UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549

FORM 10-Q
(Mark One)

x	QUARTERLY REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934	
For the quarterly period ended October 3, 2015 

OR

 	 	
¨	TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934	
 	For the transition period from ________ to _________	

Commission file number 1-11406

KADANT INC.
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

 	 	 	
Delaware	 	52-1762325	
(State or Other Jurisdiction of Incorporation or Organization)	 	(I.R.S. Employer Identification No.)	
 	 	 	
One Technology Park Drive	 	 	
Westford, Massachusetts	 	01886	
(Address of Principal Executive Offices)	 	(Zip Code)	

Registrant's telephone number, including area code: (978) 776-2000

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days.  Yes  x     No  ¨

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has submitted electronically and posted on its corporate Web site, if any, every Interactive Data File required to be submitted and posted pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulation S-T during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to submit and post such files).  Yes  x   No  ¨

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, or a smaller reporting company. See definitions of "large accelerated filer," "accelerated filer" and "smaller reporting company" in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act.

  Large accelerated filer o	Accelerated filer x	Non-accelerated filer o	Smaller reporting company o	

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act). Yes ¨    No  x

Indicate the number of shares outstanding of each of the issuer's classes of common stock, as of the latest practicable date.

Class	 	Outstanding at October 30, 2015	
Common Stock, $.01 par value	 	10,779,807	

PART 1 – FINANCIAL INFORMATION

Item 1 – Financial Statements

KADANT INC.
Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheet
(Unaudited)

Assets

 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	October 3,
2015	 	January 3,
2015	 	
(In thousands)	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	
Current Assets:	 	 	 	 	 	
Cash and cash equivalents	 	$	56,142	
 	 	$	45,378	
 	 	
Restricted cash (Note 1)	 	724	
 	 	415	
 	 	
Accounts receivable, less allowances of $2,138 and $2,198 (Note 1)	 	56,898	
 	 	58,508	
 	 	
Inventories (Note 1)	 	67,532	
 	 	55,223	
 	 	
Unbilled contract costs and fees	 	7,741	
 	 	5,436	
 	 	
Other current assets	 	21,162	
 	 	18,598	
 	 	
Assets of discontinued operation	 	96	
 	 	116	
 	 	
Total Current Assets	 	210,295	
 	 	183,674	

Property, Plant, and Equipment, at Cost	 	117,922	
 	 	118,902	
 	 	
Less: accumulated depreciation and amortization	 	75,230	
 	 	73,937	
 	 	
 	 	42,692	
 	 	44,965	

Other Assets	 	8,959	
 	 	10,272	

Intangible Assets, Net (Note 1)	 	39,933	
 	 	46,954	

Goodwill	 	121,007	
 	 	127,882	

Total Assets	 	$	422,886	
 	 	$	413,747	

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

2

KADANT INC.
Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheet (continued)
(Unaudited)

Liabilities and Stockholders' Equity

 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	October 3,
2015	 	January 3,
2015	 	
(In thousands, except share amounts)	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	
Current Liabilities:	 	 	 	 	 	
Short-term obligations (Note 5)	 	$	5,375	
 	 	$	611	
 	 	
Accounts payable	 	27,199	
 	 	27,233	
 	 	
Accrued payroll and employee benefits	 	17,561	
 	 	19,943	
 	 	
Customer deposits	 	31,167	
 	 	18,452	
 	 	
Other current liabilities	 	20,550	
 	 	20,718	
 	 	
Liabilities of discontinued operation	 	100	
 	 	213	
 	 	
Total Current Liabilities	 	101,952	
 	 	87,170	

Other Long-Term Liabilities	 	34,060	
 	 	35,868	

Long-Term Obligations (Note 5)	 	24,000	
 	 	25,250	

Commitments and Contingencies (Note 12)	 	—	
 	 	—	

Stockholders' Equity:	 	 	

Preferred stock, $.01 par value, 5,000,000 shares authorized; none issued	 	—	
 	 	—	
 	 	
Common stock, $.01 par value, 150,000,000 shares authorized; 14,624,159 shares issued	 	146	
 	 	146	
 	 	
Capital in excess of par value	 	99,271	
 	 	98,769	
 	 	
Retained earnings	 	288,704	
 	 	270,249	
 	 	
Treasury stock at cost, 3,844,352 and 3,760,019 shares	 	(93,829	)	 	(87,727	)	 	
Accumulated other comprehensive items (Note 8)	 	(32,723	)	 	(17,146	)	 	
Total Kadant Stockholders' Equity	 	261,569	
 	 	264,291	
 	 	
Noncontrolling interest	 	1,305	
 	 	1,168	
 	 	
Total Stockholders' Equity	 	262,874	
 	 	265,459	

Total Liabilities and Stockholders' Equity	 	$	422,886	
 	 	$	413,747	

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

3

KADANT INC.
Condensed Consolidated Statement of Income
(Unaudited)

 	 	Three Months Ended	 	
 	 	October 3,
2015	 	September 27,
2014	 	
(In thousands, except per share amounts)	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	
Revenues	 	$	91,929	
 	 	$	98,719	

Costs and Operating Expenses:	 	 	

Cost of revenues	 	48,261	
 	 	54,607	
 	 	
Selling, general, and administrative expenses	 	29,200	
 	 	31,872	
 	 	
Research and development expenses	 	1,787	
 	 	1,555	
 	 	
Restructuring costs	 	—	
 	 	534	
 	 	
 	 	79,248	
 	 	88,568	

Operating Income	 	12,681	
 	 	10,151	

Interest Income	 	54	
 	 	42	
 	 	
Interest Expense	 	(239	)	 	(210	)	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	
Income from Continuing Operations Before Provision for Income Taxes	 	12,496	
 	 	9,983	
 	 	
Provision for Income Taxes	 	3,782	
 	 	3,246	

Income from Continuing Operations	 	8,714	
 	 	6,737	
 	 	
Loss from Discontinued Operation (net of income tax benefit of $2 and $3)	 	(4	)	 	(4	)	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	
Net Income	 	8,710	
 	 	6,733	

Net Income Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest	 	(67	)	 	(86	)	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	
Net Income Attributable to Kadant	 	$	8,643	
 	 	$	6,647	

Amounts Attributable to Kadant:	 	 	

Income from Continuing Operations	 	$	8,647	
 	 	$	6,651	
 	 	
Loss from Discontinued Operation	 	(4	)	 	(4	)	 	
Net Income Attributable to Kadant	 	$	8,643	
 	 	$	6,647	

Earnings per Share from Continuing Operations Attributable to Kadant (Note 3):	 	 	

Basic	 	$	0.80	
 	 	$	0.61	
 	 	
Diluted	 	$	0.78	
 	 	$	0.60	

Earnings per Share Attributable to Kadant (Note 3):	 	 	

Basic	 	$	0.80	
 	 	$	0.61	
 	 	
Diluted	 	$	0.78	
 	 	$	0.60	

Weighted Average Shares (Note 3):	 	 	

Basic	 	10,861	
 	 	10,898	
 	 	
Diluted	 	11,096	
 	 	11,133	

Cash Dividend Declared per Common Share	 	$	0.17	
 	 	$	0.15	

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

4

KADANT INC.
Condensed Consolidated Statement of Income
(Unaudited)

 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	Nine Months Ended	 	
 	 	October 3,
2015	 	September 27,
2014	 	
(In thousands, except per share amounts)	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	
Revenues	 	$	282,507	
 	 	$	296,921	

Costs and Operating Expenses:	 	 	

Cost of revenues	 	148,775	
 	 	165,547	
 	 	
Selling, general, and administrative expenses	 	92,490	
 	 	95,942	
 	 	
Research and development expenses	 	5,247	
 	 	4,696	
 	 	
Restructuring costs (Note 2)	 	300	
 	 	928	
 	 	
 	 	246,812	
 	 	267,113	

Operating Income	 	35,695	
 	 	29,808	

Interest Income	 	150	
 	 	346	
 	 	
Interest Expense	 	(701	)	 	(766	)	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	
Income from Continuing Operations Before Provision for Income Taxes	 	35,144	
 	 	29,388	
 	 	
Provision for Income Taxes (Note 4)	 	10,964	
 	 	9,468	

Income from Continuing Operations	 	24,180	
 	 	19,920	
 	 	
Income (Loss) from Discontinued Operation (net of income tax (provision) benefit of $(36) and $11)	 	56	
 	 	(18	)	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	
Net Income	 	24,236	
 	 	19,902	

Net Income Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest	 	(232	)	 	(344	)	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	
Net Income Attributable to Kadant	 	$	24,004	
 	 	$	19,558	

Amounts Attributable to Kadant:	 	 	

Income from Continuing Operations	 	$	23,948	
 	 	$	19,576	
 	 	
Income (Loss) from Discontinued Operation	 	56	
 	 	(18	)	 	
Net Income Attributable to Kadant	 	$	24,004	
 	 	$	19,558	

Earnings per Share from Continuing Operations Attributable to Kadant (Note 3):	 	 	

Basic	 	$	2.20	
 	 	$	1.78	
 	 	
Diluted	 	$	2.15	
 	 	$	1.74	

Earnings per Share Attributable to Kadant (Note 3):	 	 	

Basic	 	$	2.20	
 	 	$	1.77	
 	 	
Diluted	 	$	2.16	
 	 	$	1.74	

Weighted Average Shares (Note 3):	 	 	

Basic	 	10,900	
 	 	11,026	
 	 	
Diluted	 	11,119	
 	 	11,231	

Cash Dividends Declared per Common Share	 	$	0.51	
 	 	$	0.45	

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

5

KADANT INC.
Condensed Consolidated Statement of Comprehensive Income
(Unaudited)

 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	Three Months Ended	 	Nine Months Ended	 	
 	 	October 3,
2015	 	September 27,
2014	 	October 3,
2015	 	September 27,
2014	 	
(In thousands)	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
Net Income	 	$	8,710	
 	 	$	6,733	
 	 	$	24,236	
 	 	$	19,902	

Other Comprehensive Items:	 	 	

 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	
Foreign Currency Translation Adjustment	 	(6,263	)	 	(7,474	)	 	(16,101	)	 	(7,652	)	 	 	 	
Pension and Other Post-Retirement Liability Adjustments (net of tax provision of $66 and $221 in the three and nine months ended October 3, 2015, respectively, and $57 and $118 in the three and nine months ended September 27, 2014, respectively)	 	124	
 	 	105	
 	 	412	
 	 	215	
 	 	 	 	
Deferred Gain (Loss) on Hedging Instruments (net of tax (benefit) provision of ($43) and $35 in the three and nine months ended October 3, 2015, respectively, and $41 and $93 in the three and nine months ended September 27, 2014, respectively)	 	97	
 	 	(66	)	 	17	
 	 	(73	)	 	 	 	
Other Comprehensive Items	 	(6,042	)	 	(7,435	)	 	(15,672	)	 	(7,510	)	 	 	 	
Comprehensive Income (Loss)	 	2,668	
 	 	(702	)	 	8,564	
 	 	12,392	
 	 	 	 	
Comprehensive Income Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest	 	(78	)	 	(8	)	 	(137	)	 	(259	)	 	 	 	
Comprehensive Income (Loss) Attributable to Kadant	 	$	2,590	
 	 	$	(710	)	 	$	8,427	
 	 	$	12,133	

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

6

KADANT INC.
Condensed Consolidated Statement of Cash Flows
(Unaudited)

 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	Nine Months Ended	 	
 	 	October 3,
2015	 	September 27,
2014	 	
(In thousands)	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	
Operating Activities:	 	 	 	 	 	
Net income attributable to Kadant	 	$	24,004	
 	 	$	19,558	
 	 	
Net income attributable to noncontrolling interest	 	232	
 	 	344	
 	 	
(Income) loss from discontinued operation	 	(56	)	 	18	
 	 	
Income from continuing operations	 	24,180	
 	 	19,920	
 	 	
Adjustments to reconcile income from continuing operations to net cash provided by operating activities:	 	 	

Depreciation and amortization	 	8,247	
 	 	8,558	
 	 	
Stock-based compensation expense	 	4,495	
 	 	4,251	
 	 	
Tax benefits from stock-based compensation awards	 	(875	)	 	(711	)	 	
Provision for losses on accounts receivable	 	205	
 	 	283	
 	 	
Loss (gain) on the sale of property, plant, and equipment	 	3	
 	 	(158	)	 	
Other items, net	 	(91	)	 	1,184	
 	 	
Contributions to pension plan	 	(810	)	 	(810	)	 	
Changes in current assets and liabilities, net of effects of acquisitions:	 	 	

Accounts receivable	 	(2,052	)	 	935	
 	 	
Unbilled contract costs and fees	 	(2,601	)	 	(1,414	)	 	
Inventories	 	(16,045	)	 	3,189	
 	 	
Other current assets	 	(1,529	)	 	(272	)	 	
Accounts payable	 	813	
 	 	459	
 	 	
Other current liabilities	 	11,641	
 	 	(5,012	)	 	
Net cash provided by continuing operations	 	25,581	
 	 	30,402	
 	 	
Net cash (used in) provided by discontinued operation	 	(36	)	 	2	
 	 	
Net cash provided by operating activities	 	25,545	
 	 	30,404	

Investing Activities:	 	 	

Acquisitions, net of cash acquired	 	—	
 	 	(2,974	)	 	
Purchases of property, plant, and equipment	 	(4,068	)	 	(3,145	)	 	
Proceeds from sale of property, plant, and equipment	 	33	
 	 	231	
 	 	
Net cash used in continuing operations for investing activities	 	(4,035	)	 	(5,888	)	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	
Financing Activities:	 	 	

Proceeds from issuance of long-term obligations	 	20,000	
 	 	15,401	
 	 	
Repayments of short-and long-term obligations	 	(16,486	)	 	(30,709	)	 	
Purchases of Company common stock	 	(8,920	)	 	(13,159	)	 	
Dividends paid	 	(5,346	)	 	(4,706	)	 	
Proceeds from issuance of Company common stock	 	285	
 	 	639	
 	 	
Change in restricted cash	 	(368	)	 	(437	)	 	
Tax benefits from stock-based compensation awards	 	875	
 	 	711	
 	 	
Net cash used in continuing operations for financing activities	 	(9,960	)	 	(32,260	)	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	
Exchange Rate Effect on Cash and Cash Equivalents from Continuing Operations	 	(786	)	 	(1,167	)	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	
Increase (Decrease) in Cash and Cash Equivalents from Continuing Operations	 	10,764	
 	 	(8,911	)	 	
Cash and Cash Equivalents at Beginning of Period	 	45,378	
 	 	50,032	
 	 	
Cash and Cash Equivalents at End of Period	 	$	56,142	
 	 	$	41,121	

See Note 1 for supplemental cash flow information.
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these condensed consolidated financial statements.

7

KADANT INC.
Condensed Consolidated Statement of Stockholders' Equity
(Unaudited)

 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
(In thousands, except share amounts)	 	Common
Stock	 	Capital in
Excess of Par Value	 	Retained Earnings	 	Treasury
Stock	 	Accumulated
Other
Comprehensive Items	 	Noncontrolling Interest	 	Total
Stockholders' Equity	 	
 	 	Shares	 	Amount	 	 	 	 	 	Shares	 	Amount	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
Balance at December 28, 2013	 	14,624,159	
 	 	$	146	
 	 	$	96,809	
 	 	$	248,170	
 	 	3,524,742	
 	 	$	(76,339	)	 	$	710	
 	 	$	925	
 	 	$	270,421	

Net income	 	—	
 	 	—	
 	 	—	
 	 	19,558	
 	 	—	
 	 	—	
 	 	—	
 	 	344	
 	 	19,902	

Dividends declared	 	—	
 	 	—	
 	 	—	
 	 	(4,950	)	 	—	
 	 	—	
 	 	—	
 	 	—	
 	 	(4,950	)	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
Activity under stock plans	 	—	
 	 	—	
 	 	(280	)	 	—	
 	 	(142,591	)	 	3,112	
 	 	—	
 	 	—	
 	 	2,832	

Tax benefits related to employees' and directors' stock plans	 	—	
 	 	—	
 	 	712	
 	 	—	
 	 	—	
 	 	—	
 	 	—	
 	 	—	
 	 	712	

Purchases of Company common stock	 	—	
 	 	—	
 	 	—	
 	 	—	
 	 	355,135	
 	 	(13,159	)	 	—	
 	 	—	
 	 	(13,159	)	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
Other comprehensive items	 	—	
 	 	—	
 	 	—	
 	 	—	
 	 	—	
 	 	—	
 	 	(7,425	)	 	(85	)	 	(7,510	)	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
Balance at September 27, 2014	 	14,624,159	
 	 	$	146	
 	 	$	97,241	
 	 	$	262,778	
 	 	3,737,286	
 	 	$	(86,386	)	 	$	(6,715	)	 	$	1,184	
 	 	$	268,248	

Balance at January 3, 2015	 	14,624,159	
 	 	$	146	
 	 	$	98,769	
 	 	$	270,249	
 	 	3,760,019	
 	 	$	(87,727	)	 	$	(17,146	)	 	$	1,168	
 	 	$	265,459	

Net income	 	—	
 	 	—	
 	 	—	
 	 	24,004	
 	 	—	
 	 	—	
 	 	—	
 	 	232	
 	 	24,236	

Dividends declared	 	—	
 	 	—	
 	 	—	
 	 	(5,549	)	 	—	
 	 	—	
 	 	—	
 	 	—	
 	 	(5,549	)	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
Activity under stock plans	 	—	
 	 	—	
 	 	(373	)	 	—	
 	 	(120,427	)	 	2,818	
 	 	—	
 	 	—	
 	 	2,445	

Tax benefits related to employees' and directors' stock plans	 	—	
 	 	—	
 	 	875	
 	 	—	
 	 	—	
 	 	—	
 	 	—	
 	 	—	
 	 	875	

Purchases of Company common stock	 	—	
 	 	—	
 	 	—	
 	 	—	
 	 	204,760	
 	 	(8,920	)	 	—	
 	 	—	
 	 	(8,920	)	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
Other comprehensive items	 	—	
 	 	—	
 	 	—	
 	 	—	
 	 	—	
 	 	—	
 	 	(15,577	)	 	(95	)	 	(15,672	)	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
Balance at October 3, 2015	 	14,624,159	
 	 	$	146	
 	 	$	99,271	
 	 	$	288,704	
 	 	3,844,352	
 	 	$	(93,829	)	 	$	(32,723	)	 	$	1,305	
 	 	$	262,874	

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

8

KADANT INC.
Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements
(Unaudited)

1
1.    Nature of Operations and Summary of Significant Accounting Policies

Nature of Operations
Kadant Inc. (collectively, "we," "Kadant," "the Company," or "the Registrant") was incorporated in Delaware in November 1991 and currently trades on the New York Stock Exchange under the ticker symbol "KAI."

The Company and its subsidiaries' continuing operations include two reportable operating segments, Papermaking Systems and Wood Processing Systems, and a separate product line, Fiber-based Products.

Through its Papermaking Systems segment, the Company develops, manufactures, and markets a range of equipment and products primarily for the global papermaking, paper recycling, and process industries. The Company's principal products in this segment include custom-engineered stock-preparation systems and equipment for the preparation of wastepaper for conversion into recycled paper; fluid-handling systems used primarily in the dryer section of the papermaking process and during the production of corrugated boxboard, metals, plastics, rubber, textiles, chemicals, and food; doctoring systems and equipment and related consumables important to the efficient operation of machines used in papermaking and other process industries; and cleaning and filtration systems essential for draining, filtering, and recycling process water and cleaning paper machine fabrics and rolls.

Through its Wood Processing Systems segment, the Company designs and manufactures stranders and related equipment used in the production of oriented strand board, an engineered wood panel product used primarily in home construction. This segment also supplies debarking and wood chipping equipment used in the forest products and the pulp and paper industries.

Through its Fiber-based Products business, the Company manufactures and sells granules derived from papermaking byproducts primarily for use as agricultural carriers and for home lawn and garden applications, as well as for oil and grease absorption.

Interim Financial Statements
The interim condensed consolidated financial statements and related notes presented have been prepared by the Company, are unaudited, and, in the opinion of management, reflect all adjustments of a normal recurring nature necessary for a fair statement of the Company's financial position at October 3, 2015 and its results of operations, comprehensive income, cash flows, and stockholders' equity, for the three and nine month periods ended October 3, 2015 and September 27, 2014. Interim results are not necessarily indicative of results for a full year or for any other interim period.

The condensed consolidated balance sheet presented as of January 3, 2015 has been derived from the consolidated financial statements contained in the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended January 3, 2015. The condensed consolidated financial statements and related notes are presented as permitted by the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) rules and regulations for Form 10-Q and do not contain certain information included in the annual consolidated financial statements and related notes of the Company. The condensed consolidated financial statements and notes included herein should be read in conjunction with the consolidated financial statements and related notes included in the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended January 3, 2015, filed with the SEC.

Fiscal Year
Typically, the Company's fiscal quarters and fiscal year consist of 13 and 52 weeks, respectively, ending on the Saturday closest to the end of the corresponding calendar quarter for the Company's first three fiscal quarters and on the Saturday closest to December 31 for the Company's fourth fiscal quarter and fiscal year. As a result of the difference between the fiscal and calendar periods, a 53rd week is added to the Company's fiscal year every five or six years. In a 53-week fiscal year, the Company's fourth fiscal quarter contains 14 weeks. The Company's fiscal year ended January 3, 2015 (fiscal 2014) contained 53 weeks and the Company's fiscal year ending January 2, 2016 (fiscal 2015) contains 52 weeks. Each quarter of fiscal 2014 and 2015 contains 13 weeks, except the fourth quarter of 2014, which contained 14 weeks.

9

KADANT INC.
Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements
(Unaudited)

1.    Nature of Operations and Summary of Significant Accounting Policies (continued)

Critical Accounting Policies
Critical accounting policies are defined as those that entail significant judgments and estimates, and could potentially result in materially different results under different assumptions and conditions. The Company believes that the most critical accounting policies upon which its financial position depends, and which involve the most complex or subjective decisions or assessments, concern revenue recognition and accounts receivable, warranty obligations, income taxes, the valuation of goodwill and intangible assets, inventories and pension obligations. A discussion of the application of these and other accounting policies is included in Notes 1 and 3 to the consolidated financial statements in the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended January 3, 2015.

Use of Estimates
The preparation of financial statements in conformity with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP) requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities, disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements, and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting period.

Although the Company makes every effort to ensure the accuracy of the estimates and assumptions used in the preparation of its condensed consolidated financial statements and in the application of accounting policies, if business conditions were different, or if the Company were to use different estimates and assumptions, it is possible that materially different amounts could be reported in the Company's condensed consolidated financial statements.

Supplemental Cash Flow Information

 	 	Nine Months Ended	
(In thousands)	 	October 3,
2015	 	September 27,
2014	
 	 	 	 	 	
Non-Cash Investing Activities:	 	 	 	 	
Fair Value of Assets Acquired	 	$	—	
 	 	$	5,635	
 	
Cash Paid for Acquired Businesses	 	—	
 	 	(3,648	)	
Liabilities Assumed of Acquired Businesses	 	$	—	
 	 	$	1,987	
 	
Non-Cash Financing Activities:	 	 	

Issuance of Company Common Stock	 	$	3,195	
 	 	$	2,957	
 	
Dividends Declared but Unpaid	 	$	1,833	
 	 	$	1,634	

Certain reclassifications have been made to prior periods to conform with current reporting. On the condensed consolidated statement of cash flows the tax benefits from stock-based compensation awards within operating activities have been reclassified from other items, net and are now presented separately.

Restricted Cash
As of October 3, 2015 and January 3, 2015, the Company had restricted cash of $724,000 and $415,000, respectively. This cash serves as collateral for bank guarantees primarily associated with providing assurance to customers that the Company will fulfill certain customer obligations entered into in the normal course of business. All the bank guarantees will expire by the end of 2015.

Banker's Acceptance Drafts
The Company's Chinese subsidiaries may receive banker's acceptance drafts from customers as payment for their trade accounts receivable. The banker's acceptance drafts are non-interest bearing obligations of the issuing bank and mature within six months of the origination date. The Company has the ability to sell the drafts at a discount to a third-party financial institution or transfer the drafts to vendors in settlement of current accounts payable prior to the scheduled maturity date. These drafts, which totaled $6,470,000 and $6,334,000 at October 3, 2015 and January 3, 2015, respectively, are included in accounts receivable in the accompanying condensed consolidated balance sheet until the subsidiary sells the drafts to a bank and receives

10

KADANT INC.
Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements
(Unaudited)

1.    Nature of Operations and Summary of Significant Accounting Policies (continued)

a discounted amount, transfers the banker's acceptance drafts in settlement of accounts payable prior to maturity, or obtains cash payment on the scheduled maturity dates.

Inventories
The components of inventories are as follows:

 	 	October 3,
2015	 	January 3,
2015	 	
(In thousands)	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	
Raw Materials and Supplies	 	$	24,781	
 	 	$	24,403	
 	 	
Work in Process	 	18,093	
 	 	11,259	
 	 	
Finished Goods	 	24,658	
 	 	19,561	
 	 	
 	 	$	67,532	
 	 	$	55,223	

Intangible Assets, Net
Acquired intangible assets are as follows:

 	 	October 3,
2015	 	January 3,
2015	 	
(In thousands)	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	
Indefinite-Lived Intangible Asset	 	$	8,100	
 	 	$	8,100	

Definite-Lived Intangible Assets, Gross	 	$	77,052	
 	 	$	77,052	
 	 	
Accumulated Amortization	 	(39,772	)	 	(35,901	)	 	
Currency Translation	 	(5,447	)	 	(2,297	)	 	
Definite-Lived Intangible Assets, Net	 	$	31,833	
 	 	$	38,854	

Total Intangible Assets, Net	 	$	39,933	
 	 	$	46,954	

Warranty Obligations
The Company provides for the estimated cost of product warranties at the time of sale based on the actual historical occurrence rates and repair costs, as well as knowledge of any specific warranty problems that indicate that projected warranty costs may vary from historical patterns. The Company typically negotiates the terms regarding warranty coverage and length of warranty depending on the products and applications. While the Company engages in extensive product quality programs and processes, the Company's warranty obligation is affected by product failure rates, repair costs, service delivery costs incurred in correcting a product failure, and supplier warranties on parts delivered to the Company. Should actual product failure rates, repair costs, service delivery costs, or supplier warranties on parts differ from the Company's estimates, revisions to the estimated warranty liability would be required.

The changes in the carrying amount of accrued warranty costs included in other current liabilities in the accompanying condensed consolidated balance sheet are as follows:

 	 	Nine Months Ended	
(In thousands)	 	October 3,
2015	 	September 27,
2014	
 	 	 	 	 	
Balance at beginning of period	 	$	3,875	
 	 	$	4,571	
 	
Provision	 	1,625	
 	 	1,681	
 	
Usage	 	(1,813	)	 	(2,016	)	
Currency translation	 	(226	)	 	(190	)	
Balance at end of period	 	$	3,461	
 	 	$	4,046	

11

KADANT INC.
Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements
(Unaudited)

1.    Nature of Operations and Summary of Significant Accounting Policies (continued)

Recent Accounting Pronouncements
Presentation of Financial Statements (Topic 205) and Property, Plant, and Equipment (Topic 360) Reporting Discontinued Operations and Disclosures of Disposals of Components of an Entity.  In April 2014, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) issued Accounting Standards Update (ASU) No. 2014-08, which provides new guidance on reporting discontinued operations and disclosures of disposals. Under the new guidance, only disposals representing a strategic shift in operations will be presented as discontinued operations. The new guidance also requires disclosure of the pre-tax income attributable to a disposal of a significant part of the company that does not qualify for discontinued operations reporting. The Company adopted this ASU in the first quarter of 2015 and it did not have an impact on the Company's consolidated financial position, results of operations or cash flows.

Revenue from Contracts with Customers (Topic 606) Section A-Summary and Amendments That Create Revenue from Contracts with Customers (Topic 606) and Other Assets and Deferred Costs-Contracts with Customers (Subtopic 340-40).  In May 2014, the FASB issued ASU No. 2014-09, which requires an entity to recognize the amount of revenue to which it expects to be entitled for the transfer of promised goods or services to customers. The new guidance provides a five-step analysis of transactions to determine when and how revenue is recognized. The ASU will replace most existing revenue recognition guidance in GAAP when it becomes effective. The new guidance is effective for the Company beginning in fiscal 2018. Early adoption is not permitted. The standard permits the use of either the retrospective or cumulative effect transition method. The Company is currently evaluating the effect that ASU No. 2014-09 will have on its consolidated financial statements and related disclosures. The Company has not yet selected a transition method nor has it determined the effect of the standard on its ongoing financial reporting.

Compensation-Stock Compensation (Topic 718) Accounting for Share-Based Payments When the Terms of an Award Provide That a Performance Target Could Be Achieved after the Requisite Service Period.  In June 2014, the FASB issued ASU No. 2014-12, which clarifies the proper method of accounting for share-based payments when the terms of an award provide that a performance target could be achieved after the requisite service period. Under the new guidance, a performance target that affects vesting and could be achieved after completion of the service period should be treated as a performance condition under FASB Accounting Standards Codification (ASC) 718 and, as a result, should not be included in the estimation of the grant-date fair value of the award. An entity should recognize compensation cost for the award when it becomes probable that the performance target will be achieved. In the event that an entity determines that it is probable that a performance target will be achieved before the end of the service period, the compensation cost of the award should be recognized prospectively over the remaining service period. The new guidance is effective for the Company beginning in fiscal 2016. Early adoption is permitted. Adoption of this ASU is not expected to have a material impact on the Company's consolidated financial position, results of operations or cash flows.

Preparation of Financial Statements - Going Concern (Subtopic 205-40), Disclosure of Uncertainties about an Entity’s Ability to Continue as a Going Concern.  In August 2014, the FASB issued ASU No. 2014-15, which states that under GAAP, continuation of a reporting entity as a going concern is presumed as the basis for preparing financial statements unless and until the entity’s liquidation becomes imminent. If and when an entity’s liquidation becomes imminent, financial statements should be prepared under the liquidation basis of accounting. Even when an entity’s liquidation is not imminent, there may be conditions or events that raise substantial doubt about the entity’s ability to continue as a going concern. In those situations, financial statements should continue to be prepared under the going concern basis of accounting, but the amendments in this ASU should be followed to determine whether to disclose information about the relevant conditions and events. The new guidance is effective for the Company beginning in fiscal 2017, and for annual periods and interim periods thereafter. Early adoption is permitted. The Company will evaluate the going concern considerations in this ASU; however, management does not currently believe that the Company will meet the conditions that would subject its financial statements to additional disclosure.

Income Statement-Extraordinary and Unusual Items (Subtopic 225-20), Simplifying Income Statement Presentation by Eliminating the Concept of Extraordinary Items.  In January 2015, the FASB issued ASU No. 2015-01, which eliminates the concept of extraordinary items in an entity’s income statement. Extraordinary classification of an item outside of income from continuing operations was previously considered only when evidence clearly supported its classification as an extraordinary item. Extraordinary items were events and transactions that were distinguished by their unusual nature and by the infrequency of their occurrence. The ASU eliminates the need to separately classify, present, and disclose extraordinary events. The disclosure of events or transactions that are unusual or infrequent in nature will be included in other guidance. This new guidance is effective for the Company beginning in fiscal 2016. Early adoption is permitted. Adoption of this ASU is not expected to have a material impact on the Company's consolidated financial position, results of operations or cash flows.

12

KADANT INC.
Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements
(Unaudited)

1.    Nature of Operations and Summary of Significant Accounting Policies (continued)

Interest-Imputation of Interest (Subtopic 835-30): Simplifying the Presentation of Debt Issuance Costs. In April 2015, the FASB issued ASU No. 2015-03, which requires that debt issuance costs related to a recognized debt liability be presented in the balance sheet as a direct deduction from the carrying amount of that debt liability, consistent with debt discounts. The recognition and measurement guidance for debt issuance costs are not affected by the amendments in this ASU. This new disclosure guidance is effective for the Company beginning in fiscal 2016. Adoption of this ASU is not expected to have a material impact on the Company's consolidated financial position, results of operations or cash flows.

Compensation-Retirement Benefits (Topic 715): Practical Expedient for the Measurement Date of an Employer’s Defined Benefit Obligation and Plan Assets.  In April 2015, the FASB issued ASU No. 2015-04, which provides a practical expedient that permits the entity to measure defined benefit plan assets and obligations using the month-end that is closest to the entity’s fiscal year-end and apply that practical expedient consistently from year to year. The practical expedient should be applied consistently to all plans if an entity has more than one plan. If a contribution or significant event (such as a plan amendment, settlement, or curtailment that calls for a remeasurement in accordance with existing requirements) occurs between the month-end date used to measure defined benefit plan assets and obligations and an entity’s fiscal year-end, the entity should adjust the measurement of defined benefit plan assets and obligations to reflect the effects of those contributions or significant events. However, an entity should not adjust the measurement of defined benefit plan assets and obligations for other events that occur between the month-end measurement and the entity’s fiscal year-end that are not caused by the entity (for example, changes in market prices or interest rates). This new guidance is effective for the Company beginning in fiscal 2016. Adoption of this ASU is not expected to have a material impact on the Company's consolidated financial position, results of operations or cash flows.

Intangibles-Goodwill and Other-Internal-Use Software (Subtopic 350-40), Customer’s Accounting for Fees Paid in a Cloud Computing Arrangement . In April 2015, the FASB issued ASU No. 2015-05, which provides guidance to customers about whether a cloud computing arrangement includes a software license. If a cloud computing arrangement includes a software license, then the customer should account for the software license element of the arrangement consistent with the acquisition of other software licenses. If a cloud computing arrangement does not include a software license, the customer should account for the arrangement as a service contract. This new guidance is effective for the Company beginning in fiscal 2016. Adoption of this ASU is not expected to have a material impact on the Company's consolidated financial position, results of operations or cash flows.

Inventory (Topic 330), Simplifying the Measurement of Inventory. In July 2015, the FASB issued ASU No. 2015-11, which requires that an entity measure inventory within the scope of this ASU at the lower of cost or net realizable value. Net realizable value is the estimated selling price in the ordinary course of business, less reasonably predictable costs of completion, disposal, and transportation. Substantial and unusual losses that result from subsequent measurement of inventory should be disclosed in the financial statements. This new guidance is effective for the Company beginning in fiscal 2017. The Company is currently evaluating the effect that adoption of ASU No. 2015-11 will have on the Company's consolidated financial position, results of operations or cash flows.

Business Combinations (Topic 805), Simplifying the Accounting for Measurement-Period Adjustments. In September 2015, the FASB issued ASU No. 2015-16, which requires that an acquirer recognize adjustments to provisional amounts that are identified during the measurement period in the reporting period in which the adjustment amounts are determined. The acquirer is required to record, in the same period’s financial statements, the effect on earnings of changes in depreciation, amortization, or other income effects, if any, as a result of the change to the provisional amounts, calculated as if the accounting had been completed at the acquisition date. In addition, an entity is required to present, separately on the face of the income statement or through disclose in the notes, the portion of the amount recorded in current-period earnings by line item that would have been recorded in previous reporting periods if the adjustment to the provisional amounts had been recognized as of the acquisition date. This new guidance is effective for the Company beginning in fiscal 2016. Adoption of this ASU is not expected to have a material impact on the Company's consolidated financial position, results of operations or cash flows.

13

KADANT INC.
Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements
(Unaudited)

2.    Restructuring Costs

In the first nine months of 2015, the Company's Papermaking Systems segment recorded restructuring costs of $300,000 for severance costs associated with the reduction of nine employees in Canada and Sweden. These actions were taken to streamline the Company's operations in those locations.

In the first nine months of 2014, the Company's Papermaking Systems segment recorded total restructuring costs of $928,000, including facility-related costs of $553,000 and severance and associated costs of $375,000.

A summary of the changes in accrued restructuring costs are as follows:

(In thousands) 	 	Severance
Costs	

 	 	 	
Balance at January 3, 2015	 	$	103	
 	
Provision	 	300	
 	
Usage	 	(194	)	
Currency translation	 	(15	)	
Balance at October 3, 2015	 	$	194	

The Company expects to pay the remaining accrued restructuring costs by the end of 2015.

3.    Earnings per Share

Basic and diluted earnings per share are calculated as follows:

 	 	Three Months Ended	 	Nine Months Ended	 	
 	 	October 3,
2015	 	September 27,
2014	 	October 3,
2015	 	September 27,
2014	 	
(In thousands, except per share amounts)	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
Amounts Attributable to Kadant:	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
Income from Continuing Operations	 	$	8,647	
 	 	$	6,651	
 	 	$	23,948	
 	 	$	19,576	
 	 	 	 	
(Loss) Income from Discontinued Operation	 	(4	)	 	(4	)	 	56	
 	 	(18	)	 	 	 	
Net Income	 	$	8,643	
 	 	$	6,647	
 	 	$	24,004	
 	 	$	19,558	

Basic Weighted Average Shares	 	10,861	
 	 	10,898	
 	 	10,900	
 	 	11,026	
 	 	 	 	
Effect of Stock Options, Restricted Stock Units and Employee Stock Purchase Plan	 	235	
 	 	235	
 	 	219	
 	 	205	
 	 	 	 	
Diluted Weighted Average Shares	 	11,096	
 	 	11,133	
 	 	11,119	
 	 	11,231	

Basic Earnings per Share:	 	 	

 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	
Continuing Operations	 	$	0.80	
 	 	$	0.61	
 	 	$	2.20	
 	 	$	1.78	
 	 	 	 	
Discontinued Operation	 	$	—	
 	 	$	—	
 	 	$	0.01	
 	 	$	—	
 	 	 	 	
Net Income per Basic Share	 	$	0.80	
 	 	$	0.61	
 	 	$	2.20	
 	 	$	1.77	

Diluted Earnings per Share:	 	 	

 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	
Continuing Operations	 	$	0.78	
 	 	$	0.60	
 	 	$	2.15	
 	 	$	1.74	
 	 	 	 	
Discontinued Operation	 	$	—	
 	 	$	—	
 	 	$	0.01	
 	 	$	—	
 	 	 	 	
Net Income per Diluted Share	 	$	0.78	
 	 	$	0.60	
 	 	$	2.16	
 	 	$	1.74	

Unvested restricted stock units equivalent to approximately 5,000 and 6,000 shares of common stock for the third quarters of 2015 and 2014, respectively, and approximately 31,000 and 44,000 shares of common stock for the first nine months

14

KADANT INC.
Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements
(Unaudited)

3.    Earnings per Share (continued)

of 2015 and 2014, respectively, were not included in the computation of diluted earnings per share because either the effect of their inclusion would have been anti-dilutive, or for unvested performance-based restricted stock units, the performance conditions had not been met as of the end of the reporting period.

4.    Provision for Income Taxes

The provision for income taxes was $10,964,000 and $9,468,000, in the first nine months of 2015 and 2014, respectively, and represented 31% and 32% of pre-tax income. The effective tax rate of 31% in the first nine months of 2015 was lower than the Company's statutory tax rate primarily due to the distribution of the Company's worldwide earnings and an adjustment to increase deferred tax assets, which was offset in part by an increase in non-deductible expenses, state tax expense, and the U.S. tax cost of foreign operations. The effective tax rate of 32% in the first nine months of 2014 was lower than the Company's statutory tax rate primarily due to the distribution of the Company's worldwide earnings, the release of tax reserves that resulted from the expiration of tax statutes of limitations, and the release of state tax reserves in the U.S. These tax benefits were offset in part by tax expense associated with an increase in nondeductible expenses and a reduction in deferred tax assets.

5.    Short- and Long-Term Obligations

Short- and long-term obligations are as follows:

 	 	October 3,
2015	 	January 3,
2015	 	
(In thousands)	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	
Revolving Credit Facility, due 2018	 	$	24,000	
 	 	$	20,000	
 	 	
Variable Rate Term Loan, due from 2015 to 2016	 	5,375	
 	 	5,750	
 	 	
Borrowings Under Overdraft	 	—	
 	 	111	
 	 	
Total Short- and Long-Term Obligations	 	29,375	
 	 	25,861	
 	 	
Less: Short-Term Obligations	 	(5,375	)	 	(611	)	 	
Long-Term Obligations	 	$	24,000	
 	 	$	25,250	

The weighted average interest rate for the Company's long-term obligations was 2.61% as of October 3, 2015.

The Company entered into a five-year unsecured revolving credit facility (2012 Credit Agreement) in the aggregate principal amount of up to $100,000,000 on August 3, 2012 and amended it on November 1, 2013. The 2012 Credit Agreement also includes an uncommitted unsecured incremental borrowing facility of up to an additional $50,000,000. The principal on any borrowings made under the 2012 Credit Agreement is due on November 1, 2018. Interest on any loans outstanding under the 2012 Credit Agreement accrues and is payable quarterly in arrears at one of the following rates selected by the Company: (i) the highest of (a) the federal funds rate plus 0.50% plus an applicable margin of 0% to 1%, (b) the prime rate, as defined, plus an applicable margin of 0% to 1% and (c) the Eurocurrency rate, as defined, plus 0.50% plus an applicable margin of 0% to 1% or (ii) the Eurocurrency rate, as defined, plus an applicable margin of 1% to 2%. The applicable margin is determined based upon the ratio of the Company's total debt to earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, and amortization (EBITDA), as defined in the 2012 Credit Agreement. For this purpose, total debt is defined as total debt less up to $25,000,000 of unrestricted U.S. cash. There were $24,000,000 of borrowings outstanding under the 2012 Credit Agreement at October 3, 2015.

The obligations of the Company under the 2012 Credit Agreement may be accelerated upon the occurrence of an event of default under the 2012 Credit Agreement, which includes customary events of default including without limitation payment defaults, defaults in the performance of affirmative and negative covenants, the inaccuracy of representations or warranties, bankruptcy- and insolvency-related defaults, defaults relating to such matters as the Employment Retirement Income Security Act, unsatisfied judgments, the failure to pay certain indebtedness, and a change of control default. In addition, the 2012 Credit Agreement contains negative covenants applicable to the Company and its subsidiaries, including financial covenants requiring the Company to comply with a maximum consolidated leverage ratio of 3.5 to 1, a minimum consolidated interest coverage ratio of 3 to 1, and restrictions on liens, indebtedness, fundamental changes, dispositions of property, making certain restricted payments (including dividends and stock repurchases), investments, transactions with affiliates, sale and leaseback transactions, swap agreements, changing its fiscal year, arrangements affecting subsidiary distributions, entering into new lines of business,

15

KADANT INC.
Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements
(Unaudited)

5.    Short- and Long-Term Obligations (continued)

and certain actions related to the discontinued operation. As of October 3, 2015, the Company was in compliance with these covenants.

Loans under the 2012 Credit Agreement are guaranteed by certain domestic subsidiaries of the Company pursuant to a Guarantee Agreement, effective August 3, 2012.

As of October 3, 2015, the Company had $73,874,000 of borrowing capacity available under the committed portion of its 2012 Credit Agreement. The amount the Company is able to borrow under the 2012 Credit Agreement is the total borrowing capacity of $100,000,000 less any outstanding borrowings, letters of credit and multi-currency borrowings issued under the 2012 Credit Agreement.

6.    Stock-Based Compensation

The Company recognized stock-based compensation expense of $1,254,000 and $1,440,000 in the third quarters of 2015 and 2014, respectively, and $4,495,000 and $4,251,000 in the first nine months of 2015 and 2014, respectively, within selling, general, and administrative (SG&A) expenses in the accompanying condensed consolidated statement of income. The Company recognizes compensation cost for all stock-based awards granted to employees and directors based on the grant date estimate of fair value for those awards. The fair value of restricted stock units (RSUs) is based on the grant date trading price of the Company's common stock, reduced by the present value of estimated dividends foregone during the requisite service period. For time-based RSUs, compensation expense is recognized ratably over the requisite service period for the entire award net of forfeitures. For performance-based RSUs, compensation expense is recognized ratably over the requisite service period for each separately vesting portion of the award net of forfeitures and remeasured at each reporting period until the total number of RSUs to be issued is known. Unrecognized compensation expense related to stock-based compensation totaled approximately $4,998,000 at October 3, 2015, and will be recognized over a weighted average period of 1.7 years.

7.    Employee Benefit Plans

The Company sponsors a noncontributory defined benefit retirement plan for the benefit of eligible employees at its Kadant Solutions division and its corporate office (included in the table below under "Pension Benefits"). The Company also sponsors a restoration plan for the benefit of certain executive officers who also participate in the noncontributory defined benefit retirement plan (included in the table below under "Other Benefits"). In addition, employees at certain of the Company's subsidiaries participate in defined benefit retirement and post-retirement welfare benefit plans (included in the table below under "Other Benefits").

The components of the net periodic benefit cost for the pension benefits and other benefits plans are as follows:

 	 	Three Months Ended 
 October 3, 2015	 	Three Months Ended 
 September 27, 2014	
(In thousands)	 	Pension
Benefits	 	Other
Benefits	 	Pension
Benefits	 	Other
Benefits	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
Components of Net Periodic Benefit Cost:	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
Service cost	 	$	211	
 	 	$	55	
 	 	$	213	
 	 	$	73	
 	
Interest cost	 	307	
 	 	62	
 	 	321	
 	 	74	
 	
Expected return on plan assets	 	(356	)	 	(10	)	 	(370	)	 	(12	)	
Recognized net actuarial loss	 	127	
 	 	17	
 	 	79	
 	 	9	
 	
Amortization of prior service cost	 	15	
 	 	22	
 	 	14	
 	 	22	
 	
Net periodic benefit cost	 	$	304	
 	 	$	146	
 	 	$	257	
 	 	$	166	

The weighted average assumptions used to determine net periodic benefit cost are as follows:	 	 	

Discount rate	 	3.87	%	 	3.72	%	 	4.79	%	 	4.28	%	
Expected long-term return on plan assets	 	5.25	%	 	—	
 	 	5.75	%	 	—	
 	
Rate of compensation increase	 	3.00	%	 	2.98	%	 	3.50	%	 	3.23	%	

16

KADANT INC.
Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements
(Unaudited)

7.    Employee Benefit Plans (continued)

 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	Nine Months Ended 
 October 3, 2015	 	Nine Months Ended 
 September 27, 2014	
(In thousands)	 	Pension
Benefits	 	Other
Benefits	 	Pension
Benefits	 	Other
Benefits	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
Components of Net Periodic Benefit Cost:	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
Service cost	 	$	633	
 	 	$	167	
 	 	$	639	
 	 	$	223	
 	
Interest cost	 	921	
 	 	190	
 	 	963	
 	 	220	
 	
Expected return on plan assets	 	(1,068	)	 	(31	)	 	(1,110	)	 	(36	)	
Recognized net actuarial loss	 	381	
 	 	52	
 	 	237	
 	 	27	
 	
Amortization of prior service cost	 	42	
 	 	68	
 	 	42	
 	 	67	
 	
Net periodic benefit cost	 	$	909	
 	 	$	446	
 	 	$	771	
 	 	$	501	

The weighted average assumptions used to determine net periodic benefit cost are as follows:	 	 	

Discount rate	 	3.87	%	 	3.74	%	 	4.79	%	 	4.28	%	
Expected long-term return on plan assets	 	5.25	%	 	—	
 	 	5.75	%	 	—	
 	
Rate of compensation increase	 	3.00	%	 	2.99	%	 	3.50	%	 	3.23	%	
    
The Company made cash contributions of $810,000 to its Kadant Solutions division's noncontributory defined benefit retirement plan in the first nine months of 2015 and expects to make cash contributions of $270,000 over the remainder of 2015. For the remaining pension and post-retirement welfare benefits plans, the Company does not expect to make cash contributions other than to fund current benefit payments.

8.    Accumulated Other Comprehensive Items

Comprehensive income combines net income and other comprehensive items, which represent certain amounts that are reported as components of stockholders' equity in the accompanying condensed consolidated balance sheet, including foreign currency translation adjustments, deferred losses and unrecognized prior service cost associated with pension and other post-retirement plans, and deferred losses on hedging instruments.

Changes in each component of accumulated other comprehensive items (AOCI), net of tax, in the accompanying condensed consolidated balance sheet are as follows:

(In thousands)	 	Foreign
Currency
Translation
Adjustment	 	Unrecognized
Prior Service
Cost	 	Deferred Loss
on Pension and
Other Post-
Retirement
Plans	 	Deferred Loss
on Hedging
Instruments	 	Accumulated
Other
Comprehensive
Items	
Balance at January 3, 2015	 	$	(7,371	)	 	$	(589	)	 	$	(8,394	)	 	$	(792	)	 	$	(17,146	)	
Other comprehensive (loss) income before reclassifications	 	(16,006	)	 	3	
 	 	57	
 	 	1,325	
 	 	(14,621	)	
Reclassifications from AOCI	 	—	
 	 	70	
 	 	282	
 	 	(1,308	)	 	(956	)	
Net current period other comprehensive  (loss) income	 	(16,006	)	 	73	
 	 	339	
 	 	17	
 	 	(15,577	)	
Balance at October 3, 2015	 	$	(23,377	)	 	$	(516	)	 	$	(8,055	)	 	$	(775	)	 	$	(32,723	)	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
Balance at December 28, 2013	 	$	8,919	
 	 	$	(657	)	 	$	(6,919	)	 	$	(633	)	 	$	710	
 	
Other comprehensive (loss) income before reclassifications	 	(7,567	)	 	(64	)	 	21	
 	 	153	
 	 	(7,457	)	
Reclassifications from AOCI	 	—	
 	 	86	
 	 	172	
 	 	(226	)	 	32	
 	
Net current period other comprehensive (loss) income	 	(7,567	)	 	22	
 	 	193	
 	 	(73	)	 	(7,425	)	
Balance at September 27, 2014	 	$	1,352	
 	 	$	(635	)	 	$	(6,726	)	 	$	(706	)	 	$	(6,715	)	

17

KADANT INC.
Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements
(Unaudited)

8.    Accumulated Other Comprehensive Items (continued)

Amounts reclassified out of AOCI are as follows:

 	 	Three Months Ended	 	Nine Months Ended	 	Statement of Income	
(In thousands)	 	October 3,
2015	 	September 27,
2014	 	October 3,
2015	 	September 27,
2014	 	Line Item	
Pension and Other Post-Retirement Plans: (1)	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	      	
Amortization of prior service cost	 	$	(37	)	 	$	(36	)	 	$	(110	)	 	$	(109	)	 	SG&A expenses	
Amortization of actuarial losses	 	(144	)	 	(88	)	 	(433	)	 	(264	)	 	SG&A expenses	
Total expense before income taxes	 	(181	)	 	(124	)	 	(543	)	 	(373	)	 	 	
Income tax benefit	 	64	
 	 	28	
 	 	191	
 	 	115	
 	 	Provision for income taxes	
 	 	(117	)	 	(96	)	 	(352	)	 	(258	)	 	 	
Cash Flow Hedges: (2)	 	 	

 	 	 	
 	 	      	
Interest rate swap agreements	 	(106	)	 	(83	)	 	(317	)	 	(251	)	 	Interest expense	
Forward currency-exchange contracts	 	—	
 	 	31	
 	 	—	
 	 	31	
 	 	Revenues	
Forward currency-exchange contracts	 	237	
 	 	701	
 	 	1,743	
 	 	423	
 	 	SG&A expenses	
Total income before income taxes	 	131	
 	 	649	
 	 	1,426	
 	 	203	
 	 	 	
Benefit (provision) for income taxes	 	6	
 	 	(74	)	 	(118	)	 	23	
 	 	Provision for income taxes	
 	 	137	
 	 	575	
 	 	1,308	
 	 	226	
 	 	 	
Total reclassifications	 	$	20	
 	 	$	479	
 	 	$	956	
 	 	$	(32	)	 	 	

(1)	Included in the computation of net periodic benefit costs. See Note 7 for additional information.	
 	 	
(2)	See Note 9 for additional information.	

9.    Derivatives

The Company uses derivative instruments primarily to reduce its exposure to changes in currency exchange rates and interest rates. When the Company enters into a derivative contract, the Company makes a determination as to whether the transaction is deemed to be a hedge for accounting purposes. For a contract 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. The changes in the fair value of a derivative not deemed to be a hedge are recorded currently in earnings. The Company does not hold or engage in transactions involving derivative instruments for purposes other than risk management.

ASC 815, "Derivatives and Hedging," requires that all derivatives be recognized on the balance sheet at fair value. For derivatives designated as cash flow hedges, the related gains or losses on these contracts are deferred as a component of accumulated other comprehensive items. These deferred gains and losses are recognized in the period in which the underlying anticipated transaction occurs. For derivatives designated as fair value hedges, the unrealized gains and losses resulting from the impact of currency exchange rate movements are recognized in earnings in the period in which the exchange rates change and offset the currency gains and losses on the underlying exposures being hedged. The Company performs an evaluation of the effectiveness of the hedge 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 the condensed consolidated statement of income.

18

KADANT INC.
Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements
(Unaudited)

9.    Derivatives (continued)

Interest Rate Swaps
On January 16, 2015, the Company entered into a swap agreement (2015 Swap Agreement) to hedge its exposure to movements in the three-month LIBOR rate on outstanding debt. The 2015 Swap Agreement expires on March 27, 2020 and has a $10,000,000 notional value. Under the 2015 Swap Agreement, on a quarterly basis, the Company receives a three-month LIBOR rate and pays a fixed rate of interest of 1.50% plus an applicable margin. The Company has designated the 2015 Swap Agreement as a cash flow hedge.

The Company entered into a swap agreement in 2006 (the 2006 Swap Agreement) to convert a portion of the Company's outstanding variable rate term loan from a floating to a fixed rate of interest. The 2006 Swap Agreement matures in 2016, has the same terms and quarterly payment dates as the corresponding debt, and reduces proportionately in line with the amortization of the debt. Under the 2006 Swap Agreement, the Company receives a three-month LIBOR rate and pays a fixed rate of interest of 5.63% plus an applicable margin.

The fair value for these instruments as of October 3, 2015 is included in other current and other long-term liabilities, with an offset to AOCI (net of tax) in the accompanying condensed consolidated balance sheet. The Company has structured the interest rate swap agreements to be 100% effective and as a result, there is no current impact to earnings resulting from hedge ineffectiveness. Management believes that any credit risk associated with the outstanding swap agreements is remote based on the Company's financial position and the creditworthiness of the financial institution issuing the swap agreements.

The counterparty to the swap agreements could demand an early termination of the swap agreements if the Company is in default under the 2012 Credit Agreement, or any agreement that amends or replaces the 2012 Credit Agreement in which the counterparty is a member, and the Company is unable to cure the default. An event of default under the 2012 Credit Agreement includes customary events of default and failure to comply with financial covenants, including a maximum consolidated leverage ratio of 3.5 to 1, and a minimum consolidated interest coverage ratio of 3 to 1. As of October 3, 2015, the Company was in compliance with these covenants. The net unrealized loss of $295,000 as of October 3, 2015, represents the estimated amount that the Company would pay to the counter-party in the event of an early termination.
Forward Currency-Exchange Contracts
The Company uses forward currency-exchange contracts primarily to hedge exposures resulting from fluctuations in currency exchange rates. Such exposures result primarily from portions of the Company's operations and assets and liabilities that are denominated in currencies other than the functional currencies of the businesses conducting the operations or holding the assets and liabilities. The Company typically manages its level of exposure to the risk of currency-exchange fluctuations by hedging a portion of its currency exposures anticipated over the ensuing 24-month period, using forward currency-exchange contracts that have maturities of 24 months or less.

Forward currency-exchange contracts that hedge forecasted foreign currency exposures are designated as cash flow hedges. The fair values for these instruments are included in other current assets and other assets for unrecognized gains and in other current liabilities and other long-term liabilities for unrecognized losses, with an offset in accumulated other comprehensive items (net of tax). For forward currency-exchange contracts that are designated as fair value hedges, the gain or loss on the derivative, as well as the offsetting loss or gain on the hedged item are recognized currently in earnings. The fair values of forward currency-exchange contracts that are not designated as hedges are recorded currently in earnings.

The Company recognized a gain of $46,000 and a loss of $2,000 in the third quarters of 2015 and 2014, respectively, and gains of $53,000 and $34,000 in the first nine months of 2015 and 2014, respectively, included in SG&A expenses, associated with forward currency-exchange contracts that were not designated as hedges. Management believes that any credit risk associated with forward currency-exchange contracts is remote based on the Company's financial position and the creditworthiness of the financial institutions issuing the contracts.

19

KADANT INC.
Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements
(Unaudited)

9.    Derivatives (continued)

The following table summarizes the fair values of the Company's derivative instruments designated and not designated as hedging instruments, the notional values of the associated derivative contracts, and the location of these instruments in the condensed consolidated balance sheet:

 	 	 	 	October 3, 2015	 	January 3, 2015	 	
 	 	Balance Sheet Location	 	Asset (Liability) (a)	 	Notional Amount (b)	 	Asset (Liability) (a)	 	Notional Amount	 	
(In thousands)	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
Derivatives Designated as Hedging Instruments:	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
Derivatives in an Asset Position:	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
Forward currency-exchange contracts	 	Other Current Assets	 	$	1,997	
 	 	$	14,907	
 	 	$	—	
 	 	$	—	
 	 	 	 	
Forward currency-exchange contracts	 	Other Assets	 	$	279	
 	 	$	1,513	
 	 	$	775	
 	 	$	17,012	
 	 	 	 	
Derivatives in a Liability Position:	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
Forward currency-exchange contracts	 	Other Current Liabilities	 	$	(41	)	 	$	2,718	
 	 	$	—	
 	 	$	—	
 	 	 	 	
Interest rate swap agreement	 	Other Current Liabilities	 	$	(168	)	 	$	5,375	
 	 	$	—	
 	 	$	—	
 	 	 	 	
Interest rate swap agreement	 	Other Long-Term Liabilities	 	$	(127	)	 	$	10,000	
 	 	$	(377	)	 	$	5,750	

Derivatives Not Designated as Hedging Instruments:	 	 	 	 	

 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	
Derivatives in an Asset Position:	 	 	 	 	

 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	
Forward currency-exchange contract	 	Other Current Assets	 	$	53	
 	 	$	758	
 	 	$	—	
 	 	$	—	
 	 	 	 	
Derivatives in a Liability Position:	 	 	 	 	

 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	
Forward currency-exchange contracts	 	Other Current Liabilities	 	$	(6	)	 	$	379	
 	 	$	(12	)	 	$	784	

 	 	
(a)	See Note 10 for the fair value measurements related to these financial instruments.	
 	 	
(b)	The total notional amount is indicative of the level of the Company's derivative activity during the first nine months of 2015.	

The following table summarizes the activity in AOCI associated with the Company's derivative instruments designated as cash flow hedges as of and for the period ended October 3, 2015:

(In thousands)	 	Interest Rate Swap
Agreements	 	Forward Currency-
Exchange
Contracts	 	Total	
Unrealized loss, net of tax, at January 3, 2015	 	$	(366	)	 	$	(426	)	 	$	(792	)	
Loss (gain) reclassified to earnings	 	204	
 	 	(1,512	)	 	(1,308	)	
(Loss) gain recognized in AOCI	 	(150	)	 	1,475	
 	 	1,325	
 	
Unrealized loss, net of tax, at October 3, 2015	 	$	(312	)	 	$	(463	)	 	$	(775	)	

As of October 3, 2015, $640,000 of the net unrealized loss included in AOCI is expected to be reclassified to earnings over the next twelve months.

20

KADANT INC.
Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements
(Unaudited)

10.    Fair Value Measurements

Fair value measurement is defined as the price that would be received for selling an asset or paid to transfer a liability in the principal or most advantageous market for the asset or liability in an orderly transaction between market participants at the measurement date. A fair value hierarchy is established, which prioritizes the inputs used in measuring fair value into three broad levels as follows:
 	 	
•	Level 1—Quoted prices in active markets for identical assets or liabilities.	
 	 	
•	Level 2—Inputs, other than the quoted prices in active markets, that are observable either directly or indirectly.	
 	 	
•	Level 3—Unobservable inputs based on the Company's own assumptions.	

The following table presents the fair value hierarchy for those assets and liabilities measured at fair value on a recurring basis:

 	 	Fair Value as of October 3, 2015	
(In thousands)	 	Level 1	 	Level 2	 	Level 3	 	Total	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
Assets:	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
Money market funds and time deposits	 	$	9,421	
 	 	$	—	
 	 	$	—	
 	 	$	9,421	
 	
Banker's acceptance drafts (a)	 	$	—	
 	 	$	6,470	
 	 	$	—	
 	 	$	6,470	
 	
Forward currency-exchange contracts	 	$	—	
 	 	$	2,329	
 	 	$	—	
 	 	$	2,329	

Liabilities:	 	 	

 	 	 	
 	
Forward currency-exchange contracts	 	$	—	
 	 	$	47	
 	 	$	—	
 	 	$	47	
 	
Interest rate swap agreements	 	$	—	
 	 	$	295	
 	 	$	—	
 	 	$	295	
 	
Contingent consideration (b)	 	$	—	
 	 	$	—	
 	 	$	1,117	
 	 	$	1,117	

 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	Fair Value as of January 3, 2015	
(In thousands)	 	Level 1	 	Level 2	 	Level 3	 	Total	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
Assets:	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
Money market funds and time deposits	 	$	9,264	
 	 	$	—	
 	 	$	—	
 	 	$	9,264	
 	
Banker's acceptance drafts (a)	 	$	—	
 	 	$	6,334	
 	 	$	—	
 	 	$	6,334	
 	
Forward currency-exchange contracts	 	$	—	
 	 	$	775	
 	 	$	—	
 	 	$	775	

Liabilities:	 	 	

 	 	 	
 	
Forward currency-exchange contracts	 	$	—	
 	 	$	12	
 	 	$	—	
 	 	$	12	
 	
Interest rate swap agreement	 	$	—	
 	 	$	377	
 	 	$	—	
 	 	$	377	
 	
Contingent consideration (b)	 	$	—	
 	 	$	—	
 	 	$	1,133	
 	 	$	1,133	

 	 	
(a)	Included in accounts receivable in the accompanying condensed consolidated balance sheet.	
 	 	
(b)	Included in other current liabilities in the accompanying condensed consolidated balance sheet.	

21

KADANT INC.
Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements
(Unaudited)

10.    Fair Value Measurements (continued)

The Company uses the market approach technique to value its financial assets and liabilities, and there were no changes in valuation techniques during the first nine months of 2015. The Company's financial assets and liabilities carried at fair value include cash equivalents, banker's acceptance drafts, and derivative instruments used to hedge the Company's foreign currency and interest rate risks. The Company's cash equivalents are comprised of money market funds and bank deposits that are highly liquid and easily tradable. These investments are valued using inputs observable in active markets for identical securities. The carrying value of the banker's acceptance drafts approximates their fair value due to the short-term nature of the negotiable instruments. The fair values of the Company's interest rate swap agreements are based on LIBOR yield curves at the reporting date. The fair values of the Company's forward currency-exchange contracts are based on quoted forward foreign exchange rates at the reporting date. The forward currency-exchange contracts and interest rate swap agreements are hedges of either recorded assets or liabilities or anticipated transactions. Changes in values of the underlying hedged assets and liabilities or anticipated transactions are not reflected in the table above. The Company recorded contingent consideration as part of its acquisition of a European manufacturer on December 30, 2013. The fair value of the contingent consideration is based on the present value of the estimated future cash flows. Changes to the fair value of the contingent consideration are recorded in SG&A expense.

The following table provides a rollforward of the fair value, as determined by Level 3 inputs, of the contingent consideration:

 	 	Nine Months Ended 
 October 3, 2015	
(In thousands)	 	 	
Balance at beginning of period	 	$	1,133	
 	
Current period expense	 	71	
 	
Currency translation	 	(87	)	
Balance at end of period	 	$	1,117	

The carrying value and fair value of the Company's long-term debt obligations are as follows:

 	 	October 3, 2015	 	January 3, 2015	 	
 	 	Carrying Value	 	Fair Value	 	Carrying Value	 	Fair Value	 	
(In thousands)	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
Long-term debt obligations	 	$	24,000	
 	 	$	24,000	
 	 	$	25,250	
 	 	$	25,250	

The carrying value of long-term debt obligations approximates fair value as the obligations bear variable rates of interest, which adjust quarterly based on prevailing market rates.

11.    Business Segment Information

The Company has combined its operating entities into two reportable operating segments, Papermaking Systems and Wood Processing Systems, and a separate product line, Fiber-based Products. In classifying operational entities into a particular segment, the Company aggregated businesses with similar economic characteristics, products and services, production processes, customers, and methods of distribution.

22

KADANT INC.
Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements
(Unaudited)

11.    Business Segment Information (continued)

 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	Three Months Ended	 	Nine Months Ended	
 	 	October 3,	 	September 27,	 	October 3,	 	September 27,	
(In thousands)	 	2015	 	2014	 	2015	 	2014	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
Revenues:	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
Papermaking Systems	 	$	80,789	
 	 	$	88,369	
 	 	$	248,069	
 	 	$	258,528	
 	
Wood Processing Systems	 	9,119	
 	 	8,480	
 	 	25,910	
 	 	29,590	
 	
Fiber-based Products	 	2,021	
 	 	1,870	
 	 	8,528	
 	 	8,803	
 	
 	 	$	91,929	
 	 	$	98,719	
 	 	$	282,507	
 	 	$	296,921	

Income from Continuing Operations Before Provision for Income Taxes:	 	 	

 	 	 	
 	
Papermaking Systems	 	$	14,246	
 	 	$	13,006	
 	 	$	41,559	
 	 	$	36,219	
 	
Wood Processing Systems	 	2,724	
 	 	1,648	
 	 	7,512	
 	 	4,497	
 	
Corporate and Fiber-based Products (a)	 	(4,289	)	 	(4,503	)	 	(13,376	)	 	(10,908	)	
Total Operating Income	 	12,681	
 	 	10,151	
 	 	35,695	
 	 	29,808	
 	
Interest Expense, Net	 	(185	)	 	(168	)	 	(551	)	 	(420	)	
 	 	$	12,496	
 	 	$	9,983	
 	 	$	35,144	
 	 	$	29,388	

Capital Expenditures:	 	 	

 	 	 	
 	
Papermaking Systems	 	$	1,258	
 	 	$	1,325	
 	 	$	3,412	
 	 	$	2,614	
 	
Other	 	159	
 	 	378	
 	 	656	
 	 	531	
 	
 	 	$	1,417	
 	 	$	1,703	
 	 	$	4,068	
 	 	$	3,145	

(a) Corporate primarily includes general and administrative expenses.

12.    Contingencies and Litigation

Right of Recourse
In the ordinary course of business, the Company's subsidiaries in China may receive banker's acceptance drafts from customers in payment of outstanding accounts receivable. These banker's acceptance drafts are non-interest bearing and mature within six months of the origination date. The Company's subsidiaries in China may use these banker's acceptance drafts prior to the scheduled maturity date to settle outstanding accounts payable with vendors. Banker's acceptance drafts transferred to vendors are subject to customary right of recourse provisions prior to their scheduled maturity date. As of October 3, 2015 and January 3, 2015, the Company had $8,003,000 and $5,642,000, respectively, of banker's acceptance drafts subject to recourse, which were transferred to vendors and had not reached their scheduled maturity dates. Historically, the banker's acceptance drafts have settled upon maturity without any claim of recourse against the Company.

General
From time to time, the Company is subject to various claims and legal proceedings covering a range of matters that arise in the ordinary course of business. Such litigation may include claims and counterclaims by and against the Company for breach of contract or warranty, canceled contracts, product liability, or bankruptcy-related claims. For legal proceedings in which a loss is probable and estimable, the Company accrues a loss based on the low end of the range of estimated loss when there is no better estimate within the range. If the Company were found to be liable for any of the claims or counterclaims against it, the Company would incur a charge against earnings for amounts in excess of legal accruals.

23

KADANT INC.

Item 2 – Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations

This Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q includes forward-looking statements that are not statements of historical fact, and may include statements regarding possible or assumed future results of operations. Forward-looking statements are subject to risks and uncertainties and are based on the beliefs and assumptions of our management, using information currently available to our management. When we use words such as "believes," "expects," "anticipates," "intends," "plans," "estimates," "seeks," "should," "likely," "will," "would," "may," "continue," "could," or similar expressions, we are making forward-looking statements.

Forward-looking statements are not guarantees of performance. They involve risks, uncertainties, and assumptions. Our future results of operations may differ materially from those expressed in the forward-looking statements. Many of the important factors that will determine these results and values are beyond our ability to control or predict. You should not put undue reliance on any forward-looking statements. We undertake no obligation to publicly update any forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new information, future events, or otherwise. For a discussion of important factors that may cause our actual results to differ materially from those suggested by the forward-looking statements, you should read carefully the section captioned "Risk Factors" in Part I, Item 1A, of the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended January 3, 2015 (fiscal 2014), as filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC).

Overview
Company Background
We are a leading global supplier of equipment used in process industries, including papermaking, paper recycling, and oriented strand board (OSB), an engineered wood panel product used primarily in home construction. In addition, we manufacture granules made from papermaking byproducts. We have a large customer base that includes most of the world's major paper and OSB producers. Our large installed base provides us with a spare parts and consumables business that has lower volatility and yields higher margins than our capital equipment business. In the first nine months of 2015, approximately 69% of our revenue was from the sale of parts and consumables products.

Our continuing operations are comprised of two reportable operating segments: Papermaking Systems and Wood Processing Systems, and a separate product line, Fiber-based Products. Through our Papermaking Systems segment, we develop, manufacture, and market a range of equipment and products for the global papermaking, paper recycling, and process industries. Through our Wood Processing Systems segment, we design, manufacture, and market stranders and related equipment used in the production of OSB, and sell debarking and wood chipping equipment used in the forest products and the pulp and paper industries. Through our Fiber-based Products business, we manufacture and sell granules derived from pulp fiber for use as carriers for agricultural, home lawn and garden, and professional lawn, turf and ornamental applications, as well as for oil and grease absorption.

Papermaking Systems Segment
Our Papermaking Systems segment consists of the following product lines: Stock-Preparation; Fluid-Handling; and Doctoring, Cleaning, & Filtration.

 	-	Stock-Preparation: custom-engineered systems and equipment, as well as standard individual components, for pulping, de-inking, screening, cleaning, and refining primarily recycled fiber for preparation for entry into the paper machine; and filtering, recausticizing, and evaporation equipment and systems used in the production of virgin pulp; 	
 	-	Fluid-Handling: rotary joints, precision unions, steam and condensate systems, components, and controls used primarily in the dryer section of the papermaking process and during the production of corrugated boxboard, metals, plastics, rubber, textiles, chemicals, and food; and	
 	-	Doctoring, Cleaning, & Filtration: doctoring systems and related consumables that continuously clean rolls to keep paper machines running efficiently; doctor blades made of a variety of materials to perform functions including cleaning, creping, web removal, flaking, and the application of coatings; profiling systems that control moisture, web curl, and gloss during paper converting; and systems and equipment used to continuously clean paper machine fabrics and rolls, drain water from pulp mixtures, form the sheet or web, and filter the process water for reuse. Doctoring and cleaning systems are also used in other industries, such as carbon fiber, textiles and food processing.	

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KADANT INC.

Overview (continued)

Wood Processing Systems Segment
Our principal wood-processing products include:

 	-	Stranders: disc and ring stranders and related parts and consumables that cut trees into strands for OSB production; 	
 	-	Rotary Debarkers: rotary debarkers and related parts and consumables that employ a combination of mechanical abrasion and log-to-log contact to efficiently remove bark from logs of all shapes and species; and	
 	-	Chippers: disc, drum, and veneer chippers and related parts and consumables that are high quality, robust chipper systems for waste-wood and whole-log applications found in pulp woodrooms, chip plants, and sawmill and planer mill sites.	
Fiber-based Products
We produce biodegradable, absorbent granules from papermaking byproducts for use primarily as carriers for agricultural, home lawn and garden, and professional lawn, turf and ornamental applications, as well as for oil and grease absorption.
International Sales
During the first nine months of 2015 and 2014, approximately 48% and 57%, respectively, of our sales were to customers outside the United States, principally in Europe and China. We generally charge our customers in the same currency in which our operating costs are incurred. However, our financial performance is affected by currency exchange rate fluctuations affecting the relationship between the U.S. dollar and foreign currencies as we convert the financial results of our foreign subsidiaries into U.S. dollars for reporting purposes. Our financial performance is also impacted by transaction gains and losses when our subsidiaries hold assets and liabilities or enter into contracts denominated in a currency other than their functional currency. We may enter into forward currency exchange contracts to hedge our exposure to holding foreign-denominated assets and liabilities, as well as our exposure on certain firm purchase and sale commitments denominated in currencies other than our subsidiaries' functional currencies.

Application of Critical Accounting Policies and Estimates
The discussion and analysis of our financial condition and results of operations are based upon our condensed consolidated financial statements, which have been prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States. The preparation of these condensed consolidated financial statements requires us to make estimates and assumptions that affect   the reported amounts of assets and liabilities, disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of our condensed consolidated financial statements, and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting period. Our actual results may differ from these estimates.

Critical accounting policies are defined as those that entail significant judgments and estimates, and could potentially result in materially different results under different assumptions and conditions. We believe that our most critical accounting policies, upon which our financial position depends and which involve the most complex or subjective decisions or assessments, are those described in "Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations" under the section captioned "Application of Critical Accounting Policies and Estimates" in Part II, Item 7, of our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended January 3, 2015, filed with the SEC. There have been no material changes to these critical accounting policies since fiscal year-end 2014 that warrant disclosure.

Industry and Business Outlook
Our products are primarily sold in global process industries, principally papermaking, paper recycling, and OSB. Our primary market is the papermaking and paper recycling industries. In fiscal 2014, 48% of our revenue was from the sale of products that support packaging and tissue production. Consumption of packaging, which is primarily comprised of containerboard and boxboard, is driven by many factors, including consumer spending on non-durable goods and demand for food and beverage packaging. Consumption of tissue is fairly stable and in the developed world tends to grow with the population. For both tissue and containerboard, growth rates in the developing world are expected to increase as per capita consumption of paper increases with rising standards of living. In fiscal 2014, 14% of our revenue was related to products that support printing and writing paper grades as well as newsprint, which have been negatively affected by the development and

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KADANT INC.

Overview (continued)

increased use of digital media. While we expect the decline in the use of newsprint and writing paper grades to continue due to the use of digital media, we expect global containerboard and tissue production to be stable or to increase. However, we also
expect that declines in printing and writing grades will have a negative impact on the construction of, or conversion to, new recycled tissue mills, as printing and writing wastepaper is the fiber source for those mills. In fiscal 2014, 10% of our revenue was from sales to OSB producers who manufacture panels for the housing industry. The majority of OSB demand is in North America, as North American houses are more often constructed of wood compared to other parts of the world. Demand for OSB is tied to new home construction and remodeling. The remainder of our revenue was from sales to other process industries, which in general grow with the overall economy.

Our results of operations continue to be significantly affected by foreign currency translation, which negatively impacted our revenues and bookings in the third quarter of 2015 compared to the third quarter of 2014. Recently, China's central bank has devalued the renminbi to boost the Chinese economy, which will have a negative translation impact on our future consolidated revenues and operating results if this trend continues. When we translate the local currency results of our foreign subsidiaries into U.S. dollars during a period in which the U.S. dollar is strengthening, our revenue, income, and expenses will reflect year-over-year decreases due to foreign currency translation. The negative effect on our financial results will continue if the U.S. dollar continues to strengthen relative to the functional currencies of our foreign subsidiaries. Similarly, if the U.S. dollar weakens compared to the functional currencies of our foreign subsidiaries, our revenue, income, and expenses will reflect year-over-year increases due to foreign currency translation. Some of this economic risk is mitigated when foreign subsidiaries have revenue and expenses in the same foreign currency. Further, certain foreign subsidiaries may hold U.S. dollar assets or liabilities which, as the U.S. dollar strengthens versus the applicable functional currencies, will result in currency transaction gains on assets or losses on liabilities. We have presented the material effects of foreign currency translation on our financial results in Item 2 under Results of Operations.
 
Our bookings decreased 2% to $99 million in the third quarter of 2015 compared to $100 million in the third quarter of 2014. This decrease included a $10 million, or 10%, decrease from the unfavorable effects of foreign currency translation, offset in part by a $2 million, or 2%, increase from an acquisition. Our revenue and income tends to be variable as demand for our capital equipment is dependent on regional economic conditions and the level of capital spending by our customers. Demand for our parts and consumables products tends to be more predictable. Bookings for our parts and consumables products were $61 million, or 61% of total bookings, in the third quarter of 2015, compared to $59 million, or 59% of total bookings, in the third quarter of 2014.

The largest and strongest market for our products continues to be North America. Our bookings in North America were $54 million in the third quarter of 2015, up 17% compared to the third quarter of 2014. According to American Forest & Paper Association reports, containerboard continued to see strong operating rates above 96% each month in the third quarter of 2015 while printing and writing grades saw shipments decline each month compared to the same period in the previous year. According to Freddie Mac's U.S. Economic and Housing Market Outlook for October 2015, home sales in 2015 are expected to be at the highest rates since 2007. Resource Information Systems Inc. (RISI) reported that U.S. housing starts edged up in the third quarter of 2015, and for the first nine months of 2015 housing starts are up 12% and building permits are up 13% according to a report published in the Wall Street Journal. This growth is expected to have a positive impact on demand for U.S. lumber and structural wood panels, which includes OSB. Our Stock-Preparation product line has benefited from virgin pulp mill upgrades for containerboard. On the other hand, our Doctoring, Cleaning, & Filtration product line experienced a significant revenue decline in the third quarter of 2015 compared to a strong third quarter of 2014 due to delays in capital bookings and shipments, as well as declining demand for printing and writing grades.

While the overall economy in Europe continues to be weak, we saw increased business activity in the third quarter of 2015 relative to the first half of this year. Our bookings in Europe increased 22% to $23 million in the third quarter of 2015 compared to the third quarter of 2014, and were up 8% sequentially, primarily due to a $7 million order for recycled fiber processing equipment to be used in the conversion of a mill in Southern Europe from printing and writing grades to packaging. Our bookings in Asia were $15 million in the third quarter of 2015, down 41% compared to a strong third quarter of 2014. Overcapacity continues to affect most paper grades in China. The over-capacity conditions and the most recent RISI forecasts of containerboard demand growth of approximately 2% per year for the next few years suggest new capital project activity may remain at reduced levels in the coming year in China. Our bookings in the rest of the world decreased 29% to $7 million in the third quarter of 2015 compared to the third quarter of 2014 and continue to be negatively affected by the recession in Brazil.

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KADANT INC.

Overview (continued)

We now expect lower revenues in fiscal 2015 in our Doctoring, Cleaning, & Filtration and Fluid-Handling product lines compared to our prior guidance, largely due to delays in capital bookings and shipments. In addition, the continued strengthening of the U.S. dollar since our last guidance has negatively impacted our full-year revenue and EPS guidance by an additional $3 million and $0.05 per diluted share, respectively. As a result, we are lowering our full year revenue guidance and now expect revenue of $388 to $390 million in 2015, revised from our previous guidance of $395 to $400 million. We are lowering our full year guidance for generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP) diluted EPS from continuing operations to $2.95 to $2.98, revised from our previous guidance of $3.05 to $3.11. For the fourth quarter of 2015, we expect to achieve GAAP diluted EPS from continuing operations of $0.79 to $0.82 on revenue of $105 to $107 million.

Results of Operations

Third Quarter 2015 Compared With Third Quarter 2014

The following table sets forth our unaudited condensed consolidated statement of income expressed as a percentage of total revenues from continuing operations for the third fiscal quarters of 2015 and 2014. The results of operations for the fiscal quarter ended October 3, 2015 are not necessarily indicative of the results to be expected for the full fiscal year.

 	 	Three Months Ended	
 	 	October 3,
2015	 	September 27,
2014	
 	 	 	 	 	
Revenues	 	100	%	 	100	%	
 	 	 	 	 	
Costs and Operating Expenses:	 	 	

Cost of revenues	 	53	
 	 	55	
 	
Selling, general, and administrative expenses	 	32	
 	 	32	
 	
Research and development expenses	 	2	
 	 	2	
 	
Restructuring costs	 	—	
 	 	1	
 	
 	 	87	
 	 	90	
 	
Operating Income	 	13	
 	 	10	
 	
Interest Income	 	—	
 	 	—	
 	
Interest Expense	 	—	
 	 	—	
 	
Income from Continuing Operations Before Provision for Income Taxes	 	13	
 	 	10	
 	
Provision for Income Taxes	 	4	
 	 	3	
 	
Income from Continuing Operations	 	9	%	 	7	%	

Revenues
Revenues for the third quarters of 2015 and 2014 were as follows:

 	 	Three Months Ended	 	
 	 	October 3,
2015	 	September 27,
2014	 	
(In thousands)	 	 	 	 	 	
Revenues:	 	 	 	 	 	
Papermaking Systems	 	$	80,789	
 	 	$	88,369	
 	 	
Wood Processing Systems	 	9,119	
 	 	8,480	
 	 	
Fiber-based Products	 	2,021	
 	 	1,870	
 	 	
 	 	$	91,929	
 	 	$	98,719	

Papermaking Systems Segment. Revenues decreased $7.6 million, or 9%, to $80.8 million in the third quarter of 2015 from $88.4 million in the third quarter of 2014, including a $6.7 million decrease from the unfavorable effects of foreign currency translation. Excluding the effects of foreign currency translation, revenues in our Papermaking Systems segment
decreased $0.9 million primarily due to decreased demand for our capital equipment, especially in Europe and China, offset in part by increased demand for our parts and consumables products in North America.

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KADANT INC.

Results of Operations (continued)
Wood Processing Systems Segment. Revenues increased $0.6 million, or 8%, to $9.1 million in the third quarter of 2015 from $8.5 million in the third quarter of 2014, including a $1.9 million decrease from the unfavorable effects of foreign currency exchange. Excluding the effects of foreign currency translation, revenues in our Wood Processing Systems segment increased $2.5 million, or 30%, due to increased demand for our parts and consumables products.

Papermaking Systems Segment by Product Line. The following table presents revenues for our Papermaking Systems segment by product line, the changes in revenues by product line between the third quarters of 2015 and 2014, and the changes in revenues by product line between the third quarters of 2015 and 2014 excluding the effect of foreign currency translation. The increase (decrease) in revenues excluding the effect of foreign currency translation represents the increase (decrease) resulting from the conversion of third quarter of 2015 revenues in local currency into U.S. dollars at third quarter of 2014 exchange rates, and then comparing this result to actual revenues in the third quarter of 2014. The presentation of the changes in revenues by product line excluding the effect of foreign currency translation is a non-GAAP measure. We believe this non-GAAP measure helps investors gain a more complete understanding of our underlying operations especially when comparing such results to prior periods. This non-GAAP measure should not be considered superior to or a substitute for the corresponding GAAP measure.

 	 	Three Months Ended	 	 	 	Increase (Decrease)
Excluding
Effect of Foreign Currency
Translation	

(In thousands)	 	October 3,
2015	 	September 27,
2014	 	Increase (Decrease)	 	 	 	
Papermaking Systems Segment Product Lines:	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
Stock-Preparation	 	$	35,708	
 	 	$	31,246	
 	 	$	4,462	
 	 	$	6,250	
 	
Doctoring, Cleaning, & Filtration	 	23,058	
 	 	31,703	
 	 	(8,645	)	 	(6,426	)	
Fluid-Handling	 	22,023	
 	 	25,420	
 	 	(3,397	)	 	(726	)	
 	 	$	80,789	
 	 	$	88,369	
 	 	$	(7,580	)	 	$	(902	)	
 
Revenues from our Stock-Preparation product line in the third quarter of 2015 increased $4.5 million, or 14%, compared to the third quarter of 2014, including $2.4 million from an acquisition offset by a $1.8 million decrease from the effect of foreign currency translation. Excluding the revenue from an acquisition and the unfavorable effect of foreign currency translation, revenues from our Stock-Preparation product line increased $3.9 million, or 12%, compared to the third quarter of 2014, primarily due to increased demand for both our capital and parts and consumables products in North America and our parts and consumables products at our European operations. These increases were offset in part by decreased demand for our capital equipment at our European operations. Revenues from our Doctoring, Cleaning, & Filtration product line in the third quarter of 2015 decreased $8.6 million, or 27%, including a $2.2 million unfavorable effect of foreign currency translation, compared to the prior year period. Excluding the unfavorable effect of foreign currency translation, revenues in our Doctoring, Cleaning & Filtration product line decreased $6.4 million, or 20%, compared to the third quarter of 2014 primarily due to the shipment of several capital projects in the third quarter of 2014, as well as delays in capital orders and shipments at our North American and Chinese operations in the third quarter of 2015. In addition, we are seeing continued softening in demand for our Doctoring, Cleaning, & Filtration products due to weakness in demand for printing and writing grades. Revenues from our Fluid-Handling product line in the third quarter of 2015 decreased $3.4 million, or 13%, primarily due to a $2.7 million unfavorable effect of foreign currency translation.

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KADANT INC.

Results of Operations (continued)

Gross Profit Margin
Gross profit margins for the third quarters of 2015 and 2014 were as follows:

 	 	Three Months Ended	
 	 	October 3,
2015	 	September 27,
2014	
Gross Profit Margin:	 	 	 	 	
Papermaking Systems	 	47.7	%	 	45.1	%	
Wood Processing Systems	 	46.4	
 	 	42.1	
 	
Fiber-based Products	 	44.1	
 	 	34.9	
 	
 	 	47.5	%	 	44.7	%	

Papermaking Systems Segment. The gross profit margin in the Papermaking Systems segment increased to 47.7% in the third quarter of 2015 from 45.1% in the third quarter of 2014. This increase was primarily due to increased gross profit margins from our capital equipment, as well as the sale of an increased proportion of higher-margin parts and consumables products.

Wood Processing Systems Segment. The gross profit margin in our Wood Processing Systems segment increased to 46.4% in the third quarter of 2015 from 42.1% in the third quarter of 2014 primarily due to higher gross profit margins on our parts and consumables products.

Fiber-based Products. The gross profit margin in our Fiber-based Products business increased to 44.1% in the third quarter of 2015 from 34.9% in the third quarter of 2014 primarily due to the lower cost of natural gas used in the production process.

Operating Expenses
Selling, general, and administrative expenses as a percentage of revenues was 32% in both the third quarters of 2015 and 2014. Selling, general, and administrative expenses decreased $2.7 million, or 8%, to $29.2 million in the third quarter of 2015 from $31.9 million in the third quarter of 2014, including a decrease of $2.5 million from the favorable effects of foreign currency translation.

Total stock-based compensation expense was $1.3 million and $1.4 million in the third quarters of 2015 and 2014, respectively, and is included in selling, general, and administrative expenses in the accompanying condensed consolidated statement of income.

Research and development expenses were $1.8 million and $1.6 million in the third quarters of 2015 and 2014, respectively, and represented 2% of revenues in both periods.

Restructuring Costs
Restructuring costs were $0.5 million in the third quarter of 2014, including $0.4 million of severance costs associated with the reduction of 9 employees in Brazil. This action was taken in the Papermaking Systems segment to further streamline our operation in Brazil.

Provision for Income Taxes
Our provision for income taxes was $3.8 million and $3.2 million in the third quarters of 2015 and 2014, respectively, and represented 30% and 33% of pre-tax income. The effective tax rate of 30% in the third quarter of 2015 was lower than our statutory tax rate primarily due to the distribution of our worldwide earnings and an adjustment to increase deferred tax assets, which was offset in part by an increase in non-deductible expenses, state tax expense, and the U.S. tax cost of foreign operations. The effective tax rate of 33% in the third quarter of 2014 was lower than our statutory tax rate primarily due to the distribution of our worldwide earnings, the release of state tax reserves in the U.S., and the release of tax reserves from the

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KADANT INC.

Results of Operations (continued)

expiration of tax statutes of limitations. These tax benefits were offset in part by tax expense associated with an increase in nondeductible expenses.

Income from Continuing Operations
Income from continuing operations increased $2.0 million to $8.7 million in the third quarter of 2015 from $6.7 million in the third quarter of 2014. This increase was primarily due to an increase in our operating income (see  Revenues, Gross Profit Margin  and  Operating Expenses  discussed above).

First Nine Months 2015 Compared With First Nine Months 2014 

The following table sets forth our unaudited condensed consolidated statement of income expressed as a percentage of total revenues from continuing operations for the first nine months of 2015 and 2014. The results of operations for the first nine months of 2015 are not necessarily indicative of the results to be expected for the full fiscal year.

 	 	Nine Months Ended	
 	 	October 3,
2015	 	September 27,
2014	
 	 	 	 	 	
Revenues	 	100	%	 	100	%	
 	 	 	 	 	
Costs and Operating Expenses:	 	 	 	 	
Cost of revenues	 	52	
 	 	56	
 	
Selling, general, and administrative expenses	 	33	
 	 	32	
 	
Research and development expenses	 	2	
 	 	2	
 	
Restructuring costs	 	—	
 	 	—	
 	
 	 	87	
 	 	90	
 	
Operating Income	 	13	
 	 	10	
 	
Interest Income	 	—	
 	 	—	
 	
Interest Expense	 	—	
 	 	—	
 	
Income from Continuing Operations Before Provision for Income Taxes	 	13	
 	 	10	
 	
Provision for Income Taxes	 	4	
 	 	3	
 	
Income from Continuing Operations	 	9	%	 	7	%	

Revenues
Revenues for the first nine months of 2015 and 2014 were as follows:

 	 	Nine Months Ended	 	
 	 	October 3,
2015	 	September 27,
2014	 	
(In thousands)	 	 	 	 	 	
Revenues:	 	 	 	 	 	
Papermaking Systems	 	$	248,069	
 	 	$	258,528	
 	 	
Wood Processing Systems	 	25,910	
 	 	29,590	
 	 	
Fiber-based Products	 	8,528	
 	 	8,803	
 	 	
 	 	$	282,507	
 	 	$	296,921	

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KADANT INC.

Results of Operations (continued)

Papermaking Systems Segment. Revenues decreased $10.5 million, or 4%, to $248.0 million in the first nine months of 2015 from $258.5 million in the first nine months of 2014, including a $19.8 million decrease from the unfavorable effect of foreign currency translation. Excluding the effect of foreign currency translation, revenues in our Papermaking Systems segment increased $9.3 million, or 4%, due to increased demand for our parts and consumables products in North America and Europe, offset in part by a decrease in demand for our capital equipment. The decreased demand for our capital equipment at our European and Chinese operations was offset in part by an increase in demand for our capital equipment in North America.
Wood Processing Systems Segment. Revenues decreased $3.7 million, or 12%, to $25.9 million in the first nine months of 2015 from $29.6 million in the first nine months of 2014, including a decrease of $4.0 million from the unfavorable effect of foreign currency translation.

Papermaking Systems Segment by Product Line. The following table presents revenues for our Papermaking Systems segment by product line, the changes in revenues by product line between the first nine months of 2015 and 2014, and the changes in revenues by product line between the first nine months of 2015 and 2014 excluding the effect of foreign currency translation. The increase (decrease) in revenues excluding the effect of foreign currency translation represents the increase (decrease) resulting from the conversion of first nine months of 2015 revenues in local currency into U.S. dollars at first nine months of 2014 exchange rates, and then comparing this result to actual revenues in the first nine months of 2014. The presentation of the changes in revenues by product line excluding the effect of foreign currency translation is a non-GAAP measure. We believe this non-GAAP measure helps investors gain a more complete understanding of our underlying operations especially when comparing such results to prior periods. This non-GAAP measure should not be considered superior to or a substitute for the corresponding GAAP measure.

 	 	Nine Months Ended	 	 	 	Increase (Decrease)
Excluding
Effect of Foreign Currency
Translation	

(In thousands)	 	October 3,
2015	 	September 27,
2014	 	Increase (Decrease)	 	 	 	
Papermaking Systems Segment Product Lines:	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
Stock-Preparation	 	$	101,625	
 	 	$	93,668	
 	 	$	7,957	
 	 	$	13,566	
 	
Doctoring, Cleaning, & Filtration	 	77,144	
 	 	86,892	
 	 	(9,748	)	 	(3,381	)	
Fluid-Handling	 	69,300	
 	 	77,968	
 	 	(8,668	)	 	(884	)	
 	 	$	248,069	
 	 	$	258,528	
 	 	$	(10,459	)	 	$	9,301	

Revenues from our Stock-Preparation product line in the first nine months of 2015 increased $8.0 million, or 8%, compared to the first nine months of 2014, including a $5.6 million decrease from the unfavorable effect of foreign currency translation. Excluding the effect of foreign currency translation, revenues in our Stock-Preparation product line increased $13.6 million, or 14%, compared to the first nine months of 2014 primarily due to increased demand for our parts and consumables products at our North American operations and, to a lesser extent, our European operations. This increase was offset in part by decreased demand for our capital equipment at our European, Chinese, and Latin American operations, offset in part by an increase in demand for our capital equipment at our North American operations. Revenues from our Doctoring, Cleaning, & Filtration product line in the first nine months of 2015 decreased $9.7 million, or 11%, including a $6.4 million decrease from the unfavorable effect of foreign currency translation. Excluding the effect of foreign currency translation, revenues in our Doctoring, Cleaning, & Filtration product line decreased $3.4 million, or 4%, compared to the first nine months of 2014. This decrease was primarily due to a higher level of shipments of capital projects in the first nine months of 2014, as well as delays in capital orders and shipments in the first nine months of 2015. In addition, we are seeing continued softening in demand for our Doctoring, Cleaning, & Filtration products due to weakness in demand for printing and writing grades. This decrease was offset in part by an increase in demand for our parts and consumables products at our Chinese operations. Revenues from our Fluid-Handling product line in the first nine months of 2015 decreased $8.7 million, or 11%, compared to the first nine months of 2014, primarily due to a decrease of $7.8 million from the unfavorable effect of foreign currency translation.

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Results of Operations (continued)

Gross Profit Margin
Gross profit margins for the first nine months of 2015 and 2014 were as follows:

 	 	Nine Months Ended	
 	 	October 3,
2015	 	September 27,
2014	
Gross Profit Margin:	 	 	 	 	
Papermaking Systems	 	47.1	%	 	45.3	%	
Wood Processing Systems	 	48.7	
 	 	34.9	
 	
Fiber-based Products	 	50.1	
 	 	44.7	
 	
 	 	47.3	%	 	44.2	%	

Papermaking Systems Segment. The gross profit margin in the Papermaking Systems segment increased to 47.1% in the first nine months of 2015 from 45.3% in the first nine months of 2014 primarily due to an increased proportion of sales from higher-margin parts and consumables products in 2015.

Wood Processing Systems Segment. The gross profit margin in the Wood Processing Systems segment increased to 48.7% in the first nine months of 2015 from 34.9% in the first nine months of 2014. The gross profit margin in the first nine months of 2014 included $2.1 million of expense related to the amortization of acquired profit in inventory, which had the effect of lowering the gross profit margin by 7.2 percentage points. Also contributing to the increase in gross profit margin was the sale of an increased proportion of higher-margin parts and consumables products in the first nine months of 2015 compared to the first nine months of 2014.

Fiber-based Products. The gross profit margin in our Fiber-based Products business increased to 50.1% in the first nine months of 2015 from 44.7% in the first nine months of 2014, primarily due to the lower cost of natural gas used in the production process.

Operating Expenses
Selling, general, and administrative expenses as a percentage of revenues was 33% and 32% in the first nine months of 2015 and 2014, respectively. Selling, general, and administrative expenses decreased $3.4 million, or 4%, to $92.5 million in the first nine months of 2015 from $95.9 million in the first nine months of 2014, including a decrease of $7.3 million from the favorable effects of foreign currency translation. Selling, general, and administrative expenses also included an increase of $1.5 million related to operating expenses associated with an acquisition and an increase of $1.1 million in the first nine months of 2015 compared to the first nine months of 2014 related to incentive compensation due to improved operating performance as well as expense recognized related to an executive transition agreement.

Total stock-based compensation expense was $4.5 million and $4.3 million in the first nine months of 2015 and 2014, respectively, and is included in selling, general, and administrative expenses in the accompanying condensed consolidated statement of income.

Research and development expenses were $5.2 million and $4.7 million in the first nine months of 2015 and 2014, respectively, and represented 2% of revenues in both periods.

Restructuring Costs
Restructuring costs in the Papermaking Systems segment were $0.3 million in the first nine months of 2015, due to severance costs associated with the reduction of nine employees in Canada and Sweden. This action was taken to further streamline our operations in those locations. We anticipate annualized savings of $0.3 million in cost of revenues and $0.3 million in selling, general, and administrative expenses related to this restructuring. Restructuring costs in the Papermaking Systems segment were $0.9 million in the first nine months of 2014, including $0.5 million of facility-related costs and $0.4 million of severance costs.

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KADANT INC.

Results of Operations (continued)

Interest Income
Interest income decreased to $0.2 million in the first nine months of 2015 from $0.3 million in the first nine months of 2014 primarily due to lower average interest rates in the first nine months of 2015.

Interest Expense
Interest expense decreased to $0.7 million in the first nine months of 2015 from $0.8 million in the first nine months of 2014 primarily due to lower average outstanding borrowings in the first nine months of 2015 compared to the first nine months of 2014.

Provision for Income Taxes
Our provision for income taxes was $11.0 million and $9.5 million in the first nine months of 2015 and 2014, respectively, and represented 31% and 32% of pre-tax income. The effective tax rate of 31% in the first nine months of 2015 was lower than our statutory tax rate primarily due to the distribution of our worldwide earnings and an adjustment to increase deferred tax assets, which was offset in part by an increase in non-deductible expenses, state tax expense, and the U.S. tax cost of foreign operations. The effective tax rate of 32% in the first nine months of 2014 was lower than our statutory tax rate primarily due to the distribution of our worldwide earnings, the release of tax reserves that resulted from the expiration of tax statutes of limitations, and the release of state tax reserves in the U.S. These tax benefits were offset in part by tax expense associated with an increase in nondeductible expenses and a reduction in deferred tax assets.
 
Income from Continuing Operations
Income from continuing operations increased $4.3 million to $24.2 million in the first nine months of 2015 from $19.9 million in the first nine months of 2014. This increase was primarily due to an increase in our operating income offset in part by an increase in our provision for income taxes (see  Revenues ,  Operating Expenses , and  Provision for Income Taxes  discussed above).

Recent Accounting Pronouncements
Presentation of Financial Statements (Topic 205) and Property, Plant, and Equipment (Topic 360) Reporting Discontinued Operations and Disclosures of Disposals of Components of an Entity.  In April 2014, the Financial Statement Accounting Standards Board (FASB) issued Accounting Standards Update (ASU) No. 2014-08, which provides new guidance on reporting discontinued operations and disclosures of disposals. Under the new guidance, only disposals representing a strategic shift in operations will be presented as discontinued operations. The new guidance also requires disclosure of the pre-tax income attributable to a disposal of a significant part of the company that does not qualify for discontinued operations reporting. We adopted this ASU in the first quarter of 2015 and it did not have an impact on our consolidated financial position, results of operations or cash flows.

Revenue from Contracts with Customers (Topic 606) Section A-Summary and Amendments That Create Revenue from Contracts with Customers (Topic 606) and Other Assets and Deferred Costs-Contracts with Customers (Subtopic 340-40).  In May 2014, the FASB issued ASU No. 2014-09, which requires an entity to recognize the amount of revenue to which it expects to be entitled for the transfer of promised goods or services to customers. The new guidance provides a five-step analysis of transactions to determine when and how revenue is recognized. The ASU will replace most existing revenue recognition guidance in GAAP when it becomes effective. The new guidance is effective for us beginning in fiscal 2018. Early adoption is not permitted. The standard permits the use of either the retrospective or cumulative effect transition method. We are currently evaluating the effect that ASU No. 2014-09 will have on our consolidated financial statements and related disclosures. We have not yet selected a transition method nor have we determined the effect of the standard on our ongoing financial reporting.

Compensation-Stock Compensation (Topic 718) Accounting for Share-Based Payments When the Terms of an Award Provide That a Performance Target Could Be Achieved after the Requisite Service Period.  In June 2014, the FASB issued ASU No. 2014-12, which clarifies the proper method of accounting for share-based payments when the terms of an award provide that a performance target could be achieved after the requisite service period. Under the new guidance, a performance target that affects vesting and could be achieved after completion of the service period should be treated as a performance condition under FASB Accounting Standards Codification (ASC) 718 and, as a result, should not be included in the estimation of the grant-date fair value of the award. An entity should recognize compensation cost for the award when it becomes probable that the performance target will be achieved. In the event that an entity determines that it is probable that a performance target will be achieved before the end

33

KADANT INC.

Results of Operations (continued)

of the service period, the compensation cost of the award should be recognized prospectively over the remaining service period. The new guidance is effective for us beginning in fiscal 2016. Early adoption is permitted. Adoption of this ASU is not expected to have a material impact on our consolidated financial position, results of operations or cash flows.

Preparation of Financial Statements - Going Concern (Subtopic 205-40), Disclosure of Uncertainties about an Entity’s Ability to Continue as a Going Concern.  In August 2014, the FASB issued ASU No. 2014-15, which states that under GAAP, continuation of a reporting entity as a going concern is presumed as the basis for preparing financial statements unless and until the entity’s liquidation becomes imminent. If and when an entity’s liquidation becomes imminent, financial statements should be prepared under the liquidation basis of accounting. Even when an entity’s liquidation is not imminent, there may be conditions or events that raise substantial doubt about the entity’s ability to continue as a going concern. In those situations, financial statements should continue to be prepared under the going concern basis of accounting, but the amendments in this ASU should be followed to determine whether to disclose information about the relevant conditions and events. The new guidance is effective for us beginning in fiscal 2017, and for annual periods and interim periods thereafter. Early adoption is permitted. We will evaluate the going concern considerations in this ASU; however, management does not currently believe that we will meet the conditions that would subject our financial statements to additional disclosure.

Income Statement-Extraordinary and Unusual Items (Subtopic 225-20), Simplifying Income Statement Presentation by Eliminating the Concept of Extraordinary Items.  In January 2015, the FASB issued ASU No. 2015-01, which eliminates the concept of extraordinary items in an entity’s income statement. Extraordinary classification of an item outside of income from continuing operations was previously considered only when evidence clearly supported its classification as an extraordinary item. Extraordinary items were events and transactions that were distinguished by their unusual nature and by the infrequency of their occurrence. The ASU eliminates the need to separately classify, present, and disclose extraordinary events. The disclosure of events or transactions that are unusual or infrequent in nature will be included in other guidance. This new guidance is effective for us beginning in fiscal 2016. Early adoption is permitted. Adoption of this ASU is not expected to have a material impact on our consolidated financial position, results of operations or cash flows.

Interest-Imputation of Interest (Subtopic 835-30): Simplifying the Presentation of Debt Issuance Costs. In April 2015, the FASB issued ASU No. 2015-03, which requires that debt issuance costs related to a recognized debt liability be presented in the balance sheet as a direct deduction from the carrying amount of that debt liability, consistent with debt discounts. The recognition and measurement guidance for debt issuance costs are not affected by the amendments in this ASU. This new disclosure guidance is effective for us beginning in fiscal 2016. Adoption of this ASU is not expected to have a material impact on our consolidated financial position, results of operations or cash flows.

Compensation-Retirement Benefits (Topic 715): Practical Expedient for the Measurement Date of an Employer’s Defined Benefit Obligation and Plan Assets.  In April 2015, the FASB issued ASU No. 2015-04, which provides a practical expedient that permits the entity to measure defined benefit plan assets and obligations using the month-end that is closest to the entity’s fiscal year-end and apply that practical expedient consistently from year to year. The practical expedient should be applied consistently to all plans if an entity has more than one plan. If a contribution or significant event (such as a plan amendment, settlement, or curtailment that calls for a remeasurement in accordance with existing requirements) occurs between the month-end date used to measure defined benefit plan assets and obligations and an entity’s fiscal year-end, the entity should adjust the measurement of defined benefit plan assets and obligations to reflect the effects of those contributions or significant events. However, an entity should not adjust the measurement of defined benefit plan assets and obligations for other events that occur between the month-end measurement and the entity’s fiscal year-end that are not caused by the entity (for example, changes in market prices or interest rates). This new guidance is effective for us beginning in fiscal 2016. Adoption of this ASU is not expected to have a material impact on our consolidated financial position, results of operations or cash flows.

Intangibles-Goodwill and Other-Internal-Use Software (Subtopic 350-40), Customer’s Accounting for Fees Paid in a Cloud Computing Arrangement . In April 2015, the FASB issued ASU No. 2015-05, which provides guidance to customers about whether a cloud computing arrangement includes a software license. If a cloud computing arrangement includes a software license, then the customer should account for the software license element of the arrangement consistent with the acquisition of other software licenses. If a cloud computing arrangement does not include a software license, the customer should account for the arrangement as a service contract. This new guidance is effective for us beginning in fiscal 2016. Adoption of this ASU is not expected to have a material impact on our consolidated financial position, results of operations or cash flows.

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KADANT INC.

Results of Operations (continued)

Inventory (Topic 330), Simplifying the Measurement of Inventory. In July 2015, the FASB issued ASU No. 2015-11, which requires that an entity measure inventory within the scope of this ASU at the lower of cost or net realizable value. Net realizable value is the estimated selling price in the ordinary course of business, less reasonably predictable costs of completion, disposal, and transportation. Substantial and unusual losses that result from subsequent measurement of inventory
should be disclosed in the financial statements. This new guidance is effective for us beginning in fiscal 2017. We are currently evaluating the effect that adoption of ASU No. 2015-11 will have on our consolidated financial position, results of operations or cash flows.

Business Combinations (Topic 805), Simplifying the Accounting for Measurement-Period Adjustments. In September 2015, the FASB issued ASU No. 2015-16, which requires that an acquirer recognize adjustments to provisional amounts that are identified during the measurement period in the reporting period in which the adjustment amounts are determined. The acquirer is required to record, in the same period’s financial statements, the effect on earnings of changes in depreciation, amortization, or other income effects, if any, as a result of the change to the provisional amounts, calculated as if the accounting had been completed at the acquisition date. In addition, an entity is required to present, separately on the face of the income statement or through disclose in the notes, the portion of the amount recorded in current-period earnings by line item that would have been recorded in previous reporting periods if the adjustment to the provisional amounts had been recognized as of the acquisition date. This new guidance is effective for us beginning in fiscal 2016. Adoption of this ASU is not expected to have a material impact on our consolidated financial position, results of operations or cash flows.

Liquidity and Capital Resources

Consolidated working capital was $108.3 million at October 3, 2015, compared with $96.5 million at January 3, 2015. Included in working capital are cash and cash equivalents of $56.1 million and $45.4 million at October 3, 2015 and January 3, 2015, respectively. At October 3, 2015, $55.3 million of our cash and cash equivalents were held by our foreign subsidiaries.

First Nine Months of 2015 
Our operating activities provided cash of $25.5 million in the first nine months of 2015. We used cash of $16.0 million for inventory and $4.7 million for accounts receivable and unbilled contract costs and fees. The cash used for inventory was primarily due to an increase in work in process at our Stock-Preparation product line in China related to projects that are scheduled to ship later this year and in 2016. The cash used for accounts receivable and unbilled contract costs and fees relates to increased project activity, especially in our Stock-Preparation product line. These uses of cash were offset in part by $11.6 million of cash provided by other current liabilities primarily due to an increase in customer deposits related to capital equipment projects.

Our investing activities used cash of $4.0 million in the first nine months of 2015 for purchases of property, plant, and equipment.

Our financing activities used cash of $10.0 million in the first nine months of 2015. We used cash of $8.9 million for the repurchase of our common stock on the open market and $5.3 million for cash dividends paid to stockholders. We received $20 million in proceeds from borrowings under our 2012 Credit Agreement and used cash of $16.5 million for principal payments on our outstanding debt obligations.

First Nine Months of 2014 
Our operating activities provided cash of $30.4 million in the first nine months of 2014. Working capital used cash of $2.1 million in the first nine months of 2014, including $5.0 million for other current liabilities primarily resulting from a decrease in customer deposits. These uses of cash were offset in part by cash provided by a decrease in inventories of $3.2 million primarily due to the shipment of several large stock-preparation equipment contracts in the first nine months of 2014.

Our investing activities used cash of $5.9 million in the first nine months of 2014, including $3.0 million for acquisition consideration and $3.1 million for purchases of property, plant, and equipment.

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Liquidity and Capital Resources (continued)

Our financing activities used cash of $32.3 million in the first nine months of 2014. This use of cash resulted primarily from principal payments on our outstanding debt obligations of $30.7 million, $13.2 million for repurchases of our common stock on the open market, and $4.7 million for cash dividends paid to stockholders. These uses of cash were offset in part by $15.4 million of proceeds received from borrowings under our 2012 Credit Agreement in the first nine months of 2014.

Revolving Credit Facility
We entered into a five-year unsecured revolving credit facility (2012 Credit Agreement) in the aggregate principal amount of up to $100 million on August 3, 2012 and amended it on November 1, 2013. The 2012 Credit Agreement also includes an uncommitted unsecured incremental borrowing facility of up to an additional $50 million. The principal on any borrowings made under the 2012 Credit Agreement is due on November 1, 2018. Interest on any loans outstanding under the 2012 Credit Agreement accrues and is payable quarterly in arrears at one of the following rates selected by us: (i) the highest of (a) the federal funds rate plus 0.50% plus an applicable margin of 0% to 1%, (b) the prime rate, as defined, plus an applicable margin of 0% to 1%, and (c) the Eurocurrency rate, as defined, plus 0.50% plus an applicable margin of 0% to 1% or (ii) the Eurocurrency rate, as defined, plus an applicable margin of 1% to 2%. The applicable margin is determined based upon the ratio of our total debt to earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, and amortization, as defined in the 2012 Credit Agreement. For this purpose, total debt is defined as total debt less up to $25 million of unrestricted domestic cash. We had $24.0 million of borrowings outstanding under the 2012 Credit Agreement at October 3, 2015.

Our obligations under the 2012 Credit Agreement may be accelerated upon the occurrence of an event of default under the 2012 Credit Agreement, which includes customary events of default including without limitation payment defaults, defaults in the performance of affirmative and negative covenants, the inaccuracy of representations or warranties, bankruptcy- and insolvency-related defaults, defaults relating to such matters as the Employment Retirement Income Security Act, unsatisfied judgments, the failure to pay certain indebtedness, and a change of control default. In addition, the 2012 Credit Agreement contains negative covenants applicable to us and our subsidiaries, including financial covenants requiring us to comply with a maximum consolidated leverage ratio of 3.5 to 1 and a minimum consolidated interest coverage ratio of 3 to 1, and restrictions on liens, indebtedness, fundamental changes, dispositions of property, making certain restricted payments (including dividends and stock repurchases), investments, transactions with affiliates, sale and leaseback transactions, swap agreements, changing our fiscal year, arrangements affecting subsidiary distributions, entering into new lines of business, and certain actions related to the discontinued operation. As of October 3, 2015, we were in compliance with these covenants.

Loans under the 2012 Credit Agreement are guaranteed by certain of our domestic subsidiaries pursuant to a Guarantee Agreement, effective August 3, 2012.

As of October 3, 2015, we had $73.9 million of borrowing capacity available under the committed portion of the 2012 Credit Agreement. The amount we are able to borrow under the 2012 Credit Agreement is the total borrowing capacity of $100 million less any outstanding borrowings, letters of credit and multi-currency borrowings issued under the 2012 Credit Agreement.

