UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549-1004
FORM 11-K
(Mark One)
| | |
þ | | ANNUAL REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934 |
For the fiscal year ended December 31, 2007
OR
| | |
o | | TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934 |
For the transition period from to
Commission File Number 0-17506
| A. | | Full title of the plan and the address of the plan, if different from that of the issuer named below: |
UST INC. EMPLOYEES’ SAVINGS PLAN
| B. | | Name of issuer of the securities held pursuant to the plan and the address of its principal executive office: |
UST INC.
6 High Ridge Park, Bldg A
Stamford, Connecticut 06905
UST INC. EMPLOYEES’ SAVINGS PLAN
FORM 11-K
REQUIRED INFORMATION:
The following financial statements and supplemental schedule for the UST Inc. Employees’ Savings Plan, prepared in accordance with the financial reporting requirements of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 (“ERISA”), are being filed herewith:
Audited Financial Statements:
Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm
Financial Statements:
Statements of Net Assets Available for Benefits as of December 31, 2007 and 2006
Statements of Changes in Net Assets Available for Benefits for the Years Ended December 31, 2007 and 2006
Notes to Financial Statements
Supplemental Schedule:
Schedule of Assets (Held at End of Year)
Note: Other supplemental schedules required by Section 252.103-10 of the Department of Labor’s Rules and Regulations for Reporting and Disclosure under the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 have been omitted because they are not applicable.
The following exhibit is being filed herewith:
| | |
Exhibit No. | | Description |
| | |
23.1 | | Consent of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm — Ernst & Young LLP |
INDEX
UST Inc. Employees’ Savings Plan Audited Financial Statements and Supplemental Schedule
Signature
Exhibit Index
UST Inc.
Employees’ Savings Plan
Audited Financial Statements
and
Supplemental Schedule
Years ended December 31, 2007 and 2006
with Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm
UST Inc.
Employees’ Savings Plan
Audited Financial Statements and Supplemental Schedule
Years ended December 31, 2007 and 2006
Contents
Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm
To the UST Inc.
Employee Plans Administration Committee,
We have audited the accompanying statements of net assets available for benefits of the UST Inc. Employees’ Savings Plan as of December 31, 2007 and 2006, and the related statements of changes in net assets available for benefits for the years then ended. These financial statements are the responsibility of the Plan’s management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on these financial statements based on our audits.
We conducted our audits in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States). Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements are free of material misstatement. We were not engaged to perform an audit of the Plan’s internal control over financial reporting. Our audits included consideration of internal control over financial reporting as a basis for designing audit procedures that are appropriate in the circumstances, but not for the purpose of expressing an opinion on the effectiveness of the Plan’s internal control over financial reporting. Accordingly, we express no such opinion. An audit also includes examining, on a test basis, evidence supporting the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements, assessing the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, and evaluating the overall financial statement presentation. We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinion.
In our opinion, the financial statements referred to above present fairly, in all material respects, the net assets available for benefits of the Plan at December 31, 2007 and 2006, and the changes in its net assets available for benefits for the years then ended, in conformity with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles.
Our audits were performed for the purpose of forming an opinion on the financial statements taken as a whole. The accompanying supplemental schedule of assets (held at end of year) as of December 31, 2007 is presented for purposes of additional analysis and is not a required part of the financial statements but is supplementary information required by the Department of Labor’s Rules and Regulations for Reporting and Disclosure under the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974. This supplemental schedule is the responsibility of the Plan’s management. The supplemental schedule has been subjected to auditing procedures applied in our audits of the financial statements and, in our opinion, is fairly stated in all material respects in relation to the financial statements taken as a whole.
/s/ ERNST & YOUNG, LLP
Stamford, CT
May 6, 2008
1
UST Inc.
Employees’ Savings Plan
Statements of Net Assets Available for Benefits
| | | | | | | | |
| | December 31 |
| | 2007 | | 2006 |
| | |
Assets: | | | | | | | | |
Investments (at fair value) | | $ | 293,396,250 | | | $ | 300,463,300 | |
| | | | | | | | |
Receivables: | | | | | | | | |
Participant contributions | | | 24,402 | | | | 439,763 | |
Employer contributions | | | 15,030 | | | | 240,762 | |
| | |
Total assets | | | 293,435,682 | | | | 301,143,825 | |
| | |
| | | | | | | | |
Liabilities: | | | | | | | | |
Due to trustee | | | 11,038 | | | | 10,680 | |
| | |
Total liabilities | | | 11,038 | | | | 10,680 | |
| | |
| | | | | | | | |
Net assets reflecting all investments at fair value | | | 293,424,644 | | | | 301,133,145 | |
| | | | | | | | |
Adjustment from fair value to contract value for fully benefit-responsive investment contracts | | | (327,807 | ) | | | 431,598 | |
| | | | | | | | |
| | |
Net assets available for benefits | | $ | 293,096,837 | | | $ | 301,564,743 | |
| | |
See accompanying notes.
2
UST Inc.
Employees’ Savings Plan
Statements of Changes in Net Assets Available for Benefits
| | | | | | | | |
| | Year ended December 31 |
| | 2007 | | 2006 |
| | |
Additions: | | | | | | | | |
Investment income: | | | | | | | | |
Net (depreciation) appreciation in fair value of investments: | | | | | | | | |
Common stock of UST Inc. | | $ | (5,741,171 | ) | | $ | 33,495,397 | |
Group trust funds | | | (17,262 | ) | | | 9,108,389 | |
Interest and dividends | | | 16,394,269 | | | | 14,263,138 | |
| | |
Investment income, net | | | 10,635,836 | | | | 56,866,924 | |
| | | | | | | | |
Contributions: | | | | | | | | |
Participants | | | 12,644,471 | | | | 12,600,160 | |
Employer | | | 6,175,899 | | | | 6,474,078 | |
| | |
| | | 18,820,370 | | | | 19,074,238 | |
| | |
Total additions, net | | | 29,456,206 | | | | 75,941,162 | |
| | |
| | | | | | | | |
Deductions: | | | | | | | | |
Benefits paid to participants | | | 37,845,785 | | | | 22,192,935 | |
Administrative expenses | | | 78,327 | | | | 80,316 | |
| | |
Total deductions | | | 37,924,112 | | | | 22,273,251 | |
| | |
Net (decrease) increase in net assets available for benefits | | | (8,467,906 | ) | | | 53,667,911 | |
| | | | | | | | |
Net assets available for benefits: | | | | | | | | |
Beginning of year | | | 301,564,743 | | | | 247,896,832 | |
| | |
End of year | | $ | 293,096,837 | | | $ | 301,564,743 | |
| | |
See accompanying notes.
3
UST Inc.
Employees’ Savings Plan
Notes to Financial Statements
Years Ended December 31, 2007 and 2006
1. Significant Accounting Policies
The financial statements of the UST Inc. Employees’ Savings Plan (the “Plan”) have been prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States and, as such, include amounts based on judgments and estimates made by management. Management believes that the judgments and estimates used in the preparation of the financial statements of the Plan are appropriate; however, actual results may differ from these estimates.
Investment in common stock of UST Inc. (the “Company”) is stated at a fair value of $54.80 per share and $58.20 per share at December 31, 2007 and 2006, respectively. Group trust funds are also stated at fair value. The fair values of UST Inc. common stock and group trust funds are determined based on published market data. Participant loans are valued at their outstanding principal balances, which approximate fair value.
The fair value of the participation units owned by the Plan in group trust funds is based on quoted redemption value on the last business day of the Plan year.
The Plan accounts for fully benefit-responsive investment contracts in accordance with Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) Staff Position AAG INV-1 and SOP 94-4-1, Reporting of Fully Benefit-Responsive Investment Contracts Held by Certain Investment Companies Subject to the AICPA Investment Company Guide and Defined-Contribution Health and Welfare and Pension Plans (the “FSP”). The FSP defines the circumstances in which an investment contract is considered fully benefit-responsive and provides certain reporting and disclosure requirements for fully benefit-responsive investment contracts in defined contribution and health and welfare pension plans. As required by the FSP, investments in the accompanying Statements of Net Assets Available for Benefits include fully benefit-responsive investment contracts recognized at fair value. AICPA Statement of Position 94-4-1, Reporting of Investment Contracts Held by Health and Welfare Benefit Plans and Defined Contribution Pension Plans, as amended, requires fully benefit-responsive investment contracts to be reported at fair value in the Plan’s Statement of Net Assets Available for Benefits with a corresponding adjustment to reflect these investments at contract value.
