Document/ExhibitDescriptionPagesSize 1: 10-K Annual Report HTML 2.22M
2: EX-10.32 Material Contract HTML 61K
3: EX-10.33 Material Contract HTML 67K
4: EX-21 Subsidiaries List HTML 49K
5: EX-23.1 Consent of Expert or Counsel HTML 36K
9: EX-97 Clawback Policy re: Recovery of Erroneously HTML 54K
Awarded Compensation
6: EX-31.1 Certification -- §302 - SOA'02 HTML 40K
7: EX-31.2 Certification -- §302 - SOA'02 HTML 40K
8: EX-32.1 Certification -- §906 - SOA'02 HTML 39K
15: R1 Cover Page HTML 104K
16: R2 Audit Information HTML 41K
17: R3 Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income HTML 145K
18: R4 Consolidated Balance Sheets HTML 171K
19: R5 Consolidated Balance Sheets (Parenthetical) HTML 52K
20: R6 Consolidated Statements of Equity HTML 94K
21: R7 Consolidated Statements of Equity (Parenthetical) HTML 38K
22: R8 Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows HTML 114K
23: R9 Nature of Operations HTML 41K
24: R10 Summary of Significant Accounting Policies HTML 175K
25: R11 Revenue from Contracts with Customers HTML 86K
26: R12 Acquisitions and Divestitures HTML 106K
27: R13 Supplemental Cash Flow Information HTML 49K
28: R14 Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets HTML 120K
29: R15 Debt HTML 70K
30: R16 Income Taxes HTML 131K
31: R17 Fair Value Measurements of Financial Instruments HTML 77K
32: R18 Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) and HTML 133K
Shareholders' Equity
33: R19 Stock-Based Compensation HTML 133K
34: R20 Retirement Benefits HTML 48K
35: R21 Post-Retirement Health Care HTML 82K
36: R22 Leases HTML 144K
37: R23 Guarantees, Commitments and Contingencies HTML 41K
38: R24 Reportable Segment Information HTML 91K
39: R25 Restructuring and Impairment HTML 61K
40: R26 Supplier Finance Program HTML 46K
41: R27 Pay vs Performance Disclosure HTML 49K
42: R28 Insider Trading Arrangements HTML 82K
43: R29 Summary of Significant Accounting Policies HTML 136K
(Policies)
44: R30 Summary of Significant Accounting Policies HTML 165K
(Tables)
45: R31 Revenue from Contracts with Customers (Tables) HTML 82K
46: R32 Acquisitions and Divestitures (Tables) HTML 105K
47: R33 Supplemental Cash Flow Information (Tables) HTML 48K
48: R34 Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets (Tables) HTML 123K
49: R35 Debt (Tables) HTML 58K
50: R36 Income Taxes (Tables) HTML 135K
51: R37 Fair Value Measurements of Financial Instruments HTML 75K
(Tables)
52: R38 Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) and HTML 131K
Shareholders' Equity (Tables)
53: R39 Stock-Based Compensation (Tables) HTML 140K
54: R40 Retirement Benefits (Tables) HTML 46K
55: R41 Post-Retirement Health Care (Tables) HTML 84K
56: R42 Leases (Tables) HTML 107K
57: R43 Reportable Segment Information (Tables) HTML 85K
58: R44 Restructuring and Impairment (Tables) HTML 59K
59: R45 Supplier Finance Program (Tables) HTML 43K
60: R46 Summary of Significant Accounting Policies - Cash, HTML 75K
Cash Equivalents and Investments (Details)
61: R47 Summary of Significant Accounting Policies - HTML 49K
Allowance for Doubtful Accounts (Details)
62: R48 Summary of Significant Accounting Policies - HTML 47K
Inventories Included in Consolidated Balance Sheet
(Details)
63: R49 Summary of Significant Accounting Policies - HTML 42K
Inventory Additional Information (Details)
64: R50 Summary of Significant Accounting Policies - HTML 53K
Property, Plant and Equipment (Details)
65: R51 Summary of Significant Accounting Policies - HTML 54K
Accounts Payable (Details)
66: R52 Summary of Significant Accounting Policies - HTML 53K
Product Warranties (Details)
67: R53 Summary of Significant Accounting Policies - HTML 39K
Research and Development Costs (Details)
68: R54 Summary of Significant Accounting Policies - HTML 43K
Freight Expenses (Details)
69: R55 Summary of Significant Accounting Policies - HTML 82K
Earnings Per Share (Details)
70: R56 Summary of Significant Accounting Policies - HTML 44K
Self-Insurance (Details)
71: R57 Revenue from Contracts with Customers - HTML 55K
Disaggregation of Revenue (Details)
72: R58 Revenue from Contracts with Customers - Contract HTML 48K
Assets and Liabilities (Details)
73: R59 Revenue from Contracts with Customers - Change in HTML 57K
Contract Assets and Liabilities (Details)
74: R60 Revenue from Contracts with Customers - Narrative HTML 38K
(Details)
75: R61 Acquisitions and Divestitures - Narrative HTML 121K
(Details)
76: R62 Acquisitions and Divestitures - Preliminary Fair HTML 63K
Market Value of Consideration Transferred
(Details)
77: R63 Acquisitions and Divestitures - Purchase Price HTML 89K
Allocation of Identifiable Tangible and Intangible
Assets And Liabilities Assumed (Details)
78: R64 Acquisitions and Divestitures - Summary of HTML 54K
Acquired Identifiable Assets and Weighted Average
Useful Life (Details)
79: R65 Acquisitions and Divestitures - Results of HTML 48K
Operations (Details)
80: R66 Acquisitions and Divestitures - Pro Forma Results HTML 42K
of Operations (Details)
81: R67 Acquisitions and Divestitures - Assets and HTML 81K
Liabilities Disposed Of (Details)
82: R68 Supplemental Cash Flow Information (Details) HTML 46K
83: R69 Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets - Schedule of HTML 46K
Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets (Details)
84: R70 Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets - Goodwill HTML 66K
(Details)
85: R71 Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets - Other HTML 65K
Intangible Assets (Details)
86: R72 Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets - Schedule of HTML 41K
Amortization Expense (Details)
87: R73 Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets - Indefinite HTML 41K
Lived Intangible Assets (Details)
88: R74 Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets - Narrative HTML 76K
(Details)
89: R75 Debt - Schedule of Debt (Details) HTML 74K
90: R76 Debt - Schedule of Maturities of Debt (Details) HTML 53K
91: R77 Debt - Narrative (Details) HTML 90K
92: R78 Income Taxes - Provision for Income Taxes HTML 64K
(Details)
93: R79 Income Taxes - Effective Income Tax Rate HTML 61K
Reconciliation (Details)
94: R80 Income Taxes - Deferred Tax Assets and Liabilities HTML 90K
(Details)
95: R81 Income Taxes - Valuation Allowance for Deferred HTML 45K
Tax Asset (Details)
96: R82 Income Taxes - Narrative (Details) HTML 49K
97: R83 Income Taxes - Unrecognized Tax Benefits (Details) HTML 46K
98: R84 Fair Value Measurements of Financial Instruments HTML 96K
(Details)
99: R85 Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) and HTML 81K
Shareholders' Equity - Changes in Accumulated
Other Comprehensive Loss (Details)
100: R86 Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) and HTML 97K
Shareholders' Equity - Narrative (Details)
101: R87 Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) and HTML 75K
Shareholders' Equity - Reclassifications from
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss)
(Details)
102: R88 Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) and HTML 45K
Shareholders' Equity - Director Plan Issued Common
Stock (Details)
103: R89 Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) and HTML 38K
Shareholders' Equity - Dividends Declared and Paid
per Share (Details)
104: R90 Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) and HTML 46K
Shareholders' Equity - Common Stock Issued
(Details)
105: R91 Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) and HTML 59K
Shareholders' Equity - Share Repurchase (Details)
106: R92 Stock-Based Compensation - Narrative (Details) HTML 77K
107: R93 Stock-Based Compensation - Compensation Cost HTML 39K
(Details)
108: R94 Stock-Based Compensation - Income Tax Benefit HTML 38K
(Details)
109: R95 Stock-Based Compensation - RSU Activity (Details) HTML 69K
110: R96 Stock-Based Compensation - RSU's Vested (Details) HTML 48K
111: R97 Stock-Based Compensation - PSU Stock Option HTML 60K
Activity (Details)
112: R98 Stock-Based Compensation - Outstanding Stock HTML 55K
Option Activity (Details)
113: R99 Stock-Based Compensation - Non-vested Stock Option HTML 55K
Activity (Details)
114: R100 Stock-Based Compensation - Stock Option Vested or HTML 47K
Expected to Vest and are Exercisable (Details)
115: R101 Stock-Based Compensation - Other Information HTML 46K
(Details)
116: R102 Stock-Based Compensation - Deferred Compensation HTML 42K
(Details)
117: R103 Retirement Benefits (Details) HTML 52K
118: R104 Post-Retirement Health Care - Schedule of Cost of HTML 90K
Retirement Plans (Details)
119: R105 Post-Retirement Health Care - Estimated Future HTML 52K
Benefit Payments (Details)
120: R106 Post-Retirement Health Care Post-Retirement Health HTML 40K
Care - Valuation Assumptions (Details)
121: R107 Leases - Narrative (Details) HTML 53K
122: R108 Leases - Lease Costs included in the Condensed HTML 57K
Consolidated Statements on Comprehensive Income
(Details)
123: R109 Leases - Maturities of Lease Liabilities (Details) HTML 93K
124: R110 Leases - Weighted-Average Remaining Lease Terms HTML 47K
and Discount Rates for Operating and Finance
Leases (Details)
125: R111 Leases - Cash Paid for Amounts Included in the HTML 43K
Measurements of Lease Liabilities and Leased
Assets (Details)
126: R112 Guarantees, Commitments and Contingencies HTML 50K
(Details)
127: R113 Reportable Segment Information - Business Segment HTML 88K
Information (Details)
128: R114 Restructuring and Impairment - Schedule of HTML 58K
Restructuring and Impairment (Details)
129: R115 Restructuring and Impairment - Additional HTML 45K
Information (Details)
130: R116 Supplier Finance Program (Details) HTML 50K
132: XML IDEA XML File -- Filing Summary XML 252K
135: XML XBRL Instance -- hni-20231230_htm XML 3.42M
131: EXCEL IDEA Workbook of Financial Report Info XLSX 242K
11: EX-101.CAL XBRL Calculations -- hni-20231230_cal XML 397K
12: EX-101.DEF XBRL Definitions -- hni-20231230_def XML 1.02M
13: EX-101.LAB XBRL Labels -- hni-20231230_lab XML 2.98M
14: EX-101.PRE XBRL Presentations -- hni-20231230_pre XML 1.81M
10: EX-101.SCH XBRL Schema -- hni-20231230 XSD 293K
133: JSON XBRL Instance as JSON Data -- MetaLinks 836± 1.26M
134: ZIP XBRL Zipped Folder -- 0000048287-24-000080-xbrl Zip 605K
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
i42-0617510
(State
or other jurisdiction of incorporation or organization)
(I.R.S. Employer Identification No.)
i600 East Second Street
iP.
O. Box 1109
iMuscatine
,
iIowa
i52761-0071
(Address
of principal executive offices) (Zip Code)
(
i563
)
i272-7400
(Registrant's
telephone number, including area code)
Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:
Title of each class
Trading Symbol(s)
Name of each exchange on which registered
iCommon
Stock
iHNI
iNew York Stock Exchange
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.
iYes
☒
No
☐
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
☐
iNo
☒
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.
iYes
☒
No
☐
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has submitted electronically every Interactive Data File required to be submitted
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 such files).
iYes
☒
No
☐
Indicate
by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, a smaller reporting company, or an emerging growth company. See the definitions of "large accelerated filer,""accelerated filer,""smaller reporting company," and "emerging growth company" in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act.
iLarge accelerated filer
☒
Accelerated filer
☐
Smaller
reporting company
i☐
Non-accelerated filer
☐
Emerging growth company
i☐
If
an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Exchange Act. ☐
Indicate by check mark whether the
registrant has filed a report on and attestation to its management's assessment of the effectiveness of its internal control over financial reporting under Section 404(b) of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act (15 U.S.C. 7262(b)) by the registered public accounting firm that prepared or issued its audit report.
i☒
If
securities are registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act, indicate by check mark whether the financial statements of the registrant included in the filing reflect the correction of an error to previously issued financial statements.
i☐
Indicate
by check mark whether any of those error corrections are restatements that required a recovery analysis of incentive-based compensation received by any of the registrant’s executive officers during the relevant recovery period pursuant to §240.10D-1(b).
☐
Indicate
by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Act).
Yes
☐
No
i☒
The
aggregate market value of the voting stock held by non-affiliates of the registrant as of July 1, 2023 was $i949,370,143 based on the New York Stock Exchange closing price for such shares on that date, assuming for purposes of this calculation that all 10 percent holders and all directors and executive officers of the registrant are affiliates.
HNI
Corporation (the "Corporation,""we,""us," or "our") is a provider of workplace furnishings and residential building products, which are its two reportable segments. Workplace furnishings include furniture systems, seating, storage, tables, architectural products, ancillary products, and hospitality products. These products are sold primarily through a national system of independent dealers, office product distributors, eCommerce retailers, and wholesalers but also directly to end-user customers and federal, state, and local governments. Residential building products include a full array of gas, wood, electric, and pellet-fueled fireplaces, inserts, stoves, facings, outdoor fire pits and fire tables, and accessories. These products are sold through a national system of independent dealers and distributors, as well as Corporation-owned installing distribution and retail outlets. In fiscal 2023, the Corporation had net sales of $2.4 billion,
of which $1.7 billion or 71 percent was attributable to the workplace furnishings segment and $0.7 billion or 29 percent was attributable to the residential building products segment.
The Corporation is an Iowa corporation incorporated in 1944. It is organized into a corporate headquarters and operating units with offices, manufacturing plants, distribution centers, and sales showrooms primarily in the United States, India, and Mexico. See "Item 2. Properties" for additional related discussion.
On June 1, 2023, the Corporation acquired Kimball International, Inc. ("Kimball International") in a cash and stock transaction valued at $503.7 million. The Corporation included the financial results of Kimball International in the Consolidated Financial
Statements starting as of the date of acquisition. References to "legacy" herein exclude the impact of Kimball International.
For further information with respect to acquisitions, divestitures, operating segment information, and the Corporation’s operations in general, refer to "Item 7. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations" in Part II of this report and the following sections in the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements: "Note 1. Nature of Operations,""Note 4. Acquisitions and Divestitures," and "Note 16. Reportable Segment Information."
Markets
The Corporation competes in the workplace furnishings and residential building products
markets principally by providing compelling value products designed to be among the best in their price range for product quality and performance, along with superior customer service and short lead-times. This is made possible, in part, by the Corporation’s ongoing investment in its brands, research and development efforts, efficient manufacturing operations, and extensive distribution network.
Workplace Furnishings
The North American workplace furnishings market consists of two primary channels — the contract channel and the small and medium-sized business ("SMB") channel. End-users across both channels are a mix of commercial, financial, healthcare, government, and education customers.
The
contract channel has traditionally been characterized by sales of office furniture and services to large corporations and organizations, primarily for new office facilities, relocations, and/or office redesigns. Sales made through the contract channel are frequently customized to meet specific client and architect/designer preferences. End users generally purchase through independent office furniture dealers who prepare a custom-designed office layout emphasizing image and design. The selling process is complex, lengthy, and generally has several manufacturers competing for the same projects.
The SMB channel, in which the Corporation is a market leader, primarily represents smaller orders of office furniture
that are less likely to involve an architect and/or designer. Sales in this channel are driven on the basis of price, product quality, selection, and the speed and reliability of delivery. Independent dealers, national office product distributors, eCommerce retailers, and wholesalers are the primary distribution channels in this market.
In addition to the above channels, the Corporation sells direct into the hospitality market through the Kimball Hospitality brand. The hospitality end market is served with a complete package of products for guest rooms and public spaces plus service support to the hospitality industry. Serving the hospitality market includes partnering with the most recognized hotel brands to meet their specific requirements for properties throughout the world by working with worldwide manufacturing partners to offer the best solution to fulfill the project.
The workplace furnishings industry is highly competitive, with a significant number of competitors offering similar products. The Corporation competes by emphasizing its ability to deliver compelling value products, solutions, and a high level of tailored customer service. The Corporation competes with large workplace furnishings manufacturers, which cover a substantial portion of the North America market share in the workplace furnishings market. Competitors include manufacturers such as MillerKnoll, Inc., Steelcase, Inc., Haworth, Inc., The Global Group, Krueger International, Inc., and Teknion Corporation, as well as global importers. The Corporation faces significant price competition from its competitors and may encounter competition from new market entrants.
Residential Building Products
The
Corporation also competes in the residential building products industry, where it is the North American market leader in hearth products. Hearth products are typically purchased by builders during the construction of new homes and homeowners during the renovation of existing homes. Both types of purchases involve seasonality with remodel/retrofit activity being particularly concentrated in the September to December timeframe. Distribution is primarily through independent and company-owned installing distributors and retail outlets.
The hearth products market is highly competitive with products manufactured by a number of national and regional competitors. The Corporation competes against a broad range of manufacturers, including Travis Industries, Inc., Innovative Hearth Products, Wolf Steel Ltd. (Napoleon), and FPI Fireplace Products International Ltd. (Regency).
Strategy
The
Corporation’s strategy is to build on its position as a leading manufacturer of workplace furnishings and residential building products.
The foundation of the Corporation’s strategy continues to be its distinct member-owner culture, which has enabled HNI to attract, develop, retain, and motivate skilled, experienced, and efficient member-owners who are its employees, and which drives a unique level of commitment to the Corporation’s success. The Corporation aims to leverage this culture to enable profitable growth by focusing members’ efforts on the following three pillars:
•Customer-First Mindset (focus on the customer) – The journeys customers take buying and using workplace furnishings and residential building products continue to rapidly evolve — presenting new
opportunities to better serve them. The key to capitalizing on these changes is a deep understanding of customers. To that end, the Corporation continues to broaden its involvement in and understanding of the entire customer journey, by investing in data analytics, digital assets, branding, eCommerce capabilities, and market coverage. This customer-first mindset will allow the Corporation to identify and take advantage of new and developing market dynamics.
•Effortless Winning Experiences (simplify the buying process) – Customers continue to raise their expectations and demand more effortless experiences. Buying office furniture and hearth products can be complicated and time-consuming. The Corporation’s deep understanding of the customer buying journey incorporates technology and digital assets to help customers navigate the buying process more quickly
and with reduced effort. The Corporation has scale, price point breadth, product depth, and resources to lead this charge.
•Own Operational Excellence (leverage lean heritage) – All HNI member-owners embrace the principles of lean manufacturing. Members utilize Rapid Continuous Improvement (RCI), which scrutinizes every facet of the business to identify areas of waste, and then refines and streamlines. RCI can be seen in action throughout the Corporation’s value chain from the manufacturing floor to the administrative offices to customer interactions, as members always look to find a better, more efficient, and more environmentally-friendly approach. This focus on RCI benefits stakeholders as the Corporation consistently delivers productivity and cost savings that allow it to grow earnings and invest in the future.
Management
believes that the skillful execution of these strategic initiatives will support robust organic sales growth, margin expansion, improved returns, strong free cash flow, and position the Corporation for continued success.
Sales
Workplace Furnishings
The Corporation designs, manufactures, and markets a broad range of workplace furnishings. The Corporation offers a complete line of panel-based and freestanding office furniture systems, seating, benching, tables, architectural products, storage, ancillary
products, hospitality products, and social collaborative items in order to meet the needs of a wide spectrum of organizations. Through its broad product offerings the Corporation is able to service business furniture needs in virtually any setting, including private office, open plan, conference rooms, training areas, cafes, lounges, collaborative spaces, healthcare, and hospitality spaces, among many others. The Corporation possesses significant expertise and vertical manufacturing capabilities allowing it the flexibility to design and manufacture new products in-house to meet changing market needs.
To meet the demands of various markets, the Corporation’s products are sold primarily under the Corporation’s brands:
HON®
Allsteel®
Beyond®
Gunlocke®
HBF®
HBF
Textiles®
HNI India®
Kimball®
National®
Etc.®
Interwoven®
David Edward®
Kimball®Hospitality
D’style®
In 2023, the Corporation completed the previously announced exit of its OFM and Respawn brands.
The
Corporation sells its products through various distribution channels, including the following:
•Independent, local office products dealers that specialize in the sale of office furniture and/or office products to business, government, education, and health care entities.
•National office product distributors that sell furniture and office supplies through a national network of dealerships and sales offices. These distributors also sell through on-line and retail office products stores.
•eCommerce–focused resellers that sell a wide array of business and consumer products to commercial and non-commercial customers. Orders are fulfilled both by the Corporation and/or directly by the eCommerce reseller from inventory held in their
facilities.
•Wholesalers that serve as distributors of the Corporation’s products to independent dealers and national office products distributors. These wholesalers maintain inventories of standard product lines for quick delivery to customers.
•Direct sales of products to federal, state, and local government offices, or in certain circumstances a lead selling relationship with an end-user.
The Corporation’s workplace furnishings sales force consists of sales managers, salespeople, and independent manufacturers’ representatives who collectively provide national sales coverage. Sales managers and salespeople are compensated by a combination of salary and variable performance compensation.
The
Corporation also makes export sales through HNI International to independent office furniture dealers and wholesale distributors serving select foreign markets. Distributors are principally located in the Caribbean, Latin America, and Mexico. Through HNI India, the Corporation manufactures and distributes office furniture directly to end-users and through independent dealers and distributors primarily in India.
Residential Building Products
The Corporation’s residential building products segment includes the Hearth & Home Technologies LLC ("Hearth & Home") operating unit. Hearth & Home is North America’s largest manufacturer and marketer of prefabricated fireplaces, hearth stoves, and related products.These products are primarily for the home and are sold under the following widely recognized brands:
Heatilator®
Heat
& Glo®
Majestic®
Monessen®
Quadra-Fire®
Harman®
Vermont Castings®
PelPro®
StellarTM
SimpliFire®
The Outdoor GreatRoom Company®
Forge & FlameTM
The
Corporation’s line of hearth products includes a full array of gas, wood, electric, and pellet-fueled fireplaces, inserts, stoves, facings, outdoor fire pits and fire tables, and accessories. Heatilator®, Heat & Glo®, Majestic®, Monessen®, and StellarTM are brand leaders in the two largest segments of the home fireplace market: gas and wood fireplaces. The Corporation is a leader in
"direct vent"
fireplaces, which replaces the chimney-venting system used in traditional fireplaces with a less expensive vent through the roof or an outer wall. In addition, the Corporation is a market leader in wood and pellet-burning stoves with its Quadra-Fire®, Harman®, Vermont Castings®, and PelPro® product lines, which provide home heating solutions using renewable fuels.
Hearth & Home sells its products through independent dealers, distributors, and 28 Corporation-owned installing distribution and retail outlets. The distribution and retail brand of this operating unit is Fireside Hearth & Home. The business has a field sales organization of sales managers, salespeople, and independent manufacturers’ representatives.
Largest
Customers
In fiscal 2023, the Corporation’s five largest customers represented approximately 17 percent of its consolidated net sales. No single customer accounted for 10 percent or more of the Corporation’s consolidated net sales in fiscal 2023, and management does not consider the Corporation’s operations or financial performance to be materially dependent on any individual customer. The substantial purchasing power exercised by large customers may adversely affect the prices at which the Corporation can successfully offer its products.
Resources
Manufacturing
The Corporation manufactures workplace furnishings in Georgia, Indiana, Iowa, Kentucky, New York, North Carolina, India, and Mexico. The Corporation manufactures
hearth products in Iowa, Minnesota, Pennsylvania, and Vermont.
