Eaton (ETN) 10-Q2022 Q3 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 2021 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.

Eaton's reporting currency is United States Dollars (USD). The functional currency for most subsidiaries is their local currency. Financial statements for these subsidiaries are translated at exchange rates in effect at the balance sheet date as to assets and liabilities and weighted-average exchange rates as to revenues and expenses. The resulting translation adjustments are recognized in Accumulated other comprehensive loss. For subsidiaries operating in highly inflationary economies, non-monetary assets and liabilities such as inventory and property, plant and equipment and their related expenses are remeasured at historical exchange rates, while monetary assets and liabilities are remeasured at exchange rates in effect at the balance sheet date. Remeasurement adjustments for these subsidiaries are recognized in income.

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

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 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. During the measurement period which ended in March 2022, opening balance sheet adjustments were made to finalize Eaton's fair value estimates based on the final valuations received, which are summarized in the table below. The 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 $96 million on sales of $283 million, from the date of acquisition through September 30, 2021.

On June 1, 2021, Eaton acquired Mission Systems for $2.80 billion, net of cash received. Mission Systems is a leading manufacturer of air-to-air refueling systems, environmental systems, and actuation primarily for defense markets. Mission Systems is reported within the Aerospace business segment.

Eaton's 2021 Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements include Mission Systems’ results of operations, including segment operating profit of $65 million on sales of $252 million, from the date of acquisition through September 30, 2021.

On August 2, 2021, Eaton completed the sale of the Hydraulics business to Danfoss A/S. As a result of the sale, the Company received $3.1 billion, net of cash sold, and recognized a pre-tax gain of $617 million in 2021. According to the terms of the sales agreement, the Company finalized negotiations of post-closing adjustments with Danfoss A/S during the first quarter of 2022. As a result of these negotiations, the Company recognized an additional pre-tax gain of $24 million. In the second quarter of 2022, Eaton received cash of $22 million from Danfoss A/S to fully settle all post-closing adjustments. The business had sales of $1.3 billion in 2021 through the date of the sale.

On January 5, 2022, Eaton acquired Royal Power Solutions for $612 million, net of cash received. Royal Power Solutions is a U.S. based manufacturer of high-precision electrical connectivity components used in electric vehicle, energy management, industrial and mobility markets. Royal Power Solutions is reported within the eMobility business segment.

Eaton's 2022 Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements include Royal Power Solutions' results of operations, including segment operating profit of $17 million on sales of $120 million, from the date of acquisition through September 30, 2022.

During the second quarter of 2022, in light of the ongoing war with Ukraine, the Company decided to exit its business operations in Russia and recorded charges of $29 million presented in Other expense (income) - net on the Consolidated Statements of Income. The charges consisted primarily of write-downs of accounts receivable, inventory and other assets, and accruals for severance.

On July 1, 2022, Eaton acquired a 50 percent stake in Jiangsu Huineng Electric Co., Ltd’s circuit breaker business, which manufactures and markets low-voltage circuit breakers in China. Eaton accounts for this investment on the equity method of accounting and is reported within the Electrical Global business segment.

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. Control is transferred when the customer has the ability to direct the use of and obtain benefits from the goods or services. Sales are measured at the amount of consideration the Company expects to be paid in exchange for these products or services.

The following table provides disaggregated sales by lines of businesses, geographic destination, market channel or end market, as applicable, for the Company's operating segments:

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 receivable from customers were $3,394 million and $2,896 million at September 30, 2022 and December 31, 2021, 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 $231 million and $187 million at September 30, 2022 and December 31, 2021, respectively, and are recorded in Prepaid expenses and other current assets. The increase in unbilled receivables reflects higher revenue recognized from increased business activity in 2022.

Changes in the deferred revenue liabilities are as follows:

A significant portion of open orders placed with Eaton are by original equipment manufacturers or distributors. These open orders are not considered firm as they have been historically subject to releases by customers. In measuring backlog of unsatisfied or partially satisfied obligations, only the amount of orders to which customers are firmly committed are included. Using this criterion, total backlog at September 30, 2022 was approximately $11.0 billion. At September 30, 2022, approximately 82% of this backlog is targeted for delivery to customers in the next twelve months and the rest thereafter.