2. Recent Accounting Pronouncements
In September 2006, the FASB issued SFAS No. 157, Fair Value Measurements (“SFAS No. 157”). SFAS No. 157 provides a common definition of fair value to be applied to existing generally accepted accounting principles requiring the use of fair value measures, establishes a framework for measuring fair value and enhances disclosure about fair value measures under other accounting pronouncements, but does not change existing guidance as to whether or not an asset or liability is carried at fair value. SFAS No. 157 is effective for fiscal years beginning after November 15, 2007, and, as such, will be adopted by the Plan in 2008. Adoption of SFAS No. 157 is not expected to have a material impact to the Plan.
4
UST Inc.
Employees’ Savings Plan
Notes to Financial Statements (continued)
3. Description of Plan
The Plan is a defined contribution employee benefit plan established to encourage and assist employees to adopt a regular savings program and to help provide additional security for retirement. The Plan is subject to the provisions of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 (“ERISA”).
The Plan is a trusteed plan administered by the UST Inc. Employee Plans Administration Committee (“EPAC”). Vanguard Fiduciary Trust Company (“Vanguard”) is the Plan’s trustee.
Employees are eligible to participate in the Plan as of the first day of the month following their date of hire, provided they are scheduled to work at least 1,000 hours in their first year of service, as defined by the Plan. Employees are not eligible to receive an allocation of Company matching contributions until the later of the first anniversary of their date of employment or the first date on which the employee becomes eligible to participate in the Plan.
Through July 31, 2006, Plan participants were able to make an aggregate contribution to the Plan of 1 percent to 15 percent (in 1 percent increments) of base pay on a before-tax or after-tax basis. Beginning August 1, 2006, the maximum contribution rate was increased from 15 percent to 30 percent of base pay, with the exception of highly compensated employees, as defined by the Internal Revenue Service (“IRS”), who were limited to a maximum contribution rate of 15 percent for 2007 and 2006. Maximum contribution rates for highly compensated employees for future years will be as determined by the EPAC. Effective January 2, 2007, the Plan was amended to allow participants to make Roth 401(k) contributions to the Plan in addition to the pre-tax and traditional after-tax contributions already permitted. The Roth 401(k) allows participants to make after-tax contributions and to withdraw such amounts, plus any earnings, tax-free, provided the account has been held for at least five years and the participant is at least age 59 1/2 on the date of distribution. The first 6 percent of participant contributions is subject to a 100 percent matching contribution by the Company, with the exception of employees of Ste. Michelle Wine Estates, a wholly-owned subsidiary of UST Inc., for which the Company matching contribution is 50 percent of the first 6 percent of amounts contributed.
If a participant leaves the Company before becoming fully vested in the Company’s matching contributions to the Plan, the participant will forfeit the unvested portion of the Company’s matching contributions. Forfeitures, which totaled $92,194 and $48,791 in 2007 and 2006, respectively, are directed to the Vanguard Retirement Savings Trust Fund and are applied to reduce the Company’s future matching contributions. At the discretion of the UST Inc. Board of Directors (the “Board”), additional contributions may be made by the Company. For the years ended December 31, 2007 and 2006, no additional discretionary contributions were made. During 2006, the Plan was amended to allow participants the ability to transfer previously allocated matching contributions from investment in common stock of UST Inc. (the UST Common Stock Fund) to any of the Plan’s investment options, regardless of their years of service or age. In addition, this amendment provides that future Company matching contributions are automatically invested in the same investment funds that the participant has elected for their own contributions to the Plan. Prior to this amendment, only participants who had completed three or more years of service had the option to
5
UST Inc.
Employees’ Savings Plan
Notes to Financial Statements (continued)
3. Description of Plan (continued)
diversify the Company’s previously allocated and/or future matching contributions from investment in the UST Common Stock Fund to any of the Plan’s investment options. Participant contributions are always 100 percent vested, while vesting of the Company’s contributions generally occurs over a period of five years at a rate of 20 percent for each year of service. Upon attainment of five years of service, all Company contributions are immediately vested. Participants also become 100 percent vested upon death or attainment of age 55.
Effective March 1, 2007, the Plan was amended to add an Employee Stock Ownership Plan feature which provides participants the option to either reinvest, within the same fund, dividends paid on investments in the UST Common Stock Fund or to receive such dividends in cash.
The Plan includes a loan feature for participants who are currently employed by the Company enabling them to borrow from their vested plan balance. Participants may not obtain a loan if they (i) already have two outstanding loans under the Plan or (ii) have obtained a loan from the Plan within the six-month period immediately preceding the application for a new loan. The term of the loan can range from one to five years as elected by the participant. Loan repayments are made in equal installments of principal and interest by automatic payroll deductions. The maximum amount the participant can borrow is the lesser of 50 percent of their vested interest in the Plan or $50,000, less the highest outstanding loan balance over the previous twelve months, if any. The minimum loan amount is $1,000. The loan interest rate is determined on a monthly basis and is equal to the prime rate received by Vanguard from Reuters on the first business day of the calendar month. The interest rate is fixed for the term of the loan. In the event a participant defaults on a Plan loan, the entire unpaid balance of the loan shall become due and payable immediately. Loans may be prepaid in full at any time.
Expenses incurred to administer the Plan are paid from Plan assets to the extent permissible under applicable law. All costs and expenses with regard to the purchase or sale of investments are also paid by the Plan.
Although it has not expressed any intent to do so, the Company has the right under the Plan to discontinue its contributions at any time and to terminate the Plan subject to the provisions of ERISA. In the event of Plan termination, participants’ account balances become 100 percent vested and they are entitled to the fair value of their accounts.
The foregoing description of the Plan provides only general information. Participants should refer to the Summary Plan Description (“SPD”) for a more complete description of the Plan’s provisions. Copies of the SPD are available from the Company’s Employee Benefits Department.
4. Participants’ Interests
A participant’s interest in the Plan is based on “Units of Participation,” the value of which is calculated daily for each fund based on the aggregate fair value of the fund’s investments. A participant obtaining a distribution from the Plan receives the fair value of his or her account. If a participant leaves the Company before becoming fully vested in the Company’s matching contributions to the Plan, the participant will forfeit the nonvested portion of the Company’s matching contributions. Under the provisions of the Plan, a participant may, at the discretion of the EPAC, be permitted to (i) contribute to the Plan certain distributions received from another qualified employee benefit plan or (ii) direct the trustee of such other plan to make a trust-to-trust transfer to the Plan of the participant’s account in such other plan.
6
UST Inc.
Employees’ Savings Plan
Notes to Financial Statements (continued)
5. Risks and Uncertainties
The Plan invests in various investment securities. Investment securities are exposed to various risks such as interest rate, market and credit risks. Due to the level of risk associated with certain investment securities, it is at least reasonably possible that changes in the values of investment securities will occur in the near term and that such changes could materially affect participants’ account balances and the amounts reported in the statements of net assets available for benefits.
6. Investments
Individual investments that represented 5 percent or more of the Plan’s net assets available for benefits at the respective financial statement dates were as follows:
| | | | | | | | |
| | December 31, |
| | 2007 | | 2006 |
UST Common Stock Fund, at fair value; 2007 - 5,774,917 units; 2006 - 6,512,725 units | | $ | 88,529,479 | | | $ | 105,831,788 | |
Vanguard Retirement Savings Trust Fund; Collective Fund, at contract value*; 2007 - 42,996,747 units; 2006 - 45,283,586 units | | | 42,996,747 | | | | 45,283,586 | |
Vanguard 500 Index Fund Investor Shares; Equity Mutual Fund, at fair value; 2007 - 231,506 units; 2006 - 244,523 units | | | 31,288,082 | | | | 31,932,193 | |
Vanguard Explorer Fund; Equity Mutual Fund, at fair value; 2007 - 278,080 units; 2006 - 275,836 units | | | 19,796,491 | | | | 20,607,735 | |
Vanguard LifeStrategy Moderate Growth Fund; Growth Fund, at fair value; 2007 - 975,097 units; 2006 - 925,701 units | | | 20,681,825 | | | | 18,847,264 | |
Vanguard Windsor II Fund; Equity Mutual Fund, at fair value; 2007 - 485,549 units | | | 15,178,257 | | | | ** | |
| | |
* | | Net assets available for benefits held in the Vanguard Retirement Savings Trust Fund are reported at contract value. The Vanguard Retirement Savings Trust Fund is a stable value fund which holds fully benefit-responsive investment contracts. The fair value of investments held in the Vanguard Retirement Savings Trust Fund was $43,324,554 and $44,851,988 at December 31, 2007 and 2006, respectively (See Note 1). |
|
** | | Individual investment represents less than 5 percent of the Plan’s net assets available for benefits at December 31, 2006. |
7
UST Inc.
Employees’ Savings Plan
Notes to Financial Statements (continued)
6. Investments (continued)
In accordance with the Plan, participants can direct their contributions and Company matching contributions to be invested in one or more of the following funds: the UST Common Stock Fund, the Morgan Stanley Institutional International Equity Fund, the Vanguard 500 Index Fund, the Vanguard Capital Opportunity Fund, the Vanguard Explorer Fund, the Vanguard LifeStrategy Conservative Growth Fund, the Vanguard LifeStrategy Growth Fund, the Vanguard LifeStrategy Income Fund, the Vanguard LifeStrategy Moderate Growth Fund, the Vanguard PRIMECAP Fund, the Vanguard Total Bond Market Index Fund, the Vanguard Windsor II Fund and the Vanguard Retirement Savings Trust Fund.
The Plan allows participants who invest in more than one fund option to allocate their contributions in 1 percent increments per fund. In addition, the Plan permits participants to change their existing account balances by transferring amounts from any one participant-directed fund to any other such fund.
7. Income Tax Status
The Plan has received a determination letter from the IRS dated April 1, 2003, stating that the Plan is qualified under Section 401(a) of the Internal Revenue Code (the “Code”) and, therefore, the related trust is exempt from taxation. The Plan has been amended and restated since the effective date of the determination letter. In January 2007, a request for a new determination letter was filed with the IRS. Once qualified, the Plan is required to operate in conformity with the Code to maintain its qualification. The EPAC believes the Plan is being operated in compliance with the applicable requirements of the Code and, therefore, believes that the Plan, as amended, is qualified and the related trust is tax exempt.
8. Reconciliation of Financial Statements to Form 5500
The following is a reconciliation of net assets available for benefits per the financial statements to the Form 5500:
| | | | | | | | |
| | December 31, | |
| | 2007 | | | 2006 | |
| | |
Net assets available for benefits per the financial statements | | | $293,096,837 | | | | $301,564,743 | |
Adjustment from fair value to contract value for fully benefit- responsive investment contracts | | | 327,807 | | | | (431,598 | ) |
| | | | | | |
Net assets available for benefits per the Form 5500 | | | $293,424,644 | | | | $301,133,145 | |
| | | | | | |
9. Subsequent Events
In September 2007, the Company completed the acquisition of Stag’s Leap Wine Cellars. In connection with the acquisition, effective January 1, 2008, current employees of Stag’s Leap Wine Cellars became participants in the Plan and received credit for their participation and vesting service as measured under the terms of the plan previously administered by Stag’s Leap Wine Cellars. In addition, the assets of the former plan were merged into the Plan in March 2008.
8
UST Inc.
