Unit (TSBU) is a pioneer and market leader
in the design and production of instrumented training systems for military
customers. These systems generally
permit live training in air and land combat environments, with weapons and
other effects simulated by electronic and/or laser technology. The systems also enable the collection (based
on Global Positioning System technology) and analysis of behavior and event
data for determination of combat effectiveness and lessons learned. As such, the systems generally have a high
degree of communications and software sophistication.
TSBUs business is organized into Air Combat Training, Land Combat
Training, Tactical Engagement Simulation, and Simulation Systems. In Air Combat Training, Cubic was the initial
developer and supplier of Air Combat Maneuvering Instrumentation (ACMI)
capability during the Vietnam War and continues to lead that market with the
competitive award in 2003 of a 10-year, $525 million indefinite delivery/
indefinite quantity (IDIQ) contract to provide upgraded air combat training
capability to the U.S. Air Force, Navy and Marine Corps. The latest ACMI systems permit forces to
train on either a fixed geographic range or in a rangeless environment. Many other nations employ Cubics ACMI
systems.
TSBUs Land Combat Training involves systems analogous to air ranges for
ground force training. TSBU provided
turnkey systems to instrument two U.S. Army training centers in past years at
Fort Polk, LA (Joint Readiness Training Center JRTC) and Hohenfels, Germany
(Combat Maneuver Training Center CMTC) and is engaged in a multiyear effort
to expand capability of the Alaska Training Range. The unit also built ranges in recent years
for the British Army in the U.K. and Canada.
TSBU is currently working on similar land combat training centers for
Canada, Australia and for customers in the Middle East and Far East. To meet
new customer demand for mobile instrumented training, TSBU has also developed a
transportable, deployable system, known as I-HITS, now being fielded by the U.S.
Army. In 2005, TSBU was awarded a five-year $72 million IDIQ contract to
produce I-HITS for the U.S. Army.
Laser-based Tactical Engagement Simulation systems, generally known as
MILES (Multiple Integrated Laser Engagement Simulators), are used at combat training
centers (CTC) and in other training environments to permit weapons to be used
realistically, registering hits or kills, without live ammunition. TSBU supplies MILES equipment as part of CTC
contracts and as an independent product line.
Cubic MILES systems are being heavily utilized by U.S. Army and Marine
Corps forces, as well as Air Force security forces, other U.S. agencies and
many international customers. We produce
MILES equipment in
the U.S. and at our New Zealand-based subsidiary, Oscmar International. In 2005, Cubic was awarded a 5-year $113
million IDIQ contract to produce MILES Individual Weapon System (IWS) kits for
the U. S. Army.
TSBUs Simulation Systems Division (SSD) produces virtual training
systems, employing actual or realistic weapons and systems together with visual
imagery to simulate actual battlefield or other environments. SSD also produces combat system and
maintenance trainers.
Mission Support Services
CDAs Mission Support Business Unit (MSBU), along with the separate
Force Modernization Division (FMD), is a leading provider of tactical
knowledge-based services to the U.S. Government and allied nations, with an
emphasis on military training. Our
mission support business consists of approximately 3,300 people at more than
100 locations throughout the world. Our
personnel serve with clients in their actual environments and prepare forces
through comprehensive training, exercises, education, and operational support
to meet the full scope of their missions, from large scale combat operations,
to special operations, peacekeeping, consequence management, and humanitarian
assistance operations worldwide. We also
plan, prepare, execute and document realistic and focused mission rehearsal
exercises (including live and computer-based) as final preparation of forces
prior to their deployment to mission areas.
In addition, we provide high level consultation and advisory services to
the governments and militaries of allied nations. U.S. government service contracts are
typically awarded on a competitive basis with options for multiple years. In this competitive market, MSBU and FMD are
viewed as premier service providers and formidable competitors. We typically compete as prime contractors to
the government, but also team with other companies depending on the skills
required. Much of our early work
centered on battle command training and simulation, in which military
commanders are taught to make correct decisions in battle situations. More recently, the business base has broadened
to include integrated live, virtual, and constructive training support,
distance learning, knowledge management, weapons effects modeling, intelligence
analysis, homeland security training and exercises, and military force
modernization.
Our programs include providing mission support services to three of the
Armys major CTCs, to the JRTC as prime contractor, and to the National
Training Center (NTC) and Battle Command Training Program (BCTP) as a principal
subcontractor. These services include
planning, executing and documenting large scale exercises aimed at stressing
U.S. forces in situations as close to actual combat as possible. Cubic is
assisting the Army National Guard in developing and implementing a similar
exportable combat training capability at selected Guard locations in the U.S.
At U.S. Joint Forces Command, Cubic supports and helps manage all
aspects of the operations of the Joint Warfighting Center (JWFC), including
support to worldwide exercises and the development and fielding of the Joint
National Training Capability (JNTC). We
provide similar technical and management support services to the U.S. Armys
National Simulation Center (NSC) at Fort Leavenworth, Kansas. On the Marine Air
Ground Task Force Training Systems Support (MTSS) contract, Cubic provides
comprehensive training and exercise support to U.S. Marine forces worldwide,
including real-world mission rehearsals.
We have planned and executed virtually all Marine Corps simulation-based
exercises worldwide since 1998, directly preparing Marines for combat
operations. Cubic provides contractor logistics and training support necessary
to operate and maintain a wide variety of flight simulation, Unmanned Aerial
Vehicles (UAV), and other facilities worldwide for U.S. and allied forces under
multiple long-term contracts. In addition, we provide a broad range of
operational support to the U.S. Navys newly-formed Anti-Submarine Warfare
(ASW) Command.
Cubic initiated and has continued to operate the Korea Battle Simulation
Centers (KBSC) since their inception in 1991.
KBSC prepare U.S. and allied forces in Korea to deal with situations
which may develop in their areas of responsibility and include the worlds
largest and most complex training event, the annual ULCHI FOCUS LENS exercise.
At the U.S. Army I Corps Battle Simulation Center, Cubic provides the
technical and operational expertise necessary to support worldwide training,
exercises, evaluations, and mission rehearsals for I Corps active and reserve
component units, the new Stryker brigades, other services, and joint commands.
Cubic supports the Defense Threat Reduction Agency (DTRA) with
technology-based engineering and other services necessary to accomplish DTRAs
mission of predicting and defeating the effects of chemical, biological,
radiological, nuclear and high explosive (CBRNE) weapons. Cubic supports DTRA with modeling and
simulations to assess and predict the effects of such weapons in combat and
other environments. Additionally, Cubic provides comprehensive support to help
plan, manage, and execute DTRAs worldwide CBRNE exercise program, which trains
senior U.S. and allied civilian and military personnel, first responders, and
other users of DTRA products.
Cubic has multiple contracts with the U.S. Army and other government
agencies to improve the quality and reach of training and education initiatives
for individuals up through large organizations. Cubics products and
capabilities include development and deployment of curriculum and related
courseware, computer-based training, knowledge management and distribution,
advanced distance learning tools, and other advanced education programs for
U.S. and allied forces.
FMDs principal business is providing specialized teams of military
experts to advise the governments and militaries of the nations of the former
Warsaw Pact and Soviet Union in the transformation of their militaries to a
NATO environment. These very broad force
modernization contracts entail both sweeping vision and minute detail,
involving both the nations strategic foundation and the detailed planning of
all aspects of reform. FMD also operates battle simulation centers for select
countries.
We believe the combination and scope of CDAs mission support and
training systems business is unique in the industry, permitting us to offer
customers a complete training and readiness capability from one source.
Communications & Electronics
Our Communications and Electronics Business Unit (CEBU) is a supplier of
secure data links, intelligence receivers, high power RF amplifiers and search
and rescue avionics systems to the U.S. military, other agencies and allied
nations. CEBUs products support the
strong military trend toward network-centric warfare and modernization
initiatives. The unit has long supplied
the air/ground secure data link for the U.S. Army/Air Force Joint STARS system
and supplies the principal datalink for the United Kingdoms ASTOR
program. Capitalizing on a multiyear
internal R&D program, CEBU won a competitive contract in fiscal 2003 to
develop and produce the next-generation Common Data Link Subsystem (CDLS) for
the U.S. Navy. CDLS is now being
installed on major surface ships of the U.S. fleet. Smaller, tactical versions of our Common Data
Link have been selected for both legacy and new military platforms, such as
UAV, which require high performance in a small package.
CEBUs Personnel Locator System (PLS) is standard equipment on U.S.
aircraft with a search-rescue mission. We have continued to receive orders for an
upgraded PLS which has been redesigned to interface with all modern search and
rescue system standards, thus positioning us for major platform upgrades
expected over the next few years.
CEBU has also begun to successfully leverage its communications
products portfolio to move into larger subsystem and system level programs in
the areas of communications interception and jamming (Electronic Warfare) and
communications intelligence. We have
been awarded contracts by the U.S. Navy and intelligence services for the
initial development of these systems which could evolve to production contracts
and potentially lead to new opportunities within these services.
Raw Materials :
The principal raw materials used by the defense segment are sheet
aluminum and steel, copper electrical wire, and composite products. A significant portion of the segments end
products are composed of purchased electronic components and subcontracted
parts and supplies. These items are primarily procured from commercial
sources. In general, supplies of raw
materials and purchased parts are adequate to meet the requirements of the
segment.
Backlog :
Funded sales backlog of the defense segment at September 30, 2006 was
$509 million compared to $476 million at September 30, 2005. Total backlog, including unfunded
customer orders, was $763 million at September 30, 2006 compared to $728
million at September 30, 2005. Approximately
$360 million of the September 30, 2006 total backlog is not expected to be
completed by September 30, 2007.
Competition :
CDAs broad defense business portfolio means we compete with numerous
companies, large and small, domestic and international. In many cases, we have also teamed with these
same companies on specific bid opportunities.
Well known CDA competitors include Lockheed Martin, Northrop Grumman,
General Dynamics, Boeing, L3 Communications and SAIC. While CDA is generally smaller than its
competition, we believe our competitive advantages include past performance,
incumbent relationships and the ability to rapidly focus technology and innovation
to solve customer problems.
Competition also exists among projects for funding in the defense
budget. While the U.S. defense budget
has seen above average increases in recent years, long-term growth will only
occur in those segments which offer very high payoff and are consistent with
warfighting priorities and growing fiscal restraints. The U.S. defense market today can be
characterized as highly dynamic, with priorities and funding shifting in
reaction to, or anticipation of, world events much more rapidly than during the
Cold War or since. Overarching military
priorities include lighter, faster, more lethal forces with the ability and
training to rapidly adapt to new situations based on superior knowledge of the
battle environment. Superior knowledge
is enabled by systems which rapidly collect, process and disseminate the right
information to the right place at the right time, resulting in what DoD calls
network-centric warfare. We believe
Cubics training systems, training support and intelligence, surveillance and
reconnaissance capabilities are well matched to these sustainable defense
priorities.
TRANSPORTATION SYSTEMS
Cubic
Transportation Systems (CTS) is the leading turnkey solution provider of
automated fare collection systems for public transport authorities
worldwide. We provide a range of service
and system solutions for the bus, bus rapid transit, light rail, commuter rail,
heavy rail, ferry and parking markets.
These solutions and services include system design, central computer
systems, equipment design and manufacturing, device-level software,
integration, test, installation, warranty, maintenance, computer hosting
services, call center services, card management and distribution services,
financial clearing and settlement, multi-application support and outsourcing
services. In addition, CTS designs,
develops and manufactures special technology components, such as smart card
readers and magnetic ticket transports for use within its suite of fare
collection equipment consisting of on-bus solutions, access control solutions,
vending solutions, retail and card issuing solutions, and mobile inspection and
sales solutions.
Over
the years, the transportation segment has been awarded over 400 projects in 40
major markets on 5 continents. Active
projects include London, the New York / New Jersey region, the Washington, D.C.
/ Baltimore / Virginia region, the Los Angeles region, the San Diego region,
San Francisco, Minneapolis/St. Paul, Chicago, Atlanta, Brisbane, Australia, and
Sweden.
These
programs provide a base of current business and the potential for additional
future business as the systems are expanded.
In 1998, Transaction Systems Limited (TranSys), a joint venture company
in which Cubic has a 37.5% ownership, was awarded a contract called PRESTIGE
to outsource the London Transport fare collection services. This 17-year contract, now in its ninth year,
is the largest automated fare collection contract ever awarded. Our share of the work, including all contract
change orders to date, exceeds $1 billion over the 17-year life of the
contract.
Industry
Overview
Transport
agencies, particularly those based in the U.S., rely heavily on federal, state
and local government for subsidies in capital investments, including new
procurements and/or upgrades of automated fare collection systems. The average lifecycle for fare collection
systems is 12 to 15 years. Procurements
tend to follow a long and strict competitive bid process where low price is a
significant factor.
The
automated fare collection business is a niche market able to sustain only a
relatively few number of suppliers.
Because of the long life expectancy of these systems and only a few
companies able to supply them, there is fierce competition to win these jobs,
often resulting in low initial contract profitability.
Advances
in communications, networking and security technologies are enabling
interoperability of multiple modes of transportation within a single networked
system as well as interoperability of multiple operators within a single
networked system. As such, there is a
growing trend for regional ticketing systems, usually built around a large
transit agency and including neighboring operators, all sharing a common
regional smart card. There is an
emerging trend for other applications to be added to these regional systems to
expand the utility of the smart card, offering higher value and incentives to
the end users and lowering costs and creating new revenue streams for the
regional system operators. As a result,
these regional systems have created opportunities for new levels of systems
support and services including call center support, smart card production and
distribution, financial clearing and settlement and multi-application
support. In some cases, operators are
choosing to outsource the ongoing operations and commercialization of these
regional ticketing systems. This growing new market provides the opportunity to
establish lasting relationships and grow revenues and profits over the
long-term.
Raw Materials :
Raw materials used in this segment include sheet steel, composite
products, copper electrical wire and castings. A significant portion of the
segments end product is composed of purchased electronic components and
subcontracted parts and supplies. All of these items are procured from
commercial sources. In general, supplies
of raw materials and purchased parts are adequate to meet the requirements of
the segment.
Backlog :
Funded sales backlog of the transportation systems segment at September
30, 2006 and 2005 amounted to $716 million and $733 million, respectively.
Approximately $525 million of the September 30, 2006 total backlog is not
expected to be completed by September 30, 2007.
Competition :
We
are one of several companies involved in providing automated fare collection
systems solutions and services for public transport operators worldwide
including such foreign competitors as Thales, ACS, Scheidt & Bachmann and
ERG. In addition, there are many smaller
local companies, particularly in European and Asian markets. For large national tenders, it is common
practice to form consortiums that include, in addition to the fare collection
companies noted above, telecommunications, consulting and computer services companies
including Keane, Siemens, Accenture, Metropolitan Transit Railway Corporation,
Unisys, Computer Sciences Corporation and EDS.
These procurement activities are very competitive and require that we
have highly skilled and experienced technical personnel to compete. We believe
that our competitive advantages include intermodal and interagency regional
integration expertise, technical skills, past contract performance, systems
quality and reliability, experience in the industry and long-term customer
relationships.
OTHER OPERATIONS
Consolidated
Converting Company converts corrugated paper stock into pizza boxes and other
food related corrugated products.
Raw Materials :
Raw materials used by Consolidated Converting Company consist of paper
products which are procured from commercial sources. In general, supplies of raw materials are
presently adequate to meet the requirements of this business. Paper shortages could delay completion, or
result in the cancellation, of customer orders.
Backlog :
Consolidated Converting Company had little sales backlog at September
30, 2006 and 2005. The business does not track sales backlog due to the
short-term conversion of customer orders into sales and the absence of
long-term contracts.
Competition :
This business competes with concerns of varying size, including some
very large companies. It is not possible to predict the extent of the
competition which present or future activities will encounter, particularly
since the market for this subsidiarys products is subject to rapidly changing
competitive conditions.
BUSINESS STRATEGY
Our
objective is to consistently grow sales, improve profitability and deliver
attractive returns on capital. We intend
to build on our position with U.S. and foreign governments as the leading full
spectrum supplier of training systems and mission support services, grow our
niche position as a supplier of network-centric technologies for communications
systems and products, and maintain our position as the leading provider of
integrated intermodal regional transit fare collection systems to transit
authorities worldwide. Our strategies to achieve these objectives include:
Leverage Long-Term Relationships
We
seek to maintain long-term relationships with our customers through repeat
business by continuing to achieve high levels of performance on our existing
contracts. By achieving this goal we can
leverage our returns through repeat business with existing customers and expand
our presence in the market through sales of similar systems at good value to
additional customers.
An
example of this in our defense segment is the recent competitive award of a
contract to provide the next generation U.S. mobile ground training
system. Starting in the early 1980s we
built sophisticated ground training instrumented facilities for the U.S. and foreign
militaries. Our experience and
innovation in this area of training technology was a key factor in the recent
award by the U.S. Army of a five year $72 million IDIQ contract for the first
mobile training facilities known as Initial-Homestation Instrumentation
Training System or I-HITS. These new
mobile training facilities will be deployed into combat areas and will utilize
the latest in training technologies. Since the initial U.S. Army award in 2005,
we have received four additional awards under this contract for I-HITS
systems.
In
our transportation segment we have had a relationship with the Washington
Metropolitan Area Transportation Authority (WMATA) for over 30 years, since we
first implemented their magnetic ticketing system, and have over the years
installed a complete back office system and over 4,000 pieces of
equipment. In 1999, we upgraded their
system with SmarTrip Ò , the first contactless smart card
implementation in the U.S. and have since added other applications such as
parking, security access and prepaid transit benefits to the system. We are currently rolling out the SmarTrip
system to 1,600
WMATA
buses, to over 2,000 buses throughout the Baltimore and Northern Virginia
region and to the regional rail system.
We are also supplying a point-of-sale distribution network and upgrading
the central computer system to offer region-wide services and to interface to a
third party operated customer service center. Similarly, we are regionalizing
integrated fare collection systems in London, New York and Southern California.
Maintain a Diversified Business Mix
We
have a diverse mix of business in our defense and transportation systems
segments. Approximately 52% of our sales are made directly or indirectly to the
U.S. government; however, this represents a wide variety of product and service
sales to many different U.S. government agencies. The largest single contract
in the transportation segment is the PRESTIGE contract in London which
represented about 6% of consolidated sales in 2006. The London area continues
to be one of our strongest markets for transportation systems but we do not
rely significantly on any single customer in the transportation systems market.
We also seek a reasonable balance between systems and service work in
both the defense and transportation segments. In aggregate, approximately 40%
of our sales revenue in 2006 was from service type work. We believe that a
strong base of service work helps to smooth the revenue fluctuations inherent
in systems type work.
Pursue Strategic Acquisitions
Through
selective strategic acquisitions we seek to expand our customer base, broaden
our technical solutions, gain staffing resources and leverage our entry into
related new markets. In our defense segment we acquired a small virtual
training product line in 2006 that broadened our presence in the small arms
virtual training market. With our
improved financial performance in 2006, we anticipate a renewed focus on
acquisitions in fiscal 2007. We are focused on specific growth opportunities in
the defense marketplace and select market opportunities in transportation.
OTHER MATTERS
We pursue a policy of seeking patent protection for our products where
deemed advisable, but do not regard ourselves as materially dependent on
patents for the maintenance of our competitive position.
We do not engage in any business that is seasonal in nature. Because our
revenues are generated primarily from work on contracts performed by our
employees and subcontractors, first quarter revenues tend to be lower than the
other three quarters due to our policy of providing many of our employees seven
holidays in the first quarter, compared to one or two in each of the other
quarters of the year. This is not necessarily a consistent pattern as it
depends upon actual activities in any given year.
The cost of Company sponsored research and development (R&D)
activities was $6.1 million, $8.1 million, $5.5 million in 2006, 2005, 2004,
respectively. We do not rely heavily
on independent R&D, as most of our new product development occurs in
conjunction with the performance of work on our contracts. The amount of
contract-required product development activity was $64 million in 2006 compared
to $65 million and $51 million in 2005 and 2004, respectively; however, these costs
are included in cost of sales as they are directly related to contract
performance.
We comply with federal, state and local laws and regulations regarding
discharge of materials into the environment and the handling and disposal of
materials classed as hazardous and/or toxic. Such compliance has no material
effect upon the capital expenditures, earnings or competitive position of the
Company.
We employed approximately 6,000 persons at September 30, 2006.
Our domestic products and services are sold almost entirely by our
employees. Overseas sales are made
either directly or through representatives or agents.
RISK FACTORS
The following are some of the factors we
believe could cause our actual results to differ materially from expected and
historical results. Additional
risks and uncertainties not presently known to us, or that we currently see as
immaterial, may also harm our business.
If any of the risks or uncertainties described below or any such
additional risks and uncertainties actually occur, our business, results of
operations or financial condition could be materially and adversely affected.
We
depend on government contracts for substantially all of our revenues and the
loss of government contracts or a delay or decline in funding of existing or future
government contracts could adversely affect our sales and cash flows and our
ability to fund our growth.
Our revenues from
contracts, directly or indirectly, with foreign and United States, state,
regional and local governmental agencies represented more than 95% of our total
revenues in fiscal year 2006. Although
these various government agencies are subject to common budgetary pressures and
other factors, many of our various government customers exercise independent
purchasing decisions. Because of the
concentration of business with governmental agencies, we are vulnerable to
adverse changes in our revenues, income and cash flows if a significant number
of our government contracts or subcontracts or prospects are delayed or
canceled for budgetary or other reasons.
The factors that could
cause us to lose these contracts or could otherwise materially harm our
business, prospects, financial condition or results of operations include:
· re-allocation of
government resources as the result of actual or threatened terrorism or hostile
activities;
· budget
constraints affecting government spending generally, or specific departments or
agencies such as U.S. or foreign defense and transit agencies and regional
transit agencies, and changes in fiscal policies or a reduction of available
funding;
· changes in
government programs or requirements or their timing;
· curtailment of
governments use of technology products and service providers;
· the adoption of
new laws or regulations pertaining to government procurement;
· government
appropriations delays or shutdowns;
· suspension or
prohibition from contracting with the government or any significant agency with
which we conduct business;
· impairment of
our reputation or relationships with any significant government agency with
which we conduct business;
· impairment of
our ability to provide third-party guarantees and letters of credit; and
· delays in the
payment of our invoices by government payment offices.
Government
spending priorities may change in a manner adverse to our businesses.
In the past, our
businesses have been adversely affected by significant changes in government
spending during periods of declining budgets.
A significant decline in overall spending, or the decision not to
exercise options to renew contracts, or the loss of or substantial decline in
spending on a large program in which we participate could materially adversely
affect our business, prospects, financial condition or results of
operations. As an example, the U.S.
defense and intelligence budgets generally, and spending in specific agencies
with which we work, such as the Department of Defense, have declined from time
to time for extended periods since the mid-1980s, resulting in program delays,
program cancellations and a
slowing of new program
starts. Although spending on
defense-related programs by the U.S. government has recently increased, future
levels of expenditures and authorizations for those programs may decrease,
remain constant or shift to programs in areas where we do not currently provide
products or services.
Even though our contract
periods of performance for a program may exceed one year, Congress must usually
approve funds for a given program each fiscal year and may significantly reduce
funding of a program in a particular year.
Significant reductions in these appropriations or the amount of new
defense contracts awarded may affect our ability to complete contracts, obtain
new work and grow our business. Congress
does not always enact spending bills by the beginning of the new fiscal
year. Such delays leave the affected
agencies under-funded which delays their ability to contract. Future delays and uncertainties in funding
could impose additional business risks on us.
Our contracts with
government agencies may be terminated or modified prior to completion, which
could adversely affect our business.
Government contracts
typically contain provisions and are subject to laws and regulations that give
the government agencies rights and remedies not typically found in commercial
contracts, including providing the government agency with the ability to
unilaterally:
· terminate our
existing contracts;
· reduce the value
of our existing contracts;
· modify some of
the terms and conditions in our existing contracts;
· suspend or
permanently prohibit us from doing business with the government or with any
specific government agency;
· control and
potentially prohibit the export of our products;
· cancel or delay
existing multiyear contracts and related orders if the necessary funds for
contract performance for any subsequent year are not appropriated;
· decline to
exercise an option to extend an existing multiyear contract; and
· claim rights in
technologies and systems invented, developed or produced by us.
Most U.S. government
agencies and some other agencies with which we contract can terminate their
contracts with us for convenience, and in that event we generally may recover
only our incurred or committed costs, settlement expenses and profit on the
work completed prior to termination. If
an agency terminates a contract with us for default, we are denied any recovery
and may be liable for excess costs incurred by the agency in procuring
undelivered items from an alternative source.
We may receive show-cause or cure notices under contracts that, if not
addressed to the agencys satisfaction, could give the agency the right to
terminate those contracts for default or to cease procuring our services under
those contracts.
In the event that any of
our contracts were to be terminated or adversely modified, there may be
significant adverse effects on our revenues, operating costs and income that
would not be recoverable.
Failure to retain
existing contracts or win new contracts under competitive bidding processes may
adversely affect our revenue.
We obtain most of our
contracts through a competitive bidding process, and substantially all of the
business that we expect to seek in the foreseeable future likely will be
subject to a competitive bidding process.
Competitive bidding presents a number of risks, including:
· the need to
compete against companies or teams of companies with more financial and
marketing resources and more experience in bidding on and performing major
contracts than we have;
· the need to
compete against companies or teams of companies that may be long-term,
entrenched incumbents for a particular contract for which we are competing and
that have, as a result, greater domain expertise and better customer relations;
· the need to
compete to retain existing contracts that have in the past been awarded to us
on a sole-source basis;
· the expense and
delay that may arise if our competitors protest or challenge new contract
awards;
· the need to bid
on programs in advance of the completion of their design, which may result in
unforeseen technological difficulties, cost overruns or both;
· the substantial
cost and managerial time and effort, including design, development and
marketing activities, necessary to prepare bids and proposals for contracts
that may not be awarded to us;
· the need to
develop, introduce, and implement new and enhanced solutions to our customers
needs;
· the need to
locate and contract with teaming partners and subcontractors; and
· the need to
accurately estimate the resources and cost structure that will be required to
perform any fixed-price contract that we are awarded.
We may not be afforded
the opportunity in the future to bid on contracts that are held by other
companies and are scheduled to expire if the agency decides to extend the existing
contract. If we are unable to win
particular contracts that are awarded through the competitive bidding process,
we may not be able to operate in the market for services that are provided
under those contracts for a number of years.
If we win a contract, and upon expiration, if the customer requires
further services of the type provided by the contract, there is frequently a
competitive rebidding process and there can be no assurance that we will win
any particular bid, or that we will be able to replace business lost upon
expiration or completion of a contract.
Because of the complexity
and scheduling of contracting with government agencies, we occasionally incur
costs before receiving contractual funding by the government agency. In some circumstances, we may not be able to
recover these costs in whole or in part under subsequent contractual actions.
If we are unable to
consistently retain existing contracts or win new contract awards, our business
prospects, financial condition and results of operations will be adversely
affected.
Government audits of our contracts could result in
a material charge to our earnings and have a negative effect on our cash
position following an audit adjustment.
Many of our government
contracts are subject to cost audits which may occur several years after the
period to which the audit relates. If an
audit identifies significant unallowable costs, we could incur a material
charge to our earnings or reduction in our cash position.
Our
international business exposes us to additional risks, including exchange rate
fluctuations, foreign tax and legal regulations and political or economic
instability that could harm our operating results.
Our international
operations, including our contract for the London Transport fare collection
system, subject us to risks associated with operating in and selling products
or services in foreign countries, including:
· devaluations and
fluctuations in currency exchange rates;
· changes in
foreign laws that adversely affect our ability to sell our products or services
or our ability to repatriate profits to the United States;
· increases or
impositions of withholding and other taxes on remittances and other payments by
foreign subsidiaries or joint ventures to us;
· increases in
investment and other restrictions or requirements by foreign governments in
order to operate in the territory or own the subsidiary;
· costs of
compliance with local laws, including labor laws;
· export control
regulations and policies which govern our ability to supply foreign customers;
· unfamiliar and
unknown business practices and customs;
· domestic and
foreign government policies, including requirements to expend a portion of
program funds locally and governmental industrial cooperation requirements;
· the complexity
and necessity of using foreign representatives and consultants;
· the uncertainty
of the ability of foreign customers to finance purchases;
· imposition of
tariffs or embargoes, export controls and other trade restrictions;
· the difficulty
of management and operation of an enterprise in various countries; and
· economic and
geopolitical developments and conditions, including international hostilities,
acts of terrorism and governmental reactions, inflation, trade relationships
and military and political alliances.
Our foreign subsidiaries
and joint ventures generally conduct business in foreign currencies and enter
into contracts and make purchase commitments that are denominated in foreign
currencies. Accordingly, we are exposed
to fluctuations in exchange rates, which could have a significant impact on our
results of operations. We have no
control over the factors that generally affect this risk, such as economic,
financial and political events and the supply of and demand for applicable
currencies. While we use foreign
exchange forward and option contracts to hedge significant contract sales and
purchase commitments that are denominated in foreign currencies, our hedging
strategy may not prevent us from incurring losses due to exchange fluctuations.
Our operating margins may decline under our fixed-price
contracts if we fail to estimate accurately the time and resources necessary to
satisfy our obligations.
Approximately 74% of our
revenues in 2006 were from fixed-price contracts under which we bear the risk
of cost overruns. Our profits are
adversely affected if our costs under these contracts exceed the assumptions we
used in bidding for the contract. Often,
we are required to fix the price for a contract before the project
specifications are finalized, which increases the risk that we will incorrectly
price these contracts. The complexity of many of our engagements makes
accurately estimating the time and resources required more difficult.
We may be liable
for civil or criminal penalties under a variety of complex laws and
regulations, and changes in governmental regulations could adversely affect our
business and financial position.
Our businesses must
comply with and are affected by various government regulations that impact our
operating costs, profit margins and our internal organization and operation of
our businesses. These regulations affect how we do business and, in some
instances, impose added costs. Any
changes in applicable laws could adversely affect our financial
performance. Any material failure to
comply with applicable laws could result in contract termination, price or fee
reductions or suspension or debarment from contracting. The more significant regulations include:
· the Federal
Acquisition Regulations and all department and agency supplements, which
comprehensively regulate the formation, administration and performance of U.S.
government contracts;
· the Truth in
Negotiations Act and implementing regulations, which require certification and
disclosure of all cost and pricing data in connection with contract
negotiations;
· laws,
regulations and executive orders restricting the use and dissemination of
information classified for national security purposes and the exportation of
certain products and technical data;
· regulations of
most state and regional agencies and foreign governments similar to those
described above;
· the
Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002; and
· tax laws and
regulations in the U.S. and in other countries in which we operate.
Our failure to identify, attract and retain qualified
technical and management personnel could adversely affect our existing
businesses.
We may not be able
to attract and retain the highly qualified technical personnel, including
engineers, computer programmers, and personnel with security clearances
required for classified work, or management personnel to supervise such
activities that are necessary for maintaining and growing our existing
businesses.
We may incur significant costs in protecting our
intellectual property which could adversely affect our profit margins. Our
inability to protect our patents and proprietary rights could adversely affect
our businesses prospects and competitive positions.
We seek to protect
proprietary technology and inventions through patents and other proprietary-right
protection. The laws of some foreign
countries do not protect proprietary rights to the same extent as the laws of
the United States. If we are unable to
obtain or maintain these protections, we may not be able to prevent third
parties from using our proprietary rights. In addition, we may incur
significant expense both in protecting our intellectual property and in
defending or assessing claims with respect to intellectual property owned by
others.
We also rely on
trade secrets, proprietary know-how and continuing technological innovation to
remain competitive. We have taken
measures to protect our trade secrets and know-how, including the use of
confidentiality agreements with our employees, consultants and advisors. These agreements may be breached and remedies
for a breach may not be sufficient to compensate us for damages incurred. We generally control and limit access to our
product documentation and other proprietary information. Other parties may independently develop our
know-how or otherwise obtain access to our technology.
We compete primarily for government contracts
against many companies that are larger, better financed and better known than
us. If we are unable to compete
effectively, our business and prospects will be adversely affected.
Our businesses
operate in highly competitive markets.
Many of our competitors are larger, better financed and better known
companies who may compete more effectively than we can. In order to remain competitive, we must keep
our capabilities technically advanced and compete on price and on value added
to our customers. Our ability to compete
may be adversely affected by limits on our capital resources and our ability to
invest in maintaining and expanding our market share.
The terms of our financing arrangements may restrict
our financial and operational flexibility, including our ability to invest in
new business opportunities.
We currently have
unsecured borrowing arrangements. The
terms of these borrowing arrangements include provisions that require and/or
limit our levels of working capital, debt and net worth and coverage of fixed
charges. We also have provided
performance guarantees to various customers that include financial covenants
including limits on working capital, debt, tangible net worth and cash flow
coverage.
We may incur
future obligations that would subject us to additional covenants that affect
our financial and operational flexibility or subject us to different events of
default.
Our revenues could be less than expected if we are not
able to deliver services or products as scheduled due to disruptions in supply.
Because our
internal manufacturing capacity is limited, we use contract manufacturers.
While we use care in selecting our manufacturers, we have less control over the
reliability of supply, quality and price of products or components than if we
manufactured them. In some cases, we
obtain products from a sole supplier or a limited group of suppliers. Consequently, we risk disruptions in our
supply of key products and components if our suppliers fail or are unable to
perform because of strikes, natural disasters, financial condition or other
factors. Any material supply disruptions
could adversely affect our ability to perform our obligations under our
contracts and could result in cancellation of contracts or purchase orders,
penalties, delays in realizing revenues, payment delays, as well as adversely
affect our ongoing product cost structure.
Failure
to perform by one of our subcontractors could materially and adversely affect
our prime contract performance and our ability to obtain future business.
Our performance of
contracts may involve subcontractors, upon which we rely to deliver the
products to our customers. We may have
disputes with subcontractors. A failure
by a subcontractor to satisfactorily deliver products or services may adversely
affect our ability to perform our obligations as a prime contractor. Any subcontractor performance deficiencies
could result in the customer terminating our contract for default, which could
expose us to liability for excess costs of reprocurement by the customer and
have a material adverse effect on our ability to compete for other contracts.
We
may acquire other companies, which could increase our costs or liabilities or
be disruptive.
Part of our
strategy involves the acquisition of other companies. We may not be able to integrate acquired
entities successfully without substantial expense, delay or operational or
financial problems. The acquisition and
integration of new businesses involves risk.
The integration of acquired businesses may be costly and may adversely
impact our results of operations or financial condition:
· we
may need to divert management resources to integration, which may adversely
affect our ability to pursue other more profitable activities;
· integration
may be difficult as a result of the necessity of coordinating geographically
separated organizations, integrating personnel with disparate business
backgrounds and combining different corporate cultures;
· we
may not eliminate redundant costs in selecting acquisition candidates; and
· one
or more of our acquisition candidates may also have unexpected liabilities or
adverse operating issues that we fail to discover through our due diligence
procedures prior to the acquisition.
Our results of operations have historically fluctuated
and may continue to fluctuate significantly in the future, which could
adversely affect the market price of our common stock.
Our revenues are
affected by factors such as the unpredictability of contract awards due to the
long procurement process for most of our products and services, the potential
fluctuation of governmental agency budgets, the time it takes for the new
markets we target to develop and for us to develop and provide products and
services for those markets, competition and general economic conditions. Our contract type/product mix and unit
volume, our ability to keep expenses within budget, and our pricing affect our
operating margins. Significant growth in costs to complete our contracts, such
as we experienced in our transportation systems business in 2005 and 2006, may
adversely affect our results of operations in future periods. These factors and
other risk factors described herein may adversely affect our results of
operations and cause our financial results to fluctuate significantly on a
quarterly or annual basis. Consequently,
we do not believe that comparison of our results of operations from period to
period is necessarily meaningful or predictive of our likely future results of
operations. In some future financial period our operating results may be below
the expectations of public market analysts or investors. If so, the market price of our securities may
decline significantly.
CAUTIONARY STATEMENT ABOUT FORWARD-LOOKING
INFORMATION
This report,
including the documents that we incorporate by reference, contains
forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 21E of the Securities
Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, that are subject to the safe harbor created
by those sections. Any statements about our expectations, beliefs, plans,
objectives, assumptions or future events or our future financial and/or
operating performance are not historical and may be forward-looking. These
statements are often, but not always, made through the use of words or phrases
such as may, will, anticipate, estimate, plan, project, continuing,
ongoing, expect, believe, intend, predict, potential, opportunity
and similar words or phrases or the negatives of these words or phrases. These statements involve estimates,
assumptions and uncertainties, including those discussed in Risk Factors and
elsewhere throughout this filing and in the documents incorporated by reference
into this filing that could cause actual results to differ materially from
those expressed in these statements.
Because the risk
factors referred to above could cause actual results or outcomes to differ
materially from those expressed in any forward-looking statements made by us or
on our behalf, you should not place undue reliance on any forward-looking
statements. In addition, past financial
and/or operating performance is not necessarily a reliable indicator of future
performance and you should not use our historical performance to anticipate
results or future period trends.
Further, any forward-looking statement speaks only as of the date on
which it is made, and we undertake no obligation to update any forward-looking
statement to reflect events or circumstances after the date on which the
statement is made or to reflect the occurrence of unanticipated events. New
factors emerge from time to time, and it is not possible for us to predict
which factors will arise. In addition, we cannot assess the impact of each
factor on our business or the extent to which any factor, or combination of
factors, may cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in
any forward-looking statements.
Cubic Corp (CUB) - Description of business
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Research Report
Description
Watch this stocknew
Level 2 quotes
Charts
News
Profile
Balance Sheet
Income Statement
Cash Flow Statement
Insiders
SEC Filings
Analyst Recommendation
Earnings Report
Historical Prices
Recent Material Events
Key executives
Comments
