SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION WASHINGTON, D. C. 20549 FORM 10-Q [X] QUARTERLY REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934 For the quarterly period ended January 31, 2003 OR [ ] TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934 For the transition period from_________________to__________________ COMMISSION FILE NUMBER 0-1287 STERLING SUGARS, INC. ____________________________________________________________________ Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter Louisiana 72-0327950 _______________________________ ______________________________ State or other jurisdiction of IRS employer identification incorporation or organization number P. O. Box 572, Franklin, La. 70538 ____________________________________________________________________ Address of principal executive offices Zip Code Registrant's telephone number including area code 337 828 0620 Not Applicable ____________________________________________________________________ Former name, former address and former fiscal year, if changed since last report. Indicate by check mark whether 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 such shorter period that the registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days. YES X NO Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is an accelerated filer (as defined in Rule 126-2 of the Exchange Act). Yes No X There were 2,500,000 common shares outstanding at March 5, 2003. Total number of pages -18- -1- STERLING SUGARS, INC. I N D E X PAGE NUMBER PART I: FINANCIAL INFORMATION: ITEM 1. FINANCIAL STATEMENTS Condensed balance sheets January 31, 2003 (unaudited) and July 31, 2002 I-1 Statements of earnings and retained earnings Six months ended January 31, 2003 (unaudited) and 2002 (unaudited) I-2 Statements of earnings and retained earnings Three months ended January 31, 2003 (unaudited) and 2002 (unaudited) I-3 Statements of cash flows Six months ended January 31, 2003 (unaudited) and 2002 (unaudited) I-4 Notes to condensed financial statements Three and six months ended January 31, 2003 and 2002 I-5 ITEM 2. MANAGEMENT'S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS I-6 ITEM 4. CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES I-9 PART II. OTHER INFORMATION: ITEM 4. SUBMISSSION OF MATTERS TO A VOTE OF SECURITY HOLDERS II-1 ITEM 6. EXHIBITS AND REPORTS ON FORM 8K II-1 -2- STERLING SUGARS, INC. CONDENSED BALANCE SHEETS January 31, July 31, 2003 2002 UNAUDITED NOTE ASSETS: ------------- ------------ CURRENT ASSETS: Cash and short-term investments $ 1,303,631 $ 3,866 Accounts receivable 2,845,762 1,281,542 Raw sugar and molasses inventories at lower of cost or market 8,868,691 2,414,059 Operating supplies - at cost 691,391 753,550 Deferred income taxes 334,000 334,000 Other current assets 344,910 380,301 ------------ ------------ TOTAL CURRENT ASSETS $ 14,388,385 $ 5,167,318 ------------ ------------ Property, plant and equipment - net $ 23,440,564 $ 24,041,961 ------------ ------------ Expenditures for future crops $ 759,309 $ 759,309 Notes receivable 347,224 376,082 Other assets 67,495 56,921 ------------ ------------ $ 1,174,028 $ 1,192,312 ------------ ------------ $ 39,002,976 $ 30,401,591 ============ ============ LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY: CURRENT LIABILITIES: Notes Payable $ 3,538,000 $ 3,512,000 Accounts payable and accrued expenses 1,745,486 803,887 Due cane growers 7,656,017 857,425 Current portion long-term debt 618,250 628,905 ------------ ------------ TOTAL CURRENT LIABILITIES $ 13,557,753 $ 5,802,217 ------------ ------------ Long-term debt $ 3,590,625 $ 3,830,100 ------------ ------------ Deferred income taxes $ 2,213,000 $ 2,213,000 ------------ ------------ STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY: Common stock $ 2,500,000 $ 2,500,000 Additional paid in capital 40,455 40,455 Retained earnings 17,101,143 16,015,819 ------------ ------------ $ 19,641,598 $ 18,556,274 ------------ ------------ $ 39,002,976 $ 30,401,591 ============ ============ NOTE: The balance sheet at July 31, 2002 has been taken from the audited financial statements at that date, and condensed. See notes to condensed financial statements I-1 -3- STERLING SUGARS, INC. STATEMENT OF EARNINGS AND RETAINED EARNINGS (UNAUDITED) SIX MONTHS ENDED JANUARY 31 --------------------------- 2003 2002 REVENUES: ----------- ----------- Sugar and molasses sales $31,180,358 $22,806,521 Interest earned 781 1,728 Mineral leases and royalties 151,738 246,782 Gain (loss) on disposal of Assets 171,768 (223,560) Other 1,236,621 1,547,574 ----------- ----------- $32,741,266 $24,379,045 COSTS AND EXPENSES: ----------- ----------- Cost of products sold $30,269,836 $18,315,315 General and administrative 526,725 515,865 Interest expense 194,182 344,347 ----------- ----------- $30,990,743 $19,175,527 ----------- ----------- NET EARNINGS BEFORE INCOME TAXES $1,750,523 $ 5,203,518 INCOME TAXES 665,199 1,977,337 ----------- ----------- NET EARNINGS (NOTE B) $ 1,085,324 $ 3,226,181 RETAINED EARNINGS AT BEGINNING OF PERIOD 16,015,819 15,024,027 ----------- ----------- RETAINED EARNINGS AT END OF PERIOD $17,101,143 $18,250,208 =========== =========== NET EARNINGS PER SHARE $ .43 $ 1.29 =========== =========== See notes to condensed financial statements I-2 -4- STERLING SUGARS, INC. STATEMENT OF EARNINGS AND RETAINED EARNINGS (UNAUDITED) THREE MONTHS ENDED JANUARY 31 ----------------------------- 2003 2002 ----------- ------------- REVENUES: Sugar and molasses sales $22,739,432 $14,355,916 Interest earned - - Mineral leases and royalties 65,464 120,484 Gain on disposal of assets 171,768 - Other 798,251 700,256 ----------- ----------- $23,774,915 $15,176,656 ----------- ----------- COSTS AND EXPENSES: Cost of products sold $19,921,672 $ 9,441,775 General and administrative 266,958 291,492 Interest expense 112,876 175,922 ----------- ----------- $20,301,506 $ 9,909,189 ----------- ----------- NET EARNINGS BEFORE INCOME TAXES $3,473,409 $ 5,267,467 INCOME TAXES 1,319,894 2,000,998 ----------- ----------- NET EARNINGS (NOTE B) $2,153,513 $ 3,266,469 RETAINED EARNINGS AT BEGINNING OF PERIOD 14,947,630 14,983,739 ----------- ----------- RETAINED EARNINGS AT END OF PERIOD $17,101,143 $18,250,208 =========== =========== NET EARNINGS (LOSS) PER SHARE $ .86 $ 1.31 =========== =========== See notes to condensed financial statements I-3 -5- STERLING SUGARS, INC. STATEMENT OF CASH FLOWS (UNAUDITED) SIX MONTHS ENDED JANUARY 31 --------------------------- 2003 2002 OPERATING ACTIVITIES: ------------ ------------ Net earnings $1,085,324 $ 3,226,181 Adjustments to reconcile net earnings to net cash provided by operating activities: Depreciation 985,553 1,016,361 (Gain) loss on disposl of assets ( 171,768) 223,560 Changes in operating assets and liabilities: Increase in accounts receivable (1,564,220) (3,842,219) Increase in inventories (6,392,473) (20,005,817) Increase in accounts payable accrued expenses and due cane growers 7,729,536 11,148,438 Other items - net 129,138 104,221 ----------- ------------ Net cash provided (Used In) Operating Activities $1,801,090 $ (8,129,275) ------------- ------------- INVESTING ACTIVITIES: (Increase) decrease in Notes receivable 28,858 ( 664) Purchase of property, plant and equipment ( 453,764) (409,701) Proceeds from sale of assets 132,710 61,273 ------------- ------------- Net cash used in investing activities $( 292,196) $( 349,092) ------------- ------------- FINANCING ACTIVITIES: Proceeds from short-term notes payable and long-term debt $ 22,724,340 $ 30,690,668 Payments on short-term notes payable and long-term debt (22,933,469) (22,233,602) ------------ ------------- Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities $( 209,129) $ 8,457,066 ------------- ------------- Increase (decrease) in cash and temporary investments $ 1,299,765 $ (21,301) Cash and temporary investments at the beginning of the period 3,866 33,949 ------------- ------------- Cash and temporary investments at the end of the period $ 1,303,631 $ 12,648 ============= ============= Supplemental information: Interest paid $ 220,946 $ 379,284 ============ ============ Income taxes paid $ 127,435 $ 41,802 ============ ============ See notes to condensed financial statements I-4 -6- STERLING SUGARS, INC. NOTES TO CONDENSED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS THREE AND SIX MONTHS ENDED JANUARY 31, 2003 AND 2002 (UNAUDITED) (CONTINUED) A. CONDENSED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS: The condensed balance sheet as of January 31, 2003, the statements of earnings and retained earnings for the three and six months ending January 31, 2003 and 2002, and the condensed statements of cash flows for the six month periods then ended have been prepared by the Company, without audit. In the opinion of management, all adjustments (which include only normal recurring adjustments) necessary to present fairly the financial position, results of operations and cash flows at January 31, 2003 and for all periods presented have been made. Certain information and footnote disclosures normally included in financial statements prepared in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles have been condensed or omitted. It is suggested that these condensed financial statements be read in conjunction with the July 31, 2002 report to stockholders and the Form 10-K filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on October 28, 2002. The results of operations for the period ending January 31, 2003 are not necessarily indicative of the operating results expected for the full year. B. ANTICIPATED LOSS Management believes the Company will incur a loss for the year ended July 31, 2003. The anticipated loss stems from losses sustained from Tropical Storm Isadore and Hurricane Lili both of which struck the gulf coast just before the start of the grinding season causing considerable damage to the cane crop in this region. See also the "Anticipated Loss" caption under "Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations". I-5 -7- STERLING SUGARS, INC. MANAGEMENT'S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS Forward -Looking Information: This Form 10-Q contains certain statements that may be deemed "forward-looking statements." All statements, other than historical statements, in this Form 10-Q that address activities, events or developments that the Company intends, expects, projects, believes or anticipates will or may occur in the future, are forward-looking statements. Such statements are based on assumptions and analysis made by management of the Company in light of its experience and its perception of historical trends, current conditions, expected future developments and other factors it believes are appropriate. The forward-looking statements in the Form 10-Q are also subject to a number of material risks and uncertainties, including weather conditions in south Louisiana during the sugarcane growing season, the success of sugarcane pest and disease abatement procedures, the quality and quantity of the sugarcane crops, mechanical failures at the Company's sugar mill, and prices for sugar and molasses produced by the Company. Such forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance and actual results. Development and business decisions may differ from those envisioned by such forward-looking statements. Results of Operations: General Information: The Company's grinding season started on October 1, 2002 and because of Hurricane Lili which occurred on October 3rd, operations were suspended until October 10th. The Company completed grinding on January 22, 2003. Last year the Company started on September 18, 2001 and ended December 23, 2001. The Company processed 1,046,748 tons of sugarcane compared to 1,027,102 tons of sugarcane the previous year. The Company processed 1,063,646 tons for the 2000 crop. Sugar yield for past crop is estimated at 173 pounds per ton of cane compared to 207 and 202 pounds per ton of cane the previous two years, respectively. The lower yield for the past crop resulted from Tropical Storm Isadore and Hurricane Lili. Also, weather during the past crop was unusually wet which caused higher costs in harvesting and processing the cane. The higher processing cost and lower yield of raw sugar will result in a loss for the year. The price the Company receives for its raw sugar is currently averaging 20.33 cents per pound compared to the 20.41 cents per pound for the six months ended January 31, 2002. For the six month period ending January 31, 2001, the Company received 18.93 cents per pound. The Company systematically sells on the futures market throughout the year, which tends to average out the highs and lows over a period of time. I-6 -8- Blackstrap molasses production is estimated at 4.51 gallons per ton of cane compared to 5.36 and 5.63 gallons per ton the previous two years, respectively. Total production of molasses is estimated at 4,722,116 this year compared to 5,514,088 gallons last year and 5,987,764 gallons for the previous year. The price for blackstrap molasses is currently quoted at $60 per ton compared to $67.50 and $57.50 per ton for the previous two years, respectively. Sugar and Molasses Sales: Sugar and molasses sales for the six months ended January 31, 2003 and 2002 were as follows: 2003 2002 ----------- ----------- Raw sugar sales $30,040,229 $20,820,227 Blackstrap molasses 1,140,129 1,986,294 ----------- ----------- $31,180,357 $22,806,521 =========== =========== Sugar sales were up substantially for the six months ended January 31, 2003 compared to the same period in 2002 because of greater demand from sugar refiners. Molasses sales were down compared to the same period in 2002 because of lower demand for the product for the six month period ended January 31, 2003. Interest Earned: Interest earned for the six month period ending January 31, 2003 was $781 compared to $1,728 for the same period last year. Interest earned was $0 for the three month periods ending January 31, 2003 and 2002. Mineral Leases and Royalties: Income from Mineral leases and royalties were down for the six months ended January 31, 2003 totaling $151,738 compared to $246,782 for the same period last year. Royalties for the two periods were $128,125 and $239,545, respectively. Income from Mineral leases for the same periods were $23,613 and $7,237, respectively. In November, 2000, the Company began receiving royalty payments from a new well named Zenor A16 located near Patterson, La. Payments received from the Zenor A16 well have been used to reduce the Company's long-term debt. The Company's activities with respect to oil and gas are limited to the granting of leases and the collection of bonuses, delay rentals and landowner royalties thereunder. Accordingly, only limited information, furnished primarily by the Company's lessees, has been included with respect to oil and gas operations affecting Company lands. Complete information respecting these and related matters, such as proved reserves, are unavailable to the Company and cannot be obtained without unreasonable effort and expense. I-7 -9- DISPOSAL OF ASSETS: The Company recorded a gain of $171,768 for the six months ended January 31, 2003 principally from the sale of property located in St. Mary Parish. The Company sustained a loss for the previous period from the writeoff of obsolete equipment. Other Revenues: Other revenues, which consist mainly of miscellaneous income items and cane land rentals, were $1,236,621 for the six months ended January 31, 2003 and $1,547,574 for the six months ended January 31, 2002. Cane land rentals for the current period were $1,129,503 compared to $1,220,134 for the same period last year. Cane land rentals were down because of the aforementioned hurricane, tropical storm and other inclement weather experienced during the crop. Cost of Products Sold: Cost of products sold totaled $30,269,836 for the six months ended January 31, 2003 and $18,315,315 for the six months ended January 31, 2002. The large increase in this account results from the increase in sales of $8,373,837. The costs charged to this account are relative to the sales of raw sugar and molasses. ANTICIPATED LOSS: The Company anticipates a loss for the year ended July 31, 2003. Management believes the loss for the year ended July 31, 2003 will be in the range of $2,000,000 to $2,500,000 before taxes. However, Congress passed the Omnibus Budget Bill in mid-February which included $3.1 billion in disaster assistance. Sixty million of this amount was allocated to the Louisiana sugar industry. At this time, it is not known when or how the funds will be divided in the industry. Should any share due the Company become available before July 31, 2003, it could have a significant impact on the bottom line and possibly reduce or eliminate the loss anticipated by the Company. The estimated loss is based on management's best estimates taking into consideration budgeted expenditures for the next six months and other factors that may affect the earnings or loss of the Company. Circumstances and events that may happen in the future cannot be predicted and the range of the estimated loss could be significantly different from that estimated. General and Administrative Expenses: General and administrative expenses were $526,725 for the six months ended January 31, 2003 and $515,865 for the same period last year. Expenses were comparable for the two years. I-8 -10- Interest Expense: Interest expense was $194,182 compared to $344,347 for the six months ended January 31, 2003 and 2002, respectively. The reduced interest cost resulted from lower interest rates and increased shipments of sugar for the current period. Short-term debt outstanding at January 31, 2003 was $3,538,000 compared to $11,921,000 at January 31, 2002. The increased shipments of sugar for the six months ended January 31, 2003 compared to the same period last year generated larger cash flows which resulted in lower short-term borrowing requirements for the current year. Income Taxes: The income tax expense for the three and six month periods ending January 31, 2003 and 2002 were recorded at the statutory rate of 38 percent, which reflects the 34 percent federal corporate rate plus 4 percent state income taxes. Liquidity and Capital Resources: At January 31, 2003, the Company had working capital of $830,632 compared to a negative working capital of $634,899 at July 31, 2001. Due to the seasonal nature of the industry, it is not uncommon to have a negative working capital balance at July 31 of each year or just before the start of the new season. For the period February 1, 2003 to September 30, 2003, the Company has budgeted $3,097,850 for repairs and $3,453,000 for capital improvements to the factory. The latter amount includes a new boiler budgeted at $2,600,000. Management believes the new boiler will significantly reduce the amount of natural gas used and generate substantial savings given the current world situation and uncertainty about oil and gas prices in the fall of 2003. The Company expects to finance some of these expenditures internally with any excess financed short-term or long-term through a bank with which the Company has a $12,000,000 line of short-term credit. Item 4. Disclosure Controls Our principal executive officer and principal accounting officer have evaluated our disclosure controls and procedures within 90 days prior to the date of filing of this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the period ending January 31, 2003. They believe that our current internal controls and procedures are effective and designed to ensure that information required to be disclosed by us in our periodic reports is recorded, processed, summarized and reported, within the appropriate time periods specified by the SEC, and that such information is accumulated and communicated to our principal executive officer and principal accounting officer as appropriate to allow timely decisions to be made regarding required disclosure. Subsequent to the date of the evaluation, there were no significant corrective actions taken by us or other changes made to these internal controls. Management does not believe there were changes in other factors that could significantly affect these controls subsequent to the date of the evaluation. I-9 -11- PART II - OTHER INFORMATION ITEM 4. SUBMISSION OF MATTERS TO A VOTE OF SECURITY HOLDERS The Company held its Annual Meeting of Stockholders on November 21, 2002. Stockholders voted on the election of directors to serve for one year or until their successors are elected and qualified. The voting results were as follows: FOR WITHHELD ----- -------- Bernard E. Boudreaux, Jr. 2,190,907 1,250 Dr. James Patout Burns, Jr. 2,190,907 1,250 Craig P. Caillier 2,190,907 1,250 Peter V. Guarisco 2,190,907 1,250 Victor Guarisco, II 2,190,907 1,250 Edwin Patout 2,190,907 1,250 Mark Patout 2,190,907 1,250 ITEM 6 - EXHIBITS AND REPORTS ON FORM 8K (a) Exhibits Exhibit Description Page ---------------------------------------------------- 99.1 Section 906 Certification of Chief 18 Executive Officer 99.2 Section 906 Certification of Chief 18 Financial Officer (b) Reports on Form 8K There were no reports filed on Form 8K for the period. II-1 -12- SIGNATURES Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities and Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned thereunto duly authorized. STERLING SUGARS, INC. (REGISTRANT) DATE March 13, 2003 By /s/ Craig P. Caillier -------------- --------------------- CRAIG P. CAILLIER PRESIDENT AND CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER DATE March 13, 2003 By /s/ Stanley H. Pipes -------------- --------------------- STANLEY H. PIPES VICE PRESIDENT AND TREASURER II-2 -13- CERTIFICATIONS I, Craig P. Caillier, certify that: 1. I have reviewed this quarterly report on Form 10-Q of Sterling Sugars, Inc.; 2. Based on my knowledge, this quarterly report does not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary to make the statements made, in light of the circumstances under which such statements were made, not misleading with respect to the period covered by this quarterly report; 3. Based on my knowledge, the financial statements, and other financial information included in this quarterly report, fairly present in all material respects the financial condition, results of operations and cash flows of the registrant as of, and for, the periods presented in this quarterly report; 4. The registrant's other certifying officers and I are responsible for establishing and maintaining disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-14 and 15d-14) for the registrant and we have: a) designed such disclosure controls and procedures to ensure that material information relating to the registrant, including its consolidated subsidiaries, is made known to us by others within those entities, particularly during the period in which this quarterly report is being prepared; b) evaluated the effectiveness of the registrant's disclosure controls and procedures as of a date within 90 days prior to the filing date of this quarterly report (the "Evaluation Date"); and c) presented in this quarterly report our conclusions about the effectiveness of the disclosure controls and procedures based on our evaluation as of the Evaluation Date; 5. The registrant's other certifying officers and I have disclosed, based on our most recent evaluation, to the registrant's auditors and the audit committee of registrant's board of directors (or persons performing the equivalent function): a) all significant deficiencies in the design or operation of internal controls which could adversely affect the registrant's ability to record, process, summarize and report financial data and have identified for the registrant's auditors any material weaknesses in internal controls; and b) any fraud, whether or not material, that involves management or other employees who have a significant role in the registrant's internal controls; and II-3 -14- 6. The registrant's other certifying officers and I have indicated in this quarterly report whether or not there were significant changes in internal controls or in other factors that could significantly affect internal controls subsequent to the date of our most recent evaluation, including any corrective actions with regard to significant deficiencies and material weaknesses. Date: March 13, 2003 ----------------- /s/ Craig P. Caillier ----------------------- Craig P. Caillier President II-4 -15- CERTIFICATIONS I, Stanley H. Pipes, certify that: 1. I have reviewed this quarterly report on Form 10-Q of Sterling Sugars, Inc.; 2. Based on my knowledge, this quarterly report does not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary to make the statements made, in light of the circumstances under which such statements were made, not misleading with respect to the period covered by this quarterly report; 3. Based on my knowledge, the financial statements, and other financial information included in this quarterly report, fairly present in all material respects the financial condition, results of operations and cash flows of the registrant as of, and for, the periods presented in this quarterly report; 4. The registrant's other certifying officers and I are responsible for establishing and maintaining disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-14 and 15d-14) for the registrant and we have: a) designed such disclosure controls and procedures to ensure that material information relating to the registrant, including its consolidated subsidiaries, is made known to us by others within those entities, particularly during the period in which this quarterly report is being prepared; b) evaluated the effectiveness of the registrant's disclosure controls and procedures as of a date within 90 days prior to the filing date of this quarterly report (the "Evaluation Date"); and c) presented in this quarterly report our conclusions about the effectiveness of the disclosure controls and procedures based on our evaluation as of the Evaluation Date; 5. The registrant's other certifying officers and I have disclosed, based on our most recent evaluation, to the registrant's auditors and the audit committee of registrant's board of directors (or persons performing the equivalent function): a) all significant deficiencies in the design or operation of internal controls which could adversely affect the registrant's ability to record, process, summarize and report financial data and have identified for the registrant's auditors any material weaknesses in internal controls; and b) any fraud, whether or not material, that involves management or other employees who have a significant role in the registrant's internal controls; and II-5 -16- 6. The registrant's other certifying officers and I have indicated in this quarterly report whether or not there were significant changes in internal controls or in other factors that could significantly affect internal controls subsequent to the date of our most recent evaluation, including any corrective actions with regard to significant deficiencies and material weaknesses. Date: March 13, 2003 ----------------- /s/ Stanley H. Pipes -------------------- Stanley H. Pipes Vice President & Treasurer II-6 -17- Exhibit 99.1 CERTIFICATION PURSUANT TO 18 U.S.C. SECTION 1350, AS ADOPTED PURSUANT TO SECTION 906 OF THE SARBANES-OXLEY ACT OF 2002 In connection with the Quarterly Report of Sterling Sugars, Inc. (the "Company") on Form 10-Q for the six months ending January 31, 2003 as filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on the date hereof (the "Report"), I, Craig P. Caillier, President and Chief Executive Officer of the Company, certify, pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, to my knowledge that: (1) The Report fully complies with the requirements of section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934; and (2) The information contained in the Report fairly presents, in all material respects, the financial condition and results of operations of the Company. /s/ Craig P. Caillier Date: March 13, 2003 --------------------- ----------------- Craig P. Caillier President and Chief Executive Officer Exhibit 99.2 CERTIFICATION PURSUANT TO 18 U.S.C. SECTION 1350, AS ADOPTED PURSUANT TO SECTION 906 OF THE SARBANES-OXLEY ACT OF 2002 In connection with the Quarterly Report of Sterling Sugars, Inc. (the "Company") on Form 10-Q for the six months ending January 31, 2003 as filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on the date hereof (the "Report"), I, Stanley H. Pipes, Vice President & Treasurer of the Company, certify, pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, to my knowledge that: (1) The Report fully complies with the requirements of section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934; and (2) The information contained in the Report fairly presents, in all material respects, the financial condition and result of operations of the Company. Date: March 13, 2003 /s/ Stanley H. Pipes ----------------- --------------------- Stanley H. Pipes Vice President & Treasurer II-7 -18-