10-Q 1 a2014093010q.htm 10-Q Knowles 2014.9.30 - 10-Q
UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549


FORM 10-Q

(Mark One)
x QUARTERLY REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 or 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

For the quarterly period ended September 30, 2014.

or

o TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT
OF 1934
For the transition period from to


Commission File Number: 001-36102

Knowles Corporation
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

Delaware
90-1002689
(State or other jurisdiction of incorporation or organization)
(I.R.S. Employer Identification No.)
 
 
1151 Maplewood Drive
 
Itasca, Illinois
60143
(Address of principal executive offices)
(Zip Code)

(630) 250-5100
(Registrant’s telephone number, including area code)

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant: (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days.
Yes þ  No o

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has submitted electronically and posted on its corporate Web site, if any, every Interactive Data File required to be submitted and posted pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulation S-T (§232.405 of this chapter) during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to submit and post such files).
Yes þ  No o

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, or a smaller reporting company. See the definitions of “large accelerated filer,” “accelerated filer” and “smaller reporting company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act. (Check one):
Large accelerated filer o
 
Accelerated filer o
Non-accelerated filer þ
(Do not check if smaller reporting company)
Smaller reporting company o

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act).
Yes o  No  þ

The number of shares outstanding of the registrant’s common stock as of October 29, 2014 was 85,040,539.



Knowles Corporation
Form 10-Q
Table of Contents

 
 
Page
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 






PART I — FINANCIAL INFORMATION

Item 1. Financial Statements
KNOWLES CORPORATION
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF EARNINGS
(in thousands, except share and per share amounts)
(unaudited)

 
Three Months Ended September 30,
 
Nine Months Ended September 30,
 
2014
 
2013
 
2014
 
2013
Revenues
$
300,836

 
$
311,641

 
$
855,254

 
$
884,468

Cost of goods sold
243,943

 
192,700

 
665,101

 
563,873

Restructuring charges - cost of goods sold
4,700

 
955

 
21,117

 
6,819

Gross profit
52,193

 
117,986

 
169,036

 
313,776

Research and development expenses
21,047

 
19,796

 
61,968

 
61,955

Selling and administrative expenses
46,462

 
45,323

 
150,882

 
141,162

Restructuring charges
1,090

 
1,046

 
5,616

 
8,014

Operating expenses
68,599

 
66,165

 
218,466

 
211,131

Operating (loss) earnings
(16,406
)
 
51,821

 
(49,430
)
 
102,645

Interest expense, net
2,015

 
12,167

 
4,507

 
36,184

Other (income) expense, net
(2,285
)
 
1,383

 
(2,140
)
 
249

(Loss) earnings before income taxes
(16,136
)
 
38,271

 
(51,797
)
 
66,212

(Benefit from) provision for income taxes
(1,527
)
 
(5,989
)
 
34,071

 
(6,615
)
Net (loss) earnings
$
(14,609
)
 
$
44,260

 
$
(85,868
)

$
72,827

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Basic (loss) earnings per share (1)
$
(0.17
)
 
$
0.52

 
$
(1.01
)

$
0.86

Diluted (loss) earnings per share (1)
$
(0.17
)
 
$
0.52

 
$
(1.01
)
 
$
0.86

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Weighted average common shares outstanding:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Basic (1)
85,047,991

 
85,019,159

 
85,038,151


85,019,159

Diluted (1)
85,047,991

 
85,019,159

 
85,038,151


85,019,159

 
(1) On February 28, 2014, Dover shareholders of record as of the close of business on February 19, 2014 received one share of Knowles common stock for every two shares of Dover's common stock held as of the record date. The computation of basic and diluted earnings per common share for all periods through December 31, 2013 was calculated using the shares distributed on February 28, 2014.

See accompanying Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements



1


KNOWLES CORPORATION 
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF COMPREHENSIVE EARNINGS
(in thousands)
(unaudited)

 
Three Months Ended September 30,
 
Nine Months Ended September 30,
 
2014
 
2013
 
2014
 
2013
Net (loss) earnings
$
(14,609
)
 
$
44,260

 
$
(85,868
)
 
$
72,827

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Other comprehensive (loss) earnings, net of tax
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Foreign currency translation
(34,541
)
 
23,358

 
(45,430
)
 
13,441

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Employee benefit plans:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Actuarial gains (losses) arising during period

 
265

 
(115
)
 
265

Amortization or settlement of actuarial losses included in net periodic pension cost
299

 
50

 
439

 
144

Amortization of prior service costs included in net periodic pension cost

 
2

 

 
4

Total employee benefit plans
299

 
317

 
324

 
413

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Changes in fair value of cash flow hedges:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Unrealized net gains (losses) arising during period

 
57

 

 
(219
)
Net losses reclassified into earnings

 
53

 

 
62

Total cash flow hedges

 
110

 

 
(157
)
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Other comprehensive (loss) earnings, net of tax
(34,242
)
 
23,785

 
(45,106
)
 
13,697

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Comprehensive (loss) earnings
$
(48,851
)
 
$
68,045

 
$
(130,974
)
 
$
86,524


See accompanying Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements


2


KNOWLES CORPORATION
CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
(in thousands, except share and per share amounts)

 
September 30, 2014
 
December 31, 2013
 
(unaudited)
 
 
Current assets:
 
 
 
Cash and cash equivalents
$
34,295

 
$
105,588

Receivables, net of allowances of $760 and $1,686
216,893

 
224,556

Inventories, net
161,237

 
149,168

Prepaid and other current assets
16,114

 
11,803

Deferred tax assets
6,619

 
10,708

Total current assets
435,158

 
501,823

Property, plant and equipment, net
321,184

 
360,997

Goodwill
932,384

 
961,916

Intangible assets, net
286,827

 
318,310

Other assets and deferred charges
35,977

 
27,070

Total assets
$
2,011,530

 
$
2,170,116

 
 
 
 
Current liabilities:
 

 
 

Current maturities of long-term debt
$
11,250

 
$

Accounts payable
168,374

 
143,812

Accrued compensation and employee benefits
38,916

 
40,918

Other accrued expenses
36,390

 
25,245

Federal and other taxes on income
13,173

 

Total current liabilities
268,103

 
209,975

Long-term debt
388,750

 

Deferred income taxes
53,051

 
45,891

Other liabilities
30,244

 
27,123

Commitments and contingencies (Note 11)


 


 
 
 
 
Equity:
 

 
 

Net Former Parent Company Investment in Knowles Corporation, prior to Separation

 
1,850,602

 
 
 
 
Stockholders' equity:
 
 
 
Preferred stock - $0.01 par value; 10,000,000 shares authorized; none issued

 

Common stock - $0.01 par value; 400,000,000 shares authorized; 85,040,539 shares issued at September 30, 2014
850

 

Additional paid-in capital
1,369,515

 

Accumulated deficit
(82,863
)
 

Accumulated other comprehensive (loss) earnings
(16,120
)
 
36,525

Total stockholders' equity
1,271,382

 
36,525

Total equity
1,271,382

 
1,887,127

Total liabilities and equity
$
2,011,530

 
$
2,170,116


See accompanying Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

3


KNOWLES CORPORATION
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY
(in thousands)
(unaudited)

 
Common Stock
 
Additional Paid-In Capital
 
Accumulated Deficit
 
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Earnings (Loss)
 
Net Former Parent Company Investment
 
Total Stockholders' Equity
Balance at December 31, 2013
$

 
$

 
$

 
$
36,525

 
$
1,850,602

 
$
1,887,127

Net loss

 

 
(82,863
)
 

 
(3,005
)
 
(85,868
)
Net transfers to Former Parent Company

 

 

 

 
(471,213
)
 
(471,213
)
Separation-related adjustments

 

 

 
(7,539
)
 
(11,794
)
 
(19,333
)
Reclassification of Net Former Parent Company Investment in connection with the Separation

 
1,364,590

 

 

 
(1,364,590
)
 

Issuance of common stock at Separation
850

 
(850
)
 

 

 

 

Other comprehensive loss, net of tax

 

 

 
(45,106
)
 

 
(45,106
)
Common stock issued for the exercise of stock options

 
143

 

 

 

 
143

Stock-based compensation expense

 
5,632

 

 

 

 
5,632

Balance at September 30, 2014
$
850

 
$
1,369,515

 
$
(82,863
)
 
$
(16,120
)
 
$

 
$
1,271,382

 

See accompanying Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements


4


KNOWLES CORPORATION
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
(in thousands)
(unaudited)
 
Nine Months Ended September 30,
 
2014
 
2013
Operating Activities
 
 
 
Net (loss) earnings
$
(85,868
)
 
$
72,827

Adjustments to reconcile net (loss) earnings to cash from operating activities:
 
 
 
Depreciation and amortization
118,532

 
98,372

Non-cash restructuring related charges
20,360

 

Stock-based compensation
6,463

 
1,677

Other, net
99

 
(9,130
)
Cash effect of changes in assets and liabilities (excluding effects of foreign exchange):
 
 
 
Receivables, net
2,700

 
(8,388
)
Inventories, net
(15,697
)
 
(15,337
)
Prepaid and other current assets
(3,836
)
 
(2,217
)
Accounts payable
27,162

 
(15,077
)
Accrued compensation and employee benefits
(4,237
)
 
330

Other accrued expenses
11,969

 
5,285

Accrued and deferred taxes, net
17,439

 
(12,987
)
Other non-current assets and non-current liabilities
(5,920
)
 
(6,006
)
Net cash provided by operating activities
89,166

 
109,349

 
 
 
 
Investing Activities
 

 
 

Additions to property, plant and equipment
(68,039
)
 
(73,759
)
Proceeds from the sale of property, plant and equipment
175

 
4,971

Capitalized patent defense costs
(14,701
)
 
(4,662
)
Other investment
(8,000
)
 

Net cash used in investing activities
(90,565
)
 
(73,450
)
 
 
 
 
Financing Activities
 

 
 

Proceeds from debt
400,000

 

Debt issuance costs
(2,853
)
 

Net proceeds from exercise of stock-based awards
143

 

Change in Former Parent Company borrowings, net

 
12,078

Net transfers (to) from Former Parent Company
(466,542
)
 
29,875

Net cash (used in) provided by financing activities
(69,252
)
 
41,953

 
 
 
 
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash and cash equivalents
(642
)
 
436

 
 
 
 
Net (decrease) increase in cash and cash equivalents
(71,293
)
 
78,288

Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period
105,588

 
10,302

Cash and cash equivalents at end of period
$
34,295

 
$
88,590


See accompanying Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

5


NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
 
 
(in thousands except share and per share amounts)
(unaudited)
 


1. Basis of Presentation

Description of Business - On February 28, 2014, Knowles Corporation became an independent, publicly-traded company as a result of the distribution by Dover Corporation (“Dover” or “Former Parent”) of 100% of the outstanding common stock of the Company to Dover’s shareholders (the "Separation"). For more information regarding the Separation, see the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2013. References to “Knowles,” “the Company,” “we,” “our” and “us” refer to Knowles Corporation and its consolidated subsidiaries. The Company engages in the design and manufacture of innovative products and components which serve the mobile consumer electronics, medical technology, telecommunications infrastructure, military/space and other industrial end markets.

Financial Statement Presentation - The accompanying unaudited interim Consolidated Financial Statements have been prepared pursuant to the rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) for quarterly reports on Form 10-Q and do not include all of the information and note disclosures required by U.S. generally accepted accounting principles (“U.S. GAAP”) for complete financial statements. These unaudited interim Consolidated Financial Statements should therefore be read in conjunction with the Combined Financial Statements and Notes thereto for the year ended December 31, 2013 included in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K filed with the SEC on March 28, 2014.

The accompanying unaudited interim Consolidated Financial Statements have been prepared in accordance with U.S. GAAP, which requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect amounts reported in the Consolidated Financial Statements and accompanying disclosures. Although these estimates are based on management’s best knowledge of current events and actions that the Company may undertake in the future, actual results may differ from those estimates. The unaudited interim Consolidated Financial Statements reflect all adjustments of a normal, recurring nature that are, in the opinion of management, necessary for a fair presentation of results for these interim periods. During the three months ended March 31, 2014, the Company corrected its incentive compensation accrual to reflect the actual amounts paid for 2013 incentive compensation, which increased earnings before income taxes by $1,420 ($923 net of tax), and tax expense associated with foreign taxes due on 2012 royalty income, which decreased net earnings by $1,100. During the three months ended June 30, 2014, the Company corrected its severance accrual to include agreements executed in 2013, which decreased earnings before income taxes by $2,105 ($1,579 net of tax).  During the three months ended September 30, 2014, the Company corrected its tax expense to properly reflect Chinese withholding taxes paid on 2013 royalty income, which decreased net earnings by $1,668. These items are not material to the Consolidated Financial Statements for any impacted period. In addition, certain prior period amounts on the Consolidated Statements of Earnings and the Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows have been reclassified to conform to the current period presentation.

Prior to the Separation on February 28, 2014, the Company’s financial statements were prepared on a stand-alone basis and were derived from Dover’s consolidated financial statements and accounting records. The financial statements for those periods include allocations of costs that were incurred by Dover for functions such as corporate human resources, finance and legal, including the costs of salaries, benefits and other related costs. These expenses have been allocated to Knowles based on direct usage or benefit where identifiable, with the remainder allocated on the basis of revenues, headcount, or other measures. Knowles considers the expense allocation methodology reasonable. However, the allocations may not be indicative of the actual expenses had Knowles operated as an independent, publicly-traded company for all periods presented. These allocations, which ceased as of the Separation date, totaled $3,368 and $16,856 during the nine months ended September 30, 2014 and 2013, respectively.

Revision of Prior Period Financial Statements - During the fourth quarter of 2013, the Company identified a classification error in the Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows whereby accrued capital expenditures and accrued patent defense costs were incorrectly classified as Additions to property, plant and equipment and Capitalized patent defense costs, respectively, within investing activities. The Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows presented herein have been revised to reflect the correction of this error. The results of this correction were an increase in net cash used in investing activities of $13,789 in the nine months ending September 30, 2013, with an offsetting increase from net cash provided by operating activities during the same period. This classification error is not considered material to the nine months ending September 30, 2013.

Related Party Transactions - Knowles made a cash payment of $400,000 to Dover immediately prior to the Separation, which is reflected in Net transfers (to) from Former Parent Company on the Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows and in Net transfers to Former Parent Company on the Consolidated Statement of Stockholders' Equity. In connection with a tax matters agreement entered into with Dover as part of the Separation, the Company had $1,685 recorded in accounts payable at September 30, 2014, which will be paid in the fourth quarter of 2014.

6


NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
 
 
(in thousands except share and per share amounts)
(unaudited)
 


Separation-related Adjustments - During the nine months ended September 30, 2014, certain Separation-related adjustments were recorded in stockholders' equity, principally due to the transfer of certain pension plan liabilities from Dover upon the legal split of those plans, as well as to adjust the Company's income tax balances to reflect the Company's post-Separation stand-alone income tax positions. In addition, because the historical financial statements were derived from Dover’s accounting records, included in the Separation-related adjustments were adjustments to foreign currency translation adjustments to reflect the appropriate opening balances related to Knowles' legal entities at the Separation date.

Non-cash Investing Activities - Purchases of property, plant and equipment included in accounts payable at September 30, 2014 and 2013 were $9,892 and $9,111, respectively. In addition, legal costs incurred in the defense of the Company's patents included in accounts payable at September 30, 2014 and 2013 were $1,025 and $1,431, respectively. These non-cash amounts are not reflected as outflows to Additions to property, plant and equipment or Capitalized patent defense costs within investing activities of the Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows for the respective periods.

2. Inventories, net
 
September 30, 2014
 
December 31, 2013
Raw materials
$
66,057

 
$
55,870

Work in progress
35,816

 
29,886

Finished goods
92,851

 
92,048

Subtotal
194,724

 
177,804

Less reserves
(33,487
)
 
(28,636
)
Total
$
161,237

 
$
149,168


3. Property, Plant and Equipment, net
 
September 30, 2014
 
December 31, 2013
Land
$
12,098

 
$
12,238

Buildings and improvements
105,593

 
85,815

Machinery, equipment and other
679,973

 
678,386

Subtotal
797,664

 
776,439

Less accumulated depreciation (1)
(476,480
)
 
(415,442
)
Total
$
321,184

 
$
360,997


(1) During the nine months ended September 30, 2014, the Company recorded accelerated depreciation on fixed assets related to shorter product life cycles at our Beijing, China facility totaling $19,553.

4. Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets

The following table provides the changes in carrying value of goodwill by reportable segment for the nine months ended September 30, 2014:
 
Mobile Consumer Electronics
 
Specialty Components
 
Total
Balance at December 31, 2013
$
776,349

 
$
185,567

 
$
961,916

Foreign currency translation
(29,403
)
 
(129
)
 
(29,532
)
Balance at September 30, 2014
$
746,946

 
$
185,438

 
$
932,384




7


NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
 
 
(in thousands except share and per share amounts)
(unaudited)
 

The following table provides the gross carrying value and accumulated amortization for each major class of intangible asset:
 
September 30, 2014
 
December 31, 2013
 
Gross Carrying
Amount
 
Accumulated
Amortization
 
Gross Carrying
Amount
 
Accumulated
Amortization
Amortized intangible assets:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Trademarks
$
7,819

 
$
1,812

 
$
8,264

 
$
1,503

Patents
49,129

 
10,919

 
47,543

 
17,549

Customer Relationships
414,258

 
204,494

 
429,429

 
181,232

Unpatented Technologies
65,627

 
64,824

 
65,757

 
64,574

Other
1,564

 
1,521

 
1,564

 
1,389

Total
538,397

 
283,570

 
552,557

 
266,247

Unamortized intangible assets:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Trademarks
32,000

 
 
 
32,000

 
 
Total intangible assets, net
$
286,827

 
 
 
$
318,310

 
 

Amortization expense totaled $10,633 and $11,474 for the three months ended September 30, 2014 and 2013, respectively. For the nine months ended September 30, 2014 and 2013, amortization expense was $32,170 and $35,458, respectively.

5. Restructuring and Related Activities

Vienna action
On April 1, 2014, the Board of Directors authorized the cessation of manufacturing operations at the Company's Vienna, Austria facility as part of the Company's previously-announced plan to consolidate its manufacturing footprint. This action was substantially complete by June 30, 2014. A summary of the pre-tax charge and remaining costs associated with the action is as follows:
 
Total Program
 
Recognized as of September 30, 2014
 
Remaining Costs to be Recognized
Severance pay and benefits
$
15,790

 
$
14,755

 
$
1,035

Contract termination and other costs
5,426

 
4,602

 
824

Total
$
21,216

 
$
19,357

 
$
1,859


Of the restructuring charges incurred to date, $13,826 were classified as Cost of goods sold and $5,531 were classified as Operating expenses on the respective Restructuring charges lines on the Consolidated Statements of Earnings. These charges all relate to cash expenditures, the majority of which will be paid by the end of 2014.

In conjunction with this restructuring action, the Company also accelerated depreciation on fixed assets and recorded inventory charges related to product lines that were exited of $20,360 for the nine months ended September 30, 2014. These non-cash costs were classified as Cost of goods sold on the Consolidated Statements of Earnings.
The Company anticipates annual savings of $25,000 to $30,000 associated with this action beginning during the third quarter of 2014, mainly due to reduced salary and fixed asset depreciation expenses.
Other actions
In line with the Company's previously announced plans to consolidate its manufacturing footprint, the Company also had other actions underway during the three and nine months ended September 30, 2014 that are designed to better align the Company's operations with current market conditions through targeted facility consolidations, headcount reductions and other measures to further optimize operations. These actions included programs to transfer the Company's hearing health business and certain of its North American based capacitor business into new and existing lower-cost Asian manufacturing facilities, as well as to reduce headcount in the consumer electronics business.

8


NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
 
 
(in thousands except share and per share amounts)
(unaudited)
 

During the three and nine months ended September 30, 2013, the restructuring charges were related to the reduction in headcount within the Company's German and North American operations that serve the telecom infrastructure market in order to better align the business with current market dynamics, the migration of the Company's U.K. based capacitor production into existing Asian manufacturing facilities and the integration of activities within the consumer electronics business.
The following table details restructuring charges incurred by reportable segment for the periods presented:
 
Three Months Ended September 30,
 
Nine Months Ended September 30,
 
2014
 
2013
 
2014
 
2013
Mobile Consumer Electronics
$
2,606

 
$
351

 
$
20,717

 
$
7,267

Specialty Components
3,184

 
1,650

 
6,016

 
7,566

Total
$
5,790

 
$
2,001

 
$
26,733

 
$
14,833


The following table details the Company’s severance and other restructuring accrual activity:
 
Severance Pay and Benefits
 
Contract Termination and Other Costs
 
Total
Balance at December 31, 2013
$
5,000

 
$
534

 
$
5,534

Restructuring charges
21,894

 
4,839

 
26,733

Payments
(14,951
)
 
(1,198
)
 
(16,149
)
Other, including foreign currency
(210
)
 
(269
)
 
(479
)
Balance at September 30, 2014
$
11,733

 
$
3,906

 
$
15,639


The severance and restructuring accruals are recorded in the following accounts on the Consolidated Balance Sheet:
 
 
September 30, 2014
 
December 31, 2013
Other accrued expenses
 
$
14,375

 
$
5,534

Other liabilities (1)
 
1,264

 

Total
 
$
15,639

 
$
5,534


(1) This represents the long-term portion of the charges associated with lease obligations, net of reasonably obtainable sublease income.

6. Borrowings

On January 27, 2014, the Company entered into a $200,000 five-year senior secured revolving credit facility, as well as a $300,000 five-year senior secured term loan facility, which are referred to collectively as the “Credit Facilities.” In connection with the Separation from Dover, the Company incurred $100,000 of borrowings under the revolving credit facility and $300,000 of borrowings under the term loan facility, in each case to finance a cash payment to Dover immediately prior to the Separation.

Borrowings at September 30, 2014 consist of the following:
 
September 30, 2014
Term Loan
$
300,000

Revolving Credit Facility
100,000

Total
400,000

Less: current maturities
11,250

Total long-term debt
$
388,750



9


NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
 
 
(in thousands except share and per share amounts)
(unaudited)
 

The Credit Facilities include a requirement, to be tested quarterly, that the Company maintains both (i) a minimum ratio of consolidated EBITDA to consolidated interest expense of 3.25 to 1.0 and (ii) a maximum ratio of consolidated total indebtedness to consolidated EBITDA of 3.25 to 1.0. For these ratios, consolidated EBITDA and consolidated interest expense are calculated using the most recent four consecutive fiscal quarters in a manner defined in the credit agreement. At September 30, 2014, the Company was in compliance with these covenants and it expects to remain in compliance with all of its debt covenants over the next twelve months.

The interest rate under the Credit Facilities is variable based on LIBOR at the time of the borrowing and the Company's leverage as measured by a total indebtedness to consolidated EBITDA ratio. Based upon the Company's total indebtedness to consolidated EBITDA ratio, the Company's borrowing rate could range from LIBOR + 1.25% to LIBOR + 2.25%. At September 30, 2014, the interest rate for the Credit Facilities was 1.66%.

Interest expense and interest income for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2014 and 2013 were as follows:
 
Three Months Ended September 30,
 
Nine Months Ended September 30,
 
2014
 
2013
 
2014
 
2013
Interest expense
$
2,022

 
$
13,334

 
$
4,537

 
$
39,464

Interest income
(7
)
 
(1,167
)
 
(30
)
 
(3,280
)
Interest expense, net
$
2,015

 
$
12,167

 
$
4,507

 
$
36,184


The interest expense, net for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2013 primarily relates to interest expense on the net notes payable with Dover that were settled during the fourth quarter of 2013 in anticipation of the Separation.

7. Other Comprehensive (Loss) Earnings

The amounts recognized in other comprehensive (loss) earnings were as follows:
 
Three Months Ended
 
Three Months Ended
 
September 30, 2014
 
September 30, 2013
 
Pre-tax
 
Tax
 
Net of tax
 
Pre-tax
 
Tax
 
Net of tax
Foreign currency translation
$
(34,541
)
 
 
 
$
(34,541
)
 
$
23,358

 
 
 
$
23,358

Employee benefit plans
399

 
(100
)
 
299

 
417

 
(100
)
 
317

Changes in fair value of cash flow hedges

 

 

 
169

 
(59
)
 
110

Total other comprehensive (loss) earnings
$
(34,142
)
 
$
(100
)
 
$
(34,242
)
 
$
23,944

 
$
(159
)
 
$
23,785


 
Nine Months Ended
 
Nine Months Ended
 
September 30, 2014
 
September 30, 2013
 
Pre-tax
 
Tax
 
Net of tax
 
Pre-tax
 
Tax
 
Net of tax
Foreign currency translation
$
(45,430
)
 
 
 
$
(45,430
)
 
$
13,441

 
 
 
$
13,441

Employee benefit plans
408

 
(84
)
 
324

 
544

 
(131
)
 
413

Changes in fair value of cash flow hedges

 

 

 
(241
)
 
84

 
(157
)
Total other comprehensive (loss) earnings
$
(45,022
)
 
$
(84
)
 
$
(45,106
)
 
$
13,744

 
$
(47
)
 
$
13,697



10


NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
 
 
(in thousands except share and per share amounts)
(unaudited)
 

The following tables summarize the changes in balances of each component of accumulated other comprehensive (loss) earnings, net of tax during the nine months ended September 30, 2014 and 2013.
 
 
Cumulative foreign currency translation adjustments
 
Employee benefit plans
 
Total
Balance at December 31, 2013
 
$
44,379

 
$
(7,854
)
 
$
36,525

Other comprehensive loss
 
(45,430
)

324

 
(45,106
)
Separation-related adjustments
 
(7,204
)
 
(335
)
 
(7,539
)
Balance at September 30, 2014
 
$
(8,255
)
 
$
(7,865
)
 
$
(16,120
)
 
 
Cash flow hedges
 
Cumulative foreign currency translation adjustments
 
Employee benefit plans
 
Total
Balance at December 31, 2012
 
$

 
$
11,784

 
$
(8,019
)
 
$
3,765

Other comprehensive earnings
 
(157
)
 
13,441

 
413

 
13,697

Balance at September 30, 2013
 
$
(157
)
 
$
25,225

 
$
(7,606
)
 
$
17,462


8. Income Taxes

Income taxes for the interim periods presented have been included in the accompanying Consolidated Financial Statements on the basis of an estimated annual effective tax rate ("ETR"). The determination of the consolidated provision for income taxes requires management to make certain judgments and estimates. Changes in the estimated level of annual pre-tax earnings, tax laws, and changes resulting from tax audits can affect the overall effective income tax rate, which impacts the level of income tax expense and net income. Judgments and estimates related to the Company’s projections and assumptions are inherently uncertain; therefore, actual results could differ materially from projections. The year-to-date ETR deviates from the statutory U.S. federal income tax rate, mainly due to the taxing jurisdictions in which the Company and its foreign subsidiaries generate taxable income or loss, the favorable impact of its tax holidays in Malaysia and judgments as to the realizability of the Company’s deferred tax assets.

The Company's ETR was a 9.5% benefit and a 65.8% provision for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2014, respectively, and a 15.6% benefit and a 10.0% benefit for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2013, respectively. During the three and nine months ended September 30, 2014, the ETR was impacted by discrete items totaling $1,792 and $37,501, respectively. During the three months ended September 30, 2014, the Company recorded tax expense of $1,668 related to Chinese withholding taxes paid on 2013 royalty income. During the nine months ended September 30, 2014, the Company also recorded a valuation allowance of $36,793 on certain foreign subsidiaries' net deferred tax assets, primarily related to net operating losses, as the Company believes it is more likely than not that these assets will not be realized, which was partially offset by a benefit related to an additional tax holiday in Malaysia of $4,352. This tax holiday provides a full income tax exemption on certain MEMS manufacturing income for a ten year period commencing on July 26, 2011. This tax holiday is contingent on the Company meeting specified criteria, including investment in fixed assets and research and development activities. The benefit of this tax holiday for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2014 was $0.03 and $0.09 per share, respectively. Absent the discrete items, the ETR for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2014 was a 20.6% benefit and a 6.6% benefit, respectively. The change in the ETR, excluding the discrete items, was due to the mix of earnings by taxing jurisdictions.
 
During the nine months ended September 30, 2014, the Company’s income tax balances were adjusted to reflect the Company’s post-Separation stand-alone income tax positions, including those related to tax loss and credit carryforwards, other deferred tax assets and valuation allowances. These Separation-related adjustments resulted in a $10,066 increase to the net deferred tax liability, primarily due to a decrease in tax loss and credit carryforwards, partially offset by a decrease in the Company's valuation allowances. The increase in the net deferred tax liability was offset by a corresponding decrease in Net Former Parent Company Investment.


11


NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
 
 
(in thousands except share and per share amounts)
(unaudited)
 

9. Equity Incentive Program

Stock-based compensation expense recognized in the Consolidated Statements of Earnings totaled $2,560 and $548 for the three months ended September 30, 2014 and 2013, respectively. For the nine months ended September 30, 2014 and 2013, stock-based compensation expense was $6,463 and $1,677, respectively. Prior to the Separation, stock-based compensation expense was allocated to Knowles based on the portion of Dover's equity incentive program in which Knowles employees participated.

Adopted in connection with the Separation, Knowles' Equity and Cash Incentive Plan provides for the assumption of certain awards granted under Dover's equity incentive program and authorizes the grant of several different forms of benefits, including stock options, restricted stock units ("RSUs"), and stock-settled stock appreciation rights ("SSARs").

In connection with the Separation, Dover equity awards previously granted to employees of the Company were converted to Knowles equity awards under the Company's Equity and Cash Incentive Plan. In general, each award is subject to the same terms and conditions as were in effect prior to the Separation, except that Dover performance shares converted to time-based RSUs. In addition, the Company made a grant comprised of both stock options and time-based RSUs that will vest 50% on the third and fourth anniversaries from the date of the grant. The Company also made a grant of both stock options and time-based RSUs that will vest evenly over the next three years. Lastly, the independent directors received a grant of Company shares that vested immediately, receipt of which was deferred by some of the recipients. The Company has elected to use the straight-line method to attribute the expense over the service period of the awards.

Stock Options

The expense related to stock options granted in the nine months ended September 30, 2014, was estimated on the date of grant using a Black-Scholes option-pricing model based on the assumptions shown in the table below. There were no significant stock options granted in the three months ended September 30, 2014.

Risk-free interest rate
1.32
%
to
1.63%
Dividend yield
—%
Expected life (years)
4.5

to
5.3
Volatility
42.9
%
to
49.9%
Fair value at date of grant
$10.73
to
$13.50

The following table summarizes the Company's SSAR and stock option activity for the nine months ended September 30, 2014.
 
SSARs
 
Stock Options
 
Number of Shares
 
Weighted-Average Exercise Price
 
Aggregate Intrinsic Value
 
Weighted-Average Remaining Contractual Term (Years)
 
Number of Shares
 
Weighted-Average Exercise Price
 
Aggregate Intrinsic Value
 
Weighted-Average Remaining Contractual Term (Years)
Outstanding at December 31, 2013

 
$

 
 
 
 
 

 
$

 
 
 
 
Converted
1,085,643

 
20.85

 
 
 
 
 
13,680

 
12.65

 
 
 
 
Granted

 

 
 
 
 
 
1,332,395

 
29.51

 
 
 
 
Exercised
(7,219
)
 
22.17

 
 
 
 
 
(11,280
)
 
12.65

 
 
 
 
Forfeited

 

 
 
 
 
 
(4,000
)
 
29.53

 
 
 
 
Outstanding at September 30, 2014
1,078,424

 
$
20.84

 
$
6,107

 
7.0
 
1,330,795

 
$
29.48

 
$
33

 
6.4
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Exercisable at September 30, 2014
386,308

 
$
17.24

 
$
3,577

 
5.5
 
2,400

 
$
12.65

 
$
33

 
0.4


12


NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
 
 
(in thousands except share and per share amounts)
(unaudited)
 

Unrecognized compensation expense related to SSARs and stock options not yet exercisable at September 30, 2014 was $1,343 and $13,907, respectively. This cost is expected to be recognized over a weighted-average period of 1.2 years for SSARs and 2.3 years for stock options.

RSUs

The following table summarizes the Company's RSU balances for the nine months ended September 30, 2014.
 
Share units
 
Weighted-average grant date fair value
Outstanding at December 31, 2013

 
$

Converted (1)
21,557

 
12.36

Granted
371,747

 
29.51

Forfeited
(1,016
)
 
29.53

Outstanding at September 30, 2014
392,288

 
$
28.57


(1) The weighted-average grant date fair value is equal to the fair value at the date of conversion as opposed to the fair value when originally issued under Dover's plan.

At September 30, 2014, $9,439 of unrecognized compensation expense related to RSUs is expected to be recognized over a weighted-average period of 2.2 years.

Director Awards

On March 7, 2014, the independent directors received grants totaling 16,930 shares with a grant date fair value of $29.53 per share. These shares vested immediately upon issuance.

10. Earnings per Share

The following table sets forth a reconciliation of the information used in computing basic and diluted shares outstanding and amounts used in computing the respective earnings per share:
 
Three Months Ended September 30,
 
Nine Months Ended September 30,
 
2014
 
2013
 
2014
 
2013
Net (loss) earnings
$
(14,609
)
 
$
44,260

 
$
(85,868
)
 
$
72,827

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Basic (loss) earnings per common share:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Basic weighted-average shares outstanding (1)
85,047,991

 
85,019,159

 
85,038,151

 
85,019,159

Basic (loss) earnings per share (1)
$
(0.17
)
 
$
0.52

 
$
(1.01
)
 
$
0.86

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Diluted (loss) earnings per common share:
 

 
 

 
 
 
 
Basic weighted-average shares outstanding (1)
85,047,991

 
85,019,159

 
85,038,151

 
85,019,159

Dilutive effect of stock-based awards

 

 

 

Diluted weighted-average shares outstanding (1)
85,047,991

 
85,019,159

 
85,038,151

 
85,019,159

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Diluted (loss) earnings per share (1)
$
(0.17
)
 
$
0.52

 
$
(1.01
)
 
$
0.86


(1) On February 28, 2014, Dover shareholders of record as of the close of business on February 19, 2014 received one share of Knowles common stock for every two shares of Dover's common stock held as of the record date. The computation of basic and diluted earnings per common share for all periods through December 31, 2013 was calculated using the shares distributed on February 28, 2014.

13


NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
 
 
(in thousands except share and per share amounts)
(unaudited)
 


For the three and nine months ended September 30, 2014, the weighted-average number of anti-dilutive potential common shares excluded from the calculation above was 1,807,022 and 1,353,762, respectively.

11. Commitments and Contingent Liabilities

The Company is involved in various legal proceedings, claims and investigations arising in the normal course of its business, including those related to intellectual property which may be owned by it or others. The Company owns many patents which cover products, technology and manufacturing processes. Some of these patents have been and, the Company expects, will continue to be challenged by others. In appropriate cases, the Company has taken and will take steps to protect and defend its patents and other intellectual property, including through the use of legal proceedings in various jurisdictions around the world. Such steps may result in retaliatory legal proceedings, including litigation or other legal proceedings in various forums and jurisdictions around the world alleging infringement by the Company of patents owned by others. The costs of investigations and legal proceedings, particularly multi-forum litigation, relating to the enforcement and defense of the Company’s intellectual property may be material. Additionally, in multi-forum disputes the Company may incur adverse judgments with regard to certain claims in certain forums while still contesting other related claims against the same opposing party in other forums. Based on the strength of its intellectual property and its prior experience enforcing it, the Company's current assessment is that the ultimate disposition of these matters is not expected to have a material adverse effect on its operating results or financial condition. The Company will periodically review the probable outcome of such proceedings, their impact on its operations, the associated costs and expenses incurred and reasonably expected to be incurred, and the amounts accrued.

In addition, the Company may, on a limited, customer specific basis, provide contractual indemnities for certain losses that arise out of claims that its products infringe the intellectual property of others. Historically, the Company has not made significant payments under such indemnity arrangements. At September 30, 2014 and 2013, the Company’s legal reserves were not significant.

12. Segment Information

Knowles is organized into two reportable segments based on how management analyzes performance, allocates capital and makes strategic and operational decisions. These segments were determined in accordance with Financial Accounting Standards Board ("FASB") Accounting Standards Codification Topic 280 - Segment Reporting and include (i) Mobile Consumer Electronics and (ii) Specialty Components. The segments are aligned around similar product applications serving Knowles' key end markets to enhance focus on end market growth strategies.

Mobile Consumer Electronics designs and manufactures innovative acoustic products, including microphones, speakers, receivers and integrated audio solutions, used in several applications that serve the handset, tablet and other consumer electronic markets.

Specialty Components specializes in the design and manufacture of specialized electronic components used in medical and life science applications, as well as high-performance solutions and components used in communications infrastructure and a wide variety of other markets. Specialty Components' transducer products are used principally in hearing aid applications within the commercial audiology markets, while its oscillator products predominantly serve the telecom infrastructure market and its capacitor products are used in applications including radio, radar, satellite, power supplies, transceivers and medical implants serving the defense, aerospace, telecommunication, and life sciences markets.


14


NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
 
 
(in thousands except share and per share amounts)
(unaudited)
 

Information regarding the Company's reportable segments is as follows:
 
Three Months Ended September 30,
 
Nine Months Ended September 30,
 
2014
 
2013
 
2014
 
2013
Revenue:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Mobile Consumer Electronics
$
182,506

 
$
199,808

 
$
513,239

 
$
559,234

Specialty Components
118,339

 
111,846

 
342,045

 
325,273

Intra-segment eliminations
(9
)
 
(13
)
 
(30
)
 
(39
)
Total consolidated revenue
$
300,836

 
$
311,641

 
$
855,254

 
$
884,468

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
(Loss) earnings before interest and income taxes: (1)
 
 

 
 
 
 
Mobile Consumer Electronics
$
(21,682
)
 
$
38,233

 
$
(62,365
)
 
$
85,622

Specialty Components
20,445

 
21,085

 
50,977

 
47,623

Total segments
(1,237
)
 
59,318

 
(11,388
)
 
133,245

Corporate expense / other
12,884

 
8,880

 
35,902

 
30,849

Interest expense, net
2,015

 
12,167

 
4,507

 
36,184

(Loss) earnings before income taxes
(16,136
)
 
38,271

 
(51,797
)
 
66,212

(Benefit from) provision for income taxes
(1,527
)
 
(5,989
)
 
34,071

 
(6,615
)
Net (loss) earnings
$
(14,609
)
 
$
44,260

 
$
(85,868
)
 
$
72,827


(1) During the first quarter of 2014, the Company began using earnings before interest and income taxes as the measure to make decisions about allocating resources to segments and assessing segment performance instead of earnings before interest, income taxes, depreciation and amortization.

13. Recent Accounting Standards

Recently Issued Accounting Standards

In August 2014, the FASB issued Accounting Standards Update ("ASU") 2014-15 that requires management to evaluate, for each annual and interim reporting period, whether there are conditions and events, considered in the aggregate, that raise substantial doubt about an entity’s ability to continue as a going concern within one year after the date the financial statements are issued or are available to be issued. If substantial doubt is raised, additional disclosures around management’s plan to alleviate these doubts are required. This standard will become effective for fiscal years ending after December 15, 2016 and for all reporting periods thereafter. The Company does not expect the new guidance to have a significant impact on its Consolidated Financial Statements.

In May 2014, the FASB issued ASU 2014-09 that introduces a new five-step revenue recognition model in which an entity should recognize revenue to depict the transfer of promised goods or services to customers in an amount that reflects the consideration to which the entity expects to be entitled in exchange for those goods or services. This ASU also requires disclosures sufficient to enable users to understand the nature, amount, timing, and uncertainty of revenue and cash flows arising from contracts with customers, including qualitative and quantitative disclosures about contracts with customers, significant judgments and changes in judgments, and assets recognized from the costs to obtain or fulfill a contract. This standard will be effective for reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2016. The Company is currently evaluating the new guidance to determine the impact it will have on its Consolidated Financial Statements.

In April 2014, the FASB issued ASU 2014-08, which includes amendments that change the requirements for reporting discontinued operations and require additional disclosures about discontinued operations. Under the new guidance, only disposals representing a strategic shift in operations - that is, a major effect on the organization's operations and financial results - should be presented as discontinued operations. Examples include a disposal of a major geographic area, a major line of business, or a major equity method investment. Additionally, the ASU requires expanded disclosures about discontinued operations that will provide financial statement users with more information about the assets, liabilities, income, and expenses of discontinued operations. This standard will be effective for the Company in the first quarter of 2015. The Company does not expect the new guidance to have a significant impact on its Consolidated Financial Statements.


15


NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
 
 
(in thousands except share and per share amounts)
(unaudited)
 

Recently Adopted Accounting Standards

In July 2013, the FASB issued ASU 2013-11, which provides that an unrecognized tax benefit, or a portion thereof, should be presented in the financial statements as a reduction to a deferred tax asset for a net operating loss carryforward, a similar tax loss, or a tax credit carryforward, except to the extent that a net operating loss carryforward, a similar tax loss, or a tax credit carryforward is not available at the reporting date to settle any additional income taxes that would result from disallowance of a tax position, or the tax law does not require the entity to use, and the entity does not intend to use, the deferred tax asset for such purpose, then the unrecognized tax benefit should be presented as a liability. This standard is effective for reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2013. The Company's adoption of this standard did not have a significant impact on its Consolidated Financial Statements.

In February 2013, the FASB issued ASU 2013-02, which requires additional disclosures regarding the reporting of reclassifications out of accumulated other comprehensive income. ASU 2013-02 requires an entity to present, either on the face of the statement where net income is presented or in the notes, significant amounts reclassified out of accumulated other comprehensive income by the respective line items of net income but only if the amount reclassified is required under U.S. GAAP to be reclassified to net income in its entirety in the same reporting period. This standard is effective for reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2012. The Company adopted this guidance effective January 1, 2013. The Company's adoption of this standard did not have a significant impact on its Consolidated Financial Statements.


16


Forward-Looking Statements
This Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933 and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (the “Exchange Act”) relating to our operations, results of operations and other matters that are based on our current expectations, estimates, assumptions and projections. Words such as “may,” “will,” “should,” “likely,” “anticipates,” “expects,” “intends,” “plans,” “projects,” “believes,” “estimates,” “positioned,” “outlook” and similar expressions are used to identify these forward-looking statements. These statements are not guarantees of future performance and involve risks, uncertainties and assumptions that are difficult to predict. Actual outcomes and results may differ materially from what is expressed or forecast in these forward-looking statements. Risks, uncertainties and other factors that might cause such differences, some of which could be material, include, but are not limited to:
o  
the pace and success of achieving the cost savings from our announced restructurings;
o  
fluctuations in our stock's market price;
o  
fluctuations in operating results and cash flows;
o  
our ability to prevent or identify quality issues in our products or to promptly remedy any such issues that are identified;
o  
unexpected technological obsolescence and the emergence of new technologies;
o  
changes in macroeconomic and political conditions, both in the U.S. and internationally;
o  
our financial performance during and after the current economic conditions;
o  
foreign currency exchange rate fluctuations;
o  
our ability to maintain and improve costs, quality and delivery for our customers;
o  
pricing pressure on mature products;
o  
our ability to qualify our products and facilities with customers;
o  
risks and costs inherent in litigation;
o  
our ability to obtain, protect, defend or monetize our intellectual property rights;
o  
our ability to comply with domestic and international laws, regulations and policies;
o  
whether the restructuring of our operations globally will adversely affect our cost structure;
o  
increases in the costs of critical raw materials and components;
o  
availability of raw materials and components;
o  
competition;
o  
anticipated growth for us and adoption of our technologies and solutions that may not occur;
o  
managing rapid growth;
o  
managing rapid declines in customer demand for certain of our products or solutions and other related customer challenges that may occur;
o  
our ability to successfully consummate acquisitions and divestitures;
o  
our obligations and risks under various transaction agreements that were executed as part of our spin-off from our former parent company, Dover Corporation;
o  
managing the integration of our businesses which were included in our recent spin-off from Dover Corporation;
o  
managing new product ramps and introductions for our customers;
o  
risks associated with international sales and operations;
o  
interruptions or intrusions to our information systems;
o  
retaining key personnel;
o  
our dependence on a limited number of large customers; and
o  
business and competitive factors generally affecting the advanced micro-acoustic solutions and specialty components industry, our customers and our business.

A more complete description of these risks, uncertainties and other factors can be found under the heading “Risk Factors” in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2013. We do not undertake to update or revise our forward-looking statements as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required by law.


17


Item 2. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations

The following discussion and analysis should be read in conjunction with our Consolidated Financial Statements and related Notes included elsewhere in this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q. Unless the context otherwise requires, references to (i) “Knowles,” the “Company,” “we,” “our” or “us” refer to Knowles Corporation and its consolidated subsidiaries, after giving effect to the spin-off of Knowles from Dover Corporation, (ii) “Former Parent” or "Dover" refers to Dover Corporation and (iii) the “Separation” or the “Distribution” refer to our spin-off from our Former Parent.

Overview

On February 28, 2014, our former parent company, Dover, completed the spin-off of Knowles into an independent, publicly-traded company.

We have a leading position in MicroElectroMechanical Systems (“MEMS”) microphones, speakers and receivers which are used in mobile handsets, smartphones, tablets and other devices within the consumer electronics market. We are also a leading manufacturer of transducers used in the hearing health segment of the medical technology market and have a strong position in oscillator (timing devices) and capacitor components which serve the telecommunication infrastructure, military/space and other industrial markets.

We are organized into two reportable segments based on how management analyzes performance, allocates capital and makes strategic and operational decisions. These segments were determined in accordance with Financial Accounting Standards Board ("FASB") Accounting Standards Codification Topic 280 - Segment Reporting and are comprised of (i) Mobile Consumer Electronics (“MCE”) and (ii) Specialty Components (“SC”). The segments are aligned around similar product applications serving our key end markets, to enhance focus on end market growth strategies.

MCE designs and manufactures innovative acoustic products, including microphones, speakers, receivers and integrated audio solutions, used in several applications that serve the handset, tablet and other consumer electronic markets.
SC specializes in the design and manufacture of specialized electronic components used in medical and life science applications, as well as high-performance solutions and components used in communications infrastructure and a wide variety of other markets. SC’s transducer products are used principally in hearing aid applications within the commercial audiology markets, while its oscillator products predominantly serve the telecom infrastructure market and its capacitor products are used in applications including radio, radar, satellite, power supplies, transceivers and medical implants serving the defense, aerospace, telecommunication and life sciences markets.

Results of Operations

The Consolidated Financial Statements and segment information included in this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q have been derived from the Consolidated Financial Statements of the Company, which prior to the Separation were prepared on a stand-alone basis and derived from Dover's consolidated financial statements and accounting records. The Consolidated Financial Statements may not necessarily reflect our results of operations, financial position and cash flows in the future, or what our results of operations, financial position and cash flows would have been had Knowles been a stand-alone company during all the periods presented.


18


Results of Operations for the Three Months Ended September 30, 2014 Compared with the Three Months Ended September 30, 2013

In addition to the GAAP financial measures included herein, we have presented certain non-GAAP financial measures. We use non-GAAP measures as supplements to our GAAP results of operations in evaluating certain aspects of our business, and our Board of Directors and executive management team focus on non-GAAP items as key measures of our performance for business planning purposes. These measures assist us in comparing our performance between various reporting periods on a consistent basis, as these measures remove from operating results the impact of items that, in our opinion, do not reflect our core operating performance. We believe that our presentation of non-GAAP financial measures is useful because it provides investors and securities analysts with the same information that we use internally for purposes of assessing our core operating performance. For a reconciliation of these non-GAAP financial measures to the most directly comparable GAAP financial measures, see the reconciliation included herein.
 
 
Three Months Ended September 30,
(in thousands, except per share amounts)
 
2014
 
2013
Revenues
 
$
300,836

 
$
311,641

 
 
 
 
 
Gross profit
 
$
52,193

 
$
117,986

Non-GAAP gross profit
 
$
94,482

 
$
121,965

 
 
 
 
 
(Loss) earnings before interest and income taxes
 
$
(14,121
)
 
$
50,438

Adjusted earnings before interest and income taxes
 
$
42,216

 
$
67,538

 
 
 
 
 
Benefit from income taxes
 
$
(1,527
)
 
$
(5,989
)
Non-GAAP provision for income taxes
 
$
7,451

 
$
4,441

 
 
 
 
 
Net (loss) earnings
 
$
(14,609
)
 
$
44,260

Non-GAAP net earnings
 
$
32,750

 
$
50,930

 
 
 
 
 
Diluted (loss) earnings per share (1) 
 
$
(0.17
)
 
$
0.52

Non-GAAP diluted earnings per share
 
$
0.38

 
$
0.60


(1) On February 28, 2014, Dover shareholders of record as of the close of business on February 19, 2014 received one share of Knowles common stock for every two shares of Dover's common stock held as of the record date. The computation of diluted earnings per common share for all periods through December 31, 2013 were calculated using the shares distributed on February 28, 2014. See Note 10. Earnings per Share, to the Consolidated Financial Statements for information regarding earnings per share.

Revenues

Revenues for the third quarter of 2014 were $300.8 million, compared with $311.6 million for the third quarter of 2013, a decrease of $10.8 million or 3.5%. This was due to a decrease in Mobile Consumer Electronics revenues of $17.3 million, partially offset by an increase in Specialty Components revenues of $6.5 million. Mobile Consumer Electronics revenues were negatively impacted by a hold on production and shipments of one new version of our MEMS microphone for a specific platform at one key original equipment manufacturer ("OEM") customer due to a low level defect. We expect this production issue to negatively impact Mobile Consumer Electronics revenues and associated margins in the near term. In addition, Mobile Consumer Electronics revenues decreased due to lower average selling prices on mature products. These decreases were partially offset by an increase in revenues from Chinese OEM customers who gained market share during the quarter. The increase in Specialty Components revenues was due to broad-based demand among our hearing health customers and continued strength for precision devices, due primarily to strength in the wireless communication infrastructure market, particularly in China.



19



Cost of Goods Sold

Cost of goods sold for the third quarter of 2014 were $243.9 million, compared with $192.7 million for the third quarter of 2013, an increase of $51.2 million or 26.6%. The increase was primarily due to a $15.0 million charge related to the resolution of customer claims for products no longer produced, as well as higher fixed asset accelerated depreciation and related inventory charges of $13.6 million, mainly driven by shorter product life cycles at our Beijing, China facility. The increase was also due to higher production transfer costs of $5.7 million and unfavorable fixed overhead absorption in connection with the production stoppage of the MEMS microphone that was placed on hold. These increases were partially offset by cost savings from the cessation of manufacturing operations at our Vienna, Austria facility during the second quarter of 2014 ("Vienna restructuring action").

Restructuring Charges

During the third quarter of 2014, we recorded restructuring charges of $5.8 million related to our continued actions to transfer our hearing health business into new and existing lower-cost Asian manufacturing facilities, as well as to reduce headcount in the consumer electronics business. During the third quarter of 2013, we recorded restructuring charges of $2.0 million related to the migration of our U.K. based capacitor production into existing Asian manufacturing facilities and integration of activities within the consumer electronics business.

Gross Profit and Non-GAAP Gross Profit

Gross profit for the third quarter of 2014 was $52.2 million, compared with $118.0 million for the third quarter of 2013, a decrease of $65.8 million or 55.8%. Gross profit margin (gross profit as a percentage of revenues) for the third quarter of 2014 was 17.3%, compared with 37.9% for the third quarter of 2013. The decline was primarily due to unfavorable pricing on mature products and a $15.0 million charge related to the resolution of customer claims for products no longer produced. The decline was also due to higher fixed asset accelerated depreciation and related inventory charges of $13.6 million and the impact of lost production and shipments of the MEMS microphone that was placed on hold. These declines were partially offset by higher volumes within our Specialty Components segment and cost savings from the Vienna restructuring action.

Non-GAAP gross profit for the third quarter of 2014 was $94.5 million, compared with $122.0 million for the third quarter of 2013, a decrease of $27.5 million or 22.5%. Non-GAAP gross profit margin (non-GAAP gross profit as a percentage of revenues) for the third quarter of 2014 was 31.4%, as compared with 39.1% for the third quarter of 2013. The decline was primarily due to unfavorable pricing on mature products and the impact of lost production and shipments of the MEMS microphone that was placed on hold. These declines were partially offset by higher volumes within our Specialty Components segment and cost savings from the Vienna restructuring action.

Research and Development Expenses

Research and development expenses for the third quarter of 2014 were $21.0 million, compared with $19.8 million for the third quarter of 2013, an increase of $1.3 million or 6.3%. Research and development expenses as a percentage of revenues for the third quarter of 2014 and 2013 were 7.0% and 6.4%, respectively. The increase was due to higher level of activity related to integrated and intelligent audio solutions.

Selling and Administrative Expenses

Selling and administrative expenses for the third quarter of 2014 were $46.5 million, compared with $45.3 million for the third quarter of 2013, an increase of $1.1 million or 2.5%. Selling and administrative expenses as a percentage of revenues for the third quarter of 2014 were 15.4%, compared with 14.5% for the third quarter of 2013. Included in selling and administrative expenses in the third quarter of 2013 were corporate allocations from our Former Parent of $4.9 million, which represent administration of treasury, employee compensation and benefits, public and investor relations, internal audit, corporate income tax, supply chain and legal services. As a stand-alone public company, our total costs related to such support functions may differ from the costs that were historically allocated to us from our Former Parent. We estimate that these costs may exceed the allocated amount for full year 2013 of $23.6 million by a range of approximately $3 million to $5 million in 2014.


20


(Loss) Earnings Before Interest and Income Taxes and Adjusted Earnings Before Interest and Income Taxes

(Loss) earnings before interest and income taxes ("EBIT") for the third quarter of 2014 was $(14.1) million, compared with $50.4 million for the third quarter of 2013, a decrease of $64.6 million. The decrease was primarily due to unfavorable pricing on mature products and a $15.0 million charge related to the resolution of customer claims for products no longer produced. The decrease was also due to higher fixed asset accelerated depreciation and related inventory charges of $13.6 million and the impact of lost production and shipments of the MEMS microphone that was placed on hold. These decreases were partially offset by higher volumes within our Specialty Components segment and cost savings from the Vienna restructuring action.

Adjusted EBIT for the third quarter of 2014 was $42.2 million, compared with $67.5 million for the third quarter of 2013, a decrease of $25.3 million or 37.5%. Adjusted EBIT margin (adjusted EBIT as a percentage of revenues) for the third quarter of 2014 was 14.0%, as compared with 21.7% for the third quarter of 2013. The decrease was primarily due to unfavorable pricing on mature products and the impact of lost production and shipments of the MEMS microphone that was placed on hold. These declines were partially offset by higher volumes within our Specialty Components segment and cost savings from the Vienna restructuring action.

Interest Expense, net

Interest expense, net for the third quarter of 2014 was $2.0 million, compared with $12.2 million for the third quarter of 2013, a decrease of $10.2 million or 83.4%. During the first quarter of 2014, we entered into five-year credit facilities totaling $500.0 million and borrowed $400.0 million on February 28, 2014 to finance a cash payment to Dover in connection with the Separation. The interest expense, net for the third quarter of 2014 relates to these borrowings. The interest expense, net during the third quarter of 2013 relates to interest expense on the net notes payable to Dover that were settled during the fourth quarter of 2013 in anticipation of the Separation.

Provision for Income Taxes and Non-GAAP Provision for Income Taxes

The effective tax rate ("ETR") for the third quarter of 2014 was a 9.5% benefit, compared with a 15.6% benefit for the third quarter of 2013. The ETR for the third quarter of 2014 was impacted by net discrete items of $1.8 million. The discrete items recorded during the third quarter of 2014 were primarily related to Chinese withholding taxes paid on 2013 royalty income. Absent the discrete items, the ETR for the third quarter of 2014 was a 20.6% benefit, compared with a 15.6% benefit for the third quarter of 2013. The change in the ETR, excluding the discrete items, was due to the mix of earnings by taxing jurisdictions.

The non-GAAP ETR for the third quarter of 2014 was an 18.5% provision, compared with an 8.0% provision for the third quarter of 2013. The change in the non-GAAP ETR was due to the discrete tax expense and mix of earnings by taxing jurisdictions.

The year-to-date ETR and non-GAAP ETR deviates from the statutory U.S. federal income tax rate, mainly due to the taxing jurisdictions in which we generate taxable income or loss, the favorable impact of our significant tax holiday in Malaysia and judgments as to the realizability of our deferred tax assets. A significant portion of our pre-tax income is not subject to tax as a result of our Malaysian tax holiday, subject to our satisfaction of certain conditions that we expect to continue to satisfy. Unless extended or otherwise renegotiated, our existing significant tax holiday in Malaysia will expire December 31, 2021.

Diluted (Loss) Earnings per Share and Non-GAAP Diluted Earnings per Share

Diluted (loss) earnings per share was $(0.17) for the third quarter of 2014, compared with $0.52 for the third quarter of 2013. The decrease in diluted earnings per share was primarily due to unfavorable pricing on mature products and a $15.0 million charge related to the resolution of customer claims for products no longer produced. The decrease was also due to higher fixed asset accelerated depreciation and related inventory charges of $13.6 million and the impact of lost production and shipments of the MEMS microphone that was placed on hold. These decreases were partially offset by lower interest expense of $10.2 million.

Non-GAAP diluted earnings per share for the third quarter of 2014 was $0.38, compared with $0.60 for the third quarter of 2013. The decrease in non-GAAP diluted earnings per share was mainly driven by lower adjusted EBIT, partially offset by a reduction in interest expense.


21


Results of Operations for the Nine Months Ended September 30, 2014 Compared with the Nine Months Ended September 30, 2013

 
 
Nine Months Ended September 30,
(in thousands, except per share amounts)
 
2014
 
2013
Revenues
 
$
855,254

 
$
884,468

 
 
 
 
 
Gross profit
 
$
169,036

 
$
313,776

Non-GAAP gross profit
 
$
265,519

 
$
325,174

 
 
 
 
 
(Loss) earnings before interest and income taxes
 
$
(47,290
)
 
$
102,396

Adjusted earnings before interest and income taxes
 
$
95,882

 
$
159,003

 
 
 
 
 
Provision for (benefit from) income taxes
 
$
34,071

 
$
(6,615
)
Non-GAAP provision for income taxes
 
$
8,875

 
$
9,850

 
 
 
 
 
Net (loss) earnings
 
$
(85,868
)
 
$
72,827

Non-GAAP net earnings
 
$
82,500

 
$
112,969

 
 

 

Diluted (loss) earnings per share (1) 
 
$
(1.01
)
 
$
0.86

Non-GAAP diluted earnings per share
 
$
0.96

 
$
1.33


(1) On February 28, 2014, Dover shareholders of record as of the close of business on February 19, 2014 received one share of Knowles common stock for every two shares of Dover's common stock held as of the record date. The computation of diluted earnings per common share for all periods through December 31, 2013 were calculated using the shares distributed on February 28, 2014. See Note 10. Earnings per Share, to the Consolidated Financial Statements for information regarding earnings per share.

Revenues

Revenues for the nine months ended September 30, 2014 were $855.3 million, compared with $884.5 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2013, a decrease of $29.2 million or 3.3%. This was due to a decrease in Mobile Consumer Electronics revenues of $46.0 million, partially offset by an increase in Specialty Components revenues of $16.8 million. The decrease in Mobile Consumer Electronics revenues was due to reduced shipments to three OEM customers in connection with their lower share of the handset market, lower average selling prices on mature products and a design change at a smartphone OEM customer. In addition, Mobile Consumer Electronics revenues were negatively impacted by a hold on production and shipments of one new version of our MEMS microphone for a specific platform at one key OEM customer due to a low level defect. We expect this production issue to negatively impact Mobile Consumer Electronics revenues and associated margins in the near term. The decrease in Mobile Consumer Electronics revenues were partially offset by an increase in revenues from Chinese OEM customers who gained market share year-over-year. The increase in Specialty Components revenues was driven by improved demand for precision devices, due primarily to strength in the wireless communication infrastructure market, particularly in China.

Cost of Goods Sold

Cost of goods sold for the nine months ended September 30, 2014 were $665.1 million, compared with $563.9 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2013, an increase of $101.2 million or 18.0%. The increase was primarily due to higher fixed asset accelerated depreciation and related inventory charges of $39.7 million, mainly associated with the cessation of manufacturing operations at our Vienna, Austria facility as well as shorter product life cycles at our Beijing, China facility. The increase was also due to a $15.0 million charge related to the resolution of customer claims for products no longer produced and higher production transfer costs of $14.2 million to support the migration of operations into new and existing Asian lower-cost manufacturing facilities.

22



Restructuring Charges

During the nine months ended September 30, 2014, the Board of Directors authorized the cessation of manufacturing operations at our Vienna, Austria facility as part of our previously-announced plan to consolidate our manufacturing footprint. As a result of the Vienna restructuring action, which was substantially complete by the end of the second quarter of 2014, we recorded restructuring charges of $19.4 million. This included $14.8 million related to severance pay and benefits and $4.6 million related to contract termination and other costs. Of the total $19.4 million in restructuring charges, $13.8 million were classified as Cost of goods sold and $5.6 million were classified as Operating expenses.

In conjunction with this restructuring action, we also accelerated depreciation on fixed assets and recorded inventory charges of $20.4 million and incurred production transfer costs of $4.7 million bringing the total recorded costs related to the Vienna restructuring action to $44.5 million. We anticipate to incur an additional $2 to $4 million of restructuring and related charges associated with this action, primarily during the fourth quarter of 2014. Of the total pre-tax costs of $47 to $49 million, we expect approximately $26 to $28 million will be cash expenditures, the majority of which will be paid during 2014. We continue to anticipate annual savings of $25 to $30 million associated with this action mainly due to reduced salary and fixed asset depreciation expenses.

In line with our previously announced plans to consolidate our manufacturing footprint, we also recorded restructuring charges of $7.3 million during the nine months ended September 30, 2014 related to other actions. These actions included programs to transfer our hearing health business and certain of our North American based capacitor business into new and existing lower-cost Asian manufacturing facilities, as well as to reduce headcount in the consumer electronics business.

During the nine months ended September 30, 2013, we recorded restructuring charges of $14.8 million related to the reduction in headcount within our German and North American operations that serve the telecom infrastructure market in order to better align the business with current market dynamics, the migration of our U.K. based capacitor production into existing Asian manufacturing facilities, and integration of activities within the consumer electronics business.

Gross Profit and Non-GAAP Gross Profit

Gross profit for the nine months ended September 30, 2014 was $169.0 million, compared with $313.8 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2013, a decrease of $144.7 million or 46.1%. Gross profit margin (gross profit as a percentage of revenues) for the nine months ended September 30, 2014 was 19.8%, compared with 35.5% for the nine months ended September 30, 2013. The decline was primarily due to higher restructuring charges and fixed asset accelerated depreciation and related inventory charges of $54.0 million, mainly associated with the cessation of manufacturing operations at our Vienna, Austria facility and shorter product life cycles at our Beijing, China facility, as well as unfavorable pricing on mature products. The decline was also due to a $15.0 million charge related to the resolution of customer claims for products no longer produced, higher production transfer costs of $14.2 million and the impact of lost production and shipments of the MEMS microphone that was placed on hold. These declines were partially offset by higher volumes within our Specialty Components segment.

Non-GAAP gross profit for the nine months ended September 30, 2014 was $265.5 million, compared with $325.2 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2013, a decrease of $59.7 million or 18.3%. Non-GAAP gross profit margin (non-GAAP gross profit as a percentage of revenues) for the nine months ended September 30, 2014 was 31.0%, as compared with 36.8% for the nine months ended September 30, 2013. The decline was primarily due to unfavorable pricing on mature products and the impact of lost production and shipments of the MEMS microphone that was placed on hold. These declines were partially offset by higher volumes within our Specialty Components segment.

Research and Development Expenses

Research and development expenses for the nine months ended September 30, 2014 and 2013 were $62.0 million. Research and development expenses as a percentage of revenues for the nine months ended September 30, 2014 and 2013 were 7.2% and 7.0%, respectively.


23


Selling and Administrative Expenses

Selling and administrative expenses for the nine months ended September 30, 2014 were $150.9 million, compared with $141.2 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2013, an increase of $9.7 million or 6.9%. Selling and administrative expenses as a percentage of revenues for the nine months ended September 30, 2014 were 17.6%, compared with 16.0% for the nine months ended September 30, 2013. The increase was mainly due to increased legal expenses primarily in connection with the GoerTek intellectual property litigation. Included in selling and administrative expenses were corporate allocations from our Former Parent of $3.4 million and $16.9 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2014 and 2013, respectively, which represent administration of treasury, employee compensation and benefits, public and investor relations, internal audit, corporate income tax, supply chain and legal services through the Separation date. As a stand-alone public company, our total costs related to such support functions may differ from the costs that were historically allocated to us from our Former Parent. We estimate that these costs may exceed the allocated amount for full year 2013 of $23.6 million by a range of approximately $3 million to $5 million in 2014.

(Loss) Earnings Before Interest and Income Taxes and Adjusted Earnings Before Interest and Income Taxes

EBIT for the nine months ended September 30, 2014 was $(47.3) million, compared with $102.4 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2013, a decrease of $149.7 million. The decrease was primarily due to higher restructuring charges and fixed asset accelerated depreciation and related inventory charges of $51.6 million, as well as unfavorable pricing on mature products. The decrease was also due to a $15.0 million charge related to the resolution of customer claims for products no longer produced, higher production transfer costs of $14.8 million and the impact of lost production and shipments of the MEMS microphone that was placed on hold. These decreases were partially offset by higher volumes within our Specialty Components segment.

Adjusted EBIT for the nine months ended September 30, 2014 were $95.9 million, compared with $159.0 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2013, a decrease of $63.1 million or 39.7%. Adjusted EBIT margin (adjusted EBIT as a percentage of revenues) for the nine months ended September 30, 2014 was 11.2%, as compared with 18.0% for the nine months ended September 30, 2013. The decrease was primarily due to unfavorable pricing on mature products, the impact of lost production and shipments of the MEMS microphone that was placed on hold and increased legal expenses primarily in connection with the GoerTek intellectual property litigation. These declines were partially offset by higher volumes within our Specialty Components segment.

Interest Expense, net

Interest expense, net for the nine months ended September 30, 2014 was $4.5 million, compared with $36.2 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2013, a decrease of $31.7 million or 87.5%. During the first quarter of 2014, we entered into five-year credit facilities totaling $500.0 million and borrowed $400.0 million on February 28, 2014 to finance a cash payment to Dover in connection with the Separation. The interest expense, net for the nine months ended September 30, 2014 relates to these borrowings. The interest expense, net during the nine months ended September 30, 2013 relates to interest expense on the net notes payable to Dover that were settled during the fourth quarter of 2013 in anticipation of the Separation.

Provision for Income Taxes and Non-GAAP Provision for Income Taxes

The ETR for the nine months ended September 30, 2014 was a 65.8% provision, compared with a 10.0% benefit for the nine months ended September 30, 2013. The ETR for the nine months ended September 30, 2014 was impacted by net discrete items of $37.5 million. The discrete items recorded during the nine months ended September 30, 2014 were primarily due to the recognition of a valuation allowance on certain foreign subsidiaries' net deferred tax assets of $36.8 million, partially offset by a benefit related to an additional Malaysian tax holiday of $4.4 million. The discrete benefit from the tax holiday relates to 2013; however, it was recorded in the second quarter of 2014 because that is when we received approval for the tax holiday from the relevant taxing authority. For additional information on this tax holiday, refer to Note 8. Income Taxes to our Consolidated Financial Statements.  Absent the discrete items, the ETR for the nine months ended September 30, 2014 was a 6.6% benefit, compared with a 10.0% benefit for the nine months ended September 30, 2013. The change in the ETR, excluding the discrete items, was due to the mix of earnings by taxing jurisdictions.

The non-GAAP ETR for the nine months ended September 30, 2014 was a 9.7% provision, compared with an 8.0% provision for the nine months ended September 30, 2013. The change in the non-GAAP ETR was due to the mix of earnings by taxing jurisdictions.


24


The year-to-date ETR and non-GAAP ETR deviates from the statutory U.S. federal income tax rate, mainly due to the taxing jurisdictions in which we generate taxable income or loss and the favorable impact of our significant tax holiday in Malaysia. A significant portion of our pre-tax income is not subject to tax as a result of our tax holiday in Malaysia, subject to our satisfaction of certain conditions that we expect to continue to satisfy. Unless extended or otherwise renegotiated, our existing significant tax holiday in Malaysia will expire December 31, 2021.

Diluted (Loss) Earnings per Share and Non-GAAP Diluted Earnings per Share

Diluted (loss) earnings per share was $(1.01) for the nine months ended September 30, 2014, compared with $0.86 for the nine months ended September 30, 2013. The decrease in diluted earnings per share was primarily due to higher restructuring charges and fixed asset accelerated depreciation and related inventory charges of $51.6 million, a discrete tax expense resulting from the recognition of a valuation allowance on certain foreign subsidiaries' net deferred tax assets of $36.8 million and unfavorable pricing on mature products. The decrease was also due to a charge of $15.0 million related to the resolution of customer claims for products no longer produced and the impact of lost production and shipments of the MEMS microphone that was placed on hold. These decreases were partially offset by lower interest expense of $31.7 million.

Non-GAAP diluted earnings per share for the nine months ended September 30, 2014 was $0.96, compared with $1.33 for the nine months ended September 30, 2013. Non-GAAP diluted earnings per share included $0.05 related to the discrete Malaysia tax holiday benefit recorded during the second quarter of 2014. Excluding the discrete tax benefit, the decrease in non-GAAP diluted earnings per share was mainly driven by lower adjusted EBIT, partially offset by a reduction in interest expense.



25


Reconciliation of GAAP Financial Measures to Non-GAAP Financial Measures
 
 
Three Months Ended September 30,
 
Nine Months Ended September 30,
(in thousands, except share and per share amounts)
 
2014
 
2013
 
2014
 
2013
Gross profit
 
$
52,193

 
$
117,986

 
$
169,036

 
$
313,776

Stock-based compensation expense
 
235

 

 
523

 

Fixed asset and related inventory charges
 
13,938

 
332

 
40,518

 
822

Restructuring charges
 
4,700

 
955

 
21,117

 
6,819

Production transfer costs (1)
 
8,416

 
2,692

 
19,325

 
5,128

Other (2)
 
15,000

 

 
15,000

 
(1,371
)
Non-GAAP gross profit
 
$
94,482

 
$
121,965

 
$
265,519

 
$
325,174

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Net (loss) earnings
 
$
(14,609
)
 
$
44,260

 
$
(85,868
)
 
$
72,827

Interest expense, net
 
2,015

 
12,167

 
4,507

 
36,184

(Benefit from) provision for income taxes
 
(1,527
)
 
(5,989
)
 
34,071

 
(6,615
)
(Loss) earnings before interest and income taxes
 
(14,121
)
 
50,438

 
(47,290
)
 
102,396

Stock-based compensation expense
 
2,560

 
548

 
6,463

 
1,677

Intangibles amortization expense
 
10,633

 
11,474

 
32,170

 
35,458

Fixed asset and related inventory charges
 
13,938

 
332

 
40,518

 
822

Restructuring charges
 
5,790

 
2,001

 
26,733

 
14,833

Production transfer costs (1)
 
8,416

 
2,745

 
19,990

 
5,188

Other (2)
 
15,000

 

 
17,298

 
(1,371
)
Adjusted earnings before interest and income taxes
 
$
42,216

 
$
67,538

 
$
95,882

 
$
159,003

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
(Benefit from) provision for income taxes
 
$
(1,527
)
 
$
(5,989
)
 
$
34,071

 
$
(6,615
)
Income tax effects of non-GAAP reconciling adjustments
 
(8,978
)
 
(10,430
)
 
25,196

 
(16,465
)
Non-GAAP provision for income taxes
 
$
7,451

 
$
4,441

 
$
8,875

 
$
9,850

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Net (loss) earnings
 
$
(14,609
)
 
$
44,260

 
$
(85,868
)
 
$
72,827

Non-GAAP reconciling adjustments
 
56,337

 
17,100

 
143,172

 
56,607

Income tax effects of non-GAAP reconciling adjustments
 
(8,978
)
 
(10,430
)
 
25,196

 
(16,465
)
Non-GAAP net earnings
 
$
32,750

 
$
50,930

 
$
82,500

 
$
112,969

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Non-GAAP diluted earnings per share (3)
 
$
0.38

 
$
0.60

 
$
0.96

 
$
1.33

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Diluted average shares outstanding (3)
 
85,047,991

 
85,019,159

 
85,038,151

 
85,019,159

Non-GAAP adjustment (4)
 
777,283

 

 
588,269

 

Non-GAAP diluted average shares outstanding (3) (4)
 
85,825,274

 
85,019,159

 
85,626,420

 
85,019,159

(1) Production Transfer Costs represent one-time and duplicate costs incurred to migrate manufacturing to new or existing facilities in Asia. These amounts are included in the corresponding gross profit and earnings before interest and income taxes for each period presented.
(2) In the third quarter of 2014, Other represents a charge related to the resolution of customer claims for products no longer produced.

26


(3) On February 28, 2014, Dover shareholders of record as of the close of business on February 19, 2014 received one share of Knowles common stock for every two shares of Dover's common stock held as of the record date. The computation of diluted earnings per common share for all periods through December 31, 2013 was calculated using the shares distributed on February 28, 2014.
(4) The number of shares used in the diluted per share calculations on a non-GAAP basis excludes the impact of stock-based compensation expense expected to be incurred in future periods and not yet recognized in the financial statements, which would otherwise be assumed to be used to repurchase shares under the GAAP treasury stock method.

27


Segment Results of Operations for the Three Months Ended September 30, 2014 Compared with the Three Months Ended September 30, 2013

The following is a summary of the results of operations of our two reportable segments: Mobile Consumer Electronics and Specialty Components.

In addition to the GAAP financial measures included herein, we have presented certain non-GAAP financial measures. We use non-GAAP measures as supplements to our GAAP results of operations in evaluating certain aspects of our business, and our Board of Directors and executive management team focus on non-GAAP items as key measures of our performance for business planning purposes. These measures assist us in comparing our performance between various reporting periods on a consistent basis, as these measures remove from operating results the impact of items that, in our management's opinion, do not reflect our core operating performance. We believe that our presentation of non-GAAP financial measures is useful because it provides investors and securities analysts with the same information that we use internally for purposes of assessing our core operating performance. See Note 12. Segment Information to the Consolidated Financial Statements for (i) a reconciliation of segment revenues to our consolidated revenues and (ii) a reconciliation of segment earnings before interest and income taxes to our consolidated net earnings.

Mobile Consumer Electronics
 
 
Three Months Ended September 30,
(in thousands)
 
2014
 
Percent of Revenues
 
2013
 
Percent of Revenues
Revenues
 
$
182,506

 

 
$
199,808

 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Operating (loss) earnings
 
$
(22,985
)
 
(12.6)%
 
$
39,004

 
19.5%
Other (income) expense, net
 
(1,303
)
 
 
 
771

 
 
(Loss) earnings before interest and income taxes
 
$
(21,682
)
 
(11.9)%
 
$
38,233

 
19.1%
Stock-based compensation expense
 
541

 
 
 
80

 
 
Intangibles amortization expense
 
7,735

 
 
 
8,010

 
 
Fixed asset and related inventory charges
 
13,938

 
 
 
332

 
 
Restructuring charges
 
2,606

 
 
 
351

 
 
Production transfer costs (1)
 
5,367

 
 
 
933

 
 
Other (2)
 
15,000

 
 
 

 
 
Adjusted earnings before interest and income taxes
 
$
23,505

 
12.9%
 
$
47,939

 
24.0%
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
(1)  Production transfer costs represent one-time and duplicate costs incurred to migrate manufacturing to new or existing facilities in Asia. These amounts are included in earnings before interest and income taxes for each period presented.
(2)  Other represents a charge related to the resolution of customer claims for products no longer produced.

Revenues

Mobile Consumer Electronics revenues were $182.5 million for the third quarter of 2014, compared with $199.8 million for the third quarter of 2013, a decrease of $17.3 million or 8.7%. Revenues were negatively impacted by a hold on production and shipments of one new version of our MEMS microphone for a specific platform at one key OEM customer due to a low level defect. We expect this production issue to negatively impact revenues and associated margins in the near term. In addition, revenues decreased due to lower average selling prices on mature products. These decreases were partially offset by an increase in revenues from Chinese OEM customers who gained market share during the quarter.


28


Operating (Loss) Earnings and Adjusted Earnings Before Interest and Income Taxes

Mobile Consumer Electronics operating (loss) earnings were $(23.0) million for the third quarter of 2014, compared with $39.0 million for the third quarter of 2013, a decrease of $62.0 million. The decrease was primarily due to unfavorable pricing on mature products and a $15.0 million charge related to the resolution of customer claims for products no longer produced. The decrease was also due to higher fixed asset accelerated depreciation and related inventory charges of $13.6 million, mainly driven by shorter product life cycles at our Beijing, China facility, as well as lost production and shipments of the MEMS microphone that was placed on hold. These decreases were partially offset by cost savings from the Vienna restructuring action.

Mobile Consumer Electronics adjusted EBIT was $23.5 million for the third quarter of 2014, compared with $47.9 million for the third quarter of 2013, a decrease of $24.4 million. Adjusted EBIT margin for the third quarter of 2014 was 12.9%, compared with 24.0% for the third quarter of 2013. The decrease was primarily due to unfavorable pricing on mature products and the impact of lost production and shipments of the MEMS microphone that was placed on hold. This decrease was partially offset by cost savings from the Vienna restructuring action.

Specialty Components
 
 
Three Months Ended September 30,
(in thousands)
 
2014
 
Percent of Revenues
 
2013
 
Percent of Revenues
Revenues
 
$
118,339

 
 
 
$
111,846


 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Operating earnings
 
$
18,248

 
15.4%
 
$
21,335

 
19.1%
Other (income) expense, net
 
(2,197
)
 
 
 
250

 
 
Earnings before interest and income taxes
 
$
20,445

 
17.3%
 
$
21,085

 
18.9%
Stock-based compensation expense
 
471

 
 
 
153

 
 
Intangibles amortization expense
 
2,898

 
 
 
3,465

 
 
Restructuring charges
 
3,184

 
 
 
1,650

 
 
Production transfer costs (1)
 
3,048

 
 
 
1,812

 
 
Adjusted earnings before interest and income taxes
 
$
30,046

 
25.4%
 
$
28,165

 
25.2%
 
(1)  Production transfer costs represent one-time and duplicate costs incurred to migrate manufacturing to new or existing facilities in Asia. These amounts are included in earnings before interest and income taxes for each period presented.

Revenues

Specialty Components revenues were $118.3 million for the third quarter of 2014, compared with $111.8 million for the third quarter of 2013, an increase of $6.5 million or 5.8%. The increase in revenues was due to broad-based demand among our hearing health customers and continued strength for precision devices, due primarily to strength in the wireless communication infrastructure market, particularly in China.

Operating Earnings and Adjusted Earnings Before Interest and Income Taxes

Specialty Components operating earnings were $18.2 million for the third quarter of 2014, compared with $21.3 million for the third quarter of 2013, a decrease of $3.1 million. Specialty Components adjusted EBIT was $30.0 million for the third quarter of 2014, compared with $28.2 million for the third quarter of 2013, an increase of $1.9 million. Adjusted EBIT margin for the third quarter of 2014 was 25.4% compared with 25.2% for the third quarter of 2013. The increase was primarily due to cost reduction initiatives.








29


Segment Results of Operations for the Nine Months Ended September 30, 2014 Compared with the Nine Months Ended September 30, 2013

Mobile Consumer Electronics
 
 
Nine Months Ended September 30,
(in thousands)
 
2014
 
Percent of Revenues
 
2013
 
Percent of Revenues
Revenues
 
$
513,239

 
 
 
$
559,234

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Operating (loss) earnings
 
$
(64,157
)
 
(12.5)%
 
$
86,210

 
15.4%
Other (income) expense, net
 
(1,792
)
 
 
 
588

 
 
(Loss) earnings before interest and income taxes
 
$
(62,365
)
 
(12.2)%
 
$
85,622

 
15.3%
Stock-based compensation expense
 
1,214

 
 
 
220

 
 
Intangibles amortization expense
 
23,446

 
 
 
23,706

 
 
Fixed asset and related inventory charges
 
40,518

 
 
 
822

 
 
Restructuring charges
 
20,717

 
 
 
7,267

 
 
Production transfer costs (1)
 
9,412

 
 
 
2,385

 
 
Other (2)
 
15,000

 
 
 

 
 
Adjusted earnings before interest and income taxes
 
$
47,942

 
9.3%
 
$
120,022

 
21.5%
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
(1)  Production transfer costs represent one-time and duplicate costs incurred to migrate manufacturing to new or existing facilities in Asia. These amounts are included in earnings before interest and income taxes for each period presented.
(2)  Other represents a charge related to the resolution of customer claims for products no longer produced.

Revenues

Mobile Consumer Electronics revenues were $513.2 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2014, compared with $559.2 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2013, a decrease of $46.0 million or 8.2%. The decrease was due to reduced shipments to three OEM customers in connection with their lower share of the handset market, lower average selling prices on mature products and a design change at a smartphone OEM customer. In addition, revenues were negatively impacted by a hold on production and shipments of one new version of our MEMS microphone for a specific platform at one key OEM customer due to a low level defect. We expect this production issue to negatively impact revenues and associated margins in the near term. The decrease in revenues were partially offset by an increase in revenues from Chinese OEM customers who gained market share year-over-year.

Operating (Loss) Earnings and Adjusted Earnings Before Interest and Income Taxes

Mobile Consumer Electronics operating (loss) earnings were $(64.2) million for the nine months ended September 30, 2014, compared with $86.2 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2013, a decrease of $150.4 million. This decrease was primarily due to higher restructuring charges and fixed asset accelerated depreciation and related inventory charges of $53.1 million, mainly associated with the cessation of manufacturing operations at our Vienna, Austria facility and shorter product life cycles at our Beijing, China facility, as well as unfavorable pricing on mature products. The decrease was also due to a $15.0 million charge related to the resolution of customer claims for products no longer produced, the impact of lost production and shipments of the MEMS microphone that was placed on hold and increased legal expenses primarily in conjunction with the GoerTek intellectual property litigation.

Mobile Consumer Electronics adjusted EBIT was $47.9 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2014, compared with $120.0 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2013, a decrease of $72.1 million. Adjusted EBIT margin for the nine months ended September 30, 2014 was 9.3%, compared with 21.5% for the nine months ended September 30, 2013. The decrease was primarily due to unfavorable pricing on mature products, the impact of lost production and shipments of the MEMS microphone that was placed on hold and increased legal expenses primarily in conjunction with the GoerTek intellectual property litigation.


30



Specialty Components
 
 
Nine Months Ended September 30,
(in thousands)
 
2014
 
Percent of Revenues
 
2013
 
Percent of Revenues
Revenues
 
$
342,045

 
 
 
$
325,273

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Operating earnings
 
$
50,698

 
14.8%
 
$
46,815

 
14.4%
Other income, net
 
(279
)
 
 
 
(808
)
 
 
Earnings before interest and income taxes
 
$
50,977

 
14.9%
 
$
47,623

 
14.6%
Stock-based compensation expense
 
1,125

 
 
 
680

 
 
Intangibles amortization expense
 
8,725

 
 
 
11,752

 
 
Restructuring charges
 
6,016

 
 
 
7,566

 
 
Production transfer costs (1)
 
10,578

 
 
 
2,803

 
 
Other
 

 
 
 
(1,371
)
 
 
Adjusted earnings before interest and income taxes
 
$
77,421

 
22.6%
 
$
69,053

 
21.2%
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
(1)  Production transfer costs represent one-time and duplicate costs incurred to migrate manufacturing to new or existing facilities in Asia. These amounts are included in earnings before interest and income taxes for each period presented.

Revenues

Specialty Components revenues were $342.0 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2014, compared with $325.3 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2013, an increase of $16.8 million or 5.2%. The increase in revenues was primarily due to improved demand for precision devices as a result of strength in the wireless communication infrastructure market, particularly in China.

Operating Earnings and Adjusted Earnings Before Interest and Income Taxes

Specialty Components operating earnings were $50.7 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2014, compared with $46.8 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2013, an increase of $3.9 million. Specialty Components adjusted EBIT was $77.4 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2014, compared with $69.1 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2013, an increase of $8.4 million. Adjusted EBIT margin for the nine months ended September 30, 2014 was 22.6%, compared with 21.2% for the nine months ended September 30, 2013. The increase was primarily due to higher volumes and cost savings from restructuring actions taken in the prior year.


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Liquidity and Capital Resources

We believe that our cash flow from operations and access to capital markets will provide adequate resources to fund our working capital needs, dividends (if any), capital expenditures and strategic investments for at least the next twelve months. We have secured a revolving line of credit in the U.S. from a syndicate of commercial banks to provide additional liquidity. Furthermore, if we were to require additional cash in the U.S. above and beyond our domestic cash on the balance sheet, the free cash flow generated by the domestic businesses and availability under our revolving credit facility, we would most likely seek to raise long-term financing through the U.S. debt or bank markets. Our ability to make payments on and to refinance our indebtedness, including third party debt incurred in connection with the Separation, as well as any debt that we may incur in the future, will depend on our ability in the future to generate cash from operations, financings or asset sales and the tax consequences of our repatriation of overseas cash.

Our cash and cash equivalents totaled $34.3 million and $105.6 million at September 30, 2014 and December 31, 2013, respectively. Of these amounts, cash held by our non-U.S. operations totaled $31.5 million and $95.0 million as of September 30, 2014 and December 31, 2013, respectively.

Cash Flow Summary

Cash flows from operating, investing and financing activities as reflected in our Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows are summarized in the following table:
 
 
Nine Months Ended September 30,
(in thousands)
 
2014
 
2013
Net cash flows provided by (used in):
 
 
 
 
Operating activities
 
$
89,166

 
$
109,349

Investing activities
 
(90,565
)
 
(73,450
)
Financing activities
 
(69,252
)
 
41,953

Effect of exchange rate changes on cash and cash equivalents
 
(642
)
 
436

Net (decrease) increase in cash and cash equivalents
 
$
(71,293
)
 
$
78,288


Operating Activities

The decrease in cash provided by operating activities was primarily driven by the impact of lower revenue levels as well as higher cash payments related to production transfer costs and restructuring activities during the nine months ended September 30, 2014. These decreases were partially offset by an increase in payables, which was generally due to the timing of vendor payments.
 
Investing Activities

Cash used in investing activities increased due to higher cash payments for legal costs incurred in the defense of our patents of $10.0 million, primarily related to legal expenses incurred during the first half of 2014 in connection with the GoerTek intellectual property litigation. The increase was also due to cash paid to acquire a non-controlling interest in a MEMS timing device company of $8.0 million.

We expect capital expenditures to be in the range of 7.0% to 9.0% of revenues for the year ended December 31, 2014.

Financing Activities

The cash used in financing activities during the nine months ended September 30, 2014 was primarily due to the cash payment to our Former Parent as a result of the Separation, partially offset by proceeds from debt. For additional information on our debt, see Note 6. Borrowings to our Consolidated Financial Statements.


32


Contingent Obligations

We are involved in various legal proceedings, claims and investigations arising in the normal course of business. Legal contingencies are discussed in Note 11. Commitments and Contingent Liabilities to our Consolidated Financial Statements.

Borrowings

On January 27, 2014, the Company entered into a $200.0 million five-year senior secured revolving credit facility, as well as a $300.0 million five-year senior secured term loan facility, which are referred to collectively as the “Credit Facilities.” In connection with the Separation, we incurred $100.0 million of borrowings under the revolving credit facility and $300.0 million of borrowings under the term loan facility, in each case to finance a cash payment to Dover immediately prior to the Separation.

Borrowings at September 30, 2014 consist of the following:
(in thousands)
 
September 30, 2014
Term Loan
 
$
300,000

Revolving Credit Facility
 
100,000

Total
 
400,000

Less: current maturities
 
11,250

Total long-term debt
 
$
388,750


Critical Accounting Policies and Estimates

This discussion and analysis of results of operations and financial condition is based on our Consolidated Financial Statements, which have been prepared in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America ("GAAP" or "U.S. GAAP"). The preparation of these financial statements requires the use of estimates and assumptions related to the reporting of assets, liabilities, revenues, expenses and related disclosures. In preparing these financial statements, we have made our best estimates and judgments of certain amounts included in the financial statements. Estimates are revised periodically. Actual results could differ from these estimates.

The information concerning our critical accounting policies can be found under Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2013 filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on March 28, 2014.

Recent Accounting Standards

See Note 13. Recent Accounting Standards to our Consolidated Financial Statements. The adoption of recent accounting standards, as included in Note 13. Recent Accounting Standards to our Consolidated Financial Statements, has not had and is not expected to have a significant impact on our revenue, earnings or liquidity.

Item 3. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk

During the nine months ended September 30, 2014, there were no significant changes to the information on market risk exposure disclosed in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2013. For a discussion of our exposure to market risk as of December 31, 2013, refer to Item 7A, Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures about Market Risk, contained in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2013.










33


Item 4. Controls and Procedures

Evaluation of Disclosure Controls and Procedures

Our management has evaluated, under the supervision and with the participation of our chief executive officer ("CEO") and chief financial officer ("CFO"), the effectiveness of our disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the "Exchange Act")) as of the end of the period covered by this report. Based on that evaluation, our CEO and CFO have concluded that, as of the end of the period covered by this report, our disclosure controls and procedures are effective in ensuring that information required to be disclosed in our Exchange Act reports is (1) recorded, processed, summarized and reported within the time periods specified in the Securities and Exchange Commission’s rules and forms, and (2) accumulated and communicated to our management, including our CEO and CFO, as appropriate to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosure.

Changes in Internal Control Over Financial Reporting
There has been no change in our internal control over financial reporting that occurred during the third quarter of 2014 that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, our internal control over financial reporting.

Inherent Limitations on Effectiveness of Controls
Our management, including the CEO and CFO, do not expect that our disclosure controls or our internal control over financial reporting will prevent or detect all error and all fraud. A control system, no matter how well designed and operated, can provide only reasonable, not absolute, assurance that the control system’s objectives will be met. The design of a control system must reflect the fact that there are resource constraints, and the benefits of controls must be considered relative to their costs. Further, because of the inherent limitations in all control systems, no evaluation of controls can provide absolute assurance that misstatements due to error or fraud will not occur or that all control issues and instances of fraud, if any, will be detected. These inherent limitations include the realities that judgments in decision making can be faulty and that breakdowns can occur because of simple error or mistake. Controls can also be circumvented by the individual acts of some persons, by intentionally falsified documentation, by collusion of two or more individuals within Knowles or third parties, or by management override of the controls. The design of any system of controls is based in part on certain assumptions about the likelihood of future events, and there can be no assurance that any design will succeed in achieving its stated goals under all potential future conditions. Projections of any evaluation of controls effectiveness to future periods are subject to risks. Over time, controls may become inadequate because of changes in conditions or deterioration in the degree of compliance with policies or procedures.

PART II — OTHER INFORMATION

Item 1. Legal Proceedings

For a discussion of contingencies related to legal proceedings, see Note 11. Commitments and Contingent Liabilities to our Consolidated Financial Statements, which is incorporated by reference.

GoerTek IP Litigation

Knowles is involved in multi-forum litigation with GoerTek, Inc. (“GoerTek”) and GoerTek Electronics, Inc. (“GoerTek USA”) regarding patents on MEMs microphone packaging and related technologies.
On June 21, 2013, Knowles Electronics, LLC (“Knowles Electronics”) filed a complaint against GoerTek and GoerTek USA in the United States International Trade Commission (“ITC”), alleging infringement of U.S. Patent Nos. 7,439,616 (’616 Patent), 8,018,049 (’049 Patent), and 8,121,331 (’331 Patent), and seeking a limited exclusion order prohibiting the importation of GoerTek and GoerTek USA’s infringing products, as well as a cease and desist order prohibiting GoerTek, GoerTek USA, and related companies from sales, distribution, marketing, warehousing, or other activities directed to such infringing products. In response to this complaint, the ITC initiated Investigation No. 337-TA-888 on July 22, 2013 (“ITC Investigation”).


34


On August 29, 2014, the Administrative Law Judge assigned to the ITC Investigation issued an Initial Determination which found that GoerTek directly infringed all three of Knowles asserted patents and further induced and contributed to the infringement of one of the asserted patents.  The Judge also found that none of the asserted patents were invalid. The Judge further recommended that the ITC issue an exclusion order barring importation of infringing GoerTek-branded microphone packages as well as products containing such infringing microphones that are manufactured and imported by GoerTek.  The ITC will decide by November 6, 2014 whether it will review any of the findings included in the Initial Determination. The ITC normally issues its Final Determination within approximately four months of the Initial Determination.

Additionally, on June 21, 2013, Knowles Electronics filed a complaint against GoerTek and GoerTek USA in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Illinois alleging infringement of the ’616, ’049, and ’331 Patents, and seeking relief including an injunction against such infringement as well as damages, costs, and expenses. That case, Knowles Electronics, LLC v. GoerTek, Inc. and GoerTek Electronics, Inc., No. 1:13-cv-4586, is currently stayed in light of the ITC Investigation.
Subsequently, GoerTek filed validity challenges before the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (“PTO”) to the ’616 and ’331 Patents, seeking a determination that claims of those patents are unpatentable. In response, the PTO initiated inter partes review proceedings for the ’331 Patent on March 4, 2014 (No. 2013-00523) and for the ’616 Patent on March 7, 2014 (No. 2013-00614); those proceedings remain pending. On June 20, 2014, GoerTek further filed a petition for inter partes review for the ’049 Patent, which also remains pending.
On or about July 4, 2013, GoerTek also filed lawsuits against Knowles Electronics (Suzhou) Co., Ltd. (“Knowles Suzhou”) in the Weifang Intermediate People’s Court of Shandong Province (“Weifang Court”), alleging infringement of the following Chinese patents owned by GoerTek: 201020180613.5 (’613 Patent), 201020001125.3 (’125 Patent), 201020515145.2 (’145 Patent), 200820187748.7 (’748 Patent), and 200510115448.9 (’448 Patent), seeking damages, injunctive relief, and litigation costs. In April 2014, the Weifang Court separately issued judgments against Knowles Suzhou in the lawsuits for the ’748 Patent and the ‘145 Patent, in each case specifying an injunction and awarding damages of 37 million Chinese renminbi (approximately $5.9 million) to GoerTek, both of which judgments Knowles Suzhou has appealed. In August 2014, Knowles Suzhou and GoerTek jointly requested the Shandong People’s High Court to stay any proceedings on Knowles Suzhou’s appeal until early October 2014.  The Shandong People’s High Court has not yet set a hearing date. Knowles has multiple grounds for the appeal of both judgments and strong defenses to GoerTek’s claims in the lawsuits for the ’613, ’125, and ’448 Patents, which remain pending.

On or about July 22, 2013, Knowles Suzhou filed invalidation proceedings before the Patent Reexamination Board at the State Intellectual Property Office of the People’s Republic of China (“PRB”) against GoerTek’s ’613, ’125, ’145, ’748, and ’448 Patents, seeking determinations that claims of the patents are invalid. Knowles Suzhou subsequently withdrew certain of these invalidation petitions and filed certain further invalidation petitions.
In September and October 2014, the Beijing No. 1 Intermediate Court upheld the decisions of the PRB which denied Knowles Suzhou’s invalidity challenges to GoerTek’s’613, ’748, and’448 Patent patents.  Knowles Suzhou either has appealed or intends to appeal the Court’s decision in these matters with the appropriate appellate courts in China. 
 
On October 2, 2014, the Patent Trial and Appeal Board of the U.S. Patent and Trademark office held oral hearings in the inter partes review proceedings requested by GoerTek with respect to Knowles’s U.S. Patent Nos. 7,439,616 (’616 Patent) and 8,121,331 (’331 Patent); the parties await the Patent Trial and Appeal Board’s decisions in those matters.


Item 1A. Risk Factors

For a discussion of our potential risks and uncertainties, see the information under the heading “Risk Factors” in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2013. There have been no material changes to the risk factors disclosed in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2013.


35


Item 6. Exhibits
31.1
Certification of the Chief Executive Officer pursuant to Rule 13a-14(a) or 15d-14(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as adopted pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002
 
 
31.2
Certification of the Chief Financial Officer pursuant to Rule 13a-14(a) or 15d-14(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as adopted pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002
 
 
32.1
Joint Certification of the Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002
 
 
101
The following financial information from Knowles Corporation's Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarterly period ended September 30, 2014 formatted in XBRL (eXtensible Business Reporting Language): (i) Consolidated Statements of Earnings (Unaudited) for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2014 and 2013, (ii) Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Earnings (Unaudited) for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2014 and 2013, (iii) Consolidated Balance Sheets as of September 30, 2014 (Unaudited) and December 31, 2013, (iv) Consolidated Statement of Stockholders’ Equity (Unaudited) for the nine months ended September 30, 2014, (v) Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows (Unaudited) for the nine months ended September 30, 2014 and 2013, and (vi) the Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements (Unaudited)




36


Signatures

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned thereunto duly authorized.

 
 
KNOWLES CORPORATION
 
 
 
Date:
November 5, 2014
/s/ JOHN S. ANDERSON
 
 
John S. Anderson
 
 
Senior Vice President & Chief Financial Officer
 
 
(Principal Financial Officer)


37


EXHIBIT INDEX
31.1
Certification of the Chief Executive Officer pursuant to Rule 13a-14(a) or 15d-14(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as adopted pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002
 
 
31.2
Certification of the Chief Financial Officer pursuant to Rule 13a-14(a) or 15d-14(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as adopted pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002
 
 
32.1
Joint Certification of the Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002
 
 
101
The following financial information from Knowles Corporation's Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarterly period ended September 30, 2014 formatted in XBRL (eXtensible Business Reporting Language): (i) Consolidated Statements of Earnings (Unaudited) for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2014 and 2013, (ii) Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Earnings (Unaudited) for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2014 and 2013, (iii) Consolidated Balance Sheets as of September 30, 2014 (Unaudited) and December 31, 2013, (iv) Consolidated Statement of Stockholders’ Equity (Unaudited) for the nine months ended September 30, 2014, (v) Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows (Unaudited) for the nine months ended September 30, 2014 and 2013, and (vi) the Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements (Unaudited)















38