MATERION Corp - Quarter Report: 2015 April (Form 10-Q)

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

____________________________________________

FORM 10-Q

(Mark One)



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

For the quarterly period ended April 3, 2015



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

For the transition period from to

Commission file number 001-15885

MATERION CORPORATION

(Exact name of Registrant as specified in charter)



Ohio		34-1919973
(State or other jurisdiction of incorporation or organization)		(I.R.S. Employer Identification No.)

6070 Parkland Blvd., Mayfield Hts., Ohio		44124
(Address of principal executive offices)		(Zip Code)

Registrant’s telephone number, including area code:

216-486-4200

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

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

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



Large accelerated filer þ	Accelerated filer ¨	Non-accelerated filer ¨	Smaller reporting company ¨

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

As of April 23, 2015, there were 20,151,163 common shares, no par value, outstanding.

PART I FINANCIAL INFORMATION

MATERION CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES



Item 1.	Financial Statements

The consolidated financial statements of Materion Corporation and its subsidiaries for the first quarter ended April 3, 2015 are as follows:



	Consolidated Statements of Income -
	First quarter ended April 3, 2015 and March 28, 2014	2

	Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income -
	First quarter ended April 3, 2015 and March 28, 2014	3

	Consolidated Balance Sheets -
	April 3, 2015 and December 31, 2014	4

	Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows -
	First quarter ended April 3, 2015 and March 28, 2014	5

Materion Corporation and Subsidiaries

Consolidated Statements of Income

(Unaudited)



	First Quarter Ended
	Apr. 3,			Mar. 28,
(Thousands, except per share amounts)	2015			2014
Net sales	$	290,024		$	258,929
Cost of sales	237,669			213,467
Gross margin	52,355			45,462
Selling, general, and administrative expense	36,941			31,259
Research and development expense	3,348			2,787
Other—net	(2,158		)	363
Operating profit	14,224			11,053
Interest expense—net	657			695
Income before income taxes	13,567			10,358
Income tax expense (benefit)	3,938			3,027
Net income	$	9,629		$	7,331
Basic earnings per share:
Net income per share of common stock	$	0.48		$	0.36
Diluted earnings per share:
Net income per share of common stock	$	0.47		$	0.35
Cash dividends per share	$	0.085		$	0.080
Weighted-average number of shares of common stock outstanding:
Basic	20,144			20,604
Diluted	20,447			20,962

Refer to Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.

Materion Corporation and Subsidiaries

Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income

(Unaudited)



	First Quarter Ended
	Apr. 3,			Mar. 28,
(Thousands)	2015			2014
Net income	$	9,629		$	7,331
Other comprehensive income:
Foreign currency translation adjustment	(1,570		)	589
Derivative and hedging activity, net of tax	503			7
Pension and post-employment benefit adjustment, net of tax	902			9,383
Net change in accumulated other comprehensive income	(165		)	9,979
Comprehensive income	$	9,464		$	17,310

Refer to Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.

Materion Corporation and Subsidiaries

Consolidated Balance Sheets

(Unaudited)



	Apr. 3,			Dec. 31,
(Thousands)	2015			2014
Assets
Current assets
Cash and cash equivalents	$	21,938		$	13,150
Accounts receivable	117,126			112,780
Inventories	237,028			232,409
Prepaid expenses	17,161			14,953
Deferred income taxes	13,347			13,402
Total current assets	406,600			386,694
Long-term deferred income taxes	17,494			17,722
Property, plant, and equipment	813,806			800,671
Less allowances for depreciation, depletion, and amortization	(565,456		)	(553,083		)
Property, plant, and equipment—net	248,350			247,588
Intangible assets	17,109			18,559
Other assets	4,868			4,781
Goodwill	86,725			86,725
Total Assets	$	781,146		$	762,069
Liabilities and Shareholders’ Equity
Current liabilities
Short-term debt	$	667		$	653
Accounts payable	38,054			36,239
Other liabilities and accrued items	41,171			59,151
Income taxes	4,222			3,144
Unearned revenue	10,389			4,879
Total current liabilities	94,503			104,066
Other long-term liabilities	17,853			18,203
Retirement and post-employment benefits	99,701			103,891
Unearned income	49,469			51,796
Long-term income taxes	1,750			1,750
Deferred income taxes	2,166			617
Long-term debt	50,787			23,613
Shareholders’ equity
Serial preferred stock	—			—
Common stock	201,838			202,104
Retained earnings	484,198			476,277
Common stock in treasury	(141,717		)	(140,938		)
Other comprehensive income (loss)	(82,402		)	(82,237		)
Other equity transactions	3,000			2,927
Total shareholders' equity	464,917			458,133
Total Liabilities and Shareholders’ Equity	$	781,146		$	762,069

Refer to Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.

Materion Corporation and Subsidiaries

Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows

(Unaudited)



	Three Months Ended
	Apr. 3,			Mar. 28,
(Thousands)	2015			2014
Cash flows from operating activities:
Net income	$	9,629		$	7,331
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided from operating activities:
Depreciation, depletion, and amortization	11,909			12,131
Amortization of deferred financing costs in interest expense	148			178
Stock-based compensation expense (non-cash)	1,290			1,412
Changes in assets and liabilities net of acquired assets and liabilities:
Decrease (increase) in accounts receivable	(5,467		)	(8,214		)
Decrease (increase) in inventory	(5,925		)	(13,363		)
Decrease (increase) in prepaid and other current assets	(2,480		)	153
Decrease (increase) in deferred income taxes	340			17
Increase (decrease) in accounts payable and accrued expenses	(18,494		)	(16,474		)
Increase (decrease) in unearned revenue	5,510			1,462
Increase (decrease) in interest and taxes payable	1,314			2,648
Increase (decrease) in long-term liabilities	(1,520		)	(7,671		)
Other-net	(321		)	(2,821		)
Net cash (used in) operating activities	(4,067		)	(23,211		)
Cash flows from investing activities:
Payments for purchase of property, plant, and equipment	(7,196		)	(6,120		)
Payments for mine development	(3,748		)	(80		)
Proceeds from sale of property, plant, and equipment	—			3,009
Net cash (used in) investing activities	(10,944		)	(3,191		)
Cash flows from financing activities:
Proceeds from issuance (repayment) of short-term debt	13			4,119
Proceeds from issuance of long-term debt	41,103			30,086
Repayment of long-term debt	(13,929		)	(8,246		)
Principal payments under capital lease obligations	(230		)	(163		)
Cash dividends paid	(1,708		)	(1,648		)
Repurchase of common stock	(768		)	(1,466		)
Issuance of common stock under stock option plans	—			65
Tax benefit from stock compensation realization	—			13
Net cash provided from financing activities	24,481			22,760
Effects of exchange rate changes	(682		)	181
Net change in cash and cash equivalents	8,788			(3,461		)
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period	13,150			22,774
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period	$	21,938		$	19,313

Refer to Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.

Materion Corporation and Subsidiaries

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

(Unaudited)

Note A — Accounting Policies

In management’s opinion, the accompanying consolidated financial statements of Materion Corporation and its subsidiaries (Company) contain all adjustments necessary to present fairly the financial position as of April 3, 2015 and December 31, 2014, and the results of operations for the first quarter ended April 3, 2015 and March 28, 2014. All adjustments were of a normal and recurring nature. Certain amounts in prior years have been reclassified to conform to the 2015 consolidated financial statement presentation.

In May 2014, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) issued an Accounting Standards Update (ASU), Revenue from Contracts with Customers, which supersedes previous revenue recognition guidance. The new standard requires that a company recognize revenue when it transfers promised goods or services to customers in an amount that reflects the consideration the Company expects to receive in exchange for those goods or services. Companies will need to use more judgment and estimates than under the guidance currently in effect, including estimating the amount of variable revenue to recognize over each identified performance obligation. Additional disclosures will be required to help users of financial statements understand the nature, amount, and timing of revenue and cash flows arising from contracts. This ASU is effective beginning in fiscal year 2017 and can be adopted either retrospectively or as a cumulative-effect adjustment as of the date of adoption. In April 2015, the FASB proposed to delay the effective date one year, beginning in fiscal year 2018. The proposal will be subject to the FASB's due process requirement, which includes a period for public comments. The Company is currently evaluating the impact of adopting this new guidance on the consolidated financial statements.

Note B — Inventories

Inventories on the Consolidated Balance Sheets are summarized as follows:



	Apr. 3,		Dec. 31,
(Thousands)	2015		2014
Principally average cost:
Raw materials and supplies	$	39,398	$	39,559
Work in process	158,360		155,377
Finished goods	39,270		37,473
Net inventories	$	237,028	$	232,409

The Company recognized a $1.1 million last-in, first-out (LIFO) liquidation benefit in the first quarter of 2015 due to a forecasted reduction in year-end copper inventory.

Note C — Pensions and Other Post-employment Benefits

The following is a summary of the net periodic benefit cost for the first quarter of 2015 and 2014 for the domestic pension plans (which include the defined benefit pension plan and the supplemental retirement plans) and the domestic retiree medical plan.



	Pension Benefits						Other Benefits
	First Quarter Ended						First Quarter Ended
	Apr. 3,			Mar. 28,			Apr. 3,			Mar. 28,
(Thousands)	2015			2014			2015			2014
Components of net periodic benefit cost
Service cost	$	2,230		$	1,936		$	29		$	34
Interest cost	2,500			2,444			138			169
Expected return on plan assets	(3,354		)	(3,013		)	—			—
Amortization of prior service cost (benefit)	(112		)	(109		)	(374		)	(374		)
Amortization of net loss	1,820			1,275			—			—
Net periodic benefit cost (benefit)	$	3,084		$	2,533		$	(207	)	$	(171	)

The Company made contributions to the domestic defined benefit pension plans of $4.0 million in the first quarter of 2015.

Materion Corporation and Subsidiaries

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

(Unaudited)

In 2014, the Company amended the domestic retiree medical plan, including changing the benefit formula for participants covered by the plan. The revised benefit formula is designed to lower costs for the Company and the majority of plan participants. As a result of this change, the plan liability on the Company's Consolidated Balance Sheet was reduced by $14.0 million in the first quarter of 2014, with the offset increasing other comprehensive income, a component of shareholders' equity. The liability reduction will be recognized in earnings over the average remaining service life of participants.

Note D — Contingencies

Materion Brush Inc., one of the Company's wholly owned subsidiaries, is a defendant from time to time in proceedings where the plaintiffs allege they have contracted chronic beryllium disease (CBD) or related ailments as a result of exposure to beryllium. The Company will record a reserve for CBD or other litigation when a loss from either settlement or verdict is probable and estimable. Claims filed by third-party plaintiffs where the alleged exposure occurred prior to December 31, 2007 may be covered by insurance subject to an annual deductible of $1.0 million. Reserves are recorded for asserted claims only and defense costs are expensed as incurred. There was one CBD case outstanding as of the end of the first quarter of 2015, and the Company does not expect the resolution of this matter to have a material impact on the consolidated financial statements.

The Company has an active environmental compliance program and records reserves for the probable cost of identified environmental remediation projects. The reserves are established based upon analyses conducted by the Company’s engineers and outside consultants and are adjusted from time to time based upon ongoing studies, the difference between actual and estimated costs, and other factors. The reserves may also be affected by rulings and negotiations with regulatory agencies. The undiscounted reserve balance was $5.0 million at April 3, 2015 and $4.9 million at December 31, 2014. Environmental projects tend to be long term, and the final actual remediation costs may differ from the amounts currently recorded.

During the first quarter of 2015, the Company reached a $3.8 million settlement agreement on an insurance claim regarding construction of the Company's beryllium pebble facility located in Elmore, Ohio. The Company recognized this benefit in Other-net in the Consolidated Statement of Income. The cash was received by the Company subsequent to April 3, 2015.

Note E — Segment Reporting



					Other
(Thousands)	Performance Alloys and Composites		Advanced Materials		Other ⁽¹⁾		Corporate⁽²⁾			Subtotal			Total
First Quarter 2015
Net sales	$	103,259	$	149,917	$	36,617	$	231		$	36,848		$	290,024
Intersegment sales⁽³⁾	177		17,385		—		—			—			17,562
Value-added sales	85,590		51,727		24,564		750			25,314			162,631
Operating profit (loss)	6,803		8,903		1,675		(3,157		)	(1,482		)	14,224
Assets	438,816		145,606		125,039		71,685			196,724			781,146
First Quarter 2014
Net sales	$	97,156	$	129,339	$	33,899	$	(1,465	)	$	32,434		$	258,929
Intersegment sales⁽³⁾	232		11,087		—		—			—			11,319
Value-added sales	80,024		41,670		23,919		(752		)	23,167			144,861
Operating profit (loss)	6,209		5,145		4,123		(4,424		)	(301		)	11,053
Assets	428,339		171,277		146,301		45,424			191,725			791,341


⁽¹⁾	The Other reportable segment includes the results of our Precision Optics and Large Area Coatings operating segments, which do not meet the quantitative thresholds for separate disclosure and are collectively referred to as our Precision Coatings group.


⁽²⁾	Costs associated with our unallocated corporate functions have been shown separately to better illustrate the financial information for the businesses within the Other reportable segment.


⁽³⁾	Intersegment sales are eliminated in consolidation.

Materion Corporation and Subsidiaries

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

(Unaudited)

Note F — Stock-based Compensation Expense

Stock-based compensation expense was $3.1 million in the first quarter of 2015 and $2.1 million in the first quarter of 2014, which includes awards settled in shares and in cash.

The Company granted approximately 160,000 stock appreciation rights (SARs) to certain employees in the first quarter of 2015 at a strike price of $36.81 per share. The fair value of the SARs, which was determined on the grant date using a Black-Scholes model, was $13.27 per share and will be amortized over the vesting period of three years. The SARs expire in seven years from the date of the grant. Exercises of SARs totaled approximately 41,000 in the first quarter of 2015 and 27,000 in the first quarter of 2014.

The Company granted approximately 40,000 stock-settled restricted stock units (RSUs) in the first quarter of 2015. These shares will be amortized over a vesting period of three years using the closing price of Materion's common stock on the date of grant of $36.81. Additionally, approximately 21,000 cash-settled RSUs were granted to employees in the first quarter of 2015. Because these shares are settled in cash, the liability and related expense are adjusted based on the closing price of Materion’s common stock over the vesting period of three years.

The Company granted approximately 77,000 stock-settled performance-based restricted stock units (PRSUs) to certain employees in the first quarter of 2015 at a weighted-average fair value of $33.31 per share. The fair value will be expensed over the vesting period of three years. In addition, approximately 39,000 cash-settled PRSUs were awarded to employees in the first quarter of 2015. The liability for cash-settled PRSUs is remeasured at fair value each reporting period, and the expense is recorded accordingly. The final payout to the employees for all PRSUs will be based upon the Company’s return on invested capital and the total return to shareholders over the vesting period relative to a peer group’s performance over the same period.

Note G — Other-net

Other-net (income) expense for the first quarter of 2015 and 2014 is summarized as follows:



	First Quarter Ended
	Apr. 3,			Mar. 28,
(Thousands)	2015			2014
Foreign currency exchange/translation (gain) loss	$	(1,584	)	$	52
Amortization of intangible assets	1,256			1,322
Metal consignment fees	2,035			1,866
Net (gain) loss on disposal of fixed assets	74			(2,637		)
Recovery from insurance	(3,800		)	—
Other items	(139		)	(240		)
Total	$	(2,158	)	$	363

Note H — Income Taxes

The Company recorded income tax expense of $3.9 million in the first quarter of 2015, an effective tax rate of 29.1% against income before income taxes, and an income tax expense of $3.0 million in the first quarter of 2014, an effective tax rate of 29.3% against income before income taxes.

The differences between the statutory and effective rates in the first quarter of both years was due to the impact of percentage depletion, the production deduction, foreign source income and deductions, executive compensation, state and local taxes, discrete events, and other factors.

Note I — Depreciation and Amortization

The Company received $63.5 million from the U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) in previous periods for reimbursement of the DoD's share of the cost of capital equipment acquired by the Company under a Title III contract. The Company recorded the cost of the equipment in property, plant, and equipment and the reimbursements as unearned income, a liability on the Consolidated Balance Sheets. The equipment was placed in service during the third quarter of 2012, and its full cost is being depreciated in accordance with Company policy. The unearned income liability is being reduced ratably with the depreciation expense recorded over the life of the equipment.

In the three months ended April 3, 2015, the depreciation expense on the equipment subject to reimbursement was $2.3 million. Unearned income was reduced by $2.3 million, accordingly, with the offset recorded as a credit to cost of sales. Depreciation, depletion, and amortization expense on the Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows is shown net of the reduction in unearned income.

Materion Corporation and Subsidiaries

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

(Unaudited)

Note J — Fair Value of Financial Instruments

The Company measures and records financial instruments at fair value. A fair value hierarchy is used for those instruments measured at fair value that distinguishes between assumptions based on market data (observable inputs) and the Company’s assumptions (unobservable inputs). The hierarchy consists of three levels:

Level 1 — Quoted market prices in active markets for identical assets and liabilities;

Level 2 — Inputs other than Level 1 inputs that are either directly or indirectly observable; and

Level 3 — Unobservable inputs developed using estimates and assumptions developed by the Company, which reflect those that a market participant would use.

The following table summarizes the financial instruments measured at fair value in the Consolidated Balance Sheet as of April 3, 2015:



			Fair Value Measurements
(Thousands)	Total		Quoted Prices in Active Markets for Identical Assets (Level 1)		Significant Other Observable Inputs (Level 2)		Significant Unobservable Inputs (Level 3)
(Thousands)	Total				Significant Other Observable Inputs (Level 2)		Significant Unobservable Inputs (Level 3)
Financial Assets
Directors’ deferred compensation investments	$	401	$	401	$	—	$	—
Foreign currency forward contracts	4,275		—		4,275		—
Total	$	4,676	$	401	$	4,275	$	—
Financial Liabilities
Directors’ deferred compensation liability	$	401	$	401	$	—	$	—
Foreign currency forward contracts	20		—		20		—
Total	$	421	$	401	$	20	$	—

The Company uses a market approach to value the assets and liabilities for outstanding derivative contracts in the table above. Outstanding contracts are valued through models that utilize market observable inputs, including both spot and forward prices, for the same underlying currencies and metals. The carrying values of the other working capital items and debt in the Consolidated Balance Sheet approximate fair values as of April 3, 2015.

Note K — Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activity

The Company uses derivative contracts to hedge portions of its foreign currency exposures and may also use derivatives to hedge a portion of its precious metal exposures. The objectives and strategies for using derivatives in these areas are as follows:

Foreign Currency. The Company sells a portion of its products to overseas customers in their local currencies, primarily the euro and yen. The Company secures foreign currency derivatives, mainly forward contracts and options, to hedge these anticipated sales transactions. The purpose of the hedge program is to protect against the reduction in the dollar value of foreign currency sales from adverse exchange rate movements. Should the dollar strengthen significantly, the decrease in the translated value of the foreign currency sales should be partially offset by gains on the hedge contracts. Depending upon the methods used, hedge contracts may limit the benefits from a weakening U.S. dollar.

The use of forward contracts locks in a firm rate and eliminates any downside from an adverse rate movement as well as any benefit from a favorable rate movement. The Company may from time to time choose to hedge with options or a tandem of options known as a collar. These hedging techniques can limit or eliminate the downside risk but can allow for some or all of the benefit from a favorable rate movement to be realized. Unlike a forward contract, a premium is paid for an option; collars, which are a combination of a put and call option, may have a net premium but can be structured to be cash neutral. The Company will primarily hedge with forward contracts due to the relationship between the cash outlay and the level of risk.

Materion Corporation and Subsidiaries

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

(Unaudited)

The use of foreign currency derivative contracts is governed by policies approved by the Audit Committee of the Board of Directors. A team consisting of senior financial managers reviews the estimated exposure levels, as defined by budgets, forecasts, and other internal data, and determines the timing, amounts, and instruments to use to hedge that exposure within the confines of the policy. Management analyzes the effective hedged rates and the actual and projected gains and losses on the hedging transactions against the program objectives, targeted rates, and levels of risk assumed. Hedge contracts are typically layered in at different times for a specified exposure period in order to minimize the impact of rate movements.

Precious Metals. The Company maintains the majority of its precious metal production requirements on consignment in order to reduce its working capital investment and the exposure to metal price movements. When a precious metal product is fabricated and ready for shipment to the customer, the metal is purchased out of consignment at the current market price. The price paid by the Company forms the basis for the price charged to the customer. This methodology allows for changes in either direction in the market prices of the precious metals used by the Company to be passed through to the customer and reduces the impact changes in prices could have on the Company's margins and operating profit. The consigned metal is owned by financial institutions who charge the Company a financing fee based upon the current value of the metal on hand.

In certain instances, a customer may want to establish the price for the precious metal at the time the sales order is placed rather than at the time of shipment. Setting the sales price at a different date than when the material would be purchased potentially creates an exposure to movements in the market price of the metal. Therefore, in these limited situations, the Company may elect to enter into a forward contract to purchase precious metal. The forward contract allows the Company to purchase metal at a fixed price on a specific future date. The price in the forward contract serves as the basis for the price to be charged to the customer. By doing so, the selling price and purchase price are matched, and the Company's price exposure is reduced.

The Company refines precious metal containing materials for its customers and typically will purchase the refined metal from the customer at current market prices. In limited circumstances, the customer may want to fix the price to be paid at the time of the order as opposed to when the material is refined. The customer may also want to fix the price for a set period of time. The Company may then elect to enter into a hedge contract, either a forward contract or a swap, to fix the price for the estimated quantity of metal to be purchased, thereby reducing the exposure to adverse movements in the price of the metal.

The Company may from time to time elect to purchase precious metal and hold in inventory rather than on consignment due to potential credit line limitations or other factors. These purchases are typically held for a short duration. A forward contract will be secured at the time of the purchase to fix the price to be used when the metal is transferred back to the consignment line, thereby limiting any price exposure during the time when the metal was owned.

The Company will only enter into a derivative contract if there is an underlying identified exposure. Contracts are typically held until maturity. The Company does not engage in derivative trading activities and does not use derivatives for speculative purposes. The Company only uses currency hedge contracts that are denominated in the same currency as the underlying exposure and precious metal hedge contracts denominated in the same metal as the underlying exposure.

All derivatives are recorded on the balance sheet at their fair values. If the derivative is designated and effective as a cash flow hedge, changes in the fair value of the derivative are recognized in other comprehensive income (OCI) until the hedged item is recognized in earnings. The ineffective portion of a derivative’s fair value, if any, is recognized in earnings immediately. If a derivative is not a hedge, changes in the fair value are adjusted through income. The fair values of the outstanding derivatives are recorded on the balance sheet as assets (if the derivatives are in a gain position) or liabilities (if the derivatives are in a loss position). The fair values will also be classified as short-term or long-term depending upon their maturity dates.

The outstanding foreign currency forward contracts had a notional value of $34.4 million as of April 3, 2015. All of these contracts were designated and effective as cash flow hedges. The net fair value of the outstanding contracts was $4.3 million, with an asset recorded in prepaid expenses and other assets on the Consolidated Balance Sheet as of April 3, 2015.

No ineffective expense was recorded in the first quarter of 2015 or 2014.

Changes in the fair value of outstanding cash flow hedges recorded in OCI totaled $2.6 million at April 3, 2015 and ($0.1) million at March 28, 2014. The Company expects to relieve substantially the entire balance in OCI as of April 3, 2015 to income on the Consolidated Statements of Income during the twelve-month period beginning April 4, 2015. Refer to Note L for additional OCI details.

Materion Corporation and Subsidiaries

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

(Unaudited)

Note L — Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income

Changes in the components of accumulated other comprehensive income, including the amounts reclassified out, for the first quarter of 2015 and 2014 are as follows:



	Gains and Losses On Cash Flow Hedges
(Thousands)	Foreign Currency			Precious Metals			Total			Pension and Post-Employment Benefits			Foreign Currency Translation			Total
Accumulated other comprehensive income, as of December 31, 2014
Gross	$	3,456		$	—		$	3,456		$	(109,080	)	$	(4,153	)	$	(109,777	)
Deferred tax expense (benefit)	(122		)	—			(122		)	(27,418		)	—			(27,540		)
Net	$	3,578		$	—		$	3,578		$	(81,662	)	$	(4,153	)	$	(82,237	)
First quarter 2015 activity
Other comprehensive income (loss) before reclassifications	$	2,636		$	—		$	2,636		$	14		$	(1,570	)	$	1,080
Amounts reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive income	(1,837		)	—			(1,837		)	1,395			—			(442		)
Net current period other comprehensive income (loss) before tax	799			—			799			1,409			(1,570		)	638
Deferred taxes on current period activity	296			—			296			507			—			803
Net current period other comprehensive income (loss) after tax	$	503		$	—		$	503		$	902		$	(1,570	)	$	(165	)
Accumulated other comprehensive income, as of April 3, 2015
Gross	$	4,255		$	—		$	4,255		$	(107,671	)	$	(5,723	)	$	(109,139	)
Deferred tax expense (benefit)	174			—			174			(26,911		)	—			(26,737		)
Net	$	4,081		$	—		$	4,081		$	(80,760	)	$	(5,723	)	$	(82,402	)

Accumulated other comprehensive income, as of December 31, 2013
Gross	$	(87	)	$	(19	)	$	(106	)	$	(77,301	)	$	287		$	(77,120	)
Deferred tax expense (benefit)	(1,433		)	(7		)	(1,440		)	(15,792		)	—			(17,232		)
Net	$	1,346		$	(12	)	$	1,334		$	(61,509	)	$	287		$	(59,888	)
First quarter 2014 activity
Other comprehensive income (loss) before reclassifications	$	(92	)	$	—		$	(92	)	$	14,034		$	589		$	14,531
Amounts reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive income	83			19			102			1,209			—			1,311
Net current period other comprehensive income (loss) before tax	(9		)	19			10			15,243			589			15,842
Deferred taxes on current period activity	(4		)	7			3			5,860			—			5,863
Net current period other comprehensive income (loss) after tax	$	(5	)	$	12		$	7		$	9,383		$	589		$	9,979
Accumulated other comprehensive income, as of March 28, 2014
Gross	$	(96	)	$	—		$	(96	)	$	(62,058	)	$	876		$	(61,278	)
Deferred tax expense (benefit)	(1,437		)	—			(1,437		)	(9,932		)	—			(11,369		)
Net	$	1,341		$	—		$	1,341		$	(52,126	)	$	876		$	(49,909	)

Materion Corporation and Subsidiaries

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

(Unaudited)

Reclassifications from accumulated other comprehensive income of gains and losses on foreign currency cash flow hedges are recorded in Other-net in the Consolidated Statements of Income. Gains and losses on precious metal cash flow hedges are recorded in Cost of sales in the Consolidated Statements of Income in order to offset the impact of precious metal price movements in Cost of sales. The Company has no precious metal hedges as of April 3, 2015. Refer to Note K for additional details on cash flow hedges.

Reclassifications from accumulated other comprehensive income for pension and post-employment benefits are included in the computation of the net periodic pension and post-employment benefit expense. Refer to Note C for additional details on pension and post-employment expenses.



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

OUR BUSINESS

We are an integrated producer of high-performance advanced engineered materials used in a variety of electrical, electronic, thermal, and structural applications. Our products are sold into numerous end markets, including consumer electronics, industrial components, medical, automotive electronics, energy, telecommunications infrastructure, defense, and commercial aerospace.

EXECUTIVE OVERVIEW

For the first quarter of 2015, the following key factors contributed to our overall results of operations, financial position, and cash flows:


•	Net sales in the first quarter of 2015 were $290.0 million, a 12% increase from net sales in the first quarter of 2014. Shipments to several end markets and applications improved in the first quarter of 2015 over the first quarter of 2014, including consumer electronics, industrial components, and medical.

•

Value-added sales increased 12% to $162.6 million in the first quarter of 2015 compared to $144.9 million in the first quarter of 2014. Value-added sales is a non-GAAP measure that removes the impact of pass-through metal costs and allows for analysis without the distortion of the movement or volatility in pass-through metal prices. Internally, we manage our business on this basis, and a reconciliation of sales to value-added sales is included herein.


•	Gross margin was $52.3 million in the first quarter of 2015 compared to $45.5 million in the first quarter of 2014. The increased gross margin represents an approximate 80 basis point margin expansion as a percentage of value-added sales associated with improved sales volume and better product mix.


•	Operating profit was $14.2 million in the first quarter of 2015 compared to $11.1 million in the first quarter of 2014. The increased operating profit was driven by the gross margin improvement and a $3.8 million settlement of an insurance claim related to our beryllium pebble facility, partially offset by an increase in selling, general, and administrative expense.


•	As a result of the aforementioned factors, overall diluted earnings per share increased to $0.47 for the three months ended April 3, 2015 as compared $0.35 for the three months ended March 28, 2014. This increase represents a 34% year-over-year improvement as compared to the corresponding period in 2014.


•	A total of 20,725 shares of common stock were repurchased in the first quarter of 2015 for $0.8 million in the aggregate. Since the approval of a $50.0 million common stock repurchase plan by our Board of Directors in January 2014, we have purchased 711,064 shares at a total cost of $23.1 million.

RESULTS OF OPERATIONS



	First Quarter Ended
	Apr. 3,			Mar. 28,		$			%
(Millions, except per share data)	2015			2014		Change			Change
Net sales	$	290.0		$	258.9	$	31.1		12.0	%
Value-added sales	162.6			144.9		17.7			12.2	%
Gross margin	52.3			45.5		6.8			14.9	%
SG&A expense	36.9			31.2		5.7			18.3	%
R&D expense	3.3			2.8		0.5			17.9	%
Other—net	(2.1		)	0.4		(2.5		)	(625.0	)%
Operating profit	14.2			11.1		3.1			27.9	%
Interest expense—net	0.7			0.7		—			—	%
Income before income taxes	13.5			10.4		3.1			29.8	%
Income tax expense (benefit)	3.9			3.1		0.8			25.8	%
Net income	$	9.6		$	7.3	$	2.3		31.5	%
Diluted earnings per share	$	0.47		$	0.35	$	0.12		34.3	%

Net sales of $290.0 million in the first quarter of 2015 were $31.1 million, or 12% above the $258.9 million recorded in the first quarter of 2014. The increase in net sales in the first quarter of 2015 was due to higher volumes, partially offset by lower pass-through precious metal and copper prices, and the negative impact of foreign exchange rates. Changes in precious metal and copper prices negatively impacted net sales in the first quarter of 2015 by approximately $9.9 million when compared to the first quarter of 2014. The strengthening of the U.S. dollar, primarily against the euro and yen, had an approximate $4.0 million negative impact on net sales in the first quarter of 2015 versus the comparable period in 2014.

Value-added sales of $162.6 million in the first quarter of 2015 increased $17.7 million, or 12% compared to the first quarter of 2014. The year-over-year improvement in value-added sales was primarily driven by sales growth in our three largest end markets. Value-added sales to the consumer electronics, industrial components, and medical end markets increased year-over-year 6%, 31%, and 24%, respectively.

Gross margin in the first quarter of 2015 was $52.3 million, or 15% above the $45.5 million in gross margin recorded during the first quarter of 2014. Expressed as a percentage of value-added sales, gross margin improved 80 basis points from 31.4% in the first quarter of 2014 to 32.2% in the first quarter of 2015. The increase in gross margin was primarily due to improved leverage on value-added sales and improved product mix, offset by the negative impact of foreign exchange. Gross margin also benefited by the recognition of a $1.1 million LIFO liquidation benefit related to copper inventory reductions.

Selling, general, and administrative (SG&A) expense was $36.9 million in the first quarter of 2015, an increase of $5.7 million over the first quarter of 2014. The increase is primarily attributable to higher equity and incentive compensation expense driven in part by an increase in our operating profit and stock price. Additionally, domestic pension expense increased in 2015 as compared to 2014 due to a lower discount rate used to measure the liability as of December 31, 2014, as well as new mortality rate assumptions that assume retirees are living longer.

Research and development (R&D) expense consists primarily of direct personnel costs for pre-production evaluation and testing of new products, prototypes, and applications. R&D expense was relatively flat as a percentage of value-added sales at approximately 2% in both the first quarter of 2015 and 2014.

Other-net totaled $2.1 million of income in the first quarter of 2015 as compared to $0.4 million of expense in the first quarter of 2014. Other-net in 2015 included a gain of $3.8 million related to the favorable settlement of an insurance claim connected with the construction of our beryllium pebble facility in Elmore, Ohio, and foreign currency exchange gains of $1.8 million due primarily to the maturity of foreign currency forward contracts. The foreign currency hedge gains partially offset the negative impact of foreign exchange rate movements on net sales and gross margin. Other-net in 2014 included a gain of $2.6 million related to the sale of used equipment. Refer to Note G to the Consolidated Financial Statements for details of the major components within Other-net.

Interest expense - net was $0.7 million in the first quarter of 2015 and first quarter of 2014.

Income tax expense for the first quarter of 2015 was $3.9 million versus $3.1 million in the first quarter of 2014. The effective tax rates for the first quarter of 2015 and 2014 were 29%. The effects of percentage depletion, production deduction, and foreign source income were major factors for the difference between the effective and statutory rates in the first quarter of 2015 and 2014.

Value-Added Sales - Reconciliation of Non-GAAP Measure

A reconciliation of net sales to value-added sales, a non-GAAP measure, for each reportable segment and for the total Company for the first quarter of 2015 and 2014 is as follows:



	First Quarter Ended
	Apr. 3,		Mar. 28,
(Millions)	2015		2014
Net sales
Performance Alloys and Composites	$	103.3	$	97.2
Advanced Materials	149.9		129.3
Other	36.8		32.4
Total	$	290.0	$	258.9

Less: pass-through metal costs
Performance Alloys and Composites	$	17.7	$	17.2
Advanced Materials	98.2		87.6
Other	11.5		9.2
Total	$	127.4	$	114.0

Value-added sales
Performance Alloys and Composites	$	85.6	$	80.0
Advanced Materials	51.7		41.7
Other	25.3		23.2
Total	$	162.6	$	144.9

The cost of gold, silver, platinum, palladium, and copper can be quite volatile. Our pricing policy is to directly pass the cost of these metals on to the customer in order to mitigate the impact of metal price volatility on our results from operations. Trends and comparisons of net sales are affected by movements in the market prices of these metals, but changes in net sales due to metal price movements may not have a proportionate impact on our profitability.

Internally, management reviews net sales on a value-added basis. Value-added sales are a non-GAAP measure that deducts the value of the pass-through metal costs from net sales. Value-added sales allow management to assess the impact of differences in net sales between periods, segments, or markets, and analyze the resulting margins and profitability without the distortion of movements in pass-through metal costs. The dollar amount of gross margin and operating profit is not affected by the value-added sales calculation. We sell other metals and materials that are not considered direct pass-throughs, and these costs are not deducted from net sales when calculating value-added sales.

Our net sales are also affected by changes in the use of customer-supplied metal. When we manufacture a precious metal product, the customer may purchase metal from us or may elect to provide its own metal, in which case we process the metal on a toll basis and the metal value does not flow through net sales or cost of sales. In either case, we generally earn our margin based upon our fabrication efforts. The relationship of this margin to net sales can change depending upon whether or not the product was made from our metal or the customer’s metal. The use of value-added sales removes the potential distortion in the comparison of net sales caused by changes in the level of customer-supplied metal.

