UNITED STATES SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
FORM 10-K
(Mark one)
x | ANNUAL REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES |
EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934 | |
For the Fiscal Year Ended December 31, 2007 | |
¨ | 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: 0-15661 |
AMCOL INTERNATIONAL CORPORATION
(Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in its Charter)
DELAWARE | 36-0724340 |
(State or other jurisdiction of incorporation or organization) | (I.R.S. Employer Identification No.) |
One North Arlington, 1500 West Shure Drive, Suite 500 Arlington Heights, Illinois (Address of principal executive offices) | 60004-7803 (Zip Code) |
Registrant’s telephone number, including area code: (847) 394-8730
Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act: None
Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(g) of the Act:
$.01 par value Common Stock
Indicate by check mark if the registrant is a well-known seasoned issuer, as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act. Yes o No x
Indicate by check mark if the registrant is not required to file reports pursuant to Section 13 or Section 15(d) of the Act. Yes o No x
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 o
Indicate by check mark if disclosure of delinquent filers pursuant to Item 405 of Regulation S-K is not contained herein, and will not be contained, to the best of registrant’s knowledge, in definitive proxy or information statements incorporated by reference in Part III of this Form 10-K or any amendment to the Form 10-K. o
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, or a non-accelerated filer. See definitions of “accelerated filer and large accelerated filer” 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 Act). Yes o No x
The aggregate market value of the registrant’s $.01 par value Common Stock held by non-affiliates of the registrant (based upon the per share closing price of $27.31 per share on June 30, 2007, and, for the purpose of this calculation only, the assumption that all of the registrant’s directors and executive officers are affiliates) was approximately $631.1 million.
Registrant had 30,096,140 shares of $.01 par value Common Stock outstanding as of February 29, 2008.
DOCUMENTS INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE
Portions of the Company’s definitive proxy statement, which will be filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission not later than 120 days after the end of the fiscal year covered by this Form 10-K, are incorporated by reference into Part III hereof.
PART I
Item 1. Business
INTRODUCTION
AMCOL International Corporation was originally incorporated in South Dakota in 1924 as the Bentonite Mining & Manufacturing Company. Its name was changed to American Colloid Company in 1927, and in 1959, the Company was reincorporated in Delaware. In 1995, its name was changed to AMCOL International Corporation. Except as otherwise noted or indicated by context, the term “Company” refers to AMCOL International Corporation and its subsidiaries.
We operate in five segments: minerals, environmental, oilfield services, transportation and corporate. Our minerals segment mines, processes and distributes clays and products with similar applications for use in various industrial and consumer markets. Our environmental segment processes and distributes clays and products with similar applications for use as a moisture barrier in commercial construction, landfill liners and a variety of other industrial and commercial applications. Our oilfield services segment provides both onshore and offshore water treatment filtration, pipeline separation, well testing, and other services for the oil and gas industry. Our transportation segment includes both a long-haul trucking business and a freight brokerage business for our domestic subsidiaries as well as third parties. Intersegment shipping revenues are eliminated in our corporate segment.
The following table sets forth the percentage contributions of our operating segments to our net sales for the last three years.
Percentage of Net Sales | ||||||||||
2007 | 2006 | 2005 | ||||||||
Minerals | 48% | 52% | 55% | |||||||
Environmental | 34% | 33% | 32% | |||||||
Oilfield services | 14% | 10% | 7% | |||||||
Transportation | 7% | 8% | 9% | |||||||
Intersegment shipping | -3% | -3% | -3% | |||||||
100% | 100% | 100% |
Net revenues, operating profit, assets, depreciation, depletion and amortization, capital expenditures and research and development expenditures attributable to each of our business segments are set forth in our Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements included later herein.
MINERALS SEGMENT
The business is principally conducted through wholly-owned subsidiaries and investments in affiliates and joint ventures throughout the world. Our principal bentonite products are marketed under various internationally registered trade names, including VOLCLAY®, PANTHER CREEK®, PREMIUM GEL® and ADDITROL®.
Our principal mineral is bentonite. Commercially produced bentonite is a type of montmorillonite clay found in beds ranging in thickness from two to 50 feet beneath overburden of up to 60 feet. There are two basic types of bentonite, each having different chemical and physical properties. These are commonly known as sodium bentonite and calcium bentonite. Sodium bentonite is generally referred to as Western bentonite because it predominately exists in the Western United States. Sodium bentonites of lesser purity exist outside the United States. Calcium bentonite is sometimes referred to as Southern bentonite in the United States and as Fuller’s Earth outside the United States. Calcium bentonites mined outside the United States are sometimes activated with sodium carbonate or similar compounds to produce properties similar to natural sodium bentonite.
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Principal Products and Markets
Metalcasting. In the formation of sand molds for metalcastings, sand is bonded with bentonite and various other additives to yield desired casting form and surface finish. We serve the foundry and casting industry throughout North America and the Asia-Pacific region with custom-blended bentonite and allied non-bentonite products to strengthen sand molds for cast auto parts, farm implements, railcars, home appliances and metallurgical products. The blended mineral binders containing sodium bentonite, calcium bentonite, seacoal and other ingredients are sold under the trade name ADDITROL®. We also have a line of formulated additives that are used to introduce silicon and carbon in the melt phase of the casting process.
Pet Products. We produce and market sodium bentonite-based scoopable (clumping), traditional and alternative cat litters as well as specialty pet products to grocery and drug stores, mass merchandisers, wholesale clubs and pet specialty stores throughout the U.S. Our scoopable products’ clump-forming capability traps urine, allowing for easy removal of the odor-producing elements from the litter box. Our products are marketed under various trade names.
Basic Minerals. We supply minerals in industrial applications where it is used as a component of the end product to the consumer. These markets and applications include:
· | Petroleum Products. Sodium bentonite and leonardite, a form of oxidized lignite which we mine and process in North Dakota, are components of drilling fluids used in oil and gas well drilling. Bentonite imparts thickening and suspension properties, which facilitate the transport of rock cuttings to the surface during the drilling process. Drilling fluids lubricate the drilling bit and coat the underground formations to prevent hole collapse and drill-bit seizing. Our primary trademark for this application is sold under the trade name PREMIUM GEL®. |
· | Other Industrial. We produce bentonite and bentonite blends for the construction industry, which are used as a plasticizing agent in cement, plaster and bricks, and as an emulsifier in asphalt. We also supply grades of bentonite used for pellitizing other materials for ease of use. Examples of this application are iron ore and livestock feed. |
Specialty Materials. Our specialty products are sold in markets with generally lower volume applications where our material acts as a performance additive. The following are the major markets for such mineral applications:
· | Detergents. We supply high-grade agglomerated bentonite to the detergent industry. Bentonite performs as a softening agent in certain powdered-detergent formulations. It can also act as a carrier for colorants and fragrances. |
· | Health and Beauty. We manufacture adsorbent polymers and purified grades of bentonite ingredients for sale to manufacturers of personal skin care products. The adsorbent polymers are used to deliver high-value actives in skin-care products. Bentonite-based materials act as thickening, suspension and dispersion agent emollients. |
· | Nanocomposites. We determined that nanoclays which are surface-modified could improve physical properties of certain polymers. Depending on the product requirements, we source or purchase bentonite from third-party suppliers. Surface-treatment chemicals are added in the production process to enable the bentonite to properly function within the polymer. The surface-treatment compounds are readily available on the market. |
Sales and Distribution
In 2007, the top five customers of the minerals segment accounted for approximately 26% of the segment’s sales worldwide. Approximately 72% of our sales in this segment are to customers in the Americas. Metalcasting is our largest market in the Americas and all of our pet products sales are in this region. Our sales in EMEA (Europe, Middle East and Africa) represent approximately 16% of sales and are principally to detergent producers. The Asia-Pacific region represents approximately 12% of sales with metalcasting being our largest market.
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A large majority of our sales and distribution is conducted by our own personnel and facilities. We have established industry-specialized sales groups staffed with technically oriented salespersons serving each of our major markets. Certain businesses will have networks of distributors and representatives, including companies that warehouse products at strategic locations.
We believe our strong global market position in the metalcasting market is largely due to our technical service capabilities and our distribution network. We provide training courses and laboratory testing for customers who use our products in the metalcasting process. Our technical sales personnel provide expertise to not only educate our customers on the bentonite blend properties but also aid them in producing castings efficiently and productively.
For our pet products, we are primarily a private-label producer, and have three principal sites from where we package and distribute finished goods. Our transportation segment provides logistics services for the cat litter business, and is a key component of our capability in supplying customers on a national basis.
Certain specialty material markets require considerable technical expertise. Our detergent additives market position requires an ability to not only supply cost-effective products but also provide product development capabilities to adapt to our customers’ product requirements. We experience a similar requirement for our health and beauty business, which makes use of several patents with various durations.
Petroleum products are sold under our own and private-label trade names. Bentonite is a major component of drilling fluids. At least two drilling fluid service companies have captive bentonite operations and others are party to long-term bentonite supply agreements. Our potential market, therefore, is generally limited to those service organizations that are not vertically integrated or do not have long-term supply arrangements with other bentonite producers.
Competition
We are one of the largest producers of bentonite products globally. There is substantial domestic and international competition, which is essentially a matter of product quality, price, logistics, service and technical support. There are at least 15 other major sodium bentonite or sodium activated calcium bentonite producers throughout the world including several importers into the U.S. market. There are also numerous major producers of calcium bentonite and various regional suppliers in the areas we serve. Some of the producers are companies primarily in other lines of business with substantially greater financial resources than ours.
Seasonality
We do not consider our minerals segment to be seasonal in nature.
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ENVIRONMENTAL SEGMENT
Principal Products and Markets
The business is principally conducted through wholly-owned subsidiaries, including Colloid Environmental Technologies Company (“CETCO”), and joint ventures throughout the world. The following are our three principal markets and a description of the products we produce for them:
Lining Technologies. CETCO sells geosynthetic clay liner products containing bentonite under the BENTOMAT® and CLAYMAX® trade names for lining and capping landfills and for containment in tank farms, storm water containment systems, waste stabilization lagoons, sewage lagoons and mine site and wetlands reclamation applications. Additionally, we provide contracting services in the application of certain geosynthetic materials, including our clay liners, for a number of civil infrastructure projects.
Building Materials. Our VOLCLAY® Waterproofing System is sold to the non-residential construction industry. This line includes VOLTEX®, a waterproofing composite comprised of two polypropylene geotextiles filled with sodium bentonite. VOLTEX® is installed to prevent leakage through underground foundation walls and slabs. The following products round out the principal components of the product line: VOLCLAY PANELS®, also used for below-grade waterproofing of walls and slabs; WATERSTOP-RX®, a joint sealant product; and VOLCLAY SWELLTITE®, a waterproofing membrane for concrete split slabs and plaza areas. We also manufacture and sell asphalt emulsion-based waterproofing systems for residential and non-residential waterproofing applications under several brand names, including Liquid Boot™. In addition, our STRONGSEAL™ and DUCKSBACK™ roofing underlayment systems are sold to the residential and non-residential roofing industry.
Drilling Products. CETCO’s drilling products are used in environmental and geotechnical drilling applications, horizontal directional drilling, mineral exploration and foundation construction. The products are used to install monitoring wells, facilitate horizontal and water well drilling, rehabilitate existing water wells and seal abandoned exploration drill holes. VOLCLAY GROUT®, HYDRAUL-EZ®, BENTOGROUT® and VOLCLAY TABLETS® are among the trade names for products used in these applications. Geothermal grouting applications utilizing GEOTHERMAL GROUT™ represent a developing area for CETCO drilling products. VOLCLAY SHORE PAC® is used in special foundation drilling applications.
Sales and Distribution
The top five customers in our environmental segment accounted for less than 10% of the segment sales worldwide. Approximately 51% of sales are in the Americas. The United States is our largest geographical market for all product lines. Approximately 43% of sales are in EMEA and the remaining 6% in the Asia-Pacific region.
Sales and distribution of the lining technologies are primarily performed through our own personnel and facilities. Our staff includes engineers who analyze how customers have specified our products given the customers’ applications and the topographical conditions that liners will endure.
The building materials products are primarily sold through distributor and dealer networks. The end customers are generally building sub-contractors who are responsible for installing the products.
For drilling product lines, we generally sell through distribution networks. The end customers for the industrial product lines include metal plating and finishing plants and corrugated cardboard operations. Drilling products are also sold through distributors who are overseen by our regional managers.
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Competition
CETCO principally competes with at least seven regional geosynthetic clay liner manufacturers worldwide and several suppliers of alternative technologies. The building materials product lines are specialized businesses that compete primarily with alternative technologies. A number of integrated bentonite companies compete against us in the drilling products business. Competition is based on product quality, service, price, technical support and product availability.
Seasonality
Much of the business in the environmental sector is impacted by weather and soil conditions. Many of the products cannot be applied in harsh weather conditions and, as such, sales and profits tend to be stronger during the period from April through October. As a result, we consider the business of this segment to be seasonal.
OILFIELD SERVICES SEGMENT
Principal Products and Markets
Our oilfield services segment provides both onshore and offshore water treatment filtration, pipeline separation, well testing, and other services for the oil and gas industry. We sell products and services through wholly-owned subsidiaries located in Australia; Malaysia; Brazil; Nigeria; the United Kingdom; and the United States. The following are our principal markets and a description of the products and services we provide:
Water Treatment. We employ several technologies allowing offshore oil drilling and production platform operators to maintain compliance with regulatory requirements governing the discharge of waste water generated during oil production.
Well Testing. We provide equipment and personnel for production well control, clean up, unloading, separation, measure of component flow and disposal of fluids from oil and gas wells.
Pipeline. Our personnel utilize engineered equipment that separates, filters, cleans and allows treatment of effluents arising from pipeline testing and maintenance activities.
Nitrogen Services. We also provide liquid nitrogen with our personnel and mobile equipment to the same production platforms, pipeline operators, and refineries. Liquid nitrogen is commonly used to purge atmospheric conditions that will allow safe performance of maintenance activities at these operations. These services are provided in jetting wells that are loading with fluid; well stimulation, including fracturizing and acidizing; displacing completion fluids prior to perforating; airing up cans for offshore floating installations; and pressure testing and other maintenance activities.
Other Products and Services. We rent specialized equipment such as high-pressure pumps, iron, and manifolds to oil and gas production platform operators.
Competition
Our oilfield services group competes with several larger oil services companies using different technologies.
Sales and Distribution
The top two customers in our oilfield services segment accounted for 23% of the segment sales worldwide, with Chevron Texaco accounting for 14% of this segment’s sales. Approximately 86% of sales are in the Americas. The United States is our largest geographical market for all product lines. The remaining 14% of sales primarily originate in EMEA.
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Our businesses primarily sell and distribute products and services on a direct basis. Our principal customers are oil companies who maintain substantial offshore and onshore drilling and production platforms for both oil and gas.
Seasonality
Much of the business in the oilfield services sector is impacted by weather conditions given that a significant portion of our customers’ oil and gas production facilities are subject to natural disasters, such as hurricanes.
TRANSPORTATION SEGMENT
We operate a long-haul trucking business and a freight brokerage business primarily for delivery of finished products throughout the continental United States. These services are provided to our subsidiaries as well as third-party customers. Through our transportation business, we are better able to control costs, maintain delivery schedules and assure equipment availability in the delivery of our products. In 2007, approximately 35% of the revenues of this operation involved services provided to our domestic minerals and environmental segments.
MINERALS & ENVIRONMENTAL COMMON OPERATIONAL FUNCTIONS
Mineral Reserves
We have reserves of sodium and calcium bentonite at various locations in the United States, including Wyoming, South Dakota, Montana and Alabama, and also in Australia, China, and Turkey. Through our investments in affiliates and joint ventures, we also have access to bentonite deposits in Egypt, India and Mexico. At 2007 consumption rates and product mix, we estimate the proven, assigned reserves of commercially usable sodium bentonite at approximately 17 years. We estimate the proven, assigned reserves of calcium bentonite at approximately 15 years. While we believe, based upon our experience, that our reserve estimates are reasonable and our title and mining rights to our reserves are valid, we have not obtained any independent verification of such reserve estimates or such title or mining rights.
We own or control the properties on which reserves are located through long-term leases, royalty agreements and patented and unpatented mining claims. A majority of our bentonite reserves are owned. No single or group of mining claims or leases are significant or material to the financial condition or operations of our Company or our minerals segment.
A majority of our bentonite is mined and processed in the United States pursuant to over eighty mining lease and royalty agreements (including easement and right of way agreements) and 1,850 mining claims. The majority of these claims and leases are with private parties and located in Montana, South Dakota and Wyoming. The bentonite deposits underlying these claims and leases generally lie in parcels of land varying between 20 and 40 acres. In general, the reserves are immediately adjacent to, or within sixty miles of, one of seven related processing plants. All of the properties on which our reserves are located are either physically accessible for the purposes of mining and hauling or the cost of obtaining physical access would not be material. Access to processing facilities from the mining areas is generally by private road, public highways, or railroads. For each leased property and mining claim, there are multiple means of access.
To retain possessory rights in unpatented mining claims in North America, a fee of $100 per year for each unpatented mining claim is required. The validity of title to unpatented mining claims is dependent upon numerous factual matters. We believe that the unpatented mining claims that we own are in compliance with all applicable federal, state and local mining laws, rules and regulations. We are not aware of any material conflicts with other parties concerning our claims. From time to time, members of Congress and members of the executive branch of the federal government have proposed amendments to existing federal mining laws. The various amendments would have had a prospective effect on mining operations on federal lands and include, among other things, the imposition of royalty fees on the mining of unpatented claims, the elimination or restructuring of the patent system and an increase in fees for the maintenance of unpatented claims. To the extent that future proposals may result in the imposition of royalty fees on unpatented lands, the mining of our unpatented claims may become uneconomic and royalty rates for privately leased lands may be affected. We cannot predict the effect any potential amendments may have or whether or when any such amendments might be adopted.
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We maintain a continuous program of worldwide exploration for additional reserves and attempt to acquire reserves sufficient to replenish our consumption each year, but we cannot assure that additional reserves will continue to become available.
We oversee all of our mining operations, including our exploration activity and securing the necessary state and federal mining permits.
The following table shows a summary of our mineral sales from active mining areas for the last 3 years in short tons, as well as mineral reserves by major mineral category.
Wet Tons | Assigned | Unassigned | Mining Claims | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Tons Sold (000s) | of Reserves | Reserves | Reserves | Conversion | Unpatented | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
2007 | 2006 | 2005 | (000s) | (000s) | (000s) | Factor | Owned | ** | Leased | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Sodium Bentonite | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Assigned | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Australia | 5 | 2 | - | 861 | 861 | - | 75 | % | - | - | 861 | ||||||||||||||||||||
Belle/Colony, WY/SD | 1,359 | 1,310 | 1,295 | 18,103 | 18,103 | - | 77 | % | 783 | 223 | 17,097 | ||||||||||||||||||||
Lovell, WY | 683 | 663 | 609 | 24,266 | 24,266 | - | 84 | % | 12,700 | 10,373 | 1,193 | ||||||||||||||||||||
TOTAL ASSIGNED | 2,047 | 1,975 | 1,904 | 43,230 | 43,230 | - | 13,483 | 10,596 | 19,151 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Unassigned | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
SD, WY, MT | - | - | - | 59,662 | - | 59,662 | 82 | % | 54,775 | 3,159 | 1,729 | ||||||||||||||||||||
TOTAL OTHER / UNASSIGNED | - | - | - | 59,662 | - | 59,662 | 54,775 | 3,159 | 1,729 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
TOTAL SODIUM BENTONITE | 2,047 | 1,975 | 1,904 | 102,892 | 43,230 | 59,662 | 0 | % | 68,258 | 13,754 | 20,880 | ||||||||||||||||||||
42 | % | 58 | % | 66 | % | 13 | % | 20 | % | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Calcium Bentonite | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Assigned | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Chao Yang, Liaoning, China | 138 | 126 | 89 | 1,375 | 1,375 | - | 76 | % | - | - | 1,375 | ||||||||||||||||||||
Nevada | - | 1 | 2 | 536 | 36 | 500 | 76 | % | 36 | 500 | - | ||||||||||||||||||||
Sandy Ridge, AL | 119 | 124 | 120 | 3,861 | 3,861 | - | 76 | % | 1,592 | - | 2,269 | ||||||||||||||||||||
Turkey | 60 | - | - | 1,115 | 1,115 | - | 75 | % | - | - | 1,115 | ||||||||||||||||||||
Vici, OK | 99 | - | 99 | 77 | % | - | - | 99 | |||||||||||||||||||||||
TOTAL CALCIUM BENTONITE | 316 | 251 | 211 | 6,986 | 6,387 | 599 | 1,628 | 500 | 4,858 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
91 | % | 9 | % | 23 | % | 7 | % | 70 | % | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Leonardite | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Gascoyne, ND | 61 | 63 | 50 | 1,014 | 1,014 | - | 74 | % | - | - | 1,014 | ||||||||||||||||||||
100 | % | 100 | % | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Other | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Unassigned | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Other (NV) | - | - | - | 2,997 | - | 2,997 | 75 | % | - | - | 2,997 | ||||||||||||||||||||
GRAND TOTALS | 2,425 | 2,289 | 2,165 | 113,889 | 50,631 | 63,258 | 69,886 | 14,254 | 29,749 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
44 | % | 56 | % | 61 | % | 13 | % | 26 | % |
** Quantity of reserves that would be owned if patent was granted.
Assigned reserves are reserves which could be reasonably expected to be processed in existing plants. Unassigned reserves are reserves which will require additional expenditures for processing facilities. Conversion factor is the percentage of reserves that will be available for sale after processing.
We estimate that available supplies of other materials utilized in our minerals business are sufficient to meet our production requirements for the foreseeable future.
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Mining and Processing
Bentonite is surface mined, generally with large earthmoving scrapers, and then loaded into trucks and off-highway-haul wagons for movement to processing plants. The mining and hauling of our clay is done by us and by independent contractors.
At the processing plants, bentonite is dried, crushed and sent through grinding mills, where it is sized to customer requirements, then chemically modified where needed and transferred to silos for automatic bagging or bulk shipment. Virtually all production is shipped as processed rather than stored for inventory.
Product Development and Patents
We work actively with customers in each of our major markets to develop commercial applications of specialized grades of bentonite. We maintain a research center and laboratory testing facilities in Arlington Heights, Illinois, and Birkenhead, England. When we perceive a need for a product that will accomplish a particular goal, we work to develop the product, research its marketability and study the feasibility of its production. We also co-develop products with customers, or others, as needs arise. Our development efforts emphasize markets with which we are familiar and products for which we believe there is a viable market.
We hold a number of U.S. and international patents covering the use of bentonite and products containing bentonite. We follow the practice of obtaining patents on new developments whenever feasible. However, we do not consider that any one or any combination of such patents is material to our businesses as a whole.
Research and Development
Our business segments share research and laboratory facilities and technological developments are shared among our subsidiaries, subject to license agreements where appropriate. Further information on research and development activities is included in our Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements contained in Item 8 of this report.
Regulation and Environmental
We believe we are in material compliance with current, applicable regulations for surface mining. Since reclamation of exhausted mining sites has been a regular part of our surface mining operations for the past 36 years, maintaining compliance with current regulations has not had a material effect on mining costs. Reclamation costs are reflected in the prices of the bentonite sold.
The grinding and handling of dried clay is part of the production process, and, because these processes generate dust, our mineral processing plants are subject to applicable clean air standards (including Title V of the Clean Air Act). All of our plants are equipped with dust collection systems. We have not had, and do not presently anticipate, any significant regulatory problems in connection with our dust emission, though we expect ongoing expenditures for the maintenance of our dust collection systems and required annual fees.
Our operations are also subject to other federal, state, local and foreign laws and regulations relating to the environment and to health and safety matters. Certain of these laws and regulations provide for the imposition of substantial penalties for noncompliance. While the costs of compliance with, and penalties imposed under, these laws and regulations have historically not had a material adverse effect on us, future events, such as changes in or modified interpretations of existing laws and regulations, enforcement policies, or further investigation or evaluation of potential health hazards of certain products, may give rise to additional compliance and other costs that could have a material adverse effect on us.
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FOREIGN OPERATIONS AND EXPORT SALES
Approximately 32% of our 2007 net sales were to customers in countries outside the Americas. To enhance our overseas market presence, we maintain mineral processing plants in the United Kingdom, China, Australia, South Korea, Poland, Thailand, and Turkey. Chartered vessels deliver large quantities of our bulk, dried sodium bentonite to the plants in the United Kingdom, Poland, Australia, Thailand and South Korea where it is processed and mixed with other clays and distributed throughout Europe and the Asia-Pacific region. In addition, we maintain a worldwide network of independent dealers, distributors and representatives to support sales and distribution.
We manufacture geosynthetic clay liners in the United Kingdom, Spain, Poland, China, South Korea, and India (through our joint venture company Ashapura Volclay Limited). These international operations provide a cost-effective means of supplying the European and Asia-Pacific markets.
Our oilfield services business maintains offices and operations centers in Scotland, Nigeria, Australia, and Malaysia to service customers in those local markets.
Our international operations are subject to the usual risks of doing business abroad, such as currency fluctuations and devaluation, restrictions on the transfer of funds, and import and export duties.
The Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements included in Item 8 of this report presents further details on our sales by geographic region. These Notes are incorporated by reference for sales attributed to foreign operations and export sales from the United States.
EMPLOYEES
As of December 31, 2007, we employed 2,017 people in our global organization, 857 of whom were employed outside of the United States. Operating plants are adequately staffed, and no significant labor shortages are presently foreseen. Labor relations have been satisfactory.
AVAILABLE INFORMATION
We file annual, quarterly and current reports, proxy statements and other information with the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”). You may read and copy any reports, statements and other information filed by the Company at the SEC’s Public Reference Room at 100 F. Street N.E., Washington, D.C., 20549. Please call (800) SEC-0330 for further information on the Public Reference Room. The SEC maintains a website that contains reports, proxy and information statements and the operations of other information regarding issuers that file electronically with the SEC. Our filings are also available to the public at the website maintained by the SEC, www.sec.gov.
Our principal Internet address is www.amcol.com. Our annual, quarterly and current reports, and amendments to those reports, are available free of charge on www.amcol.com, as soon as reasonably practicable after we electronically file such material with, or furnish it to, the SEC.
CERTIFICATIONS
As required by the rules and regulations of the New York Stock Exchange (the “NYSE”), we delivered to the NYSE a certification executed by our Chief Executive Officer, Lawrence E. Washow, certifying that Mr. Washow was not aware of any violation by the Company of the NYSE’s corporate governance listing standards as of May 11, 2007.
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As required by the rules and regulations of the SEC, the Sarbanes-Oxley Act Section 302 certifications regarding the quality of our public disclosures are filed as exhibits to this Annual Report on Form 10-K.
Item 1A. Risk Factors
Certain statements we make from time to time, including statements in the Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operation section hereafter, constitute “forward-looking statements” made in reliance upon the safe harbor contained in Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. Such forward-looking statements include statements relating to our company or our operations that are preceded by terms such as “expects,” “believes,” “anticipates,” “intends” and similar expressions, and statements relating to anticipated growth, acquisitions, levels of capital expenditures, future dividends, expansion into global markets and the development of new products. Such forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance and involve risks and uncertainties. Our actual results, performance or achievements could differ materially from the results, performance or achievements expressed in, or implied by, these forward-looking statements as a result of various factors, including without limitation the following:
Competition
Our businesses are very competitive. We believe competition is essentially a matter of product quality, price, delivery, service and technical support. Several of our competitors in the world market are larger and have substantially greater financial resources. If we fail to compete successfully based on these or other factors, we may lose customers or fail to recruit new customers and our business and future financial results could be materially and adversely affected.
Reliance on Key Industries
Approximately 43% of our minerals segment’s sales in 2007 were to the metalcasting market. Our environmental segment’s sales are predominantly derived from the construction and infrastructure markets. All these markets depend heavily upon the strength of the domestic and international economies. If these economies weaken, demand for our products sold to these industries may decline and our business or future financial results may be adversely affected.
Reliance on the Oil and Gas Activities
Revenues from our oilfield services segment grew to more than $100 million for the first time ever and now represent 14% of consolidated revenues and 26% of consolidated operating income. Oil and gas production activities are heavily influenced by the benchmark price of these commodities. In turn, both economic and political events can influence the benchmark price which may ultimately affect the revenue potential of our business.
Integration of Acquired Businesses
We have acquired several businesses in each of the past two years. Acquisitions may continue to be an element of our growth strategy in the future. If actual integration costs are higher than amounts assumed, the profitability of acquired businesses is lower than amounts assumed, or we are unable to integrate the assets and personnel acquired in an acquisition as anticipated, our future earnings may be lower than anticipated.
Regulatory and Legal Matters
Our operations are subject to various federal, state, local and foreign laws and regulations relating to the environmental and to health and safety matters. Substantial penalties may be imposed if we violate certain of these laws and regulations even if the violation was inadvertent or unintentional. If these laws or regulations are changed or interpreted differently in the future, it may become more difficult or expensive for us to comply. In addition, investigations or evaluations of our products by government agencies may require us to adopt additional safety measures or precautions. If our costs to comply with such laws and regulations in the future materially increase, our business and future financial results could be materially and adversely affected. We may also be subject to adverse litigation results in addition to increased compliance costs arising from future changes in laws and regulations that may negatively impact our operations and profits.
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Risks of International Expansion
An important part of our business strategy is to expand internationally. We intend to seek acquisitions, joint ventures and strategic alliances globally. Sales and earnings from our overseas operations have increased considerably in recent years. In 2007, approximately 24% and 8% of consolidated net sales were from the EMEA and the Asia-Pacific regions, respectively. Approximately 37% of operating profit in 2007 was earned by our overseas businesses. We also recorded approximately $0.27 per diluted share for earnings, under the equity method of accounting, from investments in affiliate businesses. As we expand internationally, we will be subject to increased risks, which may include the following:
· | currency exchange or price control laws; |
· | currency translation adjustments; |
· | political and economic instability; |
· | unexpected changes in regulatory requirements; |
· | tariffs and other trade barriers; |
· | longer accounts receivable collection cycles; and |
· | adverse tax consequences. |
The above listed events could result in sudden, and potentially prolonged, changes in demand for our products. Also, we may have difficulty enforcing agreements and collecting accounts receivable through a foreign country’s legal system.
Ocean Shipping and Logistics
Bulk cargo shipping costs have been rising significantly due to greater demand from China. We rely on shipping bulk cargos of bentonite from the United States and China to customers, as well as our own subsidiaries. We may need to offset additional shipping costs with price increases to customers in order to maintain our profitability. Other factors in the United States that will potentially impact us are escalating costs of purchased raw materials derived from petrochemical stocks and increases in rail and long-haul freight rates. While we have been successful in attaining price increases in certain markets to offset some of these rising costs, there can be no assurance that we will be successful in continuing to achieve these price increases.
Volatility of Stock Price
The stock market has been extremely volatile in recent years. These broad market fluctuations may adversely affect the market price of our common stock. In addition, factors such as the following may have a significant effect on the market price of our common stock:
· | quarterly fluctuations in our financial results; |
· | our introduction of new services or products; |
· | announcements of acquisitions, strategic alliances or joint ventures by us, our customers or our competitors; |
· | changes in analysts’ recommendations regarding our common stock; and |
· | general economic conditions. |
There can be no assurance that the price of our common stock will increase in the future or be maintained at its recent levels.
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Item 1B. Unresolved Staff Comments
None.
Item 2. Properties
We operate the following principal plants, mines and other facilities, all of which are owned, except as noted below. We also have numerous other facilities which blend ADDITROL ®, package cat litter and chromite sand, warehouse products and serve as sales offices.
LOCATION | PRINCIPAL FUNCTION | |
MINERALS | ||
Belle Fourche, SD (three plants) | Mine and process sodium bentonite | |
Colony, WY (two plants) | Mine and process sodium bentonite, package cat litter | |
Gascoyne, ND | Mine and process leonardite | |
Lovell, WY (1) | Mine and process sodium bentonite | |
Sandy Ridge, AL | Mine and process calcium bentonite; blend ADDITROL® | |
Chao Yang, Liaoning, China | Mine and process calcium bentonite | |
Winsford, Cheshire, U.K. | Process bentonite and other minerals | |
Istanbul, Turkey | Mine and process calcium bentonite | |
ENVIRONMENTAL | ||
Cartersville, GA | Manufacture components for geosynthetic clay liners; manufacture Bentomat® and Claymax® geosynthetic clay liners | |
Lovell, WY (1) | Manufacture Bentomat® and Claymax® geosynthetic clay liners | |
Philadelphia, PA | Provider of services for the design and installation of geosynthetic systems | |
Birkenhead, Merseyside, U.K. (1)(2) | Manufacture Bentomat® geosynthetic clay liner; research laboratory; headquarters for CETCO (Europe) Ltd. | |
Segovia, Spain | Manufacture Bentomat® geosynthetic clay liners | |
Szczytno, Poland | Manufacture Bentomat® and Claymax® geosynthetic clay liners | |
OILFIELD SERVICES | ||
Broussard, LA | Central operations and distribution | |
Harvey, LA | Nitrogen sales and service | |
TRANSPORTATION | ||
Scottsbluff, NE | Transportation headquarters and terminal | |
CORPORATE | ||
Arlington Heights, IL (2) | Corporate headquarters; CETCO headquarters; American Colloid Company headquarters; Nanocor, Inc. headquarters; research laboratory |
(1) Shared facilities between minerals and environmental segments.
(2) Certain offices and facilities are leased.
Item 3. Legal Proceedings
We are party to a number of lawsuits arising in the normal course of our business. We do not believe that any pending litigation will have a material adverse effect on our consolidated financial position or results of operations.
Our processing operations require permits from various governmental authorities. From time to time, we have been contacted by government agencies with respect to required permits or compliance with existing permits. While we have been notified of certain situations of non-compliance, management does not expect the fines or the cost of becoming compliant, if any, to be significant.
We have neither been nor expect to be assessed any tax shelter penalties by the United States Internal Revenue Service for tax shelter transactions that either the IRS deems abusive or have significant tax avoidance penalties.
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Item 4. Submission of Matters to a Vote of Security Holders
None.
Executive Officers of Registrant
NAME | AGE | PRINCIPAL OCCUPATION FOR LAST FIVE YEARS | ||
Gary L. Castagna | 46 | Senior Vice President, Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer of the Company since February 2001; prior thereto, a consultant to AMCOL since June 2000; prior thereto, Vice President of the Company and President of Chemdal International Corporation (this business is a former subsidiary of AMCOL, and consisted of the absorbent polymers business that was sold to BASF AG in June 2000) since August 1997; since January 2000, Director of M~Wave Incorporated, a manufacturer and distributor of printed circuit boards. | ||
Ryan F. McKendrick | 56 | Senior Vice President of the Company and President of CETCO since November 1998; President of Volclay International Corporation since 2002; prior thereto, Vice President of CETCO since 1994. | ||
Gary Morrison | 52 | Vice President of the Company and President of American Colloid Company since February 2000; prior thereto, Executive Vice President of American Colloid Company since 1998. | ||
Lawrence E. Washow | 54 | Chief Executive Officer since May 2000; President of the Company since May 1998; Chief Operating Officer of the Company since 1997; a Director since February, 1998. |
All executive officers of the Company are elected annually by the Board of Directors for a term expiring at the annual meeting of directors following their election or when their respective successors are elected and shall have qualified.
PART II
Item 5. Market for Registrant’s Common Equity and Related Stockholder Matters
Our common stock trades on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol “ACO.” The following table sets forth, for the periods indicated, the high and low closing sale prices of the common stock, as reported by the New York Stock Exchange, and cash dividends declared per share.
Stock Price | Cash Dividends | ||||||||||||
High | Low | Declared Per Share | |||||||||||
1st Quarter | $ | 31.33 | $ | 24.70 | $ | 0.14 | |||||||
Fiscal Year Ended December 31, 2007: | 2nd Quarter | 30.90 | 23.76 | 0.14 | |||||||||
3rd Quarter | 35.67 | 27.00 | 0.16 | ||||||||||
4th Quarter | 42.70 | 31.38 | 0.16 | ||||||||||
1st Quarter | $ | 29.40 | $ | 20.28 | $ | 0.11 | |||||||
Fiscal Year Ended December 31, 2006: | 2nd Quarter | 33.49 | 22.56 | 0.12 | |||||||||
3rd Quarter | 26.95 | 18.71 | 0.12 | ||||||||||
4th Quarter | 29.43 | 23.87 | 0.14 |
We have paid cash dividends every year for 70 years. As of February 25, 2008, there were 11,318 holders of record of the common stock, including shares held in street name.
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Purchases of Equity Securities
In 2006, the Board of Directors announced a program to repurchase up to $15 million of our outstanding common stock on the open market or in privately negotiated transactions. This authorization expires November 10, 2008. The following table summarizes the repurchases made during the year.
Total Number of | Maximum Value of | |||||||||
Shares Repurchased | Average | Shares that May Yet Be | ||||||||
as Part of the Stock | Price Paid | Repurchased Under the | ||||||||
Repurchase Program | Per Share | Program | ||||||||
Amount of authorization outstanding at December 31, 2006 | $ | 15,000,000 | ||||||||
Activity in current year: | ||||||||||
January 1 - January 31 | ||||||||||
Shares repurchased | - | N/A | $ | 15,000,000 | ||||||
February 1 - February 28 | ||||||||||
Shares repurchased | - | N/A | $ | 15,000,000 | ||||||
March 1 - March 31 | ||||||||||
Shares repurchased | - | N/A | $ | 15,000,000 | ||||||
April 1 - April 30 | - | |||||||||
Shares repurchased | - | N/A | $ | 15,000,000 | ||||||
May 1 - May 31 | ||||||||||
Shares repurchased | 250,000 | $ | 24.34 | $ | 8,914,075 | |||||
June 1 - June 30 | ||||||||||
Shares repurchased | - | N/A | $ | 8,914,075 | ||||||
July 1 - July 31 | ||||||||||
Shares repurchased | - | N/A | $ | 8,914,075 | ||||||
August 1 - August 31 | ||||||||||
Shares repurchased | - | N/A | $ | 8,914,075 | ||||||
September 1 - September 30 | ||||||||||
Shares repurchased | - | N/A | $ | 8,914,075 | ||||||
October 1 - October 31 | ||||||||||
Shares repurchased | - | N/A | $ | 8,914,075 | ||||||
November 1 - November 30 | ||||||||||
Shares repurchased | - | N/A | $ | 8,914,075 | ||||||
December 1 - December 31 | ||||||||||
Shares repurchased | 10,000 | $ | 32.05 | $ | 8,593,575 | |||||
Total | 260,000 | $ | 24.64 | $ | 8,593,575 |
Equity Compensation Plan Information
Our outstanding equity compensation awards are comprised of stock options issued under our 1993 Stock Option Plan, 1998 Long-Term Incentive Plan, and our 2006 Long-Term Incentive Plan. All outstanding awards at December 31, 2007 relate to our common stock. We do not have any equity compensation plans which have not been approved by our shareholders. Shares issued under all these plans may be from our treasury, newly issued or both. At December 31, 2007, the number of securities to be issued upon exercise of outstanding options and the related weighted-average exercise price of these options was 1,708,168 shares at $16.86 per share, respectively. The total number of securities remaining available for future issuance under these plans at December 31, 2007 is 1,750,734 shares.
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Item 6. Selected Financial Data
The following is selected financial data for the Company as of and for the five years ended December 31, 2007.
SUMMARY OF OPERATIONS
(In thousands, except ratios and share and per share amounts)
2007 | 2006 | 2005 | 2004 | 2003 | ||||||||||||
Operations Data | ||||||||||||||||
Net sales | $ | 744,334 | $ | 611,556 | $ | 535,924 | $ | 461,778 | $ | 374,483 | ||||||
Gross profit | 196,514 | 159,466 | 138,023 | 118,568 | 100,068 | |||||||||||
General, selling and administrative expenses | 121,187 | 102,078 | 90,947 | 82,584 | 71,053 | |||||||||||
Operating profit | 75,327 | 57,388 | 47,076 | 35,984 | 29,015 | |||||||||||
Net interest expense | (8,915 | ) | (2,951 | ) | (1,660 | ) | (826 | ) | (280 | ) | ||||||
Net other income (expense) | (1,139 | ) | 231 | (393 | ) | (86 | ) | 526 | ||||||||
Pretax income | 65,273 | 54,668 | 45,023 | 35,072 | 29,261 | |||||||||||
Income taxes | 16,646 | 10,425 | 11,645 | 4,687 | 9,946 | |||||||||||
Income from affiliates and joint ventures | 8,394 | 5,420 | 2,912 | 1,180 | 600 | |||||||||||
Income from continuing operations | 57,021 | 49,663 | 36,290 | 31,565 | 19,915 | |||||||||||
Discontinued operations | (286 | ) | 585 | 4,755 | - | 8,950 | ||||||||||
Net income | 56,735 | 50,248 | 41,045 | 31,565 | 28,865 | |||||||||||
Per Share Data | ||||||||||||||||
Basic earnings per share | ||||||||||||||||
Continuing operations | 1.89 | 1.65 | 1.23 | 1.08 | 0.70 | |||||||||||
Discontinued operations | (0.01 | ) | 0.02 | 0.16 | - | 0.32 | ||||||||||
Net income | 1.88 | 1.67 | 1.39 | 1.08 | 1.02 | |||||||||||
Diluted earnings per share | ||||||||||||||||
Continuing operations | 1.84 | 1.60 | 1.18 | 1.03 | 0.67 | |||||||||||
Discontinued operations | (0.01 | ) | 0.02 | 0.15 | - | 0.30 | ||||||||||
Net income | 1.83 | 1.62 | 1.33 | 1.03 | 0.97 | |||||||||||
Stockholders’ equity (1) | 11.71 | 9.85 | 8.36 | 7.55 | 6.58 | |||||||||||
Dividends | 0.60 | 0.49 | 0.38 | 0.32 | 0.16 |
Continued…
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SUMMARY OF OPERATIONS
(In thousands, except ratios and share and per share amounts)
2007 | 2006 | 2005 | 2004 | 2003 | ||||||||||||
Shares Outstanding Data | ||||||||||||||||
End of period | 30,093,828 | 29,936,356 | 29,783,639 | 29,395,755 | 29,107,746 | |||||||||||
Weighted average for the period-basic | 30,164,697 | 30,054,267 | 29,525,033 | 29,140,892 | 28,357,009 | |||||||||||
Incremental impact of stock options | 794,724 | 971,621 | 1,278,105 | 1,561,969 | 1,492,569 | |||||||||||
Weighted average for the period-diluted | 30,959,421 | 31,025,888 | 30,803,138 | 30,702,861 | 29,849,578 | |||||||||||
Balance Sheet Data (at end of period) | ||||||||||||||||
Current assets | $ | 304,630 | $ | 251,684 | $ | 211,209 | $ | 192,724 | $ | 143,574 | ||||||
Net property and equipment | 176,590 | 140,772 | 100,064 | 93,641 | 86,996 | |||||||||||
Other long-term assets | 170,926 | 118,768 | 57,256 | 50,077 | 34,759 | |||||||||||
Total assets | 652,146 | 511,224 | 368,529 | 336,442 | 265,329 | |||||||||||
Current liabilities | 102,107 | 78,383 | 63,269 | 61,681 | 47,708 | |||||||||||
Long-term debt | 164,232 | 112,448 | 34,838 | 34,295 | 9,006 | |||||||||||
Other long-term liabilities | 33,484 | 25,575 | 21,566 | 18,532 | 17,165 | |||||||||||
Stockholders’ equity | 352,323 | 294,818 | 248,856 | 221,934 | 191,450 | |||||||||||
Other Statistics for Continuing Operations | ||||||||||||||||
Depreciation, depletion and amortization | $ | 29,219 | $ | 20,483 | $ | 19,558 | $ | 20,124 | $ | 18,910 | ||||||
Capital expenditures | 53,054 | 42,099 | 28,626 | 21,627 | 15,795 | |||||||||||
Gross profit margin | 26.4 | % | 26.1 | % | 25.8 | % | 25.7 | % | 26.7 | % | ||||||
Operating profit margin | 10.1 | % | 9.4 | % | 8.8 | % | 7.8 | % | 7.7 | % | ||||||
Pretax profit margin | 8.8 | % | 8.9 | % | 8.4 | % | 7.6 | % | 7.8 | % | ||||||
Effective tax rate | 25.5 | % | 19.1 | % | 25.9 | % | 13.4 | % | 34.0 | % | ||||||
Net profit from continuing operations margin | 7.7 | % | 8.1 | % | 6.8 | % | 6.8 | % | 5.3 | % | ||||||
Return on average equity | 17.6 | % | 18.3 | % | 15.4 | % | 15.3 | % | 11.4 | % |
(1) Based on the number of common shares outstanding at the end of each year rather than a weighted average.
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Item 7. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations
Overview
We are a global, specialty minerals company and earn our revenues and profits from a diverse group of industrial and consumer product lines. The principal mineral that we utilize to generate revenues is bentonite. We own or lease bentonite reserves in the United States, Australia, China and Turkey. Additionally, through our affiliates and joint ventures, we have access to bentonite reserves in Egypt, India and Mexico. Bentonite deposits have varying physical properties which require us to identify which markets our reserves can serve. We believe that our understanding of bentonite properties, mining methods, processing and application to markets are the core components of our longevity and future prospects.
We operate in five segments: minerals, environmental, oilfield services, transportation and corporate. Both our minerals and environmental segments operate manufacturing facilities in North America, Europe, and the Asia-Pacific region. Our oilfield services segment operates principally in North America, Europe and Africa. Additionally, we have a transportation segment that performs trucking services for our domestic minerals and environmental businesses as well as third parties.
Our customers are engaged in varied end-markets and geographies. Customers in the minerals segment range from foundries that produce castings for automotive, industrial, and transportation equipment, including heavy-duty trucks and railroad cars, to producers of consumer goods, including cat box filler, cosmetics and detergents. The customers for our lining technologies and building materials products are predominantly engineering contractors. The oilfield services customer base is primarily comprised of oil and gas service or exploration companies. A significant portion of our products have been used in the same applications for decades and have experienced minimal technological obsolescence. A majority of our business is performed under short-term agreements; therefore, terms of sale, such as pricing and volume, can change within our fiscal year.
Approximately 68% of our revenue is generated in the Americas. principally North America. Consequently, the state of the U.S. economy impacts our revenues. Our fastest growing markets are in the Asia-Pacific and European regions, which have continued to outpace the United States in economic growth.
Sustainable, long-term profit growth is our primary objective. We employ a number of strategic initiatives to achieve this goal:
· | Organic growth: The central component of our growth strategy is expansion of our product lines and market presence. We have a history of commitment to research and development and using this resource to bring innovative products to market. We believe this approach to growth offers the best probability of achieving our long-term goals at the lowest risk. |
· | Globalization: We have expanded our manufacturing and marketing organizations into Europe and Asia-Pacific over the last 40 years. This operating experience enables us to expand further into emerging markets. We see the significant opportunities in the Asia-Pacific region for expanding our revenues and earnings over the long-term as a number of markets we serve, such as metalcasting and lining technologies, are expected to grow. We expect to take advantage of these growth areas either through our wholly-owned subsidiaries or investments in affiliates and joint ventures. |
· | Mineral development: Bentonite is a component in a majority of the products we produce. Since it is a natural material, we must continually expand our reserve base to maintain a long-term business. Our goal is to add new reserves to replace the bentonite mined each year. Furthermore, we need to assure that new reserves meet the physical property requirements for our diverse product lines and are economical to mine. Our organization is committed to developing its global reserve base to meet these requirements. |
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· | Acquisitions: We continually seek opportunities to add complementary businesses to our portfolio of products. In 2007, we paid net cash of $38 million to acquire four businesses. A strong financial position will enable us to continue to acquire businesses which, in our assessment, are valued fairly and fit with our growth strategy. |
There can be no assurance that we will achieve success in implementing any one or more of the strategic initiatives described above.
A number of risks will challenge us in meeting our long-term objectives. We describe certain risks, such as competition and our reliance on economically sensitive markets, under “Item 1A. Risk Factors” and “Item 7A. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk.” In general, the significance of these risks has not changed over the past year.
Critical Accounting Policies and Estimates
Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations describes relevant aspects of our consolidated financial statements, which have been prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States. The preparation of these financial statements requires us to select accounting policies that are appropriate for our business, and to make certain estimates, judgments and assumptions about matters that are inherently uncertain in applying those policies. On an ongoing basis, we re-evaluate these estimates, judgments and assumptions for reasonableness because of the critical impact that these factors have on the reported amounts of assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the periods presented. Actual results may differ from these estimates.
Our financial statements are based in part upon critical accounting policies that involve complex and subjective decisions and assessments. Our senior management has discussed the development, selection and disclosure of these policies with the members of the Audit Committee of our Board of Directors. We believe our selection of accounting policies has resulted in actual results approximating the estimated amounts in each respective area. These policies are discussed below and also in Note 1 of the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements. The discussion which follows should be read in conjunction with the consolidated financial statements and related notes included elsewhere in this Annual Report on Form 10-K.
Valuation of Accounts Receivable
We provide credit to customers in the ordinary course of business and perform ongoing credit evaluations. Our customer base is diverse and includes customers located throughout the world. Payment terms in certain of the foreign countries in which we do business are longer than those that are customary in the United States, and as a result, may give rise to additional credit risk related to outstanding accounts receivable from these non-U.S. customers. Likewise, a change in the financial position, liquidity or prospects of any of our customers could have an impact on our ability to collect amounts due. While concentrations of credit risk related to trade receivables are somewhat limited by our large customer base, we do extend significant credit to some of our customers.
We make estimates of the amounts of our gross accounts receivable that will not be collectible, and record an allowance for doubtful accounts to reduce the carrying value of accounts receivable to the amount that is expected to be realized. The allowance for doubtful accounts is established based upon the Company’s historical bad debt experience, a review of the overall aging of the accounts, and an analysis of specific customer accounts, particularly those with past-due balances. The recorded allowance for doubtful accounts is intended to cover specific customer collection issues identified by management at the balance sheet date, and to provide for potential losses from other accounts based on our historical experience. Increases in the allowance for doubtful accounts are recorded as an expense and included in general, selling and administrative expenses in the period identified. Our estimate of the required allowance for doubtful accounts is a critical accounting estimate because it is susceptible to change from period to period. In addition, it requires management to make judgments about the future collectibility of customer accounts.
20
Inventory Valuation
Inventories are recorded at the lower of actual manufactured or purchased cost, or estimated net realizable value. In order to determine net realizable value, management regularly reviews inventory quantities on hand and evaluates significant items to determine whether they are excess or obsolete. We record the value of estimated excess or obsolete inventory as a reduction of inventory and as an expense which is included in cost of sales in the period it is identified. Our estimate of excess and obsolete inventory is a critical accounting estimate because it is susceptible to change from period to period. In addition, it requires management to make judgments about the future demand for inventory.
Our process to evaluate inventories for excess or obsolete items is comprehensive. We quantify the amount of inventory on hand that, based on projected demand, is not anticipated to be sold within the next 12 to 24 months or, based on our current product offerings, is excess or obsolete. This involves a review by sales and production management personnel to determine whether this list of potential excess or obsolete inventory is complete. Factors which impact this evaluation include, for example, whether there has been a change in the market or packaging for particular products, and whether there are components of inventory that incorporate obsolete formulations or technology. In certain businesses in which we are engaged, such as the domestic cat litter business, product and packaging changes can occur rapidly and expose us to excess and obsolete inventories.
Goodwill and Long-lived Assets
We have made substantial investments in property, plant and equipment and have moderate investments in goodwill and intangible assets.
Our goodwill and intangible assets have resulted largely from business combinations or acquisitions that we have completed. We follow Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 141 – Business Combinations when initially recognizing the fair value of assets and liabilities acquired in an acquisition. Under these guidelines, we are required to recognize the intangible assets we acquire in a business combination. These are typically customer related assets, trademarks and tradenames and non-compete agreements. We are required to make significant estimates as to the nature of these customer relationships including future profitability and term of the relationships. We are also required to make significant estimates regarding the probability and impact of competition from former owners or management employees of businesses we acquire. These estimates are critical as we make these estimates from the viewpoint of a market participant perspective and involve forecasting future results and uncertainties on behalf of the customers whom the acquired business serves.
For property, plant and equipment and intangible assets with finite lives, we evaluate the recoverability of these assets whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying value of the assets may not be recoverable. For goodwill and indefinite lived intangible assets, we perform an annual impairment assessment at the reporting unit level (or more frequently if impairment indicators arise).
In conducting our impairment tests and in testing the recoverability of long lived assets as well as property, plant and equipment, we use models that use estimates of cash flows attributable to the reporting unit or assets being tested, discount rates that reflect the related business risks, and appropriate perpetuity or disposal values. In developing these projections of future cash flows, we make a variety of important assumptions and estimates that have a significant impact on management’s assessments of whether the carrying values of these assets should be adjusted to reflect impairment. Among these are assumptions and estimates about the future growth and profitability of the related business unit or asset, and assumptions about anticipated future economic, regulatory and political conditions in the relevant market.
Our estimates related to the carrying values of these assets are considered to be critical accounting estimates because they are susceptible to change from period to period based on our judgments about a variety of factors. For example, judgment is required to determine whether events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying value of the assets may not be recoverable. In addition, in performing assessments of the carrying values of these assets, we must make judgments about the future business, economic, regulatory, and political conditions affecting these assets, as well as to select the appropriate risk-related rates for discounting estimated future cash flows, and to develop reasonable estimates of disposal values.
21
Retirement Benefits
We sponsor a defined-benefit pension plan for substantially all of our United States employees hired on or before December 31, 2003. In order to measure the expense and obligations associated with these retirement benefits, we must make a variety of estimates including discount rates used to value certain liabilities, expected return on plan assets set aside to fund these liabilities, rate of compensation increases, employee turnover rates, retirement rates, mortality rates and other factors. Our benefit plan committee determines the key assumptions related to the discount rate, expected investment rate of return and compensation increases after consulting with the actuarial firm that performs the calculations. Other assumptions are also set based on consultation with our actuaries.
To determine our net accrued benefit and net periodic benefit cost, we form judgments about the best estimate for each assumption used in the actuarial computation. The most important assumptions that affect the computations are the discount rate and the expected long-term rate of return on plan assets.
Our discount rate assumption is intended to reflect the rate at which the retirement benefits could be effectively settled based upon the assumed timing of the benefit payments. In determining the discount rate, we utilize the yield of a standardized benchmark, the Moody’s Aa Corporate Bond Index, which consists of high quality fixed income investments, and round it to the nearest 25 basis points. The discount rate used to determine our retirement pension benefit obligation at September 30, 2007, was 6.0%. A 50 basis point decrease in this discount rate would have increased the benefit obligation at September 30, 2007 by $3.4 million and would increase net cost expected in 2008 by 25%, or $234 thousand. Likewise at September 30, 2007, a 50 basis point increase in the discount rate would have decreased the benefit obligation by $3.0 million and would decrease the net cost expected in 2008 by 51%, or $470 thousand.
The expected long-term rate of return on plan assets was based on our current asset allocations and the historical long-term performance, as adjusted for existing market conditions. Information regarding our asset allocations is included in the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements in "Item 8. Financial Statements and Supplementary Data." We assumed a weighted-average expected long-term rate of return on pension plan assets of 8.25% to determine our net benefit cost in 2007. A 50 basis point decrease in the expected return would increase the net cost expected in 2008 by approximately 20%, or $189 thousand. Likewise, a 50 basis point increase in the expected return would decrease the net cost expected in 2008 by $189 thousand.
Income Taxes
Our effective tax rate is based on the income, statutory tax rates and tax planning opportunities available to us in the various jurisdictions in which we operate. Significant judgment is required in determining our effective tax rate and in evaluating our tax positions. We account for our tax positions in accordance with the provisions of FASB Interpretation No. 48, Accounting for Uncertainty in Income Taxes. Our effective tax rate includes the impact of changes to our liability for uncertain tax positions. Our estimates of income tax items, expense and reserves are considered to be critical accounting estimates because they are susceptible to change from period to period based on our judgments about a variety of factors.
Valuation allowances are recorded, if necessary, to measure a deferred tax asset at an estimated realizable value. Both positive and negative evidence are considered in forming our judgment as to whether a valuation allowance is appropriate. Changes in a valuation allowance are recorded in the period when we determine events have occurred that will impact the realizable value of the asset.
A number of years may elapse before a particular matter is audited and finally resolved. Audits of our United States federal income tax returns have been completed for our income tax returns relating to fiscal years of 2003 and prior. State income tax returns are audited more infrequently. Unfavorable settlement of any particular issue would require use of our cash and could result in the recording of additional tax expense. Favorable resolution would be recognized as a reduction to our tax provision in the year of resolution.
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Results of Operations for the Three Years Ended December 31, 2007
The discussion below references the consolidated statement of operations included in “Item 8. Financial Statements and Supplementary Data.”
Consolidated Review
The following table compares our operating results for the past three years.
Year Ended December 31, | ||||||||||||||||
Consolidated | 2007 | 2006 | 2005 | 2007 vs. 2006 | 2006 vs. 2005 | |||||||||||
(Dollars in Thousands) | ||||||||||||||||
Net sales | $ | 744,334 | $ | 611,556 | $ | 535,924 | 21.7 | % | 14.1 | % | ||||||
Cost of sales | 547,820 | 452,090 | 397,901 | |||||||||||||
Gross profit | 196,514 | 159,466 | 138,023 | 23.2 | % | 15.5 | % | |||||||||
margin % | 26.4 | % | 26.1 | % | 25.8 | % | ||||||||||
General, selling and administrative expenses | 121,187 | 102,078 | 90,947 | 18.7 | % | 12.2 | % | |||||||||
Operating profit | 75,327 | 57,388 | 47,076 | 31.3 | % | 21.9 | % | |||||||||
margin % | 10.1 | % | 9.4 | % | 8.8 | % | ||||||||||
Other income (expense): | ||||||||||||||||
Interest expense, net | (8,915 | ) | (2,951 | ) | (1,660 | ) | 202.1 | % | 77.8 | % | ||||||
Other, net | (1,139 | ) | 231 | (393 | ) | -593.1 | % | -158.8 | % | |||||||
(10,054 | ) | (2,720 | ) | (2,053 | ) | |||||||||||
Income before income taxes and income from affiliates and joint ventures | 65,273 | 54,668 | 45,023 | |||||||||||||
Income tax expense | 16,646 | 10,425 | 11,645 | 59.7 | % | -10.5 | % | |||||||||
Income before income from affiliates and joint ventures | 48,627 | 44,243 | 33,378 | |||||||||||||
Income from affiliates and joint ventures | 8,394 | 5,420 | 2,912 | 54.9 | % | 86.1 | % | |||||||||
Income from continuing operations | 57,021 | 49,663 | 36,290 | |||||||||||||
Discontinued Operations | ||||||||||||||||
Gain (Loss) on disposal of discontinued operations | (286 | ) | 585 | 4,755 | -148.9 | % | -87.7 | % | ||||||||
Net income | 56,735 | 50,248 | 41,045 | 12.9 | % | 22.4 | % |
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Net sales
The following table details 2007 consolidated sales growth components over 2006:
Base Business | Acquisitions | Foreign Exchange | Total | ||||||||||
Minerals | 3.4 | % | 2.0 | % | 1.2 | % | 6.6 | % | |||||
Environmental | 4.7 | % | 1.7 | % | 1.7 | % | 8.1 | % | |||||
Oilfield services | 3.6 | % | 2.6 | % | 0.0 | % | 6.2 | % | |||||
Transportation | 0.8 | % | 0 | % | 0.0 | % | 0.8 | % | |||||
Total | 12.5 | % | 6.3 | % | 2.9 | % | 21.7 | % | |||||
% of growth | 57.1 | % | 29.0 | % | 13.9 | % | 100.0 | % |
Base business represents operations owned for more than one year. Acquisitions are those businesses owned less than one year during 2007. Seven businesses were acquired from September 2006 through December 2007. Foreign exchange isolates the impact of currency changes over the prior-year period.
In comparing 2006 with 2005, our minerals segment accounted for approximately 28% of the increase, while our environmental and oilfield services segments contributed 42% and 29%, respectively. Transportation segment revenues increased by approximately 1%. Approximately 29% of the growth in net sales for 2006 was attributed to acquisitions and favorable foreign currency translation combined.
The following table provides a comparison of consolidated sales by geographical region over the last three years:
2007 | 2006 | 2005 | ||||||||
Americas | 68.2 | % | 69.0 | % | 69.4 | % | ||||
EMEA * | 24.0 | % | 23.4 | % | 23.4 | % | ||||
Asia Pacific | 7.8 | % | 7.6 | % | 7.2 | % | ||||
Total | 100.0 | % | 100.0 | % | 100.0 | % |
* Europe, Middle East and Africa
Increased economic growth in emerging geographical markets is resulting in a larger proportion of international sales in both comparison periods.
Gross profit
Increased sales generated the 23% increase in gross profit in 2007 over 2006. On a segment basis, minerals contributed approximately 12% of the increase over 2006, while environmental and oilfield services each accounted for 44%. Relative to the comparison of 2006 with 2005, the 16% increase in gross profit also followed sales growth. Minerals contributed approximately 14% of the growth in gross profit, while environmental and oilfield services accounted for 44% and 42%, respectively.
Gross margin improved in both comparison periods due to favorable segment sales distribution. Our higher growth segments, environmenal and oilfield services, have the highest gross margins.
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General, selling and administrative expenses (GS&A)
Acquired businesses accounted for $9.5 million of the increase in general, selling and administrative expenses in 2007 over 2006. In 2007, a gain on the sale of vacant land benefited GS&A by $2.4 million. Higher personnel levels and professional fee expenses represented the largest portion of the remaining increase. The increase in 2006 over 2005 was primarily attributable to greater employee benefit and compensation costs, Sarbanes-Oxley compliance-related costs, and audit fees.
Operating profit
Current-year operating profit includes earnings from acquisitions and favorable foreign currency translation of $6.3 million and $2.3 million, respectively. Operating profit in both comparison periods also improved due to increased sales and gross profit in our environmental and oilfield services segments. The gain on the land sale described above also contributed to operating profit in 2007. Operating margin in both comparison periods improved due to favorable segment sales and gross profit distribution.
Net interest expense
Net interest expense was $8.9 million, $3.0 million, and $1.7 million in 2007, 2006, and 2005, respectively. Average debt levels were $138.3 million, $73.6 million and $34.6 million in 2007, 2006 and 2005, respectively. Debt increased in 2007 and 2006 to support working capital and capital expenditure funding. Additionally, we invested $45.2 million and $63.2 million in acquired businesses in 2007 and 2006, respectively. In 2005, debt increased principally due to higher average working capital and greater capital expenditures. Average interest rates on our funded debt were 5.6%, 5.8% and 4.7% in 2007, 2006 and 2005, respectively. A majority of the interest on our debt is based upon LIBOR rates.
Other income (expense), net
Net other income was $ 0.2 million in 2006; while net other expense in 2007 and 2005 was approximately $1.1 million and $0.4, respectively. Other income (expense), net is composed of a number of miscellaneous transactions, primarily foreign currency transaction gains and losses.
Income taxes
The effective income tax rate for 2007 was 25.5%, compared with 19.1% in 2006 and 25.9% in 2005. A schedule reconciling the U.S. federal statutory income tax rate to our effective rate is included in Note 8 of the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements. Income tax expense was positively impacted in 2006 by completion of audits of amended income tax returns filed in 2004. The result was a reduction in our tax contingency reserves of approximately $3.4 million. In addition, we estimated higher depletion deductions in 2006 and reported more of our earnings from overseas subsidiaries, which have lower average income tax rates.
Income from affiliates and joint ventures
We reported income from affiliates and joint ventures of $8.4 million, $5.4 million and $2.9 million for 2007, 2006 and 2005, respectively. The major component of the increase for each of the last two years was largely related to our investments in two businesses based in India; we own 21% of the larger business and 50% of the other. The larger business has substantial bauxite and bentonite operations. Bauxite is used to produce alumina, which is then used to produce aluminum. The bauxite business had particularly strong earnings over the last two years. The second business in India is engaged in manufacturing, marketing and distributing a specialized bentonite application involving clarification of edible oils. That business has continued to increase its profits over the last two years.
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Discontinued operations
In April 2007, we sold a business based in the U.K. that resulted in the $0.3 million loss from discontinued operations. In July 2006, the Internal Revenue Service completed audits of amended income tax returns which were filed in 2004 but relate to years prior to 2004. We accounted for $0.6 million of the settlement as a discontinued operation since it related to a business we sold in 2000.
In September 2004, we filed an amended income tax return in the State of Mississippi requesting a refund of approximately $12.5 million of taxes paid relating to the gain on the sale of our absorbent polymer segment. The sale of the segment was reported as a discontinued operation in the second quarter of 2000. With the assistance of a professional accounting firm, we concluded that a gain on the sale of a business under these circumstances was not taxable in Mississippi according to its laws. After negotiations and hearings with officials, the Board of Review of the Mississippi State Tax Commission accepted our settlement offer of $7.8 million in June 2005, and we received payment of this refund in July 2005.
Net income
Net income for 2007 was $56.7 million compared with $50.3 million and $41.0 million in 2006 and 2005, respectively. Discontinued operations added $0.6 million and $4.8 million in 2006 and 2005, respectively. The increase in income from continuing operations in both comparison periods (2007 vs. 2006 and 2006 vs. 2005) was attributed to the increase in operating profit for the reasons described earlier in this report. Net income in 2007 and 2006 was also positively impacted by the adjustments to income tax expense, as previously discussed, which reduced the overall effective tax rate.
Earnings per share
Diluted earnings per share are calculated using the weighted average number of shares of common stock, including common share equivalents, outstanding during the year. Stock options issued to key employees and directors are considered common share equivalents. The weighted average number of shares of common stock and common stock equivalent shares outstanding was approximately 31.0 million in both 2007 and 2006 and 30.7 million in 2005.
Diluted earnings per share from continuing operations in 2007 were $1.84 compared with $1.60 and $1.18 in 2006 and 2005, respectively. The improvement for both 2007 and 2006 was commensurate with the increase in income from continuing operations previously described. In 2006, our diluted earnings per share include a $0.09 per share benefit from income associated with tax refunds mentioned earlier. Net income per diluted share was $1.83, $1.62, and $1.33 in 2007, 2006 and 2005, respectively. 2005 was positively impacted by discontinued operations.
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Segment reviews
Following is a review of the operating results for each of our five segments:
Minerals Segment
Year Ended December 31, | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
Minerals | 2007 | 2006 | 2005 | 2007 vs. 2006 | 2006 vs. 2005 | ||||||||||||||||||||
(Dollars in Thousands) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
Net sales | $ | 356,670 | 100.0 | % | $ | 316,751 | 100.0 | % | $ | 295,686 | 100.0 | % | 12.6 | % | 7.1 | % | |||||||||
Cost of sales | 290,371 | 81.4 | % | 255,064 | 80.5 | % | 236,916 | 80.1 | % | ||||||||||||||||
Gross profit | 66,299 | 18.6 | % | 61,687 | 19.5 | % | 58,770 | 19.9 | % | 7.5 | % | 5.0 | % | ||||||||||||
General, selling and administrative expenses | 32,194 | 9.0 | % | 27,476 | 8.7 | % | 25,889 | 8.8 | % | 17.2 | % | 6.1 | % | ||||||||||||
Operating profit | 34,105 | 9.6 | % | 34,211 | 10.8 | % | 32,881 | 11.1 | % | -0.3 | % | 4.0 | % |
Revenues originating from - Minerals | Americas | EMEA | Asia Pacific | Total | |||||||||
Fiscal year: | |||||||||||||
2007 | 71.9 | % | 15.8 | % | 12.3 | % | 100.0 | % | |||||
2006 | 73.5 | % | 15.7 | % | 10.8 | % | 100.0 | % | |||||
2005 | 74.5 | % | 16.1 | % | 9.4 | % | 100.0 | % |
Year Ended December 31, | ||||||||||||||||
% change | ||||||||||||||||
Minerals Product Line Sales | 2007 | 2006 | 2005 | 2007 | 2006 | |||||||||||
(Dollars in Thousands) | ||||||||||||||||
Metalcasting | $ | 152,358 | $ | 136,357 | $ | 134,138 | 11.7 | % | 1.7 | % | ||||||
Specialty minerals | 90,374 | 75,215 | 68,106 | 20.2 | % | 10.4 | % | |||||||||
Pet products | 65,804 | 58,332 | 60,177 | 12.8 | % | -3.1 | % | |||||||||
Basic minerals | 43,269 | 42,801 | 28,652 | 1.1 | % | 49.4 | % | |||||||||
Other product lines | 4,865 | 4,046 | 4,613 | 20.2 | % | -12.3 | % | |||||||||
Total | 356,670 | 316,751 | 295,686 |
2007 vs. 2006
Base businesses accounted for 52% of the growth in net sales over 2006, while acquisitions and foreign currency translation represented 30% and 18%, respectively, of the increase. Base business growth was largely driven by higher shipments from the Asia-Pacific metalcasting business operations. While demand in the domestic metalcasting market declined in 2007, pricing increased to offset rising production and transportation costs. Acquisitions and increased market share of health and beauty products contributed to the improvement in specialty materials. Pet products sales increased due to higher bulk product shipments and prices.
Gross margin declined by 90 basis points due to higher manufacturing and mining costs incurred at the domestic operations. Higher freight-related revenues, which generate no profit, also contributed to the decline in gross margin.
Approximately $2.2 million of the increase in GS&A was due to acquired businesses. Higher operating expenses at the Asia-Pacific operations caused the largest portion of the increase in base business GS&A.
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Operating margin declined by 120 basis points from 2006 in conjunction with the lower gross margin and increase in GS&A expenses.
2006 vs. 2005
Base businesses accounted for 69% of the growth in net sales over 2005, while acquisitions and foreign currency translation represented 20% and 11%, respectively, of the increase.
Metalcasting sales principally increased due to an acquisition completed in October. After factoring out the acquisition, domestic sales declined due to lower volumes of specialty products. Asia-Pacific sales increased due to continued market expansion, particularly in China. Specialty materials revenues increased due to higher pricing and volume levels for oil and gas drilling fluid additives along with increased market penetration for health and beauty product lines. Detergent additives volumes declined in 2006. Lower volumes due to customer losses led to decreased pet products sales.
Gross profit improved with the increase in net sales; however, gross margin declined by 40 basis points. A majority of the margin decline was due to a benefit recorded in 2005 from a $2.1 million one-time reduction in mining-related taxes owed to the State of Montana. Excluding this benefit, gross profit would have improved over 2005 by approximately 9% and gross margin increased by 30 basis points.
General, selling and administrative expenses increased due to benefits recorded in 2005 for gains on asset sales as well as increased personnel-related costs incurred this year.
Acquisitions and foreign currency translation were the primary contributors to the improvement in operating profit. Operating margin declined by 30 basis points largely due to the benefit recorded in 2005 for mining-related taxes previously described plus the impact of the increase in general, selling and administrative expenses.
Environmental Segment
Year Ended December 31, | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
Environmental | 2007 | 2006 | 2005 | 2007 vs. 2006 | 2006 vs. 2005 | ||||||||||||||||||||
(Dollars in Thousands) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
Net sales | $ | 252,776 | 100.0 | % | $ | 203,128 | 100.0 | % | $ | 171,144 | 100.0 | % | 24.4 | % | 18.7 | % | |||||||||
Cost of sales | 166,717 | 66.0 | % | 133,414 | 65.7 | % | 110,815 | 64.7 | % | ||||||||||||||||
Gross profit | 86,059 | 34.0 | % | 69,714 | 34.3 | % | 60,329 | 35.3 | % | 23.4 | % | 15.6 | % | ||||||||||||
General, selling and administrative expenses | 47,665 | 18.9 | % | 42,963 | 21.2 | % | 36,978 | 21.6 | % | 10.9 | % | 16.2 | % | ||||||||||||
Operating profit | 38,394 | 15.1 | % | 26,751 | 13.1 | % | 23,351 | 13.7 | % | 43.5 | % | 14.6 | % |
Revenues originating from - Environmental | Americas | EMEA | Asia Pacific | Total | |||||||||
Fiscal year: | |||||||||||||
2007 | 51.6 | % | 42.6 | % | 5.7 | % | 100.0 | % | |||||
2006 | 53.5 | % | 40.5 | % | 6.0 | % | 100.0 | % | |||||
2005 | 53.8 | % | 40.0 | % | 6.2 | % | 100.0 | % |
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Year Ended December 31, | ||||||||||||||||
% change | ||||||||||||||||
Environmental Product Line Sales | 2007 | 2006 | 2005 | 2007 | 2006 | |||||||||||
(Dollars in Thousands) | ||||||||||||||||
Lining technologies | $ | 149,191 | $ | 110,906 | $ | 93,797 | 34.5 | % | 18.2 | % | ||||||
Building materials | 80,555 | 69,529 | 55,621 | 15.9 | % | 25.0 | % | |||||||||
Other product lines | 23,030 | 22,693 | 21,726 | 1.5 | % | 4.5 | % | |||||||||
Total | 252,776 | 203,128 | 171,144 |
2007 vs. 2006
Base business accounted for approximately 58% of the growth in net sales, while acquisitions and favorable foreign currency translation each contributed 21%. Increased shipments and service revenues generated by our Poland-based operation was the primary contributor to our environmental segment’s growth. Consequently, EMEA increased in proportion to total sales by 210 basis points. Besides the growth contributed by the Poland operations, lining technologies sales were aided by acquisitions and the U.S.-based contracting services business. Building materials growth was driven by improved market penetration throughout the EMEA region.
Gross profit improved in conjunction with the growth in sales. Gross margin was negatively impacted by sales mix. Service-based businesses contributed a higher proportion of sales in 2007. Those businesses tend to have lower gross margins than product sales.
A benefit from a gain on the sale of vacant land reduced GS&A by $2.4 million in 2007. Acquired businesses accounted for approximately $3.4 million of the increase over 2006. Base business GS&A increased primarily due to higher marketing and sales expenses at the European operations. Stronger foreign currencies also caused the increase.
Operating margin improved by 200 basis points due to the benefit of the land sale and lower relative GS&A expenses. Excluding the benefit of the land sale, operating margin would have been 14.2% in 2007.
2006 vs. 2005
Base businesses accounted for approximately 67% of the growth in net sales, while favorable foreign currency translation and acquisitions represented the remainder. Lining technologies sales were aided by the acquisition of a contracting services business in August 2005, as well as continued market expansion in Asia and Central Europe. Domestic revenues improved principally due to price increases. Building materials product line sales improved through market share gains throughout Europe and Asia. Other product lines are largely comprised of infrastructure drilling products.
Gross profit rose commensurate with sales increases. Gross margin declined by 100 basis points principally due to changes in product mix and higher production costs at the U.S. operations. Contracting revenues within the lining technologies product line generated lower gross margins.
General, selling and administrative expenses increased primarily due to higher personnel-related expenses and acquisitions.
Operating profit improved along with gross profit and sales. Operating margin declined by 60 basis points following the decrease in gross margin.
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Oilfield Services Segment
Year Ended December 31, | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
Oilfield services | 2007 | 2006 | 2005 | 2007 vs. 2006 | 2006 vs. 2005 | ||||||||||||||||||||
(Dollars in Thousands) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
Net sales | $ | 100,572 | 100.0 | % | $ | 61,928 | 100.0 | % | $ | 39,702 | 100.0 | % | 62.4 | % | 56.0 | % | |||||||||
Cost of sales | 62,178 | 61.8 | % | 39,933 | 64.5 | % | 26,711 | 67.3 | % | ||||||||||||||||
Gross profit | 38,394 | 38.2 | % | 21,995 | 35.5 | % | 12,991 | 32.7 | % | 74.6 | % | 69.3 | % | ||||||||||||
General, selling and administrative expenses | 19,177 | 19.1 | % | 10,934 | 17.7 | % | 7,674 | 19.3 | % | 75.4 | % | 42.5 | % | ||||||||||||
Operating profit | 19,217 | 19.1 | % | 11,061 | 17.8 | % | 5,317 | 13.4 | % | 73.7 | % | 108.0 | % |
Revenues orginating from - Oilfield services | Americas | EMEA | Asia Pacific | Total | |||||||||
Fiscal year: | |||||||||||||
2007 | 85.6 | % | 14.4 | % | 0.0 | % | 100.0 | % | |||||
2006 | 82.0 | % | 18.0 | % | 0.0 | % | 100.0 | % | |||||
2005 | 75.8 | % | 24.2 | % | 0.0 | % | 100.0 | % |
2007 vs. 2006
Base businesses contributed approximately 57% of the growth in revenues over 2006. Acquisitions accounted for 41% of the increase and favorable foreign currencies represented the remainder. Higher demand for water treatment services in the Gulf of Mexico was the primary contributor to base business growth. Domestic land and offshore well-testing services also increased as a result of higher oil and gas production. Acquired product line sales, equipment rental and nitrogen services, also followed the growth in land and offshore oil and gas production.
Gross margin improved by 270 basis points primarily due to the acquired product lines and higher relative sales of water treatment services.
Approximately $3.8 million of the increase in GS&A was due to acquired businesses. Base business GS&A increased due to higher personnel costs. Operating margin improved 130 basis points due to the higher relative increase in gross profit than GS&A over 2006.
2006 vs. 2005
Base businesses contributed approximately 80% of the growth in revenues over the prior year. Acquired business accounted for the remainder of the improvement. Business gained due to the hurricanes in the Gulf of Mexico aided 2006 results by approximately $5 million. Higher natural gas production activity in Northern and Eastern Texas also aided the 2006 results. International business, in particular West Africa, helped sales increase over 2005.
Gross profit improved commensurate with the increase in sales. Gross margin rose by 280 basis points due to higher personnel and equipment utilization along with favorable pricing attained from hurricane-related services.
General, selling and administrative expenses increased due to an expanded sales force and expansion of operations in Eastern Texas.
Operating profit improved with the positive gross profit results. Operating margin expanded by 440 basis points due to high operating leverage on our cost base.
30
Transportation Segment
Year Ended December 31, | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
Transportation | 2007 | 2006 | 2005 | 2007 vs. 2006 | 2006 vs. 2005 | ||||||||||||||||||||
(Dollars in Thousands) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
Net sales | $ | 52,409 | 100.0 | % | $ | 50,228 | 100.0 | % | $ | 49,708 | 100.0 | % | 4.3 | % | 1.0 | % | |||||||||
Cost of sales | 46,647 | 89.0 | % | 44,158 | 87.9 | % | 43,775 | 88.1 | % | ||||||||||||||||
Gross profit | 5,762 | 11.0 | % | 6,070 | 12.1 | % | 5,933 | 11.9 | % | -5.1 | % | 2.3 | % | ||||||||||||
General, selling and administrative expenses | 2,994 | 5.7 | % | 3,198 | 6.4 | % | 3,216 | 6.5 | % | -6.4 | % | -0.6 | % | ||||||||||||
Operating profit | 2,768 | 5.3 | % | 2,872 | 5.7 | % | 2,717 | 5.4 | % | -3.6 | % | 5.7 | % |
2007 vs. 2006
Revenues improved primarily due to higher fuel surcharges passed through to customers. A change in customer mix and net shortfalls in passing through fuel surcharges resulted in a lower gross margin. Additionally the truckload shipping market began to slowdown as 2007 progressed which pressured haulage rates charged in certain market sectors.
2006 vs. 2005
Revenues were flat compared with 2005 due to unchanged equipment utilization and average rates charged per mile. Approximately 41% of the segment’s revenues were generated from services provided to certain domestic subsidiaries within our minerals and environmental segments. Gross margin improved despite the modest sales increase because profit per mile improved since fuel surcharges were less of an impact in 2006. Operating margin improved by 30 basis points due to the gross margin expansion and lower selling and administrative expenses.
Corporate Segment
Year Ended December 31, | ||||||||||||||||
Corporate | 2007 | 2006 | 2005 | 2007 vs. 2006 | 2006 vs. 2005 | |||||||||||
(Dollars in Thousands) | ||||||||||||||||
Intersegment shipping sales | $ | (18,093 | ) | $ | (20,479 | ) | $ | (20,316 | ) | |||||||
Intersegment shipping costs | (18,093 | ) | (20,479 | ) | (20,316 | ) | ||||||||||
Gross profit | - | - | - | |||||||||||||
Corporate general, selling and administrative expenses | 19,157 | 17,507 | 17,190 | 9.4 | % | 1.8 | % | |||||||||
Operating loss | (19,157 | ) | (17,507 | ) | (17,190 | ) |
2007 vs. 2006
Intersegment shipping sales and costs are related to billings from the transportation segment to the domestic minerals and environmental segments for services. These services are invoiced to the minerals and environmental segments at arms-length rates and those costs are subsequently charged to customers. Intersegment sales and costs reported above reflect the elimination of these transactions.
Corporate costs include management information systems, human resources, investor relations, corporate communications and finance. Increased personnel and professional service fees accounted for the increase in Corporate GS&A over 2006.
31
2006 vs. 2005
Corporate administrative expenses grew modestly in 2006. While independent registered accountant fees, tax consulting and stock compensation costs increased over 2005, those items were offset by lower spending for information technology and self-insured employee medical expenses.
Liquidity and Capital Resources
Cash provided by operating activities of continuing operations in 2007 was $66.2 million, compared with $46.7 million in 2006 and $36.3 million in 2005. The improvements in 2007 and 2006 largely result from greater income from continuing operations. The combined increase in accounts receivable and inventories was $40.1 million and $40.9 million in 2007 and 2006, respectively. A large portion of the increase in both years was due to acquisitions completed during the year. The remaining increase was commensurate with our sales growth.
Net cash used in investing activities in 2007 was $95.9 million, compared with $110.9 million and $22.3 million in 2006 and 2005, respectively. Capital expenditures totaled $53.1 million in 2007, compared with $42.1 and $28.6 million in 2006 and 2005, respectively. The increase in capital expenditures in both comparable periods involved productivity improvements at the minerals segment manufacturing plants. Additionally, we increased investment in equipment to support the oilfield services segment in 2007 and to construct new corporate offices.
Acquisitions were $45.2 million, $63.2 million and $2.1 million in 2007, 2006 and 2005, respectively. In 2007, we acquired four businesses. Two of the businesses are included within our environmental segment and two in the minerals segment.
Cash provided by financing activities was $31.3 million and $59.8 million in 2007 and 2006, respectively. Cash used in financing activities was $11.8 million in 2005. Financing cash flows are primarily affected by borrowings from our revolving credit facility. We had net borrowings from the revolving credit facility totaling $78.6 million and $75.5 million in 2007 and 2006, respectively. Net borrowings were negligible in 2005. The increase in borrowings in 2006 and 2005 was attributed to acquisitions as well as capital expenditures.
We repurchased approximately $6.6 million of our common stock in 2007 compared with $5.6 million in 2006 and $2.0 million in 2005. We elect to repurchase our common stock in the open market from time to time when we believe utilizing funds in this manner will provide a good return to our shareholders. We have $8.6 million authorized by our Board of Directors to use for future stock repurchases until November 10, 2008.
Dividends on our common stock were $18.0 million in 2007, compared with $14.7 million in 2006 and $11.3 million in 2005. Declared dividends were $0.60 per share in 2007, compared with $0.49 per share in 2006 and $0.38 per share in 2005.
As of December 31, 2007, we had outstanding debt of $164.2 million and cash of $25.3 million, compared with $112.4 million of outstanding debt and $17.8 million of cash at December 31, 2006. Total funded debt represented 32%, 28% and 12% of total capitalization at December 31, 2007, 2006 and 2005, respectively.
Working capital was approximately $202.5 million and $173.3 million as of December 31, 2007 and 2006, respectively. The current ratio (current assets divided by current liabilities) was 3.0-to-1 and 3.2-to-1 as of the end of 2007 and 2006, respectively. Greater sales generated by our international businesses resulted in increased working capital in 2006 since customer payment terms tend to be longer for those customers.
Since the mid-1980s, we and/or our subsidiaries have been named as one of a number of defendants in product liability lawsuits relating to the minor free-silica content of our bentonite products used in the metalcasting industry. The plaintiffs in these lawsuits are primarily employees of our foundry customers. To date, we have not incurred significant costs in defending these matters. We believe we have adequate insurance coverage and do not believe the litigation will have a material adverse impact on our financial condition, liquidity or results of the operations.
32
Contractual Obligations and Off-balance Sheet Arrangements
The following schedule sets forth details of our long-term contractual obligations at December 31, 2007:
Payments due by period | ||||||||||||||||
Total | Less than 1 Year | 2-3 Years | 4-5 Years | After 5 Years | ||||||||||||
(in millions) | ||||||||||||||||
Bank debt and capital lease obligations | $ | 164.3 | $ | 0.1 | $ | 0.1 | $ | 84.3 | $ | 79.8 | ||||||
Operating Lease obligations | 19.5 | 6.6 | 7.7 | 3.9 | 1.3 | |||||||||||
Unconditional purchase obligation | 4.9 | 4.4 | 0.5 | - | - | |||||||||||
Deferred acquisition payments | 2.6 | 1.6 | 1.0 | - | - | |||||||||||
Capital expenditures | 2.1 | 2.1 | - | - | - | |||||||||||
Total contractual cash obligations | 193.4 | 14.8 | 9.3 | 88.2 | 81.1 |
Amounts included within our financial statements
Long-term debt includes bank debt of approximately $78.6 million due under our revolving credit agreement, which provides for a commitment of $150 million in borrowing capacity and matures on April 1, 2012. Long-term debt also includes $75 million of debt for our Senior notes, which are payable at maturity on April 2, 2017. Further information about both of these debt instruments is included in our Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.
We have recorded liabilities to satisfy the land reclamation obligations discussed in our Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements. The above table excludes expenditures to satisfy these liabilities as we can not estimate the timing of these payments since they are not contractually due until the expiration of individual mining permits, which are frequently renewed.
Our financial statements include a provision for unrecognized tax benefits as discussed in our Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements. At December 31, 2007, these amounts were $6.8 million and are excluded from the table above as the timing of these amounts are uncertain.
Amounts excluded from our financial statements
Operating leases relate to non-cancelable obligations for railroad cars, truck trailers, computer software, office equipment, certain automobiles, and office and plant facilities. Excluded from the above table are amounts for rent due under a sale-leaseback transaction we completed on March 10, 2008. This transaction involves the construction of a new headquarters facility which will be completed in late 2008. During construction, we have and will continue to record the expenditures for land and building on our balance sheet as land and construction in progress assets, respectively, and upon completion of construction through the lease term, we will have an operating lease commitment with rental payments occurring January 2009 through December 2028. Lease payments in 2009 approximate $2.5 million and increase 2% annually thereafter. Additional information regarding operating leases is disclosed our Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements.
We occasionally enter into unconditional purchase obligations that contemplate future, irrevocable payments, typically for inventory items, under enforceable contracts which can not be cancelled without penalty. We also have commitments with vendors for the purchase of property, plant and equipment under noncancelable purchase orders included in capital expenditures in the above table.
33
We anticipate our funding obligation for our defined benefit pension plan will approximate $1 million in 2008. That amount principally represents contributions required by regulations or laws. We have not presented this obligation or the obligation for future years in the table above as the funding can vary from year to year based on changes in fair value of pension plan assets and actuarial assumptions.
At December 31, 2007 and 2006, we had outstanding standby letters of credit of $24.8 million and $17.7 million, respectively, which are not included in the obligations in the table above. These letters of credit typically serve to guarantee the Company’s performance of its obligations related to land reclamation and workers’ compensation claims. We have recognized the estimated costs of our obligations related to land reclamation and workers’ compensation claims in our consolidated balance sheets as of December 31, 2007 and 2006.
At December 31, 2007, we also have $27.3 million of performance bonds outstanding which are not included in the table of contractual obligations. These bonds typically serve to guarantee performance to customers under long-term service contracts within our constructions services business.
Item 7A. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk
As a multinational corporation that manufactures and markets products in countries throughout the world, we are subject to certain market risks, including those related to foreign currency, interest rates and government actions. We use a variety of practices to manage these market risks, including, when considered appropriate, derivative financial instruments. We use derivative financial instruments only for risk management and do not use them for trading or speculative purposes.
Exchange Rate Sensitivity
We are exposed to potential gains or losses from foreign currency fluctuations affecting net investments and earnings denominated in foreign currencies. Our primary exposures are to changes in exchange rates for the U.S. dollar versus the Euro, the British pound, and the Polish zloty. We also have significant exposure to changes in exchange rates between the British pound and the Euro and the Polish zloty and the Euro.
Our various currency exposures often offset each other, providing a natural hedge against currency risk. Periodically, specific foreign currency transactions (e.g. inventory purchases) are hedged with forward contracts to reduce the foreign currency risk. As of December 31, 2007, we did not have any material foreign currency contracts outstanding.
34
Interest Rate Sensitivity
The following table provides information about our financial instruments that are sensitive to changes in interest rates. The table presents principal cash flows and related weighted average interest rates by expected maturity dates for debt obligations. Weighted average variable rates are based on implied forward rates in the yield curve at the reporting date. The table below shows each instrument’s cash flows in U.S. dollars with a notation as to the actual currency the cash flow is denominated in.
Expected Maturity Date | ||||||||||||||||||||||
2008 | 2009 | 2010 | 2011 | 2012 | Thereafter | Total | ||||||||||||||||
(US$ equivalent in thousands) | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Short-term debt: | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Fixed rate (US$) | $ | 28 | $ | - | $ | - | $ | - | $ | - | $ | - | $ | 28 | ||||||||
Interest rate | 5.69 | % | - | - | - | - | - | |||||||||||||||
Fixed rate (Lira) | 116 | - | - | - | - | - | $ | 116 | ||||||||||||||
Interest rate | 18.59 | % | - | - | - | - | - | |||||||||||||||
Long-term debt: | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Variable rate - Senior notes (US$) | - | - | - | - | - | 75,000 | 75,000 | |||||||||||||||
Average interest rate | - | - | - | - | - | 5.71 | % | |||||||||||||||
Variable rate - Other (US$) | - | 27 | 28 | 18 | 49,909 | 4,800 | 54,782 | |||||||||||||||
Average interest rate | - | 5.69 | % | 5.69 | % | 5.69 | % | 5.73 | % | 3.53 | % | |||||||||||
Variable rate (Lira) | - | 84 | - | - | - | - | 84 | |||||||||||||||
Average interest rate | - | 18.59 | % | - | - | - | - | |||||||||||||||
Variable rate (THB) | - | - | - | - | 4,771 | - | 4,771 | |||||||||||||||
Interest rate | - | - | - | - | 5.35 | % | - | |||||||||||||||
Variable rate (UK£) | - | - | - | - | 12,585 | - | 12,585 | |||||||||||||||
Average interest rate | - | - | - | - | 7.04 | % | - | |||||||||||||||
Variable rate (AUD) | - | - | - | - | 2,279 | - | 2,279 | |||||||||||||||
Average interest rate | - | - | - | - | 8.04 | % | - | |||||||||||||||
Variable rate (€) | - | - | - | - | 14,729 | - | 14,729 | |||||||||||||||
Average interest rate | - | - | - | - | 5.43 | % | - | |||||||||||||||
Total | 144 | 111 | 28 | 18 | 84,274 | 79,800 | 164,375 |
We periodically use interest rate swaps to manage interest rate risk on debt securities. These instruments allow us to change the characteristics of variable rate debt into fixed rate or fixed rate debt into variable rate. Interest rate differentials are paid or received on these arrangements over the life of the agreements. The interest rates above for our Senior notes include the effect of an interest rate swap as outlined in our Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.
Credit Risk
We are exposed to credit risk on certain assets, primarily accounts receivable. We provide credit to customers in the ordinary course of business and perform ongoing credit evaluations. Concentrations of credit risk with respect to trade receivables are limited due to the large number of customers comprising our customer base. We currently believe our allowance for doubtful accounts is sufficient to cover customer credit risks. Our accounts receivable financial instruments are carried at amounts that approximate fair value.
Item 8. Financial Statements and Supplementary Data
See the Index to Financial Statements and Exhibits and Financial Statement Schedule on Page 38. Such financial statements and schedule are incorporated herein by reference.
Item 9. Changes in and Disagreements with Accountants on Accounting and Financial Disclosure
Not applicable.
35
Item 9A. Controls and Procedures
Evaluation of Disclosure Controls and Procedures
Our management, with the participation of our Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, has evaluated the effectiveness of our disclosure controls and procedures, as such term is defined in Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”), as of the end of the period covered by this report. Based on that evaluation, the Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer concluded that, as of the end of such period, our disclosure controls and procedures are effective in recording, processing, summarizing and reporting, on a timely basis, information we are required to disclose in the reports we file or submit under the Exchange Act.
Management’s Report on Internal Control Over Financial Reporting
Our management is responsible for establishing and maintaining adequate internal control over financial reporting as defined in Rule 13a-15(f) of the Exchange Act. Under the supervision and with the participation of our management, including our Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, we conducted an evaluation of the effectiveness of our internal control over financial reporting based on criteria established in the framework in Internal Control – Integrated Framework issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission. As provided for by current regulation, our evaluation did not include an assessment of the internal control over financial reporting of the four businesses we acquired in 2007. Based on this evaluation, we conclude that our internal control over financial reporting was effective as of December 31, 2007.
Because of its inherent limitations, internal control over financial reporting may not prevent or detect misstatements. Also, projections of any evaluation of effectiveness to future periods are subject to the risks that controls may become inadequate because of changes in conditions, or that the degree of compliance with policies or procedures may deteriorate.
Our independent registered public accounting firm has audited our internal control over financial reporting as of the end of the period covered by this report as stated in their report, which appears in Part IV of this Form 10-K.
Changes in Internal Control over Financial Reporting
There have been no changes in our internal control over financial reporting during the quarter ended December 31, 2007 that have materially affected, or are reasonably likely to materially affect, our internal control over financial reporting.
PART III
Item 10. Directors and Executive Officers of the Registrant
Information regarding our directors is included in our definitive proxy statement, which will be filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission not later than 120 days after the end of the fiscal year covered by this Form 10-K, and is incorporated herein by reference.
Information regarding our executive officers is included under a separate caption in Part I hereof in accordance with General Instruction G(3) to Form 10-K and Instruction 3 to Item 401(b) of Regulation S-K.
36
We have adopted a Code of Business Conduct and Ethics (the “Code”) that applies to our principal executive officer, principal financial officer, principal accounting officer or controller and persons performing similar functions, as well as other employees. The Code, our Corporate Governance Guidelines and the charters of our Audit Committee, Compensation Committee and Nominating and Governance Committee are publicly available on our website at www.amcol.com and are available in print, free of charge, to any shareholder upon request to our Corporate Secretary at AMCOL International Corporation, One North Arlington, 1500 West Shure Drive, Suite 500, Arlington Heights, Illinois 60004-7803. If we make any substantive amendments to the Code or grant any waiver, including any implicit waiver, from a provision of the Code to our principal executive officer, principal financial officer, principal accounting officer or controller or persons performing similar functions, we will disclose the nature of such amendment or waiver on our website or in a report on Form 8-K in accordance with applicable rules and regulations.
Item 11. Executive Compensation
Information regarding the above is included in our definitive proxy statement, which will be filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission not later than 120 days after the end of the fiscal year covered by this Form 10-K, and is incorporated herein by reference.
Item 12. Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and Management
Information regarding security ownership of certain beneficial owners and management is included in our definitive proxy statement, which will be filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission not later than 120 days after the end of the fiscal year covered by this Form 10-K, and is incorporated herein by reference.
Item 13. Certain Relationships and Related Transactions
Information regarding the above is included in our definitive proxy statement, which will be filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission not later than 120 days after the end of the fiscal year covered by this Form 10-K, and is incorporated herein by reference.
Item 14. Principal Accountant Fees and Services
Information regarding principal accountant fees and services is included in our definitive proxy statement, which will be filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission not later than 120 days after the end of the fiscal year covered by this Form 10-K, and is incorporated herein by reference.
37
PART IV
Item 15. Exhibits and Financial Statement Schedule
(a) | 1. See Index to Financial Statements and Financial Statement Schedule below. |
2. See Index to Financial Statements andFinancial Statement Schedule below. | |
Such Financial Statements and Schedule are incorporated herein by reference. | |
3. See Index to Exhibits immediately following the signature page. | |
(b) | See Index to Exhibits immediately following the signature page. |
(c) | See Index to Financial Statements and Financial Statement Schedule below. |
Item 15(a) Index to Financial Statements and Financial Statement Schedule
Page | ||||
(1) | Financial Statements: | |||
Reports of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firms | 39 | |||
Consolidated Balance Sheets, December 31, 2007 and 2006 | 43 | |||
Consolidated Statements of Operations, Years ended December 31, 2007, 2006 and 2005 | 45 | |||
Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income, Years ended December 31, 2007, 2006 and 2005 | 46 | |||
Consolidated Statements of Stockholders’ Equity, Years ended December 31, 2007, 2006 and 2005 | 47 | |||
Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows, Years ended December 31, 2007, 2006 and 2005 | 48 | |||
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements | 49 |
All other schedules called for under Regulation S-X are not submitted because they are not applicable or not required, or because the required information is not material.
38
Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm
The Board of Directors and Stockholders of AMCOL International Corporation
We have audited the accompanying consolidated balance sheets of AMCOL International Corporation and Subsidiaries as of December 31, 2007 and 2006, and the related consolidated statements of operations, comprehensive income, stockholders’ equity, and cash flows for each of the two years in the period ended December 31, 2007. These financial statements are the responsibility of the Company’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. An audit includes examining, on a test basis, evidence supporting the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements. An audit also includes assessing the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, as well as evaluating the overall financial statement presentation. We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinion.
In our opinion, the consolidated financial statements referred to above present fairly, in all material respects, the consolidated financial position of AMCOL International Corporation and Subsidiaries at December 31, 2007 and 2006, and the consolidated results of their operations and their cash flows for each of the two years in the period ended December 31, 2007, in conformity with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles.
As discussed in Notes 1 and 13 to the consolidated financial statements, the Company adopted the recognition and disclosure provisions of Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 158, Employers’ Accounting for Defined Benefit Pension and Other Postretirement Plans, as of December 31, 2006. As discussed in Notes 1 and 8 to the consolidated financial statements, the Company adopted Financial Accounting Standards Board Interpretation No. 48, Accounting for Uncertainty in Income Taxes, as of January 1, 2007.
We also have audited, in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States), AMCOL International Corporation’s internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2007, based on criteria established in Internal Control—Integrated Framework issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission and our report dated March 14, 2008 expressed an unqualified opinion thereon.
/s/ ERNST & YOUNG LLP
Chicago, Illinois
March 14, 2008
39
Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm
The Board of Directors and Stockholders of AMCOL International Corporation
We have audited AMCOL International Corporation’s internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2007, based on criteria established in Internal Control—Integrated Framework issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission (the COSO criteria). AMCOL International Corporation’s management is responsible for maintaining effective internal control over financial reporting, and for its assessment of the effectiveness of internal control over financial reporting included in the accompanying Management’s Report on Internal Control Over Financial Reporting. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on the company’s internal control over financial reporting based on our audit.
We conducted our audit in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States). Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether effective internal control over financial reporting was maintained in all material respects. Our audit included obtaining an understanding of internal control over financial reporting, assessing the risk that a material weakness exists, testing and evaluating the design and operating effectiveness of internal control based on the assessed risk, and performing such other procedures as we considered necessary in the circumstances. We believe that our audit provides a reasonable basis for our opinion.
A company’s internal control over financial reporting is a process designed to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles. A company’s internal control over financial reporting includes those policies and procedures that (1) pertain to the maintenance of records that, in reasonable detail, accurately and fairly reflect the transactions and dispositions of the assets of the company; (2) provide reasonable assurance that transactions are recorded as necessary to permit preparation of financial statements in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles, and that receipts and expenditures of the company are being made only in accordance with authorizations of management and directors of the company; and (3) provide reasonable assurance regarding prevention or timely detection of unauthorized acquisition, use, or disposition of the company’s assets that could have a material effect on the financial statements.
Because of its inherent limitations, internal control over financial reporting may not prevent or detect misstatements. Also, projections of any evaluation of effectiveness to future periods are subject to the risk that controls may become inadequate because of changes in conditions, or that the degree of compliance with the policies or procedures may deteriorate.
As indicated in the accompanying Management’s Report on Internal Control Over Financial Reporting, management’s assessment of and conclusion on the effectiveness of internal control over financial reporting did not include the internal controls of the four businesses acquired during the year ended December 31, 2007, which are included in the 2007 consolidated financial statements of AMCOL International Corporation and Subsidiaries and constituted $35,545 and $29,388 of total and net assets, respectively, as of December 31, 2007 and $20,068 and $1,684 of net sales and net income, respectively, for the year then ended. Our audit of internal control over financial reporting of AMCOL International Corporation also did not include an evaluation of the internal control over financial reporting of these businesses.
In our opinion, AMCOL International Corporation maintained, in all material respects, effective internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2007, based on the COSO criteria.
40
We also have audited, in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States), the 2007 consolidated financial statements of AMCOL International Corporation and Subsidiaries and our report dated March 14, 2008, expressed an unqualified opinion thereon.
/s/ ERNST & YOUNG LLP
Chicago, Illinois
March 14, 2008
41
Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm
The Board of Directors and Stockholders
AMCOL International Corporation:
We have audited the accompanying consolidated statements of operations, comprehensive income, stockholders’ equity and cash flows of AMCOL International Corporation and subsidiaries for the year ended December 31, 2005. These consolidated financial statements are the responsibility of the Company’s management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on these consolidated financial statements based on our audit.
We conducted our audit in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States). Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements are free of material misstatement. An audit includes examining, on a test basis, evidence supporting the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements. An audit also includes assessing the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, as well as evaluating the overall financial statement presentation. We believe that our audit provides a reasonable basis for our opinion.
In our opinion, the consolidated financial statements referred to above present fairly, in all material respects, the results of their operations and cash flows of AMCOL International Corporation and subsidiaries for the year ended December 31, 2005, in conformity with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles.
KPMG LLP
Chicago, Illinois
March 16, 2006
42
AMCOL INTERNATIONAL CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES
Consolidated Balance Sheets
(In thousands, except share and per share amounts)
December 31, | |||||||
2007 | 2006 | ||||||
ASSETS | |||||||
Current assets: | |||||||
Cash and cash equivalents | $ | 25,282 | $ | 17,805 | |||
Accounts receivable: | |||||||
Trade | 157,268 | 127,041 | |||||
Other | 9,567 | 6,391 | |||||
Inventories | 91,367 | 84,612 | |||||
Prepaid expenses | 13,529 | 10,142 | |||||
Deferred income taxes | 4,374 | 4,648 | |||||
Income taxes receivable | 2,768 | - | |||||
Other | 475 | 1,045 | |||||
Total current assets | 304,630 | 251,684 | |||||
Investment in and advances to affiliates and joint ventures | 49,309 | 31,049 | |||||
Property, plant, equipment, and mineral rights and reserves: | |||||||
Land and mineral rights | 21,394 | 17,428 | |||||
Depreciable assets | 352,100 | 305,013 | |||||
373,494 | 322,441 | ||||||
Less: accumulated depreciation and depletion | 196,904 | 181,669 | |||||
176,590 | 140,772 | ||||||
Other assets: | |||||||
Goodwill | 59,840 | 40,341 | |||||
Intangible assets | 41,257 | 25,611 | |||||
Deferred income taxes | 5,513 | 6,643 | |||||
Other assets | 15,007 | 15,124 | |||||
121,617 | 87,719 | ||||||
652,146 | 511,224 |
Continued…
43
AMCOL INTERNATIONAL CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES
Consolidated Balance Sheets
(In thousands, except share and per share amounts)
December 31, | |||||||
2007 | 2006 | ||||||
LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY | |||||||
Current liabilities: | |||||||
Accounts payable | $ | 44,274 | $ | 26,107 | |||
Accrued income taxes | - | 4,844 | |||||
Accrued liabilities | 57,833 | 47,432 | |||||
Total current liabilities | 102,107 | 78,383 | |||||
Long-term debt | 164,232 | 112,448 | |||||
Minority interests in subsidiaries | 327 | 276 | |||||
Deferred compensation | 7,559 | 6,880 | |||||
Other liabilities | 25,598 | 18,419 | |||||
33,484 | 25,575 | ||||||
Stockholders’ equity: | |||||||
Common stock, par value $.01 per share, 100,000,000 shares authorized; 32,015,771 shares issued in 2007 and 2006 | 320 | 320 | |||||
Additional paid in capital | 81,599 | 76,686 | |||||
Retained earnings | 258,164 | 219,690 | |||||
Accumulated other comprehensive income | 33,248 | 16,658 | |||||
373,331 | 313,354 | ||||||
Less: | |||||||
Treasury stock (1,921,943 and 2,079,415 shares in 2007 and 2006, respectively) | 21,008 | 18,536 | |||||
352,323 | 294,818 | ||||||
652,146 | 511,224 |
See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements.
44
AMCOL INTERNATIONAL CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES
Consolidated Statements of Operations
(In thousands, except share and per share amounts)
Year Ended December 31, | ||||||||||
2007 | 2006 | 2005 | ||||||||
Continuing Operations | ||||||||||
Net sales | $ | 744,334 | $ | 611,556 | $ | 535,924 | ||||
Cost of sales | 547,820 | 452,090 | 397,901 | |||||||
Gross profit | 196,514 | 159,466 | 138,023 | |||||||
General, selling and administrative expenses | 121,187 | 102,078 | 90,947 | |||||||
Operating profit | 75,327 | 57,388 | 47,076 | |||||||
Other income (expense): | ||||||||||
Interest expense, net | (8,915 | ) | (2,951 | ) | (1,660 | ) | ||||
Other, net | (1,139 | ) | 231 | (393 | ) | |||||
(10,054 | ) | (2,720 | ) | (2,053 | ) | |||||
Income before income taxes and income from affiliates and joint ventures | 65,273 | 54,668 | 45,023 | |||||||
Income tax expense | 16,646 | 10,425 | 11,645 | |||||||
Income before income from affiliates and joint ventures | 48,627 | 44,243 | 33,378 | |||||||
Income from affiliates and joint ventures | 8,394 | 5,420 | 2,912 | |||||||
Income from continuing operations | 57,021 | 49,663 | 36,290 | |||||||
Discontinued Operations | ||||||||||
Gain (loss) on discontinued operations | (286 | ) | 585 | 4,755 | ||||||
Net income | 56,735 | 50,248 | 41,045 |
See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements.
Continued…
45
AMCOL INTERNATIONAL CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES
Consolidated Statements of Operations
(In thousands, except share and per share amounts)
Year Ended December 31, | ||||||||||
2007 | 2006 | 2005 | ||||||||
Earnings per share | ||||||||||
Basic earnings per share: | ||||||||||
Continuing operations | $ | 1.89 | $ | 1.65 | $ | 1.23 | ||||
Discontinued operations | (0.01 | ) | 0.02 | 0.16 | ||||||
Net income | 1.88 | 1.67 | 1.39 | |||||||
Diluted earnings per share: | ||||||||||
Continuing operations | $ | 1.84 | $ | 1.60 | $ | 1.18 | ||||
Discontinued operations | (0.01 | ) | 0.02 | 0.15 | ||||||
Net income | 1.83 | 1.62 | 1.33 |
Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income
(In thousands)
Year Ended December 31, | ||||||||||
2007 | 2006 | 2005 | ||||||||
Net income | $ | 56,735 | $ | 50,248 | $ | 41,045 | ||||
Other comprehensive income (loss) - | ||||||||||
Pension adjustment (net of $1,496 tax expense in 2007, $125 tax expense in 2006, and $169 tax benefit in 2005) | 3,003 | 216 | 154 | |||||||
Unrecognized loss on interest rate swap agreement (net of $399 tax benefit in 2007) | (783 | ) | - | - | ||||||
Foreign currency translation adjustment | 14,370 | 9,787 | (6,415 | ) | ||||||
Comprehensive income | 73,325 | 60,251 | 34,784 |
See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements.
46
AMCOL INTERNATIONAL CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES
Consolidated Statements of Stockholders’ Equity
(In thousands, except share and per share amounts)
Common Stock | Accumulated Other | |||||||||||||||||||||
Number of Shares | Amount | Additional Paid-in Capital | Retained Earnings | Comprehensive Income (Loss) | Treasury Stock | Total | ||||||||||||||||
Balance at December 31, 2004 | 32,015,771 | $ | 320 | $ | 69,763 | $ | 154,366 | $ | 14,905 | $ | (17,420 | ) | 221,934 | |||||||||
Net income | 41,045 | 41,045 | ||||||||||||||||||||
Cash dividends ($0.38 per share) | (11,286 | ) | (11,286 | ) | ||||||||||||||||||
Currency translation adjustment | (6,415 | ) | (6,415 | ) | ||||||||||||||||||
Purchase of 109,629 treasury shares | (2,058 | ) | (2,058 | ) | ||||||||||||||||||
Sales of 497,513 treasury shares pursuant to options | (1,561 | ) | 3,051 | 1,490 | ||||||||||||||||||
Tax benefit from employee stock plans | 1,601 | 1,601 | ||||||||||||||||||||
Vesting of common stock in connection with employee stock plans | 2,391 | 2,391 | ||||||||||||||||||||
Minimum pension liability (net of $169 tax benefit) | 154 | 154 | ||||||||||||||||||||
Balance at December 31, 2005 | 32,015,771 | 320 | 72,194 | 184,125 | 8,644 | (16,427 | ) | 248,856 | ||||||||||||||
Net income | 50,248 | 50,248 | ||||||||||||||||||||
Cash dividends ($0.49 per share) | (14,683 | ) | (14,683 | ) | ||||||||||||||||||
Currency translation adjustment | 9,787 | 9,787 | ||||||||||||||||||||
Purchase of 259,446 treasury shares | (6,645 | ) | (6,645 | ) | ||||||||||||||||||
Sales of 412,163 treasury shares pursuant to options | (385 | ) | 4,536 | 4,151 | ||||||||||||||||||
Tax benefit from employee stock plans | 2,241 | 2,241 | ||||||||||||||||||||
Vesting of common stock in connection with employee stock plans | 2,636 | 2,636 | ||||||||||||||||||||
Minimum pension liability (net of $125 tax expense) | 216 | 216 | ||||||||||||||||||||
Adjustment upon adoption of SFAS 158 (net of tax benefit of $975) | (1,989 | ) | (1,989 | ) | ||||||||||||||||||
Balance at December 31, 2006 | 32,015,771 | 320 | 76,686 | 219,690 | 16,658 | (18,536 | ) | 294,818 | ||||||||||||||
Net income | 56,735 | 56,735 | ||||||||||||||||||||
Adjustment upon adoption of FIN 48 | (253 | ) | (253 | ) | ||||||||||||||||||
Cash dividends ($0.60 per share) | (18,008 | ) | (18,008 | ) | ||||||||||||||||||
Currency translation adjustment | 14,370 | 14,370 | ||||||||||||||||||||
Purchase of 265,957 treasury shares | (6,622 | ) | (6,622 | ) | ||||||||||||||||||
Issuance of 423,429 treasury shares pursuant to options and acquisitions | (314 | ) | 4,150 | 3,836 | ||||||||||||||||||
Tax benefit from employee stock plans | 2,140 | 2,140 | ||||||||||||||||||||
Vesting of common stock in connection with employee stock plans | 3,087 | 3,087 | ||||||||||||||||||||
Unrecognized loss on interest rate swap agreement (net of $399 tax benefit) | (783 | ) | (783 | ) | ||||||||||||||||||
Pension adjustments (net of $1,496 tax expense) | 3,003 | 3,003 | ||||||||||||||||||||
Balance at December 31, 2007 | 32,015,771 | $ | 320 | $ | 81,599 | $ | 258,164 | $ | 33,248 | $ | (21,008 | ) | $ | 352,323 |
See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements.
47
AMCOL INTERNATIONAL CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES
Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows
(In thousands)
Year Ended December 31, | ||||||||||
2007 | 2006 | 2005 | ||||||||
Cash flow from operating activities: | ||||||||||
Net income | $ | 56,735 | $ | 50,248 | $ | 41,045 | ||||
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities: | ||||||||||
Gain on the disposal of discontinued operations | - | - | (4,755 | ) | ||||||
Depreciation, depletion, and amortization | 29,219 | 20,483 | 19,558 | |||||||
Undistributed earnings from affiliates and joint ventures | (7,229 | ) | (4,836 | ) | (3,156 | ) | ||||
Increase (decrease) in allowance for doubtful accounts | (40 | ) | 1,460 | (2,381 | ) | |||||
Decrease (increase) in deferred income taxes | (1,289 | ) | (3,852 | ) | (1,139 | ) | ||||
Tax benefit from employee stock plans | 2,140 | 2,241 | 1,601 | |||||||
Gain on sale of depreciable assets | (2,591 | ) | (929 | ) | (1,433 | ) | ||||
Impairment charge | - | 950 | - | |||||||
Stock compensation expense | 3,087 | 2,636 | 2,391 | |||||||
Excess tax benefits on stock option exercises | (2,030 | ) | (1,955 | ) | - | |||||
Other | 79 | (585 | ) | 42 | ||||||
(Increase) decrease in current assets, net of effects of acquisitions: | ||||||||||
Accounts receivable | (29,157 | ) | (28,452 | ) | (10,172 | ) | ||||
Income taxes receivable | (2,768 | ) | 4,864 | 5,886 | ||||||
Inventories | (5,460 | ) | (5,803 | ) | (12,544 | ) | ||||
Prepaid expenses | (3,290 | ) | (3,496 | ) | (994 | ) | ||||
Increase (decrease) in current liabilities, net of effects of acquisitions: | ||||||||||
Accounts payable | 16,790 | (127 | ) | (1,109 | ) | |||||
Accrued liabilities and income taxes | 4,231 | 12,675 | 2,878 | |||||||
Increase in other noncurrent assets | (1,913 | ) | (2,758 | ) | (2,362 | ) | ||||
Increase (decrease) in other noncurrent liabilities | 9,667 | 3,924 | 2,934 | |||||||
Net cash provided by operating activities | 66,181 | 46,688 | 36,290 | |||||||
Cash flow from investing activities: | ||||||||||
Proceeds from sale of depreciable assets | 6,896 | 3,155 | 3,574 | |||||||
Capital expenditures | (46,004 | ) | (42,099 | ) | (28,626 | ) | ||||
Capital expenditures - corporate building | (7,050 | ) | - | - | ||||||
Investments in and advances to affiliates and joint ventures | (6,636 | ) | (5,645 | ) | (901 | ) | ||||
Acquisition of businesses, net of cash acquired | (45,191 | ) | (63,248 | ) | (2,118 | ) | ||||
Net tax refunds from the sale of discontinued operations | - | - | 4,755 | |||||||
Receipts from (payments to) minority interest partners | - | - | 259 | |||||||
Investments in restricted cash | 2,504 | (3,706 | ) | - | ||||||
Decrease (increase) in other assets | (386 | ) | 654 | 735 | ||||||
Net cash used in investing activities | (95,867 | ) | (110,889 | ) | (22,322 | ) | ||||
Cash flow from financing activities: | ||||||||||
Proceeds from issuance of debt | 416,470 | 160,453 | 55,785 | |||||||
Principal payments of debt | (366,122 | ) | (84,977 | ) | (55,764 | ) | ||||
Proceeds from sales of treasury stock | 3,336 | 2,577 | 1,397 | |||||||
Purchases of treasury stock | (6,622 | ) | (5,554 | ) | (1,965 | ) | ||||
Excess tax benefits on stock option exercises | 2,030 | 1,955 | - | |||||||
Dividends | (18,008 | ) | (14,678 | ) | (11,286 | ) | ||||
Other | 255 | - | - | |||||||
Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities | 31,339 | 59,776 | (11,833 | ) | ||||||
Effect of foreign currency rate changes on cash | 5,824 | 6,233 | (3,732 | ) | ||||||
Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents | 7,477 | 1,808 | (1,597 | ) | ||||||
Cash and cash equivalents at the beginning of the year | 17,805 | 15,997 | 17,594 | |||||||
Cash and cash equivalents at end of the year | 25,282 | 17,805 | 15,997 | |||||||
Supplemental disclosures of cash flow information: | ||||||||||
Cash paid for: | ||||||||||
Interest, net | $ | 8,112 | $ | 2,507 | $ | 1,755 | ||||
Net income taxes paid | $ | 16,181 | $ | 596 | $ | 1,451 |
See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements.
48
AMCOL INTERNATIONAL CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
(In thousands, except share and per share amounts)
(1) Summary of Significant Accounting Policies
New Accounting Standards
In June 2006, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) issued FASB Interpretation No. 48, Accounting for Uncertainty in Income Taxes – an interpretation of FASB Statement No. 109 (“FIN 48”). FIN 48 prescribes a recognition threshold and measurement attribute for the financial statement recognition and measurement of a tax position taken or expected to be taken in a tax return. We adopted the provisions of FIN 48 on January 1, 2007; see Note 8 for a further discussion of this standard and its impact on our financial statements.
In September 2006, the FASB issued SFAS 158, Employer’s Accounting for Defined Benefit Pension and Other Postretirement Plans – an amendment of FASB Statements No. 87, 88, 106, and 132(R). SFAS 158 requires the recognition, in our December 2006 balance sheet, of the underfunded status of our defined benefit and supplemental pension plans as a liability, measured as the difference between the fair value of the plan assets and the projected benefit obligation. Upon adoption, SFAS 158 also requires the recognition of previously unrecognized actuarial gains and losses and prior service costs within Accumulated other comprehensive income, net of tax. SFAS 158 also requires that we measure the funded status of our plans as of our year-end balance sheet date (i.e. December 31st); however, this requirement is not mandatory until December 31, 2008. Thus, we continue to measure our plan’s funded status as of October 1st of each year.
In February 2007, the FASB issued SFAS No. 159, The Fair Value Option for Financial Assets and Financial Liabilities, Including an amendment of FASB No. 115. This standard allows the measurement of many instruments and certain other items at fair value that are not currently required to be measured at fair value. It also establishes presentation and disclosure requirements designed to facilitate comparisons between entities that choose different measurement attributes for similar types of assets and liabilities. This standard is not expected to have a significant impact on our financial statements when we adopt it on January 1, 2008.
In December 2007, the FASB issued Statement of Financial Accounting Standards (“SFAS”) No. 160, Noncontrolling Interests in Consolidated Financial Statements, an amendment of ARB No. 51 (“SFAS 160”). A noncontrolling interest, sometimes called a minority interest, is the portion of equity in a subsidiary not directly or indirectly attributable to a parent company. SFAS 160 establishes standards of reporting for noncontrolling interests as well as deconsolidation of a subsidiary. Most notably, SFAS 160 clarifies that a noncontrolling interest in a subsidiary is an ownership interest in the consolidated entity that should be clearly identified and reported within equity in the consolidated statement of financial position, albeit separate from the parent company’s equity. It also requires consolidated net income to be reported at amounts that include the amounts attributable to both the parent and noncontrolling interests rather than reporting the noncontrolling interest as a deduction in arriving at net income. We do not believe this standard will have a material impact on our financial statements when we adopt it on January 1, 2009.
In December 2007, the FASB issued SFAS No. 141 (revised 2007), Business Combinations (“SFAS 141R”), which establishes principles and requirements for how an acquirer recognizes and measures in its financial statements the identifiable assets acquired, the liabilities assumed, any noncontrolling interest in the acquiree and the goodwill acquired. SFAS 141R also establishes disclosure requirements for users of financial statements to evaluate the nature and financial effects of the business combination. SFAS 141R is effective for us starting January 1, 2009. Since the standard is generally applicable only for acquisitions completed in the future, we are unable to determine the effect this standard would have on the accounting for such acquisitions.
49
AMCOL INTERNATIONAL CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
(In thousands, except share and per share amounts)
Principles of Consolidation
The consolidated financial statements include the accounts of our domestic and foreign subsidiaries as well as variable interest entities for which we have determined that we are the primary beneficiary. We consolidate all subsidiaries which are greater than 50% owned by us. We use the equity method of accounting to incorporate the results of our investments in companies in which we have significant influence, which is generally represented by ownership interests of at least 20% but not more than 50% of the outstanding common stock of the investee. If we do not have significant influence, we use the cost method. All intercompany balances and transactions have been eliminated upon consolidation.
Segments
The composition of consolidated revenues by segment is as follows:
Percentage of Net Sales | ||||||||||
2007 | 2006 | 2005 | ||||||||
Minerals | 48% | 52% | 55% | |||||||
Environmental | 34% | 33% | 32% | |||||||
Oilfield services | 14% | 10% | 7% | |||||||
Transportation | 7% | 8% | 9% | |||||||
Intersegment shipping | -3% | -3% | -3% | |||||||
100% | 100% | 100% |
Beginning January 1, 2007, we included our nanocomposite business within the minerals segment. Those expenses were previously included within our corporate segment. The financial results for prior years have been adjusted to reflect this change in reporting. Operating results and profit margins for all periods were not materially impacted by the change.
Further descriptions of our products, principal markets and the relative significance of segment operations within AMCOL International Corporation (the “Company”) are included in Note 3.
Use of Estimates
The preparation of financial statements in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America requires us to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosure of contingent liabilities at the date of the financial statements, and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting period. Actual results may differ from those estimates.
Revenue Recognition
Product revenue is recognized when title passes to the customer, the customer assumes the risks and rewards of ownership, and collectibility is reasonably assured; generally, this occurs when we ship product to customers. Allowances for discounts, rebates, and estimated returns are recorded at the time of sale and are reported as a reduction in revenue. We generate some sales through independent, third-party representatives. These sales are recorded in revenues, and the commission compensation paid to the representatives is recorded in general, selling and administrative expenses.
Transportation segment revenue for freight delivery services is recognized when the service is provided. Amounts payable for purchased transportation, commissions and insurance are accrued when the related revenue is recognized.
Service and rental revenues, primarily earned by the environmental and oilfield services segments, respectively, each comprise less than 10% of consolidated net sales. Service and rental revenues are recognized in the period such services are performed or the period in which customers utilize the rented assets and collectibility is reasonably assured.
50
AMCOL INTERNATIONAL CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
(In thousands, except share and per share amounts)
Revenue from long-term contracts, typically generated in our environmental segment, are recorded on the percentage-of-completion method of accounting. Progress is generally based upon costs incurred to date as compared to the total estimated costs to complete the work under the contract. All known or anticipated losses on contracts are provided when they become evident. Cost adjustments that are in the process of being negotiated with customers for extra work or changes in scope of work are included in revenue when collection is deemed probable.
Translation of Foreign Currencies
Exchange adjustments resulting from foreign currency transactions are recognized in net income, whereas the adjustments resulting from the translation of financial statements into our reporting currency are reflected as a component of accumulated other comprehensive income within stockholders’ equity. The assets and liabilities of subsidiaries located outside of the United States are translated into U.S. dollars at the rates of exchange at the balance sheet dates. The statements of operations are translated at the weighted average rates during the periods.
Inventories
Inventories are valued at the lower of cost or market value. Cost is determined by the first-in, first-out (FIFO) or moving average methods. Exploration costs are expensed as incurred.
Receivables and Allowance for Doubtful Accounts
We carry our receivables at their face amount less an allowance for bad debts. We establish the allowance for bad debts based on a review of several factors, including historical collection experience, current aging status of the customer accounts, and the financial condition of our customers.
Property, Plant, Equipment, and Mineral Rights and Reserves
Property, plant, equipment, and mineral rights and reserves are carried at cost less accumulated depreciation and depletion. Depreciation is computed using the straight-line method for substantially all of the assets. Certain other assets, primarily field equipment, are depreciated on the units-of-production method. Mineral rights and reserves are depleted using the units-of-production method.
Goodwill
Goodwill represents the excess of the purchase price over the fair value of the net assets of acquired businesses. The carrying value of goodwill for each reporting unit is reviewed annually as of October 1st for impairment or more frequently if indications exist which may suggest the carrying value is not recoverable. The annual impairment test is a two step process that involves comparing the estimated fair value of each reporting unit to the carrying value of that reporting unit. If the fair value of the reporting unit exceeds the carrying value, the goodwill is not considered impaired and the second step is unnecessary. If the fair value is less than the carrying value, the second step of the test would be performed to measure the amount of impairment loss to be recorded, if any.
Other Intangible Assets
Other intangible assets, including certain trademarks and non-compete agreements, are amortized on the straight-line method over the expected periods to be benefited.
51
AMCOL INTERNATIONAL CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
(In thousands, except share and per share amounts)
Impairment of Long-Lived Assets
We review the carrying values of long-lived assets, including property, plant and equipment and intangible assets other than goodwill, whenever facts and circumstances indicate that the assets may be impaired. Recoverability of assets to be held and used is measured by a comparison of the carrying amount of an asset to future net undiscounted cash flows expected to be generated by the asset. If an asset is considered to be impaired, the impairment to be recognized is measured by the amount by which the carrying amount of the asset exceeds the fair value. Assets to be disposed of are reported at the lower of the carrying amount or fair value, less costs of disposal.
Income Taxes
Deferred tax assets and liabilities are recognized for the future tax consequences attributable to differences between the financial statement carrying amounts of existing assets and liabilities and their respective tax bases. Deferred tax assets and liabilities are measured using enacted tax rates expected to be in effect for the years in which those temporary differences are expected to be recovered or settled. The effect on deferred tax assets and liabilities of a change in tax rates is recognized in income in the period that includes the enactment date. We classify interest and penalties associated with income taxes within the income tax line item of our consolidated statement of operations.
Freight and Sales Taxes
We report amounts charged to customers for shipping and handling fees as revenues and we report amounts incurred for these costs within cost of sales in the consolidated statements of operations (i.e. gross presentation with revenues and cost of sales). Also, we report amounts charged to customers for sales taxes and the related costs incurred for sales tax remittances to governmental agencies within net sales in the consolidated statement of operations (i.e. net presentation within revenues).
Product Liability & Warranty Expenses
We report expenses incurred for warranty and product costs in general, selling and administrative expenses in the consolidated statements of operations. Our warranty accrual is based on known warranty issues as of the balance sheet date as well as a reserve for unidentified claims based on historical experience.
Land Reclamation
We mine various minerals using a surface-mining process that requires the removal of overburden. We are obligated to restore the land comprising each mining site upon completion of mining activity. We recognize this liability for land reclamation based on the estimated fair value of the obligation. The obligation is adjusted to reflect the passage of time and changes in estimated future cash outflows.
Research and Development
Research and development costs are expensed as incurred within general, selling and administrative expenses.
Earnings Per Share
Basic earnings per share are computed by dividing net income by the weighted average number of common shares outstanding. Diluted earnings per share is similarly computed, except the denominator is increased to include the dilutive effects of stock options and other share equivalents. Stock options whose exercise would result in a net decrease in the weighted average number of common shares outstanding are considered antidilutive and excluded from our diluted earnings per share calculation. A reconciliation between the shares used to compute basic and diluted earnings per share follows:
52
AMCOL INTERNATIONAL CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
(In thousands, except share and per share amounts)
2007 | 2006 | 2005 | ||||||||
Weighted average common shares outstanding for the year | 30,164,697 | 30,054,267 | 29,525,033 | |||||||
Dilutive impact of stock equivalents | 794,724 | 971,621 | 1,278,105 | |||||||
Weighted average common and common equivalent shares for the year | 30,959,421 | 31,025,888 | 30,803,138 | |||||||
Common shares outstanding at December 31 | 30,093,828 | 29,936,356 | 29,783,639 | |||||||
Weighted average anti-dilutive shares excluded from the computation of diluted earnings per share | 317,598 | 245,765 | 248,685 |
Stock-Based Compensation
Prior to 2003, we accounted for fixed plan stock options under the recognition and measurement provisions of Accounting Principles Board Opinion No. 25, Accounting for Stock Issued to Employees, and related Interpretations. No stock-based employee compensation cost was reflected in operations prior to 2003, as all options granted had an exercise price equal to the market value of the underlying common stock on the date of grant.
Effective January 1, 2003, we adopted the fair value recognition provisions of SFAS No. 123, Accounting for Stock-Based Compensation (SFAS 123), and elected to apply these provisions prospectively, in accordance with SFAS No. 148, Accounting for Stock-Based Compensation-Transition and Disclosure, an Amendment of FASB Statement No. 123, to all employee awards granted, modified, or settled after January 1, 2003. Awards granted after 2002 vest over three years.
Effective January 1, 2006, we adopted SFAS 123(R), Share Based Payment, under the modified prospective transition method. This adoption did not significantly affect our statement of operations, balance sheet or statement of comprehensive income for 2006. SFAS 123(R) does require, however, that the benefits of tax deductions in excess of recognized compensation cost be reported as a financing cash flow rather than as an operating cash flow in the statements of cash flows as required prior to January 1, 2006; this has the effect of reducing net operating cash flows and increasing net financing cash flows for all periods after December 31, 2005. For the years ended December 31, 2007 and 2006, this amount was $2,030 and $1,955, respectively. While we cannot estimate what those amounts will be in the future (because they depend on, amongst other factors, when employees exercise options), the amount of operating cash flows recognized for such tax deductions for the year ended December 31, 2005 (and hence the amount that would have been reclassified as a cash inflow from financing activities if SFAS 123(R) had been applicable in that prior period) was $1,586.
Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities
Occasionally, we use derivative financial instruments (principally interest rate swaps or options) to manage exposure to changes in interest rates. We do not use derivative instruments for trading or other speculative purposes. We recognized our derivative instruments as either assets or liabilities in the balance sheet at fair value. The accounting for changes in the fair value (i.e. gains and losses) depends on whether it has been designated and qualifies as part of a hedging relationship and type of relationship. Hedges designated as cash flow hedges result in the changes in fair value being recorded in accumulated other comprehensive income.
At December 31, 2007, we had an interest rate swap agreement outstanding which effectively hedges the variable rate on our Senior notes to a fixed rate. We designated this hedge as a cash flow hedge. We did not have any material derivative financial instruments outstanding at December 31, 2006.
53
AMCOL INTERNATIONAL CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
(In thousands, except share and per share amounts)
Reclassifications
Certain items in the prior years consolidated financial statements contained herein and notes thereto have been reclassified to conform with the consolidated financial statement presentation for 2007. These reclassifications did not have a material impact on our financial statements.
(2) Discontinued Operations
In 2004, we filed an amended tax return seeking a refund of state taxes paid on the sale of our absorbent polymers segment that occurred in 2000. No amounts for this refund were reflected in the financial statements in 2004. In June 2005, we successfully settled this claim for $7,800 and recorded a net income tax receivable of $5,255, accrued professional fees of $500 and a gain on the sale of discontinued operations of $4,755.
(3) Business Segment and Geographic Area Information
We determine our operating segments based on the discrete financial information that is regularly evaluated by our chief operating decision maker, our President and Chief Executive Officer, in deciding how to allocate resources and in assessing performance. Intersegment sales are insignificant, other than intersegment shipping which is eliminated in the corporate segment. We measure segment profit based on operating profit, and the costs deducted to arrive at operating profit do not include interest or income taxes.
Our five reportable segments are as follows:
· | Minerals segment - mines, processes and distributes clays and products with similar applications to various industrial and consumer markets; |
· | Environmental segment - processes and distributes clays and products with similar applications for use as a moisture barrier in commercial construction, landfill liners and in a variety of other industrial and commercial applications; |
· | Oilfield services segment - provides both onshore and offshore water treatment filtration, pipeline separation, and well testing data services for the oil and gas industry; |
· | Transportation segment - includes a long-haul trucking business and a freight brokerage business that provides services to our subsidiaries as well as third-party customers; and |
· | Corporate segment - intersegment shipping revenues are eliminated in our corporate segment. |
Effective beginning the first quarter of 2007, we included our nanocomposite business within the Minerals segment. Those expenses were previously included within our Corporate segment. The segment financial results for prior years have been adjusted to reflect this change in reporting. Operating results and profit margins for all periods and segments were not materially impacted by the change.
Segment assets are those assets used in the operations of that segment. Corporate assets include cash, corporate leasehold improvements, and other miscellaneous equipment.
54
AMCOL INTERNATIONAL CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
(In thousands, except share and per share amounts)
The following table sets forth certain financial information by business segment as of and for the years ended December 31, 2007, 2006 and 2005:
2007 | 2006 | 2005 | ||||||||
Net sales: | ||||||||||
Minerals | $ | 356,670 | $ | 316,751 | $ | 295,686 | ||||
Environmental | 252,776 | 203,128 | 171,144 | |||||||
Oilfield services | 100,572 | 61,928 | 39,702 | |||||||
Transportation | 52,409 | 50,228 | 49,708 | |||||||
Intersegment shipping | (18,093 | ) | (20,479 | ) | (20,316 | ) | ||||
Total | 744,334 | 611,556 | 535,924 | |||||||
Operating profit (loss): | ||||||||||
Minerals | $ | 34,105 | $ | 34,211 | $ | 32,881 | ||||
Environmental | 38,394 | 26,751 | 23,351 | |||||||
Oilfield services | 19,217 | 11,061 | 5,317 | |||||||
Transportation | 2,768 | 2,872 | 2,717 | |||||||
Corporate | (19,157 | ) | (17,507 | ) | (17,190 | ) | ||||
Total | 75,327 | 57,388 | 47,076 | |||||||
Assets: | ||||||||||
Minerals | $ | 319,921 | $ | 245,417 | $ | 186,718 | ||||
Environmental | 184,992 | 145,884 | 113,565 | |||||||
Oilfield services | 95,866 | 84,917 | 33,023 | |||||||
Transportation | 3,807 | 3,722 | 3,027 | |||||||
Corporate | 47,560 | 31,284 | 32,196 | |||||||
Total | 652,146 | 511,224 | 368,529 | |||||||
Depreciation, depletion and amortization: | ||||||||||
Minerals | $ | 15,019 | $ | 11,856 | $ | 11,828 | ||||
Environmental | 6,280 | 4,343 | 4,193 | |||||||
Oilfield services | 6,688 | 3,143 | 2,123 | |||||||
Transportation | 38 | 69 | 97 | |||||||
Corporate | 1,194 | 1,072 | 1,317 | |||||||
Total | 29,219 | 20,483 | 19,558 | |||||||
Capital expenditures: | ||||||||||
Minerals | $ | 21,942 | $ | 27,292 | $ | 13,886 | ||||
Environmental | 7,981 | 9,958 | 9,549 | |||||||
Oilfield services | 10,733 | 4,024 | 3,649 | |||||||
Transportation | 55 | 50 | 29 | |||||||
Corporate | 12,343 | 775 | 1,513 | |||||||
Total | 53,054 | 42,099 | 28,626 | |||||||
Research and development expenses: | ||||||||||
Minerals | $ | 4,023 | $ | 3,655 | $ | 3,795 | ||||
Environmental | 2,242 | 2,390 | 1,865 | |||||||
Oilfield services | 247 | - | - | |||||||
Corporate | 858 | 200 | 585 | |||||||
Total | 7,370 | 6,245 | 6,245 |
55
AMCOL INTERNATIONAL CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
(In thousands, except share and per share amounts)
The following table sets forth certain geographic financial information by business segment as of and for the years ended December 31, 2007, 2006 and 2005. EMEA is our European, Middle East and African geographic regions. Geographic revenues and operating profit are determined based on origin:
2007 | 2006 | 2005 | ||||||||
Sales to unaffiliated customers shipped from: | ||||||||||
Americas | $ | 507,393 | $ | 422,235 | $ | 371,836 | ||||
EMEA | 178,650 | 142,979 | 125,512 | |||||||
Asia Pacific | 58,291 | 46,342 | 38,576 | |||||||
Total | 744,334 | 611,556 | 535,924 | |||||||
Operating profit from sales from: | ||||||||||
Americas | $ | 47,193 | $ | 32,522 | $ | 25,213 | ||||
EMEA | 21,383 | 17,201 | 15,831 | |||||||
Asia Pacific | 6,751 | 7,665 | 6,032 | |||||||
Total | 75,327 | 57,388 | 47,076 | |||||||
Identifiable assets in: | ||||||||||
Americas | $ | 425,468 | $ | 326,337 | $ | 227,923 | ||||
EMEA | 146,928 | 120,571 | 94,165 | |||||||
Asia Pacific | 79,750 | 64,316 | 46,441 | |||||||
Total | 652,146 | 511,224 | 368,529 |
Revenues by product line for each fiscal year are as follows:
2007 | 2006 | 2005 | ||||||||
Metalcasting | $ | 152,359 | $ | 136,357 | $ | 134,138 | ||||
Lining technologies | 151,828 | 112,546 | 94,942 | |||||||
Oilfield services | 100,572 | 66,825 | 45,780 | |||||||
Specialty minerals | 90,404 | 75,272 | 68,394 | |||||||
Building materials | 81,736 | 70,796 | 58,382 | |||||||
Pet products | 65,804 | 58,332 | 60,177 | |||||||
Basic minerals | 43,269 | 42,801 | 28,652 | |||||||
Drilling products | 24,046 | 18,878 | 16,067 | |||||||
Transportation | 52,409 | 50,228 | 49,708 | |||||||
Intersegment shipping revenue | (18,093 | ) | (20,479 | ) | (20,316 | ) | ||||
Total | 744,334 | 611,556 | 535,924 |
(4) Balance Sheet Related Information
The allowance for doubtful accounts as of and the activity for the years ended December 31 was as follows:
2007 | 2006 | 2005 | ||||||||
Balance at the beginning of the year | $ | 3,986 | $ | 2,350 | $ | 4,637 | ||||
Charged to expense (income) | 779 | 1,159 | (731 | ) | ||||||
Acquisitions and other | (300 | ) | 459 | 94 | ||||||
Write-offs and currency translation adjustments | (474 | ) | 18 | (1,650 | ) | |||||
Balance at the end of the year | 3,991 | 3,986 | 2,350 |
56
AMCOL INTERNATIONAL CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
(In thousands, except share and per share amounts)
Inventories at December 31 consisted of:
2007 | 2006 | ||||||
Crude stockpile inventories | $ | 25,601 | $ | 26,390 | |||
In-process and finished goods inventories | 39,473 | 32,640 | |||||
Other raw material, container, and supplies inventories | 26,293 | 25,582 | |||||
91,367 | 84,612 |
Included within Other raw material, container and supplies inventories in the table above is our reserve for slow moving and obsolete inventory. The balance of this reserve as of and the activity for the years ended December 31 was as follows:
2007 | 2006 | 2005 | ||||||||
Balance at the beginning of the year | $ | 2,394 | $ | 1,985 | $ | 1,574 | ||||
Charged to costs and expenses | 942 | 1,022 | 872 | |||||||
Acquisitions and other | 38 | - | - | |||||||
Disposals and currency translation adjustments | (1,569 | ) | (613 | ) | (461 | ) | ||||
Balance at the end of the year | 1,805 | 2,394 | 1,985 |
The following table presents our reclamation liability at the end of and changes during each of the years presented:
2007 | 2006 | ||||||
Balance at beginning of the year | $ | 5,715 | $ | 4,966 | |||
Settlement of obligations | (2,121 | ) | (1,140 | ) | |||
Liabilities incurred and accretion expense | 2,105 | 1,889 | |||||
Balance at the end of the year | 5,699 | 5,715 |
Accrued liabilities at December 31 consisted of:
2007 | 2006 | ||||||
Accrued severance taxes | $ | 2,412 | $ | 2,022 | |||
Accrued employee costs | 6,268 | 3,852 | |||||
Accrued vacation pay | 2,687 | 2,438 | |||||
Accrued bonus | 9,778 | 9,366 | |||||
Accrued dividends payable | 4,814 | 4,190 | |||||
Accrued warranties | 1,012 | 911 | |||||
Accrued commissions | 2,262 | 2,712 | |||||
Accrued reclamation costs | 1,102 | 1,214 | |||||
Other | 27,498 | 20,727 | |||||
57,833 | 47,432 |
57
AMCOL INTERNATIONAL CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
(In thousands, except share and per share amounts)
The following table presents our warranty liability at the end of and changes during each of the years presented:
2007 | 2006 | ||||||
Balance at the beginning of the year | $ | 911 | $ | 1,823 | |||
Charged to costs and expenses | 556 | (274 | ) | ||||
Acquisitions | 75 | - | |||||
Net settlements | (538 | ) | (709 | ) | |||
Foreign currency translation | 8 | 71 | |||||
Balance at the end of the year | 1,012 | 911 |
Accumulated other comprehensive income at December 31 was comprised of the following components:
2007 | 2006 | ||||||
Cumulative foreign currency translation | $ | 33,104 | $ | 18,734 | |||
Prior service cost on pension plans (net of tax benefit of $190 in 2007 and $206 in 2006) | (371 | ) | (418 | ) | |||
Net actuarial (loss) gain on pension plans (net of tax expense of $663 in 2007 and a tax benefit of $817 in 2006) | 1,298 | (1,658 | ) | ||||
Unrecognized loss on interest rate swap agreement (net of a $399 tax benefit in 2007) | (783 | ) | - | ||||
33,248 | 16,658 |
(5) Property, Plant, Equipment and Mineral Rights and Reserves
Property, plant, equipment and mineral rights and reserves consisted of the following:
December 31, | |||||||
2007 | 2006 | ||||||
Mineral rights and reserves | $ | 6,857 | $ | 6,715 | |||
Other land | 14,537 | 10,713 | |||||
Buildings and improvements | 83,728 | 73,086 | |||||
Machinery and equipment | 257,662 | 221,433 | |||||
Construction in progress | 10,710 | 10,494 | |||||
373,494 | 322,441 |
The range of useful lives to depreciate plant and equipment is as follows:
Buildings and improvements | 5-50 years | |||
Machinery and equipment | 1-20 years |
Depreciation and depletion were charged to income as follows:
2007 | 2006 | 2005 | ||||||||
Depreciation expense | $ | 22,855 | $ | 18,682 | $ | 18,197 | ||||
Depletion expense | 719 | 340 | 108 | |||||||
23,574 | 19,022 | 18,305 |
58
AMCOL INTERNATIONAL CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
(In thousands, except share and per share amounts)
(6) Goodwill and Intangible Assets
The balance of goodwill by segment and the activity occurring in the past two fiscal years is as follows:
Minerals | Environmental | Oilfield services | Consolidated | ||||||||||
Balance at December 31, 2005 | $ | 6,383 | $ | 8,932 | $ | 5,329 | $ | 20,644 | |||||
Change in goodwill relating to: | |||||||||||||
Acquisitions | 6,011 | 853 | 11,067 | 17,931 | |||||||||
Foreign exchange translation | 616 | 1,150 | - | 1,766 | |||||||||
Total changes | 6,627 | 2,003 | 11,067 | 19,697 | |||||||||
Balance at December 31, 2006 | 13,010 | 10,935 | 16,396 | 40,341 | |||||||||
Change in goodwill relating to: | |||||||||||||
Acquisitions | 6,264 | 8,729 | 3,508 | 18,501 | |||||||||
Foreign exchange translation | 798 | 200 | - | 998 | |||||||||
Total changes | 7,062 | 8,929 | 3,508 | 19,499 | |||||||||
Balance at December 31, 2007 | 20,072 | 19,864 | 19,904 | 59,840 |
Intangible assets were as follows:
December 31, 2007 | December 31, 2006 | ||||||||||||||||||
Gross carrying value | Accumulated amortization | Net carrying value | Gross carrying value | Accumulated amortization | Net carrying value | ||||||||||||||
Intangibles subject to amortization: | |||||||||||||||||||
Trademarks | $ | 772 | $ | (335 | ) | $ | 437 | $ | 727 | $ | (182 | ) | $ | 545 | |||||
Patents | 629 | (362 | ) | 267 | 642 | (280 | ) | 362 | |||||||||||
License agreements | 6,250 | (6,250 | ) | - | 6,250 | (5,500 | ) | 750 | |||||||||||
Customer related assets | 31,989 | (3,737 | ) | 28,252 | 22,278 | (341 | ) | 21,937 | |||||||||||
Non-compete agreements | 1,823 | (645 | ) | 1,178 | 1,700 | (78 | ) | 1,622 | |||||||||||
Developed technology | 4,040 | (382 | ) | 3,658 | - | - | - | ||||||||||||
Other | 1,185 | (280 | ) | 905 | 928 | (567 | ) | 361 | |||||||||||
Subtotal | 46,688 | (11,991 | ) | 34,697 | 32,525 | (6,948 | ) | 25,577 | |||||||||||
Intangibles not subject to amortization: | |||||||||||||||||||
Other | - | - | - | 34 | - | 34 | |||||||||||||
Trademarks and Tradenames | 6,560 | - | 6,560 | - | - | - | |||||||||||||
Total | 53,248 | (11,991 | ) | 41,257 | 32,559 | (6,948 | ) | 25,611 |
Intangible assets are being amortized primarily on a straight-line basis over their estimated useful lives of 3 to 20 years. For the years above, there was no impairment related to the intangible assets. Amortization expense on intangible assets for each of the years ending December 31, 2007 and 2006 was $5,645 and $1,469, respectively. We estimate amortization expense of intangible assets for the future years ending December 31 will approximate the following amounts:
Amount | ||||
2008 | $ | 4,947 | ||
2009 | 4,815 | |||
2010 | 3,203 | |||
2011 | 2,804 | |||
2012 | 2,543 |
59
AMCOL INTERNATIONAL CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
(In thousands, except share and per share amounts)
(7) Investments in Joint Ventures
Information about our investments in affiliates and joint ventures at December 31, 2007 is as follows:
Ownership interest | Accounting Policy | Amount of our investment less the underlying net equity of the investee | Value at quoted market price | ||||||||||
Ahmed Rasheed & Co | 40 | % | Cost Method | $ | 179 | N/A | |||||||
Ashapura AMCOL N.V. | 50 | % | Equity Method | 124 | N/A | ||||||||
Ashapura Minechem Limited | 21 | % | Equity Method | 3,788 | $ | 78,564 | |||||||
Ashapura Volclay Limited | 50 | % | Equity Method | (453 | ) | N/A | |||||||
Egypt Mining & Drilling Co. and Egypt Bentonite & Derivatives Co. | 25 | % | Equity Method | 965 | N/A | ||||||||
Egypt Nano Technologies Co. | 27 | % | Equity Method | (99 | ) | N/A | |||||||
Volclay de Mexico, S.A. de C.V. | 49 | % | Equity Method | (80 | ) | N/A | |||||||
Volclay Japan Co., Ltd. | 50 | % | Equity Method | 393 | N/A |
As illustrated above, our largest investment is in Ashapura Minechem Limited, which is publicly traded on the Bombay Stock Exchange Limited. Further information regarding this investee’s financial and operating performance is in the following table.
2007 | 2006 | ||||||
Ashapura Minechem Limited: | |||||||
Net Sales | $ | 338,804 | $ | 249,203 | |||
Operating income | 52,053 | 32,369 | |||||
Affiliate income as reported | 35,055 | 21,896 | |||||
Current assets | 166,629 | 78,884 | |||||
Non-current assets | 64,742 | 54,958 | |||||
Total assets | 231,372 | 133,842 | |||||
Current liabilities | 56,910 | 17,071 | |||||
Non-current liabilities | 51,159 | 36,774 | |||||
Total liabilities | 108,069 | 53,845 |
We record the majority of our equity in the earnings of our investments in affiliates and joint ventures on a one quarter lag.
(8) Income Taxes
Total income tax expense (benefit) for the years ended December 31 was comprised of the following:
2007 | 2006 | 2005 | ||||||||
Continuing operations | $ | 16,646 | $ | 10,425 | $ | 11,645 | ||||
Discontinued operations | (79 | ) | (585 | ) | (5,255 | ) | ||||
16,567 | 9,840 | 6,390 |
For each of the years ended December 31 in the table below, domestic and foreign components of income from continuing operations before income taxes and equity in income of affiliates and joint ventures are:
60
AMCOL INTERNATIONAL CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
(In thousands, except share and per share amounts)
2007 | 2006 | 2005 | ||||||||
Income from continuing operations before income taxes and income from affiliates and joint ventures: | ||||||||||
Domestic | $ | 42,632 | $ | 30,239 | $ | 22,485 | ||||
Foreign | 22,641 | 24,429 | 22,538 | |||||||
65,273 | 54,668 | 45,023 |
The components of the provision for income taxes attributable to income from continuing operations before income taxes and income from affiliates and joint ventures for the years ended December 31 consisted of:
2007 | 2006 | 2005 | ||||||||
Provision (benefit) for income taxes: | ||||||||||
Federal: | ||||||||||
Current | $ | 10,217 | $ | 6,595 | $ | 6,257 | ||||
Deferred | 350 | (3,090 | ) | 210 | ||||||
State: | ||||||||||
Current | 2,121 | 1,229 | 1,719 | |||||||
Deferred | 225 | 83 | 341 | |||||||
Foreign: | ||||||||||
Current | 4,741 | 5,731 | 1,192 | |||||||
Deferred | (1,008 | ) | (123 | ) | 1,926 | |||||
16,646 | 10,425 | 11,645 |
The tax effects of temporary differences that gave rise to significant portions of the deferred tax assets and liabilities as of December 31 were as follows:
2007 | 2006 | ||||||
Deferred tax assets attributable to: | |||||||
Accounts receivable | $ | 333 | $ | 537 | |||
Inventories | 1,477 | 2,003 | |||||
Employee benefit plans | 8,555 | 8,792 | |||||
Intangible assets | 2,275 | 2,438 | |||||
Accrued liabilities | 898 | 1,030 | |||||
Employee incentive plans | 1,462 | - | |||||
Tax credit carryforwards | 1,617 | 1,021 | |||||
Other | 2,688 | 991 | |||||
Total deferred tax assets | 19,305 | 16,812 | |||||
Deferred tax liabilities attributable to: | |||||||
Plant and equipment | (2,477 | ) | (1,395 | ) | |||
Land and mineral reserves | (1,068 | ) | (1,122 | ) | |||
Joint ventures | (3,581 | ) | (2,579 | ) | |||
Other | (1,765 | ) | (425 | ) | |||
Total deferred tax liabilities | (8,891 | ) | (5,521 | ) | |||
Valuation allowances | (527 | ) | - | ||||
Net deferred tax assets | 9,887 | 11,291 |
We believe it is more likely than not that the net deferred tax assets above will be realized in the normal course of business.
61
AMCOL INTERNATIONAL CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
(In thousands, except share and per share amounts)
The following analysis reconciles the U.S. statutory federal income tax rate to the effective tax rates related to income from continuing operations before income taxes and equity income of affiliates and joint ventures:
2007 | 2006 | 2005 | |||||||||||||||||
Amount | Percent of Pretax Income | Amount | Percent of Pretax Income | Amount | Percent of Pretax Income | ||||||||||||||
Provision for income taxes at U.S. statutory rates | $ | 22,848 | 35.0 | % | $ | 19,133 | 35.0 | % | $ | 15,791 | 35.0 | % | |||||||
Increase (decrease) in taxes resulting from: | |||||||||||||||||||
Percentage depletion | (3,568 | ) | -5.5 | % | (3,208 | ) | -5.9 | % | (2,173 | ) | -4.8 | % | |||||||
State taxes, net of federal benefit | 1,600 | 2.5 | % | 909 | 1.7 | % | 1,177 | 2.6 | % | ||||||||||
Foreign tax rates | (4,119 | ) | -6.3 | % | (4,031 | ) | -7.4 | % | (4,308 | ) | -9.5 | % | |||||||
Depletion and research and experimentation adjustments | - | - | (3,667 | ) | -6.7 | % | - | - | |||||||||||
Dividend pursuant to American Jobs Creation Act of 2004 | - | - | - | - | 665 | 1.5 | % | ||||||||||||
Tax receivable write-off | - | - | - | - | 1,448 | 3.1 | % | ||||||||||||
Other | (115 | ) | -0.2 | % | 1,289 | 2.4 | % | (955 | ) | -2.0 | % | ||||||||
16,646 | 25.5 | % | 10,425 | 19.1 | % | 11,645 | 25.9 | % |
Tax on reinvested earnings
We have not provided for the United States federal income and foreign income withholding taxes on approximately $95,270 of undistributed earnings from international subsidiaries as of December 31, 2007 because such earnings are intended to be reinvested indefinitely outside of the United States. If these earnings were distributed, foreign tax credits may become available under current law to reduce or eliminate the resulting income tax liability in the United States.
Tax holidays
We benefit from tax holidays in both Poland and Thailand as a result of our locating and investing in special economic zones in each country. In 2007, these tax holidays resulted in a $1,674 reduction in income tax expense and a $0.05 benefit to diluted earnings per share.
Our agreement with the Polish tax authorities makes us eligible, based on certain terms and conditions, for a tax holiday exemption for all income tax activities through 2009 and a 50% exemption in 2010; we have enjoyed tax holidays through 2007. We continue to seek tax concessions when applicable.
Our agreement with the Thai tax authorities provides for tax holidays on several investments. The most significant tax exemption is on all income from manufacturing operations (distributed goods are still subject to taxation) related to our initial investment. These initial manufacturing activities were exempt through December 31, 2005 and are taxable at 50% in years 2006 through 2010. An additional tax holiday was granted in 2007 for the expansion of our Thai facility. Income generated from this expansion is granted a 100% tax holiday from corporate income tax for another eight (8) years beginning in 2007 and then taxable at 50% for five (5) years starting in 2015. We attempt to modify and obtain tax concessions when applicable.
Exams
In the normal course of business, we are subject to examination by tax authorities throughout the world. With few exceptions, we are no longer subject to income tax examinations by tax authorities for years prior to 2002. The United States Internal Revenue Service (“IRS”) has examined our federal income tax returns for all years through 2003.
62
AMCOL INTERNATIONAL CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
(In thousands, except share and per share amounts)
NOLs and credit carryforwards
At December 31, 2007, we have state net operating loss carryovers that have resulted in a deferred tax asset of $527, against which we have recorded a full valuation allowance as we do not expect to utilize the loss in the carryforward period.
Adoption of FIN 48
Effective January 1, 2007, we adopted FIN 48, which resulted in a $253 decrease in retained earnings as well as increases to income taxes payable of $2,065, deferred tax assets of $1,876, and income tax receivables of $189. In addition, we reclassified $4,379 of income tax liabilities from current liabilities to non-current liabilities as we do not anticipate settling these liabilities within the next twelve months.
The following table summarizes the activity related to our unrecognized tax benefits:
Balance as of January 1, 2007 | $ | 4,846 | ||
Increases related to prior year tax positions | 1,081 | |||
Increases related to current year tax positions | 740 | |||
Decreases related to the expiration of statute of limitations | (1,237 | ) | ||
Balance as of December 31, 2007 | 5,430 |
Included in the unrecognized tax benefits at December 31, 2007 are $3,002 of benefits that, if recognized, would reduce our annual effective tax rate. These benefits also include benefits of $1,095 relating to items affected by statute of limitations which expire in the next 12 months; of this amount, $850 would have an impact on our effective tax rate.
We report penalties and interest relating to uncertain tax positions within the income tax expense line item within our consolidated statement of operations. At December 31, 2007, our consolidated balance sheet includes a liability for possible payment of penalties and interest of $1,371.
(9) Long-term Debt
Long-term debt consisted of the following:
December 31, | |||||||
2007 | 2006 | ||||||
Borrowings under revolving credit agreement | $ | 78,593 | $ | 98,244 | |||
Senior notes | 75,000 | - | |||||
Industrial revenue bond | 4,800 | 4,800 | |||||
Other notes payable | 5,981 | 9,432 | |||||
164,374 | 112,476 | ||||||
Less: current portion | (144 | ) | (28 | ) | |||
164,231 | 112,448 |
We have a revolving credit agreement that provides a committed $150,000 revolving line of credit maturing on April 1, 2012. As of December 31, 2007, there was $71,407 in borrowing capacity available under the line of credit. The revolving credit agreement is a multi-currency arrangement that allows us to borrow certain foreign currencies at an adjusted LIBOR rate plus .50% to 1.125%, depending upon the amount of the credit line used and certain capitalization ratios. The facility requires certain covenants to be met, such as specific amounts of net worth, and limits our ability to make additional borrowings and guarantees. We were in compliance with these covenants at December 31, 2007. The borrowings under this revolving credit line at December 31, 2007 carried an average interest rate of 5.95%.
63
AMCOL INTERNATIONAL CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
(In thousands, except share and per share amounts)
On April 2, 2007, we issued and sold $75,000 of senior notes (the “Senior notes”) to a qualified institutional buyer which are payable at maturity on April 2, 2017, subject to certain acceleration features upon default. The Notes are comprised of (a) $45,000 aggregate principal amount of Series 2007-A Adjustable Fixed Rate Guaranteed Senior Notes, Tranche 1, due April 2, 2017 (the “Tranche 1” notes) and (b) $30,000 aggregate principal amount of Series 2007-A Adjustable Floating Rate Guaranteed Senior Notes, Tranche 2 (the “Tranche 2” notes). Tranche 1 bears interest at 5.78%, payable semi-annually in arrears on April 2nd and October 2nd of each year, beginning October 2, 2007. Tranche 2 bears interest at an annual rate of 0.55% plus LIBOR in effect from time to time, adjusted quarterly, and is payable quarterly in arrears beginning July 2, 2007.
In conjunction with the issuance of the Senior notes, we also entered into an interest rate swap agreement with Wells Fargo Bank, N.A. (the “Interest Rate Swap Agreement”) which has the effect of converting the Tranche 2 floating interest rate into a fixed rate of 5.6% per annum over the term of the Tranche 2 notes.
We also have an uncommitted, short-term credit facility maturing on November 15, 2009 that allows for maximum borrowings of $12,000, of which $909 was outstanding as of December 31, 2007 at an interest rate of 5.57%.
Maturities of long-term debt outstanding at December 31, 2007, were as follows:
2008 | 2009 | 2010 | 2011 | 2012 | Thereafter | ||||||||||||||
Borrowings under | |||||||||||||||||||
Revolving credit agreement | $ | - | $ | - | $ | - | $ | - | $ | 78,593 | $ | - | |||||||
Senior notes | 75,000 | ||||||||||||||||||
Industrial revenue bond and other notes payable | 144 | 111 | 28 | 18 | 5,680 | 4,800 | |||||||||||||
144 | 111 | 28 | 18 | 84,274 | 79,800 |
At December 31, 2007 and 2006, we had outstanding standby letters of credit of approximately $24,807 and $17,700, respectively. These letters of credit typically serve to guarantee the Company’s performance of its obligations related to land reclamation and workers’ compensation claims. The accompanying consolidated balance sheets as of December 31, 2007 and 2006 include amounts accrued for the estimated costs of obligations related to land reclamation and workers’ compensation claims.
(10) Acquisitions
We acquired four businesses in 2007 which individually and in the aggregate did not materially affect our operating results or financial position. For these acquisitions, we paid net cash of $38,322 and recorded goodwill and intangible assets of $14,744 and $19,045, respectively. We expect to deduct the full amount of goodwill from taxable income in accordance with tax regulations. The allocation of the purchase price for these acquisitions is still being determined as we have not determined the fair value of assets acquired and liabilities assumed.
(11) Market Risks and Financial Instruments
As a multinational corporation that manufactures and markets products in countries throughout the world, we are subject to certain market risks, including those related to foreign currency, interest rates and government actions. We use a variety of practices to manage these market risks, including, when considered appropriate, derivative financial instruments. We use derivative financial instruments only for risk management and not for trading or speculative purposes.
64
AMCOL INTERNATIONAL CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
(In thousands, except share and per share amounts)
We are exposed to potential gains or losses from foreign currency fluctuations affecting net investments and earnings denominated in foreign currencies. Our primary exposures are to changes in exchange rates for the U.S. dollar versus the Euro, the British pound and the Polish zloty. We also have significant exposure to changes in exchange rates between the British pound and the Euro as well as between the Polish zloty and the Euro.
Our various currency exposures often offset each other, providing natural hedges against currency risk. Periodically, specific foreign currency transactions (e.g. inventory purchases) are hedged with forward contracts to reduce the foreign currency risk. As of December 31, 2007 and 2006, the notional amount and fair value of foreign currency contracts outstanding was not material.
We periodically use interest rate swaps to manage interest rate risk on debt securities. These instruments allow us to change variable rate debt into fixed rate or fixed rate debt into variable rate. Interest rate differentials are paid or received on these arrangements over the life of the agreements. At the end of 2007, we had an interest rate swap outstanding as described previously. At the end of 2006, there were no interest rate swaps outstanding.
We are exposed to credit risk on certain assets, primarily accounts receivable. We provide credit to customers in the ordinary course of business and perform ongoing credit evaluations. Concentrations of credit risk with respect to trade receivables are limited due to the large number of customers comprising our customer base. We believe our allowance for doubtful accounts is sufficient to cover customer credit risks. Our accounts receivable are carried at amounts that approximate fair value.
(12) Leases
We have several noncancelable leases for railroad cars, trailers, computer software, office equipment, certain automobiles, and office and plant facilities, including three domestic facilities which are also sublet to third parties. Total rent expense under operating lease agreements was approximately $7,264, $5,923, and $4,540 in 2007, 2006 and 2005, respectively.
The following is a schedule of future minimum lease payments for operating leases (with initial terms in excess of one year) and related sublease income as of December 31, 2007:
Minimum Lease | Sublease | ||||||||||||
Payments | Rental | ||||||||||||
Domestic | Foreign | Total | Income | ||||||||||
Year ending December 31: | |||||||||||||
2008 | $ | 5,379 | $ | 1,255 | $ | 6,634 | $ | 331 | |||||
2009 | 3,469 | 904 | 4,373 | - | |||||||||
2010 | 2,531 | 784 | 3,315 | - | |||||||||
2011 | 1,766 | 732 | 2,498 | - | |||||||||
2012 | 1,013 | 381 | 1,394 | - | |||||||||
Thereafter | 663 | 617 | 1,280 | - | |||||||||
Total | 14,821 | 4,673 | 19,494 | 331 |
(13) Employee Benefit Plans
Defined benefit pension plan
We have a noncontributory pension plan covering substantially all of our domestic employees hired before January 1, 2004. The benefits are based upon years of service and qualifying compensation. Our funding is calculated using the actuarially determined unit credit cost method. Contributions are intended to provide not only for benefits attributed to services to date, but also for those expected to be earned in the future.
65
AMCOL INTERNATIONAL CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
(In thousands, except share and per share amounts)
The following tables set forth our pension obligations at December 31:
Pension Benefits | |||||||
2007 | 2006 | ||||||
Change in benefit obligations: | |||||||
Beginning projected benefit obligation | $ | 38,952 | $ | 38,370 | |||
Service cost | 1,659 | 1,738 | |||||
Interest cost | 2,208 | 1,988 | |||||
Plan amendments | - | 385 | |||||
Actuarial loss | (1,680 | ) | (2,528 | ) | |||
Benefits paid | (1,041 | ) | (1,001 | ) | |||
Ending projected benefit obligation | 40,098 | 38,952 | |||||
Change in plan assets: | |||||||
Beginning fair value | 32,629 | 29,541 | |||||
Actual return | 5,220 | 3,089 | |||||
Company contribution | 1,000 | 1,000 | |||||
Benefits paid | (1,041 | ) | (1,001 | ) | |||
Ending fair value | 37,808 | 32,629 | |||||
Funded status of the plan | (2,290 | ) | (6,323 | ) |
Pension cost for each of the following years was comprised of:
2007 | 2006 | 2005 | ||||||||
Service cost – benefits earned during the year | $ | 1,659 | $ | 1,738 | $ | 1,850 | ||||
Interest cost on accumulated benefit obligation | 2,208 | 1,988 | 1,973 | |||||||
Expected return on plan assets | (2,694 | ) | (2,521 | ) | (2,272 | ) | ||||
Net amortization and deferral | 66 | 30 | (56 | ) | ||||||
Net periodic pension cost | 1,239 | 1,235 | 1,495 |
The following table summarizes the assumptions used in determining our pension obligation:
2007 | 2006 | ||||||
Discount rate | 6.00 | % | 5.75 | % | |||
Rate of compensation increase | 5.75 | % | 5.75 | % | |||
Long-term rate of return | 8.25 | % | 8.25 | % |
Each year, we conduct our valuation of the pension benefit plan as of October 1st. We expect to contribute $1,000 to the Plan in 2008. The accumulated benefit obligation (ABO) was $29,925 and $29,790 at December 31, 2007 and 2006, respectively.
66
AMCOL INTERNATIONAL CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
(In thousands, except share and per share amounts)
Our Plan assets at December 31 for each year below, by asset category, are as follows:
2007 | 2006 | ||||||
U.S. equity securities | 55 | % | 56 | % | |||
AMCOL International common stock | 7 | % | 6 | % | |||
International equity securities | 9 | % | 7 | % | |||
Fixed income securities and bonds | 27 | % | 29 | % | |||
Other investments | 2 | % | 2 | % |
We employ a total return investment approach whereby a mix of equities and fixed income investments are used to maximize the long-term return of plan assets for a prudent level of risk. Risk tolerance is established through careful consideration of plan liabilities, plan funded status, and corporate financial condition. The investment portfolio contains a diversified blend of equity and fixed-income investments. The investment objectives emphasize maximizing returns consistent with ensuring that sufficient assets are available to meet liabilities, and minimizing corporate cash contributions. The Plan’s assets are managed so as to include investments that balance income and capital appreciation.
The Plan has a target range for equity securities of between 60% and 75%. This allocation takes into account factors such as the average age of employees covered by the Plan (benefit obligations) as well as overall market conditions. Interim portfolio reviews result in investment allocations being evaluated at least twice a year by the Pension Committee and rebalancing takes place as needed. Equity investments are diversified across U.S. and non-U.S. stocks, as well as growth, value, and small and large capitalizations. Debt securities include both government and corporate investment vehicles. These include a series of laddered debt securities as well as bond funds.
Historical markets are studied and long-term historical relationships between equities and fixed-income are preserved consistent with the widely accepted capital market principle that assets with higher volatility generate a greater return over the long run. Current market factors such as inflation and interest rates are evaluated before long-term capital market assumptions are determined. The long-term rate of return for plan assets is established via a building block approach with proper consideration of diversification and rebalancing.
The estimated future benefit payments from the defined benefit plan, reflecting expected future service, as appropriate, are presented in the following table:
Per Year | ||||
2008 | $ | 1,088 | ||
2009 | 1,266 | |||
2010 | 1,383 | |||
2011 | 1,521 | |||
2012 | 1,696 | |||
2013 through 2017 | 11,978 | |||
Total | 18,932 |
Supplemental pension plan
In addition to the qualified plan, we sponsor a supplementary pension plan (SERP) that provides benefits in excess of qualified plan limitations for certain employees. The projected benefit obligation for this plan was $7,286 and $6,887 at December 31, 2007 and 2006, respectively. Also, we have invested assets for the benefit of the employees covered by the supplemental pension plan in the event that there is a change in control.
67
AMCOL INTERNATIONAL CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
(In thousands, except share and per share amounts)
Both pension plans
We adopted the provisions of SFAS 158 in 2006 as discussed in Note 1. This pronouncement requires us to recognize the funded status of our benefit plans as measured by the difference between plan assets at fair value and the projected benefit obligation in the balance sheet. The offset of recognizing the funded status is recorded in accumulated other comprehensive income within stockholders’ equity. The following table shows the effect, excluding taxes, of adopting SFAS 158 on our balance sheet at December 31, 2006 by individual balance sheet classification:
2006 balance: pre- SFAS 158 | Changes resulting from adoption of SFAS 158 | 2006 Ending balance | ||||||||
Qualified plan liability | $ | 6,080 | $ | 243 | $ | 6,323 | ||||
SERP liability | 4,171 | 2,715 | 6,886 | |||||||
Amounts included within other long-term liabilities | 10,251 | 2,958 | 13,209 | |||||||
Intangible asset | $ | 6 | $ | (6 | ) | $ | - | |||
Accumulated other comprehensive income | $ | (135 | ) | $ | (2,964 | ) | $ | (3,099 | ) |
Note 4 shows the amounts included within accumulated other comprehensive income as of December 31, 2007 and 2006 that have not yet been recognized as components of net periodic benefit cost. Of these balances at December 31, 2007, the amounts expected to be amortized in the next fiscal year are $63 and $59 for the unrecognized prior service cost and unrecognized net actuarial gain, respectively. The amounts recognized within other comprehensive income and the prior service cost for 2007 are as follows:
2007 | ||||
Recognized in Other Comprehensive Income: | ||||
Net actuarial loss (gain) | $ | (4,329 | ) | |
Amortization of net actuarial (loss) gain | (107 | ) | ||
Amortization of prior service cost | (63 | ) | ||
Total change in other comprehensive income | (4,499 | ) | ||
Total prior service cost recognized in net periodic benefit costs within the statement of operations | 2,002 | |||
Total changes in comprehensive income and net periodic benefit costs | (2,497 | ) |
Defined contribution plan
Employees hired after December 31, 2003 do not participate in our defined benefit plan. Instead, they participate in a defined contribution plan whereby we make a retirement contribution into the employee’s savings plan equal to 3% of their compensation. Under this defined contribution plan, we made total cash contributions of $862, $505 and $312 into employees’ savings accounts in 2007, 2006 and 2005, respectively.
Savings plan
We also have a savings plan for our U.S. personnel. In 2007, we made a contribution in an amount equal to an employee’s contributions up to a maximum of 4% of the employee’s annual earnings. Company contributions are made using Company stock purchased in the open market. Our contributions under the savings plan were $2,444 in 2007, $1,937 in 2006 and $1,529 in 2005.
68
AMCOL INTERNATIONAL CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
(In thousands, except share and per share amounts)
Other
We also have a deferred compensation plan and a 401(k) restoration plan for our executives.
(14) Stock Option Plans
For purposes of calculating compensation cost, the fair value of each option grant is estimated on the date of grant using the Black-Scholes option-pricing model. The fair value calculation included the following weighted average assumptions for grants made in each of the following years:
2007 | 2006 | 2005 | ||||||||
Risk-free interest rate | 4.6% | 4.6% | 3.5% | |||||||
Expected life of option in years | 4 | 4 | 4 | |||||||
Expected dividend yield of stock | 1.9% | 1.7% | 1.7% | |||||||
Expected volatility of stock price | 40.3% | 43.3% | 52.7% | |||||||
Weighted-average fair value of options granted | $ | 11,295 | $ | 7,610 | $ | 6,143 |
The 1983, 1987 and 1993 Plans
We previously granted incentive and nonqualified stock options to our directors, officers and key employees under the 1993 Stock Plan and 1987 Nonqualified Stock Option Plan. Options awarded under these plans were granted with an exercise price equal to the fair market value of the underlying common stock at the time of grant. The options expire 10 years after the date of grant, except in the event of termination, retirement or death of the optionee, or a change in control of the Company.
These plans expired as of December 31, 2000, though options that were granted prior to expiration of the plans continue to be outstanding until the individual option grants expire. Changes in options outstanding are summarized as follows:
December 31, 2007 | December 31, 2006 | December 31, 2005 | |||||||||||||||||
Weighted | Weighted | Weighted | |||||||||||||||||
Average | Average | Average | |||||||||||||||||
Exercise | Exercise | Exercise | |||||||||||||||||
Expired Stock Option Plans | Shares | Price | Shares | Price | Shares | Price | |||||||||||||
Options outstanding at January 1 | 124,754 | $ | 2.21 | 222,657 | $ | 2.14 | 472,743 | $ | 2.10 | ||||||||||
Exercised | (82,161 | ) | 2.17 | (97,903 | ) | 2.05 | (250,086 | ) | 2.06 | ||||||||||
Cancelled | - | - | - | - | - | - | |||||||||||||
Options outstanding at December 31 | 42,593 | 2.29 | 124,754 | 2.21 | 222,657 | 2.14 | |||||||||||||
Options exercisable at December 31 | 42,593 | 124,754 | 222,657 | ||||||||||||||||
Shares available for future grant at December 31 | - | - | - |
1998 Long-Term Incentive Plan
We reserved 3,900,000 shares of our common stock for issuance to our officers, directors and key employees. This plan provides for the award of incentive stock options, nonqualified stock options, restricted stock, stock appreciation rights and phantom stock. Different terms and conditions apply to each form of award made under the plan. Awards granted since 2003 vest ratably over a three year period and expire 6 years after the date of grant, except in the event of termination, retirement or death of the optionee or a change in control of the Company. Options awarded under this plan prior to 2003 generally vest 40% after two years and continue to vest at the rate of 20% per year for each year thereafter, until they are fully vested. These options are exercisable as they vest and expire 10 years after the date of grant, except in the event of termination, retirement or death of the optionee or a change in control of the Company.
69
AMCOL INTERNATIONAL CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
(In thousands, except share and per share amounts)
Changes in options outstanding are summarized as follows:
December 31, 2007 | December 31, 2006 | December 31, 2005 | |||||||||||||||||
Weighted | Weighted | Weighted | |||||||||||||||||
Average | Average | Average | |||||||||||||||||
Exercise | Exercise | Exercise | |||||||||||||||||
1998 Long-Term Incentive Plan | Shares | Price | Shares | Price | Shares | Price | |||||||||||||
Options outstanding at January 1 | 1,636,749 | $ | 12.90 | 1,673,330 | $ | 9.68 | 1,627,144 | $ | 6.78 | ||||||||||
Granted | - | - | 292,450 | 26.02 | 293,900 | 20.90 | |||||||||||||
Exercised | (325,580 | ) | 9.70 | (314,136 | ) | 7.80 | (247,427 | ) | 3.95 | ||||||||||
Cancelled | (19,419 | ) | 23.05 | (14,895 | ) | 16.44 | (287 | ) | 1.57 | ||||||||||
Options outstanding at December 31 | 1,291,750 | 13.56 | 1,636,749 | 12.90 | 1,673,330 | 9.68 | |||||||||||||
Options exercisable at December 31 | 1,020,314 | 1,019,548 | 924,673 | ||||||||||||||||
Shares available for future grant at December 31 | 624,559 | 605,140 | 882,695 |
Restricted Stock
On May 22, 2003, we awarded 141,000 shares of restricted stock to six officers. Restricted stock awards are independent of option grants and are subject to restrictions considered appropriate by the Compensation Committee of the Board of Directors. Restricted stock has the same cash dividend and voting rights as other common stock. The cost of the awards, determined to be the fair market value of the shares at the date of the grant, is expensed ratably over the period the restrictions lapse. Total compensation expense of $921 related to this grant was recorded over the three year period from the date of grant.
2006 Long-Term Incentive Plan
On May 11, 2006, our shareholders approved the AMCOL International Corporation 2006 Long-Term Incentive Plan. This plan permits a total of 1,500,000 shares of AMCOL common stock to be awarded to eligible directors and employees through the use of nonqualifed stock options, incentive stock options, restricted stock or restricted stock units, and stock appreciation rights. Different terms and conditions apply to each form of award made under the plan. Awards of stock options have a six year life from the date of grant and vest ratably over a three year period from the date of grant. The Board of Directors may amend the plan at any time. The plan will automatically terminate on May 12, 2016.
December 31, 2007 | |||||||
2006 Long-Term Incentive Plan | Shares | Weighted Average Exercise Price | |||||
Options outstanding at January 1 | - | $ | - | ||||
Granted | 377,525 | 29.92 | |||||
Exercised | - | - | |||||
Cancelled | (3,700 | ) | 29.95 | ||||
Options outstanding at December 31 | 373,825 | 29.92 | |||||
Options exercisable at December 31 | - | ||||||
Shares available for future grant at December 31 | 1,126,175 |
70
AMCOL INTERNATIONAL CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
(In thousands, except share and per share amounts)
All Stock Option Plans
All Option Plans | 2007 | 2006 | 2005 | |||||||
Intrinsic value of options exercised during the year | $ | 8,900 | $ | 8,259 | $ | 8,429 | ||||
Fair value of options vested during the year | 6,330 | 5,171 | 3,106 | |||||||
Grant date fair value of options granted during the year | 11,295 | 7,610 | 6,143 |
At December 31, 2007, the intrinsic values for all outstanding options and all exercisable options is $32,754 and $27,304, respectively. The following table summarizes information about stock options outstanding and exercisable at December 31, 2007:
Options Outstanding | Options Exercisable | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Weighted | |||||||||||||||||||||||
Average | Weighted | Weighted | |||||||||||||||||||||
Number | Remaining | Average | Number | Average | |||||||||||||||||||
of | Contractual | Exercise | of | Exercise | |||||||||||||||||||
Range of exercise prices | Shares | Life (Yrs). | Price | Shares | Price | ||||||||||||||||||
$ | 1.57 | - | $ | 5.00 | 390,399 | 1.82 | $ | 3.07 | 390,399 | $ | 3.07 | ||||||||||||
$ | 5.67 | - | $ | 18.10 | 454,813 | 2.46 | 10.65 | 454,813 | 10.65 | ||||||||||||||
$ | 20.90 | - | $ | 26.02 | 489,131 | 3.64 | 23.65 | 217,695 | 22.74 | ||||||||||||||
$ | 27.73 | - | $ | 27.73 | 5,500 | 5.21 | 27.73 | - | - | ||||||||||||||
$ | 29.95 | - | $ | 29.95 | 368,325 | 5.12 | 29.95 | - | - | ||||||||||||||
Total | 1,708,168 | 3.24 | 16.86 | 1,062,907 | 10.34 |
The following table summarizes information about our nonvested options outstanding:
December 31, 2007 | December 31, 2006 | December 31, 2005 | |||||||||||||||||
Weighted | Weighted | Weighted | |||||||||||||||||
Average | Average | Average | |||||||||||||||||
Grant date | Grant date | Grant date | |||||||||||||||||
All Option Plans - Nonvested Options | Shares | Fair value | Shares | Fair value | Shares | Fair value | |||||||||||||
Nonvested options outstanding at January 1 | 617,201 | $ | 21.70 | 748,657 | $ | 14.96 | 801,023 | $ | 10.19 | ||||||||||
Granted | 377,525 | 29.92 | 292,450 | 26.02 | 293,900 | 20.90 | |||||||||||||
Vested | (326,346 | ) | 19.40 | (409,011 | ) | 12.64 | (345,979 | ) | 8.98 | ||||||||||
Forfeited | (23,119 | ) | 24.15 | (14,895 | ) | 16.44 | (287 | ) | 1.57 | ||||||||||
Nonvested options outstanding at December 31 | 645,261 | 27.58 | 617,201 | 21.70 | 748,657 | 14.96 |
(15) Contingencies
The Company is party to a number of lawsuits arising in the normal course of its business. The Company does not believe that any pending litigation will have a material adverse effect on its consolidated financial statements.
71
AMCOL INTERNATIONAL CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
(In thousands, except share and per share amounts)
(16) Quarterly Results (Unaudited)
Unaudited summarized results for each quarter of the last two years are as follows:
2007 Quarters | |||||||||||||
First | Second | Third | Fourth | ||||||||||
Minerals | $ | 85,813 | $ | 85,713 | $ | 90,906 | $ | 94,238 | |||||
Environmental | 48,698 | 65,108 | 76,121 | 62,849 | |||||||||
Oilfield services | 21,964 | 23,030 | 27,143 | 28,435 | |||||||||
Transportation | 10,893 | 13,380 | 14,381 | 13,755 | |||||||||
Intersegment shipping | (3,640 | ) | (4,777 | ) | (4,953 | ) | (4,723 | ) | |||||
Net sales | 163,728 | 182,454 | 203,598 | 194,554 | |||||||||
Minerals | $ | 16,799 | $ | 16,332 | $ | 17,296 | $ | 15,872 | |||||
Environmental | 17,535 | 22,587 | 25,282 | 20,655 | |||||||||
Oilfield services | 7,887 | 9,370 | 10,247 | 10,890 | |||||||||
Transportation | 1,278 | 1,502 | 1,475 | 1,507 | |||||||||
Gross profit | 43,499 | 49,791 | 54,300 | 48,924 | |||||||||
Minerals | $ | 9,257 | $ | 8,314 | $ | 9,135 | $ | 7,399 | |||||
Environmental | 6,243 | 9,935 | 14,838 | 7,378 | |||||||||
Oilfield services | 3,166 | 4,924 | 5,753 | 5,374 | |||||||||
Transportation | 540 | 732 | 730 | 766 | |||||||||
Corporate | (4,512 | ) | (4,768 | ) | (4,453 | ) | (5,424 | ) | |||||
Operating profit | 14,694 | 19,137 | 26,003 | 15,493 | |||||||||
Income from continuing operations | $ | 10,840 | $ | 15,255 | $ | 20,146 | $ | 10,780 | |||||
Net income | $ | 10,840 | $ | 14,969 | $ | 20,146 | $ | 10,780 | |||||
Basic earnings per share (A) | $ | 0.36 | $ | 0.50 | $ | 0.67 | $ | 0.36 | |||||
Diluted earnings per share (A) | $ | 0.35 | $ | 0.48 | $ | 0.65 | $ | 0.35 |
72
AMCOL INTERNATIONAL CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
(In thousands, except share and per share amounts)
2006 Quarters | |||||||||||||
First | Second | Third | Fourth | ||||||||||
Minerals | $ | 80,071 | $ | 78,118 | $ | 79,274 | $ | 79,288 | |||||
Environmental | 40,158 | 52,718 | 59,120 | 51,132 | |||||||||
Oilfield services | 14,972 | 14,141 | 14,157 | 18,658 | |||||||||
Transportation | 12,471 | 12,848 | 13,300 | 11,609 | |||||||||
Intersegment shipping | (4,908 | ) | (5,124 | ) | (5,679 | ) | (4,768 | ) | |||||
Net sales | 142,764 | 152,701 | 160,172 | 155,919 | |||||||||
Minerals | $ | 14,892 | $ | 15,648 | $ | 15,771 | $ | 15,376 | |||||
Environmental | 14,278 | 17,967 | 19,817 | 17,652 | |||||||||
Oilfield services | 5,077 | 4,568 | 5,067 | 7,283 | |||||||||
Transportation | 1,482 | 1,512 | 1,563 | 1,513 | |||||||||
Gross profit | 35,729 | 39,695 | 42,218 | 41,824 | |||||||||
Minerals | $ | 7,888 | $ | 8,700 | $ | 9,584 | $ | 8,039 | |||||
Environmental | 4,786 | 7,640 | 8,849 | 5,476 | |||||||||
Oilfield services | 2,945 | 2,022 | 2,270 | 3,824 | |||||||||
Transportation | 683 | 732 | 775 | 682 | |||||||||
Corporate | (4,255 | ) | (4,266 | ) | (5,070 | ) | (3,916 | ) | |||||
Operating profit | 12,047 | 14,828 | 16,408 | 14,105 | |||||||||
Income from continuing operations | $ | 9,711 | $ | 11,919 | $ | 16,034 | $ | 11,999 | |||||
Net income | $ | 9,711 | $ | 11,919 | $ | 16,619 | $ | 11,999 | |||||
Basic earnings per share (A) | $ | 0.33 | $ | 0.40 | $ | 0.56 | $ | 0.40 | |||||
Diluted earnings per share (A) | $ | 0.31 | $ | 0.39 | $ | 0.54 | $ | 0.39 |
(A) | Earnings per share (EPS) for each quarter is computed using the weighted-average number of shares outstanding during the quarter, while EPS for the year is computed using the weighted-average number of shares outstanding during the year. Thus, the sum of the EPS for each of the four quarters may not equal the EPS for the year. |
73
SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of Section 13 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this annual report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized.
Date: March 17, 2008
AMCOL INTERNATIONAL CORPORATION | ||
By: | /s/ Lawrence E. Washow | |
Lawrence E. Washow | ||
President and Chief Executive Officer |
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, this report has been signed below by the following persons on behalf of the registrant and in the capacities and on the dates indicated.
/s/ John Hughes | March 17, 2008 | |
John Hughes | ||
Chairman of the Board and Director | ||
/s/ Lawrence E. Washow | March 17, 2008 | |
Lawrence E. Washow | ||
President and Chief Executive Officer | ||
and Director | ||
/s/ Gary L. Castagna | March 17, 2008 | |
Gary L. Castagna | ||
Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer; | ||
Treasurer and Chief Accounting Officer | ||
/s/ Arthur Brown | March 17, 2008 | |
Arthur Brown | ||
Director | ||
/s/ Daniel P. Casey | March 17, 2008 | |
Daniel P. Casey | ||
Director | ||
/s/ Jay D. Proops | March 17, 2008 | |
Jay D. Proops | ||
Director | ||
/s/ Clarence O. Redman | March 17, 2008 | |
Clarence O. Redman | ||
Director | ||
/s/ Dale E. Stahl | March 17, 2008 | |
Dale E. Stahl | ||
Director | ||
/s/ Audrey L. Weaver | March 17, 2008 | |
Audrey L. Weaver | ||
Director | ||
/s/ Paul C. Weaver | March 17, 2008 | |
Paul C. Weaver | ||
Director |
INDEX TO EXHIBITS
Exhibit | ||
Number | ||
3.1 | Restated Certificate of Incorporation of the Company (1), as amended (2), as amended (3) | |
3.2 | Bylaws of the Company (2) | |
4 | Article Four of the Company’s Restated Certificate of Incorporation (1), as amended (3) | |
10.1 | Lease Agreement for office space dated September 29, 1986, between the Company and American National Bank and Trust Company of Chicago (4); First Amendment dated June 2, 1994 (5); Second Amendment dated June 2, 1997 (6) | |
10.2 | AMCOL International Corporation 1987 Non-Qualified Stock Option Plan (7); as amended (8) | |
10.3 | AMCOL International Corporation Dividend Reinvestment and Stock Purchase Plan (9); as amended (8) | |
10.4 | AMCOL International Corporation 1993 Stock Plan, as amended and restated* (2) | |
10.5 | AMCOL International Corporation 1998 Long-Term Incentive Plan (10), as amended* (11) | |
10.6 | AMCOL International Corporation 2006 Long-Term Incentive Plan* (12) | |
10.7 | AMCOL International Corporation Annual Cash Incentive Plan* (12) | |
10.8 | AMCOL International Corporation Discretionary Cash Incentive Plan* (12) | |
10.9 | Employment Agreement effective as of March 24, 2006 by and between Registrant and Gary D. Morrison* (13) | |
10.10 | Employment Agreement effective as of March 24, 2006 by and between Registrant and Gary Castagna* (13) | |
10.11 | Employment Agreement effective as of March 24, 2006 by and between Registrant and Ryan F. McKendrick* (13) | |
10.12 | Employment Agreement effective as of March 24, 2006 by and between Registrant and Lawrence E. Washow* (13) | |
10.13 | A written description of compensation for the Board of Directors of the Company is set forth under the caption "Director Compensation" in the definitive Proxy Statement to be filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission and delivered to the Company's shareholders in connection with the Annual Meeting of Shareholders to be held on May 8, 2008, and is hereby incorporated by reference.* | |
10.14 | Credit Agreement by and among AMCOL International Corporation and Harris Trust and Savings Bank, individually and as agent, Wells Fargo Bank, N.A., Bank of America N.A. and the Northern Trust Company dated November 10, 2005 (14), as amended (15), as further amended (16) | |
10.15 | Asset Purchase Agreement dated as of November 10, 2006 by and among CETCO Oilfield Services Company and Nitrogen Specialty Company, L.L.C., together with its members (17) | |
10.16 | Note Purchase Agreement, dated April 2, 2007 (18) | |
10.17 | Subsidiary Guaranty Agreement, dated April 2, 2007 (18) | |
21 | AMCOL International Corporation Subsidiary Listing | |
23.1 | Consent of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm | |
23.2 | Consent of former Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm | |
31.1 | Certification of Chief Executive Officer Pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 | |
31.2 | Certification of Chief Financial Officer Pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 | |
32 | Certification of Periodic Financial Report Pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350 |
(1) | Exhibit is incorporated by reference to the Registrant’s Form S-3 filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on September 15, 1993. | |
(2) | Exhibit is incorporated by reference to the Registrant’s Form 10-K filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission for the year ended December 31, 1995. | |
(3) | Exhibit is incorporated by reference to the Registrant’s Form 10-Q filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission for the quarter ended June 30, 1998. | |
(4) | Exhibit is incorporated by reference to the Registrant’s Form 10 filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on July 27, 1987. | |
(5) | Exhibit is incorporated by reference to the Registrant’s Form 10-K filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission for the year ended December 31, 1994. | |
(6) | Exhibit is incorporated by reference to the Registrant’s Form 10-Q filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission for the quarter ended June 30, 1997. | |
(7) | Exhibit is incorporated by reference to the Registrant’s Form 10-K filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission for the year ended December 31, 1988. | |
(8) | Exhibit is incorporated by reference to the Registrant’s Form 10-K filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission for the year ended December 31, 1993. | |
(9) | Exhibit is incorporated by reference to the Registrant’s Form 10-K filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission for the year ended December 31, 1992. |
(10) | Exhibit is incorporated by reference to the Registrant’s Form S-8 (File 333-56017) filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on June 4, 1998. | |
(11) | Exhibit is incorporated by reference to the Registrant’s Form S-8 (File 333-68664) filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on August 30, 2001. | |
(12) | Exhibit is incorporated by reference to the Registrant’s Form 8-K filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on May 12, 2006. | |
(13) | Exhibit is incorporated by reference to the Registrant’s Form 8-K filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on March 29, 2006. | |
(14) | Exhibit is incorporated by reference to the Registrant’s Form 8-K filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on November 15, 2005. | |
(15) | Exhibit is incorporated by reference to the Registrant’s Form 8-K filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on June 19, 2006. | |
(16) | Exhibit is incorporated by reference to the Registrant’s Form 8-K filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on March 13, 2007. | |
(17) | Exhibit is incorporated by reference to the Registrant’s Form 8-K filed with the Securities and | |
Exchange Commission on November 14, 2006. | ||
(18) | Exhibit is incorporated by reference to the Registrant’s Form 8-K filed with the Securities and | |
Exchange Commission on April 5, 2007. |
*Management compensatory plan or arrangement