Eaton (ETN) 10-Q2021 Q2 Quarterly report

The accompanying unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements of Eaton Corporation plc (Eaton or the Company) have been prepared in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles for interim financial information, the instructions to Form 10-Q and Article 10 of Regulation S-X. Accordingly, they do not include all of the information and footnotes required by United States generally accepted accounting principles (US GAAP) for complete financial statements. However, in the opinion of management, all adjustments (consisting of normal recurring accruals) have been made that are necessary for a fair presentation of the condensed consolidated financial statements for the interim periods.

This Form 10-Q should be read in conjunction with the consolidated financial statements and related notes included in Eaton’s 2020 Form 10-K. The interim period results are not necessarily indicative of the results to be expected for the full year. Management has evaluated subsequent events through the date this Form 10-Q was filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

Certain prior year amounts have been reclassified to conform to the current year presentation.

On February 25, 2020, Eaton acquired Power Distribution, Inc. a leading supplier of mission critical power distribution, static switching, and power monitoring equipment and services for data centers and industrial and commercial customers. The company is headquartered in Richmond, Virginia, and had 2019 sales of $125. Power Distribution, Inc. is reported within the Electrical Americas business segment.

On March 2, 2020, Eaton sold its Lighting business to Signify N.V. for a cash purchase price of $1.4 billion. As a result of the sale, the Company recognized a pre-tax gain of $221 in 2020. The Lighting business, which had sales of $1.6 billion in 2019 as part of the Electrical Americas business segment, served customers in commercial, industrial, residential, and municipal markets.

On March 17, 2021, Eaton acquired Tripp Lite for $1.65 billion, net of cash received. Tripp Lite is a leading supplier of power quality products and connectivity solutions including single-phase uninterruptible power supply systems, rack power distribution units, surge protectors, and enclosures for data centers, industrial, medical, and communications markets in the Americas. Tripp Lite had sales of over $400 in 2020. Tripp Lite is reported within the Electrical Americas business segment.

The acquisition of Tripp Lite has been accounted for using the acquisition method of accounting which requires the assets acquired and liabilities assumed be recognized at their respective fair values on the acquisition date. The table below summarizes the preliminary estimated fair values of the assets acquired and liabilities assumed on the acquisition date, as well as measurement period adjustments recorded as of June 30, 2021. These preliminary estimates will continue to be revised during the measurement period as third-party valuations are received and finalized, further information becomes available and additional analyses are performed, and these differences could have a material impact on Eaton's preliminary purchase price allocation. The current measurement period adjustments did not have a material impact to the Consolidated Statements of Income.

Eaton's 2021 Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements include Tripp Lite’s results of operations, including segment operating profit of $53 on sales of $151, from the date of acquisition through June 30, 2021.

On March 22, 2021, Eaton acquired Green Motion SA, a leading designer and manufacturer of electric vehicle charging hardware and related software based in Switzerland. Green Motion SA was acquired for $105, including $49 of cash paid at closing and $56 of estimated fair value of contingent future consideration based on 2023 and 2024 revenue performance. The fair value of contingent consideration liabilities is estimated by discounting contingent payments expected to be made, and may increase or decrease based on changes in revenue estimates and discount rates, with a maximum possible undiscounted value of $109. Green Motion SA is reported within the Electrical Global business segment.

On March 29, 2021, Eaton acquired a 50 percent stake in HuanYu High Tech, a subsidiary of HuanYu Group that manufactures and markets low-voltage circuit breakers and contactors in China, and throughout the Asia-Pacific region. HuanYu High Tech had 2019 sales of $106 and has production operations in Wenzhou, China. Eaton accounts for this investment on the equity method of accounting and is reported within the Electrical Global business segment.

On June 1, 2021, Eaton acquired Cobham Mission Systems (CMS) for $2.80 billion, net of cash received. CMS is a leading manufacturer of air-to-air refueling systems, environmental systems, and actuation primarily for defense markets. CMS had sales of over $700 in 2020. CMS is reported within the Aerospace business segment.

The acquisition of CMS has been accounted for using the acquisition method of accounting which requires the assets acquired and liabilities assumed be recognized at their respective fair values on the acquisition date. The table below summarizes the preliminary estimated fair values of the assets acquired and liabilities assumed on the acquisition date. These preliminary estimates will continue to be revised during the measurement period as third-party valuations are received and finalized, further information becomes available and additional analyses are performed, and these differences could have a material impact on Eaton's preliminary purchase price allocation.

Eaton's 2021 Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements include CMS’s results of operations, including segment operating profit of $19 on sales of $72, from the date of acquisition through June 30, 2021.

On June 25, 2021, Eaton acquired a 50 percent stake in Jiangsu YiNeng Electric's busway business, which manufactures and markets busway products in China and had sales of $60 in 2020. Eaton accounts for this investment on the equity method of accounting and is reported within the Electrical Global business segment.

On January 21, 2020, Eaton entered into an agreement to sell its Hydraulics business to Danfoss A/S, a Danish industrial company, for $3.3 billion. Eaton’s Hydraulics business is a global leader in hydraulics components, systems, and services for industrial and mobile equipment. The business had sales of $1.8 billion in 2020.

During the first quarter of 2020, the Company determined the Hydraulics business met the criteria to be classified as held for sale. Therefore, assets and liabilities of the business have been presented as held for sale in the Consolidated Balance Sheets as of December 31, 2020 and June 30, 2021. Assets and liabilities classified as held for sale are measured at the lower of carrying value or fair value less costs to sell. No write-down has been required as fair value of the Hydraulics business assets less the costs to sell exceed their respective carrying values. Depreciation and amortization expense is not recorded for the period in which Other long-lived assets are classified as held for sale.

The Company used the relative fair value method to allocate goodwill to the Hydraulics business. The fair value of the Hydraulics business was estimated based on a combination of the price paid to Eaton by Danfoss A/S and a discounted cash flow model. The model includes estimates of future cash flows, future growth rates, terminal value amounts, and the applicable weighted-average cost of capital used to discount those estimated cash flows. The weighted-average cost of capital is an estimate of the overall after-tax rate of return required by equity and debt market holders of a business enterprise. These analyses require the exercise of judgments, including judgments about appropriate discount rates, perpetual growth rates, revenue growth, and margin assumptions.

The assets and liabilities classified as held for sale for the Hydraulics business on the June 30, 2021 and December 31, 2020 Consolidated Balance Sheets are as follows:

Sales are recognized when obligations under the terms of the contract are satisfied and control of promised goods or services have transferred to our customers. Sales are measured at the amount of consideration the Company expects to be paid in exchange for these products or services.

The Company’s 6 operating segments and the following tables disaggregate sales by lines of businesses, geographic destination, market channel or end market.

The timing of revenue recognition, billings and cash collections results in billed accounts receivable, unbilled receivables (revenue recognized exceeds amount billed to the customer), and deferred revenue (advance payments and billings in excess of revenue recognized). Accounts receivables from customers were $2,958 and $2,539 at June 30, 2021 and December 31, 2020, respectively. Amounts are billed as work progresses in accordance with agreed-upon contractual terms, either at periodic intervals or upon achievement of contractual milestones. These assets and liabilities are reported on the Consolidated Balance Sheets on a contract-by-contract basis at the end of each reporting period. Unbilled receivables were $161 and $90 at June 30, 2021 and December 31, 2020, respectively, and are recorded in Prepaid expenses and other current assets. The increase in unbilled receivables reflects higher revenue recognized and not yet billed during the quarter, and unbilled receivables from the acquisition of Cobham Mission Systems.

Changes in the deferred revenue liabilities are as follows:

Receivables are exposed to credit risk based on the customers’ ability to pay which is influenced by, among other factors, their financial liquidity position. Eaton’s receivables are generally short-term in nature with a majority outstanding less than 90 days.

Eaton performs ongoing credit evaluation of its customers and maintains sufficient allowances for potential credit losses. The Company evaluates the collectability of its receivables based on the length of time the receivable is past due, and any anticipated future write-offs based on historic experience adjusted for market conditions. The Company’s segments, supported by our global credit department, perform the credit evaluation and monitoring process to estimate and manage credit risk. The process includes an evaluation of credit losses for both the overall segment receivable and specific customer balances. The process also includes review of customer financial information and credit ratings, approval and monitoring of customer credit limits, and an assessment of market conditions. The Company may also require prepayment from customers to mitigate credit risk. Receivable balances are written off against an allowance for credit losses after a final determination of collectability has been made.

Accounts receivable are net of an allowance for credit losses of $52 and $48 at June 30, 2021 and December 31, 2020. The change in the allowance for credit losses includes expense and net write-offs, none of which are significant.

Inventory is carried at lower of cost or net realizable value. The components of inventory follow:

Change in the carrying amount of goodwill by segment follows:

On March 8, 2021, a subsidiary of Eaton issued Euro denominated notes (2021 Euro Notes) with a face value of €1,500 ($1,798), in accordance with Regulation S promulgated under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended. The 2021 Euro Notes are comprised of 2 tranches of €900 and €600, which mature in 2026 and 2030, respectively, with interest payable annually at a respective rate of 0.128% and 0.577%. The issuer received proceeds totaling €1,494 ($1,790) from the issuance, net of financing costs and discounts. The senior 2021 Euro Notes are fully and unconditionally guaranteed on an unsubordinated, unsecured basis by Eaton and certain of its direct and indirect subsidiaries. The 2021 Euro Notes contain customary optional redemption and par call provisions. The 2021 Euro Notes also contain a change of control provision which requires the Company to make an offer to purchase all or any part of the 2021 Euro Notes at a purchase price of 101% of the principal amount plus accrued and unpaid interest. The capitalized deferred financing fees are amortized in Interest expense-net over the respective terms of the 2021 Euro Notes. The 2021 Euro Notes are subject to customary non-financial covenants.

