Form 10-K
Table of Contents

 

 

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

 

 

FORM 10-K

 

 

 

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

For the fiscal year ended December 31, 2014

or

 

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

Commission file number: 000-51237

 

 

FREIGHTCAR AMERICA, INC.

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

 

 

 

Delaware   25-1837219

(State or other jurisdiction of

incorporation or organization)

 

(I.R.S. Employer

Identification No.)

Two North Riverside Plaza, Suite 1300, Chicago, Illinois   60606
(Address of principal executive offices)   (Zip Code)

(800) 458-2235

(Registrant’s telephone number, including area code)

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

 

Title of class

 

Name of Each Exchange on Which Registered

Common stock, par value $0.01 per share   Nasdaq Global Market

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  x

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

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

Indicate by check mark if disclosure of delinquent filers pursuant to Item 405 of Regulation S-K is not contained herein, and will not be contained, to the best of the registrant’s knowledge, in definitive proxy or information statements incorporated by reference in Part III of this Form 10-K or any amendment of this Form 10-K.  ¨

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 (§ 232.405 of this chapter) during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to submit and post such files).    YES  x    NO  ¨

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

 

Large accelerated filer   ¨    Accelerated filer   x
Non-accelerated filer   ¨  (Do not check if a smaller reporting company)    Smaller reporting company   ¨

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

The aggregate market value of the registrant’s common stock held by non-affiliates of the registrant as of June 30, 2014 was $296.1 million, based on the closing price of $25.04 per share on the Nasdaq Global Market.

As of March 5, 2015, there were 12,111,573 shares of the registrant’s common stock outstanding.

DOCUMENTS INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE

 

Documents

 

Part of Form 10-K

Portions of the registrant’s definitive Proxy Statement for the 2015 annual meeting of stockholders to be filed pursuant to Regulation 14A within 120 days of the end of the registrant’s fiscal year ended December 31, 2014.   Part III

 

 

 


Table of Contents

FREIGHTCAR AMERICA, INC.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

                 Page  

PART I

          
  

Item 1.

    

Business

     3   
  

Item 1A.

    

Risk Factors

     9   
  

Item 1B.

    

Unresolved Staff Comments

     15   
  

Item 2.

    

Properties

     15   
  

Item 3.

    

Legal Proceedings

     16   
  

Item 4.

    

Mine Safety Disclosures

     17   

PART II

          
  

Item 5.

    

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

     17   
  

Item 6.

    

Selected Financial Data

     19   
  

Item 7.

    

Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations

     20   
  

Item 7A.

    

Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk

     36   
  

Item 8.

    

Financial Statements and Supplementary Data

     37   
  

Item 9.

    

Changes in and Disagreements With Accountants on Accounting and Financial Disclosure

     70   
  

Item 9A.

    

Controls and Procedures

     70   
  

Item 9B.

    

Other Information

     71   

PART III

          
  

Item 10.

    

Directors, Executive Officers and Corporate Governance

     71   
  

Item 11.

    

Executive Compensation

     71   
  

Item 12.

    

Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and Management and Related Stockholder Matters

     71   
  

Item 13.

    

Certain Relationships and Related Transactions, and Director Independence

     71   
  

Item 14.

    

Principal Accounting Fees and Services

     71   

PART IV

          
  

Item 15.

    

Exhibits, Financial Statement Schedules

     72   
  

SIGNATURES

     73   

 

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PART I

 

Item 1. Business.

OVERVIEW

We and our predecessors have been manufacturing railcars since 1901. We believe we are the leading manufacturer of aluminum-bodied railcars and coal cars in North America, based on the number of railcars delivered. We have historically specialized in the production of coal cars, which represented 57% of our deliveries of railcars in 2014, 68% of our deliveries of railcars in 2013 and 91% of our deliveries of railcars in 2012. Our BethGon® railcar has been the leading aluminum-bodied coal car sold in North America for over 20 years. Over the last 25 years, we believe we have built and introduced more types of coal cars than all other manufacturers in North America combined. The balance of our production consisted of a broad spectrum of railcar types that transport non-liquid commodities and products.

Our railcar manufacturing facilities are located in Cherokee, Alabama (“Shoals”), Danville, Illinois and Roanoke, Virginia. Our Shoals facility is an important part of our long-term growth strategy as we continue to expand our railcar product and service offerings outside of our traditional coal car market. While our Danville and Roanoke facilities will continue to support our coal car products, we believe the Shoals facility will allow us to produce a broader variety of railcars in a cost-effective and efficient manner. Our Shoals facility delivered its first railcars during the fourth quarter of 2013 and production continued to ramp up during 2014. Our Danville facility resumed production in June 2014 after being idled for 14 months.

We also refurbish and rebuild railcars and sell forged, cast and fabricated parts for all of the railcars we produce, as well as those manufactured by others. FreightCar Rail Services, LLC (“FCRS”) provides railcar repair and maintenance and inspections for all types of freight railcars. FCRS has repair and maintenance and inspection facilities in Grand Island, Nebraska and Hastings, Nebraska and services freight cars and unit coal trains utilizing key rail corridors in the Midwest and Western regions of the United States. As part of our strategic initiative to improve the contribution of the services business to our results of operations, management evaluated the long-term profitability of each of our railcar maintenance and repair shops during the fourth quarter of 2013 and decided to close our underperforming maintenance and repair shop in Clinton, Indiana. During the third quarter of 2014, those repair shop assets were sold to a strategic buyer. We also lease freight cars through our JAIX Leasing Company subsidiary.

Our primary customers are railroads, financial institutions and shippers, which represented 57%, 35% and 1%, respectively, of our total sales attributable to each type of customer for the year ended December 31, 2014. In the year ended December 31, 2014, we delivered 7,102 railcars, including 4,038 coal cars, which compared to 3,821 railcars, including 2,589 coal cars, delivered in the year ended December 31, 2013. Our deliveries for the year ended December 31, 2014 included 3,090 rebuilt railcars compared to 2,530 rebuilt railcars delivered in 2013. Our total backlog of firm orders for railcars increased from 6,826 railcars as of December 31, 2013 to 14,791 railcars as of December 31, 2014. Our backlog as of December 31, 2014 includes a variety of railcar types and 77% of our backlog at December 31, 2014 consisted of orders for non-coal cars. As of December 31, 2013, 45% of our backlog consisted of orders for non-coal cars. Our backlog as of December 31, 2014 included 2,600 rebuilt railcars compared to 3,680 rebuilt railcars in our backlog as of December 31, 2013. The estimated sales value of the backlog is $492 million and $1.3 billion, respectively, as of December 31, 2013 and 2014. We offer railcar leasing and refurbishment alternatives to our customers, an approach designed to enhance our position as a full service provider to the railcar industry. Although we continually look for opportunities to package our leased assets for sale to our leasing company partners, these leased assets may not be converted to sales, and may remain revenue producing assets into the foreseeable future.

Our Internet website is www.freightcaramerica.com. We make available, free of charge, on or through our website items related to Corporate governance, including, among other things, our Corporate governance guidelines, charters of various committees of the Board of Directors and our code of business conduct and ethics. Our annual reports on Form 10-K, quarterly reports on Form 10-Q and current reports on Form 8-K, and amendments thereto, are available on our website and on the SEC’s website at www.sec.gov. Any stockholder of our company may also obtain copies of these documents, free of charge, by sending a request in writing to Investor Relations at FreightCar America, Inc., Two North Riverside Plaza, Suite 1300, Chicago, Illinois 60606.

 

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OUR PRODUCTS AND SERVICES

We design and manufacture a broad variety of freight cars including covered hoppers, open top hoppers, gondolas, boxcars, intermodal and non-intermodal flat cars that transport numerous types of dry bulk and containerized freight products.

In the last five years, we have added 24 new or redesigned products to our portfolio, including various covered hopper car products with cubic capacities from 3,282 cubic foot to 6,250 cubic foot; 52’ and 66’ mill gondolas; coil gondolas; triple hoppers and hybrid aluminum/stainless steel railcars; ore hopper and gondola railcars; ballast hopper cars; aggregate hopper cars (with manual, independent or fully automatic transverse or longitudinal door systems); intermodal flats (including the 3-unit, 53-foot well cars) and non-intermodal flat cars (including slab, hot slab, ribbon rail and bulkhead flats). Focused product development activity continues in areas where we can leverage our technical knowledge base and capabilities to realize market opportunities.

The types of railcars listed below include the major types of railcars that we are capable of manufacturing; however, some of the types of railcars listed below have not been ordered by any of our customers or manufactured by us in a number of years. We refurbish and rebuild railcars and sell forged, cast and fabricated parts for all of the railcars we produce, as well as those manufactured by others. We also provide general railcar repair and maintenance and inspections for all types of freight-carrying railcars. Many of our railcars are produced using a patented one-piece center sill, the main longitudinal structural component of the railcar. The one-piece center sill provides a higher carrying capacity, but weighs significantly less than traditional multiple-piece center sills. In addition to railcars designed for use in North America, we have manufactured railcars for export to Latin America and the Middle East. Railroads outside of North America are constructed with a variety of track gauges that are sized differently than in North America, which requires us, in some cases, to alter our manufacturing specifications accordingly.

Any of the railcar types listed below may be further developed to meet the characteristics of the materials being transported and customer specifications.

 

    Steel, Stainless Steel and Hybrid Stainless Steel/Aluminum Coal Cars. We manufacture a series of stainless steel and hybrid stainless steel and aluminum AutoFlood and BethGon coal cars designed to serve the Eastern railroads. These coal cars are designed to withstand the rigors of Eastern coal transportation service. They offer a unique balance of maximized payload, light weight, efficient unloading and long service life. Our coal car product offerings include aluminum-bodied flat-bottom gondola railcars and steel or stainless steel-bodied triple hopper railcars for coal, metallurgical coke and petroleum coke service.

 

    VersaFlood Series. Our VersaFlood™ series open-top hopper railcars include steel, stainless steel or hybrid steel and aluminum-bodied designs equipped with three-pocket (transverse gate) or two-pocket (longitudinal gate) discharge door systems with manual, independent or fully automatic door operation. The VersaFlood™ product series offers versatile design options for transportation of aggregates, sand or minerals.

 

    Dynastack Series. Our intermodal doublestack railcar product offerings include a stand-alone 40 foot well car, the DynaStack® articulated, 5-unit, 40 foot and the DynaStack® 3-unit, 53 foot well cars for transportation of international and domestic containers.

 

    Covered Hopper Cars. Our covered hopper railcar product offerings encompass a wide range of cubic foot (cf) capacity designs for shipping dry bulk commodities of varying densities including: 3,282 cf covered hopper cars for cement, sand and roofing granules; 4,300 cf covered hopper cars for potash or similar commodities; 5,200 cf and 5,400 cf covered hopper cars for grain and other agricultural products; and 6,250 cf covered hopper cars for plastic pellets.

 

    Aluminum Coal Cars. The BethGon® is the leader in the aluminum-bodied coal gondola railcar segment. Since we introduced the steel BethGon railcar in the late 1970s and the aluminum BethGon railcar in 1986, the BethGon railcar has become the most widely used coal car in North America. Our current BethGon II features lighter weight, higher capacity and increased durability suitable for long-haul coal carrying railcar service. We have received several patents on the features of the BethGon II and continue to explore ways to increase the BethGon II’s capacity and reliability.

Our aluminum bodied open-top hopper railcar, the AutoFlood™, is a five-pocket coal car equipped with a bottom discharge gate mechanism. We began manufacturing AutoFlood railcars in 1984, and introduced the AutoFlood II

 

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and AutoFlood III designs in 1996 and 2002, respectively. Both the AutoFlood II and AutoFlood III designs incorporate the automatic rapid discharge system, the MegaFlo™ door system, a patented mechanism that uses an over-center locking design, enabling the cargo door to close with tension rather than by compression. Further, AutoFlood railcars can be equipped with rotary couplers to permit rotary unloading.

Other Railcar Types. Our portfolio of railcar types also includes 52’ and 66’ mill gondola railcars used to transport steel products and scrap; slab, hot slab and coil steel railcars designed specifically for transportation of steel slabs and coil steel products, respectively; boxcars, non-intermodal flat railcars and bulkhead flat railcars designed to transport a variety of products, including machinery and equipment, steel and structural steel components (including pipe), forest and paper products and other bulky industrial products; woodchip hopper and gondola railcars designed to haul woodchips and municipal waste or other low-density commodities; and a variety of non-coal carrying open top hopper railcars designed to carry ballast, iron ore, taconite pellets and other bulk commodities; the AVC™ Aluminum Vehicle Carrier design used to transport commercial and light vehicles (automobiles and trucks) from assembly plants and ports to rail distribution centers; and the articulated bulk container railcar designed to carry dense bulk products such as waste products in 20 foot containers.

MANUFACTURING

We have railcar production facilities in Cherokee, Alabama, Danville, Illinois and Roanoke, Virginia. Our facilities are each certified or approved for certification by the Association of American Railroads (the “AAR”), which sets railcar manufacturing industry standards for quality control. Our Shoals manufacturing facility delivered its first railcars during the fourth quarter of 2013 and provides a solid platform from which to pursue a broad range of non-coal car business including intermodal well cars, non-intermodal flat cars and various open-top hopper, covered hopper and gondola cars. During the fourth quarter of 2014, we announced a $10 million expansion at our Shoals facility to add an additional production line to meet current and projected demand for our railcars. When the new production line becomes fully operational in the second quarter of 2015, the Shoals facility will have the capacity to build approximately 6,000 to 8,000 railcars per year. As we increase production at our Shoals facility, we expect to add an additional 150 to 200 jobs beyond our current employment base of approximately 500 employees. Our Danville facility resumed production in June 2014 after being idled for 14 months. We will continue to adjust salaried and hourly labor personnel levels at all of our facilities to coincide with production requirements.

Our manufacturing process involves four basic steps: fabrication, assembly, finishing and inspection. Each of our facilities has numerous checkpoints at which we inspect products to maintain quality control, a process that our operations management continuously monitors. In our fabrication processes, we employ standard metal working tools, many of which are computer controlled. Each assembly line typically involves 15 to 20 manufacturing positions, depending on the complexity of the particular railcar design. We use mechanical fastening in the fitting and assembly of our aluminum-bodied railcar parts, while we typically use welding for the assembly of our steel-bodied railcars. For aluminum-bodied railcars, we begin the finishing process by cleaning the railcar’s surface and then applying the decals. In the case of steel-bodied railcars, we begin the finishing process by blasting the surface area of the railcar, painting it and then applying decals. Once we have completed the finishing process, our employees, along with representatives of the customer purchasing the particular railcars, inspect all railcars for adherence to specifications.

CUSTOMERS

We have strong long-term relationships with many large purchasers of railcars. Long-term customer relationships are particularly important in the railcar industry, given the limited number of buyers of railcars.

Our customer base consists mostly of North American railroads, financial institutions and shippers. We believe that our customers’ preference for reliable, high-quality products, the relatively high cost for customers to switch manufacturers, our technological leadership in developing and enhancing innovative products and the competitive pricing of our railcars have helped us maintain our long-standing relationships with our customers.

In 2014, revenue from three customers, CSX Transportation Inc., SMBC Rail Services and Progress Rail Services Corporation, accounted for approximately 36%, 20% and 13%, respectively, of total revenue. In 2014, sales to our top five customers accounted for approximately 86% of total revenue. Our railcar sales to customers outside the United States were $18.3 million in 2014. While we maintain strong relationships with our customers and serve over 70 active customers, many customers do not purchase railcars every year since railcar fleets are not necessarily

 

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replenished or augmented every year. The size and frequency of railcar orders often results in a small number of customers representing a significant portion of our sales in a given year.

SALES AND MARKETING

Our direct sales group is organized geographically and consists of regional sales managers and contract administrators, a manager of customer service and support staff. The regional sales managers are responsible for managing customer relationships. Our contract administrators are responsible for preparing proposals and other inside sales activities. Our manager of customer service is responsible for after-sale follow-up and in-field product performance reviews.

RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT

We utilize the latest engineering methods, tools and processes to ensure that new products and processes meet our customers’ requirements and are delivered in a timely manner. We develop and introduce new railcar designs as a result of a combination of customer feedback and close observation of developing market trends. We work closely with our customers to understand their expectations and design railcars that meet their needs. New product designs are tested and validated for compliance with AAR standards prior to introduction. This comprehensive approach provides the criteria and direction that ensure we are developing products that our customers desire and perform as expected. Costs associated with research and development are expensed as incurred and totaled $0.3 million, $0.4 million and $0.4 million for the years ended December 31, 2014, 2013 and 2012, respectively.

BACKLOG

We define backlog as the value of those products or services which our customers have committed in writing to purchase from us or lease from us when built, but which have not yet been recognized as sales. Our contracts may include cancellation clauses under which customers are required, upon cancellation of the contract, to reimburse us for costs incurred in reliance on an order and to compensate us for lost profits. However, customer orders may be subject to customer requests for delays in railcar deliveries, inspection rights and other customary industry terms and conditions, which could prevent or delay backlog from being converted into sales.

The following table depicts our reported railcar backlog in number of railcars and estimated future sales value attributable to such backlog, for the periods shown.

 

     Year Ended December 31,  
     2014      2013      2012  

Railcar backlog at start of period

     6,826         2,881         8,303   

Railcars delivered

     (7,102      (3,821      (8,325

Railcar orders

     15,067         7,766         2,903   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Railcar backlog at end of period(1)

  14,791      6,826      2,881   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Estimated revenue from backlog at end of period (in thousands) (2)

$ 1,268,907    $ 492,018    $ 197,597   

 

(1) Railcar backlog includes 2,600, 3,680 and 1,900 rebuilt railcars as of December 31, 2014, 2013 and 2012, respectively.
(2) Estimated revenue from backlog reflects the total revenue attributable to the backlog reported at the end of the particular period as if such backlog were converted to actual sales. Estimated revenue from backlog does not reflect potential price increases and decreases under customer contracts that provide for variable pricing based on changes in the cost of raw materials. Although we continually look for opportunities to package our leased assets for sale to our leasing company partners, these leased assets may not be converted to sales.

Although our reported backlog is typically converted to sales within two years, our reported backlog may not be converted to sales in any particular period, if at all, and the actual sales from these contracts may not equal our reported backlog estimates. See Item 1A. “Risk Factors—Risks Related to Our Business—The level of our reported backlog may not necessarily indicate what our future sales will be and our actual sales may fall short of the

 

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estimated sales value attributed to our backlog.” In addition, due to the large size of railcar orders and variations in the mix of railcars, the size of our reported backlog at the end of any given period may fluctuate significantly. See Item 1A. “Risk Factors—Risks Related to the Railcar Industry—The variable purchase patterns of our customers and the timing of completion, delivery and customer acceptance of the railcar may cause our revenues and income from operations to vary substantially each quarter, which will result in significant fluctuations in our quarterly results.”

SUPPLIERS AND MATERIALS

The cost of raw materials and components represents a substantial majority of the manufacturing costs of most of our railcar product lines. As a result, the management of raw materials and components purchasing is critical to our profitability. We enjoy generally strong relationships with our suppliers, which helps to ensure access to supplies when railcar demand is high.

Our primary aluminum suppliers are Sapa Extrusions and Constellium N.V. (formerly Alcan Inc.). Aluminum prices generally are fixed at the time a railcar order is accepted, mitigating the effect of future fluctuations in prices. Our primary stainless steel supplier is Crompion International, L.L.C.

Our primary component suppliers include Amsted Industries, Inc., which supplies us with truck components, brake components, couplers and bearings, and Summit Railroad Products, Inc., which supplies us with axles and wheels. Roll Form Group, a division of Samuel, Son & Co., Limited, is the sole supplier of our roll-formed center sills, which were used in 88% and 68% of our new railcars produced in 2014 and 2013, respectively. A center sill is the primary structural component of a railcar. In addition, during 2013, we entered into an agreement with International Truck and Engine Investments Corporation, an affiliate of Navistar, Inc., pursuant to which it has contracted to supply us with various fabricated parts, components and subassemblies as well as providing truck and wheel and axle assembly services and blast and paint finishing services. Other suppliers provide brake systems, castings, bearings, fabrications and various other components. The railcar industry is subject to supply constraints for some of the key railcar components. See Item 1A. “Risk Factors—Risks Related to the Railcar Industry—Limitations on the supply of railcar components could adversely affect our business because they may limit the number of railcars we can manufacture.”

Except as described above, there are usually at least two suppliers for each of our raw materials and specialty components. No single supplier accounted for more than 17% and 11% of our total purchases in 2014 and 2013, respectively. Our top ten suppliers accounted for 65% and 60% of our total purchases in 2014 and 2013, respectively.

COMPETITION

We operate in a competitive marketplace. Competition is based on price, delivery timing, product design, reputation for product quality and customer service and support.

We have four principal competitors in the North American railcar market that primarily manufacture railcars for third-party customers, which are Trinity Industries, Inc., The Greenbrier Companies, Inc., American Railcar Industries, Inc. and National Steel Car Limited.

Competition in the North American market from railcar manufacturers located outside of North America is limited by, among other factors, high shipping costs and familiarity with the North American market.

INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY

We have several U.S. and international patents and pending applications, registered trademarks, copyrights and trade names. Key patents include our one-piece center sill, our hopper railcar with automatic individual door system and our railroad car tub. The protection of our intellectual property is important to our business.

EMPLOYEES

As of December 31, 2014, we had 1,381 employees, of whom 230 were salaried and 1,151 were hourly wage earners, and approximately 402, or 29%, of our employees were members of unions. As of December 31, 2013, we had 819 employees, of whom 181 were salaried and 638 were hourly wage earners, and approximately 138, or 17%,

 

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of our employees were members of unions. See Item 1A. “Risk Factors—Risks Related to Our Business—Labor disputes could disrupt our operations and divert the attention of our management and may have a material adverse effect on our operations and profitability.”

REGULATION

The Federal Railroad Administration, or FRA, administers and enforces U.S. federal laws and regulations relating to railroad safety. These regulations govern equipment and safety compliance standards for freight railcars and other rail equipment used in interstate commerce. The AAR promulgates a wide variety of rules and regulations governing safety and design of equipment, relationships among railroads with respect to freight railcars in interchange and other matters. The AAR also certifies freight railcar manufacturers and component manufacturers that provide equipment for use on railroads in the United States as well as providers of railcar repair and maintenance services. New products must generally undergo AAR testing and approval processes. As a result of these regulations, we must maintain certifications with the AAR as a freight railcar manufacturer and provider of railcar repair and maintenance services, and products that we sell must meet AAR and FRA standards.

We are also subject to oversight in other jurisdictions by foreign regulatory agencies and to the extent that we expand our business internationally, we will increasingly be subject to the regulations of other non-U.S. jurisdictions.

ENVIRONMENTAL MATTERS

We are subject to comprehensive federal, state, local and international environmental laws and regulations relating to the release or discharge of materials into the environment, the management, use, processing, handling, storage, transport or disposal of hazardous materials, or otherwise relating to the protection of human health and the environment. These laws and regulations not only expose us to liability for our own negligent acts, but also may expose us to liability for the conduct of others or for our actions that were in compliance with all applicable laws at the time these actions were taken. In addition, these laws may require significant expenditures to achieve compliance, and are frequently modified or revised to impose new obligations. Civil and criminal fines and penalties may be imposed for non-compliance with these environmental laws and regulations. Our operations that involve hazardous materials also raise potential risks of liability under the common law.

Environmental operating permits are, or may be, required for our operations under these laws and regulations. These operating permits are subject to modification, renewal and revocation. We regularly monitor and review our operations, procedures and policies for compliance with these laws and regulations. Despite these compliance efforts, risk of environmental liability is inherent in the operation of our businesses, as it is with other companies engaged in similar businesses. We believe that our operations and facilities are in substantial compliance with applicable laws and regulations and that any noncompliance is not likely to have a material adverse effect on our operations or financial condition.

Future events, such as changes in or modified interpretations of existing laws and regulations or enforcement policies, or further investigation or evaluation of the potential health hazards of products or business activities, may give rise to additional compliance and other costs that could have a material adverse effect on our financial condition and operations. In addition, we have in the past conducted investigation and remediation activities at properties that we own to address historic contamination. To date, such costs have not been material. Although we believe we have satisfactorily addressed all known material contamination through our remediation activities, there can be no assurance that these activities have addressed all historic contamination. The discovery of historic contamination or the release of hazardous substances into the environment could require us in the future to incur investigative or remedial costs or other liabilities that could be material or that could interfere with the operation of our business.

In addition to environmental laws, the transportation of commodities by railcar raises potential risks in the event of a derailment or other accident. Generally, liability under existing law in the United States for a derailment or other accident depends on the negligence of the party, such as the railroad, the shipper or the manufacturer of the railcar or its components. However, for the shipment of certain hazardous commodities, strict liability concepts may apply.

 

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Item 1A. Risk Factors.

The factors described below are the principal risks that could materially adversely affect our operating results and financial condition. Other factors may exist that we do not consider significant based on information that is currently available. In addition, new risks may emerge at any time, and we cannot predict those risks or estimate the extent to which they may affect us.

RISKS RELATED TO THE RAILCAR INDUSTRY

We operate in a highly cyclical industry, and our industry and markets are influenced by factors that are beyond our control, including U.S. and international economic conditions. Such factors could adversely affect demand for our railcar offerings.

Historically, the North American railcar market has been highly cyclical and we expect it to continue to be highly cyclical. During the previous industry cycle, industry-wide railcar deliveries declined from a peak of 74,729 railcars in 2006 to a low of 16,535 railcars in 2010. During this period, our railcar production declined from approximately 18,764 railcars in 2006 to 2,229 railcars in 2010. Our industry and the markets for which we supply railcars are influenced by factors that are beyond our control, including U.S. and international economic conditions. Downturns in economic conditions could result in lower sales volumes, lower prices for railcars and a loss of profits. The cyclicality of the markets in which we operate may adversely affect our operating results and cash flow. In addition, fluctuations in the demand for our railcars may cause comparisons of our sales and operating results between different fiscal years to be less meaningful as indicators of our future performance.

We operate in a competitive industry and we may be unable to compete successfully against other railcar manufacturers.

We operate in a competitive marketplace and face substantial competition from established competitors in the railcar industry in North America. We have four principal competitors that primarily manufacture railcars for third-party customers. Some of these manufacturers have greater financial and technological resources than us, and they may increase their participation in the railcar segments in which we compete. In addition to price, competition is based on delivery timing, product performance and technological innovation, quality, customer service and other factors. In particular, technological innovation by any of our existing competitors, or new competitors entering any of the markets in which we do business, could put us at a competitive disadvantage and impair our ability to compete successfully against other railcar manufacturers or retain our market share in our established markets. Increased competition for the sales of our railcar products could result in price reductions, reduced margins and loss of market share, which could negatively affect our prospects, business, financial condition and results of operations.

We depend upon a small number of customers that represent a large percentage of our sales. The loss of any single customer, or a reduction in sales to any such customer, could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations.

Since railcars are typically sold pursuant to large, periodic orders, a limited number of customers typically represent a significant percentage of our railcar sales in any given year. Over the last five years, our top five customers in each year based on sales accounted for, in the aggregate, approximately 77% of our total sales for the five-year period. In 2014, sales to our top three customers accounted for approximately 36%, 20% and 13%, respectively, of our total sales. In 2013, sales to our top three customers accounted for approximately 45%, 12% and 6%, respectively, of our total sales. Although we have long-standing relationships with many of our major customers, the loss of any significant portion of our sales to any major customer, the loss of a single major customer or a material adverse change in the financial condition of any one of our major customers could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations.

The variable purchase patterns of our customers and the timing of completion, delivery and customer acceptance of orders may cause our revenues and income from operations to vary substantially each quarter, which will result in significant fluctuations in our quarterly results.

Most of our individual customers do not make purchases every year, since they do not need to replace, replenish or increase their railcar fleets on a yearly basis. Many of our customers place orders for products on an as-needed basis, sometimes only once every few years. As a result, the order levels for railcars, the mix of railcar types ordered and the railcars ordered by any particular customer have varied significantly from quarterly period to quarterly period in

 

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the past and may continue to vary significantly in the future. Therefore, our results of operations in any particular quarterly period may be significantly affected by the number of railcars delivered and product mix of railcars delivered in any given quarterly period. Additionally, because we record the sale of a new and rebuilt railcar at the time (1) we complete production, (2) the railcar is accepted by the customer following inspection, (3) the risk for any damage or loss with respect to the railcar passes to the customer, and (4) title to the railcar transfers to the customer, and not when the order is taken, the timing of the completion, delivery and acceptance of significant customer orders will have a considerable effect on fluctuations in our quarterly results. As a result of these quarterly fluctuations, we believe that comparisons of our sales and operating results between quarterly periods may not be meaningful and, as such, these comparisons should not be relied upon as indicators of our future performance.

Our ability to sell new railcars may be limited by other factors, including the availability and price of used railcars offered for sale and new or used railcars offered for lease by leasing companies and others.

Our customers may consider alternatives to the purchase of new railcars, including the purchase of used railcars, refurbishment of existing railcars or the lease of new or used railcars. Our competitors may also be able to offer railcar leases at favorable lease rates, negatively impacting our ability to sell new railcars, which may result in price reductions, reduced margins and loss of market share. These additional competitive factors could negatively affect our prospects, business, financial condition and results of operations.

The potential cost volatility of the raw materials that we use to manufacture railcars, especially aluminum and steel, and delivery delays associated with these raw materials may adversely affect our financial condition and results of operations.

The production of railcars and our operations require substantial amounts of aluminum and steel. The cost of aluminum, steel and all other materials (including scrap metal) used in the production of our railcars represents a significant majority of our direct manufacturing costs. Our business is subject to the risk of price increases and periodic delays in the delivery of aluminum, steel and other materials, all of which are beyond our control. Any fluctuations in the price or availability of aluminum or steel, or any other material used in the production of our railcars, may have a material adverse effect on our business, results of operations or financial condition. In addition, if any of our suppliers were unable to continue its business or were to seek bankruptcy relief, the availability or price of the materials we use could be adversely affected. Deliveries of our materials may also fluctuate depending on supply and demand for the material or governmental regulation relating to the material, including regulation relating to the importation of the material.

Limitations on the supply of railcar components could adversely affect our business because they may limit the number of railcars we can manufacture.

We rely upon third-party suppliers for various components for our railcars. In the future, suppliers of railcar components may be unable to meet the short-term or longer-term demand of our industry for certain railcar components. In the event that any of our suppliers of railcar components were to stop or reduce their production, go out of business, refuse to continue their business relationships with us, become subject to work stoppages or ration their supply of components, our business could be disrupted. We have in the past experienced challenges sourcing certain railcar components to meet our production requirements. In addition, our ability to increase our railcar production to expand our business and/or meet any increase in demand, with new or additional manufacturing capabilities, depends on our ability to obtain an adequate supply of these railcar components. While we believe that we could secure alternative sources for these components, we may incur substantial delays and significant expense in doing so, the quality and reliability of these alternative sources may not be the same and our operating results may be significantly affected. In an effort to secure a supply of components, we have developed foreign sources that require deposits on some occasions. In the event of a material adverse business condition, such deposits may be forfeited. In addition, if one of our competitors entered into a preferred supply arrangement with, or was otherwise favored by, a particular supplier, we would be at a competitive disadvantage, which could negatively affect our operating results. Furthermore, alternative suppliers might charge significantly higher prices for railcar components than we currently pay. Such circumstances could have a material adverse impact on our customer relationships, financial condition and results of operations.

RISKS RELATED TO OUR BUSINESS

We rely significantly on the sales of our coal cars. Future demand for coal could decrease, which could adversely affect our business, financial condition and results of operations.

 

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Historically, coal cars have been our primary railcar type, representing 47% and 49% of our sales revenues in 2014 and 2013, respectively, and 57% and 68% of the total railcars that we delivered in 2014 and 2013, respectively. Fluctuations in the price of coal relative to other energy sources may cause utility companies, which are significant users of our coal car products, to select an alternative energy source to coal, thereby reducing the demand for coal cars. For example, if utility companies increased the use of natural gas instead of coal as an energy source, demand for certain of our coal car products could decrease and our operating results could be negatively affected.

The U.S. federal and state governments may adopt new legislation and/or regulations, or judicial or administrative interpretations of existing laws and regulations that materially adversely affect the coal industry and/or our customers’ ability to use coal or to continue to use coal at present rates. Such legislation or proposed legislation and/or regulations may include proposals for more stringent protections of the environment that would further regulate and tax the coal industry. This legislation could significantly reduce demand for coal, adversely affect the demand for our coal cars and have a material adverse effect on our financial condition and results of operations.

Lack of acceptance of our new railcar offerings by our customers could adversely affect our business.

Our growth strategy depends in part on our continued development and sale of new railcar designs and design changes to existing railcars to penetrate railcar markets in which we currently do not compete and to expand or maintain our market share in the railcar markets in which we currently compete. We have dedicated significant resources to the development, manufacturing and marketing of new railcar designs. We typically make decisions to develop and market new railcars and railcars with modified designs without firm indications of customer acceptance. New or modified railcar designs may require customers to alter their existing business methods or threaten to displace existing equipment in which our customers may have a substantial capital investment. Many railcar purchasers prefer to maintain a standardized fleet of railcars and railcar purchasers with established railcar fleets are generally resistant to railcar design changes. Therefore, any new or modified railcar designs that we develop may not gain widespread acceptance in the marketplace and any such products may not be able to compete successfully with existing railcar designs or new railcar designs that may be introduced by our competitors.

To the extent we expand our sales of products and services internationally, we will increase our exposure to international economic and political risks.

Conducting business outside the United States, for example through our sales to other countries, subjects us to various risks, including changing economic, legal and political conditions, work stoppages, currency fluctuations, terrorist activities directed at U.S. companies, armed conflicts and unexpected changes in the United States and the laws of other countries relating to tariffs, trade restrictions, transportation regulations, foreign investments and taxation. If we fail to obtain and maintain certifications of our railcars and railcar parts in the various countries where we may operate, we may be unable to market and sell our railcars in those countries.

In addition, more stringent rules relating to labor or the environment, adverse tax consequences and price exchange controls could limit our operations and make the distribution of our products internationally more difficult. Furthermore, any material changes in the quotas, regulations or duties on imports imposed by the U.S. government and agencies or on exports by non-U.S. governments and their respective agencies could affect our ability to export the railcars that we manufacture in the United States. The uncertainty of the legal environment could limit our ability to enforce our rights effectively.

The level of our reported backlog may not necessarily indicate what our future sales will be and our actual sales may fall short of the estimated sales value attributed to our backlog.

We define backlog as the sales value of products or services to which our customers have committed in writing to purchase from us or lease from us when built, that have not yet been recognized as revenue. In this annual report on Form 10-K, we have disclosed our backlog, or the number of railcars for which we have purchase orders or firm operating leases for railcars to be built, in various periods and the estimated sales value (in dollars) that would be attributable to this backlog once the backlog is converted to actual sales. We consider backlog to be an indicator of future sales of railcars. However, our reported backlog may not be converted into sales in any particular period, if at all, and the actual sales (including any compensation for lost profits and reimbursement for costs) from such contracts may not equal our reported estimates of backlog value. For example, we rely on third-party suppliers for castings, wheels and components for our railcars and if these third parties were to stop or reduce their supply of heavy castings, wheels and other components, our actual sales could fall short of the estimated sales value attributed

 

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to our backlog. Also, customer orders may be subject to cancellation, inspection rights and other customary industry terms, and delivery dates may be subject to delay or could prevent the backlog from being converted to sales, thereby extending the date on which we will deliver the associated railcars and realize revenues attributable to such railcar backlog.

Our warranties may expose us to potentially significant claims, which may damage our reputation and adversely affect our business, financial condition and results of operations.

We warrant that new railcars produced by us will be free from defects in material and workmanship under normal use and service identified for a period of up to five years from the time of sale. Accordingly, we may be subject to a risk of product liability or warranty claims in the event that the failure of any of our products results in property damage, personal injury or death, or does not conform to our customers’ specifications. Although we currently maintain product liability insurance coverage, product liability claims, if made, may exceed our insurance coverage limits or insurance may not continue to be available on commercially acceptable terms, if at all. These types of product liability and warranty claims may result in costly product recalls, significant repair costs and damage to our reputation, all of which could adversely affect our results of operations. This risk may increase over the short-term due to our limited warranty claim experience for our new product offerings.

Our Shoals facility or any other business that we may acquire in the future may fail to perform to expectations or we may be unable to successfully integrate any such acquired business with our existing business.

Our Shoals facility or any other business that we may acquire in the future may not strengthen our competitive position or achieve our desired goals. In addition, the integration of any acquired business, including the continuing integration of the Shoals-based business, may disrupt our ongoing operations, divert management from day-to-day responsibilities, increase our expenses and reduce our cash available for operations and other uses. There can be no assurance that we will be able to effectively manage the integration of our Shoals-based business or any other acquired business, or be able to attract, retain and motivate key personnel for the business.

If we lose key personnel, our operations and ability to manage the day-to-day aspects of our business may be adversely affected.

We believe our success depends to a significant degree upon the continued contributions of our executive officers and key employees, both individually and as a group. Our future performance will substantially depend on our ability to retain and motivate them. If we lose key personnel or are unable to recruit qualified personnel, our ability to manage the day-to-day aspects of our business may be adversely affected.

The loss of the services of one or more members of our senior management team could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations. Because our senior management team has many years of experience in the railcar industry and other manufacturing and capital equipment industries, it could be difficult to replace any of them without adversely affecting our business operations. Our future success will also depend in part upon our continuing ability to attract and retain highly qualified personnel. We do not currently maintain “key person” life insurance.

Shortages of skilled labor may adversely impact our operations.

We depend on skilled labor in the manufacture and repair of railcars. Some of our facilities are located in areas where demand for skilled laborers often exceeds supply. Shortages of some types of skilled laborers may restrict our ability to maintain or increase production rates and could cause our labor costs to increase.

An increase in postretirement benefit costs could adversely affect our results of operations.

We provide postretirement health care benefits for approximately 35 of our active employees and 719 of our retired employees. As of December 31, 2014, we have an unfunded $73.9 million accrual for our projected retiree health care costs, a substantial portion of which relates to a settlement with the union representing employees at our and our predecessors’ Johnstown manufacturing facilities. The terms of that settlement agreement (the “2005 Settlement Agreement”) required us to pay until November 30, 2012 certain monthly amounts toward the cost of retiree health care coverage. We engaged in voluntary negotiations for two years in an effort to reach a consensual agreement related to the expired 2005 Settlement Agreement but no agreement was reached. We terminated, effective

 

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November 1, 2013, our contributions for medical coverage and life insurance benefits to affected retirees and are seeking declaratory relief to confirm our rights under the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended (“ERISA”), to reduce or terminate retiree medical coverage and life insurance benefits pursuant to the plans that were the subject of the 2005 Settlement Agreement. On July 9, 2013, the union and certain retiree defendants filed suit in the United States District Court for the Western District of Pennsylvania regarding the same dispute (see Note 16 to the consolidated financial statements). The outcome of the pending litigation and the impact on our postretirement benefit plan obligation cannot be determined at this time. Our recorded postretirement benefit plan obligation assumes for accounting purposes a continuation of those monthly payments as per the expired 2005 Settlement Agreement indefinitely after November 1, 2013. However, the Company’s postretirement benefit plan obligation could significantly increase or decrease as a result of the litigation or if the parties agree to an alternative settlement agreement.

Labor disputes could disrupt our operations and divert the attention of our management and may have a material adverse effect on our operations and profitability.

As of December 31, 2014, we had a collective bargaining agreement with a union representing approximately 13% of our total active labor force that expires on March 31, 2017 and a collective bargaining agreement with a union representing approximately 16% of our total active labor force that expires on October 31, 2018. Disputes with the unions representing our employees could result in strikes or other labor protests which could disrupt our operations and divert the attention of management from operating our business. If we were to experience a strike or work stoppage, it could be difficult for us to find a sufficient number of employees with the necessary skills to replace these employees. Any such labor disputes could have a material adverse effect on our financial condition, results of operations or cash flows.

We rely upon a single supplier to supply us with all of our roll-formed center sills for our railcars, and any disruption of our relationship with this supplier could adversely affect our business.

We rely upon a single supplier to manufacture all of our roll-formed center sills for our railcars, which are based upon our proprietary and patented process. A center sill is the primary longitudinal structural component of a railcar, which helps the railcar withstand the weight of the cargo and the force of being pulled during transport. Our center sill is formed into its final shape without heating by passing steel plate through a series of rollers. Of the new railcars that we produced in 2014 and 2013, 88% and 68%, respectively, were manufactured using this roll-formed center sill. Although we have a good relationship with our supplier and have not experienced any significant delays, manufacturing shortages or failures to meet our quality requirements and production specifications in the past, our supplier could stop production of our roll-formed center sills, go out of business, refuse to continue its business relationship with us or become subject to work stoppages. While we believe that we could secure alternative manufacturing sources, our present supplier is currently the only manufacturer of our roll-formed center sills for our railcars. We may incur substantial delays and significant expense in finding an alternative source, our results of operations may be significantly affected and the quality and reliability of these alternative sources may not be the same. Moreover, alternative suppliers might charge significantly higher prices for our roll-formed center sills than we currently pay.

Equipment failures, delays in deliveries or extensive damage to our facilities could lead to production or service curtailments or shutdowns.

We have railcar production facilities in Cherokee, Alabama, Danville, Illinois and Roanoke, Virginia and maintenance and repair facilities in Grand Island, Nebraska and Hastings, Nebraska. An interruption in railcar production capabilities or maintenance and repair capabilities at these facilities, as a result of equipment failure or other factors, could reduce or prevent our production, service or repair of railcars. A halt of production at any of our manufacturing facilities could severely affect delivery times to our customers. Any significant delay in deliveries to our customers could result in the termination of contracts, cause us to lose future sales and negatively affect our reputation among our customers and in the railcar industry and our results of operations. Our facilities are also subject to the risk of catastrophic loss due to unanticipated events, such as fires, explosions, floods or weather conditions. We may experience plant shutdowns or periods of reduced production as a result of equipment failures, delays in deliveries or extensive damage to any of our facilities, which could have a material adverse effect on our business, results of operations or financial condition.

 

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We might fail to adequately protect our intellectual property, which may result in our loss of market share, or third parties might assert that our intellectual property infringes on their intellectual property, which would be costly to defend and divert the attention of our management.

The protection of our intellectual property is important to our business. We rely on a combination of trademarks, copyrights, patents and trade secrets to protect our intellectual property. However, these protections might be inadequate. For example, we have patents for portions of our railcar designs that are important to our market leadership in the coal car segment. Our pending or future trademark, copyright and patent applications might not be approved or, if allowed, might not be sufficiently broad. Conversely, third parties might assert that our technologies or other intellectual property infringe on their proprietary rights. In either case, litigation may result, which could result in substantial costs and diversion of our management team’s efforts. Regardless of whether we are ultimately successful in any litigation, such litigation could adversely affect our business, results of operations and financial condition.

Our information technology and other systems are subject to cybersecurity risk, including the misappropriation of customer information and other breaches of information security. Security breaches and other disruptions could compromise our information, expose us to liability and harm our reputation and business.

In the ordinary course of our business, we collect and store sensitive data on our networks, including intellectual property, our proprietary business information and that of our customers, suppliers and business partners and personally identifiable information and other personal information of our customers and employees. While we continually work to safeguard our systems and to mitigate potential security risks, our information and processes are exposed to increasing global information security threats and more sophisticated and targeted computer crime, which may result in our data being subject to a security breach, a system failure, a computer virus, malicious software or unauthorized or fraudulent use by our employees or other third parties. Any compromise of our data security and access to or public disclosure or loss of personal or confidential business information could result in legal claims or proceedings with third parties, liability or regulatory penalties under the laws that protect the privacy of personal information, disruption of our operations, damage to our reputation, loss of business or remediation costs, any of which could have a material adverse effect on our prospects, business, financial condition and results of operations.

We are subject to a variety of environmental laws and regulations and the cost of complying with environmental requirements or any failure by us to comply with such requirements may have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations.

We are subject to a variety of federal, state and local environmental laws and regulations, including those governing air quality and the handling, disposal and remediation of waste products, fuel products and hazardous substances. Although we believe that we are in material compliance with all of the various regulations and permits applicable to our business, we may not at all times be in compliance with such requirements. The cost of complying with environmental requirements may also increase substantially in future years. If we violate or fail to comply with these regulations, we could be fined or otherwise sanctioned by regulators. In addition, these requirements are complex, change frequently and may become more stringent over time, which could have a material adverse effect on our business. We have in the past conducted investigation and remediation activities at properties that we own to address historic contamination. However, there can be no assurance that these remediation activities have addressed all historic contamination. Environmental liabilities that we incur, including those relating to the off-site disposal of our wastes, if not covered by adequate insurance or indemnification, will increase our costs and have a negative impact on our profitability.

The agreement governing our revolving credit facility contains various covenants that, among other things, limit our discretion in operating our business and provide for certain minimum financial requirements.

The agreement governing our revolving credit facility contains various covenants that, among other things, limit our management’s discretion by restricting our ability to incur additional debt, enter into certain transactions with affiliates, make investments and other restricted payments and create liens. Our failure to comply with these financial covenants and other covenants under our revolving credit facility could lead to an event of default under the agreement governing any other indebtedness that we may have outstanding at the time, permitting the lenders to accelerate all borrowings under such agreement and to foreclose on any collateral. In addition, any such events may

 

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make it more difficult or costly for us to borrow additional funds in the future. Our failure to raise capital if and when needed could have a material adverse effect on our results of operations and financial condition.

The market price of our securities may fluctuate significantly, which may make it difficult for stockholders to sell shares of our common stock when desired or at attractive prices.

Since our initial public offering in April 2005 until December 31, 2014, the trading price of our common stock ranged from a low of $12.82 per share to a high of $78.34 per share. The price for our common stock may fluctuate in response to a number of events and factors, such as quarterly variations in operating results and our reported backlog, the cyclical nature of the railcar market, announcements of new products by us or our competitors, changes in financial estimates and recommendations by securities analysts, the operating and stock price performance of other companies that investors may deem comparable to us, and news reports relating to trends in our markets or general economic conditions. Additionally, volatility or a lack of positive performance in our stock price may adversely affect our ability to retain key employees, all of whom have been granted stock options or other stock awards.

 

Item 1B. Unresolved Staff Comments.

None.

 

Item 2. Properties.

The following table presents information on our leased and owned operating properties as of December 31, 2014:

 

Use

  

Location

  

Size

   Leased or
Owned
   Lease
Expiration Date

Corporate headquarters

   Chicago, Illinois    15,540 square feet    Leased    March 31, 2022

Railcar assembly and component manufacturing

   Danville, Illinois    308,665 square feet on 36.5 acres of land    Owned   

Railcar assembly and component manufacturing

   Roanoke, Virginia    383,709 square feet on 15.5 acres of land    Leased    December 31,

2024

Railcar assembly and component manufacturing

   Cherokee, Alabama    712,608 square feet    Leased    December 31,

2021

Railcar maintenance, repair and parts warehouse

   Grand Island, Nebraska    132,067 square feet on 448 acres of land    Owned   

Railcar maintenance and repair

   Hastings, Nebraska    35,107 square feet on 13.4 acres of land with an additional 7.5 acres of land leased    Owned/

Leased

   December 31,

2018

Short line railroad

   Grand Island, Nebraska    5 miles of main line plus 2.77 miles of sidings for a total of 7.77 miles    Owned   

Administrative

   Johnstown, Pennsylvania    29,500 square feet on 1.02 acres of land    Owned   

Parts warehouse

   Johnstown, Pennsylvania    86,000 square feet    Leased    December 31,
2016

 

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In addition to the properties listed above, we also have various leased or owned railroad easements or rights of way which we use in our railcar repair and maintenance business. The table above includes an additional 169,209 square feet of Navistar Inc.’s Cherokee, Alabama manufacturing facility subleased during the fourth quarter of 2014 to be utilized for the addition of a new production line. After this expansion, our subleased portion represents approximately one-third of the area of the entire facility.

 

Item 3. Legal Proceedings.

On July 8, 2013, we filed a Complaint for Declaratory Judgment (the “Complaint”) in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Illinois, Eastern Division (the “Court”). The case names as defendants the United Steel, Paper & Forestry, Rubber, Manufacturing, Energy, Allied Industrial & Services Workers International Union, AFL-CIO, CLC (the “USW”), as well as approximately 650 individual Retiree Defendants (as defined in the Complaint), and was assigned Case No. 1:13-cv-4889.

As described in the Complaint, pursuant to a settlement agreement (the “2005 Settlement Agreement”) among the Company, the USW and the Retiree Defendants, we agreed to make certain levels of contributions to medical coverage for the Retiree Defendants and to continue to provide life insurance benefits at their amount at that time under certain of our employee welfare benefit plans. The 2005 Settlement Agreement expressly provided that, as of November 30, 2012, we could cease making these contributions. In June 2011, the Company and the USW began discussing the possibility of an extension beyond November 30, 2012 for our contributions to retiree medical coverage and life insurance benefits at a reduced amount and on other mutually acceptable terms. We engaged in voluntary negotiations for two years with the USW and counsel for the Retiree Defendants in an effort to reach a consensual agreement regarding such medical and life insurance benefits, but the parties were unable to reach a final agreement. We terminated, effective November 1, 2013, our contributions for medical coverage provided to the Retiree Defendants and the provision of life insurance benefits and are seeking declaratory relief to confirm our rights under ERISA to reduce or terminate retiree medical coverage and life insurance benefits pursuant to the plans that were the subject of the 2005 Settlement Agreement.

On July 9, 2013, the USW and certain Retiree Defendants (collectively, the “Pennsylvania Plaintiffs”) filed a putative class action in the United States District Court for the Western District of Pennsylvania (the “Pennsylvania Court”), captioned as Zanghi, et al. v. FreightCar America, Inc., et al., Case No. 3:13-cv-146. The complaint filed with the Pennsylvania Court alleges that we do not have the right to terminate welfare benefits previously provided to the Retiree Defendants and requests, among other relief, entry of a judgment finding that the Retiree Defendants have a vested right to specified welfare benefits.

On July 26, 2013, the Pennsylvania Plaintiffs filed with the Illinois Court a Motion to Dismiss Pursuant to Fed. R. Civ. P. 12(b) or in the Alternative, to Transfer Pursuant to 28 U.S.C. 1404(a), as well as a Motion to Stay and/or Prevent Plaintiff from Obtaining Defaults against the Retiree Defendants. On August 5, 2013, we filed with the Pennsylvania Court a Motion to Dismiss Pursuant to Fed. R. Civ P. 12(b) or in the Alternative, to Transfer Pursuant to 28 U.S.C. 1404(a). On January 14, 2014, the Pennsylvania Court denied our motion to dismiss and, on January 16, 2014, the Illinois Court transferred our case to the Pennsylvania Court. On January 31, 2014, we filed a motion to consolidate both cases before the Pennsylvania Court. On April 3, 2014, the Pennsylvania Court entered an order (the “Initial Procedural Order”) that, among other things, consolidated both cases before the Pennsylvania Court, certified a class for purposes of the consolidated actions, established discovery parameters and deadlines, and established a briefing schedule applicable to the parties’ cross motions for summary judgment as to liability only. On July 17, 2014, the parties filed with the Pennsylvania Court their respective motions for summary judgment as to liability. The parties have submitted their responses and replies with respect to each of the motions. We are not able to predict when the Pennsylvania Court will issue its ruling on such motions or how the Pennsylvania Court will rule.

On September 5, 2013, the Pennsylvania Plaintiffs filed a Plaintiffs’ Motion for Temporary Restraining Order and Preliminary Injunction (the “TRO Motion”) with the Pennsylvania Court. In the TRO Motion, the plaintiffs requested that the Pennsylvania Court enter an injunction requiring us to continue to make monthly contributions at the same rate established by the 2005 Settlement Agreement until the parties’ dispute is fully adjudicated on the merits. Following entry of the Initial Procedural Order, the Pennsylvania Court denied the TRO Motion without prejudice.

 

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We have recorded postretirement benefit plan obligations, a substantial portion of which relate to the dispute now before the Illinois Court and the Pennsylvania Court (see Note 13 to the consolidated financial statements).

On September 29, 2008, Bral Corporation, a supplier of certain railcar parts to us, filed a complaint against us in the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Pennsylvania (the “Pennsylvania Lawsuit”). The complaint alleged that we breached an exclusive supply agreement with Bral by purchasing parts from CMN Components, Inc. (“CMN”) and sought damages in an unspecified amount, attorneys’ fees and other legal costs. On December 14, 2007, Bral sued CMN in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois, alleging among other things that CMN interfered in the business relationship between Bral and us (the “Illinois Lawsuit”) and seeking damages in an unspecified amount, attorneys’ fees and other legal costs. On October 22, 2008, we entered into an Assignment of Claims Agreement with CMN under which CMN assigned to us its counterclaims against Bral in the Illinois Lawsuit and we agreed to defend and indemnify CMN against Bral’s claims in that lawsuit. On March 4, 2013, Bral Corporation and the Company agreed to settle the Illinois Lawsuit and the Pennsylvania Lawsuit. The settlement resulted in a $3.9 million reduction in litigation reserves, which favorably impacted our results of operations for the year ended December 31, 2013.

In addition to the foregoing, we are involved in certain other pending and threatened legal proceedings, including commercial disputes and workers’ compensation and employee matters arising out of the conduct of our business. While the ultimate outcome of these other legal proceedings cannot be determined at this time, it is the opinion of management that the resolution of these other actions will not have a material adverse effect on our financial condition, results of operations or cash flows.

 

Item 4. Mine Safety Disclosures.

Not applicable

PART II

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

Our common stock has been quoted on the Nasdaq Global Market under the symbol “RAIL” since April 6, 2005. Prior to that time, there was no public market for our common stock. As of March 5, 2015, there were approximately 87 holders of record of our common stock, which does not include persons whose shares of common stock are held by a bank, brokerage house or clearing agency. The following table sets forth quarterly high and low closing prices of our common stock since January 1, 2013, as reported on the Nasdaq Global Market.

 

     Common stock price      Dividend
Declared
 
     High      Low     

2014

        

Fourth quarter

   $ 34.85       $ 24.12       $ 0.06   

Third quarter

   $ 36.52       $ 21.58       $ 0.06   

Second quarter

   $ 26.82       $ 23.10       $ 0.06   

First quarter

   $ 26.45       $ 21.60       $ 0.06   

2013

        

Fourth quarter

   $ 26.72       $ 20.49       $ 0.06   

Third quarter

   $ 21.47       $ 16.53       $ 0.06   

Second quarter

   $ 21.98       $ 16.94       $ 0.06   

First quarter

   $ 24.95       $ 20.97       $ 0.06   

 

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Dividend Policy

The declaration and payment of future dividends will be at the discretion of our board of directors and will depend on, among other things, general economic and business conditions, our strategic plans, our financial results, contractual and legal restrictions on the payment of dividends by us and our subsidiaries and such other factors as our board of directors considers to be relevant. The ability of our board of directors to declare a dividend on our common stock is limited by Delaware law. On February 9, 2015, our board of directors declared a cash dividend of $0.09 per share of our common stock, payable on February 25, 2015, to shareholders of record at the close of business on February 19, 2015. This dividend represents an increase of $0.03 per common share, or 50% from our prior quarterly cash dividend of $0.06 per common share.