Employees’ Savings Plan
EIN 06-1193986, Plan number 002
Schedule H, Line 4(i) — Schedule of Assets (Held at End of Year)
December 31, 2007
| | | | | | |
| | Description of Investment | | |
| | Including Maturity Date, | | |
Identity of Issue, Borrower, | | Rate of Interest, Par or | | |
Lessor or Similar Party | | Maturity Value | | Current Value |
|
Group Trust Funds: | | | | | | |
| | | | | | |
UST Common Stock Fund (1) | | 5,774,917 units - | | | | |
| | Common Stock Fund (2) | | $ | 88,529,479 | |
| | | | | | |
Morgan Stanley Institutional Fund | | 736,612 shares - | | | | |
International Equity | | International Equity Fund | | | 13,789,390 | |
| | | | | | |
Vanguard 500 Index Fund | | 231,506 shares - | | | | |
Investor Shares(1) | | Equity Mutual Fund | | | 31,288,082 | |
| | | | | | |
Vanguard Capital | | 391,224 shares - | | | | |
Opportunity Fund (1) | | Equity Mutual Fund | | | 14,404,876 | |
| | | | | | |
Vanguard Explorer Fund (1) | | 278,080 shares - | | | | |
| | Equity Mutual Fund | | | 19,796,491 | |
| | | | | | |
Vanguard LifeStrategy | | 311,181 shares - | | | | |
Conservative Growth Fund (1) | | Growth Fund | | | 5,333,634 | |
| | | | | | |
Vanguard LifeStrategy | | 449,364 shares - | | | | |
Growth Fund (1) | | Growth Fund | | | 11,265,560 | |
| | | | | | |
Vanguard LifeStrategy | | 269,457 shares - | | | | |
Income Fund (1) | | Income Fund | | | 3,837,077 | |
| | | | | | |
Vanguard LifeStrategy | | 975,097 shares - | | | | |
Moderate Growth Fund (1) | | Growth Fund | | | 20,681,825 | |
| | | | | | |
Vanguard PRIMECAP Fund (1) | | 176,904 shares - | | | | |
| | Equity Mutual Fund | | | 12,745,952 | |
| | | | | | |
Vanguard Total Bond Market | | 765,897 shares - | | | | |
Index Fund (1) | | Fixed Income Fund | | | 7,781,518 | |
| | |
(1) | | Indicates party-in-interest to the Plan. |
|
(2) | | Cost $54,868,370 |
9
UST Inc.
Employees’ Savings Plan
EIN 06-1193986, Plan number 002
Schedule H, Line 4(i) — Schedule of Assets (Held at End of Year) (continued)
December 31, 2007
| | | | | | |
| | Description of Investment | | | |
| | Including Maturity Date, | | | |
Identity of Issue, Borrower, | | Rate of Interest, Par or | | | |
Lessor or Similar Party | | Maturity Value | | Current Value | |
|
Vanguard Windsor II Fund | | 485,549 shares - | | | | |
Investor Shares (1) | | Equity Mutual Fund | | $ | 15,178,257 | |
| | | | | | |
Vanguard Retirement Savings | | 42,996,747 units - | | | | |
Trust Fund (1) | | Collective Fund (3) | | | 43,324,554 | |
| | | | | | |
| | | | | |
Total Group Trust Funds | | | | $ | 287,956,695 | |
| | | | | |
| | | | | | |
Participant Loans (1) | | Varying interest rates | | | | |
| | and maturity dates | | | 5,439,555 | |
| | | | | |
Total Investments | | | | $ | 293,396,250 | |
| | | | | |
| | |
(1) | | Indicates party-in-interest to the Plan. |
|
(3) | | Reported at fair value. Contract value is $42,996,747. |
10
SIGNATURE
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the UST Inc. Employee Plans
Administration Committee has duly caused this annual report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned hereunto duly authorized.
| | | | |
| UST INC. EMPLOYEES’ SAVINGS PLAN | |
| /s/ Kenneth N. Tamaro | |
| Kenneth N. Tamaro | |
| Chairman, UST Inc. Employee Plans Administration Committee | |
|
Dated: May 7, 2008
UST INC. EMPLOYEES’ SAVINGS PLAN
Exhibit Index
Exhibit 23.1 — Consent of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm.