UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

 

FORM 8-K

 

CURRENT REPORT

Pursuant to Section 13 OR 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934

 

 

Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported)

May 31, 2006

 

ALBANY INTERNATIONAL CORP.

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

Delaware

0-16214

14-0462060

(State or other jurisdiction
of incorporation)

(Commission
File Number)

(I.R.S. Employer
Identification No.)

1373 Broadway, Albany, New York

12204

(Address of principal executive offices)

(Zip Code)

Registrant’s telephone number, including area code    (518) 445-2200

None

(Former name or former address, if changed since last report.)

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

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

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

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

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



 

Item 8.01.  Other Events.

 

Albany International Corp. (the “Company”) operates its business in the following three segments: Paper Machine Clothing (PMC), Applied Technologies, and Albany Door Systems. Effective January 1, 2006, the Company reclassified one of its lines of business from PMC to Applied Technologies. As a result of this reclassification, the Company has revised the applicable sections of Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations and Notes 1 and 12 of Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements included in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2005. The segment reclassification has the effect of decreasing full - year 2005 net sales and operating income in the Paper Machine Clothing segment, and increasing full-year 2005 net sales and operating income in the Applied Technologies segment , by $8.7 million and $2.2 million, respectively.

 

The amended Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations and Consolidated Financial Statements are filed as exhibits hereto and are incorporated herein by reference. Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations and the Consolidated Financial Statements are being revised only to reflect the segment change, and have not been updated to reflect any other developments since the date of the original filing.

 

Item 9.01.  Financial Statements and Exhibits.

 

(d)

Exhibits.

 

99.1

Revised Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations as of, and for periods ending December 31, 2005.

 

99.2

Revised Consolidated Financial Statements as of, and for periods ending December 31, 2005.

 

99.3

Schedule of 2005 quarterly net sales and operating income that have been reclassified from the Paper Machine Clothing segment to the Applied Technologies segment.



 

 

Signature

 

 

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

 

 

ALBANY INTERNATIONAL CORP.

 

 

By: /s/ Michael C. Nahl

 

Name: Michael C. Nahl

 

Title: Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer

(Principal Financial Officer)

 

 

 

Date:

May 31, 2006



 

 

EXHIBIT INDEX

 

Exhibit No.

Description

 

99.1

Revised Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations as of, and for periods ending December 31, 2005.

 

99.2

Consolidated Financial Statements as of, and for periods ending December 31, 2005.

 

99.3

Schedule of 2005 quarterly net sales and operating income that have been reclassified from the Paper Machine Clothing segment to the Applied Technologies segment.



Exhibit 99.1

Form 10-K, Item 7.    
  MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS

The following should be read in conjunction with the Consolidated Financial Statements and Notes thereto.

Critical Accounting Policies and Assumptions

The Company’s discussion and analysis of its financial condition and results of operation are based on the Company’s consolidated financial statements, which have been prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (GAAP). The preparation of these financial statements requires the Company to make estimates and judgments that affect the reported amounts of assets, liabilities, revenues and expenses, and related disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities.

The Company records sales when persuasive evidence of an arrangement exists, delivery has occurred, the selling price is fixed, and collectibility is reasonably assured. The timing of revenue recognition is dependent upon the contractual arrangement between the Company and its customers. These arrangements, which may include provisions for transfer of title and guarantees of workmanship, are specific to each customer. Sales contracts in the Albany Door Systems segment may include product and installation services. For these sales, the Company applies the provisions of EITF 00-21, “Revenue Arrangements with Multiple Deliverables”. The Company’s contracts that include product and installation services generally do not qualify as separate units of accounting and, accordingly, revenue for the entire contract value is recognized upon completion of installation services. The Company limits the concentration of credit risk in receivables by closely monitoring credit and collection policies. The Company records allowances for sales returns as a deduction in the computation of net sales. Such provisions are recorded on the basis of written communication with customers and/or historical experience.

The Company maintains allowances for doubtful accounts for estimated losses resulting from the inability of its customers to make required payments. If the financial condition of the Company’s customers were to deteriorate, resulting in an impairment of their ability to make payments, additional allowances may be required.

Goodwill and other long-lived assets are reviewed for impairment whenever events such as significant changes in the business climate, plant closures, changes in product offerings, or other circumstances indicate that the carrying amount may not be recoverable. The Company performs a test for goodwill impairment at least annually. The determination of whether these assets are impaired involves significant judgments based on short and long-term projections of future performance. Changes in strategy and/or market conditions may result in adjustments to recorded asset balances.

The Company has investments in other companies that are accounted for under either the cost method or equity method of accounting. The investment accounted for under the cost method was included in Other assets as of December 31, 2003. In 2004, the Company determined that investment to be other than temporarily impaired and, accordingly, recorded an impairment charge of $4 million in Other expense, net, representing the full amount of the investment. Investments accounted for under the equity method are included in Investments in associated companies. The Company performs regular reviews of the financial condition of the investees to determine if its investment is impaired. If the financial condition of the investees were to no longer support their valuations, the Company would record an impairment provision.

The Company has pension and postretirement benefit costs and liabilities that are developed from actuarial valuations. Inherent in these valuations are key assumptions, including discount rates and expected return on plan assets, which are updated on an annual basis. The Company is required to consider current market conditions, including changes in interest rates, in making these assumptions. Changes in the related pension and postretirement benefit costs or credits may occur in the future due to changes in the assumptions. The amount of annual pension plan funding and annual expense is subject to many variables, including the investment return on pension plan assets and interest rates. Assumptions used for determining pension plan liabilities and expenses are evaluated and updated at least annually. Discount rate assumptions are based on the population of plan participants and a mixture of high-quality fixed income investments for which the average maturity approximates the average remaining service period of plan participants. The assumption for expected return on plan assets is based on historical and expected returns on various categories of plan assets. The actual return on assets in the U.S. pension plan for 2005 was greater than

36




the assumption. As indicated in Note 13 of Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements, at September 30, 2005, the measurement date for pension plans, the largest portion of pension plan assets (45% for the U.S. plan and 72% for non-U.S. plans) was invested in equities. For the U.S. pension plan mortality assumption, the Company uses the 1983 Group Annuity Mortality assumption updated to 1993. The Company has studied its actual mortality data for a recent six year period and found it to be consistent with that mortality table. Weakness in investment returns and low interest rates, or deviations in results from other assumptions, could result in the Company making equal or greater pension plan contributions in future years, as compared to 2005. Including anticipated contributions for all pension plans, the Company has classified $26.5 million of its accrued pension liability as a current liability at December 31, 2005. Actual contributions for 2005 totaled $16.9 million.

The Company records deferred income tax assets and liabilities for the tax consequences of differences between financial statement and tax bases of existing assets and liabilities. A tax valuation allowance is established, as needed, to reduce net deferred tax assets to the amount expected to be realized. In the event it becomes more likely than not that some or all of the deferred tax asset allowances will not be needed, the valuation allowance will be adjusted.

The Company has a trade accounts receivable program whereby it sells, without recourse, certain North American accounts receivable to a qualified special purpose entity (QSPE), as defined under Financial Accounting Standard No. 140 “Accounting for Transfers and Servicing of Financial Assets and Extinguishment of Liabilities” (FAS No. 140). The QSPE is a wholly owned subsidiary of the Company and, in accordance with FAS No. 140, its financial statements are not consolidated with the financial statements of the Company. The securitization program can be terminated at any time, with thirty days notice, by the Company or the unrelated third party. If the securitization program were terminated, the Company would not be required to repay cash received from the sale of accounts receivable, but no additional receivables would be sold under the program. Accounts receivable would increase as new sales were made, and the note receivable would decrease as the sold accounts receivable were collected. The Company might need to borrow from its existing credit facilities or use existing cash to fund operations until cash flow from accounts receivable returned to normal levels.

The unconsolidated subsidiary receives cash from an unrelated third party in exchange for an undivided ownership interest in the accounts receivable. As of December 31, 2005, the unconsolidated subsidiary had assets of $18.9 million consisting primarily of $65.9 million of accounts receivables sold to it by the Company, net of a $45.6 million interest sold to the unrelated third party, and an allowance for doubtful accounts. As of December 31, 2005, the liabilities of the unconsolidated subsidiary were $17.9 million, consisting principally of the note payable to the Company, and equity was $1.0 million.

The Company has contingent liabilities for litigation, claims and assessments that result from the ordinary course of business. These matters are more fully described in Note 7 to the Consolidated Financial Statements included in Item 8.

Overview

The Company is engaged in three business segments: Paper Machine Clothing, Applied Technologies and Albany Door Systems.

The Company’s largest segment is Paper Machine Clothing, which includes paper machine clothing and process belts (PMC), which are technologically sophisticated consumable products designed, manufactured and marketed for each section of the paper machine. The design and material composition of clothing and belts can have a considerable effect on the quality of paper products produced and the efficiency of paper machines on which they are used. Paper machine clothing and belts have finite lives and must be replaced on a regular basis. The Company invests in research and development to maintain what it believes to be its position as the technology leader in the marketplace, and to continually improve the production processes and deliver increased value to customers. The Company’s operations are strategically located in the major paper-producing regions of the world.

The Applied Technologies segment of the Company is comprised of a wide variety of products, including fabrics, wires and belting products for the nonwovens and pulp industries (Engineered Fabrics), specialty filtration products for wet and dry applications (Industrial Process Technologies), industrial insulation products (High Performance Materials), Primaloft® patented synthetic down for the home furnishings and outerwear markets, and engineered composites and structures for the aerospace industry.

37



Albany Door Systems produces and services high-performance doors, which are primarily marketed to industrial and commercial enterprises requiring interior or external doors that involve either frequent openings or environmental contrasts between the two areas separated by the doors. High-performance doors open and close very rapidly, and may utilize electrical systems that assure automatic opening and closing under circumstances desired by customers. Although the Company’s high-performance doors are marketed globally, its largest manufacturing operations are in Europe and North America.

Industry Trends

The Paper Machine Clothing segment has experienced significant change since 1999 as consolidation and restructuring impacted the global paper and paperboard industry and reduced the number of major paper machine clothing competitors from eight to four.

Albany International is the paper machine clothing market leader, with a worldwide market share of approximately 30% for the year 2005. The market shares of each of the next largest competitors were approximately half that of Albany International’s market share for the year 2005.

As part of the Company’s long-term strategy to provide value to customers and to improve returns to shareholders, the Company has rationalized production capacity by closing and consolidating manufacturing facilities in North America and Europe.

According to published data, world paper and paperboard production volumes have grown at an annual rate of approximately 2.7% over the last ten years. Of the thousands of paper machines operating in the world, the Company estimates that approximately 5,000 machines represent the target market for the Company’s paper machine clothing products. During the last three years, approximately 100 paper machines in the United States and 55 paper machines in Europe have been shut down. These machine closures have been partially offset by the start-up of approximately 45 new paper machines located around the world during the same period. Increases in paper production have a positive impact on demand for paper machine clothing, while the shutdown of paper machines, combined with increases in the efficiency of the remaining paper machines and the useful life of paper machine clothing, has a negative impact on demand. The Company anticipates continued growth for the long term in world paper and paperboard production. Although the rate of paper industry consolidation and rationalization has recently slowed, the Company expects that continued rationalization and efficiency improvements in the paper industry may have a negative impact on demand.

Technological advances in paper machine clothing, while contributing to the papermaking efficiency of customers, have in some cases lengthened the useful life of the Company’s products and reduced the number of pieces required to produce the same volume of paper. While the Company is often able to charge higher prices for its products as a result of these improvements, increased prices may not always be sufficient to offset completely a decrease in the number of fabrics sold.

Although Paper Machine Clothing segment sales were higher in 2005 as compared to 2004, the Company’s net sales of paper machine clothing decreased in each of the three previous fiscal years after adjusting for currency translation effects. The trend toward a decrease in the ratio of PMC consumed to paper produced and the recent period of consolidation and rationalization may be significant contributors to the decline in sales for 2002, 2003 and 2004. The Company’s strategy for dealing with these trends is to continue to focus on providing solutions for customers through new products and services, improving the Company’s product mix and price structure, while at the same time identifying additional cost-saving opportunities and growing sales in other industries.

Challenges, Risks and Opportunities

The Paper Machine Clothing segment of the business is very competitive. Some competitors tend to compete more on the basis of price, while others, including the Company, attempt to compete more on the basis of technical performance of products and services. During the past three years, the Company has spent an average of 3% of its consolidated net sales on research and development, and expects to spend similar amounts in future periods. Failure to maintain or increase the product and service value delivered to customers in future periods could have a material impact on sales in this segment.

38



Some competitors in this segment have the ability to bundle sales of PMC with other papermaking equipment. This can result in additional discounts in their paper machine clothing.

The basic papermaking process, while it has undergone dramatic increases in efficiency and speed, has always relied on paper machine clothing. In the event that a paper machine builder or other person were able to develop a commercially viable manner of paper manufacture that did not require paper machine clothing, sales of the Company’s products in this segment could be expected to decline significantly.

The Applied Technologies segment has experienced significant growth in net sales during the last two to three years, due to the introduction of new products and growth in demand and application of previously existing products. While opportunities for continued growth remain excellent, there can be no assurances that the growth in sales enjoyed during the last two to three years will continue.

Albany Door Systems derives most of its revenue from the sale of high-performance doors. The purchase of these doors is normally a capital expenditure item for customers and, as such, market opportunities tend to fluctuate with industrial capital spending. The majority of the segment’s revenues are derived from sales and manufacturing outside of the United States, which can cause the reported financial results to be more sensitive to changes in currency rates than the other segments of the Company.

Foreign Currency

Albany International operates in many geographic regions of the world and has more than half of its business in countries outside the United States. A substantial portion of the Company’s sales are denominated in euros or other currencies. In some locations, the profitability of transactions is affected by the fact that sales are denominated in a currency different from the currency in which the costs to manufacture and distribute the products are denominated. As a result, changes in the relative values of U.S. dollars, euros and other currencies affect revenues and profits as the results are translated into U.S. dollars in the consolidated financial statements.

From time to time, the Company enters into foreign currency or other derivative contracts in order to enhance cash flows or to mitigate volatility in the financial statements that can be caused by changes in currency exchange rates.

Review of Operations

2005 vs. 2004

Total Company

Net sales increased to $978.7 million in 2005, as compared to $919.8 million for 2004. Changes in currency translation rates had the effect of increasing net sales by $15.1 million. Excluding the effect of changes in currency translation rates, 2005 net sales increased 4.8% as compared to 2004.

Following is a table of net sales for each business segment and the effect of changes in currency translation rates:


 
        
 
    
 
    
 
     Percent change
    

 
         Net sales as restated
December 31,
    
(in thousands)
         2005
     2004
     Increase in 2005
net sales due to changes in
currency translation rates
     As reported
     Excluding
currency
rate effect
Paper Machine Clothing
                 $ 732,919           $ 687,885            $12,395              6.5 %             4.7 %  
Applied Technologies
                    129,304              119,144              2,278              8.5 %             6.6 %  
Albany Door Systems
                    116,487              112,773              377               3.3 %             3.0 %  
Total
                 $ 978,710           $ 919,802            $15,050              6.4 %             4.8 %  
 

39



During the first quarters of 2005 and 2006, the Company revised certain components of its operating segments to be consistent with its internal financial reporting and management structure and to comply with Financial Accounting Standards No. 131. The Company’s Engineered Fabrics business line is now included in the Applied Technologies segment; in previous financial reports, this business line was included in the Paper Machine Clothing segment. Certain activities previously included in the Applied Technologies segment have been reclassified to the Paper Machine Clothing segment and certain product lines previously included in the Paper Machine Clothing segment have been reclassified to the Applied Technologies segment.

The following table presents the impact on 2005 net sales and operating income resulting from the 2006 revision to components of the operating segments:


 
         Net sales
     Operating income
    

 
         Year ended December 31, 2005
    
(in thousands)
         As reported
in 2005
annual report
     2006
Segment
change
     As
restated
     As reported
in 2005
annual report
     2006
Segment
change
     As
restated
Paper Machine Clothing
                 $ 741,628           $ (8,709 )          $ 732,919           $ 167,176           $ (2,190 )          $ 164,986   
Applied Technologies
                    120,595              8,709              129,304              18,356              2,190              20,546   
Albany Door Systems
                    116,487                            116,487              7,579                            7,579   
Unallocated expenses
                                                              (77,112 )                           (77,112 )  
Consolidated total
                 $ 978,710           $            $ 978,710           $ 115,999           $            $ 115,999   
 

The following table presents the impact on 2004 net sales and operating income resulting from the 2006 revision to components of the operating segments:


 
         Net sales
     Operating income
    

 
         Year ended December 31, 2004
    
(in thousands)
         As reported
in 2005
annual report
     Segment
change
     As
restated
     As reported
in 2005
annual report
     Segment
change
     As
restated
Paper Machine Clothing
                 $ 696,277           $ (8,392 )          $ 687,885           $ 99,257           $ (1,704 )          $ 97,553   
Applied Technologies
                    110,752              8,392              119,144              8,070              1,704              9,774   
Albany Door Systems
                    112,773                            112,773              3,516                            3,516   
Unallocated expenses
                                                              (70,339 )                           (70,339 )  
Consolidated total
                 $ 919,802           $            $ 919,802           $ 40,504           $            $ 40,504   
 

The following table presents the impact on 2004 net sales and operating income resulting from the 2005 revision to components of the operating segments:


 
         Net sales
     Operating income
    

 
         Year ended December 31, 2004
    
(in thousands)
         As reported
in 2004
annual report
     2005
Segment
change
     As reported
in 2005
annual report
     As reported
in 2004
annual report
     2005
Segment
change
     As reported
in 2005
annual report
Paper Machine Clothing
                 $ 740,824           $ (44,547 )          $ 696,277           $ 96,421           $ 2,836           $ 99,257   
Applied Technologies
                    66,205              44,547              110,752              11,558              (3,488 )             8,070   
Albany Door Systems
                    112,773                            112,773              3,516                            3,516   
Unallocated expenses
                                                              (70,991 )             652               (70,339 )  
Consolidated total
                 $ 919,802           $            $ 919,802           $ 40,504           $            $ 40,504   
 

Included in the reclassification of operating income resulting from the 2005 segment change are charges of $6.2 million for restructuring and $0.9 million for equipment relocation that were previously included in the Paper Machine Clothing segment, but are now included in the Applied Technologies segment.

Gross profit as a percentage of net sales was 40.1 percent in 2005, compared to 39.4 percent in 2004. The increase was due principally to higher sales and the benefits derived from cost-reduction initiatives completed in 2004. In the fourth quarter of 2005, gross profit as a percentage of net sales was negatively affected by increased material costs resulting from higher petroleum prices and lower prices for PMC in certain European markets.

Selling, general, technical and research expenses increased 3.2% in 2005 as compared to 2004. Excluding the effect of changes in currency translation rates, these costs increased 2.1%. In 2005, Selling and general expenses included $1.7 million of remeasurement gains at certain Company operations related to trade accounts receivable denominated in currencies other than their functional currency, while in 2004, the Company had remeasurement losses of $0.8 million. Excluding this additional effect, Selling, general, technical and research expenses increased 3.0 percent. The increase is partially due to increased compensation expense for amounts payable under the Company’s annual and long-term incentive bonus plans due to improved operating results and the increase in the share price of the Company’s common stock.

Following is a table of operating income and restructuring charges by segment:


 
         Years ended
December 31,
    
(in thousands)
         2005
     2004
Operating Income
                                         
Paper Machine Clothing
                 $ 164,986           $ 97,553   
Applied Technologies
                    20,546              9,774   
Albany Door Systems
                    7,579              3,516   
Research expense
                    (28,059 )             (27,436 )  
Unallocated expenses
                    (49,053 )             (42,903 )  
Operating income
                 $ 115,999           $ 40,504   
 
Restructuring Costs by Segment
                                         
Paper Machine Clothing
                 $            $ 46,497   
Applied Technologies
                                  6,152   
Albany Door Systems
                                  1,265   
Corporate and other
                                  144    
Consolidated total
                 $            $ 54,058   
 

40



Operating income increased to $116.0 million for 2005, compared to $40.5 million for 2004 which was after $54.1 million of restructuring costs. The increase was principally due higher sales in all segments, and benefits resulting from cost reduction initiatives.

In January 2003, the Company announced a cost reduction initiative that was part of a continuing effort to match manufacturing capacity to the global demand for paper machine clothing. The restructuring activities associated with this program were completed in 2004. Approximately 94% of cost reductions that resulted from this program were in the Paper Machine Clothing segment; the reductions principally affected Cost of goods sold.

The cost reduction initiative resulted in restructuring charges of $54.1 million in 2004 and $21.8 million in 2003. The charges include plant and equipment write-downs of approximately $13.5 million in 2004 and $12.7 million in 2003. The majority of these restructuring costs related to the shut-down of the Company’s Paper Machine Clothing segment facilities in South Carolina, France, the Netherlands and discontinuation of dryer fabrics manufacturing at the facility in Bury, England.

Research expense increased $0.6 million or 2.3 percent in 2005, principally due to professional fees associated with intellectual property. Unallocated expenses increased $6.2 million to $49.1 million in 2005 principally due to increases in corporate headquarters expense, including $2.8 million for the Company’s United States postretirement medical benefits program, and $3.1 million related to a long-term incentive plan that was adopted in 2005 (see Notes 13 and 15 of Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements). The increase in postretirement benefits was principally due to higher cost trend rates. In the fourth quarter of 2005, the Company made several modifications to its postretirement benefits program, including increases in the cost sharing provisions and increases in the monthly contribution of plan participants. The modifications had the effect of reducing the plan’s accumulated postretirement benefit obligation by $46.3 million, which will lower future costs of the plan in comparison to plan costs without the modifications.

Interest expense declined to $12.8 million for 2005 compared to $16.8 million for 2004, due to lower average debt and interest rates in 2004. During 2005, the Company’s interest rate swap agreements expired that had effectively fixed the interest rate on $200 million of debt to 7.17%. In October 2005, the Company entered into a $150 million borrowing facility with an average term of 10 years that carries a fixed interest rate of 5.34%. Proceeds from this borrowing were used to pay off the remaining balance under the Company’s principal revolving credit facility and cash was increased.

Other expense, net, was $4.7 million for 2005 compared to $13.5 million for 2004. The decrease in expense is primarily due to currency hedging activities and the remeasurement of short-term intercompany balances at operations that held amounts denominated in currencies other than their local currencies. In 2005, these transactions resulted in income of $2.5 million compared with expense of $1.6 million in 2004. The Company’s currency hedging strategy is aimed at mitigating volatility in the income statement that can be caused by sharp changes in currency exchange rates. The Company uses various derivative instruments, primarily currency forward contracts, in its currency hedging activities. Changes in fair value of derivative instruments that are designated and qualify for hedge accounting in accordance with FAS No. 133 are reported in Other comprehensive income, and not Other expense/(income, net). Additionally, the Company had write-offs in 2004 of an investment for $4.0 million and deferred financing fees for $0.9 million.

Income tax expense was $29.4 million in 2005 compared to $2.5 million in 2004, and the effective tax rate for the full year 2005 was 29.2 percent as compared to 19.9 percent in 2004. Income tax in 2005 includes $3.9 million of expense related to the repatriation of earnings outside the United States under the American Jobs Creation Act. Income tax in 2004 includes expense of $6.9 million for valuation allowances related to restructuring activities, and a tax benefit of $4.6 million related to the favorable resolution of discrete tax matters. The Company expects that the 2006 tax rate will not exceed 30%, before any discrete items.

Net income was $71.9 million for 2005, compared to $10.4 million for 2004. Basic earnings per share were $2.25 for 2005, compared to $0.32 for 2004 which was after restructuring charges of $1.16 per share. The increase in net income reflects increases in net sales and gross profit as percentage of net sales, and lower interest expense and other expense, net.

41



Paper Machine Clothing segment

Net sales in the Paper Machine Clothing segment increased to $732.9 million for 2005 as compared to $687.9 million for 2004. Changes in currency translation rates had the effect of increasing net sales by $12.4 million. Excluding the effect of changes in currency translation rates, 2005 net sales increased 4.7% as compared to 2004.

The increase in net sales is principally due to higher volume of PMC sales in comparison to 2004. Unit pricing of PMC was mixed by product line and by geographic regions. In the fourth quarter of 2005, unit pricing for PMC declined in certain European markets. The Company’s strategy for addressing pricing issues is to demonstrate the value its products provide to customers, such as better efficiency which reduces energy costs and improved quality of the paper products that are manufactured. The Company believes that its products should be priced in accordance with the value provided. This strategy has been successfully implemented in the Americas.

Gross profit as a percentage of net sales was 43.6% for 2005 compared to 43.2% for 2004. The increase in 2005 was principally due to higher sales and the benefits resulting from cost reduction initiatives. In the fourth quarter of 2005, gross profit as a percentage of sales was 40.3%. The decrease in relation to full year 2005 gross profit percentage is due to the pricing issue noted above and also due to increased material costs resulting principally from higher petroleum prices that had the effect of increasing fourth quarter cost of goods sold by approximately $5.2 million. The Company expects increased material costs to have a comparable, or even greater, impact on quarterly results during 2006.

Operating income was $165.0 million for 2005, compared to $97.6 million for 2004, which was after restructuring charges of $46.5 million. The improvement in operating income reflects higher net sales and gross profit as a percentage of net sales.

Applied Technologies segment

Net sales in the Applied Technologies segment increased to $129.3 million in 2005 as compared to $119.1 million for 2004. Changes in currency translation rates had the effect of increasing net sales by $2.3 million. Excluding the effect of changes in currency translation rates, 2005 net sales increased 6.6% as compared to 2004. The results within this segment demonstrate that there is an excellent opportunity for growth in new markets and new applications. The products within this segment build off the Company’s core strengths in advanced textiles and materials and have a higher growth rate potential than the PMC business. The Company will continue to invest in the businesses that demonstrate a sustainable basis for clearly superior performance in comparison to competitors’ products, and for attractive growth rates and returns on capital.

Gross profit as a percentage of net sales was 35.4% for 2005 compared to 33.6% for 2004. Operating income increased to $20.5 million for 2005 compared to $9.8 million for 2004, which included charges of $6.2 million for restructuring and $0.9 million for equipment relocation. Net sales and operating income increased in almost every product within this segment.

Albany Door Systems segment

Net sales in the Albany Door Systems segment increased to $116.5 million in 2005 as compared to $112.8 million for 2004. Changes in currency translation rates had the effect of increasing net sales by $0.4 million. Excluding the effect of changes in currency translation rates, 2005 net sales increased 3.0% as compared to 2004. High-performance door sales remained sluggish as customers’ capital spending did not increase significantly in Europe. Approximately 73% of the sales in this segment are in European markets and, accordingly, results are significantly impacted by European economies. The Company provides aftermarket service and parts for high-performance doors, and this revenue component grew to $37.6 million in 2005, compared to $34.9 million in 2004.

Gross profit as a percentage of net sales was 33.8% for 2005 compared to 32.8% for 2004. Operating income increased from $3.5 million in 2004 to $7.6 million in 2005. The improvement reflects higher sales and efficiency improvements at all segment operations.

42



2004 vs. 2003

Total Company

Net sales increased to $919.8 million in 2004, as compared to $887.9 million for 2003. Changes in currency translation rates had the effect of increasing net sales by $44.7 million. Excluding the effect of changes in currency translation rates, 2004 net sales decreased 1.4% as compared to 2003.

Following is a table of net sales for each business segment and the effect of changes in currency translation rates:


 
        
 
    
 
    
 
     Percent change
    

 
         Net sales as restated
Years ended December 31,
    
(in thousands)
         2004
     2003
     Increase in 2004
net sales due to changes in
currency translation rates
     As reported
     Excluding
currency
rate effect
Paper Machine Clothing
                 $ 687,885           $ 685,391            $31,051              0.4 %             –4.2 %  
Applied Technologies
                    119,144              101,221              5,120              17.7 %             12.6 %  
Albany Door Systems
                    112,773              101,331              8,498              11.3 %             2.9 %  
Total
                 $ 919,802           $ 887,943            $44,669              3.6 %             –1.4 %  
 

The following table presents the impact on 2003 net sales and operating income resulting from the 2006 revision to components of the operating segments:


 
         Net sales
     Operating income
    

 
         Year ended December 31, 2003
    
(in thousands)
         As reported
in 2005
annual report
     2006
Segment
change
     As
restated
     As reported
in 2005
annual report
     2006
Segment
change
     As
restated
Paper Machine Clothing
                 $ 693,349           $ (7,958 )          $ 685,391           $ 142,449           $ (1,335 )          $ 141,114   
Applied Technologies
                    93,263           $ 7,958              101,221              7,055              1,335               8,390   
Albany Door Systems
                    101,331                            101,331              (1,024 )                           (1,024 )  
Unallocated expenses
                                                              (62,866 )                           (62,866 )  
Consolidated total
                 $ 887,943           $            $ 887,943           $ 85,614           $            $ 85,614   
 

The following table presents the impact on 2003 net sales and operating income resulting from the 2005 revision to components of the operating segments that took place in the first quarter of 2005:


 
         Net sales
     Operating income
    

 
         Year ended December 31, 2003
    
(in thousands)
         As reported
in 2004
annual report
     2005
Segment
change
     As reported
in 2005
annual report
     As reported
in 2004
annual report
     2005
Segment
change
     As reported
in 2005
annual report
Paper Machine Clothing
                 $ 733,316           $ (39,967 )          $ 693,349           $ 143,439           $ (990 )          $ 142,449   
Applied Technologies
                    53,296              39,967              93,263              6,065              990               7,055   
Albany Door Systems
                    101,331                            101,331              (1,024 )                           (1,024 )  
Unallocated expenses
                                                              (62,866 )                           (62,866 )  
Consolidated total
                 $ 887,943           $            $ 887,943           $ 85,614           $            $ 85,614   
 

Included in the reclassification of operating income resulting from the 2005 segment changes are charges of $2.3 million for restructuring and $0.4 million for equipment relocation that were previously included in the Paper Machine Clothing segment, but are now included in the Applied Technologies segment.

Gross profit as a percentage of net sales was 39.4% for 2004 and 40.7% for 2003. The decrease was principally due to lower sales in the Paper Machine Clothing segment, excluding the effect of changes in currency translation rates. Gross profit as a percentage of sales was also negatively affected by the effect of changes in currency exchange rates on export sales. These sales are typically denominated in U.S. dollars, while the manufacturing costs are based mainly on currencies that strengthened against the U.S. dollar. In 2004, gross profit was lower by approximately $2.7 million as a result of the currency effect on these export sales. Despite those negative effects, cost reduction activities helped to generate a gross profit percentage that increased during the last six months of 2004.

Selling, general, technical and research expenses increased 5.4% in 2004 as compared to 2003. Excluding the effect of changes in currency translation rates, these costs decreased 0.6%. In 2004, Selling and general expenses included $0.8 million of remeasurement losses at certain Company operations related to trade accounts receivable denominated in currencies other than their functional currency, while in 2003, the losses were negligible. The fact that this category of expense was relatively flat excluding currency effects, means that the Company’s efficiency improvements offset sharp increases in Sarbanes-Oxley costs, as well nearly all other cost categories that were affected by general inflation.

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Following is a table of operating income and restructuring charges by segment:


 
         Year ended
December 31,
    
(in thousands)
         2004
     2003
Operating Income
                                         
Paper Machine Clothing
                 $ 97,553           $ 141,114   
Applied Technologies
                    9,774              8,390   
Albany Door Systems
                    3,516              (1,024 )  
Research expense
                    (27,436 )             (26,353 )  
Unallocated expenses
                    (42,903 )             (36,513 )  
Operating income
                 $ 40,504           $ 85,614   
 
Restructuring Costs by Segment
                                         
Paper Machine Clothing
                 $ 46,497           $ 15,908   
Applied Technologies
                    6,152              2,989   
Albany Door Systems
                    1,265              2,351   
Corporate and other
                    144               503    
Consolidated total
                 $ 54,058           $ 21,751   
 

Operating income decreased to $40.5 million for 2004, compared to $85.6 million for 2003. The decrease was principally due to higher restructuring costs in 2004, and the lower sales in the Paper Machine Clothing segment, excluding the effect of changes in currency translation rates. Changes in currency translation rates had the effect of increasing operating income by $2.1 million, while the effect of currency rates on U.S. dollar-denominated export sales decreased operating income by $2.7 million.

Research expense increased $1.1 million to $27.4 million in 2004, principally due to the effect of changes in currency translation rates. Unallocated expenses increased $6.4 million to $42.9 million in 2004 principally due to increases in corporate headquarters expense, including $2.2 million for the Company’s United States postretirement medical benefits program, and $2.4 million related to the restricted stock program (see Notes 13 and 15 of Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements). The increase in postretirement benefits was due to higher cost trend rates, while the increase in the cost of the restricted stock program was due to the program being initiated at the end of 2003.

Interest expense declined to $16.8 million for 2004 compared to $17.3 million for 2003, principally due to lower average debt in 2004. A significant portion of the Company’s interest expense was derived from interest rate swap agreements. Interest expense related to the swaps amounted to $10.0 million in 2004 and $10.4 million in 2003.

Other expense/(income), net, was expense of $13.5 million for 2004 and $0.7 million for 2003. The increase in expense is primarily due to currency hedging activities, and the remeasurement of short-term intercompany balances at operations that held amounts denominated in currencies other than their local currency. In 2004, these transactions resulted in expense of $1.6 million compared with income of $8.2 million in 2003. Additionally, in the first quarter of 2004, the Company recorded an impairment loss of $4.0 million representing the full value of the Company’s investment in an unaffiliated company.

Income tax expense was $2.5 million in 2004 compared to $15.7 million in 2003, principally due to lower income before tax. Income tax in 2004 includes expense of $6.9 million for valuation allowances related to restructuring activities, and a tax benefit of $4.6 million related to the favorable resolution of discrete tax matters. The results for 2003 include a tax benefit of $5.2 million for the favorable resolution of tax contingencies. Including the effect of these discrete tax items, the tax rate was 19.9% of pre-tax income in 2004, and 22.5% in 2003. The decrease in the tax rate was partially attributable to a change in the mix of the Company’s consolidated earnings.

Net income was $10.4 million for 2004, compared to $54.1 million for 2003. Basic earnings per share were $0.32 for 2004, compared to $1.64 for 2003. The decrease is principally due to higher restructuring charges in 2004. Restructuring charges reduced net income by $1.16 per share in 2004, compared to $0.46 per share in 2003. The decrease in net income was also affected by lower Paper Machine Clothing segment sales excluding changes in currency translation rates, and the income tax valuation allowances recorded in 2004.

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Paper Machine Clothing segment

Net sales in the Paper Machine Clothing segment increased to $687.9 million for 2004 as compared to $685.4 million for 2003. Changes in currency translation rates had the effect of increasing net sales by $31.1 million. Excluding the effect of changes in currency translation rates, 2004 net sales decreased 4.2% as compared to 2003. Pricing for products in this segment was generally flat, while overall volume decreased.

In 2004, global paper and paperboard manufacturers continued to produce more tons of product with fewer units of paper machine clothing. Several factors contributed to this trend, including enhanced PMC product performance that creates additional value for customers, more efficient paper machine operation as a result of industry consolidation and rationalization, and the practice by some paper manufacturers to run PMC products longer.

Gross profit as a percentage of net sales was 43.2% for 2004 compared to 44.3% for 2003. The decrease in 2004 was principally due to lower sales excluding the effect of changes in currency translation rates, and the currency effect on U.S. dollar-denominated export sales. Operating income decreased from $141.1 million in 2003 to $97.6 million in 2004, principally due to an increase of $30.6 million in restructuring charges, in addition to the same factors that affected gross profit.

Applied Technologies segment

Net sales in the Applied Technologies segment increased to $119.1 million in 2004 as compared to $101.2 million for 2003. Changes in currency translation rates had the effect of increasing net sales by $5.1 million. Excluding the effect of changes in currency translation rates, 2004 net sales increased 12.6% as compared to 2003. Filtration products for power generation plants, principally in Australia, and gains in tannery and textile markets in Asia and Latin America provided a large portion of the 2004 improvement in this segment.

Gross profit as a percentage of net sales was 33.6% for 2004 compared to 32.4% for 2003. The increase was principally due to higher sales. Operating income increased to $9.8 million compared to $8.4 million for 2003. Operating income in 2004 included charges for restructuring of $6.2 million and $0.9 million for equipment relocation, while operating income in 2003 included charges for restructuring of $3.0 million and equipment relocation of $0.4 million.

Albany Door Systems segment

Net sales in the Albany Door Systems segment increased to $112.8 million in 2004 as compared to $101.3 million for 2003. Changes in currency translation rates had the effect of increasing net sales by $8.5 million. Excluding the effect of changes in currency translation rates, 2004 net sales increased 2.9% as compared to 2003. High-performance door sales remained sluggish as increases in customers’ capital spending did not materialize. Approximately 77% of the sales in 2004 were in European markets and, accordingly, results were significantly impacted by European economies. The Company provides aftermarket service and parts for high-performance doors, and this revenue component grew to $34.9 million in 2004, compared to $29.7 million in 2003.

Gross profit as a percentage of net sales was 32.8% for 2004 compared to 32.0% for 2003. Operating income improved from a loss of $1.0 million in 2003 to income of $3.5 million in 2004. Approximately $1.1 million of the improvement was due to lower restructuring costs. Results for the full year were positively affected by efficiency improvements, new product development, and increases in aftermarket and service revenues, even though customers’ capital spending for high-performance door products was weak in major markets.

International Activities

The Company conducts more than half of its business in countries outside of the United States. As a result, the Company experiences transaction and translation gains and losses because of currency fluctuations. The Company periodically enters into foreign currency contracts to hedge this exposure (see Notes 6, 10 and 14 of Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements). The Company believes that the risks associated with its operations and locations outside the United States are not other than those normally associated with operations in such locations.

Liquidity and Capital Resources

The Company finances its business activities primarily with cash generated from operations and borrowings, primarily under the revolving credit agreement described in Note 6 of Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

45




and $150 million of long-term indebtedness to Prudential Securities. Company subsidiaries outside of the United States may also maintain working capital lines with local banks, but borrowings under such local facilities tend not to be significant.

Net cash provided by operating activities was $122.4 million for 2005, compared with $101.8 million for 2004, and $131.5 million for 2003. Cash used for restructuring was $4.3 million for 2005, $38.6 million for 2004 and $9.2 million for 2003. The decrease in net cash provided by operating activities from 2003 to 2004 was principally due to an increase of $29.4 million in cash used for restructuring charges.

Accounts receivable at December 31, 2005, decreased $12.7 million while inventories increased $8.9 million as compared to December 31, 2004. Excluding the effect of changes in currency translation rates, accounts receivable was almost unchanged while inventories increased a total of $17.2 million. The increase in inventories is partially due to an improvement in order backlog and also reflects building product coverage for certain customers.

The Company has a program whereby it may sell a portion of its North American accounts receivable to a qualified special purpose entity (QSPE). Additional data about this program is provided in Note 6 of Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements. This form of financing results in a lower current incremental cost of financing than the lowest rate on the Company’s revolving credit agreement, and it broadens the Company’s sources of financing. In exchange for the accounts receivable sold, the Company receives cash and a note. The note is subject to monthly fluctuation based on the amount of receivables sold and bears interest at variable rates. As of December 31, 2005, the interest rate was 4.9% per annum. The QSPE receives cash from an unrelated third party in exchange for an undivided ownership interest in the accounts receivable. As described under “Critical Accounting Policies and Assumptions”, in the event that the receivables program were terminated or sales to the QSPE discontinued, the Company would not be required to repay any amounts received, but would also not realize any cash proceeds from the collection of additional receivables sold under the program until the obligation to the third party was satisfied. Accounts receivable as reflected in the Consolidated Balance Sheets would increase as new sales were made, and, after the QSPE’s obligations to the third party were satisfied, the note receivable would decrease as sold receivables were collected. These factors would result in a decrease in reported cash flow from operations beginning in the period of termination and continuing in subsequent periods until the sold receivables were collected. The Company might need to borrow from its existing credit facilities or use available cash to make up the difference in cash generated from accounts receivable until collections from new accounts not sold under the program begin to be received.

Including discrete income tax items, the effective tax rate for the full year 2005 was 29.2% as compared to 19.9% in 2004 and 22.5% in 2003. The Company currently anticipates its consolidated tax rate in 2006 will not exceed 30% before any discrete items, although there can be no assurance that this will not change.

At December 31, 2005, the Company’s order backlog was $511.5 million, a decrease of approximately 1.9% from the prior year-end. However, excluding the effect of changes in currency translation rates, order backlog increased 3.4% in 2005.

As discussed under “Industry Trends”, the paper industry has undergone major consolidation and capacity rationalization in recent years. Although sales in 2005 improved over 2004, there can be no assurances that paper industry consolidation and rationalization is complete. If industry consolidation and rationalization continue, it could have a negative impact on net sales as well as on cash flow from operations. The Company will continue to focus on improving the performance of its products in order to increase market share and improve its product mix and price structure, while at the same time exploring additional cost-saving opportunities. In any event, although historical cash flows may not, for all of these reasons, necessarily be indicative of future cash flows, the Company expects to continue to be able to generate substantial cash from sales of its products and services in future periods.

In October 2005, the Company closed on a $150 million borrowing from Prudential Capital Group. The principal is due in three installments of $50 million each at the end of years 8, 10 and 12 for an average life of 10 years, and the interest rate is fixed at 5.34 percent. Proceeds from the borrowing were used to pay down all $127 million of floating-rate indebtedness at the time outstanding under the Company’s existing credit facility. The covenants under this agreement are effectively the same as under the Company’s revolving credit agreement. The borrowing was arranged directly between the Company and Prudential Capital Group and total costs associated with securing this financing were less than $100,000. The new borrowing further strengthens the Company’s balance

46




sheet and provides the Company with the financial flexibility to pursue shareholder value initiatives. These initiatives include the ability to make investments in existing businesses as well as the ability to repurchase shares of the Company’s stock. Business investments may take the form of increased capital expenditures in the Paper Machine Clothing segment as well as strategic acquisitions to provide growth in other businesses in which the Company has a sustainable competitive advantage.

In January 2004, the Company entered into an unsecured five-year $460 million revolving credit agreement with a group of banks. Under the agreement, the Company pays a fee of 0.25% on the unused portion of the commitment, and pays interest, at variable rates based on LIBOR, plus a spread, on the drawn portion. The spread is determined by the Company’s leverage ratio, as defined in the agreement. The agreement includes a number of covenants that could limit the Company’s ability to purchase Common Stock, pay dividends, acquire other companies or dispose of its assets, and also requires the Company to maintain a leverage ratio of not greater than 3.00 to 1.00, and a minimum interest coverage of at least 3.00 to 1.00. As of December 31, 2005, the Company’s leverage ratio was 0.61 to 1.00 and its interest coverage ratio was 13.45 to 1.00. The Company may purchase its Common Stock or pay dividends to the extent its leverage ratio remains at or below 2.25 to 1.00, and may make acquisitions provided its leverage ratio would not exceed 2.50 to 1.00 after giving pro forma effect to the acquisition. If any bank in the lending group is unable to meet its commitment to lend, the Company may be unable to borrow the full amount. The Company does not expect that any of the banks in the bank group will be unable to meet their commitments. The Company’s ability to borrow additional amounts under the credit agreement is conditional upon the absence of any defaults as well as the absence of any material adverse change. Total Debt as defined in this credit agreement with banks declined $72.0 million for 2005. Based on the maximum leverage ratio and the Company’s consolidated EBITDA (as defined in the agreement) for 2005, as of December 31, 2005, the Company would have been able to borrow an additional $410 million under the loan agreement. The Company also had short-term indebtedness of $7.2 million at December 31, 2005.

The Company is the owner and beneficiary of life insurance policies on certain present and former employees. The Company reports the cash surrender value of life insurance, net of any outstanding loans, as a separate noncurrent asset. The year-end cash surrender value of life insurance policies was $37.8 million in 2005, $34.6 million in 2004, and $32.4 million in 2003. The rate of return on the policies varies with market conditions and was approximately 6.3% in 2005, 7.7% in 2004, and 8.2% in 2003. The Company may convert the cash surrender value of these policies to cash at any time, by either surrendering the policies or borrowing against the cash value of the policies.

Capital expenditures were $43.3 million in 2005, $57.1 million in 2004, and $51.8 million in 2003. Capital expenditures in 2003 and 2004 included amounts related to a new facility in France as well as capacity and efficiency improvements at the Company’s plant in Finland.

In January 2006, the Company announced a major strategic investment program for paper machine clothing growth. Approximately $150 million will be invested over the next four years in the construction of a new PMC manufacturing facility in China, in additional forming fabric capacity in Korea and Brazil, and in additional dryer fabric capacity at the Company’s existing plant in Panyu, China. The new facility in China will serve as the headquarters of the Company’s Pacific Business Corridor and will house world-class manufacturing operations for forming and press fabrics. These investments reflect the Company’s commitment not only to reinvest in its core business, but also to preserve and extend its market leadership.

The Company currently expects that capital expenditures for ongoing operations will be approximately $50 million per year in 2006, 2007, and 2008. Additionally, the Company expects that approximately $40 million of the $150 million PMC investment program will be incurred in 2006. The balance of that investment will occur over the following three years, with the largest impact in 2007. As with previous capital spending, the Company expects to fund future capital spending from cash from operations and existing credit facilities.

The Company also announced the strategic acquisition of Texas Composite Inc., a designer and manufacturer of lightweight, high-strength composite structures for aerospace applications. The acquisition will complement the Company’s existing strength in advanced composites and will accelerate growth in the aerospace market. While the current investment is likely to be neutral to slightly dilutive to earnings in 2006, the Company expects it to be accretive in 2007. The purchase is expected to be completed in two separate transactions; the first step was in

47




January 2006 and the second is expected to occur before year-end 2006. The acquisition reflects management’s confidence that the Company’s proprietary technology in advanced composites represents a sustainable basis for long-term competitive advantage.

Cash dividends per share increased from $0.25 in 2003 to $0.30 in 2004 to $0.34 in 2005. Accrued dividends as of December 31, 2005 and 2004, were $2.9 million and $2.5 million, respectively. Dividends have been declared each quarter since the fourth quarter of 2001. Decisions with respect to whether a dividend will be paid, and the amount of the dividend, are made by the Board of Directors each quarter. To the extent the Board declares cash dividends in the future, the Company would expect to pay such dividends out of operating cash flow. Future cash dividends will be dependent on debt covenants and on the Board’s assessment of the Company’s ability to generate sufficient cash flows.

In January 1998 and November 2004, the Board authorized the purchase of 3,000,000 and 1,000,000 shares, respectively, of Class A Common Stock, in the open market or otherwise, at such prices as management may from time to time consider to be advantageous to the Company’s shareholders. The Company purchased 2,997,873 shares of its Class A Common Stock under these authorizations and remained authorized to purchase an additional 1,002,127 shares. In December 2005, the Board increased the number of shares that could be purchased to 3,500,000. No additional shares were purchased between the time of this new authorization and December 31, 2005. The Board’s action authorizes management to purchase shares from time to time, in the open market or otherwise, whenever it believes the available price makes such purchase advantageous to the Company’s shareholders. In January 2006, the Company purchased 663,700 shares at a cost of $36.20 per share. After this purchase was completed, management remained authorized to purchase an additional 2,836,300 shares of its Class A Common Stock.

As of December 31, 2005, the Company had accrued restructuring liabilities of $3.6 million. The Company anticipates that cash payments for restructuring will be approximately $3.0 million in 2006, $0.6 million thereafter.

As of December 31, 2005, the Company had the following cash flow obligations:


 
         Payments Due by Period
    
(in millions)
         Total
     Less than
One year
     One to
Three years
     Three to
Five years
     After
Five years
Total debt
                 $ 169.8           $ 7.2           $ 12.4           $ 0.2           $ 150.0   
Interest payments (a)
                    81.4              8.9              16.5              16.0              40.0   
Pension plan contributions (b)
                    26.5              26.5                                             
Other postretirement benefits (c)
                    33.4              5.7              12.8              14.9                 
Restructuring accruals
                    3.6              3.0              0.5              0.1                 
Other noncurrent liabilities (d)
                                                                               
Operating leases
                    32.6              13.0              16.2              3.3              0.1   
 
                 $ 347.3           $ 64.3           $ 58.4           $ 34.5           $ 190.1   
 


(a)
  The terms of variable rate debt arrangements, including interest rates and maturities, are included in Note 6 of Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.

(b)
  The Company’s largest pension plan is in the United States. Although no contributions are currently required, the Company’s planned contribution of $20 million in 2006 is included in this schedule and, additionally, $6.5 million is included for plans outside of the United States. The amount of contributions after 2006 is subject to many variables, including return of pension plan assets, interest rates, and tax and employee benefit laws. Therefore, contributions beyond 2006 are not included in this schedule.

(c)
  Estimated payments for Other postretirement benefits for the next five years is based on the assumption that employer cash payments will increase by 8% after 2006. No estimate of the payments after five years has been provided due to many uncertainties.

(d)
  Estimated payments for deferred compensation and other noncurrent liabilities of $17.5 million are not included in this table due to the uncertain timing of the ultimate cash settlement.

48



The foregoing table should not be deemed to represent all of the Company’s future cash requirements, which will vary based on the Company’s future needs. While the cash required to satisfy the obligations set forth in the table is reasonably determinable in advance, many other cash needs such as raw materials costs, payroll and taxes are dependent on future events and are harder to predict. In addition, while the contingencies described in Note 7 of Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements are not currently anticipated to have a material adverse effect on the Company, there can be no assurance that this will be the case. Subject to the foregoing, the Company currently expects that cash from operations and the other sources of liquidity described above will be sufficient to enable it to meet the foregoing cash obligations, as well as to meet its other cash requirements.

Recent Accounting Pronouncements

In November 2004, the FASB issued FAS No. 151, “Inventory Costs, an amendment of ARB No. 43, Chapter 4.” This Standard requires that items such as idle facility expense and excess spoilage be recognized as current period charges. Under ARB No. 43, such costs were considered inventoriable costs unless they were considered so abnormal as to require immediate expensing. The Company is required to adopt the Standard on January 1, 2006, and does not expect the adoption to have a material effect on its financial statements.

In December 2004, the FASB issued FAS No. 123 (Revised) “Share-Based Payment” (FAS No. 123R). This Standard establishes accounting guidelines for transactions in which an entity exchanges its equity instruments for goods or services. The Standard focuses primarily on accounting for transactions in which an entity obtains employee services in share-based payment transactions. In April 2005, the Securities and Exchange Commission amended Regulation S-X to amend the date for compliance with FAS No. 123R, “Share-Based Payment” to fiscal years beginning on or after June 15, 2005. FAS 123R also requires that certain tax benefits resulting from stock options be classified in the Statement of Cash Flows as financing activities, instead of the current classification of operating activities. The Company is required to adopt the provisions of this Standard on January 1, 2006, and will use the modified prospective transition method. Accordingly, the Company will recognize share-based compensation expense over the requisite service period of the awards. The Company expects that the adoption of this Standard will result in additional compensation expense for unvested options that were granted prior to 2003 of approximately $1.7 million in 2006, $0.9 million in 2007, and $0.2 million per year from 2008 to 2017.

In May 2005, the FASB issued FAS No. 154, “Accounting Changes and Error Corrections — a replacement of APB Opinion No. 20 and FAS Statement No. 3”. This Standard requires retrospective application to prior periods’ financial statements of changes in accounting principle, unless it is impracticable to determine either the period-specific effects or the cumulative effect of the change. This Standard also requires that retrospective application of a change in accounting principle be limited to the direct effects of the change. Indirect effects of a change in accounting principle, such as a change in nondiscretionary profit-sharing payments resulting from an accounting change, should be recognized in the period of the accounting change. In addition, this Standard requires that a change in depreciation, amortization, or depletion method for long-lived, nonfinancial assets be accounted for as a change in accounting estimate affected by a change in accounting principle. The Company adopted the Standard on December 15, 2005, and it did not have any effect on its financial statements.

In February 2006, the FASB issued FAS No. 155, “Accounting for Certain Hybrid Financial Instruments, an amendment of FASB statements No. 133 and 140” (FAS No. 155). This Standard resolves and clarifies the accounting and reporting for certain financial instruments including, hybrid financial instruments with embedded derivatives, interest-only strips, and securitized financial instruments. FAS No. 155 is effective for all financial instruments acquired or issued after the beginning of an entity’s first fiscal year that begins after September 15, 2006. The Company will be required to adopt this Standard on January 1, 2007 and has not determined the effect that adopting FAS No. 155 will have on the financial statements.

Outlook

The strong cash flow and the sales gains in both PMC and the emerging businesses during 2005 appear to validate the Company’s focus on growth. European PMC pricing will continue to pressure margins through the next few quarters, even as the management team works to improve pricing in European markets.

The Company expects margins to improve gradually later in 2006 as a number of internal initiatives begin to take hold, but the impact of increased material costs due to higher petroleum prices, which decreased the

49




Company’s income during the fourth quarter of 2005, is expected to continue for the foreseeable future. In addition, net sales and operating income are expected to be reduced in 2006 by approximately $8 million and $3 million, respectively, due to an anticipated change in inventory practices associated with a major customer.

Longer term, the announced capital investments in the Paper Machine Clothing on Applied Technologies segments are essential to plans for strategic growth. The growth in paper and paperboard in Asia, especially in China, requires world-class support. The new operations in Asia will provide the strongest local supply base of PMC products available to the industry. The Company expects this investment will fuel significant long-term growth in PMC.

The investment in Texas Composite Inc. enhances the Company’s capability to serve the aerospace industry with high-value composite structures. The Company’s emerging strength in aerospace composites offers the potential for significant growth in profit and cash flows, especially beginning in 2010, and represents an important first step in the evolution of Albany International into a family of advanced textiles and materials-based businesses.

Non-GAAP Measures

This Form 10-K contains certain items that may be considered non-GAAP financial measures. Such measures are provided because management believes that, when presented together with the GAAP items to which they relate, they can provide additional useful information to investors regarding the registrant’s financial condition, results of operations and cash flows.

The effect of changes in currency translation rates is calculated by converting amounts reported in local currencies into U.S. dollars at the exchange rate of a prior period. That amount is then compared to the U.S. dollar amount reported in the current period.

Forward-Looking Statements and non-GAAP measures

This annual report and the documents incorporated or deemed to be incorporated by reference in this annual report contain statements concerning our future results and performance and other matters that are “forward-looking” statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”). The words “believe,” “expect,” “anticipate,” “intend,” “plan,” “project,” “may,” “will” and variations of such words or similar expressions are intended, but are not the exclusive means, to identify forward-looking statements. Because forward-looking statements are subject to risks and uncertainties, actual results may differ materially from those expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements.

•  There are a number of risks, uncertainties and other important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from the forward-looking statements, including, but not limited to:

•  conditions in the industry in which the Company’s Paper Machine Clothing segment competes or in the papermaking industry in general, along with general risks associated with economic downturns;

•  failure to remain competitive in the industry in which the Company’s Paper Machine Clothing segment competes;

•  failure to receive the benefits from the Company’s capital expenditures and investments; and

•  other risks and uncertainties detailed from time to time in the Company’s filings with the SEC.

Further information concerning important factors that could cause actual events or results to be materially different from the forward-looking statements can be found in the “Risk Factors,” “Industry Trends” and “Challenges, Risks and Opportunities” sections of this annual report. Although the Company believes the expectations reflected in the Company’s forward-looking statements are based upon reasonable assumptions, it is not possible to foresee or identify all factors that could have a material and negative impact on future performance. The forward-looking statements included or incorporated by reference in this annual report are made on the basis of management’s assumptions and analyses, as of the time the statements are made, in light of their experience and perception of historical conditions, expected future developments and other factors believed to be appropriate under the circumstances.

50



Except as otherwise required by the federal securities laws, the Company disclaims any obligations or undertaking to publicly release any updates or revisions to any forward-looking statement contained or incorporated by reference in this offering memorandum to reflect any change in the Company’s expectations with regard thereto or any change in events, conditions or circumstances on which any such statement is based.

51


Exhibit 99.2

Form 10-K, Item 8.    FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND SUPPLEMENTARY DATA

INDEX TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm
                    53    
Consolidated Statements of Income and Retained Earnings for the years ended December 31, 2005, 2004, and 2003
                    55    
Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income for the years ended December 31, 2005, 2004, and 2003
                    56    
Consolidated Balance Sheets as of December 31, 2005 and 2004
                    57    
Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows for the years ended December 31, 2005, 2004, and 2003
                    58    
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
                    59    
Quarterly Financial Data
                    90    
 

52



Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm

To the Board of Directors and Shareholders of Albany International Corp.

We have completed integrated audits of Albany International Corp.’s 2005 and 2004 consolidated financial statements and of its internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2005, and an audit of its 2003 consolidated financial statements in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States). Our opinions, based on our audits, are presented below.

Consolidated financial statements and financial statement schedule

In our opinion, the consolidated financial statements listed in the accompanying index present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of Albany International Corp. and its subsidiaries at December 31, 2005 and 2004 and the results of their operations and their cash flows for each of the three years in the period ended December 31, 2005 in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America. In addition, in our opinion, the financial statement schedule (not separately presented herein ) presents fairly, in all material respects, the information set forth therein when read in conjunction with the related consolidated financial statements. The financial statement schedule appears under Item 15(a)(2) of the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2005. These financial statements and financial statement schedule are the responsibility of the Company’s management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on these financial statements and financial statement schedule based on our audits. We conducted our audits of these statements in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States). Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements are free of material misstatement. An audit of financial statements includes examining, on a test basis, evidence supporting the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements, assessing the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, and evaluating the overall financial statement presentation. We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinion.

Internal control over financial reporting

Also, in our opinion, management’s assessment, included in Management’s Report on Internal Control over Financial Reporting (not separately presented herein ), that the Company maintained effective internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2005 based on criteria established in Internal Control — Integrated Framework issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission (COSO), is fairly stated, in all material respects, based on those criteria. Management’s Report on Internal Control over Financial Reporting appears under Item 9A of the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2005. Furthermore, in our opinion, the Company maintained, in all material respects, effective internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2005, based on criteria established in Internal Control — Integrated Framework issued by the COSO. The Company’s management is responsible for maintaining effective internal control over financial reporting and for its assessment of the effectiveness of internal control over financial reporting. Our responsibility is to express opinions on management’s assessment and on the effectiveness of the Company’s internal control over financial reporting based on our audit. We conducted our audit of internal control over financial reporting in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States). Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether effective internal control over financial reporting was maintained in all material respects. An audit of internal control over financial reporting includes obtaining an understanding of internal control over financial reporting, evaluating management’s assessment, testing and evaluating the design and operating effectiveness of internal control, and performing such other procedures as we consider necessary in the circumstances. We believe that our audit provides a reasonable basis for our opinions.

53



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

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

/s/  PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP
Albany, New York
March 1, 2006, except as to the change in operating segments described in Notes 1 and 12
which is as of May 26, 2006

54



Albany International Corp.

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME AND RETAINED EARNINGS
For the years ended December 31,
(in thousands, except per share amounts)


 
         2005
     2004
     2003
Statements of Income
                                                         
Net sales
                 $ 978,710           $ 919,802           $ 887,943   
Cost of goods sold
                    586,700              557,742              526,757   
Gross profit
                    392,010              362,060              361,186   
 
Selling and general expenses
                    217,242              210,348              198,610   
Technical and research expenses
                    58,769              57,150              55,211   
Restructuring, net
                                  54,058              21,751   
Operating income
                    115,999              40,504              85,614   
 
Interest income
                    (2,256 )             (2,150 )             (2,232 )  
Interest expense
                    12,839              16,786              17,306   
Other expense, net
                    4,653              13,539              662    
Income before income taxes
                    100,763              12,329              69,878   
 
Income taxes
                    29,420              2,450              15,720   
Income before equity in earnings/(losses) of associated companies
                    71,343              9,879              54,158   
 
Equity in earnings/(losses) of associated companies
                    509              506               (103 )  
Net income
                    71,852              10,385              54,055   
 
Retained Earnings
                                                         
Retained earnings, beginning of year
                    434,057              433,407              387,609   
Less dividends
                    10,891              9,735              8,257   
Retained earnings, end of year
                 $ 495,018           $ 434,057           $ 433,407   
Earnings per share:
                                                                     
Basic
                 $ 2.25           $ 0.32           $ 1.64   
Diluted
                 $ 2.22           $ 0.31           $ 1.61   
 
Dividends per share
                 $ 0.34           $ 0.30           $ 0.25   
 

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

55



Albany International Corp.

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF COMPREHENSIVE INCOME
For the years ended December 31,
(in thousands)


 
         2005
     2004
     2003
Net income
                 $ 71,852           $ 10,385           $ 54,055   
 
Other comprehensive (loss)/income, before tax:
                                                         
Foreign currency translation adjustments
                    (61,151 )             52,933              81,935   
Hedges of net investments in non-U.S. subsidiaries
                    2,717              1,537              (235 )  
Pension liability adjustments
                    (1,448 )             (70 )             (5,668 )  
Derivative valuation adjustment
                    4,566              9,926              7,084   
 
Income taxes related to items of other comprehensive (loss)/income:
                                                         
Hedges of net investments in non-U.S. subsidiaries
                    (1,060 )             (569 )             87    
Pension liability adjustments
                    (523 )             1,280              2,052   
Derivative valuation adjustment
                    (1,781 )             (3,871 )             (2,331 )  
Other comprehensive (loss)/income, after tax
                    (58,680 )             61,166              82,924   
Comprehensive income
                 $ 13,172           $ 71,551           $ 136,979   
 

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

56



Albany International Corp.

CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
At December 31,
(in thousands, except share data)


 
         2005
     2004
Assets
                                         
Current assets:
                                         
Cash and cash equivalents
                 $ 72,771           $ 58,982   
Accounts receivable, less allowance for doubtful accounts ($5,848 in 2005; $8,308 in 2004)
                    132,247              144,950   
Note receivable
                    17,827              18,955   
Inventories
                    194,398              185,530   
Prepaid expenses
                    7,892              8,867   
Deferred taxes
                    22,012              26,526   
Total current assets
                    447,147              443,810   
 
Property, plant and equipment, at cost, net
                    335,446              378,170   
Investments in associated companies
                    6,403              6,456   
Intangibles
                    12,076              14,207   
Goodwill
                    153,001              171,622   
Deferred taxes
                    75,875              87,848   
Cash surrender value of life insurance
                    37,778              34,583   
Other assets
                    19,321              19,064   
Total assets
                 $ 1,087,047           $ 1,155,760   
 
Liabilities
                                         
Current liabilities:
                                         
Notes and loans payable
                 $ 6,151           $ 14,617   
Accounts payable
                    36,775              40,870   
Accrued liabilities
                    116,395              122,771   
Current maturities of long-term debt
                    1,009              1,340   
Income taxes payable and deferred
                    14,793              29,620   
Total current liabilities
                    175,123              209,218   
 
Long-term debt
                    162,597              213,615   
Other noncurrent liabilities
                    144,905              147,268   
Deferred taxes
                    29,504              34,882   
Total liabilities
                    512,129              604,983   
 
Commitments and Contingencies
                                     
 
Shareholders’ Equity
                                         
Preferred stock, par value $5.00 per share; authorized 2,000,000 shares; none issued
                                     
Class A Common Stock, par value $.001 per share; authorized 100,000,000 shares; issued 34,176,010 in 2005 and 33,176,872 in 2004
                    34              33    
Class B Common Stock, par value $.001 per share; authorized 25,000,000 shares; issued and outstanding 3,236,476 in 2005 and 2004
                    3              3    
Additional paid-in capital
                    319,372              296,045   
Retained earnings
                    495,018              434,057   
Accumulated items of other comprehensive income:
                                                 
Translation adjustments
                    (71,205 )             (11,711 )  
Derivative valuation adjustment
                                  (2,785 )  
Pension liability adjustment
                    (40,340 )             (38,369 )  
 
                    702,882              677,273   
Less treasury stock, at cost
                    127,964              126,496   
Total shareholders’ equity
                    574,918              550,777   
Total liabilities and shareholders’ equity
                 $ 1,087,047           $ 1,155,760   
 

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

57



Albany International Corp.

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
For the years ended December 31,
(in thousands)


 
         2005
     2004
     2003
Operating Activities
                                                         
Net income
                 $ 71,852           $ 10,385           $ 54,055   
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities:
                                                         
Equity in (earnings)/losses of associated companies
                    (509 )             (506 )             103    
Depreciation
                    51,339              51,843              51,003   
Amortization
                    4,106              3,372              5,091   
Provision for deferred income taxes, other credits and
long-term liabilities
                    10,787              (16,652 )             (6,908 )  
Provision for write-off of equipment
                    2,827              17,099              14,671   
Provision for impairment of investment
                                  4,000                 
Increase in cash surrender value of life insurance
                    (2,171 )             (1,958 )             (1,998 )  
Change in unrealized currency transaction gains and losses
                    (4,520 )             8,004              (8,286 )  
Gain on disposition of assets
                                  (285 )             (513 )  
Shares contributed to ESOP
                    5,357              5,505              5,398   
Tax benefit of options exercised
                    3,469              1,473              2,289   
Changes in operating assets and liabilities:
                                                         
Accounts receivable
                    4,550              9,747              15,685   
Note receivable
                    1,128              2,859              (1,739 )  
Inventories
                    (17,155 )             642               3,171   
Prepaid expenses
                    2,285              (300 )             (894 )  
Accounts payable
                    (421 )             3,029              (4,544 )  
Accrued liabilities
                    (445 )             (5,518 )             12,457   
Income taxes payable
                    (5,617 )             9,638              (9,294 )  
Other, net
                    (4,490 )             (552 )             1,777   
Net cash provided by operating activities
                    122,372              101,825              131,524   
 
Investing Activities
                                                         
Purchases of property, plant and equipment
                    (43,293 )             (57,129 )             (51,849 )  
Purchased software
                    (2,533 )             (879 )             (1,072 )  
Proceeds from sale of assets
                    5,067              5,416              2,653   
Cash received from life insurance policy terminations
                                  863                  
Premiums paid for life insurance
                    (1,022 )             (1,089 )             (1,118 )  
Net cash used in investing activities
                    (41,781 )             (52,818 )             (51,386 )  
 
Financing Activities
                                                         
Proceeds from borrowings
                    176,430              68,005              45,833   
Principal payments on debt
                    (235,455 )             (60,724 )             (59,709 )  
Purchase of treasury shares
                    (1,576 )             (81,135 )                
Proceeds from options exercised
                    14,455              8,284              17,559   
Debt issuance costs
                                  (1,555 )                
Dividends paid
                    (10,489 )             (9,570 )             (7,692 )  
Net cash used in financing activities
                    (56,635 )             (76,695 )             (4,009 )  
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash flows
                    (10,167 )             7,848              (16,106 )  
Increase/(decrease) in cash and cash equivalents
                    13,789              (19,840 )             60,023   
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of year
                    58,982              78,822              18,799   
Cash and cash equivalents at end of year
                 $ 72,771           $ 58,982           $ 78,822   
 

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

58



Albany International Corp.

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

1.    Accounting Policies

Basis of Consolidation

The consolidated financial statements include the accounts of Albany International Corp. and its subsidiaries (the “Company”) after elimination of intercompany transactions. The Company has one subsidiary that is a qualified special purpose entity that is not consolidated, in accordance with Financial Accounting Standard (FAS) No. 140, “Accounting for Transfers and Servicing of Financial Assets and Extinguishment of Liabilities” (see Note 6). The Company has 50% interests in an entity in South Africa, an entity in England, and an entity in Russia. The consolidated financial statements include the Company’s original investment in these entities, plus its share of undistributed earnings or losses, in the account “Investments in associated companies.”

Estimates


The preparation of the consolidated financial statements in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America 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 consolidated financial statements and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting period. Actual results could differ from those estimates.

Revenue Recognition

The Company records sales when persuasive evidence of an arrangement exists, delivery has occurred, the selling price is fixed, and collectibility is reasonably assured. The Company includes in revenue any amounts invoiced for shipping and handling. The timing of revenue recognition is dependent upon the contractual arrangement between the Company and its customers. These arrangements, which may include provisions for transfer of title and guarantees of workmanship, are specific to each customer. Sales contracts in the Albany Door Systems segment may include product and installation services. For these sales, the Company applies the provisions of EITF 00-21, “Revenue Arrangements with Multiple Deliverables”. The Company’s contracts that include product and installation services generally do not qualify as separate units of accounting and, accordingly, revenue for the entire contract value is recognized upon completion of installation services. The Company limits the concentration of credit risk in receivables by closely monitoring credit and collection policies. The Company records allowances for sales returns as a deduction in the computation of net sales. Such provisions are recorded on the basis of written communication with customers and/or historical experience.

Cost of Goods Sold

Cost of goods sold includes the cost of materials, provisions for obsolete inventories, labor and supplies, shipping and handling costs, depreciation of manufacturing facilities and equipment, purchasing, receiving, warehousing and other expenses.

Selling, General and Technical Expenses

Selling, general and technical expenses are comprised primarily of wages, benefits, travel, professional fees, remeasurement of foreign currency balances and other costs, and are expensed as incurred. Provisions for bad debts are included in selling expense.

Translation of Financial Statements

Assets and liabilities of non-U.S. operations are translated at year-end rates of exchange, and the income statements are translated at the average rates of exchange for the year. Gains or losses resulting from translating non-U.S. currency financial statements are recorded in Other comprehensive income and accumulated in shareholders’ equity in the caption Translation adjustments.

59



Albany International Corp.

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS — (Continued)

1.    Accounting Policies — (Continued)

Gains or losses resulting from short-term intercompany loans and balances denominated in a currency other than the entity’s local currency, forward exchange contracts that are not designated as hedges for accounting purposes and futures contracts are generally included in income in Other expense/(income), net. Gains and losses on long-term intercompany loans not intended to be repaid in the foreseeable future are recorded in Other comprehensive income. Gains and losses resulting from other balances denominated in a currency other than the entity’s local currency are recorded in Selling and general expenses.

The following table summarizes total transaction gains and losses recognized in the income statement:

(in thousands)
         2005
     2004
     2003
(Gains)/losses included in:
                                                                     
Selling and general expenses
                 $ (1,690 )          $ 758                  
Other (income)/expense, net
                    (2,472 )             1,559              (8,218 )  
Total transaction (gains)/losses
                 $ (4,162 )          $ 2,317           $ (8,218 )  
 

Research Expense

Research expense consists primarily of compensation, supplies, and professional fees incurred in connection with intellectual property, and is charged to operations as incurred. Research expense was $28,059,000 in 2005, $27,436,000 in 2004, and $26,353,000 in 2003.

Cash and Cash Equivalents

Cash and cash equivalents consist of cash and highly liquid short-term investments with original maturities of three months or less.

Inventories

Inventories are stated at the lower of cost or market and are valued at average cost, net of reserves. The Company records a provision for obsolete inventory based on the age and category of the inventories. As of December 31, 2005 and 2004, inventories consist of the following:

(in thousands)
         2005
     2004
Raw materials
                 $ 33,559           $ 31,998   
Work in process
                    55,039              57,470   
Finished goods
                    105,800              96,062   
Total inventories
                 $ 194,398           $ 185,530   
 

Property, Plant and Equipment

Property, plant and equipment are recorded at cost. Depreciation is recorded using the straight-line method over the estimated useful lives of the assets for financial reporting purposes; accelerated methods are used for income tax purposes. Significant additions or improvements extending assets’ useful lives are capitalized; normal maintenance and repair costs are expensed as incurred. The cost of fully depreciated assets remaining in use are included in the respective asset and accumulated depreciation accounts. When items are sold or retired, related gains or losses are included in net income.

The Company reviews the carrying value of property, plant and equipment and other long-lived assets for impairment whenever events and circumstances indicate that the carrying value of an asset may not be recoverable from the estimated future cash flows expected to result from its use and eventual disposition.

60



Albany International Corp.

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS — (Continued)

1.    Accounting Policies — (Continued)

Goodwill, Intangibles and Other Assets

The Company accounts for goodwill and other intangible assets under the provisions of Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 142 (FAS No. 142), “Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets”. FAS No. 142 requires that goodwill and intangible assets with indefinite useful lives no longer be amortized, but instead tested for impairment at least annually. The Company performs the test for goodwill impairment during the second quarter of each year. Goodwill and other long-lived assets are reviewed for impairment whenever events, such as significant changes in the business climate, plant closures, changes in product offerings, or other circumstances indicate that the carrying amount may not be recoverable. The Company is continuing to amortize certain patents and trade names that have finite lives.

Patents, trade names and technology, at cost, are amortized on a straight-line basis over 8 to 12 years. Computer software purchased for internal use, at cost, is amortized on a straight-line basis over 5 years and is included in Other assets.

The Company has investments in other companies that are accounted for under either the cost method or equity method of accounting. The investment accounted for under the cost method was included in Other assets as of December 31, 2003. In 2004, the Company determined that investment to be impaired and, accordingly, recorded an impairment charge of $4,000,000 in Other expense, net, representing the full amount of the investment. Investments accounted for under the equity method are included in Investments in associated companies. The Company performs regular reviews of the financial condition of the investees to determine if its investment is other than temporarily impaired. If the financial condition of the investees were to no longer support their valuations, the Company would record an impairment provision.

Cash Surrender Value of Life Insurance

The Company is the owner and beneficiary of life insurance policies on certain present and former employees. The cash surrender value of the policies generates income that is reported as a reduction to Selling and general expenses. The rate of return on the policies varies with market conditions and was approximately 6.3% in 2005, 7.7% in 2004 and 8.2% in 2003. The Company may convert the cash surrender value of these policies to cash at any time by either surrendering the policies or borrowing against the cash value of the policies. The Company reports the cash surrender value of life insurance, net of any outstanding loans, as a separate noncurrent asset. As of December 31, 2005 and 2004, there were no outstanding loans.

Stock-Based Compensation

As described in Note 15, the Company has Stock-Based Compensation plans for key employees. Prior to 2003, the Company issued stock options to certain key employees. Stock options are accounted for in accordance with the prospective method of FAS No. 148, “Accounting for Stock-Based Compensation — an Amendment of FAS No. 123”. Under this method, the Company records compensation expense for any new options granted after December 31, 2002 or for changes to the terms of existing options. During 2003, 2004, and 2005 there were no stock option grants and no stock-based compensation expense was recorded. The Company is continuing to follow the pro forma disclosure requirements of FAS No. 123, “Accounting for Stock-Based Compensation” and FAS No. 148. Additionally, refer to Recent Accounting Pronouncements below.

In 2005, shareholders approved the Albany International 2005 Incentive Plan. The plan provides key members of management with incentive compensation based on achieving certain performance targets. The incentive compensation award is paid out over three years, partly in cash and partly in shares of Class A Common Stock. If a person terminates employment prior to the award becoming fully vested, the person will forfeit a portion of the incentive compensation award. In accordance with FASB Interpretation No. 28, “Accounting for Stock Appreciation Rights and Other Variable Stock Option or Award Plans”, expense associated with this plan is recognized over the vesting period which includes the year for which performance targets are measured and the two subsequent years.

61



Albany International Corp.

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS — (Continued)

1.    Accounting Policies — (Continued)

Derivatives

The Company uses derivatives to reduce potentially large adverse effects from changes in currency exchange rates and interest rates. The Company monitors its exposure to these risks and evaluates, on an ongoing basis, the risk of potentially large adverse effects versus the costs associated with hedging such risks.

The Company uses interest rate swaps in the management of interest rate exposures and foreign currency derivatives in the management of foreign currency exposure related to assets and liabilities (including net investments in subsidiaries located outside the U.S.) denominated in foreign currencies. When the Company enters into a derivative contract, the Company makes a determination whether the transaction is deemed to be a hedge for accounting purposes. For those contracts deemed to be a hedge, the Company formally documents the relationship between the derivative instrument and the risk being hedged. In this documentation, the Company specifically identifies the asset, liability, forecasted transaction, cash-flow, or net investment that has been designated as the hedged item, and evaluates whether the derivative instrument is expected to reduce the risks associated with the hedged item. To the extent these criteria are not met, the Company does not use hedge accounting for the derivative.

All derivative contracts are recorded in the balance sheet at fair value. For transactions that are designated as hedges, the Company performs an evaluation of the effectiveness of the hedge. To the extent that the hedge is effective, changes in the fair value of the hedge is recorded, net of tax, in Other comprehensive income. The Company measures effectiveness of its hedging relationships both at inception and on an ongoing basis. The ineffective portion of a hedge, if any, and changes in the fair value of a derivative not deemed to be a hedge, are recorded in Other expense, net.

For derivatives that are designated and qualify as hedges of net investments in subsidiaries located outside the United States, changes in the fair value of derivatives are reported in Other comprehensive income as part of the cumulative translation adjustment.

Income Taxes

The Company accounts for income taxes in accordance with the asset and liability method. Deferred income taxes are recognized for the tax consequences of temporary differences by applying enacted statutory tax rates applicable for future years to differences between financial statement and tax bases of existing assets and liabilities. The effect of tax rate changes on deferred taxes is recognized in the income tax provision in the period that includes the enactment date. A tax valuation allowance is established, as needed, to reduce net deferred tax assets to the amount expected to be realized. In the event it becomes more likely than not that some or all of the deferred tax asset allowances will not be needed, the valuation allowance will be adjusted.

It is the Company’s policy to accrue U.S. and non-U.S. income taxes on earnings of subsidiary companies that are intended to be remitted to the parent company in the near future.

The provision for taxes is reduced by tax credits in the years such credits become available.

Pension and Postretirement Benefit Plans

Substantially all employees are covered under Company or government-sponsored pension plans. The Company’s defined benefit pension plan in the United States was closed to new participants as of October 1998. The plans are generally trusteed or insured, and accrued amounts are funded as required in accordance with governing laws and regulations. The Company has provided certain postretirement medical, dental and life insurance benefits to certain retired United States retirees. Effective January 1, 2005, any new employees who wish to be covered under this plan will be responsible for the full cost of such benefits. The annual expense and liabilities recognized for defined benefit pension plans and postretirement benefit plans are developed from actuarial valuations. Inherent in these valuations are key assumptions, including discount rates and expected return on plan

62



Albany International Corp.

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS — (Continued)

1.    Accounting Policies — (Continued)

assets, which are updated on an annual basis at the beginning of each fiscal year. The Company considers current market conditions, including changes in interest rates, in making these assumptions. Discount rate assumptions are based on the population of plan participants and a mixture of high quality fixed income investments for which the average maturity approximates the average remaining service period of plan participants. The assumption for expected return on plan assets is based on historical and expected returns on various categories of plan assets.

Reclassifications

Certain reclassifications have been made to the prior years’ financial statements to conform to the current year presentation.

Earnings Per Share

Net income per share is computed using the weighted average number of shares of Class A Common Stock and Class B Common Stock outstanding during each year. Diluted net income per share includes the effect of all potentially dilutive securities (stock options). Dilutive common shares are calculated in accordance with the treasury stock method, which assumes that proceeds from the exercise of options are used to repurchase common stock at the average market value.

Operating Segments

In accordance with FAS No. 131, “Disclosures About Segments of an Enterprise and Related Information”, the internal organization that is used by management for making operating decisions and assessing performance is used as the source of the Company’s reportable segments. The operating segments, which are described in more detail in Note 12, are Paper Machine Clothing, Applied Technologies and Albany Door Systems. In 2005, the Company revised certain components of its operating segments to be consistent with changes to its management structure that were announced in the first quarter of 2005. In 2006, certain product lines were reclassified from the Paper Machine Clothing segment to the Applied Technologies segment to be consistent with a change to the 2006 internal reporting structure. Segment data included in Note 12 includes these reclassifications. The 2005 segment change had the effect of increasing net sales in the Applied Technologies segment, and decreasing net sales in the Paper Machine Clothing segment by $44,547,000 in 2004, and $39,967,000 in 2003. Also, as a result of the 2005 segment change, o perating income in the Applied Technologies segment was decreased by $3,488,000 in 2004 and increased by $990,000 in 2003, while operating income in the Paper Machine Clothing segment was increased by $2,836,000 in 2004 and decreased by $990,000 in 2003 as a result of the segment change. Unallocated expenses were reduced by $652,000 in 2004 as a result of the segment change.

The 2006 segment change had the effect of increasing net sales in the Applied Technologies segment, and decreasing net sales in the Paper Machine Clothing segment by $8,709,000 in 2005, $8,392,000 in 2004, and $7,958,000 in 2003. The 2006 segment change had the effect of increasing operating income in the Applied Technologies segment and decreasing operating income in the Paper Machine Clothing segment by $2,190,000 in 2005, $1,704,000 in 2004 and $1,335,000 in 2003.

Recent Accounting Pronouncements

In November 2004, the FASB issued FAS No. 151, “Inventory Costs, an amendment of ARB No. 43, Chapter 4.” This Standard requires that items such as idle facility expense and excess spoilage be recognized as current period charges. Under ARB No. 43, such costs were considered inventoriable costs unless they were considered so abnormal as to require immediate expensing. The Company is required to adopt the Standard on January 1, 2006 and does not expect the adoption to have a material effect on its financial statements.

In December 2004, the FASB issued FAS No. 123 (Revised) “Share-Based Payment” (FAS No. 123R). This Standard establishes accounting guidelines for transactions in which an entity exchanges its equity instruments for goods or services. The Standard focuses primarily on accounting for transactions in which an entity obtains employee services in share-based payment transactions. In April 2005, the Securities and Exchange Commission amended Regulation S-X to amend the date for compliance with FAS No. 123R, “Share-Based Payment” to fiscal years beginning on or after June 15, 2005. FAS 123R also requires that certain tax benefits resulting from stock options be classified in the Statement of Cash Flows as financing activities, instead of the current classification of operating activities. The Company is required to adopt the provisions of this Standard on January 1, 2006 and will use the modified prospective transition method. Accordingly, the Company will recognize share-based compensation expense over the requisite service period of the

63



Albany International Corp.

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS — (Continued)

1.    Accounting Policies — (Continued)

awards. The Company expects that the adoption of this Standard will result in additional compensation expense for unvested options that were granted prior to 2003 of approximately $1.7 million in 2006, $0.9 million in 2007, and $0.2 million per year from 2008 to 2017.

In May 2005, the FASB issued FAS No. 154, Accounting Changes and Error Corrections — a replacement of APB Opinion No. 20 and FAS Statement No. 3. This Standard requires retrospective application to prior periods’ financial statements of changes in accounting principle, unless it is impracticable to determine either the period-specific effects or the cumulative effect of the change. This Standard also requires that retrospective application of a change in accounting principle be limited to the direct effects of the change. Indirect effects of a change in accounting principle, such as a change in nondiscretionary profit-sharing payments resulting from an accounting change, should be recognized in the period of the accounting change. In addition, this Standard requires that a change in depreciation, amortization, or depletion method for long-lived, nonfinancial assets be accounted for as a change in accounting estimate affected by a change in accounting principle. The Company was required to adopt the Standard on December 15, 2005 and it did not have any effect on its financial statements.

In February 2006, the FASB issued FAS No. 155, “Accounting for Certain Hybrid Financial Instruments, an amendment of FASB statements No. 133 and 140” (FAS No. 155). This Standard resolves and clarifies the accounting and reporting for certain financial instruments including, hybrid financial instruments with embedded derivatives, interest-only strips, and securitized financial instruments. FAS No. 155 is effective for all financial instruments acquired or issued after the beginning of an entity’s first fiscal year that begins after September 15, 2006. The Company will be required to adopt this Standard on January 1, 2007 and has not determined the effect that adopting FAS No. 155 will have on the financial statements.

2.    Earnings Per Share

The amounts used in computing earnings per share and the weighted average number of shares of potentially dilutive securities are as follows:

(in thousands, except market price data)
         2005
     2004
     2003
Net income available to common shareholders
                 $ 71,852           $ 10,385           $ 54,055   
Weighted average number of shares:
                                                                 
Weighted average number of shares used in calculating basic net income per share
                    31,921              32,575              32,889   
Effect of dilutive stock-based compensation plans:
                                                                 
Stock options
                    433              599               622    
Long-term incentive plan
                    49                               
Weighted average number of shares used in calculating diluted net income per share
                    32,403              33,174              33,511   
Average market price of common stock used for calculation of dilutive shares
                 $ 34.33           $ 30.96           $ 27.13   
Net income per share:
                                                                 
Basic
                 $ 2.25           $ 0.32           $ 1.64   
Diluted
                 $ 2.22           $ 0.31           $ 1.61   
Option shares that were not included in the computation of diluted net income per share because to do so would have been antidilutive
                                                   
 

Total shares outstanding were 32,362,327 as of December 31, 2005, 31,409,196 as of December 31, 2004, and 33,595,376 as of December 31, 2003.

64



Albany International Corp.

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS — (Continued)

3.    Property, Plant and Equipment

The components of property, plant and equipment are summarized below:

(in thousands)
         2005
     2004
     Estimated useful life
Land and land improvements
                 $ 32,117           $ 35,520              25 years for improvements  
Buildings
                    184,046              208,268              25 to 40 years
Machinery and equipment
                    641,843              684,985              10 years
Furniture and fixtures
                    27,257              36,424              5 years
Computer and other equipment
                    7,089              7,567              3 to 10 years
Property, plant and equipment, gross
                    892,352              972,764               
Accumulated depreciation
                    (556,906 )             (594,594 )              
Property, plant and equipment, net
                 $ 335,446           $ 378,170               
 

Expenditures for maintenance and repairs are charged to income as incurred and amounted to $21,256,000 in 2005, $20,920,000 in 2004, and $19,078,000 in 2003.

Depreciation expense was $51,339,000 in 2005, $51,843,000 in 2004, and $51,003,000 in 2003. Capital expenditures were $43,293,000 in 2005, $57,129,000 in 2004, and $51,849,000 in 2003.

4.    Goodwill and Intangibles

Effective January 1, 2002, the Company adopted Statement of FAS No. 142, “Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets”. FAS No. 142 changed the accounting for goodwill from an amortization method to an impairment-only approach. As required by FAS No. 142, the Company performed its annual test for impairment during the second quarters of 2005, 2004, and 2003, and determined that there was no impairment of goodwill.

For purposes of applying FAS No. 142, the Company has determined that the reporting units are consistent with the operating segments identified in Note 12, Operating Segments and Geographic Data. Fair values of the reporting units and the related implied fair values of their respective goodwill were established using public company analysis and discounted cash flows.

The Company is continuing to amortize certain patents and trade names that have finite lives.

The changes in intangible assets and goodwill from January 1, 2004 to December 31, 2005, were as follows:

(in thousands)
         Balance at
December 31, 2004
     Amortization
     Currency
translation/other
     Balance at
December 31, 2005
Amortized intangible assets:
                                                                         
Patents
                 $ 3,341           $ (434 )          $ (151 )          $ 2,756   
Trade names
                    3,447              (618 )             (171 )             2,658   
Deferred pension costs
                    7,419                            (757 )             6,662   
Total amortized intangible assets
                 $ 14,207           $ (1,052 )          $ (1,079 )          $ 12,076   
Unamortized intangible assets:
                                                                         
Goodwill
                 $ 171,622                         $ (18,621 )          $ 153,001   
 

65



Albany International Corp.

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS — (Continued)

4.    Goodwill and Intangibles — (Continued)

(in thousands)
         Balance at
January 1, 2004
     Amortization
     Currency
translation/other
     Balance at
December 31, 2004
Amortized intangible assets:
                                                                         
Patents
                 $ 3,526           $ 544            $ 359            $ 3,341   
Trade names
                    3,769              581               259               3,447   
Deferred pension costs
                    8,495                            (1,076 )             7,419   
Total amortized intangible assets
                 $ 15,790           $ 1,125           $ (458 )          $ 14,207   
Unamortized intangible assets:
                                                                         
Goodwill
                 $ 159,543                         $ 12,079           $ 171,622   
 

The change in goodwill resulted entirely from the effect of changes in currency translation rates.

As of December 31, 2005, the remaining goodwill included $110,061,000 in the Paper Machine Clothing segment, $27,911,000 in the Albany Door Systems segment, and $15,029,000 in the Applied Technologies segment.

Estimated amortization expense for the years ending December 31, 2006 through 2010, is as follows:

Year
         Annual amortization
(in thousands)
2006
                 $ 1,100   
2007
                    1,100   
2008
                    1,100   
2009
                    1,100   
2010
                    500    
 

5.    Accrued Liabilities

Accrued liabilities consists of:

(in thousands)
         2005
     2004
Salaries and wages
                 $ 19,506           $ 15,670   
Accrual for compensated absences
                    15,461              14,361   
Employee benefits
                    13,481              13,000   
Pension liability — current portion (see Note 13)
                    26,533              27,693   
Postretirement medical benefits — current portion
                    5,726              7,644   
Interest rate swaps — current portion (see Note 6)
                                  4,565   
Returns and allowances
                    11,791              9,695   
Interest
                    1,689              1,204   
Restructuring costs — current portion (see Note 16)
                    2,997              9,189   
Dividends
                    2,910              2,510   
Other
                    16,301              17,240   
 
                 $ 116,395           $ 122,771   
 

66



Albany International Corp.

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS — (Continued)

6.    Financial Instruments

Notes and loans payable at December 31, 2005 and 2004 were short-term debt instruments with banks, denominated in local currencies with a weighted average interest rate of 1.35% in 2005 and 2.35% in 2004.

Long-term debt at December 31, 2005 and 2004, principally to banks and bondholders, consists of:

(in thousands)
         2005
     2004
October 2005 private placement with a fixed interest rate of 5.34%, due in years 2013 through 2017
                 $ 150,000                 
 
January 2004 credit agreement with borrowings outstanding at an average interest rate of 3.19% in 2004
                                  200,000   
 
Various notes and mortgages relative to operations principally outside the United States, at an average rate of 5.91% in 2005 and 5.81% in 2004, due in varying amounts through 2008
                    2,312              3,305   
 
Industrial revenue financings at an average interest rate of 6.89% in 2005 and 6.73% in 2004, due in varying amounts through 2009
                    11,294              11,650   
 
Long-term debt
                    163,606              214,955   
 
Less: current portion
                    (1,009 )             (1,340 )  
Long-term debt, net of current portion
                 $ 162,597           $ 213,615   
 

Including the effect of interest rate swaps, the weighted average interest rate for all debt was 5.93% in 2005 and 6.98% in 2004. The interest rate swaps expired in 2005.

Principal payments due on long-term debt are: 2006, $1,009,000; 2007, $11,234,000; 2008, $1,174,000; 2009, $189,000; 2010, none; and thereafter, $150,000,000.

Interest paid was $12,318,000 in 2005, $16,815,000 in 2004, and $17,398,000 in 2003.

In January 2004, the Company entered into an unsecured five-year $460,000,000 revolving credit agreement with a group of banks. Under the agreement, the Company pays a fee of 0.25% on the unused portion of the commitment, and pays interest, at variable rates based on LIBOR, plus a spread, on the drawn portion. The spread is determined by the Company’s leverage ratio, as defined in the agreement. The agreement includes a number of covenants that could limit the Company’s ability to purchase Common Stock, pay dividends, acquire other companies or dispose of its assets, and also requires the Company to maintain a leverage ratio of not greater than 3.00 to 1.00 and a minimum interest coverage of at least 3.00 to 1.00. As of December 31, 2005, the Company’s leverage ratio under the agreement was 0.61 to 1.00 and the interest coverage ratio was 13.45 to 1.00. The Company may purchase its Common Stock or pay dividends to the extent its leverage ratio remains at or below 2.25 to 1.00, and may make acquisitions provided its leverage ratio would not exceed 2.50 to 1.00 after giving pro forma effect to the acquisition. If any bank in the lending group is unable to meet its commitment to lend, the Company may be unable to borrow the full amount. The Company does not expect that any of the banks in the bank group will be unable to meet their commitments. The Company’s ability to borrow additional amounts under the credit agreement is conditional upon the absence of any defaults, as well as the absence of any material adverse change. Based on the maximum leverage ratio and the Company’s consolidated EBITDA (as defined in the agreement), as of December 31, 2005, the Company would have been able to borrow an additional $410,000,000 under the loan agreement.

During 2000 and 2001, the Company entered into swap agreements that hedged a portion of its interest rate exposure. Under the terms of the agreements, each party made payments on a notional amount of $200,000,000. The Company’s interest rate swaps qualified as cash flow hedges as defined in FAS No. 133, “Accounting for Derivative Instruments and Activities” and, accordingly, changes in the fair value were recognized in liabilities and

67



Albany International Corp.

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS — (Continued)

6.    Financial Instruments — (Continued)

Other comprehensive income. Included in Accrued liabilities for 2004 is $4,565,000, which represented the fair value of the swaps at that time. The liability recorded for interest rate swaps decreased $7,084,000 in 2003 and $9,926,000 in 2004.

The swap agreements had the effect of fixing the Company’s interest rate at 7.17% on $200,000,000 of debt. The total cost of the swap agreements of $3,663,000 in 2005, $10,024,000 in 2004, and $10,440,000 in 2003 was recorded as Interest expense.

In October 2005, the Company entered into a Note Agreement and Guaranty, with the Prudential Insurance Company of America and certain other purchasers, in an aggregate principal amount of $150,000,000. The notes bear interest at a rate of 5.34% and have a maturity date of October 25, 2017, with mandatory prepayments of $50,000,000 on October 25, 2013 and October 25, 2015. At the noteholders’ election, certain prepayments may also be required in connection with certain asset dispositions or financings. The notes may not otherwise be prepaid without a premium. The Note Agreement contains customary terms, as well as affirmative covenants, negative covenants and events of default comparable to those in the Company’s current principal revolving credit facility. Most of the proceeds from this borrowing facility were applied to pay down approximately $127,000,000 under the Company’s principal revolving credit facility. The covenants under this agreement are effectively the same as under the Company’s revolving credit agreement. Based on market conditions at December 31, 2005, and the fact that most of the Company’s fixed rate debt was borrowed in the fourth quarter of 2005, the fair value of debt approximates the recorded value.

The Company had open forward exchange contracts with a total unrealized gain of $1,050,000 and $946,000 at December 31, 2005 and 2004, respectively, that were included in Accounts receivable. For all positions there is risk from the possible inability of the counterparties (major financial institutions) to meet the terms of the contracts and the risk of unfavorable changes in interest and currency rates, which may reduce the benefit of the contracts. However, for most closed forward exchange contracts, both the purchase and sale sides of the Company’s exposures were with the same financial institution. The Company seeks to control risk by evaluating the credit-worthiness of counterparties and by monitoring the currency exchange and interest rate markets, hedging risks in compliance with internal guidelines and reviewing all principal economic hedging contracts with designated directors of the Company.

The Company has a program whereby it may sell a portion of its North American accounts receivable to a qualified special purpose entity (QSPE). This form of financing results in a lower current incremental cost of financing than the lowest rate on the Company’s revolving credit agreement, and it broadens the Company’s sources of financing. In exchange for the accounts receivable sold, the Company receives cash and a note. The note is subject to monthly fluctuation based on the amount of receivables sold and bears interest at variable rates. As of December 31, 2005, the interest rate was 4.90% per annum. In the event that the receivables program was terminated or sales to the QSPE discontinued, the Company would not be required to repay any amounts received, but would also not realize any cash proceeds from the collection of additional receivables sold under the program until the obligation to the third party was satisfied. Accounts receivable as reflected in the Consolidated Balance Sheets would increase as new sales were made, and, after the QSPE’s obligations to the third party were satisfied, the note receivable would decrease as sold receivables were collected. These factors would result in a decrease in reported cash flow from operations beginning in the period of termination and continuing in subsequent periods until the sold receivables were collected. The Company might need to borrow from its existing credit facilities or use available cash to make up the difference in cash generated from accounts receivable until collections from new accounts not sold under the program begin to be received.

68



Albany International Corp.

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS — (Continued)

6.    Financial Instruments — (Continued)

The following summarizes cash flows between the Company and the QSPE:

(in thousands, except interest rates)
         2005
     2004
     2003
Amounts included in the change in Accounts receivable in the Statements of Cash Flows:
                                                         
Proceeds from new securitizations
                 $ 411,127           $ 370,424           $ 371,957   
Amounts recognized in the Balance Sheets:
                                                         
Note receivable from QSPE at year end
                 $ 17,827           $ 18,955           $ 21,814   
Interest rate on note receivable from QSPE at year end
                    4.90 %             2.92 %             1.57 %  
Amounts recognized in the Statements of Income:
                                                         
Servicing fees received, included in Other expense, net
                 $ 35           $ 34            $ 37    
Discount expense, included in Other expense, net
                 $ 2,966           $ 2,566           $ 1,848   
 

The unconsolidated subsidiary receives cash from an unrelated third party in exchange for an undivided ownership interest in the accounts receivable. As of December 31, 2005, the unconsolidated subsidiary had assets of $18,920,000, consisting primarily of $65,932,000 of accounts receivables sold to it by the Company, net of $45,583,000 interest sold to the unrelated third party, and an allowance for doubtful accounts. As of December 31, 2005, the liabilities of the unconsolidated subsidiary were $17,884,000 consisting principally of the note payable to the Company, and equity was $1,036,000.

7.    Commitments and Contingencies

Principal leases are for machinery and equipment, vehicles, and real property. Certain leases contain renewal and purchase option provisions at fair values. There were no significant capital leases during 2005. Total rental expense amounted to $15,970,000, $15,619,000, and $19,032,000 for 2005, 2004, and 2003, respectively.

Future rental payments required under operating leases that have initial or remaining noncancelable lease terms in excess of one year, as of December 31, 2005 are: 2006, $13,043,000, 2007; $10,612,000, 2008; $5,629,000, 2009; $2,422,000, 2010; $883,000, and thereafter, $137,000.

In January 2006, the Company announced the acquisition of Texas Composite Inc. (TCI) for approximately $15 million in cash. TCI is a designer and manufacturer of lightweight, high-strength composite structures for aerospace applications and will be a component of the Applied Technologies segment. The acquisition is expected to be completed in two steps, the first step was in January 2006 and the second is expected to occur by the end of 2006. TCI will be consolidated into the Company’s results beginning with the first quarter of 2006.

Albany International Corp. (“Albany”) is a defendant in suits brought in various courts in the United States by plaintiffs who allege that they have suffered personal injury as a result of exposure to asbestos-containing products previously manufactured by Albany. Albany’s production of asbestos-containing paper machine clothing products was limited to certain synthetic dryer fabrics marketed during the period from 1967 to 1976 and used in certain paper mills. Such fabrics generally had a useful life of three to twelve months.

Albany was defending against 20,023 claims as of February 10, 2006. This compares with 24,451 such claims as of December 31, 2005, 24,406 claims as of October 21, 2005, 29,411 claims as of December 31, 2004, 28,838 claims as of December 31, 2003, 22,593 claims as of December 31, 2002, 7,347 claims as of December 31, 2001, 1,997 claims as of December 31, 2000, and 2,276 claims as of December 31, 1999. These suits allege a variety of lung and other diseases based on alleged exposure to products previously manufactured by Albany.

Albany anticipates that additional claims will be filed against it and the related companies in the future but is unable to predict the number and timing of such future claims. These suits typically involve claims against from twenty to over two hundred defendants, and the complaints usually fail to identify the plaintiffs’ work history or

69



Albany International Corp.

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS — (Continued)

7.    Commitments and Contingencies — (Continued)

the nature of the plaintiffs’ alleged exposure to Albany’s products. Pleadings and discovery responses in those cases in which work histories have been provided indicate claimants with paper mill exposure in less than 10% of total claims reported; and only a portion of those claimants have alleged time spent in a paper mill to which Albany is believed to have supplied asbestos-containing products.

As of February 10, 2006, approximately 14,378 of the claims pending against Albany are filed in various counties in Mississippi. This compares to 24,314 claims as of February 11, 2005, 23,569 claims as of February 13, 2004, and approximately 18,700 claims as of February 28, 2003.

Changes during 2004 in the application of procedural rules regarding the mass joinder of numerous asbestos claims in a single proceeding against numerous defendants have resulted in the dismissal of a number of claims pending against Albany in Mississippi. As the result of a 2004 ruling of the Mississippi Supreme Court, courts in counties throughout the State began to issue orders severing the individual claims of plaintiffs in mass joinder asbestos cases. Once severed, the courts are requiring the plaintiffs to file amended complaints which include more detailed information regarding their allegations of asbestos exposure, and have begun to dismiss or transfer improperly filed cases. As a consequence, a number of plaintiffs have voluntarily dismissed their claims. As to the plaintiffs filing amended complaints, these cases are being transferred to the proper counties within Mississippi, or, in limited instances, are being removed to federal court. The Company expects more of the remaining claims pending in Mississippi to be dismissed, amended or transferred; and that the only claimants remaining in Mississippi at the conclusion of this process will be those who are residents of, or who allege exposure to asbestos in, that State, and whose amended complaints satisfy the requirement for specific information regarding their exposure claims.

The Company expects that only a portion of these remaining claimants will be able to demonstrate time spent in a paper mill to which Albany supplied asbestos-containing products during a period in which Albany’s asbestos-containing products were in use. Based on past experience, communications from certain plaintiffs’ counsel and the advice of the Company’s Mississippi counsel, the Company expects the percentage of claimants with paper mill exposure in the Mississippi proceedings to be considerably lower than the total number of claims previously asserted. However, due to the fact that the effects of the mandate of the Mississippi Supreme Court are taking time to be fully realized, the Company does not believe a meaningful estimate can be made regarding the expected reduction in claims or the range of possible loss with respect to the remaining claims.

It is the position of Albany and the other paper machine clothing defendants that there was insufficient exposure to asbestos from any paper machine clothing products to cause asbestos-related injury to any plaintiff. Furthermore, asbestos contained in Albany’s synthetic products was encapsulated in a resin-coated yarn woven into the interior of the fabric, further reducing the likelihood of fiber release. While the Company believes it has meritorious defenses to these claims, it has settled certain of these cases for amounts it considers reasonable given the facts and circumstances of each case. The Company’s insurer, Liberty Mutual, has defended each case, and funded settlements under a standard reservation of rights. As of February 10, 2006, the Company had resolved, by means of settlement or dismissal, 18,577 claims. The total cost of resolving all claims was $6,426,000. Of this amount, $6,391,000, or 99%, was paid by the Company’s insurance carrier. The Company has more than $130 million in confirmed insurance coverage that should be available with respect to current and future asbestos claims, as well as additional insurance coverage that it should be able to access.

Brandon Drying Fabrics, Inc.

Brandon Drying Fabrics, Inc. (“Brandon”), a subsidiary of Geschmay Corp., is also a separate defendant in most of the asbestos cases in which Albany is named as a defendant. Brandon was defending against 9,564 claims as of February 10, 2006. This compares with 9,566 such claims as of December 31, 2005, 9,608 claims as of October 21, 2005, 9,985 claims as of December 31, 2004, 10,242 claims as of December 31, 2003, 11,802 claims as of December 31, 2002, 8,759 claims as of December 31, 2001, 3,598 claims as of December 31, 2000, and 1,887 claims as of December 31, 1999. The Company acquired Geschmay Corp., formerly known as Wangner Systems Corporation, in 1999. Brandon is a

70



Albany International Corp.

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS — (Continued)

7.    Commitments and Contingencies — (Continued)

wholly-owned subsidiary of Geschmay Corp. In 1978, Brandon acquired certain assets from Abney Mills (“Abney”), a South Carolina textile manufacturer. Among the assets acquired by Brandon from Abney were assets of Abney’s wholly-owned subsidiary, Brandon Sales, Inc. which, among other things, had sold dryer fabrics containing asbestos made by its parent, Abney. It is believed that Abney ceased production of asbestos-containing fabrics prior to the 1978 transaction. Although Brandon manufactured and sold dryer fabrics under its own name subsequent to the asset purchase, none of such fabrics contained asbestos. Under the terms of the Assets Purchase Agreement between Brandon and Abney, Abney agreed to indemnify, defend, and hold Brandon harmless from any actions or claims on account of products manufactured by Abney and its related corporations prior to the date of the sale, whether or not the product was sold subsequent to the date of the sale. It appears that Abney has since been dissolved. Nevertheless, a representative of Abney has been notified of the pendency of these actions and demand has been made that it assume the defense of these actions. Because Brandon did not manufacture asbestos-containing products, and because it does not believe that it was the legal successor to, or otherwise responsible for obligations of, Abney with respect to products manufactured by Abney, it believes it has strong defenses to the claims that have been asserted against it. In some instances, plaintiffs have voluntarily dismissed claims against it, while in others it has entered into what it considers to be reasonable settlements. As of February 10, 2006, Brandon has resolved, by means of settlement or dismissal, 7,183 claims for a total of $152,499. Brandon’s insurance carriers initially agreed to pay 88.2% of the total indemnification and defense costs related to these proceedings, subject to the standard reservation of rights. The remaining 11.8% of the costs had been borne directly by Brandon. During 2004, Brandon’s insurance carriers agreed to cover 100% of indemnification and defense costs, subject to policy limits and the standard reservation of rights, and to reimburse Brandon for all indemnity and defense costs paid directly by Brandon related to these proceedings.

Mount Vernon

In some of these asbestos cases, the Company is named both as a direct defendant and as the “successor in interest” to Mount Vernon Mills (“Mount Vernon”). The Company acquired certain assets from Mount Vernon in 1993. Certain plaintiffs allege injury caused by asbestos-containing products alleged to have been sold by Mount Vernon many years prior to this acquisition. Mount Vernon is contractually obligated to indemnify the Company against any liability arising out of such products. The Company denies any liability for products sold by Mount Vernon prior to the acquisition of the Mount Vernon assets. Pursuant to its contractual indemnification obligations, Mount Vernon has assumed the defense of these claims. On this basis, the Company has successfully moved for dismissal in a number of actions.


While the Company does not believe, based on currently available information and for the reasons stated above, that a meaningful estimate of a range of possible loss can be made with respect to such claims, based on its understanding of the insurance policies available, how settlement amounts have been allocated to various policies, its recent settlement experience, the absence of any judgments against the Company or Brandon, the ratio of paper mill claims to total claims filed, and the defenses available, the Company currently does not anticipate any material liability relating to the resolution of the aforementioned pending proceedings in excess of existing insurance limits. Consequently, the Company currently does not anticipate, based on currently available information, that the ultimate resolution of the aforementioned proceedings will have a material adverse effect on the financial position, results of operations or cash flows of the Company. Although the Company cannot predict the number and timing of future claims, based on the foregoing factors and the trends in claims against it to date, the Company does not anticipate that additional claims likely to be filed against it in the future will have a material adverse effect on its financial position, results of operations or cash flows. However, the Company is aware that litigation is inherently uncertain, especially when the outcome is dependent primarily on determinations of factual matters to be made by juries. The Company is also aware that numerous other defendants in asbestos cases, as well as others who claim to have knowledge and expertise on the subject, have found it difficult to anticipate the outcome of asbestos litigation, the

71



Albany International Corp.

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS — (Continued)

7.    Commitments and Contingencies — (Continued)

volume of future asbestos claims and the anticipated settlement values of those claims. For these reasons, there can be no assurance that the foregoing conclusions will not change.

Legislation has been introduced in the United States Senate that is intended to address asbestos litigation by creating a privately funded trust to provide compensation to persons injured as the result of exposure to asbestos. The Fairness In Asbestos Injury Resolution Act Of 2005 (“Fair Act”) was introduced on April 19, 2005 and approved by the Senate Judiciary Committee on May 26, 2005. If enacted into law, the Company would be required to make payments of up to $500,000 per year for up to 30 years to the privately funded, publicly administered trust fund. The payments would not be covered by any of the Company’s insurance policies. After floor debate in February 2006, a procedural vote to move the Fair Act closer to a vote failed, and its future is uncertain. A number of Senators have spoken publicly of alternative legislation. The Company cannot predict whether the Fair Act, or any asbestos legislation, will ultimately be enacted into law.

8.    Other Noncurrent Liabilities

Other noncurrent liabilities consists of:

(in thousands)
         2005
     2004
Pension liabilities
                 $ 54,194           $ 56,206   
Postretirement benefits other than pensions
                    73,233              65,264   
Deferred compensation (Note 15)
                    5,681              9,434   
Other
                    11,797              16,364   
 
                 $ 144,905           $ 147,268   
 

9.    Shareholders’ Equity

The Company has two classes of Common Stock, Class A Common Stock and Class B Common Stock, each with a par value of $.001 and equal liquidation rights. Each share of the Company’s Class A Common Stock is entitled to one vote on all matters submitted to shareholders, and each share of Class B Common Stock is entitled to ten votes. Class A and Class B Common Stock will receive equal dividends as the Board of Directors may determine from time to time. The Class B Common Stock is convertible into an equal number of shares of Class A Common Stock at any time. At December 31, 2005, 4,738,597 shares of Class A Common Stock were reserved for the conversion of Class B Common Stock and the exercise of stock options.

In January 1998 and November 2004, the Board authorized the purchase of 3,000,000 and 1,000,000 shares, respectively, of Class A Common Stock, in the open market or otherwise, at such prices as management may from time to time consider to be advantageous to the Company’s shareholders. The Company purchased 2,997,873 shares of its Class A Common Stock under these authorizations and remained authorized to purchase an additional 1,002,127 shares. In December 2005, the Board increased the number of shares that could be purchased to 3,500,000. No additional shares were purchased between the time of this new authorization and December 31, 2005. The Board’s action authorizes management to purchase shares from time to time, in the open market or otherwise, whenever it believes the available price makes such purchase advantageous to the Company’s shareholders. In January 2006, the Registrant purchased 663,700 shares at a cost of $36.20 per share. After this purchase was completed, management remained authorized to purchase an additional 2,836,300 shares of its Class A Common Stock.

Accrued dividends were $2,910,000 and $2,510,000 as of December 31, 2005 and 2004, respectively, and were included in Accrued liabilities.

72



Albany International Corp.

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS — (Continued)

9.    Shareholders’ Equity — (Continued)

Changes in shareholders’ equity for 2003, 2004, and 2005, were as follows:


 
         Class A
Common Stock
     Class B
Common Stock
    
 
     Treasury Stock
Class A
    
(in thousands)
         Shares
     Amount
     Shares
     Amount
     Additional
Paid-in
Capital
     Shares
     Amount
Balance: January 1, 2003
                    28,983           $ 29               5,608           $ 6            $ 255,484              2,194           $ 45,576   
Shares contributed to ESOP
                    209                                                         5,398                               
Conversion of Class B shares to Class A shares
                    2,371              3               (2,371 )             (3 )                                              
Options exercised
                    986               1                                           19,847                               
Shares issued to Directors
                                                                            5               (4 )             (86 )  
Balance: December 31, 2003
                    32,549              33               3,237              3               280,734              2,190              45,490   
Shares contributed to ESOP
                    177                                                         5,505                               
Purchase of treasury shares
                                                                                          2,820              81,135   
Options exercised
                    451                                                         9,756                               
Shares issued to Directors
                                                                            50               (6 )             (129 )  
Balance: December 31, 2004
                    33,177              33               3,237              3               296,045              5,004              126,496   
Shares contributed to ESOP
                    157                                                         5,357                               
Purchase of treasury shares
                                                                                          51               1,577   
Options exercised
                    842               1                                           17,923                               
Shares issued to Directors
                                                                            47               (5 )             (109 )  
Balance: December 31, 2005
                    34,176           $ 34               3,237           $ 3            $ 319,372              5,050           $ 127,964   
 

10.    Other Expense/(Income), Net

The components of other expense/(income), net, are:

(in thousands)
         2005
     2004
     2003
Currency transactions (Note 1)
                 $ (2,472 )          $ 1,559           $ (8,218 )  
Costs associated with sale of accounts receivable (Note 6)
                    2,966              2,566              1,848   
Investment write-off (Note 1)
                                  4,000                 
Debt finance fee write-off
                                  874                  
License fee expense, net
                    992              2,428              1,086   
Amortization of debt issuance costs and loan origination fees
                    1,553              1,099              2,790   
Other
                    1,614              1,013              3,156   
 
                 $ 4,653           $ 13,539           $ 662    
 

73



Albany International Corp.

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS — (Continued)

11.    Income Taxes

The components of income/(loss) before income taxes and the provision for income taxes are as follows:

(in thousands)
         2005
     2004
     2003
Income/(loss) before income taxes:
                                                         
U.S.
                 $ 19,777           $ (10,738 )          $ 2,107   
Non-U.S.
                    80,986              23,067              67,771   
 
                 $ 100,763           $ 12,329           $ 69,878   
Income tax provision/(benefit):
                                                         
Current:
                                                                     
Federal
                 $ 5,205           $ 1,283           $ (5,407 )  
State
                    1,130              349               375    
Non-U.S.
                    23,435              10,781              17,698   
 
                    29,770              12,413              12,666   
Deferred:
                                                         
Federal
                    4,263              (6,444 )             1,588   
State
                    262              (292 )             (256 )  
Non-U.S.
                    (4,875 )             (3,227 )             1,722   
 
                    (350 )             (9,963 )             3,054   
Total provision for income taxes
                 $ 29,420           $ 2,450           $ 15,720   
 

The significant components of deferred income tax (benefit)/expense are as follows:

Net effect of temporary differences
                 $ (200 )          $ (4,608 )          $ 7,427   
Adjustments to deferred tax assets and liabilities for enacted changes in tax laws and rates
                    244              446               1,321   
Adjustments to beginning of the year valuation allowance balance for changes in circumstances
                    (4,132 )                              
Net expense/(benefit) of tax loss carryforwards
                    3,738              (5,801 )             (5,694 )  
 
                 $ (350 )          $ (9,963 )          $ 3,054   
 

A reconciliation of the U.S. Federal statutory tax rate to the Company’s effective tax rate is as follows:


 
         2005
     2004
     2003
U.S. federal statutory tax rate
                    35.0 %             35.0 %             35.0 %  
State taxes, net of federal benefit
                    0.8              2.0              1.5   
Non-U.S. tax rates
                    (11.8 )             (55.0 )             (14.5 )  
Repatriation of non-U.S. earnings
                    4.8              15.4              2.2   
Non-U.S. statutory tax rate changes
                    0.2              3.6              1.9   
Net (reversal)/addition to valuation allowances for
non-U.S. taxes
                    (0.7 )             55.9              6.4   
Net favorable resolution of contingencies related to
prior years
                    (0.4 )             (37.4 )             (7.5 )  
Nondeductible compensation
                                  14.0                 
Research and development and other tax credits
                    (1.7 )             (10.9 )             (1.4 )  
Other
                    3.0              (2.7 )             (1.1 )  
Effective income tax rate
                    29.2 %             19.9 %             22.5 %  
 

74



Albany International Corp.

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS — (Continued)

11.    Income Taxes — (Continued)

Deferred income taxes reflect the net tax effects of temporary differences between the carrying amounts of certain assets and liabilities for financial reporting and the amounts used for income tax expense purposes. Significant components of the Company’s deferred tax assets and liabilities are as follows:


 
         U.S.
     Non-U.S.
    
(in thousands)
         2005
     2004
     2005
     2004
Current deferred tax assets:
                                                                         
Accounts receivable
                 $ 84           $ 74            $ 1,621           $ 1,139   
Inventories
                    1,017              3,134                               
Tax credits carryforward
                    10,742              12,714                               
Tax losses carryforward
                    683              683                                
Restructuring costs
                    1,493              2,440                               
Deferred compensation
                    700              702                                
Other
                    38              922               5,634              4,718   
Total current deferred tax assets
                    14,757              20,669              7,255              5,857   
Noncurrent deferred tax assets:
                                                                         
Sale leaseback transaction
                    5              1,276                               
Deferred compensation
                    3,160              3,651                               
Depreciation and amortization
                    3,898              2,423                            1,261   
Postretirement benefits
                    33,770              35,555              6,228              2,097   
Tax loss carryforward
                                  868               36,209              41,785   
Impairment of investment
                    1,560              1,560                               
Derivative valuation adjustment
                                  1,780                               
Other
                    696              1,945              641              6,102   
Noncurrent deferred tax assets before valuation allowance
                    43,089              49,058              43,078              51,245   
Less: valuation allowance
                                                (10,292 )             (12,455 )  
Total noncurrent deferred tax assets
                    43,089              49,058              32,786              38,790   
Total deferred tax assets
                 $ 57,846           $ 69,727           $ 40,041           $ 44,647   
Current deferred tax liabilities:
                                                                         
Inventory
                                                112              6,146   
Other
                                                4,110              7,204   
Total current deferred tax liabilities
                                                4,222              13,350   
Noncurrent deferred tax liabilities:
                                                                         
Difference between book and tax depreciation
                                                22,849              27,674   
Other
                                                6,655              7,208   
Total noncurrent deferred tax liabilities
                                                29,504              34,882   
Total deferred tax liabilities
                                             $ 33,726           $ 48,232   
Net deferred tax asset/(liability)
                 $ 57,846           $ 69,727           $ 6,315           $ (3,585 )  
 

Deferred income tax assets, net of valuation allowances, will be realized through the reversal of existing taxable temporary differences and future taxable income. In 2005, the Company recorded valuation allowances of $4,100,000 against deferred tax assets for non-U.S. net operating loss carryforwards. In addition, the company reversed $4,800,000 of valuation allowances established in prior years against certain other deferred tax assets. The

75



Albany International Corp.

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS — (Continued)

11.    Income Taxes — (Continued)

Company intends to maintain valuation allowances for those net operating loss carryforwards until sufficient evidence exists to support the reversal of the valuation allowance.

At December 31, 2005, the Company had available approximately $36,900,000 of net operating loss carryforwards with expiration dates ranging from one year to indefinite that may be applied against future taxable income. The Company has recorded valuation allowances of approximately $10,300,000 against the loss carryforwards. In addition, the Company had available a foreign tax credits carryforward of $6,200,000 that will begin to expire in 2012, research and development credits carryforward of $3,500,000 that will begin to expire in 2023, and alternative minimum tax credits carryforward of $1,000,000 with no expiration date.

In 2005, the statute of limitations for examining income tax returns expired in a non-US taxing jurisdiction and the Company reversed an income tax accrual that reduced the 2005 income tax provision by $1,100,000. In addition, income tax contingencies were favorably resolved in non-U.S. taxing jurisdictions, which resulted in the reversal of income tax accruals that reduced the 2005 income tax provision by $2,200,000.

In September 2005, the Company repatriated approximately $69,600,000 of foreign earnings from its subsidiaries that qualify for the provisions of the American Jobs Creation Act of 2004 (“AJCA”). The total effect on income tax expense for the amount repatriated under the provisions of the AJCA was $3,900,000. The AJCA created a one-time incentive for U.S. corporations to repatriate accumulated income earned abroad by providing an 85 percent dividends received deduction for certain dividends from controlled foreign corporations

The Company intends to reinvest indefinitely the remaining unrepatriated foreign earnings as of December 31, 2005, of $166,000,000. The Company has not provided for U.S. income taxes on these undistributed earnings of its foreign subsidiaries because management considers such earnings to be reinvested indefinitely outside of the U.S. If the earnings were distributed, the Company may be subject to both foreign withholding taxes and U.S. income taxes that may not be fully offset by foreign tax credits. Determination of the amount of this unrecognized deferred income tax liability is not practical.

Taxes paid, net of refunds, amounted to $29,232,000 in 2005, $10,231,000 in 2004, and $18,708,000 in 2003. Income taxes payable were $10,571,000 and $16,270,000 as of December 31, 2005 and 2004, respectively.

12.    Operating Segments and Geographic Data

In accordance with FAS No. 131, “Disclosures About Segments of an Enterprise and Related Information”, the internal organization that is used by management for making operating decisions and assessing performance is used as the source of the Company’s reportable segments. The accounting policies of the segments are the same as those described in Accounting Policies (see Note 1). The Company does not allocate research costs and corporate headquarters expenses to the segments because the decision- making for the majority of these expenses does not reside within the segments.

The Company is engaged in three business segments: Paper Machine Clothing, Applied Technologies and Albany Door Systems.

The Company’s largest segment is Paper Machine Clothing, which includes paper machine clothing and process belts, which are technologically sophisticated consumable products designed, manufactured and marketed for each section of the paper machine. The design and material composition of clothing and belts can have a considerable effect on the quality of paper products produced and the efficiency of paper machines on which they are used. Paper machine clothing and belts have finite lives and must be replaced on a regular basis.

The Applied Technologies segment of the Company is comprised of a wide variety of products, including fabrics, wires and belting products for the nonwovens and pulp industries, engineered composites and structures for aerospace

76



Albany International Corp.

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS — (Continued)

12.    Operating Segments and Geographic Data — (Continued)

and other markets, specialty filtration products for wet and dry applications, industrial insulation products, high performance materials, and a patented synthetic down for the home furnishings and outerwear markets.

Albany Door Systems produces and services high-performance doors, which are primarily marketed to industrial and commercial enterprises requiring interior or external doors that either involve frequent openings or temperature or environmental contrasts between the two areas separated by the doors. High-performance doors open and close very rapidly, and may utilize electrical systems that assure automatic opening and closing under circumstances desired by customers.

As described in Note 1, in the first quarter of 2006, certain product lines were reclassified from the Paper Machine Clothing segment to the Applied Technologies segment. The tables below include the effect of the reclassification for all periods.

The following tables show data by operating segment, reconciled to consolidated totals included in the financial statements:

(in thousands)
         2005
     2004
     2003
Net sales
                                                         
Paper Machine Clothing
                 $ 732,919           $ 687,885           $ 685,391   
Applied Technologies
                    129,304           $ 119,144              101,221   
Albany Door Systems
                    116,487              112,773              101,331   
Consolidated total
                 $ 978,710           $ 919,802           $ 887,943   
Depreciation and amortization
                                                         
Paper Machine Clothing
                 $ 45,075           $ 45,740           $ 47,561   
Applied Technologies
                    5,169              4,871              2,589   
Albany Door Systems
                    1,432              1,507              1,550   
Corporate
                    3,769              3,097              4,394   
Consolidated total
                 $ 55,445           $ 55,215           $ 56,094   
Operating income/(loss)
                                                         
Paper Machine Clothing
                 $ 164,986           $ 97,553           $ 141,114   
Applied Technologies
                    20,546              9,774              8,390   
Albany Door Systems
                    7,579              3,516              (1,024 )  
Research expense
                    (28,059 )             (27,436 )             (26,353 )  
Unallocated expenses
                    (49,053 )             (42,903 )             (36,513 )  
Operating income before reconciling items
                    115,999              40,504              85,614   
Reconciling items:
                                                                     
Interest income
                    2,256              2,150              2,232   
Interest expense
                    (12,839 )             (16,786 )             (17,306 )  
Other expense, net
                    (4,653 )             (13,539 )             (662 )  
Consolidated income before income taxes
                 $ 100,763           $ 12,329           $ 69,878   
Restructuring costs included in segment operating income:
                                                         
Paper Machine Clothing
                               $ 46,497           $ 15,908   
Applied Technologies
                                  6,152              2,989   
Albany Door Systems
                                  1,265              2,351   
Corporate and other
                                  144               503    
Consolidated total
                               $ 54,058           $ 21,751   
 

77



Albany International Corp.

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS — (Continued)

12.    Operating Segments and Geographic Data — (Continued)

(in thousands)
         2005
     2004
     2003
Operating assets
                                                         
Paper Machine Clothing
                 $ 1,262,190           $ 1,372,117           $ 1,315,118   
Applied Technologies
                    133,222              134,676              127,157   
Albany Door Systems
                    73,019              80,340              80,994   
Reconciling items:
                                                                     
Accumulated depreciation
                    (556,906 )             (594,594 )             (535,980 )  
Deferred tax assets
                    97,887              114,374              96,971   
Investment in associated companies
                    6,403              6,456              5,278   
Other
                    71,232              42,391              49,385   
Consolidated total assets
                 $ 1,087,047           $ 1,155,760           $ 1,138,923   
Capital expenditures
                                                         
Paper Machine Clothing
                 $ 39,843           $ 46,890           $ 42,671   
Applied Technologies
                    2,716              9,474              6,911   
Albany Door Systems
                    634              609               2,080   
Corporate
                    100              156               187    
Consolidated total
                 $ 43,293           $ 57,129           $ 51,849   
 

The following table shows data by geographic area. Net sales are based on the location of the operation recording the final sale to the customer.

(in thousands)
         2005
     2004
     2003
Net sales
                                                         
United States
                 $ 348,244           $ 309,517           $ 311,254   
Canada
                    73,628              67,834              62,721   
Sweden
                    85,528              86,691              78,659   
Germany
                    99,090              115,288              118,733   
France
                    76,677              72,891              65,612   
Other countries
                    295,543              267,581              250,964   
Consolidated total
                 $ 978,710           $ 919,802           $ 887,943   
Property, plant and equipment, at cost, net
                                                         
United States
                 $ 88,548           $ 82,914           $ 102,262   
Canada
                    28,449              24,498              15,993   
Sweden
                    49,366              62,734              52,767   
Germany
                    49,341              59,342              60,258   
France
                    31,527              35,906              29,179   
Other countries
                    88,215              112,776              109,821   
Consolidated total
                 $ 335,446           $ 378,170           $ 370,280   
 

78



Albany International Corp.

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS — (Continued)

13.    Pensions and Other Postretirement Benefit Plans

In December 2003, the FASB issued FAS No. 132 (Revised), “Employers’ Disclosures About Pensions and Other Postretirement Benefits — an Amendment of FAS No. 87, 88 and 106 and a revision of FAS No. 132”. This Statement required expanded disclosures about these benefit plans. As permitted by this Statement, pension plan data for U.S. and non-U.S. plans has been combined for both 2005 and 2004, except where indicated below.

Pension Plans

The Company has defined benefit pension plans covering certain U.S. and non-U.S. employees. The U.S. qualified defined benefit pension plan has been closed to new participants since October 1998. The eligibility and benefit formula for plans outside of the U.S. vary by location.

Other Postretirement Benefits

In addition to providing pension benefits, the Company provides various medical, dental and life insurance benefits for certain retired United States employees. Substantially all of the Company’s U.S. employees may become eligible for these benefits if they reach normal retirement age while working for the Company. Benefits provided under this plan are subject to change. Retirees share in the cost of these benefits. Effective January 1, 2005, any new employees who wish to be covered under this plan will be responsible for the full cost of such benefits. The Company’s non-U.S. operations do not offer such benefits to retirees. The Company accrues the cost of providing postretirement benefits during the active service period of the employees. The Company currently funds the plan as claims are paid.

The Company’s pension and postretirement benefit costs and benefit obligations are based on actuarial valuations that are affected by many assumptions, the most significant of which are the assumed discount rate, expected rate of return on pension plan assets, and mortality. Each of the assumptions is reviewed and updated annually, as appropriate.

The assumed discount rate is based on yields from a portfolio of currently-available high-quality fixed income investments with durations matching the expected future payments, based on the demographics of the plan participants and the plan provisions.

At September 30, 2005, the measurement date for the pension plans, the largest portion of pension plan assets (45% for the U.S. plan and 72% for non-U.S. plans) was invested in equities. The assumed rates of return are determined for each major asset category based on historical rates of return for assets in that category and expectations of future rates of return based, in part, on simulated future capital market performance.

The Company uses the 1983 Group Annuity Mortality Table updated to 1993 as its mortality assumption for the U.S. pension plan (the Company’s largest plan). The Company has studied its actual mortality data for a recent six year period and found it to be consistent with that mortality table.

Gains and losses arise from changes in the assumptions used to measure the benefit obligations, and experience different from what had been assumed, including asset returns different than what had been expected. The Company amortizes gains and losses in excess of a “corridor” over the average future service of the plan’s current participants (11 years for the U.S. pension plan). The corridor is defined as 10% of the greater of the plan’s projected benefit obligation or market-related value of plan assets. The market-related value of plan assets is also used to determine the expected return on plan assets component of net periodic cost. The Company’s market-related value for its U.S. plan is measured by first determining the absolute difference between the actual and the expected return on the plan assets. The absolute difference in excess of 5% of the expected return is added to the market-related value over two years; the remainder is added to the market-related value immediately.

To the extent the Company’s unrecognized net losses and unrecognized prior service costs, including the amount recognized through accumulated other comprehensive income, are not reduced by future favorable plan experience, they will be recognized as a component of the net periodic cost in future years. The Company’s

79



Albany International Corp.

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS — (Continued)

13.    Pensions and Other Postretirement Benefit Plans — (Continued)

unrecognized net loss is primarily attributable to recent declines in interest rates, which has a corresponding effect on the discount rate, and unfavorable investment returns during 2000–2002.

The Company has classified $26,533,000 of its accrued pension liability as a current liability at December 31, 2005, reflecting amounts expected to be funded within the next year. Contributions during 2005 totaled $16,937,000. For U.S. pension funding purposes, the Company uses the plan’s IRS-basis current liability as its funding target, which is determined based on mandated assumptions. As of January 1, 2005, the most recent valuation date, the U.S. Plan was 96% funded on this basis. Although no pension funding is currently required, the Company intends to voluntarily contribute $20,000,000 to the U.S. plan in 2006. Weak investment returns and low interest rates, could result in higher equal or greater contributions to the pension plans in future years. In addition, proposed U.S. pension funding reforms, if enacted, could impact the amount and timing of future contributions.

The following table sets forth the plan benefit obligations:


 
         As of December 31, 2005
     As of December 31, 2004
    
(in thousands)
         Pension Plans
     Other Benefits
     Pension Plans
     Other Benefits
Benefit obligation, beginning of year
                 $ 349,316           $ 131,376           $ 298,777           $ 116,092   
Service cost
                    6,241              3,776              8,135              3,180   
Interest cost
                    18,795              7,997              18,648              7,289   
Plan participants’ contributions
                    465              1,097              1,068              1,099   
Plan amendments
                    226              (46,254 )                              
Actuarial loss
                    28,494              21,869              8,155              12,459   
Liabilities for plans not previously included
                    6,965                            26,270                 
Curtailments
                                                (7,299 )                
Settlements
                    (34,401 )                                            
Special termination benefits
                                                785                  
Benefits paid
                    (16,891 )             (9,492 )             (17,555 )             (8,743 )  
Foreign currency changes
                    (13,383 )                           12,332                 
Benefit obligation, end of year
                 $ 345,828           $ 110,370           $ 349,316           $ 131,376   
 
Accumulated benefit obligation
                 $ 310,942                         $ 318,648                 
 
Weighted average assumptions used to determine benefit obligations, end of year:
                                                                         
Discount rate
                    5.32 %             5.70 %             5.69 %             5.75 %  
Weighted average rate of compensation increase
                    3.44 %             3.50 %             3.44 %             3.50 %  
 

The Company uses a measurement date of September 30 for its pension plans and December 31 for its postretirement benefit plan.

An 11% annual rate of increase in the per capita cost of covered medical and prescription drug benefits was assumed for 2006. The rate is assumed to decrease 1% per year until reaching 5% for 2012, then remaining at that level thereafter.

80



Albany International Corp.

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS — (Continued)

13.    Pensions and Other Postretirement Benefit Plans — (Continued)

Assumed health care cost trend rates have a significant effect on the amounts reported for health care plans. A one-percentage point change in assumed health care cost trend rates would have the following effect:

(in thousands)
         1 percentage
point increase
     1 percentage
point decrease
Effect on postretirement benefit obligation
                 $ 14,536           $ (11,873 )  
 

In May 2004, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) issued Staff Position No. FSP 106-2, “Accounting and Disclosure Requirements Related to the Medicare Prescription Drug, Improvement and Modernization Act of 2003 (the ”Act“).” The Act introduced a prescription drug benefit under Medicare and also provides that a non-taxable government subsidy will be paid to sponsors of postretirement benefit plans. The Company adopted FSP 106-2 prospectively from July 1, 2004.

In the third quarter of 2005, the Company made several modifications to its Other Benefits program, including increases in the cost sharing provisions and increases in the monthly contribution of plan participants. As a result of these changes, the Company performed a remeasurement of the plan liabilities as of September 30, 2005. The modifications to the plan reduced the accumulated postretirement benefit obligation by $46,254,000.

The following sets forth information about plan assets:


 
         As of December 31, 2005
     As of December 31, 2004
    
(in thousands)
         Pension Plans
     Other Benefits
     Pension Plans
     Other Benefits
Fair value of plan assets, beginning of year
                 $ 238,604                         $ 184,770                 
Actual return on plan assets, net of expenses
                    30,653                            19,229                 
Assets related to plans not previously included
                                                16,041                 
Settlements
                    (34,401 )                                            
Employer contributions
                    16,937              8,395              28,609              7,644   
Plan participants’ contributions
                    465              1,097              1,068              1,099   
Benefits paid
                    (16,801 )             (9,492 )             (17,384 )             (8,743 )  
Management expenses
                    (90 )                           (171 )                
Foreign currency changes
                    (5,000 )                           6,442                 
Fair value of plan assets, end of year
                 $ 230,368                         $ 238,604                 
 

81



Albany International Corp.
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS — (Continued)

13.    Pensions and Other Postretirement Benefit Plans — (Continued)

The funded status of the plans, reconciled to the amount on the Consolidated Balance Sheet, was as follows:


 
         As of December 31, 2005
     As of December 31, 2004
    
(in thousands)
         Pension Plans
     Other Benefits
     Pension Plans
     Other Benefits
Fair value of plan assets
                 $ 230,368           $            $ 238,604           $    
Benefit obligation
                    (345,828 )             (110,370 )             (349,316 )             (131,376 )  
Funded status
                    (115,460 )             (110,370 )             (110,712 )             (131,376 )  
Amounts not yet recognized:
                                                                         
Unrecognized net actuarial loss
                    98,089              82,385              90,058              65,036   
Unrecognized net transition obligation
                    162                            127                  
Unrecognized prior service cost (credit)
                    6,500              (50,974 )             7,292              (6,568 )  
Fourth quarter contributions
                    3,167                            2,058                 
Accrued benefit cost, end of year
                 $ (7,542 )          $ (78,959 )          $ (11,177 )          $ (72,908 )  
 
Amounts recognized in the statement of financial position consist of the following:
                                                                         
Prepaid benefit cost
                 $ 2,255           $            $ 2,482           $    
Accrued benefit cost
                    (80,727 )             (78,959 )             (83,899 )             (72,908 )  
Intangible asset
                    6,662                            7,419                 
Accumulated other comprehensive income before tax
                    64,268                            62,821                 
Net amount recognized
                 $ (7,542 )          $ (78,959 )          $ (11,177 )          $ (72,908 )  
 

82



Albany International Corp.

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS — (Continued)

13.    Pensions and Other Postretirement Benefit Plans — (Continued)

The composition of the net periodic benefit plan cost for the years ended December 31, 2005, 2004, and 2003, was as follows:


 
         Pension Plans
     Other Benefits
    
(in thousands)
         2005
     2004
     2003
     2005
     2004
     2003
Components of net periodic benefit cost:
                                                                                                         
Service cost
                 $ 6,241           $ 8,135           $ 6,473           $ 3,776           $ 3,180           $ 2,794   
Interest cost
                    18,795              18,648              16,575              7,997              7,289              6,743   
Expected return on assets
                    (16,875 )             (14,984 )             (12,491 )                                            
Amortization of prior service cost (credit)
                    1,046              979               972               (1,848 )             (947 )             (947 )  
Amortization of transition obligation
                    32              110               78                                              
Amortization of net actuarial loss
                    5,533              5,831              3,338              4,520              3,178              1,943   
Settlement
                    1,003                                                                         
Curtailment gain
                                  (347 )                                                          
Net periodic benefit cost
                 $ 15,776           $ 18,372           $ 14,945           $ 14,445           $ 12,700           $ 10,533   
Special termination benefits
                               $ 785                                                            
Weighted average assumptions use to determine net cost:
                                                                                                         
Discount rate — U.S. Plans
                    5.75 %             6.00 %             6.75 %             5.63 %             6.00 %             6.75 %  
Discount rate — non U.S. Plans
                    4.79 %             5.61 %             5.62 %                                            
Expected return on plan assets — U.S. Plans
                    8.50 %             8.50 %             8.50 %                                            
Expected return on plan assets — non-U.S. Plans
                    7.04 %             6.52 %             6.33 %                                            
Rate of compensation increase — U.S. Plans
                    3.50 %             3.50 %             3.50 %             3.50 %             3.50 %             4.50 %  
Rate of compensation increase — non-U.S. Plans
                    3.36 %             3.37 %             3.27 %                                            
 

The expected rate of return on plan assets is based on the targeted plan asset allocation and historical returns of various investments.

Assumed health care cost trend rates have a significant effect on the amounts reported for health care plans. A one-percentage point change in the assumed health care cost trend rates would have had the following effect:

(in thousands)
         1 percentage
point increase
     1 percentage
point decrease
Effect on total of service and interest cost
                 $ 2,263           $ (1,786 )  
 

The asset allocation for the Company’s U.S. and non-U.S. pension plans as of September 30, 2005 and 2004, and target allocation for 2006, by asset category, are as follows:


 
         United States Plan
     Non-U.S. Plans
    

 
        
 
     Percentage of plan assets
at plan measurement date
 
    
 
     Percentage of plan assets
at plan measurement date
 
    
Asset category
         Target
Allocation
2006
     2005
     2004
     Target
Allocation
2006
     2005
     2004
Fixed income
                    10 %             6 %             13 %             20 %             20 %             41 %  
Equities
                    45 %             49 %             52 %             72 %             72 %             55 %  
Real Estate
                    8 %             6 %             5 %             3 %             3 %             1 %  
Cash
                                  7 %             2 %             5 %             5 %             3 %  
Other (1)
                    37 %             32 %             28 %                                            
 
                    100 %             100 %             100 %             100 %             100 %             100 %  
 


(1)
  Includes hedged equity and absolute return strategies, and private equity

83



Albany International Corp.

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS — (Continued)

13.    Pensions and Other Postretirement Benefit Plans — (Continued)

The targeted plan asset allocation is based on an analysis of the actuarial liabilities, a review of viable asset classes, and an analysis of the expected rate of return, risk, and other investment characteristics of various investment asset classes.

At the end of 2005 and 2004, the projected benefit obligation, accumulated benefit obligation, and fair value of plan assets for pension plans with projected benefit obligation in excess of plan assets and for pension plans with an accumulated benefit obligation in excess of plan assets were as follows:


 
         Projected benefit obligation
exceeds plan assets
     Accumulated benefit obligation
exceeds plan assets
    
(in thousands)
         2005
     2004
     2005
     2004
Projected benefit obligation
                 $ 330,864           $ 301,706           $ 330,864           $ 301,706   
Accumulated benefit obligation
                    297,368              272,178              297,368              272,178   
Fair value of plan assets
                    214,004              189,470              214,004              189,470   
 

84



Albany International Corp.

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS — (Continued)

13.    Pensions and Other Postretirement Benefit Plans — (Continued)

Information about expected cash flows for the pension and other benefit obligations, including the expected government subsidy, are as follows:

(in thousands)
         Pension
plans
     Other
benefits
before
subsidy
     Other benefits
government
subsidy
Expected employer contributions in the next fiscal year
                 $ 26,533           $ 5,726           $ 666    
Expected benefit payments
                                                                     
2006
                 $ 17,255           $ 5,726           $ 666    
2007
                    16,445              6,150              740    
2008
                    17,316              6,458              828    
2009
                    16,968              6,741              919    
2010
                    17,448              7,077              998    
2011–2015
                    100,066              40,345              6,090   
 

The change in minimum liability of the U.S. pension plans resulted in a pre-tax charge to Other comprehensive income in the amount of $1,448,000 in 2005 and $70,000 in 2004.

14.    Translation Adjustments

The Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows were affected by translation as follows:

(in thousands)
         2005
     2004
     2003
Change in cumulative translation adjustments
                 $ (59,494 )          $ 53,902           $ 81,787   
Other noncurrent liabilities
                    (9,471 )             5,002              7,881   
Deferred taxes
                    1,179              101               (382 )  
Long-term debt
                    (40 )             36               128    
Accounts receivable
                    12,673              (11,544 )             (23,216 )  
Inventories
                    8,287              (8,644 )             (16,636 )  
Investments in associated companies
                    562              (672 )             (631 )  
Property, plant and equipment, net
                    27,225              (24,561 )             (39,301 )  
Goodwill and intangibles
                    18,882              (13,130 )             (23,843 )  
Other
                    (9,970 )             7,358              (1,893 )  
Effect of exchange rate changes
                 $ (10,167 )          $ 7,848           $ (16,106 )  
 

The change in cumulative translation adjustments includes the following:

(in thousands)
         2005
     2004
     2003
Translation of non-U.S. subsidiaries
                 $ (80,627 )          $ 52,436           $ 83,216   
Gain/(loss) on long-term intercompany loans
                    19,476              498               (1,281 )  
Gain/(loss) on derivative contracts designated as hedge
                    1,657              968               (148 )  
Effect of exchange rate changes
                 $ (59,494 )          $ 53,902           $ 81,787   
 

15.    Stock Options and Incentive Plans

During 1988, 1992 and 1998, the shareholders approved stock option plans for key employees. The 1988 and 1992 plans, under which options can no longer be granted, each provided for the granting of up to 2,000,000 shares of Class A Common Stock. The 1998 plan provides for the granting of up to 5,000,000 shares of Class A Common Stock. In addition, in 1997 the Board of Directors granted one option outside these plans for 250,000 shares of

85



Albany International Corp.

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS — (Continued)

15.    Stock Options and Incentive Plans — (Continued)


Class A Common Stock. Options are normally exercisable in five cumulative annual amounts beginning 12 months after date of grant. Option exercise prices were normally equal to and were not permitted to be less than the market value on the date of grant. The option granted by the Board in 1997 is not exercisable unless the Company’s share price reaches $48 per share and exercise is then limited to 10% of the total number of shares multiplied by the number of full years of employment elapsed since the grant date. During 2000, the Board of Directors approved an amendment to increase the period after retirement to exercise options from 5 years to 10 years. This amendment, however, does not change the original termination date of each option. Unexercised options generally terminate twenty years after the date of grant for all plans.

There were no stock options granted during 2005, 2004 or 2003. For options granted prior to 2003, the fair value of each option granted was estimated on the grant date using the Black-Scholes option-pricing model. No adjustments were made for certain factors that are generally recognized to reduce the value of option contracts because such impact was not considered material to pro forma data. These factors include limited transferability, a 20% per year vesting schedule, a share price threshold with vesting based on years of employment, and the risk of forfeiture of the non-vested portion if employment were terminated. The expected life of the options was based on employee groups and ranged from 11 to 20 years. For those options, the Company applied Accounting Principles Board Opinion No. 25, “Accounting for Stock Issued to Employees”, in accounting for the stock option plans. Accordingly, no compensation cost was recognized in 2002.

In 2003, the Company adopted the prospective method under FAS No. 148. Under this method, the Company does not record expense for options granted prior to 2003 but would record expense for options granted or modified after 2002. As described in Note 1, the Company will adopt FAS No. 123R as of January 1, 2006 and, accordingly, will record compensation expense for options that were unvested as of December 31, 2005.

In accordance with FAS No. 148, the Company will continue to report the pro forma effect of not recording expense for options granted prior to 2003. Had the Company elected to adopt FAS No. 123 for its stock option plans, net income and earnings per share would have been affected by additional compensation cost as indicated by the pro forma amounts below:

(in thousands, except per share amounts)
         2005
     2004
     2003
Net income, as reported
                 $ 71,852           $ 10,385           $ 54,055   
Deduct:
                                                                 
Total stock-based employee compensation expense determined under fair value based method for all awards, net of taxes
                    1,473              2,402              2,694   
Net income, pro forma
                 $ 70,379           $ 7,983           $ 51,361   
Basic net income per share:
                                                                 
As reported
                 $ 2.25           $ 0.32           $ 1.64   
Pro forma
                    2.20              0.25              1.56   
Diluted earnings per share:
                                                                 
As reported
                 $ 2.22           $ 0.31           $ 1.61   
Pro forma
                    2.17              0.24              1.53   
 

86



Albany International Corp.

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS — (Continued)

15.    Stock Options and Incentive Plans — (Continued)

Activity with respect to these plans is as follows:


 
         2005
     2004
     2003
Shares under option January 1
                    2,345,500              2,823,630              3,834,225   
Options granted
                                                   
Options canceled
                    50,040              27,300              24,460   
Options exercised
                    842,340              450,830              986,135   
Shares under option at December 31
                    1,453,120              2,345,500              2,823,630   
Options exercisable at December 31
                    1,019,420              1,673,560              1,846,040   
Shares available for future option grants
                    515,455              463,165              436,615   
 

The weighted average exercise price is as follows:


 
         2005
     2004
     2003
Shares under option January 1
                 $ 19.13           $ 19.01           $ 18.69   
Options granted
                                                   
Options canceled
                    19.50              18.50              18.15   
Options exercised
                    7.16              18.39              17.80   
Shares under option December 31
                    20.26              19.13              19.01   
Options exercisable December 31
                    18.90              18.12              18.28   
 

The following is a summary of the status of options outstanding at December 31, 2005:


 
        
 
     Outstanding Options
     Exercisable Options
    
Exercise Price Range
         Number
     Weighted
Average
Remaining
Contractual
Life
     Weighted
Average
Exercise
Price
     Number
     Weighted
Average
Exercise
Price
$10.56
                    99,870              13.3           $ 10.56              99,870           $ 10.56   
$15.00–$15.69
                    99,450              10.8              15.51              99,450              15.51   
$16.25–$16.75
                    59,300              5.0              16.48              59,300              16.48   
$18.63–$18.75
                    62,400              7.7              18.73              62,400              18.73   
$19.38
                    91,250              10.6              19.38              91,250              19.38   
$19.75
                    82,200              10.1              19.75              82,200              19.75   
$20.45–$20.63
                    501,100              14.4              20.55              317,400              20.53   
$22.25
                    207,550              8.7              22.25              207,550              22.25   
$25.56
                    250,000              11.8              25.56                               
 
                    1,453,120              11.7           $ 20.26              1,019,420           $ 18.90   
 

In 2005, shareholders approved the Albany International 2005 Incentive Plan. The plan provides key members of management with incentive compensation based on achieving certain performance targets. The incentive compensation award is paid out over three years, partly in cash and partly in shares of Class A Common Stock. In 2005, the Company recognized expense of $3,065,000 in connection with this plan.

In November 2003, the Company adopted a Restricted Stock Program under which certain key employees are awarded restricted stock units. The restricted stock units vest over a five-year period and are paid annually in

87



Albany International Corp.

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS — (Continued)

15.    Stock Options and Incentive Plans — (Continued)

cash based on current market prices of the Company’s stock. Employees may elect to defer receipt to a later date to the extent permitted by applicable law. The amount of compensation expense is subject to changes in the market price of the Company’s stock. The amount of compensation cost recorded was $2,253,000 in 2005 and $2,615,000 in 2004 and is included in Selling and general expenses.

The Company’s voluntary deferred compensation plans provided that a portion of certain employees’ salaries were deferred in exchange for amounts payable, upon their retirement, disability or death, during a period selected by the participants in accordance with the provisions of each plan. Voluntary withdrawals are permitted under some circumstances. The plans were terminated for active employees during 2002 and remain in effect for retired employees of the Company. The remaining Deferred compensation liability was included in the caption Other noncurrent liabilities and was $5,681,000 and $9,434,000 at December 31, 2005 and 2004, respectively. The Company’s expense for all plans was $609,000 in 2005, $928,000 in 2004, and $1,130,000 in 2003, and is included in Selling and general expenses.

The Company maintains a voluntary savings plan covering substantially all employees in the United States. The Plan, known as Prosperity Plus Savings Plan, is a qualified plan under section 401(k) of the U.S. Internal Revenue Code. Under the plan, employees may make tax-deferred contributions of 1% to 15% of their wages, subject to contribution limitations specified in the Internal Revenue Code, which was $14,000 for 2005. The Company matches between 50% and 100% of each dollar contributed by employees up to 10% of their wages, in the form of Class A Common Stock, which is contributed to an Employee Stock Ownership Plan. The investment of employee contributions to the plan is self-directed. The cost of the plan amounted to $4,289,000 in 2005, $4,212,000 in 2004, and $4,110,000 in 2003.

The Company’s profit-sharing plan covers substantially all employees in the United States. After the close of each year, the Board of Directors determines the amount of the profit-sharing contribution and whether the contribution will be made in cash or in shares of the Company’s Class A Common Stock. Contributions are only made to current active participants in Prosperity Plus. The expense recorded for this plan was $1,481,000 in 2005, $1,765,000 in 2004, and $2,424,000 in 2003.

16.    Restructuring

In January 2003, the Company announced a cost reduction initiative that was part of a continuing effort to match manufacturing capacity to the global demand for paper machine clothing. The restructuring activities associated with this program were completed in 2004. Approximately 94% of cost reductions that resulted from this program were in the Paper Machine Clothing segment; the reductions principally affected Cost of goods sold.

The cost reduction initiative resulted in restructuring charges of $54,058,000 in 2004 and $21,751,000 in 2003. The charges include plant and equipment write-downs of approximately $13,515,000 in 2004 and $12,733,000 in 2003. The majority of these restructuring costs related to the shut-down of the Company’s Paper Machine Clothing segment facilities in South Carolina, France, the Netherlands and discontinuation of dryer fabrics manufacturing at the facility in Bury, England.

88



Albany International Corp.

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS — (Continued)

16.    Restructuring — (Continued)

Total restructuring costs incurred, by segment, for this cost reduction program were:

(in thousands)
         Total restructuring
costs incurred
     Termination and
other costs
     Plant and equipment
write-downs
Paper Machine Clothing
                 $ 62,405           $ 39,594           $ 22,811   
Applied Technologies
                    9,141              6,688              2,453   
Albany Door Systems
                    3,616              2,632              984    
Other
                    647               647                  
Total
                 $ 75,809           $ 49,561           $ 26,248   
 

Pursuant to this cost reduction program, the changes in restructuring accruals during 2005 and 2004 were as follows:

(in thousands)
         December 31,
2004
     Payments
     Currency
translation/other
     December 31,
2005
Termination costs
                 $ 6,270           $ (3,074 )          $ (1,833 )          $ 1,363   
Other restructuring costs
                    646               (268 )             (288 )             90    
Total
                 $ 6,916           $ (3,342 )          $ (2,121 )          $ 1,453   
 
(in thousands)
         January 1,
2004
     Charged to
expense
     Payments
     Currency
translation/other
     December 31,
2004
Termination costs
                 $ 4,374           $ 36,387           $ (34,465 )          $ (26 )          $ 6,270   
Other restructuring costs
                    837               2,806              (2,127 )             (870 )             646    
Total
                 $ 5,211           $ 39,193           $ (36,592 )          $ (896 )          $ 6,916   
 

Pursuant to restructuring initiatives announced prior to 2003, the changes in restructuring accruals during 2005 and 2004 were as follows:

(in thousands)
         January 1,
2004
     Payments
     Currency
translation/other
     December 31,
2005
Termination costs
                 $ 1,781           $ (704 )          $ (34 )          $ 1,043   
Lease obligations
                    1,651              (302 )             (197 )             1,152   
Total
                 $ 3,432           $ (1,006 )          $ (231 )          $ 2,195   
 
(in thousands)
         January 1,
2004
     Payments
     Currency
translation/other
     December 31,
2004
Termination costs
                 $ 2,677           $ (993 )          $ 97            $ 1,781   
Plant rationalization costs
                    155                             (155 )                
Lease obligations
                    1,988              (1,023 )             686               1,651   
Total
                 $ 4,820           $ (2,016 )          $ 628            $ 3,432   
 

As of December 31, 2005, total restructuring liabilities included $2,997,000 classified as current and $651,000 classified as noncurrent. As of December 31, 2004, total restructuring liabilities included $9,189,000 classified as current and $1,159,000 classified as noncurrent.

89



Quarterly Financial Data
(unaudited)

(in millions except per share amounts)
         1st
     2nd
     3rd
     4th
2005
                                                                                         
Net sales
                 $ 241.1           $ 247.4           $ 242.3           $ 247.9   
Gross profit
                    98.3              101.2              99.6              92.9   
Net income
                    18.9              20.4              18.5              14.1   
Basic earnings per share
                    0.60              0.64              0.58              0.44   
Diluted earnings per share
                    0.59              0.63              0.57              0.43   
Cash dividends per share
                    0.08              0.08              0.09              0.09   
Class A Common Stock prices:
                                                                                         
High
                    34.50              33.27              37.65              39.21   
Low
                    29.80              30.00              32.25              36.01   
 
2004
                                                                                         
Net sales
                 $ 231.3           $ 227.2           $ 222.9           $ 238.4   
Gross profit
                    91.8              88.1              87.3              94.9   
Restructuring, net
                    11.6              31.1              2.6              8.8   
Net income/(loss)
                    3.3              (15.4 )             10.5              12.0   
Basic earnings/(loss) per share
                    0.10              (0.47 )             0.33              0.38   
Diluted earnings/(loss) per share
                    0.10              (0.47 )             0.32              0.38   
Cash dividends per share
                    0.07              0.07              0.08              0.08   
Class A Common Stock prices:
                                                                                         
High
                    35.00              33.75              33.60              35.16   
Low
                    26.40              27.20              28.65              28.19   
 
2003
                                                                                         
Net sales
                 $ 214.7           $ 228.5           $ 213.4           $ 231.3   
Gross profit
                    90.3              93.7              86.3              90.9   
Restructuring, net
                    0.8              0.9              14.3              5.8   
Net income
                    21.0              16.0              6.6              10.5   
Basic earnings per share
                    0.65              0.49              0.20              0.32   
Diluted earnings per share
                    0.64              0.48              0.19              0.31   
Cash dividends per share
                    0.055              0.055              0.07              0.07   
Class A Common Stock prices:
                                                                                         
High
                    23.67              27.76              31.82              34.20   
Low
                    20.30              22.00              26.62              29.46   
 

  The Company’s Class A Common Stock is traded principally on the New York Stock Exchange.

  At December 31, 2005, there were approximately 5,400 shareholders.

90


Exhibit 99.3

 

Schedule of 2005 quarterly net sales and operating income that have been reclassified from the Paper Machine Clothing segment to the Applied Technologies segment.

 

 

 

2005 Quarterly periods ending

 

Full year

(in thousands)

 

March 31

June 30

September 30

December 31

 

2005

Net sales

 

2,606

2,015

2,066

2,022

 

8,709

Operating income

765

346

581

498

 

2,190