The Corporation purchases raw materials, components, and finished goods from a variety of suppliers, and most items are generally available from multiple sources. Major raw materials include steel, aluminum, zinc, lumber, veneer, particleboard, textiles, paint, hardware, glass, plastic products, packaging, foam, and fiberglass.
Since its inception, the Corporation has focused on making its manufacturing facilities and processes more flexible while reducing cost, eliminating waste, and improving product quality. The Corporation applies the principles of RCI and a lean manufacturing philosophy to leverage the creativity of its members to reduce and/or eliminate costs. The application of RCI has increased productivity by reducing set-up, processing times, square
footage, inventory levels, product costs, and delivery times, while improving quality and enhancing member safety. The Corporation’s RCI process involves members, customers, and suppliers. Manufacturing also plays a key role in the Corporation’s concurrent research and development process in order to design new products for ease of manufacturability.
Research and Development
The Corporation’s research and development efforts are primarily focused on developing relevant and differentiated end-user solutions emphasizing quality, aesthetics, style, sustainable design, and reduced manufacturing costs. The Corporation accomplishes this through improving existing products, extending product lines, applying ergonomic research, improving manufacturing processes, and leveraging alternative materials. The Corporation conducts its research and development
efforts at both the corporate and operating unit levels. See "Note 2. Summary of Significant Accounting Policies" in the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements for amounts that the Corporation has invested in research and development.
Intellectual Property
As of December 30, 2023, the Corporation owned 183 United States and 127 foreign patents with expiration dates through 2042 and had applications pending for 41 United States and 23 foreign patents. In addition, the Corporation holds 281 United States and 420 foreign trademark registrations and has applications pending for 48 United States and 58 foreign
trademarks. The acquisition of Kimball International in 2023 included a number of patents and trademarks. The Corporation believes neither any individual workplace furnishings patent nor the Corporation’s workplace furnishings patents in the aggregate are material to the Corporation’s business as a whole. The Corporation’s patents covering its residential building products protect various technical innovations. While the acquisition of patents reflects Hearth & Home’s position in the market as an innovation leader, the Corporation believes neither any individual residential building product patent nor the Corporation’s residential building product patents in the aggregate are material to the Corporation’s business as a whole.
The Corporation applies for patent protection when it believes the expense of doing so is justified and the duration of its registered patents is adequate to
protect these rights. The Corporation also pays royalties in certain instances for the use of patents on products and processes owned by others.
The Corporation applies for trademark protection for brands and products when it believes the expense of doing so is justified. The Corporation actively protects trademarks it believes have significant value. The Corporation believes neither the loss of any individual trademark nor the loss of the Corporation’s trademarks in the aggregate would materially adversely affect the Corporation’s business as a whole, except for HON®,
Allsteel®, Kimball®, National®, Heat & Glo®, and Heatilator®.
Environmental Regulations and Sustainability
The Corporation is subject to a variety of environmental laws and regulations governing the use of materials and substances in products, the management of wastes resulting from use of certain material, the emission of pollutants from its operations, and the remediation of contamination associated with past releases of hazardous substances. Although the Corporation believes it is compliant with the various regulations applicable to its business, there can be
no assurance requirements will not change in the future or the Corporation will not incur material costs to comply with such regulations. The Corporation has trained staff responsible for monitoring compliance with environmental, health, and safety requirements. The Corporation’s staff works with responsible personnel at each manufacturing facility, the Corporation’s legal counsel, and consultants on the management of environmental, health, and safety issues. The Corporation’s environmental objective is to reduce and, when practicable, eliminate the human and ecosystem impacts of materials and manufacturing processes.
Compliance with federal, state, and local environmental regulations has not had a material effect on the capital expenditures, earnings, or competitive position of the Corporation to date and is not expected to have such a material effect in the near future. However, there
is no assurance environmental requirements or technology will not change or the Corporation will not incur material costs to comply with such regulations.
The Corporation has expanded its Corporate Social Responsibility commitment and has become a signatory to the UN Global Compact, joined RE100, committed to 100 percent renewable electricity annually by 2030, and set aggressive science-based carbon emission reduction goals aligned with the 2015 Paris Agreement. To support these goals, the Corporation has established metrics to divert waste from landfill, reduce energy use, and lower greenhouse gas emissions from its operations. The Corporation also has committed to reducing the impacts of its products through evaluations of design and development, suppliers, and supply chain performance. Integrating these sustainable objectives into core business systems is consistent with the Corporation’s
vision, ensures its commitment to being a sustainable enterprise, and remains a priority for members. For more detailed information regarding its environmental and social goals, priorities, accomplishments, and initiatives, please refer to the Corporation’s Corporate Social Responsibility report available on its website.
Human Capital
As of December 30, 2023, the Corporation employed approximately 8,200 persons, including fewer than 100 temporary personnel.
Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion
The Corporation’s goal
is for every member to always feel represented, included, and heard. The Corporation believes in:
•Unique perspectives. Diverse backgrounds bring unique perspectives, helping to drive innovation and growth.
•Fair and inclusive treatment. The Corporation seeks to treat all members with fairness and respect, ensuring all voices are heard, and allowing everyone to make meaningful contributions.
•Accountability. Through regular training and everyday business practices, the Corporation promotes accountability for diversity.
•Transparent
communication. Members at every level have frequent opportunities to raise and address concerns with company leaders and attend meetings to learn and ask questions about the business.
For further information regarding its member-owner culture, initiatives, and goals, including in the areas of diversity, equity, and inclusion, please refer to the Corporation’s Corporate Social Responsibility report available on its website.
Member Development
All members have the opportunity to achieve and succeed in their careers. The Corporation invests in apprenticeships, on-the-job training, robust performance
and talent-management processes, and leadership development programs.
The Corporation’s compensation and benefits programs are competitive and equitable, designed to attract, retain, and motivate its members. Through stock-based plans and profit sharing, most members benefit from the success of the Corporation as a whole. This creates a strong culture of shared responsibility, empowered accountability for all outcomes, and an ongoing enthusiasm for improvement.
The
Corporate Social Responsibility report does not form a part of and is not incorporated into this Annual Report on Form 10-K.
Available Information
Information regarding the Corporation’s annual reports on Form 10-K, quarterly reports on Form 10-Q, current reports on Form 8-K, and any amendments to these reports, will be made available, free of charge, on the Corporation’s website at www.hnicorp.com, as soon as reasonably practicable after the Corporation electronically files such reports with or furnishes them to the Securities
and Exchange Commission ("SEC"). The information on the Corporation’s website is not, and shall not be, deemed to be a part hereof or incorporated into this or any of the Corporation’s other filings with the SEC. The Corporation’s SEC filings are also available on the SEC website at www.sec.gov.
Forward-Looking Statements
Statements in this report to the extent they are not statements of historical or present fact, including statements as to plans, outlook, objectives, and future financial performance, are "forward-looking" statements, within the meaning of
Section 21 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Words such as "anticipate,""believe,""could,""confident,""estimate,""expect,""forecast,""hope,""intend,""likely,""may,""plan,""possible,""potential,""predict,""project,""should,""will,""would," and variations of such words and similar expressions identify forward-looking statements.
Forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks and uncertainties, which may cause the Corporation’s actual results in the future to differ materially from expected results. The most significant factors known to the Corporation that may adversely affect the Corporation’s business, operations, industries, financial position, or future financial
performance are described later in this report under the heading "Item 1A. Risk Factors." The Corporation cautions readers not to place undue reliance on any forward-looking statement, which is based necessarily on assumptions made at the time the Corporation provides such statement, and to recognize forward-looking statements are predictions of future results, which may not occur as anticipated. Actual results could differ materially from those anticipated in the forward-looking statements and from historical results due to the risks and uncertainties described elsewhere in this report, including but not limited to: the Corporation’s ultimate realization of the anticipated benefits of the acquisition of Kimball International and the sale of Poppin; disruptions in the global supply chain; the effects of prolonged periods of inflation and rising interest rates; labor shortages; the levels of office furniture needs and housing starts; overall demand for the Corporation’s
products; general economic and market conditions in the United States and internationally; industry and competitive conditions; the consolidation and concentration of the Corporation’s customers; the Corporation’s reliance on its network of independent dealers; changes in trade policy; changes in raw material, component, or commodity pricing; market acceptance and demand for the Corporation’s new products; changing legal, regulatory, environmental, and healthcare conditions; the risks associated with international operations; the potential impact of product defects; the various restrictions on the Corporation’s financing activities; an inability to protect the Corporation’s intellectual property; cybersecurity threats, including those posed by potential ransomware attacks; impacts of tax legislation; force majeure events outside the Corporation’s control, including those that may result from the effects of climate change; and other risks as described under the heading
"Item 1A. Risk Factors," as well as others that the Corporation may consider not material or does not anticipate at this time. The risks and uncertainties described in this report, including those under the heading "Item 1A. Risk Factors," are not exclusive and further information concerning the Corporation, including factors that potentially could have a material effect on the Corporation’s financial results or condition, may emerge from time to time.
The Corporation assumes no obligation to update, amend, or clarify forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events, or otherwise, except as required by applicable law. The Corporation advises you, however, to consult any further disclosures made on related subjects in future quarterly reports on Form 10-Q and current reports on Form 8-K filed with or furnished to the SEC.
The following risk factors and other information included in this report should be carefully considered. If any of the following risks occur, the Corporation’s business, operating results, cash flows, or financial condition could be materially adversely affected.
INDUSTRY AND ECONOMIC RISKS
Unfavorable economic and industry factors could adversely affect the Corporation’s business, operating results, or financial condition.
Workplace, health care, and hospitality furnishings industry sales are impacted by a variety of macroeconomic factors including
service-sector employment levels, corporate profits, business confidence, commercial construction, office vacancy rates, and new hospitality refurbishment rates. Industry factors, including corporate restructuring, technology changes, corporate relocations, health and safety concerns, including ergonomic considerations, and the globalization of companies also influence workplace furnishings industry revenues. In addition, adoption of hybrid working models following the COVID-19 pandemic has resulted in a significant decrease in worker attendance at their office location. Despite office re-entry in many markets, office occupancy levels remain below historic levels. Lower office occupancy levels have had and could continue to have an adverse impact on the demand for workplace furnishings.
Residential building products industry sales are impacted by a variety of macroeconomic factors including
housing starts, housing inventory, home sales, overall employment levels, interest rates, home affordability, consumer confidence, energy costs, disposable income, and changing demographics. Industry factors, such as technology changes, health and safety concerns, and environmental regulation, including indoor air quality standards, also influence residential building products industry revenues. Deterioration of economic conditions or a slowdown in the homebuilding industry and the hearth products market could decrease demand for residential building products and have additional adverse effects on operating results.
Deteriorating economic conditions, which may be caused by uncertainties and volatility in the financial markets, rising or sustained inflation and interest rates, and potential economic recessions, could affect the Corporation’s business significantly, including reduced demand
for products, insolvency of independent dealers resulting in increased provisions for credit losses, insolvency of key suppliers resulting in product delays, inability of customers to obtain credit to finance purchases of products, and decreased customer demand, including order delays or cancellations. In a recessionary economy, business confidence, service-sector employment, corporate cash flows, and residential and non-residential commercial construction often decrease, which typically leads to a decrease in demand for workplace furnishings and residential building products.
The workplace, health care, and hospitality furnishings and residential building products industries are highly competitive and, as a result, the Corporation may not be successful in winning new business.
The workplace, health
care, and hospitality furnishings and residential building products industries are highly competitive. Many of the Corporation’s competitors in both industries offer similar products. Competitive factors include price, delivery and service, brand recognition, product design, product quality, strength of dealers and other distributors, and relationships with customers and key influencers, including architects, designers, home-builders, and facility managers. In both industries, most of the top competitors have an installed base of products that can be a source of significant future sales through repeat and expansion orders. The Corporation’s main competitors manufacture products with strong acceptance in the marketplace and are capable of developing products that have a competitive advantage, which could make it difficult for the Corporation to win new business.
In both the workplace
furnishings and residential building products industries, the Corporation faces price competition from competitors and from new market entrants who may manufacture and source products from lower cost countries. Price competition impacts the Corporation’s ability to implement price increases or, in some cases, even maintain prices, which could lower profit margins and adversely affect future financial performance.
Changes in industry dynamics, including demand and order patterns from customers, distribution changes, or the loss of a significant number of dealers, could adversely affect the Corporation’s business, operating results, or financial condition.
Consolidation among the Corporation’s customers may result in a smaller number of total customers, but an increase in large customers whose size and
purchasing power give them increased leverage that may result in, among other things, decreases in average selling prices. In addition, further consolidations may lead to fluctuations in revenue, increases in costs to meet demands
of large customers, and pressure to accept onerous contract terms, and the Corporation’s business, financial condition, and operating results could be harmed.
The Corporation sells products through multiple distribution channels, which primarily include
independent dealers, national dealers, wholesalers, sales representatives, and eCommerce. Within these distribution channels, there has been, and may continue to be, consolidation. The Corporation relies on distribution partners to provide a variety of important specification, installation, and after-market services to customers. Some distribution partners may terminate their relationship with the Corporation at any time and for any reason. Loss or termination of a significant number of reseller relationships could cause difficulties in marketing and distributing products, resulting in a decline in sales, which may adversely affect the Corporation’s business, operating results, or financial condition.
In addition, individual dealers may not continue to be viable and profitable and may suffer from a lack of available credit. While the Corporation is not significantly dependent on any
single dealer, if dealers go out of business or are restructured, the Corporation may suffer losses as the dealers may not be able to pay the Corporation for products previously delivered to them.
The loss of a dealer relationship could negatively affect the Corporation’s ability to maintain market share in the affected geographic market and to compete for and service clients in that market until a new dealer relationship is established. Establishing a viable dealer in a market can take a significant amount of time and resources. The loss or termination of a significant dealer or a substantial number of dealer relationships could cause significant difficulties in marketing and distributing the Corporation’s products, resulting in a decline in sales and/or impairment of the Corporation’s contract
assets related to distribution agreements with the respective dealers.
Evolving trade policy between the United States and other countries may have an adverse effect on the Corporation’s business and results of operations.
The Corporation has a global supply chain for products used in workplace furnishings and residential building products. Actions taken by the United States government to apply tariffs on certain products could have long-term impacts on existing supply chains. The situation could impact the competitive environment depending on the severity and duration of current and future policy changes. This may manifest in additional costs on the business, including costs with respect to products upon which the business depends. Increased costs could further lower profit margins as the Corporation
may be challenged in effectively increasing the prices of its products, and its business and results of operations may be adversely affected.
Certain foreign governments have imposed tariffs on goods that their countries import from the United States. Changes in United States trade policy could result in one or more foreign governments adopting trade policies that make it more difficult or costly for the Corporation to do business in those countries.
The Corporation cannot predict the extent to which the United States or other countries will impose quotas, duties, tariffs, taxes, or other similar restrictions upon the import or export of products in the future, nor can the Corporation predict future trade policy or the terms of any renegotiated trade agreements and their impact on the business. The adoption
and expansion of trade restrictions, the occurrence of a trade war, or other governmental action related to tariffs or trade agreements or policies has the potential to adversely impact demand for products, costs, customers, suppliers, and the United States economy, which in turn could have a material adverse effect on the Corporation’s business, operating results, and financial condition.
The Corporation’s profitability may be adversely affected by increases in raw material and commodity costs as well as transportation and shipping challenges.
Fluctuations in the price and availability of commodities, raw materials, components, and finished goods could have an adverse effect on costs of sales, profitability, and ability to meet customers’ demand. The Corporation sources commodities, raw materials, components,
and finished goods from domestic and international suppliers. From both domestic and international suppliers, the cost and availability of commodities, raw materials, components, and finished goods including steel have been significantly affected in recent years by, among other things, changes in global supply and demand, the COVID-19 pandemic, changes in laws and regulations (including tariffs and duties), changes in exchange rates and worldwide price levels, inflationary forces, natural disasters, labor disputes, military action, terrorism, and political unrest or instability. These factors could lead to price volatility or supply interruptions in the future. Profit margins could be adversely affected if commodity, raw material, component, and finished good costs increase and the Corporation is either unable to offset such costs through strategic sourcing initiatives and continuous improvement programs or, as a result of competitive market dynamics, unable to pass
along a portion of the higher costs to customers.
The Corporation relies primarily on third-party freight and transportation providers to deliver products to customers. Increasing demand for freight providers and a shortage of qualified drivers has caused delays and may cause future delays in shipments and increase the cost to ship its products, which may adversely affect profitability. The Corporation also imports and exports products and components, primarily using container ships, which load and unload through North American ports. Capacity-related and/or port-caused delays in the shipment or receipt of products
and components, including labor disputes, have caused and could cause delayed receipt of products and components, which may adversely affect sales and profitability.
STRATEGIC AND OPERATIONAL RISKS
If customers do not perceive the Corporation’s products and services to be of good value, the Corporation’s brand and name recognition and reputation could suffer.
The Corporation believes that establishing and maintaining good brand and name recognition and a good reputation is critical to its business. In certain parts of the market, promotion and enhancement of the Corporation’s name and brands will depend on the effectiveness of marketing and advertising efforts and on successfully providing design-driven, innovative,
and high-quality products and superior services. If customers do not perceive the Corporation’s products and services to be design-driven, innovative and of high quality, its reputation, brand and name recognition could suffer, which could have a material adverse effect on the Corporation’s business.
The Corporation’s efforts to introduce new products to meet customer and workplace demands may not be successful, which could limit sales growth or cause its sales to decline.
To meet the changing needs of customers and keep pace with market trends and evolving regulatory and industry requirements, including environmental, health, safety, and similar standards for the workplace and for product performance, the Corporation regularly introduces new workplace furnishings and residential building products. The
introduction of new products requires the coordination of the design, manufacturing, and marketing of the products, which may be affected by uncontrollable factors. The design and engineering of certain new products varies but can extend beyond a year, and further time may be required to achieve client acceptance. The Corporation may face difficulties if it cannot successfully align itself with independent architects, home-builders, and designers who are able to design, in a timely manner, high-quality products consistent with the Corporation’s image and customers’ needs. Accordingly, the launch of a product may be later or less successful than originally anticipated, limiting sales growth or causing sales to decline.
Natural disasters, acts of God, force majeure events, or other catastrophic events may impact the Corporation’s production capacity and, in turn, negatively impact profitability.
Natural
disasters, acts of God, global pandemics or epidemics, force majeure events, or other catastrophic events, including severe weather, military action, terrorist attacks, power interruptions, floods, and fires, could disrupt operations and the ability to produce or deliver products. Some of the Corporation’s production facilities, members, and key management are located within a small geographic area in eastern Iowa located near the Mississippi River, and a natural disaster or catastrophe in the area, such as flooding or severe storms, could have a significant adverse effect on the results of operations and business conditions. Further, several of the Corporation’s production facilities are single-site manufacturers of certain products, and an adverse event affecting any of those facilities could significantly delay production of certain products and adversely affect operations and business conditions. Members are an integral part of the business and events such as those
described above could negatively impact the availability of members reporting for work. In the event the Corporation experiences a temporary or permanent interruption in its ability to produce or deliver product, revenues could be reduced, and business could be materially adversely affected. In addition, any continuing disruption in the Corporation’s computer system could adversely affect the ability to receive and process customers’ orders, procure materials, manufacture products and ship products on a timely basis, which could adversely affect relations with customers and potentially reduce customer orders or result in the loss of customers.
The Corporation’s business and operations are subject to risks related to climate change.
The long-term effects of global climate change could present both physical
risks and transition risks (such as regulatory, supply chain, or technology changes), which could be widespread and unpredictable. These changes over time could affect the availability and cost of raw materials, commodities, and energy (including utilities), which in turn may impact the Corporation’s ability to procure goods or services required for the operation of the Corporation’s business at the quantities and levels the Corporation requires. Additionally, the Corporation has facilities located in areas that may be impacted by the physical risks of climate change, including flooding, and faces the risk of losses incurred as a result of physical damage to its facilities and inventory as well as business interruption caused by such events. Furthermore, periods of extended inclement weather or
associated flooding may inhibit construction activity utilizing the Corporation’s products and delay shipments of products to customers. The Corporation uses natural gas, diesel fuel, gasoline and electricity in its operations, all of which could face increased regulation as a result of climate change or other environmental concerns. The increased prevalence of global climate issues may result in new regulations that negatively impact the Corporation, including regulations limiting emissions from, or restricting the use of wood, coal, natural gas, or other fuel sources in, fireplaces and heating appliances, which may impair the Corporation’s ability to market and sell those products. Any such events could have a material adverse effect on the Corporation’s costs or results of operations.
A continued shortage of qualified
labor could negatively affect the Corporation’s business and materially reduce earnings.
The Corporation has experienced shortages of qualified labor across its operations. Outside suppliers that the Corporation relies upon have also experienced shortages of qualified labor. The success of the Corporation’s operations depends on its ability, and the ability of third parties upon which the Corporation relies, to identify, recruit, develop, and retain qualified and talented individuals in order to supply and deliver the Corporation’s products. A shortage of qualified labor could have a negative effect on the Corporation’s business. Member recruitment, development, and retention efforts may not be successful, which could result in a shortage of qualified individuals in future periods. Any such shortage could decrease the Corporation’s ability to effectively produce workplace furnishings
and residential building products and meet customer demand. Such a shortage would also likely lead to higher wages for employees (or higher costs to purchase the services of such third parties) and a corresponding reduction in the Corporation’s results of operations. A shortage of qualified labor in certain geographies, particularly with plant production workers, could result in increased costs from certain temporary wage actions, such as hiring and referral bonus programs. Such shortages for a prolonged period of time could have a material adverse effect on the Corporation’s operating results.
The Corporation’s failure to retain its existing management team, maintain its engineering, finance, technical, and manufacturing process expertise, or continue to attract qualified personnel could adversely affect the Corporation’s business.
The
Corporation depends significantly on its executive officers and other key personnel. The Corporation’s success is also dependent on keeping pace with technological advancements and adapting services to provide manufacturing capabilities that meet customers’ changing needs. To do so, the Corporation must retain qualified engineering and technical personnel and successfully anticipate and respond to technological changes in a cost effective and timely manner. The Corporation focuses on continuous training, motivation, and development of its members, and it strives to attract and retain qualified personnel. Failure to retain the Corporation’s executive officers and retain and attract other key personnel could adversely affect the Corporation’s business.
The Corporation’s strategy is partially based on growth through acquisitions or strategic alliances. Failure to properly identify, value,
and manage acquisitions or alliances may negatively affect the Corporation’s business, results of operations and financial condition.
One of the Corporation’s growth strategies is to supplement its organic growth through acquisitions and strategic alliances, which may include transactions with other manufacturers of workplace furnishings and residential building products or distributors of workplace furnishings and residential building products. The Corporation may not be successful in identifying suitable acquisition or alliance opportunities, prevailing against competing potential acquirers, negotiating appropriate acquisition terms, obtaining financing, completing proposed acquisitions or alliances, or expanding into new markets or product categories. If the Corporation fails to effectively identify, value, consummate, or manage any acquired company, it may not realize the potential
growth opportunities or achieve the financial results anticipated at the time of the acquisition or alliance. An acquisition or alliance could also adversely impact the Corporation’s operating performance or cash flow due to, among other things, the issuance of acquisition-related debt, pre-acquisition assumed liabilities, undisclosed facts about the business, or acquisition expense. The Corporation’s ability to grow through future acquisitions will depend, in part, on the availability of suitable acquisition candidates at an acceptable price, the ability to compete effectively for these acquisition candidates, and the availability of capital to complete the acquisitions. Any potential acquisition may not be successful and could adversely affect the Corporation’s business, operating results, or financial condition.
The Corporation may not be able to successfully integrate and manage
acquired businesses and alliances.
The benefits of acquisitions or alliances pursued as one of the Corporation’s growth strategies may take more time than expected to develop or integrate into operations. In addition, an acquisition or alliance may not perform as anticipated, be accretive to earnings, or prove to be beneficial to the Corporation’s operations and cash flow. Acquisitions and alliances involve a number of risks, including:
•diversion of management’s attention from operations;
•difficulties
in assimilating the operations and products of an acquired business or in realizing projected efficiencies, cost savings and revenue synergies;
•potential loss of key employees or customers of the acquired businesses or adverse effects on existing business relationships with suppliers and customers;
•negative impact on member morale and performance as a result of job changes and reassignments;
•reallocation of amounts of capital from other operating initiatives or an increase in leverage and debt service requirements to pay the acquisition purchase prices, which could in turn restrict the ability to access additional capital when needed or to pursue other important elements of the business strategy;
•inaccurate
assessment of undisclosed, contingent, or other liabilities or problems and unanticipated costs associated with the acquisition;
•possible tax costs or inefficiencies associated with integrating the operations of a combined company; and
•incorrect estimates made in accounting for acquisitions, incurrence of non-recurring charges, and write-off of significant amounts of goodwill that could adversely affect the financial results.
The Corporation may not achieve the intended benefits of its recent merger with Kimball International.
There can be no assurance that the Corporation will be able to successfully integrate Kimball International’s assets or otherwise realize
the expected benefits of the transaction (including operating and other cost synergies). Difficulties in integrating Kimball International into the Corporation may result in the Corporation performing differently than expected, in operational challenges, in the failure to realize anticipated run-rate cost synergies and efficiencies in the expected time frame or at all, or in the difficulty or failure of utilizing available U.S. tax attributes, in which case the merger may not be accretive to earnings per share, may not improve the Corporation’s balance sheet position, may not enhance the Corporation’s ability to de-lever and may not generate additional free cash flow due to reduced cash tax payments. The integration of the two companies may result in material challenges, including the diversion of management’s attention from ongoing business concerns; retaining key management and other employees; retaining or attracting business and operational relationships;
the possibility of faulty assumptions underlying expectations regarding the integration process and associated expenses; consolidating corporate and administrative infrastructures and eliminating duplicative operations; coordinating geographically separate organizations; unanticipated issues in integrating information technology, communications and other systems; as well as potential unknown liabilities, or unforeseen expenses relating to integration.
The future results of the Corporation may be adversely impacted if the Corporation does not effectively manage its expanded operations following the completion of the merger with Kimball International.
The Corporation’s business is significantly larger than the pre-merger size of either the Corporation’s or Kimball International’s respective
businesses. The Corporation’s ability to successfully manage this expanded business will depend, in part, upon management’s ability to design and implement strategic initiatives that address not only the integration of two independent stand-alone companies, but also the increased scale and scope of the combined business with its associated increased costs and complexity. There can be no assurances that the combined company will be successful or that it will realize the expected operating efficiencies, cost savings and other benefits currently anticipated from the merger.
The combined company incurred substantial expenses related to the completion of the merger of the Corporation with Kimball International and expects to continue to incur substantial expenses relating to their integration.
In connection
with the merger and ongoing integration efforts, the combined company incurred and is expected to continue to incur substantial expenses. There are a large number of processes, policies, procedures, operations, technologies and systems that must be integrated, potentially including purchasing, accounting and finance, sales, payroll, pricing, revenue management, marketing and benefits. The substantial majority of these costs are non-recurring expenses related to the merger (including financing of the merger), facilities and systems consolidation. The Corporation may incur additional costs to maintain employee morale and to attract, motivate or retain management personnel and other key employees. The Corporation and Kimball International also incurred transaction fees and costs related to formulating integration plans for the combined business, and the execution of these plans may lead to additional unanticipated costs. These incremental transaction- and merger-related
costs may exceed the savings the combined company expects to achieve from the elimination of duplicative costs and the realization of other efficiencies related to the integration of the businesses, particularly in the near term and in the event there are material unanticipated costs.
Uncertainties associated with the merger with Kimball International may cause a loss of management personnel and other key employees, and the Corporation may have difficulty attracting and motivating management personnel and other key employees, which could adversely affect the future business and operations of the Corporation after
the completion of the merger.
The Corporation is dependent on the experience and industry knowledge of its management personnel and other key employees to execute its business plans. The success of the Corporation after the completion of the merger with Kimball International depends in part upon the ability of the Corporation to attract, motivate and retain key management personnel and other key employees. Current and prospective employees of the Corporation may experience uncertainty about their roles within the combined company, which may have an adverse effect on the ability of the Corporation to attract, motivate or retain management personnel and other key employees. In addition, no assurance can be given that the Corporation will be able to attract, motivate or retain management personnel and other key employees of the Corporation to the same extent that the Corporation and Kimball
International have previously been able to attract or retain their own employees prior to the merger.
The merger with Kimball International may result in a loss of customers, distributors, suppliers, vendors, landlords and other business partners and may result in the termination of existing contracts.
Some of the customers, distributors, suppliers, vendors, landlords and other business partners of Kimball International may terminate or scale back their current or prospective business relationships with the Corporation. Some customers may not wish to source a larger percentage of their needs from a single company or may feel that the Corporation is too closely allied with one of its former competitors. If relationships
with customers, distributors, suppliers, vendors, landlords and other business partners are adversely affected by the merger, or if the Corporation loses the benefits of the contracts of Kimball International, the Corporation’s business and financial performance could suffer.
The combined company has significantly more indebtedness than the indebtedness of the Corporation prior to the merger.
Upon completion of the merger, the Corporation incurred approximately $390.2 million in additional indebtedness and as of December 30, 2023 has consolidated indebtedness of approximately $435.8 million, up from $207.9 million before the merger. The increased indebtedness of
the combined company in comparison to that of the Corporation on a historical basis may have the effect, among other things, of reducing the flexibility of the Corporation to respond to changing business and economic conditions and increasing borrowing costs.
If the Corporation incurs additional indebtedness in future periods, the risks related to the substantial indebtedness of the Corporation after the completion of the merger may intensify.
The market price of the Corporation’s common stock after the merger may be affected by factors different from those affecting the price of the Corporation’s common stock before the merger with Kimball International.
As the businesses of the Corporation and Kimball International
are different, the results of operations as well as the price of the Corporation’s common stock may be affected by factors different from those factors that affected the Corporation before the merger. Following the transaction, the Corporation faces additional risks and uncertainties that the Corporation or Kimball International may not have previously been exposed to as independent companies.
Goodwill and other intangible assets represent a significant amount of the Corporation’s total assets, and an impairment charge would adversely affect the Corporation’s financial results.
The Corporation recorded $272.8 million of goodwill and other intangible assets in connection with the merger with Kimball International, and as of December 30, 2023, the Corporation’s
goodwill and other intangible assets of $651.9 million represented approximately 34 percent of its total consolidated assets. Goodwill and other acquired intangible assets with indefinite lives are recorded at fair value at the time of acquisition and are not amortized, but reviewed for impairment annually or more frequently if an event occurs or circumstances change making it reasonably possible an impairment may exist. In evaluating the potential for impairment of goodwill and other intangible assets, the Corporation makes assumptions regarding future operating performance, business trends and market and economic performance, and the Corporation’s sales, operating margins, growth rates and discount rates. There are inherent uncertainties related to these factors. If the Corporation experiences disruptions in its business, unexpected significant declines in operating results, a divestiture of a significant component of its business, declines in the market value of equity,
or other factors causing the Corporation’s goodwill or intangible assets to be impaired, the Corporation could be required to recognize additional non-cash impairment charges, which would adversely affect the results of operations. See "Note 6. Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets" for information on impairment charges.
Increasing healthcare costs could adversely affect the Corporation’s business, operating results, and financial condition.
The
Corporation provides healthcare benefits to the majority of its members and is self-insured. Healthcare costs have continued to rise over time, which increases the annual spending on healthcare and could adversely affect the Corporation’s business, operating results, and financial condition.
The Corporation’s international operations expose it to risks related to conducting business in multiple jurisdictions outside the United States.
The Corporation manufactures, markets, and sells products in international markets.
The Corporation’s international sales and operations are subject to a number of additional risks, including:
•social
and political turmoil, official corruption, and civil and labor unrest;
•restrictive government actions, including the imposition of trade quotas and tariffs and restrictions on transfers of funds;
•changes in labor laws and regulations affecting the ability to hire, retain, or dismiss employees;
•the need to comply with multiple and potentially conflicting laws and regulations, including environmental and corporate laws and regulations;
•the failure of the Corporation’s compliance programs and internal training to prevent violations of the United States Foreign Corrupt Practices Act and similar anti-bribery laws;
•preference for
locally branded products and laws and business practices favoring local competition;
•less effective protection of intellectual property and increased possibility of loss due to cyber-theft and ransomware attacks;
•unfavorable business conditions or economic instability in any country or region;
•infrastructure disruptions;
•potentially conflicting cultural and business practices;
•difficulty in obtaining distribution and support; and
•changes to border taxes or other international tax reforms.
These
risks may be elevated given the current uncertainties around the impact of the conflicts in Europe and the Middle East, ongoing disputes and increased tensions related to global trade, and complexities with foreign regulatory environments including the decreased ability of United States regulators to exercise oversight of subsidiaries of United States companies based in certain international jurisdictions.
Additionally, although the Corporation primarily sells products and reports the financial results in United States dollars, increased business in countries outside the United States creates exposure to fluctuations in foreign currency exchange rates. Paying expenses in other currencies can result in a significant increase or decrease in the amount of those expenses in terms of United States dollars,
which may affect profits. In the future, any foreign currency appreciation relative to the United States dollar would increase expenses that are denominated in that currency. Additionally, as the Corporation reports currency in the United States dollar, the financial position is affected by the strength of the currencies in countries where the Corporation has operations relative to the strength of the United States dollar.
Further, certain countries have complex regulatory systems that impose administrative and legal requirements, which make managing international operations more difficult, including approvals to transfer funds among certain countries. If the Corporation is unable to provide financial support to the international operations in a timely manner, its business, operating results, and financial condition could be adversely affected.
The
Corporation periodically reviews foreign currency exposure and evaluates whether it should enter into hedging transactions. As of the date of this report and for the period presented, the Corporation has not utilized any currency hedging instruments.
The Corporation’s sales to the United States federal, state, and local governments are subject to uncertain future funding levels and federal, state, and local procurement laws and are governed by restrictive contract terms, any of which factors could limit current or future business.
The Corporation derives a portion of its revenue from sales to various United States federal, state, and local government agencies and departments. The ability to compete successfully
for and retain business with the United States government, as well as with state and local governments, is highly dependent on cost-effective performance. This government business is highly sensitive to
changes in procurement laws, national, international, state, and local public priorities, and budgets at all levels of government, which frequently experience downward pressure and are subject to uncertainty, including the potential for a temporary shutdown of the United States federal government.
The Corporation’s contracts
with government entities are subject to various statutes and regulations that apply to companies doing business with the government. The United States government, as well as state and local governments, can typically terminate or modify their contracts either for their convenience or if the Corporation defaults by failing to perform under the terms of the applicable contract. A termination arising out of default could expose the Corporation to liability and impede its ability to compete in the future for contracts and orders with agencies and departments at all levels of government. Moreover, the Corporation is subject to investigation and audit for compliance with the requirements governing government
contracts, including requirements related to procurement integrity, export controls, employment practices, the accuracy of records, and reporting of costs. If the Corporation were found to not be a responsible supplier or to have committed fraud or certain criminal offenses, it could be suspended or debarred from all further federal, state, or local government contracting.
The Corporation relies on information technology systems to manage numerous aspects of the business and a disruption or failure of these systems could adversely affect business, operating results, and financial condition.
The Corporation relies upon information technology networks and systems to process, transmit, and store electronic information,
as well as to manage numerous aspects of the business and provide information to management. Additionally, the Corporation collects and stores sensitive data of its customers, suppliers, and members in data centers and on information technology networks. The secure operation of these information technology networks, and the processing and maintenance of this information is critical to business operations and strategy. These networks and systems, despite security and precautionary measures, are vulnerable to, among other things, damage and interruption from power loss or natural disasters, computer system and network failures, loss of telecommunications services, physical and electronic loss of data, security breaches, hackers, and employee misuse. The Corporation has, and may in the future, face unauthorized attempts by hackers seeking to harm the Corporation or, as a result of industrial espionage or ransomware, to penetrate the Corporation’s network security and gain
access to its systems, steal intellectual or other proprietary data, including design, sales or personally identifiable information, introduce malicious software, or interrupt the Corporation’s internal systems, manufacturing or distribution. Though the Corporation attempts to detect and prevent these incidents, it may not be successful. In addition, the Corporation is subject to data privacy and other similar laws in various jurisdictions. If the Corporation is the target of a cybersecurity attack, computer virus, physical or electronic break-in or similar disruption resulting in unauthorized disclosure of sensitive data of customers, suppliers, and members, the Corporation may be required to undertake costly notification procedures. The Corporation may also be required to expend significant additional resources to protect against the threat of security breaches or to alleviate problems, including reputational harm and litigation, caused by any breaches. Any disruption
of information technology networks or systems, or access to or disclosure of information stored in or transmitted by systems, could result in legal claims and damages and loss of intellectual property or other proprietary information.
The Corporation’s results of operations and earnings may not meet guidance or expectations.
The Corporation frequently provides public guidance on the expected results of operations for future periods. This guidance comprises forward-looking statements subject to risks and uncertainties, including the risks and uncertainties described in this Annual Report on Form 10-K and in other public filings and public statements, and is based necessarily on assumptions made at the time the Corporation provides such guidance. The guidance may not always be accurate. If, in the future,
the results of operations for a particular period do not meet its guidance or the expectations of investment analysts or if the Corporation reduces its guidance for future periods, the market price of its common stock could decline significantly.
LEGAL AND REGULATORY RISKS
The Corporation is subject to extensive environmental regulation and has exposure to potential environmental liabilities.
Through the past and present operation and ownership of manufacturing facilities and real property, the Corporation is subject to extensive and changing federal, state, and local environmental laws and regulations, both domestic and abroad, including those relating to discharges in air, water, and land, the handling and disposal
of solid and hazardous waste, and the remediation of contamination associated with releases of hazardous substances. Compliance with environmental regulations has not had a material effect on capital expenditures, earnings, or competitive position to date, but compliance with current laws or more stringent laws or regulations which may be imposed in the future, stricter interpretation of existing laws or discoveries of contamination at the Corporation’s real property sites which occurred prior to ownership, or the advent of environmental regulation may require additional expenditures in the future, some of which may be material.
Costs
related to product defects could adversely affect the Corporation’s profitability.
The Corporation incurs various expenses related to product defects, including product warranty costs, product recall and retrofit costs, and product liability costs. These expenses relative to product sales vary and could increase. The Corporation uses chemicals and materials in products and includes components in products from external suppliers, which it believes to be safe and appropriate for their designated use. Harmful effects, however, may later become known, which could subject the Corporation to litigation and significant losses. The Corporation maintains reserves for product defect-related costs but these reserves may not be adequate to cover actual claims. Incorrect estimates or any significant increase in the rate of product defect expenses could have a material adverse effect on operations.
Iowa
law and provisions in the Corporation’s charter and bylaws may have the effect of preventing or hindering a change in control and adversely affecting the market price of its common stock.
The Corporation’s Articles of Incorporation give the Corporation’s Board of Directors ("Board") the authority to issue up to two million shares of preferred stock and to determine the rights and preferences of the preferred stock without obtaining shareholder approval. The existence of this preferred stock could make it more difficult or discourage an attempt to obtain control of the Corporation by means of a tender offer, merger, proxy contest, or otherwise. Furthermore, this preferred stock could be issued with other
rights, including economic rights, senior to common stock, thereby having a potentially adverse effect on the market price of the Corporation’s common stock.
The Board is divided into three classes. The Corporation’s classified Board, along with other provisions of the Corporation’s Articles of Incorporation and Bylaws and Iowa corporate law, could make it more difficult for a third party to acquire the Corporation or remove the Corporation’s directors by means of a proxy contest, even if doing so would be beneficial to shareholders. Additionally, the Corporation may, in the future, adopt measures (such as a shareholder rights plan or "poison pill") that could have the effect of delaying, deferring, or preventing an unsolicited takeover, even
if such a change in control were at a premium price or favored by a majority of unaffiliated shareholders. These measures may be adopted without any further vote or action by the shareholders.
An inability to protect the Corporation’s intellectual property could have a significant impact on the business.
The Corporation attempts to protect its intellectual property rights, both in the United States and in foreign countries, through a combination of patent, trademark, copyright, and trade secret laws, as well as licensing agreements and third-party nondisclosure and assignment agreements. Because of the differences in foreign trademark, copyright, patent, and other laws concerning proprietary rights, intellectual property rights do not generally receive the same degree of protection in foreign countries as they do in the United States. In some countries, the Corporation has limited
protections, if any, for its intellectual property. The degree of protection offered by the claims of the various patents, copyrights, trademarks, and service marks may not be broad enough to provide significant proprietary protection or competitive advantages to the Corporation, and patents, copyrights, trademarks, or service marks may not be issued on pending or contemplated applications. In addition, not all of the Corporation’s products are covered by patents or similar intellectual property protections. It is also possible that patents, copyrights, trademarks, and service marks may be challenged, invalidated, canceled, narrowed, or circumvented.
In the past, certain products have been copied and sold by others. The Corporation tries to enforce its intellectual property rights, but has to make choices about where and how to pursue enforcement and where to seek and maintain intellectual property protection. In many cases,
the cost of enforcing rights is substantial, and the Corporation may determine that the costs of enforcement outweigh the potential benefits.
If third parties claim that the Corporation infringes upon their intellectual property rights, the Corporation may incur liabilities and costs and may have to redesign or discontinue an infringing product.
The Corporation faces the risk of claims that it has infringed upon third parties’ intellectual property rights. Companies operating in the Corporation’s industry routinely seek patent protection for their product designs, and many of the principal competitors have large patent portfolios. Prior to launching major new products in the key markets, the Corporation normally evaluates existing intellectual property rights. However, competitors and suppliers may have filed for patent protection, which is not, at the time of the evaluation, a
matter of public knowledge. The Corporation’s efforts to identify and avoid infringing upon third parties’ intellectual property rights may not always be successful. Any claims of patent or other intellectual property infringement, even those without merit, could be expensive and time consuming to defend, cause the Corporation to cease making, licensing, or using products that incorporate the challenged intellectual property, require the Corporation to redesign, re-engineer, or re-brand the
products or packaging, if feasible, or require the Corporation to enter into royalty or licensing agreements in order to obtain the right to use a third party’s intellectual
property.
FINANCING RISKS
The financing arrangements that the Corporation entered into in connection with the merger with Kimball International contain restrictions and limitations that may, under certain circumstances, significantly impact the Corporation’s ability to operate its business.
The Corporation incurred significant new indebtedness in connection with its merger with Kimball International. The agreements governing the indebtedness that the Corporation incurred in connection with the merger, including, but not limited to, the Term Loan Credit Agreement may, under certain circumstances, impose significant operating and financial restrictions on the Corporation. Specifically, the debt agreements restrict the Corporation’s ability to incur additional indebtedness, create or incur certain liens with respect to any properties or
assets, engage in lines of business substantially different than those currently conducted, sell, lease, license, or dispose of certain assets, enter into certain transactions with affiliates, make certain restricted payments or take certain restricted actions, and enter into certain sale-leaseback arrangements. These restrictions may affect the Corporation’s ability to operate its business and may limit the Corporation’s ability to take advantage of potential business opportunities as they arise.
In addition, the agreements governing such indebtedness require the Corporation to comply with a consolidated leverage ratio financial covenant and consolidated interest coverage ratio financial covenant. The Corporation’s ability to comply with such covenants will depend on its ongoing financial and operating performance, which in turn will be subject to economic conditions and to financial,
market and competitive factors, many of which are beyond the Corporation’s control. The ability to comply with these covenants will also depend on the Corporation’s ability to successfully implement its overall business strategy and realize the anticipated benefits of the merger, including synergies, cost savings, innovation and operational efficiencies.
Various risks, uncertainties and events beyond the Corporation’s control could affect its ability to comply with the covenants contained in its financing agreements. Failure to comply with any of the covenants in its existing or future financing agreements could result in a default under those agreements and under other agreements containing cross-default provisions. A default would permit lenders to accelerate the maturity of the debt under these agreements. Under these circumstances, the Corporation might not have sufficient funds
or other resources to satisfy all of its obligations. In addition, the limitations imposed by financing agreements on the Corporation’s ability to incur additional debt and to take other actions might significantly impair its ability to obtain other financing. The debt agreements also require the Corporation to maintain certain financial covenants.
Rising interest rates and future increases will likely increase interest cost on the Corporation’s debt and could materially adversely impact the Corporation’s ability to refinance existing debt and limit its acquisition and development activities going forward.
The U.S. Federal Reserve has raised the benchmark interest rate multiple times during 2023, and there can be no assurances that the rate will not further increase in the future. The agreements governing the indebtedness
that the Corporation incurred in connection with the merger and otherwise, including, but not limited to, the Term Loan Credit Agreement, contain interest rates tied to various benchmark rates in effect at any given time, so as interest rates have increased, so has the Corporation’s interest costs for any new debt assumed in connection with the merger and in the normal course of our operations and any additional increases could further increase these costs. This increased cost could make the financing of any acquisition and development activity more costly, as well as lower future period earnings due to higher cost of borrowing.
The Corporation may require additional capital in the future, which may not be available or may be available only on unfavorable terms.
The Corporation’s capital requirements depend on
many factors, including its need for capital improvements, tooling, research and development, and acquisitions. To the extent existing cash, available borrowings, and cash flows are insufficient to meet these requirements, the Corporation may need to raise additional funds through financings or curtail its growth and reduce the Corporation’s assets. Future borrowings or financings may not be available under the credit facility or otherwise in an amount sufficient to enable the Corporation to pay its debt or meet its liquidity needs.
Any equity or debt financing, if available, could have unfavorable terms. In addition, financings could result in dilution to shareholders or the securities may have rights, preferences, and privileges senior to those of the Corporation’s common stock. If
the need for capital arises because of significant losses, the occurrence of these losses may make it more difficult to raise the necessary capital.
Item 1B. Unresolved Staff Comments
None.
Item 1C. Cybersecurity
Risk Management and Strategy. Cybersecurity risk management is an integral part of the Corporation’s enterprise risk management program. The cybersecurity risk management
program is designed to align with industry best practices, is generally based on the framework established by the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST), provides a framework for handling cybersecurity threats and incidents, including threats and incidents associated with the use of applications and services provided by third parties, and facilitates coordination across different departments of the Corporation. This framework includes steps for assessing the severity of a cybersecurity threat, identifying the source of a threat, including whether the threat is associated with a third-party service provider, implementing countermeasures and mitigation strategies, and informing management and the Board of Directors of material cybersecurity threats, incidents, and impact.
The cybersecurity team under the direction of the Corporation’s Chief Information and Digital Officer
("CIDO"), is responsible for assessing, deploying, and managing the cybersecurity risk management program. Recognizing the complexity and evolving nature of cybersecurity threats, the cybersecurity team engages with a range of external experts, including cybersecurity assessors and consultants in evaluating and testing the Corporation’s risk management systems. The collaboration with these independent third-parties includes regular threat assessments, such as penetration tests and table-top exercises, and consultation on security enhancements. In addition, the cybersecurity team provides training to applicable members annually and ongoing cybersecurity education. Additionally, the Corporation maintains cyber risk insurance.
Depending on the products and services provided and the potential for data exchange and technology risk, suppliers and other third-party service providers
are evaluated by the cybersecurity organization to assess their security and data protection capabilities. Additionally, security and data-focused contract provisions are incorporated where necessary in supplier and other service provider agreements to include industry-standard security and resiliency requirements that include timely reporting of cybersecurity incidents. The Corporation periodically reviews independent assessments of major service providers.
Governance. The Board of Directors has overall oversight responsibility for risk management. Oversight of cybersecurity risks has been delegated to the Audit Committee of the Board of Directors. The Audit Committee also reports material cybersecurity risk to the full Board of Directors.