Performance Graph

The following performance graph and related information shall not be deemed “soliciting material” or to be “filed” with the Securities and Exchange Commission, nor shall such information be incorporated by reference into any future filing under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, except to the extent that the Company specifically incorporates it by reference into such filing.

The following graph illustrates the cumulative total stockholder return on our common stock during the period from January 1, 2010 through December 31, 2014 and compares it with the cumulative total return on the NASDAQ Composite Index and DJ Transportation Index. The comparison assumes $100 was invested on January 1, 2010 in our common stock and in each of the foregoing indices and assumes reinvestment of dividends, if any. The performance shown is not necessarily indicative of future performance.

 

     Dec.31,
2009
     Jun.30,
2010
     Dec.31,
2010
     Jun.30,
2011
     Dec.31,
2011
     Jun.30,
2012
     Dec.31,
2012
     Jun.30,
2013
     Dec.31,
2013
     Jun.30,
2014
     Dec.31,
2014
 

FreightCar America, Inc.

   $ 100.00       $ 114.41       $ 146.37       $ 128.17       $ 105.96       $ 116.78       $ 114.70       $ 87.45       $ 137.82       $ 130.30       $ 137.47   

Nasdaq Composite Index

   $ 100.00       $ 93.37       $ 118.02       $ 123.92       $ 117.04       $ 132.59       $ 137.47       $ 155.93       $ 192.62       $ 204.53       $ 221.02   

DJ Transportation Index

   $ 100.00       $ 98.62       $ 126.74       $ 135.70       $ 126.75       $ 132.60       $ 136.24       $ 159.58       $ 192.61       $ 214.90       $ 240.91   

 

LOGO

 

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Item 6. Selected Financial Data.

The selected financial data presented for each of the years in the five-year period ended December 31, 2014 was derived from our audited consolidated financial statements and other operational information reported in Form 10-K. The selected financial data should be read in conjunction with Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations and the Consolidated Financial Statements and Notes thereto included in Item 7 and Item 8, respectively, of this annual report on Form 10-K. (in thousands, except for share and per share data and railcar amounts)

 

     Year Ended December 31,  
     2014     2013     2012     2011     2010  

Statement of operations data:

          

Revenues

   $ 598,518      $ 290,393      $ 677,449      $ 486,986      $ 142,889   

Gross profit

     42,343        13,225        64,986        31,946        2,722   

Selling, general and administrative expense

     35,317        27,464        32,736        28,660        24,618   

Gain on sale of railcars available for lease

     (1,403     (604     (989     (2,227     —     

Gain on sale of assets held for sale

     (1,078     —          —          —          —     

Restructuring and impairment charges

     —          10,452        —          —          —     

Net income (loss)(1)

   $ 5,904      $ (19,295   $ 19,095      $ 4,935      $ (12,771

Weighted average common shares outstanding—basic

     12,001,587        11,954,238        11,932,926        11,916,292        11,896,148   

Weighted average common shares outstanding—diluted

     12,103,520        11,954,238        11,969,367        11,962,196        11,896,148   

Per share data:

          

Net income (loss) per common share – basic

   $ 0.49      $ (1.61   $ 1.60      $ 0.41      $ (1.07

Net income (loss) per common share – diluted

   $ 0.49      $ (1.61   $ 1.60      $ 0.41      $ (1.07

Dividends declared per common share

   $ 0.24      $ 0.24      $ 0.24      $ —        $ 0.06   

Other financial and operating data:

          

Investment in property, plant and equipment, railcars on operating leases and business acquisitions

   $ 11,802      $ 17,317      $ 9,088      $ 1,996      $ 24,750   

Railcars delivered

     7,102        3,821        8,325        6,188        2,229   

Railcar orders

     15,067        7,766        2,903        12,437        4,018   

Railcar backlog at period end

     14,791        6,826        2,881        8,303        2,054   

Estimated revenue from backlog at period end

   $ 1,268,907      $ 492,018      $ 197,597      $ 559,824      $ 144,306   

Balance sheet data (at period end):

          

Cash and cash equivalents

   $ 113,532      $ 145,506      $ 98,509      $ 101,870      $ 61,780   

Restricted cash and restricted certificates of deposit

     6,015        7,780        14,700        1,815        2,322   

Marketable securities

     47,961        38,988        41,978        —          —     

Total assets

     385,252        417,719        388,565        345,463        310,643   

Total debt, including capital leases

     —          —          —          —          —     

Total stockholders’ equity

     198,695        202,535        211,331        197,334        192,580   

 

(1) For the year ended December 31, 2013, we recorded impairment charges to write down assets at our idled Danville manufacturing facility of $7,592, impairment charges to write down assets at our closed Clinton, Indiana maintenance and repair shop of $1,620, other charges related to the closure of our Clinton maintenance and repair shop of $303 and Corporate severance charges of $1,556.

 

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

OVERVIEW

You should read the following discussion in conjunction with our consolidated financial statements and related notes included elsewhere in this annual report on Form 10-K. This discussion contains forward-looking statements that are based on management’s current expectations, estimates and projections about our business and operations. Our actual results may differ materially from those currently anticipated and expressed in such forward-looking statements. See “Forward-Looking Statements.”

We believe we are the leading manufacturer of aluminum-bodied railcars and coal cars in North America, based on the number of railcars delivered. Our railcar manufacturing facilities are located in Cherokee, Alabama, Danville, Illinois and Roanoke, Virginia. Our Shoals facility is an important part of our long-term growth strategy as we continue to expand our railcar product and service offerings outside of our traditional coal car market. While our Danville and Roanoke facilities will continue to support our coal car products, we believe the Shoals facility will allow us to produce a broader variety of railcars in a cost-effective and efficient manner. Our Shoals facility delivered its first railcars during the fourth quarter of 2013 and production continued to ramp up during 2014. During the fourth quarter of 2014, we announced a $10 million expansion at our Shoals facility to add an additional production line to meet growing demand for our new types of railcars. When the new production line becomes fully operational in the second quarter of 2015, the Shoals facility will have the capacity to build approximately 6,000 to 8,000 railcars per year. As we increase production at our Shoals facility, we expect to add an additional 150 to 200 jobs beyond our current employment base of approximately 500 employees. Our Danville facility resumed production in June 2014 after being idled for 14 months. We will continue to adjust salaried and hourly labor personnel levels at all of our facilities to coincide with production requirements.

We refurbish and rebuild railcars and sell forged, cast and fabricated parts for all of the railcars we produce, as well as those manufactured by others. FCRS provides railcar repair and maintenance and inspections for all types of freight railcars. FCRS has repair and maintenance and inspection facilities in Grand Island, Nebraska and Hastings, Nebraska and services freight cars and unit coal trains utilizing key rail corridors in the Midwest and Western regions of the United States. As part of our strategic initiative to improve the contribution of the Services business to our results of operations, management evaluated the long-term profitability of each of our railcar maintenance and repair shops during the fourth quarter of 2013 and decided to close our underperforming maintenance and repair shop in Clinton. During the third quarter of 2014, those repair shop assets were sold to a strategic buyer.

We also lease freight cars through our JAIX Leasing Company subsidiary. As of December 31, 2014, the value of leased railcars (including inventory on lease and railcars available for lease) was $23.0 million.

Railcar deliveries totaled 7,102 units, consisting of 3,937 new railcars, 3,090 rebuilt railcars and 75 railcars leased, for the year ended December 31, 2014, compared to 3,821 units, consisting of 992 new railcars, 99 used railcars, 2,530 rebuilt railcars and 200 railcars leased, delivered in 2013. Our total backlog of firm orders for railcars increased by 7,965 railcars, from 6,826 railcars as of December 31, 2013 to 14,791 railcars as of December 31, 2014. Our primary customers are railroads, financial institutions and shippers.

We have two reportable segments, Manufacturing and Services. Our Manufacturing segment includes new railcar manufacturing, used railcar sales, railcar leasing and major railcar rebuilds. Our Services segment includes railcar repair and maintenance and parts sales. Corporate includes administrative activities and all other non-operating activity.

The North American railcar market is highly cyclical and the trends in the railcar industry are closely related to the overall level of economic activity. We expect the railroads, operating lessors and shippers to continue to evaluate freight demand for dry bulk commodities and containerized freight and to continue to repair, maintain and upgrade their fleets to maximize the productivity of their railcar equipment.

FINANCIAL STATEMENT PRESENTATION

Revenues

Our Manufacturing segment revenues are generated primarily from sales of the railcars that we manufacture. Our Manufacturing segment sales depend on industry demand for new railcars, which is driven by overall economic

 

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conditions and the demand for railcar transportation of various products, such as coal, steel products, minerals, cement, motor vehicles, forest products and agricultural commodities. Our Manufacturing segment sales are also affected by competitive market pressures that impact our market share, the prices for our railcars and by the types of railcars sold. Our Manufacturing segment revenues also include revenues from major railcar rebuilds and lease rental payments received with respect to railcars under operating leases. Our Services segment revenue sources include parts sales and revenues related to the maintenance and repair of railcars.

We generally manufacture railcars under firm orders from our customers. We recognize revenue, when (1) we complete the individual railcars, (2) the railcars are accepted by the customer following inspection, (3) the risk of any damage or other loss with respect to the railcars passes to the customer and (4) title to the railcars transfers to the customer. Deliveries include new and used cars sold, cars built and contracted under operating leases and rebuilt cars. We value used railcars received at their estimated fair market value. The variable purchase patterns of our customers and the timing of completion, delivery and customer acceptance of railcars may cause our revenues and income from operations to vary substantially each quarter, which will result in significant fluctuations in our quarterly results.

Cost of sales

Our cost of sales includes the cost of raw materials such as aluminum and steel, as well as the cost of finished railcar components, such as castings, wheels, truck components and couplers, and other specialty components. Our cost of sales also includes labor, utilities, freight, manufacturing depreciation, rent and other operating costs. Factors that have affected our cost of sales include the cost of steel and aluminum and the cost of railcar components, which have been impacted by the increase in industry demand. Although we continually strive to reduce manufacturing costs at our manufacturing facilities, recently our cost of sales has included production inefficiencies and idle capacity as we expand into new railcar markets and invest in diversifying our product portfolio. A portion of the contracts covering our backlog at December 31, 2014 are fixed-rate contracts. Therefore, if material costs were to increase, we will likely not be able to pass on these increased costs to our customers. We manage material price increases by locking in prices where possible.

Operating income (loss)

Operating income (loss) represents revenues less cost of sales, gain on sale of railcars available for lease, gain on sale of assets held for sale, selling, general and administrative expenses, and restructuring and impairment charges.

RESULTS OF OPERATIONS

Year Ended December 31, 2014 compared to Year Ended December 31, 2013

Revenues

Our consolidated revenues for the year ended December 31, 2014 were $598.5 million compared to $290.4 million for the year ended December 31, 2013. Manufacturing segment revenues for the year ended December 31, 2014 were $562.7 million compared to $253.8 million for the year ended December 31, 2013. The increase in Manufacturing segment revenues reflects the significant increase in the number of railcars delivered and product mix changes. Our Manufacturing segment delivered 7,102 units, consisting of 3,937 new railcars, 3,090 rebuilt railcars and 75 railcars leased, for the year ended December 31, 2014, compared to 3,821 units, consisting of 992 new railcars, 99 used railcars, 2,530 rebuilt railcars and 200 railcars leased, for the year ended December 31, 2013. Manufacturing segment revenues for the year ended December 31, 2014 included the sale of 274 leased railcars, of which 74 were delivered during 2014 and 200 were delivered in 2013. Services segment revenues for the year ended December 31, 2014 were $35.8 million compared to $36.6 million for the year ended December 31, 2013. The decrease in Services segment revenues for 2014 compared to 2013 reflects lower repair volumes, which were partially offset by higher parts sales. The severe winter weather during 2014 led to higher coal train utilization, which reduced the volume of coal cars released for maintenance and reduced the repair volumes through our repair shops and sales of repair parts.

Gross Profit

Our consolidated gross profit for the year ended December 31, 2014 was $42.3 million compared to $13.2 million for the year ended December 31, 2013, representing an increase of $29.1 million. The increase in our consolidated

 

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gross profit for the year ended December 31, 2014 compared to the year ended December 31, 2013 reflects an increase in gross profit from our Manufacturing segment of $30.8 million, which was partially offset by a decrease in gross profit from our Services segment of $1.1 million. The increase in gross profit for our Manufacturing segment reflects the significant increase in deliveries and lower production inefficiencies at our Shoals facility as 2013 included a significant amount of start-up costs to support backlog growth and product expansion. Costs associated with the continued ramp up of production volumes at our Shoals facility, carrying costs associated with our idled Danville facility and incremental costs associated with the restart of production at Danville totaled $6.5 million for the year ended December 31, 2014. Gross profit for our Manufacturing segment for the year ended December 31, 2014 was negatively impacted by multiple weather-related production shutdowns, supply disruptions and related inefficiencies during the first quarter of 2014 totaling $1.9 million. The strong industry backlog for railcars during 2014 has led to a tightening of the supply for certain railcar components, which, could significantly impact future production and gross profit for our Manufacturing segment if the tightening of supply continues. Gross profit for our Manufacturing segment for the year ended December 31, 2013 included start-up costs of our Shoals facility and carrying costs associated with our idled Danville facility totaling $9.5 million. Gross profit for our Manufacturing segment for the year ended December 31, 2013 also included a $1.7 million charge for projected costs in excess of selling price related to an order that was delivered in 2014. Customer lead times on this order required us to source key components from higher-priced suppliers in order to meet the customer’s delivery requirements. The decrease in gross profit for our Services segment for the year ended December 31, 2014 compared to the year ended December 31, 2013 reflects lower repair volumes and a less profitable mix of parts sales and repair services, partially offset by higher parts sales volumes. The severe winter weather during 2014 led to higher coal train utilization, which reduced the volume of coal cars released for maintenance and reduced the repair volumes through our repair shops and sales of repair parts. Our consolidated gross profit margin was 7.1% for the year ended December 31, 2014 compared to 4.6% for the year ended December 31, 2013.

Selling, General and Administrative Expenses

Consolidated selling, general and administrative expenses for the year ended December 31, 2014 were $35.3 million compared to $27.5 million for the year ended December 31, 2013, representing an increase of $7.8 million. Selling, general and administrative expenses for the year ended December 31, 2014 included increases in the provision for incentive compensation of $3.5 million, sales commissions of $0.5 million and legal costs of $0.3 million, which were partially offset by decreases in Shoals start-up costs. During the year ended December 31, 2013, we settled the Bral litigation (see note 16 to our consolidated financial statements), which resulted in a $3.9 million reversal of litigation reserves. Manufacturing segment selling, general and administrative expenses for the year ended December 31, 2014 were $11.0 million compared to $7.3 million for the year ended December 31, 2013. Services segment selling, general and administrative expenses for the year ended December 31, 2014 were $3.1 million compared to $3.8 million for the year ended December 31, 2013. Corporate selling, general and administrative expenses for the year ended December 31, 2014 were $21.1 million compared to $16.4 million for the year ended December 31, 2013, reflecting increases in the provision for incentive compensation and the non-cash pension settlement cost. Corporate selling, general and administrative expenses for the year ended December 31, 2013 included the $3.9 million reversal of litigation reserves and costs of $1.3 million related to the start-up of our Shoals facility.

Gain on Sale of Railcars Available for Lease

Gain on sale of railcars available for lease for the year ended December 31, 2014 was $1.4 million and represented the gain on sale of leased railcars with a net book value of $12.2 million. Gain on sale of railcars available for lease for the year ended December 31, 2013 was $0.6 million and represented the gain on sale of leased railcars with a net book value of $6.2 million.

Gain on Sale of Assets Held for Sale

In December 2013, we closed our underperforming maintenance and repair shop in Clinton, reduced the carrying values of the repair shop assets to their estimated fair market value, representing the estimated salvage values of building, equipment and rail at the facility and the estimated sales value of the associated land, and recorded restructuring and impairment charges of $1.7 million. During the first quarter of 2014 we classified the repair shop assets as held for sale. Sale of the repair shop assets to a strategic buyer during the third quarter of 2014 resulted in a gain of $1.1 million. There was no gain on sale of assets held for sale for the year ended December 31, 2013.

 

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Restructuring and Impairment Charges

There were no restructuring and impairment charges for the year ended December 31, 2014. During the fourth quarter of 2013, we recorded restructuring and impairment charges of $10.5 million, which consisted of non-cash charges of $7.6 million related to our Danville manufacturing facility, $1.6 million related to our closed railcar maintenance and repair shop in Clinton, Corporate severance charges of $1.1 million and other charges of $0.1 million. Substantially all of the severance payments were made during 2014.

Operating Income (Loss)

Our consolidated operating income for the year ended December 31, 2014 was $9.5 million compared to an operating loss of $24.1 million for the year ended December 31, 2013. Operating income for the Manufacturing segment was $32.2 million for the year ended December 31, 2014 compared to operating loss of $3.4 million for the year ended December 31, 2013. The increase in operating income for our Manufacturing segment reflects the significant increase in deliveries and lower production inefficiencies at our Shoals facility as 2013 included a significant amount of start-up costs to support backlog growth and product expansion. Costs associated with the continued ramp up of production volumes at our Shoals facility, carrying costs associated with our idled Danville facility and incremental costs associated with the restart of production at Danville totaled $6.5 million for the year ended December 31, 2014. Operating income for our Manufacturing segment for the year ended December 31, 2014 was negatively impacted by multiple weather-related production shutdowns, supply disruptions and related inefficiencies during the first quarter of 2014 totaling $1.9 million. The operating loss for our Manufacturing segment for the year ended December 31, 2013 included start-up costs of our Shoals facility and carrying costs associated with our idled Danville facility totaling $9.5 million. The operating loss for our Manufacturing segment for the year ended December 31, 2013 also included restructuring and impairment charges of $7.6 million and a $1.7 million charge for projected costs in excess of selling price related to an order that was delivered in 2014. Services segment operating income was $3.5 million for the year ended December 31, 2014 compared to $1.2 million for the year ended December 31, 2013. Services segment operating income for the year ended December 31, 2014 includes a $1.1 million gain on sale of a previously closed repair shop to a strategic buyer while Services segment operating income for the year ended December 31, 2013 was negatively impacted by restructuring and impairment charges of $1.7 million. Operating income for our Services segment for the year ended December 31, 2014 compared to the year ended December 31, 2013 also reflects lower repair volumes and a less profitable mix of parts sales and repair services, partially offset by higher parts sales volumes. The severe winter weather during 2014 led to higher coal train utilization, which reduced the volume of coal cars released for maintenance and reduced the repair volumes through our repair shops and sales of repair parts. Corporate costs were $26.1 million for the year ended December 31, 2014 compared to $21.9 million for the year ended December 31, 2013. The increase in Corporate costs reflects increases in the provision for incentive compensation and a non-cash pension settlement costs of $1.0 million during 2014. Corporate costs for the year ended December 31, 2013 included the $3.9 million reversal of litigation reserves, costs of $1.3 million related to the start-up of our Shoals facility and $1.6 million related to Corporate severance.

Interest Expense and Deferred Financing Costs

Interest expense and the amortization of deferred financing costs were $1.1 million for the year ended December 31, 2014 compared to $0.8 million for the year ended December 31, 2013. In addition to commitment fees on our revolving credit facility, letter of credit fees and amortization of deferred financing costs, results for 2014 and 2013 included non-cash imputed interest on a customer advance for leased railcars delivered for which revenue could not be recognized until all contingencies had been resolved.

Income Taxes

The income tax provision was $2.6 million for the year ended December 31, 2014 compared to an income tax benefit of $5.5 million for the year ended December 31, 2013. The effective tax rates for the years ended December 31, 2014 and 2013, were 30.3% and 22.3%, respectively. Our effective tax rate for the year ended December 31, 2014 was lower than the statutory U.S. federal income tax rate of 35% primarily due to the 9.4% benefit of a research and development tax credit and the 2.4% benefit due to changes in the valuation allowance, which were partially offset by a state tax provision based on a 5.8% blended state tax rate and the 1.3% provision for changes in uncertain tax positions. The addition of our Shoals facility in 2013 changed the mix of projected income from states in which we operate, resulting in changes in our estimated state tax apportionment and effective state tax rates. The income tax benefit for the year ended December 31, 2013 included a provision of $2.2 million resulting from applying these changes in effective state tax rates on our deferred tax balances. Additionally, projected taxable

 

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income in certain states in which we operate may not be sufficient to realize the full value of net operating loss carryforwards. As a result, the income tax benefit for the year ended December 31, 2013 also included the recognition of a valuation allowance of $2.3 million against deferred tax assets related to net operating loss carryforwards in certain states in which we operate.

Net Income (Loss)

As a result of the foregoing, net income was $5.9 million for the year ended December 31, 2014 compared to a net loss of $19.3 million for the year ended December 31, 2013. For the year ended December 31, 2014, our basic and diluted net income per share was $0.49 on basic and diluted shares outstanding of 12,001,587 and 12,103,520, respectively. For the year ended December 31, 2013, our basic and diluted net loss per share was $1.61 on basic and diluted shares outstanding of 11,954,238.

Year Ended December 31, 2013 compared to Year Ended December 31, 2012

Revenues

Our consolidated revenues for the year ended December 31, 2013 were $290.4 million compared to $677.4 million for the year ended December 31, 2012. Manufacturing segment revenues for the year ended December 31, 2013 were $253.8 million compared to $644.0 million for the year ended December 31, 2012. The decrease in Manufacturing segment revenues for 2013 compared to 2012 reflects significantly fewer railcars delivered and a greater number of lower revenue per car rebuilt railcars. Our Manufacturing segment delivered 3,821 units, consisting of 992 new railcars, 99 used railcars, 2,530 rebuilt railcars and 200 leased railcars, for the year ended December 31, 2013, compared to 8,325 units, consisting of 5,487 new railcars, 441 used railcars, 1,400 rebuilt railcars and 997 leased railcars, for the year ended December 31, 2012. Services segment revenues for the year ended December 31, 2013 were $36.6 million compared to $33.4 million for the year ended December 31, 2012. The increase in Services segment revenues for 2013 compared to 2012 reflects higher parts sales revenue and higher repair volumes.

Gross Profit

Our consolidated gross profit for the year ended December 31, 2013 was $13.2 million compared to $65.0 million for the year ended December 31, 2012, representing a decrease of $51.8 million. The decrease in our consolidated gross profit for the year ended December 31, 2013 compared to the year ended December 31, 2012 reflects a decrease in gross profit from our Manufacturing segment of $52.7 million, which was partially offset by an increase in gross profit from our Services segment of $0.6 million. The decrease in gross profit for our Manufacturing segment for the year ended December 31, 2013 compared to the year ended December 31, 2012 reflects the significant decrease in deliveries and $9.5 million related to under-absorption of overhead costs due to low start-up volumes and costs associated with ramping up the labor force at our Shoals facility and the carrying costs associated with our idled Danville facility during 2013. Gross profit for our Manufacturing segment for the year ended December 31, 2013 included a $1.7 million charge for projected costs in excess of selling price related to an order delivered in 2014. Customer lead times on this order required us to source key components from higher-priced suppliers in order to meet the customer’s delivery requirements. Manufacturing segment gross profit for the year ended December 31, 2013 was also negatively impacted by production inefficiencies and higher operating costs. The increase in gross profit for our Services segment for the year ended December 31, 2013 compared to the year ended December 31, 2012 reflects higher parts sales and an increase in higher-margin program repairs. Our consolidated gross margin rate was 4.6% for the year ended December 31, 2013 compared to 9.6% for the year ended December 31, 2012.

Selling, General and Administrative Expenses

Selling, general and administrative expenses for the year ended December 31, 2013 were $27.5 million compared to $32.7 million for the year ended December 31, 2012, representing a decrease of $5.2 million, or 16%. The decrease reflects a decrease in our Bral litigation reserve of $3.9 million, decreases in incentive compensation of $3.6 million and a decrease in consulting costs of $2.2 million, which were partially offset by increases in salaries of $1.6 million, Shoals start-up costs of $1.3 million, legal fees of $0.9 million relating to the postemployment benefit plan dispute and increases in stock compensation of $0.6 million. Manufacturing segment selling, general and administrative expenses were $7.3 million for the year ended December 31, 2013 compared to $6.4 million for the year ended December 31, 2012. Services segment selling, general and administrative expenses were $3.8 million

 

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for the year ended December 31, 2013 compared to $3.9 million for the year ended December 31, 2012. Corporate selling, general and administrative expenses for the year ended December 31, 2013 were $16.4 million compared to $22.4 million for the year ended December 31, 2012 reflecting the reduction in the litigation reserve and decreases in incentive compensation and consulting costs, which were partially offset by higher legal fees related to the postemployment benefit plan dispute. Corporate selling, general and administrative expenses for the year ended December 31, 2013 included $1.3 million related to the start-up of our Shoals facility.

Gain on Sale of Railcars Available for Lease

Gain on sale of railcars available for lease for the year ended December 31, 2013 was $0.6 million and represented the gain on sale of leased railcars with a net book value of $6.2 million. Gain on sale of railcars available for lease for the year ended December 31, 2012 was $1.0 million and represented the gain on sale of leased railcars with a net book value of $10.4 million.

Restructuring and Impairment Charges

Restructuring and impairment charges were $10.5 million for the year ended December 31, 2013 and consisted of the items described below. There were no restructuring and impairment charges for the year ended December 31, 2012.

We tested the long-lived assets at our Danville manufacturing facility for impairment as of December 31, 2013 because we were unable to predict when the Danville facility would resume operations based on our backlog for coal car orders and the soft industry outlook. The carrying values of property, plant and equipment at the Danville facility were reduced to their estimated fair market values, resulting in non-cash impairment charges of $7.6 million for the year ended December 31, 2013.

As part of our strategic initiative to improve the contribution of our Services business to our results of operations, we evaluated the long-term profitability of each of our railcar maintenance and repair shops during the fourth quarter of 2013 and decided to close our underperforming maintenance and repair shop in Clinton. As a result of this decision, we evaluated the recoverability of its long-lived assets and reduced the carrying values of property, plant and equipment to their estimated fair market values, resulting in non-cash impairment charges of $1.5 million for the year ended December 31, 2013. We also recorded a non-cash impairment charge of $0.1 million related to customer intangibles and recorded other charges of $0.1 million related to the Clinton closure during the fourth quarter of 2013.

We revised our Corporate management reporting structure as part of the leadership transition following the retirement of our previous President and Chief Executive Officer during the fourth quarter of 2013, resulting in severance charges of $1.1 million being recorded during the fourth quarter of 2013.

Operating Income (Loss)

Our consolidated operating loss for the year ended December 31, 2013 was $24.1 million compared to operating income of $33.2 million for the year ended December 31, 2012. Operating loss for the Manufacturing segment was $3.4 million for the year ended December 31, 2013 compared to operating income of $58.3 million for the year ended December 31, 2012, reflecting the significant decrease in deliveries, $9.5 million related to the start-up of the Shoals facility and the carrying costs associated with our idled Danville facility and non-cash fixed asset impairment charges of $7.6 million for our idled Danville facility. Our Manufacturing segment operating loss for the year ended December 31, 2013 also included a $1.7 million charge for projected costs in excess of selling price related to an order delivered in 2014. Manufacturing segment operating loss for the year ended December 31, 2013 was also impacted by production inefficiencies and higher operating costs. Services segment operating income was $1.2 million for the year ended December 31, 2013 compared to $2.1 million for the year ended December 31, 2012, primarily as a result of the non-cash impairment charges of $1.6 million related to our closed Clinton maintenance and repair shop. Corporate costs were $21.9 million for the year ended December 31, 2013 compared to $27.2 million for the year ended December 31, 2012. The decrease in Corporate costs was primarily due to the reduction in the litigation reserve and decreases in incentive compensation and consulting costs, which were partially offset by higher legal fees relating to the postemployment benefit plan dispute. Corporate costs for the year ended December 31, 2013 included $1.3 million related to the start-up of our Shoals facility and $1.6 million related to Corporate severance.

