Astronics (ATRO) 10-K2021 FY Annual report

Information included or incorporated by reference in this report that does not consist of historical facts, including statements accompanied by or containing words such as “may,” “will,” “should,” “believes,” “expects,” “expected,” “intends,” “plans,” “projects,” “approximate,” “estimates,” “predicts,” “potential,” “outlook,” “forecast,” “anticipates,” “presume” and “assume,” are forward-looking statements. Such forward-looking statements are made pursuant to the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These statements are not guarantees of future performance and are subject to several factors, risks and uncertainties, the impact or occurrence of which could cause actual results to differ materially from the expected results described in the forward-looking statements. Certain of these factors, risks and uncertainties are discussed in the sections of this report entitled “Risk Factors” and “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations.” New factors, risks and uncertainties may emerge from time to time that may affect the forward-looking statements made herein. Given these factors, risks and uncertainties, investors should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements as predictive of future results. We disclaim any obligation to update the forward-looking statements made in this report.

Astronics Corporation (“Astronics” or the “Company”) is a leading provider of advanced technologies to the global aerospace, defense and other mission-critical industries. Our products and services include advanced, high-performance electrical power generation, distribution and seat motion systems, lighting and safety systems, avionics products, systems and certification, aircraft structures and automated test systems.

We have principal operations in the United States (“U.S.”), Canada, France and England, as well as engineering offices in the Ukraine and India.

The spread of the COVID-19 outbreak has disrupted businesses on a global scale. On March 11, 2020, the World Health Organization classified the outbreak as a pandemic. COVID-19 has caused disruption and volatility in the global capital markets, and has authored an economic slowdown in the Aerospace industry in particular. As we entered this crisis, the Company established two clear priorities: first and foremost the health and safety of our employees and their families, and second, continuing to meet the needs of our customers and secure the financial well-being of the Company. Substantially all of our operations and production activities have, to-date, remained operational. In response to the COVID-19 crisis, we implemented changes in our work practices to maintain a safe working environment for production employees at our facilities, while enabling other employees to productively work from home. As we bring employees back to the workplace and return to in-person meetings with customers and suppliers, we have adopted a flexible work approach. This allows for a smooth transition from COVID-19 conditions to a future that better meets the needs of the business and the interests of our employees. In terms of maintaining our financial health and liquidity, in early 2020, we implemented workforce reduction activities to align capacity with expected demand. We also implemented significant cost conservation measures, and we continue to closely monitor spending priorities. As economic activity recovers, we continue to monitor the situation, to assess further possible implications on our operations, supply chain, liquidity, cash flow and customer orders, and to take actions in an effort to mitigate adverse consequences. While the industry is seeing some improvement on rising vaccination rates and easing travel restrictions, the ultimate impact of COVID-19 on our business, results of operations, financial condition and cash flows is dependent on future developments, including the duration of the pandemic, vaccination rates and efficacy and the related length of impact on the global economy, supply chain and the aerospace industry, which are uncertain and cannot be predicted at this time. We believe that our existing financial arrangements are sufficient to meet our operating needs.

See Part I, Item 1A, Risk Factors, for an additional discussion of risk related to supply chain disruptions and the recent government vaccine mandates.

The Company qualified for government subsidies from the Canadian and French governments as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic’s impact on our foreign operations. The Canadian and French subsidies are income-based grants intended to reimburse the Company for certain employee wages. The grants are recognized as income over the periods in which the Company recognizes as expenses the costs the grants are intended to defray.

In September 2021 the Company was awarded a grant of up to $14.7 million from the U.S. Department of Transportation (“USDOT”) under the Aviation Manufacturing Jobs Protection Program (“AMJP”). The Company received $7.4 million under the grant in 2021, and expects to receive the remainder in 2022. The receipt of the full award is primarily conditioned upon the Company committing to not furlough, lay off or reduce the compensation levels of a defined group of employees during the six-month period of performance between September 2021 and March 2022. The grant benefit is being recognized ratably over the six-month performance period as a reduction to cost of products sold in proportion to the compensation expense that the award is intended to defray. During the year ended December 31, 2021, the Company recognized $8.7 million of the award.

For additional details regarding the subsidies and grants, and their impact on consolidated results of operations and financial position, see Note 1 to the consolidated financial statements in Item 8 of this report.

On July 1, 2019, the Company acquired Freedom Communication Technologies, Inc. (“Freedom”) for $21.8 million, net of $0.6 million in cash acquired. Freedom is a leader in wireless communication testing, primarily for the civil land mobile radio market and is included in our Test Systems segment.

On October 4, 2019, the Company acquired mass transit and defense market test solution provider, Diagnosys Test Systems Limited, for $7.0 million in cash. Contingent purchase consideration (“earnout”), estimated at a fair value of $2.5 million at acquisition, was reduced to zero in 2021 based on actual and forecasted order levels. Diagnosys Inc. and its affiliates

(“Diagnosys”) is included in our Test Systems segment. Diagnosys is a developer and manufacturer of comprehensive automated test equipment providing test, support, and repair of high value electronics, electro-mechanical, pneumatic and printed circuit boards focused on the global mass transit and defense markets. The acquired business has operations in Westford, Massachusetts as well as Ferndown, England, and an engineering center of excellence in Bangalore, India.

On February 13, 2019, the Company completed a divestiture of its semiconductor test business within the Test Systems segment. The business was not core to the future of the Test Systems segment. The total proceeds of the divestiture amounted to $103.8 million. The Company recorded a pre-tax gain on the sale of $80.1 million in the first quarter of 2019. The Company recorded income tax expense relating to the gain of $19.7 million.

On July 12, 2019, the Company sold intellectual property and certain assets associated with its Airfield Lighting product line for $1.0 million in cash. The Airfield Lighting product line, part of the Aerospace segment, was not core to the business and represented less than 1% of revenue. The Company recorded a pre-tax loss on the sale of approximately $1.3 million.

On October 6, 2021, the Company sold one of its Aerospace facilities for $9.2 million. Net cash proceeds were approximately $8.8 million and a gain on sale of approximately $5.0 million was recorded.

Our Test Systems segment designs, develops, manufactures and maintains automated test systems that support the aerospace and defense, communications and mass transit industries as well as training and simulation devices for both commercial and military applications. In the Test Systems segment, Astronics’ products are sold to a global customer base including OEM's and prime government contractors for both electronics and military products. The nature of our Test Systems business is such that it pursues large, often multi-year, projects.

Sales by segment, geographic region, major customer and foreign operations are provided in Note 20 of Item 8, Financial Statements and Supplementary Data in this report.

We have historically had a significant concentration of business with two major customers; Panasonic Avionics Corporation (“Panasonic”) and The Boeing Company (“Boeing”). While sales to Panasonic accounted for less than 10% of sales in 2021, they accounted for 11.1% of sales in 2020, and 13.0% of sales in 2019. Sales to Boeing accounted for 10.0% of sales in 2021, 9.5% of sales in 2020, and 13.6% of sales in 2019. Sales to Panasonic and Boeing are primarily in the Aerospace segment.

Our strategy is to increase our value by developing technologies and capabilities either internally or through acquisition, and use those capabilities to provide innovative solutions to the aerospace and defense and other markets where our technology can be beneficial.

Liquidity is discussed in Part II, Item 7, Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations, in the Liquidity and Capital Resources section of this report.

We experience considerable competition in the market sectors we serve, principally with respect to product performance and price, from various competitors, many of which are substantially larger and have greater resources. Success in the markets we serve depends upon product innovation, customer support, responsiveness and cost management. We continue to invest in developing the technologies and engineering support critical to competing in our markets.

All U.S. government contracts, including subcontracts where the U.S. government is the ultimate customer, may be subject to termination at the election of the government. Our revenue stream relies on military spending. Approximately 18% of our 2021 consolidated sales were made to government-related markets.

Materials, supplies and components are purchased from numerous sources. We believe that the loss of any one source, although potentially disruptive in the short-term, would not materially affect our operations in the long-term. The COVID-19 pandemic has significantly disrupted the global supply chain for certain components. See further discussion within the Risk Factor discussion in Item 1A.

Our business is typically not seasonal.

At December 31, 2021, our consolidated backlog was $415.7 million. At December 31, 2020, our backlog was $283.4 million. The increase in backlog is driven primarily by recovering demand from our commercial aerospace and business jet customers, with increased OEM build rates and increased spending by commercial airlines on fleet improvements.

Backlog in the Aerospace segment was $334.7 million at December 31, 2021, of which $299.4 million is expected to be recognized as revenue in 2022. Backlog in the Test Systems segment was $81.0 million at December 31, 2021. The Test Systems segment expects to recognize $40.5 million of backlog as revenue in 2022.

We have a number of patents. While the aggregate protection of these patents is of value, our only material business that is dependent upon the protection afforded by these patents is our cabin power distribution products. Our patents and patent applications relate to electroluminescence, instrument panels, cord reels and handsets, and a broad patent covering the cabin power distribution technology. We regard our expertise and techniques as proprietary and rely upon trade secret laws and contractual arrangements to protect our rights. We have trademark protection in our major markets.

We are engaged in a variety of engineering and design activities as well as basic research and development activities directed to the substantial improvement or new application of our existing technologies. These costs are expensed when incurred and included in cost of products sold. Research, development and engineering costs amounted to approximately $85.3 million in 2021, $86.8 million in 2020 and $108.9 million in 2019.

As of December 31, 2021, we employed approximately 2,100 employees, of whom approximately 1,700 were employed in the United States and approximately 400 were employed outside of the United States. We have approximately 70 hourly production employees at PECO who are subject to collective bargaining agreements. We also leverage temporary workers to provide flexibility for our business and manufacturing needs.

We greatly value our employees and recognize that, without them, the Company would not have achieved the success it has accomplished since inception. We strive to provide a positive, supportive work culture with a clear global vision and a collaborative work style. We strongly believe that a focus on learning and supporting career development can lead to success. Astronics Corporation regularly earns “best employer” awards.

As it relates to customers, investors, suppliers and partners, our Company is dedicated to conducting business with integrity and responsibility for the greater good. We promote honest and ethical conduct, compliance with applicable government regulations and accountability by all of its directors, officers and employees.

When considering an acquisition or partnership, we embed questions specific to human capital management within our due diligence approach. These questions are in the areas of culture, equal employment opportunity, compliance with governing bodies, ethics, as well as employee benefits. We ask these in an effort to ensure that the acquisition candidate is a positive cultural fit and to minimize any risk when assessing the acquisition candidate.

In addition, our Corporate Governance Guidelines outline expectations that the Board establish and promote policies that encourage a positive, supportive work culture. The Board recognizes that culture is critical to the long-term success of Astronics and our strategy.

The COVID-19 pandemic had a sudden and significant impact on the global economy, and particularly in the aerospace industry, causing us to make difficult cost conservation measures including workforce reductions activities to align capacity with expected demand as well as suspension of certain benefit programs. These measures were taken to maintain the financial health and liquidity of the business. We are continuously evaluating the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, which is dependent on future developments, including the duration of the pandemic and the its impact on the global economy and the aerospace industry, which are uncertain and cannot be predicted at this time. While we have already reinstituted several of the previously-suspended benefits, we will continue to strive to return to a normal level of employment opportunity and benefit offerings for the valued employees of Astronics.

The lifeblood of any organization is its employee base. We rely on our individual subsidiaries to regularly gather employee feedback, using the method each subsidiary believes is most appropriate. In some instances that feedback is obtained through “Town Hall” formats; in other instances, it is obtained through surveys. We also expect our managers to solicit and, where applicable, use employee feedback to improve its business practices and working environment. We are proud to have received numerous awards, recognizing both product quality as well as the ability to provide an excellent work environment.

The Company believes that diversity and inclusion is critical for the attraction and retention of top talent and employs policies and procedures to recruit women and minority talent as well as policies to ensure pay equality. Astronics has an Equal Employment Opportunity Policy whereby the Company commits to providing equal employment opportunity for all qualified employees and applicants without regard to race, color, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, religion, national origin, disability, veteran status, age, marital status, pregnancy, genetic information or other legally protected status.

Astronics is committed to the safety of our customers and our employees. Each Astronics operation maintains environmental, health and safety policies that seek to promote the operation of its businesses in a manner that is protective of the health and safety of the public and its employees, particularly in the response to the global COVID-19 pandemic. We have implemented actions to maintain the health of our employees including social distancing measures, the use of masks, restricting visitors and unnecessary travel, and working from home whenever possible.

Our operations offer several health and welfare programs to employees to promote fitness and wellness and to encourage preventative healthcare. In addition, our employees are offered a confidential employee assistance program that provides professional counseling to employees and their family members. Also, many of our operations offer green space for employees to use during their breaks.

We file our financial information and other materials as electronically required with the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”). These materials can be accessed electronically via the Internet at www.sec.gov. Such materials and other information about the Company are also available through our website at www.astronics.com.

The extent to which the pandemic will continue to negatively affect our business and results of operations will depend on many changing factors and developments including, without limitation, the following:

Several of these effects have already occurred and any or all of these items may occur or recur, which could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition, results of operations and cash flows. While the Company has taken action to reduce costs, increase liquidity and strengthen its financial position in light of the COVID-19 pandemic, there can be no assurance that our actions will mitigate the impact of the pandemic on our business.

We are a supplier on various new aircraft programs just entering or expected to begin production in the future. As with any new program, there is risk as to whether the aircraft or program will be successful and accepted by the market. As is customary for our business, we purchase inventory and invest in specific capital equipment to support our production requirements generally based on delivery schedules provided by our customer. If a program or aircraft is not successful, we may have to write-off all or

a part of the inventory, accounts receivable and capital equipment related to the program. A write-off of these assets could result in a significant reduction of earnings and cause covenant violations relating to our debt agreements. This could result in our being unable to borrow additional funds under our bank credit facility or being obliged to refinance or renegotiate the terms of our bank indebtedness.

In our Test Systems segment, the market for our products is concentrated with a limited number of significant customers accounting for a substantial portion of the purchases of test equipment. In any one reporting period, a single customer or several customers may contribute an even larger percentage of our consolidated sales. In addition, our ability to increase sales will depend, in part, on our ability to obtain orders from current or new significant customers. The opportunities to obtain orders from these customers may be limited, which may impair our ability to grow sales. We expect that sales of our Test Systems products will continue to be concentrated with a limited number of significant customers for the foreseeable future. Additionally, demand for some of our test products is dependent upon government funding levels for our products, our ability to compete successfully for those contracts and our ability to develop products to satisfy the demands of our customers.

We believe that the principal points of competition in our markets are product quality, price, design and engineering capabilities, product development, conformity to customer specifications, quality of support after the sale, timeliness of delivery and effectiveness of the distribution organization. Maintaining and improving our competitive position will require continued investment in manufacturing, engineering, quality standards, marketing, customer service and support and our distribution networks. If we do not maintain sufficient resources to make these investments, or are not successful in maintaining our competitive position, our operations and financial performance will suffer.

In addition, any acquisition, once successfully integrated, could negatively impact our financial performance if it does not perform as planned, does not increase earnings, or does not prove otherwise to be beneficial to us.

The threats we face vary from attacks common to most industries to more advanced and persistent, highly organized adversaries, including nation states, which target us and other defense contractors because we protect sensitive information. If we are unable to protect sensitive information, our customers or governmental authorities could question the adequacy of our threat mitigation and detection processes and procedures, and depending on the severity of the incident, our customers’ data, our employees’ data, our intellectual property, and other third-party data (such as subcontractors, suppliers and vendors) could be compromised. As a consequence of their persistence, sophistication and volume, we may not be successful in defending against all such attacks. Due to the evolving nature of these security threats, the impact of any future incident cannot be predicted.

Although we work cooperatively with our customers, suppliers, and subcontractors to seek to minimize the impact of cyber threats, other security threats or business disruptions, we must rely on the safeguards put in place by these entities, which may affect the security of our information. These entities have varying levels of cybersecurity expertise and safeguards and their relationships with U.S. government contractors, such as Astronics, may increase the likelihood that they are targeted by the same cyber threats we face.

affected, and could further affect, availability, lead times and cost of components, and could impact our ability to complete development programs, respond to accelerated or quick-turn delivery requests from customers, or meet customer demand and product delivery dates for our end customers where we cannot timely secure adequate supply of these components. Moreover, if any of our suppliers become financially unstable, or otherwise unable or unwilling to provide us with raw materials or components, then we may have to find new suppliers. It may take several months to locate alternative suppliers, if required, or to redesign our products to accommodate components from different suppliers. We may experience significant delays in manufacturing and shipping our products to customers and incur additional development, manufacturing and other costs to establish alternative sources of supply if we lose any of these sources or are required to redesign our products. We cannot predict if we will be able to obtain replacement components within the time frames that we require at an acceptable cost, if at all.

In an effort to mitigate these risks, in some cases, we have incurred higher costs to secure available inventory, or have extended or placed non-cancellable purchase commitments with suppliers, which introduces inventory risk if our forecasts and assumptions prove inaccurate. While we may attempt to recover the increased costs through price increases to our customers, we may be unable to mitigate the effect on our results of operations. We have also multi-sourced and pre-ordered components and raw materials inventory in some cases in an effort to reduce the impact of the adverse supply chain conditions we have experienced. Despite our attempts to mitigate the impact on our business, these constrained supply conditions are expected to adversely impact our costs of goods sold, including our ability to continue to reduce the cost to produce our products in a manner consistent with prior periods. In addition, some suppliers have indicated that, as a result of current shortages, they intend to cease manufacture of certain components used in our products. Limits on manufacturing availability or capacity or delays in production or delivery of components or raw materials due to COVID-related restrictions could further delay or inhibit our ability to obtain supply of components and produce finished goods. There can be no assurance that the impacts of the pandemic on the supply chain will not continue, or worsen, in the future. These supply chain constraints and their related challenges could result in shortages, increased material costs or use of cash, engineering design changes, and delays in new product introductions, each of which could adversely impact our growth, gross margin and financial results. These types of negative financial impacts on our business may become more acute as supply chain pressures increase.

results of operations. Further, implementation of these requirements by our suppliers may result in workforce attrition at our suppliers, which may result in disruption to our supply chain which, in turn, may have a negative impact on our revenues and results of operations by impacting ability to acquire certain raw materials and components used in the manufacture of our products and in our development programs.

Additionally, our credit facility also contains a number of restrictive covenants that impose significant operating and financial restrictions on the Company and may limit our ability to engage in acts that may be in our long-term best interests. The credit facility includes covenants restricting, among other things, the ability of the Company to:

Furthermore, certain covenants and other terms of our existing credit facility impose significant restrictions on our operational flexibility. In connection with debt refinancing, our ability to negotiate more favorable and flexible covenants and terms, including financial covenants, is highly uncertain. An inability to complete our debt refinancing on terms that are more favorable to us than the covenants and terms in effect under our existing credit facility could materially and adversely impact our business, operations and future growth and expansion initiatives. In particular, if the covenants and terms under our refinanced indebtedness were to remain unchanged as compared to those under our current credit facility, we may be required to take certain operational measures or decline to pursue certain growth initiatives in order to maintain compliance with these restrictive covenants and terms, which could materially and adversely affect our business, results of operations and financial condition.

expires in May 2023 and it is unclear at this time whether different benchmark rates used to price indebtedness will develop. We cannot predict the impact that an alternative benchmark rate may have on the terms of our future indebtedness or interest cost. However, an increase in our cost of borrowing could result in an adverse effect on our financial position, results of operations, and liquidity.

Additionally, pension obligations and the related costs are determined using actual results and actuarial valuations that involve several assumptions. The most critical assumption is the discount rate. Other assumptions include mortality, salary levels and retirement age. The discount rate assumptions are based on current market conditions and are outside of our control. Changes in these assumptions could affect our future earnings and equity.

Refer to Note 19 of our consolidated financial statements in Item 8 of this report for discussion on this and other legal proceedings. Other than these proceedings, we are not party to any significant pending legal proceedings that management believes will result in a material adverse effect on our results of operations or financial condition.

U.S. and foreign laws and regulations, including regulations relating to import-export control, technology transfer restrictions, foreign corrupt practices and anti-boycott provisions. Our failure, or failure by an authorized agent or representative that is attributable to us, to comply with these laws and regulations could result in administrative, civil or criminal liabilities and could, in the extreme case, result in monetary penalties, suspension or debarment from government contracts or suspension of our export privileges, which would have a material adverse effect on us.

In addition, the stock market in general, and the market prices for companies in the aerospace and defense industry in particular, have experienced significant price and volume fluctuations that often have been unrelated to the operating performance of the companies affected by these fluctuations. These broad market fluctuations may adversely affect the market price of our common stock, regardless of our operating performance. Global health crises, such as the current COVID-19 pandemic, with the breadth of its impact worldwide, and particularly on the aerospace industry, could also cause significant volatility in the market price.

On December 31, 2021, we own or lease 1.3 million square feet of space, distributed by segment as follows:

We have principal operations in the U.S., Canada, France and the UK, as well as engineering offices in the Ukraine and India.

Upon the expiration of our current leases, we believe that we will be able to either secure renewal terms or enter into leases for or purchases of alternative locations at market terms. We believe that our properties have been adequately maintained and are generally in good condition.

Currently, we are involved in legal proceedings relating to allegations of patent infringement and, based on rulings to date, we have concluded that losses related to certain of these proceedings are probable. For a discussion of contingencies related to legal proceedings, see Note 19 to our consolidated financial statements in Item 8 of this report.

The Company has not paid any cash dividends in the three-year period ended December 31, 2021. The Company has no plans to pay cash dividends as it plans to retain all cash from operations as a source of capital to service debt and finance working capital and growth in the business.

The following table summarizes our purchases of our common stock for the quarter ended December 31, 2021:

(1) On October 4, 2021, we accepted delivery of 729 shares at $14.38 in connection with the issuance of restricted stock units.

Previously, the Board of Directors authorized share repurchase programs that authorized repurchases up to certain monetary limits in accordance with applicable securities laws on the open market or through privately negotiated transactions. Under those programs, we purchased approximately 3,498,000 shares for $100 million.

On September 17, 2019, the Board of Directors authorized an additional share repurchase program. This program authorizes repurchases of up to $50 million of common stock. Cumulative repurchases under this plan were approximately 310,000 shares at a cost of $8.5 million before the 10b5-1 plan associated with the share repurchase program was terminated on February 3, 2020. There have been no repurchases since that date.

The following graph compares the Company’s annual percentage change in cumulative total return on common shares over the past five years with the cumulative total return of companies comprising the S&P 500 Index and the NASDAQ Composite Index. This presentation assumes that $100 was invested in shares of the relevant issuers on December 31, 2016, and that dividends received were immediately invested in additional shares. The graph plots the value of the initial $100 investment at one-year intervals for the fiscal years shown. The NASDAQ Composite Index replaces the CRSP NASDAQ Stock Market (US and Foreign Companies) Index in this analysis and going forward, as the CRSP Index data is no longer accessible. The CRSP index has been included with data through 2020.

Astronics Corporation, through its subsidiaries, is a leading supplier of advanced technologies and products to the global aerospace and defense industries. Our products and services include advanced, high-performance electrical power generation and distribution systems, seat motion solutions, lighting and safety systems, avionics products, aircraft structures, systems certification, and automated test systems.

We have two reportable segments, Aerospace and Test Systems. Our Aerospace segment has principal operating facilities in the United States, Canada and France. Our Test Systems segment has principal operating facilities in the United States and the United Kingdom. We have engineering offices in the Ukraine and India.

Our Aerospace segment designs and manufactures products for the global aerospace industry. Product lines include lighting and safety systems, electrical power generation, distribution and seat motions systems, aircraft structures, avionics products, systems certification, and other products. Our primary Aerospace customers are the airframe manufacturers (“OEM”) that build aircraft for the commercial, military and general aviation markets, suppliers to those OEM’s, aircraft operators such as airlines, suppliers to the aircraft operators, and branches of the U.S. Department of Defense (“USDOD”). Our Test Systems segment designs, develops, manufactures and maintains automated test systems that support the aerospace and defense, communications and mass transit industries as well as training and simulation devices for both commercial and military applications. In the Test Systems segment, Astronics’ products are sold to a global customer base including OEM's and prime government contractors for both electronics and military products.

Our strategy is to increase our value by developing technologies and capabilities, either internally or through acquisition, and using those capabilities to provide innovative solutions to our targeted markets where our technology can be beneficial.

Each of the markets that we serve presents opportunities that we expect will provide growth for the Company over the long-term. We continue to look for opportunities in all of our markets to capitalize on our core competencies to expand our existing business and to grow through strategic acquisitions.

Challenges which continue to face us include the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic and its continued impact on the aerospace industry and improving shareholder value through increasing profitability. Increasing profitability is dependent on many things, primarily sales growth, both acquired and organic, and the Company’s ability to control operating expenses and to identify means of creating improved productivity. Sales are driven by increased build rates for existing aircraft, market acceptance and economic success of new aircraft and our products, continued government funding of defense programs, the Company’s ability to obtain production contracts for parts we currently supply or have been selected to design and develop for new aircraft platforms and continually identifying and winning new business for our Test Systems segment.

Reduced aircraft build rates driven by a weak economy, aircraft groundings, tight credit markets, reduced air passenger travel and an increasing supply of used aircraft on the market would likely result in reduced demand for our products, which will result in lower profits. Reduction of defense spending may result in fewer opportunities for us to compete, which could result in lower profits in the future. Many of our newer development programs are based on new and unproven technology and at the same time we are challenged to develop the technology on a schedule that is consistent with specific programs. Delays in delivery schedules and incremental costs resulting from supply chain pressures can also result in lower profits. We will

continue to address these challenges by working to improve operating efficiencies and focusing on executing on the growth opportunities currently in front of us.

In September 2021, the Company entered into an agreement with the U.S. Department of Transportation (“USDOT”) under the Aviation Manufacturing Jobs Protection Program (“AMJP”) for a grant of up to $14.7 million. The Company received $7.4 million under the grant in 2021. The Company expects to receive a second installment of approximately $5.2 million in the first quarter of 2022 and a final installment in the second or third quarter of 2022 upon final confirmation from the USDOT of the Company meeting its grant commitments. The receipt of the full award is primarily conditioned upon the Company committing to not furlough, lay off or reduce the compensation levels of a defined group of employees during the six-month period of performance between September 2021 and March 2022. The grant benefit will be recognized ratably over the six-month performance period as a reduction to cost of products sold in proportion to the compensation expense that the award is intended to defray. During the year ended December 31, 2021, the Company recognized $8.7 million of the award and expects to recognize the remaining $6.0 million in the first quarter of 2022.

The COVID-19 pandemic caused a significant impact on our sales and net income for fiscal 2021 and 2020. The pandemic adversely impacted customer demand for all market channels, with commercial transport (both OEM and aftermarket channels) being the most adversely impacted due to the pandemic's impact on air travel worldwide. As a result, the Company executed restructuring activities in the form of workforce reduction to better align capacity with expected demand. Restructuring charges in severance expense totaling $0.6 million, associated primarily with the Aerospace segment, were recorded in the year ended December 31, 2021, compared with $4.9 million recorded in the year ended December 31, 2020.

In the fourth quarter of 2019, in an effort to reduce the significant operating losses at our AeroSat business, we initiated a restructuring plan to reduce costs and minimize losses of our AeroSat antenna business. The plan focused the initiatives for the AeroSat business on near-term opportunities pertaining to business jet connectivity. The plan resulted in a downsized manufacturing operation remaining in New Hampshire, with significantly reduced personnel and operating expenses. Impairments and restructuring charges recorded in 2019 as a result of the restructuring plan amounted to $28.8 million, all of which is included in the Aerospace segment. The Company incurred an impairment charge to right-of-use assets of approximately $0.7 million and $0.4 million in restructuring charges associated with severance at AeroSat during the year ended December 31, 2020.

On July 1, 2019, the Company acquired all of the issued and outstanding capital stock of Freedom Communication Technologies, Inc. (“Freedom”). Freedom, located in Kilgore, Texas, is a leader in wireless communication testing, primarily for the civil land mobile radio market. Freedom is included in our Test Systems segment. The total consideration for the transaction was $21.8 million, net of $0.6 million in cash acquired.

On October 4, 2019, the Company acquired the stock of the primary operating subsidiaries as well as certain other assets from mass transit and defense market test solution provider, Diagnosys Test Systems Limited, for $7.0 million in cash, plus earnouts estimated at a fair value of $2.5 million at acquisition. Diagnosys Inc. and its affiliates (“Diagnosys”) is included in our Test Systems segment. Diagnosys is a developer and manufacturer of comprehensive automated test equipment providing test, support, and repair of high value electronics, electro-mechanical, pneumatic and printed circuit boards focused on the global mass transit and defense markets. The acquired business has operations in Westford, Massachusetts as well as Ferndown, England, and an engineering center of excellence in Bangalore, India. The terms of the acquisition allowed for a potential earnout of up to an additional $13.0 million over the three years post-acquisition based on achievement of new order levels of over $72.0 million during that period. Based on actual and forecasted new orders, the fair value of the earnout was reduced to zero in the 2021 second quarter.

On February 13, 2019, the Company completed a divestiture of its semiconductor test business within the Test Systems segment. The total proceeds of the divestiture amounted to $103.8 million plus certain contingent purchase consideration (“earnout”).

The transaction included two elements of contingent earnouts. In the fourth quarter of 2021, the Company agreed to an earnout payment of $10.7 million for the calendar 2020 earnout, which was recorded in 2021 as a separate line item below operating loss and was received by the Company in early January 2022. On February 14, 2022, the Company was notified by the purchaser that they had calculated $11.2 million as being payable for the calendar 2021 earnout. We are in the process of reviewing the calculation, and expect to record the additional gain on the sale, and receive the payment, in the first quarter of 2022. See further information in Note 22 of Item 8, Financial Statements and Supplementary Data in this report.

On July 12, 2019, the Company sold intellectual property and certain assets associated with its Airfield Lighting product line for $1.0 million in cash. The Airfield Lighting product line, part of the Aerospace segment, was not core to the business and represented less than 1% of revenue. The Company recorded a pre-tax loss on the sale of approximately $1.3 million.

On October 6, 2021, as part of a planned consolidation effort, the Company sold one of its Aerospace facilities for $9.2 million. Net cash proceeds were approximately $8.8 million. A gain on sale of approximately $5.0 million was recorded in 2021. The business of that facility will be relocated to one of the Company’s other operations.

Sales to the commercial transport market include sales of lighting and safety systems, electrical power generation, distribution and motions systems, aircraft structures, avionics products and systems certification. Sales to this market totaled approximately $202.0 million or 45.4% of our consolidated sales in 2021. As a result of the COVID-19 pandemic and its adverse impact on air travel worldwide, the commercial aerospace industry has been significantly disrupted.

Maintaining and growing sales to the commercial transport market will depend not only on market recovery from the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic, but also on airlines’ capital spending budgets for cabin upgrades as well as the purchase of new aircraft by global airlines. This spending by the airlines is impacted by their profits, cash flow and available financing as well as competitive pressures between the airlines to improve the travel experience for their passengers. We expect that new aircraft will be equipped with more passenger and aircraft connectivity and in-seat power than previous generation aircraft which drives demand for our avionics and power products. This market has historically experienced strong growth from airlines installing in-seat passenger power systems on their existing and newly delivered aircraft. Our ability to maintain and grow sales to this market depends on our ability to maintain our technological advantages over our competitors and maintain our relationships with major in-flight entertainment suppliers and global airlines.

Sales to the military aerospace market include sales of lighting & safety products, avionics products, electrical power & motion products and structures products. Sales to this market totaled approximately 15.8% of our consolidated sales and amounted to $70.3 million in 2021.

The military market is dependent on governmental funding which can change from year to year. Risks are that overall spending may be reduced in the future, specific programs may be eliminated or that we fail to win new business through the competitive bid process. Astronics does not have significant reliance on any one program such that cancellation of a particular program will cause material financial loss. We believe that we will continue to have opportunities similar to past years regarding this market.

Sales to the business jet market include sales of lighting & safety products, avionics products, and electrical power & motion products. Sales to this market totaled approximately 12.7% of our consolidated sales in 2021 and amounted to $56.7 million.

Sales to the business jet market are driven by our ship set content on new aircraft and build rates of new aircraft. Business jet OEM build rates are impacted by global wealth creation and corporate profitability. We continue to see opportunities on new aircraft currently in the design phase to employ our lighting & safety, electrical power and avionics technologies in this market. There is risk involved in the development of any new aircraft including the risk that the aircraft will not ultimately be produced

or that it will be produced in lower quantities than originally expected and thus impacting our return on our engineering and development efforts.

Sales by our Test Systems segment accounted for approximately 17.9% of our consolidated sales in 2021 and amounted to $79.7 million. This segment designs, develops, manufactures and maintains automated test systems that support the aerospace and defense, communications and mass transit industries as well as training and simulation devices for both commercial and military applications. Sales to the aerospace & defense market were approximately $62.9 million in 2021. Sales to the mass transit market were approximately $16.8 million.

Sales to the military market are subject to fluctuations resulting from changes in governmental spending, elimination of certain programs, or failure to win new business through the competitive bid process. Consistent with the Aerospace segment, the Test Systems segment does not significantly rely on any one program such that cancellation of a particular program will cause material financial loss, and we believe that we will continue to have opportunities similar to past years regarding this market.

Our financial statements and accompanying notes are prepared in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles. The preparation of the Company’s financial statements requires management to make estimates, assumptions and judgments that affect the amounts reported. These estimates, assumptions and judgments are affected by management’s application of accounting policies, which are discussed in the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements, Note 1 of Item 8, Financial Statements and Supplementary Data of this report. The critical accounting policies have been reviewed with the Audit Committee of our Board of Directors.

Astronics recognizes revenue when it transfers control of a promised good or service to a customer in an amount that reflects the consideration it expects to receive in exchange for the good or service. Our performance obligations are satisfied and control is transferred either at a point-in-time or over-time. The majority of our revenue is recognized at a point-in-time when control is transferred, which is generally evidenced by the shipment or delivery of the product to the customer, a transfer of title, a transfer of the significant risks and rewards of ownership, and customer acceptance. For certain contracts under which we produce products with no alternative use and for which we have an enforceable right to recover costs incurred plus a reasonable profit margin for work completed to date and for certain other contracts under which we create or enhance a customer-owned asset while performing repair and overhaul services, control is transferred to the customer over-time. The Company recognizes revenue using an over-time recognition model for these types of contracts.

We utilize the cost-to-cost method as a measure of progress for performance obligations that are satisfied over-time as we believe this input method best represents the transfer of control to the customer. Under the cost-to-cost method, the extent of progress toward completion is measured based on the proportion of costs incurred to date to the total estimated costs at completion of the performance obligation. These projections require management to make numerous assumptions and estimates relating to items such as the complexity of design and related development costs, performance of subcontractors, availability and cost of materials, labor productivity and cost, overhead, capital costs, and manufacturing efficiency. We review our cost estimates on a periodic basis, or when circumstances change and warrant a modification to a previous estimate. Cost estimates are largely based on negotiated or estimated purchase contract terms, historical performance trends and other economic projections.

See Note 2 to the consolidated financial statements in Item 8 of this report for a further description of revenue recognition under ASC 606.

Our goodwill is the result of the excess of purchase price over net assets acquired from acquisitions. As of December 31, 2021 and December 31, 2020, we had approximately $58.3 million of goodwill.

We identify our reporting units by assessing whether the components of our operating segments constitute businesses for which discrete financial information is available and segment management regularly reviews the operating results of those components. The Test Systems operating segment is its own reporting unit while the other reporting units are one level below our Aerospace operating segment.

We use the discounted cash flow method to estimate the fair value of each of our reporting units. The discounted cash flow method incorporates various assumptions, the most significant being projected sales growth rates, operating profit margins and cash flows, the terminal growth rate and the discount rate. Management projects sales growth rates, operating margins and cash flows based on each reporting unit’s current business, expected developments and operational strategies. If the carrying value of the reporting unit exceeds its fair value, goodwill is considered impaired and the impairment loss is recorded for the amount by which a reporting unit's carrying value exceeds its fair value, not to exceed the carrying value of goodwill.

As a result of the qualitative factors related to the COVID-19 pandemic that surfaced during the first quarter of 2020, we performed interim quantitative assessments for the eight reporting units which had goodwill as of March 28, 2020, and an additional quantitative assessment for our PECO reporting unit as of June 27, 2020 driven by reductions from previously forecasted aircraft build rates. Based on our quantitative assessments, the Company recorded goodwill impairment charges associated with four Aerospace reporting units, totaling $86.3 million in the December 31, 2020 Consolidated Statements of Operations. No additional goodwill impairment charges were incurred as a result of the annual goodwill impairment test in 2020.

A discussion by segment can be found at “Segment Results of Operations and Outlook” in this MD&A.

Consolidated sales were down $57.7 million to $444.9 million compared to the prior year. Aerospace sales were down $52.8 million and continue to be negatively affected by the continued impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic, while the prior-year period was inclusive of the pre-pandemic levels during the first quarter. Test System sales decreased $4.9 million.

Consolidated cost of products sold were down $26.2 million to $379.5 million in 2021 from $405.7 million in the prior year. The decrease was primarily due to lower volume related to the continued impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic on the global aerospace industry. The current year period benefited from $8.7 million recognized as an offset to cost of products sold related to the AMJP award, but was negatively impacted by higher warranty expenses of $3.9 million.

Selling, general and administrative (“SG&A”) expenses were $99.1 million compared with $110.5 million for the prior year period. The decrease in 2021 was due to the cost control measures implemented at the onset of the pandemic late in the first quarter of 2020 which resulted in lower labor costs and discretionary spending. The Company incurred $0.6 million in restructuring-related severance charges in the current year and $5.3 million in the prior year, primarily in the Aerospace segment. SG&A in the current year also benefited from a $2.2 million non-cash reduction of the fair value of a contingent consideration liability. However, in January 2022, the Company was notified of an adverse ruling in its long-running intellectual property dispute with Lufthansa Technik, which has been in litigation since 2010 in the U.S., France, Germany and the United Kingdom. Most recently, the U.K. Court has ruled that the subject patent is valid and that the Company has been infringing the expired patent. Based on the information currently available, the Company accrued $8.4 million relative to the U.K. matter in 2021, although the actual amount of damages will not be known until the damages trial is completed, which is expected to occur sometime in 2023. This amount was recorded within SG&A in the fourth quarter of 2021.

On October 6, 2021, the Company sold one of its Aerospace facilities for $9.2 million. Net cash proceeds were approximately $8.8 million. A gain on sale of approximately $5.0 million was recorded in the fourth quarter of 2021.

Non-cash goodwill and long-lived asset impairment charges of $87.0 million in the Aerospace segment were recognized in 2020 due to reduced expectations of future operating results caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.

In 2021, the Company recorded a gain of $10.7 million as additional gain on the sale of the Company’s former semiconductor business resulting from the contingent earnout for the 2020 calendar year.

Other Expense, Net of Other Income decreased $2.8 million when compared to 2020. The prior year included a $3.5 million impairment of an equity investment.

The effective tax rate for 2021 was 5.1%, compared with (3.0)% in 2020. The tax rate in 2021 was impacted by State and Foreign income taxes as well as changes in the valuation allowance previously recorded against U.S. Federal and most State deferred tax assets. The effective tax rate in 2020 was impacted by a $21.5 million valuation allowance against federal deferred tax assets as well as permanently non-deductible goodwill impairments. See Note 11 of the consolidated financial statements at Item 8 of this report for additional information regarding the valuation allowance recorded in 2020.

Consolidated net loss was $(25.6) million, or $(0.82) per diluted share, compared with net loss of $(115.8) million, or $(3.76) per diluted share in the prior year. The after-tax impact of the impairment loss in 2020 was $(2.64) per diluted share.

For a comparison of our results of operations for the years ended December 31, 2020 and 2019, see Item 7 “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” of our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2020 filed with the SEC on March 1, 2021.

Our effective tax rates for 2021 and 2020 were 5.1% and (3.0)%, respectively. In addition to state income taxes, the following items had the most significant impact on the difference between our statutory U.S. federal income tax rate (21% in 2021 and 2020) and our effective tax rate:

In early 2020, we implemented workforce reduction activities to align capacity with expected demand. We also implemented significant cost conservation measures, and we continue to closely monitor spending priorities. As economic activity recovers, we continue to monitor the situation, to assess further possible implications on our operations, supply chain, liquidity, cash flow

and customer orders, and to take actions in an effort to mitigate adverse consequences. While the industry is seeing some improvement on rising vaccination rates and easing travel restrictions, the ultimate impact of COVID-19 on our business results of operations, financial condition and cash flows is dependent on future developments, including the duration of the pandemic, vaccination rates and efficacy and the related length of impact on the global economy, supply chain and the aerospace industry, which are uncertain and cannot be predicted at this time. We believe that our existing financial arrangements are sufficient to meet our operating needs, and have adequate borrowings availability under our Credit Agreement that could provide additional relief if necessary.

See Part I, Item 1A, Risk Factors, for an additional discussion of risk related to supply chain disruptions and the recent government vaccine mandates.

In 2021, we experienced an increase in bookings, however we have also been impacted by supply chain pressures that we expect will continue to impact delivery schedules and costs, limiting the Company’s ability to respond to accelerated or quick-turn delivery requests from customers and delaying shipments that otherwise would have been made in 2021. We estimate that we had backlog at the end of the year of $15 million to $17 million that would have shipped if our supply chain had been functioning normally. Our initial expectation is that 2022 revenue will be in the range of $550 million to $600 million for the year, which includes what we consider reasonable allowances for continued supply chain and labor disruptions. We expect the first quarter to show a modest volume increase over the fourth quarter, with a stronger ramp in the latter half of the year, though supply chain and the tight labor market are risk items.

Based on current estimates, we expect the AMJP to contribute approximately $6.0 million to gross profit to be recorded in the first quarter of 2022. The six-month period of performance over which the grant is recognized will conclude in March 2022. We also expect a benefit in the first quarter of 2022 of approximately $11.2 million related with the calendar 2021 earnout from the sale of the semiconductor business based on the earnout statement provided to us in February 2022.

Given our forecast expectations, and the structure of our credit agreement, combined with AMJP proceeds, tax refunds and the earnouts from the sale of the semiconductor business, we expect to have sufficient liquidity to operate through the COVID-19 pandemic and its economic impacts. We expect to remain compliant with our debt covenants for the duration of the agreement based on our current financial projections, and expect the Company to generate cash in 2022, which will be used to reduce debt.

At December 31, 2021, our consolidated backlog was $415.7 million. At December 31, 2020, our backlog was $283.4 million. Backlog in the Aerospace segment was $334.7 million at December 31, 2021, of which $299 million is expected to be recognized as revenue in 2022. Backlog in the Test Systems segment was $81.0 million at December 31, 2021. The Test Systems segment expects to recognize $41 million of backlog as revenue in 2022.

Cash taxes related to 2022 are expected to be in the range of $0.5 million to $1.0 million.

Capital equipment spending in 2022 is expected to be in the range of $15 million to $20 million, up from $6.0 million in 2021, due to investments in customer programs.

While core aerospace markets have strengthened as vaccination rates rise and passenger traffic accelerated, the ultimate impact of COVID-19 on our business, results of operations, financial condition and cash flows is dependent on future developments, including the duration of the pandemic, virus variants, vaccination rates and efficacy and the related length of impact on the global economy, supply chain and specifically on the markets we are active in, which are uncertain and cannot be predicted at this time.

Operating profit, as presented below, is sales less cost of products sold and other operating expenses, excluding interest expense, other corporate expenses and other non-operating sales and expenses. Cost of products sold and other operating expenses are directly identifiable to the respective segment. Operating loss is reconciled to loss before income taxes in Note 20 of Item 8, Financial Statements and Supplementary Data, of this report.

Aerospace segment sales decreased $52.8 million, or 12.6%, to $365.2 million. In particular, commercial aerospace sales remained below pre-pandemic levels, declining $60.6 million, or 23.1%. While improving domestic travel, increased production rates including the 737 MAX and higher fleet utilization drove increased demand for commercial aerospace products in the second half of 2021, sales continued to be negatively affected by supply chain pressures resulting in delays in fulfilling orders. General Aviation sales were down $3.8 million, or 6.2%, due to lower VVIP activity, offset by improvements in the business jet market. The Company expects the strong demand being realized in the business jet industry to translate into higher demand for its products as production levels begin to increase in 2022. Military Aircraft sales increased $2.4 million, or 3.5%. Other revenues increased $9.3 million, driven by higher contract manufacturing programs. The prior-year period was inclusive of the pre-pandemic levels during the first quarter of the year.

Electrical Power & Motion sales decreased $37.5 million compared with the prior-year period. Additionally, Lighting & Safety sales decreased $15.2 million and Avionics sales decreased by $11.2 million.

Aerospace segment operating loss was $8.6 million compared with operating loss of $89.8 million in the same period last year. 2021 results benefited from $8.7 million related to the AMJP grant and a $5.0 million gain related to the sale of a facility. These benefits were offset by accruals related to the Lufthansa dispute totaling $8.4 million and increased warranty charges of $4.0 million in the Aerospace segment. Leverage lost on reduced commercial aircraft sales combined with supply chain pressures and costs significantly impacted operating results. Aerospace operating loss in the prior-year period was impacted by impairment charges of $87.0 million, of which $86.3 million was related to goodwill, and restructuring-related severance charges of $5.3 million.

For a comparison of Aerospace segment results for the years ended December 31, 2020 and 2019, see Item 7 “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” of our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2020 filed with the SEC on March 1, 2021.

The Aerospace segment’s backlog at December 31, 2021 was $334.7 million, compared to $191.1 million at December 31, 2020. Approximately $299 million of the December 31, 2021 backlog is expected to be recognized as revenue over the next 12 months.

Test Systems segment sales were $79.7 million, down $4.9 million compared with the prior year. Aerospace & Defense sales decreased $1.4 million. Sales from the divested semiconductor business contributed $3.5 million in the prior year.

Test Systems operating loss was $3.8 million, or 4.7% of sales, compared with operating profit of $5.5 million, or 6.6% of sales, in 2020. Operating results in 2021 was negatively affected by COVID-related delays and low volume and $3.3 million in legal fees related to infringement claims and contractual disputes. Operating results in 2020 benefited from $3.5 million in semiconductor warranty revenue.

In 2021, the Company reached an agreement with the buyer of its former semiconductor test business, which was sold in 2019, related to earnout payments. For its calendar 2020 earnout payment, the Company agreed to an earnout amount of $10.7 million, which was recorded in the fourth quarter of 2021 and was paid to the Company in early January.

For a comparison of Test Systems segment results for the years ended December 31, 2020 and 2019, see Item 7 “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” of our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2020 filed with the SEC on March 1, 2021.

Backlog in the Test Systems segment was $81.0 million at December 31, 2021, compared to $92.3 million at December 31, 2019. The Test Systems segment expects to recognize $41 million of backlog as revenue in 2022.

We do not have material off-balance sheet arrangements that have or are reasonably likely to have a material future effect on our results of operations or financial condition.

For further information on our contractual obligations and other commitments as of December 31, 2021 and estimated timing thereof, see the notes referenced below, of Item 8, Financial Statements and Supplementary Data, of this report.

Our cash flow from operations and available borrowing capacity provide us with the financial resources needed to run our operations and reinvest in our business.

Our ability to maintain sufficient liquidity is highly dependent upon achieving expected operating results. Failure to achieve expected operating results could have a material adverse effect on our liquidity, our ability to obtain financing, and our operations in the future.

Cash used for operating activities totaled $5.5 million in 2021, as compared with $37.3 million cash provided by operating activities in 2020. Cash flow from operating activities decreased compared with the 2020 due to lower net income adjusted for non-cash or non-operating expense or income items, coupled with changes in net operating assets, primarily increases in accounts receivable and inventories. Non-cash items in 2021 include the $10.7 million earnout from the sale of the semiconductor business, the $5.0 million net gain on the sale of facilities within the Aerospace segment, as well as the $8.4 million incremental reserve for estimated impacts of the intellectual property dispute with Lufthansa Technik.

Our cash flows from operations are primarily dependent on our net income adjusted for non-cash expenses and the timing of collections of receivables, level of inventory and payments to suppliers and employees. Sales and operating results of our Aerospace segment are influenced by the impact in 2021 and 2020 of the COVID-19 pandemic on the aerospace industry, in particular, build rates of new aircraft, which are subject to general economic conditions, airline passenger travel and spending

for government and military programs. Our Test Systems segment sales depends in part on capital expenditures of the aerospace & defense industry which, in turn, depend on current and future demand for those products. A reduction in demand for our customers’ products would adversely affect our operating results and cash flows.

We expect cash flows from operations in 2022 to continue to be impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic and continued supply chain pressures, particularly in the first half of the year. We expect to receive a second installment of approximately $5.2 million associated with the AMJP grant in the first quarter of 2022, with a final installment of approximately $2.1 million anticipated in the second or third quarter of 2022 upon final confirmation from the USDOT of the Company meeting its grant commitments. The Company also expects to receive approximately $9.0 million in tax refunds in early 2022. We will continue to maintain a credit facility sufficient to fund our short and long-term capital requirements including working capital, acquisitions and share repurchase efforts.

Cash provided by investing activities in 2021 was $3.2 million, primarily the result of $9.2 million in proceeds from the sale of assets within the Aerospace segment, offset by purchases of property, plant and equipment (“PP&E”) of $6.0 million.

Cash used for investing activities in 2020 was $5.8 million, primarily the result of PP&E of $7.5 million, partially offset by proceeds from sales of PP&E.

Our expectation for 2022 is that we will invest between $15 million and $20 million for PP&E. Future requirements for PP&E depend on numerous factors, including expansion of existing product lines and introduction of new products. Management believes that our cash flow from operations and current borrowing arrangements will provide for these capital expenditures. We expect to continue to evaluate acquisition opportunities in the future. Investing cash flows in 2022 will be positively impacted by the receipt of $10.7 million related with the calendar 2020 earnout from the sale of the semiconductor business and approximately $11.2 million related with the calendar 2021 earnout, which is expected to be received in the first quarter of 2022.

Cash used for financing activities totaled $7.5 million for 2021, as compared with $24.6 million for 2020. The Company made net repayments towards our senior credit facility of $10.0 million in 2021 compared with net repayments of $15.0 million in 2020. Cash used in 2020 also included $7.7 million of share repurchases before the 10b-5 plan associated with the share repurchase program was terminated.

The Company's Fifth Amended and Restated Credit Agreement (the “Agreement”) was amended in May 2020 (the “Amended Facility”) and reduced the revolving credit line from $500 million to $375 million. The Amended Facility suspended the application of the leverage ratio up through and including the second quarter of 2021 (the “suspension period”). The maximum net leverage ratio, which represents the ratio of funded debt, net of cash to adjusted EBITDA (as defined in the Agreement) was set at 6.00 to 1 for the third quarter of 2021, 5.50 to 1 for the fourth quarter of 2021, 4.50 to 1 for the first quarter of 2022, and returns to 3.75 to 1 for each quarter thereafter. Through the second quarter of 2021, the Company was also required to maintain a minimum interest coverage ratio. As noted above, the maximum net leverage ratio was set at 5.50 to 1 for the quarter ended December 31, 2021. During the suspension period, the Company paid interest on the unpaid principal amount of the Amended Facility at a rate of 3.25% and a commitment fee of 0.35% on the undrawn portion of the Amended Facility. After the suspension period, the Company pays interest on the unpaid principal amount of the Amended Facility at LIBOR (of at least 1.00%) plus between 1.00% to 2.25% and a commitment fee of 0.10% to 0.35% on the undrawn portion of the Amended Facility, both based upon the Company’s leverage ratio. The Amended Facility provided for the payment of a consent fee of 15 basis points of the commitment for each consenting lender.

At December 31, 2021, there was $163.0 million outstanding on the revolving credit facility and there remained $210.9 million available subject to the minimum liquidity covenant discussed below, net of outstanding letters of credit. The credit facility allocates up to $20 million of the $375 million revolving credit line for the issuance of letters of credit, including certain existing letters of credit. At December 31, 2021, outstanding letters of credit totaled $1.1 million.

On March 1, 2022, the Company executed an amendment to the Amended Facility, which reduced the revolving credit line from $375 million to $225 million and extended the maturity date of the loans under the facility from February 16, 2023 to May 30, 2023. Interest will be payable on the unpaid principal amount of the facility at a rate equal to the Secured Overnight Financing Rate (“SOFR”, which shall be at least 1.00%), plus between 1.50% to 3.25% based upon the Company’s leverage ratio. The Company will also pay a commitment fee to the lenders in an amount equal to 0.10% to 0.40% on the undrawn portion of the Amended Facility, based upon the Company’s leverage ratio. The amendment provided for the payment of a consent fee of 10 basis points of the commitment for each consenting lender.

The amendment will require the Company to maintain minimum liquidity, defined as unrestricted cash plus the unused revolving credit commitments, of $35 million. The maximum net leverage ratio is set at 4.75 to 1 for the first and second quarters of 2022 and 3.75 to 1 thereafter, and the definition of Adjusted EBITDA has been modified to exclude income from earnout payments and asset sales. The Company was in compliance with its financial covenants at December 31, 2021.

The Amended Facility continues the temporary restrictions on certain activities, including dividend payments, acquisitions and share repurchases, through the third quarter of 2022. The Company’s obligations under the Amended Facility are jointly and severally guaranteed by each domestic subsidiary of the Company other than non-material subsidiaries. The obligations are secured by a first priority lien on substantially all of the Company’s and the guarantors’ assets.

In the event of voluntary or involuntary bankruptcy of the Company or any subsidiary, all unpaid principal and other amounts owing under the Amended Facility automatically become due and payable. Other events of default, such as failure to make payments as they become due and breach of financial and other covenants, change of control, judgments over a certain amount, and cross default under other agreements give the agent the option to declare all such amounts immediately due and payable.

Refer to Note 8 of our consolidated financial statements in Item 8, Financial Statement and Supplementary Data, of this report for additional information regarding our credit facility.

We intend to refinance the amended agreement with a new long-term financing facility in the coming months.

Management believes that it should retain the capital generated from operating activities for investment in advancing technologies, acquisitions and debt retirement. Accordingly, there are no plans to institute a cash dividend program.

At December 31, 2021, our consolidated backlog was $415.7 million. At December 31, 2020, our backlog was $283.4 million. Backlog in the Aerospace segment was $334.7 million at December 31, 2021, of which $299.4 million is expected to be recognized as revenue in 2022. Backlog in the Test Systems segment was $81.0 million at December 31, 2021, of which $40.5 million is expected to be recognized as revenue of in 2022.

Information regarding certain relationships and related transactions is incorporated herein by reference to the information included in the Company’s 2022 Proxy Statement which will be filed with the Commission within 120 days after the end of the Company’s 2021 fiscal year.

See Note 1 of the consolidated financial statements at Item 8 of this report.

The Company has limited exposure to fluctuation in foreign currency exchange rates to U.S. dollar, primarily in Canadian dollars and Euros currency. Approximately 92% of the Company’s consolidated sales are transacted in U.S. dollars. Net assets held in or measured in Canadian dollars amounted to $11.6 million at December 31, 2021. A 10% change in the value of the U.S. dollar versus the Canadian dollar would have had a $0.8 million impact to 2021 net income. Net assets held in or measured in Euros amounted to $26.5 million at December 31, 2021. A 10% change in the value of the U.S. dollar versus the Euros would have had a $0.1 million impact to 2021 net income.

Risk due to fluctuation in interest rates is a function of the Company’s floating rate debt obligations, which total approximately $163.0 million at December 31, 2021. A change of 1% in interest rates of all variable rate debt would impact annual net income by approximately $1.6 million, before income taxes.

To the Shareholders and Board of Directors of Astronics Corporation

We have audited the accompanying consolidated balance sheets of Astronics Corporation (the Company) as of December 31, 2021 and 2020, the related consolidated statements of operations, comprehensive (loss) income, shareholders' equity and cash flows for each of the three years in the period ended December 31, 2021, and the related notes and financial statement schedule listed in the Index at Item 15(a)(2)(collectively referred to as the “consolidated financial statements”). In our opinion, the consolidated financial statements present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of the Company at December 31, 2021 and 2020, and the results of its operations and its cash flows for each of the three years in the period ended December 31, 2021, in conformity with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles.

We also have audited, in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States) (PCAOB), the Company's internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2021, based on criteria established in Internal Control-Integrated Framework issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission (2013 framework), and our report dated March 4, 2022 expressed an unqualified opinion thereon.

These financial statements are the responsibility of the Company's management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on the Company’s financial statements based on our audits. We are a public accounting firm registered with the 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 audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements are free of material misstatement, whether due to error or fraud. Our audits included performing procedures to assess the risks of material misstatement of the 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 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 financial statements. We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinion.

The critical audit matters communicated below are matters arising from the current period audit of the 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 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.

Our management is responsible for establishing and maintaining adequate internal control over financial reporting, as such term is defined in Rule 13a-15(f) and 15d-15(f) of the Exchange Act. Under the supervision and with the participation of our management, including the Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, we conducted an evaluation of the effectiveness of our internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2021 based upon the framework in Internal Control – Integrated Framework originally issued in 2013 by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission (COSO). Based on that evaluation, our management concluded that our internal control over financial reporting is effective as of December 31, 2021.

Ernst & Young LLP, independent registered public accounting firm, has audited our consolidated financial statements included in this Annual Report on Form 10-K and, as part of their audit, has issued their report, included herein, on the effectiveness of our internal control over financial reporting.

To the Shareholders and Board of Directors of Astronics Corporation

We have audited Astronics Corporation’s internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2021, based on criteria established in Internal Control – Integrated Framework issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission (2013 framework) (the COSO criteria). In our opinion, Astronics Corporation (the Company) maintained, in all material respects, effective internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2021, based on the COSO criteria.

The Company’s management is responsible 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’s Report on Internal Control Over Financial Reporting. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on the Company’s internal control over financial reporting based on our audit. We are a public accounting firm registered with the 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 audit in accordance with the standards of the PCAOB. Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether effective internal control over financial reporting was maintained in all material respects.

Our audit included obtaining an understanding of internal control over financial reporting, assessing the risk that a material weakness exists, testing and evaluating the design and operating effectiveness of internal control based on the assessed risk, and performing such other procedures as we considered necessary in the circumstances. We believe that our audit provides a reasonable basis for our opinion.

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.

Astronics Corporation (“Astronics” or the “Company”) is a leading provider of advanced technologies to the global aerospace, defense and electronics industries. Our products and services include advanced, high-performance electrical power generation, distribution and motion systems, lighting and safety systems, avionics products, systems and certification, aircraft structures and automated test systems.

We have principal operations in the United States (“U.S.”), Canada, France and England, as well as engineering offices in the Ukraine and India.

The Company has 2 reportable segments, Aerospace and Test Systems. The Aerospace segment designs and manufactures products for the global aerospace and defense industry. Our Test Systems segment designs, develops, manufactures and maintains automated test systems that support the aerospace and defense, communications and mass transit industries as well as training and simulation devices for both commercial and military applications.

See Notes 21 and 22 for details of our acquisition and divestiture activities in 2021, 2020 and 2019.

In December 2019, a novel strain of coronavirus (“COVID-19”) surfaced in Wuhan, China, and has since spread to other countries, including the United States. On March 11, 2020, the World Health Organization classified the COVID-19 outbreak as a pandemic. The COVID-19 pandemic had a sudden and significant impact on the global economy, and particularly in the aerospace industry, resulting in the grounding of the majority of the global commercial transportation fleet and significant cost cutting and cash preservation actions by the global airlines. This in turn has resulted in a significant reduction in airlines spending for both new aircraft and on upgrading their existing fleet with the Company’s products. This low level of investment by the airlines has continued through 2021, and while the industry is seeing some improvement on rising vaccination rates and easing travel restrictions, the ultimate impact of COVID-19 on our business results of operations, financial condition and cash flows is dependent on future developments, including the duration of the pandemic, vaccination rates and efficacy and the related length of impact on the global economy and the aerospace industry, which are uncertain and cannot be predicted at this time.

In response to the global COVID-19 pandemic, we took immediate and aggressive action early in 2020 to minimize the spread of COVID-19 in our workplaces and reduce costs. Since the early days of the pandemic, we have been following guidance from the World Health Organization and the U.S. Center for Disease Control to protect employees and prevent the spread of the virus within all of our facilities globally. Some of the actions implemented include: social distancing; appropriate personal protective equipment; facility deep cleaning; flexible work-from-home scheduling; pre-shift temperature screenings, where allowed by law; and restrictions on facility visitors and unnecessary travel. Material actions to reduce costs included: (1) reducing our workforce to align operations with customer demand; (2) suspension of certain benefit programs; and (3) delaying non-essential capital projects and minimizing discretionary spending. At the same time, we addressed the ongoing needs of our business to continue to serve our customers. In addition to these measures, we amended our revolving credit facility in May 2020, as further described in Note 8. We are also monitoring the impacts of COVID-19 on the fair value of assets. Refer to Note 7 for a discussion of goodwill impairment charges recorded in 2020. No goodwill impairment charges were required in 2021. Should future changes in sales, earnings and cash flows differ significantly from our expectations, long-lived assets to be held and used and goodwill could become impaired in the future.

The Company qualified for government subsidies from the Canadian and French governments as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic’s impact on our foreign operations. The Canadian and French subsidies are income-based grants intended to reimburse the Company for certain employee wages. The grants are recognized as income over the periods in which the Company recognizes as expenses the costs the grants are intended to defray.

In September 2021 the Company also entered into an agreement with the U.S. Department of Transportation (“USDOT”) under the Aviation Manufacturing Jobs Protection Program (“AMJP”) for a grant of up to $14.7 million. The Company received $7.4 million in cash under the grant in 2021. The remaining balance due to be received of $7.3 million has been classified within Prepaid Expenses and Other Current Assets on the Consolidated Condensed Balance Sheets as of December 31, 2021. The Company expects to receive a second installment of approximately $5.2 million in the first quarter of 2022, and a final installment in the second or third quarter of 2022 upon final confirmation from the USDOT of the Company meeting its grant commitments. The receipt of the full award is primarily conditioned upon the Company committing to not furlough, lay off or

The following table presents the COVID-19 related government assistance, including AMJP, recorded during the years ended December 31, 2021 and 2020:

The COVID-19 pandemic has significantly impacted the global economy, and particularly the aerospace industry, resulting in reduced expectations of the Company’s future operating results. As a result, the Company executed restructuring activities in the form of workforce reduction, primarily in the second quarter of 2020, to align capacity with expected demand.

In the fourth quarter of 2019, in an effort to reduce the significant operating losses at our AeroSat business, we initiated a restructuring plan to reduce costs and minimize losses of our AeroSat antenna business. The plan narrows the initiatives for the AeroSat business to focus primarily on near-term opportunities pertaining to business jet connectivity. The plan has a downsized manufacturing operation remaining in New Hampshire, with significantly reduced personnel and operating expenses.

For more information regarding these restructuring plans see Note 23.

The consolidated financial statements include the accounts of the Company and its wholly owned subsidiaries. All intercompany transactions and balances have been eliminated.

Acquisitions are accounted for under the acquisition method and, accordingly, the operating results for the acquired companies are included in the Consolidated Statements of Operations from the respective dates of acquisition.

For additional information on the acquired businesses, see Note 21.

Cost of products sold includes the costs to manufacture products such as direct materials and labor and manufacturing overhead as well as all engineering and developmental costs. The Company is engaged in a variety of engineering and design activities as well as basic research and development activities directed to the substantial improvement or new application of the Company’s existing technologies. These costs are expensed when incurred and included in cost of products sold. Research and development, design and related engineering expenses amounted to $85.3 million in 2021, $86.8 million in 2020 and $108.9 million in 2019. SG&A expenses include costs primarily related to our sales, marketing and administrative departments. Interest expense is shown net of interest income. Interest income was insignificant for the years ended December 31, 2021, 2020 and 2019.

Shipping and handling costs are included in costs of products sold.

employee stock options and restricted stock units (“RSU's”), to be recognized in the statement of earnings based on the grant date fair value of the award. For awards with graded vesting, the Company uses a straight-line method of attributing the value of stock-based compensation expense, subject to minimum levels of expense, based on vesting. The Company accounts for forfeitures as they occur.

Under ASC Topic 718, stock compensation expense recognized during the period is based on the value of the portion of share-based payment awards that is ultimately expected to vest during the period. Equity-based compensation expense is included in SG&A expenses.

All highly liquid instruments with a maturity of three months or less at the time of purchase are considered cash equivalents.

Accounts receivable are composed of trade and contract receivables recorded at either the invoiced amount or costs in excess of billings, are expected to be collected within one year, and do not bear interest. The Company records a valuation allowance to account for estimated credit losses. The estimate for credit losses is based on the Company’s assessment of the collectability of customer accounts. The Company regularly reviews the allowance by considering factors such as the age of the receivable balances, historical experience, credit quality, current economic conditions, and reasonable and supportable forecasts of future economic conditions that may affect a customer’s ability to pay. Balances are written off when determined to be uncollectible.

The Company's exposure to credit losses may increase if its customers are adversely affected by global economic recessions, disruption associated with the current COVID-19 pandemic, industry conditions, or other customer-specific factors. Although the Company has historically not experienced significant credit losses, it is possible that there could be a material adverse impact from potential adjustments of the carrying amount of trade receivables and contract assets as airlines and other aerospace company’s cash flows are impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic.

We record our inventories at the lower of cost or net realizable value. We determine the cost basis of our inventory on a first-in, first-out or weighted average basis using a standard cost methodology that approximates actual cost. The Company records reserves to provide for excess, slow moving or obsolete inventory. In determining the appropriate reserve, the Company considers the age of inventory on hand, the overall inventory levels in relation to forecasted demands as well as reserving for specifically identified inventory that the Company believes is no longer salable or whose value has diminished.

Property, plant and equipment are recorded at cost less accumulated depreciation. Depreciation of property, plant and equipment (“PP&E”) is computed using the straight-line method for financial reporting purposes and using accelerated methods for income tax purposes. Estimated useful lives of the assets are as follows: buildings, 25-40 years; machinery and equipment, 4-10 years. Leased buildings and associated leasehold improvements are amortized over the shorter of the terms of the lease or the estimated useful lives of the assets, with the amortization of such assets included within depreciation expense.

The cost of properties sold or otherwise disposed of and the accumulated depreciation thereon are eliminated from the accounts and the resulting gain or loss, as well as maintenance and repair expenses, is reflected within operating income. Replacements and improvements are capitalized.

Depreciation expense was approximately $12.7 million, $13.3 million and $13.7 million in 2021, 2020 and 2019, respectively.

Long-lived assets to be held and used are initially recorded at cost. The carrying value of these assets is evaluated for recoverability whenever adverse effects or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying amount may not be recoverable. Impairments are recognized if future undiscounted cash flows from operations are not expected to be sufficient to recover long-lived assets. The carrying amounts are then reduced to fair value, which is typically determined by using a discounted cash flow model.

In conjunction with the deteriorating economic conditions associated with the COVID-19 pandemic, we recorded an impairment charge to right-of-use assets of approximately $0.7 million incurred in one reporting unit in the Aerospace segment within the Impairment Loss line in the Consolidated Statements of Operations in 2020. Additionally, we recorded a long-lived asset impairment charge of approximately $9.5 million in 2019 related to PP&E, intangible assets and right-of-use assets in

conjunction with the AeroSat restructuring. See Note 23 for further information regarding the restructuring and impairment charges.

Assets held for sale are to be reported at lower of its carrying amount or fair value less cost to sell. Judgment is required in estimating the sales price of assets held for sale and the time required to sell the assets. These estimates are based upon available market data and operating cash flows of the assets held for sale. During the fourth quarter of 2021, we sold a facility resulting in a gain of $5.0 million. Refer to Note 22.

The Company tests goodwill at the reporting unit level on an annual basis or more frequently if an event occurs or circumstances change that would more likely than not reduce the fair value of a reporting unit below its carrying amount.

We may elect to perform a qualitative assessment that considers economic, industry and company-specific factors for all or selected reporting units. If, after completing the assessment, it is determined that it is more likely than not that the fair value of a reporting unit is less than its carrying value, we proceed to a quantitative test. We may also elect to perform a quantitative test instead of a qualitative test for any or all of our reporting units.

Quantitative testing requires a comparison of the fair value of each reporting unit to its carrying value. We use the discounted cash flow method to estimate the fair value of our reporting units. The discounted cash flow method incorporates various assumptions, the most significant being projected sales growth rates, operating margins and cash flows, the terminal growth rate and the weighted average cost of capital. If the carrying value of the reporting unit exceeds its fair value, the shortfall up to the carrying value of the goodwill represents the amount of goodwill impairment.

The 2021 assessment indicated no impairment to the carrying value of goodwill in any of the Company’s reporting units and no impairment charge was recognized. See Note 7 for further information regarding the goodwill impairment charges in 2020 and 2019.

The estimated fair values of acquired intangibles are generally determined based upon future economic benefits such as earnings and cash flows. Acquired identifiable intangible assets are recorded at fair value and are amortized over their estimated useful lives. Acquired intangible assets with an indefinite life are not amortized, but are reviewed for impairment at least annually or more frequently whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying amounts of those assets are below their estimated fair values.

The Company’s financial instruments consist primarily of cash and cash equivalents, accounts receivable, accounts payable and long-term debt. The Company performs periodic credit evaluations of its customers’ financial condition and generally does not require collateral. The Company does not hold or issue financial instruments for trading purposes. Due to their short-term nature, the carrying values of cash and equivalents, accounts receivable and accounts payable approximate fair value. The carrying value of the Company’s variable rate long-term debt instruments also approximates fair value due to the variable rate feature of these instruments.

From time to time, the Company makes long-term, strategic equity investments in companies to promote business and strategic objectives. These investments as classified within Other Assets in the Consolidated Balance Sheets. For investments requiring equity method accounting, we recognize our share of the investee’s earnings or losses within Other Expense, Net of Other Income in the Consolidated Statements of Operations. Such amounts were immaterial in 2021, 2020 and 2019. For investments not requiring equity method accounting, if the investment has no readily determinable fair value, we have elected the practicability exception of ASU 2016-01, under which the investment is measured at cost, less impairment, plus or minus observable price changes from orderly transactions of an identical or similar investment of the same issuer.

In 2020, the Company determined there were indicators of impairment over one of its investments as a result of the investee’s deteriorating operating performance and limited access to capital. We determined that the fair value of this investment was de minimis and a full impairment charge of $3.5 million was recorded within Other Expense, Net of Other Income in the

accompanying Consolidated Statement Operations for the year ended December 31, 2020. A full impairment charge of $5.0 million for an additional investment was recorded in 2019.

As a result of the COVID-19 pandemic and its adverse effects on the global economy and aerospace industry that began to take shape in the first quarter of fiscal 2020, the Company generated a significant taxable loss for the year ended December 31, 2020, which can be carried back under the CARES Act to recover previously paid income taxes. The Company records a valuation allowance against the deferred tax assets if and to the extent it is more likely than not that the Company will not recover the deferred tax assets. In evaluating the need for a valuation allowance, the Company weights all relevant positive and negative evidence, and considers among other factors, historical financial performance, projected future taxable income, scheduled reversals of deferred tax liabilities, the overall business environment, and tax planning strategies. Losses in recent periods and cumulative pre-tax losses in the three-year period ending with the current year, combined with the significant uncertainty brought about by the COVID-19 pandemic, is collectively considered significant negative evidence under ASC 740 when assessing whether an entity can use projected income as a basis for concluding that deferred tax assets are realizable on a more-likely-than-not basis. For purposes of assessing the recoverability of deferred tax assets, the Company determined that it could not include future projected earnings in the analysis due to recent history of losses and therefore had insufficient objective positive evidence that the Company will generate sufficient future taxable income to overcome the negative evidence of cumulative losses. Accordingly, during the years ended December 31, 2021 and 2020, the Company determined that a portion of its deferred tax assets are not expected to be realizable in the future. As a result, the Company recorded a valuation allowance against its U.S. federal deferred tax assets of approximately $6.0 million and $23.3 million during the years ended December 31, 2021 and 2020 respectively. In addition, during the year ended December 31, 2021, the Company recorded a valuation allowance against certain foreign deferred tax assets of approximately $1.3 million.

The preparation of financial statements in conformity with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles (“U.S. GAAP”) requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities, the disclosure of contingent liabilities and the reported amounts of sales and expenses during the reporting periods in the financial statements and accompanying notes. Actual results could differ from those estimates.

The Company has not paid any cash dividends in the three-year period ended December 31, 2021.

Loss contingencies may from time to time arise from situations such as claims and other legal actions. Loss contingencies are recorded as liabilities when it is probable that a liability has been incurred and the amount of the loss is reasonably estimable. In all other instances, legal fees are expensed as incurred. Disclosure is required when there is a reasonable possibility that the ultimate loss will exceed the recorded provision. Contingent liabilities are often resolved over long time periods. In recording liabilities for probable losses, management is required to make estimates and judgments regarding the amount or range of the probable loss. Management continually assesses the adequacy of estimated loss contingencies and, if necessary, adjusts the amounts recorded as better information becomes known.

Revenue is recognized when, or as, the Company transfers control of promised products or services to a customer in an amount that reflects the consideration the Company expects to be entitled in exchange for transferring those products or services. Sales shown on the Company's Consolidated Statements of Operations are from contracts with customers.

Payment terms and conditions vary by contract, although terms generally include a requirement of payment within a range from 30 to 90 days after the performance obligation has been satisfied; or in certain cases, up-front deposits. In circumstances where the timing of revenue recognition differs from the timing of invoicing, the Company has determined that the Company's contracts generally do not include a significant financing component. Taxes collected from customers, which are subsequently remitted to governmental authorities, are excluded from sales.

The Company recognizes an asset for the incremental, material costs of obtaining a contract with a customer if the Company expects the benefit of those costs to be longer than one year and the costs are expected to be recovered. These incremental costs include, but are not limited to, sales commissions incurred to obtain a contract with a customer. As of December 31, 2021, the Company does not have material incremental costs on any open contracts with an original expected duration of greater than one year.

The Company recognizes an asset for certain, material costs to fulfill a contract if it is determined that the costs relate directly to a contract or an anticipated contract that can be specifically identified, generate or enhance resources that will be used in satisfying performance obligations in the future, and are expected to be recovered. Such costs are amortized on a systematic basis that is consistent with the transfer to the customer of the goods to which the asset relates. Start-up costs are expensed as incurred. Capitalized fulfillment costs are included in Inventories in the accompanying Consolidated Balance Sheets. Should future orders not materialize or it is determined the costs are no longer probable of recovery, the capitalized costs are written off. As of December 31, 2021 and 2020, the Company did not have material capitalized fulfillment costs.

A performance obligation is a promise in a contract to transfer a distinct good or service to the customer, and is the unit of account. The majority of our contracts have a single performance obligation as the promise to transfer the individual goods or services is not separately identifiable from other promises in the contracts which are, therefore, not distinct. Thus, the contract's transaction price is the revenue recognized when or as that performance obligation is satisfied. Promised goods or services that are immaterial in the context of the contract are not separately assessed as performance obligations.

Some of our contracts have multiple performance obligations, most commonly due to the contract covering multiple phases of the product lifecycle (development, production, maintenance and support). For contracts with multiple performance obligations, the contract’s transaction price is allocated to each performance obligation using our best estimate of the standalone selling price of each distinct good or service in the contract. The primary method used to estimate standalone selling price is the expected cost plus margin approach, under which expected costs are forecast to satisfy a performance obligation and then an appropriate margin is added for that distinct good or service. Shipping and handling activities that occur after the customer has obtained control of the good are considered fulfillment activities, not performance obligations.

Some of our contracts offer price discounts or free units after a specified volume has been purchased. The Company evaluates these options to determine whether they provide a material right to the customer, representing a separate performance obligation. If the option provides a material right to the customer, revenue is allocated to these rights and recognized when those future goods or services are transferred, or when the option expires.

Contract modifications are routine in the performance of our contracts. Contracts are often modified to account for changes in contract specifications or requirements. In most instances, contract modifications are for goods or services that are distinct, and, therefore, are accounted for as new contracts. The effect of modifications has been reflected when identifying the satisfied and unsatisfied performance obligations, determining the transaction price and allocating the transaction price.

The majority of the Company’s revenue from contracts with customers is recognized at a point in time, when the customer obtains control of the promised product, which is generally upon delivery and acceptance by the customer. These contracts may provide credits or incentives, which may be accounted for as variable consideration. Variable consideration is estimated at the most likely amount to predict the consideration to which the Company will be entitled, and only to the extent it is probable that a subsequent change in estimate will not result in a significant revenue reversal when estimating the amount of revenue to recognize. Variable consideration is treated as a change to the sales transaction price and based on an assessment of all information (i.e., historical, current and forecasted) that is reasonably available to the Company, and estimated at contract inception and updated at the end of each reporting period as additional information becomes available. Most of our contracts do not contain rights to return product; where this right does exist, it is evaluated as possible variable consideration.

For contracts that are subject to the requirement to accrue anticipated losses, the Company recognizes the entire anticipated loss in the period that the loss becomes probable.

For contracts with customers in which the Company promises to provide a product to the customer that has no alternative use to the Company and the Company has enforceable rights to payment for progress completed to date inclusive of profit, the Company satisfies the performance obligation and recognizes revenue over time, using costs incurred to date relative to total estimated costs at completion to measure progress toward satisfying our performance obligations. Incurred cost represents work performed, which corresponds with, and thereby best depicts, the transfer of control to the customer. Contract costs include labor, material and overhead.

The Company also recognizes revenue from service contracts (including service-type warranties) over time. The Company recognizes revenue over time during the term of the agreement as the customer is simultaneously receiving and consuming the benefits provided throughout the Company’s performance. The Company typically recognizes revenue on a straight-line basis throughout the contract period.

On December 31, 2021, we had $415.7 million of remaining performance obligations, which we refer to as total backlog. We expect to recognize approximately $339.9 million of our remaining performance obligations as revenue in 2022.

Costs in excess of billings includes unbilled amounts resulting from revenues under contracts with customers that are satisfied over time and when the cost-to-cost measurement method of revenue recognition is utilized and revenue recognized exceeds the amount billed to the customer, and right to payment is not just subject to the passage of time. Amounts may not exceed their net realizable value. Costs in excess of billings are classified as current assets, within Accounts Receivable, Net of Allowance for Estimated Credit Losses on our Consolidated Balance Sheets.

Billings in excess of cost includes billings in excess of revenue recognized as well as other elements of deferred revenue, which includes advanced payments, up-front payments, and progress billing payments. Billings in excess of cost are reported in our Consolidated Balance Sheets classified as current liabilities, within Customer Advance Payments and Deferred Revenue, and non-current liabilities, within Other Liabilities. To determine the revenue recognized in the period from the beginning balance of billings in excess of cost, the contract liability as of the beginning of the period is recognized as revenue on a contract-by-contract basis when the Company satisfies the performance obligation related to the individual contract. Once the beginning contract liability balance for an individual contract has been fully recognized as revenue, any additional payments received in the period are recognized as revenue once the related costs have been incurred.

We recognized $18.2 million and $23.5 million during the year ended December 31, 2021 and 2020, respectively, in revenues that were included in the contract liability balance at the beginning of the period.

The Company's contract assets and contract liabilities consist of costs and profits in excess of billings and billings in excess of cost and profits, respectively. The following table presents the beginning and ending balances of contract assets and contract

The increase in contract assets reflects the net impact of new revenue recognized in excess of billings exceeding billing of previously unbilled revenue during the period. The decrease in contract liabilities reflects the net impact of revenue recognized in excess of additional customer advances or deferred revenues recorded.

At December 31, 2021, the Company’s reserve for inventory valuation was $33.8 million, or 17.7% of gross inventory. At December 31, 2020, the Company’s reserve for inventory valuation was $33.4 million, or 17.5% of gross inventory.

There was a $2.3 million impairment of property, plant and equipment in the year ended December 31, 2019, classified within Impairment Loss in the Consolidated Statement of Operations, as more fully discussed in Note 23.

Amortization is computed on the straight line method for financial reporting purposes. Amortization expense for intangibles was $15.4 million, $17.1 million and $17.6 million for 2021, 2020 and 2019, respectively. During 2019 there was a $6.2 million impairment of intangible assets in conjunction with the AeroSat restructuring. The amount is classified within Impairment Loss in the Consolidated Statements of Operations.

Based upon acquired intangible assets at December 31, 2021, amortization expense for each of the next five years is estimated to be:

The Company’s 4 reporting units with goodwill as of the first day of our fourth quarter of 2021 were subject to the annual goodwill impairment test. Based on our quantitative assessments of our reporting units performed during our annual goodwill impairment test, the Company concluded that no impairment to the carrying value of goodwill in any of the Company’s reporting units was indicated and no impairment charge was recognized.

Beginning in the first quarter of 2020, the COVID-19 pandemic negatively impacted the global economy and aerospace industry. Management considered these qualitative factors and the impact to each reporting unit’s revenue and earnings, and determined that it was more likely than not that the fair value of several reporting units was less than its carrying value. Therefore, we performed a quantitative test for all 8 reporting units with goodwill as of March 28, 2020.

We determined that the estimated fair value of 4 of the 8 reporting units with goodwill significantly exceeded their respective carrying values and did not result in a goodwill impairment for these four reporting units as of March 28, 2020.