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| ATK > SEC Filings for ATK > Form 10-K on 22-May-2009 | All Recent SEC Filings |
22-May-2009
Annual Report
(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 ATK's 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:
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º reductions or changes in NASA or U.S. Government military spending and
budgetary policies and sourcing strategy,
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º increases in costs, which ATK may not be able to react to due to the
nature of its U.S. Government contracts,
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º the potential termination of U.S. Government contracts,
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º government laws and other rules and regulations applicable to ATK,
such as procurement and import-export control,
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º the novation of U.S. Government contracts,
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º other risks associated with U.S. Government contracts that might
expose ATK to adverse consequences,
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º changes in cost estimates and/or timing of programs,
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º costs of servicing ATK's debt, including cash requirements and
interest rate fluctuations,
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º intense competition,
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º performance of ATK's subcontractors,
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º supply, availability, and costs of raw materials and components,
including commodity price fluctuations,
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º development of key technologies and retention of a qualified
workforce,
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º fires or explosions at any of ATK's facilities,
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º environmental laws that govern past practices and rules and
regulations, noncompliance with which may expose ATK to adverse
consequences,
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º actual pension and other postretirement plan asset returns and
assumptions regarding future returns, discount rates, service costs,
mortality rates, and health care cost trend rates,
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º capital market volatility and corresponding assumptions related to
ATK's capital structure such as share count and interest rates,
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º risks associated with diversification into new markets,
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º impacts of financial market disruptions or volatility to ATK's
customers and vendors,
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º greater risk associated with international business,
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º results of acquisitions,
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º costs incurred for pursuits and proposed acquisitions that have not
yet or may not close, and
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º 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. Additional information regarding certain of these factors is contained in Item 1A of this report and may also be contained in ATK's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission on Forms 10-Q and 8-K. All such risk factors are difficult to predict, contain material uncertainties that may affect actual results, and may be beyond our control.
Overview
ATK is a premier aerospace and defense company and leading supplier of products to the U.S. government, allied nations, and prime contractors. ATK is also a major 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, Puerto Rico, and internationally.
During fiscal 2009, 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 fiscal 2009 realignment is reflected in the information contained in this report and the segment information for prior periods has been restated.
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º ATK Armament Systems, which generated 38% of ATK's external sales in
fiscal 2009, 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.
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º ATK Mission Systems, which generated 26% of ATK's external sales in
fiscal 2009, operates in two business lanes, Weapon Systems and
Aerospace Systems, across the following market areas: large-caliber
direct fires, 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.
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º ATK Space Systems, which generated 36% of ATK's external sales in
fiscal 2009, 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.
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 years. ATK management believes that the key to ATK's continued success is to focus on performance, innovation, 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 mount on procurement and research and development accounts. ATK will concentrate on developing 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 Excalibur, 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 discussion and analysis of its financial condition and results of operations are based upon ATK's consolidated financial statements, which have been prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States. In preparing the consolidated financial statements, ATK makes estimates and judgments that affect the reported amounts of assets, liabilities, sales, 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 the following are its critical accounting policies that affect its more significant judgments and estimates used in the preparation of its consolidated financial statements.
Revenue Recognition
Long-Term Contracts-Sales under long-term contracts are accounted for under the percentage-of-completion method and include cost-plus and fixed-price contracts. Sales under cost-plus contracts are recognized as costs are incurred. Sales under fixed-price contracts are either recognized as the actual cost of work performed relates to the estimate at completion ("cost-to-cost") or based on results achieved, which usually coincides with customer acceptance ("units-of-delivery"). The majority of ATK's total revenue is accounted for using the cost-to-cost method of accounting.
Profits expected to be realized on contracts are based on management estimates of total contract sales value and costs at completion. Estimated amounts for contract changes and claims are included in contract sales only when realization is estimated to be probable. Assumptions used for recording sales and earnings are adjusted in the period of change to reflect revisions in contract value and estimated costs. In the period in which it is determined that a loss will be incurred on a contract, the entire amount of the estimated gross margin loss is charged to cost of sales.
Contracts may contain provisions to earn incentive and award fees if specified targets are achieved. Incentive and award fees that can be reasonably estimated and are probable are recorded over the performance period of the contract. Incentive and award fees that cannot be reasonably estimated are recorded when awarded.
The complexity of the estimation process and all issues related to assumptions, risks, and uncertainties inherent with the application of the cost-to-cost method of accounting affect the amounts reported in ATK's financial statements. A number of internal and external factors affect the cost of sales estimates, including labor rate and efficiency variances, overhead rate estimates, revised estimates
of warranty costs, estimated future material prices, and customer specification and testing requirement changes. If business conditions were different, or if ATK had used different assumptions in the application of this and other accounting policies, it is likely that materially different amounts would be reported in ATK's financial statements. In the past, ATK's estimates and assumptions have been materially accurate.
Commercial Products-Sales are recognized when persuasive evidence of an arrangement exists, the product has been delivered and legal title and all risks of ownership have been transferred, written contract and sales terms are complete, customer acceptance has occurred, and payment is reasonably assured. Sales are reduced for allowances and price discounts.
Environmental Remediation and Compliance
Costs associated with environmental compliance and preventing future contamination that are estimable and probable are accrued and expensed, or capitalized as appropriate. Expected remediation, resource restoration, and monitoring costs relating to the remediation of an existing condition caused by past operations, and which do not contribute to current or future revenue generation, are accrued and expensed in the period that such costs become estimable. Liabilities are recognized for remedial and resource restoration activities when they are probable and the cost can be reasonably estimated. As of March 31, 2009, the estimated discounted range of reasonably possible costs of environmental remediation, excluding potential recoveries as discussed under the "Contingencies" heading below, was $56,282 to $85,836.
ATK's engineering, financial, and legal specialists estimate, based on current law and existing technologies, the cost of each environmental liability. Such estimates are based primarily upon the estimated cost of investigation and remediation required and the likelihood that other potentially responsible parties ("PRPs") will be able to fulfill their commitments at the sites where ATK may be jointly and severally liable. ATK's estimates for environmental obligations are dependent on, and affected by, the nature and extent of historical information and physical data relating to a contaminated site, the complexity of the site, methods of remediation available, the technology that will be required, the outcome of discussions with regulatory agencies and other PRPs at multi-party sites, the number and financial viability of other PRPs, changes in environmental laws and regulations, future technological developments, and the timing of expenditures. Accordingly, such estimates could change materially as ATK periodically evaluates and revises such estimates based on expenditures against established reserves and the availability of additional information.
Employee Benefit Plans
Defined Benefit Pension Plans. ATK's noncontributory defined benefit pension plans (the "Plans") cover substantially all employees hired prior to January 1, 2007. Eligible non-union employees hired on or after January 1, 2007 and certain union employees are not covered by a defined benefit plan but do receive an employer contribution through a defined contribution plan. Plans provide either pension benefits based on employee annual pay levels and years of credited service or based on stated amounts for each year of credited service. ATK funds the Plans in accordance with federal requirements calculated using appropriate actuarial methods. Plan assets for ATK are held in a trust and are invested in a diversified portfolio of equity investments, fixed income investments, real estate, timber, energy investments, hedge funds, private equity, and cash. For certain Plan assets where the fair market value is not readily determinable, estimates of the fair value are determined using the best available information including the most recent audited financial statements.
ATK also sponsors nonqualified supplemental executive retirement plans which provide certain executives and highly compensated employees the opportunity to receive pension benefits in excess of those payable through tax qualified pension plans.
ATK recorded pension expense for the Plans of $39,972 in fiscal 2009, a decrease of $10,221 from $50,193 of pension expense recorded in fiscal 2008. The expense related to these Plans is calculated based upon a number of actuarial assumptions, including the expected long-term rate of return on plan assets, the discount rate, and the rate of compensation increase. The following table sets forth ATK's assumptions used in determining pension expense for fiscal 2009, 2008, and 2007, and projections for fiscal 2010:
Years Ending March 31
2010 2009 2008 2007
Expected long-term rate of return on plan assets 8.00 % 9.00 % 9.00 % 9.00 %
Discount rate 8.15 % 6.80 % 6.10 % 5.80 %
Rate of compensation increase:
Union 3.82 % 3.75 % 3.50 % 3.00 %
Salaried 4.09 % 3.95 % 3.73 % 3.25 %
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In developing the expected long-term rate of return assumption, ATK considers input from its actuaries and other advisors, annualized returns of various major indices over 20-year periods, and ATK's own historical investment returns, which have been in excess of broad market indices. The expected long-term rate of return of 9.0% used in fiscal 2009 for the Plans was based on an asset allocation range of 30-60% in equity investments, 20-30% in fixed income investments, 5-15% in real estate/real asset investments, 10-25% collectively in hedge fund and private equity investments, and 0-5% in cash investments. The actual return in any fiscal year will likely differ from ATK's assumption, but ATK estimates its return based on long-term projections and historical results. Therefore, any variance in a given year does not necessarily indicate that the assumption should be changed.
In determining its discount rate, ATK uses the current investment yields on high-quality corporate bonds (rated AA or better) that coincide with the cash flows of the estimated benefit payouts from ATK's plans. The model uses a yield curve approach to discount each cash flow of the liability stream at an interest rate specifically applicable to the timing of the respective cash flow. The model totals the present values of all cash flows and calculates the equivalent weighted average discount rate by imputing the singular interest rate that equates the total present value with the stream of future cash flows. This resulting weighted average discount rate is then used in evaluating the final discount rate. The discount rate was 8.15%, 6.80%, and 6.10% at March 31, 2009, March 31, 2008, and December 31, 2007, respectively. The discount rate as of March 31 impacts the following fiscal year's pension expense.
Future actual pension expense can vary significantly depending on future investment performance, changes in future discount rates, legally required plan changes, and various other factors related to the populations participating in the Plans. If the assumptions of the discount rate, compensation increase, and/or expected rate of return for fiscal 2010 were different, the impact on fiscal 2010 expense would be as follows: each 0.25% change in the discount rate would change fiscal 2010 pension expense by approximately $5,500; each 0.25% change in the rate of compensation increase would change fiscal 2010 pension expense by approximately $4,000; each 0.25% change in the expected rate of return on plan assets would change fiscal 2010 pension expense by approximately $5,400.
ATK bases its determination of pension expense or income on a market-related valuation of assets, which reduces year-to-year volatility. This market-related valuation recognizes investment gains or losses over a five-year period from the year in which they occur. Investment gains or losses for this purpose are the difference between the expected return calculated using the market-related value of assets and the actual return based on the market-related value of assets. Since the market-related value of assets recognizes gains or losses over a five-year period, the future value of assets will be impacted as previously deferred gains or losses are recorded.
ATK did not make any contributions to the qualified pension trust fund during fiscal 2009. ATK made a qualified pension plan trust prepayment contribution of $150,000 in April 2009 (fiscal 2010) of which $45,000 was the legally required minimum contribution for fiscal 2010. ATK distributed $2,898 directly to retirees under its supplemental executive retirement plans during fiscal 2009, and expects to make distributions directly to retirees of approximately $3,137 in fiscal 2010. A substantial portion of ATK's Plan contributions are recoverable from the U.S. Government as allowable indirect contract costs at amounts generally equal to the pension plan contributions, although not necessarily in the same year the contribution is made.
In September 2006, the Financial Accounting Standards Board ("FASB") issued Statement of Financial Accounting Standards ("SFAS") No. 158, Employers' Accounting for Defined Benefit Pension and Other Postretirement Plans-an amendment of FASB Statements No. 87, 88, 106 and 132(R) ("SFAS No. 158"), which required recognition of the funded status of defined benefit pension and other postretirement plans, with a corresponding after-tax adjustment to accumulated other comprehensive loss. Due to the adoption of these provisions of SFAS No. 158, differences between actual and expected returns on assets, changes in assumptions, and changes in plan provisions could significantly increase or decrease stockholders' equity.
Effective April 1, 2007, ATK adopted the measurement provisions of SFAS No. 158 which required ATK to remeasure its Plan assets and benefit obligations as of March 31. Prior to that adoption, ATK remeasured its Plan assets and benefit obligations as of December 31. Other than a change in the discount rate from 5.90% to 6.10%, the assumptions used to remeasure the assets and liabilities remained unchanged from fiscal 2007. The after-tax cumulative effect changes of this adoption included a decrease of approximately $9,000 in retained earnings, a decrease of approximately $47,600 in accumulated other comprehensive loss, an increase of approximately $30,700 in total assets, and a decrease of approximately $7,900 in total liabilities.