 

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Interest Expense and Deferred Financing Costs

Interest expense and the amortization of deferred financing costs were $0.8 million for the year ended December 31, 2013 compared to $0.4 million for the year ended December 31, 2012. In addition to commitment fees on our revolving credit facility, letter of credit fees and amortization of deferred financing costs, 2013 results included non-cash imputed interest on a customer advance for leased railcars delivered for which revenue could not be recognized until all contingencies had been resolved.

Income Taxes

The income tax benefit was $5.5 million for the year ended December 31, 2013 compared to an income tax provision of $13.8 million for the year ended December 31, 2012. The effective tax rates for the years ended December 31, 2013 and 2012, were 22.3% and 41.9%, respectively. The addition of our Shoals facility changed the mix of projected income from states in which we operate, resulting in changes in our estimated state tax apportionment and effective state tax rates. The income tax benefit for the year ended December 31, 2013 included a provision of $2.2 million resulting from applying these changes in effective state tax rates on our deferred tax balances. Additionally, projected taxable income in certain states in which we operate may not be sufficient to realize the full value of net operating loss carryforwards. As a result, the income tax benefit for the year ended December 31, 2013 also included the recognition of a valuation allowance of $2.3 million against deferred tax assets related to net operating loss carryforwards in certain states in which we operate. The effective tax rate for the year ended December 31, 2012 was higher than the statutory U.S. federal income tax rate of 35% primarily due to the state tax provision based on a 5.4% blended state tax rate and a provision of $1.4 million resulting from applying changes in state tax rates on our deferred tax balances, which was partially offset by a $0.6 million benefit for tax-deductible goodwill. The changes in state tax rates resulted from changes in our estimated state tax apportionment and the expected timing of our utilization of state net operating loss carryforwards.

Net Income (Loss)

As a result of the foregoing, net loss attributable to FreightCar America was $19.3 million for the year ended December 31, 2013 compared to net income of $19.1 million for the year ended December 31, 2012. For 2013, our basic and diluted net loss per share were both $1.61, on basic and diluted shares outstanding of 11,954,238. For 2012, our basic and diluted net income per share were both $1.60, on basic and diluted shares outstanding of 11,932,926 and 11,969,367, respectively.

LIQUIDITY AND CAPITAL RESOURCES

Our primary sources of liquidity for the years ended December 31, 2014 and 2013, were our cash provided by operations, cash and cash equivalent balances on hand, our securities held to maturity and our revolving credit facilities.

We entered into a $50.0 million senior secured revolving credit facility (the “Revolving Credit Facility”) pursuant to a Credit Agreement dated as of July 26, 2013 (the “Credit Agreement”) by and among us and certain of our subsidiaries, as borrowers, and Bank of America, N.A., as lender. The Revolving Credit Facility can be used for general corporate purposes, including working capital. As of December 31, 2014 and 2013, we had no borrowings under the Revolving Credit Facility. The Credit Facility Agreement also contains a sub-facility for letters of credit not to exceed the lesser of $30.0 million and the amount of the senior secured revolving credit facility at such time. As of December 31, 2014 and 2013, we had $6.0 million and $4.6 million, respectively, in outstanding letters of credit under the Revolving Credit Facility and therefore had $44.0 million and $45.4 million, respectively, available for borrowing under the Revolving Credit Facility. The Credit Agreement has a term ending on July 26, 2016 and revolving loans outstanding thereunder will bear interest at a rate of LIBOR plus an applicable margin of 1.50% or at a base rate, as selected by us. Base rate loans will bear interest at the highest of (a) the federal funds rate plus 0.50%, (b) the prime rate or (c) LIBOR plus 1.00%. We are required to pay a non-utilization fee of between 0.10% and 0.30% on the unused portion of the revolving loan commitment depending on our quarterly average balance of unrestricted cash and our consolidated leverage ratio. Borrowings under the Revolving Credit Facility are secured by a first priority perfected security interest in substantially all of our and our subsidiaries’ assets excluding railcars held by our railcar leasing subsidiary, JAIX. We also have pledged all of the equity interests in our direct and indirect domestic subsidiaries as security for the Revolving Credit Facility. The Credit Agreement has both affirmative and negative covenants, including, without limitation, a covenant requiring a minimum consolidated net

 

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liquidity of $35.0 million and limitations on indebtedness, liens and investments. The Credit Agreement also provides for customary events of default.

Our restricted cash and restricted certificates of deposit balance was $6.0 million as of December 31, 2014 and $7.8 million as of December 31, 2013, and consisted of cash and certificates of deposit used to collateralize standby letters of credit with respect to performance guarantees and to support our worker’s compensation insurance claims. The decrease in restricted cash balances as of December 31, 2014 compared to December 31, 2013 was a result of decreases in standby letters of credit with respect to performance guarantees and our corresponding obligation to collateralize them. The standby letters of credit outstanding as of December 31, 2014 are scheduled to expire at various dates through October 1, 2018. We expect to establish restricted cash balances and restricted certificates of deposit in future periods to minimize bank fees related to standby letters of credit.

As of December 31, 2014, the value of leased railcars (including inventory on lease and railcars available for lease) was $23.0 million. We continue to offer railcars for lease to certain customers and pursue opportunities to sell leased railcars in our portfolio.

Based on our current level of operations and known changes in planned volume based on our backlog, we believe that our operating cash flows, our marketable securities and our cash balances, together with amounts available under our revolving credit facility, will be sufficient to meet our expected liquidity needs. Our long-term liquidity is contingent upon future operating performance and our ability to continue to meet financial covenants under our revolving credit facility and any other indebtedness. We may also require additional capital in the future to fund working capital as demand for railcars increases, payments for contractual obligations, organic growth opportunities, including new plant and equipment and development of railcars, joint ventures, international expansion and acquisitions, and these capital requirements could be substantial.

Our long-term liquidity needs also depend to a significant extent on our obligations related to our pension and welfare benefit plans. We provide pension and retiree welfare benefits to certain salaried and hourly employees upon their retirement. Benefits under our pension plans are now frozen and will not be impacted by increases due to future service. The most significant assumptions used in determining our net periodic benefit costs are the discount rate and mortality estimates used on our pension and postretirement welfare obligations and expected return on pension plan assets. As of December 31, 2014, our benefit obligation under our defined benefit pension plans and our postretirement benefit plan was $58.0 million and $73.9 million, respectively, which exceeded the fair value of plan assets by $7.2 million and $73.9 million, respectively. We made contributions of $0.2 million to our defined benefit pension plans during 2014. As disclosed in Note 13 to the consolidated financial statements, we do not expect to make any contributions to our defined benefit pension plans in 2015. The Pension Protection Act of 2006 provides for changes to the method of valuing pension plan assets and liabilities for funding purposes as well as minimum funding levels. Our defined benefit pension plans are in compliance with the minimum funding levels established in the Pension Protection Act. Funding levels will be affected by future contributions, investment returns on plan assets, growth in plan liabilities, interest rates and mortality estimates. Assuming that the plans are fully funded as that term is defined in the Pension Protection Act, we will be required to fund the ongoing growth in plan liabilities on an annual basis.

During the fourth quarter of 2014, we offered certain of our former employees the option to receive a lump-sum pension payment or annuity in order to satisfy in full our future pension liabilities to such former employees, with payments beginning in the fourth quarter of 2014. Payments of $3.3 million to eligible former employees who elected to participate in the offer were paid in December 2014 from existing pension plan assets and constituted a complete settlement of our pension liabilities with respect to such former employees. The discount rates and actuarial assumptions used to calculate the payouts were determined according to federal regulations and approximated those used to calculate our pension obligation for financial reporting purposes. A non-cash settlement charge of $1.0 million was recognized in the fourth quarter of 2014 in connection with the settlement payments. This charge resulted from the recognition in earnings of a portion of the losses recorded in accumulated other comprehensive loss based on the portion of the obligation settled.

We made payments to our postretirement benefit plan of $0.4 million related to salaried participants during 2014. A substantial portion of our postretirement benefit plan obligation relates to an expired settlement agreement with the union representing employees at the Company’s and its predecessors’ Johnstown manufacturing facilities. The terms of the 2005 Settlement Agreement required us to pay until November 30, 2012 certain monthly amounts toward the cost of retiree health care coverage. We engaged in voluntary negotiations for two years in an effort to reach a consensual agreement related to the expired 2005 Settlement Agreement but no agreements were reached.

 

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We terminated, effective November 1, 2013, our contributions for medical coverage and life insurance benefits to affected retirees and are seeking declaratory relief to confirm our rights under ERISA, to reduce or terminate retiree medical coverage and life insurance benefits pursuant to the plans that were the subject of the 2005 Settlement Agreement. On July 9, 2013, the union and certain retiree defendants filed suit in the United States District Court for the Western District of Pennsylvania regarding the same dispute (see Note 16 to the consolidated financial statements). The outcome of the pending litigation and the impact on our postretirement benefit plan obligation cannot be determined at this time. Our postretirement benefit plan obligation could significantly increase or decrease as a result of the litigation or if the parties agree to an alternative settlement agreement. We anticipate funding pension plan contributions and postretirement benefit plan payments with cash from operations and available cash.

Based upon our operating performance, capital requirements and obligations under our pension and welfare benefit plans, we may, from time to time, be required to raise funds through additional offerings of our common stock and through long-term borrowings. There can be no assurance that long-term debt or equity offerings, if needed, will be available on terms attractive to us, or at all. Furthermore, any additional equity financing may be dilutive to stockholders and debt financing, if available, may involve restrictive covenants. Our failure to raise capital if and when needed could have a material adverse effect on our results of operations and financial condition.

Contractual Obligations

The following table summarizes our contractual obligations as of December 31, 2014, and the effect that these obligations would be expected to have on our liquidity and cash flow in future periods:

 

     Payments Due by Period
(In thousands)
 

Contractual Obligations

   Total      1 Year      2-3
Years
     4-5
Years
     After
5 Years
 

Operating leases

   $ 78,895       $ 10,342       $ 19,934       $ 19,809       $ 28,810   

Material and component purchases

     32,379         14,440         17,939         —           —    
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total

$ 111,274    $ 24,782    $ 37,873    $ 19,809    $ 28,810   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Material and component purchases consist of non-cancelable agreements with suppliers to purchase materials used in the manufacturing process. The estimated amounts above may vary based on the actual quantities and price.

The above table excludes $3.8 million related to a reserve for unrecognized tax benefits and accrued interest and penalties at December 31, 2014 because the timing of the payout of these amounts cannot be determined. We are also required to make minimum contributions to our pension plans and postretirement welfare plans as described above.

We are a party to letter agreements regarding terms of employment with our President and Chief Executive Officer, Vice President, Finance, Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer, General Counsel and Corporate Secretary and an employment agreement with our Senior Vice President, Human Resources. See Item 11. “Executive Compensation.”

Cash Flows

The following table summarizes our net cash provided by or used in operating activities, investing activities and financing activities for the years ended December 31, 2014, 2013 and 2012:

 

                      
(Amounts in thousands)    2014      2013      2012  

Net cash (used in) provided by:

        

Operating activities

   $ (6,026    $ 32,243       $ 53,002   

Investing activities

     (3,206      (619      (53,425

Financing activities

     (22,742      15,373         (2,938
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total

$ (31,974 $ 46,997    $ (3,361
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

 

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Operating Activities. Our net cash provided by or used in operating activities reflects net income or loss adjusted for non-cash charges and changes in operating assets and liabilities. Cash flows from operating activities are affected by several factors, including fluctuations in business volume, contract terms for billings and collections, the timing of collections on our contract receivables, processing of bi-weekly payroll and associated taxes, and payments to our suppliers. As some of our customers accept delivery of new railcars in train-set quantities, variations in our sales lead to significant fluctuations in our operating profits and cash from operating activities. We do not usually experience business credit issues, although a payment may be delayed pending completion of closing documentation.

Our net cash used in operating activities for the year ended December 31, 2014 was $6.0 million compared to net cash provided by operating activities of $32.2 million for the year ended December 31, 2013. Our net cash used in operating activities for the year ended December 31, 2014 included decreases in customer deposits which were partially offset by changes in working capital and cash from operations. Our net cash provided by operating activities for the year ended December 31, 2013 included a customer deposit of $89.3 million for railcars to be delivered in 2014, which was partially offset by changes in working capital and additions to the lease fleet. Our net cash provided by operating activities for the year ended December 31, 2012 primarily included net income from operations and changes in working capital.

Investing Activities. Net cash used in investing activities for the year ended December 31, 2014 was $3.2 million compared to net cash used in investing activities of $0.6 million for the year ended December 31, 2013. Net cash used in investing activities for the year ended December 31, 2014 included purchases of securities held to maturity of $9.0 million (net of proceeds from redemptions) and purchases of property, plant and equipment of $11.8 million (including purchases of equipment of $9.4 million for our Shoals facility), which were partially offset by proceeds from sale of property, plant and equipment, assets held for sale and railcars available for lease totaling $15.8 million. Net cash used in investing activities for the year ended December 31, 2014 also included restricted cash withdrawals (net of deposits and purchases of restricted certificates of deposit) of $1.8 million related to decreases in collateralization obligations with respect to letters of credit for performance guarantees.

Net cash used in investing activities for the year ended December 31, 2013 included purchases of property plant and equipment of $17.3 million, which were partially offset by maturities of securities (net of purchases) of $3.0 million, changes in restricted cash and restricted certificates of deposit of $6.9 million related to decreases in collateralization obligations with respect to letters of credit for performance guarantees and proceeds from the sale of railcars available for lease of $6.7 million.

Net cash used in investing activities for the year ended December 31, 2012 included the purchase of securities of $42.0 million, restricted cash deposits for collateralization of letters of credit of $12.9 million and purchases of property, plant and equipment of $9.1 million, which were partially offset by proceeds from the sale of railcars available for lease of $10.5 million.

Financing Activities. Net cash used in financing activities for the year ended December 31, 2014 was $22.7 million compared to net cash provided by financing activities of $15.4 million for the year ended December 31, 2013. Net cash used in financing activities for the year ended December 31, 2014 included the net decrease in a customer advance for production of leased railcars delivered during 2013 for which revenue could not be recognized until all contingencies had been resolved in 2014. Net cash provided by financing activities for the year ended December 31, 2013 included proceeds of a $19.4 million customer advance for production of leased railcars delivered, which was partially offset by advance repayments of $0.9 million. Financing activities for each of the years ended December 31, 2014, 2013 and 2012, included $2.9 million of cash dividends paid to our stockholders.

Capital Expenditures

Our capital expenditures were $11.8 million for the year ended December 31, 2014 compared to $17.3 million for the year ended December 31, 2013. Capital expenditures for 2014 and 2013 were primarily purchases of equipment for our Shoals facility, which delivered its first railcars during the fourth quarter of 2013 and continued to ramp up production during 2014. During the fourth quarter of 2014, we announced a $10 million expansion of our Shoals facility to add a production line to meet growing demand for our new types of railcars. With the $10 million additional capital investment, our total investment in the Shoals facility will be approximately $33 million. When the new production line becomes fully operational in the second quarter of 2015, the Shoals facility will have the capacity to build approximately 6,000 to 8,000 railcars per year.

 

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Excluding unforeseen expenditures, management expects that total capital expenditures will be approximately $15 million for 2015, including capital expenditures for our Shoals facility.

CRITICAL ACCOUNTING POLICIES

We prepare our consolidated financial statements in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States. The preparation of our financial statements requires us 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 sales and expenses during the reporting period. Significant estimates include long-lived assets, goodwill, pension and postretirement benefit assumptions, the valuation reserve on net deferred tax assets, warranty accrual and contingencies and litigation. Actual results could differ from those estimates.

Our critical accounting policies include the following:

Long-lived assets

We evaluate long-lived assets, including property, plant and equipment, under the provisions of ASC 360, Property, Plant and Equipment, which addresses financial accounting and reporting for the impairment of long-lived assets and for long-lived assets to be disposed of. For assets to be held or used, we group a long-lived asset or assets with other assets and liabilities at the lowest level for which identifiable cash flows are largely independent of the cash flows of other assets and liabilities. An impairment loss for an asset group reduces only the carrying amounts of a long-lived asset or assets of the group being evaluated. Our estimates of future cash flows used to test the recoverability of a long-lived asset group include only the future cash flows that are directly associated with and that are expected to arise as a direct result of the use and eventual disposition of the asset group. Our future cash flow estimates exclude interest charges.

We test long-lived assets for recoverability whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying amount of an asset may not be recoverable. These changes in circumstances may include a significant decrease in the market price of an asset group, a significant adverse change in the manner in or extent to which an asset group is used, a current year operating loss combined with a history of operating losses or a current expectation that, more likely than not, a long-lived asset group will be sold or otherwise disposed of significantly before the end of its previously estimated useful life. If indicators of impairment are present, we then determine if the carrying value of the asset group is recoverable by comparing the carrying value of the asset group to total undiscounted future cash flows of the asset group. If the carrying value of the asset group is not recoverable, an impairment loss is measured based on the excess of the carrying amount of asset group over the estimated fair value of the asset group.

Based on our backlog for coal car orders as of December 31, 2013 and the soft industry outlook, we were unable to predict when our Danville manufacturing facility would resume operations and therefore we tested the long-lived assets at our Danville facility for impairment as of December 31, 2013. The carrying values of property, plant and equipment at the Danville facility were reduced to their estimated fair market values, resulting in a pre-tax impairment charge of $7.6 million for the year ended December 31, 2013. Fair market values were estimated using the market approach for items in which there is an active secondary market where recent sales of comparable assets exist. The market approach establishes value through analysis of recent sales of comparable property. An analysis is made of the differences between the comparable properties and the subject property, and the sales prices are correspondingly adjusted to arrive at indications of the subject property’s value. In instances where market data was available but deemed too incomplete to apply a complete market approach, the market relationship data available was used to adjust the cost approach analysis. In instances where market data was unavailable the cost approach analysis was used. The cost approach recognizes that a prudent investor would not ordinarily pay more for an asset than the cost to replace it new. The first step is to estimate the reproduction/replacement cost new of an asset using current materials, prices and labor. The cost new is then reduced by the amount of depreciation resulting from physical deterioration, functional obsolescence and economic/external obsolescence that are inherent in the asset. The resulting depreciated replacement cost is an indication of the fair value of an asset providing all elements of depreciation are addressed.

Due to management’s decision to close the Clinton maintenance and repair shop, we also evaluated the recoverability of its long-lived assets and as a result reduced the carrying values of property, plant and equipment to their estimated fair market values, resulting in a pre-tax charge of $1.5 million for the year ended December 31,

 

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2013. The estimated fair market values represent estimated salvage values of buildings, equipment and rail at the facility and the estimated sales value for the associated land.

We did not perform an impairment analysis of long-lived assets during 2014 or 2012 because we did not identify any impairment indicators that we believe would have required long-lived assets at our facilities to be tested for recoverability during 2014 or 2012.

Impairment of goodwill

We assess the carrying value of goodwill for impairment as required by ASC 350, Intangibles – Goodwill and Other, annually or more frequently whenever events occur and circumstances change indicating potential impairment. During our annual goodwill impairment assessments as of August 1, 2014 and 2013, management estimated the value of our reporting units that carry goodwill using the income approach which indicates the fair value of a business based on the present value of the cash flows that the business can be expected to generate in the future and the market approach, which uses the price at which shares of similar companies are exchanged to estimate the fair value of a company’s equity. Within the income approach, the discounted cash flow method was used, and within the market approach, the guideline company method was used. Fair value based on the income approach was given a 60% weighting and fair value based on the market approach was given a 40% weighting. During our annual goodwill impairment assessment for 2012, management estimated the value of our reporting units using the discounted cash flow method.

Management determined that there are three reporting units for the purposes of testing goodwill: Manufacturing, Repairs and Maintenance and Parts. For each reporting unit with goodwill (Manufacturing with $21.5 million and Repairs and Maintenance with $0.6 million as of August 1, 2014), we concluded that the estimated fair value of each reporting unit’s net assets exceeded the carrying value as of the dates of our impairment tests for 2014, 2013 and 2012. Additional steps, including an allocation of the estimated fair value to our assets and liabilities, would be necessary to determine the amount, if any, of goodwill impairment if the fair value of our net assets were less than their carrying value.

The discounted cash flow method involves management making estimates with respect to a variety of factors that will significantly impact the future performance of the business, including:

 

    future railcar volume projections based on an industry-specific outlook for railcar demand;

 

    estimated margins on railcar sales and maintenance and repair services;

 

    estimated growth rate for selling, general and administrative costs;

 

    future effective tax rate for our Company; and

 

    weighted-average cost of capital (“WACC”) used to discount future performance of our Company.

Because these estimates form a basis for the determination of whether or not an impairment charge should be recorded, these estimates are considered to be critical accounting estimates.

We use industry data to estimate volume projections in our discounted cash flow method. We believe that this independent industry data is the best indicator of expected future performance assuming that we maintain a consistent market share, which management believes is supportable based on historical performance. Our estimated margins used in the discounted cash flow method are based primarily on historical margins. Management estimated a WACC of 14% for our August 1, 2014 goodwill impairment valuation analyses for our Manufacturing reporting unit and for our Repair and Maintenance reporting unit.

In addition to estimating the fair value of the net assets of our Manufacturing reporting unit using the discounted cash flow method in the base case scenario, we also estimated the fair value of the net assets in our Manufacturing reporting unit using the discounted cash flow method for alternate scenarios, including the impact of a decrease in earnings before income tax margin of one hundred basis points or the impact of a one hundred basis point increase in the WACC used in the discounted cash flow method. We compared the estimated fair value of the net assets in our Manufacturing reporting unit using the discounted cash flow method in the base case scenario to the alternate scenarios. Each of these alternate scenarios reduced the estimated fair value of the net assets in our Manufacturing

 

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reporting unit using the discounted cash flow method compared to the estimated fair value of the net assets in our Manufacturing

reporting unit in the base case. However, in all scenarios, the estimated fair value of the net assets in our Manufacturing reporting unit exceeded the carrying value.

In addition to estimating the fair value of the net assets of our Repair and Maintenance reporting unit using the discounted cash flow method in the base case scenario, we also estimated the fair value of the net assets in our Repair and Maintenance reporting unit using the discounted cash flow method for an alternate scenario that included the impact of a one hundred basis point increase in the WACC used in the discounted cash flow method. We compared the estimated fair value of the net assets in our Repair and Maintenance reporting unit using the discounted cash flow method in the base case scenario to the alternate scenario. The alternate scenario reduced the estimated fair value of the net assets in our Repair and Maintenance reporting unit using the discounted cash flow method compared to the estimated fair value of the net assets in our Repair and Maintenance reporting unit in the base case. However, in the alternate scenario, the estimated fair value of the net assets in our Repair and Maintenance reporting unit exceeded the carrying value.

The guideline company method values a business by comparing the subject company to similar publicly traded companies. The application of the guideline company method consists of several steps including:

 

    identifying the most similar publicly traded companies to the reporting unit;

 

    reviewing financial and supplemental data, such as market prices and business descriptions for the selected companies;

 

    calculating valuation multiples for the selected publicly traded guideline companies;

 

    performing comparative analysis to select valuation multiples and then applying them to the financial data of the reporting unit to arrive at a preliminary indication of the value of the reporting units invested capital on a marketable, minority basis;

 

    applying a control premium to the indicated equity values on a marketable, minority basis to arrive at the indicated value of common equity on a marketable, controlling basis; and

 

    where appropriate, making adjustments to add the appropriate balances related to cash and short-term investments, excess working capital and the benefits of net operating loss carryforwards.

Pensions and postretirement benefits

We provide pension and retiree welfare benefits to certain salaried and hourly employees upon their retirement. The most significant assumptions used in determining our net periodic benefit costs are the expected return on pension plan assets and the discount rate and mortality estimates used to calculate the present value of our pension and postretirement welfare plan liabilities.

In 2014, we assumed that the expected long-term rate of return on pension plan assets on a plan by plan basis would range from 5.99% to 6.77%. As permitted under ASC 715, the assumed long-term rate of return on assets is applied to a calculated value of plan assets, which recognizes changes in the fair value of plan assets in a systematic manner over five years. This produces the expected return on plan assets that is included in our net periodic benefit cost. The difference between this expected return and the actual return on plan assets is deferred. The net deferral of past asset gains (losses) affects the calculated value of plan assets and, ultimately, future net periodic benefit cost. We review the expected return on plan assets annually and would revise it if conditions should warrant. A change of one hundred basis points in the expected long-term rate of return on plan assets would have the following effect:

 

     1% Increase      1% Decrease  
     (in thousands)  

Effect on net periodic benefit cost

   $ (535    $ 535   

At the end of each year, we determine the discount rate to be used to calculate the present value of our pension and postretirement welfare plan liabilities. The discount rate is an estimate of the current interest rate at which our pension liabilities could be effectively settled at the end of the year. In estimating this rate, we look to rates of return on high-quality, fixed-income investments that receive one of the two highest ratings given by a recognized ratings

 

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agency. At December 31, 2014, we determined this rate on our postretirement welfare plan to be 4.03%, a decrease of 0.72% from the 4.75% rate used at December 31, 2013. At December 31, 2014, we determined this rate on our pension plans on a plan by plan basis with results ranging from 4.03% to 4.17%. A change of one hundred basis points in the discount rate would have the following effect:

 

     1% Increase      1% Decrease  
     (in thousands)  

Effect on net periodic benefit cost

   $ 119       $ (145

In October 2014, the Society of Actuaries published updated mortality tables for U.S. plans (RP-2014) and an updated improvement scale (MP-2014), which both reflect improved longevity. We have historically utilized the Society of Actuaries’ published mortality data in our plan assumptions. Accordingly, we adopted RP-2014 and MP-2014 for purposes of measuring our pension and postretirement obligations at December 31, 2014.

For the years ended December 31, 2014, 2013 and 2012, we recognized consolidated pre-tax pension cost of $0.2 million, $(0.5) and $(0.04) million, respectively. We currently do not expect to make any contributions to our pension plans during 2015. However, we may elect to adjust the level of contributions based on a number of factors, including performance of pension investments and changes in interest rates. The Pension Protection Act of 2006 provided for changes to the method of valuing pension plan assets and liabilities for funding purposes as well as requiring minimum funding levels. Our defined benefit pension plans are in compliance with minimum funding levels established in the Pension Protection Act. Funding levels will be affected by future contributions, investment returns on plan assets, growth in plan liabilities and interest rates. Once the plan is Fully Funded as that term is defined within the Pension Protection Act, we will be required to fund the ongoing growth in plan liabilities on an annual basis. We anticipate funding pension contributions with cash from operations.

For the years ended December 31, 2014, 2013 and 2012, we recognized a consolidated pre-tax postretirement welfare benefit cost of $3.7 million, $3.6 million and $3.7 million, respectively.

A substantial portion of our postretirement benefit plan obligation relates to an expired settlement agreement with the union representing employees at the Company’s and its predecessors’ Johnstown manufacturing facilities. The terms of that settlement agreement (the “2005 Settlement Agreement”) required us to pay until November 30, 2012 certain monthly amounts toward the cost of retiree health care coverage. We engaged in voluntary negotiations for two years in an effort to reach a consensual agreement related to the expired 2005 Settlement Agreement but no agreements were reached. We terminated, effective November 1, 2013, our contributions for medical coverage and life insurance benefits to affected retirees and are seeking declaratory relief to confirm our rights under ERISA to reduce or terminate retiree medical coverage and life insurance benefits pursuant to the plans that were the subject of the 2005 Settlement Agreement. On July 9, 2013, the union and certain retiree defendants filed suit in the United States District Court for the Western District of Pennsylvania regarding the same dispute (see Note 16 to the consolidated financial statements). The outcome of the pending litigation and the impact on our postretirement benefit plan obligation cannot be determined at this time. Our postretirement benefit plan obligation could significantly increase or decrease as a result of the litigation or if the parties agree to an alternative settlement agreement.

Income taxes

We account for income taxes under the asset and liability method prescribed by ASC 740, Income Taxes. We provide for deferred income taxes based on differences between the book and tax bases of our assets and liabilities and for items that are reported for financial statement purposes in periods different from those for income tax reporting purposes. The deferred tax liability or asset amounts are based upon the enacted tax rates expected to apply to taxable income in the periods in which the deferred tax liability or asset is expected to be settled or realized.

Our income tax expense, deferred tax assets and liabilities and reserves for unrecognized tax benefits reflect our best assessment of estimated future taxes to be paid. Management judgment is required in developing our provision for income taxes, including the determination of deferred tax assets, liabilities and any valuation allowances recorded against the deferred tax assets. We record net deferred tax assets to the extent we believe these assets will more likely than not be realized. In evaluating whether it is more likely than not that our net deferred tax assets will be realized, we consider both positive and negative evidence including the reversal of existing taxable temporary differences, taxable income in prior carryback years if carryback is permitted under the tax law and such taxable

 

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income has not previously been used for carryback, future taxable income exclusive of reversing temporary differences and carryforwards based on near-term and longer-term projections of operating results and the length of the carryforward period. We evaluate the realizability of our net deferred tax assets and assess the valuation allowance on a quarterly basis, adjusting the amount of such allowance, if necessary. Failure to achieve forecasted taxable income might affect the ultimate realization of the net deferred tax assets. Factors that may affect our ability to achieve sufficient forecasted taxable income include, but are not limited to, increased competition, a decline in sales or margins and loss of market share.

At December 31, 2014, we had total net deferred tax assets of $33.7 million. Although realization of our net deferred tax assets is not certain, management has concluded that, based on the positive and negative evidence considered, we will more likely than not realize the full benefit of the deferred tax assets except for our deferred tax assets in certain states in which we operate. At December 31, 2014, we had a valuation allowance of $6.2 million against the tax benefit of net operating loss carryforwards in certain states in which we operate.

Product warranties

Warranty terms are based on the negotiated railcar sales contracts. We typically warrant that new railcars produced by us will be free from defects in material and workmanship under normal use and service identified for a period of up to five years from the time of sale. The Company also provides limited warranties with respect to certain rebuilt railcars. With respect to parts and materials manufactured by others and incorporated by us in our products, such parts and materials may be covered by the warranty provided by the original manufacturer. We establish a warranty reserve at the time of sale to account for future warranty charges. The warranty reserve consists of two categories: assigned claims and unassigned claims. The unassigned warranty reserve is calculated based on historical warranty costs adjusted for estimated material price changes and other factors. Once a warranty claim is filed for railcars under warranty, the estimated cost to correct the defect is moved from the unassigned reserve to the assigned reserve and tracked separately.

Revenue recognition

We recognize revenues on new and rebuilt railcars when (1) individual cars are completed, (2) the railcars are accepted by the customer following inspection, (3) the risk for any damage or other loss with respect to the railcars passes to the customer and (4) title to the railcars transfers to the customer. We do not record any returns or allowances against sales. We value used railcars received at their estimated fair market value at the date of receipt less a normal profit margin.

When we retain substantial risk of ownership in railcars sold to customers, the proceeds received by us are not treated as a sale but are accounted for as a customer advance by recording the proceeds as a liability. Customer advances on our consolidated balance sheets are reported net of any repayments made by us and include imputed interest that is included in interest expense on our consolidated statements of operations.

We recognize service-related revenue from maintenance and repairs and inspections when all significant maintenance or repair or inspections services have been completed, quality accepted and delivery has occurred. We recognize revenue from parts sales when the risk of any damage or loss and title passes to the customer and delivery has occurred.

We recognize operating lease revenue on Inventory on Lease on a contractual basis and recognize operating lease revenue on Railcars Available for Lease on a straight-line basis over the life of the lease. We recognize revenue from the sale of Inventory on Lease on a gross basis in manufacturing sales and cost of sales if the manufacture of the railcars and the sales process is completed within 12 months. We recognize revenue from the sale of Railcars Available for Lease on a net basis as Gain (Loss) on Sale of Railcars Available for Lease since the sale represents the disposal of a long-term operating asset.

We recognize a loss when we have a contractual commitment to manufacture railcars at an estimated cost in excess of the contractual selling price.

We report amounts billed to customers for shipping and handling as part of sales in accordance with ASC 605-45, Revenue Recognition – Principal Agent Consideration, and reports related costs in cost of sales.

 

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RECENT ACCOUNTING PRONOUNCEMENTS

In May 2014, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (the “FASB”) issued Accounting Standards Update (“ASU”) 2014-09, Revenue from Contracts with Customers (Topic 606), which supersedes the revenue recognition requirements in Accounting Standards Codification (“ASC”) 605, Revenue Recognition. ASU 2014-09 provides for a single five-step model to be applied to all revenue contracts with customers. ASU 2014-09 also requires additional financial statement disclosures about the nature, amount, timing and uncertainty of revenue and cash flows arising from customer contracts, including significant judgments and changes in judgments. ASU 2014-09 is effective for annual reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2016, including interim periods within that reporting period and may be adopted either retrospectively or on a modified retrospective basis whereby the new standard would be applied to new contracts and existing contracts with remaining performance obligations as of the effective date, with a cumulative catch-up adjustment recorded to beginning retained earnings at the effective date for existing contracts with remaining performance obligations. Early adoption is not permitted. We are currently evaluating the methods of adoption allowed by the new standard and the effect that the standard is expected to have on our consolidated financial position, results of operations and cash flows and related disclosures.

In April 2014, the FASB issued ASU 2014-08, Presentation of Financial Statements (Topic 205) and Property, Plant, and Equipment (Topic 360): Reporting Discontinued Operations and Disclosures of Disposals of Components of an Entity. ASU 2014-08 changes the criteria for reporting discontinued operations and expands disclosures about discontinued operations. Under the new guidance, only disposals representing a strategic shift that has (or will have) a major effect on an entity’s operations should be presented as discontinued operations when the component of an entity or group of components of an entity is classified as held for sale or is disposed of by sale or other means. Examples include a disposal of operations in a major geographic area, a major line of business or a major equity method investment. This standard is effective prospectively for reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2014 (early adoption is permitted only for disposals that have not been previously reported). The adoption of these changes is not expected to have a material impact on our consolidated financial position, results of operations or cash flows.

FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

This annual report on Form 10-K contains certain forward-looking statements including, in particular, statements about our plans, strategies and prospects. We have used the words “may,” “will,” “expect,” “anticipate,” “believe,” “estimate,” “plan” and similar expressions in this prospectus to identify forward-looking statements. We have based these forward-looking statements on our current views with respect to future events and financial performance. Our actual results could differ materially from those projected in the forward-looking statements.

Our forward-looking statements are subject to risks and uncertainties, including:

 

  the cyclical nature of our business;

 

  the competitive nature of our industry;

 

  our reliance upon a small number of customers that represent a large percentage of our sales;

 

  the variable purchase patterns of our customers and the timing of completion, delivery and customer acceptance of orders;

 

  the availability and price of used railcars offered for sale and new or used railcars offered for lease;

 

  fluctuating costs of raw materials, including steel and aluminum, and delays in the delivery of raw materials;

 

  limitations on the supply of railcar components;

 

  our reliance on the sales of our coal cars;

 

  international economic and political risks to the extent we expand our sales of products and services internationally;

 

  the risk of lack of acceptance of our new railcar offerings by our customers;

 

  our reported backlog may not indicate what our future sales will be;

 

  potential significant warranty claims;

 

  our ability to successfully integrate our Shoals facility or any acquired business with our existing business;

 

  shortages of skilled labor;

 

  our ability to manage our postretirement benefit and pension costs;

 

  risks relating to our relationship with our unionized employees and their unions;

 

  cybersecurity risks relating to our information technology and other systems;

 

  our ability to maintain relationships with our suppliers of railcar components;

 

  the cost of complying with environmental laws and regulations; and

 

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  various covenants in the agreements governing our indebtedness that limit our management’s discretion in the operation of our businesses.

Our actual results could be different from the results described in or anticipated by our forward-looking statements due to the inherent uncertainty of estimates, forecasts and projections and may be better or worse than anticipated. Given these uncertainties, you should not rely on forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements represent our estimates and assumptions only as of the date that they were made. We expressly disclaim any duty to provide updates to forward-looking statements, and the estimates and assumptions associated with them, in order to reflect changes in circumstances or expectations or the occurrence of unanticipated events except to the extent required by applicable securities laws. All of the forward-looking statements are qualified in their entirety by reference to the factors discussed under Item 1A, “Risk Factors.”

 

Item 7A. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk.

We have a $50 million senior secured revolving credit facility, the proceeds of which can be used for general corporate purposes, including working capital. On an annual basis, a 1% change in the interest rate in our revolving credit facility will increase or decrease our interest expense by $10,000 for every $1.0 million of outstanding borrowings. As of December 31, 2014, we had $6.0 million in outstanding letters of credit under the Revolving Credit Facility and therefore had $44.0 million available for borrowing under the Revolving Credit Facility.

The production of railcars and our operations require substantial amounts of aluminum and steel. The cost of aluminum, steel and all other materials (including scrap metal) used in the production of our railcars represents a significant majority of our direct manufacturing costs. Our business is subject to the risk of price increases and periodic delays in the delivery of aluminum, steel and other materials, all of which are beyond our control. Any fluctuations in the price or availability of aluminum or steel, or any other material used in the production of our railcars, may have a material adverse effect on our business, results of operations or financial condition. In addition, if any of our suppliers were unable to continue its business or were to seek bankruptcy relief, the availability or price of the materials we use could be adversely affected. When market conditions permit us to do so, we negotiate contracts with our customers that allow for variable pricing to protect us against future changes in the cost of raw materials. When raw material prices increase rapidly or to levels significantly higher than normal, we may not be able to pass price increases through to our customers, which could adversely affect our operating margins and cash flows.

We are not exposed to any significant foreign currency exchange risks as our general policy is to denominate foreign sales and purchases in U.S. dollars.

 

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Item 8. Financial Statements and Supplementary Data.

REPORT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM

To the Board of Directors and Stockholders of

FreightCar America, Inc.

Chicago, Illinois

We have audited the accompanying consolidated balance sheets of FreightCar America, Inc. and subsidiaries (the “Company”) as of December 31, 2014 and 2013, and the related consolidated statements of operations, comprehensive income (loss), stockholders’ equity, and cash flows for each of the three years in the period ended December 31, 2014. Our audits also included the financial statement schedule listed in the Index at Item 15. These financial statements and financial statement schedule are the responsibility of the Company’s management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on the financial statements and financial statement schedule based on our audits.

We conducted our audits in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States). Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements are free of material misstatement. An audit includes examining, on a test basis, evidence supporting the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements. An audit also includes assessing the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, as well as evaluating the overall financial statement presentation. We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinion.

In our opinion, such consolidated financial statements present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of FreightCar, America, Inc. and subsidiaries as of December 31, 2014 and 2013, and the results of their operations and their cash flows for each of the three years in the period ended December 31, 2014, in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America. Also, in our opinion, such financial statement schedule, when considered in relation to the basic consolidated financial statements taken as a whole, present fairly, in all material respects, the information set forth therein.

We have also audited, in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States), the Company’s internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2014, based on the criteria established in Internal Control — Integrated Framework (2013) issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission and our report dated March 13, 2015 expressed an unqualified opinion on the Company’s internal control over financial reporting.

/s/ DELOITTE & TOUCHE LLP

Chicago, Illinois

March 13, 2015

 

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REPORT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM

To the Board of Directors and Stockholders of

FreightCar America, Inc.

Chicago, Illinois

We have audited the internal control over financial reporting of FreightCar America, Inc. and subsidiaries (the “Company”) as of December 31, 2014, based on criteria established in Internal Control — Integrated Framework (2013) issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission. The Company’s management is responsible for maintaining effective internal control over financial reporting and for its assessment of the effectiveness of internal control over financial reporting, included in the accompanying Management’s Report on Internal Control over Financial Reporting. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on the Company’s internal control over financial reporting based on our audit.

We conducted our audit in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States). Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether effective internal control over financial reporting was maintained in all material respects. Our audit included obtaining an understanding of internal control over financial reporting, assessing the risk that a material weakness exists, testing and evaluating the design and operating effectiveness of internal control based on the assessed risk, and performing such other procedures as we considered necessary in the circumstances. We believe that our audit provides a reasonable basis for our opinion.

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

Because of the inherent limitations of internal control over financial reporting, including the possibility of collusion or improper management override of controls, material misstatements due to error or fraud may not be prevented or detected on a timely basis. Also, projections of any evaluation of the effectiveness of the internal control over financial reporting to future periods are subject to the risk that the controls may become inadequate because of changes in conditions, or that the degree of compliance with the policies or procedures may deteriorate.

In our opinion, the Company maintained, in all material respects, effective internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2014, based on the criteria established in Internal Control — Integrated Framework (2013) issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission.

We have also audited, in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States), the consolidated financial statements and financial statement schedule as of and for the year ended December 31, 2014 of the Company and our report dated March 13, 2015 expressed an unqualified opinion on those financial statements and financial statement schedule.

/s/ DELOITTE & TOUCHE LLP

Chicago, Illinois

March 13, 2015

 

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FreightCar America, Inc. and Subsidiaries

 

CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS

(in thousands, except for share and per share data)

 

     December 31, 2014     December 31, 2013  

Assets

    

Current assets

    

Cash and cash equivalents

   $ 113,532      $ 145,506   

Restricted cash and restricted certificates of deposit

     6,015        7,780   

Marketable securities

     47,961        38,988   

Accounts receivable, net of allowance for doubtful accounts of $188 and $221, respectively

     4,086        4,034   

Inventories, net

     82,259        66,340   

Inventory on lease

     116        16,955   

Other current assets

     7,057        6,768   

Deferred income taxes, net

     12,139        11,017   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total current assets

  273,165      297,388   

Property, plant and equipment, net

  43,239      39,396   

Railcars available for lease, net

  22,897      36,110   

Goodwill

  22,128      22,128   

Deferred income taxes, net

  21,553      19,758   

Other long-term assets

  2,270      2,939   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total assets

$ 385,252    $ 417,719   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Liabilities and Stockholders’ Equity

Current liabilities

Accounts and contractual payables

$ 34,010    $ 16,016   

Accrued payroll and employee benefits

  6,462      3,981   

Accrued postretirement benefits

  409      413   

Accrued warranty

  8,742      6,957   

Customer deposits

  43,977      91,771   

Customer advance

  —        19,037   

Other current liabilities

  4,725      9,053   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total current liabilities

  98,325      147,228   

Accrued pension costs

  7,210      845   

Accrued postretirement benefits, less current portion

  73,474      62,899   

Accrued taxes and other long-term liabilities

  7,548      4,212   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total liabilities

  186,557      215,184   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Stockholders’ equity

Preferred stock, $0.01 par value, 2,500,000 shares authorized (100,000 shares each designated as Series A voting and Series B non-voting, 0 shares issued and outstanding at December 31, 2014 and 2013)

  —       —    

Common stock, $0.01 par value, 50,000,000 shares authorized, 12,731,678 shares issued at December 31, 2014 and 2013

  127      127   

Additional paid in capital

  100,303      99,265   

Treasury stock, at cost, 665,869 and 682,264 shares at December 31, 2014 and 2013, respectively

  (29,971   (30,970

Accumulated other comprehensive loss

  (24,017   (15,132

Retained earnings

  152,253      149,245   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total stockholders’ equity

  198,695      202,535   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total liabilities and stockholders’ equity

$ 385,252    $ 417,719   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

See notes to the consolidated financial statements.

 

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FreightCar America, Inc. and Subsidiaries

 

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS

(in thousands, except for share and per share data)

 

     Year Ended December 31,  
     2014     2013     2012  

Revenues

   $ 598,518      $ 290,393      $ 677,449   

Cost of sales

     556,175        277,168        612,463   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Gross profit

  42,343      13,225      64,986   

Selling, general and administrative expenses

  35,317      27,464      32,736   

Gain on sale of railcars available for lease

  (1,403   (604   (989

Gain on sale of assets held for sale

  (1,078   —        —     

Restructuring and impairment charges

  —        10,452      —     
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Operating income (loss)

  9,507      (24,087   33,239   

Interest expense and deferred financing costs

  (1,077   (809   (384

Other income

  42      64      11   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Income (loss) before income taxes

  8,472      (24,832   32,866   

Income tax provision (benefit)

  2,568      (5,537   13,771   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net income (loss)

  5,904      (19,295   19,095   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net income (loss) per common share—basic

$ 0.49    $ (1.61 $ 1.60   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net income (loss) per common share—diluted

$ 0.49    $ (1.61 $ 1.60   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Weighted average common shares outstanding—basic

  12,001,587      11,954,238      11,932,926   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Weighted average common shares outstanding—diluted

  12,103,520      11,954,238      11,969,367   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Dividends declared per common share

$ 0.24    $ 0.24    $ 0.24   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

See notes to the consolidated financial statements.

 

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FreightCar America, Inc. and Subsidiaries

 

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF COMPREHENSIVE INCOME (LOSS)

(in thousands)

 

     Year Ended December 31,  
     2014     2013     2012  

Net income (loss)

   $ 5,904      $ (19,295   $ 19,095   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax:

Pension liability adjustments, net of tax

  (4,160   6,926      (461

Postretirement liability adjustments, net of tax

  (4,725   4,081      (3,376
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Other comprehensive (loss) income

  (8,885   11,007      (3,837
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Comprehensive (loss) income

  (2,981   (8,288   15,258   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

See notes to the consolidated financial statements.

 

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FreightCar America, Inc. and Subsidiaries

 

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY

(in thousands, except for share data)

 

     Common Stock      Additional
Paid In
Capital
    Treasury Stock     Accumulated
Other
Comprehensive

Loss
    Retained
Earnings
    Total
Stockholders’
Equity
 
     Shares      Amount        Shares     Amount        

Balance, January 1, 2012

     12,731,678       $ 127       $ 100,204        (780,320   $ (35,904   $ (22,302   $ 155,209      $ 197,334   

Net income

     —          —          —         —          —         —         19,095        19,095   

Other comprehensive loss

     —          —          —         —          —         (3,837     —         (3,837

Restricted stock awards

     —           —          (1,516     32,982        1,516        —         —         —    

Employee restricted stock settlement

     —           —          —         (2,961     (63     —         —         (63

Forfeiture of restricted stock awards

     —           —          37        (1,868     (37     —         —         —    

Stock-based compensation recognized

     —          —          1,703        —          —         —         —         1,703   

Deficiency of tax benefit from stock-based compensation

     —          —          (26     —          —         —         —         (26

Cash dividends

     —          —          —         —          —         —         (2,875     (2,875
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Balance, December 31, 2012

  12,731,678    $ 127    $ 100,402      (752,167 $ (34,488 $ (26,139 $ 171,429    $ 211,331   

Net loss

  —       —       —       —        —       —       (19,295   (19,295

Other comprehensive income

  —       —       —       —        —       11,007      —       11,007   

Stock options exercised

  —        —       (330   11,498      523      —       —       193   

Restricted stock awards

  —        —       (3,327   72,635      3,327      —       —       —    

Employee restricted stock settlement

  —        —       —       (4,244   (98   —       —       (98

Forfeiture of restricted stock awards

  —        —       234      (9,986   (234   —       —       —    

Stock-based compensation recognized

  —       —       2,289      —        —       —       —       2,289   

Deficiency of tax benefit from stock-based compensation

  —       —       (3   —        —       —       —       (3

Cash dividends

  —       —       —       —        —       —       (2,889   (2,889
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Balance, December 31, 2013

  12,731,678    $ 127    $ 99,265      (682,264 $ (30,970 $ (15,132 $ 149,245    $ 202,535   

Net income

  —       —       —       —        —       —       5,904      5,904   

Other comprehensive loss

  —       —       —       —        —       (8,885   —       (8,885

Stock options exercised

  —        —       (148   6,610      299      —       —       151   

Restricted stock awards

  —        —       (1,093   24,212      1,093      —       —       —    

Employee restricted stock settlement

  —        —       —       (8,770   (225   —       —       (225

Forfeiture of restricted stock awards

  —        —       168      (5,657   (168   —       —       —    

Stock-based compensation recognized

  —       —       2,084      —        —       —       —       2,084   

Excess tax benefit from stock-based compensation

  —       —       27      —        —       —       —       27   

Cash dividends

  —       —       —       —        —       —       (2,896   (2,896
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Balance, December 31, 2014

  12,731,678    $ 127    $ 100,303      (665,869 $ (29,971 $ (24,017 $ 152,253    $ 198,695   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

See notes to the consolidated financial statements.

 

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FreightCar America, Inc. and Subsidiaries

 

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS

(in thousands)

 

     Year Ended December 31,  
     2014     2013     2012  

Cash flows from operating activities

      

Net income (loss)

   $ 5,904      $ (19,295   $ 19,095   

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

      

Restructuring and impairment charges

     —          10,452        —     

Depreciation and amortization

     10,069        10,077        8,398   

Gain on sale of railcars available for lease

     (1,403     (604     (989

Gain on sale of assets held for sale

     (1,078     —          —     

Other non-cash items, net

     996        575        381   

Deferred income taxes

     1,991        (5,721     10,420   

Stock-based compensation recognized

     2,084        2,289        1,703   

Changes in operating assets and liabilities:

      

Accounts receivable

     (52     8,953        (2,862

Inventories

     (16,248     7,455        (700

Inventory on lease

     16,839        (16,955     —     

Other assets

     (1,142     527        (4,531

Accounts and contractual payables

     16,379        (17,575     5,147   

Accrued payroll and employee benefits

     2,465        (3,686     937   

Income taxes receivable/payable

     (3,957     5,590        (2,380

Accrued warranty

     1,785        (668     (170

Customer deposits and other current liabilities

     (48,959     57,228        20,277   

Deferred revenue, long-term

     (66     (46     (242

Deferred rent, long-term

     268        —          —     

Accrued pension costs and accrued postretirement benefits

     8,099        (6,353     (1,482
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net cash flows (used in) provided by operating activities

  (6,026   32,243      53,002   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Cash flows from investing activities

Restricted cash deposits

  (1,017   (3,175   (15,525

Restricted cash withdrawals

  4,192      14,700      2,640   

Purchase of restricted certificates of deposit

  (1,410   (4,605   —     

Purchase of securities held to maturity

  (68,956   (59,963   (41,978

Proceeds from maturity of securities

  60,002     63,000     —     

Purchases of property, plant and equipment

  (11,802   (17,317   (9,088

Proceeds from sale of property, plant and equipment, assets held for sale and railcars available for lease

  15,785      6,741      10,526   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net cash flows used in investing activities

  (3,206   (619   (53,425
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Cash flows from financing activities

Deferred financing costs paid

  —        (336   —     

Stock option exercise

  151      193      —     

Employee restricted stock settlement

  (225   (98   (63

Excess tax benefit from stock-based compensation

  27      —        —     

Cash dividends paid to stockholders

  (2,896   (2,889   (2,875

Customer advance for production of leased railcars

  —        19,400      —     

Reduction in customer advance for production of leased railcars

  (19,799   (897   —     
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net cash flows (used in) provided by financing activities

  (22,742   15,373      (2,938
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net (decrease) increase in cash and cash equivalents

  (31,974   46,997      (3,361

Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of year

  145,506      98,509      101,870   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Cash and cash equivalents at end of year

$ 113,532    $ 145,506    $ 98,509   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Supplemental cash flow information

Cash paid for:

Interest

$ 78    $ 143    $ 317   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Income tax refunds received

$ 573    $ —      $ 752   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Income taxes paid

$ 220    $ 581    $ 4,161   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

See notes to the consolidated financial statements.

 

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FreightCar America, Inc. and Subsidiaries

 

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

For the Years Ended December 31, 2014, 2013 and 2012

(in thousands, except for share and per share data)

Note 1 – Description of the Business

FreightCar America, Inc. (“FreightCar”) operates primarily in North America through its direct and indirect subsidiaries, JAC Operations, Inc. (“Operations”), Johnstown America, LLC (“JA LLC”), Freight Car Services, Inc. (“FCS”), JAIX Leasing Company (“JAIX”), FreightCar Roanoke, LLC (“FCR”), FreightCar Mauritius Ltd. (“Mauritius”), FreightCar Rail Services, LLC (“FCRS”), FreightCar Short Line, Inc. (“Short Line”) and FreightCar Alabama, LLC (“FCAL”) (herein collectively referred to as the “Company”), and manufactures a wide range of railroad freight cars, supplies railcar parts, leases freight cars and provides railcar maintenance and repairs. The Company designs and builds high-quality railcars, including coal cars, covered hopper cars, intermodal and non-intermodal flat cars, mill gondola cars, coil steel cars and motor vehicle carriers. The Company is headquartered in Chicago, Illinois and has facilities in the following locations: Cherokee, Alabama; Danville, Illinois; Grand Island, Nebraska; Hastings, Nebraska; Johnstown, Pennsylvania; and Roanoke, Virginia.

The Company’s operations comprise two reportable segments, Manufacturing and Services. The Company and its direct and indirect subsidiaries are all Delaware corporations or Delaware limited liability companies except Mauritius, which is incorporated in Mauritius. The Company’s direct and indirect subsidiaries are all wholly owned.

Note 2 – Summary of Significant Accounting Policies

Principles of Consolidation

The accompanying consolidated financial statements include the accounts of FreightCar America, Inc. and all of its direct and indirect subsidiaries. All intercompany accounts and transactions have been eliminated in consolidation.

Use of Estimates

The preparation of financial statements in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States (“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. Significant estimates include the valuation of used railcars received in sale transactions, useful lives of long-lived assets, warranty, workers’ compensation accruals, pension and postretirement benefit assumptions, stock compensation, evaluation of goodwill, other intangibles and property, plant and equipment for impairment and the valuation allowance on the net deferred tax asset. Actual results could differ from those estimates.

Cash and Cash Equivalents

On a daily basis, cash in excess of current operating requirements is invested in various highly liquid investments. The Company considers all unrestricted short-term investments with maturities of three months or less when acquired to be cash equivalents. The amortized cost of cash equivalents approximate fair value because of the short maturity of these instruments.

The Company’s cash and cash equivalents are primarily deposited with one U.S. financial institution. Such deposits are in excess of federally insured limits.

Restricted Cash and Restricted Certificates of Deposit

The Company establishes restricted cash balances and restricted certificates of deposit to collateralize certain standby letters of credit with respect to purchase price payment guarantees and performance guarantees and to

 

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NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (continued)

For the Years Ended December 31, 2014, 2013 and 2012

(in thousands, except for share and per share data)

 

support the Company’s worker’s compensation insurance claims. The restrictions expire upon completing the Company’s related obligation.

Financial Instruments

Management estimates that all financial instruments (including cash equivalents, restricted cash and restricted certificates of deposit, marketable securities, accounts receivable and accounts payable) as of December 31, 2014 and 2013, have fair values that approximate their carrying values.

Upon purchase, the Company categorizes debt securities as securities held to maturity, securities available for sale or trading securities. Debt securities that the Company has the positive intent and ability to hold to maturity are classified as securities held to maturity and are reported at amortized cost adjusted for amortization of premium and accretion of discount on a level yield basis. Debt securities that are bought and held principally for the purpose of selling them in the near term are classified as trading securities and reported at fair value, with unrealized gains and losses included in earnings. Debt securities not classified as either held-to-maturity or trading securities are classified as securities available for sale and are reported at fair value, with unrealized gains and losses excluded from earnings and reported as a component of other comprehensive income, which is included in stockholders’ equity, net of deferred taxes.

Fair Value Measurements

Financial assets and liabilities are classified in their entirety based on the lowest level of input that is significant to the fair value measurement. The Company’s assessment of the significance of a particular input to the fair value measurement requires judgment, and may affect the valuation of assets and liabilities and the placement within the fair value hierarchy levels.

The Company classifies the inputs to valuation techniques used to measure fair value as follows:

 

Level 1 — Quoted prices (unadjusted) in active markets for identical assets and liabilities.

 

Level 2 — Inputs other than quoted prices for Level 1 inputs that are either directly or indirectly observable for the asset or liability including quoted prices for similar assets or liabilities in active markets, quoted prices for identical or similar assets or liabilities in inactive markets, inputs other than quoted prices that are observable for the asset or liability, and inputs that are derived from observable market data by correlation or other means.

 

Level 3 — Unobservable inputs for the asset or liability, including situations where there is little, if any, market activity for the asset or liability.

Inventories

Inventories are stated at the lower of cost or market value. Cost is determined on a first-in, first-out basis and includes material, labor and manufacturing overhead. The Company’s inventory consists of work in progress and finished goods for individual customer contracts, used railcars acquired upon trade-in and railcar parts retained for sale to external parties or use by FCRS when providing maintenance and repair services to customers.

Leased Railcars

The Company offers railcar leases to its customers at market rates with terms and conditions that have been negotiated with the customers. It is the Company’s strategy to actively market these leased assets for sale to leasing companies and financial institutions rather than holding them to maturity. If, as of the date of the initial lease, management determines that the sale of the leased railcars is probable, and transfer of the leased railcars is expected to qualify for recognition as a completed sale within one year, then the leased railcars are classified as current assets on the balance sheet (Inventory on Lease). In determining whether it is probable that the leased railcars will be sold

 

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NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (continued)

For the Years Ended December 31, 2014, 2013 and 2012

(in thousands, except for share and per share data)

 

within one year, management considers general market conditions for similar railcars and considers whether market conditions are indicative of a potential sales price that will be acceptable to the Company to sell the cars within one year. Inventory on Lease is carried at the lower of cost or market value and is not depreciated. At the one-year anniversary of the initial lease or such earlier date when management no longer believes the leased railcars will be sold within one year of the initial lease, the leased railcars are reclassified from current assets (Inventory on Lease) to long-term assets (Railcars Available for Lease). Railcars Available for Lease are depreciated over 40 years from the date the railcars are placed in service under the initial lease and evaluated for impairment on a quarterly basis.

Property, Plant and Equipment

Property, plant and equipment are stated at acquisition cost less accumulated depreciation. Depreciation is provided using the straight-line method over the original estimated useful lives of the assets or lease term if shorter, which are as follows:

 

Description of Assets    Life  

Buildings and improvements

     15-40 years   

Leasehold improvements

     6-10 years   

Machinery and equipment

     3-7 years   

Software

     3-7 years   

Maintenance and repairs are charged to expense as incurred, while major refurbishments and improvements are capitalized. The cost and accumulated depreciation of items sold or retired are removed from the property accounts and any gain or loss is recorded in the consolidated statement of operations upon disposal or retirement.

Long-Lived Assets

The Company tests long-lived assets for recoverability whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying amount of an asset may not be recoverable. These changes in circumstances may include a significant decrease in the market price of an asset group, a significant adverse change in the manner or extent in which an asset group is used, a current year operating loss combined with history of operating losses, or a current expectation that, more likely than not, a long-lived asset group will be sold or otherwise disposed of significantly before the end of its previously estimated useful life.

For assets to be held and used, the Company groups a long-lived asset or assets with other assets and liabilities at the lowest level for which identifiable cash flows are largely independent of the cash flows of other assets and liabilities. Estimates of future cash flows used to test the recoverability of a long-lived asset group include only the future cash flows that are directly associated with and that are expected to arise as a direct result of the use and eventual disposition of the asset group. Recoverability of the carrying value of the asset group is determined by comparing the carrying value of the asset group to total undiscounted future cash flows of the asset group. If the carrying value of the asset group is not recoverable, an impairment loss is measured based on the excess of the carrying amount of asset group over the estimated fair value of the asset group. An impairment loss for an asset group reduces only the carrying amounts of a long-lived asset or assets of the group being evaluated.

Research and Development

Costs associated with research and development are expensed as incurred and totaled approximately $332, $382 and $393 for the years ended December 31, 2014, 2013 and 2012, respectively. Such costs are reported within selling, general and administrative expenses in the consolidated statements of operations.

Goodwill and Intangible Assets

The Company assesses the carrying value of goodwill for impairment as required by ASC 350, Intangibles – Goodwill and Other, annually or more frequently whenever events occur and circumstances change indicating potential impairment. During its annual goodwill impairment assessments as of August 1, 2014 and 2013, management estimated the value of the Company’s reporting units that carry goodwill using the income approach,

 

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NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (continued)

For the Years Ended December 31, 2014, 2013 and 2012

(in thousands, except for share and per share data)

 

which indicates the fair value of a business based on the present value of the cash flows that the business can be expected to generate in the future, and the market approach, which uses the price at which shares of similar companies are exchanged to estimate the fair value of a company’s equity. Within the income approach, the discounted cash flow method was used, and within the market approach, the guideline company method was used. Fair value based on the income approach was given a 60% weighting and fair value based on the market approach was given a 40% weighting. During its annual goodwill impairment assessment for 2012, management estimated the value of the Company’s reporting units using the discounted cash flow method. Management concluded that the estimated fair value of the Company’s reporting units exceeded the carrying value as of the dates of the Company’s impairment tests for 2014, 2013 and 2012 and therefore no impairment charges were recorded.

Patents are amortized on a straight-line method over their remaining legal lives from the date of acquisition. Customer related intangible assets are amortized from the date of acquisition based on the estimated cash flows to be generated from the intangibles. The Company assesses the carrying value of patents and customer related intangible assets for impairment whenever events occur and circumstances change indicating potential impairment.

Income Taxes

For federal income tax purposes, the Company files a consolidated federal tax return. The Company also files state tax returns in states where the Company has operations. In conformity with ASC 740, Income Taxes, the Company provides for deferred income taxes on differences between the book and tax bases of its assets and liabilities and for items that are reported for financial statement purposes in periods different from those for income tax reporting purposes.

Management evaluates net deferred tax assets and provides a valuation allowance when it believes that it is more likely than not that some portion of these assets will not be realized. In making this determination, management evaluates both positive evidence, such as cumulative pre-tax income for previous years, the projection of future taxable income, the reversals of existing taxable temporary differences and tax planning strategies, and negative evidence, such as any recent history of losses and any projected losses. Management also considers the expiration dates of net operating loss carryforwards in the evaluation of net deferred tax assets. Management evaluates the realizability of the Company’s net deferred tax assets and assesses the valuation allowance on a quarterly basis, adjusting the amount of such allowance as necessary.

Tax benefits related to uncertain tax positions taken or expected to be taken on a tax return are recorded when such benefits meet a more likely than not threshold. Otherwise, these tax benefits are recorded when a tax position has been effectively settled, which means that the appropriate taxing authority has completed its examination even though the statute of limitations remains open, or the statute of limitation expires. Interest and penalties related to uncertain tax positions are recognized as part of the provision for income taxes and are accrued beginning in the period that such interest and penalties would be applicable under relevant tax law until such time that the related tax benefits are recognized.

Product Warranties

Warranty terms are based on the negotiated railcar sales contracts. The Company typically warrants that new railcars produced by it will be free from defects in material and workmanship under normal use and service identified for a period of up to five years from the time of sale. The Company also provides limited warranties with respect to certain rebuilt railcars. With respect to parts and materials manufactured by others and incorporated by the Company in its products, such parts and materials may be covered by the warranty provided by the original manufacturer. The Company establishes a warranty reserve at the time of sale to account for future warranty charges. The warranty reserve consists of two categories: assigned claims and unassigned claims. The unassigned warranty reserve is calculated based on historical warranty costs adjusted for estimated material price changes and other factors. Once a warranty claim is filed for railcars under warranty, the estimated cost to correct the defect is moved from the unassigned reserve to the assigned reserve and tracked separately.

 

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NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (continued)

For the Years Ended December 31, 2014, 2013 and 2012

(in thousands, except for share and per share data)

 

Revenue Recognition

Revenues on new and rebuilt railcars are recognized when (1) individual cars are completed, (2) the railcars are accepted by the customer following inspection, (3) the risk for any damage or other loss with respect to the railcars passes to the customer and (4) title to the railcars transfers to the customer. There are no sales returns or allowances.

When the Company retains substantial risk of ownership in railcars sold to customers, the proceeds received by the Company are not treated as a sale but are accounted for as a customer advance by recording the proceeds as a liability. Customer advances on the Company’s consolidated balance sheets are reported net of any repayments made by the Company and include imputed interest that is included in interest expense on the Company’s consolidated statements of operations.

The Company recognizes service-related revenue from maintenance and repairs and inspections when all significant maintenance or repair or inspections services have been completed, quality accepted and delivery has occurred. The Company recognizes revenue from parts sales when the risk of any damage or loss and title passes to the customer and delivery has occurred.

The Company recognizes operating lease revenue on Inventory on Lease on a contractual basis and recognizes operating lease revenue on Railcars Available for Lease on a straight-line basis over the life of the lease. The Company recognizes revenue from the sale of Inventory on Lease on a gross basis in manufacturing sales and cost of sales if the manufacture of the railcars and the sales process is completed within 12 months. The Company recognizes revenue from the sale of Railcars Available for Lease on a net basis as Gain (Loss) on Sale of Railcars Available for Lease since the sale represents the disposal of a long-term operating asset.

The Company recognizes a loss when it has a contractual commitment to manufacture railcars at an estimated cost in excess of the contractual selling price.

The Company reports amounts billed to customers for shipping and handling as part of sales in accordance with ASC 605-45, Revenue Recognition – Principal Agent Consideration, and reports related costs in cost of sales.

Earnings Per Share

The Company computes earnings (loss) per share using the two-class method, which is an earnings (loss) allocation formula that determines earnings (loss) per share for common stock and participating securities. The Company’s participating securities are its grants of restricted stock which contain non-forfeitable rights to dividends. Basic earnings (loss) per share attributable to common shareholders is computed by dividing net income (loss) attributable to common shareholders by the weighted average common shares outstanding. The calculation of diluted earnings per share includes the effect of any dilutive equity incentive instruments. The Company uses the treasury stock method to calculate the effect of outstanding dilutive equity incentive instruments, which requires the Company to compute total proceeds as the sum of (1) the amount the employee must pay upon exercise of the award, (2) the amount of unearned stock-based compensation costs attributed to future services and (3) the amount of tax benefits, if any, that would be credited to additional paid-in capital assuming exercise of the award. Equity incentive instruments for which the total employee proceeds from exercise exceed the average fair value of the same equity incentive instrument over the period have an anti-dilutive effect on earnings per share during periods with net income from continuing operations, and accordingly, the Company excludes them from the calculation.

Recent Accounting Pronouncements

In May 2014, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (the “FASB”) issued Accounting Standards Update (“ASU”) 2014-09, Revenue from Contracts with Customers (Topic 606), which supersedes the revenue recognition requirements in Accounting Standards Codification (“ASC”) 605, Revenue Recognition. ASU 2014-09 provides for a single five-step model to be applied to all revenue contracts with customers. ASU 2014-09 also requires additional financial statement disclosures about the nature, amount, timing and uncertainty of revenue and cash flows arising from customer contracts, including significant judgments and changes in judgments. ASU 2014-09 is effective for

 

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NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (continued)

For the Years Ended December 31, 2014, 2013 and 2012

(in thousands, except for share and per share data)

 

annual reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2016, including interim periods within that reporting period and may be adopted either retrospectively or on a modified retrospective basis whereby the new standard would be applied to new contracts and existing contracts with remaining performance obligations as of the effective date, with a cumulative catch-up adjustment recorded to beginning retained earnings at the effective date for existing contracts with remaining performance obligations. Early adoption is not permitted. The Company is currently evaluating the methods of adoption allowed by the new standard and the effect that the standard is expected to have on its consolidated financial position, results of operations and cash flows and related disclosures.

In April 2014, the FASB issued ASU 2014-08, Presentation of Financial Statements (Topic 205) and Property, Plant, and Equipment (Topic 360): Reporting Discontinued Operations and Disclosures of Disposals of Components of an Entity. ASU 2014-08 changes the criteria for reporting discontinued operations and expands disclosures about discontinued operations. Under the new guidance, only disposals representing a strategic shift that has (or will have) a major effect on an entity’s operations should be presented as discontinued operations when the component of an entity or group of components of an entity is classified as held for sale or is disposed of by sale or other means. Examples include a disposal of operations in a major geographic area, a major line of business or a major equity method investment. This standard is effective prospectively for reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2014 (early adoption is permitted only for disposals that have not been previously reported). The adoption of these changes is not expected to have a material impact on the consolidated financial position, results of operations or cash flows of the Company.

Note 3 – Fair Value Measurements

The following table sets forth by level within the ASC 820 fair value hierarchy the Company’s financial assets that were recorded at fair value on a recurring basis and the Company’s non-financial assets that were recorded at fair value on a non-recurring basis.

 

Recurring Fair Value Measurements

   As of December 31, 2014  
     Level 1      Level 2      Level 3      Total  

ASSETS:

           

Cash equivalents

   $ 50,070       $ —         $ —         $ 50,070   

Restricted certificates of deposit

   $ 6,015       $ —         $ —         $ 6,015   

Recurring Fair Value Measurements

   As of December 31, 2013  
     Level 1      Level 2      Level 3      Total  

ASSETS:

           

Cash equivalents

   $ 48       $ —         $ —         $ 48   

Restricted certificates of deposit

   $ 4,605       $ —         $ —         $ 4,605   

Non-Recurring Fair Value Measurements

   As of December 31, 2013  
     Level 1      Level 2      Level 3      Total  

ASSETS:

           

Property, plant and equipment

   $ —         $ 2,451       $ —         $ 2,451   

As stated in Note 7, the carrying values of property, plant and equipment at the Company’s Danville and Clinton facilities were reduced to their estimated fair market values during the fourth quarter of 2013. Fair market values for the Danville and Clinton facilities were estimated using the market approach using market data such as recent sales of comparable assets in active markets and estimated salvage values. No non-financial assets were recorded at fair value on a non-recurring basis as of December 31, 2014.

Note 4 – Marketable Securities

The Company’s current investment policy is to invest in cash, certificates of deposit, U.S. treasury securities, U.S.

 

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Table of Contents

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (continued)

For the Years Ended December 31, 2014, 2013 and 2012

(in thousands, except for share and per share data)

 

government agency obligations and money market funds invested in U.S. government securities. Marketable securities as of December 31, 2014 and 2013, of $47,961 and $38,988, respectively, consisted of U.S. treasury securities held to maturity with original maturities of greater than 90 days and up to one year. Due to the short-term nature of these securities and their low interest rates, there is no material difference between their fair market values and amortized cost.

Note 5 – Inventories

Inventories, net of reserve for excess and obsolete items, consist of the following:

 

     December 31,  
     2014      2013  

Work in progress

   $ 76,453       $ 43,643   

Finished new railcars

     —           16,798   

Used railcars acquired upon trade-in

     —           105   

Parts and service inventory

     5,806         5,794   
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total inventories, net

$ 82,259    $ 66,340   
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Inventory on the Company’s consolidated balance sheets includes reserves of $2,381 and $1,793 relating to excess or slow-moving inventory for parts and work in progress at December 31, 2014 and 2013, respectively.

Note 6 – Leased Railcars

Inventory on lease at December 31, 2014 was $116 and at December 31, 2013 was $16,955. Railcars available for lease at December 31, 2014 was $22,897 (cost of $26,852 and accumulated depreciation of $3,955) and at December 31, 2013 was $36,110 (cost of $41,389 and accumulated depreciation of $5,279). The Company’s lease utilization rate for railcars in its lease fleet was 100% at each of December 31, 2014 and December 31, 2013. Depreciation expense on Railcars available for lease was $986, $1,169 and $1,267 for the years ended December 31, 2014, 2013 and 2012, respectively.

Leased railcars at December 31, 2014 are subject to lease agreements with external customers with terms of up to seven years and are accounted for as operating leases.

Future minimum rental revenues on leases at December 31, 2014 are as follows:

 

Year ending December 31, 2015

$ 1,353   

Year ending December 31, 2016

  1,256   

Year ending December 31, 2017

  1,256   

Year ending December 31, 2018

  668   

Year ending December 31, 2019

  551   

Thereafter

  826   
  

 

 

 
$ 5,910   
  

 

 

 

Note 7 – Restructuring and Impairment Charges

During the fourth quarter of 2013, the Company recorded restructuring and impairment charges of $10,452 which are reported as a separate line item on the Company’s consolidated statements of operations. These charges consisted of non-cash charges of $7,592 related to the Company’s then idled Danville, Illinois manufacturing facility, $1,620 related to the Company’s closed railcar maintenance and repair shop in Clinton, Corporate severance charges of $1,119 and other charges of $121.

The Company tested the long-lived assets at its Danville manufacturing facility for impairment as of December 31, 2013 because the Company was unable to predict when the Danville facility would resume operations based on the

 

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Table of Contents

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (continued)

For the Years Ended December 31, 2014, 2013 and 2012

(in thousands, except for share and per share data)

 

Company’s backlog for coal car orders and the soft industry outlook. The carrying values of property, plant and equipment at the Danville facility were reduced to their estimated fair market values, resulting in non-cash impairment charges of $7,024 for buildings and improvements and $568 for machinery and equipment for the year ended December 31, 2013.

As part of the Company’s strategic initiative to improve the contribution of its Services business to the Company’s results of operations, management evaluated the long-term profitability of each of its railcar maintenance and repair shops during the fourth quarter of 2013 and decided to close its underperforming maintenance and repair shop in Clinton. As a result of this decision, the Company evaluated the recoverability of its long-lived assets and reduced the carrying values of property, plant and equipment to their estimated fair market values, resulting in non-cash impairment charges of $1,113 for buildings and improvements, $270 for machinery and equipment and $131 for land for the year ended December 31, 2013. The Company also recorded a non-cash impairment charge of $106 related to customer intangibles and recorded other charges of $121 related to the Clinton closure during the fourth quarter of 2013. During the third quarter of 2014, these assets were sold to a third party resulting in a gain on sale of $1,078, which is included in gain on sale of assets held for sale in the consolidated statement of operations for the year ended December 31, 2014.

The Company revised its Corporate management reporting structure as part of the leadership transition following the retirement of the Company’s previous President and Chief Executive Officer during the fourth quarter of 2013, resulting in severance charges of $1,119 being recorded during the fourth quarter of 2013. Substantially all of the severance payments were made during 2014.

The components of the restructuring and impairment charges for the year ended December 31, 2013, are as follows:

 

Impairment charge for Manufacturing segment land, building and equipment

$ 7,592   

Impairment charge for Services segment land, building and equipment

  1,514   

Impairment charge for Services segment customer intangibles

  106   

Employee severance as a result of Corporate restructuring

  1,119   

Other charges related to Services segment impairment

  121   
  

 

 

 

Total restructuring and impairment charges

$ 10,452   
  

 

 

 

Note 8 – Property, Plant and Equipment

Property, plant and equipment consists of the following:

 

     December 31,  
     2014      2013  

Land (including easements)

   $ 1,976       $ 2,072   
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Buildings and improvements

  10,731      11,076   

Leasehold improvements

  6,983      5,483   

Machinery and equipment

  50,771      42,115   

Software

  8,299      9,089   
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Cost of buildings and improvements, leasehold improvements, machinery and equipment

  76,784      67,763   

Less: Accumulated depreciation and amortization

  (38,747   (31,406
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Buildings and improvements, leasehold improvements, machinery and equipment, net of accumulated depreciation and amortization

  38,037      36,357   

Construction in process

  3,226      967   
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total property, plant and equipment

$ 43,239    $ 39,396   
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

 

51


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NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (continued)

For the Years Ended December 31, 2014, 2013 and 2012

(in thousands, except for share and per share data)

 

Depreciation expense for the years ended December 31, 2014, 2013 and 2012, was $8,363, $8,168 and $6,393, respectively.

Note 9 – Intangible Assets and Goodwill

Intangible assets consist of the following:

 

     December 31,  
     2014      2013  

Patents

   $ 13,097       $ 13,097   

Accumulated amortization

     (12,147      (11,557
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Patents, net of accumulated amortization

  950      1,540   
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Customer-related intangibles

  1,194      1,194   

Accumulated amortization

  (491   (362
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Customer-related intangibles, net of accumulated amortization

  703      832   
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total amortizing intangibles

$ 1,653    $ 2,372   
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Manufacturing segment goodwill

$ 21,521    $ 21,521   

Services segment goodwill

  607      607   
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total goodwill

$ 22,128    $ 22,128   
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

The fair value of customer-related intangibles was estimated using a discounted cash flow model which included assumptions concerning projected growth rates as well as historical customer attrition. Customer-related intangible assets are being amortized from the date of acquisition and have a remaining life of 16 years. Amortization expense related to customer intangibles, which is included in selling, general and administrative expenses, was $129, $149 and $149 for the years ended December 31, 2014, 2013 and 2012, respectively.

Patents are being amortized on a straight-line method over their remaining legal life from the date of acquisition and have a weighted average remaining life of 2 years. Amortization expense related to patents, which is included in cost of sales, was $590, $591 and $590 for the years ended December 31, 2014, 2013 and 2012, respectively.

Estimated future intangible amortization at December 31, 2014 is as follows:

 

Year ending December 31, 2015

$ 698   

Year ending December 31, 2016

  457   

Year ending December 31, 2017

  91   

Year ending December 31, 2018

  73   

Year ending December 31, 2019

  60   

Thereafter

  274   
  

 

 

 
$ 1,653   
  

 

 

 

Note 10 – Product Warranties

Warranty terms are based on the negotiated railcar sales contracts. The Company typically warrants that new railcars produced by it will be free from defects in material and workmanship under normal use and service identified for a period of up to five years from the time of sale. The changes in the warranty reserve for the years ended December 31, 2014, 2013 and 2012, are as follows:

 

52


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NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (continued)

For the Years Ended December 31, 2014, 2013 and 2012

(in thousands, except for share and per share data)

 

     December 31,  
     2014      2013      2012  

Balance at the beginning of the year

   $ 6,957       $ 7,625       $ 7,795   

Current year provision

     2,259         480         2,502   

Reductions for payments, costs of repairs and other

     (748      (1,046      (543

Adjustments to prior warranties

     274         (102      (2,129
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Balance at the end of the year

$ 8,742    $ 6,957    $ 7,625   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Adjustments to prior warranties includes changes in the warranty reserve for warranties issued in prior periods due to expiration of the warranty period, revised warranty cost estimates and other factors.

Note 11 – Revolving Credit Facility

The Company entered into a $50,000 senior secured revolving credit facility (the “Revolving Credit Facility”) pursuant to a Credit Agreement dated as of July 26, 2013 (the “Credit Agreement”) by and among FreightCar and certain of its subsidiaries, as borrowers (together the “Borrowers”), and Bank of America, N.A., as lender. The Revolving Credit Facility can be used for general corporate purposes, including working capital. As of December 31, 2014 and 2013, the Company had no borrowings under the Revolving Credit Facility. The Credit Agreement also contains a sub-facility for letters of credit not to exceed the lesser of $30,000 and the amount of the senior secured revolving credit facility at such time. As of December 31, 2014 and 2013, the Company had $6,015 and $4,605, respectively, in outstanding letters of credit under the Revolving Credit Facility and therefore had $43,985 and $45,395, respectively, available for borrowing under the Revolving Credit Facility. The Credit Agreement has a term ending on July 26, 2016 and revolving loans outstanding thereunder will bear interest at a rate of LIBOR plus an applicable margin of 1.50% or at a base rate, as selected by the Company. Base rate loans will bear interest at the highest of (a) the federal funds rate plus 0.50%, (b) the prime rate or (c) LIBOR plus 1.00%. The Company is required to pay a non-utilization fee of between 0.10% and 0.30% on the unused portion of the revolving loan commitment depending on the Company’s quarterly average balance of unrestricted cash and the Company’s consolidated leverage ratio. Borrowings under the Revolving Credit Facility are secured by a first priority perfected security interest in substantially all of the Borrowers’ assets excluding railcars held by its railcar leasing subsidiary, JAIX. The Borrowers also have pledged all of the equity interests in the Company’s direct and indirect domestic subsidiaries as security for the Revolving Credit Facility. The Credit Agreement has both affirmative and negative covenants, including, without limitation, a covenant requiring a minimum consolidated net liquidity requirement of $35,000 and limitations on indebtedness, liens and investments. The Credit Agreement also provides for customary events of default.

Note 12 – Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss)

The changes in accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) consist of the following:

 

53


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NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (continued)

For the Years Ended December 31, 2014, 2013 and 2012

(in thousands, except for share and per share data)

 

     Pre-Tax     Tax     Net of Tax  

Year ended December 31, 2014

      

Pension liability activity:

      

Actuarial loss

   $ (7,608   $ (2,687   $ (4,921

Reclassification adjustment for amortization of net loss (pre-tax cost of sales of $977 and selling, general and administrative expenses of $200)

     1,177        416        761   

Postretirement liability activity:

      

Actuarial loss

     (7,917     (2,796     (5,121

Reclassification adjustment for amortization of net loss (pre-tax cost of sales of $332 and selling, general and administrative expenses of $39)

     371        131        240   

Reclassification adjustment for amortization of prior service cost (pre-tax cost of sales of $215 and selling, general and administrative expenses of $26)

     241        85        156   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 
$ (13,736 $ (4,851 $ (8,885
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Year ended December 31, 2013

Pension liability activity:

Actuarial gain

$ 10,168    $ 3,582    $ 6,586   

Reclassification adjustment for amortization of net loss (pre-tax cost of sales of $470 and selling, general and administrative expenses of $54)

  524      184      340   

Postretirement liability activity:

Actuarial gain

  5,448      1,919      3,529   

Reclassification adjustment for amortization of net loss (pre-tax cost of sales of $578 and selling, general and administrative expenses of $34)

  612      216      396   

Reclassification adjustment for amortization of prior service cost (pre-tax cost of sales of $228 and selling, general and administrative expenses of $13)

  241      85      156   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 
$ 16,993    $ 5,986    $ 11,007   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Year ended December 31, 2012

Pension liability activity:

Actuarial loss

$ (1,247 $ (472 $ (775

Reclassification adjustment for amortization of net loss (pre-tax cost of sales of $308 and selling, general and administrative expenses of $197)

  505      191      314   

Postretirement liability activity:

Actuarial loss

  (6,054   (2,296   (3,758

Reclassification adjustment for amortization of net loss (pre-tax cost of sales of $353 and selling, general and administrative expenses of $21)

  374      142      232   

Reclassification adjustment for amortization of prior service cost (pre-tax cost of sales of $228 and selling, general and administrative expenses of $13)

  241      91      150   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 
$ (6,181 $ (2,344 $ (3,837
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

The components of accumulated other comprehensive loss consist of the following:

 

54


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NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (continued)

For the Years Ended December 31, 2014, 2013 and 2012

(in thousands, except for share and per share data)

 

     December 31,  
     2014      2013  

Unrecognized pension cost, net of tax of $6,525 and $4,253

   $ (10,638    $ (6,478

Unrecognized postretirement cost, net of tax of $7,986 and $5,406

     (13,379      (8,654
  

 

 

    

 

 

 
$ (24,017 $ (15,132
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Note 13 – Employee Benefit Plans

The Company has qualified, defined benefit pension plans that were established to provide benefits to certain employees. These plans are frozen and participants are no longer accruing benefits. The Company also provides certain postretirement health care benefits for certain of its salaried and hourly retired employees. Generally, employees may become eligible for health care benefits if they retire after attaining specified age and service requirements. These benefits are subject to deductibles, co-payment provisions and other limitations.

A substantial portion of the Company’s postretirement benefit plan obligation relates to an expired settlement agreement with the union representing employees at the Company’s and its predecessors’ Johnstown manufacturing facilities. The terms of that settlement agreement (the “2005 Settlement Agreement”) required the Company to pay until November 30, 2012 certain monthly amounts toward the cost of retiree health care coverage. The Company engaged in voluntary negotiations for two years in an effort to reach a consensual agreement related to the expired 2005 Settlement Agreement but no agreement was reached. The Company terminated, effective November 1, 2013, its contributions for medical coverage and life insurance benefits to affected retirees and is seeking declaratory relief to confirm the Company’s rights under the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended (“ERISA”), to reduce or terminate retiree medical coverage and life insurance benefits pursuant to the plans that were the subject of the 2005 Settlement Agreement. On July 9, 2013, the union and certain retiree defendants filed suit in the United States District Court for the Western District of Pennsylvania regarding the same dispute (see Note 16). The outcome of the pending litigation and the impact on the Company’s postretirement benefit plan obligation cannot be determined at this time. The Company’s recorded postretirement benefit plan obligation assumes for accounting purposes a continuation of those monthly payments after November 30, 2012 (as was permitted under the settlement). However, the Company’s postretirement benefit plan obligation could significantly increase or decrease as a result of the litigation or if the parties agree to an alternative settlement agreement.

Generally, contributions to the plans are not less than the minimum amounts required under ERISA and not more than the maximum amount that can be deducted for federal income tax purposes. The plans’ assets are held by independent trustees and consist primarily of equity and fixed income securities.

The changes in benefit obligation, change in plan assets and funded status as of December 31, 2014 and 2013, are as follows:

 

 

55


Table of Contents

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (continued)

For the Years Ended December 31, 2014, 2013 and 2012

(in thousands, except for share and per share data)

 

     Pension Benefits      Postretirement
Benefits
 
     2014      2013      2014      2013  

Change in benefit obligation

           

Benefit obligation—Beginning of year

   $ 56,341       $ 64,957       $ 63,312       $ 69,300   

Service cost

     —           —           63         73   

Interest cost

     2,642         2,526         2,999         2,627   

Actuarial (gain) loss

     6,799         (6,278      7,917         (5,448

Benefits paid

     (4,471      (4,864      (408      (3,240

Lump-sum settlement payments

     (3,294      —           —           —     
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Benefit obligation—End of year

  58,017      56,341      73,883      63,312   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Change in plan assets

Plan assets—Beginning of year

  55,544      52,788      —       —    

Return on plan assets

  2,811      7,437      —       —    

Employer contributions

  217      183      408      3,240   

Benefits paid

  (4,471   (4,864   (408   (3,240

Lump-sum settlement payments

  (3,294   —        —        —     
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Plan assets at fair value—End of year

  50,807      55,544      —       —    
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Funded status of plans—End of year

$ (7,210 $ (797 $ (73,883 $ (63,312
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 
     Pension Benefits      Postretirement
Benefits
 
     2014      2013      2014      2013  

Amounts recognized in the Consolidated Balance Sheets

           

Noncurrent assets

   $ —         $ 48       $ —        $ —    

Current liabilities

     —          —          (409      (413

Noncurrent liabilities

     (7,210      (845      (73,474      (62,899
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Net amount recognized at December 31

$ (7,210 $ (797 $ (73,883 $ (63,312
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Amounts recognized in accumulated other comprehensive loss but not yet recognized in earnings at December 31, 2014 and 2013, are as follows:

 

     Pension Benefits      Postretirement
Benefits
 
     2014      2013      2014      2013  

Net actuarial loss

   $ 17,163       $ 10,731       $ 21,081       $ 13,535   

Prior service cost

     —           —           284         525   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 
$ 17,163    $ 10,731    $ 21,365    $ 14,060   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

During the fourth quarter of 2014, the Company offered certain of its former employees the option to receive a lump-sum pension payment or annuity in order to satisfy in full the Company’s future pension liabilities to such former employees, with payments beginning in the fourth quarter of 2014. Payments of $3,294 to eligible former employees who elected to participate in the offer were paid in December 2014 from existing pension plan assets and constituted a complete settlement of the Company’s pension liabilities with respect to such former employees. The discount rates and actuarial assumptions used to calculate the payouts were determined according to federal regulations and approximated those used to calculate our pension obligation for financial reporting purposes as of December 31, 2014. A non-cash settlement charge of $966 was recognized in the fourth quarter of 2014 in connection with the settlement payments. This charge resulted from the recognition in earnings of a portion of the losses recorded in accumulated other comprehensive loss based on the portion of the obligation settled.

 

56


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NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (continued)

For the Years Ended December 31, 2014, 2013 and 2012

(in thousands, except for share and per share data)

 

The estimated net loss for the defined benefit pension plan that will be amortized from accumulated other comprehensive loss into net periodic benefit cost in 2015 is $434. The estimated net loss and prior service cost for the postretirement benefit plan that will be amortized from accumulated other comprehensive loss into net periodic benefit cost in 2015 are $627 and $42, respectively.

Components of net periodic benefit cost for the years ended December 31, 2014, 2013 and 2012, are as follows:

 

     Pension Benefits     Postretirement Benefits  
     2014     2013     2012     2014      2013      2012  

Components of net periodic benefit cost

              

Service cost

   $ —        $ —        $ —        $ 63       $ 73       $ 64   

Interest cost

     2,642        2,526        2,899        2,999         2,627         3,020   

Expected return on plan assets

     (3,620     (3,546     (3,448     —          —          —    

Amortization of unrecognized prior service cost

     —          —          —          241         241         241   

Amortization of unrecognized net loss

     211        524        505        371         612         374   

Lump-sum settlement cost

     966        —          —          —          —          —    
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total net periodic (benefit) cost

$ 199    $ (496 $ (44 $ 3,674    $ 3,553    $ 3,699   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

The increase (decrease) in accumulated other comprehensive loss (pre-tax) for the years ended December 31, 2014 and 2013, are as follows:

 

    2014     2013  
    Pension
Benefits
    Postretirement
Benefits
    Pension
Benefits
    Postretirement
Benefits
 

Net actuarial loss (gain)

  $ 7,608      $ 7,917      $ (10,168   $ (5,448

Amortization of net actuarial loss

    (1,177     (371     (524     (612

Amortization of prior service cost

    —          (241     —          (241
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total recognized in accumulated other comprehensive loss (gain)

$ 6,431    $ 7,305    $ (10,692 $ (6,301
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

The following benefit payments, which reflect expected future service, as appropriate, are expected to be paid as of December 31, 2014:

 

            Postretirement Benefits  
     Pension Benefits      Salaried Retirees      Hourly Retirees(1)  

2015

   $ 4,133       $ 409       $ —     

2016

     3,813         397         8,583   

2017

     3,544         389         4,100   

2018

     3,428         383         3,980   

2019

     3,384         372         3,851   

2020 through 2024

     16,522         1,935         17,898   

 

(1)  The Company’s recorded postretirement benefit plan obligation assumes a continuation of these benefit payments for accounting purposes only. However, because the Company’s postretirement benefit plan obligation is currently subject to litigation the actual postretirement benefit payments for hourly retirees, if any, are unknown at this time.

The Company does not expect to make any contributions to its pension plans in 2015 to meet its minimum funding requirements.

 

57


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NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (continued)

For the Years Ended December 31, 2014, 2013 and 2012

(in thousands, except for share and per share data)

 

The assumptions used to determine end of year benefit obligations are shown in the following table:

 

     Pension Benefits     Postretirement Benefits  
     2014     2013     2014     2013  

Discount rates

     4.15     4.91     4.03     4.75

The discount rate is determined using a yield curve model that uses yields on high quality corporate bonds (AA rated or better) to produce a single equivalent rate. The yield curve model excludes callable bonds except those with make-whole provisions, private placements and bonds with variable rates.

In October 2014, the Society of Actuaries published updated mortality tables for U.S. plans (RP-2014) and an updated improvement scale (MP-2014), which both reflect improved longevity. The Company has historically utilized the Society of Actuaries’ published mortality data in its plan assumptions. Accordingly, the Company adopted RP-2014 and MP-2014 for purposes of measuring its pension and postretirement obligations at December 31, 2014.

The assumptions used in the measurement of net periodic cost are shown in the following table:

 

     Pension Benefits     Postretirement Benefits  
     2014     2013     2012     2014     2013     2012  

Discount rate

     4.91     4.11     4.90     4.75     3.95     4.80

Expected return on plan assets

     6.76     6.98     7.28     N/A        N/A        N/A   

As benefits under these postretirement healthcare plans have been capped, assumed health care cost trend rates have no effect on the amounts reported for the health care plans.

The Company’s pension plans’ weighted average asset allocations at December 31, 2014 and 2013, and target allocations for 2015, by asset category, are as follows:

 

     Plan Assets at
December 31,
    Target
Allocation
 
     2014     2013     2015  

Asset Category

      

Cash and cash equivalents

     1     1     0% - 5

Equity securities

     55     64     45% - 65

Fixed income securities

     38     31     30% - 50

Real estate

     6     4     4% - 6
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 
  100   100   100
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

The basic goal underlying the pension plan investment policy is to ensure that the assets of the plans, along with expected plan sponsor contributions, will be invested in a prudent manner to meet the obligations of the plans as those obligations come due under a broad range of potential economic and financial scenarios, maximize the long-term investment return with an acceptable level of risk based on such obligations, and broadly diversify investments across and within the capital markets to protect asset values against adverse movements in any one market. The Company’s investment strategy balances the requirement to maximize returns using potentially higher return generating assets, such as equity securities, with the need to manage the risk of such investments with less volatile assets, such as fixed-income securities. Investment practices must comply with the requirements of ERISA and any other applicable laws and regulations. The Company, in consultation with its investment advisors, has determined a targeted allocation of invested assets by category and it works with its advisors to reasonably maintain the actual allocation of assets near the target. The long term return on assets was estimated based upon historical market performance, expectations of future market performance for debt and equity securities and the related risks of

 

58


Table of Contents

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (continued)

For the Years Ended December 31, 2014, 2013 and 2012

(in thousands, except for share and per share data)

 

various allocations between debt and equity securities. Numerous asset classes with differing expected rates of return, return volatility and correlations are utilized to reduce risk through diversification.

The Company’s pension plan assets are invested in one mutual fund for each fund classification. The following table presents the fair value of pension plan assets classified under the appropriate level of the ASC 820 fair value hierarchy (see Note 2 for a description of the fair value hierarchy) as of December 31, 2014 and 2013:

 

Pension Plan Assets    As of December 31, 2014  
     Level 1      Level 2      Level 3      Total  

Mutual funds:

           

Fixed income fund

   $ 19,276       $ —         $ —         $ 19,276   

Large cap stock fund

     15,422         —           —           15,422   

Small cap stock fund

     5,024         —           —           5,024   

International fund

     7,382         —           —           7,382   

Real estate fund

     2,982         —           —           2,982   

Cash and cash equivalents

     721         —           —           721   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total

$ 50,807    $ —      $ —      $ 50,807   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 
Pension Plan Assets    As of December 31, 2013  
     Level 1      Level 2      Level 3      Total  

Mutual funds:

           

Fixed income fund

   $ 17,468       $ —         $ —         $ 17,468   

Large cap stock fund

     21,575         —           —           21,575   

Small cap stock fund

     4,909         —           —           4,909   

International fund

     8,954         —           —           8,954   

Real estate fund

     2,306         —           —           2,306   

Cash and cash equivalents

     332         —           —           332   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total

$ 55,544    $ —      $ —      $ 55,544   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

The Company also maintains qualified defined contribution plans, which provide benefits to their employees based on employee contributions and employee earnings, with discretionary contributions allowed. Expenses related to these plans were $1,649, $1,465 and $1,776 for the years ended December 31, 2014, 2013 and 2012, respectively.

Note 14 – Income Taxes

The provision (benefit) for income taxes for the periods indicated includes current and deferred components as follows:

 

     Year Ended December 31,  
     2014      2013      2012  

Current taxes

        

Federal

   $ 325       $ —         $ 653   

State

     93         14         2,371   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 
  418      14      3,024   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Deferred taxes

Federal

  1,666      (11,554   8,755   

State

  325      5,833      1,665   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 
  1,991      (5,721   10,420   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Interest expense, gross of related tax effects

  159      170      327   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total provision (benefit)

$ 2,568    $ (5,537 $ 13,771   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

 

59


Table of Contents

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (continued)

For the Years Ended December 31, 2014, 2013 and 2012

(in thousands, except for share and per share data)

 

The provision (benefit) for income taxes for the periods indicated differs from the amounts computed by applying the federal statutory rate as follows:

 

     Year Ended December 31,  
     2014     2013     2012  

Statutory U.S. federal income tax rate

     35.0     (35.0 )%      35.0

State income taxes, net of federal tax benefit

     5.8     (2.5 )%      5.4

Valuation allowance

     (2.4 )%      9.0     (2.0 )% 

Goodwill

     —          (3.4 )%      (1.8 )% 

Nondeductible expenses

     1.0     0.4     0.6

State rate and other changes on deferred taxes

     2.1     8.8     4.9

Research and development tax credit

     (9.4 )%      —          —     

Uncertain tax positions

     1.3     0.4     0.1

Other

     (3.1 )%      —          (0.3 )% 
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Effective income tax rate

  30.3   (22.3 )%    41.9
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Deferred income taxes result from temporary differences in the financial and tax basis of assets and liabilities. Components of deferred tax assets (liabilities) consisted of the following:

 

     December 31, 2014     December 31, 2013  
Description    Assets     Liabilities     Assets     Liabilities  

Accrued postretirement and pension benefits—long-term

   $ 28,569      $ —       $ 23,055      $ —    

Intangible assets

     —          (2,832 )     —          (2,480 )

Accrued workers’ compensation costs

     1,268        —         1,067        —    

Accrued warranty costs

     3,396        —         3,072        —    

Accrued rent

     1,113       —          957       —     

Accrued bonuses

     1,438        —         —          —    

Accrued vacation

     658        —         633        —    

Accrued contingencies

     1,374        —         1,316        —    

Accrued severance

     43        —         490        —    

Inventory valuation

     1,713        —         3,102        —    

Property, plant and equipment and railcars on operating leases

     —         (9,613     —         (12,396

Deferred revenue

     30        —         1,077        —    

Net operating loss carryforwards

     8,299        —         14,059        —    

Credit carryforward

     1,828        —         709        —    

Stock-based compensation expense

     2,892        —         2,506        —    

Other

     —          (264 )     224        —    
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 
  52,621      (12,709   52,267      (14,876

Valuation allowance

  (6,219   —       (6,616   —    
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Deferred tax assets (liabilities)

$ 46,402    $ (12,709 $ 45,651    $ (14,876
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

(Decrease) increase in valuation allowance

$ (397 $ 2,034   
  

 

 

     

 

 

   

In the consolidated balance sheets, these deferred tax assets and liabilities are classified as current or noncurrent, based on the classification of the related asset or liability for financial reporting. A deferred tax asset or liability that is not related to an asset or liability for financial reporting, including deferred tax assets related to carryforwards, is classified according to the expected reversal date of the temporary differences as of the end of the year. A valuation allowance is provided when it is more likely than not that some portion or all of the deferred tax assets will not be realized.

 

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NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (continued)

For the Years Ended December 31, 2014, 2013 and 2012

(in thousands, except for share and per share data)

 

Although realization of our net deferred assets is not certain, management has concluded that, based on the positive and negative evidence considered and the expected improvement in railcar demand and, therefore, operating results, we will more likely than not realize the full benefit of the deferred tax assets except for our deferred tax assets in certain states. The Company has certain pretax state net operating loss carryforwards of $115,289, which will expire between 2015 and 2034, of which $103,972 have a full valuation allowance recorded. In addition to the state valuation allowances, the Company has also provided a full valuation allowance against net operating losses associated with the foreign jurisdictions in which it operates. The remaining losses associated with these jurisdictions will begin to expire in 2016. The Company has federal net operating loss carryforwards of $4,696 which will expire in 2033.

A reconciliation of the beginning and ending gross amounts of unrecognized tax benefits for the years ended December 31, 2014, 2013 and 2012, were as follows:

 

     2014      2013      2012  

Beginning of year balance

   $ 2,172       $ 2,172       $ 2,225   

Increases in current period tax positions

     272         —           —     

Decreases relating to expiring statutes of limitations

     —           —           (53
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

End of year balance

$ 2,444    $ 2,172    $ 2,172   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

The total estimated unrecognized tax benefit that, if recognized, would affect the Company’s effective tax rate by approximately $2,196, $1,924 and $1,924 as of December 31, 2014, 2013 and 2012, respectively. Due to the nature of the Company’s unrecognized tax benefits, the Company does not expect changes in its unrecognized tax benefit reserve in the next twelve months to have a material impact on its financial statements. The Company’s income tax provision included $110 of expense (net of a federal tax benefit of $60), $96 of expense (net of a federal tax benefit of $75) and $82 of expense (net of a federal tax benefit of $69) related to interest and penalties for the years ended December 31, 2014, 2013 and 2012, respectively. The Company records interest and penalties within tax expense (benefit). Such expenses brought the balance of accrued interest and penalties to $1,916, $1,745 and $1,575 at December 31, 2014, 2013 and 2012, respectively.

The Company and/or its subsidiaries file income tax returns with the U.S. Federal government and in various state and foreign jurisdictions. A summary of tax years that remain subject to examination is as follows:

 

Jurisdiction

   Earliest Year
Open To
Examination
 

U.S. Federal

     2010   

States:

  

Pennsylvania

     2000   

Texas

     2008   

Illinois

     2009   

Virginia

     2011   

Colorado

     2010   

Indiana

     2010   

Nebraska

     2010   

Alabama

     2013   

Foreign:

  

India

     2008   

Mauritius

     2009   

Note 15 – Stock-Based Compensation

The Company’s incentive compensation plan, titled “The 2005 Long Term Incentive Plan” (as restated to incorporate all amendments, the “Incentive Plan”), was approved by the Company’s board of directors and ratified by the stockholders. The Incentive Plan is intended to provide incentives to attract, retain and motivate employees

 

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NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (continued)

For the Years Ended December 31, 2014, 2013 and 2012

(in thousands, except for share and per share data)

 

and directors, to provide for competitive compensation opportunities, to encourage long-term service, to recognize individual contributions and reward achievement of performance goals. The Company believes that the Incentive Plan promotes the creation of long-term value for its stockholders by better aligning the interests of its employees and directors with those of its stockholders. The Incentive Plan provides for the grant to eligible persons of stock options, share appreciation rights, or SARs, restricted shares, restricted share units, or RSUs, performance shares, performance units, dividend equivalents and other share-based awards, referred to collectively as the awards. Option awards generally vest based on one to three years of service and have 10 year contractual terms. Share awards generally vest over one to three years. Certain option and share awards provide for accelerated vesting if there is a change in control (as defined in the Incentive Plan). The Incentive Plan will terminate as to future awards on May 17, 2023. Under the Incentive Plan, 2,459,616 shares of common stock have been reserved for issuance (from either authorized but unissued shares or treasury shares), of which 947,719 were available for issuance at December 31, 2014.

The Company recognizes stock-based compensation expense for stock option awards based on the fair value of the award on the grant date using the Black-Scholes option valuation model. Expected life in years for all stock options awards was determined using the simplified method. The Company believes that it is appropriate to use the simplified method in determining the expected life for options because the Company does not have sufficient historical exercise data to provide a reasonable basis upon which to estimate the expected term for stock options and due to the limited number of stock option grants to date. Expected volatility was based on the historical volatility of the Company’s stock. The risk-free interest rate was based on the U.S. Treasury bond rate for the expected life of the option. The expected dividend yield was based on the latest annualized dividend rate and the current market price of the underlying common stock on the date of the grant. The Company recognizes stock-based compensation for restricted stock awards over the vesting period based on the fair market value of the stock on the date of the award, calculated as the average of the high and low trading prices for the Company’s common stock on the award date.

Grant date fair values of stock option awards were estimated using the Black-Scholes option valuation model with the following assumptions:

 

Grant

Year

   Grant
Date
     Expected
Life
     Expected
Volatility
    Expected
Dividend
Yield
    Risk Free
Interest Rate
    Grant Date
Fair Value
Per Share
 

2014

     1/15/2014         6 years         51.03     0.94     1.68   $ 11.58   

2013

     1/14/2013         6 years         51.36     0.98     0.78   $ 10.70   

2013

     1/18/2013         6 years         51.38     0.99     0.77   $ 10.82   

2013

     5/1/2013         6 years         51.43     1.19     0.65   $ 8.79   

2013

     10/4/2013         6 years         51.46     1.17     1.41   $ 9.03   

2012

     1/12/2012         6 years         50.86     0     0.84   $ 11.23   

2011

     1/13/2011         6 years         49.74     0     1.93   $ 14.61   

2011

     10/3/2011         6 years         49.83     0     0.87   $ 6.61   

Stock-based compensation expense of $2,084, $2,289 and $1,703 is included within selling, general and administrative expense for the years ended December 31, 2014, 2013 and 2012, respectively. The total income tax benefit recognized on the consolidated statements of operations for share-based compensation arrangements was $735, $806 and $653 for the years ended December 31, 2014, 2013 and 2012, respectively.

A summary of the Company’s stock options activity and related information at December 31, 2014 and 2013, and changes during the years then ended, is presented below:

 

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NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (continued)

For the Years Ended December 31, 2014, 2013 and 2012

(in thousands, except for share and per share data)

 

     December 31,  
     2014      2013  
     Options
Outstanding
     Weighted-
Average
Exercise
Price
(per share)
     Options
Outstanding
     Weighted-
Average
Exercise
Price
(per share)
 

Outstanding at the beginning of the year

     662,048       $ 23.46         553,248       $ 23.79   

Granted

     191,685         25.55         176,710         22.75   

Exercised

     (6,610      22.90         (11,498      16.82   

Forfeited or expired

     (52,145      25.11         (56,412      25.76   
  

 

 

       

 

 

    

Outstanding at the end of the year

  794,978    $ 19.41      662,048    $ 23.46   
  

 

 

       

 

 

    

Exercisable at the end of the year

  492,468    $ 23.58      418,858    $ 23.49   
  

 

 

       

 

 

    

The weighted-average grant-date fair value per share of stock options granted during the years ended December 31, 2014, 2013 and 2012, was $11.58, $10.04 and $11.23, respectively.

A summary of the Company’s stock options outstanding as of December 31, 2014 is presented below:

 

     Options
Outstanding
     Weighted-
Average
Remaining
Contractual
Term
(in years)
     Weighted-
Average
Exercise
Price
(per share)
     Aggregate
Intrinsic
Value
 

Options outstanding

     794,978         6.8       $ 19.41       $ 2,592   

Vested or expected to vest

     766,754         6.8       $ 23.83       $ 2,512   

Options exercisable

     492,468         5.8       $ 23.58       $ 1,954   

The intrinsic value of stock options exercised during the year ended December 31, 2014 was $26. Cash received from exercise of stock options during the year ended December 31, 2014 was $151. The intrinsic value of stock options exercised during the year ended December 31, 2013 was $72. Cash received from exercise of stock options during the year ended December 31, 2013 was $193. As of December 31, 2014, there was $1,908 of total unrecognized compensation expense related to nonvested options, which will be recognized over the remaining requisite service period of 24 months.

 

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NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (continued)

For the Years Ended December 31, 2014, 2013 and 2012

(in thousands, except for share and per share data)

 

A summary of the Company’s nonvested restricted shares as of December 31, 2014 and 2013, and changes during the years then ended is presented below:

 

     December 31,  
     2014      2013  
     Shares      Weighted-
Average
Grant Date
Fair Value
(per share)
     Shares      Weighted-
Average
Grant Date
Fair Value
(per share)
 

Nonvested at the beginning of the year

     74,147       $ 22.40         40,275       $ 22.70   

Granted

     24,212         25.48         72,635         22.47   

Vested

     (35,827      21.64         (28,777      22.77   

Forfeited

     (5,657      23.97         (9,986      23.05   
  

 

 

       

 

 

    

Nonvested at the end of the year

  56,875    $ 24.04      74,147    $ 22.40   
  

 

 

       

 

 

    

Expected to vest

  48,651    $ 23.53      67,118    $ 21.98   
  

 

 

       

 

 

    

The weighted-average grant-date fair value per share of stock awards granted during the years ended December 31, 2014, 2013 and 2012, was $25.48, $22.47 and $21.37, respectively. The fair value of stock awards vested during the years ended December 31, 2014, 2013 and 2012, was $903, $612 and $425, respectively, based on the value at vesting date. As of December 31, 2014, there was $636 of total unrecognized compensation expense related to nonvested restricted stock awards, which will be recognized over the average remaining requisite service period of 33 months.

Note 16 – Risks and Contingencies

The Company is involved in various warranty and repair claims and, in certain cases, related pending and threatened legal proceedings with its customers in the normal course of business. In the opinion of management, the Company’s potential losses in excess of the accrued warranty and legal provisions, if any, are not expected to be material to the Company’s consolidated financial condition, results of operations or cash flows.

On July 8, 2013, the Company filed a Complaint for Declaratory Judgment (the “Complaint”) in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Illinois, Eastern Division (the “Illinois Court”). The case names as defendants the United Steel, Paper & Forestry, Rubber, Manufacturing, Energy, Allied Industrial & Services Workers International Union, AFL-CIO, CLC (the “USW”), as well as approximately 650 individual Retiree Defendants (as defined in the Complaint), and was assigned Case No 1:13-cv-4889.

As described in the Complaint, pursuant to the 2005 Settlement Agreement among the Company, the USW and the Retiree Defendants, the Company agreed to make certain levels of contributions to medical coverage for the Retiree Defendants and to continue to provide life insurance benefits at their amount at that time under certain of the Company’s employee welfare benefit plans. The 2005 Settlement Agreement expressly provided that, as of November 30, 2012, the Company could cease making these contributions. In June 2011, the Company and the USW began discussing the possibility of an extension beyond November 30, 2012 for the Company’s contributions to retiree medical coverage and life insurance benefits at a reduced amount and on other mutually acceptable terms. The Company engaged in voluntary negotiations for two years with the USW and counsel for the Retiree Defendants in an effort to reach a consensual agreement regarding such medical and life insurance benefits, but the parties were unable to reach a final agreement. The Company terminated, effective November 1, 2013, its contributions for medical coverage provided to the Retiree Defendants and the provision of life insurance benefits and is seeking declaratory relief to confirm its rights under ERISA to reduce or terminate retiree medical coverage and life insurance benefits pursuant to the plans that were the subject of the 2005 Settlement Agreement.

On July 9, 2013, the USW and certain Retiree Defendants (collectively, the “Pennsylvania Plaintiffs”) filed a putative class action in the United States District Court for the Western District of Pennsylvania (the “Pennsylvania Court”), captioned as Zanghi, et al. v. FreightCar America, Inc., et al., Case No. 3:13-cv-146. The complaint filed

 

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NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (continued)

For the Years Ended December 31, 2014, 2013 and 2012

(in thousands, except for share and per share data)

 

with the Pennsylvania Court alleges that the Company does not have the right to terminate welfare benefits previously provided to the Retiree Defendants and requests, among other relief, entry of a judgment finding that the Retiree Defendants have a vested right to specified welfare benefits.

On July 26, 2013, the Pennsylvania Plaintiffs filed with the Illinois Court a Motion to Dismiss Pursuant to Fed. R. Civ. P. 12(b) or in the Alternative, to Transfer Pursuant to 28 U.S.C. 1404(a), as well as a Motion to Stay and/or Prevent Plaintiff from Obtaining Defaults against the Retiree Defendants. On August 5, 2013, the Company filed with the Pennsylvania Court a Motion to Dismiss Pursuant to Fed. R. Civ. P. 12(b) or in the Alternative, to Transfer Pursuant to 28 U.S.C. 1404(a). On January 14, 2014, the Pennsylvania Court denied the Company’s motion to dismiss and, on January 16, 2014, the Illinois Court transferred the Company’s case to the Pennsylvania Court. On January 31, 2014, the Company filed a motion to consolidate both cases before the Pennsylvania Court. On April 3, 2014, the Pennsylvania Court entered an order (the “Initial Procedural Order”) that, among other things, consolidated both cases before the Pennsylvania Court, certified a class for purposes of the consolidated actions, established discovery parameters and deadlines and established a briefing schedule applicable to the parties’ cross motions for summary judgment as to liability only. On July 17, 2014, the parties filed with the Pennsylvania Court their respective motions for summary judgment as to liability. The parties have submitted their responses and replies with respect to each of the motions. The Company is not able to predict to when the Pennsylvania Court will issue its ruling on such motions or how the Pennsylvania Court will rule.

On September 5, 2013, the Pennsylvania Plaintiffs and certain putative class representatives filed a Plaintiffs’ Motion for Temporary Restraining Order and Preliminary Injunction (the “TRO Motion”) with the Pennsylvania Court. In the TRO Motion, the plaintiffs requested that the Pennsylvania Court enter an injunction requiring the Company to continue to make monthly contributions at the same rate established by the 2005 Settlement Agreement until the parties’ dispute is fully adjudicated on the merits. Following entry of the Initial Procedural Order, the Pennsylvania Court denied the TRO Motion without prejudice.

The Company has recorded postretirement benefit plan obligations, a substantial portion of which relates to the dispute now before the Illinois Court and the Pennsylvania Court (see Note 13).

On September 29, 2008, Bral Corporation, a supplier of certain railcar parts to the Company, filed a complaint against the Company in the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Pennsylvania (the “Pennsylvania Lawsuit”). The complaint alleged that the Company breached an exclusive supply agreement with Bral by purchasing parts from CMN Components, Inc. (“CMN”) and sought damages in an unspecified amount, attorneys’ fees and other legal costs. On December 14, 2007, Bral sued CMN in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois, alleging among other things that CMN interfered in the business relationship between Bral and the Company (the “Illinois Lawsuit”) and seeking damages in an unspecified amount, attorneys’ fees and other legal costs. On October 22, 2008, the Company entered into an Assignment of Claims Agreement with CMN under which CMN assigned to the Company its counterclaims against Bral in the Illinois Lawsuit and the Company agreed to defend and indemnify CMN against Bral’s claims in that lawsuit. On March 4, 2013, Bral Corporation and the Company agreed to settle the Illinois Lawsuit and the Pennsylvania Lawsuit. The settlement resulted in a $3,884 reduction in litigation reserves, which favorably impacted the Company’s results of operations for the year ended December 31, 2013.

In addition to the foregoing, the Company is involved in certain other pending and threatened legal proceedings, including commercial disputes and workers’ compensation and employee matters arising out of the conduct of its business. While the ultimate outcome of these other legal proceedings cannot be determined at this time, it is the opinion of management that the resolution of these other actions will not have a material adverse effect on the Company’s financial condition, results of operations or cash flows.

Note 17 – Other Commitments

The Company leases certain property and equipment under long-term operating leases expiring at various dates through 2024. The leases generally contain specific renewal options at lease-end at the then fair market amounts.

 

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NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (continued)

For the Years Ended December 31, 2014, 2013 and 2012

(in thousands, except for share and per share data)

 

Future minimum lease payments at December 31, 2014 are as follows:

 

2015

$  10,342   

2016

  10,122   

2017

  9,812   

2018

  9,878   

2019

  9,931   

Thereafter

  28,810   
  

 

 

 
$ 78,895   
  

 

 

 

The Company is liable for maintenance, insurance and similar costs under most of its leases and such costs are not included in the future minimum lease payments. Total rental expense for the years ended December 31, 2014, 2013 and 2012, was $9,583, $8,893 and $3,306, respectively.

The Company is party to certain non-cancelable fixed price agreements to purchase fixed amounts of materials used in the manufacturing process. These purchase commitments are typically entered into after a customer places an order for railcars and at December 31, 2014, these purchase commitments totaled $8,460. The Company expects to take delivery of such materials during 2015.

In addition, the Company has other non-cancelable agreements with its suppliers to purchase certain materials used in the manufacturing process. The commitments may vary based on the actual quantities ordered and be subject to the actual price when ordered. At December 31, 2014, the Company had purchase commitments under these agreements as follows:

 

2015

$  5,980   

2016

  8,970   

2017

  8,969   

2018

  —     

2019

  —     

Thereafter

  —     
  

 

 

 
$ 23,919   
  

 

 

 

Purchases related to these agreements were approximately $18,188, $19,273 and $30,467 for the years ended December 31, 2014, 2013 and 2012, respectively.

Note 18 – Earnings Per Share

The weighted average common shares outstanding are as follows:

 

     Year Ended December 31,  
     2014      2013      2012  

Weighted average common shares outstanding

     12,001,587         11,954,238         11,932,926   

Dilutive effect of employee stock options and restricted share awards

     101,933         —           36,441   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Weighted average diluted common shares outstanding

  12,103,520      11,954,238      11,969,367   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

The Company computes earnings (loss) per share using the two-class method, which is an earnings (loss) allocation formula that determines earnings (loss) per share for common stock and participating securities. The Company’s

 

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NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (continued)

For the Years Ended December 31, 2014, 2013 and 2012

(in thousands, except for share and per share data)

 

participating securities are its grants of restricted stock which contain non-forfeitable rights to dividends. The Company computes basic earnings per share by dividing net income (loss) allocated to common shareholders by the weighted average number of shares outstanding during the year. Diluted earnings per share is calculated to give effect to all potentially dilutive common shares that were outstanding during the year. Weighted average diluted common shares outstanding include the incremental shares that would be issued upon the assumed exercise of stock options and the assumed vesting of nonvested share awards. The Company had a net loss for the year ended December 31, 2013, and accordingly, all stock options and shares of nonvested share awards were anti-dilutive and not included in the above calculation for that period. For the years ended December 31, 2014, 2013 and 2012, 397,697, 737,473 and 413,469 shares, respectively, were not included in the weighted average common shares outstanding calculation as they were anti-dilutive.

Note 19 – Revenue Sources and Concentration of Sales

The following table sets forth the Company’s sales resulting from various revenue sources for the periods indicated below:

 

     Year Ended December 31,  
     2014      2013      2012  

New railcar revenues

   $ 352,501       $ 103,543       $ 565,244   

Rebuild railcar revenues

     204,009         142,977         66,508   

Used railcar sales

     74         1,238         6,177   

Parts sales

     15,758         10,825         9,042   

Leasing revenues

     6,069         5,776         6,118   

Maintenance and repair revenues

     19,612         24,866         23,429   

Other sales

     495         1,168         931   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 
$ 598,518    $ 290,393    $ 677,449   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Due to the nature of its operations, the Company is subject to significant concentration of risks related to business with a few customers. Sales to the Company’s top three customers accounted for 36%, 20% and 13%, respectively, of revenues for the year ended December 31, 2014. Sales to the Company’s top three customers accounted for 45%, 12% and 6%, respectively, of revenues for the year ended December 31, 2013. Sales to the Company’s top three customers accounted for 28%, 22% and 14%, respectively, of revenues for the year ended December 31, 2012. The Company’s sales to customers outside the United States were $18,331, $21,421 and $48,265 in 2014, 2013 and 2012, respectively.

Note 20 – Labor Agreements

A collective bargaining agreement at one of the Company’s facilities that covers approximately 13% and 17% of the Company’s active labor force at December 31, 2014 and 2013, respectively, expires on March 31, 2017.

A collective bargaining agreement at a facility that covers approximately 16% of the Company’s active labor force at December 31, 2014 expires on October 31, 2018. The facility was idled during 2013 and resumed production in June 2014.

Note 21 – Selected Quarterly Financial Data (Unaudited)

                (Dollar amounts in thousands except per share data)

Quarterly financial data is as follows:

 

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NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (continued)

For the Years Ended December 31, 2014, 2013 and 2012

(in thousands, except for share and per share data)

 

     First
Quarter
    Second
Quarter
    Third
Quarter
    Fourth
Quarter
 

2014

        

Revenues

   $ 56,086      $ 139,688      $ 190,280      $ 212,464   

Gross profit

     (3,152     11,054        18,819        15,622   

Net (loss) income

     (6,949     1,615        6,432        4,806   

Net (loss) income per common share— basic

   $ (0.58   $ 0.13      $ 0.53      $ 0.40   

Net (loss) income per common share— diluted

   $ (0.58   $ 0.13      $ 0.53      $ 0.39   

2013

        

Revenues

   $ 87,615      $ 47,109      $ 75,946      $ 79,723   

Gross profit

     4,969        2,277        6,182        (203

Net loss (1)

     (2,644     (3,438     (926     (12,287

Net loss per common share — basic

   $ (0.22   $ (0.29   $ (0.08   $ (1.03

Net loss per common share — diluted

   $ (0.22   $ (0.29   $ (0.08   $ (1.03

 

1  Results for the fourth quarter of 2013 include restructuring and impairment charges of $10,452 (see Note 7 for a description of these charges).

Note 22 – Segment Information

The Company’s operations comprise two reportable segments, Manufacturing and Services. The Company’s Manufacturing segment includes new railcar manufacturing, used railcar sales, railcar leasing and major railcar rebuilds. The Company’s Services segment includes general railcar repair and maintenance, inspections and parts sales. Corporate includes selling, general and administrative expenses not related to production of goods and services, retiree pension and other postretirement benefit costs, and all other non-operating activity.

Segment operating income is an internal performance measure used by the Company’s Chief Operating Decision Maker to assess the performance of each segment in a given period. Segment operating income includes all external revenues attributable to the segments as well as operating costs and income that management believes are directly attributable to the current production of goods and services. The Company’s management reporting package does not include interest revenue, interest expense or income taxes allocated to individual segments and these items are not considered as a component of segment operating income. Segment assets represent operating assets and exclude intersegment accounts, deferred tax assets and income tax receivables. The Company does not allocate cash and cash equivalents to its operating segments as the Company’s treasury function is managed at the Corporate level.

The accounting policies of the business segments are the same as those described in the summary of significant accounting policies in Note 2. Intersegment revenues were not material in any period presented.

 

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NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (continued)

For the Years Ended December 31, 2014, 2013 and 2012

(in thousands, except for share and per share data)

 

     Year Ended December 31,  
     2014      2013      2012  

Revenues:

  

  

Manufacturing

   $ 562,719       $ 253,777       $ 644,012   

Services

     35,799         36,616         33,437   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Consolidated Revenues

$ 598,518    $ 290,393    $ 677,449   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Operating Income (Loss):

Manufacturing

$ 32,150    $ (3,361 $ 58,272   

Services

  3,503      1,161      2,123   

Corporate

  (26,146   (21,887   (27,156
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Consolidated Operating Income (Loss)

  9,507      (24,087   33,239   

Consolidated interest expense and deferred financing costs

  (1,077   (809   (384

Consolidated other income

  42      64      11   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Consolidated Income (Loss) Before Income Taxes

$ 8,472    $ (24,832 $ 32,866   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Depreciation and Amortization:

Manufacturing

$ 6,858    $ 6,485    $ 4,973   

Services

  1,517      2,073      2,088   

Corporate

  1,694      1,519      1,337   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Consolidated Depreciation and Amortization

$ 10,069    $ 10,077    $ 8,398   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Capital Expenditures:

Manufacturing

$ 10,952    $ 15,835    $ 7,165   

Services

  398      329      1,436   

Corporate

  452      1,153      487   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Consolidated Capital Expenditures

$ 11,802    $ 17,317    $ 9,088   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

 

     December 31,
2014
     December 31,
2013
 

Assets:

     

Manufacturing

   $ 157,505       $ 161,221   

Services

     18,085         21,026   

Corporate

     175,806         203,571   
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total Operating Assets

  351,396      385,818   

Consolidated income taxes receivable

  164      1,126   

Consolidated deferred income taxes, current

  12,139      11,017   

Consolidated deferred income taxes, long-term

  21,553      19,758   
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Consolidated Assets

$ 385,252    $ 417,719   
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

 

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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

Under the supervision and with the participation of our Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, management evaluated the effectiveness of the design and operation of our disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Rule 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”)), as of the end of the period covered by our annual report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2014 (the “Evaluation Date”). Based upon that evaluation, the Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer have concluded that, as of the Evaluation Date, our disclosure controls and procedures were effective to ensure that information required to be disclosed in the reports that we file or submit under the Exchange Act is recorded, processed, summarized and reported, within the time periods specified in the Securities and Exchange Commission’s rules and forms.

MANAGEMENT’S REPORT ON INTERNAL CONTROL OVER FINANCIAL REPORTING

Management, under the supervision of the Chief Executive Officer and the Chief Financial Officer, is responsible for establishing and maintaining adequate internal control over financial reporting. Internal control over financial reporting, as defined in Rules 13a-15(f) and 15d-15(f) promulgated under the Exchange Act, is a process designed by, or under the supervision of, the Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer and effected by the board of directors, management, and other personnel to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external reporting purposes in accordance with GAAP. Internal control over financial reporting includes those policies and procedures that:

 

    Pertain to the maintenance of records that, in reasonable detail, accurately and fairly reflect the transactions and dispositions of the assets of the Company;

 

    Provide reasonable assurance that transactions are recorded as necessary to permit preparation of financial statements in accordance with GAAP;

 

    Provide reasonable assurance that receipts and expenditures of the Company are being made only in accordance with appropriate authorization of management and the board of directors; and

 

    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.

As of the end of the Company’s 2014 fiscal year, management conducted an evaluation of the effectiveness of the Company’s internal control over financial reporting based on the framework established in Internal Control-Integrated Framework (2013) issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission (COSO). The Company’s system of internal control over financial reporting is designed to provide reasonable assurance to the Company’s management and board of directors regarding the reliability of financial records used in preparation of the Company’s published financial statements. As all internal control systems have inherent limitations, even systems determined to be effective can provide only reasonable assurance with respect to financial statement preparation and presentation. Based on its assessment, management has concluded that the Company’s internal control over financial reporting was effective as of December 31, 2014.

The effectiveness of the Company’s internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2014 has been audited by Deloitte & Touche LLP, an independent registered public accounting firm, as stated in their report appearing herein.

CHANGES IN INTERNAL CONTROL OVER FINANCIAL REPORTING

There has been no change in our internal control over financial reporting during the last fiscal quarter of 2014 that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, our internal control over financial reporting.

 

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Item 9B. Other Information.

None.

PART III

 

Item 10. Directors, Executive Officers and Corporate Governance.

Information required to be disclosed by this item is hereby incorporated by reference to the information under the captions “Governance of the Company,” “Stock Ownership,” “Section 16(a) Beneficial Ownership Reporting Compliance” and “Executive Compensation” in our definitive Proxy Statement to be filed pursuant to Regulation 14A, which Proxy Statement is anticipated to be filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission within 120 days after the end of our fiscal year ended December 31, 2014.

 

Item 11. Executive Compensation.

Information required to be disclosed by this item is hereby incorporated by reference to the information under the captions “Executive Compensation”, “Board of Directors”, “Compensation Discussion and Analysis” and “Director Compensation” in our definitive Proxy Statement to be filed pursuant to Regulation 14A, which Proxy Statement is anticipated to be filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission within 120 days after the end of our fiscal year ended December 31, 2014.

 

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

Information required to be disclosed by this item is hereby incorporated by reference to the information under the captions “Stock Ownership” and “Equity Compensation Plan Information” in our definitive Proxy Statement to be filed pursuant to Regulation 14A, which Proxy Statement is anticipated to be filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission within 120 days after the end of our fiscal year ended December 31, 2014.

 

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

Information required to be disclosed by this item is hereby incorporated by reference to the information under the captions “Certain Transactions” and “Board of Directors” in our definitive Proxy Statement to be filed pursuant to Regulation 14A, which Proxy Statement is anticipated to be filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission within 120 days after the end of our fiscal year ended December 31, 2014.

 

Item 14. Principal Accounting Fees and Services.

Information required to be disclosed by this item is hereby incorporated by reference to the information under the caption “Fees of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm and Audit Committee Report” in our definitive Proxy Statement to be filed pursuant to Regulation 14A, which Proxy Statement is anticipated to be filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission within 120 days after the end of our fiscal year ended December 31, 2014.

 

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PART IV

 

Item 15. Exhibits, Financial Statement Schedules.

Exhibits

 

(a) Documents filed as part of this report:

The following financial statements are included in this Form10-K:

1. Consolidated Financial Statements of FreightCar America, Inc. and Subsidiaries

Reports of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm.

Consolidated Balance Sheets as of December 31, 2014 and 2013.

Consolidated Statements of Operations for the years ended December 31, 2014, 2013 and 2012.

Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income (Loss) for the years ended December 31, 2014, 2013 and 2012.

Consolidated Statements of Stockholders’ Equity for the years ended December 31, 2014, 2013 and 2012.

Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows for the years ended December 31, 2014, 2013 and 2012.

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.

2. Financial Statement Schedule

The following financial statement schedule is a part of this Form 10-K and should be read in conjunction with our audited consolidated financial statements.

Schedule II — Valuation and Qualifying Accounts

All other financial statement schedules are omitted because such schedules are not required or the information required has been presented in the aforementioned financial statements.

3. The exhibits listed on the “Exhibit Index” to this Form 10-K are filed with this Form 10-K or incorporated by reference as set forth below.

 

(b) The exhibits listed on the “Exhibit Index” to this Form 10-K are filed with this Form 10-K or incorporated by reference as set forth below.

 

(c) Additional Financial Statement Schedules

None.

 

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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.

 

    FREIGHTCAR AMERICA, INC.
Date: March 13, 2015     By:  

/S/ JOSEPH E. MCNEELY

      Joseph E. McNeely, President and
      Chief Executive Officer

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

 

Signature

  

Title

  

Date

/S/ JOSEPH E. MCNEELY

Joseph E. McNeely

   President and Chief Executive Officer (principal executive officer) and Director    March 13, 2015

/S/ CHARLES F. AVERY, JR.

Charles F. Avery, Jr.

   Vice President, Finance, Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer (principal financial officer)    March 13, 2015

/S/ JOSEPH J. MALIEKEL

Joseph J. Maliekel

   Vice President and Corporate Controller (principal accounting officer)    March 13, 2015

/s/ WILLIAM D. GEHL

William D. Gehl

  

Chairman of the Board and

Director

   March 13, 2015

/s/ JAMES D. CIRAR

James D. Cirar

   Director    March 13, 2015

/s/ THOMAS A. MADDEN

Thomas A. Madden

   Director    March 13, 2015

/s/ MALCOLM F. MOORE

Malcolm F. Moore

   Director    March 13, 2015

/s/ ANDREW B. SCHMITT

Andrew B. Schmitt

   Director    March 13, 2015

/s/ S. CARL SODERSTROM, JR.

S. Carl Soderstrom

   Director    March 13, 2015

/s/ ROBERT N. TIDBALL

Robert N. Tidball

   Director    March 13, 2015

 

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FreightCar America, Inc. and Subsidiaries

 

Schedule II – Valuation and Qualifying Accounts

For the Years Ended December 31, 2014, 2013 and 2012

(in thousands)

 

    Balance at
Beginning of
Period
    Additions Charged
to Costs and
Expenses
    Deductions,
Accounts Charged
Off and Recoveries
of Amounts
Previously Written
Off
    Balance at End of
Period
 

Year Ended December 31, 2014

       

Allowance for doubtful accounts

  $ 221      $ —        $ (33   $ 188   

Deferred tax assets valuation allowance

    6,616        —          (397     6,219   

Inventory reserve

    1,793        1,252        (664 )     2,381   

Year Ended December 31, 2013

       

Allowance for doubtful accounts

  $ 299      $ —        $ (78   $ 221   

Deferred tax assets valuation allowance

    4,582        2,034        —          6,616   

Inventory reserve

    1,565        697        (469 )     1,793   

Year Ended December 31, 2012

       

Allowance for doubtful accounts

  $ 19      $ 280     $ —        $ 299   

Deferred tax assets valuation allowance

    6,071        —          (1,489     4,582   

Inventory reserve

    1,508        954        (897 )     1,565   

 

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EXHIBIT INDEX

 

  2.1 Asset Purchase Agreement, dated September 7, 2010, by and among FreightCar Rail Services, LLC, FreightCar America, Inc., Cornhusker Railways, LLC, DTE Rail Services, Inc. and DTE Energy Resources, Inc. (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 2.1 to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the Commission on September 8, 2010).
  3.1 Certificate of Ownership and Merger of FreightCar America, Inc. into FCA Acquisition Corp., as amended (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.1 to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the Commission on September 7, 2006).
  3.2 Third Amended and Restated By-laws of FreightCar America, Inc. (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.1 to the Company’s Current Report filed on Form 8-K filed with the Commission on September 28, 2007).
  4.1 Form of Registration Rights Agreement, by and among FreightCar America, Inc., Hancock Mezzanine Partners, L.P., John Hancock Life Insurance Company, Caravelle Investment Fund, L.L.C., Trimaran Investments II, L.L.C., Camillo M. Santomero, III, and the investors listed on Exhibit A attached thereto (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.3 to Registration Statement Nos. 333-123384 and 333-123875 filed with the Commission on April 4, 2005).
10.1 Letter agreement regarding Terms of Employment dated August 27, 2010 by and between FreightCar America, Inc. and Joseph E. McNeely (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the Commission on August 27, 2010).
10.2 Letter agreement regarding Terms of Employment dated April 30, 2013 by and between FreightCar America, Inc. and Joseph E. McNeely (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the Commission on May 2, 2013).
10.3 Letter agreement regarding Terms of Employment dated October 4, 2013 by and between FreightCar America, Inc. and Joseph E. McNeely (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the Commission on October 4, 2013).
10.4 Letter agreement regarding Terms of Employment dated July 9, 2013 by and between FreightCar America, Inc. and Charles F. Avery, Jr. (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the Commission on July 22, 2013)
10.5 Letter agreement regarding Terms of Employment dated December 13, 2012 by and between FreightCar America, Inc. and Kathleen M. Boege (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the Commission on January 4, 2013).
10.6 Employment agreement of Thomas P. McCarthy dated as of June 4, 2007, by and between FreightCar America, Inc. and Thomas P. McCarthy (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.2 to the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2010)
10.7 Amendment to employment agreement of Thomas P. McCarthy dated as of December 29, 2008. (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.4 to the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2010)
10.8 FreightCar America, Inc. 2005 Long Term Incentive Plan (Restated to incorporate all Amendments) (incorporated by reference to Appendix I to the Company’s Proxy Statement for the annual meeting of stockholders held on May 17, 2013 filed with the Commission on April 12, 2013).
10.9 Form of Restricted Share Award Agreement for the Company’s employees (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the Commission on December 12, 2005).
10.10 Form of Restricted Share Award Agreement for the Company’s independent directors (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the Commission on January 27, 2006).
10.11 Form of Restricted Share Award Agreement for the Company’s employees (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the Commission

 

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on January 15, 2008).
10.12 Form of Stock Option Award Agreement for the Company’s employees (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the Commission on January 15, 2008).
10.13 Form of Performance Share Award Agreement for the Company’s employees (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the Commission on January 16, 2015).
10.14 Lease Agreement, dated as of December 20, 2004, by and between Norfolk Southern Railway Company and Johnstown America Corporation (the “Lease Agreement”) (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.27 to Registration Statement Nos. 333-123384 and 333-123875 filed with the Commission on April 4, 2005).*
10.15 Amendment to the Lease Agreement, dated as of December 1, 2005 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.11 to the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2005).*
10.16 Second Amendment to the Lease Agreement, dated as of February 1, 2008, by and between Norfolk Southern Railway Company and Johnstown America Corporation (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to the Company’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarterly period ended March 31, 2008 filed with the Commission on May 12, 2008).
10.17 Amendment to Lease, dated as of October 12, 2012, by and between Norfolk Southern Railway Company and Johnstown America Corporation (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to the Company’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q filed with the Commission on November 9, 2012).*
10.18 Sublease, dated as of February 19, 2013, by and between Navistar, Inc. and FreightCar Alabama, LLC (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to the Company’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarterly period ended March 31, 2013 filed with the Commission on May 10, 2013).*
10.19 Amendment to Sublease, dated as of March 11, 2013, by and among Teachers’ Retirement Systems of Alabama, Employees’ Retirement System of Alabama, Navistar, Inc. and FreightCar Alabama, LLC (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.2 to the Company’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarterly period ended March 31, 2013 filed with the Commission on May 10, 2013).*
10.20 Credit Agreement, dated as of July 26, 2013, by and among FreightCar America, Inc. and certain of its subsidiaries and Bank of America, N.A. (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the Commission on August 1, 2013).
10.21 Security and Pledge Agreement, dated as of July 26, 2013, by and among FreightCar America, Inc. and certain of its subsidiaries and Bank of America, N.A. (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.2 to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the Commission on August 1, 2013).
10.22 FreightCar America, Inc. Executive Severance Plan (and Summary Plan Description) (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to the Company’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q filed with the Commission on September 30, 2009).
10.23 Amendment of the FreightCar America, Inc. Executive Severance Plan dated December 4, 2012. (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.14 to the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2012)
10.24 Form of Letter of Resignation (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the Commission on December 19, 2006).
10.25 Form of Letter of Resignation (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the Commission on December 20, 2009).
10.26 Form of Indemnification Agreement between FreightCar America, Inc. and each of its current directors (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the Commission on March 24, 2010).

 

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  21 Subsidiaries of FreightCar America, Inc.
  23 Consent of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm.
  31.1 Certification of Chief Executive Officer pursuant to Rule 13a-14(a), as adopted pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.
  31.2 Certification of Chief Financial Officer pursuant to Rule 13a-14(a), as adopted pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.
  32 Certification of Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the 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
101PRE XBRL Taxonomy Extension Presentation Linkbase Document

 

* Confidential treatment has been granted for the redacted portions of this exhibit. A complete copy of the exhibit, including the redacted portions, has been filed separately with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

 

77