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ATK > SEC Filings for ATK > Form 10-Q on 31-Oct-2008All Recent SEC Filings

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Form 10-Q for ALLIANT TECHSYSTEMS INC


31-Oct-2008

Quarterly Report


ITEM 2. MANAGEMENT'S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS

(Dollar amounts in thousands except share and per share data and unless otherwise indicated)

Forward-Looking Information is Subject to Risk and Uncertainty

Some of the statements made and information contained in this report, excluding historical information, are "forward-looking statements" as defined in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking statements give our current expectations or forecasts of future events. Words such as "may," "will," "expected," "intend," "estimate," "anticipate," "believe," "project," or "continue," and similar expressions are used to identify forward-looking statements. From time to time, ATK also may provide oral or written forward-looking statements in other materials released to the public. Any or all forward-looking statements in this report and in any public statements ATK makes could be materially different. They can be affected by assumptions used or by known or unknown risks or uncertainties. Consequently, no forward-looking statements can be guaranteed. Actual results may vary materially. You are cautioned not to place undue reliance on any forward-looking statements. You should also understand that it is not possible to predict or identify all such factors and should not consider the following list to be a complete statement of all potential risks and uncertainties. Any change in the following factors may impact the achievement of results:

† reductions or changes in NASA or U.S. Government military spending and budgetary policies and sourcing strategy,

† increases in costs, which ATK may not be able to react to due to the nature of certain contracts or for other reasons,

†          the potential termination of U.S. Government contracts,

†          government laws and other rules and regulations applicable to ATK,
such as procurement and import-export control,

†          the novation of U.S. Government contracts,

†          other risks associated with U.S. Government contracts that might
expose ATK to adverse consequences,

†          changes in cost estimates and/or timing of programs,

†          costs of servicing ATK's debt, including cash requirements and
interest rate fluctuations,

†          intense competition,

†          performance of ATK's subcontractors,

†          supply, availability, and costs of raw materials and components,
including commodity price fluctuations,

†          development of key technologies and retention of a qualified
workforce,

†          fires or explosions at any of ATK's facilities,

†          environmental laws that govern past practices and rules and

regulations, noncompliance with which may expose ATK to adverse consequences,

† actual pension asset returns and assumptions regarding future returns, discount rates, service costs, and health care cost trend rates,

† capital market volatility and corresponding assumptions related to ATK's capital structure such as share count and interest rates,

†          risks associated with diversification into new markets,

†          impacts of financial market disruptions or volatility to ATK's
customers and vendors,

†          greater risk associated with international business,

†          results of acquisitions,

†          costs incurred for pursuits and proposed acquisitions that have not
yet or may not close, and

†          unanticipated changes in the tax provision or exposure to additional
tax liabilities.

This list of factors is not exhaustive and new factors may emerge or changes to the foregoing factors may occur that would impact ATK's business. ATK undertakes no obligation to update any forward-looking statements. A more detailed description of risk factors can be found in Item 1A, Risk Factors, of ATK's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2008 and in Item 1A of this Form 10-Q for the quarter ended September 28, 2008. Additional information regarding these factors may be contained in ATK's subsequent filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including Forms 8-K.


Table of Contents

Overview

ATK is a supplier of aerospace and defense products to the U.S. Government, allied nations, and prime contractors. ATK is also a supplier of ammunition and related accessories to law enforcement agencies and commercial customers. ATK is headquartered in Minneapolis, Minnesota and has operating locations throughout the United States.

During the quarter ended June 29, 2008, ATK realigned its business operations. As a result of this realignment, ATK combined the Space division of ATK Mission Systems with ATK Launch Systems into a single group now known as ATK Space Systems. Following this realignment, ATK has three segments: ATK Armament Systems, ATK Mission Systems, and ATK Space Systems. The realignment is reflected in the information contained in this report.

† ATK Armament Systems, which generated 39% of ATK's external sales in the six months ended September 28, 2008, develops and produces military ammunition and gun systems; commercial products; and propellant and energetic materials. It also operates the U.S. Army ammunition plants in Independence, Missouri and Radford, Virginia.

