INFORMATION RELATING TO FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS
Certain statements included in this Form 10-K are “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of the United States federal securities laws. All statements other than historical factual information are forward-looking statements, including without limitation statements regarding: the effect of the COVID-19 pandemic on our global operations, future financial performance, tax rates, tax provisions, cash flows, pension and benefit obligations and funding requirements, our liquidity position or other financial measures; our management’s plans and strategies for future operations, including statements relating to anticipated operating performance, cost reductions, restructuring activities, new product and service developments, competitive strengths or market position, acquisitions and the integration thereof, divestitures, spin-offs, split-offs or other distributions, strategic opportunities, securities offerings, stock repurchases, dividends and executive compensation; the effects of the separation or the distribution on our business; growth, declines and other trends in markets we sell into; new or modified laws, regulations and accounting pronouncements; future regulatory approvals and the timing thereof; outstanding claims, legal proceedings, tax audits and assessments and other contingent liabilities; future foreign currency exchange rates and fluctuations in those rates; general economic and capital markets conditions; the anticipated timing of any of the foregoing; assumptions underlying any of the foregoing; and any other statements that address events or developments that we intend or believe will or may occur in the future. Terminology such as “believe,” “anticipate,” “will,” “should,” “could,” “intend,” “plan,” “expect,” “estimate,” “project,” “target,” “may,” “possible,” “potential,” “forecast” and “positioned” and similar references to future periods are intended to identify forward-looking statements, although not all forward-looking statements are accompanied by such words. Forward-looking statements are based on assumptions and assessments made by our management in light of their experience and perceptions of historical trends, current conditions, expected future developments and other factors they believe to be appropriate. Numerous factors could cause our actual results to differ materially from those expressed in our forward-looking statements, including but not limited to the risks and uncertainties set forth in Item 1A of this Form 10-K under the heading “Risk Factors.”
Forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance and actual results may differ materially from the results, developments and business decisions contemplated by our forward-looking statements. Accordingly, you should not place undue reliance on any such forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements speak only as of the date of the Form 10-K, document, press release, webcast, call, materials or other communication in which they are made. Except to the extent required by applicable law, we do not assume any obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new information, future events and developments or otherwise.
Summary of Risk Factors
An investment in our company is subject to a number of risks, including risks relating to our business; the separation from and our relationship with Fortive; ownership of our common stock; the successful implementation of our strategy; and our ability to grow our business. Set forth below is a high-level summary of some, but not all, of these risks. The following summary of risk factors is not exhaustive. Please read the information in the section entitled “Risk Factors” beginning on page 9 for a more thorough description of these and other risks.
Risks Related to Our Business
•The effect of the COVID-19 pandemic on our global operations and on the operations of our customers, suppliers, and vendors is having, and is expected to continue to have, a significant impact on our business and results of operations.
•Changes in, or status of implementation of, industry standards and governmental regulations, including interpretation or enforcement thereof, may reduce demand for our products or services, increase our expenses or otherwise adversely impact our business model.
•Our growth depends in part on the timely development and commercialization, and customer acceptance, of new and enhanced products and services based on technological innovation.
•The indemnification provisions of acquisition agreements by which we have acquired companies may not fully protect us and as a result we may face unexpected liabilities.
•Our businesses are subject to extensive regulation; failure to comply with those regulations could adversely affect our financial statements and our business, including our reputation.
•International economic, political, legal, compliance, epidemic and business factors could negatively affect our financial statements.
•We may be required to recognize impairment charges for our goodwill and other intangible assets.
•We are party to asbestos-related product litigation that could adversely affect our financial condition, results of operations and cash flows.
•Our restructuring actions could have long-term adverse effects on our business.
•Our defined benefit pension plans are subject to financial market risks that could adversely affect our financial statements.
•As of the date of this Form 10-K, we have outstanding indebtedness of approximately $1.8 billion and the ability to incur an additional $750.0 million of indebtedness under the Revolving Credit Facility, as defined below, and in the future we may incur additional indebtedness, all of which could adversely affect our businesses and our ability to meet our obligations and pay dividends.
•We may not be able to generate sufficient cash to service all of our indebtedness and may be forced to take other actions to satisfy our obligations under our indebtedness, which may not be successful.
•Any inability to consummate acquisitions at our historical rates and at appropriate prices, and to make appropriate investments that support our long-term strategy, could negatively impact our growth rate and stock price.
•Our acquisition of businesses, investments, joint ventures and other strategic relationships could negatively impact our financial statements.
•Changes in our tax rates or exposure to additional income tax liabilities or assessments could affect our profitability. In addition, audits by tax authorities could result in additional tax payments for prior periods.
•Adverse changes in our relationships with, or the financial condition, performance, purchasing patterns or inventory levels of, key distributors and other channel partners could adversely affect our financial statements.
•Our financial results are subject to fluctuations in the cost and availability of commodities that we use in our operations.
•If we cannot adjust our manufacturing capacity or the purchases required for our manufacturing activities to reflect changes in market conditions and customer demand, our profitability may suffer. In addition, our reliance upon sole or limited sources of supply for certain materials, components and services could cause production interruptions, delays and inefficiencies.
Risks Related to the Separation and Our Relationship with Fortive
•As a separate, publicly traded company, we may not enjoy the same benefits that we did as a part of Fortive.
•Potential indemnification liabilities to Fortive pursuant to the separation agreement could materially and adversely affect our businesses, financial condition, results of operations and cash flows. In addition, there can be no assurance that Fortive’s performance of its indemnity obligations to us under the separation agreement regarding certain liabilities will be sufficient.
•If there is a determination that the distribution, together with certain related transactions, is taxable for U.S. federal income tax purposes because the facts, assumptions, representations or undertakings underlying Fortive’s private letter ruling from the IRS or tax opinion are incorrect or for any other reason, then Fortive and its stockholders could incur significant U.S. federal income tax liabilities, and we could also incur significant liabilities.
•We may be affected by significant restrictions, including on our ability to engage in certain corporate transactions for a two-year period after the distribution in order to avoid triggering significant tax-related liabilities.
•Certain of our executive officers and directors may have actual or potential conflicts of interest because of their equity interest in Fortive. Also, one of our directors is a recently retired executive officer of Fortive, which may create conflicts of interest or the appearance of conflicts of interest.
•Fortive may compete with us.
•We may not achieve some or all of the expected benefits of the separation, and the separation may adversely affect our businesses.
PART I
ITEM 1. BUSINESS
General
Vontier Corporation is a global industrial technology company that focuses on critical technical equipment, components, and software and services for manufacturing, repair and servicing in the mobility infrastructure industry worldwide. We supply a wide range of solutions spanning advanced environmental sensors, fueling equipment, field payment hardware, remote management and workflow software, vehicle tracking and fleet management, software solutions for traffic light control and vehicle mechanics’ and technicians’ equipment. We market our products and services to retail and commercial fueling operators, commercial vehicle repair businesses, municipal governments and public safety entities and fleet owners/operators
on a global basis. Our research and development, manufacturing, sales, distribution, service and administration operations are located in more than 30 countries primarily across North America, Asia Pacific, Europe and Latin America.
We are guided by our shared purpose to mobilize the future to create a better world and we are united by our culture of continuous improvement and bias for actions that embody the Vontier Business System (“VBS”). Through rigorous application of our proprietary VBS set of growth, lean, and leadership tools and processes, we continuously improve business performance in the critical areas of innovation, product development and commercialization, global supply chain, sales and marketing and leadership development. Our commitment to VBS and goal of creating long-term shareholder value has enabled us to drive customer satisfaction and profitability, significant improvements in innovation, growth and operating margins, and disciplined acquisitions to execute our strategy and expand our portfolio into new and attractive markets.
In the mobility technologies market, we are a leading global provider of solutions and services focused on fuel dispensing, remote fuel management, point-of-sale and payment systems, environmental compliance, vehicle tracking and fleet management (“telematics”), and traffic management (“smart city solutions”), with products marketed under the Gilbarco, Veeder-Root, Orpak, Teletrac Navman and Global Traffic Technologies (“GTT”) brands. We market our products and services globally with $432.9 million of our 2020 sales coming from high-growth markets. We define high-growth markets as developing markets of the world experiencing extended periods of accelerated growth in gross domestic product and infrastructure, which include Eastern Europe, the Middle East, Africa, Latin America and Asia Pacific (with the exception of Japan and Australia). We serve our major markets with local manufacturing, sales, and service capabilities that offer tailored solutions for local customers based on their unique needs. With research and development for our mobility technologies products supporting our local presence in global markets, we deliver innovative solutions to customers around the world.