These terms and conditions govern your use of the website alphaminr.com and its related services.
These Terms and Conditions (“Terms”) are a binding contract between you and Alphaminr, (“Alphaminr”, “we”, “us” and “service”). You must agree to and accept the Terms. These Terms include the provisions in this document as well as those in the Privacy Policy. These terms may be modified at any time.
Your subscription will be on a month to month basis and automatically renew every month. You may terminate your subscription at any time through your account.
We will provide you with advance notice of any change in fees.
You represent that you are of legal age to form a binding contract. You are responsible for any
activity associated with your account. The account can be logged in at only one computer at a
time.
The Services are intended for your own individual use. You shall only use the Services in a
manner that complies with all laws. You may not use any automated software, spider or system to
scrape data from Alphaminr.
Alphaminr is not a financial advisor and does not provide financial advice of any kind. The service is provided “As is”. The materials and information accessible through the Service are solely for informational purposes. While we strive to provide good information and data, we make no guarantee or warranty as to its accuracy.
TO THE EXTENT PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAW, UNDER NO CIRCUMSTANCES SHALL ALPHAMINR BE LIABLE TO YOU FOR DAMAGES OF ANY KIND, INCLUDING DAMAGES FOR INVESTMENT LOSSES, LOSS OF DATA, OR ACCURACY OF DATA, OR FOR ANY AMOUNT, IN THE AGGREGATE, IN EXCESS OF THE GREATER OF (1) FIFTY DOLLARS OR (2) THE AMOUNTS PAID BY YOU TO ALPHAMINR IN THE SIX MONTH PERIOD PRECEDING THIS APPLICABLE CLAIM. SOME STATES DO NOT ALLOW THE EXCLUSION OR LIMITATION OF INCIDENTAL OR CONSEQUENTIAL OR CERTAIN OTHER DAMAGES, SO THE ABOVE LIMITATION AND EXCLUSIONS MAY NOT APPLY TO YOU.
If any provision of these Terms is found to be invalid under any applicable law, such provision shall not affect the validity or enforceability of the remaining provisions herein.
This privacy policy describes how we (“Alphaminr”) collect, use, share and protect your personal information when we provide our service (“Service”). This Privacy Policy explains how information is collected about you either directly or indirectly. By using our service, you acknowledge the terms of this Privacy Notice. If you do not agree to the terms of this Privacy Policy, please do not use our Service. You should contact us if you have questions about it. We may modify this Privacy Policy periodically.
When you register for our Service, we collect information from you such as your name, email address and credit card information.
Like many other websites we use “cookies”, which are small text files that are stored on your computer or other device that record your preferences and actions, including how you use the website. You can set your browser or device to refuse all cookies or to alert you when a cookie is being sent. If you delete your cookies, if you opt-out from cookies, some Services may not function properly. We collect information when you use our Service. This includes which pages you visit.
We use Google Analytics and we use Stripe for payment processing. We will not share the information we collect with third parties for promotional purposes. We may share personal information with law enforcement as required or permitted by law.
þ | QUARTERLY REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934 |
o | TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934 |
Wisconsin | 39-0561070 | |
(State or other jurisdiction of
incorporation or organization) |
(I.R.S. Employer Identification
Number) |
Large accelerated filer þ | Accelerated filer o |
Non-accelerated filer
o
(Do not check if a smaller reporting company) |
Smaller reporting company o |
Class | Outstanding at April 30, 2010 | |
Common Stock, par value $0.10 per share | 49,513,227 |
Three Months | ||||||||
Ended March 31, | ||||||||
2010 | 2009 | |||||||
|
||||||||
Revenue
|
$ | 314,076 | $ | 282,824 | ||||
|
||||||||
Cost of products sold
|
219,130 | 196,294 | ||||||
|
||||||||
Selling and administrative expenses
|
56,291 | 48,146 | ||||||
|
||||||||
|
||||||||
Operating income
|
38,655 | 38,384 | ||||||
|
||||||||
Interest expense
|
4,778 | 7,246 | ||||||
|
||||||||
|
||||||||
Earnings before income taxes
|
33,877 | 31,138 | ||||||
|
||||||||
Income taxes
|
10,410 | 9,531 | ||||||
|
||||||||
|
||||||||
Net earnings
|
$ | 23,467 | $ | 21,607 | ||||
|
||||||||
|
||||||||
Average number of common shares outstanding:
|
||||||||
Basic
|
48,825 | 48,145 | ||||||
|
||||||||
|
||||||||
Diluted
|
49,121 | 48,351 | ||||||
|
||||||||
|
||||||||
Earnings per common share:
|
||||||||
Basic
|
$ | .48 | $ | .45 | ||||
|
||||||||
|
||||||||
Diluted
|
$ | .48 | $ | .45 | ||||
|
||||||||
|
||||||||
Dividends per common share
|
$ | .19 | $ | .19 | ||||
|
1
March 31, | ||||||||
2010 | December 31, | |||||||
(Unaudited) | 2009 * | |||||||
ASSETS
|
||||||||
CURRENT ASSETS:
|
||||||||
Cash and cash equivalents
|
$ | 10,962 | $ | 12,219 | ||||
Trade accounts receivable, net
|
216,000 | 200,186 | ||||||
Inventories
|
370,974 | 390,011 | ||||||
Prepaid expenses and other current assets
|
58,674 | 55,693 | ||||||
|
||||||||
TOTAL CURRENT ASSETS
|
656,610 | 658,109 | ||||||
|
||||||||
OTHER ASSETS
|
37,833 | 38,349 | ||||||
INTANGIBLE ASSETS, NET
|
12,993 | 13,621 | ||||||
GOODWILL
|
442,134 | 455,995 | ||||||
PROPERTY, PLANT AND EQUIPMENT:
|
||||||||
Land
|
48,084 | 49,429 | ||||||
Buildings
|
287,943 | 293,200 | ||||||
Machinery and equipment
|
620,613 | 630,420 | ||||||
Construction in progress
|
24,895 | 20,211 | ||||||
|
||||||||
|
981,535 | 993,260 | ||||||
Less accumulated depreciation
|
(567,106 | ) | (567,643 | ) | ||||
|
||||||||
|
414,429 | 425,617 | ||||||
|
||||||||
TOTAL ASSETS
|
$ | 1,563,999 | $ | 1,591,691 | ||||
|
||||||||
|
||||||||
LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS’ EQUITY
|
||||||||
CURRENT LIABILITIES:
|
||||||||
Trade accounts payable
|
$ | 85,793 | $ | 88,915 | ||||
Accrued salaries, wages and withholdings from employees
|
17,526 | 22,568 | ||||||
Other accrued expenses
|
61,167 | 64,789 | ||||||
Income taxes
|
3,133 | 692 | ||||||
Short-term borrowings
|
41,463 | 39,181 | ||||||
|
||||||||
TOTAL CURRENT LIABILITIES
|
209,082 | 216,145 | ||||||
OTHER LIABILITIES
|
26,948 | 27,203 | ||||||
ACCRUED EMPLOYEE AND RETIREE BENEFITS
|
52,411 | 50,796 | ||||||
LONG-TERM DEBT
|
373,745 | 388,852 | ||||||
SHAREHOLDERS’ EQUITY:
|
||||||||
Common stock
|
5,396 | 5,396 | ||||||
Additional paid-in capital
|
86,723 | 85,504 | ||||||
Earnings reinvested in the business
|
937,086 | 922,963 | ||||||
Treasury stock, at cost
|
(100,308 | ) | (103,878 | ) | ||||
Accumulated other comprehensive loss
|
(27,084 | ) | (1,290 | ) | ||||
|
||||||||
TOTAL SHAREHOLDERS’ EQUITY
|
901,813 | 908,695 | ||||||
|
||||||||
TOTAL LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS’ EQUITY
|
$ | 1,563,999 | $ | 1,591,691 | ||||
|
* | Condensed from audited financial statements. |
2
Three Months | ||||||||
Ended March 31, | ||||||||
2010 | 2009 | |||||||
|
||||||||
Net cash provided by operating activities
|
$ | 23,441 | $ | 17,536 | ||||
|
||||||||
|
||||||||
Cash flows from investing activities:
|
||||||||
Acquisition of property, plant and equipment
|
(8,305 | ) | (8,836 | ) | ||||
Proceeds from sale of assets
|
36 | 4 | ||||||
Other investing activity
|
(49 | ) | (91 | ) | ||||
|
||||||||
|
||||||||
Net cash used in investing activities
|
(8,318 | ) | (8,923 | ) | ||||
|
||||||||
|
||||||||
Cash flows from financing activities:
|
||||||||
Proceeds from additional borrowings
|
14,495 | 120,237 | ||||||
Debt payments
|
(20,566 | ) | (122,234 | ) | ||||
Dividends paid
|
(9,345 | ) | (9,220 | ) | ||||
Proceeds from options exercised and other equity transactions
|
3,348 | 2,261 | ||||||
|
||||||||
|
||||||||
Net cash used in financing activities
|
(12,068 | ) | (8,956 | ) | ||||
|
||||||||
|
||||||||
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash and cash equivalents
|
(4,312 | ) | 203 | |||||
|
||||||||
|
||||||||
Net decrease in cash and cash equivalents
|
(1,257 | ) | (140 | ) | ||||
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period
|
12,219 | 8,498 | ||||||
|
||||||||
|
||||||||
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period
|
$ | 10,962 | $ | 8,358 | ||||
|
3
1. | Accounting Policies |
In the opinion of Sensient Technologies Corporation (the “Company”), the accompanying unaudited consolidated condensed financial statements contain all adjustments (consisting of only normal recurring adjustments) which are necessary to present fairly the financial position of the Company as of March 31, 2010 and December 31, 2009, the results of operations for the three months ended March 31, 2010 and 2009, and cash flows for the three months ended March 31, 2010 and 2009. The results of operations for any interim period are not necessarily indicative of the results to be expected for the full year. |
The preparation of financial statements in conformity with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles (“GAAP”) requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the amounts reported in the financial statements and accompanying notes. Actual results could differ from those estimates. |
Expenses are charged to operations in the year incurred. However, for interim reporting purposes, certain expenses are charged to operations based on a proportionate share of estimated annual amounts rather than as they are actually incurred. |
Refer to the notes in the Company’s annual consolidated financial statements for the year ended December 31, 2009, for additional details of the Company’s financial condition and a description of the Company’s accounting policies, which have been continued without change. |
2. | Fair Value |
Accounting Standards Codification (“ASC”) 820, Fair Value Measurements and Disclosures , defines fair value for financial assets and liabilities, establishes a framework for measuring fair value in GAAP and expands disclosures about fair value measurements. As of March 31, 2010 and December 31, 2009, the Company’s only assets and liabilities subject to this standard are forward exchange contracts and mutual fund investments. The fair value of the forward exchange contracts based on current pricing obtained for comparable derivative products (Level 2 inputs) at March 31, 2010 and December 31, 2009, was an asset of $0.2 million and a liability of $0.3 million, respectively. The fair value of the investments based on March 31, 2010 and December 31, 2009, market quotes (Level 1 inputs) was an asset of $13.4 million and $13.5 million, respectively. |
The carrying values of the Company’s cash and cash equivalents, trade accounts receivable, accounts payable, accrued expenses and short term borrowings approximated fair values as of March 31, 2010. The fair value of the Company’s long-term debt, including current maturities, is estimated using discounted cash flows based on the Company’s current incremental borrowing rates for similar types of borrowing arrangements. The carrying value of the long-term debt at March 31, 2010 was $373.7 million. The fair value of the long-term debt at March 31, 2010 was $376.6 million. |
3. | Debt |
In November 2009, the Company entered into an agreement to issue U.S. dollar denominated debt totaling $110 million through a private placement of notes with a group of four financial institutions. These notes were issued on May 3, 2010, and have a fixed coupon rate of 4.91% with a final maturity date of May 3, 2017. Proceeds from the sale of the notes have been used to repay existing indebtedness and for general corporate purposes. |
4
4. | Segment Information |
Operating results by segment for the periods and at the dates presented are as follows: |
Flavors & | Corporate | |||||||||||||||
(In thousands) | Fragrances | Color | & Other | Consolidated | ||||||||||||
Three months ended March 31, 2010:
|
||||||||||||||||
Revenue from external customers
|
$ | 185,935 | $ | 104,214 | $ | 23,927 | $ | 314,076 | ||||||||
Intersegment revenue
|
4,767 | 3,742 | 344 | 8,853 | ||||||||||||
|
||||||||||||||||
Total revenue
|
$ | 190,702 | $ | 107,956 | $ | 24,271 | $ | 322,929 | ||||||||
|
||||||||||||||||
|
||||||||||||||||
Operating income (loss)
|
$ | 27,184 | $ | 18,108 | $ | (6,637 | ) | $ | 38,655 | |||||||
Interest expense
|
— | — | 4,778 | 4,778 | ||||||||||||
|
||||||||||||||||
Earnings (loss) before income taxes
|
$ | 27,184 | $ | 18,108 | $ | (11,415 | ) | $ | 33,877 | |||||||
|
||||||||||||||||
|
||||||||||||||||
Three months ended March 31, 2009:
|
||||||||||||||||
Revenue from external customers
|
$ | 180,724 | $ | 83,677 | $ | 18,423 | $ | 282,824 | ||||||||
Intersegment revenue
|
3,824 | 3,413 | 248 | 7,485 | ||||||||||||
|
||||||||||||||||
Total revenue
|
$ | 184,548 | $ | 87,090 | $ | 18,671 | $ | 290,309 | ||||||||
|
||||||||||||||||
|
||||||||||||||||
Operating income (loss)
|
$ | 29,957 | $ | 13,731 | $ | (5,304 | ) | $ | 38,384 | |||||||
Interest expense
|
— | — | 7,246 | 7,246 | ||||||||||||
|
||||||||||||||||
Earnings (loss) before income taxes
|
$ | 29,957 | $ | 13,731 | $ | (12,550 | ) | $ | 31,138 | |||||||
|
5. | Inventories |
At March 31, 2010 and December 31, 2009, inventories included finished and in-process products totaling $255.3 million and $275.5 million, respectively, and raw materials and supplies of $115.7 million and $114.5 million, respectively. |
6. | Retirement Plans |
The Company’s components of annual benefit cost for the defined benefit plans for the periods presented are as follows: |
Three Months Ended March 31, | ||||||||
(In thousands) | 2010 | 2009 | ||||||
|
||||||||
Service cost
|
$ | 475 | $ | 340 | ||||
Interest cost
|
718 | 731 | ||||||
Expected return on plan assets
|
(331 | ) | (263 | ) | ||||
Amortization of prior service cost
|
753 | 456 | ||||||
Amortization of actuarial loss
|
118 | 50 | ||||||
|
||||||||
|
||||||||
Defined benefit expense
|
$ | 1,733 | $ | 1,314 | ||||
|
5
During the three months ended March 31, 2010, the Company made contributions to its defined benefit pension plans of $1.0 million. Total contributions to Company defined benefit pension plans are expected to be $4.4 million in 2010. |
7. | Comprehensive Income |
Comprehensive income is comprised of the following: |
Three Months Ended | ||||||||
March 31, | ||||||||
(In thousands) | 2010 | 2009 | ||||||
Net earnings
|
$ | 23,467 | $ | 21,607 | ||||
Currency translation adjustments
|
(26,123 | ) | (26,980 | ) | ||||
Net unrealized gain on cash flow hedges
|
329 | 120 | ||||||
|
||||||||
Net comprehensive loss
|
$ | (2,327 | ) | $ | (5,253 | ) | ||
|
8. | Cash Flows from Operating Activities |
Cash flows from operating activities are detailed below: |
Three Months Ended | ||||||||
March 31, | ||||||||
(In thousands) | 2010 | 2009 | ||||||
Cash flows from operating activities:
|
||||||||
Net earnings
|
$ | 23,467 | $ | 21,607 | ||||
Adjustments to arrive at net cash provided
by operating activities:
|
||||||||
Depreciation and amortization
|
10,808 | 10,517 | ||||||
Share-based compensation
|
755 | 781 | ||||||
Loss on assets
|
250 | 329 | ||||||
Deferred income taxes
|
755 | 959 | ||||||
Changes in operating assets and liabilities
|
(12,594 | ) | (16,657 | ) | ||||
|
||||||||
|
||||||||
Net cash provided by operating activities
|
$ | 23,441 | $ | 17,536 | ||||
|
9. | Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activity |
The Company may use derivative instruments for the purpose of hedging currency, commodity and interest rate exposures, which exist as part of ongoing business operations. As a policy, the Company does not engage in speculative or leveraged transactions, nor does the Company hold or issue financial instruments for trading purposes. Hedge effectiveness is determined by how closely the changes in the fair value of the hedging instrument offset the changes in the fair value or cash flows of the hedged transaction. Hedge accounting, which generally results in the deferral of derivative gains and losses until such time as the underlying transaction is recognized in net earnings, is permitted only if the hedging |
6
relationship is expected to be highly effective at the inception of the transaction and on an ongoing basis. Any ineffective portions are recognized in earnings immediately. |
The Company manages its exposure to foreign exchange risk by the use of forward exchange contracts and foreign currency denominated debt to reduce the effect of fluctuating foreign currencies on short-term foreign currency denominated intercompany transactions, non-functional currency raw material purchases, non-functional currency sales and other known foreign currency exposures. These derivatives may or may not be designated as hedges under ASC 815, Derivatives and Hedging. These forward exchange contracts have maturities of less than twelve months. The Company’s primary hedging activities and their accounting treatment are summarized below: |
10. | Income Taxes |
The effective income tax rates for the three months ended March 31, 2010 and 2009 were 30.7% and 30.6%, respectively. The effective tax rates in both 2010 and 2009 were reduced by changes in estimates associated with the finalization of prior year foreign tax items. |
11. | Subsequent Events |
The Company performed an evaluation of subsequent events through the date these financial statements were issued. |
7
12. | Commitments and Contingencies |
The Company is involved in various significant environmental matters, which are described below. The Company is also involved in other site closure and related environmental remediation and compliance activities at a manufacturing site related to a 2001 acquisition by the Company for which reserves for environmental matters were established as of the date of purchase. |
In July 2004, the Environmental Protection Agency (“EPA”) notified the Company’s subsidiary Sensient Colors Inc. (“Sensient Colors”) that it may be a potentially responsible party (“PRP”) under the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation and Liability Act (“CERCLA”) for activities at the General Color Company Superfund Site in Camden, New Jersey (the “Site”). The EPA requested reimbursement of $10.9 million in clean-up costs, plus interest. Sensient Colors advised the EPA that the Site had been expressly excluded from the Company’s 1988 stock purchase of H. Kohnstamm & Company, Inc. (now Sensient Colors). The selling shareholders had retained ownership of and liability for the Site, and some became owners of General Color Company, which continued to operate there until the mid-1990s. In a letter to the EPA in January 2005, the Company outlined legal challenges to the recoverability of certain costs and urged the EPA to pursue General Color Company and related parties. The EPA informed Sensient Colors that it was unwilling to discuss these legal challenges without prior conditions. In 2005, a private developer, Westfield Acres Urban Renewal Association II, LP, pursuant to an agreement with the EPA, began redevelopment efforts at the Site (construction of affordable housing) by demolishing buildings thereon. Thereafter, the EPA removed allegedly contaminated soil from the locations where the buildings once stood. |
In March 2007, the United States filed a complaint in the U.S. District Court in New Jersey against Sensient Colors claiming “over $16 million” in response costs allegedly incurred and to be incurred by the EPA pursuant to CERCLA. Sensient Colors moved to dismiss the United States’ complaint, which motion was denied by the Court in October 2007. Sensient Colors timely filed its answer and affirmative defenses to the United States’ complaint, as well as a third-party complaint against current and former owners and/or operators of the Site. The United States moved to strike Sensient Colors’ affirmative defenses. In an August 12, 2008 Opinion and Order, following briefs and oral argument, the Court partly granted and partly denied the United States’ motion, effectively preserving most of Sensient Colors’ affirmative defenses, either as originally pled or with changes outlined by the Court. Sensient Colors promptly filed an amended pleading incorporating the revised affirmative defenses. On July 29, 2008, Sensient Colors filed a third-party complaint adding Kohnstamm Inc. (a Canadian affiliate of General Color Company) and its president Avtar Singh as defendants. |
In late August 2008, in the course of reviewing documents produced by the EPA, Sensient Colors discovered an e-mail exchange between EPA officials that Sensient Colors believes supports many of the legal theories and affirmative defenses advanced by Sensient Colors in the litigation and undermines key United States cost recovery claims. By letter dated August 26, 2008, based on the above document and other evidence adduced in the case, Sensient Colors demanded that the United States dismiss its case with prejudice and reimburse Sensient Colors for attorneys’ fees and costs incurred. In response to the August 26, 2008 letter, the United States withdrew, without prejudice, its then-pending motion to limit the scope of review to EPA’s administrative record and told the Court that it would respond to Sensient’s letter by September 10, 2008. The United States then sought additional time for its review of Sensient Colors’ demand. In an October 3, 2008 Letter Order, the Court directed the United States to provide Sensient with notice of its decision with respect to the demand for dismissal by October 31, 2008. In a letter to Sensient Colors dated October 31, 2008, the United States declined to voluntarily dismiss the case but agreed, with certain conditions, not to oppose depositions of current and former EPA employees on the issues raised in Sensient Colors’ letter of August 26, 2008. The United States reserved its rights to seek limitations on discovery and to seek to limit review of EPA’s choice of response action to the administrative record. |
Using the evidence that supports its demand for dismissal, Sensient Colors moved for leave to amend its responsive pleading to include a new affirmative defense, a counterclaim against the United States and the EPA, and third-party claims against certain EPA employees or agents. After briefing, the motion for leave to amend was argued before the magistrate judge on November 18, 2008. On February 13, 2009, the magistrate issued an opinion and order denying Sensient Colors’ motion for leave to amend. Sensient Colors appealed the magistrate’s decision to the district court judge. On July 22, 2009, the |
8
district court judge issued a decision affirming the magistrate’s opinion and order, largely on sovereign immunity grounds. |
Sensient Colors also issued subpoenas or deposition notices to numerous current or former EPA officials. Motions were filed to block the depositions of former EPA Administrator Christine Todd Whitman, former EPA Regional Administrator Jane Kenny, and EPA On-Scene Coordinator David Rosoff. On January 28, 2009, the magistrate judge issued an opinion and order denying or delaying Sensient Color’s ability to conduct the foregoing depositions. Sensient Colors exercised its right to appeal the magistrate’s decision to the district court judge. On July 22, 2009, the district court judge issued a decision reversing the magistrate and ordering the depositions of Kenny and Rosoff to proceed. |
On May 8, 2009, Sensient Colors filed a motion for summary judgment seeking dismissal with prejudice of the United States’ claims. |
Prior to arguing the summary judgment motion and to scheduling the depositions of the current and former EPA officials, the United States and Sensient Colors agreed to meet with each other, with the parties involved in the Pleasant Gardens dispute described below and with interested insurers to determine if a resolution short of trial was possible. The parties met and ultimately agreed to a settlement in principle to resolve the matter by specified payments among the parties and their insurers. As a result of the proposed settlements, Sensient’s results for the quarter and year ended December 31, 2009 included pre-tax charges for estimated settlement liabilities and related legal costs, net of insurance reimbursements, of approximately $11.3 million. The proposed settlements remain subject to the preparation and execution of definitive agreements and approval of proposed consent decrees by the U.S. District Court in New Jersey and the Superior Court of New Jersey after an opportunity for public comment. |
The owner of Pleasant Gardens (“Property”), an apartment complex adjacent to the General Color Superfund Site, filed a complaint in New Jersey state court in November 2003 against H. Kohnstamm & Co. (now Sensient Colors), the Company, General Color Company, and unknown defendants. Plaintiff seeks to hold defendants liable, in an unspecified amount, for damages related to the alleged contamination of the Property. Plaintiff voluntarily dismissed the Company without prejudice. Sensient Colors filed an answer denying liability and asserting affirmative defenses. In November 2006, the Camden Redevelopment Agency (“Agency”) filed condemnation litigation against plaintiff (and other purported interested parties) to take the Property. Sensient Colors is not a party to the condemnation litigation. In advance of its filing, the Agency notified plaintiff that its appraiser had assessed the fair market value of the Property at $7.7 million and that its environmental consultant had estimated the costs for environmental cleanup, purportedly to meet requirements of the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection (“DEP”), at $7.5 million. That amount has been held in escrow pending the outcome of the lawsuit. Sensient Colors and plaintiff have pursued a reduction in the scope and cost of the Agency’s proposed environmental cleanup in meetings with the DEP, the Agency and another party involved in the condemnation, the New Jersey Schools Construction Corporation (“NJSCC”). To the extent that there is a reduction in the condemnation value of the Property due to the Agency’s remediation of contamination for which Sensient Colors is allegedly responsible, such reduction may become a part of the damages claimed by plaintiff. In March 2007, plaintiff filed an amended complaint naming the Agency, the NJSCC and the DEP as additional defendants in furtherance of this effort. In April 2007, Sensient Colors filed its answer to the amended complaint, including cross claims against these newly added parties. The Agency, the DEP and the New Jersey Schools Development Authority (“NJSDA”) (which replaced the NJSCC as a state agency effective August 7, 2007) each filed answers, cross-claims and counter-claims; Sensient Colors has responded to all three cross-claims. Document discovery was completed in July 2008, and expert and rebuttal expert reports have been exchanged. |
Sensient Colors advised the Court and the other parties in this litigation of the developments in the Superfund Claim as described above. Sensient Colors took supplemental depositions of several DEP officials and served subpoenas upon five current or former EPA officials. The United States, though not a party to the Pleasant Gardens case, initially sought to quash those subpoenas before the Pleasant Gardens court. On November 17, 2008, the United States removed the subpoenas and related proceedings to federal court. At an initial court conference on the removed proceedings on February 19, 2009, the federal magistrate judge asked for additional briefing on the issue of the government’s standing to seek to quash the state court subpoenas. In September 2009, the federal magistrate judge |
9
ordered that former EPA officials could be deposed but only as to “individual” and not “official” matters. Sensient Colors appealed this decision to the district court judge. |
On January 8, 2009, the state court judge recused himself from the Pleasant Gardens case (as well as the related insurance coverage case) because of a conflict of interest and the Pleasant Gardens case was reassigned to another judge. In light of the recusal and reassignment, the new judge re-scheduled the trial to commence no earlier than June 1, 2009, and indicated that depending on how certain outstanding discovery issues are resolved, the trial might be deferred further. On April 20, 2009, the court further extended the pretrial schedule and set a trial date for October 5, 2009. On July 24, 2009, Sensient Colors filed a motion for summary judgment on the grounds that the DEP’s proposed remedy was arbitrary and capricious. At a conference held on September 18, 2009, the state court judge ordered that discovery be completed before November 15, 2009, that dispositive motions be heard on December 11, 2009, and that the trial commence on February 8, 2010. The judge also ordered that mediation occur before November 15, 2009. |
As described above, Sensient Colors met with the parties to the Pleasant Gardens litigation, to the Superfund claims described above and their respective insurers, and they ultimately agreed to a settlement in principle to resolve the matter by specified payments among the parties and their insurers. As a result of the proposed settlements, Sensient’s results for the quarter and year ended December 31, 2009, included pre-tax charges for estimated settlement liabilities and related legal costs, net of insurance reimbursements, of approximately $11.3 million. The proposed settlements remain subject to the preparation and execution of definitive agreements and approval of proposed consent decrees by the U.S. District Court in New Jersey and the Superior Court of New Jersey after an opportunity for public comment. |
As of March 31, 2010, total liabilities related to environmental matters are estimated to be between $16.2 million and $19.3 million. As of March 31, 2010, the Company has accrued $17.5 million which primarily relates to the settlement of legal claims related to the Superfund and Pleasant Gardens claims discussed above. The Company has a receivable of $11.1 million for agreed upon insurance recoveries related to these liabilities. This accrual and receivable represents management’s best estimate of these items; however, the actual amounts may be different than the levels reserved or estimated, in which case the Company would need to recognize the difference in earnings in later periods. There can be no assurance that additional environmental matters will not arise in the future. |
In June 2009, Sensient sued one of its product vendors, Cherry Blossom LLC (“Cherry Blossom”), a supplier of processed cherry products in Michigan, when Cherry Blossom prepared to close its facility and refused to return to Sensient raw cherries to which Sensient held title. Sensient sued for conversion, breach of contract, possession of the cherries, and money damages of approximately $500,000. Cherry Blossom and its lender opposed the claim and the court deferred the matter for trial. |
Crossroads Debt, LLC (“Crossroads”), a secured lender to Cherry Blossom, intervened in the case and asserted multiple claims against Cherry Blossom related to Cherry Blossom’s $1.4 million debt to Crossroads. |
Crossroads also asserted cross-claims against Sensient related to payments by Sensient to Cherry Blossom for the processed cherry product Sensient purchased from Cherry Blossom. |
Under Sensient’s contract with Cherry Blossom, Cherry Blossom would purchase Sensient’s raw cherries for use in making finished cherry product. Sensient then purchased the finished product from Cherry Blossom at a purchase price reduced by the amount Cherry Blossom owed Sensient for raw cherries. Eventually, Cherry Blossom directed Sensient to make payments directly to Crossroads, which Sensient did for about seven months, until Cherry Blossom ceased operations. |
At a mediation on March 24, 2010, Crossroads claimed for the first time that because Sensient paid for the finished cherry product by offsetting antecedent debt, Sensient is not a “buyer in the ordinary course of business” as defined by the Uniform Commercial Code. As a result, Crossroads claimed that Sensient was not entitled to take such offsets because Crossroads claimed it has a perfected senior lien on the offset funds. Crossroads seeks the imposition of a constructive trust over $1.4 million of such funds and |
10
a judgment requiring their return by Sensient. The total exposure could exceed this amount due to interest. |
In addition, Sensient asserted indemnification claims against Crossroads related to a US Department of Labor hot goods issue. Regarding hot goods, Sensient paid Cherry Blossom’s employees’ wages on behalf of Cherry Blossom and Crossroads after the DOL designated goods made by the unpaid employees as “hot” and unable to be sold. |
Cherry Blossom counter-claimed against Sensient, primarily relating to ownership of the cherry processing formulas. Sensient sold Cherry Blossom certain written materials containing formulas used in the processing of cherries. Cherry Blossom claims it has an exclusive right to use Sensient’s formulas. On June 22, 2009, Cherry Blossom moved for an injunction to prohibit Sensient from using its cherry processing formulas. The court denied that motion. |
The parties continue to engage in discovery. A mediation was held on March 24, 2010, but the case was not resolved. Crossroads moved for summary judgment on April 12, 2010. The case is scheduled for trial in June 2010. |
The Company is involved in various other claims and litigation arising in the normal course of business. In the judgment of management, which relies in part on information from Company counsel, the ultimate resolution of these actions will not materially affect the consolidated financial statements of the Company except as described above. |
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
SENSIENT TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATION
|
||||
Date: May 7, 2010 | By: | /s/ John L. Hammond | ||
John L. Hammond, Senior Vice President, | ||||
General Counsel & Secretary | ||||
Date: May 7, 2010 | By: | /s/ Richard F. Hobbs | ||
Richard F. Hobbs, Senior Vice President &
Chief Financial Officer |
19
Incorporated by Reference | ||||||
Exhibit | Description | From | Filed Herewith | |||
|
||||||
31
|
Certifications of the Company’s Chairman & Chief Executive Officer and Senior Vice President & Chief Financial Officer pursuant to Rule 13a-14(a) of the Exchange Act | X | ||||
|
||||||
32
|
Certifications of the Company’s Chairman & Chief Executive Officer and Senior Vice President & Chief Financial Officer pursuant to 18 United States Code § 1350 | X |
20
No information found
* THE VALUE IS THE MARKET VALUE AS OF THE LAST DAY OF THE QUARTER FOR WHICH THE 13F WAS FILED.
FUND | NUMBER OF SHARES | VALUE ($) | PUT OR CALL |
---|
DIRECTORS | AGE | BIO | OTHER DIRECTOR MEMBERSHIPS |
---|
No information found
Customers
Customer name | Ticker |
---|---|
The Estée Lauder Companies Inc. | EL |
International Flavors & Fragrances Inc. | IFF |
Pilgrim's Pride Corporation | PPC |
No Suppliers Found
Price
Yield
Owner | Position | Direct Shares | Indirect Shares |
---|