On May 17, 2021, the Company entered into a $2,500, 364-day revolving credit facility. The Company also maintains a $750 five-year revolving credit facility that will expire November 17, 2022, a $500 four-year revolving credit facility that will expire November 7, 2023, and a $750 five-year revolving credit facility that will expire November 7, 2024. The revolving credit facilities totaling $4,500 are used to support commercial paper borrowings and are fully and unconditionally guaranteed by Eaton and certain of its direct and indirect subsidiaries on an unsubordinated, unsecured basis. There were 0 borrowings outstanding under Eaton’s revolving credit facilities at June 30, 2021. The Company maintains access to the commercial paper markets through a $4,500 commercial paper program, of which $3,372 was outstanding on June 30, 2021, including funds to finance the acquisition of Cobham Mission Systems discussed in Note 2.

The components of retirement benefits expense (income) follow:

During the second quarter of 2021, the Company recognized settlement losses of $13 and remeasured certain pension plans as a result of lump-sum distributions exceeding the sum of service and interest costs for the year. The remeasurement resulted in a decrease in pension liabilities and a corresponding decrease in other comprehensive loss of $181.

The components of retirement benefits expense (income) other than service costs are included in Other (income) expense - net.

Eaton is subject to a broad range of claims, administrative and legal proceedings such as lawsuits that relate to contractual allegations, tax audits, patent infringement, personal injuries, antitrust matters, and employment-related matters. Eaton is also subject to asbestos claims from historic products which may have contained asbestos. Insurance may cover some of the costs associated with these claims and proceedings. Although it is not possible to predict with certainty the outcome or cost of these matters, the Company believes they will not have a material adverse effect on the consolidated financial statements.

The effective income tax rate for the second quarter of 2021 was expense of 18.4% compared to a tax benefit of 15.1% for the second quarter of 2020. The increase in the effective tax rate in the second quarter of 2021 was primarily due to the tax impact of the restructuring charges in 2020 described in Note 14. The effective income tax rate for the first six months of 2021 was expense of 16.7% compared to expense of 26.4% for the first six months of 2020. The decrease in the effective tax rate in the first six months of 2021 was primarily due to the tax impact on the gain from the sale of the Lighting business in 2020 described in Note 2.

In 2011, the United States Internal Revenue Service (“IRS”) issued a Statutory Notice of Deficiency (the “2011 Notice”) for the Company’s United States subsidiaries (“Eaton US”) for the 2005 and 2006 tax years. The 2011 Notice proposed assessments of $75 in additional taxes plus $52 in penalties related primarily to transfer pricing adjustments for products manufactured in the Company's facilities in Puerto Rico and the Dominican Republic and sold to affiliated companies located in the United States. Eaton US has set its transfer prices for products sold between these affiliates at the same prices that Eaton US sells such products to third parties as required by two successive Advance Pricing Agreements (APAs) Eaton US entered into with the IRS that governed the 2005-2010 tax years. Eaton US has continued to apply the arms-length transfer pricing methodology for 2011 through the current reporting period. Immediately prior to the 2011 Notice being issued, the IRS sent a letter stating that it was retrospectively canceling the APAs. Eaton US contested the proposed assessments in United States Tax Court. The case involved both whether the APAs should be enforced and, if not, the appropriate transfer pricing methodology. On July 26, 2017, the United States Tax Court issued a ruling in which it agreed with Eaton US that the IRS must abide by the terms of the APAs for the tax years 2005-2006. The Tax Court’s ruling on the APAs did not have a material impact on Eaton’s consolidated financial statements. On May 24, 2021, the IRS filed a notice to appeal the Tax Court’s ruling to the United States Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals. The Company believes it will be successful on appeal and does not expect the final resolution to have a material impact on its consolidated financial statements.

During the second quarter of 2021, the IRS completed its examination of the consolidated income tax returns of Eaton US for tax years 2014 through 2016 and has proposed a number of adjustments primarily related to certain transfer pricing tax positions, including adjustments similar to those proposed and previously disclosed for prior audit periods for products manufactured in the Company’s facilities in Puerto Rico and the Dominican Republic and sold to affiliated companies located in the U.S., and adjustments related to intercompany financing. The Company intends to pursue its administrative appeals alternatives. The Company believes that final resolution of the proposed adjustments will not have a material impact on its consolidated financial statements.

On February 27, 2019, the Board of Directors adopted a share repurchase program for share repurchases up to $5,000 of ordinary shares (2019 Program). Under the 2019 Program, the ordinary shares are expected to be repurchased over time, depending on market conditions, the market price of ordinary shares, capital levels, and other considerations. During the three and six months ended June 30, 2021, 0.1 million and 0.6 million ordinary shares, respectively, were repurchased under the 2019 Program in the open market at a total cost of $17 and $76, respectively. During the three months ended June 30, 2020, no ordinary shares were repurchased. During the six months ended June 30, 2020, 14.2 million ordinary shares were repurchased under the 2019 Program in the open market at a total cost of $1,300.

The changes in Shareholders’ equity follow:

The changes in Accumulated other comprehensive loss follow:

A summary of the calculation of net income per share attributable to Eaton ordinary shareholders follows: