Timken Co: Form 10-K for the period ended Dec 31, 2023

General:

As used herein, the term “Timken” or the “Company” refers to The Timken Company and its subsidiaries unless the context otherwise requires. Timken designs and manages a portfolio of engineered bearings and industrial motion products, and provides related services. The Company’s growing portfolio features many strong brands, including Timken®, GGB®, Philadelphia Gear®, Cone Drive®, Rollon®, Nadella®, Diamond®, Drives®, Groeneveld®, BEKA®, Des-Case®, Lovejoy® and Lagersmit®.

The Company was founded in 1899 by Henry Timken, who received two patents on the design of a tapered roller bearing. Timken remains the world's leading authority in tapered roller bearings and has leveraged that expertise to develop a full portfolio of industry-leading engineered bearings and industrial motion products. Timken built its reputation as a global leader by applying its knowledge of metallurgy, friction management and industrial motion to increase the reliability and efficiency of its customers' equipment across a diverse range of industries. Today, the Company's global footprint consists of 142 manufacturing facilities/service centers, 28 technology and engineering centers, and 73 distribution centers and warehouses, supported by a team comprised of more than 19,000 employees. Timken operates in 45 countries around the globe.

Major Customers:

The Company sells products and services to a diverse customer base globally, including customers in the following market sectors: industrial distribution, renewable energy, automation, automotive original equipment ("OE"), agriculture/turf, rail, aerospace, auto/truck aftermarket, construction, services, metals and mining, heavy truck OE, and marine. No single customer accounts for 5% or more of total net sales.

Products:

Timken manufactures and manages global supply chains for multiple product lines including engineered bearings and industrial motion products designed to operate in demanding environments. The Company leverages its technical knowledge, research expertise, and production and engineering capabilities across all of its products and end markets to deliver high-performance products and services to its customers. Differentiation within these product lines is generally based on application engineering, product performance, product quality or customer service.

Engineered Bearings:

The Timken® bearing portfolio features a broad range of engineered bearing products, including tapered, spherical and cylindrical roller bearings; plain bearings and rod end bearings; thrust and specialty ball bearings; and housed bearings. Timken is a leading authority on tapered roller bearings and leverages its position by applying engineering know-how and technology across its entire bearing portfolio.

A bearing is a mechanical device that reduces friction between moving parts. The purpose of a bearing is to carry a load while allowing a machine shaft to rotate freely. The basic elements of the bearing generally include two rings, called races; a set of rolling elements that rotate around the bearing raceway; and a cage to separate and guide the rolling elements. Bearings come in a number of designs, featuring tapered, spherical, cylindrical or ball rolling elements. The various bearing designs accommodate radial and/or thrust loads differently, making certain bearing types better suited for specific applications.

Selection and development of bearings for customer applications and demand for high reliability require sophisticated engineering and analytical techniques. High precision tolerances, proprietary internal geometries and quality materials provide Timken bearings with high load-carrying capacity, excellent friction-reducing qualities and long service lives. The uses for bearings are diverse and can be found in transportation applications that include premium passenger cars and trucks, heavy trucks, helicopters, airplanes and trains. Ranging in size from precision bearings the size of a pencil eraser to more than roughly three meters in diameter, Timken components are also used in a wide variety of industrial applications, including: paper and steel mills, mining, oil and gas extraction and production, agriculture, construction, machine tools, gear drives, health and positioning control, wind turbines and food and beverage processing.

Tapered Roller Bearings. Timken tapered roller bearings can increase power density and can include customized geometries, engineered surfaces and specialized sealing solutions. The Company’s tapered roller bearing line comes in thousands of combinations in single-, double- and four-row configurations. Tapered roller designs permit ready absorption of both radial and axial load combinations, which makes them particularly well-adapted to reducing friction where shafts, gears or wheels are used.

Spherical and Cylindrical Roller Bearings. Timken also produces spherical and cylindrical roller bearings that are used in gear drives, rolling mills and other industrial and infrastructure development applications. These products are sold worldwide to OE manufacturers ("OEMs") and industrial distributors serving major end-market sectors, including construction and mining, natural resources, wind energy, defense, pulp and paper production, rolling mills and general industrial goods.

Ball Bearings. Timken radial, angular and precision ball bearings are used by customers in a variety of market sectors, including aerospace, agriculture, construction, health, machine tool, the automotive aftermarket and general industries. Radial ball bearings are designed to tolerate relatively high-speed operation under a range of load conditions. These bearing types consist of an inner and outer ring with a cage containing a complement of precision balls. Angular contact ball bearings are designed for a combination of radial and axial loading. Precision ball bearings are manufactured to tight tolerances and come in miniature and instrument, thin section and ball screw support designs.

Housed Bearings. Timken markets among the broadest range of housed or mounted bearings in the industry. These products deliver durable, heavy-duty components designed to protect spherical, tapered and ball bearings in debris-filled, contaminated or high-moisture environments. Common housed unit applications include material handling and processing equipment.

Plain Bearings. Timken produces a range of plain bearings including rod-ends, spherical plain bearings, metal-polymer bearings and journal bearings. These bearings are used to support misalignment and oscillating movements in a variety of applications and end-markets including aircraft controls, packaging equipment, off-highway equipment, heavy truck, performance auto racing, robotics and many more. Various combinations of material pairs and engineered coatings improve friction management for application specific conditions.

Industrial Motion Products:

Linear Motion Products. The Company designs and manufactures a global portfolio of Rollon® and Nadella® engineered linear motion products, including linear guides, telescopic rails, linear actuators, seventh-axis robotic transfer units and gantry systems. These engineered products are highly customized to control movements with different variability and complexity based on the application. Rollon and Nadella products serve a wide range of industries, including passenger rail, aerospace, packaging and logistics, medical and automation.

Industrial Drives. The Company’s Philadelphia Gear® line of low- and high-speed gear drive designs are used in large-scale industrial applications such as crushing and pulverizing equipment, conveyors and pumps, power generation and military marine. These gear drive designs are custom made to meet user specifications, offering a wide array of size, footprint and gear arrangements. Timken also offers Cone Drive® high-torque worm gears, harmonic solutions and precision slew drives. Cone Drive products can be found in a variety of industrial end-market sectors, including solar, oil and gas, aerial platforms, automation and food and beverage. The Company's Spinea® line features highly engineered cycloidal reduction gears and actuators. Spinea's solutions primarily serve high precision automation and robotics applications in the factory automation sector.

Lubrication Systems. The Company's Groeneveld® and BEKA® lubrication systems include a wide variety of automatic lubrication delivery devices, oil management systems and safety support systems designed to reduce operational costs for customers while increasing equipment uptime, productivity and safety. These systems support many industries, including renewable energy, transportation, construction, mining, port, forestry and agriculture. Timken also offers over two dozen different formulations of grease, leveraging its knowledge of tribology and anti-friction bearings to enable smooth equipment operation.

Belts. The Company makes and markets a full line of Timken® belts used in industrial, commercial and consumer applications. The portfolio features more than 20,000 parts designed for demanding applications, which are sold to original equipment and aftermarket customers. These belts are engineered for maximum performance and durability, with products available in wrap molded, raw edge, v-ribbed and synchronous belt designs. Common applications include agriculture, construction, industrial machinery, outdoor power equipment and powersports.

Chain. Timken manufactures precision Diamond® and Drives® roller chain, pintle chain, agricultural conveyor chain, engineering class chain and oil field roller chain. These engineered products are used in a wide range of mobile and industrial machinery applications, including agriculture, oil and gas, aggregate and mining, primary metals, forest products and other heavy industries. They are also used in the food and beverage and packaged goods sectors, which often require high-end, specialty products, including stainless-steel and corrosion-resistant roller chain.

Couplings. The Company offers a full range of industrial couplings within its industrial motion products portfolio. The Lovejoy brand is widely known for its flexible coupling design and as the creator of the jaw-style coupling. Lovejoy® couplings are available in curved jaw, jaw in-shear, s-flex, gear-torsional and disc style configurations. These components are used in a wide range of industries such as steel, pulp and paper, power generation, food processing, mining and construction. The Company also offers an extensive line of torsional couplings offered under the Torsion Control Products brand.

Industrial Clutches and Brakes. Timken offers a selection of engineered clutches, brakes, hydraulic power take-off units and other torque management devices marketed under the PT Tech® brand. These products are custom engineered for OEMs and used in marine, mining, aggregate, wood recycling and metals industries.

Seals. The Company's Lagersmit® engineered sealing solutions serve demanding marine, dredging, water, tidal energy and other industrial applications. The business serves leading propulsion manufacturers, ship owners, pump makers and other global industrial customers that require advanced sealing systems. Timken offers other industrial sealing solutions that come in a variety of types and material options and are used in manufacturing, food processing, mining, power generation, chemical processing, primary metals, pulp and paper and oil and gas industry applications.

Other Products. The Company also offers specialty filtration products, augers and other specialized industrial motion products. Des-Case is a technical leader in branded filtration solutions that sit adjacent to Timken's automatic lubrication systems. Des-Case features a comprehensive product offering including breathers, filter elements, condition monitoring, lubrication storage and filter systems used throughout the entire lubricant lifecycle. These solutions are critical for enhancing reliability, reducing downtime and extending the useful life of customers' systems. The Company also designs and manufactures Drives® helicoid and sectional augers for agricultural applications, like conveying, digging and combines. The Company's specialized industrial motion components include Shuton and Ipiranga ball screws among other key products.

Services:

Power Systems. Timken services components in the industrial customer's drive train, including switch gears, electric motors and generators, gearboxes, bearings, couplings and control panels. The Company’s Philadelphia Gear services for gear drive applications include onsite technical services; inspection, repair and upgrade capabilities; and manufacturing of parts to specifications. In addition, the Company’s Wazee, Smith Services, Schulz, Standard Machine and H&N service centers provide customers with services that include motor and generator rewind and repair and uptower wind turbine maintenance and repair. Timken Power Systems commonly serves customers in the power, wind energy, hydro and fossil fuel, water management, paper, mining and general manufacturing sectors.

Bearing Repair. Timken bearing repair services return worn bearings to like-new specifications, which increases bearing service life and often can restore bearings in less time than required to manufacture new. Bearing remanufacturing is available for any bearing type or brand - including competitor products - and is well-suited to heavy industrial applications such as paper, metals, mining, power generation and cement; railroad locomotives, passenger cars and freight cars; and aerospace engines and gearboxes.

Services accounted for approximately 4% of the Company’s net sales for the year ended December 31, 2023.

Sales and Distribution:

Timken products are sold principally by its internal sales organizations. A portion of each segment's sales are made through authorized distributors or sales agents.

Customer collaboration is central to the Company's sales strategy. Therefore, Timken goes where its customers need us, with sales engineers primarily working in close proximity to customers rather than at production sites. The Company's sales force continuously updates the team's training and knowledge regarding engineered bearings and industrial motion products and related market sector trends, and they assist customers during product development and implementation phases and provide ongoing service and support.

The Company has a joint venture in North America focused on joint logistics and e-business services. This joint venture, CoLinx, LLC, includes five equity members: Timken, SKF Group, Schaeffler Group, RBC Bearings and Gates Industrial Corp. The e-business service focuses on information and business services for authorized distributors in the Engineered Bearings segment.

Timken has entered into individually negotiated contracts with some of its customers. These contracts may extend for one or more years and, if a price is fixed for any period extending beyond current shipments, customarily include a commitment by the customer to purchase a designated percentage of its requirements from Timken. Timken does not believe that there is any significant loss of earnings risk associated with any given contract.

Competition:

The bearing and industrial motion industries are highly competitive. Timken primarily competes based on its total value proposition, including product design and performance, application engineering, quality, price, timeliness of delivery, and the ability to provide technical sales and service support on a global basis. The Company competes with many domestic and foreign manufacturers of anti-friction bearings, including SKF Group and Schaeffler Group, and with a diverse group of domestic and foreign manufacturers of industrial motion products.

Joint Ventures:

Investments in affiliated companies accounted for under the equity method were $1.7 million and $1.8 million, respectively, at December 31, 2023 and 2022. The investment balance at December 31, 2023 was reported in other non-current assets on the Consolidated Balance Sheets.

Backlog:

The following table provides the backlog of orders for the Company's domestic and overseas operations at December 31, 2023 and 2022:

(Dollars in millions)

Approximately 92% of the Company’s backlog at December 31, 2023 is scheduled for delivery in the succeeding 12 months. Actual shipments depend upon customers' ever-changing production schedules. Accordingly, Timken does not believe that its backlog data and comparisons thereof, as of different dates, reliably indicate future sales or shipments.

Sources and Availability of Raw Materials:

The principal raw materials used by the Company to make engineered bearings are special bar quality ("SBQ") steel and steel components. SBQ steel and steel components are produced around the world by various suppliers. SBQ steel is purchased in bar, tube and wire forms, while steel components are commonly purchased as forgings, semi-finished or finished components. The availability and price of SBQ steel are subject to changes in supply and demand, commodity prices for ferrous scrap, ore, alloy, electricity, natural gas, transportation fuel, and labor costs. The Company manages price variability of commodities by using surcharge mechanisms on some of its contracts with its customers that provides for partial recovery of these cost increases in the price of bearing products.

The availability of bearing-quality tubing is relatively limited, and the Company has taken steps to limit its exposure to this particular form of SBQ steel. Overall, the Company believes that the number of suppliers of SBQ steel is adequate to support the needs of global bearing production, and, in general, the Company is not dependent on any single source of supply.

The Company also purchases a variety of materials and components to produce industrial motion products, such as non-SBQ steel, synthetic rubber, fabrics, castings and plastics. The Company sources these components from various suppliers in the world market. The Company believes its supply base is adequate to support its manufacturing requirements.

Research:

Timken operates a network of technology and engineering centers to support its global customers with sites in North America, Europe and Asia. This network develops and delivers innovative engineered bearings and industrial motion solutions and technical services. Timken's largest technical center is located at the Company's world headquarters in North Canton, Ohio. Other smaller sites in the United States ("U.S.") include Los Alamitos, California; Downer's Grove, Fulton and Montgomery, Illinois; Norton Shores, Rochester Hills and Traverse City, Michigan; Springfield, Missouri; Keene and Lebanon, New Hampshire; Thorofare, New Jersey; Morganton, North Carolina; and King of Prussia, Pennsylvania. Within Europe, the Company has technology facilities in Plymouth, England; Annecy and Colmar, France; Heilbronn, Pegnitz and Werdohl, Germany; Valmadrera, Italy; Gorinchem, Netherlands; Porto, Portugal; and Ploiesti, Romania. In Asia, Timken operates technology and engineering facilities in Bangalore, India and Shanghai, China.

Compliance with Governmental Regulations:

Environmental Matters

The Company continues its efforts to protect the environment and comply with environmental protection laws. Additionally, it has invested in pollution control equipment and updated plant operational practices. The Company's manufacturing plants are expected to have an effective environmental management system which follows the ISO 14001 principles and internal audits are performed against this standard. Where appropriate to meet or exceed customer requirements, we are certified under the formal ISO 14001 certification process. As of the end of 2023, 29 of the Company’s plants had obtained ISO 14001 certification, including the majority of the Company's bearing manufacturing plants.

The Company establishes appropriate levels of reserves to cover its environmental expenses and has a well-established environmental compliance audit program for its domestic and international units. This program measures performance against applicable laws, as well as against internal standards that have been established for all units worldwide. It is difficult to assess the possible effect of compliance with future requirements that differ from existing requirements.

The Company and certain of its U.S. subsidiaries previously have been and could in the future be identified as potentially responsible parties for investigation and remediation at off-site disposal or recycling facilities under the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation and Liability Act ("CERCLA"), known as the Superfund, or state laws similar to CERCLA. In general, such claims for investigation and remediation also have been asserted against numerous other entities.

Management believes any ultimate liability with respect to pending actions will not materially affect the Company’s annual results of operations, cash flows or consolidated financial position. The Company also is conducting environmental investigation and/or remediation activities at certain current or former operating sites. The costs of such investigation and remediation activities, in the aggregate, are not expected to be material to the operations or financial position of the Company.

New laws and regulations, stricter enforcement of existing laws and regulations, the discovery of previously unknown contamination or the imposition of new clean-up requirements may require Timken to incur costs, change production methods or materials, or become the basis for new or increased liabilities that could have a materially adverse effect on the Company's business, financial condition or results of operations.

Other Regulations

Because of its global operations, the Company is subject to a wide variety of domestic and foreign laws and regulations, including securities laws, tax laws, data privacy, employment and pension-related laws, competition laws, U.S. and foreign export and trade laws, the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act ("FCPA") and similar worldwide anti-bribery laws, government procurement regulations and laws governing improper business practices. The Company has policies and procedures in place to promote compliance with these laws and regulations and management believes any ultimate liability with respect to pending actions will not materially affect the Company’s annual results of operations, cash flows or consolidated financial position. In the future, the Company may be subject to both new laws and regulations, and changes to existing laws and regulations which may continue to evolve through interpretations by courts and regulators. Accordingly, it is difficult to assess the possible effect of compliance with future requirements that differ from existing requirements. Such changes may require the Company to incur costs and such changes could form the basis for new or increased liabilities that could have a materially adverse effect on the Company’s business, financial condition or results of operations. Refer to Item 1.A Risk Factors – Risks Related to Legal, Compliance and Regulatory Matters for further discussion.

Patents, Trademarks and Licenses:

Timken owns numerous U.S. and foreign patents, trademarks and licenses relating to certain products. While Timken regards these as important, it does not deem its business as a whole, or any industry segment, to be materially dependent upon any one item or group of items.

Employment:

At December 31, 2023, Timken had more than 19,000 employees worldwide. Approximately 9% of Timken’s U.S. employees are covered under collective bargaining agreements.

Human Capital:

The Company believes that its employees and their collective knowledge and experience are among its most valuable resources. The Company is committed to providing a safe work environment and growth opportunities for its employees to learn and advance their career with the Company to promote and safeguard these key resources.

Employee Health and Safety

Employee health and safety remains a top priority for the Company and its commitment to safety starts at the top of the organization. Chief Executive Officer, Richard Kyle, was the first-ever chair of the Company's Environmental Health and Safety Steering Committee, which was created in 2009 and continues to drive accountability and responsibility for safety throughout the organization.

The Company's commitment to the health and safety of its employees is evidenced by its strong safety results in 2023 and 2022 shown in the charts below:

*Rates calculated as (number of injuries and illnesses x 200,000) / employee hours worked per 100 full-time workers. 2023 rates represent the Company's best estimate as of the date of this report

- - - represents the 2022 top quartile cutoff for U.S. metal manufacturers (North American Industry Classification System ("NAICS") code 332) that employ at least 1,000 employees, based on information provided by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics at https://www.bls.gov/iif/.

The Company aims to maintain a recordable rate within the top quartile of U.S. metal manufacturers (NAICS code 332) based on information provided by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. For 2023, the Company's lost time accident rate of 0.37 and recordable rate of 1.10 remained strong. In 2022, the Company's lost time accident rate of 0.29 outperformed the top quartile of U.S. metal manufacturers while its recordable rate of 1.06 slightly lagged.

Attracting, Retaining, and Motivating Highly Qualified Employees

Successful execution of the Company's strategy continues to depend on attracting, retaining, and motivating highly qualified talent. The Company provides professional growth and learning opportunities and individualized career development to support these objectives. The Company thinks it is important to recognize and reward its employees with pay and comprehensive benefits that are competitive and equitable based on the local markets in which it operates.

The Company also believes that having open, honest dialogue with its employees is key to maintaining its strong culture and ethical work practices. In line with that approach, the Company conducts comprehensive surveys on a periodic basis and individual stay interviews to measure employee engagement. Exit interviews are conducted with employees who voluntarily terminated their employment, which helps improve management processes. The Company deploys pulse surveys to gain insights from employees’ recent experiences and to better understand how effectively it is engaging, energizing and enabling its workforce.

The Company provides several professional development and training opportunities to advance its employees’ skills and expertise. Some of these opportunities include online-learning platforms, job-specific training, employee development programs, including its operations development program (a training program designed to increase the internal pool of employees who are ready to take on leadership positions), and its educational reimbursement programs. The Company has recruited and trained many of its employees through its engineering co-op program, where engineering students have the opportunity to work up to five semesters alongside the Company’s experienced engineers while they complete their bachelor’s degrees. Comprehensive leadership, skill and competency assessments are offered to Company employees to best identify and address individual and team development needs and activities. To better inform its hiring and employee development efforts, the Company has also partnered with third-party vendors to provide required training for its managers focused on leadership, diversity and inclusion.

To further the Company's diverse and inclusive culture, Timken employee resource groups (“ERGs”) around the world help us understand and address the challenges faced by its diverse workforce and the benefits inclusion offers in advancing its collective knowledge. The Company's employees continue to drive new programming and chapter expansion across its five primary ERGs: Women’s International Network (WIN), Multicultural Association of Professionals (MAP), Young Professionals Network (YPN), Veteran Engagement at Timken (VET), and Timken PRIDE Network (TPN). Additionally, the Company partners with an online platform, Aperian®, to help its employees further their global competency.

Available Information:

The Company uses its Investor Relations website at http://investors.timken.com, as a channel for routine distribution of important information, including news releases, analyst presentations and financial information. The Company posts filings as soon as reasonably practicable after they are electronically filed with, or furnished to, the Securities and Exchange Commission (the "SEC"), including its annual, quarterly and current reports on Forms 10-K, 10-Q and 8-K; its proxy statements; and any amendments to those reports or statements. All such postings and filings are available on the Company’s website free of charge. In addition, this website allows investors and other interested persons to sign up to automatically receive e-mail alerts when the Company posts news releases and financial information on the Company’s website. The content on any website referred to in this Annual Report on Form 10-K is not incorporated by reference into this Annual Report unless expressly noted.

The following are certain risk factors that could affect our business, financial condition and results of operations. The risks that are described below are not the only ones that we face. These risk factors should be considered in connection with evaluating forward-looking statements contained in this Annual Report on Form 10-K because these factors could cause our actual results and financial condition to differ materially from those projected in forward-looking statements. Although the risks are organized by headings, and each risk is discussed separately, many are interrelated. If any of the following risks actually occur, our business, financial condition or results of operations could be negatively affected. Readers should not interpret the disclosure of any risk factor to imply that the risk has not already materialized.

Risk Relating to our Business

The bearing and industrial motion industries are highly competitive, and this competition results in significant pricing pressure for our products that could affect our revenues and profitability.

The global bearing industry is highly competitive and consolidated. We compete with many domestic and foreign manufacturers of anti-friction bearings. In addition, the industries into which we sell our industrial motion products are also highly competitive and consolidating. Due to competitiveness within these industries, we may not be able to continue to increase prices for our products to cover increases in our costs or to achieve desired profitability. In addition, we face pressure from our customers to reduce prices, and the contractual nature of business with OEM customers, could adversely affect our revenues and profitability. In addition, our customers may choose to purchase products from one of our competitors rather than pay the prices we seek for our products, which could adversely affect our revenues and profitability.

Our business is capital intensive, and if there are downturns in the industries that we serve, we may be forced to significantly curtail or suspend operations with respect to those industries, which could result in our recording asset impairment charges, restructuring charges or taking other measures that may adversely affect our results of operations and profitability.

Our business operations are capital intensive, and we devote a significant amount of capital to certain industries. Our profitability is dependent on factors such as labor compensation and productivity and inventory and supply chain management, which are subject to risks that we may not be able to control. If there are downturns in the industries that we serve, including as a result of high inflation or a recession, we may be forced to significantly curtail or suspend our operations with respect to those industries, including laying-off employees, reducing production, recording asset impairment charges and other measures, which may adversely affect our results of operations and profitability. We have taken approximately $127 million in impairment and restructuring charges in the aggregate during the last five years. Changes in business or economic conditions, or our business strategy, may result in additional restructuring actions and may require us to take additional charges in the future, which could have a material adverse effect on our earnings.

Changes in customer preferences and inventory reductions by customers or distributors could adversely affect the Company's business.

The Company has previously experienced distributor inventory corrections reflecting de-stocking of the supply chain associated with softer demand in certain markets. The Company's results in a period may be adversely impacted by similar customer inventory adjustments in the future, as well as changes in customer buying preferences.

Any change in raw material prices, the availability or cost of raw materials or logistics expenses could adversely affect our results of operations and profit margins.

We require substantial amounts of raw materials, including steel, to operate our business. Our supply of raw materials could be and has in the past been interrupted for a variety of reasons, including availability and pricing. Prices for raw materials necessary for production have fluctuated significantly in the past, have risen substantially over the past few years, and could continue to do so in the future. We generally attempt to manage these fluctuations by passing along increased raw material prices to our customers in the form of price increases or surcharges; however, we may be unable to continue to increase the price of our products, or may experience a lag in doing so, due to pricing pressure, contract terms or other factors, which could adversely impact our revenue and profit margins.

Moreover, future disruptions in the supply of our raw materials could impair our ability to manufacture our products for our customers, impact our ability to manufacture and deliver our products on a timely basis, require us to pay higher prices in order to obtain these raw materials from other sources or necessitate the use of expedited or more costly freight options. Any significant increase in the prices for such raw materials or logistics expenses could adversely affect our results of operations and profit margins.

We may not realize the improved operating results that we anticipate from past and future acquisitions, may experience difficulties in integrating acquired businesses, and may incur unanticipated liabilities and costs associated with such acquired businesses.

We seek to grow, in part, through strategic acquisitions, joint ventures and other alliances, which are intended to complement or expand our businesses, and expect to continue to do so in the future. These acquisitions involve challenges and risks. In the event that we do not successfully integrate these acquisitions into our existing operations so as to realize the expected return on our investment, issues identified in our due diligence review are not adequately addressed or the costs associated with such issues are higher than expected, or we uncover material issues (including historical environmental, trade, sanctions, tax or compliance violations) that were not identified during our due diligence review, our results of operations, cash flow or financial condition could be adversely affected.

Our operating results depend in part on continued successful research, development and marketing of new and/or improved products and services, and there can be no assurance that we will continue to successfully introduce new products and services.

The success of new and improved products and services depends on their initial and continued acceptance by our customers. Our businesses are affected, to varying degrees, by technological change and corresponding shifts in customer demand, which could result in unpredictable product transitions or shortened life cycles, especially as it relates to market and technological changes driven by electrification, environmental requirements, automation, the continued rising importance of e-commerce, artificial intelligence and increased digitization. We may experience difficulties or delays in the research, development, production, or marketing of new products and services that may prevent us from recouping or realizing a return on the investments required to bring new products and services to market. The end result could have a negative impact on our operating results.

Loss of our rights to exclusive use of our intellectual property whether through patent infringement, counterfeiting, theft of trade secrets, or otherwise could have a material adverse effect on the Company. Third-party claims alleging our infringement of intellectual property rights could also have a material adverse effect on the Company.

We rely on a combination of patents, trademarks, trade secret laws, invention assignment agreements, confidentiality agreements, and other arrangements to protect our intellectual property rights. These rights are important to our business, and their loss, whether through patent infringement, counterfeiting, theft of trade secrets, data breach, or otherwise, could have a material adverse effect on the Company.

Additionally, third parties may bring claims to challenge the validity of our patents or other intellectual property rights or allege that we infringe their patents or other intellectual property rights. We may incur substantial costs if our competitors or other third parties allege such claims. If the outcomes of any such disputes are unfavorable to us, we could be subject to damages and reputational harm and our business could be otherwise adversely affected.

Risks Related to our Capital Structure, the Global Financial Markets, and Currency Exchange Rates

An increase in our levels of debt and the corresponding impact to our financial covenants or a failure to maintain our credit ratings could limit our ability to invest in our business.

An increase in our levels of debt might lead us to have less cash flow available for our business operations, capital expenditures, and strategic transactions and our ability to service our debt obligations or to obtain future financing could be negatively impacted by general adverse economic and industry conditions and rising interest rate trends. In addition, a failure to maintain our credit ratings could adversely affect our cost of borrowing, liquidity and access to capital markets.

Some of our debt has variable interest rates, which could increase the cost of servicing such debt, and fixed rate debt may have increased cost to refinance at maturity.

Interest rates have risen significantly over the past few years and may remain elevated or rise in the future due to inflation or other causes. As a result, the costs of servicing our variable interest rate debt could further increase even if the amount borrowed under such facilities remains the same. Increased servicing costs could in turn negatively impact our profitability and cash flow. In addition, fixed rate debt currently outstanding that matures in the future may be refinanced with higher interest rates leading to additional servicing costs.

The global nature of our business exposes us to foreign currency fluctuations that may affect our asset values, results of operations and competitiveness.

We are exposed to the risks of currency exchange rate fluctuations because a significant portion of our net sales, costs, assets and liabilities, are denominated in currencies other than the U.S. dollar. These risks include a reduction in our net asset values, net sales, operating income and competitiveness.

For those countries outside the U.S. where we have significant sales, a strengthening in the U.S. dollar as we have seen over the past few years or devaluation in the local currency would reduce the value of our local inventory as presented in our Consolidated Financial Statements. In addition, a stronger U.S. dollar or a weaker local currency would result in reduced revenue, operating profit and shareholders' equity due to the impact of foreign exchange translation on our Consolidated Financial Statements. Fluctuations in foreign currency exchange rates may make our products more expensive for others to purchase or increase our operating costs, affecting our competitiveness and our profitability.

Changes in exchange rates between the U.S. dollar and other currencies and volatile economic, political and market conditions in emerging market countries have in the past adversely affected our financial performance and may in the future adversely affect the value of our assets located outside the U.S., our gross profit and our results of operations.

Our results of operations may be materially affected by conditions in global financial markets or in any of the geographic regions in which we, our customers or our suppliers operate. If an end user cannot obtain financing to purchase our products, either directly or indirectly contained in machinery or equipment, demand for our products will be reduced, which could have a material adverse effect on our financial condition and earnings.

Global financial markets have experienced volatility in the past, including volatility in securities prices and diminished liquidity and credit availability. Our access to the financial markets cannot be assured and is dependent on, among other things, market conditions and company performance. Accordingly, we may be forced to delay raising capital, issue shorter tenors than we prefer or pay unattractive interest rates, which could increase our interest expense, decrease our profitability and significantly reduce our financial flexibility.

If a customer becomes insolvent or files for bankruptcy, our ability to recover accounts receivable from that customer would be adversely affected and any payment we received during the preference period prior to a bankruptcy filing potentially may be recoverable by the bankruptcy estate. Furthermore, if certain of our customers liquidate in bankruptcy, we may incur impairment charges relating to obsolete inventory and machinery and equipment.

In addition, financial instability of certain companies in the supply chain could disrupt production in any particular industry. A disruption of production in any of the industries where we participate could have a material adverse effect on our financial condition and earnings. If any of our suppliers are unable or unwilling to provide the products or services that we require or materially increase their costs, our ability to offer and deliver our products on a timely and profitable basis could be impaired. We cannot assure you that any or all of our relationships will not be terminated or that such relationships will continue as presently in effect. Furthermore, if any of our suppliers were to become subject to bankruptcy, receivership or similar proceedings, we may be unable to arrange for alternate or replacement relationships on favorable terms, which could harm our sales and operating results.

Risks Related to the Global Nature of our Operations

Global political instability and other risks of international operations may adversely affect our operating costs, revenues and the price of our products.

Our international operations expose us to risks not present in a purely domestic business, including primarily:

• changes in international treaties or trade unions, which may make our products or our customers' products more costly to export or import;
• changes in tariff regulations, which may make our products more costly to export or import;
• threatened or actual state seizure of foreign-owned manufacturing assets;
• hostilities between countries in which we operate which could limit our ability to manufacture in, sell into, export out of, or access assets located in such jurisdictions;
• the imposition of sanctions on countries in which we operate, from which we receive critical supplies or into which we sell our products;
• strained geopolitical relations between countries in which we have significant operations including the U.S. and China;
• political protests or unrest which could negatively impact our operations;
• difficulties establishing and maintaining relationships with local OEMs, distributors and dealers;
• import and export licensing requirements;
• compliance with a variety of foreign laws and regulations, including unexpected changes in taxation, environmental, sustainability or other regulatory requirements, which could increase our operating and other expenses and limit our operations;
• additional costs, taxes and restrictions related to repatriation of cash in international jurisdictions;
• disadvantages of competing against companies from countries that are not subject to U.S. laws and regulations, including the FCPA;
• difficulty in staffing and managing geographically diverse operations;
• disruptions to our global supply chain and logistical issues associated with port closures or congestion, delays or increased costs;
• tax exposures related to cross-border intercompany transfer pricing and other tax risks unique to international operations; and
• compliance with data protection regulations.

These and other risks also may increase the relative price of our products compared to those manufactured in other countries, reducing the demand for our products in the markets in which we operate, which could have a material adverse effect on our revenues and earnings.

We have global operations, and changes to government trade policies including the imposition of tariffs and other trade barriers, as well as the resulting consequences, could adversely impact our revenue and profit margins.

The U.S. government has imposed tariffs on certain foreign goods, including steel and other raw materials as well as certain products made from such materials. Changes in U.S. trade policy have resulted in, and could further result in, U.S. trading partners adopting responsive trade policies that make it more difficult or costly for us to export our products to those countries. In addition, the governments of other countries in which we have substantial operations could impose tariffs on, or restrict trade in, the materials and components necessary for the production of our products. These measures could result in an increase in our production costs. If we are unable to increase the price of our products or otherwise mitigate these increased costs, it could adversely impact our revenue and profit margins.

Risks Related to Human Capital Management and Employee Benefits

If we are unable to attract, retain and develop key personnel and develop and successfully execute succession plans, our business could be materially adversely affected.

Our business substantially depends on the continued service of key members of our management and other key employees. The loss of the services of a significant number of members of our management or other key employees could have a material adverse effect on our business. Our future success also will depend on our ability to attract, retain and develop highly skilled personnel at all levels of the organization, such as engineering, finance, marketing and senior management professionals, as well as skilled labor. Competition for these types of employees is intense, particularly in developed countries such as the U.S., and has increased recently, and we could experience difficulty from time to time in hiring, developing and retaining the personnel necessary to support our business. If we do not succeed in retaining and developing our current employees, attracting new high-quality employees, and developing and successfully executing succession plans, our business could be materially adversely affected.

Work stoppages or similar difficulties could significantly disrupt our operations, reduce our revenues and materially affect our earnings.

A work stoppage at one or more of our facilities, whether caused by fire, flooding, epidemics, pandemics, public health concerns, military hostilities, government-imposed shutdowns, severe weather, including that caused by climate change, other natural disaster or otherwise, could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations. In addition, some of our employees are represented by labor unions or works councils under collective bargaining agreements with varying durations and terms. We have experienced work stoppages at certain of our facilities historically at times, and while these stoppages have been short-term in nature, no assurances can be made that we will not experience additional work stoppages due to government directives, employee health concerns, and other types of conflicts with labor unions, works councils, and other similar groups in the future.

A work stoppage at one of our suppliers could also materially and adversely affect our operations if an alternative source of supply were not readily available. In addition, if one or more of our customers were to experience a work stoppage, that customer could halt or limit purchases of our products, which could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations. In addition, the credit and default risk or bankruptcy of customers or suppliers as a result of work stoppages could also materially and adversely affect our operations and results.

Expenses and contributions related to our defined benefit plans are affected by factors outside our control, including the performance of plan assets, interest rates, actuarial data and experience, and changes in laws and regulations, all of which could impact our funded status.

Our future expense and funding obligations for defined benefit pension plans depend upon a number of factors, including the level of benefits provided for by the plans, the future performance of assets with specific country economic performance risks set aside in trust for these plans, the level of interest rates used to determine the discount rate to calculate the amount of liabilities, actuarial data and experience, and any changes in government laws and regulations. In addition, if the various investments held by our pension trusts do not perform as expected or the liabilities increase as a result of discount rate changes and other actuarial changes, our pension expense and required contributions would increase and, as a result, could materially adversely affect our business or require us to record charges that could be significant and would cause a reduction in our shareholders' equity. We may be required legally to make contributions to the pension plans in the future in excess of our current expectations, and those contributions could be material.

Future actions involving our defined benefit and other postretirement plans, such as annuity purchases, lump-sum payouts, and/or plan terminations could cause us to incur significant pension and postretirement settlement and curtailment charges, and require cash contributions.

We have purchased annuities and offered lump-sum payouts to defined benefit plan and other postretirement plan participants and retirees in the past. If we were to take similar actions in the future, we could incur significant pension settlement and curtailment charges related to the reduction in pension and postretirement obligations from annuity purchases, lump-sum payouts of benefits to plan participants, and/or plan terminations. Pursuing these types of actions could require us to make additional contributions to the defined benefit plans to maintain a legally required funded status.

Risks Related to Legal, Compliance and Regulatory Matters

Current and future environmental health and safety laws, regulations, and customer requirements impose substantial costs and limitations on our operations and compliance may be more costly than we expect.

We are subject to the risk of substantial environmental liability and limitations on our operations due to current environmental laws and regulations and future environmental laws and regulations could impose additional risks and limitations. We are or may become subject to extensive federal, state, local and foreign environmental, health and safety laws and regulations concerning matters such as air emissions, wastewater discharges, the use of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances, such as polytetrafluoroethylene, or other chemicals of concern, waste management (e.g. storage, disposal) and the investigation and remediation of contamination. The risks of substantial costs and liabilities related to compliance with these laws and regulations are an inherent part of our business, and future conditions may develop, arise or be discovered that create substantial environmental compliance or remediation liabilities and costs or which may require that we change certain production methods or materials used in our manufacturing processes or products.

Compliance with environmental, health and safety legislation and regulatory requirements may prove to be more limiting and costly than we anticipate. To date, we have committed significant expenditures in our efforts to manage remediation activities and maintain compliance with these requirements at our facilities, and we expect that we will continue to make significant expenditures related to such compliance in the future. From time to time, we may be subject to legal proceedings brought by private parties or governmental authorities with respect to environmental matters, including matters involving alleged noncompliance with or liability arising from environmental, health and safety laws, property damage or personal injury. Actual or alleged violations of environmental, health and safety laws or environmental permit requirements could result in restrictions or prohibitions on operations and substantial civil or criminal fines, as well as, under some environmental, health, and safety laws, the assessment of strict liability and/or joint and several liability. New laws and regulations, including those that may relate to emissions of greenhouse gases or the use, discharge or disposal of chemicals of concern utilized in our manufacturing processes, stricter enforcement of existing laws and regulations, new and more stringent customer requirements, the discovery of previously unknown contamination or the imposition of new clean-up requirements or standards could require us to incur costs, change production methods or materials or become the basis for new or increased liabilities that could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition or results of operations.

We are subject to a wide variety of domestic and foreign laws and regulations that could adversely affect our results of operations, cash flow or financial condition.

We are subject to a wide variety of domestic and foreign laws and regulations, and legal compliance risks, including securities laws, tax laws, data privacy laws, employment and pension-related laws, competition laws, U.S. and foreign export and trade laws, government procurement regulations, and laws governing improper business practices. We are affected by both new laws and regulations, and changes to existing laws and regulations which may continue to evolve through interpretations by courts and regulators. Furthermore, the laws and regulations to which we are subject may differ from jurisdiction to jurisdiction, further increasing the cost of compliance and the risk of noncompliance.

In addition, we could be adversely affected by violations of the FCPA and similar worldwide anti-bribery laws as well as export controls and economic sanction laws. The FCPA and similar anti-bribery laws in other jurisdictions generally prohibit companies and their intermediaries from making improper payments to non-U.S. government officials for the purpose of obtaining or retaining business. In the past, there has been a substantial increase in the global enforcement of anti-corruption laws. We operate in many parts of the world that have experienced governmental corruption to some degree and, in certain circumstances, strict compliance with anti-bribery laws may conflict with local customs and practices. Our policies mandate compliance with these laws, but we cannot assure you that our internal controls and procedures will always protect us from the improper acts committed by our employees, agents or third-party intermediaries. If we are found to be liable for FCPA, export control or sanction violations, we could suffer from criminal or civil penalties or other sanctions, including loss of export privileges or authorization needed to conduct aspects of our international business, which could have a material adverse effect on our business.

Also, our sales to public-sector customers are subject to complex regulations. Noncompliance with government procurement regulations, information security requirements, or other applicable laws or regulations could result in civil, criminal and administrative liability, termination of government contracts or other public-sector customer contracts, and suspension, debarment or ineligibility from doing business with governmental entities or other customers in the public sector.

Compliance with the laws and regulations described above or with other applicable foreign, federal, state, and local laws and regulations currently in effect or that may be adopted in the future could materially adversely affect our competitive position, operating results, financial condition and liquidity.

The global regulatory landscape is rapidly evolving and new and potentially conflicting requirements, including with respect to climate change, environmental sustainability and other matters, could lead to added operational complexity and compliance risks while adversely impacting our costs and financial results. In addition, severe weather associated with a changing climate could negatively impact our operations and those of our customers and suppliers.

The pace at which regulators in many jurisdictions are implementing regulatory change is currently heightened across a wide variety of topics including climate change, environmental sustainability, employment and labor, ethics, data privacy, governance, and others. Rapid changes in the regulatory environment may lead to additional costs of compliance and risks associated with non-compliance. Furthermore, regulations governing our global operations may at times conflict across jurisdictions leading to additional complexity and operating costs.

In addition, environmental activism, government regulations and reporting standards, and other initiatives aimed at limiting climate change and reducing global greenhouse gas emissions could interfere with our business strategy and operations as well as require material investment in energy efficiency projects, renewable energy sourcing, emission controls, data collection and verification resources. Severe weather associated with a changing climate could also negatively impact the operation of our facilities, as well as those of our customers and suppliers and impact our ability to insure our assets on commercially desirable terms and conditions.

Actions required to comply with regulations or stakeholder expectations associated with corporate social responsibility (“CSR”) topics, including those related to climate change, could adversely affect our business and performance.

Investors, customers, suppliers, employees, regulators and other stakeholders are increasingly focused on CSR practices and disclosures, and expectations in this area are rapidly evolving and growing. We have announced goals covering certain CSR topics, such as those related to reductions in greenhouse gas emissions and maintaining employee health and safety. Over time, stakeholder expectations for, and regulatory requirements (such as the Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive) related to, our CSR program and initiatives may change, and our investors, customers, suppliers, employees or regulators may advocate that we implement additional, or stricter, goals and initiatives related to CSR topics. Greater expectations or legal requirements may cause us to undertake costly initiatives to satisfy such new criteria. If we do not meet, or are perceived to have not met, announced CSR goals or do not accurately disclose our progress on such goals, our reputation, competitive position, financial condition and operating results could be adversely impacted.

Risks Related to Data Privacy and Information Security

The Company may be subject to risks relating to its information technology systems, including the risk of cybersecurity incidents.

The Company relies on information technology systems and those of third parties who provide products or services to us to manage and operate its business and to process, transmit and store data, including its intellectual property, personal data and other proprietary business information and that of its customers and suppliers. Despite security measures taken by the Company, the Company’s information technology systems (both on-premises and third-party managed) may be vulnerable to attacks by hackers or subject to unauthorized access due to employee error, technology vulnerabilities or misconfigurations, supplier error, malfeasance or other causes. While we have utilized and continue to utilize various controls and systems to mitigate such risks, we cannot assure that the actions we have implemented and are implementing, or that we have required or will require third-party service providers to implement, will be sufficient to protect our systems or data. We have been and may in the future be subject to attempts to gain unauthorized access to our information technology systems. To date, the impacts of prior incidents have not had a material adverse effect on us. A cybersecurity incident could expose the Company and its employees, customers and suppliers to risks of misuse of confidential information, manipulation and destruction of data, production downtimes and operational disruptions, which in turn could result in litigation, business disputes and government investigations, and related monetary damages, injunctive requirements and fines, and could adversely affect the Company's reputation, competitive position, business or results of operations.

Data privacy and security concerns, as well as evolving regulation and enforcement, could adversely affect our results of operations and profitability.

We collect, store, access and otherwise process certain confidential or sensitive data, including proprietary business information, personal data or other information that is subject to privacy, data protection and security laws, regulations and/or government or customer-imposed controls. We operate in a global environment in which the data privacy regulatory and legal framework and corresponding enforcement and litigation landscape are evolving quickly. Moreover, the data privacy laws of the specific jurisdictions in which we operate may vary and potentially conflict. As such, we incur and expect to continue to incur significant ongoing costs as part of our efforts to comply with applicable law. Any failure, or perceived failure, to comply with our data protection or privacy-related legal obligations may result in reputational damage, loss of business, regulatory investigations and fines, and civil lawsuits, and related monetary damages and injunctive requirements, any of which may adversely affect our results of operations and profitability.

General Risk Factors

Weakness in global economic conditions or in any of the industries or geographic regions in which we or our customers operate, as well as the cyclical nature of our customers' businesses generally or sustained uncertainty in financial markets, could adversely impact our revenues and profitability by reducing demand and margins.

There has been significant volatility in the capital markets and in the end markets and geographic regions in which we and our customers operate, which has negatively affected our revenues. Our revenues also may be negatively affected by changes in customer demand, changes in the product mix and negative pricing pressure in the industries in which we operate. Margins in those industries are highly sensitive to demand cycles, and our customers in those industries historically have tended to delay large capital projects, including expensive maintenance and upgrades during economic downturns. As a result, our revenues and earnings are impacted by overall levels of industrial production.

Rising inflationary pressure has resulted in and could further result in increased employee expenses, shipping costs, raw material costs, energy and fuel costs and other costs of production. If we cannot continue to absorb or pass these increases in our costs of production to our customers, our results of operations, profit margins and cash flows could be adversely affected.

Increases in compensation, wage pressure, and other expenses for our employees have adversely affected our profitability and could continue to do so. These cost increases may continue to be impacted by inflationary pressures that could further reduce our sales or profitability. Inflation has led to and could continue to lead to further increases in other operating costs, such as shipping costs, costs of raw materials, and energy and fuel prices. If we are unable to continue to increase the price of our products to offset further cost increases, or experience a lag in doing so, due to pricing pressure, contract terms or other factors, our financial condition, results of operations and cash flows may be adversely affected.

Warranty, recall, quality or product liability claims could materially adversely affect our earnings.

Warranty, recall, quality or product liability claims could materially adversely affect our earnings and brand reputation. In our business, we are exposed to warranty and product liability claims, including in certain industry segments with potential high value claims, such as rail, aerospace and wind energy, and through our automotive customer contracts which often contain negotiated warranty provisions. In addition, we may be required to participate in the recall of a product. If we fail to meet customer specifications for their products, we may be subject to product quality costs and claims, as well as adverse brand reputational impacts. A successful warranty or product liability claim against us, or a requirement that we participate in a product recall, could have a material adverse effect on our earnings and brand reputation.

If our internal controls are found to be ineffective, our financial results or our stock price may be adversely affected.

Our most recent evaluation resulted in our conclusion that, as of December 31, 2023, our internal control over financial reporting was effective. We believe that we currently have adequate internal control procedures in place for future periods, including processes related to newly acquired businesses; however, increased risk of internal control breakdowns generally exists in a business environment that is decentralized. In addition, if our internal control over financial reporting is found to be ineffective, investors may lose confidence in the reliability of our financial statements, which may adversely affect our stock price.

Changes in accounting standards could have an adverse effect on our results of operations, as reported in our financial statements.

Our consolidated financial statements are prepared in accordance with U.S. Generally Accepted Accounting Principles ("U.S. GAAP"), which is periodically revised and/or expanded. Accordingly, from time to time we are required to adopt new or revised accounting standards and related interpretations issued by recognized authoritative bodies, including the Financial Accounting Standards Board ("FASB") and the SEC. The impact of accounting pronouncements that have been issued but not yet implemented is disclosed in this Annual Report on Form 10-K and our Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q. It is possible that future accounting guidance we are required to adopt, or future changes in accounting principles, could change the current accounting treatment that we apply to our consolidated financial statements and that such changes could have an adverse effect on our results of operations, as reported in our consolidated financial statements.

Cybersecurity Risk Management and Governance

Information security is an integral part of the Company’s overall enterprise risk management program. The Company's information security program provides a framework for handling cybersecurity threats and incidents, including threats and incidents associated with the use of third-party service providers. This framework includes steps for assessing the severity of a cybersecurity threat, identifying the source of a cybersecurity threat including whether the cybersecurity threat is associated with a third-party service provider, implementing cybersecurity testing, detection, response, prevention and mitigation strategies and informing management and the Company's Board of Directors of material cybersecurity threats and incidents. The Company's information security team also engages third-party security consultants for penetration testing, training and system enhancements.

The Board of Directors has overall oversight responsibility for the Company's risk management function, and primarily relies on the Audit Committee to administer this oversight. With respect to cybersecurity, the Board and Audit Committee are responsible for confirming that the Company's management maintains appropriate cybersecurity policies and has processes in place designed to identify and evaluate cybersecurity risks to which the Company is exposed, to manage cybersecurity risks and to mitigate any cybersecurity incidents. Management is responsible for identifying, considering and assessing material cybersecurity risks on an ongoing basis, establishing processes for monitoring and mitigating potential cybersecurity risks, exposures, implementing appropriate mitigation measures and maintaining our cybersecurity program. The Company's cybersecurity program is under the direction of our Vice President, Technology who receives reports from its cybersecurity team and monitors the prevention, detection, mitigation, and remediation of cybersecurity risks and incidents. The Company's dedicated personnel are certified and experienced information systems security professionals and information security managers with many years of experience. Management reports to either the Board of Directors or the Audit Committee at least annually on, among other topics, updates to the Company’s cybersecurity program and mitigation strategies, developments in cybersecurity practices generally, and third-party assessments of the Company’s cybersecurity program. Management also provides general program updates and industry trends to the Board and Audit Committee on a more ad hoc basis.

In 2023, the Company did not identify any cybersecurity threats that have materially affected or are reasonably likely to materially affect us, including our business strategy, results of operations, or financial condition. However, despite our efforts, the Company cannot eliminate all risks from cybersecurity threats, or provide assurances that it has not experienced an undetected cybersecurity incident. For more information about these risks, please refer to Item 1A. Risk Factors – Risks Related to Data Privacy and Information Security in this Annual Report on Form 10-K.

The Company’s corporate headquarters is located in North Canton, Ohio, and, as of December 31, 2023, the Company maintained 94 plants that perform manufacturing, assembly or repair services. The Company also maintains various sales and administrative offices and distribution centers throughout the world. None of these plants, administrative offices or distribution centers are individually material to the Company’s operations. The facilities are situated in the United States, as well as 44 other countries, including China, India, and Romania. The Company owns the vast majority of its plants, while most of its sales and administrative offices and distribution centers are leased.

The buildings occupied by Timken are principally made of brick, steel, reinforced concrete and concrete block construction. The Company believes all buildings are in satisfactory operating condition to conduct business. The extent to which the Company utilizes its properties varies by property and from time to time. The Company believes that its capacity levels are adequate for its present and anticipated future needs. Most of the Company’s manufacturing facilities remain capable of handling additional volume increases.

The Company is involved in various claims and legal actions arising in the ordinary course of business. SEC regulations require us to disclose certain information about environmental proceedings when a governmental authority is a party to the proceedings if we reasonably believe that such proceedings may result in monetary sanctions above a stated threshold. Pursuant to such regulations, the Company uses a threshold of $1 million or more for purposes of determining whether disclosure of any such proceedings is required as we believe matters under this threshold are not material to the Company. In the opinion of management, the ultimate disposition of these matters will not have a material adverse effect on the Company’s consolidated financial position or annual results of operations.

(Dollars in millions, except per share data)

OVERVIEW

Introduction:

The Timken Company designs and manufactures a growing portfolio of engineered bearings and industrial motion products, and related services. With more than a century of knowledge and innovation, the Company continuously improves the reliability and efficiency of global machinery and equipment to move the world forward. The Company’s growing product and services portfolio features many strong industrial brands, such as Timken®, GGB®, Philadelphia Gear®, Cone Drive®, Rollon®, Nadella®, Diamond®, Drives®, Groeneveld®, BEKA®, Des-Case®, Lovejoy® and Lagersmit®. Timken posted $4.8 billion in sales in 2023 and employs more than 19,000 people globally, operating in 45 countries. The Company operates under two reportable segments: (1) Engineered Bearings and (2) Industrial Motion. The following further describes these business segments:

• Timken’s Engineered Bearings segment features a broad range of product designs serving original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) and end-users worldwide. Timken is a leading authority on tapered roller bearings and leverages its position by applying engineering know-how and technology across its entire bearing portfolio, which includes tapered, spherical and cylindrical roller bearings; plain bearings, metal-polymer bearings and rod end bearings; thrust and specialty ball bearings; and housed or mounted bearings. The Engineered Bearings portfolio features the Timken®, GGB® and Fafnir® brands and serves customers across global industries, including wind energy, agriculture, construction, food and beverage, metals and mining, automotive and truck, aerospace, rail and more.
• Timken’s Industrial Motion segment includes a diverse and growing portfolio of engineered products, including industrial drives, automatic lubrication systems, linear motion products and systems, chains, belts, couplings, filtration systems and industrial clutches and brakes that keep systems running efficiently. Industrial Motion also includes industrial drivetrain services, which return equipment to like-new condition. The Industrial Motion portfolio features many strong brands, including Philadelphia Gear®, Cone Drive®, Spinea®, Rollon®, Nadella®, Groeneveld®, BEKA®, Des-Case®, Diamond®, Drives®, Timken® Belts, Lovejoy®, PT Tech® and Lagersmit®. Industrial Motion products are used across a broad range of industries, including solar energy, automation, construction, agriculture and turf, passenger rail, marine, aerospace, packaging and logistics, medical and more.

Timken creates value by understanding customer needs and applying its know-how to serve a broad range of customers in attractive markets and industries across the globe. The Company’s business strengths include its product technology, end-market diversity, geographic reach and aftermarket mix. Timken collaborates with OEMs to improve equipment efficiency with its engineered products and captures subsequent equipment replacement cycles by selling largely through independent channels in the aftermarket. Timken focuses its international efforts and footprint in regions of the world where strong macroeconomic factors such as urbanization, infrastructure development and sustainability create demand for its products and services.

The Company's strategy has three primary elements:

Profitable Growth. The Company intends to expand into new and existing markets by leveraging its collective knowledge of materials science, friction management and power transmission to create value for Timken customers. Using a highly collaborative technical selling approach, the Company places particular emphasis on creating unique solutions for challenging and/or demanding applications. The Company intends to grow in attractive market sectors around the world, emphasizing those spaces that are highly fragmented, demand high service and value the reliability and efficiency offered by Timken products. The Company also targets applications that offer significant aftermarket demand, thereby providing product and services revenue throughout the equipment’s lifetime.

Operational Excellence. Timken operates with a relentless drive for exceptional results and a passion for superior execution. The Company embraces a continuous improvement culture that is charged with increasing efficiency, lowering costs, eliminating waste, driving organizational advancement and agility, and building greater brand equity to fuel growth. This requires the Company’s ongoing commitment to attract, retain and develop the best talent across the world.

Capital Deployment to Drive Shareholder Value. The Company is focused on providing the highest returns for shareholders through its capital allocation framework, which includes: (1) investing in the core business through capital expenditures, research and development and initiatives to drive profitable organic growth; (2) pursuing strategic acquisitions to broaden its portfolio and capabilities across diverse markets, with a focus on engineered bearings, industrial motion products and related services; (3) returning capital to shareholders through dividends and share repurchases; and (4) maintaining a strong balance sheet and sufficient liquidity. As part of this framework, the Company may also restructure, reposition or divest underperforming product lines or assets.

The following items highlight some of the Company's accomplishments in 2023:

• In September, Timken issued its annual CSR report, including an update on progress towards its 2030 environmental emissions target, as well as its ongoing efforts to improve the lives of individuals and communities and build a more efficient and resilient world.
• Throughout the year, the Company continued to advance its manufacturing footprint initiatives to support growth, and improve competitiveness and customer service. Timken began construction of a new facility on its manufacturing campus in Guanajuato, Mexico. The increased capacity will allow for the introduction of industrial motion operations, specifically belt manufacturing, to complement existing engineered bearing capabilities at the site. The Company also began construction of a new manufacturing facility to produce spherical and cylindrical roller bearings on its Bharuch, India, campus. Both facilities are expected to begin operations in 2025.
• Timken enhanced its industry-leading engineered bearings portfolio through the acquisitions of American Roller Bearing Company ("ARB") in January and Engineered Solutions Group ("iMECH") in November.
• ARB is a U.S.-based manufacturer of industrial bearings that boasts a large U.S. installed base and strong aftermarket business. ARB reported revenues of approximately $40 million for the full year of 2023.
• iMECH is a North America-based manufacturer of thrust bearings, radial bearings, specialty coatings and other components primarily used in the energy industry. iMECH's full year 2023 revenues were approximately $25 million.
• The Company continued to scale and expand its industrial motion portfolio through the acquisitions of Leonardo Top S.a.r.l. ("Nadella") in April, Rosa Sistemi S.p.A. ("Rosa") and D-C Filtration Holdings Corp. ("Des-Case") in September, and Lagersmit Holding B.V. ("Lagersmit") in December.
• Nadella is a Europe-based manufacturer of linear guides, telescopic rails, actuators and systems and other specialized industrial motion solutions. Nadella reported full year 2023 revenues of approximately $105 million.
• Rosa is a Europe-based designer and manufacturer of roller guideways, linear bearings, customized linear systems and actuators, commercialized ball guideways and precision ball screws. Rosa had full year 2023 revenues of approximately $15 million.
• Des-Case is a U.S.-based manufacturer of specialty filtration products for industrial lubricants. Des-Case had full year 2023 revenues of approximately $40 million.
• Lagersmit is a Europe-based manufacturer of highly engineered sealing solutions for marine, dredging, water, tidal energy and other industrial applications. Lagersmit had full year 2023 revenues of approximately $40 million.
• Timken increased its quarterly dividend by 6% in the second quarter and paid its 406th consecutive quarterly dividend in the fourth quarter. The Company achieved ten straight years of higher annual dividends in 2023. Timken also repurchased 3.2 million common shares, or over 4% of its outstanding common shares, during the year.
• The Company deployed over $1.1 billion of capital in 2023 across capital expenditures, acquisitions, dividends and share repurchases to advance its strategy and create shareholder value.
• Throughout 2023, Timken received third-party recognition for the role it plays as a global industrial leader, responsible corporate citizen, innovator and employer of choice. The Company was named one of America’s Best Large Employers by Forbes, one of the World's Most Ethical Companies® for the 12th time by Ethisphere, and one of America's Most Innovative Companies by Fortune magazine and market and consumer data provider Statista.

RESULTS OF OPERATIONS

2023 vs. 2022

Overview:

The increase in net sales was primarily driven by the benefit of acquisitions net of divestitures and higher organic sales (favorable pricing, lower volume), partially offset by the unfavorable impact of foreign currency exchange rate changes. The decrease in net income was primarily due to the impact of lower volume, higher operating costs, the unfavorable impact of foreign currency exchange rate changes, higher pension remeasurement charges, and an increase in net interest expense, partially offset by favorable price/mix.

Outlook:

The Company expects 2024 full-year revenue to be down in the range of 2.5% to 4.5% in total compared to 2023, as the benefit of acquisitions net of divestitures completed during 2023 is expected to be more than offset by lower anticipated organic revenue based on the current demand environment. The Company's earnings are expected to be down in 2024 compared with 2023, primarily due to the impact of lower sales volume, offset partially by lower anticipated pension remeasurement and impairment charges and the favorable impact of acquisitions, including reduced acquisition related charges.

The Company expects to generate a higher amount of cash from operating activities in 2024 compared to 2023, driven by improved working capital performance and lower cash taxes. The Company expects capital expenditures for 2024 to be similar in amount to 2023 and in the range of 4% of sales.

THE STATEMENTS OF INCOME

Operating Income:

Net sales increased in 2023 compared to 2022 primarily due to the favorable impact of acquisitions (net of divestitures) of $246 million and higher organic sales of $50 million (favorable pricing, lower volume), partially offset by the unfavorable impact of foreign currency exchange rate changes of $23 million.

Operating income increased in 2023 compared to 2022 due to favorable impact of higher sales net of cost of products sold, partially offset by higher selling, general and administrative ("SG&A") expenses, increased amortization expense and higher impairment and restructuring charges.

• Cost of products sold increased in 2023 compared to 2022 due to the incremental cost of goods sold from recent acquisitions (net of divestitures) of $180 million and the impact of foreign currency exchange rate changes of $3 million, partially offset by lower material and logistics costs of $85 million and lower manufacturing costs, including lower volume and the impact of favorable mix, of $3 million.
• SG&A expenses increased in 2023 compared to 2022 due to the incremental SG&A expense associated with recent acquisitions (net of divestitures), higher compensation costs and increased spending to support ongoing business projects and initiatives, including acquisitions.
• Amortization of intangible assets increased in 2023 compared to 2022 due to the addition of intangible assets from the six acquisitions that were completed during 2023, as well as the GGB Bearing Technology ("GGB") acquisition, which was completed in the fourth quarter of 2022. Refer to Note 2 - Acquisitions and Divestitures in the Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements for additional information.
• Impairment and restructuring charges were relatively unchanged in 2023 compared to 2022. The current period included the impairment of goodwill and restructuring costs related to ongoing plant rationalization initiatives. During the first quarter of 2023, the Company reviewed the goodwill at its reporting units due to the change in reporting segments that went into effect on January 1, 2023. As a result of this analysis, a pretax impairment loss of $28.3 million was recorded in the first quarter of 2023. The prior period included impairment charges of $29.3 million related to the sale of the Timken Aerospace Drives Systems, LLC ("ADS") business, which was completed in the fourth quarter of 2022, as well as restructuring costs related to ongoing plant rationalization initiatives.

Interest Expense and Income:

Interest expense increased in 2023 compared to 2022, primarily due to increased debt levels and higher average interest rates.

Other Income (Expense):

The change in non-service pension and other postretirement expense and income was primarily due to higher net actuarial losses ("mark-to-market" charges) recorded in 2023 compared to 2022, as well as lower expected returns on pension assets and higher interest expense. In 2023, $20.6 million of mark-to-market charges were recognized, compared to $2.9 million of mark-to-market charges in 2022. Refer to Note 17 - Retirement Benefit Plans and Note 18 - Other Postretirement Benefit Plans in the Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements for more information.

The change in other (expense) income was due to net foreign currency transaction losses recognized in 2023, compared to net foreign currency transaction gains in 2022. In addition, the current period includes a gain on the divestiture of S.E. Setco Service Company, LLC ("SE Setco"), a 50%-owned joint venture.

Income Tax Expense:

The effective tax rate for 2023 was 23.1%, which was unfavorable compared to the U.S. federal statutory rate of 21%, primarily due to the unfavorable impact of earnings in foreign jurisdictions where the effective tax rate was higher than 21% and withholding taxes accrued on planned dividend distributions expected in 2024. This was partially offset by the favorable impact of U.S. foreign tax credit utilization from acquisition integration structuring.

The effective tax rate for 2022 was 24.3%, which was unfavorable compared to the U.S. federal statutory rate of 21%, primarily due to the unfavorable impact of earnings in foreign jurisdictions where the effective tax rate was higher than 21%. This was partially offset by the release of accruals for uncertain tax positions and favorable U.S. permanent book-tax differences.

The change in the effective rate for 2023 compared with 2022 was a decrease of 1.2%. The decrease was primarily due to the favorable impact of U.S. foreign tax credit utilization from acquisition integration structuring which was partially offset by withholding taxes accrued on planned dividend distributions expected in 2024 and prior year discrete release of accruals for uncertain tax positions.

Refer to Note 5 - Income Taxes in the Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements for more information on the computation of the income tax expense in interim periods.

For a discussion of changes in consolidated results from 2022 to 2021, refer to 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 year ended December 31, 2022.

BUSINESS SEGMENTS

The Company's reportable segments are product-based business groups that serve customers in diverse industrial markets. The primary measurement used by management to measure the financial performance of each segment is EBITDA. Refer to Note 4 - Segment Information in the Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements for the reconciliation of EBITDA by segment to consolidated income before income taxes.

Effective January 1, 2023, the Company began operating under new reportable segments. The Company operates under two reportable segments: (1) Engineered Bearings and (2) Industrial Motion. Segment results for 2022 and 2021 have been revised to conform to the 2023 presentation of segments.

The presentation of segment results below includes a reconciliation of the changes in net sales for each segment reported in accordance with U.S. GAAP to net sales adjusted to remove the effects of acquisitions and divestitures completed in 2023 and 2022 and foreign currency exchange rate changes. The effects of acquisitions, divestitures and foreign currency exchange rate changes on net sales are removed to allow investors and the Company to meaningfully evaluate the percentage change in net sales on a comparable basis from period to period.

The following items highlight the Company's acquisitions and divestitures completed in 2023 and 2022:

• The Company acquired Lagersmit during the fourth quarter of 2023. Results for Lagersmit are reported in the Industrial Motion segment.
• The Company acquired iMECH during the fourth quarter of 2023. Results for iMECH are reported in the Engineered Bearings segment.
• The Company completed the sale of Jiangsu TWB Bearings Co., Ltd. ("TWB") during the fourth quarter of 2023. Results for TWB were reported in the Engineered Bearings segment.
• The Company acquired Rosa and Des-Case during the third quarter of 2023. Results for Rosa and Des-Case are reported in the Industrial Motion segment.
• The Company acquired Nadella during the second quarter of 2023. Results for Nadella are reported in the Industrial Motion segment.
• The Company acquired ARB during the first quarter of 2023. Results for ARB are reported in the Engineered Bearings segment.
• The Company acquired GGB during the fourth quarter of 2022. Results for GGB are reported in the Engineered Bearings segment.
• The Company completed the sale of ADS during the fourth quarter of 2022. Results for ADS were reported in the Industrial Motion segment.
• The Company completed the sale of Timken-Rus Service Company ooo ("Timken Russia") during the third quarter of 2022. Results for Timken Russia were reported in the Engineered Bearings segment.
• The Company acquired Spinea, s.r.o. ("Spinea") during the second quarter of 2022. Results for Spinea are reported in the Industrial Motion segment.

Engineered Bearings Segment:

The Engineered Bearings segment's net sales, excluding the effects of acquisitions, divestitures and foreign currency exchange rate changes, increased $3.4 million or 0.1% in 2023 compared with 2022, as higher pricing across the segment was almost fully offset by lower sales volumes. Within the sectors, sales volumes were higher in rail and heavy industries compared to 2022, relatively flat in renewable energy, and lower in distribution, off highway, on-highway auto/truck, and general industrial. EBITDA increased in 2023 by $45.9 million or 7.5% compared with 2022, primarily due to favorable price/mix, lower material and logistics costs and the benefit of acquisitions net of divestitures, partially offset by higher manufacturing and SG&A costs, lower volume, and the unfavorable impact of foreign currency exchange rate changes.

Industrial Motion Segment:

The Industrial Motion segment's net sales, excluding the effects of acquisitions, divestitures and foreign currency exchange rate changes, increased $46.3 million or 3.3% in 2023 compared with 2022. The increase reflects higher pricing across the segments, as well as higher sales volume. Within the segment's platforms, sales volumes were higher in drive systems and services and automatic lubrication systems, and lower in belts and chain, linear motion, and couplings, clutches and brakes. EBITDA increased $39.2 million or 17.6% in 2023 compared with 2022 primarily due to favorable price/mix, lower material and logistics costs, partially offset by higher SG&A expenses.

Unallocated Corporate:

Unallocated corporate expense increased in 2023 compared with 2022 primarily due to the unfavorable impact of foreign currency transaction gains and losses and the increased spending for professional and other services.

RESULTS OF OPERATIONS:

2022 vs. 2021

BUSINESS SEGMENTS

The presentation of segment results below includes a reconciliation of the changes in net sales for each segment reported in accordance with U.S. GAAP to net sales adjusted to remove the effects of acquisitions and divestitures completed in 2022 and 2021 and foreign currency exchange rate changes. The effects of acquisitions, divestitures and foreign currency exchange rate changes on net sales are removed to allow investors and the Company to meaningfully evaluate the percentage change in net sales on a comparable basis from period to period.

The following items highlight the Company's acquisitions and divestitures completed in 2022 and 2021:

• The Company acquired GGB during the fourth quarter of 2022. Results for GGB are reported in the Engineered Bearings segment.
• The Company completed the sale of ADS during the fourth quarter of 2022. The results for ADS were reported in the Industrial Motion segment.
• The Company completed the sale of Timken Russia during the third quarter of 2022. Results for Timken Russia were reported in the Engineered Bearings segment.
• The Company acquired Spinea during the second quarter of 2022. The results for Spinea are reported in the Industrial Motion segment.
• The Company acquired Intelligent Machine Solutions (“iMS”) during the third quarter of 2021. The results for iMS are reported in the Industrial Motion segment.

Engineered Bearings Segment:

The Engineered Bearings segment's net sales, excluding the effects of acquisitions, divestitures and foreign currency exchange rate changes, increased $353.0 million or 12.5% in 2022 compared with 2021, reflecting higher demand and higher pricing across most of the segment, partially offset by lower sales volume in the aerospace sector. EBITDA increased in 2022 by $102.4 million or 19.9% compared with 2021, primarily due to favorable price/mix and the impact of higher sales volume, partially offset by higher operating costs and higher impairment and restructuring charges.

Industrial Motion Segment:

The Industrial Motion segment's net sales, excluding the effects of acquisitions, divestitures and foreign currency exchange rate changes, increased $125.0 million or 9.5% in 2022 compared with 2021, reflecting higher pricing and higher sales volume in the drive systems and services, coupling, clutches and brakes, linear motion, and lubrication platforms. EBITDA decreased in 2022 by $10.2 million or 4.4% compared with 2021, primarily due to higher operating costs, higher impairment charges and the unfavorable impact of foreign currency exchange rate changes, partially offset by favorable price/mix and higher volume.

Unallocated Corporate:

Unallocated corporate expense increased in 2022 compared with 2021 primarily due to higher compensation costs (including incentive-based compensation) and other spending to support increased business activity levels, partially offset by the impact of foreign currency exchange gains in 2022 as compared with foreign currency exchange losses in the prior year.

CASH FLOWS

Operating Activities:

The increase in net cash provided by operating activities in 2023 compared with 2022 was primarily due to the favorable impact of working capital items of $161.6 million, as well as the benefit of other items, partially offset by the unfavorable impact of income taxes on cash of $132.7 million due to higher tax payments and a decrease in net income of $9.0 million. Refer to the table below for additional detail of the impact of each line on net cash provided by operating activities.

The following chart displays the impact of working capital items on cash during 2023 and 2022, respectively:

The following table displays the impact of income taxes on cash during 2023 and 2022, respectively:

Investing Activities:

The increase in net cash used in investing activities in 2023 compared with 2022 was primarily due to an increase in cash used for acquisitions of $185.1 million, a decrease in the proceeds from divestitures of $20.4 million, an increase in cash used for net investments in short-term marketable securities of $8.9 million, and an increase in capital expenditures of $9.4 million.

Financing Activities:

The change in net cash provided by financing activities in 2023 compared with 2022 was primarily due to cash proceeds of $284.8 million from the sale of shares of TIL, a subsidiary of the Company, in the second quarter of 2023, partially offset by a decrease in net borrowings of $105.0 million and an increase in the purchase of treasury shares of $39.3 million.

LIQUIDITY AND CAPITAL RESOURCES

Reconciliation of total debt to net debt and the ratio of net debt to capital:

Net Debt:

Ratio of Net Debt to Capital:

The Company presents net debt because it believes net debt is more representative of the Company's financial position than total debt due to the amount of cash and cash equivalents held by the Company and the ability to utilize such cash and cash equivalents to reduce debt if needed.

At December 31, 2023, the Company had strong liquidity with $418.9 million of cash and cash equivalents on the Consolidated Balance Sheet, as well as $513.4 million available under committed credit lines. Of the $418.9 million of cash and cash equivalents, $406.3 million resided in jurisdictions outside the United States. Repatriation of non-U.S. cash could be subject to taxes and some portion may be subject to governmental restrictions. Part of the Company's strategy is to grow in attractive market sectors, many of which are outside the United States. This strategy includes making investments in facilities, equipment and potential new acquisitions. The Company plans to fund these investments, as well as meet working capital requirements, with cash and cash equivalents and unused lines of credit within the geographic location of these investments where feasible.

On December 5, 2022 the Company entered into the Fifth Amended and Restated Credit Agreement ("Credit Agreement"), which is comprised of a $750.0 million unsecured revolving credit facility ("Senior Credit Facility") and a $400 million unsecured term loan facility ("2027 Term Loan") that each mature on December 5, 2027. The Credit Amendment amended and restated the Company's previous revolving credit agreement that was set to mature on June 25, 2024, and replaced the $350 million term loan that was set to mature on September 11, 2023 ("2023 Term Loan"). The Credit Agreement also replaced interest rates based on London Inter-Bank Offered Rate ("LIBOR") with interest rates based on the Secured Overnight Financing Rate ("SOFR"). At December 31, 2023, the Senior Credit Facility had outstanding borrowings of $247.4 million and $1.3 million of letters of credit, which reduced the availability to $501.3 million. The Credit Agreement has two financial covenants: a consolidated net leverage ratio and a consolidated interest coverage ratio. The maximum consolidated net leverage ratio permitted under the Senior Credit Facility is 3.5 to 1.0. As of December 31, 2023, the Company's consolidated net leverage ratio was 2.09 to 1.0. The minimum consolidated interest coverage ratio permitted under the Senior Credit Facility is 3.0 to 1.0. As of December 31, 2023, the Company's consolidated interest coverage ratio was 9.11 to 1.0.

The interest rate under the Senior Credit Facility is variable with a spread based on the Company's debt rating. The average rate on outstanding U.S. dollar borrowings was 6.48% and the average rate on outstanding Euro borrowings was 4.85% as of December 31, 2023. In addition, the Company pays a facility fee based on the applicable rate, which is variable with a spread based on the Company's debt rating, multiplied by the aggregate commitments of all of the lenders under the Senior Credit Facility. As of December 31, 2023, the Company carried investment-grade credit ratings with Moody's (Baa2) and S&P Global (BBB-).

The Company renewed the Amended and Restated Asset Securitization Agreement (the "Accounts Receivable Facility") on December 6, 2023. The $100.0 million Accounts Receivable Facility matures on November 30, 2026. The Accounts Receivable Facility is subject to certain borrowing base limitations and is secured by certain domestic trade accounts receivable of the Company. These limitations reduced the availability of the Accounts Receivable Facility to $79.1 million at December 31, 2023. As of December 31, 2023, there were $67.0 million outstanding borrowings under the Accounts Receivable Facility, which reduced the availability under this facility to $12.1 million.

Other sources of liquidity include uncommitted short-term lines of credit for certain of the Company's foreign subsidiaries, which currently allows for borrowings of up to $232.2 million. At December 31, 2023, the Company had borrowings outstanding of $25.4 million and bank guarantees of $2.1 million, which reduced the aggregate availability under these facilities to $204.7 million.

On March 28, 2022, the Company issued the fixed-rate unsecured senior notes (the "2032 Notes") in the aggregate principal amount of $350 million with an interest rate of 4.125%, maturing on April 1, 2032. Proceeds from the 2032 Notes were used for general corporate purposes, which included repayment of borrowings under the Senior Credit Facility and the Accounts Receivable Facility outstanding at the time of issuance.

The Company has outstanding fixed-rate unsecured notes ("2024 Notes") in the aggregate principal amount of $350.0 million with an interest rate of 3.875%, maturing on September 1, 2024. The Company currently intends to refinance the 2024 Notes prior to their maturity.

At December 31, 2023, the Company was in full compliance with all applicable covenants on its outstanding debt.

The Company expects to generate a higher amount of cash from operating activities in 2024 compared to 2023, driven by improved working capital performance and lower cash taxes. The Company expects capital expenditures for 2024 to be similar in amount to 2023 and in the range of 4% of sales.

FUTURE CONTRACTUAL AND OTHER PAYMENTS

The Company’s material cash requirements for contractual debt obligations and other contractual commitments outstanding as of December 31, 2023 were as follows:

Payments due by period:

The interest payments beyond five years primarily relate to long-term fixed-rate notes. Refer to Note 12 - Financing Arrangements in the Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements for additional information.

In order to maintain minimum funding requirements, the Company is required to make contributions to the trusts established for its defined benefit pension plans and other postretirement benefit plans. The table above shows the expected future minimum cash contributions to the trusts for the funded plans as well as estimated future benefit payments to participants for the unfunded plans. Those minimum funding requirements and estimated benefit payments can vary significantly. The amounts in the table above are based on actuarial estimates using current assumptions for, among other things, discount rates, expected return on assets and health care cost trend rates. During 2023, the Company made cash contributions and payments of $27.1 million to its global defined benefit pension plans and $2.7 million to its other postretirement benefit plans. Refer to Note 17 - Retirement Benefit Plans and Note 18 - Other Postretirement Benefit Plans in the Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements for additional information.

Refer to Note 5 - Income Taxes and Note 14 - Contingencies in the Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements for additional information regarding the Company's exposure for certain tax and legal matters.

In the ordinary course of business, the Company utilizes standby letters of credit issued by financial institutions to guarantee certain obligations, most of which relate to insurance contracts. At December 31, 2023, outstanding letters of credit totaled $59.6 million, primarily having expiration dates within 12 months.

NEW ACCOUNTING GUIDANCE ISSUED AND NOT YET ADOPTED

Information required for this Item is incorporated by reference to Note 1 - Significant Accounting Policies in the Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements.

CRITICAL ACCOUNTING POLICIES AND ESTIMATES

The Company’s financial statements are prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States. The preparation of these financial statements requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the periods presented. The following paragraphs include a discussion of some critical areas that require a higher degree of judgment, estimates and complexity.

Inventory:

Inventories are valued at the lower of cost or market, with approximately 62% valued by the first-in, first-out ("FIFO") method and the remaining 38% valued by the last-in, first-out ("LIFO") method. The majority of the Company’s domestic inventories are valued by the LIFO method, while substantially all of the Company’s international inventories are valued by the FIFO method. An actual valuation of the inventory under the LIFO method can be made only at the end of each year based on the inventory levels and costs at that time. Accordingly, interim LIFO calculations are based on management’s estimates of expected year-end inventory levels and costs. Because these are subject to many factors beyond management’s control, annual results may differ from interim results as they are subject to the final year-end LIFO inventory valuation. The Company recognized an increase in its LIFO reserve of $3.3 million during 2023 compared to an increase in its LIFO reserve of $36.0 million during 2022.

Goodwill and Indefinite-lived Intangible Assets:

The Company tests goodwill and indefinite-lived intangible assets for impairment at least annually, performing its annual impairment test as of October 1st. Furthermore, goodwill and indefinite-lived intangible assets are reviewed for impairment whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying value may not be recoverable. Each interim period, the Company assesses whether or not an indicator of impairment is present that would necessitate a goodwill and indefinite-lived intangible assets impairment analysis be performed in an interim period other than during the fourth quarter.

As of December 31, 2023, the Company had $1,369.6 million of goodwill on its Consolidated Balance Sheet, of which $692.3 million was attributable to the Engineered Bearings segment and $677.3 million was attributable to the Industrial Motion segment. See Note 9 - Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets in the Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements for movements in the carrying amount of goodwill by segment.

The Company reviews goodwill for impairment at the reporting unit level. The Engineered Bearings segment has one reporting unit and the Industrial Motion segment has six reporting units.

Accounting guidance permits an entity to first assess qualitative factors to determine whether additional indefinite-lived intangible asset impairment testing, including goodwill, is required. The Company chose to utilize this qualitative assessment in the annual goodwill impairment testing for all reporting units in the fourth quarter of 2023. Based on the qualitative assessment, the Company concluded that it was more likely than not that the fair value of these reporting units exceeded their respective carrying values.

As of December 31, 2023, the Company had $146.4 million of indefinite-lived intangible assets on its Consolidated Balance Sheet. The Company’s indefinite-lived intangible assets primarily consist of acquired trade names. The Company chose to perform a quantitative impairment analysis in the annual impairment testing of indefinite-lived intangible assets. The Company prepares its quantitative indefinite-lived intangible analysis by comparing the estimated fair value of each indefinite-lived intangible asset, using a relief from royalty method, with its carrying value. The relief from royalty method requires several assumptions including future sales growth, terminal revenue growth rate, royalty rate and discount rate. During the fourth quarter of 2023, the Company used discount rates for its indefinite-lived intangible assets in the range of 10.7% to 14.5%, royalty rates in the range of 1.0% to 6.0% and terminal growth rates in the range of 1.0% to 3.5%.

Based on the October 1, 2023 quantitative assessment of indefinite-lived intangible assets, there was one indefinite-lived intangible with a carrying value of $28.5 million in which the fair value exceeded the carrying value of this indefinite-lived intangible asset by 10% or less.

Management believes the future sales growth and EBITDA margins in the long-range plan and the discount rate used in the valuations requires use of judgment. If any of the Company's reporting units or indefinite-lived intangible assets do not meet their long-range plan estimates or discount rates increase significantly, the Company could be required to perform an interim goodwill or indefinite-lived intangible asset impairment analysis and record impairment charges in future periods. The assumptions used for the indefinite-lived intangibles with fair values exceeding carrying values of 10% or less are more sensitive to future performance and will be monitored accordingly.

Income Taxes:

Management judgment is required in determining the provision for income taxes, deferred tax assets and liabilities, valuation allowances against deferred tax assets, and accruals for uncertain tax positions.

The Company, which is subject to income taxes in the U.S. and numerous non-U.S. jurisdictions, accounts for income taxes in accordance with Accounting Standards Codification ("ASC") Topic 740, “Income Taxes.” Deferred tax assets and liabilities are recorded for the future tax consequences attributable to differences between financial statement carrying amounts of existing assets and liabilities and their respective tax bases, as well as net operating losses and tax credit carryforwards. Deferred tax assets and liabilities are measured using enacted tax rates expected to apply to taxable income in the years in which temporary differences are expected to be recovered or settled. Deferred tax assets relate primarily to tax loss carryforwards in foreign jurisdictions, as well as pension and postretirement benefit obligations in the U.S., which the Company believes are more likely than not to result in future tax benefits. In determining the need for a valuation allowance, the historical and projected financial performance of the entity recording the net deferred tax asset is considered along with any other pertinent information. The Company recorded $2.1 million in 2023 and $0.9 million in 2022 of tax benefits related to the reversal of valuation allowances. Refer to Note 5 - Income Taxes in the Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements for further discussion on the valuation allowance reversals.

In the ordinary course of the Company’s business, there are many transactions and calculations where the ultimate income tax determination is uncertain. The Company is regularly under audit by tax authorities. Accruals for uncertain tax positions are provided for in accordance with the requirements of ASC Topic 740. The Company records interest and penalties related to uncertain tax positions as a component of income tax expense. In 2023, the Company recorded $4.7 million of net tax expense for uncertain tax positions, which consisted primarily of $15.4 million related to increases to current and prior year uncertain tax positions and interest. This expense was partially offset by $10.7 million of the net reversal of accruals for prior year uncertain tax positions and settlements with tax authorities. During 2023, the Company recorded a $0.6 million increase of uncertain tax positions related to foreign currency translation adjustments and deferred tax liabilities. The Company also recorded $5.9 million of uncertain tax positions related to prior years for acquisitions made during 2023.

Purchase Accounting and Business Combinations:

Assets acquired and liabilities assumed as part of a business combination are recognized at their acquisition date fair values. In determining these fair values, the Company utilized various forms of the income, cost and market approaches depending on the asset or liability being valued. For certain acquisitions, the Company used a benchmarking model to measure the trade names, customer relationship, and technology and know-how-related intangible assets. The estimation of fair value required judgment related to future net cash flows based on assumptions related to revenue and EBITDA growth rates, customer attrition rates and discount rates. Inputs were generally determined by taking into account competitive trends, market comparisons, independent appraisals, and historical data, among other factors, and were supplemented by current and anticipated market conditions.

Refer to Note 1 - Significant Accounting Policies for further discussion regarding the fair value process.

Revenue Recognition:

A contract exists when it has approval and commitment from both parties, the rights of the parties are identified, payment terms are identified, the contract has commercial substance and collectability of consideration is probable.

Revenue is generally recognized as performance obligations under the terms of a contract with a customer of the Company are satisfied. Refer to Note 1 - Significant Accounting Policies in the Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements for further discussion around the Company's revenue policy.

Benefit Plans:

The Company sponsors a number of defined benefit pension plans that cover eligible employees. The Company also sponsors several funded and unfunded postretirement plans that provide health care and life insurance benefits for eligible retirees and their dependents. These plans are accounted for in accordance with ASC Topic 715-30, "Defined Benefit Plans – Pension," and ASC Topic 715-60, "Defined Benefit Plans – Other Postretirement."

The measurement of liabilities related to these plans is based on management's assumptions related to future events, including discount rates and health care cost trend rates. Management regularly evaluates these assumptions and adjusts them as required and appropriate. Other plan assumptions also are reviewed on a regular basis to reflect recent experience and the Company's future expectations. Actual experience that differs from these assumptions may affect future liquidity, expense and the overall financial position of the Company. While the Company believes that current assumptions are appropriate, significant differences in actual experience or significant changes in these assumptions may affect materially the Company's pension and other postretirement employee benefit obligations and its future expense and cash flow.

The discount rate is used to calculate the present value of expected future pension and postretirement cash flows as of the measurement date. The Company establishes the discount rate by constructing a notional portfolio of high-quality corporate bonds and matching the coupon payments and bond maturities to projected benefit payments under the Company's pension and postretirement welfare plans. The bonds included in the portfolio generally are non-callable. A lower discount rate will result in a higher benefit obligation; conversely, a higher discount rate will result in a lower benefit obligation. The discount rate also is used to calculate the annual interest cost, which is a component of net periodic benefit cost.

The expected rate of return on plan assets is determined by analyzing the historical long-term performance of the Company's pension plan assets, as well as the mix of plan assets between equities, fixed-income securities and other investments, the expected long-term rate of return expected for those asset classes and long-term inflation rates. Short-term asset performance can differ significantly from the expected rate of return, especially in volatile markets. A lower-than-expected rate of return on pension plan assets will increase pension expense and future contributions.

The Company recognizes actuarial gains and losses immediately through net periodic benefit cost upon the annual remeasurement in the fourth quarter, or on an interim basis if specific events trigger a remeasurement.

Defined Benefit Pension Plans:

The Company recognized net periodic benefit cost of $33.8 million during 2023 for defined benefit pension plans, compared to net periodic benefit cost of $21.0 million during 2022. The Company recognized mark-to-market" charges of $21.6 million during 2023 compared to $16.0 million during 2022. Mark-to-market charges during 2023 were primarily due to the impact of a net reduction in the discount rate used to measures the Company's defined benefit pension obligations of $17.6 million and the impact of experience losses of $10.3 million, partially offset by changes in mortality of $6.0 million primarily related to the Company's United Kingdom ("U.K.") plan obligations and other actuarial gains of $0.3 million. The impact of the net reduction in the discount rate used to measure the Company's defined benefit pension obligations was primarily driven by a 24 basis point reduction in the weighted-average discount rate used to measure its U.S. plan obligations, which decreased from 5.64% in 2022 to 5.40% in 2023, and a 33 basis point decrease in the discount rate used to measure its U.K. plan obligations, which decreased from 4.81% in 2022 to 4.48% in 2023. Returns on plan assets had no impact on actuarial losses for 2023. Excluding mark-to-market charges, net period benefit cost was higher in 2023 due to higher interest costs and lower expected return on plan assets.

In 2024, the Company expects net periodic benefit cost to be approximately $13 million for defined benefit pension plans, compared with net periodic benefit cost of $33.8 million in 2023. Net periodic benefit cost for 2024 does not include mark-to-market charges that will be recognized immediately through earnings in the fourth quarter of 2024, or on an interim basis if specific events trigger a remeasurement. Excluding the mark-to-market charges of $21.6 million recognized in 2023, net periodic benefit cost was $12.2 million in 2023. The expected increase in net periodic benefit cost, excluding mark-to-market charges, primarily reflects a lower expected return on plan assets.

The Company expects to contribute to its defined benefit pension plans or pay directly to participants of defined benefit plans approximately $25 million in 2024 compared with $27.1 million of contributions and payments in 2023.

For expense purposes in 2023, the Company applied a weighted-average discount rate of 5.64% to its U.S. defined benefit pension plans. For expense purposes in 2024, the Company will apply a weighted-average discount rate of 5.40% to its U.S. defined benefit pension plans.

For expense purposes in 2023, the Company applied an expected weighted-average rate of return of 4.47% for the Company’s U.S. pension plan assets. For expense purposes in 2024, the Company will apply an expected weighted-average rate of return on plan assets of 3.94%.

The following table presents the sensitivity of the Company's global projected pension benefit obligation ("PBO") to the indicated increase/decrease in key assumptions:

In the table above, a 25 basis point decrease in the discount rate will increase the PBO by $15.2 million and decrease income before income taxes through the recognition of actuarial losses of $15.2 million. A 25 basis point increase in the discount rate will decrease the PBO by $15.2 million and increase income before income taxes through the recognition of actuarial gains of $15.2 million. In addition, a 25 basis point decrease in returns on pension assets will decrease income before income taxes by $1.0 million, and a 25 basis point increase in return on pension assets will increase income before income taxes by $1.0 million.

Other Postretirement Benefit Plans:

The Company recognized net periodic benefit credit of $7.3 million during 2023 for other postretirement benefit plans, compared to net periodic benefit credit of $21.6 million during 2022. The Company recognized actuarial gains of $1.0 million during 2023 compared to $13.1 million in 2022. Actuarial gains of $1.0 million during 2023 were primarily due to lower than expected benefit payments of $1.4 million and $0.1 million due to changes in other actuarial assumptions. These actuarial gains were partially offset a $0.5 million loss due to the impact of a 20 basis point decrease in the discount rate used to measure the Company's defined benefit postretirement obligations, which decreased from 5.75% in 2022 to 5.55% in 2023.

In 2024, the Company expects net periodic benefit credit of approximately $6 million for other postretirement benefit plans, compared to net periodic benefit credit of $7.3 million in 2023. Net periodic benefit credit for 2024 does not include actuarial gains that will be recognized immediately through earnings in the fourth quarter of 2024, or on an interim basis if specific events trigger a remeasurement. Excluding the mark-to-market gains of $1.0 million recognized in 2023, the net periodic benefit credit was $6.3 million in 2023.

For expense purposes in 2023, the Company applied a discount rate of 5.75% to its other postretirement benefit plans. For expense purposes in 2024, the Company will apply a discount rate of 5.55% to its other postretirement benefit plans.

The following table presents the sensitivity of the Company's accumulated other postretirement benefit obligation ("APBO") to the indicated increase/decrease in key assumptions:

In the table above, a 25 basis point decrease in the discount rate will increase the APBO by $0.6 million and decrease income before income taxes through the recognition of actuarial losses of $0.6 million. A 25 basis point increase in the discount rate will decrease the APBO by $0.6 million and increase income before income taxes through the recognition of actuarial gains of $0.6 million.

For measurement purposes, the Company assumed a weighted-average annual rate of increase in the per capita cost (health care cost trend rate) for medical benefits of 6.25% for 2024, declining gradually to 5.0% in 2029 and thereafter for medical and prescription drug benefits. For Medicare Advantage benefits, actual contract rates have been set for 2024 through 2026, and are assumed to increase by $5 for 2027 to 2028 and then 6.0% for 2028, declining gradually to 5.0% in 2032 and thereafter. The assumed health care cost trend rate may have a significant effect on the amounts reported. A one percentage point increase in the assumed health care cost trend rate would have increased the 2023 total service and interest cost components by $0.1 million and would have increased the postretirement benefit obligation by $0.7 million. A one percentage point decrease would provide corresponding reductions of $0.1 million and $0.6 million, respectively.

NON-GAAP MEASURES

Supplemental Non-GAAP Measures:

In addition to results reported in accordance with U.S. GAAP, the Company provides information on non-GAAP financial measures. These non-GAAP financial measures include adjusted net income, adjusted earnings per share, adjusted EBITDA and adjusted EBITDA margins, segment adjusted EBITDA and segment adjusted EBITDA margins, ratio of net debt to adjusted EBITDA (for the trailing 12 months), net debt, ratio of net debt to capital, free cash flow and return on invested capital. This information is intended to supplement GAAP financial measures and is not intended to replace GAAP financial measures. Net debt and the ratio of net debt to capital is disclosed in the "Liquidity and Capital Resources" section of Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations.

Adjusted Net Income and Adjusted EBITDA:

Adjusted net income and adjusted earnings per share represent net income attributable to The Timken Company and diluted earnings per share, respectively, adjusted for the amortization of intangible assets related to acquisitions, impairment, restructuring and reorganization charges, acquisition costs, including transaction costs and the amortization of the inventory step-up, property losses and recoveries, actuarial gains and losses associated with the remeasurement of the Company's defined benefit pension and other postretirement benefit plans, gains and losses on the sale of real estate, gains and losses on divestitures, the income tax impact of these adjustments, as well as other income tax discrete items, and other items from time to time that are not part of the Company's core operations. Management believes adjusted net income and adjusted earnings per share are useful to investors as they are representative of the Company's core operations and are used in the management of the business.

Adjusted EBITDA represents earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization, adjusted for items that are not part of the Company's core operations. These items include impairment, restructuring and reorganization charges, acquisition costs, including transaction costs and the amortization of the inventory step-up, property losses and recoveries, actuarial gains and losses associated with the remeasurement of the Company's defined benefit pension and other postretirement benefit plans, gains and losses on the sale of real estate, gains and losses on divestitures, and other items from time to time that are not part of the Company's core operations. Management believes adjusted EBITDA is useful to investors as it is representative of the Company's core operations and is used in the management of the business, including decisions concerning the allocation of resources and assessment of performance.

Reconciliation of net income attributable to The Timken Company to adjusted net income, adjusted EBITDA and adjusted EBITDA Margin:

Diluted earnings and adjusted earnings per share in the table below are based on net income attributable to The Timken Company and adjusted net income, respectively, in the table above.

43

Reconciliation of segment EBITDA to segment adjusted EBITDA and segment adjusted EBITDA margin:

(1) Impairment, restructuring and reorganization charges (including items recorded in cost of products sold) relate to: (i) plant closures; (ii) the rationalization of certain plants; (iii) severance related to cost reduction initiatives; (iv) impairment of assets; and (v) related depreciation and amortization. Impairment, restructuring and reorganization charges for 2023 included $28.3 million related to the impairment of goodwill. Impairment, restructuring and reorganization charges for 2022 included $29.3 million related to the sale of ADS. The Company re-assesses its operating footprint and cost structure periodically, and makes adjustments as needed that result in restructuring charges. However, management believes these actions are not representative of the Company’s core operations.

(2) Corporate pension and other postretirement benefit related expense (income) represents actuarial losses and (gains) that resulted from the remeasurement of plan assets and obligations as a result of changes in assumptions or experience. The Company recognizes actuarial losses and (gains) in connection with the annual remeasurement in the fourth quarter, or if specific events trigger a remeasurement. Refer to Note 17 - Retirement Benefit Plans and Note 18 - Other Postretirement Benefit Plans for additional discussion.

(3) Acquisition-related charges represent deal-related expenses associated with completed transactions and certain unsuccessful transactions, as well as any resulting inventory step-up impact.

(4) The acquisition-related gain represents a bargain purchase gain on the acquisition of the assets of Aurora Bearing Company ("Aurora") that closed on November 30, 2020.

(5) Russia-related charges include impairments or allowances recorded against certain property, plant and equipment, inventory and trade receivables and write-down of a 51%-owned joint venture ("Russian JV") to reflect the current impact of Russia's invasion of Ukraine (and associated sanctions) on the Company's operations. In addition to impairments and allowances recorded, the Company recorded a loss on the divestiture of its Timken Russia business during the third quarter of 2022. Refer to Russia Operations in Management Discussion and Analysis below for additional information.

(6) Represents the net loss (gain) resulting from divestitures and sale of certain assets.

(7) Represents property loss and related expenses during the periods presented (net of insurance recoveries received in 2020) resulting from property loss that occurred during the first quarter of 2019 at one of the Company's warehouses in Knoxville, Tennessee and during the third quarter of 2019 at one of the Company's warehouses in Yantai, China.

(8) Provision for income taxes includes the net tax impact on pre-tax adjustments (listed above), the impact of discrete tax items recorded during the respective periods as well as other adjustments to reflect the use of one overall effective tax rate on adjusted pre-tax income.

(9) Depreciation and amortization shown excludes depreciation recognized in reorganization charges, if any.

Free Cash Flow:

Free cash flow represents net cash provided by operating activities less capital expenditures. Management believes free cash flow is useful to investors because it is a meaningful indicator of cash generated from operating activities available for the execution of its business strategy.

Reconciliation of net cash provided by operating activities to free cash flow:

45

Ratio of Net Debt to Adjusted EBITDA:

The ratio of net debt to adjusted EBITDA for the trailing twelve months represents total debt less cash and cash equivalents divided by adjusted EBITDA for the trailing twelve months. The Company presents net debt to adjusted EBITDA because it believes it is more representative of the Company's financial position as it is reflective of the Company's ability to cover its net debt obligations with results from its core operations. Net income for the trailing twelve months ended December 31, 2023 and December 31, 2022 was $408.0 million and $417.0 million, respectively. Net debt to adjusted EBITDA for the trailing twelve months was 2.1 at December 31, 2023, compared with 1.9 at December 31, 2022.

Reconciliation of Net income to Adjusted EBITDA for the twelve months:

(1) Impairment, restructuring and reorganization charges (including items recorded in cost of products sold) relate to: (i) plant closures; (ii) the rationalization of certain plants; (iii) severance related to cost reduction initiatives; and (iv) impairment of assets. Impairment, restructuring and reorganization charges for the twelve months ended December 31, 2022 and December 31, 2023 included $29.3 million related to the sale of ADS. In addition, impairment, restructuring and reorganization charges for the twelve months ended December 31, 2023 included $28.3 million related to the impairment of goodwill. The Company re-assesses its operating footprint and cost structure periodically, and makes adjustments as needed that result in restructuring charges. However, management believes these actions are not representative of the Company’s core operations.

(2) Corporate pension and other postretirement benefit related expense represents actuarial losses that resulted from the remeasurement of plan assets and obligations as a result of changes in assumptions or experience. The Company recognizes actuarial losses in connection with the annual remeasurement in the fourth quarter, or if specific events trigger a remeasurement.

(3) Acquisition-related charges represent deal-related expenses associated with completed transactions and any resulting inventory step-up impact.

(4) Russia-related charges include impairments or allowances recorded against certain property, plant and equipment, inventory and trade receivables and write-down of Russian JV to reflect the current impact of Russia's invasion of Ukraine (and associated sanctions) on the Company's operations. In addition to impairments and allowances recorded, the Company recorded a loss on the divestiture of its Timken Russia business during the third quarter of 2022. Refer to Russia Operations in Management Discussion and Analysis below for additional information.

(5) Represents the net gain resulting from divestitures and sale of certain assets.

Return on Invested Capital:

Return on Invested Capital is defined as adjusted net operating profit after taxes divided by average invested capital. The Company uses Average Invested Capital as a type of non-GAAP ratio that indicates return on invested capital, which management believes is useful to investors as a measure of return on their investment.

Reconciliation of adjusted net operating profit after taxes, adjusted invested capital and return on adjusted invested capital:

Adjusted Net Operating Profit after Taxes (ANOPAT):

Return on Invested Capital:

(1) Refer to page 46 for reconciliations to the most directly comparable GAAP financial measures.

(2) Depreciation and amortization shown excludes depreciation recognized in reorganization charges, if any.

OTHER DISCLOSURES:

Foreign Currency:

Assets and liabilities of subsidiaries are translated at the rate of exchange in effect on the balance sheet date; income and expenses are translated at the average rates of exchange prevailing during the reporting period. Related translation adjustments are reflected as a separate component of accumulated other comprehensive loss. Foreign currency gains and losses resulting from transactions are included in the Consolidated Statements of Income.

Net of related derivative activity, the Company recognized a foreign currency exchange loss resulting from transactions of $14.8 million for the year ended December 31, 2023, and recognized a gain of $15.4 million and a loss of $9.4 million for the years ended December 31, 2022 and 2021, respectively. For the year ended December 31, 2023, the Company recorded a positive non-cash foreign currency translation adjustment of $35.3 million that increased shareholders’ equity, compared with a negative non-cash foreign currency translation adjustment of $155.4 million that decreased shareholders’ equity for the year ended December 31, 2022. The foreign currency translation adjustments for the year ended December 31, 2023 were positively impacted by the weakening of the U.S. dollar relative to other currencies as of December 31, 2023 compared to December 31, 2022.

Russia Operations:

The Company had two subsidiaries in Russia prior to Russia's invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, including Timken Russia, which was 100% owned by Timken and a 51%-owned Russian JV. As a result of Russia's invasion of Ukraine (and associated sanctions), the Company suspended operations and recorded property, plant and equipment impairment charges of $9.0 million and inventory write-downs of $4.1 million during the year ended December 31, 2022. During 2022, the Company sold the Timken Russia business resulting in a loss of $2.7 million on the sale. During third quarter of 2023, the Company recorded impairment charges of $3.9 million related to property, plant and equipment and operating leased assets at the Russian JV. During the fourth quarter of 2023, after evaluating various plans for the Russian JV and the Company's ability to control and influence the Russian JV, the Company concluded it should deconsolidate its Russian JV, and it wrote-down its remaining net investment of $4.7 million to $0.

Trade Law Enforcement:

The U.S. government has an antidumping duty order in effect covering tapered roller bearings from China. The Company is a producer of these bearings, as well as ball bearings and other bearing types, in the U.S.

Quarterly Dividend:

On February 8, 2024, the Company’s Board of Directors declared a quarterly cash dividend of $0.33 per common share. The quarterly dividend will be paid on March 6, 2024 to shareholders of record as of February 20, 2024. This will be the 407th consecutive quarterly dividend paid on the common shares of the Company.

Forward-Looking Statements

Certain statements set forth in this Annual Report on Form 10-K and in the Company’s 2023 Annual Report to Shareholders that are not historical in nature (including the Company’s forecasts, beliefs and expectations) are “forward-looking” statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. In particular, Management’s Discussion and Analysis contains numerous forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements generally will be accompanied by words such as “anticipate,” “believe,” “could,” “estimate,” “expect,” “forecast,” “outlook,” “intend,” “may,” “possible,” “potential,” “predict,” “project” or other similar words, phrases or expressions. You are cautioned not to place undue reliance on forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date of this Annual Report on Form 10-K. The Company cautions readers that actual results may differ materially from those expressed or implied in forward-looking statements made by or on behalf of the Company due to a variety of factors, such as:

(a) deterioration in world economic conditions, or in economic conditions in any of the geographic regions in which the Company or its customers or suppliers conduct business, including adverse effects from a global economic slowdown or recession, pandemics, epidemics or other public health concerns, terrorism, or hostilities. This includes: political risks associated with the potential instability of governments and legal systems in countries in which the Company or its customers or suppliers conduct business, changes in currency valuations, strained geopolitical relations between countries in which we have significant operations, and recent world events that have increased the risks posed by international trade disputes, tariffs and sanctions;

(b) negative impacts to the Company's business, results of operations, financial position or liquidity, disruption to the Company's supply chains, negative impacts to customer demand or operations, and availability and health of employees, and governmental restrictions on travel and manufacturing operations;

(c) the effects of fluctuations in customer demand on sales, product mix and prices in the industries in which the Company operates. This includes: the ability of the Company to respond to rapid changes in customer demand, disruptions to the Company's supply chain, logistical issues associated with port closures or congestion, delays or increased costs, the effects of customer or supplier bankruptcies or liquidations, the impact of changes in industrial business cycles, the ability of the Company to effectively adjust the prices for its products in response to changing dynamics, the effects of distributor inventory corrections reflecting de-stocking of the supply chain and whether conditions of fair trade continue in the Company's markets;

(d) competitive factors, including changes in market penetration, increasing price competition by existing or new foreign and domestic competitors, the introduction of new products or services by existing and new competitors, competition for skilled labor and new technology that may impact the way the Company’s products are produced, sold or distributed;

(e) changes in operating costs. This includes: the effect of changes in the Company’s manufacturing processes; changes in costs associated with varying levels of operations and manufacturing capacity; availability and cost of raw materials and energy; disruptions to the Company's supply chain and logistical issues associated with port closures or congestion, delays or increased costs; changes in the expected costs associated with product warranty claims especially in industry segments with potential high claim values; changes in the global regulatory landscape; changes resulting from inventory management and cost reduction initiatives; the effects of unplanned plant shutdowns; the effects of government-imposed restrictions, commercial requirements and Company goals associated with climate change and emissions or other sustainability initiatives; and changes in the cost of labor and benefits;

(f) the impact of inflation on employee expenses, shipping costs, raw material costs, energy and fuel costs and other production costs;

(g) the success of the Company’s operating plans, announced programs, initiatives and capital investments; the ability to integrate acquired companies and to address material issues both identified and not uncovered during the Company's due diligence review; and the ability of acquired companies to achieve satisfactory operating results, including results being accretive to earnings, realization of synergies and expected cash flow generation;

(h) the Company’s ability to maintain appropriate relations with unions or works councils that represent Company employees in certain locations in order to avoid disruptions of business;

(i) the continued attraction, retention and development of management, other key employees, and other skilled personnel at all levels of the organization, the successful development and execution of succession plans and management of other human capital matters;

(j) unanticipated litigation, claims, investigations or assessments. This includes: claims, investigations or problems related to intellectual property, product liability or warranty, foreign export, sanctions and trade laws, government procurement regulations, competition and anti-bribery laws, climate change, environmental or health and safety issues, data privacy and taxes;

(k) changes in worldwide financial and capital markets, impacting the availability of financing on satisfactory terms as a result of financial stress affecting the banking system or otherwise, and the high interest rate environment, which affect the Company’s cost of funds and/or ability to raise capital, as well as customer demand and the ability of customers to obtain financing to purchase the Company’s products or equipment that contain the Company’s products;

(l) the Company's ability to satisfy its obligations and comply with covenants under its debt agreements, maintain favorable credit ratings and its ability to renew or refinance borrowings on favorable terms;

(m) the impact on the Company's pension obligations and assets due to changes in interest rates, investment performance and other tactics designed to reduce risk; and

(n) those items identified under Item 1A. Risk Factors on pages 8 through 19.

Additional risks relating to the Company’s business, the industries in which the Company operates or the Company’s common shares may be described from time to time in the Company’s filings with the SEC. All of these risk factors are difficult to predict, are subject to material uncertainties that may affect actual results and may be beyond the Company’s control.

Readers are cautioned that it is not possible to predict or identify all of the risks, uncertainties and other factors that may affect future results and that the above list should not be considered to be a complete list. Except as required by the federal securities laws, the Company undertakes no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.

Interest Rate Risk:

Changes in short-term interest rates related to several separate funding sources impact the Company’s earnings. These sources are borrowings under the Accounts Receivable Facility, borrowings under the Senior Credit Facility and short-term bank borrowings by the Company's international subsidiaries. If the market rates for short-term borrowings increased by one-percentage-point around the globe, the impact from our variable rate debt would be an increase in interest expense of $9.6 million annually, with a corresponding decrease in income from continuing operations before income taxes of the same amount. This amount was determined by considering the impact of hypothetical interest rates on the Company’s borrowing cost and year-end debt balances by category.

Foreign Currency Exchange Rate Risk:

Fluctuations in the value of the U.S. dollar compared to foreign currencies, including the Euro, can impact the Company’s earnings. The greatest risk relates to products shipped between the Company’s European operations and the United States, as well as intercompany loans between Timken affiliates. Foreign currency forward contracts are used to hedge a portion of these intercompany transactions. Additionally, hedges are used to cover third-party purchases of products and equipment. As of December 31, 2023, there were $591.8 million of hedges in place. A uniform 10% weakening of the U.S. dollar against all currencies would have resulted in a benefit of $19.4 million related to these hedges, which would have partially offset the impact of the underlying currency fluctuation. In addition to the direct impact of the hedged amounts, changes in exchange rates also affect the volume of sales or foreign currency sales price as competitors’ products become more or less attractive.

Commodity Price Risk:

In the ordinary course of business, the Company is exposed to market risk with respect to commodity price fluctuations, primarily related to our purchases of raw materials and energy, principally steel and natural gas. Whenever possible, the Company manages its exposure to commodity risks primarily through the use of supplier pricing agreements that enable the Company to establish the purchase prices for certain inputs that are used in our manufacturing and distribution business.

As of the end of the period covered by this Annual Report on Form 10-K, the Company’s management carried out an evaluation, under the supervision and with the participation of the Company’s principal executive officer and principal financial officer, of the effectiveness of the design and operation of the Company’s disclosure controls and procedures as defined in Exchange Act Rule 13a-15(e). Based upon that evaluation, the principal executive officer and principal financial officer concluded that the Company’s disclosure controls and procedures were effective as of the end of the period covered by this Annual Report on Form 10-K.

There have been no changes during the Company’s fourth quarter of 2023 in the Company’s internal control over financial reporting that have materially affected, or are reasonably likely to materially affect, the Company’s internal control over financial reporting.

Report of Management on Internal Control Over Financial Reporting

The management of The Timken Company is responsible for establishing and maintaining adequate internal control over financial reporting for the Company. Timken’s internal control system is designed to provide reasonable assurance regarding the preparation and fair presentation of published 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.

Timken management assessed the effectiveness of the Company’s internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2023. In making this assessment, it used the criteria set forth by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission ("COSO"). Based on this assessment under COSO’s “Internal Control–Integrated Framework,” management believes that, as of December 31, 2023, Timken’s internal control over financial reporting is effective.

During 2023, the Company completed six acquisitions: Lagersmit, iMECH, Rosa, Des-Case, Nadella and ARB. The results of these acquisitions are included in the Company's consolidated financial statements for 2023. The total and net assets of these acquisitions represented 13% of the Company's total assets and 25% of the Company's net assets as of December 31, 2023. The net sales of these acquisitions in the aggregate represented 3% of the Company's consolidated net sales for 2023. The scope of the Company's assessment of the effectiveness of internal control over financial reporting does not include the Lagersmit, iMECH, Rosa, Des-Case, ARB and Nadella acquisitions noted above. This exclusion is in accordance with the SEC's general guidance that an assessment of a recently acquired business may be omitted from the Company's scope in the year of acquisition.

The effectiveness of the Company’s internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2023 has been audited by Ernst & Young LLP, an independent registered public accounting firm, as stated in their report which is presented in this Annual Report on Form 10-K.

Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm

To the Shareholders and the Board of Directors of The Timken Company

Opinion on Internal Control Over Financial Reporting

We have audited The Timken Company and subsidiaries’ internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2023, based on criteria established in Internal Control–Integrated Framework issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission (2013 framework) (the COSO criteria). In our opinion, The Timken Company and Subsidiaries (the Company) maintained, in all material respects, effective internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2023, based on the COSO criteria.

As indicated in the accompanying Report of Management on Internal Control Over Financial Reporting, management’s assessment of and conclusion on the effectiveness of internal control over financial reporting did not include the internal controls of American Roller Bearing Company (ARB), Leonardo Top S.a.r.l. (Nadella), D-C Filtration Holdings Corp. (Des-Case), Rosa Sistemi S.p.A. (Rosa), Innovative Mechanical Solutions (iMECH) or Lagersmit Holding B.V. (Lagersmit), which are included in the 2023 consolidated financial statements of the Company and constituted 13% and 25% of total and net assets, respectively, as of December 31, 2023 and 3% of revenues for the year then ended. Our audit of internal control over financial reporting of the Company also did not include an evaluation of the internal control over financial reporting of ARB, Nadella, Des-Case, Rosa, iMECH or Lagersmit.

We also have audited, in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States) (PCAOB), the consolidated balance sheets of the Company as of December 31, 2023 and 2022, the related consolidated statements of income, comprehensive income, shareholders' equity and cash flows for each of the three years in the period ended December 31, 2023, and the related notes and the financial statement schedule listed in the Index at Item 15(a)(2) of the Company and our report dated February 26, 2024 expressed an unqualified opinion thereon.

Basis for Opinion

The Company’s management is responsible 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 Report of Management on Internal Control Over Financial Reporting. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on the Company’s internal control over financial reporting based on our audit. We are a public accounting firm registered with the 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 audit in accordance with the standards of the PCAOB. Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether effective internal control over financial reporting was maintained in all material respects.

Our audit included obtaining an understanding of internal control over financial reporting, assessing the risk that a material weakness exists, testing and evaluating the design and operating effectiveness of internal control based on the assessed risk, and performing such other procedures as we considered necessary in the circumstances. We believe that our audit provides a reasonable basis for our opinion.

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.

/s/ Ernst & Young LLP

Cleveland, Ohio

February 26, 2024