UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549 

FORM 10-Q

 

QUARTERLY REPORT UNDER SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF

THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

For the quarter ended March 31, 2014

Commission File No. 1-15579

 

MSA SAFETY INCORPORATED

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

 

Pennsylvania		25-0668780
(State or other jurisdiction of incorporation or organization)		(IRS Employer Identification No.)
1000 Cranberry Woods Drive Cranberry Township, Pennsylvania		16066-5207
(Address of principal executive offices)		(Zip Code)

Registrant’s telephone number, including area code: (724) 776-8600

 

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 and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days.    Yes  x   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, 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  x		Accelerated filer   ¨		Non-accelerated filer   ¨		Smaller reporting company  ¨
				(Do not check if a 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  x

On April 17, 2014 there were 37,347,067 shares of common stock outstanding, not including 64,642 shares held by the MSA Safety Incorporated Stock Compensation Trust.

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PART I. FINANCIAL INFORMATION

Item 1. Financial Statements

MSA SAFETY INCORPORATED

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF INCOME

Unaudited

 

		Three Months Ended March 31,
(In thousands, except per share amounts)		2014				2013
Net sales		$	265,045			$	269,886
Other income (loss), net		356				(137		)
		265,401				269,749
Costs and expenses
Cost of products sold		143,230				148,182
Selling, general and administrative		85,241				81,608
Research and development		11,241				10,584
Restructuring and other charges (Note 4)		1,900				—
Interest expense		2,530				2,660
Currency exchange losses, net		352				1,252
		244,494				244,286
Income from continuing operations before income taxes		20,907				25,463
Provision for income taxes (Note 10)		7,604				6,920
Income from continuing operations		13,303				18,543
Income from discontinued operations (Note 18)		614				852
Net income		13,917				19,395
Net loss (income) attributable to noncontrolling interests		109				(109		)
Net income attributable to MSA Safety Incorporated		14,026				19,286
Amounts attributable to MSA Safety Incorporated common shareholders:
Income from continuing operations		13,522				18,627
Income from discontinued operations (Note 18)		504				659
Net income		14,026				19,286
Earnings per share attributable to MSA Safety Incorporated common shareholders:
Basic
Income from continuing operations		$	0.37			$	0.50
Income from discontinued operations (Note 18)		$	0.01			$	0.02
Net income		$	0.38			$	0.52
Diluted
Income from continuing operations		$	0.36			$	0.49
Income from discontinued operations (Note 18)		$	0.01			$	0.02
Net income		$	0.37			$	0.51
Dividends per common share		$	0.30			$	0.28

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

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MSA SAFETY INCORPORATED

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF COMPREHENSIVE INCOME

Unaudited

 

		Three Months Ended March 31,
(In thousands)		2014				2013
Net income		$	13,917			$	19,395
Other comprehensive income:
Foreign currency translation adjustments		(958		)		(5,588		)
Pension and post-retirement plan adjustments, net of tax of $805 and $1,278		1,418				2,107
Total other comprehensive income net of tax		460				(3,481		)
Comprehensive income		14,377				15,914
Comprehensive loss attributable to noncontrolling interests		251				439
Comprehensive income attributable to MSA Safety Incorporated		14,628				16,353

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

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MSA SAFETY INCORPORATED

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEET

Unaudited 

(In thousands, except share amounts)		March 31, 2014				December 31, 2013
Assets
Cash and cash equivalents		$	102,212			$	96,265
Trade receivables, less allowance for doubtful accounts of $7,162 and $7,306		204,730				200,364
Inventories (Note 3)		146,995				136,837
Deferred tax assets (Note 10)		19,742				22,458
Prepaid income taxes		7,760				9,181
Prepaid expenses and other current assets		35,110				35,861
Total current assets		516,549				500,966
Property, plant and equipment (Note 5)		153,204				152,755
Prepaid pension cost (Note 14)		123,179				121,054
Deferred tax assets (Note 10)		16,827				14,996
Goodwill (Note 13)		260,188				260,134
Intangible assets (Note 13)		34,107				35,029
Other noncurrent assets		170,431				149,336
Total assets		1,274,485				1,234,270
Liabilities
Notes payable and current portion of long-term debt (Note 12)		$	6,796			$	7,500
Accounts payable		72,433				66,902
Employees’ compensation		35,072				38,164
Insurance and product liability		35,618				14,251
Tax liabilities (Note 10)		3,034				3,662
Other current liabilities		53,479				61,085
Total current liabilities		206,432				191,564
Long-term debt (Note 12)		276,667				260,667
Pensions and other employee benefits (Note 14)		153,202				152,084
Deferred tax liabilities (Note 10)		49,614				49,621
Other noncurrent liabilities		7,682				7,987
Total liabilities		693,597				661,923
Commitments and contingencies (Note 17)
Equity
Preferred stock, 4 1/2% cumulative, $50 par value (Note 7)		3,569				3,569
Common stock, no par value (Note 7)		141,006				132,055
Stock compensation trust (Note 7)		(337		)		(1,585		)
Treasury shares, at cost (Note 7)		(286,421		)		(281,524		)
Accumulated other comprehensive loss		(77,667		)		(78,269		)
Retained earnings		795,051				792,206
Total MSA Safety Incorporated shareholders' equity		575,201				566,452
Noncontrolling interests		5,687				5,895
Total shareholders’ equity		580,888				572,347
Total liabilities and shareholders’ equity		1,274,485				1,234,270

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

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MSA SAFETY INCORPORATED

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF CASH FLOWS

Unaudited

		Three Months Ended March 31,
(In thousands)		2014				2013
Operating Activities
Net income		$	13,917			$	19,395
Depreciation and amortization		7,459				7,845
Pensions (Note 14)		1,402				2,880
Net gain from investing activities—disposal of assets		—				32
Stock-based compensation (Note 11)		5,165				5,195
Deferred income tax (benefit) provision (Note 10)		(344		)		24
Other noncurrent assets and liabilities		(21,774		)		(20,870		)
Currency exchange losses, net		345				1,119
Excess tax benefit related to stock plans		(1,769		)		(650		)
Other, net		408				(1,061		)
Operating cash flow before changes in certain working capital items		4,809				13,909
(Increase) in trade receivables		(4,754		)		(17,895		)
(Increase) in inventories (Note 3)		(10,409		)		(1,873		)
Increase in accounts payable and accrued liabilities		17,971				10,061
Decrease in income taxes receivable, prepaid expenses and other current assets		1,780				1,854
Decrease (increase) in certain working capital items		4,588				(7,853		)
Cash Flow From Operating Activities		9,397				6,056
Investing Activities
Capital expenditures		(7,204		)		(7,452		)
Property disposals and other investing		—				47
Cash Flow From Investing Activities		(7,204		)		(7,405		)
Financing Activities
(Payments on) proceeds from short-term debt, net (Note 12)		(703		)		1,182
Proceeds from long-term debt (Note 12)		219,000				104,100
Payments on long-term debt (Note 12)		(203,000		)		(98,100		)
Restricted cash		317				—
Cash dividends paid		(11,181		)		(10,372		)
Distributions to noncontrolling interests		—				(275		)
Company stock purchases		(4,897		)		(4,033		)
Exercise of stock options		3,265				2,916
Excess tax benefit related to stock plans		1,769				650
Cash Flow From Financing Activities		4,570				(3,932		)
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash and cash equivalents		(816		)		(644		)
Increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents		5,947				(5,925		)
Beginning cash and cash equivalents		96,265				82,718
Ending cash and cash equivalents		102,212				76,793

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

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MSA SAFETY INCORPORATED

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF CHANGES IN RETAINED EARNINGS AND