Other Postretirement Benefits. ATK also provides postretirement health care benefits and life insurance coverage to certain employees and retirees.
The following table sets forth ATK's assumptions used to determine net periodic benefit cost for other postretirement benefit ("PRB") plans for fiscal 2009, 2008, and 2007, and projections for fiscal 2010:
Years Ending March 31
2010 2009 2008 2007
Expected long-term rate of
return on plan assets:
Held solely in fixed income
investments 6.00 % 6.00 % 6.00 % 6.00 %
Held in pension master trust
and fixed income investments 7.00 % 8.00 % 8.00 % 8.00 %
Discount rate 7.90 % 6.80 % 6.10 % 5.80 %
Weighted average initial health
care cost trend rate 6.90 % 7.20 % 7.30 % 7.20 %
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Health care cost trend rates are set specifically for each benefit plan and design. Health care cost trend rates used to determine the net periodic benefit cost for employees during fiscal 2009 were as follows: under age 65 was 8.0%; over age 65 was 6.5%; and the prescription drug portion was 12.5%.
The rates to which the health care cost trend rates are assumed to decline (the ultimate trend rates) are as follows:
Health care cost trend rate for employees under 65 5.5 %
Health care cost trend rate for employees over 65 5.0 %
Health care cost trend rate for prescription drugs 7.0 %
Weighted average health care cost trend rate 5.4 %
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Each category of cost declines at a varying rate. The ultimate trend rate will be reached in fiscal 2014 for employees under age 65, in fiscal 2016 for employees over age 65, and in fiscal 2017 for prescription drugs.
In developing the expected long-term rate of return assumption for other PRB plans, ATK considers input from actuaries, historical returns, and annualized returns of various major indices over long periods. As of March 31, 2009, approximately 33% of the assets were held in a 401(h) account held within the pension master trust and are invested in the same manner as the pension assets. The expected long-term rates of returns are based on the weighted average asset allocation between the assets held within the 401(h) and those held in fixed income investments.
Assumed health care cost trend rates have a significant effect on the amounts reported for health care plans. A one-percentage point increase or decrease in the assumed health care cost trend rates would have the following effects:
One-Percentage One-Percentage
Point Increase Point Decrease
Effect on total service and interest cost $ 589 $ (527 )
Effect on postretirement benefit obligation 7,465 (6,689 )
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ATK made other PRB plan contributions of $13,792 in fiscal 2009 and expects to make contributions of approximately $14,700 in fiscal 2010.
The Medicare Prescription Drug, Improvement and Modernization Act of 2003
(the Act) reduced ATK's accumulated projected benefit obligation ("APBO")
measured as of December 31, 2005. One of ATK's other PRB plans is actuarially
equivalent to Medicare, but ATK does not believe that the subsidies it will
receive under the Act will be significant. Because ATK believes that
participation levels in its other PRB plans will decline, the impact to ATK's
results of operations in any period has not been and is not expected to be
significant.
Defined Contribution Plan. ATK also sponsors a 401(k) defined contribution plan. Participation in this plan is available to substantially all employees.
Income Taxes
Provisions for federal and state income taxes are calculated based on reported pre-tax earnings and current tax law. Such provisions differ from the amounts currently receivable or payable because certain items of income and expense are recognized in different time periods for financial reporting purposes than for income tax purposes. Significant judgment is required in determining income tax provisions and evaluating tax positions. ATK periodically assesses its liabilities and contingencies for all periods that are currently open to examination or have not been effectively settled based on the most current available information. Where it is not more likely than not that ATK's tax position will be sustained, the Company records the entire resulting tax liability and when it is more likely than not of being sustained, the Company records its best estimate of the resulting tax liability. Any applicable interest and penalties related to these positions are also recorded in the consolidated financial statements. To the extent ATK's assessment of the tax outcome of these matters changes, such change in estimate will impact the income tax provision in the period of the change. It is ATK's policy to record any interest and penalties related to income taxes as part of the income tax expense for financial reporting purposes.
Acquisitions
In accordance with SFAS 141, Business Combinations, ATK uses the purchase method of accounting to account for its acquisitions, and, accordingly, the results of acquired businesses are
included in ATK's consolidated financial statements from the date of acquisition. The purchase price for acquisitions is allocated to the acquired assets and liabilities based on fair value. Estimates are used in determining . . .
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