PART I
Item 1. Business
OVERVIEW
We are a global power leader that designs, manufactures, distributes and services diesel and natural gas engines, electric power generation systems and engine-related component products, including filtration and exhaust aftertreatment, fuel systems, controls and air handling systems. We were founded in 1919 as one of the first manufacturers of diesel engines and are headquartered in Columbus, Indiana. We sell our products to Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEMs), distributors and other customers worldwide. We have long-standing relationships with many of the leading manufacturers in the markets we serve, including Chrysler LLC, Daimler AG, Volvo AB, PACCAR Inc., International Truck and Engine Corporation (Navistar International Corporation), CNH Global N.V., Komatsu, Scania AB, Ford Motor Company and Volkswagen. We serve our customers through a network of more than 500 company-owned and independent distributor locations and approximately 5,200 dealer locations in more than 190 countries and territories.
Our financial performance depends, in large part, on varying conditions in the markets we serve, particularly the on-highway, construction and general industrial markets. Demand in these markets tends to fluctuate in response to overall economic conditions and is particularly sensitive to changes in interest rate levels. Our sales may also be impacted by OEM inventory levels and production schedules and stoppages. Economic downturns in markets we serve generally result in reductions in sales and pricing of our products. As a worldwide business, our operations are also affected by political, economic and regulatory matters, including environmental and emissions standards, in the countries we serve. However, our geographic diversity and broad product and service offerings have helped limit the impact of any one industry and the economy of any single country upon our consolidated results. This was effectively demonstrated throughout 2007 as we continued to experience strong sales and earnings despite a decline of approximately 50 percent in the North American heavy-duty truck engine market due to new emissions regulations. More than half of our 2007 sales came from countries other than the United States. The diversity of our business portfolio has contributed to significant organic growth over the past several years.
AVAILABLE INFORMATION
We file annual, quarterly and current reports, proxy statements and other information with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the SEC). You may read and copy any document we file with the SEC at the SECs public reference room at 450 Fifth Street, NW, Washington, DC 20549. Please call the SEC at 1-800-SEC-0330 for information on the public reference room. The SEC maintains an internet site that contains annual, quarterly and current reports, proxy and information statements and other information that issuers (including Cummins) file electronically with the SEC. The SECs internet site is www.sec.gov.
Our internet site is www.cummins.com. You can access Cummins Investors and Media webpage through our internet site, by clicking on the heading Investors and Media. Cummins makes available free of charge, on or through our Investors and Media webpage, its proxy statements, annual reports on Form 10-K, quarterly reports on Form 10-Q, current reports on Form 8-K and any amendments to those reports filed or furnished pursuant to the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the Exchange Act), as soon as reasonably practicable after such material is electronically filed with, or furnished to, the SEC. We also make available, through our Investors and Media webpage, under the heading of SEC filings within the Financial Information heading, statements of beneficial ownership of Cummins equity securities filed by its directors, officers, 10 percent or greater shareholders and others under Section 16 of the Exchange Act.
We also have a Corporate Governance webpage. You can access Cummins Corporate Governance webpage through our internet site, www.cummins.com, by clicking on the heading Investors and Media and then the topic heading of Governance Documents within the Corporate Governance heading. Cummins posts the following on its Corporate Governance webpage:
- ISS Corporate Governance Rating,
- Code of Conduct,
- Corporate Governance Principles,
- By-laws of Cummins Inc.,
- Audit Committee Charter,
- Governance and Nominating Committee Charter,
- Compensation Committee Charter, and
- Supplier Code of Conduct.
Cummins Code of Conduct applies to all of our employees, regardless of their position or the country in which they work. It also applies to the employees of any entity owned or controlled by Cummins Inc. We will post any amendments to the Code of Conduct and any waivers that are required to be disclosed by the rules of either the SEC or the New York Stock Exchange, Inc. (NYSE), on our internet site. The information on Cummins internet site is not incorporated by reference into this report.
You may request a copy of these documents at no cost by contacting Cummins Inc. Investor Relations at 500 Jackson Street, Mail Code 60115, Columbus, IN 47201 (812-377-3121) or by sending an email request to: investor_relations@cummins.com.
In accordance with NYSE Rules, on May 15, 2007, we filed the annual certification by our CEO that, as of the date of the certification, he was unaware of any violation by the company of the NYSEs corporate governance listing standards.
COMPETITIVE STRENGTHS
We believe the following competitive strengths are instrumental to our success:
- Leading Brands. Our product portfolio includes products and services marketed and branded under various trademarks, trade names and trade dress configurations throughout the world, including each of the following brands, which holds a leading position in its respective market:
- Cummins® engines, electric power generation systems, components and parts;
- Onan® and Cummins® - Onan® generator sets;
- Alternator products sold under the Stamford®, AvK® and Markon® brands;
- Fleetguard® filtration systems and components;
- Cummins® intake and exhaust systems and components;
- Kuss® automotive in-tank fuel filtration;
- Holset® turbochargers;
- Cummins® Fuel Systems™ offerings and components; and
- Cummins® Emission Solutions™ aftertreatment solutions and offerings.
Our continual investment in and attention to furthering brand equity in our offerings and across our business units includes leveraging and creating brand identity, brand value and brand presence for our offerings in our markets of interest. During 2006, we successfully rebranded our major operating business units to reflect the Cummins name and brand in furtherance of our overall branding strategy. In part, as a result of this investment and by seeking to aggregate brand strength in complementary markets, we also gain recognition in and across our markets for our offerings, continually seek new and innovative means to further develop and expand market share through our brand equity position and strengthen customer relationships.
While our portfolio of branded products and offerings contains a number of market leaders, we operate in a highly competitive sector and our branded offerings compete with the brands offered by other manufacturers and distributors that produce and sell similar offerings.
- Customers and Partners. To maintain technology leadership and a global presence in a cost-effective manner, we have established strategic alliances with a number of our leading customers. These partnerships provide us with a knowledge and understanding of our customers technology and business needs and enable us to develop products and services which better meet their requirements at lower costs. For example, we have both customer and supplier arrangements with Komatsu, Ltd., including manufacturing joint ventures and a product development joint venture through which we have partnered in the development of several engines. We are also the exclusive supplier of engines for Komatsu mining equipment. In addition, we have been the exclusive diesel engine supplier to Chrysler for its Dodge Ram truck since 1988. We have long-term agreements with Volvo and International Truck and Engine Corporation for the supply of heavy-duty truck engines and PACCAR for the supply of both heavy-duty and medium-duty engines. These agreements afford us long-term price stability and eliminate certain dealer and end-user discounts as well as offer closer integration on product development. We have partnered with Scania to produce the next generation XPI high pressure fuel systems for heavy-duty on-highway trucks, which will help us meet the 2010 heavy duty emissions regulations. We also have multiple international joint ventures which manufacture heavy-duty and midrange engines, including partnerships with Tata Motors, Ltd., which is the leading truck manufacturer in India, and Dongfeng Automotive Corporation, an engine supplier to the largest medium-duty truck manufacturer in China.
- Global Presence. We have a strong global presence including a worldwide distribution system, manufacturing and engineering facilities around the world and a network of global supply sources. Our worldwide presence has enabled us to take advantage of growth opportunities in international markets, with sales outside the U.S. growing from 43 percent of total consolidated net sales in 2000 to 54 percent of total consolidated net sales in 2007. For over 70 years, we have developed a distribution and service network that includes more than 500 company-owned and independent distributor locations and 5,200 independent dealers located throughout 190 countries and territories. We also have manufacturing operations and product engineering centers around the world, with facilities in the United Kingdom (U.K.), Brazil, Mexico, Canada, France, Australia, China, India, South Africa, Japan and Singapore. In addition, we have developed a global network of high-quality, low-cost supply sources to support our manufacturing base.
- Leading Technology. We have an established reputation for delivering high-quality, technologically advanced products. We continuously work with our customers to develop new products to improve the performance of their vehicles, equipment or systems at competitive cost levels. We are a leader in developing technologies to reduce diesel engine emissions, a key concern of our customers and regulators around the world. We were able to meet the EPAs 2007 heavy-duty on-highway emissions standards that went into effect on January 1, 2007 and we announced in January 2007 that our Dodge Ram 6.7-liter Turbo Diesel engine meets the EPAs 2010 emissions standards a full three years ahead of the requirements. We have also developed low-emission, high-performance natural gas engines as an alternative-fuel option for the on-highway, industrial and power generation markets. Our technology leadership in filtration, exhaust aftertreatment, air handling and fuel systems allows us to develop integrated product solutions for the on-highway, off-highway and power generation markets, allowing our customers to use a single high-performance, low-cost system as opposed to multiple components from different suppliers.
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