Fortune Brands Innovations Inc

Results of Operations

The discussion of consolidated results of operations should be read in conjunction with the discussion of segment results of operations and our financial statements and notes thereto included in this Annual Report on Form 10-K. As a result of the Separation, our former Cabinets segment was disposed of, and the operating results of the Cabinets business are reported as discontinued operations in 2022. All amounts, percentages and disclosures for all periods presented reflect only the continuing operations of the Company unless otherwise noted. See Note 5, "Discontinued Operations," of the Notes in the consolidated financial statements in Item 8 in this Annual Report on Form 10-K for additional information.

Certain items had a significant impact on our results in 2024, 2023 and 2022. These included restructuring and other charges, asset impairment charges, transaction expenses and the impact of changes in foreign currency exchange rates.

In 2024, financial results included:

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restructuring and other charges of $41.3 million largely related to costs associated with a product line rationalization within our Outdoors segment, the previously announced closure of a manufacturing facility within our Security segment and headcount actions across all segments; and

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the impact of foreign exchange primarily due to movement in the Canadian dollar, Mexican peso, British pound and Chinese yuan, which had an unfavorable impact compared to 2023 of approximately $7 million on net sales and approximately $2 million on both operating income and net income.

In 2023, financial results included:

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restructuring and other charges of $54.2 million largely related to costs associated with the closure of a manufacturing facility within our Security segment and headcount actions across all segments;

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asset impairment charges of $33.5 million related to the impairment of two indefinite-lived tradenames within our Outdoors segment, which were primarily the result of a decline in forecasted sales;

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the impact of foreign exchange primarily due to movement in the Canadian dollar, Mexican peso, British pound and Chinese yuan, which had an unfavorable impact compared to 2022 of approximately $24 million on net sales and approximately $7.9 million on both operating income and net income; and

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transaction expenses related to the acquisition of the Acquired Businesses of $19.7 million.

In 2022, financial results included:

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restructuring and other charges of $26.8 million largely related to severance, asset impairment and other costs associated with plant closures and headcount actions across all segments, net of a gain on the sale of a previously closed manufacturing facility within our Outdoors segment of approximately $6 million; and

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the impact of foreign exchange primarily due to movement in the Canadian dollar, Mexican peso, British pound and Chinese yuan, which had an unfavorable impact compared to 2021 of approximately $41 million on net sales and approximately $12 million on both operating income and net income.

2024 Compared to 2023

Total Fortune Brands

Net sales

Net sales decreased by $17.2 million, or 0.4%, primarily due to lower sales in our international markets ($136.7 million), higher customer sales incentives and unfavorable foreign exchange ($6.9 million), partially offset by the benefit from the acquisitions of SpringWell and the Acquired Businesses ($176.5 million).

Cost of products sold

Cost of products sold decreased by $172.1 million, or 6.3%, primarily due to raw material deflation, lower transportation costs and productivity improvements in all of our segments as a result of strategic sourcing initiatives and manufacturing efficiencies. These factors were partially offset by the impact of the acquisitions of SpringWell and the Acquired Businesses.

Selling, general and administrative expenses

Selling, general and administrative expenses increased by $70.7 million, or 6.1%, primarily due to the acquisitions of SpringWell and the Acquired Businesses, higher advertising and marketing costs, higher headcount-related costs and higher distribution expenses.

Amortization of intangible assets

Amortization of intangible assets increased by $11.0 million, primarily due to the acquisitions of SpringWell and the Acquired Businesses.

Restructuring charges

Restructuring charges of $16.2 million in 2024 are largely related to a product-line rationalization within our Outdoors segment, the previously announced closure of a manufacturing facility within our Security segment, and headcount actions across all segments. Restructuring charges of $32.5 million in 2023 are largely related to costs associated with the closure of the same manufacturing facility within our Security segment and headcount actions across all segments.

Operating income

Operating income increased by $123.0 million, or 20.0%, primarily due to the impacts of the acquisitions of SpringWell and the Acquired Businesses, raw material cost deflation, lower transportation costs, lower restructuring charges and productivity improvements in all of our segments as a result of strategic sourcing initiatives and manufacturing efficiencies as well as the absence of the 2023 asset impairment charges of $33.5 million. These factors were partially offset by increased intangible amortization expense as a result of the acquisitions of SpringWell and the Acquired Businesses ($11.4 million), higher customer sales incentives, higher advertising and marketing costs, higher headcount related costs and higher distribution expenses.

Interest expense

Interest expense increased by $4.0 million, or 3.4%, primarily due to higher floating rate debt borrowings in 2024 and higher fixed rate debt interest rates with the issuance of the $600 million outstanding principal amount of 5.875% Senior Notes due in June 2033 relative to the maturity and settlement of the $600 million outstanding principal amount of 4.000% Senior Notes due in September 2023.

Other expense (income), net

Other expense (income), net, was expense of $11.9 million in 2024, compared to income of $19.5 million in 2023. The decrease in other income, net is primarily due to higher net periodic benefit expense, a decrease in foreign currency transaction income and lower interest income.

Income taxes

The 2024 effective income tax rate was unfavorably impacted by state and local income taxes, foreign income taxed at higher rates, as well as non-deductible executive compensation, partially offset by favorable benefits related to a valuation allowance release and decreases in uncertain tax positions and tax credits.

The 2023 effective income tax rate was unfavorably impacted by state and local income taxes and foreign income taxed at higher rates. This expense was offset by favorable benefits for the release of uncertain tax positions of statute of limitations lapses and federal tax credits.

Income from continuing operations, net of tax

Income from continuing operations, net of income taxes, increased by $66.4 million, or 16.4%, due to higher operating income, partly offset by higher interest expense, higher income tax expense and lower other income, net.

Results By Segment

Water

Net sales increased by $2.4 million, or 0.1%, primarily due to the benefit from the acquisitions of SpringWell and the Emtek and Schaub Business ($152.5 million), partially offset by lower organic sales volume (including sales volume declines within our China business of approximately $100.5 million), higher customer sales incentives and unfavorable foreign exchange ($6.0 million).

Operating income increased by $20.8 million, or 3.6%, primarily due to the benefit from the acquisitions of SpringWell and the Emtek and Schaub Business, productivity improvements as a result of strategic sourcing initiatives and manufacturing efficiencies, lower transportation costs and raw material cost deflation. These factors were partially offset by increased asset intangible amortization expense due to the impact of the acquisitions of SpringWell and the Emtek and Schaub Business ($11.1 million) and higher headcount related costs.

Outdoors

Net sales increased by $9.0 million, or 0.7%, primarily due to higher sales unit volume, partially offset by higher customer sales incentives and unfavorable channel mix.

Operating income increased by $64.5 million, or 48.3%, primarily due to the higher sales unit volume, raw material cost deflation and productivity improvements as a result of strategic sourcing initiatives and manufacturing efficiencies, partially offset by higher headcount related costs.

Security

Net sales decreased by $28.6 million, or 4.0%, primarily due to lower sales unit volume and higher customer sales incentives, partially offset by the benefit from the acquisition of the Yale and August Business (approximately $24.0 million).

Operating income increased by $38.0 million, or 60.9%, primarily due to lower restructuring charges, the benefit from the acquisition of the Yale and August Business, and productivity improvements as a result of strategic sourcing initiatives and manufacturing efficiencies, partially offset by the lower sales unit volume.

Corporate

Corporate expenses increased by $0.3 million, or 0.2%, primarily due higher headcount related costs and costs related to our digital transformation efforts being mostly offset by a gain on the sale of Corporate fixed assets and the absence in the current period of nonrecurring costs related to the acquisition of the Acquired Businesses.

2023 Compared to 2022

Total Fortune Brands

Net sales

Net sales decreased by $96.8 million, or 2.0%, due to lower sales unit volume in the U.S. and lower sales in our international markets ($41.2 million) as well as unfavorable foreign exchange of approximately $24 million. These factors were partially offset by the benefit from the acquisitions of the Acquired Businesses in June 2023 and Aqualisa Holdings (International) Ltd. ("Aqualisa") in July 2022 (approximately $247 million combined sales benefit in 2023) and favorable channel mix.

Cost of products sold

Cost of products sold decreased by $75.3 million, or 2.7%, due to lower sales volumes and productivity improvements in all of our segments. These factors were partially offset by the impact from the acquisitions of the Acquired Businesses in June 2023, including amortization of the inventory fair value adjustment ($12.4 million) and Aqualisa in July 2022, manufacturing inefficiencies related to lower sales unit volume across all of our businesses, costs associated with the planned closure of a manufacturing facility within our Security segment and the absence of the $6.2 million gain on sale of a previously closed manufacturing facility in our Outdoors segment in 2022.

Selling, general and administrative expenses

Selling, general and administrative expenses increased by $90.5 million, or 8.4%, due to the impact from the acquisition of the Acquired Businesses, including transaction related expenses of $19.7 million, and higher headcount-related costs across our segments. These factors were partially offset by savings associated with our 2022 corporate reorganization and restructuring activities and lower advertising and marketing costs.

Amortization of intangible assets

Amortization of intangible assets increased by $13.8 million, primarily due to the acquisition of the Acquired Businesses in June 2023 and Aqualisa in July 2022.

Asset impairment charges

Asset impairment charges of $33.5 million in 2023 related to two indefinite-lived tradenames within our Outdoors business.

Restructuring charges

Restructuring charges of $32.5 million in 2023 are largely related to costs associated with the planned closure of a manufacturing facility within our Security segment and headcount actions across all segments. Restructuring charges of $32.4 million in 2022 were largely related to severance costs associated with the relocation of manufacturing facilities in the Outdoors segment and headcount actions across all segments.

Operating income

Operating income decreased by $159.4 million, or 20.6%, primarily due to lower sales unit volume in the U.S., lower international sales ($41.2 million decrease), manufacturing inefficiencies related to lower sales unit volume, amortization of the inventory fair-value adjustment related to the acquisition of the Acquired Businesses ($12.4 million), higher restructuring and other costs associated with the planned closure of a manufacturing facility in our Security segment, higher headcount-related costs, as well as unfavorable foreign exchange of approximately $7.9 million. These factors were partially offset by the benefit from the acquisition of the Acquired Businesses, productivity improvements, savings associated with our 2022 corporate reorganization and restructuring activities and lower advertising and marketing costs.

Interest expense

Interest expense decreased by $2.7 million, or 2.3%, due to lower interest expense incurred on floating rate debt, partially offset higher interest expense on fixed rate debt.

Other expense (income), net

Other expense (income), net, was income of $19.5 million in 2023, compared to income of $12.0 million in 2022. The increase in other income, net is primarily due to an increase in interest income ($8.4 million increase) and foreign currency transaction income, partially offset by a decrease in defined benefit plan income.

Income taxes

The 2023 effective income tax rate was unfavorably impacted by state and local income taxes and foreign income taxed at higher rates. This expense was offset by favorable benefits for the release of uncertain tax positions of statute of limitations lapses and federal tax credits.

The 2022 effective income tax rate was unfavorably impacted by state and local income taxes, foreign income taxed at higher rates, as well as non-deductible executive compensation. This expense was offset by favorable benefits for the release of certain uncertain tax positions, primarily related to audit closures and statute of limitations lapses, share-based compensation, and a valuation allowance decrease.

Income from continuing operations, net of tax

Income from continuing operations, net of income taxes, decreased by $134.4 million, or 24.9%, due to lower operating income, partly offset by lower income tax expense, lower interest expense and higher other income.

Income from discontinued operations, net of tax

Income from discontinued operations, net of income taxes, for the year ended December 31, 2022 was $146.8 million and includes the results from operations of our former Cabinets segment. Refer to Note 5, "Discontinued Operations," of the Notes to the consolidated financial statements in Item 8 in this Annual Report on Form 10-K for additional details.

Results By Segment

Water

Net sales decreased by $8.0 million, or 0.3%, due to lower organic sales unit volume in the U.S., lower international sales, higher customer sales incentives and unfavorable foreign exchange of approximately $24.4 million. These factors were partially offset by the benefit from the acquisition of the Emtek and Schaub Business in June 2023 and Aqualisa in July 2022 (approximately $166 million of combined sales benefit).

Operating income decreased by $40.3 million, or 6.6%, due to lower net sales, costs associated with manufacturing inefficiencies related to the lower sales unit volume, the amortization of the Emtek and Schaub Business inventory fair value adjustment ($3.5 million) and unfavorable foreign exchange of approximately $5.8 million. These factors were partially offset by the benefit from the acquisition of the Emtek and Schaub Business and Aqualisa, productivity improvements and lower advertising and marketing costs.

Outdoors

Net sales decreased by $176.3 million, or 11.6%, due to lower sales unit volume of our doors and decking products. These were partially offset by the benefit from changes in product mix and lower customer sales incentives.

Operating income decreased by $60.7 million, or 31.3%, due to asset impairment charges related to two of our indefinite-lived tradenames ($33.5 million), lower net sales, the impact of costs associated with manufacturing inefficiencies related to lower sales unit volume, the absence of the 2022 gain of $6.2 million on the sale of a previously closed manufacturing facility and higher employee-related costs. These factors were partially offset by productivity improvements and cost savings resulting from the rationalization of certain of our production facilities during the second half of 2022.

Security

Net sales increased by $87.5 million, or 13.8%, due to the benefit from the acquisition of the Yale and August Business (approximately $81 million) and price increases to help mitigate the impact of cumulative commodity cost increases. These benefits were partially offset by lower sales unit volume.

Operating income decreased by $33.0 million, or 34.6%, due to restructuring costs and other charges associated with the planned closure of a manufacturing facility and the amortization of the Yale and August Business inventory fair value adjustment ($8.9 million), partially offset by higher net sales and manufacturing productivity improvements.

Corporate

Corporate expenses increased by $25.4 million, or 19.6%, due to costs related to the acquisition of the Acquired Businesses in June 2023 and higher headcount-related costs.