UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION


Washington, D.C. 20549


FORM 8-K

CURRENT REPORT
PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(D) OF THE
SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported)       October 15, 2014

Badger Meter, Inc.
(Exact name of Registrant as Specified in Charter)

Wisconsin

1-6706

39-0143280

(State or Other Jurisdiction

of Incorporation)

(Commission File Number)

 

(IRS Employer

Identification No.)


4545 W. Brown Deer Rd., Milwaukee, Wisconsin

53223

(Address of Principal Executive Offices) (Zip Code)



Registrant’s telephone number, including area code:      (414) 355-0400


Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the following provisions:

Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425)

Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12)

Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b))

Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c))


Item 2.02          Results of Operations and Financial Condition.

       On October 15, 2014, the Company issued a press release announcing its quarterly financial results for the 2014 third quarter ended September 30, 2014.

       A copy of the press release issued by the Company announcing the foregoing is attached hereto as Exhibit 99.1 and is incorporated herein by reference.


Item 9.01          Financial Statements and Exhibits.

 

(a)

Financial Statements of Business Acquired.

 
Not applicable.
 

(b)

Pro Forma Financial Information.

 
Not applicable.

 

(c)

Shell Company Transactions.

 
Not applicable.

 

(d)

Exhibits.

 
The exhibit filed herewith is as listed in the accompanying Exhibit Index.

-2-

SIGNATURES

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


BADGER METER, INC.

 

 
Date: October 15, 2014 By:

/s/ Richard E. Johnson

Richard E. Johnson

Senior Vice President – Finance and Treasurer

Chief Financial Officer

-3-

Exhibit Index to Current Report on Form 8-K
Dated October 15, 2014


Exhibit

Number

Description

 
(99.1)

Badger Meter, Inc. Press Release, dated October 15, 2014.

-4-


Exhibit 99.1

Badger Meter Third Quarter Sales, Earnings and Earnings Per Share Set New Records for Any Quarter

MILWAUKEE--(BUSINESS WIRE)--October 15, 2014--Badger Meter, Inc. (NYSE: BMI) today reported sales, earnings and earnings per share for the third quarter ended September 30, 2014, which set new records for any quarter in its history.

Third Quarter 2014 Highlights

First Nine Months 2014 Highlights


Operations Review

“This was another strong quarter for Badger Meter, with third quarter sales, earnings and diluted earnings per share that were the highest of any quarter in our history. The third quarter 2014 results beat the previous all-time records set in last year’s third quarter,” said Richard A. Meeusen, chairman, president and chief executive officer of Badger Meter.

Meeusen said the record third quarter performance was driven by higher sales of residential municipal water products and flow instrumentation products, while sales of commercial water products were down slightly. He noted that the third quarter results include a non-cash pension charge of $680,000, or $0.03 per diluted share.

The gross profit margin was 37.9% for the third quarter of 2014, compared to 35.6% for the third quarter of the prior year. “The improvement was due to increased sales of higher-margin meter reading technology products, which more than offset reduced sales of lower-margin products and radios for the natural gas market. The profit margin also benefited from lower commodity prices, including copper,” said Meeusen.

He said the higher selling, engineering and administration expenses in the third quarter reflect increased employee incentives and costs related to the acquisition of National Meter and Automation, Inc., which closed on October 1, 2014.

“We are pleased with the acquisition of National Meter, one of the major distributors for our municipal water products. The acquisition will further integrate Badger Meter into this important sales channel, providing benefits for our customers, our company and our other distributors,” said Meeusen.

Meeusen said the company continues to receive positive customer feedback on its new BEACON Advanced Metering Analytics (AMA) system, a cost-effective cellular-based metering solution for the municipal water market. “Orders for BEACON starter kits are steadily increasing and additional product trials are underway as we continue to add more features to the system,” said Meeusen.

“During the third quarter, we increased the cash dividend on our common stock for the 22nd consecutive year, continuing our commitment to building value for our shareholders. While the fourth quarter is typically not as strong as the first three quarters due to the seasonality of our business, we believe that with our new products, long-standing customer relationships and solid balance sheet, we are well positioned for the remainder of 2014 and beyond,” added Meeusen.


Conference Call and Webcast

Badger Meter management will hold a conference call to discuss the company’s 2014 third quarter results on Thursday, October 16, 2014, at 10:00 AM Central/11:00 AM Eastern time.

Interested parties can listen to the call live on the Internet through the company’s website: www.badgermeter.com or by dialing 1-888-679-8035 and entering the passcode 98136623. Listeners should dial in to the call at least 5-10 minutes prior to the start of the call or should go to the website at least 15 minutes prior to the call to download and install any necessary audio software. Participants may pre-register for the call at https://www.theconferencingservice.com/prereg/key.process?key=PQWKBRVM9. Pre-registrants will be issued a pin number to use when dialing into the live call which will provide quick access to the conference by bypassing the operator upon connection.

A telephone replay of the conference call will be available through Thursday, October 23, by dialing 1-888-286-8010 and entering the passcode 79188552. The Webcast will be archived on the company’s website until its next earnings release.

About Badger Meter

Badger Meter is an innovator in flow measurement and control products, serving water utilities, municipalities, and commercial and industrial customers worldwide. The Company’s products measure water, oil, chemicals, and other fluids, and are known for accuracy, long-lasting durability and for providing valuable and timely measurement data. For more information, visit www.badgermeter.com.

Certain statements contained in this news release, as well as other information provided from time to time by Badger Meter, Inc. (the “Company”) or its employees, may contain forward looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those in the forward looking statements. The words “anticipate,” “believe,” “estimate,” “expect,” “think,” “should,” “could” and “objective” or similar expressions are intended to identify forward looking statements. All such forward looking statements are based on the Company’s then current views and assumptions and involve risks and uncertainties. Some risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied in forward looking statements include those described in Item 1A of the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2013 that include, among other things:


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

Badger Meter company news is available 24 hours a day, on-line at: http://www.badgermeter.com.


         
BADGER METER, INC.
 
CONSOLIDATED CONDENSED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS
(in thousands, except share and earnings per share data)
 
 
Three Months Ended Nine Months Ended
September 30, September 30, September 30, September 30,
2014 2013 2014 2013
(Unaudited) (Unaudited) (Unaudited) (Unaudited)
 
Net sales $96,271 $92,963 $275,429 $253,112
 
Cost of sales 59,806 59,860 175,182 165,126
 
Gross margin 36,465 33,103 100,247 87,986
 
Selling, engineering and administration 20,482 19,230 62,353 59,228
 
Operating earnings 15,983 13,873 37,894 28,758
 
Interest expense, net 273 264 875 844
 
Earnings before income taxes 15,710 13,609 37,019 27,914
 
Provision for income taxes 5,479 4,560 13,342 9,677
 
Net earnings $10,231 $9,049 $23,677 $18,237
 
Earnings per share:
 
Basic $0.71 $0.63 $1.67 $1.27
 
Diluted $0.71 $0.63 $1.66 $1.26
 
Shares used in computation of earnings per share:
 
Basic 14,312,847 14,371,718 14,177,483 14,353,700
 
Diluted 14,376,955 14,446,735 14,248,126 14,433,243
 

BADGER METER, INC.
         
CONSOLIDATED CONDENSED BALANCE SHEETS
(in thousands)
 
 

Assets

September 30, December 31,
2014 2013
Unaudited
 
Cash $ 10,366 $ 7,263
Receivables 58,012 50,133
Inventories 64,203 60,939
Other current assets 9,292 8,828
Total current assets 141,873 127,163
 
Net property, plant and equipment 77,720 76,416
Intangible assets, at cost less accumulated amortization 53,401 57,317
Other long-term assets 12,978 10,467
Goodwill 44,695 44,695
Total assets $ 330,667 $ 316,058
 
 

Liabilities and Shareholders' Equity

 
Short-term debt $ 61,664 $ 70,045
Payables 18,712 18,554
Accrued compensation and employee benefits 10,776 7,337
Other liabilities 3,998 2,105
Total current liabilities 95,150 98,041
 
Deferred income taxes 9,730 9,790
Long-term employee benefits and other 11,595 11,664
Shareholders' equity 214,192 196,563
Total liabilities and shareholders' equity $ 330,667 $ 316,058
 

CONTACT:
Badger Meter, Inc.
Dawn O’Neill, (414) 371-7276