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Item 7. Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations

The following discussion of our financial condition and results of operations should be read together with the financial statements and related notes set forth in Item 8, "Financial Statements and Supplementary Data." The following discussion also contains forward-looking statements, including the outlook for our business, that involve a number of risks and uncertainties. See Part I, "Forward-Looking Statements," for a discussion of the forward-looking statements contained below and Part I, Item 1A, "Risk Factors," for a discussion of certain risks that could cause our actual results to differ materially from the results anticipated in such forward-looking statements.

Overview

Company Background

We are a global supplier of high-value, critical components and engineered systems used in process industries worldwide. Our products, technologies, and services play an integral role in enhancing process efficiency, optimizing energy utilization, and maximizing productivity in resource-intensive industries.

We previously reported our financial results by combining operating entities into three reportable operating segments: Papermaking Systems, Wood Processing Systems, and Material Handling Systems, and a separate product line, Fiber-based Products. During the first quarter of 2020, we changed our reportable operating segments to better align with our strategic initiatives to grow both organically and through acquisitions. See Note 12, Business Segment and Geographical Information, in the accompanying consolidated financial statements for further details regarding our segments. Our financial results are reported in three new reportable operating segments: Flow Control, Industrial Processing, and Material Handling. The Flow Control segment consists of our fluid-handling and doctoring, cleaning, & filtration product lines; the Industrial Processing segment consists of our wood processing and stock-preparation product lines (excluding our baling products); and the Material Handling segment consists of our conveying and screening, baling, and fiber-based product lines. Financial information for 2019 and 2018 has been recast to conform to the new segment presentation. A description of each segment is as follows:

•Flow Control – Custom-engineered products, systems, and technologies that control the flow of fluids used in industrial and commercial applications to keep critical processes running efficiently in the packaging, tissue, food, metals, and other industrial sectors. Our products include rotary sealing devices, steam systems, expansion joints, doctor systems, roll and fabric cleaning devices, and filtration and fiber recovery systems.

•Industrial Processing – Equipment, machinery, and technologies used to recycle paper and paperboard and process timber for use in the packaging, tissue, wood products, and alternative fuel industries, among others. Our products include stock-preparation systems and recycling equipment, chemical pulping equipment, debarkers, stranders, chippers, and logging machinery. In addition, we provide industrial automation and digitization solutions to process industries.

•Material Handling – Products and engineered systems used to handle bulk and discrete materials for secondary processing or transport in the aggregates, mining, food, and waste management industries, among others. Our products include conveying and vibratory equipment and balers. In addition, we manufacture and sell biodegradable, absorbent granules used as carriers in agricultural applications and for oil and grease absorption.

Industry and Business Overview and the Impact of COVID-19

The ongoing COVID-19 pandemic has resulted in significant worldwide economic disruption and adversely affected our bookings and results of operations for a substantial part of 2020, primarily due to delayed or reduced spending by our customers, as well as customer-requested delays on certain capital projects and service work.

Consolidated bookings decreased $40 million, or 6%, to $648 million in 2020 compared with $688 million in 2019. Bookings decreased in all our segments in 2020 compared to 2019 as described below.

•Flow Control – Bookings decreased $13 million, or 5%, in 2020 compared with 2019 due primarily to a decrease in capital equipment bookings at our North American and, to a lesser extent, Chinese businesses, largely driven by reduced or delayed spending levels related to the impact of COVID-19. In addition, demand for parts and consumables products decreased principally at our North American operations primarily due to COVID-19-related downtimes and shutdowns, as well as visitation restrictions at many customer facilities during 2020.

•Industrial Processing – Bookings decreased $17 million, or 6%, in 2020 compared with 2019 primarily due to a 41% decrease in capital equipment bookings at our stock-preparation product line. Our stock-preparation business was impacted by customer-requested delays on large capital projects, reductions in capital equipment spending, and uncertainty in Asia surrounding our customers' response to China's recovered paper import restriction. Partially offsetting this decrease, was a 50% increase in capital equipment bookings at our wood processing business. This increase was fueled by a robust U.S. housing market and high demand for lumber, oriented strand board and plywood,

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which increased mill run rates resulting in higher capital investment by our customers at our North American business, largely in the second half of 2020. Additionally, our European wood processing business experienced a similar impact for capital equipment due to increased mill run rates. On a sequential basis, the Industrial Processing segment's capital equipment bookings more than doubled in the fourth quarter of 2020, driven by an increase in stock-preparation equipment orders. While bookings for our parts and consumables products at our Industrial Processing segment decreased slightly in 2020 compared with 2019, we experienced a 32% sequential increase in bookings in the fourth quarter of 2020 resulting from increased mill run rates, which benefited our North American wood processing business, and the ongoing recovery from the significant downturn experienced earlier in the year due to the impact of COVID-19.

•Material Handling – Bookings decreased $10 million, or 6%, in 2020 compared with 2019 led by a decline in demand for parts and consumables at our conveying and vibratory business due to reduced customer spending as a result of COVID-19 shutdowns and visitation restrictions. This decrease was partially offset by a slight increase in capital equipment bookings at our baler business, which was driven by strong demand in the fourth quarter of 2020.

While our business continues to be impacted by COVID-19, we experienced a 37% sequential increase in consolidated bookings in the fourth quarter of 2020 compared with the third quarter of 2020, with increases in both capital equipment and parts and consumables products, largely driven by our Industrial Processing segment. Improved bookings across all our segments in the fourth quarter of 2020 resulted in backlog of $193.0 million at year-end 2020, a 13% increase from backlog at year-end 2019.

In response to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, we continue to focus our efforts on:

•protecting the health and safety of our employees through precautionary measures, including working remotely when employees are not required to be physically present, social distancing, wearing face coverings, adding safety and hygiene protocols within our facilities, restricting travel and other safeguards;

•as a critical infrastructure company, serving the needs and expectations of our customers;

•working closely with our supply chain to minimize potential disruptions; and

•preserving our liquidity position.

To mitigate the adverse effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on our business, we managed our discretionary spending in such areas as capital expenditures and travel-related costs, utilized government employee retention assistance programs, and executed restructuring actions to reduce payroll-related costs at certain of our operations. During 2020, we received benefits from government employee retention assistance programs of $6.1 million. We do not expect to receive significant benefits from these programs in 2021. Our discretionary spending levels in 2021 will be dependent on the extent and timing of the recovery from the pandemic.

We generated $92.9 million in cash flows from operations during 2020. We believe that our existing cash balances, future cash generated from operations, and available borrowing capacity will be sufficient to satisfy our working capital needs, capital expenditures, dividends, debt repayments and other liquidity requirements associated with our existing operations. We do not have any mandatory principal payments on our long-term debt obligations until 2023.

We continue to evaluate the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on our business and will take actions that are in the best interests of our employees, customers, and stakeholders or as mandated by governmental authorities. While our global presence and the diversity of our products have provided some stability, there is continued uncertainty regarding the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on our results of operations, financial condition and cash flows. This impact will depend upon factors outside our control, including the trajectory and duration of the pandemic, the development, availability, and distribution of effective vaccines and treatments, the implementation of public safety measures, and the timing of recovery in the markets in which we operate. Accordingly, we cannot predict the extent of the impact that the COVID-19 pandemic may have on our business in 2021.

For more information on risks related to health epidemics to our business, including the COVID-19 pandemic, please see Part I, Item 1A, "Risk Factors."

Global Trade

In 2018, the United States began imposing tariffs on certain imports from China, which has and will continue to increase the cost of some of the equipment that we import. Although we are working to mitigate the impact of tariffs through pricing and sourcing strategies, we cannot be sure how our customers and competitors will react to certain actions we take. For more information on risks associated with our global operations, including tariffs, please see the risk factors included in Part I, Item 1A, "Risk Factors."

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Acquisitions

We expect that a significant driver of our growth over the next several years will be the acquisition of businesses and technologies that complement or augment our existing products and services or may involve entry into a new process industry. We continue to pursue acquisition opportunities.

In June 2020, we made an acquisition in our Industrial Processing segment for approximately $6.9 million, net of cash acquired. In January 2019, we acquired SMH for $176.9 million, net of cash acquired. SMH, which is included in our Material Handling segment, is a leading provider of conveying and vibratory equipment and systems to various process industries, including mining, aggregates, food processing, packaging, and pulp and paper. See Note 2, Acquisitions, in the accompanying consolidated financial statements for further details.

International Sales

Slightly more than half of our sales are to customers outside the United States, mainly in Europe, Asia, and Canada. As a result, our financial performance can be materially affected by currency exchange rate fluctuations between the U.S. dollar and foreign currencies. To mitigate the impact of currency rate fluctuations, we generally seek to charge our customers in the same currency in which our operating costs are incurred. Additionally, we may enter into forward currency exchange contracts to hedge certain firm purchase and sale commitments denominated in currencies other than our subsidiaries' functional currencies. We currently do not use derivative instruments to hedge our exposure to exchange rate fluctuations created by the translation into the U.S. dollar of our foreign subsidiaries' results that are in functional currencies other than the U.S. dollar.

Results of Operations

2020 Compared to 2019

Revenue

The following table presents changes in revenue by segment between 2020 and 2019, and those changes excluding the effect of foreign currency translation and an acquisition which we refer to as change in organic revenue. The presentation of the change in organic revenue is a non-GAAP measure. We believe this non-GAAP measure helps investors gain an understanding of our underlying operations consistent with how management measures and forecasts its performance, especially when comparing such results to prior periods. This non-GAAP measure should not be considered superior to or a substitute for the corresponding GAAP (generally accepted accounting principles in the United States) measure.

Revenue by segment in 2020 and 2019 was as follows:

(Non-GAAP)Change in Organic Revenue

Consolidated revenue and organic revenue declined 10% due to lower capital equipment revenue at our Industrial Processing and Flow Control segments and lower parts and consumables revenue at all our segments as described below.

Revenue at our Flow Control segment decreased 10% in 2020, while organic revenue declined 9%. Organic revenue was adversely impacted in 2020 by decreased demand for capital equipment principally at our North American operations due to reduced or delayed customer spending as a result of COVID-19 and due to relatively high demand in 2019. Organic revenue was also impacted by lower demand for parts and consumables products primarily at our North American operations due to COVID-19-related downtimes and shutdowns, as well as visitation restrictions at many customer facilities during 2020.

Revenue from our Industrial Processing segment decreased 13% in 2020, while organic revenue declined 14%. Organic revenue at our stock-preparation business experienced decreased demand for capital equipment at our Chinese operations due to reduced or delayed customer spending as a result of COVID-19 and uncertainty in Asia surrounding the response to China's recovered paper import restrictions. Additionally, organic revenue from capital equipment at our European operations and parts and consumables at our North American operations decreased due to reduced customer spending as a result of COVID-19. Organic revenue at our North American wood processing business was negatively impacted by reduced demand for capital equipment due to changes in certain end markets and, to a lesser extent, reduced spending as a result of COVID-19, offset in part by increased demand for parts and consumables products. Despite an overall decline in organic revenue at our

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North American wood processing operations, both parts and consumables products and capital equipment revenue strengthened in the second half of 2020, fueled by a robust U.S. housing market and high demand for lumber, OSB and plywood.

Revenue and organic revenue at our Material Handling segment decreased 3% in 2020. Revenue at our conveying and vibratory equipment business declined due to a reduction in customer spending for parts and consumables products primarily as a result of shutdowns and visitation restrictions related to COVID-19. This decline was largely offset by increased capital equipment revenue at our conveying and vibratory equipment business primarily due to a large order received in late 2019, which is expected to be completed in early 2021. Revenue from capital equipment at our baler business declined due to a weak European economy during a substantial portion of 2020, compounded by the effect of COVID-19. Despite the overall decline in 2020, demand for our balers improved significantly in the latter half of the year.

Gross Profit Margin

Gross profit margin by segment in 2020 and 2019 was as follows:

Industrial Processing 41.3 % 38.3 %

Material Handling 33.7 % 32.5 %

Consolidated Gross Profit Margin 43.7 % 41.7 %

Consolidated gross profit margin increased in 2020 due to a greater proportion of higher-margin parts and consumables revenue and benefits received in 2020 from government employee retention assistance programs of $3.7 million, which increased consolidated gross profit margin in 2020 by 0.6 percentage point. In addition, the amortization of acquired profit in inventory of $3.5 million related to the SMH acquisition lowered consolidated gross profit margin in 2019 by 0.5 percentage point.

Gross profit margin at our Flow Control segment increased in 2020 due to a greater proportion of higher-margin parts and consumables revenue and improved margins on capital equipment revenue, as well as benefits received from government employee retention assistance programs.

Gross profit margin at our Industrial Processing segment increased in 2020 primarily due to a greater proportion of higher-margin parts and consumables revenue at our wood processing business, as well as benefits received from government employee retention assistance programs of $2.9 million, which improved the gross profit margin by 1.1 percentage point.

Gross profit margin at our Material Handling segment in 2019 was negatively affected by the amortization of acquired profit in inventory of $3.5 million, which lowered the gross profit margin in 2019 by 2.3 percentage points. The remaining 1.1 percentage point difference was primarily due to lower gross margins in 2020 on our capital equipment as a result of an unfavorable change in product mix.

Selling, General, and Administrative Expenses

Selling, general, and administrative (SG&A) expenses in 2020 and 2019 were as follows:

Consolidated SG&A expenses as a percentage of revenue increased to 29% in 2020 compared with 27% in 2019 due to lower revenue in 2020. Consolidated SG&A expenses decreased $10.6 million in 2020 compared with 2019 due to reduced travel-related costs of $7.8 million, benefits received from government employee retention assistance programs of $2.2 million, and lower acquisition-related costs of $1.1 million.

SG&A expenses as a percentage of revenue at our Flow Control segment was 28% in both 2020 and 2019. SG&A expenses decreased $6.0 million in 2020 compared with 2019 due to reduced travel-related costs of $2.8 million, and lower payroll-related costs as a result of restructuring actions taken in 2020 and benefits received from government employee retention assistance programs.

SG&A expenses as a percentage of revenue at our Industrial Processing segment increased to 22% in 2020 compared with 19% in 2019 due to lower revenue in 2020. SG&A expenses decreased $0.9 million in 2020 compared with 2019 primarily

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due to reduced travel-related costs of $2.8 million and benefits received from government employee retention assistance programs of $1.4 million. These decreases were partially offset by higher legal and other professional service fees and SG&A expenses from an acquired business of $1.2 million, including acquisition-related costs of $0.7 million in 2020.

SG&A expenses as a percentage of revenue at our Material Handling segment decreased to 23% in 2020 compared with 24% in 2019. The 2020 period includes amortization of acquired backlog of $0.4 million, while the 2019 period includes amortization of acquired backlog of $1.3 million and other acquisition-related costs of $0.8 million associated with the acquisition of SMH.

SG&A expenses at Corporate decreased $1.0 million in 2020 compared with 2019 primarily due to lower travel-related costs and professional service fees.

Impairment and Restructuring Costs

Impairment charges of $1.9 million in 2020 relate to actions taken associated with the timber-harvesting product line included in our Industrial Processing segment as a result of the continued decline in revenue and operating results for this business. Given this decline, we performed a quantitative analysis of the recoverability of the related intangible assets using the current projected cash flows for this product line. Based on this analysis, we determined that the fair values of the related intangible assets were less than their carrying values resulting in impairment charges in the fourth quarter of 2020.

Restructuring costs were $1.1 million in 2020, which includes $0.6 million at our Flow Control segment, $0.3 million at our Industrial Processing segment, and $0.2 million at our Material Handling segment. These restructuring costs represent severance for 64 employees associated with a restructuring plan implemented in response to the slowdown in the global economy that was largely driven by the impact of COVID-19. We also reduced our workforce by 21 employees within our Industrial Processing segment with no associated severance costs. We expect annualized payroll-related savings as a result of these actions of approximately $4.6 million, including $2.7 million at our Flow Control segment, $1.5 million at our Industrial Processing segment, and $0.4 million at our Material Handling segment, which consist of approximately $2.1 million related to cost of sales and $2.5 million related to operating expenses.

Impairment and restructuring costs of $2.5 million in 2019 represent actions taken relating to our timber-harvesting product line. See Impairment and Restructuring Costs in the Discussion of Operations for 2019 Compared to 2018 for a discussion of the impairment charges and restructuring costs recorded in 2019.

See Note 1, Nature of Operations and Summary of Significant Accounting Policies, under the heading Impairment of Long-Lived Assets, and Note 8, Restructuring Costs, in the accompanying consolidated financial statements for further details relating to impairment charges and restructuring costs recorded in 2020 and 2019.

Interest Expense

Interest expense decreased $5.3 million to $7.4 million in 2020 due to a lower weighted average interest rate and lower outstanding debt.

Other Expense, Net

Other expense, net consists of expense related to the non-service component of our pensions and other post-retirement benefit plans. In 2019, other expense, net included a loss of $5.9 million for the settlement of a defined benefit retirement plan obligation at one of our U.S. divisions and our corporate office (Retirement Plan).

See Note 3, Employee Benefit Plans, under the heading Pension and Other Post-Retirement Benefits Plans in the accompanying consolidated financial statements for further details.

Provision for Income Taxes

Our provision for income taxes increased to $17.9 million in 2020 from $16.4 million in 2019. The effective tax rate of 24% in 2020 was higher than our statutory rate of 21% primarily due to nondeductible expenses, the distribution of our worldwide earnings, and state taxes. This incremental tax expense was offset in part by a decrease in tax related to the net excess income tax benefits from stock-based compensation arrangements, the net reversal of tax reserves associated with uncertain tax positions, and a tax benefit for the partial release of a valuation allowance. The effective tax rate of 24% in 2019 was higher than our statutory rate of 21% primarily due to the distribution of our worldwide earnings, nondeductible expenses, and tax expense associated with Global Intangible Low-Tax Income (GILTI). This incremental tax expense was offset in part by a decrease in tax related to the net excess income tax benefits from stock-based compensation arrangements and a net tax benefit associated with foreign exchange losses.

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Net Income

Net income increased $3.2 million to $55.7 million in 2020 primarily due a $6.2 million decrease in other expense, net and a $5.3 million decrease in interest expense, offset in part by a $6.7 million decrease in operating income and a $1.6 million increase in provision for income taxes (see discussions above for further details).

2019 Compared to 2018

Revenue

The following table presents changes in revenue by segment between 2019 and 2018, and those changes excluding the effect of currency translation and an acquisition which we refer to as change in organic revenue. The presentation of the change in organic revenue is a non-GAAP measure. We believe this non-GAAP measure helps investors gain an understanding of our underlying operations consistent with how management measures and forecasts its performance, especially when comparing such results to prior periods. This non-GAAP measure should not be considered superior to or a substitute for the corresponding GAAP measures.

(Non-GAAP) Change in Organic Revenue

Consolidated revenue in 2019 increased by 11%, largely due to an acquisition, offset in part by an unfavorable effect of currency translation. Organic revenue increased 1% primarily due to strong demand for our products at our Flow Control segment's North American operations.

Revenue from our Flow Control segment increased 1% in 2019, while organic revenue increased 4%. Organic revenue increased due to unusually high demand in 2019 for our capital equipment and for parts and consumables products at our North American operations.

Revenue from our Industrial Processing segment decreased 4% in 2019, while organic revenue declined 1%. Organic revenue at our stock-preparation business was negatively impacted by decreased demand for our capital equipment and, to a lesser extent, parts and consumables products at our Chinese operations due to uncertainty in Asia surrounding the response to China's recovered paper import restrictions. This decline was partially offset by increased demand for chemical pulping capital equipment at our North American operations and for stock preparation equipment and parts and consumables products at our European operations. Organic revenue at our North American wood processing business declined due to reduced demand for capital equipment, as many of our customers increased capacity and modernized facilities in 2018. In addition, a convergence of environmental conditions and related economic factors negatively affected our customers in the Pacific Northwest, and particularly impacted our timber-harvesting product line. This decline was offset in part by increased revenues from capital equipment orders at our European wood processing business.

Revenue from our Material Handling segment increased 113% in 2019, while organic revenue was relatively unchanged. The 2019 period included revenue from our SMH acquisition.

Gross Profit Margin

Gross profit margins for 2019 and 2018 were as follows:

Industrial Processing 38.3 % 40.1 %

Material Handling 32.5 % 36.8 %

Consolidated Gross Profit Margin 41.7 % 43.9 %

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Consolidated gross profit margin decreased in 2019 largely due to the lower gross margin profile of our SMH acquisition and $3.5 million of amortization of acquired profit in inventory that lowered our consolidated gross profit margin by 0.5 percentage point.

Gross profit margin at our Flow Control segment increased in 2019 due to improved margins on parts and consumables revenue.

Gross profit margin at our Industrial Processing segment decreased in 2019 primarily due to lower margins on capital equipment at our stock-preparation business.

Gross profit margin at our Material Handling segment in 2019 was negatively impacted by the lower gross profit margin profile of our SMH acquisition, including the amortization of acquired profit in inventory of $3.5 million that lowered the gross profit margin in 2019 by 2.3 percentage points.

Selling, General, and Administrative Expenses

SG&A expenses for 2019 and 2018 were as follows:

Consolidated SG&A expenses as a percentage of revenue decreased to 27% in 2019 compared with 28% in 2018 due to the lower SG&A as a percentage of revenue profile of our SMH acquisition. Excluding SG&A for SMH and the favorable effect of foreign currency translation of $4.7 million, consolidated SG&A expenses were essentially unchanged in 2019 compared with 2018.

SG&A expenses as a percentage of revenue at our Flow Control segment was unchanged at 28% in 2019 and 2018. SG&A expenses increased in 2019 compared with 2018 primarily due to increased selling-related expense, offset in part by a favorable effect of foreign currency translation of $2.0 million.

SG&A expenses as a percentage of revenue at our Industrial Processing segment decreased to 19% in 2019 compared with 20% in 2018 due to lower selling expenses. SG&A expenses decreased in 2019 compared with 2018 primarily due to a favorable effect of foreign currency translation of $2.0 million and decreased selling expense at our wood processing operations.

SG&A expenses as a percentage of revenue at our Material Handling segment increased to 24% in 2019 compared with 23% in 2018. The increase in SG&A expenses of $19.7 million in 2019 was largely due to the SMH acquisition, including amortization of acquired backlog of $1.3 million and other acquisition-related costs of $0.8 million.

SG&A expenses at Corporate decreased in 2019 compared with 2018 primarily due to $1.3 million of acquisition costs that were incurred in 2018 related to our SMH acquisition.

Impairment and Restructuring Costs

Impairment and restructuring costs of $2.5 million in 2019 relate to actions taken associated with the timber-harvesting product line included in our Industrial Processing segment. During 2019, revenue and operating results declined significantly for our timber-harvesting product line. Given this decline, we performed a quantitative analysis of the recoverability of the related intangible assets using the current projected cash flows for this product line. Based on this analysis, we determined that the fair values of certain of the related intangible assets were less than their carrying values and, as a result, recorded impairment charges totaling $2.3 million in the fourth quarter of 2019. These impairment charges consisted of $1.6 million for a definite-lived product technology and $0.7 million for an indefinite-lived tradename. We also incurred severance costs of $0.2 million for six employees in Canada associated with a restructuring plan for the timber-harvesting product line in 2019.

Restructuring costs of $1.7 million in 2018 related to the integration of our Industrial Processing segment's U.S. and Swedish stock-preparation businesses into a newly constructed manufacturing facility in the United States to achieve economies of scale and greater efficiencies. The restructuring charges included $1.3 million for the relocation of machinery and equipment and administrative offices and $0.4 million primarily associated with employee retention costs and abandonment of excess facility and other closure costs.

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Interest Expense

Interest expense increased $5.7 million to $12.8 million in 2019 primarily due to interest expense on the additional borrowings related to our SMH acquisition.

Other Expense, Net

Other expense, net consists of expense related to the non-service component of our pensions and other post-retirement benefit plans. In 2019, other expense, net included a loss of $5.9 million for the settlement of a Retirement Plan obligation. In 2018, other expense, net included a curtailment loss of $1.4 million related to the freeze and termination of a Retirement Plan and a restoration plan for certain executive officers. See Note 3, Employee Benefit Plans, under the heading Pension and Other Post-Retirement Benefits Plans, in the accompanying consolidated financial statements for further details.

Provision for Income Taxes

Our provision for income taxes was $16.4 million in 2019 and $18.5 million in 2018. The effective tax rate of 24% in 2019 was higher than our statutory rate of 21% primarily due to the distribution of our worldwide earnings, nondeductible expenses, and tax expense associated with GILTI. This incremental tax expense was offset in part by a decrease in tax related to the net excess income tax benefits from stock-based compensation arrangements and a net tax benefit associated with foreign exchange losses. The effective tax rate of 23% in 2018 was higher than our statutory rate of 21% primarily due to the distribution of our worldwide earnings and tax expense associated with GILTI. This incremental tax expense was offset in part by a decrease in tax related to the reversal of tax reserves associated with uncertain tax positions and the net excess income tax benefits from stock-based compensation arrangements.

Net Income

Net income decreased $8.5 million to $52.6 million in 2019 primarily due to a $5.7 million increase in interest expense, a $3.9 million increase in other expense, net, and a $0.8 million decrease in operating income, offset in part by a $2.1 million decrease in provision for income taxes (seediscussions above for further details).

Liquidity and Capital Resources

Consolidated working capital was $155.1 million at January 2, 2021, compared with $151.4 million at December 28, 2019. Included in working capital were cash and cash equivalents of $65.7 million at January 2, 2021, compared with $66.8 million at December 28, 2019. Cash and cash equivalents held by our foreign subsidiaries was $63.6 million at January 2, 2021 compared with $58.9 million at December 28, 2019.

Cash Flows

2020 and 2019

Cash flow information for 2020 and 2019 was as follows:

Net Cash Provided by Operating Activities $ 92,884 $ 97,413

Net Cash Used in Investing Activities (14,545) (187,357)

Net Cash (Used in) Provided by Financing Activities (84,556) 112,450

Exchange Rate Effect on Cash, Cash Equivalents, and Restricted Cash 4,584 (350)

Operating Activities

Cash provided by operating activities was $92.9 million in 2020 and $97.4 million in 2019. Our operating cash flows are primarily from cash received from customers, offset by cash payments for items such as inventory, employee compensation, operating leases, income taxes and interest payments on outstanding debt obligations. The change in cash provided by operating activities was primarily driven by cash earnings offset by changes in working capital.

Cash used for working capital was $2.6 million in 2020 and cash provided by working capital was $2.0 million in 2019. Cash used for working capital in 2020 included cash used of $15.6 million for accounts payable primarily due to reduced spending levels in 2020 for capital equipment projects at a number of our subsidiaries, offset in part by cash provided of $13.2 million due to a reduction in unbilled revenue and accounts receivable primarily as a result of lower capital equipment revenue in 2020. Cash provided by working capital in 2019 included cash provided of $9.1 million from accounts receivable and unbilled revenue due to a number of capital equipment projects that were either in process or completed and shipped in the

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second half of 2018, and $7.4 million from accounts payable. These increases in cash provided were offset in part by cash used of $5.6 million for other current assets primarily related to refundable income taxes.

Investing Activities

Cash used in investing activities was $14.5 million in 2020 and $187.4 million in 2019. Cash used for acquisitions was $7.1 million in 2020 and $177.8 million in 2019, including $176.9 million for the acquisition of SMH.

Financing Activities

Cash used in financing activities was $84.6 million in 2020 and cash provided by financing activities was $112.5 million in 2019. Repayment of short- and long-term obligations was $99.5 million in 2020 and $126.3 million in 2019. Repayment in 2020 included an $18.9 million prepayment of the outstanding principal balance on our commercial real estate loan (Real Estate Loan) using U.S. borrowings under our revolving credit facility. Repayment in 2019 included $71.1 million of cash repatriated from Europe that was used to repay U.S. borrowings under our revolving credit facility. Proceeds from issuance of long-term obligations were $26.0 million from U.S.-denominated borrowings under our revolving credit facility in 2020, including amounts used to prepay our Real Estate Loan. Proceeds from issuance of long-term obligations in 2019 were $247.2 million, including $179.3 million of U.S.-denominated borrowings for the acquisition of SMH and $56.1 million of euro-denominated borrowings to partially fund cash repatriated from Europe.

Exchange Rate Effect on Cash, Cash Equivalents, and Restricted Cash

The exchange rate effect on cash, cash equivalents, and restricted cash represents the impact of translation of cash balances at our foreign subsidiaries. The $4.6 million exchange rate effect on cash, cash equivalents, and restricted cash in 2020 primarily relates to the weakening of the U.S. dollar against the euro and Chinese renminbi.

2018

A detailed discussion of cash flows for 2018 can be found in "Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations" in Part II, Item 7, of our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 28, 2019, filed with the SEC.

Debt Obligations

We have borrowing capacity of over $400 million, of which $181.9 million was available to borrow as of January 2, 2021 under our Credit Agreement, along with an additional uncommitted, unsecured incremental borrowing facility of $150 million. In addition, under our uncommitted Multi-Currency Note Purchase and Private Shelf Agreement (Note Purchase Agreement), we may issue up to an additional $115 million of senior promissory notes. Under these agreements, our leverage ratio, as defined, must be less than 3.75. As of January 2, 2021, our consolidated leverage ratio was 1.61 and we were in compliance with our debt covenants. We do not have any mandatory principal payments on our long-term debt obligations until 2023. See Note 6, Long-Term Obligations, in the accompanying consolidated financial statements for additional information regarding our debt obligations.

Additional Liquidity and Capital Resources

On May 13, 2020, our board of directors approved the repurchase of up to $20 million of our equity securities during the period from May 13, 2020 to May 13, 2021. We have not repurchased any shares of our common stock under this authorization or under the previous authorization, which expired on May 15, 2020.

We paid cash dividends of $10.9 million in 2020. On February 4, 2021, we paid a quarterly cash dividend of $0.24 per share totaling $2.8 million. Future declarations of dividends are subject to our board of directors' approval and may be adjusted as business needs or market conditions change. The declaration of cash dividends is subject to our compliance with the covenant in our revolving credit facility related to our consolidated leverage ratio.

We plan to make expenditures of approximately $14 to $15 million during 2021 for property, plant, and equipment.

As of January 2, 2021, we had approximately $293.7 million of total unremitted foreign earnings. It is our intent to indefinitely reinvest $271.6 million of these earnings to support the current and future capital needs of our foreign operations, including debt repayments, if any. For 2020, we recorded withholding taxes on the earnings in certain foreign subsidiaries that we plan to repatriate in the foreseeable future. The foreign withholding taxes that would be required if we were to remit the indefinitely reinvested foreign earnings to the United States would be approximately $6.0 million.

In the future, our liquidity position will be affected by the level of cash flows from operations, cash paid to service our debt obligations, acquisitions, capital projects, dividends, and stock repurchases. We believe that our existing resources, together with the borrowings available under our revolving credit facility and available through our Note Purchase Agreement,

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and the cash we expect to generate from operations, will be sufficient to meet the capital requirements of our operations for the foreseeable future.

Contractual Obligations and Other Commercial Commitments

The following table summarizes our known contractual obligations and commercial commitments to make future payments or other consideration pursuant to certain contracts at year-end 2020, as well as an estimate of the timing in which these obligations are expected to be satisfied. Detailed information concerning these obligations and commitments can be found in Notes 3, 5, 6, 7, and 9 in the accompanying consolidated financial statements.

Payments Due by Period or Expiration of Commitment

(In millions) Less than 1 Year 1-3 Years 3-5 Years After 5 Years Total

Contractual Obligations and Other Commitments: (a)

Letters of credit and bank guarantees (b) $ 14.4 $ 4.2 $ — $ — $ 18.6

Retirement obligations on balance sheet 0.3 0.6 0.9 2.7 4.5

Finance lease obligations 0.9 0.7 — — 1.6

Sales-leaseback financing arrangement (c) 0.5 1.7 — — 2.2

Purchase obligations 0.5 1.3 — — 1.8

U.S. transition tax, net of available foreign tax credits — 0.8 1.9 — 2.7

_________________________________

(a)We have purchase obligations related to the acquisition of raw material made in the ordinary course of business that may be terminated with minimal notice and are excluded from this table.

(b)Principally relates to performance obligations and customer deposit guarantees required by certain of our sales contracts in which we provide these financial instruments to a customer as beneficiary, limited in amount to a negotiated percentage of the total contract value, in order to guarantee our warranty and performance obligations under the contract. These standby letters of credit and bank guarantees typically expire without being drawn by the beneficiary.

(c)Excludes a liability of $1.6 million related to a net fixed price purchase option exercisable in 2022.

(d)Assumes interest rates remain unchanged from rates at year-end 2020.

(e)Excludes a liability for unrecognized tax benefits and an accrual for the related interest and penalties totaling $9.9million. Due to the uncertain nature of these income tax matters, we are unable to make a reasonably reliable estimate as to if and when cash settlements with the appropriate taxing authorities will occur.

Provisions in financial guarantees or commitments, debt or lease agreements, or other arrangements could trigger a requirement for an early payment, additional collateral support, amended terms, or acceleration of maturity.

Off-Balance Sheet Arrangements

We do not have special-purpose entities nor do we use off-balance-sheet financing arrangements, except for letters of credit and bank guarantees used in the ordinary course of business as disclosed in the table above.

Application of Critical Accounting Policies and Estimates

Management's discussion and analysis of financial condition and results of operations is based upon our consolidated financial statements, which have been prepared in accordance with GAAP. The preparation of these consolidated financial statements requires us to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities, disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of our consolidated financial statements, and the reported amounts of revenue and expenses during the reporting period. Our actual results may differ from these estimates under different assumptions or conditions.

Critical accounting policies are defined as those that entail significant judgments and uncertainties and could potentially result in materially different results under different assumptions and conditions. For a discussion on the application of these and other accounting policies, see Note 1, Nature of Operations and Summary of Significant Accounting Policies, in

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the accompanying consolidated financial statements. We believe that our most critical accounting policies upon which our financial position depends, and which involve the most complex or subjective decisions or assessments, are those described below.

Income Taxes

We operate in numerous countries under many legal forms and, as a result, are subject to the jurisdiction of numerous domestic and non-U.S. tax authorities, as well as to tax agreements and treaties among these governments. Determination of taxable income in any jurisdiction requires the interpretation of the related tax laws and regulations and the use of estimates and assumptions regarding significant future events, such as the amount, timing and character of deductions, permissible revenue recognition methods under the tax law and the sources and character of income and available tax credits. Changes in tax laws, regulations, agreements and treaties, currency-exchange restrictions or our level of operations or profitability in each taxing jurisdiction could have an impact upon the amount of current and deferred tax balances and our results of operations.

We compute our provision for income taxes using the asset and liability method, and we recognize deferred tax assets and liabilities for the expected future tax consequences of temporary differences between the financial reporting and tax bases of assets and liabilities and for tax loss or credit carryforwards. We measure deferred tax assets and liabilities using the currently enacted tax rates that are expected to apply to taxable income in the years in which we expect to realize those deferred tax assets and liabilities. We estimate the degree to which our deferred tax assets on deductible temporary differences and tax loss or credit carryforwards will result in an income tax benefit based on the expected profitability by tax jurisdiction, and we provide a valuation allowance for these deferred tax assets if it is more likely than not that they will not be realized in the future. If it were to become more likely than not that these deferred tax assets would be realized, we would reverse the related valuation allowance. Our tax valuation allowance was $9.6 million at year-end 2020. Should our actual future taxable income by tax jurisdiction vary from our estimates, additional valuation allowances or reversals thereof may be necessary. When assessing the need for a valuation allowance in a tax jurisdiction, we evaluate the weight of all available evidence to determine whether it is more likely than not that some portion or all of the deferred income tax assets will not be realized. As part of this evaluation, we consider our cumulative three-year history of earnings before income taxes, taxable income in prior carryback years, future reversals of existing taxable temporary differences, prudent and feasible tax planning strategies, and expected future results of operations. At year-end 2020, we continued to maintain a valuation allowance in the United States against certain of our state operating loss carryforwards due to the uncertainty of future profitability in these state jurisdictions in the United States, and we maintained valuation allowances in certain foreign jurisdictions because of the uncertainty of future profitability.

In the ordinary course of business there are inherent uncertainties and judgements required in quantifying our income tax positions. It is our policy to provide for uncertain tax positions and the related interest and penalties based upon our assessment of whether a tax benefit is more likely than not to be sustained upon examination by tax authorities. On a quarterly basis, we evaluate our uncertain tax positions against various factors, including changes in facts or circumstances, tax laws, or the status of audits by tax authorities. We believe that we have appropriately accounted for any liability for unrecognized tax benefits, and at year-end 2020, our liability for these unrecognized tax benefits, including an accrual for the related interest and penalties, totaled $9.9 million. To the extent we prevail in matters for which a liability for an unrecognized tax benefit is established or are required to pay amounts in excess of the liability, our effective tax rate in a given financial statement period may be affected.

We intend to repatriate the distributable reserves of select foreign subsidiaries back to the United States and, during 2020, we recorded $0.7 million of net tax expense associated with these foreign earnings that we plan to repatriate in 2021. Except for these select foreign subsidiaries, we intend to reinvest indefinitely the earnings of our international subsidiaries in order to support the current and future capital needs of their operations, including the repayment of our foreign debt.

Revenue Recognition

Over85% of our revenue is recognized at a point in time following the transfer of control of the goods or service to the customer, primarily relating to our products that require minimal customization for the customer. The remaining portion of our revenue is recognized on an over time basis using an input method that compares the costs incurred to date to the total expected costs required to satisfy the performance obligation. Most revenue recognized on an over time basis is for large capital products that are highly customized for the customer and, as a result, would include significant cost to rework in the event of cancellation. The over time basis of accounting requires significant judgment in determining applicable contract costs and the corresponding revenue to be recognized, which could be different if there were to be changes to the circumstances of the contract. When adjustments to revenue and costs are required, the adjustments are included in earnings in the period of the change. Judgment is also required for contracts involving variable consideration and multiple performance obligations. Our contracts covering the sale of our products include warranty provisions that provide assurance to our customers that the products will comply with agreed-upon specifications. We accrue warranty costs in the period in which the related revenue is

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recognized based on historical occurrence rates and related repair costs, as well as specific warranty issues outside our typical experience. Should these factors differ from our estimates, revisions to the warranty liability would be required.

Valuation of Goodwill and Intangible Assets

We use assumptions and estimates in determining the fair value of assets acquired and liabilities assumed in a business combination, including the determination of the fair value of intangible assets acquired, which represents a significant portion of the purchase price in many of our acquisitions. We estimate the fair value of intangible assets primarily based on projections of discounted cash flows which we expect to arise from identifiable intangible assets of acquired businesses. The determination of the allocation of the purchase price to the fair value of intangible assets acquired requires significant judgment as does the determination as to whether such intangibles are amortizable or non-amortizable and, if amortizable, the amortization period of the intangible asset.

We evaluate the recoverability of goodwill and indefinite-lived intangible assets as of the end of each fiscal year, or more frequently if events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying value of an asset might be impaired. Estimates of discounted future cash flows arising from intangible assets acquired require assumptions related to revenue and operating income growth rates, discount rates, and other factors. Different assumptions from those made in our analysis could materially affect projected cash flows and our evaluation of goodwill and indefinite-lived intangible assets for impairment. At year-end 2020, we performed a qualitative impairment analysis (Step 0) for our reporting units, except our material handing reporting unit, and determined that the related goodwill and indefinite-lived intangible assets were not impaired. For our material handling reporting unit, we performed a quantitative impairment analysis (Step 1) and determined that the related goodwill's fair value exceeded its carrying value by 15% and was not impaired and the indefinite-lived intangible assets were not impaired. At year-end 2019, we performed a qualitative impairment analysis (Step 0) for all our reporting units and determined that the related goodwill and indefinite-lived intangible assets were not impaired, except for the impairment of the indefinite-lived tradename associated with our timber-harvesting product line which was $0.7 million. Goodwill totaled $351.8 million and indefinite-lived intangible assets totaled $24.4 million at January 2, 2021.

Definite-lived intangible assets are evaluated for impairment if events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying value of an asset might be impaired, such as a significant reduction in cash flows associated with the assets. Actual cash flows arising from a particular intangible asset could vary from projected cash flows which could imply different carrying values from those established at the dates of acquisition and which could result in impairment of such asset. No indicators of impairment were identified in 2020 and 2019, except for the impairment of certain definite-lived intangible assets associated with the timber-harvesting product line within our Industrial Processing segment, which totaled $1.9 million in 2020 and $1.6 million in 2019. Definitive-lived assets were $136.5 million at January 2, 2021.

A material adverse change in the business climate including a prolonged economic downturn and weakness in demand for our products could negatively affect the revenue and profitability assumptions used in our assessment of goodwill and intangible assets, which may result in impairment charges. Any future impairment charges could have a material adverse effect on our results of operations in the period in which an impairment is determined to exist.

See Note 1, Nature of Operations and Summary of Significant Accounting Policies, under the heading Impairment of Long-Lived Assets, in the accompanying consolidated financial statements for further details regarding impairment costs recorded in 2020 and 2019.

Inventories

We value our inventory at the lower of the actual cost (on a first-in, first-out; or weighted average basis) or net realizable value and include materials, labor, and manufacturing overhead. The valuation of inventory requires us to make judgments, based on currently available information, about the forecasted usage of and demand for each particular product or product line. Assumptions about future dispositions of inventory are inherently uncertain and, although we make every effort to ensure the accuracy of our forecasts of future product usage and demand, any changes in those assumptions may result in a write-down of inventory in the period in which inventory is deemed excess or obsolete, which could adversely affect our results of operations.

Recent Accounting Pronouncements

See Note 1, Nature of Operations and Summary of Significant Accounting Policies, under the headings Recently Adopted Accounting Pronouncements and Recent Accounting Pronouncements Not Yet Adopted, in the accompanying consolidated financial statements for further details.

Item 7A. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk

We are exposed to market risk from changes in interest rates and foreign currency exchange rates, which could affect our future results of operations and financial condition. We manage our exposure to these risks through our regular operating and financing activities. We enter into swap agreements to hedge a portion of our exposure to variable rate long-term debt.

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Additionally, we use short-term forward contracts to manage certain exposures to foreign currencies. We enter into forward currency-exchange contracts to hedge firm purchase and sale commitments denominated in currencies other than our subsidiaries' functional currencies. We do not engage in extensive foreign currency hedging activities. However, when we do enter into foreign currency hedging activities, the purpose is to protect our functional currency cash flows related to these commitments from fluctuations in foreign exchange rates. Our forward currency-exchange contracts hedge transactions primarily denominated in U.S. dollars, Canadian dollars, and euros. Gains and losses arising from forward contracts are recognized as offsets to gains and losses resulting from the transactions being hedged. We do not hold or engage in transactions involving derivative instruments for purposes other than risk management.

Interest Rates

Our exposure to changes in interest rates relates primarily to our long-term debt. Our borrowings under the Credit Agreement of $218.0 million at year-end 2020 and $265.4 million at year-end 2019 bear variable rates of interest, which adjust frequently based on prevailing market rates. Assuming year-end borrowing levels, a 10% increase in interest rates on our variable-rate debt would have increased our annual pre-tax interest expense by an immaterial amount in 2020 and $0.4 million in 2019. A portion of our outstanding variable-rate debt at year-end 2020 and 2019 was hedged with swap agreements sensitive to changes in the three-month LIBOR forward curve. A 10% decrease in the three-month LIBOR forward curve would have increased our unrealized loss by immaterial amounts in both 2020 and 2019.

Currency Exchange Rates

We generally view our investment in foreign subsidiaries in a functional currency other than our reporting currency as long-term. Our investment in foreign subsidiaries is sensitive to fluctuations in foreign currency exchange rates. The functional currencies of our foreign subsidiaries are principally denominated in euros, British pounds sterling, Mexican pesos, Canadian dollars, Chinese renminbi, Brazilian reals, and Swedish krona. The effect of changes in foreign exchange rates on our net investment in foreign subsidiaries is reflected in the "accumulated other comprehensive items" component of stockholders' equity. A 10% decrease in functional currencies relative to the U.S. dollar, would have resulted in a reduction in stockholders' equity of $34.4 million at year-end 2020 and $27.5 million at year-end 2019.

At year-end 2020, we had $45.6 million of euro-denominated borrowings and $4.4 million of Canadian dollar-denominated borrowings outstanding. The translation of our foreign-denominated debt impacts our borrowing capacity available under our Credit Agreement, which is calculated in U.S. dollars. A 10% negative movement in the euro and Canadian dollar foreign exchange rates against the U.S. dollar would have decreased our borrowing capacity by approximately $5.0 million at year-end 2020.

The fair value of forward currency-exchange contracts is sensitive to fluctuations in foreign currency exchange rates. The fair value of forward currency-exchange contracts is the estimated amount that we would pay or receive upon termination of the contracts. A 10% adverse change in year-end 2020 and year-end 2019 foreign currency exchange rates related to our foreign currency exchange contracts would have resulted in an increase in unrealized losses of $0.2 million in 2020 and $0.8 million in 2019, which would have been largely offset by the corresponding change in the fair value of the underlying hedged items.

Item 8. Financial Statements and Supplementary Data

This data is submitted as a separate section to this report and incorporated herein by reference. See Item 15, "Exhibits and Financial Statement Schedules."

Item 9. Changes in and Disagreements with Accountants on Accounting and Financial Disclosure

Not applicable.

Item 9A. Controls and Procedures

Evaluation of Disclosure Controls and Procedures

Our management, under the supervision and with the participation of our Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, evaluated the effectiveness of our disclosure controls and procedures at year-end 2020. The term "disclosure controls and procedures," as defined in Securities Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e), means controls and other procedures of a company that are designed to ensure that information required to be disclosed by the company in the reports that it files or submits under the Exchange Act is recorded, processed, summarized, and reported within the time periods specified in the SEC's rules and forms. Disclosure controls and procedures include, without limitation, controls and procedures designed to ensure that information required to be disclosed by a company in the reports that it files or submits under the Exchange Act is accumulated and communicated to the company's management, including its principal executive and principal financial

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officers, as appropriate to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosure. Management recognizes that any controls and procedures, no matter how well designed and operated, can provide only reasonable assurance of achieving their objectives, and management necessarily applies its judgment in evaluating the cost-benefit relationship of possible controls and procedures. Based upon the evaluation of our disclosure controls and procedures at year-end 2020, our Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer concluded that at year-end 2020, our disclosure controls and procedures were effective at the reasonable assurance level.

Management's Annual Report on Internal Control over Financial Reporting

Our management is responsible for establishing and maintaining adequate internal control over financial reporting, as such term is defined in Securities Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(f) and 15d-15(f). Our management assessed the effectiveness of our internal control over financial reporting at year-end 2020. In making this assessment, our management used the criteria set forth in "Internal Control—Integrated Framework (2013)" issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission (COSO). Based on our assessment, management believes that at year-end 2020 our internal control over financial reporting was effective based on the criteria issued by COSO.

Because of inherent limitations, internal control over financial reporting may not prevent or detect misstatements. Projections of any evaluation of effectiveness to future periods are subject to the risk that controls may become inadequate because of changes in conditions, or that the degree of compliance with the policies or procedures may deteriorate.

Our independent registered public accountants, KPMG LLP, have issued an audit report on our internal control over financial reporting, which is included herein on page F-2 and incorporated into this Item 9A by reference.

Changes in Internal Control over Financial Reporting

There have not been any changes in our internal control over financial reporting (as defined in Rules 13a-15(f) and 15d-15(f) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended) during the fiscal quarter ended January 2, 2021 that have materially affected, or are reasonably likely to materially affect, our internal control over financial reporting.

Item 9B. Other Information

Not applicable.

PART III

Item 10. Directors, Executive Officers, and Corporate Governance

Information about our Directors

This information will be included under the heading "Election of Directors" in our 2021 proxy statement for our 2021 Annual Meeting of Shareholders and is incorporated in this report by reference, except for the information concerning executive officers, which is included under the heading "Information about our Executive Officers" in Item 1 of Part I of this report.

Section 16(a) Beneficial Ownership Reporting Compliance

The information required under Item 405 of Regulation S-K will be included under the heading "Stock Ownership–Delinquent Section 16(a) Reports" in our 2021 proxy statement and is incorporated in this report by reference.

Corporate Governance

The information required under Items 406 and 407 of Regulation S-K will be included under the heading "Corporate Governance" in our 2021 proxy statement and is incorporated in this report by reference.

Item 11. Executive Compensation

This information will be included under the headings "Executive Compensation," "Corporate Governance - Compensation Committee Interlocks and Insider Participation," and "Compensation Discussion and Analysis" in our 2021 proxy statement and is incorporated in this report by reference.

Item 12. Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and Management and Related Stockholder Matters

Except for the information concerning equity compensation plans, this information will be included under the heading "Stock Ownership" in our 2021 proxy statement and is incorporated in this Report by reference.

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The following table provides information about the securities authorized for issuance under our equity compensation plans at year-end 2020:

Equity Compensation Plan Information

Equity compensation plans not approved by security holders — $ — —

__________________________________

(a)Consists of 27,225 shares of our common stock to be issued upon exercise of outstanding options under our Amended and Restated 2006 Equity Compensation Plan, as amended (the 2006 Plan), and 120,353 shares of our common stock issuable upon the vesting of restricted stock units and performance-based restricted stock units under the 2006 Plan.

(b)Consists of the weighted average exercise price of the 27,225 stock options outstanding on January 2, 2021. The 120,353 shares of restricted stock units and performance-based restricted stock units outstanding on January 2, 2021 had a weighted average grant date fair value of $92.42.

(c)Includes an aggregate of 101,873 shares of common stock issuable under our employees' stock purchase plan in connection with current and future offering periods under the plan.

Item 13. Certain Relationships and Related Transactions, and Director Independence

This information will be included under the heading "Corporate Governance" in our 2021 proxy statement and is incorporated in this report by reference.

Item 14. Principal Accountant Fees and Services

This information will be included under the heading "Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm" in our 2021 proxy statement and is incorporated in this report by reference.

PART IV

Item 15. Exhibits and Financial Statement Schedules

(a)The following documents are filed as part of this report:

(1)Consolidated Financial Statements (see Index on Page F-1 of this report):

Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm

Consolidated Balance Sheet

Consolidated Statement of Income

Consolidated Statement of Comprehensive Income

Consolidated Statement of Cash Flows

Consolidated Statement of Stockholders' Equity

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

(2)All schedules are omitted because they are not applicable or not required, or because the required information is shown either in the consolidated financial statements or in the notes thereto.

(3)Exhibits filed herewith or incorporated in this report by reference are set forth in the Exhibit Index beginning on page 40. This list of exhibits identifies each management contract or compensatory plan or arrangement required to be filed as an exhibit to this report.

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(b) Exhibits

Exhibit Index

ExhibitNumber Description of Exhibit

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Exhibit Index

ExhibitNumber Description of Exhibit

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Exhibit Index

ExhibitNumber Description of Exhibit

21 Subsidiaries of the Registrant.

23 Consent of KPMG LLP, Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm.

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Exhibit Index

ExhibitNumber Description of Exhibit

101.SCH Inline XBRL Taxonomy Extension Schema Document.

101.CAL Inline XBRL Taxonomy Extension Calculation Linkbase Document.

101.DEF Inline XBRL Taxonomy Extension Definition Linkbase Document.

101.LAB Inline XBRL Taxonomy Extension Label Linkbase Document.

101.PRE Inline XBRL Taxonomy Extension Presentation Linkbase Document.

* Management contract or compensatory plan or arrangement.

(1) The schedules to this document have been omitted from this filing pursuant to Item 601(b)(2) of Regulation S-K. The Company will furnish copies of any of the schedules to the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission upon request.

Item 16. Form 10-K Summary

Not applicable.

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Signatures

Pursuant to the requirements of Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, the Registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized.

KADANT INC.

Date: March 2, 2021 By: /s/ Jeffrey L. Powell

Jeffrey L. Powell

Chief Executive Officer and President

POWER OF ATTORNEY

KNOW ALL PERSONS BY THESE PRESENTS, that each person whose signature appears below constitutes and appoints Jeffrey L. Powell, Michael J. McKenney and Deborah S. Selwood, jointly and severally, his or her attorney-in-fact, with the power of substitution, for him or her in any and all capacities, to sign any amendments to this Annual Report on Form 10-K and to file the same, with exhibits thereto and other documents in connection therewith, with the Securities and Exchange Commission, hereby ratifying and confirming all that each of said attorneys-in-fact, or his substitute or substitutes, may do or cause to be done by virtue hereof.

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, this report has been signed below by the following persons on behalf of the Registrant and in the capacities indicated, on March 2, 2021.

Signature Title

By: /s/ Jeffrey L. Powell Chief Executive Officer, President and Director

Jeffrey L. Powell (Principal Executive Officer)

By: /s/ Michael J. McKenney Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer

Michael J. McKenney (Principal Financial Officer)

By: /s/ Deborah S. Selwood Senior Vice President and Chief Accounting Officer

Deborah S. Selwood (Principal Accounting Officer)

By: /s/ Jonathan W. Painter Director and Chairman of the Board

Jonathan W. Painter

By: /s/ John M. Albertine Director

John M. Albertine

By: /s/ Thomas C. Leonard Director

Thomas C. Leonard

By: /s/ Erin L Russell Director

Erin L. Russell

By: /s/ William P. Tully Director

William P. Tully

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Annual Report on Form 10-K

Index to Consolidated Financial Statements and Schedule

The following Consolidated Financial Statements of the Registrant and its subsidiaries are required to be included in Item 8:

Page

Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm F-2

Consolidated Balance Sheet as of January 2, 2021 and December 28, 2019 F-4

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements F-9

F-1

Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm

To the Stockholders and Board of Directors

Kadant Inc.:

Opinions on the Consolidated Financial Statements and Internal Control Over Financial Reporting

We have audited the accompanying consolidated balance sheets of Kadant Inc. and subsidiaries (the Company) as of January 2, 2021 and December 28, 2019, the related consolidated statements of income, comprehensive income, cash flows, and stockholders’ equity for each of the fiscal years in the three-year period ended January 2, 2021, and the related notes (collectively, the consolidated financial statements). We also have audited the Company’s internal control over financial reporting as of January 2, 2021 based on criteria established in Internal Control – Integrated Framework (2013) issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission.

In our opinion, the consolidated financial statements referred to above present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of the Company as of January 2, 2021 and December 28, 2019, and the results of its operations and its cash flows for each of the fiscal years in the three-year period ended January 2, 2021, in conformity with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles. Also in our opinion, the Company maintained, in all material respects, effective internal control over financial reporting as of January 2, 2021 based on criteria established in Internal Control – Integrated Framework (2013) issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission.

Basis for Opinions

The Company’s management is responsible for these consolidated financial statements, for maintaining effective internal control over financial reporting, and for its assessment of the effectiveness of internal control over financial reporting, included in the accompanying Management’s Annual Report on Internal Control over Financial Reporting. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on the Company’s consolidated financial statements and an opinion on the Company’s internal control over financial reporting based on our audits. We are a public accounting firm registered with the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States) (PCAOB) and are required to be independent with respect to the Company in accordance with the U.S. federal securities laws and the applicable rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission and the PCAOB.

We conducted our audits in accordance with the standards of the PCAOB. Those standards require that we plan and perform the audits to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the consolidated financial statements are free of material misstatement, whether due to error or fraud, and whether effective internal control over financial reporting was maintained in all material respects.

Our audits of the consolidated financial statements included performing procedures to assess the risks of material misstatement of the consolidated financial statements, whether due to error or fraud, and performing procedures that respond to those risks. Such procedures included examining, on a test basis, evidence regarding the amounts and disclosures in the consolidated financial statements. Our audits also included evaluating the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, as well as evaluating the overall presentation of the consolidated financial statements. Our audit of internal control over financial reporting included obtaining an understanding of internal control over financial reporting, assessing the risk that a material weakness exists, and testing and evaluating the design and operating effectiveness of internal control based on the assessed risk. Our audits also included performing such other procedures as we considered necessary in the circumstances. We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinions.

Definition and Limitations of Internal Control Over Financial Reporting

A company’s internal control over financial reporting is a process designed to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles. A company’s internal control over financial reporting includes those policies and procedures that (1) pertain to the maintenance of records that, in reasonable detail, accurately and fairly reflect the transactions and dispositions of the assets of the company; (2) provide reasonable assurance that transactions are recorded as necessary to permit preparation of financial statements in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles, and that receipts and expenditures of the company are being made only in accordance with authorizations of management and directors of the company; and (3) provide reasonable assurance regarding prevention or timely detection of unauthorized acquisition, use, or disposition of the company’s assets that could have a material effect on the financial statements.

Because of its inherent limitations, internal control over financial reporting may not prevent or detect misstatements. Also, projections of any evaluation of effectiveness to future periods are subject to the risk that controls may become inadequate because of changes in conditions, or that the degree of compliance with the policies or procedures may deteriorate.

F-2

Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm (continued)

Critical Audit Matter

The critical audit matter communicated below is a matter arising from the current period audit of the consolidated financial statements that was communicated or required to be communicated to the audit committee and that: (1) relates to accounts or disclosures that are material to the consolidated financial statements and (2) involved our especially challenging, subjective, or complex judgments. The communication of a critical audit matter does not alter in any way our opinion on the consolidated financial statements, taken as a whole, and we are not, by communicating the critical audit matter below, providing a separate opinion on the critical audit matter or on the accounts or disclosures to which it relates.

Assessment of uncertain tax positions

As discussed in Note 1 to the consolidated financial statements, it is the Company’s policy to provide for uncertain tax positions and the related interest and penalties based upon management’s assessment of whether a tax benefit is more likely than not to be sustained upon examination by tax authorities. As disclosed in Note 5 to the consolidated financial statements, the Company has recognized uncertain tax positions amounting to $8,337,000 as of January 2, 2021. The Company’s tax positions are subject to audit by local taxing authorities across multiple global jurisdictions. Tax law can be complex and tax audits can take an extended period of time to resolve, and accordingly, the ultimate outcome with respect to taxes the Company may owe may differ from the amounts recognized.

We identified the assessment of uncertain tax positions as a critical audit matter. Complex auditor judgment, including specialized skills and knowledge, was required in evaluating the Company’s interpretation of, and compliance with, tax law globally and the estimate of the amount of tax benefits expected to be realized.

The following are the primary procedures we performed to address this critical audit matter. We evaluated the design and tested the operating effectiveness of certain internal controls related to the Company’s process to assess uncertain tax positions. This included controls related to the identification of uncertain tax positions, interpretation of tax law and its application in the liability estimation process. We involved domestic and international tax professionals with specialized skills and knowledge, who assisted in:

•assessing tax positions for compliance with applicable laws and regulations

•evaluating the Company’s uncertain tax positions by developing independent expectations of the uncertain tax positions using independent assumptions and comparing them to the Company’s estimates

•assessing the expiration of statutes of limitations with applicable laws and regulations.

/s/ KPMG LLP

We have served as the Company's auditor since 2012.

Boston, Massachusetts

March 2, 2021

F-3

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Kadant Inc. 2020 Financial Statements

Consolidated Balance Sheet

Assets

Current Assets:

Liabilities and Stockholders' Equity

Current Liabilities:

Current maturities of long-term obligations (Note 6) $ 1,474 $ 2,851

Accrued payroll and employee benefits 31,168 31,968

Commitments and Contingencies (Note 7)

Stockholders' Equity (Notes 3 and 4):

Preferred stock, $.01 par value, 5,000,000 shares authorized; none issued — —

Accumulated other comprehensive items (Note 14) (19,492) (37,620)

Total Liabilities and Stockholders' Equity $ 927,571 $ 939,387

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

F-4

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Kadant Inc. 2020 Financial Statements

Consolidated Statement of Income

Costs and Operating Expenses:

Net Income Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest (543) (496) (633)

Earnings per Share Attributable to Kadant (Note 13)

Weighted Average Shares (Note 13)

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

F-5

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Kadant Inc. 2020 Financial Statements

Consolidated Statement of Comprehensive Income

Other Comprehensive Items:

Comprehensive Income Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest (687) (445) (555)

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

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Kadant Inc. 2020 Financial Statements

Consolidated Statement of Cash Flows

Operating Activities

Net income attributable to noncontrolling interest 543 496 633

Provision for losses on accounts receivable 356 114 355

(Gain) loss on sale of property, plant, and equipment (8) (79) 110

U.S. benefit plans settlement and curtailment losses — 5,887 1,425

Deferred income tax provision (benefit) 142 (2,491) (4,240)

Changes in current assets and liabilities, net of effects of acquisitions:

Investing Activities

Acquisitions, net of cash acquired (Note 2) (7,095) (177,798) —

Purchases of property, plant, and equipment (7,595) (9,957) (16,559)

Proceeds from sale of property, plant, and equipment 145 398 195

Financing Activities

Proceeds from issuance of Company common stock 3,207 5,176 813

Dividend paid to noncontrolling interest (525) (664) (465)

Other financing activities (189) (56) (934)

See Note 1, Nature of Operations and Summary of Significant Accounting Policies,

under the heading Supplemental Cash Flow Information for further details.

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

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Kadant Inc. 2020 Financial Statements

Consolidated Statement of Stockholders' Equity

(In thousands, except share and per share amounts) Common Stock Treasury Stock

Shares Amount Shares Amount

Adoption of ASU No. 2016-16 — — — (75) — — — — (75)

Dividends declared – Common Stock, $0.88 per share — — — (9,772) — — — — (9,772)

Dividend paid to noncontrolling interest — — — — — — — (465) (465)

Adoption of ASU No. 2016-02 (Note 1) — — — (17) — — — — (17)

Dividend paid to noncontrolling interest — — — — — — — (664) (664)

Other comprehensive items — — — — — — 1,756 (51) 1,705

Dividend paid to noncontrolling interest — — — — — — — (525) (525)

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

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Kadant Inc. 2020 Financial Statements

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

1. Nature of Operations and Summary of Significant Accounting Policies

Nature of Operations

Kadant Inc. was incorporated in Delaware in November 1991 and trades on the New York Stock Exchange under the ticker symbol "KAI."

Kadant Inc. (together with its subsidiaries, the Company) is a global supplier of high-value, critical components and engineered systems used in process industries worldwide. Its products, technologies, and services play an integral role in enhancing process efficiency, optimizing energy utilization, and maximizing productivity in resource-intensive industries.

COVID-19

The ongoing COVID-19 pandemic has negatively affected the global economy, disrupted global supply chains, and resulted in significant travel and transport restrictions, which adversely affected the Company’s bookings and financial results for a substantial part of 2020. The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, including the resulting economic impact, continues to evolve and the Company is closely monitoring its impact on all aspects of its business and will continue to take actions that are in the best interests of its employees, customers, and stakeholders.

Noncontrolling Interest

One of the Company's foreign subsidiaries that manufactures fluid-handling products is part of a joint venture agreement with an Italian company in which each holds a 50% ownership interest. The agreement provides the Company's subsidiary with the option to purchase the remaining 50% interest in the joint venture.

Principles of Consolidation

The accompanying consolidated financial statements of the Company include the accounts of its wholly and majority-owned subsidiaries. All material intercompany accounts and transactions have been eliminated.

Fiscal Year

Typically, the Company's fiscal quarters and fiscal year consist of 13 and 52 weeks, respectively, ending on the Saturday closest to the end of the corresponding calendar quarter for its fiscal quarters and on the Saturday closest to December 31 for its fourth fiscal quarter and fiscal year. As a result of the difference between the fiscal and calendar periods, a 53rd week is added to the Company's fiscal year every five or six years. In a 53-week fiscal year, the Company's fourth fiscal quarter contains 14 weeks. The Company's fiscal year ended January 2, 2021 (fiscal 2020) contained 53 weeks and its fiscal years ended December 28, 2019 (fiscal 2019) and December 29, 2018 (fiscal 2018) both contained 52 weeks. Each quarter of fiscal 2020, 2019 and 2018 contained 13 weeks, except the fourth quarter of 2020, which contained 14 weeks.

Financial Statement Presentation

Effective at the beginning of 2019, the Company adopted Accounting Standards Update (ASU) No. 2016-02, Leases (Topic 842) (Topic 842), using the cumulative-effect adjustment method. Consolidated statement of income amounts and disclosures in 2020 and 2019 are presented under Topic 842, while 2018 is not adjusted and is reported under the Company's prior method of accounting for leases in accordance with Accounting Standards Codification (ASC) 840, Leases (Topic 840) (Topic 840), which is allowed under the transition guidance in Topic 842.

Effective at the beginning of 2020, the Company realigned its business segments into three new reportable operating segments: Flow Control, Industrial Processing, and Material Handling. The Company previously reported its financial results by combining its operating entities into three reportable operating segments: Papermaking Systems, Wood Processing Systems, and Material Handling Systems, and a separate product line, Fiber-based Products. Financial information for 2019 and 2018 has been recast to conform to the new segment presentation. See Note 12, Business Segment and Geographical Information, for further detail regarding the Company's segments.

Use of Estimates and Critical Accounting Policies

The preparation of financial statements in conformity with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP) requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities, disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements, and the reported amounts of revenue and expenses during the reporting period. Although the Company makes every effort to ensure the accuracy of the estimates and assumptions used in the preparation of its condensed consolidated financial statements or in the application of accounting policies, if business

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Kadant Inc. 2020 Financial Statements

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

conditions were different, or if the Company were to use different estimates and assumptions, it is possible that materially different amounts could be reported in the Company's condensed consolidated financial statements.

Critical accounting policies are defined as those that entail significant judgments and estimates, and could potentially result in materially different results under different assumptions and conditions. The Company believes that the most critical accounting policies upon which its financial position depends, and which involve the most complex or subjective decisions or assessments, concern income taxes, revenue recognition, the valuation of goodwill and intangible assets, and inventories. A discussion of the application of these and other accounting policies is included within this note.

Revenue Recognition

The Company recognizes revenue in accordance with ASC, Revenue from Contracts with Customers (Topic 606). Most of the Company’s revenue is recognized at a point in time for each performance obligation under the contract when the customer obtains control of the goods or service. Most of the Company’s parts and consumables products and its capital products with minimal customization are accounted for at a point in time. The Company has made a policy election to not treat the obligation to ship as a separate performance obligation under the contract and, as a result, the associated shipping costs are reflected in cost of revenue when revenue is recognized.

The remaining portion of the Company’s revenue is recognized on an over time basis based on an input method that compares the costs incurred to date to the total expected costs required to satisfy the performance obligation. Contracts are accounted for on an over time basis when they include products which have no alternative use and an enforceable right to payment over time. Most of the contracts recognized on an over time basis are for large capital projects. These projects are highly customized for the customer and, as a result, would include a significant cost to rework in the event of cancellation.

The following table presents revenue by revenue recognition method:

The transaction price includes estimated variable consideration where applicable. Such variable consideration relates to certain performance guarantees and rights to return the product. The Company estimates variable consideration as the most likely amount to which it expects to be entitled based on the terms of the contracts with customers and historical experience, where relevant. For contracts with multiple performance obligations, the transaction price is allocated to each performance obligation based on the relative stand-alone selling price.

The Company disaggregates its revenue from contracts with customers by reportable operating segment, product type and geography as this best depicts how its revenue is affected by economic factors.

The following table presents the disaggregation of revenue by product type and geography:

Revenue by Product Type:

Revenue by Geography (based on customer location):

See Note 12, Business Segment and Geographical Information, for information on the disaggregation of revenue by reportable operating segment.

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Kadant Inc. 2020 Financial Statements

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

The following table presents contract balances from contracts with customers:

Contract assets represent unbilled revenue associated with revenue recognized on contracts accounted for on an over time basis, which will be billed in future periods based on the contract terms. Contract liabilities consist of customer deposits, advanced billings, and deferred revenue. Deferred revenue is included in other current liabilities in the accompanying consolidated balance sheet. Contract liabilities will be recognized as revenue in future periods once the revenue recognition criteria are met. The majority of the contract liabilities relate to advance payments on contracts accounted for at a point in time. These advance payments will be recognized as revenue when the Company's performance obligations have been satisfied, which typically occurs when the product has shipped and control of the asset has transferred to the customer. The Company recognized revenue of $30,426,000 in 2020 and $29,220,000 in 2019 that was included in the contract liabilities balance at the beginning of 2020 and 2019. The majority of the Company's contracts for capital equipment have an original expected duration of one year or less. Certain capital contracts require long lead times and could take up to 24 months to complete. For contracts with an original expected duration of over one year, the aggregate amount of the transaction price allocated to the remaining unsatisfied or partially unsatisfied performance obligations as of year-end 2020 was $14,916,000. The Company will recognize revenue for these performance obligations as they are satisfied, approximately 50% of which is expected to occur within the next twelve months and the remaining 50% within twenty-four months.

Customers in China will often settle their accounts receivable with banker's acceptance drafts, in which case cash settlement will be delayed until the drafts mature or are settled prior to maturity. For customers outside of China, final payment for the majority of the Company's products is received in the quarter following the product shipment. Certain of the Company's contracts include a longer period before final payment is due, which is typically within one year of final shipment or transfer of control to the customer.

The Company includes in revenue amounts invoiced for shipping and handling with the corresponding costs reflected in cost of revenue. Provisions for discounts, warranties, returns and other adjustments are provided for in the period in which the related sale was recorded. Sales taxes, value-added taxes, and certain excise taxes collected from customers and remitted to governmental authorities are accounted for on a net basis and therefore are excluded from revenue.

Accounts Receivable and Allowance for Credit Losses

Accounts receivable arise from sales on credit to customers, are recorded at the invoiced amount, and do not bear interest. The Company establishes an allowance for credit losses to reduce accounts receivable to the net amount expected to be collected. The Company exercises judgment in determining its allowance for credit losses, which is based on its historical collection and write-off experience, adjusted for current macroeconomic trends and conditions, credit policies, specific customer collection issues, and accounts receivable aging. The Company performs ongoing credit evaluations of its customers and adjusts credit limits based upon payment history and each customer's current creditworthiness. The Company continuously monitors collections and payments from its customers. Account balances are charged off against the allowance when the Company believes it is probable the receivable will not be recovered. In some instances, the Company utilizes letters of credit to mitigate its credit exposure.

The changes in the allowance for credit losses are as follows:

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Kadant Inc. 2020 Financial Statements

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

Banker's Acceptance Drafts Included in Accounts Receivable

The Company's Chinese subsidiaries may receive banker's acceptance drafts from customers as payment for their trade accounts receivable. The drafts are noninterest-bearing obligations of the issuing bank and mature within six months of the origination date. The Company's Chinese subsidiaries may sell the drafts at a discount to a third-party financial institution or transfer the drafts to vendors in settlement of current accounts payable prior to the scheduled maturity date. These drafts, which totaled $9,445,000 at year-end 2020 and $5,230,000 at year-end 2019, are included in accounts receivable in the accompanying consolidated balance sheet until the subsidiary sells the drafts to a bank and receives a discounted amount, transfers the banker's acceptance drafts in settlement of current accounts payable prior to maturity, or obtains cash payment on the scheduled maturity date.

Warranty Obligations

The Company's contracts covering the sale of its products include warranty provisions that provide assurance to its customers that the products will comply with agreed-upon specifications during a defined period of time. The Company provides for the estimated cost of product warranties at the time of sale based on the historical occurrence rates and repair costs, as well as knowledge of any specific warranty problems that indicate projected warranty costs may vary from historical patterns. The Company negotiates the terms regarding warranty coverage and length of warranty depending on the products and applications. While the Company engages in extensive product quality programs and processes, the Company's warranty obligation is affected by product failure rates, repair costs, service delivery costs incurred in correcting a product failure, and supplier warranties on parts delivered to the Company. Should these factors or actual results differ from the Company's estimates, revisions to the estimated warranty liability would be required.

The Company's liability for warranties is included in other current liabilities in the accompanying consolidated balance sheet. The changes in the carrying amount of product warranty obligations are as follows:

Balance at Beginning of Year $ 6,467 $ 5,726

Acquisition — 303

Currency translation 481 (34)

Leases

In accordance with Topic 842, the Company determines whether an arrangement is, or contains, a lease at inception. Operating leases that have commenced are included in other assets, other current liabilities and other long-term liabilities in the accompanying consolidated balance sheet. Classification of operating lease liabilities as either current or noncurrent is based on the expected timing of payments due under the Company’s lease obligations.

Right-of-use (ROU) assets represent the Company’s right to use an underlying asset for the lease term and lease liabilities represent the Company’s obligation to make lease payments arising from the lease. Operating lease ROU assets and liabilities with original contract terms greater than 12 months are recognized based on the present value of the future minimum lease payments over the lease term at the commencement date. Operating leases with an original term of 12 months or less are not recorded in the accompanying consolidated balance sheet.

In determining the present value of future lease payments, the Company utilizes either the rate implicit in the lease if that rate is readily determinable or its incremental secured borrowing rate commensurate with the term of the underlying lease. Lease terms may include the effect of options to extend or terminate the lease when it is reasonably certain that the Company will exercise that option. The Company recognizes operating lease expense for lease payments on a straight-line basis over the lease term. Variable lease costs are not included in fixed lease payments and, as a result, are excluded from the measurement of the ROU assets and lease liabilities. The Company expenses all variable lease costs as incurred, which were not material in 2020 and 2019.

As a lessee, the Company accounts for the lease and non-lease components of its real estate and equipment leases as a single lease component. For vehicle leases, the Company does not combine lease and non-lease components.

See Note 9, Leases, for additional information about the Company's lease obligations.

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Kadant Inc. 2020 Financial Statements

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

Income Taxes

In accordance with ASC 740, Income Taxes (ASC 740), the Company recognizes deferred income taxes based on the expected future tax consequences of differences between the financial statement basis and the tax basis of assets and liabilities, calculated using enacted tax rates in effect for the year in which these differences are expected to reverse. A tax valuation allowance is established, as needed, to reduce deferred tax assets to the amount expected to be realized. In the period in which it becomes more likely than not that some or all of the deferred tax assets will be realized, the valuation allowance will be adjusted.

It is the Company's policy to provide for uncertain tax positions and the related interest and penalties based upon management's assessment of whether a tax benefit is more likely than not to be sustained upon examination by tax authorities. The Company recognizes accrued interest and penalties related to unrecognized tax benefits in the provision for income taxes. At January 2, 2021, the Company believes that it has appropriately accounted for any liability for unrecognized tax benefits. To the extent the Company prevails in matters for which a liability for an unrecognized tax benefit is established, the statute of limitations expires for a tax jurisdiction year, or the Company is required to pay amounts in excess of the liability, its effective tax rate in a given financial statement period may be affected.

Earnings per Share

Basic earnings per share (EPS) is computed by dividing net income attributable to Kadant by the weighted average number of shares outstanding during the year. Diluted EPS is computed using the treasury stock method assuming the effect of all potentially dilutive securities, including stock options, restricted stock units (RSUs) and employee stock purchase plan shares.

Cash, Cash Equivalents, and Restricted Cash

At year-end 2020 and year-end 2019, cash equivalents included investments in money market funds and marketable securities, which had maturities of three months or less at the date of purchase. The carrying amounts of cash equivalents approximate their fair values due to the short-term nature of these instruments.

Restricted cash serves as collateral for certain banker's acceptance drafts issued to vendors and for bank guarantees associated with providing assurance to customers that the Company will fulfill certain customer obligations entered into in the normal course of business. The majority of the bank guarantees will expire over the next twelve months.

The following table provides a reconciliation of cash, cash equivalents, and restricted cash reported within the accompanying consolidated balance sheet that are shown in aggregate in the consolidated statement of cash flows:

Total Cash, Cash Equivalents, and Restricted Cash $ 66,640 $ 68,273 $ 46,117

Supplemental Cash Flow Information

Non-Cash Investing Activities:

Fair value of assets acquired $ 9,295 $ 207,223 $ —

Cash paid for acquired businesses (7,565) (179,693) —

Liabilities Assumed of Acquired Businesses $ 1,730 $ 27,530 $ —

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Kadant Inc. 2020 Financial Statements

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

Non-cash additions to property, plant, and equipment $ 1,060 $ 626 $ 917

Non-Cash Financing Activities:

Issuance of Company common stock upon vesting of RSUs $ 4,781 $ 4,100 $ 4,231

Inventories

Inventories are stated at the lower of cost (on a first-in, first-out; or weighted average basis) or net realizable value and include materials, labor, and manufacturing overhead. The Company regularly reviews its quantities of inventories on hand and compares these amounts to the historical and forecasted usage of and demand for each particular product or product line. The Company records a charge to cost of revenue for excess and obsolete inventory to reduce the carrying value of inventories to net realizable value.

The components of inventories are as follows:

Property, Plant, and Equipment

Property, plant, and equipment are stated at cost. The costs of additions and improvements are capitalized, while maintenance and repairs are charged to expense as incurred. The Company provides for depreciation and amortization primarily using the straight-line method over the estimated useful lives of the property as follows: buildings, 10 to 40 years; machinery and equipment, 2 to 10 years; and leasehold improvements, the shorter of the term of the lease or the life of the asset. For construction in progress, no provision for depreciation is made until the assets are available and ready for use.

Property, plant, and equipment consist of the following:

Machinery, Equipment, and Leasehold Improvements 120,804 112,655

Less: Accumulated Depreciation and Amortization 107,832 95,309

Depreciation and amortization expense was $12,209,000 in 2020, $12,236,000 in 2019, and $9,386,000 in 2018. See Note 9, Leases, for further details relating to assets under financing leases included in property, plant and equipment in the accompanying consolidated balance sheet.

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Kadant Inc. 2020 Financial Statements

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

Intangible Assets, Net

Acquired intangible assets by major asset class are as follows:

(In thousands) Gross AccumulatedAmortization CurrencyTranslation Net

Definite-Lived

Indefinite-Lived

Definite-Lived

Indefinite-Lived

Gross intangible assets include $3,907,000 for acquired intangible assets from acquisitions that occurred in 2020. See Note 2, Acquisitions, for further details.

In connection with its impairment analysis, the Company reduced its definite-lived intangible assets by $1,861,000 in 2020 and definite and indefinite-lived intangible assets by $2,336,000 in 2019. Additionally, the Company reclassified $1,300,000 of an indefinite-lived tradename to definite-lived in 2019. See Impairment of Long-Lived Assets under the heading Intangible Assets within this note for further details.

Intangible assets are initially recorded at fair value at the date of acquisition. Subsequent impairment charges are reflected as a reduction in the gross balance, as applicable. Definite-lived intangible assets are stated net of accumulated amortization and currency translation in the accompanying consolidated balance sheet. The Company amortizes definite-lived intangible assets over lives that have been determined based on the anticipated cash flow benefits of the intangible asset. Definite-lived intangible assets have a weighted average amortization period of 12 years. Amortization of definite-lived intangible assets was $19,125,000 in 2020, $20,154,000 in 2019, and $14,182,000 in 2018. The estimated future amortization expense of definite-lived intangible assets is $18,365,000 in 2021; $17,398,000 in 2022; $15,849,000 in 2023; $14,839,000 in 2024; $12,729,000 in 2025; and $57,358,000 in the aggregate thereafter.

Goodwill

Goodwill represents the excess of the cost of an acquisition over the fair value of the identifiable net assets of the acquired business at the date of acquisition. The Company’s acquisitions have historically been made at prices above the fair value of the acquired net assets, resulting in goodwill, due to the expectation of synergies from combining the businesses.

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Kadant Inc. 2020 Financial Statements

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

The changes in the carrying amount of goodwill by segment are as follows:

(In thousands) Flow Control Industrial Processing Material Handling Total

Balance as of December 29, 2018 (a)

Accumulated impairment losses — (85,509) — (85,509)

Balance at December 28, 2019 (a)

Accumulated impairment losses — (85,509) — (85,509)

Balance at January 2, 2021

Accumulated impairment losses — (85,509) — (85,509)

(a)Goodwill amounts for 2019 and 2018 have been recast to conform to the current period presentation. See Note 12, Business Segment and Geographical Information, for further details regarding the Company's change in reportable operating segments.

Impairment of Long-Lived Assets

The Company evaluates the recoverability of goodwill and indefinite-lived intangible assets as of the end of each fiscal year, or more frequently if events or changes in circumstances indicate that it is more likely than not that the carrying value of an asset might be impaired. Potential impairment indicators include a significant decline in sales, earnings, or cash flows, material adverse changes in the business climate, and a significant decline in the market capitalization due to a sustained decrease in the Company's stock price.

The Company assesses its long-lived assets other than goodwill and indefinite-lived intangible assets (definite-lived intangible assets) for impairment whenever facts and circumstances indicate that the carrying amounts may not be fully recoverable. To analyze recoverability, the Company projects undiscounted net future cash flows over the remaining lives of such assets or asset groups. If these projected cash flows were to be less than the carrying amounts, an impairment loss would be recognized, resulting in a write-down of the assets with a corresponding charge to earnings. The impairment loss would be measured based upon the difference between the carrying amounts of the assets and their fair values calculated using projected discounted cash flows.

Goodwill

In March 2020, the Company experienced a significant decrease in market capitalization due to a decline in the Company’s stock price. During that time, the overall U.S. stock market also declined significantly amid market volatility driven by the uncertainty surrounding the COVID-19 pandemic. Based on these occurrences, the Company concluded that a triggering event had occurred related to the indefinite-lived assets within its material handling reporting unit. As a result, for each reporting period in 2020, the Company prepared a quantitative impairment analysis (Step 1) for its material handling reporting unit, which indicated that its fair value exceeded its carrying value and the indefinite-lived assets were not impaired.

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Kadant Inc. 2020 Financial Statements

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

At year-end 2020, in connection with its annual impairment analysis, the Company performed a qualitative goodwill impairment assessment (Step 0) for all its reporting units, except the material handling reporting unit, which indicated that the fair value of each reporting unit exceeded its carrying value, and determined that the assets were not impaired. The impairment analysis included an assessment of certain qualitative factors including, but not limited to, the results of prior fair value calculations, the movement of the Company's share price and market capitalization, the reporting unit and overall financial performance, and macroeconomic and industry conditions. The Company considered the qualitative factors and weighed the evidence obtained and determined that it was not more likely than not that the fair value of any of the assets was less than its carrying amount. Although the Company believes the factors considered in the impairment analysis are reasonable, significant changes in any one of the assumptions used could have produced a different result. For its material handling reporting unit, the Company performed a quantitative goodwill impairment assessment (Step 1), which indicated that its fair value exceeded its carrying value for this reporting unit and determined that the asset was not impaired.

At year-end 2019, in connection with its annual impairment analysis, the Company performed a qualitative goodwill impairment assessment (Step 0) for all its reporting units and determined that the assets were not impaired.

Goodwill by reporting unit is as follows:

(a)Goodwill balances as of December 28, 2019 have been recast to conform to the current period presentation. See Note 12, Business Segment and Geographical Information, for further details regarding the Company's change in reportable operating segments.

Intangible Assets

At year-end 2020 and 2019, the Company performed a qualitative impairment analysis on its indefinite-lived intangible assets and determined that the assets were not impaired, except in 2019 related to the indefinite-lived tradename associated with its timber-harvesting product line discussed below.

No triggering events or indicators of impairment were identified in 2020 or 2019 related to the Company's definite-lived intangible assets, except for the definite-lived intangible assets associated with its timber-harvesting product line discussed below.

KAI US Equity

KAI · 10-K · period ended 2021-01-02

Item 7. Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations

Item 7A. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk

Item 8. Financial Statements and Supplementary Data

Item 9. Changes in and Disagreements with Accountants on Accounting and Financial Disclosure

Item 9A. Controls and Procedures

Item 9B. Other Information

Item 10. Directors, Executive Officers, and Corporate Governance

Item 11. Executive Compensation

Item 12. Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and Management and Related Stockholder Matters

Item 13. Certain Relationships and Related Transactions, and Director Independence

Item 14. Principal Accountant Fees and Services

Item 15. Exhibits and Financial Statement Schedules

Item 16. Form 10-K Summary

KAI US Equity☆

KAI · 10-K · period ended 2021-01-02

Item 7. Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations

Item 7A. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk

Item 8. Financial Statements and Supplementary Data

Item 9. Changes in and Disagreements with Accountants on Accounting and Financial Disclosure

Item 9A. Controls and Procedures

Item 9B. Other Information

Item 10. Directors, Executive Officers, and Corporate Governance

Item 11. Executive Compensation

Item 12. Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and Management and Related Stockholder Matters

Item 13. Certain Relationships and Related Transactions, and Director Independence

Item 14. Principal Accountant Fees and Services

Item 15. Exhibits and Financial Statement Schedules

Item 16. Form 10-K Summary

KAI US Equity