WATSCO INC - Annual Report: 2021 (Form 10-K)

 

 

 

FORM

 

 

 

Commission File Number

 

 

 

 

(305)

 

 

Yes  ☒    No  ☐

Yes  ☐    No  ☒

Yes

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has submitted electronically every Interactive Data File required to be submitted pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulation S-T (§232.405 of this chapter) during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to submit such files)

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

 

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

.  ☒

12b-2

non-affiliates

10-K

The registrant’s common stock outstanding as of February 22, 2022 comprised (i) 33,068,513 shares of Common stock, excluding 4,823,988 treasury shares, and (ii) 5,805,732 shares of Class B common stock, excluding 48,263 treasury shares.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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the Caribbean, through which we serve more than 120,000 active contractors and dealers that service the replacement and new construction markets. Our revenues in HVAC/R distribution have increased from $64.1 million in 1989 to $6.3 billion in 2021, resulting from our strategic acquisition of companies with established market positions and subsequent building of revenues and profit through a combination of additional locations, introduction of new products, and other initiatives.

(305) 714-4100.

e-mails

The HVAC/R distribution industry is highly fragmented with approximately 6,700 distribution companies. The industry in the United States and Canada is well-established, having had its primary period of growth during the post-World War II era with the advent of affordable central air conditioning and heating systems for both residential and commercial applications. The advent of HVAC/R products in Latin America and the Caribbean is also well-established but has emerged in more recent years as those economies have grown and products have become more affordable and have matured from luxury to necessity.

end-users.

Air conditioning and heating equipment is sold to the replacement and new construction markets for both residential and commercial applications. The residential replacement market has increased in size and importance over the past several years as a result of the aging of the installed base of residential central air conditioners and furnaces, the introduction of new higher energy efficient models to address both regulatory mandates as well as consumer optionality, the remodeling and expansion of existing homes, the addition of central air conditioning to homes that previously had only heating products, and consumers’ overall unwillingness to live without air conditioning or heating products. The mechanical life of central air conditioning and furnaces varies by geographical region due to usage and ranges from approximately 8 to 20 years. According to data published by the Energy Information Administration in 2018 there are approximately 91 million central air conditioning and heating systems installed in the United States that have been in service for more than 10 years. Many installed units are currently reaching the end of their useful lives, which we believe long-term provides a growing and stable replacement market.

non-equipment

walk-in

Watsco began its HVAC/R distribution strategy in 1989 and has grown by using a “buy and build” philosophy, resulting in substantial long-term growth in revenues and profits. The “buy” component of the strategy has focused on acquiring or investing in market leaders to either expand into new geographic areas or gain additional market share in existing markets. We have employed a disciplined and conservative approach, which seeks opportunities that fit well-defined financial and strategic criteria. The “build” component of the strategy has focused on encouraging growth at acquired companies, by adding products and locations to better serve customers, investing in scalable technologies, and exchanging ideas and

 

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business concepts amongst leadership teams. Newly acquired businesses have access to our capital resources and established vendor relationships to provide their customers with an expanded array of product lines on favorable terms and conditions with an intensified commitment to service. We have also developed a culture whereby leaders, managers and employees are provided the opportunity to own shares of Watsco through a variety of stock-based equity plans. We believe that this culture instills a performance-driven, long-term focus on the part of our employees and aligns their interests with the interests of other Watsco shareholders.

Culture of Innovation & Technology Strategy

In recent years, we have established a strong culture of innovation, whereby people, processes and technology have rapidly evolved to modernize and digitize our business. With this digital evolution in mind, our efforts have addressed how customers are served, how internal processes and practices can be improved, and how data and analytics can be created and used to enhance long-term performance. Investments include the addition of approximately 300 technology employees along with investments in our locations and infrastructure to enable these technologies.

(ii) e-commerce

Strategy in Existing Markets

Our strategy for growth in existing markets focuses on customer service, product expansion, and the implementation of technology to satisfy the needs of the higher growth, higher margin replacement market, in which customers generally demand immediate, convenient, and reliable service. We respond to this need by (i) offering a broad range of product lines, including the necessary equipment at an array of price-points, parts, and supplies to enable a contractor to install or repair a central air conditioner, furnace, or refrigeration system, (ii) maintaining a strong density of warehouse locations for increased customer convenience, (iii) maintaining well-stocked inventories to ensure that customer orders are filled in a timely manner, (iv) providing a high degree of technical expertise at the point of sale, (v) collaborating with customers to advertise and market their business and services in local markets, and (vi) developing and implementing technology to further enhance customer service capabilities. We believe these concepts provide a competitive advantage over smaller, less-capitalized competitors that are unable to commit resources to open and maintain additional locations, implement technological business solutions, provide the same range of products, maintain the same inventory levels, or attract the wide range of expertise that is required to support a diverse product offering. In some geographic areas, we believe we have a competitive advantage over factory-operated distribution networks, which typically do not maintain inventories of parts and supplies that are as diversified as ours and which have fewer warehouse locations than we do, making it more difficult for these competitors to meet the time-sensitive demands of the replacement market.

In addition to the replacement market, we sell to the new construction market, including new homes and commercial construction. We believe our reputation for reliable, high-quality service, and relationships with contractors, who may serve both the replacement and new construction markets, allows us to compete effectively in these markets.

Product Line Expansion

non-traditional

Acquisition Strategy

We focus on acquiring and investing in businesses that either complement our current presence in existing markets or establish a presence in new geographic markets. Since 1989, we have acquired 66 HVAC/R distribution businesses, some of which currently operate as primary operating subsidiaries. Other smaller acquired distributors have been integrated into or are under the management of our primary operating subsidiaries. Through a combination of sales and market share growth,

 

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tuck-in

Operating Philosophy

We encourage our local leadership to operate in a manner that builds upon the long-term relationships they have established with their suppliers and customers. Typically, we maintain the identity of businesses by retaining their historical trade names, management teams and sales organizations, and continuity of their product brand-name offerings. We believe this strategy allows us to build on the value of the acquired operations by creating additional sales opportunities while providing an attractive exit strategy for the former owners of these companies.

We maintain a specialized staff at our corporate headquarters that provides functional support for our subsidiaries’ growth strategies in their respective markets. Such functional support staff includes specialists in finance, accounting, product procurement, information technology, treasury and working capital management, tax planning, risk management, and safety. Certain general and administrative expenses are targeted for cost savings by leveraging the overall business volume and improving operating efficiencies.

Human Capital Management

As the largest distributor of HVAC/R equipment and related parts and supplies in North America, we have a wide variety of employees. Given the breadth of our employee base, we tailor our human capital management policies with a view to specific employee populations.

non-union

We value and foster the diversity and inclusion of the people with whom we work. Our commitment includes providing equal access to, and participation in, employment and advancement opportunities without regard to race, color, religion, national origin, age, disability, veteran or military status, pregnancy status, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, or marital status. Diverse teams facilitate contributions from people of different backgrounds and varied points of view. Furthermore, we believe that well managed diverse teams make better decisions faster and outperform less diverse teams. Additionally, we believe that employees who feel valued, understood, and inspired benefit the Company as a whole. Inclusive leadership leads to innovative solutions and an inclusive environment is a critical foundation for us, as high-performing, engaged teams join together to help us implement our strategies.

We focus on attracting and retaining employees by providing compensation and benefits programs that are competitive within our industry, taking into account each job position’s location and responsibilities. In addition to salaries, commission programs, cash incentives, and stock-based equity plans, we also provide a 401(k) retirement plan with a company match, an employee stock purchase plan in which most of our employees may purchase our stock at a discount, healthcare and insurance benefits, health savings accounts, paid time off, and various services and tools to support our employees’ health and wellness.

non-vested

 

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We continuously strive to improve all aspects of our work practices. We actively support a culture of safety and wellness for the benefit of our employees and their families along with our customers. Providing a safe and healthy work environment is a business priority and is core to our values. Health and safety are an essential part of a broader workforce strategy that reduces the risk of harm to employees and helps them remain healthy, engaged and productive.

To build and sustain a culture based on these principles, our commitment to safety and wellness is incorporated into the incentive structure of our key operational leaders. For wellness, we measure employee engagement in completing annual physicals and health assessments to help ensure that our philosophical values are put into action. For safety, we measure and carefully evaluate incidents related to workers compensation, vehicle accidents and injuries to third-parties, and we continuously seek to improve safety measures intended to reduce the number of such incidents.

COVID-19

on-site

Products

1-1/2

Sales of HVAC equipment, which we currently source from approximately 20 vendors, accounted for 69% of our revenues for both the years ended December 31, 2021 and 2020. Sales of other HVAC products, which we currently source from approximately 1,200 vendors, comprised 28% of our revenues for both the years ended December 31, 2021 and 2020. Sales of commercial refrigeration products, which we currently source from approximately 140 vendors, accounted for 3% of our revenues for both the years ended December 31, 2021 and 2020.

Distribution and Sales

pick-up

 

 

7

The largest market we serve is the United States, in which the most significant markets for HVAC/R products are in the Sun Belt states. Accordingly, the majority of our distribution locations are in the Sun Belt, with the highest concentration in Florida and Texas. These markets have been a strategic focus of ours given their size, the reliance by homeowners and businesses on HVAC/R products to maintain a comfortable indoor environment, and the population growth in these areas over the last 40 years, which has led to a substantial installed base requiring replacement, a shorter useful life for equipment given the significant hours of operation, and the focus by electrical utilities on consumer incentives designed to promote replacement of HVAC/R equipment in an effort to improve energy efficiency.

 

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Markets

The table below identifies the number of our stores by location as of December 31, 2021:

 

 

9

Joint Ventures with Carrier Global Corporation

non-controlling

non-controlling

In 2011, we formed a second joint venture with Carrier, which we refer to as Carrier Enterprise II, in which Carrier contributed company-owned locations in the Northeast U.S., and we contributed certain locations operating as Homans Associates LLC (“Homans”), a Watsco subsidiary, in the Northeast U.S. Subsequently, Carrier Enterprise II purchased Carrier’s distribution operations in Mexico. We have an 80% controlling interest in Carrier Enterprise II, and Carrier has a 20% non-controlling interest. Effective May 31, 2019, we repurchased the 20% ownership interest in Homans from Carrier Enterprise II, following which we own 100% of Homans. Homans previously operated as a division of Carrier Enterprise II and subsequent to the purchase operates as a wholly owned subsidiary of the Company.

non-controlling

non-controlling

non-controlling

Customers and Customer Service

e-commerce,

 

10

Key Supplier Relationships

non-equipment

end-users.

85%-90%

COVID-19

10-K

Distribution Agreements

non-exclusive

10-K.

Seasonality

Sales of residential central air conditioners, heating equipment, and parts and supplies are seasonal. Furthermore, profitability can be impacted favorably or unfavorably based on weather patterns, particularly during Summer and Winter selling seasons. Demand related to the residential central air conditioning replacement market is typically highest in the second and third quarters, and demand for heating equipment is usually highest in the first and fourth quarters. Demand related to the new construction sectors throughout most of the markets we serve tends to be fairly evenly distributed throughout the year and depends largely on housing completions and related weather and economic conditions.

Competition

We operate in highly competitive environments. We compete with a number of distributors and also with several air conditioning and heating equipment manufacturers that distribute a significant portion of their products through their own distribution organizations in certain markets. Competition within any given geographic market is based upon product availability, customer service, price, and quality. Competitive pressures or other factors could cause our products or services to lose market acceptance or result in significant price erosion, all of which would have a material adverse effect on our results of operations, cash flows, and liquidity.

Order backlog is not a material aspect of our business, and no material portion of our business is subject to government contracts.

 

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HFC-based

Our industry and business are also subject to United States Department of Energy (“DOE”) standards related to the minimum required efficiency levels of residential central air conditioning systems and heat pumps. For purposes of establishing these energy conservation standards, the DOE divides the United States into three regions (the North, the Southeast, and the Southwest) according to the number of hours that an air conditioner operates to cool a home during the hotter months. The seasonal energy efficiency rating, or SEER, is the metric used to measure HVAC energy efficiency. The higher the SEER, the more efficient the HVAC equipment. The current minimum SEER allowed for HVAC equipment is 13 SEER in the North and 14 SEER for the Southeast and Southwest regions.

Beginning in 2023, the minimum efficiency level for residential HVAC systems under 45,000 BTUs will be 14 SEER in the North and 15 SEER in the Southeast and Southwest. For systems over 45,000 BTUs, the minimum efficiency level will be 14 SEER in the North and 14.5 SEER in the Southeast and Southwest. Heat pump efficiency levels, which are measured by the equipment’s heating seasonal performance factor (“HSPF”), will be 8.8 HSPF compared with the 8.2 HSPF required by the current standard for all three regions. It is too early to determine the impact to our results of operations this transition will have; however, we expect a benefit from selling higher efficiency units, which sell at higher prices.

15-year

During 2014, the DOE established new rules for the manufacturing of motors used in residential furnaces with the purpose of increasing the energy efficiency of these motors, and, consequently, the furnaces in which they operate. The mandate dictates that residential furnace fans manufactured in the United States on or after the effective date of July 3, 2019, must have a Fan Energy Rating (“FER”) value reduction of 12% or 46% in watts/cfm, depending on the type of furnace. To meet these new standards, most manufacturers have replaced the permanent split capacitor blower motors in residential furnaces with electronic controlled motors. At December 31, 2020, the transition of our inventory of residential furnaces to those meeting the updated FER standards was complete.

We believe that our business plays an important and significant role in the drive to lower CO2e emissions. According to the DOE, heating and air conditioning accounts for roughly half of household energy consumption in the United States. As such, replacing HVAC systems at higher efficiency levels is one of the most meaningful steps homeowners can take to reduce their electricity costs and carbon footprint over time.

phased-out. As

 

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The sale of high-efficiency systems has long been a focus of ours, and we have invested in tools and technology intended to capture an increasingly richer sales mix over time. In addition, regulatory mandates will periodically increase the required minimum SEER, thus providing a catalyst for greater sales of higher-efficiency systems.

www.watsco.com/environment

www.watsco.com

https://investors.watsco.com

10-K,

10-Q,

8-K,

 

Pandemic

COVID-19

COVID-19

COVID-19

COVID-19

COVID-19

COVID-19

COVID-19

Supplier Concentration

The Company’s top ten suppliers accounted for 83% of our purchases during 2021, including 61% from Carrier, and 10% from Rheem. Carrier provides a diverse variety of brands of HVAC systems including, Carrier, Bryant, Payne, Tempstar, Heil, Comfortmaker and Grandaire, along with complimentary replacement parts. Rheem provides Rheem-brand HVAC systems along with complimentary replacement parts. Given the significant concentration of our supply chain, particularly with Carrier and Rheem, any significant interruption by any of the key manufacturers or a termination of a relationship could temporarily disrupt the operations of certain of our subsidiaries. Additionally, our operations are materially dependent upon the continued market acceptance and quality of these manufacturers’ products and their ability to continue to manufacture

 

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products that are competitive and that comply with laws relating to environmental and efficiency standards. Our inability to obtain products from one or more of these manufacturers or a decline in market acceptance of these manufacturers’ products could have a material adverse effect on our results of operations, cash flows, and liquidity.

COVID-19,

COVID-19

We maintain trade name and distribution agreements with Carrier and Rheem that provide us distribution rights on an exclusive basis in specified territories. Such agreements are not subject to a stated term or expiration date.

non-exclusive

Risks Inherent in Acquisitions

As part of our strategy, we intend to pursue additional acquisitions of complementary businesses, including through joint ventures and investments in unconsolidated entities. If we complete future acquisitions, including investments in unconsolidated entities, or enter into new joint ventures, we may be required to incur or assume additional debt and/or issue additional shares of our common stock as consideration, which will dilute our existing shareholders’ ownership interest and may affect our results of operations. Growth through acquisitions involves a number of risks, including, but not limited to, the following:

 

 

 

 

 

 

In addition, acquired companies and investments made in unconsolidated entities may have liabilities that we failed or were unable to discover while performing due diligence investigations. We cannot assure you that the indemnification, if any, granted to us by sellers of acquired companies or by joint venture partners will be sufficient in amount, scope, or duration to offset the possible liabilities associated with businesses or properties that we assume upon consummation of an acquisition or joint venture. Any such liabilities, individually or in the aggregate, could have a material adverse effect on our business.

Failure to successfully manage the operational challenges and risks associated with, or resulting from, acquisitions could adversely affect our results of operations, cash flows, and liquidity.

Competition

We operate in highly competitive environments. We compete with other distributors and several air conditioning and heating equipment manufacturers that distribute a significant portion of their products through their own distribution organizations in certain markets. Competition within any given geographic market is based upon product availability, customer service, price, and quality. Competitive pressures or other factors could cause our products or services to lose market acceptance or result in significant price erosion, all of which would have a material adverse effect on our results of operations, cash flows, and liquidity.

 

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Foreign Currency Exchange Rate Fluctuations

The functional currency of our operations in Canada is the Canadian dollar, and the functional currency of our operations in Mexico is the U.S. dollar because the majority of our Mexican transactions are denominated in U.S. dollars. Foreign currency exchange rates and fluctuations may have an impact on transactions denominated in Canadian dollars and Mexican Pesos, and, therefore, could adversely affect our financial performance. Although we use foreign currency forward contracts to mitigate the impact of currency exchange rate movements, we do not currently hold any derivative contracts that hedge our foreign currency translational exposure.

Seasonality

Sales of residential central air conditioners, heating equipment, and parts and supplies are seasonal, resulting in fluctuations in our revenue from quarter to quarter. Furthermore, profitability can be impacted favorably or unfavorably based on the severity or mildness of weather patterns during Summer or Winter selling seasons. Demand related to the residential central air conditioning replacement market is typically highest in the second and third quarters, and demand for heating equipment is usually highest in the first and fourth quarters. Demand related to the new construction sectors throughout most of the markets is fairly evenly distributed throughout the year and depends largely on housing completions and related weather and economic conditions.

Dependence on Key Personnel

in-store

Decline in Economic Conditions

We rely predominantly on the credit markets and, to a lesser extent, on the capital markets to meet our financial commitments and short-term liquidity needs if internal funds are not available from our operations. Access to funds under our line of credit is dependent on the ability of the syndicate banks to meet their respective funding commitments. Disruptions in the credit and capital markets could adversely affect our ability to draw on our revolving credit agreement and may also adversely affect the determination of interest rates, particularly rates based on LIBOR, which is one of the base rates under our revolving credit agreement. On March 5, 2021, the United Kingdom Financial Conduct Authority, which regulates LIBOR, confirmed that LIBOR will either cease to be provided by any administrator or will no longer be representative after June 30, 2023 for USD LIBOR reference rates. Our revolving credit agreement provides that it may be amended to replace LIBOR with an alternate benchmark rate. The impact of such an amendment cannot be entirely predicted but could result in an increase in the cost of our debt. Additionally, disruptions in the credit and capital markets could also result in increased borrowing costs and/or reduced borrowing capacity under our revolving credit agreement. Any long-term disruption could require us to take measures to conserve cash until the markets stabilize, or until alternative credit arrangements or other funding for our business needs can be arranged. Such measures could include reducing or eliminating dividend payments, deferring capital expenditures, and reducing or eliminating other discretionary uses of cash.

A decline in economic conditions and lack of availability of business and consumer credit could have an adverse effect on our business and results of operations. Any capital or credit market disruption could cause broader economic downturns, which may lead to reduced demand for our products and an increased incidence of customers’ inability to pay their accounts. Further, bankruptcies or similar events by customers may cause us to incur increased levels of bad debt expense. Also, our suppliers may be negatively impacted by deteriorating economic conditions, causing disruption or delay of product availability. These events would adversely impact our results of operations, cash flows, and financial position. Additionally, if the conditions of the capital and credit markets adversely affect the financial institutions that have committed to extend us credit, they may be unable to fund borrowings under such commitments, which could have an adverse impact on our financial condition, liquidity, and our ability to borrow funds for working capital, acquisitions, capital expenditures, and other corporate purposes.

Cybersecurity Risks

In addition to the disruptions that may occur from interruptions in our information technology systems, cybersecurity threats and sophisticated and targeted cyberattacks pose a risk to our information technology systems. We have established security policies, processes and defenses designed to help identify and protect against intentional and unintentional misappropriation

 

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or corruption of our information technology systems and information and disruption of our operations. Despite these efforts, our information technology systems may be damaged, disrupted or shut down due to attacks by hackers and other persons obtaining unauthorized access, malicious software, ransomware, computer viruses, undetected intrusion, hardware failures or other events, and in these circumstances our disaster recovery plans may be ineffective or inadequate. These breaches or intrusions could lead to business interruption, exposure of proprietary or confidential information, data corruption, damage to our reputation, exposure to legal and regulatory proceedings and other costs. Such events could have a material adverse impact on our financial condition, results of operations and cash flows. In addition, we could be adversely affected if any of our significant customers or suppliers experiences any similar events that disrupt their business operations or damage their reputation.

Failure to successfully manage the operational challenges and risks associated with, or resulting from, upgrades and conversions to newer versions of our information technology systems core to our operations could adversely affect our results of operations, cash flows, and liquidity.

We maintain change management processes, monitoring practices, and protections of our information technology to reduce these risks and test our systems on an ongoing basis for potential threats. The Audit Committee is briefed on information security matters at least once a year. We carry cybersecurity insurance to help mitigate the financial exposure and related notification procedures in the event of intentional intrusion. There can be no assurance, however, that our efforts will prevent the risk of a security breach of our databases or systems that could adversely affect our business.

International Risk

COVID-19

Class B Common Stock and Insider Ownership

As of December 31, 2021, our directors and executive officers and entities affiliated with them owned (i) Common stock representing 1% of the outstanding shares of Common stock and (ii) Class B common stock representing 84% of the outstanding shares of Class B common stock. These interests represent 54% of the aggregate combined voting power (including 52% beneficially owned by Albert H. Nahmad, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, and Aaron J. Nahmad, President, through shares owned by them and shares held by affiliated limited partnerships and various family trusts). Accordingly, our directors and executive officers collectively have the voting power to elect six members of our nine-person Board of Directors.

Future Sales

We are not restricted from issuing additional shares of our Common stock or Class B common stock (which we refer to together as common stock), including securities that are convertible into or exchangeable for, or that represent the right to receive, our common stock or any substantially similar securities in the future. We may issue shares of our common stock or other securities in one or more registered or unregistered offerings, and we may also issue our securities in connection with investments or acquisitions. The number of shares of our common stock issued in connection with any of the foregoing may result in dilution to holders of our common stock.

 

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Volatility

The market price of our common stock may be highly volatile and could be subject to wide fluctuations. Securities markets worldwide experience significant price and volume fluctuations. This market volatility, as well as general economic, market or political conditions, could reduce the market price of shares of our common stock in spite of our operating performance. The trading price of our common stock may be adversely affected due to a number of factors, most of which we cannot predict or control, such as the following:

 

 

 

 

 

Trading Liquidity

The trading market for our common stock is limited, and there can be no assurance that a more liquid trading market for our common stock will develop. There can be no assurance as to the liquidity of any market for our common stock, the ability of the holders of our common stock to sell any of their securities and the price at which the holders of our common stock will be able to sell such securities.

