such instruments. The letters of credit generally have terms up to one year. Collateral held by the surety in the form of letters of credit at March 31, 2012, pursuant to the terms of the agreement, was $39.7 million.

Certain of the Company’s European and Asia Pacific subsidiaries have bank guarantees outstanding as collateral or financial assurance in connection with environmental obligations, income tax claims and customer contract requirements. March 31, 2012, bank guarantees with an aggregate face value of $21.9 million were outstanding.

Sales Returns and Allowances

The Company provides for an allowance for product returns and/or allowances. Based upon product examination in the manufacturing re-work process, the Company believes that the majority of its product returns are not the result of product defects. The Company recognizes the estimated cost of product returns as a reduction of net sales in the period in which the related revenue is recognized. The product return estimates are based upon historical trends and claims experience, and include assessment of the anticipated lag between the date of sale and claim/return date.

Changes in the Company’s sales returns and allowances liability (in thousands) are as follows:

 

Balance at March 31, 2011

   $ 35,707   

Accrual for sales returns and allowances

     42,749   

Settlements made (in cash or credit) and currency translation

     (41,645
  

 

 

 

Balance at March 31, 2012

   $ 36,811   
  

 

 

 

 

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Leases

Future minimum lease payments under operating and capital leases that have initial or remaining noncancelable lease terms in excess of one year at March 31, 2012, are:

 

Fiscal Year    Operating      Capital  
     (In thousands)  

2013

   $ 24,677       $ 2,318   

2014

     15,422         1,767   

2015

     8,268         1,626   

2016

     4,440         16   

2017

     1,876         —     

Thereafter

     390         —     
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total minimum payments

   $ 55,073         5,727   
  

 

 

    

Less—interest on capital leases

        402   
     

 

 

 

Total principal payable on capital leases (included in long-term debt)

      $ 5,325   
     

 

 

 

Rent expense amounted to $50.5 million, $49.5 million, and $52.5 million, for the fiscal years ended March 31, 2012, 2011, and 2010, respectively.

(12) RESTRUCTURING AND IMPAIRMENTS, NET

The Company continued to implement operational changes to streamline and rationalize its structure in an effort to simplify the organization and eliminate redundant and/or unnecessary costs. As part of these restructuring programs, the nature of the positions eliminated range from plant employees and clerical workers to operational, sales management, and divisional leadership.

During fiscal 2012, the Company recorded restructuring and impairment charges of $10.9 million, representing $7.9 million severance, $0.8 million closure costs and $3.7 million net loss on asset sales and impairments. These charges primarily represent consolidation efforts in the Company’s workforce of approximately 366 positions.

The following summarizes restructuring reserve activity and asset sale and impairment (gain) loss, net:

 

     Severance
Costs
    Closure Costs     Restructuring     Impairments,
net
     Total
Restructuring and
Impairments, net
 
     (In thousands)  

Balance at March 31, 2009

   $ 37,800      $ 4,618      $ 42,418        

Expenses

     55,550        15,044        70,594      $ 10,002       $ 80,596   
        

 

 

    

 

 

 

Payments and Currency Translation

     (73,867     (12,567     (86,434     
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

      

Balance at March 31, 2010

     19,483        7,095        26,578        

Expenses

     24,654        8,577        33,231      $ 9,055       $ 42,286   
        

 

 

    

 

 

 

Payments and Currency Translation

     (25,405     (11,065     (36,470     
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

      

Balance at March 31, 2011

     18,732        4,607        23,339        

Expenses

     7,858        (753     7,105      $ 3,773       $ 10,878   
        

 

 

    

 

 

 

Payments and Currency Translation

     (16,189     (507     (16,696     
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

      

Balance at March 31, 2012

   $ 10,401      $ 3,347      $ 13,748        
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

      

 

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Remaining expenditures principally represent (i) severance and related benefits payable per employee agreements and/or regulatory requirements, (ii) lease commitments for certain closed facilities, branches and offices, as well as leases for excess and permanently idle equipment payable in accordance with contractual terms, and (iii) certain other closure costs including dismantlement and costs associated with removal obligations incurred in connection with the exit of facilities.

Restructuring and impairments, net by segment:

 

     For the Fiscal Year Ended  
     March 31, 2012      March 31, 2011      March 31, 2010  
     (In thousands)  

Transportation Americas

   $ 2,369       $ 7,406       $ 5,155   

Transportation Europe & ROW

     4,115         6,816         26,990   

Industrial Energy Americas

     652         1,687         472   

Industrial Energy Europe & ROW

     2,301         22,954         45,607   

Unallocated

     1,441         3,423         2,372   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

TOTAL

   $ 10,878       $ 42,286       $ 80,596   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

(13) EARNINGS (LOSS) PER SHARE

The Company computes basic earnings (loss) per share by dividing net earnings (loss) by the weighted average number of common shares outstanding during the period. Diluted earnings (loss) per share is computed by dividing net earnings (loss), after adding back the after-tax amount of interest recognized in the period associated with the Company’s Floating Rate Convertible Senior Subordinated Notes, by diluted weighted average shares outstanding. For the fiscal years ended March 31, 2012 and 2011, market rates were below the level at which interest payments for these notes are required.

Potentially dilutive shares include the assumed exercise of stock options and the assumed vesting of restricted stock and stock unit awards (using the treasury stock method) as well as the assumed conversion of the convertible debt, if dilutive (using the if-converted method). Shares which are contingently issuable under the Company’s plan of reorganization have been included as outstanding common shares for purposes of calculating basic earnings (loss) per share. Basic and diluted earnings (loss) per share for the fiscal years ended March 31, 2012, 2011 and 2010 are summarized as follows:

 

     Fiscal Year Ended  
   March 31, 2012      March 31, 2011      March 31, 2010  
     (In thousands)  

Net income (loss) attributable to Exide Technologies

   $ 56,739       $ 26,443       $ (11,814

Basic weighted average shares outstanding

     77,667         76,678         75,960   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Effect of dilutive securities:

        

Floating rate convertible notes

     3,697         3,697         —     

Employee stock options

     292         619         —     

Employee restricted stock awards (non-vested)

     425         315         —     
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 
     4,414         4,631         —     
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Diluted weighted average shares outstanding

     82,081         81,309         75,960   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Basic earnings (loss) per share:

   $ 0.73       $ 0.34       $ (0.16
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Diluted earnings (loss) per share:

   $ 0.69       $ 0.33       $ (0.16
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

 

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For the fiscal year ended March 31, 2012 and 2011, approximately 1.8 million and 1.5 million stock options were excluded from the diluted earnings per share calculation because their exercise prices were greater than the average market price of the related common stock for the period, and their inclusion would be antidilutive. The remaining options were included in the treasury stock method calculation, and the resulting incremental shares were included in the calculation of diluted earnings per share. Due to a net loss for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2010, certain potentially dilutive shares were excluded from the diluted loss per share calculation because their effect would be antidilutive:

 

     March 31, 2010  

Shares associated with convertible
debt (assumed conversion)

     3,697   

Employee stock options

     3,967   

Restricted stock awards

     1,026   

Warrants

     6,725   
  

 

 

 

Total

     15,415   
  

 

 

 

(14) INTEREST EXPENSE, NET

Interest income of $1.5 million, $0.8 million, and $1.1 million, is included in interest expense, net for the fiscal years ended March 31, 2012, 2011, and 2010, respectively.

(15) OTHER EXPENSE (INCOME), NET

 

Other expense (income), net consist of:

      
     Fiscal Year Ended  
     March 31, 2012     March 31, 2011     March 31, 2010  
     (In thousands)  

Currency remeasurement loss (gain) (a)

   $ 10,036      $ (2,373   $ (10,239

Reorganization items (b)

     1,209        5,012        1,674   

Gain on interest rate swap settlements

     (4,578     —          —     

Other

     (347     (419     (1,329
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 
   $ 6,320      $ 2,220      $ (9,894
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

(a) The currency remeasurement gain relates primarily to intercompany loans to foreign subsidiaries denominated in the Belarus Ruble, the Euro, and the Australian dollar.

(b) Reorganization items primarily consist of professional fees and claim settlements related to the Company’s prior bankruptcy filing, from which the successor Company emerged May 2004.

(16) FAIR VALUE MEASUREMENTS

The Company uses available market information and appropriate methodologies to estimate the fair value of its financial instruments. Considerable judgment is required in interpreting market data to develop these estimates. Accordingly, the estimates presented herein are not necessarily indicative of the amounts that the Company could realize in a current market exchange. Certain of these financial instruments are with major financial institutions and expose the Company to market and credit risks and may at times be concentrated with certain counterparties or groups of counterparties. The creditworthiness of counterparties is continually reviewed, and full performance is currently anticipated.

 

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The Company’s cash and cash equivalents, accounts receivable, accounts payable, and short-term borrowings all have carrying amounts that are a reasonable estimate of their fair values. The carrying values and estimated fair values of the Company’s long-term obligations and other financial instruments are as follows:

 

     March 31, 2012     March 31, 2011  
           Estimated Fair           Estimated Fair  
   Carrying Value     Value     Carrying Value     Value  
     (In thousands)  

(Liability) Asset:

        

Senior Secured Notes due 2018

   $ (675,000   $ (562,781   $ (675,000   $ (718,031

Convertible Senior Subordinated

        

Notes due 2013

     (60,000     (51,000     (60,000     (55,425

Interest rate swap (a)

     4,078        4,078        —          —     

Foreign currency forwards (a)

        

Asset

     104        104        5        5   

Liability

     (5,725     (5,725     (2,555     (2,555

Commodity swap (a)

        

Asset

     320        320        1,564        1,564   

Liability

     (697     (697     (1,263     (1,263

(a) These financial instruments are required to be measured at fair value, and are based on inputs as described in the three-tier hierarchy that prioritizes inputs used in measuring fair value as of the reported date:

 

   

Level 1 – Observable inputs such as quoted prices in active markets for identical assets and liabilities;

 

   

Level 2 – Inputs other than quoted prices in active markets that are observable either directly or indirectly; and

 

   

Level 3 – Inputs from valuation techniques in which one or more key value drivers are not observable, and must be based on the reporting entity’s own assumptions.

The following table represents our financial instruments that are measured at fair value on a recurring basis, and the basis for that measurement:

 

     Total
Fair Value
Measurement
     Quoted Price in
Active Markets
for
Identical Assets
(Level 1)
     Significant
Other
Observable
Inputs
(Level 2)
     Significant
Unobservable
Inputs
(Level 3)
 
     (In thousands)  

March 31, 2012:

           

Assets:

           

Interest rate swap

   $ 4,078       $         —         $ 4,078       $         —     

Foreign currency forward

     104            104      

Commodity swap

     320         —           320         —     

Liabilities:

           

Foreign exchange forward

     5,725         —           5,725         —     

Commodity swap

     697         —           697         —     

March 31, 2011:

           

Assets:

           

Foreign exchange forward

   $ 5       $ —         $ 5       $ —     

Commodity swap

     1,564         —           1,564         —     

Liabilities:

           

Foreign exchange forward

     2,555         —           2,555         —     

Commodity swap

     1,263         —           1,263         —     

 

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The Company uses a market approach to determine the fair values of all of its derivative instruments subject to recurring fair value measurements. The fair value of each financial instrument was determined based upon observable forward prices for the related underlying financial index or commodity price, and each has been classified as Level 2 based on the nature of the underlying markets in which those derivatives are traded. For additional discussion of the Company’s derivative instruments and hedging activities, see Note 2.

The following table summarizes the investments that comprise the assets of the Company’s pension plans (see Note 8), all of which are measured at fair value on a recurring basis, and the basis for that measurement:

 

     Total
Fair Value
Measurement
     Quoted Price in
Active Markets
for
Identical Assets
(Level 1)
     Significant
Other
Observable
Inputs
(Level 2)
     Significant
Unobservable
Inputs
(Level 3)
 
     (In thousands)  

March 31, 2012

           

Cash and cash equivalents

   $ 6,067       $ 6,067       $ —         $ —     

Equity funds - U.S.-based companies

     79,800         —           79,800         —     

Equity funds - international-based companies

     105,157         —           105,157         —     

Fixed income funds

     277,528         —           277,528         —     

Other

     3,764         —           3,764         —     
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total pension assets

   $ 472,316       $ 6,067       $ 466,249       $ —     
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

March 31, 2011

           

Cash and cash equivalents

   $ 5,776       $ 5,776       $ —         $ —     

Equity funds - U.S.-based companies

     191,343         —           191,343         —     

Equity funds - international-based companies

     86,024         —           86,024         —     

Fixed income funds

     157,651         —           157,651         —     

Other

     3,285         —           3,285         —     
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total pension assets

   $ 444,079       $ 5,776       $ 438,303       $ —     
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Cash and cash equivalents consist primarily of excess cash balances in the plans’ investment accounts, and are classified as Level 1. The fair value of the plans’ investment funds are based on net asset value, which is based on quoted market prices of the underlying assets owned by the fund (reduced by its liabilities).

(17) SEGMENT INFORMATION

The Company reports its results in four business segments: Transportation Americas, Transportation Europe and ROW, Industrial Energy Americas and Industrial Energy Europe and ROW. The Company is a global producer and recycler of lead-acid batteries. The Company’s four business segments provide a comprehensive range of stored electrical energy products and services for transportation and industrial applications.

Transportation markets include original-equipment and aftermarket batteries for cars, trucks, off-road vehicles, agricultural and construction vehicles, motorcycles, recreational vehicles, marine, and other applications. Industrial markets include batteries for motive power and network power applications. Motive power batteries are used in the materials handling industry for electric forklift trucks, and in other industries, including floor cleaning machinery, powered wheelchairs, railroad locomotives, mining and the electric road vehicles market. Network power batteries are used for backup power for use with telecommunications systems, computer installations, hospitals, air traffic control, security systems, utility, railway and military applications.

The Company’s four reportable segments are determined based upon the nature of the markets served and the geographic regions in which they operate. The Company’s chief operating decision-maker monitors and manages the financial performance of these four business groups. Costs of shared services and other corporate costs are not allocated or charged to the business groups.

 

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Selected financial information concerning the Company’s reportable segments is as follows:

 

     For the Fiscal Year Ended  
     March 31,
2012
    March 31,
2011
    March 31,
2010
 
     (In thousands)  

Net sales

      

Transportation Americas

   $ 907,838      $ 942,014      $ 922,629   

Transportation Europe & ROW

     1,014,292        922,870        824,190   

Industrial Energy Americas

     339,328        295,364        237,137   

Industrial Energy Europe & ROW

     823,192        727,268        701,852   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 
   $ 3,084,650      $ 2,887,516      $ 2,685,808   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Operating income by segment:

      

Transportation Americas

   $ 9,513      $ 62,368      $ 86,375   

Transportation Europe & ROW

     55,928        65,792        41,190   

Industrial Energy Americas

     41,657        25,220        14,341   

Industrial Energy Europe & ROW

     14,435        23,149        (41

Unallocated expenses

     (31,780     (38,470     (44,530
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 
     89,753        138,059        97,335   

Less: restructuring and impairments, net

     (10,878     (42,286     (80,596
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 
   $ 78,875      $ 95,773      $ 16,739   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Depreciation & Amortization

      

Transportation Americas

   $ 28,215      $ 27,365      $ 28,819   

Transportation Europe & ROW

     18,590        18,991        20,775   

Industrial Energy Americas

     11,701        11,441        10,731   

Industrial Energy Europe & ROW

     21,039        19,278        22,902   

Unallocated expenses

     4,808        6,992        6,886   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 
   $ 84,353      $ 84,067      $ 90,113   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Capital expenditures

      

Transportation Americas

   $ 38,872      $ 25,011      $ 26,162   

Transportation Europe & ROW

     40,195        25,768        29,385   

Industrial Energy Americas

     7,392        19,148        14,406   

Industrial Energy Europe & ROW

     15,915        14,808        21,522   

Unallocated expenses

     7,462        3,854        4,617   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 
   $ 109,836      $ 88,589      $ 96,092   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

 

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Geographic information is as follows:

 

     Revenues from External Customers  
     Fiscal Year Ended  
   March 31, 2012      March 31, 2011      March 31, 2010  
     (In thousands)  