† ATK Mission Systems, which generated 25% of ATK's external sales in the six months ended September 28, 2008, operates in two business lanes, Weapon Systems and Aerospace Systems, across the following market areas: tank ammunition, force protection, precision guided munitions, missiles, propulsion, missile defense, fuzes and warheads, composites, special mission aircraft, electronic warfare, military aircraft structures, commercial aircraft structures and launch structures.

† ATK Space Systems, which generated 36% of ATK's external sales in the six months ended September 28, 2008, produces rocket motor systems for human and cargo launch vehicles, conventional and strategic missiles, missile defense interceptors, small and micro-satellites, satellite components, structures, and subsystems, lightweight space deployables and solar arrays, and provides engineering and technical services. Other products include ordnance, such as decoy and illuminating flares.

The majority of ATK's sales are recognized as costs are incurred. ATK's customers pay ATK cash based on costs incurred and profit earned, upon achievement of program milestones, or upon delivery of the product.

As a supplier to the U.S. aerospace and defense industry, ATK is dependent on funding levels of the U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) and NASA. The U.S. defense industry has experienced significant changes over the past few years. During the 1990s, the DoD budget declined, but that trend has reversed during the 2000s due to continuing geopolitical uncertainties. While the DoD's budget for procurement and research, development, test, and evaluation continues to grow each year, the degree of future growth is not known and it may slow or even contract. However, ATK believes it is well positioned in this budget environment to maintain or even increase its relative participation in the DoD budget, as it derives the majority of its DoD sales from products that are consumed (and then reprocured) in both tactical and training operations. ATK anticipates that, to the extent that future budget pressures mount, the majority of budget cuts would come in the areas where the DoD is developing new "platforms" - the vehicles used to deliver the weapons, including ships, aircraft, tanks and helicopters. Much of ATK's product portfolio is "platform independent," meaning it can be used in the legacy platforms of today, as well as in the platforms being developed for future use. Therefore, if and when these future platform development programs come under budget pressures, ATK believes that it has limited exposure, relative to its industry peers.

ATK management believes that the key to ATK's continued success is to focus on performance, simplicity, and affordability, and that ATK's future lies in being a leading provider of advanced weapon and space systems. ATK is positioning itself where management believes there will be continued strong defense funding, even as pressures on procurement and research and development accounts mount. ATK will concentrate on developing the systems that will extend the life and improve the capability of existing platforms. ATK anticipates budget pressures will increasingly drive the life extension of platforms such as ships, aircrafts, and main battle tanks. ATK's transformational weapons such as its Advanced Anti-Radiation Guided Missile and the Precision Guidance Kit are aimed squarely at this growing market. At the same time, ATK believes it is on the leading edge of technologies essential to "generation after next" weapons and platforms - advanced sensor/seeker integration, directed energy, weapon data links, high-speed, long-range projectiles, thermal-resistant materials, reactive materials, and scramjet engines are examples.

Critical Accounting Policies

ATK's significant accounting policies are described in Note 1 to the consolidated financial statements included in ATK's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended March 31, 2008 (fiscal 2008). The accounting policies used in preparing ATK's interim fiscal 2009 consolidated financial statements are the same as those described in ATK's Annual Report, except as described in this report in Note 2, New Accounting Pronouncements, to the unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements.


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In preparing the consolidated financial statements, ATK follows accounting principles generally accepted in the United States. The preparation of these financial statements requires ATK to make estimates and judgments that affect the reported amounts of assets, liabilities, sales and expenses, and related disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities. ATK re-evaluates its estimates on an on-going basis. ATK's estimates are based on historical experience and on various other assumptions that are believed to be reasonable under the circumstances. Actual results may differ from these estimates under different assumptions or conditions.

ATK believes its critical accounting policies are those related to:

†          revenue recognition,

†          environmental remediation and compliance,

†          employee benefit plans,

†          income taxes, and

†          acquisitions and goodwill.

More information on these policies can be found in Item 7, Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations, of ATK's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2008.

Results of Operations

Acquisitions

There were no material acquisitions during the quarter or six months ended September 28, 2008.

