ALBANY INTERNATIONAL CORP /DE/ - Quarter Report: 2018 September (Form 10-Q)

UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549

Form 10-Q

(√) QUARTERLY REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

For the quarterly period ended: September 30, 2018

OR

(  ) 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: 1-10026

ALBANY INTERNATIONAL CORP.
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

Registrant’s telephone number, including area code 603-330-5850

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 [ √ ] No [    ]

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has submitted every Interactive Data File required to be submitted 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 such files). Yes [ √ ] No [    ]

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, or a smaller reporting company, or an emerging growth company. See the definitions of “large accelerated filer,” “accelerated filer,” “smaller reporting company,” and “emerging growth company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act.

If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Exchange Act. [    ]

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

The registrant had 29.0 million shares of Class A Common Stock and 3.2 million shares of Class B Common Stock outstanding as of October 22, 2018.

ALBANY INTERNATIONAL CORP.
TABLE OF CONTENTS

ITEM 1. FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

ALBANY INTERNATIONAL CORP.
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME
(in thousands, except per share amounts)
(unaudited)

The accompanying notes are an integral part of the consolidated financial statements

ALBANY INTERNATIONAL CORP.
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF COMPREHENSIVE INCOME/(LOSS)
(in thousands)
(unaudited)

The accompanying notes are an integral part of the consolidated financial statements

ALBANY INTERNATIONAL CORP.
CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
(in thousands, except share data)
(unaudited)

The accompanying notes are an integral part of the consolidated financial statements

ALBANY INTERNATIONAL CORP.
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
(in thousands)
(unaudited)

The accompanying notes are an integral part of the consolidated financial statements

ALBANY INTERNATIONAL CORP.
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(unaudited)

1. Significant Accounting Policies

Basis of Presentation

In the opinion of management, the accompanying unaudited consolidated financial statements contain all adjustments necessary for a fair presentation of results for such periods. Albany International Corp. (Albany, the Registrant, the Company, we, us, or our) consolidates the financial results of its subsidiaries for all periods presented. The results for any interim period are not necessarily indicative of results for the full year.

The preparation of financial statements in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles (“GAAP”) requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the amounts reported in Albany International Corp.’s Consolidated Financial Statements and accompanying Notes. Actual results could differ materially from those estimates.

The information included in this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q should be read in conjunction with “Risk Factors,” “Legal Proceedings,” “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operation,” “Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures about Market Risk” and the Consolidated Financial Statements and Notes thereto included in Items 1A, 3, 7, 7A and 8, respectively, of the Albany International Corp. Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2017.

Effective January 1, 2018, we adopted the provisions of ASC 606, Revenue from contracts with customers, using the modified retrospective method for transition as discussed in Note 2, Revenue Recognition. Accounting policies have been applied consistently to periods presented, except for the application of ASC 606, as further described in Note 2.

2. Revenue Recognition

Effective January 1, 2018, the Company adopted the provisions of ASC 606, Revenue from contracts with customers, using the modified retrospective (or cumulative effect) method for transition. Under this transition method, periods prior to 2018 have not been restated and the cumulative effect of initially applying the new standard was recorded as an adjustment to Retained earnings at January 1, 2018. The standard replaces numerous requirements in U.S. GAAP, including industry-specific requirements, and provides companies with a single model for recognizing revenue from contracts with customers. We applied the new accounting standard to contracts which were not completed by December 31, 2017.

In our Machine Clothing (MC) business segment, prior to 2018, we recorded revenue from the sale of a product when persuasive evidence of an arrangement existed, delivery had occurred, title was transferred, the selling price was fixed, and collectability was reasonably assured. Under the new standard, we recognize MC revenue when we satisfy our performance obligations related to the manufacture and delivery of a product, which, in certain cases, results in earlier recognition of revenue associated with these contracts. For the MC segment, the cumulative effect of adopting ASC 606 included an increase to Accounts receivable, a decrease to Inventories, and an increase to Retained earnings.

In our Albany Engineered Composites (AEC) business segment, revenue from a number of long-term contracts was, prior to 2018, recorded on the basis of the units-of-delivery method, which is considered an output method. Under the new standard, revenue from most of these contracts is recognized over time using an input method as the measure of progress, which generally results in earlier recognition of revenue. Prior to adoption of the new standard, the classification of revenue in excess of progress billings on long-term contracts was included in Accounts receivable. Under the new standard, such assets are considered Contract assets, which are rights to consideration that are conditional on something other than the passage of time, such as completion of remaining performance obligations. As a result of adoption of the new standard, such assets were reclassified at transition from Accounts receivable to Contract assets. In addition, under the new standard, we are required to limit our estimate of contract values to the period of the legally enforceable contract, which in many cases is considerably shorter than the contract period used under the former standard. While certain contracts are expected to be profitable over the course of the program life when including expected renewals, under the new standard, our estimate of contract revenues and costs is limited to the estimated value of enforceable rights and obligations, excluding anticipated renewals. In some cases, this shorter contract period may result in a loss contract provision, and our transition adjustment included such loss accruals. Expected losses on projects include losses on contract options that are probable of exercise, excluding profitable options that often follow. For AEC, the cumulative effect of adopting ASC 606 included increases to Contract assets and Accrued liabilities, and decreases to Accounts receivable, Inventories and Retained earnings.

The table below presents the cumulative effect of changes made to our December 31, 2017 Consolidated Balance Sheet as the result of adoption of ASC 606:

ALBANY INTERNATIONAL CORP.
CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEET
(in thousands, except share data)
(unaudited)

Significant changes to our accounting policies as a result of adopting the new standard are discussed below.

For periods ending after December 31, 2017, we account for a contract when it has approval and commitment from both parties, the rights of the parties are identified, payment terms are identified, the contract has commercial substance and collectability of consideration is probable. Revenue is measured based on the consideration specified in the contract with the customer, and excludes any amounts collected on behalf of third parties. We recognize revenue when we satisfy a performance obligation by transferring control over a product or service, or a series of distinct goods or services, to the customer which occurs either at a point in time, or over time, depending on the performance obligation in the contract. A performance obligation is a promise in the contract to transfer a distinct good or service to the customer, and is the unit of account under the new revenue standard. “Control” refers to the ability to direct the use of, and obtain substantially all of the remaining benefits from the product. A contract’s transaction price is allocated to each material distinct performance obligation and is recognized as revenue when, or as, the performance obligation is satisfied.

In our MC segment, our primary performance obligation in most contracts is to provide solution-based, custom-designed fabrics and belts to the customer. We satisfy this performance obligation upon transferring control of the product to the customer at a specific point in time. Generally, the customer obtains control when the product has been received at the location specified by the customer, at which time the only remaining obligations under the contract are fulfillment costs, which are accrued when control of the product is transferred.

In the MC segment, some contracts with certain customers may also obligate us to provide various product-related services at no additional cost to the customer. When this obligation is material in the context of the contract with the customer, we recognize a separate performance obligation and allocate revenue to those services based on their estimated standalone selling price. The standalone selling price for these services is determined based upon an analysis of the services offered and an assessment of the price we might charge for such services as a separate offering. As we typically provide such services on a stand-ready basis, we recognize this revenue over time. Revenue allocated to such service performance obligations is the only MC revenue that is recognized over time.

In our AEC business segment, we primarily enter into contracts to manufacture and deliver highly engineered advanced composite products to our customers. The majority of AEC revenue is from short duration, firm-fixed-price orders that are placed under a master agreement containing general terms and conditions applicable to all orders placed under the master agreement. To determine the proper revenue recognition method, we evaluate whether two or more orders or contracts should be combined and accounted for as one single contract, and whether the combined or single contract contains single or multiple performance obligations. This evaluation requires significant judgment, and the decision to combine a group of contracts, or to allocate revenue from the combined or single contract among multiple performance obligations, could have a significant impact on the amount of revenue and profit recorded in a given period. For most AEC contracts, the nature of our promise (or our performance obligation) to the customer is to manage the contract and provide a significant service of integrating a complex set of tasks and components into a single project or capability, which will often result in the delivery of multiple highly interdependent and interrelated units.

At the inception of a contract we estimate the transaction price based on our current rights, and do not contemplate future modifications (including unexercised options) or follow-on contracts until they become legally enforceable. Many AEC contracts are subsequently modified to include changes in specifications, requirements or price, which may create new or change existing enforceable rights and obligations. Depending on the nature of the modification, we consider whether to account for the modification as an adjustment to the existing contract or as a separate contract. Generally, we are able

to conclude that such modifications are not distinct from the existing contract, due to the significant integration of the obligations, and the interrelated nature of tasks, provided for in the modification and the existing contract. Therefore, such modifications are accounted for as if they were part of the existing contract, and we accumulate the values of such modifications in our estimates of contract value.

Revenue is recognized over time for a large portion of our contracts in AEC as most of our contracts have provisions that, under the guidance in ASC 606, are deemed to transfer control to the customer over time. Revenue is recognized based on the extent of progress towards completion of the performance obligation. The selection of the method to measure progress toward completion requires judgment and is based on the nature of the products or services to be provided. We generally use the cost-to-cost measure of progress for our contracts because it best depicts the transfer of assets to the customer which occurs as we incur costs to produce the contract deliverables. Under the cost-to-cost measure of progress, the extent of progress toward completion is measured based on the ratio of costs incurred to date to the total estimated costs at completion of the performance obligation. Revenue, including profit, is recorded proportionally as costs are incurred. Accounting for long-term contracts requires significant judgment and estimation, which could be considerably different if the underlying circumstances were to change. When any adjustments of estimated contract revenue or costs are required, any changes from prior estimates are included in revenues or earnings in the period in which the change occurs.

In other AEC contracts, revenue is recognized at a point in time because the products are offered to multiple customers, or do not have an enforceable right to payment until the product is shipped or delivered to the location specified by the customer in the contract.

AEC’s largest source of revenue is derived from the LEAP contract (see Note 3) under a cost- plus-fee agreement. Beginning in 2018, the fee is variable based on our success in achieving certain cost targets. Revenue is recognized over time as costs are incurred. Under this contract, there is significant judgment involved in determining applicable contract costs and expected margin, and therefore in determining the amount of revenue to be recognized.

Payment terms granted to MC and AEC customers reflect general competitive practices. Terms vary with product, competitive conditions, and the country of operation.

The following table provides a summary of the composition of each business segment:

We disaggregate revenue earned from contracts with customers for each of our business segments and reporting units based on the timing of revenue recognition, and groupings used for internal review purposes.

The following table disaggregates revenue for each reporting unit by timing of revenue recognition:

The following table disaggregates MC segment revenue by significant product groupings (paper machine clothing (PMC) and engineered fabrics), and, for PMC, the geographical region to which the paper machine clothing was sold:

In accordance with ASC 606-10-50-14, we do not disclose the value of unsatisfied performance obligations for contracts with an original expected duration of one year or less. Contracts in the Machine Clothing segment are generally for periods of less than a year. Most contracts in the AEC segment are short duration firm-fixed-price orders representing performance obligations with an original maturity of less than one year. Performance obligations as of September 30, 2018 that had an original duration of greater than one year totaled $95 million and related primarily to firm contracts in

the AEC segment. Of that amount, we expect to recognize as revenue approximately $20 million during 2018, with the remainder to be recognized between 2019 and 2021.

For some AEC contracts, we perform pre-production or nonrecurring engineering services. These costs are normally considered a fulfillment activity, rather than a performance obligation. Fulfillment activities that create resources that will be used in satisfying performance obligations in the future, and are expected to be recovered, are capitalized to Other Assets, which is classified as a noncurrent asset in the Consolidated Balance Sheets. The capitalized costs are amortized into Cost of goods sold over the period over which the asset is expected to contribute to future cash flows.

As a result of applying the cumulative effect method for transition to ASC 606, we are required to disclose the effect of the new standard on each line of the consolidated financial statements. The following tables show the balances as reported for the period ended September 30, 2018, and how the consolidated financial statements would have appeared if we had not adopted ASC 606.

ALBANY INTERNATIONAL CORP.
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF INCOME
(in thousands, except per share amounts)
(unaudited)

ALBANY INTERNATIONAL CORP.
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF COMPREHENSIVE INCOME/(LOSS)
(in thousands)
(unaudited)

ALBANY INTERNATIONAL CORP.
CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEET
(in thousands, except share data)
(unaudited)

ALBANY INTERNATIONAL CORP.
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF CASH FLOWS
(in thousands)
(unaudited)

3. Reportable Segments

As described in Note 2, the Company adopted the provisions of ASC 606, “Revenue from contracts with customers”, effective January 1, 2018, using the cumulative effect method for transition. Periods prior to 2018 have not been restated. The following tables show data by reportable segment, reconciled to consolidated totals, and the impact that ASC 606 had on the three -and nine-month periods ended September 30, 2018:

At the January 1, 2018 date of adoption of ASC 606, Machine Clothing (MC) assets increased by $22 million, and Albany Engineered Composites (AEC) assets decreased by $13 million.

In the third quarter of 2018, AEC finalized a modification to the lease of its primary manufacturing facility in Salt Lake City, Utah. The modification, which includes additional manufacturing space, extends the minimum lease period until December 31, 2029. The lease modification resulted in a non-cash increase of $12.7 million to Property, plant and equipment, net and to Long-term debt in the Consolidated Balance Sheets. Due to the non-cash nature of the transaction, those increases are excluded from amounts reported in the Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows.

As described in Note 4, effective January 1, 2018, the Company adopted an accounting update that affects the classification of components of pension and postretirement benefit costs. As a result of adopting that update, some costs that were previously included in operating expenses shall now be included in Other (income)/expense, net. Periods prior to 2018 have been restated to conform to the current year presentation (see Note 4).

The AEC segment, including Albany Safran Composites, LLC (ASC), in which our customer SAFRAN Group (Safran) owns a 10 percent noncontrolling interest, provides highly engineered, advanced composite structures to customers in the aerospace and defense industries. AEC’s largest program relates to CFM International’s LEAP engine. Under this program, ASC is the exclusive supplier of advanced composite fan blades and cases under a long-term supply contract. The manufacturing spaces used for the production of parts under the long-term supply agreement are owned by Safran, and leased to ASC at either market rent or a minimal cost. All lease expense is reimbursable by Safran to ASC due to the cost-plus nature of the supply agreement. ASC net sales to Safran were $136.9 million in the first nine months of 2018 and $84.1 million in the first nine months of 2017. The total of Accounts receivable, Contract assets and Noncurrent receivables due from Safran amounted to $99.0 million and $58.6 million as of September 30, 2018 and December 31, 2017, respectively.

In the second quarter of 2017, the Company recorded a charge to Cost of goods sold of approximately $15.8 million associated with revisions in the estimated profitability of two AEC contracts. The charge was principally due to second-quarter 2017 downward revisions of estimated customer demand for the components manufactured by AEC related to the BR 725 and A380 programs. The charge included a $4.0 million write-off of program inventory costs, and a reserve for future losses of $11.8 million, which is included in Accrued liabilities in the Consolidated Balance Sheets.

The table below presents restructuring costs by reportable segment (also see Note 5):

4. Pensions and Other Postretirement Benefit Plans

Pension Plans

The Company has defined benefit pension plans covering certain U.S. and non-U.S. employees. The U.S. qualified defined benefit pension plan has been closed to new participants since October 1998, and benefits accrued under this plan have been frozen since February 2009. As a result of the freeze, employees covered by the pension plan will receive, at retirement, benefits already accrued through February 2009 but no new benefits accrue after that date. Benefit accruals under the U.S. Supplemental Executive Retirement Plan (“SERP”) were similarly frozen. In the third quarter of 2018, the Company made a $5 million voluntary contribution to its U.S. pension plan and, with that contribution, the plan is close to being fully funded. The eligibility, benefit formulas, and contribution requirements for plans outside of the U.S. vary by location.

Other Postretirement Benefits

The Company also provides certain postretirement benefits to retired employees in the U.S. and Canada. The Company accrues the cost of providing postretirement benefits during the active service period of the employees. The Company currently funds the plans as claims are paid.

The composition of the net periodic benefit plan cost for the nine months ended September 30, 2018 and 2017, was as follows:

In 2018, the Company adopted the provisions of ASU 2017-07, “Compensation – Retirement Benefits: improving the presentation of net periodic pension cost and net periodic postretirement benefit cost”. This accounting update requires that service cost for defined benefit pension and postretirement plans be reported in the same line item or items as other compensation costs arising from services rendered by the pertinent employees during the period. Additionally, the other components of net periodic benefit cost are required to be presented in the income statement separately from the service cost component and outside a subtotal of income from operations. The Company elected to report the components of net periodic benefit cost other than the service component in the line item, Other expense, net in the Consolidated Statements of Income.

We restated 2017 expenses using the application of a practical expedient, which permits the usage of amounts disclosed in the prior year Pension and Other Postretirement benefit plans footnote as the estimation basis for applying the retrospective presentation requirements. The tables below show the 2017 amounts reclassified by segment and financial statement line item that resulted from adopting this update:

Effect by segment operating expenses:

Effect by Statement of Income line item:

5. Restructuring

On October 5, 2017, the Company filed a Current Report on Form 8-K to announce the initiation of discussions regarding a proposal to discontinue operations at its Machine Clothing production facility in Sélestat, France. The restructuring program was driven by the Company’s need o balance manufacturing capacity with demand. During 2017, we incurred $1.1 million of restructuring expense associated with this proposal but were unable to reasonably estimate the total costs for severance and other charges associated with the proposal as there was no assurance, at that time, that approval for the proposal would be obtained. In the first quarter of 2018 the plan was approved by the French Labor Ministry. In the first nine months of 2018, we recorded restructuring expense of $9.0 million, which includes severance and outplacement costs for the approximately 50 positions to be terminated under this plan. Since 2017, we have recorded $10.1 million of restructuring charges related to this action. The Company continues to assess property, plant and equipment in that location to determine if equipment will be transferred to other facilities, or if the value of the assets can be recovered through a sale. Depending on the outcome of that assessment, additional restructuring charges could be recorded in future periods.

AEC restructuring charges included expenses for the first nine months of 2018 and 2017 related to work force reductions in Salt Lake City, Utah and Rochester, New Hampshire. To date, we have recorded $6.1 million of restructuring charges related to these actions.

AEC restructuring charges in the third quarter of 2018 were principally related to the discontinuation of certain manufacturing processes in Salt Lake City, resulting in a non-cash restructuring charge of $1.7 million, and an additional $0.2 million for severance. The non-cash restructuring charge results from an impairment of related manufacturing equipment. The Company

has decided to dispose of that equipment by sale and the impairment charge reflects management’s estimate of proceeds that may be recovered in the sale. As of September 30, 2018, the asset value, net of the impairment charge, is included in Prepaid expenses and other current assets in the accompanying Consolidated Balance Sheets.

In 2017, the Company decided to discontinue the Bear Claw® line of hydraulic fracturing components used in the oil and gas industry, which was part of the Harris aerostructures business acquired by AEC in 2016. This decision resulted in a non-cash restructuring charge of $4.5 million for the write-off of intangible assets and equipment, and a $3.2 million charge to Cost of goods sold for the write-off of inventory in the third quarter of 2017.

The following table summarizes charges reported in the Consolidated Statements of Income under “Restructuring expenses, net”:

We expect that approximately $6.1 million of Accrued liabilities for restructuring at September 30, 2018 will be paid within one year and approximately $0.3 million will be paid in the following year.

The table below presents the year-to-date changes in restructuring liabilities for 2018 and 2017, all of which related to termination costs:

6. Other expense, net

The components of Other expense, net are:

In 2018, the Company adopted the provisions of ASU 2017-07. This accounting update affected the classification of components of net periodic benefit cost, other than service cost, to be reported separately from the service cost component and outside of operating income. The Company elected to report other components of net periodic pension and postretirement cost in Other expense, net. The comparative consolidated statement of income was restated as required by this update. Further detail of this accounting update is disclosed in Note 4.

In the third quarter of 2017, the Company recorded an insurance recovery gain of $2.0 million related to a 2016 loss due a theft of cash in Japan.

7. Income Taxes

The following table presents components of income tax expense for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2018 and 2017:

The third quarter estimated effective tax rate on continuing operations was 29.7 percent in 2018, compared to 36.4 percent for the same period in 2017.

Income tax expense for the quarter was computed in accordance with ASC 740-270 “Income Taxes – Interim Reporting”. Under this method, loss jurisdictions, which cannot recognize a tax benefit with regard to their generated losses, are excluded from the annual effective tax rate (AETR) calculation and their taxes will be recorded discretely in each quarter.

The Company’s tax rate is affected by recurring items such as the income tax rate in the U.S. and in non-U.S. jurisdictions and the mix of income earned in those jurisdictions, including changes in losses and income from excluded loss jurisdictions, and the impact of discrete items in the respective quarter. Additionally, tax adjustments resulting from the 2017 Tax Cut and Jobs Act (TCJA) have affected the Company’s 2018 AETR, including the global intangible low-taxed income (GILTI) inclusion, the foreign-derived intangible income (FDII) deduction and the corporate U.S. tax rate reduction from 35% to 21%.

The TCJA significantly revised the U.S. corporate income tax regime by, among other things, lowering the U.S. corporate tax rate from 35% to 21% effective January 1, 2018, while also repealing the deduction for domestic production activities, implementing a territorial tax system and imposing a transition tax on deemed repatriated earnings of foreign subsidiaries. U.S. GAAP requires that the impact of tax legislation be recognized in the period in which the law was enacted.

In December 2017, the Securities and Exchange Commission staff issued Staff Accounting Bulletin No. 118 (SAB 118), which addresses how a company recognizes provisional amounts when a company does not have the necessary information available, prepared or analyzed (including computations) in reasonable detail to complete its accounting for the effect of the changes in the TCJA. The measurement period ends when a company has obtained, prepared and analyzed the information necessary to finalize its accounting, but cannot extend beyond one year. The Company elected to apply the measurement period guidance provided in SAB 118.

Deferred tax assets and liabilities: At December 31, 2017, the Company re-measured certain deferred tax assets and liabilities based on the federal rate of 21%. However, the Company is still analyzing certain aspects of the TCJA, such as IRC section 162(m), and refining its calculations which could potentially affect the measurement of these balances or potentially give rise to new deferred tax

amounts. As such, no adjustment has been recorded to the provisional amount previously recorded in 2017.

Foreign tax effects: At December 31, 2017, the Company recorded a provisional federal tax charge due to the transition tax on deemed repatriation of foreign earnings. As of September 30, 2018, the Company is still analyzing its U.S. tax attributes such as foreign earnings and profits, foreign tax paid, and other tax components involved in foreign tax credit calculations, however, the Company recorded a net $1.1 million reduction to the provisional transition tax in second quarter of 2018. The $1.1 million adjustment was comprised of a $1.9 million federal tax benefit attributable to adjustments discovered while analyzing the Post 1986 E&P and tax pools through 2016 and a $0.8 million state tax charge based on interpretive guidance issued by various states during the quarter on how the deemed mandatory repatriation would be taxed in those jurisdictions. These amounts are still considered provisional as the Company continues to analyze guidance and legislation published by the taxing jurisdictions.

The Company has elected to account for the global intangible low taxed income (GILTI) as a current-period expense when incurred (the “period cost method”). The estimated net GILTI inclusion calculated by the Company (including the gross up on the GILTI Inclusion and the apportioned foreign tax credits applied to GILTI) was $22 million and increased the AETR by 2.2%. The Company also calculated an estimated foreign-derived intangible income (FDII) deduction of $4.5 million which decreased the AETR by 0.8%. Because of the complexity of the GILTI and FDII tax rules and the lack of legislative guidance, the Company continues to evaluate these provisions of the TCJA and the application of ASC 740, Income Taxes. The final impact on the Company from the TCJA’s GILTI and FDII tax legislation may differ from the estimate calculated by the Company. Such differences could be material, due to, among other things, changes in interpretations of the TCJA, future legislative action to address questions that arise because of the TCJA, changes in accounting standards for income taxes or related interpretations in response to the TCJA, or any updates or changes to estimates the Company has utilized to calculate the GILTI inclusion and FDII deduction.

The Company continues to believe that the Base Erosion Anti-Abuse Tax (BEAT) does not apply under the Company’s current policies. Therefore no adjustments for BEAT have been recorded.

The Company records the residual U.S. and foreign taxes on certain amounts of foreign earnings that have been targeted for repatriation to the U.S. These amounts are not considered to be indefinitely reinvested, and the Company accrued for the tax cost on these earnings to the extent they cannot be repatriated in a tax-free manner. The Company has targeted for repatriation $100.7 million of current year and prior year earnings of the Company’s foreign operations. If these earnings were distributed, the Company would be subject to foreign withholding taxes of $2.3 million which have already been recorded.

The Company conducts business globally and, as a result, files income tax returns in the U.S. federal jurisdiction and various state and foreign jurisdictions. In the normal course of business the Company is subject to examination by taxing authorities throughout the world, including major jurisdictions such as the United States, Brazil, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Mexico, and Switzerland. The open tax years in these jurisdictions range from 2007 to 2018. The Company is currently under audit in non-U.S. tax jurisdictions, including but not limited to Canada and Italy. In the second quarter of 2018, the Company recorded additional uncertain tax positions of $2.4 million as a result of developments in ongoing tax audits.

It is reasonably possible that over the next twelve months the amount of unrecognized tax benefits may change within a range of a net increase of nil to a net decrease of $1.2 million, from the reevaluation of uncertain tax positions arising in examinations, in appeals, or in the courts, or from the closure of tax statutes of limitations.

As of each reporting date, management considers new evidence, both positive and negative, that could affect its view of the future realization of deferred tax assets. In the second quarter of 2018, management determined that there was sufficient positive evidence to conclude that it is more likely than not that deferred tax assets in Germany are realizable. Therefore, the Company reversed the previously recorded valuation allowances in the second quarter of 2018 which resulted in a discrete tax benefit of $5.0 million.

In October 2016, an accounting update, ASU 2016-16 was issued which modifies the recognition of income tax effects on intercompany transfers of assets, other than inventory. The Company adopted this update effective January 1, 2018, which resulted in a decrease of $0.5 million to deferred taxes liabilities, with an offsetting increase to retained earnings.

8. Earnings Per Share

The amounts used in computing earnings per share and the weighted average number of shares of potentially dilutive securities are as follows:

9. Noncontrolling Interest

The table below presents a reconciliation of income attributable to the noncontrolling interest and noncontrolling equity in the Company’s subsidiary Albany Safran Composites, LLC, and the

impact that the ASC 606 revenue standard had on Company results for the first nine months of 2018, included in the consolidated financial statements:

10. Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (AOCI)

The table below presents changes in the components of AOCI for the period December 31, 2017 to September 30, 2018:

The table below presents changes in the components of AOCI for the period December 31, 2016 to September 30, 2017:

The table below presents the expense/(income) amounts reclassified, and the line items of the Consolidated Statements of Income that were affected for the periods ended September 30, 2018 and 2017.

11. Accounts Receivable

Accounts receivable includes trade receivables and bank promissory notes. As a result of adopting ASC 606, Revenue in excess of progress billings on long-term contracts in the Albany Engineered Composites segment was reclassified to Contract assets in 2018. Including that reclassification, the cumulative effect from the adoption of ASC 606 was an increase to Accounts receivable of $7.7 million as Accounts receivable recorded in the cumulative adjustment exceeded that reclassification.

The Company maintains allowances for doubtful accounts for estimated losses resulting from the inability of its customers to make required payments. The Company determines the allowance based on historical write-off experience, customer-specific facts and economic conditions. If the financial condition of the Company’s customers were to deteriorate, resulting in an impairment of their ability to make payments, additional allowances may be required.

As of September 30, 2018 and December 31, 2017, Accounts receivable consisted of the following:

In connection with certain sales in Asia, the Company accepts a bank promissory note as customer payment. The notes may be presented for payment at maturity, which is less than one year.

The Company also has Noncurrent receivables in the AEC segment that represent revenue earned which has extended payment terms. The Noncurrent receivables will be invoiced to the customer, with 2% interest, over a 10-year period starting in 2020.

As of September 30, 2018 and December 31, 2017, Noncurrent receivables consisted of the following:

12. Contract Assets and Liabilities

Beginning in 2018, Contract assets includes unbilled amounts typically resulting from sales under contracts when the cost-to-cost method of revenue recognition is utilized, and revenue recognized exceeds the amount billed to the customer. For periods prior to 2018, that asset was included in Accounts receivable. At the date of adoption of ASC 606, we recorded Contract assets of $47.4 million, which included the amount that was in Accounts receivable as of December 31, 2017, and additional transition adjustments that resulted from the retrospective application of ASC 606 to contracts in process at the time of adoption.

Contract assets are transferred to Accounts receivable, net when the entitlement to pay becomes unconditional. Contract liabilities include advance payments and billings in excess of

revenue recognized. Contract liabilities are included in Accrued liabilities in the Consolidated Balance Sheet.

Contract assets and Contract liabilities are reported on the Consolidated Balance Sheets in a net position on a contract-by-contract basis at the end of each reporting period. Contract assets and contract liabilities were as follows:

Contract assets increased $8.7 million during the nine month period ended September 30, 2018 as compared to the January 1, 2018 opening balance sheet, as adjusted for the adoption of ASC 606 (see Note 2). The increase was primarily due to an increase in unbilled revenue related to the satisfaction of performance obligations, in excess of the amounts billed to customers. There were no impairment losses related to our Contract assets during the nine month period ended September 30, 2018.

Contract liabilities increased $5.6 million during the nine month period ended September 30, 2018, as compared to the January 1, 2018 opening balance sheet, as adjusted for the adoption of ASC 606, primarily due to increased billings in excess of revenue recognized. Revenue recognized for the nine month period ended September 30, 2018, that was included in the Contract liability balance at the beginning of the year was less than $1 million, and represented revenue primarily in the ASC reporting unit.

13. Inventories

Costs included in inventories are raw materials, labor, supplies and allocable depreciation and overhead. Raw material inventories are valued on an average cost basis. Other inventory cost elements are valued at cost, using the first-in, first-out method. The Company writes down the inventories for estimated obsolescence, and to lower of cost or net realizable value based upon assumptions about future demand and market conditions. If actual demand or market conditions are less favorable than those projected by the Company, additional inventory write-downs may be required. Once established, the original cost of the inventory less the related write-down represents the new cost basis of such inventories. The decrease in Inventories in 2018, compared to the balances as of December 31, 2017, was principally due to the cumulative effect of adopting ASC 606 (see Note 2) which decreased Inventories by $47.1 million.

As of September 30, 2018 and December 31, 2017, inventories consisted of the following:

14. Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets

Goodwill and intangible assets with indefinite useful lives are not amortized, but are tested for impairment at least annually. Goodwill represents the excess of the purchase price over the fair value of the net tangible and identifiable intangible assets acquired in each business combination.

Determining the fair value of a reporting unit requires the use of significant estimates and assumptions, including revenue growth rates, operating margins, discount rates, and future market conditions, among others. Goodwill and other long-lived assets are reviewed for impairment whenever events, such as significant changes in the business climate, plant closures, changes in product offerings, or other circumstances indicate that the carrying amount may not be recoverable.

To determine fair value, we utilize two market-based approaches and an income approach. Under the market-based approaches, we utilize information regarding the Company as well as publicly available industry information to determine earnings multiples and sales multiples. Under the income approach, we determine fair value based on estimated future cash flows of each reporting unit, discounted by an estimated weighted-average cost of capital, which reflects the overall level of inherent risk of a reporting unit and the rate of return an outside investor would expect to earn.

In the second quarter of 2018, the Company applied the qualitative assessment approach in performing its annual evaluation of goodwill and concluded that no impairment provision was required. There were no amounts at risk due to the large spread between the fair and carrying value of each reporting unit.

We are continuing to amortize certain patents, trade names, customer relationships, customer contracts and technology assets that have finite lives. The gross carrying value, accumulated amortization and net values of intangible assets and goodwill as of September 30, 2018 and December 31, 2017, were as follows:

The changes in intangible assets, net and goodwill from December 31, 2017 to September 30, 2018, were as follows:

Estimated amortization expense of intangibles for the years ending December 31, 2018 through 2022, is as follows:

15. Financial Instruments

Long-term debt, principally to banks and bondholders, consists of:

On November 7, 2017, we entered into a $685 million unsecured Five-Year Revolving Credit Facility Agreement (the “Credit Agreement”) which amended and restated the prior $550 million Agreement, entered into on April 8, 2016 (the “Prior Agreement”). Under the Credit Agreement, $504 million of borrowings were outstanding as of September 30, 2018. The applicable interest rate for borrowings was LIBOR plus a spread, based on our leverage ratio at the time of borrowing. At the time of the last borrowing on September 17, 2018, the spread was 1.500%. The spread was based on a pricing grid, which ranged from 1.250% to 1.750%, based on our leverage ratio. Based on our maximum leverage ratio and our Consolidated EBITDA, and without modification to any other credit agreements, as of September 30, 2018, we would have been able to borrow an additional $181 million under the Agreement.

The Credit Agreement contains customary terms, as well as affirmative covenants, negative covenants and events of default comparable to those in the Prior Agreement. The Borrowings are guaranteed by certain of the Company's subsidiaries.

Our ability to borrow additional amounts under the Credit Agreement is conditional upon the absence of any defaults, as well as the absence of any material adverse change (as defined in the Credit Agreement).

In September 2018, we finalized a modification to the lease of our primary manufacturing facility in Salt Lake City, Utah. The original lease agreement had an initial expiration date of December 31, 2022 and an implied interest rate of 5.0%. The modification, which includes additional manufacturing space, retains the same implied interest rate and extends the minimum lease period until December 31, 2029. The following schedule presents future minimum annual lease payments under the finance lease obligation and the present value of the minimum lease payments, as of September 30, 2018.

On November 27, 2017, we terminated our interest rate swap agreements, originally entered into on May 9, 2016, that had effectively fixed the interest rate on $300 million of revolving credit borrowings, in order to enter into a new interest rate swap with a greater notional amount, and the same maturity as the Credit Agreement. We received cash of $6.3 million when the swap agreements were terminated and that payment will be amortized into interest expense through March 2021.

On May 6, 2016, we terminated other interest rate swap agreements that had effectively fixed the interest rate on $120 million of revolving credit borrowings, in order to enter into a new interest rate swap with a greater notional amount, and the same maturity as the Credit Agreement. We paid $5.2 million to terminate the swap agreements and that cost will be amortized into interest expense through June 2020.

On November 28, 2017, we entered into interest rate swap agreements for the period December 18, 2017 through October 17, 2022. These transactions have the effect of fixing the LIBOR portion of the effective interest rate (before addition of the spread) on $350 million of indebtedness drawn under the Credit Agreement at the rate of 2.11% during the period. Under the terms of these transactions, we pay the fixed rate of 2.11% and the counterparties pay a floating rate based on the one-month LIBOR rate at each monthly calculation date, which on September 17, 2018 was 2.16%, during the swap period. On September 17, 2018, the all-in-rate on the $350 million of debt was 3.61%.

These interest rate swaps are accounted for as a hedge of future cash flows, as further described in Note 16 of the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements. No cash collateral was received or pledged in relation to the swap agreements.

Under the Credit Agreement, we are currently required to maintain a leverage ratio (as defined in the agreement) of not greater than 3.75 to 1.00 for each fiscal quarter ending prior to (but not including) September 30, 2019, and 3.50 to 1.00 for each fiscal quarter ending on or after September 30, 2019, and minimum interest coverage (as defined) of 3.00 to 1.00.

As of September 30, 2018, our leverage ratio was 2.05 to 1.00 and our interest coverage ratio was 11.50 to 1.00. We may purchase our Common Stock or pay dividends to the extent our leverage ratio remains at or below 3.50 to 1.00, and may make acquisitions with cash provided our leverage ratio does not exceed the limits noted above.

Indebtedness under the Credit Agreement is ranked equally in right of payment to all unsecured senior debt.

We were in compliance with all debt covenants as of September 30, 2018.

16. Fair-Value Measurements

Fair value is defined as the exchange price that would be received for an asset or paid to transfer a liability (an exit price) in the principal or most advantageous market for the asset or liability in an orderly transaction between market participants at the measurement date. Accounting principles establish a hierarchy for inputs used in measuring fair value that maximizes the use of observable inputs and minimizes the use of unobservable inputs by requiring that the most observable inputs be used when available. Level 3 inputs are unobservable data points for the asset or liability, and include situations in which there is little, if any, market activity for the asset or liability. We had no Level 3 financial assets or liabilities at December 31, 2017 or September 30, 2018.

The following table presents the fair-value hierarchy for our Level 1 and Level 2 financial and non-financial assets and liabilities, which are measured at fair value on a recurring basis:

Cash equivalents include short-term securities that are considered to be highly liquid and easily tradable. These securities are valued using inputs observable in active markets for identical securities.

The common stock of the unaffiliated foreign public company is traded in an active market exchange. The shares are measured at fair value using closing stock prices and are recorded in the Consolidated Balance Sheets as Other assets. When the security is sold or impaired, gains and losses are reported on the Consolidated Statements of Income. Investments are considered to be impaired when a decline in fair value is judged to be other than temporary.

We operate our business in many regions of the world, and currency rate movements can have a significant effect on operating results. Foreign currency instruments are entered into periodically, and consist of foreign currency option contracts and forward contracts that are valued using quoted prices in active markets obtained from independent pricing sources. These instruments are measured using market foreign exchange prices and are recorded in the Consolidated Balance

Sheets as Other current assets and Accounts payable, as applicable. Changes in fair value of these instruments are recorded as gains or losses within Other expense, net.

When exercised, the foreign currency instruments are net settled with the same financial institution that bought or sold them. For all positions, whether options or forward contracts, there is risk from the possible inability of the financial institution to meet the terms of the contracts and the risk of unfavorable changes in interest and currency rates, which may reduce the value of the instruments. We seek to mitigate risk by evaluating the creditworthiness of counterparties and by monitoring the currency exchange and interest rate markets while reviewing the hedging risks and contracts to ensure compliance with our internal guidelines and policies.

Changes in exchange rates can result in revaluation gains and losses that are recorded in Selling, General and Administrative expenses or Other expense, net. Revaluation gains and losses occur when our business units have cash, intercompany (recorded in Other expense, net) or third-party trade (recorded in Selling, General and Administrative expenses) receivable or payable balances in a currency other than their local reporting (or functional) currency.

Operating results can also be affected by the translation of sales and costs, for each non-U.S. subsidiary, from the local functional currency to the U.S. dollar. The translation effect on the Consolidated Statements of Income is dependent on our net income or expense position in each non-U.S. currency in which we do business. A net income position exists when sales realized in a particular currency exceed expenses paid in that currency; a net expense position exists if the opposite is true.

The interest rate swaps are accounted for as hedges of future cash flows. The fair value of our interest rate swaps is derived from a discounted cash flow analysis based on the terms of the contract and the interest rate curve, and is included in Other assets and/or Other noncurrent liabilities in the Consolidated Balance Sheets. Unrealized gains and losses on the swaps flow through the caption Derivative valuation adjustment in the Shareholders’ equity section of the Consolidated Balance Sheets, to the extent that the hedges are highly effective. As of September 30, 2018, these interest rate swaps were determined to be highly effective hedges of interest rate cash flow risk. Any gains and losses related to the ineffective portion of the hedges will be recognized in the current period in earnings. Amounts accumulated in Other comprehensive income are reclassified as Interest expense, net when the related interest payments (that is, the hedged forecasted transactions), and amortization related to the swap buyouts, affect earnings. Interest expense related to payments under the active swap agreements totaled $0.6 million for the nine month period ended September 30, 2018 and $0.6 million for the nine month period ended September 30, 2017. Additionally, non-cash interest expense/(income) related to the amortization of swap buyouts totaled ($0.5) million for the nine-month period ended September 30, 2018 and $0.6 million for the nine-month period ended September 30, 2017.

Gains/(losses) related to changes in fair value of derivative instruments that were recognized in Other expense, net in the Consolidated Statements of Income were as follows:

17. Contingencies

Asbestos Litigation

Albany International Corp. is a defendant in suits brought in various courts in the United States by plaintiffs who allege that they have suffered personal injury as a result of exposure to asbestos-containing paper machine clothing synthetic dryer fabrics marketed during the period from 1967 to 1976 and used in certain paper mills.

We were defending 3,673 claims as of September 30, 2018.

The following table sets forth the number of claims filed, the number of claims settled, dismissed or otherwise resolved, and the aggregate settlement amount during the periods presented:

We anticipate that additional claims will be filed against the Company and related companies in the future, but are unable to predict the number and timing of such future claims. Due to the fact that information sufficient to meaningfully estimate a range of possible loss of a particular claim is typically not available until late in the discovery process, we do not believe a meaningful estimate can be made regarding the range of possible loss with respect to pending or future claims and therefore are unable to estimate a range of reasonably possible loss in excess of amounts already accrued for pending or future claims.

While we believe we have meritorious defenses to these claims, we have settled certain claims for amounts we consider reasonable given the facts and circumstances of each case. Our insurance carrier has defended each case and funded settlements under a standard reservation of rights. As of September 30, 2018 we had resolved, by means of settlement or dismissal, 37,726 claims. The total cost of resolving all claims was $10.3 million. Of this amount, almost 100% was paid by our insurance carrier, who has confirmed that we have approximately $140 million of remaining coverage under primary and excess policies that should be available with respect to current and future asbestos claims.

The Company’s subsidiary, Brandon Drying Fabrics, Inc. (“Brandon”), is also a separate defendant in many of the asbestos cases in which Albany is named as a defendant, despite never having manufactured any fabrics containing asbestos. While Brandon was defending against 7,708 claims as of September 30, 2018, only ten claims have been filed against Brandon since January 1, 2012, and no settlement costs have been incurred since 2001. Brandon was acquired by the Company in 1999, and has its own insurance policies covering periods prior to 1999. Since 2004, Brandon’s

insurance carriers have covered 100% of indemnification and defense costs, subject to policy limits and a standard reservation of rights.

In some of these asbestos cases, the Company is named both as a direct defendant and as the “successor in interest” to Mount Vernon Mills (“Mount Vernon”). We acquired certain assets from Mount Vernon in 1993. Certain plaintiffs allege injury caused by asbestos-containing products alleged to have been sold by Mount Vernon many years prior to this acquisition. Mount Vernon is contractually obligated to indemnify the Company against any liability arising out of such products. We deny any liability for products sold by Mount Vernon prior to the acquisition of the Mount Vernon assets. Pursuant to its contractual indemnification obligations, Mount Vernon has assumed the defense of these claims. On this basis, we have successfully moved for dismissal in a number of actions.

We currently do not anticipate, based on currently available information, that the ultimate resolution of the aforementioned proceedings will have a material adverse effect on the financial position, results of operations, or cash flows of the Company. Although we cannot predict the number and timing of future claims, based on the foregoing factors, the trends in claims filed against us, and available insurance, we also do not currently anticipate that potential future claims will have a material adverse effect on our financial position, results of operations, or cash flows.

18. Changes in Shareholders’ Equity

The following table summarizes changes in Shareholders’ Equity:

19. Recent Accounting Pronouncements

In February 2016, an accounting update was issued which will require lessees to record most operating leases on their balance sheets, but recognize the expenses in the income statement in a manner similar to current practice. Under the new standard, lessees will be required to recognize a lease liability for the obligation to make lease payments, and an asset for the right to use the underlying asset for the lease term, for all leases with terms longer than 12 months. Leases will be classified as finance or operating, with classification affecting the pattern and classification of expense recognition in the income statement. Expenses related to operating leases will be recognized on a straight-line basis, while those determined to be financing leases will be recognized following a front-loaded expense profile, in which interest and amortization are presented separately in the income statement. The principal effect on the Company’s financial statements will be an increase in assets and liabilities. The new standard is effective January 1, 2019. A modified retrospective transition approach is required, applying the new standard to all leases existing at the date of initial application. An entity may choose to apply the standard either (1) on the January 1, 2019 effective date, or (2) the beginning of the earliest comparative period presented in its financial statements. The Company will adopt the new standard on January 1, 2019 and use the effective date as our date of initial application. Consequently, financial information will not be updated and the disclosures required under the new standard will not be provided for dates and periods before January 1, 2019. The new standard provides a number of optional practical expedients for transition, some of which, if elected, must be adopted as a package. The Company expects to elect the package of practical expedients which permits us not to reassess under the new standard our prior conclusions about lease identification, lease classification and initial direct costs. The Company does not expect to elect the practical expedients pertaining to use-of-hindsight or land easements. The new standard also provides practical expedients for an entity’s ongoing accounting including not recording a lease-related asset and liability when the original lease term is 12 months or less, a provision which the Company will adopt. The Company also currently expects to elect the practical expedient to not separate lease and non-lease components for all of our leases. The Company does not expect a significant change in our leasing activities between now and adoption. Additionally, the Company is evaluating changes to our processes and internal controls to ensure we meet the standard’s reporting and disclosure requirements.

In August 2017, an accounting update was issued which simplifies the application of hedge accounting to better align the financial reporting of hedging relationships with a company’s risk management activities. We do not expect a significant impact to our consolidated assets and liabilities, net earnings, or cash flows as a result of adopting this new standard. We plan to adopt the new standard effective January 1, 2019.

In February 2018, an accounting update was issued which allows a reclassification from accumulated other comprehensive income to retained earnings for stranded tax effects resulting from the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act. This update is effective for annual and interim periods in fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2018. We are currently evaluating the impact of this update.

In August 2018, an accounting update was issued which clarifies that implementation costs incurred by customers in cloud computing arrangements are deferred if they would be capitalized by customers in software licensing arrangements under the internal-use software guidance. This update is effective for annual and interim periods in fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2019. We are currently evaluating the impact of this update. 

In August 2018, an accounting update was issued which aims to improve the overall usefulness of disclosures to financial statement users and reduce unnecessary costs to companies when preparing defined benefit plan disclosures. This update is effective for annual and interim periods in fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2020. We are currently evaluating the impact of this update. 

In August 2018, an accounting update was issued which aims to improve the overall usefulness of disclosures to financial statement users and reduce unnecessary costs to companies when preparing fair value measurement disclosures. This update is effective for annual and interim periods in fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2019. We are currently evaluating the impact of this update. 

ITEM 2. MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS

Management’s Discussion and Analysis (“MD&A”) is intended to help the reader understand the results of operations and financial condition of the Company. MD&A is provided as a supplement to, and should be read in conjunction with, our Consolidated Financial Statements and the accompanying Notes.

Forward-looking statements

This quarterly report and the documents incorporated or deemed to be incorporated by reference in this quarterly report contain statements concerning our future results and performance and other matters that are “forward-looking” statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”). The words “believe,” “expect,” “anticipate,” “intend,” “estimate,” “plan,” “project,” ”may,” “will,” “should” and variations of such words or similar expressions are intended, but are not the exclusive means, to identify forward-looking statements. Because forward-looking statements are subject to risks and uncertainties, (including, without limitation, those set forth in the Company’s most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K or prior Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q) actual results may differ materially from those expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements.

There are a number of risks, uncertainties, and other important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from the forward-looking statements, including, but not limited to:

Further information concerning important factors that could cause actual events or results to be materially different from the forward-looking statements can be found in “Business Environment Overview and Trends” sections of this quarterly report, as well as in Item 1A-“Risk Factors” section of our most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K. Statements expressing our assessments of the growth potential of the Albany Engineered Composites segment are not intended as forecasts of actual future growth, and should not be relied on as such. While we believe such assessments to have a

reasonable basis, such assessments are, by their nature, inherently uncertain. This report sets forth a number of assumptions regarding these assessments, including projected timing and volume of demand for aircraft and for LEAP aircraft engines. Such assumptions could prove incorrect. Although we believe the expectations reflected in our other forward-looking statements are based on reasonable assumptions, it is not possible to foresee or identify all factors that could have a material and negative impact on our future performance. The forward-looking statements included or incorporated by reference in this report are made on the basis of our assumptions and analyses, as of the time the statements are made, in light of our experience and perception of historical conditions, expected future developments, and other factors believed to be appropriate under the circumstances.

Except as otherwise required by the federal securities laws, we disclaim any obligations or undertaking to publicly release any updates or revisions to any forward-looking statement contained or incorporated by reference in this report to reflect any change in our expectations with regard thereto or any change in events, conditions or circumstances on which any such statement is based.

Business Environment Overview and Trends

Our reportable segments, Machine Clothing (MC) and Albany Engineered Composites (AEC), draw on the same advanced textiles and materials processing capabilities, and compete on the basis of product-based advantage that is grounded in those core capabilities.

The Machine Clothing segment is the Company’s long-established core business and primary generator of cash. While it has suffered from well-documented declines in publication grades in the Company’s traditional markets, the paper and paperboard industry is still expected to grow slightly on a global basis, driven by demand for packaging and tissue grades. We feel we are now well-positioned in key markets, with high-quality, low-cost production in growth markets, substantially lower fixed costs in mature markets, and continued strength in new product development, technical product support, and manufacturing technology. Because of pricing pressures and industry overcapacity, the machine clothing and paper industries will continue to face top line pressure. Nonetheless, the business retains the potential for maintaining stable earnings in the future. It has been a significant generator of cash, and we seek to maintain the cash-generating potential of this business by maintaining the low costs that we achieved through previous restructuring, and competing vigorously by using our differentiated and technically superior products to reduce our customers’ total cost of operation and improve their paper quality.

The AEC segment provides significant growth potential for our Company both near and long term. Our strategy is to grow by focusing our proprietary 3D-woven technology, as well as our conventional non-3D technology, on high-value aerospace (both commercial and defense) applications, while at the same time performing successfully on our portfolio of growth programs. AEC (including Albany Safran Composites, LLC (ASC), in which our customer SAFRAN Group owns a 10 percent noncontrolling interest) supplies a number of customers in the aerospace industry. AEC’s largest aerospace customer is the SAFRAN Group and sales to SAFRAN, through ASC, (consisting primarily of fan blades and cases for CFM’s LEAP engine) accounted for approximately 14 percent of the Company’s consolidated net sales in 2017. AEC, through ASC, also supplies 3D-woven composite fan cases for the GE9X engine. AEC’s current portfolio of non-3D programs includes components for the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter, fuselage frames for the Boeing 787, components for the CH-53K helicopter, vacuum waste tanks for Boeing 7-Series aircraft, and missile bodies for Lockheed Martin’s JASSM air-to-surface missiles. AEC is actively engaged in research to develop new applications in both commercial and defense aircraft engine and airframe markets. In 2017, approximately 30 percent of AEC sales were related to U.S. government contracts or programs.

Consolidated Results of Operations

In the first quarter of 2018, the Company adopted the provisions of ASC 606, “Revenue from contracts with customers”, using the modified retrospective (or cumulative effect) method for transition. Under this transition method, periods prior to 2018 are not restated.

The following table summarizes the effect on various operational metrics that resulted from the adoption of ASC 606: