SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549 --------------------------- FORM 10-K ANNUAL REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934 --------------------------- FOR THE FISCAL YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2003 COMMISSION FILE NUMBER 1-9335 --------------------- SCHAWK, INC. (Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter) <Table> DELAWARE 36-2545354 (State or other jurisdiction of (I.R.S. Employer Identification No.) incorporation or organization) </Table> 1695 RIVER ROAD DES PLAINES, ILLINOIS (Address of principal executive office) 60018 (Zip Code) 847-827-9494 (Registrant's telephone number, including area code) --------------------------- Securities registered pursuant to Section 12 (b) of the Act: <Table> Title of Each Class Name of Exchange on Which Registered CLASS A COMMON STOCK, NEW YORK STOCK EXCHANGE $.008 PAR VALUE </Table> --------------------------- Indicate by check mark whether the registrant (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days. Yes [X] No [ ] Indicate by check mark 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 this Form 10-K. [ ] Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is an accelerated filer (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Act.) Yes [ ] No [X] The aggregate market value on June 30, 2003 of the voting stock held by non-affiliates of the registrant was approximately $54,923,490. As of February 27, 2004, 21,476,731 shares of common stock were outstanding. DOCUMENTS INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE Portions of the proxy statement for the annual shareholders' meeting to be held May 18, 2004 are incorporated by reference into Part III. SCHAWK INC FORM 10-K ANNUAL REPORT TABLE OF CONTENTS DECEMBER 31, 2003 <Table> <Caption> PAGE ---- PART I Item 1. Business.................................................... 1 Item 2. Properties.................................................. 12 Item 3. Legal Proceedings........................................... 13 Item 4. Submission of Matters to a Vote of Security Holders......... 13 PART II Item 5. Market for the Registrant's Common Stock and Related Stockholder Matters......................................... 13 Item 6. Selected Financial Data..................................... 15 Item 7. Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations................................... 16 Item 7a. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures about Market Risk........................................................ 23 Item 8. Financial Statements and Supplementary Data................. 23 Item 9. Changes in and Disagreements with Accountants on Accounting and Financial Disclosures................................... 45 Item 9a. Controls and Procedures..................................... 45 PART III Item 10. Directors and Executive Officers of the Registrant.......... 45 Item 11. Executive Compensation...................................... 45 Item 12. Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and Management.................................................. 45 Item 13. Certain Relationships and Related Transactions.............. 45 Item 14. Principal Accountant Fees and Services...................... 45 PART IV Item 15. Exhibits, Financial Statement Schedules and Reports on Form 8-K......................................................... 45 Signatures.................................................. 49 </Table> i PART I ITEM 1. BUSINESS GENERAL Schawk, Inc. and its subsidiaries ("Schawk" or the "Company") operate in one operating business segment, Digital Imaging Graphics Arts, that serves consumer products packaging, advertising and promotional markets. The Company is incorporated under the laws of the State of Delaware. The Company believes it is the largest independent provider of digital imaging graphic services to the consumer products packaging market in the world. The Company's facilities produce conventional, electronic and desktop color separations, creative design, art production, electronic retouching, conventional and digital plate making and digital press proofs for the three main printing processes used in the graphic arts industry: lithography, flexography and gravure. The Company's services also include both digital and analog image database archival and management as well as 3D imaging for package design, large format printing, digital photography, workflow management consulting services, and various related outsourcing and graphics arts consulting services. These services require skilled, highly trained technicians applying various computerized design, manipulation and assembly techniques. The preparation of film, digital tape and press proofs for lithography, flexography and other printing processes related to packaging and promotions accounted for over 85% of net sales for 2003 and 2002 and over 70% of net sales during 2001. The balance of the Company's business consists of the production of similar advertising applications. The Company has particular expertise in preparing color images for high volume print production runs of consumer products packaging. The Company functions as a vital interface between its Fortune 1000 consumer products clients, their creative designers and their converters or printers in assuring the production of consistent, high quality packaging materials in increasingly shorter turnaround and delivery times. The Company's ability to provide high quality, customized graphic services quickly makes it a valued player in new product introduction and promotional activity. The Company maintains both digital and analog data archives of product package layouts and designs for many of its clients. This activity brings value to those clients while improving the Company's efficiency in accommodating clients' rapidly changing packaging design modifications and product line extensions. By continuing to provide such high-end, value-added services, the Company commands a significant share of the market for graphic services for the food and beverage industry, which uniquely positions it to benefit from positive industry trends. The Company believes that its clients have increasingly chosen to outsource their imaging needs to the Company because of its: (i) creative design capabilities, (ii) production art expertise, (iii) high quality customized imaging capabilities; (iv) rapid turnaround and delivery times; (v) up-to-date knowledge of the printing press specifications of converters and printers located throughout the United States, Canada, Mexico and Asia; (iv) color expertise; (vi) digital imaging asset management; (vii) workflow management; (viii) art production; and (ix) ability to service its clients' global graphic requirements through the Company's North American facilities and international subsidiaries and alliance partners. GRAPHIC SERVICES INDUSTRY "Graphic Services" are the tasks involved in preparing images and text for reproduction to exact specifications for a variety of media, including packaging for consumer products, point-of-sale displays and other promotional materials. Packaging for consumer products encompasses folding cartons, boxes, trays, cans, containers, packaging labels and wrap. While graphic work represents a relatively small percentage of overall product packaging and promotion costs, the visual impact and effectiveness of product packaging and promotions are largely dependent upon the quality of graphic work. Graphic services do not entail the actual printing or production of such packaging materials, but rather include the various preparatory steps such as art production, digital photography, retouching, color separation 1 and other plate making services, for use in lithography, flexography and gravure. "Color separation" refers to preparing color images, text and layout for the printing process. Graphic services such as color separation work have traditionally been performed by skilled craftspeople almost entirely by hand, using what is known as the "conventional" method. With the development of digital technology, graphic firms such as the Company have become computerized, relying instead on digital imaging, in which digitized images and text are manipulated according to client and converter specifications. On an increasing basis, clients supply material to the Company in a digitized format on a variety of media, including tape, floppy disk, CD-ROM and via the Internet. More recently there is a trend toward an all-digital workflow, from creative design through printing. The most recent innovation is the production of plates directly from a digital file, hence the term "direct to plate" (DTP) or "computer to plate" (CTP). This innovation eliminates the step of preparing photographic film and exposing the film on a plate. This CTP technology is more precise and reduces the time to produce a printing plate. The Company has acquired several CTP units and has the capacity to service its clients with CTP services throughout North America. The graphic industry in North America has over 1,000 market participants, principally independent color separators, such as the Company, converters, printers and advertising agencies that perform these services in-house. The majority of graphic providers specialize in commodity-oriented publication work that includes textbooks, advertising, catalogs, newspapers and magazines. The Company's target markets, however, are high-end packaging for the consumer products industry, advertising and promotional applications. The North American market for graphic services for packaging to the consumer products industry is estimated by the Company to be approximately $2.0 billion, while the worldwide market is estimated by the Company to be as high as $6.0 billion. The consumer products graphic industry is highly fragmented with hundreds of market participants, only a small number of whom have annual revenues exceeding $20.0 million. The Company believes that the number of participants in the North American graphic market for the consumer products industry will diminish due to consolidation and attrition caused by competitive forces such as accelerating technological requirements for advanced systems, equipment and highly skilled personnel and the growing demands of clients for full-service global capabilities. The rapid development of lower-cost, faster desktop publishing software systems has increased the potential for competition in the graphic industry by lowering barriers to entry relating to equipment costs. However, this development has also resulted in the proliferation of software systems, many of which have created training issues. Frequent changes in software necessitate continuous training and education and investment in faster equipment. It has also created the demand from clients for increasingly faster turnaround and delivery times. As technology advances in the imaging industry, speed has become, and continues to be a significant differentiator between the Company and its competition. Furthermore, these rapid turnaround times, regulatory requirements and demand for global brand consistency have created new, more significant barriers than had previously existed. There is also a more significant barrier to entry that has always existed -- hundreds of "technician-years" of expertise in working with all of the major printers and converters to make sure a package is printed according to the client's specifications. For this reason, new start-ups have difficulty competing with the Company. The Company focuses on three primary markets: consumer products packaging, advertising agencies, and promotion. The food and beverage segment of the consumer products industry has packaging requirements that are complex and demanding due to variations in packaging materials, shapes and sizes, custom colors, varying storage conditions and marketing enhancements. Product extensions and frequent packaging redesigns have resulted in an increasing volume of color separation and related work in the consumer products industry and in particular for the food and beverage segment. Additional industry trends include: (i) the shorter turnaround and delivery time requirements from the creative design phase to final distribution of the packaged product; (ii) an increasing number of SKUs competing for shelf space and market share; (iii) the increasing importance of package appearance and promotions due to demonstrated point-of-sale consumer purchasing behavior; and (iv) the increasing requirements for worldwide quality and consistency in packaging as companies attempt to build global brand name recognition. Increasingly, the advertising and promotion markets require coordination of these efforts, with the initiatives coming from advertising agencies. The 2 Company's expansion into these markets strengthens and enhances the overall service offering to the unified marketing approach of our clients. Meeting the requirements of the advertising portion of the Company's business demands production of work under extremely short timelines, often in less than 24 hours. Creative retouching, color correction and composition in multiple file formats are produced to meet requirements of the printers. The Company is a leader in conventional, computer to plate and digital ad delivery to publications. THE COMPANY'S GROWTH STRATEGY The Company's primary goal is to enhance its leadership positions in the graphic imaging market serving the consumer products, advertising and promotion markets. Key aspects of the Company's business strategy to achieve this goal include the following: - Organic Growth. Historically the Company has primarily grown through acquisitions. As there were fewer companies that met the Company's acquisition criteria in the marketplace in the last few years, the Company has increased its focus on organic growth, turning to its highly skilled sales force to be the primary growth driver for the Company. At the beginning of 2003, the Company increased its focus on organic growth by separating its sales force into new account development and existing account development groups. The new account development group is charged with calling on the Fortune 1000 accounts that the Company does not currently do business with. The existing account group works with their current clients to increase the number of brands that the Company handles and to increase the number of services that the Company provides to the client. To bring focus to the organic growth objective, the Company introduced a new sales compensation system in 2003, which rewards both sales growth and profitability growth. - Growth through Acquisitions. The Company's profitability and ready access to capital have enabled it to make strategic acquisitions of companies that range in size from $2 million to $20 million in revenues. In its 50-year business history, the Company has integrated more than 47 graphic and imaging businesses into its operations while streamlining overhead and improving margins in the aggregate. The Company acquired 13 businesses from March 1998 to November 1999 with combined annualized revenues in excess of $77 million. These acquisitions are part of the Company's growth strategy to acquire market niche companies with Fortune 1000 client lists, excellent client service or proprietary products and solid management who will continue to operate the business after the acquisition. The managers of acquired businesses receive performance incentives to continue to profitably grow the business. The only acquisitions of consequence since 1999 were Blue Mint Associates, a San Francisco based $2 million in annual revenue brand strategy and creative design firm, acquired December 1, 2003; certain assets and the business of Pixxon, Inc., a San Francisco based $5 million in annual revenue prepress business acquired effective December 31, 2003; and certain assets and the business of a Chicago area $10 million in annual revenues prepress division of Fort Dearborn Company, a leading label printer, effective January 1, 2004. The Company intends to continue expanding through acquisitions of well-managed companies with solid market positions, a reputation for quality work and established client lists. The Company believes that an emphasis on complementary acquisitions of companies serving targeted markets will allow it to broaden its service offerings and provide single source design, graphic image database services and workflow management services. The Company believes it has greater versatility in meeting the various requirements of its clients than smaller, less integrated competitors lacking technical expertise, and that this versatility will result in greater opportunities for internal growth as well as enhancing the Company's image as an attractive purchaser for potential consolidation candidates. The Company believes that there will continue to be a number of attractive acquisition candidates in the fragmented and consolidating industry in which it operates. The Company expects to strengthen its market position by applying its management and 3 operational philosophies and practices, which have been successful in its graphic arts businesses, to newly acquired businesses. - Exploitation of Industry Trends; Outsourcing. The Company has historically attempted to strengthen its market position by identifying and exploiting industry trends. As a consequence, the Company has been uniquely positioned to benefit as consumer products companies continue to reduce both their graphic staffs and total number of suppliers. The Company's on-site strategy developed as clients outsource imaging functions in an attempt to cut costs and improve turnaround and delivery times. The Company intends to expand this effort, as clients increasingly require on-site service. As of December 31, 2003, the Company had 41 on-site locations staffed by over 130 Schawk employees, approximately 10% of its total workforce. Further, the Company believes that its commitment to client service and its broad array of premium service offerings position the Company as a cost effective, value-added supplier of digital imaging services. As clients continue to cut their staffing levels, they are expanding the number of services required of their graphic suppliers. As a result, fewer of the Company's competitors have the full complement of capabilities required in the marketplace. The Company believes outsourcing trends will continue. - Exploitation of Technology Advancements. The Company is dedicated to keeping abreast of and initiating technological process developments in its industry. To build upon its leadership position, the Company actively evaluates systems and software products of various computer and software manufacturers and also independently develops software for implementation at its operating facilities. The Company continually invests in new technology designed to support its high quality graphic services. The Company concentrates its efforts on understanding the systems and equipment available in the marketplace and creating solutions using off-the-shelf products, customized to meet a variety of specific client and internal requirements. MANAGEMENT PHILOSOPHY As part of the Company's ongoing strategic planning process, management of the Company introduced Vision 2020, a roadmap that the Company will follow into the future. The Chief Executive Officer, David A. Schawk, introduced an overview of the strategy to every employee of the Company and subsidiaries around the world in late 2001. In 2002, Company management organized teams from throughout the organization to work on business objectives that came out of the strategic planning process. Incentive compensation programs in alignment with the Company's strategy were developed and were implemented in 2003. David Schawk again visited employees in 2003 to give an update of the progress of Vision 2020 and to emphasize the importance of the Company's strategy. The overriding guidelines for the Company's strategy were summarized in a "Vivid Description" of what the Company believes in. The Vivid Description of the Company is as follows: The value and breadth of our services and capabilities will be driven first and foremost by the requirements and satisfaction of our clients...We will deliver value through ensuring global brand consistency and the premiere speed-to-market solution to those clients. By becoming an integrated strategic partner to our clients, we will demonstrate value and inspire their unwavering confidence and loyalty. . .We will become the most profitable company in our industry and we will reach a dominant market share globally. . .We will continue to invest in training and development so that our employees and their tools will be the best of the best. . .The Schawk brand name will be recognized as the highest value answer to clients' brand image requirements. The business objectives of the Company support the Vivid Description of the Company and are as follows: - Increase Global Coverage through Acquisitions Worldwide - Redefine Our Source of Revenue and Profit for the future - Invent/Reinvent Solutions for Our Clients 4 - Increase Organic Growth - Hire and Retain the Best of the Best Employees - Measure Customer Satisfaction and Improve on our performance To achieve the Company's business objectives, management stresses the following: Client Service. A key component of the Company's management philosophy has been its commitment to client service. The Company's offering continues to be increasingly focused on meeting the changing needs of its clients. This requires a commitment to working with clients to understand these needs. The Company believes that this commitment has contributed to the confidence and loyalty its clients have shown. Because of the increasingly competitive markets faced by its clients, the Company must be flexible enough to modify its operations in order to meet the specialized needs of its clients. The Company's emphasis on on-site client representatives and operations helps to address this requirement and has further solidified existing client relationships. Employee Training and Investment in Equipment. The Company believes that its most valuable assets are its employees because its ability to provide clients with high quality services and products depends upon their dedication and expertise. The Company provides extensive and continuous training to keep its employees abreast of the latest technological developments and the particular needs of its clients. Providing its employees with the latest equipment, software and training are fundamental to the Company's philosophy. Technical Expertise. The Company is able to provide its clients with high quality services and products and quick response time because of its efficient utilization of state-of-the-art equipment, software, computer servers, storage technology, and telecommunication systems. As part of its commitment to maintain its technological expertise, the Company has historically worked with software developers to create software that fully addresses the Company's and its clients' needs. The Company acts as a test site for numerous hardware and software products. In order to facilitate the exchange of information among its various facilities, in 1991 the Company established the Schawk Technical Advisory Board for the purpose of coordinating the research and evaluation of new technologies in the graphic arts industry. This group continues to be recognized for its efforts and its leaders have been invited to lecture at numerous national and international symposiums and conferences. SERVICES The Company offers comprehensive, high quality digital imaging graphic services. The Company's facilities produce conventional, electronic and desktop color separations, electronic production design, film preparation, plate making and press proofs for lithography, flexography and gravure. The Company's services also include both digital and analog image database archival and management, as well as creative design, 3-D imaging, art production, large format printing, and various related outsourcing and graphics arts consulting services. The Company interfaces between consumer products manufacturers and the creative designers and converters used by those businesses to produce packaging, such as folding cartons, boxes, trays, cans, containers, packaging labels and wrap and related point-of-sale and promotional materials. The Company's services consist principally of the electronic and digital production of art design, color separations and color proofs to client and converter specifications and imaging asset management. These services are an intermediate step between creative artwork and the actual printing of graphic materials. The production of color separations requires well-trained and highly skilled technicians applying various digital and analog image manipulation, assembly and color management techniques in order to preserve the integrity of the original image when translated into print and to ensure consistency of the printed materials. The Company specializes in digital imaging graphic services relating to the packaging and promotional needs of clients in the consumer products industry and in the advertising and promotion markets. The Company serves Fortune 1000 companies and their advertising agencies to ensure worldwide quality and consistency in the packaging and related imagery of their products with the wide array of consumer products 5 in the marketplace. Because there is no consistent size, shape, color or packaging material, the Company functions as a network of custom job shops taking advantage of its size for technical expertise while being able to respond quickly to the varying needs of global clients. Image quality and consistency and ever-shortening response and delivery times are becoming increasingly important to consumer products manufacturers as packaging assumes a greater role in promotion. While graphic work represents a relatively small percentage of overall packaging costs, the visual impact and effectiveness of product packaging is largely dependent upon the quality of the graphic work. The Company's clients typically outsource their graphic requirements and assign the Company the responsibility of interfacing with the clients and client designated suppliers in developing and printing the packaging and related materials. The Company competes on the basis of offering its multi-national client base: (i) high quality customized imaging; (ii) rapid turnaround and delivery times; (iii) up-to-date knowledge of the printing press specifications of converters and printers located throughout the United States and Canada; (iv) digital imaging asset management; (v) workflow management; (vi) art production; and (vii) the ability to service its clients' global graphic requirements through the Company's North American facilities and international subsidiaries and alliance partners. As technology has created opportunities for quicker production turnarounds and deliveries, most of the Company's Fortune 1000 consumer products clients have capitalized on the opportunity to modify their packaging more frequently in order to customize their promotional activities on a regional, seasonal or event related basis. This activity has greatly increased the importance of maintaining the integrity of the digital and analog image design and text data for each package variation. As part of the strategic planning process at the Company, Schawk's service offerings within the graphic services umbrella were organized into three core competencies: Brand Strategy and Creative Design, Graphic Services and Enterprise Products. Brand Strategy and Creative Design. Under the Anthem Group brand, Schawk offers brand consulting and creative design for packaging applications to its Fortune 1000 consumer products company clients, food and beverage retailers and mass merchandisers. Anthem Group consists of leading creative design companies acquired by Schawk since 1998 in Toronto and San Francisco as well as start-ups in Chicago, New York and Singapore. Anthem Group represents approximately 5% of the Company's overall revenues and is the fastest growing component of Schawk's service offerings. Graphic Services. Under the Schawk brand, Graphic Services encompasses a number of service offerings including traditional prepress business as well as high-end digital photography, color retouching and large format digital printing. Graphic Service operations are located throughout North America and in Mexico and Asia. Graphic Service business represents approximately 92% of the Company's revenues. Enterprise Products. The Company develops services in response to its clients needs. Three services that help differentiate Schawk from its competitors are digital asset management, work flow management and online proofing. These services are available through Schawk's InterchangeDigital subsidiary, a software development company that develops software solutions for the marketing services departments of consumer products companies and pharmaceutical companies. Through its integrated software solution, PaRTS (Production and Resource Tracking System), InterchangeDigital works with clients to organize their digital assets, streamline their internal workflow and improve efficiency. The improved speed to market allows the consumer products companies to increase the number of promotions without increasing costs. This is very valuable to InterchangeDigital clients. The Company also offers digital three-dimensional modeling of prototypes or existing packages for its consumer products clients. This service is branded as Schawk 3-D and is included in the Enterprise Products service offering. Enterprise Products represent approximately 3% of the Company's revenues. In keeping with this need for greater control and organization, the Company has expanded its services into a number of new areas that assist the client with the overall management of their art processes. The Company has added production art services that quickly execute and expand upon new graphics ideas, and assist the client in speeding their brands to market with fewer errors and higher efficiency. Additional services 6 are provided through InterchangeDigital, a wholly owned Schawk subsidiary. With InterchangeDigital's PaRTS product, clients are able to maintain a central archive of approved digital graphics and design templates that can be used to normalize the production of packaging and collateral graphics on a global basis. PaRTS also tracks vendor performance, time lines, and other process critical data. InterchangeDigital delivers a broader range of integrated services through its products than competing systems and in turn is able to drive a better value proposition for its customers. Schawk 3-D is another group that the Company has leveraged to provide 3-D modeling capabilities to its customers allowing them to review and deploy new graphics concepts in a shorter time frame, and to proof concepts and collateral before actual manufacturing begins. All of the Company's related services are leveraging new technologies and solution services that focus on workflow and knowledge collaboration during the product and concept development cycles. We believe that this focus is a visible differentiator with would-be competitors and will help to maintain the Company's status as a preferred supplier. Given the increased computerization of the graphic services industry, highly trained technicians are essential to the quality of the end product. Requirements of turnaround speed without a reduction in quality are increasing as clients strive for differentiation and customization of their products and brands. The Company has met these requirements by continuously reinvesting in technology, training its personnel and establishing numerous satellite on-site operations to complement its main operating facilities. To capitalize on market trends, management believes that the Company must continue to be able to provide clients the ability to make numerous changes and enhancements with shorter turnaround times than ever before. Accordingly, the Company has focused its efforts on improving its response times and continues to invest in rapidly emerging technology and the continuing education of its employees. The Company also educates clients on the opportunities and complexities of state-of-the-art equipment and software. The Company believes that its ability to provide quick turnaround and delivery times, dependability and value-added training and education programs will continue to give it a competitive advantage in serving clients who require high volume, high quality product imagery. The Company's services are distinguished by its ability to complete graphic services for packaging designs in increasingly compressed time frames and with high standards of quality. In order to satisfy client requirements, the Company is frequently required to provide services in as little as 24 hours. The following core competencies of the Company are described in more detail below: - Technical Expertise. The Company places an emphasis on investment in state-of-the-art systems and equipment and the need for continual training and development of its employees through programs offered at the Company-owned training center and operating facilities and on-site at client locations. The Company has had success in elevating its employees' competency and its clients' standards to levels requiring the superior technical expertise and capabilities that distinguish the Company's services. - On-Site Personnel. The Company has placed approximately 130 employees on-site at or near 41 client locations in an effort to further integrate its graphic services directly with the client operations. This facilitates faster turnaround and delivery times and fosters stronger client relationships. - Strong Relationships with Converters and Printers. As each client selects its own converter(s) and/or printer(s) the Company coordinates extensively with the converter to ensure uniformity in color and appearance of the printed product packages. Each client generally selects its printing services on a bid basis. By using the Company as its imaging specialist, the print/read imagery information is not captive at any one printer or converter. This affords each client consistent image replication at any printing site because the Company can supply any printer or converter with film customized for its printing press. Additionally, this allows the client to reproduce its image consistently across many printing sources and it also provides the client with information as to location and cost of its press runs. 7 Over the course of its 50-year business history, the Company has developed strong relationships with many of the major converters and printers in the United States and Canada. As a result, the Company has extensive knowledge of their equipment, thereby enabling the Company to increase the overall efficiency of the printing process. Internal operating procedures and conditions may vary from printer to printer, affecting the quality of the color image. In order to minimize the effects of these variations, the Company makes necessary adjustments to its color separation work to account for irregularities or idiosyncrasies in the printing presses of each of its clients' converters. The Company strives to afford its clients total control over their imaging processes with customized and coordinated services designed to fit each individual client's particular needs, all aimed at ensuring that the color quality, accuracy and consistency of a client's printed matter are maintained. - Image Asset Management. The Company maintains and manages a database for its clients' images and package designs. Once an image is in the Company's database, the client can make frequent regional, seasonal or event related adjustments to the file image prior to printing. The Company's ability to quickly manipulate digital images enables its clients to deliver their products to the market faster. The Company's capabilities also allow it to send an image for output and printing virtually anywhere in the world. As more and more multi-national consumer products companies strengthen their international packaging quality control to enhance their global brand image, they are requiring a more consistent worldwide image. In response to this trend, the Company is playing an increasing role in ensuring that its clients' images are satisfactory and consistent both domestically and internationally. The acquisition of 65% of the Laserscan Group in September, 1999 (and the subsequent purchase of the remaining 35% minority interest in 2002) with operations in China and Malaysia is indicative of the Company's commitment to its clients on a worldwide basis. ACQUISITIONS AND START-UP OPERATIONS The Company has acquired and integrated more than 47 graphic and imaging businesses into its operations since the business was founded in 1953. Throughout its history, the Company has successfully identified acquisition candidates that represent market niche companies with Fortune 1000 client lists, excellent client service or proprietary products and solid management. The Company favors businesses with management teams that will continue to operate the businesses as autonomous units. The Company has also commenced a number of start-up operations over the years when client servicing requirements or market conditions warranted. In late 2003, the Company purchased Blue Mint Associates and certain assets of Pixxon, Inc., both based in San Francisco, California. In addition, certain assets and the business of the prepress division of Fort Dearborn Company, in suburban Chicago, were acquired effective as of January 1, 2004. In 2002 the Company purchased the remaining 35% of the Laserscan Group. Also in 2002, the Company's Canadian subsidiary acquired certain assets and assumed certain liabilities of Imaginex, a Toronto area graphic company. There were no acquisitions in 2000 or 2001. During 1999 the Company completed eight acquisitions: Cactus Imaging Centres in Toronto, Canada; Color One in Cincinnati, OH; Deluxe Engraving in Cincinnati, OH; Designer's Atelier in New York, NY; Inter-Process Service in Stamford, CT; The Mackinder Group in New York, NY; Plewes-Bertouche in Toronto, Canada, and Laserscan, with operations in China, Malaysia, and Thailand. During 1998 the Company completed five acquisitions: S&M Rotogravure in New Berlin, Wisconsin; Chromart, Inc. in New York, NY; Horan Imaging Solutions in New York, NY; Design Partners in Toronto, Canada; and Herzig Somerville, Ltd. In Toronto, Canada. There were no start-ups established in 2003 or 2002. In 2001, the Company established an art production operation in Chicago, Illinois. In 2000, the Company established start-up operations in Stamford, Connecticut and Singapore. In 1999, the Company established start-up operations in Kobe, Japan; Ardsley, New York; and Charlotte, North Carolina. In 1998, the Company established a start-up operation in Queretaro, Mexico. Due to unfavorable market conditions, the start-up in Ardsley, New York was shut down in 2001, and the start-up in Charlotte, North Carolina was shut down in 2000. 8 The Company intends to continue expanding through acquisitions of well-managed companies with solid market positions and established client lists. The Company believes that emphasis on complementary acquisitions of businesses serving targeted markets will allow it to broaden its product offerings and provide its clients with a single source for imaging and image database services. The Company will also continue to analyze and investigate start-up operations on an ongoing basis. RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT The Company is dedicated to keeping abreast of and, in a number of cases, initiating technological process developments in its industry that have applications for consumer products packaging. To build upon its leadership position, the Company is actively involved in system and software technical evaluations of various computer systems and software manufacturers and also independently pursues software development for implementation at its operating facilities. The Company continually invests in new technology designed to support its high quality graphic services. The Company concentrates its efforts in understanding systems and equipment available in the marketplace and creating solutions using off-the-shelf products customized to meet a variety of specific client and internal requirements. PaRTS(TM) and Schawk 3-D are examples of the Company's commitment to research and development. Total research and development spending is not material. As an integral part of its commitment to research and development, the Company has established the Schawk Technical Advisory Board for the purpose of researching and evaluating new technologies in the graphic arts and telecommunications industries. The Advisory Board meets formally at least quarterly, to review new equipment and programs, then disseminates the information to the entire Company and to clients as appropriate. MARKETING AND DISTRIBUTION The Company markets its services nationally and internationally through seminars, newsletters and training sessions targeted at existing and potential clients. The Company sells its services through a group of approximately 150 direct salespersons and 200 client service technicians who call on consumer products manufacturers, including those in the food and beverage, home products, pharmaceutical and cosmetics industries and mass merchant retailers. The Company has adopted a team approach to marketing, reflective of its TQM philosophy. Both the Company's salespersons and the Company's client service technicians share responsibility for marketing the Company's offerings to existing and potential clients, thereby fostering long-term institutional relationships with its clients. In addition to its numerous operations in the United States and Canada, the Company has operations in Queretaro, Mexico, Kobe, Japan, Singapore, Malaysia and China and a network of global affiliations in Australia, Europe and Asia. CLIENTS The Company's clients consist of direct purchasers of color separations, including end-use consumer product manufacturers and mass merchant retailers, converters and advertising agencies. Many of the Company's clients, a large percentage of which are Fortune 1000 companies, are multi-national in scope and often use numerous converters both domestically and internationally. Because these clients desire uniformity of color and image quality across a variety of media, the Company plays a very important role in coordinating their printing activities by maintaining current equipment specifications regarding its clients and converters. Management believes that this role has enabled the Company to establish closer and more stable relationships with these clients. Converters also have a great deal of confidence in the quality of the Company's services and have worked closely with the Company to reduce the converters' required lead-time, thereby lowering their costs. End-use clients often select and utilize the Company to ensure better control of their packaging or other needs and depend upon the Company to act as their agent to ensure quality management of data along with consistency among numerous converters and packaging media. The Company has established 41 on-site 9 locations at or near clients that require high volume, specialized service. As its art production services continue to expand, the Company anticipates that it will further develop its on-site services to its client base. Many of the Company's clients place orders on a daily and weekly basis and work closely with the Company year-round as they frequently redesign product packaging or introduce new products. While certain promotional activities are seasonal, such as those relating to summer, back-to-school time and holidays, shorter technology-driven graphic cycle time has enabled consumer products manufacturers to tie their promotional activities to regional and/or current events (such as sporting events or motion picture releases). This prompts such manufacturers to redesign their packages more frequently, resulting in a correspondingly higher number of packaging redesign assignments. This technology-driven trend toward more frequent packaging changes has offset previous seasonal fluctuations in the volume of the Company's business (also see "Seasonality and Cyclicality"). In addition, consumer product manufacturers have a tendency to single-source their graphic work with respect to a particular product line so that continuity can be assured in changes to the product image. As a result, the Company has developed a base of steady clients in the food and beverage industry. During 2003 no single client accounted for more than 7.7% of the Company's net sales, and the 10 largest clients in the aggregate accounted for approximately 43% of net sales. COMPETITION The Company's competition comes primarily from other independent color separators and converters and printers that have graphic service capabilities. Independent color separators are companies whose business is performing graphic services for one or more of the principal printing processes. The Company believes that only two firms, Southern Graphics Systems, a subsidiary of Alcoa and Applied Graphics Technologies, Inc., through its Wace Group subsidiary compete with the Company on a national basis. The remaining independent color separators are regional or local firms that compete in specific markets. To remain competitive, each firm must maintain client relationships and recognize, develop and exploit state-of-the-art technology and contend with the increasing demands for speed. Some converters with graphic service capabilities compete with the Company by performing such services in connection with printing work. Independent color separators such as the Company, however, may offer greater technical capabilities, image quality control and speed of delivery. In addition, converters often utilize the services of the Company because of the rigorous demands being placed on them by clients who are requiring faster turnaround times. Increasingly, converters are being required to invest in technology to improve speed in the printing process and have avoided spending on graphic technology. As requirements of speed continue to be critical, along with the recognition of the importance of focusing on their core competencies, clients have increasingly recognized that the Company provides services at a rate and cost that makes outsourcing more cost effective and efficient. PURCHASING AND RAW MATERIALS The Company purchases photographic film and chemicals, storage media, ink, plate materials and various other supplies and chemicals on consignment for use in its business. These items are purchased from a variety of sources and are available from a number of producers, both foreign and domestic. Materials and supplies account for only a small portion of the Company's cost of production, and no shortages are anticipated. Furthermore, as a growing proportion of the workflow is digital, the already low percentage of materials in cost of sales will continue to be reduced. Historically, the Company has negotiated and enjoys significant volume discounts on materials and supplies from most of its major suppliers. INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY The Company owns no significant patents. The trademarks "Schawk," and "PaRTS" and the trade names "Anthem New Jersey," "Anthem Los Angeles," "Anthem Toronto," "Anthem Chicago," "Anthem Singapore", "Schawk Asia," "Schawk Atlanta," "Schawk Cactus," "Schawk Canada," "Schawk Cherry 10 Hill," "Schawk Chicago," "Schawk Chromart," "Schawk Cincinnati 446," "Schawk Cincinnati 447," "Schawk Designer's Atelier," "Schawk Japan," "Schawk Kalamazoo," "Schawk Kuala Lumpur," "Schawk Mexico," "Schawk Milwaukee," "Schawk Minneapolis," "Schawk New York," "Schawk Penang," "Schawk St. Paul," "Schawk Toronto" "Schawk Shanghai," "Schawk Singapore", "Schawk Stamford," "Interchange," "Interchange Digital," "Interchange Digital Management Services", "The Palm Group," "Laserscan," are the most significant trademarks and trade names used by the Company or its subsidiaries. EMPLOYEES As of December 31, 2003 the Company had approximately 1,400 full-time employees. Of this number, approximately 23% are production employees represented by local units of the Graphic Communications International Union and by local units of the Communications, Energy & Paperworkers Union of Canada. The Company's union employees are vital to its operations. Collective bargaining agreements covering the Company's union employees in four facilities are subject to renegotiations. The Company considers its relationships with its employees and unions to be good. BACKLOG The Company does not have or keep backlog figures, as projects or orders are generally in and out of the Company's facilities within five to seven days. Generally, the Company does not have contracts with its clients, but maintains client relationships by delivering timely graphic services, providing technology enhancements to make the process more efficient and bringing extensive experience with and knowledge of printers and converters. SEASONALITY AND CYCLICALITY The Company's digital imaging graphic business for the consumer product packaging graphic market is not currently seasonal because of the number of design changes that are able to be processed as a result of speed-to-market concepts and all-digital workflows. On the other hand, there is a three to four year cycle for major design changes that the Company has experienced in the last eight years resulting in greater volumes in certain years followed by more modest volumes as only small changes are made before the next major redesign cycle. With respect to the advertising and promotional markets, some seasonality exists in that the months of December and January are typically the slowest months of the year in this market because advertising agencies and their clients typically finish their work by mid-December and don't start up again until mid-January. Advertising and promotion is generally cyclical as the consumer economy is cyclical. When consumer spending and GDP decreases, the amount of ad pages declines. Generally, when ad pages decline, the Company's advertising and promotion business declines. The Company's website is www.schawk.com. Investors can obtain copies of the Company's annual report on Form 10-K, quarterly reports on Form 10-Q, current reports on Form 8-K, and any amendments to those reports filed or furnished pursuant to Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, as soon as reasonably practicable after the Company has filed such materials with, or furnished them to, the SEC. The Company will also furnish a paper copy of such filings free of charge upon request. The Company has adopted a code of ethics (the "Code of Ethics"), as required by the listing standards of the New York Stock Exchange and the rules of the SEC. This Code applies to all of the Company's directors, officers and employees. The Company has also adopted a charter for its Audit Committee. The Company has posted the Code of Ethics and the Audit Committee Charter on its website and will post on its website any amendments to, or waivers from, its Code of Ethics applicable to any of the Company's directors or executive officers. The foregoing information will also be available in print to any stockholder who requests such information. 11 ITEM 2. PROPERTIES The Company owns or leases the following office and operating facilities: <Table> <Caption> LEASE SQUARE OWNED/ EXPIRATION LOCATION FEET LEASED PURPOSE DATE DIVISION - -------- ------------- ------ ------------------ -------------- ---------------------- (APPROXIMATE) Cherry Hill, New Jersey.... 10,000 Leased General Offices, January 2007 Schawk Cherry Hill Operating Facility Chicago, Illinois.......... 15,200 Leased General Offices, May 2005 Anthem Chicago Operating Facility Cincinnati, Ohio........... 74,200 Leased General Offices, August 2004 Schawk Cincinnati 446 Operating Facility Cincinnati, Ohio........... 12,000 Leased General Offices, August 2004 Schawk Cincinnati 447 Operating Facility Costa Mesa, California..... 3,000 Leased General Offices, April 2004 Anthem Los Angeles Operating Facility Des Plaines, Illinois...... 14,000 Owned Executive Offices N/A Corporate Office Des Plaines, Illinois...... 4,200 Owned Operating Facility N/A Interchange Digital Des Plaines, Illinois...... 60,000 Leased General Offices, December 2010 Schawk Chicago Operating Facility Franklin Park, Illinois.... 62,000 Owned General Offices, N/A Schawk Chicago Operating Facility Hackettstown, New Jersey... 3,000 Leased General Offices, September 2005 Anthem New Jersey Operating Facility Kalamazoo, Michigan........ 67,000 Owned General Offices, N/A Schawk Kalamazoo Operating Facility Kobe, Japan................ 1,160 Leased General Offices, December 2004 Schawk Japan Operating Facility Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia..... 13,000 Owned General Offices, N/A Laserscan Sdn Bhd Operating Facility Minneapolis, Minnesota..... 31,000 Owned General Offices, N/A Schawk Minneapolis Operating Facility Mississauga, Ontario General Offices, October 2004 Schawk Toronto Canada................... 12,000 Leased Operating Facility Mississauga, Ontario General Offices, October 2004 Schawk Toronto Canada................... 2,300 Leased Operating Facility New Berlin, Wisconsin...... 43,000 Leased General Offices, June 2008 Schawk Milwaukee Operating Facility New York, New York......... 31,000 Leased General Offices, April 2006 Schawk New York Operating Facility Penang, Malaysia........... 34,000 Owned General Offices, N/A Laserscan Sdn Berhad Operating Facility Penang, Malaysia........... 1,706 Owned General Offices, N/A Laserscan Flexographic Operating Facility Penang, Malaysia........... 2,330 Owned General Offices, N/A Laserscan Technology Operating Facility Queretaro, Mexico.......... 18,000 Owned General Offices, N/A Schawk Mexico Operating Facility Roseville, Minnesota....... 28,000 Leased General Offices, May 2007 Schawk St. Paul Operating Facility </Table> 12 <Table> <Caption> LEASE SQUARE OWNED/ EXPIRATION LOCATION FEET LEASED PURPOSE DATE DIVISION - -------- ------------- ------ ------------------ -------------- ---------------------- (APPROXIMATE) San Francisco, General Offices, January 2009 Schawk San Francisco California............... 8,000 Leased Operating Facility San Francisco, General Offices, September 2008 Anthem San Francisco California............... 8,100 Leased Operating Facility Shanghai, China............ 19,400 Leased General Offices, November 2005 Laserscan Shanghai Operating Facility Singapore.................. 7,500 Leased General Offices December 2004 Schawk Singapore Smyrna, Georgia............ 25,200 Leased General Offices, October 2008 Schawk Atlanta Operating Facility Stamford, Connecticut...... 20,000 Leased General Offices, August 2005 Schawk Stamford Operating Facility Toronto, Ontario, Canada... 56,000 Leased General Offices, December 2004 Schawk Toronto Operating Facility Toronto, Ontario, Canada... 8,292 Leased General Offices, January 2005 Anthem Toronto Operating Facility Toronto, Ontario, Canada... 17,500 Leased General Offices, November 2007 Schawk Cactus Operating Facility Toronto, Ontario Canada.... 13,900 Leased General Offices, December 2004 Schawk Toronto Operating Facility </Table> ITEM 3. LEGAL PROCEEDINGS From time to time, the Company has been a party to routine pending or threatened legal proceedings and arbitrations. The Company insures some, but not all, of its exposure with respect to such proceedings. Based upon information presently available, and in light of legal and other defenses available to the Company, management does not consider the liability from any threatened or pending litigation to be material to the Company. The Company has not experienced any significant environmental problems. ITEM 4. SUBMISSION OF MATTERS TO A VOTE OF SECURITY HOLDERS No items were submitted to a vote of security holders for the three months ended December 31, 2003. PART II ITEM 5. MARKET FOR THE REGISTRANT'S COMMON STOCK AND RELATED STOCKHOLDER MATTERS RECENT SALES OF UNREGISTERED SECURITIES On, December 23, 2003, the Company issued and sold $15 million of its 4.90% Series 2003-A Notes due 2013 to Massachusetts Mutual Life Insurance Company in a transaction exempt from the registration requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended. The proceeds of this offering were used to provide funds for acquisitions. STOCK PRICES The Company's Class A common stock is listed on the NYSE under the symbol "SGK". The Company has approximately 892 stockholders of record as of February 27, 2004. 13 Set forth below are the high and low sales prices for the Company's Class A common stock for each quarterly period within the two most recent fiscal years. <Table> <Caption> QUARTER ENDED: 2003 HIGH/LOW 2002 HIGH/LOW - -------------- -------------- ------------- March 31............................................... $ 9.90 - 8.99 $11.45 - 9.08 June 30................................................ 10.97 - 9.25 10.70 - 9.40 September 30........................................... 12.52 - 10.40 10.60 - 9.68 December 31............................................ 13.95 - 11.95 10.17 - 9.45 </Table> DIVIDENDS DECLARED PER CLASS A COMMON SHARE <Table> <Caption> QUARTER ENDED: 2003 2002 - -------------- ------- ------- March 31.................................................... $0.0325 $0.0325 June 30..................................................... 0.0325 0.0325 September 30................................................ 0.0325 0.0325 December 31................................................. 0.0325 0.0325 ------- ------- Total............................................. $0.1300 $0.1300 ======= ======= </Table> EQUITY COMPENSATION PLAN INFORMATION The following table summarizes information as of December 31, 2003, relating to equity compensation plans of the Company pursuant to which Common Stock is authorized for issuance (shares in thousands). <Table> <Caption> NUMBER OF SECURITIES NUMBER OF SECURITIES TO BE ISSUED UPON WEIGHTED-AVERAGE REMAINING AVAILABLE FOR EXERCISE OF EXERCISE PRICE OF FUTURE ISSUANCE UNDER OUTSTANDING OPTIONS, OUTSTANDING OPTIONS, EQUITY COMPENSATION PLAN CATEGORY WARRANTS AND RIGHTS WARRANTS AND RIGHTS PLANS - ------------- -------------------- -------------------- ----------------------- Equity compensation plans approved by security holders........................ 2,895 $9.49 2,195 Equity compensation plans not approved by security holders..................... -- -- -- ----- ----- ----- Total................................. 