The
Audit Committee is responsible for ensuring management has processes in place designed to identify and evaluate cybersecurity risks to which the Corporation is exposed and implement programs to manage cybersecurity risks and mitigate cybersecurity incidents.
Management under the CIDO is responsible for identifying, considering, and assessing material cybersecurity risks on an ongoing basis, establishing processes to ensure that such potential risk exposures are monitored, implementing appropriate mitigation measures and maintaining cybersecurity programs. The CIDO and cybersecurity team members are certified and/or experienced information systems security professionals and information security managers with many years of experience.
The CIDO receives reports from the cybersecurity team and monitors the
prevention, detection, mitigation, and remediation of cybersecurity incidents. Appropriate procedures for communication to the Audit Committee are also built into the incident response plan.
The CIDO regularly updates the Audit Committee and the full Board of Directors on the Corporation’s cybersecurity risk management program, material cybersecurity risks, and mitigation strategies. Management provides the Audit Committee with quarterly cybersecurity reports that cover, among other topics, third-party assessments of the Corporation’s cybersecurity risk management program, developments in cybersecurity, and updates to the Company’s cybersecurity risk management program and mitigation strategies.
Cybersecurity Threats.
The Corporation has not identified cybersecurity threats, including as a result of any previous cybersecurity incidents, that have materially affected or are reasonably likely to affect the Corporation. There can be no assurance that this will continue to be the case. Notwithstanding the Corporation’s investment in cybersecurity, it may not be successful in
preventing or mitigating a cybersecurity incident that could have a material adverse effect on its business, results of operations or financial condition. For a discussion of cybersecurity risks affecting the Corporation’s business, see "Item 1A. Risk Factors - STRATEGIC AND OPERATIONAL RISKS - The
Corporation relies on information technology systems to manage numerous aspects of the business and a disruption or failure of these systems could adversely affect business, operating results, and financial condition." which is incorporated by reference into this Item 1C.
Item 2. Properties
The Corporation maintains its corporate headquarters in Muscatine, Iowa, and conducts operations at locations throughout the United States as well as in India and Mexico, which house manufacturing, distribution, and retail operations and offices totaling an aggregate of approximately 11.6 million square feet. Of this total, approximately
3.2 million square feet are leased.
Although the manufacturing facilities are of varying ages, the Corporation believes they are well maintained, equipped with modern and efficient machinery and tooling, in good operating condition, and suitable for the purposes for which they are being used. The Corporation has sufficient capacity to increase output at most locations by increasing the use of overtime or the number of production shifts employed.
The Corporation’s principal manufacturing and distribution facilities (100,000 square feet or larger in size) are as follows:
Number
of Facilities
Square Feet (in thousands)
Location
Workplace Furnishings
Residential Building Products
Owned
Leased
Muscatine, IA
6
—
2,211
—
Jasper, IN
5
—
1,223
—
Santa
Claus, IN
2
—
684
—
Lake City, MN
—
2
342
—
Other U.S.
11
6
2,669
1,554
Outside
U.S.
2
—
355
540
There are no major third-party encumbrances on Corporation-owned properties. Refer to the Property, Plant, and Equipment section in the "Consolidated Balance Sheets" for related cost, accumulated depreciation, and net book value data.
Item 3. Legal Proceedings
The Corporation is involved in various disputes
and legal proceedings that have arisen in the ordinary course of its business, including pending litigation, environmental remediation, taxes, and other claims. It is the Corporation’s opinion, after consultation with legal counsel, that liabilities, if any, resulting from these matters are not expected to have a material adverse effect on the Corporation’s financial condition, cash flows, or on the Corporation’s quarterly or annual operating results when resolved in a future period. For more information regarding legal proceedings, see "Note 15. Guarantees, Commitments, and Contingencies" in the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements, which information is incorporated herein by reference.
Executive Vice President, Global Operations, Kimball International
2020
Vice President, Global Operations, National Office Furniture (a subsidiary of Kimball International) (2016-2020)
Radhakrishna S. Rao
58
None
Vice
President, Chief Information & Digital Officer
2019
Vice President & Chief Information Officer at Ricoh Americas (2016-2019)
Michael J. Roch
46
None
Chief Customer Officer, Kimball International
2021
Senior Vice President, Sales, Kimball International (2020-2021); Vice President, Sales, National Office Furniture (a subsidiary of Kimball International)
(2014-2020)
Kourtney L. Smith
54
None
Chief Operating Officer, Kimball International
2023
Chief Operating Officer Kimball Workplace & Health (2021-2023); President, Kimball Workplace (2020-2021); President, National Office Furniture (a subsidiary of Kimball International) (2018-2020)
Item 5. Market for Registrant’s Common Equity, Related Shareholder Matters, and Issuer Purchases of Equity Securities
The Corporation’s common stock is listed for trading on the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) under the trading symbol HNI. As of December 30, 2023, the Corporation had approximately 6,588 shareholders of record.
EQ Shareowner Services, St. Paul, Minnesota, serves as the Corporation’s transfer agent and registrar of its common stock. Shareholders may report a change of address
or make inquiries by writing or calling: EQ Shareowner Services, P.O. Box 64874, St. Paul, MN55164-0854, or 800-468-9716.
The Corporation expects to continue its policy of paying regular quarterly cash dividends. Dividends have been paid each quarter since the Corporation paid its first dividend in 1955. The average dividend payout percentage for the most recent three-year period has been 73 percent of prior year earnings or 39 percent of prior year cash flow from operating activities. Future dividends are dependent on future
earnings, capital requirements, and the Corporation’s financial condition, and are declared in the sole discretion of the Board.
Purchases of Equity Securities
The Corporation repurchases shares under previously announced plans authorized by the Board. The Corporation’s most recent share purchase authorization from May 17, 2022, authorized repurchase of $200 million of shares in addition to the previously available amount, with no specific expiration date. As of December 30, 2023, $233.5 million was authorized and available for the repurchase of shares by the Corporation. The authorization does not obligate the Corporation to purchase any shares and the authorization may be terminated, increased, or decreased
by the Board at any time.
The following is a summary of share repurchase activity during the fourth quarter of fiscal 2023:
Period
Total
Number of Shares (or Units) Purchased (in thousands) (1)
Average Price Paid per Share (or Unit)
Total Number of Shares (or Units) Purchased as Part of Publicly Announced Plans or Programs (in thousands)
Maximum Number (or Approximate Dollar Value) of Shares (or Units) that May Yet be Purchased Under the Plans or Programs (in millions)
10/01/23 - 10/28/23
—
$
—
—
$
234.0
10/29/23
- 11/25/23
—
$
—
—
$
234.0
11/26/23 - 12/30/23
10.0
$
41.98
10.0
$
233.5
Total
10.0
10.0
(1)
No shares were purchased outside of a publicly announced plan or program.
Item 7. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations
The
following discussion of the Corporation’s historical results of operations and of its liquidity and capital resources should be read in conjunction with the Consolidated Financial Statements of the Corporation and related notes. All dollar amounts presented are in millions, except per share data or where otherwise indicated. Amounts may not sum due to rounding. Statements that are not historical are forward-looking and involve risks and uncertainties. See "Item 1A. Risk Factors" and the Forward-Looking Statements section within "Item 1. Business" for further information.
The Corporation follows a 52/53-week fiscal year, which ends on the Saturday nearest December 31. Fiscal year 2023 ended on December 30, 2023, fiscal year 2022 ended on December 31, 2022, and fiscal year
2021 ended on January 1, 2022. The financial statements for fiscal years 2023, 2022, and 2021 are on a 52-week basis. A 53-week year occurs approximately every sixth year.
Overview
The Corporation has two reportable segments: workplace furnishings and residential building products. The Corporation is a leading global designer and provider of commercial furnishings, and a leading manufacturer and marketer of hearth products. The Corporation utilizes a multi-faceted go-to-market model to deliver value to customers via various brands and selling models. The Corporation is focused on growing its existing businesses while seeking out and developing new
opportunities for expansion.
In 2023, significant developments included the second quarter acquisition of Kimball International in a cash and stock transaction valued at approximately $503.7 million, and the subsequent divestiture of Poppin Furniture, Inc, a business unit of Kimball International ("Poppin"), during the third quarter. In 2022, the Corporation completed its divestiture of its China- and Hong Kong-based Lamex office furniture business ("Lamex"), which was a component of the workplace furnishings segment. See "Note 4. Acquisitions and Divestitures" in the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements for more details on the Kimball International acquisition, the Poppin divestiture, the Lamex divestiture, and other related information. These acquisition and divestiture transactions affect the comparability of results between years.
Consolidated
net sales for 2023 were $2.434 billion, an increase of 3.1 percent compared to net sales of $2.362 billion in the prior year. The change was driven by 17.1 percent year-over-year sales growth in the workplace furnishings segment, partially offset by a 20.8 percent decrease in the residential building products segment. The acquisition of Kimball International increased year-over-year sales by $361.4 million and the acquisition of a residential building products company in 2022 increased year-over-year sales by $2.4 million. The divestiture of Lamex in 2022 reduced year-over-year sales by $46.9 million.
Net income attributable to the Corporation in 2023 was $49.2 million compared to net income of $123.9 million in 2022. The prior year included a pre-tax gain of $50.4 million on the sale of Lamex, while the current year included $41.2 million of acquisition costs associated with the Kimball
International transaction and $31.0 million of goodwill and intangible asset impairment charges at small workplace furnishings business units. Excluding these items, net income increased in the current year driven by favorable price-cost, improved net productivity, favorable impacts from the acquisition of Kimball International, and lower core selling and administrative expenses ("SG&A"), partially offset by lower volume in the legacy HNI businesses (excluding Kimball International), higher variable compensation, and increased interest expense.
See "Note 6. Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets" and "Note 17. Restructuring and Impairment" in the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements for further information regarding restructuring and impairment charges.
The following table presents certain results of operations:
2023
2022
Change
Net
sales
$
2,434.0
$
2,361.8
3.1
%
Cost of sales
1,485.7
1,526.9
(2.7)
%
Gross
profit
948.3
834.9
13.6
%
Selling and administrative expenses
813.2
723.4
12.4
%
Gain
on sale of subsidiary
—
(50.4)
(100)
%
Restructuring and impairment charges
44.8
6.7
572
%
Operating
income
90.3
155.2
(41.8)
%
Interest expense, net
25.5
8.8
189
%
Income
before income taxes
64.8
146.4
(55.7)
%
Income tax expense
15.6
22.5
(30.7)
%
Net
income (loss) attributable to non-controlling interest
0.0
(0.0)
NM
Net income attributable to HNI Corporation
$
49.2
$
123.9
(60.3)
%
As
a Percentage of Net Sales:
Net sales
100.0
%
100.0
%
Gross profit
39.0
35.4
360
bps
Selling
and administrative expenses
33.4
30.6
280
bps
Gain on sale of subsidiary
—
2.1
-210
bps
Restructuring
and impairment charges
1.8
0.3
150
bps
Operating income
3.7
6.6
-290
bps
Income
tax expense
0.6
1.0
-40
bps
Net income attributable to HNI Corporation
2.0
5.2
-320
bps
Net
Sales
Consolidated net sales for 2023 increased 3.1 percent compared to the prior year. The change was driven by the acquisition of Kimball International, which increased year-over-year sales by $361.4 million and price realization in both the residential building products and workplace furnishings segments, partially offset by lower volume in the legacy HNI businesses due to continued headwinds from macroeconomic conditions. Also included in the sales results for the current year is a $46.9 million unfavorable impact from the divestiture of Lamex in 2022, and a $2.4 million favorable impact from the acquisition of a residential building products business in 2022.
Gross Profit
Gross profit as a percentage of net sales
increased 360 basis points in 2023 compared to 2022, driven by favorable price-cost, improved net productivity, and the impact of the Kimball International acquisition, partially offset by lower volume in legacy HNI businesses. Favorable price-cost was attributable to the Corporation’s ability to implement price increases over the past several quarters in response to inflationary pressures.
Selling and Administrative Expenses
Selling and administrative expenses as a percentage of net sales increased 280 basis points in 2023 compared to 2022, driven by $41.2 million of acquisition-related fees and expenses along with lower volume in legacy HNI businesses and higher variable compensation, partially offset by lower core SG&A and dilution from price realization. The prior year also included expenses
of $8.0 million associated with a company-wide cost reduction initiative.
Selling and administrative expenses include freight expense for shipments to customers, research and development costs, and amortization of intangible assets. Refer to "Note 2. Summary of Significant Accounting Policies" and "Note 6. Goodwill and
Other Intangible Assets" in the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements for further information regarding the comparative expense levels for these items.
Gain
on Sale of Subsidiary
In the prior year, the Corporation recorded a pre-tax gain of $50.4 million as a result of the divestiture of Lamex in July 2022.
Restructuring and Impairment Charges
In the current year the Corporation recorded restructuring and impairment charges primarily comprised of $31.0 million of impairments of goodwill and intangible assets at small business units in the workplace furnishings segment as well as $9.8 million of restructuring charges associated with the divestiture of Poppin. In the prior year, the Corporation recorded restructuring and impairment charges of $6.7 million primarily related to efforts to drive business simplification and improve long-term profitability in the workplace furnishings
segment, including the restructuring of an eCommerce business. See "Note 17. Restructuring and Impairment" in the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements for further information relating to these costs.
Operating Income
For 2023, operating income as a percentage of net sales decreased 290 basis points compared to 2022. The prior year included a pre-tax gain of $50.4 million on the sale of Lamex, while the current year included $41.2 million of acquisition costs associated with the Kimball International transaction and $31.0 million of goodwill and intangible asset impairment charges at small workplace furnishings business units. Excluding these items, operating income as a percentage of net sales increased year-over-year driven by favorable price-cost, improved net productivity, favorable impacts
from the acquisition of Kimball International, and lower core selling, general, and administrative expenses, partially offset by lower volume at legacy HNI businesses and higher variable compensation.
Interest Expense, Net
Interest expense, net was $25.5 million and $8.8 million in 2023 and 2022, respectively. The increase was driven by higher average outstanding borrowings resulting from indebtedness incurred to fund the acquisition of Kimball International and higher interest rates in 2023 on the Corporation’s variable-rate revolving credit facility.
Income Taxes
The following table summarizes the Corporation’s income tax provision:
2023
2022
Income
before income taxes
$
64.8
$
146.4
Income tax expense
$
15.6
$
22.5
Effective tax rate
24.1
%
15.4
%
The
income tax provision reflects a higher rate in 2023 compared to 2022, primarily due to the sale of the Lamex business in the prior year. This transaction created valuation allowance adjustment tax benefits related to existing deferred tax assets, as well as basis differences, which significantly reduced the Corporation’s effective tax rate in the prior year. See "Note 8. Income Taxes" in the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements for further information relating to income taxes.
Net Income Attributable to HNI Corporation
Net income attributable to the Corporation was $49.2 million or $1.09 per diluted share in 2023 compared to $123.9 million or $2.94 per diluted share in 2022.
To review discussion and analysis of the consolidated and segment-level results of operations for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2022 compared with the fiscal year ended January 1, 2022, refer to "Part II - Item 7 - Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations" of the Corporation’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2022, as filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on February 28, 2023.
The following table presents certain results of operations in the workplace furnishings segment:
2023
2022
Change
Net
sales
$
1,740.3
$
1,486.2
17.1
%
Operating
profit
$
68.6
$
3.4
NM
Operating profit %
3.9
%
0.2
%
370
bps
Net
sales in 2023 for the workplace furnishings segment increased 17.1 percent compared to 2022. The impact of the acquisition of Kimball International increased net sales by $361.4 million, while the sale of Lamex in the third quarter of 2022 decreased net sales by $46.9 million compared to the prior year. Excluding the effects of these transactions, segment sales were down 4.2 percent, with lower volume across most customer segments in the legacy HNI workplace businesses, partially offset by price realization. In addition to macroeconomic headwinds that have negatively affected volume in the current year, during much of 2022 the workplace furnishings segment was in the midst of managing through an elevated sales order backlog as a result of supply chain issues and capacity constraints that arose in 2021. These challenges were largely resolved by the end of 2022, resulting in a more normal backlog heading into 2023 and thus lower relative volume in the current year compared
to the prior year.
Operating profit as a percentage of net sales increased 370 basis points in 2023 compared to 2022. The current year included $31.0 million in goodwill and intangible asset impairment charges at small workplace furnishings business units and $12.5 million in transaction-related fees and expenses associated with the acquisition of Kimball International. Excluding these items, operating profit as a percentage of sales increased driven by favorable price-cost, favorable impacts from the acquisition of Kimball International, improved net productivity, lower core SG&A, and lower restructuring costs, partially offset by lower volume in the legacy HNI businesses and higher variable compensation.
Residential
Building Products
The following table presents certain results of operations in the residential building products segment:
2023
2022
Change
Net
sales
$
693.7
$
875.6
(20.8
%)
Operating
profit
$
116.6
$
158.7
(26.5
%)
Operating profit %
16.8
%
18.1
%
-130
bps
Net
sales in 2023 for the residential building products segment decreased 20.8 percent compared to 2022, driven by lower volume in both the new construction and existing home channels as a result of housing market weakness and reduced home remodeling activity due to higher interest rates and broader macroeconomic concerns, partially offset by price realization. Sales in the existing home channel were also negatively impacted by the normalization of trade inventory. Included in the 2023 sales results was a $2.4 million favorable impact from the acquisition of a residential building products company in 2022.
Operating profit as a percentage of net sales decreased 130 basis points in 2023 compared to 2022. The decrease was driven by lower volume, partially offset by favorable price-cost, improved net productivity, lower core SG&A, and lower variable compensation.
Liquidity
and Capital Resources
Cash, cash equivalents, and short-term investments totaled $34.5 million at the end of 2023, compared to $19.5 million at the end of 2022. These funds, coupled with cash flow from future operations, borrowings expected to be available under the Corporation’s existing credit agreements, and the ability to access capital markets, are expected to be adequate to fund operations and satisfy cash flow needs for at least the next twelve months. Based on current earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization, the Corporation can access the full $425 million of borrowing capacity available under the revolving credit facility, which includes the $38.5 million currently outstanding, and maintain compliance with financial covenants under the facility. As of the end of 2023, $4.0 million of cash was held overseas and considered permanently reinvested. If such
amounts were repatriated, such an action could result in additional foreign withholding and state tax expense to the Corporation. The
Corporation does not believe treating this cash as permanently reinvested will have any impact on the ability of the Corporation to meet its obligations as they come due.
Cash Flow – Operating Activities
Operating activities were a source of $267.5 million of cash in 2023, compared to a source of $81.2 million cash in 2022. The higher cash generation compared to the prior year was primarily due
to changes in working capital. Changes in working capital balances resulted in a $76.5 million source of cash in 2023 compared to a $72.7 million use of cash in the prior year. Driving the working capital year-over-year change is lower inventory in the legacy HNI businesses as a result of reduced volume and stabilized cost and supply chain requirements. Additionally, the Corporation’s legacy accounts payable, accrued expense, and prepaid expense levels have normalized after significant volatility experienced earlier in the decade due to impacts of the pandemic.
The Corporation places special emphasis on management and control of working capital, including accounts receivable and inventory. Management believes recorded trade receivable valuation allowances at the end of 2023 are adequate to cover the risk of potential bad debts. Allowances for non-collectible trade receivables, as a percent
of gross trade receivables, totaled 1.4 percent and 1.5 percent at the end of 2023 and 2022, respectively. The Corporation’s inventory turns were 7.9 and 8.4 for 2023 and 2022, respectively.
Cash Flow – Investing Activities
Capital Expenditures - Capital expenditures, including capitalized software, were $79.1 million in 2023 and $68.4 million in 2022. The increase in capital expenditures over the prior year was driven by the addition of Kimball International. The Corporation’s expenditures are primarily focused on machinery, equipment, and tooling required to support new products, continuous improvements, and cost savings initiatives in manufacturing processes. Additionally, in support of the Corporation’s long-term strategy to create effortless winning experiences for customers, the Corporation continues to invest
in technology. The Corporation anticipates capital expenditures for 2024 in an estimated range of $90 million to $100 million.
Acquisitions and Divestitures - Investing activities in the current year include $369.7 million spent related to the acquisition of Kimball International, and $2.7 million received from the sale of Poppin (net of costs to sell). Prior year activity includes $69.5 million received from the sale of the Lamex business as well as $11.4 million spent primarily to acquire residential building products companies. See "Note 4. Acquisitions and Divestitures" in the Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements for further information.
Cash Flow – Financing Activities
Debt - The Corporation
maintains a revolving credit facility as the primary source of committed funding from which the Corporation finances its planned capital expenditures, strategic initiatives, and seasonal working capital needs. Cash flows included in financing activities represent periodic borrowings and repayments under the revolving credit facility. Additionally, in the current year, the Corporation borrowed $300 million in connection with a term loan agreement entered into on March 31, 2023, as further amended on May 25, 2023, to support funding of the acquisition of Kimball International that closed in June 2023. See "Note 7. Debt" in the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements for further information.
Dividend - The Corporation is committed to maintaining or modestly
growing the quarterly dividend. Cash dividends declared and paid per share are as follows:
2023
2022
Dividends per common share
$
1.28
$
1.27
The
last quarterly dividend increase was from $0.31 to $0.32 per common share effective with the June 8, 2022 dividend payment for shareholders of record at the close of business on May 27, 2022. The average dividend payout percentage for the most recent three-year period has been 73 percent of prior year earnings or 39 percent of prior year cash flow from operating activities.
Stock Repurchase - The Corporation’s capital strategy related to stock repurchase is focused on offsetting the dilutive impact of issuances for various compensation-related matters. The Corporation may elect to opportunistically purchase additional shares based on excess cash generation and/or share price considerations. As of December 30, 2023,
$233.5 million was authorized and available for repurchase of shares by the Corporation. See "Note 10. Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) and Shareholders’ Equity" in the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements for further information.
Sales of Stock - The Corporation records cash flows received from the sale of its common stock held in treasury, primarily in connection with stock option exercises and the HNI Corporation Members’ Stock Purchase Plan. See "Note 10. Accumulated
Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) and Shareholders’
Equity" and "Note 11. Stock-Based Compensation" in the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements for further information.
Cash Requirements
As of December 30, 2023, the Corporation has the following obligations and commitments to make future payments:
Purchase Obligations - The Corporation’s purchase obligations include agreements to purchase goods or services that are enforceable, legally binding, and specify all significant terms, including the quantity to be purchased, the price to be paid, and the timing of the purchase. Estimated purchase obligations total $137 million during 2024 and $30 million thereafter.
Debt
- Debt principal obligations are approximately $8 million during 2024 and $431 million thereafter. Interest obligations from debt are estimated to be approximately $28 million during 2024 and $74 million thereafter. Refer to "Note 7. Debt" in the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements for additional information.
Deferred Compensation - Deferred compensation cash obligations related to legacy HNI plans are expected to be approximately $0.3 million during 2024 and $2.1 million thereafter. Refer to "Note 11. Stock-Based Compensation" in the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements for additional information. The Corporation also acquired a supplemental employee retirement plan in connection with the Kimball International transaction. Obligations related to this plan are expected to be $4 million during 2024 and $7 million thereafter. Refer to
"Note 2. Summary of Significant Accounting Policies" in the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements for additional information.
Post-Retirement Benefit Plan - Post-retirement benefit plan payments are expected to be approximately $1 million during 2024 and $11 million in aggregate from 2025 through 2033. Refer to "Note 13. Post-Retirement Health Care" in the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements for additional information.
Operating and Finance Leases - Operating and finance lease obligations are expected to be approximately $36 million during 2024 and $148 million thereafter. There were no material commitments related to leases which had been signed but not commenced as of the end of 2023. Refer to "Note 14. Leases" in the Notes to Consolidated
Financial Statements for additional information.
Other Obligations - Other long-term obligations of approximately $18 million are primarily comprised of a put option, interest rate swap, and uncertain tax liabilities. Additionally, in 2022 the Corporation entered into a long-term commitment to purchase solar energy from a local utility to satisfy a portion of the Corporation’s electricity demand in the Muscatine, Iowa area. The project is currently estimated to commence in 2025 with the Corporation’s future commitment totaling approximately $13 million. For the Corporation’s estimated future obligations related to product warranties and self-insured liabilities, refer to "Note 2. Summary of Significant Accounting Policies" in the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.
Litigation
and Uncertainties
See "Note 15. Guarantees, Commitments, and Contingencies" in the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements for further information.
Looking Ahead
The Corporation continues to navigate near-term uncertainty driven by macroeconomic conditions, including the recent dynamics around housing, cost inflation, and interest rates. However, management remains optimistic about the long-term prospects in the workplace furnishings and residential building products markets. Management believes the Kimball International acquisition will continue to generate new opportunities for growth, and
the Corporation continues to compete well in its legacy business markets.
Critical Accounting Policies and Estimates
General
Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations is based upon the Consolidated Financial Statements, prepared in accordance with Generally Accepted Accounting Principles ("GAAP"). The preparation of these financial statements requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets, liabilities, revenue and expenses, and related disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities. Management bases its estimates on historical experience and
on various other assumptions that are believed to be reasonable under the circumstances, the results of which form the basis for making judgments about the carrying values of assets and liabilities that are not readily apparent from other
sources. Senior management has discussed the development, selection, and disclosure of these estimates with the Audit Committee of the Board. Actual results may differ from these estimates under different assumptions or conditions.
An accounting policy is deemed to be critical if it requires an accounting estimate to be made based on
assumptions about matters uncertain at the time the estimate is made, and if different estimates that reasonably could have been used, or changes in the accounting estimates that are reasonably likely to occur periodically, could materially impact the financial statements. Management believes the following critical accounting policies reflect its more significant estimates and assumptions used in the preparation of the Consolidated Financial Statements.
Goodwill and Intangible Assets
The Corporation evaluates its goodwill for impairment on an annual basis during the fourth quarter (using a valuation date as of the start of the Corporation's fourth quarter) or whenever indicators of impairment exist. Asset impairment charges associated with the Corporation’s goodwill and intangible assets impairment testing are discussed in "Note 6. Goodwill
and Other Intangible Assets" in the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.
The Corporation reviews goodwill at the reporting unit level, which refers to components for which discrete financial information is available and regularly reviewed by segment management. The accounting standards for goodwill permit entities to first assess qualitative factors to determine whether it is more likely than not the fair value of a reporting unit is less than its carrying amount as a basis for determining whether it is necessary to perform a quantitative goodwill impairment test. If the quantitative test is required, the Corporation estimates the fair value of its reporting units based on a weighted average of the income approach and the market approach. This estimated fair value is compared to the carrying value of the reporting unit and an impairment is recorded if the estimate is less
than the carrying value. In the income approach, the estimate of fair value of each reporting unit is based on management’s projection of revenues, gross margin, operating costs, and cash flows considering historical and estimated future results, general economic and market conditions, as well as the impact of planned business and operational strategies. The valuations employ present value techniques to measure fair value and consider market factors. In the market approach, the Corporation utilizes the guideline company method, which involves calculating valuation multiples based on operating data from guideline publicly-traded companies. These multiples are then applied to the operating data for the reporting units and adjusted for factors similar to those used in the discounted cash flow analysis. Management believes the assumptions used for the quantitative impairment test, if required, are consistent with those utilized by a market participant in performing similar
valuations of its reporting units. Management bases its fair value estimates on assumptions they believe to be reasonable at the time, but such assumptions are subject to inherent uncertainty. Actual results may differ from those estimates.
Assessing the fair value of goodwill includes, among other things, making key assumptions for estimating future cash flows and appropriate market multiples. These assumptions are subject to a high degree of judgment and complexity. The Corporation makes every effort to estimate future cash flows as accurately as possible with the information available at the time the forecast is developed. However, changes in assumptions and estimates may affect the estimated fair value of the reporting unit, and could result in an impairment charge in future periods. Factors that have the potential to create variances in the estimated fair value of the reporting
unit include, but are not limited to, economic conditions in the United States and other countries where the Corporation has a presence, competitor behavior, the mix of product sales, commodity costs, wage rates, the level of manufacturing capacity, the pricing environment, and currency exchange fluctuations. In addition, estimates of fair value are impacted by estimates of the market-participant derived weighted average cost of capital.
The key to recoverability of goodwill is the forecast of economic conditions and its impact on future revenues, operating profit, and cash flows. Management’s projection for the United States office furniture and domestic hearth markets and global economic conditions is inherently subject to a number of uncertain factors, such as global economic improvement, the U.S. housing market, credit availability, borrowing rates, and overall consumer confidence.
In the near term, as management monitors the above factors, it is possible it may change the revenue and cash flow projections of certain reporting units, which may require the recording of additional goodwill impairment charges.
The Corporation also evaluates the fair value of indefinite-lived trade names on an annual basis during the fourth quarter (using a valuation date as of the start of the Corporation's fourth quarter) or whenever an indication of impairment exists. Consistent with goodwill impairment testing, a qualitative assessment may be performed to determine whether it is more likely than not the fair value of indefinite-lived trade names is less than the carrying amount. If it is determined necessary to perform a quantitative test, the estimate of the fair value of the trade names is based on a discounted cash flows model using inputs which include: projected revenues,
assumed royalty rates that would be payable if the trade names were not owned, and discount rates.
The Corporation also leverages intangible asset valuation procedures in connection with the acquisition method of accounting for business combinations. This method requires, among other things, that results of operations of acquired companies are included in
the Corporation’s results of operations beginning on the respective acquisition dates and that assets acquired and liabilities assumed are recognized at fair value as of the acquisition date. Any excess of the fair value
of consideration transferred over the fair values of the net assets acquired is recognized as goodwill.
As described in "Note 4. Acquisitions and Divestitures" to the consolidated financial statements, on June 1, 2023, the Corporation completed its acquisition of Kimball International in a transaction valued at $503.7 million, resulting in the recognition of intangible assets with aggregate value of approximately $110 million. The largest intangible asset acquired was customer lists valued at $47 million. Management determined the fair value of the acquired customer list intangible asset by applying the multi-period excess earnings method, which involved the use of significant estimates and assumptions related to forecasted revenue growth rates and customer retention rates. Valuation specialists were used to develop and evaluate
the appropriateness of the multi-period excess earnings method, discount rates, customer retention rates, and fair value estimates using the cash flow projections.
The fair value of assets acquired and liabilities assumed is subject to revision based on the final determination of fair value during a period of time not to exceed 12 months from the acquisition date. Legal costs, due diligence costs, business valuation costs and all other business acquisition costs are expensed when incurred.
Self-Insurance
The Corporation is primarily self-insured or carries high deductibles for general, auto, and product liability, workers’ compensation, and certain employee health benefits. The general, auto, product, and workers’ compensation liabilities are managed via
a wholly-owned insurance captive, with estimated liabilities of $24.8 million and $23.8 million as of December 30, 2023 and December 31, 2022, respectively, included in the Consolidated Balance Sheets. Certain risk exposures are mitigated through the use of independent third party stop loss insurance coverages.
The Corporation’s policy is to accrue amounts in accordance with the actuarial determined liabilities. The actuarial valuations are based on historical and current factors such as cost experience, claim frequency, and demographic information, along with certain assumptions about future events including legal actions, medical cost inflation, the number or severity of claims, and the magnitude and change of actual experience development. No changes were made to the methodologies utilized
to estimate self-insurance reserves in 2023. While the recorded amounts are sensitive to the assumptions and factors described herein, management believes that such assumptions and actuarial methods used to determine self-insurance reserves are reasonable and provide an appropriate basis for estimating the liabilities. However, inherent uncertainty due to variability in the facts and circumstances of individual claims, as well as the length of time from incurrence of claims to final settlement, may result in the Corporation’s ultimate exposure differing significantly from what is currently estimated.
As of December 30, 2023, the Corporation’s self-insurance reserve was accrued within an actuarial determined range, which accounts for the subjective nature of the estimate. The span of the current range is approximately $6 million.
Recently
Issued Accounting Standards Not Yet Adopted
In November 2023, the Financial Accounting Standards Board ("FASB") issued ASU No. 2023-07, Segment Reporting (Topic 280): Improvements to Reportable Segment Disclosures. ASU 2023-07 enhances disclosures regarding segment performance, including information about the chief operating decision maker and measures used to assess performance. The ASU becomes effective for the Corporation beginning with its annual period ending December 2024, and interim periods beginning with first quarter of 2025. The ASU will not impact the financial condition, results of operations, or cash flows of the Corporation. The Corporation is currently evaluating the impact on the notes to the consolidated financial statements, and expects additional disclosures will be required on adoption.
In
December 2023, the FASB issued ASU No. 2023-09, Income Taxes (Topic 740): Improvements to Income Tax Disclosures. ASU 2023-09 enhances transparency of income tax disclosures by requiring consistent categories and greater disaggregation of information in the rate reconciliation, and disaggregation of income taxes paid by jurisdiction. Additionally, the ASU requires disclosure of pretax income (or loss) and income tax (or benefit) disaggregated by domestic and foreign. Finally, the ASU removes the requirement of certain disclosures related to unrecognized tax benefits. The ASU becomes effective for the Corporation beginning with its annual period ending December 2025. The ASU will not impact the financial condition, results of operations, or cash flows of the Corporation. The Corporation is currently evaluating the impact on the notes to the consolidated financial statements, and expects additional disclosures will be required
on adoption.
Item 7A. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk
During the normal course of business, the Corporation is subjected to market risk associated with interest rate movements. Interest rate risk arises from variable interest debt obligations. The Corporation terminated its prior interest rate swap agreement
during 2022, and entered into a new interest rate swap agreement in November 2023.
As of December 30, 2023, the Corporation had $39 million of debt outstanding under the Corporation’s $425 million revolving credit facility, and $300 million of debt outstanding under a term loan agreement, both of which bore variable interest based on the Secured Overnight Financing Rate ("SOFR") and are subject to market risk from interest rate fluctuations. The Corporation may utilize additional borrowings under the revolving credit facility over the course of the year, which will be subject to the variable borrowings rate as defined. As of November 2023, the Corporation had an interest rate swap agreement in place to fix the interest rate on $100 million principal amount of the Corporation’s term loan. Under the terms of this interest rate swap,
the Corporation pays a fixed rate of 4.7 percent instead of SOFR. As of December 30, 2023, the Corporation had $200 million of borrowings under the term loan which were not covered by the interest rate swap agreement. Based on the Corporation’s variable-rate debt balance outstanding at December 30, 2023, a hypothetical 100 basis point change in the applicable interest rates would not have a material impact on the interest expense incurred by the Corporation.
For information related to the Corporation’s long-term debt, refer to "Note 7. Debt" in the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements. For information related to the Corporation’s interest rate swap activity, refer to "Note 10. Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) and Shareholders’ Equity" in the Notes to Consolidated
Financial Statements.
The Corporation currently does not have significant foreign currency exposure.
The Corporation is exposed to risks arising from price changes and/or tariffs for certain direct materials and assembly components used in its operations. The most significant material purchases and cost for the Corporation are for steel, plastics, textiles, wood particleboard, and cartoning. The market price of plastics and textiles, in particular, are sensitive to the cost of oil and natural gas. All of these materials are increasingly impacted by global market conditions. The Corporation works to offset these increased costs through global sourcing initiatives, product re-engineering, and price increases on its products. Periodically margins are negatively impacted due to the lag between cost increases
and the Corporation’s ability to increase its prices. The Corporation believes future market price increases on its key direct materials and assembly components are likely. Consequently, it views the prospect of such increases as a risk to the business.
Item 8. Financial Statements and Supplementary Data
The financial statements listed under Item 15(a)(1) and (2) are filed as part of this report and are incorporated herein by reference.
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
Disclosure controls and procedures are designed to ensure that information required to be disclosed by the Corporation in the reports it files or submits under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (the "Exchange Act") is recorded, processed, summarized, and reported within the time periods specified in the Securities and Exchange Commission’s rules and forms. Disclosure controls
and procedures are also designed to ensure information is accumulated and communicated to management, including the Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, as appropriate, to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosure.
Under the supervision and with the participation of the Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer of the Corporation, the Corporation’s management carried out an evaluation of the Corporation’s disclosure controls and procedures pursuant to Exchange Act Rules 13a – 15(e) and 15d – 15(e) as of the end of the period covered by this Annual Report on Form 10-K. As of December 30, 2023, based on this evaluation, the Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer have concluded these disclosure controls and procedures are effective.
There have been no changes in the Corporation’s internal control over financial reporting during the fiscal quarter ended December 30, 2023 that have materially affected, or are reasonably likely to materially affect, its internal control over financial reporting.
Management’s Report on Internal Control over Financial Reporting
Management’s annual report on internal control over financial reporting and the attestation report of the Corporation’s independent registered public accounting firm are included in "Item 15. Exhibit and Financial Statement Schedules" of this report under the headings "Management Report on Internal Control Over
Financial Reporting" and "Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm," respectively, and management’s annual report is incorporated herein by reference.
In the second quarter of 2023, the Corporation acquired Kimball International (See "Note 4. Acquisitions and Divestitures" in the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements for additional information). Due to the timing of the transaction management has excluded Kimball International from the annual assessment of the effectiveness of internal control over financial reporting as of December 30, 2023. Kimball International represents approximately 32 percent of the Corporation’s consolidated total assets as of December 30, 2023 and 15 percent of net sales of
the Corporation for the year ended December 30, 2023.
Item 9B. Other Information
Securities Trading Arrangements of Directors and Officers
i
The following table presents information about each iadoption
and iitermination/ of a “Rule 10b5-1 trading arrangement” or “non-Rule 10b5-1 trading arrangement,” as each such term is defined in Item 408(a) of Regulation S-K, by directors and officers of the Corporation (as "officer" is defined in Rule 16a-1(f) under the Exchange Act) during
the three months ended December 30, 2023:
Trading
Arrangement
Name and Title
Action
Date
Rule 10b5-1
Non-Rule 10b5-1
Total Shares to be Sold
Expiration Date
iDonna
D. Meade, iVice President, Member and Community Relations
Item 10. Directors, Executive Officers, and Corporate Governance
The information under the caption "Corporate Governance and
Board Matters" of the Corporation’s Definitive Proxy Statement on Schedule 14A for the Annual Meeting of Shareholders to be held on May 16, 2024 (the "2024 Proxy Statement") is incorporated herein by reference. For information with respect to executive officers of the Corporation, see "Table I - Information about our Executive Officers" included in Part I of this report.
Information relating to the identification of the audit committee and audit committee financial expert of the Corporation is contained under the caption "Directors" of the 2024 Proxy Statement and is incorporated herein by reference.
The information under the captions "Executive Compensation" and "Director Compensation" of the 2024 Proxy Statement is incorporated herein by reference.
Item 12. Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and Management and Related Shareholder Matters
The
information under the captions "Beneficial Ownership of the Corporation’s Stock" and "Equity Compensation Plan Information" of the 2024 Proxy Statement is incorporated herein by reference.
Item 13. Certain Relationships and Related Transactions, and Director Independence
The information under the caption "Corporate Governance and Board Matters" of the 2024 Proxy Statement is incorporated herein by reference.
Item
14. Principal Accountant Fees and Services
The Corporation’s independent registered public accounting firm is iKPMG LLP, iChicago, IL, Auditor Firm ID: i185.
Item 15. Exhibit and Financial Statement Schedules
(a)(1) Financial
Statements
The following consolidated financial statements of the Corporation and its subsidiaries included in the Corporation’s 2023 Annual Report on Form 10-K are filed as a part of this Report pursuant to Item 8:
All other schedules for which provision is made in the applicable accounting regulation of the SEC are not required under the related instructions or are inapplicable and, therefore, have been omitted.
The
following materials from HNI Corporation’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 30, 2023 are formatted in Inline XBRL (eXtensible Business Reporting Language) and filed electronically herewith: (i) Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income; (ii) Consolidated Balance Sheets; (iii) Consolidated Statements of Equity; (iv) Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows; and (v) Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
(104)
Cover Page Interactive Data File (formatted as Inline XBRL and contained in Exhibit 101)
* Indicates management contract or compensatory plan.
** Schedules omitted pursuant
to Item 601(b)(2) of Regulation S-K. The Corporation agrees to furnish supplementally a copy of any omitted schedule to the Securities and Exchange Commission upon request; provided, however, that the Corporation may request confidential treatment pursuant to Rule 24b-2 of the Exchange Act for any schedules or exhibits so furnished.
+ Filed or furnished herewith.
Item 16. Form 10-K Summary
None.
Signatures
Pursuant
to the requirements of Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this Annual Report on Form 10-K to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized.
Title: Chairman, 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. Each Director whose signature appears below authorizes and appoints Jeffrey D. Lorenger as his or her attorney-in-fact to sign and file on his or her behalf any and all amendments and post-effective amendments to this report.
Management Report on Internal Control Over Financial Reporting
Management of HNI Corporation is responsible for
establishing and maintaining adequate internal control over financial reporting as defined in Rules 13a-15(f) and 15d-15(f) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. HNI Corporation’s internal control over financial reporting is a process designed to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America. HNI Corporation’s internal control over financial reporting includes those written 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 HNI Corporation;
•provide reasonable assurance that transactions
are recorded as necessary to permit preparation of financial statements in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America, and that receipts and expenditures of HNI Corporation are being made only in accordance with authorizations of management and directors of HNI Corporation; and
•provide reasonable assurance regarding prevention or timely detection of unauthorized acquisition, use, or disposition of assets that could have a material effect on the consolidated financial statements.
Internal control over financial reporting includes the controls themselves, monitoring (including internal auditing practices), and actions taken to correct deficiencies as identified.
Because of its inherent limitations,
internal control over financial reporting may not prevent or detect misstatements. Also, projections of any evaluation of effectiveness to future periods are subject to the risk controls may become inadequate because of changes in conditions, or the degree of compliance with the policies or procedures may deteriorate.
U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission guidance allows companies to exclude acquisitions from management’s report on internal control over financial reporting for the first year after the acquisition when it is not possible to conduct an assessment. In second quarter of 2023, the Corporation acquired Kimball International (See "Note 4. Acquisitions and Divestitures" in the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements for additional information). Due to the timing of the transaction management has excluded Kimball International from the annual assessment of the effectiveness
of internal control over financial reporting as of December 30, 2023. Kimball International represents approximately 32 percent of the Corporation’s consolidated total assets as of December 30, 2023 and 15 percent of net sales of the Corporation for the year ended December 30, 2023.
Management assessed the effectiveness of HNI Corporation’s internal control over financial reporting as of December 30, 2023. Management based this assessment on criteria for effective internal control over financial reporting described in Internal Control – Integrated Framework (2013) issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission. Management’s
assessment included an evaluation of the design of HNI Corporation’s internal control over financial reporting and testing of operational effectiveness of HNI Corporation’s internal control over financial reporting. Management reviewed the results of its assessment with the Audit Committee of the Board of Directors.
Based on this assessment, management determined, as of December 30, 2023, HNI Corporation maintained effective internal control over financial reporting.
The effectiveness of HNI Corporation’s internal control over financial reporting as of December 30, 2023 has been audited by KPMG LLP, an independent registered public
accounting firm, as stated in its report which appears herein.
Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm
To the Shareholders and the Board of Directors
HNI Corporation:
Opinions
on the Consolidated Financial Statements and Internal Control Over Financial Reporting
We have audited the accompanying consolidated balance sheets of HNI Corporation and subsidiaries (the Company) as of December 30, 2023 and December 31, 2022, the related consolidated statements of comprehensive income, equity, and cash flows for fiscal year 2023 ended on December 30, 2023, fiscal year 2022 ended on December 31, 2022, and fiscal year 2021 ended on January 1, 2022, and the related notes (collectively, the consolidated
financial statements). We also have audited the Company’s internal control over financial reporting as of December 30, 2023, based on criteria established in Internal Control – Integrated Framework (2013) issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission.
In our opinion, the consolidated financial statements referred to above present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of the Company as of December 30, 2023 and December 31, 2022, and the results of its operations and its cash flows for fiscal year 2023 ended on December
30, 2023, fiscal year 2022 ended on December 31, 2022, and fiscal year 2021 ended on January 1, 2022, in conformity with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles. Also in our opinion, the Company maintained, in all material respects, effective internal control over financial reporting as of December 30, 2023 based on criteria established in Internal Control – Integrated Framework (2013) issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission.
The Company acquired Kimball International during 2023,
and management excluded from its assessment of the effectiveness of the Company’s internal control over financial reporting as of December 30, 2023, Kimball International’s internal control over financial reporting associated with 32 percent of consolidated total assets as of December 30, 2023 and 15 percent of net sales as of and for the year ended December 30, 2023 included in the consolidated financial statements of the Company as of and for the year ended December 30, 2023. Our audit of internal control over financial reporting of the
Company also excluded an evaluation of the internal control over financial reporting of Kimball International.
Basis for Opinions
The Company’s management is responsible for these consolidated financial statements, 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 Report on Internal Control over Financial Reporting. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on the Company’s consolidated financial statements and an opinion on the Company’s internal
control over financial reporting based on our audits. We are a public accounting firm registered with the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States) (PCAOB) and are required to be independent with respect to the Company in accordance with the U.S. federal securities laws and the applicable rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission and the PCAOB.
We conducted our audits in accordance with the standards of the PCAOB. Those standards require that we plan and perform the audits to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the consolidated financial statements are free of material misstatement, whether due to error or fraud, and whether effective internal control over financial reporting was maintained in all material respects.
Our
audits of the consolidated financial statements included performing procedures to assess the risks of material misstatement of the consolidated financial statements, whether due to error or fraud, and performing procedures that respond to those risks. Such procedures included examining, on a test basis, evidence regarding the amounts and disclosures in the consolidated financial statements. Our audits also included evaluating the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, as well as evaluating the overall presentation of the consolidated financial statements. Our audit of internal control over financial reporting included obtaining an understanding of internal control over financial reporting, assessing the risk that a material weakness exists, and testing and evaluating the design and operating effectiveness of internal control based on the assessed risk. Our audits also included performing such other procedures as we considered necessary
in the circumstances. We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinions.
Definition and Limitations of Internal Control Over Financial Reporting
A company’s internal control over financial reporting is a process designed to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles. A company’s internal control over financial reporting includes those policies and procedures that (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 its inherent limitations, internal control over financial reporting may not prevent or detect misstatements. Also, projections of any evaluation of effectiveness to future periods are subject to the risk that controls may become inadequate because of changes in conditions, or that the degree of compliance with the policies or procedures may deteriorate.
Critical Audit Matters
The critical audit matters communicated below are matters arising from the current period audit of the consolidated financial statements that were communicated or required to be communicated to the audit committee and that: (1) relate to accounts or disclosures that are material to the consolidated financial statements and (2) involved our especially challenging, subjective, or complex judgments. The communication of critical audit matters does not alter in any way
our opinion on the consolidated financial statements, taken as a whole, and we are not, by communicating the critical audit matters below, providing separate opinions on the critical audit matters or on the accounts or disclosures to which they relate.
Acquired customer relationship intangible asset
As discussed in Note 4 to the consolidated financial statements, the Company completed the acquisition of Kimball International Inc. on June 1, 2023, for total consideration of $503.7 million. Accordingly, the assets acquired and liabilities assumed were recognized based on their acquisition date fair values, including identified customer lists and other intangible assets of $47.2 million. The
Company applied the multi-period excess earnings method valuation technique to determine the fair value of the identified customer list intangible asset.
We identified the evaluation of the fair value of the Workplace and Health customer relationship intangible asset acquired in the Kimball acquisition as a critical audit matter. In particular, subjective and challenging auditor judgment was required to evaluate the customer retention rate assumption used by management to estimate the fair value of the Workplace and Health customer relationship intangible asset. Additionally, the audit effort associated with the evaluation of the fair value of the acquired customer relationship intangible asset required specialized skills and knowledge.
The following are the primary procedures we performed to address
this critical audit matter. We evaluated the design and tested the operating effectiveness of certain internal controls related to the Company’s business combination process, including a control over the development and selection of the significant assumption related to the valuation of the acquired customer relationship intangible asset. In addition, we involved valuation professionals with specialized skills and knowledge, who assisted in testing the Company’s estimated customer retention rate by using the Company’s historical sales data and comparing the results to comparable entities.
Workers’ compensation and product liabilities
As
discussed in Note 2 to the consolidated financial statements, the Company reported general, auto, product, and workers’ compensation liabilities of $24.8 million. The Company is primarily self-insured and actuarial valuations are used to determine the liabilities. Those valuations are based in part on certain assumptions about legal actions and the magnitude of change in actual experience development.
We identified the evaluation of certain workers’ compensation and product liabilities as a critical audit matter because of the inherent uncertainty in the amounts that will ultimately be paid to settle these claims. Assessing the Company’s estimate
of the workers’ compensation and product liabilities involved assumptions that included uncertainty about legal actions and the magnitude of change in actual experience development. In addition, professionals with specialized skills and knowledge were needed to evaluate the actuarial methods and assumptions used to develop estimated liabilities.
The following are the primary procedures we performed to address this critical audit matter. We evaluated the design and tested the operating effectiveness of certain internal controls related to the development of workers’ compensation and product liabilities. Specifically, this included controls over the Company’s review of the methods and assumptions used to determine the liabilities. We confirmed with the
Company’s legal counsel about the likelihood and magnitude of outstanding claims and legal actions. We involved actuarial professionals with specialized skills and knowledge, who assisted in:
•evaluating the qualifications of the external actuarial specialists
•examining methods, procedures, certain assumptions, and judgments used by the external actuarial specialists for consistency with accepted actuarial methods and procedures
•comparing the
Company’s workers’ compensation and product liabilities to ranges of reserves independently developed based on assumptions independently determined by our actuarial professionals.
HNI Corporation (individually and together with its consolidated subsidiaries the "Corporation" or "HNI") is a provider of workplace
furnishings and residential building products. Refer to "Note 16. Reportable Segment Information" for further information. Workplace furnishings products include furniture systems, seating, storage, tables, architectural products, ancillary products, and hospitality products. These products are sold primarily through a national system of independent dealers, wholesalers, and office product distributors but also directly to end-user customers and federal, state, and local governments. Residential building products include a full array of gas, wood, electric, and pellet-fueled fireplaces, inserts, stoves, facings, outdoor fire pits and fire tables, and accessories. These products are sold through a national system of independent dealers and distributors, as well as Corporation-owned distribution and retail outlets. The Corporation’s products are marketed predominantly in the United States and Canada. The Corporation exports select products through its export subsidiary
to a limited number of markets outside North America, principally the Caribbean, Latin America, and Mexico. The Corporation also manufactures and markets office furniture in India. All dollar amounts presented are in millions, except per share data or where otherwise indicated. Amounts may not sum due to rounding.
i
Fiscal year-end – The Corporation follows a 52/53-week fiscal year, which ends on the Saturday nearest December 31. Fiscal year 2023 ended on December 30, 2023, fiscal year 2022 ended on December 31, 2022, and fiscal year
2021 ended on January 1, 2022. The financial statements for fiscal years 2023, 2022, and 2021 are on a 52-week basis. A 53-week year occurs approximately every sixth year.
Note 2. iSummary of Significant Accounting Policies
i
Principles
of Consolidation
The consolidated financial statements include the accounts and transactions of the Corporation and its subsidiaries. Intercompany accounts and transactions have been eliminated in consolidation.
On June 1, 2023, the Corporation acquired Kimball International. The Corporation included the financial results of Kimball International in the Consolidated Financial Statements starting as of the date of acquisition. See "Note 4. Acquisitions and Divestitures" for further information.
i
Cash,
Cash Equivalents, and Investments
Cash and cash equivalents generally consist of cash and money market accounts. The fair value approximates the carrying value due to the short duration of the securities. These securities have original maturity dates not exceeding three months. The Corporation has short-term debt securities holdings with maturities of less than one year, as well as investment holdings with maturities between one and five years. Management classifies investments in marketable securities at the time of purchase and reevaluates such classification at each balance sheet date. Debt securities, including government and corporate bonds, are classified as available-for-sale and stated at current market value with unrealized gains and losses included as a separate component of equity, net of any related tax effect. The specific identification method is used to determine realized gains and losses on the trade date. Equity
investments in the current year are comprised of mutual funds, classified as trading securities recognized at fair value, in a supplemental employee retirement plan ("SERP") acquired as part of the acquisition of Kimball International. Offsetting SERP liabilities, representing the obligation to distribute SERP investments to the participants, are recorded in the "Current maturities of other long-term obligations" and "Other Long-Term Liabilities" lines of the Consolidated Balance Sheets. Realized and unrealized gains and losses on the SERP investments are fully offset by adjustments to the SERP liabilities, resulting in no impact to net income. In 2022, the Corporation held an equity investment in a private entity carried at cost; this investment was fully impaired in 2023.
Immaterial
unrealized gains and losses are recorded in "Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss)" in the Consolidated Balance Sheets for these debt securities. Immaterial amounts of accrued interest receivable related to the Corporation’s portfolio are recorded in "Prepaid expenses and other current assets."
i
Receivables
Trade receivables are recorded at amortized cost, net of an allowance for doubtful accounts. The allowance is developed based on several factors including overall customer credit quality, historical write-off experience,
and specific account analyses projecting the ultimate collectability of the account. iThe following table summarizes the change in the allowance for doubtful accounts:
The
Corporation’s residential building products inventories, and a majority of its workplace furnishings inventories, are valued at cost, on the "last-in, first-out" (LIFO) basis. Remaining inventories are generally valued at the lower of cost, on the "first-in, first-out" (FIFO) basis, or net realizable value. iInventories included in the Consolidated Balance Sheets consisted of the following:
During
2023, inventory quantities were reduced at certain business units, resulting in a liquidation of LIFO inventory quantities carried at costs prevailing in prior years as compared with the cost of current year purchases, the effect of which decreased cost of goods sold by approximately $i1.3 million. There were no material liquidations of established LIFO layers in 2022. If only the FIFO method had been in use, inventories would have been $i44.5
million and $i53.7 million higher than reported as of December 30, 2023 and December 31, 2022, respectively. The decrease in the LIFO allowance from prior year end was primarily attributable to a decrease in inventory balances at legacy HNI businesses.
In addition to the LIFO allowance, the Corporation recorded inventory allowances reducing finished products, materials, and work in process of $i14.2 million and $i14.9 million as of December 30,
2023 and December 31, 2022, respectively, to adjust for excess and obsolete inventory or otherwise reduce FIFO-basis inventory to net realizable value.
i
Property, Plant, and Equipment
Property, plant, and equipment are carried at cost less accumulated depreciation. Expenditures for repairs and maintenance are expensed as incurred. Major improvements that materially extend the useful lives of the assets are capitalized. Depreciation has been computed using
the straight-line method over estimated useful lives: land improvements, i10 – i20 years; buildings, i10
– i40 years; and machinery and equipment, i3 – i12 years.
i
Total
depreciation expense was as follows:
2023
2022
2021
Depreciation expense
$
i64.7
$
i53.3
$
i53.0
/
i
Long-Lived
Assets
The Corporation evaluates long-lived assets, including definite-lived intangible assets, for indicators of impairment as events or changes in circumstances occur indicating that an impairment risk may be present. The judgments regarding the existence of impairment are based on business and market conditions, operational performance, and estimated future cash flows. If the carrying value of a long-lived asset is considered impaired, an impairment charge is recorded to adjust the asset to its estimated fair value.
i
Goodwill and Other
Intangible Assets
The Corporation evaluates its goodwill for impairment on an annual basis during the fourth quarter (using a valuation date as of the start of the Corporation's fourth quarter) or whenever indicators of impairment exist. Asset impairment charges associated with the Corporation’s goodwill impairment testing are discussed in "Note 6. Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets."
The Corporation reviews goodwill at the reporting unit level, which refers to components for which discrete financial information is available and regularly reviewed by segment management. The accounting standards for goodwill permit entities to first assess qualitative factors to determine whether it is more likely than not the fair value of a reporting unit is less than its carrying amount as a basis for determining whether it is necessary to perform
a quantitative goodwill impairment test. If the quantitative test is required, the Corporation estimates the fair value of its reporting units based on a weighted average of the income approach and the market approach. This estimated fair value is compared to the carrying value of the reporting unit, and an impairment is recorded if the estimate is less than the carrying value. In the income approach, the estimate of fair value of each reporting unit is based on management’s projection of revenues, gross margin, operating costs, and cash flows considering historical and estimated future results, general economic and market conditions, as well as the impact of planned business and operational strategies. The valuations employ present value techniques to measure fair value and consider market factors. In the market approach, the Corporation utilizes the guideline company method, which involves calculating valuation multiples based on operating data from guideline publicly-traded
companies. These multiples are then applied to the operating data for the reporting units and adjusted for factors similar to those used in the discounted cash flow analysis. Management believes the assumptions used for the quantitative impairment test, if required, are consistent with those utilized by a market participant in performing similar valuations of its reporting units. Management bases its fair value estimates on assumptions they believe to be reasonable at the time, but such assumptions are subject to inherent uncertainty. Actual results may differ from those estimates.
The Corporation also evaluates the fair value of indefinite-lived trade names on an annual basis during the fourth quarter (using a valuation date as of the start of the Corporation's fourth quarter) or whenever an indication of impairment exists. Consistent with goodwill impairment testing, a qualitative
assessment may be performed to determine whether it is more likely than not the fair value of indefinite-lived trade names is less than the carrying amount. If it is determined necessary to perform a quantitative test, the estimate of the fair value of the trade names is based on a discounted cash flows model using inputs which include projected revenues, assumed royalty rates that would be payable if the trade names were not owned, and discount rates.
The Corporation issues certain warranty policies on its workplace furnishings and residential building products that provide for repair or replacement of any covered product or component that failsduring normal use because of a defect in design, materials, or workmanship. The duration of warranty policies on the Corporation’s products varies based on the type of product. Allowances have been established for the anticipated future costs associated with the Corporation’s warranty programs.
A warranty allowance is determined by recording a specific allowance for known warranty issues and an additional allowance for unknown claims expected to be incurred based on historical claims experience. Actual claims incurred could differ from the original estimates, requiring adjustments to the
allowance.
i
Activity associated with warranty obligations was as follows:
2023
2022
2021
Balance
at beginning of period
$
i14.8
$
i16.0
$
i16.1
Accruals
recognized as a result of business combination
i3.5
i—
i—
Accruals
for warranties issued
i11.6
i9.3
i7.7
Settlements
and other
(i11.9)
(i10.5)
(i7.8)
Balance
at end of period
$
i18.0
$
i14.8
$
i16.0
/
The
current and long-term portions of the allowance for the estimated settlements are included within "Accounts payable and accrued expenses" and "Other Long-Term Liabilities," respectively, in the Consolidated Balance Sheets. The following table summarizes when these estimated settlements are expected to be paid:
Performance Obligations - The Corporation recognizes revenue for sales of workplace furnishings and residential building products at a point in time following the transfer of control of such products to the customer, which typically occurs upon shipment of the product. In certain circumstances, transfer of control to the customer does not occur until the goods are received by the customer or upon installation and/or customer acceptance, depending on the terms of the underlying contracts. Contracts typically have a duration of less than one year and normally do not include a significant financing component. Generally, payment is due within 30 days of invoicing.
Significant
Judgments - The amount of consideration the Corporation receives and revenue recognized varies with changes in rebate and marketing program incentives, as well as early pay discounts, offered to customers. The Corporation uses significant judgment throughout the year in estimating the reduction in net sales driven by variable consideration for rebate and marketing
programs. Judgments made include expected sales levels and utilization of funds. However, this judgment factor is significantly reduced at the end of each year when sales volumes and the impact to rebate and marketing programs are known and recorded as the programs
typically end near the Corporation’s fiscal year end.
Accounting Policies and Practical Expedients:
•The Corporation applies the accounting policy election which allows an entity to account for shipping and handling activities that occur after control is transferred as fulfillment activities. The Corporation accrues for shipping and handling costs at the same time revenue is recognized, which is in accordance with the policy election. When shipping and handling activities occur prior to the customer obtaining control of the good(s), they are considered fulfillment activities rather than a performance obligation and the costs are accrued for as incurred.
•The Corporation applies the accounting policy election which allows an
entity to exclude from the measurement of the transaction price all taxes assessed by a governmental authority associated with the transaction, including sales, use, excise, value-added, and franchise taxes (collectively referred to as sales taxes). This allows the Corporation to present revenue net of these certain types of taxes.
•The Corporation applies the practical expedient which permits an entity to recognize incremental costs to obtain a contract as an expense when incurred if the amortization period will be less than one year.
•The Corporation applies the practical expedient which allows an entity to not adjust the promised amount of consideration for the effects of a significant financing component if a contract
has a duration of one year or less. As the Corporation’s contracts are typically less than one year in length, consideration will not be adjusted.
•The Corporation’s backlog orders are typically cancellable for a period of time and almost all contracts have an original duration of one year or less. As a result, the Corporation elected the practical expedient not to disclose the unsatisfied performance obligation as of period end. The backlog is typically fulfilled within a few months.
i
Leases
Accounting
Policies and Practical Expedients:
•The Corporation has made an accounting election by class of underlying assets to not separate non-lease components of a contract from the lease components to which they relate for all classes of assets except for embedded leases.
•The Corporation has elected for all asset classes to not recognize right of use ("ROU") assets and lease liabilities for leases that at the inception date or business combination date have a remaining lease term of twelve months or less.
i
Research
and Development Costs
Research and development costs relating to development of new products and processes, including significant improvements and refinements to existing products, are expensed as incurred. These costs include salaries, contractor fees, prototype costs, and administrative fees. iThe amounts charged against income and recorded in "Selling and administrative expenses" on the Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income were as follows:
2023
2022
2021
Research
and development costs
$
i47.2
$
i47.8
$
i39.4
Freight
Expense
i
Freight expense on shipments to customers was recorded in "Selling and administrative expenses" on the Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income as follows:
2023
2022
2021
Freight
expense
$
i137.8
$
i142.0
$
i118.2
/
i
Stock-Based
Compensation
The Corporation measures the cost of employee services in exchange for an award of equity instruments based on the grant-date fair value of the award and generally recognizes cost over the requisite service period. See "Note 11. Stock-Based Compensation" for further information.
i
Income Taxes
The Corporation uses an asset and liability approach that takes into account guidance related to uncertain tax positions and requires the recognition of deferred tax assets and liabilities
for the expected future tax consequences of events that have been recognized in the Corporation’s financial statements or tax returns. Deferred income taxes are provided to reflect differences between the tax bases of assets and liabilities and their reported amounts in the consolidated financial statements.
The Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development ("OECD") issued new regulations in connection with a global minimum tax regime. Known as "Pillar Two," the new regulations are effective for income tax years commencing January 2024, and are part of the OECD’s broader plan to mitigate
tax base erosion and profit shifting by large multinational enterprises ("MNE"). Pillar Two will apply to MNEs with revenues of at least EUR 750 million. Under its provisions, qualifying MNE groups would pay a 15 percent minimum tax in each of the jurisdictions in which they operate. The guidance is principally focused on the application of the transitional country-by-country reporting safe harbor and enables an MNE to avoid both completing a full global anti-base erosion model computation and paying a top-up tax for jurisdictions when they are eligible for one of three safe harbor tests: (1) de minimis; (2) simplified effective tax rate; and (3) routine profits. Based on the estimated safe harbor simplified effective tax rate computation, management does not currently expect Pillar Two minimum tax to be owed by the Corporation.
i
Earnings
Per Share
Basic earnings per share are based on the weighted-average number of common shares outstanding during the year. Shares potentially issuable under stock options, restricted stock units, and common stock equivalents under the Corporation’s deferred compensation plans have been considered outstanding for purposes of the diluted earnings per share calculation.
i
The following table reconciles the numerators and denominators used in the calculation of basic and diluted earnings per share ("EPS"):
2023
2022
2021
Numerator:
Numerator
for both basic and diluted EPS attributable to HNI Corporation net income
$
i49.2
$
i123.9
$
i59.8
Denominators:
Denominator
for basic EPS weighted-average common shares outstanding
i44.5
i41.7
i43.4
Potentially
dilutive shares from stock-based compensation plans
i0.8
i0.5
i0.5
Denominator
for diluted EPS
i45.4
i42.2
i44.0
Earnings
per share – basic
$
i1.11
$
i2.97
$
i1.38
Earnings
per share – diluted
$
i1.09
$
i2.94
$
i1.36
/
The
year-over-year increase in shares outstanding is primarily due to the issuance of i4.7 million shares in June 2023 as part of the consideration to acquire Kimball International.
i
The
weighted-average common stock equivalents presented above do not include the effect of the common stock equivalents in the table below because their inclusion would be anti-dilutive:
2023
2022
2021
Common stock equivalents excluded because their inclusion would be anti-dilutive
i2.1
i2.0
i1.6
/
i
Use
of Estimates
The preparation of financial statements in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the amounts reported in the consolidated financial statements and accompanying notes. Areas requiring significant use of management estimates relate to goodwill and intangibles, asset valuations in connection with business combinations, accruals for self-insured medical claims, workers’ compensation, legal contingencies, general liability and auto insurance claims, valuation of long-lived assets, and estimates of income taxes. Other areas requiring use of management estimates relate to allowance for doubtful accounts, inventory allowances, marketing program accruals, warranty accruals, and useful lives for depreciation and amortization. Actual results could differ from those estimates.
The Corporation is primarily self-insured for general, auto, and product liability, workers’ compensation, and certain employee health benefits. Certain risk exposures are mitigated through the use of independent third party stop loss insurance coverages. iThe
general, auto, product, and workers’ compensation liabilities are managed using a wholly-owned insurance captive and the related liabilities are included in the Consolidated Balance Sheets as follows:
Total general, auto, product, and workers’
compensation liabilities
$
i24.8
$
i23.8
The
preceding table excludes self-insured member health and other benefits liabilities of $i7.6 million and $i7.2 million as of December 30, 2023 and December 31,
2022, respectively.
The Corporation’s policy is to accrue amounts in accordance with the actuarial determined liabilities. The actuarial valuations are based on historical information along with certain assumptions about future events. Changes in assumptions for such matters as legal actions, medical cost inflation, and magnitude of change in actual experience development could cause these estimates to change in the future.
/
i
Foreign
Currency Translations
Foreign currency financial statements of foreign operations, where the local currency is the functional currency, are translated using exchange rates in effect at period end for assets and liabilities and average exchange rates during the period for results of operations. Related translation adjustments are reported as a component of Shareholders’ Equity. Immaterial gains and losses on foreign currency transactions are included in "Selling and administrative expenses" in the Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income.
i
Recently
Adopted Accounting Standards
The Corporation adopted ASU 2022-04, Liabilities—Supplier Finance Programs (Subtopic 405-50): Disclosure of Supplier Finance Program Obligations in the first fiscal quarter of 2023, which enhances the transparency of supplier finance programs by requiring the disclosure of key terms, amounts outstanding, a rollforward of outstanding amounts, and a description of where in the financial statements outstanding amounts are presented. The rollforward disclosure is not required until fiscal 2024; however as permitted by the ASU, the Corporation has elected to early-adopt the rollforward for 2023. See "Note 18. Supplier Finance Program."
Revenue from contracts
with customers disaggregated by product category is as follows:
2023
2022
2021
Systems and storage
$
i1,057.4
$
i889.6
$
i833.2
Seating
i525.4
i473.7
i481.7
Other
i157.5
i123.0
i119.0
Total
workplace furnishings
i1,740.3
i1,486.2
i1,434.0
Residential
building products
i693.7
i875.6
i750.4
$
i2,434.0
$
i2,361.8
$
i2,184.4
/
Sales
by product category are subject to similar economic factors and market conditions. See "Note 16. Reportable Segment Information" for further information about operating segments.
In addition to trade receivables, the Corporation has contract assets consisting of funds paid up-front to certain workplace furnishings dealers in exchange for their multi-year commitment to market and sell the Corporation’s products. These contract
assets are amortized over the term of the contracts and recognized as a reduction of revenue. The Corporation has contract liabilities consisting of customer deposits and rebate and marketing program liabilities.
Contract
liabilities - Accrued rebate and marketing programs (4)
$
i31.4
$
i31.3
/
During
the current year period, increases in Trade receivables and Contract liabilities - Customer deposits balances are primarily due to the acquisition of Kimball International.
The index below indicates the line item in the Consolidated Balance Sheets where contract assets and contract liabilities are reported:
Cash received in advance and not recognized as revenue
—
(i144.9)
Reclassification
of cash received in advance to revenue as a result of performance obligations satisfied
—
i137.2
Impact of divestiture of business
—
i7.6
Net
change
$
i13.0
$
i0.1
Contract
liabilities for customer deposits paid to the Corporation prior to the satisfaction of performance obligations are recognized as revenue upon completion of the performance obligations. The amount of revenue recognized during the year ended December 30, 2023 that was included in the December 31, 2022contract liabilities balance was $i25.7 million. The amount of revenue recognized during
the year ended December 31, 2022 that was included in the January 1, 2022contract liabilities balance was $i26.7 million.
Note 4. iAcquisitions
and Divestitures
Acquisition - Kimball International
On June 1, 2023, the Corporation completed its acquisition of Kimball International, a leading commercial furnishings company with expertise in workplace, health, and hospitality, resulting in Kimball International becoming a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Corporation. Immediately following the closing of the transaction, Kimball International shareholders owned approximately i10
percent of the combined company. The Corporation incurred acquisition-related expenses of $i41.2 million in the year ended December 30, 2023, that are included in "Selling and administrative expenses" in the Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income. Of these expenses, $i28.6 million
were incurred as corporate costs and $i12.5 million were recorded in the workplace furnishings segment. Additionally, acquisition-related financing costs of $i2.8 million
and $i0.2 million were recorded to the Consolidated Balance Sheet in "Long-term debt" and "Other assets," respectively, while $i0.3 million
of acquisition-related stock issuance costs were recorded to "Additional paid-in capital." The acquired assets and assumed liabilities and results of Kimball International’s operations are included in the Corporation’s workplace furnishings reportable segment. The excess of purchase consideration over the fair value of net assets acquired was recorded as goodwill, which is not tax-deductible. Goodwill is primarily attributed to the assembled workforce of Kimball International and anticipated synergies.
Under the terms of the Agreement and Plan of Merger, the Corporation acquired all outstanding shares of Kimball International’s common stock and holders of Kimball International’s outstanding common stock received $i9.00
in cash and i0.1301 shares of the Corporation’s common stock for each share of Kimball International’s common stock. For fair value purposes, shares of the Corporation’s common stock were valued at $i25.50,
the closing market price as reported on the New York Stock Exchange on May 31, 2023, the day preceding the transaction’s close.