United States

   $ 1,247,166       $ 1,072,139       $ 1,028,339   

France

     200,456         180,716         180,182   

Germany

     434,051         363,296         297,732   

Italy

     229,271         194,231         183,467   

Spain

     252,801         231,304         242,084   

Poland

     107,519         112,972         109,730   

Other

     613,386         732,858         644,274   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total

   $ 3,084,650       $ 2,887,516       $ 2,685,808   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

 

     Long-Lived Assets  
     March 31, 2012      March 31, 2011  
     (In thousands)  

United States

   $ 287,802       $ 270,136   

France

     16,356         20,492   

Germany

     67,245         75,962   

Italy

     59,783         52,602   

Spain

     89,234         90,515   

Poland

     35,406         28,196   

Other

     67,149         73,732   
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total

   $ 622,975       $ 611,635   
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

(18) SELECTED QUARTERLY FINANCIAL DATA (Unaudited)

The following is a summary of the Company’s quarterly consolidated results of operations:

 

     For the Fiscal Year Ended March 31, 2012  
     First     Second     Third      Fourth  
     (In thousands, except per share data)  

Net sales

   $ 745,095      $ 772,953      $ 784,051       $ 782,551   

Gross profit

     116,650        118,614        126,511         123,053   

Operating income

     13,617        21,193        28,184         15,881   

(Loss) income before income taxes

     (4,163     (2,632     7,587         (41

Net (loss) income attributable to Exide Technologies

     (5,192     (3,588     68,215         (2,696

(Loss) earnings per share:

         

Basic

   $ (0.07   $ (0.05   $ 0.88       $ (0.03

Diluted

   $ (0.07   $ (0.05   $ 0.84       $ (0.03

 

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     For the Fiscal Year Ended March 31, 2011  
     First     Second      Third      Fourth  
     (In thousands, except per share data)  

Net sales

   $ 644,666      $ 668,008       $ 800,296       $ 774,546   

Gross profit

     114,718        130,924         160,331         135,354   

Operating income

     10,498        26,285         49,652         9,338   

(Loss) income before income taxes

     (14,806     20,077         37,834         (22,789

Net (loss) income attributable to Exide Technologies

     (9,044     17,957         31,210         (13,680

(Loss) earnings per share:

          

Basic

   $ (0.12   $ 0.23       $ 0.41       $ (0.18

Diluted

   $ (0.12   $ 0.22       $ 0.38       $
(0.18

(19) SUBSEQUENT EVENT

In June 2012, the Company announced the sale of approximately 180 acres of undeveloped land surrounding the Company’s Frisco, Texas recycling facility. As part of the agreement, the Company would cease business operations no later than December 31, 2012, subject to the parties’ obligations under the agreement. The Company believes the sale, which is subject to completion of certain pre-closing actions, will net cash proceeds after deducting closure related costs, of $37.0 to $40.0 million and have a net favorable impact on pre-tax income of approximately $18.0 to $23.0 million in FY 2013.

 

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EXIDE TECHNOLOGIES AND SUBSIDIARIES

 

Schedule

Valuation and Qualifying Accounts

Schedule II

 

     Balance at
Beginning
of period
     Additions /
Adjustments
Charged to
Expense
    Deductions/
Charge-
offs
    Currency
Translation
    Balance
at end
of period
 
     (In thousands)  

Allowance for Doubtful Accounts

           

Fiscal year ended:

           

March 31, 2010

   $ 28,855         4,741        (3,000     678      $ 31,274   
  

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

March 31, 2011

   $ 31,274         (759     (2,348     1,060      $ 29,227   
  

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

March 31, 2012

   $ 29,227         1,529        (9,039     (1,378   $ 20,339   
  

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Valuation Allowance on Deferred Tax Assets

           

Fiscal year ended:

           

March 31, 2010

   $ 203,895         40,545        (2,427     665      $ 242,678   
  

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

March 31, 2011

   $ 242,678         4,974        (15,677     7,534      $ 239,509   
  

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

March 31, 2012

   $ 239,509         4,736        (125,983     (14,723   $ 103,539   
  

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

 

88