ACCUMULATED OTHER COMPREHENSIVE LOSS

Unaudited

(In thousands)	Retained Earnings				Accumulated Other Comprehensive (Loss)
Balances December 31, 2012	$	747,953			$	(127,072	)
Net income	19,395				—
Foreign currency translation adjustments	—				(5,588		)
Pension and post-retirement plan adjustments, net of tax of $1,278	—				2,107
(Income) loss attributable to noncontrolling interests	(109		)		548
Common dividends	(10,362		)		—
Preferred dividends	(10		)		—
Balances March 31, 2013	756,867				(130,005		)
Balances December 31, 2013	792,206				(78,269		)
Net income	13,917				—
Foreign currency translation adjustments	—				(958		)
Pension and post-retirement plan adjustments, net of tax of $805	—				1,418
Loss attributable to noncontrolling interests	109				142
Common dividends	(11,171		)		—
Preferred dividends	(10		)		—
Balances March 31, 2014	795,051				(77,667		)

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

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MSA SAFETY INCORPORATED

NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

Unaudited

Note 1—Basis of Presentation

The Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements of MSA Safety Incorporated and its subsidiaries ("MSA" or the "Company") are unaudited. These Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements include all adjustments, consisting of normal recurring adjustments, considered necessary by management to fairly state the Company's results. Intercompany accounts and transactions have been eliminated. The results reported in these Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements are not necessarily indicative of the results that may be expected for the entire year. The 2013 year-end balance sheet data was derived from the audited financial statements but does not include all disclosures required by generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP). This Form 10-Q report should be read in conjunction with MSA's Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2013, which includes all disclosures required by GAAP.

Certain amounts in previously issued financial statements were reclassified to conform to the current period presentation. Refer to Note 8 for further information regarding MSA's sales allocation methodology and Note 18 for further information regarding Discontinued Operations.

Note 2— Recently Adopted and Recently Issued Accounting Standards

In July 2013, the FASB issued ASU 2013-11, Presentation of an Unrecognized Tax Benefit When a Net Operating Loss Carryforward, a Similar Tax Loss, or a Tax Credit Carryforward Exists. This ASU requires an unrecognized tax benefit, or a portion of an unrecognized tax benefit, to be presented in the financial statements as a reduction to a deferred tax asset for a net operating loss carryforward, a similar tax loss, or a tax credit carryforward. The adoption of this ASU on January 1, 2014 did not have a material effect on our consolidated statements.

In March 2013, FASB issued ASU 2013-05, Parent's Accounting for the Cumulative Translation Adjustment upon Derecognition of Certain Subsidiaries or Groups of Assets within a Foreign Entity or of an Investment in a Foreign Entity. This ASU 2013-05 addresses the accounting for the cumulative translation adjustment when a parent either sells a part or all of its investment in a foreign entity or no longer holds a controlling financial interest in a subsidiary or group of assets that is a business within a foreign entity. The guidance outlines the events when cumulative translation adjustments should be released into net income. This ASU was adopted on January 1, 2014. The adoption of this ASU may have a material effect on our consolidated financial statements, in the event that we were to divest of a foreign affiliate.

In April 2014, FASB issued ASU 2014-08, Reporting Discontinued Operations and Disclosures of Disposals of an Entity. This ASU 2014-08 amends the definition of a discontinued operation to include a disposal of a component or group of components that is disposed of or is classified as held for sale and represents a strategic shift that has (or will have) a major effect on an entity's operations and financial results. This ASU will be effective beginning in 2015. The adoption of this ASU may have a material effect on our consolidated financial statements in the event that we were to divest of a component that meets the definition of a discontinued operation.

Note 3—Inventories

(In thousands)		March 31, 2014				December 31, 2013
Finished products		$	80,240			$	74,466
Work in process		9,156				8,108
Raw materials and supplies		57,599				54,263
Total inventories		146,995				136,837

Note 4—Restructuring and Other Charges

During the three months ended March 31, 2014, we recorded restructuring charges of $1.9 million ($1.2 million after tax). European segment charges for the three months ended March 31, 2014 of $1.5 million related primarily to severance from staff reductions in Germany and Italy and reorganization costs in Germany. International segment charges for the three months ended March 31, 2014 of $0.4 million were related to severance from staff reductions in Australia.

We did not incur any restructuring charges during the three months ended March 31, 2013.

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Activity and reserve balances for restructuring charges by segment were as follows:

(in millions)	North America			Europe			International			Total
Reserve balances at December 31, 2012	$	0.3		$	2.5		$	0.2		$	3.0
Cash payments	(0.3		)	(3.8		)	(2.5		)	(6.6		)
Restructuring charges	—			3.0			2.3			5.3
Reserve balances at December 31, 2013	$	—		$	1.7		$	—		$	1.7
Cash payments	—			(1.1		)	(0.2		)	(1.3		)
Restructuring charges	—			1.5			0.4			1.9
Reserve balances at March 31, 2014	$	—		$	2.1		$	0.2		$	2.3

Note 5—Property, Plant and Equipment

	March 31,				December 31,
(In thousands)	2014				2013
Land	$	3,795			$	3,835
Buildings	111,436				110,534
Machinery and equipment	351,647				349,667
Construction in progress	20,400				16,364
Total	487,278				480,400
Less accumulated depreciation	(334,074		)		(327,645		)
Net property	153,204				152,755

Note 6—Reclassifications Out of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Loss

The changes in Accumulated Other Comprehensive Loss by component were as follows:

		MSA Safety Incorporated								Noncontrolling Interests
		Three Months Ended March 31,								Three Months Ended March 31,
		2014				2013				2014				2013
Pension and other postretirement benefits
Balance at beginning of period		$	(77,080	)		$	(132,031	)		$	—			$	—
Amounts reclassified from Accumulated other comprehensive loss:
Amortization of prior service cost		(63		)		(80		)		—				—
Recognized net actuarial losses		2,286				3,465				—				—
Tax benefit		(805		)		(1,278		)		—				—
Total amount reclassified from Accumulated other comprehensive loss, net of tax		1,418				2,107				—				—
Balance at end of period		$	(75,662	)		$	(129,924	)		$	—			$	—
Foreign Currency Translation
Balance at beginning of period		$	(1,189	)		$	4,959			$	(1,602	)		$	(469	)
Other comprehensive (loss) income:
Foreign currency translation adjustments		(816		)		(5,040		)		(142		)		(548		)
Balance at end of period		$	(2,005	)		$	(81	)		$	(1,744	)		$	(1,017	)

The reclassifications out of accumulated other comprehensive loss are included in the computation of net periodic pension and other post-retirement benefit costs (see Note 14—Pensions and Other Post-Retirement Benefits).

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Note 7—Capital Stock

Preferred Stock - The Company has authorized 100,000 shares of $50 par value 4.5% cumulative preferred nonvoting stock which is callable at $52.50. There are 71,373 shares issued and 52,878 shares held in treasury at March 31, 2014. There were no treasury purchases of preferred stock during the quarter ended March 31, 2014. The Company has also authorized 1,000,000 shares of $10 par value second cumulative preferred voting stock. No shares have been issued as of March 31, 2014.

Common Stock - The Company has authorized 180,000,000 shares of no par value common stock. There were 37,347,653 and 37,202,099 shares outstanding at March 31, 2014 and December 31, 2013, respectively.

Stock Compensation Trust - The MSA Safety Incorporated Stock Compensation Trust was established to provide shares for certain benefit plans, including the management equity incentive plan. Shares held by the Stock Compensation Trust and the corresponding cost of those shares, are reported as a reduction of common shares issued. Differences between the cost of the shares held by the Stock Compensation Trust and the market value of shares released for stock-related benefits are reflected in common stock issued. There were 64,642 and 303,668 shares available at March 31, 2014 and December 31, 2013, respectively.

Treasury Shares - In November 2005, the Board of Directors authorized the purchase of up to $100.0 million of MSA common stock either through private transactions or open market transactions. The share purchase program has no expiration date. The maximum shares that may be purchased is calculated based on the dollars remaining under the program and the respective month-end closing share price. We do not have any other share purchase programs. There were 24,669,096 and 24,575,624 Treasury Shares at March 31, 2014 and December 31, 2013, respectively.