The total fair market value of consideration was approximately $i503.7 million, which is allocated as follows:
Kimball
International Shares
HNI Shares Exchanged
Fair Value
Cash Consideration:
Shares of Kimball International stock issued and outstanding as of June 1, 2023
i36.4
$
i327.8
Kimball
International equivalent shares
i0.2
i2.3
Total
number of Kimball International shares for cash consideration
i36.6
i330.0
Consideration
for payment to settle Kimball International’s outstanding debt
i50.2
Share
Consideration:
Shares of Kimball International stock issued and outstanding as of June 1, 2023
i36.4
i4.7
i120.8
Replacement
Share-Based Awards:
Outstanding awards of Kimball International restricted stock units relating to Kimball International Common Stock as of June 1, 2023
i0.5
i0.2
i2.6
Total
acquisition date fair value of purchase consideration
$
i503.7
/
Consideration
provided in the form of HNI Corporation shares and HNI Corporation replacement share-based awards represent non-cash consideration and thus are not included in the acquisition spending presented in the Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows.
The preliminary purchase price allocation of identifiable tangible and intangible assets and liabilities as of the date of acquisition is as follows:
Fair Value
Assets
Cash
and cash equivalents
$
i10.5
Short-term investments
i4.2
Receivables
i47.4
Inventories,
net
i75.0
Prepaid expenses and other current assets
i12.0
Assets
held for sale
i12.7
Property, plant, and equipment
i200.5
Right-of-use
operating leases
i22.7
Goodwill
i162.7
Intangible
assets
i110.1
Other assets
i7.1
Total
Assets
$
i665.0
Liabilities
Accounts payable and accrued expenses
$
i93.2
Current
lease obligations – operating
i3.9
Liabilities held for sale
i10.0
Long-term
lease obligations – operating
i19.0
Other long-term liabilities
i10.0
Deferred
income taxes
i25.3
Total Liabilities
$
i161.3
Net
Assets and Liabilities
$
i503.7
The following table summarizes the acquired identified intangible assets and weighted average useful lives:
Category
Weighted-average
useful life
Fair Value
Software
i3 years
$
i5.6
Customer
lists and other
i12 years
i47.2
Acquired
technology
i18 years
i16.5
Trademarks
and trade names – Definite-lived
i17 years
i3.8
Trademarks
and trade names – Indefinite-lived
Indefinite-lived
i37.0
Total intangible assets
$
i110.1
/
The
valuation analysis requires the use of complex management estimates and assumptions such as customer attrition rates, trade name and technology royalty rates, future cash flows, discount rates, property appraisals, and long-term growth rates. At this time, assets and liabilities are recorded based on preliminary data and assumptions as the Corporation is in the process of reviewing information related to the determination of the fair values. The provisional assets and liabilities may be adjusted to reflect the finally determined amounts, and those adjustments may be material. The Corporation expects to finalize the purchase price allocation no later than one year from the date of the acquisition. During the period since the acquisition date, revisions were made to the purchase price allocation resulting in a net decrease to goodwill of $i24.6 million,
primarily due to provisional valuation adjustments to inventory, intangible assets, personal property, deferred income taxes, and right-of-use operating leases.
The following table summarizes the results of Kimball International operations since the acquisition date that are included in the Corporation’s Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income for the year ended December 30, 2023. These amounts include the results of Poppin Furniture, Inc., a unit of Kimball International, for the respective period during which it was owned by the Corporation. iPoppin
was determined not to require discontinued operations presentation as this entity is not material to the consolidated results of the periods presented.
2023
Net sales
$
i361.4
Net
loss
$
(i3.0)
Pro Forma Results of Operations - Kimball International Acquisition (Unaudited)
The following table provides pro forma results of operations for the fiscal years ended December 30, 2023 and December
31, 2022, as if Kimball International had been acquired as of January 2, 2022, the first day of the Corporation’s 2022 fiscal year. The pro forma results include certain purchase accounting adjustments such as: reclassifications to conform Kimball International’s results to HNI’s financial statement presentation; estimated depreciation and amortization expense on acquired tangible and intangible assets; estimated share based compensation expense for Kimball International awards converted to HNI awards; interest associated with additional borrowings to finance the acquisition; non-recurring transaction costs as outlined above; and the impact to income tax expense. This pro forma information is not necessarily reflective of what the Corporation’s results would have been had the acquisition occurred on the date indicated, nor is it indicative of future results.
2023
2022
Net
sales
$
i2,698.1
$
i3,058.0
Net
income
$
i82.8
$
i52.1
Acquisition
- Dickerson
In June 2022, the Corporation acquired Dickerson Hearth Products ("Dickerson"), an installing fireplace distributor in the Raleigh, North Carolina area, for approximately $i8 million. The transaction, which aligned with the Corporation’s vertical integration strategy in the residential building products market, was structured as an asset acquisition and was consummated entirely in cash. The purchase price allocation included $i7.6 million
of goodwill and the remaining assets and liabilities acquired were not material to the consolidated financial statements. The purchase accounting was finalized in the second quarter of 2023.
Acquisition - OGC
In December 2021, the Corporation acquired The Outdoor GreatRoom Company ("OGC"), a leading manufacturer and supplier of premium outdoor fire tables and fire pits, for approximately $i15 million. This transaction, which positioned the Corporation to grow and develop a leading
position in the fast-growing outdoor living market, was structured as a stock acquisition and was consummated entirely in cash.
Acquisition - Trinity
In October 2021, the Corporation acquired Trinity Hearth & Home ("Trinity"), an installing fireplace distributor in the Dallas/Fort Worth area, for approximately $i31 million. This transaction, which aligns with the Corporation’s vertical integration strategy in the residential building products market and provides a hub to better
serve customers in the rapidly growing Southwest region, was structured as an asset acquisition and was consummated entirely in cash.
The assets and liabilities of Trinity, OGC, and Dickerson, including the tax-deductible goodwill resulting from these acquisitions, are included in the Corporation’s residential building products segment.
All acquisitions discussed above were accounted for using the acquisition method pursuant to ASC 805, with goodwill being recorded as a result of the purchase price exceeding the fair value of identifiable tangible and intangible assets and liabilities.
Divestiture - Poppin
On September 12, 2023,
the Corporation closed on the sale of substantially all of the assets of Poppin for $i2.7 million in cash, net of selling costs; the transaction was structured as an asset sale. Poppin had been acquired as part of the Kimball International transaction in June 2023 and was a component of the workplace furnishings segment. Balances divested include $i9.7 million
of inventory, $i3.1 million of various other assets, $i7.0 million
of accounts payable and accrued expenses, and $i3.0 million of operating lease obligations.
In July
2022, the Corporation closed on the sale of its China- and Hong Kong-based Lamex office furniture business, which was a component of the workplace furnishings segment, to Kokuyo Co., Ltd, a leading manufacturer and provider of office furniture in Japan and across Asia, for approximately $i75 million plus standard post-closing working capital adjustments, net of cash acquired by the buyer. The Corporation recorded a pre-tax gain on sale in the prior year of $i50.4 million
that included transaction-related expenses of approximately $i6 million as well as a cumulative foreign currency translation benefit of $i3.3 million
that was reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive income.
i
The assets and liabilities of Lamex which were disposed of in conjunction with the sale are as follows:
The Corporation’s cash payments for interest, income taxes, and non-cash investing and financing activities are as follows:
2023
2022
2021
Cash
paid for:
Interest
$
i26.5
$
i9.2
$
i7.6
Income
taxes
$
i25.0
$
i31.1
$
i26.4
Changes
in accrued expenses due to:
Purchases of property and equipment
$
(i9.3)
$
i1.4
$
i0.2
Purchases
of capitalized software
$
(i0.4)
$
(i1.4)
$
i0.0
/
Non-cash
consideration exchanged to acquire Kimball International is not included in the Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows; see "Note 4. Acquisitions and Divestitures" for more information.
Current
year goodwill acquired and measurement period adjustments relate to the acquisition of Kimball International, see "Note 4. Acquisitions and Divestitures" for additional information.
Current year goodwill and accumulated impairment disposed relates to the closure of the OFM business. Prior year goodwill and accumulated impairment disposed relates to the retirement of the Maxon brand and the sale of Lamex.
See Impairment Analysis section below for additional information regarding the goodwill impairment recorded in 2023.
The table below summarizes amortizable definite-lived intangible assets, which are reflected in "Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets" in the Consolidated Balance Sheets:
The
increase in gross definite-lived intangible assets is due to the acquisition of Kimball International.
i
Amortization expense is reflected in "Selling and administrative expenses" in the Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income and was as follows:
2023
2022
2021
Capitalized
software
$
i21.6
$
i24.4
$
i23.6
Other
definite-lived intangibles
$
i8.5
$
i6.5
$
i6.5
/
The
occurrence of events such as acquisitions, dispositions, or impairments may impact future amortization expense. Over the next several years amortization expense is expected to decline due primarily to the completion of the amortization of the Corporation’s Business Systems Transformation investment. iBased on the current amount of intangible assets subject to amortization, the estimated amortization expense for each of the following five fiscal years is as follows:
2024
2025
2026
2027
2028
Amortization
expense
$
i29.8
$
i27.0
$
i22.3
$
i16.8
$
i9.0
Indefinite-lived
intangible assets
The Corporation also owns certain intangible assets, which are deemed to have indefinite useful lives because they are expected to generate cash flows indefinitely. iThese indefinite-lived intangible assets are reflected in "Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets" in the Consolidated Balance Sheets:
The
increase in indefinite-lived intangible assets in the current year was driven by the acquisition of Kimball International. In the fourth quarter of 2023, the Corporation recorded an impairment charge of $i3.4 million, related to an indefinite-lived trade name in the workplace furnishings segment. See the Impairment Analysis below for additional information.
Impairment Analysis
The Corporation evaluates its goodwill and indefinite-lived intangible
assets for impairment on an annual basis during the fourth quarter (using a valuation date as of the start of the Corporation's fourth quarter), or whenever indicators of impairment exist. The Corporation also evaluates long-lived assets (which include definite-lived intangible assets) for impairment if indicators exist.
The Corporation elected to perform a qualitative assessment for purposes of its annual goodwill impairment testing in each of the last three years. Based on these assessments, management concluded that for the majority of reporting units it was more likely than not that the fair value of each reporting unit was greater than its carrying value. For a small workplace furnishings reporting unit, management concluded in 2023 and 2022 that a quantitative assessment was required.
For the quantitative
goodwill impairment testing, management utilized a combination of both a discounted cash flows approach and market approaches. As a result of the impairment testing in 2023, this reporting unit was determined to have a carrying value in excess of its fair value, resulting in a pretax goodwill impairment charge of $i27.6 million. This reporting unit has remaining goodwill of $i6.0 million.
The driver of the impairment is a reduction in the short-to mid-term financial forecast for this business
as a result of softening market demand tied to macroeconomic conditions. Projections used in the impairment model reflected management’s assumptions, which are those of a market participant, regarding revenue growth rates, economic and market trends, cost structure, investments required in support of strategic initiatives, and other expectations about the anticipated short-term and long-term operating results of the reporting unit (Level 3 measurements). For this reporting unit, the Corporation assumed a discount rate of approximately i14
percent, near-term growth rates ranging from -i13 percent to +i10 percent, and a terminal growth rate of i3
percent.
As a result of the quantitative goodwill impairment testing in 2022, this reporting unit was determined to have a fair value that exceeded carrying value by a reasonable margin. For this testing, the corporation assumed a discount rate of i14 percent, near-term growth rates ranging from i4
percent to i12 percent, and a terminal growth rate of i3 percent. Holding other assumptions constant, a 100-basis point increase in the discount rate would have resulted in a $i5 million
decrease in the estimated fair value of the reporting unit. Holding other assumptions constant, a 100 basis point decrease in the terminal growth rate would have resulted in a $i3 million decrease in the estimated fair value of the reporting unit. If there was both a 100-basis point decrease in the terminal growth rate and a 100-basis point increase to the discount rate, the estimated fair value of the reporting unit would still have exceeded the carrying value at that time.
Near
the end of the fourth quarter of 2021, subsequent to the 2021 annual impairment testing, a triggering event occurred that resulted in a goodwill impairment charge of $i5.8 million in connection with the decision to exit the Maxon office furniture brand.
The Corporation also elected to perform a qualitative assessment for purposes of its annual impairment testing for indefinite-lived intangible assets in each of the last three years. Based on these assessments, management concluded that it was more likely than not that the fair values of most
of the Corporation’s indefinite-lived intangible assets were greater than their carrying values. For a small workplace furnishings brand, management concluded in each of the last three years that a quantitative assessment was required.
As a result of the quantitative impairment testing in 2023, management concluded that a pretax impairment charge of $i3.4 million was required related to this indefinite-lived intangible asset. The drivers of the impairment include a reduced sales outlook for this business and a decline in the estimated royalty
rate. The valuation assessment of this trade name is considered a Level 3 measurement that utilized a relief-from-royalty discounted cash flows approach. Key inputs and assumptions involved in the quantitative testing included estimated near-term growth rates ranging from -i2 percent to +i5
percent, a long-term growth rate of i3 percent, a royalty rate of i1 percent, and a discount rate of i16
percent.
See "Note 17. Restructuring and Impairment" for more information regarding goodwill, intangible asset, and long-lived asset impairments in the current and prior years.
The
aggregate carrying value of the Corporation’s variable-rate, long-term debt obligations under the revolving credit and term loan facilities as of December 30, 2023 was $i338.5 million, which approximated fair value. The fair value of the fixed rate notes was estimated based on a discounted cash flow method (Level 2) to be $i99
million as of December 30, 2023.
As of December 30, 2023, the Corporation’s revolving credit facility borrowings were under the amended and restated credit agreement entered into on June 14, 2022, as further amended on March 14, 2023 and June 1, 2023, with a scheduled maturity of June 2027. The Corporation deferred the related debt issuance costs, which are classified as assets, and is amortizing them over the term of the credit agreement. The current portion of debt issuance costs of $i0.4
million is the amount to be amortized over the next twelve months based on the current credit agreement and is reflected in "Prepaid expenses and other current assets" in the Consolidated Balance Sheets. The long-term portion of debt issuance costs of $i0.9 million is reflected in "Other Assets" in the Consolidated Balance Sheets.
As of December 30, 2023, there was $i38.5
million outstanding under the $i425 million revolving credit facility. The entire amount drawn under the revolving credit facility is considered long-term as the Corporation assumes no obligation to repay any of the amounts borrowed in the next twelve months. Based on current earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization, the Corporation can access the full remaining $i386.5
million of borrowing capacity available under the revolving credit facility and maintain compliance with the financial covenants under the facility.
In addition to cash flows from operations, the revolving credit facility under the credit agreement is the primary source of daily operating capital for the Corporation and provides additional financial capacity for capital expenditures, repurchases of common stock, and strategic initiatives, such as acquisitions.
Additionally, the Corporation has borrowings outstanding under a term loan credit facility and private placement notes.
The Corporation has $i300 million
of borrowings outstanding under a term loan agreement entered into on March 31, 2023, as further amended on May 25, 2023. The proceeds of the term loan were used to support funding of the Corporation’s acquisition of Kimball International on June 1, 2023. The principal amount under the term loan is subject to amortization beginning June 30, 2024, with incremental amounts due each quarter until the expiration of the term loan on the fifth year of the funding date, defined as June 1, 2028, with $i7.5 million
due within the next twelve months. The Corporation deferred the debt issuance costs related to the agreement, which are classified as a reduction of long-term debt, and is amortizing them over the term of the agreement. The deferred debt issuance costs do not reduce the amount owed by the Corporation under the terms of the agreement. As of December 30, 2023, the deferred debt issuance costs balance of $i2.5 million related to the agreement is reflected in "Long-Term Debt" in the Consolidated Balance Sheets.
The
Corporation also has $i100 million of borrowings outstanding under private placement note agreements entered into on May 31, 2018. Under the agreements, the Corporation issued $i50 million of iseven-year
fixed rate notes with an interest rate of i4.22 percent, due May 31, 2025, and $i50 million of iten-year
fixed rate notes with an interest rate of i4.40 percent, due May 31, 2028. The Corporation deferred the debt issuance costs related to the private placement note agreements, which are classified as a reduction of long-term debt, and is amortizing them over the terms of the private placement note agreements. The deferred debt issuance costs do not reduce the amount owed by the Corporation under the terms of the private placement note agreements. As of December 30,
2023, the debt issuance costs balance of $i0.2 million related to the private placement note agreements is reflected in "Long-Term Debt" in the Consolidated Balance Sheets. As of December 30, 2023, due to current market rates, the Corporation would not owe any amounts to the note holders for the make-whole provision.
The revolving credit facility, term loan
credit facility, and private placement notes all contain financial and non-financial covenants. Non-compliance with covenants under the agreements could prevent the Corporation from being able to access further borrowings, require immediate repayment of all amounts outstanding, and/or increase the cost of borrowing. The covenants under all the agreements are substantially the same. In the event the private placement notes are repaid by the Corporation, the revolving credit facility and term loan credit facility include certain fall-away provisions to allow for modification of the covenant measures whereby the Corporation would have increased financial flexibility. In such an event, the definition of consolidated EBITDA and the maximum leverage under the consolidated leverage ratio would adjust to a more flexible definition while the interest coverage ratio would no longer be an included measure.
Covenants require maintenance of financial ratios as of the end of any fiscal quarter, including:
•a consolidated interest coverage ratio (as defined in the credit agreements) of not less than i4.0 to 1.0, based upon the ratio of (a) consolidated EBITDA for the last four fiscal quarters to (b) the sum of consolidated interest charges; and
•a
consolidated leverage ratio (as defined in the credit agreements) of not greater than i3.5 to 1.0, based upon the ratio of (a) the quarter-end consolidated funded indebtedness to (b) consolidated EBITDA for the last four fiscal quarters.
The more restrictive of the financial covenants is the consolidated leverage ratio requirement of i3.5
to 1.0. Under the credit agreements, consolidated EBITDA is defined as consolidated net income before interest expense, income taxes, and depreciation and amortization of intangibles, as well as non-cash items that increase or decrease net income. As of December 30, 2023, the Corporation was below the maximum allowable ratio and was in compliance with the financial covenants.
Note 8. iIncome Taxes
i
Significant
components of the provision for income taxes, including those related to non-controlling interest, are as follows:
2023
2022
2021
Current:
Federal
$
i11.6
$
i29.8
$
i14.1
State
i4.1
i8.3
i4.0
Foreign
i0.9
i0.3
i0.8
Current
provision
i16.6
i38.5
i18.8
Deferred:
Federal
(i2.0)
(i13.1)
(i0.7)
State
i1.1
(i2.8)
i0.4
Foreign
(i0.1)
i0.0
(i0.1)
Deferred
provision
(i1.0)
(i15.9)
(i0.4)
Total
income tax expense
$
i15.6
$
i22.5
$
i18.5
/
i
The
differences between the actual tax expense and tax expense computed at the statutory United States federal tax rate are explained as follows:
2023
2022
2021
Federal statutory tax expense
$
i13.6
$
i30.7
$
i16.4
State
taxes, net of federal tax effect
i3.7
i5.6
i3.7
Credit
for research activities
(i5.3)
(i4.2)
(i4.0)
Valuation
allowance
(i0.9)
(i7.1)
(i0.2)
Foreign
taxes
i0.7
i0.7
i0.8
Executive
compensation limitation
i1.7
i1.4
i1.2
Acquisition
expenses
i1.8
i—
i—
Sale
of foreign subsidiary
i—
(i4.2)
i—
Provision
to return true-up
(i0.8)
i0.1
(i0.8)
Other
– net
i1.1
(i0.5)
i1.4
Total
income tax expense
$
i15.6
$
i22.5
$
i18.5
/
Deferred
income taxes reflect the net tax effects of temporary differences between the carrying amounts of assets and liabilities for financial reporting purposes and the amounts used for income tax purposes.
The
current year net increase in the valuation allowance of $i5.6 million primarily relates to the acquisition of Kimball International state and foreign tax credits, partially offset by the release of existing allowances. The prior year decrease of $i7.1
million primarily relates to the sale of Lamex in July 2022. This transaction created tax benefits for valuation adjustments related to existing deferred tax assets, as well as basis differences.
As of December 30, 2023, the Corporation had $i3.7 million of foreign net operating losses and $i2.9 million
of U.S. state tax credit carryforwards, which expire over the next twenty years.
A reconciliation of the beginning and ending amount of unrecognized tax benefits is as follows:
2023
2022
Balance
at beginning of period
$
i2.2
$
i2.2
Increases
in positions taken in a prior period
i0.8
i—
New
positions taken in a current period
i0.6
i0.5
Decrease
due to lapse of statute of limitations
(i0.6)
(i0.5)
Balance
at end of period
$
i3.0
$
i2.2
/
As
of December 30, 2023, it is reasonably possible the amount of unrecognized tax benefits may increase or decrease within the twelve months following the reporting date. These increases or decreases in the unrecognized tax benefits would be due to new positions that may be taken on income tax returns, settlement of tax positions, and the closing of statutes of limitation. It is not expected any of the changes will be material individually, or in total, to the results or financial position of the Corporation.
The Corporation recognizes interest related to unrecognized tax benefits in interest expense, and penalties in operating expenses, consistent with the recognition of these items in prior reporting periods. The expenses and liabilities recorded for interest and penalties as of and for the years ended December 30,
2023 and December 31, 2022 are immaterial.
Tax years 2020 through 2022 remain open for examination by the Internal Revenue Service ("IRS"). Tax years 2019 through 2022 remain open for examination in various state and foreign jurisdictions. The Corporation is not currently under federal or state income tax examination.
Note 9. iFair
Value Measurements of Financial Instruments
i
For recognition purposes, on a recurring basis, the Corporation is required to measure at fair value its marketable securities, derivative financial instruments, and put option liabilities. The marketable securities are comprised of money market funds, government securities, corporate bonds, and mutual funds. When available, the Corporation uses quoted market prices to determine fair value and classifies such measurements within Level 1. Where market prices are not available, the Corporation makes use of observable market-based inputs (prices
or quotes from published exchanges and indexes) to calculate fair value using the market approach, in which case the measurements are classified within Level 2. Significant unobservable inputs, which are classified within Level 3, are used in the estimation of the fair value of put option liabilities, determined using a simulation model based on assumptions including future cash flows, discount rates, and volatility.
In connection with the Kimball International transaction in the second quarter of 2023, the Corporation acquired Kimball International’s supplemental employee retirement plan (“SERP”). SERP investment assets consist of mutual fund holdings classified as trading securities which are recognized on the Consolidated Balance Sheets at fair value, along with a corresponding liability of the same amount which represents the obligation to distribute SERP funds to participants.
The SERP is structured as a rabbi trust, and therefore the assets in this plan are subject to credit claims in the event of bankruptcy.
Note 10. iAccumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) and Shareholders’ Equity
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss)
i
The
following table summarizes the components of accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) and the changes in accumulated other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax, as applicable:
Amounts
in parentheses indicate reductions to equity.
/
Interest Rate Swap
During the normal course of business, the Corporation is subjected to market risk associated with interest rate movements. Interest rate risk arises from variable interest debt obligations. Interest rate swap derivative instruments are periodically held and used by the Corporation as a tool for managing interest rate risk. They are not used for trading or speculative purposes.
In November 2023, the Corporation entered into a new interest rate swap transaction to hedge $i100 million
of outstanding variable rate term loan borrowings against future interest rate volatility. Under the terms of this interest rate swap, the Corporation pays a fixed rate of i4.7 percent and receives one-month SOFR on a $i100 million notional value expiring June
2027. As of December 30, 2023, the fair value of the Corporation’s interest rate swap liability was $i3.5 million; see "Note 9. Fair Value Measurements of Financial Instruments." The unrecognized change in value of the interest rate swap is reported net of tax as $i2.7 million
in "Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss)" in the Consolidated Balance Sheets.
In April 2022, the Corporation terminated its prior interest rate swap agreement and received cash proceeds of $i0.4 million, the fair value of the swap on the termination date. The proceeds were recorded as cash provided by operating activities in the Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows. The $i0.4 million
gain from the termination of this interest rate swap agreement was recorded to "Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss)" and was amortized to interest expense through April 2023, the remaining term of the original interest rate swap agreement.
The
following table details the reclassifications from accumulated other comprehensive income (loss):
Details about Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) Components
Affected Line Item in the Statement Where Net Income is Presented
2023
2022
2021
Derivative
financial instruments
Interest rate swaps
Interest expense, net
$
i0.2
$
i0.1
$
(i1.0)
Income
tax expense
(i0.1)
(i0.0)
i0.2
Unrealized
gains (losses) on debt securities
Gain (loss) on sale of debt securities
Selling and administrative expenses
(i0.1)
i0.0
i0.0
Income
tax expense
i0.0
(i0.0)
(i0.0)
Pension
and post-retirement liabilities
Amortization of loss
Selling and administrative expenses
(i0.1)
(i0.3)
(i0.5)
Income
tax expense
i0.0
i0.1
i0.1
Foreign
currency translation
Lamex divestiture
Gain on sale of subsidiary
i—
i3.3
i—
Net
of tax
$
(i0.0)
$
i3.1
$
(i1.1)
Amounts
in parentheses indicate reductions to profit.
/
Director Plan
In May 2017, the Corporation registered i0.3 million shares of its common stock under its 2017 Equity Plan for Non-Employee
Directors of HNI Corporation (the "2017 Director Plan"). The 2017 Director Plan permits the Corporation to issue to its non-employee directors options to purchase shares of Corporation common stock, restricted stock or restricted stock units of the Corporation, and awards of Corporation common stock. The 2017 Director Plan also permits non-employee directors to elect to receive all or a portion of their annual retainers and other compensation in the form of shares of Corporation common stock. Shares of common stock issued under the Director Plan in 2023, 2022, and 2021, were i43
thousand, i32 thousand, and i25 thousand, respectively.
Dividend
i
The
Corporation declared and paid cash dividends per common share as follows:
2023
2022
2021
Dividends per common shares
$
i1.28
$
i1.27
$
i1.24
/
Members’
Stock Purchase Plan
During 2017, shareholders approved the HNI Corporation Members’ Stock Purchase Plan (the "2017 MSPP"). Under the 2017 MSPP, i0.8 million shares of common stock were registered for issuance to participating members. Under the 2017 MSPP, rights to purchase stock are granted on a quarterly basis to all participating members who customarily work i20
hours or more per week and for ifive months or more in any calendar year. The price of the stock purchased under the MSPP is i85 percent of the closing price on the exercise date. No member may
purchase stock under the MSPP in an amount which exceeds a maximum fair value of $i25,000 in any calendar year. Shares of common stock issued under the MSPP in 2023, 2022, and 2021, were i77
thousand, i88 thousand, and i68
thousand, respectively. iThe following table provides the average price per share issued under the MSPP:
2023
2022
2021
Average
price per share
$
i27.15
$
i26.50
$
i34.49
An
additional i0.3 million shares were available for issuance under the 2017 MSPP as of December 30, 2023.
Change in Control
The Corporation has entered into change in control employment agreements with certain officers. According to the agreements, a change in control occurs when a third person
or entity becomes the beneficial owner of i20 percent or more of the Corporation’s common stock, when more than one-third of the Board is composed of persons not recommended by at least three-fourths of the incumbent Board, upon certain business combinations involving the Corporation, or upon approval by the Corporation’s shareholders of a complete liquidation or dissolution. Upon a change in control, a key member is deemed to have a itwo-year
employment agreement with the Corporation, and all of his or her benefits vest under the Corporation’s compensation plans. If, at any time within itwo years of the change in control, his or her employment is terminated by the Corporation for any reason other than cause or
disability, or by the key member for good reason, as such terms are defined in the agreement, then the key member is entitled to receive, among other benefits, a severance payment equal to itwo times (ithree
times for the Corporation’s Chairman, President, and Chief Executive Officer) annual salary and the average of the prior itwo years’ bonuses.
Stock Repurchase
The par value method of accounting is used for common stock repurchases. iThe
following table summarizes shares repurchased and settled by the Corporation:
2023
2022
2021
Shares repurchased
i0.0
i1.7
i1.5
Average
price per share
$
i41.98
$
i38.11
$
i39.89
Cash
purchase price
$
(i0.4)
$
(i63.9)
$
(i60.4)
Purchases
unsettled as of year end
i0.1
i—
i1.3
Prior
year purchases settled in current year
i—
(i1.3)
i—
Shares
repurchased per cash flow
$
(i0.3)
$
(i65.2)
$
(i59.2)
As
of December 30, 2023, approximately $i233.5 million of the Board’s current repurchase authorization remained unspent.
Note 11. iStock-Based
Compensation
Under the Corporation’s 2021 Stock-Based Compensation Plan (the "2021 Plan"), the Corporation may award options to purchase shares of the Corporation’s common stock and grant other stock awards to key personnel. Upon shareholder approval of the 2021 Plan in May 2021, no future awards were granted under the Corporation’s 2017 Stock-Based Compensation Plan (the "2017 Plan"), but all outstanding awards previously granted under the 2017 Plan remain outstanding in accordance with their terms. During the second quarter of 2023, the Corporation assumed the Kimball International, Inc. Stock Incentive Plan and its remaining share pool. The plan was renamed the "HNI Corporation Stock Incentive Plan for Legacy Kimball Employees" (the "2023 Kimball International Legacy Plan"). Under this plan the Corporation may grant equity compensation awards using
the plan’s share pool. At inception, there were approximately i1.1 million shares of the Corporation’s stock available for issuance under this plan.
Together the 2021 Plan, the 2017 Plan, and the 2023 Kimball International Legacy Plan form the "Plans". As of December 30, 2023, there were approximately i3.2
million shares available for future issuance under the Plans. The Plans are administered by the Human Resources and Compensation Committee of the Board. Forms of awards issued under the Plans include stock options, restricted stock units based on a service condition ("RSUs"), and restricted stock units based on both financial performance and service conditions ("PSUs"). The Corporation uses common shares held in treasury to satisfy share option exercises and distributions of shares related to vested RSUs and PSUs.
RSUs awarded prior to 2020 generally cliff-vest after ithree
years, while RSUs awarded starting in 2020 generally vest ratably over ithree years with the exception of RSUs awards under the 2023 Kimball International Legacy Plan, which cliff-vest ithree
years after the original award date. PSUs were awarded starting in 2020, and generally vest at the end of a ithree-year period, subject to a performance metric based on the Corporation’s cumulative profitability during the period. PSUs and RSUs awarded starting in 2020 generally accrue cash dividends during the vesting periods, with payment made when earned shares are distributed to participants. Awards under the 2023 Kimball International Legacy Plan accrue share dividends during the vesting period, awarded upon vesting. Stock options awarded to members must
be at exercise prices equal to or exceeding the fair market value of the Corporation’s common stock on the date of grant. Stock options are generally subject to ifour-year cliff vesting and must be exercised within i10
years from the date of grant.
The Corporation measures stock-based compensation expense at grant date, based on the fair value of the award, and recognizes expense over the employees’ requisite service periods, adjusted for an estimated forfeiture rate for those shares not expected to vest. Additionally, expense related to PSUs is periodically adjusted for the probable number of shares to be awarded at the end of the ithree-year performance period.
Compensation cost charged against operations for the Plans and the 2017 MSPP described in "Note 10. Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) and Shareholders’ Equity" was as follows:
2023
2022
2021
Compensation
cost
$
i16.5
$
i9.0
$
i12.9
The
total income tax benefit recognized in the Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income for share-based compensation arrangements was as follows:
2023
2022
2021
Income tax benefit
$
i4.2
$
i2.0
$
i3.1
/
RSUs
i
The
following table summarizes the changes in RSUs (shares in thousands, per share amounts in dollars):
*RSUs
assumed in 2023 in the above table are replacement awards issued to Kimball International employees in June 2023, and have no weighted-average grant date fair value due to being granted prior to the Corporation’s acquisition of Kimball International. The total fair value of RSUs assumed at acquisition date is $i6.1 million, with approximately i48
percent of the fair value attributed to service provided by Kimball International employees prior to the acquisition by the Corporation and thus is accounted for as purchase consideration. See "Note 4. Acquisitions and Divestitures" for further information.
/
As of December 30, 2023, there was $i4.0
million of unrecognized compensation cost related to RSUs, which the Corporation expects to recognize over a weighted-average period of i0.8 years. The total value of shares vested was as follows:
As
of December 30, 2023, there was $i7.4 million of unrecognized compensation cost related to PSUs, which the Corporation expects to recognize over a weighted-average period of i1.0
years. Nonvested PSUs that expired in 2023 were granted in 2020 and expired with no value due to the cumulative performance of the Corporation over the vesting period.
Stock Options
i
Stock-based compensation expense related to stock options was estimated on the date of grant using the Black-Scholes option-pricing model with various assumptions. Expected volatilities were based on historical volatility as the Corporation does not expect that future volatility
over the expected term of the options is likely to differ from the past. The Corporation used a calculation method based on the historical daily frequency for a period of time equal to the expected term. The Corporation used the current dividend yield as there are no plans to substantially increase or decrease its dividends. The Corporation used historical exercise experience to determine the expected term. The risk-free interest rate was selected based on yields from treasury securities as published by the Federal Reserve equal to the expected term of the options. The amount of stock-based compensation expense recognized during a period is also based on the portion of the stock options that are ultimately expected to vest. The Corporation estimates pre-vesting forfeitures at the time of grant by analyzing historical data and revises those estimates in subsequent periods if actual forfeitures differ from those estimates.
There
were iiino//
stock options granted in any periods presented below.
i
The following table summarizes the changes in outstanding stock options (shares in thousands, per share amounts in dollars):
A summary of the Corporation’s non-vested stock options and changes during the year are presented below (shares in thousands, per share amounts in dollars):
Weighted-Average
Remaining Exercisable Period (years)
Aggregate Intrinsic Value
Exercisable
i1,862
$
i42.67
i3.5
$
i3.9
/
i
Other
information for the last three years is as follows:
2023
2022
2021
Total fair value of options vested
$
i4.6
$
i4.7
$
i3.3
Total
intrinsic value of options exercised
$
i0.8
$
i0.5
$
i5.4
Cash
received from exercise of stock options
$
i8.1
$
i2.1
$
i28.5
Tax
benefit realized from exercise of stock options
$
i0.2
$
i0.1
$
i1.0
/
Deferred
Compensation
The following table details deferred compensation and the affected line item in the Consolidated Balance Sheets where deferred compensation is presented:
The Corporation has defined contribution retirement plans covering substantially all members. The Corporation’s contribution to the plans is based on member eligible earnings and/or member contributions. A portion of the contribution is also based on results of operations, and a portion is contributed in the form of common stock of the Corporation. Cash contributions by the Corporation are primarily made each payroll period, concurrent with member contributions. Stock contributions to member retirement
plans are typically made in the following year.
The following table includes the Corporation’s
contributions related to the respective annual period:
2023
2022
2021
Stock contribution
$
i3.9
$
i5.1
$
i7.1
Cash
contribution
i25.9
i25.1
i17.8
Total
annual contribution
$
i29.8
$
i30.1
$
i25.0
/
In
2023, the Corporation made a cash contribution of $i4.8 million to the retirement plans of Kimball International members, related to the period of July 2022 through June 2023.
As discussed in "Note 9. Fair Value Measurements of Financial Instruments," the Corporation assumed a SERP for certain executive members of Kimball International. This plan enables members to defer their cash compensation on a pre-tax basis in excess of IRS limitations. The
Corporation made an immaterial contribution to the SERP in 2023.
Note 13. iPost-Retirement Health Care
The Corporation offers a fixed subsidy to certain retirees who choose to participate in a third-party insurance plan selected by the Corporation. Guidance on employers’ accounting for other post-retirement plans requires
recognition of the overfunded or underfunded status on the balance sheet. Under this guidance, gains and losses, prior service costs and credits, and any remaining transition amounts under previous guidance not yet recognized through net periodic benefit cost are recognized in accumulated other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax effects, until they are amortized as a component of net periodic benefit cost. Also, the measurement date – the date at which the benefit obligation and plan assets are measured – is required to be the Corporation’s fiscal year-end.
Change
in Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) (before tax):
Amount disclosed at beginning of year
$
(i2.8)
$
i3.3
Actuarial
loss (gain)
i0.2
(i6.0)
Amortization
of transition amount
i0.1
(i0.1)
Amount
disclosed at end of year
$
(i2.5)
$
(i2.8)
/
i
Estimated
future benefit payments are as follows:
Fiscal 2024
$
i1.1
Fiscal 2025
$
i1.1
Fiscal
2026
$
i1.1
Fiscal 2027
$
i1.2
Fiscal
2028
$
i1.2
Fiscal 2029 - 2033
$
i6.3
/
i
Expected
contributions are as follows:
Fiscal 2024
$
i1.1
/
The
discount rate is set at the measurement date to reflect the yield of a portfolio of high quality, fixed income debt instruments. iThe discount rate used was as follows:
The Corporation
leases certain showrooms, office space, manufacturing facilities, distribution centers, retail stores, and equipment and determines if an arrangement is a lease at inception. ROU assets represent the right to use an underlying asset for the lease term and lease liabilities represent the obligation to make lease payments arising from the lease. Leases with an initial term of twelve months or less are not recorded on the Consolidated Balance Sheets; expense for these leases is recognized on a straight-line basis over the lease term. As of December 30, 2023, approximately i88
percent of the value of the Corporation’s leased assets is for real estate. The remaining i12 percent of the value of the Corporation’s leased assets is for equipment.
As the rates implicit in its leases cannot be readily determined, the Corporation estimates secured incremental borrowing rates based on the information available at the commencement date in determining the present value of lease payments. The Corporation uses separate discount rates for its United States operations and international operations.
Certain
real estate leases include ione or more options to renew with renewal terms that can extend the lease term from one to iten years. The exercise of lease renewal options is at the Corporation’s sole discretion. Certain real estate leases include an option to terminate the lease term earlier
than the specified lease term for a fee. These options are not included as part of the lease term unless they are reasonably certain to be exercised.
Many of the Corporation’s real estate lease agreements include periods of rent holidays and payments that escalate over the lease term by specified amounts. While not significant, certain equipment leases have variable lease payments based on machine hours and certain real estate leases have rate changes based on the Consumer Price Index. The Corporation’s lease agreements do not contain any material residual value guarantees.
The Corporation has lease agreements with lease and non-lease components, which are generally accounted for as a single lease component.
On occasion,
the Corporation rents or subleases certain real estate to third parties. This sublease portfolio consists mainly of operating leases for office furniture showrooms and is not significant.
i
Lease costs included in the Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income consisted of the following:
Maturity of lease liabilities as of December 30, 2023 is as follows:
Operating
Leases
Finance Leases
Total
2024
$
i30.8
$
i4.8
$
i35.6
2025
i29.5
i4.4
i33.9
2026
i23.4
i2.3
i25.6
2027
i16.9
i1.0
i17.9
2028
i10.0
i0.6
i10.6
Thereafter
i59.9
i0.1
i59.9
Total
lease payments
i170.4
i13.2
i183.6
Less:
Interest
(i40.5)
(i0.9)
(i41.4)
Present
value of lease liabilities
$
i129.9
$
i12.3
$
i142.2
//
The
increase in operating lease liabilities in the current year was primarily driven by the commencement of lease accounting for a new manufacturing facility in the second quarter of 2023, along with leases acquired as part of the Kimball International transaction.
As of December 30, 2023, there are no operating or finance lease options to extend lease terms that were reasonably certain of being exercised, and there are no material legally binding minimum lease payments for operating or finance leases signed but not yet commenced.
i
The
following table summarizes the weighted-average discount rates and weighted-average remaining lease terms for operating and finance leases as of December 30, 2023:
Weighted-Average Discount Rate
Weighted-Average Remaining Lease Term (years)
Operating leases
i6.2
%
i7.5
Finance
leases
i4.1
%
i3.2
/
The
following table summarizes cash paid for amounts included in the measurements of lease liabilities and the leased assets obtained in exchange for new operating and finance lease liabilities:
2023
2022
2021
Cash paid for amounts included in the measurements of lease liabilities
Operating
cash flows from operating / finance leases
$
i29.7
$
i22.6
$
i24.7
Financing
cash flows from finance leases
$
i4.2
$
i3.3
$
i2.7
Leased
assets obtained in exchange for new operating / finance lease liabilities
$
i62.3
$
i39.2
$
i49.3
Note
15. iGuarantees, Commitments, and Contingencies
The Corporation utilizes letters of credit and surety bonds in the amount of approximately $i39 million to back certain insurance
policies and payment obligations. Additionally, the Corporation periodically utilizes trade letters of credit and banker’s acceptances to guarantee certain payments to overseas suppliers; as of December 30, 2023, there were ino outstanding amounts related to these types of guarantees. The letters of credit, bonds, and banker’s acceptances reflect fair value as a condition of their underlying purpose and are subject to competitively determined fees.
The Corporation periodically guarantees
borrowing arrangements involving certain workplace furnishings dealers and third-party financial institutions. The terms of these guarantees, which range from less than ione year to ifive years, generally require the Corporation to make payments directly to the financial institution in the event that the dealer is unable to repay its borrowings in
accordance with the stated terms. The aggregate amount guaranteed by the Corporation in connection with these agreements is approximately $i5 million as of December 30, 2023. The Corporation has determined the likelihood of making future payments under these guarantees is not probable and therefore no liability has been accrued.
The Corporation has contingent liabilities which have arisen
in the ordinary course of its business, including liabilities relating to pending litigation, environmental remediation, taxes, and other claims. It is the Corporation’s opinion, after consultation with legal counsel, that liabilities, if any, resulting from these matters are not expected to have a material adverse effect on the Corporation’s financial condition, cash flows, or on the Corporation’s quarterly or annual operating results when resolved in a future period.
Note 16. iReportable
Segment Information
i
Management views the Corporation as itwo reportable segments based on industries: workplace furnishings and residential building products.
The
aggregated workplace furnishings segment, which includes the newly acquired Kimball International business, manufactures and markets a broad line of commercial office furniture which includes panel-based and freestanding furniture systems, seating, storage, benching, tables, architectural products, social collaborative items, ancillary products, and hospitality products. The residential building products segment manufactures and markets a full array of gas, wood, electric, and pellet-fueled fireplaces, inserts, stoves, facings, outdoor fire pits and fire tables, and accessories.
For purposes of segment reporting, intercompany sales between segments are not material, and operating profit is income before income taxes exclusive of certain unallocated corporate expenses. These unallocated general corporate expenses include the net costs of the Corporation’s corporate operations. Management
views interest income and expense as corporate financing costs and not as a reportable segment cost. In addition, management applies an effective income tax rate to its consolidated income before income taxes so income taxes are not reported or viewed internally on a segment basis. Identifiable assets by segment are those assets applicable to the respective industry segments. Corporate assets consist principally of cash and cash equivalents, short-term investments, long-term investments, IT infrastructure, and corporate office real estate and related equipment.
No geographic information for revenues from external customers or for long-lived assets is disclosed since the Corporation’s primary market and capital investments are concentrated in the United States.
Reportable segment data reconciled to the Corporation’s consolidated financial statements was as follows:
2023
2022
2021
Net
Sales:
Workplace furnishings
$
i1,740.3
$
i1,486.2
$
i1,434.0
Residential
building products
i693.7
i875.6
i750.4
Total
$
i2,434.0
$
i2,361.8
$
i2,184.4
Income
(Loss) Before Income Taxes:
Workplace furnishings
$
i68.6
$
i3.4
$
(i0.5)
Residential
building products
i116.6
i158.7
i141.9
General
corporate
(i94.9)
(i57.3)
(i55.9)
Gain
on sale of subsidiary
i—
i50.4
i—
Operating
income
i90.3
i155.2
i85.4
Interest
expense, net
i25.5
i8.8
i7.2
Total
$
i64.8
$
i146.4
$
i78.3
Depreciation
and Amortization Expense:
Workplace furnishings
$
i59.5
$
i45.7
$
i47.8
Residential
building products
i13.7
i12.6
i10.0
General
corporate
i21.6
i25.9
i25.3
Total
$
i94.9
$
i84.2
$
i83.1
Capital
Expenditures (including capitalized software):
Workplace furnishings
$
i62.7
$
i40.4
$
i34.8
Residential
building products
i12.6
i16.2
i16.1
General
corporate
i3.7
i11.7
i15.6
Total
$
i79.1
$
i68.4
$
i66.5
Identifiable
Assets:
Workplace furnishings
$
i1,311.4
$
i761.5
$
i809.0
Residential
building products
i467.1
i493.0
i479.5
General
corporate
i150.3
i160.0
i209.5
Total
$
i1,928.8
$
i1,414.5
$
i1,497.9
/
Note
17. iRestructuring and Impairment
Restructuring costs relate to exit costs in connection with the Poppin divestiture and the closure of a small workplace furnishings eCommerce brand, as well as start-up costs at a manufacturing facility in Mexico. Long-lived asset charges relate to asset disposals in connection with closures in the current and prior year. Goodwill and intangible asset impairments were incurred at small workplace furnishings brands in the current and prior years. The corporate charges primarily consist of impairments
of equity investments in private entities.
Restructuring
and impairment charges were as follows:
Classification
2023
2022
2021
Workplace Furnishings
Inventory
valuation
Cost of sales
$
(i0.3)
$
i8.1
$
i7.4
Facility
set-up costs
Cost of sales
i1.2
i0.7
i0.2
Long-lived
asset charges
Restructuring and impairment charges
i2.3
i5.2
i—
Exit
costs
Restructuring and impairment charges
i9.2
i0.5
i0.2
Goodwill
and intangible asset impairment
Restructuring and impairment charges
i31.0
i—
i5.8
General
Corporate
Exit costs
Restructuring and impairment charges
i0.8
i—
i0.3
Investment
impairment
Restructuring and impairment charges
i1.5
i1.0
i—
Total
$
i45.7
$
i15.5
$
i14.0
/
As
of December 30, 2023 and December 31, 2022, accrued restructuring expenses of $i1.8 million and $i0.5 million, respectively, were included in "Accounts payable and accrued expense" in
the Consolidated Balance Sheets. Cash payments made in 2023, which primarily related to severance and other exit costs as well as facility set-up costs, totaled $i9.8 million; payments made in 2022 and 2021 primarily relate to business simplification and capacity expansion actions and were not significant. Future costs connected to current initiatives are not expected to be material.
Note
18. iSupplier Finance Program
One of the Corporation’s third-party financial institutions offers a supply chain finance ("SCF") program by which it allows eligible Corporation suppliers the opportunity to sell their trade receivables due from the Corporation. Supplier participation in the SCF program is voluntary and requires an agreement between the supplier and the financial institution, to which the Corporation is not a party. Any sales of supplier receivables to the financial institution are at the sole discretion of the supplier and are priced at a rate that
leverages the Corporation’s credit rating and thus may be more beneficial to the supplier. The Corporation’s responsibility is limited to confirming to the financial institution the invoices of participating suppliers that are valid for payment under the SCF program and making payment on the terms originally negotiated with each supplier, regardless of whether the supplier sells its receivables to the financial institution.
In the rollforward table below, new invoices confirmed represent the invoices which have been confirmed by the Corporation to the financial institution as valid for payment under the SCF program, while confirmed invoices paid represent payments made to the financial institution by the Corporation based on the original invoice terms. The balance at the end of the period represents invoices which have been confirmed as valid to the financial institution under the terms
of the SCF program, but in which the Corporation has not yet made payment. This SCF program payment obligation due by the Corporation to the financial institution is recorded in "Accounts payable and accrued expenses" in the Consolidated Balance Sheets. iThe Corporation’s payments to the financial institution to settle obligations related to suppliers that elected to participate in the SCF program are reflected in cash flows from operating activities in the Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows.
2023
Balance
at beginning of period
$
i27.4
Impact of business combination
i0.9
New
invoices confirmed during the period
i131.0
Confirmed invoices paid during the period
(i130.9)
Balance
at end of period
$
i28.4
81
Dates Referenced Herein and Documents Incorporated by Reference