ASCENT INDUSTRIES CO.
10-Ks and 10-Qs
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UNITED STATES SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
Form 10-K
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ANNUAL REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
FOR THE FISCAL YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 28, 2013 |
OR
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TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
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COMMISSION FILE NUMBER 0-19687
SYNALLOY CORPORATION
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
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Delaware
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57-0426694
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(State of incorporation)
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(I.R.S. Employer Identification No.)
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775 Spartan Blvd, Suite 102, P.O. Box 5627, Spartanburg, South Carolina 29304
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(Address of principal executive offices) (Zip Code)
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Registrant's telephone number, including area code:
(864) 585-3605
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Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act
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Name of each exchange on which registered:
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Common Stock, $1.00 Par Value
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NASDAQ Global Market
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(Title of Class)
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Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(g) of the Act:
None
Indicate by check mark if the registrant is a well-known seasoned issuer, as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act. Yes
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No
x
Indicate by check mark if the registrant is not required to file reports pursuant to Section 13 or Section 15(d) of the Act. Yes
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No
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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
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No
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Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has submitted electronically and posted on its corporate Web site, if any, every Interactive Data File required to be submitted and posted pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulation S-T during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to submit and post such files). Yes
x
No
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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.
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Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer or a smaller reporting company. See definitions of "large accelerated filer," "accelerated filer" and “smaller reporting company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act. (Check one)
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Large accelerated Filer
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Accelerated filer
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Non-accelerated filer
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Smaller reporting company
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Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Act). Yes
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No
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Based on the closing price as of June 28, 2013, which was the last business day of the registrant's most recently completed second fiscal quarter, the aggregate market value of the common stock held by non-affiliates of the registrant was $93.0 million. Based on the closing price as of February 24, 2014, the aggregate market value of common stock held by non-affiliates of the registrant was $121.7 million. The registrant did not have any non-voting common equity outstanding at either date.
The number of shares outstanding of the registrant's common stock as of February 24, 2014 was 8,695,234.
Documents Incorporated By Reference
Portions of the Proxy Statement for the 2014 annual shareholders' meeting are incorporated by reference into Part III of this Form 10-K.
Synalloy Corporation
Form 10-K
For Period Ended December 28, 2013
Table of Contents
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1
Forward-Looking Statements
This Annual Report on Form 10-K includes and incorporates by reference "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the federal securities laws. All statements that are not historical facts are "forward-looking statements." The words "estimate," "project," "intend," "expect," "believe," "should," "anticipate," "hope," "optimistic," "plan," "outlook," "should," "could," "may" and similar expressions identify forward-looking statements. The forward-looking statements are subject to certain risks and uncertainties, including without limitation those identified below, which could cause actual results to differ materially from historical results or those anticipated. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements. The following factors could cause actual results to differ materially from historical results or those anticipated: adverse economic conditions; the impact of competitive products and pricing; product demand and acceptance risks; raw material and other increased costs; raw materials availability; employee relations; ability to maintain workforce by hiring trained employees; customer delays or difficulties in the production of products; new fracking regulations; a prolonged decrease in oil prices; unforeseen delays in completing the integrations of acquisitions; risks associated with mergers, acquisitions, dispositions and other expansion activities; financial stability of our customers; environmental issues; unavailability of debt financing on acceptable terms and exposure to increased market interest rate risk; inability to comply with covenants and ratios required by our debt financing arrangements; ability to weather an economic downturn; loss of consumer or investor confidence and other risks detailed from time-to-time in Synalloy Corporation's Securities and Exchange Commission filings. Synalloy Corporation assumes no obligation to update any forward-looking information included in this Annual Report on Form 10-K.
Synalloy Corporation, a Delaware corporation, was incorporated in 1958 as the successor to a chemical manufacturing business founded in 1945. Its charter is perpetual. The name was changed on July 31, 1967 from Blackman Uhler Industries, Inc. On June 3, 1988, the state of incorporation was changed from South Carolina to Delaware. The Company's executive offices are located at 775 Spartan Boulevard, Suite 102, Spartanburg, South Carolina 29301 and 4301 Dominion Boulevard, Suite 130, Glen Allen, Virginia 23060. Unless indicated otherwise, the terms "Company," "we," "us," and "our" refer to Synalloy Corporation and our consolidated subsidiaries.
The Company's business is divided into two segments, the Metals Segment and the Specialty Chemicals Segment. The Metals Segment operates as Bristol Metals, LLC ("Bristol"), a wholly-owned subsidiary of Synalloy Metals, Inc., Ram-Fab, LLC ("Ram-Fab") and Palmer of Texas Tanks, Inc. ("Palmer"). Bristol manufactures stainless steel and other alloy pipe ("BRISMET") and fabricates piping systems ("BristolFab") from stainless steel, carbon steel and other alloys, while Ram-Fab fabricates piping systems from carbon, chrome, stainless steel and other alloys. Palmer manufactures liquid storage solutions and separation equipment. The Metals Segment's markets include the chemical, petrochemical, pulp and paper, mining, power generation (including nuclear), water and waste water treatment, liquid natural gas ("LNG"), brewery, food processing, petroleum, pharmaceutical and other industries. The Specialty Chemicals Segment operates as Manufacturers Chemicals, LLC ("MC"), a wholly-owned subsidiary of Manufacturers Soap and Chemical Company, located in Cleveland, Tennessee and Dalton, Georgia, and CRI Tolling, LLC ("CRI Tolling"), located in Fountain Inn, South Carolina. The Specialty Chemicals Segment produces specialty chemicals and dyes for the carpet, chemical, paper, metals, mining, agricultural, fiber, paint, textile, automotive, petroleum, cosmetics, mattress, furniture, janitorial and other industries.
General
Metals Segment –
This segment is comprised of three wholly-owned subsidiaries: Synalloy Metals, Inc., which owns 100 percent of Bristol Metals, LLC, located in Bristol, Tennessee; Ram-Fab, LLC, located in Crossett, Arkansas; and Palmer of Texas Tanks, Inc., located in Andrews, Texas.
BRISMET manufactures welded pipe, primarily from stainless steel, but also from other corrosion-resistant metals. Pipe is produced in sizes from one-half inch to 120 inches in diameter and wall thickness up to one and one-half inches. Eighteen-inch and smaller diameter pipe is made on equipment that forms and welds the pipe in a continuous process. Pipe larger than 18 inches in diameter is formed on presses or rolls and welded on batch welding equipment. Pipe is normally produced in standard 20-foot lengths. However, BRISMET has unusual capabilities in the production of long length pipe without circumferential welds. This can reduce installation cost for the customer. Lengths up to 60 feet can be produced in sizes up to 18 inches in diameter. In larger sizes BRISMET has a unique ability among domestic producers to make 48-foot lengths in diameters up to 36 inches. Over the past six years, Bristol has made substantial capital improvements to both BRISMET and BristolFab, expanding and improving capabilities to service markets requiring large diameter pipe and specialty alloy pipe such as water and waste water treatment, LNG, and scrubber applications for the power industry. These improvements include expanding its x-ray facilities which allows simultaneous
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use of real time and film examination; updating material handling equipment; expanding capabilities for forming large pipe on existing batch equipment, giving BRISMET the capability to produce 36-inch diameter pipe in 48-foot lengths with wall thicknesses of up to one inch; adding a shear that has the capacity of shearing stainless steel plate up to one-inch thick; completing plant expansions that allow the manufacture of pipe up to 42 inches in diameter utilizing more readily available raw materials at lower costs, provide additional manufacturing capacity, and provide improved product handling and additional space for planned equipment additions; and installing automated hydro-testing equipment for pipe up to 72 inches in diameter.
A portion of the pipe produced is further processed into piping systems that conform to engineered drawings furnished by the customers. This allows the customer to take advantage of the high quality and efficiencies of BristolFab and Ram-Fab ("Synalloy Fabrication") rather than performing all of the welding at the construction site. BristolFab's pipe fabrication shop can make one and one-half inch diameter cold bends on one-half inch through eight-inch stainless pipe with thicknesses up through schedule 40S.
Ram-Fab's carbon, stainless and chrome alloy pipe fabrication enhances BristolFab's operations, giving the segment the capability to quote on all types of pipe fabrication projects utilizing any combination of these three material types. Ram-Fab, which was purchased by the Company in 2009, was established over 20 years ago in Crossett, Arkansas and provides affordable, quality pipe fabrication in carbon and stainless steel and high chrome alloys. From power plants to refineries to chemical plants, Ram-Fab serves a broad range of customers, both domestic and international. As a carbon and stainless steel and high chrome pipe fabrication facility, Ram-Fab is poised to take advantage of the anticipated increase in the construction of power generation plants utilizing low cost natural gas, as well as nuclear. Refinery upgrades and environmental work will also add to the requirements of quality shop-fabricated carbon steel and high chrome systems.
Since BRISMET does not manufacture carbon or chrome alloy pipe these materials are purchased from outside suppliers. During 2010, Ram-Fab completed a capital project to add a temperature and humidity controlled paint facility. Since the majority of its carbon steel fabrication systems requires painting, this increased their production throughput and improved quality.
Palmer is an International Organization for Standardization ("ISO") 9001 certified manufacturer of fiberglass and steel tanks for the oil and gas, waste water treatment and municipal water industries. Located in Andrews, Texas, Palmer is ideally located in the heart of oil and gas production territory. Palmer produces made-to-order fiberglass tanks, utilizing a variety of custom mandrels and application specific materials. Their fiberglass tanks range from two feet to 30 feet in diameter at various heights. The majority of these tanks are used for oil field waste water capture and is an integral part of the environmental regulatory compliance of the drilling process. Each fiberglass tank is manufactured to American Petroleum Institute Q1 standards to ensure product quality. In 2007, Palmer began investing in a dedicated steel tank production facility. Over the past four years, Palmer has built an integrated production facility housing enclosed steel preparation, computer assisted plasma cutting table, automated submerged arc welding, blasting, painting and drying buildings. The facility enables efficient, environmentally compliant steel production with designed-in expansion capability to support future growth. Finished steel tanks range in size from 50 to 10,000 barrels and are used to store extracted oil.
In order to establish stronger business relationships, only a few raw material suppliers are used. Seven suppliers furnish about 71 percent of total dollar purchases of raw materials, with one supplier furnishing 24 percent of material purchases. However, the Company does not believe that the loss of this supplier would have a materially adverse effect on the Company as raw materials are readily available from a number of different sources, and the Company anticipates no difficulties in fulfilling its requirements.
This segment's stainless steel products are used principally by customers requiring materials that are corrosion-resistant or suitable for high-purity processes. The largest users are the chemical, petrochemical, pulp and paper, waste water treatment and LNG industries, with some other important industry users being mining, power generation (including nuclear), water treatment, brewery, food processing, petroleum, pharmaceutical and alternative fuels. The segment's carbon and chrome alloy products are used primarily in the power generation and chemical industries.
Specialty Chemicals Segment –
This segment consists of the Company's wholly-owned subsidiary Manufacturers Soap and Chemical Company ("MS&C"). MS&C owns 100 percent of MC, which is located in Cleveland, Tennessee and Dalton, Georgia, and CRI Tolling which is located in Fountain Inn, South Carolina. Both facilities are fully licensed for chemical manufacture. The segment produces specialty chemicals for the carpet, chemical, paper, metals, mining, agricultural, fiber, paint, textile, automotive, petroleum, cosmetics, mattress, furniture, janitorial and other industries.
MC, which was purchased by the Company in 1996, produces over 1,100 specialty formulations and intermediates for use in a wide variety of applications and industries. MC's primary product lines focus on the areas of defoamers, surfactants and lubricating agents. Over 20 years ago, MC began diversifying its marketing efforts and expanding beyond traditional textile chemical markets. These three fundamental product lines find their way into a large number of manufacturing businesses. Over the years, the customer list has grown to include end users and chemical companies that supply paper, metal working, surface coatings, water treatment, paint, mining and janitorial applications. MC's capabilities also include the sulfation of fats and oils. These products are used in
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a wide variety of applications and represent a renewable resource, animal and vegetable derivatives, as alternatives to more expensive and non-renewable petroleum derivatives. In its Dalton, Georgia facility, MC stores and ships chemicals and specialty chemicals manufactured in MC's Cleveland, Tennessee plant to the carpet and rug market.
MC's strategy has been to focus on industries and markets that have good prospects for sustainability in the U.S. in light of global trends. MC's marketing strategy relies on sales to end users through its own sales force, but it also sells chemical intermediates to other chemical companies and distributors. It also has close working relationships with a significant number of major chemical companies that outsource their production for regional manufacture and distribution to companies like MC. MC has been ISO registered since 1995.
CRI Tolling, which acquired substantially all of the assets of Color Resources, LLC and the facility formerly used by Color Resources, LLC in August 2013, is located in Fountain Inn, South Carolina. CRI Tolling has underutilized manufacturing capacity which allows the Company to expand production from MC's Cleveland, Tennessee facility to further penetrate existing markets, as well as develop new ones, including those in the energy industry, and provides redundant production capabilities for key products. The Company plans to invest approximately $3,500,000 in equipment at CRI Tolling during 2014. The new equipment will provide CRI Tolling with production capabilities similar to those currently in place at MC's facility and will almost double the production capacity of the Specialty Chemicals Segment.
The Specialty Chemicals Segment maintains two laboratories for applied research and quality control which are staffed by nine employees.
Most raw materials used by the segment are generally available from numerous independent suppliers and about 50 percent of total purchases are from its top seven suppliers. While some raw material needs are met by a sole supplier or only a few suppliers, the Company anticipates no difficulties in fulfilling its raw material requirements.
Please see Note 13 to the Consolidated Financial Statements, which are included in Item 8 of this Form 10-K, for financial information about the Company's segments.
Sales and Distribution
Metals Segment –
The Metals Segment utilizes separate sales organizations for its different product groups. Stainless steel pipe is sold nationwide under the BRISMET trade name through authorized stocking distributors at warehouse locations throughout the country. In addition, large quantity orders are shipped directly from BRISMET's plant to end-user customers. Producing sales and providing service to the distributors and end-user customers are BRISMET's President, two outside sales employees, twelve independent manufacturers' representatives and nine inside sales employees. The Metals Segment has one domestic customer that accounted for approximately eleven percent of the Metals Segment's revenues in 2013. These revenues were for the Bechtel nuclear project which will not recur in the future. The Company believes that it will be able to grow base stainless steel pipe sales to completely offset the loss of these revenues in 2014. A different customer amounted to ten percent of the Metals Segment's revenues in 2011. There were no customers representing more than ten percent of the segment's revenues for 2012.
Fabrication systems are sold nationwide under the Synalloy Fabrication, BristolFab, Bristol Piping Systems and Ram-Fab trade names by two outside sales employees. They are under the direction of Synalloy Fabrications' General Manager. Synalloy Fabrication also uses seven independent manufacturers' representatives to reach and expand its customer base. Fabrication systems are marketed to engineering firms and construction companies or directly to project owners. Orders are normally received as a result of competitive bids submitted in response to inquiries and bid proposals.
Palmer does not employ a dedicated external sales and marketing resource. However, it employs two inside sales professionals that manage the relationships with past customers to identify and secure new sales. Additionally, the Metals Segment President assists in account relationship management with large customers. Customer feedback and in-field experience generate product enhancements and new product development.
Specialty Chemicals Segment –
Specialty chemicals are sold directly to various industries nationwide by five full-time outside sales employees and fourteen manufacturers' representatives. The Specialty Chemicals Segment has one domestic customer that accounted for approximately 40 percent of the Segment's revenues in 2013, 28 percent in 2012 and 24 percent in 2011. This customer is a large global company, and the purchases by this customer are derived from several different business units that operate autonomously from each other. Even so, loss of this customer's revenues would have a material adverse effect on both the Specialty Chemicals Segment and the Company.
Competition
Metals Segment –
Welded stainless steel pipe is the largest sales volume product of the Metals Segment. Although information is not publicly available regarding the sales of most other producers of this product, management believes that the Company is
4
one of the largest domestic producers of such pipe. This commodity product is highly competitive with eight known domestic producers and imports from many different countries. The largest sales volume among the non-commodity specialized products comes from fabricating stainless, nickel alloys, chrome alloys and carbon piping systems. Management believes the Company is one of the largest producers of such systems. There is also significant competition in the piping systems' markets with thirteen known domestic suppliers with similar capabilities as BristolFab and Ram-Fab, along with many other smaller suppliers. Due to the size of the tanks produced and shipped to its customers, the majority of Palmer's product is sold within a 300 mile radius from its plant in Andrews, Texas. There are currently eight tank producers, with similar capabilities, servicing that same area.
Specialty Chemicals Segment –
The Company is the sole producer of certain specialty chemicals manufactured for other companies under processing agreements and also produces proprietary specialty chemicals. The Company's sales of specialty products are insignificant compared to the overall market for specialty chemicals. The market for most of the products is highly competitive and many competitors have substantially greater resources than does the Company.
Mergers, Acquisitions and Dispositions
The Company is committed to a long-term strategy of (a) reinvesting capital in our current business segments to foster their organic growth and (b) completing acquisitions that expand our current business segments or establish new manufacturing platforms. Targeted acquisitions are priced to be economically feasible and focus on achieving positive long-term benefits. These acquisitions may be paid for in the form of cash, stock, debt or a combination thereof. The amount and type of consideration and deal charges paid could have a short-term dilutive effect on the Company's earnings per share. However, such transactions are anticipated to provide long-term economic benefit to the Company.
In August, 2013, the Company completed the purchase of the business assets of Color Resources, LLC (“CRI”) and the building and land located in Fountain Inn, South Carolina where CRI was the sole tenant (the “CRI Facility”). CRI Tolling, a South Carolina limited liability company and wholly-owned subsidiary of the Company, will continue CRI’s business as that of a toll manufacturer that provides outside manufacturing resources to global and regional chemical companies. On August 9, 2013 , Synalloy purchased the CRI Facility for a total purchase price of $3,450,000 . On August 26, 2013 , the Company purchased certain assets and assumed certain operating liabilities of CRI through CRI Tolling for a total purchase price of $1,100,000 . The assets purchased from CRI included accounts receivable, inventory, certain other assets, and equipment, net of assumed payables. The Company plans to use the acquisition of CRI and the CRI facility to expand its production capacity from its Cleveland, Tennessee facility to further penetrate existing markets, as well as develop new ones, including those in the energy industry. CRI Tolling operates as a division of Synalloy’s Specialty Chemicals Segment, which includes MC. The Company viewed both the building and operating assets of CRI together as one business, capable of providing a return to ownership by expanding the segment's production capacity. Accordingly, the acquisition met the definition of a business and the transaction is structured in a way that meets the definition of a business combination under accounting standards generally accepted in the United States of America ("GAAP").
On August 21, 2012, the Company completed the purchase of all of the outstanding shares of capital stock of Lee-Var, Inc. (now Palmer of Texas Tanks, Inc.), a Texas corporation doing business as Palmer of Texas ("Palmer"), pursuant to a stock purchase agreement (the "SPA") among Palmer's former shareholders and the Company dated August 10, 2012. Palmer is a manufacturer of liquid storage solutions and separation equipment for the petroleum, municipal water, wastewater, chemical and food industries.
The purchase price for the Palmer acquisition was $25,575,000 in cash, and subject to working capital and fixed asset adjustments at closing. The adjustments at closing increased the purchase price to $26,951,209. In addition, the amount of maintenance expenditures over the 18-month period following closing and the final cost of a production expansion capital project currently underway could also result in purchase price adjustments. Currently, the Company does not expect to realize any material purchase price adjustments from these two items. Palmer shareholders also have the ability to receive contingent consideration ("earn-out") payments ranging from $2,500,000 to $10,500,000 if the business unit achieves targeted levels of earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization ("EBITDA") over a three year period following closing; and the Company will have the ability to claw-back portions of the purchase price over a two year period following closing if EBITDA falls below baseline levels. The Palmer former shareholders received the first year earn-out payment during 2013 of $2,500,000. This amount was partially offset by claims made against the sellers, as designated in the SPA, amounting to $885,000. The net amount paid to the sellers after the first year of Synalloy ownership was $1,615,000.
Environmental Matters
Environmental expenditures that relate to an existing condition caused by past operations and do not contribute to future revenue generation are expensed. Liabilities are recorded when environmental assessments and/or cleanups are probable and the costs of these assessments and/or cleanups can be reasonably estimated. Changes to laws and environmental issues, including climate change, are made or proposed with some frequency and some of the proposals, if adopted, might directly or indirectly result in a material reduction in the operating results of one or more of our operating units. We are presently unable to foresee the future well
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enough to quantify such risks. See Note 5 to the Consolidated Financial Statements, which are included in Item 8 of this Form 10-K, for further discussion.
Research and Development Activities
The Company spent approximately $558,000 in 2013, $612,000 in 2012 and $352,000 in 2011 on research and development activities that were expensed in its Specialty Chemicals Segment. Four individuals, all of whom are graduate chemists, are engaged primarily in research and development of new products and processes, the improvement of existing products and processes, and the development of new applications for existing products.
Seasonal Nature of the Business
With the exception of Palmer, the Company’s businesses and products are generally not subject to any seasonal impact that results in significant variations in revenues from one quarter to another. Palmer’s fourth quarter revenue and profit can be as much as 25 percent below the other three quarters due to vacation schedules for customer field crews working at the drill sites.
Backlogs
The Specialty Chemicals Segment operates primarily on the basis of delivering products soon after orders are received. Accordingly, backlogs are not a factor in this business. The same applies to commodity pipe sales in the Metals Segment. However, backlogs are important in the Metals Segment's fabrication products because they are produced only after orders are received, generally as the result of competitive bidding. Order backlogs for these products were $50,752,000 at the end of 2013. Management continues to address staffing levels, customer requirements and outsourcing opportunities to complete the current backlog profitably and on schedule. The backlog totaled $19,300,000 and $22,700,000 at the 2012 and 2011 respective year ends. Palmer also produces steel and fiberglass tanks after orders are received. Its backlog of open orders was $11,477,000 at the end of 2013. Management began tracking Palmer backlog during the fourth quarter of 2013. Therefore, backlog levels for prior periods are not available.
Employee Relations
At December 28, 2013, the Company had 670 employees. The Company considers relations with employees to be satisfactory. The number of employees of the Company represented by unions, all located at the Bristol, Tennessee facility, is 249, or 37 percent of the Company's employees. They are represented by two locals affiliated with the AFL-CIO and one local affiliated with the Teamsters. Collective bargaining contracts will expire in January 2015 and March 2015. The Company is currently in negotiations with the union regarding the collective bargaining contract that expired February 2014.
Financial Information about Geographic Areas
Information about revenues derived from domestic and foreign customers is set forth in Note 13 to the Consolidated Financial Statements.
Available information
The Company electronically files with the Securities and Exchange Commission ("SEC") its annual reports on Form 10-K, its quarterly reports on Form 10-Q, its periodic reports on Form 8-K, amendments to those reports filed or furnished pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (the "1934 Act"), and proxy materials pursuant to Section 14 of the 1934 Act. The SEC maintains a site on the Internet,
www.sec.gov
, that contains reports, proxy and information statements, and other information regarding issuers that file electronically with the SEC. The Company also makes its filings available, free of charge, through its Web site,
www.synalloy.com
, as soon as reasonably practical after the electronic filing of such material with the SEC. The information on the Company's Web site is not incorporated into this Annual Report on Form 10-K or any other filing the Company makes with the SEC.
There are inherent risks and uncertainties associated with our business that could adversely affect our operating performance and financial condition. Set forth below are descriptions of those risks and uncertainties that we believe to be material, but the risks and uncertainties described are not the only risks and uncertainties that could affect our business. Reference should be made to "Forward-Looking Statements" above, and "Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations" in Item 7 below.
The cyclical nature of the industries in which our customers operate causes demand for our products to be cyclical, creating uncertainty regarding future profitability.
Various changes in general economic conditions affect the industries in which our customers operate. These changes include decreases in the rate of consumption or use of our customers’ products due to economic
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downturns. Other factors causing fluctuation in our customers’ positions are changes in market demand, capital spending, lower overall pricing due to domestic and international overcapacity, lower priced imports, currency fluctuations, and increases in use or decreases in prices of substitute materials. As a result of these factors, our profitability has been and may in the future be subject to significant fluctuation.
Domestic competition could force lower product pricing and may have an adverse effect on our revenues and profitability.
From time-to-time, intense competition and excess manufacturing capacity in the commodity stainless steel industry have resulted in reduced selling prices, excluding raw material surcharges, for many of our stainless steel products sold by the Metals Segment. In order to maintain market share, we would have to lower our prices to match the competition. These factors have had and may continue to have an adverse impact on our revenues, operating results and financial condition and may continue to do so in the future.
Our business, financial condition and results of operations could be adversely affected by an increased level of imported products.
Our business is susceptible to the import of products from other countries, particularly steel products. Import levels of various products are affected by, among other things, overall world-wide demand, lower cost of production in other countries, the trade practices of foreign governments, government subsidies to foreign producers and governmentally imposed trade restrictions in the United States. Although imports from certain countries have been curtailed by anti-dumping duties, imported products from
other countries at significantly reduced prices have increased in 2013. Our average selling prices for commodity pipe of the Metals Segment decreased by thirteen percent for the year ended December 28, 2013 compared to the respective prior comparable period, reducing our profitability in the current year. Increased imports of certain products, whether illegal dumping or legal imports, could reduce demand for our products in the future and adversely affect our business, financial position, results of operations or cash flows.
Raw material costs relating to the Metals Segment are subject to volatility, and we may be unable to raise the price of our products to cover all or part of the increased cost of raw materials, which would have an adverse effect on our results of operations and profitability.
Rapid increases in raw material costs may adversely affect our results of operations, mainly for our fabrication and steel tank operations as the entire production and sales model for these operations is based upon producing to order. During the bidding process for our fabrication and steel tank businesses, we provide a quote on the project based upon current market prices for stainless and carbon steel plate, pipe and fittings. Although we are able to mitigate some of the adverse impact of rising raw material costs, such as passing through surcharges to customers, rapid changes in raw material costs during the period of time from when we bid on the project to when the materials were ordered would reduce our profitability on that project.
Although there historically has been ample availability of raw materials, there continues to be a significant consolidation of stainless steel suppliers throughout the world, which could have an impact on the cost and availability of stainless steel in the future. The ability to implement price increases is dependent on market conditions, economic factors, raw material costs, including surcharges on stainless steel, availability of raw materials, competitive factors, operating costs and other factors, most of which are beyond our control. To the extent that we have quoted prices to customers and accepted customer orders for products prior to purchasing necessary raw materials, or have existing contracts, we may be unable to raise the price of products to cover all or a portion of the increased cost of the raw materials.
The Specialty Chemicals Segment uses significant quantities of a variety of specialty and commodity chemicals in its manufacturing processes, which are subject to price and availability fluctuations that may have an adverse impact on our financial performance.
The raw materials we use are generally available from numerous independent suppliers. However, some of our raw material needs are met by a sole supplier or only a few suppliers. If any supplier that we rely on for raw materials ceases or limits production, we may incur significant additional costs, including capital costs, in order to find alternate, reliable raw material suppliers. We may also experience significant production delays while locating new supply sources, which could result in our failure to timely deliver products to our customers. Purchase prices and availability of these critical raw materials are subject to volatility. Some of the raw materials used by the Specialty Chemicals Segment are derived from petrochemical-based feedstock, such as crude oil and natural gas, which have been subject to historical periods of rapid and significant movements in price. These fluctuations in price could be aggravated by factors beyond our control such as political instability, and supply and demand factors, including Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries ("OPEC") production quotas and increased global demand for petroleum-based products. At any given time we may be unable to obtain an adequate supply of these critical raw materials on a timely basis, at prices and other terms acceptable, or at all. If suppliers increase the price of critical raw materials, we may not have alternative sources of supply. We attempt to pass changes in the prices of raw materials along to our customers. However, we cannot always do so, and any limitation on our ability to pass through any price increases could have an adverse effect on our financial performance. Any significant variations in the cost and availability of our specialty and commodity materials may negatively affect our business, financial condition or results of operations, specifically for the Specialty Chemicals Segment.
7
We rely on a small number of suppliers for our raw materials and any interruption in our supply chain could affect our operations.
In order to foster stronger business relationships, the Metals Segment uses only a few raw material suppliers. During the year ended December 28, 2013, seven suppliers furnished approximately 71 percent of our total dollar purchases of raw materials, with one supplier providing 24 percent. However, these raw materials are available from a number of sources, and the Company anticipates no difficulties in fulfilling its raw materials requirements for the Metals Segment. Raw materials used by the Specialty Chemicals Segment are generally available from numerous independent suppliers and approximately 50 percent of total purchases were made from our top seven suppliers during the year ended December 28, 2013. Although some raw material needs are met by a single supplier or only a few suppliers, the Company anticipates no difficulties in fulfilling its raw material requirements for the Specialty Chemicals Segment. While the Company believes that raw materials for both segments are readily available from numerous sources, the loss of one or more key suppliers in either segment, or any other material change in our current supply channels, could have an adverse effect on the Company’s ability to meet the demand for its products, which could impact our operations, revenues and financial results.
A substantial portion of our overall sales is dependent upon a limited number of customers, and the loss of one or more of such customers would have a material adverse effect on our business, results of operation and profitability.
The products of the Specialty Chemicals Segment are sold to various industries nationwide. However, that segment has one domestic customer that accounted for approximately 40 percent of revenues in 2013, 28 percent of revenues in 2012 and 24 percent of revenues in 2011. This customer is a large global company, and its purchases are derived from several different business units that operate independently of each other. Even so, the loss of this customer would have a material adverse effect on the revenues of the Specialty Chemicals Segment and the Company.
The Metals Segment has one domestic customer that accounted for approximately eleven percent of the segment’s revenues in 2013. These revenues were for the Bechtel nuclear project which will not recur in the future. The Company believes that it will be able to grow base stainless steel pipe sales to completely offset the loss of these revenues in 2014. A different domestic customer accounted for ten percent of the segment’s revenues in 2011. No customer accounted for more than ten percent of the segment’s revenues for 2012. Palmer, which is a part of the Metals Segment, sells much of its products to the oil and gas industry. Any change in this industry, or any change in this industry’s demand for Palmer’s products, would have a material adverse effect on the profits of the Metals Segment and the Company.
Our operating results are sensitive to the availability and cost of energy and freight, which are important in the manufacture and transport of our products.
Our operating costs increase when energy or freight costs rise. During periods of increasing energy and freight costs, we might not be able to fully recover our operating cost increases through price increases without reducing demand for our products. In addition, we are dependent on third party freight carriers to transport many of our products, all of which are dependent on fuel to transport our products. The prices for and availability of electricity, natural gas, oil, diesel fuel and other energy resources are subject to volatile market conditions. These market conditions often are affected by political and economic factors beyond our control. Disruptions in the supply of energy resources could temporarily impair the ability to manufacture products for customers and may result in the decline of freight carrier capacity in our geographic markets, or make freight carriers unavailable. Further, increases in energy or freight costs that cannot be passed on to customers, or changes in costs relative to energy and freight costs paid by competitors, has adversely affected, and may continue to adversely affect, our profitability.
Oil prices are extremely volatile. A substantial or extended decline in the price of oil could adversely affect our financial condition and results of operations.
Prices for oil can fluctuate widely. Our Palmer unit’s revenues are highly dependent on our customers adding oil well drilling and pumping locations. Should oil prices decline such that drilling becomes unprofitable for our customers, such customers will likely cap many of their current wells and cease or curtail expansion. This will decrease the demand for our tanks and adversely affect the results of our operations.
Significant changes in nickel prices could have an impact on the sales by the Metals Segment.
The Metals Segment uses nickel in a number of its products. Nickel prices are currently at a relatively low level, which reduces our manufacturing costs for certain products. When nickel prices increase, many of our customers increase their orders in an attempt to avoid future price increases, resulting in increased sales for the Metals Segment. Conversely, when nickel prices decrease, many of our customers wait to place orders in an attempt to take advantage of subsequent price decreases, resulting in reduced sales for the Metals Segment. On average, the Metals Segment turns its inventory of commodity pipe every four months, but the nickel surcharge on sales of commodity pipe is established on a weekly basis. The difference, if any, between the price of nickel on the date of purchase of the raw material and the price, as established by the surcharge, on the date of sale has the potential to create an inventory profit or loss. If the price of nickel steadily increases over time, as it did from 2005 to 2007, the Metals Segment is the beneficiary of the increase in nickel price in the form of inventory gains. Conversely, if the price of nickel steadily decreases over time, as it has from 2009 to 2013, the Metals Segment suffers inventory losses. As a result of decreasing nickel prices, we incurred inventory losses of $3,103,000 for the year ended December 28, 2013. We will incur additional inventory losses in the future if nickel prices decrease. Any material changes in the cost of nickel could impact our sales and result in fluctuations in the profits for the Metals Segment.
8
We encounter significant competition in all areas of our businesses and may be unable to compete effectively, which could result in reduced profitability and loss of market share.
We actively compete with companies producing the same or similar products and, in some instances, with companies producing different products designed for the same uses. We encounter competition from both domestic and foreign sources in price, delivery, service, performance, product innovation and product recognition and quality, depending on the product involved. For some of our products, our competitors are larger and have greater financial resources than we do. As a result, these competitors may be better able to withstand a change in conditions within the industries in which we operate, a change in the prices of raw materials or a change in the economy as a whole. Our competitors can be expected to continue to develop and introduce new and enhanced products and more efficient production capabilities, which could cause a decline in market acceptance of our products. Current and future consolidation among our competitors and customers also may cause a loss of market share as well as put downward pressure on pricing. Our competitors could cause a reduction in the prices for some of our products as a result of intensified price competition. Competitive pressures can also result in the loss of major customers. If we cannot compete successfully, our business, financial condition and profitability could be adversely affected.
Our lengthy sales cycle for the Specialty Chemicals Segment makes it difficult to predict quarterly revenue levels and operating results.
Purchasing the products of the Specialty Chemicals Segment is a major commitment on the part of our customers. Before a potential customer determines to purchase products from the Specialty Chemicals Segment, the Company must produce test product material so that the potential customer is satisfied that we can manufacture a product to their specifications. The production of such test materials is a time-consuming process. Accordingly, the sales process for products in the Specialty Chemicals Segment is a lengthy process that requires a considerable investment of time and resources on our part. As a result, the timing of our revenues is difficult to predict, and the delay of an order could cause our quarterly revenues to fall below our expectations and those of the public market analysts and investors.
A significant portion of our sales results from competitive bidding, which is a long and unpredictable process.
In both of our business segments, many of our sales efforts are based on competitive bidding situations with existing and potential customers in which we must fix a price early in the process. This is often a slow and lengthy process that requires us to spend considerable time and resources. Moreover, it is an unpredictable process and we are not always successful in our bidding. The unpredictability of the competitive bidding process makes it difficult to predict our quarterly revenues with any degree of certainty. In the event we do not accurately predict our costs on a project, we will not realize our profit expectations and may in fact incur a loss on that particular project. Many factors which are out of our control may adversely affect our profit on a project.
Our operations expose us to the risk of environmental, health and safety liabilities and obligations, which could have a material adverse effect on our financial condition, results of operations or cash flows.
We are subject to numerous federal, state and local environmental protection and health and safety laws governing, among other things:
|
•
|
the generation, use, storage, treatment, transportation, disposal and management of hazardous substances and wastes;
|
|
•
|
emissions or discharges of pollutants or other substances into the environment;
|
|
•
|
investigation and remediation of, and damages resulting from, releases of hazardous substances; and
|
|
•
|
the health and safety of our employees.
|
Under certain environmental laws, we can be held strictly liable for hazardous substance contamination of any real property we have ever owned, operated or used as a disposal site. We are also required to maintain various environmental permits and licenses, many of which require periodic modification and renewal. Our operations entail the risk of violations of those laws and regulations, and we cannot assure you that we have been or will be at all times in compliance with all of these requirements. In addition, these requirements and their enforcement may become more stringent in the future.
We have incurred, and expect to continue to incur, additional capital expenditures in addition to ordinary course costs to comply with applicable environmental laws, such as those governing air emissions and wastewater discharges. Our failure to comply with applicable environmental laws and permit requirements could result in civil and/or criminal fines or penalties, enforcement actions, and regulatory or judicial orders enjoining or curtailing operations or requiring corrective measures such as the installation of pollution control equipment, which could have a material adverse effect on our financial condition, results of operations or cash flows.
We are currently, and may in the future be, required to investigate, remediate or otherwise address contamination at our current or former facilities. Many of our current and former facilities have a history of industrial usage for which additional investigation, remediation or other obligations could arise in the future and that could materially adversely affect our business, financial condition, results of operations or cash flows. In addition, we are currently and, could in the future be, responsible for costs to address contamination identified at any real property we used as a disposal site.
9
Although we cannot predict the ultimate cost of compliance with any of the requirements described above, the costs could be material. Non-compliance could subject us to material liabilities, such as government fines, third-party lawsuits or the suspension of non-compliant operations. We also may be required to make significant site or operational modifications at substantial cost. Future developments also could restrict or eliminate the use of or require us to make modifications to our products, which could have a significant negative impact on our results of operations and cash flows. At any given time, we are involved in claims, litigation, administrative proceedings and investigations of various types involving potential environmental liabilities, including cleanup costs associated with hazardous waste disposal sites at our facilities. We cannot assure you that the resolution of these environmental matters will not have a material adverse effect on our results of operations or cash flows. The ultimate costs and timing of environmental liabilities are difficult to predict. Liability under environmental laws relating to contaminated sites can be imposed retroactively and on a joint and several basis. We could incur significant costs, including cleanup costs, civil or criminal fines and sanctions and third-party claims, as a result of past or future violations of, or liabilities under, environmental laws.
We could be subject to third party claims for property damage, personal injury, nuisance or otherwise as a result of violations of, or liabilities under, environmental, health or safety laws in connection with releases of hazardous or other materials at any current or former facility. We could also be subject to environmental indemnification claims in connection with assets and businesses that we have acquired or divested.
There can be no assurance that any future capital and operating expenditures to maintain compliance with environmental laws, as well as costs to address contamination or environmental claims, will not exceed any current estimates or adversely affect our financial condition and results of operations. In addition, any unanticipated liabilities or obligations arising, for example, out of discovery of previously unknown conditions or changes in laws or regulations, could have an adverse effect on our business, financial condition, results of operations or cash flows.
We are dependent upon the continued operation of our production facilities, which are subject to a number of hazards.
In both of our business segments, but especially in the Specialty Chemicals Segment, our production facilities are subject to hazards associated with the manufacture, handling, storage and transportation of chemical materials and products, including leaks and ruptures, explosions, fires, inclement weather and natural disasters, unscheduled downtime and environmental hazards which could result in liability for workplace injuries and fatalities. In addition, some of our production capabilities are highly specialized, which limits our ability to shift production to another facility in the event of an incident at a particular facility. If a production facility, or a critical portion of a production facility, were temporarily shut down, we likely would incur higher costs for alternate sources of supply for our products. We cannot assure you that we will not experience these types of incidents in the future or that these incidents will not result in production delays, failure to timely fulfill customer orders or otherwise have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition or results of operations.
Certain of our employees in the Metals Segment are covered by collective bargaining agreements, and the failure to renew these agreements could result in labor disruptions and increased labor costs.
As of December 28, 2013, we had 249 employees represented by unions at our Bristol, Tennessee facility, which is 37 percent of the aggregate number of Company employees. These employees are represented by two local unions affiliated with the American Federation of Labor and Congress of Industrial Organizations (the “AFL-CIO”) and one local union affiliated with the International Brotherhood of Teamsters (the “Teamsters Union”). The collective bargaining contracts for one of the AFL-CIO unions and for the Teamsters Union will expire in January 2015 and March 2015, respectively. The collective bargaining contract for the other AFL-CIO union expired in February 2014. The Company is currently in negotiations with this union regarding a new collective bargaining agreement. Although we believe that our present labor relations are satisfactory, our failure to renew these agreements on reasonable terms as the current agreements expire could result in labor disruptions and increased labor costs, which could adversely affect our financial performance.
Our current capital structure includes indebtedness, which is secured by all or substantially all of our assets and which contains restrictive covenants that may prevent us from obtaining adequate working capital, making acquisitions or capital improvements.
Our existing credit facilities contain restrictive covenants that limit our ability to, among other things, borrow money or guarantee the debts of others, use assets as security in other transactions, make investments or other restricted payments or distributions, change our business or enter into new lines of business, and sell or acquire assets or merge with or into other companies. In addition, our credit facilities require us to meet financial ratios which could limit our ability to plan for or react to market conditions or meet extraordinary capital needs and could otherwise restrict our financing activities. Our ability to comply with the covenants and other terms of our credit facilities will depend on our future operating performance. If we fail to comply with such covenants and terms, we will be in default and the maturity of any then outstanding related debt could be accelerated and become immediately due and payable. In addition, in the event of such a default, our lender may refuse to advance additional funds, demand immediate repayment of our outstanding indebtedness, and elect to foreclose on our assets that secure the credit facilities.
There were no events of default under the covenants of our credit facilities at December 28, 2013. Although we believe we will remain in compliance with these covenants in the foreseeable future and that our relationship with our lender is strong, there is
10
no assurance our lender would consent to an amendment or waiver in the event of noncompliance; or that such consent would not be conditioned upon the receipt of a cash payment, revised principal payout terms, increased interest rates or restrictions in the expansion of the credit facilities for the foreseeable future, or that our lender would not exercise rights that would be available to them, including, among other things, demanding payment of outstanding borrowings. In addition, our ability to obtain additional capital or alternative borrowing arrangements at reasonable rates may be adversely affected. All or any of these adverse events would further limit our flexibility in planning for, or reacting to, downturns in our business.
We may need new or additional financing in the future to expand our business or refinance existing indebtedness, and our inability to obtain capital on satisfactory terms or at all may have an adverse impact on our operations and our financial results.
If we are unable to access capital on satisfactory terms and conditions, we may not be able to expand our business or meet our payment requirements under our existing credit facilities. Our ability to obtain new or additional financing will depend on a variety of factors, many of which are beyond our control. We may not be able to obtain new or additional financing because we may have substantial debt or because we may not have sufficient cash flows to service or repay our existing or future debt. In addition, depending on market conditions and our financial performance, equity financing may not be available on satisfactory terms or at all. If we are unable to access capital on satisfactory terms and conditions, this could have an adverse impact on our operations and our financial results.
Our existing property and liability insurance coverages contain exclusions and limitations on coverage.
We have maintained various forms of insurance, including insurance covering claims related to our properties and risks associated with our operations. From time-to-time, in connection with renewals of insurance, we have experienced additional exclusions and limitations on coverage, larger self-insured retentions and deductibles and higher premiums, primarily from the operations of the Specialty Chemicals Segment. As a result, our existing coverage may not be sufficient to cover any losses we may incur and in the future our insurance coverage may not cover claims to the extent that it has in the past and the costs that we incur to procure insurance may increase significantly, either of which could have an adverse effect on our results of operations or cash flows.
We may not be able to make the operational and product changes necessary to continue to be an effective competitor.
We must continue to enhance our existing products and to develop and manufacture new products with improved capabilities in order to continue to be an effective competitor in our business markets. In addition, we must anticipate and respond to changes in industry standards that affect our products and the needs of our customers. We also must continue to make improvements in our productivity in order to maintain our competitive position. When we invest in new technologies, processes or production capabilities, we face risks related to construction delays, cost over-runs and unanticipated technical difficulties.
The success of any new or enhanced products will depend on a number of factors, such as technological innovations, increased manufacturing and material costs, customer acceptance, and the performance and quality of the new or enhanced products. As we introduce new products or refine existing products, we cannot predict the level of market acceptance or the amount of market share these new or enhanced products may achieve. Moreover, we may experience delays in the introduction of new or enhanced products. Any manufacturing delays or problems with new or enhanced product launches will adversely affect our operating results. In addition, the introduction of new products could result in a decrease in revenues from existing products. Also, we may need more capital for product development and enhancement than is available to us, which could adversely affect our business, financial condition or results of operations. We sell our products in industries that are affected by technological changes, new product introductions and changing industry standards. If we do not respond by developing new products or enhancing existing products on a timely basis, our products will become obsolete over time and our revenues, cash flows, profitability and competitive position will suffer.
In addition, if we fail to accurately predict future customer needs and preferences, we may invest heavily in the development of new or enhanced products that do not result in significant sales and revenue. Even if we successfully innovate in the development of new and enhanced products, we may incur substantial costs in doing so, and our profitability may suffer. Our products must be kept current to meet the needs of our customers. To remain competitive, we must develop new and innovative products on an on-going basis. If we fail to make innovations, or the market does not accept our new or enhanced products, our sales and results could suffer.
Our inability to anticipate and respond to changes in industry standards and the needs of our customers, or to utilize changing technologies in responding to those changes, could have a material adverse effect on our business and our results of operations.
Our strategy of using acquisitions and dispositions to position our businesses may not always be successful, which may have a material adverse impact on our financial results and profitability.
We have historically utilized acquisitions and dispositions in an effort to strategically position our businesses and improve our ability to compete. We plan to continue to do this by seeking specialty niches, acquiring businesses complementary to existing strengths and continually evaluating the performance and strategic fit of our existing business units. We consider acquisition, joint ventures and other business combination opportunities as well as
11
possible business unit dispositions. From time-to-time, management holds discussions with management of other companies to explore such opportunities. As a result, the relative makeup of the businesses comprising our Company is subject to change. Acquisitions, joint ventures and other business combinations involve various inherent risks, such as: assessing accurately the value, strengths, weaknesses, contingent and other liabilities and potential profitability of acquisition or other transaction candidates; the potential loss of key personnel of an acquired business; significant transaction costs that were not identified during due diligence; our ability to achieve identified financial and operating synergies anticipated to result from an acquisition or other transaction; and unanticipated changes in business and economic conditions affecting an acquisition or other transaction. If acquisition opportunities are not available or if one or more acquisitions are not successfully integrated into our operations, this could have a material adverse impact on our financial results and profitability.
The loss of key members of our management team, or difficulty attracting and retaining experienced technical personnel, could reduce our competitiveness and have an adverse effect on our business and results of operations.
The successful implementation of our strategies and handling of other issues integral to our future success will depend, in part, on our experienced management team. The loss of key members of our management team could have an adverse effect on our business. Although we have entered into an employment agreement with Craig C. Bram, our President and Chief Executive Officer, Mr. Bram may resign from the Company at any time and seek employment elsewhere, subject to certain non-competition restrictions for a one-year period. Additionally, if we cannot retain our technical personnel or attract additional experienced technical personnel, our ability to compete could be harmed.
Federal, state and local legislative and regulatory initiatives relating to hydraulic fracturing, as well as governmental reviews of such activities could result in delays or eliminate new wells from being started, thus reducing the demand for our fiberglass and steel storage tanks.
Hydraulic fracturing (“fracking”) is currently an essential and common practice to extract oil from dense subsurface rock formations and this lower cost extraction method is a significant driving force behind the recent surge of oil exploration and drilling in several locations in the United States. However, the Environmental Protection Agency, U.S. Congress and state legislatures have considered adopting legislation to provide additional regulations and disclosures surrounding this process. In the event that new legal restrictions surrounding the fracking process are adopted in the areas in which our customers operate, we may see a dramatic decrease in Palmer’s profitability which could have an adverse impact on our financial results.
Our results of operations could be adversely affected by goodwill impairments.
As a result of our acquisitions, we had approximately $18.3 million of goodwill on our balance sheet as of December 28, 2013. Goodwill must be tested at least annually for impairment, and more frequently when circumstances indicate likely impairment. Goodwill is considered impaired to the extent that its carrying amount exceeds its implied fair value. An impairment of goodwill could have a substantial negative effect on our profitability.
Our allowance for doubtful accounts may not be adequate to cover actual losses.
An allowance for doubtful accounts in maintained for estimated losses resulting from the inability of our customers to make required payments and for disputed claims and quality issues. This allowance may not be adequate to cover actual losses, and future provisions for losses could materially and adversely affect our operating results. The allowance for doubtful accounts is based on prior experience, as well as an evaluation of the outstanding receivables and existing economic conditions. The amount of future losses is susceptible to changes in economic, operating and other outside forces and conditions, all of which are beyond our control, and these losses may exceed current estimates. Although management believes that the allowance for doubtful accounts is adequate to cover current estimated losses, we cannot make assurances that we will not further increase the allowance for doubtful accounts. A significant increase in the allowance for doubtful accounts could adversely affect our earnings.
We depend on third parties to distribute certain of our products and because we have no control over such third parties we are subject to adverse changes in such parties’ operations or interruptions of service, each of which may have an adverse effect on our operations.
We use third parties over which we have only limited control to distribute certain of our products. Our dependency on these third party distributors has increased as our business has grown. Because we rely on these third parties to provide these distribution services, any change in our ability to access these third party distribution services could have an adverse impact on our revenues and put us at a competitive disadvantage with our competitors.
Freight costs for products produced in our Palmer operations restrict our sales area for this facility.
The freight and other distribution costs for products sold from our Palmer facility are extremely high. As a result, the market area for these products is restricted, which limits the geographic market for Palmer’s tanks and the ability to significantly increase revenues derived from sales of products from the Palmer facility.
New regulations related to “conflict minerals” may force us to incur additional expenses, may make our supply chain more complex and may result in damage to our reputation with customers.
On August 22, 2012, under the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act of 2010 (the “Dodd-Frank Act”), the SEC adopted new requirements for companies that use certain minerals and metals, known as conflict minerals, in their products, whether or not these products are manufactured by third parties.
12
These requirements will require companies to conduct due diligence and disclose whether or not such minerals originate from the Democratic Republic of Congo and adjoining countries. Tungsten and tantalum are designated as conflict minerals under the Dodd-Frank Act. These metals are used to varying degrees in our welding materials and are also present in specialty alloy products. The implementation of these new requirements could adversely affect the sourcing, availability and pricing of minerals used in our products. In addition, we could incur additional costs to comply with the disclosure requirements, including costs related to determining the source of any of the relevant minerals and metals used in our products. Since our supply chain is complex, we may not be able to sufficiently verify the origins for these minerals and metals used in our products through the due diligence procedures that we implement, which may harm our reputation. In such event, we may also face difficulties in satisfying customers who could require that all of the components of our products are conflict mineral-free.
Our inability to sufficiently or completely protect our intellectual property rights could adversely affect our business, prospects, financial condition and results of operations.
Our ability to compete effectively in both of our business segments will depend on our ability to maintain the proprietary nature of the intellectual property used in our businesses. These intellectual property rights consist largely of trade-secrets and know-how. We rely on a combination of trade secrets and non-disclosure and other contractual agreements and technical measures to protect our rights in our intellectual property. We also depend upon confidentiality agreements with our officers, directors, employees, consultants and subcontractors, as well as collaborative partners, to maintain the proprietary nature of our intellectual property. These measures may not afford us sufficient or complete protection, and others may independently develop intellectual property similar to ours, otherwise avoid our confidentiality agreements or produce technology that would adversely affect our business, prospects, financial condition and results of operations.
Our internal controls over financial reporting could fail to prevent or detect misstatements.
Because of its inherent limitations, internal controls over financial reporting may not prevent or detect misstatements. Also, projections of any evaluation of effectiveness to future periods are subject to the risk that controls may become inadequate because of changes in conditions, or that the degree of compliance with the policies or procedures may deteriorate. Any failure to maintain effective internal controls or to timely effect any necessary improvement in our internal control and disclosure controls could, among other things, result in losses from fraud or error, harm our reputation or cause investors to lose confidence in our reported financial information, all of which could have a material adverse effect on our financial condition, results of operations and cash flows.
Cyber security risks and cyber incidents could adversely affect our business and disrupt operations.
Cyber incidents can result from deliberate attacks or unintentional events. These incidents can include, but are not limited to, gaining unauthorized access to digital systems for purposes of misappropriating assets or sensitive information, corrupting data, or causing operational disruption. The result of these incidents could include, but are not limited to, disrupted operations, misstated financial data, liability for stolen assets or information, increased cyber security protection costs, litigation and reputational damage adversely affecting customer or investor confidence.
None.
13
The Company operates the major plants and facilities listed below, all of which are in adequate condition for their current usage. All facilities throughout the Company are believed to be adequately insured. The buildings are of various types of construction including brick, steel, concrete, concrete block and sheet metal. All have adequate transportation facilities for both raw materials and finished products. The Company owns all of these plants and facilities, except the warehouse facilities located in Dalton, GA, and the corporate offices located in Spartanburg, SC and Glen Allen, VA.
|
Location
|
Principal Operations
|
Building Square Feet
|
Land Acres
|
|||
|
Bristol, TN
|
Manufacturing stainless steel pipe and stainless and carbon steel piping systems
|
275,000
|
73.1
|
|||
|
Fountain Inn, SC
|
Chemical manufacturing and warehousing facilities
|
136,834
|
16.9
|
|||
|
Crossett, AR
|
Manufacturing stainless and carbon steel and chrome alloy piping systems
|
133,000
|
19.8
|
|||
|
Cleveland, TN
|
Chemical manufacturing and warehousing facilities
|
118,000
|
10.5
|
|||
|
Andrews, TX
|
Manufacturing liquid storage solutions and separation equipment
|
109,432
|
19.6
|
|||
|
Dalton, GA
|
Warehouse facilities
(1)
|
32,000
|
2.0
|
|||
|
Spartanburg, SC
|
Corporate headquarters
(1)
|
6,840
|
—
|
|||
|
Glen Allen, VA
|
Office space for Corporate employees
(1)
|
2,869
|
—
|
|||
|
Augusta, GA
|
Chemical manufacturing
(2)
|
—
|
46.0
|
|||
|
(1)
|
Leased facility.
|
|
(2)
|
Plant was closed in 2001 and all structures and manufacturing equipment have been removed.
|
For a discussion of legal proceedings, see Notes 5 and 11 to the Consolidated Financial Statements included in Item 8 of this Form 10-K.
Not applicable.
14
The Company had
605
common shareholders of record at February 24, 2014. The Company's common stock trades on the NASDAQ Global Market under the trading symbol SYNL. The Company's credit agreement only restricts the payment of dividends through a minimum tangible net worth covenant. The Company paid a $0.26 cash dividend on December 3, 2013, a $0.25 cash dividend on December 10, 2012, and a $0.25 cash dividend on December 5, 2011. The prices shown below are the high and low sales prices for the common stock for each full quarterly period in the last two fiscal years as quoted on the NASDAQ Global Market.
|
|
2013
|
2012
|
||||||||||||||
|
Quarter
|
High
|
Low
|
High
|
Low
|
||||||||||||
|
1st
|
$
|
14.88
|
|
$
|
12.53
|
|
$
|
13.78
|
|
$
|
10.21
|
|
||||
|
2nd
|
16.00
|
|
12.94
|
|
13.45
|
|
10.39
|
|
||||||||
|
3rd
|
17.38
|
|
14.99
|
|
14.00
|
|
10.45
|
|
||||||||
|
4th
|
16.75
|
|
13.80
|
|
14.97
|
|
12.26
|
|
||||||||
The information required by Item 201(d) of Regulation S-K is set forth in Part III, Item 12 of this Annual Report on Form 10-K.
Comparison of 5 Year Cumulative Total Return Graph
|
|
12/08
|
12/09
|
12/10
|
12/11
|
12/12
|
12/13
|
||||||||||||||||||
|
Synalloy Corporation
|
$
|
100.00
|
|
$
|
200.38
|
|
$
|
272.97
|
|
$
|
237.06
|
|
$
|
336.39
|
|
$
|
366.85
|
|
||||||
|
Russell 2000
|
100.00
|
|
127.17
|
|
161.32
|
|
154.59
|
|
179.86
|
|
249.69
|
|
||||||||||||
|
NASDAQ Non-Financial
|
100.00
|
|
151.48
|
|
177.87
|
|
179.66
|
|
209.54
|
|
295.28
|
|
||||||||||||
15
This graph and related information shall not be deemed to be “filed” with the Securities and Exchange Commission or “soliciting material” or subject to Regulation 14A, or the liabilities of Section 18 of the 1934 Act, except to the extent the Company specifically requests that such information be treated as soliciting material or specifically incorporates it by reference into a filing under the Securities Act of 1933 or the 1934 Act.
Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities
Pursuant to the compensation arrangement with directors discussed under Item 12 "Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and Management and Related Stockholder Matters" in this Form 10-K, on April 5, 2013, the Company issued an aggregate of 9,411 shares of restricted stock to non-employee directors in lieu of $128,000 of their annual cash retainer fees. Issuance of these shares was not registered under the Securities Act of 1933 based on the exemption provided by Section 4(2) thereof because no public offering was involved.
The Company also issued 8,161 shares of common stock in 2013 to management and key employees that vested pursuant to the 2005 Stock Awards Plan. Issuance of these shares was not registered under the Securities Act of 1933 based on the exemption provided by Section 4(2) thereof because no public offering was involved.
Neither the Company, nor any affiliated purchaser (as defined in Rule 10b-18(a)(3) of the 1934 Act) on behalf of the Company repurchased any of the Company's securities during the fourth quarter of 2013.
16
|
Selected Financial Data and Other Financial Information
|
|||||||||||||||||||
|
(Dollar amounts in thousands except for per share data)
|
|||||||||||||||||||
|
|
2013
|
2012
|
2011
|
2010
|
2009
|
||||||||||||||
|
Operations
|
|
|
|
|
|
||||||||||||||
|
Net sales
|
$
|
220,750
|
|
$
|
197,659
|
|
$
|
170,575
|
|
$
|
151,121
|
|
$
|
103,640
|
|
||||
|
Gross profit
|
19,202
|
|
21,928
|
|
21,090
|
|
15,916
|
|
9,489
|
|
|||||||||
|
Selling, general & administrative expense
|
17,388
|
|
14,140
|
|
12,284
|
|
9,724
|
|
8,787
|
|
|||||||||
|
Operating income
|
1,814
|
|
7,788
|
|
8,805
|
|
6,192
|
|
702
|
|
|||||||||
|
Net income continuing operations
|
1,761
|
|
4,235
|
|
5,797
|
|
4,034
|
|
219
|
|
|||||||||
|
Net (loss) income discontinued operations
|
—
|
|
—
|
|
—
|
|
—
|
|
(4
|
)
|
|||||||||
|
Net income
|
1,761
|
|
4,235
|
|
5,797
|
|
4,034
|
|
215
|
|
|||||||||
|
Financial Position
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||||
|
Total assets
|
163,260
|
|
148,507
|
|
98,916
|
|
81,375
|
|
78,252
|
|
|||||||||
|
Working capital
|
74,988
|
|
65,919
|
|
56,344
|
|
43,232
|
|
44,123
|
|
|||||||||
|
Long-term debt, less current portion
|
20,905
|
|
37,593
|
|
8,650
|
|
219
|
|
—
|
|
|||||||||
|
Shareholders' equity
|
106,098
|
|
71,774
|
|
68,619
|
|
63,875
|
|
62,721
|
|
|||||||||
|
Financial Ratios
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||||
|
Current ratio
|
4.0:1
|
|
3.6:1
|
|
4.1:1
|
|
4.0:1
|
|
4.5:1
|
|
|||||||||
|
Gross profit to net sales
|
9
|
%
|
11
|
%
|
12
|
%
|
11
|
%
|
9
|
%
|
|||||||||
|
Long-term debt to capital
|
16
|
%
|
34
|
%
|
11
|
%
|
0
|
%
|
0
|
%
|
|||||||||
|
Return on average assets
|
1
|
%
|
3
|
%
|
6
|
%
|
5
|
%
|
0
|
%
|
|||||||||
|
Return on average equity
|
2
|
%
|
6
|
%
|
9
|
%
|
6
|
%
|
0
|
%
|
|||||||||
|
Per Share Data (income/(loss) – diluted)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||||
|
Net income continuing operations
|
$
|
0.25
|
|
$
|
0.66
|
|
$
|
0.91
|
|
$
|
0.64
|
|
$
|
0.03
|
|
||||
|
Net income (loss) discontinued operations
|
—
|
|
—
|
|
—
|
|
—
|
|
(0.00
|
)
|
|||||||||
|
Net income
|
0.25
|
|
0.66
|
|
0.91
|
|
0.64
|
|
0.03
|
|
|||||||||
|
Dividends declared and paid
|
0.26
|
|
0.25
|
|
0.25
|
|
0.50
|
|
0.10
|
|
|||||||||
|
Book value
|
12.21
|
|
11.29
|
|
10.85
|
|
10.16
|
|
10.01
|
|
|||||||||
|
Other Data
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||||
|
Depreciation and amortization
|
$
|
5,114
|
|
$
|
3,399
|
|
$
|
2,659
|
|
$
|
2,642
|
|
$
|
2,402
|
|
||||
|
Capital expenditures
|
$
|
5,766
|
|
$
|
4,740
|
|
$
|
3,185
|
|
$
|
5,095
|
|
$
|
1,892
|
|
||||
|
Employees at year end
|
670
|
|
597
|
|
441
|
|
441
|
|
466
|
|
|||||||||
|
Shareholders of record at year end
|
619
|
|
669
|
|
687
|
|
704
|
|
790
|
|
|||||||||
|
Average shares outstanding - diluted
|
6,947
|
|
6,394
|
|
6,362
|
|
6,309
|
|
6,269
|
|
|||||||||
|
Stock Price
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||||
|
Price range of common stock
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||||
|
High
|
$
|
17.38
|
|
$
|
14.97
|
|
$
|
15.50
|
|
$
|
12.25
|
|
$
|
10.49
|
|
||||
|
Low
|
12.53
|
|
10.21
|
|
9.15
|
|
7.47
|
|
3.85
|
|
|||||||||
|
Close
|
15.53
|
|
13.49
|
|
10.27
|
|
12.12
|
|
9.42
|
|
|||||||||
Critical Accounting Policies and Estimates
Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations discusses the Company's consolidated financial statements, which have been prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America. The preparation of these financial statements requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the
17
reported amounts of assets and liabilities and the disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting period. On an on-going basis, management evaluates its estimates and judgments based on historical experience and on various other factors that are believed to be reasonable under the circumstances, the results of which form the basis for making judgments about the carrying value of assets and liabilities that are not readily apparent from other sources. Actual results may differ from these estimates under different assumptions or conditions. Management believes the following critical accounting policies, among others, affect its more significant judgments and estimates used in the preparation of the Company's consolidated financial statements.
Allowance for Doubtful Accounts
The Company maintained allowances for doubtful accounts of approximately $1,079,000 as of December 28, 2013, for estimated losses resulting from the inability of its customers to make required payments and for disputed claims and quality issues. The allowance is based upon a review of outstanding receivables, historical collection information and existing economic conditions. The Company performs periodic credit evaluations of its customers' financial condition and generally does not require collateral. Receivables are generally due within 30 to 60 days. Delinquent receivables are written off based on individual credit evaluations and specific circumstances of the customer.
Inventory Reserves
The Company establishes a reserve for estimated obsolete or unmarketable inventory in an amount equal to the difference between the cost of inventory and the estimated market value based upon assumptions about future demand and current market conditions. Based on historical results, the Company also maintains an inventory reserve to provide for the amount of estimated inventory quantity loss since the last physical inventory. As of December 28, 2013, the Company has approximately $2,217,000 accrued for the various inventory reserves. If actual market conditions are less favorable than those estimated by management, additional inventory reserves may be required.
Environmental Reserves
As noted in Note 5 to the Consolidated Financial Statements included in Item 8 of this Form 10-K, the Company has accrued $626,000 as of December 28, 2013, in environmental remediation costs which, in management's best estimate, are sufficient to satisfy anticipated costs of known remediation requirements as explained in Note 5. Expenditures related to costs currently accrued are not discounted to their present values and are expected to be made over the next three to four years. However, as a result of the evolving nature of the environmental regulations, the difficulty in estimating the extent and necessary remediation of environmental contamination, and the availability and application of technology, the estimated costs for future environmental compliance and remediation are subject to uncertainties and it is not possible to predict the amount or timing of future costs of environmental matters which may subsequently be determined. Changes in information known to management or in applicable regulations may require the Company to record additional remediation reserves.
Impairment of Long-Lived Assets
The Company continually reviews the recoverability of the carrying value of long-lived assets. Long-lived assets are reviewed for impairment when events or changes in circumstances, also referred to as "triggering events", indicate that the carrying value of a long-lived asset or group of assets (the "Assets") may no longer be recoverable. Triggering events include: a significant decline in the market price of the Assets; a significant adverse change in the operating use or physical condition of the Assets; a significant adverse change in legal factors or in the business climate impacting the Assets' value, including regulatory issues such as environmental actions; the generation by the Assets of historical cash flow losses combined with projected future cash flow losses; or the expectation that the Assets will be sold or disposed of significantly before the end of the useful life of the Assets. The Company concluded that there were no indications of impairment requiring further testing during the year ended December 28, 2013.
If the Company concluded that, based on its review of current facts and circumstances, there were indications of impairment, testing of the applicable Assets would be performed. The recoverability of the Assets to be held and used is tested by comparing the carrying amount of the Assets at the date of the test to the sum of the estimated future undiscounted cash flows expected to be generated by those Assets over the remaining useful life of the Assets. In estimating the future undiscounted cash flows, the Company uses projections of cash flows directly associated with, and which are expected to arise as a direct result of, the use and eventual disposition of the Assets. This approach requires significant judgments including the Company's projected net cash flows, which are derived using the most recent available estimate for the reporting unit containing the Assets tested. Several key assumptions would include periods of operation, projections of product pricing, production levels, product costs, market supply and demand, and inflation. If it is determined that the carrying amount of the Assets are not recoverable, an impairment loss would be calculated equal to the excess of the carrying amount of the Assets over their fair value. Assets classified as held for sale, if
18
any, would be recorded at the lower of their carrying amount or fair value less cost to sell. Assets to be disposed of other than by sale, if any, would be classified as held and used until the Assets are disposed or use has ceased.
Goodwill
The Company has goodwill of approximately $1,355,000 recorded as part of its 1996 acquisition of MC, operating within the Specialty Chemicals Segment, $1,000,000 recorded as part of its 2009 acquisition of Ram-Fab and approximately $15,898,000 recorded as part of its 2012 acquisition of Palmer, both operating within the Metals Segment. Goodwill, which represents the excess of purchase price over fair value of net assets acquired, is tested for impairment at least on an annual basis. The initial step of the goodwill impairment test involves a comparison of the fair value of the reporting unit in which the goodwill is recorded, with its carrying amount. If the reporting unit's fair value exceeds its carrying value, no impairment loss is recognized and the second step, which is a calculation of the impairment, is not performed. However, if the reporting unit's carrying value exceeds its fair value, an impairment charge equal to the difference in the carrying value of the goodwill and the implied fair value of the goodwill is recorded. Implied fair value of goodwill is determined in the same manner as the amount of goodwill recognized in a business combination. That is, the fair value of the reporting unit is allocated to the assets and liabilities of the reporting unit as if it had been acquired in a business combination. The excess of the fair value of the reporting unit over the amounts allocated to assets and liabilities is the implied fair value of goodwill.
In making our determination of fair value of the reporting unit, we rely on the discounted cash flow method. This method uses projections of cash flows from the reporting unit. This approach requires significant judgments including the Company's projected net cash flows, the weighted average cost of capital ("WACC") used to discount the cash flows and terminal value assumptions. We derive these assumptions used in the testing from several sources. Many of these assumptions are derived from our internal budgets, which would include existing sales data based on current product lines and assumed production levels, manufacturing costs and product pricing. We believe that our internal forecasts are consistent with those that would be used by a potential buyer in valuing our reporting units.
The WACC rate is based on an average of the capital structure, cost of capital and inherent business risk profiles of the Company. The assumptions used in the valuation are interrelated. The continuing degree of interrelationship of these assumptions is, in and of itself, a significant assumption. Because of the interrelationships among the assumptions, we do not believe it would be meaningful to provide a sensitivity analysis on any of the individual assumptions. However, one key assumption in our valuation model is the WACC. If the WACC, which is used to discount the projected cash flows, were higher, the measure of the fair value of the net assets of the reporting unit would decrease. Conversely, if the WACC were lower, the measure of the fair value of the net assets of the reporting unit would increase. Changes in any of the Company's other estimates could also have a material effect on the estimated future undiscounted cash flows expected to be generated by the reporting unit's assets.
Based on the Company's goodwill impairment test in the fourth quarter of 2013, each reporting unit's fair value exceeded its carrying value, therefore no further testing was required and no impairment loss was recognized.
Liquidity and Capital Resources
Cash flows used in operating activities during 2013 totaled $5,542,000 while cash flows provided from operating activities during 2012 totaled $1,635,000, a decrease in cash flows of $7,177,000. Cash flows in 2013 were generated from net income totaling $5,798,000 before depreciation and amortization expense of $5,114,000 and the one-time bargain purchase gain on the purchase of CRI Tolling of $1,077,000, net of deferred income taxes. Since the Company completed its acquisition of CRI on August 26, 2013, cash flows resulting from changes in operating assets and liabilities cannot be determined simply by subtracting 2013 balance sheet amounts from 2012 values. All acquired CRI balances represent beginning balances for cash flow purposes. Cash flows were adversely affected by a $5,461,000 increase in net inventories in 2013. Substantially all of the increase occurred in the Metals Segment as special alloy inventory increased in support of the current special alloy backlog and inventory at Ram-Fab increased to support the higher fabrication backlog at the end of 2013. Accounts receivable increased $2,288,000 in 2013, net of reserves, as a result of the higher Metals Segment sales activity during the fourth quarter of 2013 compared to the same period of 2012, combined with an increase in the number of days sales outstanding for the fabrication facilities. Higher inventory purchases made during the fourth quarter of 2013 increased the accounts payable balance at the end of 2013 by $1,541,000 when compared to the 2012 year-end balance. Operating cash flows were unfavorably affected by lower accrued expenses at the end of 2013 compared to the end of 2012 of $2,242,000, as profit based incentives decreased $1,876,000 reflecting lower 2013 profits, the majority of the tax liability associated with the Palmer acquisition was used in 2013 and accrued interest decreased as the line of credit was paid off during the fourth quarter of 2013.
Cash flows provided by operating activities during 2012 totaled $1,635,000 and cash flows used in operating activities in 2011 totaled $3,858,000, an improvement in cash flows of $5,493,000. Cash flows in 2012 were generated from net income totaling $7,634,000 before depreciation and amortization expense of $3,399,000. Since the Company acquired Palmer on August 21, 2012, cash flows resulting from changes in operating assets and liabilities cannot be determined simply by subtracting 2012 balance
19
sheet amounts from 2011 values. The net value of all assets and liabilities acquired are shown in the "Acquisition of Palmer of Texas" line in the investing activities section of the Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows. Accordingly, these individual acquired balances represent beginning balances for Palmer cash flow purposes. Cash flows were adversely affected by a $1,422,000 increase in inventories in 2012, as year-end balances increased, net of reserves, from $43,063,000 at the end of 2011 for historical Company operations plus the $5,678,000 Palmer beginning balance to $50,163,000 at the end of 2012. Substantially all of the increase occurred in the Specialty Chemicals Segment to support higher 2013 sales projections, including the additional defoamer business acquired during 2012. Accounts payable also adversely affected cash flows by $4,152,000 in 2012 as there were significant inventory purchases in the fourth quarter of 2011 in the Metals Segment which increased the 2011 year-end accounts payable balance combined with lower nickel surcharges included in 2012's year-end accounts payable balance. Operating cash flows were also unfavorably affected by higher other assets and liabilities, net. A receivable from the prior owners of Palmer was established in December 2012 for $1,494,000 which resulted from the final working capital adjustment, uncollected accounts receivable and other items detailed in the SPA. This receivable was settled in January 2013.
In 2013, the Company's current assets increased $8,689,000 and current liabilities decreased $380,000, from the year ended 2012 amounts, which caused working capital for 2013 to increase by $9,069,000 to $74,988,000 from the 2012 total of $65,919,000. The current ratio for the year ended December 28, 2013, increased to 4.0:1 from the 2012 year-end ratio of 3.6:1.
On August 26, 2013, the a subsidiary of the Company, CRI Tolling, completed the purchase of substantially all of the assets and assumed certain operating liabilities of CRI. Located in Fountain Inn, South Carolina, CRI Tolling will continue CRI's business as that of a toll manufacturer that provides outside manufacturing resources to global and regional chemical companies. The assets purchased from CRI included equipment and certain other assets and approximately $387,000 worth of inventory and accounts receivables, net of assumed payables. The total purchase price was $1,100,000. The Company acquired the building and land where CRI operates in a separate but related transaction on August 9, 2013 for approximately $3,500,000. The Company viewed both the building and operating assets of CRI together as one business, capable of providing a return to ownership by expanding the segment's production capacity. Accordingly, the acquisition meets the definition of a business and the transaction is structured in a way that meets the definition of a business combination.
Due to severe financial difficulties CRI was experiencing prior to our acquisition, the Company was able to purchase the land, building and equipment at below market value. As a result of the favorable purchase price, the Company recorded a bargain purchase gain on this transaction in the third quarter of 2013 of $1,077,000, net of deferred taxes.
The Company also used cash during 2013 for investing activities to fund capital expenditures of $5,766,000. Financing activities during 2013 generated $15,682,000. On September 30, 2013, the Company closed on an underwritten public offering of 2,000,000 shares of its common stock at a price of $15.75 per share. The underwriters also exercised their option to purchase and close upon an additional 300,000 shares of common stock at a price of $15.75 per share. The Company received net proceeds, after underwriting discounts and estimated expenses, of approximately $34,233,000. The Company used $18,061,000 of the net proceeds to pay off the outstanding line of credit balance during 2013. The Company also paid a $0.26 dividend on December 3, 2013 which used $2,260,000. The Company expects that existing cash balances, cash flows from 2013 operations and available borrowings will be sufficient to make debt payments and fund estimated 2014 capital expenditures of $7,800,000.
On June 30, 2010, the Company entered into a Credit Agreement with a regional bank to provide a $20,000,000 line of credit that was to expire on June 30, 2013. This agreement was amended by the bank on August 19, 2011 to extend the maturity date of the Credit Agreement by one additional year to June 30, 2014. In connection with the Palmer acquisition discussed in Note 16 to the Consolidated Financial Statements included in Item 8 of this Form 10-K, on August 21, 2012, the Company modified the Credit Agreement to increase the limit of the credit facility by $5,000,000 to a maximum of $25,000,000, and extended the maturity date to August 21, 2015. On October 22, 2012, the Company modified this agreement to increase the limit by an additional $5,000,000 to a maximum of $30,000,000. This increase was in effect for one year and the maximum line of credit reverted back to $25,000,000 on October 22, 2013. None of the other provisions of the Credit Agreement were changed as a result of this modification. In connection with the CRI acquisition discussed in Note 16 to the Consolidated Financial Statements included in Item 8 of this Form 10-K, on August 26, 2013, the Company modified the Credit Agreement to fund this transaction, as detailed in the following paragraph. Interest on the Credit Agreement is calculated using the One Month LIBOR (as defined in the Credit Agreement), plus a pre-defined spread, based on the Company's Total Funded Debt to EBITDA ratio (as defined in the Credit Agreement). Borrowings under the line of credit are limited to an amount equal to a borrowing base calculation that includes eligible accounts receivable, inventories and other non-capital assets.
The Credit Agreement modification on August 26, 2013 provided for a new ten-year term loan in the amount of $4,033,000, with monthly principal payments customized to account for the 20 year amortization of the real estate assets combined with a 5-year amortization of the equipment assets purchased. In conjunction with the new term loan, to mitigate the variability of interest rate risk, the Company entered into an interest rate swap contract (the "interest rate swap") on September 3, 2013. The interest rate swap is for an initial notional amount of $4,033,250 with a fixed interest rate of 4.83% and runs for ten years to August 19, 2023,
20
which equates to the due date of the term loan. The notional amount of the interest rate swap decreases as monthly principal payments are made.
The Credit Agreement modification on August 21, 2012 also provided for a ten-year term loan in the amount of $22,500,000 that requires equal monthly payments of $187,500 plus interest. In conjunction with this term loan, to mitigate the variability of the interest rate risk, the Company entered into an interest rate swap contract on August 21, 2012 with its current bank. The interest rate swap is for an initial notional amount of $22,500,000 with a fixed interest rate of 3.74 percent, and runs for ten years, expiring on August 21, 2022, which equates to the date of the term loan. The notional amount of the interest rate swap decreases as monthly principal payments are made.
Although the two swap agreements mentioned above are expected to effectively offset variable interest in the borrowings, hedge accounting will not be utilized. Therefore, changes in its fair value are being recorded in current assets or liabilities, as appropriate, with corresponding offsetting entries to other income (expense).
Pursuant to the Credit Agreement, the Company was required to pledge all of its tangible and intangible properties. Covenants under the Credit Agreement include maintaining a certain total funded debt to EBITDA ratio (as defined in the Credit Agreement), a minimum tangible net worth, and total liabilities to tangible net worth ratio. The Company will also be limited to a maximum amount of capital expenditures per year, which is in line with the Company's currently projected needs. At December 28, 2013, the Company was in compliance with all debt covenants.
Results of Operations
Comparison of 2013 to 2012 - Consolidated
For the fiscal year ending December 28, 2013, the Company generated net earnings of $1,761,000, or $0.25 per share, on sales of $220,750,000, compared to net earnings of $4,235,000, or $0.66 per share, on sales of $197,659,000 in the prior year. The Company generated a net loss of $3,078,000, or $0.36 loss per share, on sales of $52,244,000 in the fourth quarter of 2013, compared to net earnings of $965,000, or $0.15 per share, on sales of $53,138,000 in the fourth quarter of 2012.
Consolidated gross profit decreased twelve percent to $19,202,000 in 2013, compared to $21,928,000 in 2012, and, as a percent of sales, decreased to nine percent of sales in 2013 compared to eleven percent of sales in 2012. For the fourth quarter of 2013, consolidated gross profit showed a loss of $335,000, or one percent of sales, compared to a profit of $5,893,000, or eleven percent of sales, for the fourth quarter of 2012. The decreases in dollars and in percentage of sales were attributable to the Metals Segment as discussed in the Metals Segment Comparison of 2013 to 2012 below. Consolidated selling, general and administrative expense for 2013 increased by $3,248,000 to $17,388,000, compared to $14,140,000 for 2012, and was eight percent of sales for 2013, up from seven percent for 2012. For the fourth quarter, these costs increased by $509,000 to $4,402,000, or eight percent of sales, for 2013 compared to 3,893,000, or seven percent of sales, for 2012. Since Palmer was acquired in late-August of 2012, only a portion of their selling, general and administrative expenses were included in the prior year. This accounted for approximately $2,081,000 of the increased costs in 2013. The remainder of the increased costs for 2013 when compared to 2012 resulted from the receipt of the final installment of a dumping penalty in 2012, increased sales commissions, higher legal costs associated with the illegal dumping case initiated in 2013 and higher corporate travel and professional fees associated with the Palmer acquisition. These costs were partially offset by lower incentive-based bonus expense.
Comparison of 2012 to 2011 - Consolidated
For the fiscal year ending December 29, 2012, the Company generated net earnings of $4,235,000, or $0.66 per share, on sales of $197,659,000, compared to net earnings of $5,797,000, or $0.91 per share, on sales of $170,575,000 in the prior year. The Company generated net earnings of $965,000, or $0.15 per share, on sales of $53,138,000 in the fourth quarter of 2012, compared to net earnings of $1,017,000, or $0.16 per share, on sales of $40,241,000 in the fourth quarter of 2011.
Consolidated gross profit increased four percent to $21,928,000 in 2012, compared to $21,090,000 in 2011, and, as a percent of sales, decreased to eleven percent of sales in 2012 compared to twelve percent of sales in 2011. For the fourth quarter of 2012, consolidated gross profit was $5,893,000, an increase of 23 percent from the fourth quarter of 2011 of $4,783,000. Consolidated gross profit was eleven percent of sales for the fourth quarter of 2012 and twelve percent of sales for same period of 2011. The increases in dollars and in percentage of sales were attributable to the Specialty Chemicals Segment as discussed in the Specialty Chemicals Segment Comparison of 2012 to 2011 below. Consolidated selling, general and administrative expense for 2012 increased by $1,856,000 to $14,140,000 compared to $12,284,000 for 2011, and was seven percent of sales for both 2012 and 2011. These costs increased $355,000 during the fourth quarter of 2012 compared to the same period of 2011 and decreased to seven percent of sales from nine percent of sales for the fourth quarters of 2012 and 2011, respectively. The dollar increase for both the year and fourth quarter of 2012 when compared to the same periods of 2011 resulted primarily from higher professional fees, travel and amortization connected with the Palmer acquisition, an increase in management performance-based incentives,
21
higher sales commissions and increased salaries and wages. These costs were partially offset by a decrease in bad debt expense for the Chemicals Segment. In addition, the Company incurred $881,000 one-time acquisition costs associated with the Palmer acquisition in 2012. These costs were $252,000 for the fourth quarter of 2012. All of these items will be discussed in greater detail in the respective sections below.
Metals Segment –
The following table summarizes operating results and backlogs for the three years indicated. Reference should be made to Note 13 to the Consolidated Financial Statements included in Item 8 of this Form 10-K.
|
|
2013
|
2012
|
2011
|
|||||||||||||||||
|
(in thousands)
|
Amount
|
%
|
Amount
|
%
|
Amount
|
%
|
||||||||||||||
|
Net sales
|
$
|
164,232
|
|
100.0
|
%
|
$
|
146,285
|
|
100.0
|
%
|
$
|
127,727
|
|
100.0
|
%
|
|||||
|
Cost of goods sold
|
154,762
|
|
94.2
|
%
|
132,596
|
|
90.6
|
%
|
112,445
|
|
88.0
|
%
|
||||||||
|
Gross profit
|
9,470
|
|
5.8
|
%
|
13,689
|
|
9.4
|
%
|
15,282
|
|
12.0
|
%
|
||||||||
|
Selling, general and administrative expense
|
10,202
|
|
6.2
|
%
|
7,551
|
|
5.2
|
%
|
6,029
|
|
4.7
|
%
|
||||||||
|
Operating (loss) income
|
$
|
(732
|
)
|
(0.4
|
)%
|
$
|
6,138
|
|
4.2
|
%
|
$
|
9,253
|
|
7.3
|
%
|
|||||
|
Year-end backlogs - Piping systems
|
$
|
50,752
|
|
$
|
19,254
|
|
|
|
$
|
22,743
|
|
|
|
|||||||
|
Tanks
|
$
|
11,477
|
|
not available
|
|
not available
|
|
|||||||||||||
Comparison of 2013 to 2012 – Metals Segment
Sales for 2013 were $164,232,000, up twelve percent from last year's results of $146,285,000. The Metals Segment experienced an operating loss of $732,000 for 2013 compared to an operating income of $6,138,000 for 2012. Excluding Palmer's sales results, sales for the Metals Segment for 2013 would have been two percent lower than the same period of 2012 which resulted from lower unit volumes. Sales during the fourth quarter of 2013 totaled $37,355,000, a decrease of seven percent from $40,051,000 for the same quarter last year. The Metals Segment had an operating loss of $5,295,000 for the fourth quarter of 2013 compared to operating income of $1,825,000 for the fourth quarter of 2012. The Company purchased 100 percent of the issued and outstanding stock of Palmer on August 21, 2012. Excluding Palmer's sales results, sales for the fourth quarter 2013 would have been seven percent lower than the prior year. The sales decrease resulted from a six percent decrease in average selling prices combined with a one percent decrease in average unit volumes. In the fourth quarter, the Metals Segment experienced commodity unit volumes increasing nine percent while non-commodity unit volume decreased 13 percent. Selling prices for commodity pipe decreased approximately eleven percent while selling prices for non-commodity pipe increased approximately five percent. Shipments of carbon steel pipe associated with the Bechtel nuclear project dropped significantly in the fourth quarter of 2013 as the project was completed. Shipments of stainless steel pipe in the fourth quarter of 2013 continued to be constrained as distributors are maintaining lean inventory levels going into 2014. Special alloy inquiries, bookings and backlog remained strong in the fourth quarter of 2013 and we have seen increased shipments in January.
Operating income, which decreased $6,870,000 and $7,120,000 for the entire year and fourth quarter of 2013, respectively, when compared to the same periods of 2012, was impacted by the following factors:
|
a)
|
Palmer was acquired August 21, 2012. Its fourth quarter and full year results were included in the 2013 Metals Segment results while only 19 weeks of Palmer's results were included in the prior year. Fourth quarter 2013 operating income was adversely affected by a more prevalent holiday shutdown in 2013. There were approximately $700,000 of finished tanks that could not be shipped to the customers' work sites in December 2013. The unit also incurred warranty repairs of approximately $200,000 in the fourth quarter of 2013. Additionally, fourth quarter 2013 sales and profitability were affected by a less favorable product mix as smaller fiberglass and steel tanks were produced. The facility was nearing emission limits for the fiberglass shop which resulted in the production of smaller, lower priced, and less profitable tanks.
|
|
b)
|
Associated with the acquisition of Palmer, an intangible asset of $9,000,000 was recorded for the customer base acquired by the Company. This asset is amortized on an accelerated basis which resulted in an amortization charge of $1,530,000 for the entire year and $382,000 for the fourth quarter of 2013 compared to $540,000 of amortization for both the entire year and fourth quarter of 2012.
|
|
c)
|
Pricing and margins at BRISMET during the first nine months of the year were negatively impacted by foreign imports. Stainless steel pipe imports from Malaysia, Vietnam and Thailand entered the country at significantly reduced prices. This factor forced BRISMET to reduce prices accordingly to retain market share. On May 16, 2013, BRISMET, along with several other domestic manufacturers of stainless steel pipe, filed an antidumping petition with the U.S. Department of Commerce ("Commerce") and the U.S. International Trade Commission ("USITC") alleging that
|
22
welded stainless steel pipe imported from Malaysia, Vietnam and Thailand was being dumped in the United States market. On June 28, 2013, the USITC determined there was a reasonable indication that a U.S. industry was materially injured by reason of imports from these three countries. All six commissioners of the USITC hearing the petition voted in favor of the petitioners in the affirmative.
On December 31, 2013, Commerce announced its affirmative preliminary determinations. Commerce determined that welded stainless pressure pipe from Malaysia, Thailand and Vietnam has been sold in the United States at dumped margins and will instruct U.S. Customs and Border Protection to require cash deposits based on the preliminary rates calculated from the date of the preliminary ruling forward. In the case of Malaysia, they also imposed the effective date of the preliminary rates to be 90 days prior to the publication of the determination in the Federal Register. Price increases were implemented by several domestic producers in late August and early September of 2013. The Company is beginning to see higher pricing across most product categories and is optimistic that this trend will continue into 2014. Commerce is scheduled to announce its final determinations in May 2014 and the USITC will make its final injury determination in July 2014.
|
d)
|
Profits at BRISMET were negatively impacted for the fourth quarter of 2013 by significant third party contract services associated with the Bechtel project, and an unfavorable sales mix which was heavily weighted toward less than six-inch diameter pipe that has very low to negative gross margins. Labor costs were also above targeted levels for the quarter as we were slow to bring staffing back to pre-Bechtel levels.
|
|
e)
|
Relatively stable nickel prices during the last half of 2013 resulted in lower inventory losses in 2013. For 2013 and 2012, inventory losses were approximately $3,103,000 and $4,645,000, respectively. For the fourth quarter of 2013, inventory losses were approximately $581,000 compared to an inventory loss of approximately $1,150,000 in the fourth quarter of 2012.
|
|
f)
|
The BristolFab unit showed a significant operating loss for the fourth quarter and entire year of 2013. As this unit ramped up labor to support the increased backlog, labor efficiencies declined by approximately 50 percent from previous levels. The large decrease in labor efficiency caused overtime to double as the unit attempted to meet customer delivery schedules and outside contractors were utilized to keep projects on track. These additional expenses put further pressure on the unit's cost structure.
|
|
g)
|
Throughout the Metals Segment, production manpower was higher than optimal operating levels. In late December and early January 2014, personnel reductions were implemented across all three business units and we believe that our labor efficiencies throughout the Metals Segment will return to targeted levels in 2014.
|
Selling, general and administrative expense increased $2,651,000, or 35 percent in 2013 when compared to 2012. This expense category was six percent of sales for 2013 compared to five percent of sales for 2012. The increase mainly resulted from the inclusion of Palmer expenses for the entire year of 2013 compared to a portion of 2012, receiving the final installment of a dumping penalty in 2012 and higher legal costs associated with the illegal dumping case initiated in 2013 partially offset by lower incentive-based bonus expense.
Comparison of 2012 to 2011 – Metals Segment
The Metals Segment sales increased 15 percent for 2012 as compared to 2011 primarily as a result of the addition of Palmer for 19 weeks in 2012 plus a 13 percent increase in unit volumes partially offset by an eight percent decrease in average selling prices. Sales for the fourth quarter of 2012 totaled $40,051,000, an increase of 34 percent over 2011 results. Excluding Palmer results, sales for the fourth quarter 2012 would have been up six percent over the prior year. The fourth quarter sales increase resulted from a 13 percent increase in unit volumes partially offset by a seven percent decrease in average selling prices. Gross profit for 2012 decreased ten percent to $13,689,000, or nine percent of sales, compared to 2011's year-end total of $15,282,000, or twelve percent of sales. For the fourth quarter of 2012, gross profit was $3,844,000, or ten percent of sales, an increase of twelve percent over the fourth quarter of 2011 of $3,435,000, or twelve percent of sales. The Segment experienced operating income of $6,138,000, a decrease of 66 percent, and $1,780,000, down four percent, for the year and fourth quarter of 2012, respectively, compared to $3,774,000 and $1,863,000, respectively, for same periods of 2011.
Excluding the effect of Palmer on 2012 sales, the Metals Segment experienced a favorable product mix in 2012 with higher priced non-commodity unit volume increasing 29 percent while commodity unit volume increased four percent. The favorable product mix also affected the fourth quarter shipments, with non-commodity unit volumes increasing 32 percent for the quarter while commodity unit volumes increased two percent. Special alloy product shipments surpassed prior year levels as a result of increased customer projects and distributor restocking. The improved unit volumes for the year and fourth quarter are also the result of increased market share in North America and strong increases in international sales.
23
Operating income for the entire year and fourth quarter of 2012 when compared to the same periods of 2011 was impacted by the following four factors:
|
a)
|
Palmer was acquired August 21, 2012 and accordingly, 19 weeks and 13 weeks of their operations were included in the year and fourth quarter of 2012, respectively.
|
|
b)
|
Associated with the acquisition of Palmer, an intangible asset of $9,000,000 was recognized, which represents the fair value of the customer base that was acquired by the Company. This intangible asset will be amortized over a 15-year period using an accelerated amortization method. As a result of this transaction, the year and fourth quarter of 2012 includes $540,000 of amortization expense.
|
|
c)
|
Declining nickel prices resulted in inventory losses in the year and fourth quarter of 2012 of approximately $4,645,000 and $1,150,000, respectively. For the same periods last year, fluctuating nickel prices produced inventory losses of $1,637,000 and $870,000, respectively. As nickel prices decrease, selling prices are reduced accordingly while material costs reflect the higher priced inventory.
|
|
d)
|
In the year and fourth quarter of 2011, operating income for the fabrication unit of our Metals Segment was favorably affected by higher unit selling prices associated with the completion of several large scale lump-sum jobs. The unit realized $4,659,000 and $135,000 of additional billings during the year and fourth quarter of 2011, respectively, from these completed jobs.
|
Demand for manufactured pipe remains relatively strong, while the fabrication unit continues to deal with excess capacity in the industry which results in margin compression and impacts our sales and profits. Margins on fabrication projects in the fourth quarter of 2012 were the lowest of the entire year.
Selling, general and administrative expense increased $1,522,000, or 25 percent in 2012 when compared to 2011. This expense category was five percent of sales for both periods. The increase resulted from the inclusion of Palmer expenses for a portion of 2012, the amortization of Palmer's intangible asset, an additional provision in 2012 for the collectability of accounts receivable, increased sales commissions, additional salaries and wages in 2012 and higher performance-based bonuses for select segment employees. These higher expense categories were partially offset by increased employee procurement expenses in 2011 as additional sales executives were hired for the fabrication product line.
Specialty Chemicals Segment –
The following tables summarize operating results for the three years indicated. Reference should be made to Note 13 to the Consolidated Financial Statements included in Item 8 of this Form 10-K.
|
|
2013
|
2012
|
2011
|
|||||||||||||||||
|
(Amounts in thousands)
|
Amount
|
%
|
Amount
|
%
|
Amount
|
%
|
||||||||||||||
|
Net sales
|
$
|
56,518
|
|
100.0
|
%
|
$
|
51,374
|
|
100.0
|
%
|
$
|
42,848
|
|
100.0
|
%
|
|||||
|
Cost of goods sold
|
46,786
|
|
82.8
|
%
|
43,134
|
|
84.0
|
%
|
37,040
|
|
86.4
|
%
|
||||||||
|
Gross profit
|
9,732
|
|
17.2
|
%
|
8,240
|
|
16.0
|
%
|
5,808
|
|
13.6
|
%
|
||||||||
|
Selling, general and administrative expense
|
3,989
|
|
7.1
|
%
|
3,397
|
|
6.6
|
%
|
3,587
|
|
8.4
|
%
|
||||||||
|
Operating income
|
$
|
5,743
|
|
10.2
|
%
|
$
|
4,843
|
|
9.4
|
%
|
$
|
2,221
|
|
5.2
|
%
|
|||||
Comparison of 2013 to 2012 – Specialty Chemicals Segment
Specialty Chemicals Segment sales for the entire year of 2013 were $56,518,000, up $5,144,000 or ten percent from $51,374,000 for 2012. Gross profit for 2013 for the Specialty Chemicals Segment was $9,732,000, or 17 percent of sales, compared to $8,240,000, or 16 percent of sales, for 2012, an increase of 18 percent. The additional Ashland defoamer sales which began in the third quarter of 2012 contributed to the increase in gross profit for the Segment. For the fourth quarter of 2013, Specialty Chemicals Segment's sales were $14,888,000, which represented a 14 percent increase from $13,087,000 for the same quarter of 2012. Overall selling prices decreased 16 percent in the fourth quarter when compared to 2012 due in part to a significant increase in usage of a lower cost raw material that is reflected in the selling price at MC and generally lower average selling prices at CRI Tolling. Gross profit for the fourth quarter of 2013 and 2012 was $2,588,000, or 17 percent of sales, and $2,049,000, or 16 percent of sales, respectively, an increase of 26 percent. CRI Tolling had a positive impact on profitability during its first quarter under Company ownership. The Specialty Chemicals Segment continues to focus on changing the product mix to higher priced / higher margin products and controlling operating and support costs. At CRI Tolling, streamlining processes and improving production capabilities will be a major focus.
24
On August 26, 2013, CRI Tolling completed the purchase of substantially all of the assets and assumed certain operating liabilities of CRI. Located in Fountain Inn, South Carolina, CRI Tolling will continue CRI's business as that of a toll manufacturer that provides outside manufacturing resources to global and regional chemical companies. The assets purchased from CRI included equipment and certain other assets and approximately $387,000 worth of inventory and accounts receivables, net of assumed payables. The total purchase price was $1,100,000. The Company acquired the building and land where CRI operates in a separate but related transaction on August 9, 2013 for approximately $3,500,000. The Company viewed both the building and operating assets of CRI together as one business, capable of providing a return to ownership by expanding the segment's production capacity. Accordingly, the acquisition meets the definition of a business and the transaction is structured in a way that meets the definition of a business combination under GAAP.
Due to severe financial difficulties CRI was experiencing prior to our acquisition, the Company was able to purchase the land, building and equipment at below market value. As a result of the favorable purchase price, the Company recorded a bargain purchase gain on this transaction in the third quarter of 2013 of $1,077,000, net of deferred taxes. The Company funded the acquisition of CRI through a new term loan with the Company's bank, plus an increase in its line of credit.
Selling, general and administrative expense increased $592,000 or 17 percent in 2013 when compared to 2012. These costs were seven percent of sales for both 2013 and 2012. The increase was due to higher sales commissions and incentive-based bonuses in 2013.
Comparison of 2012 to 2011 – Specialty Chemicals Segment
Sales for the Specialty Chemicals Segment increased 20 percent for 2012, ending the year at $51,374,000 compared to $42,848,000 in 2011. Pounds shipped for the year were 18 percent higher than the prior year. For the fourth quarter of 2012, sales were $13,087,000, up 28 percent from 2011's fourth quarter sales of $10,267,000. Pounds shipped for the fourth quarter were 28 percent higher than the same period of the prior year. The fourth quarter and annual sales increase resulted mainly from the addition of additional defoamer production for a global chemical manufacturer which began in late May 2012 and reached targeted production levels during the third quarter of 2012. Gross profit for the year was $8,240,000, up 42 percent from the prior year amount of $5,808,000. As a percent of sales, 2012 gross profit was 16 percent of sales and 2011 gross profit was 14 percent of sales. The fourth quarter showed gross profit of $2,049,000, or 16 percent of sales, and $1,336,000, or 13 percent of sales, for 2012 and 2011, respectively. Gross profit increased for the year and fourth quarter as a result of higher facility utilization associated with the additional defoamer production combined with the ability to pass along raw material price increases to our customers. Operating income for the year increased 118 percent from the prior year. Operating income for 2012 was $4,843,000, or nine percent of sales, while 2011 recorded $2,221,000, or five percent of sales. The segment showed operating income of $1,102,000, or eight percent of sales, for the fourth quarter of 2012. The fourth quarter of 2011 recorded an operating loss of $97,000, or one percent of sales. During December 2011, the segment recorded an $817,000 charge to reserve for the potential uncollectable receivable balances for four customers. The bulk of the charge was for a customer who experienced financial difficulty during the last half of 2011. Management attempted to develop a long-term payment strategy for the customer but was never able to develop a plan suitable to both parties.
Selling, general and administrative expense decreased $190,000 or five percent in 2012 when compared to 2011, and decreased to seven percent of sales in 2012 compared to eight percent in 2011. For the fourth quarter, selling, general and administrative expense was $947,000 in 2012, a decrease of $485,000 when compared to the same period of 2011. The increase in the reserve for potential uncollectable receivables in December 2011, as explained in the prior paragraph, was partially offset by higher sales commissions in 2012.
Unallocated Income and Expense
Reference should be made to Note 13 to the Consolidated Financial Statements, included in Item 8 of this Form 10-K, for the schedule that includes these items.
Comparison of 2013 to 2012 – Corporate
Corporate expenses were $3,197,000, or one percent of sales and $3,193,000, or two percent of sales, for 2013 and 2012, respectively. Additional costs were incurred in 2013 as the Company strengthened its IT support team (wages and travel), improved its reporting software functionality, incurred legal and travel costs associated with its follow-on stock offering, recorded additional stock option compensation expense and increased recurring professional fees associated with the Palmer and CRI acquisitions. These increases were substantially offset by lower incentive-based bonus expense in 2013.
Acquisition related costs during 2013 reflect the accumulation of one-time expenses associated with the acquisition of CRI. For 2012, this category reflects one-time costs associated with our Palmer acquisition.
25
Interest expense 2013 was $1,357,000 compared to $601,000 for 2012, an increase of $756,000. Higher interest expense for the year resulted from the additional borrowings associated with the purchase of CRI in August 2013 and Palmer in August 2012. Interest expense decreased during the fourth quarter of 2013 as the Company paid off the outstanding balance of the line of credit.
Also, as mentioned in the Specialty Chemicals Segment discussion for 2013, the acquisition of CRI resulted in a gain on bargain purchase of $1,077,000, net of deferred taxes.
Comparison of 2012 to 2011 – Corporate
Corporate expenses for 2012 were $3,193,000, or two percent of sales, compared to $2,668,000, or two percent of sales for 2011. This represents an increase of $525,000 or 20 percent. Directly as a result of the Palmer acquisition, the Company incurred higher corporate costs in 2012 for professional fees, travel and non-income related taxes and licenses of approximately $262,000.
The Company also incurred $881,000 of Palmer non-recurring acquisition costs during 2012. These expenditures include $355,000 for professional audit fees associated with due diligence, preparation and audit of historical financial statements and intangible asset identification and valuation, $337,000 related to bank fees associated with the swap agreement, $93,000 of legal fees, $25,000 of travel costs and other various charges of $71,000.
Contractual Obligations and Other Commitments
As of December 28, 2013, the Company's contractual obligations and other commitments were as follows:
|
(Amounts in thousands)
|
|
Payment Obligations for the Year Ended
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
|
Total
|
2014
|
2015
|
2016
|
2017
|
2018
|
Thereafter
|
||||||||||||||||||||
|
Obligations:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
||||||||||||||||||||
|
Term loans
|
$
|
23,439
|
|
$
|
2,534
|
|
$
|
2,534
|
|
$
|
2,534
|
|
$
|
2,534
|
|
$
|
2,497
|
|
$
|
10,806
|
|
||||||
|
Interest payments
|
4,503
|
|
871
|
|
773
|
|
675
|
|
577
|
|
480
|
|
1,127
|
|
|||||||||||||
|
Contingent consideration
|
6,000
|
|
2,500
|
|
3,500
|
|
—
|
|
—
|
|
—
|
|
—
|
|
|||||||||||||
|
Operating leases
|
785
|
|
370
|
|
229
|
|
120
|
|
60
|
|
6
|
|
—
|
|
|||||||||||||
|
Purchase obligations
|
—
|
|
—
|
|
—
|
|
—
|
|
—
|
|
—
|
|
—
|
|
|||||||||||||
|
Deferred compensation
(1)
|
375
|
|
51
|
|
51
|
|
51
|
|
21
|
|
21
|
|
180
|
|
|||||||||||||
|
Total
|
$
|
35,102
|
|
$
|
6,326
|
|
$
|
7,087
|
|
$
|
3,380
|
|
$
|
3,192
|
|
$
|
3,004
|
|
$
|
12,113
|
|
||||||
|
(1)
|
For a description of the deferred compensation obligation, see Note 6 to the Consolidated Financial Statements included in Item 8 of this Form 10-K.
|
Current Conditions and Outlook
Management was disappointed in 2013's financial results. Starting in mid-December, we have put in place a number of initiatives across the Metals Segment to return it to its expected level of profitability. The primary focus for 2014 will be to reduce the cost structure in all of our business units, improve the product mix at both BRISMET and Palmer, continue to penetrate new markets in the Specialty Chemicals Segment, and improve our bidding process for large projects at BRISMET and Synalloy Fabrication, which includes BristolFab and Ram-Fab.
The Metals Segment's business continues to be highly dependent on its customers' capital expenditures. We expect to see gradual improvements in 2014 with increased quoting activity and new project startups. It is too early to project whether pricing will return to the more favorable levels of 2012, but we do expect solid improvement over 2013 pricing. Stainless steel surcharges for the fourth quarter of 2013 and the first two months of 2014 have been fluctuating in a fairly tight range. We do not anticipate any material declines in nickel prices from their current levels. Our inventory gains and losses are determined by a number of factors including sales mix and the holding period of particular products. As a consequence, there may not be a direct correlation between the direction of stainless steel surcharges and inventory profits or losses at a particular point in time. Our experience has been that over the course of a business cycle, this volatility has tended towards zero. We believe we are the largest and most capable domestic producer of non-commodity stainless steel pipe and an effective producer of commodity stainless steel pipe. Our market position remains strong in the commodity pipe market and we continue to see strong order activity in special alloys. Management anticipates continued strong sales of fiberglass and steel tanks at Palmer as the oil drilling expansion continues in the Permian Basin and Eagle Ford Shale areas of Texas. During 2014, we will continue to focus on gaining production efficiencies improving our product mix.
26
Total fabrication backlog was $50,752,000 at December 28, 2013 and $19,254,000 at December 29, 2012. Management continues to address staffing levels, customer requirements and outsourcing opportunities as we work to complete the backlog, profitably and on schedule.
Specialty Chemicals Segment's sales are expected to show solid growth in 2014 as both units further penetrate new end markets with existing products. As previously discussed, the new markets will include oil and gas, agriculture and mining. The expansion of the CRI Tolling facility is on schedule with an anticipated completion date of late third quarter 2014.
The Company is exposed to market risks from adverse changes in interest rates. Changes in United States interest rates affect the interest earned on the Company's cash and cash equivalents as well as interest paid on its indebtedness. Except as described below, the Company does not engage in speculative or leveraged transactions, nor does it hold or issue financial instruments for trading purposes. The Company is exposed to changes in interest rates primarily as a result of its borrowing activities used to maintain liquidity and fund business operations.
Fair value of the Company's debt obligations, which approximated the recorded value, consisted of:
At December 28, 2013
|
•
|
$19,500,000 under a term loan expiring August 21, 2022 with a variable interest rate of 2.41 percent.
|
|
•
|
An interest rate swap contract with a notional amount of $19,500,000 which fixes the term loan interest rate at 3.74 percent. The fair value of the interest rate swap contract was an asset to the Company of $301,000.
|
|
•
|
$3,939,000 under a term loan expiring August 19, 2023 with a variable interest rate of 2.17 percent.
|
|
•
|
An interest rate swap contract with a notional amount of $3,939,000 which fixes the term loan interest rate at 4.83 percent. The fair value of this interest rate swap contract was a liability to the Company of $80,000.
|
At December 29, 2012
|
•
|
$18,061,000 under a $30,000,000 revolving line of credit expiring on August 21, 2015 with a variable interest rate of 2.21 percent.
|
|
•
|
$21,750,000 under a term loan expiring August 21, 2022 with a variable interest rate of 2.49 percent.
|
|
•
|
An interest rate swap contract with a notional amount of $21,750,000 which fixes the term loan interest rate at 3.74 percent. The fair value of the interest rate swap contract was a liability to the Company of $450,000.
|
27
The Company's consolidated financial statements, related notes, report of management and report of the independent registered public accounting firm follow on subsequent pages of this report.
As of
December 28, 2013
and
December 29, 2012
|
|
2013
|
2012
|
|||||
|
Assets
|
|
||||||
|
Current assets
|
|
||||||
|
Cash and cash equivalents
|
$
|
1,776,763
|
|
$
|
1,085,261
|
|
|
|
Accounts receivable, less allowance for doubtful accounts of $1,079,288 and $1,312,715 respectively
|
34,089,364
|
|
31,177,526
|
|
|||
|
Inventories, net
|
|
||||||
|
Raw materials
|
16,557,350
|
|
13,975,628
|
|
|||
|
Work-in-process
|
20,402,032
|
|
13,773,037
|
|
|||
|
Finished goods
|
18,897,421
|
|
22,414,727
|
|
|||
|
Total inventories
|
55,856,803
|
|
50,163,392
|
|
|||
|
Deferred income taxes
|
3,776,647
|
|
2,981,439
|
|
|||
|
Prepaid expenses and other current assets
|
4,111,775
|
|
5,514,530
|
|
|||
|
Total current assets
|
99,611,352
|
|
90,922,148
|
|
|||
|
Cash value of life insurance
|
2,007,419
|
|
2,549,220
|
|
|||
|
Property, plant and equipment, net
|
35,883,376
|
|
28,034,930
|
|
|||
|
Goodwill
|
18,252,678
|
|
18,252,678
|
|
|||
|
Intangible asset, net
|
6,930,000
|
|
8,460,000
|
|
|||
|
Deferred charges, net and other non-current assets
|
575,546
|
|
287,564
|
|
|||
|
Total assets
|
$
|
163,260,371
|
|
$
|
148,506,540
|
|
|
|
Liabilities and Shareholders' Equity
|
|
||||||
|
Current liabilities
|
|
||||||
|
Current portion of long-term debt
|
$
|
2,533,908
|
|
$
|
2,274,054
|
|
|
|
Accounts payable
|
12,430,290
|
|
10,523,788
|
|
|||
|
Accrued expenses
|
9,511,528
|
|
12,083,499
|
|
|||
|
Current portion of environmental reserves
|
147,500
|
|
122,000
|
|
|||
|
Total current liabilities
|
24,623,226
|
|
25,003,341
|
|
|||
|
Long-term debt, less current portion
|
20,904,708
|
|
37,593,309
|
|
|||
|
Long-term environmental reserves
|
478,500
|
|
518,000
|
|
|||
|
Long-term deferred compensation
|
219,794
|
|
263,872
|
|
|||
|
Long-term contingent consideration
|
3,362,031
|
|
5,708,831
|
|
|||
|
Deferred income taxes
|
7,573,999
|
|
7,645,119
|
|
|||
|
Shareholders' equity
|
|
||||||
|
Common stock, par value $1 per share - authorized 12,000,000 shares; issued 10,300,000 shares and 8,000,000 shares, respectively
|
10,300,000
|
|
8,000,000
|
|
|||
|
Capital in excess of par value
|
33,657,714
|
|
1,398,612
|
|
|||
|
Retained earnings
|
76,337,597
|
|
76,836,761
|
|
|||
|
|
120,295,311
|
|
86,235,373
|
|
|||
|
Less cost of common stock in treasury: 1,612,200 and 1,643,267 shares, respectively
|
14,197,198
|
|
14,461,305
|
|
|||
|
Total shareholders' equity
|
106,098,113
|
|
71,774,068
|
|
|||
|
Commitments and contingencies – See Note 11
|
|
|
|||||
|
Total liabilities and shareholders' equity
|
$
|
163,260,371
|
|
$
|
148,506,540
|
|
|
See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements.
28
Years ended
December 28, 2013
,
December 29, 2012
and
December 31, 2011
|
|
2013
|
2012
|
2011
|
||||||||
|
Net sales
|
$
|
220,749,554
|
|
$
|
197,658,874
|
|
$
|
170,575,298
|
|
||
|
Cost of sales
|
201,547,470
|
|
175,730,511
|
|
149,485,455
|
|
|||||
|
Gross profit
|
19,202,084
|
|
21,928,363
|
|
21,089,843
|
|
|||||
|
Selling, general and administrative expense
|
17,387,857
|
|
14,140,355
|
|
12,284,478
|
|
|||||
|
Operating income
|
1,814,227
|
|
7,788,008
|
|
8,805,365
|
|
|||||
|
Other (income) and expense
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||
|
Interest expense
|
1,357,328
|
|
600,893
|
|
140,784
|
|
|||||
|
Acquisition related costs
|
264,186
|
|
880,583
|
|
—
|
|
|||||
|
Change in fair value of interest rate swap
|
(740,832
|
)
|
113,648
|
|
—
|
|
|||||
|
Gain on bargain purchase, net of taxes
|
(1,077,332
|
)
|
—
|
|
—
|
|
|||||
|
Other, net
|
(147,687
|
)
|
(148,028
|
)
|
(85,579
|
)
|
|||||
|
Income before income taxes
|
2,158,564
|
|
6,340,912
|
|
8,750,160
|
|
|||||
|
Provision for income taxes
|
398,000
|
|
2,106,000
|
|
2,953,000
|
|
|||||
|
Net income
|
$
|
1,760,564
|
|
$
|
4,234,912
|
|
$
|
5,797,160
|
|
||
|
Net income per common share:
|
|
|
|
||||||||
|
Basic
|
$
|
0.25
|
|
$
|
0.67
|
|
$
|
0.92
|
|
||
|
Diluted
|
$
|
0.25
|
|
$
|
0.66
|
|
$
|
0.91
|
|
||
See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements.
29
Consolidated Statements of Shareholders' Equity
|
|
Common Stock
|
Capital in Excess of
Par Value
|
Retained Earnings
|
Cost of Common Stock in Treasury
|
Total
|
||||||||||||||
|
Balance at January 1, 2011
|
$
|
8,000,000
|
|
$
|
942,707
|
|
$
|
69,981,395
|
|
$
|
(15,049,001
|
)
|
$
|
63,875,101
|
|
||||
|
Net income
|
—
|
|
—
|
|
5,797,160
|
|
—
|
|
5,797,160
|
|
|||||||||
|
Payment of dividends, $0.25 per share
|
—
|
|
—
|
|
(1,580,404
|
)
|
—
|
|
(1,580,404
|
)
|
|||||||||
|
Issuance of 18,280 shares of common stock from the treasury
|
—
|
|
(72,247
|
)
|
—
|
|
160,835
|
|
88,588
|
|
|||||||||
|
Stock options exercised for 18,155 shares, net
|
—
|
|
6,876
|
|
—
|
|
155,027
|
|
161,903
|
|
|||||||||
|
Employee stock option and grant compensation
|
—
|
|
276,553
|
|
—
|
|
—
|
|
276,553
|
|
|||||||||
|
Balance at December 31, 2011
|
8,000,000
|
|
1,153,889
|
|
74,198,151
|
|
(14,733,139
|
)
|
68,618,901
|
|
|||||||||
|
Net income
|
—
|
|
—
|
|
4,234,912
|
|
—
|
|
4,234,912
|
|
|||||||||
|
Payment of dividends, $0.25 per share
|
—
|
|
—
|
|
(1,596,302
|
)
|
—
|
|
(1,596,302
|
)
|
|||||||||
|
Issuance of 19,089 shares of common stock from the treasury
|
—
|
|
(113,071
|
)
|
—
|
|
167,990
|
|
54,919
|
|
|||||||||
|
Stock options exercised for 11,800 shares, net
|
—
|
|
20,044
|
|
—
|
|
103,844
|
|
123,888
|
|
|||||||||
|
Employee stock option and grant compensation
|
—
|
|
337,750
|
|
—
|
|
—
|
|
337,750
|
|
|||||||||
|
Balance at December 29, 2012
|
8,000,000
|
|
1,398,612
|
|
76,836,761
|
|
(14,461,305
|
)
|
71,774,068
|
|
|||||||||
|
Net income
|
—
|
|
—
|
|
1,760,564
|
|
—
|
|
1,760,564
|
|
|||||||||
|
Payment of dividends, $0.26 per share
|
—
|
|
—
|
|
(2,259,728
|
)
|
—
|
|
(2,259,728
|
)
|
|||||||||
|
Issuance of 17,572 shares of common stock from the treasury
|
—
|
|
(33,545
|
)
|
—
|
|
154,741
|
|
121,196
|
|
|||||||||
|
Stock options exercised for 13,495 shares, net
|
—
|
|
28,660
|
|
—
|
|
109,366
|
|
138,026
|
|
|||||||||
|
Employee stock option and grant compensation
|
—
|
|
331,362
|
|
—
|
|
—
|
|
331,362
|
|
|||||||||
|
Issuance of 2,300,000 shares of common stock
|
2,300,000
|
|
31,932,625
|
|
—
|
|
—
|
|
34,232,625
|
|
|||||||||
|
Balance at December 28, 2013
|
$
|
10,300,000
|
|
$
|
33,657,714
|
|
$
|
76,337,597
|
|
$
|
(14,197,198
|
)
|
$
|
106,098,113
|
|
||||
See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements.
30
Years ended
December 28, 2013
,
December 29, 2012
and
December 31, 2011
|
|
2013
|
2012
|
2011
|
||||||||
|
Operating activities
|
|
|
|
||||||||
|
Net income
|
$
|
1,760,564
|
|
$
|
4,234,912
|
|
$
|
5,797,160
|
|
||
|
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash (used in) provided by operating activities:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||
|
Depreciation expense
|
3,516,374
|
|
2,831,718
|
|
2,631,864
|
|
|||||
|
Amortization expense
|
1,597,578
|
|
567,693
|
|
26,958
|
|
|||||
|
Deferred income taxes
|
(1,467,068
|
)
|
53,697
|
|
121,192
|
|
|||||
|
Bargain gain on acquisition of Color Resources, LLC, net of taxes
|
(1,077,332
|
)
|
—
|
|
—
|
|
|||||
|
(Reduction of) provision for losses on accounts receivable
|
(231,230
|
)
|
106,883
|
|
792,719
|
|
|||||
|
Provision for (reduction of) losses on inventories
|
169,810
|
|
484,070
|
|
(599,981
|
)
|
|||||
|
Loss (gain) on sale of property, plant and equipment
|
2,695
|
|
(76,184
|
)
|
198
|
|
|||||
|
Cash value of life insurance
|
(161,530
|
)
|
(190,996
|
)
|
(62,864
|
)
|
|||||
|
Change in fair value of interest rate swap
|
(740,832
|
)
|
113,648
|
|
—
|
|
|||||
|
Environmental reserves
|
(14,000
|
)
|
—
|
|
(296,456
|
)
|
|||||
|
Issuance of treasury stock for director fees
|
127,989
|
|
99,995
|
|
78,704
|
|
|||||
|
Employee stock option and grant compensation
|
331,362
|
|
337,750
|
|
276,553
|
|
|||||
|
Changes in operating assets and liabilities:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||
|
Accounts receivable
|
(2,057,069
|
)
|
246,899
|
|
(7,402,098
|
)
|
|||||
|
Inventories
|
(5,630,450
|
)
|
(1,906,355
|
)
|
(8,110,000
|
)
|
|||||
|
Other assets and liabilities, net
|
(315,099
|
)
|
(1,668,773
|
)
|
(973,550
|
)
|
|||||
|
Accounts payable
|
1,540,605
|
|
(4,151,832
|
)
|
2,369,076
|
|
|||||
|
Accrued expenses
|
(2,171,957
|
)
|
1,195,374
|
|
1,806,371
|
|
|||||
|
Accrued income taxes
|
(722,208
|
)
|
(643,636
|
)
|
(313,626
|
)
|
|||||
|
Net cash (used in) provided by operating activities
|
(5,541,798
|
)
|
1,634,863
|
|
(3,857,780
|
)
|
|||||
|
Investing activities
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||
|
Purchases of property, plant and equipment
|
(5,766,091
|
)
|
(4,739,728
|
)
|
(3,185,129
|
)
|
|||||
|
Proceeds from sale of property, plant and equipment
|
141,646
|
|
153,850
|
|
31,490
|
|
|||||
|
Acquisition of Palmer of Texas
|
—
|
|
(27,895,209
|
)
|
—
|
|
|||||
|
Cash received from Palmer of Texas acquisition
|
—
|
|
1,389,054
|
|
—
|
|
|||||
|
Acquisition of Color Resources, LLC
|
(4,527,762
|
)
|
—
|
|
—
|
|
|||||
|
Proceeds from life insurance settlement
|
703,331
|
|
734,206
|
|
—
|
|
|||||
|
Net cash used in investing activities
|
(9,448,876
|
)
|
(30,357,827
|
)
|
(3,153,639
|
)
|
|||||
|
Financing activities
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||
|
Net (payments on) borrowings from line of credit
|
(18,060,894
|
)
|
9,410,463
|
|
8,431,156
|
|
|||||
|
Borrowings from long-term debt
|
4,033,250
|
|
22,500,000
|
|
—
|
|
|||||
|
Payments on long-term debt
|
(2,401,103
|
)
|
(759,962
|
)
|
—
|
|
|||||
|
Proceeds from notes receivable
|
—
|
|
20,000
|
|
—
|
|
|||||
|
Proceeds from sale of common stock
|
34,232,625
|
|
—
|
|
—
|
|
|||||
|
Proceeds from exercised stock options
|
138,026
|
|
123,888
|
|
161,903
|
|
|||||
|
Dividends paid
|
(2,259,728
|
)
|
(1,596,302
|
)
|
(1,580,404
|
)
|
|||||
|
Net cash provided by financing activities
|
15,682,176
|
|
29,698,087
|
|
7,012,655
|
|
|||||
|
Increase in cash and cash equivalents
|
691,502
|
|
975,123
|
|
1,236
|
|
|||||
|
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of year
|
1,085,261
|
|
110,138
|
|
108,902
|
|
|||||
|
Cash and cash equivalents at end of year
|
$
|
1,776,763
|
|
$
|
1,085,261
|
|
$
|
110,138
|
|
||
See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements.
31
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
Description of Business
Synalloy Corporation, a Delaware corporation, was incorporated in 1958 as the successor to a chemical manufacturing business founded in 1945. Its charter is perpetual. The name was changed on July 31, 1967 from Blackman Uhler Industries, Inc. On June 3, 1988, the state of incorporation was changed from South Carolina to Delaware. The Company's executive offices are located at 775 Spartan Boulevard, Suite 102, Spartanburg, South Carolina 29301 and 4301 Dominion Boulevard, Suite 130, Glen Allen, Virginia 23060.
The Company's business is divided into
two
segments, the Metals Segment and the Specialty Chemicals Segment. The Metals Segment operates as BRISMET, BristolFab, Ram-Fab and Palmer. BRISMET manufactures pipe, BristolFab fabricates piping systems from stainless and carbon steel and other alloys, Ram-Fab fabricates piping systems from chrome, stainless and carbon steel and other alloys, and Palmer manufactures liquid storage solutions and separation equipment. The Specialty Chemicals Segment operates as Manufacturers Chemicals and CRI Tolling and produces specialty chemicals.
Principles of Consolidation
The consolidated financial statements include the accounts of the Company and its subsidiaries, all of which are wholly owned. The Metals Segment is comprised of
three
wholly-owned subsidiaries: Synalloy Metals, Inc. which owns
100 percent
of Bristol Metals, LLC, located in Bristol, Tennessee; Ram-Fab, LLC, located in Crossett, Arkansas and Palmer of Texas Tanks, Inc, located in Andrews, Texas.
The Specialty Chemicals Segment consists of
two
wholly-owned subsidiaries: Manufacturers Soap and Chemical Company which owns
100 percent
of Manufacturers Chemicals, LLC, located in Cleveland, Tennessee and Dalton, Georgia and CRI Tolling, LLC, located in Fountain Inn, South Carolina. All significant intercompany transactions have been eliminated.
Accounting Period
The Company's fiscal year is the 52 or 53 week period ending the Saturday nearest to December 31. Fiscal year
2013
ended on
December 28, 2013
, fiscal year
2012
ended on
December 29, 2012
and fiscal year
2011
ended on
December 31, 2011
, each year having 52 weeks.
Cash and Cash Equivalents
The Company considers all highly liquid investments with a maturity of three months or less when purchased to be cash equivalents. The Company maintains cash balances at financial institutions with strong credit ratings.
Accounts Receivable
Accounts receivable from the sale of products are recorded at net realizable value and the Company generally grants credit to customers on an unsecured basis. Substantially all of the Company's accounts receivables are due from companies located throughout the United States. The Company provides an allowance for doubtful collections and for disputed claims and quality issues. The allowance is based upon a review of outstanding receivables, historical collection information and existing economic conditions. The Company performs periodic credit evaluations of its customers' financial condition and generally does not require collateral. Receivables are generally due within
30
to
60
days. Delinquent receivables are written off based on individual credit evaluations and specific circumstances of the customer.
Included in the stock purchase agreement (the "SPA") of Palmer, the sellers guaranteed the collectability of the acquired accounts receivable. Per the SPA, at
120
days after the acquisition date, an allowance for doubtful accounts was established for all open, pre-acquisition receivables of
$821,000
, with an offsetting increase in the amount due from the sellers during the year ended December 29, 2012. Subsequent collections on these accounts by the Company will be reimbursed to the sellers.
Inventories
Inventories are stated at the lower of cost or market. Cost is determined by the first-in, first-out ("FIFO") method. The Company writes down its inventory for estimated obsolescence or unmarketable inventory equal to the difference between the cost of inventory and the estimated market value based upon assumptions about future demand and current market conditions. Based upon historical results, the Company also maintains an inventory reserve to provide for the amount of estimated inventory quantity
32
loss since the last physical inventory. As of
December 28, 2013
and
December 29, 2012
, inventories have been reduced by
$2,217,000
and
$2,383,000
, respectively, for obsolescence, market and physical inventory reserves.
Property, Plant and Equipment
Property, plant and equipment are stated at cost. Depreciation is provided on the straight-line method over the estimated useful life of the assets. Land improvements and buildings are depreciated over a range of
ten
to
40 years
, and machinery, fixtures and equipment are depreciated over a range of
three
to
20 years
. The costs of software licenses are amortized over
five years
using the straight-line method. The Company continually reviews the recoverability of the carrying value of long-lived assets. The Company also reviews long-lived assets for impairment whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate the carrying amount of such assets may not be recoverable. When the future undiscounted cash flows of the operation to which the assets relate do not exceed the carrying value of the asset, the assets are written down to fair value.
Goodwill, Intangible Assets and Deferred Charges
Goodwill, arising from the excess of purchase price over fair value of net assets of businesses acquired, is not amortized but is reviewed annually in the fourth quarter for impairment. Intangible assets represents the fair value of intellectual, non-physical assets resulting from a business acquisition. Deferred charges represent other intangible assets such as debt service costs. Intangible assets are amortized over their estimated useful lives using an accelerated method. Deferred charges are amortized over their estimated useful lives using the straight-line method. Deferred charges are amortized over a period ranging from
3
to
10
years and intangible assets are amortized over a period of
15
years. Deferred charges and intangible assets totaled
$9,407,000
and
$9,353,000
at December 28, 2013 and December 29, 2012, respectively. Accumulated amortization of deferred charges and intangible assets as of
December 28, 2013
and
December 29, 2012
totaled
$2,203,000
and
$605,000
, respectively. Estimated amortization expense for the next five fiscal years based on existing deferred charges and intangible assets is: 2014 -
$1,362,000
, 2015 -
$1,168,000
, 2016 -
$999,000
; 2017 -
$870,000
; 2018 -
$706,000
; and thereafter -
$2,099,000
. The Company recorded amortization expense of $1,598,000, $568,000 and $27,000 for 2013, 2012 and 2011, respectively.
Revenue Recognition
Revenue from product sales is recognized at the time ownership of goods transfers to the customer and the earnings process is complete, which is typically on the date the inventory is shipped to the customer.
Shipping Costs
Shipping costs of approximately
$4,871,000
,
$3,445,000
and
$3,088,000
in
2013
,
2012
and
2011
, respectively, are recorded in cost of goods sold.
Research and Development Expenses
The Company incurred research and development expense of approximately
$558,000
,
$612,000
and
$352,000
in
2013
,
2012
and
2011
, respectively.
Earnings Per Share of Common Stock
Earnings per share of common stock are computed based on the weighted average number of shares outstanding during each period. See Note 12.
Fair Value Disclosures
The Company makes estimates of fair value in accounting for certain transactions, in testing and measuring impairment, and in providing disclosures of fair value in its consolidated financial instruments. The Company determines the fair values of its financial instruments for disclosure purposes by maximizing the use of observable inputs and minimizing the use of unobservable inputs when measuring fair value. Fair value disclosures for assets and liabilities are grouped in three levels. The levels prioritize the inputs used to measure the fair value of the assets or liabilities. These levels are:
Level 1
- Quoted prices (unadjusted) in active markets for identical assets or liabilities.
Level 2
- Inputs other than quoted prices that are observable for assets and liabilities, either directly or indirectly. These inputs include quoted prices for similar assets or liabilities in active markets or quoted prices for identical or similar assets or liabilities in markets that are less active.
Level 3
- Unobservable inputs that are supported by little or no market activity for assets or liabilities and includes certain pricing models, discounted cash flow methodologies and similar techniques.
33
Estimates of fair value using levels 2 and 3 may require judgments as to the timing and amount of cash flows, discount rates, and other factors requiring significant judgment, and the outcomes may vary widely depending on the selection of these assumptions. The Company's most significant fair value estimates in 2013 and 2012 related to purchase accounting adjustments in the CRI and Palmer acquisitions, including the measurement of the contingent consideration, estimating the fair value of the reporting units in testing goodwill for impairment, estimating the fair value of the interest rate swaps, and providing disclosures of the fair values of financial instruments.
As of December 28, 2013 and December 29, 2012, the carrying amount for cash and cash equivalents, accounts receivable, accounts payable and borrowings under the Company's line of credit and term loan, which are based on variable interest rates, approximates their fair value.
The Company does not currently have any Level 1 financial assets or liabilities. The Company has three Level 2 financial assets and liabilities. Cash value of life insurance had a fair value of
$2,007,000
and
$2,549,000
at
December 28, 2013
and
December 29, 2012
, respectively. The fair value of the life insurance policies was determined by the underwriting insurance company's valuation models and represents the guaranteed value the Company would receive upon surrender of these policies. Changes in the policies' fair value were recorded in non-current assets with corresponding offsetting entries to selling, general and administrative expense. Also, the fair value of the Palmer swap was an asset of
$301,000
and a liability of
$450,000
at
December 28, 2013
and December 29, 2012, respectively. The fair value of the CRI swap was a liability of
$80,000
at December 28, 2013. The interest rate swaps were priced using discounted cash flow techniques which are corroborated by using non-binding market prices. Changes in the swaps' fair value were recorded in current assets or liabilities, as appropriate, with corresponding offsetting entries to other income (expense). Significant inputs to the discounted cash flow model include projected future cash flows based on projected one-month
LIBOR
and the average margin for companies with similar credit ratings and similar maturities. These are classified as Level 2 as they are not actively traded and are valued using pricing models that use observable market inputs.
The contingent consideration payments, discussed in Note 16, are classified as Level 3. The amount of the total earn-out liability to the prior owners was determined using management's best estimate of Palmer's earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization ("EBITDA") for the
three
-year earn-out period which will determine the amount of the ultimate payment to be made. Factors such as volume increases, selling price increases and inflation were used to develop a base projection. The Company believes additional costs will be required to improve employee turnover, safety, internal controls, etc. These estimated costs were deducted in order to determine projected EBITDA. The Company's current cost of borrowing was used to determine the present value of these expected payments. Each quarter-end, the Company re-evaluates their assumptions and adjustments to the estimated present value of the expected payments to be made, if required.
The following table presents a summary of changes in fair value of the Company's Level 3 liabilities measured on a recurring basis for 2013 and 2012:
|
Level 3 Inputs
|
||||
|
Balance at December 31, 2011
|
$
|
—
|
|
|
|
Present value contingent consideration liability associated with the Palmer acquisition
|
8,152,031
|
|
||
|
Interest expense charged during the year
|
56,800
|
|
||
|
Change in fair value of contingent consideration liability
|
—
|
|
||
|
Balance at December 29, 2012
|
8,208,831
|
|
||
|
Interest expense charged during the year
|
153,200
|
|
||
|
Change in fair value of contingent consideration liability
|
—
|
|
||
|
Payment to Palmer sellers
|
(2,500,000
|
)
|
||
|
Balance at December 28, 2013
|
$
|
5,862,031
|
|
|
There were no transfers of assets or liabilities between Level 1, Level 2 and Level 3 in the years ended December 28, 2013 or December 29, 2012. There have also been no changes in the fair value methodologies used by the Company.
Use of Estimates
The preparation of the consolidated financial statements in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America ("GAAP") requires management to make estimates and assumptions, primarily for testing goodwill for impairment, determining proper period-end balances for certain employee benefit accruals, estimating fair value of identifiable assets acquired and liabilities assumed as a result of business acquisitions and for establishing reserves on accounts receivable,
34
inventories and environmental issues, that affect the amounts reported in the consolidated financial statements and accompanying notes. Actual results could differ from those estimates.
Concentrations of Credit Risk
Financial instruments that potentially subject the Company to significant concentrations of credit risk consist principally of cash deposits, trade accounts receivable and cash surrender value of life insurance. The cash surrender value of life insurance is the contractual amount on policies maintained with one insurance company. The Company performs a periodic evaluation of the relative credit standing of this company as it relates to the insurance industry.
Reclassifications
Certain prior year amounts have been reclassified to conform to the current year presentation in the accompanying consolidated financial statements. These reclassifications had no material effect on previously reported results of operations or shareholders' equity.
Subsequent Events
Management has evaluated subsequent events through the date of filing this Form 10-K.
Property, plant and equipment consist of the following:
|
|
2013
|
2012
|
|||||
|
Land
|
$
|
912,213
|
|
$
|
732,213
|
|
|
|
Land improvements
|
713,545
|
|
707,286
|
|
|||
|
Buildings
|
21,082,454
|
|
16,225,324
|
|
|||
|
Machinery, fixtures and equipment
|
52,381,064
|
|
47,588,233
|
|
|||
|
Construction-in-progress
|
5,023,108
|
|
3,748,831
|
|
|||
|
|
80,112,384
|
|
69,001,887
|
|
|||
|
Less accumulated depreciation
|
44,229,008
|
|
40,966,957
|
|
|||
|
Property, plant and equipment, net
|
$
|
35,883,376
|
|
$
|
28,034,930
|
|
|
The Company recorded depreciation expense of
$3,516,000
,
$2,832,000
, and
$2,632,000
for 2013,
2012
and
2011
, respectively.
|
|
2013
|
2012
|
|||||
|
$ 25,000,000 Revolving line of credit, due August 21, 2015
|
$
|
—
|
|
$
|
18,060,894
|
|
|
|
$ 22,500,000 Term loan, due August 21, 2022
|
19,500,000
|
|
21,750,000
|
|
|||
|
$4,033,250 Mortgage, due August 19, 2023
|
3,938,616
|
|
—
|
|
|||
|
Vehicle loan
|
—
|
|
56,469
|
|
|||
|
23,438,616
|
|
39,867,363
|
|
||||
|
Less current portion
|
2,533,908
|
|
2,274,054
|
|
|||
|
Long-term debt, less current portion
|
$
|
20,904,708
|
|
$
|
37,593,309
|
|
|
On
June 30, 2010
, the Company entered into a Credit Agreement with a regional bank to provide a
$20,000,000
line of credit that was to expire on
June 30, 2013
. This agreement was amended by the bank on
August 19, 2011
to extend the maturity date of the Credit Agreement by
one
additional year to
June 30, 2014
. In connection with the Palmer acquisition discussed in Note 16, on
August 21, 2012
, the Company modified the Credit Agreement to increase the limit of the credit facility by
$5,000,000
to a maximum of
$25,000,000
, and extended the maturity date to
August 21, 2015
. On
October 22, 2012
, the Company modified this agreement to increase the limit by an additional
$5,000,000
to a maximum of
$30,000,000
. This increase was in effect for
one
year and the maximum line of credit reverted back to
$25,000,000
on
October 22, 2013
. None of the other provisions of the Credit Agreement were changed as a result of this modification. Interest on the Credit Agreement is calculated using the One Month
35
LIBOR
(as defined in the Credit Agreement), plus a pre-defined spread, based on the Company's Total Funded Debt to EBITDA ratio (as defined in the Credit Agreement). Borrowings under the line of credit are limited to an amount equal to a borrowing base calculation that includes eligible accounts receivable, inventories and other non-capital assets.
The Credit Agreement modification on August 21, 2012 also provided for a
ten
-year term loan in the amount of
$22,500,000
that requires equal monthly payments of
$187,500
plus interest. In conjunction with the new term loan, to mitigate the variability of the interest rate risk, the Company entered into an interest rate swap contract (the "Palmer swap") on
August 21, 2012
with its current bank. The Palmer swap was for an initial notional amount of
$22,500,000
with a fixed interest rate of
3.74 percent
, and a term of
ten
years, expiring on
August 21, 2022
, which is consistent with the maturity of the term loan. The notional amount of the interest rate swap decreases as monthly principal payments are made.
In connection with acquisition of CRI, discussed in Note 16, on
August 9, 2013
the Company amended its Credit Agreement for a new
ten
-year term loan in the amount of
$4,033,250
, with monthly principal payments customized to account for the
20
year amortization of the real estate assets combined with a
5
-year amortization of the equipment assets purchased. In conjunction with the new term loan, to mitigate the variability of interest rate risk, the Company entered into an interest rate swap contract (the "CRI swap") on
September 3, 2013
. The CRI swap was for an initial notional amount of
$4,033,250
with a fixed interest rate of
4.83 percent
and runs for
ten
years to
August 19, 2023
, which equates to the due date of the term loan. The notional amount of the interest rate swap decreases as monthly principal payments are made.
Although both swap agreements are expected to effectively offset variable interest in the borrowings, hedge accounting will not be utilized. Therefore, changes in their fair value are being recorded in current assets or liabilities, as appropriate, with corresponding offsetting entries to other income (expense). The Company recorded a
$301,000
asset and a
$450,000
liability for the fair value of the Palmer swap as of December 28, 2013 and December 29, 2012, respectively. During 2012, a portion of the initial change in fair value on the Palmer swap was deemed to be attributable to a cost of underwriting the term loan obtained for the Palmer acquisition, therefore
$337,000
of the total change in fair value was classified as an acquisition cost, and the remainder as other income (expense). As of December 28, 2013, the Company recorded an
$80,000
liability for the fair value of the CRI swap. During 2013, a portion of the initial change in fair value on the CRI swap was deemed to be attributable to a cost of underwriting the term loan obtained for the CRI Tolling acquisition; therefore
$70,000
of the total change in fair value was classified as an acquisition cost, and the remainder as other income (expense). In future periods, the change in fair value will be charged or credited to other income or expense.
Pursuant to the Credit Agreement, the Company was required to pledge all of its tangible and intangible properties, including the acquired assets of Palmer and CRI. Covenants under the Credit Agreement include maintaining a certain Total Funded Debt to EBITDA ratio (as defined in the Credit Agreement), a minimum tangible net worth, and total liabilities to tangible net worth ratio. The Company will also be limited to a maximum amount of capital expenditures per year, which is in line with the Company's currently projected needs. At
December 28, 2013
, the Company was in compliance with all debt covenants.
The line of credit interest rates were
2.16 percent
,
2.21 percent
, and
1.78 percent
at
December 28, 2013
,
December 29, 2012
, and
December 31, 2011
, respectively. Additionally, the Company is required to pay a fee equal to
0.125 percent
on the average daily unused amount of the line of credit on a quarterly basis.
No
amounts were borrowed on the line of credit as of
December 28, 2013
resulting in
$25,000,000
available for borrowing under the line of credit at December 28, 2013. Average line of credit borrowings outstanding during fiscal
2013
,
2012
and
2011
were
$19,860,000
,
$11,045,000
and
$5,663,000
with weighted average interest rates of
1.74 percent
,
1.82 percent
and
1.73 percent
, respectively. The average borrowings for 2013 was determined based on the period the Company had an outstanding balance on the line of credit, which was completely paid in October 2013.
The Company also had
one
vehicle loan with a bank that was acquired with the acquisition of Palmer (Note 16) and was paid in full during 2013. Monthly installments of
$2,039
including principal and interest were due on the loan, expiring
April 16, 2015
. The interest rate on the vehicle loan was fixed at
0.90 percent
. The vehicle loan was secured by the vehicle.
Scheduled maturities of total long-term debt obligations are as follows: 2014 -
$2,534,000
; 2015 -
$2,534,000
; 2016 -
$2,534,000
; 2017 -
$2,534,000
; 2018 -
$2,497,000
; and thereafter -
$10,806,000
.
The Company made interest payments on all credit facilities of
$1,202,000
in
2013
,
$492,000
in
2012
and
$114,000
in
2011
.
36
Accrued expenses consist of the following:
|
|
2013
|
2012
|
|||||
|
Salaries, wages and commissions
|
$
|
1,265,178
|
|
$
|
3,275,685
|
|
|
|
Current portion of contingent consideration
|
2,500,000
|
|
2,500,000
|
|
|||
|
Advances from customers
|
1,826,510
|
|
2,015,246
|
|
|||
|
Insurance
|
1,229,440
|
|
1,008,434
|
|
|||
|
Taxes, other than income taxes
|
836,640
|
|
1,600,762
|
|
|||
|
Benefit plans
|
530,603
|
|
260,810
|
|
|||
|
Interest
|
31,015
|
|
482,503
|
|
|||
|
Professional fees
|
302,304
|
|
259,933
|
|
|||
|
Interest rate swap liability
|
80,498
|
|
450,248
|
|
|||
|
Current portion of deferred compensation
|
51,000
|
|
71,000
|
|
|||
|
Other accrued items
|
858,340
|
|
158,878
|
|
|||
|
Total accrued expenses
|
$
|
9,511,528
|
|
$
|
12,083,499
|
|
|
At
December 28, 2013
and
December 29, 2012
, the Company had accrued
$626,000
and
$640,000
, respectively, for remediation costs which, in management's best estimate, is sufficient to satisfy anticipated costs of known remediation requirements as outlined below. Expenditures related to costs currently accrued are not discounted to their present values and are expected to be made over the next
three
to
four
years. As a result of the evolving nature of the environmental regulations, the difficulty in estimating the extent and remedy of environmental contamination, and the availability and application of technology, the estimated costs for future environmental compliance and remediation are subject to uncertainties and it is not possible to predict the amount or timing of future costs of environmental matters which may subsequently be determined.
Prior to 1987, the Company utilized certain products at its chemical facilities that are currently classified as hazardous materials. Testing of the groundwater in the areas of the former wastewater treatment impoundments at these facilities disclosed the presence of certain contaminants. In addition, several solid waste management units ("SWMUs") at the plant sites have been identified. In
1998
, the Company completed a Resource Conservation and Recovery Act ("RCRA") Facility Investigation at its Spartanburg, SC plant site, and based on the results, completed a Corrective Measures Study in
2000
. A Corrective Measures Plan specifying remediation procedures to be performed was submitted in
2000
and the Company received regulatory approval. In prior years, remediation projects were completed to clean up all
14
SWMUs on the Spartanburg plant site at a cost of approximately
$968,000
. On
October 2, 2009
, the Company entered into an Asset Purchase Agreement and sold the Spartanburg facilities. As part of the Agreement, the purchaser agreed to assume any and all future unidentified environmental liabilities at the site and pay all future annual monitoring and reporting costs required by the RCRA permit covering the site. The Company has completed all of the RCRA-Permit required cleanup projects.
At the former Augusta, GA plant site, the Company submitted a Baseline Risk Assessment and Corrective Measures Plan for regulatory approval. A Closure and Post-Closure Care Plan was submitted and approved in
2001
for the closure of the surface impoundment (former regulated unit). The Company completed and certified closure of the surface impoundment during
2002
. During
2005
, the Company completed a preliminary analysis of remedial alternatives to eliminate direct contact with surface soils based on the Baseline Risk Assessment. In
2011
, the Company identified a concentration of soil contamination. With the approval of the Georgia Department of Natural Resources, Environmental Protection Division ("EPD"), the affected soil was removed and the section of the property was backfilled with clean fill material plus selected chemicals to clean any impurities left behind. Based upon the soil remediation performed, the Company filed a Site-Wide Corrective Action Plan with the EPD in
December 2011
to terminate the RCRA Permit. The Company has accrued
$551,000
and
$565,000
at
December 28, 2013
and
December 29, 2012
, respectively, for estimated future remedial and cleanup costs. As part of the Asset Purchase Agreement for the Spartanburg facility, the purchaser also agreed to pay for all future annual monitoring and reporting costs at the Augusta facility required by the EPD.
The Company has identified and evaluated
two
SWMUs at its plant in Bristol, Tennessee that revealed residual groundwater contamination. An Interim Corrective Measures Plan to address the final area of contamination identified was submitted for regulatory approval and was approved in
March 2005
. The Company had
$75,000
accrued at
December 28, 2013
and
December 29, 2012
, to provide for estimated future remedial and cleanup costs.
37
The Company has been designated, along with others, as a potentially responsible party under the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act, or comparable state statutes, at
two
waste disposal sites. Notifications for these
two
sites were received by the Company in
November 2007
and
February 2008
. The site represented by the November 2007 notification was settled during the current year. The Company was not named in the final settlement and was not required to make any payments. It is impossible to determine the ultimate costs related to the remaining site due to several factors such as the unknown possible magnitude of possible contamination, the unknown timing and extent of the corrective actions which may be required, and the determination of the Company's liability in proportion to the other parties. At the present time, the Company does not have sufficient information to form an opinion as to whether it has any liability, or the amount of such liability, if any. However, it is reasonably possible that some liability exists.
The Company was also named as one of many potentially responsible parties in a Superfund Site brought by the United States Environmental Protection Agency. Notification for this site was received on
September 13, 2010
. The Company qualified for a special
de minimis
party settlement at this site and upon payment of approximately
$2,000
, was able to be released from further consideration.
The Company does not anticipate any insurance recoveries to offset the environmental remediation costs it has incurred. Due to the uncertainty regarding court and regulatory decisions, and possible future legislation or rulings regarding the environment, many insurers will not cover environmental impairment risks, particularly in the chemical industry. Hence, the Company has been unable to obtain this coverage at an affordable price.
The Company has deferred compensation agreements with certain former officers providing for payments for the longer of
ten years
or life from age
65
. The present value of such vested future payments,
$271,000
at
December 28, 2013
and
$335,000
at
December 29, 2012
, has been accrued.
38
A summary of activity in the Company's stock option plans is as follows:
|
Weighted
Average
Exercise
Price
|
Options
Outstanding
|
Weighted
Average
Contractual
Term
(in years)
|
Intrinsic
Value of
Options
|
Options
Available
|
|||||||||||
|
At January 1, 2011
|
$
|
9.13
|
|
44,000
|
|
3.6
|
$
|
131,670
|
|
—
|
|
||||
|
2011 option plan
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
350,000
|
|
||||||
|
Granted January 24, 2011
|
$
|
11.55
|
|
100,000
|
|
(100,000
|
)
|
||||||||
|
Exercised
|
$
|
9.15
|
|
(19,200
|
)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||
|
Canceled / Expired
|
$
|
9.96
|
|
(4,000
|
)
|
|
|
|
—
|
|
|||||
|
At December 31, 2011
|
$
|
11.28
|
|
120,800
|
|
8.0
|
$
|
6,448
|
|
250,000
|
|
||||
|
Granted February 9, 2012
|
$
|
11.35
|
|
36,740
|
|
|
|
|
(36,740
|
)
|
|||||
|
Granted August 21, 2012
|
$
|
12.73
|
|
75,000
|
|
(75,000
|
)
|
||||||||
|
Exercised
|
$
|
10.50
|
|
(11,800
|
)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||
|
Canceled / Expired
|
$
|
—
|
|
—
|
|
|
|
|
—
|
|
|||||
|
At December 29, 2012
|
$
|
11.82
|
|
220,740
|
|
8.4
|
$
|
367,937
|
|
138,260
|
|
||||
|
Granted February 7, 2013
|
$
|
13.70
|
|
40,594
|
|
(40,594
|
)
|
||||||||
|
Exercised
|
$
|
10.69
|
|
(15,247
|
)
|
||||||||||
|
Canceled / Expired
|
$
|
12.70
|
|
(83,351
|
)
|
83,351
|
|
||||||||
|
At December 28, 2013
|
$
|
11.95
|
|
162,736
|
|
7.5
|
582,894
|
|
181,017
|
|
|||||
|
Exercisable options
|
$
|
11.26
|
|
40,591
|
|
6.8
|
$
|
173,518
|
|
|
|
||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
||||||||
|
Options expected to vest:
|
|
|
|
|
|
Grant Date Fair Value
|
|
|
|||||||
|
At December 31, 2011
|
$
|
11.55
|
|
100,000
|
|
9.1
|
$
|
7.93
|
|
|
|
||||
|
Granted February 9, 2012
|
$
|
11.35
|
|
36,740
|
|
$
|
5.03
|
|
|
|
|||||
|
Granted August 21, 2012
|
$
|
12.73
|
|
75,000
|
|
$
|
5.44
|
|
|||||||
|
Vested
|
$
|
11.55
|
|
(20,000
|
)
|
|
|
||||||||
|
At December 29, 2012
|
$
|
11.97
|
|
191,740
|
|
8.9
|
$
|
6.40
|
|
|
|
||||
|
Granted February 7, 2013
|
$
|
13.70
|
|
40,594
|
|
$
|
6.30
|
|
|||||||
|
Vested
|
$
|
11.49
|
|
(27,347
|
)
|
||||||||||
|
Forfeited unvested options
|
$
|
12.71
|
|
(82,842
|
)
|
||||||||||
|
At December 28, 2013
|
$
|
12.18
|
|
122,145
|
|
7.8
|
$
|
7.19
|
|
||||||
The following table summarizes information about stock options outstanding at
December 28, 2013
:
|
Range of Exercise Prices
|
Outstanding Stock Options
|
Exercisable Stock Options
|
||||||||||||||||
|
Shares
|
Weighted Average
|
Shares
|
Weighted Average Exercise Price
|
|||||||||||||||
|
Exercise Price
|
Remaining Contractual Life in Years
|
|||||||||||||||||
|
$
|
9.96
|
|
5,000
|
|
$
|
9.96
|
|
1.09
|
5,000
|
|
$
|
9.96
|
|
|||||
|
$
|
11.55
|
|
91,000
|
|
$
|
11.55
|
|
7.07
|
16,000
|
|
$
|
11.55
|
|
|||||
|
$
|
11.35
|
|
30,037
|
|
$
|
11.35
|
|
8.12
|
19,591
|
|
$
|
11.35
|
|
|||||
|
$
|
13.70
|
|
36,699
|
|
$
|
13.70
|
|
9.11
|
—
|
|
|
|
||||||
|
|
|
162,736
|
|
|
|
|
40,591
|
|
|
|
||||||||
39
On
January 21, 2011
, the Board of Directors of the Company adopted the 2011 Long-Term Incentive Stock Option Plan (the "2011 Plan") which was approved by the shareholders at the
April 28, 2011
Annual Meeting. The 2011 Plan authorizes the issuance of incentive options for up to
350,000
shares of the Company's common stock. All shares granted under this plan may be exercised beginning
one
year after the date of the grant at a rate of
20 percent
annually on a cumulative basis and unexercised options expire ten years from the grant date.
The Company granted options to purchase
100,000
shares of its common stock at an exercise price of
$11.55
to its CEO on
January 24, 2011
. The per share weighted-average fair value of the stock options granted during 2011 was
$7.93
. The Black-Scholes model for this grant was based on a risk-free interest rate of
3.34 percent
, an expected life of
seven
years, an expected volatility of
0.49
and a dividend yield of
2.10 percent
.
On
February 9, 2012
, the Company granted options to purchase
36,740
shares of its common stock at an exercise price of
$11.35
to participants in the 2011 Plan and an additional
75,000
options were granted on
August 21, 2012
to the President of Palmer in connection with his employment agreement with the Company at an exercise price of
$12.73
. The fair value of the option grants were
$5.03
and
$5.44
, respectively. The fair value of the grants were estimated using the Black-Scholes option-pricing model based on a risk-free interest rate of
2.04 percent
and
1.80 percent
, respectively, an expected volatility of
0.53
and
0.51
, respectively, with both grants using an expected life of
seven
years and a dividend yield of
2.10 percent
.
On February 7, 2013, the Company granted options to purchase
40,594
shares of its common stock at an exercise price of
$13.70
per share to participants in the 2011 Plan. The stock options will vest in
20 percent
increments annually on a cumulative basis, beginning
one
year after the date of grant. In order for the options to vest, the employee must be in the continuous employment of the Company since the date of the grant. Any portion of the grant that has not vested will be forfeited upon termination of employment. The Company may terminate any portion of the grant that has not vested upon an employee's failure to comply with all conditions of the award or the 2011 Plan. Shares representing grants that have not yet vested will be held in escrow by the Company. An employee will not be entitled to any voting rights with respect to any shares not yet vested, and the shares are not transferable. The per share weighted-average fair value of this stock option grant was
$6.30
. The Black-Scholes model for this grant was based on a risk-free interest rate of
2.00 percent
, an expected life of
seven
years, an expected volatility of
0.53
and a dividend yield of
1.80 percent
.
Prior to the 2011 Plan, the Company had
two
stock option plans, neither of which have options available for future issuance after April 30, 2008. Under the 1998 Plan covering officers and key employees, options may be exercised beginning
one
year after date of grant at a rate of
20 percent
annually on a cumulative basis, and unexercised options expire
ten
years from the grant date. Under the 1994 Non-Employee Directors' Plan, options were exercisable at the date of grant. Shares issued under both stock option plans come from shares held in treasury with the Company.
The 2011 Plan and the 1998 Plan are incentive stock option plans, therefore there are no income tax consequences to the Company when an option is granted or exercised. In
2013
,
2012
and 2011, options for
15,247
,
11,800
and
19,200
shares were exercised by employees and directors for an aggregate exercise price of
$163,000
,
$124,000
and
$176,000
, respectively. The proceeds were generated from cash received of
$138,000
and repurchase of
1,752
shares from employees and directors totaling
$25,000
in
2013
, from cash received of
$124,000
in
2012
and from cash received of
$162,000
and from the repurchase of
1,045
shares from employees and directors totaling
$14,000
in 2011. At the
2013
,
2012
and
2011
respective year ends, options to purchase
40,591
,
29,000
and
20,800
shares with weighted average exercise prices of
$11.26
,
$10.84
and
$9.96
, respectively, were fully exercisable. Compensation cost charged against income before taxes for the options was approximately
$249,000
for
2013
,
$228,000
for
2012
and
$111,000
for
2011
. As of
December 28, 2013
, there was
$668,000
of unrecognized compensation cost related to unvested stock options granted under the Company's stock option plans. The weighted average period over which the stock option compensation cost is expected to be recognized is
2.68
years.
40
The Company has a stock awards plan in effect at
December 28, 2013
. A summary of plan activity for
2011
,
2012
and
2013
is as follows:
|
Shares
|
Weighted Average
Grant Date Fair Value
|
|||||
|
Outstanding at January 1, 2011
|
48,340
|
|
$
|
10.47
|
|
|
|
Granted January 24, 2011
|
13,420
|
|
$
|
11.55
|
|
|
|
Granted February 9, 2011
|
13,300
|
|
$
|
13.34
|
|
|
|
Vested
|
(12,290
|
)
|
$
|
12.81
|
|
|
|
Forfeited
|
(19,198
|
)
|
$
|
9.62
|
|
|
|
Outstanding at December 31, 2011
|
43,572
|
|
$
|
11.39
|
|
|
|
Vested
|
(11,099
|
)
|
$
|
12.60
|
|
|
|
Forfeited
|
—
|
|
|
|
||
|
Outstanding at December 29, 2012
|
32,473
|
|
$
|
10.98
|
|
|
|
Vested
|
(8,161
|
)
|
$
|
11.06
|
|
|
|
Forfeited
|
(5,060
|
)
|
$
|
10.20
|
|
|
|
Outstanding at December 28, 2013
|
19,252
|
|
$
|
11.15
|
|
|
The Compensation & Long-Term Incentive Committee of the Board of Directors of the Company approves stock grants under the Company's 2005 Stock Awards Plan to certain management employees of the Company. The stock awards vest in
20 percent
increments annually on a cumulative basis, beginning
one year
after the date of grant from shares held in treasury with the Company. In order for the awards to vest, the employee must be in the continuous employment of the Company since the date of the award. Any portion of an award that has not vested is forfeited upon termination of employment. The Company may terminate any portion of the award that has not vested upon an employee's failure to comply with all conditions of the award or the 2005 Stock Awards Plan. An employee is not entitled to any voting rights with respect to any shares not yet vested, and the shares are not transferable. There were
no
grants issued in
2013
. Compensation expense on the grants issued is being charged against earnings equally before forfeitures, if any, over a period of
60 months
from the dates of the grants, with the offset recorded in Shareholders' Equity. Compensation cost charged against income for the awards was approximately
$82,000
,
$52,000
net of income taxes, or
$0.01
per share for
2013
,
$110,000
,
$70,000
net of income taxes, or
$0.01
per share for
2012
and
$165,000
,
$105,000
net of income taxes, or
$0.02
per share, for
2011
. As of
December 28, 2013
, there was
$143,000
of total unrecognized compensation cost related to unvested stock grants under the 2005 Stock Awards Plan. The weighted average period over which the stock grant compensation cost is expected to be recognized is
1.96
years.
On
April 27, 2012
, the Company issued to each of its non-employee directors
1,598
shares of its common stock from shares held in treasury with the Company (an aggregate of
7,990
shares) and
7,238
shares shares in
2011
. Such shares were issued to the directors in lieu of
$20,000
of their annual cash retainer fees for 2012 and
$15,000
of their annual cash retainer fees for 2011. During 2011,
two
non-employee directors resigned/retired from the Board of Directors resulting in the forfeiture of
1,248
shares.
On April 25, 2013, the Company permitted each non-employee director to elect up to
100%
of their annual retainer in restricted stock. The number of restricted shares issued is determined by the average of the high and low common stock price on the day prior to the Annual Meeting of Shareholders or the date prior to the appointment to the Board. In 2013, non-employee directors received an aggregate of
9,411
shares of restricted stock in lieu of total retainer fees of
$128,000
. The shares granted to the directors are not registered under the Securities Act of 1933 and are subject to forfeiture in whole or in part upon the occurrence of certain events.
On September 30, 2013, the Company closed on an underwritten public offering of
2,000,000
shares of its common stock at a price of
$15.75
per share. The underwriters also exercised their option to purchase and close upon an additional
300,000
shares of common stock at a price of
$15.75
per share. The Company received net proceeds, after underwriting discounts and estimated expenses, of approximately
$34,233,000
. The Company intends to use the net proceeds from the offering to invest approximately
$3,500,000
in new equipment for the CRI Tolling facility. The Company used
$18,061,000
of the stock sale proceeds to pay off the outstanding balance on the line of credit.
41
Deferred income taxes reflect the net tax effects of temporary differences between the carrying amounts of assets and liabilities for financial reporting purposes and the amounts used for income tax purposes. Significant components of the Company's deferred tax liabilities and assets are as follows at the respective year ends:
|
(Amounts in thousands)
|
2013
|
2012
|
|||||
|
Deferred tax assets:
|
|
|
|||||
|
Inventory valuation reserves
|
$
|
794
|
|
$
|
853
|
|
|
|
Allowance for doubtful accounts
|
100
|
|
162
|
|
|||
|
Inventory capitalization
|
3,089
|
|
2,239
|
|
|||
|
Environmental reserves
|
224
|
|
229
|
|
|||
|
Interest rate swap
|
128
|
|
116
|
|
|||
|
Back charge accrual
|
203
|
|
72
|
|
|||
|
Deferred compensation
|
97
|
|
120
|
|
|||
|
State net operating loss carryforwards
|
142
|
|
66
|
|
|||
|
Other
|
253
|
|
278
|
|
|||
|
Total deferred tax assets
|
5,030
|
|
4,135
|
|
|||
|
Deferred tax liabilities:
|
|
|
|
|
|||
|
Tax over book depreciation and amortization
|
8,021
|
|
8,046
|
|
|||
|
Prepaid expenses
|
749
|
|
663
|
|
|||
|
Other
|
57
|
|
90
|
|
|||
|
Total deferred tax liabilities
|
8,827
|
|
8,799
|
|
|||
|
Net deferred tax liabilities
|
$
|
(3,797
|
)
|
$
|
(4,664
|
)
|
|
Significant components of the provision for income taxes are as follows:
|
(Amounts in thousands)
|
2013
|
2012
|
2011
|
||||||||
|
Current:
|
|
|
|
||||||||
|
Federal
|
$
|
1,689
|
|
$
|
1,771
|
|
$
|
2,670
|
|
||
|
State
|
176
|
|
281
|
|
162
|
|
|||||
|
Total current
|
1,865
|
|
2,052
|
|
2,832
|
|
|||||
|
Deferred:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||
|
Federal
|
(1,321
|
)
|
114
|
|
108
|
|
|||||
|
State
|
(146
|
)
|
(60
|
)
|
13
|
|
|||||
|
Total deferred
|
(1,467
|
)
|
54
|
|
121
|
|
|||||
|
Total
|
$
|
398
|
|
$
|
2,106
|
|
$
|
2,953
|
|
||
42
The reconciliation of income tax computed at the U. S. federal statutory tax rates to income tax expense is:
|
2013
|
2012
|
2011
|
||||||||||||||||||
|
(Amounts in thousands)
|
Amount
|
%
|
Amount
|
%
|
Amount
|
%
|
||||||||||||||
|
Tax at U.S. statutory rates
|
$
|
734
|
|
34.0
|
%
|
$
|
2,156
|
|
34.0
|
%
|
$
|
2,975
|
|
34.0
|
%
|
|||||
|
State income taxes, net of federal tax benefit
|
(23
|
)
|
(1.1
|
)%
|
118
|
|
1.9
|
%
|
133
|
|
1.5
|
%
|
||||||||
|
Bargain gain on CRI acquisition
|
(366
|
)
|
(17.0
|
)%
|
—
|
|
—
|
%
|
—
|
|
—
|
%
|
||||||||
|
Manufacturing exemption
|
(138
|
)
|
(6.4
|
)%
|
(180
|
)
|
(2.8
|
)%
|
(162
|
)
|
(1.9
|
)%
|
||||||||
|
Stock issuance costs
|
101
|
|
4.7
|
%
|
—
|
|
—
|
%
|
—
|
|
—
|
%
|
||||||||
|
Stock option compensation
|
85
|
|
3.9
|
%
|
38
|
|
0.6
|
%
|
38
|
|
0.4
|
%
|
||||||||
|
Other, net
|
5
|
|
0.3
|
%
|
(26
|
)
|
(0.5
|
)%
|
(31
|
)
|
(0.3
|
)%
|
||||||||
|
Total
|
$
|
398
|
|
18.4
|
%
|
$
|
2,106
|
|
33.2
|
%
|
$
|
2,953
|
|
33.7
|
%
|
|||||
Income tax payments of approximately
$2,393,000
,
$2,112,000
and
$3,143,000
were made in
2013
,
2012
and
2011
, respectively. The Company had state net operating loss carryforwards of approximately
$45,503,000
at
December 28, 2013
, which will expire between the years 2017 to 2032, and
$43,143,000
at
December 29, 2012
. Since the likelihood of recognizing the tax effect of these carryforwards is remote, they have not been recognized in the consolidated financial statements.
The Company and its subsidiaries are subject to U.S. federal income tax as well as income tax of multiple state jurisdictions. The Company is no longer subject to U.S. federal or state income tax examinations for years before 2009. The Company's federal income tax return for 2007 was examined by the Internal Revenue Service in 2009 and federal income tax and interest liabilities resulting from this examination were not material. The Company's continuing practice is to recognize interest and/or penalties related to income tax matters in the provision for income taxes. The Company had
no
accruals for uncertain tax positions including interest and penalties at the end of
2013
or
2012
.
The Company has a 401(k) Employee Stock Ownership Plan (the "401(k)/ESOP Plan") covering all non-union employees. Employees may contribute to the 401(k)/ESOP Plan up to
100 percent
of their salary with a maximum of
$17,500
for
2013
. Under the Economic Growth and Tax Relief Reconciliation Act, employees who are age
50
or older may contribute an additional
$5,500
per year for a maximum of
$23,000
for
2013
. Contributions by the employees are invested in one or more funds at the direction of the employee; however, employee contributions cannot be invested in Company stock. Contributions by the Company are made in cash and then used by the 401(k)/ESOP Plan Trustee to purchase Company stock. The Company contributes on behalf of each eligible participant a matching contribution equal to a percentage which is determined each year by the Board of Directors. For
2013
,
2012
and
2011
the maximum was
four percent
. The matching contribution is allocated after each payroll. Matching contributions of approximately
$550,000
,
$390,000
and
$345,000
were made for
2013
,
2012
and
2011
, respectively. The Company may also make a discretionary contribution, which if made, would be distributed to all eligible participants regardless of whether they contribute to the 401(k)/ESOP Plan.
No
discretionary contributions were made to the 401(k)/ESOP Plan in
2013
,
2012
or
2011
. The Company also contributes to union-sponsored defined contribution retirement plans. Contributions relating to these plans were approximately
$882,000
,
$739,000
and
$688,000
for
2013
,
2012
and
2011
, respectively.
The Company has
three
collective bargaining agreements at its Bristol, Tennessee facility. The number of employees of the Company represented by these unions is
249
, or
37 percent
of the Company's total employees. They are represented by
two
locals affiliated with the AFL-CIO and
one
local affiliated with the Teamsters. The Company considers relationships with its union employees to be satisfactory. Collective bargaining contracts will expire in January 2015 and March 2015. The Company is currently in negotiations with the union regarding the collective bargaining contract that expired February 2014.
The Company leases a warehouse facility in Dalton, Georgia, property for a manufacturing facility in Orange, Texas, office space in Spartanburg, South Carolina and Glen Allen, Virginia and various manufacturing and office equipment at each of its locations, all under operating leases. The amount of future minimum lease payments under the operating leases are as follows:
2014
-
$370,000
;
2015
-
$229,000
;
2016
-
$120,000
;
2017
-
$60,000
; and
2018
-
$6,000
. Rent expense related to operating leases was
$1,043,000
,
$470,000
and
$140,000
in
2013
,
2012
and
2011
, respectively. The Company does not have any leases that are classified as capital leases for any of the periods presented in the consolidated financial statements.
43
The Company is from time-to-time subject to various claims, other possible legal actions for product liability and other damages, and other matters arising out of the normal conduct of the Company's business. The Metals Segment recorded claim expense of
$512,000
,
$330,000
and
$100,000
for
2013
,
2012
and
2011
, respectively, for specific customers' product claims.
In November 2012, after almost
twelve
months of collection efforts, the Specialty Chemicals Segment filed suit against a former customer for past due invoices totaling
$134,000
. That former customer, in turn, filed a variety of counterclaims against the Specialty Chemicals Segment and alleged
$3,000,000
in damages. The Company settled this case during 2013 with no cash outlay.
In November 2013, a Metals Segment customer filed suit against Bristol Metals, LLC in Louisiana state court alleging damages from breach of warranty, among other claims. The plaintiff’s claim for damages does not state a dollar amount. The Company filed a counterclaim against the customer for
$135,000
of past due invoices and successfully removed the case to the United States District Court for the Middle District of Louisiana, where the case is currently pending.
In January 2014, a Metals Segment customer filed suit against Palmer and another unrelated defendant in Texas state court alleging breach of warranty, among other claims. The plaintiff’s claim for damages does not state a dollar amount. Palmer has yet to be served with the lawsuit while the parties discuss settlement. This matter arises out of products manufactured and sold by Palmer prior to the Company’s acquisition of Palmer. As such, the sellers of Palmer are contractually bound in the SPA to indemnify the Company for any and all costs, including attorneys’ fees, which may arise out of this matter.
Other than the environmental contingencies discussed in Note 5 and the matters discussed in this Note 11, management is not currently aware of any other asserted or unasserted matters which could have a significant effect on the financial condition or results of operations of the Company.
The following table sets forth the computation of basic and diluted earnings per share:
|
|
2013
|
2012
|
2011
|
||||||||
|
Numerator:
|
|
|
|
||||||||
|
Net income
|
$
|
1,760,564
|
|
$
|
4,234,912
|
|
$
|
5,797,160
|
|
||
|
Denominator:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||
|
Denominator for basic earnings per share - weighted average shares
|
6,941,794
|
|
6,341,856
|
|
6,313,418
|
|
|||||
|
Effect of dilutive securities:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||
|
Employee stock options and stock grants
|
5,610
|
|
52,488
|
|
48,670
|
|
|||||
|
Denominator for diluted earnings per share - weighted average shares
|
6,947,404
|
|
6,394,344
|
|
6,362,088
|
|
|||||
|
Earnings per share:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||
|
Basic
|
$
|
0.25
|
|
$
|
0.67
|
|
$
|
0.92
|
|
||
|
Diluted
|
$
|
0.25
|
|
$
|
0.66
|
|
$
|
0.91
|
|
||
The diluted earnings per share calculations exclude the effect of potentially dilutive shares when the inclusion of those shares in the calculation would have an anti-dilutive effect. The Company had weighted average shares of common stock of
161,084
in
2013
,
231,200
in
2012
and
139,484
in
2011
, which were not included in the diluted earnings per share calculation as their effect was anti-dilutive.
The Company operates in
two
principal industry segments: metals and specialty chemicals. The Company identifies such segments based on products and services. The Metals Segment consists of Synalloy Metals, Inc. a wholly-owned subsidiary which owns
100 percent
of Bristol Metals, LLC, Ram-Fab, LLC and Palmer of Texas Tanks, Inc., both wholly-owned subsidiaries of the Company. The Metals Segment manufactures pipe from stainless steel and other alloys, fabricates piping systems from carbon, chrome, stainless steel and other alloys, and produces fiberglass and steel storage tanks. The Metal Segment's products, many of
44
which are custom-produced to individual orders and required for corrosive and high-purity processes, are used principally by the chemical, petrochemical, pulp and paper, mining, power generation (including nuclear), water and wastewater treatment, liquid natural gas, brewery, food processing, petroleum, pharmaceutical and other industries. Products include pipe, piping systems, storage tanks and a variety of other components. The Specialty Chemicals Segment consists of Manufacturers Soap and Chemical Company, a wholly owned subsidiary of the Company which owns
100 percent
of Manufacturers Chemicals, LLC and CRI Tolling, LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of the Company. The Specialty Chemicals Segment manufactures a wide variety of specialty chemicals and dyes for the carpet, chemical, paper, metals, mining, agricultural, fiber, paint, textile, automotive, petroleum, cosmetics, mattress, furniture, janitorial and other industries.
Segment operating income is the segment's total revenue less operating expenses, excluding interest expense and income taxes. Identifiable assets, all of which are located in the United States, are those assets used in operations by each segment. The Metals Segment's identifiable assets include goodwill of
$16,898,000
in
2013
and
2012
, and the Specialty Chemicals Segment's identifiable assets include goodwill of
$1,355,000
in
2013
and
2012
. Centralized data processing and accounting expenses are allocated to the
two
segments based upon estimates of their percentage of usage. Unallocated corporate expenses include environmental charges of
$17,000
,
$46,000
and
$8,000
for
2013
,
2012
and 2011 respectively. Corporate assets consist principally of cash, certain investments, and equipment.
The Metals Segment has
one
domestic customer that accounted for approximately
eleven percent
of the Metals Segment's revenues in 2013. These revenues were for the Bechtel project which will not recur in the future. The Company believes that it will be able to grow base stainless steel pipe sales to completely offset the loss of these revenues in 2014. A different customer accounted for
ten percent
of the Metals Segment's revenues in
2011
. There were
no
customers representing more than
ten percent
of the Metals Segment's revenues for 2012. The Specialty Chemicals Segment has
one
domestic customer that accounted for approximately
40 percent
of revenues for 2013,
28 percent
of revenues for
2012
, and
24 percent
of revenues in
2011
. However, this customer is a large global company, and the purchases by this customer are derived from several different business units that operate autonomously from each other. Even so, loss of this customer's revenues would have a material adverse effect on the Specialty Chemicals Segment and the Company.
In order to establish stronger business relationships, the Metals Segment uses only a few raw material suppliers.
Seven
suppliers furnish about
71 percent
of total dollar purchases of raw materials, with
one
supplier furnishing
24 percent
. However, the Company does not believe that the loss of this supplier would have a materially adverse effect on the Company as raw materials are readily available from a number of different sources, and the Company anticipates no difficulties in fulfilling its requirements. For the Specialty Chemicals Segment, most raw materials are generally available from numerous independent suppliers and about
50 percent
of total purchases are from its top
seven
suppliers. While some raw material needs are met by a sole supplier or only a few suppliers, the Company anticipates no difficulties in fulfilling its raw material requirements.
45
Segment Information:
|
(Amounts in thousands)
|
2013
|
2012
|
2011
|
||||||||
|
Net sales
|
|
|
|
||||||||
|
Metals Segment
|
$
|
164,232
|
|
$
|
146,285
|
|
$
|
127,727
|
|
||
|
Specialty Chemicals Segment
|
56,518
|
|
51,374
|
|
42,848
|
|
|||||
|
|
$
|
220,750
|
|
$
|
197,659
|
|
$
|
170,575
|
|
||
|
Operating (loss) income
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||
|
Metals Segment
|
$
|
(732
|
)
|
$
|
6,138
|
|
$
|
9,253
|
|
||
|
Specialty Chemicals Segment
|
5,743
|
|
4,843
|
|
2,221
|
|
|||||
|
|
5,011
|
|
10,981
|
|
11,474
|
|
|||||
|
Less unallocated corporate expenses
|
3,197
|
|
3,193
|
|
2,668
|
|
|||||
|
Operating income
|
1,814
|
|
7,788
|
|
8,806
|
|
|||||
|
Acquisition related costs
|
264
|
|
881
|
|
—
|
|
|||||
|
Interest expense
|
1,357
|
|
601
|
|
141
|
|
|||||
|
Change in fair value of interest rate swap
|
(741
|
)
|
114
|
|
—
|
|
|||||
|
Gain on bargain purchase, net of taxes
|
(1,077
|
)
|
—
|
|
—
|
|
|||||
|
Other income, net
|
(148
|
)
|
(149
|
)
|
(85
|
)
|
|||||
|
Income before income taxes
|
$
|
2,159
|
|
$
|
6,341
|
|
$
|
8,750
|
|
||
|
Identifiable assets
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||
|
Metals Segment
|
$
|
124,720
|
|
$
|
117,340
|
|
|||||
|
Specialty Chemicals Segment
|
28,041
|
|
21,949
|
|
|||||||
|
Corporate
|
10,499
|
|
9,218
|
|
|||||||
|
|
$
|
163,260
|
|
$
|
148,507
|
|
|||||
|
Depreciation and amortization
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||
|
Metals Segment
|
$
|
4,251
|
|
$
|
2,776
|
|
$
|
2,073
|
|
||
|
Specialty Chemicals Segment
|
659
|
|
435
|
|
419
|
|
|||||
|
Corporate
|
204
|
|
188
|
|
167
|
|
|||||
|
|
$
|
5,114
|
|
$
|
3,399
|
|
$
|
2,659
|
|
||
|
Capital expenditures
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||
|
Metals Segment
|
$
|
4,312
|
|
$
|
3,551
|
|
$
|
2,097
|
|
||
|
Specialty Chemicals Segment
|
1,397
|
|
1,066
|
|
930
|
|
|||||
|
Corporate
|
57
|
|
123
|
|
158
|
|
|||||
|
|
$
|
5,766
|
|
$
|
4,740
|
|
$
|
3,185
|
|
||
|
Geographic sales
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||
|
United States
|
$
|
212,816
|
|
$
|
188,292
|
|
$
|
159,820
|
|
||
|
Elsewhere
|
7,934
|
|
9,367
|
|
10,755
|
|
|||||
|
|
$
|
220,750
|
|
$
|
197,659
|
|
$
|
170,575
|
|
||
46
The following is a summary of quarterly operations for
2013
and
2012
:
|
(Amounts in thousands except for per share data)
|
First Quarter
|
Second Quarter
|
Third Quarter
|
Fourth Quarter
|
|||||||||||
|
2013
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||
|
Net sales
|
$
|
57,836
|
|
$
|
56,273
|
|
$
|
54,397
|
|
$
|
52,244
|
|
|||
|
Gross profit (loss)
|
6,905
|
|
7,129
|
|
5,503
|
|
(335
|
)
|
|||||||
|
Net income (loss)
|
1,465
|
|
1,913
|
|
1,461
|
|
(3,078
|
)
|
|||||||
|
Per common share
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||
|
Basic
|
0.23
|
|
0.30
|
|
0.23
|
|
(0.36
|
)
|
|||||||
|
Diluted
|
0.23
|
|
0.30
|
|
0.23
|
|
(0.36
|
)
|
|||||||
|
2012
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||
|
Net sales
|
$
|
47,372
|
|
$
|
46,878
|
|
$
|
50,271
|
|
$
|
53,138
|
|
|||
|
Gross profit
|
5,091
|
|
5,261
|
|
5,683
|
|
5,893
|
|
|||||||
|
Net income
|
1,337
|
|
1,090
|
|
843
|
|
965
|
|
|||||||
|
Per common share
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||
|
Basic
|
0.21
|
|
0.17
|
|
0.13
|
|
0.15
|
|
|||||||
|
Diluted
|
0.21
|
|
0.17
|
|
0.13
|
|
0.15
|
|
|||||||
As discussed in Note 3, as a result of the CRI acquisition and in conjunction with the term loan obtained in August 2013, to mitigate the variability of the interest rate risk, the Company entered into the CRI swap on August 9, 2013 with its current bank. The CRI swap has an initial notional amount of
$4,033,250
with a fixed interest rate of
4.83 percent
and a term of
ten
years that expires on August 19, 2023. The notional amount of the swap decreases as monthly principal payments are made. Also, as discussed in Note 3, as a result of the Palmer acquisition and in conjunction with the term loan obtained in August 2012 to mitigate the variability of the interest rate risk, the Company entered into the Palmer swap on
August 21, 2012
with its current bank. The Palmer swap has an initial notional amount of
$22,500,000
with a fixed interest rate of
3.74 percent
, and a term of
ten
years that expires on
August 21, 2022
. The notional amount of the interest rate swap decreases as monthly principal payments are made.
Although the swaps are expected to effectively offset variable interest in the borrowing, hedge accounting will not be utilized. Therefore, changes in their fair value are recorded in current assets or liabilities, as appropriate, with corresponding offsetting entries to other expense. The Company recorded an
$80,000
liability for the fair value of the CRI swap as of December 28, 2013. The Company recorded a
$301,000
asset and a
$450,000
liability for the fair value of the Palmer swap at December 28, 2013 and December 29, 2012, respectively.
Acquisition of Color Resources, LLC
The Company completed the purchase of the business assets of Color Resources, LLC ("CRI") and the building and land located in Fountain Inn, South Carolina where CRI was the sole tenant (the “CRI Facility”). CRI Tolling, a South Carolina limited liability company and wholly-owned subsidiary of the Company, will continue CRI’s business as that of a toll manufacturer that provides outside manufacturing resources to global and regional chemical companies. On
August 9, 2013
, Synalloy purchased the CRI Facility for a total purchase price of
$3,450,000
. On
August 26, 2013
, the Company purchased certain assets and assumed certain operating liabilities of CRI through CRI Tolling for a total purchase price of
$1,100,000
. The assets purchased from CRI included accounts receivable, inventory, certain other assets, and equipment, net of assumed payables. The Company plans to use the acquisition of CRI and the CRI Facility to expand its production capacity from MC's Cleveland, Tennessee facility to further penetrate existing markets, as well as develop new ones, including those in the energy industry. CRI Tolling will operate as a division of the Company’s Specialty Chemicals Segment, which includes MC. The Company viewed both the building and operating assets of CRI together as one business, capable of providing a return to ownership by expanding the segment's production capacity.
47
Accordingly, the acquisition meets the definition of a business and the transaction is structured in a way it that meets the definition of a business combination under in accordance with FASB Accounting Standards Codification 805,
Business Combinations
.
The transaction is being accounted for using the acquisition method of accounting for business combinations in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles in the United States of America. Under this method, the total consideration transferred to consummate the acquisition is allocated to the identifiable tangible and intangible assets acquired and liabilities assumed based on their respective fair values as of the closing date of the acquisition. The acquisition method of accounting requires extensive use of estimates and judgments to allocate the consideration transferred to the identifiable tangible and intangible assets, if any, acquired and liabilities assumed.
The purchase price for the acquisition of CRI and the CRI Facility was funded through a new term loan with the Company’s bank which is discussed in Note 3 along with an increase in the Company’s line of credit.
A summary of sources and uses of proceeds for the acquisition of CRI and the CRI Facility is as follows:
|
Sources of funds:
|
|||
|
Proceeds from term loan
|
$
|
4,033,250
|
|
|
Proceeds from line of credit
|
516,750
|
|
|
|
Total sources of funds
|
$
|
4,550,000
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Uses of funds:
|
|
|
|
|
Acquisition of CRI Facility
|
$
|
3,450,000
|
|
|
Acquisition of certain CRI assets, net of assumed liabilities
|
1,100,000
|
|
|
|
Amount received by Company for pro-rated property taxes at close
|
$
|
(22,000
|
)
|
|
Total uses of funds
|
$
|
4,528,000
|
|
The total consideration transferred was allocated to CRI’s net tangible and identifiable assets based on their fair value as of August 26, 2013. The preliminary allocation of the total consideration to the fair value of the assets acquired and liabilities assumed as of August 26, 2013 is as follows:
|
As recorded by CRI
|
Purchased CRI Facility
|
Purchase accounting and fair value adjustments
|
As recorded by the Company
|
||||||||||||
|
Accounts receivable, net
|
$
|
623,539
|
|
$
|
—
|
|
$
|
—
|
|
$
|
623,539
|
|
|||
|
Inventories, net
|
232,771
|
|
—
|
|
—
|
|
232,771
|
|
|||||||
|
Prepaid expenses
|
11,695
|
|
—
|
|
—
|
|
11,695
|
|
|||||||
|
Building and land
|
—
|
|
3,450,000
|
|
650,000
|
|
4,100,000
|
|
|||||||
|
Equipment, net
|
614,998
|
|
—
|
|
1,028,072
|
|
1,643,070
|
|
|||||||
|
Accounts payable
|
(365,898
|
)
|
—
|
|
—
|
|
(365,898
|
)
|
|||||||
|
Accrued liabilities
|
(17,105
|
)
|
—
|
|
—
|
|
(17,105
|
)
|
|||||||
|
Deferred tax liability
|
—
|
|
—
|
|
(600,750
|
)
|
(600,750
|
)
|
|||||||
|
$
|
1,100,000
|
|
$
|
3,450,000
|
|
$
|
1,077,322
|
|
$
|
5,627,322
|
|
||||
48
Due to severe financial difficulties CRI was experiencing prior to the acquisition, the Company was able to purchase the land, building and equipment at below market value. Therefore, the overall fair value of the assets acquired by the Company exceeded the amount paid. Upon the determination that the Company was going to recognize a gain related to the bargain purchase of CRI and the CRI Facility, the Company reassessed its assumptions and measurement of identifiable assets acquired and liabilities assumed and concluded that the preliminary valuation procedures and resulting measures were appropriate. Due to the bargain purchase accounting rules, a one-time gain, net of taxes, was recognized during year ended December 28, 2013 as follows:
|
|
|
||
|
Fair value of net assets acquired
|
$
|
5,627,332
|
|
|
Total consideration paid
|
(4,550,000
|
)
|
|
|
Bargain purchase gain
|
$
|
1,077,332
|
|
The amount of CRI’s revenues and pre-tax earnings included in the Consolidated Statements of Operations for the year ended December 28, 2013 was
$1,824,000
for revenues and
$144,000
for pre-tax earnings. The following unaudited pro forma information is provided to present a summary of the combined results of the Company’s operations with CRI as if the acquisition had occurred on January 1, 2012. The unaudited pro forma financial information is for informational purposes only and is not necessarily indicative of what the results would have been had the acquisition been completed on the date indicated above.
|
Pro Forma (Unaudited)
|
|||||||
|
2013
|
2012
|
||||||
|
Pro forma revenues
|
$
|
223,969,000
|
|
$
|
204,850,000
|
|
|
|
Pro forma net income
|
1,230,000
|
|
3,599,000
|
|
|||
|
Earnings per share:
|
|
||||||
|
Basic
|
$
|
0.18
|
|
$
|
0.57
|
|
|
|
Diluted
|
$
|
0.18
|
|
$
|
0.56
|
|
|
The pro-forma calculation excludes non-recurring acquisition costs of
$255,000
during 2013. These expenditures included
$113,000
for professional audit fees associated with the audit of historical financial statements and the valuation of assets acquired,
$70,000
related to bank fees associated with the swap agreement,
$53,000
of legal fees and other various charges of
$19,000
. These expenses were all recorded at the corporate level and are included as a separate line item in the consolidated statement of operations.
Acquisition of Palmer of Texas
On
August 21, 2012
, the Company completed the purchase of all of the outstanding shares of capital stock of Palmer. Palmer is a manufacturer of liquid storage solutions and separation equipment for the petroleum, municipal water, wastewater, chemical and food industries. The Company viewed the Palmer acquisition as an excellent complement to the Metals Segment as both companies service many of the same markets and the Company has the ability to drive Palmer efficiencies in purchasing and operations. Palmer's results of operations since the acquisition date are reflected in the Company's consolidated statements of operations, and the Palmer acquisition added approximately
130
employees at December 29, 2012. Effective January 22, 2013, Lee-Var, Inc. changed its name to Palmer of Texas Tanks, Inc.
The purchase price for the acquisition was
$25,575,000
. The adjustment for working capital increased the purchase price to
$26,951,209
. In addition, the amount of maintenance expenditures over the
18
-month period following closing and the final cost of a production expansion capital project currently underway could also result in purchase price adjustments. Currently, the Company does not expect to realize any material purchase price adjustments from these two items. The sellers of Palmer will also have the ability to receive earn-out payments ranging from
$2,500,000
to
$10,500,000
if the business unit achieves targeted levels of Adjusted EBITDA, as defined in the SPA, over a
three
year period following closing; and the Company will have the ability to claw-back portions of the purchase price over a
two
-year period following closing if Adjusted EBITDA falls below baseline levels. Palmer had recorded liabilities of approximately
$1.2 million
related to certain contingencies for which the former Palmer shareholders have agreed to indemnify the Company. Accordingly, the Company has carried over these liabilities in its consolidated financial statements and has recorded an asset of approximately
$1.2 million
in prepaid expenses reflecting the indemnification against these potential payments. During 2013, several of the identified contingency items were resolved and the amount of prepaid expenses for these indemnified contingencies decreased to
$336,000
and the end of 2013.
49
At the end of each year (based on the acquisition date) for the next
three
years, if Palmer's Adjusted EBITDA for the year is below
$5,825,000
, there will not be an earn-out paid for that year. If Adjusted EBITDA for the year is greater than
$5,825,000
but less than
$6,825,000
, the sellers of Palmer will be paid
$2,500,000
for that year. If Adjusted EBITDA exceeds
$6,825,000
for the year, the earn-out would be
$3,500,000
. At the conclusion of the
three
-year earn-out period, in the event that the cumulative Adjusted EBITDA for the earn-out period is more than
$17,475,000
, the sellers of Palmer will receive an additional earn-out payment, if any, as follows. In the event that the cumulative Adjusted EBITDA for the earn-out period is greater than
$17,475,000
but less than
$20,475,000
, the Company will make an additional earn-out payment so that the total cumulative earn-out payments for the
three
-year earn-out period equals
$7,500,000
. If the cumulative Adjusted EBITDA exceeds
$20,475,000
, the Company will make an additional earn-out payment so that the total cumulative earn-out payments for the
three
-year period equals
$10,500,000
. At acquisition, the Company forecasted earn-out payments totaling
$8,500,000
, which was discounted to a present value of
$8,152,000
using its incremental borrowing rate of
two percent
. The first year earn-out of
$2,500,000
(before the downward adjustment for indemnification claims) was paid in 2013, leaving an earn-out liability balance of
$6,000,000
at the end of 2013. The various assumptions and projections used in the earn-out projections were reviewed at
December 28, 2013
with no additional adjustments required. Any future changes to the projected earn-out payments as a result of our quarterly review of forecasted Adjusted EBITDA would be reflected as an adjustment to earnings in that period.
The purchase price for the Palmer acquisition was funded through an increase in the Company's current credit facility and a new term loan with the Company's bank which is discussed in Note 3.
The total purchase price was allocated to Palmer's net tangible and identifiable assets based on their estimated fair values as of
August 21, 2012
. An intangible asset representing the fair value of Palmer's customer base acquired by the Company was valued at
$9,000,000
, which is being amortized over a
15
-year period using an accelerated amortization method. The excess of the consideration transferred over the fair value of the net tangible and identifiable assets and intangible assets is reflected as goodwill. The Company believes the amount of goodwill resulting from the purchase price allocation is attributable to the workforce of the acquired business (which is not eligible for separate recognition as an identifiable asset) and the expected synergistic benefits of being able to leverage Palmer's expertise with the Company's existing manufacturing and fabrication processes. All of the goodwill was allocated to the Metals Segment. Since the Company purchased the stock of Palmer, goodwill is not deductible for tax purposes. The current allocation of the total consideration paid to the fair value of the assets acquired and liabilities assumed is as follows:
|
As recorded by Palmer
|
Purchase accounting and fair value adjustments
|
As recorded by Synalloy
|
|||||||||
|
Cash and cash equivalents
|
$
|
1,389,054
|
|
$
|
—
|
|
$
|
1,389,054
|
|
||
|
Accounts receivable, net
|
4,969,030
|
|
—
|
|
4,969,030
|
|
|||||
|
Inventories, net
|
5,678,368
|
|
—
|
|
5,678,368
|
|
|||||
|
Prepaid expenses
|
75,804
|
|
1,536,000
|
|
1,611,804
|
|
|||||
|
Net fixed assets
|
4,799,692
|
|
2,691,370
|
|
7,491,062
|
|
|||||
|
Goodwill
|
—
|
|
15,897,948
|
|
15,897,948
|
|
|||||
|
Intangible asset - customer base
|
—
|
|
9,000,000
|
|
9,000,000
|
|
|||||
|
Contingent consideration
|
—
|
|
(8,152,031
|
)
|
(8,152,031
|
)
|
|||||
|
Other liabilities assumed
|
(6,833,315
|
)
|
(3,156,711
|
)
|
(9,990,026
|
)
|
|||||
|
$
|
10,078,633
|
|
$
|
17,816,576
|
|
$
|
27,895,209
|
|
|||
The purchase accounting and fair value adjustment for prepaid expenses represents the indemnification provided by the sellers of Palmer for certain liabilities assumed at acquisition, as mentioned earlier in this note, plus the Controller's retention bonus. The adjustment for net fixed assets increases the book value of the property, plant and equipment to their estimated fair value as of the acquisition date. Contingent consideration is the present value of projected earn-out payments to the prior owners of Palmer. The majority of the adjustments to other liabilities assumed represents current and deferred income taxes inherent with the acquisition.
The amount of Palmer's revenues and pre-tax earnings included in the consolidated statements of operations for the year ended December 29, 2012 was
$12,619,000
for revenues and
$977,000
for pre-tax earnings. The following unaudited pro forma information is provided to present a summary of the combined results of the Company's operations with Palmer as if the acquisition had occurred on
January 2, 2011
. The unaudited pro forma financial information is for information purposes only and is not necessarily indicative of what the results would have been had the acquisition been completed on the date indicated above.
50
|
Pro Forma (Unaudited)
|
|||||||
|
2012
|
2011
|
||||||
|
Pro forma revenues
|
$
|
220,955,000
|
|
$
|
202,689,000
|
|
|
|
Pro forma net income
|
5,537,000
|
|
6,478,000
|
|
|||
|
Earnings per share:
|
|
|
|
|
|||
|
Basic
|
$
|
0.87
|
|
$
|
1.03
|
|
|
|
Diluted
|
0.87
|
|
1.02
|
|
|||
The pro-forma calculation excludes non-recurring acquisition costs of
$881,000
during 2012. These expenditures included
$355,000
for professional audit fees associated with due diligence, preparation and audit of historical financial statements and intangible asset identification and valuation,
$337,000
related to bank fees associated with the swap agreement,
$93,000
of legal fees,
$25,000
of travel costs and other various charges of
$71,000
. These expenses were all recorded at the corporate level and are included as a separate line item in the consolidated statement of operations.
On
November 7, 2013
, the Board of Directors of the Company voted to pay an annual dividend of
$0.26
per share which was paid on
December 3, 2013
to holders of record on
November 18, 2013
for a total of
$2,260,000
. In
2012
, the Company paid a
$0.25
cash dividend on
December 10, 2012
for a total of
$1,596,000
and in
2011
, the Company paid a
$0.25
cash dividend on
December 5, 2011
for a total payment of
$1,580,000
.
The Board presently plans to review at the end of each fiscal year the financial performance and capital needed to support future growth to determine the amount of cash dividend, if any, which is appropriate.
On
February 20, 2014
, the Compensation & Long-Term Incentive Committee of the Board of Directors of the Company approved stock option grants under the 2011 Plan. Options for a total of
13,790
shares, with an exercise price of
$14.76
per share, were granted under the 2011 Plan to certain management employees of the Company. The stock options will vest in
20 percent
increments annually on a cumulative basis, beginning one year after the date of grant. In order for the options to vest, the employee must be in the continuous employment of the Company since the date of the grant. Any portion of the grant that has not vested will be forfeited upon termination of employment. The Company may terminate any portion of the grant that has not vested upon an employee's failure to comply with all conditions of the award or the 2011 Plan. Shares representing grants that have not yet vested will be held in escrow by the Company. An employee will not be entitled to any voting rights with respect to any shares not yet vested, and the shares are not transferable. The per share weighted-average fair value of this stock option grant was
$6.70
. The Black-Scholes model for this grant was based on a risk-free interest rate of
two percent
, an expected life of
seven
years, an expected volatility of
0.52
and a dividend yield of
1.80 percent
. Compensation expense totaling
$92,000
will be recorded against earnings equally over the following 60 months from the date of grant with the offset recorded in Shareholders' Equity.
On January 2, 2014, the Credit Agreement was amended to extend the maturity date of the line of credit by
one
additional year to August 21, 2016. This amendment also modified certain financial covenants in the agreement including the Minimum Tangible Net Worth requirement (as defined in the Credit Agreement) and the maximum amount of capital expenditures (as defined in the Credit Agreement). No other provisions of the agreement were modified.
51
Management's Annual Report On Internal Control Over Financial Reporting
Management of the Company is responsible for preparing the Company's annual consolidated financial statements and for establishing and maintaining adequate internal control over financial reporting for the Company. Management has evaluated the effectiveness of the Company's internal control over financial reporting as of December 28, 2013 based on criteria established in
Internal Control — Integrated Framework
issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission ("COSO"). As permitted by guidance provided by the staff of the SEC, the scope of management's assessment of internal control over financial reporting as of December 28, 2013 has excluded the operations of CRI Tolling, LLC, from its assessment of internal controls over financial reporting as of December 28, 2013, because CRI was acquired by the Company, through its wholly-owned subsidiary CRI Tolling, in August 2013. CRI Tolling constituted 0.8% of consolidated net sales for the year ended December 28, 2013, and 4.2% of consolidated total assets as of December 28, 2013.
Based on this evaluation, management believes that the Company's internal control over financial reporting as of December 28, 2013 was effective.
The Company's independent registered public accounting firm that audited the Company's consolidated financial statements included in this annual report has issued an attestation report on the effectiveness of the Company's internal control over financial reporting.
52
Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm
To the Board of Directors and Shareholders
Synalloy Corporation
We have audited the accompanying consolidated balance sheets of Synalloy Corporation and subsidiaries (the “Company”) as of December 28, 2013 and December 29, 2012, and the related consolidated statements of operations, shareholders’ equity and cash flows for each of the years in the three-year period ended December 28, 2013. We also have audited the Company’s internal control over financial reporting as of December 28, 2013, based on criteria established in
Internal Control-Integrated Framework
(1992)
issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission (“COSO”). The Company’s management is responsible for these consolidated financial statements, for maintaining effective internal control over financial reporting, and for its assessment of the effectiveness of internal control over financial reporting, included in the accompanying Management’s Annual Report on Internal Control Over Financial Reporting. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on these consolidated financial statements and an opinion on the Company’s internal control over financial reporting based on our audits.
We conducted our audits in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States). Those standards require that we plan and perform the audits to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the consolidated financial statements are free of material misstatement and whether effective internal control over financial reporting was maintained in all material respects. Our audits of the consolidated financial statements included examining, on a test basis, evidence supporting the amounts and disclosures in the consolidated financial statements, assessing the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, and evaluating the overall consolidated financial statement presentation. Our audit of internal control over financial reporting included obtaining an understanding of internal control over financial reporting, assessing the risk that a material weakness exists, and testing and evaluating the design and operating effectiveness of internal control based on the assessed risk. Our audits also included performing such other procedures as we considered necessary in the circumstances. We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinions.
A company’s internal control over financial reporting is a process designed to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America. A company’s internal control over financial reporting includes those policies and procedures that (1) pertain to the maintenance of records that, in reasonable detail, accurately and fairly reflect the transactions and dispositions of the assets of the company; (2) provide reasonable assurance that transactions are recorded as necessary to permit preparation of financial statements in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America, and that receipts and expenditures of the company are being made only in accordance with authorizations of management and directors of the company; and (3) provide reasonable assurance regarding prevention or timely detection of unauthorized acquisition, use, or disposition of the company’s assets that could have a material effect on the financial statements.
Because of its inherent limitations, internal control over financial reporting may not prevent or detect misstatements. Also, projections of any evaluation of effectiveness to future periods are subject to the risk that controls may become inadequate because of changes in conditions, or that the degree of compliance with the policies or procedures may deteriorate.
As described in Management’s Annual Report on Internal Control over Financial Reporting, the Company’s management has excluded CRI Tolling, LLC (“CRI”), from its assessment of internal controls over financial reporting as of December 28, 2013, because CRI was acquired by the Company in August 2013. We have also excluded CRI from the scope of our audit of internal control over financial reporting. CRI constituted 0.8% of consolidated net sales for the year ended December 28, 2013, and 4.3% of consolidated total assets as of December 28, 2013.
In our opinion, the consolidated financial statements referred to above present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of Synalloy Corporation and subsidiaries as of December 28, 2013 and December 29, 2012, and the results of their operations and their cash flows for each of the years in the three-year period ended December 28, 2013, in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America. Also in our opinion, the Company maintained, in all material respects, effective internal control over financial reporting as of December 28, 2013, based on criteria established in
Internal Control-Integrated Framework
(1992)
issued by COSO. Also, in our opinion, the related financial statement schedule listed in Item 15(a)2, when considered in relation to the basic consolidated financial statements taken as a whole, presents fairly in all material respects the information set forth therein.
/
s/ Dixon Hughes Goodman LLP
Charlotte, North Carolina
March 11, 2014
53
None
Disclosure Controls and Procedures
Based on the evaluation required by 17 C.F.R. Section 240.13a-15(b) or 240.15d-15(b) of the Company's disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in 17 C.F.R. Sections 240.13a-15(e) and 240.15d-15(e)), the Company's chief executive officer and chief financial officer concluded that such controls and procedures, as of the end of the period covered by this annual report, were effective.
Internal Control over Financial Reporting
Management's Annual Report on Internal Control over Financial Reporting is set forth at the conclusion of the Company's consolidated statements set forth in Item 8 of this Form 10-K. The scope of the Company's efforts to comply with the Section 404 Rules with respect to fiscal year 2013 included all of the Company's operations other than the operations associated with the August 26, 2013 acquisition of substantially all of the assets of CRI. In accordance with the SEC's published guidance, because the Company acquired these operations during the fiscal year, the Company excluded these operations from its efforts to comply with Section 404 Rules with respect to fiscal year 2013. The Company is currently evaluating and documenting the internal controls over financial reporting at CRI and will include them in their internal control testing in 2014.
The Attestation Report of the Company's independent registered public accounting firm on the Company's internal control over financial reporting is included in the Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm set forth in Item 8 of this Form 10-K.
There has been no change in the Company's internal control over financial reporting during the last fiscal quarter that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, the Company's internal control over financial reporting.
Not applicable
The information set forth under the captions "Proposal 1 - Election of Directors," "Executive Officers," and "Section 16(a) Beneficial Ownership Reporting Compliance" in the Company's definitive proxy statement to be used in connection with its Annual Meeting of Shareholder to be held April 24, 2014 (the "Proxy Statement") is incorporated herein by reference.
Code of Ethics. The Company's Board of Directors has adopted a Code of Ethics that applies to the Company's Chief Executive Officer, Chief Financial Officer and corporate and divisional controllers. The Code of Ethics is available on the Company's website at
www.synalloy.com
. Any amendment to, or waiver from, this Code of Ethics will be posted on the Company's website.
Audit Committee. The Company has a separately designated standing Audit Committee of the Board of Directors established in accordance with Section 3(a)(58)(A) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. The members of the Audit Committee are Anthony A. Callander, Murray H. Wright and James W. Terry.
Audit Committee Financial Expert. The Company's Board of Directors has determined that the Company has at least one "audit committee financial expert," as that term is defined by Item 407(d)(5) of Regulation S-K promulgated by the Securities and Exchange Commission, serving on its Audit Committee. Mr. Anthony A. Callander meets the terms of the definition and is independent, as independence is defined for audit committee members in the rules of the NASDAQ Global Market. Pursuant to the terms of Item 407(d) of Regulation S-K, a person who is determined to be an "audit committee financial expert" will not be deemed an expert for any purpose as a result of being designated or identified as an "audit committee financial expert" pursuant to Item 407(d), and such designation or identification does not impose on such person any duties, obligations or liability that are greater than the duties, obligations or liability imposed on such person as a member of the Audit Committee and Board of Directors in the absence of such designation or identification. Further, the designation or identification of a person as an "audit committee
54
financial expert" pursuant to Item 407(d) does not affect the duties, obligations or liability of any other member of the Audit Committee or Board of Directors.
The information set forth under the captions "Board of Directors and Committees - Compensation Committee Interlocks and Insider Participation," "Director Compensation," "Discussion of Executive Compensation" and "Compensation Committee Report" in the Proxy Statement is incorporated herein by reference.
The information set forth under the captions "Beneficial Owners of More Than Five Percent of the Company's Common Stock" and "Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and Management" in the Proxy Statement is incorporated by reference.
Equity Compensation Plan Information. The following table sets forth aggregated information as of December 28, 2013 about all of the Company's equity compensation plans.
|
Plan Category
|
Number of securities to be issued upon exercise of outstanding options, warrants and rights
(a)
|
Weighted average exercise price of outstanding options, warrants and rights (b)
|
Number of securities remaining available for future issuance under equity compensation plans (excluding securities reflected in column (a))
(1)
(c)
|
|||||||
|
Equity compensation plans approved by security holders
|
162,736
|
|
$
|
11.95
|
|
412,338
|
|
|||
|
Equity compensation plans not approved by security holders
|
—
|
|
—
|
|
—
|
|
||||
|
Total
|
162,736
|
|
$
|
11.95
|
|
412,338
|
|
|||
|
(1)
|
Represents shares remaining available for issuance under the 2005 Stock Awards Plan and the 2011 Plan.
|
Non-employee directors are paid an annual retainer of $45,000, and each director has the opportunity to elect to receive 100% of the retainer in restricted stock. For 2013, non-employee directors received an aggregate of $128,000 of the annual retainer in restricted stock. The number of restricted shares is determined by the average of the high and low sale price of the Company's stock on the day prior to the Annual Meeting of Shareholders. For 2013, five non-employee directors each received an aggregate of 9,411 shares. Issuance of the shares granted to the directors is not registered under the Securities Act of 1933 and the shares are subject to forfeiture in whole or in part upon the occurrence of certain events. The above table does not reflect these shares issued to non-employee directors.
55
The information set forth under the captions "Board of Directors and Committees – Related Party Transactions" and "– Director Independence" in the Proxy Statement is incorporated therein by reference.
The information set forth under the captions "Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm - Fees Paid to Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm" and "– Audit Committee Pre-Approval of Audit and Permissible Non-Audit Services of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm" in the Proxy Statement is incorporated herein by reference.
56
|
(a)
|
The following documents are filed as a part of this report:
|
|
1.
|
Financial Statements: The following consolidated financial statements of Synalloy Corporation are included in Part II, Item 8:
|
Consolidated Balance Sheets at December 28, 2013 and December 29, 2012
Consolidated Statements of Operations for the years ended December 28, 2013, December 29, 2012 and December 31, 2011
Consolidated Statements of Shareholders' Equity for the years ended December 28, 2013, December 29, 2012 and December 31, 2011
Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows for the years ended December 28, 2013, December 29, 2012 and December 31, 2011
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
|
2.
|
Financial Statements Schedules: The following consolidated financial statements schedule of Synalloy Corporation is included in Item 15:
|
Schedule II - Valuation and Qualifying Accounts for the years ended December 28, 2013, December 29, 2012 and December 31, 2011
All other schedules for which provision is made in the applicable accounting regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission are not required under the related instructions or are inapplicable, and therefore have been omitted.
|
3.
|
Listing of Exhibits:
|
See "Exhibit Index"
Schedule II Valuation and Qualifying Accounts
|
Column A
|
Column B
|
Column C
|
Column D
|
Column E
|
||||||||||||
|
Description
|
Balance at Beginning of Period
|
Charged to (Reduction of) Cost and Expenses
|
Deductions
|
Balance at End of Period
|
||||||||||||
|
Year ended December 28, 2013
|
||||||||||||||||
|
Deducted from asset account:
|
||||||||||||||||
|
Allowance for doubtful accounts
|
$
|
1,313,000
|
|
$
|
(192,000
|
)
|
$
|
(42,000
|
)
|
$
|
1,079,000
|
|
||||
|
Year ended December 29, 2012
|
|
|
|
|
||||||||||||
|
Deducted from asset account:
|
|
|
|
|
||||||||||||
|
Allowance for doubtful accounts
|
$
|
1,203,000
|
|
$
|
928,000
|
|
$
|
818,000
|
|
$
|
1,313,000
|
|
||||
|
Year ended December 31, 2011
|
|
|
|
|
||||||||||||
|
Deducted from asset account:
|
|
|
|
|
||||||||||||
|
Allowance for doubtful accounts
|
$
|
435,000
|
|
$
|
793,000
|
|
$
|
25,000
|
|
$
|
1,203,000
|
|
||||
Charged to cost and expenses for 2012 is comprised of:
(1) the amount due from Palmer's prior owners of
$821,000
for the amount of pre-acquisition receivables outstanding at 120 days after acquisition which were indemnified by the sellers (see Note 1); and
(2)
$107,000
charged against earnings.
Deductions represent uncollected accounts and credit balances written off against reserve, net of recoveries.
57
Signatures
Pursuant to the requirements of Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the Registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized.
SYNALLOY CORPORATION
|
By
/s/ Craig C. Bram
Craig C. Bram
Chief Executive Officer
|
March 11, 2014
Date
|
|
By
/s/ Richard D. Sieradzki
Richard D. Sieradzki
Chief Financial Officer and
Principal Accounting Officer
|
March 11, 2014
Date
|
Registrant
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, this report has been signed below by the following persons on behalf of the Registrant and in the capacities and on the date indicated.
|
By
/s/ Carroll D. Vinson
Carroll D. Vinson
Chairman of the Board
|
March 11, 2014
Date
|
|
By
/s/ Anthony A. Callander
Anthony A. Callander
Director
|
March 11, 2014
Date
|
|
By
/s/ Murray H. Wright
Murray H. Wright
Director
|
March 11, 2014
Date
|
|
|
|
|
By
/s/ James W. Terry, Jr.
James W. Terry, Jr.
Director
|
March 11, 2014
Date
|
|
By
/s/ Henry L. Guy
Henry L. Guy
Director
|
March 11, 2014
Date
|
|
By
/s/ Craig C. Bram
Craig C. Bram
Chief Executive Officer and Director
|
March 11, 2014
Date
|
58
Index to Exhibits
|
Exhibit No.
from
Regulation S-K
|
Description
|
||
|
1.1
|
|
Underwriting Agreement dated September 24, 2013, incorporated by reference to Registrant's Form 8-K filed September 24, 2013
|
|
|
3.1
|
|
Restated Certificate of Incorporation of Registrant, as amended, incorporated by reference to Registrant's Form 10-Q for the period ended April 13, 2007
|
|
|
3.2
|
|
Bylaws of Registrant, as amended, incorporated by reference to Registrant's Form 10-Q for the period ended March 31, 2001 (the "first quarter 2001 Form 10-Q")
|
|
|
4.1
|
|
Form of Common Stock Certificate, incorporated by reference to the first quarter 2001 Form 10-Q
|
|
|
10.1
|
|
Synalloy Corporation 1998 Long-Term Incentive Stock Plan, incorporated by reference to the first quarter 2001 Form 10-Q
|
|
|
10.2
|
|
Synalloy Corporation 2005 Stock Awards Plan, incorporated by reference to the Proxy Statement for the 2005 Annual Meeting of Shareholders
|
|
|
10.3
|
|
Amendment 1 to the Synalloy Corporation 2005 Stock Awards Plan incorporated by reference to Registrant's Form 10-K for the year ended December 29, 2007
|
|
|
10.4
|
|
2011 Long-Term Incentive Stock Option Plan, incorporated by reference to Registrant's Proxy Statement for the 2011 Annual Meeting of Shareholders
|
|
|
10.5
|
|
2011 Short-Term Cash Incentive and Options Plan, incorporated by reference to Registrant's Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2011
|
|
|
10.6
|
|
2012 Short-Term Cash Incentive and Options Plan, incorporated by reference to Registrant's Form 10-K for the year ended December 29, 2012
|
|
|
10.7
|
|
2013 Short-Term Cash Incentive and Options Plan
|
|
|
10.8
|
|
Agreement between Registrant's Bristol Metals, LLC subsidiary and the United Steelworkers of America Local 4586, dated December 10, 2010, incorporated by reference to Registrant's Form 10-K for the year ended January 1, 2011
|
|
|
10.9
|
|
Agreement between Registrant's Bristol Metals, LLC subsidiary and the United Association of Journeymen and Apprentices of the Plumbing and Pipe Fitting Industry of the United States and Canada Local Union No. 538, dated February 16, 2009, incorporated by reference to Registrant's Form 10-K for the year ended January 1, 2011
|
|
|
10.10
|
|
Agreement between Registrant's Bristol Metals, LLC subsidiary and the Teamsters Local Union No. 549, dated March 5, 2010, incorporated by reference to Registrant's Form 10-K for the year ended January 1, 2011
|
|
|
10.11
|
|
Loan Agreement, dated as of June 30, 2010, between Registrant and Branch Banking and Trust (“BB&T”), incorporated by reference to Registrant's Form 10-K for the year ended January 1, 2011
|
|
|
10.12
|
|
First Amendment to First Amended and Restated Loan Agreement, dated August 21, 2012, between Registrant and Branch Banking and Trust (“BB&T”), incorporated by reference to Registrant's Form 10-K for the year ended December 29, 2012
|
|
|
10.13
|
|
First Amendment to First Amended and Restated Loan Agreement, dated October 22, 2012, between Registrant and Branch Banking and Trust (“BB&T”), incorporated by reference to Registrant's Form 10-K for the year ended December 29, 2012
|
|
|
10.14
|
|
Second Amendment to First Amended and Restated Loan Agreement, dated August 9, 2013, between Registrant and Branch Banking and Trust ("BB&T")
|
|
|
10.15
|
|
Third Amendment to First Amended and Restated Loan Agreement, dated January 2, 2014, between Registrant and Branch Banking and Trust ("BB&T")
|
|
|
10.16
|
|
Employment Agreement dated January 24, 2011, between Registrant and Craig C. Bram, incorporated by reference to Registrant's Form 10-K for the year ended January 1, 2011
|
|
|
10.17
|
|
Amended Employment Agreement dated January 24, 2012, between Registrant and Craig C. Bram, incorporated by reference to Registrant's Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2011
|
|
|
10.18
|
|
Amended Employment Agreement dated January 24, 2013, between Registrant and Craig C. Bram, incorporated by reference to Registrant's Form 10-K for the year ended December 29, 2012
|
|
|
10.19
|
|
Amended Employment Agreement dated June 1, 2013, between Registrant and Craig C. Bram, incorporated by reference to Registrant's Form 8-K for the filed June 28, 2013
|
|
59
|
10.20
|
|
Stock Purchase Agreement, dated as of August 10, 2012, among Jimmie Dean Lee, James Varner, Steven C. O'Brate and Synalloy Corporation, incorporated by reference to Registrant's Form 8-K filed on August 24, 2012
|
|
|
10.21
|
|
Modification, Renewal, Increase and Restatement of Promissory Note dated January 2, 2014, between Registrant and Branch Banking and Trust ("BB&T")
|
|
|
21
|
|
Subsidiaries of the Registrant
|
|
|
23
|
|
Consent of Dixon Hughes Goodman LLP, independent registered public accounting firm for Registrant
|
|
|
31.1
|
|
Rule 13a-14(a)/15d-14(a) Certifications of Chief Executive Officer
|
|
|
31.2
|
|
Rule 13a-14(a)/15d-14(a) Certification of the Chief Financial Officer
|
|
|
32
|
|
Certifications Pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350
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101.INS*
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XBRL Instance Document
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101.SCH*
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XBRL Taxonomy Extension Schema
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101.CAL*
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XBRL Taxonomy Extension Calculation Linkbase
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101.LAB*
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XBRL Taxonomy Extension Label Linkbase
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101.PRE*
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XBRL Taxonomy Extension Presentation Linkbase
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101.DEF*
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XBRL Taxonomy Extension Definition Linkbase
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*
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In accordance with Regulation S-T, the XBRL-related information in Exhibit 101 to this Annual Report on Form 10-K shall be deemed "furnished" and not "filed."
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60
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Part IItem 1 BusinessItem 1A Risk FactorsItem 1B Unresolved Staff CommentsItem 2 PropertiesItem 3 Legal ProceedingsItem 4 Mine Safety DisclosuresPart IIItem 5 Market For The Registrant's Common Equity, Related Stockholder Matters and Issuer Purchases Of Equity SecuritiesItem 6 Selected Financial DataItem 7 Management's Discussion and Analysis Of Financial Condition and Results Of OperationsItem 7A Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market RisksItem 8 Financial Statements and Supplementary DataNote 1 Summary Of Significant Accounting PoliciesNote 2 Property, Plant and EquipmentNote 3 Long-term DebtNote 4 Accrued ExpensesNote 5 Environmental Compliance CostsNote 6 Deferred CompensationNote 7 Stock Options, Stock Grants and New Stock IssuesNote 8 Income TaxesNote 9 Benefit Plans and Collective Bargaining AgreementsNote 10 LeasesNote 11 Commitments and ContingenciesNote 12 Earnings Per ShareNote 13 Industry SegmentsNote 14 Quarterly Results (unaudited)Note 15 Interest Rate SwapsNote 16 AcquisitionsNote 17 Payment Of DividendsNote 18 Subsequent EventsItem 9 Changes in and Disagreements with Accountants on Accounting and Financial DisclosureItem 9A Controls and ProceduresItem 9B Other InformationPart IIIItem 10 Directors, Executive Officers and Corporate GovernanceItem 11 Executive CompensationItem 12 Security Ownership Of Certain Beneficial Owners and Management and Related Stockholder MattersItem 13 Certain Relationships and Related TransactionsItem 14 Principal Accountant Fees and ServicesPart IVItem 15 Exhibits and Financial Statement SchedulesItem 601 Of