2,895 $9.49 2,195 ===== ===== ===== </Table> PURCHASES OF EQUITY SECURITIES BY THE COMPANY The Company occasionally repurchases its common shares, pursuant to a general authorization from the Board of Directors. The Board of Directors reviews the authorization for management to repurchase shares on an annual basis. At a February 2003 meeting, the Board renewed its annual authorization to repurchase shares in accordance with applicable SEC rules. During the year ended December 31, 2003, the Company repurchased 226,000 shares for total consideration of $2,278,000. The total shares purchased exceeded the general authorization of $2,000,000 per year by $278,000 due to a clerical error at the broker. The Board 14 subsequently ratified the additional purchases. The following table summarizes the Company's repurchase of its equity securities during 2003 (in thousands, except per share amounts): <Table> <Caption> TOTAL NO. AVG. PRICE NO. SHARES PURCHASED SHARE PAID PER AS PART OF PUBLICLY DOLLAR VALUE OF SHARES THAT MAY BE PERIOD PURCHASED SHARE ANNOUNCED PROGRAM PURCHASED UNDER PROGRAM - ------ --------- ---------- -------------------- ---------------------------------- January.............. -- -- -- -- February............. -- -- -- -- March................ 10 $ 9.65 10 Not to exceed $2,000 per year April................ 77 $ 9.76 77 Not to exceed $2,000 per year May.................. 121 $10.27 121 Not to exceed $2,000 per year June................. 18 $10.58 18 Not to exceed $2,000 per year July................. -- -- -- -- August............... -- -- -- -- September............ -- -- -- -- October.............. -- -- -- -- November............. -- -- -- -- December............. -- -- -- -- --- ------ --- 2003 Total........... 226 $10.09 226 === ====== === </Table> ITEM 6. SELECTED FINANCIAL DATA <Table> <Caption> YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31, ---------------------------------------------------- 2003 2002 2001 2000 1999 -------- -------- -------- -------- -------- (IN THOUSANDS, EXCEPT PER SHARE AMOUNTS) CONSOLIDATED INCOME STATEMENT INFORMATION Net Sales............................. $201,031 $186,189 $189,643 $210,804 $188,497 Operating Income(a)................... 27,536 22,032 17,313 23,889 23,771 Income Before Income Taxes and Minority Interest.................. 27,264 19,713 13,129 18,111 20,038 Income Taxes.......................... 10,280 6,203 5,320 7,567 8,240 Minority Interest in net loss of subsidiary......................... -- 21 209 97 -- Net Income............................ 16,984 13,531 8,018 10,641 11,798 Net Income Per Common Share Basic.............................. $ 0.79 $ 0.63 $ 0.37 $ 0.50 $ 0.55 Diluted............................ 0.78 0.62 0.37 0.50 0.55 Prior-year amounts have been reclassified to conform to current-year presentation CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEET INFORMATION Working Capital....................... $ 30,526 $ 26,654 $ 26,796 $ 15,579 $ 22,364 Total Assets.......................... 159,691 160,470 166,125 167,863 177,261 Long-Term Debt and Capital Lease Obligations........................ 21,021 37,232 52,131 48,020 67,494 Stockholders' Equity.................. 106,372 89,767 79,537 74,508 66,658 OTHER DATA Cash Dividends per Common Share....... $ 0.13 $ 0.13 $ 0.13 $ 0.13 $ 0.2275 Depreciation and Amortization......... 11,416 11,977 14,138 14,278 12,310 Capital Expenditures.................. 6,933 7,634 14,431 15,476 17,874 </Table> 15 - --------------- (a) Years prior to adoption of SFAS No. 142 include goodwill amortization of $2,161, $2,155 and $1,944 for the years ended December 31, 2001, December 31, 2000 and December 31, 1999, respectively. ITEM 7. MANAGEMENT'S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS (THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS, EXCEPT PER SHARE AMOUNTS) Certain statements contained herein and in "Item 1. Business" that relate to the Company's beliefs or expectations as to future events are not statements of historical fact and are forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act and Section 21E of the Exchange Act. The Company intends any such statements to be covered by the safe harbor provisions for forward-looking statements contained in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1999. Although the Company believes that the assumptions upon which such forward-looking statements are based are reasonable within the bounds of its knowledge of its business and operations, it can give no assurance the assumptions will prove to have been correct and undue reliance should not be placed as such statements. Important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially and adversely from the Company's expectations and beliefs include, among other things, the strength of the United States economy in general and specifically market conditions for the consumer products industry, the level of demand for the Company's services, loss of key management and operational personnel, the ability of the Company to implement its growth strategy, the stability of state, federal and foreign tax laws, the ability of the Company to identify and exploit industry trends and to exploit technological advances in the imaging industry, the stability of political conditions in Asia and other foreign countries in which the Company has production capabilities, terrorist attacks and the U.S. response to such attacks, as well as other factors detailed in the Company's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The Company assumes no obligation to update publicly any of these statements in light of future events. EXECUTIVE-LEVEL OVERVIEW The Company's revenues are driven by changes to consumer product packaging designs and promotions and advertising spending. 88% of the Company's business is graphic services for consumer product packaging applications. Generally, a package design changes every three or four years. Between changes, there are line extensions and promotions that take advantage of popular brand images in a variety of products. However, because the Company cannot predict when a design will change or when a promotion will occur, backlog does not exist. There are regular promotions throughout the year that create revenue opportunities for the Company, for example: Valentine's Day, Easter, Fourth of July, Back To School, Halloween, Thanksgiving and Christmas. In addition, there are event driven promotions that occur regularly, such as the Super Bowl, Grammy Awards, World Series, Indianapolis 500 and the Olympics. Lastly, there are a number of health related "banners" that are added to food and beverage packaging, such as "heart healthy", "low in carbohydrates", "enriched with essential vitamins", "low in saturated fat" and "caffeine free". All of these items require new product packaging designs or changes in existing designs and create revenue for the Company. In simple terms, change equals revenue. The Company celebrated its 50th anniversary in 2003. For the year ended December 31, 2003, the Company increased net sales (8%) and net income (26%) as a result of strong sales to consumer products companies both from existing accounts and new accounts. Gross profits grew as a result of controlling costs of production and increasing productivity. Conversely, selling, general and administrative costs were up 11% as the Company increased management staffing in Asia to prepare for increased business levels and added personnel in the United States to manage the new business won by the Company in the second half of 2003. This increase was partially offset by the absence of the 2002 special charges. Further contributing to the growth in net income were lower interest costs and a number of non-recurring items of other income. Offsetting pre-tax income growth in 2003 were unusually low taxes in 2002 (31.5% effective rate) as compared to normal tax levels (37.7% effective rate) in 2003. As a result of the above items, operating income and net income increased 25% and 26%, respectively. 16 The Company finished 2003 with very strong financial ratios in every category. We believe the Company would be an "A" rated company were it not for its relatively small size (generally, any company under $1 billion in revenue is considered small by rating agencies). The Company finished the year with its lowest debt to equity ratio in over ten years at 20% (with $21 million of long-term debt and $106 million of equity). In December 2003, the Company completed a private placement fixed-rate financing for $25 million of long-term debt. The debt has a ten year term and bears interest at a rate of 4.90% on the first $15 million, which was issued in December 2003, and will bear interest at a rate of 4.98% on the remaining $10 million, which is expected to be issued in April of 2004. The Company's $65 million revolving credit facility had zero outstanding at December 31, 2003. The credit facility matures in May 2004. The Company is in the process of negotiating with its banks to put a new credit facility in place prior to the maturity of the existing facility. Both of the Company's lead lending banks have indicated an interest in providing a credit facility to the Company. Globally, the Company has insignificant borrowings outside of the United States. The Company generates significant cash flow from operating activities: $32 million in 2003, $28 million in 2002, and $23 million in 2001. Capital expenditures in 2003 were $7 million and dividends paid were $3 million leaving free cash flow of $22 million. Most of the free cash flow was used to reduce debt in 2003 from $47 million at the beginning of the year to $27 million at the end of the year. In summary, 2003 was a very successful year. The Company executed on its strategic plan, increased revenues and profits, and improved its financial strength to position the Company for future growth. RESULTS OF OPERATIONS YEARS ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2003 AND 2002 SCHAWK, INC. COMPARATIVE CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS YEARS ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2003 AND 2002 <Table> <Caption> $ % 2003 2002 CHANGE CHANGE -------- -------- ------- ------ (IN THOUSANDS) Net sales............................................. $201,031 $186,189 $14,842 8.0% Cost of sales......................................... 118,859 112,165 6,694 6.0% -------- -------- ------- ----- Gross profit.......................................... 82,172 74,024 8,148 11.0% Gross margin percentage............................... 40.9% 39.8% Selling, general and administrative expenses.......... 54,636 49,361 5,275 10.7% Restructuring and other charges....................... -- 2,631 (2,631) nm -------- -------- ------- ----- Operating income...................................... 27,536 22,032 5,504 25.0% Operating margin percentage........................... 13.7% 11.8% Other income (expense) Interest and dividend income........................ 72 236 (164) (69.5%) Interest expense.................................... (1,900) (2,789) 889 (31.9%) Other income (expense).............................. 1,556 234 1,322 nm -------- -------- ------- ----- (272) (2,319) 2,047 nm </Table> 17 <Table> <Caption> $ % 2003 2002 CHANGE CHANGE -------- -------- ------- ------ (IN THOUSANDS) Income before income taxes and minority interest...... 27,264 19,713 7,551 38.3% Income tax provision.................................. 10,280 6,203 4,077 65.7% -------- -------- ------- ----- Effective income tax rate............................. 37.7% 31.5% Income before minority interest....................... 16,984 13,510 3,474 25.7% Minority interest in net loss of subsidiary........... -- 21 (21) nm -------- -------- ------- ----- Net income............................................ $ 16,984 $ 13,531 $ 3,453 25.5% ======== ======== ======= ===== </Table> - --------------- nm -- Percentage not meaningful Net sales for the year ended December 31, 2003, net sales were $201.0 million, compared to $186.2 million for the prior year, an 8.0 percent increase. Substantially all of the growth in sales was from internal growth, not from acquisitions. Schawk's direct consumer products packaging related business was strong in 2003, as it increased 9.8 percent . New accounts added to the Company's client roster in 2003 also contributed to the sales growth. Consumer products companies added a number of line extensions and promotions to their most popular food and beverage brands in 2003, increasing volume for Schawk. However, the Company's advertising agency business was down 3.1 percent for the full year 2003 due to decreased advertising agency spending. Gross margin for the year ended December 31, 2003, was 40.9 percent compared to 39.8 percent in the prior year. The higher gross margin is primarily due to the increase in sales, as well as a reduction in material usage, as computer to plate workflows reduce the need for photographic film. Operating income for 2003 was $27.5 million versus $22.0 million in 2002. The increase in operating income was primarily due to increased sales and lower costs as a result of efficiency-related efforts over the past two years. In addition, incorporated in the calculation of operating income for 2002 were $2.6 million of special charges, including $2.2 million for impairment of long-lived assets and $0.4 million of severance costs classified as restructuring and other charges. No significant asset impairments were noted in 2003. The operating margin for 2003 was 13.7 percent compared to 11.8 percent in the prior year for the same reasons that operating income increased. Other income (expense) for the year ended December 31, 2003, was $0.3 million of expense, compared to $2.3 million of expense in the prior year. The $2.0 million decrease in expense was due to the following items: lower net interest expense of $0.7 million from lower rates and lower borrowing levels; favorable litigation settlement of $0.4 million; favorable resolution of a contingency related to a prior disposition of a business of $0.5 million and proceeds from a life insurance policy of $0.4 million. Income tax provision for the year ended December 31, 2003, was at an effective rate of 37.7 percent. The effective rate in 2002 was 31.5 percent; significantly lower than 2003 due to state tax refunds and the settlement of an outstanding tax obligation. Net income for the year ended December 31, 2003 increased significantly versus 2002 for the reasons previously discussed. Basic and diluted earnings per share were $0.79 and $0.78, respectively, for the year ended December 31, 2003 compared with $0.63 and $0.62 for 2002. YEARS ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2002 AND 2001 Goodwill accounting rule change. On January 1, 2002, the Company adopted SFAS 142, the accounting pronouncement on goodwill accounting. Previously, the Company recorded monthly amortization of goodwill, generally over a 40-year period. The rules that became effective January 1, 2002 prohibit the amortization of goodwill. Rather, goodwill is to be reviewed on a periodic basis, and if a write-down is required, the write-down must be taken at that time, similar to an impairment charge on other long-lived 18 assets. The goodwill amortization was $2,161 for the year ended December 31, 2001. The Company's results with the pro-forma effect of the new accounting rules for the year ended December 31, 2001 is as follows: PROFORMA RESULTS EXCLUDING GOODWILL AMORTIZATION YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2001 (IN THOUSANDS, EXCEPT PER SHARE AMOUNTS) <Table> Reported net income......................................... $8,018 Add back: Goodwill amortization............................. 2,161 Subtract: tax effect of goodwill amortization............... (787) ------ Adjusted net income......................................... $9,392 Basic earnings per share: Reported net income......................................... $ 0.37 Add back: Goodwill amortization............................. 0.10 Subtract: tax effect of goodwill amortization............... (0.03) ------ Adjusted basic earnings per share........................... $ 0.44 Diluted earnings per share: Reported net income......................................... $ 0.37 Add back: Goodwill amortization............................. 0.10 Subtract: tax effect of goodwill amortization............... (0.03) ------ Adjusted diluted earnings per share......................... $ 0.44 </Table> RESULTS OF OPERATIONS YEARS ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2002 AND 2001 SCHAWK, INC. COMPARATIVE CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS YEARS ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2002 AND 2001 <Table> <Caption> $ % 2002 2001 CHANGE CHANGE -------- -------- ------- ------ (IN THOUSANDS) Net sales.............................................. $186,189 $189,643 $(3,454) (1.8%) Cost of sales.......................................... 112,165 114,589 (2,424) (2.1%) -------- -------- ------- ----- Gross profit........................................... 74,024 75,054 (1,030) (1.4%) Gross margin percentage................................ 39.8% 39.6% Selling, general and administrative expenses........... 49,361 54,460 (5,099) (9.4%) Amortization of intangibles............................ -- 2,161 (2,161) nm(1) Restructuring and other charges........................ 2,631 1,120 1,511 nm -------- -------- ------- ----- Operating income....................................... 22,032 17,313 4,719 27.3% Operating margin percentage............................ 11.8% 9.1% Other income (expense) Interest and dividend income......................... 236 52 184 nm Interest expense..................................... (2,789) (4,236) 1,447 (34.2%) Other income (expense)............................... 234 -- 234 nm -------- -------- ------- ----- (2,319) (4,184) 1,865 (44.6%) Income before income taxes and minority interest....... 19,713 13,129 6,584 50.1% Income tax provision................................... 6,203 5,320 883 16.6% -------- -------- ------- ----- Effective income tax rate.............................. 31.5% 40.5% Income before minority interest........................ 13,510 7,809 5,701 73.0% Minority interest in net loss of subsidiary............ 21 209 (188) nm -------- -------- ------- ----- Net income............................................. $ 13,531 $ 8,018 $ 5,513 68.8% ======== ======== ======= ===== </Table> 19 - --------------- nm -- Percentage not meaningful 2002 COMPARED TO 2001 Net sales for 2002 decreased 1.8% versus 2001. On the consumer products packaging side of the business, which represents approximately 85% of the Company's overall business, revenues with the Company's consumer products packaging accounts increased 7.8% in the 2002 versus the prior year. However, lower sales in the graphics for advertising agency business more than offset the gains from the consumer products packaging business. The lower sales level in the advertising agency business was due to the continuing weakness in the advertising market. Gross margin as a percentage of net sales for 2002 increased to 39.8% from 39.6% for the prior year. Given the fact that net sales were lower than the prior period, an increase in gross margin as a percentage of sales is a positive result. The increase in gross margin as a percentage of sales indicates that the cost cutting moves the Company initiated through its restructurings is having a positive effect. Operating income in 2002 was 27.3% higher than the previous year despite $2.6 million of asset impairment and severance charges classified as Restructuring and Other Charges on the Consolidated Statement of Operations as compared to $1.1 million of restructuring charges in 2001. The increase in operating income was attributable to cost reduction efforts and restructuring efforts completed in prior years and the nonamortization of goodwill due to the change in accounting method. Restructuring and other charges of $2.6 million in 2002 resulted from $2.2 million of charges for asset impairment recorded in accordance with the new accounting standard for asset impairments, Statement of Financial Accounting Standard No. 144 and $0.4 million from severance costs in the second half of 2002. The new accounting standard requires a review of all long-lived assets including property, plant and equipment as well as any other long-term assets when indicators of impairment exist. The Company performed a review as of June 30, 2002 and determined that $2.1 million of assets, primarily software and software development assets, had little or no value based on obsolescence or limited use. The Company also recorded asset impairment charges of $0.1 million in the fourth quarter of 2002. In addition, in 2001 restructuring charges of $1.1 million were recorded related to severance costs and the cost to terminate a lease. The Company continues to evaluate its operations for possible changes including consolidation of certain locations and changing the staffing levels of other operations to reflect the volume of business being serviced by such locations. Other income (expense) -- net decreased in 2002 to expense of $2.3 million compared with expense of $4.2 million in 2001. The lower net expense was primarily as a result of lower interest expense. The decrease in interest expense was from a combination of lower interest rates and lower borrowing levels in 2002 as compared to the prior year. The lower borrowing levels were due to strong cash flows from operations that were utilized, in part, to pay down debt. Interest expense also benefited from lower rates in 2002 versus 2001. Income tax provision as a percentage of pretax income was lower than the previous year as a result of offsetting the regular tax provision with tax benefits from state tax refunds received in the second quarter of 2002 and tax benefits from the reduction in tax liabilities in connection with the settlement of an outstanding liability for lower amount than the amount that had been accrued. As a result, the effective tax rate for year ended December 31, 2002 was 31.5% as compared to 40.5% in the comparable period of the prior year. Net income for the year ended December 31, 2002 increased significantly versus 2001 for the reasons previously discussed. Basic and diluted earnings per share were $0.63 and $0.62, respectively, for the year ended December 31, 2002 compared with $0.37 and $0.37 for 2001. LIQUIDITY AND CAPITAL RESOURCES As of December 31, 2003, the Company had $5.2 million in consolidated cash and cash equivalents, compared to $2.0 million at December 31, 2002. 20 The Company presently finances its business from available cash and from cash generated from operations. Cash generated from operations in 2003 totaled $32.2 million. The Company maintains a $65 million unsecured credit facility, expiring May 2004, and a $15 million unsecured demand line of credit to provide financing and working capital flexibility, with US banks. The Company also maintains working capital demand lines of credit in Canada (US $3.8 million), China (US $1.5 million), and Malaysia (US $1.3 million). At December 31, 2003, the Company had no borrowings on any of its credit facilities. Long-term debt and capital lease obligations decreased to $21.0 million at December 31, 2003 from $37.2 million at December 31, 2002. During 2003, the Company made payments of $25.0 million on its unsecured credit facility and $6.0 million on its outstanding Series B notes due 2005. As discussed above, in December 2003, the Company entered into a private placement of debt to provide long-term financing. The terms of the Note Purchase Agreement relating to this transaction provide for the issuance and sale by the Company, pursuant to an exception from the registration requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, of two notes: 1) Tranche A, due December 31, 2013, for $15 million, which closed in December 2003; and, 2) Tranche B, due April 30, 2014, for $10 million, which is expected to close in April 2004. At December 31, 2003, outstanding debt of the Company consisted of: (i) unsecured notes issued pursuant to a Note Purchase Agreement dated August 18, 1995, for $12.0 million with principal payments in 2004 and 2005, at an interest rate of 6.98%; and (ii) $15.0 million of its unsecured Series 2003-A Notes due 2013, with annual principal payments from 2007 through 2013, at an interest rate of 4.90%. The Company is in the process of negotiating to renew or replace its $65.0 million unsecured credit facility, which expires in May 2004, prior to the expiration date. Management believes that the level of working capital is adequate for the Company's liquidity needs related to normal operations both currently and in the foreseeable future, and that the Company has sufficient resources to support its growth, either through currently available cash and cash generated from future operations, or pursuant to the Note Purchase Agreement dated December 23, 2003 and short-term credit facilities. The Company had capital expenditures, principally for equipment and computer hardware and software to improve productivity, of $6.9 million, $7.6 million, and $14.4 million in 2003, 2002, and 2001 respectively. The Company had depreciation of $11.4 million in 2003 and $12.0 million in 2002 and 2001. The Company paid $2.1 million for acquisitions in both 2003 and 2002. In 2001, the Company made a contingent payment of $0.1 million, representing a purchase price adjustment from a prior acquisition. See Note 6 to the Consolidated Financial Statements for further information regarding acquisitions. The Company purchased $2.3 million, $1.0 million, and $1.5 million in Class A Common Stock in 2003, 2002, and 2001, respectively, under a share repurchase program approved by the Board of Directors. OFF-BALANCE SHEET ARRANGEMENTS AND CONTRACTUAL OBLIGATIONS The Company does not have any material off-balance sheet arrangements that have, or are reasonably likely to have, a current or future effect on our financial condition, changes in financial condition, revenue or expenses, results of operations, liquidity, capital expenditures or capital resources. 21 The following table summarizes the effect that minimum debt, lease and other material noncancelable commitments listed below are expected to have on the Company's cash flow in the future periods set forth below: <Table> <Caption> PAYMENTS DUE BY PERIOD ------------------------------------ LESS MORE THAN 1-3 3-5 THAN TOTAL 1 YEAR YEARS YEARS 5 YEARS ------- ------- ------- ------ ------- CONTRACTUAL OBLIGATIONS Long-Term Debt Obligations............. $27,000 $ 6,000 $ 8,143 $6,429 $6,428 Capital Lease Obligations.............. 83 62 21 -- -- Operating Lease Obligations............ 14,329 4,439 6,890 3,000 -- Purchase Obligations................... -- -- -- -- -- Pension Obligations.................... 1,046 65 108 23 850 ------- ------- ------- ------ ------ Total.................................. $42,458 $10,566 $15,162 $9,452 $7,278 ======= ======= ======= ====== ====== </Table> Purchase obligations resulting from purchase orders entered in the normal course of business are not significant. The Company is a service business whose major cost is employees' labor; material purchases are limited to supplies incidental to the services provided. The Company expects to fund future contractual obligations through funds generated from operations, together with general company financing transactions. CRITICAL ACCOUNTING POLICIES The discussion and analysis of our financial condition and results of operations are based upon the Company's 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 make estimates and judgments that effect the reported amount of assets and liabilities, revenues and expenses, and related disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of our financial statements. Actual results may differ from these estimates under different assumptions or conditions. Critical accounting policies are defined as those that are reflective of significant judgments and uncertainties, and potentially result in materially different results under different assumptions and conditions. We believe that our critical accounting policies are limited to those described below. For a detailed discussion on the application of these and other accounting policies, see Note 2 in the notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements. Accounts Receivable. The Company's clients are primarily consumer product manufacturers, converters and advertising agencies; none of which individually represent more than 7.7% of total revenue. Accounts receivable consist primarily of amounts due to us from our normal business activities. We maintain an allowance for doubtful accounts to reflect the expected losses of accounts receivable based on past collection history and specific risks identified in the portfolio. Impairment of Long-Lived Assets. We record impairment losses on long-lived assets used in operations when events and circumstances indicate that the assets might be impaired and the undiscounted cash flows estimated to be generated by those assets are less than the carrying amount of those items. Our cash flow estimates are based on historical results adjusted to reflect our best estimate of future market and operating conditions. The net carrying value of assets not recoverable is reduced to fair value. Our estimates of fair value represent our best estimate based on industry trends and reference to market rates and transactions. Goodwill and Other Acquired Intangible Assets. The Company has made acquisitions in the past that included a significant amount of goodwill and other intangible assets. Under generally accepted accounting principles in effect through December 31, 2001, these assets were amortized over their estimated useful lives, and were tested periodically to determine if they were recoverable from operating earnings on an undiscounted basis over their useful lives. 22 Effective in 2002, goodwill is no longer amortized but is subject to an annual (or under certain circumstances more frequent) impairment test based on its estimated fair value. Other intangible assets that meet certain criteria continue to be amortized over their useful lives and are also subject to an impairment test based on estimated undiscounted cash flows. There are many assumptions and estimates underlying the determination of an impairment loss. Another estimate using different, but still reasonable, assumptions could produce a significantly different result. Therefore, impairment losses could be recorded in the future. The Company adopted the new rules on Accounting for Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets effective January 1, 2002. Application of the non-amortization provision resulted in an increase in net income of approximately $1.4 million ($0.07 per share). The Company performed the required impairment test of goodwill and indefinite-lived intangible assets in 2003 and 2002. It was determined appropriate to consider the Company to be one reporting unit for purposes of this test. IMPACT OF INFLATION The Company believes that over the past three years inflation has not had a significant impact on the Company's results of operations. ITEM 7A. QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURES ABOUT MARKET RISK INTEREST RATE EXPOSURE The Company has no variable rate debt outstanding at December 31, 2003, but expects to use its variable rate credit facilities to fund cash flow needs during 2004 and beyond. Assuming interest rate volatility in the future similar to what has been seen in recent years, the Company does not anticipate that short-term changes in interest rates will materially affect its consolidated financial position, results of operation, or cash flows. FOREIGN EXCHANGE EXPOSURE The Company has foreign operations that expose it to translation risk when the local currency financial statements are translated to U.S. dollars. Since changes in translation risk are reported as adjustments to stockholders' equity, a 10% change in the foreign exchange rate would not have material effect on the Company's financial position, results of operations or cash flows. ITEM 8. FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND SUPPLEMENTARY DATA INDEX TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS COVERED BY REPORTS OF INDEPENDENT AUDITORS <Table> <Caption> PAGE ---- Management's Responsibilities for Financial Reporting....... 24 Report of Independent Auditors.............................. 25 FINANCIAL STATEMENTS: Consolidated Balance Sheets -- December 31, 2003 and 2002................................................... 26 Consolidated Statements of Operations -- Years Ended December 31, 2003, 2002 and 2001....................... 27 Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows -- Years Ended December 31, 2003, 2002 and 2001....................... 28 Consolidated Statements of Stockholders' Equity -- Years Ended December 31, 2003, 2002 and 2001................. 29 Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements................ 30 FINANCIAL STATEMENT SCHEDULES: SCHEDULE II -- Valuation Reserves........................... 48 </Table> 23 MANAGEMENT'S RESPONSIBILITIES FOR FINANCIAL REPORTING The management of Schawk, Inc. is responsible for the preparation and integrity of all financial statements and other information contained in the Schawk, Inc. Form 10-K Annual Report. The consolidated financial statements have been prepared in conformity with generally accepted accounting principles and necessarily include amounts based on judgments and estimates by management giving due consideration to materiality. The Company maintains internal control systems designed to provide reasonable assurance that the Company's financial records reflect the transactions of the Company and that its assets are protected from loss or unauthorized use. The Company's financial statements have been audited by Ernst & Young LLP, independent auditors, whose report thereon follows. As part of their audit of the Company's financial statements, Ernst & Young LLP considered the Company's system of internal control to the extent they deemed necessary to determine the nature, timing and extent of their audit tests. Management has made available to Ernst & Young LLP the Company's financial records and related data. The Audit Committee of the Board of Directors is responsible for reviewing and evaluating the overall performance of the Company's financial reporting and accounting practices. The Committee meets periodically and independently with management and the independent auditors to discuss the Company's internal accounting controls, auditing and financial reporting matters. The independent auditors have unrestricted access to the Audit Committee. /s/ DAVID A. SCHAWK - ------------------------------------------------------ David A. Schawk President and Chief Executive Officer Principal Executive Officer /s/ JAMES J. PATTERSON - ------------------------------------------------------ James J. Patterson Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer Principal Financial and Accounting Officer 24 REPORT OF INDEPENDENT AUDITORS The Board of Directors and Stockholders Schawk, Inc. We have audited the accompanying consolidated balance sheets of Schawk, Inc. as of December 31, 2003 and 2002, and the related consolidated statements of operations, stockholders' equity, and cash flows for each of the three years in the period ended December 31, 2003. Our audits also include the financial statement schedule listed in the index at item 15(a). These financial statements and schedule are the responsibility of Schawk, Inc. management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on these financial statements and schedule based on our audits. We conducted our audits in accordance with auditing standards generally accepted in the 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 Schawk, Inc. at December 31, 2003 and 2002, and the consolidated results of its operations and its cash flows for each of the three years in the period ended December 31, 2003, in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States. Also, in our opinion, the related financial statement schedule, when considered in relation to the basic financial statements taken as a whole, presents fairly in all material respects the information set forth therein. As discussed in Note 2 to the Consolidated Financial Statements, in 2002 the Company adopted FASB Statement No. 142, "Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets". ERNST & YOUNG LLP Chicago, Illinois February 13, 2004 25 SCHAWK, INC. CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS (IN THOUSANDS) <Table> <Caption> DECEMBER 31 ------------------- 2003 2002 -------- -------- ASSETS Current assets: Cash and cash equivalents................................. $ 5,227 $ 2,051 Trade accounts receivable, less allowance for doubtful accounts of $1,595 in 2003 and $1,269 in 2002.......... 35,642 37,946 Inventories............................................... 8,085 8,540 Prepaid expenses and other................................ 3,902 3,539 Refundable income taxes................................... 1,204 889 Deferred income taxes..................................... 2,086 1,713 -------- -------- Total current assets.............................. 56,146 54,678 Property and equipment, net................................. 36,372 41,113 Goodwill, less accumulated amortization of $11,496 in 2003 and 2002.................................................. 62,936 60,476 Other assets................................................ 4,237 4,203 -------- -------- Total assets................................................ $159,691 $160,470 ======== ======== LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY Current liabilities: Trade accounts payable.................................... $ 5,108 $ 4,696 Accrued expenses.......................................... 14,004 13,787 Income taxes payable...................................... 446 -- Notes payable to banks.................................... -- 3,281 Current portion of long-term debt and capital lease obligations............................................ 6,062 6,260 -------- -------- Total current liabilities......................... 25,620 28,024 Long-term debt.............................................. 21,000 37,186 Capital lease obligations................................... 21 46 Other....................................................... 970 1,029 Deferred income taxes....................................... 5,708 4,418 Stockholders' Equity: Common stock.............................................. 187 186 Additional paid-in capital................................ 87,928 85,922 Retained earnings......................................... 41,461 27,253 Accumulated comprehensive income (loss), net.............. 1,087 (1,558) -------- -------- 130,663 111,803 Treasury stock, at cost................................... (24,291) (22,036) -------- -------- Total stockholders' equity........................ 106,372 89,767 -------- -------- Total liabilities and stockholders' equity........ $159,691 $160,470 ======== ======== </Table> See accompanying notes. 26 SCHAWK, INC. CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS (IN THOUSANDS, EXCEPT PER SHARE AMOUNTS) <Table> <Caption> YEARS ENDED DECEMBER 31 ------------------------------ 2003 2002 2001 -------- -------- -------- Net sales................................................... $201,031 $186,189 $189,643 Cost of sales............................................... 118,859 112,165 114,589 -------- -------- -------- Gross profit................................................ 82,172 74,024 75,054 Selling, general, and administrative expenses............... 54,636 49,361 54,460 Goodwill amortization....................................... -- -- 2,161 Restructuring and other charges............................. -- 2,631 1,120 -------- -------- -------- Operating income............................................ 27,536 22,032 17,313 Other income (expense): Interest and dividend income.............................. 72 236 52 Interest expense.......................................... (1,900) (2,789) (4,236) Other..................................................... 1,556 234 -- -------- -------- -------- (272) (2,319) (4,184) -------- -------- -------- Income before income taxes and minority interest............ 27,264 19,713 13,129 Income tax provision........................................ 10,280 6,203 5,320 -------- -------- -------- Income before minority interest............................. 16,984 13,510 7,809 Minority interest in net loss of subsidiary................. -- 21 209 -------- -------- -------- Net income........................................ $ 16,984 $ 13,531 $ 8,018 ======== ======== ======== Earnings per share: Basic..................................................... $ 0.79 $ 0.63 $ 0.37 Diluted................................................... $ 0.78 $ 0.62 $ 0.37 Dividends per Class A common share.......................... $ 0.13 $ 0.13 $ 0.13 </Table> See accompanying notes. 27 SCHAWK, INC. CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS (IN THOUSANDS) <Table> <Caption> YEARS ENDED DECEMBER 31 -------------------------------- 2003 2002 2001 -------- -------- -------- OPERATING ACTIVITIES Net income.................................................. $ 16,984 $ 13,531 $ 8,018 Adjustments to reconcile net income to cash provided by operating activities: Depreciation.............................................. 11,416 11,977 11,977 Amortization.............................................. -- -- 2,161 Loss on sale of division.................................. -- -- 300 Deferred income taxes..................................... 917 (497) 2,018 Asset impairment charge................................... -- 2,210 -- Gain realized on sale of equipment........................ (635) (84) (398) Minority interest in net loss of subsidiary............... -- (21) (209) Changes in operating assets and liabilities, net of effects from acquisitions: Trade accounts receivable.............................. 2,863 356 2,118 Inventories............................................ 455 (538) 5 Prepaid expenses and other............................. (363) 906 (547) Trade accounts payable and accrued expenses............ 448 2,113 (3,282) Income taxes refundable/payable........................ 131 (2,094) 1,025 -------- -------- -------- Net cash provided by operating activities......... 32,216 27,859 23,186 INVESTING ACTIVITIES Proceeds from disposal of property and equipment............ 1,713 1,040 741 Purchases of property and equipment......................... (6,933) (7,634) (14,431) Acquisitions, net of cash acquired.......................... (2,170) (2,069) (124) Other....................................................... (160) (401) 348 -------- -------- -------- Net cash used in investing activities............. (7,550) (9,064) (13,466) FINANCING ACTIVITIES Proceeds from debt.......................................... 19,562 14,266 11,263 Issuance of common stock.................................... 2,012 787 2,112 Principal payments on debt.................................. (39,062) (28,729) (17,520) Principal payments on capital lease obligations............. (255) (351) (234) Cash dividends.............................................. (2,758) (2,773) (2,766) Purchase of common stock.................................... (2,278) (987) (1,503) -------- -------- -------- Net cash used in financing activities....................... (22,779) (17,787) (8,648) Effect of foreign currency rate changes..................... 1,289 (69) (317) -------- -------- -------- Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents........ 3,176 939 755 Cash and cash equivalents beginning of period............... 2,051 1,112 357 -------- -------- -------- Cash and cash equivalents end of period..................... $ 5,227 $ 2,051 $ 1,112 ======== ======== ======== SUPPLEMENTARY DISCLOSURE OF CASH FLOW INFORMATION: Dividends issued in the form of Class A common stock........ $ 18 $ 17 $ 16 Cash paid for interest...................................... 1,865 2,630 4,454 Cash paid for income taxes.................................. 9,215 8,071 2,204 </Table> See accompanying notes. 28 SCHAWK, INC. CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY YEARS ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2001, 2002 AND 2003 (IN THOUSANDS) <Table> <Caption> CLASS A ADDITIONAL ACCUMULATED TOTAL COMMON PAID-IN RETAINED COMPREHENSIVE TREASURY STOCKHOLDERS STOCK CAPITAL EARNINGS INCOME STOCK EQUITY ------- ---------- -------- ------------- -------- ------------ BALANCE AT DECEMBER 31, 2000.... $183 $83,057 $11,276 $ (415) $(19,593) $ 74,508 Net income...................... -- -- 8,018 -- -- 8,018 Sale of Class A common stock.... 1 1,349 -- -- -- 1,350 Purchase of Class A treasury stock......................... -- -- -- -- (1,503) (1,503) Stock issued under employee stock purchase plan........... 1 570 -- -- -- 571 Foreign currency translation adjustment.................... -- -- -- (832) -- (832) Issuance of Class A common stock under dividend reinvestment program....................... -- -- (16) -- 26 10 Cash dividends.................. -- -- (2,766) -- -- (2,766) Issuance of Class A common restricted shares to employees..................... -- 181 -- -- -- 181 ---- ------- ------- ------- -------- -------- BALANCE AT DECEMBER 31, 2001.... $185 $85,157 $16,512 $(1,247) $(21,070) $ 79,537 Net income...................... -- -- 13,531 -- -- 13,531 Sale of Class A common stock.... -- 180 -- -- -- 180 Purchase of Class A treasury stock......................... -- -- -- -- (987) (987) Stock issued under employee stock purchase plan........... 1 507 -- -- -- 508 Foreign currency translation adjustment.................... -- -- -- (311) -- (311) Issuance of Class A common stock under dividend reinvestment program....................... -- -- (17) -- 21 4 Cash dividends.................. -- -- (2,773) -- -- (2,773) Issuance of Class A common restricted shares to employees..................... -- 78 -- -- -- 78 ---- ------- ------- ------- -------- -------- BALANCE AT DECEMBER 31, 2002.... $186 $85,922 $27,253 $(1,558) $(22,036) $ 89,767 Net income...................... -- -- 16,984 -- -- 16,984 Sale of Class A common stock.... 1 1,355 -- -- -- 1,356 Purchase of Class A treasury stock......................... -- -- -- -- (2,278) (2,278) Stock issued under employee stock purchase plan........... -- 616 -- -- -- 616 Foreign currency translation adjustment.................... -- -- -- 2,645 -- 2,645 Issuance of Class A common stock under dividend reinvestment program....................... -- -- (18) -- 23 5 Cash dividends.................. -- -- (2,758) -- -- (2,758) Issuance of Class A common restricted shares to employees..................... -- 35 -- -- -- 35 ---- ------- ------- ------- -------- -------- BALANCE AT DECEMBER 31, 2003.... $187 $87,928 $41,461 $ 1,087 $(24,291) $106,372 ==== ======= ======= ======= ======== ======== </Table> See accompanying notes. 29 SCHAWK, INC. NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (IN THOUSANDS, EXCEPT PER SHARE AMOUNTS) NOTE 1. BASIS OF PRESENTATION AND DESCRIPTION OF BUSINESS Schawk, Inc. including its subsidiaries (the Company) is a leading provider of digital imaging graphic services for the consumer products industry in North America and Asia. The Company focuses on providing these services to multi-national clients in three primary markets: consumer products packaging, advertising agencies and promotion. The Company has collective bargaining agreements with production employees representing approximately 23% of its workforce. The contracts are with local units of the Graphic Communications International Union and the Communications, Energy & Paperworkers Union of Canada and expire in 2004 through 2009. The percentage of employee covered by contracts expiring within one year is approximately 7%. NOTE 2. SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES PRINCIPLES OF CONSOLIDATION The consolidated financial statements include the accounts of all wholly and majority owned subsidiaries. All significant intercompany accounts and transactions have been eliminated in consolidation. REVENUE RECOGNITION The Company recognizes revenue at the later of delivery of the goods and/or services to the customer or the acceptance of the goods and/or services by the customer. CASH EQUIVALENTS Cash equivalents include highly liquid debt instruments and time deposits with an original maturity of three months or less. Cash equivalents are stated at cost, which approximates market. ACCOUNTS RECEIVABLE AND CONCENTRATION OF CREDIT RISK The Company sells its products to a wide range of customers in the consumer products industry. The Company performs ongoing credit evaluations of its customers and does not require collateral. An allowance for doubtful accounts is maintained at a level management believes is sufficient to cover potential losses. The Company evaluates the collectibility of its accounts receivable based on the length of time the receivable is past due and its historic experience of write-offs. Trade accounts receivable are charged to the allowance when the Company determines that the receivable will not be collectible. Trade accounts receivable balances are determined to be delinquent when the amount is past due, based on the payment terms with the customer. INVENTORIES Inventories are stated at the lower of cost or market. Certain inventories, which approximate 16% of total inventories in 2003 and 19% in 2002 are determined on the last in, first out (LIFO) cost basis. The remaining inventories are determined on the first in, first out (FIFO) cost basis. PROPERTY AND EQUIPMENT Property and equipment, including capitalized leases is stated at cost, less accumulated depreciation and amortization, and is being depreciated and amortized using the straight-line method over the estimated useful lives of the assets or the term of the leases, ranging from 3 to 40 years. 30 SCHAWK, INC. NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS -- (CONTINUED) GOODWILL Effective January 1, 2002, the Company adopted Statements of Financial Accounting Standards No. (SFAS) 141 Business Combinations and No. 142 Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets. SFAS No. 142 does not permit goodwill and indefinite-lived intangibles to be amortized, but requires that these assets be reviewed at least annually for possible impairment. See Note 10 for further information regarding goodwill and intangible assets. LONG-LIVED ASSETS Effective January 1, 2002, the Company adopted Statement of Financial Accounting Standards (SFAS) No. 144, Accounting for the Impairment or Disposal of Long-lived Assets. In accordance with SFAS 144, the Company continues to review all of its long-lived assets on an on-going basis. See Note 5 for further information regarding impairment of long-lived assets. INCOME TAXES Deferred tax assets and liabilities are determined based on the difference between the financial statement and tax basis of assets and liabilities using enacted tax rates in effect for the year in which the differences are expected to reverse. A valuation allowance is provided when it is more likely than not that some portion of the deferred tax assets arising from temporary differences and net operating losses will not be realized. USE OF ESTIMATES The preparation of financial statements in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting period. Actual results could differ from those estimates. FOREIGN CURRENCY TRANSLATION The Company's foreign subsidiaries use the local currency as their functional currency. Accordingly, foreign currency assets and liabilities are translated at the rate of exchange existing at year-end and income and expense amounts are translated at the average of the monthly exchange rates. Adjustments resulting from the translation of foreign currency financial statements are included in accumulated comprehensive income (loss) as a component of stockholders' equity. FAIR VALUE OF FINANCIAL INSTRUMENTS For purposes of financial reporting, the Company has determined that the fair value of financial instruments including cash and cash equivalents, accounts receivable, accounts payable and long-term debt approximates book value based on terms available to the Company in financial markets at December 31, 2003 and 2002. 31 SCHAWK, INC. NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS -- (CONTINUED) COMPREHENSIVE INCOME The components of comprehensive income, net of related tax, for the years ended December 31, 2003, 2002 and 2001 are as follows: <Table> <Caption> 2003 2002 2001 ------- ------- ------ Net income............................................... $16,984 $13,531 $8,018 Foreign currency translation adjustments................. 2,645 (311) (832) ------- ------- ------ Comprehensive income..................................... $19,629 $13,220 $7,186 ======= ======= ====== </Table> STOCK BASED COMPENSATION At December 31, 2003, the Company has two stock-based employee compensation plans, which are described more fully in Note 17. The Company accounts for these plans under the recognition and measurement principles of Accounting Principles Board (APB) Opinion No. 25, "Accounting for Stock Issued to Employees", and related interpretations. No stock-based employee compensation cost is reflected in the net income, as all options granted under these plans have an exercise price equal to the market value of the underlying common stock on the date of grant. The following table illustrates the effect on net income and earnings per share if the Company had applied the fair value recognition provisions of SFAS No. 123, "Accounting for Stock-Based Compensation", to stock-based employee compensation. <Table> <Caption> YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31 -------------------------- 2003 2002 2001 ------- ------- ------ Net income, as reported..................................... $16,984 $13,531 $8,018 Less: Total stock-based employee compensation expense determined under fair value based method for all awards, net of related tax effects................................ 719 865 661 ------- ------- ------ Net income, pro forma....................................... $16,265 $12,666 $7,357 ======= ======= ====== Earnings per share Basic..................................................... $ 0.79 $ 0.63 $ 0.37 Diluted................................................... $ 0.78 $ 0.62 $ 0.37 Pro forma earnings per share Basic..................................................... $ 0.76 $ 0.59 $ 0.34 Diluted................................................... $ 0.74 $ 0.58 $ 0.34 </Table> RECLASSIFICATIONS Certain amounts in the 2002 and 2001 financial statements have been reclassified to conform to the 2003 presentations. NOTE 3. NEW ACCOUNTING PRINCIPLES In January 2003, the FASB issued Interpretation No. 46, Consolidation of Variable Interest Entities, an Interpretation of Accounting Research Bulletin No. 51, ("FIN 46"), which was later updated in December 2003. FIN 46 requires consolidation of entities in which the Company absorbs a majority of the entity's expected losses, receives a majority of the entity's expected residual returns, or both, as a result of ownership, contractual or other financial interests in the entity. Currently, entities are consolidated when the Company has a controlling financial interest through ownership of a majority voting interest in an entity. Application of FIN 46 is required in financial statements of public entities that have interests in variable interest entities or potential variable interest entities commonly referred to as special-purpose entities for periods ending after December 15, 2003. Application by public entities for all other types of entities is required in financial 32 SCHAWK, INC. NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS -- (CONTINUED) statements for periods ending after March 31, 2004. The adoption of FIN 46 is not expected to have a significant impact on the Company's results of operations or its financial position. NOTE 4. RESTRUCTURING AND OTHER CHARGES 2001 RESTRUCTURING The Company began a restructuring program in 1999 to consolidate multiple operations in certain markets. The redundant facilities were a result of the Company's acquisition program in 1998 and 1999, during which time the Company acquired 13 businesses. In 2001 the Company continued the restructuring program that began in 1999. Severance costs of $0.8 million were recorded as a result of eliminating 140 positions at several facilities. Also, additional expenses were incurred relating to the closing of an east coast facility as part of the prior year's restructuring. This resulted in expenses of $0.2 million and $0.1 million for additional lease termination expenses and asset write-offs, respectively. The total of the above items, $1.1 million, is included in the restructuring and other charges line on the Consolidated Statement of Operations. 2002 ACTIONS During the third quarter of 2002, a total of 16 positions were eliminated at an east coast facility due to a decline in the advertising business. A provision for severance pay and other employee benefits in the amount of $421 was recorded. Although this staff reduction was not part of a formal restructuring plan, the charge for severance and other employee benefits was included in "Restructuring and other charges" on the Consolidated Statement of Operations. As of December 31, 2003, $375 of the severance pay provision has been paid; $46 remains unpaid and is included in accrued expenses on the Consolidated Balance Sheet. There were no restructuring charges in 2003. SUMMARY: <Table> <Caption> 2003 2002 2001 ---- ------ ------ RESTRUCTURING AND OTHER CHARGES Severance and other employee termination costs.............. $ -- $ 421 $ 792 Lease termination costs..................................... -- -- 230 Write off of leasehold improvements and other............... -- -- 98 ---- ------ ------ -- 421 1,120 IMPAIRMENT CHARGES (SEE NOTE 5) Computer equipment and software............................. -- 1,851 -- Other....................................................... -- 359 -- ---- ------ ------ -- 2,210 -- ---- ------ ------ RESTRUCTURING AND OTHER CHARGES............................. $ -- $2,631 $1,120 ==== ====== ====== </Table> Below is an analysis of the activity related to the Company's restructuring programs and their status at December 31, 2003: <Table> <Caption> DECEMBER 31, DECEMBER 31, DECEMBER 31, 2001 PAYMENTS 2002 PAYMENTS 2003 ------------ -------- ------------ -------- ------------ Severance and employee benefits.................. $310 $(123) $187 $ (82) $105 Other....................... 20 -- 20 (20) -- ---- ----- ---- ----- ---- $330 $(123) $207 $(102) $105 ==== ===== ==== ===== ==== </Table> 33 SCHAWK, INC. NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS -- (CONTINUED) NOTE 5. IMPAIRMENT OF LONG-LIVED ASSETS In accordance with Statement of Financial Standards No. 144 (see note 2, Summary of Significant Accounting Policies), the Company continues to review all of its long-lived assets on an ongoing basis. As a result of the reviews performed during 2002, certain assets were taken out of service or their future cash flows were not sufficient to support the book value and an asset impairment charge of $2,210 was recorded and included in "Restructuring and Other Charges" on the Consolidated Statement of Operations. The assets involved in the 2002 impairment charge were primarily computer equipment and software. NOTE 6. ACQUISITIONS The Company acquired 100% of the capital stock of Blue Mint Associates, Inc., a provider of design services located in San Francisco, California, on November 30, 2003. The Company also acquired certain assets of Pixxon, Inc., a provider of digital imaging graphic services located in San Francisco, California, on December 31, 2003. These acquisitions provide the Company an entry into the West coast design and digital imaging graphic services markets. The results of operations of Blue Mint from acquisition date to year-end are included in the Consolidated Statement of Operations for the year ended December 31, 2003. The base purchase price for the 2003 acquisitions was $2,200. $1,700 was paid to the sellers at closing and $500 was paid to an escrow account pending settlement of certain post-closing adjustments specified in the acquisition agreements. The acquisition agreements also provide for additional payments of up to $3,300, conditional on performance of the acquired businesses over a three-year period. The contingent payments will be recorded as additional purchase price when the conditions are met. The purchase price allocation for the 2003 acquisitions has not been finalized. The Company has allocated the purchase price to the estimated fair value of the net assets acquired and will adjust the allocation upon completion of the tangible and intangible asset appraisal now in progress. The preliminary purchase price allocation resulted in the recording of $1,460 of non-tax deductible goodwill. The Company acquired certain assets of a Canadian company in 2002 for $756. The purchase price has been allocated to the respective net assets acquired based on the fair value of such assets, including non-compete agreements, and the results of operations have been included in the accompanying Consolidated Statement of Operations from the effective date of the acquisition. The Company also acquired the remaining minority interest of its Asian subsidiary during 2002 for $1,204. The amount paid in excess of the fair value of the tangible assets acquired was recorded as goodwill. The Company also made contingent payments of $28 and $109 in 2003 and 2002, respectively, which were related to prior acquisitions, and were recorded as additional goodwill. A summary of the acquisitions is as follows: <Table> <Caption> 2003 2002 ------ ------ Fair value of assets acquired, net of cash received......... $ 683 $ 756 Goodwill.................................................... 1,487 412 Minority interest in consolidated subsidiary................ 0 901 ------ ------ $2,170 $2,069 ====== ====== </Table> 34 SCHAWK, INC. NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS -- (CONTINUED) NOTE 7. RELATED PARTY TRANSACTIONS A receivable of approximately $38 and $117 from Geneva Waterfront, Inc., which is owned by a stockholder of the Company, is included in other assets at December 31, 2003 and December 31, 2002, respectively. During the second quarter of 2002, the Company sold a building used for storage to the Chairman of the Board, the majority stockholder of the Company. The building was sold for $750, which resulted in a gain of $145, included in "Cost of sales" on the Consolidated Statements of Operations. An independent appraisal was obtained and the building was sold for more than the appraised value. The independent members of the Board of Directors approved this transaction. The Company also leases land and a building from a related party. See Note 15 -- Leases and Commitments. NOTE 8. INVENTORIES Inventories consist of the following: <Table> <Caption> DECEMBER 31, ----------------- 2003 2002 ------- ------- Raw materials............................................... $ 2,129 $ 2,230 Work in process............................................. 7,033 7,424 ------- ------- 9,162 9,654 Less: LIFO reserve.......................................... (1,077) (1,114) ------- ------- $ 8,085 $ 8,540 ======= ======= </Table> NOTE 9. PROPERTY AND EQUIPMENT Property and equipment consists of the following: <Table> <Caption> DECEMBER 31, ------------------- 2003 2002 -------- -------- Land and improvements....................................... $ 715 $ 793 Buildings and improvements.................................. 13,171 14,736 Machinery and equipment..................................... 68,623 70,752 Leasehold improvements...................................... 9,931 8,823 Computer software........................................... 11,355 9,466 -------- -------- 103,795 104,570 Accumulated depreciation and amortization................... (67,423) (63,457) -------- -------- $ 36,372 $ 41,113 ======== ======== </Table> NOTE 10. GOODWILL AND OTHER INTANGIBLE ASSETS Effective January 1, 2002, the Company adopted Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 142 Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets. SFAS 142 requires that goodwill and intangible assets with indefinite lives no longer be amortized, but instead, be tested for impairment at least annually. The Company performed the required impairment test of goodwill and indefinite-lived intangible assets in 2003 and 2002. It was determined appropriate to consider the Company to be one reporting unit for purposes of this test. No impairment charge was required to be recorded in 2003 or 2002. 35 SCHAWK, INC. NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS -- (CONTINUED) Below is a comparison of the results of operations for the year ended December 31, 2003 and 2002 with the proforma results of operations for the year ended December 31, 2001 adjusted to exclude goodwill amortization. <Table> <Caption> YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31, ----------------------------- 2003 2002 2001 ------- ------- ------- NET INCOME Reported net income....................................... $16,984 $13,531 $ 8,018 Goodwill amortization (net of tax)........................ -- -- 1,374 ------- ------- ------- Adjusted net income....................................... $16,984 $13,531 $ 9,392 ======= ======= ======= BASIC EARNINGS PER SHARE Reported net income....................................... $ 0.79 $ 0.63 $ 0.37 Goodwill amortization (net of tax)........................ -- -- .07 ------- ------- ------- Adjusted net income....................................... $ 0.79 $ 0.63 $ 0.44 ======= ======= ======= DILUTED EARNINGS PER SHARE Reported net income....................................... $ 0.78 $ 0.62 $ 0.37 Goodwill amortization (net of tax)........................ -- -- .07 ------- ------- ------- Adjusted net income....................................... $ 0.78 $ 0.62 $ 0.44 ======= ======= ======= Average number of common shares outstanding................. 21,379 21,469 21,392 Average number of common shares outstanding assuming dilution.................................................. 21,839 21,675 21,570 </Table> NOTE 11. ACCRUED EXPENSES Accrued expenses consist of the following: <Table> <Caption> DECEMBER 31, ----------------- 2003 2002 ------- ------- Accrued compensation and payroll taxes...................... $ 8,246 $ 7,035 Accrued customer rebates.................................... 1,699 2,004 Accrued interest............................................ 148 581 Accrued property taxes...................................... 473 481 Non-compete agreements...................................... 107 273 Restructuring reserve....................................... 105 152 Other....................................................... 3,226 3,261 ------- ------- $14,004 $13,787 ======= ======= </Table> 36 SCHAWK, INC. NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS -- (CONTINUED) NOTE 12. DEBT Long-term debt consists of the following: <Table> <Caption> DECEMBER 31, ----------------- 2003 2002 ------- ------- Series A senior note payable -- Tranche A................... $15,000 $ 0 Series B senior note payable................................ 12,000 18,000 U.S. bank credit agreement.................................. 0 25,000 Malaysian term loan (U.S. $)................................ 0 219 ------- ------- 27,000 43,219 Less amounts due in one year or less........................ (6,000) (6,033) ------- ------- $21,000 $37,186 ======= ======= </Table> The Series A note -- Tranche A bears interest at 4.90% and is payable in annual installments of $2,143 from 2007 to 2012. The Note Purchase Agreement dated December 23, 2003 also provides for the funding of $10,000 of Series A -- Tranche B notes, scheduled to close in April 2004. The Tranche B notes will bear interest at 4.98% and will be due in annual installments from 2008 to 2013. The notes may be prepaid in whole or in part at any time. The Series B note bears interest at 6.98% and is payable in annual installments of $6,000 in 2004 and 2005. The note may be prepaid in whole or in part at any time. The borrowings under the bank credit agreement are unsecured and are at a floating rate of interest over the Federal Funds or Eurocurrency rates based upon certain financial ratios. The effective interest rate on borrowings under this agreement was 2.59% at December 31, 2002. The credit agreement is for $65,000, all of which is currently available to the Company, and expires on May 6, 2004. Borrowings under the above agreements are subject to certain restrictive covenants. In addition, the agreements require the Company to maintain certain net worth and other financial ratio requirements. The fair value of these obligations approximates carrying value at December 31, 2003 and 2002. Annual maturities of long-term debt at December 31, 2003 are as follows: <Table> 2004........................................................ $ 6,000 2005........................................................ 6,000 2006........................................................ 0 2007........................................................ 2,143 2008........................................................ 2,143 Thereafter.................................................. 10,714 ------- $27,000 ======= </Table> The Company also has a $15,000 and a $3,800 line of credit with a U.S. bank and a Canadian bank, respectively, to provide financing and working capital flexibility. Interest is at a floating rate over LIBOR and Canadian prime for the U.S. line and the Canadian line, respectively. The Company had no borrowings under either line at December 31, 2003. At December 31, 2002, the Company had $2,375 and $299 outstanding on the U.S. line and the Canadian line, respectively. The effective interest rate on these borrowings at December 31, 2002 was 1.88% for the U.S. line and 4.5% for the Canadian line. The Company also maintains working capital demand lines of credit in China (U.S. $1,500) and Malaysia (U.S. $1,250). The Company had no borrowings under either line at December 31, 2003. At December 31, 2002, $369 and $238 was outstanding on the China and Malaysian lines, respectively. 37 SCHAWK, INC. NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS -- (CONTINUED) These lines of credit are disclosed as notes payable to banks in the Consolidated Balance Sheet NOTE 13. STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY Stockholders' equity includes the following: <Table> <Caption> DECEMBER 31, -------------------- 2003 2002 ------- ------- Common stock: Class A voting, $0.008 par value, 40,000,000 shares authorized; 23,602,330 and 23,381,763 shares issued at December 31, 2003 and 2002, respectively; 21,435,887 and 21,436,487 shares outstanding at December 31, 2003 and 2002, respectively........................................ $ 187 $ 186 ======= ======= Treasury stock: 2,166,443 and 1,945,276 shares of Class A common stock at December 31, 2003 and 2002, respectively.................. $24,291 $22,036 ======= ======= </Table> NOTE 14. INCOME TAXES The provision (credit) for income taxes is comprised of the following: <Table> <Caption> YEARS ENDED DECEMBER 31, ----------------------------- 2003 2002 2001 ------- ------ ------ Current: Federal................................................. $ 9,088 $4,283 $2,038 State................................................... 1,057 450 552 Foreign................................................. 1,052 973 712 ------- ------ ------ 11,197 5,706 3,302 Deferred: Federal................................................. (487) 858 1,797 State................................................... (57) 95 222 Foreign................................................. (373) (456) (1) ------- ------ ------ (917) 497 2,018 ------- ------ ------ Total................................................... $10,280 $6,203 $5,320 ======= ====== ====== </Table> 38 SCHAWK, INC. NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS -- (CONTINUED) Components of deferred income tax assets and liabilities are as follows: <Table> <Caption> DECEMBER 31, -------------------- 2003 2002 ------- ------- Current deferred income taxes: Inventory................................................. $ 44 $ 77 Accruals and reserves not currently deductible............ 1,432 1,296 Foreign deferred taxes.................................... 610 340 ------- ------- Net current asset........................................... $ 2,086 $ 1,713 ======= ======= Noncurrent deferred income taxes: Depreciation.............................................. $(1,119) $(1,045) Property and equipment basis differences.................. (766) (491) Goodwill on asset acquisitions............................ (917) (691) Other..................................................... (2,906) (2,191) ------- ------- Net noncurrent liability.................................... $(5,708) $(4,418) ======= ======= </Table> Reconciliation between the provision for income taxes for continuing operations computed by applying the federal statutory tax rate to income before incomes taxes and the actual provision is as follows: <Table> <Caption> YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31, -------------------------- 2003 2002 2001 ---- ---- ---- Income taxes at statutory rate.............................. 35.0% 35.0% 35.0% Nondeductible expenses...................................... (.1) .5 5.0 State income taxes.......................................... 1.9 1.8 1.6 Foreign rate differential................................... .9 1.6 (1.1) Reduction of accruals for prior years' taxes................ -- (4.8)% -- Prior year state refunds received........................... -- (2.7)% -- ---- ---- ---- 37.7% 31.4% 40.5% ==== ==== ==== </Table> The undistributed earnings of foreign subsidiaries were approximately $7,645 and $6,393 at December 31, 2003 and 2002, respectively. No income taxes are provided on the undistributed earnings because they are considered permanently reinvested. The foreign component of income before income taxes was $1,860 for 2003, $1,424 for 2002, and $928 for 2001. NOTE 15. LEASES AND COMMITMENTS The Company leases land and a building in Des Plaines, Illinois from a related party. Total rent expense incurred under this operating lease was $660 in 2003, 2002, and 2001. The Company leases various plant facilities and equipment under operating leases that cannot be cancelled and expire at various dates through December 2010. Total rent expense incurred under all operating leases was approximately $4,553, $4,049, and $3,548, for the years ended December 31, 2003, 2002 and 2001, respectively. 39 SCHAWK, INC. NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS -- (CONTINUED) Future minimum payments under leases with terms of one year or more are as follows at December 31, 2003 <Table> <Caption> CAPITAL OPERATING LEASES LEASES ------- --------- 2004........................................................ $62 $ 4,439 2005........................................................ 21 3,007 2006........................................................ -- 2,130 2007........................................................ -- 1,753 2008........................................................ -- 1,406 Thereafter.................................................. -- 1,594 --- ------- $83 $14,329 ======= Less: Current portion....................................... 62 --- $21 === </Table> The Company has a deferred compensation agreement with the Chairman of the Board dated June 1, 1983 which was ratified and included in a restated employment agreement dated October 1, 1994. The agreement provides for deferred compensation for 10 years equal to 50% of final salary and was modified on March 9, 1998 to determine a fixed salary level for purposes of this calculation. The Company has a deferred compensation liability equal to $815 at both December 31, 2003 and December 31, 2002. The liability was calculated using the net present value of ten annual payments at a 6% discount rate assuming, for calculation purposes only, that payments begin one year from the balance sheet date. NOTE 16. EMPLOYEE BENEFIT PLANS The Company has various defined contribution plans for the benefit of its employees. The plans provide a 100% match of employee contributions based on a discretionary percentage determined by management. The matching percentage of wages (as defined) was 4.5% in 2003, 4.0% in 2002 and 5.0% in 2001. Contributions to the plans were $1,600, $1,403 and $1,825 in 2003, 2002 and 2001, respectively. The Company is required to contribute to certain defined benefit union pension plans under various labor contracts covering union employees. Pension expense related to the union plans, which is determined based upon payroll data, was approximately $979, $949 and $1,106 in 2003, 2002 and 2001, respectively. The Company established an employee stock purchase plan on January 1, 1999 that permits employees to purchase common shares of the Company through payroll deductions. The Company issues new shares at a discount of 15%, based upon the lower of the beginning-of-quarter or end-of-quarter closing market price of the Company stock. The discount is recorded as compensation expense. The number of shares issued for this plan was 59 in 2003, 51 in 2002 and 59 in 2001. The discount recorded as compensation expense was $92 in 2003, $76 in 2002 and $83 in 2001. NOTE 17. STOCK/EQUITY OPTION PLANS The Company has an Equity Option Plan that provides for the granting of options to purchase up to 5,252 shares of Class A common stock to key employees. The Company has also adopted an Outside Directors' Formula Stock Option Plan authorizing unlimited grants of options to purchase shares of Class A common stock to outside directors. Options granted under these plans have an exercise price equal to the market price of the underlying stock at the date of grant and are exercisable for a period of ten years from the date of grant and vest over a three-year period. 40 SCHAWK, INC. NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS -- (CONTINUED) A summary of options outstanding at each of the three years ended December 31, 2003, 2002 and 2001, and other data for the three years then ended under all option plans is as follows: <Table> <Caption> OUTSTANDING OPTIONS OF CLASS A WEIGHTED AVERAGE COMMON STOCK EXERCISE PRICE ------------------ ---------------- Balance, December 31, 2000........................... 1,725 9.37 Granted.............................................. 416 8.98 Exercised............................................ (177) 7.99 Cancelled............................................ (30) 8.26 ------------------ Balance, December 31, 2001........................... 1,934 9.42 ------------------ Granted.............................................. 626 9.66 Exercised............................................ (18) 8.59 Cancelled............................................ -- -- ------------------ Balance, December 31, 2002........................... 2,542 9.48 ------------------ Granted.............................................. 530 9.31 Exercised............................................ (177) 8.77 Cancelled............................................ -- -- ------------------ Balance December 31, 2003............................ 2,895 $9.49 ================== </Table> The following table summarizes information concerning outstanding and exercisable options at December 31, 2003: <Table> <Caption> OPTIONS OUTSTANDING ------------------------------------------------- WEIGHTED AVERAGE OPTIONS EXERCISABLE REMAINING --------------------------------- RANGE OF NUMBER CONTRACTUAL LIFE WEIGHTED AVERAGE NUMBER WEIGHTED AVERAGE OF EXERCISE PRICE OUTSTANDING (YEARS) EXERCISE PRICE EXERCISABLE EXERCISABLE PRICE - -------------- ----------- ---------------- ---------------- ----------- ------------------- $ 6.00-$ 7.50 ......... 35 2.0 $ 7.00 35 $ 7.00 7.51- 9.00 ......... 811 5.5 8.20 811 8.20 9.01- 10.50 ......... 1,671 7.1 9.49 1,130 9.55 10.51- 12.00 ......... 224 5.1 11.33 204 11.40 12.01- 13.50 ......... 71 5.4 13.40 71 13.40 13.51- 15.00 ......... 83 4.7 14.83 83 14.83 ----------- ----------- 2,895 2,334 =========== =========== </Table> Options available for grant under the plans were 2,195, 725 and 1,304 at December 31, 2003, 2002 and 2001, respectively. Options exercisable under the plans were 2,334, 1,991, and 1,555 in 2003, 2002 and 2001 respectively. The weighted-average fair values of options granted during 2003, 2002, and 2001 were $2.22 per share, $2.37 per share, and $3.03 per share, respectively. The Company accounts for its plans under the recognition and measurement principles of Accounting Principles Board (APB) Opinion No. 25, "Accounting for Stock Issued to Employees", and related interpretations. No stock-based employee compensation cost is reflected in the net income, as all options granted under this plan have an exercise price equal to the market value of the underlying common stock on the date of grant. The table in Note 2 illustrates the effect on net income and earnings per share if the Company had applied the fair value recognition provisions of SFAS No. 123, "Accounting For Stock-based Compensation", to stock-based employee compensation. 41 SCHAWK, INC. NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS -- (CONTINUED) The fair value of each option grant is estimated on the date of the grant using the Black-Scholes option valuation model with the following assumptions: <Table> <Caption> 2003 2002 2001 ------- ------- --------- Expected dividend yield................................... 1.30% 1.30% 1.18% Expected stock price volatility........................... 16.40% 17.20% 28.63% Risk-free interest rate range............................. 4.0% 4.0% 4.0%-4.5% Weighted-average expected life of options................. 7 years 7 years 7 years </Table> Option valuation models require the input of highly subjective assumptions. Because the Company's employee stock options have characteristics significantly different from those of traded options, and because changes in the subjective input assumptions can materially affect the fair value estimate in management's opinion, the existing method does not necessarily provide a reliable single measure of the fair value of its employee stock options. NOTE 18. EARNINGS PER SHARE Basic earnings per share and diluted earnings per share are shown on the face of the statement of operations. Basic earnings per share is computed by dividing net income by the weighted average shares outstanding for the year. Diluted earnings per share is computed by dividing net income by the weighted average number of common shares and common stock equivalent shares outstanding (stock options) for the year. The following table sets forth the computation of basic and diluted earnings per share: <Table> <Caption> 2003 2002 2001 ------- ------- ------- Net Income............................................. $16,984 $13,531 $ 8,018 ======= ======= ======= Weighted average shares................................ 21,379 21,469 21,392 Effect of dilutive employee stock options.............. 460 206 178 ------- ------- ------- Adjusted weighted average shares and assumed conversions.......................................... 21,839 21,675 21,570 ======= ======= ======= Basic earnings per share............................... $ 0.79 $ 0.63 $ 0.37 Diluted earnings per share............................. $ 0.78 $ 0.62 $ 0.37 </Table> Options to purchase 323 shares of Class A common stock at exercise prices ranging from $11.50-$15 per share were outstanding at December 31, 2003 but were not included in the computation of diluted earnings per share because the options were anti-dilutive. The options expire at various dates through December 31, 2013. Options to purchase 358 shares of Class A common stock at exercise prices ranging from $10-$15 per share were outstanding at December 31, 2002 but were not included in the computation of diluted earnings per share because the options were anti-dilutive. The options expire at various dates through December 31, 2012. 42 SCHAWK, INC. NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS -- (CONTINUED) NOTE 19. GEOGRAPHIC REPORTING The Company operates a single business segment, Digital Imaging Graphic Arts. The Company operates primarily in two geographic areas, the United States and Canada. Summary financial information for continuing operations by geographic area for 2003, 2002 and 2001 is as follows: <Table> <Caption> OTHER UNITED STATES CANADA FOREIGN TOTAL ------------- ------- ------- -------- 2003 Sales...................................... $159,861 $30,648 $10,522 $201,031 Long-lived assets.......................... 78,807 16,999 7,739 103,545 Net assets................................. 98,588 10,192 (2,408) 106,372 2002 Sales...................................... $153,056 $25,448 $ 7,685 $186,189 Long-lived assets.......................... 81,400 15,940 8,452 105,792 Net assets................................. 84,162 7,187 (1,582) 89,767 2001 Sales...................................... $151,893 $28,617 $ 9,133 $189,643 Long-lived assets.......................... 87,359 15,942 8,278 111,579 Net assets................................. 73,920 6,187 (570) 79,537 </Table> Long-lived assets are non-current assets that are identified with the operations in each geographic area. NOTE 20. OTHER INCOME For the year ended December 31, 2003, the items included in Other income on the Consolidated Statement of Operations were: 1) a distribution in the amount of $303 representing the Company's share of a gain from the sale of a mutual insurance company, of which the Company was a policyholder, 2) a favorable litigation settlement of $371, 3) proceeds of a life insurance policy on a former employee in the amount of $382, and 4) $500 resulting from the reversal of an indemnity reserve related to a prior disposition, for which the indemnity period had expired. For the year ended December 31, 2002, the amount included in Other income on the Consolidated Statement of Operations represented a favorable litigation settlement. NOTE 21. SUBSEQUENT EVENT The Company acquired certain assets and assumed certain liabilities of the Virtualcolor division of Fort Dearborn Company effective as of January 1, 2004. The Virtualcolor division of Fort Dearborn Company is a provider of digital imaging graphic services located in Elk Grove Village, Illinois and will be merged with an existing Company facility. The purchase price of $6,459 was paid in cash of $4,859 to the seller at closing and $1,600 to an escrow account pending settlement of certain post-closing adjustments specified in the acquisition agreement. The purchase price allocation of this acquisition has not been completed. The Company will allocate the purchase price to the fair value of the net assets acquired upon completion of an asset appraisal now in progress. 43 SCHAWK, INC. NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS -- (CONTINUED) NOTE 22. QUARTERLY FINANCIAL DATA (UNAUDITED) Unaudited summarized financial data by quarter for 2003 and 2002 is as follows: <Table> <Caption> MARCH 31, JUNE 30, SEPTEMBER 30, DECEMBER 31, MARCH 31, JUNE 30, SEPTEMBER 30, DECEMBER 31, 2002 2002 2002 2002 2003 2003 2003 2003 --------- -------- ------------- ------------ --------- -------- ------------- ------------ (IN THOUSANDS, EXCEPT PER SHARE AMOUNTS) Net sales............ $43,618 $47,011 $46,556 $49,004 $48,705 $51,635 $50,500 $50,191 Cost of sales........ 26,016 27,418 28,126 30,605 27,679 30,716 29,633 30,831 ------- ------- ------- ------- ------- ------- ------- ------- Gross Profit......... 17,602 19,593 18,430 18,399 21,026 20,919 20,867 19,360 Net income........... $ 2,724 $ 4,002 $ 3,125 $ 3,680 $ 4,201 $ 4,578 $ 4,309 $ 3,896 ======= ======= ======= ======= ======= ======= ======= ======= Earnings per share Basic.............. $ 0.13 $ 0.19 $ 0.15 $ 0.17 $ 0.20 $ 0.21 $ 0.20 $ 0.18 Diluted............ 0.13 0.18 0.14 0.17 0.19 0.21 0.20 0.18 </Table> Prior-year amounts have been reclassified to conform to current-year presentation. 44 ITEM 9. CHANGES IN AND DISAGREEMENTS ON ACCOUNTING AND FINANCIAL DISCLOSURE There were no changes in or disagreements on any matters of accounting principles or financial statement disclosure between our independent auditors and us during our two most recent fiscal years or any subsequent interim period. ITEM 9A. CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES The Company's management, with the participation of the Company's Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, has evaluated the effectiveness of the company's disclosure controls and procedures as of December 31, 2003. Based on that evaluation, the Company's Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer concluded that the Company's disclosure controls and procedures were effective as of December 31, 2003. There were no material changes in the Company's internal control over financial reporting during the fourth quarter of 2003. PART III ITEM 10. DIRECTORS AND EXECUTIVE OFFICERS OF THE REGISTRANT Information with respect to directors, executive officers, code of ethics, audit committee, and audit committee financial experts of the Company and Section 16(a) beneficial ownership reporting compliance is incorporated herein by reference from our proxy statement for the annual meeting of stockholders to be held on May 18, 2004. ITEM 11. EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION Incorporated herein by reference from our proxy statement for the annual meeting of stockholders to be held on May 18, 2004. ITEM 12. SECURITY OWNERSHIP OF CERTAIN BENEFICIAL OWNERS AND MANAGEMENT Incorporated herein by reference from our proxy statement for the annual meeting of stockholders to be held on May 18, 2004 and from Item 5. "Market for Registrant's Common Equity and Related Stockholder Matters" of this Form 10-K ITEM 13. CERTAIN RELATIONSHIPS AND RELATED TRANSACTIONS Incorporated herein by reference from our proxy statement for the annual meeting of stockholders to be held on May 18, 2004. ITEM 14. PRINCIPAL ACCOUNTANT FEES AND SERVICES Incorporated herein by reference from our proxy statement for the annual meeting of stockholders to be held on May 18, 2004. PART IV ITEM 15. EXHIBITS, FINANCIAL STATEMENT SCHEDULES AND REPORTS ON FORM 8-K (a) 1. The following financial statements of Schawk Inc are filed as part of this report under Item 8 -- Financial Statements and Supplementary Data: Report of Independent Auditors Consolidated Balance Sheets -- Years Ended December 31, 2003 and 2002 Consolidated Statements of Operations -- Years Ended December 31, 2003, 2002, and 2001 45 Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows -- Years Ended December 31, 2003, 2002, and 2001 Consolidated Statements of Stockholders' Equity -- Years Ended December 31, 2003, 2002, and 2001 Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements -- December 31, 2003 2. Financial statement schedules required to be filed by Item 8 of this form, and by Item 15(d) below: SCHEDULE II -- Valuation and qualifying accounts. (b) Reports on Form 8-K in the fourth quarter of 2003: <Table> <Caption> DATE FILED ITEM REGARDING - ---------- ---- --------- October 22, 2003.......................... 12 2003 Third Quarter results October 31, 2003.......................... 9 Letter of Intent to acquire Pixxon, Inc. </Table> (c) EXHIBITS <Table> <Caption> EXHIBIT INCORPORATED, HEREIN NUMBER DESCRIPTION BY REFERENCE TO - ------- ----------- -------------------- 3.1 -- Certificate of Incorporation of Schawk, Inc., as amended Registration Statement No. 33-85152 3.3 -- By-Laws of Schawk, Inc., as amended Registration Statement No. 333-39113 4.1 -- Specimen Class A Common Stock Certificate Registration Statement No. 33-85152 10.12* -- Schawk, Inc. 1988 Equity Option Plan 1988 10-K 10.13a* -- First Amendment to Schawk, Inc. 1988 Equity Option Plan 1992 10-K 10.13b* -- Second Amendment to Schawk, Inc. 1988 Equity Option Plan Registration Statement No. 33-85152 10.22 -- Lease Agreement dated as of July 1, 1987, and between Registration Statement Process Color Plate, a division of Schawk, Inc. and The No. 33-85152 Clarence W. Schawk 1979 Children's Trust 10.23 -- Lease Agreement dated as of June 1, 1989, by and between Registration Statement Schawk Graphics, Inc., a division of Schawk, Inc. and C.W. No. 33-85152 Properties 10.26* -- Schawk, Inc. 1991 Outside Directors' Formula Stock Option Registration Statement Plan, as amended No. 33-85152 10.27* -- Form of Clarence W. Schawk Amended and Restated Employment Registration Statement Agreement between Clarence W. Schawk and Schawk, Inc. No. 33-85152 10.28* -- Form of David A. Schawk Amended and Restated Employment Registration Statement Agreement between David A. Schawk and Schawk, Inc. No. 33-85152 10.31 -- Form of Registration Rights Agreement dated December 30, Registration Statement 1994, by and among Schawk, Inc. and certain investors No. 33-85152 10.32 -- Money Market Demand Note dated February 7, 1997 from Schawk, Registration Statement Inc., borrower, to the Northern Trust Company, lender No. 333-39113 10.33 -- Demand Note Agreement dated September 12, 1996 between Registration Statement Schawk Canada, Inc. and First Chicago NBD Canada and related No. 33-39113 continuing Guaranty of Schawk, Inc. 10.35 -- Letter of Agreement dated September 21, 1992, by and between Registration Statement Schawk, Inc. and Judith W. McCue No. 33-85152 10.37* -- Schawk, Inc. Retirement Trust effective January 1, 1996 1996 10-K </Table> 46 <Table> <Caption> EXHIBIT INCORPORATED, HEREIN NUMBER DESCRIPTION BY REFERENCE TO - ------- ----------- -------------------- 10.38* -- Schawk, Inc. Retirement Plan for Imaging Employees Amended 1996 10-K and Restated effective January 1, 1996 10.42 -- Schawk, Inc. Note Agreement dated as of August 18, 1995 1996 10-K 10.43 -- Stockholder Investment Program dated July 28, 1995 Registration Statement No. 33-61375 10.44a -- Credit Agreement dated January 23, 1999, by and between Form 8-K dated January Schawk, Inc. and The First National Bank of Chicago 28, 1999 10.44b -- Amendment No. 1 to Credit Agreement dated March 15, 1999 by Form 8-K dated March and between Schawk, Inc. and The First National Bank of 17, 1999 Chicago 10.45* -- Schawk, Inc. Employee Stock Purchase Plan effective January Registration Statement 1, 1999 No. 333-68521 10.46 -- Second Amended and Restated Credit Agreement dated as of 1999 10-K October 29, 1999, by and between Schawk, Inc. and Bank One, NA, excluding exhibits 10.47** -- Note Purchase Agreement dated December 23, 2003 by and between Schawk, Inc and Massachusetts Mutual Life Insurance Company 21** -- List of Subsidiaries 23** -- Consent of Independent Auditors 31.1** -- Certification of Chief Executive Officer pursuant to Rule 13a-14(a) and Rule 15d-14(a) of the Securities Exchange Act, as amended 31.2** -- Certification of Chief Financial Officer pursuant to Rule 13a-14(a) and rule 15d-14(a) of the Securities Exchange Act, as amended 32** -- Certification of Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer pursuant to 18 U.S.C. 1350, as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 </Table> - --------------- * Represents management contract or compensation plan or arrangement required to be filed pursuant to Item 14 (c). ** Document filed herewith. 47 SCHAWK, INC. SCHEDULE II -- VALUATION AND QUALIFYING ACCOUNTS ALLOWANCE FOR DOUBTFUL ACCOUNTS <Table> <Caption> YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31, ---------------------------- 2003 2002 2001 ------ ------ ---- (IN THOUSANDS) Balance beginning of year................................... $1,269 $ 813 $807 Provision................................................... 613 745 438 Deductions(1)............................................... 287 289 432 ------ ------ ---- Balance end of year......................................... $1,595 $1,269 $813 ====== ====== ==== </Table> - --------------- (1) Uncollectible accounts written off, net of recoveries. 48 SIGNATURES Pursuant to the requirement of Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrants have duly caused this report to be signed on their behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized, in Cook County, State of Illinois, on the 5th day of March 2004. Schawk, Inc. By: /s/ CLARENCE W. SCHAWK ------------------------------------ Clarence W. Schawk Chairman of the Board 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 indicated on the 5th day of March 2004. <Table> /s/ CLARENCE W. SCHAWK Chairman of the Board and Director - ----------------------------------------------------- Clarence W. Schawk /s/ DAVID A. SCHAWK President, Chief Executive Officer, and - ----------------------------------------------------- Director David A. Schawk /s/ A. ALEX SARKISIAN, ESQ. Executive Vice President, Corporate Secretary - ----------------------------------------------------- and Director A. Alex Sarkisian, Esq. /s/ JAMES J. PATTERSON Senior Vice President and Chief Financial - ----------------------------------------------------- Officer James J. Patterson /s/ JOHN T. MCENROE, ESQ. General Counsel, Assistant Secretary, and - ----------------------------------------------------- Director John T. McEnroe, Esq. /s/ LEONARD S. CARONIA Director - ----------------------------------------------------- Leonard S. Caronia /s/ JUDITH W. MCCUE, ESQ. Director - ----------------------------------------------------- Judith W. McCue, Esq. /s/ HOLLIS W. RADEMACHER Director - ----------------------------------------------------- Hollis W. Rademacher </Table> 49