BADGER METER INC - Quarter Report: 2017 March (Form 10-Q)

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UNITED STATES SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

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FORM 10-Q

___________________________________________________

Quarterly Report Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934

for the quarterly period ended March 31, 2017

Commission File Number 001-06706

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BADGER METER, INC.

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4545 W. Brown Deer Road

Milwaukee, Wisconsin 53223

(Address of principal executive offices)

(414) 355-0400

(Registrant's telephone number, including area code)

A Wisconsin Corporation

IRS Employer Identification No. 39-0143280

___________________________________________________

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 ý No ¨

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

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



Large accelerated filer	ý	Accelerated filer	¨

Non-accelerated filer	o (Do not check if a smaller reporting company)	Smaller reporting company	¨

Emerging growth company	o

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 ý

As of April 10, 2017, there were 29,114,032 shares of Common stock outstanding with a par value of $1 per share.

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BADGER METER, INC.

Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the Period Ended March 31, 2017

Index



		Page No.

Part I. Financial Information:

Item 1	Financial Statements (unaudited):

	Consolidated Condensed Balance Sheets - March 31, 2017 and December 31, 2016	4

	Consolidated Statements of Operations - Three Months Ended March 31, 2017 and 2016	5

	Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income - Three Months Ended March 31, 2017 and 2016	6

	Consolidated Condensed Statements of Cash Flows - Three Months Ended March 31, 2017 and 2016	7

	Notes to Unaudited Consolidated Condensed Financial Statements	8

Item 2	Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations	13

Item 3	Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures about Market Risk	17

Item 4	Controls and Procedures	18

Part II. Other Information:

Item 6	Exhibits	19

Signatures		20

Exhibit Index		21

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Special Note Regarding Forward Looking Statements

Certain statements contained in this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q, as well as other information provided from time to time by Badger Meter, Inc. (the “Company”) or its employees, may contain forward looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those in the forward looking statements. The words “anticipate,” “believe,” “estimate,” “expect,” “think,” “should,” “could” and “objective” or similar expressions are intended to identify forward looking statements. All such forward looking statements are based on the Company’s then current views and assumptions and involve risks and uncertainties. Some risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied in forward looking statements include those described in Item 1A of the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2016 that include, among other things:


•	the continued shift in the Company’s business from lower cost, manually read meters toward more expensive, value-added automatic meter reading (AMR) systems, advanced metering infrastructure (AMI) systems and advanced metering analytics (AMA) systems that offer more comprehensive solutions to customers’ metering needs;


•	the success or failure of newer Company products;


•	changes in competitive pricing and bids in both the domestic and foreign marketplaces, and particularly in continued intense price competition on government bid contracts for lower cost, manually read meters;


•	the actions (or lack thereof) of the Company’s competitors;


•	changes in the Company’s relationships with its alliance partners, primarily its alliance partners that provide radio solutions, and particularly those that sell products that do or may compete with the Company’s products;

•

changes in the general health of the United States and foreign economies, including to some extent such things as the length and severity of global economic downturns, international or civil conflicts that affect international trade, the ability of municipal water utility customers to authorize and finance purchases of the Company’s products, the Company’s ability to obtain financing, housing starts in the United States, and overall industrial activity;


•	unusual weather, weather patterns or other natural phenomena, including related economic and other ancillary effects of any such events;


•	economic policy changes, including but not limited to, trade policy and corporate taxation;


•	the timing and impact of government funding programs that stimulate national and global economies, as well as the impact of government budget cuts or partial shutdowns of governmental operations;

•

changes in the cost and/or availability of needed raw materials and parts, such as volatility in the cost of brass castings as a result of fluctuations in commodity prices, particularly for copper and scrap metal at the supplier level, foreign-sourced electronic components as a result of currency exchange fluctuations and/or lead times, and plastic resin as a result of changes in petroleum and natural gas prices;

•

the Company’s expanded role as a prime contractor for providing complete technology systems to governmental entities, which brings with it added risks, including but not limited to, the Company’s responsibility for subcontractor performance, additional costs and expenses if the Company and its subcontractors fail to meet the timetable agreed to with the governmental entity, and the Company’s expanded warranty and performance obligations;


•	the Company’s ability to successfully integrate acquired businesses or products;


•	changes in foreign economic conditions, particularly currency fluctuations in the United States dollar, the Euro and the Mexican peso;


•	the inability to develop technologically advanced products;


•	the failure of the Company’s products to operate as intended;


•	the inability to protect the Company’s proprietary rights to its products;


•	disruptions and other damages to information technology and other networks and operations due to breaches in data security or any other cybersecurity attack;


•	transportation delays or interruptions;


•	violations or alleged violations of the U.S. Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (FCPA) or other anti-corruption laws and the Foreign Account Tax Compliance provisions of the Hiring Incentives to Restore Employment Act (referred to as FATCA);


•	the loss of certain single-source suppliers; and


•	changes in laws and regulations, particularly laws dealing with the content or handling of materials used in the Company's products.

All of these factors are beyond the Company's control to varying degrees. Shareholders, potential investors and other readers are urged to consider these factors carefully in evaluating the forward looking statements contained in this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q and are cautioned not to place undue reliance on such forward looking statements. The forward looking statements made in this document are made only as of the date of this document and the Company assumes no obligation, and disclaims any obligation, to update any such forward looking statements to reflect subsequent events or circumstances.

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Part I – Financial Information

Item 1 Financial Statements

BADGER METER, INC.

Consolidated Condensed Balance Sheets



	March 31,			December 31,
	(Unaudited)
	(In thousands)
Assets	2017			2016
Current assets:
Cash	$	11,311		$	7,338
Receivables	65,959			59,818
Inventories:
Finished goods	16,069			18,087
Work in process	15,232			17,157
Raw materials	38,996			42,457
Total inventories	70,297			77,701
Prepaid expenses and other current assets	4,635			6,155
Total current assets	152,202			151,012
Property, plant and equipment, at cost	204,324			200,978
Less accumulated depreciation	(113,235		)	(110,784		)
Net property, plant and equipment	91,089			90,194
Intangible assets, at cost less accumulated amortization	50,340			51,872
Other assets	9,694			6,607
Deferred income taxes	931			700
Goodwill	49,314			49,314
Total assets	$	353,570		$	349,699

Liabilities and shareholders’ equity
Current liabilities:
Short-term debt	$	38,156		$	37,950
Payables	21,610			18,350
Accrued compensation and employee benefits	9,041			13,861
Warranty and after-sale costs	2,548			2,779
Income and other taxes	4,149			2,898
Total current liabilities	75,504			75,838
Other long-term liabilities	3,914			4,019
Deferred income taxes	2,118			1,901
Accrued non-pension postretirement benefits	5,834			5,753
Other accrued employee benefits	5,340			5,979
Commitments and contingencies (Note 6)
Shareholders’ equity:
Common stock	37,149			37,122
Capital in excess of par value	29,014			28,022
Reinvested earnings	229,287			223,876
Accumulated other comprehensive loss	(11,261		)	(11,635		)
Less: Employee benefit stock	(614		)	(614		)
Treasury stock, at cost	(22,715		)	(20,562		)
Total shareholders’ equity	260,860			256,209
Total liabilities and shareholders’ equity	$	353,570		$	349,699

See accompanying notes to unaudited consolidated condensed financial statements.

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BADGER METER, INC.

Consolidated Statements of Operations



	Three Months Ended
	March 31,
	(Unaudited)
	(In thousands except share and per share amounts)
	2017		2016
Net sales	$	101,606	$	100,570
Cost of sales	62,956		61,559
Gross margin	38,650		39,011
Selling, engineering and administration	25,181		26,205
Operating earnings	13,469		12,806
Interest expense, net	178		270
Earnings before income taxes	13,291		12,536
Provision for income taxes	4,542		4,546
Net earnings	$	8,749	$	7,990

Earnings per share:
Basic	$	0.30	$	0.28
Diluted	$	0.30	$	0.28

Dividends declared per common share	$	0.115	$	0.100

Shares used in computation of earnings per share:
Basic	28,900,702		28,842,500
Impact of dilutive securities	182,279		154,864
Diluted	29,082,981		28,997,364

See accompanying notes to unaudited consolidated condensed financial statements.

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BADGER METER, INC.

Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income



	Three Months Ended
	March 31,
	(Unaudited)
	(In thousands)
	2017		2016
Net earnings	$	8,749	$	7,990
Other comprehensive income:
Foreign currency translation adjustment	291		577
Pension and postretirement benefits, net of tax	83		96
Comprehensive income	$	9,123	$	8,663

See accompanying notes to unaudited consolidated condensed financial statements.

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BADGER METER, INC.

Consolidated Condensed Statements of Cash Flows



	Three Months Ended
	March 31
	(Unaudited) (In thousands)
	2017			2016
Operating activities:
Net earnings	$	8,749		$	7,990
Adjustments to reconcile net earnings to net cash provided by operations:
Depreciation	2,918			2,793
Amortization	2,945			2,706
Deferred income taxes	(12		)	109
Noncurrent employee benefits	115			203
Stock-based compensation expense	366			362
Changes in:
Receivables	(5,958		)	(2,311		)
Inventories	7,423			2,684
Prepaid expenses and other assets	(2,819		)	469
Liabilities other than debt	(1,319		)	3,146
Total adjustments	3,659			10,161
Net cash provided by operations	12,408			18,151

Investing activities:
Property, plant and equipment expenditures	(3,806		)	(3,247		)
Acquisitions, future payments	(200		)	—
Net cash used for investing activities	(4,006		)	(3,247		)

Financing activities:
Net increase (decrease) in short-term debt	126			(10,360		)
Dividends paid	(3,336		)	(2,892		)
Proceeds from exercise of stock options	654			62
Repurchase of treasury stock	(2,242		)	—
Issuance of treasury stock	89			72
Net cash used for financing activities	(4,709		)	(13,118		)

Effect of foreign exchange rates on cash	280			(13		)

Increase in cash	3,973			1,773
Cash – beginning of period	7,338			8,163
Cash – end of period	$	11,311		$	9,936

See accompanying notes to unaudited consolidated condensed financial statements.

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BADGER METER, INC.

Notes to Unaudited Consolidated Condensed Financial Statements

Note 1 Basis of Presentation

In the opinion of management, the accompanying unaudited consolidated condensed financial statements of Badger Meter, Inc. (the “Company” or “Badger Meter”) contain all adjustments (consisting only of normal recurring accruals except as otherwise discussed) necessary to present fairly the Company’s consolidated condensed financial position at March 31, 2017, results of operations for the three-month periods ended March 31, 2017 and 2016, comprehensive income for the three-month periods ended March 31, 2017 and 2016, and cash flows for the three-month periods ended March 31, 2017 and 2016. The results of operations for any interim period are not necessarily indicative of the results to be expected for the full year.

The preparation of financial statements in conformity with United States generally accepted accounting principles requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the amounts reported in the financial statements and accompanying notes. Actual results could differ from those estimates.

Note 2 Additional Financial Information Disclosures

The consolidated condensed balance sheet at December 31, 2016 was derived from amounts included in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2016. Refer to the footnotes to the financial statements included in that report for a description of the Company’s accounting policies and for additional details of the Company’s financial condition. The details in those notes have not changed except as discussed below and as a result of normal adjustments in the interim.

Warranty and After-Sale Costs

The Company estimates and records provisions for warranties and other after-sale costs in the period in which the sale is recorded, based on a lag factor and historical warranty claim experience. After-sale costs represent a variety of activities outside of the written warranty policy, such as investigation of unanticipated problems after the customer has installed the product, or analysis of water quality issues. Changes in the Company’s warranty and after-sale costs reserve are as follows:



	Three months ended
	March 31,
(In thousands)	2017			2016
Balance at beginning of period	$	2,779		$	3,133
Net additions charged to earnings	752			840
Adjustments to pre-existing warranties	(394		)	253
Costs incurred	(589		)	(665		)
Balance at end of period	$	2,548		$	3,561

Note 3 Employee Benefit Plans

The Company maintains a non-contributory defined benefit pension plan that covers substantially all U.S. employees who were employed at December 31, 2011. After that date, no further benefits are being accrued in this plan. For the frozen pension plan, benefits are based primarily on years of service and, for certain plans, levels of compensation.

The Company also maintains supplemental non-qualified plans for certain officers and other key employees, and an Employee Savings and Stock Option Plan (“ESSOP”) for the majority of the U.S. employees.

The Company additionally has a postretirement healthcare benefit plan that provides medical benefits for certain U.S. retirees and eligible dependents hired prior to November 1, 2004. Employees are eligible to receive postretirement healthcare benefits upon meeting certain age and service requirements. No employees hired after October 31, 2004 are eligible to receive these benefits. This plan requires employee contributions to offset benefit costs.

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The following table sets forth the components of net periodic benefit cost for the three months ended March 31, 2017 and 2016 based on December 31, 2016 and 2015 actuarial measurement dates, respectively:



	Defined pension plan benefits						Other postretirement benefits
(In thousands)	2017			2016			2017			2016
Service cost – benefits earned during the year	$	24		$	7		$	35		$	36
Interest cost on projected benefit obligations	318			455			51			64
Expected return on plan assets	(402		)	(549		)	—			—
Amortization of prior service cost	—			—			(6		)	(6		)
Amortization of net loss	135			157			—			—
Net periodic benefit cost	$	75		$	70		$	80		$	94

The Company disclosed in its financial statements for the year ended December 31, 2016 that it was not required to make a minimum contribution to the defined benefit pension plan for the 2017 calendar year. The Company believes that no additional contributions will be required during 2017.

The Company also disclosed in its financial statements for the year ended December 31, 2016 that it estimated it would pay $0.4 million in other postretirement benefits in 2017 based on actuarial estimates. As of March 31, 2017, $5,000 of such benefits have been paid. The Company continues to believe that its estimated payments for the full year are reasonable. However, such estimates contain inherent uncertainties because cash payments can vary significantly depending on the timing of postretirement medical claims and the collection of the retirees’ portion of certain costs. Note that the amount of benefits paid in calendar year 2017 will not impact the expense for postretirement benefits for 2017.

Note 4 Accumulated Other Comprehensive Loss

Components of and changes in accumulated other comprehensive loss at March 31, 2017 are as follows:



(In thousands)	Unrecognized pension and postretirement benefits			Foreign currency			Total
Balance at beginning of period	$	(10,495	)	$	(1,140	)	$	(11,635	)
Other comprehensive income before reclassifications	—			291			291
Amounts reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive loss, net of tax of $(46)	83			—			83
Net current period other comprehensive income, net of tax	83			291			374
Accumulated other comprehensive loss	$	(10,412	)	$	(849	)	$	(11,261	)

Details of reclassifications out of accumulated other comprehensive loss during the three months ended March 31, 2017 are as follows:



(In thousands)	Amount reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive loss
Amortization of defined benefit pension items:
Prior service benefit (1)	$	(6	)
Amortization of actuarial loss (1)	135
Total before tax	129
Income tax benefit	(46		)
Amount reclassified out of accumulated other comprehensive loss	$	83

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(1)	These accumulated other comprehensive loss components are included in the computation of net periodic benefit cost in Note 3 “Employee Benefit Plans.”

Components of and changes in accumulated other comprehensive loss at March 31, 2016 are as follows:



(In thousands)	Unrecognized pension and postretirement benefits			Foreign currency			Total
Balance at beginning of period	$	(11,968	)	$	(812	)	$	(12,780	)
Other comprehensive income before reclassifications	—			577			577
Amounts reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive loss, net of tax of $(0.1) million	96			—			96
Net current period other comprehensive income, net of tax	96			577			673
Accumulated other comprehensive loss	$	(11,872	)	$	(235	)	$	(12,107	)

Details of reclassifications out of accumulated other comprehensive loss during the three months ended March 31, 2016 are as follows:



(In thousands)	Amount reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive loss
Amortization of defined benefit pension items:
Prior service cost (1)	$	(6	)
Amortization of actuarial loss (1)	157
Total before tax	151
Income tax benefit	(55		)
Amount reclassified out of accumulated other comprehensive loss	$	96


(1)	These accumulated other comprehensive loss components are included in the computation of net periodic benefit cost in Note 3 “Employee Benefit Plans.”

Note 5 Acquisition

On October 20, 2016, the Company acquired certain assets of Precision Flow Measurement, Inc., doing business as Nice Instrumentation, of Manalapan Township, New Jersey. The acquisition adds a new technology for the measurement of steam to the Company's HVAC line of products.

The total purchase consideration for the Nice Instrumentation assets was $2.0 million, which included a $0.2 million payment that was made after the first production run that occurred in January 2017. The Company's preliminary allocation of the purchase price at December 31, 2016 included approximately $15,000 of inventory and equipment, $0.7 million of intangibles and $1.3 million of goodwill. The intangible assets acquired are primarily customer technology with an estimated average useful life of 15 years. The preliminary allocation of the purchase price to the assets acquired was based upon the estimated fair values at the date of acquisition. As of March 31, 2017, the Company completed its analysis for estimating the fair value of the assets acquired with no additional adjustments.

The Nice Instrumentation acquisition was accounted for under the purchase method, and accordingly, the results of operations were included in the Company's financial statements from the date of acquisition. The acquisition did not have a material impact on the Company's consolidated condensed financial statements or the notes thereto.

Note 6 Contingencies, Litigation and Commitments

In the normal course of business, the Company is named in legal proceedings. There are currently no material legal proceedings pending with respect to the Company. The more significant legal proceedings are discussed below.

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Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation and Liability Act and other environmental laws and regulations. At this time, the Company does not believe the ultimate resolution of these matters will have a material adverse effect on the Company’s financial position or results of operations, either from a cash flow perspective or on the financial statements as a whole. This belief is based on the Company’s assessment of its limited past involvement with these landfill sites as well as the substantial involvement of and government focus on other named third parties with these landfill sites. However, due to the inherent uncertainties of such proceedings, the Company cannot predict the ultimate outcome of any of these matters. A future change in circumstances with respect to these specific matters or with respect to sites formerly or currently owned or operated by the Company, off-site disposal locations used by the Company, and property owned by third parties that is near such sites, could result in future costs to the Company and such amounts could be material. Expenditures for compliance with environmental control provisions and regulations during 2016 and the first quarter of 2017 were not material.

Like other companies in recent years, the Company is named as a defendant in numerous pending multi-claimant/multi-defendant lawsuits alleging personal injury as a result of exposure to asbestos, manufactured by third parties, and in the past may have been integrated into or sold with a very limited number of the Company’s products. The Company is vigorously defending itself against these claims. Although it is not possible to predict the ultimate outcome of these matters, the Company does not believe the ultimate resolution of these issues will have a material adverse effect on the Company’s financial position or results of operations, either from a cash flow perspective or on the financial statements as a whole. This belief is based in part on the fact that no claimant has proven or substantially demonstrated asbestos exposure caused by products manufactured or sold by the Company and that a number of cases have been voluntarily dismissed.

The Company relies on single suppliers for most brass castings and certain electronic subassemblies in several of its product lines. The Company believes these items would be available from other sources, but that the loss of certain suppliers would result in a higher cost of materials, delivery delays, short-term increases in inventory and higher quality control costs in the short term. The Company attempts to mitigate these risks by working closely with key suppliers, purchasing minimal amounts from alternative suppliers and by purchasing business interruption insurance where appropriate.

The Company reevaluates its exposures on a periodic basis and makes adjustments to reserves as appropriate.

Note 7 Income Taxes

The provision for income taxes as a percentage of earnings before income taxes for the first quarter of 2017 was 34.2% compared to 36.3% in the first quarter of 2016. Interim provisions are tied to an estimate of the overall annual rate which can vary due to state taxes, the relationship of foreign and domestic earnings, and production credits available. These items cause variations between periods.

Note 8 Fair Value Measurements of Financial Instruments

The Company applies the accounting standards for fair value measurements and disclosures for its financial assets and financial liabilities. The carrying amounts of cash, receivables and payables in the financial statements approximate their fair values due to the short-term nature of these financial instruments. Short-term debt is comprised of notes payable drawn against the Company's lines of credit and commercial paper. Because of its short-term nature, the carrying amount of the short-term debt also approximates fair value. Included in other assets are insurance policies on various individuals who were associated with the Company. The carrying amounts of these insurance policies approximate their fair value.

Note 9 Subsequent Events

The Company evaluates subsequent events at the date of the balance sheet as well as conditions that arise after the balance sheet date but before the financial statements are issued. The effects of conditions that existed at the balance sheet date are recognized in the financial statements. Events and conditions arising after the balance sheet date but before the financial statements are issued are evaluated to determine if disclosure is required to keep the financial statements from being misleading. To the extent such events and conditions exist, if any, disclosures are made regarding the nature of events and the estimated financial effects for those events and conditions. For purposes of preparing the accompanying consolidated condensed financial statements and the notes to these financial statements, the Company evaluated subsequent events through the date the accompanying financial statements were issued, and has determined that no material subsequent events exist through the date of this filing.

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Note 10 New Pronouncements

In January 2017, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) issued Accounting Standards Update (“ASU”) No. 2017-04, "Intangibles - Goodwill: Simplifying the Test for Goodwill Impairment." The update requires a single-step quantitative test to measure potential impairment based on the excess of a reporting unit's carrying amount over its fair value. A qualitative assessment can still be completed first for an entity to determine if a quantitative impairment test is necessary. The ASU is effective for fiscal year 2021 and is to be adopted on a prospective basis. Early adoption is permitted for interim or annual goodwill impairment tests performed on testing dates after January 1, 2017. The Company anticipates that the adoption of this standard will have no impact on the Company's consolidated condensed financial statements.

In February 2016, the FASB issued ASU No. 2016-02 "Leases (Topic 842)," which requires lessees to record most leases on their balance sheets. Lessees initially recognize a lease liability (measured at the present value of the lease payments over the lease term) and a right-of-use ("ROU") asset (measured at the lease liability amount, adjusted for lease prepayments, lease incentives received and the lessee's initial direct costs). Lessees can make an accounting policy election not to recognize ROU assets and lease liabilities for leases with a lease term of 12 months or less as long as the leases do not include options to purchase the underlying assets that the lessee is reasonably certain to exercise. For lessors, the guidance modifies the classification criteria and the accounting for sales-type and direct financing leases. The ASU is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2018. Early adoption is permitted for all entities. The ASU is effective for the Company beginning on January 1, 2019 and the standard requires the use of a modified retrospective approach for leases that exist or are entered into after the beginning of the earliest comparative period in the financial statements. Full retrospective application is prohibited. The Company is continuing to evaluate the impact that the adoption of this guidance will have on its financial condition, results of operations and the presentation of its financial statements.

In July 2015, the FASB issued ASU No. 2015-11 "Simplifying the Measurement of Inventory (Topic 330)," which requires entities to measure inventories at the lower of cost or net realizable value ("NRV"). This simplifies the evaluation from the current method of lower of cost or market, where market is based on one of three measures (i.e. replacement cost, net realizable value, or net realizable value less a normal profit margin). The ASU does not apply to inventories measured under the last-in, first-out method or the retail inventory method, and defines NRV as the "estimated selling price in the ordinary course of business, less reasonably predictable costs of completion, disposal, and transportation." The ASU was adopted on a prospective basis by the Company on January 1, 2017. The adoption of ASU 2015-11 did not have any impact on the Company's financial condition or results of operations.

In May 2014, the FASB issued ASU No. 2014-09 “Revenue from Contracts with Customers.” ASU No. 2014-09 provides a single principles-based, five-step model to be applied to all contracts with customers. The five steps are to identify the contract(s) with the customer, to identify the performance obligations in the contract, to determine the transaction price, to allocate the transaction price to the performance obligations in the contract and to recognize revenue when each performance obligation is satisfied. Revenue will be recognized when promised goods or services are transferred to the customer in an amount that reflects the consideration expected in exchange for those goods or services. In addition, the standard requires disclosure of the nature, amount, timing, and uncertainty of revenue and cash flows arising from contracts with customers. During 2016, the FASB issued additional ASU’s which enhanced the originally issued guidance. These ASU’s encompassed narrow scope improvements and practical expedients along with providing further clarification on the accounting for intellectual property licenses, principal versus agent considerations and identifying performance obligations.

The Company has substantially completed the assessment phase for ASU No. 2014-09 and is currently documenting formal policies in anticipation of adopting the standard on January 1, 2018. The Company has identified a subset of contracts with customers where services are provided that are both uniquely beneficial and separately identifiable from product sales and thus are considered separate performance obligations under the new guidance. Each of these individual service activities is being documented in scenario development and processes are being established to recognize revenue for each unique performance obligation in accordance with the guidance, when effective. The Company continues to proactively address all potential areas of impact related to ASU No. 2014-09. To date, the Company has not identified any specific aspect of the new standard that it believes would significantly change the Company’s financial statements beyond adding the expanded disclosure that is required to comply with the ASU.

The guidance permits two methods of adoption: retrospectively to each prior reporting period presented (full retrospective method), or retrospectively with the cumulative effect of initially applying the guidance recognized at the date of initial application (modified retrospective method). The Company currently anticipates adopting the standard using the modified retrospective method.

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

Business Description and Overview

Badger Meter is an innovator in flow measurement, control and communication solutions, serving water utilities, municipalities, and commercial and industrial customers worldwide. The Company’s products measure water, oil, chemicals and other fluids, and are known for accuracy, long-lasting durability and for providing and communicating valuable and timely measurement data. The Company’s product lines fall into two categories: sales of water meters and related technologies to municipal water utilities (municipal water) and sales of meters to various industries for water and other fluids (flow instrumentation). The Company estimates that over 85% of its products are used in water applications when both categories are grouped together.

Municipal water, the largest category by sales volume, includes mechanical and ultrasonic (electronic) water meters and related technologies and services used by municipal water utilities as the basis for generating water and wastewater revenues. The key market for the Company’s municipal water meter products is North America, primarily the United States, because most of the Company's meters are designed and manufactured to conform to standards promulgated by the American Water Works Association. The majority of water meters sold by the Company continue to be mechanical in nature. In recent years, the Company has made inroads in selling ultrasonic water meters. The development of smaller diameter ultrasonic water meters combined with advanced radio technology now provides the Company with the opportunity to sell into other geographical markets, for example Europe, the Middle East and South America. In the municipal water category, sales of water meters and related technologies and services are also commonly referred to as residential or commercial water meter sales, the latter referring to larger sizes of water meters.

Flow instrumentation includes meters and valves sold worldwide to measure and control materials flowing through a pipe or pipeline including water, air, steam, oil, and other liquids and gases. These products are used in a variety of applications, primarily into the following industries: water/wastewater; heating, ventilating and air conditioning (HVAC); oil and gas; chemical and petrochemical; test and measurement; automotive aftermarket; and the concrete construction process. Furthermore, the Company’s flow instrumentation technologies are sold to original equipment manufacturers as the primary flow measurement device within a product or system.

Residential and commercial water meters are generally classified as either manually read meters or remotely read meters via radio technology. A manually read meter consists of a water meter and a register that provides a visual totalized meter reading. Meters equipped with radio technology (endpoints) receive flow measurement data from encoder registers attached to the water meter, which is encrypted and transmitted via radio frequency to a receiver that collects and formats the data appropriately for water utility billing systems. These remotely read, or mobile, systems are either automatic meter reading (AMR) systems, where a vehicle equipped for meter reading purposes, including a radio receiver, computer and reading software, collects the data from utilities’ meters; or fixed network advanced metering infrastructure (AMI) systems, where data is gathered utilizing a network of permanent data collectors or gateway receivers that are always active or listening for the radio transmission from the utilities’ meters. AMI systems eliminate the need for utility personnel to drive through service territories to collect data from the meters. These systems provide the utilities with more frequent and diverse data from their meters at specified intervals.

The ORION® family of radio endpoints provides water utilities with a range of industry-leading options for meter reading. These include ORION Migratable (ME) (for mobile meter reading), ORION Fixed Network (SE) (for traditional fixed network applications), and ORION Cellular (for infrastructure-free meter reading). ORION Migratable makes the migration to fixed network easier for utilities that prefer to start with mobile reading and later adopt fixed network communications, allowing utilities to choose a solution for their current needs and be positioned for their future operational changes. ORION Cellular eliminates the need for utility-owned fixed network infrastructure, allows for rapid deployment and decreases ongoing maintenance.

Critical to the water metering ecosystem is information and analytics. The Company’s BEACON AMA Managed Solution is the latest in metering technology. BEACON AMA combines the BEACON analytical software suite with proven ORION technologies using two-way fixed and cellular networks in a managed solution, improving utilities’ visibility of their water consumption and eliminating the need for costly utility-managed infrastructure.

The BEACON AMA secure, cloud-hosted software suite includes a customizable dashboard, the ability to establish alerts for specific conditions, and consumer engagement tools that allow end water customers to view and manage their water usage activity. Benefits to the utility include improved customer service, increased visibility through faster leak detection, the ability to promote and quantify the effects of its water conservation efforts, and easier compliance reporting.

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The Company’s net sales and corresponding net earnings depend on unit volume and product mix, with the Company generally earning higher margins on meters equipped with radio technology. The Company’s proprietary radio products generally result in higher margins than the remarketed, non-proprietary technology products. The Company also sells registers and endpoints separately to customers who wish to upgrade their existing meters in the field.

Water meter replacement and the adoption and deployment of new technology comprise the majority of water meter product sales, including radio products. To a much lesser extent, housing starts also contribute to the new product sales base. Over the last decade, there has been a growing trend in the conversion from manually read water meters to radio technology. This conversion rate is accelerating and contributes to an increased water meter and radio solutions base of business. The Company estimates that approximately 55% of water meters installed in the United States have been converted to a radio solutions technology. The Company’s strategy is to fulfill customers’ metering expectations and requirements with its proprietary meter reading systems or other systems available through its alliance partners in the marketplace.

Flow instrumentation products serve flow measurement and control applications across a broad industrial spectrum, occasionally leveraging the same technologies used in the municipal water category. Specialized communication protocols that control the entire flow measurement process and mandatory certifications drive these markets. The Company’s specific flow measurement and control applications and technologies serve the flow measurement market through both customized and standard flow instrumentation solutions.

Industries today face accelerating demands to contain costs, reduce product variability, and meet ever-changing safety, regulatory and sustainability requirements. To address these challenges, customers must reap more value from every component in their systems. This system-wide scrutiny has heightened the focus on flow instrumentation in industrial process, manufacturing, commercial fluid, building automation, and precision engineering applications where flow measurement and control are critical.

An industry leader in both mechanical and electrical flow metering technologies, the Company offers one of the broadest flow measurement, control and communication portfolios in the market. The portfolio carries respected brand names including Recordall®, E-Series®, ORION, Hedland®, Dynasonics®, Blancett®, and Research Control®, and includes eight of the ten major flow meter technologies. Customers rely on the Company for application-specific solutions that deliver accurate, timely and dependable flow data and control essential for product quality, cost control, safer operations, regulatory compliance, and more sustainable operations.

Business Trends

Increasingly, the electric utility industry relies on AMI technology for two-way communication to monitor and control electrical devices at the customer's site. Although the Company does not sell products for electric market applications, the trend toward AMI affects the markets in which the Company does participate, particularly for those customers in the water utility market that are interested in more frequent and diverse data collection. Specifically, AMI and AMA technologies enable water utilities to capture readings from each meter at more frequent and variable intervals. Similar to the electric utility industry’s conversion to solid-state meters in recent years, the water utility industry is beginning the conversion from mechanical to ultrasonic meters. Ultrasonic water metering has lower barriers to entry, which could affect the competitive landscape for the water meter market in North America.

The Company sells its technology solutions to meet customer requirements. Since the technology products have comparable margins, any change in the mix between AMR, AMI or AMA is not expected to have a significant impact on the Company's net sales related to meter reading technology.

There are approximately 52,000 water utilities in the United States and the Company estimates that approximately 55% of them have converted to a radio solutions technology. With the BEACON AMA managed solution and its wide breadth of water meters, the Company believes it is well positioned to meet customers' future needs.

In the global market, companies need to comply with increasing regulations requiring companies to better manage critical resources, monitor their use of hazardous materials, and reduce exhaust gases. Some customers measure fluids to identify leaks and/or misappropriation for cost control or add measurement points to help automate manufacturing. Other customers employ measurement to comply with government mandates and laws. The Company provides technology to measure water, hydrocarbon-based fluids, chemicals, gases and steams.

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Flow measurements are critical to provide a baseline and quantify reductions as customers attempt to reduce consumption. Once water usage is better understood, a strategy for water-use reduction can be developed with specific water-reduction initiatives targeted to those areas where water reduction is most viable. With the Company’s technology, customers have found costly leaks, pinpointed equipment in need of repair, and identified areas for process improvements.

Acquisition

The total purchase consideration for the Nice Instrumentation assets was $2.0 million, which included a $0.2 million payment that was made after the first production run that occurred in January 2017. The Company's preliminary allocation of the purchase price at December 31, 2016 included approximately $15,000 of inventory and equipment, $0.7 million of intangibles and $1.3 million of goodwill. As of March 31, 2017, the Company completed its analysis for estimating the fair value of the assets acquired with no further adjustments. This acquisition is further described in Note 5 “Acquisition” in the Notes to Consolidated Condensed Financial Statements.

Revenue and Product Mix

As the industry continues to evolve, the Company has been vigilant in anticipating and exceeding customer expectations. In 2011, the Company introduced AMA as a hardware and software solution for water and gas utilities, and then in early 2014 launched its new BEACON AMA system, as a managed solution, which it believes will help maintain the Company's position as a market leader. Since its inception, sales of BEACON AMA have continued to grow with both municipalities and private water utilities selecting BEACON AMA and the Company’s industry-leading water meters.

The Company continues to seek opportunities for additional revenue enhancement. For instance, the Company is periodically asked to oversee and perform field installation of its products for certain customers. The Company assumes the role of general contractor, hiring installation subcontractors and supervising their work. The Company also supports its product and technology sales with the sale of extended service programs that provide additional services beyond the standard warranty. In recent years, the Company has sold ORION radio technology to natural gas utilities for installation on their gas meters. And most recently, the introduction of the BEACON AMA system opens the door to “software as a service” revenues. With the exception of a large sale of gas radios to one particular customer several years ago, revenues from such products and services are not yet significant and the Company is uncertain of the potential growth achievable for such products and services in future periods.

Results of Operations - Three Months Ended March 31, 2017

The Company’s net sales for the three months ended March 31, 2017 increased $1.0 million, or 1.0%, to $101.6 million compared to $100.6 million during the same period in 2016.

Municipal water sales represented 77.3% of sales in the first quarter of 2017 compared to 76.9% in the first quarter of 2016. These sales increased $1.1 million, or 1.4%, to $78.5 million in the first quarter of 2017 from $77.4 million in the first quarter of 2016. The increase was the net effect of higher commercial water meter sales, offset slightly by lower residential meter and related technology sales. Commercial meter sales were driven by higher volumes of product sold, particularly to several cities with larger projects. Residential sales were impacted by lower sales to the Middle East region, which tend to be sporadic. Domestically, residential sales increased slightly.

Flow instrumentation products represented 22.7% of sales for the three months ended March 31, 2017 compared to 23.1% during the same period in 2016. These sales decreased $0.1 million, or 0.4%, to $23.1 million from $23.2 million in the same period last year. The first quarter of 2016 included certain large projects that did not recur in the first quarter of 2017, offset somewhat by a modest increase in products sold to the oil and gas markets.

Gross margin as a percentage of sales was 38.0% in the first quarter of 2017 compared to 38.8% in the first quarter of 2016. The decline was due to increased brass costs and higher obsolescence charges, offset somewhat by the higher volume impact on capacity utilization.

Selling, engineering and administration expenses for the three months ended March 31, 2017 decreased $1.0 million, or 3.8%, to $25.2 million from $26.2 million in the same period in 2016. The decrease was driven principally by lower

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employee compensation related expenses, including lower staffing levels, offset somewhat by a $0.5 million write down of an investment in an emerging technology company.

Operating earnings for the first quarter of 2017 increased $0.7 million, or 5.5%, to $13.5 million compared to $12.8 million in the same period in 2016 due to higher net sales and lower selling, engineering and administration expenses.

The provision for income taxes as a percentage of earnings before income taxes for the first quarter of 2017 was 34.2% compared to 36.3% in the first quarter of 2016. Interim provisions are tied to an estimate of the overall annual rate that can vary due to state taxes, the relationship of foreign and domestic earnings and production credits available. The first quarter’s provision also included certain discrete credits. Without these credits, the percentage would have been 35.6%.

As a result of the above-mentioned items, net earnings for the three months ended March 31, 2017 were $8.7 million, or $0.30 per diluted share, compared to $8.0 million, or $0.28 per diluted share, for the same period in 2016.

Liquidity and Capital Resources

The main sources of liquidity for the Company are cash from operations and borrowing capacity. Cash provided by operations was $12.4 million for the first three months of 2017 compared to $18.2 million through the first three months of 2016. The decline was due in part to employee incentive payments made in the first quarter of 2017 that were not made in the first quarter of 2016.

Receivables increased from $59.8 million at December 31, 2016 to $66.0 million at March 31, 2017. The higher receivable balance was due to higher sales in the first quarter of 2017. Generally, sales are lower in the fourth quarter of any given year, resulting in lower receivable balances at year-end. The Company believes its net receivables balance is fully collectible.

Inventories decreased to $70.3 million at March 31, 2017 from $77.7 million at December 31, 2016 due principally to higher sales in the first quarter and the timing of inventory purchases.

Net property, plant and equipment at March 31, 2017 increased slightly to $91.1 million from $90.2 million at December 31, 2016. This was the net effect of $3.8 million of capital expenditures in the first three months of 2017, which was somewhat offset by depreciation expense.

Intangible assets decreased to $50.3 million at March 31, 2017 from $51.9 million at December 31, 2016 due to normal amortization expense.

Short-term debt at March 31, 2017 increased slightly to $38.2 million from $38.0 million at December 31, 2016 due to the timing of cash needs.

Payables of $21.6 million at March 31, 2017 increased from $18.4 million at December 31, 2016. These balances are affected by the timing of purchases and payments.

Accrued compensation and employee benefits decreased to $9.0 million at March 31, 2017 from $13.9 million at December 31, 2016 due primarily to payments made in the first quarter of 2017 for prior year employee incentives, offset somewhat by employee incentive compensation earned in the first quarter of 2017.

Income and other taxes payable increased to $4.1 million at March 31, 2017 from $2.9 million at December 31, 2016. The change was the net impact of higher pretax earnings and the timing of actual tax payments.

The overall increase in total shareholders’ equity from $256.2 million at December 31, 2016 to $260.9 million at March 31, 2017 was the net effect of net earnings and stock options exercised, offset by dividends paid and repurchased stock.

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The Company’s financial condition remains strong. In September 2016, the Company amended its May 2012 credit agreement with its primary lender to a three-year $125.0 million line of credit that supports commercial paper (up to $70.0 million) and includes $5.0 million of a Euro line of credit. While the facility is unsecured, there are a number of financial covenants with which the Company must comply, and the Company was in compliance as of March 31, 2017. The Company believes that its operating cash flows, available borrowing capacity, and its ability to raise capital provide adequate resources to fund ongoing operating requirements, future capital expenditures and the development of new products. The Company continues to take advantage of its local commercial paper market and carefully monitors the current borrowing market. The Company had $94.7 million of unused credit lines available at March 31, 2017.

Other Matters

The Company is subject to contingencies related to environmental laws and regulations. The Company is named as one of many potentially responsible parties in two landfill lawsuits. The landfill sites are impacted by the Federal Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation and Liability Act and other environmental laws and regulations. At this time, the Company does not believe the ultimate resolution of these matters will have a material adverse effect on the Company’s financial position or results of operations, either from a cash flow perspective or on the financial statements as a whole. This belief is based on the Company’s assessment of its limited past involvement with these landfill sites as well as the substantial involvement of and government focus on other named third parties with these landfill sites. However, due to the inherent uncertainties of such proceedings, the Company cannot predict the ultimate outcome of any of these matters. A future change in circumstances with respect to these specific matters or with respect to sites formerly or currently owned or operated by the Company, off-site disposal locations used by the Company, and property owned by third parties that is near such sites, could result in future costs to the Company and such amounts could be material. Expenditures for compliance with environmental control provisions and regulations during 2016 and the first quarter of 2017 were not material.

See the “Special Note Regarding Forward Looking Statements” at the front of this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q and Part I, Item 1A “Risk Factors” in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2016 for a discussion of risks and uncertainties that could impact the Company’s financial performance and results of operations.

Off-Balance Sheet Arrangements and Contractual Obligations

The Company’s off-balance sheet arrangements and contractual obligations are discussed in Part II, Item 7 “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” under the headings “Off-Balance Sheet Arrangements” and “Contractual Obligations” in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2016 and have not materially changed since that report was filed unless otherwise indicated in this Form 10-Q.

Item 3 Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures about Market Risk

The Company’s quantitative and qualitative disclosures about market risk are included in Part II, Item 7 “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” under the heading “Market Risks” in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2016 and have not materially changed since that report was filed.

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Item 4 Controls and Procedures

Evaluation of Disclosure Controls and Procedures

In accordance with Rule 13a-15(b) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (the “Exchange Act”), the Company’s management evaluated, with the participation of the Company’s Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer and the Company’s Senior Vice President - Finance, Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer, the effectiveness of the design and operation of the Company’s disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Rule 13a-15(e) under the Exchange Act) as of the end of the quarter ended March 31, 2017. Based upon their evaluation of these disclosure controls and procedures, the Company’s Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer and the Company’s Senior Vice President - Finance, Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer concluded that, as of the date of such evaluation, the Company’s disclosure controls and procedures were effective.

Changes in Internal Control over Financial Reporting

There was no change in the Company’s internal control over financial reporting that occurred during the quarter ended March 31, 2017 that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, the Company’s internal control over financial reporting.

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Part II – Other Information

Item 6 Exhibits



Exhibit No.		Description

31.1		Certification by the Chief Executive Officer pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.

31.2		Certification by the Chief Financial Officer pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.

32		Certification of Periodic Financial Report by the Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.

101		The following materials from the Company’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended March 31, 2017 formatted in Extensible Business Reporting Language (XBRL): (i) the Consolidated Condensed Balance Sheets, (ii) the Consolidated Statements of Operations, (iii) the Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income, (iv) the Consolidated Condensed Statements of Cash Flows, (v) Notes to Unaudited Consolidated Condensed Financial Statements, tagged as blocks of text and (vi) document and entity information.

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SIGNATURES

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



	BADGER METER, INC.

Dated: April 24, 2017	By	/s/ Richard A. Meeusen
		Richard A. Meeusen
		Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer

	By	/s/ Richard E. Johnson
		Richard E. Johnson
		Senior Vice President – Finance, Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer

	By	/s/ Beverly L. P. Smiley
		Beverly L. P. Smiley
		Vice President – Controller

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BADGER METER, INC.

Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the Period Ended March 31, 2017

Exhibit Index



Exhibit No.		Description

31.1		Certification by the Chief Executive Officer pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.

31.2		Certification by the Chief Financial Officer pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.

32		Certification of Periodic Financial Report by the Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.

101		The following materials from the Company’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended March 31, 2017 formatted in Extensible Business Reporting Language (XBRL): (i) the Consolidated Condensed Balance Sheets, (ii) the Consolidated Statements of Operations, (iii) the Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income, (iv) the Consolidated Condensed Statements of Cash Flows, (v) Notes to Unaudited Consolidated Condensed Financial Statements, tagged as blocks of text and (vi) document and entity information.