Commercial Real Estate Loan
On May 4, 2006, we borrowed $10 million under a promissory note (2006 Commercial Real Estate Loan). The 2006 Commercial Real Estate Loan is repayable in quarterly installments of $125 thousand over a ten-year period with the remaining principal balance of $5 million due upon maturity. As of October 3, 2015, the remaining balance on the 2006 Commercial Real Estate Loan was $5.4 million. Interest on the 2006 Commercial Real Estate Loan accrues and is payable quarterly in arrears at one of the following rates selected by us: (a) the prime rate or (b) three-month LIBOR plus a 0.75% margin.
Our obligations under the 2006 Commercial Real Estate Loan may be accelerated upon the occurrence of an event of default under the 2006 Commercial Real Estate Loan and the mortgage and security agreements, which include customary events of default including without limitation payment defaults, defaults in the performance of covenants and obligations, inaccuracy of representations or warranties, bankruptcy- and insolvency-related defaults, liens on the properties or collateral and uninsured judgments. In addition, the occurrence of an event of default under the 2012 Credit Agreement or any successor credit facility would be an event of default under the 2006 Commercial Real Estate Loan.

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KADANT INC.

Liquidity and Capital Resources (continued)

Interest Rate Swap Agreements
On January 16, 2015, we entered into a swap agreement (2015 Swap Agreement) to hedge our exposure to movements in the three-month LIBOR rate on outstanding debt. The 2015 Swap Agreement expires on March 27, 2020 and has a $10 million notional value. Under the 2015 Swap Agreement, on a quarterly basis we receive a three-month LIBOR rate and pay a fixed rate of interest of 1.50% plus an applicable margin.

We entered into a swap agreement in 2006 (2006 Swap Agreement) to convert the 2006 Commercial Real Estate Loan from a floating to a fixed rate of interest. The 2006 Swap Agreement matures in 2016, has the same terms and quarterly payment dates as the corresponding debt, and reduces proportionately in line with the amortization of the 2006 Commercial Real Estate Loan. Under the 2006 Swap Agreement, we receive a three-month LIBOR rate and pay a fixed rate of interest of 5.63% plus an applicable margin.

As of October 3, 2015, the interest rate swap agreements had a net unrealized loss of $0.3 million. We believe that any credit risk associated with the swap agreements is remote based on our financial position and the creditworthiness of the financial institution issuing the swap agreements.

The counterparty to the swap agreements could demand an early termination of the swap agreements if we are in default under the 2012 Credit Agreement, or any agreement that amends or replaces the 2012 Credit Agreement in which the counterparty is a member, and we are unable to cure the default. An event of default under the 2012 Credit Agreement includes customary events of default and failure to comply with financial covenants, including a maximum consolidated leverage ratio of 3.5 to 1 and a minimum consolidated interest charge coverage ratio of 3 to 1. The net unrealized loss of $0.3 million associated with the swap agreements as of October 3, 2015 represents the estimated amount that we would pay to the counterparty in the event of an early termination.

Additional Liquidity and Capital Resources
We repurchased 86,518 shares of common stock in the second quarter of 2015 for $4.0 million under a repurchase authorization approved by the board of directors on July 28, 2014. On May 20, 2015, our board of directors approved the repurchase by us of up to an additional $20 million of our equity securities during the period from May 20, 2015 to May 20, 2016. We repurchased 118,242 shares of our common stock for $4.9 million under this authorization in the third quarter of 2015.

We paid quarterly cash dividends totaling $5.3 million in the first nine months of 2015. On September 16, 2015, our board of directors approved a quarterly cash dividend of $0.17 per outstanding share of our common stock, or approximately $1.8 million, which will be paid on November 12, 2015. Future declarations of dividends are subject to board of directors' approval and may be adjusted as business needs or market conditions change. The payment of cash dividends is subject to our compliance with the consolidated leverage ratio contained in our 2012 Credit Agreement.

It is our intent to reinvest indefinitely the earnings of our international subsidiaries in order to support the current and future capital needs of their operations. We do not anticipate the need to repatriate funds to the United States to satisfy domestic liquidity needs arising in the ordinary course of business. Through October 3, 2015, we have not provided for U.S. income taxes on approximately $161.6 million of unremitted foreign earnings. The U.S. tax cost has not been determined due to the fact that it is not practicable to estimate at this time. The related foreign tax withholding, which would be required if we were to remit the foreign earnings to the U.S., would be approximately $3.2 million.

Although we currently have no material commitments for capital expenditures, we plan to make expenditures of approximately $3 to $4 million during the remainder of 2015 for property, plant, and equipment.
In the future, our liquidity position will be primarily affected by the level of cash flows from operations, cash paid to satisfy debt repayments, capital projects, dividends, stock repurchases, or additional acquisitions, if any. We believe that our existing resources, together with the cash available from our credit facilities and the cash we expect to generate from continuing operations, will be sufficient to meet the capital requirements of our current operations for the foreseeable future.

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KADANT INC.

Item 3 – Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk
Our exposure to market risk from changes in interest rates and foreign currency exchange rates has not changed materially from our exposure at year-end 2014 as disclosed in Item 7A of our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended January 3, 2015, filed with the SEC.

Item 4 – Controls and Procedures

(a)        Evaluation of Disclosure Controls and Procedures

Our management, under the supervision and with the participation of our Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, evaluated the effectiveness of our disclosure controls and procedures as of October 3, 2015. The term "disclosure controls and procedures," as defined in Securities Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e), means controls and other procedures of a company that are designed to ensure that information required to be disclosed by the company in the reports that it files or submits under the Exchange Act is recorded, processed, summarized, and reported, within the time periods specified in the SEC's rules and forms. Disclosure controls and procedures include, without limitation, controls and procedures designed to ensure that information required to be disclosed by a company in the reports that it files or submits under the Exchange Act is accumulated and communicated to the company's management, including its principal executive and principal financial officers, as appropriate to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosure. Management recognizes that any controls and procedures, no matter how well designed and operated, can provide only reasonable assurance of achieving their objectives and management necessarily applies its judgment in evaluating the cost-benefit relationship of possible controls and procedures. Based upon the evaluation of our disclosure controls and procedures as of October 3, 2015, our Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer concluded that as of October 3, 2015, our disclosure controls and procedures were effective at the reasonable assurance level.

(b)        Changes in Internal Control Over Financial Reporting

There have not been any changes in our internal control over financial reporting (as defined in Rules 13a-15(f) and 15d-15(f) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended) during the fiscal quarter ended October 3, 2015 that have materially affected, or are reasonably likely to materially affect, our internal control over financial reporting.

PART II – OTHER INFORMATION

Item 1A – Risk Factors

There have been no material changes from the risk factors disclosed in Part I, Item 1A of the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended January 3, 2015, filed with the SEC.

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KADANT INC.

Item 2 – Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities and Use of Proceeds

The following table provides information about purchases by us of our common stock during the third quarter of 2015:

Issuer Purchases of Equity Securities	

 

Period	 	Total Number of Shares
Purchased (1)(2)	 	Average Price Paid
per Share	 	Total Number of Shares
Purchased as Part of
Publicly Announced
Plans (1)(2)	 	Approximate Dollar
Value of Shares that
May Yet Be
Purchased
Under the Plans	
7/4/15 – 7/31/15	 	—	
 	 	—	
 	 	—	
 	 	$	20,000,000	
 	
8/1/15 – 8/31/15	 	—	
 	 	—	
 	 	—	
 	 	$	20,000,000	
 	
9/1/15 – 10/3/15	 	118,242	
 	 	$	41.27	
 	 	118,242	
 	 	$	15,120,043	
 	
Total:	 	118,242	
 	 	$	41.27	
 	 	118,242	

 	 	
(1)	On July 28, 2014, we announced that our board of directors approved the repurchase by us of up to $20 million of our equity securities during the period from July 28, 2014 to July 28, 2015. No shares were repurchased under this authorization in the third quarter of 2015.	
 	 	
(2)	On May 20, 2015, we announced that our board of directors approved the repurchase by us of up to an additional $20 million of our equity securities during the period from May 20, 2015 to May 20, 2016. In the third quarter of 2015, we repurchased 118,242 shares of our common stock for $4.9 million under this authorization.	
 
Item 6 – Exhibits

See Exhibit Index on the page immediately preceding the exhibits.

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KADANT INC.

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 thereunto duly authorized as of the 12th day of November, 2015.

 	
 	 	
 	KADANT INC.	
 	 	
 	/s/ Michael J. McKenney	
 	Michael J. McKenney	
 	Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer	
 	(Principal Financial Officer)	

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KADANT INC.

EXHIBIT INDEX

 	 	 	 	
Exhibit Number	 	 	 	
 	 	Description of Exhibit	 	
 	 	 	 	
31.1	 	Certification of the Principal Executive Officer of the Registrant Pursuant to Rule 13a-14(a) and Rule 15d-14(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.	 	
 	 	 	 	
31.2	 	Certification of the Principal Financial Officer of the Registrant Pursuant to Rule 13a-14(a) and Rule 15d-14(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.	 	
 	 	 	 	
32	 	Certification of the Chief Executive Officer and the Chief Financial Officer of the Registrant Pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as Adopted Pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.	 	
 	 	 	 	
101.INS	 	XBRL Instance Document.*	 	
 	 	 	 	
101.SCH	 	XBRL Taxonomy Extension Schema Document.*	 	
 	 	 	 	
101.CAL	 	XBRL Taxonomy Calculation Linkbase Document.*	 	
 	 	 	 	
101.LAB	 	XBRL Taxonomy Label Linkbase Document.*	 	
 	 	 	 	
101.PRE	 	XBRL Taxonomy Presentation Linkbase Document.*	 	
 	 	 	 	
101.DEF	 	XBRL Taxonomy Definition Linkbase Document.*	 	

* Submitted electronically herewith.

Attached as Exhibit 101 to this report are the following formatted in XBRL (Extensible Business Reporting Language): (i) Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheet at October 3, 2015 and January 3, 2015, (ii) Condensed Consolidated Statement of Income for the three months and nine months ended October 3, 2015 and September 27, 2014, (iii) Condensed Consolidated Statement of Comprehensive Income for the three months and nine months ended October 3, 2015 and September 27, 2014, (iv) Condensed Consolidated Statement of Cash Flows for the nine months ended October 3, 2015 and September 27, 2014, (v) Condensed Consolidated Statement of Stockholders' Equity for the nine months ended October 3, 2015 and September 27, 2014, and (vi) Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements.

41

Exhibit 31.1

CERTIFICATION

I, Jonathan W. Painter, certify that:
 	 	
1.	I have reviewed this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the period ended October 3, 2015 of Kadant Inc.;	
 	 	
2.	Based on my knowledge, this report does not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary to make the statements made, in light of the circumstances under which such statements were made, not misleading with respect to the period covered by this report;	
 	 	
3.	Based on my knowledge, the financial statements, and other financial information included in this report, fairly present in all material respects the financial condition, results of operations and cash flows of the registrant as of, and for, the periods presented in this report;	
 	 	
4.	The registrant's other certifying officer and I are responsible for establishing and maintaining disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e)) and internal control over financial reporting (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(f) and 15d-15(f)) for the registrant and have:	
 	 	
a)	Designed such disclosure controls and procedures, or caused such disclosure controls and procedures to be designed under our supervision, to ensure that material information relating to the registrant, including its consolidated subsidiaries, is made known to us by others within those entities, particularly during the period in which this report is being prepared;	
 	 	
b)	Designed such internal control over financial reporting, or caused such internal control over financial reporting to be designed under our supervision, 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;	
 	 	
c)	Evaluated the effectiveness of the registrant's disclosure controls and procedures and presented in this report our conclusions about the effectiveness of the disclosure controls and procedures, as of the end of the period covered by this report based on such evaluation; and	
 	 	
d)	Disclosed in this report any change in the registrant's internal control over financial reporting that occurred during the registrant's most recent fiscal quarter (the registrant's fourth fiscal quarter in the case of an annual report) that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, the registrant's internal control over financial reporting; and	
 	 	
5.	The registrant's other certifying officer and I have disclosed, based on our most recent evaluation of internal control over financial reporting, to the registrant's auditors and the audit committee of the registrant's board of directors (or persons performing the equivalent functions):	
 	 	
a)	All significant deficiencies and material weaknesses in the design or operation of internal control over financial reporting which are reasonably likely to adversely affect the registrant's ability to record, process, summarize and report financial information; and	
 	 	
b)	Any fraud, whether or not material, that involves management or other employees who have a significant role in the registrant's internal control over financial reporting.	

 	 	
 	 	
Date: November 12, 2015	/s/ Jonathan W. Painter	
 	Jonathan W. Painter	
 	Chief Executive Officer	

Exhibit 31.2

CERTIFICATION

I, Michael J. McKenney, certify that:
 	 	
1.	I have reviewed this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the period ended October 3, 2015 of Kadant Inc.;	
 	 	
2.	Based on my knowledge, this report does not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary to make the statements made, in light of the circumstances under which such statements were made, not misleading with respect to the period covered by this report;	
 	 	
3.	Based on my knowledge, the financial statements, and other financial information included in this report, fairly present in all material respects the financial condition, results of operations and cash flows of the registrant as of, and for, the periods presented in this report;	
 	 	
4.	The registrant's other certifying officer and I are responsible for establishing and maintaining disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e)) and internal control over financial reporting (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(f) and 15d-15(f)) for the registrant and have:	
 	 	
a)	Designed such disclosure controls and procedures, or caused such disclosure controls and procedures to be designed under our supervision, to ensure that material information relating to the registrant, including its consolidated subsidiaries, is made known to us by others within those entities, particularly during the period in which this report is being prepared;	
 	 	
b)	Designed such internal control over financial reporting, or caused such internal control over financial reporting to be designed under our supervision, 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;	
 	 	
c)	Evaluated the effectiveness of the registrant's disclosure controls and procedures and presented in this report our conclusions about the effectiveness of the disclosure controls and procedures, as of the end of the period covered by this report based on such evaluation; and	
 	 	
d)	Disclosed in this report any change in the registrant's internal control over financial reporting that occurred during the registrant's most recent fiscal quarter (the registrant's fourth fiscal quarter in the case of an annual report) that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, the registrant's internal control over financial reporting; and	
 	 	
5.	The registrant's other certifying officer and I have disclosed, based on our most recent evaluation of internal control over financial reporting, to the registrant's auditors and the audit committee of the registrant's board of directors (or persons performing the equivalent functions):	
 	 	
a)	All significant deficiencies and material weaknesses in the design or operation of internal control over financial reporting which are reasonably likely to adversely affect the registrant's ability to record, process, summarize and report financial information; and	
 	 	
b)	Any fraud, whether or not material, that involves management or other employees who have a significant role in the registrant's internal control over financial reporting.	

 	 	
 	 	
Date: November 12, 2015	/s/ Michael J. McKenney	
 	Michael J. McKenney	
 	Chief Financial Officer	

Exhibit 32

CERTIFICATION PURSUANT TO 18 U.S.C. SECTION 1350,
AS ADOPTED PURSUANT TO SECTION 906
OF THE SARBANES-OXLEY ACT OF 2002

Pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, the undersigned, Jonathan W. Painter, Chief Executive Officer, and Michael J. McKenney, Chief Financial Officer, of Kadant Inc., a Delaware corporation (the "Company"), do hereby certify, to our best knowledge and belief, that:
The Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the period ended October 3, 2015 of the Company fully complies with the requirements of Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and the information contained in this Quarterly Report fairly presents, in all material respects, the financial condition and results of operations of the Company. 

 	 	
Dated: November 12, 2015	/s/ Jonathan W. Painter	
 	Jonathan W. Painter	
 	Chief Executive Officer	
 	 	
 	/s/ Michael J. McKenney	
 	Michael J. McKenney	
 	Chief Financial Officer	

This certification accompanies this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 and shall not, except to the extent required by such Act, be deemed filed by the Company for purposes of Section 18 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the "Exchange Act"). Such certification will not be deemed to be incorporated by reference into any filing under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or the Exchange Act, except to the extent that the Company specifically incorporates it by reference.