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-off 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 $43 million and $42 million at September 30, 2022 and December 31, 2021, respectively. 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 are as follows:

Changes in the carrying amount of goodwill by segment are as follows:

On August 23, 2022, a subsidiary of Eaton issued sustainability-linked senior notes (2022 Sustainability-Linked Notes) and senior notes (2022 Senior Notes, and collectively referred to as the Notes). The 2022 Sustainability-Linked Notes have a face amount of $1.3 billion, mature in 2033, and pay interest semi-annually at an initial interest rate of 4.15% per annum. Beginning in September 2028, the interest rate payable on the 2022 Sustainability-Linked Notes will be increased by an additional 25 basis points per annum if the Scope 1 and Scope 2 greenhouse gas emissions sustainability performance target is not met. The 2022 Senior Notes have a face amount of $700 million, mature in 2052, and pay interest semi-annually at 4.70% per annum. The issuer received proceeds totaling $1.98 billion from the issuance of the Notes, net of financing costs and discounts. The Notes are fully and unconditionally guaranteed on an unsubordinated, unsecured basis by Eaton and certain of its direct and indirect subsidiaries. The Notes contain customary optional redemption and par call provisions. The Notes also contain a change of control provision which requires the issuer to make an offer to purchase all or any part of the 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 Notes. The Notes are subject to customary non-financial covenants.

On October 3, 2022, the Company replaced its existing $2,000 million five-year revolving credit facility with a new $2,500 million five-year revolving credit facility that will expire on October 1, 2027. On the same date, the Company replaced its existing $500 million 364-day revolving credit facility with a new $500 million 364-day revolving credit facility that will expire on October 2, 2023. The revolving credit facilities totaling $3,000 million 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. In October 2022, the Company also upsized its commercial paper program to $3,000 million. There were no borrowings outstanding under Eaton’s revolving credit facilities at September 30, 2022. The Company had access to the commercial paper markets through its $3,000 million commercial paper program, of which $878 million was outstanding on September 30, 2022.

The components of retirement benefits expense (income) are as follows:

Eaton is subject to a broad range of claims, administrative and legal proceedings such as lawsuits that relate to contractual allegations and indemnity claims, 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 Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements.

The effective income tax rate for the third quarter of 2022 was expense of 15.5% compared to expense of 43.4% for the third quarter of 2021. The effective income tax rate for the first nine months of 2022 was expense of 15.4% compared to expense of 29.8% for the first nine months of 2021. The decrease in the effective tax rate in the third quarter and first nine months of 2022 was primarily due to the one-time tax impact on the gain from the sale of the Hydraulics business in the third quarter of 2021 discussed in Note 2.

The Company has two Brazilian tax cases primarily relating to the amortization of certain goodwill generated from the acquisition of third-party businesses and corporate reorganizations. One case involves tax years 2005-2008 (Case 1), and the other involves tax years 2009-2012 (Case 2). Case 2 is proceeding on a more accelerated timeline than Case 1. For Case 2, the Company received a tax assessment in 2014 that included interest and penalties. In November 2019, the Company received an unfavorable result at the final tax administrative appeals level, resulting in an alleged tax deficiency of $26 million plus $98 million of interest and penalties (translated at the September 30, 2022 exchange rate). The Company is challenging this assessment in the judicial system and, on April 18, 2022, received an unfavorable decision at the first judicial level. On April 27, 2022, the Company filed a motion for clarification relating to that decision. On May 20, 2022, the court largely upheld its prior decision without further clarification. On June 9, 2022, the Company filed its notice of appeal to the second level court. The Company intends to continue its challenge of this assessment in the judicial system.

As previously disclosed for Case 1, the Company received a separate tax assessment alleging a tax deficiency of $31 million plus $106 million of interest and penalties (translated at the September 30, 2022 exchange rate), which the Company is challenging in the judicial system. This case is still pending resolution at the first judicial level.

Both cases are expected to take several years to resolve through the Brazilian judicial system and require provision of certain assets as security for the alleged deficiencies. As of September 30, 2022, the Company pledged Brazilian real estate assets with net book value of $19 million and provided additional security in the form of bank secured bonds and insurance bonds totaling $110 million and a cash deposit of $18 million (translated at the September 30, 2022 exchange rate).

In 2011, the United States Internal Revenue Service (IRS) issued a Statutory Notice of Deficiency for the Company’s United States subsidiaries (Eaton US) for the 2005 and 2006 tax years (the 2005-06 Notice), which Eaton US contested in United States Tax Court. The 2005-06 Notice proposed assessments of $75 million in additional taxes plus $52 million 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 APA pricing methodology for 2011 through the current reporting period. Immediately prior to the 2005-06 Notice being issued, the IRS sent a letter stating that it was retrospectively canceling the APAs. The case in Tax Court involved whether the IRS improperly cancelled the APAs. On July 26, 2017, the 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. In July 2022, the Sixth Circuit panel heard oral arguments, and on August 25, 2022, issued a ruling in favor of Eaton US, confirming that the IRS must abide by the terms of the APAs. The Sixth Circuit’s ruling did not have a material impact on the Company’s consolidated financial statements. The IRS has until November 23, 2022 to file a petition with the U.S. Supreme Court, if they elect to do so.

In 2014, the IRS issued a Statutory Notice of Deficiency for Eaton US for the 2007 through 2010 tax years (the 2007-10 Notice), which Eaton US contested in Tax Court. The 2007-10 Notice proposed assessments of $190 million in additional taxes plus $72 million in penalties, net of agreed credits and deductions. The proposed assessments pertain to: (i) the same transfer pricing issues and APA for which the Tax Court and Sixth Circuit have issued rulings as noted above; and (ii) the separate proposed assessment noted below. The Company believes that the Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals ruling discussed above for tax years 2005-2006 should also resolve the APA cancellation issue for the 2007-2010 years. Eaton and the IRS have recognized that the ruling on the enforceability of the APA did not address a secondary issue regarding the transfer pricing for a certain royalty paid from 2006-2010. Eaton US reported a consistent royalty rate for 2006-2010. The IRS has agreed to the royalty rate as reported by Eaton US in 2006. Although the IRS has not proposed an alternative rate, it has not agreed to apply the same royalty rate in the 2007-2010 years.

The 2007-10 Notice also includes a separate proposed assessment involving the recognition of income for several of Eaton US’s controlled foreign corporations. The Company believes that the proposed assessment is without merit and contested the matter in Tax Court. In October 2017, Eaton and the IRS both moved for partial summary judgment on this issue. On February 25, 2019, the Tax Court granted the IRS’s motion for partial summary judgment and denied Eaton’s. The Company intends to appeal the Tax Court’s partial summary judgment decision to the United States Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals. The total potential impact of the Tax Court's partial summary judgment decision on the controlled foreign corporation income recognition issue is not estimable until all matters in the open tax years have been resolved.

The Company believes that the final resolution of the Brazil assessments and remaining U.S. assessments for Tax Years 2007-2010 discussed above will not have a material impact on its condensed consolidated financial statements. The ultimate outcome of these matters cannot be predicted with certainty given the complex nature of tax controversies. Should the ultimate outcome of any one of these matters deviate from our reasonable expectations, they may have a material adverse impact on the Company’s condensed consolidated financial statements. However, Eaton believes that its interpretations of tax laws and application of tax laws to its facts are correct, and that its accrual of unrecognized income tax benefits is appropriate with respect to these matters.

On February 27, 2019, the Board of Directors adopted a share repurchase program for share repurchases up to $5.0 billion of ordinary shares (2019 Program). On February 23, 2022, the Board renewed the 2019 Program by providing authority for up to $5.0 billion in repurchases to be made during the three-year period commencing on that date (2022 Program). Under the 2022 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 nine months ended September 30, 2022, 0.7 million and 2.0 million ordinary shares, respectively, were repurchased under the 2022 program in the open market at a total cost of $100 million and $286 million, respectively. During the three and nine months ended September 30, 2021, 0.3 million and 0.9 million ordinary shares, respectively, were repurchased under the 2019 Program in the open market at a total cost of $46 million and $122 million, respectively.

The changes in Shareholders’ equity are as follows: