AZZ INC
For the period ended Feb 29, 2024. Filed Apr 22, 2024.
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FY2024 · Filed Apr 22, 2024
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Item 1. Business
AZZ Inc. ("AZZ", the "Company", "our" or "we") was established in 1956 and incorporated under the laws of the state of Texas. We are a provider of hot-dip galvanizing and coil coating solutions to a broad range of end-markets in North America. We have three distinct operating segments: the AZZ Metal Coatings segment, the AZZ Precoat Metals segment, and the AZZ Infrastructure Solutions segment. Our AZZ Metal Coatings segment is a leading provider of metal finishing solutions for corrosion protection, including hot-dip galvanizing, spin galvanizing, powder coating, anodizing and plating to the North American steel fabrication industry and other industries. The AZZ Precoat Metals segment provides aesthetic and corrosion protective coatings and related value-added services for steel and aluminum coil, primarily serving the construction; appliance; heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC); container; transportation and other end markets in North America. The AZZ Infrastructure Solutions segment consists of our 40% interest in AIS Investment Holdings LLC (the "AVAIL JV"). AIS Investment Holdings LLC is primarily dedicated to delivering safe and reliable transmission of power from generation sources to end customers, automated weld overlay solutions for corrosion and erosion mitigation to critical infrastructure in markets worldwide. AIS Investment Holdings LLC was wholly-owned by AZZ until September 30, 2022, when we contributed our AZZ Infrastructure Solutions business, excluding AZZ Crowley Tubing and excluding certain receivables retained by AZZ ("AIS"), to the AVAIL JV and sold a 60% interest in the AVAIL JV to Fernweh Group LLC ("Fernweh"). For the years ended February 28, 2023 and February 28, 2022, financial data for the AZZ Infrastructure Solutions business is segregated and reported as discontinued operations.
Unless stated otherwise, the discussion of our business and financial information throughout this Annual Report on Form 10-K refers to our continuing operations and results from continuing operations.
Strategy
AZZ is North America’s leading independent post-fabrication hot-dip galvanizing and coil coating solutions company with leading positions in markets we serve. Our business segments provide sustainable, unmatched metal coating solutions that reduce emissions, extend the lifecycle, and enhance the appearance of buildings products and infrastructure that are essential to everyday life. We strive to provide high quality manufactured solutions to our customers while delivering long-term value to our shareholders by:
Integrating human capital, diversity and environmental initiatives into our operations and corporate culture;
Ensuring shareholder engagement is embedded into developing and executing on AZZ’s strategic goals;
Driving profitable growth in both AZZ Metal Coatings and AZZ Precoat Metals segments; and
Targeting increased capital returns to shareholders.
Seasonality
Our business is cyclical in nature, as seasonal fluctuations affect volumes, revenue, and earnings. Historically, we experience increases in our business during the warmer months, and slowdowns during the winter, as the largest portion of our business is related to the construction industry. Volumes, operating costs and earnings can also be adversely affected by inclement weather, especially the impact of severe winter weather in our fourth fiscal quarter.
AZZ Metal Coatings Segment
The AZZ Metal Coatings segment provides hot-dip galvanizing, spin galvanizing, powder coating, anodizing and plating, and other metal coating applications to the steel fabrication industry and other industries through facilities located throughout the United States and Canada. Hot-dip galvanizing is a metallurgical manufacturing process in which molten zinc reacts with steel. The zinc alloying provides corrosion protection and extends the lifecycle of fabricated steel for several decades. As of February 29, 2024, we operated 41 galvanizing plants, six surface technologies plants and one tubing plant, located in various locations throughout the United States and Canada.
Competition
Metal coating is a highly competitive business, and we compete with other galvanizing companies, captive galvanizing facilities operated by manufacturers, and alternate forms of corrosion protection such as material selection (stainless steel or aluminum) or alternative barrier protections such as paint and weathering steel. Our galvanizing markets are generally limited to areas within relatively close proximity to our metal coating plants.
We typically serve fabricators or manufacturers that provide solutions to the transmission and distribution, bridge and highway, petrochemical and general industrial markets, and numerous original equipment manufacturers. We do not depend on any single customer for a significant amount of our sales, and we do not believe the loss of any single customer would have a material adverse effect on our consolidated sales or net income.
Resources
Zinc, the principal raw material used in the galvanizing process, is currently readily available, but can be subject to volatile pricing. We manage our exposure to changes in the price of zinc by entering into agreements with our zinc suppliers and such agreements generally include fixed premiums. We may or may not continue to use these or other strategies to manage commodity risk in the future.
Recent Acquisitions
On February 28, 2022, we entered into an agreement to acquire all the outstanding shares of DAAM Galvanizing Co. Ltd. ("DAAM"), a privately held hot-dip galvanizing company based in Edmonton, Alberta Canada. The acquisition added two galvanizing facilities and a service depot and supported our goal of continued geographic expansion as well as portfolio expansion of our metal coatings solutions.
On December 31, 2021, we completed the acquisition of the assets of Steel Creek Galvanizing Company, LLC, a privately held hot-dip galvanizing company based in Blacksburg, South Carolina. The acquisition expanded our geographical reach in metal coating solutions and broadened our offerings in strategic markets.
For additional information on the AZZ Metal Coatings segment's operating results, see "Item 7. Management's Discussion and Analysis—Results of Operations." For additional financial information by segment, see "Item 8. Financial Statements and Supplementary Data—Note 18."
AZZ Precoat Metals Segment
AZZ Precoat Metals engages in the advanced application of protective and decorative coatings and related value-added manufacturing for steel and aluminum coil primarily serving the construction; appliance; heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC); container; transportation and other end markets. The acquisition of Precoat Metals in fiscal year 2023 supported our goal of continued geographic expansion as well as portfolio expansion of our metal coatings solutions. The AZZ
Precoat Metals segment operates through 13 plants located in the United States, and is constructing a new facility in Washington, Missouri that is expected to be operational by 2025.
Competition
AZZ Precoat Metals operates in a highly competitive industry, where we compete with other toll coil coaters, and integrated steel and aluminum mills. Our customers, and us as their toll processor, also face competition from alternative forms of coated metal, like powder-coated metal, or from other potential substrates such as wood, plastics, or concrete that could be used in place of painted metal.
We primarily serve distributors, fabricators and manufacturers that ultimately provide manufactured painted products to the construction, appliance, HVAC, transportation, container, and general industrial markets, as well as numerous original equipment manufacturers. We do not depend on any single customer for a significant amount of our sales, and we do not believe the loss of any single customer would have a material adverse effect on our consolidated sales or net income.
Resources
Paint and customer-owned substrate availability are important for our toll-coating process. Although paint prices have risen in recent years, we carry limited risk associated with paint cost, as it is a pass-through to our customer base. There are currently no concerns regarding the availability of customer-owned bare substrate as an input to our coil coating process, despite recent volatility in substrate price and lead times.
For additional information on the AZZ Precoat Metals segment's operating results, see "Item 7. Management's Discussion and Analysis—Results of Operations." For additional financial information by segment, see "Item 8. Financial Statements and Supplementary Data—Note 18."
AZZ Infrastructure Solutions segment
AZZ's Infrastructure Solutions segment consists of the equity in earnings of the Company's 40% investment in the AVAIL JV, as well as other expenses directly related to AIS receivables and liabilities that were retained following the divestiture of the AIS business.
The AVAIL JV is a leading provider of specialized products and services primarily designed to support industrial and electrical applications. The segment's product offerings include custom switchgear, electrical enclosures, medium and high voltage bus ducts, and explosion proof and hazardous duty lighting products, which supports the delivery of safe and reliable transmission of power from generation sources to end customers. In addition to our product offerings, our AZZ Infrastructure Solutions segment also focuses on life-cycle extension for the power generation, refining and industrial infrastructure, through providing automated weld overlay solutions for corrosion and erosion mitigation.
For additional information regarding the AZZ Infrastructure Solutions financial results, see "Item 8. Financial Statements and Supplementary Data—Note 19."
Human Capital Management
At AZZ, our culture is defined by trust, respect, accountability, integrity, teamwork and sustainability ("TRAITS"). We value our employees by continuously investing in a healthy work-life balance, offering competitive compensation and benefit packages and a team-oriented environment centered on professional service and open communication among our employees. We are dedicated to our employees by fully training and equipping them and providing a safe environment to grow personally and professionally. We strive to build, maintain and create a work environment that attracts and retains employees who are high contributors, have outstanding skills, are engaged in our culture, and who embody our Company mission: to create superior value in a culture where people can grow both professionally and personally, and where TRAITS matter.
Attracting, developing and retaining the best talent in our industry is important to all aspects of AZZ’s long-term strategy and continued success. We recognize that an engaged workforce directly contributes to our efforts to improve AZZ’s sustainability and performance.
Our Employees
As of February 29, 2024, we employed approximately 3,873 people worldwide, of which 3,575 were employed in the U.S. and 298 were employed in Canada. Our total workforce consisted of approximately 84% hourly employees and 16% salaried employees. Of our total employees as of February 29, 2024, 624 were covered by collective bargaining agreements.
Diversity and Inclusion
We embrace the diversity of our employees, customers, vendors, suppliers, stakeholders and consumers, including their unique backgrounds, experiences, skills and talents. Everyone is valued and appreciated for their distinct contributions to the growth and sustainability of our business.
Equal Opportunity Employment is a fundamental principle of our Company, where employment and applications for employment are evaluated based upon a person’s capabilities and qualifications without discrimination based on actual or perceived race, color, religion, sex, age, national origin, disability, genetic information, marital status, veteran status, sexual orientation, or any other protected characteristic as established by applicable local, state, federal or international laws. This principle is incorporated into each of the Company's policies and procedures relating to recruitment, hiring, promotions, compensation, benefits, discipline, termination and all of AZZ’s other terms and conditions of employment. We seek to continuously improve our hiring, development, advancement and retention of diverse talent and our overall diversity representation.
As of February 29, 2024, our U.S. employees had the following race and ethnicity demographics:
| White | 44.0% |
|---|---|
| Hispanic | 35.4% |
| African American | 13.6% |
| Asian | 1.2% |
| Multi-Racial | 1.4% |
| American Indian or Alaska Native | 0.8% |
| Not Stated | 3.6% |
Approximately 52.4% of our employees are diverse, as reported to the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission.
As of February 29, 2024, our employees had the following gender demographics:
| Women | Men | |
|---|---|---|
| U.S. Employees | 15.0% | 85.0% |
| Global Employees(1) | 14.3% | 85.7% |
| (1) Includes employees in Canada. | ||
Additionally, 22.2% of the executive team and 22.2% of our non-employee Board members are female.
Employee Compensation and Benefits
We are committed to paying our employees competitive and fair compensation that is commensurate with their position and performance and is competitive in the markets in which they work. We conduct regular surveys of the market rates for jobs to ensure that our compensation is competitive. We offer annual merit-based increases, as well as annual short- and long-term incentive packages that are aligned with the Company’s vision and key business objectives and are intended to motivate strong performance.
We believe our employees are critical to the success of our business and we structure our benefits package to attract and retain a highly talented and engaged workforce. We are continuously evolving our programs to adapt to our employees’ and their family’s needs, and to provide comprehensive health, wellness and quality of life coverage. Our programs vary by location, but most include the following benefits:
| Health | Financial | Work/Life |
|---|---|---|
| Medical, Dental and Vision | Competitive Base Salaries | Company/Voluntary Life Insurance |
| Medical Insurance Premium Reduction | Hourly Overtime and Shift Differential Pay | Compensated Time Off and Holiday Pay |
| Health Screenings | Cash Incentive Program (annual) | Accidental Death & Dismemberment |
| Prescription Drug Coverage | Employee Stock Purchase Plan | Paid Short-Term and Long-Term Disability |
| 24/7/365 Virtual and Telehealth Services | 100% 401(k) match for the first 1% and 50% match between 2% and 6% | Flexible Work Arrangements |
| Annual Flu Immunizations | Pre-tax Contributions to Eligible Savings Accounts | Family Emergency Leave |
| Employee Assistance Program | Tuition reimbursement | Military Leave |
Growth and Development
We invest in and provide ongoing development and continuous learning opportunities for all of our employees. AZZ supports enterprise-wide professional development by offering a variety of instructor-led and self-paced learning programs ranging in audience from individual contributors to supervisors and executive leadership. We also provide a variety of resources to help our employees grow professionally and personally and build new skills, including (i) online development courses containing unlimited access to more than 4,500 learning modules, (ii) continuing education credits, and (iii) learning preferences such as in-person seminars, videos and webinars. AZZ also provides tuition assistance for employees enrolled in higher education programs directed at improving their performance or helping them prepare for future leadership roles within the Company and emphasizes individual development training as part of our annual performance goal setting process.
Periodically, all employees have the opportunity and are encouraged to provide feedback on their employee experience through an anonymous employee survey. The feedback received through this survey is used to drive actions to improve the overall experience for employees across the Company, as well as to support continuous improvement in leader effectiveness and to enhance our corporate culture.
Health and Safety
Core to our corporate values, AZZ emphasizes safeguarding our people and fostering a culture of safety awareness that promotes the wellbeing of our employees, contractors and business partners. We maintain a safety culture grounded on the premise of eliminating workplace incidents, risks and hazards, while operating and delivering our work responsibly and sustainably. AZZ has created and implemented training and audit processes and incident learning communications to help mitigate safety events and to reduce the frequency and severity of accidents. AZZ has safety teams and has a formal mentor training program that includes a diverse group of management and hourly employees that contribute to the overall safety culture of our facilities.
We review and monitor safety performance closely. Our goal is to achieve zero serious injuries through continued investments in core safety programs and injury reduction initiatives. We utilize a mixture of leading and lagging indicators to assess the health and safety performance of our operations. Lagging indicators include the Occupational Safety & Health Administration: (i) Total Recordable Incident Rate ("TRIR"); (ii) Lost Time (or Lost Workday) Incident Rate ("LTIR") based upon the number of incidents per 100 employees (or per 200,000 work hours); and (iii) Days Away, Restricted or Transferred rate ("DART"). Leading indicators include reporting of all near miss events as well as Environmental, Health and Safety ("EHS") coaching and engagement. In fiscal year 2024, we continued to demonstrate excellence in safety across our 61 plants worldwide, and incident rates as indicated below:
| TRIR | LTIR | DART | |
|---|---|---|---|
| AZZ Metal Coatings Segment | 3.28 | 1.15 | 2.22 |
| AZZ Precoat Metals Segment | 2.03 | 0.68 | 0.90 |
Information About Our Executive Officers
The names, ages, and experience of our executive officers as of April 22, 2024 are as follows:
| Name | Age | Business Experience of Executive Officers for Past Five YearsPosition or Office with Registrant or Prior Employer | Held Since |
|---|---|---|---|
| Thomas E. Ferguson | 67 | President and Chief Executive Officer | 2013 |
| Philip Schlom | 59 | Senior Vice President, Chief Financial OfficerVice President and Chief Accounting Officer/Interim Chief Financial Officer | 20202019 |
| Tara D. Mackey | 54 | Chief Legal Officer and Secretary | 2014 |
| Matt Emery | 57 | Chief Information and Human Resource Officer | 2013 |
| Tiffany Moseley | 52 | Chief Accounting OfficerVice President, Business Risk Management - Valero Energy Corporation,a manufacturer of transportation fuels and petrochemical products | 20232019-2021 |
| Chris Bacius | 63 | Vice President, Business Development | 2014 |
| David Nark | 56 | Senior Vice President of Marketing, Communications and Investor RelationsVice President of Marketing and Communications | 20192013-2019 |
| Bryan Stovall | 59 | Chief Operating Officer – Metal Coatings President - AZZ Galvanizing SolutionsSenior Vice President - Metal Coatings | 202020192018-2019 |
| Kurt Russell | 54 | Chief Operating Officer - Precoat MetalsPresident - Precoat Metals Division of Sequa Corporation, a portfoliocompany owned by Carlyle, a global private equity firm | 20222016-2022 |
Each executive officer was elected by the Board of Directors to hold office until the next annual meeting of shareholders or until their successor is elected. No executive officer has any family relationships with any other executive officer of the Company.
Available Information
Our annual reports on Form 10-K, quarterly reports on Form 10-Q, current reports on Form 8-K and, if applicable, amendments to those reports filed or furnished pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, are available free of charge on or through our web site, www.azz.com/investor-relations, as soon as reasonably practicable after we electronically file such material with, or furnish it to, the Securities and Exchange Commission ("SEC"). The SEC’s website, www.sec.gov, contains reports, proxy and information statements, and other information regarding issuers, including AZZ, that file electronically with the SEC. References to our website in this Annual Report on Form 10-K are provided as a convenience, and the information on our website is not, and shall not be deemed to be a part of this Annual Report on Form 10-K or incorporated into any other filings we make with the SEC.
Corporate Governance and Sustainability
Our Company’s Board of Directors (the "Board"), with the assistance of its Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee, has adopted Corporate Governance Guidelines that set forth the Board’s policies regarding corporate governance and its oversight of the Company's sustainability efforts. In connection with the Board’s responsibility to oversee our legal compliance and conduct business based upon a foundation of the highest business ethics and social responsibility, the Board has adopted the following policies:
Code of Conduct, which applies to the Company’s officers, directors and employees;
Vendor Code of Business Conduct that applies to dealings with our customers, suppliers, vendors, and third-party
representatives, including agents and business partners;
Human Rights Policy; and
Environmental Health and Safety Policy.
The Board has adopted charters for each of its Audit Committee, Compensation Committee and Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee. You may review the Corporate Governance Guidelines, Codes of Conduct or any of our sustainability or corporate social responsibility policies, and our Committee charters under the heading "Investor Relations,"
subheadings "Corporate Governance," or "Corporate Social Compliance" on our website at: www.azz.com. We intend to disclose future amendments to, or waivers from, certain provisions of the Code of Conduct on our website.
You may also obtain a copy of these documents by mailing a request to:
Investor Relations
One Museum Place, Suite 500
3100 West 7th Street
Fort Worth, TX 76107
The text of this filing, as the company filed it with the SEC, without its images or exhibits. This is not investment advice.