Note 8—Segment Information

We are organized into nine geographic operating segments based on management responsibilities. The operating segments have been aggregated (based on economic similarities, the nature of their products, end-user markets and methods of distribution) into three reportable segments: North America, Europe, and International.

MSA’s sales are allocated to each country based primarily on the destination of the end-customer. Effective January 1, 2014, the General Monitors business has been fully integrated into MSA. As such, sales made by General Monitors companies now follow a similar allocation methodology by which sales are allocated to each country based on the destination of the end-customer and based on the value added to that order. In prior years, sales made by General Monitors companies were reported as domestic sales based on the country from which the product was shipped. The 2013 results presented below have been restated to reflect this change in allocation methodology.

Reportable segment information is presented in the following table:

(In thousands)		North America				Europe				International				Reconciling Items				Consolidated Totals
Three Months Ended March 31, 2014
Sales to external customers		$	129,521			$	74,938			$	60,586			$	—			$	265,045
Intercompany sales		27,897				28,858				3,849				(60,604		)		—
Net income:
Continuing operations		12,480				4,117				3,859				(6,934		)		13,522
Discontinued operations		—				—				504				—				504

(In thousands)		North America				Europe				International				Reconciling Items				Consolidated Totals
Three Months Ended March 31, 2013
Sales to external customers		$	128,936			$	73,123			$	67,827			$	—			$	269,886
Intercompany sales		28,545				25,236				4,877				(58,658		)		—
Net income:
Continuing operations		12,605				5,383				7,796				(7,157		)		18,627
Discontinued operations		—				—				659				—				659

Reconciling items consist primarily of intercompany eliminations and items reported at the corporate level.

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Note 9—Earnings per Share

Basic earnings per share is computed by dividing net income, after the deduction of preferred stock dividends and undistributed earnings allocated to participating securities, by the weighted average number of common shares outstanding during the period. Diluted earnings per share assumes the issuance of common stock for all potentially dilutive share equivalents outstanding not classified as participating securities. Participating securities are defined as unvested stock-based payment awards that contain nonforfeitable rights to dividends.

		Three Months Ended March 31,
(In thousands, except per share amounts)		2014				2013
Net income attributable to continuing operations		$	13,522			$	18,627
Preferred stock dividends		(10		)		(10		)
Income from continuing operations available to common equity		13,512				18,617
Dividends and undistributed earnings allocated to participating securities		(90		)		(165		)
Income from continuing operations available to common shareholders		13,422				18,452
Net income attributable to discontinued operations		$	504			$	659
Preferred stock dividends		—				—
Income from discontinued operations available to common equity		504				659
Dividends and undistributed earnings allocated to participating securities		(4		)		(6		)
Income from discontinued operations available to common shareholders		500				653
Basic weighted-average shares outstanding		37,015				36,734
Stock options and other stock compensation		602				635
Diluted weighted-average shares outstanding		37,617				37,369
Antidilutive stock options		—				173
Earnings per share attributable to continuing operations:
Basic		$	0.37			$	0.50
Diluted		$	0.36			$	0.49
Earnings per share attributable to discontinued operations:
Basic		$	0.01			$	0.02
Diluted		$	0.01			$	0.02

Note 10—Income Taxes

The effective tax rate for the first quarter of 2014 and 2013 was 36.4% and 27.2%, respectively. The rate for the first quarter of 2014 differs from the U.S. federal statutory rate of 35% primarily due to unrecognized tax benefits on operating losses in foreign affiliates. The rate for the first quarter of 2013 differs from the U.S. federal statutory rate of 35% primarily due to the one-time benefit from the recognition of the 2012 research and development tax credit as well as tax benefits of earning income in low tax foreign jurisdictions.

At March 31, 2014, we had a gross liability for unrecognized tax benefits of $5.9 million. We have recognized tax benefits associated with these liabilities of $5.1 million at March 31, 2014. These balances are unchanged since December 31, 2013. We do not expect that the total amount of the unrecognized tax benefits will significantly increase or decrease within twelve months of the reporting date.

We recognize interest related to unrecognized tax benefits in interest expense and penalties in operating expenses. Our liability for accrued interest and penalties related to uncertain tax positions was $0.7 million at March 31, 2014.

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Note 11—Stock Plans

The 2008 Management Equity Incentive Plan provides for various forms of stock-based compensation for eligible employees through May 2018. Management stock-based compensation includes stock options, restricted stock, and performance stock units. The 2008 Non-Employee Directors’ Equity Incentive Plan provides for grants of stock options and restricted stock to non-employee directors through May 2018. Stock options are granted at market value option prices and expire after ten years. Stock options are exercisable beginning three years after the grant date. Restricted stock is granted without payment to the company and generally vests three years after the grant date. Restricted stock is valued at the market value of the stock on the grant date. Performance stock units with a market condition are valued at an estimated fair value using a Monte Carlo model. The final number of shares to be issued for performance stock units may range from zero to 200% of the target award based on achieving the specified performance targets over the performance period. We issue Stock Compensation Trust shares or new shares for stock option exercises, restricted stock grants, and performance stock unit grants.

Stock compensation expense is as follows:

		Three Months Ended March 31,
(In thousands)		2014				2013
Stock compensation expense		$	5,165			$	5,195
Income tax benefit		1,890				1,922
Stock compensation expense, net of income tax benefit		3,275				3,273

Stock option expense is based on the fair value of stock option grants estimated on the grant dates using the Black-Scholes option pricing model and the following weighted average assumptions for options granted in 2014.

	2014
Fair value per option	$	17.26
Risk-free interest rate	2.06		%
Expected dividend yield	2.41		%
Expected volatility	40.50		%
Expected life (years)	6.6

The risk-free interest rate is based on the U.S. Treasury Constant Maturity rates as of the grant date converted into an implied spot rate yield curve. Expected dividend yield is based on the most recent annualized dividend divided by the 1 year average closing share price. Expected volatility is based on the historical volatility using daily stock prices. Expected life is based on historical stock option exercise data.

A summary of stock option activity for the three months ended March 31, 2014 follows:

		Shares			Weighted Average Exercise Price
Outstanding at January 1		1,695,380			$	34.55
Granted		138,519			51.69
Exercised		(92,311	)		35.37
Forfeited		(18,651	)		37.99
Outstanding at March 31		1,722,937			35.84
Exercisable at March 31		1,229,401			32.01

A summary of restricted stock activity for the three months ended March 31, 2014 follows:

		Shares			Weighted Average Grant Date Fair Value
Unvested at January 1		303,419			$	39.79
Granted		68,807			51.69
Vested		(93,766	)		34.01
Forfeited		(1,189	)		39.76
Unvested at March 31		277,271			44.70

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A summary of performance stock unit activity for the three months ended March 31, 2014 follows: 

		Shares			Weighted Average Grant Date Fair Value
Unvested at January 1		149,389			$	46.32
Granted		46,242			57.42
Performance adjustments		41,428			39.42
Vested		(88,996	)		39.11
Unvested at March 31		148,063			52.20

The final number of shares issued for the 2011 Management Performance Units were 200% of the target award based on Total Shareholder Return during the three year performance period.

Note 12—Long-Term Debt

The Company completed a legal Reorganization on March 7, 2014. The Company's existing debt agreements, including its senior revolving credit facility and note purchase agreements were revised to reflect the changes in the Company's legal structure.

In connection with the legal Reorganization, the Company amended its unsecured senior revolving credit facility and extended the term of the facility until March 2019. The senior revolving facility provides for borrowings up to $300.0 million, with sub-limits for the issuance of letters of credit, swingline borrowings and foreign currency denominated borrowings; and may be used for general corporate purposes, including working capital, permitted acquisitions, capital expenditures and repayment of existing indebtedness. The credit agreement also allows the Company to request increases in the aggregate commitments of the lenders of up to an additional $150.0 million. Loans under the revolving facility will bear interest, at a variable rate based on LIBOR or the federal funds rate, at the Company's option. At March 31, 2014, $167.6 million of the $300.0 million senior revolving credit facility was unused including letters of credit.

The Company also entered into a $175.0 million senior unsecured shelf facility with a bank. Under this agreement, the Company may request the bank to purchase additional senior notes from time to time prior to March 7, 2017. The Company would be required to pay the bank an issuance fee in addition to fees defined in the note purchase agreement upon issuance of additional senior notes.

The amended revolving credit facility and amended note purchase agreements require the Company to comply with specified financial covenants. In addition, the credit facility and the note purchase agreements contain negative covenants limiting the ability of the Company and its subsidiaries to enter into specified transactions. The Company was in compliance with all covenants at March 31, 2014.

The Company had outstanding bank guarantees and standby letters of credit with banks as of March 31, 2014 totaling $6.2 million, of which $2.4 million relate to the senior revolving credit facility. The letters of credit serve to cover customer requirements in connection with certain sales orders and insurance companies. No amounts were drawn on these arrangements at March 31, 2014. The Company is also required to provide cash collateral in connection with certain arrangements. At March 31, 2014, the Company has $2.3 million of restricted cash in support of these arrangements. At March 31, 2014, the Company also has a $4.1 million guarantee relating to voluntary retirement payments for its unionized workers in Germany.

The Company redeemed $4.0 million of Industrial development debt in February 2014.

Note 13—Goodwill and Intangible Assets

Changes in goodwill during the three months ended March 31, 2014 are as follows:

(In thousands)	Goodwill
Balance at January 1	$	260,134
Currency translation	54
Balance at March 31	260,188

At March 31, 2014, goodwill of $196.5 million, $61.4 million, and $2.3 million related to the North American, European, and International reportable segments, respectively.

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Changes in intangible assets, net of accumulated amortization during the three months ended March 31, 2014 are as follows:

(In thousands)	Intangible Assets
Net balance at January 1	$	35,029
Amortization expense	(928		)
Currency translation	6
Net balance at March 31	34,107

Note 14—Pensions and Other Postretirement Benefits

Components of net periodic benefit cost consisted of the following:

		Pension Benefits								Other Benefits
(In thousands)		2014				2013				2014				2013
Three Months Ended March 31,
Service cost		$	2,481			$	2,784			$	156			$	172
Interest cost		4,891				4,468				299				262
Expected return on plan assets		(8,251		)		(7,725		)		—				—
Amortization of prior service cost		21				26				(84		)		(106		)
Recognized net actuarial losses		2,203				3,327				83				138
Settlement / Curtailment loss		57				—				—				—
Net periodic benefit cost		1,402				2,880				454				466

We made contributions of $1.1 million to our pension plans during the three months ended March 31, 2014. We expect to make total contributions of approximately $4.5 million to our pension plans in 2014.

Note 15—Derivative Financial Instruments

As part of our currency exchange rate risk management strategy, we may enter into certain derivative foreign currency forward contracts that do not meet the U.S. GAAP criteria for hedge accounting, but which have the impact of partially offsetting certain foreign currency exposures. We account for these forward contracts at fair value and report the related gains or losses in currency exchange gains or losses. The notional amount of open forward contracts was $65.4 million and $46.7 million, with an unrealized gain on these contracts of $0.6 million and an unrealized loss of $0.7 million at March 31, 2014 and 2013, respectively.

The following table presents the balance sheet location and fair value of assets associated with derivative financial instruments: 

(In thousands)		March 31, 2014				December 31, 2013
Derivatives not designated as hedging instruments:
Foreign exchange contracts: Prepaid expenses and other current assets		$	552			$	1,308

The following table presents the income statement location and impact of derivative financial instruments:

				Loss Recognized in Income
				Three Months Ended March 31,
(In thousands)		Income Statement Location		2014				2013
Derivatives not designated as hedging instruments:
Foreign exchange contracts		Currency exchange losses, net		$	805			$	1,257

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Note 16—Fair Value Measurements

Fair value is defined as the price that would be received to sell an asset or paid to transfer a liability in an orderly transaction between market participants at the measurement date. The fair value hierarchy consists of three broad levels, which gives the highest priority to unadjusted quoted prices in active markets for identical assets or liabilities (Level 1) and the lowest priority to unobservable inputs (Level 3). The three levels of the fair value hierarchy are:

•	Level 1—Observable inputs that reflect unadjusted quoted prices for identical assets or liabilities in active markets.

•	Level 2—Inputs other than quoted prices included within Level 1 that are observable for the asset or liability, either directly or indirectly.

•	Level 3—Unobservable inputs for the asset or liability.

The valuation methodologies we used to measure financial assets and liabilities were limited to the derivative financial instruments described in Note 15. We estimate the fair value of the derivative financial instruments, consisting of foreign currency forward contracts, based upon valuation models with inputs that generally can be verified by observable market conditions and do not involve significant management judgment. Accordingly, the fair values of the derivative financial instruments are classified within Level 2 of the fair value hierarchy.

With the exception of fixed rate long-term debt, we believe that the reported carrying amounts of our financial assets and liabilities approximate their fair values. The reported carrying amount of our fixed rate long-term debt (including the current portion) was $153.3 million and $160.0 million at March 31, 2014 and 2013, respectively. The fair value of this debt was $160.1 million and $170.4 million at March 31, 2014 and 2013, respectively. The fair value of our long-term debt was determined using cash flow valuation models to estimate the market value of similar transactions as of the respective balance sheet dates. The fair value of this debt was determined using Level 2 inputs as described above.

Note 17—Contingencies

We categorize the product liability losses that we experience into two main categories; single incident and cumulative trauma. Single incident product liability claims are discrete incidents that are typically known to us when they occur and involve observable injuries and, therefore, more quantifiable damages. Therefore, we maintain a reserve for single incident product liability claims based on expected settlement costs for pending claims and an estimate of costs for unreported claims derived from experience, sales volumes and other relevant information. Our reserve for single incident product liability claims was $4.3 million at March 31, 2014 and $4.0 million at December 31, 2013. Single incident product liability expense during the three months ended March 31, 2014 and 2013 was not significant. We evaluate our single incident product liability exposures on an ongoing basis and make adjustments to the reserve as new information becomes available.

Cumulative trauma product liability claims involve exposures to harmful substances (e.g., silica, asbestos and coal dust) that occurred many years ago and may have developed over long periods of time into diseases such as silicosis, asbestosis or coal worker’s pneumoconiosis. We are presently named as a defendant in 2,901 lawsuits in which plaintiffs allege to have contracted certain cumulative trauma diseases related to exposure to silica, asbestos, and/or coal dust. These lawsuits mainly involve respiratory protection products allegedly manufactured and sold by us. We are unable to estimate total damages sought in these lawsuits as they generally do not specify the injuries alleged or the amount of damages sought, and potentially involve multiple defendants.

We regularly assess opportunities to mitigate product liability risk.

Cumulative trauma product liability litigation is difficult to predict. In our experience, until late in a lawsuit, we cannot reasonably determine whether it is probable that any given cumulative trauma lawsuit will ultimately result in a liability. This uncertainty is caused by many factors, including the following: cumulative trauma complaints generally do not provide information sufficient to determine if a loss is probable; cumulative trauma litigation is inherently unpredictable and information is often insufficient to determine if a lawsuit will develop into an actively litigated case; and even when a case is actively litigated, it is often difficult to determine if the lawsuit will be dismissed or otherwise resolved until late in the lawsuit. Moreover, even once it is probable that such a lawsuit will result in a loss, it is difficult to reasonably estimate the amount of actual loss that will be incurred. These amounts are highly variable and turn on a case-by-case analysis of the relevant facts, which are often not learned until late in the lawsuit.

Because of these factors, we cannot reliably determine our potential liability for such claims until late in the lawsuit. We, therefore, do not record cumulative trauma product liability losses when a lawsuit is filed, but rather, when we learn sufficient information to determine that it is probable that we will incur a loss and the amount of loss can be reasonably estimated. We record expenses for defense costs associated with open cumulative trauma product liability lawsuits as incurred.

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We cannot estimate any amount or range of possible losses related to resolving pending and future cumulative trauma product liability claims that we may face because of the factors described above. As new information about cumulative trauma product liability cases and future developments becomes available, we reassess our potential exposures.

A summary of cumulative trauma product liability lawsuit activity follows:

		Three Months Ended March 31, 2014			Year Ended December 31, 2013
Open lawsuits, beginning of period		2,840			2,609
New lawsuits		123			489
Settled and dismissed lawsuits		(62	)		(258	)
Open lawsuits, end of period		2,901			2,840

Nearly half of the open lawsuits at March 31, 2014 have had a de minimus level of activity over the last 5 years. It is possible that these cases could become active again at any point due to changes in circumstances.

With some common contract exclusions, we maintain insurance for cumulative trauma product liability claims. We have purchased insurance policies for the policy years from 1952-1986 from over 20 different insurance carriers that provide coverage for cumulative trauma product liability losses, and in many instances, related defense costs (the "Occurrence-Based Policies"). In the normal course of business, we make payments to settle product liability claims and for related defense costs. We record receivables for the amounts that are covered by insurance. Since December 31, 2013, the insurance receivable increased by $20.0 million as a result of these settlements and defense costs.

The available limits of these policies are many times our recorded insurance receivable balance.

Various factors could affect the timing and amount of recovery of our insurance receivables, including the outcome of negotiations with insurers, legal proceedings with respect to product liability insurance coverage and the extent to which insurers may become insolvent in the future.

Our insurance receivables at March 31, 2014 totaled $144.8 million, of which $2.0 million is reported in other current assets and $142.8 million in other non-current assets. Our insurance receivables at December 31, 2013 totaled $124.8 million, all of which is reported in other non-current assets.

A summary of insurance receivable balances and activity related to cumulative trauma product liability losses follows:

(In millions)		Three Months Ended March 31, 2014				Year Ended December 31, 2013
Balance beginning of period		$	124.8			$	130.0
Additions		20.0				34.0
Collections and settlements		—				(39.2		)
Balance end of period		144.8				124.8

Additions to insurance receivables in the above table represent insured cumulative trauma product liability losses and related defense costs. Uninsured cumulative trauma product liability losses during the three months ended March 31, 2014 and 2013 were $2.1 million and $0.2 million, respectively. Collections primarily represent agreements with insurance companies to pay amounts due that are applicable to cumulative trauma claims. In cases where the payment stream covers multiple years, the present value of the payments is recorded as a note receivable (current and long term) in the balance sheet within prepaid expenses and other current assets and other noncurrent assets.

Our aggregate cumulative trauma product liability losses and administrative and defense costs for the three years ended December 31, 2013, totaled approximately $104.2 million, substantially all of which was insured.

We believe that the increase in the insurance receivable balance that we have experienced since 2005 is primarily due to disagreements among our insurance carriers, and consequently with us, as to when their individual obligations to pay us are triggered and the amount of each insurer’s obligation, as compared to other insurers. We believe that our insurers do not contest that they have issued policies to us or that these policies cover cumulative trauma product liability claims. We believe that our ability to successfully resolve our insurance litigation with various insurance carriers in recent years demonstrates that we have strong legal positions concerning our rights to coverage.

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We regularly evaluate the collectability of the insurance receivables and record the amounts that we conclude are probable of collection. Our conclusions are based on our analysis of the terms of the underlying insurance policies, our experience in successfully recovering cumulative trauma product liability claims from our insurers under other policies, the financial ability of our insurance carriers to pay the claims, our understanding and interpretation of the relevant facts and applicable law and the advice of legal counsel, who believe that our insurers are required to provide coverage based on the terms of the policies.

Although the outcome of cumulative trauma product liability matters cannot be predicted with certainty and unfavorable resolutions could materially affect our results of operations on a quarter-to-quarter basis, based on information currently available and the amounts of insurance coverage available to us, we believe that the disposition of cumulative trauma product liability lawsuits that are pending against us will not have a materially adverse effect on our future results of operations, financial condition, or liquidity.

We are currently involved in insurance coverage litigations with a number of our insurance carriers regarding the Occurrence-Based Policies.

In 2009, we sued The North River Insurance Company (North River) in the United States District Court for the Western District of Pennsylvania, alleging that North River breached one of its insurance policies by failing to pay amounts owed to us and that it engaged in bad-faith claims handling. We believe that North River’s refusal to indemnify us under the policy for product liability losses and legal fees paid by us is wholly contrary to Pennsylvania law and we are vigorously pursuing the legal actions necessary to collect all due amounts. Motions for summary judgment on certain issues will be submitted to the court at the earliest possible date. A trial date has not yet been scheduled.

In 2010, North River sued us in the Court of Common Pleas of Allegheny County, Pennsylvania seeking a declaratory judgment concerning their responsibilities under three additional policies. We asserted claims against North River for breaches of contract for failures to pay amounts owed to us. We also allege that North River engaged in bad-faith claims handling. We believe that North River’s refusal to indemnify us under these policies for product liability losses and legal fees paid by us is wholly contrary to Pennsylvania law and we are vigorously pursuing the legal actions necessary to collect all due amounts. Summary judgment on certain issues is pending with the court. A trial date has not yet been scheduled.

In July 2010, we filed a lawsuit in the Superior Court of the State of Delaware seeking declaratory and other relief from the majority of our excess insurance carriers concerning the future rights and obligations of MSA and our excess insurance carriers under various insurance policies. The reason for this insurance coverage action is to secure a comprehensive resolution of our rights under the insurance policies issued by our insurers. The case is currently in discovery.

We have resolved our claims against certain of our insurance carriers on some of their policies, including the Occurrence-Based Policies through negotiated settlements. When a settlement is reached, we dismiss the settling carrier from relevant above noted lawsuit(s). Assuming satisfactory resolution, once disputes are resolved with each of the remaining carriers responsible for the the Occurrence-Based Policies, the Company anticipates having commitments to provide future payment streams which should be sufficient to satisfy its receivables due from insurance carriers. In addition, we likely will retain some coverage through coverage-in-place agreements, although that coverage may not be immediately accessible. When these insurance coverage matters are fully resolved, the Company (and its coverage-in-place carriers, where applicable) will be responsible for expenses related to cumulative trauma product liability claims.

Note 18—Assets Held for Sale and Discontinued Operations

Assets Held for Sale - In September 2013, we entered into an agreement to sell the detector tube assets. The transaction closed in January, 2014. In addition to the asset sale agreement, we entered into transitional manufacturing and sales agreements with the buyer. Under the terms of the transitional agreements, we will continue to manufacture and sell detector tubes on behalf of the buyer until mid-2014. The gain on the transaction of approximately $2.9 million will be recognized in 2014, at the conclusion of the transitional manufacturing period.

Certain assets related to detector tube manufacturing are classified as held for sale at March 31, 2014. These assets are reported in the following balance sheet lines:

(In millions)	March 31, 2014
Inventory	$	1.9
Property, net of depreciation	0.2
Total assets	2.1

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Discontinued Operations - The Company is actively negotiating the sale of substantially all of the assets and liabilities of its South African personal protective equipment distribution business and its Zambian operations. Management has deemed it probable that the sale of these assets and liabilities will close within the next twelve months. The operations of this business qualify as a component of an entity under FASB ASC 205-20 "Presentation of Financial Statements - Discontinued Operations", and thus the operations have been reclassified as discontinued operations and prior periods have been reclassified to conform to this presentation. Management does not believe the assets associated with the South African distribution business or the Zambian operations are impaired at March 31, 2014.

Summarized financial information for discontinued operations is as follows:

	Three months ended March 31,
(In thousands)	2014			2013
Discontinued Operations
Net sales	$	10,060		$	13,353
Other income, net	14			17
Cost and expenses:
Cost of products sold	7,697			10,275
Selling, general and administrative	1,554			1,979
Interest expense	—			—
Currency exchange losses, net	(7		)	(133		)
Income from discontinued operations before income taxes	830			1,249
Provision for income taxes	216			397
Income from discontinued operations, net of tax	614			852

Certain balance sheet items are related to the Company's South African personal protective equipment distribution business and its Zambian operations are reported as discontinued operations. These items are reported in the following balance sheet lines:

	March 31,			December 31,
(In thousands)	2014			2013
Discontinued Operations assets and liabilities
Cash and cash equivalents	$	1,308		$	2,980
Trade receivables, less allowance for doubtful accounts	7,179			7,452
Inventories	11,783			11,359
Net property	315			317
Other assets	1,019			1,326
Total assets	21,604			23,434
Accounts payable	3,172			5,447
Accrued and other liabilities	1,166			930
Total liabilities	4,338			6,377
Net assets	17,266			17,057

The following summary provides financial information for discontinued operations related to net loss (income) related to noncontrolling interests:

	Three months ended March 31,
(In thousands)	2014				2013
Net loss (income) attributable to noncontrolling interests
Loss from continuing operations	$	219			$	84
(Income) from discontinued operations	(110		)		(193		)
Net loss (income)	109				(109		)

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

The following discussion and analysis should be read in conjunction with the historical financial statements and other financial information included elsewhere in this report on Form 10-Q. This discussion may contain forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties. The forward-looking statements are not historical facts, but rather are based on current expectations, estimates, assumptions and projections about our industry, business, and future financial results. Our actual results could differ materially from the results contemplated by these forward-looking statements due to a number of factors, including those discussed in the sections of our annual report entitled “Forward-Looking Statements” and “Risk Factors.”

On February 27, 2014, Mine Safety Appliances Company, a Pennsylvania corporation ("MSA"), approved the reorganization of the Company into a holding company structure (the “Reorganization”) in accordance with Section 1924(b)(4) of the Pennsylvania Business Corporation Law of 1988. As a result of the Reorganization, Mine Safety Appliances Company became a direct, wholly-owned subsidiary of MSA Safety Incorporated, a Pennsylvania corporation and currently a direct wholly-owned subsidiary of MSA (“New MSA”), and New MSA became the publicly traded holding company of MSA and its subsidiaries. The Reorganization was completed on March 7, 2014. New MSA and its subsidiaries continue to conduct the business and operations that MSA and its subsidiaries conducted immediately prior to the Reorganization. The consolidated assets and liabilities of New MSA and its subsidiaries are identical to the consolidated assets and liabilities of MSA and its subsidiaries immediately prior to the Reorganization.

MSA's South African personal protective equipment distribution business and MSA's Zambian operations had historically been part of the International reportable segment. The results of these operations are excluded from continuing operations and are presented as discontinued operations in all periods presented. Please refer to Note 18 Assets Held for Sale and Discontinued Operations, for further commentary on these discontinued operations.

Sales from MSA's General Monitors companies were historically reported in the country from which product was shipped. Effective January 1, 2014, the General Monitors business has been fully integrated into MSA. As such, sales made by General Monitors companies are now allocated to each country based on the destination of the end-customer and other criteria based on the value added to the order. The 2013 results presented below have been restated to reflect this change in allocation methodology. Please refer to Note 8 Segment Information, for further information.

BUSINESS OVERVIEW

We are a global leader in the development, manufacture and supply of products that protect people’s health and safety. Our safety products typically integrate any combination of electronics, mechanical systems and advanced materials to protect users against hazardous or life threatening situations. Our comprehensive lines of safety products are used by workers around the world in the oil and gas, fire service, mining, construction and other industries, as well as the military. We are committed to providing our customers with service unmatched in the safety industry and, in the process, enhancing our ability to provide a growing line of safety solutions for customers in key global markets.

We tailor our product offerings and distribution strategy to satisfy distinct customer preferences that vary across geographic regions. To best serve these customer preferences, we have organized our business into nine geographical operating segments that are aggregated into three reportable geographic segments: North America, Europe and International. Each segment includes a number of operating segments. In 2013, 50%, 26% and 24% of our net sales were made by our North American, European and International segments, respectively.

North America. Our largest manufacturing and research and development facilities are located in the United States. We serve our North American markets with sales and distribution functions in the U.S., Canada and Mexico.

Europe. Our European segment includes companies in most Western European countries, and a number of Eastern European countries along with locations in the Middle East and Russia. Our largest European companies, based in Germany and France, develop, manufacture and sell a wide variety of products. Operations in other European segment countries focus primarily on sales and distribution in their respective home country markets. While some of these companies may perform limited production, most of their sales are of products that are manufactured in our plants in Germany, France, the U.S. and China, or are purchased from third party vendors.

International. Our International segment includes companies in South America, Africa and the Asia Pacific region, some of which are in developing regions of the world. Principal International segment manufacturing operations are located in Australia, Brazil, China and South Africa. These companies manufacture products that are sold primarily in each company’s home country and regional markets. The other companies in the International segment focus primarily on sales and distribution in their respective home country markets. While some of these companies may perform limited production, most of their sales are of products that are manufactured in our plants in China, Germany, France and the U.S., or are purchased from third party vendors.

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RESULTS OF OPERATIONS

Three Months Ended March 31, 2014 Compared to Three Months Ended March 31, 2013

Net sales from continuing operations. Net sales for the three months ended March 31, 2014 were $265.0 million, a decrease of $4.8 million, or 2%, compared with $269.9 million for the three months ended March 31, 2013. The unfavorable translation effects of weaker foreign currencies decreased sales, when stated in U.S. dollars, by $5.1 million. Excluding the effects of weakening currencies, sales increased $0.2 million.

Net Sales from Continuing Operations		Three Months Ended March 31,								Dollar Increase (Decrease)				Percent Increase (Decrease)
(In thousands)		2014				2013
North America		$	129,521			$	128,936			$	585			—	%
Europe		74,938				73,123				1,815				2	%
International		60,586				67,827				(7,241		)		(11	)%
Total		265,045				269,886				(4,841		)		(2	)%

Net sales by the North American segment were $129.5 million for the first quarter of 2014, an increase of $0.6 million compared to $128.9 million for the first quarter of 2013. Continued growth in industrial markets was evidenced by increased shipments of portable instruments, head protection, and fixed gas and flame detection products, up $4.5 million, $2.3 million, and $0.6 million, respectively. These increases were partially offset by a decline in shipments of breathing apparatus and fall protection, down $5.9 million and $1.0 million, respectively, and other small decreases across a broad range of product lines. On March 24, 2014, the Company received certification from the National Fire Protection Association for its M7XT SCBA product and began shipping the M7XT in April 2014. The new G1 SCBA, an entirely redesigned SCBA platform, is expected to be certified in the second half of 2014. The Company currently has 14 patents pending for this product.

Net sales for the European segment were $74.9 million for the first quarter of 2014, an increase of $1.8 million, or 2%, compared to the first quarter of 2013. Local currency sales in Europe were down $0.7 million, as strength in ballistic helmet shipments in Western Europe and fixed gas and flame detection products in the Middle East were offset by a lower level of SCBA and portable gas detection sales. The favorable translation effects of a stronger euro in the current quarter increased European segment sales, when stated in U.S. dollars, by $2.5 million.

Net sales for the International segment were $60.6 million in the first quarter of 2014, a decrease of $7.2 million, or 11%, compared to the first quarter of 2013. Currency translation effects decreased International segment sales, when stated in U.S. dollars, by $6.8 million, primarily related to a weaker Brazilian real, Australian dollar, South African rand, and Argentine peso. Local currency sales in the International segment decreased $0.4 million for the quarter as higher portable gas detection sales were offset by a lower level of fixed gas and flame detection revenue.

Cost of products sold. Cost of products sold was $143.2 million in the first quarter of 2014, a decrease of $5.0 million or 3%, compared to $148.2 million in the first quarter of 2013. The decrease in cost of products sold reflects the decrease in sales. Cost of products sold as a percentage of sales was 54.0% in the first quarter of 2014 compared to 54.9% in the first quarter of 2013. The decrease in cost of products sold as a percentage of sales relates to an improved sales mix in the current quarter coupled with cost improvements.

Gross profit. Gross profit for the first quarter of 2014 was $121.8 million, which was $0.1 million higher than gross profit of $121.7 million in the first quarter of 2013. Higher gross profit in the current quarter reflects an improved gross profit ratio to net sales, partially offset by lower sales. The ratio of gross profit to net sales was 46.0% in the first quarter of 2014 compared to 45.1% in the same quarter last year. The higher gross profit ratio during the current quarter was primarily related to an improved sales mix, cost reductions and improvements in pricing.

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Selling, general and administrative expenses. Selling, general and administrative expenses were $85.2 million during the first quarter of 2014, an increase of $3.6 million, or 4%, compared to $81.6 million in the first quarter of 2013. Selling, general and administrative expenses were 32.2% of net sales in the first quarter of 2014, compared to 30.2% of net sales in the first quarter of 2013. Local currency selling, general and administrative expenses were $5.0 million higher in the current quarter, reflecting higher spending on corporate strategic initiatives, increased self-insured product liability costs from case settlements, and higher payroll expenses. Lower legal fees associated with insurance coverage litigation, increased pension income in North America, and a favorable effect from weakening foreign currencies partially offset these increases. Currency exchange effects decreased current quarter selling, general and administrative expenses, when stated in U.S. dollars, by $1.4 million, primarily related to the weakening of Latin American currencies and the Australian dollar, partially offset by the strengthening of the euro.

Research and development expense. Research and development expense was $11.2 million during the first quarter of 2014, an increase of $0.6 million, or 6%, compared to $10.6 million during the first quarter of 2013. The increase reflects general cost increases and our ongoing focus on developing innovative new products.

Restructuring and other charges. During the three months ended March 31, 2014, we recorded non-recurring charges of $1.9 million ($1.2 million after tax). European segment charges of $1.5 million related primarily to severance from staff reductions in Germany and Italy and reorganization costs in Germany. International segment charges of $0.4 million were related to severance costs for staff reductions in Australia.

We did not incur any restructuring charges during the three months ended March 31, 2013.

Currency exchange. Currency exchange losses were $0.4 million in the first quarter of 2014, compared to losses of $1.3 million in the first quarter of 2013. Currency exchange losses in both quarters were mostly unrealized and related primarily to the effect of the strengthening euro on inter-company balances.

Income taxes. The effective tax rate for the first quarter of 2014 was 36.4% compared to 27.2% for the same quarter last year. The increased effective tax rate in 2014 is primarily due to the lapse of the U.S. research and development (R&D) tax credit at the end of 2013. During the first quarter of 2013, the Company recognized R&D benefits associated with the full year 2012 as well as a partial amount associated with 2013. The R&D tax credit has not been extended for 2014 as of the end of the first quarter, therefore no R&D tax benefits have been recognized. Additionally, during the first quarter of 2014, we recognized a higher effective tax rate due to non-deductible losses in several foreign jurisdictions.

Net income attributable to MSA Safety Incorporated. Net income was $13.5 million for the first quarter of 2014, or $0.37 per basic share, a decrease of $5.1 million, or 28%, compared to $18.6 million, or $0.50 per basic share, for the same quarter last year.

North American segment net income for the first quarter of 2014 was $12.5 million, a decrease of $0.1 million, or 1%, compared to $12.6 million in the first quarter of 2013. Improved profitability associated with core product sales was offset by an increase in selling, general and administrative expenses and a higher effective income tax rate in the first quarter of 2014. The lower effective tax rate in the first quarter of 2013 was due to the one-time tax benefit related to recognition of the 2012 research and development tax credit.

European segment net income for the first quarter of 2014 was $4.1 million, a decrease of $1.3 million, or 24%, compared to net income of $5.4 million during the first quarter of 2013. Local currency net income in Europe decreased $2.0 million in the current quarter, due primarily to higher selling, general, and administrative expenses and restructuring costs. Currency translation effects increased current quarter European segment net income, when stated in U.S. dollars, by $0.7 million.

International segment net income for the first quarter of 2014 was $3.9 million, a decrease of $3.9 million, or 50%, compared to $7.8 million in the prior year quarter. Local currency net income in the International segment decreased $3.1 million in the current quarter, reflecting higher research and development expense and increased restructuring charges resulting from ongoing cost reduction efforts in Australia. Currency translation effects decreased current quarter International segment net income, when stated in U.S. dollars, by $0.8 million, reflecting a weaker Brazilian real, Australian dollar, South African rand, and Argentine peso.

The net loss reported in reconciling items for the first quarter of 2014 was $6.9 million compared to a net loss of $7.2 million in the first quarter of 2013. The lower loss during the three months ended March 31, 2014 reflects lower interest and currency exchange losses.

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LIQUIDITY AND CAPITAL RESOURCES

Our main source of liquidity is operating cash flows, supplemented by borrowings. Our principal liquidity requirements are for working capital, capital expenditures, principal and interest payments on debt, acquisitions and dividend payments. Approximately half of our long-term debt is at fixed interest rates with repayment schedules through 2021. The remainder of our long-term debt is at variable rates, primarily on our unsecured revolving credit facility that is due in 2019. Substantially all of our borrowings originate in the U.S., which has limited our exposure to non-U.S. credit markets and to currency exchange rate fluctuations.

At March 31, 2014, we had cash and cash equivalents totaling $102.2 million, of which $88.3 million was held by our foreign subsidiaries. Cash and cash equivalents are held by our foreign subsidiaries whose earnings are considered indefinitely reinvested at March 31, 2014. These funds could be subject to additional income taxes if repatriated. It is not practicable to determine the potential income tax liability that we would incur if these funds were repatriated to the U.S. because the time and manner of repatriation is uncertain. We believe that domestic cash and cash equivalents, domestic cash flows from operations, annual repatriation of a portion of the current period’s foreign earnings, and availability on our domestic line of credit continue to be sufficient to fund our domestic liquidity requirements.

Cash and cash equivalents increased $5.9 million during the three months ended March 31, 2014, compared to decreasing $5.9 million during the same period in 2013.

Operating activities. Operating activities provided cash of $9.4 million during the three months ended March 31, 2014, compared to providing $6.1 million during the same period in 2013. Higher operating cash flow in 2014 is primarily related to favorable changes in working capital, partially offset by lower net income. Insurance receivables related to cumulative trauma product liability losses were $144.8 million at March 31, 2014 compared to $124.8 million at December 31, 2013. The increase relates to settlements and defense costs. Trade receivables were $204.7 million at March 31, 2014, compared to $200.4 million at December 31, 2013, reflecting a local currency increase of $4.8 million, partially offset by unfavorable currency translation effects of $0.4 million. Inventories were $147.0 million at March 31, 2014, compared to $136.8 million at December 31, 2013. Local currency inventory increased $10.4 million, partially offset by unfavorable currency translation effects of $0.3 million. The increase in inventory relates to the anticipated launch of several new products including the G1 SCBA and anticipated product demand. Accounts payable were $72.4 million at March 31, 2014, compared to $66.9 million at December 31, 2013. Local currency accounts payable increased $5.7 million, primarily in North America and Europe, reflecting our ongoing initiative to improve working capital cash flow.

Investing activities. Investing activities used cash of $7.2 million during the first quarter of 2014, compared to using $7.4 million in the same period last year, primarily for capital expenditures.

Financing activities. Financing activities provided cash of $4.6 million during the three months ended March 31, 2014, compared to using $3.9 million during the same period in 2013. The change was primarily related to increased proceeds from long-term debt. During the three months ended March 31, 2014, we had net borrowings of $15.3 million, primarily from our long-term line of credit. This compared to net borrowings of $7.2 million in the same period in 2013. We paid cash dividends of $11.2 million in the first three months of 2014 compared to $10.4 million in the same period last year.

The Company's existing debt agreements, including its senior revolving credit facility and note purchase agreements were amended to reflect the changes in the Company's legal structure in March 2014. During this process, we were able to successfully renegotiate a number of our existing credit facilities to provide the Company with access to additional capital, including an additional shelf facility, at historically low interest rates. Considering these recent changes and our outstanding debt, the Company currently has access to approximately $493 million of capital at March 31, 2014. Refer to Note 12 to the Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements in Part I Item 1 of this Form 10-Q.

CUMULATIVE TRANSLATION ADJUSTMENTS

The position of the U.S. dollar relative to international currencies at March 31, 2014 resulted in a translation loss of $0.8 million during the first quarter of 2014, compared to a loss of $5.0 million during the same period in 2013. The translation loss during the first quarter in 2014 was primarily related to the weakening of the Argentine peso and the Chinese renminbi. The translation loss during the first quarter of 2013 was primarily related to the weakening of the euro and the South African rand.

COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES

We made contributions of $1.1 million to our pension plans during the three months ended March 31, 2014. We expect to make total contributions of approximately $4.5 million to our pension plans in 2014.

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The Company had outstanding bank guarantees and standby letters of credit with banks as of March 31, 2014 totaling $6.2 million, of which $2.4 million related to the senior revolving credit facility. These letters of credit serve to cover customer requirements in connection with certain sales orders and insurance companies. No amounts were drawn on these arrangements at March 31, 2014. The Company is also required to provide cash collateral in connection with certain arrangements. At March 31, 2014, the Company has $2.3 million of restricted cash in support of these arrangements. At March 31, 2014, the Company also has a $4.1 million guarantee relating to voluntary retirement payments for its unionized workers in Germany.

We have purchase commitments for materials, supplies, services, and property, plant and equipment as part of our ordinary conduct of business.

Please refer to Note 17 to the Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements in Part I Item 1 of this Form 10-Q for further discussion on the Company's product liabilities.

CRITICAL ACCOUNTING POLICIES AND ESTIMATES

We prepare our consolidated financial statements in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP). The preparation of these financial statements requires us to make estimates and judgments that affect the reported amounts of assets, liabilities, revenues and expenses, and the related disclosures. We evaluate these estimates and judgments on an on-going basis based on historical experience and various assumptions that we believe to be reasonable under the circumstances. However, different amounts could be reported if we had used different assumptions and in light of different facts and circumstances. Actual amounts could differ from the estimates and judgments reflected in our financial statements.

The more critical judgments and estimates used in the preparation of our financial statements are discussed in Item 7. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2013.

RECENTLY ADOPTED AND RECENTLY ISSUED ACCOUNTING STANDARDS

Please refer to Note 2 to the Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements in Part I Item 1 of this Form 10-Q.

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Item 3.	Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk

Market risk represents the risk of adverse changes in the value of a financial instrument caused by changes in currency exchange rates, interest rates, and equity prices. We are exposed to market risks related to currency exchange rates and interest rates.

Currency exchange rate sensitivity. We are subject to the effects of fluctuations in currency exchange rates on various transactions and on the translation of the reported financial position and operating results of our non-U.S. companies from local currencies to U.S. dollars. A hypothetical 10% strengthening or weakening of the U.S. dollar would decrease or increase our reported sales and net income for the three months ended March 31, 2014 by approximately $13.3 million and $0.6 million, respectively.

When appropriate, we may attempt to limit our transactional exposure to changes in currency exchange rates through contracts or other actions intended to reduce existing exposures by creating offsetting currency exposures. At March 31, 2014, we had open foreign currency forward contracts with a U.S. dollar notional value of $65.4 million. A hypothetical 10% increase in March 31, 2014, forward exchange rates would result in a $6.5 million increase in the fair value of these contracts.

Interest rates. We are exposed to changes in interest rates primarily as a result of borrowing and investing activities used to maintain liquidity and fund business operations. Because of the relatively short maturities of temporary investments, these financial instruments are reported at carrying values that approximate fair values.

At March 31, 2014, we had $153.3 million of fixed rate debt which matures at various dates through 2021. The incremental increase in the fair value of fixed rate long-term debt resulting from a hypothetical 10% decrease in interest rates would be approximately $2.6 million. However, our sensitivity to interest rate declines and the corresponding increase in the fair value of our debt portfolio would unfavorably affect earnings and cash flows only to the extent that we elected to repurchase or retire all or a portion of our fixed rate debt portfolio at prices above carrying values.

Item 4.	Controls and Procedures

(a)

Evaluation of disclosure controls and procedures. Based on their evaluation as of the end of the period covered by this Form 10-Q, the Company’s principal executive officer and principal financial officer have concluded that the Company’s disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (the “Exchange Act”)) are effective to ensure that information required to be disclosed by the Company in reports that it files or submits under the Exchange Act is (i) recorded, processed, summarized and reported within the time periods specified in Securities and Exchange Commission rules and forms and (ii) accumulated and communicated to our management, including the principal executive officer and principal financial officer, as appropriate to allow timely decisions regarding disclosure.

(b)	Changes in internal control. There were no changes in the Company’s internal control over financial reporting that occurred during the most recent fiscal quarter that have materially affected, or are reasonably likely to materially affect, the Company’s internal control over financial reporting.

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PART II. OTHER INFORMATION

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

(c)	Issuer Purchases of Equity Securities

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 Number of Shares That May Yet Be Purchased Under the Plans or Programs
January 1 – January 31, 2014		10,166			$	50.86			—			966,658
February 1 – February 28, 2014		35,607			52.03				—			945,664
March 1 – March 31, 2014		28,590			53.84				—			854,390

In November 2005, the Board of Directors authorized the purchase of up to $100.0 million of common stock from time-to-time in private transactions and on the open market. The share purchase program has no expiration date. The maximum number of shares that may yet be purchased is calculated based on the dollars remaining under the program and the respective month-end closing share price.

We do not have any other share repurchase programs.

Shares purchased during the quarter related to stock compensation transactions.

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Item 6.	Exhibits

(a) Exhibits
31.1		Certification of Chief Executive Officer pursuant to Rule 13a-14(a)
31.2		Certification of Chief Financial Officer pursuant to Rule 13a-14(a)
32		Certification of Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer pursuant to 18 U.S.C. (S)1350
10(a)		First Amended and Restated Credit Agreement dated March 7, 2014 by and among MSA Safety Incorporated, the guarantors party thereto, the lenders party thereto, PNC Bank, National Association, as administrative agent, JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., as syndication agent, and PNC Capital Markets LLC, as lead arranger and sole bookrunner, filed herewith.
10(b)		First Amended and Restated Guaranty and Suretyship Agreement dated March 7, 2014 from MSA Worldwide, LLC, Mine Safety Appliances Company LLC, MSA Advanced Detection, LLC, General Monitors Transnational, LLC, General Monitors, Inc., MSA International, Inc., MSA Safety Development, LLC, MSA Technology, LLC, and MSA Innovation, LLC, in favor of PNC Bank, National Association and the other lenders party to the Credit Agreement, filed herewith.
101.INS		XBRL Instance Document
101.SCH		XBRL Taxonomy Extension Schema Document
101.CAL		XBRL Taxonomy Extension Calculation Linkbase Document
101.DEF		XBRL Taxonomy Extension Definition Linkbase Document
101.LAB		XBRL Taxonomy Extension Label Linkbase Document
101.PRE		XBRL Taxonomy Extension Presentation Linkbase Document

The registrant agrees to furnish to the Commission upon request copies of all instruments with respect to long-term debt referred to in Note 12 of the Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements filed as part of Item 1 of this Form 10-Q which have not been previously filed or are not filed herewith.

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SIGNATURE

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.

 

		MSA SAFETY INCORPORATED
April 23, 2014		/s/ Stacy P. McMahan
		Stacy P. McMahan
		Senior Vice President of Finance and Chief Financial Officer Duly Authorized Officer and Principal Financial Officer

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