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YoY shift: Neutral
Year-over-year tone shift - average net-tone change across Risk Factors and MD&A vs the prior 10-K. This filing is -0.09pp more bearish than last year's.
Why YoY instead of absolute: the LM lexicon has ~6.6× more negative words than positive (legal/risk-disclosure language is heavy on hedging), so every 10-K reads bearish on raw tone. Year-over-year change strips that bias and surfaces the actual shift in management's framing.
Tone shift by section
The two components the gauge averages: how Risk Factors and MD&A each shifted in net tone versus last year's 10-K. The headline above is their average, so a green needle over a soft section just means the other section carried it.
Risk Factors
+0.15pp
Flat
Net-tone change vs last year's 10-K.
MD&A
-0.33pp
Lean -
Net-tone change vs last year's 10-K.
Per-snippet highlights
Sentence-level sentiment highlighting with category and subcategory filters is coming once the snippet-scoring pipeline lands. For now, dig into the actual section text on the Sections tab.
Language change vs prior 10-K
Risk Factors (Item 1A) - words with the biggest YoY frequency increase
Negative rising
adversely+11
volatility+10
adverse+4
harm+4
restated+4
Positive rising
best+2
successful+2
beneficial+2
opportunities+1
greater+1
Risk Factors (Item 1A)
8,542 words
ITEM 1A. RISK FACTORS.
There are inherent risks and uncertainties associated with the Company's businesses that could adversely affect its operating performance and financial condition. Set forth below are descriptions of those risks and uncertainties that the Company believes to be material as of the date of this Annual Report on Form 10-K. Additional risks not known to the Company as of such date or risks that the Company deemed immaterial may also result in adverse effects on the Company in the future.
Company-Specific Risk Factors:
The Company's international sales and operations expose the Company to significant risks and failure to manage those risks could materially adversely impact the Company's business. The Company conducts business in more than 18 countries around the world, and in fiscal 2025 approximately 30% of the Company's sales were made from locations outside the United States. In addition, the Company's manufacturing operations, suppliers and employees are located in many places around the world. As such, the Company's future success depends in part on its ability to grow sales in non-U.S. markets. Sales and operations outside of the United States are subject to certain inherent risks. The Company anticipates that future sales to international customers will continue to account for a significant percentage of its revenues. Risks associated with the Company’s international sales and operations include, but are not limited to:
Language change vs prior 10-K
MD&A (Item 7) - words with the biggest YoY frequency increase
Negative rising
divestitures+14
divestiture+11
loss+7
losses+5
decline+3
Positive rising
gains+8
favorable+3
achieve+1
leading+1
opportunity+1
MD&A (Item 7)
9,472 words
ITEM 7. MANAGEMENT'S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS.
The following discussion should be read in conjunction with the consolidated financial statements of Matthews and related notes thereto. In addition, see "Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward-Looking Information" included in Part I of this Annual Report on Form 10-K.
RESULTS OF OPERATIONS:
The Company manages its businesses under three segments: Memorialization, Industrial Technologies and Brand Solutions. The Memorialization segment consists primarily of bronze and granite memorials and other memorialization products, caskets, cremation-related products, and cremation and incineration equipment primarily for the cemetery and funeral home industries. The Industrial Technologies segment includes the design, manufacturing, service and sales of high-tech custom energy storage solutions; product identification and warehouse automation technologies and solutions, including order fulfillment systems for identifying, tracking, picking and conveying consumer and industrial products; and coating and converting lines for the packaging, pharma, foil, décor and tissue industries. The Brand Solutions segment consists of brand management, pre-media services, printing plates and cylinders, imaging services, digital asset management, merchandising display systems, and marketing and design services primarily for the consumer goods and retail industries. On May 1, 2025, the Company contributed its SGK Business to a newly-formed entity, Propelis, in exchange for a 40% ownership interest in Propelis and other consideration. Propelis is a global provider of brand solutions. Following the completion of this transaction, the Company's Brand Solutions segment consists of its cylinders business, and its 40% ownership interest in Propelis. Activity prior to May 1, 2025 for the SGK Business is included within the consolidated financial statements of the Company. As of May 1, 2025 the SGK Business has been deconsolidated from the financial statements and is now accounted for as part of the Company's equity-method investment in Propelis. The Company recognizes its portion of the earnings or for its equity-method investment in Propelis on a three-month to ensure consistency and timely filing of the Company's financial statements. Consequently, in fiscal 2025, the Company's portion of earnings for its equity-method investment in Propelis only includes the months of May and June 2025. See Notes 8, "Investments" and 23, "Acquisitions and " in Item 8 - "Financial Statements and Supplementary Data" for further information with respect to the Company's sale of its interest in the SGK Business.
• global political and economic instability and uncertainty;
• international terrorism;
• export controls, including by the United States;
• failure to comply with anti-bribery legislation, including the U.S. Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (the “FCPA”);
• changes in legal and regulatory requirements;
• policy changes by the United States and foreign governments affecting the markets for the Company’s products;
• changes in tax laws, quotas, tariffs and other market barriers;
• difficulties in protection and enforcement of intellectual property rights;
• restrictions on the export or import of technology;
• failure to comply with the foreign data protection laws, including the European Union’s General Data Protection Regulation (the “GDPR”) ;
• failure to comply with foreign sustainability-related reporting requirements, including the European Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive;
• inadvertent transfers of export-controlled information due to increased cross-border technology transfers and the use of offshore computer servers;
• transportation, including piracy in international waters;
• competition from foreign businesses that do not have access to U.S. markets; and
• challenges relating to managing a global workforce with diverse cultures, backgrounds and labor laws.
It also is possible that certain international contracts may include industrial cooperation agreements requiring specific in-country purchases, investments, manufacturing agreements or other financial obligations (known as offset obligations) and may provide for penalties if the Company fails to meet such requirements.
The impact of these risks is difficult to predict, but the occurrence of one or more of them could have a material adverse effect on the Company’s financial position, results of operations, or cash flows.
Changes in foreign currency exchange rates could have an adverse effect on the Company's revenue, cash flows and financial results. Production and sales of a significant portion of the Company's products are outside the United States, and accordingly, the Company holds assets, incurs liabilities, earns revenue and pays expenses in a variety of currencies. The Company's consolidated financial statements are presented in U.S. dollars, and therefore, the Company must translate the reported values of its foreign assets, liabilities, revenue and expenses into U.S. dollars. Increases or decreases in the value of the U.S. dollar compared to foreign currencies may negatively affect the value of these items in the Company's consolidated financial statements, even though their value has not changed in local currency.
Interest rate fluctuations could increase the Company's financing costs and reduce the Company's ability to obtain additional indebtedness or debt refinancing, which could materially and adversely affect the Company. Interest rate fluctuations could increase the Company's financing costs to the extent such interest rates are not hedged. In addition, increases in interest rates could limit the Company's ability to obtain additional indebtedness or debt refinancing on terms that the Company deems attractive, or at all, which could have a material and adverse effect on the Company's borrowing costs, profitability, liquidity and capital resources. Borrowings under the Company’s credit facilities, including the domestic credit
ITEM 1A. RISK FACTORS, (continued)
facility, are subject to variable rates of interest and expose the Company to interest rate risk. The Company enters into interest rate swaps in order to achieve a mix of fixed and variable rate debt that it deems appropriate. To the extent that some or all of the Company’s variable interest rate debt is not subject to interest rate swaps, if interest rates were to increase, the Company’s interest expense would increase, negatively affecting earnings and reducing cash flows available for working capital, capital expenditures and other investments.
The Company also has $300.0 million 8.625% senior secured second lien notes due October 1, 2027 (the "2027 Senior Secured Notes"). In the event the Company seeks to refinance indebtedness under the domestic credit facility or the 2027 Senior Secured Notes, or obtain additional financing, higher interest rates may limit the Company’s ability to incur such indebtedness on terms that it deems attractive, if at all. If the Company is unable to incur indebtedness on terms that it deems attractive, it could have a material and adverse effect on the Company’s borrowing costs, profitability, liquidity and capital resources.
Increased prices for raw materials or shortages could adversely affect the Company's results of operations and cash flows. The Company's profitability is affected by the prices of the raw materials used in the manufacture of its products. These prices may fluctuate based on a number of factors, including changes in supply and demand, domestic and global economic conditions, volatility in commodity markets, currency exchange rates, labor costs, tariffs and fuel-related costs. If suppliers increase the price of critical raw materials, alternative sources of supply or alternative materials may not exist or be readily available. In addition, disruptions in the global supply chain may cause prices for raw materials to increase. See "The Company faces additional global supply chain risks and risks of interruption of requisite logistics and transportation services, including as a result of the Company's reliance on limited suppliers and vendors for certain components, materials, and services."
The Company has standard selling price structures (i.e., list prices) in certain of its segments, which are reviewed for adjustment generally on an annual basis. In addition, the Company has established pricing terms with several of its customers through contracts or similar arrangements. Based on competitive market conditions and to the extent that the Company has established pricing terms with customers, the Company's ability to immediately increase the price of its products to offset the increased costs may be limited. Significant raw material price increases that cannot be mitigated by selling price increases or productivity improvements will negatively affect the Company's results of operations.
Changes to U.S. trade policy, including new or increased tariffs and changing import/export regulations, could have a material adverse effect on the Company's operating results . Changes in U.S. or international social, political, regulatory or economic conditions or in laws and policies governing foreign trade, and any potential negative sentiment toward the U.S. as a result of such changes, could materially and adversely affect the Company's business. The U.S. has instituted certain changes, and has proposed additional changes, in trade policies that include the negotiation or termination of trade agreements, the imposition of higher tariffs on imports into the U.S., and other government regulations affecting trade between the U.S. and other countries (such as the European Union, China, Canada and Mexico) where the Company conducts its business. For example, on April 2, 2025, the U.S. government announced a 10% tariff on product imports from almost all countries and individualized higher tariffs on certain other countries. While several tariff announcements have been followed by announcements of limited exemptions and temporary pauses, global trade disruption, significant introductions of trade barriers and bilateral trade frictions, together with any future downturns in the global economy resulting therefrom, could further materially and adversely affect the Company's financial performance.
As a result of policy changes and government proposals, there may be greater restrictions and economic deterrents on international trade. New tariffs and other changes in U.S. trade policy have triggered retaliatory actions by affected countries and may trigger additional retaliatory actions in the future, and foreign governments have instituted or are considering imposing trade sanctions on U.S. goods. Such changes have the potential to adversely impact the U.S. economy, the industries in which the Company operates, and the global demand for its products, and as a result, could have a negative impact on its business, financial condition and results of operations.
The Company's balance sheet includes a significant amount of goodwill and intangible assets. An impairment in the carrying value of goodwill could negatively impact the Company's consolidated results of operations and total assets. The Company has recorded a significant amount of goodwill and intangible assets in its consolidated financial statements resulting from acquisition activities and has in the past recorded, and may in the future record, significant charges for impairment of goodwill and intangible assets. The Company tests, at least annually, the carrying value of goodwill for impairment. The estimates and assumptions about future results of operations and cash flows made in connection with the impairment testing could differ from future actual results of operations and cash flows. For example, during the fiscal year ended September 30, 2024, Matthews recorded a $16.7 million goodwill write-down with respect to its Surfaces and Engineering reporting unit. See Note 24, "Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets" in Item 8 - “Financial Statements and Supplementary Data” for further details. If Matthews concludes that any further goodwill or intangible asset values are impaired, for reasons that may include, but are not limited to, underperformance in one or more reporting segments against
ITEM 1A. RISK FACTORS, (continued)
forecast levels; changes in the Company’s business strategy, structure, and/or the allocation of resources; the inability of acquisitions to achieve expected operating results; a decline in the Company’s stock price for a sustained period; a potential recession or other disruption; or interest rate increases or other factors, any resulting non-cash impairment charge could have a material adverse effect on Matthews’ business, results of operations and financial condition.
Changes in mortality and cremation rates could have a material adverse effect on the Company's cash flows and revenues. Generally, life expectancy in the United States and other countries in which the Company's Memorialization segment operates has increased steadily for several decades and is expected to continue to do so in the future, absent events related to pandemics or similar outbreaks. The increase in life expectancy is also expected to impact the timing of deaths in the future. Additionally, cremations have steadily grown as a percentage of total deaths in the United States since the 1960's, and are expected to continue to increase in the future. The Company expects that these trends will continue in the future and sales of the Company's Memorialization segment may benefit from the continued growth in the number of cremations; however, such trends may adversely affect the volume of bronze and granite memorialization products and burial caskets sold in the United States.
The Company is subject to competitive pressures, including with respect to product demand and pricing. The Company's businesses have and will continue to operate in competitive markets. Changes in product demand or pricing are affected by domestic and foreign competition and an increase in consolidated purchasing by large customers operating in both domestic and global markets. The Memorialization businesses generally operate in markets with ample supply capacity and demand which is correlated to death rates. Additionally, in recent years the Company has witnessed an increase in products manufactured offshore, primarily in China, and imported into the Company's U.S. markets. It is expected that these trends will continue and may affect the Company's future results of operations.
The loss of any of the Company's large customers could have a material adverse effect on the Company's cash flows and results of operations. Although the Company does not have any customer that is individually significant to consolidated sales, it does have contracts with several large customers in each of its business segments. While these contracts provide important access to large purchasers of the Company's products, they can obligate the Company to sell products at contracted prices for extended periods of time, or, in the event of a dispute with a large customer, cause disruptions to the units sold to such customer, if any. Additionally, any significant divestiture of business properties or operations by current customers could result in a loss of business if the Company is not able to maintain the business with the subsequent owners of the businesses.
The Company faces additional global supply chain risks and risks of interruption of requisite logistics and transportation services, including as a result of the Company's reliance on limited suppliers and vendors for certain components, materials, and services. The Company purchases components and materials to manufacture its products from a large number of suppliers, some of which may be critical to operations. The Company’s product offerings are impacted by such suppliers' lead times, volume constraints and increasing costs. The Company has experienced and may continue to experience extended lead times and product unavailability due to manufacturing disruptions or closures as well as delays and unanticipated costs associated with the sourcing of materials. Matthews’ supply chain operations span several geographies globally and are heavily dependent upon third party logistics and transportation services to deliver the Company’s products to customers. Extended lead times and shortages could impair the Company’s ability to meet its customer requirements, require the Company to pay higher prices or incur expedite fees or cause its customers to delay or forgo projects, which would harm Matthews’ business and negatively impact the Company’s gross margin and results of operations.
Pandemics or similar outbreaks may cause unfavorable economic or market conditions, which could impact demand patterns, access to capital and/or disrupt global supply chains and manufacturing operations. Pandemics or similar outbreaks could adversely affect the economies of developed and emerging markets, potentially resulting in an economic downturn that could affect customers’ demand for the Company’s products and services, as well as the Company's ability to access capital at acceptable interest rates. The spread of pandemics or similar outbreaks may also disrupt the Company’s manufacturing and production operations, as well as its distribution systems, which include import and export for delivery of the Company’s products to its customers. These factors could materially and adversely affect the Company’s business, financial condition and results of operations. See also "The Company faces additional global supply chain risks and risks of interruption of requisite logistics and transportation services, including as a result of the Company's reliance on limited suppliers and vendors for certain components, materials, and services."
ITEM 1A. RISK FACTORS, (continued)
Due to the uncertainty relating to a pandemic or similar outbreak, the Company, its customers or its suppliers may be required, or believe that it is advantageous, to take precautionary measures intended to minimize the risk of a virus or disease spreading to employees, customers, and the communities in which they operate, and these measures could negatively impact the Company’s business. Further, if the scope and severity of an outbreak worsens and the Company’s contingency plans prove ineffective, its global operations could potentially experience disruptions, such as temporary closure of facilities or delays or suspensions in product offerings and services, which may materially and adversely affect the Company’s business, financial condition and results of operations.
Global conflicts may impact the Company's business and the markets in which the Company operates. Global conflicts, such as the war in Ukraine, could impact the Company and its operations in a number of different ways, which are yet to be fully assessed and are therefore uncertain. The Company’s principal concern is for the safety of its employees and other personnel, specifically those who are based in the affected region. The Company has employees who are based in Eastern Europe, including Russia, who may be affected by the ongoing hostilities. The Company additionally has property, plant and equipment in or around the affected region. The continuing impact of this war and the response of the United States and other countries to it by means of trade and economic sanctions, or other actions, is still evolving and unknown; however it could disrupt the Company’s ability to work with certain parties. Similarly, the Company has employees based in the affected region and works with third-party providers from other parts of the world that may be affected by hostilities.
Uncertainty relating to war or similar conflicts, including the current war between Russia and Ukraine, may adversely affect the Company's business, which could materially and adversely affect the Company's results of operations. Such risks include, but are not limited to, adverse effects on macroeconomic conditions, including inflation and business and consumer spending; disruptions to the Company's global technology infrastructure, including through cyberattack, ransom attack, or cyber-intrusion; adverse changes in international trade policies and relations; disruptions in global supply chains; exposure to foreign currency fluctuations; and constraints, volatility, or disruption in the capital markets. Similar uncertainties may arise in connection with other ongoing hostilities or future hostilities.
While the hostilities continue, and perhaps even thereafter, the Company may see increased volatility in financial markets, which may impact equity markets generally, including the Company’s stock price, and make it more difficult for the Company to raise additional capital at a strategically advantageous time or to obtain financing upon acceptable terms. All or any of these risks, separately or in combination, could have a material adverse effect on the Company's business, financial condition, results of operations, and cash flows.
The Company faces risks in connection with acquisitions, divestitures and business combinations, including the Company's ability to identify or successfully complete any such acquisitions, divestitures or business combinations, to effectively integrate acquired businesses or to effectively manage the remaining business or the combined business. The Company has evolved, in part, through acquisitions and continues to evaluate acquisition, divestiture and business combination opportunities that have the potential to support and strengthen its businesses, and any such future acquisitions, divestitures or business combinations may be material. There is no assurance, however, that future acquisition, divestiture or business combination opportunities will arise, or that if they do, that they will be consummated. In addition, acquisition, divestitures and business combinations involve inherent risks that the businesses acquired, or the combined or remaining business, will not perform in accordance with expectations, or that synergies expected from an acquisition, divestiture or business combination will not be achieved as rapidly as expected, or at all. The Company's pre-transaction diligence review may not discover or accurately quantify certain undisclosed liabilities, and the Company may not be indemnified for such liabilities, which could have an adverse effect on the acquired business, the remaining business or the combined business. Failure to effectively integrate acquired businesses or effectively manage the remaining business or the combined business could prevent the realization of expected rates of return on the investment, including the achievement of cost-reduction objectives, and could have a negative effect on the Company's results of operations and financial condition.
The Company's results of operations could be impacted if its investment in Propelis fails to perform as expected. On May 1, 2025, the Company contributed the vast majority of its Brand Solutions segment to a newly-formed entity, Propelis, in exchange for (i) 40% of the common equity of Propelis, (ii) certain preferred equity interests in Propelis, and (iii) cash consideration. Propelis is unconsolidated with the Company, and the Company is a minority owner therein; as such, the Company is not the ultimate decision-maker with respect to the operations of Propelis or distributions of cash or other property to its unitholders. Propelis’ business is subject to significant risks, including competition from other brand solution providers on the basis of price, requirements from global customers that their suppliers, including Propelis, be global in scope, fluctuations in demand for brand solutions and concentration of product solutions offerings to a single vertical. Should some or all of these risks, or other risks the Company has not yet identified come to fruition, the Company may realize losses related to its investment in Propelis, which could have a material negative effect on its business, financial condition and results of operations and cause the Company’s financial results to differ from expectations in any given period or over the long-term.
ITEM 1A. RISK FACTORS, (continued)
In addition, like all joint ventures, this one involves a number of specific risks and challenges, including but not limited to the following:
• Joint ventures require significant managerial attention, which may be diverted from the Company’s other operations
• The Company is subject to customary restrictions on the transfer of its equity interests, limiting the Company's ability to dispose of its equity interests in Propelis.
• If there is a change in ownership, a change of control, a change in management or management philosophy, a change in business strategy or another event with respect to the Company’s joint venture partner, it could adversely impact the joint venture and, therefore, adversely impact the Company.
• The Company’s joint venture partner may fail to satisfy contractual obligations.
• Conflicts may arise with the Company’s joint venture partner, related to, for example, the scope of the respective rights, responsibilities and obligations of each party in the joint venture.
• The Company’s joint venture partner may be unable or unwilling to support actions that the Company believes are in the best interests of the joint venture or may have economic or business interests or goals that are inconsistent with the Company’s interests. These risks are of particular importance given that the Company holds a minority interest in the joint venture.
• The Company’s joint venture partner may take actions that cause harm to the Company’s reputation.
If the Company is unable to manage its interest in Propelis and realize the strategic and financial benefits that it expects, such inability may lead to a material adverse impact on its results of operations.
If the Company is unable to adequately protect the Company's intellectual property, the Company's business, financial condition or results of operations could be materially and adversely affected. Certain of the Company's businesses rely on various intellectual property rights, including patents, copyrights, trademarks and trade secrets, as well as confidentiality provisions and licensing arrangements, to establish proprietary rights. If the Company does not enforce, or is unsuccessful in enforcing, its intellectual property rights, its competitive position may suffer, which could harm the Company's operating results and have a material adverse effect on the Company's business. In addition, the Company's patents, copyrights, trademarks and other intellectual property rights, including its trade secrets, may not provide a significant competitive advantage. The Company may need to spend significant resources monitoring its intellectual property rights and may or may not be able to detect infringement by third parties. The Company's competitive position may be harmed if it cannot detect infringement and enforce its intellectual property rights quickly or at all. In some circumstances, the Company may choose to not pursue enforcement because an infringer has a dominant intellectual property position or for other business reasons, such as the expense of litigationagainst a well-resourced adversary. In addition, competitors might avoid infringement by designing around the Company's intellectual property rights or by developing non-infringing competing technologies. Intellectual property rights and the Company's ability to enforce them may be unavailable or limited in some countries which could make it easier for competitors to capture market share and could result in lost revenues.
Intellectual property infringementassertions by third parties, including those of Tesla, Inc. ("Tesla"), could result in significant costs and adversely affect the Company's business, financial condition, operating results and reputation. The Company actively manages its businesses to ensure compliance under contractual commitments with its customers, including matters related to intellectual property rights. While the Company believes it has complied with its obligations in this regard and has not infringed on the intellectual property of third parties, the Company cannot ensure that third parties will not assert claims, meritorious or otherwise. For example, while the Company has attempted to work under the terms of its existing contracts with Tesla to affirm the ownership of its intellectual property, in June 2024, Tesla filed a complaintagainst the Company (the “Tesla Complaint”) alleging trade secret misappropriations under the Defend Trade Secrets Act (the “DTSA”) and the California Uniform Trade Secrets Act (the “CUTSA”), for breach of contract and unfair business practices relating to the dry battery electrode solutions arising from the Company's advanced rotary processing and calendering technologies. In addition, on February 13, 2025, Tesla filed an additional complaintagainst the Company in the United States District Court for the Northern District of California alleging, in part, claims related to correction of inventorship, breach of contract, promissory estoppel and quasi-contract/restitution arising from and/or related to various U.S. patents and provisional patents, including but not limited to U.S. Patent No. 12,136,727. The Company cannot predict whether the assertions in the Tesla Complaint or other assertions of third-party intellectual property rights or claims arising from such assertions would substantially adversely affect the Company's business, financial condition and operating results. The defense of these claims, including the Tesla Complaint, and any future infringementclaims, whether they are with or without merit or are determined in the Company's favor, may result in costlylitigation and diversion of technical and management personnel. Further, an adverse outcome of a dispute, including the dispute with Tesla, may require the Company to pay damages; cease making, licensing, or using products or offering services that are alleged to incorporate the intellectual property of others; expend additional development resources to redesign the Company's offerings; or enter into potentially unfavorable royalty or license agreements in order to obtain the right to use necessary intellectual property, which may be unavailable on terms acceptable to the Company, or at all. Even if these matters do not result in litigation or are resolved in the Company's favor or without significant cash settlements, the time and
ITEM 1A. RISK FACTORS, (continued)
resources necessary to resolve them could adversely affect the Company's business, reputation, financial condition and operating results.
The Company is subject to environmental laws and regulations, as well as environmental remediation and compliance that may lead to significant unforeseen expenses. The Company is subject to the risk of environmental liability and limitations on its operations due to environmental laws and regulations. The Company is subject to extensive federal, state, local and foreign environmental, health and safety laws and regulations concerning matters such as air emissions, wastewater discharges, solid and hazardous waste handling and disposal, and the investigation and remediation of contamination. The risks of potentially substantial costs and liabilities related to compliance with these laws and regulations are an inherent part of the Company's business, and future conditions may develop, arise or be discovered that create substantial environmental compliance or remediation liabilities and costs. Compliance with environmental, health and safety legislation and regulatory requirements may prove to be more limiting and costly than the Company anticipates, and there is no assurance that significant expenditures related to such compliance will not be required in the future.
From time to time, the Company may be subject to legal proceedings brought by private parties or governmental authorities with respect to environmental matters, including matters involving allegednoncompliance with or liability under environmental, health and safety laws, property damage or personal injury. New laws and regulations, including those which may relate to emissions of greenhouse gases, stricter enforcement of existing laws and regulations, the discovery of previously unknown contamination or the imposition of new clean-up requirements could require the Company to incur costs or become the basis for new or increased liabilities that could have a material adverse effect on the Company's business, financial condition or results of operations.
The equity income the Company reports from Propelis is reported on a three-month lag basis, which impacts the quarterly and fiscal year timing of when Propelis’ results and synergies are reflected in the Company's financial statements. The Company accounts for the Company's 40% interest in Propelis using the equity method of accounting on a three-month lag basis, which impacts the quarterly and fiscal year timing of when Propelis' results and synergies are reflected in the equity income from Propelis included in the Company's financial statements. Propelis' quarterly results are not reflected in the equity income reported in the Company's consolidated financial statements until the Company's quarterly period ending three months after the end of the related Propelis three-month period.
The Company relies on third parties and their systems for a variety of services, including significant information technology services, and the failure of these third parties to provide these services could disrupt the Company's business. The Company has entered into agreements with a variety of third-party providers for information technology services, including telecommunications, network server maintenance, cloud computing and transaction processing services. In addition, Matthews has agreements through which it has outsourced certain activities related to the operations of the Company’s business segments. A provider’s ability to provide services could be disrupted for a variety of reasons, including, among others, software errors or design faults, human error, security breaches, power loss, telecommunications failures, equipment failures, electrical disruptions, labor issues, vandalism, fire, flood, extreme weather, terrorism and other events beyond their control. If one or more of Matthews’ providers is unable to provide adequate or timely services, the Company’s ability to deliver products and services to customers could be adversely affected. Matthews cannot completely eliminate the risk of such disruptions, many of which are impacted by events outside of the Company’s control. Any significant disruption could harm the Company’s business, including damage to brands and loss of customers. Additionally, although Matthews believes that most of these services are available from numerous sources, a failure to perform by one or more of the providers could cause a material disruption in the Company’s business and an increase in expense while it works to obtain alternative services. Additionally, while the Company has policies and procedures for managing these relationships, they inherently involve a lesser degree of control over business operations, governance and compliance, thereby potentially increasing Matthews’ financial, legal, reputational and operational risks.
If the Company is unable to keep pace with technological changes, some of which are beyond the Company's control, the Company may not be able to maintain the Company's competitive position. The Company operates in certain markets in which technological product development contributes to its ability to compete effectively. There can be no assurance that the Company will be able to develop new products, that new products can be manufactured and marketed profitably, or that new products will successfully meet the expectations of customers.
ITEM 1A. RISK FACTORS, (continued)
Changing laws and regulations relating to privacy, information security and data protection could increase the Company's costs, and the failure to comply with such laws and regulations could result in significant business disruptions, litigation or enforcement actions. The Company is subject to many data privacy, data protection, and data breach notification laws, including the GDPR, which became effective in May of 2018, and the California Consumer Privacy Act (the "CCPA"), which became effective in January 2020. The GDPR and the CCPA contain comprehensive data protection compliance requirements. Complying with the GDPR and the CCPA may continue to cause the Company to incur substantial operational costs or require the Company to change certain of its business practices in certain jurisdictions. The Company’s measures to assess the requirements of, and to comply with, the GDPR and the CCPA, as well as new and existing data-related laws and regulations of other jurisdictions, could be challenged, including by authorities that regulate data-related compliance. The Company’s ongoing compliance measures could result in the incurrence of significant expense in facilitating and responding to regulatory investigations, and if the measures initiated by the Company are deemed to be inadequate, the Company could be subject to litigation or enforcement actions that may require operational changes, fines, penalties or damages, which could have an adverse impact on the Company’s business or results of operations.
Future tax law changes and/or interpretation of existing tax laws may adversely affect the Company's effective income tax rate and require adjustments to the Company's tax estimates. Matthews is subject to domestic and international tax laws and cannot predict the scope or effect of future tax law changes. Domestically, the U.S. Department of Treasury has broad authority to issue regulations and interpretive guidance. The Company has applied available guidance to estimate its tax obligations, but new guidance may cause the Company to make adjustments to its tax estimates in future periods.
The Company operates in a regulated environment that requires the Company's compliance with laws and regulations. Non-compliance could subject the Company to sanctions and materially adversely affect the Company's business. Due to the international scope of the Company's operations, Matthews is subject to a complex system of commercial and trade regulations around the world, and the Company's foreign operations are governed by laws, rules and business practices that often differ from those of the United States. The Company cannot predict the nature, scope or effect of future regulatory requirements to which the Company's operations might be subject or the manner in which existing laws might be administered or interpreted, which could have a material and negative impact on the Company's business and results of operation. For example, recent years have seen an increase in the development and enforcement of laws and regulations regarding trade compliance, economic sanctions, anti-money laundering, and anti-corruption, such as the FCPA and similar laws in other countries. While Matthews maintains a variety of internal policies and controls and takes steps, including periodic training and internal audits, that the Company believes are reasonably calculated to discourage, prevent and detect violations of such laws, the Company cannot guarantee that such actions will be effective or that individual employees will not engage in inappropriate behavior in contravention of the Company's policies and instructions. Such conduct, or even the allegation thereof, could result in costlyinvestigations and the imposition of severecriminal or civil sanctions, could disrupt the Company's business, and could materially and adversely affect the Company's reputation, business and results of operations or financial condition. Further, the Company is subject to laws and regulations, worldwide, affecting its operations outside the United States in areas including, but not limited to, intellectual property ownership and infringement, tax, customs, import and export requirements, economic sanctions, anti-money laundering, anti-corruption and anti-bribery, foreign exchange controls and cash repatriation restrictions, foreign investment, data privacy requirements, anti-competition, pensions and social insurance, employment, and environment, health, and safety. Compliance with these laws and regulations may be onerous and expensive and requirements may differ across jurisdictions. Further, the promulgation of new laws, changes in existing laws and abrogation of local regulations by national laws may have a negative impact on the Company's business and prospects. In addition, certain laws and regulations are relatively new and their interpretation and enforcement involve significant uncertainties. There can be no assurance that any of these factors will not have a material adverse effect on the Company's business, results of operations or financial condition.
Risks Related to the Company's Securities:
The Company's business could be negatively affected as a result of actions of activist shareholders. Activist shareholders have previously nominated candidates for election to the Company's Board of Directors, resulting in a proxy contest, and may do so again in the future. If the Company becomes engaged in a proxy contest with an activist shareholder in the future, the Company's business could be adversely affected because: responding to public proposals and director nominations, special meeting requests and other actions by activist shareholders can disrupt the Company's operations, be costly and time-consuming, and divert the attention of the Company's management and employees; perceived uncertainties as to the Company's future direction may result in the loss of potential business opportunities, and may make it more difficult to attract and retain qualified personnel and business partners; cause an event of default under the Company's credit facilities or other agreements due to a change in control (i) if either the Company sustains a series of successful proxy contests or, (ii) if the Company's shareholders approve an amendment to the Company's Amended and Restated Articles of Incorporation to declassify the Company's Board of Directors and following such amendment a shareholder successfully engages in a proxy contest; and
ITEM 1A. RISK FACTORS, (continued)
claims made by activist shareholders in connection with a proxy contest or otherwise may harm the Company's reputation, damage the Company's relations with customers, employees and business relations such as suppliers, or otherwise impair the Company's business. In addition, pursuit of an activist shareholder’s agenda may adversely affect the Company's ability to effectively implement the Company's business strategy and create additional value for the Company's shareholders. Activist investors may seek to influence the Company's corporate strategy, governance, capital allocation, or structure through public campaigns, proxy contests, or direct engagement with the Company's Board of Directors. While the Company values constructive input from shareholders, actions by activist investors could result in significant disruption to the Company's operations, divert management attention, and lead to short-term decision-making that may not align with the Company's long-term strategic goals. In particular, activist investors may advocate for a breakup of the Company through spin-offs, divestitures, or other structural changes. While such proposals may be positioned as enhancing shareholder value, there is no assurance that any resulting transactions would be successful or in the best interests of all shareholders. A breakup could result in: Loss of operational synergies and scale efficiencies; Increased costs associated with separation, including legal, tax, and restructuring expenses; Reduced strategic flexibility and competitive positioning; Potential adverse impacts on employee morale, retention, and recruitment; Market uncertainty and volatility in the Company's stock price. Moreover, if a breakup is pursued under pressure rather than through a deliberate strategic process, it may lead to suboptimal outcomes, including undervaluation of assets or businesses, weakened financial performance, and diminished shareholder returns. These risks could materially and adversely affect the Company's business, financial condition, and results of operations.
The market price for the Company's common stock has experienced significant price and volume volatility and is likely to continue to experience significant volatility in the future. This volatility may impair the ability to finance strategic transactions with the Company's stock and otherwise harm the Company's business. The Company's stock price has experienced significant price and volume volatility for the past several years, and the Company's stock price is likely to experience significant volatility in the future. The trading price of the Company's common stock may be influenced by factors beyond the Company's control, such as the volatility of the financial markets, uncertainty surrounding domestic and foreign economies, conditions and trends in the markets the Company serves, changes in the estimation of the future size and growth rate of the Company's markets, publication of research reports, and recommendations by financial analysts relating to the Company's business, the business of competitors, or the industries in which the Company operates and compete, changes in market valuation or earnings of competitors, legislation or regulatory policies, practices, or actions, sales of the Company's common stock by principal shareholders, actions or other announcements by activist shareholders regarding the Company's business or the trading price of the Company's common stock, and the trading volume of the Company's common stock. The historical market prices of the Company's common stock may not be indicative of future market prices and the Company may be unable to sustain or increase the value of the Company's common stock. The Company has historically used equity incentive compensation as part of the Company's overall compensation arrangements. The effectiveness of equity incentive compensation in retaining key employees may be adversely impacted by volatility in the Company's stock price. Significant declines in the Company's stock price may also interfere with the ability, if needed, to raise additional funds through equity financing or to finance strategic transactions with the Company's stock. In addition, there may be increased risk of securities litigation following periods of fluctuations in the Company's stock price. Securities class action lawsuits are often brought against companies after periods of volatility in the market price of their securities. These and other consequences of volatility in the Company's stock price which could be exacerbated by macroeconomic conditions that affect the market generally, or the Company's industries in particular, could have the effect of diverting management’s attention and could materially harm the Company's business.
The Company's Amended and Restated Articles of Incorporation grants the Company's board of directors the power to designate and issue additional shares of common and/or preferred stock. The Company's authorized capital consists of 70,000,000 shares of common stock and 10,000 shares of preferred stock. In addition, there are authorized 30,000,000 shares of Class B Common Stock, none of which are outstanding and all of which have previously converted into shares of Class A Common Stock and may not be reissued. The Company's preferred stock may be designated into series pursuant to authority granted by the Company's Amended and Restated Articles of Incorporation (the “Articles of Incorporation”), and on approval from the Company's board of directors (the “Board of Directors” or “Board”). The Board of Directors, without any action by the Company's common shareholders, may designate and issue additional shares of preferred stock in such classes or series as it deems appropriate and establish the rights, preferences and privileges of such shares, including dividends, liquidation and voting rights. The rights of holders of other classes or series of stock that may be issued could be superior to the rights of holders of the Company's common stock. The designation and issuance of shares of capital stock having preferential rights could adversely affect other rights appurtenant to shares of the Company's common stock.
ITEM 1A. RISK FACTORS, (continued)
Provisions of the Company's charter documents or Pennsylvania law could discourage, delay or prevent the Company from being acquired even if being acquired would be beneficial to the Company's shareholders and could make it more difficult to change management. The Articles and the Amended and Restated Bylaws contain a number of provisions relating to corporate governance and to the rights of the Company’s shareholders. Certain of these provisions may have a potential “anti-takeover” effect by delaying, deferring or preventing a change of control of the Company. In addition, certain provisions of Pennsylvania law may have a similar effect. See “Anti-takeover Effect of the Company’s Governing Documents and Pennsylvania Business Corporation Law” included in the Description of Securities filed as Exhibit 4.4 to this Annual Report on Form 10-K for a description of such provisions. Such provisions may have the effect of delaying or preventing a change in control of the Company, even if such transaction would be beneficial to most or all of the shareholders.
General Risk Factors:
The Company's business is affected by general economic conditions, and any economic decline or other circumstances that result in reductions in the Company's customers’ spending could negatively impact the Company's sales volume and revenues. Generally, changes in domestic and international economic conditions affect the industries in which the Company and its customers and suppliers operate. These changes include changes in the rate of consumption or use of the Company's products due to economic downturns, volatility in currency exchange rates, and changes in raw material prices resulting from supply and/or demand conditions. Uncertainty about current global economic conditions poses a risk, as consumers and businesses may continue to postpone or cancel spending. Other factors that could influence customer spending include energy costs, conditions in the credit markets, consumer confidence, global pandemics, and other factors affecting consumer spending behavior. These and other economic factors could have an effect on demand for the Company's products and services and negatively impact the Company's financial condition and results of operations.
The Company is subject to various risks related to the local and international nature of the Company's business, including domestic and foreign laws, regulations and standards. In recent years, there have been significant shifts in governments’ priorities with respect to enforcing such laws, regulations and standards. Notwithstanding such shifts, failure to comply with such laws and regulations or the occurrence of unforeseen developments such as litigation, investigations, governmental proceedings or enforcement actions could adversely affect the Company's business. In recent years, a number of new laws and regulations have been adopted, new executive orders have been announced, and there has been expanded enforcement of certain existing laws and regulations by federal, state and local agencies. These laws and regulations, and related interpretations and enforcement activity, may change as a result of a variety of factors, including political, economic or social events. For example, since taking office, the current administration of the U.S. government has sought to adopt new regulations and policies and to suspend, revise or rescind prior policies that are identified as conflicting with the administration’s position, which has resulted in increased regulatory uncertainty. Any changes in, expanded enforcement of, or adoption of new federal, state or local laws and regulations could increase the Company's costs of doing business or impact the Company's operations. Failure to comply with any of these laws, regulations and standards has in the past and may in the future result in civil, criminal, monetary and non-monetary penalties as well as potential damage to the Company's reputation. Furthermore, while the Company has implemented policies and procedures designed to facilitate compliance with these laws, regulations and standards, there can be no assurance that associates, contractors or agents will not violate such laws, regulations and standards or the Company's policies. Any failure to comply with or violation of the various laws, regulations and standards to which the Company is subject could individually or in the aggregate have a material adverse effect on the Company's business, financial condition, results of operations and cash flows.
The Company's results of operations could be adversely affected by labor shortages, turnover and labor cost increases. Labor is a significant component of the Company's operations. Several factors may adversely affect the labor force available to Matthews or increase labor costs (i.e., labor rates and overtime levels), including high employment levels, unemployment subsidies, increased wages offered by other employers, vaccine mandates and other government regulations and the Company’s responses thereto. An overall labor shortage, lack of skilled labor, increased turnover, or labor inflation, caused by pandemics or as a result of general macroeconomic factors, could have a material adverse impact on the Company’s business and operating results.
The Company relies on information technology to operate the Company's business. Security breachincidents and breakdowns of information technologies, or failure to comply with laws governing data privacy and data protection, could disrupt the Company's operations, subject the Company to legal claims, and impact the Company's financial results. In the course of business, the Company collects and stores sensitive data and proprietary business information. The Company could be subject to service outages or breaches of security systems which may result in disruption, unauthorized access, misappropriation, or corruption of this information. Security breaches of the Company's network or data, including physical or electronic break-ins, vendor service outages, computer viruses, attacks by hackers or similar breaches, can create system disruptions, shutdowns, or unauthorized disclosure of confidential information. Although the Company is not aware of
ITEM 1A. RISK FACTORS, (continued)
any significant incidents to date, if it is unable to prevent, detect and timely remediate such security or privacy breaches, its operations could be disrupted or the Company may suffer legal claims, reputational damage, financial loss, property damage, or regulatory penalties because of lost or misappropriated information. The Company expects that compliance with laws governing data privacy and data protection will require ongoing investment in systems, policies and personnel and will continue to impact Matthews’ business in the future by increasing legal, operational and compliance costs. There can be no assurance that the Company’s efforts will meet the evolving standards imposed by governmental and regulatory agencies, including data protection authorities, with respect to standards that may be adopted in the future. If the Company is found or suspected to have violated data privacy or data protection laws, it may be subject to potential private consumer, business partner or securities litigation, regulatory inquiries, governmental investigations and proceedings, and may incur damage to its reputation. Any such developments may subject Matthews to material fines and other monetary penalties and damages, divert management’s time and attention, and lead to enhanced regulatory oversight, all of which could have a material adverse effect on the Company’s business and results of operations.
If the Company fails to maintain effective internal controls over financial reporting at a reasonable assurance level, the Company may not be able to accurately report the Company's financial results, and may require the restatement of previously published financial information, which could have a material adverse effect on the Company's operations, investor confidence in the Company's business and the trading price of the Company's securities. Section 404 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 requires a comprehensive evaluation of the Company's internal control over financial reporting. To comply with this statute, the Company is required to document and test its internal control over financial reporting, management is required to assess and issue a report concerning internal control over financial reporting, and the Company's independent registered public accounting firm is required to attest to and report on the Company's assessment of the effectiveness of internal control over financial reporting. Any failure to maintain or implement required new or improved controls could cause the Company to fail to meet its periodic reporting obligations or result in material misstatements in the consolidated financial statements, and substantial costs and resources may be required to rectify these or other internal control deficiencies. If the Company cannot produce reliable financial reports, investors could lose confidence in the Company's reported financial information, the market price of the Company's Class A Common Stock could decline significantly, and its business, financial condition, and reputation could be harmed.
The Company's efforts to comply with Dodd-Frank and other evolving laws and regulations could result in increased costs and expenses related to compliance and potential violations. The Company is required to comply with various securities laws and regulations, including but not limited to the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 and the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act ("Dodd-Frank"). Dodd-Frank contains provisions, among others, designed to improvetransparency and accountability concerning the supply chains of certain minerals originating from the Democratic Republic of Congo and adjoining countries that are believed to be benefiting armed groups ("Conflict Minerals"). While Dodd-Frank does not prohibit companies from using Conflict Minerals, the SEC mandates due diligence, disclosure and reporting requirements for companies for which Conflict Minerals are necessary to the functionality or production of a product. The Company's efforts to comply with Dodd-Frank and other evolving laws, regulations and standards could result in increased costs and expenses related to compliance and potential violations.
leading
losses
lag
Divestitures
The Company's primary measure of segment profitability is adjusted earnings before interest, income taxes, depreciation and amortization ("adjusted EBITDA"). Adjusted EBITDA is defined by the Company as earnings before interest, income taxes, depreciation, amortization and certain non-cash and/or non-recurring items that do not contribute directly to management’s evaluation of its operating results. These items include stock-based compensation, the non-service portion of pension and postretirement expense, acquisition and divestiture costs, gains and losses on divestitures, enterprise resource planning ("ERP") integration costs, and strategic initiatives and other charges. This presentation is consistent with how the Company's chief operating decision maker (the “CODM”), identified as the Company’s President and Chief Executive Officer, evaluates the results of operations and makes strategic and resource allocation decisions about the business. For these reasons, the Company believes that adjusted EBITDA represents the most relevant measure of segment profit and loss.
In addition, the CODM manages and evaluates the operating performance of the segments, as described above, on a pre-corporate cost allocation basis. Accordingly, for segment reporting purposes, the Company does not allocate corporate costs to its reportable segments. Corporate costs include management and administrative support to the Company, which consists of certain aspects of the Company’s executive management, legal, compliance, human resources, information technology (including operational support) and finance departments. These costs are included within "Corporate and Non-Operating" in the following table to reconcile to consolidated adjusted EBITDA and are not considered a separate reportable segment. Management does not allocate non-operating items such as investment income, other income (deductions), net and noncontrolling interest to the segments.
ITEM 7. MANAGEMENT'S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS, (continued)
The following table sets forth sales and adjusted EBITDA for the Company's Memorialization, Industrial Technologies and Brand Solutions segments for each of the last three fiscal years. Refer to Note 22, "Segment Information" in Item 8 - "Financial Statements and Supplementary Data" for the Company's financial information by segment. Net loss was $24.5 million for the year ended September 30, 2025 compared to a net loss of $59.7 million and net income of $39.1 million for the years ended September 30, 2024 and 2023, respectively. Refer to "Non-GAAP Financial Measures" below for a reconciliation of net (loss) income to adjusted EBITDA.
Years Ended September 30,
(Dollar amounts in thousands)
Sales to external customers:
Memorialization
Industrial Technologies
Brand Solutions
Consolidated Sales
Adjusted EBITDA:
Memorialization
Industrial Technologies
Brand Solutions
Corporate and Non-Operating
Total Adjusted EBITDA (1)
(1) Total Adjusted EBITDA is a non-GAAP financial measure. See the "Non-GAAP Financial Measures" section below.
Comparison of Fiscal 2025 and Fiscal 2024:
Sales for the year ended September 30, 2025 were $1.5 billion, compared to $1.8 billion for the year ended September 30, 2024. The decrease in fiscal 2025 sales reflected a sales reduction of $200.5 million resulting from the divestiture of the Company's interest in the SGK Business on May 1, 2025 (see Acquisitions and Divestitures below). The fiscal 2025 sales decline also reflected lower sales in the Industrial Technologies and Memorialization segments. On a consolidated basis, changes in foreign currency exchange rates were estimated to have a favorable impact of $2.3 million on fiscal 2025 sales compared to the prior year.
Memorialization segment sales for fiscal 2025 were $809.5 million, compared to $829.7 million for fiscal 2024. The sales decrease principally reflected lower unit sales of caskets, bronze and granite memorial products, and cremation equipment, primarily reflecting a decline in U.S. death rates. These declines were partially offset by inflationary price realization and the favorable net impact of recently completed acquisitions and divestitures (see Acquisitions and Divestitures below). Industrial Technologies segment sales for fiscal 2025 were $342.2 million, compared to $433.2 million for fiscal 2024. The decrease in sales reflected lower sales of purpose-built engineered products (primarily energy storage solutions for the electric vehicle market and coating and converting equipment), and reduced product identification sales. The decrease also reflected lower sales of R+S automotive engineering solutions, as the Company has discontinued these product offerings. Fiscal 2025 sales for the Industrial Technologies segment were impacted by customer delays impacting the timing of projects within the energy storage business. The declines in segment sales were partially offset by improved sales of warehouse automation solutions. Changes in foreign currency exchange rates had a favorable impact of $4.4 million on the segment's sales compared to the prior year. In the Brand Solutions segment, sales for fiscal 2025 were $345.9 million, compared to $532.9 million for fiscal 2024. The decrease in sales primarily reflected the divestiture of the Company's interest in the SGK Business on May 1, 2025. Sales for the SGK Business prior to the divestiture (versus the comparable period of the prior year) reflected higher brand sales in the U.S. and Asia-Pacific regions, improved retail-based sales, increased private-label brand sales, and improved price realization to mitigate inflationary cost increases. These increases were partially offset by lower brand sales in Europe and the impact of unfavorable changes in foreign exchange rates. Brand Solutions segment sales also reflected lower sales for the European cylinders (packaging) business, which was not part of the sale of the SGK Business and remains part of the Company. Changes in foreign currency exchange rates had an unfavorable impact of $2.0 million on the segment's sales compared to the prior year.
Gross profit for the year ended September 30, 2025 was $507.6 million, compared to $529.7 million for fiscal 2024. The decrease in gross profit reflected a reduction of $51.2 million resulting from the divestiture of the Company's interest in the
ITEM 7. MANAGEMENT'S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS, (continued)
SGK Business. The gross profit decline also reflected the impact of lower sales, higher material and labor costs, and a $5.6 million loss on the sale of certain property and other assets. These decreases were partially offset by the impact of improved price realization, benefits from the realization of productivity improvements and other cost-reduction initiatives, and the favorable net impact of recently completed acquisitions and divestitures within the Memorialization segment. Gross profit also included acquisition integration costs and other charges primarily in connection with cost-reduction initiatives totaling $4.6 million and $39.2 million in fiscal 2025 and 2024, respectively.
Selling and administrative expenses for the year ended September 30, 2025 were $467.2 million, compared to $488.3 million for fiscal 2024. Consolidated selling and administrative expenses, as a percent of sales, were 31.2% for fiscal 2025, compared to 27.2% in fiscal 2024. Selling and administrative expenses in fiscal 2025 reflected benefits from ongoing cost-reduction initiatives, and a $30.4 million reduction in selling and administrative expenses from the divestiture of the Company's interest in the SGK Business, partially offset by higher compensation costs. Fiscal 2025 selling and administrative expenses included $5.1 million of costs related to the Company's 2025 contested proxy, $8.7 million of net gains on the sales of certain significant property and other assets, $3.5 million of accelerated stock-based compensation costs related to the Company's divestiture of its interest in the SGK Business, $8.0 million of expense related to the settlement of a contractual licensing matter within the Memorialization segment (see Legal Matters below) and a $2.1 million loss on a small divestiture in the Industrial Technologies segment. Selling and administrative expenses included legal costs related to an ongoing dispute with Tesla totaling $22.2 million in fiscal 2025 and $12.4 million in fiscal 2024 (see Legal Matters below). Selling and administrative expenses included fees for receivables sold under a receivables purchase agreement and factoring arrangement totaling $3.9 million in fiscal 2025 and $4.8 million in fiscal 2024. Selling and administrative expenses included non-cash impairment charges for the write-down of certain net assets held-for-sale totaling $7.9 million and $13.7 million in fiscal 2025 and 2024, respectively. Refer to Note 25, "Asset Write-downs" in Item 8 - "Financial Statements and Supplementary Data" for further details. Selling and administrative expenses also included acquisition integration and related systems-integration costs, and other charges primarily in connection with certain commercial, operational and cost-reduction initiatives totaling $11.5 million in fiscal 2025, compared to $19.7 million in fiscal 2024. Intangible amortization for the year ended September 30, 2025 was $20.1 million, compared to $37.0 million for fiscal 2024. The fiscal 2025 decrease in intangible amortization reflected certain intangible assets reaching the end of their amortizable lives, and lower amortization following the Company's divestiture of its interest in the SGK Business. During fiscal 2025, the Company recognized a $55.1 million pre-tax gain on the sale of its interest in the SGK Business (see Acquisitions and Divestitures below). During fiscal 2024, the Company recorded a goodwill write-down of $16.7 million related to the Surfaces and Engineering reporting unit within the Industrial Technologies segment. Refer to Note 24, "Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets" in Item 8 - "Financial Statements and Supplementary Data" for further details.
Adjusted EBITDA for fiscal 2025 was $187.5 million, compared to $205.2 million for fiscal 2024. Memorialization segment adjusted EBITDA for fiscal 2025 was $169.5 million, compared to $162.6 million for fiscal 2024. The increase in segment adjusted EBITDA reflected the impact of improved price realization, benefits from productivity initiatives, and the favorable net impact of recent acquisitions and divestitures. These increases were partially offset by the impact of lower unit sales, and higher material and labor costs. Adjusted EBITDA for the Industrial Technologies segment for fiscal 2025 was $27.9 million, compared to $39.7 million in fiscal 2024. The decrease in segment adjusted EBITDA primarily reflected the impact of lower sales of engineered products, partially offset by benefits from cost-reduction initiatives. Adjusted EBITDA for the Brand Solutions segment for fiscal 2025 was $40.3 million, compared to $61.6 million for fiscal 2024. The decrease in segment adjusted EBITDA primarily reflected a reduction of $28.6 million resulting from the divestiture of the Company's interest in the SGK Business, partially offset by the inclusion of the Company's portion (40% ownership interest) of Propelis' adjusted EBITDA, which totaled $7.5 million in fiscal 2025. See Notes 8, "Investments" and 23, "Acquisitions and Divestitures" in Item 8 - "Financial Statements and Supplementary Data" for further information with respect to the Company's sale of its interest in the SGK Business. Adjusted EBITDA for the SGK Business prior to the divestiture (versus the comparable period of the prior year) reflected the impact of higher labor costs, partially offset by the impact of improved price realization and benefits from cost-reduction initiatives. Brand Solutions segment adjusted EBITDA also reflected declines for the European cylinders (packaging) business, which was not part of the sale of the SGK Business and remains part of the Company.
Interest expense for fiscal 2025 was $62.9 million, compared to $50.5 million in fiscal 2024. The increase in interest expense reflected higher average interest rates, partially offset by a decrease in average borrowing levels in the current fiscal year. Other income (deductions), net for the year ended September 30, 2025 represented an increase in pre-tax income of $3.7 million, compared to a decrease in pre-tax income of $6.8 million in fiscal 2024. Other income (deductions), net includes investment income, banking-related fees and the impact of currency gains and losses on certain intercompany debt and foreign denominated cash balances. Other income (deductions), net included currency losses associated with highly inflationary accounting for the Company's subsidiaries in Turkey totaling $1.1 million and $1.0 million in fiscal years 2025 and 2024, respectively (see Note 2, "Summary of Significant Accounting Policies" in Item 8 - "Financial Statements and Supplementary Data" for further details). Fiscal 2025 other income (deductions), net included $2.1 million of paid-in-kind interest income related to the Company's preferred equity investment in Propelis. Fiscal 2025 other income (deductions), net also included loss
ITEM 7. MANAGEMENT'S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS, (continued)
recoveries totaling $1.7 million which were related to a previously disclosed theft of funds by a former employee initially identified in fiscal 2015. Fiscal 2024 other income (deductions), net included a non-cash impairment charge of $3.1 million for the write-down of a cost-method investment (see Note 8, "Investments" in Item 8 - "Financial Statements and Supplementary Data" for further details).
The Company's consolidated income taxes for the year ended September 30, 2025 were an expense of $40.7 million, compared to a benefit of $10.0 million for fiscal 2024. The difference between the Company's consolidated income taxes for fiscal 2025 compared to fiscal 2024 partially resulted from the Company's fiscal 2025 pre-tax consolidated income position compared to a pre-tax consolidated loss for fiscal 2024. The fiscal 2025 tax rate included charges related to changes in the realizability of certain foreign deferred tax assets. These changes included both current year foreign net operating losses requiring a full valuation allowance as well as other changes in realizability of certain foreign net operating losses from prior years. The fiscal 2025 consolidated income before income taxes also reflected impacts related to the divestiture of the Company's interest in the SGK Business, the write down of certain net assets held-for-sale that were non-deductible for tax purposes, tax associated with the sale of certain foreign assets not offset by losses, and top-up tax related to the OECD Pillar Two global minimum tax. Additionally, the fiscal 2025 tax rate benefited from research and development and foreign tax credits. The fiscal 2024 effective tax rate benefited from research and development and foreign tax credits, and changes in realizability of certain foreign deferred tax assets due to the utilization of foreign tax net operating losses with a valuation allowance. The fiscal 2024 effective tax rate was negatively impacted by share-based compensation.
Legal Matters
Refer to Note 20, "Commitments and Contingent Liabilities" in Item 8 - "Financial Statements and Supplementary Data," for information regarding the settlement of a contractual licensing matter within the Memorialization segment, and details related to an ongoing dispute with Tesla.
Related Party Transactions
Refer to Note 26, "Related Party Transactions" in Item 8 - "Financial Statements and Supplementary Data" for information regarding transactions with Propelis.
Comparison of Fiscal 2024 and Fiscal 2023:
For a comparison of the Company's results of operations for the fiscal years ended September 30, 2024 and September 30, 2023, see "Part II, Item 7. Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operation" of the Company's annual report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended September 30, 2024 filed with the SEC on November 22, 2024.
ITEM 7. MANAGEMENT'S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS, (continued)
NON-GAAP FINANCIAL MEASURES:
Included in this report are measures of financial performance that are not defined by GAAP. The Company uses certain non-GAAP financial measures to assist in comparing its performance on a consistent basis for purposes of business decision-making by removing the impact of certain items that management believes do not directly reflect the Company’s core operations including acquisition and divestiture costs, gains and losses on divestitures, ERP integration costs, strategic initiative and other charges (which includes non-recurring charges related to certain commercial and operational initiatives and exit activities), stock-based compensation and the non-service portion of pension and postretirement expense. Management believes that presenting non-GAAP financial measures is useful to investors because it (i) provides investors with meaningful supplemental information regarding financial performance by excluding certain items that management believes do not directly reflect the Company's core operations, (ii) permits investors to view performance using the same tools that management uses to budget, forecast, make operating and strategic decisions, and evaluate historical performance, and (iii) otherwise provides supplemental information that may be useful to investors in evaluating the Company’s results. The Company believes that the presentation of these non-GAAP financial measures, when considered together with the corresponding GAAP financial measures and the reconciliations to those measures, provided herein, provides investors with an additional understanding of the factors and trends affecting the Company’s business that could not be obtained absent these disclosures.
The Company believes that adjusted EBITDA provides relevant and useful information, which is used by the Company’s management in assessing the performance of its business. Adjusted EBITDA is defined by the Company as earnings before interest, income taxes, depreciation, amortization and certain non-cash and/or non-recurring items that do not contribute directly to management’s evaluation of its operating results. These items include stock-based compensation, the non-service portion of pension and postretirement expense, acquisition and divestiture costs, gains and losses on divestitures, ERP integration costs, and strategic initiatives and other charges. Adjusted EBITDA provides the Company with an understanding of earnings before the impact of investing and financing charges and income taxes, and the effects of certain acquisition and divestiture costs, gains and losses on divestitures, and ERP integration costs, and items that do not reflect the ordinary earnings of the Company’s operations. This measure may be useful to an investor in evaluating operating performance. It is also useful as a financial measure for lenders and is used by the Company’s management to measure business performance. Adjusted EBITDA is not a measure of the Company's financial performance under GAAP and should not be considered as an alternative to net income or other performance measures derived in accordance with GAAP, or as an alternative to cash flow from operating activities as a measure of the Company's liquidity. The Company's definition of adjusted EBITDA may not be comparable to similarly titled measures used by other companies.
ITEM 7. MANAGEMENT'S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS, (continued)
The reconciliation of net income to adjusted EBITDA is as follows:
Years Ended September 30,
(Dollar amounts in thousands)
Net (loss) income
Income tax provision (benefit)
Income (loss) before income taxes
Net loss attributable to noncontrolling interests
Propelis depreciation, amortization, interest and other items (1)
Interest expense, including Receivables Purchase Agreement ("RPA") and factoring financing fees (2)
Non-service pension and postretirement expense (7)
Total Adjusted EBITDA
(1) Represents the Company's portion of depreciation, intangible amortization, interest expense, and other items incurred by Propelis (see Note 8, "Investments" in Item 8 - "Financial Statements and Supplementary Data" for further information with respect to the equity-method investment in Propelis).
(2) Includes fees for receivables sold under the RPA and factoring arrangements totaling $3.9 million, $4.8 million and $4.0 million for the fiscal years ended September 30, 2025, 2024 and 2023, respectively.
(3) Includes certain non-recurring items associated with recent acquisition and divestiture activities and also includes a loss of $2.1 million for the fiscal year ended September 30, 2025 related to the divestiture of a business in the Industrial Technologies segment (See Note 23, "Acquisitions and Divestitures" in Item 8 - "Financial Statements and Supplementary Data"). Fiscal 2023 includes a gain of $1.8 million related to the divestiture of a business in the Industrial Technologies segment.
(4) Includes certain non-recurring costs associated with commercial, operational and cost-reduction initiatives and costs associated with global ERP system integration efforts. Also includes legal costs related to an ongoing dispute with Tesla, which totaled $22.2 million and $12.4 million for the fiscal years ended September 30, 2025 and 2024, respectively (See Note 20, "Commitments and Contingent Liabilities" in Item 8 - "Financial Statements and Supplementary Data" ). Fiscal 2025 includes costs related to the Company's 2025 contested proxy which totaled $5.1 million. Fiscal 2025 includes $8.0 million of expense related to the settlement of a contractual licensing matter within the Memorialization segment (See Note 20, "Commitments and Contingent Liabilities in Item 8 - Financial Statements and Supplementary Data"). Fiscal 2025 includes net gains on the sales of certain significant property and other assets of $3.6 million. Fiscal 2025 and 2023 include loss recoveries totaling $1.7 million and $2.2 million, respectively, which were related to a previously disclosed theft of funds by a former employee initially identified in fiscal 2015.
(5) Represents exchange losses associated with highly inflationary accounting related to the Company's Turkish subsidiaries (see Note 2, "Summary of Significant Accounting Policies" in Item 8 - “Financial Statements and Supplementary Data”).
(6) Fiscal 2025 includes asset write-downs within the Brand Solutions segment of $7.9 million (see Note 25, "Asset Write-Downs" in Item 8 - “Financial Statements and Supplementary Data"). Fiscal 2024 includes goodwill write-downs within the Industrial Technologies segment of $16.7 million (see Note 24, "Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets" in Item 8 - “Financial Statements and Supplementary Data"), asset write-downs within the Memorialization segment of $13.7 million (see Note 25, "Asset Write-Downs" in Item 8 - “Financial Statements and Supplementary Data"), and investment write-downs within Corporate and Non-operating of $3.1 million (see Note 8, "Investments" in Item 8 - “Financial Statements and Supplementary Data").
(7) Non-service pension and postretirement expense includes interest cost, expected return on plan assets, amortization of actuarial gains and losses, curtailmentgains and losses, and settlement gains and losses. These benefit cost components are excluded from adjusted EBITDA since they are primarily influenced by external market conditions that impact investment returns and interest (discount) rates. Curtailmentgains and losses and settlement gains and losses are excluded from adjusted EBITDA since they generally result from certain non-recurring events, such as plan amendments to modify future benefits or settlements of plan obligations. The service cost and prior service cost components of pension and postretirement expense are included in the calculation of adjusted EBITDA, since they are considered to be a better reflection of the ongoing service-related costs of providing these benefits. Please note that GAAP pension and postretirement expense or the adjustment above are not necessarily indicative of the current or future cash flow requirements related to these employee benefit plans.
* Depreciation and amortization was $30.3 million, $27.8 million, and $23.7 million, for the Memorialization segment, $21.9 million, $23.8 million, and $23.2 million for the Industrial Technologies segment, $16.9 million, $38.7 million, and $44.8 million for the Brand Solutions segment, and $2.6 million, $4.6 million, and $4.8 million for Corporate and Non-Operating, for the fiscal years ended September 30, 2025, 2024, and 2023, respectively.
** Acquisition and divestiture costs, ERP integration costs, and strategic initiatives and other charges were $13.9 million, $3.5 million, and $1.0 million for the Memorialization segment, $27.9 million, $54.4 million, and $4.1 million for the Industrial Technologies segment, $4.0 million, $3.0 million, and $10.9 million for the Brand Solutions segment, and $3.1 million, $10.3 million, and $3.2 million for Corporate and Non-Operating, for the fiscal years ended September 30, 2025, 2024, and 2023, respectively.
† Strategic initiatives and other charges includes charges for exit and disposal activities (including severance and other employee termination benefits) totaling $1.2 million, $45.7 million and $13.2 million in fiscal years 2025, 2024 and 2023, respectively. Refer to Note 13, "Restructuring" in Item 8 - "Financial Statements and Supplementary Data" for further details.
ITEM 7. MANAGEMENT'S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS, (continued)
LIQUIDITY AND CAPITAL RESOURCES :
Net cash used in operating activities was $23.6 million for the year ended September 30, 2025, compared to net cash provided by operating activities of $79.3 million and $79.5 million for fiscal years 2024 and 2023, respectively. Operating cash flow for fiscal 2025 principally included net (loss) income adjusted for deferred taxes, depreciation and amortization, stock-based compensation expense, asset write-downs, net gains on divestitures and sales of assets, and other non-cash adjustments, and changes in working capital items. Fiscal 2025 operating cash flow also reflected $8.9 million of non-reimbursed transaction costs related to the sale of the Company's interest in the SGK Business. The change in working capital in fiscal 2025 primarily reflected payments of severance and other employee termination benefits, changes in contract assets and liabilities related to revenue recognized using the over time method, lower accounts receivable and inventory levels, and changes in other accounts. Operating cash flow for fiscal 2024 principally included net (loss) income adjusted for deferred taxes, depreciation and amortization, stock-based compensation expense, goodwill and other asset write-downs, non-cash pension expense, gain on divestitures and sale of assets, and other non-cash adjustments, and changes in working capital items. The change in working capital in fiscal 2024 primarily reflected lower inventory levels, higher accrued compensation related to severance and other employee termination benefits, changes in contract assets and liabilities related to revenue recognized using the over time method, lower trade accounts payable, lower performance-based compensation accruals, and changes in other accounts. Operating cash flow for fiscal 2023 principally included net (loss) income adjusted for deferred taxes, depreciation and amortization, stock-based compensation expense, non-cash pension expense, gain on divestitures and sale of assets, and other non-cash adjustments, and changes in working capital items. Fiscal 2023 operating cash flow also reflected $24.2 million of contributions to fund the settlement of the Company's non-qualified Supplemental Retirement Plan ("SERP") and the defined benefit portion of the Officers Retirement Restoration Plan ("ORRP") obligations, and $10.5 million of proceeds from the settlement of cash flow hedges. The change in working capital in fiscal 2023 primarily reflected higher inventory levels, lower trade accounts payable, and changes in contract assets and liabilities related to revenue recognized using the over time method, partially offset by proceeds from the sale of receivables under a receivables purchase agreement and a non-recourse factoring arrangement (see below for further discussion).
Cash provided by investing activities was $159.6 million for the year ended September 30, 2025, compared to cash used in investing activities of $47.0 million and $58.7 million for fiscal years 2024 and 2023, respectively. Investing activities for fiscal 2025 primarily reflected capital expenditures of $35.8 million, acquisition payments (net of cash acquired or received from sellers) of $55.8 million, proceeds from the sale of assets of $21.3 million, proceeds from sale of the SGK Business, net of divested cash, of $228.0 million, and proceeds from other divestitures of $2.0 million. Investing activities for fiscal 2024 primarily reflected capital expenditures of $45.2 million, acquisition payments (net of cash acquired or received from sellers) of $5.8 million, purchases of investments of $825,000, and proceeds from the sale of assets of $4.2 million. Investing activities for fiscal 2023 primarily reflected capital expenditures of $50.6 million, acquisition payments (net of cash acquired or received from sellers) of $15.3 million , purchases of investments of $1.6 million, proceeds from the sale of assets of $2.1 million, and proceeds from divestitures of $6.7 million .
Capital expenditures were $35.8 million for the year ended September 30, 2025, compared to $45.2 million and $50.6 million for fiscal years 2024 and 2023, respectively. Capital expenditures in each of the last three fiscal years reflected reinvestments in the Company's business segments and were made primarily for the purchase of new production machinery, equipment, software and systems, and facilities designed to improve product quality, increase manufacturing efficiency, lower production costs and meet regulatory requirements. Capital spending for property, plant and equipment has averaged $43.9 million for the last three fiscal years. Capital expenditures for the last three fiscal years were primarily financed through operating cash. Capital spending for fiscal 2026 is currently estimated to be in the range of approximately $30 million to $40 million. The Company expects to generate sufficient cash from operations to fund all anticipated capital spending projects.
Cash used in financing activities for the year ended September 30, 2025 was $144.3 million, and principally reflected repayments, net of proceeds, on long-term debt of $67.0 million, purchases of treasury stock of $12.2 million, payment of dividends of $32.8 million, payments, net of proceeds, on net investment hedges of $22.1 million (see below), and $10.2 million of holdback and deferred purchase price payments related to acquisitions from prior years. Cash used in financing activities for the year ended September 30, 2024 was $35.0 million, and principally reflected repayments, net of proceeds, on long-term debt of $31.3 million, purchases of treasury stock of $20.6 million, payment of dividends of $31.4 million, payments of debt issuance costs of $10.2 million , and proceeds from net investment hedges of $58.4 million (see below) . Cash used in financing activities for the year ended September 30, 2023 was $50.2 million, and principally reflected repayments, net of proceeds, on long-term debt of $18.2 million, purchases of treasury stock of $2.9 million, and payment of dividends of $28.2 million.
ITEM 7. MANAGEMENT'S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS, (continued)
The Company has a domestic credit facility with a syndicate of financial institutions that was amended and restated in September 2024. The amended and restated loan agreement includes a $750.0 million senior secured revolving credit facility, which matures in January 2029, subject to the terms and conditions of the amended facility. The obligations under the domestic credit facility are secured by a first priority lien on substantially all of the assets of the Company and certain of its domestic subsidiaries. A portion of the revolving credit facility (not to exceed $350.0 million ) can be drawn in foreign currencies. Borrowings under the revolving credit facility bear interest at Secured Overnight Financing Rate ("SOFR"), plus a 0.10% per annum rate spread adjustment, plus a factor ranging from 1.00% to 2.00% (1.25% at September 30, 2025) based on the Company's leverage ratio. The leverage ratio is defined as total indebtedness divided by EBITDA (earnings before interest, income taxes, depreciation and amortization) as defined within the domestic credit facility agreement. The Company is required to pay an annual commitment fee ranging from 0.15% to 0.30% (based on the Company's leverage ratio) of the unused portion of the revolving credit facility. The Company incurred debt issuance costs in connection with the amended and restated agreement . Unamortized costs were $3.9 million and $5.0 million at September 30, 2025 and 2024, respectively.
The domestic credit facility requires the Company to maintain certain leverage and interest coverage ratios. A portion of the facility (not to exceed $75.0 million) is available for the issuance of trade and standby letters of credit. Outstanding U.S. dollar denominated borrowings on the revolving credit facility at September 30, 2025 and 2024 were $384.2 million and $410.5 million, respectively. There were no outstanding Euro denominated borrowings on the revolving credit facility at September 30, 2025. Outstanding Euro denominated borrowings on the revolving credit facility at September 30, 2024 were €30.0 million ($33.5 million). The weighted-average interest rate on outstanding borrowings for the domestic credit facility (including the effects of interest rate swaps and Euro denominated borrowings) at September 30, 2025 and 2024 was 3.99% and 4.59%, respectively.
The Company has $300.0 million aggregate principal amount of 8.625% senior secured second lien notes due October 1, 2027 (the "2027 Senior Secured Notes"). The 2027 Senior Secured Notes bear interest at a rate of 8.625% per annum with interest payable semi-annually in arrears on April 1 and October 1 of each year. The Company's obligations under the 2027 Senior Secured Notes are secured by a second priority lien on substantially all of the assets of the Company and certain of its domestic subsidiaries. The Company is subject to certain covenants and other restrictions including cross default provisions in connection with the 2027 Senior Secured Notes. The Company incurred direct financing fees and costs in connection with the 2027 Senior Secured Notes. Unamortized costs related to the Company’s notes were $3.9 million and $5.2 million at September 30, 2025 and 2024, respectively.
The Company and certain of its domestic subsidiaries sell, on a continuous basis without recourse, their trade receivables to Matthews Receivables Funding Corporation, LLC (“Matthews RFC”), a wholly-owned bankruptcy-remote subsidiary of the Company. Matthews RFC has a receivables purchase agreement (“RPA”) to sell up to $75.0 million of receivables to certain purchasers (the “Purchasers”) on a recurring basis in exchange for cash (referred to as “capital” within the RPA) equal to the gross receivables transferred. The parties intend that the transfers of receivables to the Purchasers constitute purchases and sales of receivables. Matthews RFC has guaranteed to each Purchaser the prompt payment of sold receivables, and has granted a security interest in its assets for the benefit of the Purchasers. Under the RPA, each Purchaser’s share of capital accrues yield at a floating rate plus an applicable margin. The Company is the master servicer under the RPA, and is responsible for administering and collecting receivables. The RPA matures in April 2027.
The proceeds of the RPA are classified as operating activities in the Company’s Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows. Cash received from collections of sold receivables may be used to fund additional purchases of receivables on a revolving basis, or to reduce all or any portion of the outstanding capital of the Purchasers. The fair value of the sold receivables approximated book value due to their credit quality and short-term nature, and as a result, no gain or loss on sale of receivables was recorded. As of September 30, 2025, and 2024, the amount sold to the Purchasers was $65.6 million and $96.3 million, respectively which was derecognized from the Consolidated Balance Sheets. As collateral against sold receivables, Matthews RFC maintains a certain level of unsold receivables, which was $63.7 million and $58.2 million as of September 30, 2025 and 2024, respectively.
The following table sets forth a summary of receivables sold as part of the RPA:
For the Year Ended September 30,
(Dollar amounts in thousands)
Gross receivables sold
Cash collections reinvested
Net cash (reinvested) received
ITEM 7. MANAGEMENT'S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS, (continued)
The Company, through its U.K. subsidiary, previously participated in a non-recourse factoring arrangement. In connection with this arrangement, the Company periodically sold trade receivables to a third-party purchaser in exchange for cash. These transfers of financial assets were recorded at the time the Company surrendered control of the assets. As these transfers qualified as true sales under the applicable accounting guidance, the receivables were de-recognized from the Company's Consolidated Balance Sheets upon transfer. As a result of the sale of the Company's interest in the SGK Business, this arrangement no longer exists for the Company at September 30, 2025. The principal amount of receivables sold under this arrangement was $45.8 million and $70.2 million during the fiscal year ended September 30, 2025 and 2024, respectively. The discounts on the trade receivables sold are included within administrative expense in the Consolidated Statements of Income. The proceeds from the sale of receivables are classified as operating activities in the Company's Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows. As of September 30, 2024, the amount of factored receivables that remained outstanding was $15.7 million. See Note 23, "Acquisitions and Divestitures" in Item 8 - "Financial Statements and Supplementary Data" for further information with respect to the sale of the Company's interest in the SGK Business.
The Company facilitates a voluntary supply chain finance program (the "Program") to provide certain suppliers with the opportunity to sell receivables due from the Company to participating financial institutions at the sole discretion of both the suppliers and the financial institutions. The Company is not a party to the agreements between the suppliers and the financial institutions and has no economic interest in a supplier's decision to sell a receivable. The range of payment terms negotiated with a supplier is consistent, irrespective of whether a supplier participates in the Program. All outstanding payments owed under the Program are recorded within trade accounts payable in the Consolidated Balance Sheets. The Company accounts for all payments made under the Program as a reduction to operating cash flows in changes in working capital within the Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows. The amounts owed to a participating financial institution under the Program and included in trade accounts payable were $6.1 million and $3.0 million at September 30, 2025 and 2024, respectively.
The following table summarizes the Program activities for the year ended September 30, 2025.
For the Year Ended
September 30, 2025
(Dollar amounts in thousands)
Outstanding Program payables at September 30, 2024
Obligations added
Obligations settled
Outstanding Program payables at September 30, 2025
The Company, through certain of its European subsidiaries, has a credit facility with a European bank, which is guaranteed by Matthews. The maximum amount of borrowings available under this facility is €6.0 million ($7.0 million). This facility also provides €14.0 million ($16.4 million) for bank guarantees. This facility has no stated maturity date and is available until terminated. Outstanding borrowings under the credit facility totaled at €659,000 ($774,000) at September 30, 2025. There were no outstanding borrowings under the credit facility at September 30, 2024. The weighted-average interest rate on outstanding borrowings under this facility was 4.16% at September 30, 2025.
Other borrowings totaled $7.2 million and $15.6 million at September 30, 2025 and 2024, respectively. The weighted-average interest rate on these borrowings was 2.40% and 2.66% at September 30, 2025 and 2024, respectively.
The Company operates internationally and utilizes certain derivative financial instruments to manage its foreign currency, debt and interest rate exposures. The following table presents information related to interest rate swaps entered into by the Company and designated as cash flow hedges:
September 30, 2025
September 30, 2024
(Dollar amounts in thousands)
Notional amount
Weighted-average maturity period (years)
Weighted-average received rate
Weighted-average pay rate
ITEM 7. MANAGEMENT'S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS, (continued)
The Company enters into interest rate swaps in order to achieve a mix of fixed and variable rate debt that it deems appropriate. The interest rate swaps have been designated as cash flow hedges of future variable interest payments, which are considered probable of occurring. Based on the Company's assessment, all of the critical terms of each of the hedges matched the underlying terms of the hedged debt and related forecasted interest payments, and as such, these hedges were considered highly effective.
The fair value of the interest rate swaps reflected a net unrealized loss of $2.3 million ($1.8 million after tax) and a net unrealized loss of $2.6 million ($1.9 million after tax) at September 30, 2025 and 2024, respectively, that is included in shareholders' equity as part of accumulated other comprehensive income ("AOCI"). Unrecognized gains of $1.6 million ($1.2 million after tax) and $3.8 million ($2.9 million after tax) related to previously terminated London Interbank Offered Rate ("LIBOR") based swaps were also included in AOCI as of September 30, 2025 and 2024, respectively. Assuming market rates remain constant with the rates at September 30, 2025, a gain (net of tax) of approximately $115,000 included in AOCI is expected to be recognized in earnings over the next twelve months.
The Company utilizes certain cross currency swaps as net investment hedges of foreign operations and assesses effectiveness for these contracts based on changes in fair value attributable to changes in spot prices. The following table presents information related to cross currency swaps entered into by the Company and designated as net investment hedges:
Notional Amount
Unrealized Losses (1)
Swap Currencies
Maturity Date
September 30, 2025
September 30, 2024
September 30, 2025
September 30, 2024
(Dollar amounts in thousands)
USD/EUR
September 2027
USD/SEK
June 2026
USD/SGD
August 2026
USD/EUR
August 2026
(1) Unrealized gains/losses are recognized in AOCI unless a portion of a hedge is ineffective. Ineffectiveness was insignificant for the year ended September 30, 2025.
(2) Total unrealized losses are presented net of tax of $4,652 and $2,156, for the years ended September 30, 2025 and 2024, respectively.
In connection with certain of these cross currency swaps, the Company received cash from the counterparties, representing partial advance payments of amounts due under the U.S. dollar leg of the swaps. Outstanding advance payment amounts totaled $40.2 million at September 30, 2025, all of which were included in other current liabilities on the Consolidated Balance Sheet. Outstanding advance payment amounts totaled $58.4 million at September 30, 2024, of which $17.4 million and $41.0 million were included in other current liabilities and other non-current liabilities on the Consolidated Balance Sheet, respectively.
During fiscal 2025, certain cross currency swaps were terminated or modified following the sale of the Company's interest in the SGK Business. The Company made payments totaling $37.1 million in connection with the settlement or modification of these cross currency swap contracts.
The Company previously used certain foreign currency debt instruments as net investment hedges of foreign operations with a notional amount of €30.0 million ($33.5 million) as of September 30, 2024. Currency losses of $3.8 million (net of income taxes of $1.1 million), which represent effective hedges of net investments, were reported as a component of AOCI within currency translation adjustment at September 30, 2024.
The Company has a stock repurchase program. The buy-back program is designed to increase shareholder value, enlarge the Company's holdings of its Class A Common Stock, and add to earnings per share. Repurchased shares may be retained in treasury, utilized for acquisitions, or reissued to employees or other purchasers, subject to the restrictions set forth in the Company's Restated Articles of Incorporation. On November 21, 2025, the Company announced that its Board of Directors approved the continuation of the stock repurchase program and increased the authorization for stock repurchases by an additional 5,000,000 shares during fiscal year 2025. Under the current authorization, 5,043,567 shares remain available for repurchase as of September 30, 2025.
On March 11, 2025, in connection with the filing of an automatic shelf registration statement on Form S-3 pursuant to which the Company re-registered 3,000,000 shares of Class A Common Stock, the Company entered into an Equity Distribution Agreement for an At-The-Market equity offering program ("ATM Program") where the Company may issue and sell, from time
ITEM 7. MANAGEMENT'S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS, (continued)
to time, up to 1,250,000 shares of its Class A Common Stock under the shelf registration. The Company did not sell any shares of its Class A Common Stock under its ATM program during fiscal 2025. As of September 30, 2025, the Company had 1,250,000 shares remaining for sale under the ATM Program. The Company has no near-term intention to utilize the ATM Program.
Consolidated working capital was $169.7 million at September 30, 2025, compared to $197.8 million at September 30, 2024. Cash and cash equivalents were $32.4 million at September 30, 2025, compared to $40.8 million at September 30, 2024. The Company's current ratio was 1.5 at both September 30, 2025 and 2024. As of September 30, 2025 and 2024, the Company had net contract assets for projects recognized using the over time method totaling $99,700 and $64,246, respectively, which primarily represent unbilled revenues, net of deferred revenues related to customer deposits and progress billings. Net contract assets at September 30, 2025 and 2024 predominantly related to ongoing projects with Tesla. Unbilled revenues are generally expected to be invoiced upon the attainment of certain contractual conditions and milestones. The Company continues to perform according to the general terms and conditions of its contractual arrangements with Tesla. Customer delays within the energy storage business have impacted the timing of projects, and consequently, have resulted in invoicing delays for this business.
Long-Term Contractual Obligations:
The following table summarizes the Company's contractual obligations at September 30, 2025, and the effect such obligations are expected to have on its liquidity and cash flows in future periods.
Payments due in fiscal year:
Total
After
Contractual Cash Obligations:
(Dollar amounts in thousands)
Revolving credit facilities
2027 Senior Secured Notes
Finance lease obligations (1)
Non-cancelable operating leases (1)
Cross-currency swaps
Other (2)
Total contractual cash obligations
(1) Lease obligations have not been discounted to their present value.
(2) Includes $1,163 of severance and other employee terminationbenefit obligations, as well as $5,061 of deferred purchase price and contingent consideration obligations related to acquisitions completed in prior years.
Unrecognized tax benefits are positions taken, or expected to be taken, on an income tax return that may result in additional payments to tax authorities. If a tax authority agrees with the tax position taken, or expected to be taken, or the applicable statute of limitations expires, then additional payments will not be necessary. As of September 30, 2025, the Company had unrecognized tax benefits, excluding penalties and interest, of approximately $3.0 million. The timing of potential future payments related to the unrecognized tax benefits is not presently determinable. The Company believes that its current liquidity sources, combined with its operating cash flow and borrowing capacity, will be sufficient to meet its capital needs for the foreseeable future.
ACQUISITIONS AND DIVESTITURES:
Refer to Note 23, "Acquisitions and Divestitures" in Item 8 - "Financial Statements and Supplementary Data," for further details on the Company's acquisitions and divestitures.
SUBSEQUENT EVENT:
Refer to Note 27, "Subsequent Event" in Item 8 - "Financial Statements and Supplementary Data" for further details on the Company's subsequent event.
ITEM 7. MANAGEMENT'S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS, (continued)
FORWARD-LOOKING INFORMATION:
Management routinely develops and reviews with the Company’s Board of Directors strategic plans with the primary objective of continuous improvement in the Company’s consolidated sales and operating results, with a view towards enterprise-level strategic transactions. Strategic plans are developed at the business segment level and generally contain strategies for organic growth and acquisitions. Organic growth primarily reflects the Company’s internal efforts to grow its businesses including commercial activities, cost structure and productivity improvements, new product development, and the expansion into new markets with existing products. Growth through acquisitions reflects the benefits from acquired businesses and also includes related integration activities to achieve commercial and cost synergy benefits.
The significant factors influencing organic sales growth in the Industrial Technologies segment include economic/industrial market conditions, new product development, and the electric vehicles ("EV") and e-commerce trends. Sales within this segment are influenced by the timing of work with the Company's largest energy storage customer, which may be impacted by continuing disputes with such customer, as well as the level of advancement by existing and potential new customers towards adopting new production solutions. For the Memorialization segment, the Company expects that sales growth will be influenced by North America death rates and the impact of the increasing trend toward cremation on the segment's product offerings, including caskets, cemetery memorial products and cremation-related products. On May 1, 2025, the Company contributed its SGK Business to a newly-formed entity, Propelis, in exchange for a 40% ownership interest in Propelis and other consideration. Following the completion of this transaction, the SGK Business has been deconsolidated from the financial statements and is now accounted for as part of the Company's equity-method investment in Propelis. See Notes 8, "Investments" and 23, "Acquisitions and Divestitures" in Item 8 - "Financial Statements and Supplementary Data" for further information with respect to the Company's sale of its interest in the SGK Business. The underlying business performance for the Company's investment in Propelis will be influenced by global economic conditions, brand innovation, the level of marketing spending by the investee's clients, government regulation, currency fluctuations, and the ability of the investee to effectively integrate and achieve anticipated synergy benefits from the joint venture.
The Matthews Board of Directors has launched a comprehensive review of strategic alternatives for the Company’s entire portfolio of businesses, which was publicly announced in November 2024. The Board is dedicated to driving long-term value creation, and the strategic alternatives process is a reflection of that commitment. In addition to the recent divestiture of the Company’s interest in the SGK Business, the Company also announced a proposed transaction for the sale of the Company's Warehouse Automation business (see "Subsequent Event"). The Company's strategic alternatives review to enhance shareholder value creation remains ongoing. The Company also initiated cost reduction programs during the fourth quarter of fiscal 2024, which are primarily focused on the Company's engineering and tooling operations in Europe, as well as the Company's general and administrative functions. The Company is planning further cost reduction actions for fiscal 2026.
CRITICAL ACCOUNTING ESTIMATES AND POLICIES:
The preparation of financial statements in conformity with generally accepted accounting principles requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting period. Therefore, the determination of estimates requires the exercise of judgment based on various assumptions and other factors such as historical experience, economic conditions, and in some cases, actuarial techniques. Actual results may differ from those estimates. A discussion of market risks affecting the Company can be found in Item 7A, "Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures about Market Risk," of this Annual Report on Form 10-K.
The Company's significant accounting policies are included in the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements included in this Annual Report on Form 10-K. Management believes that the application of these policies on a consistent basis enables the Company to provide useful and reliable financial information about the Company's operating results and financial condition. The following accounting policies involve significant estimates, which were considered critical to the preparation of the Company's consolidated financial statements for the year ended September 30, 2025.
ITEM 7. MANAGEMENT'S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS, (continued)
Long-Lived Assets, including Property, Plant and Equipment:
Long-lived assets are recorded at their respective cost basis on the date of acquisition. Depreciation on property, plant and equipment is computed primarily on the straight-line method over the estimated useful lives of the assets. Intangible assets with finite useful lives are amortized over their estimated useful lives. The Company reviews long-lived assets, including property, plant and equipment, and intangibles with finite useful lives, whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying amount of such assets may not be recoverable. Recoverability of assets and asset groups is determined by evaluating the estimated undiscounted net cash flows of the operations to which the assets or asset groups relate. An impairmentloss would be recognized when the carrying amount of the assets or asset groups exceed the fair value, which is generally based on a discounted cash flow analysis. An asset or asset group considered held-for-sale is reported at the lower of the asset/asset group's carrying amount or fair value, less cost to sell. No impairment charges for property, plant and equipment were recognized during the years presented, except as disclosed in Note 25, “Asset Write-Downs" in Item 8 - "Financial Statements and Supplementary Data."
Goodwill and Indefinite-Lived Intangibles:
Goodwill and intangible assets with indefinite useful lives are not amortized, but are tested annually for impairment, or when circumstances indicate that a possible impairment may exist. In general, when the carrying value of these assets exceeds the implied fair value, an impairmentloss must be recognized. A significant decline in cash flows generated from these assets may result in a write-down of the carrying values of the related assets. For purposes of testing goodwill for impairment, the Company uses a combination of valuation techniques, including discounted cash flows and other market indicators. A number of assumptions and estimates are involved in the application of the discounted cash flow model to forecast operating cash flows, including sales volumes and pricing, costs to produce, tax rates, capital spending, working capital changes, and discount rates. The Company estimates future cash flows using volume and pricing assumptions based largely on existing customer relationships and contracts, and operating cost assumptions management believes are reasonable based on historical performance and projected future performance as reflected in its most recent operating plans and projections. The discount rates used in the discounted cash flow analyses are developed with the assistance of valuation experts and management believes the discount rates appropriately reflect the risks associated with the Company's operating cash flows. With respect to goodwill, in order to further validate the reasonableness of the estimated fair values of the reporting units as of the valuation date, a reconciliation of the aggregate fair values of all reporting units to market capitalization is performed using a reasonable control premium.
The Company performed its annual quantitative impairment review of goodwill and indefinite-lived intangible assets in the second quarter of fiscal 2025 (January 1, 2025) and determined that the estimated fair values for all goodwill reporting units and indefinite-lived intangible assets exceeded their carrying values, and, therefore, no impairment charges were necessary at such time.
The Company's Surfaces and Engineering reporting unit experienced declines during the fourth quarter of fiscal 2024, primarily related to the Company's recently acquired (August 2022) Olbrich GmbH business. The Company determined that a triggering event occurred during the fourth quarter of fiscal 2024, resulting in a re-evaluation of the goodwill for the Surfaces and Engineering reporting unit as of September 1, 2024. As a result of this interim assessment, the Company recorded a goodwill write-down totaling $16.7 million during the fiscal 2024 fourth quarter, reducing the amount of goodwill for this reporting unit to zero. The fair value for the reporting unit was determined using level 3 inputs (including estimates of revenue growth, EBITDA contribution and the discount rates) and the income approach valuation methodology which utilizes estimated discounted cash flows of the reporting unit.
Income Taxes:
Deferred tax assets and liabilities are provided for the differences between the financial statement and tax bases of assets and liabilities using enacted tax rates in effect for the years in which the differences are expected to reverse. Valuation allowances are recorded to reduce deferred tax assets when it is more likely than not that a tax benefit will not be realized. Deferred income taxes have not been provided on undistributed earnings of foreign subsidiaries since they have either been previously taxed, or are exempt from tax, or such earnings are considered to be reinvested indefinitely in foreign operations.
RECENTLY ISSUED ACCOUNTING PRONOUNCEMENTS:
Refer to Note 3, "Accounting Pronouncements" in Item 8 - "Financial Statements and Supplementary Data," for further details on recently issued accounting pronouncements.