Payment of Dividends

The amount of any future dividends that we will pay, if any, will depend upon a number of factors. Future dividends will be declared and paid at the sole discretion of the Board of Directors and will depend upon such factors as cash flow generated by operations, profitability, financial condition, cash requirements, future prospects, and other factors deemed relevant by our Board of Directors. The right of our Board of Directors to declare dividends, however, is subject to the availability of sufficient funds under Florida law to pay dividends. In addition, our ability to pay dividends depends on certain restrictions in our credit agreement.

Securities Analyst Research and Reports

The trading markets for our common stock rely in part on the research and reports that industry or financial analysts publish about us or our business or industry. If one or more of the analysts who cover us downgrade our stock or our industry, or the stock of Carrier or any of our competitors, publish negative or unfavorable research about our business, the price of our stock could decline. If one or more of these analysts cease coverage of us or fail to publish reports on us regularly, we could lose visibility in the market, which in turn could cause our stock price or trading volume to decline.

Goodwill, Intangibles and Long-Lived Assets

At December 31, 2021, goodwill, intangibles, and long-lived assets represented approximately 36% of our total assets. The recoverability of goodwill, indefinite lived intangibles, and long-lived assets is evaluated at least annually and when events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying amounts may not be recoverable. The identification and measurement of goodwill impairment involves the estimation of the fair value of our reporting unit and contains uncertainty because management must use judgment in determining appropriate assumptions to be used in the measurement of fair value. The estimates of fair value of our reporting unit, indefinite lived intangibles, and long-lived assets are based on the best information available as of the date of the assessment and incorporates management’s assumptions about expected future cash flows and contemplates other valuation techniques. Future cash flows can be affected by changes in the industry, a declining economic environment, or market conditions. We cannot assure you that we will not suffer material impairments to goodwill, intangibles, or long-lived assets in the future.

Risks Related to Loss Contingencies

We carry general liability, comprehensive property damage, workers’ compensation, health benefits, cybersecurity, and other insurance coverage that management considers adequate for the protection of its assets and operations at reasonable premiums. There can be no assurance that the coverage limits and related premiums of such policies will be adequate to cover claims, losses and expenses for lawsuits which have been, or may be, brought against us. A loss in excess of insurance coverage could have a material adverse effect on our financial position and/or profitability. Certain self-insurance risks for casualty insurance programs and health benefits are retained and reserves are established based on claims filed and estimates of claims incurred but not yet reported. Assurance cannot be provided that actual claims will not exceed present estimates.

 

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Exposure to catastrophic losses has been limited by maintaining excess and aggregate liability coverage and implementing stop-loss control programs. However, more frequent catastrophic weather events linked to climate change may impact the availability and cost of property and casualty insurance.

 

None.

 

Our main properties include warehousing and distribution facilities, trucks, and administrative office space.

Warehousing and Distribution Facilities

At December 31, 2021, we operated 671 warehousing and distribution facilities across 42 U.S. states, Canada, Mexico, and Puerto Rico, having an aggregate of approximately 15.7 million square feet of space, of which approximately 15.5 million square feet is leased. The majority of these leases are for terms of three to five years. We believe that our facilities are sufficient to meet our present operating needs.

Trucks

pick-up

Administrative Facilities

Senior management and support staff are located at various administrative offices in approximately 0.3 million square feet of space.

 

10-K

10-K.

 

 

Our Common stock is listed on the New York Stock Exchange under the ticker symbol WSO, and our Class B common stock is listed on the New York Stock Exchange under the ticker symbol WSOB.

At February 22, 2022, there were 233 Common stock registered shareholders and 156 Class B common stock registered shareholders.

 

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The following graph compares the cumulative five-year total shareholder return attained by holders of our Common stock and Class B common stock relative to the cumulative total returns of the Russell 2000 index, the S&P MidCap 400 index, and the S&P 500 index. Given our position as the largest distributor of HVAC/R equipment, parts and supplies in North America, our unique, sole line of business, the nature of our customers (air conditioning and heating contractors), and the products and markets we serve, we cannot reasonably identify an appropriate peer group; therefore, we have included in the graph below the performance of the Russell 2000 index, the S&P MidCap 400 index, and the S&P 500 index, which contain companies with market capitalizations similar to our own. An investment of $100 (with reinvestment of all dividends) is assumed to have been made in our common stock and in each index on December 31, 2016 and its relative performance is tracked through December 31, 2021.

 

 

 

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In September 1999, our Board of Directors authorized the repurchase, at management’s discretion, of up to 7,500,000 shares of common stock in the open market or via private transactions. No shares were repurchased under this plan during 2021, 2020 or 2019. In aggregate, 6,370,913 shares of Common and Class B common stock have been repurchased at a cost of $114.4 million since the inception of this plan. At December 31, 2021, there were 1,129,087 shares remaining authorized for repurchase under this plan. Shares were last repurchased by the Company in 2008; thus, we did not otherwise repurchase any of our common stock during the quarter ended December 31, 2021.

 

 

Our 2021 Annual Report contains “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations,” which section is incorporated herein by reference.

 

Our 2021 Annual Report contains “Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures about Market Risk,” which section is incorporated herein by reference.

 

Our 2021 and 2020 Consolidated Balance Sheets and other consolidated financial statements for the years ended December 31, 2021, 2020 and 2019, together with the report thereon of KPMG LLP dated February 25, 2022, included in our 2021 Annual Report are incorporated herein by reference.

 

None.

 

13a-15(e)

Our management, with the participation of our CEO, EVP and CFO, evaluated the effectiveness of our disclosure controls and procedures as of the end of the period covered by this report, and, based on that evaluation, our CEO, EVP and CFO concluded that our disclosure controls and procedures were effective, at a reasonable assurance level, at and as of such date.

13a-15(f)

15d-15(f)

In accordance with the rules and regulations of the SEC, we have not yet assessed the internal control over financial reporting of Makdad Industrial Supply Co., Inc. (“MIS”), Acme Refrigeration LLC (“ACME”), or TEC Distribution LLC (“TEC”), which collectively represented approximately 8% of our consolidated assets at December 31, 2021 and approximately 5% of our consolidated revenues for the year ended December 31, 2021. From the respective acquisition dates of August 20, 2021, May 7, 2021, and April 9, 2021 to December 31, 2021, the processes and systems of MIS, ACME, and TEC did not impact the internal controls over financial reporting for our other consolidated subsidiaries.

 

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As previously reported, on August 6, 2021, the Company entered into a Sales Agreement (the “Original Sales Agreement”) with Robert W. Baird & Co. Incorporated (the “Agent”), relating to the Company’s issuance and sale, from time to time, of up to $300.0 million of its Common stock in a registered offering pursuant to the Company’s effective Registration Statement on Form S-3. The Sales Agreement provided for the sale of shares in negotiated transactions or transactions that are deemed to be “at the market” offerings as defined in Rule 415 under the Securities Act, including sales made directly on the New York Stock Exchange, or sales made to or through a market maker other than on an exchange. On February 25, 2022, the Company entered into an amended and restated Sales Agreement (the “A&R Sales Agreement”) together with Robert W. Baird & Co. Incorporated and Goldman Sachs & Co. LLC (“GS”) for the purpose of adding GS as an additional Agent thereunder and making necessary conforming changes. The A&R Sales Agreement otherwise retains all material terms of the Original Sales Agreement.

The foregoing description of the A&R Sales Agreement is only a summary and is qualified in its entirety by reference to the full text of the A&R Sales Agreement, which is filed as Exhibit 10.5(b) to this Annual Report on Form 10-K and incorporated by reference in this Item 9B.

 

None.

10-K,

 

 

 

 

 

 

21

 

22

 

23

 

 

None.

 

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Pursuant to the requirements of Section 13 or 15(d) 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.

 

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, this report has been signed below by the following persons on behalf of the registrant and in the capacities and on the dates indicated.

 

 

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