By presenting information on net sales and value-added sales, it is our intention to allow users of our financial statements to review our net sales with and without the impact of the pass-through metals.

Segment Results

The Company consists of three reportable segments: Performance Alloys and Composites, Advanced Materials, and Other. The Other reportable segment includes the results of our Precision Optics and Large Area Coatings operating segments, which do not meet the quantitative thresholds for separate disclosure and are collectively referred to as our Precision Coatings group. The Other reportable segment also includes unallocated corporate costs. Refer to Note E to the Consolidated Financial Statements for additional business segment information.

Performance Alloys and Composites



	First Quarter Ended
	Apr. 3,		Mar. 28,
(Millions)	2015		2014
Net sales	$	103.3	$	97.2
Value-added sales	85.6		80.0
Operating profit	6.8		6.2

Net sales from the Performance Alloys and Composites segment of $103.3 million in the first quarter of 2015 were 6% higher than net sales of $97.2 million in the first quarter of 2014 due primarily to stronger sales in the industrial components end market. Increased sales to the industrial components end market of $4.2 million were due to higher shipments to our industrial components customers. The increase in net sales was partially offset by $3.2 million due to the negative impact of foreign exchange rate movements, primarily related to the strengthening of the U.S. dollar versus the euro and yen, and lower copper prices on average in the first quarter of 2015 as compared to the comparable period of 2014, which lowered metal pass-through prices by an estimated $1.4 million.

Value-added sales of $85.6 million in the first quarter of 2015 were 7% higher than value-added sales of $80.0 million in the first quarter of 2014 due to the aforementioned increase in sales to the industrial components end market.

The Performance Alloys and Composites segment generated operating profit of $6.8 million in the first quarter of 2015 compared to $6.2 million in the first quarter of 2014. As a percentage of net sales, operating profit was 6.6% and 6.4% in the first quarter of 2015 and 2014, respectively. The increase in operating profit in the first quarter of 2015 versus the the comparable period of 2014 was due primarily to leveraging sales growth. Additionally, operating profit in the first quarter of 2015 included foreign currency hedge gains of $1.8 million, which partially offset the negative impact of foreign exchange rate movements on net sales and gross margin.

Advanced Materials



	First Quarter Ended
	Apr. 3,		Mar. 28,
(Millions)	2015		2014
Net sales	$	149.9	$	129.3
Value-added sales	51.7		41.7
Operating profit	8.9		5.1

Net sales from the Advanced Materials segment of $149.9 million in the first quarter of 2015 were 16% higher than net sales of $129.3 million in the first quarter of 2014, despite the fact that lower pass-through metal prices reduced net sales by $8.0 million in the first quarter of 2015 as compared to the comparable period of 2014.

Value-added sales of $51.7 million in the first quarter of 2015 were 24% higher than value-added sales of $41.7 million in the first quarter of 2014. The increase in value-added sales was primarily driven by higher value-added sales to the consumer electronics and industrial components end markets. Value-added sales to the consumer electronics end market increased $3.3 million, or 16%, in the first quarter of 2015 versus the comparable period of 2014 due to the introduction of new electronic devices which use our products. Value-added sales to the industrial components end market increased $2.0 million, or 45%, in the first quarter of 2015 versus the comparable period of 2014 primarily due to strong demand for industrial braze alloys.

The Advanced Materials segment generated operating profit of $8.9 million in the first quarter of 2015 compared to $5.1 million in the first quarter of 2014. As a percentage of value-added sales, operating profit was 17.2% and 12.3% in the first quarter of 2015 and 2014, respectively. The improvement in operating profit in the first quarter of 2015 versus the comparable period of 2014 was due to improved product mix and strong value-added sales growth.

Other



(Millions)	First Quarter Ended
	Apr. 3,			Mar. 28,
	2015			2014
Net sales	$	36.8		$	32.4
Value-added sales	25.3			23.2
Operating profit (loss)	(1.5		)	(0.2		)

The Other reportable segment in total includes the operating results of the Precision Coatings group and unallocated corporate costs.

Net sales for the Other reportable segment totaled $36.8 million in the first quarter of 2015 and $32.4 million in the first quarter of 2014. Including unallocated corporate costs, the Other reportable segment had an operating loss of $1.5 million in the first quarter of 2015 compared to an operating loss of $0.2 million in the first quarter of 2014.

Within the Other reportable segment, net sales for the Precision Coatings group were $36.6 million in the first quarter of 2015 as compared to $33.9 million in the first quarter of 2014, and value-added sales for the first quarter of 2015 and 2014 were $24.6 million and $23.9 million, respectively. The increase in net sales and value-added sales was due to higher sales to the medical end market, partially offset by lower sales to the consumer electronics end market. Medical end market sales were up due to an increase in sales of precision precious metal-coated polymer films for blood glucose test strip applications. Lower sales to the consumer electronics end market were due to rebalancing of customer inventories.

Within the Other reportable segment, the Precision Coatings group reported an operating profit of $1.7 million in the first quarter of 2015 as compared to $4.1 million in the first quarter of 2014. The decrease in operating profit was primarily attributed to a $2.6 million gain on the sale of used equipment in the first quarter of 2014.

Within the Other reportable segment, corporate reported operating expense of $3.2 million and $4.3 million in the first quarter of 2015 and 2014, respectively. The reduction in operating expense was due to the recognition of a $3.8 million insurance settlement gain mentioned previously. This gain was partially offset by higher unallocated corporate costs due to an increase in equity and incentive compensation expense driven in part by an increase in our operating profit and stock price.

LEGAL

One of our subsidiaries, Materion Brush Inc., is a defendant from time to time in proceedings in various state and federal courts brought by plaintiffs alleging that they have contracted chronic beryllium disease or other lung conditions as a result of exposure to beryllium. Plaintiffs in beryllium cases generally seek recovery under negligence and various other legal theories and seek compensatory and punitive damages, in many cases of an unspecified sum. Spouses, if any, often claim loss of consortium.

There was one chronic beryllium disease (CBD) case outstanding against us as of the end of the first quarter of 2015. This case was filed in 2013. The Company does not expect the resolution of this matter to have a material impact on the consolidated financial statements.

Additional beryllium claims may arise. Management believes that we have substantial defenses in these types of cases and intends to contest the suits vigorously should they arise. Employee cases, in which plaintiffs have a high burden of proof, have historically involved relatively small losses to us. Third-party plaintiffs (typically employees of customers or contractors) face a lower burden of proof than do employees or former employees, but these cases are generally covered by varying levels of insurance.

Although it is not possible to predict the outcome of any litigation, we provide for costs related to these matters when a loss is probable, and the amount is reasonably estimable. Litigation is subject to many uncertainties, and it is possible that some of these actions could be decided unfavorably in amounts exceeding our reserves. An unfavorable outcome or settlement of a beryllium case or adverse media coverage could encourage the commencement of additional similar litigation. We are unable to estimate our potential exposure to unasserted claims.

Based upon currently known facts and our experience with beryllium cases and assuming collectibility of insurance, we do not believe that resolution of future beryllium proceedings will have a material adverse effect on our financial condition or cash flow. However, our results of operations could be materially affected by unfavorable results in one or more of these cases in the future.

LIQUIDITY AND CAPITAL RESOURCES

Our primary sources of liquidity are available cash and cash equivalents, available lines of credit under the revolving credit facility, and cash flows from operating activities. We believe funds from operations plus the available borrowing capacity and the current cash balance are adequate to support operating requirements, capital expenditures, projected pension plan contributions, the payment of quarterly dividends, share repurchases, environmental remediation projects, and strategic acquisitions.

As of April 3, 2015, we had $21.9 million of cash and cash equivalents, and the majority of our cash and cash equivalents reside outside the United States. Repatriation of these funds could result in potential foreign and domestic taxes. However, we do not intend nor foresee a need to repatriate these funds to the United States.

The largest capital project in the first three months of 2015 related to mine development activities. We commenced the opening of a new pit to mine proven reserves of beryllium-bearing bertrandite ore in Juab County, Utah. We expect total capital expenditures in 2015 related to this project to be in the range of $20.0 to $25.0 million. The remaining capital spending in the first quarter of 2015 related to smaller projects covering facility and equipment modernization and other infrastructure projects.

The available and unused borrowing capacity under the existing lines of credit, which is subject to limitations set forth in our debt covenants, was $210.9 million as of April 3, 2015. Our revolving line of credit matures in 2018. Mandatory long-term debt payments to be made in 2015 total $0.7 million. We were in compliance with all of our debt covenants as of April 3, 2015.

The available and unused capacity under the off-balance sheet consignment lines totaled $142.8 million as of the end of the first quarter of 2015.

In January 2014, our Board of Directors approved a plan to repurchase up to $50.0 million of our common stock. The timing of the share purchases will depend on several factors, including market and business conditions, our cash flow, debt levels, and other investment opportunities. There is no minimum required purchase quantity for a given year, and the purchases may be discontinued at any time. We purchased 20,725 shares at a cost of $0.8 million in the first three months of 2015. Since the approval of the repurchase plan, we have purchased 711,064 shares at a total cost of $23.1 million.

We paid dividends to our shareholders totaling $1.7 million in the first three months of 2015. Our Board of Directors increased the quarterly dividend from $0.08 per share to $0.085 per share in the second quarter of 2014. We intend to pay a quarterly dividend on an ongoing basis, subject to a continuing strong capital structure and a determination that the dividend remains in the best interest of our shareholders.

CASH FLOWS

Summary of Cash flows for the three months ended April 3, 2015 and March 28, 2014



	Three Months Ended
	Apr. 3,			Mar. 28,			$
(Millions)	2015			2014			Change
Net cash used in operating activities	$	(4.1	)	$	(23.2	)	$	19.1
Net cash used in investing activities	(10.9		)	(3.2		)	(7.7		)
Net cash provided from financing activities	24.5			22.8			1.7
Effects of exchange rate changes	(0.7		)	0.1			(0.8		)
Net change in cash and cash equivalents	$	8.8		$	(3.5	)	$	12.3

Net cash used in operating activities totaled $4.1 million in the first three months of 2015 versus $23.2 million used in operating activities in the comparable prior-year period. The primary use of cash was for working capital purposes in both periods. The use of cash for accounts payable and accrued expenses is due to year-end incentive compensation payments.

Despite the decrease in copper inventory mentioned previously, total inventory increased in Performance Alloys and Composites in the first quarter of 2015 by $6.8 million due primarily to planned equipment shutdowns in 2015. The use of cash for working capital purposes was partially offset by net income generated in the first three months of 2015 and 2014.

Net cash used in investing activities was $10.9 million in the first three months of 2015 compared to $3.2 million in the prior-year corresponding period. The increase in the first quarter of 2015 was due to a significant increase in mine development activities as previously mentioned. In addition, we received approximately $3.0 million of cash proceeds in the first quarter of 2014 for the sale of used equipment, and there were no significant gains on asset sales in the first quarter of 2015.

Net cash provided from financing activities totaled $24.5 million in the first three months of 2015 versus $22.8 million in the prior-year corresponding period. The cash provided from financing activities was used to fund working capital requirements and capital expenditures in both periods.

DEBT

We ended the first quarter of 2015 with $51.5 million in debt, an increase of $27.2 million from the year-end 2014 balance of $24.3 million. The increase in debt was used primarily to fund our working capital requirements and capital expenditures.

OFF-BALANCE SHEET ARRANGEMENTS AND CONTRACTUAL OBLIGATIONS

We maintain the majority of the precious metals we use in production and a portion of our copper requirements on a consignment basis in order to reduce our exposure to metal price movements and to reduce our working capital investment. The notional value of off-balance sheet precious metals was $330.0 million as of April 3, 2015 versus $310.6 million as of December 31, 2014. We were in compliance with all of the covenants contained in the consignment agreements as of April 3, 2015 and December 31, 2014. For additional information on our contractual obligations, refer to page 35 of our Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2014.

CRITICAL ACCOUNTING POLICIES

For additional information regarding critical accounting policies, please refer to pages 38 to 41 of our Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2014. There have been no material changes in our critical accounting policies subsequent to the issuance of our Form 10-K.

OUTLOOK

We remain optimistic for many of the major markets we serve based on the performance of our new products and active pipeline of new product development and technologies. We believe that these new products and applications will be a key to our growth in the near term.

Although optimistic, we continue to manage headwinds related to a few end markets and global financial markets. As expected, our sales to the energy end market were lower in the first quarter of 2015 as compared to recent quarters, and we expect this trend to continue. In addition, the recent strengthening of the U.S. dollar, particularly against the euro and yen, negatively impacts our net sales and operating profit. Despite the increase in sales to the defense end market in the first quarter of 2015, we remain cautious on future defense spending levels.

Overall, we continue to believe our profitability will improve in 2015 as compared to 2014 due to an expected increase in value-added sales, sales from new products, and other factors.

Forward-looking Statements

Portions of the narrative set forth in this document that are not statements of historical or current facts are forward-looking statements. Our actual future performance may materially differ from that contemplated by the forward-looking statements as a result of a variety of factors. These factors include, in addition to those mentioned elsewhere herein:


▪	Actual net sales, operating rates, and margins for 2015;


▪	Our ability to strengthen our internal control over financial reporting and disclosure controls and procedures;


▪	The global economy;


▪	The impact of any U.S. Federal Government shutdowns and sequestrations;


▪	The condition of the markets which we serve, whether defined geographically or by segment, with the major market segments being: consumer electronics, industrial components, medical, automotive electronics, energy, telecommunications infrastructure, defense, and commercial aerospace;


▪	Changes in product mix and the financial condition of customers;


▪	Our success in developing and introducing new products and new product ramp-up rates;


▪	Our success in passing through the costs of raw materials to customers or otherwise mitigating fluctuating prices for those materials, including the impact of fluctuating prices on inventory values;


▪	Our success in integrating acquired businesses;


▪	The impact of the results of acquisitions on our ability to achieve fully the strategic and financial objectives related to these acquisitions;


▪	Our success in achieving the expected benefits from our facility consolidations;


▪	Our success in implementing our strategic plans and the timely and successful completion and start-up of any capital projects, including the beryllium pebble facility in Elmore, Ohio;


▪	The availability of adequate lines of credit and the associated interest rates;

▪

Other financial factors, including the cost and availability of raw materials (both base and precious metals), physical inventory valuations, metal financing fees, tax rates, exchange rates, pension costs and required cash contributions and other employee benefit costs, energy costs, regulatory compliance costs, the cost and availability of insurance, and the impact of the Company’s stock price on the cost of incentive compensation plans;


▪	The uncertainties related to the impact of war, terrorist activities, and acts of God;


▪	Changes in government regulatory requirements and the enactment of new legislation that impacts our obligations and operations;


•	The conclusion of pending litigation matters in accordance with our expectation that there will be no material adverse effects;


•	The success of the realignment of our businesses; and


•	The risk factors set forth in Item 1A of Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2014.



Item 3.	Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures about Market Risk

For information regarding market risks, refer to pages 43 and 44 of our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2014. There have been no material changes in our market risks since the inclusion of this discussion in our Annual Report on Form 10-K.



Item 4.	Controls and Procedures

Evaluation of Disclosure Controls and Procedures

We carried out an evaluation under the supervision and with participation of our management, including the chief executive officer and chief financial officer, of the effectiveness of the design and operation of our disclosure controls and procedures as of April 3, 2015 pursuant to Rule 13a-15(b) and 15d-15(b) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (Exchange Act). Based upon that evaluation, our management, including our chief executive officer and chief financial officer, concluded that our disclosure controls were effective as of April 3, 2015.

Changes in Internal Control Over Financial Reporting

There have been no changes in our internal control over financial reporting during the quarter ended April 3, 2015 that have materially affected, or are reasonably likely to materially affect, our internal control over financial reporting.

PART II OTHER INFORMATION



Item 1.	Legal Proceedings

Our subsidiaries and our holding company are subject, from time to time, to a variety of civil and administrative proceedings arising out of our normal operations, including, without limitation, product liability claims, health, safety and environmental claims, and employment-related actions. Among such proceedings are cases alleging that plaintiffs have contracted, or have been placed at risk of contracting, beryllium sensitization or chronic beryllium disease or other lung conditions as a result of exposure to beryllium (“beryllium cases”). The plaintiffs in beryllium cases seek recovery under negligence and various other legal theories and demand compensatory and often punitive damages, in many cases of an unspecified sum. Spouses of some plaintiffs claim loss of consortium.

Beryllium Claims

As of April 3, 2015, our subsidiary, Materion Brush Inc., was a defendant in one beryllium case (involving three plantiffs), as described more fully below.

The Company is one of five defendants in a case filed on October 4, 2013 in the Superior Court of the State of Arizona, Maricopa County, titled Parmar et al. v. Dolphin, Inc. et al., CV 2013-012980. One plaintiff alleges that he contracted chronic beryllium disease from exposures that resulted from his employment at manufacturing facilities of Karsten Manufacturing Corporation (“Karsten”) in Arizona, and asserts claims for negligence, strict liability, and fraudulent concealment. His wife claims a loss of consortium. Another plaintiff alleges that he has been diagnosed with beryllium sensitization that resulted from his employment at Karsten, and asserts a claim for medical monitoring. Plaintiffs seek compensatory and punitive damages and/or medical monitoring in unspecified sums.

The Company has some insurance coverage, subject to an annual deductible.



Item 2.	Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities and Use of Proceeds

During the three months ended April 3, 2015, we repurchased 20,725 shares under our stock buyback program at an average price of $37.06.



Period	Total Number of Shares Purchased	Average Price Paid per Share		Total Number of Shares Purchased as Part of Publicly Announced Plans or Programs	Maximum Dollar Value that May Yet Be Purchased Under the Plans or Programs (1)
January 1 through February 6, 2015	2,724	$	35.42	2,724	$	27,621,090
February 7 through March 6, 2015	3,976	36.56		3,976	27,475,727
March 7 through April 3, 2015	14,025	37.52		14,025	26,949,522
Total	20,725	$	37.06	20,725	$	26,949,522




(1)	On January 14, 2014, we announced that our Board of Directors had authorized the repurchase of up to $50,000,000 of our common stock. As of April 3, 2015, $26.9 million may still be purchased under the program.



Item 4.	Mine Safety Disclosures

Information concerning mine safety violations or other regulatory matters required by Section 1503(a) of the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act and Item 104 of Regulation S-K (17 CFR 229.104) is included in Exhibit 95 to this quarterly report on Form 10-Q.



Item 6.	Exhibits




	4.1		Amendment No. 6 to the Third Amended and Restated Precious Metals Agreement dated April 10, 2015 among Materion Corporation and other borrowers and The Bank of Nova Scotia.
	10.1		Materion Corporation Restoration & Deferred Compensation Plan, effective as of May 1, 2015 (filed as Exhibit 10.1 to the Company's Current Report on Form 8-K filed by the Company on March 10, 2015, (File No. 1-15885)), incorporated herein by reference.
	11		Statement regarding computation of per share earnings.
	31.1		Certification of Chief Executive Officer required by Rule 13a-14(a) or 15d-14(a).
	31.2		Certification of Chief Financial Officer required by Rule 13a-14(a) or 15d-14(a).
	32		Certifications of Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer required by 18 U.S.C. Section 1350.
	95		Mine Safety Disclosure Pursuant to Section 1503(a) of the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act for the period ending April 3, 2015.
	101.INS		XBRL Instance Document.
	101.SCH		XBRL Taxonomy Extension Schema Document.
	101.DEF		XBRL Taxonomy Extension Definition Linkbase Document.
	101.CAL		XBRL Taxonomy Extension Calculation Linkbase Document.
	101.LAB		XBRL Taxonomy Extension Label Linkbase Document.
	101.PRE		XBRL Taxonomy Extension Presentation Linkbase Document.

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.




				MATERION CORPORATION

Dated: May 1, 2015
				/S/ JOSEPH P. KELLEY
				Joseph P. Kelley
				Vice President, Finance and Chief Financial Officer
				(Principal Financial and Accounting Officer)

Exhibit Index



4.1		Amendment No. 6 to the Third Amended and Restated Precious Metals Agreement dated April 10, 2015 among Materion Corporation and other borrowers and The Bank of Nova Scotia.
10.1		Materion Corporation Restoration & Deferred Compensation Plan, effective as of May 1, 2015 (filed as Exhibit 10.1 to the Company's Current Report on Form 8-K filed by the Company on March 10, 2015 (File No. 1-15885)), incorporated herein by reference.
11		Statement regarding computation of per share earnings.
31.1		Certification of Chief Executive Officer required by Rule 13a-14(a) or 15d-14(a).
31.2		Certification of Chief Financial Officer required by Rule 13a-14(a) or 15d-14(a).
32		Certifications of Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer required by 18 U.S.C. Section 1350.
95		Mine Safety Disclosure Pursuant to Section 1503(a) of the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act for the period ending April 3, 2015.
*101.INS		XBRL Instance Document.
*101.SCH		XBRL Taxonomy Extension Schema Document.
*101.DEF		XBRL Taxonomy Extension Definition Linkbase Document.
*101.CAL		XBRL Taxonomy Extension Calculation Linkbase Document.
*101.LAB		XBRL Taxonomy Extension Label Linkbase Document.
*101.PRE		XBRL Taxonomy Extension Presentation Linkbase Document.



*	Submitted electronically herewith.