On June 8, 2007, ATK acquired Swales Aerospace (Swales), a provider of satellite components and subsystems, small spacecraft and engineering services for NASA, Department of Defense and commercial satellite customers, for $101,195, net of cash acquired. ATK believes that the acquisition strengthened ATK's satellite components, subsystems and small spacecraft portfolios and further increased ATK's position as a supplier to the U.S. Government and industry. ATK also believes the acquisition enhanced ATK's systems engineering as ATK pursues strategic initiatives in space exploration programs. Headquartered in Beltsville, Maryland, Swales employs approximately 635 people and is included in ATK Space Systems.

ATK used the purchase method of accounting to account for the Swales acquisition and, accordingly, the results of Swales are included in ATK's consolidated financial statements since the date of acquisition.

Sales

The military small-caliber ammunition contract, which is reported within ATK Armament Systems, contributed approximately 13% of total external sales during the six months ended September 28, 2008 and September 30, 2007.

The following is a summary of each operating segment's external sales:

                                        Quarters Ended                                                Six Months Ended
                   September 28,      September 30,                     %         September 28,      September 30,                     %
                       2008               2007          $  Change     Change          2008               2007          $  Change     Change

ATK Armament
Systems           $       422,862    $       354,697    $  68,165        19.2 %  $       864,436    $       690,199    $ 174,237        25.2 %
ATK Mission
Systems                   280,542            273,573        6,969         2.5 %          557,045            530,038       27,007         5.1 %
ATK Space
Systems                   388,547            401,075      (12,528 )      (3.1 )%         795,335            767,480       27,855         3.6 %
Total external
sales             $     1,091,951    $     1,029,345    $  62,606         6.1 %  $     2,216,816    $     1,987,717    $ 229,099        11.5 %

Quarter.

ATK Armament Systems. The increase in sales was driven by:

† an increase of $36,600 in commercial products due to an increase in volume of law enforcement, international, and government sales, and

† a $30,300 increase in medium-caliber ammunition primarily due to higher volume.


Table of Contents

ATK Mission Systems. The increase in sales was driven by:

† an increase of $14,000 in tactical rocket motors due to higher volume across numerous programs, and

† an $8,000 increase due to the new contract for the attitude control motor on the Orion Crew Exploration Vehicle (CEV) launch abort system.

These increases were partially offset by:

† a $10,000 decrease in technical services due to reduced volume across numerous programs, and

† a decrease of $4,000 in force protection systems due to the completion of a large program.

ATK Space Systems. The decrease in sales was driven by:

†          a decrease in Minuteman volume of $22,900,

†          a decrease of $9,000 due to lower customer demand and production
delays in decoys and flares,

†          and a decrease of $7,200 on the Launch Abort System due to funding
limitations.

These decreases were partially offset by an increase of $27,700 on the ARES I and Space Shuttle programs.

Six Months.

The increase in sales was due to organic growth as well as the acquisition of Swales late in the first quarter of fiscal 2008, as discussed above, which is reported within ATK Space Systems.

ATK Armament Systems. The increase in sales was driven by:

† a $99,100 increase in medium-caliber ammunition primarily due to higher volume, $24,000 that would have been realized later in the fiscal year, and product mix during the period over the prior year period,

† an increase of $64,900 in commercial products due to an increase in volume of law enforcement, international, and government sales, and

† a $15,300 increase in military small-caliber ammunition sales at the Lake City Army Ammunition Plant as a result of continued strong customer requirements.

ATK Mission Systems. The increase in sales was driven by:

† a $23,000 increase due to the new contract for the attitude control motor on the Orion Crew Exploration Vehicle (CEV) launch abort system,

† an increase of $23,000 in tactical rocket motors due to higher volume across numerous programs, and

† an increase of $8,000 in defense electronics due to increased customer demand.

These increases were partially offset by:

† a decrease of $15,000 in missile defense due to reduced volume on the Standard Missile-3 program,

† a $6,000 decrease in missiles due to the ramp down of system design and development on the Advanced Anti-Radiation Guided Missile (AARGM) program, and

† a decrease of $4,000 in tank ammunition due to decreased customer demand for training rounds.

ATK Space Systems. The increase in sales was driven by:

† a net increase of $48,400 on ARES I and Space Shuttle programs, and

† an increase of $33,900 due to the inclusion of Swales which was acquired late in the first quarter of fiscal 2008.

These increases were partially offset by:

† a decrease of $18,900 due to lower customer demand and production delays in decoys and flares,

† a decrease in solar arrays of $16,400 as a result of decreased volume and performance issues,

† a decrease in Minuteman volume of $13,700, and

† a $8,200 decrease in bus structures due to performance issues and schedule delays.


Table of Contents

Gross Profit



                                         Quarters Ended                                                      Six Months Ended
                September 28,     As a %     September 30,     As a %                September 28,     As a %     September 30,     As a %
                    2008         of Sales        2007         of Sales    Change         2008         of Sales        2007         of Sales    Change

Gross profit   $       240,231       22.0 % $       198,369       19.3 % $ 41,862   $       459,503       20.7 % $       390,559       19.6 % $ 68,944

Quarter and Six Months. The increase in gross profit was driven by higher sales and increased operating efficiencies.

Operating Expenses



                                              Quarters Ended                                                           Six Months Ended
                   September 28,      As a %      September 30,      As a %                  September 28,      As a %      September 30,      As a %
                       2008          of Sales         2007          of Sales     Change          2008          of Sales         2007          of Sales     Change

Research and
development       $        25,419         2.3 %  $        17,325         1.7 %  $  8,094    $        47,140         2.1 %  $        30,008         1.5 %  $ 17,132
Selling                    39,121         3.6 %           30,861         3.0 %     8,260             77,808         3.5 %           60,791         3.1 %    17,017
General and
administrative             55,046         5.0 %           45,108         4.4 %     9,938            105,578         4.8 %           93,181         4.7 %    12,397
Total             $       119,586        10.9 %  $        93,294         9.1 %  $ 26,292    $       230,526        10.4 %  $       183,980         9.3 %  $ 46,546

Operating expenses for the quarter and six months increased primarily due to higher selling expenses consistent with higher sales and increased program proposal efforts within ATK Mission Systems and ATK Space Systems. Research and development expenses were up due to increased spending on major launch vehicle programs within ATK Space Systems. General and administrative expenses also increased as a result of increased spending to support increasing sales.

Income before Interest, Income Taxes, and Minority Interest

                                         Quarters Ended                                     Six Months Ended
                         September 28,      September 30,                    September 28,      September 30,
                             2008               2007            Change           2008               2007            Change

ATK Armament Systems    $        42,969    $        32,182    $   10,787    $        87,129    $        61,059    $   26,070
ATK Mission Systems              35,785             29,881         5,904             68,619             57,332        11,287
ATK Space Systems                47,982             48,427          (445 )           84,224             99,325       (15,101 )

Corporate (6,091 ) (5,415 ) (676 ) (10,995 ) (11, 137 ) 142 Total $ 120,645 $ 105,075 $ 15,570 $ 228,977 $ 206,579 $ 22,398

The increase in income before interest, income taxes, and minority interest was due to higher sales as well as program-related changes within the operating segments as described below.

Quarter.

ATK Armament Systems. The increase primarily relates to higher overall sales volume and efficiencies.

ATK Mission Systems. The increase was primarily driven by higher sales within tactical rocket motors, space launch vehicles, and booster and specialty products, partially offset by a margin decline within fuze operations due to technical issues on the FMU-139 bomb fuze program.

ATK Space Systems. The slight decrease was primarily driven by lower sales and margin declines in engineered composites.

Corporate. The net expense of Corporate primarily reflects expenses incurred for administrative functions that are performed centrally at the corporate headquarters, and the elimination of intercompany profits.

Six Months.

ATK Armament Systems. The increase primarily relates to higher overall sales volume as well as improved margins in commercial products.


Table of Contents

ATK Mission Systems. The increase was primarily driven by higher sales within tactical rocket motors, space launch vehicles, and space stage motors, partially offset by margin declines within force protection as well as fuze operations due to technical issues on the FMU-139 bomb fuze program.

ATK Space Systems. The decrease was primarily driven by performance issues and schedule delays on bus structures and solar arrays. These items were partially offset by higher sales volume.

Net Interest Expense

Quarter.

Net interest expense for the quarter ended September 28, 2008 was $16,618, a decrease of $9,021 compared to $25,639 in the comparable quarter of fiscal 2008 primarily due to the accelerated noncash write-off of $5,600 of debt issuance costs which was the result of the 3.00% Convertible Senior Subordinated Notes and 2.75% Convertible Senior Subordinated Notes due 2024 becoming convertible in the second quarter of fiscal 2008, as well as a decrease in the average borrowing rate and average outstanding debt balance.

Six Months.

Net interest expense for the six months ended September 28, was $32,960, a decrease of $11,692 compared to $44,652 in the comparable quarter of fiscal 2008 primarily due to the accelerated noncash write-off of $5,600 of debt issuance costs discussed above as well as a decrease in the average borrowing rate and average outstanding debt balance.

As discussed in Note 2, New Accounting Pronouncements, to the unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) issued FASB Staff Position (FSP) No. APB 14-1, Accounting for Convertible Debt Instruments That May Be Settled in Cash upon Conversion (Including Partial Cash Settlement) (FSP No. APB 14-1). The provisions of this FSP apply to ATK's $200,000 aggregate principal amount of 3.00% Convertible Notes, the $280,000 aggregate principal amount of 2.75% Convertible Notes due 2024, and the $300,000 aggregate principal amount of 2.75% Convertible Notes due 2011, discussed in Note 8, Long-Term Debt and Interest Rate Swaps. This FSP is effective for financial statements issued for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2008, and interim periods within those fiscal years (ATK's fiscal 2010), and shall be applied retrospectively to all periods presented. Early adoption is not permitted. ATK estimates that adoption of the FSP will result in an increase to fiscal 2005 through fiscal 2009 non-cash interest expense in the range of $9,300 to $23,800 per year. The impact to fiscal 2010 non-cash interest expense is expected to be an increase of approximately $19,900 with a declining impact in future fiscal years.

Income Tax Provision



                                       Quarters Ended                                                      Six Months Ended
             September 28,    Effective    September 30,    Effective               September 28,    Effective    September    Effective
                 2008           Rate           2007           Rate       Change         2008           Rate       30, 2007       Rate       Change

Income
tax
provision   $        39,029        37.5 % $        28,171        35.5 % $ 10,858   $        73,062        37.3 % $    58,084        35.9 % $ 14,978

ATK's provision for income taxes includes both federal and state income taxes. Income tax provisions for interim periods are based on estimated effective annual income tax rates.

Quarter.

The income tax provisions for the quarters ended September 28, 2008 and September 30, 2007 represent effective tax rates of 37.5% and 35.5%, respectively. The increase in the rate for the quarter ended September 28, 2008 from the prior year period is primarily due to nonrecurring tax charges, an increase in income tax reserves, and the expiration of the federal research and development (R&D) credit. These increases were partially offset by a reduction in the state tax rate.


Table of Contents

Six Months.

The income tax provisions for the six months ended September 28, 2008 and September 30, 2007 represent effective tax rates of 37.3% and 35.9%, respectively. The increase in the rate for the six months ended September 28, 2008 from the prior year period is primarily due to nonrecurring tax charges and the expiration of the federal R&D credit. These increases were partially offset by a reduction in the state tax rate.

On October 3, 2008 the President signed the Emergency Economic Stabilization Act of 2008 which reinstated the federal R&D credit retroactively from January 1, 2008 through December 31, 2009. Since this law was passed after the end of the quarter, the impact of this legislation is not reflected in the amounts above.

Minority Interest

The minority interest in each period represents the minority owners' portion of the income of a joint venture in which ATK is the primary owner. This joint venture is consolidated into ATK's financial statements.

Net Income

Quarter.

Net income for the quarter ended September 28, 2008 was $64,982, an increase of $13,807 compared to $51,175 in the comparable period of fiscal 2008. This increase was due to an increase of $41,862 in gross profit and a decrease in net interest expense of $9,021, partially offset by increases in operating expenses of $26,292, and income tax expense of $10,858.

Six Months.

. . .

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